Kudzu Korner

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. ~Phil 4:10-14

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Tempting Tuesday

Posted in Kudzu Ramblings
Oh my! What a wonderful day today was! I'm another year older. Yup, 34 doesn't feel a lot different than 33, but if all birthdays were like today I wouldn't mind having a few more!

Andrew took the day off of work today and tried to get his car fixed and ready for inspection. Didn't quite get it there, but we're one step closer to having the Metro back on the road and that should help the gas budget some. After waking up to the sound of children's voices in song and being bombarded with cards, I received some wonderful presents. Later in the day, we headed in to town and made a couple stops at the car parts store and then the mall. Then we headed to Applebee's for dinner (on Tuesday nights, kids eat free at our Applebee's). After that a trip to Cold Stone Creamery for birthday treats.

So, now to explain the name of today's post of "Tempting Tuesday." Over the last year I have started being a lot more bargain aware and have signed up for a gazillion different freebies and goodies and samples online. The two places we visited tonight helped to make today a special day with some of the goodies they provide on your birthday. In case you didn't catch it in yesterday's post, I'm trying to loose weight again. ARGH! Having a birthday is NOT the time to try and loose weight.

Over the last week I received so many emails wishing me a happy birthday. It was wonderful! It was a realization that "someone cares!" Oh wait...that was a Texas Roadhouse Bloomin' Onion offer. Oh wait...that was a free Dairy Queen treat....and oh wait Cold Stone Creamery birthday club. Can I run from the room screaming now???

I handled myself well though. I deleted all the offers that came straight into my email. Once we decided to go to Cold Stone, I went to the site and printed out the offer...not before. If you print it out, then you HAVE to use it. Know what I mean?

Anyway, I could have gladly tried to eat a lot of the yummy birthday wishes I was offered. As it is, I had a little and left the rest and at the end of the day, I'm happy with that. Now..I need to get off here and start enjoying the NEXT year of my life!
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Monday, June 9, 2008

Monday's Musings

Posted in Kudzu Ramblings
It dawned on me today that I've been interested in blogging about a lot of little things and have never gotten around to them. I love posting my pictures, but I love hearing myself talk (in my head as I type) too. So, hang on to your seats, this could be a bumpy ride!

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For starters -- Summer. What is going on? It's only the second week of June and it's already so hot that I get hives just thinking about leaving the house. Yes, I am an extreme weather wimp. I dislike the cold of winter and I dislike the hottest hot of summer. Seriously, 98 degrees already. And the humidity?! I'm taking suggestions for climates that have no humidity and stay around 75 degrees all year. That would about as close to heaven as you can get on earth for me.

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Secondly, simply because I must. An open letter to the employees of Wal-Mart (specifically the one pretty close to my house):

Dear Hard Working Employees,

I do apologize for my actions yesterday. I had no intention of that happening (twice) or I never would have left home, let alone decided to go grocery shopping. Again, I can't thank you enough for your graciousness concerning my inability to remove myself from the situation (twice) - or at least remove the situation from the middle of the store (twice). I hope you know that in all honesty, I was as caught off guard and surprised as you were. I was also as grossed out as you were. It was NEVER my intent for you to have to clean it up, either. Seriously. Truly. I do appreciate what you did, but believe me when I tell you that you went above and beyond any duty your paycheck may have held you to. I am fully embarrassed, but I do feel much better today. I think it was just a reaction to the heat and air conditioning climate changes. At least I hope...

Sincerely,
A no longer throwing up customer.

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Have I told you about BzzAgent yet? I'm a member, and I thought you might like to be one too (joining is free). I get to try lots of new products and services at no cost with samples, coupons and stuff like that. Then I make my voice heard by sharing my honest opinions with others, including some of the largest companies in the world. You earn cool rewards through MyPoints.com too and that is a great perk! Want to learn more and sign up to join in the fun? You can visit their web page or I can send you a referral, just drop me a line with your email address and I'll Bzzz it right over to you! (corny, I know, but I'm in a weird mood). LOL

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Okay, I'll close this post for now. There's more, but I'm thinking that I like the Monday's Musings...so I'd better save a few ideas for next week!

~Michele

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Friday, May 23, 2008

Where does daddy live?

Posted in Kudzu Ramblings
Life is funny from the perspective of a 3 year old. For a while now Sean has loved to assign belongings to people.

The neon is "mommy's car" even though daddy has been driving it these days.
The van is "mommy's van."
It's not just his bedroom, you have to say "take this to yours and Christopher's room" or he'll ask you, "you mean mines and Christopher's room?"
The list goes on.

Recently we noticed that he kept saying "there's mommy's house" when we'd go somewhere and come home. One of the kids told him "It's daddy's house too" and he got very indignant. "No...it's MOMMY's house."

So we asked him where daddy lives. "Daddy lives at his building." (he means daddy's work.)

