A change of heart.

I have decided that I may actually have some recipes to donate to the cause...



Here's my "recipe for a good laugh"

Step 1: Buy a frozen pizza.

Step 2: Look at the box as you open it to cook it.

Step 3: Laugh till you wee.



I bought this frozen pizza without really noticing the box. Now that I have read the box, I feel like the village idiot who actually fell for the advertising gimmick.

I had to take a picture because I was so sure you guys would accuse me of making this up.

It has a "scratch and sniff" sticker on the box.

You will never guess what that sticker smells like...

It smells like "Garlic bread TASTE"
I'll let you know what 'garlic bread taste' smells like ASAP!!
And yes, I DID scratch it and sniff it...

Another great recipe is the one no_iffer was asking for...

The lead-up to this funny thing is - Last week at work my boss handed us all this article on cooking in plastic. The whole article is that it causes cancer to cook in plastic.

I agreed to cook a meal for no_iffer's family on Thursday. I didn't feel 100%, so I went out to my freezer in the garage to check it out. There sat a beautiful Stouffer's Grandma's Cheesy Chicken and Rice casserole. It was too easy!

All I had to do was cook it and make some side and rolls!! And I knew it would be good because I hadn't actually profaned it in any way with my own cooking!! So, remembering the article, I popped that bad boy out of its plastic baking dish and into a glass one of mine.

Presto! The stuff of legend.

no-iffer: the recipe is Wal-Mart frozen food section. Stouffer's casserole!!

How funny!! I am glad you liked it, but I cannot take any of the credit...

(unless being sneaky is good, in that case, I'm a rockstar)

recipe exchange.

To those of you who were so kind to send me the recipe exchange:
I'm sorry.
I will not be taking part in the recipe exchange.
Not because I wouldn't love to get some great recipes, but because I am not a great cook.
I am not even a good cook.
It's not that I couldn't someday be a great cook, it's just not that important to me.
A long time ago, at the beginning of my marriage - I realized that my husband eats at a great restaurant every day and no matter what I cook, it will never measure up. Then I had kids.
They hate everything - except tomatoes, celery, goldfish crackers, grapes, yogurt, chicken nuggets, apples, and grilled cheese.
I make the world's best grilled cheese.
Otherwise, my recipe bank is empty.
Love you.
I don't love to cook.
Sorry....

mindless chatter.

this is me wishing i had something worthwhile to blog about.
i got nothing.
isn't it strange that when you have EVERYTHING going on, you cannot find anything to say?
i simply could not wrangle one single line of thoughts for a long enough time period to blog tonight.

the kids and i went to 2 really fun birthday parties today. happy, happy birthday little Z-man!

i have a zit that is so incredible and has been with me for so long that i have decided to name it:
meet 'the hunchback.' it's not on my back but it creates such an unnatural angle on my face that it obscures my vision. some zit, you say. yeah, some zit. i would be telling lies if i told you i had not thought about calling in sick to work when it reared it's ugly head.

i need to plan little A's birthday party.

last night, J said my gravy was better than sugar. he also said he would never need to eat candy again because my gravy was so good. this morning he asked for candy. i offered him gravy. he declined...

i need to find the time to:
pot plants for the fall, weed my flower bed, finish painting a 4 foot section of my dining room, buy stamps, finish moving into our house so i can donate boxes to a worthy cause, make an insurance claim before it's too late, STUDY for my ridiculous Excet exam that i should have taken like 6 years ago.

did anyone pick up a black 3-ring binder at the retreat with music in it?
it's probably mine. all i need out of it is the kiddie music for work - the rest you can have...
please tell me that someone has it... you're my only hope...

cowboys kick off at noon. somebody tell pastor.

The (ahem) haircut.

J. cut his hair at school on Thursday.
Just a hearty snip right in the front after he finished a project that everyone else was still working on.
He works faster than all his classmates, which is reason #1184 that we call him "turbo,"
so he has been having a lot of free time in his class.
Idle hands are truly the work of the devil.
He decided he needed a trim.
It wasn't terribly noticeable... the kid has boo-koos of hair, just a little snip was not gonna change his overall look.
But he said the reason he did it was because his hair was 'too long'.
I thought "a little prevention goes a long way" so I decided to give him a haircut for reals...
Maybe with his new shorter 'do it would balance out the whack he made to his scalp in that little spot.

I said all this to say, as I buzzed off layer upon layer of hair, the snip became more and more noticeable.
I should have left it longer so it could have covered the chunk of missing hair.
Now it just looks like ringworms or something.

he's still very dashing though.
what a brat!

Remember When?

Remember when life's worst disappointment was when your parent's forgot to take you to the park after they promised?

Remember when "growing food" was a good thing?

Remember when a catastrophe could be summed up as dropping your ice cream cone, scoop-side down?

Remember when the most sinister thing you could conjure was the 'boogey man?'

Remember when you were cool because your momma told you so?

Remember when all you had to do in the bathtub was splash around while somebody else scrubbed you down and rinsed you off?

Remember when your biggest worry in life was whenever 'your father got home?'

Remember when there was nothing as simply wonderful as the mention of your next birthday?

Remember when Christmas morning was sugar-plum fairies and candy canes, not credit cards and choking hazards?

Remember when a $2 clearance back pack was all it took to make your mom the coolest cat around?

I am so blessed! These are not distant memories for me. They are everyday occurrences.

