Anna #2, but we are gonna call her NAOMI

December 4th, around 12:18 pm, (i think), 8lbs. 5 oz, and 21 inches long.
She looks like Anna the most...which is of course very happy news for Anna! She is beautiful, and much fun to hold! And, her mommy is doing well also! Nice job Min!

The bride under the bridge

A couple of weekends ago, sitting at some friends house, I was asked if I had ever seen the "bride under the bridge" at Phelps Grove Park. I hadn't even heard of her, so me, Barrett (with hillenblogs camera in hand), Bradley and Mandy all loaded into the car to go see her. Let me say first thing that I do not believe in ghosts. But I do enjoy a good scare now and then. So we drive to the stone bridge, and this is the image Barrett captured on the camera!! It was pretty weird just seeing it, but when we saw the pictures Barrett got, it was just plain spooky! Can you see her? Just in case you are wondering, she isn't visible during the day. And it might have helped in the spook factor that it was a dark, cold, rainy night...but whatever it really is, or however it got there, it is one spooky bride.

In other news, the pants I have always been able to count on being loose are now tight. I am overweight. Fat. Past pleasantly plump, just sorta chunky, or even voluptuous. So, I am gonna lose some weight. And I am hoping by posting it for all the world to see(hey, we get readers from all over, you know), maybe I will actually stick to a better way of eating. It's not even so much the pants thing, it is more about me just knowing I eat too much at night. I am way an evening eater. And always tired, don't wanna do much...if you have ever been there, you know what I mean. I just want to feel good. I am ONLY 40 after all, and I am anticipating many years ahead of me, and I would like to enjoy them. That's all I am gonna say about it today...and even tho some may wish I wouldn't, I will keep you updated on progress.

Tomorrow my sister will have her baby. Not that it is in anyway about me, but I can hardly wait. I keep trying to imagine what she will look like, will she look like Anna, or maybe Sophie, or have really dark hair, hopefully blue eyes to match Anna, since she is the only blue eyes. Except when she looks in the mirror, they are green, like Ninny. That's what she tells her mom. Anyway, I just can't picture Naomi yet.

Yesterday was Kent's birthday, he is 9 years old. Unbelievable. We got him a Rubics cube. I think he likes it, he was looking for the instructions yesterday. He is a smart kid, so we know he will get it. We just thought it was cool--a flashback to the 80's.

Well, enough for now I guess...only 21 days til Christmas...in case you were wondering.

My parents are not ornery

I guess according to anonymous, i misused the word ornery. My parents are not ornery, it made my day that they did that to my car! I thought it was very funny! I guess they are more mischevious instead. I can't seem to post comments, I keep getting an error message. So this was really a comment on my last blog...

Lordy, Lordy, Cindy's Forty

Friday was my 40th birthday. Because I had already had a Come to Jesus meeting with Him and myself, I had decided to try really hard to not be depressed. So I woke up, had some coffee, made breakfast, got the kids off to school, saw Mark off to work, and went to work myself. Also at some point in there, I got 2 new blouses from the fam. So I went off to work, dressed in black dress pants, but a great green sweater vest over white sleeves. I was feeling pretty good...eye makeup was better than it had been in a while, age defying moisturizer seemed to be working okay...I was off to a quiet day at the office. Little did I know that some scheming had been happening behind the scenes. First, everyone in black. Balloons with various age discriminating messages on them at my desk. But the most unbelievable scheme was everyone was in jeans except for me! In case you don't know, we only get to wear jeans on the last Friday of the month. So an extra jean day is something to be celebrated! But not if you are not in on it! Gary was out of town, so tried to claim innocence, but I found out rather quickly, that not only was he in on it, but my very own hillenblog was part of the nasty scheme. But it was too clever to not enjoy, so I forgave everyone and went about my day.
Around 11 my mom in law brought me a homemade redvelvet cake, which I had a piece of right away. It was amazing! Then we all had lunch in the office, and the office had also gotten me a cake, and Tammie had brought in some apple cobbler! Oh, my! What a great day! But perhaps the funniest for me was walking out to my car to find the above---and it took me forever to guess who had done it. I guessed just about everyone I know before saying " it couldn't have been my parents?" only to be told that yes, that is exactly who it was! My parents had driven to the office to decorate my car! My mom said later they tried to find some black balloons, but couldn't or they would have put them on my car too! I'll tell ya what, my parents are more ornery since my dad retired!!!
Then Friday evening, we went to Ocean's Zen for dinner, which is one of my favorite places.
While there, I received a velour jogging suit, with a cute t-shirt from New York and Co.
LOVE IT! Thanks, family. After dinner, off to see BEE MOVIE, which is pretty funny. So all in all, not a bad day for turning 40. The big 40. More than half my life gone, most likely. All down hill from here...oh wait, wait, it is not gonna bother me at all!:)

