WARNING! ADULTS ONLY!

This afternoon I was feeling sorry for myself on our new tight budget and really wanting to pay someone to do some yardwork David can't get to and clean our house (because I sometimes spend more time feeling sorry for myself then just cleaning the stupid toliets). So I found myself on Craigs List looking at options and found this:

I'll clean your house for FREE ladies!! But there's one little catch..

I'll perform light house-cleaning, absolutely free, although only under the following guidelines:

1. I work in the nude

2. Only adult females may be present during my visit

3. I don't expect sex, I just have a fantasy to do this.. and you only live once, so....

4. No pictures

* I'm 26, attractive white male about 140lbs and 5',9"

Oh, it's 8-inches ...just in case you're wondering.

Here were some of my initial thoughts...(just to be totally honest here). "Dang, this guy is skinny!" and "8 inches...I wonder how long my husband's wazoo is?" and "I wonder if he is a good cleaner."

So there you have it. I'm going to go clean the toilets now and try to get over the hump of desire to have someone else do it.

One Pound Down/Mom's Club/De-Cluttering Questions

I went to my 2nd Weight Watchers meeting last night and after Tara's 5.5 lb. weight loss in ONE week I couldn't help but have high expectations. I lost one pound and was disappointed until I talked to the more experienced WW women in the meeting. Apparently I made some pretty big rookie mistakes...

1. First of all, they said, never wear jeans to a weigh in. Jeans weigh at least 2 pounds.
2. If I really want to see results, come in the morning having eaten nothing, with a tanktop and shorts on.
3. Never eat dinner before your weigh in. (I was hungry!)

So I'm hoping these tips will get me a 2 lb. loss next week, and I'll be back on my way into the 120s. Oh and just in case you are wondering, I do plan to post my progress every week until the Cabana Boy party. It keeps me motivated to have to share.

On another note, I went to my first mom's club meeting last night. We played Bunko in at least a $750,000 house. I was the youngest mom there by 5-6 years. Most of the women went to schools like Duke and had high powered careers before having kids. Hmmm. Frugal Fiona, De-cluttering Diane, and Weight Loss Wendy was a little out of her element in her K-State t-shirt and 10 year old jeans she was really proud to fit into for the evening. There were at least 2 moms there that are probably a little more my speed. And of course I love the sorority feel of the whole experience. I was basically rushed last week. I will keep going in a quest for new mommy friends and hope to meet at least one or two women that will understand this blog, value education, and desire creativity in their lives. And I'm hoping to meet someone with a little cultural flare too.

De-Cluttering is starting to get more grey than black and white. It really is awesome to have LESS. I can clean up my whole house in about 15 minutes now and picking out an outfit is nothing after streamlining my clothes. I have some questions for you guys about a few items I can't decide about. I'm getting down to the nitty-gritty details.

1. Ice-Cream maker---keep or sell? My mom had one when I was a kid, and I really liked it. It's frugal, but everytime I've tried to use it the ice-cream tastes like total crap and we end up throwing it out.

2. Waffle Maker-will I want this when my kids are 10 on a Saturday morning?

3. I've given away TONS of books to the library book drive, but there is a stack or two I can't decide about. How do you decide about books to keep or toss?

4. Candles. I just have so many, and love them, but I can't really light them while Thomas is awake because as a boy he is drawn to fire.

5. Things I bought for comfort during pregnancy. A body pillow. A foot spa thing. An aqua jogger. All used 2-3 times, but will I want them again when I'm huge?

I've already decided to keep a couch,desk, and patio furniture I thought about selling, but to let go of a few more small things that were collecting space instead. I've also decided to keep all baby stuff even that Thomas didn't like for number 2 just in case. And speaking of my young lad, I usually save stuff about him for Life With the Lisenbys, but I couldn't resist a quick shot of him on here. This is about as far as we get in the getting dressed department most days.

Some Sunday Night Thoughts

These are my Sunday evening thoughts in random order. Read at your own risk. This post contains 2 cuss words.

