Becoming Mrs. Jorgenson

No Spend Month: Days 2 and 3

2010-09-04T07:35:00.000-05:00

Maybe it should always be no spend month: On Wednesday, I got a sewing machine; yesterday we got free cheesy bread from Papa Murphy's (for filling out a survey).

But the best one so far came on Thursday. We did a channel scan earlier in the week to see that all of the major networks were available without cable. They were, so I planned to call the cable company and cancel our cable (keeping just internet) because our introductory rate went up.

Well, Thursday night we realized we had more channels--including both networks that carry our favorite football and baseball teams back home! We hadn't been able to watch them previously, and we don't care about sports in this state (sorry to be blunt, but it's true!), so it's like a little taste of heaven...or at least home!

Mr. J did spend $2.88 on a pop and a treat at work, but it was a hard enough day for him, that it was worth it. We also went grocery shopping. $50 got us all the staples (including meat) that we'll need for the month, so it's basically just milk, produce, bread, and eggs that will have to be picked up weekly from this point. Over half a tank of gas that will probably last another week...I'd say we're doing pretty well.

Today is the first college football game in our city, which means ten bajillion people running amok, lots of drunks, and drivers who forget how the whole driving process works. Needless to say, we're hiding out until the game is over! Luckily we have books and movies from the library to tide us over! :D

No Spend Month

2010-09-01T20:30:00.000-05:00

Well, after admiring the No Spend Month idea on Small Notebook, it looks like Mr. J and I are in for one of our own!

Today was payday, but his paycheck was way small. Why? Catching up on insurance for Sweet Pea, plus our insurance doubling--yes, doubling--to cover her sweet little bottom.

She's worth it, but it was quite the surprise, let me tell you.

We could move money from savings and go about our month as usual. But we worked hard for that money, and we want to keep it there!

So, here's the plan:
-Reduce grocery budget by 25%
-No individual "blow" money for the month
-We're not going home, so hopefully that's one less tank of gas
-Minimal discretionary spending

What is "minimal"? I guess we'll find out...

How did Day 1 go? I got a sewing machine.

Yes, you read that right, I got my very first sewing machine and not a penny spent! Thank you leftover Target gift cards from relatives after we'd already bought all the baby things we needed!

I made grilled sandwiches and soup for supper (all ingredients already on hand), Mr. J is "watching" baseball online, and soon we'll wrap up the night with some reading--school stuff for him, recreational for me.

Day 1: $0
What a fun challenge awaits! :D

Six/Seven Week Stretch

2010-08-26T09:55:00.000-05:00

Sweet Pea has become increasingly fussy, needy, and difficult to manage. I blame my mother's recent visit and give-her-the-pacifier-at-the-slightest-sound philosophy; before that, we never used a pacifier (and had no desire to start) and our little girl could self-soothe. Now, if I set her down she becomes Mr. Hyde.

Mr. J and I had a very long night of trying to get the poor thing to sleep. She's overtired from not letting herself sleep, but tiredness begets more tiredness and...well, let's just say the whole Jorgenson household is feeling it this morning.

But she's just so darn cute I can't stay upset! At this point, the pacifier has been hidden and we're just praying that she'll forget its existence...and start sleeping through the night!

Let the Decluttering Begin!

2010-08-24T11:10:00.000-05:00

I am a girl on a mission: to strip this apartment down to comfortable efficiency. I don't want to get rid of so much stuff that we feel like we're lacking, but I want to make it sparse enough to run more smoothly and feel bigger.

Welcome to Fall Cleaning 2010!

So, drawer by drawer and pile by pile, I'm off. Today, I randomly started with kitchen utensils drawer. I don't have tons of gadgets and doodads in my kitchen, but it's frustrating to have to rummage in search of something. Here's how I did...

Before:

After:

With seven items removed (and an entire knife block on the counter that will leave once I invest in a chef's knife), it's only a small start, but it only took two minutes. Two minutes and my home is already seven things lighter.

What can you do with two minutes today?

Crazy Season, Easy Schedule

2010-08-20T15:42:00.000-05:00

I'm a sucker for back-to-school time. Fresh school supplies, new routines and schedules, the smell of fall in the air...I love it all. This will be my first year without back-to-school of my own: I always had school, then college, then one year of working at a school. Now it's just me and the baby, and she's going to have to learn to hold her head up on her own before we can go about any sort of schooling! :D

But it is time to add some routine to our days. Her sleeping and eating patterns are becoming more regular, even if the timing varies day to day. I can't create a clock-based schedule, but here is my day-to-day plan starting next week when Mr. J goes back to school:

Wake-up (about 7): feed Sweet Pea, get her ready for the day, get myself ready for the day, pack Mr. J's lunch, take him to the University
When we get home (about 9:30): a little play time, another feeding, morning nap
During morning nap: housework, write blog post/check email and such
After morning nap: go for a walk, Songs and Stories time (this is the part of me itching to start schooling--we'll read picture books and sing hymns, etc.), lunch time for me, more play time, probably more feeding, afternoon nap
During afternoon nap: my Bible time, work on writing project (I fancy myself a novelist these days) with goal of 1000 words a day (but I may have to work my way up to that!), free time or work on projects around the house (organzing, sewing, I'm dying to rearrange the living room...again)
After afternoon nap: play time, a quick tidy-up, start dinner prep, pick Mr. J up from University

Loose but hopefully productive!

What does your schedule for this fall look like?

Shining the kitchen sink

2010-08-17T13:25:00.000-05:00

Please note, this pretty sink--unfortunately--is not mine

I'm slowly adjusting to life with baby: it's not that life is tough with her around, but it's sure tough to get things done when all I want to do is play and coo at her...or take a nap when she naps because I'm tuckered out, too!

Housekeeping has been on the back burner; Mr. J was an angel and spent Sunday afternoon, with my begrudging help, getting us all caught up. I'm still working on finding a routine that works for us at this feeding-all-the-time-unless-we're-both-napping phase, but one thing that I started and am easily sticking to? I shine my sink every night.

I've never been able to follow all of the FlyLady plans (and found the gazillion emails overwhelming), but I do like waking up to a clean, shiny sink. I feel more in control, probably because in order to get a shiny sink, the dishes have to be done and put away. And if I'm in the kitchen in the evening, I may as well put Mr. J's lunch together, instead of hustling around in the morning. And if the sink is clean but the counters are dirty, everything looks funny. And if I clean off the counters, there's stuff on the floor that needs to be swept up...

Suddenly, the motivation to do one little thing creates the drive to do a bunch of other little things that would otherwise seem overwhelming. And even of those would-be overwhelming things don't get done...at least I have a shiny sink.

When you're behind, what gets you back on track?

This week's diaper savings: 11!

2010-08-13T15:05:00.000-05:00

Okay, I promise I won't do this every week, but since this is my first week at it and it's becoming addictive, I'm posting how many diapers--and diaper changes--I saved myself by holding Sweet Pea over the toilet when I thought she needed to relieve herself:

Monday: 1
Tuesday: 2
Wednesday: 3
Thursday: 2
Friday: 3 so far, probably more to come since I usually have more afternoon catches than morning ones

11 diapers! 11 cloth diapers that I don't have to wash or 11 disposables that didn't end up in the garbage. And a happier baby: she actually whined/cried twice this morning with a gotta-go-potty look in her eyes. That's my girl!

Okay, okay, next week, back to more appetizing topics, I promise!

A month already?!

2010-08-11T12:24:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness, I can't believe how quickly time is going by!

Of course, looking at my messy house and how little I accomplish each day makes it more believable, but even that is getting better and easier as we adjust to life with baby.

It's amazing how much bigger she's gotten, how much more alert: she follows my face and turns her head when she hears her daddy's voice.

Plus, she's started sleeping in her crib instead of the pack-and-play beside our bed. I have to leave all the bedroom doors open so I can hear her when she needs to eat in the night, but she's adjusted to having her own bed very well.

And the biggest change? Are you ready for it?

She goes poop in the potty!

Impossible for a one-month-old, you say? Au contraire, this mama has been reading about elimination communication, using signals and reading baby's cues to avoid diapers and use the toilet (or some sort of receptacle). I'll post in more detail later, but since beginning this experiment on Monday night, we've caught two poops and two pees in the toilet, plus some more in bowls or while laying on towels. Hooray for fewer diaper changes!

I love watching her grow and change, but boy I wish I could keep a newborn version of my little one, too...I already miss her! But, life marches on, and I'm in love with this growing little girl.

Temptations to Work

2010-08-10T11:18:00.000-05:00

Last week, a letter showed up for me in the mail:

Dear Educator,

Such-and-such School District would like to offer you a position as a substitute teacher for this academic school year...

Well, I'll be darned. This is a state that requires a license to substitute--which I don't have, but I guess working for them last year was good enough.

I agonized over that letter before Mr. J came home from work: what if I worked just one day a week? How much would childcare cost? How much would I take home after that cost, gas, food, etc.? How would we find somebody willing to take a baby on short notice and randomly? I pondered, then when Mr. J got home, we both pondered.

And when I was holding my beautiful little girl on my parents' front porch swing, watching her try to focus on the trees and just generally enjoying the great outdoors, I realized that I'm torn because more money would bring us closer to our goals (like owning a farm) faster, but I would have to sacrifice precious moments with Sweet Pea.

Mr. J and I have made sacrifices and do without so I can stay home, but my mother didn't have that option; it was daycare for me. My daycare experiences ran the gambit from wonderful to horrible, and I knew from the get-go I didn't want that for my child.

So, as tempting as the offer is, I will be checking the "no" box on the form letter and spending my days with my adorable girl, playing, teaching, and loving like nobody but a parent can.

2010-08-02T11:15:00.000-05:00

Now, I'm sure there are as many opinions out there as there are parents, but I must say...

My baby is the cutest thing to ever wear footie pajamas.

And, naturally, I say that with complete objectivity. ;)

Happy Monday!

Cooking Style

2010-07-28T14:24:00.000-05:00

"My food is flavorful, simple, and abundant--that's the style of cooking that works in my life."
--Ree Drummond in The Pioneer Woman Cooks

I received The Pioneer Woman Cooks for my birthday from my in-laws, who actually gave it to me while we were still in the hospital after Sweet Pea was born. When I should have been dozing like my baby girl and husband, I was poring over recipes and reading through the non-recipe parts when the above quote stood out to me.

I think a lot of women can relate to Ree's "style of cooking," especially busy moms. But then I wondered, what words would I use to describe my own cooking?

As I pondered, it almost became a "Where I'm From" sort of exercise (which I plan to delve into in the future anyway), and here's what I came up with...

My food is hearty, Midwestern fare: casseroles, stews, meat and potatoes, hot sandwiches, etc.
My pantry has quite a bit of junk food in it; in my opinion, junk has a place in my snacks but not in my meals. (I haven't perfected this by any means, but I'm excited to start removing junk from my main dishes: homemade white sauce vs. cream of mushroom, brown rice over white, etc.)
Culinary experiments are the spice of life and can be expected on a weekly basis.
Most importantly, my food keeps my family nourished, healthy, and strong. What more could I ask for?

So, how would you describe your cooking?

Review: In Praise of Slowness

2010-07-26T12:06:00.000-05:00

We live in a world obsessed with speed; everything should be faster and we are constantly chasing greater time-efficiency. But there are movements the world over, like Slow Food, Citta Slow (slow cities), and even slow music (playing classical music slower as intended by the composers), trying to change the way we approach various aspects of our lives and improve them for the better. In his book In Praise of Slowness, Carl Honore (who is honest enough to admit he got a speeding ticket while researching the book!) offers insight into these slower venues and why they might benefit our harried society.

For example, he discusses the Slow Food movement at length: we are disconnected from our food when we simply grab and go. We miss out on nutrients. We miss out on fellowship and relationships built around the table. He also discusses how working fewer hours has often proven to make individuals more productive because they have time away to relax, recuperate, and think up solutions for at-work problems. Honore talks about how crazy kids' schedules have gotten, but that slowing down and stripping away many extracurriculars (and overwhelming academic pressure) allows kids to be kids and develop more healthily than cramming their lives with deadlines and Blackberrys.

Before reading the book, I assumed I would walk away with lots of ideas on how to make my life slower and our home more relaxed. I was pleasantly surprised to realize that I already lead a slow life: no major deadlines, no major time pressures, no overly full schedule. There is time in my day to dawdle, to dream, to pursue creative outlets. Mr. J and I had a conversation about the tone and tempo in our home; I asked him what he felt was neglected or needed more time, what activities needed more time and what were emphasized too much. After a few moments of thought, he looked at me and said, "I think it's kind of perfect."

Now, I wouldn't call my time management or my home perfect, but I think we've found a great rhythm, and it's not a hurried one. And there are things from the book I want to implement, like cooking from scratch more and going for more long walks. If you're feeling hurried (or aren't and just enjoy reading about simple living), I would recommend you pick up this book. The slowness will inspire you and the statistics and anecdotes about life in the fast lane will scare the speed right out of you.

And now? I'm off to make a sandwich and enjoy a chapter or two from a good book while my baby girl sleeps. Because I lead a beautifully simple life.

My Labor Story

2010-07-23T14:24:00.000-05:00

While I won't share all the gory details, Sweet Pea's arrival was very much memorable, so I felt the desire to share...and to rant about my experience.

But hey, it's my blog and I'll cry if I want to.

You see, Wednesday, July 7 was my due date as well as the day of a regularly-scheduled appointment. I had what felt like cramps off and on leading up to the appointment, so I was excited that maybe labor was imminent. The doctor said I was 2 centimeters dilated and 25% effaced; she expected us to be back within a day or two.

Well, I didn't sleep that night as contractions became regular, every five minutes by Thursday morning, so we called the hospital and they told us to come in.

The resident who checked me said nothing had changed, no active labor, head on home. But we'll probably see you tonight.

Okay...understandable.

But when the pain got worse, to the point where I couldn't move between sitting and standing and lying down or go to the bathroom--regardless of whether I was having a contraction--we called again. No dice: stay home, you'll be more comfortable. No need to come in until your water breaks.

Friday at some time of day that I can't remember because I was in a haze of pain and exhaustion, we went back again. Same resident. Not only was she patronizing (she's on her fourth pregnancy herself), but she refused to get the attending doctor even after the nurse sent for her.

We got sent home. Again.

Saturday night, we called and I lied telling them my water broke. They said come on in. One resident said that I had progressed to 5 or 6 centimeters. The next crushed all my hopes and dreams by telling him I hadn't moved.

And they were going to send me home. Again.

Then the nurse noticed that I looked really dehydrated. I reminded them that I was going on Day Four Without Relieving Myself. Suddenly an IV was sent for and I didn't have to go home. They put two liters of fluid in me and I still couldn't go! Guess they should have listened to me sooner, but boy are catheters fun...

By then, they even agreed to knock me out for a few hours so I could get some rest, see if things progressed on their own.

It was the most blissful sleep of my life! Until I woke up, no more morphine, same old contractions. They offered to break my water or start Pitocin if I wanted. Oh, I wanted.

Within minutes, my water broke (well, it made an appearance and had to be broken...minor detail). Suddenly I was 9 centimeters dilated!

Residents popped out of the woodwork to see the show--even though before that only one nurse was actually helping me. At that point, things became surreal: the lights and scrubs and bustling made me feel like I was on the set of ER or something.

But forty minutes later, a med student caught Sweet Pea, the scrubbed-in residents marveled at how quickly it happened and without an epidural or pain meds, and I heard the first whimpers and then first cries of my sweet baby girl.

I never had a grip on my husband that could have killed him...didn't even hang onto him, actually, but his words of love and praise (and that the baby was indeed actually coming out) were the greatest reassurance I could have had.

And every woman I've heard say it is right: you forget the pain.

Except I never realized how much an upper lip could sweat...for some reason, that I remember.

Like Father, Like Daughter

2010-07-20T09:37:00.000-05:00

I realized this morning that I actually have very few pictures of my baby girl so far! But the above is one from the hospital: Sweet Pea and Daddy napping together. Mr. J is a notorious napper, so I have a feeling that his little girl will follow suit...which is okay by me.

