You are currently browsing the monthly archive for June, 2007.
Summer life around here is kicking up into high gear this month, so I am not going to be blogging for a while. I may pop in here & there if I really can’t stand it & have to note something, but I’m planning on saving it & reporting on it all in one big lump later. We’ll see. Just in case I don’t get back here for a month, see you again in mid July.
Got some new information from Scott today, the friend Keith teaches with. Some of you know him as the talented skit man. He’s the one I wrote about a few weeks ago whose wife talked him into going to the emergency room for his headaches.
At first, the doctors thought his was an easy case; all in one mass, outside the brain, etc. This was just two weeks ago! Then, after they got in there, realized it was connected to the brain in parts & they couldn’t get it all. Today the tests came back. It is aggressive. We don’t yet know what it means completely as far as the next step, but it does not sound good. He came home today & Keith is going over tomorrow to talk & pray with him awhile. He’s only 30 & they have a little girl not yet two! Pray for them. Please.
Found this cute little project while surfing for a pinafore pattern. Thought it would make a good starter project for Callie some day. It even has pictoral instructions! Simple & usable…
Well, I actually found the “pattern” I have used (from my head) to make my aprons in the past in case Callie ends up being a pattern-follower. Truthfully, I’m not a pattern kind of gal! Those things scare me. When it comes to sewing, I only know how to eyeball it & come up with what I want. It seems it’s never quite right, but whenever I’ve used a pattern, it comes out totally messed up. Don’t ask me how! So, I like to sew a little bit at a time (like a few days a year), I love the cute fabrics out there, but I have yet to make something I’m completely pleased with. There’s always some little quirk in it when I’m done. Don’t know if I Callie should watch my sewing ways or not!
I’m on a mini sewing binge right now. Mom mentioned bonnets & I’ve got a stack of cute fabrics that have been there a year & a half with the intention of making bonnets & aprons for Callie to go with this plain denim dress a size too big we found at a thrift store last year. She could be wearing it now. I figured we could have fun with accessorizing it. Mom made me a cute pinafore dress when I was in kindergarten. I loved that outfit! This is a throwback idea to keep the circle of life going I guess. There’s just way too many cute fabrics out there to not do something with them!! The thrift stores make clothes so cheap , though, it’s more expensive to make them. But it’s fun to make costumes & bonnets & aprons, etc. So that’s the only sewing I do. This is what it looks like in my mind’s eye, but know it won’t be even remotely like this when I’m done…
Anyone out there ever dared to make a pillowcase dress? I’ve never heard of these before. Cute, cute, cute!! I’ve got six little nieces & a daughter that would be so adorable together in these!! (Mom & I are thinking about matching something for pictures in August.) If anyone has ever made these before, could you give me a rough estimate on how much time & expertise would be required? It looks really simple, but looks can be deceiving.
There are so many variations. I love the halter style. Also, you can wear them with bloomers or shorts…
Keith got the job!! He got his dream job after six years of joyfully teaching fourth grade even though it wasn’t his first pick. He’s now a sixth grade teacher of language arts & social studies, so he’ll even know all his former students for the next two years. I am so happy for him.
This will really free up his time & for that I thank the Lord. Some of you know he is working toward getting his doctorate over the next five-ish years. This is really what he was made for, but I wasn’t sure how that was going to squeeze into his already very full schedule. This makes it so he will have basically a mere two preps (daily lessons to plan), no duties such as lunch room, recess, etc. which all make for less work. Elementary teaching is not what you’d call a low prep job! On top of all that, he loves middle-schoolers which not everybody does. This job couldn’t fit him any better. Needless to say, we’re all excited for him around here.
On another note, he will be boating this weekend with a couple other men from the church. This will be the first voyage for them down a local river, so pray for them, not me! They are camping overnight. Wouldn’t you love to be a fly on that canoe? This will be a good chance to do some male bonding for him. God has been so faithful to provide good men in the church to “fill the void” a bit in our fathering department for us. So, even though it may seem strange to some for him to be out & about on Father’s Day, it actually is perfect. The kids already gave him their gift – an iPod like mine.:) Oh, & our cell phones are in. We finally broke down & joined the cell phone revolution. We’re working on programing them and all this week. He’s a happy man.
Okay. I said I wasn’t going to do any more Western VBS post, but so many have come a searchin’ for ideas, & as we get going in ours, more ideas pop up. Maybe others can benefit.
