Skip to main content

Runnin' Through My Head.

I'm having a difficult time today formulating my thoughts into anything coherent (HELLO PREGNANCY BRAIN), so I am just going to throw my jumbled up thoughts out there into one discombobulated post. Here we go, kids.

* Levi was sick last week and at 4am I couldn't find any children's Tylenol and our thermometer was broken. He was so very hot, so I threw on a pair of ripped jeans and a hoodie and booked it to Wal-Mart. I was the only person there. Well, besides the employees who were riding around on the floor cleaner (and if I hadn't been in such a panicky rush, I would have asked if I could play. It looked fun!). I thought about how great it would be to shop at that hour, but seeing as my yawns never subsided, I pushed that idea far into the dark corners of my mind.

I bought a $40 thermometer and Husby wasn't exactly thrilled when I came home with it. $40. For a thermometer. He asked how much it was and I said, "thirty-shmine" and kind of trailed off hoping he would only hear the 30 part. I didn't fool him. He's on to me and my tricks. Anyway, the $40 thermometer worked like a dern charm and I am happy I bought it. I think. It was from my birthday money stash anyway (I had some in my pocket from the Hanson concert), so I don't see what the big deal was. Now, let me tell you we can't afford a $40 thermometer. Like .... at all. But I can with my birthday money because it's mine and I can do with it what I please. Right? RIGHT?? Okay, I spent too much. But it's top of the line and I'll never have to worry again. His fever was 104 and I was ultra-paranoid for the rest of the night. But I did sleep a tiny bit because of the peace of mind I had of the accuracy of my $40 thermometer. I mean, it was an impulse buy and the "Doctor Recommended" completely blinded me. And you know what? It was NOT doctor recommended by the doctor in my house.

* That wasn't a thought. That was a novel. My thoughts tend to wander.

* Speaking of novels, I can't find any good CLEAN books out there to save my life. Tried reading Water for Elephants and put it down after the second chapter. I was excited about reading One Day and my sister-in-law told me it wasn't very clean and I probably wouldn't like it. So. I need some recommendations for a good clean book, y'all. Help a sister out.

* Fake M&M's just don't do it for me. They have to have the classic imprinted M&M on there, guys, or I can't eat 'em. The fakes are not worthy. Neither or the fake Oreos. And don't get me started on fake Pop-Tarts. Oh, but you know what fake thing IS better? Dollar Store chocolate covered graham crackers. They blow Keebler out of the water!

* Did I really spend $40 on a thermometer?

* I hope I don't comments that say, "children in 3rd world countries never know their temperature ... how DARE you buy a top-of-the-line thermometer for YOUR child." I once got chewed out on here for declaring my love for king size beds! You just never know what's going to irk someone, do ya?

* Irk is a funny word. It reminds me of Dierks Bentley. Dierks really irks me! Just kidding. I don't know much about the guy.

* Have you decorated for fall? I have half way. I hope to finish the rest today, but I'm not going to do our table elaborately because we eat at it every day and it's too much of a hassle to move things around. Plus, there's this little boy at my house and he loves to explore. And sometimes his explorations involve a breakage every now and then. :)

* You should have SEEN the mountain of clothes I folded today. Your jaw would have dropped. Mine did. It was out of control. I hate getting behind on folding laundry because it only takes a few days for it to become completely unwieldy. Laundry just makes me crazy on a daily basis, though.

* If I could have one in-home service done for me every week, it would be laundry. Hands down without a question.

* Anyone want to call themselves a Merry Maid and come do my laundry? I will pay you in cookies because I'm too busy buying $40 thermometers to actually pay you in currency.

* Oh! Or I could pay you in M&M's! The real ones with the letters on them and everything!

* I can't seem to find a robe that I am in love with. They're either too long, too short, too hot, too cold, too sheer, too thick. Ugh. I need a plethora of robes so I can choose based on the day. What kind of robe do you have?

* Okay, time to go. I've got places to go and people to see. Not really. You know what I'm actually going to do when I get off of here? I'm going to go take my temperature. Over and over and over again.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!
I am a modern day homemaker with a passion for family, cooking, celebrating, decorating, travel, and memory making! The Lord has blessed me with the desires of my heart in my husband and our two sons. We recently built our dream home and cultivating a loving and happy haven for my family is where I find so much joy.

