This too shall pass...

The Jerks aren't feeling so hot these days...well actually, they feel very hot.  104 degrees hot!!!  Baby Jerk has had it the worst.  He was admitted to the area hospital for an overnight observation on Tuesday, was doing much better when I brought him home yesterday, but today he looks like this...

and brown eyes...not so good either...haven't actually seen much of his brown eyes, as he is like this most of the time today :(

and then there is Crazy Jerk...he never misses a bug that crosses his path...

This is a nice picture to show you how nice my Jerks can treat one another.  Big Brother Jerk has

 (so far) managed to skim passed the yuck,

 but that doesn't stop him from snuggling with his little brother.

So it's been a rocky couple of months due to illness at our house.  At Christmas time, we all took turns with a miserable stomach bug.  The day after Christmas I had a tooth pulled, and that was a less than pleasurable experience.  I really thought I was kinda tough when it comes to physical pain, but this experience has proven me WRONG!  Mouth pain is so miserable!  The initial pain from the pulling of the tooth subsided after about a week and a half, but then it's neighbor decided to start mourning the loss of it's companion!  Really!  Who knew teeth were so sentimental?!!

So now I have a crazy story I just HAVE to share...I just told Papa Jerk, and I think he had tears in his eyes, so BEWARE!!  Kleenex may be necessary (or a least a sleeve)!

Anyway, this afternoon I layed down on the couch for a nap with the Sick Little Jerks.  While napping I had a dream...I was sitting at my kitchen table having tea with my mother.  We were having such a wonderful time, but it's as if my body knew it was only a dream because I kept saying someone pinch me!  Then I said, "I need to text Mama D and tell her my Mom is here having tea with me!"  I suddenly woke up from my dream, as I was trying to grab my phone from my pocket.  Imagine if I had text her in my sleep!  She would really wonder what a nut case she was friends with.  So, at that moment I became extremely disappointed.  I just wanted to go back to sleep, so I could see my mom again.  As I was sitting there, so forlorn, the dog started to bark at someone who pulled in the driveway.  Crazy Jerk says, "Mom, the flower delivery man is here."  I told him just to go to the door and see what he wanted (figured he was at the wrong house).  I could hear the man say he had a delivery for me.  Crazy carried in to me, this beautiful arrangement of yellow flowers.

Yellow flowers were my Mom's favorite!  Actually, anything yellow was my Mom's favorite! 

I opened the card attached which said, "Things will get better soon" ~ Sandy.

Sandy is my mother inlaw, but my mother's name was also Sandy.  My Mom was notorious for saying, "This too shall pass".  Do you see the similarity here?  Things will get better soon...This too shall pass...Sandy...Sandy...yellow flowers.  Tears flowed down my cheeks like streams after a hard rain.  I could not believe it!  It was as if my Mom was saying, "I know my physical body is not there, but there are so many people who love you and want to help you."  I cannot replace my mother, but God has given me a mother inlaw who truly understands the importance of holding on to the memories of our treasured loved ones.  God puts people in our lives to do these things because he loves us.  What an awesome gift! 

Let's try this again!

Long time no see!  Well, sorry about the delay, but it seems computers do not last forever and mine decided to die sometime during the middle of last February.  I was able to replace it this summer, but just didn't have the desire to start blogging again.  Well, today is January 1st and time for new resolutions, so here I am! 

Normally I'm not one for resolutions, but I actually have some this year!  Well, it's kind of one resolution with different aspects.  So, I find myself praying a lot for God's guidance in my life...to help me see what he wants me to do with my life.  Sound familiar?!!  Throughout the last year I've noticed that I AM where he wants me to be!  I AM doing what he wants me to do!  I do not need to look elsewhere, because his desire for me is to be home (with a bunch of JERKS).  To train the boys to be faithful men of God (Proverbs 22:6), and to be my husband's helper (Genesis 2:18).  This isn't terribly difficult for me, because I had an amazing mother who taught me how to be a Godly wife and mother. She always let us know that our dad came first, but that we were very important to her as well.  She sacrificed so much to be able to stay home and serve our family.  For some reason, however, I believed the lies of Satan that I was to be doing something greater.  Greater for who?  Greater for me...which is not great in the eyes of the Lord.  Colossians 3:17  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