1. We've been tossing around the question lately about whether churches should be part of a denomination. We've gone to both kinds and see pros and cons to both sides. The pro-denomination side would be the accountability and structure the leadership has since they are part of something bigger than just their own congregation. The con would be some denominations don't allow for the freedom and creativity of thought that you find in non-denominational churches. What has your experience been? Thoughts?

2. Frugal Fiona is still doing well although she did keep her Curves membership. They wouldn't let her out of the $36 a month without a doctor's note which Fiona could not come up with. It is probably good for her to be doing weight training along with her other gym too, if she can make herself get there twice a week. And that is a big IF right now without childcare. Fiona is still selling a few things on Craigs List, but her husband did have to reign her in a little to not be extreme.

3. I'd like to post this headline in a newspaper for SAHMs: NEW MAGICAL CLEANING TECHNIQUE FOUND! CUTS TIME AND EFFORT IN HALF!...HAVE LESS STUFF! This really has been true for me. It is so much easier to clean and for the house to look clean really quickly now that I've gotten a better handle on clutter and have let go of just a few pieces of furniture that I didn't like that much anyway. And those damn trinkets. I hated dusting those. Solution: only save the ones you love and give the rest away. Last thought on clutter: Why do I have 23 bath towels? 23! I think I'll be going through those tomorrow.

4. Weight-loss stuff is going better, I think. I started Weight Watchers again this week (not very frugal, but so worth it if it helps). I've been drinking more water and eating less fat. And I like the points system. It helps me feel like I'm in control about what I'm eating, and I'm not putting anything in my mouth without thinking twice. I'll be curious to weigh in on Tuesday. And the great thing is that my parents are watching Thomas on Tuesday evenings while I go to my meeting and then to a new Mom's group that I joined last week. It's called Mothers and More and has a great chapter here. More on that later.

5. It has been suggested that I give my size 2 pants and small tops away by Tommy's First Birthday if I'm not close to back in them. The idea is that women who have had children probably just are not going to fit in size 2s anymore and my boobs are probably not going to go into size small tops. It some ways this feels really good to think about just letting go of the idea and being ok with my body being different, but in other ways this seems like giving up. Those of you who have had children, what do you think? And those of you jackasses who can fit in a size 2, I may have some really hot jeans for you in November.

More to come...A

Stuck.

Dear Friends,
Ok so the weight loss was going really well all summer and since actively trying starting in March I've lost 26 pounds. I feel really good about this, but the problem is that I still have about 9 more to lose before my clothes (especially tops) fit again. I know women don't usually do this, but I think it is time to talk numbers. I'm sure you have figured out by now that modesty isn't exactly something I value very highly. Here are the stats:

High School Weight: 128
College Freshman Weight: 148
Normal College Weight: 135
Wedding Weight: 122
Lowest weight since 6th grade about 2 years ago: 118 (I've let this idea go, but this is the one and only time I was wearing 2s)
Pre-Pregnancy Weight: 130
Current Weight: 139.5 was hit about 2 weeks ago but not since.

Keep in mind that I am 5'4" so any flux of about 6-8 lbs. is a size. Also, I might as well admit in case you don't know me that I have been described by my oh-so-loving-brothers as a "Bowling Ball with Legs" meaning I am pretty top heavy and have short little legs and no butt. So right now I can fit into my size 6 pants (a little tight but not obscene) but small shirts may be a thing of the past. Unfortunately it appears that Thomas also has my body-type since he grows out of his shirts long before his pants and all his jeans are far too long.

So here is where you come in. I need your help getting these last 10ish pounds off by November 13th: Thomas' First Birthday. I've stayed right around 140 for several weeks now and am sad to admit that I've lost some motivation. But I really need to go for about 1lb. a week if I want to have my Cabana Boy Party coincide with T's Birthday. Will you push me on this? I need some accountability. I've thought about doing Weight Watchers again or a very structured diet like "The South Beach Diet" or Denise Austin's "Lose Those Last 10 Pounds", but for some reason I'm having a hard time getting determined about those. I workout 3-4 mornings a week and usually have a weak spot in my eating patterns after dinner and around 2pm when I really want something sweet. For those of you that have had to lose weight before any tips/advice? If you are naturally skinny you may offer advice but it may not be noted.

