Julie Gumm - Author

I’m Alive, No Really!

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No, I have not abandoned my blog – I’ve just been on an unintentional blog hiatus I guess.  And no, it wasn’t in mourning over the dog.

Mark got back safely from his trip to Ethiopia and brought home lots of fab pictures that we’ll have to get together and share. Any time spent with the kids at Hope for the Hopeless is always wonderful time. He got to visit with one of our sponsored girls – Mary – who is incredibly dear to my heart.

We actually crossed paths somewhere in the air as I was headed to the Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit in Minneapolis – my first conference since going to work for World Orphans. It was part work and part pleasure/education as I got to attend several of the breakouts and all the keynote sessions.  The mom of my dear friend Jen was my roommate and navigator and I have to tell you that we had THE best time – lots of laughs together.

I was home for just 4 days before I left again. This time for my alma mater, John Brown University, in NW Arkansas. My journalism professor was retiring after 17 years and they organized a surprise retirement party for him. It was a blast seeing some old friends and getting to honor a man who was so instrumental in my education. I had the privilege of being his first editor when he arrived my junior year and we’ve kept in touch all these (cough, 17, cough) years.  Thank you Mr. Warner! (Remember the “No Clothes Challenge” – well I have a funny story to share in another post.)

Then of course there is all the chaos that is the end of the school year – parties, Girl Scout ceremonies, the boys Living Wax Museum. My birthday – wow I didn’t even do a birthday post or anything.

Plus we got a visit from Mark’s sister Jenny and her family all the way from England. She and Annabel were delayed a bit getting here due to the dumb volcanic ash cloud but we had great fun with them and Rob when he joined them later. The kids LOVED seeing them.

School is now officially out and we’re trying to manage the four kids and two parents who work from home. We’ve opted to try a little bit more structured of a schedule for them – still plenty of time to play. We’re two days in and Beza declared this the “most boring day ever”. I think any day where she doesn’t get to go shopping is boring somehow. They love the adventure of going to the store.

So I got lots more posts percolating and a great book review coming, hopefully tomorrow, so stay tuned.

When Dad Departs, Dogs Die

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Two years ago Mark went on his very first trip to Africa. A day before he got back our beloved basset hound Snickers died. She was old (13) but had not been ill so it was somewhat of a surprise. I was here alone to deal with the heartbroken kids and all of the details. I still get grief over the fact that I forked over an extra $60 to have her ashes returned.

Since then we have still had Winston, a 15 year old cocker spaniel who technically is my in-laws dog. They kept Snickers for us about 5 years ago while we sold a house, moved and installed landscaping – a 18 month process. When we reclaimed Snickers, we inherited Winston as well. It didn’t seem right to separate the two friends. They made a good pair. Snickers was half blind and Winston was pretty much deaf.

We have had an ongoing joke whenever Mark leaves the country that the dog will probably die while he’s gone.

I’m not laughing anymore.

Mark left on Sunday morning for almost 2 weeks in Ethiopia. Monday night while I was watching TV Winston began to make strange and pitiful noises. There were no apparent injuries that I could tell. He was walking around some and drinking but wouldn’t eat. It was so sad. I called my MIL and told her “I think your dog is dying.”

Now I understand some people might have rushed her off to the vet but honestly, it was 10 p.m. at night and I was not getting 4 kids out of bed and dragging them with me, much less paying for emergency vet care for a dog who’s time had come. I remembered that we had some pain pills from a sore she had a year ago. I wrapped it in some bread and tried to get her to take it but she wouldn’t.

In the morning she was still alive, still making random sad noises. The kids all asked what was going on and so I had to explain to them that Winston was probably very sick and that MeeMaw was going to come and take her to the vet today. “Is she going to die?” Natalie asked with tears brimming in her eyes.

“Sweetie, I think it might be time. I don’t know if the vet will be able to do anything for her and if he can’t, they’ll put her to sleep.”

Noah was the most upset but I had tears from Natalie and Beza too. I knew Beza would be thinking about her dog in Ethiopia who she talks about sometimes. Luke didn’t seem to care or see what the big deal is. I guess he’s not a dog person.