Last night, I came across the cutest little “leather” concho idea! The picture shows white foam, but I made one out of fake leather & lariete roping. Cute, cute, cute!! It’s a nice little craft to do with your own kids this summer just for fun…
Nate thinks they’re pretty cool. His first reaction was they’re like the Lord of the Rings leaf brooches. I should post my own pix, but right now am too lazy.
The other “Johnny come lately” idea found was a leather lacing picture wallet. They are only $1 per craft & I just hadn’t seen them anywhere else. I’m thinking the kids could put their verses in these.
Again, for those new to this site & needing more ideas, go here, here, & here.
This test is a short list of words that you describe yourself & calculate your general personality type. The interesting thing for me is how I’ve changed over the years. As a kid & in high school, I was rather reserved, on the shy side, talkative once you got to know me, sensitive, etc. Now, I’m basically Dad rehashed, for good or for bad. I guess this happens as you get older. For those that didn’t know Dad, that includes organized, scheduled, one-track-minded, rather opinionated, loyal, sentimental, passionate about things! I think having kids in the preschool years has changed me. Do you suppose we changed Dad? Grandma Gertie says Dad was a very compliant child although you would’ve never guessed that as an adult.
I see myself going back to the “teacher” personality now that the youngest is moving out of that stage. Now watch, God’ll bless us back to the baby stage again just as we are moving out of it! You wouldn’t catch me crying.:)
For me, the baby & toddler years were sweet, but hard to deal with little ones who lack basic communication & self-control skills. But I love the school age years!! And I so look forward to the teenage & adult years with my kids.
Call me crazy, but I look for my kids to be my best friends as they get out of the concrete thinking stage & move into adulthood. That’s what happened to me with my parents; why shouldn’t it happen to me on the other side? Keith is totally in his element with the teenagers. He’s going to make a super “teen dad”:)
A friend of mine with three boys of similar age was talking with me the other day about just this topic. She is shaking in her boots to go into the teenage years with her kids when she looks around at all the teenage “spiritual casualties” in Christian families today. We agreed that we both want good relationships with our children throughout those years as well as godly children. We’re commiting to pray together for just that. That’s what God wants, & it’s what we want, & it is possible, so let’s start praying for it now! We’ve been praying for our children’s spouses, why not this, too?
Anyway, here’s my official score for the personality test. I guess it looks to be pretty accurate…
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ESTJ – “Administrator”. Much in touch with the external environment. Very responsible. Pillar of strength. 8.7% of total population.
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Free Jung Word Test (similar to Myers-Briggs)
personality tests by similarminds.com
organized, group oriented, focused, conventional, leader, emotionally stable, anal, attention seeking, planner, realistic, fearless, responsible, finisher, decisive, norm following, respects authority, punctual, hard working, stiff, self confident, thinks rules and regulations are important, follows the rules, clean, outgoing, social, content, does not like being alone, normal, regular, does not like weird or strange people / things – intolerant of differences, strict, disciplined, aggressive, assertive, content, happy, proper, formal, strict with self, meticulous, strong sense of purpose
favored careers:
executive, ceo, supervisor, business consultant, manager, strategist, financial planner, business person, office manager, public relations manager, international business specialist, business analyst, management consultant, operations manager, loan officer, lawyer, marketing, sports management, government employee, investment bankerdisfavored careers:
poet, artist, songwriter, musician, novelist, art therapist, theatre teacher, art curator, film editor, video game designer, photo journalist, travel writer, actor, record store owner, camera operator, art historian, music teacher
A few of those make me chuckle (like “norm following” & “stiff” – not quite!), but most are surprisingly correct. Sara & I have the whole “ying yang” thing going on.
Thanks, Jess, for finding the quick personality test online.
I have the outline to next year’s Club lessons & activities for anyone who’s interested in that sort of thing. I realize that’s a select few. But anyway, I’m excited to have it on “paper” & linked to activities & all. That’s what I’ve been up to all night. To see the fruit of my labors, click here.
A big thanks to John Piper’s son, Abraham, for making it easy for me to get my Google Reader up & running. That was one of those things on my list to figure out, but thought it would take some digging. It really does save time on this blogging hobby – just when I was really working through how to cut down time consumption on the computer. If you’ve been convicted in that area, I suggest taking three minutes to look at this video & set up a list for yourself. Thanks, again, Abraham, for helping in the time management department!!
