101 Things About Our Family

1. We own three cats and 1 dog.
2. The dog lets one of the cats clean her ears.
3. We were given a pool this summer, and the kids swim almost every day.
4. Kapooka and I like dill pickles, the rest of the family likes sweet pickles.
5. Wildcat would exist entirely on carbs, preferably cereal, if he could.
6. Kapooka eats almost anthing but does not like lettuce, asapargus, brocolli, or cauliflower.
7. Skye loves to eat fresh fruit.
8. Our living room now is painted the same color as our living room in KY. We loved the color that much.
9. I don't think our next living room will be this color. I am getting tired of it.
10. Kapooka and Wildcat have 1 tea party together every day.
11. Kapooka asks for girl time and to get her toes painted. She especially likes me to use the hairdryer on her toes to dry them.
12. Wildcat and Paul are counting down the days until football season.
13. When I won a trip to Disney, we all decided to pick an age and pretend to be kids. Wildcat picked the oldest age, so he enjoyed pretending to "boss" us around while we were there.
14. Wildcat, Paul, and I love grilled asaparagus.
15. Everyone in the family loves homegrown tomatoes. Paul only loves them if they are processed into salsa.
16. I am not allergic to the penicillin class of antibiotics, but am allergic to most others. Paul and the kids are allergic to the penicillin class but not any others.
17. We all love to read.
18. Wildcat is loving the Hardy Boys series right now.
19. Kapooka is loving her Goodnight Beach book right now.
20. We went to Dauphin Island, AL 2 weeks before the oil spill.
21. We took a friend from church with us.
22. That vacation was really fun and really relaxing. We laughed a lot as a family.
23. The best restaurant on the island was The Common Loon. Our whole family agreed on that!
24. When we went to Disney, we did 1 character meal. Skye liked the kids food and wildcat liked the expensive adult food.
25. Wildcat still loves expensive sea food, especially shrimp and salmon.
26. Wildcat only has 2 1/2 more inches to grown until he reaches 5 feet.
27. We have family movie night almost every weekend.
28. Both Wildcat and Kapook love to snuggle under soft blankets.
29. We love Flapjack Friday in our house!
30. Wildcat is learning to make scrambled eggs as good as his mom's.
31. Kapooka is saying more words every day. It is hilarious to hear her say "almost". It is her all purpose word.
32. Paul know more about OB procedures than most husbands. He can give progesterone shots, change IV bags, and do medication dosages.
33. We love our Kia Sedona.
34. Mosquitoes love Kapooka and I but pretty much leave Wildcat and Paul alone.
35. The kids got their Dad's complexion.
36. Kapooka worships her cousin Hannah.
37. Kapooka loves to go shopping.
38. She loves the grocery store for the free cookies.
39. She loves to look at pretty clothes at the mall and get good smelling lotion to try.
40. She is all girl.
41. That being said, she is very coordinated, and I think she will be a great athlete.
42. Wildcat wants to be a missionary and a football player.
43. Wildcat wants to re-decorate his room in a Colts/UK theme.
44. Kapooka wants to get a new house so she can have a room that is pink with Elmo curtains and she can sleep in "cousin Shelby's bed."
45. When my brother and his family moved to Memphis they gave us their daughter's old bed for Kapooka to use once she gets her own room.
46. The waiting and the transition has been hardest on Wildcat.
47. It is our prayer that Paul would have a job and Wildcat could get settled in towards the start of the school year.
48. Kapooka loves to take walks with Skye.
49. Wildcat loves rootbeer.
50. He thinks Mug rootbeer is the best.
51. After all these years, Paul has finally found a drink at Starbucks that he likes.
52. Kapooka loves chocolate milk.
53. She also like Capri sun pouches.
54. Kapooka likes me to talk to her about how I got my rings.
55. Kapooka likes to pack her purse to go on dates with her daddy.
56. Skye loves iced tea.
57. Skye loves iced tea more than chocolate.
58. I hate tea.
59. I love chocolate.
60. If you want to know more about Kari, you can see her 101 things about me on her Facebook page.
61. Skye and I disagree on what kind of cats are cute.
62. My son would love to have a rodent as a pet.
63. I am a pretty laid back mom, but I draw the line at rodents and reptiles.
64. Amphibians and fish are a possibility if you take care of them totally by yourself.
65. If you even mention a snake, it is grounds for being grounded.
66. My son and I both have clothing texture issues.
67. Paul loves clocks.
68. Paul and Wildcat built his bed together.
69. They forgot to paint part of the bed.
70. One weekend we re-did Skye's room while she was gone.
71. She screamed when she saw it. She liked it.
72. Our washing machine flooded several years ago.
73. We thought we would save money and have Paul re-attach the carpet because we were going to get new flooring soon.
74. We got pregnant with Kapooka and didn't get the flooring, so decided to wait until she was potty trained to get new flooring.
75. She is doing well with potty training.
76. We are probably moving soon.
77. The next owners will get a flooring allowance.
78. We like our neighbors a lot!
79. We think Holiday World is the best amusement park ever.
80. We went last summer to a retreat center called The King's Ranch. Everyone in the family loved it.
81. Skye and Wildcat make up songs and plays just for fun.
82. Skye has already finished her first college class.
83. Her second college class is how to use computers.
84. Wildcat and I both have a big space between our big toes and our next toe.
85. I rocked my kids in the rocking chair my mom rocked me in.
86. Paul and I got married at 21.
87. We look at 21 year olds now and think they are kids.
88. We were married for 5 years before we had Wildcat.
89. We were married 12 years before we had Kapooka.
90. That spread was not in our plan, but it is working really well.
91. Wildcat is a terrific big brother. He goes well above and beyond the call of duty. We are proud of him.
92. Kapooka plays the role of little sister well.
93. Kapooka loves babies.
94. Kapooka loves to look at pictures of herself as a baby.
95. Kapooka loves to play baby dolls with her cousin Shelby.
96. We may homeschool this fall if Paul does not have a job soon.
97. I would be a little more excited about that if we were using my favorite curriculum.
98. I am thankful that we can get the curriculum we will use for free, and it is the best decision for possibly transitioning back to traditional schooling later.
99. Kapooka is outgrowing all of her shorts.
100. Wildcat is an excellent quesadilla chef.
101. We are thankful for all that God has done and is doing for us.

