Diversity

My life is an open book. The genre may change- some days I live trashy romance novels, some days it's horror, some days it is raw, unfiltered true drama. With me it's a toss up each morning what it will be.

At times I think my "open book policy" is a blessing, other days it is a royal pain in the butt! I don't hide my emotions well. I love with passion, I hurt deeply, joy is hard for me to disguise and so is sorrow. Long ago I learned that openly sharing things about myself can be a way God uses me. I have met wonderful people and have formed lasting bonds due to my willingness to share my experiences, my emotions, and to be accepting of other people.


I spent time considering this last night while I was on Facebook. My friends list is so diverse and each person on there is wonderful in their own way. I realized while just looking through the names that I have been blessed with great people in my life. I have countless friends who are missionaries - spending years serving God in Asia, Mexico, South America, and the U.S.. There are teachers, lawyers, doctors, muscians. I have a friend that left her job as a counselor to focus on writing full time, one who is president and founder of a very successful Celebrity PR firm in the UK and US. There is one who lives in Haiti and works for compassion international, an almost monk turned lawyer, teachers, laborers, nurses, moms, gay men, lesbians, antique dealers, Christians, aethiests..... They are all unique and wonderful people. Even Dennis, who I still have no clue who he is.

Turning down the chance at a friendship because I don't agree with a lifestyle, or religion, or any other difference would not be an option for me. You don't have to love what someone does to love them. I get teased for accepting some of the friend requests I have received on FB. There are people who were mean to me, those who I had no real friendship with growing up or who made my life miserable that friended me and I accepted most of them without hesitation. I don't regret for a minute that I did. I have been blessed with some new, surprising, and wonderful relationships! I believe that God brings people into our lives at times when he knows we will need them. That has been proven to me time and time again lately. I am so thankful for that!

Luke and Tanis floating on the raft

Writing Mrs. Andrews is great on the school playground

They made me laugh with their version of hopscotch

Such a lady!

Today is the first day of summer vacation. Gabe is at Cedar Point with Scott and the girls and the trio and I are getting ready to make freezer jam - sugar free strawberry!

Gabe worked so hard to earn $160.00 to purchase a Platinum pass. It gives him access to CP as well as soak city for this season. Also free parking, which is 10 bucks now!! This is his second trip there so far, so he has almost gotten his money's worth already.

I have a pig pen house to clean, I don't think I have washed dishes this week at all. Gross, I know.

Sorry for the dull post. I will get on later to do a better one!

Love you girls!!! (And guys too!)

Yummy.

Dear Lil Wayne,

You are too cute in this Kevin Rudolf video. I could just eat you up! No worries though, you are not on my diet, so I will refrain from eating you. I am sorry you are in jail right now - I hope you use the time to write songs and NOT to get more tattoos. I think you are running out of room on that cute little body of yours. Feel free to look me up when you are released. Maybe we can have lunch together.

You make me smile, Lil Wayne.

