New traditions and the same old turkey

It's one of the two times a year we allow ourselves to eat a full meal just during the appetizer course, then another during the dinner course, and once we are fully stuffed we force ourselves to yet again try everyone's homemade pie (including the pumpkin pie that the seven year old made). We want everyone to feel appreciated of course.

My family started a few new traditions this year. It helped that we were at my sister's house in Nashville. A big house. With a huge empty lot down the street.

I credit her for being quite the organized hostess. It might have sprung from our past Thanksgiving/Christmas gatherings where at least one member of either side of the family ended up in the hospital for some reason or other. We laugh at this fact now don't worry!

When we entered her home we were all hit with such a tantalizing aroma coming from the oven I would have agreed to anything she requested. Her husband was baking a special homemade turkey, freshly bought not frozen he bragged with due rights, and other sweet treats that filled the air with smells of spices. Once we fully discussed the main guest for the day, the turkey, we were introduced to the schedule.

Don't laugh. You'll be using one next year.

My sophisticated sister had mapped out the day's activities with times and foods to be eaten as well as activities and conversational moments. We all giggled but it actually kept our large family on task.

12:00 eat lunch - ham sandwiches (we did 'left overs' before the main meal...it actually worked out nicely)

1:00-3:00 play time. We all traversed across the street not letting the drizzling rain deter our playful moods. The three little boys (not being so little anymore and all confident from their past soccer season experience, believing they could 'whoop' up on some old people's booties I'm sure) were jumping around us slow moving adults with glee as they began to kick the soccer ball. Teams were formed (and reformed, and then formed again as to a child's liking at any given moment)and the game began. It was fun making myself run up and down our imaginary soccer field with the boys and going head to head with my brother-in-law (an avid soccer player) and my husband (a self made soccer coach who has a competitive spirit like non other). I at least had my dad who was keeping up with the younger men quite well and cheering his two daughters on for actually running around while trying to keep the little boys focused on playing with the right team! Then there was Jane...the spunky four year old in her pajamas that insisted on her mother carrying her until she became quite engulfed in a stick and a large nut of some kind in a neighbor's yard. After an hour of running and sweating profusely, trying not to pass out in front of my nine year old, I threw in the flag and opted to "go check on the sleeping baby" and the grandmother who was pulling childcare duty back at the house with the two littlest girls. Not soon after the door flew open and a barrage of sweaty, dirty clothed, muddy faced soccer players triumphantly waltzed in ready for baths and a change of clothes. What was next on the schedule dear sister?

3:00-4:00 Appetizers and conversation
As often happens with multiple kids and various ages represented the adults get spread out around the house not actually carrying on a full conversation the entire day of being together. This wasn't going to happen today. Not at our Thanksgiving!
After cleaning up and putting on our official Thanksgiving attire we quickly put together the appetizers on plates and rushed them out to the front living room (away from all little hands). A movie was put on. "Who's watching the baby?" was asked a few times and then we were forced, oh I mean we were asked, to sit in a circle around the appetizers and have conversation. After the older people in the family laughed a little behind our backs we actually had a nice chat. Education, the latest NPR story, developments in our children, family history were all discussed briefly. Then a baby was crying, "where's the baby?" and the toddler was stuck upstairs and the turkey needed turning. It was nice while it lasted.

After that more taking turns playing with kids, watching toddlers, rescuing the baby, preparing the Thanksgiving feast and starting and stopping conversations along the way carried us through to the next scheduled event. The Thanksgiving feast!

5:00 The china was pulled out. The mother-in-law's silver, all polished and shiny, was properly distributed. Name cards were strategically placed and then replaced. Hands were washed. Children were served. The prayer was given. And slowly the adults one by one sat down.

And then it happened.

Looking around that room with the children at one table trying not to get in trouble for being too rowdy and my grown up loved ones around me we each realized at one moment or other how blessed we were. Everyone relaxed. Conversation flowed. Drinks were poured. The famous turkey was devoured. Complements were dished out as fast as side dishes were. Dirty looks were shot at the kid table, laughter came at times, awkwardness as well...all that comes when a family gathers together.

6:00ish - The darkness outside brought with it different waves of volunteers taking turns washing dishes and putting up food, playing with children, and dividing out left-overs.

