You Go, Girl!

About 4+ years ago, I was a new stay-at-home mom . . . and completely lost. I had gone from spending my days analyzing the poetry of John Donne & grading papers about the symbolism found in the use of color in The Great Gatsby to reading But Not the Hippopotamus 100 times a day & knowing right off the top of my head the number & letter of the day on "Sesame Street."

In an effort to make contact with the outside world, I joined a bulletin board for Christian stay-at-home moms. I found a lot of kindred spirits & great advice to get me through those first few difficult months of transition.

One of my favorite daily threads on that site was called "You Go, Girl!" Those of us who are SAHMs know how easy it is to go around in jammies (or at least a stained shirt) with no make-up & hair pulled back into a ponytail. After all, the majority of your day is going to be spent as a referee, a short-order cook, & a cleaning lady . . . who gets dolled up for that??? But we all also know that the better we look, the better we tend to feel about ourselves. "You Go, Girl!" or Y.G.G. encouraged us to get up, get dressed, put on that make up, as well as an attractive outfit, do our hair, & maybe even venture out of the house!

Now, anyone who knows me knows that my make up bag & I are not easily separated :) But today I took it to the next level. In the Y.G.G. spirit, I not only showered & put on make up, but I also broke out the hair straightener . . . and an adorable brown corduroy skirt with chocolate brown tights!! Granted, I'm still sporting the pink slippers I got for Christmas, but I must admit . . . I'm feeling a little more like the Diva Mom I always pictured myself being.

You Go, Girl!!

The Incredible Journey Continues

Where does the time go?? I am painfully aware of how overdue we are for an update. So here it is . . .

On Sunday, a very dear friend of mine handed me a CD -- as she often does -- of a group she wanted me to check out. Well, it was true love immediately!! And the very first song I heard has become my own personal anthem.


Joy unspeakable that won't go away
Just enough strength to live for today
So I'll never have to worry what tomorrow brings
'Cause my faith is on solid rock
I am counting on God!!

And that has been our experience in this, our 2nd year of seminary. It started out ordinary . . . the usual reading, the usual papers, the usual nights at the library. Jason was concentrating on some new responsibilities -- member of student forum, student representative to the board of trustees, member of the presidential search committee -- and continuing to excel in his studies. I was trying to keep my head above water with my new responsibilities -- Homeschooling Mom, AWANA Sparks secretary, drama ministry director, organizer/leader of the Evangelical Townhouse Ladies Bible study (the Real Housewives of Orange County have nothin' on us). It was time-consuming & rewarding & we were settling very nicely into a routine. And then . . .

Jason was laid off work. Now, granted, we are not living the high life here at seminary, but we do need income . . . badly. If there were ever a doubt in my mind that God is a God who can be trusted, all doubts are gone.

I cannot tell you what it is like to have groceries appear on your doorstep. Or to find $1000 in your church mailbox. Or to have someone hand you $40 when you know what a sacrifice that is for them. Or to have someone beg you to let them buy your children Christmas gifts. Or to have dear friends sorting through numerous boxes at our church's Freebay, looking for things that would be perfect for your children. The examples of God's amazing love & provision for our family is ENDLESS!!

At the moment, Jason is still laid off of work. And we are still surviving (on more than just tuna & beans).

More to come . . . the girls & I are currently off & running. We are going to meet Daddy to have an early Thanksgiving dinner with dear seminary friends.

Be back soon!

Goodbye, Fuzzy

In case there was any doubt, Satan is alive & well, & was hard at work in my house today. But he missed the memo that Christ has overcome the world, so despite his best efforts, I'm ending the day with a smile.

The day started off ordinarily enough. There has been a decent amount of stress in my life lately. I am the new AWANA Sparks secretary & up until last week, there were no directors in place & the program was in jeopardy of shutting down. Suffice it to say, we are up & running & have been trying to accomplish in 2 weeks what normally takes 2 months. No pressure. The first night of club is tomorrow night.

After our first school session this morning, I decided that it was time for Caleigh to take more responsibility for her hamsters -- Fuzzy & Squeeks. So for her chore for the day, she was going to have to help Mommy clean their cage. I took the hamsters out & noticed that Fuzzy was looking a little mangy. I had noticed this before, but was assured by my hubby that it was nothing to worry about. After seeing her condition close up, I decided that a call to PetSmart was in order. To make a very long story somewhat short, I ended up taking both hamsters down to the store to be looked at.

