Here’s a quick hello to let you know all is well in JamiLeigh’s house. The modem is yet to be fixed and the laundry yet to be done so this blog is still on “Summer Break”. So far we’ve filled our time with Swimming, Mowing, Reading, Gardening, Snake Spotting, Strep throat, Family Reunions, PotLucks, Hampster buying, and an unnamed family members in the ICU. Charleigh got a really really short hair cut yesterday and Joshua has decided to grow his out like a “surfer dude”. Kaleb couldn’t care less what his hair looks like. . . he is however pretty interested in his new pet hamster who’s name is. . . Teddy. Like that Amy?

I’m off, untill later please know you are loved.

Jami Leigh

I’m calling this a “Week Review” maybe it should have been spelled w-e-a-k. Cause I’m back to rambling again. Either way here’s what we’ve been doing:

Last Tuesday I had an unfortunate hair cut.

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We last talked on Wednesday when I whined about the impending doom that was the Track Meet’

In the end it worked out quite well, it was a lovely 72 degrees with only a slight breeze. Athletically the kids did much better, finishing second to last in stead of last. I’m not sure of the final results in long jump, high jump or obstacle course, I guess we’ll find that out at the Awards Assembly Tuesday night.
Here are a few pics from the day:

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Thursday was Kurt’s birthday, Happy Birthday Kurt.
Joshua and I spent the day doing laundry, making these oatmeal cookies and bolognese sauce for our Lasagna. It’d been a while since I made a baked lasagna so I forgot to keep the sauce a little runnier than usual. Our perfect slow cooked home made sauce turned out a little dry after the additional baking time. I was a bit disappointed but learned a lesson for next time. As for the cookies…well they had a good flavor but needed more oatmeal in them.

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Friday was a “snow day” so the kids spent the day running a lemonade stand. Problem being we live 15 miles from the closest town so the customers were a bit sparse. Things began to look up a bit when Grandma and Gramps showed up for a visit. . .5 hours later.

When they weren’t sitting at the stand they were sitting inside drawing pictures for a mother’s day present we were making for Kurt’s mom. I’ll share some of those pictures later

After a day of meager sales and illustrious art we had a nice dinner created by Mom and Grandma. Mom made us some yummy Philly Sandwiches and Grandma made us these delicious cookies:

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Saturday morning we slept in late. After waking up we spent a little more time with Grandma and Gramps before they headed back to Kansas. Then Kurt and the kids cleaned the mini van until it was sparkling while I finished up some Mommy Day presents and got us ready for a trip to Oklahoma to see Kurt’s family. The kids spent the afternoon playing in Nana and Papa’s back yard helping Aunt Shelly plant flowers. As soon as all the flowers were planted we invited Kurt’s Grandma and Grandpa Wingert over to cook hot dogs and roast marshmallows in the chiminea. For desert we had S’mores, Grandma and Grandpa had never heard of S’mores so we had to make sure they tried some before they went home. After we sent them home to bed the rest of us sat outside in the dark and talked around the fire for a few hours.

What a great day! The kids got to see four grandmas in one day. If it hadn’t have been so late we could have drove through Dalhart and visited the other two.

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Sunday Morn: Mother’s Day. Happy Day Mom!
We woke up at 6 and started getting ready for church. The kids and Kurt surprised me with two Willow Tree figurines, when you set them together it looks like me and my three children. Very Sweet.

At church I helped my pre-K class decorate flower pots for their moms that we later filled with whatever kind of flowers these are:

The children got a chance to perform a song for the ‘grown ups’ in ‘big church’ and did a fabulous job.

After church I was carrying around an armful of flower pots when I turned the corner and ran smack into Tory who was carrying the left over communion juice. It poured all over his shirt and pants. Lovely. My dress is fine.

A quick trip to the Chinese Buffet, the grocery store and Hastings to rent a few movies then we headed home. I tried to take a nap on the couch while Kurt and Joshua watched the race but Charleigh kept kissing me on the nose. Later the kids went outside and helped my Mom plant flowers before we knew it it was time to head back to town for Charleigh’s dance group. Recently a few high school girls in our church have put together a dance class/Bible study for the girls 1st through 6th grade. Charleigh has been wanting to take dance lessons for years now so this little arrangement was definitely a God send.

