Nattie Writes!

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December 31, 2007

been a while

(Originally published by Nattie on October 6, 2003)

Some silly quizzes for you...

How seductive are you? (not that it matters since I'm married )

What kind of flower are you? (and I answered this one totally honestly and still got the answer I wanted.)

What is your wedding style? (this answer is plain funny since I got married in Vegas)

What kind of bride would you be? (I answered this one as if I were to do it over again and the real wedding)

When it comes to seducing a man, you are as innocent as a baby and pure as the driven snow. You feel uncomfortable putting yourself out there and prefer to play it safe and let the guys do all the work. Shyness can be appealing, but be careful that you don't come across as uninterested!

How Seductive Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

You are a Rose.

Which Kind of Flower Are You?
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What's Your Wedding Style?
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Congratulations! You are a traditional bride!

What Kind of Bride Will You Be?
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These results are more accurate...based on my real wedding not the little girl dream one. :o)

Good for you! You are a simple bride!

What Kind of Bride Will You Be?
brought to you by Quizilla

Copyright Natalie Rose York

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 08:51 AM | Comments (1)

December 27, 2007

Thank you, Melissa

(Originally published by Nattie on October 6, 2003)

I needed to hear this message today...

"If you focus on the flaws, you'll miss the feast."--Joseph M. Schuster

I love Mondays. To me they represent new beginnings in the strictest sense. But, first off...I have to forgive myself for all of the things that were left undone last week: bills not paid, stamps not bought, letters either not written or mailed, phone calls unreturned. And the list goes on...

I pretend that I've not failed---not been neglectful. And really, I haven't been. I'm human and have too much to do. Haven't quite figured out how to fit it all in...and maybe never will.

The truth is...life isn't meant to be ridden with guilt. Joy needs to be found in the simplest tasks and I refuse to let all of these petty chores change that.

Love,
Melissa

Brought to you by The Mother's Hour. Check it out, today!

Copyright Natalie Rose York

(Note: The reference above is no longer active. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who knows where it might be located now. Thanks!)

(Note #2: Thanks to Stephanie, we now know where Melissa's writings can be found; please see her comment below.)

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 09:24 AM | Comments (1)

December 26, 2007

short vent

(Originally published by Nattie on October 5, 2003)

am i asking too much when I ask my husband to help me with the dishes?

i can't stand long enough to do them without being in pain, but he seems to think I'm putting him out by asking. :o(

Copyright Natalie Rose York

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 09:15 AM | Comments (1)

December 24, 2007

Good Tidings We Bring...

Melanie (left) and Natalie celebrated several colorful Chtristmases in California. Mel and Nat were best friends for more than 20 years.

And Thank You very much

...to all responsible for compiling and preparing the "Beautirul" book that arrived on Saturday.

Because of Natalie's eternal optimism, we were not allowed to say proper goodbyes. Nonetheless, on that last evening I did get to tell her, "Maybe I never told you this, but everyone else sure knows how proud I am of you."

She said, "Thank you." shortly before passing into her final sleep.

That overwhelming pride has been refreshed every time I hear or read how much my little girl meant to each of you.

Merry Christmas--Nattie's Daddy

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 09:59 AM | Comments (7)

December 21, 2007

Peace is over for now

(Originally published by Nattie on October 4, 2003)

The kids are back home. Poor Nana. Jonathan was up at 4:30 this morning. Anna didn't want to sleep last night. I didn't tell her that I skipped church and slept in till 11. They are dozing in front of a movie right now. They told me they missed me. I missed them too.

The apartment was too quiet and it was missing the light that they emit by simply being.

Copyright Natalie Rose York

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 08:58 AM | Comments (0)

December 20, 2007

A quote to ponder

(Originally published by Nattie on October 4, 2003)

"There are thoughts which are prayers. There are moments when, whatever the posture of the body, the soul is on its knees."--Victor Hugo

Copyright Natalie Rose York

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 08:51 AM | Comments (2)

December 19, 2007

Disciplining a strong-willed little boy

(Originally published by Nattie on October 4, 2003)

After having a horrible week with trying to discipline my little munchkin, I orderd some books through Focus On The Family and they arrived today.

~ Parenting Isn't For Cowards by Dr. James C. Dobson
~ The New Dare to Discipline by Dr. James C. Dobson
~ Creative Correction by Lisa Whelchel
~ Boundaries with kids by Drs. Cloud and Townsend

Think if I hold them to my head that I can learn how to be a good parent by osmosis?

