Doing Better

Well, most of us are feeling better today. I was able to get caught up on some chores. I'm trying not to over do but I suddenly want to turn the house upside down and inside out after being laid up for so long. The kids are still sleeping a lot but they are still fighting fevers too. At any moment, you can hear coughing throughout the house. We watched part of a movie together this afternoon and the volume was up LOUD just so we could hear it over the coughing. We were laughing, but that only causes coughing and misery, so we stopped. Even typing makes me cough.

For Christmas we got the family a WII!! I am no longer in the "hall of pride" for not owning a gaming system! (he!he!) It seems like a ton of fun and up to 8 people can play, so everyone is involved. (I think Paul and I wanted one just as bad) The boys hooked it up on Christmas morning in all their excitement. I think they've played it for maybe 30 minutes total so far. It requires a lot of movement which is not something any of us are into at the moment. BUT the kids were sooooo excited to open it Christmas morning! They were shocked and so thrilled! Paul and I had such a great feeling giving it to them. They are very good kids who genuinely try hard at being good people. (and we just think the world of them!) They have patiently waited and never even seriously asked for such a gift. Let the good times begin!!! (cough, cough!)

Also for Christmas, Paul and the kids totally surprised me with a digital camera! I am so happy! Paul talked about getting me one for my birthday, but now I have it early!! So now I can go back to being a crazy picture taking mommy AND now I can post some on my blog instead of emailing everyone.

Worst Christmas Ever

Well, we're here. I think we're going to live, though I had my doubts. For Christmas, we all woke up with the flu. Every one of us. A few of us were already quite sick by Christmas Eve and by morning we were in bad shape. We opened up presents between coughing and puking and very high fevers. Then we collapsed into heaps in the living room and stayed for days. I think we were in and out of comas. If the Health Department had discovered us, we would've been put out of our misery for sure and quarintined for a year. We only got worse and worse but starting yesterday could move around more. Paul and I are feeling like we might actually be kicking this thing, although we are wiped out, exhausted and have terrible coughs. The kids are doing better, going longer without fevers and we're all starting to eat again. I am still upset that Christmas was so ruined. All of the gifts are hardly touched. We froze the Roast Beast for a later date, but I don't know when. A few of our Soldiers did church for us. We haven't left the house for 5 days, expect for Paul who had to do payroll this morning. I vacuumed today, knocked the wind out of me and cooked french toast so the kids would eat. They look so skinny with big old heads on top. I told them they could eat whatever they want, they just need to eat.

Christmas Eve

I feel so yucky. I just don't get a good night sleep when I'm prego. I sleep solid through the night maybe once every three weeks. It's draining. The Doctor says it's hormones. I also have a bad sinus cold. I am so tempted to take a Sudafed. I know the side affects for baby is drying out amniotic fluid and a raising of blood pressure. But I'm convinced that if I just double up the water it should be fine. I have good blood pressure anyway so what harm would there be in a slight elevation. See how I just talk myself into stuff. Hopefully I can make it through the day without. I also start missing family at Christmas. Everyone else is out frolicking around with family, we're just home. But at least we have our own big family for lots of festivities, loudness, and merriment AND we get to stay in our jammies all day on Christmas! Okay, enough complaining...

I have lots of baking to do: sugar cookies, bagels, gooseberry pie (thanks for the gooseberries Mom!), fudge (my mom-n-laws family recipe). The kids will roll out and decorate the cookies while begging if they can eat one yet. Paul will snitch fudge all afternoon when he gets home and then play innocent. I will lust after my gooseberry pie until tomorrow when I can finally dig in.

On Christmas Eve we open 1 gift. Ann has been begging to open a gift since 6am. I'm sure this will last all day looooong.

Paul and I still have some wrapping to do. WARNING: After tomorrow I will officially fall from the throne of "exalted motherhood". (ha!ha!) The pride of my peaceful, "uncontaminated home" will blissfully be gone for good! I will fill in the details tomorrow, but just thought some of you might want warning so that you can turn away now and save yourselves. What we're about to do tomorrow has taken us a year to decide (and save!), and I am most excited about all the family FUN we're going to have!!

