Monday, May 26, 2008

Life Change For Busy AM~Erica



So anyway...

What a busy weekend we have had at our house!

Friday was an "in-service day" @ work to get the classrooms ready for the summer switch over. This meant we had to clean & scrub EVERYTHING from the celings to the floors, plus any rearranging & updating of files, so we can be ready for a great new start for Tuesday AM.

Friday afternoon, we had to finish cleaning the house, get groceries & supplies for a birthday slumber party for my now 12-year-old daughter (on Wed) & 3 of her friends. Insanity.

Saturday AM, we had to get the girls out of the house (invites said 10:30 AM) so that we could get ready for a b-day surprise for Lizzie. My folks said they would be getting her b-day gifts to her by the weekend. Liz has been checking the mail & hoping for either UPS or FedEx to be showing up with SOMETHING! Just after 1:00 PM, my mom & dad showed up on the doorstep with b-day gifts for Lizzie. She was SO surprised!! So, this also meant my folks were staying Sat. PM.

Sunday, we all got up & went to church, then out to lunch before mom & dad headed back for KC. As we were eating, my hubby got a phone call that had him leaving the table @ the restaraunt...

Chelsea called from Vegas & was having a very hard time...her mom & boyfriend told her she was not to live with them & needed to come live with her dad, and that they had no respect for her. Normally she we would told from our side to let things cool down & see what happens, but...this isn't the first time she's been told that. So sad.

So...June 10th, we are getting a 16-year-old in our household, along with our 12, 10½ & 3-year-old children. WHEW!

This is another child in school here, updated chore lists, possibly another vehicle, higher grocery bills & less eating out. I'm sure there is a whole lot more that I am leaving out, but no matter how you look at it, it is going to be a BIG change for us...again.

Pray for Chelsea & her heart; she is hurting right now. Pray for us as we prepare for continued madness. Although, I know it is God's will that she needs this change in her life.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

P.S. ~ My voice is mostly back. YEA!

Monday, May 19, 2008

AM~Erica is Inspired (and reminded)


So anyway...
As a dancer & choreographer, it is amazing what inspires me...
I did my signing of scripture yesterday, and people asked me how long I've been signing. This is too funny since I learned the 14 verses in an hour on Wednesday. But, I had a fabulous teacher! People would be amazed at the way it flowed; I have been amazed watching Debbie (my ASL "teacher") doing her signing, and how easy she makes it look. I got thinking how beautiful it would be to incorporate it into some interpretive dance. My mind is racing!
Then, my son, Ethan, has been talking about this freaky "Elvis cat" that sings in this freaked-out play. He was referring to the Rum Tum Tugger from "CATS". Ah, CATS...the dancer's musical; the one that every dancer wanted to be a part of when I was taking classes growing up - the pinnacle of plays, the benchmark of what we all wanted to be as dancers & performers. Ethan had me watch the Rum Tum Tugger song on youtube this evening...then I had to start watching several scenes...amazed by how each "cat" moved so beautifully & gracefully. My son was so sweet to tell me I should be in that play - however, if I did & moved the way they moved at this point in my life & fitness level...I would need a paramedic @ every show.
It did stir all kinds of thoughts in my head...the grace & energy of "CATS", the beautiful flow of sign language...
I think God is letting me know I need to get going on my dance ministry...
Oh...on a side note: I have a little more voice. Maybe a couple of sheep have returned from the flock. I'm still searching for the rest...
Stay tuned...
God Bless, AM~Erica

Saturday, May 17, 2008

AM~Erica Has No Voice



So anyway...

I have been asked to help with the Pentacost celebration service this week at church. I am supposed to get up in front of the 10:30 contemporary worship for my part. So, while I am preparing for it, I have lost my voice. It has run away somewhere, and I cannot find it. I feel like Little Bo-Peep & her stinkin' sheep!

If anyone wants to try to call me, consider me unavailable. You wouldn't be able to hear anything I was trying to say anyway. There isn't even a gilmmer of raspy or squeaky anything. When I say "gone", I mean G-O-N-E - GONE!

I guess I should feel a little better knowing that my part during the Pentacost worship service is sign language. I have learned sign language for John 1:1-14; there will be English, ASL, German & Mandrin versions done simultaneously. So cool!

However, none of this helps my voice besides not using it.

So, stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

Saturday, May 3, 2008

AM~Erica is Frustrated!



So anyway...

GRRRRR!

This potty training thing has me in a tizzy. I've been through this twice already, but I don't remember EVER having this much trouble.


My 3yo little guy is doing great peeing in the stool - no prob! It's the other that is not going so well. I feel like we've tried almost everything:


* stickers/candy
* big boy pants (no more pull ups)
* silly songs
* a book was made for him with his name in it about pooping on the potty - he won't go anywhere w/o it


Anyone out there who can help out? He knows when he needs to go, he just won't tell anyone until he's already done it. And he refuses to do it on the toilet! He has done it in the last year & a half, but I can count those times on 1 hand.


Any ideas? Anyone...Anyone...? HELP!!


Stay tuned...


God Bless, AM~Erica