The End (of September)

I am tempted to just end this daily couple photo blogging. Tempted, like Satan inspired? Tempted-lazy? Tempted-depressed/saddened/enough already? Tempted-hormonal/PMS/grumpy?

The Census called. First for John. Then me. Big huge 5 hour testing today, mock interviewing, piddly wages, temporary "but could become full time."

We can't both go and take care of the kids. I actually feel really trepidatious(which spell check tells me is not a word?), not comforted, worried, stupor-fied about it. I don't think I am supposed to do this. John is going alone. I will take care of afternoon kid needs.

Still no benefits for us. No guarantees. Nobody has that, really. It can happen so suddenly, to anyone.

You are comfortable. Things are going well, and poof. A JB bomb goes off. (I love that initials can represent more than one person! 4 different ones, in this case, all loved ones with big changes happening in their lives).

I am thankful for seminary. This morning we talked about baptism. The torrential rain was dramatic. See my seminary blog for a picture of yesterday's learning aid/handout. Feeling peaceful, inspite of the stress, if that makes sense.

Somehow, it will be okay.

"Serious Face," I Said

I've been making baby bitty booties for gifts from Heather Bailey's free pattern. They are sitting on a quilt going in our quilt show Oct 16-17th. I'll show you here after the show is hung.
I said, "Make a serious old-fashioned face, to show off my sparkly green POWER FINGERNAILS that got the Primary kids' attention as we practiced standing and sitting in unity!"
And he was silly.

And so was I.

Flip Flop

Rain, rain, go away. Makes it hard for paint to get hard in rainy weather. Trying again today to paint.

Best thing I learned yesterday from blog-land: a photo editing site that (for free) let you edit photos, a lot like what I can do in my Picasa program, but with the edition of flopping! Not just rotating, exchanging sides. So words will read backwards, prepare things for transfer (something I haven't been able to do). Exciting!



It was as easy as a picnik!

Busy Painting

This week is a busy-painting for client week. Quick kiss and I am out the door.

Church Dates

It wasn't really supposed to be a date. The women's conference was broadcast from our home-ward building. We didn't have to travel. John came on assignment. Nice to have his company.

Don't judge others, don't feel bad about yourself, and do your visiting teaching-which is never really done if you are doing it right. Great sermon on the meaning of charity from the prophet. I am glad we went!

Dates at Home

We borrow movies from the public library, tilt up Emma's hospital-ish-adjustable bed, and snuggle in for a date. Last night's was John's pick, after careful Rotten Tomato consideration. "The Book of Eli."

A reminder that we met in a science fiction club.

Post-big Flash war film. If you loved Mad Max movies from the 80's, this is much, much better. Wonderful use of color. Fight scenes ballet-ish beautiful and purposeful, not gory or gratuitous. Thematically powerful. Language and violence rating-but on a violence scale, I am still impressed that it was more important to tell the story and continue, no dwelling on acts of war. Very discreet. We turn the sound way down, put on sub-titles that we can mentally edit out-the way I will read a book. Eli reminds me of another film-hero from a set of foreign films I love! His name starts with a Z. Maybe you have to love the genre? Or have been a sword-fencer in college, like me? Not for everyone. Our Max recommends the soundtrack. I loved the clouds. And the promise of a sequel. If you know what I mean?

You Found Us!

We dropped off the last bunch of kids at elementary school and drove here. Traffic was terrible, but we got to where we were going. One of my favorite things to do is witness sealings. Beautiful day! I am so thankful to be happily married.

Guess Where We Are?

Hmmm, where in the world are Jennilyn & John?

Aiming for a Mid Point

This young woman is one of my heroes. She is in cross country, and did the 5K, finished, not last, and gracefully. I am so impressed with her courage and endurance. Great job, Suzu!

Can't quite find where to point the camera when I am in charge of aiming. Real life, really us.

Tired of Sunflowers YET?

I asked everyone to find a black shirt to wear, thinking it would make our faces stand out-pop, yes.


Today marks a year ago when Johnny lost his full-time with benefits job. One year. Candles? Celebrate/grieve?