Happenings

Yes, Roosevelt is a guinea pig! He is so fun! We're thinking of a nice Christmas present to get him. I want to get him a ball to run around in, but Paul is thinking those are just for hamsters. I bet I could still stuff him in one.

Church was great yesterday. We still had over 40 people come, despite the bad weather. We would just not want to cancel Christmas Sunday even though we got a lot of phone calls! Still some of our church family couldn't make it in like those in Dufur or those whose neighborhoods that didn't get plowed. We missed them.

Saturday was the Church Christmas party. We had close to 100 hundred people packed in our little chapel and fellowship hall. Everyone always turns up for the parties. If everyone showed up on the same Sunday for church, we'd have the same attendance for that too. I read in my Christianity Today that only 15% of Christians go to church every single Sunday. The majority go to church once a month or less. "Let us not give up in meeting together" Hebrews 10:25

After church we went out for lunch at Denny's. The kids love that place and we still had an errand to run. Why drive back and forth. We had the place practically to ourselves so we could be as loud as we wanted. The kids ate like pigs. They have been. I think the cold weather and all the snow play has made them hungry hippos. Then we went to Fred Meyers to buy our Roast Beast and other fixings for Christmas Dinner. The stores are not getting their shipments because the roads have been closed between here and Portland. There were many empty shelves. Plus it was packed, soooo busy. I'm always telling the kids to line up so we take up less room. But this time Paul was with us and he doesn't like being told to line up (he!he!).

We had a great late afternoon of sledding. Hannah LOVED her first ride but after that she was crying the whole time on the other rides. Ann screamed her head off, just like me ;). The guys were using a snow pile for jumps and they were literally flipping over. I went down only once with the boys because David steered us into a snow pile and I caught air. Not good.

It was a great full day.

Snow

I got majorly stuck in the snow this morning. Kids in tow and everything. It was around 7:15am, and I had went to close to the curb where all the snow was and was STUCK. I tried everything to get out and as soon as I made progess, I was stuck again. WRONG DAY for this to be happening, as it was our Distribution day. After trying forever, I called my helpline... 1-800- help me Paul! He's a pro after growing up in Michigan. Well, he was in the middle of picking up our tons of turkeys so he sent our fab truck driver to rescue me. The kids were calling me a damsel in distress. Finally, a couple of men walked over to me and offered to push me. I argued a little because I was very scared I would run them over. They promised me they'd jump out of the way. So they pushed and I gased it, and lo and behold I was FREE!! I am so grateful. It was funny AFTER the fact, David piped up from the back seat "Mom- you better call Mark and tell him to call off the rescue party". Now that was funny!

About 2 minutes later we were off and driving, I mean SLIDING, all over the place. Very scary and made me VERY tense. I sooo wish I could just hold up in the house and not go anywhere when it's like this, but I just can't. There is much to be done!

At least the kids had a good time ;)

Christmas Break!!!

It was disappointing that the boys missed their Christmas parties at school because it was cancelled yesterday and today. They had so much planned and lots of goodies made to give mom and dad for Christmas.

I am soooo excited that it is Christmas break! The boys are too!! Not only am I thrilled to have my selfish way and keep the boys all to myself!!! But I look at these breaks as a break for me!! No lunches to pack, no teachers/classrooms to be involved in, no homework teaching, no strict schedule in the mornings, no school visits, no papers/info to keep track of, no aftershchool debriefings!! Blessed break! Yay! There is a new movement taking place called "home-unschooling"....I think I'll actually buy into it until Jan. 5!! (ha!ha!)

Paul and I will also be taking an "unofficial" few days off between the holidays (more for me) from the Corps and just do what needs to be done.

