My Friend, Anne

I’m using her ‘puter today . . . though her ‘puter is more like a ComPUter.  Mine putted along so  I called it a puter . . . but her’s does not put along so it is extraordinairy!

Uh, I have not idea why I needed to explain all that. But I’m grateful for her patience with me and allowing me to use it while the boys watch a video for a short bit.

So, nothing new really . . . except . . . um, yeah, nothing new.

Just wanted to pop on here and say “all is good in the land of the Tuckers”.

With extra time, without the use of my intronet . . . I have more time with myself, in which I end up reading and since I have no new books to read . . . I read the Bible.  Ok, that should be the first choice, but sometimes it takes a little persuasion in my little world and my hard head . . . same place really, my world and head.

Good stuff.

God is good, that’s what I’m gonna say about that.  Sometimes the ruts of life seem the very thing that saps me of my passion for Jesus . . .  sometimes I have to upset those ruts, or God does, to get my attention back to where it belongs . . . focused right on God and His plan for our life.

Jesus’ sacrifice for me is something I have a hard time focusing on for any amount of time . . . its hard to swallow that someone loves me that much but, also the life given is hard for my finite human mind to wrap it’s selfish claws around really.

But the more I spend time in His presence the more the revelation of such can seep into my heart and I apparently really needed this.  I get wrapped up in my little world and surviving each day and forget how blessed, how forgiven, how in love I really am with my Savior.  And you know why I’m so in love with Him??  Because He is the only One who is truly good . . . the only true light . . . and truth.  Not to mention the extravagant love He lavishes on those who choose to believe (in love) and recognize Him and His Word. Beautiful Savior . . . caring for the least of the world, forgiving the unforgivable, loving me . . . that can’t be easy. Among a million other reasons and aspects of His nature that I’ve seen and have yet to see.

So, that is what is going on in my puny mind this evening.  That and eating strawberries and whip cream with the kiddos and my friend Anne while we crash her adobe.

Thank God for good friends!

Blessings on your week’s end!

Check out Psalm 31 while you’re reading this evening.  Good stuff!  He is my refuge when the waters of this life rise!

Who Me?

I always considered myself a bit of a loner. I do have friends, good ones too, but the group setting thing . . . well, just ain’t me. I avoid small group settings, not intentionally (well, sometimes) but I just don’t make an effort. The excuses come easier and more logically with kids.

But I also have noticed a sharp decline in my interest in reading the Bible and when I do I’m having a hard time gleaning much and really studying it. So, what do you do to amp that up? Pray about it, obviously. And that I’m doing. But also I have placed myself, with the urging of my good friend, in a Bible study. I have a pretty strong need to delve deeper and what better way?

Plus, maybe I’ll obtain some of the socialite bug I was born without and make some new friends a long the way. We’ll see.

It is a Beth Moore (I had never heard of her but apparently she’s well known) Bible study and it is on the Psalms of Ascent, 15 chapters in the middle of the book of Psalms. I went this morning and it was good, much depth to be had. Now I have home work every day until next week . . . pressure to study, that is what I need.

Something struck me the other day and created all these nice warm fuzzies and maybe a few tears. I was standing in worship service Sunday morning and I was singing and having a intermittent conversation with God . . . just praising HIM in my mind but I was approaching HIM like I was getting to know HIM (which is I still am) and it hit me . . . or, I guess you could say, I felt God spoke to me . . . pointing out that I had known HIM, as my personal savior for 25 years. I distinctly remember asking HIM into my heart when I was six years old. I also remember, vividly, knowing HE was with me and loved me and feeling HIS presence whilst growing up. I could go on and on about the sacrifices of my mom and dad and the fact they presented a true representation of Christ to me . . . paving a way for me, but I’ll spare ya. It just took me by surprise that I have called Jesus friend, savior and Abba for 25 years! He’s walked with me and guided my steps . . . oh so very clear when looking back to see HIS hand on my life. Thankful just doesn’t cover it! But looking back and acknowledging HIM throughout my life also creates a sense of rest and a peace . . . knowing HE is still guiding my steps and covering me presently.

Just thoughts that are flowing in my pea-brain today.

God bless!

Unexpected Generosity

Since Justin and I have embarked on this journey of school and deciding to make a go at something more than we had . . . all orchestrated by the One that loves us so much.  We saw doors open, things come together and we’ve seen Justin excel at what God has given him to do.

No, we’re not becoming world traveled missionaries or even in “ministry”, as we know it in the Christian closed-minded way.  Justin will serve though . . . serve in individual’s hour of emergency and physical need.  He chooses and will choose to put himself on the line for others, almost, on a daily basis.  I have always admired firemen and other civil servant positions but with it being so close to home I have an expanded admiration.

