lizardblog ( the blog of liz creech

November 25, 2003
Mish Mash

Lots of stuff rolling around in my head this morning. It just dawned on me that McKenzie is comming back from her Mamaw and Papaw's house today, I think. I sure do miss her.

I have been reading blogs this morning. Trudi Matthews had some good things to say in a recent post about community. Very poignant. I still haven't figured out how to do links in blogger, so you can go down to the link to the right>.

My house is utterly discusting and messy. There are NO clean towels in the house, so I am doing laundry. And Vine and Branches, for "church" is doing a progressive House Warming for Matt and Bryan and Heather Sherwood. Appitizers and hanging out, ending up at our house. I am going to make mini quiches and mini cheesecakes. Yummy! But I have to clean house so I can dirty it making stuff. Funny, huh? And the cool thing is that right now I am not too worried about getting it all done. I will get it done.

I can't remember if I have said but I am not decorating for Christmas this year. We will put up a tree, I guess. But I am not dragging all the boxes out and going through them and taking a week and a half to put crap up only to take it right back down and take another week and a half to do that too. I reckon Christmas will come without all the lights and finery. The kids, well Katey, don't like the idea. I told them that if they want to do it that is fine but they will take it down too. I just refuse to put myself in a tizzy about all that this year. I get this way about every 4 or 5 years. Sometimes it is me being a humbug or being overwhelmed, but this year I just refuse to put myself in that frame of mind.

I am a horrible conversationalist. I can't pull crap out of my butt to get into a conversation. I would rather sit in the middle of a crowd silent than try to say something and people look at me like I am retarded. It has happened. I reckon if I don't have anything intelligent to say I will just be quiet. Now, there are certain subjects you can get me on and I will talk your ear off. Sex, gardening, homeschooling, serving, kids, hospitatlity, the love/grace of God, and marriage. I like those subjects and have some strong opinions about them.

One last thing. I mentioned the love and grace of God above. The other night, I guess about a week ago, I was sitting at Chili's with a group from work. One guy, Jimmy, and I got into a conversation about being a Christian and what that meant. He told me that he had done horrible things and that he thought God wanted him to pay for them somehow before he could have a relationship with Him. Now, I said some of the normal things about it not being about him and what he could do for God but what God had done for him in sending Jesus. He was drunk and I ended up getting frustrated because he kept insisting that he had to pay in some way. So, I shut up and will pray for him. That is all I can do until he is ready. Pride is a big hurdle to overcome.

Enough. I have a nasty house to clean. Good day to you all.

posted by Liz at 9:10 AM - permalink - -

November 21, 2003
Controversy

I just wanted everyone to know that I wasn't bashing men in yesterdays post. You wives can do just the same for your husband and make him feel good too. I highly recomend it because marriage is a two way street. It takes 100% from both parties. I also think that your spouce will mimic you if you take up such a habit. Communication!

posted by Liz at 9:14 AM - permalink - -

November 20, 2003
Trust, Love and Sex

Sometimes men have a tendency to take their wives for granted. Sometimes men are oblivious to the needs of their wives. Sometimes men forget that they would have gone to the ends of the world for their wife, before she was their wife. Now, I know it goes both ways, but for now I am directing this to the men. And, before I go any further, my husband has done nothing, recently, to influence this post. :-)

Men, women need to feel protected and loved and cherished. Not smothered or commanded. They need to know that you find them desirable, without you rushing into some sexual encounter. They need to be held, gazed at, and gently touched, without a sexual favor expected back. They need to think that you are their provider, even if they are the main bread winner. They need romance, without being coddled. They need to be teased and tantelized and strung along. And they need you to remember to do your "chores" without being reminded. If you all will take the time to step back and look at all that they do, even if you think they are lazy or whatever, you will realize how much you need them. We all know that men and women respond to and need sex in different ways. Inevidably, "it" is going to happen. But that isn't the ultimate act in your marriage. If you think so and your wife isn't responding the way you think she should or that you want her to, let me give you a little advice. It is going to involve a little bit of work on your part, but it will be worth it. If this doesn't work, you let me know.

