overwhelmed yourself lately?

Early Tuesday morning,  I realized that an award winning Christian author, Bryan Davis was going to be the guest speaker at Hallstrom  and teach a class at 1:00.  I started thinking rabout how I could get my kids from the Christian school (Regents)  over to Hallstrom to hear the author.  (Regents is the school where Emily attends and I teach English, and Hallstrom is where Joanna, Hudson and Nathanael attend all day)  So, even though I am involved with both, I have never attempted to combine both venues into one activity.  Today was going to be the day I attempted the merger.

You see, I only teach my classes at Regents in the mornings, and these students have Bible and other classes in the afternoon. So, with a lot of begging and convincing of various people, I had six students packed in my minivan at 12:30 p.m., heading toward Temple Baptist to hear a real author speak about his books.

I have one student who really wants to be an author some day, and I have others who just need something (anything!!) to inspire them towards greatness.

Before we left, I told them there would be no: burping, farting, coughing, sneezing, throwing up, or other bodily functions allowed in my car.  Mrs. Webber does not like the smell or sight of bodily functions.

I forgot to mention that I really didn't like conversation about them either.

Even though this is one child is in the 7th grade, he seemed to think he could garner some attention by telling me that, "his wee wee had to go"--to which I promptly drove through a red light in response to this.

When he started going into details about which number he had to go and such,  I played Mr. Frederickson from the movie UP.


"La la la la la.. this is no concern of mine!!"    I just wished I could have turned off my hearing aid.
Bummer.  Just when you think that good health is a blessing, all of a sudden, you wished you had a hearing aid.

So, we piled into the church, secured name tags, took care of the wee-wee needs and heard the speaker.

It was awesome.  Bryan Davis is a godly man who trusts God for everything.  If I do not get a chance to write a separate post on his books, just know this.  He is a homeschooling dad who gave up his career to pursue book writing and is living by faith.  We ended up buying a set of his books, and many of my students have already started reading them!  yeah!!!  The books are along the lines of C.S. Lewis--Christian-inspired fantasy.  It's what kids love to read, and I believe God will use these books to help shape their character in Christian living.

So, during the talk, Mr. Davis mentioned a Christian writer's conference that sounded very interesting.  He is one of the speakers who teaches a 12 hour session.  And then my wheels started turning.

 Wouldn't it be awesome to go to this conference?  And I could bring my students?  etc. etc.

So, I was mulling this idea around in my head on the way home.  So while I was contemplating this grand plan, I spontaneously pulled into McDonalds to get the kids a treat.  So, while they were enjoying their treats, I had this thought.

 This isn't so bad.  I could drive these kids to Florida.. how hard could that be?..

And then the burping started.  Have I mentioned that Mrs. Webber does not like bodily functions and their associated resounding sounds???  yeah.. I think I did.

And then I had this thought.

We should just fly to Florida.  Flying goes much faster.  

And the volume in the car increased.  There wasn't so much burping as there was about six  conversations going on at once.  Granted.  I only brought six kids, but still..

And then I had another thought.

Actually, we will fly, but I'll take a different flight.  a different airline, perhaps? just incase something happens and I accidentally end up on the same flight.. Yeah, that's what I'll do.


  Oh, and I forgot to mention that one of my goals was to get the kids back for gym class after the session.    I couldn't find my cell phone to tell the gym teacher we were running late...

So, here we walk into the school--20 minutes late and everyone carrying a McDonald's wrapper and there's my principal and the gym teacher tapping her foot.  And for some reason, the sophisticated science teacher was there also, shaking her head at me too.

Not only were we late, but we missed gym AND ate McDonalds.

So, the next few minutes were spent profusely apologizing to the gym teacher, my principal and everyone else who would receive an apology.  The next day, even, I was still feeling guilty and (in a moment of weakness) asked my principal if I had officially overwhelmed him yet.

And he wisely responded,

"No, but have you overwhelmed yourself yet?" 

Wow.  That's it.  I do not slow down until I have officially overwhelmed myself.  I went home thinking very high brow thoughts of the profundity of that statement.  And quite honestly,  I'm still pondering it.

Actually, I overwhelm myself on MOST days, but the problem is this: I recover too quickly from it.  And then, after a good night's rest, a cup of coffee, some time with the Lord and a house blitz, I go right back to being insane again.

And then I only remember how FUN it was.  I just giggle when I think about my little students who need so much love and care getting excited about reading....

I think about Mr. wee-wee writing a fabulous "free write"  about the experience and really wanting to read and finish a book that I bought from the author.

I think about the young man who really wants to be an author having the happiest time and so giddy on the way home that he was telling us crazy stories about the biscuits at the Red Lobster were so good that "they taste like Jesus"...

And then the next day, the principal came in my classroom the next day and talked with the kids about reading and relating the parables to the type of literature they were learning about...

