Happy 8th Birthday, Shannen!

Today is Shannen's 8th birthday. Yesterday we had his birthday party. My aunt and her two daughters, grandparents and cousin and his *girlfriend came over. We had a lot of fun. We had a "High School Musical" themed party. I made a CD of all the High School musical songs on it, and we played it in the backyard. We had plates, napkins, tablecloths and cups with the same theme. He was so surprised and a little bit embarrassed! All of our streamers and balloons were red and yellow (the "Wildcat" color...it's from the movies!) This birthday we did something different with the ice cream. We all made our own, it was a lot of fun. I'll type the recipe in a minute. It's called Shake and Make ice cream. Everyone got their own bags and while we shook our bags of ice cream we danced and sang to the music. It was really funny, even the parents and my grammy got into this. Shelbie and I (who have all the lyrics to: "Gotta Go My Own Way" memorized were total dorks! We've also memorized the choreography for the song, so while this song was playing, we pathetically danced and sang (yikes!) throughout the song. My little cousin Lynna, thought this was the funniest thing ever! Lucy and Ricky (the goats) had gotten out of their pen and ran around the yard doing their "happy jig" all evening. They were so excited to be out, and with so many kids around to pet them and show them attention. The whole evening was a lot of fun!

(*) It is so much fun to meet a family member's new girlfriend or boyfriend or new spouse. I'm a tiny bit ornery by nature, so when these situations occur, I like to have fun with them. Last time a family member brought her boyfriend over, I nearly scared him out of the house. (I had help with this, my uncle is as bad as me) Actually, we really gave him a hard time, and she felt so bad about it! (We did appologize later on, hopefully that made it all better.) We sat at the table and stared at this poor guy all night long!! At one point in the evening, my uncle was watching him (this was the first time he'd met her boyfriend too) and started writing stuff down about him. It was so classic! This guy has come over since then, and we're all nice to him now. (He came back...so that means he's a keeper. She's thankful now!)There are some rules to this past time of ours though, one time is enough. After you do this once, if they come back we have to be nice to them! (So yes, I was very nice to my cousin's girlfriend...she's very sweet and we like her...but the first time she came...yea.) Our goal isn't to run these new people off (unless we really don't like the particular person) but to just really scare them, it makes good jokes for the future after they're married or something. As fun as it is to do this to other people, I'd never want it done to me...I'd be really mad!

Here's the recipe for Shake and Make Ice Cream:

2 TB sugar
1 cup half-and-half
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
6 TB Rock salt (very inexpensive)
1 pint-size plastic zip lock bag
1 gallon-size zip lock bag
Crushed Ice

Directions
Combine the sugar, half-and-half and vanilla in pint-size zip lock bag and seal. Fill the gallon-size zip lock bag one-half full with crushed ice. Add the rock salt. Place the sealed, pint-size zip lock bag into the gallon size zip lock bag and seal.

Next, listen to some fun music while you shake the gallon-size bag for 5-7 minutes or until the ice cream hardens. Make sure you rinse the bag of ice cream off before eating it, otherwise it will taste like salt.

This recipe is perfect for those midnight cravings. You can also add stuff to the mixture after it's hardened. (For example: cookie chunks, nuts, fruit, sprinkles, chocolate chips, ect.)

Our Ocean Trip

Here is a slideshow of pictures from our latest ocean trip. Click "x" to start again.

Yesterday my family and I went to the ocean for the day. It was so much fun! We went to a different beach this time, and it was beautiful!! It was a bit foggy out, but it was still really pretty. We all had a sandcastle contest, (but ended up making one together,) we played in the water, flew kites, ate, dug a deep hole (which I was later burried in) and played frisbee. Nobody got sunburned...but none of us used sunscreen, the fog was probably helpful.

Here is my promised sandcastle...

This one I made completely on my own...it was super lame. Oh, well...it's the thought that counts.


My entire family helped out with this one. Isn't it amazing?

I discovered that sandcastles are harder to make than they look. It takes skill to make a good castle.

So, this was a super dull post. But we've had a crazy day in the ol' Ney house, and I don't really have much more time to blog. I'll do better tomorrow!

3.6 oz Ice cream & picts of the Ricardo's

Today I had to work. My boss had gone grocery shopping and called me when she was five minutes away. She said, "I have something for you..." she was being very mysterious and kept giving me hints as to what she got me. She finally got home and we unloaded all the groceries. One bag in particular she wouldn't let me see, finally after everything else was unloaded she reached into the bag and pulled something out...

Isn't it cute!??! It's a 3.6 ounce container of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Yes, I have it displayed on a shelf in my room. They are sold at Save mart in three flavors: Chery Garcia, Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Cookie Dough. They are 10 for $10, which to me is kind of pricey...but hey, whatever!

The best part of these ice creams is the fact that a spoon is included!! (It's a really tiny spoon that is under the lid...my camera battery died so I couldn't take a picture of it.) So, from now on, I can go by Savemart whenever I'm out and about and buy a small ice cream...eat it then and there...and nobody will ever know!! Woot! Woot! I'm so excited.

These are some random pictures, but I haven't posted pictures of them in so long!! They are so full of themselves...they're like dogs. They are so people friendly, and they love getting attention. When we got them we worried that they'd never grow friendly...now we wish they were a little bit more reserved!


Ricky is in the whiskey barrel, Lucy is the one with her head in the bucket.


Lucy


Ricky

When Jesus Looks...

When Jesus looks upon my life what picture does He see?
Perhaps His own reflection, or does he just see me?
Does He see His likeness, the product of His hand;
or just another Christian who never took a stand?

Does He see a child of God: A child that He set free,
living life to honor Him, or does He just see me?

What about the other folks I meet along the way.
Do I show them Jesus, to brighten up their day?
When someone looks into my eyes, can they truly see,
that calm and gentle peace of GOD that dwells inside of me?

When I reach out and shake a hand is He right there in my grip?
Can they feel the strength from GOD that steadies when I slip?
When folks are in my presence do they know His spirit's there?
Can they see that He's the only one who guides me everywhere?

When other people think of me, what is on their mind?
Do they think of JESUS CHRIST, so gentle and so kind?

I try to be like JESUS every single day,
spreading Love and Kindness all along the way.
I'm afraid that I have failed, I could not pass the test.
Deep inside my heart I haven't done my best.

I have had to fight my flesh since the day that I was born.
It's always causing trouble and being such a thorn!
That's why His Spirit dwells in me: He's helping me to learn,
in every situation, where I need to turn.

He knew I'd never pass the test: that's why He took my place.
He gave His life to save my soul and suffered my disgrace.

Now I try to be like HIM. I must present HIM well,
so other folks will want HIS gift and turn their backs on hell.
Other folks should see the joy that CHRIST has given me.
They should want to have it too, especially since it's free.

They should begin to ask me what is it, that they must do:
that they should go about in getting JESUS, too.
Then I get to tell them that this wondrous gift is free:
it only takes a humble heart, a prayer on bended knee.


Someday when I'm face to face with the LORD who set me free,
will HE see HIS own reflection, or will HE just see me?

Only God Can...

Only GOD can turn MESS into... a MESSage
a TEST into... a TESTimony
a TRIal into... a TRIumph
a VICTim into... a VICTory
GOD is GOOD... all the time.

