In the Dog House

I started a new blog at a diabetes website recently.  For years I have stayed away from the diabetic community, because I just don't want to be one of those people whose daily life revolves around their blood glucose meter and their A1c test.  Lately, though, I could use some moral support from others who have been there, or ARE there.  I never did read the guidelines or rules for posting at this website, because, after all, I would never break the rules!  Rules are for people who would use profanity and that kind of stuff, and that is not me.  So I happily wrote a post about how much I like T-Tapp and how much just that one little move, Hoe-Downs, is doing for me, and I mentioned T-Tapp on a couple of forum posts.  Whammy, just like that my post was deleted and I got a warning in my mailbox about breaking the rules.  It seems new members are not allowed to post links.  

Huh.  Okay... so I re-post, this time without the links, and blammo! That post was also deleted by the moderator.  We are not allowed to promote other websites, and furthermore, we are not allowed to discuss moderators' decisions!  My profile at that other site now has a new tab marked INFRACTIONS! (**gasp** It feels like the Scarlet Letter!)  Indignantly I wrote a heated response to the moderator about this is America and I have freedom of speech, and I'll just go back to my other blog, and I bet religious discussions aren't allowed, either! And then I deleted all that indignation and responded meekly, "Thank you for telling me," and went away with my head down and my tail between my legs.  

I understand it.  Someone else owns the site, it's not really my blog, etc.  But I ran back here where I'm comfortable, to hide and to nurse my hurt feelings. :)  

So as I was saying, I have had Type 1 diabetes for over 30 years now, and I should be one of those forum experts who helps encourage others with diabetes.  But for about the past 28 years I have not kept caught up on diabetes developments or treatments or theories, so I am like a newbie. No one can MAKE you do something good for yourself, and I have, in a perverse way, hugged that truth for years.  Maybe that's because it's the one area of my life that I am in control of.  

But I was watching T-Tapp testimonials on YouTube the other day and somehow I got inspired.  Doing Hoe-Downs after meals is helping me keep my blood glucose under control and it's giving me more energy.  Yesterday my kids told me I look thin!  (Yes, they are silly.  I don't look any skinnier.  I think I was reaching up and stretching or something.)  For the first time in a very long time I feel encouraged to be ON TOP of my diabetes rather than on the underside of it.  And I am kind of excited.

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Okay I feel better now.  It's always a good idea to count to 10.  Or 1,000,000.  :)

Invisible Appliances

(not my kitchen!)

Not.

Today's post is for my family (SOME of my family), because I know they read my blog.  Surely it is better to nag via blogging than in person?  I am speaking today about the invisible appliance. No, not an orthodontic appliance.  This one is a bit larger than that.  Probably every house has an invisible appliance.  We have one upstairs and one downstairs.  The downstairs one is not so obvious, at least not to visitors. That one is behind closed doors. Maybe that is why few who live here can see it.  The upstairs one is right out there in the open where sighted visitors can see that it is not being used to its fullest potential.

Now, dear family mine, this upstairs appliance is a wonderful thing.  Besides soaping, rinsing, and drying dishes, it also HIDES them.  Since you have already rinsed your dish (you did rinse it, right?), just take one more step to the right, open the dishwasher door, and set the dirty bowl/plate/cup upside down in the rack.  See how easy that is? (Nod your head.)  Okay, good.  

Now that we have that taken care of, thank you very much, I love you, and have a very nice day! ((hugs))

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The number one sign that my teeny little exercise routine is working is that my brain fuzz has disappeared.  And you can tell that is so when I start blogging more often. :)

God Is So Good

imycomic.com ~ Used with permission

Who would have thought December 21st in Minnesota would look like the view out my window (previous post)?  We are expecting temperatures near 40 after the weekend.  Our previous residence in western Arizona is about 58 degrees, and I don't believe the wind has stopped howling there since the day we moved away.  You know what?  All other factors aside, this year I'm glad to be spending the winter here, and not there!  **big huge silly grin on my face**  This is not true for all family members here, however.  Last night Emily cried herself to sleep.  "Why did God call us to Minnesota?  I miss everyone in Arizona!!  Boo hoo!!"  Betsy's latest post reveals her AZ longings also.  The girls are really feeling gypped with the current balmy weather, and the AZ yearnings would probably disappear rapidly if we just had a few inches of snow on the ground.

