Note about old beans

Today our church "family" had a potluck soup dinner after church.  I was out of town until Saturday evening, and so I needed to whip up a soup from ingredients I had at home without a shopping trip.

Chili......that would be easy enough.  I have lots of pintos, ground beef in freezer, tomato sauce, and even some onions and peppers in the fridge.  No problem.  I got the beans soaking on LOW in my crock pot on Saturday night, took the ground beef out of the freezer, and got to bed.  

As the sun was rising this morning, I chopped and threw together the soup.  One of the glories of the crock pot is quick prep for a usually delicious meal.

As I checked my soup at about 7:00 am, the beans were still crunchy, even after soaking all night.  No big deal, there would be another good 5 hours for them to soften up deliciously during church on high.

Fast forward to 1:00.  My son chooses to eat my soup from the other 20 crock pot choices.  He says it is disgusting.  Lovely......

I say, "Let me try it," and sure enough, it is!  The beans are crunchy!  Oh no, how many people have nicely smiled through eating this soup?  I hope for the best that most will have NOT chosen my soup.  But sure enough, the crock pot is half empty (but not EMPTY!) at the end.  I tell my husband to hurry and grab it when the dinner is over, and get it out to the car.  The fewer people that know it was mine, the better!

No big deal, we will just keep it simmering and have a great evening meal for us.  

Fast forward to now, 7:00 pm.  The beans are STILL CRUNCHY.  I used some old pinto beans passed on to me from my mother's food storage.  So they probably have a good 20 years to them.  Beans do store well.

BUT, apparently they take much longer than 24 hours to turn soft.  Those beans just might be making into BEAN BAGS instead!

DMV report--survived

We (me + 6) survived the DMV yesterday.  Survived is a relative term, of course.  We walked in at 11:47.  The room was brimming full already.  I couldn't decide when would be the best time for me to show up with 6 children, so this is the time I chose.  One of the bi-products of educating your children at home is taking them everywhere with you : )

We walked in casually, drew a number--107, and I quickly glanced up at the counter, serving #80.  Not too bad, I can handle 26 waits.......

The trick was finding a place to sit.  There just weren't any rows of 7 seats available, so we quickly took the row of 4 consecutive seats.  I take that back--we all went to the bathroom first to prepare for the wait.  I held baby, and two brothers held the other two under 4 years old.  Within five minutes, they had served #81, #82, #83, and #84.  

"This won't be bad," I thought.

But amazingly, three clerks disappeared, probably for their lunch breaks since the room was full of waiting people.  The remaining counters started serving other number sequences like #482, #483, #484--I figured those were for the people who pulled from the Spanish ticket dispenser.  But the there was the #297, #298, #299--where did they get their tickets???  It was at least 30 minutes before a counter resumed with #85, for my line.  

At the 40 minute mark, I pulled out the emergency resources--fruit snacks and granola bars.  Great idea until the two year got sticky peanut butterish stuff all over her fingers from the granola bar---and the wipes were MISSING from my diaper bag.  No big deal, we will use the burp rag.

"You have well behaved children," the lady beside me says.

"Thank you," I say, as my face is getting warm with stress.

Of course she is the first also to say, "I spoke too soon," when my four year old yanks my ipod away from his brother to play shopping cart hero.  I smile again at her.....

At the hour mark, we are all getting restless, adults included.  I pull out pens and paper.  By this time, my one year old is laying on her stomach, on the DIRTY floor coloring in my planner.  But this is somehow OK to me at the 67 minute mark at the DMV.  My standards have lessened a bit, and all I require of them is to stay within our 4 seat area, and to be quiet.  They are still be good, considering......

My number, #107,  is called at 1:15.  We have almost made it.  I look in the eye machine, sign the paper, up my weight from 3 licenses ago, and get my picture snapped--all within 2 minutes.

And we are out of there, without any crying!

Getting Older

I think there is a certain age when you stop aging...................in your own mind, anyway.  I have passed that age I think.  Recently a friend of mine, much younger, saw my driver's license and said, "You look so young in that picture!"