Joshua and I dropped Charleigh off at the church then headed to the Wal*Mart green house in search of some new herbs. We ended up buying some lavender and tarragon seeds along with a cucumber and strawberry plant. After waiting for 30 minutes to check out we ran a few more errands around town then found a couch in the church and took ourselves a nice little nap. When Charleigh was done we drove home and found Kurt had grilled up some hamburgers, yum. Nice husband.

Finishing the evening up we watched the Survivor Finale. Yes, folks we are Survivor nerds and on Tuesday you’ll find us watching American Idol.

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Now it’s today. Monday. Monday is boy scouts day. A nice 35 mile drive to boy scouts. It also gives us an excuse to visit some more Grandma’s. We love Grandma’s.

Oh, and as for the bad hair cut. I just highlighted it. It’s a well known fact: If you get a bad hair cut, blonder makes it better. It’s true, I don’t make this stuff up.

Good Morning, I thought I’d do a “catch all, catch up” post. Here’s we go.

Today at school the kids have their yearly “track meet/field day”. Fun! Fun! Oops sorry, you can’t hear my sarcasm can you. Last year’s event was a little taste of hell. Besides the heat, the repeated 1/2 mile walk back and forth between events, my roaming 3yr old and my bloodline’s amazing lack of athletic ability the wind blew all day and none of the other mommies would talk to me. Is that whiny enough for you. BooHoo the other mom’s don’t like me… Whaa Whaa. Honesty the thought of going back makes me a bit nauseous … Things really should be better today, Kurt is going to try and get off early so he can endure enjoy the day with me. It’s nice and cool outside, Joshua is a year older and much easier to hold on too and I decided to talk to those mom’s whether they like it not. Hey, I’m nice, right? People like me; and these ladies will too…whether they want to or not. Oh, and the kids have new running shoes and have been practicing running and jumping. Today certainly will be better, I’m sure of it.

Wait a minute there. Now listen, I don’t want anyone coming back and telling me I’m mean for talking bad about my kids athletic ability and how I shouldn’t push the kids too hard and how it’s ok if they don’t win each race. Yeah, yeah I know that, I don’t even mind if they come in last, I just don’t want them getting lapped. Each. Race. They. Run.

Moving on.
Tonight is WAR night at Bible Battalions, which stands for Worship and Rewards. The kids get to sing their songs then get their rewards for all the stuff they’ve worked on since Christmas. Hmmm…we haven’t actually been working on getting points and the kids haven’t been memorizing the verses…they brought no visitors…I’m not seeing any awards in our future.

This day is a plowed and fertile field waiting for God’s grace to rain down and set things abloom.

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This week’s Carnival of the Recipe is up, here are two recipe’s that stood out to me:

For Janae: South of the Border S’Mores

For Charleigh (the lover of all meatloaf): Meatloaf Florentine

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I never told you about my Surprise 30th Birthday Extravaganza. On Good Friday I was surprised by around 50 friends and family. It was FABULOUS, the room was filled with some of my absolute favorite people. I loved it, so sorry I don’t have many pictures, I was a little overwhelmed. I do have a picture of the Bday cake Julie made us:


Isn’t that cute! Oh and did I mention Amy was there too? Love ya Amy!

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Speaking of 30, remember when I said I was going to lose 6 pounds before I turned 30…well lets just say I now need to lose 12 pounds.

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Kurt came home last week with these great frozen POP makers called Twistix. I love these things, they are far superior to any other Popsicle makers I’ve tried. We’ve been making a double batch of their favorite breakfast smoothie in the mornings so I can freeze the rest and they get a yummy, no mess, healthy after school snack. Kurt said he paid somewhere between 4 and 5 dollars. No, this is not a paid ad I just wanted to share a little bit of happiness with my friends.

But if you’re looking for a paid ad and I’m sure you are (still can’t hear the sarcasm, sorry) If you guys plan on buying anything from
Christianbook.com
or Amazon.com come here first and link through my page so I can get a little $. When you click this page to shop you can feel good about things cause you’re helping buy shoes for bare foot kids. . .mine.

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When Rosie first debuted her daytime talk show in 96′ I loved her. The “Queen of Nice” who once threw koosh balls into the audience while sharing light-hearted banter, crafty ideas, and elaborate Broadway numbers somewhere took a turn for the “mean”. Now…well now I just wish she’d stop spewing hate and propaganda. Honestly, I’ve heard too many half truths from her I can no longer trust anything she says. This isn’t a new revelation, it came years ago… I just thought I’d share it with you now. It’s a little sad.

