If you know me very well, you will know that I am a huge Don Aslett fan! He has written books such as

Clutter’s Last Stand (a must for every home), Is There Life After Housework,

among other books.  His most recent work is HELP! Around the House. A mother’s Guide to Getting the Family to Pitch in and Clean Up.

I am on his mailing list for his “Clean Report” newsletter, which you may sign up for at his website, http://www.cleanreport.com/ A little over a year ago, he asked, “how do you get your kids to help clean?” If he chose to use your submission, he’d send a book. Well, yesterday was the day! I received my book. And right on the inside, he signed it, Ruth, Good Cleaning, Don Aslett. ’06. I know… it’s hard not to be jealous.  Heh heh

You can find me on page 34, at the bottom.  Check out how clever I was to end up in his book:

“How do we get our kids to declutter? This one is easy for me! I had my teenagers read your books! Before my oldest daughter had even completed the second chapter of Clutter’s Last Stand, she was cleaning the dreaded closets, kitchen shelves, and storage rooms in our home! We finally got together and used each other as motivators. I’d sip my coffee and she’d read me a chapter. We’d both be motivated and ready to go take on the day … until the next coffee break. Hey! Those sessions can be grueling and emotionally challenging!”

And… to top it all off, In the back, my name is published
for all to see what a clutter I truly am! Wouldn’t my mother be proud?

Tags: cleaning, just fun, Organization

Job 1:21 the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

What a whirlwind! I was experiencing some pain Thursday. As the day progressed, it worsened and the spotting, too. By the time I got home from getting Ben from work, I could barely stand it. I went straight into the doctors. They did an ultrasound. I thought I’d see a lifeless baby, but no! I saw TWO healthy, active babies! TWINS! What a hoot!  Anne was with me. We could see their little fingers and toes!

They gave us a couple images. They also videotaped the session, for which I am thankful.

They sent me home saying I may miscarry.

The pain increased so much! By the time I got home, I ran straight into the bathroom. I was passing HUGE clots and blood.  It was major. I called the doctor and they wanted me right in to labor and delivery.

Once in there, they did an ultrasound. Mind you, it was only 2 hours after I got home. *Poof* they were gone! It was empty. Nothing.

They kept me to watch the flow and make sure everything was out. They were very nice and discharged me this morning before 8am.

Dh took me next door to the doctor’s office, where the ultrasound machine is better to make sure everything was out. Then we went and had breakfast together. It was good to do that. We had been so apart with my flu. I slept on the couch. I was glad to be with him for awhile.

Tags: baby, Family, health, Photos

I was skimming through our local school’s newsletter. I found this piece interesting. I look forward to your comments.

Mrs. K***’s Classes

Mrs. K*** offers a snapshot into her classroom: It has been a great school year so far and busy one for my 10th and 12th grade English classes. The 10th grade English classes finished up research papers right before Christmas and moved directly into a novel unit on The Crucible. In this unit, they will look at the historial relevance of witchcraft and how it ties into modern day “witch hunts.” After the completion of this unit, they will move on to demonstrations, creative writing, and the reading of Shaekespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men.

The 12th grade English classes are finishing a novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and will move on to a multimedia project. They will explore the ethical dilemmas posed by war. This will require students to use prose, poetry, artwork, films and internet sites in exploring/researching a chosen war. It also requires students to use higher-level thinking skills as they evaluate their resources and deal with the complexities of ethical dilemmas. They will also be reading Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, and looking at the French revolution. We are all looking forward to the coming of spring, although the January weather has not shown many signs of winter. In February, I will be taking two teams to Skyview [high school] to complete in the Yellowstone Academic Tournament. The Model United Nations takes place in May at MSU-B. I will also be taking three country dlegations to this competition. I am looking forward to the new year!

Tags: the world

Let me share a story that really shouldn’t be called a story, because really it’s a “truth,” although my husband would disagree. After 10 years, he still won’t let us live it down.  Let me share with you.

About ten years ago, we lived in Oregon, right down in the Willamette (Will am et -as in ‘set’) Valley and planted a large garden each year. In about March, we gathered seeds, trays, and soil to get a good “greenhouse” started for our beloved tomato plants. Dh was the head of the garden and always prepared these little seeds for the few months in the home before being transplanted. He lovingly set them on a table next to the window in the dining room and placed toothpicks in the soil and used plastic kitchen wrap as a covering.

