Stream of Thought

Hello there brethren.

Jeff took ALL the girls to Vero since I have to have LFM done by Monday. It is slooooooooooow going. I had to take a break as I have been at it since about well, you do NOT want to know. The stupid production schedule got moved up so we went into emergency mode and they are gone and I have to miss church and it was my time to serve so that is let down to others PLUS I have to WORK.

For those of you who don't have to work, APPRECIATE it. APPRECIATE your husbands that do work hard. I think the majority of us take it for granted. I have always appreciated how hard Jeff has worked and thought he worked harder than many and now we both work harder than I ever thought possible even! That's what we get for thinking we were in early retirement!!! LOL We both talked about how great it would be when I got back to just SERVING the family. And boy, I was pretty good at it then but just WAIT baby.

Deb came by with coffee (THANKS DEB) but really it was just a ploy to see her little triplets. I sucked down that Joe in 3 secs flat. Did you notice that Deb? Maybe I'll rate a LARGE next time. ;)

It is weird being in the house alone. I am so NOT alone most of the time. Right now, I am completely alone. But NOT lonely.

Sloan and I have been (GASP) TEXTING back and forth. We are not a texting family so it takes like 30 minutes for me to write: luv u. I am getting faster though.
I have her so indoctrinated to my cultish ways of no ridiculous techno-culture that it seems a little taboo to us both I think. But harmless since I know she won't be racking up 14,000 texts this month.

It's kind of the fun thing about having the kids that we do. All the "bad" stuff that they get never gets used in a "bad" way. It's quite funny.
Rachel has veggie tales on her ipod and Sloan has Doug's sermons.

I went for a pedicure today for my break and got thinking as she hurt me a time or two that pedis should not HURT! Then she massaged me and put hot towels on me and I thought of an analogy that it is kinda like God's Word. You don't want it to HURT. But sometimes it does...but mostly it is gentle and feels good...but sometimes a little something needs a little clip here or a clip there and there is pain but then you are left better than before. Pretty good huh? Trust me, the way I had it in my head was much more graphic but I am working on the kinder, gentler me.

Being alone always gets me "jonesing" for my NY life. How WEIRD is that? I have not had duck pate since I left NYC!!!! (I know the accent goes on pate but have NEVER been able to find out how to do it) BTW- it is pronouced patay, but you know that. Anyway, appetizers and fine champagne don't seem to be on the menu for me anymore. I know that sounds ridiculous but you would have to have lived it to truly understand what a fine pate tastes like...or the best steak your lips ever touched...or coffee and the NY Times without a call for Mom interrupting, or a long retreat with some serious teaching...it is amazing. Isn't it AMAZING about 'triggers'? That just my being alone reminds me of that?

But boy, do I miss my kids. Typical Mom. Just like Misty. (see cat post below) Get a kid, throw the rest of the good life straight out the window.

Have you seen that new Pledge product?? It cleans EVERYTHING! Stainless steel, wood, counters, glass???? I cannot wait to try it.

My highly dysfunctional Mom took Sloan grocery shopping at Sam's to the tune of $400.00. She is going to send home with them likely every food we do not eat and lots that we do. This is how she has always showed affection or made up for something she did wrong. This is the first time she has seen the kids since we decided it was healthier to not be a part of her life right now. (about 3-4 months) and her taking them to dinner and shopping has reminded me of years past and made me feel extremely sorry for her. But still not enough to engage in further dysfunction.


I'm hungry. But I have to go back to work.


See ya.

Jackalope anyone?

We have successfully pulled the wool over Lake County's eyes! Lol

We ran a story on Jackalopes in April's issue with a cover tease that read: Eustis Family Reveals Amazing Secret!

Here's the story:

Eustis Family Raises and Sells Jackalopes!

The famed Jackalope has arrived in Lake County! The family of the Jackalope boasts a variety of species including a flying variation that looks like a cross between the standard Jackalope and a chicken. The Jackalope originates from Wall, South Dakota. The Jackalope has always been difficult to breed since Jackalopes will only breed during electrical storms that include hail, explaining its rarity. But Palio Flors of Eustis says that he has discovered a secret technique in breeding.
This Eustis family has made a go of breeding the original species that first originated in the American West, right here in Central Florida.
Palio claims that Jackalopes are very friendly but extremely shy unless approached. Female Jackalopes can be milked as they sleep belly up Palio says, and the milk can be used for a variety of medicinal purposes. He says that the Jackalope can convincingly imitate any sound, including the human voice which makes them highly valuable. It uses this ability to elude pursuers, chiefly by using phrases that sound amazingly like "There he goes!” In some parts of the United States it is said that Jackalope meat has a taste similar to lobster but Palio discourages this practice. He was raised around Jackalopes since he was a youngster and considers them domestic friends.
He now is ready to shed the light on this well kept secret. “I’ve been waiting for just the right time.” claims Palio. “I have built up a stock and am ready to sell!”
If you want more information on how you can own your very own Jackalope, contact Palio at
Palioflors@gmail.com

Well, Lake County did not disappoint. We created a false email address and we have been receiving emails about our famed Jackalopes.