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Did you know if you sign up for the Hearitfirst.com newsletter you’ll get two free Christian music downloads each week as well as tons of other great perks which I don’t really know much about because I only have dial up. You really should go try it out, I’ve gotten some great songs from people like:
Toby Mac, Rebecca StJames, Nichole Nordman, 33 miles, Sanctus Real, and the News Boys
the list goes on and on.

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I think that’s it for now, I better get ready for the track meet. Water bottles? Check. Sun Screen? Check. Camera? Check.

Until next time,
Know you are loved.
Jami Leigh

Each year on this day, April 16th, I stop and remember my friend Chalyn Imler. It’s been 14 or 15 years since her life was lost and ours were changed. Mortality showed its face that day and shattered the innocence of our youth. While I didn’t know her well I’ll never forget her.

Today I pray for her family who on this day are undoubtedly thinking of her too.

Oh the joys of calling customer service. I’ve endured many struggles in the past. Like the time it took me being on hold for hours on end day after day for more than two months to cancel a certain internet service provider. Or the epic battle with my insurance company where I had to prove that I in fact was now and alway had been a female so they would cover child birth. They were sure I was either committing gender fraud or had at one time had a sex change so they refused to pay for any female related charges.

I’ve learned when calling any form of customer service to document all conversation. Not only does it help in further disputes but it keeps me sane. I’ve even considered recording all conversations. I could start it out by informing them the call is being recorded for quality assurance purposes.

Today my mission is to cancel XM Radio Service.

I will take you on my journey:
11:20 AM 3-9-07 Call to Cancel
Automated Answer

11:25AM 3-9-07
Put on hold, (I’m sure my call is very “important” to them, it shouldn’t take too long)

11:30 still on hold- jazz music playing.

11:32 I realize I can use the ear piece and move about the house.
-Cleanse and moisturize face
- Lose glasses
- Look for glasses
-Find glasses on my head.

11:35 Music stops, silence.
I wait…

11:36 Brian answers. Before I’m able to open my mouth he says he is sorry to inform me but they are experiencing problems with their system and if I would like to call back in two hours they would be more than happy to assist me.

11:37 I hang up, they may have won this round but I’ll be back…

Not too bad so far…we shall see how this one plays out.

UPDATE:

2 hours later:
1:36 Called Kaitlyn Xm’s automated attendent
“Beyond AM beyond Fm…XM Radio”
I forgo options and try hitting 0…it works
‘Listener care reps are currently caring for other listeners…please hold and your call will be…”

1:37 on hold

1:39 silence…

1:40 Melissa (real person) answers. I give her my account #
…waiting…silence…waiting…

1:42 She speaks

Melissa asks for my name, can’t find account, repeats account # to me. No, thats not it; I repeat account # slowly. She finds it. Various random questions confirming information. Most information is old, she’s fine with that and makes no effort to change it.

Melissa asks why I’m calling, I tell her I want to cancel service, she kindly asks why, I kindly explain.

1:44 she transfers me to the cancelation department…
On Hold- Swing Music…

1:48…Various XM ads and info…your call will be answered in the order in which it was received…

1:49 Tom answers an reverifies info.

Very Friendly, asks why I want to cancel, I explain we just don’t use it very often anymore. Offers 2 free months, I say thanks but I’d really like to go ahead and cancel. He says perhaps I should take advantage of 3 free months and asks if I like the service. I adsure him I do like the service and that I am aware of the various genres but I would like to go ahead and cancel. He assures me all I will need to do to cancel would be to call in three months I explain how despite his great service I have already spent 30 minutes today trying to disconnect this time so I’d better get it done now, especially since I’ve already been putting it off for 6 months.

1:53 service cancelled.

Not too bad XM. I accomplished my goal in only 2 phone calls and at no time did I feel like weeping. I’ll give them a low A.

That only took 34 minutes, Man! I should have taken the 3 free months, it would have been worth another 3o minutes to me. Do you think I should call Tom back?

Oh, and on another note, does anyone want to buy my radio?

I’ve noticed in the last three weeks and one day my only progress was in getting older.

Ya think it has anything to do with my level of activity and commitment?

Interesting that this dilemma could apply to more areas in my life than weight…hmm. What have I done today besides getting older? How about you?

I know it’s probably quite rude to post my own Christmas wish list here. Please forgive me and if you get the chance please direct my husband to this list.

Here are some things I’ve been wishing for that would not regularly be considered gift
material. I’m not hung up on the brands or the colors these are merely representations of things I’ve been longing for. I am especially interested in a new can opener and measuring cups!

