Mother Tucker

Apparently the creeps that stole our car decided they needed to attempt to pay their electric bill with our bank account. They might not be smart creeps, yet still creeps. A Portland Electric company of all things . . . yeah, we’re Salem, it’s gonna kinda stand out in the old online statement we check daily. So much time spent on the phone with the police, PGE and US Bank today. Good time, good times!  We caught it in time so it didn’t go through . . . I’m quick like that.  But now we gotta go through the rigamaroe of shutting our account out and starting a new one up. Again, such fun!

God is good, they were unable to get the funds!! And theres a chance of the police finding them through PGE’s bill pay system, attached to their account number and obviously all of their personal stuff. We’ll see, I wasn’t promised anything.

That’s the update. God’s good, practically everything has been replaced and Justin’s back to it at school and the fire department!

God bless!

I whine a lot. One of my complaints in life is that I don’t have friends. And this week God has really slapped me upside the head in reminding me of the wonderful people he’s placed in my life that are more than I ever deserve in a friendship!

My sisters are naturally my closest friends but I’ve also been blessed with so many different personalities and characters in my life, outside of family.  I went to lunch today with a God-given friend of mine, one that I am so blessed to know. Also a friend that always challenges me to be better, spiritually, in my personal life and in all aspects seek God. I need that and I hope I contribute, as well, to our friendship in some way.  I just pray God blesses her and allows her days to be full of what her heart desires!  And on top of all of that she was willing to come short notice, pick my sorry car-less self up and my two toddlers and we went out to eat.  Its nice to get out of the house and feel ‘normal’ every once in awhile. Kids did so good. God has truly blessed my life. Thank you, Jesus!

So, on that note I’m going to go. I’m sure I’ll write more nonsense later.

God Bless!

It’s been over 24 hours since I’ve written . . . what is the meaning of this madness?

You know, when I write this stuff I imagine no one is reading it. I’m just writing cuz I like it and I know my momma reads it. So, not no one, but only one, me momma. So I apologize if stuff gets too wordy or personal, that’s something I might need to see a doctor about. I’m always surprised when people mention my blog. ‘huh, you read that junk?’ is my thought.

Well, let’s see Tobias’ potty training is going fine. Still haven’t pooped in the toilet. You know, small confession, I was reading a blog post by someone just recently that had a picture of their kid’s first poo in the toilet. I was like ‘Why would you do that, yuck?’ And ‘I’ll never do that . . . what’s the big deal?’ Ok, I’m gonna post Toby’s first poo (I’m warning you in advance) cuz the excitement over that, I can tell you now, will be astronomical!! I will make up a new dance and dance it all day. And, of course, show all of you (hi, momma) the pic of the poo!! But he has, maybe, one wet accident every 3-5 days . . . usually my error . . . I tend to drift off into my own world and forget minor things like having T potty in the toilet . . .and he doesn’t tell me yet that he has to go. He does hold it pretty well though.

Ok, I’m really over and done with the discussion of potty training.

I understand Eugene, where all of my friends and family live, got several inches of snow. We’re at the same elevation (if not higher) and we are only 50 miles away and, yeah, NO SNOW here!! Ice but no snow. Grrble! Would of made the cold almost worth it to see my boys play in the snow. I’m sure T doesn’t remember last year’s snow, so it would of been like the first time . . . Sam’s as well. Would’ve been fun. Maybe later in the week.

But on that note I had to get out into the cold weather today. The boys had been holed up in the house for 2 days and I would rather brave the cold than remain in the nice warm house with two rampant toddlers. So we trudged out to the playground. Everything was wet and the wind was blowing a cold wind. I don’t know what temperature it was but with the wind I bet it went below freezing. It only hardened my heart that much more for the cold of winter. I gotta find some cheap indoor playgrounds!

If you weren’t aware our van doesn’t work right now, that’s why I’m home so much. If it were warmer than 40 degrees during the day (and not raining) I would load them up in my trusty double stroller and walk many miles, but until it warms up without the rain involved, I’m home. Yay for me!

Wow, day of the babbling Stacy. I think I’ll let you all go. I’m done for now. Love ya momma!

God Bless!

I have to put a quick post in . . . it won’t be long cuz I’m also holding a 16 and a half month old Samuel and the keyboard is mighty tempting. :/

A good and long time friend of mine came up from Eugene and had lunch with me today. I’ve been isolated (or feel isolated) in Salem, Or. I wanted to write and say how good felt to re-connect and talk heart to heart . . . something that comes very easy with this particular friend. . . no matter how much time passes between visits.  Helping keep the sanity of Stacy for another day.

