Well, maybe not so much odd thoughts as odd prompts for good thoughts.

Last night on Eureka (our sci-fi television show), one of the main characters was killed very unexpectedly.  As in, with two minutes to go, he died.  Without warning.  Then after one more scene, the show ends.  That was it.  Eric and I just looked at each other.  That was not how I’d anticipated that episode ending.  And this particular character is highly important to the character interactions that make the show funny and fun to watch.  Um…we were confused.

And being a “narrative” person, I don’t like it when characters die.  Especially without clear explanation.  So last night, the ending was playing over in my head after we’d turned the lights off, and it sort of struck me that we are all really that vulnerable.  I don’t mean to be morbid at all.  It’s just odd how the (seeming) death of a character on a TV show reminded me that we aren’t promised tomorrow.  We live highly vulnerable lives that could end.  Time is incredibly precious, and I waste so much of it.  I need to be more careful of how I see time, how I use my time, and what things I use to fill my time.  Then, thankfully, with those thoughts, I managed to fall asleep…

As for the rest of yesterday, it was good.  But I was exhausted.

• The babysitting went well.  The girls were pretty good.  I was tired from the canning event off the night before and the early wake-up call, but we watched the old Care Bears cartoons and episodes of the Muppet Show (both of which they’d gotten from the library), so that was fun!

• I had lunch with my mom and dad.  Dad had to make an unexpected trip home during lunch to get some things he’d forgotten. 

• I got a bunch of stuff that I didn’t want to lose off of my personal files at CU.  I also spent a couple of hours visiting various people and chatting, showing off the belly, etc.  Most people saw me with a “Oh you are soooo cute!”  A former advisee saw me and noted, ‘Wow…you’re huge!”  I suppose both are correct…

• I didn’t leave CU until 5:00.  I got home at 6:00, made dinner, and tried to relax for the rest of the night while I stayed up to watch Eureka.  I didn’t even do the dishes.  I guess that’s on the agenda for today!

Not really sure what I’ll be doing today, other than loading the dishwasher.  But I’m sure we’ll figure out something!  Happy Wednesday!

Today I’m heading to C-ville again for a babysitting gig with the nieces.  After I’m done there, I plan to head up to campus to pull some files of the computer before my accounts are “closed” or erased.  And maybe I’ll run in to a few people I know…

Yesterday I cleaned my bathrooms.  I really hate to clean bathrooms.  A lot.  But seriously, I do love to come into a clean bathroom, all sparkly and waiting to be used.  That part is so nice!

A couple of friends (Jen and Autumn) came over last night, and I gave them a tutoring session on canning.  They took home a dozen jars of applesauce each, and I still have about half a bushel of apples left.  Sheesh!  But it was great fun to have a girls night, and they did all the work (moving heavy pots, cleaning up, etc.).  I could can all the time if it was as easy as last night!

So not much news other than that, I guess.  Happy Tuesday!

So it’s taken me all morning to get these pictures for you, but here they are!

Here are our new cribs all set up (Eric did that on Friday night):

Karen and I were out last week and found some cute bedding for very cheap at Target, so yesterday my mom got it for me (two sets…she’s so great!).  It’s pretty neutral, and can be matched a lot of basic sheets and decorations.  So I’m very excited!  Here are some pictures of that addition:

And finally, a picture of my 22 week baby bump.  I have one of my bare belly too, but it’s a little weird to see my belly hanging out there, so I didn’t put it in.  If you desperately want to see it, maybe I’ll let you look at on my photo page.  Oh, and sorry for my wet hair/no makeup look, too!

As for the weekend, it was pretty good.  Eric came home on Friday pretty frustrated by work, so he wasn’t very excited about going back today, I think.  It’s so hard to know how to encourage him.  We spent most of Friday goofing off, I think.

Saturday I did a number of projects (including knocking out another ant attack), and then we went to Easton to wander around in the evening.  Sunday was church, and then my parents came up to visit.  My dad wanted to see the new cribs because he’s going to build us a dresser (which will double as a changing table) to match and he needed some firm measurements to get started.  Then they took us to Target, where Mom bought us the bedding above, and we got ice cream on the way home!  Eric and I just hung out in the evening and were both in bed by 9:15.  Fantastic!

Anyway, happy Monday!

I’ve entered a wonderful new stage of pregnancy: night-time charley horses.  I’ve had two this week.  Yippee.

Yesterday, I was not nearly as productive as I had in mind I could be.  I did get the garbage out and the plants watered.  And I did get the house a little tidier.  I sorted apples to get the rotten and bruised ones out of their bins so the others will keep a couple of days longer.  And I worked on boxing/bagging stuff in the upstairs so that Eric can move it all to the basement for storage.  I thought about moving it myself (the lighter stuff), but never got around to it. So now Eric gets to!