Warning: Do not continue reading if you are faint of heart!!!

The woman helping us took a look at Fuzzy & immediately knew that something was very wrong. It turns out that Fuzzy must have had a tumor of some sort growing in her belly & it was forcing her intestines out her backside. Very gross.

So at 10:30 this morning, there I was in PetSmart with a sobbing 4-year-old trying to explain the concept of putting a pet down for their own good. But we managed to get through the trauma. Fuzzy is "in Heaven with Jesus" & Tiny has joined our little family.

I'm exhausted & it took us until 7 o'clock tonight to make up all the schoolwork we missed during the hamster saga. But bedtime is not too far away.

Super Schedule & Happy Homeschooler!!

I must admit, I started this new school year (Jason in seminary & Caleigh being homeschooled) with a mix of eagerness & trepidation. I realize that the word "schedule" is a dirty word to some moms, & if flying by the seat of your pants works for you . . . Great!! But with a husband in seminary, a homeschooled preschooler, a rambunctious toddler, & a serious lack in self-discipline (come on girls, you know what I'm talking about -- you could fold laundry, scrub toilets, or wash dishes OR you could lay on the couch with a light breeze from the fan blowing over you while a Lifetime movie plays faintly in the background & you drift in & out of consciousness . . . take your pick), I desperately need a schedule.

So in the few weeks before school started back up, I spend hours pouring over our "2008 Fall Family Schedule." I set up bedtimes, naptimes, mealtimes. I incorporated morning routines, school sessions, & chore times. I squeezed in Family Night, couple time, & snuggle moments. I even created space for trips to the grocery store, the bank, & the library. Jason needed study time, Sunday School prep time, & down time. I needed ministry time, cooking time, & Me Time. And all of it had to be flexible to boot!!!

The true test came on Tuesday -- Jason's first day of classes, Caleigh's first day of school, & the first day of schedule implementation. And to top it all off, we were starting the day with an unscheduled doctor's appointment! But I am pleased to report that the schedule has worked beautifully!!! Sure there were things that we missed here & there. Some things had to be re-worked, but in the end, we have accomplished more in the past 4 days then we have in a long time!! I start the day off with a goal & end the day feeling extremely productive. And the girls have completely embraced their new responsibilities. Yea, Mom!!

And how did homeschooing go, you ask?? I honestly thought it was too good to be true when Caleigh looked at me after our first session on Tuesday (we have 3 sessions of school a day) & said, "Mommy, I don't want to take a break." But 4 days later, I couldn't get over the disappointment on her face when we finished all our schoolwork for today & I told her there was no more work for her to do. As Peyton was playing the pool, Caleigh wanted to stay inside & do schoolwork. I take that as a sign that things are going well :o)

So as I type this, we are having Free Time. Caleigh finished 3 sessions worth of school in just 2 time slots, so we get extra time to play!!!! Yes!!

The Delicate Balancing Act

Facebook is going to be the death of me!! I spend so much time updating that, that I often forget to visit my poor little blog & update my faithful readers who are continuing to follow the "Seminary Saga."

First, the issue of my health -- I started physical therapy 3 weeks ago & am continuing to progress quite nicely. Most mornings, I only have the faintest hint of a limp. Depending on how physically strenuous the day has been, the limp may or may not increase as the day wears on. But I headed back to work last week & am loving the fact that things are getting back to normal.

I am going to be wearing a new hat this year -- Homeschool Mom. Caleigh will be officially homeschooling for preschool starting on Tuesday. We weighed our options very carefully & feel that this is the best choice for her. She does not deal well with change (let's not forget moving day & all the puking) & since Jason will be finishing seminary in the middle of her 1st grade year, we felt it best to homeschool. Once Jason's done seminary & we know where our ministry will be, we will re-evaluate. But for now, Caleigh & I are looking forward to lots of fun learning & doing projects together. I just hope her current enthusiasm continues once she realizes that the lazy days of playing outside or watching Disney videos all day will be altered just a bit.