Oh, and while we’re on the subject. . .

Dreamfields Pasta

Gorgonzola Cheese,
DaVinci Gourmet Sugar Free Flavored Syrups (White Chocolate, German Chocolate Cake, French Vanilla, Caramel, Praline, English Toffee

Bath & Body-Warm Vanilla Sugar-Eau de Toilette, Shimmer Wand, Moisturizing Hand SOAP, or Concentrated Home Fragrance Spray

If I was extremely interested in this blog I might have written of our wonderful Thanksgiving Thursday evening. Perhaps if I was even slightly interested I would have written Friday. Alas I was too busy spending time with my family to write to you about spending time with my family and honestly I’ve been a bit blog weary of late.
I’m am ready now though so here goes:

Since it’s inception our family stayed home for the first major holiday ever. The kids where so excited not to go anywhere. At first they where disappointed until they realized we were about to reach a family milestone, we were going to make our first Thanksgiving Dinner. That meant that they would be helping roast the turkey, mix the green bean casserole, simmer the cranberries, peel potatoes, and layer the deserts. What an adventure!
We started Wednesday around 2PM. That’s when we decided to cook our own traditional dinner. After picking Kaleb and Charleigh up off the bus we drove to town and made our menu and grocery list along the way. We all talked about what was “traditional” Thanksgiving food for our family and decided which things we would make and who would help with what.

I had dreaded going grocery shopping the day before Thanksgiving but it ended up being a great blessing. First we got a parking spot right by the front door then as we went in everything ran unbelievably smoothly. The children behaved perfectly and no one got plowed down by any renegade shopping carts. When it came time to check out we made our way towards the long line and miraculously a register opened up right in front of us. We didn’t have to wait in line at all.

Once we got home I decided to get the turkey ready for the next day. I slathered the bird with a herb butter Charleigh helped me make and Joshua watched in awe. “Did you kill that bird mom or did you buy him dead?” “Who picked the feathers out?” “Is your arm up the head or the butt?”

Thursday morning we woke up early. The kids took turns helping me cook, when it wasn’t their turn they made Christmas Cards.

Finally at 1:30 pm we sat down to Thanksgiving Dinner. We had Herb Buttered Turkey, Cranberry Pecan Stuffing, Green Bean Casserole, Broccoli Rice and Cheese Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Beans, Corn Muffins, Fresh Cranberry Sauce, Deviled Eggs and a Pumpkin Gingerbread desert. Besides the gravy and the cranberries my favorite part of the dinner was that we didn’t have to drive home after it was done. The rest of the day was full of games, movies, crafts and left overs. It very well may have been one of my favorite Thanksgivings ever.

stream-of-con‧scious‧ness- Pronunciation[streem-uhv-kon-shuhs-nis]
–adjective
of, pertaining to, or characterized by a manner of writing in which a character’s thoughts or perceptions are presented as occurring in random form, without regard for logical sequences, syntactic structure, distinctions between various levels of reality, or the like

So you may know I’m still conscious:

In case you haven’t noticed I’m lacking in eloquent prose. I just don’t seem interested nor do I have the time to write some inspirational thought provoking post. Perhaps you could check the categories or maybe the archives if you’re looking for something of value.

