Thursday July 15, 2010
Just crazy. I knew it was going to be and every time I looked at my planner I would take a deep breath and say, “We can do this.”
I think we can. It’s just way crazy. At least it’s a fun crazy so no one is crashing, just tired.
The first week it seemed like all I did was package books, make phone calls, answer emails, and go to the post office. Thank goodness I was a little prepared for the aftermath thanks to my children’s books last fall. We had guests over Saturday night for an outdoor cookout … it was such a fun respite in the middle of a crazy week. Adam lost his first tooth that night when he bit his towel. It’s still up on his dresser. He has full intentions of saving every tooth. I’m sure he’d be thrilled with visitors to his museum.
Adam called me from the bottom of the basement steps. “Hey, Mommy. Would you have a vase for my two frogs named Snip and Bundle?” I just want to know what mom could resist those names? Seriously. We have two pet frogs on the kitchen island now. Adam catches flies and puts them in the vase for them. Sadly, Bundle died last night. I think there was too much water in the vase. Snip now has a few more rocks to sit on, aka gravel.
The next week David’s family minus one brother and his wife got together to butcher 150 chickens. Call me crazy, but we actually had fun while we were working. It really helped to have huge fans blowing the hot stinky air into the woods and away from us. The guys are super nice to us. They took off work and did all the nasty parts of butchering so we ladies only had to clean and bag the chicken. They have their limits though. We sat around inside the house so long talking after lunch that they started threatening to chop the heads off and stick them in bags. 
You’re welcome for sparing you any pictures.
Christy and I left for Ohio a day earlier than we needed to in order to market our books. You can read about our fun day here.
Thursday to Saturday was one of the most indescribable events I’ve ever been part of. Three online friends decided it would be fun to meet in real life and each of them invited more of their online friends to join them for a big blogger get together. It was the oddest thing to go meet people for the very first time and yet feel as though you know them. It was also odd to feel so intimidated by a few people online and then go find them to be so friendly and accepting and warm and funny and, well, normal. Apparently super heroes are normal, too. You know people are comfortable when the ice breakers finally cause a moment of silence.
Becky, Lisa, and Audrey really did an amazing job pulling the event together and making it be fun for everyone. If you’ve ever wanted to do something like this, GO FOR IT! I’m serious. There are so many women who’ve created great friendships online. Choose one or two of them and take it to the next level with a real life meetup. I am convinced you will not be sorry. I loved that I got to meet people I’ve “known” for several years and people I was only introduced to through this meetup. So much fun!
In case you think the guys in our house suffered at all, know that David is by far the capable one around here. I’m the one who thinks it’s so much work to go anywhere with children in tow. I squeeze out of going a lot of places whenever I can because I just don’t want to think through the food issues. Well, David packed the boys up and took them tent camping at the new boys camp in Maryland because the board was getting together for an overnight trip to get camp ready for open house. Oh and did I mention he shared responsibility with one other chief from camp to feed a group of 50 the night he got there via Dutch Oven cooking. Mmmhmm. I’m kind of wondering why I exist around here.
One of the fun things about this crazy month is that Christy stayed in Virginia between her Ohio trip and her Lancaster trip. She was with Mom and Beth most of the time, but Tuesday she and Mom came to spend the day here. Everyone else was going to join us for dinner, but Beth’s household got hit with illness so Kelvin kept the littles and Beth came alone. Christy chose grilled chicken, ceasar salad, calico beans, bread, and a raspberry cheesecake with a chocolate crumb crust. Oh my. I kind of wish someone would have a birthday every day. You know how family roots for each other? Well, that night mom did the bigger part of my attendance chart for vacation Bible School next week and Christy stayed until after midnight to help me get mostly caught up on the piles of book related work fogging up my brain. I got up the next morning feeling as though I could function again.
Next week after my trip to Pennsylvania and after VBS (David is superintendent), I’m going to sit on the deck and eat popsicles with the boys. And after a day or two of that I am pretty sure I am going to do more than write journal entries on my blog.
I had to laugh at the thought of coming to Adam’s “museum.” I don’t even know him, but that kind of statement seems to fit him perfectly!
It DOES sound like you’ve been having a busy month… But wow, what fun times! 🙂 I’ll take the busy if it’s THAT much fun… ladies events and such. 🙂
big smile here…
miss you.
i’ll be back.
keep thinking of you dear sister! ;O) love getting a glimpse into your world again…safe travels to you…gonna stop and see me?? :O)
(i know, you’re maxed out, and i understand, but do know you are more than welcome anytime!!)
