Five Nomads

Happy Birthday to Mary, my cyber friend!

2011-11-13T07:51:00.000-08:00

Today is Mary's, over at Hope Echoes, Birthday. I just wanted to shout out and tell her Happy Birthday. My friendship with Mary is unlike any other. I've never met Mary face to face, yet I have spent many hours praying for her. We've never had dinner or gone on a walk, yet she has been a strong influence on my heart. She has taught me many things, and her example has helped me grow in my journey with Christ. So today I thank God for the gift of Mary. I hope her day is filled with love and joy. If you have a hankering, stop over and wish her a Happy Birthday!

What I've been up to. . . .

2011-10-21T11:54:00.000-07:00

Ahh, a moment of computer time. A moment is about all I have these days. What's new that is taking up my days you ask?

1. The General has started his high school journey. Actually I feel more like the one in the hot seat.

2. The General is running cross country with the local school district.

3. Bubby is now an official kindergartner. The great thing, he really doesn't require a lot of teaching. He's absorbed most of the information you need for kindergarten on his own. The down side, he's the only one in the house excited about school. He gets upset if we forget to do his workbooks. (For example, we've been on a field trip, so I skip the seat work.). The only other kid dorky enough to love homework around here? That would be me, as a child. ;)

4. Princess is a dancing machine. She's now up to 2 ballet classes a week, with one jazz class, and Nutcracker on the weekends. It is a lot of time at the studio, but she loves it. So far we seem to be able to manage as a family, so dance on my beautiful girl.

5. Nutcracker season is here!! Right now I'm pondering why this doesn't make me cringe and become overwhelmed. I realize I actually find the experience enjoyable. The benefits and joy she receives from being a part of this production far outweigh the time and effort we put in. Of course we are at the beginning. This may be like child birth. As soon as it is over, you focus on the great gift, and push the pain to the back. I haven't had to deal with the late nights and all encompassing rehearsal schedules yet. I'll get back to you in December. . . .

6. I am facilitating the bible study group this year. We are studying James. Talk about conviction. This one isn't so deep in history and theology, but oh does it hit the heart. Right where it needs attention.

Fortunately God gives me what I need to add these things into our home schooling journey. I'm humbled at His confidence in my abilities, because sometimes I just feel like surely someone else would do a much better job than I can!

Happy Friday my friends. I hope this finds you all well, and enjoying the busy corners of your world. May God hold you close in your trials, and dance with you in your joys. Please leave me a comment, and let me know how you are.

Until the next moment,
Tami

Us Momma's Gotta Stick Together. . .

2011-08-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

The other day I was struck by a few comments I read on a FB post. A friend's daughter recently had a baby, and was posting about the frustrations of trying to figure out the sleeping patterns of a new baby. We can all so relate to this topic. A few ladies piped in and said things to the effect of, "I hear you sister!" Then one commenter said something along the lines of, "You are a bunch of whiners, I've had it much harder. When you have experienced this, we can talk."
I don't know this person, so maybe it was an inside joke. Maybe they have a very good rapport, and this comment isn't offensive to the new momma. Since it wasn't my comment, I didn't say anything.

BUT, it has been in the back of my mind. I wonder, why it is that women feel such a strong desire to pull each other down? Life isn't a competition of who has the most, whose kid is the best, or who has the crappiest life. Isn't it supposed to be about our journey, and helping each other on the way? Isn't the goal to get to heaven, and take as many people with you?
Sure if someone is a constant complainer, and doesn't seem to have the ability to see blessings in their life, a gentle reminder may be what they need. Jesus did teach to go to your brother if there was a problem. One of the beatitudes is to educate the ignorant (my memory paraphrasing). We are called to hold one another accountable. However, I think many times we are all so eager to point out the wrongness of others, that we forget the other half of the equation. When we see something we are called to correct, we are to do so in LOVE!
Ladies, and gents if you fall into this category, we have got to stick together! Raising children is HARD!! It is long, arduous work. (My husband likes to point out that it really isn't difficult. . .that is if you don't care.) I mean, we have high hopes for these babes of ours. Personally, my goal isn't to get them out of the house at 18. It isn't even for them to be successful in this life. I'm working for eternity here. I am called to raise them for heaven. And that, my friends is no small order.
So what exactly do I think will help?
A) Simple compassion. When that new mom is whining, yes whining, about how tired she is with her first baby (oh, we all did it) and you have two, three, or four children running around the house, be empathetic. Don't squish her with, "well if you think that is hard, wait until you have. . ." Try to remember what it was like when you were learning the ropes. This compassion was beautifully modeled for me by my sister, Jody. When The General was a toddler, making me crazy, she never judged or treated me poorly. She listened with love, and offered suggestions and hope. Remember my sister has 5 children, the last three only 4 years and some change apart. (Yep, I whined to a woman homeschooling 3 children, with two tots running around.) Never did she put me down or gossip behind my back. She mentored me, and I'm forever grateful.
B) Think of life as learning, not competing against one another.
C) Assume the best in one another. If someone offers a tip, think they are really being kind, not saying you are incompetent.
D) Grace. . .God covers us in His unending grace each day. We need to share this awesome gift with one another.
Sorry to sound so preachy. I just know how much I appreciate women who have given me the emotional boost I have needed on a rough day. I also know how challenging it can be when I run into one of the mommas who needs to "show me" their superiority. This is really a waste of their time. Believe me, I am so very aware of my imperfections.
I just think it is really important that. . .
US MOMMA'S STICK TOGETHER!

F is for Fabulous

2011-07-08T10:19:00.000-07:00

Fabulous is exactly how this dessert tastes!

Do you have a summer get together coming up? Don't know what to bring? Look no further, this is the perfect summer dessert. The best part: IT IS SO EASY!

Step 1: Make a standard pan of brownies. I enjoy the Betty Crocker Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix.

Step 2: Mix 2 packages of cream cheese with one large jar of marshmallow fluff. (I like to use my mixer, so it gets all creamy and smooth.)

Step 3: When brownies are cooled, frost with the fluff you made in step 2.

Step 4: Top with sliced strawberries.
(You will want to rinse and dry the berries. If they are wet, the juice runs. That makes it look less than fabulous.)

There you have it, a simple dessert to wow your summer guests.

Enjoy!

Remember the letters are from The Alphabet Photography Project. I'm woefully behind, but will do my best to catch up to my dear friend Lorri over at The Mac and Cheese Chronicles.

Summer. . .UGH!

2011-07-06T13:05:00.000-07:00

I am a summer person. I love the nice warm, even hot weather. I love to wear shorts and t-shirts, go swimming, grill out, and sit out on the porch sipping ice tea. The carefree days, oh how I love them. Field trips and time to get to the fun things we don't have time for during the busy school season.
Somehow, I'm not sure what has happened, but my idea of summer is gone. In its place I have children running about the neighborhood with friends, popping in for a quick bite. No one wants to leave their friends for park days with fellow home schoolers. Then there is the grumbling over chores and school work that needs to be completed. (Yes, I'm a mean mom. I make them do some work over the summer.) Dance camp, golf clinic, piano lessons, trying to remember to sign up for swimming lessons for poor little Bubby. All of it has sucked the joy and carefree out of my summer.
Then in the same instant I feel guilt. One of the families from our Catholic Home School Group is out on the East Coast. Not one, but two of their children are having major brain surgeries. They would give anything for boring days at home, chasing after their children and all the messes.

I think my problem is I haven't found a good rhythm for summer here in the PNW. In DC the hot summer days would chase the kiddos in for a little respite from the heat in the afternoons. Then we would snuggle up and do our reading. After a bit of learning, we would reemerge from our cocoon, ready to play for the rest of the day. Out with the other children would come the other moms, and we would sip tea and knit. Or just enjoy our time together.

Maybe I'm a little homesick for my time back in DC? I know I sure do miss those friends, and the simplicity of life we shared. It is strange to think it has been 2 years already.

Maybe I'm just a little sad that my babies are growing up so fast. Instead of trips to the zoo or Puget Sound for exploring, they prefer the company of their neighborhood pals. Times are a changing here for the Nomads. Wow, I think it is time for this girl to get her new groove on!

Bubby's Big Day

2011-04-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

Our little man turned 5 last month. To celebrate we threw a little surprise party for him. It's his favorite kind. Whenever I would ask what kind of party he wanted, "A surprise party mom!" would be his answer. The surprise here is that we actually pulled it off. You should have seen the joy on his face when everyone jumped out. Since he is crazy about Disney's Jake and the Never Land Pirates, we went with it for the theme. Ahoy thar matey! The cake turned out so well. Best part, IT WAS SUPER EASY! Simply bake a box mix cake. Flip it out of the pan, frost with a fluffy frosting of your liking (using blue food coloring for the water side). For the sand we used crushed vanilla wafers. Add a few gummy fish and a Playmobil Pirate Set, and voila! You have yourself a stinkin' cute pirate cake. (If I do say so myself. ;)Notice Bubby's pants. By the end of the party he had slipped into his comfies. I cannot keep regular clothes on that boy. The second he walks in the door, he sprints to his room to change into jammy pants.

**A couple of money & sanity saver tips:

1) Go with what you already have. We already had the pirate costumes for our family. All I had to buy for an all out theme were a few party streamers and eye patches for the other kiddos.

2) Be creative and make your own cake. It doesn't have to be rolled fondant to be beautiful. Our best luck has been finding small toys, not cake toppers, more like action figures to arrange on top of the cake. This makes for a really cute cake, and part of the gift for the birthday boy. Other years we've used the action figures on the cake for party favors.

3) Keep it simple with food and drink. This year I baked up Tombstone pizzas. I was going to get all gourmet, and my wise husband pointed out that kids really don't care. He was right. They loved my cheap pizza and grapes.

4) Have fun and don't fret. Although I had the ideas for this party bouncing around my head for awhile, I only spent one morning grabbing the things I needed to pull it together for that evening. Children don't need perfect. A few friends, some cake and candles and they are over the moon. Sometimes it is us adults who let things get out of perspective.

Enjoy, I know Bubby sure did on his big day.

Gratitude moment: Thank you God for the resources to bless my children with fun parties. Thank you for the convenience of stopping at a few stores that carry everything I needed. I am blessed.

Bubby Talks. . .

2011-03-24T16:36:00.000-07:00

At dinner the other night Bubby says to his daddy, "Daddy, guess what you do when you lose your way? . . . You get back up again." This prompted us to a rousing game of, "It's never to late. . .to get back up again." "This is love calling. . .love calling. . .out to the broken." You TobyMac fans out there will recognize the lyrics from, Get Back Up Again. Not only was this a fun dinner (Really every dinner with the Bubster is fun. The kid is hilarious), it was heart warming for us as parents. To hear our little boy, sharing such wisdom. Sure, it may just be a catchy little song today. But think about the songs you can still sing verbatim from your childhood. Isn't it great that Toby Mac has put something so powerful and meaningful out there, so God has been etched on the heart of my boy? Somehow, my recall of Where Oh Where Can my Baby Be seems so unimpressive.

E is for Enormous. . .

2011-03-09T11:37:00.000-08:00

as in my belly.

This week is Bubby's 5th Birthday, so I'm a bit nostalgic. Here I am a few weeks before he was born. Can we say ENORMOUS? Wow. I hurt just looking at that picture. No wonder my belly doesn't look like it did back in the early 90's.

The lovely letters come to you in honor of my friend Lorri. Remember, I'm playing The Alphabet Photography game over at Mac & Cheese Chronicles.

D is for Discomfort

2011-03-02T18:36:00.000-08:00

I'm playing the Alphabet Photo game with my friend Lorri over at Mac and Cheese Chronicles. In honor of the letter D, I give you The General. He just got his braces on today. While it was really cool. . .for about an hour, the discomfort has set in. I think this may be a really good life lesson for my boy.

Why I don't blog. . . .

2011-02-15T14:52:00.000-08:00

Remember when I proudly announced The General's latest hobby? You can click here to check it out.

Well, each little movie that he puts together takes hundreds of photos. Guess where they go? On the hard drive. We all share one computer, so that means the same hard drive that I have my bloggy photos on. Did I mention hundreds, actually it may be thousands of photos? (I'm not joking.)

Not that I was a prolific blogger before, but now sorting through all the stop frame photos hurts my head. I honestly don't have that kind of time to scroll through all of his creativity.

If anyone has great tips for keeping the uploads from one camera, and one computer separate, please let me know. It may greatly improve my blogging status.

C is for cookies.

2011-02-07T12:07:00.000-08:00

One of the best things about my husband returning from deployment, his chocolate chip cookies. I was going to post his recipe, but upon further consideration it would be pointless. You see, he has a special magic with the cookies. In the past 15 years of marriage I have tried, and tried to replicate the perfection of his chocolate chip cookies. To no avail.

See the perfect shape. The crinkled top, with just the right mix of crisp and chewy. Ahh. . .I'm off to find a glass of milk. Can't you hear it? The cookies are calling me.

**Remember my friend Lorri over at Mac and Cheese Chronicles is hosting this Alphabet Photography Project. Click on over and check it out.

A little something for you folks that are snowed in. . .

2011-02-01T16:29:00.000-08:00

I'm hearing murmurings that most of the country is snowed in. This may mean that some of you with little people might be needing a little diversion.

I bring you Homemade Play dough.
The ingredients are simple.

2 cups flour

1 cup salt

4 tsp. cream of tartar

2 tbsp. oil

2 cups water

few drops food coloring & extract for color and scent.

This is pretty easy to whip up too. Princess made a few batches for Bubby the other day.

Mix dry ingredients, add water stirring until smooth in sauce pan. Heat slowly until mixture "lumps" together. Knead until consistency of Play dough. Keep in tightly closed container in refrigerator.

**The recipe says it will last 1-2 weeks, but we've had it last for over a month. Just watch for mold.
From our house to yours, happy snow days. Enjoy, I know Bubby has sure enjoyed this special gift from his big sister. (He hasn't been snowed in, just rained in many day this winter.)

B is for Bubby: The Alphabet Project

2011-01-31T18:28:00.000-08:00

My friend Lorri over at Mac and Cheese Chronicles invited me to join in an alphabet photography project this year. Stop by her blog and read all the details. She's such a sweet friend, she's letting me play along, even if I'm late.

So here's to catching up. . .

B is for Bubby's soft Brown eyes:

This was taken with our Nikon D40. A bit clunky to lug around, but I love the close ups I can get. To capture their little fingers, lips and nose. Oh, those eyes and that sweet little smile, you melt my heart little man.

The Making of an Angel

2011-01-29T10:51:00.000-08:00

Remember, WAAAYYY back in December, when there was talk of Sugar Plums Dancing in our heads? Oh the joy of Nutcracker. Princess, had a delightful time. Since January is the month that we celebrate the birth of our beautiful girl, I thought this tribute was a nice follow up.

Step 1: Hair. Can it be that my beautiful little girl no longer needs help with the ballet bun? I don't know if I should cry, or be over the moon happy with this new independence. I'll get back with you on that one. ;)

Step 2: Make-up. So fun on day one, but by the end of the show the glamour had worn off. She was pretty tired of scrubbing the gunk off each night.Step 3: Getting into the costume. Putting on the hoop and dress. Look closely at her face. She has a mesh bag over her head. It keeps the stage make-up off those beautiful white gowns. I'm telling you, the ladies that run the show are amazing. They have thought of everything, down to the tiniest detail.Steps 4&5: Halo and wings.And voila. . .Our Princess is an Angel. (That is Grandma with our girl.)We already knew this. . .It all started here. . .

Happy Birthday Princess!

Sugar Plums are dancing in our heads. . .