Comments

  1. I've had my fall stuff up since the weekend after Labor Day. I love fall so much that I can't wait to get it started in my house. As far as clean book recommendations, try Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes. She's a Christian author. The book is sad so be careful if you are feeling hormonal :-). Mr Pettigrew's Last Stand is also a good one.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Robe chat, I got the BEST little zip up robe from Lillian Vernon. Oh yeah, I did!
    I wanted a zip up, not heavy, mid calf, long sleeve robe for the hospital when I had my little girl. It is the perfect light weight terry cloth robe. It even comes with a PINK letter monogram, of course!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think this is by far one of your best posts to date.
    I have about ten robes...one of my weaknesses.
    What is "clean"...like squeaky? No violence or anything? I read true crime, so I can't help ya on the book dilemma. Also read Twilight, but that's about all I get in these days. Other than books about how to be a better Mom...wife...I read that type of stuff too. And cookbooks...
    A forty dollar thermometer! That's intense, but hey...doctor recommended. At least, there's THAT :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've never commented on here, but if you have never read Redeeming love by Francine Rivers, read it! It is a retelling of the bible story of Hosea. So good!

    ReplyDelete
  5. If I had to be at Walmart at 4am for one of my sick Muffins I would also buy the $40 thermometer. Your his momma and you know more than any doctor...well except for maybe his doctor daddy! ;-) Hope your little man is on the mend. I loved this post so much...so much I read it a second time!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. My all-time favorite book is James Mitchner's "Hawaii." I've re-read it every couple of years since I was in high school. Don't get discouraged because of how long it is, it's worth every wonderful page and by the end you don't want it to end. Also, skip the first chapter (just trust me on this one).

    Some other clean books you may like:
    * Possession (A. S. Byatt)
    * The Hunger Games (subject matter looks horrible, but it really is character driven. I loved the entire trilogy)
    * Emma, Pride & Prejudice (I know they're classics but I love them, and if on the off chance you haven't read them you MUST).
    * A Room With a View (just re-read this a few months ago. Can you tell that re-reading is a trend with me? Amazing love story and the reason I MUST go to Italy someday).
    * Harry Potter series (if you haven't read these you MUST...if you're feeling lazy get the audiobooks, Jim Dale is amazing).

    ReplyDelete
  7. If it makes you feel better...I have ran to the store before when I had a sick child and spent more than $40 on a thermometer...I will not disclose how much...but it was late...that is my defense :) I have a great robe that I love that I got from Kohl's Simply Vera collection :) It is always hard to find one :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love to read, and my favorite books are Christian historical fiction. My favorite current authors are Lauraine Snelling, Laura Frantz, Tracie Peterson, and Jody Hedlund, and an old classic, Janette Oke.
    Laundry seems to be my biggest enemy at the moment too! I used to wash, dry, and fold, and then when it was all done, I would put it all away at the same time, but I find that I really have to fold and put it away IMMEDIATELY. If I don't the kids end up spread it over the entire house, and that irks me!
    I, too, have lots of robes. My husband buys them for me, and I have some heavy, some short, some long. You NEED a collection of robes ;) Ask for them for gifts then you won't have to spend money on them!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I don't understand people who leave meanish comments. What's that about seriously?

    I decorated for fall! I too have a little guy around so I have to put things in careful places, or just not sweat it, if he gets in to it. I can't wait to see what you do this year!

    And laundry is my most favorite chore. I'd come do yours, but I'm too far away. I love, love, love laundry! It's sick I know!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I second the recommendation of Francine River's book Redeeming Love. It is the best.book.ever. EVER. I also like all of the Kristin Hannah books I've read. Great books!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Some recent reads I've loved:

    Every Breath You Take by Travis Thrasher

    If I Gained the World by Linda Nichols

    Surprised by Oxford:A Memoir by Carolyn Weber

    Embrace Me by Lisa Samson

    Beneath the Night Tree by Nicole Baart

    All clean and excellent books.

    ReplyDelete
  12. You need to read the Redemption series by Karen Kingsbury. Do it now!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Don't read the Immortal Life of Herietta Lacks. I started it and it got to have too much about abuse and I can't handle that.

    I confess: I was seriously annoyed by your king bed post. I thought it was too too much! I commented as much.

    Sorry if it was mean.

    I was pregnant at the time and also working with poor kids.

    I probably would have bought the expensive one, especially if it was big and looked like it would be hard to be lost. I hate losing important baby things, but for the life of me, I cannot keep teething tabs or nail clippers in a place where I can find them when I need them!!

