Oh, Where is my Hairbrush?

Today I was making a shopping list and asked the kids if anyone needed anything from the store. Larisa and Austin started naming things, so I pointed them to the list to add their deepest desires in writing.  Keeve thoughtfully sat at the kitchen table looking at me … longer than usual.  I asked again if he needed anything from the store.  He replied in his delayed, purposeful way, “Can you please get me a hairbrush?  I’ve never had a hairbrush.  The comb hurts my hair when it’s tangled.  I just want a little one.”  THE KID IS ALMOST 11 and he’s NEVER HAD A HAIRBRUSH!  Tonight I bought a little blue hairbrush for my son Keeve. 

I called Keeve’s name from the bottom of the stairs when I got home from the store.  He answered, “Yeah, mom?”  “I got you a hairbrush!”    I loved this, “Thanks, mom, I need it right now!”  And he bounced down the stairs with a wet head of tangled hair.  He didn’t request a certain color, but when he saw that it was blue he said with a smile on his freckled face, “This is the color I wanted,” while rubbing his hand over the bristles.  And he smiled.  One of those heart melting smiles that a mother takes a mental picture of and never forgets.

So thankful for the small things in life.  Keeve and me.  It’s awesome!

It’s Time to Laugh!

My second book came out last week titled Laughing in the Midst of Marriage: Finding Joy in Being a Wife.  It is stocked full of humorous stories of married life guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.  I finished writing the devotional in March… and funny thing…. I needed to re-apply some of the truths even before it was in print.  Nice.  As we’re all in the married process, we’ll continue to live, learn and laugh along the way.

Knowing the book was coming, I’m not quite sure why I didn’t jump on the available time pre-book to get it on my website, but I didn’t.  Sorry!  It is in the works.  So if you are interested in purchasing an AUTOGRAPHED copy at this time (pre-LindaCrosby.com sales) there are a few options:

1.  Mail a check to me:

Linda Crosby 2416 W. Cordia Ln., Phoenix, AZ  85085

2.  Pay with a credit card through Paypal.  If you have a Paypal account this is easy.  Enter my email address:  rixgal@cox.net.  Next, enter the amount and click continue. Please make a note in the message box that this is for the MARRIAGE book.  (It’s pretty easy if you don’t have an account too, just a bunch of info to fill in first.)

3.  Come to my house and save on shipping.  Call first and I’ll have cookies coming out of the oven.

4.  Buy books at our church from now until Oct. 13th (and combine it with Tim Hawkins tickets for Date night Oct. 16th and SAVE $$!)

5.  Buy books from my sister, Christy.  She has a box of fresh ones sitting at her house.

The books are $10.99 plus shipping of $2.20.  (This is a MSJ discounted price! Oh My!)  TOTAL: $13.19 US Funds.  For multiple copies, please email me or leave a message here and I’ll cut you a deal on shipping.

Thank you so much for your support and love.  This is quite the adventure and I’m blessed that you are on this slippery ride with me!

Announcement Time!

Put down your bulletins and watch the big screens.  (A little church chat for ya.)  I’ve been gone this last week to the D6 conference which I cannot say enough great words and reports about.  It was outstanding.  BUT, here’s the announcement part:  This is the first trip I’ve gone on in almost 16 years where I left my husband ALONE with the children and I didn’t leave instructions… or a list… or reminders… or premade meals.  It was just like leaving for a real trip like a real person… not a mother!  And when I got home, everyone looked like they were fed, including the dog and fish, my plants were perky and the house was clean!  Of course, I haven’t glanced at homeschool work yet, but I’ll leave that for Monday morning.  It was quite refreshing, I might add. 

And if THAT isn’t a God-send by itself, I came home to a husband who is now fully functioning on the washing machine and dryer!  There is a God in heaven still performing miracles in my house!  A God of the here and now.  A twentieth century God still working in men’s lives. 

It did my heart good to hear these words from Rickey’s lips, “This washer is really easy.  You only have to push two buttons! And the dryer dries the clothes in less than 30 minutes!”  Wow!  Wowzers!  Wow-a-rama!  Tell me something I don’t know, you big laundry-doing piece of eye-candy.  I wonder which kid taught him these magical laundry secrets?  Because I KNOW he didn’t read the manual! 

It’s good to be home where I can sit in my work-out clothes all day with my hair standing on end and no one cares.  Back to real-life love and acceptance.  Home Sweet Home!

