Dirt Road Musings: Archive

It's Arrived!!!

After hours and hours of labor, my blog is ready to launch. But like all newborns, it is a little scrawny and in need of some plumping up, so bear with me. I will be moving from here to there, so if you like what you see, be sure to subscribe there, as this will be shutting down. My forwarding address is: http://www.dirtroadmusings.com Go there, look around. Enjoy. But please read me at...

Aug 4th

13 notes

What happened to Judy?

Well, it’s been a month since my last post. Some of you may think that I have forgotton about you or this blog, but alas, it’s not true. I have actually been working quite diligently in an undisclosed location on the internet. Real estate on the web is numerous and quite cheap. I am almost done and ready to launch the new and improved Dirt Road Musings. So stay tuned. T-minus 12 days...

Jul 7th

Down and Out Daddy

Usually, it is not a big deal when dad gets sick. He goes to bed, all day, and wakes up better. However, I am usually home to care for the wee ones. What happens when mom is working and dad gets sick? Total Disaster. Read more here:

Jun 2nd

A Mother's Prayers

No mother wants her child to struggle. However, it is oftentimes the only way to grow in character and strength. With that in mind, today a mother is in awe of her son. It is the same mother who had prayed… (click here to read the rest of the story)

May 19th

Watch

As the mother of three very active boys, I have a feeling that I will be on the sidelines for many years to come. Here’s Caleb’s first highlight video, with Nathan doing the intro. Should I contact the recruiters now? Enjoy

May 18th

Lifestyle: Flurry of Activity

I am learning a lot about myself, and it really is too bad that it took 30 years to come to some of my conclusions. I won’t bore you with all the details, but the main thing is that I love to be busy. If I am not busy, then I am bordering on depression. Perhaps that is why I have three kids, busy is now my middle name. However, I also know that I need activity outside the whirlwind I...

May 10th

4 tags

Watch

Photos from my Rally to benefit Feeding America Thank you all that came and thank you all that made donations to Feeding America. This is a great charity doing great things and I feel privileged to be a part of this amazing effort.

Apr 28th

Celebrity Rummage Sale

You may not attain their size or status, but you can now own their stuff. And by doing so, you can help out children’s charities. Many of your favorite celebrities have donated to Clothes Off Our Back to raise money for the Child Hunger Ends Here campaign. They arrived on Wisteria Lane, the set of Desperate Housewives, with their personal loot in tow. And now...

Apr 21st

Apr 18th

2 tags

Destination: Disney

Last May, we surprised our boys with a trip to Disneyworld. Because we are smart parents, and know that too much anticipation is overwhelming for everyone, we waited until the day of the trip to reveal the “surprise”. Oh, you bet I was geared up with my camera and ready to catch the reaction of my two boys, ages 4 and 6, once they went berserk after the announcement was made. Oh, I could only...

Apr 14th

Rallying on Wisteria Lane

I had the opportunity to visit Los Angeles this week. The weather was beautiful, the homes were amazing, and the people were fantastic. It was a great trip. But I was there for a reason. To rally my family, friends and neighbors to stamp out child hunger. Our first agenda item was to visit the Los Angeles Food Bank. This food bank feeds more than 1 million people a year! We were able to...

Apr 9th

Domestic Diva Tips

1. Always check your pockets before doing a load of laundry. Otherwise, you may miss the black fingernail polish that you took from your toddler and stuck in your pants for safekeeping. 2. Always investigate the loud noise coming from the load of laundry in the dryer. Otherwise, you may miss the black fingernail polish that you took from your toddler and stuck in your pockets for safekeeping. ...

Apr 3rd

LET'S GET READY TO RALLY!

By now, I am sure that most of you have your own Child Hunger Ends Here Neighborhood Rally completely planned and organized. What? Not yet? Well, no time like the present, right? Please do not let the term “Rally” deter you. You don’t need to have hundreds of people in attendance. It could be as simple as hosting a movie party and serving Orville Redenbacher popcorn. ...

