So...I thought I'd take a "little" break...

Helloooooooooo?

I'm listening with my ear cupped to hear if there's just an echo in reply, since I'm not sure if any of you will be still be tuned in to this frequency! Yes, my "little break" turned out to be not so little...over two months, in fact!

And the amazing thing was that I had planned to at least read some of your posts during this break! But somehow, my blogging break became just that- a complete blogging break.
But don't think that I haven't missed you...I have! And I hope to begin visiting as many of you as I can...I'll just try not to look at the overwhelming numbers when I head over to bloglines...I just know it will be like a total of about 1000 unread posts waiting for me!

But a few of you- those of you who are Facebook friends- know that at least I didn't completely disappear off the face of the earth.
(And some of you may claim that is why I wasn't blogging...I was pulled into the vortex that is Facebook!) ;)

So...what have we been doing during this time? I mean, besides Facebook...
Well, probably just like many of you, the past two months have been filled to the brim and if I tried to catch you up here, you'd be settling in for a five hour read.

So, I'll make this a 2- part post, just giving you the highlights....

In March, just as our heavy hints from the workplace indicated might happen, my husband did indeed come home one day to announce that he was no longer working there. He had joined the growing ranks of the unemployed.
He had been miserable there for a long time, but being the sole sorce of income, he was still doing all he knew how to to do in order to keep his job. So it was with mixed feelings that we faced this news. Although we felt it coming, there was still a certain amount of shock, uncertainity, and fear. But underneath those feelings were relief, peace and a confindence that God was closing this door to open a new one, even though we didn't know what or when.

We were so thankful for so many who were lifting us up in prayer during this time...we could just feel the support and prayers!
And during this time, my husband was able to spend some incredible time with us as a family...in between his job hunting, he was able to play with the kids, and even helped in home schooling. WIth his previous stressful job, there was seldom enough time or energy left so we secretly savored our time with him.

Then miraculously, God DID give him a new job....just three weeks after being let go, he started his new position. And not only was having a new job an obvious blessing, but he says that of all the places he's worked in his life, this is so far the very best one.
God is so good to us.

Other highlights included....
My youngest turning seven in April. She invited several little friends to her pizza\Tinkerbell party and a good time was had by all!

A visit to Multnomah Falls...


Spending Mother's Day at a restaurant followed by biking at a park...

(And if you're a keen observer in this last photo, you'll notice that both girls got their hair cut short...my oldest being able to give hers to locks of love!)

And then there was the big musical production where my nine yr old played a solo and even danced...but I'll save that for next time!

No, it hasn't been all sunshine and roses, but we have seen God working in our lives and the lives of our family in exciting ways.

I needed this blogging break but I am so ready to see what all of you have been up to while I've been away.
And it occurs to me that it's been three years since I began this blogging journey. I know...it's cheating a bit since I didn't blog for two of those months.

But still, it is blogaversary so I think some kind of giveaway is in order...and will tell you more about it on Part 2!
In the meantime, I'm off to cook dinner and then try to catch up with you all a little at a time. Oh, and be in a live audience tomorrow of a local television show....which I'll tell you all about in...you got it...PART 2. ;)

Blessings!

Just a little break...

Well, it's that time.
I don't think that- other than for vacations- I have ever taken a real blogging break.

But now the time has come. I really feel the need to just step back from blogland for awhile and take a bit of a breather...
However, I do expect that I'll still be coming by to visit a few of you on occasion during my break. I would miss some of you way too much to completely stay away.

I can't give you an exact length of time for my break...but I am guessing that I will be back in time to host the next Home School Open House (on the 3rd Tuesday of each month).

But it's more than likely I'll be back way before then!

April marks a full month for our family, with Easter, my littlest girl's birthday (with a party to plan!)...and our wedding anniversary- all within a ten day time frame!

Plus, I'm feeling the need to just find that quiet place in my spirit and hoping for God to do some loving work in me as we approach the Easter season.

Also...look for something special when I return. I am approaching my 400th post and might even do a little giveaway....

In the meantime, I recently added the "followers" box- finally- to me sidebar. So if you visit me often, will you go ahead and sign in as a follower, if you haven't already? ( I promise to do the same for you, as well!)



God bless each and every one of you....I'll see you sometime soon!

Party of One

*Yes, you came to the right place, don't worry! It's still the same me...
But for the longest time, my title was bothering me- this northwest gal just never says the word, "doin's"! I know it's going to throw you all off...and then there's that whole blogroll thing...but I needed a change and it was either this or dye my hair bright red, and I think my husband prefers this for now.



OK, it's almost the end of Day 3, and I am really enjoying this time. Well, not enjoying as in having a big party kind of way...but still.

So, what have I been doing?
I actually bit off more than I can chew when I decided to- once again- try to organize my girls' closet. I did this for them last year and over time, things just find their way of escaping the nice little order I set for them.
My hope was that with things put neatly into bins, things would stay neater longer. I don't know why I should think this year will be any different but I just had to do it.
The Polly P*ckets socializing with H*gh School Musical dolls and stray farm animals mingling with the pristine My Little P*nies - well, it was just driving me crazy.
I don't mean to be a prude, here, but they just all need to stay with their own kind.



It hasn't been all work, though. Last night, I sat in front of the TV, dining on the most scrumptious Lean Cuisine ever. Takes me right back to my single days every time! No, I'm not getting paid to endorse them. It was just yummy!

If that wasn't good enough, I followed it with a decadent piece of brownie fudge. Because the dinner was...LEAN....so, I deserved it, right?

Today, I sat for a short time outside in the sun reading. I actually picked up my Nicholas Sparks book, The Choice, that I had put aside and hadn't finished...the first chapter didn't grab me like most of his books do, but now I'm getting into it.

My family calls me each night from their tent- however, it's usually really short because by that time it's 10 o'clock and everyone's fading fast.
My youngest, who kept saying how nervous she as about going and being away from me, is actually doing great. I can tell by her voice, and this is SO reassuring!

So would you believe that if I do join them, tomorrow would be the day of my ride....and I'm still on the fence with it!

Decisions...Decisions...

But I will be sure to let you know what I decided to do...when I decide, that is.

You know, I had big work out plans during this time. I've taken walks, mind you, but I just haven't gotten out my faithful workout VHS tape.

This tape is my friend...and pardon my pun, here, but it's been with me through..ahem... thick and thin.

I recorded it off of a cable channel in...like 1991...back when I was still a single gal and actually thought doing aerobics five times a week was not only do-able, but lots of fun.

The show was called "It Figures" and I always liked it because the instructor was not some Flashdance wannabe, but a mature gal who would spout off so much info as she jumped around that I sometimes forgot I was sweating. But how she was able to hold such lengthy conversations while I panted away- yes, even back then when I was in my 20's- is beyond me.

I know what you are all saying. Quit living in the past and invest in another work-out program...say...from this century.

I know...I know....but it's hard to let go.

Never mind that one of the gals in the background, who's pregnant, has apparently been pregnant for about eighteen years now. That's got to be uncomfortable!
And the commercials alone are entertaining enough...there's even some episodes with the Dancing Raisins! (Remember them?)

But guess what? As I was typing this, I decided to look her up....and...
I found her- she is still going strong! Maybe I'll join the 21st century, after all. And I'm all for doing a work-out when the instructor is STILL older than I am!

~~~~~~~~~~~

OK, now that I've successfully did a product placement post without really meaning to, and with no monetary gain whatsoever, truly...

What do YOU do for exercise?

And what do YOU still have from the 80's or 90's that you actually use????