Well, the deed is done.
We finally caved and bought a 15 passenger van. Those little 8-seat Suburbans just don’t cut it anymore. I love driving Suburbans, but I have to face up to the fact that we are officially weirdos if we can’t properly fit into a nice mainstream SUV. Weirdos like us drive 15 passenger vans. That’s just how it’s done. Right, Mom? Dad?

test

Rachael has a new trick: she stands in front of the fridge (or, given the chance, she dives in the open door) and makes a peculiar noise. She’s sitting in my lap, right now, looking at the image to the left and making the very same sound. It sounds like an extended gutteral ?kkkkk.? It sounds like Reddi Wip being sprayed. Coincidentally, that?s what it is supposed to sound like. Rachael is asking somebody ? anybody ? to spray Reddi Wip into her mouth.
I wonder how she thought of that.

“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

Is it just me, or does this make everyone feel shallow? I don’t know that any of us can (or would want to) adhere to a standard like this all the time, but it certainly makes one think twice before speaking, doesn’t it?

• Is there a Biblical basis for this standard? It certainly sounds wise.
• Into which category do my discussions generally fall?
• How can I direct discussions more toward ideas and less toward people without sounding like (or worse yet, being) a pompous, pretentious intellectual-wanna-be?
• Hey, am I discussing an idea right now? Does it count as a discussion if I’m only talking to myself?

I also feel entitled to ask, Can I sincerely discuss anything other than people, when my day is so consumed by a flock of small people? But then I remind myself that Mrs. Roosevelt was a mother of 6, and as the wife of the President, she probably did not “eat the bread of idleness.” So that excuse won’t work either.
Sigh…to the Word, then. Thoughts, anyone?

Picture this …..

a family of nine opening their not quite 1200 suare foot home to four other families for a Birthday celebration for the 2 youngest of the clan.

Now picture this….

the four other families have a combined total of eight more “less than five year old” children to add to the fray….AND it’s hot ehough on this early texas day that NO ONE not even the adults want to go outside.

Get the picture?

Now for the final element …. we fed them icecream BEFORE supper ….. pictures to follow.

It was the most (and loudest ) fun we have had in our house for a while. I’m glad I married a fearless woman

from the army times ….

Troops begin combat operations in New Orleans

By Joseph R. Chenelly Army Times staff writer

NEW ORLEANS — Combat operations are underway on the streets “to take this city back” in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“This place is going to look like Little Somalia,” Brig. Gen. Gary Jones, commander of the Louisiana National Guard’s Joint Task Force told Army Times Friday as hundreds of armed troops under his charge prepared to launch a massive citywide security mission from a staging area outside the Louisiana Superdome. “We’re going to go out and take this city back. This will be a combat operation to get this city under control.”

Jones said the military first needs to establish security throughout the city. Military and police officials have said there are several large areas of the city are in a full state of anarchy. ….

Anyone for a larger welfare state?

I know let’s teach poeple to be less self-reliant and to be MORE dependant on the state!

I paid $3.19 per gallin today for gas. I suddenly long for the days of $1.87 per gallon.

Granted I bought Super Deluxo Supreme with a half gainer but it still boggles the mind.

The prettiest girl in the world has her own blog now …. inashoe.blogspot.com check it out

Courtesy of Beall Phillips, given at a recent bridal shower.

1. Praise him privately, sincerely, for something different once a day.
2. Praise him publicly, in front of others, and to others.
3. Watch your words: Remember that what you say has a powerful influence over him.
4. Keep yourself attractive. Freshen up and look your best when he comes home, even if dinner burned and the dog messed on the carpet.
5. Write him notes, handwritten and e-mail, to remind him you are thinking of him.
6. Be the first to say I’m sorry, mean it, and don’t make it conditional on anything.
7. Pick up after him cheerfully, without drawing attention to it, just because you love him.
8. Make him your focal point, not your housekeeping, not your cooking, not even your children. If your relationship with him is solid and happy, everything else will fall into place. Make him successful in every way you can, and remember, if he is successful, you will be too.
9. Remember the “bigness” of the diverstiy your roles: sweetheart, confidant, counselor, best friend, encourager. Remember they all add up to: completer.
10. Pray for him continually and NEVER forget the burden of responsibility he carries as the head of your home.