... Then It Wouldn't Rain.

So far, we've had an earthquake that shook everybody all along the coast. This was something different for us; two days later as my sister and I lay sleeping in my room, we heard a loud rumble that sounded almost like drawn out thunder. I lay very still, in my half sleepened stupor until glass rattled and my jewelery stand began to shake.

"Britt!" My sister reached out in the darkness and grabbed my hand.

I held her hand tight until the rumble died and the earth was still once more. I jumped out of bed and flipped the light on. "Hurry Laney, help me get the stuff off my mantle." I said, fearing another shake would send everything crashing down around us. After that, we settled down and fell asleep an hour or so later. I think everytime I hear thunder from here on out, I'll think for a split second we're getting another earthquake. * winks *

And to make our week twice as exciting: Hurricane Irene.

So it's been raining like c-r-a-z-y all day long, and this makes the girl want some cute Rainboots very badly. Like so badly, she went into Tractor Supply this morning and tried on some black polka dotted boots that she fell in love with. It's a good thing God never made me a millionaire, because surely I wouldn't be one for very long. * smiles *

See, I would have such cuteness sitting in my closet right now if I knew there would be an abundance of Rain after obtaining polka-dotted rubber boots. But such is the case:

 If the girl bought rainboots, it simply wouldn't rain after that. Bummer.

Maybe I shall just buckle down | throw caution to the wind and stick a little rainy day cuteness into my closet some day soon.

Stepping Stones

In everything, be patient, For good shall follow bad.

And in time, you won't remember most problems that you had.

In everything, show kindness for others' great concerns,

And, my friend, it will amaze you ... How great are your returns!

In everything, be willing to learn, endure and grow.

For a candle that's unlighted cannot begin to glow!

In everything, show courage.

For courage conquers fear, and fear can cloud our judgment.

When storms of life appear ...

In everything, be thankful.

For each path we must trod, shall become a stepping-stone

Which leads the soul to God!

            -Clay Harrison

It's Down. Oh Bummer.

So as of half an hour ago, the girl has discovered the downside of online classes. All week I've been watching hours of lectures, taking the necessary notes and semi-dreading the first official quiz. It's the same old story right? I've yet to meet a person who enjoys studying for that first quiz -- not knowing what to expect. After that, of course, the world can breathe a sigh of relief. * Winks *

Tonight, I finished the last of my lessons and finally, I was ready to kick it in high gear and just knock that stuff out. I settled down at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. Five minutes later, I was logged into my student account, and waiting ...

The site was temporarily unavailable. It was down, due to ... storms? To what?

I don't know. But suddenly, I felt a great wave of disappointment. I had studied for that crazy thing and just as I had resigned myself to the fact that all would be well, it was a no-go. I thought to myself, How in the world? This isn't going super smooth ...

So, the girl shall wait for tomorrow. Probably lie there in bed half the night recalling lectures and making mental notes in my head till I can't hold my eyes open another minute longer. Sounds like lots of fun, yes?

Besides all that, I had a fantastic day today!

Draggin' Ma Feet

Our kitchen is my college ...

I do online classes to the sound of kids playing upstairs, the fountain outside the window. This is something altogether different for me. I'm used to:

•  Waking up at the crack of dawn with the smell of Hazelnut coffee filling the room.

•  Discussing wardrobe with my roomies ... as we are quite fond of sharing clothes and matching on occasion. 

• Grabbing the day's assignments, needed books and anything else I might find useful throughout the day, and somehow, managing to fit it neatly into my school bag.

• Downing as much of that coffee as I could before roll call is taken. I NEVER take coffee for granted. * smiles *

• And sometimes, struggling to keep my eyes open during early morning classes.

• Listening to my stomach growl | watching the clock and knowing lunch was just around the corner. Thank goodness.

• Going back to the dorm and crashing for just a little while, before rushing off to work.

• And always Always the long talks after eleven o'clock lights out with my roomates. They were the best!

But now, I wake up and get my stuff done at whatever pace suits the day. Grab my coffee and do my devotions and as of today, sit down at the kitchen table and tackle my online classes. Up until today, I've actually been dragging my feet ... because you've no idea the initiative it takes to wake up and make one do school of their own accord.

I'm thinking this whole process is going to make me a better person because I have to dig deep to find my educational initiative that hasn't exactly made an appearance since my homeschooling days. So to online classes and doing it up right ....

Here's to you!