Trick or Treat, This Is Neat

Halloween. Tomorrow the aisles of Walmart, Target and the mall will be decked out in Christmas fare, if they aren't already! And, yes, I put the celebration of Christ's birth far and above today, but we are gonna have fun tonight too!
We are not at Fall Festival for the first time in many years. Even when our kids got too big to dress up, we went to work a booth(room). And I must say, for the last 2 years, we had the coolest room. Medic with blood and everything, and last year guts.
But this year we live in Leabrooke in Rogersville, and from what we hear, it is the happening place to trick or treat. So I am gonna keep a tally going of how many we have tonight at different times.
6:30--we have had 14 trick or treaters. Spiderman seems to be the most popular for boys so far, with a marionette raggedy ann the best girl's so far. This is the most trick or treaters we have ever had, so we are already excited!
7:00--we are up to 31. Lots of scream costumes...yikes!
7:30--94!!!! Lot's of older kids this time round...but polite. That's nice. Funniest costume this time is the fully clothed girl with sign around her neck that says "NUDIST ON STRIKE". Now thats funny.
8:00--and we are up to 143. A whole passel of girls came by asking for Barrett, not a one in costume!
8:45--168 and i don't think we are gonna make it to 300, unless we do this again tomorrow night. But this is great fun, and i am still hoping we get more.
Well, it is 9:15, and we haven't had anymore trick or treaters. We sorely overestimated.
If you find yourself in need of a peanut m&m fix, come on over. We have many.
But this has been definitely one the funnest nights we've had. Mark took pictures of all of the kids, so he'll post those soon on his web album, i'm sure.
Happy Halloween! Let's do it again next year!

This started as a comment on Mrs Rider's blog....the one about homeschooling

I would like to add my "two cents" on this subject if I may. I admire parents who decide to homeschool and who do a great job at it. But as hillenblog said, those are few and far between. We have friends who are currently homeschooling, and they are doing a great job. But we have also known kids who would have benefited so much more by the social and structured aspect of public school. I also agree, who is gonna show Christ to the kids in school if there aren't any kids in school who know Him? Natalie, i agree that if you are teaching and living Christ in front of your kids, they can do very well in public schools. I am not made for homeschooling, never have been. I am not patient enough, or smart enough. By 4th grade or so , my kids would have left me behind. Yes, there are many things about public school that I would change, but we have always believed that our kids are better off there. We sometimes have to correct a theory they may be learning, or discuss a subject I may not feel they (or I) are ready for. But we have always been very honest and open with our kids, and I think we have a pretty great level of communication because of that. So if something comes up at school, they feel like they can talk about it with us.
So, all that to say, Mrs Rider, I am glad you are sending your kids to public school. I mean, if you feel it is necessary, you can homeschool at any time, right? I am able to see both sides, as we also have family that homeschools. But i don't think anyone should make you feel like a bad parent because you choose something different. God will bless your decision, and your prayer life will grow in ways you never imagined!!

Tossing cookies.

This morning ended my streak of at least 13 years of not throwing up. I am on an antibiotic that I am pretty sure I have to take with food, even tho it says it's up to me. Either that,or the cough medicine did it. Either way, I woke up this morning feeling like I was gonna pass out, and then threw up. Not that you want to know all this, but to me it is a pretty big deal, and people keep telling me to update my blog, so there you have it!

Happy 20th Anniversary to Gary and Lisa Wilson...20 years seems amazing, even tho we are only 2 behind. At the same time, how cool is it to say you have been married that long? Even 18 years seems like a long time when you say it out loud...tho the time has flown. Anyway, happy anniversary, we love you guys.

Doesn't it feel like it should be Friday already? Maybe cause this Friday is the last one of the month, and that means JEAN DAY!!! Yeah! I love jean day. I just do.

Well, that's about all I have for now. Two days in a row...

gone so long, you've been gone so long, you've been gone, gone, gone so long

I almost waited until the 24th of this month to blog again, to make the time even. I am not sure I even have much to say, but here goes.
School is better. Barrett is making friends, hasn't gotten kicked out from the lunch table he's at, and even has a fan club of girls at football. So things are better, and I am still praying all the time for him. Skyler is doing fine, some trouble with the fact that honors courses don't transfer to Rog, and so this puts her at risk of losing the governer's scholarship...but we are trusting that the Lord can work this out too.

We(Mark and I) are working in HVJV( junior high) at church. We worked in there about 10 or 11 years ago, and most of the time I feel too old to be doing it again. But we feel that the Lord's leading was clear on this, so we are following, albeit slowly and with canes:)

I am still the girl friday for my job, love it, and get to see some real interesting things. The above pictures show just an example of this: Look at the bones this dog is chewing on...it is a deer leg! It was all connected when I first saw him. He bounded up to me as if to say.."look what i've got! Isn't it the coolest thing you've ever seen" to which i replied out loud"Oh my, that is a deer leg"

New school, new rules

So school started yesterday. New school, new rules. Or in the case of Barrett, maybe not enough rules. It is so much more laid back here at LogRog. Barrett is pretty much free to walk around before school, instead of being held captive in the gym until the bell rings. He gets to walk outside BY HIMSELF to shop class, unheard of at Hickory. And, being as how he is like me, he might prefer a little less freedom to begin with. Just til he is used to things. I think he is actually excited about the new found freedom, it just new. He will have time to go see Coach Queen before school, and that is good. He told me he said all of three words all day yesterday, and those might have been when he sat by a kid at lunch and said "My names Barrett" and the kid replied, "My names Greg" since that is the total of the conversation.
Skyler is okay, weird that some kids she actually knows in one of her classes did not talk TO her, but told Hayely, that they have a class with her. I would not go back to middle or high school for any amount of money.
So, as you think of it, pray for my kids, all of our kids really. My heart aches for mine right now, trying to make friends, everything new. I was nervous every year, and i went to the same school til i graduated.

