Birthday Giveaway Winner Is.....

The winner of a one year subscription to Martha Stewart magazine is.... wait for it....

wait.for.it.....

......

Amy!!! I think this is the first time Amy has ever left a comment, and this weekend was the first time I've visited her blog. She's a newlywed and I'm totally loving the photos they've posted of their honeymoon. Very cool!

Congratulations, Amy! Email me by tomorrow (Tuesday) night at truckfamily@gmail.com with your address and I'll get this (possibly already read) magazine in the mail to you. Plus the little postcard says to allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of your first issue...AND it says you'll get a free tote bag. How fun is that?

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Birthday Giveaway Number 4...It's a Good Thing

It's that time of the month again! Well, not that time of the month. But the time of the month where I announce the Bloggy Birthday Giveaway!

A little background for anyone new: I love birthdays. Well not birthdays in general. I love my birthday. A whole lot. And the next one I'm having is HUGE! It's my 30th and I'm pretty stoked for it. I decided to start celebrating a wee bit early (my birthday's in June) and I've been giving away gifts for the last three months.

I announce what the giveaway is at the end of each month, you leave a comment that enters you to win, and then on the 3rd of the next month (which is just a few days later) I announce the winner.

Fun, huh?!

I KNOW!!!

I've been thinking for the last few weeks about what I'd like to win, should I actually win something. Thinking about something I'd like to have but wouldn't usually buy for myself. A lot of times that's how we women-folk roll. We like stuff but to buy anything for ourselves seems too indulgent. Or, we'd like to have something but it's not really a priority because coffee is the priority and you can't afford anything because you buy coffee at 5 bucks a pop!

Not that I'd know anything about that last scenario I just offered up.

Un uh.

I realized that I love to get mail. Magazines especially. Magazines are very fun mail.

Sooooo....

<center><a href="http://joshua24-15.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt94/memoriesbydesign/Lil-House-Birthday-Giveaway.jpg"/></a></center></td>

Is......

A one year subscription to Martha Stewart Living! Plus the current magazine that was on the shelf today. Which I may or may not look through before I send it to you. Not that I'd do anything like that.

Un uh.

Alright, so here's all the fine print that isn't actually fine print: If you leave a comment, you are entering yourself into the giveaway. Should you be the winner you'll need to email me with your name and address so I can get your goods in the mail to you.

To have your name entered TWICE, copy the code up above and post it on your blog with a link on over here. Make sure you come back and leave a second comment letting me know you did it.

Since the 3rd falls on a Saturday this month, I'll post the winner on Monday the 5th. You have until Sunday night to enter!

Happy Commenting and Good Luck!!!

I met Doogie Houser Today

I had my annual female appointment today. I got up. Showered, shaved...and had a date with the doctor.

Sigh...

The nurse comes in and goes through a list of questions. Then before she leaves the room says, "Oh, and Doctor has an intern helping him today."

"A boy or girl intern?" I ask her. Already knew what her answer would be...

"A boy." She tells me.

"So, he'll stand up by my head, right?" I break out in a sweat. As if one boy down by my girly parts wasn't enough?!

"No, honey. He watches what the doctor does. Are you okay with that or would you rather he didn't come in?"

I bust out laughing. I kid you not. I wanted to cry and the next best thing was laughter. I was able to control it for a minute to answer her.

"He's gotta learn somehow, huh?" Lovely that he gets to learn with my parts. Ugh.

"Thanks for being such a good sport about it, Sarah. Here's your paper to wrap around you" And out she goes. Leaving me with a napkin to cover my girl parts.

Yes, I was a good sport. And of course Sugar is asking questions about why I'm taking my clothes off at the doctor. Am I going to go potty on the table, is that why I took off my pants?

My doctor walks in.

With a 12 year old boy. No, seriously. He looked TWELVE! My very own Doogie Houser. Lucky me.

I know it sounds crazy but the worst part of an annual exam to me is the breast exam. I'll give a little TMI (as if this whole post hasn't been) and let you know that for the past 20 years that I've had these here things called breasts (a word I hate, btw) they've been nothing but trouble for me. I hate mine. Hate.mine.

And so, I'd rather have the Pap part done over the breast exam. But of course, the breast exam is routine and is done first. Doogie's in the corner. And my doctor starts the exam. He asks if I do them myself and I answer honestly. No.

He tells me I'm of the age I need to start being concerned with it. He had two 26 year old patients with breast cancer and neither of them are alive today.

Lovely.

While I was sad for those two girls, it didn't make having my exam done any easier.

Then the other fun part. With Doogie standing by his side my doctor finishes out the rest of the exam.

It's never as bad as I imagine it's going to be. And having Sugar in the room to talk and ask questions took my mind off of it. While I hate going in, I know it's something that must be done.

Just hoping Doogie isn't there next time.

Dear God, Can you Please turn me into a Boy. These Hormones are Killing Me.

Do you ever just wish you were a boy?

Normally I don't.

Hormonally I do.

These last few weeks, like 6 of them...I've been a hormonal wreck. Anything and I mean anything is making me cry. Or mad. Or depressed.

I'm a big fat mess.

Do you get like this? Are you like this? It's not pretty.

Tonight I asked my husband if he wished he'd married a boy. He looked at me like I was from outer space.

"Why would I wish that?" He asks me.

"So that way you wouldn't have to deal with hormones."

"Oooh, good point."

Do you see? My husband is even considering marrying a boy just so he doesn't have to deal with my hormones!

That's when you know it's bad.

Friday Facts of my Life

I'm going to be posting my birthday giveaway on Monday. It's early. But it's my blog and I'll change things up if I want to. I think it's something almost all of you would enjoy, it's a good thing.