Jason starts his 2nd year of seminary on Tuesday as well. He has a full plate this semester with 4 classes -- Theology I, Leadership & Administration, The Church at Worship, & Hebrew Exegesis -- as well as being a member of the student council & a member of the Presidential Search Committee. He is also teaching the young adult Sunday School class at our church. It has been hard to create a schedule for Jason that gives him any time to breathe, but I think we've managed to fit it in!!

I have taken on some new responsibilities as well. I am the new Awana Sparks secretary, as well as the leader of the seminary townhouse women's Bible study. I am continuing to work as the director of our drama ministry & have 3 different projects associated with that in the works.

Needless to say, life is anything but dull. But the real delicate balance comes when someone (the Heffner girls) suck you into Stephenie Meyer's 4-book Twilight series!! My, oh my!!! I'm sure life will be a little bit more manageable once I'm finished with Breaking Dawn. Oh, but then there's the movie . . . .

A Slow Recovery

First, let me say thank you to everyone for your prayers & concern. They have definitely aided in my recovery & kept my spirits up at those discouraging moments.

I am finally improving & feeling a bit like my old self. Most of the pain in my left leg has subsided. There is quite a bit of weakness still & I do walk with a bit of a funny gait. But Jason has been taking excellent care of me & my girls have been very understanding about Mommy's new-found "slow-poke-ness."

Satan is a Nerd

I guess things were going just too well to leave well enough alone.

Jason was finishing Hebrew with flying colors. The girls were having a great summer filled with mellow days playing in the pool. And I was enjoying being at home with a plethora of projects to work on -- getting Caleigh's homeschool lessons prepared, working from home for a Christian marketing company, lots of jewelry orders to be filled, helping with VBS at our church, & planning for our family's upcoming vacation.

TUESDAY -- I was out shopping at Michael's with my girls. An over-whelming weakness took over my body & I collapsed to the floor. I was able to get ahold of my husband who came to rescue us. He took me straight to the doctor's office. The doctor had several possibilities of what the issue could be, including possibly a mini-stroke as my whole left side was exhibiting weakness after my neurological exam. The nurse was unsuccessful in drawing blood, so I was sent home to rest & told to check in with the doctor in the morning.


WEDNESDAY -- I woke up with the same weakness in my left leg. By the end of the day, my foot & lower leg were becoming tingly & numb.

THURSDAY -- I did not anticipate getting out of bed & falling to the floor, thanks to a paralyzed left leg. We saw the doctor in the afternoon. He ordered a myriad of bloodtests, as well as an MRI tomorrow morning to look for Multiple Sclerosis. However, the doctor's best guess is a neurological condition called Guillain-Barre Syndrome. I'll spare you all the gory details (you can google it for yourself), but basically it is a virus that starts with numbness in the lower extremities & works its way up. The major concern is that it will work its way to the muscles that assist with breathing, in which case, I will end up on a respirator.

But our family is hanging in there, still smiling.

God is good . . . all the time. All the time . . . God is good. Even with a bum leg.

The Delinquent Blogger

My goodness . . . I had no idea it had been so long since my last blog. Life quickly gets away from me & there just never seems to be enough hours in a day!

As usual, our family has been busy. Jason received his official grades for his first year of seminary -- a 4.0!!!!! We were all very proud of him. We are looking forward to the start of a new year. He will be taking Theology I, Leadership & Administration, the Church at Worship, and Hebrew Exegesis. It's gonna be a long semester!

We celebrated Peyton's 2nd birthday at the end of May. We had a small family gathering at our home. Nana & Bubba assisted us in buying the girls a cute little playhouse. They absolutely love it & spend most of their days inside of it.

Jason started his Hebrew language course in the beginning of June. So far he's acing the course -- even thought that means he has flashcards in his pocket 24/7. He often greets me with some Hebrew phrase or other in the morning -- I just pretend to know what he's talking about. Caleigh has been helping him study, which has resulted in her memorizing the Hebrew alphabet. It's a little odd to hear your 3-year-old speaking in Hebrew as you walk through Walmart.

I was invited back to Philly again this year to show my jewelry at their 4th of July celebration. They changed "Arts on the Avenue" to "Wednesday Night Out." I had a very successful jewelry show, selling over 40 pieces in one night!! You can check out some of my new stuff in my Etsy shoppe at www.morganmariedesigns.etsy.com.

