A little pick me up

"Rooted" by Ann Whim Tseng

Warning: sappy stuff ahead!

Had a mini meltdown last night, but my DH was exactly what I needed him to be: just there with me, not solving my problems or handing out “I told you so”s. He gave me a little breathing room and then just stayed close to me, touched my arm at just the right time and listened intently, patiently. God, I love that man!

Just when I think it's time to get a little "pharmaceutical help", I can call him up and he's the thing that "takes the edge off" for me. He's my rudder in the middle of a storm, my compass when I'm lost. He keeps me rooted and encourages me to grow.

No matter what ails me, he's always better than what any doctor could order. Love ya, babe.

Spring has...sprung

Emerging from the ground yesterday afternoon - - a sure sign of spring. I think this is a tulip. Also, DD insisted on wearing a t-shirt and her sandals to ride her bike in the driveway. Then, she had to climb the remaining snowbanks to get to the compost bin. What a scene - - spring in Iowa.

DH made a wonderful dinner last night with steaks on the grill, baked potato, salad & garlic bread. We lingered at the dinner table and just talked after DD went upstairs.

Up at 4:30 to make it on the bus to DM for our annual visit to the Capitol. So tired...

Just what I needed

Last weekend, I volunteered at a Walk to Emmaus and it was exactly what I needed to gain some clarity and peace in my life. The team I worked with was an amazing group of women totally committed to living as servants of the Lord and daughters of the King. Such an uplifting experience - - I can't possibly say how much my Emmaus Walk and Agape Team opportunity have meant to me.

While my weekend was a "mountain-top experience," I was so happy to come home again to DD and DH. They expressed their agape love by cleaning the entire house and getting all the laundry done. What a blessing...

DH is on spring break this week with ambitious plans for working on his shop and installing a new toilet in the upstairs bathroom. *happy dance*

Quiet please

The buzzing of saws, the hammering, drilling, shuffling, sanding, and dusting that's going on right now in our office space is getting to be a bit much for me. Sure, I love all that noise when it's in my house, the prospect of trying to work and talk on the phone is more than even I can handle.

I'm a girl who likes quiet. My DH, on the other hand, likes to fall asleep to the sound of talk radio or a fan whirring. I cannot. I guess that falls under the ever-growing column of my neurotic tendencies. It's enough to deal with all the voices inside my head, let alone ambient noise!

Lots of ambient noise around me right now, and not just the kind that registers on a decibel meter. My soul is troubled, my heart fears. I've been known to worry things into existence, but these concerns are real. I'm not even sure what to pray for, but I keep praying. The Lord is always near.

DD lost another tooth this morning. Last night at dinner, it was tethered in her mouth by the tiniest piece of skin. I was scared that she would swallow it in her sleep . . . the tooth fairy doesn't leave money for those, you know! This morning, she warily came into the bathroom and asked me if I would pull it. I picked up a damp washcloth, and swiftly and painlessly pulled the sucker out. She was very relieved -- as was I.

Kids do the darndest things

DD's had her first loose tooth. She was so excited to get it out, she wiggled it constantly. She received all sorts of advice from friends & family as to how to actually pull it out; everything from using a washcloth to grab it & pull it... to tie one end of a sting to her tooth and the other end to a door knob & slam the door closed (that seemed the least appealing to her). Sometimes, she wanted DH & I to try to pull it out, but then she'd change her mind:

Then, she got the idea to have her stuffed animal, Alicia, help her with the task. She tied one end of a piece of dental floss to her tooth and the other end to Alicia's paw. She then threw Alicia and shrieked. The tooth was gone:

The "toothless wonder"

Scenes of Winter

Friday & Saturday provided us with a fresh layer of snow to create this lovely scene in our back yard.

When we decided not to travel to the concert on Friday, my neighbor (and fellow concert-goer) offered her husband to give me a ride home since he has 4 wd. He graciously picked me up from work and braved the treacherous roads. When I arrived home, my DH and DD had made all attempts to lift my spirits . . . chocolate will always do the trick!

The 120' long, 4-5' high drift that runs parallel to our driveway became quite the fort this weekend. While DH worked at digging out the snow, DD tested the "slide-ability" of the slope.

Pheasant on Saturday morning - - notice his tail is clumped with ice and snow. Same pheasant the next day - - he lost some of the ice & snow. He hangs out on the edge of the pine wind break and has enjoyed some of the feast.

Under the cover of night

10:30 pm under a full moon, DH and I watched from the upstairs window three bunnies playing in the snow. They put on quite a show. Though the moonlight was bright and illuminated much of the earth below, there was just enough darkness to leave a little mystery to the cavorting figures. DH had scattered some bird seed by the pine wind break and it was apparently a winter feast for blue jays, cardinals, pheasants, rabbits and other countryside wildlife. After we watched the show below, we hunkered down in the covers and talked in the darkness like we did when we dated. 'Twas a magical night indeed.

On Second Thought

Considering the fact that travel is not advised on any of the roads leading to the concert venue and that tow trucks are prohibited from rescuing stranded motorists on said roads, we have decided to forego the concert tonight. *sigh*

Round Two

March is officially in like a lion! The second big storm hit last night with fierce wind and heavy snow. The snow was still blowing so hard this morning that I couldn't get pictures of the chicken house surrounded by 3-4 foot drifts. School was cancelled for both DH and DD, so they are home and safe. I ventured 20 miles to work down a state highway where parts of the southbound lane are covered in drifts of snow so high you have to take your life in your hands by driving in the opposite lane. My knuckles are still white.

Why go in to work on a day like this, you ask? Because it gets me closer to Des Moines so I can see these guys tonight with some girlfriends. We're staying at a hotel across the street from the concert venue, so we won't have to drive home afterwards. Woo hoo!! Love me some music.