Apr 2nd

Standing by your Man: Thoughts on Tiger, Jesse,...

Tiger is making his comeback this week, Jesse James is starting his demise, and David Letterman hardly missed a step. Who cares? I do. I care because each of these men represents a marriage that is failing, in danger of failing, or has already failed. I was in college when (read more here)…

Mar 31st

1 note

My Hero and Kurt Warner

A few weeks ago, I nominated my hero for a $5000 scholarship given annually in Omaha at the Qwest center. Today I found out she won. So, on May 3, she will walk across the stage where Kurt Warner is doing the address and recieve her award in front of 1500 people. The D.J. Hero’s Award is given annually to a Nebraska youth who exemplifies D.J. Sokol’s qualities of dedication to...

Mar 30th

In case you missed it....momaha blog →

Mar 27th

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and...”

– Mark Twain

Mar 24th

Encouraged

I am so grateful to all of you who have shared your stories with me. I never expected this type of reception to this campaign. I knew you were good people, but you really are good people. So many of you are active in the fight against hunger already. Here’s what I know: -Emmy has organized holiday food drives at her school, resulting in over 2800 meals for her community! -Wanda is...

Mar 24th

She Heard the Call

There is nothing more heart-wrenching than seeing a need in the eyes of a child and not knowing how to help. Working at a school, she knows more than most about the needs of young children. Last summer, while watching The Biggest Loser, Emily got an idea. The Backpack Program by Feeding America was highlighted on the show. She thought, “Now that’s something I can do.” The...

Mar 20th

Child Hunger Ends Here

Tummies are grumbling. Kids are complaining. Mothers are shushing. Fathers are despairing. And it’s happening next door. Where you live. Where the kids go to school. Children don’t need to be starving or homeless to be malnourished or struggling with hunger. Many children are simply missing a meal or not eating on a regular basis. These children at risk of hunger are in our...

Mar 17th

The Meltdown

After a week of temps in the 40’s, the ground is appearing for the first time in over 80 days. Finally. The upside to this is that the boys are playing outside. The downside is that the snow really made my yard appear nice. Now I can see how much work is ahead of me this spring. Right now, the boys are using a racoon as a touchdown marker. Nice. I am sure my sweet dog dragged it’s...

Mar 6th

Unicorns and T-rexes (L.A. and Wisteria Lane)

Oftentimes, my children tell wonderful, believeable stories about their days at school. However, when they start talking about unicorns and dinosaurs making appearances, it is vital that I in turn question every detail of their day. So, when I start talking unicorns and t-rexes, please stay with me. I assure you that it is all true. I was contacted by a woman in California because she stumbled...

Mar 2nd

1 note

Concentration

Isaiah: Dad, when I grow up will you come to all of my football games?
Dad: Of course son.
Isaiah: Even when I'm in the pro's?
Dad: Even then.
Isaiah: What about when you're dead? Will you still watch then?
Dad: I'll be cheering you on from heaven (no one is dying, this is just hypothetical.)
Caleb: I will miss you when you're dead.
Dad: Ahh, thanks Caleb. I'll miss you too.
Isaiah: I'll miss you too. But I will really need to concentrate on football, so I won't miss you as much as Caleb.

Mar 1st

Training Day

I ran 7 miles today. I am not really a runner. I’m not fast. I am not even quick. I’m like Nike, I “just do it”. I am pretty sure that I have the title of Slowest Competitive Runner. Most people that run on my level, keep it simple: at the gym, around the neighborhood. They don’t enter races and broadcast it to the world. In fact, my first race was only two miles. I had to walk some of...

Feb 28th

Be My Valentine

I am not the only writer in the family. My sweetie wrote this for me for my valentine’s gift. I know life isn’t exactly how you would have imagined. But we have more love than most can even imagine. This winter has stayed cold, and despite the-heat-of-the-moment, we never treat each other as though we are ready to fold. We are learning about grace, and I will love you all the...

