Typo

A Poem by Me

I have been trying to not be so frustrated with the mess in my house. The clutter, the stuff and the piles are challenging me to look at the bigger picture. Here are my thoughts.

Wet towels,
Fed up scowls,
a dirty floor and
markered door.
The light left on,
the bread is gone.
Dried up playdoh,
homework-don'tcha know?
The toys!
The noise!
The boys! and girl
Dirty socks,
rocks, rocks, rocks,
spilled juice and
a missing caboose.
The puzzle pieces,
torn shirts,
action figures,
stained skirts.
The burping and
slurping, the tooting
and hooting.
Lost DVD's,
scratched CD's
the laundry piles
and sticky smiles.
All of these things to me
have shown,
I do not go through this life
alone.
*

CS

Stealing

I had a 20 dollar bill in my wallet and then I didn't. I started thinking that I imagined having it. A money mirage, if you will. Nathan found it under Timmer's bed. I lost my debit card last Friday. I couldn't find it all weekend and figured that I misplaced it, identity theft, someone is having a blast being me, call the bank. Tims handed me my card yesterday. He wants money, honey.

BFL

Update Found the pictures. I am posting them because I am now my before picture once again and would someday like to be the after picture. Again.

My husband and I did Body for Life about 8 years ago. We lost body fat and inches, gained muscle and had more energy than we knew what to do with. I submitted by before and after pictures and my thoughts to Muscle and Fitness magazine and was featured in the July 2002 edition. If I knew how to scan or had a scanner I might post that article. Or not. There has been a joke between Pat and I since those days.
Pat "We really need to get back in shape."
Carla "I thought we were working on our before pictures."

Front Tooth

Worth a buck to Nathan.

My Brutha

Nathan "Mom is Josh my friend?"
Mom "Yes, Josh is your friend."
Nathan "And my brother?"
Mom "Yes, Josh is your friend and your brother."
Nathan "Cool."

SIX

Happy 6th Birthday, Nathan!!

Bible Study

Sarah was working on her Awana book tonight. She read 1Timothy 3:1-7. She pondered this question. An overseer is a church leader. What are five characteristics of people who are church leaders?
Here is what she came up with.
Respectable
Hospitable
Quarrelsome
Drunkenness
Self-controlled

Christian Community Fair

I will be here this weekend if you need me. I hope to meet some amazing people and tell them all about declarations and find out if they need someone to come and tell their abortion story. Ooooh! Pick me!! Pick me!!

Missing Summer

Helpful Hint

If you have a child with a November birthday you might want to check out the Halloween costumes that are 90% off right about now. Nathan is always thrilled to see Spidey, Power Rangers, Storm Troopers and Ninja Turtles as his birthday presents. Everyday is dress up day! Paying $5 for a $50 costume that is really only worth $5 makes good fiscal sense to me.

Mixing It Up

I signed up to be a Playdoh helper for Nathan's kindergarten class. That means I need to whip up a batch of the stuff and send it in sometime this month. I emailed the teacher for her recipe and she sent it along and also a short note. It said that Carter was having a great day and she thinks that he is such a great kiddo! I am so glad! I wonder how Nathan is doing?

My Feets

I am going to share something about myself, although it seems I have been doing that here for around 4 years now. Here is a factoid about me. I do not like taking my shoes off when I go to your house. I just don't. I will take my shoes off but I won't like it and I won't say anything to you about not liking it either. I will take them off and shuffle in my socking feet and breathe a happy sigh when I can put my shoes back on. I have flat feet. I wear inserts, my feet get cold and I want to wear my shoes in your house. When you come to my house I will leave that up to you. Wear your shoes, don't wear your shoes. Leave them on, take them off. I care not.

Now you know.

Finger Food

Sarah and I passed a restaurant yesterday. The Village Pizzeria in Dresser, WI. It is an Italian restaurant with amazing food! Sarah agreed with me.
Sarah "I ate there with Nonny once."
Mom "Was it good?"
Sarah "Yeah."
Mom "What did you have?"
Sarah "Mini corn dogs."

Cool

Another of the many gifts I get from Tims.

No Beer Here

Tims carried this around for a day or so. Not redeemable, son. Some restrictions apply. Like the one where neither of your parents drink.

Text Twit

I am not into texting. It takes me 45 minutes to crank out the words Hi Babe to my husband. Now you will surely understand the following exchange of text.

Pat I LOVE YOU! Hope you have a good day!
Carla ty dji bouti
Pat Oh yeah...ditto...I feel the same way.
Carla Hhok ee
Pat Hubba Hubba
Carla nbd
Pat You are so beautiful.
Carla Bbqd

Oh!
A big thank you goes out to all of those that are now following me on Twitter. Once I figure out what that is it should be more fun for you.