I signed up for Netflix again. We do this almost every fall because there's nothing else to do in the evenings. We've enjoyed the "Watch it Now" feature.

In the last year I've gained about 5 lbs. For me, five lbs is the difference of buttoning my pants all the way up or having to use a rubberband for the last button. Josh says I should go buy another pair of jeans. I refuse. I like the two pair I own, thankyouverymuch. So what if they don't button all the way. That's so overrated.

Christmas is exactly three months away. I only have one Christmas gift so far. I'm behind schedule. But at least my gift is for the hardest person I have to shop for (hi, Chad!)

We're going to add to our family. Yes. We finally made up our minds. And it's official. We're going to get a cat. We've had several cats since we've lived here. Several. And all of them have met the demise of either our road, rat poisoning, or lead poisoning. Only two of the many cats we've had did not urinate in our house. And I think those who did are the cause of why those after them continued the trend. We've had the carpets cleaned, painted the walls and cleaned cleaned cleaned. I'm hoping this will have done the trick to have gotten the smell out. We can't smell it but animals seem to. Now, we start the process of what kind of cat? Indoor? Outdoor? Both? Male? Female? Kitten or Cat?

My last load of clothes is drying. It's so nice to have all the laundry done.

I mowed the lawn yesterday. My husband was happy to have one of the chores he usually does, done. Is there a chore you could for your husband to lighten his load?

Because of Josh's raise, I was able to put an extra $60 on the Visa card. $116.76 left! I may just end up paying it off next week, I'm so excited.

I went to Starbucks today. My coffee increased in price. Dramatically. From $4.44 to $4.82. Absurd. ABSURD!

One of my FB/Bloggy friends called me "babe" this week, I thought I was going to die. She's hilarious.

I'm having a Scrapbook party next Saturday. I'm pretty excited for it. Food and friends, doesn't get much better than that.

Clogged the drain in my shower this morning. Thinking I'll start shaving my legs more than once a month to avoid doing that again.

The Purpose

First off, an apology for anyone who saw some junk in my right sidebar under "Road Noise." That's my Twitter account and apparently it was hacked. My last five tweets are supposed to appear there and earlier today it was a bunch of junk. Junk I didn't post. Sorry if there was anything offensive. Eek.

Why am I posting again today when I said earlier I wouldn't be online? Because the girls are down for naps and because I can.

This morning by having everything besides our house phone unplugged, I was able to devote myself entirely to my children. I know most women already do this. But it's something I struggle with.

A morning routine for some may look like this:
Get out of bed. Make bed. Pee. Brush teeth. Shower. Dress. Feed family.

Mine sorta looks like this*:
Think about getting out of bed. Finally get out of bed. Consider turning on the computer. Decide to potty first. Turn on the computer. Think about making breakfast. Check email instead. Make breakfast. And while girls are eating check FB.

*a slight exaggeration

I was talking to Emily on the phone a couple of days ago and she said a phrase that has really stuck with me. "You want to be a purposeful parent." And she's right, I do. But I find so often that I'm a get the day over with so I can breathe easy kinda parent.

I go about my household chores and as I lay in bed at night, realize I never once had the girls help me with anything. They are both old enough-even at 4 and 1- to help me. It's my responsibility to teach them to be wives and mothers. Even if they aren't ever wives or mothers, they need to learn to be keepers of their homes. They need to learn that beds don't make themselves, floors don't get vacuumed mysteriously in the night and clothes, sadly, don't FAPA themselves.

Cooking and cleaning is so much easier and goes much faster when I do it myself. But what am I teaching them? Nothing. So today, with the computer off my mind was focused on them. Sugar wanted all 537 of her Hot Wheels cars to play with but her room was messy. Most times I will clean it to get it done and that's that. Today, I informed her that if she wanted the cars, she'd have to clean her room first. I didn't leave the room and come back and expect it to be done right. I stayed in the room with her and saw her through her task, helping her along the way. Then it was time to make her bed. It drove me crazy because there were wrinkles but she smoothed out what she could and I had to remind myself she's 4.

Once the room was clean her cars came out. The girls played together quietly while I folded laundry and Sugar helped put clothes away. Spice had helped put toys away and then moved on to destroy the bookcase. Grrr.

At breakfast time I actually sat with them. Usually I clean or email while they eat. Today I sat with my coffee and read Proverbs 22 (today is the 22nd) to them. It was so enjoyable and so peaceful. And of course I want to kick myself for not having it this way every morning. I am Queen Beatmyselfup. It's easy for me to sit and dwell on every way I have failed my husband and my girls. I'm learning that when I do that Satan wins. He loves to see me beat myself up. He loves to remind me of my failures. He loves to stick them to me.

Today, I'm not going to beat myself up. Today I'm going to recognize areas I need to change and not just recognize them but actually change them. I've known all along the areas that need fixing. I've just chosen to let them go un-fixed. I'm also choosing to recognize I can't do it all in my own strength but need the Lord's help. Oohh, how I need the Lord's help.

Cooking and cleaning and everything about my day may take longer but I'm going to have my girls accompany me in as many tasks as possible. And soon enough they'll be able to handle the tasks without me by their side. It may take longer now but it'll be worth it in the long run.

I'm not going to concern myself with getting breakfast dishes done while the girls are eating. I'm going to sit with them and talk with them about our upcoming day. Read more from Proverbs. And then they can help me do the dishes. Spice is plenty capable-even at 1-to put silverware in the dishwasher. She's also amazing at closing the thing.

Where's there purpose in rushing my day? There isn't.

It's taking the time for my girls. To love them. To train them. To show them Jesus.

The Day my Girls are Number One

I'm writing this on Monday.

To publish on Tuesday.

