Diffucult, But Also Not

Our time of fasting ends tonight at midnight. So-o, does this mean I'm cheating by writing this the 39th day of the fast even though I won't post 'til tomorrow??? I didn't think so. This fast was more difficult than I first anticipated but then it gradually got easier. Now I'm not sure if I'll ever blog/facebook as I did previously. We all fasted from blogging, facebook and the 'L' word (l-i-k-e...it was just SO overused in our family and there are SO many other interesting words to use as replacements). It's been interesting to hear the kids use the replacement words...."Well, it does look similar to my stuffed animal." and "Boy, I really enjoyed that ice cream!". It has been super refreshing! Go kids! Now if it were just that easy for Babe and I! The kids remind and correct us when we do slip and say the 'L' word. Hopefully our habit will be broken soon.

For some updates:

RUNNING: Ben and I have been keeping up with our marathon training. We ran 11 miles the Saturday before last and today have 12 miles to conquer *UPDATE*we ran a trail that stank. It was a wood chip path that our feet sank into so I was only able to run 6 and walk 8. I'll run 12 next Saturday*. I gained 2 pounds but then lost them so I have yet to loose any lb's from all this running. Sheesh. What's a girl gott'a do??? Run a marathon apparently. =D I have yet to take a photo of my mom and I training. Once a week she bikes along with me when I run. It's also been more of a challenge to place the kids for the Saturday runs since we don't leave them alone. Many thanks to those who are helping us achieve our goal!

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HOUSE: We found one that will work and the loan would be pretty too. We are just waiting for one last item to make an offer. By next week end (Lord willing) we'll have made an offer. God help us. Packing while beginning the spring term could be difficult. God knows. We just get to be patient and wait. Which, by the way, sounds so very much more romantic as a thought instead of reality.

SCHOOL: Our term ended the week previous to the kids' spring break and that week end before finals was quite busy. Sis and the Twins had a field trip and the Twins had a project due. All while Ben and I are either studying or actually taking the final. I think we handled this go round better than last term. We were just more patient parents this time which made a HUGE difference. We were all much more peaceful and thus more rested. With much excitement I was able to continue my 4.0 gpa this term (West. Civ. {102} and algebra {60}). When we begin spring term this Monday I'll be taking Eng. Lit. 104 and Math 65. The plan is to finish high school math over the summer. Kind'a scary to think that by fall I'll be in college algebra. Kind'a gross too.

FAMILY: We've all been healthy and haven't missed any school due to illness (aside from the vertigo Ben experienced in Jan.). I think the Twins have grown about 2 inches since their b-day in December. During break we were able to see both sets of grandparents which was a treat. I attended a 6 week life changing parenting class (that finished directly before finals which was nice) titled Get A New Kid By Friday by Dr. Kevin Leman and from that discovered several challenging books to read. One is Boundaries For Kids by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. One that I found through a Christmas concert (God uses whatever avenue He can!) titled In Praise Of Slowness by Carl Honore'. I've not finished the slowness one yet but what I have read is fantastic!

HEALTH: We've been continuing with our whole grain and no high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) mission. Thankfully our budget has not increased with our discriminatory diet and some times I end up spending less. Did you know that HFCS is basically included in all processed or pre-made foods? You'll find it in bread, meats, canned goods and sauces (unless you are choosy). The breads were the hardest to find and I now purchase all bread items at Trader Joe's since there are more options that contain natural sugars (honey, evaporated cane juices or fruit juice) or no sugars at all. Until recently I didn't really know what HFCS was but I knew it was highly processed and wanted to limit it. I now know that it's the sugar sludge from corn that has had the most sugary (is that a word?) part of fructose (sugar from fruit) added to it. If you compare 5g of white sugar and 5g of HFCS solids the HFCS will have more calories than the white sugar. So, in reality, HFCS is a super processed, condensed sugar. Gross. Just so you know we do break the rules at times. About two weeks ago I bought some fast food for the boys and me. While in the car I boisterously asked them "What's in these burgers boys?" "High Fructose corn syrup!" they respond. I smile and say joyously "And doesn't it taste delicious?!?" *grin*

So, that's about it. Not much has happened when you figure 40 days has passed. That means there was no big problems to deal with.....thank GOD!