A Guest in our Home

Roosevelt joined our family last night for the next 2 1/2 weeks. He is soooo cute and lovable. Shiny black hair, squeals of delight, easy to please with some raw veggies and fruit.

David's teacher called us last night when we went to Wal-Mart in Hood River to Christmas shop for each other. School was cancelled again for Friday so she asked if she could drop Roosevelt off so he wouldn't have to spend Christmas alone. I told her sure, but could we pick him up since I had no clue when we'd be home with the roads and all. She would love to have us over, so we picked him up on the way home. I had to shove my seat all the way forward so he would fit.

Roosevelt is causing lots of fun and excitement in our home!

Can you guess what he is??

Christmas

240 Gifts for Children

100 Gifts for Sr. Citizens, Disabled and Foster Children

70 Gifts for Corps (Church) Children

75 Gifts for Corps Adults

250 Gifts for Nursing Home Residents (of which I still need to pack and deliver)

85 Bikes

12 Employee Gifts and Bonuses

175 Food Boxes

175 Turkeys

10 Hams

6 Kettle Locations

3 Christmas Parties, plus 1 work party

4 Advent Sundays

8 live radio spots

countless PR opportunities

13 collection barrels

21,000 cans of food from ELFF Night

thousands more purchased

15 Volunteers

12 Employees, plus 6 seasonal Employees

2 Corps Commanding Officers

1 Baby Jesus

I took this off my friend's blog. I'm trying to make it my profile pic, trying. This is from our AB and Staff Christmas Party on Sunday night. It went great. 2 parties down, 1 to go. I don't mind at all, but it really is a lot of work (decor, games, gifts, devotions, menus, etc.) and it feels good to be done. Or almost done.

I'm going to look around our computer files and see what other pics I can come up with. I am desperately hoping for a digital camera for my birthday. There are so many things I wish I could share and a picture is worth a thousand words! I would first want to share how Christmasy our house is. I LOVE decorating. I try to buy just a little bit each year to add to our Christmas decorations. It's also so much easier to decorate each year because my little elves are growing older and even more a part of team Chouinard. We did a gingerbread train this year instead of our traditional gingerbread house. Every year, there is a little one who hangs out near it to sneak off pieces of candy or frosting. The kids have had fun trying to catch little Hannah at it again. It's been 3 weeks now and she hasn't gotten away with much. Next year I bet "little whose it" will be pulling himself or herself up to the display table trying to eat it too.

School was delayed for 2 hours yesterday and this morning because of the cold and snow. Yesterday morning, the kids and I went out to breakfast (with my Shari's coupons) which was fun. This morning, Elijah put a hole in his forehead, which was not fun. It was spurting blood all over. He did it on the corner of his dresser. Poor, poor thing. He was still able to go to school though. He wouldn't want to miss school for the world.

After all that excitement, I went to Fred Meyer to buy 110 gift cards (which took foooorrrreeevvver) for our teenage client gifts and then shop for an additional 20 elderly that were not adopted off our Giving Trees. Several of them were in their 90's. One of the ladies is 96 years old and wanted a bra and panties. I was soooo tempted to get her something lacy red and sexy. If I were 96, I'd want that too. But I restrained myself and got her something in between. Most everyone else wanted jammies, sweaters, jeans and such. It would've been fun, but I had to hurry to get the girls from school by Noon. People were staring at me with all the clothes in my buggy, so I of course, felt the need to explain myself to all the onlookers. I don't know why I do that. But I also look at it as an opportunity to tell them about one of the many ways The Salvation Army spends their money. Went back to the Corps to sort it all, touched base with a couple of Staff and Corps people.

I'm making pizza for dinner, which is always a hit. I noticed Stacie has her recipe up on her blog. I'll have to try that one too. Looks good. I still don't know how she gets her sausage so fine and crumbly and PERFECT. My dough recipe comes from my brother's ex-wife, which I make in my mixer. It is WW with honey and I add olive oil too. Now it is rising in the bathroom, which is the only consistently warm room in he house.