But let me tell you, the feeling of accomplishment is already overwhelming! Lots of people say "Oh yay, I'm so looking forward to the first day of school! It's just the second I'm worried about." That may end up being the case but I'm working at my own pace, I've established my own goals and right now I'm pretty stoked. * smiles *

And some of the best things about all this is:

I get to drink as much Coffee as I want and I can even do it in my PJs if I so please. Which in case you are wondering, I don't but I'm just saying of course. * winks *

Momma For A Day

So I'm not a momma, but occasionally I get a taste of the real world when I babysit for hours on end. I stay at home with my siblings a lot, but it's different when you're in a new home watching kids you barely know.

Saturday was no exception.

The house was nestled back in the woods, off a gravel road where I feared I would surely lose cellphone reception. This is nothing really new for me though; I'm told I live in the boonedocks and holding my cellphone in all manner of odd positions to find signal is simply second nature.

The little girls danced around the slate walk, pulling me toward their porch. Their big brother bounded up the steps barefeet tracking bits of grass, as he carefully juggled a basket of eggs over his arm. My cellphone vibrated from my skirt pocket. Reception? Check. I would not do this alone, this made me smile.

"Come see! Come see." Zee chanted, tugging my arm as we swung the door open and I stopped inside their cozey little home. Instantly, I was captivated. Glass lanterns hung from the living room ceiling, the walls were textured and covered in funky designed picture frames. The unmatching furniture all touched and books and unique-ness sat atop bookshelves and pie-safe shelves. The coffee table was low and World-Markety rustic, mismatched rugs littered the floor in delightful eye catching patterns.

The kitchen fascinated me beyond description. The counters were deep purple, with an orange toaster and espresso maker. The appliances were stainless steel, the cream colored cabinets were open -- displaying homey everyday dishes. Everything was just so adorable, cozey and sweet. It was different from my house, but I loved every bit of it! I truly just felt right at home.

After getting the run-down on everything I needed to do, M & K left to spend the day together. Baby Jay is only a few months old, so he went with his Momma and the bigger munchkins got to stay with me. We read books, toured the house, went outside to see the chickens and ...

I have to interrupt myself right here to say:

The girl was encouraged to pet a chicken and even a rooster. She is very much afraid of the squawk box. But having the deepest desire to be the world's most awesome baby-sitter for the day, she reached out ever so timidly -- really, she was rather nervous -- and ran her fingers down the chicken's feathery soft back.

... and then we swung on the swings and being only twenty -- which I'm told isn't very old -- I climbed all over that playset, up and down the little rope ladders about fifteen times, and over the slide and back to the swings until I was all tuckered out.

Then it was time for lunch, so the girls played in the living room while Zeb helped me get everything together. Some of them are allergic to nuts | different meats | and some dairy so they use a lot of substitutes and organic things which is different for me, but fascinating. We had Sun Butter & Sour Cherry Jelly sandwiches on Homemade bread that was so delicious. And Deviled Eggs, Celery | Carrot and Beet sticks with some kind of Mint Tea.

It was really yummy, but the whole Beet thing threw me off quite a bit because well ... okay, it tasted like a stick of dirt. No really, it did. And I thought, My lanta, this isn't going down. But alas, it did and all was well. So maybe, I shall give it another try. I know they're packed full of all manner of healthy goodness. * smiles *

We played Hide N Seek for 2 hours. You wouldn't believe how many places there were for those kids to hide! Even Miss Tiny found good spots, except when she burst into a fit of smothered giggles from wherever she was. * winks *

After supper, I popped some Popcorn and we all sat down to watch Anne of Green Gables. The kids had never seen it before but were quite enthralled, which gave me a moment or two to text my man and wash the supper dishes.

So I pretty much felt like a momma, getting meals on the table and living in a cozy little house that was mine for a day. It was one of the most fun days I've ever had. I can't wait to do it again!

A Design of Another Kind

I like being just as healthy as the next girl really, unless of course it infringes upon my general enjoyment of life. For instance, I have a strong dislike for doctors | dentists | machines that tend to be overly invasive and tiny metal picks that make the most horrid Eeek-plunk noises against one's teeth as they lie there in the super comfy leather dentist chair with all manner of bright lights and odd masked faces above.

By now, you must be realizing that this is real life on the home front here, as in it having happened only yesterday morning! Early actually. Well I suppose 10:30 isn't really early but for something I dread, it is never really a real good time in the girl's little book of preferences. * winks *

The only real thing I hate about the Dentist is how they just think you do a rocking job | tell you to keep up the good work and then ask if you happen to floss. To which, I usually say no without too much shame. I'm lazy like that, okay? And then they turn all end-of-the-world and give you a long speech on the long term benefits of pulling string through one's mouth when the sun is shining and when it isn't. Do I get points for being honest? Well anyways ...