Grandpa Lewis letting Esther paint his nails.

What a wonderful memory!

Joe putting Grandma Lewis' hair in a pony.

Another great memory.

Holding 2 week old kittens at a friends house.

Sue and Zachy in heaven.

40 days

Our family is fasting for Lent. I'll be fasting from facebook and blogging. Soooo. I'll catch you up when I return! If you need me....you can call or e-mail....you know, like the olden days. =D

Stuffing.....and I'm not talkin' turkey either.

Yeah. I know what you're thinking right now. Katy's given up her blog in favor of another social networking site. I can see your dissapointement as the realisation hits. You really looked forward to my posts and the thought of never reading antoher is nearly to much to bear. Weeeell, I must say....don't give up on me yet!

I have live more life in the past three week than I I normally do in two regular months. Here's just a itsy-bitsy, condensed update.

At the end of last year I signed Ben and I up for parenting classes. The next week-end the Twins had their 8th b-day. The next week-end Ben was diagnosed with vertigo in the E.R. and did NOTHING to help him (we later found out vertigo is a SYMPTOM not a diagnosis....brilliant). I stated the 2nd week of school while Ben was home and the ENT wouldn't see him. That day I took my first college Algebra exam and cried more than I had in a VERY long time. We were very scared. Ben recovered from the Chicken pox that lodged in his inner ear for a week (it caused the vertigo. It was so severe that he couldn't walk on his own. I literally had to do nearly everything for him). The Wed. of that week I had to call and let the counselor for the parenting class that we'd be there next week (even though I wasn't sure we would be). Ben celebrated his birthday. His parents came up even though he was hopped up on Valium (the conversations were funny!). He went to work that Monday and began catching up on the first two week of college courses. All through this I had the every day tasks to accomplish. Laundry, dishes, kids to school, my school and studying. It was a trying time and yet I was overwhelmed by the fact that we have it good 90%. It is times like this that make me thankful for the good times.

NOW....running. Or is it RUNNING....now? Heh. Either way I've got the 411 for ya. I'm probably gonna give you more than you really want but that's just me. I go above and beyond....*smile*

Three weeks ago I ran 6, 11 min. miles. It sucked (and we're not even allowed to use that word in our family....shhh....don't tell Ben or the kids for that matter). I am in no way exaggerating either. Hills and raining with road grit in my teeth. Uggg.

A week ago Tue. I ran 4. Then this Tue. I ran 3.5. Today Ben and I started our new marathon training program and ran 3 miles. Next Saturday we're supposed to run 5. Then 6. Then 7.....after that....death. :0) I'm kidding.
Right now I'm 5'7'' and 154 pounds. By the completion of the 'thon I hope to be 140 and 5'10''.....you've never heard of 'thon participants growing taller?.....heh. I haven't yet taken my measurements but I will soon and post those too. This is going to be the beginning of my up.front.and.personal.ness.

Now for the good stuff....my wine! I hope you enjoy the remaining week-end and see you when I'm three inches taller. That is unless I'll see you previous to October. That's when all the magic happens.

How can this be happening?

*I wrote this on New Years Day. The day AFTER the b-day's. Yes, I know. I'm now just posting it! I'll post about why another day. =D *

My youngest are *cough* eight. Past years b-days. Yeah, as of today. I haven't cried yet though I fully plan to later.

Zach chose pizza and a SEVEN layer banana cake (Huh? What has he been watching? Martha??? VERY specific and certain from the moment I asked).

Joe chose Chinese and "A cake that has strawberries on it. If there are no berries than you can use cherries." He was TOTALLY gesticulating as he told me! SUPER funny.

They are so big. I think they are even more big than Es and Sam were at this age. The reason I think that is because there aren't anymore Youngers to take the Twins' age place. You know, when an Older One turns eight it's not that big a deal 'cause you have a Younger to eventually take their age place.

But alas, there are no Yonger kids. There are only Olders.

Over the past two weeks since they've turned Ben and I catch each others gaze and just kinda' say 'Wow' with our eyes. We are so blessed by the kids. We LOVE our kids! They make us laugh with their wit and warm our hearts with their sensitivity toward God and humankind.