I've also struggled with the desire to be able to be creative, but not having a proper space to do the things I love.  So, when I asked God to show me a space I could use...he showed me the kitchen!  For those of you who know me, you know that I really do not care to cook.  Hamburger Helper and frozen pizza have always been staples in our home.  Suddenly, I have realized that I can really enjoy making food for my family.  God has shown me a new joy.  So, my resolution is to work harder on healthier yet frugal recipes.  Each week I plan to try something new, and plan several things I can make and freeze.  My reward will be...I get to blog it!!!  I do love photo journalism!  Taste and see that the Lord is GOOD!  Blessed are they who take refuge in him!  Psalm 34:8

Happy New Year!   Do you have any resolutions for 2012?  Listen...maybe God has one for you too!

2...4...6...7...9...

Little Brown Eyed Jerk has been so full of comedy lately.  I only wish I could truly capture his dialog,  just the way it sounds when he says it.  Just imagine a pause and thought in between each word. O, and don't forget to picture his darling brown eyes and smile.  Ok, now I'm going to share a few with you and see if you lol as well!

~At lunch the other day, he says, "Tastes funny"  I say, "Why does it taste funny?"  He says,  "Tastes like paint."  This particular one is a lot more funny if you've watched Dennis the Mennis (or Dennis Dennis as he calls it) the number of times we have lately.  He was quoting a line from George Wilson.

~Crazy Jerk was playing hard today, and afterwards smelled...well...terrible!!  I told him he need to get in the shower because he smelled bad, and then turned to Lil Brown Eyes and asked if he was going to stink when he gets bigger too.  His reply,  "Yeah, I fart!"  I've only got one word for that...BOYS!!!

~"Silly me"  has been a common one that makes me smile, and "Right Mama?"  Love it!

~Tonight in the bathtub, he took a toy away from Baby Jerk and said, " No No...you're too little.  Wait til your big like me."   The toy was a measuring cup.  :)

~This one has me a bit worried.  I asked him what his name is.  He says,  "My name is Jesus."  He absolutely refuses to tell anyone his name...ever, but tonight he is Jesus.

~Last but not least!  Yesterday we got a set of "newer" appliances (much newer actually).  He asked me why I have 2, 4, 6, 7, 9 ovens.  I said I only have 2 ovens, because we needed a new one.  He says,  "O daddy give it you?  That's very nice!"

Well that's all for now folks!  Tune in again soon for more updates on the JERKS!

Just Like Mommy Used to Make

When I was a little girl, my mom used to make cherry cupcakes, with pink frosting and conversation hearts on them for my birthday.  Today was the first birthday I spent without a mom.  It's a weird feeling...the person who gave you life (on your birthday) isn't here to celebrate it with you.  I miss my mom a lot, she was a very thoughtful, loving mom.  However, God has blessed me with so many wonderful people throughout my life.  Today my Husband's Mom (sounds better than Mother In-law), told me she had something for me for my birthday.  So, I stopped by her house after my Bible Study, and this is what she had made me.

  Cupcakes...

 Just...like...

Mommy used to make.

A very thoughtful JERK

Earlier today Big Brother Jerk made me a birthday cake.  I had every intention to take a picture of it, but by the time I got a chance...this is what the cake looked like.  Anyway, it was very tasty and VERY thoughtful.
I'm so thankful for all my boys, and Big Brother Jerk is a great kid I couldn't be more proud!

What a Crock!!!

HaHa...nope not mad...just bragging about my new crock.
My friend Mama "D" went to an auction the other day and scored this for me!
She has a few of them scattered around her house, to catch those odds and ends the boys leave around.
She has a lot of great ideas for quick clean up...I like to copy her every now and then :)
She did warn me however, there may be an occassional half of a sandwich found amongst the toys.

.

Happy Birthday to me!!!

This morning I woke up and poured a cup of coffee, like I always do.  However, when I went to the fridge to get my creamer, my container had only a drop left in it.  It seems one of my jerks (and I mean it this time) had used it all yesterday.  My older boys like coffee, but 1 in-particular, and I'm not naming any names 

(but he often does "crazy" things) likes mostly cream in his.

Did I mention it's my birthday?  So, Papa Jerk went to the store to pick some up for me.  He asked what flavor, and I told him something caramel (apparently there were a lot), so he got all they had.  I feel extra spoiled. Since Papa Jerk detests the grocery store, and he went for me anyway.

Now that's a jerk I can live with!