We have been responding with:

Unscramble my name to reveal a famous April Holiday and you can receive your very own Jackalope! Palio Flors

We even had one poor TEACHER along with her entire 4th grade class write in asking for one for a class pet! (Yikes, we won't be revealing HER name! lol) and I tell you, this has been the most fun we've had yet. If we go out in June, it will have to be a CLIFF HANGER! Ideas welcome!

See Ya!

2 Cor 12:9-10

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made
perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take
pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in
distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10


Wow. This scripture came through on the end of a Steph Kliber email. It really spoke to me and I am going to meditate on it for a few days. I shall boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me! How many of us know the first line by heart but rarely take note of the second sentence!

Proud Mommy

Misty is a natural. It is truly amazing to see motherhood kick in. She went from young girl to wise Mom in just a few hours. It seems you can see it on her face even. She's aged. As only motherhood can do. She is so content with her little brood. Purring like mad and making "butter" with her paws as they nurse contentedly. Motherhood. Is there anything else!?!

I realized...

I realized full force yesterday that we think we know each other and we don't. I mean, we really think we do but we really, really don't. I think you have to know someone for years and years until you even know them a little bit. But we think we know each other, we form opinions about people and get ideas about them and think they are "this way" or "that way" and guess what? 9 times out of 10 we are likely wrong.

I got this when listening to someone totally peg me wrong yesterday. It was typical. They did it so sweetly but I realized that through our blogs, small conversations, emails...that we all begin to PERCEIVE each other in a certain way. Normally NOT accurate.

So, now I realize for all of my trying to talk to people long enough, or in enough detail to show them the TRUTH of who I am instead of the misconception, that is not me who is being the things they may perceive me as. It might actually be actually THEM. So this is an interesting train of thought I am going through.

Why do we think we know each other? Why can't people just LOVE unconditionally without putting other people in a box with a label? Out of all the things people think I may be, one would NOT be putting people in boxes with labels. Yesterday I realized for the first time, that I am being judged much more harshly than others think I may be judging. It's funny really and comforting to know that my "big personality" causes a very strong opinion to be formed that is not true. Comforting to realize it can't be helped really. We all do it. And for those of you, if you're reading this, that may have held me at arm's length, I am sorry for our separation. I LIKE you! (no, I am NOT talking about any one person, I am talking about the universal you, which may or may not include you)

It's ironic and actually funny that I am so strongly convicted about some matters that seem to make people crazy for whatever reason and yet my even stronger belief in the truth of familial authority trumps any idea that someone may have of my saying they should be doing the thing too. YOU are the authority in your own home. I do not care if you do x, y, or z because YOU get to decide, not ME. I love your families with a power that is not my own, I am IN LOVE with people, not consumed with what they do or don't do. Why does it bug YOU that I believe x, y or z? Isn't that a judgement in itself? I don't preach it or teach it but it still comes through? Puhleeze, you ASK and I ANSWER. That's about it.

But anyway, I got thinking about this when this poor person went on completely wrong about me. I thought it was sad that they thought the thing about me....that they perceived me to be something I was not. But how do you undo something someone thinks in a 2 minutes of conversation? When they also formed an opinion in as much time? No matter, really. The important thing is that I keep on my own walk, reforming, reforming, until the day of Christ. Loving people, living my convictions, allowing them to be changed (anyone note Kate in nursery???? Insanity!).
But I won't pretend to know you...I will just really love you, just the way you are.

4 Little Blessings

As a good friend told me today....life goes on! ;) These kittens are a good reminder!

mew mew

We're having kittens RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just can't do it!

DeNIAL. DeNIAL. DeNIAL.

I just cannot do another one. I CAN'T! I caaaaaaannnnn't.

PLEASE don't make me. I know I am whining. I know how old I am.

But honestly, I just can't. So....I guess we'll see.

You either all have to somehow get me throught two more ( and end in summer)

or, I just shut down the whole operation right now.

Ugh! The pain! I know it seems like not a big deal in the realm of importance but honestly, it feels like a train on my shoulders. I haven't even picked it up and tried to pull it, now I can't even get on and ride.

5 days until D-Day. Somebody shoot me! Hey that reminds me of this classic scene in the wedding singer where he sings this song to Drew Barrymore. It's hilarious. You have to have seen it to appreciate the lines that went:

Somebody kill me please
Somebody kill me please
I'm on my knees
pretty pretty please
Kill me
I want to die
Put a bullet in my heaaaaaaaaaaaad.

Sorry to say that is pretty much how I'm feeling.

I would have posted the youtube but there were a LOT of cuss words in the beginning.
Hear the Plunky guitar sound of The Cure meets Adam Sandler. FUnny!!! (who remembers The Cure? Fantastic!)

Park Pics

Sloan is going to kill me since she took these and hasn't gotten them to her picture blog yet but she downloaded them on MY computer. That makes them open game! Look at it this way honey, I LOVE your pics!!