Cloud 9

JUNE 30, 2010: A very happy 9th anniversary for we two . . .

"I know, I know, the wind will blow, the sky may shake but your arms will hold
When I'm on your mind, I'm on Cloud Nine.
The way I feel, without tears, I'm floating, light, in your atmosphere;
when I'm on your mind, I'm on Cloud Nine . . ."
--Leigh Nash, Cloud Nine (one of my favorite songs, especially today!)

I am so thankful to be walking beside my best friend through this crazy life journey.

Love you, sweets! Happy 9th!

Savoring Summer

Sometimes I think Ozark winters and summers compete with one another for Most Oppressive Season. With heat indexes over 100 degrees all week, cooling centers are opening all around town. Fans are being delivered to folks who are home-bound, and movie theaters are offering discounted shows as an opportunity to avoid soaring temperatures.

It's tough when you open your back door and the heat takes the breath out of you. But enough complaining. My little fam is trying its very best to savor sweet summer anyway, by doing lots of this . . .

It's especially sweet when the doorbell rings and our neighbor buddies are ready to play, also in their bathing suits, inviting us to their yard for sprinklers and popsicles. Our kids play together so much, I think they may just start looking alike. I love that for my children--precious buddies.

I am AMAZED at how the garden has grown--another hooray for the summer season. My pal Melissa has a stepping stone in her garden that reads, "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." I believe. I believe!

I know zippo about gardening and am sort of winging it this year. Any tips? Oh, and how does one pick a broccoli crown to ensure another grows in its place? Advice, please.

Of course, we are adjusting to these blue beauties. Ear plugs. Ian is complying without complaint. As usual, he is my hero. Always.

What is your FAVORITE part of summer this year?

Dad's Day Prep

Today we prepare for Father's Day.

There is never enough money or time to adequately express my appreciation for Nathan and my dad. Nathan is an incredible father. Incredible. I don't just say that--he truly is. I love him all the more for it.

My own dad is so dear, so very special, very selfless, just wonderful.

There aren't words to express how much I love these two fellas. So, these little bitty painted sweet feet, some construction paper, and a few markers doing their magic will have to suffice.

Happy Father's Day, guys. We love you.

Looking Upward

" . . . the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore."

--Song, This World is Not My Home

Home. This balloon flew over ours several nights ago. Yes, that is our roof you see. Yes, they were so close that when Ian yelled, "You guys have a good night!" its passengers replied, "YOU TOO!"

Home. It is a place Ian almost never wants to leave. He is the ultimate homebody. So, lately, when he asks me about heaven, he sometimes has tears in his eyes. He asks things like, "Mama, when I go to heaven, will I NEVER, EVER get to come back to this home?"

I am not sure what has prompted him lately to think so much about such things. But this morning when he was snuggling next to me and said, "Mama, what will it feel like when I die?" my tears started streaming.

So I said, "It will be many, many, many years from now. You will open your eyes, and mama will be there waiting for you in heaven, and I will throw my arms around you and hug you for a thousand years."

And he smiled. Big. It's the first time he has ever smiled when talking about such things. We pray as parents we always handle such delicate things in the proper way. How do YOU handle those tough questions?

"Just up in Glory Land we'll live eternally
the saints on every hand are shouting victory
their song of sweetest praise drifts back from heaven's shore
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore."
--from This World is Not My Home

Favorites

1. Favorite recent fashion trend:

Lilly frequently opens her closet and dresses herself, almost always choosing some snow boot-tutu- mitten-hat combination. A fashion forward gal like her would never let 90 degree temperatures and soaring humidity interfere with her wardrobe choices.

2. Favorite blog post:
My friend Courtney Goings, someone I admire and love, made my alpha beanbags, and my-my did she jazz them up! See?

Love the denim, Courtney! Be sure to visit Courtney's blog and leave her a comment letting her know you stopped by!

3. Favorite music:
The 2010 Official World Cup soundtrack--you'll love it. Promise.

What are some of your favorite things today?

Three Weeks

This chart, started three weeks ago, has made life so much easier and more pleasant. (I told you I loved charts--see? I subject other members of my family to them, too.):

By the way, I believe it is important to always have one spiritual component on the chart. We want well-rounded kiddos, right? Plus, it keeps Nathan and me accountable to read a Bible story even on nights when we are home late, etc.

After filling the chore chart for three weeks in a row and earning $3 per week, today was THE DAY. He wanted one thing: Star Wars Legos. Since he finally beat the Wii Lego Star Wars game this week, it was only fitting he would earn his first actual set of the toys.

Nathan and I were so impressed at how he followed the directions and supremely focused on his task.

Mission accomplished.

What do YOU do to help your kids grow into responsible adults? I would love to hear your ideas!

Charts and Cheerleaders

You never know what you'll get when you visit this blog. One day it may be a cupcake sewing tutorial (yesterday), the next, my kids in costumes (every other day), and another, ramblings on my fitness endeavors (you're in luck--that's today!).