Wish it was that easy. I'm just trying to hit on the right combination of rules for my buddy. He likes to push that button and cross this line. :o)

Copyright Natalie Rose York

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 10:03 AM | Comments (0)

December 18, 2007

Counting down

(Originally published by Nattie on October 3, 2003)

In less than an hour hubby will be taking my kids to my MIL's. Yippee! No children for at least 24 hours!!! Woohoo!!!

I love my children, but they are a handful. Especially when I can't chase them down.

While they are gone, hubby will be at work, so I will be totally alone. I plan on reading. Maybe watching some movies. Reading and oh, yes, more reading!!! Then I might even *gasp* write!

In my reading pile are:

• In This Mountain by Jan Karon
• Let Me Be A Woman by Elisabeth Elliott
• First Light by Brock and Bodie Thoene
• The Heart Reader by Terri Blackstock
• The Sitter by R.L. Stine
• Fields of Gold by Lisa E. Samson
• Indigo Waters by Lisa E. Samson
• The Snake, The Crocodile and the Dog by Elizabeth Peters
• The Hippopotamus Pool by Elizabeth Peters
• Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg
• Ghost Riders by Sharyn McCrumb
• The Bag Beginning by Lemony Snicket
• The Hobbit by Tolkein

Copyright Natalie Rose York

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 09:37 AM | Comments (0)

December 17, 2007

R.I.C.E.

(Originally published by Nattie on October 2, 2003)

Nothing is broken! I'm just strained, sprained and very sore. So the order of business for the next week is Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Then I made up my own acronym for C.P.R.--Caution when bearing weight, Pain medication and Read my mountain of books.

Copyright Natalie Rose York

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 10:11 AM | Comments (0)

Must remember

(Originally published by Nattie on October 2, 2003)

...to not take the full dose of pain medication while kids are still awake. I just want to close my eyes.

Just...for...a...minute....*snore*

Copyright Natalie Rose York

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 10:05 AM | Comments (0)

December 15, 2007

25 years ago today...



My, my, how the years do fly, never to return.

Happy Birthday, Natalie. Thank you for the memories.

All my love -- Daddy

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 07:55 AM | Comments (18)

December 14, 2007

Blessings

(Originally published by Nattie on October 2, 2003)

Okay...I can't walk without excrutiating pain, but there are blessings to be found today.

Blessing #1--My mother-in-law helped me today by taking me to the doctor, to the hospital for x-rays and to the pharmacy.

Blessing #2--My mother-in-law made me dinner and got the kids ready for bed before she had to go back home.

Blessing #3--I have friends and family praying for me.

Blessing #4--My mother-in-law took the kids to Kmart while I was at the doctor and bought both of them new shoes and pre-winter coats.

Blessing #5--My husband loves me even though I am the world's biggest klutz.

Blessing #6--My children are trying to take care of me--between fights, of course.

Blessing #7--My mother-in-law (boy, has she been a blessing today) is taking the kids for the weekend. She planned this before I got hurt, but it will be a double blessing now.

Blessing #8--I have a good book to read and Reese Bits to nibble on.

Blessing #9--I have some of the best friends in the whole world. I am so thankful for my online friends--Dana, Joanne, Heather, Skipper, Leann, Susan...and the list goes on. They laugh at me...oops...I meant with me. They love me. They pray for me.

Blessing #10--I may be a "gimp" but I'm still alive. :o)

Copyright Natalie Rose York

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 09:45 AM | Comments (1)

December 13, 2007

Give me a padded room

(Originally published by Nattie on October 1, 2003)

I'm a danger to myself. I fell down the stairs at church last night. It hurt!

I don't know what happened; the next thing I knew I was at the bottom of the stairs, my left ankle twisted and landing hard on my right foot. I somehow managed to get home. I put my feet up and put ice on both. Today I still could barely walk so I went to the doctor.

I am waiting for results from xrays of my left ankle (which I fractured last December) and my right foot. I have a brace on my left ankle and an ace bandage on my right foot.

I'm pathetic. 29 years old and I can't even walk down the stairs safely. Need I remind you that I fracture my right ankle when I was 13 by, yes, falling down the stairs. And then last December fractured my left ankle by, yes, again...falling down the stairs.

Where are the straight jacket and padded room?!

Copyright Natalie Rose York

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 10:43 AM | Comments (0)

December 12, 2007

October is...

