900

This is my 900th post! WOW! I am not sure if I still have some "drafts" hanging on in the old blog files or if it is officially a 900th posted blog. I guess I could count those over on the side, but oh well. What do I write for a 900th blog post???? Only 100 more posts and it will be my 1000th! Holy cow! I never thought I'd enjoy blogging much.

The other day, my fellow classmates and I had a discussion about a teacher-blogger gone bad. I started to think about my old teacher-blog and how I really wanted to preserve memories of being a "fresh" teacher, yet after being threatened, had to take it down. I miss that. I do love my teacher blog now, but its not the same I guess. I love blogging- personally and professionally. The memories that I have preserved are so very treasured.

Each year, at the end of the year, I publish a blog book (usually as a PDF to be printed on my nice printer). I then bind it for my boys to have a copy when they get older or might actually care. For one year, each PDF is about 300 pages! That is single spaced, with the pictures IN with the text! I never realized I wrote so much! Then again, back to the case of the blogger-gone-bad. I hope I never write anything that would potentially get me in trouble, but suggesting that I gain fame some other way- such as publishing a book or such (good fame)- look how much junk the public could find on me! YIKES! However, my life isn't a closed or hidden book. My boys and my family do have matters that we keep among ourselves and close loved ones, but for the most part, we share our happenings, because some people do care. :)

So, ending a 900th post isn't all that fun. I'm not great at having a smooth beginning, middle, and end. I really don't even see myself as a great writer much, even though I love it so much. I write like I speak, mostly. I write like I think, sometimes. And I write with the passion that I feel, almost always.

Logan's Birthday

Logan had a GREAT 6th birthday. He is just such an amazing kid. On his birthday, he exclaimed, "I can't wait to see what you bought me." I said, "Oh, no! Logan, I forgot to buy you a birthday gift." He gave me a huge hug and said, "Its okay mommy. Its ok. I love you." I wish we all had the excitement for live and birthdays that he has every single day!

Brienna is getting bigger.

Here are a few of the KU and K-State decorations.

Miss B had her K-State attire on.

She loves her aunt Shauna:


Logan and his cousin Bailee:

Logan with Uncle Brady:

Grandma hogging B:

Logan and his most specialest friend, Casey:

Thanks for all who made Logan's day special. Thanks also to those that are a part of his life and have helped to raise such a wonderful kid. :)

23rd

I want to post more pictures of Logan's birthday. I have them uploaded and in html format to publish. But, yesterday was rough. A good friend of mine lost a very close friend, and reasons are so beyond us. While I didn't know Amy personally, I had a few interactions with her at a recent event and she was just so full of life, so wonderful of a spirit radiated from her.

Yesterday was February 23rd. It marked a TERRIBLE day 5 years ago when I lost one of the best grandma's I've ever known. I can't type much more than that because, well, tears kinda would get in the way of the screen and I couldn't see to type. Grandma's death was completely unexpected! She had just had surgery and was home recovering when a freak fall and collapse sent her to the hospital where she had passed away. It was a complete shock to my system during those chain of events that happened back in 2006. This was lingering over me yesterday as I went about my daily work. The memories I have of Grandma are wonderful, yet they are all that remain when I want to reminisce about the wonderful person she was.

January 23, 2008- Grandpa Pacey died
February 23, 2006- Grandmpa Pacey died
March 23rd- Well, its my birthday, but I'd much rather forget its on a 23rd
April 23rd- My baby brother's birthday
September 23, 2010- Grandma Dorothy died.

Yesterday, was February 23rd. On all accounts should have been a pretty boring, lazy, get-through-work without tears and come home to love on my family. Nothing like an unexpected death brings to light the importance of setting and implementing priorities so that legacies can live on no matter when God has decided our last breath will be.

