Oh, Happiness!

The part of town in which we live is beautiful...there are newer parks, lots of new housing additions, a brand new YMCA that was built just before we moved here, etc. However, the one thing that has been lacking is a quality grocery store nearby. Our choices have been to shop at nasty WalMart 15 minutes away or drive 30 minutes to Target. The second is more desirable, but also more expensive and thus less practical.
But now....there's Crest. No, I'm not talking about toothpaste; I'm referring to the grocery store chain that just opened a new store 2 miles from our house. Hallelujah!(insert chorus of angelic voices here). Matt and I went today -- since we couldn't get near the place for the crowds until now -- and shopped. It's a big, beautiful, bright store with their advertised "rock-bottom prices". The prices were indeed better than Target and about equal with Walmart. It has a wonderful bakery and deli section and is very well-situated. Bonus: I saved $5.50 with coupons.
My only complaint is that they didn't open two years ago, or even last year for that matter. Nonetheless, at least we can enjoy our final days-months-whatever in Oklahoma feeling good about grocery shopping.
~Rebecca

The Biker Gang

Luke: "Aw, this is no fun..."

"Ahhh -- much better...."

Watch out, Hell's Angels!

Peace Beyond Understanding

The other night was a rough one. On top of everything else swirling about us right now,we'd found out that day that Matt's unemployment benefits expired. Trying to figure out where groceries are going to come from next week as well as dealing with a bum deal I got schnukered into from a seller on ebay when I bought Zac's birthday gift, my nerves were shot and my emotions were high. I finally fell asleep around 1 am, exhausted and stressed.
Nate woke up at 4 am. After I fed him and put him back in his bed, I cried out to God. I told Him how I couldn't handle one more thing. I truly felt like I had reached the proverbial end of my rope and the thought of having to get up in the morning and deal with everything all over again was just too much. Matt had reminded me often in the past months that God doesn't give us more than we can handle, but in that moment I knew I had reached that point: I DID have more than I could deal with. I felt crushed by the weight of the unknown and the burden of another day filled with "no" and "not yet". I somehow managed to fall asleep again - this time on the floor by our bed with my computer in front of me. (Yeah, that was weird.)
I awakened at the usual 6:30-ish, with my laptop glaring at me after leaving it on and unattended for those past few hours. Regardless, I felt re-energized and was awash in an inexplicable sense of peace. It was as if the Lord had enveloped me with His arms and given me new eyes to see our situation from a different perspective. I immediately knew how I had to deal with the ebay seller -- just forgive her, let it go and move on. I had so much peace about that!
The other issues didn't seem so monumentous either. The journey we're on doesn't seem so scary anymore. God had not brought us this far to leave us. He didn't teach us to swim just to let us drown. He holds us in His hand...He'll take care of us. If I am following His will and doing everything He leads me to do, He'll fill in the gaps.
I've slept so much better the past few nights. I'm at peace. This will all work out.
~Rebecca

Go Baby, Go!

Nathan is following in the footsteps of his brother Luke and L-O-V-E-S bouncing in his exersaucer. His favorite time to do it is during family meal time; especially during the prayer. It's funny to watch him go a little bonkers and have fun doing it.
P.S. Thanks for the tip, C.W. I changed to the "old editor" format and it uploaded on the first attempt. It hadn't worked with the "new" editor...go figure.

In Times Of Trouble

A friend of mine posted this lovely passage and I wanted to share it with you.
~Rebecca

In Times Of Trouble

Dog Days of Summer

For a while we considered getting a family dog.  We researched which breeds make good pets for children; we even made a few phone calls about dogs that were available for adoption.  However, we wanted one that would stay outside and not become an indoor member of the family.
Then -- Copper moved in across the street in the Spring of '09. He's a beautiful 6 year-old yellow lab who's been very well-trained by our neighbors, the Palmer family.  When they went on vacation last year, we asked if they would like us to dog-sit.  It's been a wonderful Copper-Varnell friendship since then.  We've had him here several times, including Christmas day and the Christmas Eve blizzard.  
The Palmers are currently on a cruise to the Bahamas, and Copper is once again in our care.  He stays in his own backyard the majority of the time but I brought him over this morning so Luke and Katie can play with him before it gets too hot outside. Those two LOVE Copper, and he loves playing with them. Dog-sitting him during the past year has quenched the desire to get our own pet.  We have the best of both worlds right now: we get to enjoy him for a week, then give him back. With 8 kids and a house to maintain, that's about all I can manage.

Hello, Aged Beige

This is the "after" of the girls' room.  Pretty, though I miss the purple.

~Rebecca

What Are They?

They're orange, they're versatile and they are basically fat-free. They're sweet potatoes! I've been using these guys in place of regular brown or reds in my recipes for a few months now. For these fries, I just cut them up, spray them with olive oil non-stick spray and sprinkle them with sea salt, chili powder and garlic salt. Into the oven they go for 20 min. at 450 degrees and voila -- yummy sweet potato fries! The family loves them and they go great with anything.