random

we are getting a home phone again. I am ridiculously happy about it. I hate having to carry my cell everywhere. And i want an answering machine. I would love a phone with a really long cord...so that it goes across the kitchen...yes, instead of a cordless.
We have dish again. 200 hours of DVR...need I say more?
Big Brother...love it. Hate Evel, am afraid I am gonna end up liking Jen.
Started the registering process for log-rog schools today. Not sure I am ready for this.
We are having dinner at Acambaro before church tonight...i have not been there in over a month. Can you say WITHDRAWAL?
Mark and have been married 18 years now, as of July 29. Lovin' every minute of it.
Hallelujah, the fair is over...can't wait til next year!
congratulations to Jeff and Shannon...and matt and rachel...for entirely different reasons of course.
I slept 2 hours last night. Not on purpose
of course, i must mention the boyfriend.( we like him) but that is all i can say for now.
i vented today...it felt gooood.
i spilled tea down the front of my white shirt on the way to work, and had to buy a new one...too close to town to go home.
that's all i have for now...maybe i will blog again someday.

Your welcome, chica

Today is July 4th. We celebrate our independence from Britain, when we won the Revolutionary War. Thomas Jefferson is known as the writer of the Declaration of Independence. These are questions that Sean Hannity had on his "man on the street" hour yesterday. I only heard a few people answer, but none of them got them all right. Even the producer of the segment got them wrong. Amazing.

I made breakfast today. Although since we just ate about 5 minutes ago, it might be lunch! We had biscuits and gravy, eggs, potatoes, and sausage. Also preserves and jelly if you don't like gravy. Barrett said he felt like he was at the Boschens.

We just watched the Hot Dog Eating Championship at Coney Island in NY. GROSS! It was a photo finish, believe it or not. Of course, they may not count the dogs that Cobiachi threw back up at the end. GROSS! I am so glad we are not having hot dogs tonight!!!

It is weird to have a holiday in the middle of the week. I keep feeling like it is Saturday.

Skyler's hair is so cute. I think it is funny that it is called short, because it is still below her chin. I want to grow mine that LONG! I know, you have heard it before. But I can dream, can't I?

The Wilson's came over this week for dinner, we had meatloaf(a relative success) mashed potatoes, green beans, and salad. I have actually made dinner everyday this week, which is a huge thing around here. Anyway, we had a great time. I can't believe they had not been here for months. That has to change.

Anyway, everyone have a safe and wonderful holiday.

only words

I know I have not blogged since Guatemala. I have not been sure as to what to say. The answers i give when asked in person do not seem adequate. Amazing, beautiful, sad, thrilling, scary, overwhelming, and so many more words. But they are only words. To fully understand how we have felt since going and coming back, you have had to have been on a trip yourself. But I will try to give you an idea:

When we first arrived, being the homebody that I am, i was already homesick and could not imagine 9 days ahead of me before home. By the time we left, i was ready to get home, but not sure how i was gonna leave.

The first night we went into the orphanage, i cried for all those babies who had been given up. I was heartbroken for them, for the ones who gave them up, no matter the reasons, and also sad I could not figure out how to get one home with me. The night we said goodbye, i cried because although they might not remember me, I would never forget them, but my heart was full of happiness because even if I could have figured out a way to bring one home, they ALL already have "forever families" waiting on them.

While we were there, I was scared of many things. We were at the top of a mountain, which is way high, we drove on roads that usually did not have guardrails, or anything besides a huge drop off. But the views were amazing.We rode in a boat for about 45 minutes one way across a lake to Santaigo. I have been on boats before, on a lake, however this was way different. But a blast. We had an earthquake, but I didn't even get to/have to feel it. I wasn't sure about the food, but everything we had was wonderful. I can't speak Spanish, but plenty of the kids could, at least well enough to get us by. I am not adventurous, so i did not do the slide,or the zip-line, but it was so cool to watch.

A man got saved while we were there. He was telling me in spanish what a blessing our song was, and how we sang like angels, and how he had accepted Christ. I could not understand him without Larry, but i am so thankful that I will see him in heaven now, and will be able to talk without any trouble at all.

This is all just a little of our time there, I could keep going, but again, all of this is only words, you must, must, must go on a trip for yourself. Even if it is not out of the country. The lives you will touch will amaze you, but more than that are the ways your life is touched by those you meet.

I will never be the same. Thankfully.

Greetings from Guatemala

Just a quick hola from Eagles Nest in Guatemala! we are having an amazing time. Our hacienda is wonderful, the views are absolutely amazing, and we have seen so many things and people. I will blog more later, of course, but I just wanted to say thank you again to all of you who have given to make this trip possible. As i told Mark in an email, there are so many things here that are scary to me. Not knowing the language, which thankfully, some of the kids know enough to get us by. But i am not a fan of heights, and we are so high in the mountains, the roads are kinda scary at times, lots of steep curves, most without guard rails or sides, just stuff like that. But God is so good, and the blessings from this trip have far outweighed the scary. I am just learning to trust that His hand is strong enough to hold me up, no matter how far below me the ground is.