2010-12-11T12:37:00.000-08:00

Alas, it is here. Nutcracker opening night last night. Princess had a splendid time. She so enjoys being a part of the show. It makes all of the driving, volunteering, sewing and support worth the effort. This is definitely an example of the more we give of ourselves to others, the greater the gift we receive. Just one beaming smile makes it all worth it!

A question for Library Ann. . .

2010-12-07T22:33:00.000-08:00

or anyone else who may have read An Army At Dawn by Rick Atkinson.

The General just picked up this book, and I am having a hard time finding a review. Well, I did find one that said it was an excellent book. However, the gentleman didn't say if it would be an excellent book for a 13 year old boy.

So if any of you folks have read this book I would appreciate your feedback. With Nutcracker being in full swing, I just do not have time to pre-read this one for him.

Thank you for your time,

Mrs. Nomad

Head Mistress of the Nomad Academy

Ramblin' Jacks Deep Fried Pickles. .

2010-12-06T11:30:00.000-08:00

Yummmmm. . .

Since Princess has been busy dancing up a storm, I've had to find things to fill my time. Of all the endless possibilities, my favorite activity has been the taste testing at local restaurants. (I know you are all so shocked.)

Although I have never made these myself (I have an aversion to deep frying), a friend back in DC used to treat us with this appetizer. I think dipping hamburger cut dill pickles in a cornmeal batter and deep frying is all it would take to whip up this tasty little treat. At Ramblin' Jacks they have a Dijon Mustard dipping sauce on the side. Again I say, YUMMMM!

Do you have a favorite appetizer you'd like to share?

Look what The General has been up to.

2010-11-29T18:00:00.000-08:00

My oldest has recently been working on stop-frame animation. He is a history buff, and currently WWII is his passion. Check out his video, he's so excited to have his first posting on YouTube.

Dawn by Design-you rock!

2010-11-29T09:12:00.000-08:00

Did you notice the cool Advent Candles on my side bar? Dawn over at Dawn by Design has these free of charge. A big thank you to Dawn! It is nice to have something Catholic to decorate my blog.

Giving Thanks

2010-11-27T13:12:00.000-08:00

Throughout my life I have been blessed with God's tender care. Whenever there is a trial, He sends someone to hold my hand.This year that someone was my friend T. Mr. Nomad wasn't able to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with us, so T. and her family graciously stepped in. (Even though they are Canadian, so it really isn't their holiday.)This was our first time sharing a meal together. From the looks of our spread, I think we make a good team. What a feast! I'm so thankful to have a table laden with yummy treats, and even more grateful to have had friends to share in that celebration.

Ahhh. . . .contentment fills my heart as I write this Thanksgiving weekend.

Winter Wonderland

2010-11-23T11:20:00.001-08:00

This was the scene outside my back door yesterday. Much fun has been had by all!

Food for thought. . .

2010-11-16T08:29:00.000-08:00

One time I asked my very wise and loving Grandma B, "What was your favorite stage in your life?"

She didn't even hesitate with her answer, "When my children were young and at home."

From that time on Mr. Nomad and I realized this fact: Although these days can be exhausting, these are the good ole days. We are making the memories that will sustain us in our twilight years.

What do you think is the best stage of life?

Sounds from upstairs. . .

2010-11-15T08:43:00.000-08:00

"MMMOOOOMMMM!" Bubby yells. Next, scuffling noises are heard.

Then, "You're just a bad old pussy cat!" Bubby screams.

Hmmm. . .do you think my computer time is done?

Thanksgiving: Counting my blessings.

2010-11-08T20:32:00.001-08:00

You may have noticed that my postings are even more sparse than normal. See those three beautiful children at the top of the page? This is a season they are needing their momma more than normal, so not so much spare time on the computer for me these days. (Although today has been a guilty pleasure.)

To honor the fast approaching Thanksgiving holiday, I'd like to share my top 10 blessings. I invite you to join me. Feel free to share your blessings in the comment section, or leave a link to your blog in the comments.

Tami's Top 10 Blessings

10) Chocolate peanut butter cup cookies, yum.

9) Sunshine after the rain.

8) Modern technology. I remember the days of outrageous phone bills, and am so grateful it is affordable to stay connected.

7) Mount Rainier. It always fills me with awe when I see it peeking out of the clouds.

6) My home. I know I can survive in less, but I am so grateful to have a pretty house to call home.

5) A wonderful church and a safe neighborhood for my children.

4) Friends. My military friends have been more like family over the years. I cannot imagine life without any of you.

3) Extended family. Let me tell you that is a lot, with my funky family tree.

2) My family. Growing up I always wanted to be a mommy. Here I am, living my dream.

1) My faith in God. Without that belief, and Him at my center, I am nothing.

May you all be able to seek out the blessings in your life and thank God. When I focus on what I have, instead of what I am missing in my life, the journey is so much sweeter.

Tami's Tips: I'm not just a bunch of hot air.

2010-10-18T15:15:00.000-07:00

So with the chill of fall in the air, it is time to turn on the furnace. For the past week I have been awakened each morning, ROASTING! You know me, I'm always cold, so this has been quite the surprise. I checked the thermostat, and the heat was only set to 69 degrees. Puzzled I asked my friend K, who is staying with us for a few weeks, if it was hot downstairs in the mornings. "NO!" Was her response.

Last night I got to the bottom of the problem, and here is my little public service announcement:

Make sure you open your downstairs vents, and close some of the upstairs vents!

Since heat rises, we close the vents downstairs in the summer to keep the air conditioning blowing mostly upstairs. Now that the air is cooler, and we are blowing hot air out again it was time to reverse the system.

Poor K was downstairs freezing, because all of the warm air was going upstairs. The thermostat is downstairs, so it was cold and thought we needed more heat. This explains why we were so toasty upstairs.

I'm happy to report switching up the vents has solved this riddle. All is well with the world. ;)

Tami's Tips: Folex is Fantastic

2010-09-22T12:53:00.000-07:00

ACK! Bubby and Princess had a little art session. Pretty colors, but not so much on my carpet.While not my favorite outcome, I'm not thrown into such a tizzy these days. That's because Jen introduced me to one of my closest cleaning friends: FOLEX!! (Did you hear the angels sing?)
Simply spray the spots with Folex, and blot with a damp cloth.
More blotting. No rubbing, blotting. My friend Angie told me that was very important. It has something to do with the carpet fibers, and then I heard the "wah, wah, wah, wah" from Charlie Brown. Angie is smart, so I just listen, and always BLOT!
Before you know it. . . .
GONE! (The darkness you see in the picture is just from the carpet being wet. It dried perfectly, and you can't tell a 4 year old crafted on the carpet. Ever.)

This wasn't really that big of a carpet emergency, just a bit of paint. But my friend Folex has taken Sharpie marker out of carpet more times than I care to remember. Then there was the time we were staying with our friends, and Bubby markered all over their cream carpet. And their daughters favorite stuffed animal.

I'm sorry I don't have photos of those experiences. It was back when Folex and I were just getting to know one another. I would panic, and not even think about photos for blog posting. That is until the spot was already gone. Sorry. Spots in the carpet make me a little, crazy. Yes, crazy would be the word.

Thanks Folex for returning me to sanity.

While I don't wish the "need" for Folex on you, I do hope my friend Folex can help you out if you ever find yourself in a carpet emergency.

:) Tami

7 Quick Takes for 9/17/10

2010-09-17T20:57:00.000-07:00

Click on over to check it out, and say hello to Jen. (You know, I have to admit that sounds strange to me. I've never met Jen, we aren't bloggy buddies. I have just visited her blog on various occassions, and really liked what she had to say.)

1. I just talked to my sister, Jody Blue. GUESS WHAT?!?? She and her friend Barb are flying out to visit me! They are staying for a whole week too. Oh boy are we going to have fun!

2. We started classes this week. I didn't realize how much support just being around all of those other homeschoolers provides my psyche. Although it takes a big chunk out of our week, it is very much worth the effort at this point in the game.

3. Remember when I first moved here, and met some really nice ladies at the Catholic Homeschool Group? Guess what? I think they like me. Many of them I can call friend. They are such wonderful ladies, so full of wisdom, love and knowledge. I feel so blessed God led me to their group.

4. As I sit here typing, I hear the rain falling outside. I'd better start taking some vitamin D. If the rainy season has already begun, it could be awhile before I see my friend, Mr. Golden Sun. Oh, how I miss him when the cloudy skies prevail here in the Pacific Northwest.

5. Today the kiddos and I went to visit another family from the Catholic Homeschool Group. They live about an hour away. Even with the rain, it was such a beautiful drive. Sitting on the distant hills, the clouds, scattered here and there, were gathered in smoky clusters. While the evergreens were standing at attention, tall and majestic. It seemed as if Puget Sound kept peaking out from around each corner. God's glorious creation makes up for the rain. (Most of the time.)

6. It has become abundantly clear we are ready to move on to a whole new world of homeschooling. It is time for me to make up a lesson plan on the weekend, and then let The General and Princess learn to be responsible for getting their work done without my prompts. Sounds easy enough, right? What it takes is me giving up the micro managing control of day to day business. It also means that I need to get organized with a schedule on a weekly, rather than daily basis. Yikes. I have to admit this new phase is scary.

7. Last night we enjoyed a stop at Cold Stone Creamery ice cream before bed. It gave me such a tummy ache. So why did I just eat a piece of chocolate cake at this hour? Ugh, I'll never learn.

We have not forgotten.

2010-09-11T20:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Heavenly Father,

May those who perished in the 9/11 attacks rest in peace. May all of those who were left behind be folded in your love and kindness. May we all learn to follow Christ, and the goodness of that day be replicated. May the ugly hatred of that day be washed away.

Amen.

1st Day of School: Traditions

2010-09-06T20:15:00.000-07:00

The General was starting 4th grade, and Princess was a sweet little kindergarten student.

This is The General and Princess on the first day of school, back in 2005. They were helping make Sticky Buns. Sticky Buns have been a tradition of our first day of school. A fun way to start the day, and when they were younger it was a great math lesson.

In working on this post, I've had to face some hard realities. First of all, I have only 3 pictures in the past 6 years of our first day of school. (This is actually our 7th year of homeschooling, but the first year we were kind of thrown in at the last minute. So we started "traditional" school that year.) In the beginning it was all fresh and new, and I had my camera out to capture the moment. As the years progressed, no pictures. :(

Unfortunately, another not so nice tradition has crept in. That is my overwhelming feelings of doubt and guilt on the first day of school. My feeling like I'm not a good homeschooling momma. Since we used to be year round schoolers, (It is too hard to make my children school in WA during the summer. When the sun finally shines, I feel like we need to soak every last moment of it in.) we generally do not have "new" stuff in the fall. I buy supplies as we need them. So when the "official" first day rolls around, I feel all sorts of angst and inadequacy at my lack of cool first day experiences. When I give in to this, it just kind of steam rolls into an "I suck" mentality. You can imagine that really isn't healthy. Or true.

When I was blubbering about this to Mr. Nomad, he listened kindly. Gave me my moment of feeling sorry for myself, and then said, "so a field trip to Las Vegas, that wasn't cool enough?" Hmmmm. . . . . I think he has a point.

I'm guilty of the ugly comparisons. I look around and see the cool stuff everyone else is doing, but do not take the time to give myself credit for the great things I do. It reminds me of that Attitude quote I have in my side bar. Life is what I choose to make it. I can line myself up with our Lord, and have peace. (Not saying there aren't going to be challenges.) Or, I can get caught up in feeling sorry for myself.

So today on my third day of homeschooling, in this our 7th season, I will celebrate. I am celebrating the fact that at 13, my son is turning into a young man with great character. I am celebrating the fact that my daughter has a wonderful spirit, and loves to serve. I am celebrating the fact that my children love to go to Mass, and when it comes to the Eucharist, THEY GET IT!

Now Bubby, we're still working on it. He's having a hard time lately, which is probably why I let myself get a bit blue. (Consistently molding a 4 year old really wears on you after awhile.) But, my little man does get Confession. He hasn't officially received this sacrament, but he gets it. Whenever he does something wrong, you can see him cross himself, then mutter a little prayer asking Jesus to forgive him.

This experience has reminded me to zoom out, and look at the big picture. No, I'm not always good at the big splash days. But I am good at the every day. Not so much me, but God working through me. If I keep Christ at my center, and my heart open to the Holy Spirit, the fruits will continue to multiply.

I'm off to Vegas. . .

2010-08-26T08:29:00.001-07:00

It is 60 degrees, I'm freezing. . . what's a girl to do. I'm gonna get some sunshine. Las Vegas here we come!

Bubby's Take on Wilderness Survival

2010-08-17T09:47:00.000-07:00

While we were walking in the woods the other day, Bubby asked about getting lost. I reassured him that if he were with Princess, she would take care of him. He replied, "Yea, we'd walk in the jungle, eat bugs, AND we'd LOVE it!"
Somebody better prep the sister.

The reality of life. . . .

2010-08-13T09:31:00.000-07:00

It's Friday, and I said to my sister, "Ahh, Friday. I should do a 7 quick takes."

Then the reality hit. I need to. . . .

1) Clean my house: with help from the kiddos. Lucky me.

2) Stain the deck: again, with help from the children--God, please help me to be a good teacher, filled with patience--PLEASE. Don't laugh, that is a serious prayer. I'd appreciate you adding your intentions for me as well. Pretty please.

3) Go to the commissary (grocery store). This could very well be my least favorite of all activities. Hopefully there won't be too many crabby retirees there to sneer at my children. Not to worry, I've started Bubby's training in "kill them with kindness."

Seriously, who can stay grumpy with these sweet faces smiling at you?

I hope this finds you all well, and enjoying your day. May God be with you, and peace reside in your hearts.

Have a nice weekend,

Tami

Did I just get slammed by a 4 year old?

2010-08-02T13:02:00.000-07:00

Bubby was being a pesky little brother the other day. He was pestering The General, he was pestering me, and when I had enough I said, "You know Bubby, when you pester and act like a bugger, nobody wants to play with you!"
He responded, "Well, if the shoe fits!"

Pray for our airmen & their families.

2010-07-29T14:27:00.001-07:00

There was a plane crash in Alaska last night. You can read more about it here. I've heard from my friend who is stationed there, and her husband is fine. The guilty fine that is. "Whew, it wasn't my friend," just doesn't bring a lot of comfort.

This one hits close to home. Mr. Nomad spends a significant amount of time in the sky, so I can only imagine how hard this is for these families. Please pray for them.

Can't argue with that one. . . .

2010-07-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

The other day I was hounding The General to get packed up for Scout Camp. He continued to dilly dally, so I said, "You know General, I think you are fabulous boy. BUT, sometimes you can be very lazy."
Without missing a beat he retorted, "I'm not lazy. I'm just saving up my energy until I'm in my 30's and really need it."

Bubby's Take on Prayer

2010-07-17T17:33:00.000-07:00

The other day we were shopping for our friend's little boy. He's teeny, tiny so Princess and I were oogling the preemie clothes. (I for a little gift for a dear friend, Princess for her American Girl Dolls.) As we looked at the little outfits, Bubby walks over and puts a package of diapers in our basket. I said, "Bubby, we aren't sending Baby T diapers."
"No, these aren't for T. They are for us," He confidently responded.
Me rather puzzled, "Ummm, Bubby you are potty trained. We don't need diapers."
Still very confident, Bubby explained, "Mommy, I said a prayer to Jesus. We are going to have a baby sister."
Suppressing a giggle I said, "Well, sweetie. It is a little more complex than that. The whole baby process takes longer than that."
I put the diapers back on the shelf, and returned my attention to outfit oogling. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Bubby making the sign of the cross and talking to himself. (Actually, I knew he wasn't talking to himself. He's my little prayer warrior. He talks to Jesus quite a bit, which makes this Momma's heart just about burst with joy!)
Anywho, Bubby walked back to the diapers. He picked up a package and placed them in the cart once again.
"Um, Bubby, Mommy said we don't need diapers," I informed.
He didn't skip a beat with this response, "Mommy, we are having a baby. I just said a longer prayer to Jesus!"
Oh, if only I were that confident in my prayers. What is it they say about the faith of a child? I want some of that.