Feb 14th

My Hero

My hero is an 18-year-old foster kid. She is inspiring and incredible. Here’s a little of her story: She was born to an unwed mother. As a child, she was in and out of foster care. When she was 13, she was in foster care and raped by a 20 yr. old acquaintance of a foster roommate. She got pregnant. She went to planned parenthood, but couldn’t bring herself to have an abortion. ...

Feb 12th

Judy Daniell: A story of boy meets girl →

Feb 11th

Kindergarten Theology

Teacher: For this assignment, you need to choose someone you know very well and tell us what this person likes and doesn't like.
 Isaiah, who did you choose?
Isaiah: Jesus
Teacher: Okay, tell us more.
Isaiah: He likes prayers. He likes believers. He doesn't like non-believers.
Teacher: o.k.
Isaiah: I was going to put that he doesn't like sinners, but that isn't true. He loves sinners.  That's why he died on the cross.  He doesn't like it when people know that he died on the cross and choose not to believe in Him.
Jehovah's Witness student: You should have put that Jesus doesn't like you celebrating Christmas.
Isaiah: Yes he does.
J.W. student: No he doesn't.
Isaiah: Does
J.W. Student: doesn't
Teacher: Okay, you two will need to talk to your parents.

Jan 28th

Jan 1st

I am Brilliant (atleast my kid thinks so)

4 yr. old: This is my shark. His name's Sharky.  This is my dolphin.  His name's Dolphy. This is my Whale. Do you know what his name is?
Mom: Whaley?
4 yr. old: How'd you know!?

Dec 30th

I am Dreaming of a Palmtree Christmas

Whoever thought it would be fun to have a white Christmas must not have lived on a country road. If he had, he would be dreaming of snow plows instead. It is now hour 48 of our white christmas and we haven’t seen any plows. With drifts in the 4-6 feet range, we are going nowhere quick. I will admit that we thoroughly enjoyed being snowed in on Christmas day. The boys had all sorts of new...

Dec 27th

Dec 21st

56 Grams of Fat!!!

The other day, my family was doing dinner on their own. Don’t ask me how this works since the boys are 6, 4, and 1. Anyhow, I watched my husband pour out most of the contents of a bag of boneless buffalo wings. I gazed in astonishment before I asked, “Are you going to eat all of those?” Hubby looked at me increduously and replied, “I am going to try.” I counted 32...

Dec 19th

Dec 11th

“I have been a selfish being all my life. In practice, though, not in principle.”

– Jane Austen

Nov 26th

Helpful Parenting Tips I've learned (and this is...

1. Though it may seem like a good idea at first, powering off your cell phone so your toddler can play with it is actually a bad idea… a powered off cell phone doesn’t ring when you are trying to locate it. 2. Sometimes it is best to compromise with your 4-year-old. Wearing shorts with your socks pulled up to your knees is just like wearing pants. Right? 3. Nothing is ever pleasant at...

Nov 4th

Sep 26th

Crazy? I hope not.

We just purchased a home. It needs a lot of love. We aren’t sure at this stage whether we will move into it, or just fix it up to sell or rent. Either way, we got her for at least a year.

Sep 26th

Sep 7th

Tribute to Amy, a wonderful mother

Mom, How do I even begin? First off, you are the bomb! I just wanted to make sure you knew how much I appreciate all you have done for me. I am pretty sure that most moms don’t find much pleasure in being poked in the ribs all day, but you did. I am also sure that most moms don’t really look forward to the frequent bathroom trips in the middle of the night, but you did. I know that...

Aug 15th

Jul 1st

Family Photos →

May 1st

Six years ago. . .

I became a parent. I was not prepared. I was young. (Sometimes I felt that my 13-year- old neighbor would have been better prepared, at least she had experience with kids.) We’d been married less than two years and I was the first of my friends to move into the ‘hood (parenthood, that is). It all came so suddenly. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade a single moment in the last six years for all...

Apr 9th

“Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.”

– Lance Armstrong

Jan 20th

1 tag

Jan 18th