You know, when we moved to AZ eight years ago the first summer was a relatively mild one.  And our first winter back in MN is, so far, a very mild one also.  Now maybe this is just a coincidence, but I like to think God cares about me so much that he is holding back icy winds and freezing temperatures just for me.  :)  Or maybe it's because he really doesn't want to hear my complaining about it... yes, that's more likely.  At any rate, it really is wonderful, because when we lived here before (like, fifteen years ago) I had a really bad time with winter lasting from October thru March. No, March is not entirely snowy, however one can always expect a blizzard for the state basketball tournaments.  So look.  This winter is already three months shorter than others I have endured with less grace. God is just good to me and I appreciate it.

Speaking of fifteen years ago, the other day I ran into a woman I have not seen since we lived in Minnesota before.  It is so weird how that can happen in a very small town, where I just went to pick up a few grocery coupon items while the girls were at music lessons. You know how it is.  We should always dress to represent our Saviour, but there are times when we just need to run out for a minute to grab something, and we're hoping to slip in and out of the store or post office without being seen.  In most cases, the chance that you will not be noticed is inversely proportional how bad you look.  If the person is important to you, you will look like something that crawled out from under a rock, just this one time. This woman looked exactly the same as she did fifteen years ago.  She was wearing no make-up, but it didn't matter -- she looked youthful and slender and beautiful.  I'm sure I look the same, too, except for an additional 25 pounds, a pair of dark circles and some wrinkles...  But miracle of miracles! This ONE TIME when I ran into someone who knows me, I had a bit of make-up on and it was not an epic bad hair day.  Isn't that just a blessing??  I think that's a blessing.  :)  (You have to count the small things, too.)

And now it's time for me to quit blabbing, and go kiss four more of my blessings good night.  Yes, God is good to me. 

♪ ♫ ♪  Ooooh, the Lord is good to me
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need
The sun and the rain and the apple seed!
The Lord is good to me,
Amen, amen, amen amen amen,
Aaaaamen!  ♫ ♪ ♫

Fail

For those of you who are still thinking about putting up tissue snowflakes on your windows, you might want to reconsider.  Smarty pants here thought sure the hairspray would come off the glass easily, after all, that's how I get it off the bathroom mirror.  But this is what my rented windows look like after much straight alcohol and scrubbing:

It was pretty while it lasted!

I sure am thankful for internet anonymity...

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In everything give thanks,

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus,

concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Come, Lord Jesus

Someone asked if our family sings Christmas carols.  We sing the doctrinally sound ones, and they are good for all year long. These beautiful words, sung to the tune of Our Great Savior (one of my favorites!), are rich with meaning:

Come, thou long expected Jesus,

Born to set thy people free;

From our sins and fears release us;

Let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's Strength and Consolation,

Hope of all the earth thou art;

Dear Desire of every nation,

Joy of ev'ry longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver, 

Born a Child and yet a King,

Born to reign in us forever,

Now thy gracious Kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal Spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone;

By thine all sufficient merit,

Raise us to thy glorious throne.

I like that first line, Come, thou long expected Jesus.  Planet earth is getting to be a scary place to live. I am ready for Jesus to come again and set things right!   

The first time he came, only a few knew the King of Kings dwelt here.  When he comes again, the whole world will know about it!

At his first coming his kingdom was not of this world.  When he comes again, he will take his throne in Jerusalem.

The first time he was here, he was lowly, riding on a colt, just, and having salvation. The next time he comes he will be exalted, riding a white horse, and judging and making war in righteousness.  

The first time he came, he wore a crown of thorns.  Next time he will wear a crown of gold.


Jesus first came as the Lamb of God.  His second coming will be as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. 

The first time he came he gave his sinless life's blood for me, so that the next time he comes, he'll be taking me with him! 

God's greatest gift was not just his Son -- it was the blood of his Son!  Jesus did not remain a babe in a manger.  He grew up and accomplished what his Father sent him to do.  He is God Almighty. He died to make things right between you and God.  

What will you do with Jesus?  Will you worship him as a babe in a manger, and then go about your life unchanged, the same as you were before?  Or will you, in repentance, receive him as your King?  If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.

Come, thou long expected Jesus!

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And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse;

and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, 

and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; 

and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: 

and his name is called The Word of God.

And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, 

clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: 

and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: 

and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, 

KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 19:11-16

Kids Creating

Years ago we had a friend who "gauged" his TV, meaning, he filled it with shotgun shells.  Isn't that a grand idea?  I love it.  We have never had a television, but there are times when I would like to gauge the computer monitor. :)  Occasionally I find a girl or four with eyes glued to it for way too long, watching the early episodes of Little House on the Prairie, or some such thing, via DVD.  The less expensive and more reasonable alternative here would be to ban videos for a while. So I did it!  Mother No moved in!  And you know what immediately followed. TNDS, or, There's-Nothing-to-Do Syndrome, immediately hit the house. Some residents were hit harder than others, one in particular being the most despairing.