We are all looking forward to Jason finishing up his language course at the end of this month & then it's off to the Poconos for a well-deserved rest.

Hopefully, it won't be so long before another update. No promises . . .

Our GRRRREAT Day!!!

We had been looking forward to today for weeks!!!! In celebration of Jason's first year of seminary ending, we made plans to take the girls to the Hands on House in Lancaster. And as you will see from the pictures, it will be hard to tell who enjoyed themselves more . . . us or the kids!!!

Mommy & the creepy crawly puppets

Peyton was all about the face painting. It was the first thing she did. Caleigh finally warmed up to the idea & had both cheeks painted by the end of the day.

Peyton loved "driving" the tractor!

Picking corn

The scary cow hiney & Peyton "milking" the cow

Working in the chicken coop

Grocery shopping

Caleigh buying a sandwich at the grocery store

Jason never lets me have seafood at home, so imagine my excitement at being able to "buy" crabs & lobsters!!

The Hands on House even had little lists for the kids to follow -- it was great!!!

Jason literally had to fight to get Peyton out of the grocery store -- this was her favorite room!! She LOVED the cash register!!!

And there's Daddy, our favorite cashier!!

Daddy's slapstick comedy gets them every time!

Caleigh's favorite room was the Dress-Up room (big surprise)

Mommy was the evil alligator that had to chase the princess around the room

Ahhh, there he is . . . Prince Charming himself.

Mommy & the Princess

Peyton & the giant Lite Brite

Caleigh's Potato Head creation

Peyton was a little confused about this

Mommy Grasshopper

Caleigh & Peter Rabbit in Mr. McGregor's garden

A brave attempt at a sand castle

We had a fantastic time!!!!!! The girls were asleep within 5 minutes of being in the van. And they were absolute angels the whole time we were there (which also makes any activity even better). Ahhh . . . a satisfied day!!

A Delightful Mother's Day

If you had asked me on Friday afternoon if I was going to have a good Mother's Day, I would have replied like a Magic 8 Ball -- "Good outcome unlikely." Caleigh had been exhibiting signs of an ear infection, so I knew a doctor's appointment was necessary. Little did I know that not only would Caleigh be seen by the doctor, but Peyton would also need to be seen as well. When all was said & done, the girls left the doctor's office being treated for 2 ear infections apiece & possible strep throat. :( Yuck!! So here I was, with 2 sick kids, prescriptions for antibiotics, & in desperate need of more children's Tylenol -- did I mention I was also late for work??

But amazingly enough, my Mother's Day was fantastic. Any day that includes sleeping in, chocolate chip waffles in bed, lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, ice cream, & a nap has to be a good day!!! And the fact that Jason is finished with school is an added bonus!! It was so nice to be able to talk to him & not have to get his nose out of a book first :)

And speaking of schoolwork, Jason did finish his first year of seminary on Wednesday. It looks like he will be finishing with a 4.0 (not official yet). We can't believe how quickly the year went or how much has happened in just 12 months. It's hard to imagine that at this time last year, we had just put our house on the market & were in the process of packing. Not to mention, that Peyton wasn't even walking! Now she's walking, talking, running, jumping, & sleeping in a big girl bed -- and potty training starts this month!!!! Where does the time go?!? We get a short break from school & then Jason will be starting Hebrew the first week in June. It will be a 2-month course that meets 3 times a week. It's gonna be craaaazy!!!!!

But life is good. We're having a low-key day today since it is bitter cold outside & my little princesses are sick. So as I sit here typing this blog, Peyton is tossing teeny-tiny pieces of Polly Pocket clothing into the air -- much to Caleigh's chagrin -- while Caleigh is accessorizing all the Polly Pockets with shoes & the Prince with a pink vest. I love having girls!!!!

Poor Buddy

Every parent who has a child who has developed an obsessive affection for a particular stuffed animal dreads the moment . . . the moment when said stuffed animal goes missing, lands in the mud, or GETS A HOLE!!!