It's amazing how quickly they grow! At the doctor yesterday, we learned that not only has she gotten back up to birth weight, she's grown to eight pounds! Of course, her pudgy cheeks gave away that she had definitely grown...

Is it okay to be this happy? To stare at my baby, to plan walks in the park, to come back from leaving her and feel like I'm complete just by looking at her?

I sure hope so, because I don't plan on changing any time soon...

Ladies and Gentlemen, We Have a Baby!

2010-07-14T08:15:00.000-05:00

That's right, Sweet Pea is here, home from the hospital, and we are all doing well!

Sweet Pea Jorgenson

Sunday, July 11, 2010

6:05 am

7 pounds, 7 ounces

20.5 inches long

Incredibly wanted and extraordinarily loved

More photos and details to come,

but for now I've got to go love on my baby! :D

Have I mentioned I love my husband?

2010-07-06T10:31:00.000-05:00

This month, I added "allowances" for Mr. J and I into the budget, just some pocket money for a pop when he's at work or for some earrings for me since Forever 21 opened up in the mall near us (gotta love cheap, cute accessories!).

Then, since yesterday was the official University holiday for the 4th, I had my dear hubby all to myself all day. Well, "all day" after he was at work and realized that nobody else was coming in and that the buses weren't running and could I please pick him up?

After a long walk at the mall in (dashed) hopes of inducing labor, we started looking around the food court for some lunch. I wanted Taco Bell, so I ordered and waited for Mr. J to whip out his debit card (mine was in the car).

Instead, he whips out his "allowance" money and pays cash...when I try to say, "But that's for you to spend on yourself, you don't have to buy my lunch with that," how does he respond?

"I know, but I love you and I want to."

What a sweetheart. Even though I had high hopes for that money, I'm looking for an opportunity to spoil my man right back. :D

Happy Tuesday, and I'm hoping, dear reader, that I won't be around much longer--baby needs to decide to come out!

Menu planning again--for the long haul!

2010-07-05T10:50:00.000-05:00

Well, I've been trying different menu planning methods in hopes to find a monthly meal plan that works for us. Combining bits and pieces from the probably 92,387 different methods I read about, I think I've come up with something.

But first, this week, everything prepped ahead of time because we're on Baby Watch:

Sunday: Pork chops, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables in cheese sauce
Monday: Spaghetti, salad
Tuesday: Crescent dogs, corn
Wednesday: Buffalo chicken breasts, fries, green beans
Thursday: Grilled ham and cheese, fruit
Friday: Italian chicken over salad, breadsticks
Saturday: Chicken stir-fry

Things will look a bit different when I get to next month and my monthly plan. Daily themes--including sides--look like this:

Sunday: Meat and potatoes, vegetable
Monday: Easy/simple, salad
Tuesday: "Deli" (soup, salad, sandwich in some combination) or stir-fry, fruit
Wednesday: Try a new recipe! (Sides then depend)
Thursday: Casserole/crockpot, vegetable
Friday: Italian, bread, salad
Saturday: Leftovers or out

I have lists of meals to rotate for these, at least four recipes under each heading so nothing has to be repeated within the month. I set it all up in an Excel spreadsheet; you can see it and use it for yourself by clicking here.

I'm hoping that this strategy will help me have more prepared ahead of time, plus save money by buying all of my staples ahead of time. I guess only time will tell--for now, I have a full freezer and minimal dinner prep for the whole month of July...now I just need my little bundle of joy to make her appearance! :D

He didn't even notice!

2010-06-30T13:40:00.000-05:00

Photo courtesy of veganjoy

Today, I used a tip that I wish I could attribute to the proper peanut butter and jelly authority, but I can't for the life of me remember where I read it.

Darn that Mommy Brain that's settling in! In other news, I did finally remember the last name of the girl who lived down the hall from my dorm room freshman year--not that this matters, but her last name escaped me and it was driving me batty.

Anyway, the great peanut butter and jelly tip...is...

Spread peanut butter on the butt slice of the loaf, and once it's face down on your sandwich, no one will know that they're eating the butt!

My husband just thanked me for how good lunch was today, which stunned me because it consisted of chips and salsa, veggies with dip, a brownie, and my disguised-butt-slice-PB&J. I asked if he'd noticed the butt--he didn't! Victory for ignored end-of-the-loaf slices everywhere!

Perhaps good PB&J is all in the butt...

Happy in the Lord

2010-06-29T09:20:00.000-05:00

I recently began reading and following a new (to me) blog, Women Living Well and have been greatly encouraged by it.

I wish that I could find where she said it so I could link it, but at some point the blog's author, Courtney, mentioned the phrase being "happy in the Lord."

Happy in the Lord. Not striving, not working, not laboring, not any other verb participle. Just happy.

And that makes perfect sense: won't progress and growth and testimony and works follow if we are happy in the Lord?

For example, if today I decide to stand on a street corner and proclaim the Gospel (waaaaaaaaaay outside my comfort zone!) in my own strength and worry about how many people I'm reaching, my effectiveness, etc. ...will I really get anywhere?

What about if I spend time in God's Word and am refreshed, go to the grocery store with a psalm or a hymn or the latest by Jeremy Camp humming on my lips and bump into someone's cart and a conversation begins?

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful"
-Proverbs 15:13a

And doesn't a cheerful face draw in a better audience than a striving one? Certainly both situations could be fruitful, both could allow for opportunity to evangelize or encourage. But if my focus is me, me, me, won't I miss opportunity? And even if I see it, won't I spoil it?

Today I will choose to be cheerful. Today I will be happy in the Lord.

Books: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Siddhartha

2010-06-25T11:00:00.001-05:00

Well...finally, a little fiction! I just hadn't been in a fiction mood, but this week I finished two novels:

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas follows the story of a boy, Bruno, who has to move from Berlin to a lonely place known as "Out-With," though the adult reader realizes quickly that he is in fact living outside of Auschwitz and his father is a high ranking Nazi official. I won't ruin the story or the ending, but even though the tale is horribly sad, it's intriguing to see such a horrible time through the eyes of a very naive little boy.

For example, he can't understand why the people on the other side of the fence get to wear pajamas all day when he has to wear uncomfortable, stuffy clothes. Or why he can't go play with all of the children over there when there are none on his side of the fence. Or why none of them come to dinner, even though soldiers do all of the time. It's a haunting, hard read, but it's very worth it.

Siddhartha, on the other hand, really wasn't. I was disappointed; many productivity and simplicity bloggers had praised this short novel, so I thought good things were in store. Sure, the title character makes some excellent points about the things of this world that don't matter in which we get wrapped up anyway, but in the end, he finds his peace, his "salvation," his Nirvana is essentially in himself--rather modern-day, New Age for being written in 1922.

Despite any good point about the world's trappings, Siddhartha did not find the truth: true happiness, contentment, peace, understanding, and every other good thing can only be found in a real, saving relationship with Jesus Christ. In the end, nothing else matters.

Still on the nightstand, waiting to be finished or blogged about: How to Have a 48-Hour Day, Miserly Moms, Weapons of Mass Instruction, Getting Things Done, Main Street, and In Praise of Slowness. Can I get through the stack before baby comes? As I'm feeling rather rotund, penquin-esque in my waddling, and increasingly uncomfortable...I sure hope not--I'd be happy if she came tomorrow!

What are you reading this summer?

Hymn Sing

2010-06-23T12:58:00.000-05:00

Mr. J and I were not blessed with great musical talent; we actually can't sing together at all because either one of us is off or (more likely) we're both off.

Nobody's going to be knocking at our door with a record deal.

Oh sing to the LORD a new song;sing to the LORD, all the earth!
Psalm 96:1

But still, Mr. J willingly sat down with me and an old hymnal the other night, flipping through to songs we both know, alternating verses and attempting to sing the choruses together (even though that didn't always work). He had said at the beginning that it was awfully late to be starting such a sing-along...but half an hour later, he was the one still searching through the book for another familiar song! :D

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
Psalm 29:2

I'll admit, spending time together in God's Word has been a struggle for us; we lack routine and consistency. Mr. J came from a believing family, but there wasn't much leadership along those lines. I came from a family that went to church, but the rest of life was and is entirely divorced from spiritual things. So this is new territory for both of us.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
Psalm 95:6

Singing hymns may not be enough, it may not lead to the kind of growth that real, earnest time in the Bible can...but it's a start. And everybody's got to start somewhere.

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You Jesus
-"The Heart of Worship" by Matt Redman

Relaxin

2010-06-21T16:01:00.000-05:00

No, I didn't miss a 'g' in the post title; I really am talking about "relaxin."

Just what is that? you ask. Relaxin is the hormone that makes a pregnant woman's ligaments go soft and squishy and wibbledy-wobbledy. And I must be producing it like crazy!

Last night was the first full night of sleep I got since Wednesday because my jaw is relaxin' and hurts dreadfully when I lay down.

I waddle when I walk or try to stand or do any bipedal movement normal to humans because my hips are busy relaxin'.

When I get out of bed in the middle of the night to make my 4,837 trip to the bathroom, my husband has to listen to a cacophony of grunts and groans because my every joint is...you've guessed it...relaxin' and not crazy about getting up to move.

When all of this relaxin' is over, I'm going to need a vacation!

2010-06-19T12:24:00.000-05:00

Last night, horrible jaw pain continued (pregnancy related? I'm developing TMD? Who knows...).

A pound of frozen butter, a hot washcloth, and an entire act of Twelfth Night read aloud by the best husband in the world definitely made my night better.

Happy weekend!

Swag Satisfied

2010-06-17T13:18:00.000-05:00

This came in the mail yesterday. And I didn't even pay for it.

How you may ask? The wonderful world of Swagbucks.

Swagbucks is a website that gives points for doing things like online searches, online shopping, answering daily polls, etc. These randomly given out "bucks" can be exchanged for prizes ranging from gift cards to video games to perfume. I've been Swagbuck-ing for several months now, using my points on $5 Amazon gift cards, and had enough to purchase a used copy of The West Wing season 6 at no cost to me!

Mr. J was very excited to pop this baby in the DVD player last night since it's the only season we didn't own. I was excited to finish off the collection at no cost, unless you consider using a specific search engine for searching I would do anyway a "cost"...but I sure don't!

If you aren't already taking advantage of this easy-peasy prize-winning website, I highly recommend you start.

The Small House Book by Jay Shafer

2010-06-16T11:16:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that Mr. J and I long for wide open spaces, a farm of our own. So one of my favorite pastimes? Floor plans! I love planning in general, but thinking about space and built-in shelving and customizing my own kitchen...well, it's a really good dream.

But thinking of our future in terms of space, amenities, and needs can be quite eye-opening, as was the case in reading The Small House Book by Jay Shafer. Shafer has lived in approximately 100 square foot homes for over twelve years and wrote a book about tiny houses and his architectural philosophy.

(TIP: Want somebody to read something? Make it readily available over and over again--they'll surprise you! I tucked a book into Mr. J's lunchbox the other day, and now we're having terrific discussions about education. When I went to the bathroom last night, I set down Jay Shafer's book and came back to a husband advocating we look into small housing plans when he wouldn't even look at them with me before!)

While Mr. J and I definitely won't be able to make it in a Tumbleweed (especially with Sweet Pea on the way and hopefully siblings for her down the road!), there's been a major shift in our perceived "needs"...

This is Meadow Valley built by Stratford Homes, and you can read more about the plan here. It's two stories (plus we would put in a full basement), 2740 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3 3/4 bathrooms.

Now, even if we have half a dozen kids, is 4000 square feet necessary? Can we heat and cool it responsibly (read: can we afford it)? Will we use all of that space well or will it just become clutter-riddled and make us think we need more house for all of our stuff? And do I really want to clean 4000 square feet on a regular basis?

Not particularly. So, as reality sank in and I thought about what was important--a bedroom for us, for boys, for girls, a good-sized kitchen, space for a big dining room table, lots of bookshelf room, and a great room for gathering, I turned to this little number...

1500 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths (though the master is far fancier than I think we need...). If we put a basement underneath, there would be space for a home theater set-up (something Mr. J and I think would be a lot of fun) and/or an apartment-type place to be rented out, used by adult children in transition, or for our parents in their old age.

Smaller footprint, only one story (aside from the basement), meets all of our needs.

But then Mr. J started looking at the B-53.

It's funny, because I had shown this to him before reading The Small House Book, but he wasn't interested until he looked the book over himself. With up to 837 square feet, 2 1/2 bedrooms, and just one bathroom, even with a basement, this might be a bit cramped for the family size we hope to have (but, if God has other plans, the B-53 might end up being perfect!)--not to mention that we hope to do quite a bit of hosting and there's no dining space beyond a kitchen booth.

But boy is it cute!

How did we go from 4000 square feet to 837ish? Thinking about what we really want. Time to be instead of time to clean. Space to run outdoors instead of cavernous spaces to heat and cool. Money for quality materials instead of extra square footage. Maybe it's good that we have lots of time to think before we'll ever be able to build; this way we have a lot of time to edit.

I think at this point, we're looking for a compromise: a prefab home a bit bigger than the B-53, but not too much bigger.

Thank you, Mr. Shafer for your inspiring architecture, eco-responsibility, and the chance to dream.

And that makes me wonder, dear reader, what does your dream house look like?

Losing the Baby Belly

2010-06-14T14:32:00.003-05:00

No, it's not time to go to the hospital yet, but as I was flailing to get out of bed the other day, I created a list...

10 Things I Long to Do Once the Baby Belly Is Gone:

10. See my feet.

9. Run.

8. Bend over without tipping. Walk without running into walls because of sudden lack of spatial judgment. Fit through small spaces. In other words, regain balance!

7. Eat without leaving a trail down my front.

6. Rub Mr. J's back--this has always been a ritual of sorts for us, but I just can't lean over to do it like I used to. And Mr. J can't crack my back like he used to, so it'll be a plus for both of us!

5. Get out of bed sans assistance.

4. Get up out of chairs, squashy couches--any sort of furniture really--without assistance.

3. Have a figure. I was pretty harsh on my body image in the past...I think that'll take a backseat quickly.

2. Lay on my stomach. Oh how I miss something so simple!

1. Hold my precious baby girl!

Let the countdown begin...well, continue, anyway!

Hiatus Continued...and Heightened

2010-06-07T08:28:00.000-05:00

No, I am not returning to Blogland just yet; in fact, as this is posted, I am already hours into a weeklong internet/computer sabbatical.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, will be my first day as a stay-at-home mom (to-be, anyway); I want the first week to be happy, full, and productive. And with the temptations of blogs, email, 24-hour news cycles, Hulu, not to mention Bejeweled 2...I just think a break is best. Healthy. Cleansing, even.

So how will I fill my time in the coming week? I have a few ideas--not listed in order of importance, priority, or attention they'll be given...

Writing. Essays and blog posts that have been rattling around my brain, but even more so, I've had a novel idea--literally--and have decided to plunge into the world of writing. We'll just have to wait and see what comes of it.

Reading. Oh, to grab hold of a book and read and read as I please! I've been reading this month about productivity as well as the need for slow--how much sense does that make? Enough to make me continue down the same reading path.

Walking. I've also been reading Wanderlust: A History of Walking by Rebecca Solnit. I used to walk all of the time around the farm and down our country road. There may be more buildings and people here, but I can still benefit.

Deep cleaning. The apartment has been greatly lacking in TLC lately, because it's so easy to say, "Oh, I can take care of that once I'm home all the time." Well, no more excuses now!

Nesting. Kind of goes hand in hand with the above, but I really need to organize all of Sweet Pea's gifts and clothes, not just let them pile on the spare bed in her room-to-be!

So, ta-ta for another week!

Hiatus

2010-05-20T13:27:00.002-05:00

After a crazy few weeks of food poisoning, travel, our first baby shower, the end of the semester, and everything else associated with life...I realized I hadn't blogged for awhile.

And you know what? That was okay. My blogging well has run dry for the time being, and I'm going to let it be.

So here begins an official-unofficial (because how official is a blog anyway?) hiatus from the blogging world. I'm off to enjoy nesting in my little apartment, watching my belly grow, spending time with my sweet husband, and even attempting a novel.

Happy summer!

Miss Me?

2010-05-08T08:51:00.002-05:00

Miss Book Week?