My immediate thought was, "Are you serious?  I think I look JUST LIKE that picture."  But instead, I just smiled.  The fact is, I really do think I look just like the picture.  How could this happen?  It isn't my 16 year old license, and it wasn't even taken THAT many years ago.

Well, today I venture to the DMV with all of my six children.  I have packed emergency bribes in my diaper bag for what could be a VERY long wait to renew my license.........which will entail a new picture.  Uggggghhhhhhh..........today I will see how old I really look : )

How did this stuff get in here?

Hall Linen/first aid/light bulbs/EVERYTHING closet

How did these things get here?  I think my talent at closet stuffing is near perfect.  I have no idea how all the things currently on my hallway floor came out of the closet.  Here are some things that will NOT be going back in.

• too many old sheets, but that was expected
• instructional DVD to our thermostat--you think we watched it?
• the OLD thermostat, did we think the new one wouldn't work?
• instructional VHS for the past pool vacuum?????
• bed wetting alarm kit?  thanks for leaving that mom!
• light bulbs to our OLD chandelier, won't fit anything here now
• electric blanket cords, but no blanket
• closet hardware to before said gone closet
•  product manuals for the sink, microwave, stovetop, oven, lawn mower +spare key (which I will be keeping), pool vac, and more
• bottle of caulk
• quite a few bottles of contact solution--did I mention I had Lasik 2 years ago?
• old eye drops
• empty prescription bottles
• crystallized wart medicine
• expired medicine
• must I go on????  

My name is Melissa, I am a "Hoarder."

Moms of many have to be organized.  I get this, I try this, and I keep trying at this.  Because I want and have a large family, I need to keep it all managed and working like a well-oiled machine---or at least have the machine working : )

I imagine myself to be Ellen O'Hara, the mother and gracious mistress of the O'Hara plantation in Gone With the Wind.  She keeps all in order, and tends to everyone with great sensitivity--you would have to read the book to get the vision.

My recent efforts in trying to get this machine oiled and moving smoothly are an all-over de-cluttering effort.  You can call it "stream-lining," "de-cluttering," "purging,"--it just depends on which book you have read about it lately.  I have read quite a few of them.  The methods are all the same, but it is the actual application that can be painful for me.  

I have been stealthily observing all of my "born-organized" friends for pointers.  The number one common denominator that they all share is LESS THINGS.  Amazing thought, if I have less things, there is less to stir around in my house.........

I am realizing that I am a "Hoarder."  Aaaaahhhhhh......I just don't even like to call myself that.  Let's call it---Resourceful, prepared, crafty, DIYer, etc.  But in my de-cluttering efforts, I am realizing the "hoarder" term is applicable, and I AM BEATING IT DOWN!

I have been ravaging through my clutter for a solid four weeks now.  This is different than my regular, constant, house cleaning.  This is different than my usual re-organization projects.  This time I am getting rid of things for good : )  Here is a list of some random things that have been filling my dumpsters or the goodwill bags lately  (maybe it will help someone like myself):