Today is Veterans Day. Happy day, Veterans. The kids had a fabulous program at school yesterday. It reminded me of what you might see on a movie. The whole town showed up in their best attire and watched the amazing singing and choreography of the elementary school students. Some of the high school students dramatically recited Patrick Henry’s speech Give me Liberty or Give me Death. It was amazing, everyone had tears in their eyes. All in all it was the best school program I’ve ever seen. After the Taps were played the veterans led the crowd out to the school cafeteria where they were served Chicken Fried Steak. Joshua and I went on home but it sure did smell good. . .for school food anyway. ~~~~ Joshua is quite a challenge, he is however equally rewarding. He is uhhh. . .oh, how would you say it? Ok, he’s in touch with his feelings. When he’s happy he loves to tell you how happy he is. He’s always telling me how precious I am to him and how glad he is that God made me his mommy. He’s more affectionate than any of my highly loving children, but when he’s angry. . .or sad. Well, you are sure to know it! Yesterday I got on to him for doing something and he scrunched his face and gave me a evil look and growled “I am very angry at you!” “Some times, Mom, you really frustrate me!” I won’t make you here the rest of that story. Speaking of Joshua, did you notice his new brown jacket? It’s featured in his latest picture. Any way, he loves it. He thinks it makes him look so “snappy” and he wears it every time we go to town. . .he does look pretty good doesn’t he. ~~~~ Charleigh went to a sleep over last night. She is beyond excited. I wasn’t sure what the big deal was. She’s slept over with lots of friends, hasn’t she? I started thinking about it and she stayed with Janae twice in her life and then with Mom and Sami lots of times. But this is her official first sleep over where there will be lots of friends there. I’m praying for the mom who is taking care of all these girls today. They were all here for a few hours on Charleigh’s birthday and after a little while it was clear that they had had all they could take of each other and it was time for everyone to go home. I’m trusting Debby is a better host than I and it will turn out better this time. ~~~~ Kurt is gone today, he’s at a meeting for the High School Boy’s Chrysalis he’s going to be working on Thanksgiving. They asked us to do the “marriage talk” Friday night. Everyone was sure I would do it, in fact I think they were counting on us. When Kurt asked me he was pretty surprised when I said I absolutely, completely do not want to do it. Ugg! I so do not want to stand up there in front a bunch of teenage boys and be subjected to the question and answer session that includes all things marital. Kurt asked why and I told him teenage boys are scary. He said “Ok” and that was it. I’m glad he was nice about it. So, we will not be doing the marriage talk in case anyone wants to know. And yes if I felt as if God was calling me to do this I would have sucked it up and done it. But as of yet he hasn’t, so I won’t. ~~~~ Case you didn’t know: My sister is in the army. When they played taps at that funeral a while back I kept thinking how they would play that at her funeral some day. My grandchildren will stand there and cry and talk about how beautifully the young man played. The great grandchildren will stand quietly in respect and an uninvolved bystander will think to himself how it is really a recording. I won’t be there of course. I plan on dying first. It seems a lot easier that way. ~~~~ My kid’s newest favorite Saturday morning tv show is “God Rocks!” shown on Daystar. If you don’t have Daystar you can check out this link to see how you can watch online. (I didn’t check to see how it works. With the dial up it would be next week before I could see it) ~~~~ Ok, I’m done rambling now. I need to go make some Orange Balls for tomorrow’s family reunion.

Yesterday, I attended the funeral of a man I didn’t really know. I went because I love many who love him.

As I arrived I found the church overflowing. I found a seat out in the entry way and watched the service on the screen. As I listened to the service I realized the great loss I had gained by having never known him. What a wonderful father, a fabulous man and a mighty Christian he was! After the service I stood out of the way and watched as all the mourners made there way out the door. So many people I forgot I knew, friends I forgot I had rushed past with the crowd. I grabbed glimpses of loved ones I hadn’t seen in over a decade.

After the church emptied and the last car of the processional left I gathered the children from the nursery and drove towards my grandmother’s house. They were to stay with her while I went to the graveside service. After dropping them off I headed for the cemetery and found myself at the end of a long line of cars. I had quite a ways to walk so I jumped out and started the 1/4 to 1/2 mile walk towards the people. Half way there I realized I hadn’t brought my coat, I turned and looked at my van which seemed much farther away then it probably was, then I looked at the near broken heel of my shoes and decided to forget the coat and head for the service. Once I made it to the back of the crowd I realized I was still much to far away to hear or see anything that was going on. The cold wind started to take its toll so I drew closer to the unknown backs in front of me. As I took a few steps up the lady in front of me turned, it was Mrs. Peterson she saw me shivering and offered a hug and half her black fur coat. I cuddled in to the grandmother I had known for years and forgotten all about. As we stood there straining to hear the minister we waited mostly in silence. There were long breaks in the service where we wondered what was going on up front. While my left side was warmed by a friend the right half of me was freezing, until the woman in front of us turned and there was long time friend, Melinda Allen, She saw me and offered half of her coat as well. So there I stood for the rest of the service, sandwiched between to wonderful friends, family I forgot I had. Afterwards I was passed from friend to friend who all offered to huddle up and protect me from the cold. I talked with so many loved ones, so very many people from my youth. People who in past seasons played such a part in my life.

Days turn into years and we forget those that fade so slowly away. On the other hand, years turn into seconds when we lose someone so unexpectedly. Verlon Groen will be so deeply missed by those who knew him and those who who never did.

Yesterday, I realized the treasure that lay in a man I didn’t know and I was reminded of the treasures I had forgotten in those I once knew. My Loss, My Gain.