Well, our internet connection went kaput for quite some time, and then I was so busy celebrating the end of the semester for Mr. J (wahoo!!) that everything else came to a screeching halt!

So, let's pick up, shall we?

As we plan to homeschool Sweet Pea and any siblings coming after her, I am always drawn to books on education. I've heard a lot about Charlotte Mason, a British education reformer who believed in "living books" and sending kids out into nature to learn about science; when I came across a slim little number about her techniques, I couldn't pass it up.

I took extensive notes on A Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison. It proved to be a quick-and-dirty introduction to the hows and whys of the method, and I enjoyed it immensely. Here are the highlights:

Whole books and living books are best: whole books instead of anthologies, biographies instead of textbooks, books where "life" (marriages, emotions, everyday events, etc.) happens, books that use literary language instead of stale and boring prose.
If we know how to retell something, we learn it better; narration is key to learning. This can be done from an early age by reading for about ten minutes and asking casually about what happened, the characters, etc. With time and age, more details should be expected and a shift to written narration will occur.
Choose good books, never "twaddle" or books that have been "dumbed-down".

Our goal is to lead children to self-education. Thus, exams are essay style: tell all you know rather than graded on what you do not.

Lecturing leads to lack of attention; full attention and major retention in the first reading is the goal.
Both independent reading and being read to are important for students of all ages.
Enjoy poetry! Start with age-appropriate stuff, increase length and maturity with time, and enjoy it rather than study it to death.
Prepared dictation, looking at a passage and identifying/studying potential problem words before writing them down as dictated, is the best way to teach spelling correctly the first time around.
Foreign language learning follows this order: learn words orally, learn to read and write in the language, and then learn the grammar. Kind of like we learn our first language, huh?
Going outside is hugely important to development and scientific study.
Weekly nature walks allow students to observe for themselves. Notes and sketches can be kept in a nature notebook, begun as soon as a child can draw and write.
Teach concrete math first: 3 jellybeans added to a pile of 5 jellybeans makes 8 jellybeans comes before 3+5=8
Art should be studied directly by observation of reproductions rather than books or lectures.

"Composition comes naturally to children who have spent time with books."

Expose children to great music.
Free time is important, but children should be given wholesome, productive choices: gardening, knitting, fort-building, etc.
Curriculums and outside sources are unnecessary to teach the Bible--children should learn to love the Bible as it is and understand that it isn't just any book.
History lessons are best retained when they come inside interesting books, plays, novels, essays, biographies, poetry, architecture, and paintings (basically, anything other than a textbook).

Charlotte Mason defines habit as "a mere automatic or machine-like action with which conscious thought has nothing to do."

Geography is more than "heights of all the mountains or the import/export statistics"; travel guides and books are preferable for their literary language and interesting information.
Morals and citizenship can be taught from the Bible and Plutarch's Lives--though parts of the latter must be censored for young listeners.

Now, there's obviously loads more to say about Mason's methods and educational philosophy in general, but those were the big idea takeaways from Levison's book, which I greatly appreciated. Oh for the days when I have my own pupil, my own Sweet Pea!

Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Revisited

2010-05-04T16:27:00.003-05:00

And thus continues Book Week!

I have been a big Dave Ramsey fan for a long time; Mr. J and I aren't following his baby steps exactly as my paranoid side requires a bigger buffer than $1000 plus his student loan debts aren't accumulating interest, so we aren't exactly doing a debt snowball...but I want very badly to be debt-free and we're working on it--slowly but surely!

The reader can easily Google "Dave Ramsey" and read for hours about his philosophy, but most of Financial Peace Revisited was information I already had, so I'll focus on the section that really caught my eye: kids and money.

Dave points out four areas that kids need to learn about money:

Work
Saving
Spending wisely and
Giving

He breaks down teaching these things across the various age groups thus:

3-6 year-olds should receive instant monetary reward for a specific chore (cleaning their rooms, setting the dinner table, whatever the parent chooses for that child). This teaches the child that work=money but not necessarily for all chores (other things should be expected simply to help the family and as part of living in the home. Short savings goals--like for a small toy at the dollar store--teach the idea of saving for a purpose. Dave says to allow giving to be "spontaneous" at this age and to "give tons of affirmation for giving to anything" (216).

6-13 year-olds can receive a small allowance--say $5 per week--for five or so chores that are their weekly responsibilities (again, with other chores and jobs required simply because that's what's required to live in the house). Sit down with the child and have "payday" every week, talking about and splitting the money between spending, saving, and giving.

Over 14, "[t]reat your children as adult as they are acting," is Ramsey's advice--in other words, all financial lessons and privileges/responsibilities will depend on the child's maturity (lost page number...sorry!). This is a good time to open a checking account and even hand over the spend/save/give categories if your child is ready for that responsibility. Additionally, a parent can give the child x number of dollars for y purpose (for example, $100 in August for new school clothes) and allow the child to decide how to use it (so long as Mom and Dad don't have gross objections)...and the leftovers. Dave also talks about having his kids pay their own car insurance and other expenses, but I'm not sure how Mr. J and I feel about that yet; we'll burn that bridge when we get there.

While we may not follow Mr. Ramsey's plans for kids and money exactly, I found the whole chapter helpful and it definitely sparked discussion with the mister--which is always a bonus!

To any parents out there, how do you handle money with your kids?

The Lost Reading Months

2010-05-02T21:09:00.005-05:00

February and March were not productive months in my reading life; I finished numerous books, but most of them were fluffy novels with little or no consequence. Fun, but junk food does not satisfy like meat and potatoes.

In April, I feasted upon metaphorical non-fiction steak. This week I hope to share about what I've learned (just as much for my own selfish brain processing as for any benefit to you, the reader), but first I suppose I should at least run down the list of what February and March contained...

America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money by Steve and Annette Economides
This book was full of a lot of great tips for saving money and general thriftiness, but it wasn't really anything I hadn't heard before; this would be a great place for somebody (particularly running a household) just starting out on the road to frugality.

Confessions of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella were easy, light, just-for-fun reads. I will admit something peculiar though: I preferred the movie. Strange, right? But the language wasn't as coarse and the heroine didn't just bed the guy in the end. You know, for as far as women's lib has supposedly come, I find it funny that chick lit still always ends with the girl getting the guy of her dreams in bed--it just doesn't seem all that "empowering" to me...

The Apothecary's Daughter by Julie Klassen
This is probably one of the more substantial books I read over these two months. While I'm not so sure about those who compare Klassen's writing to that of Austen and the sisters Brontë, the story of a girl torn between her desire for adventure and her loyalty to her family, mixed in with a bit of faith, made for an uplifting read.

Diaper Free: The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene by Ingrid Bauer
This book was probably the most profitable that I read: imagine, babyhood with no (or at least minimal) dirty diapers! The methods explained make so much sense, and I plan to try my hand at training Sweet Pea early on--stay tuned for that one!

Summer on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber was just a so-so read...I picked it up off of the New Books shelf thinking I might like the author; in the end, it was a decent story, but I was just indifferent to it because I'd had no prior exposure to the characters.

Mortgage Free!: Innovative Strategies for Debt Free Home Ownership by Robert Roy
I thought this book would be about finance and real estate; turns out, it was all about alternative building strategies, like cordwood masonry, temporary sheltering while you build, and how to find cheap land--basically, strategies for building your own home and doing it in such a way that doesn't require large amounts of lending. Mr. J and I probably won't be building a straw bale house anytime soon, but it was an interesting read and gave me lots of ideas for how to search for land in the future, so I'm glad I read it.

A Plain Life by Scott Savage
After leaving the conventional life behind for Quakerism in a rural area, writer Scott Savage decided to get rid of his last tie to the modern world: his driver's license. And instead of simply allowing it to expire without renewing, he took a seven day walking trip across the state to return it.

With all that fluff out of the way, prepare for a filling meal starting tomorrow as Mrs. J's Book Week continues! :D

My Little Hero

2010-04-28T07:49:00.002-05:00

I've been reading a lot lately about family, biblical models, roles, and so forth, and a topic that comes up over and over is the feminization of men. We see it everywhere, from the man jokes that are now the standard on TV to ads and articles that promote manicures and all sorts of effeminate grooming habits.

But in reading So Much More by sisters Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin, I found that this is easily reversed in young boys by praising and encouraging their masculine traits.

So yesterday, I experimented.

When I walked into the lunchroom, I saw a sweet little guy with ranch dressing all over his face...and some on the bench next to him. I told him laughingly that he might want a napkin for his face, but not hearing me, he launched into a story about how the ranch dressing on the bench wasn't his fault, that somebody else had done it. I clarified that I meant his face, which made him smile, and I straightened up.

"But somebody's still going to have to clean up this dressing, boys," I said to the table at-large. "Who's going to be my hero and step up to the plate?"

The boy with the dressing on his face, looked at me, blinked a few times, and grabbed a couple of napkins. "Thanks, buddy, I really appreciate that."

If Mr. J and I are blessed down the road with a little boy (or more!), I have a better idea of how to build them up as little men than I did before.

I Doubled the Size of Our Living Room--Without Knocking Out Any Walls!

2010-04-22T15:01:00.004-05:00

Yes, I am an interior decorating genius, thank you very much.

Okay, I'm not at all a genius, but Mr. J and I did have an epiphany, moved some things around, and now seem to have doubled our little apartment's square footage! So much for that Real Estate Bug!

Here is our pre-epiphany living room:

Furniture set at an angle to make the TV viewable, plus make space for the computer desk behind the couch (not pictured, but trust me that it was there). Well, there's a cable in the wall leading to our bedroom, so after a quick run to Best Buy for an adapter and some fancy finagling, we decided, why not try putting the TV in our bedroom? And here's the result:

It may not look huge, but oh my goodness the space! (It also doesn't look quite that blue in person--darn that camera...) Now, we can have people over and have room for charades! Vacuuming's a breeze! We have more living space! YAHOO!

Phew, sorry about that; I got a bit carried away.

While it can be great to be able to flip on the TV whenever, it's been really nice to sit in the silence after supper: Mr. J will do homework and keep tabs on his fantasy baseball teams while I lounge with a book. Or we'll turn on a radio show (I don't even mind sports radio these days!) and play cards. Sweet Pea will definitely benefit from the floor space for crawling and playing in the future.

And the TV in the bedroom takes us back to our engagement: curling up in front of the boob tube at his folks' house because we had no money for anything else, going through endless seasons of old shows, sharing our hearts about anything and everything while propped up with a gazillion pillows, sharing cheap snacks from the local convenience store. We don't watch nearly as much as we did then (which is definitely a good thing), but it's certainly a comfortable, familiar feeling.

Of course, now I've caught the Interior Decorating Bug...we're looking at curtains/blinds to replace the generic apartment ones, some throw pillows would be lovely, maybe even a rug to ground the space...

Menu Planning Is Back!

2010-04-19T15:16:00.003-05:00

All right, after a brief hiatus, I am happy to say that I am back to menu planning, and hopefully better at it!

For more ideas, head on over to OrgJunkie!

Monday: Grilled chicken over salad, garlic bread, strawberries

Tuesday: Brats and baked beans, watermelon

Wednesday: Breakfast for dinner...or we might stop at DQ with a gift card I received last week...

Thursday: Tater tot hotdish, corn

Friday: Out!

Saturday: leftovers

Sunday: Roast chicken, potatoes, vegetables

What are you eating this week?

Random Thoughts on a Friday

2010-04-16T07:24:00.002-05:00

1. My belly is beginning to make life more interesting: sitting from lying down, tying shoes, that sort of thing.

2. Mr. J and I are blowing my entire paycheck this weekend, and I don't feel bad about it. Well, only a little bit; I have a hard time parting with money. But we've reached our savings goal for the year in just three short months, we won't be able to get away as easily next year, and our favorite baseball team just opened their new stadium last week. Seems like the perfect time to see a game.

3. If Thomas Jefferson could see the state of the system today, I think he'd reconsider his position on public education. At least the girl who went into a raging fit and then climbed a tree to have a safe place from which to swear at her peers (after having physically attacked some of them and a teacher) apologized to me later.

4. I've been doing some major reading (just ask poor Mr. J, who always seems to be prying my eyes from a book) lately, and really need to start sharing what I'm learning--so stay tuned!

5. Breakfast foods were made for pregnant women. This is my conclusion based on the fact that I crave little else these days: various cereals, breakfast sandwiches, I've inhaled whole boxes of Toaster Strudel, doughnuts of every size and shape and makeup, and most recently I told Mr. J that I'm dying for the world's biggest cinnamon roll.

Which I'm still waiting on. Maybe on the way to the ball park...

Have a great weekend everybody!

The Real Estate Bug

2010-04-13T16:18:00.002-05:00

With spring, it seems, comes an inundation of "For Sale" signs popping up from lawns, as if they're just another plant poking through. I'm sure I've annoyed plenty of drivers by sloooooooowing down in front of some property or another, scoping it out, checking for which real estate website it will be listed on.

I've caught the Real Estate Bug.

We can't afford a mortgage.
We don't want to still be in this state in five years.
We can't afford a mortgage.
We're not ready for the extra costs and maintenance that a home entails.
We can't afford a mortgage.
Who knows if we'd be able to sell right away when we want to leave this state?
We can't afford a mortgage.
We're trying to work our way out of student loan debt--why would we want to add to it?
And...we can't afford a mortgage...at least not a 15-year fixed at X Bank's rate of Y percent, regardless of how fantastic that Y percentage is right now.

But still, the Bug.

Mr. J and I have such a strong desire to own our home, our own piece of God's earth, our own place to raise our family and farm. But is this a reason to allow discontent to grow in my heart right now? Now, when we wouldn't be able to have a farm and a decent piece of land anyway? They say that "the heart wants what the heart wants," but I know that "the heart is deceitful above all things" (Jeremiah 17:9).

So, this apartment isn't big, but it's comfortable. It has all of the things we need and some perks that I take for granted, like the garage to keep our car protected and a bigger kitchen than most apartments. In nine months we've created a lot of memories here, and this is the first place Sweet Pea will know as home. We've been able to decorate and make it our own (even if we can't paint or do anything about the ugly bathroom fixtures), which is a huge step up from our previous college dwellings.

While I may still be running a bit of a fever, I think I have found the cure for the Bug: contentment.

As it's put in King James, "And having food and raiment let us therewith be content" (1 Timothy 6:8). Well, I have a whole lot more, so content will I be.

Resolutions Revisited

2010-04-09T15:50:00.006-05:00

Well, with a quarter of the year behind us, I thought it was high-time to take a peek at my long lost resolutions and see if I've made any progress:

HOME:
Learn to make my own bread. Halfway there. I have found a recipe that I mostly like but am still tweaking...and getting used to making on a regular basis--with working still, it's easy to put off making the bread!

Create a home management binder. Halfway there. I've figured out what my binder needs, started making pages, and started pulling it together, but it still needs finishing touches before I can really see myself using it as a daily tool.

SPIRITUAL:
Tithe regularly. Beginning to progress. Well, we've done better about giving, but I still haven't found a good system, especially as we haven't gotten anywhere with finding fee-free ATMs...plus I'm down to two measly check blanks!

Be in God's Word daily. Halfway there. I found a little notebook that's perfect for doodling down a few thoughts about what I've read for the morning, which helps me focus. I write in it about half the time and actually read the Bible in the morning most days. I'm not perfect, but I'm motivated: the days when I forget to read or don't bother are much different than the days that start with the Word.

FINANCIAL:
Reach 40% of our savings goal. DONE! 4/1/10 We're there! Ha...I expected to finish this one by December, but between selling the last of my dairy cows and banking my paychecks (or a large portion of them anyway), Mr. J and I have what we consider our emergency fund/future house down payment fund up and running. Now to start attacking our student loans!

Get loans and insurance figured out. Halfway there. Well, the car insurance has turned into quite the fiasco, but we have the right paperwork to get it all figured out, so it's only a matter of time.

PERSONAL:
Read 26 good books. Changing gears. Just as something in a neighbor wants a fence, something in a reader wants a book list...but something in that reader also doesn't. I'm scrapping my official book list for a lengthy list of interesting titles plus the goal of reading a classic per quarter--January through March was The Count of Monte Cristo, and now I'm hoping to finish David Copperfield by the end of June. I'm not sure what my official book count is at this point, but I'll be posting a reading update soon...