Party in Texas

Hey, I found a computer at the hotel in Texas.  Whooo HOoooo (that was with a southern drawl.)  This conference has been amazing!  I’ll have to tell you more when I get home and can think again.  But the speakers have been outstanding as well as the music and entertainment…. Tim Hawkins was HiLaRiOuS as usual.  So, I’m refreshed in spirit but not in body.  Oh, and if you are my friend and you knew about Sam Moon and didn’t tell me, you are in trouble.  Oh my word.  It’s the queen mother ship for jewelry and purses… bling bling to beat the band.  (That’s why I’m tired…. looking at all that stuff wears you out… and then carrying all the big bags.  Goodness!)  Ok, I’m off to bed.  See you this weekend!

D6 is THIS WEEK!

I’m off to Texas where everything is larger than life.  The D6 Conference is Wed. – Fri. and guaranteed to produce some people who plan to parent with purpose!  I don’t know how busy I”ll be, but if it was like these last 5 days… I might not fill you in on the details until I get home.

OH!  They are doing a live broadcast of Jim Daly’s message from D6 on Thursday night.  Check it out at www.D6conference.com. 

Make it a great week!

I almost forgot!  I held my cute purple marriage book in my hand tonight for the first time!  Whoooo HOooooo!  Details to follow with enthralling photos.

Has it Really Been a WEEK?

Hello Friends!  I feel like Madame Blueberry singing her song, “I’m so busy, busy, dreadfully busy, you’ve no idea what I have to do.”  It’s such a catchy, annoying tune.  Too bad I don’t know how to video tape myself singing it for you.

Scrapping in the Pines was fabulous as usual.  Four days of resting, eating, taking walks (shopping counts in there!), watching movies and chatting with the girlfriends.  It comes at such a great time of year too, right after school and sports have started.  Ahhhhhh.  The soothing memories occasionally last for almost a month!  It was an exciting time filled with centipedes, a skunk and Veronica’s four clothing changes per day.  Highly amusing!

My son, Austin, turned THIRTEEN on Monday.  I’m officially a mother of two teenagers.  I can’t be that old.  He is slowly catching up to his sister (who has only grown 1/8 of an inch in three years…. ) and me.  I’ve still got 5 inches on him, but it won’t last long.  His birthday request was a street hockey game with his homees.  It will be Friday night… pizza, hockey, cake and ice cream.  Makes for a good teenage induction evening.  Here is the most recent picture I have of Aus.

My husband’s mother and brother are here visiting for a week, so there is more cooking going on and less homeschooling.  But the visits are always full of laughter and good times.  They are already all sunburned from extended pool time… including my children.  How many times does a mother have to say, “RE-APPLY Sunscreen?”  Oh well.

Exciting news is that my Laughing in the Midst of Marriage book came hot off the press yesterday!  I should have a hot little copy in my hot little hand by Saturday!  So exciting.  This sort of crept up on me and I need to rock-n-roll to get it available on my website.  When I told the kids that it came out, Larisa said, “Congratulations!  You’re a published author.”  And Keeve added, “Again.”  So it’s not as thrilling as the first time, but thrilling nonetheless.  I’ll be sure to post pictures of the cute little purple books when they arrive.  Oh!  And I need to go buy a cute little purple shirt to match!… or a cute little purple jacket… at least good purple jewelry.  Any excuse to accessorize will work.

No adoption  news to report.  Please stay tuned.  I know I am.

I’m gearing up for the D6 Conference in Frisco, TX next week.  Not only do I get to speak, but I get to meet all the people at Randall House who work so diligently on my book!  I’m so excited!  And I just can’t hide it.  I’m about to lose control and I think I like it.  Like it.  I’m also looking forward to seeing Tim Hawkins.  He totally rocks my socks.  He’s so stinkin’ funny.  It’s not too late to join the festivities!  www.D6Conference.com Sept 23-25 just north of Dallas.  Come and be blessed.

Over and out.

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

Yes, it’s that time of year again.  Mom’s birthday.  We had a lovely Labor Day bbq for her on Monday and we all chipped in and got a wii + fit for her.  She’s been having fun trying to do the lotus stance.  I’m not sure if she’s actually got it yet or not.  Anyway, thank you mom, for being a wonderful mom!  I hope you have a wonderful year with your wonderful family.  You have always treated us all so wonderfully and nice.  You make wonderful goodies for us and make our game nights wonderfully fun.  (This is what I wrote like before I was introduced to Roget’s Thesaurus.)  I hope you had a wonderful day with your facebook friends and all your real friends who phoned you!  You are much loved!

On a side note, I leave in the morning for a four day scrapbooking retreat!  Whoooo HOooooo.  So unless my husband sabotages my blog again, I won’t be back until Sunday night.  I’ll miss you, faithful readers.

We did get our fingerprints done today!  Whooopeeee!  We are now good for another 18 months.  I’m REALLY hoping we get some good adoption news by next week.  We will at least have the latest news, good or otherwise.