I love, love, love being a mommy! It's a second chance at savoring everything!

calling all doctors...

Fit as a fiddle.
That is exactly how I felt when I woke up this morning.
Throughout the day, I started to have a scratchy throat.
At Wal-Mart, while I shopped for groceries, I began to feel jet-lagged...
Around the time the voice lesson I was giving was over, I would almost swear that someone kicked me in the throat and the head, simultaneously. Repeatedly.
I have swallowed approximately 428 rocks since then - large, jagged rocks.

Suffice it to say, it is entirely possible that by bedtime tonight, I'll be needing paddles...

I won't be making it to church tonight.
La, tell Julia I am sorry.
The kids are sad.
I feel terrible about that.
I just feel more terrible physically than I feel bad about not taking them...

My hot mechanic.

So my car wouldn't start...
It was the perfect start to my day yesterday.

I thought to myself - 'ok, so your car won't start...
All you have to do is unload 2 kids, 2 carseats, 2 lunchboxes, a guitar, and your 2 school bags... in less than 45 seconds, wake up your hunny, hope he's not grumpy, get everything loaded into his car, and you're off...'
See?

NO BIG DEAL.

My car wouldn't start.
The looming thoughts that occur when that happens...
You tend to see $800 invoices floating around in thin air on the days when your car won't start.
You begin thinking about all the phantom things that might be wrong with your car, which, for some reason, has become a bit more of a family member than you realized...

So here's where my story deviates from the usual story line -
My husband fixed it!
All by himself!
I didn't have to spend $800 on a piddely little thing.
He figured it out, fixed it, and I am back in action.

Big hottie in a minivan...
Woo-Hoo!!!



Thanks Babe!
You're amazing!

Hanging Out.

You must be joking.

That is what I kept thinking to myself as I walked into my son's room today and found 'the tragedy.'

It was actually a tragedy in 3 acts.

It was the kind of thing that when you are as dreadfully behind on everything in your house as I am - the scene I stumbled upon evoked a certain calm and at once hysterical yet frightening chuckle...

You are familiar, right?

The kid was mortified!

Act 1 - He had decided that he needed to take every stitch of clothing out of his closet, most of it off the hangers, and into a pile on the floor.

Act 2 involved swinging from the closet bar.

Act 3 - He was inspired by some of the Superman Garb in his closet and felt that he needed to clothe Superman in Superman attire... naturally...

I took a few moments, gathered my wits, returned with a camera, and proceeded to 'encourage' him to re-hang his clothes.

He was unmotivated by my repeated urging.

He then, in a final act of desperation, decided that our house needed a splash of color. In every room.

What better way to add color to a room than to walk in with armfuls of clothes and strew them about?

I was ecstatic!

This is it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

This is the day that you were born 30 years ago!
Your life, a gift from God above, has touched my own life so.
You represent the beautiful things a Christian's heart should hold.
My love for you, a flame lit and burns, will never, not ever grow cold.

How can I speak of this wonderful day when you came into this world,
And not say that although walking was hard :) you arrived and you have soared?
Your life emanates a graciousness and an acceptance that is so pure
Along life's path, in these 30 years, you've helped God minister and cure

Those one's of us, who find it hard to become what we were meant,
Beyond a doubt, I know today that's the reason YOU were sent.
You've been so sturdy and supportive in whatever season we've been through
You've been a faithful and constant friend, disregarding mismatched shoes!

Bringing glory to God's name, your years upon this earth...
I know God looks upon you and is proud on the day of your birth.
But not this day specifically, a day more marked in time-
is the day you gave your heart to Him and rang the heavenly chime.

A celestial party like none has ever seen was going on that day
For you, a child of the Most High, who would seek after His Ways
Your birth into His kingdom, as significant as your birth here on earth
Happy Birthday, beautiful Lover of God, May you truly feel your worth!


I love you Shannon!
Happy Birthday!
30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30

Ha!

We're Back!
And just for the record,
I had a better time than anyone else there.
It was so good!
God was so good!
I think we all needed that special time to bask in the Presence of the Almighty!
What a truly wonderful gift it was!
To the precious women who worked so hard to put that monumental and seamless product of a retreat together - I am indebted AND SO GRATEFUL!
To my Lord, Who showed up in an awesome way- Tenderly tending His flock, while smiling back into our tearful eyes as we poured tears from our alabaster jars upon His feet...
It was pure.

To partake of a moment in His presence, I would give myself over completely.

I learned that my worship must first move me, to move my God.

I got to love on and be loved on by so many of His precious daughters, His princesses...

I was able to spend a beautiful weekend with my dearest La, who has forever imprinted her perfume on this heart of mine.
I love your smell, the scent of your life envelops us all.
Your grace, your acceptance, your humor, your wit and wisdom, your purity, your passion for your King...
You have been God's gift to me.
Your example and heart of servanthood chisels away at any hardness or unwillingness inside me to do the work of my Father.
Although you are, as you would proudly proclaim, several months my junior, you have been used in my life and many other lives as a mentor and fragrant expression of woman, mother, and friend.
As a result, my life has been touched in a way that an aroma of you will linger.
You will always be my friend. I love you with a love that distance cannot extinguish.

My Heavenly Father, Orchestral Maestro, Hanger of the stars, and Sculptor of the moon - You have been, in my mind, an untouchable entity. Although I have long known of Your unharnessed compassion for my soul and Your unrelenting desire to know me as Lord and friend,

I have been unable to accept Your acceptance.