Last night's Dinner

Last night I made an amazing meal...I don't usually rave on my own cooking, but I thoroughly enjoyed last night's meal.
My parents had left and weren't going to be back for a few hours, dinner needed to be ready by the time they got home. I had originally thought I'd make stir fry with chicken over rice, but I really don't care for stir fry, so I was trying to figure out what else I'd make. I enjoy the veggie part of the stir fry, I just don't like the sauce over rice. I started thinking, "I wonder if I could find a recipe for a thicker sauce? Kind of like Alfredo sauce." I looked in cookbooks and online...no luck. Finally I decided, I'll just wing it without a recipe. Here's how I made it:

I steamed a pan of stir fry veggies (you know...broccoli, cauliflower, those little corns, water chestnuts, peas, beans, bell peppers, snowpeas...ect.)and sprinkled the entire pan with sea salt and pepper. I also added about a tablespoon of minced garlic.

Next I chopped up the chicken and fried it in olive oil and sprinkled it with seasoning salt, pepper and something else. (My secret ingredient...no Annie, it wasn't lemon pepper.)

Then I made Alfredo sauce. This was the most amazing sauce ever! I made a base of cream cheese and butter...so creamy. I added a scoop of minced garlic (which added a wonderful flavor!) and I also added a few handfuls of roasted sliced almonds, which is something I've never tried, but I will never again make Alfredo without almonds ever again.

Then I made the noodles. I poured a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of pepper into the pot with the noodles (again, something I've never done...but it tasted really good.)

After all of the above was prepared, I mixed the sauce with the noodles and served the noodles into bowls. Then I scooped some veggies on top of the noodles and topped it off with the chicken.

I love food, I'm not going to try to sugar coat that. I like eating and I love food...but tonight's meal was exceptionally yummy, I enjoyed dinner more than usual tonight!

Then...after dinner my mom and I quickly got all the kids laid down. After they were all tucked into their little beds...we washed our wonderful dinner down with a big bowl of delicious Dryer's icecream. We have this joke..."Yea, um...I'm going to be busy later...I have a meeting with Mr. Dryer's."

*This is a sad thought...I rejoiced with my mom today for loosing all my ice cream weight plus some (I lost like 7 pounds...I wrote about this a long time ago) ...I probably gained it all back lastnight.

As a side note...I am so grateful for spell check! My spelling is vom-a-tro-cious.

A Poppet Funny

Tonight I was sewing some buttons onto a pair of my converse. (They are a strange grey color...I was trying to "girly them up.") I had dropped two important buttons on the floor and was looking all over the place for them. Poppet walked in the kitchen and asked what I was doing. I said, "I dropped two buttons...I can't find them." I was half bent over so she was looking at my head, (I had two bobbypins with buttons sewn onto them in my hair) she said, "I found them! They are in your hair!" She is so cute!

He giveth and giveth and giveth again

He gives more grace when the burdens grow greater.
He sends more strength when the labors increase,
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed 'ere the day is half done;
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father's full giving is only begun.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure.
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again.
~ Annie Flint ~

Bunnies, Hide-n-go seek & "Diaper Girl!"

I'm eating breakfast right now (I usually never eat breakfast...so this is a big deal!! Even when I do eat "breakfast" it's never an actual "breakfast" item...right now I'm eating a salad.) and I'm waiting for my boss to call me and tell me if she needs me today, she mentioned that she might last night.

I worked all day (with a three hour break) yesterday, I felt really accomplished but very tired when I finally got home last night. I was telling my mom last night how I couldn't decide if I just had a lot on my mind and wanted to get home quickly, or if the kids were just kind of naughty...but it seemed like they were much more high strung last night.

We played hide-n-go seek last night. Arden was it. (ha, ha, ha...I am such a cheater!) I ran inside the house and grabbed my car keys. As soon as her eyes were closed and she was counting, I dashed to my car and jumped in the back seat. Okay, I timed myself on my phone to see how long it would take for them to find me...17 minutes. For 17 minutes I laid on my back seat, eating twizzlers and laughing. I could hear the kids right outside my car yelling my name. (They were all starting to get a bit irritated.) At one point, William even searched the house. Finally, after I had started to breath in recycled air, I set off my car alarm. All the kids were standing in front of my car; they all turned around will a look of disgust on their faces. "She's in her car." They were not very happy with me! I thought it was funny, they didn't.

Lolly is running around wearing a Superman cape announcing that she's "Diaper Girl!!" It's pretty cute, she's such a smart little thing.

Okay...so I sent out an e-mail about two weeks ago, but only one person responded (and that was to tell me that her dad liked BBQ'd bunnies) so I figured I'd blog it also for those of you who addresses I don't have...

Our baby bunnies are up for sale. They are about 7 weeks old and very cute!! They are all super super super tame. We are trying to sale them for $8 each...but as of now we are just really trying to get rid of them (because they are all to big to keep in the same cage...we need more room.) so price is negotiable. We have five bunnies to get rid of: three black and white, and two black belts. (I don't want to take new pictures, but I posted pictures of them a while ago...here's the link.) One of the bunnies' back legs don't work, so they sprawl out to the side. He can still get around fine, but he's a little bit slower. He is by far the tamest and sweetest (Because he knows he needs us to get by) he doesn't need pushed around in a wheelchair and only goes to Physical Therapy twice a week (just joking!) Anyways, he needs a really special home with super loving owners. If you are interested in getting one, let me know soon and we can figure out a time for you to come over and pick one out.

Also...we have two roosters that we need to get rid of (because we can't have them in the city.) So I don't know if any of you live in the country (Darylyn...don't you live on land somewhere?) but if you do and if you are interested...you can have them for free. They are both really tame, and they are still really young. (They are from our newest batch of chicks we got in March, so they are about 6 months old.) They are not very high maintenance at all, they can pretty much fend for themselves.

I'd write more...but Ricky and Lucy (the goats) just got in the house (don't ask...) and I have to run and help get them back outside.

I had time to post...

I guess I will be able to post today. I have about ten minutes before I have to leave for work...so it will be short (that's probably a good thing for all of you!)

Work was fine this morning, I basically cleaned all day. I had to fold like six loads of laundry today...not that I'm not used to that! I don't mind folding, but it gets really boring when you are in a very quiet house all alone. So, I called Annie and we chatted for a while. After I finally finished the laundry I started cleaning her kitchen. I had to polish all the stainless steel (which is actually really fun) and clean her windows (which isn't fun at all!) I also had to sweep and mop...which is neither fun nor unfun, but it takes forever! I got off at 1:45 and headed home.

I played the piano for a while after I got home. My mom and Shelbie were requesting various songs, which I'd play for their enjoyment. I love playing the piano, but unfortunately ours needs tuned again, so it doesn't sound all that great right now. After I played the piano for about an hour, I went to my room and pulled out my dusty guitar. I spent a while tuning it (I was getting really irritated, because the top string wouldn't tune. I kept trying to get it to tune to "A"...I didn't remember that it was supposed to be the "E" string! oooppss...I can't believe I didn't break the string.) After I finally tuned it, I spent a few minutes trying to play a few songs, but didn't get very far. The only reason I took guitar lessons in the first place was for the guitar picks. For some strange reason I really like them and I have a ton of them! (I collect them, even though I can't play!)I have three really cool 3D picks, that change when you move them. (One pick has a shark on it, looking at a human leg, when you turn it, the leg is ripped off and in the shark's mouth. It is really really morbid, but kind of cool! ...I didn't buy that one, my guitar teacher gave it to me!)