    Don't doctors carry around thermometers in their pockets? Maybe they should!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I ahve never commented on here, but I absolutely love reading your blog!!! You are an amazing writer! Anyway, on the book thing, I third the recommendation for Francine Rivers Redeeming Love. It is my all time favorite book and I have read it numerous times. Also, her Mark of the lion series is amazing!! I have read them at least twice and they are thick let me tell ya. Anything by her or Karen Kingsbury is great!!! So, hope Levi is feeling better and you don't have to use that thermometer many more times. Even though I know you want to get your money's worth out of it. I'm sure getting an accurae read that night made it all worth it though!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Same thing happened to me! One night Heidi was burning up, and of course her thermometer would not work!! So I ran to the store down the road and bought a $40 thermometer. The price blew my mind, but it was much needed.

    And Redeeming Love, PLEASE READ. You will not regret. And also Dandelion Dust is an easy, christian based book and let me tell you, it will RIP YOUR HEART OUT.I was cried..a lot..so I know you will. BUT, it is SO GOOD. And they have a movie on it that I need to see..

    Okay anyways that is my two cents!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I have a favorite set of books at the moment, they've got a real old fashioned feel, written in the 60s but take place in the 19th century. The premise is that a far off world dies, and a few survivors make it to earth, then the author explores what it means to be good, and what it means to be human.

    They are considered science fiction, but I don't think of them as that. The author, Zenna Henderson, is Christian and said she included religious themes because she felt it was good to offer a word for "Our Sponsor" in her stories. She was the first female science fiction writer who never used a pen-name. Her writing is quite good.

    The first one was "Pilgrimage: The Book of the People" and is very good, my favorite is "The People: No Different Flesh" you can find all the stories she wrote in "Ingathering: The Complete People Stories of Zenna Henderson"

    You can buy them on amazon (don't be deterred by the cover art, it doesn't reflect the book AT ALL, the stories aren't dark, they are warm and uplifting, the cover art is freaky weird.)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am not quite sure what you mean by a clean book but have you tried the No 1 ladies detective agency. The are easy to read, entertaining and have a nice uplifting message. Thinking about it I might just have to buy the latest one on amazon. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Still Alice by Lisa Genova. An amazing book of what it is like to live with dementia.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Beverly Lewis writes amazing Christian fiction. I also live Francine Rivers, Judith Pella, and Karen Kingsbury. And I would have totally done the same thing with the thermometer. At 4 a. m. who thinks about what they can afford?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh, I have one of those! Except mine was $60 (for small town inflation...there is no walmart here)... but it has been worth every penny! I can now ease in and check my girls temps in the night without waking them up or being bent in crazy positions trying to get an underarm reading without waking them up. I almost had a duck fit (is that just a southern term, it must be) about the price but we've now gotten almost a year's worth out of it with no problems (and not anticipating any) so for the peace of mind (and the speed) its worth it for us!

    Also, if you haven't read the Yada-Yada Sisterhood series, its a good novel style Christian series. I think there are 8 - 10 books in it, but they are good, easy reads (but also have good meaning and scripture incorporated into stories)

    ReplyDelete
  21. A couple people have mentioned it....but I was also going to say Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It's really good! If you find a good robe, let us know. I agree....they are hard to find.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Have you ever read any Francine Rivers? I just finished Redeeming Love and I couldn't put it down. It's based on Hosea so it deals with some pretty worldly issues but it's really good.
    Also Kate Moreton is good. Her books are set in England. I haven't read one recently, but I think they're clean!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Um...not that I read romance trash, but most of it's not ENTIRELY clean. I think Sarah's Key and Zookeeper's Wife were both clean, and are excellent. Someone please correct me if they're not.

    ReplyDelete
  24. The thermometer story is cracking me up! Ty bought me a great series by Francine Rivers for my birthday one year. It is about the first Jewish-Roman war and gladiators, etc. I love books that are set in different time periods and this one was so interesting because the story of Jesus was really starting to be shared more and more. http://francinerivers.com/books/series/mark-lion

    I also downloaded a free kindle book on my iPad (work bought it! yay!) called Always the Baker, Never the Bride. It was a cutesy story that actually turned out to be a Christian book. I didn't know that when I started reading it, so it kind of surprised me.

    And now I've written you a novel to read. I guess I should have just e-mailed you or maybe we should have lunch soon. :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Have you ever read any Lori Wick books? She writes Christian fiction and I LOVE her books. They're usually fairly easy reads, but I tend to like easy at the end of a long day. Highly recommend her books. My favorites are The Knight and the Dove, The Princess, and Pretense.