The Call

I remember distinctly when my husband was called to ministry. We weren't married then. We were just dating. It was a Sunday in a small, now defunct church in Grinnell, IA. The story is Paul's, but the confirmation of the call was supernatural.

So, after my blog post last night Paul called this morning. He was getting ready to work on his resume for the job we were excited about. It was for a job at an AG university. He checked the website and the job was no longer available. I feel a little disappointed, but a little bit resigned. I mostly feel like it was a clear answer. We've tried to see if we can bend the call to fit a different type of ministry...I wonder if sometime in the future God might bring some of those hopes to fruition, but for now...I don't think so. It is too much like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

We can't get away from the call. I have a feeling that at least at this point in our lives the Lord wants us to be in ministry in a church. I can kick all I want (and I don't really want to), but Paul's calling is real and true and that is what the Lord wants. Now, the Lord will just have to open the right door to the right church (we did send 15 church resumes yesterday).

In kid news...

Kapooka is wearing a "pretty dress" today. She is doing this because Skye has on a dress. Skye has an interview for a job.

Wildcat has his last day of VBS. For the last 4 years he and Paul have a secret activity that they do before VBS. They went this morning and did it. I believe it involves football in a park and then pop from McDonalds at an obscenely early hour in the morning. However, it is a boy secret, and I'm not totally privileged to the details. I do know that they had to say goodbye to all of their favorite spots today, and they took pictures.

Thankful

Last night as I was trying to go to sleep, I used an old trick of mine. I listed all of my blessings until I fell asleep. Since I have been battling insomnia, I created quite a long list. I woke up this morning feeling so refreshed. It was good to re-focus and thank God for all the good that He does and the good that He is.