Seven Quick Takes: July 2010

2010-07-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

1. I love summer. For a while, I thought it was the laziness of summer I loved. Yet when I consider my summer days, they are anything but lazy. With 3 kiddos, golf lessons, ballet classes, scouts, baseball & hockey camps we have our fair share of running around. What I realized is this: Summer days are not as scheduled, which leaves room for projects that I don't get to when we are in the thick of schooling. That is what I enjoy. Warm weather, and doing what I WANT instead of what I HAVE to do.

2. One of those projects was painting my master bath. I'm still deciding if I like the color. Mr. Nomad said I can repaint if I don't like it. Unless I hate it, there will be no repainting. I like things to look good, but I don't need perfection. Seriously, what mother has the time to re-do work?

3. While painting I remembered why I waited so long to do this project. Bubby LOVES to paint. He kept trying to "help." I was smart this time, and put my foot down. Some crazy person suggested letting your kiddos help you. The theory was the children would paint a few minutes, get bored, and want to g0 do their own thing. Thus leaving you free to paint, alone. Fat chance. I know one day I will be happy and proud of their tenacity, but chasing them around with wet paint brushes doesn't bring out the best in me.

4. Mary over at Hope Echoes is moving. She may not have Internet for 2 weeks, and is thinking of turning off her comments. This is disturbing. I know I'm not here every day, and I don't plan my day around blogging. . . But, when I do have time to check in, it is always comforting to know Mary's daily postings are there. No Hope Echoes for TWO WHOLE WEEKS? I'm a big girl, I'm sure I'll be fine.

5. My friend is moving. I'm sad. They are a family we really hit it off with when we moved here last fall. She is from my home state, Minnesota. They are Catholic, so we are able to worship together. They have 6 children, so everyone has a playmate. AND, she likes to knit. Who will be my friend now??

6. My friend K is in town this weekend. She is generally very busy doing the 5 gazillion projects she is juggling, but I'm hopeful we'll get a little time to chat before and after all of her commitments.

7. K invited Mr. Nomad & I to join her at Zoobilee. It is a black tie event. Do you think I can get away with wearing a knee length cocktail dress with nice jewelry and sassy shoes? Who am I kidding? I could wear a garbage bag. It is overcast and chilly today, the only thing you'll see is my coat. Maybe I'll just accessorize the coat. . .

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. For those of you in the heat, stay cool and enjoy a dip in the pool for me.

Stop by and say hello to Jen at Conversion Diary. She so graciously hosts 7 Quick Takes each week.

Music, the balm to a weary soul.

2010-07-10T21:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a bit rough. I don't want to get into details, but things are a bit rocky for us Nomads. Don't be worried, nothing serious. Just neighborhood growing pains, which are never fatal. Only painful.

Anywho, this morning I headed out for a run with a very heavy heart. Running in WA is therapy for me. It was just what I needed when I laced up the sneakers this morning. The air was clear, the trees a beautiful green, I was surrounded by God's creation. The General was so kind to share his iPod, so I hit the shuffle button and headed out. As I was running, God spoke to me through the music.

Need to Breathe's Washed By The Water (Live) spoke to me loud and clear. "Even when the rain comes, even when the flood starts rising, even when the storm comes, I am washed by the waters." Yes, the waters of my Baptism carry me through life's troubles.

This was followed by The David Crowder Band's How He Loves . Dealing with issues may really stink, but through it all God loves me. Then Third Day and Toby Mac chimed in. Each with messages echoing that life may be hard, BUT, God is always going to be there for me. He's here, He loves me, and He uses times like this to mold me into something better. I need only trust in Him, and follow the beautiful example of His son, Jesus Christ.

I'm a little ashamed to say this prayerful handling of trouble is a bit new. Of course I've prayed a lot in the past (You don't raise 3 children without LOTS of prayers!), but generally I start with phone calls to my peeps. (Poor Jody Blue, she's my speed dial.) Being the talker I am, I need to process. So I chat, and chat, and chat my way through problems. This isn't a bad thing. It's just this time I'm finding such peace talking to God.

As the old parable of the man who built his house on the sand goes: Each man encounters a storm. It is just the man who builds his house on the rock who remains standing after the storm. Please say a prayer for me, that I would walk in Christ's shadow. I suspect I have a few breezy days in my future. No worries though, I'm under construction on a very sturdy rock.

God Bless,
Tami

What do you think?

2010-07-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

I'm back from my vacation. We had a great time. ABM, there was a place with a ukulele sale. . .but it was closed every time we drove by. Though, it did make me chuckle each time I saw it.

Sorry no pictures or details today, we are on the heals of vacation followed by visitors. We have had some WONDERFUL days filled with celebration of family and friends. Today I will down load pictures in between playing catch up (Around the house and blogger world. I'm so excited to stop by and see you. I've missed my bloggy friends), and prepping for the next group. Mr. Nomad and I are sort of hosting a little cousin family reunion in a few weeks.

Okay, no pictures. . .no big news. . .why the heck am I posting?

I have a question. . . If you have a dream about rowing all night, you wake up in a sweat, with your jammies soaked, do you think you could count that for your work out?

Just wondering.

Hawaii or bust.

2010-06-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

Grandma & Grandpa-check
Pantry stocked-check
Schedules arranged-check
Emergency & help number listed-check
Bags packed-check
Kiddos prepped-check

Now all I need is my handsome husband to come home from work, and we are off. Hawaii, here we come!

Tami's Tips: I'm going down the toilet with this one.

2010-06-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

It is time for yet another installment of Tami's Tips. I know you have all been sitting on pins and needles, waiting for just a tidbit of my awesome knowledge. (Am I funny today? Maybe just annoying?)
Hold on to your hats readers, this is not an ordinary post. For some it may be a bit over the appropriate blogger edge. I apologize if you find this talk offensive. But sometimes, these things just need to be discussed.

Have you ever had problems using one of the new fangled, water saving toilets? You know the kind. The ones your children stop up on a regular basis. (See, having children is handy. You can blame embarrassing things, like a clogged toilet, on them.) I love living in a new house, but getting used to the toilets has been a plunging experience. Literally.

Here's a tip to cut down on those pesky plunging operations. When flushing after #2, hold the handle down until the water stops running into the toilet. Maybe teach the kiddos to sing the Happy Birthday or ABC song, both when flushing and washing the hands after the job.

I'd like to take credit for this golden tidbit, but I have to give credit to Greg our builder. Proper flushing of the toilets was on our new home owner tour. Greg took off the lid of the tank, and gave a demonstration. You would not believe on how much more water you can get through the bowl by simply holding the handle down those few extra seconds.

Now you might be thinking, "Yah, right. What difference does a few measley seconds of water make on the flush." I'm here to tell you. . .A LOT! Case and point, Mr. Nomad and I rarely have problems with a backed up toilet. The older kiddos who learned the ways of flushing, have significantly cut down their use of the dreaded bathroom plunger. Now poor Bubby, just hasn't gotten the hang of it. We end up plunging nearly every time that boy flushes. You know, he likes to "do the honor" himself.

So there it is. A tool to make life with water saving toilets livable. My tips have only been around a few months, and already they have gone down the toilet.

7 Quick Takes

2010-06-11T16:16:00.000-07:00

1. The fish finally died. Fortunately we've worked through the hard part. No tears today. Now to find a place to plant him.

2. This is ballet recital weekend. Pictures tonight, rehearsal tomorrow, and recital on Sunday. The studio Princess takes lessons at is brilliant. Rather than the one recital that never ends, they do four short recitals in one day. The older dancers get a chance to show off their talent multiple times, and the younger students don't have to sit there all day. (Which really translates to this, I don't have to sit there all day! I mean little kids in dance costumes are cute. . . but not after a certain amount of time.)

3. This is also final tournament of the baseball season weekend. If things line up, there is a possibility The General may be playing his final game at the exact same time as Princess' dance recital. AGH! There is no way to be in two places at the exact same time, and it will be hard to miss the game. Recitals are once a year, I'm so sorry General. (Seriously, can you feel my momma guilt?)

4. Hawaii is only 1 1/2 weeks away. I have done very little to prepare. I still need a swimsuit, and to go through my closet and make sure I have the right clothes. This is a huge challenge. It is hard to imagine yourself in shorts and summer dresses when it is still only 50 degrees and raining most days. I can tell you this, I bet I'm the whitest gal on the beach!

5. My mother-in-law has viral pneumonia. This in and of itself is a concern, but add to it she and my FIL are our childcare while Mr. Nomad and I go to Hawaii. Please pray that she feels better soon. Not for me, but for her. I worry that she will push herself, not wanting to let us down.

6. Did I mention I am so very tired of the rain and cold? I wore my winter coat, jeans and gloves at the baseball game last night. . .WITH a blanket wrapped around me. The silver lining, I will appreciate the sun in Hawaii more?

7. I believe 4 is my new favorite age. I am completely smitten with Bubby. (I know I've said it before, but really he keeps getting better all the time.) In fact, I've told my mother-in-law she is not allowed to steal him when she leaves. Let me tell you, she's going to want to. Remember how I told you that came out a bit grumpy, and held on to that snarky tendency? Well, for the most part the snarky boy is gone. Left in place is a sweet little boy, who is loving and kind. He tells me I'm nice and very beautiful. Oh, how I love that boy.

That is 7, and I'm off to tackle Mount Washmore. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

:) Tami

Remember, Jen over at Conversion Diary hosts 7 Quick Takes each Friday. Stop by and check it out.

A lesson in life. . .

2010-06-09T12:38:00.000-07:00

As I sit here typing, these are the things I hear in the background. (All statements from the Bubster are sad, and broken with tears in the middle.)

"I love you Blackout."

"I'm going to miss you Blackout."

"You are still breathing Blackout."

"But, he has been such a nice fish. It is just that I am going to miss him!"

Yes, our goldfish Blackout, AKA Boomer, AKA George is dying. I changed the water yesterday, and I'm not sure if I did something wrong or if it is just his time. His buddy Grace is swimming around the tank just fine. Alas, the fish is on his way out.

On the surface this is really sad. Bubby is crying and distressed. Which breaks my heart. I could have skipped this scene by flushing the fish, rushing to the pet store for a replacement, and Bubby would have been none the wiser. I could have saved him from this pain. But, I know that wouldn't be the best thing for my boy.

Losing the fish reminds me of the day we had to say goodbye to our beloved dog. For 12 years he was Mr. Nomad and my first baby. It is still hard for me to talk about that day, and I still miss that stupid dog. The silver lining (you know me, I'm the eternal half full) is the growth which comes from making our way through hard times.

Losing our dog was the hardest thing The General and Princess had ever experienced. What a beautiful parting gift it was. My furry boy was able to teach my babies even though it hurts really bad, life goes on. That you will experience happiness again, and how to cope with hurt. They relied heavily on our family love, and their faith. The first thing The General asked was for a family prayer.

So today as my sweet Bubby mourns the goldfish, I am grateful for this life lesson. It has sparked a discussion on eternal life, heaven and Bubby's biggest fear: separation from us. He only remembers that his buddy went away, and he can't stop by heaven to visit. Today I remind him that if we have faith, we will all rejoice in heaven together. (It is also a great reminder for me. Stay on the path Tami, make good choices, place God first. Eternity will be so sweet with my babies.) This is a big relief for him. He whimpered in my arms, "When I'm 100, and I go up to heaven, will you still hold me?"

"Yes, my sweet boy, Mommy will hold you forever. . ."

I will hold him forever. Maybe not in my arms, but in my heart. More importantly God is holding my boy, and His love is even better than mine!

Could it be??

2010-06-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

What is this bright light, and blue sky over head? Oh, it is the sun. It has just been such a long time since I've seen you old friend. Please stay and play with us today. Pretty please?!

A little gardening advice from Mrs. Green Thumb

2010-06-01T18:06:00.000-07:00

Mr. Nomad and I have been working our fingers to the bone with landscaping this past week. We have made some serious progress, and are to the point of adding some pops with flowers. So today on our way home from classes, the kiddos and I stopped at Home Depot to pick up a few perennials. Driving into the parking lot I spied the most beautiful plants, I was thrilled. I grabbed a cart, loaded up a few and found the rest of the items on my list.

Meanwhile the kiddos enjoyed running up and down the empty aisles. . . (Reason 1001 to Home School, you get to run errands when others are at work or in school. So nice to have the place almost to myself.) Fortunately they ran all their energy off, and then were sitting nicely in the check out line. Bubby flirting with the nice grandmaish lady working the check out.

As I start the check out process, Grandma (who by now really likes the Nomad Kiddos) informs me my favorite plants. . .the very ones who called my name across the parking lot. . .are extremely poisonous. WHAT?!? Hmmm. . .I think, maybe she is wrong and just being dramatic. Yet if I buy them and ignore her advice, that would be rude. I decide to put them back, go home, do some research and return another day for the plants. Seriously, I've never heard anything like this before. . .surely she is wrong.

Or NOT! Yep, I came home and Googled Fox Glove. Not good. Click here to read more. Thank goodness The Nomad Kiddos were sweet, and grabbed that Grandma's attention. I mean my kiddos may get on my nerves from time to time, but poison them in the garden? NEVER!

See what I mean? Aren't they beautiful? Any suggestions on a similar looking plant? One that won't kill my babies?

Just Smile Bigger!

2010-05-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

What do you think of the new header? This was taken after mass on Easter Sunday. Notice Bubby's puffy eyes? He wasn't too excited about the whole taking pictures thing. In the moment I gritted my teeth, pasted a smile on my face, and with as calm and sweet voice as I could muster said to the big kiddos, "Just look forward and smile big!" In my mind I was thinking, "This boy is gonna kill me yet."

At that moment in time, it was about getting one nice photo to remember Easter 2010. Now looking back over a month later, I think there are some tidbits of wisdom to hold on to.

Lesson number one, stay calm Tami. By remaining in control, and not freaking out (Who me? Never? Ha Ha Ha!) the rest of us were able to move on.

Lesson number two, it never hurts to put a smile on your face. Getting irritated and grumpy doesn't help. Think about the difference seeing a smiling face makes in your life. Seriously. A smiley baby cooing in the crib vs. screaming baby. Hmmm. . .something to think about.

Now if only I would have realized this, and embraced these life lessons years ago. I can think of several instances it would have come in handy. ;)

(I know Jody, you've been coaching me for years. I'm just a little slow.)

Giggling feet

2010-05-14T15:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday when we were walking out to our van, I gave Bubby a ride on the shopping cart. You know how you have them stand on the bottom, and hold onto the handle. Of course if you are giving a small boy a ride, you don't walk slowly. To make it fun and exciting, you have to run a bit. As we were running along Bubby says, "Mommy, my feet feel like they are giggling!" What a fun way to describe vibrations, giggling feet. I love little boys.

Tami's Tips: Step Away From The Computer

2010-05-06T21:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, if your husband is out for the evening. . .and you are the responsible adult in charge of the household: STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER. It is an hour past Bubby's bedtime, but he and Princess are playing so nicely. The General is hanging out, and it is so fun to catch up on the bloggy world. Alas I need to be the mommy, and get these kiddos in bed. Good night.