    ReplyDelete
  26. hahaha. This post made me laught a lot. I'm likin' your pregnancy brain. As my sister already told you, Francine Rivers books are WONDERFUL. I think you'd love them. I am decorating my house for fall today. I'm trying to figure out how to conveniently do that as well. I have 2 favorite robes. Both of them have been gifts from Cassie. One is from Victoria Secret and is terry cloth. I love it for after the shwoer because I don't have to be completely dry and it doesn't stick to me :)The other she got me before my wedding and it's from target and it is the softest most comfortable article of clothing I own. Sorry for the novel!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hmm, sick kid, middle of the night and at Walmart make a thermometer of almost any price okay. It would be cheaper than the co pay to take him to the ER to get a temp check. Honestly, I'm the mom of three and have been through some thermometers in the the last 11 years. I still don't have one that I really like...so if you come across one that is accurate and easy to use please share. Yes, I even asked for one for Christmas one year or two years for myself (to use for my family). If the doctor in your house has recommendations he should share too :)

    Aww, I'm not a robe girl. I have one but I just never found one I loved therefore I don't use them...tee shirts and pants are my pjs for the most part.

    Hmm, yes reall m&ms only. Real raisinets too. If you have a Trader Joe's try their Oreo like cookies...my kids like them like Oreo's. I don't like Oreo's at all regardless of the brand.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hey, it was YOUR birthday money, and I would say it was wisely spent! Alas, my husband probably would have less than thrilled also, even if it was technically MY money.

    Have you read the series by Nicole Baart? "After the Leaves Fall", "Summer Snow" and "Beneath the Night Tree". She also wrote "The Moment Between", which is good, too.

    And if you like mystery books, I recommmend the "Invisible Ivy Malone" series by Lorena McCourtney.

    ReplyDelete
  29. My reading picks:

    Sarah's Key - Tatiana de Rosnay
    The Help - Kathryn Stockett
    Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home by Rhoda Janzen

    I've enjoyed those a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  30. My reading suggestions are:

    The Help by Kathryn Stockett
    A Tailor-Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer
    Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent
    And I absolutely *adore* Fifteen by Beverly Cleary. I read it about every other year.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Haha! Just because I'm nosy why was the thermometer $40? Totally not judging at all, I'm just curious!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I haven't commented here before, although I love reading, but I had to share about my love for my robe! I have a gray cotton one from Gap Body. This is the one I have, and it's glorious: http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=64654&vid=1&pid=279493&scid=279493002

    ReplyDelete
  33. I just downloaded for free to my phone... Hurricanes in Paradise. I believe it was from Amazon. Clean! Loved! www.jlfrey.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hi! Francine Rivers "Mark of the Lion" series = AMAZING. Also, I love the Love Comes Softly series by Janette Oke... and basically anything else written by her, as well. Francine Rivers also writes "Lineage of Grace: 5 Stories of Unlikely Women Who Changed Eternity" (it tells the stories of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary from "their" perspective.) If you are looking for a classic series, try reading the Anne of Green Gables series if you haven't already... I have read them ALL several times and I just get lost in the world of Prince Edward Island :) Hope that helps! By the way, I LOVE reading your blog! :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love Young Adult Fiction. I try to read everything my kids do before them. As a teacher I recommend reading all of the Newberry Winners.

    Some of my favorite good clean reads...

    The Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale (anything by her! Young Adult Fantasy)

    Lemon Tart (book 1) by Josi Kilpack (Culinary mystery)

    The Number One Ladies Detective Agency Series

    ReplyDelete
  36. You should come over to my mom's house. She literally has a library going on up in her house. Of all the Christian Historical Fiction Romance you could get your hands on. (Don't know if that's your kind of genre or not) It's lovely.
    As Allison said,Francine Rivers "Mark of the Lion" series = AMAZING. Also, Acts of Faith series by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke is really good. Both are set in the First Century. Very interesting time period. Romance, danger, suspense...and it will grow your faith.

    One that I really like though, being a girly girl at heart, is called, "She Walks In Beauty" by Siri Mitchell. LOVED that book. Very interesting to learn how the ritzy people lived back in the day and all the rules you were under as a young woman (etiquette, attire, social graces etc)And that's all based around a budding romance, of course! =) Love me some historical fiction Christian romance!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Clean books are my forte! I'm always on the hunt and get excited like a kid over Christmas when I find an author that fits that bill. One of the my favorites right now is Cindy Woodsmall. They are very clean, tend to have a little mystery and romance all wrapped in one.

    Ewwww...I HAAAAATE fake oreos. BLEH. However, I Love the thin mint cookies from the dollar store. They are just as good, if not better than my favorite girl scout cookie!

    ReplyDelete
  38. When my son was 7 days old I was so paranoid I went and brought a £50 thermometer. I think that converts to around $90? (my conversions suck lol) Anyways.. My husband went mad and thought I was crazy to spend that much on a thermometer but you know what? It was the best 'baby' thing I ever brought and gave me so much peace of mind!