Tonight I've decided that tomorrow (which is actually today) I am going to stay off the computer. Off of FB. No Twittering or reading blogs or emails. And since my phone hasn't been charged the last two days, I'm going to leave it uncharged for one more day.

I will spend time with my girls. And with the laundry basket. Maybe I'll even empty the laundry basket and put the girls in it. And by empty, I mean throw everything on the couch. Like I'd actually FAPA* the laundry!

I've been thinking about how I'm constantly trying to keep up with this place that so often my sweet children are pushed aside because I'm too busy. But I find that I'm never too busy to put down the broom to check my email, FB or twitter. Or your blog. (see, it's all your fault!)

Starting now, I'm going to put less stock in making sure I'm not falling behind on all things chore-ish and invest more that energy into a sweet four year and spunky one year old.

I'm not saying I don't think the house should be clean. A clean house is wonderful. But it's not the most important thing.

So, my friends. I will miss you this day. But my girls are stinkin' cute and I want to spend this day with them.

*Fold and Put Away.

The Monday Randomness

My girls are sick. And even though I've washed my hands no less than 1,317 times, I've caught their cold.

Jerks.

So, my throat hurts and is itchy. I keep sneezing and my eyes weigh about 235 lbs apiece. What's up with that?

Harvest was supposed to start today. But it didn't. So my husband is on a day run with Sugar. She wanted to go today because he's driving a different Peterbilt. It's lighter than the one he normally drives. And when it comes to apples, every pound counts. The more weight he can haul, the more money he makes. So, even though he's not hauling apples today, he's already traded trucks and Sugar thinks it's pretty cool.

So, off they went to load hay and head to Sumas. Which is about 4 minutes from Canada. And about 6 hours from our house.

I'm left with a crabby Spice baby. She and I don't like being sick. And we're sick together. Quite the pair we're making today. She has snot dried to her face with her bangs sticking in it. At least I don't have that problem.

Two of the six neighbor kids were over yesterday. I've really had to pray about my attitude and heart toward them. And I believe the Lord is working on me. Usually I roll my eyes and let out a heavy sigh when I see them on their way across the driveway heading to our house. But yesterday I didn't mind, even though they were here for close to five hours. They went home for dinner and were back within half an hour. Josh has all the patience in the world for them and even enjoys them. At about 7 last night he got the brilliant idea to put the popcorn popper in the middle of the living room floor and popped popcorn without the lid on it. We had popcorn everywhere. While they were doing that I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and let *L* have the paddle covered in dough. I let her have the paddle, so I could have bowl. ;)

At ten til 8 they headed out the door with cookies and smiles. And I was actually sad to see them go.

Josh has been making me coffee the last two days. It's not Starbucks but it's sooo much cheaper and I really need to put on my big girl panties and just stop.buying.coffee!!!

Josh was given a raise a couple of weeks ago. He gets paid per mile and they upped the amount. For those last three checks we've been taking that extra money and applying it toward our Visa card on top of the payment we already make to it. I checked the balance today and it's only at $176! It will be paid off within the next two or three weeks. Woo hoo! Next, we'll hit the payment for the bill from this day. CT scans aren't cheap.

When Josh called me a few weeks ago to tell me he got a raise, I was so proud of him. He's been working for Nancy for five months and they've been so good to us. My husband has never asked for a raise, ever, from any job he's had. He's always told me, "I'll be paid whatever I'm worth to them." And he's fine with that. Even when I think he deserves more because he's so incredible, he's totally fine with whatever he's given because he knows we'll be taken care of. It was nice to see that they're thankful for him.

I'm currently writing a really long blog post (no, not this one, even though it is getting awfully long) about my life from day one. It's interesting. And probably so boring. But I'm sure I'll publish on it one of these days soon. So, the night you have insomnia-come and read it. =)

Random post over. You can carry on with your day now.

The Winners of all things Truck Stop Worthy

It's been driving you crazy, hasn't it? Wondering all week long if you're the winner of the amazing truck stop prize.

The wait is over my friends.

After consulting random.org, the winners are as follows:

Jeana:


That would be a fish magnet. Like a chick magnet but um, not. Sugar picked this one out. :)

Breanna: Oh, you're going to love me. ;)


An eagle keychain. Kinda looks like it was supposed to be branded with the Harley Davidson logo but just didn't meet their standards. I have no idea why not...

Giordi, Giordi, Giordi....my dear friend of my youth group days. The last prize is so you. ;)

That's right, a transparent sticker for your car or kitchen window, maybe even for your classroom! Hiway Honey, my new nickname for you.

Thank you to everyone who left sweet comments on my anniversary post. You all rock. And I wish I had a truck stop prize for everyone. Not sure you wish that though. :)

So, girlies, email me or FB me with your addresses and I'll priority mail these bad boys to ya.

Jeana, if your address hasn't changed since the fruit fly epidemic we had here last year, then I gotcha covered.

And in other non truck stop prize winning glory! Emily! You've won a trip to see us! ;)

Effort on my Part, Input on Yours

I'll have you know that I started a TMI post but reconsidered. Sometimes too much is, well, too much.

No need to thank me.

Moving on...

Yesterday afternoon I spent some time replying to the comments from my anniversary post. If you've supplied your email to blogger, it shows up in my email with your comment.

I love that feature but don't always utilize it.

So often I read the comments you leave and while I'm so thankful to those of you who DO comment, I don't let you know that.

That's going to change.

And not just with blog comments but my personal email life as well. I emailed a friend back last night after receiving her email two WEEKS ago (apology accepted, Linda?) And I have another friend (hi, Natalie!) that I haven't replied to yet either. I'm so lame.