Have a healthy baby. Obviously, this one hasn't happened yet, but we are excited for Sweet Pea's arrival and enjoy seeing how much bigger she's gotten--and stronger: those little tootsies can really pack a punch!

Rainy Day

2010-04-07T14:27:00.003-05:00

For some reason, Mr. J and I have been a bit out of sorts this week. I suppose the reason comes down to separate work-related stresses, but it seems to make for missed connection and distracted minds.

This morning, I just couldn't shake the desire to lie in bed and do nothing, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Then, as I finished wrapping his sandwich and putting it in his lunchbox, my dear husband asked for a hug.

As he stooped and held me, he whispered, "I don't want to have to leave you."

Aha! We have found the problem: it's hard for me to be away from this guy. I remember the summer we couldn't find work of any kind, so we did virtually nothing (at least, nothing that costs money)--but we got to be together all of the time.

I realize that he has to work, that right now I've obligated myself to work, but gosh...I just wish we could have those old days back.

So, on a rainy day, I'd like to take a little time to outline the ideal day-in-the-life for my love and myself:

It's early fall, probably mid-September, about seven in the morning. The beef cows (yes, in this ideal world we've already got our farm, thank you very much) need to be fed, same with the ducks. Eggs need to be collected, and even though there's a chill in the air, it might be a good time for a run.

After a hearty country breakfast, we'll start school with the kids: Mr. J handles science if it's on the agenda for the day, otherwise he listens to read-alouds or corrects papers from his college students or does odd jobs that need to be handled around the farm.

Then time has flown and it's already lunch! There's much discussion at the table about this morning's lessons--interesting facts, good parts of the story, etc. Then everybody says good-bye to Daddy as he heads off to the university to teach a few afternoon classes, but he'll be home by dinner. In the meantime, little kids take naps while everybody else rests before school and chores and dinner preparations begin again.

When Mr. J returns, everybody pitches in to finish farm chores and dinner prep before we gather around the table for the day's best meal and Bible time. Mr. J prays for the food and every head that is bowed, eating and more discussion ensue, followed by time in the Word and instruction to every heart, and maybe even a few hymns.

Then the night comes on, quietly overtaking the cozy living room where everyone is entertained by puzzles or games or a family movie. When little yawns pop up, it's time for baths, bed, prayers, and stories. My love and I then collapse on the couch, weary with happiness, to discuss the afternoon apart, dream for the future, and thank God for the beautiful, simple, country life we live.

Our life together will probably never look exactly like that--nor quite so idyllic--but it's fun to dream and helps remind me what we can do in the here and now, just where we are, to make our life look more like the one in my daydream.

The rain may get us down, but it can't take away the dream.

I Would Have Been Among Them

2010-04-02T16:35:00.002-05:00

Last Sunday, our pastor began to talk about the crucifixion, and he touched on the crowd in a way I hadn't thought of before.

Just like in any crowd at any event today, people had different motivations for watching Jesus crucified.

His followers were watching their leader beaten and bruised, completely humiliated. Some pretended not to know Him but couldn't peel their eyes from the scene; some were so shocked and confused that they couldn't turn away; some simply grieved.

Those who didn't know Jesus well but knew Pilate may have looked on with political interest: what are the ramifications? What will next week's opinion polls say about our leader?

Others were there for the spectacle. No gladiator fights to watch, no lions, no Friday WWE Smackdown.

Still others just wanted somebody to blame. Blame for their lot in life, their misery, their problems. Sure, Jesus never did anything to them personally, but He claimed to be something He obviously wasn't, so why shouldn't He suffer like the rest of us?

Oh friend, I don't know which category I would have fallen under, but I would have been among those people, and no matter which group I fell into, I would have been the one who nailed Him to the cross. I put Him there--me, my imperfections, my sins, my mistakes, my weaknesses. If I had been the only person alive, He still would have been killed.

But even if it were just me, He still would have defeated death, He still would have paid the price I couldn't on the debt that He didn't owe. On this side of the cross, I can rest in the work performed by Jesus on that day: defeating death and sin--my sin--once and for all.

Enjoy celebrating the Resurrection this weekend, dear reader; I'll catch up with you Monday.

Kids and Hymns

2010-03-31T14:07:00.003-05:00

The church I grew up in didn't rotate favorite hymns or songs; there was a schedule for every week of the year from the powers-that-be, guaranteeing that youngsters like myself would never really engage with the music or take it to heart.

When I truly became a Christian, the first hymns I learned were from Alan Jackson's "Precious Memories" album, twenty or so familiar (to Alan, his family, and many churchgoers) tunes. It's nice to go to church now and find a few familiar titles popping up out of the church bulletin.

Whenever I see one of those, I nudge my husband and point out, "That's an Alan Jackson hymn." He rolls his eyes and smiles, because he's given up on telling me that they were hymns long before Alan Jackson recorded them.

I know that, but in my heart they'll always be Alan Jackson hymns.

Last week, it was "The Old Rugged Cross". As we started singing, I found myself peeking over our hymnal at the little boy in front of me--worn button-down shirt, buzz cut, and a loud, proud, hey-I-know-this-song-and-I'm-going-to-sing-it-for-all-I'm-worth kind of voice.

Without that kind of background, I was amazed at how many big, complex words and phrases a child can memorize. Even if he doesn't understand what they all mean, he carries those words around in his head and his heart.

So, I started to think about little Sweet Pea. How can I give her the best start, help her to internalize Truth in such beautiful, memorable language? What habits can I begin now to benefit her later?

I have come up with two:

More "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" (Ephesians 5:19) in our home.
I've fallen into a pretty nasty TV habit these days; after a stressful day with the kiddos at the elementary school, it's nice and altogether too easy to come home, surf over to Hulu, and numb my mind for an hour. I could easily be more productive during that time and allow worshipful music to fill our home--same with the car.

Incorporate a "hymn of the week" into my devotions.
Mr. J's family had an extra hymnal lying around their house, so he and I ended up bringing it with us when we moved. It's nice to sit and sing together sometimes. And now I think I'll also take a bit of time in the mornings to sing a hymn: Starting at the front of the book, if I know a song, that will be the hymn of the week, and I'll just keep going. When Sweet Pea ventures into the world, I'll reserve this singing for when she's awake; that way she'll gradually learn these beautiful songs and probably think she always knew them!

These are small things, but they are important things. God is entrusting Mr. J and I with a little life, a little person with whom we should share His love. We won't be perfect, but if we start intentionally discipling her even now, I know my God will be faithful.

I'll leave you with the chorus from this week's hymn (definitely fitting this Resurrection season):

"I need no other argument, I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died, And that He died for me."

Free at Last

2010-03-27T07:52:00.004-05:00

I meant to post more this week, but it just never happened.

I could prattle on about the golden work-at-home essay scoring opportunity that went south fast--from paperwork to inconsistent standards to badgering, disheartening emails about my inability to meet said standards--but I won't. I could lament the loss of income that could have helped Mr. J and I reach our goals more quickly--but I won't. I could throttle the name of this company for hurting my pride and making me feel like a failure.

...But I won't.

Instead, I choose to rejoice over the little girl growing inside me, who reminds me she's there whenever we're in the car or bed.

I will revel in the extra time this leaves me, the time that I didn't realize I was squandering until this job took it all. The nesting instinct (coupled with the spring cleaning gene) must be kicking in: all I want to do is organize my life and prettify my home!

I will wholeheartedly play Knowledge Master and snarf down chips and queso with my husband, because he deserves all of my attention instead of the leftover dregs that have been run through the day's hamster wheel.

I am going to slow down, sit in front of a screen less, read more, give more to my home.

I am a free woman, free to choose how to spend and give my time--and will be even more so soon enough: only 50 days left of school! Then I will take on that long-coveted role: stay-at-home-mom. I can hardly wait, but I can certainly find pleasant and productive ways to pass the time until that wonderful day.

To Everything, There Is a Season

2010-03-22T16:03:00.002-05:00

A time to be born, a time to die; a time to plant and a time to harvest, as we are told in Ecclesiastes.

Last week, I found that there is a time for vacation and there is a time for ministry. And sometimes, those things overlap.

While Mr. J and I were home, splitting time between his folks' town and mine, we managed to play accountants, financial advisors a la Dave Ramsey, chauffeurs, encouragers, bakers, and general task-finishers. We played cards with my grandparents--which was all fun and no work, but still ministry nonetheless. I baked cookies that my mom was making for me so that she could see a movie we brought home.

Some of these things were joyous to do, others not so much. And yet, I came home very satisfied.

Yes, to everything, there is a season--including a time to be poured into and a time to be poured out.

So much of our time spent in our graduate school state is focused on Mr. J and I: our future, our plans, our relationship. And this is wonderful; it's exactly what I imagined marriage to be.

When we go home, our life becomes very extended family-focused, a twist I never expected. My parents, in-laws, aunts, uncles, grandparents, they're all self-sufficient and don't need little old me, right? Wrong. While grad school is a wonderful opportunity and a great place for us right now, I know where my true ministry with Mr. J lies--home.

Hit the Road, Jack!

2010-03-15T11:09:00.002-05:00

Okay, so nobody named Jack is going with us, but Mr. J and I are off on a spring break adventure!

Okay, so we're just going home to visit family, so it's not exactly an "adventure," but it's guaranteed to be fun.

Hold down the fort, Blogland; I'll be back in a week!

Cure for a Long Day?

2010-03-09T14:23:00.003-06:00

Mr. J and I are weary people this week. The weekend was nice and relaxing, but his workload for this week (the week before spring break) got tripled or quadrupled unexpectedly. Then Satan really started in on him in the lab yesterday, from a scantily-clad coworker (whom he sweetly mentioned is problematic because her figure is like mine) to a crazy one going off to too much to do.

My sixth graders have no attention span because of the looming break. I understand this, but they still need to show basic human respect. But the classroom teacher and all of the support staff with whom I work directly were gone today for training, and a substitute just don't get no respect (end Rodney Dangerfield impersonation).

By the time I had to patrol the lunchroom, I was exhausted and defeated. I saw the kids from the behavior disorder classroom at a table together and decided to take a minute to talk with them--when they have good days, they're really sweet and refreshing.

I slid in beside Michael, the redheaded boy with the earring whose temperament can match his physical appearance. I lay my head down on the table, cradled in my arms, and looked at him sideways.

"Have you ever had a long day, Michael?"

"Yeah."

"What do you do for a long day?"

"Umm...take a break. And I have a soda."

I had to smile at the sweetness of such an answer...plus the fact that I would probably have come up with the same thing.

While I was thinking, he reached into his pocket.

"I could buy you one, I gots money."

"Oh no, Michael, that's really sweet, but you save your money for when you get to buy one, okay?"

He agreed and explained that Sprite was his favorite and that when he meets with the school counselor, he gets to go into the teacher's lounge and use our pop machine. If only such a perk didn't have to coincide with coming from a broken home.

I had great plans and projects for this afternoon, but when I stopped at Target to buy printer cartridges, I tossed a bottle of 7UP in my basket in Michael's honor. The house will wait; this afternoon I need a break and a soda, as prescribed by the wisest redheaded kid I know.

This Week's Menu

2010-03-08T15:40:00.003-06:00

All right, you know the drill! If I post a menu, I'm more likely to have one, which means we're less likely to ask, "What are we going to have for dinner?"--or worse, use it as an excuse to go out!

Tonight: dinner at church

Tuesday: Leftover chicken from the weekend

Wednesday: Chicken tetrazzini

Thursday: Pancakes, eggs, sausage, fruit

Friday: out!

Saturday: Leftovers; BBQ pork ribs

Sunday: Leftovers/grilled sandwiches; spaghetti

For more dinner ideas, head on over to OrgJunkie.com...or you can just let me know what you're eating this week! :D

Housework Overhaul

2010-03-07T08:32:00.005-06:00

The exhaustion that comes with growing a baby is impressive. The whole reason Sweet Pea got her name was an email to a friend, in which I mentioned my awe over "this pea-sized thing inside me" and its (though now we know her) ability to knock me out cold.
Needless to say, the apartment suffered during that first trimester and even into the second. I have so much energy now, but I've only taken up doing routine housecleaning and need to do a thorough deep clean--and I want to finish before Mr. J and I head north next week for spring break.
I had planned on posting a list of all the chores I planned to get through, but then Tuesday happened...luckily, I got most of the cleaning projects done between Wednesday and Thursday.
Instead, I've created my own Chore Cheat Sheet--a tool to keep me organized and help spread chores out over the course of the week.

Luckily for me, our apartment is only 750 square feet, which means I don't have tons and tons of space to worry about, but it's enough to warrant a bit of organization (and ward off laziness!).

Here's how I divided up all of the things (that I could think of) that need to be done around here:

Daily--morning, afternoon, and after dinner things
Weekly--chores for each weekday
Monthly--chores are assigned to each week of the month

I've been meaning to make up a homemaking binder...guess I have my first page! I tried making one in the past, but I spent a lot of time making it pretty and sweet looking...and I just never followed through. So I'm hoping that this more-utilitarian-than-good-lookin' page will keep me motivated.

Any advice or examples of how you chart chores or follow through on the basics?

The Beginnings of "The Baby Room"

2010-03-03T16:06:00.004-06:00

Remember this room?

It's seen a few changes since that photo was taken: a different quilt, a new computer, the desk removed--and more changes (like a crib and a sweet little bundle of joy!) are on the way.

Right now, it's being filled with our we-made-less-this-year-than-the-standard-deduction-actually-is-and-can't-owe-negative-taxes-so-we-got-a-ginormous-refund windfall. While we would normally have used this for savings or debt reduction, we figure our little girl is worth it! Plus Mr. J went into "daddy" mode and how could I refuse?

But apparently I still have to work out some kinks with our new camcorder (gotta capture all of those firsts!), so I only have one photo to share, which will be of her going-home-from-the-hospital outfit:

And in the corner you can see pink little sunglasses! How to die for is that?!

We've also purchased a tank stroller, onesies, a thermometer for bottoms and mouths (seperate attachments, don't worry), cloth diapers still to be delivered, Huggies for a hesitant husband, a pacifier, the ever-flattering breast pump, and some jammies.

My mother just about had a cow: "There are still going to be showers, you know!" Yes, but considering these people just bought us gifts to see us wed, we figure we can handle the bulk of the baby prep. Plus it's too darn fun and God provided a perfect means to fund it!

I can hardly wait to share pictures as Sweet Pea's new room continues to go from spare room to nursery--stay tuned!

Another Monday, Another Menu

2010-02-28T16:29:00.005-06:00

...another start to another week!

Monday: Pork chops, potatoes, green beans

Tuesday: The elementary school where I work is having a spaghetti dinner--how cute, right?!

Wednesday: Tacos with all of the trimmings, corn

Thursday: Taco mac (did you know taco meat is delicious mixed into macaroni and cheese?), peas

Friday: out and about! :D

Saturday: I'll be attempting PW's Spicy Roasted Chicken Legs

Sunday: Beef stir-fry

Find more yummy dinner ideas a OrgJunkie.com!

It's Really Hitting Me!

2010-02-24T18:21:00.004-06:00

Oh my word...I'm really going to have a baby!

I know that seems silly to say, but my belly seems to have swelled up over night, and Mr. J and I bought my first maternity shirts today.

Not only have I realized that my body really is changing, it's also really hit me: we're going to have a little girl! I have pink onesies and little mary janes and princess tea parties in my future. I can look forward to braiding hair and picking out dresses and painting dainty little nails.

Wow--we really are going to have a little girl! And I couldn't be more thrilled!

I've also been thinking, even though people have asked about what her name will be, since my last name is attached to this blog, I'd rather give her a cutesy blogosphere nickname. Any ideas?

Cheap Monte Cristo

2010-02-19T10:17:00.000-06:00

Intriguing title, eh?

I've been meaning to post about the books I read in January (aaaaaaaaaaand into February...), especially since another month has almost come and gone!

