I celebrated a birthday last week. It was a doo-sy! I won't go itno all the details right now...I'll save that for another post. But, I thought I'd share with you the best gift I got... Here's a booklet that my littlest angel, Nate, made me.
Blogger is giving me fits right now, so I can't upload the rest of the pictures...but my coupons were: --picking up my room by myself --10 minutes of school --10 minutes of me reading quitely --20 minutes of me playing outside
Now, if those aren't valuable, I don't know what is!!
It has been a super weekend. I'll fill you in on my fabulous birthday later!
Once again, my hat goes off to single parents. This has been a tough week...and as hard as I try, I can only be in one place at a time. Roger took the big boys on a fishing trip last weekend. So, I was responsible for several activities on Saturday, and getting everyone to church on Sunday. Not too bad. He got home Sunday evening. We had ball games and I had a meeting on Monday night. He then turned around and left for a conference at 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday. So, it began on Tuesday... Tuesday morning I heard Zane calling for me...and it was one of those calls that you know to come a runnin'!! Well, the kids had gotten up and thought they'd help me by running the dishwasher. Of course, it doesn't matter that I had already run the dishwasher, so the dishes were already clean. It's the thought that counts! Well, they couldn't get the dishwashing detergent open because it has a childproof cap. So, they used dishwashing LIQUID instead. Well, but the time Zane called me, there was quite a souffle of bubbles all over the floor and coming up out of the sink drain. All the kids came running...and I could tell they were wondering if I was going to "loose it". No, I didn't loose it...actually, we all had quite a laugh. Thankfully, it wasn't hard to clean up... These last 3 days has been a whirlwind of piano recital, tae kwan do, young authors, youth group, baseball games...add to that school every day, keeping up with laundry, and various cleaning... it's been busy. I was in the car today for 2 hours and 20 minutes! That hasn't happend in a long time... Roger comes home tonight and we're excited!
If I had been on top of things, I would have gotten a picture of the bubbles before I cleaned it up. The entire dishwasher was filled with bubbles. So, I just left it open and the bubbles began to go down. Then I ran the dishwasher rince cycle.
Here's another of Kristina Werner's color challenges. When I first started stamping, I had stamps that were mainly floral, lacy, sweet, etc... Then, I realized I needed to make some cards for the gentlemen (hubby, dad, brother, etc...) in my life. Well, the set that I got is called Lovely as a Tree. I call these my "man stamps" (no, MY man doesn't stamp :-). Well, I use them for all kinds of cards, not just for men...I use these stamps more than any others I have. Anyway, here's the card. Let me know what you think.
My friend Wendy and I have been keeping tabs and encouraging each other to get to bed on time. My plan is to be in bed when my clock clicks 10:30. I've been keeping my cerfew for almost 2 weeks now and I must say, I can tell that I'm getting more sleep! What do you know? All those scientists and studies conducted over the last 100 years are right! Getting more sleep at night really does help you have more energy during the day. That explains why new mothers are so tired all the time! Who'd of thunk!! Yes, I'm being silly, but it's amazing how hard it is to do something that we know is good for us. Anyway, Wendy and I are setting aside a dime each time we make it to be on time...and then we'll reward ourselves with a little treat in the next few weeks. Should I go with icecream? Perhaps a chocolate dessert of some kind? Maybe a malt from Braums... who knows...
And, since my last post was about baseball, I thought I'd post this video...now that I know how to post them. My friend Shannon had a video on her blog from a group called Improv Everywhere. When I poked around their site, I found this. I love the little guy that's dancing in the dugout! Truly a game they'll never forget. Enjoy!