And then I think

yeah... I've overwhelmed myself.. but as soon as I recover, I'm going to jump right in there and overwhelm myself.. again. 

Plaid fabric corsages

This was a very fun and easy craft that was inspired by the most recent Land's End catalog.  They call it a "tartan flower pin" and it goes for $19.50.  Check out the link if you think I'm kidding. 

The styles they were showing with the pins were very cute also.  If you want to see cute examples of how to wear the pins, check out the catalog labeled: Read any Good looks lately?   Darling styles.  Cute, classy, conservative--chic.  

So, not to be outdone by the Land's End catalog, last Sunday my friend, Shannen and I indulged in a little craft making adventure.  

The procedure is simple.  Take some of that plaid wool that you have laying around.  What??  Your tartans are not stocked to the brim??  It must have been a bad garage sale year for you, eh?  In the fall, I seem to live to sew with tartans.  Borderline obsession--but then again--everything in my life is..  

So you need to cut four concentric circles, each one slightly smaller than the first.  With these, you make petal shapes around the exterior, preferably with pinking shears.   Sew through all the layers with a hand sewn gathering stitch.  This will make them puff up more and add just enough volume.  Optional: secure with a button in the center if desired.  Fray the edges if desired.  Complete the pin by securing a safety pin to the back.  

 Notice the look--no excessive jewelry for this.  Green plaid skirt/ simple white button-down.  The catalog shows a long, belted cardigan also.

I couldn't resist not throwing together a hat and scarf--just for kicks.  The little tartan flower attached to the side of the hat for this one.  The scarf was a black sweater (merino/ mohair mix) from my summer finds.  Basically, to make a ridgy-looking scarf, start with a large circle of fabric and cut a strip 4" wide, forming a continuous loop until you get the center of the circle.  You'll end up with one long fabric strip with all of the bias edges wobbly. 

 Thanks to my darling daughter, Joanna who not only took but edited these photos.  She's been doing more senior portraits on her blog.  I love the classy and sophisticated look of Natalie.

She just took her ACT today.  Is it a sin to pray that she gets a 30???  Just sayin'  Whatever she gets, we'll be thankful and happy for her. 

Equilibrium

So, it's almost the end of October, and I think we have finally hit a "routine" for this semester.  I can celebrate at least ONE week where I didn't add or subtract any major activities, friends, or home improvements.

How about you?  Have you hit that balance yet? I am realizing that there is this inborn guilt (in women, at least) about having a life that is NOT completely overwhelming.  And when we have a "light schedule" by design, we feel a womanly guilt.  And this constant, nagging feeling of: "is this O.K.??" and somehow needing to prove to yourself and others that it is O.K. to not feel overbooked every second of the day.

O.K. realistically, not ALL women struggle with this--just my readers and I: type A, overachieving, mommy-a-holic hospitality queens.

The mommies who have their homeschooled kids in drama, Model UN, music, robotics, gavel clubs, church-youth activities, scholarship competitions, ACT studying, photography adventures, volunteer work, and a full load of classes...

The mommies who have to make lunches for the little ones and find gym shoes and piano books..

The mommies who think they need to "set an example" for our daughters by taking care of their bodies and working out and teaching others to do the same..

The mommies who think they need to teach classes at both schools their kids attend, just to keep up with their lives and stay in the loop.. and even use that dusty teaching certificate once in a while..??

And let's not forget a "part time" job of professional organizing at your husband's work place..  just to "help out" and make some money.

In spite of all of this--GOD is good!!! and I am NOT overwhelmed.  Here are some things that are saving my fanny during this busy season of life.

1) Time with the Lord and in his Word.  I may only get 15 minutes, but I try to find a piece of Scripture to meditate on and worship the Lord--in the morning before life gets too crazy.

2) Enough sleep.  I go to bed early, if possible (except on Wednesdays) and I take big naps, as needed.

3) Nutrition.  I can not emphasize how important this is--especially in the morning.  I eat "real food" in the morning--not fluffy carbs and junk.

4)Pilates.  My exercise routine with pilates keeps me pain free and feeling good.  Even though I'm kind of chunky, I feel happy and confident in my skin.  I have a cute little "mommy tummy" that may never go away but I'm happy with my body, and that's a happy thing.

5) My husband.  I should have listed this earlier.  He is awesome and meets my needs, whatever they happen to be at the moment.  He leads me spiritually and takes care of me.  Yes, I try to take care of him too, but I think I have the good end of the deal.

6) Saying no.  I not only say "no", but I usually say it with gusto.  "You've GOT to be KIDDING!  You want me to do WHAT???" And if it is something that I think I could possibly do, I tell them that I need to talk to my husband first.  We discuss it.  And then I usually end up doing it.  But I say NO a lot just because it is nice to be in control.  And then I think about it and say YES later.  Sounds crazy, but it works for me.

