lizardblog ( the blog of liz creech

October 29, 2003
A Prayer

Lord God, HELP ME!!

There is so much to do and so little help. There is laundry and dirty dishes and the dead mouse in a trap under the oven that I don't really want to get out. There is school for the kids and my disgusting room. There is dirt caked on the baseboards and gunk around the toilets. There are no new vacuum bags and piles of stuff I have no clue what is in them. There is a leak in the roof and a dirty flew and no money to fix them. There are holes in the walls made on purpose and accident. A broken van to be gotten rid of and winter clothes to be gotten out and summer clothes to be put away. There are cob webs all along the ceiling and dust layered on everything. There are battles of no candy before breakfast and the blame of a lost coupon for a free chicken biscuit. There is my lazy fat ass that wants to be happy with where I am at but constantly dealing with body image. There is the overwhelming frustration of now knowing where to start and the fact that it won't all get done today. The fact that it has been this way for way too long and the great desire to rent a dumpster and just start pitching. The worry of money to pay the bills and the desire to get out of debt. The push to pray and make more time to "be with God". The hard work with lots of stress and coming home to dirt and disorder.

And you know what God? You are bigger than all that. You are my comfort when I am overwhelmed, you are my peace when I cry, you are my supplyer and money stretcher. You never let me down. You let me cuss and holler at you and then you hold me close. You give me strength and hope. You give me wisdom and courage. You give me rest and you give me love. Unconditional love. You make my mind work when it is stuck and you make me feel smart. You send the earthly encouragement when I need it and the admonitions when I don't want it but need it none the less. So, you see God, I love you. Thank you for all that you do for me. For calming me down and showing me that it isn't all bad. Thank you for the strength to do what has to be done, for the peace over what won't get done. Thank you for the answers. Thank you for the light along the way. Thank you for your hand that helps me over the tough spots. Thank you for direction and for letting me find my way when I needed to do that.

Thank you too, for showing me when I am being selfish and not thinking of others. Thank you for friends. God, be with my friends as they deal with similar issues. Be with my family when I am having a bad day and hollering way too much. Be with Alan as he deals with stress at his work and my bitchy ways. Be with my sister as she is dealing with her "stuff". Bless all those around me and help me to be forgiving and loving of my persecutors. Thank you for even listening, but thank you most for hearing and honoring my prayer.

posted by Liz at 8:08 AM - permalink - -

October 26, 2003
I am not "norman"

My second daughter says norman for normal. She is real fun and funny too. I just wanted to explain the title up there.

The deal is that I hate, i mean really hate, to shop. I like to go buy things but I hate to go just looking and hunting for things. I am such a man when it comes to that. I am in I get what I want and then I am out. Alan is the shopper. We have a reversal of roles in that catagory. I took Meaghan, the daughter who says norman for normal, to buy some pants. She is getting older and "stuff" and needs new pants so we are buying them in shifts. One pair every other week or so til we get her up to par. We went shopping but couldn't find anything. One reason is that she is picky and the other reason is because of the style of the pants now a days. Too low and too tight. I am ready for the 80's styles to come back. Kahkis and button downs and a nice sweater over that. Nice and conservative. Wishes, wishes.

That is all. Love and peace to you all

posted by Liz at 6:31 PM - permalink - -

October 25, 2003
I am really upset

I have to say that I hate not having "neighbors". I live around a lot of people and I actually "know" quite a few of them. Nobody talks, I mean, really talks to each other. We make peace offerings of tomatos and smiles, polite waves and an elusive hello every once and again. But we do not have neighbors. So, what brought all this on is someone complained about our van, the one we need to get rid of, being parked on the road for too long. My daughter came in and said that there was a "parking ticket" on it. I went out and read that it said we had to move the vehicle or it would be impounded. I eventually got hold of the police and there is an ordanance that if a vehicle isn't moved every 24 hours it is considered abandoned. So, somebody complained that my car sitting on my street where I have lived for 4 years bothered them. I think that stinks. I talked real loud to the kids while I was doing some car rearranging to get it off the street. I sure hope they heard me and saw how rediculous we both were acting over a damn car. You know, I would, just once, like for a neighbor to come over and tell me what they want. Well, that has happened twice, and that was nice. I am a very nice person, and unless they are asking me to kill one of my kids, I think I can accomodate their request. Modern day living just sucks.

posted by Liz at 11:17 AM - permalink - -

October 24, 2003
What do YOU think?

