pool bums

Sarah, being a good influence to my cartoon crazed daughter, has introduced the Olympics to Morgann. However, either due to the personality of my girly-girl, princess playing Morgann, or perhaps a three year olds inability to pronounce 3-5 syllable words correctly, Morgann now fondly calls the games, the "Oh Lipsticks." She really enjoys watching swimming, and much to my pride, likes watching the women swim.

We have been going to the pool quite a bit this summer and Morgann has been trying to swim. After watching the women swim, Sarah asked Morgann if she would go under if she had goggles like the Oh Lipstick swimmers. Morgann agreed. Thus, Sarah and I spent a good part of Tuesday in search of goggles for Morgann to wear at the pool. Morgann wants to swim, yet detests sticking her head under the water. Sarah finally found some goggles yesterday. Thus yesterday Morgann put them to the test in her kiddie pool (it was also about 68 outside and breezy). Her lips were getting blue by the time she got out. How is it that 3 year olds can with stand such frigid water? We tried today at the pool some dunking and swimming.....she has a ways to go still...but its fun being pool bums. At the Varney Pool Oh Lipsticks, we are definitely the gold medalists.

Fun in the Sun

Ahhh...summer in NH. Rich and I were saying the other day that if it wasn't for visiting family, we'd never have to leave NH. (We love our family and do enjoy visiting.) We have been enjoying the Lakes and Beaches of NH these past few weeks. I went on a Pastor Wives Retreat in Meredeth on Lake Winnepesaki last weekend, Rich took Morgann fishing and canoing on Manchester's Lake Massebesic. Then we went to the beach after church on a church trip to N. Hampton Beach.


Yesterday we went kayaking on Lake Sunapee. What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday than at Lake Sunapee with Uncle Hershel:-) Its been a fun week:) We are so glad Aunt Sarah is here visiting and hope she finds a job and stays:-)

Cell phone etiquette

What is the correct cell phone etiquette these days? Or is there even one?

Like many of you, I grew up with out caller ID and voicemail. In fact, most of the time, my parents did not have an answering machine. I do remember for a while having an answering machine that was a tape, that you had to rewind if you had a message. It broke sometime and my parents liked living with out it. They didn't have to worry about who called or calling any one back. Oh the good old days.

Now we are a cell-phone only family. My phone is always on - unless I forget to charge it and it dies. I'm not nearly as attached to my cell phone as Rich. His never dies and is attached to his hip almost all the time. I leave mine in my bag, in the car, let it die, and forget to turn the ringer back on often. It drives Rich crazy at times. So I miss most of my calls.

So if someone calls you, you see there caller ID. Do you call them back because you see there name/number? Or do you only call back if they leave a message?

If I call someone and don't leave a message, I don't expect them to call me back. There are a few exceptions: my husband and Marie (we have an oral agreement over the proper etiquette for our phone calls)

This is what I do. Now I'm being totally honest, which perhaps reveals some bad qualities of mine...

If I'm expecting a call and miss it, I'll call back with out a message

If I'm busy, you leave a message, I might forget to call back. I need to write more things down.

If I'm cranky/upset, I won't call back and probably won't call back if you leave a message at least for a day or so. Its not you, its me.

If its Emma, I'll call back in a few days with or with out a message. I always try to find time when its quiet (NEVER) and I can think to talk (RARE). Thus, I should just call back right away.

If you call me twice in a row, I won't call back.
Unless its like mom, Marie, or Rich and then I know its important. This one guy from church will call seriously like five times in a row and yeh, I just click ignore.

If its Rich, Matt, Marie, Greg, and a few others, I call back right away for the most part with or with out a message.

If its a work related call, well, usually they leave a message so I call back once I get it.

If its a number I don't know, I don't call back unless there is a message. I really don't like: "Hi, who is this? you called my phone calls."

If its a friend, but not like a really really close friend or someone I do not know that well, I call back only with a message because I'm unsure if we are in that type of relationship where I should call back with just a "missed call" on my phone. For example, my friend Pam. She usually leaves a message. She just had twins, so perhaps if she called today, I'd call back regardless, because I want an update:-)

But don't think I don't like you if I don't call you back. My phone is probably dead in my van and my van is a mess, so I can't find it because when I use Rich's phone to call it, it lays lifelessly under a a pair of toddler shoes and a Winnie the Pooh book.

I think I'd go back to the whole landline with out voicemail if it was possible. But its not, Rich and I both have three jobs and rely one of which we are required to be on call 24/7, plus its nice to be able to drive and talk....

oops, I just remembered I never called Morgan back. But we did post to each other on blogger. Does that count?

Returning to "Normal"

I'm almost in denial that it is already August! Where did June and July go? This summer has been a whirlwind of travel, events, and many visitors. Looking back, it has been a very good summer, despite the challenges and emotional trials.

During the school year, I take Mondays to just recoup from the previous week and weekend. We watch way too much television, do laundry, get ready for community center, grocery shop, ect. And guess what? That is what I'm doing today!! I suppose we aren't all the way back to normal, especially for Rich. I am going this weekend on a retreat with other pastor wives in our association. So Rich will be in charge of Morgann:-)

My sister, Sarah, is coming up on Monday, the 11th! I'm very excited to have her visit and perhaps live her in Manch with us. I hope she loves it here and finds a job quickly.

Here's a picture from our baptism on Sunday.




















Have a great week:-)

Travels

We've been on the road for the past week. We had a nice trip, but it is so wonderful to be home and sleep in our own bed! We first headed down to Newport, OH for a family reunion. After that, we headed to Weirton, WV to help Ron and Lynn (Rich's mom and dad) pack up to move to SC. After that, we went camping near Lake Winnepesauki.


























































































Rich and Morgann by the campfire. We had a wicked thunderstorm while we were out, and we came back to the fire pit filled to the top with water. Rich, the determined one, still got a fire going!










Not a very good picture....but all of us by the campfire.

And this one is from when we took our team from FL up to the lighthouse in Maine. Rich proposed to me here 7 1/2 years ago:-) The team had a great time and we made a lot of new connections and a few people prayed to receive Christ. Pray that they GROW!!



















On a note of praise, we are very thankful for friend Greg and that God brought him into our lives. He lives upstairs in the apartment we rent out. When we travel, he always looks after things. He noticed a former church attender who has recently made some very poor choices hanging around the park by our house so he kept his eye out for us. One evening, this man was at our home when Greg returned. Greg scared him off. This man was arrested last night for a home invasion. Thank you Greg and praise God for his protection.