Busy Bee

Ok, so I know I haven’t posted in awhile. But I have been a busy bee! What has kept me so occupied that I couldn’t jot down a line or two? Well, let’s see….
Schools out. Which means more dishes, more laundry, more mud, more mess.
Grandpa Porter is in a nursing home.
Work is still crazy busy.
The cat died – do not ask
What else? I know there’s something else. Hmmm….oh yeah! There’s this little project…..

My new house!!!

This picture is actually a couple weeks old.
Things are moving along wonderfully, and keeping us very busy. If i'm being honest it IS mostly Scott. But I'm a great saw dust sweeper!

Plumbing is going in, heat ducts are being installed, electric is being strung, the roof is being shingled... It is super dooper exciting!

I feel super blessed and humbled every single time I pull in that drive way and see the latest progress.

A couple Saturdays ago just as we started to leave after a long day it started to rain. I pulled out the drive way and started to drive away when I saw this...


It took my breath away. Isn't it beautiful when God reminds us of His promises? It's staggering to me.

~Char

I'll keep that in my pocket

Last night I went out to the land straight from work. Judy & Greg stopped by and got the kids on their way so I could just go on out. It took me exactly 30 minutes which is great b/c that means it won’t take any longer to get home than it does right now!
They had about ½ the interior walls done on the first floor; it was so exciting to pull in and see that. Before I left work I got on the internet and found about 6 Bible verses on dedicating a house. The kids and I and Judy wrote them on the wall studs and then we each wrote a prayer. I’m glad I thought of it because it was so fun and meaningful. Every now and then I come up with a good idea!
We stacked wood and cleaned up a bit then it was time to go home. It gets harder to leave every time!
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Have you ever stumbled across one of those moments where as a parent you say to yourself “hmmm, I need to keep this in my pocket for later”?
On the way home the boys rode with Scott so it was just me and Liv in the car. I was saying something and one of the words came out with a southern twang. Liv cracked up so I kept talking that way. Before long we were both hysterical. However everything changed when we got into town. Suddenly it was “mommy, quit! Somebody’s going to hear you!” Because you know the citizens of Hamilton have bionic, hear through the car, hearing. This new development just fueled my fire and I was on a role. Liv started shrinking down in the seat as far as she could.
So between laughs I told her that she needed to remember this for the next time she’s talking back or misbehaving. Watch out or I might just bust out into Ellie May in the middle of the Wal -mart’s and embarrass you!
“Livvie Paige getcha tail back over here ‘fore I jerk a knot in your back end!”
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On a totally different note……. I would just like to say that I am on my second week of “eating healthy” aka trying to lose the blubber that has taken over my mid section, thighs, and pretty much every surface of my body. Let the record show that if I weigh myself on Monday and have not lost anything …… it’s not going to be pretty people. Big girls like to eat and this has not been easy! So be on red alert people of America!

What is this world coming to?

What is this world coming to?
The economy is bad. Companies of all kind are doing cut backs, downsizing. Americans are working harder; spending more hours on the job for little pay. People are getting second and even third jobs just to make ends meet. OUR NATION IS STRESSED.
So here’s my question. Has the H.B. Reese Co. LOST it’s mind?

I had a stress filled morning and early afternoon. I need something. Chocolate. I need chocolate. I pull open my candy drawer-yes I have a candy drawer- nothing. I knew it was empty, but I prayed for a miracle. I guess I didn’t believe hard enough. Anyway, about a half hour later I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to get up from this desk and move around. I strolled by a co-worker’s desk and what to my wondering eyes does appear? A basket of candy! OH. MY. LIFESAVER.

There is a Reese cup sitting right on top. I hear it calling me… “Charmaine! Charmaine! Please eat me and be mellow!” I casually stroll over to the desk and retrieve the chocolate prize.
Ok, actually, I pretty much jumped/ slid “Duke’s of Hazard” style over the desk and attacked the basket full throttle.

I hurried back to my office to enjoy the reese cup in solitude. I open the wrapper, pull out the cup, what?!!! This Reece cup is HALF the size it should be. HELLO?!
Have the people at H.B. Reese Co. gone crazy? This is not the time to downsize our sugary confections. If there is one thing America was built on it is our right to drown our sorrows in food!
The average size of the American woman is 14 for pete’s sake! What are they thinking?