Tami's Tips: Frozen Fruit. . .YUM

2010-05-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

Now that some of you are enjoying warmer weather (no hope of that here in the Pacific Northwest. . .we are freezing. . .but that is a whole other post), it is getting to be ice cream season. Some of you may be trying to cut back on calories, or you may simply be trying to eat healthier. Today's tip, substitute frozen fruit for high fat/high calorie ice creams.

My favorite are frozen blueberries. They are delicious, and LOADED with lots of good nutrition. I buy these 5 lb. bags @ Costco for around $7. Another benefit, frozen fruits don't go bad in the crisper drawer.

I like to serve them up in a little bowl. One serving (3/4 cup) is only 80 calories. By serving in a smaller bowl, it makes me think I've had a whole bowl of berries.

I have friends who love smoothies, and that is a nice way to sneak in fruits and vegetables. My only concern is whenever you blend, it takes A LOT of fruit, ice cream, or whatever to make a small shake. I'm always amazed when we make brown cows, how much ice cream is in each shake. For that very reason, I shy away from drinks of the blended variety. If you HAVE to have ice cream, stick to a small scoop served in one of the cute little bowls.

I heart P90X!

2010-04-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

Back in January my neighbor, K invited me over to do an exercise video. At first we started just picking out one of the many videos, and doing what we felt like that day. Then I mentioned to another friend I was trying out these P90X workouts. She began to gush. She too was doing these workouts. Only she and her husband were faithfully doing the program. That means, following the nutritional guide, and the workout schedule. Here was the hook: She was getting great results! In just a couple months she had gone down 2 sizes.

The next day I filled K in on my conversation with my friend. I announced that we were done messing around. We were going to get serious about this P90X thing. K was as intrigued as I was. (K decided to follow the nutritional guides. Mr. Nomad & I eat pretty healthy, so I decided to just go with the workouts.)

When we started the workouts, I joked my way through much of the tapes. Seriously I thought I would never be able to do it. Did I really want to do it? It is HARD! Now, the strangest thing has happened. Each day I could do a little more, and now I am feeling good. In fact, I miss the workouts when we can't exercise. (Sounds crazy, doesn't it?)

So what is so great about this program? Why does it work? I think it is the variety. P90X is a combination of toning/cardio/stretching. You lift weights, do aerobic exercises, and yoga. The main idea is that by mixing things up, it creates muscle confusion. You are out smarting your body, thus no plateaus.

Many times us ladies are good at walking/running or doing aerobic activity. However, we neglect weights because we don't want to look bulky. This is really a myth. Toning with weights is the secret weapon. It builds muscle mass, which burns more calories (thus burning fat). More muscle means we are stronger, which decreases injuries. Another added benefit, women need the weight resistance to maintain our bone mass (osteoporosis is not a pretty thing).

Now K and I made our big commitment 4 months ago, and guess what?!? It really does work! K and I have both slimmed down. K has lost over 15 pounds, and I am so happy to be back in my pre-pregnancy jeans. (So what if my baby is 4. . .I was just pacing myself. ;)

The big thing for me is maintenance. K and I agreed, this wasn't going to be a 90 day thing for us. Rather, we wanted to get fit, and then commit to staying fit. We have 2 weeks left of the Lean schedule, and then we are starting the Classic.

I'm not saying everyone should run out and buy the P90X videos. I think the most important thing is to combine some type of cardio and weight resistance training. It can be as simple as a walk in your neighborhood, followed with push ups, stomach crunches, leg lifts, lunges and arm curls. (I've done this in the past and it was very effective.) Some people love personal trainers and gyms. There are tons of great programs out there. Find the one that suits you. Personally, P90X is the one that is working for me right now.

Wish me luck. I'll keep you posted.

Monday after Spring Break Blues. . .

2010-04-12T08:06:00.000-07:00

Okay, it is Monday morning. We had a wonderful time on our Spring Break. No traveling for us, but our dear friends from Charleston, SC flew in to spend a week with us. Fun was had by all. Now it is Monday. . .time to get back on track. Oh, I think I'm going to need the whole pot of coffee for this one.

On a side note: How is it every day I stayed up way too late chatting, and had the freedom to sleep in, Bubby managed to haul his little hiney out of bed around 7:00AM. . . Yet today when I need to be up and at 'em, the boy is still slumbering away past 8:00AM????

Good Friday?

2010-04-02T07:29:00.000-07:00

What?
Today is the day we solemnly remember our Lord's Passion. Jesus being tortured, put to death on our behalf, and that is good?

Lent is not a time when we regretfully step back from all the fun and joy we have in life to enthusiastically pretend we are good Christians by starting a diet. Lent is a time when we remember that God invites us to true joy. God is love. All our preoccupations with anything less than what God intends for us is illusion.
--Sister Kathryn James, FSP

God is love, and He has invited us to true joy. . .now that is good.

I know many of you have wonderful plans for Easter. I pray they are blessed, and this very special time in our church year is meaningful and filled with love.

In closing I'd like to invite those of you who will be spending Easter with children to give this Easter Story Cookie recipe a try. Our Faith Formation Director sent a very similar version home with us, and we are excited to give it a whirl this year. I think it will be perfect for Bubby.

Take care my friends. I'll see you after Easter. I've got some Hot Cross Buns to finish up.

Tami's Tips- Volume 1: Are your piggies ready?

2010-03-31T20:44:00.000-07:00

If I were Mary or Dawn, I'd have a really cool logo to go with my new idea. Alas, it is just me, Tami. What you see, is what you get. Nothing fancy, but sent out with the best of intentions. So this in my new idea. I love learning, and picking peoples' brains for improving my life. What I love even more than that is sharing the things I learn. If it makes my life easier, better, happier, etc. . .surely someone else might benefit from this little tidbit. In honor of the pay it forward of advice, each week I'm going to share a tip I've learned.
Tami's Tip #1: Preparing the Piggies
With spring in the air, warm weather and summer sandals are just around the corner. Now if your poor piggies are anything like mine, they are looking a bit neglected right about now. Seriously, who needs cute feet when they are in socks 23 3/4 hours of the day? Well, a few weeks ago when I was getting out of the shower, I noticed my heels were all cracked and not so attractive. Is this what 40 means? My feet are going to heck in a hand basket?

My solution? Before bed each night I've been slathering my feet and hands with lotion. Nothing fancy, just the Target brand aloe and lanolin. I massage a generous amount of lotion around my feet and ankles, then I put on some nice cozy cotton socks. After a few weeks of this, my heels are all healed up and ready for summer.

It sure beats a spendy trip to the spa for a pedicure. Now to tackle those toe nails that have been on hiatus since last fall. . .

The General on Nutrition

2010-03-29T17:42:00.000-07:00

Trying to get my oldest child to eat healthy has been a challenge, just about his whole life. He started out so promising, gobbling up the Lima beans, asparagus, broccoli, or whatever healthy veggie we placed before him. Around 18 months, the tides changed. We have battled for years. I've tried every trick in the book, and am now resigned to continued nonchalant education.
So the other day The General and I are eating lunch, and I go into my nonchalant education mode.
Me: "Hey, did you know you can tell if you are getting good nutrition by looking at the colors of the food on your plate?"
The General: "Seriously? How?"
Me: "Well, They say you are getting good nutrition if your food is colorful. See my salad? I have green, red, black and purple in here. How about your lunch? Do you think it would cut it?"
The General: "Hmmm. . .well, I have white-tortilla, brown--peanut butter, and gold--honey. Hey, give me some Cheetos, then I'd have orange."

Smarty pants!

Rock & Worship Roadshow 2010

2010-03-27T07:35:00.000-07:00

The other night I scored serious cool points with the Nomad Kiddos. I gave in to their begging and pleading to attend the Rock & Worship Roadshow 2010. :)Sidewalk Prophets opened the show, and they were great. I'm a bit embarrassed to say I didn't recognize their name, but I did know their music. I so enjoy their song " Words I Would Say."Next was Remedy Drive, with their hit "Daylight". They are one of The General's favorite bands. He has indoctrinated Bubby into their greatest fans club. It was so fun to see my boys rockin' out in concert, to a song they have played no less than a billion times at home. (No, I'm not exaggerating.)

Fee took the stage next. They sounded great, although I have to admit we didn't see as much of them as I would have liked. There are no intermissions, just quick breaks in between acts. After noshing on a half bag of Kettle Korn, and a 16 oz. bottle of pink lemonade, Bubby needed to make a rest stop. You may not see it, but I do believe this may have put me in the running for Mommy of the Year 2010!

After our pit stop, we were treated to the beautiful voice of Francesca Battistelli. You might recognize her big hit, "Free to be Me." She was very sweet, introducing her aunt in the audience. We all laughed when her aunt held up a sign that read, "Franny, call your mom."

I think Bubby really enjoyed Francesca. He asked for my cell phone, then proceeded to wave it in the air. Bubby, age four, official christian rock concert groupie. I'm so proud. Really, I am.

Family Force Five was up next. They were very AC/DCish, and not a favorite of mine. Some people really enjoy heavy metal, so this was definitely the portion of the show for them. I sent Mr. Nomad a text saying, "David, save me. . ." I'm too old for headbanging. In their defense, they did say if you didn't want to dance, you should go get a corn dog or something. I'll take the dog next time. ;)

The David Crowder Band did indeed save me! Oh my! I have to admit, I love to listen to music, but I'm not a HUGE fan. HUGE fans like The General, Princess and Mr. Nomad know all about their favorite musicians. What they look like, where they are touring, their hometowns, and how they came to be a band. Real music fans can pick out songs by just hearing the intro. You get the picture.

Any who, I am familiar with The David Crowder Band, but I had never "seen" them. So when they took the stage Mr. Crowder's appearance surprised me. He had a crazy fro, with a lumber jack shirt, and preppy square black glasses. He looked like he just walked off the streets of my beloved Olympia, WA. Meaning, he was very eclectic. Which is not a bad thing, just not the image that I had in my head. Do you ever have those experiences? You hear a voice, create a picture, and then when you meet the voice in person it just doesn't jive?

Now don't get bent out of shape. Before you think I'm shallow and unkind, know this. . .Mr. Crowder even made a joke about he and his drummer's beards fitting right into the Pacific Northwest look.
Enough about the look. Let's talk music. Again, OH MY! The David Crowder Band ROCKED THE HOUSE! They played the favorites, but also some fun crowd songs. My favorite was when they had the whole Tacoma Dome singing, "I'll Fly Away." My kiddos were surprised and impressed that I knew the words. Shhh, don't tell them it is a really old song. Let's keep it between us. You know, I am campaigning hard for that Mother of the Year 2010 title.

Just when we were having such a great time, and you think it can't get better. . .MercyMe took the stage! Okay, that may be a stretch. We've been blessed to have seen MercyMe in concert before. I knew they could rise to the occasion, and they did not disappoint.

I'm telling you this, I am smitten with their whole new "The Generous Mr. Lovewell" theme. The look (see above) is cool. The message is even better. Bart, the lead singer told the story of their brainstorming session. They discussed how we struggle to be kind to our neighbor. We neglect to know the guy across the street, so when he needs help we may not even realize it. We also fail to turn the other cheek when someone is rude or unkind. In a nutshell, they are challenging everyone to LOVEWELL! Love it!

As I sit typing this little synopsis of our evening, it is a bit bittersweet. Bitter, because Mr. Nomad had been looking forward to this concert for months. Unfortunately, he is off on another Air Force adventure. Bummer. (I'm not complaining, I feel beyond blessed he was able to be with us for Christmas and 2 birthdays. A luxury we do not take for granted.) Sweet, because I love sharing experiences like this with my children. I'm so grateful there are great Christian musicians out there providing awesome entertainment for our family. How wonderful to be able to take my entire family, and never once worry about foul language, unkind words or immodest dress.

Now the icing on this delectable cake? When we were walking up to the entrance a very nice gentleman stopped us, asking if we were a family. Since I didn't know what he was getting at, I briefly thought "What a goof ball. Of course we are a family. What crazy woman would pick up 3 kids--one just 4 years old, and bring them to a rock concert?" So I answered in a confused voice, "Yes, why???" The gent handed me 4 admission tickets, and said, "Thanks for bringing your family tonight!"

I think that generous act of kindness really sums up the reason for this tour. MercyMe is trying to make their music ministry available to the masses. The quote I loved went something like this, "We don't just want to be Christians who simply use our talents to entertain alone. We want to inspire others to serve Christ." MercyMe and several other Christian artists work closely with Compassion International, and many other wonderful charities to help those less fortunate. If you are interested in learning more about this charity, check it out here. If you are interested in learning more about the tour, check it our here.

I hope some of you are able to see it when it comes to a city near you.

AND, hey, if you happen to talk to any Nomad Kiddos. . .a vote for Tami would be greatly appreciated!

NEWS FLASH. . .I don't read Chinese or other foreign languages.

2010-03-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

Just a little note to those who find it necessary to leave spam comments on my blog. I do not appreciate it.
I do apologize if you were honestly trying to leave me a comment in Chinese praising the wonders of my blog. Desperately wanting me to know there was a deep connection. My writing, my musings have so enthralled you. Maybe you want to make a movie out of my life? I mean PW isn't the only one with a good love story and interesting past.
Alas, somehow I do not believe that to the be case.
You'll notice my comments are hidden. My garbage can to delete said comments went missing. Until I can tidy up. . .no comments.
You have no idea how this pains me. I live for comments. Okay, I'm being a bit dramatic. But your comments really do make me smile!
Tami

PS It's not that I don't want to read foreign languages, it is just that it has been awhile since I've studied German. When I'm done homeschooling my children, I'll take up personal development in this area. Until then, please stick to English. I honestly don't mean to be a rude American.

POST PUBLISH EDIT
YIPPEE!! My garbage cans magically appeared, so comments are ON!

Tuesday Treasures - Sometimes it is in the memories.

2010-03-16T16:39:00.000-07:00

Mary over at Hope Echoes hosts Tuesday Treasures each week. Stop by and check it out.

This is one of my favorite treasures. Doesn't look like much, does it? An old soda can, that has seen better days. Sometimes the treasure isn't in the value, or even in the aesthetic properties. Sometimes the treasure lies in the memories. . .

This old can used to have a picture drawn on the side, with my name, T-A-M-I neatly printed on the side. It was my very own bank my Grandma B. made, just for me. When I would visit on Saturday, which was the weekend tradition--Saturday Grandma B., Sundays with Grandma L., I would go to the cupboard and get out my bank. Oh the fun I had counting the change.

My Grandma's house wasn't fancy. She often joked that she lived in a tar paper shack, which wasn't far from the truth. What Grandma's house lacked in "things", it more than made up for in love and fun. There was slopping the pigs, carrying in baby lambs in the spring, collecting the sap from the maple trees for syrup, gardening, doing laundry with the old fashioned ringer machine, mushrooming, wood hauling, tractor driving and card playing until late into the night. My favorite task at Grandma's house was baking-she even let me eat the dough! I could go on and on. You see, Grandma didn't have electricity until 1977, and running water with indoor plumbing came a few years after that.

This was taken the last time I visited my Grandma B. at the home place. (She has since moved to a nursing home.) Bubby was just 4 months old. He was meeting his great-grandma for the first time, which was extra special for me. Bubby was born on her 89th birthday. When we arrived that day I made a comment about him being her birthday present, and without even missing a beat she replied, "Well, do I get to keep him then?"

Here is Grandma with Princess when she was just 3 or so. Grandma was collecting eggs from her hen house. Grandma was 86 years young in this one. Still living on the farm alone, with chickens to tend. When the chickens got to be too much, we knew her days in the Boondocks were numbered.