But look!  This is what happens when you turn the TV off: the girls' imaginations and their hands are now at work!  They are making things.  Betsy wanted to make a doll house out of popsicle sticks.  What started out as just a box with a peaked roof became a mansion!

Amy followed this tutorial to make an ear-bud case (or three) for herself, so that she would quit losing her ear-buds at the bottom of her travel bag, under the covers, or in the mess multitude of valuable things on her dresser. It slides easily on to the zipper of her jacket or bag, and she's set!  Is that cute or what?  You can make one yourself in about 20 minutes, or you can pay $12 for one on Etsy.  (I know what I would do!)

Alison has suddenly acquired a desire to learn how to draw, hence "Susie" here.  (This is a Hebrew play on words.  In Hebrew, a word approximately pronounced Susie (soosee) means "my horse".)

And when she couldn't get the music to an arrangement she liked, she decided to write it out from listening to a recording of it.  The left hand is missing because she doesn't need that part.  I love to listen to Amy and her play.  If I don't watch myself, I can already start tearing up at the thought of them leaving us in a few years for some unworthy young men.  :)

Emily is drawing, baking, and writing her own composition.

I have only heard one person mention LHOP lately, and it was the one hardest hit, the one who was convinced she would have NOTHING to do.  She is recovering, however slowly.  At the moment she is making grand plans for a tea party with some other little girls in the neighborhood.  Mother No Maybe is in charge right now, and she is making that particular child exercise some much-needed patience.  How about a few weeks after the holidays?  (Anyone have any ideas how we can give it a gospel theme?)

I am enjoying these good after-effects of the video ban.  Hmm.  Might have to extend that ban indefinitely!

Betz's Birthday!

Another birthday has come in the Diamonds household.  Where do the years go??  Betsy has been shooting up before my eyes.  I am sure she was a foot shorter just last week!  This year Daddy decided he would take each of the girls on a special outing for their birthday.  Alison got to go along with him to a preachers' meeting, Emily had a date at the zoo, and Elisabeth and her sister, Amy, whose birthday is not 'til next month, were taken to the Mall of America for a day at the Nickelodeon Universe theme park.  Now, in addition to the drive and the cost of this adventure, Daddy is not a big fan of rides and theme parks, so we see solid evidence here that he was thinking of someone else's happiness on this day.  He brought along a backpack full of work to do while the girls had a blast riding everything that was fast and furious. 

Wait.  What is this??  My husband on a roller coaster???

As it so happened, the park was not at all crowded, and some travelers who were at the MOA on a layover gave my husband a left-over ride ticket.  Look!  He even has a smile on his face!  That man just has to do something completely out of character once in a while to keep all of us ladies guessing!  (The ride, I mean.  Not the smile.)  :)

The birthday girl likes to have her gifts hidden.  This was too funny -- she looked all over for this package in the red wrap, and there it was in plain sight!

 

Betz's traditional birthday cake choice is banana cake with peanut butter frosting.  It was a tough decision this year, though, because she thought lemon cake sounded good, too.  Emily solved that problem.  Betsy was sure puzzled when she unwrapped a lemon!

 

And surprised to get a cake mix!

It hasn't been a lemon of a birthday, though.  

Last summer the girls went to Cabella's with some friends, and Betsy raved about some candied pecans they were sampling there. In vain I looked everywhere for them (we don't have Cabella's nearby) and finally decided to try making some.  Allrecipes.com rarely disappoints; now we are all fattening up on delicious pecans.  The nicest words a mom can hear are these: "Mom, these are better than Cabella's!"  *pats self on back*

This evening we will have the birthday girl's choice, chicken tacos, and play a game or two of her new game, In a Pickle. 

My #3 child is becoming a beautiful young lady.  I am so thankful to be her mom. :)

The View From My Window

** Before doing this project, read this post!

 

No snow yet, but still, it's pretty!  Excuse the rag on the sill.  I will forever be the mom who has a laundry basket in the background of a family photo...

Instructions:

1. Cut snowflakes out of tissue paper. For how to cut, see here or here or here.

2. Iron snowflakes without steam.

3. Wet the window. *** 

4. Smooth tissue snowflakes on window.

5.  Give each one a shot of hairspray to keep it up.

Ta da!

*** Update: Wetting is not necessary. Give the window a shot of hairspray, smooth snowflake on, then spray again.

***  More recent update:  Find something that works better than alcohol, to get hairspray off windows!!!