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas follows the trials and tribulations of Edmond Dantes, a sailor with a lot of promise, a beautiful fiancee, and all the happiness in the world. When he is falsely accused and thrown in prison, never to be heard from again, Dantes's noble thoughts and dreams turn to revenge. Upon making friends with a priest in jail, Dantes finds means of escape and fortune with which to exact revenge on his accusers...and even his former love.

I won't ruin the ending for you (well, not completely), but if you've seen the movie, it's nothing like that. I was surprised that in the end Dantes succeeded in completing his revenge and then went nonchalantly away, with little emotion and no more anger.

As a reader, I was engaged: some parts of the book drag on, but that was the style of writing at the time. As a Christian, I was mystified. How could someone whose entire life was consumed with revenge walk away without recourse? Without continued anger and obsession? While an entertaining, surprisingly readable classic, the Count's morality doesn't quite seem realistic to this girl.

I also read America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money by Steve and Annette Economides. Full of tips on budgeting, getting out of debt, cutting back on groceries and other expenses, it's a great place to start for anybody looking to frugalize their life a bit. However, I didn't read a lot that I didn't already know...still, it's always good to be reminded of why you bother with coupons and sales and what you can achieve if you stick to it, like the Economides who bought a house and were mortgage-free in just nine years.

I have yet to start a fiction book from my list for this month, but I am enjoying The Apothecary's Daughter by Julie Klassen, so we'll see how much other reading I'll get done by the end of the month!

What's on your nightstand these days?

It's a....

2010-02-17T18:26:00.001-06:00

Well, we had our 20 week ultrasound today and found out the gender!

So, just to let you know....

wait, are you sitting down?

Are you ready?

Because I don't want to catch you off guard....

I also love the suspense before a surprise!

Okay, okay, we are....

And we are so excited! We had a girl name picked out already (but couldn't think of a boy name), so we're ready to go!

Now I've just got to make a bazillion cupcakes that I promised the sixth graders--all with pink frosting, of course!

Another Menu Plan Monday!

2010-02-15T11:34:00.002-06:00

Here's what's on the menu at the Jorgenson home this week:

Monday: Copycat Chipotle burritos, corn

Tuesday: Beef stir-fry, mandarin oranges

Wednesday: Baked ziti (my first time trying a recipe from another blog! :D), garlic bread, broccoli and cauliflower

Thursday: Kielbasa, baked potatoes, green beans

Friday: Chicken hot dish, peas (though we might end up going out to eat, we'll see)

Saturday: leftovers; individual garlic bread pizzas

Sunday: leftovers; scalloped potatoes and ground beef, peas, grapes

For ideas and other menus, head on over to I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Be Mine, Valentine

2010-02-12T07:43:00.003-06:00

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.
-Shakespeare, A Mid-Summer Night's Dream

I used to be pretty harsh about Valentine's Day: the celebration of a man who had his head chopped off? And we celebrate it with pink and red and flowers and candy? It just doesn't make sense. Then I moved onto the consumerism debate, the anti-"card holiday" camp.

Soul meets soul on lover's lips. -Percy Shelley

Well, in today's economy, florists and the like could probably use a day like Valentine's Day. After months of slow business (who's had the money for flowers, huh?), they'll be rolling in it, watching the money and the lovestruck, happy customers come in in droves. Now really, is that so wrong? Aren't happy florists a good thing?

This is my beloved and this is my friend. -Song of Solomon 5:16

No matter my previous thoughts on the matter, Valentine's Day is here to stay, so I'm changing my attitude. Yes, it's a goofy, made-up, consumerist holiday. But it's still a wonderful chance to say precious words of love and praise to anybody in your life, whether your spouse or family or a friend you haven't talked to in a while.

Ah me! love cannot be cured by herbs. -Ovid

Mr. J and I will be opting out of the flowers and candy (yeah, I know, hypocritical after being so happy for the florists, but they do tend to price gouge on this day, you know!), but we are heading to a couple's retreat for the weekend through church. I have no idea what it entails, but I'm pretty excited!

Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit.
-Peter Ustinov

And so, dear reader, I'll let you know, in the spirit of this time of year: I love you, too. I love you in a "thanks for bothering with my blather" and "thanks for commenting" and "I'd love to hear more about you" kind of way. Blogging is a real joy, a chance to meet great people I wouldn't otherwise meet. I won't be sending you any heart-shaped, creme-filled treats, but hopefully gratitude can be felt through a computer screen.

A Hospitable Heart

2010-02-10T16:10:00.003-06:00

While home for Mr. J's grandmother's funeral, I learned something about myself.

I don't like playing hostess unexpectedly.

In my pajamas.

In a dirty house.

In somebody else's dirty house.

For people who lack a certain amount of tact and social grace.

I guess growing up, things were done a certain way in my house, like thank you notes, meals planned in advance, a ready stocked pantry, etc. And I'm definitely most accustomed to "farm wife" hospitality: adding extra leaves in the table, adding plates, adding other foods to make the meal stretch. And never having to let anybody beyond the kitchen! My mother demonstrated this to me over and over throughout life, and I'm grateful for the example.

So why did I balk when Mr. J's relatives descended upon his parents' house after the wake? Because it wasn't my house. It wasn't my way of doing things. People didn't respond the way I wanted them to.

And I had an inhospitable heart about the whole thing. I even ignored the fact that these people weren't paying attention to the mess or hastiness; they were just glad to see each other after such a long time.

My heart has to change in this area. I don't have a bullet-point list or ten tips to being a loving hostess under every circumstance, but I guess awareness of fault is a beginning.

And establishing an hour-until-company-arrives routine for my own home wouldn't be such a bad idea either...

Prayers Needed

2010-02-05T07:56:00.001-06:00

We got the call that Mr. J's grandma died last night. She's been sick his whole life, so we aren't surprised, but it means we're headed home today after we're both done with school. Looks like we'll be facing some bad weather and roads, so I'd appreciate any prayers for our travel and for the family.

Have a lovely weekend!

2010 Reading List

2010-02-03T07:53:00.000-06:00

Finally! We're only in...what February? And I've already finished one, almost two (actually, three) of the books?

Originally, I planned 26 books; one book every other week. But...it's just easier to say two books per month. Now, this list only includes the "serious" reading I plan to do: classics and non-fiction that spans from law to church history to home economy. I've already read two novels just for fun but recognize that I'll read more trivial stuff than I should if I don't have a list.

So, here goes:

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
Passionate Housewives Desperate for God by Stacy McDonald and Jennie Chancey
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes (reread)
My Antonia by Willa Cather
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International
Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
A Biblical Home Education by Ruth Beechick
The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas
Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
A Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison
Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
Home-making by J.R. Miller
April Morning by Howard Fast
America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money by Steve and Annette Economides
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
A Place of My Own: The Architecture of Daydreams by Michael Pollan
Lost Horizon by James Hilton
End the Fed by Ron Paul
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution by Richard Beeman
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
The American Evangelical Story: a History of the Movement by Douglas Sweeney

As I finish (or find time), I'll post my reviews--not so much because you need my opinion but to hold me accountable!

Anybody else have a must-read on their list they're itching to share about or recommend?

Menu Plan Monday!

2010-02-01T15:11:00.002-06:00

For more ideas, head to orgjunkie.com

Well, it's been awhile since I've planned out weekly meals, so this time around I went for the moon and planned for a month! But here's what's on the menu for Mr. J and me this week:

Monday: Spaghetti, green salad, garlic bread

Tuesday: Tacos with all the toppings, corn

Wednesday: Taco mac and....hmm, maybe green beans?

Thursday: Chipotle copycat burritos

Friday: Date night! :D

Saturday: Italian sausage with onions and peppers, rice-a-roni; leftovers

Sunday: Beef roast with potatoes and veggies

So, I think all in all we'll be fed and watered just fine. What are you eating this week?

"Ugly Pregnant Clothes" and My New Maternity Mission

2010-01-28T15:49:00.004-06:00

Today, while I was circulating in a sixth grade classroom, overseeing math progress, a girl raised her hand.

Now, this is a girl who is very stuck on herself; she's rude and thinks the whole world is here to serve her. So, even though I assumed her question related to math, I rolled my eyes inwardly as I asked her how I could help.

"You know," she started--obviously not about to ask a question, "You know, I feel real sorry for you."

More internal eye rolling. "And why is that?" I asked, doing all I could to not clench my teeth.

"Well, because you're pregnant, so that means you're gonna have to wear ugly pregnant clothes."

Why is it that we can't throttle children in public school, again? Sometimes I think a quick cuff upside the head would work wonders!

But, the other kids came to my rescue (because she happily spoke so the whole class could hear), telling her that she was rude and that it wasn't true. One sweetheart of a guy whose mother recently had a baby told the girl all about maternity jeans and how they "look just like regular jeans, and my mom says they're more comfortable anyway."

So take that, self-centered sixth grade girl. I'm not going to look like either of these ladies:

And now I've actually made it my mission to remain stylish--or maybe even become stylish--over the course of this pregnancy. I've been drawn to fashion blogs lately; not magazines, mind you, the ones that used to be my downfall, but fashion blogs by real women and for real women. I may not have much of a budget to work with, and I may not have a lot of things in my closet, but I'm setting out on a frump-free pregnancy.

I guess that means at some point I'll have to share some pictures--baby bump and all! :D

Seriously, the German Coastguard!

2010-01-25T09:44:00.000-06:00

Okay, I never expect comments or feedback when I blog--that stuff's just gravy.

And I get that you only have enough time to click through links in BlogLand...

But I think The German Coastguard video has been terribly undervalued!

So, I'm going to walk you through that. Because you need a good laugh on Monday, right? :D

Okay...

Here, the German Coastguard trainee is being shown the controls--lots of talking in German, the guy looks nervous.

What's that our hero hears? Over the radio, beeping and then a man with a British accent...

"Mayday, mayday....hello, can you hear us? We are sinking; repeat, we are sinking!!"

This is our hero's chance to prove himself! Let's see what he says...

"Well...what are you...sinking about?"

And the whole commercial is for the Berlitz Language Center--for learning English! Ha!

So, hopefully you enjoyed that little tidbit, and if you have a moment, you can enjoy watching our hero here.

P.S. Anybody know how to insert a YouTube video into a post? That would have been way easier!

Links

2010-01-20T15:09:00.002-06:00

Not much to report from the Jorgenson home; the doctors today said that all is well with Baby J, which we're grateful for. In about a month, we'll have another ultrasound to look at the whole body and maybe even find out the baby's gender! That's when the fun really begins! :D

As we have such a slow news cycle, and Mr. J and I are enjoying the freedom that having two computers brings (yes, we are terribly, terribly spoiled--and we try not to forget it!), I'll share some things I've enjoyed from around the 'net these days:

The German Coastguard -- funny, funny commercial (clean humor, don't worry) a la You Tube; enjoy!

The Joy of Memorizing Scripture -- I don't listen to Nancy Leigh DeMoss every day, but I was really glad to catch this inspiring call to internalize God's Word--something I always mean to do but never make the time for.

The Motherload -- a blog affiliated with MomAdvice.com that I have really been enjoying lately--just sifting through archives and soaking up the general knowledge has been a lot of fun.

And...book lists--lots of bloggers (and others) make up book lists for the new year. Yours truly promised one, is already on the second book (plus another "just for fun" read), and hasn't produced said list! Que horror! Be still your hearts, I will polish and post my to-read list shortly.

So, that is the life and links of apartment 2A for this week! What have you been reading?

The Potty-nomics of Pregnancy

2010-01-18T08:10:00.000-06:00

I haven't been pregnant long, but I've learned a few things so far. And they all seem to revolve around the bathroom.

If you might be expecting in the near future or you've been there, done that and could use a laugh, here's my list of six tips for pregnant women:

1. Invest in Charmin--on the stock market and in your cupboard. You will constantly be visiting the little girl's room.

2. During these visits, ask yourself: am I really done? Otherwise, you may leave the bathroom and become aware of a second bladder that suddenly needs attention.

3. You will no longer be able to sleep through the night, no matter how long it's been since you took in liquid.

4. If you wake up in the night and can't fall asleep again, but you don't feel like you have to use the bathroom, you still do. And it's still what's keeping you awake.

5. Your husband will notice all of your new nocturnal bathroom visits and will occasionally rouse to ask what's wrong. You know it's just nature calling, but don't be alarmed if he panicks about his pregnant wife getting out of bed in the night. Reassure him and go on your way.

6. Again, I can't say this enough: stock up on TP. You're going to need it.

Wanna see something neat?

2010-01-09T15:48:00.005-06:00

Oh. my. goodness.

There's really a baby in there! Sure, I believed the pregnancy test...sort of. I believed the heartbeat when we heard it...mostly. But now I've actually seen pictures of the little guy or gal growing inside me!

And without further ado, say hello to Baby J...

And I love the nurse's label: BABY. As opposed to when she labeled things like LEFT FOOT or HEAD, this is just BABY. Mundane descriptor aside, it's ours, it's ours, it's ours!

This whole thing is an amazing ride that's only just beginning to feel real.

The Little Things

2010-01-06T08:26:00.000-06:00

Over Christmas break back home, Mr. J and I made our way out on the town one evening: watch the weary shoppers at the mall, grab burritos from Chipotle, stop at Target for the crazy $2/12 pack of pop deal--that sort of thing.

As we loaded our loot from Target into the trunk, Mr. J handed me the keys to start the car while he put away the cart. I hopped in and dove into my aluminum-clad leftovers (I may not be able to finish a whole Chipotle burrito en restaurante, but you can bet that baby never makes it out of the car!), while my brave and tundra-ready husband braved the cold to put away our cart.

As I munched, I noticed him notice a stray cart, abandoned in the middle of an aisle. He moseyed over and grabbed that one, too. And I love what he had to say about it when he got into the car.

"I like to think God sees the little things."

To steal my heart even more, he pulled up in front of the Home Depot. Now, the Home Depot has become our source of free batteries and light bulbs ever since we received a ginormous gift card to the do-it-yourself store for our wedding. We live in an apartment; changing light bulbs is about as DIY as we can get in our small quarters.

I continued to take honkin', pregnant bites as Mr. J explained that his folks needed lightbulbs for their garage, his sister needed a switch cover for her room, the refrigerator was out a bulb, and they could probably use batteries, too. Leaving my leftovers was sad, but I once again wrapped them in their foil and followed my compassionate hubby on his mission.

Oh, if only this could be the end; it would be such a lovely story, huh? Unfortunately, there was a crooked financial man waiting for us when we got back to the in-laws'--one that they trust, but I don't since they basically cut and run and then continued to charge us for an account we'd closed. He made snide remarks the whole time and generally tried our patience.

But we were still victorious, right? Doing some small service to the family so they didn't have to? No thank yous, just a big fight brought on by a rebellious 16-year-old that left everybody in a horrible mood.

Mr. J and I retreated to the guest room, blaming his sister and the world for all of our ills. "How much better would things be here..." "I hate that I can't fix such-and-such problem..."

And lastly, "What are we going to do about it?" That one took some time, some thought. I sighed, sure of the inevitable: "We've got to pray for her."

Mr. J rolled over, nodded, and bowed his head--even when he'd rather have beat some sense into his kid sister's.

"I like to think God sees the little things."

Yes, honey, I like to think He does, too.

Ah, Another New Year

2010-01-03T08:16:00.003-06:00

Must I call them resolutions? Can't I just say "goals"? I think that word would make me so much more likely to succeed than "resolutions." Nevertheless, there are a few things that I would like to tweak, do better, and try this year. Such as....

HOME:
Learn to make my own bread. I love the idea of self-sufficiency, being able to make things for myself rather than depending on a store selling items of which I don't control the ingredients. Bread will hopefully be the first in a long line of from-scratch items coming from my kitchen.

Create a home management binder. I'll be home full-time once baby comes, so it'd probably help to have a motivating guide made just for my home!

SPIRITUAL:
Tithe regularly. Mr. J and I have had every intention of tithing since we moved to grad school, but we don't like to write checks; we feel that our giving is between us and the Lord. So, we give cash. The problem is that our bank is a state away and I have yet to find a fee-free ATM in our area. But I can't use that as an excuse anymore, so we'll either find an ATM that's free to use, suck it up and pay the fee, or we'll just have to break down and write a check.