Well, it's begun. Every time we agree to this, we know what we're getting in to. But, it doesn't make it any easier! It's time for.....Baseball. Take all the practices and games, and add them to the other stuff, and you have about 8 weeks of whirlwind activity. Now that we have 2 playing, and of course, they aren't on the same league, we have double the fun!! However, seeing them in their little uniforms, having a ball...well, I must say, it's fun. And, I might as well just watch the game because there's no way I can do anything else while I'm at a game. I've taken books, my planner, etc...and it's just one more thing to carry. So, I just watch my little guys. And believe me, if they hit, catch, or do anything out of the ordinary, they'll notice if I'm not watching. Do you remember when you used to sort of shake your head when you had little kids and your friends with older kids complained about how busy they were with their kids' sports? I would say to myself, "Just don't sign up! No one is forcing you to do this." Well, I continue to eat my words!! And, I'm not complaining...just making observations. Today, we went out to the field at 8:15 for team pictures. The wind was blowing...oh, I don't know... 100 MPH!!!!! Everyone had tears running out of their eyes. We left the second after the pictures were over and skipped opening day ceremonies. Here's a video of Sam's first homerun last year. Keep in mind that it was a totally "infield" homerun. At this age, baseball is pretty much error after error! So, while the other team was throwing the ball over each other's heads, Sam made a homerun. Enjoy!
Otherwise, we are just counting the days till we're done with school. Next week is state testing, so our schedule is out the window.
I'm feeling better. Sometimes I look outside my little bubble long enough to see that everyone has a story. I think Oprah did something a while back where she pulled some person off the street to find out their "story". Well, even though I think Oprah has gone off the deep end, I do think she's right. More specifically, we've all had pain in our past. And even though we would never wish pain, physically or emotionally, on anyone...there's some sort of comfort in knowing you aren't alone. Someone else has been through tough times and come through alive. I read somewhere, I think it was Oswold Chambers, that said God never promised an easy, painless life, and life is usually just going from one obstacle to the next. And, if you're not in a crisis right now, thank the Lord and get ready, because there's a good chance you'll be facing a crisis in the future. I don't want to live with a doom and gloom mentality...so I think I'll just try to be thankful TODAY. I'll enjoy my life TODAY. I'll love my family TODAY. I'll be a good friend TODAY. And I'll bless the Lord, TODAY.
My mother died today...19 years ago. I've always thought it was sort of a cruel joke that she died on April Fool's Day. Each year, I replay the events leading to her death...and each year I think that it won't bother me. Actually, bother is the wrong word. I just miss her more. And, I guess I'm just mad that she's not here to be a part of our lives, especially the lives of her grandkids. And, every year, about a week before April 1, I get a little more emotional...a little weepy...and quiet. I don't really talk about it much because I get tired of getting all emotional. I get tired of crying about it, so it's easier to just not discuss it too much. I'm weeping as I write this, and my throat is all tight, and my nose is running, and it gives me a slight headache. I hate that! I get tired of cleaning myself up, and then doing it again... Anyway, I have a friend that has recently gone through a loss, and the truth is, there's just nothing to say. The big question is, "Why did God let this happen?" Silence. No answer. It took me about 4 years to get back to a "first name basis" with God. I never lost my salvation, or anything like that...I know God was with me, and holding me, and walking with me... but it was just so painful to be in his presence with such a feeling of loss. After about 4 years, when the pain wasn't as fresh, there was a time with the Lord when I let go of the big question. I suppose you could say it was a crossroads...either have faith that he knows what he's doing, or say, "to heck with the whole thing". I chose faith. Doesn't mean I don't think about her every day though. Since her death, I've lost my dad, both grandmothers, one grandfather, and my mother-inlaw. My family now is so different from what I had growing up, and what I had hoped my children would have. So, I'm glad that today is over...
I'm a wife and a home-schooling mom of 5. I'm a recovering chaotic that still has to make a conscious effort to keep on top of things...and is often on the edge of chaos. I enjoy making cards and paper crafts. I like to read, but it has to be a really good book. I read the last page and then go back and can enjoy it immensly. I need to know who's going to be alive at the end! I like being with my kids and playing board games with them. I like to watch them...they amaze me. I love God.
