Welcome To a New Blogger...

I want to welcome Jennifer, my sister, to blogdom! To view her blog, you may click on the photo above- or click the link that's to the right, under "Fellow Family Bloggers."

Looks Like Someone's Moving!

For the past three months or so, my poor family has been listening to me bemoan the fact that we are living in a maze of boxes and furniture- a real disaster area! I thought it would be nice for them to be able to visualize our pain- so I took some pictures of the chaos...

There may be a reader wondering at my taste in decor and at the vast amount of biodegradable- tchotchke I have strewn about...I assure you, it's not a fashion statement- it's called moving.

Of course most of you have already put two and two together and have cleverly deduced our situation from my not-so-cryptic title... good for you! However, you may be curious where we are moving and why, etc...Well, my dear friends, keep reading- all shall be revealed!

Mr. M. has accepted a teaching position at Aldersgate Christian Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio. He will be teaching four high school English courses, a Bible course, and P.E. He is very excited about this new position- and about the prospect of using his Secondary Education English degree. He is also planning to continue his own education, in hopes of obtaining a Master's degree. I am also looking forward to moving. I am uncertain where I will work, but I hope to work as a nurse in the Cincy area.

We will be moving the middle of June. We are both looking forward to being very near Bill and Sherilyn and also my sister, Jennifer, Chad (B.I.L.), Zach and Jake (our adorable nephews). We will also be a little closer to my parents, Rob and Theresa- it is always nice to be a little closer to home...don't you think?

The reason I have been complaining about the boxes for the past three months is because I got a little ahead of myself and started packing a wee bit early.

I started out thinking I would just pack a few things that we did not use often- but soon, I had a good sized pile of boxes in the middle of the living area...

It's not that I am so anxious to leave Hobe Sound, it is just that I wanted to make sure that I got it all done in time-

And, um, I think we are just about packed...

Mr. M. has been a good sport about it- even though he finally broke down and asked me to unpack some of our silverware- a man has got to have his cereal, and cereal requires a spoon.

Truly, I think we are both tired of seeing these boxes and we are just ready to get this show on the road!

The Umbrella

To view Rain Series I, II, and III- click on the picture above or the link below.

(Rain Series Part IV- coming soon!)

After much thought and internal debate- I have decided to "officially" invite you, my friends and family, to visit my photography blog.

The photography blog is called: CAPTURED- a collection of moments by Jodi.

I make no claim to know what I am doing- I just enjoy it so much, and I find it very relaxing.

It has been so much fun trying to capture these silent moments...

I hope you will visit, if you have the time.

Thank The Lord!

With a wipe of the brow and a sigh of relief , I am glad to say,
"Yippee! The catalytic converter is covered under warranty!!!"
Thanks to all who whispered a prayer for us.
And thanks to God for this blessing.

Auto Mechanics- Why I Love to Hate Them

I am not naturally endowed with a lot of patience- and I am too afraid to pray for it, lest the good Lord give me a little too much "practice". Either way, it seems that I am getting a lesson in patience, whether I prayed for it or not.

Our car, formally MY car, is the catalyst by which I am being taught.

Sure, you expect some routine maintenance and you know there will be things that you will have to eventually replace.

But, then there are those things that you try not to think about and hope they never happen to your car!

Unfortunately, over the past year, and especially these past five months, it's been one thing after another!

New tires, grinding brakes, the belts, a headlight, a drippy air conditioner, the air conditioner fan, the air conditioner switch, this needs flushing, that filter needs replaced, a week ago the new oxygen sensor, and now... the catalytic converter!

I tell you true, every time the check engine light ignites, I have a Pavlovian-like reaction and my stomach starts to turn, and an elephant makes itself comfortable on my chest.

These physical responses to the distress of car trouble are not only related to the expense that is sure to be incurred- but also to the complete lack of trust that I have for auto mechanics.

It all started in 2000. I was living with my parents in Newton, Kansas. I was driving my very first car- which was bought from my cousin, Becca. It was an old Dodge Spirit- I want to say a '92 or something like that- it wasn't new. The odometer had stopped at 116,000, and that was a year or two before it was mine; it had a lot of get up and go, until one day... it didn't. My dad took it to the mechanic for me. They said they could fix it. I had been working at a doctor's office as a receptionist and had been saving some money for the nursing program I was thinking about doing. I knew enough to know that car repairs could be costly...so I tried to prepare myself for the worst case scenario. It turned out that I had no idea how bad the scenario could get...

It was the universal joint-it was cracked, and I found out that it would cost $1200 to repair.