We've been asking him for days and not only does daddy live at work, all the kids live there with him. *I* on the other hand do not. It's NOT mommy's work. It's Daddy's work. So, I live in Mommy's house all by myself and they just visit me most of day.

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Thursday, April 10, 2008

New Blog Keeper Meme

Posted in Kudzu Ramblings
This weeks question for the Blog Keeper Meme is: Do you blog like you talk?

Hmmm, interesting question. In some ways, yes. In other ways, probably not. I tend to talk WAY too much and I think I find the point a little bit faster when I blog. It's probably a little more accurate to say I blog the way I think.

I know that I've gone months between blog entries before as well and I'm sure I've NEVER done that while talking. HA!

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Friday, April 4, 2008

Ten of Life's Simple Pleasures - Blog Meme

Posted in Kudzu Ramblings
My friend Jenn has challenged us to write on this particular topic. So here goes, in no particular order:

1. Cuddling with a baby after they've had a bath and sniffing their freshly washed head. Ahhhhhh.....

2. Staying up WAY too late with a good book because I just HAVE to know how it ends.

3. A good foot massage.

4. Having my hair brushed. (Ok, I have to qualify that. When the kids attempt to put My Little Pony beads in does not count.)

5. Taking a super hot shower and knowing I don't have to get out until I want to.

6. Hearing my parents say that they are proud of the adult I have become.

7. Seeing Andrew smile at me from across a crowd and knowing that neither one of us can wait until we're side by side again.

8. Spending quiet time in God's Word.

9. Waking up to a clean kitchen.

10. OH! OH! I know!!! Climbing into bed the first time after it's been made with fresh sheets!

There ya go!!! I could list a bunch more, but her challenge said ten. LOL

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Sunday, December 16, 2007

Don't fence me in

Posted in Kudzu Ramblings
I've been on a Harry Connick, Jr. fix lately. I'm LOVING this song off of his album "30".

HARRY CONNICK, JR. - Don't Fence Me In
This is lyrics from www.lyrics007.com

Well, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above
But don't fence me in
Let me ride through that wide open country that i love
Don't fence me in
Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze
Listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever but i ask you please
Don't fence me in

Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
Underneath the western skies
On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till i see the mountains rise

I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences

Gaze at the moon till i lose my senses
I don't like hobbles and i can't stand fences
Don't fence me in

[Instrumental break]

Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
Underneath the western skies
On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till i see the mountains rise

I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
Gaze at that ole moon until i lose my senses
I can't stand them hobbles and i don't care for fences
Don't fence me in

Oh no...don't you fence me in

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Saturday, November 3, 2007

So grateful for my husband

Posted in Kudzu Ramblings
It dawned on me today, again, just how blessed I am to have Andrew for my husband. There are so many "unsung heroes" in this world and I know that Andrew is one of them. Well, no more...I'M going to sing for him even if no one else does!

Andrew is a man of God, in a world that says God is not important any more.
Andrew is a husband that values his wife, in a world that says families don't have to be together as much any more.
Andrew is a father, in a world that doesn't expect fatherhood as much any more.
Andrew is still learning God's ways, in a world that says you do not need God's ways any more.
Andrew is hard-working, in a world that doesn't value an honest day's work as much any more.
Andrew is honest, in a world that doesn't value honesty as much any more.
Andrew is strong, in a world that says men should not be strong as much any more.
Andrew is the head of his house, in a world that says a woman can do it and he doesn't have to any more.
Andrew is dedicated, in a world that says it's okay if you don't want to stick with the same job any more.
Andrew is a man of conviction, in a world that tells him his convictions are not important any more.
Andrew is trying, in a world that says it is okay to give up and not try any more.
Andrew is so much more, in a world where words just do not fit the man any more.

I could sit here and go on all night, but even these words do not do him justice. I can look back over the best and worst moments of the last 15 years we've known each other and he's there for all of them. He had stood beside me and lifted me up when needed and carried me when I couldn't go any further. The times that he had to be strong and didn't have it in him, God was there to support us both. I am so honored that I was created to him his wife, his love, his helpmeet.

Thank you God for my AMAZING husband and for creating in him a wonderful image of You!

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Monday, October 15, 2007

Diary of an insane nesting woman

Posted in Kudzu Ramblings
Wow. Is it really almost 3:00 in the morning? I was late heading to bed, but that was almost two hours ago. It's amazing what a little Mt. Dew (okay, a lot) and some motivation can do to a pregnant woman! I headed into the kitchen to check the back door before going to bed. Nothing special there, that's normal routine, especially if I'm the last one to bed. Andrew and I spent the last two days moving the kids into different bedrooms, so the kitchen was looking slightly neglected.