Oh I so understand about your crazy July!!! =( I keep telling myself—next week will be better =) Have fun with family tho!! Looking forward to talking with you in a couple of months!
To busy to be sitting here reading but had to tell you, your tables always look beautiful when you have a meal! 🙂
Oh.my!! If those pictures are an indication of all of the wonderful and beautiful photography that is coming our way, then I am even MORE excited than I already was. Loved your pictures. The colors, the details, all of it!
I thought this sentence was profound “You know the group is comfortable when the ice breakers finally create a moment of silence in the group” or however you worded it.
Loved meeting you, Michelle, and so glad you made time for us in the midst of your CRAZY July!
I hope this next week goes well for you.
Oh, and I also wanted to say — TOO cute with Adam and his frogs. Sounds just like something my boys would be into. Except they don’t usually come up with such cute names for their little pets.
I’m sooo glad you took time out of your crazy July for a group of crazy, fun women!! You added your own dynamic to the weekend and I’m super glad you were there!!
I l.o.v.e.d. the picture of Carmen! So, so pretty and a real gift for her!
You are so talented ~ I feel honored to have met you!
ahhh, this is killing me!! i LOVE the photos and want MORE! it was so awesome to relax all weekend and not think about taking pictures, but now, I have a paltry handful of snapshots and am dying to see more!! i should have offered to edit yours, to save you time
(tee-hee) I love this post, and had this random thot that I’d like to meet your little boys. With a mama like they’ve got, I’ll be they are super hilarious kiddos. I was also thinking it would be fun to sit on the deck with you and eat popsicles.
that salad looked really good. You’re so blessed to get to share time with sisters so frequently!
Wow, beautiful pictures! I just want to EAT that salad. It looks yummy! Glad you had a good time.
I’m thinking maybe that’s the family picture that never made it to ffe???? Super cute. And Adam’s museum? Seriously, i was picturing such a thing and my imagination went wild. How fun would that be? 🙂
Loved all the pictures and can’t wait either to see more. Scared too because well, that huge camera lens was pretty intimadating. You may have even picked up my two whoppin’ canker sores. The picture of Carmen is just awesome. “See Carm, I told ya you look great.” 🙂
I’m with you on being glad when July is over…. I keep saying, “ok,next week is going to be less busy…” hmm, hasn’t happened yet.
Wow, girl, you deserve a whole freezer full of popsicles! Love the pictures, I can’t wait to see them all, but I so wish your shoes would have been there too ;). This is so fun…..I can hear your voice. And BTW that deck looks pretty inviting Sister Michelle, no wonder you take dates there 😉
Love that last picture of your little family–so sweet!
@down_onthefarm –
I miss you, too. Your face pops into my mind so often during the day. I just wish you were here to make me laugh!
@foreveranoatneygirl –
Tell me where you live and if we’re close we’ll pop in for five minutes. I’d love to see you again and meet your kids!
@qualitybarns –
Christy and I were talking about the workshop on the way home and I am getting so excited!!!
@appalolly –
Made time for you? Trust me, that was the one that was carved in stone … I’d have eliminated something (don’t know what … the garden maybe!) else LONG before I’d have missed meeting you! I wish you didn’t live so terribly far away. I mean there is just no chance of us ever running into each other and that makes me sad.
@totallycherished –
the same to you!
@fruitloops115 –
Oh, I would TOTALLY have taken you up on that!!!! I love taking pictures but hate editing. I think I might dump a bunch of it in Christy’s lap. 🙂
@singingrachel –
Not the exact photo but a sister to it. Oh, and don’t fear big cameras. It’s the little ones that make you look terrible when you’re not that I fear. 🙂 I was looking through the photos and you are quite photogenic actually … unlike me who always has her mouth in an obnoxiously large shape. Don’t tell me I was always talking. 🙂
@Izzysgal –
aaaahem, clears throat.