Geez, apparently I did get more done than I thought.  But I didn’t get the dishes washed.  That was the first thing on my to-do list, and it didn’t happen.  It sort of annoyed me.  But maybe I can get to it today.  Around a shopping trip with Karen and a grocery shopping trip of my own.  Yeah…it might happen. Or maybe tomorrow…

Lastly, I have ideas in my head I need to get out, so here’s a thought from my bible study this morning: 
   I came to the verse about “to whom much is given, much will be required” today in my reading.  I’ve heard it lots of times, but I’m not sure I ever realized that Jesus gives this principle in the context of his return and our readiness/service in light of his return.  We’re supposed to be serving and watching, and those in positions of ‘higher’ authority, spiritually speaking, will be more responsible for their actions and perspective than those who are not given such positions or those who don’t even know to be looking for Jesus. 
   It really got me thinking this morning.  I’ve been given a lot.  I grew up in C-ville surrounded by biblical thinking and training.  I’ve got so many abilities and natural gifts.  Yet I wonder, if Jesus came back today, would I be found ready, be found in faithful service.  And am I really willing to surrender to this principle?  God has already poured more into me than into many, but am I really open to his asking much of me in return?  Most days, the answer would have to be “no” if I’m honest.  I want that to change.
    And also, my church is starting a 6-week series of sermons about finding a place to serve in the church, asking every member to, at the end, be prepared to commit for a year to some place of service in our ministry.  I have been ‘on a break’ from the ministry I had for 5 years (long story…finally starting to heal).  So now I don’t know what ministry to pursue.  I do feel an urge to find some outlet, though the pending arrival of twins seems to be potentially working against me and the options never seem to fit me just right.  So I really have no idea where God wants me to serve.  None at all.  So I’m really hoping, trying to remember to pray and ask him, that He’ll just open a door that fits me fantastically.  Just don’t know what that will look like right now…

Okay, thanks for listening (or skimming) while I emptied my brain.  Have a wonderful weekend!  Happy Friday!

Last week at the zoo, Deb brought a book of baby names for Eric and me to borrow.  Kelly was madly impatient all day about when she could give it to us. She’s very into this whole baby thing (though at 5, she doesn’t really get the “in the belly” part).  We have been perusing it since then and having random conversations about names for the twins, although Eric is still very much in the “pointing out names that have no chance of being used” stage of the game.

Yesterday, I watched the nieces while Deb had a meeting.  We turned on a VeggieTales show at one point, and Kelly joined me on one couch. 

Kelly: (looking at my belly) Have you got names for them yet?
Me: No, we’re still talking about it.
Kelly: (shocked) Haven’t you read the book?
Me: (chuckling) Well, we are reading through it.  It takes a long time to pick names.
Kelly:  Well, you should pick a boy name and a girl name.

She’s very helpful.   Actually, she was extraordinarily concerned about me all day yesterday.  She pulled my chair out at the table so my belly wouldn’t get bumped.  She kept wanting to bring my water bottle to me if I left it in the other room (even if I had a glass of water with me!).  And she kept wanting to give the babies kisses through my belly. She’s a cute one!

Holly, on the other hand, is still pretty oblivious.  As I gave them hugs good-bye, they sort of touched my belly.  So I pulled up my shirt so they could feel and touch it.  They did.  Holly looked up at me after a minute: “You got a big belly.”   Thanks, Holly…I hadn’t noticed.

So I spent the morning watching some television, doing a craft project (they created a book for Uncle Eric…their idea), and playing outside.  They do love to swing!  After lunch, I came home and ran some errands.  Then I crashed for a good bit of the afternoon and evening.  Eric and I were both pretty beat, so we went to bed very early.  How lovely!

Today, I’m going to work on the clutter in my house.  It’s starting to drive me nuts.  And maybe I’ll take the recyclables away, too.  I go through gallons of milk so fast that the empty containers fill up my recycling bins a lot faster than used to happen.  Oh well.  I guess that’s a good thing.  Anyway, Happy Thursday!

Off to C-ville today to babysit the nieces for the morning.  I may be back some in the afternoon, but we shall see. 

I got two canners of pie filling canned yesterday.  And then I hurt so badly I pretty much sat around most of the rest of the day.  The standing required for that job is more than I can do for a long time anymore.  And I even sat down (with the Olympics on) to slice the apples! 

Maybe to get rid of the rest of the apples, I’ll hold tutoring sessions on canning for my friends.  They always tell me it’s cool, but they don’t know how.  So maybe I can walk them through it and send them home with their own jars of applesauce/pie filling.  We shall see…

In the afternoon yesterday, I sat on the couch and read after I watched the America’s Got Talent I had recorded and forgotten about.  I was going to do some more organizing upstairs, but my body was telling me it needed the break.  In the evening, I watched a bit of Olympic diving and then we watched Eureka.  Then to bed.

Okay, gotta run.  Happy Wednesday!

I was looking over my meal plan for the month, and I think I’m going to
have to change some of them.  A couple of my ideas don’t sound good at
all anymore.  And one of them is for this week!

So, what chicken dishes do you make that your family just loves?  I need some new ideas…

Other than that, not much to say today, really.

I plan to can more apple pie filling today.  The two batches I did on Saturday both boiled over, which makes the seals a bit suspect.  So I’ll do some more to make sure we have enough for the winter.

I started more reorganizing projects yesterday – the closets in the babies’ room and the guest room.  So those rooms look trashed right now.  However, I did put the loft back together yesterday, too (Eric had cleaned the carpet on Sunday), so I was both constructive and destructive!