I have indicted myself as unacceptable in Your sight for so long. I have felt unworthy to wipe my feet on the mat outside Your Outer Court. Far less fathomable to me, would be to invite myself into Your Holy Place...

but You are so approachable.

I am sorry for not approaching You with bold and unhurried worship.


I learned this weekend -

* To accept the fact that I am acceptable.

* To embrace my brokenness as a work that is always being spun into something new and better by a Loving Potter,

* That a willingness to avail myself to God is, understandably, a requirement for forward movement in this earthly life.

* A vulnerability that allows my Groom access to my secret place, to rearrange every nook and cranny of even the deepest recesses inside my heart,

* That He, in His vastness, can and will hold me close to His chest, to shield and overshadow me, as a loving Father eagerly anticipates my next wobbly step.

How much love He has for His own!

What a beautiful time with my Lord!

I am copycat!

Philippians 4:8 - 9 "Whatsoever things are TRUE, whatsoever things are HONEST, whatsoever things are JUST, whatsoever things are PURE, whatsoever things are LOVELY, whatsoever things are of GOOD REPORT; if there be any VIRTUE, and if there by any PRAISE, THINK ON THESE THINGS! Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." SIMPLY PRAISE THE LORD and peace will come!


You gotta love that Bacamama!
She's johnny on the spot!

When my vision fails...

I cannot see what You see.
The vastness of Your scope is beyond me.
The multi-faceted sights You behold...
My sight is narrow, as is my mind.
The things that I have come to know are barely a shred of the truth that You know.
You are truth.
You hold my world in Your hand.
Your view is never obscured, never faltering.
I cannot unravel the twisted enigma of life without Your masterful touch.
I need You.

The question has never been whether I would fail; failure is not avoidable.
You saw my failure before it happened, and You chose to see past my failure and into my heart.
Past my weakness, into the strength You provide.

There are times when I think I cannot feel Your hand in my life.
I have come to realize that the times I thought You were not with me, You had gone before me - and You made the path smooth and gentle for my weary feet to tread.

-The Dash-

-
This blog is really more about me than anything, so if you want to spare yourself a little time - you should stop reading now - otherwise, you've been warned...

Could life get any busier?
The answer to that question is loaded.
Because invariably, anyone who gathers the gumption to ask it, will, without fail, be answered with a resounding "YES!"

Life CAN and WILL get busier.

I love my life.
I have no complaints.
Just sticky, time-sensitive, less than enjoyable stuff that sometimes clouds my vision.
I always strive to be mindful of what things are most important, but I find myself getting fixated on the mundane things that have no impact in the long-run.

Why?

No doubt - Life with a husband, kids, friends, a job, and commitment to church (and other things) can get so busy that I feel like I need a flight pattern to get to all the separate events we are scheduled to be at, with every necessary item in tow.
Sheesh! I feel like I am a walking coat rack half of the time. Schlepping lunchboxes, a guitar, several other indiscriminate bags, school projects, and a little girl who can sense my distress and is instantly stricken with 'jelly-legs' at the onset of Mommy Overload.
"I wanna hode you, mommy....wahhhh!"
It can be a lot.
But life is so much more than Point A to Point B.

Pastor talked on Sunday about a lot of things, but one thing, for sure, struck a chord with me.
He told the story of a little child walking in a graveyard with their daddy. The question was raised about the dates on the tombstones.
The father tried to compile the facts he knew about birth dates and death dates and break it down to a level of understanding for his child.
'When the life began and when the life had ended...'
The child then asked about the dash.
The father explained that the dash represented everything between those 2 dates.
The person's life.

I cannot say enough about the regrets of my past, about not making the most of my 'dash.'
I can honestly say that I have not used every ounce of anything I have been given.
I spend far too much time worrying, spazzing out, whining, complaining, griping at my kids, and being weighed down by un-heavy things.
I have felt convicted.
I want to do better. Accomplish more in each day. Have more quality moments during each day.
But when each day arrives, along with it comes the baggage from the day before, or the day to follow. It becomes a burden that overwhelms me at my very core.
I go into shut-down mode.
A mode that resembles "survival" - (although nothing in my day-to-day life is ever anything close to life-or-death.)

I have had enough of Survival Mode.
I want to embrace my dash.
I want to rise above the Coat Rack Syndrome called Mommy Overload.
I want to be an overcomer.

The experiences, and the quality thereof, within the span of the dash are everything that matters.
Not the events of the day, but what I take from those events.
My dash will not be filled with feelings of defeat or inadequacy.

• I will fight feeling overwhelmed by overcoming the tendency to look at silly things as more important than they are.
• I will fight feeling unproductive by re-training myself about what things truly count in the scheme of life.
• My kinship to God and the authority THAT carries will be enough to sustain me through whatever comes my way, be it the death of a loved one, or a few too many things leftover on my 'to do list.'
• My success in life will be better defined by my relationship with God and the impact THAT relationship has on others; not by the fullness of my bank account or the emptiness of my kitchen sink...

I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back.

I am going to embrace the dash.
-

The countdown.

Exactly one week from today, everything will change.
History will be made.
Can you feel it?
A monumental day for sure - the day my sister turns 30 is a moment I will savor for at least two years... (until I turn 30)
Monday, September 24, 2007 is a day that people will remember for one thing.
The ground-breaking event of someone turning 30 and still being cool will ring through the annals of history.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, someone has finally unlocked the mystery of turning 30 and retaining coolness at the same time...
It may sound too good to be true - but have you met my sister?