This is a good life!

Zachariah Aaron


Josiah Andrew

I've written the numbers for the new year only.....

.....three times. When I begin the writing of the year I've had to pause directly after my pencil moves to start the next zero. Then I remember. 20*pause*10. Right! I guess after writing the same set of four numerals hundreds of times I should expect a time of transition.

And moving on.....

Do you make New Year resolutions? I don't. For two simple reasons. 1) Resolutions tend to be extreme and flippant. I choose to make goals instead. 2) I think it's silly to wait for a certain day to make a promise or goal. Why wait 'till the beginning? Start at whatever day you happen to be on!

I am excited for this new year. I look forward to all it has in store; tears, goals set and attained, memories made, purposes, challenges, laughs, long car rides, new clothes, growth and wisdom. This year will usher a close to one school year and open another. New babies will be born. Ages will advance and inches will be added to growing children. Marathons will be completed. Hopes fulfilled and dreams realized. Patience will be exercised and sacrifices made.

Who knows what this coming year will hold? God does. It will hold all the above and even more. Some events will make me want to sing while others will try to help me understand just how big He is. In all things there will be good. Good because we are His.

"May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace." Num. 6:24-26 NLT

FIVE MILES!!!!

YAHOO! YIPPEE!!!! I ran the street last night. Here's the scoop.
4.49 pm- Ben and I warm up a 1/4 mile.
?.?? pm- We start running.
?.?? pm- At mile 2.5 I take a .2 mile walk break.
" " pm- Run the remaining 2.3 miles.
" " pm- 1/4 mi. cool down
5.48 pm- Home!
All walking and running combined.....5.5 MILES! YES!
When I was constantly running on the mill I only ever got to 4.5 miles ran. YAY! Another record shredded.....*huge smile*

Maps are not always right

Sometimes the best laid plans flop. As the kids were enjoying screen time this morning I began mapping my run for today. I hopped online, found the miles and printed the page. It looks intimidating and I knew it was a bigger area than what my mind was seeing. It will be TOUGH! I study the page. I mark the page. I memorize the page. Then Ben and I gear up and go. We get slightly confused in the beginning because the first 1/2 mile goes FAST. The remaining miles don't go so quickly. We complete our goal, what we were informed was 4.5 miles, and start our walk home to cool down. Once home we consult the map and our memory of the run and realize there's a problem.

There was a screw up somewhere. The map (after purusing MANY times) says we ran 4.5 mil. But we know the markers and we remember which one we started on and they didn't match. As Ben says "We ran between 4 and 4.5 miles." Yeah. But that half mile is one that bugs me. That was a hard run when I thought it was 4 and half. Even though I broke my mileage record....I see how hard it was and wonder if I can add more miles. I not.....no completing that marathon. I just can't have that!

Now I just need to run that course six times all at once and I'd have nearly run a marathon. SHOOT!

On a closing note; our Christmas time was wonderful! Moves and time together was lovely. The main gift we gave the kids was monthly contributions to an organization called Open Arms (it was started right here in Oregon). These people feed kids in Africa 4x a week. It is said that this is all the food the kids eat. Four.Times.A.Week. I cried when I first heard that. When I say these kids had nothing; that is the truth. How dare I ever say I have need. God help us. Thankfully our kids 'got it'. We explained it to them and they were excited! YAY!

Anyhoo....here's to you and yours! I hope you had a Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!

No Room

This year our Tree is on our deck. There is no room for it in the inn....hardy-har. Our kids take up our space so the tree has been BOOTED! My friend Steph said that this is was weird. I was thinking it was just as strange to house the tree INdoors. Heh. Then she proceeded to convince me how, like the grinch, she'd come and steal the tree off our deck 'cause it's just....not.....done. I guess we're trend setters??? =)

With our school, the kids' AND this small space we live in....1/2 our Christmas deco's are still in the boxes in storage. I've learned that that's okay. For us, it's good. I'd rather spend less time swapping deco's and more time with the kids and Ben. This is GOOD!