7) MY kids.  My kids help out a lot.  You know the expression: "Many hands make light work"?  Well, that is only true if the hands are BIG and TRAINED.  Thankfully, we're at the stage of life of big and trained hands helping out.  We always let them pursue their own interests, but they have to be helpful workers in the home also.

8)Routine.  I don't do everything everyday.  Some days I do "nothing" outside of the home.  I even cancel things until I can come up with a stay-at-home day for myself.  Trust me, there's plenty to do around here.  But I enjoy it because I know that I'm not going to have to stop in the middle of it and go do something.  You should try it.  It's a good thing.

So, that's what I've been up to lately.  Today is just one of those golden stay at home days.  I have some laundry to do.  I might indulge in some knitting.  I have a pilates client coming to the house for a little workout.  I may take a nap later.  So, I'm going to go and put down the hedgehog hair and get ready!

Love this time of year..

So fall is here, and the hedgehog turned her head into a dip-cone, chocolate flavored. 

So I put away the summer duds and the blonde hair.  My actual goal was to get this back to my "regular" color.  And back to fall clothes!

We are having a beautiful, balmy indian summer day.    I have a big pot roast in the crock pot.  I may even trot out to the garden to see if the brussel sprouts are ready.

Let me think poetically for a moment----eggplant-colored leaves, raspberry mums,  sun-kissed tomatoes, verdant chives, cumin-colored flowers...hhhhhmmmmmmmm   gives me an idea..

Why don't I just go through my photos and find things we've done in past years for a little inspiration?  Although, I will say this--the weather itself is an inspiration for me!

Remember these pumpkin crafts?  I don't even remember what year I made these, but they are so fun!

 And let's not forget the rug hooking adventure? or fall scarf ??

 Why not make (yet another) tote with fall-inspired fabrics??? or a new messenger bag?

 And there's nothing that says fall like some hearty soup..

 Real pumpkins are very special also..

 Especially if you cook them down in order to make pumpkin butter..

 Or you can just let them crowd up the doorway after you've picked them from the garden like we did this one year.

 Need more ideas?  The fabric stores are calling our names, ladies.

 Or what about some nice fall photos?

 Dress up a kid or two and plunk them in a fall scene..

 Oh, she was such a button then! (Emily at age 3)

 And last but not least, we NEED pumpkin donuts!

Yes, heaven will be like this day.
Enjoy your fall!

A guy from the 1940's

On Friday,  Will and the kids showed up at my new school, Regents,  to do a demonstration of the Gavel Club--a public speaking club for young people.  When everyone got there, I introduced them all, but I never included the fact that these new people were my husband and kids.

So, when I got a chance to talk to my students again, I asked them, "Did you figure it out that Mr. Webber is my husband? And that the other kids are my kids?"

"At first, we thought he was the guy from Pierson's plumbing.  He looks just like that guy.." one of the students said.

"And then I thought..  Wow... He looks like a guy from the 1940's... I know I've seen him in a movie or something.."

"And then I figured out that he's not the plumbing guy, but he really is a guy from the 1940's.."

"And Hudson..  Now he looks EXACTLY like a guy from the Harry Potter movie.. for real.."


So, my students and my family met for the first time.  My own kids just giggled at whatever the students said.  The students were lively and talkative, and they seemed to enjoy the meeting.  I made a big batch of food for the kids, and we all sat down "family style" and ate dinner together after the meeting.  The students were genuinely appreciative and thankful for the meeting and the food.

And I got to thinking.  This school is a mission field.  A lot of the kids come from broken homes.  Many of them were raised by the television and video games.  Their way of fitting us into their world is by assigning us a television show.  I think we qualify for this one.




A midwest family set in the 1950's, with a strong father figure at the helm--yes, that would depict us.  And I find it humorous that one of our kids asked for drum set a few weeks ago, to which I said, "no".

Remember how everyone thought Hudson looked like Edmund from Narnia?  And now he is a guy from Harry Potter? (I have never seen the Harry Potter movies, so I have no idea..)

Fame.   I'm telling you.  It's going to be hard to avoid with celebrities like this in my family.

No one EVER comes up to me and says, "Hey.. you look like.." probably because why would they want to say it? "You look like a hedgehog with your hair like that.. "

And then again, most people don't say much because they can't get a word in.

Except for this: "you are overwhelming" said to me TWICE on separate occasions on the same day.  Not fair.

ugh.

I think I'm going to carry a business card that says, "call at your own risk"  and "I am found to be overwhelming by 85% of the population.  The other 15% I am still waiting to meet".

We all have our issues, eh?

For now, I am thankful for that guy from the 1940's.  By the grace of God and by hiding in his office studying Hebrew a lot of the time, he manages to dwell peacefully with the hedgehog, with little to no difficulty.  God is good.