My mom told me when I got home to clean my room before I go back to work. I kept putting it off and off and off and off and...anyways...I finally headed back to my room to work on it. After I had been in there for a few minutes (I hadn't started cleaning yet, I was still playing with my guitar picks) my mom walked in with a bowl of Dryer's Summer Peach Pie ice cream. (BTW...that is an amazing flavor!!) She sat on Shelbie's bed and started at me. For the next ten minutes I had to listen to her spoon cling against the side of her bowl, and hear her "ummm" and "yummm" over how "delicious" this bowl of ice cream was. I'm serious...the whole time I was cleaning she was describing how each bite of ice cream tasted: "Oh, look, another chunk of pie crust." "This ice cream is loaded with peaches." "It's wonderful how healthy Dryer's ice cream is...it's so nutritious." "What a yummy lunch for me." Blah...Blahh...Blahhh... I finished cleaning my room and rushed out to get my bowl of ice cream...but guess what? She wouldn't let me have any! Can you believe that?!? Do you see what kind of torture I have to endure on a daily basis?!? I'll guess I'll just have to have some tonight with my "other family." (sigh)

(I hope you all know that I'm being very melodramatic and I'm not really feeling that sorry for myself. If I would have cleaned my room as soon as I got home, I would have been enjoying that bowl of ice cream with her...shame on me.)

I'd write way more, but I need to get ready for work. Joslyn told me that if I got there around 4:15 I could have ice cream with them!!(This is really funny...but I have actually been invited to join them daily around 2:00-2:30 for ice cream...believe it or not, I haven't taken them up on this offer yet. They love me so much!)

On a side note: a few weeks ago, I was getting ready to leave. Every time I leave Anna cries and wants to know when the next time I'll be back is. Anyways, this particular time she was crying and said, "Why do you have to leave?" I said, "Because I have a family at home who loves me and wants to see me." She says, "But Shyloh...we are your family. You are Shyloh Brook, not Shyloh Ney!" I thought this was so cute!! She's only 6!

Attention Annie...

Okay Annie...(or should I say "Stephen?") I feel like I should remind you...you have a blog also. Two can play at this game!! (okay...so that smiley face has nothing to do with what I just wrote...but I really liked it, I think it's funny!)

I have to work two shifts today (10-2 & 4-9) so I will probably not be posting anything else today. I guess that will give you time to read past posts! (How many of you actually read my entire post about camping...without skimming?!?)

Camping Pictures!!

My slide show finally uploaded, so here it is. Be warned, there are a lot of pictures in this slide! I put it on the fastest setting, so it only takes about five minutes to view them all. Not all of the pictures are of people though, I took a lot of scenery pictures and upclose pictures...they turned out beautifully!

For those of you wondering what a camping trip for a family of ten looks like...here it is.

Click the "X" to play again.

Our Camping Trip

2(To Annie: "Stephen??" ...okay, that was really lame!)

Hello to everyone, we're back! Camping was a lot of fun, but we are all happy to be back in the comfort of our own home with showers and soap! (Just for a warning to you all: the "n" ad the "j" on our key board is sticking...so sometimes even if I type it, it doesn't work...so if a word don't look right, it is probably missing a "n" or a "j" I'm not just being a lazy typist.)

I really, really, really love writing...I'm always writing something! (I don't keep diaries--ever, but I keep "Jesus Journals" and I write letters to my future husband on a regular basis. I've also written several books and my newest means of writing is by blogging.) So this camping trip I decided to keep a journal of our trip, like people did on the Mayflower and like Lewis (or was it Clark?) did on the Lewis and Clark expedition. Just for a warning...this will probably be a very long post!!

Friday Morning, 6:35am

We are all getting last minute things packed to leave. Everyone is up, but not not everyone is "awake," as is the case with me. My parents are packing the ice chest and getting our food packed, my siblings are loading it into the car and Shelbie is chasing the goats around the backyard. They are being most uncooperative. While everyone else is working, I'm in my room faced with a tough decision: which pillows should I bring?

6:50am

We are getting ready to walk out the door. The kids are saying goodbye to the animals, and Daddy is saying goodbye to "Pancake," "Flapjack," or "Roadkill" as daddy calls him; his name changes often. (He has something wrong with his back legs, so they sprawl out to the sides, making him look like roadkill! He's daddy's favorite, Daddy wants to keep him!) The load up call was just sounded.

11:00

We are at camp and all set up and unpacked. The ride up was fine, we didn't have to stop for any bathroom breaks...which is amazing for a family of ten!! I slept the whole way there, but I'm still not fully awake.

I have been walking around taking pictures, while my dad set up the tent and complained that he wasn't getting any help. ("Poor you..." as he likes to obnoxiously say.) He is going to be so happy when I get married and he has a son-in-law to help him out with this type of stuff...oh, my poor future husband, he has no clue! The boys are getting better and are starting to be able to help more...but not enough yet. I help him a lot, but I've always wished I had an older brother to do this stuff instead. I guess not having a big brother (meaning I have to be daddy's "girl son" (as he calls me) and help him with his work) has made us so close.

Us girls are going to sleep in our own tent this week (not because we are super brave and adventurous girls, but because my dad is using a tent heater in the family tent and it freaks me out, because I am convinced that it sends off poisonous gas that could kill us all...um...long story.) Anyways, Shelbie and Shaylah have spent at least 20 minutes arguing about who has to sleep next to me. (In case you don't know: I am a horrible sleeper. I move everywhere & I sleep really sound, so I don't wake up even if I'm smothering a sibling. Not to mention, my sleeping arrangements--I can NOT sleep with only one pillow. The least amount of pillows I can comfortably sleep with is four. Normally, I sleep with eight pillows, but I can make do with only four for a few nights. I have no clue how I'll do this weekend--they only let me bring two pillows!)

We already have the air soft guns out. Ney camping trips are characterized by: camouflage, converse shoes and air soft. Shadd is walking all over the campsites picking up pellets off the ground. He has so much patience, this is pretty much all he will do all weekend long.

3:00pm

It's 3:00 and we are getting ready to go down to the water. My dad is playing with the guns, and shoot various objects. He was shooting at a bird a few minutes ago, but my mom quickly put a stop to that. (Last year my dad shot a blue jay, and it had a fit! It started squawking and screeching at him! It was really funny (but also very sad!), my mom put a quick stop to that!) After my dad quit shooting at the bird, he said, "Okay...I'm going to shoot one or the other...your pick: Poppet or the bird." Everyone picked Poppet! Shaynah had a the deer in the headlights look and said, "Don't shoot me!" Of course we all knew he would NEVER shoot his Poppet!

We are off to the water.

Almost 5:30pm

We just got back from the water. My dad and the girls went swimming while the boys dug a hole to bury Poppet in. My blood sugar was (and still is) low, so I didn't have much energy to do anything. I felt really dizzy and very shaky, so I spent most of my time laying on the blanket trying to not pass out. I did play a little bit though; I took Lolly down to the water for a while, and helped everyone dig their hole. Everyone else went fishing, but didn't catch anything. I don't care for fishing, so I just stayed and took pictures.