7:00 - A group photo session, surprisingly quick and painless, and then coffee and games to follow. An unexpected spend the nighter with children laid precariously around the house in different beds and rooms concluded with hugs good night. Exhaustion over took each of the adults as we crashed early into our assigned beds.

I think the schedule will be replicated again next year and I know the rematch soccer tournament will be carried out again! I hope everyone had a fun filled, drama free, family friendly Thanksgiving as well!

Scary momma!

Tonight Ian told me I didn't have to dress up for Halloween because I was already scary. Not scary in the "ugly" factor but rather in the "Oh my you scare the daylights out of me with that stink eye look mom!" kind of scary.

I didn't quite know how to take this comment. You have to know Ian though. He tells it like it is. But then again he has gotten the scary look from me a lot today so I guess I did my job well.

What I have to decide is do I want to be thought of as scary from my kids? .... okay that was enough thinking, Yes! I very much do! =) (I say this with a laugh you know!)

I proceeded to tell Ian in a very pouty voice "well that hurts my feelings Ian." Which in turn made him say, "oh mom you aren't scary you are very kind." (but he said this with an impish grin!!!)

I tell you what! I turned around and gave that little booger a "scary look" and sent him on his way! And if he thinks I look scary now wait till he is sixteen and tries to sneak a lie past me with his buddies. Oh, then he'll see scary momma alright...I'm just warming up little fella, just warming up!

It is official...

I think it has been almost two months now that we decided to put our house on the market and test the waters. Now it has been 24 hours that we officially have been on the market. (if you want to us look us up on realtracs to see the wonderful pictures the man took let me know and I'll send you my street address - don't want any pervs who might be reading this to know what my bedspread looks like!) hee hee

When Nate and I bought this house it was our first house purchase. We were 29 and 30 years old. We had a four and two year old. We were so excited to be back in Murfreesboro after being gone for the past four years. But we both had mixed emotions.

Nate thought the house was too much. Some of our family thought there were 'things' about it that turned them off. I thought it was perfect, although a lot smaller then the house we were renting, and I had a clear vision for it.

Before we moved in Nate, my dad and his dad all came up for a week and camped out on the floor. They laid wood floor, painted each room and cleaned up a bit. Then we moved in. I remember looking at the neighborhood and the backyard and that big old fence and just knowing I had finally achieved the American Dream. We owned our first house. We had been patient, we had been smart, we had saved, and we didn't buy too much house. It was perfect.

I have had many many moments of sheer jealousy towards friends in the larger houses while I lived with my family in such tight quarters. But I have learned so much from living this simpler life. I have learned that less is truly better. The kids don't need so many toys. The boys have learned so much by having to share a room and all that it entails. As a family we have learned to truly 'live' together in these close walls and not run away from each other to do our own thing (although that was wished many times). I have learned to be smart with organizing things and have learned to donate many, many things when no longer needed. I have learned that the smaller the house the less time required to clean it! (my favorite one!)

But now...I am almost embarrassed to admit that my jealous desire to have a larger house might come true. Not that there is anything wrong so to speak with having a larger house but I honestly feel Americans have spoiled themselves to such a degree that they don't understand what it truly means to live a more simple life. In searching for a new house Nate and I agreed that it can't cost us much more then we are paying now and that we will be in prayer the whole time so as to keep control over our selfish desires to want more then we need. I would much rather be able to give still the excess I have each month then to pay more for a giant house! (but I have to tell myself this over and over as I view these beautiful houses for sale)

So...to the present day.

We have now fixed the house up to perfection in my eyes. We replaced the ugly light fixture over the kitchen table and over the bathroom sink. We replaced the bathroom floor that had water spots for all these years. We fixed the holes in the wall. We painted (that ugly green color in the kids' bathroom finally). We (I) have cleaned till my heart is content. And now we must wait. I truly am praying that the perfect family will move into this tiny but loved home and find such joy and happiness that we have found while living here. I also pray that God will lead us to a house that our family can grow and stretch in together in the years to come and still serve Him to help and bless others.

What is church really supposed to look like?

I have a precious friend who no longer lives near me but rather on the (what feels like) other side of the world as a missionary. She recently posted on her family's blog about what she would do different if she moved back to the states after having this experience.