Kinda makes me sick of myself. It's total laziness on my part. I'll read the email-usually from my phone-and then just put off replying. And then I get to the point that it's been so long since I've replied that I'm embarrassed to!

Anyone else hearin' me?

Or am I alone in this?

My friends, whether in real life or those through my blog, who I consider friends just as much-mean the world to me. And I've failed at communicating that.

I'm really sorry.

Here's where I'd like your input.

Would you like me to always reply to the comments you've left on my blog?

Do you leave a comment and then come back later to see the comment thread or to see if I've replied?

Did you know you can have follow-up comments emailed to you from blogger?

I'm thinking if I don't have an email address for you and you've left a comment, I'll just reply in the comments section. Otherwise, you'll receive an email from me. And I'll try reeaally hard to stay on top of it!

And if you'd like, you can always email me with your! email address!

Tomorrow I post the three winners of the three uh-mazing truck stop prizes!


-- Post From My iPhone

The Truck

Sammy asked for pictures. I'm delivering.




This is my view of the girls from my seat. Spice (on the left) is showing her typical protest. Sugar is sucking her thumb and watching a movie. Josh had to fix the dvd player (he didn't fix anything tho, I just hadn't plugged the lighter dealie-o in all the way) (so no worries , Em, your dvd player is great!)



That's Josh's control center. I couldn't even tell you what half the knobs, buttons or switches do. I'm sure Sugar could.

The steering wheel was one he purchased about 6 years ago when he drove truck before. It was a spendy steering wheel and his boss paid him back for it as a nice bonus. I was so happy he got to put it in this truck. And so was he.



This is our tiny dorm-size fridge. Right now I have some chicken, some homemade jam, breakfast bagels and burritos. And some milk. I've yet to figure out how to fully stock the fridge so that we aren't eating out all the time. Any tips from anyone are welcome. Begged for.



This is the glove box that sits directly in front of me. It has our deodorant, toothbrushes/paste, crayons, bills of lading, notepads, short straws (in case Starbucks gives me a long one-cause I don't like the long ones,) earbuds for my iPod/Phone, a screwdriver and a Pampered Chef forged cutlery knife-a must have for every glove box. Basically it's a junk-drawer and I'll be honest I cleaned it out before I took a picture of it.

I'll take more later but wanted to at least share a few. I'll post pics of what our sleeping arrangements look like and our limited storage area.

We have a curtain between the sleeper and the cab and the girls have learned they like it closed so they can crawl under it. Oh the things that entertain them.

I know you have questions waiting to be answered by my husband and he wiiiill answer them-some year.

But if you have any I can answer about the truck or our weeks on the road, go for it.

Thank you for all your sweet comments yesterday, you still have time to enter to win a truckstop prize. I now have them all!! :) I kinda don't want to post pictures til I announce who's won, it's almost embarrassing the items one can find.

.-- Post From My iPhone

Three Year Blogiversary

I'm the type of girl who is really good at starting a project.

I'm also the type of girl who is really good at never finishing said project.

So, for me to have started blogging three years ago and to still be doing it is pretty amazing to me. I'm kinda proud of myself right now and if you could see me, you'd see I'm typing with one hand while patting myself on the back with the other.

Because I can multi-task.

I started blogging because I love to journal...but my thoughts come quickly and I get annoyed that a pen can't keep up; typing my thoughts is much faster than writing them.

Sugar was just over a year when I started doing this. She was barely walking but talking up a storm. Now, she has a sister who is just over a year who barely talks but runs circles around me.

I thought I was tired three years ago with one child. I laugh now at my foolishness.

Three years ago I blogged about being a poor housekeeper, lazy wife and slacking mother.

Wow, what three years doesn't change...

If I weren't blogging from my phone, I'd link you to my first post. It wasn't anything exciting. You know-the way my posts are NOW.

Three years ago my husband had a job he enjoyed but didn't love. We'd daydream of our retirement years when he could drive a semi again and we could travel. We never thought our dreams of going over the road would come about 35 years earlier than planned. We never dreamed it'd be possible to load up two small children into a Peterbilt and drive aroud the Pacific Northwest.

But we're doing it. And so far I'm living to blog about it.

In the three years I've been journaling our lives and reading the lives of others, I've been blessed more than I ever dreamed possible.

I started blogging as a bit of an outlet. Never realizing I'd make friends and build lasting relationships. I never thought I'd be so emotionally attached to the lives of other women I'd never met. Never thought I'd share joys and sorrows with women across the US or a state or two away. I didn't know that girls who've never met me would send me emails of love and encouragement.

You guys are family to me.

Honestly and truly.

Thank you for being here through my rough patches. Thank you for encouraging me in all areas of my life.

Kristie and Treena, you two were the first and only commenters for awhile. Thanks for sticking around. :)

To celebrate year Three, I'm giving away three prizes. One prize for three readers.

And since our famiy is OTR this week, your prizes will be some sort of truck stop paraphernalia.

I can sense your excitement even out here in Whoknowswhere, MT.

This morning I was looking thru one of the truck stops for gifts for you. Had my hands not been full of hot coffees and a half gallon of milk, one of the prizes was going to be a can of Nalley's chili. What made that can of chili so special you ask....

It was $3.29!

Insanity.

Rather than take out a second mortgage for that chili, I left with my coffee and milk.

So here's the deal. You're entering today for a completely random, who-knows-what-the-prizes-will-be.

Leave a comment to enter. And tell me what you'd like to see more or less of on this here blog of mine.

I'll get some truck stop prizes together this week and announce the winners (and prizes!) on Friday.

You have til Friday before I post winners to enter. Look how nice I am leaving you all that time. No wonder you all keep coming back. ;)

And if you read and never comment, as a prize for me, since it's my anniversary and all....could you pretty please with sugar and pink sprinkles on top, say howdy? Thanks!