Right now everyone is either shooting guns, doing their devotions or playing with the ax. Hopefully we remembered to bring a tube of superglue...we might need it if their not careful with the axes.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow...I'm buying everyone ice cream! I tried to talk my dad into driving me down to the little general store tonight (which is like five minutes away) so that I could buy a ice cream bar or something...but he's not going for that. I even offered to buy him one too; how could someone turn down an offer like that?

Before dinner, but after 6:00pm

We just got the fire started and everyone is hanging out around it. My dad mentioned that I should have brought my guitar with me, which would have been a lot of fun...if I knew how to actually play it better! I took lessons for about a year, but my teacher was more interested in playing the songs herself than teaching me how to. So now, I have a beautiful and brand new guitar sitting in my closet--but not much knowledge of how to play it.

A few minutes ago some guy on a bicycle with a group of kids behind him came biking by. Both he and the kids were yelling "Have no fear!! Batman is here!" Finally I turned around to see what the commotion was and this guy was dressed up in a full batman costume. He was yelling cheesy lines such as: "Chop that wood like batman would." It was very weird, my mom said he must have lost a bet!

Next morning, around 10:00am

Last night we ate dinner, cleaned up and then roasted marshmallows. We all hung out by the fire talking and telling stories until around 9:30, then we went to bed. Unfortunately, our neighbors (they are having a reunion of some type...there are like 40 people over there) were up until 2:00am. They were so darn loud and obnoxious, it was really annoying.

I woke up this morning to hearing my siblings outside by the fire, and I was overjoyed that they lived through the night. I still don't like that tent heater though. (Side note: I found out later on in the day that they didn't even use the tent heater.)

I'm having serious ice cream withdrawals and I attempted to make myself some shake-n-make ice cream this morning. It didn't work very well...it ended up tasting like a chocolate milk shake. It wasn't that bad actually. However, my ice cream craving is still not satisfied. If I can't talk my dad into giving me a ride down to the general store, I'll go myself...the problem will be getting the keys from him. (Can you imagine how lost I'd get?!)

Afternoon

Well, I didn't have to drive myself, nor did I have to walk. My dear daddy drove me down to the store a few minutes ago. Now we are all enjoying huge bowls of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream. I'm about to dive into the bucket itself, after all...there can't be any leftovers. My parents are starting to worry about me...and rightfully so! They keep saying I have "issues." Hmm...I probably do.

After Ice cream

Yum-o...I made sure not even one bite of ice cream was wasted.
We are getting ready to go down to the water.

5:00

We are back from the water and everyone is changed into warm clothing and huddled around the fire--even though it's not very cold out. I just got done washing my hair in freezing cold water, now my head is all tingly and numb...but at least my hair feels clean and is curly again.

My dad is heating a bucket of water on the fire, I offered to give the little girls a bath in the pot once it's warm enough. They are so dirty!

I need to go figure out my sleeping arrangements before it's too dark out. (BTW...Shelbie slept in the family tent last night, so only Shaylah and I are in the smaller tent.) Anyhow... I can't sleep in a sleeping bag (because I move too much) so I unzipped it and used it as a blanket. I need another blanket or something, because I froze last night! It was one of those annoying moments, where you are super cold...but you don't want to do anything about it. So you lay there freezing all night knowing all you have to do is wrap yourself up in the blanket, but you don't do anything about it. It's annoying. Tonight I plan on being warmer. I am off to bathe the little girls.

6:15pm

We are getting dinner ready. There has been some talk about packing up and going home tonight. My dad and I were all for that (not that I don't enjoy camping, because I do...but I miss my bed and all my pillows). An unofficial vote was taken and we were outnumbered. You know me and my awful sense of directions (see post titled: Shyloh's Travels) I voted that we pack up and head to the ocean to spend the night on the beach.

8:30am

We are all awake and getting packed up, we want to be out of here within the hour. I was woken up by my dad pulling the plug on my air mattress...it deflates within ten seconds of being unplugged. My dad is still laughing over it, he thought it was hilarious...I didn't think it was very nice of hi,

We were all going to have hot chocolate this morning, but my dad caught the tea kettle on fire and totally fried it, we had to throw it away.

My parents were up with Poppet last night. She had a croupy cough and was panicking because she couldn't breath. They had to boil water and have her breath in the steam, she seems to be doing fine this morning.

Last night we were all warmer and our neighbors were quiet, thank-goodness!
I have to go help pack.

10:15am

Yay! We are heading home! I put my ear bud splitter on my i-pod and I'm letting Poppet and Lolly watch "Open Season" on it. It's really cute, because they are totally belly laughing at the movie!

Every year for the past several years we burn something of significance before we leave. The first year was a pair of Shannen's favorite shoes (that didn't even fit him...but he wouldn't give them up) and last year they burned my pillow (that one made me mad...true, I did throw up all over it...but it was washable.) This year we burned a pair of Shaylah's favorite shorts (with her blessing...they had holes in the bootie). Our neighbors must have thought we were really sick as we held the burning shorts on a long stick and sang melancholic songs. We are such a strange family!

I'll post pictures and blog about present time once we get home and get unpacked.

Present time, 3:45pm

That was our trip, as recorded in my journal. Believe it or not, I did leave half of it out! I'm working on a slide show of pictures, but they are taking forever to upload and I want to run to the store and buy some ice cream to eat before church. The slide show will get posted tonight at some point!

Last post till I get back

That last post, about the baking, was written last night...but I didn't post it until today. (I'm saying this because it claims that I posted that post last night...(because that's when it was wrote)...anyways, it confused me and I thought I'd try to clarify it for others who may be confused!

I went to church tonight. The leader spoke on pride and how all sin stems from our pride. It was good. I don't have time to write down all my notes though. I talked with the leader about when the next ocean trip would be...he almost strangled me! I guess not everyone loves the ocean as much as me. I told him that I think we should go every other month...he wasn't too keen on the idea. He tried bartering with me, "Tell you what...if you promise to actually swim (he was whining that nobody will swim in the ocean with him, and that he's all alone in the cold, dark, and unknown ocean waters), I'll plan one for December." (What?!? December is 4 1/2 months away!) I said, "I'll tell you what...I will go swimming, if you plan one for the next month or two." (By the way...there is no way I'd actually swim in the ocean unless there was a huge dare attached to the situation) He started laughing, "Um, Shyloh...this is a non-negotiable situation." The conversation ended with him telling me that if I want to go to the ocean again, it's up to me to get a group together. So...I am going to attempt it for sometime in September, the weather should still be warm. This time, I'm going to bring a bucket and a shovel so that I can build a proper sand castle!

My dad, mom, Shelbie, Shaylah and I are all rushing around getting ready to leave for camping. We are leaving tomorrow morning at 6:00...groan!!

I was planning on writing more, but my mom is tired and keeps telling me to go eat my dinner so that we can all go to bed and get some sleep before our early rise.

I'll post pictures when I get home. Maybe my absence will give all of you slow readers a chance to read all my past posts!!

Baking, Baking & more Baking!!

I'm writing this post at 10:00 at night, but my mom won't let me post it until tomorrow morning. (I get so many complaints that I write too long of posts. My mom says, "You wrote a book today, don't post any more until tomorrow, so people have a chance to see what you already posted.") I'm telling you that, so you can read the post as past tense.