Looking at this old soda can doesn't mean a whole lot to others. In fact, on a few occasions Mr. Nomad has almost thrown it out while unpacking. However, when I hold this old can, it brings back a flood gate of happy memories from my childhood. It brings back a place where I was unconditionally loved. A place where I was made to feel worthwhile. Over the years I written numerous gushing letters to my Grandma. I needed her to know how much I love her, and how much I appreciated all she has done for me. Grandma only brushed off the praise, and prefers to hear about the everyday happenings of my life as a momma. You see, that is my Grandma B. She is quiet, strong, hard-working, and loving. I hope I can grow up to be as wonderful as my Grandma B.

Bubby on human anatomy.

2010-03-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

The other night Bubby & I were taking a quick shower before bed. I'm not sure how it happens but there seems to be a time warp at my house. Does anyone else have this problem? One minute it is around 4:30PM, and I'm thinking about what we should have for dinner. Before I know it, it is 8:30 or 9PM and I'm saying, "Oh crap, I've gotta get this little man in bed!" Which is how we both came to be in the shower at the same time.
While I was quickly shampooing our hair, Bubby starts walking around me in circles. He then looks up and innocently declares, "Mommy, I think something of yours fell off."

Words of Wisdom. . .

2010-03-08T11:52:00.000-08:00

READER DISCRETION ADVISED

The other day The General and I were having a little follow up discussion about the "Purity" talk at his church youth group. When we first started having these "talks", I was very uncomfortable. In fact, I was a little put out that I was even doing any talking in this area. He is a boy after all. Isn't it the job of Mr. Nomad to chat on these matters?
Enter reality. I'm with the children 95% of the time. Most chats are not choreographed, rather they just happen. When you are the one who "happens" to be home all day, you get the surprise chats. Which it turns out, God has given me the grace to handle. In fact, I feel really good we have been able to foster an open relationship with The General. (Okay, so he is a chatterbox like me. I'm not so great, he is. Princess may be a whole other matter. She is much more quiet and reserved like her daddy. . .time will tell.)
As we were talking, I wanted to make sure things were being laid out in a biblical manner. But even more importantly then that, I wanted to make sure he wasn't hearing about this topic and being shamed. Or that he wouldn't feel shameful in the future.
So I started explaining how we can't control what thoughts come into our heads, but we can control our reactions to them. Seriously, what young man doesn't notice girls? I don't want him to feel shamed because of a natural response, but rather help learn to him train himself into appropriate responses. Seeing a pretty girl may bring about, "Hmmm. . .she's pretty"--acceptable. "Nice knockers"--not acceptable. (Don't laugh. As a child I heard all about the knockers in this world. I want better for my boys, and my girl. )
Here is where the wisdom comes in:
The General says, "So our brain is like a computer?"
"What do you mean?" I replied.
"Our brain is like the inter net. Sometimes you just get pop ups. You don't ask for the pop up, it just comes up on our screen. Then you have to make the choice to X it out," my boy wisely explained.
That is exactly it. Impure thoughts may just "pop up", which doesn't make you bad or sinful. Rather it is the follow up which can cause us to sin. Do we quickly X out the impurity, the jealousy, the unkindness, etc. . . Or, do we act on those thoughts in a sinful manner?
Once again I am reminded I did not become a mother to impart my wisdom on this world, rather God uses these precious blessings to raise me.
I hope my blessings may be helpful to some of you, as we journey through this life together.

Another reason homeschooling rocks. . .

2010-02-25T22:29:00.000-08:00

You don't have to get all spruced up for the day until you are good and ready!
This is me, quizzing the big kiddos on their American History. This was taken right after lunch. That is Princess and Bubby enjoying some bubbly play while we were schooling. The General was in our closet playing with his action figures.
I love the time we spend together learning, playing, and just enjoying one another's company. I am so grateful our family has been blessed with this opportunity.

Need a chuckle?

2010-02-24T07:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning started with our usual Tuesday routine. Religion over breakfast, quick get ready, and out the door. I dropped The General off at his classes, and was on my way to my Scripture Study (it is my guilty pleasure). When I hear Bubby's gurgled, "Mommy!" Yep, gurgled. You know what is coming. . .
I look over my shoulder, and poor Bubby is covered in vomit. I yell for Princess to help him, as he is still throwing up, and all she can manage is an, "Oh, gross. I think I'm going to be sick." As she is gagging and trying to open her window for air, I make a split second decision not to press this one. I'd hate to test her gag reflux.
I frantically look for a spot to pull over. NOTHING. I turn the corner, still no shoulder on the edge of the street. I zip into a neighborhood, slam on the brakes, jam the van into park, jump out, and run around to Bubby's side to help him. Poor boy was COVERED in vomit. He's crying, Princess is gagging, Calgon anyone?
Fortunately the vomiting subsided, so I calmly undress him-careful not to smear yuck all over his poor little face.
Here's where the chuckle comes in.
Since Bubby has been such a great boy, potty trained for over 1 1/2 years, I don't carry a diaper bag. Rookie mistake, I know, I know. So my little man is standing in the rain, sick and shivering. What is a mommy to do?
Thank heavens for the layered look. I take off my jacket, (the people whose neighborhood we just invaded probably think I am nuts) peel off my long sleeved t-shirt, and put it on Bubby. Now I am standing in the rain, in my tank top, in February, freezing. (Maybe, they all went to work and didn't see me? Or they work the nightshift and were still sleeping?) Princess, still trying not to lose her cookies, is staring at me with a, "have you lost your mind?" look on her face.
I rearrange the children. Bubby in Princess' booster, Princess up front (I know back is safer, but I REALLY didn't want to clean up more puke) with a cracked window for fresh air. We made it home uneventfully. Now that Bubby wasn't covered in yuck, and her stomach was safely calmed, Princess took him upstairs and bathed him. I tackled the messy clothes and car seat. (How did I do this without my big kid helpers?) As well as finding myself some more clothing.
So that's it my friends. Look for me on the news, "Crazed Mother Strips on Quiet Neighborhood Street!"
Are we having fun yet?

**This is an actual story out of the life of Momma Nomad. Bubby is feeling better, and no other children have succombed to the virus, thus far.

Teacher's Little Helper

2010-02-20T14:04:00.000-08:00

I was over at No Heavy Lifting today, leaving a comment for Dawn, when I began bubbling over the joys of Magic School Bus. If you have elementary aged school, these little videos are gold.

Back when I was pregnant with Bubby, The General was in 3rd grade, and Princess was starting Kindergarten. Each day we would begin our school day around 8:00AM, with a break for lunch around noon. This happened to coincide with PBS' airing of Magic School Bus. My kiddos were thrilled. Initially I was a little concerned about breaking for TV mid-day. However, after a few weeks of collapsing my pregnant body on the couch, I realized two things. #1 I needed the mid-day break, and #2 it was good stuff.

I'd lay down for those 30 minutes, and get up refreshed and ready to tackle the rest of the day. Which was important, as Mr. Nomad was working long days at the Pentagon. No Daddy coming home in the evening for respite. I was pretty much on my own.

After watching the program with the kiddos a few days, I realized they were learning some great science. In fact after a couple weeks, I bagged the expensive science curriculum I had purchased for The General. I left it to the fates he would be okay in science, instead focusing on other academics that year. In the spring I had him tested. Guess what?? My boy scored in the 99th percentile for science.

Now I can't attribute all of that to Magic School Bus, as we are a nerdy science family. We love nature hikes, and he lived for all of those Jeff Corwin and Steve Erwin shows when he was a younger. Animal Planet's Top 10 is still one of his favorite shows.

However, I do think the Frizz was useful. Now we tried both the videos and the books. The books were fun for experiments, but the videos explain things in a much more captivating way. You can find both the videos and books at the local library. I'm sure NetFlix or other video services may also have them on hand.

Magic School Bus was a life saver that year. Hopefully Ms. Frizzle and the rest of the gang can help out a few other mommas with lots on their plates.

101 Wednesday: The New Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism

2010-02-17T09:59:00.001-08:00

This is my first 101 Wednesday post. I'd like to share with you my love for The New Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism. I know this is pre-Vatican II, but I still love it. No, I'm not a super conservative Catholic that yearns for the mass to be said in Latin. I wish I were that knowledgeable and devout. Alas, I am just a work in progress. Maybe one day I will graduate to that uber level of wisdom. Until then, I am going to just keep on trucking. Studying our faith, and basking in the glory of our Lord.

So this is where my basking has recently been: For our daily religion I have the kiddos memorize this Catechism. I love this book, because it is laid out nicely in little chapters. Monday we read the little chapter and the corresponding Catechism. Tuesday we read the Catechism portion, explain all vocabulary/intent questions, and do half the chapter questions. (I feel it is imperative my children UNDERSTAND what they are memorizing.) Wednesday the other half of the questions, again reading the Catechism. Thursday go over Catechism, and read the Bible verses to support the Catechism. Friday more Catechism. Now the following week we practice the Catechism each day, with the goal of having that chapter's Catechism memorized by Friday.

Memorization is important to brain development, but I also think it is important for my children to have this stuff down so they can be positive defenders of our faith. So much of the Catholic Church is misunderstood, many times because we as Catholics are not well versed in our faith. The other portion which is pivotal, is my hope these treasures will be stored up in their hearts. One day they will find themselves in a difficult situation, and these little treasures will point them in the right direction. The direction of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

For some time the Catechism has been focusing on the 10 Commandments. Now we all know these, right? What I find so helpful is they explain the command in terms my children (and I) understand. For example: Thou shalt not kill. Hey, that is pretty easy. I do not go around killing anyone. . .but do I? It goes on to explain. . .

by the fifth commandment we are commanded to take proper care of our own spiritual and bodily well-being, and that of our neighbor. This forbids murder and suicide, and also fighting, anger, hatred, revenge, drunkenness, reckless driving, and bad example. --Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism 1964

Ouch. I've got some work to do.

Now the spirit of this exercise is not to condemn. That was not God's intent when he handed the tablets over to Moses. The intent, which the Israelites rejoiced over, was for these commands to be a guide to holy living. I pray these guides are as helpful to you as they have been to our family.

Where haave you beeen Taammii????

2010-02-10T13:57:00.000-08:00

ABM stopped by looking for me. She noticed I'd been gone a while. No, I haven't been depressed about the Vikings loss. I've been a fan for years, we're used to losing. ;)

So where have I been? I'd like to say off on some exotic adventure, like my husband. Last weekend he was in Turkey again. He was able to visit the city of Taursus, and tour the home of Saint Paul. (I'm a little jealous.)

Alas my adventures have been here at home. (He's a little bit jealous.)

Let's see. . .we've had visitors. Remember that good friend we lived with last spring when we moved here? Well, the past few weeks we have been able to repay the favor. Kim was here getting her Bridal Boutique squared away. Which was nice to have company, I wasn't lonely when Mr. Nomad was away.

My mom and sisters were here a few days, and Mr. Nomad's brother also came for a long weekend. Just a few short weeks ago, I was all worried about having wasted God's gifts on our home. I think He showed me loud and clear that He is using our home to bless others. Hopefully I'll live up to His blessings.

Mr. Nomad's brother flew in on Princess' Birthday. He was a special surprise. I think she liked it, don't you?

There was the 10th Birthday Party for Princess, which was a lot of fun. She planned the party, researching games and cakes on-line. She settled on a rainbow theme. That cake nearly did me in. See the brightly colored layers? To get the vibrant colors you add Jell-O. What the blogs didn't mention was the Jell-O changes the consistency of the cake. Therefore instead of flipping out of the pan, you have to scrape it out. I was certain the cake was ruined. I was even MORE certain I would have to hit Costco for a cake as a plan B, which did not go over well with Princess. Fortunately after the layers cooled, I was able to smash them together. That and 3 or 4 tubs of frosting, and we were good to go! Looking at her birthday photos made me think back to the parties of her toddler days. You know the parties, the ones where the mommies spend the whole time running around after tons of little kids.Now they all sat properly at the table, having lunch like young ladies. Oh, my girl is growing up.

Adventure #3:

Remember back in November ABM when I said, "Eat yourself silly, and after the Christmas season we can make a pact and get healthy?" Well, I've been trying to do that very thing. I haven't really changed my diet, as we actually eat pretty healthy. (Okay, so the chocolate I sneak isn't so healthy. BUT, I'm willing to work out more so I can enjoy my chocolate. If I can't enjoy food, then what is the point?) Anyhow, instead of dieting I've been exercising. My neighbor and friend, Katie invited me to join her for P90X workouts in her garage. They are exercise videos that are pretty challenging. I'm able to do more and more each time, so I guess I am progressing. I'll have to take my measurements next week though to see how I'm really doing. The up side, I'm getting fit. The down side, it takes up my blog time!

Next up:

Bubby's hair vs. Silly Putty. Consider this a sort of public announcement. Truly an adventure. It measures right up there with the patience Saint Paul needed when he was out evangelizing.

Princess yells, "MOM! Bubbby didn't listen to me! I told him NOT to put the Silly Putty near his head, and he just smashed it into the back of his hair!"

AGH! This is NOT going to be fun. For anyone.

Luckily I was on the phone chatting with my friend. She quickly googled Silly Putty in hair. Did you know you can get it out with: 1) Rubbing Alcohol 2) Vegetable Oil or 3) Olive Oil. I went for #1. I was in the bathroom, and it was the closest product.

I think it's working. . .

Just a little bit more. . .

Whew. . .Thanks Gwen. I appreciate assistance in these family emergency situations. (Thank goodness I didn't have to cut his curls.) Bubby thanks you too! And that my friends is where I have been. Maybe not as exciting as the home of Saint Paul, but a blessed life filled with adventure none the less.

Licking our wounds. . .

2010-01-25T07:05:00.001-08:00

If you are a Vikings fan, you know what I'm talking about. Oh, how that game HURT! But then again, if you are a true purple and gold Vikings fan, you know the sting of defeat very well. Now the real test is here. . .if you are a TRUE fan you won't mind telling everybody how much you love your Vikings. AND you would NEVER trade them for another team. . .even if they can never quite get that elusive Super Bowl Championship. Yep, I'm a true fan. . .but it still stings.

Thank goodness I'm not Mr. Favre, now he is probably hurting a whole lot more than the rest of us today. Poor guy got pummeled yesterday. It was hard to watch.

Why was I watching? You've never heard me go on and on about football before. (Well, Jody Blue has, but that was many moons ago. You know the time when no one called me Mommy.) My boys left me. The General insisted on going to his church youth group, so I had to stay home without my football commentators to simply tell me about the game. I had forgotten how passionate I was about football, which is probably a good thing. From now on, the boys can't leave me alone during these big games. I think I scared Princess.

So to my Vikings, I have this to say: Thanks for a great season, and although yesterday's game was a bit. . .uh. . .difficult to watch, we still love you. You will always be our team. (For the record. Any little Nomad that thinks they can just jump ship and leave the Vikes will find themselves sleeping on the porch! I'm not being too harsh. We have to train those that may be faint at heart. How else do you think the Vikings have garnered such loyal fans? See above comment about our Super Bowl history.)

Go Vikings!

Seven Quick Takes: Volume 3

2010-01-22T10:10:00.000-08:00

1. It stinks only having one working computer in the house. My children use the computer for their schooling and as a treat. My husband uses the computer for business. Needless to say my blogging doesn't hit the top of the priority list.

2. Last weekend we had a lovely time in Leavenworth (I'll post about this in the next few days) but Bubby picked up a bad cold. I was quickly reminded of what life is like without much sleep. Another reason I wasn't blog hopping this past week. When everyone was tucked in, I quickly followed suit.