I was shocked, livid, and completely depressed! I was sure the car was not even worth that much money- and it was about all I had managed to save.

Gone. Just like that...

When it was time to go and pick up my car and pay the mechanic, I went in by myself. I stood at the desk and with my voice all shaky with emotion, I asked the man if what he had done was truly necessary...and I mentioned that $1200 was a lot of money to me... and I told him I hoped he was being honest...

The man seemed taken back a little, and he offered to show me the broken u-joint...I declined, saying I wouldn't even know what I was looking at anyway. I wrote the man the check and cried all the way home. I just knew that I had been duped!

Since that day, I have hated going to mechanics- even for an oil change.

You take your car to a "professional" and just expect them to be totally honest with you.

I suppose there are mechanics that are very trustworthy... I am not sure I have met one I would bet my life on.

As I see it those of us who know near nothing about cars have about three choices when dealing with mechanics:
1. We can TRUST them.

2. We can go and get a SECOND/THIRD/FOURTH OPINION and compare notes.

3. We can assume they are exaggerating to make a sale... ignore their "scare tactics"...and wait to see if our car blows up.

Anyone of the choices could potentially end up being a really, really dumb decision and/or a complete waste of time.

It's a very vulnerable position for one who knows very, very little about cars to be in.

It is an unsettling and insecure feeling to stand in front of a greasy mechanic and tell him, "I think I'll wait on that..." or, "I'd like to get a second opinion..."

However, I have done it a time or two...ok, just once.

Which leads us to my second traumatizing mechanic experience. This time the events take place here, in Florida...not too long ago...before Mr. M. and I were married.

I had taken my car in just to get the oil changed. The mechanic worked on it for about 15 minutes and then came back to the desk with a long list of things that my car ABSOLUTELY needed- in his expert opinion.

Well, I guess that was the last straw for me that day, because suddenly I began to weep uncontrollably. Not just tears, but that embarrassingly halting/heaving/snorting/sniffling type of weeping.

IT WAS MORTIFYING! The guy just stood there. I couldn't even look at him. Finally I managed to get out, "...hgg...I'm sorry...hgg...I don't...hgggk...know why I am crying!..hkuk..." and then I quickly ducked into the ladies restroom. After splashing my face with cold water and blowing my nose I sheepishly returned to the counter...the guy was still waiting. I do not know what his expression was- because I still could not bring myself to look at him, but he broke the awkward silence by asking a little impatiently,

"So...um...what do you want to do about your car?"

So now, not only was I embarrassed, but I felt bullied. I DO NOT like feeling bullied... so I straightened myself up told him that I came for an oil change and an oil change was all I wanted!

He gave me a look of disdain and shook his head, and said something to the effect of "...well, I wouldn't wait too long...you could end up doing some real damage to your engine...and if those tires get anymore worn, you could have a terrible accident...oh, and by the way, you need a new air filter and windshield wipers too..."

Though his "full court press" approach, including graphic descriptions of all the ills that could befall me and my car, was compelling- I stuck to my guns, handed the guy my coupon, and paid for my oil change.

...and then I called my brother to make sure I had done the right thing.

It ended up that I did need the belts changed- several months later. The tires, too- they were worn- but I was able to shop around get a good deal...at my convenience. I ended up replacing my own air filter- which was very simple- and the windshield wipers were a cinch too.

If you are like me, and you hate going to mechanics for fear of being taken advantage of, I have some advice. It's stuff I have learned along the way that may be beneficial to you...who knows?

1. Have an ally to go to with questions and for suggestions- whether it be a friend or relative that knows a little more about cars than you do- and most importantly, someone that has no ulterior motives. My brother, my dad, and my father-in-law are my allies.

2. Maintaining you car routinely will save you from major and costly repairs. Don't let your fear of mechanics defer you.

3. Trust your good sense...

4. In your spare time- EDUCATE yourself- use the Internet. If the mechanic tells you you need a new manifold and you don't have clue what a manifold is...look it up; research the normal cost, etc.

5. Check your warranty. Sometimes things are covered and can be fixed at no cost if you take the car to the certified dealer's service department.

(Note: a typical repair shop will not do this research for you...you may be paying someone a lot of money to repair something that could be done for free!!)

6.If a repair is not covered by your warranty- make sure the mechanic you choose guarantees his work and the parts he uses...ask for a print out of their guarantee policy.

7. And finally, don't be afraid of looking stupid... who cares! Go ahead, ask questions- and expect answers. If a mechanic brushes you off- go someplace else. They provide a service- you can choose who gets your business.