Disclaimer: If you have already turned 30, it would be important to note that the opinions detailed in this blog are not necessarily a reflection of the opinion of our company or any of its subsidiaries. The intent of this publication was intended strictly for the purpose of embarrassing and harassing my sister, not to compare levels of coolness between one old codger to the next...

Late notice...

Tomorrow.
Come over at 3:00 pm.
Bring your chillins.
Bring your chatterbox.
The plan is to hang out until 5:00 or 5:30pm.
Hope you come.

My apologies to those of you who will be working.
I will try for an evening one as soon as life resembles 'normal' and my kids can do a late night.

The boys are back!!

This goes out to all you Nay-sayers out there, You know who you are...

The Dallas Cowboys have begun their season 2-0 for the first time since 1999.
In the last two games, they have scored over 35 points per game.
They are looking great this season!
That is the origin of much excitement in my life right now.
If you are my sister and want to make some comment about "why did the opposing team let their fans play for them?" or other such nonsense,
I will tolerate your jabs.
Because it will feel all the more satisfying when you travel all the way to my house to watch the Superbowl with me.
If the Cowboys make it to the Superbowl, YOU will be watching it with me.
Consider it a gift....

Mosquitoes.

Tonight we were getting in the van to run around and J. started whispering.
He said, "SHhhhhh....." to A.
I said, in a whisper voice, "Why are we whispering?"
He whispered back, "So the mosquitoes can't find us."

Done.

Laundry? Done. (well as done as done gets in a living household)
Dishes? Done.
Retreat stuff? Done.
Week? Done. Tomorrow is going to be so easy, it's almost not there.
House cleanup? Almost done.

What?
You can't have it all...

Ree - we have a tv you guys can sell and keep the $$$, if you want.
Let me know and I'll bring it over tomorrow.
I probably have some other stuff too.
I don't want you to get stuck with anything, but if it sells, you can have the money from it all.
If it doesn't sell, I'll take care of it.

I skipped church.

I really wanted to see everybody.
I feel like I chumped-out.
But seriously, I can't remember the last time I felt so tired and still had such a long list of stuff to do.
I already wrote a post this week and later deleted it called: Swallowed up by life.
I deleted it because I got a phone call from a great friend worried about me.
Nothing's wrong, not really.
I just can't shake this insomnia thing.
It is beginning to cut my productivity during the day.
I have fallen WAAAAYYYY behind.
If I haven't been heard from in 3 days, and someone finds my kids roaming the streets barefoot and naked...
Bring a forklift to my house, I'll be the 'mom pancake' you find after you peel the layers of laundry off me...

You know you've got a problem when you start to evaluate the success of a day by how many items could possibly be salvaged and re-worn without having to go through the wash...

Susan Powter, STOP THE INSANITY!!!!!!!

Yuckola!

Yuckola is right!
Crickets, crickets everywhere!
As we walked into school this morning, Little A said, as she pointed to each and every cricket and beetle, "Yuckola! Yuckola! Yuckola...." We could have stood out there being yucked out all day...
Another little boy came into my classroom and commented on the overflow of bugs.
He looked around and said, "We'o in Twoubow Now! They-o attacking ow-o howse too."
No really, I need a soundbite so your can hear how cute it was...

And one of the teachers said, "This has got to be Biblical"

Try getting 3, 4, and 5 year old girls to sit calmly in a classroom while crickets dance about -
Ok - now add prissy girls until you hit the number 8 or 9 - now add about 7-8 boys who get their thrills by torturing said little girls with the thoughts of cricket stew, or cricket hairbows...
This is my life.
I have an endless source of things to laugh about.
I might just live forever from the health benefits of laughter!

There you have it - from our school to you - a yuckola plague in progress.

Fun pictures.

Here are a few shots from Hunny's birthday!
We went to the circus!
The kids really enjoyed the first half of it.

(Wendy and 2 of her boys were there, all but the baby boy...
I have some pics of them - but no permission to post...)
*******************************************
I guess it happens with every child...
My daughter has always been so photogenic, without trying.
She only recently started making "pretty faces" for the camera.
It's a phase, A very cute phase.

Strange.

I have noticed a direct correlation to the fact that EVERY time there is a weight loss show on tv, ie. 'The Biggest Loser' - I have an insatiable appetite for anything consumable.
Why is that I wonder?

Investing.

Proverbs 22:6 (King James Version)
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

I was working on retreat stuff here tonight when I heard a fascinating commercial.
It was about investing. One of those big name firms.
The man on the commercial said, "I want to contribute as much to my kids' future as they contributed to mine."
It was a light bulb moment for me.
I don't even know if I can articulate what it meant to me.
I just have this overwhelming sense of purpose in my life.
Much of that purpose is directly connected to our heavenly Father, but there are other facets of my purpose that are more directly connected to my children (ultimately to God as well).

Prior to moments of motherhood, I had squandered much of my effort on things selfish, with diminishing returns...
Upon the mere mention of their existence, my life was filled with a purpose not of my own self.
The arrival of my children provided me with a future.

Reciprocity. I want to invest in their future, in part, because of the profound impact they have had on MY future.
I am not necessarily speaking of things monetary, although it is my belief that responsible stewards strive to ensure provision for their families.