3. My mom and sisters are coming to visit. (Not Jody Blue--my other sisters. . .very long story. Maybe one day I'll share. Or maybe not?) Anyway, I'm torn. On the one hand I'm very excited to see them. My family doesn't travel, so this is truly a treat. I think the last time my one sister visited was almost 10 years ago when we lived in IL. My other sister and mom visited us about 7 years ago when we lived here before. The reason I'm nervous? Well, I know this may sound stupid, but I don't want them to think I'm a snob.

4. About the snob thing. Mr. Nomad and I LOVE our new home. We saved and sucked up a lot over the years to buy this home. However, now I find I am frequently embarrassed. I am working on this. Our home is a gift from God, and I shouldn't be ungrateful. Especially since we really do try to bless many others with our home. By having a roomier house, we have been able to host without it making Mr. Nomad overwhelmed and crazy. Then here comes the guilt again. . .should we have given more of our money to others instead?

5. I actually went to the doctor this week for an annual (or whenever you get to it) check up, complete with a mammogram. (I hadn't been to the doctor since my postpartum checkup after Bubby. . .oops.) Ladies it wasn't bad. Not a favorite activity, but nothing to fear. I brought along my knitting and some planners for schooling,and it was actually quite lovely to have almost uninterrupted moments. Do you think they would mind if I came back next week? I could get the rest of my planning done for this month.
If wimpy me can do this, so can you. They stressed how important it was to get a healthy baseline, so in the future if you have something weird in a mammogram they'll know what is going on. We all know early detection is the key to treatment with breast cancer. So go get smooshed. Stepping down from soapbox.

6. I started knitting a pair of socks. It feels good to knit again. I really missed it, or maybe I just really miss my friends back in DC who used to knit with me. While knitting is fun, it does cut into my computer time. Which is good, and bad.

7. After being gone from blogging for a week, I noticed that I have insecurities in bloggy land. I don't do the stat counters. For one they are too fancy, and I don't want to take the time to figure out how to use them. Two, it may hurt my feelings if no one stops by. Which in my insecure moment I wondered, "Did anybody even notice I've been gone?" See, we are all prone to the need to be loved and accepted. Even if by the virtual set. I know one thing, I missed you. Over the past week I kept wondering what funny comments or really good posts I was missing, and there were some good ones.

If you like to read more Quick Takes, stop by Conversion Diary.

Tuesday Treasures: Turkish Trunk

2010-01-12T15:53:00.000-08:00

Mary over at Hope Echoes has come up with a fun little segment called Tuesday Treasures. On a couple of Tuesdays each month, she invites us all to share a bit about a treasure found in our homes.

My Tuesday Treasure is a trunk my husband brought back from one of his trips to Turkey. I love the beautiful hand carving. The light and darkness of the work make it a very unique piece. However, my favorite part is that this trunk has history. It reminds me of the trips Mr. Nomad goes on in service to our country.

More than that it reminds me how much he loves me. Mr. Nomad is a very practical man. Hauling a Turkish Trunk halfway around the world is neither easy or practical. Yet he went out of his "box" to bring me something special.

The Great Salt Lake

2010-01-09T09:02:00.000-08:00

After our stint in Oklahoma last summer, we were able to explore the American West on our drive home to Washington State. Along the way we stopped by The Great Salt Lake in Utah. You cannot just drive by without checking it out.

Here we are with the lake in the background. See, it is the whole Nomad Clan. Mr. Nomad holding Bubby, me behind Princess, and the shadow in the foreground, that would be The General taking the picture. Who knew you could capture the entire family without a tripod? Don't we look great after 10 hours of traveling? (No zooming please.)

Now here is a little useless information which makes this post qualify for Boring Saturday Posts: Did you know, although the lake appears to be right along the interstate that runs through Salt Lake City, you actually have to drive about 10-15 miles west to get to the lake? One of the locals told us the lake is shrinking. He said it is because of all the urban sprawl. That, and the people rerouting the water so it doesn't just drain into the lake like it used to. Now I have no scientific research to support this, just the observation of a yocal local. Isn't the reflection just amazing? It was a pretty calm day, but the water is so still because of its incredible salinity. If I'm remembering correctly, it can be as high as 30%. Considering the ocean is only about 2%-3% salt, that is impressive. With all the salt comes a sort of smell you really cannot label under the pleasant category.

Now, we did see birds floating on the water and flying all around, but there are no fish that can survive the salty waters. The only living thing in the lake are briny shrimp (meaning no fish), which the birds like just fine. (This information is what I am remembering from the little park leaflet we picked up.)

A little background story for you on the next photo: When we drove into Salt Lake City, we'd been on the road all day. We were all tired and ready to just get out of the van and relax, BUT we wanted to see The Great Salt Lake. So we coaxed the children into more driving and headed out to the lake. That is where the first two photos were taken. It was one of those Griswold moments. We came, we saw, we've got the picture, let's go.

Here comes the funny part. We drive back to the Air Force Base, only to drive up and see a beautiful view of the lake. The kiddos were like, "you mean we had to ride in the van for an extra 1 1/2 hours, and the view of the lake was here all along?!?" Shortly after, we were carrying in our bags, Bubby managed to get his first bee sting, the big kids were on each others nerves. . . . due to it being the first bee sting, Mr. Nomad and I were scrambling to find the nearest ER on the map. It was a beautiful moment.

After things calmed down Mr. Nomad went for milk with The General. I took Bubby and Princess for a little walk. Which is where this picture was born. Bubby survived the bee sting, Princess and The General survived one another, we watched the beautiful sunset and all was right with the world.

At the time Mr. Nomad and I laughed at ourselves. We thought we had been foolish to drag the family all the way out to the lake for a closer look, and a few pictures. Now after a few months have gone by, and as I am looking through those pictures, I am so glad we make the trek out there. Although we could easily see the lake from our billeting parking lot, it didn't quite photograph so well. If I didn't know it was back there, I would have no idea The Great Salt Lake was there at all.

How funny, it took finally putting this post together for me to see the huge difference in the quality of pictures we took that day. The ones out at the lake are amazing, while the sunset photos are nice. It is just more about the sunset than a unique body of water. Hmm. . .I guess blogging has it's advantages after all.

If you would like to play along with a Boring Post of your own, stop over and see Mary at Hope Echoes.

Seven Quick Takes: Volume Two

2010-01-08T13:27:00.000-08:00

1. I am smitten with my little boy. Last night when I was snuggling him in the darkness, I whispered in his little ear, "You, my little man are loved. You are beautifully and wonderfully made." He whispered back, "you are gooder made."

2. Today that same boy came to me and very seriously asked, "Mommy will you please, please, please go spank The General? Right now! He won't let me play with his Legos." How empty my days would be without this little person.

3. Overall I am so pleased with our Christmas season. We had less presents, but the kiddos didn't even notice. The focus remained on Christ, and for that I am so grateful.

4. I am less than thrilled with my older children. It appears they have discovered the joy of giving one another wedgies. Running through the house, chasing one another as I type. AGH! Yes, I realize they too make my life the full, wonderful place that brings me joy. But wedgies? Really?

5. It is raining here today, not the mist I can easily tolerate. More the Midwest kind, that soaks you as soon as you step out the door. It looks like I won't be walking. :( Instead I'll have to find will power somewhere to get off the computer, and do some sort of exercise within the confines of my house. Hmm. . .maybe I can include the children. That would be good to burn off some of their excess energy. Ideas anyone???

6. Bubby is still in love with his pacifier. Bigger AGH! He only has it at bedtime, but I REALLY, REALLY want it to be gone. The crippling fear, he will become a thumb sucker. I had a cousin who sucked his thumb well into the teen years. I can at least control the paci, not so much the thumb.

7. Is it bad that at 1:40 PM we are all still in our jammies? It seems pointless to make the kiddos get dressed for a low key school day at home. I'll just keep telling myself that it's okay, and the guilt will subside. ;)

Have a wonderful weekend friends. Stop by and check out Jennifer and the rest of the 7 Quick Takes bloggers at Conversion Diary.

I think I can, I think I can. . .

2010-01-07T15:28:00.000-08:00

Our first day back to school after our wonderful Christmas break. We are all moving a little slow. Can we rewind, and go back to the beginning of Advent again?

We Three Kings. . .

2010-01-05T21:29:00.000-08:00

The feast of the Epiphany. The day we celebrate the wise men arriving to pay homage to Jesus. The wise men from our Nativity have been inching their way to baby Jesus. Ahh, tomorrow morning we will place them around the manger. They have arrived!
I love this feast day for a couple of reasons. First of all, it amazes me to think of those wise men traveling over a thousand miles just to worship Jesus. . .and they weren't even Jewish!Considering the times, it was a difficult and very expensive undertaking. Yet, they were so moved by what they had studied and seen in the sky they loaded up the caravan and set off. They knew a great king had been born, and didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to meet him. It inspires me to go that extra mile in learning more about my faith, and building a relationship with Christ.
The second reason I love this feast is the wise men point to the fact that Jesus came for all of us. The wise men were Gentiles from the East. Jesus didn't just come for the Jews, but for everyone. Whew, isn't that a relief?
My friend Lorri over at Mac and Cheese Chronicles has a great Epiphany Blessing for your home. Our parish in DC always sent something like this home with us, and the past few years it has been something we've really enjoyed. Thanks Lorri for posting, you saved me some serious Google time.
Happy Three Kings Day everyone!

It seems I've picked up a bug. . .

2010-01-03T19:08:00.000-08:00

As I was innocently blog hopping the other day, it seems I picked up a bug. I thought H1N1 was the big bad virus I needed to beware of this year. Who would of thought a little blog visiting would be so painful. McAfee doesn't pick up this virus, so Mr. Nomad has been diligently trying to debug the hard drive on the laptop. So until we get to the bottom of this virtual illness, my time here is limited. I'm afraid I won't be too popular if I infect the other computer.
Here I am in the midst of Christmas break, without the daily responsibility of schooling, and no computer! Now that is just wrong.
So, if anyone has advice on fixing my computer I would greatly appreciate it. I miss my bloggy friends. (Sniffle, sniffle.)

Okay, I may be a little early on this one. . .

2009-12-28T09:38:00.000-08:00

I was just looking for Tabitha's Travels. Remember, it is the third book from the Jotham's Journey Advent books? I was hoping to find it on eBay for a good deal. You know, maybe an after Advent special. Someone trying to clear out some clutter. Well, the one and only copy there was going for $50 with 4 days left on the sale. Now that is not a good deal, so I went back to my google search. It took me here. AND. . .it is being re-released in the Summer/Fall of 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you believe my good fortune! I am just so excited.

Now, could someone just remind me come summer to order my copy? :)

On a serious note, I would love it if you would check out these books. They have been such a blessing to our family. Not only do I hope this for other families, I would really love to see someone who inspires in such a positive way rewarded. So many books and movies in our day are such garbage, pollution to our very souls. Let's show those people in the printing and movie industry that good values and morals sells.

Do you have any great books or movies you would like to share?

The Magic of Christmas

2009-12-25T16:26:00.000-08:00

After my highly commented post on Santa Claus, I have to say I went into this Christmas season with a little bit of anxiety. Had Mr. Nomad and I ruined the awe and wonder for our children?

Last night as we read the last scripture of the Jesse Tree and finished Bartholomew's passage, I felt such a weight off my shoulders. We've had such a meaningful Advent season. I felt like we really had prepared our children for this day. During the Children's Mass when Father Jim proclaimed the Gospel, telling of Mary laying baby Jesus in the manger, Bubby leaned over and exclaimed, "MOM! Baby Jesus is in the manger! It is Christmas now!!" For the first time in a long time, I was feeling such a sweet peace. I was able to enjoy the beauty of this season, without sweating Christmas morning. No longer was I worried about the whole Santa situation. I was feeling very liberated.

Then again, there was a tiny nag in the back of my mind. Wondering and hoping Christmas morning wouldn't be a let down for The General and Princess. I mean Santa is a pretty hard act to follow.

About 3/4 of the way through our gift opening Princess climbed into my lap and quietly whispered in my ear, "Mom, it is still magical."

Ahhh, all is right with the world.

Thank you Heavenly Father for the gift of your Son, and for the joy of sharing this sacred gift with our children.

Merry Christmas dear friends.

What do you think of Bart's Passage?

2009-12-17T22:27:00.000-08:00

Is anyone else out there reading either Jotham's Journey or Bartholomew's Passage? I'm just curious what people are thinking of the books. Are you enjoying the story? How about the devotional questions? I'd love to hear what you think. Just curious. That's all.

UPDATE: We finished up Bartholomew's Passage on Christmas Day. It was nicely intertwined with the Jotham's Journey story. It wasn't as suspense filled as Jotham's Journey, but it did hold our attention. The devotional questions were thought provoking, which was a real help in getting our hearts ready for Christmas.
Overall, I am sticking by my thumb's up recommendation for the series. Now wish me luck in finding a copy of Tabitha's Travels for next year. . .I haven't seen this one is going back in for reprint. . .shoot.

Sacrifice. . .

2009-12-15T16:35:00.000-08:00

We are halfway through the commitment of Nutcracker. It has taken a HUGE chunk of our time. I've missed the bloggy world, I still need to finish a bit of shopping, and get to my holiday baking, but it has been worth every moment. Princess is having the time of her life.

More importantly this has been a great lesson in sacrifice, and what it really means to be part of a family. We are not 5 separate people, sharing space. We are a whole family unit, and it takes all of us working together to experience success. For The General and Bubby to know that they may have given up play time, but it helped Princess come out of her show with a beaming smile on her face. Well, that is priceless.

This thought may be counter to what our culture believes, but I think it is by these very sacrifices that our children thrive. To know they are part of something bigger than themselves, that others rely and count on them for happiness. In my humble, okay maybe not so humble, opinion, we would have a whole lot less depressed children and teens if they too really felt they were important and belonged to a loving family.

Right now this is Princess season. She is our star in the show. The Nomads are rallying for her. Come spring she will be able to return the favor when baseball season rolls around. Then our All Star will be The General. That is just how it is when you are part of the family.

Seven Quick Takes Volume 1

2009-12-11T12:05:00.001-08:00

1. Princess is the mouse in the Nutcracker, so why am I the one who is scurry, scurry, scurrying around?

2. I'm so grateful that Bubby's chin seems to be healing up nicely. I'm praying it doesn't leave too noticeable of a scar.

3. The boys both have colds, which is a bummer. We are heading out to go caroling at a nursing home this afternoon, and I'm going to have to leave them home. Which makes me sad for two reasons. First, The General doesn't get the opportunity to serve the community. Something I think we really need to do more. Two, the residents don't get to see Bubby sing Jingle Bells. Oh, that is the tragic part. When I'm old, I hope mommas with little toddlers come to sing to me.

4. I have gotten a few gifts for Christmas, but still have a significant amount of shopping to do. I am hopeful a huge space of time will open up in the next week, or I could be screwed. (Sorry for the foul language, but I can't think of anything more descriptive of my current lack of readiness.)

5. Have I told you lately how much I adore my MIL? I talked to her today about Christmas prep, and I'm certain she is a saint. She's bringing her recipe box, and we will go grocery shopping after we pick them up at the airport next week. Food planning for the holiday--check.

6. I recently had a talk with a friend who really has a stinker for a MIL, which makes me feel even more grateful. The talk made me realize how I have come to love K. as my own mother. She is like a gift from God, a sort of replacement for the lack of nurturing my own mother was unable to provide.

7. Our Advent is going smoothly. For the first time EVER, we have stuck to the Jesse Tree. Not bad for 7 years of attempts. (Remember when I told you I was a bit slow?) We are also LOVING Bartholomew's Passage. It is the highlight of our evening. Come to think of it, it may be the reason we stay on track with the Jesse Tree. What ever the case, I am just thankful that we are having a meaningful Advent.