We don’t take credit . . . we never will. Just like any “calling” in life, God orchestrated it, coordinated it and allowed us the drive and ambition to make the best of it.  How can we take credit . . .He created us, it is His work that blood runs in our veins and we have the people in our lives that we do. Again and again I have seen him connect people in a supernatural way . . . my being married to Justin falls in that category.

All that said, I started this blog with a dim hope I would allow a piece of myself to show that I don’t necessarily allow to show always . . . being slightly shy . . . also connecting with family, friends and just talking (typing).  I’m on my own quite a bit and so the outlet is an excellent release for me.  I heard somewhere women have to get so many thousands of words in a day or their heads will explode . . . ok, I made up the head exploding thing.

After getting into it I have enjoyed other benefits . . . really getting to know my friends and family that I already thought I knew, finding a real joy in writing (I didn’t say writing well) and really finding myself in a way, my beliefs and integrity solidified somewhat.

This week though I had a friend, that I actually met on this very blog, reach out to me in a way that touched me deeply.

Sometimes you see in others qualities that you would like to attain and make your own.  This is one of those times and people.  Not just because I got something I wanted but because of the thoughtful gesture and the motivation behind it . . . no strings, here you go, enjoy.

So, you know who your are, thank you again!

God Bless!

Bad Attitude?

Friends are gifts from God.  I have to remind myself of that because I’m such recluse that a friend that is more aggressive at hanging out and wanting to do stuff together annoys me at times.  I appreciate that I’m liked and needed but, at the same time, annoyed.

Why is this?

Boundaries.

And they were crossed a couple of times this week and instead of talking to this person and hashing it out . . . as I criticize others for not doing . . . I talked to my fam about it and my husband about it and complained and whined, like a know-it-all teenager.

My sister told me to get over myself and go talk to her . . . and I did. (thank God for sisters too ) And the things that my heart and mind were trying to convince me were so important weren’t really that big of a deal once spoken out loud

And . . . another thing, my friend is great.  She’s flexible and forgiving and completely understood where I was coming from. Flexible and forgiving are two things I need to work on!

So . . . I thank God for good friends and I repent of my bad attitude regarding such a petty issue!

God Bless!

Connection

Moving to Salem disconnected me, in ways . . . and connected me in other ways.

I have slow days, where there is not a whole lot going on.  Today is one of those days.  So I’m perusing my myspace, which is not my favorite thing to do, but, like I said, I’ve got time on my hands this afternoon.  Perusing into my friend’s and family’s myspace pages and leaving messages here and there . . . checking out new photos and such . . . a simple way to feel a tiny bit closer.

Whilst my perusing extravaganza it dawns on me how disconnected I really am from friends and family that, when I lived 5 miles away, I could visit at the drop of a hat.  To walk, shop or just let the kiddos play while we chatted.  My sister’s lives go on . . . my friend’s lives go on.  I’m now a side note . . . easily forgotten.

Sounds negative huh?  And the fault lies with no one.  Thats just the way life is.

But, I have started to make new friends.  God has blessed me with great neighbors and a network of people through Justin’s career.  So I see a life that I had so depended on, not really being that important.  And I see a life Justin and I are building . . . together, with God’s grace and favor.

Now, don’t get me wrong.  Family will always be family.  I might not spend multiple days a week sitting on their couches or meeting at the park with old and dear friends . . . but I’m finding relationships are wholly dependent on God, just like everything else in life.  The ones that are to be, will be.  The ones that are to be only for a time, well, will only be for that time.

My challenge is is to keep my heart right.  Not to look back, wishing for the past but to see the blessing of the now and to see there is a future . . . with some of the same dear friends and family, and some new friends.

God Bless!

Tired Boys

Playgrounds are God’s gift to stay-at-home momma’s (and S.A.H.Dads)!

My good friend, Anne and I took me boys to Riverfront Park this afternoon.  I don’t drive a whole lot . . . due to the price of gasoline and the lack of fundage in my pockets . . . so we walk a lot, mostly to a playground approximately a mile from my house.  But we drove today and Riverfront Park is one the nicer parks in the area . . . on the river.  I know, you wouldn’t have guessed it by the name ‘Riverfront’

Ok, I might be tired and a little sun-damaged, so I might ramble.  Oh wait, I always ramble.

This loverly park has enormous play sets . . . plural.  My boys ran and played for well over an hour and I did my fair share of chasing . . . Anne brought a book, smart one that she is.

I love watching Tobias interact with other kids . . . he’s social, dramatic and funny.  Cracks me up.  I don’t think he stopped moving, or talking, the entire time.

Samuel just wanted to invade the bordering flowerbeds and pick up the decorative stones . . . chucking them as far his short, chubby little baby arms could handle. That and slide . . . a lot.

So, we walked this morning and spent the better part of the afternoon at Riverfront . . . good times . . . summer days!

God is good!

God Bless!

hawt tamale

The weather outside is frightfully HOT! Summertime baby!