But on the whole, an investment in their spiritual futures, their eternal journey, their lifelong relationship with their Creator, even the quality of their personhood.
That is what my future is about. It's my purpose.
Their very existence gave me my future.
Can there be any greater reward for an investor than to see exponential return on a worthy investment?

Where two or three are gathered...

Pray.
I have been torn as to whether or not to share a prayer request.
I have decided that regardless of the potential consequence, a life hangs in the balance.
My husband is a very closed person and frowns on my openness.
This prayer request involves one of his coworker's sons, so I was really not sure if it would be ok to divulge.
I have been tossing it around and decided to ask you, my circle of peeps, to keep this child in your prayers...
He is 8 years old and had a liver transplant as a tiny, tiny child.
He was born with a dysfunctional liver and keeping him alive until there was a donor was no small task.
Since the transplant, things have gone relatively well. At least where transplants are concerned...
The past few weeks, Chris has been having to put in lots and lots of extra hours because of complications that have landed Cole in the hospital.
He is not doing well.
I do not know the prognosis. (The indication I have been given is 'not good')
But I do know that he is struggling.
And I believe in the power of prayer.
Please pray for Cole.
And that through the trial of his life, God is able to reach those directly connected to the situation.

Cute.

The first thing my son said to me when I woke him up this morning:
Those earrings look like googly eyes!

The me nobody should ever have to see...

Today I (and a few others) saw a side of me that I really hate to see.
It's the immature, not coping well, angry, spoiled, you name it, icky me.
It is usually spawned by absolute exhaustion - coupled with unmet expectations.
The kind of exhaustion that before you had kids, you could, at some point, get refueled.
But once you have attained this level of exhaustion, the only thing you can do to get refreshed is, well I don't know - when I figure THAT out I'll let you in on the secret...
Honestly, my parents have just about always been there with bells on for those moments, they step in, usually in just the nick of time, to save me from pure craziness!

The problem is - I acted like the me I hate today.
I did not want anyone I loved or even liked to see me in my irksome state.
There are witnesses. I am embarrassed. I need to grow up.
I need to sleep, a full night's sleep.
What will that be like?

Kablot fix.

she's here............................

I got to see her, hug her, eat dinner with her, run around town with her...
It was awesome!
I am really excited about tomorrow!
We're going to hang out during the day while Hunny's at work.
After he gets off work, we're off to the circus with the kids!
I have never been to a circus. I don't 'think' I have ever been to a circus...
Dottedline, have I ever been to a circus?
At any rate, I am excited for a very fun weekend!
With my WHOLE family!

A few random thoughts.

Some knucklehead installed speed bumps in the alley at my school.
Probably to protect the tiny children running around or something dumb like that.
I like to swerve all around them, because I'm a lawbreaker.
*******
For the past few nights, I have been stricken with insomnia.
It's kinda funny right now.
All day long, it was all I could do just to keep my eyes open, and now?
I sit here with my eyes wide open, wishing for sleep, but not counting on getting much...
*******
My grandmother's surgery went well.
********
Marme, I am seriously nearing the hyperventilation phase when I think about speaking at the retreat. you probably think i am being dramatic, I assure you, I am not. I need help.
********
My throat is less scratchy, but it still kinda feels like someone punched me in the neck...
********
I got hunny a new TV for his birthday. He's real excited.
I'm excited too. I bet I'm one of the only girls you know who is stoked about watching football on the new flat screen... AWESOME!!! I shall bleed blue and silver with you seph...
********
The carpet in my bedroom is sooo very pink. Should I embrace it and paint the walls pink too?
No la, i haven't lost my mind - it was a joke...
And why didn't you call and tell me I could bring you those brownies? You NEEDED brownies, i could tell.... I hope your day was better.
********
Meems, I didn't come to the park. You KNEW I didn't come to the park because YOU went to the park... I am sorry. this week will make chest hair grow on me for sure... Please nobody comment on that... heheheh
*******
I openly admitted to a coworker today that in my adult life I have awoken from a dream and realized that I was sucking my thumb. Was THAT unprofessional?
*******
My sister will be here tomorrow!
*******
All weekend!
*******
I miss sleeping.
I miss lazily drinking coffee in the morning for 2 hours...
******
One of my boy students asked if I was married today.
The other teacher in the room said, "She would not be a Mrs. if she wasn't married..."
He said, "I'm FURIOUS about that."
Yes, he actually said the word "furious"
How cute!
*******
I love the fall.
Everything about fall makes me happy.
I am convinced that God created the season of fall especially for me.
The colors, the cool mornings, the gourds (I love gourds), pies, turkey, Pumpkins, football, Leaves turning, holidays, the smells (spicy, delicious smells), The fact that your lawn stays mowed forEVER, my birthday, thanksgiving (I know that falls under the category of 'holidays' but it's my favorite holiday so it gets double mention), Sweaters, mittens.
What's not to love about the fall?
******
I feel disconnected already. I have been at work for two days. A total of 8 hours.
I have an incurable need for my friends...
******
I saved the best for last, my brother-in-law bought my hunny the best birthday present.
A Dallas Cowboys jersey with his last name on it... That jersey coupled with the one my parents bought C. last Christmas (Tony Romo Throwback jersey) makes my husband the coolest person alive.

Proud momma.