More later...keep praying for us...

These kids are beautiful.

You are the sunshine of my life

So much could be said here, June 1st is the day we found out we were having Skyler.
We were so young, so scared, but about to begin the greatest journey of our lives...being parents.
God has blessed us with an amazing daughter, we could not have asked for any better.
WE LOVE YOU SKY.

yes, i know

it really has been a long time. I just haven't known what to blog, even if I would have had time to do it. Sky and Mark have pretty well been the bloggers able to keep you up to date, and interesting too.
We have been so busy, but the end appears to be in sight. Let's just say I cannot wait for school to be out. The back and forth is killing me. Well, not killing, but exhausting...
We love our house. LOVE, LOVE LOVE it. The Lord has been very gracious and blessed us, and is daily teaching me to trust Him, even when it's hard.
Money's are raised for Guatemala, thanks again to everyone! The concert was a success, and we are shopping tonight for the "trial size" items. I am so excited and so scared at the same time. I seem to be having a constant lump in my throat, to not cry before we even get there. I am sure I will do enough of that when it is time to leave, but I already long to meet them. Who is the "them"?
Only God knows, but I think I am overwhelmed by the fact that He does know who they are, and how we will impact each other. And that He has provided so amazingly for our trip. And that I will be gone from the 2 most important guys in my life for 10 days. And that I get to be with my favorite girl for 10 days. All of it.
So, pretty much that is it. I spend my days exhausted and overwhelmed. Both in mostly good ways. I will post more...just not able to say when.
Lastly, in case you read this, I am still praying for you, and I love you.

She still calls me mommy

Things from the week:
Skyler is in Florida, i miss that girl, she calls me mommy when she says bye. It makes me want to cry. In a good way.
Donnie Osmond is going to do a personal concert in some lucky mom's home for Mothers Day.
You have to register somehow on Dalila's evening show on KGBX.
We only have five days left til we move.
We are not packing fast enough(in my opinion anyway)
We will be living across the street from a guy I went to church with for years while I was a kid.
Sun, Sun and more sun!!!
There is way less laundry around here when Sky is out of town. I will be glad to have more laundry.
Natalie is four today.
Morgan Wilson is 13 tomorrow.
Supreme Casserole from Jan Bemarkt in the new church cookbook is amazing!
Did I mention we only have 5 days til we move?

To christa

Since you mentioned reading the blogs, i just wanted to tell you how much fun it was to sit and talk yesterday morning. I know we have said this before, but i only laugh like that with a few people, and it is wonderful to have those memories to laugh over again and again. I have a laugh that appears most when I am laughing with you, and once in Target I was reading a card, laughing out loud when Mark said from an isle over, "Christa, is that you?" I don't even remember what the card said, but it was worthy of the "Christa" laugh. Thanks for being my friend all these many years. i will show you that post card soon.

longwinded

I am sitting in the kitchen that now for all intents and purposes belongs to someone else. And i have to admit to a bit, just a bit, of sadness. But with that bit of sadness is joy unspeakable--just a few more weeks, and we will be home. See, i already think of our house in rogersville as home. So exciting.
Mark and Barrett are sick. They are both sleeping, with fevers(Mark slight, Barrett 100.2 for now)sore throats, but not strep. Barrett is upset cause he is missing football practice, but did finally admit he doesn't feel like being there. Skyler is at a ball game, and I am trying to come up with something for supper.
I want to share something with you my blogging friends. I am almost 40 (shock) years old. But I still want my parents to be proud of me. I guess that will never change, will it? My parents and sister and her family went with us on Saturday to see the new house. I knew my sis would like it, and i was fairly sure my parents would. But I so wanted them to believe we have made a good choice. Mark's parents have already seen it, love it and let us know they are happy for us. So to have my parents feel that way too, is a great feeling that makes me feel a little giggly inside i must say. And also, just so they know, I am pretty proud of my parents too. And I am gonna tell you why.
My family has always gone to church. My two oldest brothers don't go anymore, but we are praying that they will soon. But my parents, me, min and my youngest brother have all stayed in church. But I have never seen my parents as excited and as involved as they have been since they started going to Broadway Baptist. Now of course i wish they went to HSBC. But they visited and it was just not right for them. They still come to hear us sing of course, but they have really found a home at Broadway. They are active in their class, they go on trips and activities, they are there all the time as long as they aren't sick, and they have found a renewed joy in the Lord. Have they told me this? No, i have seen it happening in their lives the last few years. And it is so cool to see. Today my dad told me about how the Lord had already given them back something that they had given away for Him. I can't share details, but I can't tell you how cool it is to share God's goodness and the way he alone can bring about blessings with your parents. It is also so great to be able to then share that with my kids, to show them that God is working in all our lives, and wants us to share that with each other.
Long post, i know. But i just had to share. Thanks for reading.

in no specific order, obviously

Here are a few pictures of our new house. You know where. We are so excited, and at the same time it seems surreal. The best part is knowing that every step of the way, the Lord has made Himself known. I don't have any doubts that this is what we are supposed to do. I am just still amazed at the speed with which it happened. But thrilled at the way He has worked it out.
I have developed a couple of nervous habits during the past few weeks however. They are wringing my hands, or popping my knuckles. I don't even know I am doing it usually. And I don't really mean to do it. It is not even an endearing habit, just annoying. Especially to hillen.
He is the one who pointed it out to me last night. We were talking about the move and stuff, and he looked over and said "Stop wringing your hands, cin" so I did, but almost immediately I started popping my knuckles. Yikes!
Well, mainly I am trying to beat hillenblog at getting pictures of our house on the blog, so this is it for now. We have permission to post them, so I am. Enjoy. We will!