The overall theme of touching other's lives no matter where you live resonated with me as I live in my little bubble of Murfreesboro, TN. She talked about how the 'church' isn't supposed to be four walls but rather the 'community' of believers in Christ gathering together and gathering with others who might not be followers to support, encourage and enable each other in His name.

I thought a lot about that as I continued to go to my little baptist church and sit up in the balcony listening to the preacher and fellowshipping with other believers who I felt 'safe' with. There is supposed to be something more. Christ intended more for his followers! But how? Where? What?

Then an exciting thing happened. I met a woman, actually in my church who was just visiting with friends. I assumed she was a Christian. Because aren't all people who come into a church believers? (I say this with sarcasm) I immediately started to talk with her and we made a connection. She was from China but here with her family teaching at MTSU.

Long story short...

She ended up telling Nate later that she was not a Christian but was interested in our faith. At this point I was back in my bubble of life and she her own as well. But this is when it hit me. This is what my friend's blog was about. This is what Jesus talks about in the bible. This is the opportunity I have before me...to choose to get out of my comfort zone and pursue a relationship with someone who doesn't know me and may not want to hear what I have to say about my faith or maybe she does. The only way to know is to ask her. So I do...

I called her and asked her to coffee. Then later through e-mail we decide upon a night out and we met. It was the most wonderful hour of conversation I have had in awhile. We both related to each other as mothers, women, our interest in communications, personal goals and career goals but then also our need for something more in life to sustain us, to get us through the hard times, to give us peace and wisdom. For me that is completely my faith in Jesus Christ. And that is what she unashamedly wanted to know about.

I didn't beat her over the head with the bible. I didn't lecture to her. I related to her. I shared my story, my struggles, my desires for my own children in their walk of faith.

When we left that evening we both agreed we needed to do it again at some point in the future amidst our busy schedules. She is going to start reading Matthew in the new testament and I promised to pray for her as she is truly seeking God in her life for the first time. A friendship was born and hopefully a new life in Christ will be born out of that night as well.

I am not proud of myself for anything that I did on my own. I am humbled that God used me to reach out of my comfort zone and risk feeling rejected so that He could touch another person's life. That is what 'church' is all about. That is what the Christian faith is all about. That is what I want to be all about!

From Elmo to bumble bees...

In usual Sarah fashion, I allowed myself to be talked into making this gigantic Elmo cake AND decorating it with homemade icing by my husband (who kept saying, "we can do it Sarah...it will be easy!" but then who never really had time to 'help do it'...but he did make chili so I guess he is somewhat off the hook, oh and he did watch the kids for 24 hours alone while I went on a girls' weekend with my mom and sister...)

It took all of two days, a couple of hours here and a couple of hours there, and lots of advice from multiple friends. Elmo didn't turn out too bad and Elizabeth thought it was "ohhhhhhh" so great!



We had her birthday a few days after she actually turned two just b/c of our CRAZY schedules but she didn't know the difference. Of course I don't think I'll ever have her party right before trick or treating again. It went kind of like this...

Hurry eat chili...okay, everyone hurry get in here and sing happy birthday...okay, now give her some presents...oh, wait where are the boys' costumes...hurry go put on your costumes...someone give Elizabeth some of her cake...put baby powder in Eli's hair outside for his costume...someone get Elizabeth cleaned up...where is her costume...wait, answer the door there is a trick or treater...okay, let's take a picture of everyone...give out more candy at the door....light the pumpkins...find some bags...leave the birthday mess alone...hurry start walking down the street....someone RUN AFTER TOOTY!!!!! =)




And the baby in the picture...no, I didn't pop out another one without telling anyone. That is Ayden, the newest member of our family, Nate's sister, Sarah Brooke's baby. He was a cowboy but not too happy about it. Eli was an old man. A costume that was chosen the day before Halloween and put together 30 minutes before trick or treating (he kept saying he just wanted to be Eli). He played the part well and as soon as his hair turned gray he went into role playing and kept yelling at me in an old man voice, "listen here little lady, you need to stop that!" Ian was Darth Vader. I think he has been that for multiple years now, but he doesn't seem to mind. And you guessed it, sister girl was a bumble bee because "SHE IS AS BUSY AS A BEE!"
It was a fast paced evening but lots of fun for everyone.