Cryin Out Loud

Back during the election season, when I was only seeing PD for a few seconds a day, we started e-mailing each other little songs that we heard and thought the other might like. 

Well, I was having a really hard time last week.  I am really struggling with contentment lately.  I know I am blessed, but my flesh keeps taking over and I start comparing to what others have.  Then I get mad at myself for not having slain my old demons yet.

PD is so great for me.  He listenes, he prays for me, he distracts me with fun projects and reminds me of truth.  He reminds me that it is ok to cry out to God.

He sent me this song today to cheer me up: 

American Girl Doll: An Update

To read the back story on an American Girl doll for PK1 click here: American Girl

Well, we have had a development. Kansas Grandma had the best find the other day at an estate sale:

They aren't exactly American Girls, but they are really quality dolls that are remarkably similar. And they were only a tenth of the price!

The PKs are absolutely thrilled with them:

We have never had many dolls around the house because PK1 has never been interested. She likes to play dress up and pretend and animal rescue. And PK2 likes to play with PK1.

So we scrounged all over the house for any doll or baby clothes that might fit them.

So far we have two outfits from the Cabbage Patch doll I had as a child, some pajamas from a Snoopy doll, and a few other things.

They have been playing with the dolls constantly between our regular activities. They brush their hair:

And get them ready for bed every night when they get ready for bed:

PK1 even called her little friend to tell her all about it and they planned all the things they will play with their dolls next time they get together.

It has been a wonderful surprise blessing in the middle of this long cold winter.

Thank you Kansas Grandma!

Birthday x 2

Friday night my college sister arrived to celebrate her 21st birthday with us.

We had enchiladas and guacamole.

and of course..cake:

We mostly just played with the PKs and sat on my bed and talked for two days.  Then Saturday night we drove her to the airport.  She gets to spend the rest of her birthday week in Florida! 

Then Saturday the usual suspects gathered at The PGs for dinner and cake with PD's sister.

I won't tell you how old she is, but it is more than 29 and less than 31.

Look at all those candles!

Grandma cooked a great dinner and then we played Pick Two.  I lost horribly. 

Gag Order

This blog was supposed to be at least in part, the ramblings of my life as a political widow...I mean wife. 

PD (Political Dad) has worked in politics for over a decade now in many different capacities.  He is finally doing mostly policy work which has always been his real goal.  He works for a former congressman from here in Ohio,  John Kasich.

Anyway I had hoped to post about political events, behind the scenes gossip, inside information.  You get the point.  Well, every time I try to post something juicy, PD totally puts the kabosh on it.

He has actually been putting the kabosh on me a lot lately.  He informed me that it would not be ok to call someone "Baptist Barbie" even if I meant it as a compliment or suggest that someone looking for an adult swim class join the one for mentally challenged adults at my gym, even though I meant that as a joke! 

PD is very good for me.

He is also very good at his job.

Here is an op-ed about his boss that just came out in the Columbus Dispatch today:

Governor's Budget Plan Will Worsen Ohio's Plight

We are most assuredly dorks: The Oscars

To see more about our status as dorks,

click here: Dorks I

or here: Dorks II

Tonight is the Oscars. I have always loved tuning in to see the glamorous couples and the great dresses. Then when we got married I started making PD watch with me. We both DO love a good movie or at least a good story, so it wasn't that hard a sell.

So even though PD goes into the office EVERY Sunday night to catch up on paperwork, he DOES stay home for the Oscars and the Emmys.

We fill out these ballots and compete. I almost always win, but not exclusively.

We used to get pizza. Then we got sophisticated and got sushi. Then we got fat and now we drink water.

We are always conflicted between what we think will win and what we want to see win.

Anyway tonight we are rooting for this:

and this:

PK2 in Three Parts

Untitled from Political family on Vimeo.

Doing Church

I can't tell you how much I have learned about "doing church" in the last couple years.  A huge part of that is my small group.  They are such a real group of people and I have learned from each one of them.  We got together last Saturday just for fun stuff and we had the best time.  Besides being real and godly and generous and smart...as I look over these pictures it occurs to me that they are a pretty good looking bunch as well!

Here are our fearless leaders:

I am not going to put names because I didn't tell anyone I was doing this.  But here are the rest of us.

.

There were a few people missing but this is most of us.  Could my smile be any weirder?

For a few more pictures, you can go to my friend Kelli's blog kitchenwindow-sunflower.blogspot.com