Apparently.....

.....I don't have time to blog. I'm still here. Life is still good. And I have thousands of great post ideas floating in my head, with no time to make them happen.

By the way, "great post ideas" might be stretching it just a little. For example, our schnauzer looked so darn cute the other day, laying perfectly in Little Boy Blue's pink boppy. He looked as if he had studied Little Boy Blue very hard, exactly how he laid in it, and almost looked like a baby himself. I quick got the camera. A not-so-great digital one that is rather uncooperative. By the time it actually took the picture, the image was only of Toby's behind as he jumped down. Lovely. Not what I had planned.

In fact the last week and a half has been full of not-what-I-planned. DHS has had me hopping with appointments, court, and visits. A few of which they did not give me much notice for. Plus, well, I planned on clean, well behaved children, a clean house, homemade bread, and lots of playing games, relaxing with kids. You KNOW how much of that actually happened.

I still have every intention of getting back into the habit of posting. And letting my new bloggie friends know that I am thoroughly enjoying their comments, and their blogs (via actually commenting over there!).

Maybe I'll start tomorrow.

No promises.

Guest Blogging

This week a friend asked me to post on her blog while she is away on an Alaskan cruise. I'm having so much fun, because she actually has a pretty broad audience....as opposed to my 3 readers! ;)

In case I don't get around to blogging in both spots, come on over and read here.

Time?

Does anyone have some to spare?

Sorry to leave you hanging, and I really do have a lot on my mind that I would love to just sit down and type out, but SHEESH! After we returned from our FABULOUS weekend, the "big red bus" (which has so affectionately become the term for our family vehicle) was unloaded...... causing a major assortment of dirty and clean laundry, bags, swim suits, and more to be generously strewn through the living room. Add to the equation that 6 children need detox or a rehab program after a weekend of being indulged by friends and family (don't misunderstand....that indulgence is exactly what I expect and even think the kids need), and you get too much work and not enough time! ;)

The weekend was restful, encouraging, refreshing....and much more. Though I don't think there was any "new" idea for the two of us, it still reminded us of our line of priorities, and we got to spend the weekend concentrating on each other. Having a strong marriage is the greatest gift we can give our children, but with 4 children 4 and under (plus 2 others) sheer volume often pushes my husband's needs much farther back than they should be. I'll do my best to elaborate more on some of the ideas and thoughts that TJ and I came home with. Most importantly, we just thoroughly enjoyed being together, adult conversation, and full nights of rest and even a few naps in between! It is hard, though, to return to "normal" circumstances, and make the shift from ideas to actual practice in our life. I've already found myself standing amid all the chores, the quarreling toddlers, the crying baby, the phone ringing, the chicken burning....and all the open communication in the world just doesn't release the same stress as a few screams and a little profanity. I also kind of like how the kids scatter when that happens. I hold much power.

Ok, so there was no profanity, this time. But you get my point. And this weekend did serve as a reminder of the power I do hold.... to destroy, or to build. To mold, or crush. To respect, or undermine. And while I may be speaking of my attitude towards my husband, there is an extremely tight link from that to the legacy I'm leaving for my children. How they view their own identity and value based on how I view/treat my husband.

Meanwhile, we're trying to plan some fantastic fun for the summer that cost little to nothing. I'm ready to enjoy the summer with my kids!