If you'd like to read others Quick Takes click here.

Have a wonderful weekend. I hope to be back to bloggy world soon. I know it may sound a bit corny, as I don't REALLY know you, but I am missing my blog friends. I've only had a few moments so skim your posts, with no time for comments. :( You know me, I have a big mouth--backed with lots of opinions. The pressure of no comment is building. . .

Questions and excuses, oh I mean explanations.

2009-12-07T22:12:00.000-08:00

A few days ago Brenda asked if I ever disagree with opinions at church, and how I handle it. Well, she knows me, so really she was asking, "How do you handle it when you disagree with others at your church?" --Lorri stop snickering!

Now, I had grand ideas on how I was going to answer this question. Looking up great stuff, and tying it to links. Alas, as my Grandma B. used to say, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." I fear I am on THE road.

In my defense this mommy thing has really been busy. Mr. Nomad was gone on a trip, we had our F.A.I.T.H. class, and Princess is in the throws of Nutcracker rehearsals. Who would have thought a little mouse, scurry, scurry, scurrying about would need so much practice? So, I've been patiently waiting for this afternoon to blog away.

Enter Bubby and our first visit here to the ER. Yes, I am proud to say I made it over a year without visiting an emergency room. It may be a record for me. The Nomad Kiddos keep me on friendly terms with those nice ER people. Luckily, it wasn't anything a little Dermabond couldn't fix up. It also helps having the ER charge nurse as a good friend and neighbor.

I've never had such a quick trip in and out of the ER. Her being the charge nurse, and the fact that I had her sick child at my house. She gave them the ultimatum: Either get this little guy in and out, or I have to go home and take care of my own sick child. Interestingly enough, they had no problem with Bubby coming in, quickly being seen and booted out the door. I love efficiency.

Now here I am with another day winding down, and I still need to study for my class tomorrow. So instead of that great link filled answer, this is what I have to offer.

Brenda, yes I do sometimes disagree with people at church. However, the beauty of the Catholic Church is there are definite answers to questions. Those answers lie not only in the Bible, but also in the Catechism of the Catholic Church--based on our tradition. So when I don't necessarily see eye to eye, I call one of my smart Catholic friends and pick their brain on church doctrine. We have even been known to consult a priest (thanks Phil!) when we were stumped.

Most importantly, I have learned to try and keep my mouth shut until I get my facts straight. (Read: Tami has had numerous open mouth, insert foot moments.) Not that this is an issue for you, but it is a BIG issue for me. The saying, "God gave you two ears and one mouth, so listen twice as much as you talk." Well, I think that one was meant just for me!

So what do I do when I disagree with church authority or doctrine? Again shut mouth, dig deeper. Most times what I have found is this: When I take the time to explore and learn more about either the situation or church doctrine, it makes sense. An example would be the church's firm stance on birth control. For many years I just ignored church doctrine on this issue, thinking it really didn't work for me. (Stop laughing at me, people. I know I'm a bit dense sometimes.) However, after developing friendships with very devout Catholic women, and learning more about why the church teaches this, I realized the beauty and perfection in this plan.

I could go on and on, I'm pretty opinionated. So there have been many areas of enlightenment for this girl. Of course this submission to my faith has not been an overnight occurrence. I converted to Catholicism before Mr. Nomad and I were married, but I cannot say that I really became Catholic until I began teaching my children about our faith. When I started dipping into the history, the tradition, and the meaning of the rituals and sacraments, it was then I was hooked. Now I cannot imagine anything else.

Happy Feast of Saint Nicholas

2009-12-06T14:25:00.000-08:00

Did you know that Saint Nicholas was a real man, who walked this earth? If you are interested in learning more about this great saint, you can visit this website. It tells the story of Saint Nicholas, as well as providing some great ideas for celebrating this feast day.

Now, I could have taken the time and space to share that information, but instead I'm going to share with you a little ah-ha moment I had while pondering the lives of saints. I mean really, why do Catholics spend so much time and energy thinking about dead people? Then the answer came to me. We honor the saints, and look to the example of their lives to inspire us to be more like them. More like the very people who loved "the Lord our God, with their whole heart, with their whole soul, with their whole mind and their whole strength." (Mark 12:30-31)

All of a sudden this idea of looking to those who have gone before us, made sense. Simply because their example has been set. We know definitively what that person contributed in their lifetime. Whereas, with people who are still alive today, there is always the problem of sin in the world. Think of all of the great leaders in our world, in our churches that start out with great hearts. They have wonderful intentions, but sin gets in the way, and they fail.

While a dead person isn't as easy to get all excited about. (Seriously, compare reading a book to standing in the auditorium filled with the energy of a dynamic speaker or singer.) Saints are a fabulous resource God has given me. By looking at saints, it helps me to dig deeper, and realize it is in their example I should be moved. In this day and age we are so accustomed to adrenaline and WOW, we NEED to learn to still our hearts. Be quiet and listen. It is in these quiet moments we will be able to hear God. It says in Matthew that "God will whisper His plans to us in the night."

So in this noisy season of celebration, which we have LOTS of noise here at the Nomad pad. (That noise isn't all bad either. It is lots of fun, and God is fun!) Tonight we are going to take a few moments to quiet our hearts, and listen to the message God has for us in the amazing example of Saint Nicholas.

Gotta school the kiddos first. . .

2009-12-04T08:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Brenda asked me another great question. The problem is. . . It will take me a bit to pull my thoughts together. AND, for some pesky reason I have these children I'm supposed to be educating. Go figure. So if I'm a good teacher, and get school work done at a reasonable time then I can blog my answer. Until then, happy math facts.

Clarifying a few misconceptions. . .

2009-12-02T12:12:00.000-08:00

One of my readers asked a question about the Catholic faith. It is my intent to briefly answer this question in layman's terms. While I have been learning with and teaching my children for the past 5-6 years, I do not pretend to be a scholar who is the authority. The more I learn, the more I am humbled and see the need to study. This isn't just MY Catholic faith. The Catholic Church was set up by Christ himself to be universal. For everyone to worship and live together.

So in the spirit of Ask Sister Mary Martha, here we go.

Tessa commented: Catholicism as... they love Mary more then they ever pay attention to Christ and then work their heaven w/ good deeds. I would love to know more about YOUR Catholic faith!!! Because, like I said, I am always very confused about that religion.

I think the key word here is confusion. Many people see a snippet of the Catholic faith, do not understand it, or study to find the truth, and are left with misconceptions. Here is my poor attempt at clearing that up. We'll start with Mary and the saints.

We Catholics do not worship Mary, but we do place her in high esteem. For she is the mother of our Lord. When we pray to the saints and Mary it isn't that we think they are equal to God. Rather, it is a lot like calling up your mom and saying, "I'm having a hard time, could you pray for me?" We do this because we believe we are in communion with the saints, and they can hear our prayers. (Basically just because they are dead doesn't mean they can't hear us.) Being they were very godly people, they will pray for us. Very much like your most trusted Christian friend. You know, the one who just lights up the room with their spirit. Mary and the saints are always pointing us in the direction of Jesus. It is our hope as Catholics that we would follow the example of the wonderful lives they lived for Christ.

As for the good deeds, we Catholics, like most Christians, are very aware there is NOTHING we could ever do that would be good enough to get us into heaven. Jesus died on the cross, and without that gift we would all be in some serious trouble. Through Baptism we are covered by that grace.

However, as a follower of Christ we are called to action. Jesus didn't say, "just believe in me and you are good to go." He calls us to "love thy neighbor as thyself." Which is where the good deeds come in. Catholics believe we are to practice the seven corporal works of mercy.

Which are:
1. Feed the hungry
2. Give drink to the thirsty
3. Clothe the naked
4. Shelter the homeless
5. Visit the sick
6. Visit those in prison
7. Bury the dead

This tradition is based on Mt 25:34 “Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ’Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ’Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?’ And the king will answer them, ’Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.’”

Tessa, thanks so much for asking these questions. Like you pointed out, just because someone says they are Catholic or Christian or whatever the label, doesn't necessarily mean they are practicing in the true spirit of their church. What I have found over the years is many Catholics have a poor understanding of church doctrine. They know what they are supposed to do, but don't really know the history or reasoning behind the ritual or belief. Let's cut them a little slack though. Seriously, there is over 2,000 years of history and tradition to cover.

Hey, let's be honest here. When you are talking the mysteries of Christ, well it gets heady. Which is why I love the Catholic Church. There are all of these REALLY smart people who help me to sort through it all, and figure it out. Sure it is messy. We, like every other faith out there, have some serious sinners in our midst (me being one of them). But when you get rid of the mess and sin, and study to find the true teachings of the church, you just can't go wrong. I don't have enough space on this blog to express my love of the rituals and sacraments of the church.

I think so many times we are always looking at differences instead of common ground. I often wonder what God thinks when He looks down and sees His children divided. My hope is that as Christians we can come to know the truth of Christ and one day be united. Then we would have a bit more of heaven here on earth.

A WOW moment at scripture study.

2009-12-01T15:25:00.000-08:00

This year I am treating myself to a scripture study at church. Generally all daytime activities are for my children. As you fellow homeschoolers know, there is not a lot of time for "mom" activities. What a gift this has been. Each week we meet to discuss a chapter from the book of Matthew. We read the chapter and complete questions prior to our meeting. Then our study begins with a DVD talk from a priest. After the DVD, we break into small groups to discuss the questions.

Last week, while we were going over Matthew Chapter 8, there were some fabulous insights I just have to share. In this chapter of Matthew, Jesus begins performing some of his miracles of healing people. One of the first people he heals is a leper. So began the discussion of the significance of it being a leper who is healed. Especially the symbolism tying the disease of leprosy to sin. Leprosy is a slow degeneration of body tissue, while sin is the decomposition of our souls. (Little wow moment.)

While we were mulling over this point, a very wise young woman (how did she get so stinking smart--she's only 24!?!?) brought up this point. The biggest danger of leprosy is it makes your body numb. So you may bump into something, and it may cause a sore. This in turn may get infected, and then you may die from infection. If we use that same example, tied to the concept of sin. Hmmm. . .sin numbs me to sinful ways. Which in turn causes me to sin more, and before I know it I may be slowly causing the death of my soul. (BIG WOW MOMENT!) Isn't that powerful?

We all sat there quietly letting this soak in. We were all contemplating what things have I numbed myself to with sin. Could it be a movie that was a little questionable? How about just a few gossipy words to a friend? Or was it the shortness with my husband or children? You get the idea.

I am so grateful for this time to study and learn. More than that I'm eternally grateful God sent His Son for me over 2000 years ago. Thankfully, I am covered in His grace. Although I fall short time after time, He ALWAYS loves me and forgives. Because of His deep love and devotion, I long to be more like Him. . .less of my selfish me. Which means I need to take even those little transgressions seriously. I want to feel alive in Christ, not numb in this crazy world.

The Talk.

2009-11-30T11:47:00.000-08:00

Reader Discretion. If you have a young reader looking over your shoulder, you may want to preview this post prior to sharing.

Well, it happened. Last night we sat down with The General and Princess and had "The Talk". No, not about the birds and the bees. I want to say that would be easier. But come to think of it, that was pretty anxiety provoking as well. Last night Mr. Nomad & I came clean about Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and all the other magical fun of childhood.

We began with a discussion about Advent, and then asked if they thought it was suspicious there was no mention of Jolly Old St. Nick. Yes and no they answered. They know all about saints and the whole story of Saint Nicholas. As we talked it became clear that Princess was on the verge of figuring this whole Santa thing out. Apparently she had some serious plans to investigate this year. While on the other hand, The General still really believed. At least he REALLY wanted to believe. The past couple of years I could tell questions were popping up in his little mind. He just wanted it to be true so badly, he would think of a cover.

Overall the discussion went well. We were redeemed for a few years when the whole Santa gift didn't go down so well. Like the year The General asked for the most expensive gift from Santa. Yea, he was trying to save us money. Then there was the year that he asked for something that wasn't even invented yet. It existed only in his very creative mind. He knew we couldn't get that for him at the stores, so he was counting on Santa's elves to come through. You can see why some Christmas mornings haven't gone so smoothly.

Yes, there were a few tears. Not so much the children. More me. I cannot believe how fast their childhoods are racing by us. I felt like we were taking a piece of that fleeting childhood innocence. A chapter of their lives is closed, and I am a little sad about that. Yet, I realize the next chapter is exciting too. I am so proud of the young people they are becoming.

So why did we spill the beans? Why tell them at all? Why not just wait and see what happens. Because of this: What really moved Mr. Nomad and me was their complete faith in our teaching. If we said it to be true, than surely it must be true. Our children still believed in Santa, although other kid has said it wasn't possible, because they trusted Mr. Nomad and me.

WOW! I am awed and humbled by that fact. I feel like the years of honesty in our parenting have paid off. All those times it would have been just easier to "fib" our way through something, but instead we took the long road and were honest. Even when that meant longer explanations and more time and patience from us. It was worth it.

This incredible trust also shows me the tremendous responsibility we have to learn and teach them about our faith. While I want them to be successful here on earth, my lessons are really intended for THE BIG TEST. I will know we were successful in parenting when Jesus meets each of my children face to face,welcoming them in to heaven.

Now let's just hope The General and Princess are good at keeping surprises like this to themselves. Make believe is fun. We definitely do not replace Jesus with these childhood magical moments. I only hope Bubby gets every chance at the magic as The General and Princess experienced.

(Big Sigh) Being a Mom is so much more than I ever dreamed.

What do you think of my attempt at the Advent look?

2009-11-27T22:15:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I'm trying to get the blog all ready for Advent. Unfortunately, no one out there has an Advent background. Not even a simple purple. Darn. Lucky for me Dawn at Almost Ready Blogs created the really cool Advent Wreath on my sidebar--Thanks Dawn! It was actually the inspiration for the whole look I came up with. (If you can call what I have going on "a look".)

What do you think? Is it too plain? My hope was to stick to an Advent theme, and then at Christmas do the all out holiday decorating. It is a small gesture on my part to reclaim the holiness of Christmas. Kind of a taking back of the "buy me, buy me, buy me" that Christmas in the United States has become. Hmmm. . .now I know why Dawn was Always Undecided.

**I finally figured out how to do the Boring Post thing. (This is Mary's baby. You can find her over at Hope Echoes.) I know I put my boring post together on Friday, but I'm on the West Coast. So it was technically Saturday for most of the country. That, and you are all probably done reading blogs by the time I would be up and free to post. Hope you have a great Saturday.

What am I most thankful for?

2009-11-26T22:12:00.001-08:00

I've been pondering this question a lot. This is the season to give thanks. A time to take stock of those things we are most grateful for. A sort of inventory of our blessings, so to speak. I have so many things to thank God for, where do I even begin the list?
That is when my answer became crystal clear. I am most thankful for my faith. Without that firm foundation to stand upon, to face the trials and tribulations of this world, I would be lost. Miserable. Lonely. Without peace. Missing out on all of the love and grace that our Lord showers upon me each and everyday.
So on this Thanksgiving Day I want to take a moment and thank God for all of the people who have nourished my faith. Those who have led by quiet example. Those who have studied with me and challenged me to be better. Those who write inspiring words, and befriend me in the blog world. I pray God will continue to bless me with those who will enrich and deepen my faith. My faith in God. Yes, that is by far my greatest blessing.
What are you thankful for?

A new title song. . .

2009-11-23T23:08:00.000-08:00

Since I'm a good Catholic mother, I have lots of guilt. For example, the other day I was apologizing to The General for him having to move all the time. For not having a best friend down the block anymore. . .oh the list goes on. Basically I was saying how sorry I was that he is forced to be a military brat.