And More Sunflowers

I am getting a lot of blogging mileage out of this photo shoot!

More Sunflowers

Sunflowers

Wishing I had planted some in our yard this year. But some farmers did-amazing, beautiful, nearly endless fields of them along Jarrettsville Pike. If you haven't seen them yet, it is a fun family trip!

Freaky Friday

Yesterday's picture caught us with our eyes closed. This one is a little better. The ironic part of this--me wearing a sport-fan t-shirt. It was free, in a love bag. Everything I know about football I learned watching "Blind Side" or listening to Brother-by-marriage Bob (more a soccer fan?).

Thursday is Today

I put up a homework table behind the loveseat. No food allowed. Eight feet of space, that was formerly unused in front of the fireplace.

Weird Wednesday Waiting

I spent some time moving around art work in our home. Now the dining room has all four of our David C. Babcock paintings. Look him up. Amazing art.

My substitute teaching orientation is this morning. John and I both get fingerprinted in a week and processed and then we wait for those calls! Coming to a school near you.

Terrific Tuesday, Thankfully

Trying to be a little more thankful.

#1. We were married at a young age.
#2. We found each other while in our youth.
#3. We were both returned missionaries.
#4. We read the Book of Mormon every night together.
#5. We pray together at least twice a day.

Mighty Monday MADNESS & Mope Moment

Max gets dropped off for his driver's ed class after school today. We've missed Emma and Stewart as drivers (other reasons, too). It will be nice to have Max licensed. He and John did a huge choir riser set up Friday-Saturday that has earned Max the money for Maryland State Boychoir tuition. Huge blessing.

We keep praying and paying tithing on what we do earn and having the faith that things will work out financially for our family.

A couple at Church celebrated their anniversary at a fun bed & breakfast near Lancaster. It sounded decadently fun! They told me how much it cost, and maybe it was the look on my face--some quick back-pedaling/apologizing "I know you and your husband can't do that right now..."

No kidding.

How do you rejoice for other's exciting, good things, and not feel sad that we can't date like that...?

How do you keep from feeling jealous, envious?

How do you remember your blessings when things are hard, difficult, scary, frustrating?

Why does another sibling with a similar trial get instant answers to prayers?

How do you "be happy" for others with their land and gold when you are silently struggling?

Looking on the other side:
Our fertility has been an easy blessing. We have had all the children we wanted. I had easy pregnancies and deliveries, mostly. Easy, easy, not a trial, the way I have heard some women grieve for miscarriages, infertility. Maybe they had to bite their tongue and pretend to be happy for me, hide their tears when I told them I was expecting, again. (I AM NOT NOW--JUST FAT! NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT!) If you looked at it differently, our fertility has been a trial-too!

Would I feel that way if we were wealthy? Could ease and financial security and comfort be a trial?

I need to watch "Fiddler on the Roof" and sing with Tevia.

Here is the full mope.

It's still really, really hard, scary. My faith that things will work out financially waivers. I feel faith-less or hopeful, depending on the hour you ask me.

It's okay to tell me about your vacation plans and fun house projects and shopping finds and decorating adventures.

I can tell you about eating food storage and qualifying for state programs for free school lunch, dental care. About how afraid I am that we will have to move, if we lose the house. I can tell you I read library books to distract me from the fears, and sometimes that works, sometimes not so well. I can tell you I don't go to quilt guild anymore because...I can't live that life-style anymore. All the quilts I make now are baby shower gifts, because I can't afford to buy anything and there isn't really time to make things just for fun. Can't take classes or workshops or buy new fabric.

I can tell you that no, I am not making any of the Relief Society super Saturday crafts this year. I am teaching a super cheap/free one, because maybe someone else like me can't afford the cute projects...

I can tell you that I worry about Christmas this year, of getting our college kids home or not. I won't feel sorry for you if you are freaking out about Christmas shopping already. Not an option for me with no money to shop.

And I guess no matter how badly you think you have it, someone else is suffering more, somewhere. That's the good news?

Chin up. Keep on going. Get more education. Work harder. Eat less. Sleep less. Network. Be thrifty. Learn to patch clothing, find freebies.