*mental note -- start tomorrow with cleaning the kitchen {sigh}*

I'm not sure what prompted me to do it, but I took a couple extra minutes to look and make sure the cordless phone was on the base. BIG MISTAKE! While looking for the phone a demonic ROACH

flashed across my kitchen counter and disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

Okay, I'll admit it. Demonic is a strong word. I don't know if roaches really ARE demonic, however, anyone who has known me very long, knows I have threatened to MOVE out of an apartment in the past over the sight of one roach. There is absolutely nothing more disgusting to me than a roach...except maybe knowing that if I saw one...there are probably GAZILLIONS of them waiting until I turn the lights off. (Want to guess who is sleeping with the lights on tonight?)

So, it's 3:00 a.m. I'm still awake. We aren't renting this place, it's ours. I can't complain to the landlord. I know what he would say. "I told you so." We had some things for the baby given to us and after bringing them into the house he removed them after seeing a critter amongst them.

However, my kitchen no longer looks neglected! I washed ALL the dishes. I removed everything from the counters, including the piles of paperwork that seem to breed while we sleep at night. I cleaned. I scrubbed. I degreased and disinfected. I went looking for traces of the little demon in my cabinets. *mental note -- buy Borax tomorrow* I didn't see anything. I'm even starting to wonder now in my post cleaning haze if I even saw the demon. Of course, I didn't stop with just the counters.

About 20 minutes ago, Andrew stumbled from the bed room and looked at me with a total look of shock on his face. I'm sure it was odd to see his wife scrubbing the OIL LAMPS! at 2:30 in the morning. (Yes, the oil lamps. I'm sure that would be a very logical place for a roach to think to hide if everything else in the room was clean. Sheesh...) He rubbed his eyes and looked at the clock and said "wha?" I simply looked up and said "I think I saw a roach." He rolled his eyes and went back to bed. He won't remember one bit of it in the morning. I wish I could be awake when he gets up in the morning. Maybe I can convince him a cleaning fairy visited while we were asleep!

Now, I need the nesting bug to hit me for the rest of the house during normal operational hours. Cleaning at 2 am might be productive, but I'm sure getting up with the kids in the morning won't be!

Good night!
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Wednesday, September 19, 2007

I love Fall!

Posted in Kudzu Ramblings
We're almost there! The weather is *thinking* about changing. The leaves have started to fall (the sad part). FOOTBALL is here!!! WOO HOO!!! I love all the "fall" decorations that people put out. The smells of pumpkin and apple cider and apple pie and warm things baking. This time of year is SOO much fun! The kids are loving being outside without it being so hot. The birds are starting to head south (which means less geese as well...that's always a good thing!). School is going great. We've got birthdays coming up! AND we're just a couple of months away from our newest addition to the family!

There are so many things about this time of year to love, but there are downsides too. Once the leaves change and fall off, the trees look less than appealing. Once the weather changes we start to see snow (never a good thing!) It's time to change out the kids clothing for the next season. I'm almost done but it was a CHORE. Hopefully I organized it a little better this season and it won't be such a task come next year.

Despite the ups and downs it's still one of my favorite times of year.

Ecclesiastes 3

¹ There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

² a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Prayers and blessings for all of our friends and family as we enjoy this new season!

~Michele
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Monday, September 17, 2007

Uncomfortable Shoes

Posted in Kudzu Ramblings
I have a few online friends that have had a miscarriage or a still born in the last couple of months. While my heart is rejoycing for our newest blessing's pending arrival...I ache EVERY minute of every day for Joshua. Sometimes you read something and the words are just perfect. A friend of mine pointed me to this poem today and this is one of those times.

Uncomfortable Shoes

I am wearing a pair of shoes.
They are ugly shoes.
Uncomfortable shoes.
I hate my shoes.
Each day I wear them, and each day I wish I had another pair.
Some days my shoes hurt so bad that I do not think I can take another step.
Yet, I continue to wear them.
I get funny looks wearing these shoes.
They are looks of sympathy.
I can tell in other's eyes that they are glad they are my shoes and not theirs.
They never talk about my shoes.
To learn how awful my shoes are might make them uncomfortable.
To truly understand these shoes you must walk in them.
But, once you put them on, you can never take them off.
I now realize that I am not the only one who wears these shoes.
There are many pairs in this world.
Some women are like me and ache daily as they try to walk in them.
Some have learned how to walk in them so that they don't hurt quite so much.
Some have worn the shoes so long that days will go by before they think about how much they hurt.
No woman deserves to wear these shoes.
Yet, because of these shoes I am a stronger woman.
These shoes have given me the strength to face anything.
They have made me who I am.
I will forever walk in the shoes of a woman who has lost a child.

~~Author Unknown

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If anyone knows the author of this poem, please let me know so I can give them credit.
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About Me

I am a mom to five wonderful blessings--Christopher (7), Erin (5), Sean (3), ^Joshua Michael^ stillborn (11/18/06) and Kelsie (6 months). I have been married 12 years to the love of my life who is also the most amazing man on earth!