    Love this post.. It made me smile :) xx

    ReplyDelete
  39. At this point we've been through so many cheap thermometers that didn't work or broke or we couldn't find replacement batteries for that I'm ready to pay over 40 for something that willl just work and be the only one we'll ever need. Plus it's hard to make practical decisions at 4am with a sick baby while pregnant.

    As for books, I'm not sure what you mean by clean but I just finished "Delirium" by Lauren Oliver and liked it a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  40. If you bought a temporal thermometer it's totally worth the $40! I worked with autistic kids for a year and it was so simple to take their temp with a temporal thermometer. Just a swoop across the forehead! I'm in clinicals for nursing school and that's what most of the hospitals in KC are using :).

    ReplyDelete
  41. Clean books are hard to find. I actually have read both of the books you have mentioned in your post and I think they challenged me. I was very frustrated at the end of One Day because I sat through one of the characters sin to find out that it returned at the very end in one of the chapters.

    I used to be a school teacher and if I couldn't find a good adult book, I would look to the Newberry Winners for a good read. I haven't read the past 3 years due to graduate school, but my two favorite books to read to my class were Holes and Walk Two Moons. The authors were very crafty with how they laid at the stories in the first chapter and I bawl every I read Walk Two Moons. Bawl, because it is such a spiritual book without being a Christian book.

    Can't wait to hear what you read next. I am always on the search for something to read, especially when nursing (another round with baby 2 in April!)

    ReplyDelete
  42. Oh, and we have a kind sized bed. If we didn't, I would have to sleep on the couch because my husband slept 29 years of his life by himself and is a bed hog!

    There is nothing wrong with a king sized bed. Plus my daughter has room to wiggle in it when she hangs out with us.

    ReplyDelete
  43. This post cracked me up! I agree with some of the other books mentioned, especially Francine Rivers "Redeeming Love" and Kathryn Stockett's "The Help." I also like Robin Jones Gunn Glenbrooke series.

    I have decorated for fall and love it! I still would like to get some mums for the front porch though.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Was reading Oreos (the real, never the fakes, ew) as I read this post...

    I highly recommend ANYTHING by Karen Kingsbury. She is an uber-cheesy Christian author, but I love her and her inspiring books. Once I was so addicted that my sweet husband went out and bought every single book in her Baxter Family Series and surprised me. That's a nice memory. Anyway, the Baxter Family series is the best gateway Karen Kingsbury drug. You will fall in love with the characters. People actually go to a "Baxter Family Reunion" that she has started holding. That's how much people get into her books.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Children in third world countries don't even HAVE temperature...how dare you.... I'm so just kidding :) Your randomness is hilarious. And people's comments are...also random. And sometimes mean. This is not one of them ;)

    ReplyDelete
  46. I have put up half of my fall decor and will be finishing up this week. Have you read The Help? I also read Stuck in the Middle which was a nice, easy quick read. I am having trouble finding a good robe too.

    ReplyDelete
  47. This is the funniest post I have read... love the $40 thermometer-- its totally something I would do even though I have no money either! Thanks for the good, fun read.

    ReplyDelete
  48. I am so so SO happy for you and your blessing of #2!!!

    I started decorating for fall, but I haven't even made it 1/2 way!

    ReplyDelete
  49. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Sisterchicks series by Robin Jones Gunn. A Christian author who writes fun and easy reading that you can't put down. I think you need to do a post with links on great clean books to read. I don't have a blog but it would be so fun to see what everyone is reading. I love to read and am always looking for a good clean series. I will check your comments for other recommendations. Happy Tuesday !!!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Oh...one more series is "The Potluck Club" by Linda Evans Shepherd, so cute !!!

    ReplyDelete
  52. The Mitford Series by Jan Karon and any book by Karen White

    ReplyDelete
  53. I have $40 dollar temporal thermometer and i LOVE it. I love that I can sneak in and take Goober's temp while he sleeps. I have an thick long fleece robe and a mid length jersey cotton robe. I just choose depending on the season and the temp in the house.

    ReplyDelete
  54. I have a Vick's Thermometor (I am not sure if it was $40...) and it lights up different colors based on the level of fever. It also only takes 8 seconds to get a temp. This was helpful at 2am this week when my babe was running 103 from an ear infection and it lit up in the dark (red! EEK!) That way I wasn't turning on lights. I hope you get $40 worth!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I love this post. It is exactly how I think. It is fun to read how other people think. I also like to see that others are like me and I'm not crazy! Fun post...thanks :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

May the Lord bless you and keep you safe today! Thanks for the comment, friends! :)