Be in God's Word daily. This is another one where I have good intentions but fail; if I don't do it right away in the morning, I feel like all is lost. No more all or nothing attitude, no mantras of "I must read this many chapters, this much of the Bible, by that time." Just a girl who needs to come to God every single day. Period.

FINANCIAL:
Reach 40% of our savings goal. Mr. J and I have a number we'd like to see our savings account hit by the time he's out of grad school. Since our income will drop once I'm home, I'd like to make as big a dent as possible this year.
Get loans and insurance figured out. As a grad student, Mr. J can defer his loans--most interest-free! Wahoo!! But...there's paperwork. Plus, we've got to get the ball rolling on life insurance and switching car insurance, etc. Oh paperwork, paperwork, how I love thee! Not.

PERSONAL:
Have a healthy baby. If I do nothing else this year, that will be enough.

Read 26 good books. I'm still compiling my list, but I'll post it as soon as I finish. Expect a mix of classics, homemaking books, how-tos for around the house, baby books, and Christian living.

While Mr. J and I were hanging out leisurely New Year's Eve, no real plans, I asked him what his resolutions were. He let the aliens on the computer screen fend for themselves as he thought.

"To be better about my relationship with God, to be a good father, and to get through grad school."

Well, I may be the detailed list-type, but his sounds pretty darn good to me.

Anybody else out there with New Year's resolutions?

Has it really been a week?!

2009-12-19T08:12:00.002-06:00

Wow, how this life flies, huh? Between the chitlins at school and keeping up at home and the holiday hullabullo, blogging has kind of fallen off the wayside.

Of course, the constant need for I'm-still-growing-placenta naps could have something to do with it.

So, since Mr. J and I are headed home for the holidays this morning, this blog is going on hiatus until the new year, at which point I'll have had my first ultrasound and shared an evening of sparkling cider and dreams with my one and only.

And maybe then I'll have time and energy for all this and more!

A very blessed Christmas to you and yours,

Mrs. J

Irritating People, Part II

2009-12-06T20:34:00.003-06:00

Does the holiday season just bring out the mean in some people, or what?

I never want my blog to give the impression that I'm perfect, nor do I intend to post only the positive things that I do. So when I received sweet comments about my last run-in with an irritating person, I felt slightly guilty. Sure, that time I made a good choice, followed the Spirit's lead, and did something nice. But, oh, that is not often.

I'll use an example from a couple of weekends ago as an example.

I was uber-pumped to see The Blind Side, the new Sandra Bullock movie where she takes in a homeless boy and he becomes a great football player--the movie looked great, Mr. J was excited because he loves football, and we just plain love going to the movies anyway.

We left the house a little bit late, but the lady in the window sold us a couple of tickets and we rushed to the snack line, thoroughly absorbed in the soda-vs.-slushie debate and the upcoming film. Making our way toward the theater, we lamented that we might be missing some of the previews but excited that we were going to see the movie.

But the dark theater was entirely full. I counted three empty seats: one on the floor in front, one in the middle of the theater, one in the way back. Now, if I can't sit with my husband to see a movie, we aren't staying.

We went back to the lady in the little window, snacks in tow. She looked sheepish, even guilty and offered to exchange them for tickets to a later show. Great, except we had to shell out more money! Then we had to parade through the whole mall with our full popcorn and candies and slushie; I half expected people to tap me on the shoulder and say, "Excuse me, the theater's back that way."

So, we went home and watched a movie with our goodies, which lifted my spirits a little bit. But by the time we left for our second attempt at the movies, we had received frustrating news from home. Then we walked into the theater lobby, where the lines snaked back and forth for ages.

But, we already had tickets, so I figured we were okay to head to the ticket taker. But he wasn't there; the line started there with a middle aged, nondescript woman in a blue sweater.

"Where'd he go?" I asked her, pointing to where he usually stands.

"The line starts back there," she snipped at me.

"Oh, we already have tickets," I told her, trying to let her rudeness slide right off.

"So do we. So does everybody else. The back of the line is back there," and she pointed again with a sour look on our face.

I was so stunned by her rudeness that I turned on my heel and started walking toward the back. But between the shock and the bad news from home and probably the pregnancy hormones, I just started to weep.

"Honey," Mr. J said sweetly, "it's just money; maybe we should just head home."

I agreed but couldn't speak, so I simply turned back toward the door and that horribly rude woman on my way to the exit.

She put on another cheeky look and started wagging her head and her finger toward the back of the line again. I breezed right on by her, Mr. J following at my heels.

Can I pause the story to say that I'm married to the greatest man on this planet? Anyway, he suggested that we take a walk around the outside of the mall. He whispered sweet things like, "Someday, there will be no mean people, no anger--won't that be great?"

I just planned out all of the things I should have said to make that lady feel bad. I focused all of my anger on her, even though most of it came from the news from home. I even almost turned around to give her a piece of my mind! But Mr. J's words and the knowledge that that wouldn't be Christ-honoring kept me from it.

And can I be honest? Even now, it sounds good. So tempting to just blow off some steam, let somebody know that I'm mad and why and why they should back the heck off.

But in the end, I got to see the movie the following weekend, and it was fabulous (and at a different theater). And I've forgiven that lady, prayed for her because maybe that movie was the only highlight of her week. But if I think about it too long, I still get mad.

People irritate me sometimes, and I don't always react well. I'm human. But I hope to improve.

-Mr. J's sweet words: "Someday, there will be no mean people, no angry people."
-it's still hard to think back on and not be angry

It's Real

2009-12-02T07:33:00.002-06:00

On Monday, we went to the doctor. Pee in the cup, pelvic ~~violation~~ exam, blood draw, flu shot, H1N1 shot (because working at an elementary school while pregnant=too many germs for a hospital's comfort).

And then? The 50/50 chance that we would hear the heartbeat at this early stage.

And when the whomp-whomp-whomp of the ultrasound machine came on, so did a strong, rapid little heartbeat.

It's real. This is really happening; I'm really going to be a mommy.

Despite Mr. J's girl-on-girl jokes during the breast and pelvic exams (the doctor was female and he just can't help himself, upstanding Christian man and everything...), the look in his eyes when we heard it was so wonderful.

Now, the shots have left me drained and sore throughout my back--just like you would feel with the flu--and I'm still "first trimester exhausted," so nothing around the house has gotten done...but after hearing that little heartbeat, I'm not too worried. It'll all get done soon enough.

Ah, Home Sweet Home

2009-11-25T07:59:00.002-06:00

Neither rain nor bad drivers nor poorly constructed roads could keep Mr. J and I from getting back to our beloved families! The four hour drive was long (punctuated by a McDonald's run: "Mr. J, you said you wanted to stop at McDonald's, right?" "Michelle, do you want to stop at McDonald's?" "Oh, that's a great idea, honey!" Lovin' that reverse psychology--ha!)

And as much as our apartment feels like home now, and even though this house that my parents bought isn't the one in which I grew up, it feels so much more like home than our place.

I'm not sure what it is because the place is drafty and cold and cramped (who builds stairs in the exact center of the house, making every room tiny?!), but the fridge is full of all the foods I'm used to, the cows are outside, the noises are all familiar...it's nice to just be home.

So, as I'm enjoying home so well, don't expect to hear much from me between now and Sunday; I've got too much to do and too many people to see! Happy Thanksgiving, all! :D

Review: What Difference Do It Make?

2009-11-21T12:35:00.002-06:00

Through Thomas Nelson, I have had the opportunity to receive free books in exchange for reviews (you can, too!).

While they sent me the first book ages ago, I just finally finished it. What Difference Do It Make? is the follow-up title to Same Kind of Different as Me, a book written by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. Ron and Denver are unlikely friends: a high-end art dealer and a man who grew up on a plantation but ran away and ended up homeless.

But Ron's wife, Deborah, had a big heart for the homeless, which led Ron kicking and screaming to a homeless mission in Texas where their tale begins. Same Kind of Different as Me tells their individual and collective stories, written for Deborah, who has passed away from cancer.

I wish I could tell you that I've read that book, but I haven't. But after reading What Difference Do It Make?, I hope to do so soon.

What Difference Do It Make? fills in more of their story, the story after the story--though it may rely on the original book too much, often pulling excerpts rather than writing fresh, new material--and also shares the many stories from people impacted by their first book: a husband confesses cheating and saves his marriage, a little girl sparks a big ministry for the homeless in her community, etc. Very powerful stuff.

The book is very much a hodge podge of emotional tidbits that are touching--Ron's grief in losing his wife, Denver's lessons to the reader on helping the homeless versus helping yourself feel better--but too disconnected to really create passion from the reader.

Something is missing. Maybe that first book had that "spark" to truly motivate the reader to action--and from the sound of reactions online and in the book, it did--but the follow-up just made me feel warm and fuzzy. I'm hoping to pick up a copy of Same Kind of Different as Me from my local library on my next trip, and I get the feeling it will be more powerful.

The story of Ron, Denver, and Deborah is a touching one of unlikely friendship that brings glory to God and honor to people who might otherwise be overlooked. I would recommend What Difference Do It Make? to anyone...but I'd tell them to read Same Kind of Different as Me first.

Irritating People

2009-11-17T16:48:00.003-06:00

You know how some people just bother you? It's not that they've wronged or offended you; your personalities just clash. Their voice, mannerisms, whatever--something about them just grates on you.

A lady I work with really pushes my buttons in that way: she speaks too loudly and too highly pitched and out of turn, she rabbit trails through stories (and never finishes the original one), she monologues, she obsesses. She just irritates me.

But she's going through a legitimate health crisis, and I sympathize--I really do. But when she opens her mouth I just want to bang on stuff to drown her out.

Horrible, insensitive, but honest.

She finally gets to have the surgery she's been waiting for to address the problem. The day before it was scheduled to happen, she started sharing her concern that because she had taken low-dose aspirin (a no-no on her doctor's list that she had forgotten about) all week that they wouldn't be able to do the surgery, leaving her with more pain and anxious waiting time.

And that would be terrible. I wouldn't want another human being to go through that. Nor did I want to keep hearing about it!

"You know, it's probably going to be okay. The doctor probably recommends that you don't take those things, but it might not mean a definite 'no' to the surgery; you should call him to see," I said as nicely as I could. I meant every word, but I wanted to say, "Just call and ask him already!"

She said maybe but continued to fret. The other ladies at the table got up to put away their lunches. I finished a minute later and got up to rinse off my tray before returning it to the cafeteria.

I felt a nudge inside to ask this woman if I could pray for her, but I stifled it and just rinsed the salad dressing from my plastic tray.

When I looked up, another co-worker held out her hand. "Here, I'm heading down there anyway; I'll take your tray."

Oh, sometimes God just says, "Look, you're going to do this thing, like it or not."

The workroom was empty. I sighed and headed back to the table.

"Hey, umm...I don't mean to offend you or anything, but can I be praying over your surgery for you?"

"Oh, that would be so wonderful; I would really appreciate it."

I smiled and walked away. I kept my word: I prayed that this woman could have her surgery and her pain relieved. Then I went about my day.

She came and found me later in the afternoon. Her eyes were shining and she threw her arms around me.

"I called the doctor--I can still have the surgery!"

"Hey, that's great," I said--and I really did think it was great.

But when she said, "And it's all because of you," all I could do was shake my head and point skyward.

I wasn't sure how to bring the Gospel along with me to the workplace; now I think I know.

Update

2009-11-13T11:31:00.003-06:00

Alright, I've got a dozen muffins made; another dozen or so to go.

Three meals worth of Chipotle-style chicken marinated and in the freezer.

Rice is cooked and cooling before it gets frozen.

The meatballs are in the oven right now.

And me? I'm ready for a break! I've got water boiling for some good-ol' mac and cheese and I'm off to rot my brain with television for awhile! :D

A Day in the Kitchen

2009-11-13T09:07:00.002-06:00

No school, No sChOoL, NO SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ha, can you tell that I'm as excited as the kids? I love conference day.

Since I'm home, I've decided to use the day to make a bunch of freezer meals--to take some of the effort out of dinner time and also in case somewhere down the road Baby J decides that mama and cooking don't really mix for a while.

So, on today's menu is:
Copycat Chipotle chicken
Yorkshire meatballs
Rice (if it's already cooked, fried rice is a snap!)
Lasagne
Banana muffins
Pork fajitas (from Taste of Home)
Meatloaf

And here's my plan of attack:
1. Make muffin batter
2. Put one batch of muffins in the oven (oh darn you, 6-muffin muffin pan!)
3. Start rice
4. Marinate chicken; bag; freeze
5. Put in another batch of muffins
6. Prep meatballs and meatloaf
7. Bake meatballs
8. Prep fajitas; cook or bag to cook later...haven't decided yet
9. Bake meatloaf
10. Brown burger; add spaghetti sauce
11. Put meatballs on cookie sheet and put it in the freezer
12. Assemble lasagne; wrap; freeze
13. Put in a batch of muffins
14. Bag rice
15. Bag fajitas (if I decided to cook them)
16. Bag meatballs
17. Put in a batch of muffins and start clean up!

So, there's the agenda for today...somewhere in there I'm going to catch up on The Biggest Loser and I've got the "Blue Box Blues" for some mac and cheese whenever we get around to lunch--are the pregnancy cravings already starting? We'll see...

Unfortunately, I ran out of steam last night, so my kitchen looks like this:

Seems to be an omen of the messy kitchen to come.

I'll update throughout the day--for now, I've got to get cooking! :D

Baptism

2009-11-10T07:11:00.004-06:00

Four years ago, on Halloween, I gave my life to Jesus Christ. I had grown up going to church, but nobody could ever give me a clear answer on how to get to Heaven. "If you are good enough," "If your good works outweigh your sins," etc.

I was forever on my toes, running from one "good work" to the next...but I knew my heart. I knew the bad things that lived there: gluttony, selfishness, anger, a lying tongue. I knew that even though to the outside I was pretty close to perfect, I was a wretch of an individual.

That's when Mr. J--then boyfriend of three months--sat me down and explained that I was a sinner. Yep, already knew that. That Jesus died on the cross for my sins. Of course, I'd heard that, too, but always followed by "so that if you are good enough..." That when Jesus rose from the grave, He had defeated death and all of my sin. Yea--wait, what? All of it? That salvation was a gift, because no person could be perfect enough to earn it.

And that clicked for me. Mr. J prayed with me and I stood up a new creation in Christ. I'm still not perfect, but I'm a work in progress, being sanctified just a tiny bit at a time.

The next thing was baptism: I had been baptized as a baby, but I don't believe it was in the right spirit. In the Bible, baptism is for those who have placed their faith in Christ in full knowledge of what they are doing--babies can't do that. Baptism is a matter of obedience, following what Jesus said to do.

But I struggled with getting up the courage to be baptized; part of me still clung to the idea that I was "too old" for this. So, four years went by. Because we were in college, we bounced around between home and school and never really got rooted in a church. Even though we've found a great church, there's still something about being dunked in water in front of all of them that scares me.

So, Monday night, Mr. J and I filled our bath tub. I changed into a tank top and his old swimming trunks. Then he scrambled around the house looking madly for something; when he came back, he handed me a little handkerchief with an embroidered "J" and flowers.

"My grandpa gave it to me for my baptism," and he told me it was to cover my mouth and nose. Mr. J read some Scripture about the disciples being called to go out, share the Good News, and baptize in the name of Jesus Christ. He asked me to give my testimony (even though he knows it just as well as me), and then I got into the tub.

"Michelle Jorgenson, by the knowledge that I have of the evidence of your faith, and assurance that should you for some terrible reason be taken from me that you would go to be with our Lord, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

It wasn't an overly spiritual moment; there were no harps or doves. But there was joy in my heart and in my husband's eyes. He assured me that there was no need for a large cloud of witnesses--he was certain Jesus had been with us to see it all.

And I think that he's absolutely right.

It's that time again!

New week, new plan, and a day off on Friday means a new venture: freezer cooking! I'll explain more about it later, but for now I'll just say that I'm really excited and hopeful that it will save lots of time and money!

Anyway, onto this week....

Monday: Out to Bible Study! Vegetable beef stew is provided and Mr. J and I will be bringing some challah bread to share--yum!

