Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Bracken Blurbs... again

I love to see the world through my kids eyes.  Their perceptions are sometimes amusing and often very insightful.  As many of you know that have been following this blog since they were babies, they are apt to say anything and let's just say that bashfulness isn't something we have discussed very much in our house.  Proper times to say certain things is a frequent conversation topic in the Bracken household.  So, without further ado, here are a few of the most recent observations:

1.  A few months ago, the kids and I were reading the story of the Princess and the Pea.  Halfway through the story, Ethan said, "Wait, it's a pea you eat?"  When I said yes, he replied, "I always thought that she just peed the bed!"  Yeah, that WOULD be hard not to notice!

2.  Just last night, Ethan was talking and he said, "A long time ago, when they had snail mail..."  Oh, I feel old!  I can actually remember a time when there was no e-mail and I actually had a pen pal! That wasn't as long ago as you might think...

3.  This last one, it isn't directly about a Bracken.  Some of you might remember this blog that was meant as a joke.  I thought that most people would get the punch line.  Apparently not.  About three weeks after I wrote it, a girl in my church came up to me and ask where that supermarket was located at.  I ask her, "What supermarket?"  "The one that you wrote about in your blog!  I've searched all over the internet and can't find it!"  And cue the hysterical laughter.  I laughed until I cried and could not breathe.  Somewhere in the middle, I wheezed out an explanation.  Then she laughed until she cried and couldn't breathe.  We were both possibly tired.  After we caught our breath, she told me that she had spent a couple of hours searching the internet and even going to the chamber of commerce page to try and find out about any new supermarkets in Kaohsiung.  Then she search for the whole island to see if it was in another town.  Amazingly, she was unable to locate it.  I wonder why... 

4.  Recently, Abbey and Ethan have both developed a slightly annoying habit.  I fully recognize that is just a part of growing up.  In fact, I can remember doing the same as a kid.  What is it that they are doing, you ask?  They will ask us a question.  When we answer, they will say, "I know".  To which I say, "If you already knew, why did you ask me?"  Their answer?  "I was just seeing if you knew the answer!"  Thank God for college!

5.  Last one!  We have a Sunday School contest going right now.  If you can memorize a scripture and tell a teacher at Sunday School, you get a point.  Points can be used to "buy" big prizes.  There is no limit on the number of scriptures you can say in one class time.  So, last Sunday, both kids remembered this before church.  They got their Bibles and started searching for a scripture to memorize.  When it came to tell the teacher, I didn't know which ones they had chosen.  But their choices so reflected their personalities!  Ethan quoted one from Revelation concerning one of the beast and Abbey quoted a lovely one from Psalms!  I LOVE IT!!

Friday, October 5, 2012

The Joys and Trials of a New House

We moved (Yes, once again...) into a new house in April.  6 whole months ago.  Now, I should mention that it is new to us, not new in the sense that it was just built.  Also, I should mention that it is a a rental, but Praise the sweet powers that be, I was able to convince Chris that we really needed a 5 year contract this time around and not just a year or two.  I keep adding to my dishes which means that he has to move more and more heavy things each time we move, so he agreed to the 5 year contract.  Ladies, when talking doesn't work, dishes will!!

So, after six months, everything should be settled, right?  Not right.  While this is a great house, it was almost completely bare inside.  And every wall of the house was painted off white.  Every room, every stairwell,  every single wall.  And let's talk about the great banisters.  All yellow.  A lovely yellow paint that scratched off easily.  Then we could see that they were once black and before that, a hideous maroon.  So, we have been transforming this into something that represents us a little more.  When it is done, I'll get you all some pictures. (Actually, to be really honest, you have a better chance of seeing those if you follow me on Instagram.  I won't say that I am addicted, but the ease of it is too convenient!)  So, I have been focused that last few months on finding furniture that we really like and can afford, narrowing down paint colors and replacing curtains.  I'll just say on that subject that orange curtains are hard to pull off and bright green with yellow and pink flowers do not exactly soothe the soul.  The whole process  has actually been tremendously fun!

However, I have learned something really frustrating about myself.  Which is happening right now, which is why I am writing this post in the first place.  Am I the only one that puts things off until guest are coming over?  It's like I can ignore anything until someone is coming over.  Now, I don't mean that I have piles of trash sitting around or that I never mop.  I'm talking about the fact that I was outside scrubbing the sidewalk today and buying new curtain rods and trying to get curtains hung.  I even considered (briefly) taking down all the curtains and washing them.  And who are these all-seeing guest?  Abbey and Ethan's best friends.  Kids that honestly will see nothing but toys and friends and possibly notice if I have food or not.  Which has lead me to this question...

"Do I use the excuse of guest coming to motivate myself or do I have issues?"

Okay, that isn't meant to be taken too seriously.  We all have issues.  Deal with it.  But it seems that the day before someone comes over is always a bit frantic and I so wish I could be one of those people that thinks to herself, "Oh, we have guest coming tomorrow?  I can't think of one thing that I need to do!"

Do those people exist?  What kind of person are you?  The Laid back housekeeper or the frantic cleaner?

Ahh.. the desire to be perfect can be such a drag! (I guess that I shouldn't mention that Chris is repainting the kitchen right now as we speak or that I'm off to reorganize my laundry system...)