Stay united with spouse. Which means cheap dates, yes.

Which means more of these couple photos. You know we are still together.

THAT is the good news.

Rice Sand

John is still under-employed. We are still praying for a full time job with benefits. Wish list would be a challenging job he enjoys, one that his talents and skills would utilize, and a job that lets him be home on Sundays.
Meanwhile, we babysit, do what we can. Tuesdays are Hazel days! Last week I made play sand from dry-uncooked rice and pulled out measuring cups, big bowls to pour the rice into (and out of. That is why the sheet is on the kitchen floor, to keep it somewhat contained and easy to clean up and cook for dinner. Really. It boils-it's safe! My mom used to color the rice with food coloring, so we had green and blue and dark yellow and pink rice to play with).

The older kids had fun with it after school. They kept asking for more rice, and then started calling it their money and developed their own game with it.

Hack This

Subway street sign with my copy-cat version with every city we have lived in as a couple.

If you google "Family Rules Canvas" you will see links to the many tutorials. Cute idea, and my suggestion for the next Relief Society meeting. They wanted me to do a vinyl craft, and these are my two "hack" that ideas.

Sunday in Cranberry

Near Pittsburgh

BEST soft-serve ice cream in Cranberry Township. That would be Max's hand photo-bombing us!

I tried creme brulee, John=coconut, Roxie=tangerine, Sam=chocolate twist, Suzanna=German chocolate cake, Max=(I can't remember. I don't think I got a taste of his!)

He was still hungry and ordered lemon lime slush puppy and thought it tasted "off."

Baseball Up CLOSE

John's parents are touring the western states and gave us their baseball seats, right behind the dugout.



Recently finished flannel crocheted lace border receiving blankets.

John Has Long Arms

Ahh, the lighting. Love it!

How do we end up with unplanned coordinating colored clothing?

Photo credit: John, on the left

I've Seen My Mom Make That Face!

When my mom is being silly I have seen her with that same expression! I wish I had a photo of her doing it--I will look for one. Any siblings know what I am talking about?

Outside Around 4:30 PM

My favorite lighting is outdoors, early evening. Magic happens then.

Post haircut. Michael Harrington. I asked him if he could do my hair every day. He said he would love to, when I am rich and famous and he is my lackey (he had gone to a traditional Greek wedding the week before and saw first hand what a real lackey does. Glass smashing, weeping realitives, a dessert bar 100 feet long, he said it was the best wedding he has ever been to. I asked him what made it so amazing--he said the love the family had for each other, the passion, the emotion. Made me want to invite him to one of our family's someday. I'll introduce him as my hair guy!)

We are in Pittsburgh this weekend for a niece's baptism! YEAH OLIVIA!

Thrift Store Treasures and Treasured Words

Found some great t-shirts, including Beastie Boys, T-Rex "Free Hugs" and this one for John. Will he still wear it after December?

Sam is in 7th grade. A friend of his from school is coming to the baseball game with us tonight. We had taco salad. Charles said, "I've never had a holy dinner before."

"A holy dinner?" John asked.

(I was thinking maybe he meant we had a blessing on the food. Roxie said a sweet prayer before we ate.)

"Yes, one with a Mormon family, like you guys."

As the conversation continued, Charles told us we were the only Mormons he knows. John listed some other kids from school who go to Church with us.

"Ahh, he doesn't act like a Mormon!" he said.

"What do Mormons act like?" I asked.

"Peaceful, nice, like Sam...not saying mean words..."

Nice to know about your own kid.

For Every 10 Photos We Shoot

We take lots and lots of photos. This one I really like, and will print it.

John's hands showing me the formation. My hands have been cramping up trying to bend in the right places.

Couple in Heart Hands

More Ice Cream Farm

Photo credit to Maxwell.

First day of early morning DAILY SEMINARY! Good group. Told them the 2 rule thing:

1. Don't do anything that interferes with my teaching
2. Don't do anything that interferes with any one's learning

I started at 5:55 am with me playing the hymn and singing by myself. By the 2nd verse Amanda was there with me, then by the end, full room. How else do you start on time and be consistent?