@Izzysgal-great. now you know what i’m thinkin’…;O)
oh, and i’m in brownstown…not far from ephrata? i’d be honored if even for 5 minutes you could stop in!! but, i’ll totally understand if it does not work either.
first things first.. i am now terribly hungry after seeing these pictures! 🙂 that is some amazing looking food. and sweet tea? is that a pitcher of sweet tea? i would so fit into your family – – and i’m thinking it has something to do w/ more than food! 😉 like maybe your Pearl comment during Defining Moments. your spunk in the fashion show. your adorableness in telling me something about suntan oil *cough.laugh.wink* and just overall great sense of humor and easy to be around-ness. loved/love you!!!!!
the shot of the feet is so great~ like match the shoe to the girl! maybe we could play that game next time… every shot so precious and full of sweet memories. LOVE the one of baby Caroline – – funny to think that someday maybe our daughters could get together for a weekend like we had!!! ya never know… 🙂
your boys are way cute~ and the frogs! so boy of them and so fun of you as a mom to let them keep em on the kitchen coutner and bring flies into the house to boot!!! haha.
eat a popcicle for me! blue is my favorite~ since i now have a brown leather couch cushion stuck to my butt in exchange of the Honda Odyssey one i won’t be able to come eat it in person like i sure wish i could! 🙂
love.hugs.happythoughts.and all that stuff. 🙂
a.
ps. yes.. i always seem to think of something i was going to say and forgot after i hit the submit button. typical me – never done talking. 😉
BUT… soaking up the first of Marital Bliss!! and Lord knows i sure needed it after a week of just the opposite round here! 😉
I love that first pic of the kid getting tossed in the air!
food looks SO good…… specially when I do not feel like cooking and have a headache and need to eat. I don’t think I am going to the seminar in GA but if you and Christy have a moment I would love for you to stop by for tea or I would meet you at the coffee shop! hope your week end goes good!!
reading your blog is like enjoying a cup of your sweet tea!
christy’s meal sounds scrumptious! were you sworn to secrecy or why didn’t you tell us it was her birthday monday? btw, she is gorgeous in that photo up there. she looks so loved and happy!
thanks for all your work photographing all us crazies. that picture of caroline is perfection! she really is cute, isn’t she??
I don’t think i ever told you how M.U.C.H I *loved* your delicious southern iced tea! Thanks so much for making it. These pictures make me so excited to see more, and I’m so thankful that you and Christy were the photographers for the weekend. I feel like I owe you though!! Especially thankful that your “big lense” made me look better then IRL! I really do owe you!! I would’ve loved to have more one on one w/ you lady….like so many others who I wish that for too. There just wasn’t enough time and plus my brain is quite *hazed* over these last few weeks. I declare that every part of my body is affected by pregnancy – even my brain! sigh…. but, “it will be worth it all….” =-D Can’t wait. Enough about me now! I’m really enjoying the book sister!! Take care of yourself too even in the busy July schedule. Glad you can look forward to a more leisure Aug! hugs.
Can.not.wait.to.see.more!! These are such teasers!! ( :
The food – makes my mouth water.
The names of the frogs reminds me of Portia’s names for her bunnies ( I think her daddy had some to do with it ) but she decided on Maximus and Penelope! ( : I loved the idea of putting them in a vase – Ben is forever catching them, and wanting to keep them, but we never thought of a vase.
Hope that you get to really enjoy August! You are an amazing woman – one who accomplishes so much with so much grace!
Miss you – Mj
I had to add that when I looked at the last picture, all I could think about was what a crazy-fun person you are and that David had NO IDEA what he was getting himself into. Or now wait a minute….that was just what someone else THOUGHT….I’ll just bet he knew perfectly well exactly who he was marrying and loved her for it!
@Hutch5 –
I sat here wanting to peal with laughter but figured I”d better stay quiet since it’s ridiculously early. But oh, you just made relive all kinds of fun and funniness. If you are anywhere close to a sweet tea fan, you’d fit right in here. It’s a staple in the frig kind of like milk. I LOVE the match the shoe to the girl idea. I spent so much time before I posted trying to figure out exactly who was who by matching the bottom of their skirt to another picture. So fun! Keep that couch cushion stuck to your butt, but I am so sorry you have to be there. I think of you often and wish I could do something to help.
@willeywonderings –
Kristy, I would love to come or meet you at the coffee shop! Boy it helps to have good things to look forward to!
@mlt10202002 –
I wasn’t actually sworn to secrecy. In fact, I remember mentioning it to someone at the beginning of the weekend when everyone was trying to figure out how old everyone is, but then I forgot about it. Bad me, I know. Caroline is a doll. Cause she’s got a pretty mama! She reminds me of that line, “There was a little girl who had a little curl. Right in the middle of her forehead. 🙂 There’s another photo of you and her together outside Java Jo that would make me totally proud of myself and my daughter. I can’t wait to show it to you. BTW, I remember you saying before we met that you have hair issues of some kind and you so do NOT unless having gorgeous hair is an issue. Seriously, I loved your hair.
