The Mess Makers

A cute pair aren't they? If you only knew what they were capable of. Let me introduce you to the MessMakers. We have two models, the 2005 model who is super smart and cute and extremely good at his job. We also have a younger model, the 2008 who is super cute and somewhat better at his job than the older model...
Observe the picture evidence.......I think this was created by both. (and this is a pretty tame version of what the two of them can accomplish in under 30 seconds).


The 2008 Model


The 2005 Model


Here we are training them in their mess making capabilities. Yes, I purposefully give them media to make a mess in. This was a particularly fun mess to make, it was all fun and games until the 2008 got some in his eyes.

Returning to the Old Neighborhood

On Saturday we went to our old neighboorhood (sort of) for dinner at our favorite BBQ joint. Sweet Lucy's has some AWESOME food. We were meeting friends there, and were a little early, so we took Q on a tour of our old neighborhood, past our old church, saw where Scott lived as a kid, and drove "the Avenue." At one point, I stopped at the grocery store where my mom and I used to shop when I was a kid. I had fogotten 2 ingrediants for the dessert I was making for Care Ring, and stopped in a Shop Rite on Frankford Ave. I wanted to go to Pathmark, but Scott put the kibosh on it, stating that it was too ghetto.

So, while driving, I was amazed at the state of our old stomping grounds. It was dirty and a little scary and not a place I'd want to be at night. Lots of abanodoned buildings, borded up and all. I didn't know if it looked this bad when I was younger or if I have just become so accustomed to everything being so tidy and well kept in the suburbs. The crazy bars/gates that library had on its windows really threw me for a loop. And then the trip to the grocery store was so crazy. When I stepped foot in the store, it was like stepping back in time. THe store had not been updated since I was a kid, 15 years ago or more. I think Target has re-done itself 4 times since I've lived in Bucks County. The store was PACKED w/ people, and the isles were so tight together, and everything seemed dark, dingy and dirty. Now, I know Target is a higher-end company run store, but even my Giant in Morrisville has redone itself in the last 5 years. It was just weird. Know what's weird too, there is only like 2 grocery stores for a huge area of people in the city. I have 6 grocery stores alone a 5 mile radius.
Yes, I grew up in Philly, but it was more like the 'lite suburbs' of city. I lived in a single house there, and I rode my bike to church, across several neighborhoods to my best friends house. I took public transportation to school. I wouldn't dare get on a bus now. I'm still trying to figure out if its really was as bad back then and I'm just used to the suburbs, or if its really that bad now. Its probably a little of both.
I realized too, that I have truly become the suburbanite. The same sterotype that I used to hate when I was younger. I thought people in the suburbs were snobs. And dude, I so am that snob now. I thought people in the suburbs were always trying to keep up w/ the Jones', and I find myself totally falling into that now (observe new siding and a new fence on my house--the inside is still a wreck though). When I drop off Q at preschool especially, I make sure I'm dressed (and NOT in sweatpants) w/ makeup on. In fact, unless I"m on my deathbed, I never leave the house w/out make-up on these days. Oh how time and your surroundings changes a person. (wow, that was an earth-shattering statment now wasn't it?) I just didn't think I had changed all that much...

Am I the Only One?

Women, especially Mom's talk about passions a lot, and the important of having a passion. I remember sitting at a Ladies' welcoming tea and one of the Women's Ministry Members asking "what is YOUR passion." I hate that question. The ladies all went around in the circle and spoke so passionately about being passionate. When it was my turn, I shrugged my shoulders.
I don't have a passion. I really don't remember if I ever had one either. I remember when I was working I had a passion maybe, for the kids I worked with. But that has long since dwindled. And I must say, that right now, I have no passion for anything. Am I the only one?
I think I used to be passionate about music, and musicals and performance. But now, I have NO desire to see a musical, or join a choir, or take a lesson. Is it considered a passion, if it easily falls out of the 'passion' category in your life?
MOPS discussions often circulate about the importance of having passions because it helps you keep your identity. Along w/ hobbies. Hobbies? What's that? I have none of those either. What has happened to me?
I always had something going on, and I used to be extremely creative and somewhat artsy.
Is it just me? Seriously? Am I the only one with no passion, or hobby at the least?