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

(Originally published by Nattie on September 30, 2003)

This cause is near and dear to my friend Dana. You'll see why when you read about her.

This cause is also near and dear to my heart. In 1999 my mother-in-law discovered a lump in one of her breasts during a self exam. She went to her gynecologist who scheduled her for a mammogram. Then she had a breast ultrasound and a needle biopsy.

Late in March of 1999 we were told that she had breast cancer. She chose a mastectomy of both breasts even though cancer was only detected in one breast. After the surgery and further biopsies they found that she had cancer in both breasts. One was just faster growing than the other.

She is now five years cancer free and celebrated her fifth year of survival. So this month is dedicated to Karla, my mother-in-law.

This month is also dedicated to my mom, Mary Q. She has not had breast cancer, but she has had lumps and biopsies (and didn't tell me till the results came back). She has taught me to take a proactive stance with my health and she has championed the breast cancer cause by doing the Avon three-day walk. She also did the Race for the Cure this past weekend.

So I dedicate this month to Dana, Karla and Mom. May you live long and healthy lives, and may you teach others how to live gracefully even in the face of cancer.

Some more links to check out:
Young Survival Coalition
Living With It
Annie's Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Site

Copyright Natalie Rose York

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 10:12 AM | Comments (2)

December 11, 2007

My life

(Originally published by Nattie on September 29, 2003)

You've got to keep a sense of humor about these things. If not you'd go crazy.

* I think Jonathan has a girlfriend. There is a little girl in speech therapy with him. I think she has been batting her big brown eyes at him and flipping her curly hair because all Jonathan could talk about this morning was seeing the little girl.

~ The other day I had to explain that boys have a pee-pee and girls don't. The conversation went something like this...
Jonathan: Mommy, do you have a pee-pee?
Mommy: No, I don't. I'm a girl. Girls don't have pee-pee's.
Jonathan: Sissy have a pee-pee?
Mommy: No, sissy is a girl. She doesn't have a pee-pee.
Jonathan: I don't want to have a pee-pee.
About this time Sissy wanted to look at said pee-pee.

* I yell/prod/cajol the kids to pick up their toys.
~ Nothing.
~ My husband tells them to pick up toys...they do it!

* I walked yesterday.
~ Today I have shin splints.

* Then there was storytime which I get to repeat next week.

~ Friday Jonathan decided he didn't want to leave the car and locked himself in.

* Anna is peeing in the big girl potty...sometimes.

* I plucked my eyebrows to go with my pretty new glasses.
~ I plucked so much that I made myself bleed.
~ Now I have scabbed eyebrows.

* Jonathan decided he needed more bubbles in his bath the other night and used up a whole can of shaving gel which was on top of the shower and should have been impossible for a five-year[old to reach.
~ So I have plucked eyebrows and hairy legs.

* I made pudding yesterday. Wes always complains that we eat everything and never leave anything for him. So I left a bowl just for him. When I went to the refrigerator this morning there were finger marks in the pudding. Came back later and the top layer was gone.
~ I gave up.
~ Wes got no pudding and the kids actually shared the rest.

* TV blackout is a pain when you have PMS.

~ Jonathan wanted to help me fix lunch. So I let him get the dishes and the forks out of the dishwasher.

* He claims he is a big boy and he can help, but why won't he poop in the potty!!!!!

~ I love my children.
 ~ I love my husband
  ~ I love my life.
   ~ But some days I just want to crawl into a hole and experience peace and quiet.

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"--Matthew 8:23-27

Copyright Natalie Rose York

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 09:09 AM | Comments (0)

December 10, 2007

Good reads

(Originally published by Nattie on September 29, 2003)

Gone--this blog is always a great read, but todays entry really struck me. Go read it now!

Turn off the pump, she's full was another good read with some contemplative thoughts and just plain silly ones too.

My Soul Sis had some great links and info on Rosh Hashanah.

Off to bed now.

I screamed at the kids for over an hour to pick up their toys. They are now in bed and guess who got to pick up the toys?!

Copyright Natalie Rose York

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 09:45 AM | Comments (0)

December 07, 2007

Anniversaries

While the rest of our country pauses to remember the bombing of Pearl Harbor, 66 years ago this morning, I feel compelled to point out that it has been half a year since, in the early hours, we said goodbye to our Nattie.

I feel as though I should be able to express myself more thoroughly, but today--as most days--words fail to keep up with my thoughts.