Love,

Amanda

And I think to myself - What a wonderful World

Forgive the writing! I am just trying to put down my random thoughts. No points for creativity here, but that's okay!!
After dropping the kids off at school this morning I drove to the reservoir and took a walk. I have been struggling with some things in my personal as well as spiritual life and needed some time to think and talk to God.
When I got there I parked and finished listening to my program on the radio (Elvis Duran had a funny phone tap this morning!) and watched birds getting frisky in front of my van. They were so funny, but I felt like a bit of a peeping pervert. I got out and started walking. Even though the nearest person was about 50 yards away, that self conciousness hit me immediately. I was ready to turn and walk back to the van when I caught a movement to the side of me. I turned and saw a fish jump. That little thing was enough to make me keep going. I walked as close to the edge as I dared and watched little wonders occuring. I saw a heron eating his breakfast and when I got close enough to cause him concern he took flight. The beautiful long necked bird flew just above the lake and his wing tips skimmed the top of the water leaving a trail behind him. I walked and watched until he was out of sight. Movement again caught my eye and I looked to see countless fish jumping! I figured it must have been breakfast for them too. As soon as one dropped out of sight another appeared. As I continued to walk I saw dragonflies chasing, butterflies, and small birds. When I turned around and walked back I looked down to see a snake gliding through the water beside me. It was at least 2 feet long and so graceful! It stayed with me for at least 50 feet.
I reached the point to turn to go back to the van and decided to keep going. On the other side there were schools of fish everywhere I looked! The sizes ranged from a few inches to minnows and they lined the shore. I passed a fisherman in his boat and exchanged smiles, waves and a few words. It made me think of my dad - he loved to fish. But instead of being sad I smiled at memories of Canada and fishing together on the Ottawa River. About a hundred yards later I watched as a pink mouth came out of the water, rolled, and went under again! I stopped, puzzled - I had no idea what it was. A woman walked up beside me and asked what I was looking at. I told her and she said that the carp were spawning and I probably saw one roll. I waited a few minutes to see if I could see it again, but nothing happened. So I continued on. I reached the bridge and looked down and saw a huge fish swimming in circles. By this point I was grinning like a fool just so happy and in awe of everything I was seeing! I turned around and decided to walk through a field and around some trees. When I cleared the first turn there were several families of geese with babies!!
I walked back up to the path, praising God for his creations and reminiscing about time with my dad. I passed back by the fisherman and spoke a bit more and then continued on. When I looked up I saw a heavyset man with a cane walking perpendicular to me a couple hundred yards ahead. From that distance he looked just like my dad! I know it wasn't, but it made me smile just to think that maybe my dad was looking down watching me this morning.
When I got back to the van, I climbed in and checked my pedometer. I had walked approx. 4,000 steps which is almost half my minimum daily goal!
I was so thankful for the beauty I encountered this morning. I can't tell you the wonders it did for my attitude and outlook as well!
I hope you guys have a fantastic day! Love you all!!

McBride Arboretum

Running back to the car

Trying to spy fish

Too close to the edge for my comfort!!

Johnny and Luke wanted to pose with the woman's picture that the terrace was named after.

If you look close enough you can see the fish. They thought we had food and kept coming up to the surface.

I said if we are quiet we can sneak up and see the geese up close. So the kids took off running and honking.

Poking the frog.

This guy was HUGE!!!!!

I took my 4 and my sister's 2 to Firelands last week to walk around the Arboretum. The flowers were not blooming yet and it still looked bare, but it was a gorgeous day and we had a fun time walking around the lake seeing fish, geese, and the biggest frog I have ever seen outside of the zoo!

I am looking forward to this fall when they have a garden day where there are artists set up all over painting and we do a nature scavenger hunt. The kids enjoy it so much.

Wassa happenin hotstuff?

Hey ya'll. So did NOBODY get my Family Guy reference in the previous post? Peter calls Valerie Bertanelli, Valerie Bert and Ernie. It makes me chuckle every time I think of it. Who can get the movie this title is from? Anyone?
This last week was a busy one. I took 6 kids to McBride Arboretum to walk around the lake, chase geese, and poke huge frogs. I helped 2.5 kids learn to ride bikes - Johnny is almost there! We discovered the joys of street (driveway) tennis on our hotpink new to us set. I hosted a 2 night "Nighttime Tinkle Party" which was a rip roaring success?? (Keep yours eyes open for the next one! ) I found the Cholera Cemetary, ate Chinese food, cleaned my bedroom and closet, had girl time with Caitlin, patched up countless boo-boo's on Luke from the bike learning, sewed patches on jeans, cleaned up numerous spills and one flooded bathroom, went garage sale-ing, chatted with old friends, took lots of pictures, learned my mom's dog might quite possibly be a lesbian (another post in itself!)..... It was a whirlwind week of fun and not so much fun adventures.
This week holds promises of being just as fun!!!

Valerie Bert and Ernie

At the Fire Station

Only a cruel mommy would snap a shot after her baby hit her face on the trampoline! This is before the swelling really started. This picture breaks my heart, but she looks so darn sweet!

Gabe and I after a lengthy hike

Total Daddy's girl!

I think my thighs shrunk a millimeter this morning. They burn like they did! I am really trying to get in gear with serious exercising. My eating has been whacko, but I have had a rough visit this month. ahem. I hope you know what I mean! Not to use excuses, but that can really, really throw everything!

I am busy cleaning as always. Still finding beads and sequins all over the place! I am going to attempt another craft tonight if they are good. We didn't have a great morning with behavior, so I am hoping tonight is better.

I'll post later, gotta run!!