To which The General replied, "Oh Mom I wouldn't trade that for anything!"

"Really?" I replied, rather surprised.

"No way! You know that Johnny Cash song? The one that talks about all the places he's been?"

"Yea, I know the one," I answer. Still a bit perplexed.

"Well, that's my song!" The General reports. Rather proudly I might add.

Here is The General with the map of all the states he has visited. He only needs 3: Alaska, Hawaii and Arkansas, and then he truly can sing along with Johnny.Princess needs 5: Alaska, Hawaii, Arkansas, Nevada and Michigan. Bubby is a little behind the big kiddos. Not a bad start for a 3 year old.

As Johnny Cash sings:

See What I Mean

I've been everywhere, man

Crossed the deserts bare, man

I've breathed the mountain air, man

Of travel I've had my share, man

I've been everywhere

The General has a point.

I find myself in yet another moment when my children impress me with their resilience and ability to see the silver lining. What a gift motherhood has been. May I always be blessed with the wisdom I gain from simply knowing my children.

Apparantly Princess had a little trouble sleeping. . .

2009-11-20T20:11:00.000-08:00

This is what I found in Princess' journal this morning:

9:40 pm Go check out brother cutting cheese.

10:00 pm Fart.

10:01 pm Roll over to left side.

10:02 pm Roll to right.

10:03 pm Lay on back.

10:04 pm Roll to left again.

10:05 pm Turn alarm off.

10:06 pm Write friend letter.

10:34 pm Finish letter to friend.

10:36 pm Toot.

10:38 pm Yawn.

10:39 pm Edit letter.

10:41 pm Finish editing letter.

10:43 pm Go to sleep. . .I think.

So much for my sweet little girl. I guess this is what having a big brother does to a girl. Heck, who am I trying to kid. She has always been a firecracker. Here she is, Princess back in the toddler days.

You should have seen her smite me with the phrase, "Poo Poo Head!" That was when she was just 18 months old, with her blond ringlets and big brown eyes. Oh, what a little turkey she was.

Although not the most lady like, she sure makes me laugh. A LOT!

Thanks for the laughs. I love you Princess.

Vicks, I love you!

2009-11-19T19:36:00.001-08:00

Dear Procter & Gamble,

I just wanted to say thank you, thank you, thank you for last night. I smeared your VapoRub all over Bubby's chest, and he slept like a baby. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to find you, but I think you may be my new cold season best friend.

Sincerely,
Bubby's Mommy

Remembering the Sabbath: Part 2

2009-11-15T13:17:00.000-08:00

Remember last week when I asked, "What do you do to keep the Sabbath holy?" Apparently I am not the only one grappling with this question. First of all I wanted to thank the brave souls who shared their ideas. I really appreciated your comments.
This past week I've pondered the topic, considering your thoughts and talking with my children. I think the main problem we are having in our household is not starting the day with mass. Going to celebrate mass first thing in the morning, with religious education directly afterward was such a great start to the Sabbath. We were in the word, in communion with God, and learning about our faith right off the bat. Now, the schedule is flip-flopped with mass in the evening and The General going off to his youth meeting afterwards.
I've come to understand, the order of our activities isn't as important as getting centered. God doesn't care if I go to mass at 9am or 5pm, He just wants me to be there at some point in the day. Since God has blessed me with the honor of raising The General, Princess and Bubby, I need to put their spiritual growth at the forefront. We have entered a new season, where it is best for our children to worship at a different time.
I need to be flexible. I need to be okay with the fact that Sunday mornings at the Nomad Pad are going to look a bit different as we find our new way. What I need to remember is this: Sunday is supposed to be a mini-Easter, a day of celebration. A day to be thankful and happy for all God has done for us. Princess suggested starting with the rosary or some other family devotion. Today we tried doing our F.A.I.T.H. (Faith Alive In The Home) study, inviting our neighbors over to join us.
I know we will find a "new normal." God has placed us here, at this point in time for a purpose. Now it is up to us to seek that purpose, and follow God's lead. For it is in doing His will that we find the peace and happiness we seek.

Do you have plans for Advent?

2009-11-13T17:15:00.000-08:00

Okay, I will admit I do not like to get the Christmas ball rolling until after Thanksgiving. I refuse to purchase or set out any decorations until after the turkey is put away. Why in the world am I asking you about Advent, which is still a few weeks away?

I want to share with you two great books that make Advent such a special time.

First there is this one,We read this as a family two years ago. It was by far our favorite part of Advent, and the Christmas season. Arnold Ytreeide does such a great job with these books. You read a chapter each night, with the end of the book culminating on Christmas. Although these books have been around awhile, until last year they were out of print. You had to rely on eBay or Amazon, and let me tell you the old supply and demand economics was definitely at work.

You can imagine my joy when they announced the reprint. Although we had to take last year off, I just couldn't justify $100 for a book I knew I could get for less than $15 in a year. I was chomping at the bit to get our copy of Bartholomew's Passage for this season's Advent. I'm happy to announce our copy has safely made it to the Nomad Pad, and is patiently waiting for the first day of Advent to bring us great joy.

**Note to parents: The opinions about this book are mine, and mine alone. I first heard about these books on the SL-Catholic forum, where people were praising them. HOWEVER, as with everything, not everyone shares the same opinions. After I purchased the first book, I was scared stiff. One woman came out of her blog silence, and railed on and on about how terrible and awful the book was. She felt it was too dark and scary. Now when we read the first one, The General was 10 and Princess was 7 going on 8. My kiddos are pretty sensitive, and we had no problems. Please do read other reviews if you have concerns. End of warning.

Good luck planning your Advent season. If you do decide to go with Jotham's Journey, the first of the trilogy, you can find them here. Let me know what you think.

Thank you for your service. . .

2009-11-11T20:36:00.000-08:00

Though it is not a common greeting, I have heard these kind words from strangers. Mostly when we are moving. It is very apparent by our loaded down vehicles, we are in the middle of a PCS. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit I say thank you, climbing back into my car filled with pride. You see, when I really think about those who have sacrificed so much more, I am stopped dead in my tracks. Overcome by tears. I am so incredibly grateful God has not asked that ultimate sacrifice of my family. Although we've been separated, our Daddy has come home to us. Every time. It is our prayer every night he is away, "God, please bring Daddy home, safely and quickly." A prayer He has answered so many, many times over the years.
Others have said those same prayers For some reason, we have no way of understanding, those prayers have not been answered. At least not in a way we, as mere humans would like. So today we took the kiddos to mass, to pray for those veterans and their families. Those who have died, so that I may enjoy the many freedoms too many in our country take for granted. For those who are left behind, trying to fill a hole in their hearts that only God can mend. For those who only know a photo as their parent. My heart aches for each and every one of them.
To all of them I say, "Thank you for your service. I have not forgotten you."

Remember the Sabbath, and Keep it Holy. . .

2009-11-08T08:36:00.000-08:00

This is a question I am currently wrangling with. I am continually awed by God's power to speak to us through his word. I've known the Ten Commandments since I was a child. Though I wasn't raised Catholic, I was introduced to the laws of God at VBS so long ago. What strikes me is this, all of a sudden this portion of the word is tugging at my heart.
The kiddos and I have been studying The Two Great Commandments that Jesus gave. First: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength. Second: Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself. (Found in The New Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism circa 1964.) Jesus didn't just throw out the old law that was given to Moses. He said we must keep those commands, IN ADDITION we are to love thy neighbor (Oh, that is a hard one. But not the one God has for me to ponder this day.)
This lesson brought about a deeper discussion of what keeping the Ten Commandments means. Which in turn began my questioning, "Am I remembering the sabbath? Am I teaching my children to keep this day holy for our Lord?" Hmmm. . . My answer came to me. We are not in a Sunday groove.
Since moving back to WA, our Sunday groove is a mess. Mr. Nomad and I have always been Sunday morning mass people. Sure, there are those times when we need to go to the Saturday evening mass, but we really don't feel like it is Sunday without starting the day with mass. Our current schedule is requiring us to attend the LifeTeen mass which is 5pm Sundays, so I'm struggling to organize our Sunday in such a way to bring glory to our Lord.
Please, help me out folks. What are some things your families do to keep the sabbath holy?

Brown Cows

2009-11-07T00:38:00.000-08:00

No we haven't moved to the farm. No Bessies or Bossies here at the Nomad Pad. Instead I have a little family tradition to share.

It started when Mr. Nomad was a small boy. His parents used to get the kiddos in their jammies, load them into the station wagon, then drive to the local ice cream place. There they would be treated to the delicious Brown Cow.

What in the world is a Brown Cow? I'm so glad you asked. A Brown Cow is one of the yummiest shakes you could ever ask for. You take a few scoops of chocolate ice cream, pour root beer over it, and stir it all together. Yep, a root beer float with chocolate ice cream. Though not good for your waistline, or any other part of your body for that matter, they are YUM-MEE!!

The tradition of the Brown Cow is carried on with the next generation. Only now we don't load the kiddos up, Grandma & Grandpa make them at home. Here are the kiddos enjoying Brown Cows with Grandpa. I love the memories and traditions my children have with their grandparents. It is such a special relationship. Now we just need to make it until Christmas. . . Grandma & Grandpa will be back, and you can bet this Momma will have the freezer stocked.

Hopefully Bubby will learn how to smile by then. Oh this bad smile phase is so painful. I'm beginning to resort to, "No, no Bubby. You don't need to smile. Just look at Mommy-PLEASE!"

A shameless plug for Foothill Reflections.

2009-11-05T19:43:00.000-08:00

My friend Lorri is blessed with a wonderful husband, he's blessed to have her as well. During our time in DC our families spent a lot of time together, many times discussing various issues regarding our Catholic faith. Since moving last April, I've really missed those in depth talks. Which made it so wonderful when Phil began his blog.

Although I can't walk across the street and chit chat with Lorri & Phil, I can visit his blog Foothill Reflections and get a little of that in depth thought I so greatly miss. I realize you don't know Phil, but if you are interested in reading about our Catholic faith, the church's daily readings and how they relate to our lives, stop by and check it out.

End of shameless plug.

I QUIT!

2009-11-02T19:06:00.000-08:00

A conversation with my three year old.

Mommy: Bubby, no more wrestling with your brother! (Said with a stern voice and a pop on the hiney.)

Bubby: That's it! I quit this Nomad Family Game. I'm not playing any more. I'm going to my room. And babysitting myself. And playing by. my.self! (Said with an equally stern, frustrated voice.)

Mommy: Sorry, you don't get to quit the Nomad Family Game. (Under her breath says, I feel your pain Bub. Even you they make you crazy you don't get to quit the Nomads.)

2 hours later. . .

Mommy: Bubby, do you still want to quit the family?

Bubby: What?

Mommy: Do you still want to quit the family?

Bubby: No, I don't want to.

Mommy: Why not?

Bubby: I don't like to quit. Then I'd be sad, like when I get in trouble.

Mommy: I'm glad you changed your mind. I love you Bubby.

Bubby: Thank you.

That Bubby, he's so cute.

Resurrection. . .

2009-11-02T16:27:00.000-08:00

Remember when my in-laws visited last month? I told you of all the projects we tackled. My sister keeps pestering me to post some pictures, so here they are Jody. This armoir has been used in The General's room since he was a baby. With the big move we have given him our furniture, so this needed a new home. Mr. Nomad & I needed a piece for my TV (I say my because he hates having a TV in the bedroom). The only problem was the color didn't jive with our new bedroom set. Then there was this cute little wash stand. I found it in an antique shop one time. I don't know why, but I just love it. Sadly though, Mr. Nomad hated it. (Notice I used hate in the past tense.)

Mr. Nomad's mom, brother and Princess went to town sanding and staining these sorry, worn pieces of furniture.

After staining, there were several coats of poly.

Then we added new hardware.

Viola, some old tired pieces have been resurrected. We now have two beautiful pieces of furniture that were relatively inexpensive. The stain and poly were left over from a previous project my mother-in-law did, and the hardware was only around $50.

Now Mr. Nomad loves my old washstand.

Thank you family for all of your hard work. I love you so much, and am so appreciative of all you do for us.

Old Mr. Schilter had a farm. . . .

2009-10-31T11:06:00.000-07:00

And on his farm he had some. . . ponies. With a neigh, neigh here and a neigh, neigh there. Old Mr. Schilter had a farm. . . and on his farm he had some goats. . . with an oink, oink here. . . and a moo, moo there. . . . here, a meow, there a meow. . .(the meow's were the favorite) Old Mr. Schilter had a farm. . .

. . .and everyone had a great time!

An afternoon at the beach.

2009-10-27T15:20:00.000-07:00

What's the first thing you thought of when you read the title. Sand? Sun? Swimming in the waves? Well, the beaches in Washington are very different from those beach images. The weather here is quite temperate. Not too hot, but not to cold. Which in turn causes the water to stay quite chilly. At least too cold for this momma to ever go for a dip. So a day at the beaches on Puget Sound are a little different than your traditional sand castle experience. Princess was posed and ready. She has her bag along for any pretty rocks she may want to collect. Also in the bag is a plastic container, during berry season you have to be prepared. You never know when you'll come across a good berry patch.The General mostly enjoys looking under rocks for crabs or other little critters. He has so much fun exploring. Notice the Olympic Mountains in the background. I think that is my favorite part, all the beauty that surrounds us. This time Bubby thought rock skipping was the best. The whole beach is actually lots and lots of pebbles and rocks. You find some of the best skippers. Mr. Nomad is a pro. He can get as many as 7 or 8 skips out of a good rock. I, on the other hand, sadly struggle to get mine to skip once or twice.We had so much fun checking everything out. I look forward to many more hikes down to the Sound. Notice all the islands in the background? Puget Sound on a map looks like a big open area of water. When in fact it is full of little, and sometimes not so little, islands and inlets. As you can see it is very beautiful.

We weren't the only explorers at the beach on that day. It seems this sea otter was just as curious about us. He was so funny. He slowly came over to where we were playing. Then he would bob up and down, trying to get higher in the water for a closer look at those crazy humans who kept taking pictures of him. I hope we get to see him on our next visit.

And the clock struck twelve. . .

2009-10-26T10:41:00.001-07:00

So much for the Princess gig. It is back to reality today. A little laundry. (Dawn, do you think your sock lady would like to help me out?) A little toy pick up. A little schooling.

A lot of Bubby.

Oh, I guess reality isn't so bad after all!

Sometimes I like to pretend I'm a Princess.

2009-10-25T15:04:00.001-07:00

I am the type of girl that likes to do yard work. Dirt and mud do not scare me, as long as I have access to a shower after the experience. Here I am with The General, Princess and a couple of neighborhood girls that saw us moving rocks and wanting to join in. Go figure, kids like to work?
Notice the hat? It's because I hadn't showered and my hair cannot be displayed in public without a little coiffing. My children just don't deserve that kind of humiliation.
As much as I like yard work, hiking, and just staying in my jammies til late in the day. Sometimes it is so much fun to get all dressed for a night out with Mr. Nomad.

Which made last night such a treat. Some very kind people (we casually knew them last time we lived here) invited us to a gala event. I actually thought I was going to have to go solo, as Mr. Nomad was off on another trip. Then around noon I got a call from him, and he said he would be home in time to take me to the ball. I cried. I know that is so silly, but I was so happy.

So last night Mr. Nomad and I were blessed to have a beautiful evening out. We were able to make a few more connections in our new community, and it was a lot of fun. Poor Mr. Nomad had been up for over 24 hours, what a sport. I think I would have begged to stay home and go to bed. He's so good to me.