I've been baking all evening. We had 12 overly ripe bananas, so I made my dad five loaves of banana bread. I'm used to doubling and tripling most everything I make (my mom jokes that since I cook dinner for a family of 10 every night, I'm not going to know how to cook for just two when I get married...but I'm not sure that's something to get too worried about!)


I also made a batch of chocolate chip cookies. I added m & m's and walnuts (for my dad.) I don't usually taste my own baking, but I tasted these...they were really good. I made sure to keep an eye on the dough while I was making them. Last time I made cookies, I made them for the college & career group. After I had finished making them, Shannen thought it would be funny to tell me he put one raisin in the dough. I was totally paranoid, and worried about it all afternoon. After I got home (keep in mind, I've told almost everyone that there could possible be a raisin in one of the cookies) he started laughing and said, "Ha, ha...I was just joking!" (Annoying little fellow!)

Last but not least, I made a batch of cracked sugar cookies. I ran out of flour, so I had to use 1/2 a cup whole wheat flour, but they still turned out fine. The recipe I used makes anywhere between 5 dozen - 6 dozen cookies, we always have extras. I decided to half the recipe this time, and it only made like 24 cookies, that's not nearly enough.

I love baking and I love baking for people (i.e. to bring to a party, a get together, or just because, ect.) but it always makes me laugh when people ask for recipes. I'm one of those people who can't follow the recipe to the "T." For instance, my chocolate chip cookie recipe...it's not a "real" recipe. I took three different recipes, and after experimenting and testing different mixtures, I combined the three recipes to get the recipe I have. But it gets worse, I still don't follow that recipe either. Sometimes I add 1/2 cup extra flour, sometimes I add less, I usually never measure my vanilla, and I've often added more eggs than the recipe calls for. They never turn out the same as the time before. I also never follow baking directions. If the recipe says preheat the oven to 350, I do 325.

Earlier I was helping my dad do something on the computer when my timer dang. I asked Shelbie to get the batch of cookies out of the oven. About three minutes later I walked over to the stove (where two cookie trays were sitting.) Usually the newest batch fresh from the oven gets set on top of the burner, and the already cooled one gets set on the counter. I guess Shelbie doesn't know that's how it "should" be done...so I walked over to the counter and for some reason I was going to move the tray so that I could have room to work at the counter. Without thinking, I grabbed the tray with my bare hands and started yelping. Shelbie was staring at me with a look that said 'oops...did I do that?' Finally she said, "Um...careful, it's hot." My finger tips were red for a while, but they aren't burning anymore.

My timer is dinging and I only have one more batch to do. So I am off to throw the last batch in the oven and clean up my mess.

Emergency Doctor's visit, Packing, Baking & latest I-tunes purchase

What a morning!!! My mom always tells me when I post more than one post a day, that I should save them and use them for a day when I have nothing to post about. I always laugh, and tell her that I don't have problems with writers block, there's always something to write about...as is the case with today.

My mom woke me up this morning and asked me if I wanted to drive her to run a few errands (she wasn't in the mood to drive, nor to go alone.) I said that was fine, and got up to get ready. About 30 minutes later, my mom and Shaynah came back into my room to talk. My mom was talking about the errands we needed to get done, while Poppet was playing with something on our floor. Several minutes went by, the whole time Poppet was playing with her ear. Finally, my mom looked down at her and said, "Shaynah...did you just put something in your ear?" Poppet said, "Yes." My mom quickly grabbed a flashlight and looked into her ear. Sure enough, there was something in there. At first we couldn't decide if it was a bullet (air soft...of course) or if it was a bead. None the less, it was too far in her ear for us to do anything about it. Instead of driving my mom around for her errands, I ended up driving her and Poppet down to the doctor's office. We were worried that if the doctor couldn't get it out, she'd have to go to an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor. My mom stayed nice and calm the whole time, and didn't verbally chastise Shaynah at all...after all, "I've never told her that she couldn't put stuff into her ears...so how was she supposed to know better?" I however, was less kind. My personal thoughts were, "She's a smart three year old...has she ever seen any of us put stuff into our ears? No...it's a obvious no-no." I started feeling bad for her, after we were in the doctor's office and she was sitting on the little metal table waiting for our doctor, she was so nervous!! Long story short: the doctor flushed her ear with some water in a strange looking devise, and (thank-you Jesus!) it worked, so we didn't have to bring her to the ENT doctor after all. I don't think she realized the severity of the situation, until we were sitting inside the room, waiting for the doctor. On the way to the doctor's we were listening to my high school musical CD, Poppet was listening to the song (she knows all the songs, by the way) and suddenly she says, "This is the high school musical!!" She chatted and sang the whole way there, while my mom just groaned and breathed in deeply. After we left the doctors, my mom treated us to Panda Express. (Have you ever had their Beef Broccoli dish?...so yummy!) For the whole account of this trip, from a mom's point of view...click over to my mom's blog.

Most of you probably know that I am *supposed to* wear glasses while driving. I've never had eye issues...well...at least we didn't know that I had vision problems until I started driving. My dad noticed it one day, when I couldn't even read the license plate on the car in front of me. I was banned from driving until I went to the eye doctor. I went into the eye doctor, and he prescribed me some glasses to wear at night and while driving and for a few other things. Anyways, I hate wearing them. A. because they look stupid. and B. because I don't think the prescription is even correct. I can't notice a difference at all. When I drive alone, I never wear them, and I try to remember to wear them while driving siblings (so that they don't rat me out to my parents.) Well, as I was driving my mom this morning, I had forgotten to put them on. I was coming to a stop on an off ramp, and my mom started panicking, "Brake! Brake! Brake!!" Well, I'm feeling totally calm, from what I can see I'm totally fine. I came to a stop and looked at my mom confused, while she looked at me...very startled. (As if her life flashed before her eyes!) Later on, as I am coming to a stop (on the Briggsmore off ramp...is that even what it is called?) I was looking at the car in front of me, and I kind of started panicking a little bit. My eyes were totally playing games with me. To me, it looked like the car was within arms reach in front of me, then jerked way ahead of me, then it got really blurry. (This actually happens a lot with various objects, it's weird. My dad sings "Tweaker, Tweaker, Little Shyloh...how we wonder where you are" to the tune of 'Twinkle Twinkle little star." ha, ha, ha.) I started slowing down, and my mom started panicking again (it turns out the car never moved...duh, it was right in front of me the whole time...oops.) My mom looked at me and said, "What is wrong?!? That's the problem! Where are your glasses?!" She dug them out of my purse and practically shoved them up my nose trying to put them on me. I'm not feeling very perky about the situation, she wants me to go back to the eye doctor ASAP, because we think that he butchered my prescription. (At least, I'm praying that he messed it up, rather than my eyes have changed.) And she's not very thrilled that I haven't been wearing them when I should. (Next time...I'm "Busted.")If you would, please keep this in your prayers.

Today we are packing for our camping trip. I have to work tomorrow, so we want to get as much done today as possible, so my mom isn't left to do everything alone tomorrow. I'll make sure to empty my camera today so that I can take a lot of pictures while we are gone, which I will promise to post, but probably never will! I also have to do a lot of baking this afternoon. I need to make some cookies and muffins for our trip. My dad also requested some banana bread.