But what I’ve found is that my eldest son is somewhat of heat-wuss. We are, typically, outside for about an hour, maybe an hour and a half, unless we drive somewhere . . . then its even longer.

Reaching into the 90’s the last two days with some bright sunshine leading the way . . . our average outdoor time hovers around 30 minutes. If that.

Tobias, my eldest, is the one I can’t hardly keep inside . . . he absolutely adores being outside, no matter the activity. Sometimes I drag him back inside kicking and screaming (literally at times) because its nap time or dinner time or bed time or some other “time” that requires our bodies to be indoors. Sometimes its just “momma is done being out here time”.

The heat has zapped his enthusiasm, somewhat, for the outdoor adventures. Which is too bad because I love the heat . . . yeah, I’m not kidding. I swear I live in the wrong part of the country. I would be happy to have around 90 degrees everyday and then every 3 weeks or so, have it be overcast with rain at night. Yeah . . . I think that I might need to create my own planet cuz I don’t know of a place that the weather resembles that. Oh, did I mention that the landscape needs to look like the Willamette Valley, cuz I looove it so.

Alright, that said, I would like to be outside. I think the purchase of kiddie pool is in order . . . our patio is big enough to handle that. And some water guns cuz I think T might pass out from sheer excitement if he were to shoot us all with water. Maybe we’ll hold off on the water guns.

Tomorrow is Saturday . . . I thought it was around the 10th of May . . . no, its the 18th or something. I made plans with a friend, had to cancel cuz my hubby and I had planned to go to the fire fighter’s Expo in Portland . . . um, and since I thought it was the 10th and the expo is on the 18th, I was safe in my other plans . . . actually, what really happened is I just made plans willy nilly and didn’t check dates. Bummer! So, hubby always wins out . . . that what he gets for being so HAWT . . . different than HOT cuz thats what its like outside. Not that my friend isn’t Hawt but thats a different kind of hawt too . . . and one that doesn’t do anything for me.

Ok, I need to shutup.

So, busy weekend. Justin took Sunday off due to his time being spent at the expo. Family time weekend . . . cool beans.

I’ll have lots of pics to share by weekend’s end. Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

God Bless!

Hubby and Tobias. Hubby is a bit fuzzy . . . he normally shaves his head bald, so its always funny to see pics of him with his rabbit soft hair sticking up. Tobias is about 21 months or so in this pic. Now he’s huge . . . all legs. I think he might be a tall one. Considering my dad is 6′4″ and my brother is 6′6″ . . . and my other two bro’s are well over 6′ . . . its in the lineage. Justin is not tall . . . we’re the same height. I think I’ve had this one-sided conversation before on here. Pete and Repeat went up a hill, Pete left, who’s left? hee hee, always hated that joke . . .

Good Day . . .

. . . from Tuckerville.

Justin pulled shift yesterday and is still at school attending classes.  He is suppose to be home around 4-ish . . . but tired he is and I’m sure he’ll crash, hopefully reaching, either, the bed or the couch prior to passing out.

Kiddos have a mild cold but I’m not complaining.  It seems its been a rough winter for folks with kids this year . . . all the illness and stuff.

I’m enjoying being able to leave my sliding glass door open for the fresh air to come in my house.  Thats one of the top reasons I dislike cold weather, it gets so stuffy with closed windows and heaters running.

My plants outside . . . the very few that I have . . . are blooming. I love spring! Hopefully I can get some seeds started here very very soon. I think some vines would be nice, considering they are residing on a lattice railing, it would look nice growing down perhaps. Any ideas of a good vine with pretty flowers . . . majority sun-worshiping . . . let me know!!

I have some good coffee in my possession at this moment . . . thanks to some dear friends of ours that know me a little too well. Mmm mmm, good stuff!! I think I’ve had like 6 cups today . . . hee hee.

Well, here’s some pics cuz I’m outta words for now. I love flowers. If you ever think of me . . . get me flowers. haa haa.

Oh, so tiny white flowers.  Not so much in focus, but I don’t care . . . captures the subtle beauty just fine! And the sun!

Played with the effects on this one quite a bit but its fun and bright.

Nope, not an old country fence (you would see sky if that was the case) just my downstairs patio railing . . . note the ceiling above. But how quaint a flower! Love it! Good thing I love it . . . I might be the only one. hee hee

Light makes a photo . . . thats my personal, have no idea what I’m talking about, opinion . . . caught this one just right, in my naive opinion.

Hey, just a slight celebration of spring in Tuckerville! I hope you all had a great weekend and your week has started off positively grand.

God Bless!!

