A Simple Walk

Thursday, November 19, 2009

The Long Awaited Table

For the past 5 years, we've lived without a kitchen table. All of our meals have been eaten on the floor or on the couch. We always ate together, just not around a table. We just didn't have room for one.

A few months ago, Eric and I decided we really wanted a table. The kids are getting older and there isn't as much baby stuff taking up space. The play area wasn't being used as much and there was definitely some decluttering we could do. We viewed it as a very small sacrifice to make the space for a table where we could all sit together. And surprisingly, all of the kids were on board.

So we started looking on Craigslist and a few other places to see what we could find. We came across a few good options but life happened and the table buying kind of fell off our radar.

And then life slowed back down again, bringing us up to this past Tuesday. We decided on a whim to stop in at the Salvation Army and see if there were any good tables.

I think you know where this is going.

We found the perfect table, in beautiful condition, with 4 chairs. And fortunately, there were two lone chairs that matched in color if not style. As we were mulling over the decision, an announcement came over the PA system stating that all furniture was 33% off. That settled it. We had us a new table!

For just $75.

We have all been enjoying the table so much these past few days. The kids are eating every meal there and loving it. They fight over who gets to be the two table washers after each meal. We're having discussions and establishing new rituals. We're even enjoying the novelty of eating family style. What a finer thing it is!

Stop by Amy's Finer Things for more Finer Things Friday.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

CFBA Review ~ What The Bayou Saw

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
What The Bayou Saw
Kregel Publications (March 24, 2009)
by
Patti Lacy
My Thoughts:
This was a haunting and moving book. The story is definitely one I'll not forget for a long time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Though Patti's only been writing since 2005, she thinks her latest profession of capturing stories on paper (or computer files) will stick awhile.

The Still, Small Voice encouraged Patti to write after a brave Irish friend shared memories of betrayal and her decision to forgive. In 2008, An Irishwoman’s Tale was published by Kregel Publications. Patti’s second novel, What the Bayou Saw, draws on the memories of two young girls who refused to let segregation, a chain link fence, and a brutal rape come between them.

The secrets women keep and why they keep them continue to enliven Patti's gray matter. A third book, My Name is Sheba, has been completed. Patti's WIP, Recapturing Lily, documents a tug-of-war between a Harvard-educated doctor and an American pastor and his wife for a precious child and explores adoption issues, China's "One Child" policy, and both Christian and secular views of sacrifice.

Patti also facilitates writing seminars in schools, libraries, and at conferences and has been called to present her testimony, "All the Broken Pieces," at women's retreats. She also leads a Beth Moore Bible study at her beloved Grace Church.

Patti and her husband Alan, an Illinois State faculty member, live in Normal with their handsome son Thomas, who attends Heartland Community College. On sunny evenings, you can catch the three strolling the streets of Normal with their dog Laura, whom they've dubbed a "Worchestershire Terrier" for her "little dab of this breed, a little dab of that breed.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Segregation and a chain link fence separated twelve-year-old Sally Flowers from her best friend, Ella Ward. Yet a brutal assault bound them together. Forever. Thirty-eight years later, Sally, a middle-aged Midwestern instructor, dredges up childhood secrets long buried beneath the waters of a Louisiana bayou in order to help her student, who has also been raped. Fragments of spirituals, gospel songs, and images of a Katrina-ravaged New Orleans are woven into the story.

The past can't stay buried forever Rising author Patti Lacy's second novel exposes the life of Sally, set amid the shadows of prejudice in Louisiana.

Since leaving her home in the South, Sally Stevens has held the secrets of her past at bay, smothering them in a sunny disposition and sugar-coated lies. No one, not even her husband, has heard the truth about her childhood.

But when one of her students is violently raped, Sally's memories quickly bubble to the surface unbidden, like a dead body in a bayou. As Sally's story comes to light, the lies she's told begin to catch up with her. And as her web of deceit unravels, she resolves to face the truth at last, whatever the consequences.

If you would like to read the first chapter of What The Bayou Saw, go HERE

Watch the Book Trailer:

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Pepsi Day

We are not a pop drinking family. However, my husband is a semi-occasional Pepsi drinker. About once a month, a 12 pack of Pepsi makes it into our house. And usually that means that each of the kids will have a cup or two of the bubbly stuff before it's gone. Pepsi definitely falls into the treat category for them, and against my better judgment, I'm okay with that.