Sincerely,
Every Rose Has Its Thorn in Kansas City

What Not to Wear

I found this great book at the library last week and have devoured it. For someone like me that has zero fashion sense it is very helpful. These tips combined with having my mother-in-law's personal shopper tell me what my color scheme is (red, brown, blue, and green) should make me look like hot breakfast even in sweats.

Here is what it said I should be wearing for my body type, which includes big boobs, big arms, short legs, and short neck. Doesn't sound like a very pretty picture, does it? But the book gives pictoral examples about why things look good or bad. I've already gone through my closet and put the stuff they say looks bad on me in a seperate section to possibly give away at a later date.

What I should wear:

No high neck, turtleneck, cap sleeves, and/or sleveless tops. Go with wide-open necklines, v-necks, and corset or rouge shape tops with 3/4's or flutted sleeves.

No boxy, shortwaisted jackets. Go with fitting through the waist and cut to the hip.

Never haltertops or speghetti strap dresses. Wrap dresses with 3/4 length sleeves look best.

Don't do a chunky knit, tight sweater. Go with a wrap, light-weight cardigan.

For jewelry, big bangle bracelets make my arms look fatter and chandelier earrings make my neck look longer.

To solve the short legs problem, don't wear cropped or capri pants (crap!), but do wear two layers of shirts and long skirts and jackets.

The other categories they help with (which thankfully did not apply to me) in case you are interested are: no boobs, big butt, no waist, flabby tummy, saddlebags, and thick calves and ankles. It's worth the read!

Calling Myself Fiona

I've been calling myself Fiona lately. There are really three direct reasons for this. #1: One time a kid in our old neighborhood told my dad he looked like Shrek. Let's face it. I look exactly like my dad. This makes me Fiona. #2: I really like Fiona. In Shrek the Third she is an example of a strong woman, not caught up in the throws of body image or materialism (she's an ogre with confidence), and appears to be a good mother to her triplets. #3 As a name, Fiona goes with the word FRUGAL. So really the full name I've been calling myself is Frugal Fiona.

Frugal Fiona has been hard at work trying to save money and simplify the Lisenby household since coming to the realization this summer that her husband is in school and she does not work. Watching the savings account dwindle has also encouraged her to make some big changes. Not buying things and getting trapped in the cycle of consumerism are difficult for Fiona, but she knows this is the next step for her in both her relationship with God and as a wife/mother. Here are some of the decisions Frugal Fiona has made lately:

1. Gone are the days of help with housecleaning, car detailing, eating out without a coupon, ordering drinks when eating out, and buying whatever comes to mind to buy. Fiona admits $200 mall trips and the things listed above.

2. The Lisenby's grocery budget used to be (embarassing, I know) $650 a month. That included formula and special dietary items. By shopping at 3 different stores to get their Loss Leaders, Frugal Fiona now has the grocery budget, including Hypoallergenic formula, lactose free food, and glutten free/low sugar products to $250 a month.

3. Frugal Fiona has switched gyms. As you will note in Fiona's picture she really needs to workout and knows belonging to some sort of structured gym is best for her. Curves cost her $36 a month and was approximately 5 minutes away without childcare. The church gym by Fiona's parents' house is $25 a month with classes, longer hours, and great childcare. Thank you to Fiona's buddy Kristin for help finding this place.

4. Fiona had a garage sale this past weekend where she made $175 off of stuff that was simply sitting around the Lisenby's home. She confesses she has not missed a single item she sold.

5. Fiona's husband has encouraged her to look into selling a few Pottery Barn items for more than she paid for them. If you didn't know Fiona used to work at Pottery Barn and got a little obsessed with purchasing things at 50-60% off. This week alone she has sold a chair she bought for $350 for $500 and has a couch and a few random items pending. The empty space in the basement has allowed Fiona's baby to make a fort out of a sheet in order to crawl in and out of it squealing several times a day.