Such was the moment we had the other night with Caleigh's beloved elephant, Buddy. Buddy has been through a lot in this past week. She was left outside for several hours, stuffed in a dirty wagon. She was puked on by Caleigh. Subsequently, she was sent into the washer for a tubby. On Saturday night Caleigh drew my attention to a large gaping hole just below Buddy's ear. Now surely if you had a hole below your ear, you would be in pain, so Caleigh assumed Buddy was too. So Dr. Mom got out her needle & thread & began the very delicate procedure. Caleigh & Peyton offered Buddy moral support throughout the surgery. Buddy did quite well & is recuperating nicely. Aren't kids great!?!


On a more serious note, we are in the home stretch for this semester of seminary. Jason has a 3-hour presentation to give in one of his classes today. Then it's a few more projects, a few more papers, one final exam & we're done!! His last day is May 7th & we can't wait!!! And being the wonderful wife that I am, I'm completely bailing on him this weekend! Actually, I'll be away at our church's Ladies Retreat, so MomMom & PopPop are going to graciously step in again & help out with the kids so Jason can get his work done.

We are really looking forward to Jason finishing school. He only gets a short break though, as he will be taking Hebrew for 2 months over the summer. But we've been able to plan some fun family activities to get the girls & Mommy some quality Daddy time!!

Thank you to all of our friends & family who have supported us with your prayers through our first year at seminary!

Calling All Dickinsons . . .

No need to panic -- we have not fallen off the face of the earth. And now for my famous phrase . . . "life has been incredibly busy for us here at seminary." I sound like a broken record, but it is oh so true.

Things got a little crazy & out of control shortly after Easter. Jason had gotten behind in some of his work due to illness (the "family flu" that we all passed around) and moving into a different townhouse. Just a few weekends ago, the girls & I had to seek refuge at my in-law's for a few days so that Jason could write 30+ pages worth of papers. And then there's the reading . . . A friend from church asked me if I was planning on reading all of Jason's textbooks when he is done with them. I looked at that friend & tried to be as polite as possible when I said, "No, I'm going to burn them." Not literally, but it is a tempting thought. I've become very familiar with Jason's profile as I often see him with his nose in a book :)

But God is good. The weather is beautiful & the girls & I have been enjoying the gorgeous campus. It seems as though God is teaching us lessons at every turn & drawing both of us into a deeper relationship with Him. It's quite cool.

As for the girls, they're great. I was able to share a very touching moment with Caleigh at bedtime a few nights ago. Anyone who knows Caleigh knows her obsession with being a princess. As I was putting her to bed, she asked me to sing her a Christmas song. I chose "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" which ends with "Glory to the Newborn King." Of course, she wanted to know who the "Newborn King" was. I went on to explain how Jesus is the King of everything. And then I said, "And do you know who His princess is? You!!" The excitement on her face was priceless.

The Dickinson Girls Plant a "Garden"

Spring has sprung . . . well, maybe not outside, but it certainly has in my kitchen!!! The girls have been ogling over the flowers that are for sale at the entrance to the grocery store. So, being the SuperMom I am, I picked up a few -- in purple & pink, of course -- & promised the girls that we could "plant" them. Now, you're not allowed to actually plant anything at the seminary, so we settled for the next best thing . . . nifty new pots! As an added bonus, Caleigh got to plant marigold seeds that we will get to watch grow (hopefully).

So here are a few (if you can call 25 a few) pictures from our gardening experience.

Peyton is eager to get her hands on some dirt -- Mom is not so sure.

Our first spill

"Mom, quit playing with my dirt!"

Nanoseconds before our second spill

"When can I put in the seeds??"

Pat, pat, pat

Patting down in the dirt in preparation for seed-planting

More dirt

Peyton had a great time -- can you tell??

Mommy offers some assistance

"Look, Dad . . . DIRT!!"

Mom's planting the flowers, but PeyPey's still fascinated by the dirt.

Peyton doesn't quite have the concept of "sniffing" down yet.

Caleigh thought the flowers smelled "yuck."

What a big helper!!

"Are we done yet?"

We are so proud of ourselves!!

This is Caleigh's "thrilled" look.

I don't know -- I can't explain it -- I'm not even going to try.

Caleigh watering her half of the flowers.

Peyton (with assistance from Mommy) watering her half of the flowers

Our finished product!!