My precious adorable little boy made me so proud today!
if you have known me over the course of my stint as a mother, you will know how very wonderful it was for this to happen.
My son has transformed from an honery little stinker ;) to a truly wonderful, obedient, compliant, still high energy child.
His teacher on the 2nd day of school gave him a reward that she (in her own words) 'rarely' gives out. She does reward, but THIS reward is the big kahuna...
All by itself, what he did was not a great big deal, but it was a big deal for second day of school.
He finished the activity at his chosen center, put everything away, threw his trash in the trash can , and walked across the room to stack his "sit-upon" back in its proper place -
ALL WITHOUT BEING TOLD TO DO SO...
She made a big hoopla over his actions in front of the whole class, and praised his behavior as something for the other kids to imitate...
He got this huge sticker that covers a good bit of his chest on one side that says, "My teacher is proud of me."
I think he grew 3 inches while she told me about what happened...
I was so proud of him today!!

On another note, same day, same child - when he came to my music class - I made him cry.
It was very sad. I didn't mean to hurt his heart.
Here's what happened:
We were playing the 'get to know you' game where you roll a ball across the floor to a student and ask them to answer 3 questions...
It's the game I use on the second day when I still haven't learned all their names...

I ask them:

1. What's your name?
2. What's your favorite song?
3. Tell me something about you that I don't know... (favorite color, favorite food, favorite movie, etc...)

I had asked about 7-8 students in his class the same questions. We had established a pattern for the game. So when I rolled the ball to J. and I asked him his name, it never occurred to me how he might take it...

He started bawling. Like a broken-hearted baby.

"You know my name, Mommy. You know my naaaaammmeeee....."

Stab me through the heart.

Try explaining that to a 4 year old...

I have hugged him lots since then...

Funny girl.

Today, we were walking out of the house to pick my son up from school.
Little A. had put on her sunglasses, upside-down, which if you ask her, IS the way you are supposed to wear them...
Then my hunny said, "Hey little girl, you've got your glasses on upside-down."
She said, "That's how I roll."


(No, I am not lying. That IS what she said.
Of course, she has heard me say that like 4 trillion times...)

Thoughts.

• I still cannot read kdp's blog. Am I alone? Is this a conspiracy? :)
• I still feel awful for my contribution to KJ's 'Productive Day'
• I have an awesome family.
• My friends add so much to my life; I want to add as much back to theirs...
• Why is home-ownership so 'involved?'
• I am very tired.
• Throat is scratchy.
• My grandmomma is having a shoulder replacement surgery tomorrow morning.
• This day has been great but truly exhausting.
• Glad KJ found a place close to work.
• I want my friend's hubby to get a good job here in town so he can see his girls...
• Do we have a baby yet? Not you, kj - no_iffer...
• Why can I still not read kdp's blog?
• My sister is coming this weekend. For the whole weekend. You others, you know who you are, better back off my sister time...
• I guess I could share...
• My babies are growing up.
• I really like the people they are becoming.
• Why is it impossible to go to the bathroom alone after you've had kids? What is the draw? I mean, come on, think about it.... oooooooo - that's sewage....I wanna be there...
• The very concept of spam sicks me out. Some kid at school had the grossest lunch today...
• Hunny turns 31 this saturday. I want to make him feel special and appreciated.
• I haven't changed a diaper in over three months.
• Just ruminating on that last thought some more...

First day.

It was great!

We weren't late.

That, all by itself, is worth a blog.

My kids were both very well behaved.

They both ate every scrap of food I put in their lunch boxes.

They were extra cuddly this morning.

They have been a little grumpy and tired this afternoon...

Waking up early can be hard for the wee little tots, gracious, it's hard on the momma too.

The kids went right to sleep last night - I guess there's no such thing as 'night before the first day of school' jitters for preschoolers - but I, on the other hand, had to take meds just to get to sleep.

Finally, I crashed out. Then at 2:43 am some dummie rang our doorbell. And then honked their horn like we were supposed to answer the door at 2:43 in the morning...

I still have no clue who that was...

Stuff like that creeps me out. I had a very hard time getting back to sleep after that.

The first day went very smoothly from the aspect of teacher. You really couldn't ask for anything better with 80 preschoolers...

I had one little girl that was HARD CORE. She was so tough she scared me.

"NO."

'Please sit down sweetie."

"NO."

'Wouldn't you like to have a sticker for your hand when you leave here?'

"NO."

She then ran out of my classroom.

She was seriously uncrackable....

Her homeroom teacher is scared too...

Other than that, it looks like the start of a great school year.

And girls, look real close at my butt.

The parents have already started bringing in sweets for Mrs. O.

You should start to see a "big" change in the rear... er... near future.

I. can. hardly. wait.

Here are my two little puddin's:

Summer's End.

Tomorrow our new school year begins.
I am filled with excitement and nerves. Hesitation and anticipation.
Will J. make friends quickly?
Will he adjust to the new routine?
He has grown up so much this summer.
Will he revert a little and recover quickly?
Will A. adjust to being without her mommy, or will it be the last month of school and she's still crying when we part each morning?
How will "potty trained" translate to this new place?
How will the busy mornings ever work?
It is hard to get everyone ready and out the door, especially when you still have to do so much for each child...
Will they have friends that they already know in their classes?
A. is convinced that FAFE and JOOLYA are in her class.
Will she be ok when she realizes that they aren't?
Will their teachers like them best? (they oughtta, they are so very cute)

My heart is so torn to leave them.
I don't want to let them go for even a second...
I cannot even imagine having a full time job. I mean seriously, if I miss them, all I have to do is run over to their class and steal a hug.
10 times a day, if I need to...
I feel like a crybaby because I know I have it so much better than most working moms - but I don't care what your situation is, it is still hard to leave your children.
Expecting it not to hurt when you leave them with someone else is like telling the sun not to rise...
It simply cannot happen.
Several times today, I found myself thinking, "I just won't go to work tomorrow. Yeah, I just won't show up.... It will be fine."
I guess if it's that bad for me, Miss Coushie Job, it has to be so much harder for my other working mommy friends...