~Rebecca

Goodbye, Purple Haze

We are taking another step in trying to sell our house. This weekend Matt started painting the girls' room, changing the beautiful light purple color (Wisteria) to a nice but rather plain creamy beige. Our realtor had suggested a color change when we first listed the house in January, but we held off in hopes that someone would fall in love with it the way it was.
Well, since no one has - here's the start of the transformation. I'll post more pics after it's completed.

^This is how the room has looked since we built our home in '07.

^Getting started....

^ He made the cuts first, painting around the door frames, windows and light fixtures.
When the weather dries up he'll finish the rest.

~Rebecca

The Name Game

Okay my peeps, the time has come for me to change the name of my blog. "Did I Just Say That" may accurately describe my daily thought process but doesn't really reflect the direction of my blog.
I want the name to sum up what drives my life: family, growing in grace, and maturing as a wife, mom, and follower of Christ. So, my dear readers -- any suggestions for a new name? (If you suggest "Eight is Enough" I will promptly drop you from my reading list. Ha ha ha.)
*****************************************************************
Ok, It's now Friday morning and I've had time to sleep on it. What do you think of the name "Sixteen Feet of Grace"? The 16 feet represents my children and grace sums up all that the Lord has done and is doing in my life...
Feedback, people! I need feedback!

Apologies For My Rant...

I apologize for the whiney tone of my last post. For some reason this weekend things just hit me really hard. Matt pointed out today that it's likely because the kids are out of school and I don't have that occupying my time anymore. He's probably right -- up until now I've had school assignments and issues foremost on my mind. Who has projects due, who hasn't finished their homework, do I need to give a spelling test, etc have constantly dictated my life for the past 10 months. Now -- nada. The reality sets in.
Tomorrow I am applying for a part-time job. I've looked at work-from-home opportunities and sadly, most of them are just scams. I am seriously considering taking an online course in medical coding and transcription, but I still need supplemental income in the meantime. So - in the morning I will visit Hobby Lobby, Mardel, Target and anywhere else that seems like a decent place to work and see what happens. The thought of leaving my family for a good portion of every day kills me. Taking care of them has been my life for 15 years. It will be an adjustment for all of us, but there by the grace of God I go.

7 Months!

Well, THAT Was Awkward....

I'm not sure where to start with this little story. Our realtor, Robin, has been out of the country on a missions trip for two weeks and had one of her colleagues filling in for her. Christy texted me the other night and asked (this is a direct quote) "Can someone show your house tomorrow 11:30-12?" Of course I responded with a firm "you betcha!".
We spent the morning getting the house ready and left at 11:15, grabbed some drive-thru for lunch and took the kids to the park. Matt and Seth were in the truck and took off for Wal-Mart while the other kids and I headed home at noon. We pulled into the garage around 12:05, but something just didn't feel right. I ran into the house to see if the realtor had been there and found all of the lights still on. That is not unusual, however. Some realtors turn them off and some don't. Still, I felt it was a little too early to arrive home, so I backed out and we drove through some neighborhoods for a few minutes.
We came home again at 12:25 and I figured everything was good to go. I unloaded kids and happy meals from the Suburban, threw some towels in the washer and kicked back with some lunch from the refrigerator. (A grilled chicken breast from home is so much easier to burn off than McDonald's food!)
Then, it happened. People walked in the front door and said, "Hello! Didn't you get a phone call?" Surprised, I tried to camoflauge my mouthful of chicken while I responded, "Oh! I thought you had been here already! I was told the showing was from 11:30-12. Let me get the kids and we'll get out of your way." The realtor said, "No, it was supposed to be 11:30-12:30. We're a little late. Don't leave - - if they like the house, we'll come back anyway. Do you mind if we just take a quick look-through?"
So, with my half-eaten chicken breast on the counter, kids munching on fries and running outside and Nathan bouncing loudly in his saucer, the realtor and clients toured our house. There were several things I would have liked to point out; like the built-in ironing board, the pull-out kitchen cupboards, and the instant hotwater; but I didn't know if that was protocol. I kept my mouth shut except to answer questions about how many kids we have and how we fit them all in this house, their ages, etc. The wife seemed to like the house and marveled about the tile, the laundry room and the backyard. The husband said nothing. I couldn't interpret his nonchalant expression.
I am hoping we get another text asking to show them the house again. Robin is back in town and seems to be able to tell time better than her colleague. We'll see what happens.

Memorial Day

For dessert -S'mores!
Matt bought a charcoal grill (since our nice gas grill lost a fight to the crazy Oklahoma wind last summer...). For dinner he grilled chops and asparagus and served it with wild rice. Yum!