6. Fiona has downgraded the Cable and Netflix services because she has rediscovered the Public Library. The Library, which takes 3 minutes to get to from Fiona's castle, has tons of movies, Baby Einsteins, books, and CD's to check out and is FREE. Total savings here: $25 a month.

7. Several returns have been made. Fiona bought some computer equipment last week that her husband already had in the bottom of a drawer. Total Savings: $100. Yesterday she took back a pair of men's shorts to Old Navy since her brother gave her husband 3 pairs of shorts he didn't want anymore. Total savings: $7.

8. Frugal Fiona has been wanting to buy a shelf for her bathroom to store towels on since her castle does not have a linen closet. She had been looking for awhile at Bed, Bath, and Beyond at chrome shelves that cost $80 and go over the toilet. Instead she refinished an entertainment center that did not sell in the garage sale and put it in the guest room closet. It has 2 shelves for towels and a drawer for washcloths. Perfect!

9. Fiona has finally taught herself to cook and has found some recipes that only cost a total of $2 to make on www.betterbudgeting.com. She is also cooking meals for her friends that work and making $40 a week.

10. This morning Fiona sat down to order an egg shaker from her baby's music website. She had noticed how much he loves the shakers in class and figured it was only $5.99 to order two. The idea then came to Fiona that she could make a shaker out of a plastic container, tape, and rice. Baby likes it just as much and Fiona saved $6.

11. Fiona has learned to decorate with items that have been given to her, not things she has to buy. For example, she has been thinking about a wall in her kitchen for several months. Instead of buying a picture, mirror, or something that has no sentimental value to her, Fiona has decorated with her grandparents' china, finding plate racks at consignment stores for $3 each. She replaced a mantle full of previously purchased Pottery Barn items with her Grandma's doll collection and her shelf in her room with her musicbox collection from childhood. All of these things were in boxes before, and selling the other items has made space for more valuable things to come out.

12. Finally, Frugal Fiona admits to completely falling off the bandwagon at Children's Place on the Plaza last week when she spent $38 on new sleepers and onesies for really no reason. Her baby gets many wonderful clothes from his friends Nick and Lou, so Fiona isn't sure why she felt the need to make these purchases. She also confesses to spending $20 on an unnecessary dress and shirt for herself at Old Navy later that day. As a final admission, Fiona has dramatically refused her husband's ideas of cutting costs about where she gets her hair done and having internet in the home. With these two things in tact, she will keep her composure and keep trying to tackle consumerism $1 at a time.

If you have any money saving tips, Frugal Fiona would love to hear them ASAP.

Shelfari

Hey check out all my favorite books on this cool new site my friend Allison taught me about. You can go on and see what your friends are reading and what they rated each book. Only do this if you have some time though, because I swore I would only log on for 15 minutes and now I'm still sitting naked on the couch an hour later updating my shelf hoping Thomas doesn't wake up before I can jump in the shower. :) I can't wait to go to the library now!

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How Being a Stay at Home Mom is Like Guiding at Wilderness

I worked as a backpacking guide in the San Juan Mountains for 3 summers during college. When I started many more experienced mountaineers told me guiding would be the hardest thing I would ever do. Up until carrying a child, pushing him out of me, recovering from pregnancy, and then caring for a tiny person I would have believed them. The past 18 months have been much more difficult for me than guiding at Wilderness ever was. They do have their similarities, however:

THE TOP 15 WAYS BEING A STAY-AT-HOME-MOM IS LIKE GUIDING AT WILDERNESS:

1. Both experiences involve a lot of POOP. On the trail it was fart tennis, the biff, being constipated, altitooties, and the Hook. Now it is yellow, then green, then blue, then black, putting fingers in it and smearing it in hair, pooping in the tub, having a blow-out-the-diaper poop in the middle of the mall, and for me two toilets full of tar 5 days after labor.