Yesterday, when I got news that Amy Schutter had died, it was an overwhelming "WHAT GOD!????" Are you serious God!!!???? WHY!??? How does a perfectly healthy, wonderful person (by human judgement), mother-of-the-year prospect and lover of God go from being vivicious to being dead in such a short time. Now, I know that many people have this happen in car accidents, freak events that can't be explained, but somehow, I had this feeling that if enough people prayed and lifted Amy up to the Lord that He would spare her from a physical death. However, God had her plan written before her story even began. He knew that she would bless her family/husband with 4 amazingly beautiful children. God knew that she was the type of person that had friends aplenty to raise awareness, not just about influenza, but praising His name even in the face of challenge and hardship. I don't understand it. I don't have answers. I pray hard for Amy's children that will grow up facing challenges that they won't have their mom there for them. It just doesn't make sense! How many times does God do this to his believers? What can we do to grow stronger to honor her legacy? Please, pray for Amy's family and friends as they go through this time. Lift their names to the Lord that His name may be glorified despite what has happened.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/amyschutter/journal

And, here I am wondering- why does God use the 23rd in my life to take some of the most precious angels back under His wing???? When will I stop freaking out about the number? I'm not a superstitious person- really, I'm not. But, I wonder.  . . . So, I love my children and husband as we've once again been reminded how fragile life is and how quickly things can change in a complete 180. RIP Amy! You have touched so many more people than you can even imagine. Your death is NOT in vain and your children will be taken care of.

Logan's Roadhouse

One of Logan's main desires for his birthday was to go to "his" restaurant. We have driven past Logan's Roadhouse numerous times, but this was the first time we'd ever actually gone. We called Shawn's family that lived around Salina and they joined us for supper. It was delicious and the boys were actually pretty well-behaved, considering! :)

Logan with Grandma Deb:






He ordered "Mac & Cheese".




We even got dessert in some cute little "Logan" buckets:



We got to keep the buckets too! :)

CFS-1, Shauna- 0

Today I'm beginning to let CFS kick me. After a LONG online chat session and a VERY long, productive day at school, I'm zonked out. I hate CFS! I hate what its done to me and how its changed me. I just want to have a pity party! So, here it is. Stop reading if you don't support that (which most good friends wouldn't!). :) I've put on a happy face. I've let it destroy my quality family time. I've succombed to the fatigue that overwhelms and destroys my motivation to do almost everything. I just want to cry- seriously. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE my family and for this stupid, pathetic disease to think that it can make me chose just makes me mad. I'm supposed to be the one in control!!! Days like today and weeks like these past few weeks and the awfulness of the flu, rundown, awful feeling cannot be put into friendly words. It is very depressing how my life has changed and I hate what it has become. I mourn what I used to be and have.

But, God is good! I am going to kick POTS and CFS. I'm going to battle it like it thinks I can't. I hate using my strength to search for answers or cures, but I swear to the very end of my days, I'm going to fight to make sure CFS and POTS don't get the "best" of me. Tonight. . . .I'm giving myself to God to let him comfort, hold, and heal me. Some days, that's about all I can do.

Thanks for the prayers. I really want to get Logan's birthday pictures posted soon. He had a BLAST and I would sooo love to share that. Soon. . . I promise! :)

Six

He's FINALLY SIX years old! :)

Pictures will be on there way this week. I'm still overcoming the ick that hit our household last week. It seems that my immune system likes to attack everything I eat. . . still. . . so I'm thankful to have made it through Logan's party and am resting today, trying to get homework sorted out, school work ready, and of course- pictures uploaded (and maybe even a few edited!). :)

Logan's 6th Birthday and Award

Logan finally turned 6 years old yesterday. While I could have published a sappy post about how incredibly special he is and how he's blessed our lives beyond expectation, I was horribly sick the past two days and have gotten NO blogging done. So, I managed to snap a few pictures ON his birthday to capture the moments. Also, these are NOT edited. My, oh, my would that take forever and energy I don't have this morning! :)

We had our local bakery (Celebration Cakes) makes some very delicious and attractive cupcakes. Logan wanted KU and K-State (even after the terrible game we won't mention anymore). If you haven't tried Celebration Cakes, I HIGHLY recommend it! They are very affordable and MUCH more personalized and delicious than other places I've checked out.


Logan got the news on Sunday that he would recieve a "Most Improved Student" award at the Junction City Commission meeting. It just so happened to be the night of his birthday. So, Courtney and her boys met up with us for some happy meals at Wendy's and then a fun night of trying to contain kids for Logan's 5 minute award. Can you tell Zach was having fun? Shawn wasn't sleeping, but  I think he wished he would have been. :)

Logan loves his Aunt Courtney.