We had a terrific summer.
It was everything a momma can ask for. We spent so much time together.
We made so many memories together. I love them so much!
I cannot tell you how being their mommy has changed me.
Not just as a person, but as a child of God.
There are certain things that I was never able to fully grasp as a child, but as a parent - I feel like I come a lot closer to understanding the fullness of God's love for us, His desire to bless us, and how very badly He aches for us when we fall.

As we turn the page, I pray that God will be our steadfast guide.
That I'll not let myself forget for a moment why I have been placed there. I have been given a unique position to be among the first influences for God in those little lives. Let my actions and words reflect God's love and desire for relationship with them.
Let each child leave my classroom feeling loved and special.
Help me Father, to be a light in my job and in my home.
Father, where I fall short, make up the difference. I pray Your strength, Your grace, Your patience, Your mercy be infused in my soul.
May my home and my own children not suffer a moment because of this added mantle.
Abba, where I cannot be enough, You are enough.
Thank you for your Word, which is my compass.

Ephesians 3: 14-20 (New International Version)

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that
Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp
how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more
than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us...

Hambuuuugers.

On the way to church yesterday morning, my little princess kept saying, "hamburger..........hamburger.......mmmmmm.........hamburger."
So we look back at her and she's munching on something.
I asked her, "Hamburger? Are you eating something? What's in your mouth?"
(you know how you get panicked thinking about what must be in there, trash, dead bugs, choking hazards)
She just kept chewing.
My husband asked, "Are you eating your boogers?"
She said, "Nooooooo....."
He said, "Lemme see."
She opened up and it seemed like there was nothing in there, but she just kept right on chewing.
So my husband said, "Where did you get that - hamburger?"
She shoved her finger up her nose and said, "Here."

Bar codes.

Today, we went to Target. My son had an epiphany.
He asked why everything always has those little black lines on it.
I told him they are called bar codes and that when an item is scanned, it tells the computer how much to charge us for it.
He soaked it all in.
The next time we passed a price checkpoint, he scanned his item.
When we got to the checkout, he said he had already paid for his item.
It was a folder for school.
I explained that the computer at the front of the store is where you pay, the others are just to tell you how much an item costs.
******
A few hours later, we made a quick trip to Wal-Mart to pick up a 3-liter of soda for a Labor Day party we were invited to.
(He always likes to hold on to the receipt after I pay for something.)
He was in the back seat and I heard a little faint voice get louder and more gruff.
He said, "There's those little black lines on the receipt."
And he added, indignantly, "You shouldn't have to PAY for the receipt. That's NOT FAIR!!"
******
I just love it when he's cute and smart at the same time!

A note to you...

If it weren't for great people like you, there wouldn't be grateful people like me...


Kablot - I miss you so much, it is unreal. What will a hug from you feel like?
I positively cannot wait until you get here! My favorite moment on Friday will be when you get here and I get to gallop toward you (in slow motion) and leap into your open arms! A prolonged embrace will ensue. Followed by awkward silence...

La - I do not know why your blog has not been updated since you hatched your genius plan...
I miss your blogs. Take a picture of your adorable kids or something... Did you see Yo GABBA GABBA this morning? Creepy...

Meems - I miss your words of wisdom. Give me something, I'm dyin' over here...

seph - Yes, dmb+tickets=true life moment
Seeing you at the women's retreat...priceless

Kotze - I saw you across the congregation yesterday. Never got any closer than a stone's throw. I wanted to hug you. I hope your week goes well...

Crys - Ok. I missed you yesterday. You are a staple in my life now. I have not gotten any ramirez time in far too long. Jacob's gonna be doing 'rithmetic before I see him again...
Suffering from withdrawals...

E.- what is going on? I hope you are having a great weekend with your hubby - it's like you've been out of town for months... Let's hang out soon...

No_iffer - I really really love you! There is something so special about getting to peek into the mind of a woman who reveals her beautiful thoughts the way you do. Thank you.

Scraps - I am excited about our blossoming friendship! It's funny that we have known each other for so long, have so much in common, and are only just barely scratching the surface of our friendship! I am excited about it though...

Marme - I look forward to your posts with such great anticipation. I love the feeling of community and family that comes from knowing your leadership. I don't even think about you as 'leadership' as much as I think of you as a friend and mentor - of course, I do still think of you as my pastor, just more than that. Thank you for letting us know you. I really enjoy you!

Kdp - I am still locked out of your blog. I think I gave you the wrong email. Try the same before part with 'gmail' instead of 'yahoo'. I cannot say enough about what you have meant in my life, recently and for the long haul. I have looked up to you, I have looked into you - you are true. you are beautiful. I love you!

Ree - the more I know you, the more I love you. you are so much stinkin fun - the kind of fun you have one day and then just thinking about it the next day makes you laugh. I have laughed several times today!

rw - there is a quiet depth to you. I know you say you're not shy or quiet. I don't think you are - but I do see a depth to you that I am itching to get to the bottom of... Each time I get to spend any time at all talking to you, i wanna know you more... That's a good sign, right?