2. BARF: the smell of puke used to really bother me. not after wilderness and not now. while it used to be holding girls' ponytails out of the way of the stream of vommit, now it is knowing that tommy is going to puke by reading his face and then cringing when he reaches toward me to be held while he throws up down my shirt.

3. No SHOWER for a few days? No problem.

4. Both experiences were/are very ISOLATING for me. I remember craving Mexican food, a latte, a trip to Target, or a movie by myself. All the same now. When I came home from WR in the falls going to the grocery store was like being in a foreign country. Also the same now. When we finally get out of our 5 mile radius long enough to notice people, colors, reality, and shapes, it is like a breath of fresh air.

5. OUTSIDE THE BOX THINKING: What do you do on the trail with 15 high school kids besides hike all day? Sing, play games, have contests, make up outrageous stories, give awards, have Christmas, go swimming, throw things off mountains, fully utilize a water-ballon launcher, tie knots, etc. What do you do with a 9-month-old besides look at each other all day? Sing, play games, have contests, make up outrageous stories, give awards, have Christmas, go swimming, throw things off the deck, fully utilize Baby Einstein and our exersaucer, tie knots, etc.

6. Both experiences have given me "glorious and inexpressible JOY."

7. WEIGHT GAIN: A good friend of mine recently told me that she did not gain the freshman 15 in college, but she did gain the Wilderness Ranch 15 each summer. I can totally relate. I came home each year with such strong legs that I looked like one of those mythical horse/man creatures. Also true with pregnancy although a more accurate description might be the "Statepuff Marshmellow Man."

8. CHAFFING: Both experiences unfortunately involve this. Not pleasant. At WR it was usually the top of my boots rubbing against my legs. Recently it is my chubby inner-thighs rubbing against each other on a post-partum walk/jog.

9. One time a friend asked me when I have felt the most BEAUTIFUL. My answer was about day 4 on the trail. Completely natural looking (including armpit hair), usually bonded with kids by this point, and aren't so bad you are craving a shower yet. I had the same feeling when we got home from the hospital and I got out of the shower for the first time. I looked in the mirror at my 2-day post labor body and couldn't believe how BEAUTIFUL it was. Knowing that I had given someone else life was indescribable.

10. GRACE: In both cases, a ton of this is needed for myself and for all the people trying to tell me how to do it.

11. LOST: More than once at WR I looked at my guide partner and said, "SH*#@@! We are lost!" David and I have said the same thing to each other as we navigate this whole parenting thing.

12. DIFFERENCES WITH DAVID: Most of you know that when David and I went on the trail together it was not a firework show of loving feelings. We are so different that we would argue quite a bit about which way to go, what to do next, how I was fun but not responsible, and how he was responsible but not fun. All the same disagreements have come up in having a baby (highlighted by me wanting to listen to Lyle Lovett during labor and him saying that might not be the most "centering" labor music). The big difference though this time around is that we are able to laugh at each other and celebrate the ways we are different b/c we compliment each other so much. David is the perfect dad for Tommy and I am the perfect mom. I wouldn't want to be on this particular trip with anyone else.

13. ALPINE STARTS: Getting up consistently at 3 AM is only something you only do on the trail and as a new mom. (I hope).

14. DEPENDENCE: Both times I have thought, "God I can't do this!" "I can't hike anymore today or deal with this annoying kid or be so isolated from reality" has changed to "I can't put my whole career on hold or change one more poopy diaper or not talk to anyone for one more whole day." I found dependence on God and more specifically the Fruits of the Spirit scripture absolutely imperative.

15. PEACE: When on the trail with kids I remember stopping every once in awhile in a beautiful place like Granite Lake and thinking, "I am doing exactly what I was designed to do right now." I'm getting there in being a mom too.

Great Weekend/Writing

This weekend was one of the best weekends I can remember. I feel awakened culturally and creatively! Friday afternoon I had cooking club, where Allie and I made casseroles, soups, and cookies for our families. We even branched out from our easy, practical menu and picked up ingredients for some Costa Rican dishes next week.

