Misadventures: Craft Fair Bust.

Well, my set-up looked good.....but it seemed no one was too interested in handmade soap on Saturday, so I came home with boxes and boxes still loaded down with product. In light of this, I have set up my display at home so that any and all may stop by to shop for Christmas gifts or just for themselves at my wee Basement Boutique. If you bring a friend, you'll get a free bar of soap! I have all kinds of coolio things to choose from:

olive oil soaps
specialty/seasonal soaps
liquid soaps
bath sets
aromatic diffusers
perfume balms
lip balms
scented sachets
gift sets
kids soaps
bargain basket

I'm also spending the day updating the website, so feel free to check that out and email me what you'd like. I can ship anywhere as well.

I hate using this space for advertising, but it's convenient and free, so there ya go.

Simple Indulgence Handmade Artisan Soap

Moments: Don't Forget!

Tomorrow (Saturday the 17th) I'll be selling my wares at the North Side High School Craft Bazaar. It runs 9-3.

Come see me!

Moments: Spirit Award

K won the peer-chosen 'Spirit Award' for the cheer squad! It generally goes to a Senior, so we're really proud of her.

I don't know where she gets it from........

Musings: where we find ourselves.

We're eeking thru week 12 with school. It's about this time that I start counting the weeks till we're done. Stupid, I know. But we *are* a third of the way thru!

I'm fairly settled in our choices, finally. The driving schedule is still maniacal, but at least it's routine in its inconsistencies...(this is Thursday: K doesn't have cheer practice so pick up at regular time: G *does* have cheer and/or dance practice BUT not today because it's a half-day for parent/teacher conferences: S gets picked up an hour after G, then I turn around and go back to school for parent/teacher conferences: tonight is girls' cheer banquet at the high school) And the beat goes on....

B is plugging thru on schedule at home as well. We've pared down just a bit so I can spend time preparing for the Craft Bazaar (which is the beauty of homeschooling), but we'll ramp it up in a couple weeks again to end the semester.

M has a new beau, or 2, or 3. I like beau #1 best, and not just because he's the almost-step-son of a wonderful friend. He was over last night going thru the ritual Hazelwood Initiation Ceremony for all prospective boyfriends....a classic Bogart movie, Casablanca. He passed with flying colors. He even humored me early in the evening by watching snippets of my Joshy Groban DVD without vomitting. What a guy! He'll be taking M to his semi-formal in a couple weeks. So I'm rooting for #1. I'll keep ya posted *wink*

Tom Henry was chosen by over 60% of the city voters on Tuesday to be the newest Mayor. I'm stoked. Totally. I won't bother to list all the reasons why, but suffice it to say I love it when calm, cool, level-headed folks win the day.

As for me, I'm still crazy in love with my husband. Truly. He inspires me as no other in his persistency, kindness, logic, servant heart, and devotion to me and the kids. I know I have a gem, and every now and then I fear losing him. I just can't imagine life without him anchoring us and guiding us. Cliche', yes. But the longer we're married, the more that cliche' enters the realm of reality. I love him as I've loved no other, in my haphazard, incomplete way. I don't deserve him, and I'm thankful he's mine.

So, life putters along with a few backfires, the tank generally on empty, and the backseat full of kids and their adventures in Growing Up. We find ourselves on lots of detours, or lost in the wilderness, or driving at night without a map....but somehow we manage to get back on the main drag thru town along with the many others journeying thru.

Peace.

Moments: Hey. Go vote. I mean it.

If you don't, you can't complain about politicians....and then what fun would life be?

Do take the time and give an opinion at the polls. You'll like yourself better. I promise.

(Go Tom, Go!)

Misadventures: Life sucker-punches once again....

2.5 years ago, a dear friend of mine lost her husband rather suddenly to a rare form of leukemia just after moving to Australia to be involved in a church that cared for street folks. She was left alone with 3 young kids, moved back to the States, and started rebuilding her life.

Monday, her oldest son (11) was diagnosed with the same cancer. His survival rate is 60%. He needs a bone marrow transplant and has started aggressive chemotherapy. Because this cancer was not thought to be genetically passed, more tests are being done. Her other two kids will also have blood work done to determine if they are free of cancer and if they are a match for the bone marrow.

So what category does this freakish thing fit? In Anne Lamott terms, I believe it's called the LOTF (Land of the F*cked).

Please pray for them as they once again travel the emotional road of fear, pain, and darkness.

Edited to add: please see the link on the upper left under the picture to read about Alex and his family.