One less thing on my list of things to do: File Taxes.

Done.
Yeah!!!!
I think January 16th is the earliest I’ve ever filed! Now I’m just waiting for the return.

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:

The mist was beautiful this morning. I love the rain, even when we’re camping in the mountains and rain means we have to spend the entire vacation in a tent, I still love the rain.

Joshua and I went to town this morning, I had a meeting with Krista, then we went to the library for a while. I was looking for a book but couldn’t remember either the author or the title so I decided to use their computer to look it up on
Christianbook.com
where I had first seen it. I shouldn’t have used the library’s computer, I have now been infected with extreme DSL Fever. I was actually able to click on a link and be immediately taken to a fully loaded page in less than 1 second. Really! I don’t make this stuff up. Instead of clicking then getting up and making a pot of coffee or taking a shower I was actually able to instantly see the entire page. So badly I miss my high speed internet connection. I can actually feel a tear welling up in my right eye.

While I was wired I decided to head on over to Bethany’s place at A Picturesque Life:Life in Pictures and check out her most recent photos, I love some of her pictures but they normally take too long to load. Hi Bethany, the baby is beautiful!

Before actually getting on line I had to first pay 15 cents in late fees to get the block taken off my name. What a delinquent I am. Sorry bout that.

After clearing up my library debt and finding they didn’t have my book I checked out an audio book for Joshua: Hank the Cowdog #43: The Case of the Twisted Kitty He’s laying on the floor listening to it right now.

For Kaleb and Charleigh I checked out the movie Sarah, Plain and Tall While we say Kaleb was named after the Biblical Caleb. It was actually the character Caleb in the movie that first made me want to name a boy that. Speaking of “Caleb” did you know that after Patricia MacLachlan’s book; Sarah, Plain and Tall came Skylark and after that the third in the series was: Caleb’s Story I would love to read that one, I’ve actually not read any of the books but have only seen the movies. Seeing that the book is always better than the movie I should probably read all three sometime.

Moving along…Amy will be visiting soon. My kids are very excited to see Jer and Sarah, they are already planning all kinds of exciting games. Sis, I sure hope you can come other wise there will be some really disappointed us around here. Speaking of Amy, have I mentioned how excited I am about our upcoming birthday? 30 is the best birthday of all, better than 16, 18, or 21. 30 means you finally get to be a grown up. Still not old but a grown up. Yeah 30! To top it off our birthday is on Resurrection Sunday which happens to be my favorite day of the year.

Sanjaya...Really America? Really? Are you sure?

Blue Cheese is inconsistent, it can be tasty one day and terrible the next. What of that?

Joshua just asked for another tracing paper. We are loving the practice worksheets from Handwriting for Kids

Oh and if you want to call me please do, in person, don’t have an automatic dialer that asks me to hold when I answer the phone. I won’t hold, I’ll hang up. . . Every time, every time I will hang up.

Here’s hoping Joel picks the right Malaria pills

That’s all I’ve got folks and if you’re still reading you now know I’m conscious but I’m wondering if you still are.

All evening Kaleb has been quizzing me on Texas history. Sorry kid, I went to school in Oklahoma and my Lone Star knowledge consists mostly of quick facts on Dr. Pepper, Yellow Roses, and The Alamo. I could also tell you about the armadillo, the Cadillac ranch, and how Texas is the only state that can fly it’s flag at the same height as the American Flag. Besides that my state history is a bit lacking.

After realizing I had no Texas background Kaleb asked me what I knew about Oklahoma… Well, er…ummm…. Ok, how bout this:

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:

It’s been a while since I posted…I wonder if I should say something. Nah, probably not. I have very little to say. There’s no school today: Stock Show. Hmmm…I wonder what goes on at the stock show. To me it’s always meant “no school”. Of course I don’t wonder enough to go, just enough to mention it. Any of you ever been to the stock show? I’d love to hear your “stock show” experiences.