Before leaving to go out of town for a few days, he exhorted us NOT to touch his precious seedlings, which varied between 1 and 4 inches in height, by that time. Kissing him good bye, we all assured him that all would be well.

Meanwhile, we were occasionally hearing a strange sound in the living room chimney. We all guessed there was a mouse up in there and thought it would eventually go away. The little noises were heard for several days, throughout the day.  We’d comment on them, but mostly ignore them.

One bright day, one of my boys, who would have been about six at the time, and his little sister, who was probably about four, were in the living room minding their own business. The rest of us were in varying parts of the house. I was in the dining room, doing some schoolwork with some of the children. All of a sudden this indescribable noise, accompanied by screams, came from the living room when a black bird of some kind came down the chimney and was floundering in the large fireplace. I ran into the room just at the moment the bird hit the screen, which fell over, freeing the feathered creature. The fowl hit the living room window and fell to the floor behind the couch, spreading soot and ash everywhere.

We guessed it was a crow or blackbird. I called for a son to, “quick! Go get Daddy’s fishing net out of the boat!” Peeking behind the couch, we discovered it was a small black, iridescent duck!

Presently, son ran back into the room with the long handled net. I tried to get a good grab at the duck, but it decided this was not a good situation and took flight in the living room and headed for the dining room, straight to the windows and, you guessed it, the trays of seedlings! I quickly ordered a child to open the back door, which was directly next to the windows. Floundering sufficiently in the trays, and with much prodding, the duck finally made its way out the back door and the house became still. Whew!

We looked at each other, looked at Dad’s starts, and said, “he’ll NEVER believe THIS!”

To this day, he still pokes and prods us about that. When something isn’t quite right, or there’s a hammer missing, he’ll say, “I bet that duck did it.”

Tags: Dennis, Family, gardening

Sorry life has taken me away from posting. But then again, maybe it’s best if I don’t post too often. You know the old saying, “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Do you grow fonder the longer I am away?  Hehe

Well, the Superbowl is today. I have no clue what number year this superbowl is. We haven’t watched it in over 17 years! But I do know this: Steelers are playing the Seahawks. Being the Northwestern gal I am, and since I was born just outside Seattle…and because my Dad is a huge Seahawks fan, I guess I’ll officially, silently, root for the Seahawks.

I did find out, however, a few years ago, that today is a great day to do any shopping at Costco! Anne and I went there to find a very vacant warehouse! Oh! We did bump into our neighbors.  They told us they make an annual event of shopping on Superbowl Sunday because no one is around.  So there’s my tip to you today!

Dennis has been heavy into recording for our new CD. This one will be much more professional than the last, which was really intended just for fun and family.  I am excited to see parts of it coming together.

The purpose of this CD is to encourage the Saints and to plant seeds in non-believers. You can come visit our band’s site at www.electricchurch.net.  Please join the mailing list and enjoy reading!

Dennis has a 3 day weekend! Yippee!!!  What a treat for us! He really needed a break. He works between 14-16 hour days 6 days a week, usually.

The mice have been keeping us on our toes here, lately. It seems that they have all moved from the shed into the house. Understandably, right? I mean… the house IS warmer and there are crumbs…yes, crumbs. I know, it messes up your pristine image of me.

Anyway, the mice never keep us short of excitement here. I think their life’s goal is to taunt me.

School is moving right along! I enjoy sitting and working with the girls. The boys are mostly doing independent work.

I haven’t been feeling real well lately. I think it has something to do with the fact that we are expecting [again] in September!

We had a worm (a virus) infect a couple of our computers recently. It wiped out a lot of personal items, for which I am sad about. Just another reminder to have things backed up on CD!

Yesterday, Bethy and I sat and went through a large box of photos. It was so enjoyable to do this and everyone in the house came by us more than once to view all the photos of memories past. We managed to get them all organized into 2 small shoebox sized boxes.

I guess that’s enough for now. I need to get started on my day.  Until next time!

Tags: baby, Bethy, electric church, Family, health, television