I was just sitting here enjoying a very good cup of coffee and wondering what it was that made it very good. And, I just wanted to put out there the question of what makes it a good cup of joe for you. I started drinking coffee when I started work at Macaroni Grill. We fresh grind every pot. So, I started doing that and yum, yum. My perfect cup is fresh ground, strong but not too strong and hot with a lot of sugar, now a days I am using Splenda, and some half and half. Milk will not do. I mean I can tolerate it in a pinch, even the powdered stuff, if I have to have a coffee fix and that is all there is. I prefer regular over flavors, but on special occasions flavors are fine. So, you all tell me what is good coffee for you.

Now, with my coffee I am sitting here contemplating my disgustingly dirty house. With 8 sometimes 9 people it is hard to get stuff done. School in the morning, I can do a little there, then getting ready for work. I mean, I make my kids do stuff but I can't seem to get some sort of routine down where everybody is doing something specific to keep it from getting this way. In the Brown House in Cinci, I saw that they had a chore list color coded for different people to be done Tuesday thru Saturday. Of course, they mostly have adults who are responsible enough to actually do their stuff without having to be told over and over and reminded seventyeleven times to do it. So, I am open to suggestions. I know that it will require a lifestyle change and I am at least willing to try something.

That is all for today.

posted by Liz at 10:15 AM - permalink - -

October 23, 2003
Pride and Prejudice

No, thank you, I can do it myself. How many of us have been brought up with that attitude? How hard is it for you to accept "help" from someone. Of course there is the other end of the spectrum where some people don't want to work for themselves and think, or at least act like they think, that people owe them something. I had a friend offer to buy part of my families dinner in order for us to be able to go out with them. I did not want to say yes. The reason being was pride. I wanted to do it myself and if I couldn't then I was going to play the martyr and go to McDonalds instead of a nice sit down restaurant. Shame on me. I have been learning this lesson for some time now. I was brought up that if you can't do it yourself then you by gosh golly had better be paying somebody back and then some. I do still have that attitude a bit. When someone does something for me I want to "pay" them back more than they helped me out in the first place. There is a bit of an obligatory feeling there, but in general I just want to say thanks. I think we all need to learn to accept help, even when we don't need it. Accept a gift given. Sometimes that is hard. The ultimate gift of Jesus is a good example. Don't you find it funny that so many people feel the need to do stuff in order to feel worthy of getting that gift? How sad is that? And if you were to tell them that it is pride that is making them do that, they would argue, of course. I just find that interesting.

Here is a good work story. Well, it is sad but interesting. We have this hard core Christian guy that just started recently. He is constantly judging and condeming the people he works with. And he is always talking about a good witness. I had one of the guys come in last night saying how this dude never does his work right, how he has to go behind him and open the store properly. That this guy leaves without doing what is expected of him. I want to walk up to him and say "You talk a pretty tough talk and walk a pretty lame walk". Of course this guy obviously needs love just like the non-Christian. It just makes me kind of mad that he is preaching hellfire and brimstone and then acting like a spoiled brat.

I guess that is all. Still got 3 more days of work. You all are probably going "Three days?". "What is wrong with that girl, saying three days?". I have to tell you, once again, that being a server is very hard work. I come home aching almost every night. Good money, but very hard work. O.k. Peace

posted by Liz at 1:33 PM - permalink - -

October 22, 2003
Fillin' in

We took Conor to Laser Quest last night for his birthday. It was very fun. I played the first round and then Alan played the second round and I look forward to going back and playing again. Maybe I could get a group of women friends together and go. That would be awesome. We had pizza and cake and icecream to build up what strength we lost playing. :-)

I am planning on doing some baking today. It was one of the chef's birthdays last week and I like to make some of them a cake. I didn't know until the actual day, so I told him he would have to wait til the next time I saw him. I have to call and check to make sure he is going to be there. He really likes red velvet cake and I don't want to put in all that effort and him not be there to get it. I think I will make some pumpkin bread too. That should appease the rest of them.