Happy Commenting and thank you for THREE awesome years!

Oooh! If you post anonymously, could you leave your email address with your comment that'd be great-so I can letcha know you won.

Thanks!
-- Post From My iPhone

Sometimes being a girl isn't all it's cramped up to be.

I'm a hormonal wreck people! Oh my word.

One FB status made me tear up, just knowing she's headed to Illinois instead of being 4 hrs from me makes me sad. Another girl's blog about her son raising all the money for their dog made me tear up.

And learning that my sister is moving back to Montana is making me want to bawl.

Today my girls and I will meet Erica, Derek, their kiddos, my mom and aunt at Denny's. We'll sit and have lunch and then they'll be on their way back to Montana. I'm so very thankful that Derek is in remission and well enough to leave Seattle. But I'm sad they're leaving. Boo.

My husband has been gone since Tuesday and in that amount of time I've done almost zero housework. I've just been letting it sit til the last minute. He should be here around 6:30 and I'm pretty sure I'll start cleaning around 6:00. It's just how I roll.

Thank you for leaving me comments about where you'd live if you could. I even Googled Whitefish, MT Keely. =) And I think we could totally live there. One of the perks of Josh's job is that we can basically live anywhere in WA, OR, ID and quite possibly MT. Family is definitely a draw for us, and partly what keeps us where we are, but I wouldn't mind being away. Even for just a season.

When I'm frustrated and discouraged I remind myself, this is just a season. Whether it's dealing with my girls, this crummy town, relationships with my family and sometimes even my marriage.

Seasons.

So, before I start crying or getting all sappy about how much I'm going to miss my friend while she's in Illinois (as if she lives next door or something) or about a teenager earning and saving hard earned money for a dog or about my sister moving 10 hours away, or whatever else...I'm going to go now.

Trying not to be a lazy blogger means you get a bunch of weird stuff coming from me. Now I bet you're hoping I would have bloggy-breaked until Christmas, huh?

Random Junk

I yell at my kids.

I don't read my bible.

I've started a workout video that I have a love/hate relationship with. Mostly love, though.

I'm ready to move out of this town.

I don't know where we'd go but I know I'm ready.

I haven't been online nearly as much as I used to be.

Mainly because I've been holed up in my basement cleaning, organizing, sorting and chucking. Man, it feels good.

I had a yard sale last Friday. One lady gave me money that she dug out of her bra. Trying to keep a straight face with my mom and sister there was almost impossible.

A man came to the yard sale and came up to us and said, "Beach Bunnies?" I knew that wasn't what he said but it reallllly sounded like it. After processing it for a sec I realized he said, "speak Spanish?"

I don't so he left. But man we got a laugh out of how retarded I was.

I just made instant mashed potatoes for the first time in 11 years. They are nasty. And now I know why it's been 11 years since I've made them.

I am two payments away from not having a Visa card balance anymore. I'm freaking out excited. (Denise, Kristie...aren't you proud?! )

In 20 days I have my wonderful yearly exam. I'd rather eat my own arm.

It's going to cost me about $250 to have that wonderful exam but ya know what, it's worth it. If it's been awhile for you...please, make an appointment.

My girls are taking naps at the moment and I'm getting a small glimpse as to what Heaven is going to be like.

I slept with 6 loads of clean laundry last night. I dreamt about dryer sheets.

I got a new bible from Amazon yesterday. It's black and red and I love her. Guess now I should open it up and read it, huh?

My girls will be home-schooled and it kinda freaks me out that I'm the one who's going to be teaching them. Helloooo 2.7 GPA student right here. They'll be smarter than me by 2nd grade.

Next week will be three years that I've been blogging. I plan to give something away to three of my blog readers. Because I'm cool like that. If you give them free stuff, they will come.

My sister and BIL are leaving Seattle tomorrow. His treatment is done and he's well enough to leave. Isn't that so awesome?

My husband has a BFF. It's this girl's husband.

My house is not self-cleaning. When I find a house that is...I'm willing to pay millions.

I've considered deleting my blog because I've been a lazy blogger lately. I know I don't like lazy bloggers, I don't want to be one of those.

Okay. Done with random junk.

Now I have a question for you. If you could live anywhere in the United States, where would you live? Why?

Hello, Plano

Just a little shout out to Plano, TX!

(and those who lurk from there!)

Bloggy Blech

I've been world's worst blogger lately.

I'm totally aware.

But there's not much I can do about it. I just have nothing.

I got nothin'.

And I'm also aware that my husband has yet to answer your questions. I gave him the list and he's been in a very long process of writing out his own post to you to answer all the questions.

I'd say it should be ready for you by Christmas.

As for when I blog again...I don't know if it will be that soon.

Winner Is....

Brittany!!!

Email me your address girlie and I'll get this in the mail to you!

Thanks to everyone who signed up.

I'm officially NINE months from 30!!!

and we are 28 days til the next Birthday Giveaway announcement!

Birthday Giveaway!

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Can you believe it?! An entire month has already flown by!

The giveaway this month is really hard for me to um, give away. I love it. A lot. But I must love all of you waaay more!


Two fun items! A 'Memories-Made-Easy-Journal' and a grocery shopping planner!


The tabs are: Meal Planning, Shopping Lists, TakeOut Menus, Recipes and Leftovers


Recipes are included!


And the 'leftovers' tab contains some fun stickers where you can fill in what day it was opened, what day it needs to be discarded and who the food belongs to. So fun!

The journal comes with a coupon to send in for a FREE subscription to Parents magazine. So, whether you're having a baby or know someone who is-I thought this was a total bonus!

