Seven Quick Takes: July 2010

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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. . .

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!