Bacamama - I think there is a pride only definable as "Proud Momma" and last night dear, it was all over you! I was glad to see your beautiful family with you yesterday evening! It was really special!

camezi- I don't think I have ever gotten to know you that well. I am enjoying taking looks into your world through your blog. It's amazing how quickly you can find commonalities with people when you read their diaries... I like you!

A's rich life - I don't think I can tell you enough how much I appreciate what you and rich did for us. Still my heart overflows with gratitude when I think of you.

Nanna - I miss you. Where have you been? I saw you yesterday, but I miss you...

Jolie Bijoux - where are you? I was all excited about you blogging. You are not blogging. You are snobbing... :) Come back to me.....


Delightful Amor - I have been missing you and thinking about how busy your life must be right now. Please don't hesitate to call if you need anything... that's what we're here for.


Am I thinking too highly of myself to think that all these people might actually see this?
I just wanted to send each of you a note to let you know I think of you often.

My Granddaddy.

My grandfather was the world's most talented man.
I grew up thinking it and I have often wondered if my childlike awe was disguising what would seem mediocre to everyone else - as an adult, I still hold to the fact that he was the most talented person ever.
I will sometimes look at a canvas that he artfully stroked with a brush and turned into a masterpiece and wonder how he never got 'discovered'.
I look all around in the houses of my family and see countless displays of extreme talent. He was a phenomenal artist. He did oil paintings, wood sculptures, metal sculptures, ceramics. To this day, ceramic pieces that he did free-hand artwork on wins at state fairs and such.
He died in early April of 1995 - I think it was 1995. I was 14.
He was gentle. He had history. The kind of history you don't hear about anymore.
He served the United States in WW2. He showed me his shrapnel scars once - I'll never forget that. Those war stories were the real deal. So much sadness behind them.
He had a crush on Connie Chung. I don't think he really did - he just acted that way to bug my grandmother.
He was a video pirate. He collected everything. Pennies. Notepads. Glass insulators. A true collector.
If my granddaddy did anything at all, he did it with every ounce of himself. And you better believe it was great!
His laugh was laughing perfected. To this day, I have never heard a laugh that was so free, so pure, or more memorable. Sometimes when I look at my dad, I think of my granddaddy...
He was an extraordinary musician. He taught himself how to play the organ during his severely impoverished childhood by breaking into the local church at night. One night, one of the church members (maybe the pastor) stuck around to see who had been breaking into the church each evening. When my granddaddy (9 years old at the time?) broke in and began playing the organ, the church member couldn't believe it! They were so amazed at his talent and the fact that he taught himself that they gave him the organ!!
He sang so beautifully. I have not heard anything like it. I would give anything to hear him sing again.
Sometimes I miss him so much. When I miss him the most, I'll go into my kitchen and try my best to replicate a favorite snack that we used to share.
I still haven't mastered it - peanut butter and honey mixed together on bread, or just licked off a spoon.
He made it all the time. I used to look forward to trips to his house so we could share our tasty snack together. He always made me feel so special.
I know why I can't make that peanut butter and honey taste the same.
It's because he's the reason it tasted so good.
I loved my granddaddy.
He loved Jesus.
I'll see him again someday-
but today, I miss him.

""""Paint fume high""""

Work.
All weekend.
I am one Tired lady.

First of all, I win.
I win for sure.
Yesterday, I went to Wal-Mart and spent 295.00 big ones.
The fact that I spent nearly $300 at Wal-Mart in one sitting is not the winning note.
The fact that only 2, count them, 2 items in my cart(s), yes, carts, were greater than $5.
A bag of chicken breasts and laundry soap.
Other than that it was canned goods, dry goods, frozen doo-dads, fresh food, milk, eggs, butter...
Usually, when I spend THAT much money anywhere there is at least ONE big ticket item in there...
So yesterday, I worked like a crazy woman loading groceries into a cart, out of a cart, paid for them, put them back in, out into my van, out of the van and into my house, and neatly organized into my pantry and fridge... WHEW! I hate grocery shopping.
I used to think I was a hero just for taking two kids to the grocery store, now I am elated if I don't forget the Q-tips!

Yesterday, I also mowed our front and back lawns. They were way overgrown because or garage door was broken for two weeks. Mower stuck in garage+Garage door stuck in downward position= Lots of mowin to do...

After dinner yesterday, the kids and I went out to my parent's house to look at Jupiter and a comet that was due to pass through orbit on my brother's mega-telescope. That was really neat!

Today, when we got home from our sleepover at my parent's house, it was back to work.
I went to Home Depot and got some paint for our front door. While our garage door was broken, we had to come in and out through the front door. I decided that as much as I like red doors, THAT color red was not the best and I was tired of looking at it.
I painted our front door.
Then I steamed our carpet.
I fed the kids dinner, bathed them, read to them, and got them to bed.
Then I polyurethaned our bathroom cabinets, the kids bathroom cabinets, the hallway woodwork, and some of the kitchen before I ran out of it... It really looks better!!
Very much worth the effort, I'll say!
After that, I still thought I had some steam left in me, I decided to finish the kitchen and dining room paint.
I got a lot further.
But my jelly legs and tired fingers kept me from finishing the job...

So if you are wondering what I have been doing instead of blogging, now you are caught up!