Thus, the girl is again flossing. Like you were very concerned, right? I know. But I have a feeling it will be like a new year's resolution ... as in the kind that sticks around for a short time. Ugh, confounded.

So I make amends to my siblings for a long morning in the dentist office by taking them out for an emergency Fun day out on the town. Because really, there's nothing like brightening up a dull morning with crazy good diner food from Red Robin -- which enthralled the munchkins to no possible end -- walking around the Mall, window shopping, playing video games and eating chocolate Frosty's on the way home -- which Sissy also had a coupon for. * Yay, coupons! *

But what cracked me up, and really baffled me, reminding me boys are of an altogether different design in their general thought process ... is when Sammy asked for a Vanilla Frosty. After having worked at Chick-fil-A for a long while, I feel the drive-thru pain of indecisive customers so I just ordered without asking any questions.

As we were driving home, with the rain pounding down in buckets, I asked Sammy why he got Vanilla and not chocolate. He licked the ice cream off his spoon with a little sniffle and said, "Well ... because I was sad. I always get Vanilla when I'm sad, and Chocolate when I'm happy."

This cracked me up so bad. Because in my feminine mind, when I'm sad I will most likely tear the world apart for cinnamon or chocolate to brighten my little world. NOT make myself twice as miserable by eating something I barely enjoy when I'm already feeling low. I shake my head, because it just baffles me.

 * smiles *

Snow on My Raisin Mountain

I'm sitting at the kitchen table, music filtering through my headphones and the smell of warm Cinnamon Raisin biscuits surrounding me. It was my first attempt at a semi-organic recipe using what we had in the pantry. I got the recipe from Mercedes who happens to be a very awesome cook -- the only roadblock is most of it is organic and when she gives me recipes she has to convert it to things we use instead.

They were really yummy for the most part, but they weren't as sweet as I expected them to be. I blame this entirely on my sugar substitute and the fact that we used regular milk in place of coconut milk and butter instead of Palm Oil. For instance, I had no idea there was any such oil as Palm Oil, but when Mercedes made them, they were soft lumpy mounds of cinnamon, raisin-ey goodness with orange zest icing that makes my mouth water just thinking about it really.

 Joshy pulled one of them apart, with the cinnamon steam rolling out between his little fingers, and took a bite. He chewed it for a second, smiling with his eyes closed. "Mmm, Brit. These are good ..." he said, "But one thing, organic isn't as sweet so I'm gonna have to make 'em like a winter wonderland."

I leaned over the counter, watching him as he sprinkled liberal amounts of white sugar across the golden top of his biscuit with little raisins poking out here and there. "Josh! That's too much sugar, baby."

"No, Brit." He grinned up at me -- with dimples that silently beg for my sympathy, my permission for whatever he wants. "It's like snow on my raisin mountain, see?"

Well, after that I was a goner of course. And the kids liked my biscuits with the orange icing, but I promised myself to tweak the recipe next time or seriously, just go get my missing ingredients from Whole Foods or someplace. * smiles *

No Laughing Matter

Would you care to know how semi-difficult it is to type on an umfamiliar keyboard with little rubber covers on it? I'm sitting here at a little cafe nook in the corner of ACAC waiting for my momma to finish up at the gym, and in the meantime I'm using their computer. The one day I forget to bring my computer with me, so I was thrilled to find that I had something to do with my time.

I'm a people watcher. I form opinions after having watched people for any certain period of time. And today is NO exception. For this, I know I am an awfully wicked person.

Because, as I'm sitting here watching people all around me it's cracking me up! The girl is all relaxed at the computer bar typing away on the rubber covered keys and probably the only one freezing in the whole building. There are a row of older men walking on treadmills holding on for dear life | a middle aged lady with a really cute bob dancing to music from her earbuds, teenage girls in skany shorts sweating up a storm and gymn trainers in shorts and polos walking the floor.

But what really gets me is listening to people behind me. As I'm sitting here, just adjacent to the snack shop, there were a handful of people who have come to reward their efforts and soothe their hunger pains. Luckily for them, its all healthy for the most part so they cant go wrong. Pizza is just down the street, but all these people are making such awesome food choices for the moment and this makes me smile. It's just so different to hear people asking for chocolate protein shakes. When I think protein, I don't think chocolate. * winks *

The smell of the pool is absolutely killing me though, the girl is dying to dive into the refreshing waters and waste away an afternoon. But for now, I'll just stick to the computer ... bummer. lol

Okay, I'm done people watching. I'm just jealous maybe. * winks *