My mom is laying down right now, and all my siblings (plus two cousins) are in the living room watching a movie. In a few minutes I am going to run down to Rite Aide to buy an I-tunes gift card. I'm going to say this out in the open, because I don't really care what anybody thinks anymore: I plan on buying the "Camp Rock" movie for my i-pod. (if you don't know what "Camp Rock" is, it's a "High School Musical" wannabe. It has the Jonas Brothers in it, and as Mandy would say, "It's basically the Jonas Brothers meet the High School Musical." ...I do want to make it clear though: I'm not buying the movie because of who is in it. (I think the Jonas Brothers are way over rated and rather lame. If you are a girl who thinks they are absolutely adorable and positively wonderful...well, that's your problem. I'm praying for you.) Anyways, after the verbal chastisements I received from everyone after I admitted I liked the High School Musical (and own the "High School Musical t-shirt...yea, that got me into big trouble!) I realized I have nothing more to loose by adding to this crime. If anyone is interested...I am going to the midnight showing of the "High School Musical 3" when it comes out...let me know if you want to go.
(Um...I'm joking...but only because there won't be a midnight showing. But I do plan on going to see it. It comes out the day before my birthday, so on my birthday I am treating myself to this movie. This is an open invitation for those brave enough to show your face with me. Let me know, you have a month to think about it...)


I am off to run to the store, then to start my baking and eventually I will have to quit procrastinating and pack. That was a long title for a blog post!

Ramblings in the mind of Shyloh

This is going to be a very scattered post. I am feeling very distracted; I have Poppet sitting next to me singing her ABC's, Lucy & Ricky (the goats) bleating outside our kitchen window, and Lolly talking in her gibberish from her highchair. I have nothing of much interest to write...but I'm in the mood to write something.

Today I worked until 3:00. I pretty much only cleaned today, since the kids are back in school, except for Hudson and Addie (who are the babies) and Bennett, who is getting homeschooled this year.



(In response to a comment: Sunblock every hour sounds great...hopefully I've learned my lesson and you won't hear me objecting next time!And yes, it can get worse, you were right. )

Now for a update on my current burn...My arms and my shoulders aren't very red anymore, but my neck is still very tender and my nose is peeling, which really stinks. I haven't peeled in probably three years, so this is a somewhat "new" experience...one I hope to not experience again. We are going camping this weekend, and I am trying to decided whether I should use coconut or sunblock. I know that sounds stupid, considering my current situation...but I'd love to give coconut oil another chance. Believe me or not, coconut does work. (I'm starting to think it only works if used every hour, and if you aren't in direct sun (i.e. the ocean) but maybe in your backyard?)

Have any of you ever heard of Brocoflower? It is a mix of broccoli and cauliflower. Personally, it tastes identical to cauliflower, but it is a light green color. I've never seen one of these before, so I took a picture of it for my readers. I prefer it over plain cauliflower...I like eating colors.











I don't know how many of you know about my dislike for meat. I'm pretty sure I've never blogged on this, but I hate meat with a capital "H." It tastes dead...obviously. I don't really know why I don't like it, but for some reason it makes me feel nauseated. I also don't eat anything that lives or lived in the water...ever, and animals that people name are also off limits. I prefer a big salad or veggies over meat! About a year ago I completely quit eating meat (with an exception: once every month or so, I'd eat a burger or chicken breast). I was studying my eyes not long ago (It's called iridology, which is the inspection of the iris. Our eyes are set up like clocks, if I see a dot in your "4 o'clock zone," I can say, "Oh, that's your liver...it is weakened." ect.) and I noticed to my horror I had a red dot on my 7 o'clock zone. After I did some muscle testing and worked with the gal who is a certified master herbalist and has been mentoring me this year as I am preparing to take my final exam to become a CMH myself, I found out that my left kidney was dying...because it was starving from a lack of animal protein. OOOPPPSSS...I started eating meat again, but I will still only eat boneless meat. Basically: Chicken breasts, turkey, (I never eat pig) tri-tip and ground beef. Anyways, my dot is still there...it will take a while to go away, after all, my kidney was in a weakened state. Now that I am done rambling, I can say what all this has to do with what I was about to say. Even though I started eating meat again, I still don't like it, but I do eat it. Last night I went to my friend Annie's house for dinner. Part of the meal was chicken breasts...it was amazing. I craved it all day long!! (At work today, I called my mom to see if she wanted to make me some chicken and bring it to me...she said "no.") Anyways, for dinner tonight, I made Chicken fettucini. I used the brocoflower, dried tomatoes, and chicken in it. I took a picture of it; it doesn't look very appetizing, but it was. (I like taking pictures of food. I made Oriental Chicken Salad and Carrot bread for dinner a few nights ago and took some pictures. They turned out beautifully, I plan on blogging them eventually. It just takes too long to get my camera out and hook it up to the computer to post pictures from my camera, which is why my VBS pictures still aren't up. I used my mom's camera to snap a picture of this meal.)



I've gone two days without eating ice cream, I'm starting to feel tweaky. (I hope you guys know that I'm joking...about the tweaky part.) We are supposed to have some later on this evening. You know that you have an ice cream addiction (my dad jokes that the way to my heart is through icecream...sadly there may be some truth to that. ) when during a family meeting about our upcoming camping trip, my dad says, "Is there anything any of you want to discuss?" Yes...I raised my hand and discussed my concern about how we will bring ice cream with us, without it melting. By the time the meeting had adjourned, it was decided that I could buy us a bucket of ice cream one evening at camp. I'm really excited...because we won't have a freezer, so we will have to finish the entire bucket off in one sitting!! (Woot, Woot!)

I was planning on writing more, but my siblings are taking the ice cream out.

The Rocks Will Cry Out...

Luke 19:40
But Jesus answered, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!"








I never put much thought into this verse, until a conversation that I was involved in a few days ago. I was talking with a few girls from the College & Career group, and we were talking about a country of who's name I can't remember (I think it was Iran...? But I'm not positive.) One of the girls was telling a few of us how in this country there have been huge numbers of people coming forth with "visions." They claim that they heard Jesus' voice, or saw an angel, and a few other things. While we were talking about Iran specifically, apparently these "visions" are becoming quite frequent in other countries as well, countries where there aren't many missionaries, or it is hard to get missionaries into. As the conversation was going on I was scoffing to myself, "Yea right...when was the last time someone had a "vision?" Wasn't it someone like Saul? Or someone else from the bible?" (What was I thinking? I know that still to this day visions are reality and people do have them, but I was finding it hard to believe in the mass quantity that these girls were talking about.)During the conversation, one of the girls quoted Luke 19:40. The conversation ended a few minutes later, but my mind was still working. I kept thinking (and still have been thinking) how Luke 19:40 ties into our conversation. I realized that in these countries where missionaries are scarce...how else will people hear about God other than in visions? I had always assumed that this verse was simply a metaphor of some type but never read anymore deeply into it. After this conversation I started to pick apart the verse in my head, I realized that it means what it means...literally. Jesus wants everyone to hear about him, no matter who they are or where they are. If they live in a country where missionaries are scarce, should he (Jesus)just sign them off as "hopeless?" Should he give up and say, "Oh well, there's nobody around to tell him about me anyways, at least he's only one person." No, that's not how our God works. If we can't (or don't) do our jobs and spread the word...God will find other ways. His name will get out.

Thoughts on Sand...

Psalm 139:17-18
"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand..."



Every time I go to the beach or the ocean this bible verse comes to my mind and it amazes me. Just reading the verse alone sends you into a state of awe...but being surrounded by sand brings the seriousness of this verse into such a state of amazing and unexplainable reality.