And FOUND

So, I have to report with the exception to the missing socks, all of the things listed in my previous post "LOST" have been found.

I found the key to the child lock, in an upstairs closet stuck to the metal handle of the steam mop. I had to have put that there, I cannot blame that one on the kids.

The mitten and snow boots were found in the car, along with several LONG lost items, including my bible study book. My car is a pit of crusty dried up food items and junk, and more junk. I should remember to look there FIRST for things.

My patience was found and then lost again, and found and well...

My joy has been restored to me. Thank you Jesus! It does seem like an endless roller coaster for me. Up and down. Ugh. I remember thinking a couple of months ago that I never would have thought that my faith could be shaken. After all I have seen the Lord do for me, and for Scott and so many other people, how could I ever doubt his love for me? But man, I was feeling alone and unloved and unlovable.

I was reading in Psalms the week before Christmas and came to this one, and I felt like I wrote it. If I were a talented God inspired psalmist, this is what I would have wrote about the past couple of months.

Psalm 143
A psalm of David. 1 O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry
for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.
2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.
3 The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in
darkness like those long dead.
4 So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.
5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate
on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
6 I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah
7 Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let the morning bring me word of your
unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for
to you I lift up my soul.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD, for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your
good Spirit lead me on level ground.
11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your
servant.

It struck me that this Psalm was exactly how I was feeling. It was a comfort to know that this wasn't an obscure problem that only I had. It was also a little reminder that God knows what I'm going through. That Satan was after me, crushing my spirit, reminding me of all the garbage I was wrestling with. Like in verse 5, I remembered all the times that God has shown his grace to me, shown me Himself in so many ways, but all the while I sat and felt abandoned. I don't know if I was putting space between myself and Him, but it was there. I found that if I focus on good and not dwell in the land of bad, its easier to live joyfully.
"Whatever is good, noble, right,lovely, admirable, praise worthy....think about such things." (vs?)
This is an awesome verse to live by. I also love vs. 10 from above. "Teach me your will and put me on level ground." Man would I love some level ground to stand on rather than this up and down road I'm on. In the same breath though, I know these lows are teaching me things I could not learn in any other way.

Because

I had to get the previous post title off of the list and there really isn't poo in my freezer anymore. Nope, I dropped that off yesterday and am awaiting the test results with baited breath.
I went to a mall that was a bit of a drive away, just for a change of scenery. It was a nice drive. I like being in the car, generally the boys are well behaved and they can't beat on each other cause well, they're strapped down. I like it when they're strapped down. We got home in time for naps and when they got up, I felt the need to get out of the house again. So, I bundled them up and went out back to play. I sorta forgot that I had put a pot on the stove to boil some sweet potatoes for dinner. Then I got bored of playing out back, really, I didn't want to play baseball which is what Q makes me do when we play out back, so I suggested we go for a walk. So off for a walk we go and I figured I didn't want to walk all the way around the block, and we turned around. It wasn't until our house was back in view that I remembered the sweet potatoes....ohh the sweet potatoes!! We ran back inside. There was a sweet aroma in the house, but luckily there wasn't too much damage. The water must have boiled over and then just boiled off the burner. THere is black stuff all over the burner which I'm hoping will come off. I am definately losing it. I'm definately not as smart as I was before having children. Really. When I was a teenager, I definately knew EVERYTHING. Just ask my mom.
But now, I can't think strait, barely remember peoples names, whom I love and know well, and forget about dinner on the stove.
And I'm not yet 33.

There's Poo in My Freezer

Gross.
They're testing B for all sorts of things and the poo in my freezer is for that.
Testing for C. diff and a Celiac disease, of all things. Praying he doesn't have either of these things. Being gluten free would suck, but doable, but I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I did it once before when we thought Q had a wheat intolerance.

Anyway, should one not blog about poo being in their freezer? Really? Well tough. Its my blog and for my benefit to document things and if my one reader disapproves...go suck an egg. (remember that expression Shay?)