Tomorrow is another day

One of Scarlett's favorite sayings in the movie "Gone with the Wind". She's right, ya gotta give her that. We went to Miss Sybil's house for dinner last Tuesday and watched almost all of the movie and then finished it at home Wednesday night. That Scarlett is not very nice. She stole boyfriends and husbands, and was very, very selfish. I was actually surprised that in 1939 when it was made, they would allow a woman to be portrayed as anything but sugar and spice. She was definitely not that!
As you have probably seen on hillenblog, our house is for sale, and we have spent the last 2 weeks or so fixing it up to sell. The kitchen is fabulous! Thanks to friends and family who helped, we appreciate it so much!
Quick update on the Guatemala Trip. Skyler had donations totaling $220 last week, adding to her total of $425! I had $100 added to mine, I know who some of you are, thank you, thank you, thank you! When we get a list of donators, we will send you a letter letting you know the details of our trip. We had a meeting last night, and there was a line in our itinerary that had Lisa in tears, and was my favorite of the whole thing: PLAY WITH THE ORPHANS. I tell you what, I cannot wait to love on those babies and kids. It will be amazing.
Okay, i will end with this...last night hillen and i were watching what the DVR said was Amazing Race, but due to ball games was really the program 60 minutes. I hate that show, but last night they interviewed Simon Cowell from American Idol. First, I have to say, he is funny. And smart. But the thing I like the most about him is when the interviewer asked him a question, he answered "I could not care less. Seriously, I couldn't care less!" I was so happy to hear him word that phrase correctly!! So many people, and I don't want to hurt any feelings here, but so many people say that phrase as "I could care less." Well, that means you still care some. So if you are trying to let someone know that you don't care, you should say it correctly,"I couldn't care less". I have no more care left in me. I do not care at all. See?
Well, that is it for now, I am so tired and we have a basketball banquet in a little while for Barrett.
even if you couldn't care less...I will blog again soon. After all, tomorrow is another day.

Oh,Oh,Oh, the weekend

I forgot to mention that Sunday is the spaghetti luncheon, with proceeds going to the Guatemala missions trip team. Don't forget, and we will see you there right after church Sunday Morning!

A Fine Week, indeed

So, this has been a very nice week in the life of hillenblogshappywife. I started the week with emails from Gary & Lisa letting me know that skyler and i each have $425 in our Guatemala fund! I don't know who yet, but someone has given to our online donation link thingie. That is so exciting! We both have $370 left, which doesn't sound bad at all, even when you put it together, $740. And we are confident that God is providing, and so thankful to whoever you are for believing with us and allowing God to make you a blessing in our lives.
Tuesday was my parents 48th anniversary. Happy Anniversary mom and dad. You are becoming a rariety in this world. I am thankful everyday for the example you are of committment in marriage. I know that it is not always easy, but you have shown me that it is always worth it. We love you.
Wednesday was painting the kitchen. Not me, Mark. I am not a painter. I was packing up clutter in our room, just in case we decide to sell, so the house will show better. I cannot believe how big our room looks with so much stuff taken out, i do not even want to think about having to put back anything. Maybe if we don't move, we can still keep the clutter out!! The kitchen is looking great by the way! It is a wonderful shade of green, and makes me happy just looking at the walls!
Tonight is more painting and boxing up the clutter in barrett's room, and of course, survivor is on. Too bad Grey's is a rerun.
Tomorrow is Friday, a busy day at work, and nothing planned in the evening as far as i know...more boxing??
Did I mention everyday has been wonderful this week weatherwise? I love, love, love it. Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy. Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry...Sunshine on the water looks so lovely, sunshine almost always makes me high.

Threescore and seven years ago...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!
1940