I have been contemplating leaving Macaroni Grill. I haven't heard back, but a previous manager is opening a Ted's Montana Grill really close and he would at least match what I am making now. But, and it is a big one, there are a lot of people who I have "relationships" with. I am pretty sure that I can take quite a few with me. I want God to give me the exact answer so I know I won't make a mistake leaving. If I am having an impact on people there then I want to stay, if I am not then what is the point in staying. You all pray from me so that when the time comes I will make the best choice, not only for me but for those that I work with.

Well, the laundry calls.

posted by Liz at 7:55 AM - permalink - -

October 17, 2003
Coffee and Cinnamon Rolls

That is what I am having for breakfast. The rolls are in the oven and I have me a nice cup of Joe right in my hand, well it is sitting here where I can reach it. How exciting can that be? Almost as exciting as the fact that I am going to Cincinatti today. I get to see my girlfriends and I am taking me a big ole jug of wine too. Girls sitting around with a glass of wine and talking. Now that is the shit. OOppps! I said the s word. Oh well. I am sure I will say it a lot more tonight.

Alan had shared that there was teenage drama going on in our house. Well, I am going to whine about it some more, in a good way though. We had some concerns about our oldest daughter and something she had said. I talked to her and it was just drama. See, I make my kids talk to me, I sit on them and tickle them until I get what I want. Or I pick them up at the bus stop and drive around in the "rich" neighborhood until I get out of them what they need to say. Bullying? Nah, just me caring and not letting them get away with that secret crap. Ooppps, once again I have been vulgar, well, that is the language of the common people, so I guess that is ok since I am the common people.

My house is going to be the gathering place for the neighborhood teens. Alan and I both have decided that. Alan made a gate to block the dog off so that people can go out back on the deck and not have to worry about getting bit. He is a sweet dog, it is just that the little boy we lived next to when he was a puppy antagonized and terrorized him. Threw fireworks at him and such. So, he doesn't like boys. Anyway, I want these kids close to me. I have grown to care for them. I also want my kids close by. I want to be all up in their stuff and know everything. I want them to know I care. See, I can do that and not be a dictator, I think.

Meaghan has a horseshow coming up. November 2nd. It has been awhile, because of finances, since she has shown. So, I am excited. She is good, she has room for improvement, but she is good. Man, I wish I was upperclass sometimes, so I could by her a good horse. One that is at her level. Right now, we have to settle with riding other peoples horses. Nothing wrong with that.

The Con man is about to turn 10, and that is freaky. He should still be this little thing playing "hiyah" in the living room. With his little diapered bubble butt rolling around and "rasslin" with some imaginary foe. We are taking him to Laser Quest. This will be his first "real" birthday party, with the inviting friends and all. I am excited for him.

Alan and I were talking the other day and we think that McKenzie might end up being our "Nun". She is so spiritually aware at such a young age. That would be interesting, seeing how much she likes boys right now. And the fact that she says she is going to grow up and marry Josh, the little boy up the street. She looooves him. I don't see why she can't do both.

Well, that is all. I will talk at you all later.

posted by Liz at 9:03 AM - permalink - -

October 15, 2003
I wonder sometimes

In general last night was good at our Gathering. Had potato soup and some good banana bread, thanks to Debi, and a cajun crab cheese ball, complements of Matt. We shared some about what was going on after we did the evening Compline together. A friend of Katey's came. She has been before and she started sharing how difficult her life is, at 16. We were trying to help her see the positive and focus on that, and she kept insisting on looking only at the bad. I think it upset Katey some. She actually left the room for a bit. I think it is difficult for her to listen to her friend talk negative all the time. Katey, being only 14, isn't quite equiped to deal with such things. This friend is high maintenance. Remember Katey in prayer that she will have the strength to deal with and handle the situations that arise with this friend.