Eric may actually have things to do at work again, and it may last for a while.  At least he won’t be sitting at his desk bored all day now!

And that’s about all I can think of right now.  Happy Tuesday!

So I’ve been having all sorts of weird issues getting this blog together today, but I think we’re on track now!

On Friday, we had another appointment.  The heartbeats were good and strong (140s and 160s).   I’m measuring at 25 weeks, about a month ahead of where I actually am.  And everything else is looking good so far.  (EDIT: Per Beki’s request, I’ve gained about 25 lbs. so far, so that’s still looking good.)  Also, in the last few days I have started to feel them move A LOT!  It’s so much fun.  Eric even got to feel one of them kicking around in there. 

Yesterday we actually went to Babies R Us on our first official shopping trip.   We ordered cribs and bought mattresses and car seats.  This is the crib we decided on (I borrowed the picture from some lady’s website).  I’ve found it online, but only pictured in white and this is the finish we actually got.  We will get them in 1-2 weeks, so that should be fun.

We also bought car seats.  We ended up buying identical seats in the Sterling pattern because I don’t really like the girl patterns at all (too over-the-top girly), and the only other option was the G-style, which I think is ugly.   We got them out when we got home, and I’ll tell you how strange it was to see these two empty seats just sitting there.  It was a tad unnerving!   So here’s the scariest thing I’ve seen in a while…

Okay, I think that’s all I’ve got for now.  Enjoy your Monday!

As in thoroughly exhausted.  Here’s the breakdown of the day:

• Up at 7:00 to send my husband off to work.
• 7-9:30 – getting ready, household chores, preparing for the zoo
• 9:45 – leave for the zoo
• 10:30 – arrive at the zoo (except for the stop for cash to pay for parking, it should only take me about 20-25 minutes to get there)
• 10:30-3:15 – walk the entire zoo with Deb and the girls and Karen and her family
• 3:15-4:00 – drive home (in traffic) with a stop at Kroger for milk
• 4:00-5:15 – collapse on the couch to watch TV and put my feet up
• 5:15-9:30 – drive to C-ville with Karen (thanks, Kate!) for the Mary Kay Party
• 9:30-10:30 – drive home
• 10:30 – wash face, collapse in bed

So needless to say, I’m pretty darn beat.

The zoo was much better than last time, less hot/humid, and I had plenty of water.  But it’s a good thing that this is likely the last zoo visit of the summer (Kelly starts school in a couple of weeks) because I doubt I’ll be able to walk that far again in 2-4 more weeks.  My feet and hips were really unhappy with me by the time we got to the Reptile house (last stop…Kelly insists we see it…yuck!).  I did not take my camera, but Karen did, so I’ll link to her site if she posts any.

The Mary Kay party was fun…we were all exhausted (and the girls totally wired) so there was much excitement, chatting, laughter.  But I suspect there were serious ‘crashes’ shortly after everyone got home, too!  I know I was well past done by that time!

Today, I need to tidy up my house a bit and probably start work on canning apples.  I’m not totally into it yet, though, so maybe I won’t.  We shall see…

Happy Friday!

Today I’m joining my SIL, Debbie, and the nieces as well as Karen, Erik and Jason at the Columbus Zoo!  Thankfully, this time should be a little less hot/humid than it was the last time I was there with them (in July).  And I will be driving separately just in case I can’t walk the entire zoo today.  I was late in July because of doctor’s appointment, so I only walked half the zoo, which was almost too much with the heat.  So hopefully, today will not be too bad, and I can make it the entire way around!

This evening, we’re having a makeup consultation at my Mom’s house.  We all use Mary Kay products and have for the last few years.  But this summer, they stopped carrying all their normal color makeup and introduced a line of mineral shadows/blush/foundation.  They still have the old foundations and all their normal cleansing products, but we decided we better let our provider show us the new stuff before we need color makeup again.  Thankfully, Karen said she would drive and I could just ride along with her.  After walking all day at the zoo, I think that will be a good idea!

Yesterday was pretty low-key.  I did some chores around the house, but I tried to spend as much time as I could just sitting down.  I’ve been doing a lot this week and needed to give my aching feet a break.  Apparently, my poor feet are not dealing well with having to support my extra “girth” these days.  I need to take better care of them, I think.  So are there any favorite pedicure-type treatments that you ladies like to do at home?   Maybe I’ll try those!

So this week, Eric has spent his evenings trying to “fix” his grandmother’s computer.  His Grandma Powell loves her computer (mostly for email and playing games), but she is forever having problems that Eric usually has to fix.   This time, it was shutting down on her for no reason and just acting weird.  As of last night, Eric had found most of the viruses which were living in her hard drive (around 30 at last count) and had cleaned out most of the spyware/trojans/etc. that were lurking in her circuits.  Not surprisingly, the computer is running much better already!  Now if we can just teach her NOT to open every attachement that is sent to her, we’ll be doing well.  But I won’t hold my breath!

I think that’s all I’ve got today.  I did watch Good Morning America‘s interview with Steven Curtis Chapman and family on their website.  It’s pretty good, but it will make you cry.  Very sweet.