Tuesday: Roast chicken with veggies

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Spaghetti, salad, garlic bread

Friday: Date night or something from my big day of freezer cooking

Saturday: hot ham and cheese; ham casserole

Sunday: Football season dictates that lunch on Sunday is something like hamburgers or corn dogs or appetizer-ish that can be eaten while rooting on our favorites; dinner will be something more civilized like steak or pork chops with green salad and twice-baked potatoes

What are you planning this week?

Initial Observations on Pregnancy

2009-11-04T17:24:00.002-06:00

Sickness I haven't thrown up yet! I've had my fair share of nausea, and I've found that I need to eat a little every few hours (but never too much) to keep my body from rebelling. Overall, I always imagined I would feel lousier, so in this respect I'm very pleased.

Fatigue Wow. I.am.tired. Not all the time, but it's definitely killing my productivity at home and making my motivation wane at work. But I started going to bed earlier and that seems to be helping me get through the day.

Smell awareness There was coffee way off in the school kitchen the other day; I walked into the lunchroom during lunch and it was all I could smell. Plus, air fresheners, cologne, and any other strong smells bother me.

"Sympathy" symptoms Mr. J fell asleep early last night: 9:30 instead of his usual midnight! And today he couldn't stop snacking. All he says is, "It's the pregnancy." Ha!

Singing When I drive home from work, I find hymns on the radio or turn the radio off and sing hymns to my belly. "Come Thou Fount" came on this afternoon and it was wonderful.

My pants seem tighter at the end of the day, but they fit just fine in the morning; I've rectified that by putting on pjs as soon as I walk in the door!

I'm sure things will get more serious as things progress, but for now, this baby thing is a cinch! And, for the time being, that's all right with me.

Oh Baby!

2009-11-03T06:46:00.002-06:00

It may be too soon to say anything since I haven't been to a doctor, but I can't hold it in...

We're expecting!

I had been late and nauseous, so Sunday night Mr. J and I purchased an ept, I did my duty (twice because I thought I'd messed the first one up...good thing there were two in the package!), and in under two minutes we had two plus signs!

Even though a half an hour later we were fighting through tears and fears, I would never trade the look on my husband's face when he realized we were really pregnant for anything.

This means all sorts of changes in the Jorgenson household...but I'll definitely have stuff to blog about!

An Award!

2009-10-28T16:59:00.002-05:00

Well, last night I was very blessed to find that I had received an award!My dear friend who blogs at Making the most of being at home (and what a lovely blog name, right?!) honored me in this way, and I greatly appreciate it!

I don't have the time to pass it along right now, but just know that there are a lot of wonderful blogs out there and I adore them all! :D

A Perfect Example

2009-10-27T17:44:00.002-05:00

Since I started working full-time, things around the house have sort of fallen apart; I did a lot of cleaning over the weekend, but other than cooking, I don't seem to get much done during the week. Any sense of order and routine has gone by the wayside, because when I get home from a long day, the last thing I want to do is more work!

I love my home and keeping it, but I'm tired. And I've even noticed resentment creeping in toward my husband. Why do I have to pack the lunches? Why do I have to do the vacuuming? Well, because when we got married, I said that I would--that I wanted to have those responsibilities and that I looked forward to them.

Now? I still want to do them and be a happy homemaker, but I have no motivation.

Something in the sermon I heard on Sunday got me thinking about Jesus and His perfection. Now, I'm not perfect, and I'm not Jesus, but as a Christian it's my goal to want to be and to strive to be like Him.

Sitting in that pew, when I should have been focused on the verse at hand it hit me: Jesus would have been a perfect keeper of the home and a perfect wife.

Now before you jump at me for being heretical, hear me out: I realize that Jesus is a man and would never need to be married. But He was perfect in all that He did and all that He does, so if vacuuming and cleaning and cooking and submitting to someone else were part of His job, He would have done those things without error, without room for improvement. Actually, He did one of those things: part of His duty on this earth was to obey and submit to His Father--not exactly like having a husband but similar in spirit.

I may be tired. I may want to do other things. I may wish that I didn't have to do these things (even though when I'm not tired and busy I love them). But they are my duty; if I want to be like Christ, I have to follow His example. I can't be perfect, but I can be better than I've been.

"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."--Philippians 3:14

So, the rest of my week will include making a home management binder, routines, chore lists (that I can actually keep). I've got to put my heart into the work that my Savior gave me, because otherwise, what purpose do I serve?

If Christ is the prize, I don't want to spend my whole life sidetracked.

Read-a-Thon!

2009-10-23T13:20:00.000-05:00

What's that, you say? I found an online Read-a-Thon where an entire 24-hour period is set aside for reading.

Geeky, right? But I'm in heaven and have a sweet, sweet husband who just shakes his head at me sometimes, so tomorrow I will be over at The Kannenberg Canon, reading, updating, and thoroughly enjoying my nerdy self.

Feel free to stop in with a little encouragement--I'm sure the adrenaline/caffeine/excitement will wane a bit at some point!

Happy weekend!

Say, "Aww!"

2009-10-22T15:05:00.002-05:00

Not much to report; life is pretty much as usual, and I don't have anything insightful on my mind.

But I did want to relay something sweet and wonderful and beautiful that my dear husband did as he put me to bed last night (he had taken an "evening nap" and wanted to watch Horatio Hornblower on YouTube when I very much needed my beauty rest).

I lay down, exhausted. I don't think I even remembered to brush my teeth; I definitely forgot to turn off the light. He walked in and asked, "Can I rub your back?"

Well, that's not an offer you hear every day, so I acquiesced and had him throw in a song. Now, Mr. J is no Josh Groban (he'll be the first to tell you), but to me, there is no sweeter, more genuine voice in the world.

A back rub, three hymns, and one whispered, "I love you" later, I was fast asleep and dreaming.

And yes, I have the most wonderful husband in the world.

Sin Nature Personified

2009-10-19T18:03:00.002-05:00

Working with kids with behavior disorders is a roller coaster ride: sometimes they want to please you and prove themselves to you by doing everything perfectly; sometimes they want to punch and act out and demonstrate that no one is boss of them.

It's a crazy tug-of-war all day long. Need for acceptance. Rebellion. Sweetness. Rebellion. Compliance. Rebellion. Obedience.

Rebellion. You can see it in their eyes, the willfulness, the understanding that this or that is wrong. And then the blatant disregard.

The boy I work one-on-one with, a kindergartner, came up to me while I was working with another student today. "Mrs. J, is there anything I can help with? I could do sometin' for ya, if you need anything." We hadn't spent much time together that morning, so he was itching to see me.

And the turn? Later at recess when he pushed a kid to the ground, while I was standing right there. Then he huffed off with that old rebellious look in his eyes.

The longer I thought about this, the more I liked it. Not the actual behavior, but the fact that these children show their anger, their jealousy, their sin.

Throughout life, we develop the ability to mask our emotions or motives--gossip, lies, slander, manipulation. The old sin nature rears its ugly head in many ways. But isn't it best to be open about sin, to admit it, to repent of it? When we mask and cover our sin, how can we confess and be free from it?

These children may need a lot of help and a lot of love and a lot of instruction (and a whole lot of Jesus), but they do have one thing going for them: honesty.

As adults, how honest are we about our sin? And how much could we gain--in closeness to God and others--by exposing ourselves?

It's hard to measure the gain, but I have one word for it: grace. And that's what I'm praying for for these kids...and even myself.

I heart Walgreens!

2009-10-18T08:41:00.003-05:00

Well, I started playing the drugstore game not too long ago, and this is my first time posting about my deals!

Transaction 1:
Zantac 75--$8.99
Sour gummy worms--$.99
Snickers bar--$.69
-$5 in Register Rewards from last week
-$5 Zantac coupon
OOP=$1.31
RR printed=$9

Transaction 2:
Old Spice deodorant--$2.99
Gilette Fusion razor--$8.99
Dentek floss--$2.00
-$9 RR
-$4 Gilette Fusion coupon
OOP=$1.96
RR printed=$8 (split into $6 and $2)

Transaction 3:
2 Oral-B Crossaction toothbrushes--$6
Dentek floss--$2
-$6 RR
-$1.00 Oral-B coupon
-$.75 Oral-B coupon
OOP=$.73
RR printed=$5 (split into $3 and $2)

Total original total=$32.65
Total OOP=$3.02
Total savings=$29.63
Percent saved=90.75%!

Ah, I love the smell of a good bargain first thing in the morning! :D

For more deals and steals, head on over to Money Saving Mom.

2009-10-15T18:13:00.003-05:00

In May, my glasses went missing. Three days later, I found them ground into a tire track in the yard--broken into three pieces and beyond repair.

Because we were in the process of getting ready for the wedding and switching insurance and squeezing pennies, I didn't get new glasses and simply wore my contacts day in and day out. But the checkbook and paperwork finally said yes, so I'm the proud owner of a brand new pair of specs!

Now, a superficial change like this shouldn't affect your outlook, but it's surprising how different I feel; it's like I got a chance to focus on who I am.

Corny? Eh, probably. But it is what it is.

I am a lot of things, some that I always will be, some that are for this season. In the future, there will be more and there will be fewer. But for now, this is what I am.

Christian. I need the Lord daily, even though I know I need to be more diligent in seeking Him. Mr. J and I are struggling to find a routine of reading the Bible together because everything keeps changing schedule-wise and routine-wise right now, but we really need to get it nailed down because nothing could be more important for our marriage.

Wife. Mr. J and I have been talking a lot lately about friends, how friends come in and out of our lives--particularly as you transition from schooling to adulthood (or more schooling!). In a new town in a new state in a new everything, we've really got to cling to each other, and that means we have to put each other first. No person in this world comes before my husband, and that is how it should be. And now the poor lovie is still fighting the germs I carried home from the school. Poor thing, but I must admit it's just too fun playing nurse! Soup and rest and a sweet, sleepy, appreciative boy. Is it bad that I enjoy this so much?

Homemaker. And Queen of the Castle. I am in charge of the budget, the decor (with input from the mister), the pantry, the routines, the bills, the lists, the birthdays and gifts--a Queen's work is intricate and all-encompassing. I am proud to have such a large responsibility, to receive praise for finding great bargains or a preparing a meal or picking up towels. It's great to be appreciated, but it's just as good to enjoy it all for myself--I am the queen of this castle, and I will act as such!

Educator. When we moved down here, I never anticipated working in an elementary school, and certainly not with kids with behavior disorders. I can't directly evangelize or anything, but I can love these kids and teach them about how to behave properly. I'm also working with sixth graders on their writing skills--how perfect! This opportunity dropped into my lap, and I'm going to make the most of it in this season, hopefully taking away a lot of tips and tricks for when we homeschool in the future.

Blogger. In the past, I've started blogs, lost steam, and let them die. I always thought that I had to have a specific focus, tons of comments, and a slew of loyal readers lapping up my every word to consider myself a "successful" blogger. Can you stand the ego? Yuck. Read me or don't, I need an outlet to process my thoughts...and hopefully somebody out there will be encouraged, entertained, inspired, or otherwise affected. That's what every blogger wants. I'm just trying to leave the perfectionist, overly ambitious part of it out.

Reader. And so continues the Kannenberg Canon challenge. I'm super stalled right now (can't seem to find enough reading time!), but I'm going to use this weekend to catch up!

Writer. I fear writing a sentence that isn't perfect; it's my own version of OCD. That has really hampered my writing as of late: if I don't think a post will be perfect, I don't write it or scribble something that I'm not happy with and chalk it up to not enough time. If I want to write an article and submit it to a publication, I tell myself that it's probably not worthwhile because no one will publish a no-name writer. When I think about that novel that's been brewing in my brain for months, I put it aside for "later". I may not have a lot of time to devote to this passion right now, but that doesn't mean that I can't give it full effort when I do have time. And if I have that attitude, I will make the time.

I'm a lot of other things, too; daughter, Twins fan, The Office enthusiast, drama lover (stage not relational)--a lot of things that are good and fascinating and fun, but I need to take time to remember the ones that matter most and put my focus there. So, I'm off to do dishes, check on my patient, read about Mowgli, and praise my God for the amazing life He has granted a wretch (oh, there's one more thing I am) such as me.

A Few Things on Elementary Schools

2009-10-13T07:18:00.003-05:00

Here are a few things I've learned thus far in my job as a classroom aide:

1. Kids love school--even if they say they don't. Evidence? Young girls playing school when stuck inside for recess.

2. School lunch is just as bad as the complaints about it are loud. This is one of the "perks" of my job (free lunch), but so far I've brown bagged it and been just fine.

3. Kids have germs abundantly and love to send them home with you. Saturday I was a sneezing machine and Mr. J is still fighting off those kindergarten bugs.

4. Naughty kids cannot be trusted to go to the bathroom on their own; chaos will undoubtedly pursue.

5. Sometimes it's confusing, sometimes it's frustrating, and sometimes it's just plain tiring, but for the most part I am enjoying my job. I just wish that we could get past Christmas so I can drop back to part-time (covering for a woman about to have surgery) and have more time at home...and blogging!

Anger

2009-10-07T07:23:00.003-05:00

Tuesday wasn't a great day in the Jorgenson household: Mr. J had to be downtown for a class and the traffic to get him there was horrible, then I went to the DMV to get a new license and found out I needed my birth certificate, then he called saying no one had shown up for the class so it must have been moved, which meant more downtown driving plus a trip home...it was a wasted morning of time, gas, and effort.

We were frustrated, to say the least. I don't remember who cussed first, but the other joined in and neither of us said stop. We let ourselves be angry because it wasn't a good day.

When we got home to check Mr. J's email about the class, he checked the headlines on CNN.

You may have heard on the news about a young man in Virginia who was really into "horrorcore," a genre of music that mixes hip hop with lyrics about murder and death, who was arrested for murder. The victims were a pastor, his wife, their daughter, and the daughter's friend. The scene was so terrifying that the police wouldn't even describe it to the press.

Boy did we change our attitudes quickly. I climbed into my dear husband's lap and apologized for my anger; he apologized to me, too. We hadn't been angry at each other, but that gave neither of us the right to speak and act as we had.

With the right information and birth certificate in hand, we solemnly made our way back to the car, back downtown. Mr. J played with the radio, turned on some praise music, and then we fell into a thoughtful silence.

If I'm so easily angered, which is sinful, I'm no better than that murderous boy. Sin is sin, and it's unacceptable for a Christian to knowingly continue in sin, in a wrong attitude. Oh Lord, forgive me...

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.--Matthew 5:21-22

Now, I am sure of my salvation; I know that I am safe from those hell fires because Jesus died for my sins, but that does not mean I'm not liable for my wrongdoings, that I won't have to give an account someday to God Himself.

I guess this was just a humbling experience to remind me: I am liable for my own sin, and God knows my wicked, fickle heart better even than I. There is no small sin; all sin is evil, all should be avoided. Such avoidance will take conscious effort and work and vigilance, but those bad places can be filled with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)--all of which are far more satisfying than continuing in any sin, big or small.

First Day!

2009-10-07T07:17:00.002-05:00

Oh me, oh my, here it is: today is my first day of work.

Last week, I providentially (oh yes, I believe it was) saw an ad for a paraeducator job, basically a classroom aide.

Well, I applied Wednesday, got a call Thursday, had an interview Friday, got a congratulatory call Monday, filled out paperwork yesterday, and start today.

I'll be working 6 hours a day until Christmas and then 4 hours a day after that (filling in for another para who's having surgery soon).

Mr. J and I hardly had any time to talk about what this means for us or how it will change things, but when I saw the ad he was completely supportive in me applying. So now we just have to figure out how this fits in with the rest of the little life we've started here.

Like when in the world am I going to get to try out my new Dirt Devil that's calling to me?! Okay, so I'll probably get to use it tonight, but still, we brought it home Sunday and I haven't gotten to do the much needed vacuuming...and it's starting to get to me.

Menu Plan Monday!