First, wake up in the morning and get out of bed, before her, and make the coffee or start the morning ritual, whatever yours might be. Gently wake your wife, if she isn't already awake, and tell her that you love her and desire her and that she is the most beautiful woman you have ever known and that you really apprecitate all that she does for you and your family.(sincerity is very important) Iron your own clothes or hers for that matter and help her to get the day started on time. A passionate kiss is very good in here and will give you both something to think about. Sometime during the day, more than once is recomended, you call and tell her that you love her and desire her and that she is the most beautiful woman you have ever known and that you really apprecitate all that she does for you and your family. Offer to cook dinner that night or bring something home. Without being bossy you can make that decision. "Dear, I thought I would give you a little break tonight so I am going to cook/bring home dinner tonight. So, don't you worry about that." When you/she gets home, don't sit down and flip on the t.v. Go to your wife, give her a nice hug and kiss and tell her that you are glad to be back with her and tell her that you love her and desire her and that she is the most beautiful woman you have ever known and that you really apprecitate all that she does for you and your family. Then proceed with dinner and clean up the kitchen afterwards. Send her to watch t.v. Then go sit with her and put your arm around her or pull her onto your lap or what ever and just hold her and watch t.v. You put the kids to bed or lock up or whatever your bedtime ritual is and don't expect anything. Give her a kiss good night, tell her that you love her and desire her and that she is the most beautiful woman you have ever known and that you really apprecitate all that she does for you and your family. Hold her until she falls asleep, unless she suggests "something else". You do not get to suggest sex, wait for her to. It will be worth it. Women need to trust you before they love you and then they have to love you before they want to have sex with you. That in general is how it works. Women get a bit stressed and overwhelmed and if you lighten the burden a little then it is amazing how it makes her feel.

Let me say that this should be a way for you to be aware of how you treat your wife. I am not saying that this should be a full time change of life thing. Just realize what your wife needs and what you are willing to do to make her feel good about herself. And likewise you should be willing to ask things of her that make you feel good and loved too. It is all about communication.

I will shut up now, before I cause a real big ruckus.

posted by Liz at 8:29 AM - permalink - -

November 17, 2003
Community? Now, how is that supposed to work?

We have already had an interesting morning. Nothing exciting. We all managed to sleep late and I had to take Katey to school. No biggie. I was thinking on the way home, amazing, I know. What I was thinking was just how this community thing is supposed to work. It seems like we, as individuals and individual families, have so much going on that we have to actually schedule time to have for someone in our community. You know, you have your job and the kids and the house to clean and your own personal time and when it comes to someone outside the blood family, and sometimes for those who are actually related, we have to chisel out a portion of time, and a small one at that, to give or share. So, I am wondering, how is this supposed to work?

I think what brought most of this on is that I was thinking about Mollie Bean and how busy she seems recently. I was wondering how she was going to have the time to "get ready" for the holidays. Are there people willing and able to jump in and help her when she is overwhelmed with stuff to do? Or are they overwhelmed themselves with their own preparations? Then of course my head turned to myself and I was thinking about this damn wall I am supposed to be building in my back yard. See, winter is coming and all the weeds that had grown up over all the piles of cinder blocks in the back yard have died away and my yard, once again looks, literally, like a junk pile. Now, when am I going to have the time to get that wall done? Everybody here is so busy working and doing their own thing that they don't have the time to come help me finish it. So, how much worse off are others? What about when a mom, or dad, gets sick? Who is willing to go over and help keep the house in order so that they can recover? Even if it is just a cold? How do we make this community thing work? Does there need to be some giant calandar that everybody writes their obligations on and we find the non-existant free time to help others? Is it just supposed to be an opportunistic kind of thing? Does there need to be more organization and planning?

I was thinking about a group of women going around from house to house in their community and cleaning and decorating for the holidays or what ever until everybody is done. About cooking and preparing meals ahead of time to freeze. Like, going to Sam's and getting stuff in bulk, sharing the cost and then getting together at one house and cooking and doing stuff together so it isn't so daunting. You know? Just making it a habit to help each other instead of worrying so much about how we are going to do it on our own. How can we make this thing work?

You all throw out your opinions and lets see what developes.

posted by Liz at 8:59 AM - permalink - -

November 14, 2003
I would be jumping up and down and doing a dance, but

I am not feeling my best right now. If you read Alan's blog you know that we, well four out of six, are sick. But, what I am so excited about is I found my "fat" jeans, and my new tennis shoes. For you guys who don't understand "fat" jeans I am not taking the time to explain, all you women will. I was cleaning my room and found them in a overnight bag under a pile of crap on my side of the bed. It is amazing the things you find when you dig through piles that you haven't dealt with in a long time.

So, I am trying to organize and put things away in my room so I can do some rearranging and in general get a cleaned up bed room. Finally getting all the summer clothes packed up and all the give aways in a container to get out of the house. I am costantly amazed at how much stuff we have. I mean we have way too much stuff to properly put away, and that is ridiculous.