Good Times

I’m a bit of house-hermit but this weekend some good friends of ours invited us over . . . an overnighter, folks. I don’t think I’ve done that since I was in my early 20’s and definitely before chitlins. That doesn’t include my Momma’s house. I was a tad nervous of how the kids would do . . . Sam hadn’t traveled for an overnight trip since he was 3 or 4 months old. But, as usual, things went better than I expected . . . actually they went really really well. And, on top of that, we spent some well-needed and overdue time with some very good friends! I enjoyed myself immensely and found myself even more grateful and blessed (and humbled) to have such people as these on my short list of friends.

Then last night we went to church.  I cried (literally) for the time lost at my “home” . . . where I feel most at home . . . and I cried cuz the presence of God was so thick in the place.  The message edifying and convicting all at once. And I can’t wait to get back.  It was excellent to see all of my friends as well! If you didn’t know, my church (Life Bible), is over an hours drive right now; living in Salem while J does his school thing.  And with finances being so slim, getting down there but once every couple of months is a miracle the last 6 months or so.  But I just choose to trust God, even though I don’t completely understand why He has us in this season.

Here’s some pics, hopefully its cool with my friends if they are posted on me blog.

Mixture of families, since there was a birthday party going on for Chad and Ezra.  My hubby is on your far right. hot!

At the table after some awesome burritos, courtesy of Sarah and Linda. Again, mixture of families and my hubby is on your far right.

Playing with our dog, Byron.  It was still relatively warm out at 8pm. My husband is on your far right . . . I’m seeing a pattern forming.

Enjoying cake and ice cream.  Ezra wanted a pink cake . . . so the frosting was, indeed, pink. Very cute! He turned 3 years old.

self righteous

I didn’t mean for that last post to sound self righteous.  I have my many faults and do not live up to, even, my own standards most of the time . . . much less that of a faultless God. I am so very grateful for the grace God has chosen to show me in this life and lean completely and utterly on that . . . truth is something I’ve been convicted about gaining more of, through the Word, to balance out my daily walk with Jesus.

Nothing new to really update anyone on.  I do want to give honor to God for the place we call home right now.  A misunderstanding of a letter we received insinuated that we weren’t eligible to live here but it was ironed out quickly and we are no worse for wear.  God just keeps providing and keeps giving us favor where its obviously HIM.

And, again, finances just keep coming through! We are blessed with much more than money, but the finances are a necessity.

So, Justin tested for an officer position this past week; interview, written test, peer and teacher reviews . . . all 36 people left in the program did.  He should hear back next week.  Lieutenant or Captain (I believe) are one of the two he could be placed in . . . several people will be.  This is for the fire program and he will be over the first year students come Summer term.  Just the current update. So school is going good! He’s got a much more laid back term than last term . . . he’s home more frequently and he’s able to get to work study more often.

Samuel started going down the slide, at the playground, by himself.  For the past 3 months or so, he would climb the stairs just fine but then wait at the top for me to come set him on his rump and help him slide.  I kinda got busy talking to someone while they were playing and recognized he was at the top of the slide . . .  apparently I took too long; before I knew he was  squealing with delight as he came to the base of the slide. Tobias was on the slide next to him, so I’m sure he was watching and receiving coaching from his elder brother . . . but since then he has it figured out.  So very cute!! He’ll be 20 months May 12th and that means he nearing the 2 year mark! Crazy how life gets away from me . . .

Tobias, in the past couple of months has picked up singing. Mostly with his favorite movies and cd’s and sometimes to the radio with a random song. He mimics the sound and the words aren’t so clear but that does not keep the laughter at bay from mom and dad . . . or to keep us from joining him.  So far he’s been my hippety hopper (quite the moves that boy has!!) and now my crooner.  His dramatic nature just makes it so fun! I love it when he fake falls to the floor or dramatically fakes it as he runs into the wall and to the floor. I’m not sure where he picked that up but he’s obviously acting it out. And we really really have to keep an eye on what he watches cuz he mimics and acts out the stories and words with his toys, words and hands.

I have 15 pounds to go before I’m where I want to be physically.  Doesn’t seem like much but the last bit is so stubborn and motivation wanes with each passing pound. Thanks to Kacy I’ve revved it up with Billy Blanks’ Taebo videos.  I get so sore and keep saying “darn you, Billy Blanks, darn you,” whilst shaking my fist at the sky.  Justin keeps telling me that thats a really creepy thing to do and to knock it off.  hee hee. You know that just eggs me on. haa haa He’s not amused.

Well, geez . . . there’s an earful for ya . . . or eyeful, whatever.

We are in Harrisburg this fine weekend.  We are to be visiting and spending the night at some dear friends of ours, house.  An overnighter . . . thats a first in a long time, minus my parent’s house.  A bit nervous I am but so at ease when I remember how much we are loved and accepted by these cool people we call friends.

Welp . . . God bless!  I hope all of your weekends are fabulously full of family, friends and good times!!

mmm mmm . . . hotness! My hubby . . . don’t tell him I posted this, it would embarrass him.