Tonight we're headed off to school to see Elijah in his Christmas Singing Recital. He will have a big bandage on his forehead, but hopefully his cute little sweater vest suit will make up for it.

Okay, the boys are home from school, time to go dish out snacks and kissy huggy poos!

Deep Breath

Today I ran like a mad woman. Tomorrow I will too.

We started the morning with our volunteer shift for Kettling. It was very enjoyable for the first 20 minutes and then it went bad, real bad. I have 4 people under the age of 9 to blame. It was so bad that I actually had to call Paul to rescue me. It was either him or 911.

The rest of the day was filled with babysitting the Kettles somewhat. Two of our locations were manned by volunteers today. The Corps (Church) people and our Advisory Board.

I got some errands done for our AB/Staff Christmas Party tomorrow. All by myself! I milked it too. Went to JcPenney, Vacuumed out my van, went through the car wash, went to Fred Meyer and had a decaf nonfat Gingerbread latte, chatted in the grocery store with some people. I was in no hurry to get home after the Kettling fiasco.

When I got home Paul and the kids were hanging up the outside Christmas lights. I joined in too. It was some good "healing" family time (ha!ha!ha!). Then we loaded up for haircuts (just the guys, of course while us girls watched and offered our opinions) and hot cocoa, and checking our volunteers. Now I have 3 handsome men again.

I just got finished decorating the dining room, baking a cake and wrapping a gift for Ann's birthday tomorrow. Elijah and I decorated the cake. Ann will be happy that it is VERY pink and that the dining room is VERY pink. I soooo wish I could post pictures!

I just need to review my sermon tonight before I can take my deep breath and rest. But I don't mind being busy with good stuff!

I can't make time for a blog tomorrow, so here it is in a nutshell: Church, Ann's birthday out to eat lunch, Ann's birthday party at home, Church at the Veteran's Home, unload kids at Brown's, AB/Staff Christmas Party, load up kids for home, get ready for school, bed. All the details are too much to write about, and probably boring.

We're all holding out for snow! This is our fifth year here and first time we didn't have snow by now.

Here's My Chance

Hannah is napping, Ann is resting on her brother's bed while she watches a movie in her swimsuit, I have 4 machines working for me (washer, dryer, dishwasher and oven) so here's my chance to blog. I think I've liked it so far, but I need to consolidate my Facebook and Myspace. It's more than I can keep up with. Now I'm wishing that everyone I knew blogged! Especially those that are far so that I could know what's up with them. I have some very dear childhood friends and teenage year friends. And the friends we've "collected" at previous appointments. And of course my awesome parents, brother and his gal, my great Aunt, and Paul's wonderful family, (who I call my own!).

There are those things I don't share, confidentiality of course. Those may be things that really affect me, good or bad, but I'll just have to focus on other stuff. Enough said ;)

Soooo... this morning the girls and I joined the boys at school for their assembly. The middle school band came and played a ton of Christmas music. We loved it! Then the girls and I went to the Corps to say hi and I needed to meet with some Staff to review the Christmas projects. Next Friday is Distribution. It is a real blessing to have such a great Staff. As of this morning, they only had 40 more of the 300 food boxes to go. I could tell their moods were lighter! I hope to really give them a fabulous Christmas Party on Sunday. They (our 12 Staff) and our Advisory Board members really deserve it! My friend, Joyce also stopped by to drop off some very adorable baby hats she made for our clients. I gave her a tour of the Game Room which has been transformed into a toy wonderland. I think I have over 600 toys up there sorted according to sex and age. My kids go crazy in there looking at everything!!! Every year I call it the "greedy room". David and Elijah are finally starting to understand why! While I had a quick visit with Joyce, Hanah decided to play plumber and plunge the toilet upstairs. I heard this "swishy, swishy" sound and there's Hannah plunging away! If it wasn't so cute and funny I would've been annoyed.