• Christmas cards and pictures (in an organized file, or course) from friends and family for the past 10 years!
• dozens of quart jars filled with plum sauce and grape juice and cherry something that my mom canned in '92 and gifted to me---and for those of you thinking the 90's were just yesterday, like I do--It has almost been 20 years!
• wedding announcements and pics of friends who married at least 10 years ago
• 3 1/2 floppy computer disks--dozens of them  (my computer that read these beat them out the door)
• clothing that hasn't fit after any of the past 6 babies---and not stylish enough to let out the door anymore if it did : )
• 2 of three humidifiers
• Christmas bows saved for years
• old make-up
• old toys
• old shoes
• crib bedding I made for my first child, that I have not been willing to use since, but also not willing to get rid of--I swear, the cartoon Noah's ark animals WERE cute back then.
• gallons of emergency water storage that when poured out last week smelled like DEATH
• boxes boxes and more boxes
• software disks to my past computers and printers even though I don't have them anymore
• yeast vitamins for dogs--which my dog refuses to eat
• my college essays from so many classes--like throwing away a child......
• file and files and files of teaching ideas---Thank you Google!
• old press on nails
• old medicine
• old fish tank, still have a spare for "found" creatures
• hand me down clothes---still have lots, but don't need them all!
• holy socks living in the sock basket : )
• broken closet doors 
• juice glasses that I received for my wedding, still haven't used or ever liked
• George Foreman that makes 1 hamburger--we are so past that!
• plastic containers---these are always breeding in my cupboard
• old candles that I can't stand the smell of 
• glass bread making thing-a-majig
• earrings that have been looking for their matches for quite a long time
• old toothbrushes
• size 1 diapers that won't hold anything--so I never use them
• old purses
• tape cassettes, oh so many of these
• broken lamp
• tangled curly ribbon
• old paint cans with drying out paint
• old keys to the house, locks have been changed : )
• manuals to the water heater, pool filter, stove top, etc----that existed BEFORE the remodel of this house
• old knives--just got a new set
• my broken camera
• my old computer
• my other old camera
• old camera software and peripherals
• cords to unidentifiable techno gadgets
• falling apart books
• dead watches
• leaky sippy cups
• kitchen gadgets that never get used
• mixing bowls #10, 11, 12, 13 ,14 ,15
• stretched out swim suit
• nylons
• stained clothing
• magazines and magazines and magazines
• ripped out pages of magazines with "good" ideas--thank you again Google!

This list will have to be continued later................my responsibilities are calling me!  I still have much to do, and more to de-clutter!!!!!

Being a MOM

I was looking into these blue eyes this morning, just loving the moment.  I may not ever get to use the bathroom alone, quilt whenever I want to, sleep by myself most nights, cook dinner without someone on my leg or on my hip, but I love being a mom!

I just squeezed and loved and hugged this little bundle this morning.  They grow up too fast.  I love a warm cheeked baby when they have just woken up with a big smile.  Enjoy the moment today!  Hug your little ones, and love them.

You may even have "daughters" or "sons" that you haven't birthed, and who are just as precious.  I spent 30 minutes on the phone this morning with one of those "daughters" of mine. I care for her like my own daughter.  I feel Heavenly Father's SO STRONG love for her----I am just one of the funnels for it, His hands here.  Parenting doesn't just happen within the walls of your own home always.  So many are taught by your example and love every day.  As women, we are "mothers" to many.  Thanks to all of you out there!

Liquid Messes

My children are sick again.  It is really disgusting that I haven't posted anything on this blog since the last time my children were sick.  My children really don't get sick that often.  We seem to be a fairly healthy crowd, but this winter has been a whopper.  Since the beginning of December we have been tackling the green nose river and cough.  No one had it especially long, but after going through 8 people, it can take 8 weeks----the past two months.

Just yesterday, I thought, "I think we are finally healthy."  I hadn't even wiped a nose for two days.  The weather was amazingly warm (for January) in the 50s, and I opened up ALL of the windows in my house.  Out with the bad air, and in with the fresh air.  It was wonderful, and the house felt so fresh and spring-like.   

Fast forward to 4:00 am this morning.  My six year old comes running into our room to tell me that he doesn't feel good, just in time to project from the mouth all over my carpet.  Yuck!  Well, the day had to get going some time, right?  

We have been dealing with him fairly well today, and bleaching everything.  He has been sick from the other end as well.  How on earth can we be cycling through another flu bug?  Or are we on the same one again?

Eight hours later, now my two year old went running to the toilet.  She has been fully potty trained for almost a year, but sickness is something else.  Lets just say things exploded all over the floor before getting to the toilet.  Who cleans up these messes?  I looked around for volunteers, and found out it was me : )  

I just have to laugh about it.  Thank goodness for paper towels, bleach, bleach, and febreeze!

I must apologize if anyone is actually reading this.  I know it is absolutely disgusting.  Couldn't I have any other inspiring mother stories this winter besides sickness??????  

I just don't want to forget these times when they are gone.  And this is a bit of a stress reliever for me after being pinned in the sick house for two months!!!!!!!

If anyone else out there has sick kids this winter, you aren't alone!