@clearlyhis –
You are so welcome for the tea! Sometime, my dear, you are going to have to accept the fact that you are every bit as beautiful in real life as you look through that “big lens.” Honestly, whenever I think of you, I think about how beautiful you are. You have this gracious femininity about you that makes you even more beautiful yet. Embrace it, girl. I think it’s a special gift from God.
@maryjunemiller –
Portia’s bunny names are just cute! I’m so glad I get to see you tomorrow even if it’s only for a little!
@totallycherished –
He truly did not know it all, but it wasn’t just the funness … he didn’t know the other crazy parts either. 🙂 Thank goodness he took the baggage and rolled with it. But you know what, I had no idea about him. He really seemed like one of those guys who just does everything sort of calmly the whole way through and HE surprised ME after we were married with how funny and fun he could be. It was often the thing we said about each other after we got married ~ that we had no idea we would have so much fun together. 🙂 But yeah, I guess if you’re going to rank craziness, I win. 😉
Everything looks beautiful! It looks like everyone had great times~ Losing a First tooth is always so fun! My daughter loves frogs too!
@smilesbymiles –
thank you! that compliment will make me smile for a long, long time. you know what is crazy? as a rule i just do.not.like. pictures of myself. ESPECIALLY laughing ones. every single one i have seen of myself from our time together i have liked. and my favorite is the laughing one hutch5 posted. all of your girls had a beautifying effect on me that was even captured in photos. incredible.
My kids LOVE their books; but dog gone it – My Brothers Keeper makes me cry EVERYTIME! ……I think my husband like Marital Bliss 🙂
Love the last picture of your little family…..
It was a delight meeting you again.
I love Adam’s names for his frogs. I bet he’ll be a novelist some day and have the perfectly fitting names for all his characters. =) Don’t have a clue where he gets it from!
fun fun post!!! Loved reading it and if i would have read it sooner it would have saved you the explaining today. thanks for the FUN time. it was DELIGHT to be with you and your sister!!!
I guess that you are lazily eating popsicles on your deck by now. And while I agree with Thelma, it would be fun to sit there and eat with you…something twists in my brain about your deck and suntan oil…cracking me up too much to probably actually try to eat anything at the same time!!! And thinking about eating and food, oh my. Your table is so pretty and the food looks delicious!!! (and I love the green on your walls too) How sneaky of Christy to have a birthday right under our noses.
Girl, you are something! Lovelovelove your crazy fun spunk and your enthusiasm that greeted me the first time with a “CIIIIINNNNNDDDDYYYY!!!” You are a really neat package of His designs and ideas…a beautiful person in every way. yes indeed. Our weekend was an event with forever friends.
I keep thinking about it. Ha! Can’t stop thinking about it and everyone! Each individual was precious and well…individual!!! Like you wrote above…and I think at Beth’s site…such a spirit of love and acceptance in a group of 20+ women! A.m.a.z.i.n.g.
Because…not to sound cynical…I have found out way to often that common ground is the very thing that the deceiver uses to splinter a group. I don’t know if I can make sense here…but think about it. Motherhood for example. It is where I can immediately and Deeply connect with some. But sometimes it is that “connection” that makes me want to RUN! There can be comparison, measurement of value and job performance and cough!cough! presentation, judgement and condemnation, a one size fits all approach, lots and lots of answers…without giving GRACE and room for individuality, God-given interests, personalities and gifts…and hello!stumblings and just plain messing up! One person’s version of a Good Mom is not anothers!!! Even “Loving Jesus” can be the thing to “make” a group fly apart!!! We all met because we blog…but the spirit of love and acceptance was definitely His work IN and THROUGH each precious individual.
I am honored to call each one friend. Here and IRL.
Love to you Michelle!
@clearlyhis –
I especially love this photo of you!!! It captured the beauty of womenhood! The flowers, the drinking glass, a flip flop :), even the crumpled tissue…and your pregnancy. Precious Picture! So glad to have met you irl…and look forward to learning to know you better!
love to you! hope that you are keeping cool in this oppressive heat!!!
your pictures are INSANELY pretty!!!! i love the one of christy at her birthday party- she looks simply stunning and is that her husband`s loving hand on her arm. too cute!
So fun meeting you the other weekend. And by the way, I don’t have any cool recipe’s to share at the moment, but I’m so glad you did. Love the bacon and potatoe grill thingy. We had it twice this week. 🙂
@msluz –
So very fun to meet you, too! I’ve heard such nice things about you from Christy and it was great finally meeting you for real instead of through her! I hope it happens again …. sometime when I’m not popping up every five minutes to take another picture. 🙂