Where have I been...have you been there too?

I know I've been in school a looooong time and that blog reading has really fallen by the way side. In case you have been just a smidge busy too...let me help catch you up...

Dawn of mom2my6pack...is divorced! Seriously! Who knew?

Matt, of Matt Liz an Madeline is dating...Seriously! Who knew?

Ree of Pioneer Woman is still madly in love with Marlboro man...we all knew that right?

There you have it...this things I've learned today. Oh, and I think the Jen of the dust bunny hostage has moved...but I'm not sure, I'm just not that caught up yet.

If you're reading my blog and wonder what's up at the Ruchus...weeeeeeeellll

Gratefully we have no divorced or dating scenarios to report. The Ruchus is still as crazy as ever. The kids are freshman, sophomore, and a senior in the fall! Wow! 3 in high school, the moment we've all been waiting for.

The house...well let's just say we won't post any photos.

The man of the place hasn't ripped his pants lately AND business if finally picking up.

I have 32 more classes before being done with grad school...again.

Just wait for the blogomania that will occur at that point!

Be blessed all! Speak at you soon!

Random Ramblings

I have been just a bit verclempt lately....making mental lists of things I treasure...

babies...their tiny and sometimes big voices
my amazing children...I am so proud of them
work...a variety of jobs I love
my husband...strong, patient, loving
down time...it seems far and few between, but I treasure time to watch tv, blog, enjoy nature, travel
my family...brothers...medical miracles like organ donation, my mama...steadfast and the one constant in my life
my mother in law...I'm the only person I know who has their mother in law for a bff
pets...despite the hassle, when the kitty wake you up with over zealous snuggling...life is good
God, church, church family...
summer...warmth on my skin, sunshine...can you ever have too much sunshine?
books...reading...nuf said
learning
friends...I look at photos and am amazed at the wonderful friendships I am blessed with

and...a whole host of other things... but for now...it's enough. What a wonderful life I have.

Robin's Nest Review

I am posting this for parents of kids with Autism. Many many many of our kids are attracted to trading card games like Pokemon, Yu-gi-oh, etc. When I was searching for a safe place for my son to play I thought I had done my due diligence. My son had played at Robin's Nest (a local card shop) every weekend for about 5 years. Sunday when he went in, the owner told him that he was banned from the store. My son called me in tears and asked me to pick him up. Upon my arrival I went in to speak with the owner. She stated she had not banned him, but her "help" had. (her help is her husband by the way) due to the fact that "he wasn't happy there." The real issue is, my son has autism, he has very black and white thinking, and the store had been violating some trading deck policies by selling promo cards. My son simply stated to friends that this shouldn't be happening. The owner told me she'd rather sell them than throw them away. So? Why was my son "banned"? For following rules and having ethics. The owners systematically used special needs kids and young adults against each other to gather the info needed to ban certain kids from their shop. When I questioned that, the owner replied, this is my business. I can do whatever I want. Yes, you sure can, but not with my son. If you have a special needs kid or young adult, I would highly recommend you rethink sending them to Robin's Nest.

Tennis love...

My boy...the sonshine...after all his struggles with physical challenges, balance, strength, tone, and his lack of desire for any kind of team involvement or sports...who'd have thought he would love tennis? He never ceases to amaze me :)

April, where have you gone?

Wow, the days and months, it seems, just fly by! I think I'm going to try a new form of blogging...just a thought or two a day, not a big ole' post. I've given up the cyber farm on facebook, I've also given up the cyber cafe...I realized I had no time left to watch TV if I participated in those two things, and there are a few things on TV I'd really like to watch. I also thought I may have a few minutes to blog and to catch up on your blogs as well :)

So...here's the latest things Ruchus...my precious one is going to run for Ms. Young at Heart...she is young, to start out with, and young at heart as well. We searched for a dress and finally found this princess version...

The precious one looks very precious don't you think?

Onward to my new love/addiction...I pink puffy heart my new D-60...I was finally able to buy my new telephoto lens and the D-60 for dummies book, which would be me! I've even had a few minutes to read it...

Here are my latest...of the chosen one Jake...

Then there's Julio...

He can never sit still long enough for a good photo...

Until next time...

Odd or God?

I have been on a diligent search for a new church. Oh, that rhymes. I think I may have found the one and let me tell you why...as I have been going to a variety of churches, every visit is like mourning the loss of my church all over again. I'll tell you there's nothing like visiting a church and crying through the service. Geez, will I be glad when this 'phase' is over! Anyway...my youngest daughter and I have been to a variety of churches and through the process have really discovered what we like and don't like in a church. (Don't know what you appreciate in your present church? Try changing...it'll become crystal clear!)

I have discovered I don't like rock and roll churches. I love rock and roll Christian music, just not in a church service. I like pastors that are reverent. The tone of voice is SO critical to me, as is the way they pray. I like a smaller church. I like stained glass windows. I like the organ. I like a choir. I like having a hymnal in my hand not words on a screen. I like a neighborhood church. I like grandma's in the nursery, not teens. I like teens participating in the service. I like to get communion from the pastor not handed down the aisle. I like bread, not wafers. I like grape juice, not wine. I like individual cups of grape juice, not dipped bread and the list goes on and on. What an eye opening experience this has been and through it all, I have realized how very much my former pastor has taught me and how many of his lessons have become life lessons for me.

OK, now onto the odd or God part. I Believe in signs. There are signs from God that you're in the right place, that you're following His will, that you're on the right path. Let me share with you the sign from today. After visiting several churches, I had a really good feeling about a local church here after pouring over their website. Through busy schedules we were finally able to visit there today. I was apprehensive because I had my precious great nieces with me and was really nervous about how they would react to a new church/new nursery/new staff. We visited the church and the girls went right in, said goodbye, started playing and were equally as happy as we picked them up. It was TOTALLY as if they didn't notice anything was different. Odd, or God?

Then, I'm in church and the Bible verse today was one that my pastor spoke of which was one of my favorite lesson which referenced Hebrews 13:8. Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday, and forever. He spoke about driving by a church in Rockford that had that verse on the outside of their building and how that always provided him comfort.

Today, I'm sitting in this new church and this high schooler gets up and reads..."Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday, and forever." SERIOUSLY?!? Odd, or God? I vote God. Tears welled up in my eyes and I knew without a doubt I was in the right place.

Finally, as you know, I have had SUCH a hard time with the losses of my pastor, my dad, my aunt Ruth and my Gramma Bee over a relatively short period of time. Guess what? Next week, this church is starting a grief group...for those that are grieving. Odd? I don't think so. God? Most definitely. I've committed to 6 weeks at this church, which I am relieved to know will get me through the Easter Season with some sense of sameness (meaning I won't be at a different church every week) After 6 weeks...we'll see how I feel, and of course we'll vote as a family. I'm sensing this could be good...really good.

One other thing my pastor always hoped for our church was to be a church of neighborhood and of our community. Our new church (dare I call it that) is in the beginning stages of creating teams to go door to door in their neighborhood. They already provide a Friday Fun Fest that serves over 100 children from the neighborhood school. It seems to me that my pastor's vision may be alive and well in this church. Time will tell for sure, but I definitely feel like I have taken a step in the right direction.

My dearest winter

Oh how I love thee..From December 24th through January 1st. Please notice today is February 7th. Please be on your way...