posted by Liz at 7:42 AM - permalink - -

October 14, 2003
Not a lot to say

Welllll....I really don't have a lot to say. Alan is the one that has stuff going on. Or at least he did. Just normal life happening. I think I have injured my rotator cuff. For those of you who don't know where that is, it is my sholder, my left one. Two weeks, I am not used to not being 100%, and it only hurts when I move it certain ways. Except this morning. It is a little achey and I think I will take some medicine. That is saying something, as I don't like to take medicine. Not even Tylenol. Alan gets onto me for not taking something when I am in pain. I just don't like doing that. I figure If I can handle it then I don't need it. Funny, Huh?

My sister is still living with us. Some times she has both of her kids, and that is great. We just need a couple of more rooms. She told me this morning that Macailla's dad still wants her in Georgetown. I hate that idea. I think I have said it before, but I am saying it again. She doesn't need to be that far away. I am going to ask Brian if his dad has anything available where he lives. That way she would be close to the interstate and Brian. He can help keep an eye on her. It is a shame to say that about a 30 year old woman, but it is true.

Ok. My wrist is aching because of my sholder, go figure. Pray for me and Deana.

posted by Liz at 7:35 AM - permalink - -

October 10, 2003
Just a bunch of stuff

I am reading a good book right now. It is called "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman Ph.D. (not the singer dude). Not that we need it or anything but it is awsome. If anyone out there is having any "problems" in your marriage then you, for real, need to get that book and read it. My "love language" is acts of service and Alan's is guality time. It is very interesting how that all works.

I haven't blogged in awhile, cause I didn't feel I had anything to say. Other than I didn't brush my teeth or get dressed until less than 20 minutes ago and it is almost 3 now.

We had a house full this morning. Woke up to two strange men in my livingroom. Tom Blaylock and Jim Best drove down here from Michigan to go to Atlanta with Alan, along with Kevin Rains and Tawd Bell to Clapfest 2003. I am sure they are going to have a good time. I don't know how to do the link thing here on blogger so you will just have to find Alan's blog to hear his Audblog post. Sounds like they are having fun.

I guess I will try and blog again soon but we will have to see. Peace out.

posted by Liz at 3:02 PM - permalink - -

October 01, 2003
relief

Well, if you are here then you have probably read Alan's blog and know we have a new van, Thank God! Thanks for all your encouragement and support. Thanks also to Alan's parents. I no longer need to think about all that stuff. I will not have buyers regret and I will have a long lasting, wonderful van. Alan will take care of it, because I will be come his mother about it, pray for him please.

School, in general, is going ok. For Katey and at home. I get tired sometimes and loose my patience a bit easier some days, but this is the best year yet. We went to Haney's Appledale Farm yesterday and picked 8 bags of apples. Con was climbing the trees, Kenz too but mostly she was on my sholders, getting the big ones. So, if anybody wants some fried apple pies, let me know and you can come over and get some. I don't think they would ship well.

That's all for today. You all take care.

posted by Liz at 7:31 AM - permalink - -

spiritual

> vine & branches
> vineyard central

blogs

> Garden Escapades
> Trish Hiduk
> Maryann
> Alan Creech
> The Vine
> Little Houses
> Amber Bishop
> Jody Nixon
> Laura Ogle
> Debi Warford
> Jason & Brooke Evans
> Eric Keck
> Beth Keck
> Pete Matthews
> Trudi Matthews
> Brian Phillips
> Bryan Sherwood
> Malie
> Kim Johnson

Homeschool

> vegsource homeschool
> discovery school channel
> saxon math and phonics

general interest

> john rosemond's affermative parenting
> lisa welchel
> thunderstruck
> Homestar Runner

gardening

> Kids Gardening

books i like

Here are some books I suggests if you are looking to homeschool or just for information. I gleaned a lot from them. Our church gets credit if you buy through these links.

In their Own Way
by Thomas Armstrong

Seven Times Smarter
by Laurel Schmidt

How to Talk So Kids Can Learn
by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

Teen Proofing
by John Rosemond