I am also thankful for friends. Several have been over this week, and we've just had fun. Family are calling just to check in and encourage us. One friend sent me such a thoughtful e-mail that I am still digesting it before I write her back but it is helping me wrap my brain a little more productively around some of these transition issues. Another friend pointed out a position that Paul could apply for. I have to say...I would like most of the jobs that Paul has applied for, and probably even end up loving them (being a pastor's wife it is sort of my job too), but this one I am excited about the possibility. It is in a location that we had originally said "NO WAY" to, but it is intriguing enough and has so many positive options for our whole family that I think Paul is going to apply. Even if he doesn't get it, I feel fantastic that I am dreaming a little again, and I don't think I will be crushed.

I just think it is neat that the e-mail from my friend prepared me to even consider the job opportunity possibility from the other friend. The body of Christ is a marvelous thing.

Oh, and the family went swimming today before massive thunderstorms. I took a nap. The mosquitos are so bad that if I even step out the back door I get about 4 bites instantly and look like a chicken pox patient after about 15 minutes. Guess I'm just too sweet, and bug spray doesn't work in the pool. What a blessing that pool has been (again given by another member of the body of Christ). I like naps better than "gator" bites. That is what Kapooka calls mosquito bites.

Transition Time Ramblings...

Some days it is nice...we have a lot of family time. We get to play in the pool. We are re-connecting in a way that is fantastic.

Some days it is stressful... can we pay the bills? When will Paul get a job? What is the right kind of job? When or should we put the house on the market? Why am I not sleeping? How are the kids doing/adjusting?

Some days are just scary...will we be moved (if we are moving) before school starts? What is God calling us to? Is there a job out there that will provide for our needs without me working? What will life be like living away from my parents?

Other days are filled with more existential questions...have I been so caught up with life and ministry that I have forgotten the character and nature of God? Do I know that He is good? Do I trust Him and trust that He wants good for me? What do I need to learn? What bad habits have developed? What have a I learned? Why do I no longer dream big dreams but instead am just tired of scraping by and want to earn a living wage? How can I "do" ministry in that state?

Paul asked me if I could write my dream scenario of a new job for him, what would it look like? All I could come up with was being independently wealthy and living on a beach. Since that can't happen, I don't even know what I would like or want. That is a strange place to be for this gal who usually has a plan and then 3-4 back up plans for the future.

God is Good and so is my hubby

So I was a little whiny in my last post. I guess I have been a little grumpy around the house too. I am an introvert and I live in a family of extroverts. Normally I could find some alone time somewhere, but since Kapooka shares our room and everyone is home for the summer, there is really nowhere for me to go. Paul in a kind way pointed out my grumpiness and "kicked" me out of the house for the afternoon. I asked if he had read the blog and he said no, but these were the things he asked for me to accomplish....

1. Get a girly magazine or take the book I was reading and sit at my favorite coffee store and get my favorite beverage.
2. He handed me a coupon for a haircut and told me to go get that done while I was out.
3. He even said I should go window shopping (I tried on some great summer skirts, and got the thrill of trying something new without spending anything right now).

When I got home he even gave me a foot rub (even better than a pedicure if you ask me).

If you look at my list from my previous post, almost all of my wants were taken care of.

Oh, and the job for Paul...nothing yet, but while I was out and about a dear friend just called to chat and check in and see how I was doing emotionally with the job search. That was the next best thing to getting the right job offer. It just encouraged me that the right job is coming, and I just need to wait on the Lord's timing.

Feeling really loved tonight!

Totally Self Focused Ramblings

We have been on summer break for a month now. I have really enjoyed the trips to the park, the extra time with my son, seeing all of the kids play together, and many other family memories. Today however...well let's just say I am ready for a mommy grown up day. No one slept well last night and it shows in the grumpies today. So, I thought I would make a quick list of things that I would love to do/have.

1. A job for my husband and any potential move done.
2. A spa day...mainly a massage (which I've had before) and a pedicure (which I've never had but could use right now)
3. My favorite frozen coffee drink from Borders, a new book, a comfy chair, and 3 non-stop hours to read (without anyone saying mama, but yet I knew all of my precious little ones were safe and cared for).
4. A haircut and maybe a color (that is really a dream since I am allergic to most hair color). However the latest haircolor trend of "bronde" really appeals to me for summer. What I really want is my long hair back for summer so that I can pull it back in a curly pony tail.
5. A cute new summer dress to go with the new summer hair.


Ahhhh... that was a nice mental vacation. Now back to reality. Laundry calls.