Thoughts

I have posted my thoughts about the retreat here. I am beginning to feel as though I have a split personality. One blog for the seriousness of abortion and one blog for fun. Sigh. It is what it is.

Hair Revolution

I have Bumpits on the brain. I am not sure I want to purchase them yet. Not ready to commit. Not quite ready for a revolution of this magnitude, especially at this juncture in my haireer. I might just be able to use my mombrain and whip up something here at home. I don't know. A tiny bundle of sticks, a roll of quarters, a Power Ranger, an empty roll of tp might be good alternatives to the plastic doinks that sell for $9.99. A screwdriver? A rolled up newpaper? A couple of washable markers? A drumstick? I think a beauty revolution is worth this thought process.

Whaaaa?!

I have a friend in Operation Outcry who is blind. She needed some forms from me, so I forwarded them to her after my husband Patrick found them for me.(I am computerally inept)I realized after the fact that some personal amorous thoughts about Patrick were forwarded as a bonus. The kicker? Her computer software will read them nice and loud for her!

Timeout

Hi. This is Carla's husband. Carla asked me to log in and pass this on to you. Fourby40 will be in timeout. We have internet issues but they should be resolved in the next 5-7 days.

Thanks and can't wait to get back telling the story.

New Carpet

Vague

Josh "Dad, can you help me with some homework?"
Dad "Sure, Josh. What is it?"
Josh "I have to play a song on the keyboard for Music."
Dad "Ok. What song are you thinking?"
Josh "I don't know."
Dad "When do you have to play it?"
Josh "I'm not sure."
Dad "Well, is it this week?"
Josh "Yeah. This Thursday or next Friday."
Dad "What do you know for sure about this assignment?"
Josh "I have to play a song on the keyboard for Music."

Mom(in my head)"Good luck with that, son."

Ridiculous

Joshua forgot to write his name on an assignment for one of his classes. The consequence for that infraction is lunch detention and writing in cursive 100 times My Name is Joshua Stream. He started about two weeks ago. As of yesterday he has written the above 46 times. Maybe the finished product will make a nice Christmas gift for the teacher.

AFV

I have a best friend of 30 years. Shelly was on America's Funniest Videos last night. Her video was chosen to be on the show. She filmed her then 8 month old son Alex(He is now 15.)as he was sitting in his room. She made a raspberry sound and scared him. He toppled over. It was adorable and I even got to hear my best girl laugh and say, "I am so sorry." to her boy. The video was not chosen for the finals. Bummer. $10,000 could come in pretty handy.

Fishin It Out

This is a toy. Sarah has fun with it. It's a Pet Shop thingy. I did not have fun with it when I had to retrieve it from Tim's right nostril.

Four By 40

Prayer

I am leaving today for a Rachel's Vineyard retreat. I will be in training to be a facilitator and will then be holding retreats in the fourby40 area. God has been leading me here for so many years and He knew I would do this in His good time. Please be in prayer for the participants in the retreat. Sharing abortion stories is not easy. Pray they surrender to the only One who heals. Thank you.

Do not fret. The usual weekend photo montage is scheduled to post without me.

Whoops

Need a sure fire way to suck the fun out of an ice cream party? Put the Smucker's Chocolate Fudge flavor Magic Shell in the fridge.

What I Will Say Next Time

"Is this thing on? Hello, Shopko shoppers and associates. My name is Carla. I am a mom. Right now there is something brewing in the toy section of this store. No, not a blue light special. Wrong store for that. More like a ticking time bomb. My youngest is now holding as many toys as he can. Yes. That's him. He looks like a pint-sized Santa Claus. I am watching him from afar. I have business here. I asked a sales associate to exchange a pair of shoes for me at the service desk. She'll be right back. When she is, I will be walking back to toys and telling my son NO. N-O. No toys today. It is certainly not because you haven't been retail savvy either. I love the end caps and signage. Yes, you are a diligent crew and I adore your fully stocked shelves. I will be saying no because my youngest assumes he gets a toy everytime he wanders the earth. Not today son. I am asking for your cooperation and assistance. When I say the word NO there will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth and flopping on the floor like a fish coming from a 3 year old body. I will be physically lifting him off of the floor and carrying him, my purse and my shoe box out the door. You will hear us as we make our way. The screaming will be ear piercing, the struggle will become unmanageable and I will have to set my Tims down and take a breather. It will sound as if he is being tortured. I would appreciate averted eyes and pasted grins and nervous straightening. I do not need assistance. I need to leave. My goal is the exit. Call security or the police or Child Protection, if you feel you must. I am carrying his enraged little life out to our van. I will attempt to buckle him into his carseat and drive home. All in a day's work for me. Have a good day and thank you for shopping at Shopko."