We’ve got another winter storm coming, joy. Can’t you feel that global warming? I know Malibu can. Grr.

I measured the kids today, they’ve each grown an inch in the last two months.

FYI, there’s been some confusion. Amy’s kids are actually staying with my parents. I am not the selfless martyr that has given my house up to the little people. That would be their grandparents. I do however live precariously close to them. (Across the driveway) I see them through out the day but Mom and Dad are the primary care givers. I thought I’d clear that up.

Interesting note…well not that interesting but it is a note. Chad Bulls and Jose Gonzalez both shared a birthday last Monday. It is interesting though and still amazes me that my little sis married Mr. Chad Bulls. Quite interesting, that we are now family. Well, I think it’s interesting anyway. Don’t you think so, Sheila?

The kids are fighting in the background. Charleigh thinks Kaleb has the music turned up too loud. He thinks it’s too quiet. They sound just like Kurt and I. I always think Kurt has the radio up too high in the car and he is always telling me to turn the tv up.

I’m reading Mark. Good stuff baby.

Mark 9:23″ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” 24Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

I love that one, God help me overcome my unbelief! Have you ever cried that out?

Mark 10:14″Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.”

Charleigh, read this today. She was reading the Bible her Great Grandma Lavon gave her this Christmas. It is a small wooden new testament that was purchased for Grandma by a friend while visiting Jerusalem in 1973. This little Bible is precious to Charleigh for many reasons. The first being that it came from Grandma Lavon whom she got her middle name from. The second because it was given to Grandma in 1973 which was the year Kurt was born. She also loves that the Bible came from a place where Jesus walked. So anyway she loves this verse. She thinks those kids were really excited to get a hug from Jesus. I bet she’s right.

Speaking of hugs, Joshua gives the best hugs. What a precious little boy he is. I had a stomach bug earlier this week and was feeling pretty crummy for a few days. One afternoon I was tired of looking sick so I got up, washed my face and put on some lip gloss. I was still in my pjs and my hair was still a mess but as I walked back into the living room Joshua stood up beaming. He ran over to me, cradled my face in his little chubby hands and told me I was “absolutely beautiful”. Then he covered me up with a blanket and sat next to me as I took a nap.

I guess I better get to work, this is the official forth edition of Thought Yarn. I was wondering, would your rather I say nothing at all in these times of blogger block or do you want me to continue these random ramblings. I really should start writing something of merit. I’ve been listed as an “A List Persecution Blogger” and yet it’s been months since I’ve written anything on Christian Persecution. Last week I was going to do a write up on PrisonAlert.com and encourage you and your children to send letters to persecuted Christians imprisoned for their faith. I didn’t write it though, for some reason I thought it needed to be eloquent so instead I said nothing at all.

Ok, that’s it. Until next time please know that you are loved!
Jami Leigh

and leave them on!

That’s Joshua and Sarah’s response to the too often loss of electricity around here. They say it’s driving them crazy. I think the rest of us would tend to agree. It’s off right now. Again. Thanks to my battery I’m still able to get online and whine about it. We were with out phone service for a while as well so when I finally was able to check my email I found that I’m a bit behind. I’ve also found that all the Prayer Requests and Contact forms sent to me via this site where all sent to my spam box. EEEEk. I found a bunch of them and have been trying to respond. I hope I haven’t missed any. It automatically dumps the spam after 30 days. I’m not sure when the messages started going to spam.

I hate to think I’ve missed any prayer requests. If anyone has sent some to me and I haven’t personally replied please let me know.

While we’re on the subject of Prayer Requests, I thought I’d talk to you about that. I was wondering if any of you would like to join me and my prayer partners. Many times I’m asked to keep the requests private but at times people ask that I share them. I have a group of women who join with me in prayer. If any of you men or women would like to commit to this ministry please let me know. I would be glad to have you join us.