After I dropped the kids at school I went by to get some dog shampoo so I could try to clean Winston up. He hadn’t had his summer grooming yet and had gotten in the mud several days ago. I was afraid the vet would call doggy CPS on us.

When I returned, he was laying in the same spot he was in when we had left, dead.

I called my MIL. Her cousin was at her house and so he volunteered to come out with her, get the dog and bury him back on their land where he’s buried several dogs. I was glad I didn’t have to explain the whole “cremation” thing to the kids again.

There were more tears that afternoon when I picked them up from school and told them. Noah was the most upset.

They seem okay now. Haven’t mentioned him much since then.

So either Mark doesn’t travel anymore, or we go dogless. I vote for the latter.

“No New Clothing Challenge”

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So a few days ago I wrote this post about purging the kids summer clothes to 10 shirts and 10 shorts each.

And then Mark went on the record and said “I’m game for the 10 item challenge if you are?”

I said “Hang on!”

From there we launched into a pretty interesting conversation. But I need to backtrack a little here and give you a bit more info…for clarity sake.

My dear husband is a bit of a, ahem, “collector”. But he is a frugal collector – other than maybe a pair of jeans I don’t think I’ve seen him buy clothes anywhere but a thrift store in the last 5 years. He gets excited about the hunt for the bargain and the deal and before you know it he had 77 polo-style shirts.

Yes, I counted them. I harassed him about that fact, mostly in loving fun, for…well a long time. From time to time he weeds out some clothes here and there but I would venture to say that he has more individual pieces of clothing than I do.

So the other night when we were talking about excess and need and the issue of the kids clothes came up and I was trying to explain to him why I was hesitant to accept the 10 item challenge.

You see it’s not just excess that bugs me, it’s “waste”. The kids had tons of clothes that they never wore. Why am I packing and unpacking them every season if they never wear them? They just take up room in the drawers which are never organized anyways. The kids complain that they can’t find room for their clean clothes and blah, blah, blah.

Of Mark’s 77 polo shirts there were probably 15 that he wore on a regular basis.

The fact that there is stuff we don’t use taking up space is what makes me CRAZY!

My clothing collection, on the other hand is regularly culled for clothes that are faded, no longer fit well or that I just no longer wear. When I shop for new clothes I shop the thrift stores, the discount chains like Ross and the clearance racks of places like Old Navy.

So in the midst of our discussion Mark pointed out that he hasn’t bought any new clothes in a LONG time. And he’s right – it’s been months since he picked up any clothing in the thrift store.

Then he challenged me on my new clothing purchases and how much I spend. I stopped and thought and told him that honestly I don’t think (besides birthday gift cards) that I have spent more than $350 in the last year on clothes.

“SEE, you could buy an iphone with the money you saved,” he said.

“But you won’t LET me buy an iphone because you won’t pay AT&T’s plan prices.”

Then he laid down the gauntlet.

“If you go a whole year without buying any new clothes I will buy you an iphone.”

He’s up for the same challenge. I think he thinks I can’t do it.

(Now, later he went back and added a caveat, lest Dave Ramsey disapprove, that it will be a used iphone that he’ll unlock for me to use w/ T-mobile. Although I heard a rumor that iphone might be offered through Verizon in June.)

I asked if I had to wait the whole year for the phone and he hasn’t decided yet. I say that if I go 3 months (which would put us at June) I should get the phone then.

So we’re still working out the rules, thanks to some Facebook friends but here’s what we’ve got so far.

  • Buying clothes for the kids does not count, it is only clothes for us.
  • Shoes count too.
  • Not sure about purses but I’m guessing he’ll say yes.
  • We may purchase ABSOLUTELY necessary items – socks, underwear, etc. w/ agreement from the other party that they are necessary.

We still have a few rules to work out. Like are alterations acceptable (cutting pants into shorts, etc.). I think they should be as long as I’m altering with items already on hand.

So we’re going to iron out the details but here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to invite you to join me! Maybe you’ll want to take the money you would normally spend on clothes and donate it to a worthy organization like World Orphans, Charity Water, World Vision, Compassion, etc. I’ll even make up cute little blog badges for us and we can blog about our ups and downs.

What do you say? Will anybody join me?