Then we went back to the school so I could buy Dry Hollow School shirts for the boys. The lady who sells them wasn't there earlier. It was lunch time when the girls and I were trying to locate the boys. I lost Hannah twice, but Ann is good at keeping track of her, I think because she's closer to the ground (he!he!). I heard a lot of "Hi Capt. Rachel" from our church kids, which makes the other kids go "wow, are you in the Army?" Yeah right!!! I don't think I've ever done a pull-up in my life!! When I help in classrooms and there's a church kid they're calling me "Capt. Rachel". It is embarrassing!!

We met Paul for lunch at McDonald's. The girls could play on a DRY playground (yes I'm aware of all the germs! I try not to think about it!) and Paul and I could catch up.

I'm so excited that tonight I have a hot date with Paul! We have a babysitter tonight since she totally cancelled for Sunday night (our Staff and AB party). I tried not to get panicky, called a friend and she said she would babysit! The kids would much rather be at her house anyway. There is a friend for everyone at the Brown's house! They have 5 kids all about the same age as ours. So tonight, we're going to pick up kettles then see "The Day the Earth Stood Still". What a treat! We try to think back to the days we could just pick up and go somewhere. Now it's complicated and costly. But we wouldn't trade it for the world.

Today

Paul and I took the day off from the Corps today. Paul really needed the break. I'm not there near as much as him because I have plenty at home to do which also frees Paul for "maximum capacity" at the Corps. I'm also able to sneak in some Corps work at home during naps or bedtime. I think I'm at the Corps (and out and about Army ministry) 20-30 hours a week, more than half of that is with the kids in tow. They're great and learning the trade! That would also include ministry programs, of which they are my best pupils!! There is always work to be done. It will never be finished. We try to take an entire day off each week, Saturdays, but it's harder to do an entire Saturday at Christmas time. Some pride themselves in how crazy, chaotic, stressed out and frantic they can become in order to prove how hard they work. We don't go for that. What good are we when we're spent? I can't find that part of Scripture that says Sabbath is cancelled, work like a dog.

Thursday mornings the girls and I are usually at CBS (Community Bible Study) but it is on winter break right now, so instead the girls and I did our Friday shopping today. We stopped at the park on the way. Bad idea. The girls were soaking wet within a minute. Apparently the slides had a thin film of dew on them, which I didn't even notice. You should've seen how fast they went! They spit out the bottom like a bullet! Then we hit a couple stores with coupons in hand. Ann is such a great helper! Hannah also "helps" by loading up the buggy with whatever she can grab. I almost always have surprises when I go to checkout.

Ann helped Daddy rake up the leaves in the front yard, 4 bags worth. The boys raked the backyard, 3 bags worth. Then they were "tired" and started to complain. We looked at Genesis when work used to be fun (Adam being given Eden to take care of) and then when work became a curse because of his disobedience. We decided some work didn't feel like a curse but some does. We agreed that the work that doesn't feel like a curse is the work that God has uniquely called us too. Because then we're in His will, but if we're working on something we shouldn't be doing it can be quite miserable. Paul and I are always telling the kids that we pray they grow up and seek God and how He has gifted them before choosing a career. How terrible to put in 40hours or more a week doing something you hate, or worse, out of of God's will.

Christmas Central!

The Christmas season becomes a busy time of the year. Especially at The Salvation Army, where we take pride in all of the hustle and bustle of kettles, fundraisers, public relations, church services, food boxes, toys for children, parties and so much more! It is easy to quickly become over extended in our energy, time and money. We have so many expectations of what Christmas should be. It is good to give and minister to others. It is good to shop till you drop in order to fill everyone else's Christmas dreams. It is good to deck the halls with bows of holly (or garland, or lights, etc.). Theses are all good things that add to the celebration of our Savior's birth. But in many ways these are also things that start creeping up on us, wearing us down and stealing our jolly mood. And the ones who most often pay for this are our loved ones in our home. If not careful, home will get our Christmas leftovers-grumpy moods, hurried traditions, greediness, and diseregard for our loved ones. We have to choose to make a real effort to make Christmas in our homes "Christmas Central", the pulse of the Christmas season. Why? Home is already the central part of our lives. It is the place we start our day and end our day, everyday. If things are going bad at home, it affects every part of our lives and likewise, if things are going great at home, it affects every part of our lives.