The journal has cool little entries that are started for you. Here's just a couple: 'you make me smile when you...' 'i love you more each day because...' 'i'll never forget when you..' and so on.

There ya have it!

Birthday Giveaway Number 3!

To enter, just leave a comment and be prepared to email me your address if you're chosen.

If you'd like to increase your chance of winning, add my button to your blog and/or post on your own blog between now and tomorrow night about the giveaway. Make sure you let me know you've done it.

And for anyone who has NEVER commented before you'll be entered twice automatically (you know, IF you leave a comment this time) and you'll be entered a third time should you post to your blog about the Birthday giveaway!

Winner will be randomly selected through random.org on Thursday, September 3rd (Nine months before my 30th!!!! Birthday!)

Good luck!!!

If you're wondering what the hay this Birthday Giveaway is about...go here.

*sorry the photos are kinda lame, took them with my phone.

An Ode to Dorothy

That day in October 2006 changed my life.

The day I came over to help you clean your house before you moved into your new one.

We hadn't seen each other in 8 years but this day would be the beginning of a friendship I so badly needed.

A friendship, I believe we both badly needed.

Pretty much for the next two years we'd be inseparable. It was either dinner at your house with your fam or dinner at my house with mine. At one point Josh asked me, "what did we do before life with Amber?" To which I had no response.


We were pool dolphins. Not sharks, because those are scary and we're anything but.

We brought back the fanny pack.
We started the annual Christmas get together.
Simple trips like to Target or WinCo, it didn't matter how simple it was, we had fun. We made it fun!

Of course there were the exciting trips to see Dirty Dancing with Johnny and Baby on the Big Screen or when we fulfilled our lifelong dream of seeing New Kids on the Block in CONCERT this last November.

The nights we had the cops called on us. Ahem.
Times remembering all the boys we loved in high school that never returned said love. Dumb boys anyhow, huh? Who needs 'em?

You've been there for me for almost three years. You've been an amazing friend.

And for the last few months, things have been different. We're changing. We're growing. And sadly, it doesn't seem that we're doing these things together. And quite honestly, it makes me panic. I haven't seen you in two months, it's been almost two months since we've talked on the phone.

But you aren't far from my thoughts, my prayers. My heart.

A year ago today I was making you Peanut Butter Bars and praying the UPS man would get here in time with your gift before you, Shawn, Josh and I headed to Red Robin in your honor.

Today, I sit here without a gift for you, because I just have no clue, I'm at a loss. I don't know what you're doing today. Or what you're doing tonight. I know you don't care much for your birthday but I'm hoping someone is making your day memorable. Letting you know how special you are, how amazing of a friend you are.

I love you, Amber.

Happy Birthday, my friend.
Love,
Blanche

Talk to the Man

I haven't forgotten you. It's just that I seem to be outta stuff to write.

So, how 'bout we shake things up a bit?

We like to shake, no?

How about in the comments section, or in an email, you ask my husband a question. About whatever.

You only get my side of things, this way...you can get the real version. ;)

I'll take questions up til Friday morning and then my post on Friday will be his answers to everything you're just d.y.i.n.g to know.

Because I like the Number 3 and I have nothing else to blog about

Three names I go by:
1. Mama
2. Sarie
3. Sarah

Three jobs I’ve had in my life:
1. Walking paper route girl
2. Barista
3. Assistant Manager at Pier 1 Imports

Three places I’ve lived:
1. Arizona
2. California
3. Washington State

Three favorite drinks:
1. Iced Hazelnut Breve
2. Sangria
3. Slightly sweetened Iced Tea

Three television shows I watch:
1. We don't have tv.
2.
3.

Three of my favorite foods:
1. Oreos with a glass of milk
2. Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches (made by someone else)
3. anything Mexican

Three of my favorite restaurants:
1. El Valle
2. Red Robin
3. Chang's Mongolian Grill

Three things I couldn’t live without:
1. a toothbrush
2. flip flops
3. Kitchen Aid mixer

Three things I can’t stand:
1. People who chew with their mouth open
2. Slow/bad drivers (post on that coming to a blog near you!)
3. phone calls that aren't returned.

Three things I’m decent at:
1. Sleeping
2. Eating
3. Laughing

Three things I’m looking forward to this weekend:
1. Church on Sunday, I feel like it's been forever.
2. Cooking dinner.
3. Hopefully finishing the last bit of fence we have left to put up!

Three things I’m addicted to:
1. Blogging-whether reading them or writing my own.
2. Coffee
3. Flip flops

Head on over to Amy Beth's if ya wanna see her answers!

Check Up

I went in today for the first of my six-month checkups. For two years I've gone in every three months to have my liver function checked. They're on the look out to see if my cancer has returned.

The lab slip came in the mail a couple of weeks ago. The return address always causes a lump in my throat. I know what's inside the envelope.

I was on the phone with a friend today and I remembered I needed to have my blood work done. Today has been better than yesterday (by far) but still my mood is blah. I wasn't really excited about getting the girls changed into clothes fit for public, going out into public and then dealing with the public.

Our community hospital makes me want to commit myself.

Alas, today wasn't so bad. I was registered fairly quickly. They had to change my insurance information since we've changed that with Josh's new job. Now, I'll get a bill for the full amount instead of just 20%.

That gives me the shivers.

The girl registering me asks if I know where the lab is.

I tell her I do.

I've walked that hallway many many times.

The girls and I hold hands, we round the corner and we're almost to the door of the tiny waiting room when Spice trips over nothing and bloodies her nose. She's screaming because that's what she does best.

I offer her food.

Because that's what I do best.

She calms down and we enter the room. No one was in there but us and that was glorious.