WHooHOo the lights are back on. I better get the laundry going before it goes back off… No too late, it only stayed on 30 seconds.
Wait! wait here it’s back on again…

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:

With the Holy Day season upon us and the end of the year looming things have been pretty hectic around here. I’ve taken many pictures and experienced many “blogworthy” events but have yet to share any of them with you so alas I resort to a thought yarn. Perhaps you can gleam some of my life through this thread.

Sarah had her 3rd baby girl yesterday. Little mis Eva Elizabeth, I missed seeing her enter this world thanks to the nasty roads brought to us by freezing rain. It seems like just two weeks ago I was with Sarah as she was giving birth to Hannah. I can’t believe she’s already had another baby! I’m a bit dissapointed in not being there this time… well maybe a lot dissapointed. Oh well, maybe she’ll invite me to the next baby’s birth. With the way things have been going I’ll only have to wait another 18 to 19 months.

Speaking of babies, Janae called and said Mattie is working on a tooth. Oh, and speaking of icy roads Kurt and the kids stayed home Tuesday due to the road conditions. Then we got snow last night so they stayed home again today. I’d share some snow angel pictures with you but I left my camera over at Mom and Dad’s and it’s much to cold and slippery to go over and get it.

Saturday we went to Dalhart for Kaleb’s Pinewood Derby. He got second place in his den. Joshua was pretty proud. Charleigh couldn’t help but notice that he had gotten first last year…Monday evening we went to the kid’s Christmas Program at school. It was short and sweet, pretty funny too.

I still haven’t mailed out my Christmas cards, is anyone surprised by my procrastination? I bought the cards and took the pictures it’s just getting everything together and mailing them that I have a problem with. I still have baby anouncements for Kaleb that are addressed and stamped but have never been mailed. When it comes to thank you cards I have no problem writing them it’s just the amazing step of dropping them in a mail box I can’t seem to take. I try to tell myself it’s the thought that counts but if you don’t mail them people don’t know you thought about it.

Monday it was a year since we lost my Papa. I sure do miss him. Joshua still isn’t sure he’s gone. I think it’s because we didn’t have a real funeral. He’s never confused about where Kurt’s Grandpa is.

Anyone remember this Christmas in July post: Lost?
In searching for past Christmas posts I found it and don’t really remember writing it. Does anyone remember anything I used to write? It doesn’t seem like I’ve had much to say of late. You should check out the different categories on the right side of the page. Here are some of my favorite posts. Some of my more sentimental as well as funny posts are found in “A Mother’s Life” and of course you could always just browse through some of our pictures

Please don’t forward email petitions, trust me it doesn’t work. The math just simply does not add up and generally these petitions are based on false information anyway.

I hereby declare that I will not forward email petitions.

This doesn’t mean I don’t care about the plight of Afghan Women, or I that I don’t believe in God. I assure you I don’t practise the art of “bonsai kittens” and I definitely support the freedom to breastfeed. I don’t however promote the clogging of in-boxes and the false sense that one has helped the world by simply forwarding on a massive list of names that will never meet there intended recipient.

So I now declare a ban on forwarded email petitions. In fact I think I’ll start a petition against it. What do you think. Leave your name in the comments if you agree.
Oh, and here’s some links to support my point.
Don’t forward email petitions
Snopes on Internet Petitions

Note: To abstain from any confusion, I am not speaking of the petitions that are formally hosted on specific websites by notable well respected establishments.

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.

Have you seen Dove’s new Campaign for Beauty film?
Check it out.

Some of you may have noticed that NBC is now airing Veggie-tales on Saturday Mornings. There’s been a lot of controversy on the editing choices. I’ve heard a bit of badmouthing of Mr. Phil Vischer for “selling out”. Not true. I recommend before placing judgement that people would first learn the facts. One good way to do that is direct from the source. Here’s a link to Phil Vischer’s Blog and the post in which he explains it “All together… From the Beginning”

While we’re on the subject go learn more about Phil’s newest endeavor Jelly Fish