Guatemala, here we come

Well, since i told you I would keep you posted about our trip, I am so happy and humbled to share this with you. Skyler and I have a payment due on March 1st of $200 each. Today the Lord provided that exact amount for both of us. Yep, our 1st payment taken care of. You know who you are, thank you so much. To know that you are excited with us means more to us than we can tell you. We love you all.
Today was Family Sunday Dinner, and yes, i missed church again. Next month, no excuses, cause Jean Ann is making the main course.But today, I made the fried chicken, which was a cinch compared to the rest of the meal, I mean the part I was supposed to make, but thought someone else was bringing. I was supposed to make the potatoes, which really, who wants fried chicken and gravy with no potatoes, you gotta have em, right? But leave it to me, I lost the menu and assignments again this time around, so got mixed up and thought I was supposed to do the corn on the cob, and Jean Ann was making the potatoes, when she was doing the corn, and I was potatoes. Well, we had used all the milk to make gravy,(shout out to Linda--great gravy), and when i ran to the store to get the good kind of instant potatoes, did I get milk???NO!!! So then I had to race to express lane for milk, and Jean Ann made the potatoes. Which were great too, couldn't tell they were instant at all, and only a spoonful left!
Todays whole menu was fantastic...Fried Chicken, forty eight pieces, with only about 10 left over; potatoes and gravy(see above) :); green beans--real from the garden, great flavor, could have eaten the whole pot; corn on the cob; salad my sister makes that I can't get enough of...and homemade macaroni and cheese that my mom makes, and no matter how closely i follow her recipe, i can't make it as good. Rolls, and red velvet cake for dessert, it doesn't get any better.
We missed Jon and Bec, Dennis and Carolyn, and Chuck, but you were all in our hearts.
So, another week begins, and I hope it is a great one for all...today has certainly been a great start to mine.

Who are the people in your neighborhood

So ever wonder who your neighbors really are? I do. We have nick-names for some of our neighbors. Scary guy who never wears a shirt lives a few doors down and on the opposite side of the street. In the ten years we have lived here, I've seen him outside with a shirt on twice. And he is not even great to look at. I mean, if you're never gonna wear a shirt, at least look good doing it. Then we have the overloaded lawn ornament family next door, who make it nearly impossible for skyler to sleep at Christmas time. Then we have the yearly renters, who live across and one over, the people only stay around for a year or so, and then off they go...lease up! But my favorite by far is dead ladies house, she wasn't really dead, we just noticed one day a few years ago that she hadn't come out of her house for a long time, car in the drive, no movement. So, we began to wonder if she was dead. Then, suddenly, there she was. Alive and well, but she never did tell us what she was doing in there. BUT NOW, she has moved and her house is a rental. AND I AM PRETTY SURE IT IS A SAFE HOUSE. No, i am not kidding. She sold it about 3 years ago, and ever since, people move in for a few weeks, or a month or so, and then gone, vanished into thin air. There one morning, gone by the afternoon, and never being out much the time they lived there. So, yup, it's a safe house. I mean, what better place to put one? No one else but an avid reader like me is gonna suspect a safe house in this crappy neighborhood.
(Well, okay, not crappy, persay, but it sure makes the sentence funnier) Now, this is not to say we don't have nice neighbors, either. They are very nice for the most part, except the ones in the safe house...they don't talk.

BABIES, BABIES AND MORE BABIES

I have the exciting opportunity to go on a missions trip to Guatemala in June. Our church is taking a group of high school and college kids to the Eagles Nest, an orphanage run by our missionaries, the Boggs. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love kids. Now, rest assured, I am not planning on having any more children of my own, but I love, love, love, everyone else's babies and kids. I am so excited to be able to go to an orphanage and love on so many children, and at the same time I am already wondering how I will leave them. My sister, who has visited an orphanage in the Philippines, says I will leave them, but they will always be in my heart.
I have never been on a missions trip, never been out of the country, and honestly, I am not really thrilled with the thought of the plane rides. But that is a small concern compared to being with my daughter, who also loves children, for around 10 days, with the only goal being to give ourselves away to these missionaries and children. We will also be doing wordless dramas in some schools, maybe going to a park to witness, teaching the wordless dramas to kids there, and maybe even light construction work...lots of fun, and having to get out of my comfort zone.
I have seen many of our friends go on missions trips before, and honestly, this is the first time I have felt like the Lord is telling me "I want you to go." Now i find myself saying "okay, I'll go, but how?" That's why we are posting this link to the website and online donation page. Maybe the Lord will lead you to give toward me or Skyler going. Maybe he is going to lead you to pray for us while we are gone. Maybe He is going to provide the funds in some way we have not even imagined yet. I am trusting in Him to provide, because I feel so strongly that He wants us to go.
So, I will keep you all "posted" on my blog about the progress, and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

To my best friend, on your birthday

38 Reasons I love being Hillenblogs Wife:

• the way you smile
• the smile that is just for me
• your laugh
• you are hardly ever in a bad mood
• you love me when I am in a bad mood
• you snuggle in your sleep
• your snores...really
• you let me put my ice cold feet on you
• you laugh when I snore(which I don't)
• you are a true servant...
• you like the fair
• you are a hard worker
• you let me read, all the time
  
• you are patient, usually
• you keep our secrets
• you pick out great cards...every time.
  
• you married me, even tho you didn't have too
• you eat food sometimes that you don't like, and still compliment the cook
• you let me get extra add-ins at Andy's
• you go grocery shopping with me
• you are an amazing kisser (sorry kids)
• you tell me I am beautiful, and make me believe you
• you like to take my picture
• you dream big
• you love the Lord, and our church
• your blue eyes
• perfect lips(that the kids got from you)
• your eyebrows
• your "man" hands
• you still want to sit with me in the chair-and-a-half
  
• you let me keep a water purifier on the faucett, even tho you can't taste a difference
  
• you love New York
• you never meet a stranger
• you hold me when I cry
• you look like Patrick Dempsey
  
• you are younger than me, but not by much
• you have loved me forever

Happy 38th Birthday, Mark, I love you. You truly are my dream come true, the one I didn't know I was looking for...but am so, so glad I found.