So when we were in Disney World, pop was an option with every single meal. Of course the kids wanted some. We knew better than that. Not only is a daily pop habit something we don't want to encourage, but for Alex and Olivia, pop drinking equals potty trips every 10 minutes. That wouldn't have been fun for any of us.

Instead of giving in or listening to complaints, we promised the kids a Pepsi day when we got home. Any time they'd ask for some pop, we'd just remind them of our Pepsi day plans. They were so excited about that idea that they didn't care they were drinking the usual water or milk.

This past weekend, we celebrated Pepsi day. So what exactly is Pepsi day? A day when the kids get their fill of Pepsi, of course. Each kid had two Pepsi's throughout the day. They had one can each and as an extra special treat, one glass bottle each. The day turned out great and it definitely worked for us!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Top 10 Things To Pack For Disney World

When preparing to go to Disney World, we've always found that the preparation work we do in advance is directly correlated to how much we enjoy the trip. Having a wonderful time in Disney World is easy. But having a wonderful, stress-free, non-painful trip is just as easy if you prepare and pack everything that you need.

Here's my own personal list of the Top 10 things to pack for Disney World. I'm sure everyone's list will be a little different. This is just what seems to work best for us.

Top 10 Things To Pack For Disney World

Your patience. Seriously, this is the most important thing of all. While not a physical item that you actually pack, start preparing yourself to be patient long before your feet hit Disney soil. There's a lot of waiting in Disney World. There's also a lot of time spent indulging the kids. But that's what Disney's for, so be prepared for that in advance. (On that note, you should probably be sure you go ahead and pack your appetite too!)
Sunscreen. No matter what time of year you go to Disney World, sunscreen is a must. So much time is spent outside and you (or the kids) can easily get burned before you even realize it.
Good shoes. I can not stress the importance of good shoes enough, for both big feet and little feet. The average person walks between 10 and 15 miles per day while at Disney World. That's a lot of walking for anyone, but it's pure torture for someone wearing flimsy, non-supportive shoes. Although I'll admit, we did notice quite a bit of painful looking shoe option. Eric and I were baffled by the woman wearing knee-high boots with 5 inch heels. Seriously, how did she do it?
Extra shoes. Just as important as good shoes is bringing a pair of extra shoes. If your go-to shoes start to rub your feet in the wrong way, or if your feet are just plain exhausted, it's a good idea to have a back up pair. That way, you can throw them on for a day, or even just a half a day, and give your feet a bit of a break.
Ben-Gay or other sports ointment. There's a good chance you'll get to your room at the end of the day with aching calves and a sore lower back, especially if you are pushing a stroller or carrying kids around. Applying some sports ointment before bed is a great way to end the day.
Pain relievers. If you're squeamish with the sports ointment, popping a tylenol or two might just give you the relief you're looking for. It's also a great quick cure for the I've-heard-this-song-500-times-already-today headaches.
Extra clothes. I pack two outfits per day for each of the kids and one or two additional outfits on top of that. When we stop at the room at the end of day and get ready for a night in the parks, just changing into a new pair of clothes is a great refresher. Obviously, it's also just a wise idea to have extra clothes on hand whenever you're dealing with little kids. But, I'm sure we all know that.
Cloth tote bags. I had 3 extra bags that I took with us on our trip. One was my carry-on, one clips onto my purse and the other was folded up in the suitcase. While we were at Disney World, I had the two bigger bags packed and ready to head out the door. They were filled with water bottles, snacks, extra sunscreen, a change of clothes for the youngest three, jackets for night time chill and whatever else I grabbed as we headed out the door. We used one bag for daytime outings and one bag for night time outings. The bag clipped to my purse came in handy so many times for leftovers when we ate out, souvenirs, or whatever other miscellaneous stuff one of the 13 of us picked up throughout the day. (I used my awesome BlogHer swag Blue Avocado bag.)
Swim Diapers and Extra batteries.. If you have little ones still in diapers, make sure to remember the Swim Diapers! You can buy them at most of the Disney Resorts, but for $1.94 each, it's probably a better idea to just stuff a few of your own in the suitcase. Just like the swim diapers, you can find extra batteries everywhere, but you'll definitely pay for the convenience. And if you use your camera a lot, there's a good chance you'll need those batteries before you head for home.
A good travel book and/or your own mapped-out agenda. Have a plan right from the start is the best way to make the most out of your Disney World trip. And whether you've been one or one hundred times, a travel book is a great resource you'll turn to over and over again throughout the planning stages and the trip itself. My favorite is the Passporter because it's a great resource and a great keepsake all in one.