They called my name and the girls and I went into an even smaller room. Sugar knows what to do. She stands very still by the door and watches. Spice sat on my lap and I had to keep her grubby hands from trying to grab the needle.

The girl who stuck me, stuck me good. It hurt this time. Usually it doesn't.

She hands Sugar some pretty princess paper to color when we get home and tells us to have a nice day.

I load the girls into the hot van and I'm thinking how I deserve a coffee. It's hot. I've been taking care of the girls alone for a couple days. I was just screened for cancer, etc.

But I drove home.

Leaving the hospital parking lot I told the Lord that I really don't even know what to pray every time I have my blood drawn. I trust that He had a plan with the whole cancer deal and that He still has a plan now.

I'm just praying that no cancer is still part of that plan.

Nevermind

Over the last few weeks Josh and I have been talking about having another baby. Not any time soon. Just some time.

After days like today I realize I can barely handle the two I have.

Adding another would surely do me in.

I know not all days are like today. But many of them are. I think it would be unwise for us to add more babies to our family just because I'm worried I'll regret it later.

Right now two seems more than I can handle.

My Day

It's not been good. Sorry. Don't mean to be a downer. It's just kinda sucked. I don't know if I'm pms'ing or what my deal is but seriously.

Rough.

Day.

I'm really wanting to lose weight and I'm really sucking at it. I was stuck at 135 forever and hated it. Now I'm pushing 145 and really wishing I could go back a coupla months when I felt fat at 135.

I finally packed up every piece of size 2 and extra small clothing I own. It's all washed and folded nicely. Waiting to go to a store tomorrow where I'm hoping to make a lil cashola for my trip this weekend.

Packing up these clothes was hard. Embarrassingly hard. I have such an emotional attachment to these clothes. They represent a time when I was thin. A time where I was excited to get dressed in the morning because I didn't worry about covering up this fat roll or that fat roll. I loved my jeans. I loved wearing skirts because at that time I didn't have cankles.

Now...now I have a couple different outfits. I feel fat. I feel frumpy. And skinny people are wondering, "um, then why don't you do something about it?!"

Easy to say.

Not always so easy to do.

Part of me feels like packing those clothes up and taking them to be sold means I've given up on ever wearing them again. That I'm succumbing to being overweight forever. I don't want to feel that way. I don't want that to be the truth.

Josh didn't want me to get rid of the clothes.

"You'll never be able to afford those brands of clothes again if you lose the weight."

He's right.

At the time I had no kiddos and worked at an espresso stand making great tips. I could pay cash for fun clothes. And I really liked it.

I'll never be able to pay $97 for a pair of jeans again.

Enough of the clothes talk.

Let's move on to parenting!

I'm bad at it.

Spice is the naughtiest baby I've ever met. She will sit at the table and cry/scream until food is placed in front of her. I just stare. Sugar was NOT like that. I thought it was because I was this amazing (pfft) mom and she was just a good girl. Not so. I'm still the same mom, I just have a kid with a completely different personality than her sister.

Josh tells me all these things I need to be doing to work with Spice. It's easy to say when you're 500 miles away...

She's teething. Molars are coming in and she's letting me know it. The other day I couldn't put her down. I'd try and she'd clench her chubby legs around my waist as hard as she could. Had I not been so appalled, I may have found it funny.

She's a beast.

Shall we move on to my housekeeping skillz?

I don't have any.

Moving on.

Right now I'm just wish everything that needs to be done before tomorrow evening were already done.

And wishing it were Saturday morning.

The To Do List and a LOT of Parenthesis

It's barely 7 am and I'm already exhausted.

Just thinking about everything I need to do is tiring me out.

Being gone five days a week and then jetting off once the weekend comes leaves our real house (the one not on 26 wheels) a little ragged.

We aren't here very much. So when we are, we choose to just hang out and not do much in the area of work. However, we have a house that always needs work. Sitting around, hanging out, are not things we should do when we're here. But it's what we do.

And then times like now make me realize I have just GOT to get SOMEthing done around here. Josh called his mom and asked if she'd watch the girls today while I did some work. She, of course, agreed.

In a couple of hours I'll take the girls over there and then start these projects:

• Trim and mow the yard (weather permitting, looks like it could rain)
• Trim and mow the pasture (again, weather permitting)
• Pull weeds around our property ( I may use the weed burner if it's not raining)
• Clean off our back deck of all toys, junk, dog hair, etc. (yes, DOG HAIR)
• Move the rigs out from under the carport and clean in there
• Work on our upstairs (gives me the shivers just thinking about it)
• Vacuum
• Dust
• Clean the bathroom (one of the things I'm EXCITED to do. I love to clean the bathroom.)
• Laundry, only two loads to do woo hoo!
• Pack up my pre-children clothes and take them to this really fun store Melissa told me about that will BUY them! (stoked for the money. sad to get rid of the clothes.)
• Change the bedding in Spice's bed.
• Sweep and mop the kitchen
• Sweep and mop the bathroom
• make a few meals for this weekend (we're having company but I won't be here, so I'm going to be a good lil wife (pfft) and make some food for the men folk and children) (so they don't eat cereal and beer all weekend) (the kids wouldn't be having the beer, promise.)
• Vacuum my van (pretty sure I have the entire McDonald's restaurant on the floor of my van.)

I think that covers 'er. The basement needs a good cleaning too but I'm thinking of just striking a match for that part of the house.

What's your to-do list look like?

Some stuff before we head out for a weekend o' fun

First off...just want to let you all know that my lurker came forward. She emailed me. She's not freaky. All is good. Call off the dogs.

We leave in approximately 3, 4 or 5 hours from now. When your husband drives a truck for a living you just have to throw all time frames out the window.

