Cleaning Up

Upon reflection, it seems that most of my closest friends throughout my life have been neat freaks. Their homes are incredibly clean, and the messes that they apologize about when I happen by unexpectedly rival my home when it's at its cleanest. So, friends, what is your secret? I want to hear all the dirty details- scheduled days, cleaning as you go, etc. It's time to spill.

Camille Reading to Clark

A Fine Specimine

Today while talking with my friend who is sick I told her that she sounded like a man. It's not a very nice thing to tell your friend that she sounds like a man (unless, perhaps, your friend is a pre-pubescent boy) so as a pennance, I present to you a self-depricating story of a time when I was sick.

I worked at McDonald's when I was 16. And 17. And 18. It was one of the many jobs that I held in Hemet, and I was glad to have it, as jobs there are scarce. The greasy steam in the air did wonders for my acne. I was the drive-thru girl. I had a cold one night (this didn't prevent them from wanting me to work, of course- tomorrow I will tell you a grosser and more embarassing story about that) and after I took the person's order, the man's voice on the other end of the speaker said, "Girl, you have a beautiful voice. You must be fine." I don't think that the 16 year old Sarah could be considered fine by many people, but I certainly did not match this man's description of "fine".

Swinging

First we start with the smiliest picture we have of Clark. Paul took it, and I just love it.

Next, Clark in Swing.

What?

A Visit to the Beach

My sister and her husband recently came back from Utah to visit their fams. We went to the beach one day with them.

This is Vico. It was his birthday! Now he is So So Old.

This is Camille. She was eating a candy necklace. Now she is So So Hyper.

This is Vico, Scott, Seth, Dennis, and Me. We went boogie boarding. We are So So Cool.

This is Rachel with my girls. I make her babysit all the time. She is So So Lucky.

This is Dennis as a Lobster. He is So So Sandy.

This is Clark. He is So So Drooly

This is Grace eating a candy necklace. Now she is So So Full.

I'm Thankful, I Thank Thee

Tonight as I lay next to Clark in the bed where I nurse him, I listened to his quiet breathing, and watched him make a few kicks. He's beautiful, I thought. Then my mind slipped into its daily mantra, "I'm thankful, I thank thee". I hope that God accepts my silent prayer to him- it's not organized, but it's devoted to Him- the thanks for the peace that I felt lying there. For the quiet that surrounded me. For the girls and how sturdy and healthy they looked in their swimsuits today- how much fun we had together swimming in the pool, surrounded by friends. Even with the kitchen full of dirty dishes (I thank thee for good food to eat, for the talent to prepare it tastily, that the girls would eat today, for enough from yesterday to eat tonight) and the laundry, 4 loads to be folded (I'm thankful I had enough quarters, I'm thankful that Paul was able to work at home today so I could do the laundry and not worry about the kids, that we have clothes to wear, that they can be clean.) My mind often slips naturally from "thanks" to "please bless", as I think of the things I could do better or desire for our family- continued good health, help for extended family, be a good mom tomorrow, share this love with others, be happy when we wake up.
Tonight feels especially peaceful. I know that God hears my prayers, that he hears yours, that he blesses us with each individual tiny thing in our lives. I hope that you feel this peace too.

Happy Anniversary!

Today Sarah and I celebrate our 6-year anniversary, hooray! While I am searching for iron candies to give to my sweetheart, all are invited to enjoy the short chronicle of our life together below...

Here is Sarah's tiny apartment in Chicago before she moved in, when we were still dating...

The obligatory wedding picture....

Our delightful honeymoon...

Here I am celebrating our first anniversary at the Racine county fair....

Children, oh so many children!

Sarah on our anniversary last year at the Orange County fair....


I love you, Sarah! Here's to many more wonderful years together!