Have a great weekend! (I know I will!)

BUsy BuSy BusY

I trust you all had a happy Labor Day (Labour D’eh in Canada)… thinking back to being in labor with your children.  Fond memories.  Brings joy to my heart.  I’m glad the memories are getting foggier.  :o)

Well, if you read about my trip to the USCIS a few months back, you’ll be happy to know that the angel who works there, LaWauna, CAME THROUGH AGAIN!  Our fingerprints expire for our adoption petition through Homeland Security on Saturday.  Yes, this Saturday.  After some mailing trials, an un-accepted personal check, and sent-again money order, I knew we weren’t going to make the deadline before my scrapbooking retreat to the cool mountains on Thursday.  Yes, this Thursday.  (It was 102 today… and it’s Sept.  Bring on the cool mountain pines, baby!)  So I called the Angel and she hooked me up with appointments for tomorrow morning.  Whoooo HOoooooOOooooo!  She even emailed me the forms we have to bring in to verify our case number.  I’m so thrilled that there is at least one totally competent worker at USCIS who actually can get things done in the five minutes from when she hangs up the phone!  Amazing!

So, in case you think we’re lying around on lounge chairs by the pool tomorrow, we’re not.  Here’s the LIST for tomorrow:  piano lessons, Paint the wall beside Zaza’s bed (again), plant flowers (grandma is coming from Canada on Sat.),  Women’s Bible study, pack scrapbooking supplies, pack clothes and bedding for retreat, wipe tables to take to retreat, homeschooling, fridge cleaning and various other tasks that I will discover tomorrow…. oh, like spray all the little moths that moved into the back porch.

Taking care of business in a flash.  Elvis had something going there with that catch phrase.

Child Training x 3

I have been reading several books about child training in the last few months.  I needed a refresher course on the basics.  Seems we’ve generally done ok, but missed a few areas that are crucial.  One such rule that we thought we covered, but obviously not….  is rudeness is not acceptable.  We almost made it, but we forgot a few details.

We had our youth pastor’s over for dinner a few nights ago.  We have known them for years, but have never invited them to our home.  Why not?  I’m not really sure.  Anyway, we were circled around the table participating in light banter and thoughtful questions when one of our seemingly well-trained sons jumped up from the table and ran to the bathroom. Fine.   The bathroom is in a really short hallway about 12 feet from the kitchen table.  As he arrives at the doorway, he turns around, slightly bent over, and scoots his little behind just inside the door for about three seconds.  Then he returns to the table.  Yes, he was obeying.  We have asked him not to make body-boy-noises in the presence of others.  We have specifically asked him to go to the bathroom to relieve pressure and gain comfort.  So he obeyed to the letter of the law.

Back at the table, the other son turned bright red in the face, which made me feel good that he knew better.  One outta two ain’t bad.  Yes, we all burst out laughing…. it was sort of involuntary.  Then I politely suggested that this next week we would be working on being discreet.  Sheesh!

No News is NOT Good News

School is underway and I am treading water with my head just sticking out of the water.  It’s hard to keep my mind from wandering off to Colombia and a sweet, little black-haired girl that is waiting for us to come and get her.  I keep thinking, Spelling and grammar are important but if the referral call comes, spelling and grammar are history, baby!  At least for a little while.  I made the most strictly structured schedule that has ever been in existence at L.A.K.E. Academy (our homeschool.)  L-arisa, A-ustin, K-eeve, and E…….  (Wouldn’t it be just like God to have Zaza’s name start with an E!?! )  The schedule is the only thing keeping school on track.  The boys check it regularly throughout the day and keep us on course.

We were supposed to have adoption news last week.  It didn’t materialize.  The next scheduled news about our case should be available next week… Sept. 10th, so we’re told.  Is it too much, after almost three years of waiting, to ask that our little girl is home before Christmas????  I had a hard time last year putting the kids’ birth ornaments on the tree without Zaza’s in the mix.  Another year with three stockings when we know there should be four.  Another year without Barbies under the tree.  {sigh}

I have this underlying anxiety currently.  I’m not sure what it means or where it comes from.  I hope it’s my maternal instincts kicking in to prepare for a new child.  We’ve cleaned, painted, scrubbed and wiped pretty much everything now.  If the call came tomorrow, I’m ready.  I try not to dwell on the time that we have been on the adoptive parent wait list in Bogota (19 months), but it does come to mind on nights like tonight.  The house is quiet.  There probably are three million things I could be doing, but I can’t concentrate on any one thing.  It’s like something or someone is missing…. because she is.

Come on, GOD!