So, how can we ensure that our home is "Christmas Central"?

First, by seeking the Lord daily (and all day!) for how you can best celebrate Christ's birth in your home. For some it is with lots of decorating, for some it is with lots of baking, for some it is with lots of parties, for some it's all about the gifts. Whatever you do, be sure that it is God honoring and that the celebration our Savior's birth is clearly communicated to all in your home. We are not just doing these things because we are victims of mass marketing or American culture. We're doing these things because of our love for God and our excitement that "unto us a child is born! Jesus! Emannuel! Wonderful Counselor! Mighty God!

Second, by using the Christmas season as opportunities to teach your children and grandchildren about God! I love the part of a Passover Sedar when the children ask certain questions about the Exodus. How about trying it for Christmas and making it meaningful for your family. Why do we hang up lights? Because Jesus is the light of the world! Why do we have Santa? Because "he" is here and gone before he can can take any credit for the gifts he gave, the same way God wants us to give. Why do we hang up greens? Becuase they remind us of life, life that comes from our Creator. Why do we watch Christmas Movies, Carol, Bake Cookies? Because it's a great reason to spend time together! Why do we work so hard to minister to others? Because that's how God's work gets done! We give to others in Jesus name because he's not physically here to do it! There is so much to learn and faith growing experiences for our children during the Christmas season!

Third, by asking for and exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit in your home. Not just for the "outside world" or worse, "your church world". Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control! The Holy Spirit helps us at all times and that includes in your home. I really like the self control one because it lines up all the others- I won't snap at my husband if I'm self controlled. I won't complain about something if I'm self controled. There are problems in the home that would be solved if everyone were self controlled! These are not attitudes that magically happen. It takes practice and being obedient to God so that His Spirit will flourish inside of you.

Make sure that your home is Christmas Central this season. Beginning with you, make it a place of celebration, teaching, and fruitful attitudes! Afterall, next to Christ, women are the heartbeat of the home!

Here I Am!

Well, here I am. There are many family and friends that I wish could be a part of our everyday lives, so maybe this will keep us connected. I hope to share our daily lives, fun, ministry, family news, ideas and more. I've liked reading blogs and have been for a couple years (political, colleagues, friends). Maybe mine will be of interest to you too ;)

Tuesday mornings, after getting everyone off to school, I'm at the Corps (church) in my office and all over the place getting work done. We are in the thick of Christmas ministries at The Salvation Army! This morning I packed gift bags for the 3 parties that are coming up. I wrote a devotion for tomorrows Home Leauge (Women's Ministries) Christmas party, planned the program, prayed for a jolly mood, ordered some Jr. Soldier uniforms, met with Staff, did the Sunday Bulletin and Advent reading, and cursed my desk for being such a mess.
The morning got broke up when Paul and I went to a meeting with a school official to review David's P.E.P. (personalized education plan) because he's a smartie pants, literally. Elijah has also been nominated for testing. So we'll see.
I stay busy at home in the afternoon (Noon +) with chores and keeping up with Ann while Hannah naps. Ann is like a bird, fluttering around from one activity to the next. She also eats like a bird, itty bitty bits. When Hannah wakes up from her nap, she just joins in with whatever Ann is doing at the moment. Today it was coloring with markers. It took Hannah less than a minute to color her entire mouth, inside and out. She was so proud and thought she was a shining star.
When the boys got home from school they went accross the street to play with a neighbor boy in his front yard. After a little while I called them home and Elijah was excitedly telling me all about his "tobacco pickle" that his friend gave him. I freaked out and said "WHAT?!?". David enjoyed the excitement for a little while and then came to his rescue to tell me it was a "tabasco pickle". Oh!