I am often asked, "What are you doing to lose your weight?"

The simple truth is work, work, and more hard work.

Seven months and 43 pounds ago, I bought a gym membership. After 14 consecutive days (yes I'm serious) of grueling cardio workouts and ZERO weight loss, a very overweight, and scared (but determined!) me entered the strength training area of the gym and approached a complete stranger, Amasa Jay, fitness trainer. (By the way, how is it you can feel so small on the inside when you are so big on the outside? hmmm)

She pulled out this nifty yellow sheet and began taking me around the weights area, machine by machine, filling out a plan for me. I'll never forget her promise: "Follow this chart consistently, Rebekah, and I promise you WILL lose weight."

And that's just what I did. Notice the dates at the top. I was there on Christmas Eve in a snowstorm, then again the day after Christmas, and again on New Year's Day, etc.

Seven months later, my yellow sheet is now four yellow sheets, filled front and back. I've completed a triathlon. And yesterday I swam a MILE--my newest and most exhilarating achievement to date. Just sayin'.

I am obsessively goal oriented and I seriously dig charts. BUT . . .

I could not have done it without my cheerleaders. See this guy:

Many of you know my sweet dad. Saturday he came with me to my 5K run. The coolest part? He didn't just come with, he walked the mile race with me before my race. It was a blast. I was proud of him and proud for him to come see me run.

He did it just for me. Because he loves me, and he believes in me, and every time I plateau he's in my ear immediately cheering me on. Because he's just that cool. And then there's mom. She came to my triathlon. She arrived in Columbia, MO at 11 p.m. the night before and got up with us at 4 a.m. to cheer me on.

Not to mention Nathan . . . my sweet. You know about him.

So here's to charts and cheerleaders. I hope you have some of your own.

Thanks for listening.

Pinkalicious Felt Cupcakes

Ever had a book you just fell in love with--one that was totally YOU? That's THIS BOOK for my Lilly girl. So how better to surprise her on her upcoming third birthday than with a set of her very own Pinkalicious cupcakes?!

Do you have a Pinkalicious princess/Pinkerbelle/Pinkerella in your house? Do you know a little girl who loves all things pink? A set of these felt cupcakes paired with a copy of Pinkalicious would make a sweet birthday gift for any little girl.

To make a set of your own, follow my recipe for:

(Picture scanned from book, Pinkalicious. Photoshopping effects (text) by Nathan :)

Step 1: Gather supplies--large red and itty bitty white pom poms, pink rick rack, an assortment of white beads, embroidery floss, hot pink and pastel pink felt.

2. Cut the circle from the center of a cupcake liner. Snip away a one inch portion from the edge, tapering toward the center. Discard this snippet.
3. Pin your two pattern pieces to the hot pink felt and cut around each.
4. Trace your circle pattern piece onto pasteboard and cut out. I used a Kix cereal box.

5. Overlap ends of your long piece a bit and stitch from the top end to what will be the bottom end of your cupcake.
6. When you reach the bottom, nestle the felt circle inside and begin stitching around the entire base.
7. Set finished felt liner upside down on the pastel pink felt. Trace around (or just make light dot marks) and cut out.

8. Your pastel circle is ready to decorate. Eyeball the center and sew on a large red pom-pom. Tip: when stitching a pom-pom, go straight up through the center of it and then straight back down the center close to where you came up with the needle. Sew your sugar sprinkles on next (beads).
9. Place your pasteboard circle (remember--the Kix box?) down inside the cupcake base (this provides a bit of structure) and begin stitching the pastel pink top to the hot pink liner.
10. Leave an opening and stuff with Fiberfil, then finish stitching.
11. Hot glue rick rack around the top.

Tea party time. Enjoy!

Home

While preparing to administer anesthesia . . .

Nurse Wanda: Ian, would you like to lie down in the bed or would you like me to hold you while you get the giggly gas and go to sleep?

Ian: Hold me.

Nurse Wanda told us she rocked Ian in her arms, back and forth, Lovey in his lap, until he drifted to sleep. From my seat in the waiting room, I prayed for Ian and thanked God for Nurse Wanda and other medical personnel who are so loving to my children.

Now we are home and I have a little boy who can hear well again.

Nurse Wanda said how she loved him--that he was "awesome". The doctor and anesthesiologist commented on how wonderful he was.

Therefore, I am also thankful for a little boy who, even in his time of need, can be a blessing to others.

Thanks for your well wishes, everyone! I'm off to enjoy a Purple Cow with Ian . . .

Recipe for a Purple Cow (a Fureigh family [Nathan's side] tradition):
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
1/4-1/2 c. grape juice
1/4-1/2 c. Sprite
Silly straw is a MUST!

9 a.m.

Ian's surgery to remove adenoids and insert tubes is at 9 a.m. His blue blanket ("Lovey") with the red tag ("Taggy") are coming with us (drawn in the oval).