All 5 boys with Shawn- it was PURE craziness.

Here is the mayor of JC (Mr. Rhodes- aka, my friend's husband) giving Logan his award. They announced Logan and also mentioned that it was his birthday. He was on cloud 9! It was also nice to have my friend there attending. I didn't realize she didn't usually attend her husband's meetings, so I felt special too that she stayed awake long enough to enjoy our "moment."



Logan said, "its more special that just a medal!" It has his name on it and the name of the award. He was excited. Everyone sang "happy birthday" to him as well. He had a great evening. It definitely was quite a special birthday evening for a very special guy.


Overall, there was 1 kid from each of our JC/Fort Riley schools, so 13 in total, but out of around 7000 students, I'm proud of Logan for getting this award.

A better picture of this (probably nicely edited) will be in the JC paper sometime this week. If you just so happen to get a copy or would like to pass it along, please keep me posted by leaving a comment here. Thanks so much! :) And, thank you to all who made the day so special for Logan.

His birthday party will be this Saturday and he's SUPER excited about it as well. We will also try to go to Logan's Roadhouse on Friday for supper. He has been begging to go there since we drive past it all the time on the interstate. He calls it, "my restaurant."

3 Days

Three days until my middle baby will be six years old! How did time fly? Why can't I think of anything to say besides all the generic sayings- where did time go, why can't they stay little, what happened to my baby? He has his Valentine. He is best buds with Casey loves to make her happy. He says the cutest things around her and its so fun to see them together.

And, as much as I hate what my hair looked like this morning, I love this picture with my buddy.

Hopefully you are enjoying the warmer weather (in Kansas) and are celebrating this sweet-hearts weekend. Zachary is having a playdate with a good friend of his and its his first ever friend sleepover. Thankfully it is a friend whose parents I completely trust well. Malachi has been begging all week to PLEASE go to Grandma's house. Shawn is taking Logan and Malachi up there tonight so I can get homework done (and a blog written) and maybe a little bit of cleaning/sorting done.

Snow Ice Cream

Today, for the first time ever, I made and tasted snow ice cream. I have to admit, I should have let the boys help, but the first time doing something I try to get it perfect. We loved it. The boys added some syrup and sprinkles. In case you'd like to make some it is very simple (of course since I can make it): 1 gallon snow, 1 cup sugar, 1 T. vanilla, 2 cups milk. It was a tasty afternoon treat.

The pictures are NOT edited. I decided that I really can't do that for EVERY single picture. Than people would really think I was crazy for blogging each day. I'll try to get quicker at it, but for now, no edited pictures.






The boys have been. . . . boys today! They weren't as destructive as they were yesterday, but I still found it hard to stay caught up with them. Zachary is REALLY having a difficult time lately. He has an appointment tomorrow so hopefully we get some help/good news. We are reading about all the Dr. Dobson books as well as "how to raise a gifted child" books to figure out WHAT IN THE WORLD TO DO!!!!! Any advice????? Its hard to believe that it will soon be spring break and then summer and I'll be with him daily. We have to find a solution before then!

Zach's Zoo

I do appreciate the comments. I don't think that I will be able to use a photo editing program unless it is ON my computer. My friend Heather raves about Photoshop, so I just MIGHT have to try it again and see what I think. Its just not as user-friendly as I wish it would be.

Today, Malachi woke up sick. . . and I've been dealing with him all morning. He acts absolutely fine but keeps getting sick at night. He also has terrible "runs" that I think is because of his antibiotic. So, today I stayed home with him, but I also kept the other boys home because I didn't want to get out in the snow. Its really bad south of here from what I've heard.

So, being cooped up for yet one more LONG day with this child is driving me nuts!!!!!!

A couple days ago, he did create a zoo. It wasn't incredibly realistic, but it was a great attempt at it.

Go Packers

Since this is Packer country because of Jordy Nelson, we're cheering for the cheeseheads today.

Trying Picnik

This is a trial from Picnik. I give up for tonight. I am kinda liking black and white, but I also think the vignette feature is pretty cool too. I did some color chaning, highlighting, and of course the B&W touch to it. What do you think?