That makes me CRAZY!!

(crazier?!)

Do you see my new blog design?!?!? If you're reading in google reader, get out NOW! and look at my new prettiness. I'm in lurv. Thank you to my amazing SIL Denise.

She rocks.

And now my blog design does too!

I bought some towels at Target the other day for my bathroom. We've had the same towels for the last 11 years and this is getting redarndiculous. I only bought two bath towels, two washcloths and one hand towel for now. Towels ain't cheap folks, not at all. I'm hoping to add to my collection soon. Soon like in before they discontinue 'em.

I like them. They're striped with brown, cream, blue and some green. That makes them sound ugly, but I promise they aren't.

I decided this morning that I'm going to leave my phone at home for the weekend. My phone is my access to all things internet-ish and I may or may not be freaking out about my decision. It's a good one and I'm excited to just focus on my family and have them know they mean more to me than that dumb phone.

Pray for me.

Speaking of prayer...thank you to everyone who left comments or emailed me about how I could pray for you. Man, oh man. It's amazing how praying for someone else and their needs really takes the focus off self. You're being prayed for and if I haven't emailed you back, know that I will next week.

I made a peach cobbler a little bit ago to take with us to Portland. Mmmmm. Of course I had to try it...you know, to make sure it was good enough to let others eat. I loved it. And considered eating it all. 'Cause, didja know? That if you make or bake something and eat it all before anyone knows it's been made...it never really was made and no one has to know! Your butt and thighs might but no one else will!

I'm going on a mini-vacation next weekend. Mini as in just overnight but I can't tell you how super duper freakin' excited I am! No kids. No husband. Just me. Well, and a friend of course! Yay!

Of course I'll tell you all about it later. You'll see pictures and if you follow me on Twitter, I'm sure I'll be talking about our trip. Or FB if we're friends on there.

Alright, enough of my random post. I have one kid eating, one kid sleeping and 273 things left on my to do list.

What are YOU doing this weekend?

Call me Paranoid

A coupla days ago one of ya took a fancy to reading my blog.

For a few hours.

Without leaving a single comment on any of the posts!!!

So, if you're from Tennessee and you were reading for the better part of a day on the August 4th, could you leave me a comment. So that way I'm not freaked out anymore.

You can email me if you'd rather. truckfamily@gmail.com

Thanks!!!

It's Your Turn

For the past few months you've all been absolutely amazing readers.

Amazing friends.

One day out of nowhere I had a girl email me with such encouraging words. I didn't know her. Didn't know she'd been reading my blog. Yet she blessed me like crazy letting me know she's been praying for me.

Now, we email back and forth as time allows and I'm trying to talk my husband into traveling a bit further in that truck so I can meet her!

The thing that gets me is how faithful you've all been to love on me and pray for me. Many of you don't even know me. Yet, you leave comments or you send emails letting me know that you've lifted me up in prayer.

I can't tell you how that warms this girl's heart!

I feel I've been selfish though. I've taken and taken and taken some more. Without once asking how I could pray for you.

So, I'd like to do just that. I'd like to pray for you.

If you'd like, leave your prayer request in the comment section or you can email me at truckfamily@gmail.com or you can just leave your name and say that you have an unspoken request.

Whatever you want prayer for.

Don't believe in prayer? I do and I'll pray for you anyway.

$25 Winner is....

Maria!

I can turn that $25 into a gift card to Starbucks if you'd like. It might be out of my way to go there today...but I can do it. Sigh. ;)

So, email me on FB and give me your address.

Thinking next month it's going to be shot glasses, y'all seemed to think those would be a hoot.

And Jeana, seriously. Your comment is why I miss your blog. Ya kill me.

Thanks to everyone who entered and put the button up, you all ROCK!

Cash Money Giveaway

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Finally! Sorry! I know I said I'd have this posted this morning and technically in my time zone it is still morning. I'm just not getting the post done as early as I would have liked.

If anyone is new here to this lil bloggy of mine, this is the deal: My birthday is June 3rd. I really love my birthday. And the next one I'm having is big.

My big 3-0!

And I want to celebrate with all my blog friends. Starting last month, I decided to do a giveaway on my blog each month on the third until my birthday.

I know I had a whole month to come up with something to give you for today but of course I put it off and put it off, because I wouldn't be me if I didn't procrastinate.

I decided I'd look in all the truck stops we stopped at this week to see if anything would be appealing to any of you. (Again, for those new here, my husband, two daughters and I live in a Peterbilt and drive around the Pacific Northwest all week.)

So, at the truck stops I considered shot glasses that said, "Everything's Bigger in Montana!" Or shirts that said, "Save a Kenworth, Drive a Peterbilt." And then there were gift certificates for 356 oz. Big Gulps.

And a truck stop wouldn't be a truck stop without p*orn.

None of this appealing to you?

Didn't think so.

So, for August, in celebration that my birthday is a mere 10 months away, I'm giving away...

CASH!

Not much. But you know, we have to build up to the big birthday bash of 2010.

So, you're entering today to win Twenty Five smackeroos.

$25.

You can order it in ones or fives. Maybe three fives and a ten. Get wild with it. It's going to be your money, afterall.

To enter, just leave me a comment and your email address if I don't already have it.

To enter twice, leave a comment, then grab my button at the top of this post-go to your blog, post about my giveaway with a link on over here and come back to comment that you did that and that'll enter you in twice!

Easy peasy and not a bit sleazy. (Huh?) (Yeah, I dunno.)

Just know that if you're the winner you'll have to email me your address.

Entries until midnight on Sunday PST and I'll announce the winner on Monday August 3rd (10 months before my birthday)

And for giggles, in the comments...tell me your favorite color.

Happy Commenting!!!