On Saturday I was laying on the beach looking at all the sand. I am always amazed at how much sand there is in comparison to God's thoughts towards me. But it really hit me hard on Saturday. I was playing with a small handful of sand and I thought to myself, "If I scooped up even one small teaspoon of sand...could I count it? No...I couldn't." Then I thought, "Do I even have a teaspoon of sand worth of thoughts towards one specific person?...no, I don't." As I was trying to think of what all of God's thoughts towards me could be in one teaspoon, I was blown away...for the life of me I couldn't even think of anything. Then I looked around and as far as I could see I am surrounded by sand...countless grains of sand. My next thought was, "Not only does he have this many thoughts towards me alone...but also towards everyone else on this earth..." I was marveling about this thought for a while. Then later, as I went down to the water, I was blown away again...not only is there sand on this beach...but also in the ocean...but not only in the oceans and this beach...but every other beach, desert, playground, body of water, ect. ect. in the ENTIRE WORLD. Goodness Glory...that's a lot of sand. That's a lot of thoughts towards us. Worthless, sinful, wicked us. What does he see in us? Why are we so worth it to him? Why does he go through so much...for us? What an amazingly wonderful thought.

Tubing trip & Ocean Trip

How many days has it been since I last blogged? Too long.

We have had such a busy few days.

On Thursday I worked all day and got off in time to go to church. After I got home from church I ate some ice cream and watched the Olympics with my sisters, then I went to bed.

On Friday we went tubing. We brought James and Mandy (Silva) with us, and that was fun. Since so many of us went (just five of us Ney children, plus my dad plus James and Mandy) we had to take turns on the boat and tubing. We dropped everyone off at a small island and took our turns tubing. The boys had more fun playing on the island than they did tubing!! (There was a lot of sinking mud, and they were having fun sinking into it and trying to get out...yuck!!)We were all having a blast...until the boat died. Our fun day ended by us being pulled back to the dock by the rangers. (Yes, it was embarrassing!) I already felt oakie by the set up of our boats and tubes: we have a little itty bitty old Bass boat, and two enormous brand new tubes connected to the boat by giant key ring clips. But, being hauled back to the dock by a rescue ranger...that topped the oakieness. It was still really fun! We are all very sore, and us poor white people are really red. (Of course, not James and Mandy...you know they've never burned in their entire lives...blah, blah, blah. It's not our fault that we are white.)

Yesterday I went to the ocean with the college and career group. It was a lot of fun. Mandy came with me (which was good, because all the college girls did NOTHING but sleep and sun tan...all day long.) We pretty much played in the sand for most of the day. We were teased quite a bit, for our "childish behavior." After Mandy buried me in the sand, we had a new idea: We dug a hole that was 3 1/2 feet deep (with our hands!) and made it into a sand chair. We lounged in our hole on our sand chair for a long time, it was nice and cool and protected us from the sun...a little bit at least. After a while, we went shopping with two of the guys. That was a lot of fun. I was offered sun block multiple times throughout the day, but I kept declining, and using my coconut oil. Let me just say, coconut oil doesn't work when you are covered in sand (because the sand soaked it up). I finally took someone up on their offer after already have roasted in the sun for five hours, and I am SOOOOO red today. (The guy who offered me the sunblock razzed that evening for how red I was and how bad I was going to hurt today...I saw him at church this morning and he started laughing at me. "Hmmm...maybe next time you'll take me up on my offer?") After we got back from shopping Mandy, me, and the one of the guys we went shopping with went down to the water and made a sand sculpture. Everyone was teasing us, we are on a college and career trip, but we are playing in the sand like 5-year-olds! At 5 we left the ocean and went to get ice cream (By the way, I had three ice creams yesterday!! I had some at the ocean, when we left the ocean and after dinner) after we ate our ice cream we headed back to the church. It was a really really fun trip, and I can't wait for the next one!

I am off to eat some pizza.

John 2:1-2

I went to a bible study on Monday night and I wanted to share some of what I learned.
We only studied John 2:1-2, but I got so much out of it. John 2:1-2 is about the wedding that Jesus attended, in where they ran out of wine and Jesus made more out of water. The leader went into detail about typical Jewish weddings and how their weddings are such a picture of us being Christ's bride. There are typically three steps to a Jewish wedding:



1st. there is the betrothal, in where the man haggles over a purchase price with the girl's father. After the purchase price was decided, he would take a drink from a cup of wine and then offer the girl a drink, if she took a drink from the cup she was accepting his proposal and they were 'considered married.' After this took place, he would leave to prepare a home for the girl while she prepared for him.

2nd. After the man prepares a home for his bride, he would go get his bride and carry her off to their bridal chamber. Typically this would occur at an unknown time to the bride and it was usually in the evening, she always had to be ready.

3rd. There would be a 7 day party, in which the bride could not attend. She was held captive in the bridal chamber while her husband partied outside. (That's not fair!) After 7 days of partying, the groom would bring his bride out, unveiled (this would be the 1st time anyone had seen the girl unveiled.)

The comparison to Jewish weddings and us being Christ's bride is as followed. (And I'm only listing a few comparisons.)

1. As the groom leaves his father's house to go to his house with his new bride, so God left his house to come to earth to be with us.
2. Just as the groom makes a covenant with wine, so God makes a covenant with his blood.
3. Just as the groom pays a "purchase price," so Jesus paid a purchase price for us--his own life.
4. As the bride is set apart after her betrothal, so the church is also set apart.
5. Just as the bride would prepare for her husband, so the Church also should prepare.
6. The same way the group prepared a house for his bride, so God prepares a house for us.
7. Just as the bride was unaware as to when her groom would show up for her (but she always had to be ready), so we don't know when Christ is coming for us, be we also have to be ready for him.

My "happier" post

(I promised this post would be "happier!")
I have had such a busy few days!!
I will try to detail the happenings of my past few days.

On Monday I worked an 7 1/2 hour day. I had to be to work at 9:30...I think. I got home at 5:00. After I got home, I spent a few minutes unwinding before I ran to get ready to go to a bible study. I left my house at 6:00 to head to the bible study. (As I was driving to where the bible study was being held, I started recognizing where I was. I kept thinking: "I've been here before, why and when?" Later, as I was heading home I realized with embarrassment that the last time I had been on their road was when I was heading home from the Veltkamp's house. I had gotten lost and never turned around, hence, I ended up on the road where the bible study is. Isn't that bad?) The study was really good, we are in the book of John. There were only four of us, so it was a nice small group! I was telling my mom when I got home that it was kind of funny, I am one decade younger than three of the girls there, and four decades younger than the leader. (I'm not complaining, I was the only one who wasn't whining about my aches and pains!)

Then, yesterday I had to babysit for the Collins at 7:30am. (This is kind of funny...I realized yesterday that the three children I was babysitting are kind of cousins-in-law to me....Their aunt is my aunt. So technically we aren't actually related, except by law. It was just an odd thought.) Anyways, I left my house at 7:00and headed over to their house. When I was done at their house I met a friend at the mall. We spent several hours shoe shopping (which by the way...I ended up not buying any) and acting weird in the elevators. (you do remember my post on things to do in an elevator...right?) When I left the mall at 4:00 I dropped by another friend's house to say hello. I hadn't seen her in a while, so we chatted for a few minutes before I headed over to the Veltkamps to hang out with their boys while they took their daughter out for her birthday dinner. (Happy Birthday, Alyssa! I ♥ You!) I got home in the 10:00 clock hour. I loafed on the couch for an hour, listening to Shaylah oooh and ahhh over Michael Phelps (the Olympic swimmer...he's her idol. Literally, I'm tired of hearing about how "wonderful" he is...actually it's kind of cute! ... "It" meaning Shaylah.) Around 11:00 I went to bed.