Saturday David, Thomas, and I journeyed on over to the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art near the Plaza, complete with lunch at D'Bronx Deli. Thomas loved the big paintings with multiple colors and is learning to clap when he sees something he likes. Today (Sunday) our family outings consisted of going to hear my mom's band play, time to myself at Starbucks working on my sermon for next week, and dinner with friends from Spain. I love Paella! Yum. Thanks Dani and Belen for a wonderful meal.

Two other random thoughts:
1. Please pray that my grandpa passes peacefully and without pain soon.
2. I have entered some of my writing (children's books and personal essays) in contests. This was a big step for me as I usually shy away from claiming my identity as a writer. I don't care if I win, but I am hoping for a good experience that will encourage me to keep pursuing publication. Hope that I meet some helpful people that are willing to work with me to better my skills. Writing has always been just a hobby that I have enjoyed for myself, but it's time to start seeing if it will go anywhere. I wish I was as confident as Jane Austen (or Anne Hathaway playing Jane Austen in "Becoming Jane") when she says, "I will live by my pen." While making money via writing is a longshot for me, I do highly recommend the movie to any aspiring writers, creative spirits, or artists like myself. It's worth the $6 to go see in the theatre.

First Day of School

This morning David began his 2nd Semester of Graduate Work at KU. He is off to explore the depths of Literature written from the Spanish and Latin American perspecitve. We're so proud of you, Senor!

Book Review

I'd like to recommend this awesome cookbook for anyone who is culinarilly-challenged like me. My cousin sent it to me, and it has really helped to get easy, healthy meals on the table. I've also enjoyed my cooking club with my new friend Allie. We make 2-3 meals a week together while we talk. We trade off who gets the ingredients each week and pick recipies both families like. Both things have made cooking more enjoyable!

Creative Endeavors

When you live in a cookie-cutter suburb house you have to get a little creative with decorating sometimes. Most of you know that I really struggled with staying at home last Spring, which makes me a little nervous for David to start school tomorrow. In an effort to make staying home good for me, I've decided to do one creative thing around our house each week. These Mexican cabinet knobs I found in Taos this summer for $2 each. Something different to look at while I attempt to make a healthy meal each evening! Next week...Tommy's baby book.

Ticker Factory

This cool site I copied from Cristy. You can do tons of "tickers."

www.tickerfactory.com

To see my weight loss ticker click here:

An 8!

So, I worked really hard at the cabin and came home 7 lbs. lighter and into size 8s. I now have 15lbs. to go to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight and 20 to be at my wedding weight. I'm really hoping to get it all off by either Thomas' First Birthday or January 1st so I can have a Cabana Boy Party (so far I've recruited David, my dad, and Conor to be the boys although none of them are very excited about it). The party will include the unveiling of my pre-pregnancy hot jeans (although I hear these may fit differently even after the weight is off) and drinks served to all the ladies present by the Cabana Boys. While I'm pleased it is coming off, I can't believe how long it is taking and hear the last 10 are the hardest. As long as I can wear all my clothes again for 6 months before having another baby I'll be happy. And maybe next time I won't eat any sugar to avoid gaining so much weight in the first place.

Questions Answered From My Perspective

As promised, here's what I think about the questions I posted. I'd love to hear more thoughts if you have time.

1. Is the Bible meant to be applied to our current lives word for word or just in themes?
I would say just themes. Redemption, grace, mercy, etc. are all things God is about. Specific verses get too mumbled by the different people trying to translate. A good example is the verse from Proverbs "Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." When we broke it down for a class project in seminary I discovered the most accurate translation is the idea of loving kids in the specific ways their personality receives love. This verse was not written to mean "make your kids be Christians so when they grow up they are just like you." The New Testament is especially theme-friendly, and it's pretty cool to look at how every book points more and more toward the idea of restoration.