Natalie, I know you have enjoyed your first six months in heaven. Why couldn't you wait for me? Love you--Daddy

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 09:10 AM | Comments (2)

December 06, 2007

My testimony

(Originally published by Nattie on September 29, 2003)

I shared this on a group I'm on...thought I'd share it with you. I'll give you the abridged version of my testimony. :o)

I first prayed the "sinner's prayer" when I was six, but I say my faith wasn't really my own until I was 24 or 25. In the meantime I attended church, went to a Christian school, studied the Bible, etc. I had a storehouse of knowledge, but I didn't truly understand the nature of God. I was totally willing to abandon God if I saw something outside of the narrow path that I wanted. Usually it was a relationship with someone who wasn't a Christian.

For reasons I won't go into, I felt totally unloved and "looked for love in all the wrong places" like the song goes. I hit a wall when I became pregnant at the age of 23. Then I had to care for a baby too, and I knew I couldn't do it alone.

There has been more growth in my life in the past five years than the whole 18 years before. God has been beside me through a marriage to a non-Christian. He has been with me through three years of dealing with depression.

God is faithful even when we are faithless. (loosely translated 2 Timothy 2:13).

Copyright Natalie Rose York

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 08:22 AM | Comments (1)

December 05, 2007

The Rules: Storytime

(Originally published by Nattie on September 29, 2003)

There are some rules for story time--
* Always go potty before story time, not during.
* Wait in line nicely to get your name tag.
* Don't eat the name tag because the ink will bleed on your face.
* No, you cannot wash your hands again. They are not dirty.
* Sit on your piece of rug nicely.
* Don't eat the velcro off the flannel graph pieces.
* Yes, you can sit on my lap.
* Listen to the story.
* Don't look at the story time lady like she is insane.
* Yes, your sister can sit on my lap.
* Quit hitting your sister.
* If you don't stop hitting your sister we are going home.
* If you don't stop pushing your brother we aer going home.
* Put the stickers that the story time lady gives you on your hands or clothes; not on books, walls, car windows.
* Don't make mom carry your 10 books, her seven books, and your three videos out to the car while trying to hold two story time activities, a coloring page that you had to bring and the jacket that you left on a library table.

Copyright Natalie Rose York

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 10:15 AM | Comments (0)

December 04, 2007

What is Natalie thankful for today?

(Originally published by Nattie on September 29, 2003)

1. That I got to walk this morning.
2. That I got to listen to praise music while I walked.
3. That the kids had story time at the library today.
4. That I had just enough milk to make the pudding the kids had been looking forward to.
5. That hubby is going to the store tomorrow.

Copyright Natalie Rose York


Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 12:00 PM | Comments (0)

December 03, 2007

Brrrr

(Originally published by Nattie on September 28, 2003)

It was only like 40 degrees this morning. *shiver*

I went walking this morning! Can you believe it?! I only walked a mile because I am out of shape. When I got home I did a 12-minute workout with stretching and some mild exercises.

Then I took the kiddies to Storytime at the library. That will be another entry. But you should have seen me trying to exit the library with 10 books for the kids, seven books for me and three videos. Then we forgot Anna's jacket and had to go back. Oy!

Then I fixed lunch. Everyone wanted something different, of course.

The rest of the afternoon I've spent piddling with my Xanga book review blog.

I wanted to decorate it for fall. I would update this blog for fall, but I haven't figured out how to do the templates yet. Dianne put mine up and I love it, but I like to redecorate every once in a while.

I'll have to see what I can figure out.

But first I must do dishes and laundry.

Priorities!

Copyright Natalie Rose York

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 10:54 AM | Comments (0)

December 01, 2007

Saturday Soapbox

(Originally published by Nattie on September 27, 2003)

1. This past year and previous years, have you made a concerted effort to live "on purpose" or have you been aimlessly drifting through life and let it all just happen to you? How can you start living "on purpose"?
2. Who is in control of your life? Is it you, the people around you, or are you letting God have total control over all of your daily decisions and plans?
3. Take some time to pray and spend time in God's Word. What is God saying to you in those times? Do you feel like there is something God is asking of you that you have not done because of fear or rebellion? What can you do to move in line with God's plan He has revealed to you?
4. What things in your life hinder following God's plan for your life? What things do you let get in the way or take up your precious time?
5. How do you see your life on earth? Do you love the world or do you love God? God's Word says that we cannot have two masters. You will either hate the one and love the other or love the one and hate the other. Who is your Master?

Copyright Natalie Rose York

Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 11:30 AM | Comments (0)