What not Wednesday-2

To begin I'd like to mention I made it to church this past Sunday, something that's been difficult to accomplish since the Lil' Lady came home in August. I think in the last 8 months I've made it to church maybe 6 times?? In the beginning it was warranted because we needed to keep her world small after coming home which was to aid in the attachment process. Then, as time went on it was just me who stayed home while everyone else went since the only person she attached to right away was me. Then when it was time to take her to church I realized she wasn't ready for the nursery and wasn't keen on sitting during the service so I spent some time in the foyer area with her trying to watch on the tv monitor. She wasn't havin' that either. So my plan then was to stay home and listen to the podcast of the service. That didn't last long because to be honest if I didn't listen to it first thing during the week I never got to it. So for months I allowed everything else to come first and it made a difference. A huge difference, might I add. Because this past Sunday when our entire family arrived, together, and the Lil' Lady was tucked safely inside the nursery (and having a great time I should say) and we stood and sang and prayed and listened I felt like I was home- like I had been away on some crazy vacation for the past month and I was finally relieved to be back.. and that has made a huge difference.

This photo was taken a few weeks ago. I was heading to the kitchen and glanced out on the deck and saw this. hmmm.... wonder what that was all about? It looks like there's some serious conversation goin' on.

And have you seen this family yet, together since 2007, 13 kids and counting and the most together family I've e.v.e.r. seen? I tune in live to check on them every once in a while and I am blown away by the teamwork and sheer compassion for each aother and their kids that both mom and dad display at all hours of the day and even in the worst of situations. They can weather any storm I tell ya and they do it without one complaint. If anyone inspires me to be a better parent it's these two. Tune it, you won't regret it.

Lookin' for more rambling? More What not Wednesday posts over here

What Not Wednesday~ 1

So after stumbling across this blog by way of another friend's blog I decided to give What Not Wednesday a try. Hop on over to Every Day the Wonderful Happens and check out some other random thoughts why don't ya:)

Now- if we can put a man on the moon, why can't someone invent a glue bottle that never clogs? After teaching elementary school art for 16 years I've tried'em all, and every single last one of them ends with me jamming a paper clip down in there and wiggling it around in order to extract the giant glue booger. Try doing that for 26 glue hungry waiting kindergartners. You name it, I've done it. I've tried cleaning the tips after every use so nothing is left to dry up - I've tried leaving the paper clip in the tip between uses- I've even tried leaving the tips open in between uses, but basically it's useless! My students know that I'm the only one allowed to jam anything down inside that orange tip, but every once in awhile I catch a rogue whose managed to accomplish this insanity.

And another thing... whose big idea was it to put off white wall to wall carpeting in this house we bought? Why would any contractor put carpet anywhere close to the color white in any home? Is it cheaper? Because the only person in the world who could possibly appreciate that concept is this guy.

Because that is exactly what I predict our carpet will look like before the end of the year .

Autumn Rhythm (Number 30), 1950 Jackson Pollock

{I miss my Berber that hid everything so well}