The moral of the story is this: if you have a limited knowledge of the mechanics of your automobile, you have to exercise your trust-muscle a little... and have a lot of patience.

My Date

More of the nephews...

My dear M.I.L., Sherilyn, was asking about how the boys favored one another. I was just thinking the same thing so I decided to find one of Zach's new born pictures and find out! Below are two pictures- top is Zach- fresh from the "oven"- and below is Jake. Zach had a higher birth weight and length than Jake... as you might be able to tell. Of course they are both handsome little fellows in my opinion.

It seems like it was not long ago that Zach was born...and it is hard to believe that he is now a BIG brother!

Little brother, Jacob...

In their coordinating outfits! I think these were their "going home" outfits- how handsome!

A tender moment...

(wipe a little tear from my eye)

To Mom, with love...

Music: Chopin

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

Meet my new nephew...

.

Isn't he sweet?!

A Week in Pictures- almost

Ok, so I bought a sewing machine. My mom is probably wondering about my mental status right now because about four years ago, at my request, she tried to teach me how to use a sewing machine- not only that, but she even bought one for me to use. Needless to say, it didn't take. I guess I just wasn't up to the challenge, and so mom ended up keeping the machine, and I- my pride. For the past four years I have proclaimed widely that I cannot be taught to sew.

But I digress...
The new machine: one night as I lay abed, I pondered the fact that it would be very helpful if I could sew. Mr. M. has some pants that need altered and I have a few things that need to be fixed occasionally... maybe I could even make some new scrub skirts... or whip up a curtain, or two. The possibilities were making me dizzy, as well as sleepless- so in my briefest moment of insanity (I say briefest, because there have been longer moments), and in a sleep deprived state, I quickly did a little research online. Meanwhile, Mr. M. lay sound asleep, having no clue that his erratic wife was about to hop into the car and drive feverishly towards Wal-Mart... at 5:00 AM.
I found a little machine on sale, it was the LAST one on the shelf, and it said right on the package that it was "for beginners...easy to use...any moron could use this machine!" (OK, I may be paraphrasing...)
I bought it.
When I got home, I sat the box on the sofa and dared it to intimidate me. I vowed that I would conquer it and bolstered by my over inflated self confidence, I quickly opened the box. The instructions were straight forward and I followed them religiously. Soon the bobbin was loaded and the needle was threaded! I thought, hmmm, now I just need something to sew...
I had the urge to sew Mr. M's shirt cuffs closed- it would have been funny, but- then I would have had to rip out the threads- and that just seemed like too much work.
So, instead, I decided to fix a skirt with a huge split in it- I don't have problem with skirts having splits, but this one was obscene. I had some blue material and I made an "acordian split" (see below because I have NO idea what I am talking about!)
Anyway, my first project went rather smoothly and I am proud to say- I can sorta sew!


After running out of things to fix...I realized that I could do crafts too! So I got out my card stock and started experaminting... below is my first project. It is a card. I would show the whole card- but I don't want to spoil the surprise for the person I am sending it too.
The stitching on the yellow ribbon is not my doing- just the blue thread.

Because I was spending so much time practicing on my sewing machine, my poor husband had to fend for himself for dinner- just kidding! He was having a little "carb fest" one morning- Note the serving fork he is using... maybe it is time to wash the only FOUR forks that I have not already boxed up for the move...?

Later in the week I was doing some laundry. It was such a warm day that I decided to dry Mr. M's shirts in the sunshine. I love cloth lines-
While I hung the shirts, Mally inspected my work... until she got distracted my an itch.

It was a good week. Full of surprising new challenges. With that said, I will leave you with this "nugget of wisdom" - don't "accidentally" cut up a pair of your husbands jeans to practice sewing on... even if they are old and raggedy. He may not want a throw pillow made out of denim after all... who knew?

Overcomer to the End

This slide show is for my husband. This past Friday evening was his last intramural activity as a HSBC Overcomer (more on that later...). I put this together using Smilebox- which I have never used before- and it is a little different than what I am used to using.

For those of you who are not familiar with Smilebox- I have two suggestions:
1. To keep the page from turning too soon, or before a video clip is done playing- keep your cursor over the picture or the clip.
2. If the page turns before you are ready for it to turn- just use the arrows to go back.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Pleasant Things...

The Swing

How do you like to go up in a swing,

Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it is the pleasantest thing

Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,

Till I can see so wide,

River and trees and cattle and all

Over the countryside-

Till I look down on the garden green,

Down on the roof so brown-

Up in the air I go flying again,

Up in the air and down!

-Robert Louis Stevenson