This morning I got up at 8:00 and got ready for work. All my siblings were mad at me for working again (they haven't really seen me since Sunday. In fact, today is the first day I've actually seen my dad since Sunday evening, that's really sad.) Much to my mom and sibling's happiness, I only worked until 12:30, and I've been home ever since. My car has an alarm for when it locks, and it's really loud and obnoxious--you can hear it from inside the house. When I got home, I locked my car and headed up to the porch. By the time I reached the porch five of my siblings came bulldozing out the front door and threw themselves at me. (I really prefer this type of greeting over the cold "traitor" greeting that I often receive after being gone at work for long periods of time!)

I've been happy to unwind. I have to work tomorrow, but then I'm done working for the week. We were supposed to go camping this week, but we postponed it...again, for next week. I'm going to the ocean on Saturday, and that will be fun.

I actually made my bed today...woot woot for me! (By the way...I'm missing a pillow.) And I was able to throw a load of laundry in, which I've really been needing to do!

Well, my dad is home so I'm going to scoot and go visit with him!

I can't come up with a title for this post...

I'm not in the mood to write, but I don't like going days without posting, so we'll see what I come up with.

Shaylah is sick again. (She gets sick a lot, she must have a low immunity...?) She has a bad stomach ache and doesn't have much perk to her. When Shaylah is "blah" you know that something is wrong! Poor thing, hopefully she feel better soon.

Everyone else is healthy...as of right now at least.

My dad, Shelbie and I went to church this morning. Pastor Damian is out of the country right now, so we had a guest speaker: Don Mc-something. (I forgot his last name.) He is a really good speaker and presented a good sermon. After church my dad bolted. We made it out to the car and on the road in record time. We were walking so fast to get out of the building everything looked like a blur. My dad was proud of himself, he didn't get stuck in traffic and didn't dawdle. I would have liked to stay and chat for a few minutes, but that doesn't really happen when I'm with my dad! He offered to sit in the car and listen to the baseball game...but that's sad sounding, I'd rather just complain and whine for a while. (I hope you know I am joking...kind of.) I'm going to church again tonight...and not with him!

Yesterday morning my family and I went to the mall. I'd like to say it was fun, but it really wasn't. Shaylah wasn't feeling good, Poppet and Lolly were really bored and the boys were really active. I didn't even get to go shoe shopping--darn. Oh well, I'm supposed to go with a friend on Tuesday, so maybe then I can go shoe shopping.

I'm in the mood to go watch a movie at the theaters, I keep begging my dad to come with me to see The Dark Knight again, but he wants to go see that new 3D movie first. I'm going to be really bummed if by the time he sees that movie, The Dark Knight is already out of the theaters. I think I'll probably just end up asking my aunt if she wants to go see it with me again.

This is really a pathetic post, it sounds really whiny. Believe it or not, I'm not in a negative mood right now! Hopefully my next post will be happier sounding!

Shaylah's Bird

This is a side note, someone brought it up to me the other day, and I realized that I never mentioned this. Shaylah's bird died the day after I published the picture of it. She was really sad.

A good day

Today I had to work. Originally I was supposed to go to work at 1:00, so that Brandon and Joslyn could go out on a date, but plans were changed and instead I went to work at 10:30 - 2:30. It was a fun day, I played outside with the kids the whole time. The Brooks's live on a 2 acres, and these two acres are divided by several fences. The kids and I decided to go out to the back field and try to pet their cows. (These are not tamed cows. In fact, these cows are named: T-Bone and one other name that I can't remember, but it resembles dinner. They only have a few more months left on this beautiful green planet, before they end up on Joslyn's beautiful pink serving platter.) We hiked back to their back field, and all of us leaned up against the gate. William asked, "We've never petted them before, what if they buck us?" I don't know how many of you have seen the movie, "Wild Hogs" (it is a total clear play movie, and even then, I don't know if I recommend it.) anyways, in this movie there are a group of guys leaning up against a fence staring at a bull. One of the guys says, "Who wants to play "Slap the Bull?!" (End outcome?: they sneak in slap the bull and run...but not fast enough.) Why I just mentioned that, is because that's what I felt like as we snuck through the metal fence, dodged cow poop (which was EVERYWHERE) and tip-toed over to their two cows. We snuck up behind them, and Bennett quickly shot his hand out and tapped the cow's rump and then ran. He ran screaming for several seconds, before slowing down and looking behind him. "Oh..." he said sheepishly.

After we were done tormenting the cows, we jumped a few different fences and played in a field behind their barn. In this field was a lone tree with a rope hanging from it. (The kids use it to swing on, like Tarzan.) I didn't really see it coming, but I ended up tied to the tree. And yes, it did hurt. I have a few rope burns and an injured pride. I did get my revenge, though. (I tied Bennett to the tree, then headed back to the house with the rest of the kids, announcing it was "lunch time." Bennett started hollering and yelling: "Get back here!! You're fired!! I'm telling mom!!")

I'm feeling somewhat better today, but I still have that nagging headache. It's worse since I got off work, I think it's because I was out in the sun for so long. And I'm really really tired. Like really really tired.

I did get to go to church last night, and it was really good. It was about the evil nature of the tongue. We've been working through the book of James, which is my favorite book of the bible. I have really been enjoying it. Anyways, Nate (the college & career leader) was saying that what we say reflects our hearts and mind. (Isn't that a scary thought?) "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." He was also saying how our tongue gets us into so much trouble, and how to prevent this is to ask ourselves three questions:

1. Does it glorify God?
2. Does it point people to God?
C. Is it necessary?

The third question alone eliminates most of what we say. Then, in small groups one of the ladies was saying, how it's easy for us to say the unnecessary things, such as "did you go see that movie last night? what did you think of it? blah blah blah." But we don't have the courage to ask the necessary stuff. For instance, how often do we ask people "how are you doing? What's been going on in your life?" rather than "How are you doing? What has God been doing in your life?"

My dad and I didn't watch "The Bourne Identity" last night, maybe tonight. We did eat ice cream though, and we watched "Jurassic Park 3" with the girls.

Do you see what I started? (Don't think that I am complaining!)

My mom bought real silverware today! I am really excited, everyting tastes better on real silverware. (We've never bought "real" silverware before, we've always bought cheap $1.00 stuff.) I want to freeze a few spoon and eat ice cream. (The key to making delicious ice cream taste even better is to freeze real silverware before eating the ice cream. Something about eating ice cream on frozen silver is really amazing. yes, I know I have..."issues.")


I'd better scoot. Poppet and Lolly just dumped out all of my mom and mine soap making stuff in the boy's room. (The color and the fragrances.)It is a HUGE mess, but their room smells really really good now!! I'm off to help clean the mess up.

Keep praying for our health, Shaylah and Lolly are complaining about a stomach ache again.

Hmmm...Ice cream sounds yummy.