Ack! Baby on bed . . . must rescue before he lands on head!!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5968528

When I have 25$ extra bucks . . . this is what I’m getting. Or maybe I’ll get it for me birthday (May 31st) hint hint

So I got great responses to my blog ‘Quick Question’, regarding picking up the hand sport of knitting.  I am now determined to be a knitter . . .

I found the site knittinghelp.com and a local knitting/yarn shop that offers classes for a reasonable rate.

Thank you so much for your encouragement and comments!

God Bless!

This is the 3rd blog of the day folks! Its a record!

Anyhoo, today is almost over. And we did get our car back this evening.  And that’s about all we got back. All J’s books, tax stuff, id, wallets, turnouts, cd player, speakers, etc etc etc . . . gone. The steering wheel was graffiti-ed with a latino gang symbol. Nice touch! Anyhoo, the car is fine otherwise. So, thank you Jesus!

Off to bed, just an update on our roller coaster of a day.

God bless

Has anyone attempted to learn to knit? If so, was it (is it) difficult to learn, etc? I am honestly thinking of picking up this fantastic, productive hobby but know no one that does this in my real life . . . . anyone?

Hey . . . life goes on.  No word from the Salem Police about our car, so I’m assuming they didn’t find it.

BUT, I don’t feel down anymore about it.  I feel hopeful. The kindness of people never ceases to amaze me! I pray I can always always show kindness and compassion and not judgment, even if I don’t know or understand the whole story.  Justin went on to school and the T.O.’s (I think that’s what he calls’em, the ‘higher ups’)  gave him turnout boots, yeah almost brand new 300$ Danner turnout boots! Thank you Jesus! One of his professors let him into the not-so-accessible library to “check out” a few of the books he needed. Otherwise very expensive to replace . . . again, Thank you, Jesus! We’ll see what else God decides to do. That’s all I’ve heard reported thus far. And all I’m seeming to gleen from this is just return the compassion and kindness when it’s my turn. Help me to recognize when its my turn, God!

I made these fantastic oatmeal, raisin, cinnamon and some nutmeg scones. They are tasty. I don’t make scones very often cuz I wanna eat’em . . . ALL THE TIME! What’s wrong with me? mmm, scoooonnnneesssss!!  Baked goods in general . . . but the subdued flavor of scones, mmmm.

Ok, enough of that!!

Sooo, I gotta go get a bunch of insurance quotes. Cuz now all we have is the van and the van is paid off, soooo all we have to get is liability.  We, unfortunately can’t afford the ‘ideal’ (full coverage) cuz we don’t have a lot of money (or any money whatsoever). But no fear, God is here!!

Ok, I’m going, I’m just being goofy cooky crazy and I got some insurance sites to visit. Lucky lucky me!

God bless!

I feel defeated today. I’ve attempted to be strong, pray, live right and all around be good. I feel like we’re on the right path for our lives . . . we’ve got two beautiful boys, Justin is doing fabulously at school (98% on his EMT test this week) . . . one of the best scores in the class, keeping my house and just living. And then we wake up this morning to an empty parking spot. Our Honda Civic was stolen last night!! And that’s not the worst of it . . . all of Justin’s turnout gear, books and tax prep stuff was inside . . . oh no, it gets better. We’re poor and we make poor decisions sometimes. Our insurance ran out at the end of December and we had plans to re-instate the policy when funds came in . . . a couple of weeks from now . . . our van’s cv joint is bad so J was forced to drive the Civic to and from school without insurance. Yep, our stolen car has no coverage. Can we say screwed? Yikes!! We always have insurance for our cars, because its the law and because its stupid not to . . . but desperation sometimes leaves few choices.

So I’ve cried some today, gotten mad a few times and now I just feel defeated. I try not to use this blog as a personal shrink but today I’m unloading. Stress is an understatement in terms of money in our lives right now. We just gotta get through the next 2 and a half years and then J can get a darn good little job as a firefighter/EMT paramedic. We just gotta get through. This event was a hard blow, kinda below the belt. I’m just gasping for air at this point and trying my best to look to God for the escape/trudge through route.

Sometimes life, right now, reminds me of the boot sucking mud that I used to struggle through as a teen. I kept my horse at a guy’s house out Mosby Cr Rd in Cottage Grove, Or and would trudge through the half acre of clay mud to get to the lean-to/barn area. This mud was thick, deep and would literally pull your rubber boots off, leaving you with a stocking-ed foot to land back in the mud with . . . yeah, not so water-proof by the way. I think the ‘mud-of-life’ just pulled my rubber boot off and my vulnerable foot is now 3 inches buried in the muck mud.

Your prayers, as always, are much appreciated!

God bless!