We may be able to display all those wonderful decorations next year though. We are currently looking to purchase our own house. *sigh* This is a HUGE deal. We've already registered for classes for the coming term (we'll need to transfer co. if we move) and we all (the 6 of us) start up again the 1.4.10 (at our currant locals) AND our lease is up the end of Feb (either sign another or be OUT).

We've got tons to ponder and pray about. This time round be don't care about the residence. We care about the lot, the location and the loan. If all those elements are pretty.....we're moving. If not.....we'll renew our lease here. Who knows? Only God!

I am so blessed. Either way, I'm blessed and at peace. God is good!

Junk in the Christmas trunk

I love Christmas time. I always have.
When I was younger we never had glamorous gifts or decorations but they were meaningful just the same. I remember one year I gave my Mom kitchen towels as her gift. I think I was about 6 or so. I still remembering going to the store with my Dad and picking out the multi-towel set. I also remembering her opening them. I was waiting for her reaction. Ahhh. I was safe....she liked them!

The anticipation, the excitement. The wonder. That is my favorite part of this time of year.

This time around, though, somethings different. I'm different.

These days I find myself stifling vomit as I change the channel from the commercials promoting greed and material gluttony. I have a friend that works for a donation center and they cannot schedule the mass of volunteers for this time of year but other times are shorthanded. I can't help but wonder. Why?
The Spirit of giving is great and I'm glad that we celebrate but why save yourself for just this season alone? Give of yourself all year round; not just during this time.
Oh and another thing. If we are celebrating Christs' birth why do we give gifts to one another? Our most precious gifts should be the ones that last for eternity. Loving those who have no family or who smell really bad and have no place to go. These should be our focus. All.Year.Long.
And while we're at it. Who gives a hoot what we call this time of celebration! I've seen signs and stickers touting "Put the Christ back in Christmas" or "Say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays". Sorry but who gives a crap. All the days are God's so it doesn't matter what they're called. And for the record the first definition in the dictionary to describe holiday is HOLYday. Hmmmm. Why make such a big deal? GET OVER IT! and get on with giving.

This is not what Christmas means to me. How about we all spend less this year and give more. How about we purchase a few less items that we can live without and give more to those who legitimately NEED it. Does that person really need that new board game? How can we purchase another gift for someone who has alot already when there are people STARVING? Starving in our own neighborhoods to boot. How about it?

This may seem like I'm an anti-Christmas goon or something. I'm really not. I'm just challenging and advocating honoring Christ and Christmas ALL year round.

Don't Save It All For Christmas Day

sung by Avalon written by P. Zizzo, R. Wake and C. Dion

Don't get so busy that you miss giving just a little kiss to the ones you love

Don't even wait a little while to give them just a little smile a little is enough

See how many people are crying some people are dying

How many people are asking for love

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Chorus

So don't save it all for Christmas day find a way to give a little love everyday

Don't save it all for Christmas day find a way 'cause holidays have come and gone

But love lives on if you give on

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How could you wait another minute a hug is warmer when your in it oh baby that's a fact

And saying I love you's always better seasons, reasons they don't matter so don't hold back

See how many people in this world so needful in this world

How many people are praying for love

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So let all the children know everywhere that they go their whole life long

Let them know love

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This is a life of Christmas. This is what I hope to achieve. No, not someday but this day.

"That last bite tasted like Christmas"

So said my daughter on finishing the last of her gingerbread pancakes. I new I liked her! Here is the recipe so you can also experience what Christmas tastes like.

1.5 c. (cup) white flour
1.5 c. wheat flour
1 c. b. sugar
1 T. (tablespoon) baking powder
1.5 t. (teaspoon) baking soda
1 t. salt
1 t. g. (ground) cinnamon
1 t. g. ginger
1/4 t. g. nutmeg
1/8 t. g. cloves
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. coffee, brewed and cooled to room temp.
4 lg. eggs, beaten
1/2 c. butter, melted and cooled
1/4 c. lemon juice

Mix all dry and wet (sugar with wet) items separately then combine. Cook on griddle and enjoy!
We top our cakes with applesauce and then syrup. Yummmm!

*Side note* The first time I made these the batter was too thick. I have not altered the recipe from the first time I made them so extra water will be required. I also double this recipe and freeze the remaining cakes for a quick breakfast another morning.