It is looking like I am going to have to work tonight even though I feel like crap. I took some Tylenol Night Cold medicine last night and I slept a lot better than I expected. I HATE taking medicine. But when I feel this bad I will do just about anything. It is funny because I woke up feeling great yesterday and as the day progressed it got worse and worse. By the time I got done at work I just asked to leave without helping close. I haven't fealt that bad in a very long time. Another funny thing is that I abhor people who whine all the time about how bad they feel, and here I am whining and complaining. :-(

Well, not much else to say. There is something churning around that I want to put out there, but it is going to have to wait this my head clears a bit more. I think it will be interesting.

posted by Liz at 9:49 AM - permalink - -

November 10, 2003
30 Years - Really?

I just got a phone call from my mom reminding me of an anniversary of mine. 30 years ago today I became a Christian. I was 5. Hard to believe. It has been many lifetimes and much transformation. Many changed ideas and beliefs. I am sure many of you are asking can a 5 year old really get "saved". Let me tell you YES!

For a 5 year old I have to say I was pretty normal. I was rather oblivious through the service that night, I remember. I also remember getting the unmistakable feeling of what I had/wanted to do when they gave the invitation. I remember telling my mom that I wanted to accept Jesus as my savior that night. She told me to go up front and tell who ever I went to that I belived that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and that the Angels took him to heaven to be with God and that on the third day he rose again. I also remember going through the new members class. It was at Beacon Hill Baptist Church in Somerset Kentucky. With Ansel Gambrel as the pastor.

It always hasn't been perfect but normal I would say. It has been a growing and changing experience.

posted by Liz at 9:32 AM - permalink - -

November 04, 2003
Have you ever...

...done anything stupid? Like stab yourself in the hand with a pair of scissors? Well, I can now join the ranks of having done just that. (Definite roll of the eyes here). I was fixing a drawer in the half bath downstairs and was using some old Liquid nails. It was a bit stopped up so I was using a pair of scissors to poke a hole in it to get some out. In my zealousness I went straight through the card board tube and right into the "hinge" of my left index finger and hand. I instantly felt very stupid as I was looking at the gaping gash in my hand. Then I started thinking how was I going to get to the Dr. with all these kids? I can laugh at it now.(chuckle and head shake) So went to the First Choice clinic just down the road and ended up getting steri stripped and finger splinted. Got to keep the splint on for a week. (DUH) Just thought you all would like to share in my little adventure.

posted by Liz at 4:06 PM - permalink - -

Oh, What a beautiful morning!

Well, I am sitting here in the aftermath of a slumber party. There are three little ones, 8, 7, and 6, playing to my right with the new Polly Pocket Airplane set, and three older ones, all 12, still asleep behind me. There is also a 14 year old asleep upstairs. We had a very good time. Pizza, a few presents, cake and icecream. Who could ask for anything more? And I was asleep by 11:30! Is that a dream or what? So, Kenzie is 8. Well, she turned that on Sunday, but the festivities are over now and we can return to normal life. Whewwwww.

Meaghan had a horseshow on Sunday as well. She did very good. It has been awhile since she has done a show, but she is great anyway. She placed first in her first class, and second in her second class. The whole acadamey did good. There were only firsts and seconds, and I think one third. Not that that matters, really, they had a good time, no one was hurt, and it was a beautiful day.

Things are much better than when I posted last. I am more mentally healthy. Some times I just get overwhelmed and it helps to know that I am not the only one facing and dealing with the same stuff. And most people who visit me here are Christians and can ask God for help, too. So, you all know where I am coming from.

Let me tell you all one more thing. I have been doing a "budget" since June, I think. Esentially, for the first time in my married life I am keeping extreme track of the money that comes into our house. This month I discovered a 44$ mistake that I have been making for quite some time. Alan has a school loan that comes out of our account automatically every month. I had been writing down one amount and it is 44$ more than that. I am amazed that I haven't bounced checks every month. Silly of me. So, I have discovered my mistake, corrected it, and still the bills get paid. And we have made our first ever car payment. I am pretty excited, and scared. The payment is made entirely by what I make from work. I have devised this little "payment" system. I deposit 20$ each shift I work and that is enough to cover the payment. You all pray that the tips continue to be good and that there is enough to buy groceries too. Sounds kind of silly, but God has always been faithful to supply our needs. Thank You God!!

posted by Liz at 8:00 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