2009-10-05T10:33:00.003-05:00

All sorts of ideas can be found here, but here's my plan:

Dinners this week:
BBQ chicken drummies with tater tots and carrots and celery with dip
Chicken pot pie
Pork chops with mashed potatoes and green beans (or salad...or both!)
Tacos with fixings and corn
Breakfast for dinner: eggs, sausage, toast, fruit
Chili with cornbread and salad
Sloppy joes...but since we're probably going out somewhere tonight to watch the football game (can't get it on our TV), we'll probably save this for next week

Lunches:
Sandwiches
Mac and Cheese
Leftovers
Ramen

Snacks:
Pudding cups
String cheese
Crudites with dip
Apples
Pears
Bananas
Chips
Brownies
And the major amounts of fruit snacks and candy we carted home with us this weekend!

Wow....that's a lot of food for two people, but Mr. J uses his noggin all day long and that requires a lot of energy!

So, what are you eating this week?

Am I Crazy?

2009-10-01T16:27:00.002-05:00

Yes, I think I am. You see, I've started a new project.
My 9th grade English teacher, Miss Kannenberg, gave us a list the first day of class of books that we should read before graduating if we wanted to go to college. I paid little attention to the list until I got to college and decided to major in English.

It was amazing how relevant those titles became, but I never had time to read them all--I was too busy with assigned reading!

Now that I'm nearly a year removed from college, I feel the itch for academics. So, starting today, I've given myself a challenge: finish the remaining 121 books in one year. That's a book every three days. And I'm not talking Dick and Jane books; these things are thick! Think Les Mis and The Count of Monte Cristo.

It's a tall order, but I'm really excited to attempt the climb.

And you can read all about it here.

It's Raining Deliveries!

2009-09-30T16:16:00.002-05:00

My goodness has my mailbox been busy the past two days!

First up, my sweet, sweet sistas from the Sugar Pie Farmhouse Forum organized a wedding gift for me and for another sweetie pie who's getting married next month: recipe boxes filled with their wonderful recipes! The package also included some cookbooks, so Mr. J and I definitely won't lack variety in our meals! :D

Next up, I received an eos lip balm. I had signed up for a free trial one and am very pleased with it! The mint is subtle and just right, the product is smooth when it goes on, and the package is just too cute!

And finally, the book What Difference Do It Make? that I received in exchange for a review. Now, obviously I can't review it yet, but I will definitely be posting my thoughts soon.

So, that's life in the Jorgenson mailbox these days, and I couldn't be more tickled!

Don't you just love getting snail mail?!

Laundry by Hand

2009-09-29T11:52:00.002-05:00

An alternate title for this post could have been "Why My Hands Hurt."

As we have no cash on hand right now to feed the laundromat (plus two sets of parents eagerly awaiting our northbound return this weekend have laundry machines aplenty), we're eeking it out clothes-wise until Friday.

So...

Sunday, I washed some whites in the sink--some undershirts for Mr. J, some of my shirts, underthings, about 10 pieces in all. Wore gloves, worked quickly, broke a sweat, felt accomplished. Maybe I could do laundry by hand often and save us a bundle.

Monday, I washed some grey shirts, some of Mr. J's underthings. Tried foregoing gloves. Between the soap and wringing, my hands came out raw. Arms tired, fingers sore.

Tuesday, I did all of the dirty socks. It takes forever to get the soap out of socks. For.ev.er.

I will be so glad to take the rest of our laundry home. Next month, money for laundry is going in the budget.

I'll do it again in a pinch and for delicates, but otherwise I am quite glad to live in the age of laundry machines.

Volunteering

2009-09-25T10:53:00.002-05:00

I love being a housewife. Really and truly, I love not having to sit at a desk all day, I love being able to cook and create keep house as I see fit, I love being able to pick up the phone and chat whenever Mr. J has a few minutes to talk.

I love my job and role here at home; I am the queen of the castle.

Still...something was nagging me the other night, and I ignored it until Mr. J coaxed all the tears and fears out of me.

I'm lonely.

We live in a town where I don't know anybody yet. Well, one of my bridesmaids is here, which is awesome, but she's got a full plate and our schedules don't always mesh, so we don't see each other as often as we'd like. Otherwise, it's me and the apartment and various cashiers and library desk workers when I go out and about just to interact with people.

I started talking about taking any random job that came along, but neither Mr. J nor I want that.

"I make enough for us and then some, you know that. Why don't you try volunteering? That's where your heart always has been, anyway."

Oh, thank You, God, for such a wonderful husband. And for whatever You have planned for me.

Falling Into Place

2009-09-23T11:01:00.004-05:00

The natural world has rhythm. Autumn to winter, winter to spring, spring to summer, and back again. The sun rises and sets and changes in its timing by minuscule amounts that change those seasons. The moon and the tides sync together.

It's beautiful and perfect and God-made.

As people, we need routine--not as strict, not as perfect, but routine.

Part of the reason Mr. J and I have floundered a bit in this new state is a lack of routine, but now things are starting to fall into place and habits are being established. Like our afternoon/evening routine:

After I pick Mr. J up from school, we come home and talk for a bit. Then he meanders toward the computer to listen to his favorite talk radio program and blow up zombies for a while...or whatever game he's using at the time to decompress when the day is done. Civ 2 is also a favorite. During this time, I usually read a book, spread out on the spare bed, so that we're close to each other but still indulging our loner tendencies.

We were made for each other.

Eventually, I head to the kitchen to make supper while Mr. J does homework.

They started replaying old episodes of The Office at 6:30 pm, so I try to have dinner on the table promptly at six (it's actually a really good motivator!). We eat...rather quickly. Mr. J's father is the strong silent type, so he's not used to much talk at the table, whereas I'm used to eat cold food toward the end because we're jabbering so much. My family also has a tendency to laugh so much somebody spews food out of their mouth...

After dinner, we read a passage from the Bible (this is a very recent addition because we both felt like we weren't spending enough time in the Word) and sing a hymn--but not together. Mr. J and I don't sing together very well: I love the guy, but he's horribly flat when he sings and then insists that I'm throwing him off. So, he sings a verse and the chorus, then I sing a verse and the chorus.

Whatever time is left before The Office, I use to do some dishes. If I want dessert, I get it ready to eat during the show.

We watch, we laugh, we talk, we dread that homework has to start back up at 7. Which it does, and I finish in the kitchen: dishes (most of them anyway...I'm notorious for missing a few), wiping the countertops and ever-dirty stovetop, and sweeping (which I usually forget to do). Once the kitchen is clean, I like to think of the kitchen as "closed" for the evening--ie, no more snacking for this girl.

That hasn't happened so far, but I can dream, can't I?

After that, the night includes homework or board games or crosswords or trips to the store to walk around and not buy anything or well, wouldn't you like to know! The point is, things are falling into place and feeling normal.

And I'm loving it.

Inspiration Board

2009-09-22T15:16:00.003-05:00

Mr. J and I have big dreams. And we love to talk about them: the barn, the cows, the trees, the acreage, the living space for our parents in their old age, the kids we'll have, the homeschool, the house, the friends, the sweet corn parties--we have big dreams.

But...right now, we live in a box in the middle of a city, make very little money, and can hardly see our dreams through the concrete.

So I created our inspiration board, covered in pictures and words to remind us of our goals and inspire us to meet them. We've got student loan debt to pay off and money to save up before any of this can happen. Hopefully a visual reminder will help.

Wanna see it?

Well...since you asked...

Can you tell I'm a Dave Ramsey fan?

Yes...I did already pick out a house plan--it's even a design that the company we want to work with builds. That's how serious about all of this we are.

Our principles of godliness, hospitality, and scholarship worded more profoundly (at least, in my opinion)...or at least more clearly. Even if the picture is blurry.

So, how do you keep yourself motivated for big goals? I'd love to hear about it!

Simply Wonderful Weekend!

2009-09-21T10:25:00.003-05:00

I know that I normally do Menu Plan Monday, but since Mr. J only got half a paycheck this month (how's that for welcoming your workers?!), we're improvising and cleaning cupboards as we go.

What I really want to talk about is our weekend.

This is the inside of the General Store in Amana, a historic town that was originally part of the Amana Colonies, a group of people who came to America to escape religious persecution and set up a farm-based communal life. I don't know much about their history or current state, but the town is quaint and cute and I am just cursing myself for not bringing my camera. Next time--particularly if we go back for their old-fashioned Christmas!

But probably the best part of the weekend? Driving back from Amana, loading up all of our aluminum cans, feeding them into a recycling machine that gave us a receipt good for cash, and spending that bit of money on junky appetizers. Then, we went home and baked up all of that yummy junk food and ate it buffet style in front of the TV, washed down with sweet soda.

It's silly, it's simple, but it felt like heaven to these two homebodies. And all was right with the world.

Looking back on that Saturday night makes Monday morning a lot easier!

Snow Is General Over Ireland

2009-09-16T14:04:00.003-05:00

"Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland."
---James Joyce's "The Dead"

While my life has no kind of social, political, or religious revolution going on, this line has been stuck in my head for nearly a week.

Mr. J and I have been debating if grad school is right for us. He has a bad day or worries about an upcoming test, and suddenly we're drafting his resume and job hunting back in our hometown. He has a good day, and he spends the rest of the evening gushing about his research and enjoying being with me here.

So, I'm in limbo. Things are in a constant state of flux, day by day. Snow is general, but I'm not sure where it's blowing.

But, my Lord says not to be anxious. He says in His Word not to worry. So I will bear the storm and waiting to see where the snow lands.

Dilemma

2009-09-16T08:53:00.006-05:00

Everybody lives on their cell phones these days. Mr. J and I don't spend a lot of time on the phone, but it does come in pretty handy when he's finished with school and lab for the day...you know, so he doesn't have to walk the several miles back to our apartment.

Our phones, for the most part have been pretty happy phones. We treat them well and they glow with joy and purpose.
See? Happy, happy phones.

However, when Mr. J burst unexpectedly into our apartment yesterday, I was shocked: our happy, joyful phones seemed to be on the fritz! He couldn't call me and...you guessed it, he had to walk all the way from campus back home.

I spent an hour at the AT&T store only to find out that the problem is a blanket problem in parts of the Midwest, so they'll text us once it's resolved, but until then we can only call landlines and receive certain calls.

But we can't call each other.

So, for now, our phones are angry at one another and not speaking. It makes me sad--as the photo clearly shows. I'm not used to so much cellular hostility.

I'll let you know when things are more like this...

Until then...I am the world's worst/slowest/most frustrated texter. But I'm tryin'.

P.S. Don't mind the wet, scraggly hair and droopy-morning eyes...only pay attention to the phones! :D

Menu Plan Monday!

2009-09-14T12:12:00.004-05:00

Breakfasts: bananas, eggs, toast

Lunches: sandwiches, leftovers, mac and cheese

Snacks: various chips and crackers lying around, carrots and celery with dip, pears, bananas, cookies

Monday: PhD Student Picnic--and spouses are invited!

Tuesday: Chili and homemade bread

Wednesday: More chili--it's always better on day 2!

Thursday: Loaded baked potatoes, salad

Friday: Chicken and stir-fry veggies, rice-a-roni

Saturday: Hot ham and cheese sandwiches, green beans

Sunday: Tater tot hotdish

For more ideas, head on over to OrgJunkie.com!

5 Easy Ways to Spend Less Time Online

2009-09-11T10:55:00.002-05:00

Now really, who would want to spend less time on the internet, checking email, reading blogs, tweeting it up? Well..this girl. Mr. J and I worry that it's sucking us in; if one of us is on the computer, the other one is basically alone and forgotten! We've both gotten this way, so we decided together to decrease our screen time.

Unfortunately, I'm home alone more than he is, so I'm more tempted...in fact, I really haven't done anything else since I got home an hour ago.

So, I'm using these tricks to spend less time on this wonderful but awful thing and to make the time I do spend more efficient:

1. I'm going to write my blog posts longhand.
Instead of typing a few words, reading a few blogs, writing a few words, clicking mindlessly
while I search for what I want to say, now I will be able to think only about what I want to
say and (added bonus) also proof it before anybody else reads it, so I only put my best foot
forward.

2. When I do browse for fun, I will set a timer.
I like Online Clock--the beeping is loud and annoying but definitely gets your attention. Plus
you can change the colors! I think I will start with 15 minutes at a time and see how it goes.

3. Single-tasking is king.
If I need to pay bills or fill out forms or something, that is all I should be doing; otherwise, a
one-minute task takes ten because I get caught up in pretty blogs! Also, I'm super ADD with
opening tabs. One tab at a time equals single focus.

4. A feed reader helps curb blog hopping.
I use Google Reader to browse through my favorite blogs. If a post title grabs me, I will open
it and click through to that post; if a post doesn't grab me, I skip right on by--no time wasted.

5. Occasionally, I will disregard the rules and just enjoy a long stretch of
computer bonding time.
Like when Mr. J has to go to a graduate retreat or I've had a really productive day or
something...it's okay to bust loose and enjoy a good thing, I just need to rein it in a little right
now. All things in moderation.

So, that will be the last you hear from me until Monday: my mom is coming down to visit for the weekend, which means I wouldn't have had much internet time anyway. But that's just fine with me.

Happy weekend!

The Jorgenson Family China

2009-09-10T08:05:00.006-05:00

When I got engaged, I never thought I'd register for china: it's expensive, it's impractical, it doesn't suit me.

Then I saw this.All of this. The Jorgenson family china, used once upon a time for Mr. J's extended family get-togethers when his grandma was still alive. After that, it sat in a big box that eventually made its way to Mr. J's mom's house...where it still sat in a box.

Until shortly before our wedding, when she offered it to me! I had always been drawn to sleek, modern dishes--but I will tell you that this frilly pattern with its roses and gilded edges stole my heart.I mean, look at that precious tea cup! A little research told me that this is American-made, from the same company that makes Fiesta ware! Exciting, right? The pattern is called "Indian Bombay Tree" on eggshell with dot-scalloped edges and gold rims everywhere.Don't you just love this? It's so Beauty of the Beast that I'm waiting for it to start up in song!
Well, there's my "modern": square salad plates! Don't you just love the edges here?
Oops, forgot to turn it! But you get the idea: my china is now out of the box and into a cupboard! Down the road we'll probably get a hutch, but I figure this is better than being hidden and wrapped in newspaper.

Bon apetit--every day food, but fancy dishes!

Letting Him Lead

2009-09-08T08:53:00.004-05:00

One expectation that I've had to overcome in my marriage is the idea that Mr. J would be a bold leader, that he would have a plan and be goal-driven at all times.

But that's just not his style; he ponders things from all angles, gets my input (and generally that of others), ponders while playing video games, prays over it...you get the picture. I can have my heart set on something or want to pursue something or think that we need to change something for weeks before Mr. J acts on it or brings it up.

Now, I realize that I am part of the problem: I need to tell my husband what I think, because he values my opinion more highly than I do. For whatever reason, I'm slow to throw in my two cents; I've got to get better at it.

But sometimes when I do give my opinion, he doesn't act on it right away or react as I want, so I get irritated. I walk in expecting my husband to feel the same way as I do without allowing him time to think it over. If you've read this far, you've probably realized that Mr. J doesn't really operate on whims; rushing him does not work. I need to give him time to think.

What does that leave me with while I wait? The opportunity to pray for the subject at hand and for my husband. I need to pray for wisdom for both of us--that we'll choose the right path with this thing, that we'll be on the same page, that we won't get upset with each other if we don't agree. I think praying over whatever is at hand has been the most successful part of this whole thing.

For example, I'd been thinking and praying over the fact that we spend too much time on the computer and not enough time together face-to-face but never brought it up to Mr. J. Last night he told me that he thinks we should probably back off on the computer.

I've been thinking that I've been drinking way too much caffeinated pop lately and prayed for strength to lessen my dependence on the stuff. Just a few days ago Mr. J announced that he's tired and sluggish and we'd both probably feel better if we laid off the pop (of course, then my mom sent us home with 5-12 packs of pop...she was trying to be nice and give us a gift!).

And the best one of all: I've been waning in my time with the Lord, and Mr. J has led the sweetest prayers the past couple of nights. I wish that I had a tape recorder so I could have kept his words--so sincere, so heartfelt. Just another reminder of why I love this man.

My husband's leadership is subtle. It is subdued. It could even be called slow. But I know the steps I need to take--share my thoughts, wait patiently, pray--and I know that I can trust in his leadership.

And that is sweet, sweet music to my ears.