old habits die hard

So, obviously I am not any better of a blogger now than I was last time I blogged and said I'd try to do better. Way long time since my last blog.
A lot has happened in the past week and a couple days.
I had a muscle spasm on Monday. The most horrific pain I have ever felt...way beyond childbirth, which the Lord so graciously wipes from our minds so we can love the children who just caused us so much pain. At first I was convinced I was having a heart attack, so I looked up the symptoms while I dialed Mark and then hung up. Then I dialed again, and hung up. Then it still hurt so I called him for real. Went to urgent care, where they gave me a shot and some happy pills. I am now so much better, and I really hope that never happens again.
Tuesday, work. Wednesday, work...snow so no church. Thursday, oh, wondrous Thursday!!!
Oliver came home! The airport was packed, the tears were flowing, and he was so sweet, so pleasant, and we were all so happy to see him.
Friday, took Barrett to the Doctor to do a scoliosis screening, because he had noticed a curve in his side. Sure enough, he has it. For now, baseline x-rays, and a check in six months. No restrictions on sports, good news.
Saturday, Kent and Ethan spent the day and night here...they are quite a pair. Both so smart. Kent wrote a book about superheroes, Ethan helped, and they did these really cool wooden model kits. I'm not sure who enjoyed the models more, the boys or Barrett.
Sunday was church, you gotta love that Jerry Thorpe. Great message, and goes along with the Daniel bible study I am in. I am afraid we have gone from giving Satan too much credit and power to completely underestimating him.
Today was another day that God has shown his love and mercy for his children. Hayely Queen who is sky's bestest friend had a brain tumor removed today. She is doing so well, God has gone beyond even all our prayers. Keep praying for her...and her family. She means a lot to us at Hillenblog's home...we love her very much.
So, tomorrow work...going to see Hayely,
Wednesday, i gotta gig at KCBT in Kansas City...I think I am gonna end up driving up by myself, because Barrett has basketball tournaments, Mark is staying for those, and Skyler cannot miss fashion design again...and since rehearsal is at 5, I can't wait until after school to take off.
Well, that's it in a rather large nutshell...have a great week.

Shout out to korea!

I was just checking my stats, when I noticed that someone in Korea read my blog---Thanks Rachel! Of course I know you checked others as well, but it is cool to see it on mine, since mine is the only one I can check!
I also noticed that I have the most return visitors on Friday. That made me realize how disappointed those people must be when they see it is the same old post it was the last Friday.
I will try to do better, now that the laundry isn't ruling my life, maybe I will be a better Blogger.
We'll see.

My hair isn't growing any faster either.

I hate my fingernails. They have always been brittle, easily broken things, and it doesn't help that I have bitten them since I was little. Even when I was pregnant with my kids, and took prenatal vitamins they were still brittle and never grew. A few months ago, I started taking prenatals again and also taking Calcium, in hopes that maybe without a baby using all the vitamins, it would help them grow. I think it would work, but I keep forgetting to take them. I have had the same 30 day supply for 3 months now. Right now I have two nails on my left hand that I would consider long for me anyway. The rest have broken off this weekend, and it is driving me to distraction. I have a couple of manicure gift cards I need to use, but I was trying to get all my nails around the same length. Don't think that is ever gonna happen. Mark of course has to clip his nails every other day, cause they grow so fast. What is up with that?
This is a boring post. I know it. But I needed to blog so I don't get kicked off, since i am one of the ones who complain when people don't blog.
Can't wait to see Oliver and Company on Thursday!

Click your heels, dorothy, there's no place like home

Well, we got power back last night. Thank you Lord, and please get everyone elses on soon. Last Friday, when I so lightheartedly told my sister to still let the kids spend the night, she just might not get them back for a day or two, I never expected to rush them home Saturday morning, and then be the ones spending the night with friends. I really never expected the storm to be so bad, to cause so much damage, and to be without power for so long. We have great friends and family who took us in, and my sister was host to our brother and sister in law, our parents, and two dogs. My brother chuck found shelter with friends he works with in Nixa, and my other brother and his family were able to stay with his in laws. Becky was able to get to Florida and Jon, and George and linda were at Beckys and then had power at home. We stayed with the Albrittons Saturday night, and then the wilsons, for the rest of the week, until Friday night when we got the house warm enough to sleep in, and last night got power. Thanks to all of you, if I have learned anything from this, at least one is that we have amazing family and friends, which we knew, but also took for granted. I love you guys.
So if anyone still without power needs to do laundry, plug in a crock pot, watch tv, blog, anything at all, please do not hesitate to come over. Even when we are not here, you can come by. We will be happy to share. Our door will always be open. Wide.