Give me chocolate or give me death!!!!!

The good 'ol Ohio valley....sneeze

Ohio! The heart of it all! What they really should have named it is Ohio! The heart of allergies!
I just sneezed for the 453rd time today, and it’s 9:33 a.m. “It’s gonna be a good day tater.”

Ohio summers are hot & humid, the spring is wet and dreary, and winter is bitterly cold, dark, and way too long. Fall is our only reprise. So….why do we live here again? Actually, I know why I live here. I was born here. Not that I haven’t thought about it! I guess I’m just too lazy or stupid to move? I digress.
So the flip side of that question is why would anybody in their right mind move here? I’ve met several transplanted Ohioans. The general census seems to be they did it for love. All I can say to that is……???
One person I’m aquainted with even moved here from Hawaii. Um, hello? Hawaii? Couldn’t you have made HIM move THERE? Would you really have to MAKE him? I mean beaches, ocean, breathtaking beauty, and perfect sunny weather year round or OHIO. Is that really a contest?
I know Ohio does have beauty. Don’t get me wrong. It’s just that -SNEEZE- the pollen and mold have colored my opinion. – SNEEZE-

Things on the house are moving along. I spent last night in the ditch around the foundation spreading gravel and hay. Why? I don’t know. Something about drainage. All I know is Scott said it had to be done so I grabbed a shovel. That was good for the allergies!

Finally, I would like to say that I am having “one of those days” for the following reasons:
#1 I am wearing a skirt w/ a slit in the front –mistake- it’s bugging me
#2 this slip WILL end up in the trash before the days over
#3 My hair is pulled back in a circa 1989 ponytail b/c there is NOTHING else to do w/ it, and if it gets in my face again I may snap
#4 I have sneezed 455 times today. Thank you Ohio valley, I love you. And so does Merk Medco.
#5 this bra may just drive me to the edge today. If my chi chi’s were smaller I might just let it rip
#6 my legs are blinding white. I think I might be legally obligated to hand out sunglasses to anyone that comes near me
#7 if I hear that STUPID song “poker face” by lady Ga Ga –whatever that means- again my radio is going in the trash

Thank you for listening. Amen.

Rainy day? No Way!

Rain, rain, go away
Come again another day
If you don’t, I don’t care
I just got some AWESOME news!!!

It may be raining outside but I’m walkin’ on sunshine!

Scott called and said that he picked up the building permit, and the bank called and said everything is done! We have a green light to start digging! OH. MY. GOODNESS. The dream is real people. Scott called the excavator and he said he would break ground Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Somebody pinch me! I think Scott and I have dreamed and planned, and dreamed and planned and been disappointed, and dreamed and planned this house for so long that neither one of us we’re willing to believe it was really finally happening.

It makes me want to throw myself down and pray and cry and sing praises to God for what He’s done for us. God has done so much for us! This has been a long journey, but when 2009 rolled around it was immediately evident that His hand was in this.
We are so blessed. Let me say that again…we are soooo blessed. We have found so many good deals. So many doors have been opened. So many things have fallen into place. That is such a big deal. Scott’s talents are allowing us to build this house for literally half what someone else would. This house is going to be exactly what we want. I can’t think of one thing we are compromising on. Scott and I will be 37 and 35 years old; the kids will be 12, 10, and 7 years old when this house is done. It will be a place our kids can grow and bring their families home to someday.

We are so blessed. Thank you God for the many things you have done for my family. Thank you for the big picture. Thank you for sunshine in the middle of a rainy day!

My favorite things

I am not a worry wart. Sure, I have concerns about money etc. –And that’s a BIG etcetera but overall I don’t worry much. I have strong faith, and God hasn’t let me down yet!!!
In the middle of this exciting time in my life where it seems like Scott and I are finally going to fulfill our dream of building our own house, I have started to worry.
I work in health care. Yesterday I was told that if the proposed Ohio budget passes in June my pay will be cut by 10% and I will start paying more for my insurance.
What?!!!!!!! That is not good. – Those are the 4 most understated words I have ever written.
SO. In light of the fact that I’m a bit stressed right now, but do not want to talk about it,
I have decided to write about some of my favorite things…..