2. Is it ok for women to have plastic surgery especially after they are done having kids?
I'm pretty torn here. I could see it being a great thing if you have a huge nose or something really strange, but I don't know if I think it is morally ok to change your body just for aesthetic reasons. I've always had chubby arms and have often thought about how great it would be to have about half of them chopped off, but I don't know that I could really go through with it. I will say that after having a terrible pregnancy (with great results, don't get me wrong) that really tore up my body I've definetely become more understanding than ever about the idea of getting something changed, tucked, or removed.

3. Would you ever consider being a surrogate mother? (This came up when David's aunt called and asked me this).
No. While it would be wonderful to give a life to another family, I couldn't go through another pregnancy unless it was for my own child. I really hope to only have one more pregnancy and then be done. We love the idea of adoption and don't want more than 3 kids.

4. Are men and women equal?
Absolultely. Different, but equal. It makes me so mad when especially married couples don't practice equality. Any complimentarian as**ho!* that wants to talk further just let me know.

5. Can you be a Republican and truly care deeply about social justice?
Yes. Some of the most generous people I know are Republicans. I do think it is rare to be as my cousin put it "staunchly" republican and have an awareness about the poor and oppressed. I also hate how James Dobson and his homies have characterized the Republican party to be only about abortion and Christianity. The Republican party has a ton more to it than abortion, which is why if I had to vote R for the next president I would vote for Rudy G. (But it looks like I will be voting for Hillary, sorry mom).

6. Should healthcare be nationalized?
Even as someone that has quite a few non-emergent health problems and could spend a lot of time waiting for appointments I think healthcare should be nationalized. Everyone deserves to be medically cared for.

In the Mountains...

For all of you faithful followers, my apologies for not posting lately. We've had a wonderful few weeks traveling. Many interesting things have occurred for me to share. We first made our way down to Galveston, TX for several days with David's grandparents at their beach house. Thomas loved helping to feed the seagulls and looking at the crabs we caught in the bay. If you are reading this, please say a quick prayer for David's grandmother, Trudy (GG). She is an exceptional woman who is currently battling cancer. David and I had the opportunity to share with Trudy and Tom how much we have learned from them, especially about marriage. They have been very inclusive and supportive of us since I entered the picture 6 years ago. My relationship with GG has meant a ton to me especially since my own grandmothers passed away 10 and 14 years ago. The trip was also a wonderful chance for both the Thomas Lisenbys to be together. They had fun sharing smiles on the back deck.

On Memorial Day weekend we made it all the way from sea-level to 9,200 ft. with only a few meltdowns from Baby Tommy. I think we have permanently ruined his former enjoyment of riding in the car. He hates his carseat now. Upon arriving at my parent's cabin in CO he had altitude sickness for 10 days. David's cousins were afraid of him after he threw up carrots all over them and then had a runny poop down his back. We're settling into a rhythm now, though, and have had a few adventures. We went to the Sand Dunes on the highest wind day of the year and had some friends from Spain come stay with us. Sharing a Spanish bota of wine and eating authentic sausage did not agree with my belly so well. Last weekend proved to provide some interesting discussion topics with my friends from grad. school who came down for a few nights. I'd love to hear you thoughts about the following topics (listed in random order):

1. Is the Bible meant to be applied to our current lives word for word or just in themes?
2. Is it ok for women to have plastic surgery especially after they are done having kids?
3. Would you ever consider being a surrogate mother? (This came up when David's aunt called and asked me this).
4. Are men and women equal?
5. Can you be a Republican and truly care deeply about social justice?
6. Should healthcare be nationalized?

I promise to share all my thoughts as you post comments. Right now I'm enjoying some water as I sit next to my friend Tara (whose Papa has a cabin out here too). We are using the internet at a place called the Candy Bean that sells toys. Last year it was a bike shop. Stores in small mountain towns sure change quickly.

To Stay at Home or Not to Stay at Home?

Many of you know how strange it has been for me to stay home the last 6 months. I've looked for several jobs and even interviewed for a few things that haven't worked out. I've been working at the church 10 hours a week but have decided I'd even rather do that as a volunteer so I can freely travel with David. Luckily, I don't have to work for financial purposes. Things will be tight with David in school, but he actually gets a decent salary from KU. I've been all over the map lately...working at Starbucks?, starting my PhD?, staying home full-time?. Basically I have no idea what I want to do and how Thomas and David fit into it. On the other hand, I know it's time when we get back from the cabin to start stimulating my brain again.