$201.06

That is the total that we spent at the grocery store today. We have this habit of waiting until we run out of almost everything, and then go. We are always surprised by the total at the end, at least Mark is, but he has not been going with me for too long. We usually go major shopping every three weeks or so, so divided by three, the weekly average is not to bad, right? Anyway, I only blog this to tell you how close I was to the actual total today when we were checking out. I asked Mark if he wanted to guess the total, and he guessed $150.00. I told him my guess was $201.84. He looked askance at that grand total, and I reminded him we did get the water purifier this time, which ads almost $30 to the bill. Anyway, the checker guy was laughing at us, and the lady in line behind us was anxiously awaiting the total, so I gave a little drum roll as the last item went by. The checker guy smiled and hit the total button:$201.06!!! Everyone around looked at me in amazement, and I was very excited to be that close. I would have been more excited in the long run if Mark had been correct, but oh, well. Pretty good guessing, eh?
Just in case Betsy reads this, I made some killer pork chops the other day. So good in fact that Mark would like a repeat sometime this week, and we even went to Harter House to get the chops. I tried a new recipe last week for a change of pace. We always seem to have the same things over and over...and I guess it will stay that way, cause the new dish I tried was awful! It sounded so good in the cookbook, and yet tasted so bad when it was finished. And yes, I followed the recipe, because I am really no good at all with just making stuff up! So today at the store, everything we bought is from the tried and true category.
Tomorrow is Sunday of course, and it is back to Sunday School and big church. See you there, get yourself some coffee, and enjoy the fellowship!

Rainy days and Mondays always get me down

I thanked God for the rain today, even tho I don't like it. I told Him that He says to give thanks in everything, so I was thanking Him for the rain. I get some of my best time with God when I am in the van...when I turn off the radio and just talk to Him. You know, like He is my friend!:)
Crystal and Tiffany are coming over tonight...I love those girls. We have 4 really great girls that we have adopted, Tiff and Carie from the college class, and Crystal and Steph, just cause we want to. When I was little and my family went to church at Lakeview Baptist...my parents had adopted kids too. That was confusing for me at first...why would you adopt grown up kids when you already had 5 young ones? Of course, anyone over ten seemed grown up to me then, let alone a college student. So anyway, I can remember Darryl, Valerie, Charlie and Donna, and maybe someone named Tom or something, i could be making that guy up, but someone went with Valerie, right mom and dad? Charlie and Donna were married, and Donna was pregnant with their son Scotty, and right before Scotty was born, Charlie was killed in a car accident. Man, I remember how sad that was, how mad I was at the other person, even tho if I remember correctly, it may have been Charlie's fault for passing and not having room to get back over. Anyway, most of the memories I have of that time are good, very faint, but good. So I think it is great that now Mark and I have the adopted kids, and my kids will have great memories to look back on too.
Do you ever have days that you long for heaven more than others? Of course you do. I have been filling out new calendars the past few days, and I still write in my grandpa and marks grandpa and my grandma thomas' birthdays. Also with Chris losing his nana, and Pat Walker going home this week, anyhow, some days I just long for heaven more. I know its partly because I am older, but honestly, i am ready to not have to say goodbye. My grandma has been gone since 1982, but sometimes I can see her face so clearly and hear her say "Well, howdy-do and how are you" when we would answer the phone. Skyler would have loved knowing her, my grandma was so creative, and loved to read and would have loved being with Skyler. My grandpa thought that my kids hung the moon, and I know he would be so proud of them today. And maybe he could have taught them to play the guitar. Grandpa Doubt was with us longer, so my kids have much more memories of him, and I am so glad. He loved them so much, and Becky's kids too, we have been so blessed to have such a great heritage. I see so much of him in Mark, and that makes me so proud of them both. Kent said it best at Christmas dinner"Raise your hand if you miss Grandpa Doubt." Out of the blue, and yet it was so sweet and incredibly enough, just what we needed. Today is a longing for heaven day. I can't wait to see them again.
Well, I know this was longwinded and kinda sad. Rainy days are good for that. Sunny tomorrow, I'll remember to say thanks for that too.

"Loads" of advice

Thanks to everyone who offered such great advice about the laundry. It is still a work in progress, but I have been washing everything in cold, and no one stinks or has a dread disease, so I guess I can continue that. I'm thinking if I do a couple loads a day I won't realize how much I am really doing. As laurad says, it is like a part time job!


I hope everyone is having a great start to the new year...so far so good here. I feel like I am still trying to get caught up on sleep, two nights of 1:00 am are no good for me. I am such a baby when it comes to sleep.


We went to a flea market, Sky got some really cool stuff, I got nothing. But I saw a lot of really cool stuff, got lost several times, and had just a great time looking around. It amazes me the stuff people put in their booths. I saw several milk bottles, glass, but the kind you can get at Price Cutter right now if you want, with milk in it, for the same price as the empty jug at the flea market. That is not so cool, right? I was kinda looking for some amazing canisters, because no one here likes the containers the sugar and flour are in right now. But the cool canisters were all rusted inside, and I would be afraid to put anything in them. I did see some really cool melamin dishes, cups and saucers, but no plates. We used to have some cups just like them when I was growing up, that made me all nostalgic. But I don't know if that stuff is dishwasher or microwave safe, so I didn't get any of that either.


We had omelets for dinner. They weren't bad, but not as good as we used to make. We used to make such good omelets we would invite people over for them. Now that seems kinda weird. Oh well, our kitchen walls used to be decorated with menus from cool restaurants that someone who is the husband here had stolen in high school and college. But that really was cool. Not weird. And he hasn't stolen any for a long time now. :)

Well, that is about all for now...useless info about my day. But some days are just like that.