♪ These are a few of my favorite things ♫ In no particular order:

Laughing
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Frisch’s diet VANILLA Coke
McDonald’s Diet Coke
My Honda Pilot
Forrest Gump – the movie “you ain’t got no legs Lt. Dan”
Snuggling in the covers with my rug rats
snapping a really good picture
Smiling “why are you smiling? I love to smile. Smiling’s my favorite” -Elf
Sleeping past 5:30 a.m.
My anniversary ring
A good hair cut and color
Lazy Sunday afternoons
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer “hi, my name is Charmaine and I love the Twilight books”
Beautiful blue skies
Sunshine!
Autumn
The smell of rain –even better is the smell of dirt or concrete right after it rains in spring
The smell of bleach
Laying in bed talking and watching TV with Scott at the end of the day
Chocolate fountains –hello? Best invention ever!
Clean sheets
When Harry met Sally – the movie
Dirty Dancing- the movie
Seinfeld re-runs
Lunch with my girlfriends
Date night
Watching my kids laugh and play
Johnson’s baby lotion
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picolt
Board games
Coloring
Chi tea lattes
Grater’s black raspberry chocolate chip ice cream -mmmmm
Dreaming about building our house with Scott
Finding a really good bargain
my sister-in-law Jodi’s homemade chocolate chip cookies
antique handmade quilts
fettuccini alfredo from the Olive Garden
bear hugs from my rug rats
pink gel ink pens
a new book
organization!
Tide with bleach detergent
April fresh Downy fabric softener
a day off of work with pay!
Cracker Barrel biscuits

I could go on and on, but I better quit now.

Confession Time

Approximately a year ago a friend of mine started a blog. It was for her business. She sent me the link, and I began checking in often and enjoyed reading it and viewing the pictures. One day it occurred to me that since I enjoy writing, actually it is my preferred emotional outlet, that maybe I should start a blog. I did, and have thoroughly enjoyed every post. At first I thought maybe I’d tell all my friends and family about the blog. Maybe they would get a chuckle or enjoy the glimpse into the craziness, and dementia that makes me. But after a few posts I still hadn’t got up the nerve to tell anyone except the friend that introduced me to this blogosphere, and one other person. So, I decided to keep it that way. It’s much more enjoyable for me to post my thoughts and feelings anonymously. Maybe one day when I’m gone my kids will find out I had a blog; they’ll rush to the computer, log on, and read about my day to day life. Perhaps they’ll gain a new understanding of the person their mother was. Until then I enjoy simply writing my thoughts and feelings.
My blog is nothing fancy. When I started I did nothing more than choose a template, some colors, and a font, and start typing away. It is not meant to inspire or communicate; it is just an outlet for me. A few months in I started checking out other blogs. WOW. There are A LOT of people blogging. I found blogs like mine, blogs for businesses, blogs to keep families connected, blogs for everything! Some are so creative! Some people really put their heart and souls into not just the content, but the design and overall feel of the pages.
I have said ALL that to lead into this…..I have a confession. My name is Charmaine, and I am totally, completely, addicted to blogging. There I said it. I admitted it, and admitting it is the first step. I have found 3 blogs, no 4 blogs, well maybe 5 or 6 blogs that I follow faithfully. I can’t wait to check on them everyday because unlike me, they are updated almost daily. It’s a strange relationship I have with these fellow bloggers. We don’t know each other, and since I’ve never even commented on one of them, they don’t even know I exist! Regardless of that fact I feel a connection. We are all 30 something women. We are all mothers. The blogs are like little windows into our lives. We post about things like burnt pancakes, laundry detergent, horseback riding, field trips, church, husbands, friends, kids, sickness, weather, world news, recipes, and favorite fingernail polish. The blogs are about everything and absolutely nothing and I am totally addicted to them.
One blog in particular I am borderline obsessed with. It is written by a woman that lives in Oklahoma on a ranch and her husband is a real live cowboy. She has kids, she cooks, she takes pictures….and I want to move there and become her new BFF. Ha! The funniest thing about that sentence is that I’m only half joking. :)

So…there you have it. My name is Charmaine and I am a blog addict. I have confessed, and I feel cleansed. There is freedom in admission!
Now I have to run, there are blogs to be checked, and obsessions to feed!!!!