I'm lucky to have quite a few options and want to do something to contribute to our finances and my own health as a person. I've started to experience joy in staying home and doing routine things like folding laundry and cleaning our house. I've even gotten on a schedule that works well for Thomas and I and includes exercise for me and social interactions for T. Maybe the grass is always greener, and I'm playing that game for moms who work or have found ways to use their talents outside of the home. Here's what I know: 1. I don't want to work full-time and miss being with T. 2. I want to be available to David's schedule to do things like go to CO in the summers. 3. I need an environment that has clear boundaries and isn't so emotionally taxing that I come home overtired. 4. I'm drained by the idea of doing ministry or working in a Christian setting right now. 5. I'm a big baby when it comes to serving my family and need more practice in that area. 6. I get excited about PhD classes for me but am not sure it is best for David and I as a couple. (financially and the idea of both of us being in school) 7. I'm not ready to have another baby and therefore not really have this decision to make since when we have 2+ I'll probably be home. 8. It would be great if I could work somewhere that would provide health insurance and only in the mornings. 9. I don't want to babysit or be a nanny...leaving the house is a big factor. 10. I've thought about writing but don't know how to make money or provide structure to that career. Any ideas?

OBAMA '08!

David and I are big Barack Obama supporters for the '08 election. He is coming to Kansas City on Saturday to launch his campaign. We are super excited to hear him speak. For more information about this candidate please go to his website at www.barackobama.com. He has an awesome speech posted right now on faith and politics.

Faith and politics has become a topic that I have become very interested in over the past few years. I used to vote Republican because I was spoon fed to do so by older, conservative Christians. A wise friend of mine told me a few years ago to consider picking a few topics or issues that are important to me and supporting the candidate that best matches my status on the issues. If you are voting one direction or the other I would ask you the following questions..."Do you know why you are voting for one party? Do you have your top issues that cause you to support a candidate?" My important issues have recently been: social justice, the environment, cultural awareness, and public education. I think it would be so wonderful to have a bi-racial man who supports these things in the White House.

PS-I love a good debate and hope I am good listener to other points of view while holding my own ground. Let's talk politics via comments and e-mail!

INTJ Personality Wins Again

Posting a quiz on your blog and having your friends take it is in honor of my friend Tim Suttle. So click to this quiz (it's not the best one I've seen, but it will do) and let me know what you are in the form of a comment. I studied the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator in grad. school and find it fascinating. David and I have been able to figure out why we disagree by looking at how we differ on this test. We've both taken the 250+ question version and been debriefed by a professional. If you have taken this several times at least look through it again...you may know yourself better now. I used to score as slightly F but have been a T for the past few years. This might have to do with the fact that David is so F that I feel the need to balance him out and be rational. :)

QUIZ

Below is some info. about me...

How to Love an INTJ
Be an attentive and respectful listener.
Appreciate my competency and creativity.
Give me plenty of privacy and time alone for me to pursue my interests in depth.
Try not to pressure me to share my feelings before I'm ready.
Be honest and direct about what you need.
Above all - respect my independence and need to live my life according to my own standards.

How to Spot INTJs:
cool, formal and independent
intellectual, logical, and skeptical
complex, and challenging with a sometimes superior attitude
conservative dressers with an individual look

Tips for Communicating with INTJs:
Appeal to their creativity and innovation
Base your arguments on logical reasoning
Be organized and avoid errors that undermine your competence

New Life Live

I highly recommend the radio program "New Life Live" on each day at 1pm Central. It is Christian therapists that answer callers questions about life, relationships, and troubles. All of you counseling buddies would love it. Henry Cloud, John Townsend, Steve Arteburn, Jill Hubbard are a few of the therapist on there. Tune in with me, and we will analyze all the callers later in the afternoon via e-mail.