mia

A big ol' "Sorry!" to those who have been waiting for an e-mail from me. I don't know what's goin' on with me! Okay, so I kinda do. I just can't get myself out of it. Saturday was a busy day of working around the house. I loaded up all the left over garage sale stuff that's been in my garage for over a month into my van. Now at least I can fit a vehicle in there again. The van full of stuff now sits in the garage waiting for me to haul it down to the Salvation army tomorrow.

Yesterday was a good but awkward day. The other two families with kids in my class didn't come. So Sunday School consisted of just my four children. It was kind of weird. The pastor that teaches on Sunday night is sick with bronchitis, so he didn't make the hour plus drive to come teach Sunday night, so I didn't get fed Sunday night either. Our pastor planned a movie night, but I couldn't bring myself to drive all the way out there for a movie when I'd rather just spend downtime with my kids at home. Sunday afternoon we walked to the school and played on the playground. My youngest has been pining for a chance to play on the new equipment.

That night my heart broke. My youngest has a stuffed unicorn that she got from the hospital when I took her in for an x-ray, shortly after we moved here. It is her most favorite stuffed animal in the whole wide world. Well, I allowed her to bring it to church with her, and unfortunately she left it there. This naturally was discovered as she was climbing in bed for the night. The big brown eyes with tears swelling up in them and quivering bottom lip did me in. It didn't help that this was just after she had talked all about how she misses daddy and how he would read night-night stories to her. She was trying to be a big girl, holding back her tears as she realized unicorn was alone at church. Man, talk about heart wrenching!! I dashed into my room, and got a stuffed animal off the top of our wardrobe. It's stuffing is similar to her unicorn, her daddy won it for me at an amusement park in Germany. I offered it to her and after finding out it was from her daddy she took it. She thanked me and said it reminded her a little of her unicorn. My poor four year old! I'm headed to the church tomorrow, it'll be a happy reunion for her!

Today I pretty much wasted. I found out that abc has season 2 episodes of Kyle XY on the web to watch for free and I got hooked on it. I haven't been hooked on a TV show in a very long time. At least this way I had very limited commercials. lol I got a phone call today though that really bothered me. It's hard when there are rifts in family. It's even harder when you feel like you have to protect yourself from them. I hope my children never feel like that. But I refuse to feel guilty. I have a responsibility to protect my children from harmful people, even if that person is family, and especially since they refuse to acknowledge just how toxic they are.

Anyhow, so I admit, I've been kind of mopey lately. I'm fourteen months into a fifteen month deployment. God is so big, and so grand, he's used this experience to fix my marriage. But I'm not handling this last month as well as everyone thinks I am. I'm not like hiding out in a dark room type of thing, my Lord is my strength and the house still functions. I just think I'm taking a bit too much pity time. But it's comfortable here.

Tomorrow is going to be super busy. I have Caitlin's speech class, story time, meeting with the pastor, taekwando, bible study, errands, the list goes on and on. Add on top of that a seven year old boy who is struggling through school, and I can't figure out how to help him, a nine year old daughter who can't get enough hugs and feels alone, and a ten year old son that's been acting out against those that love him most, probably because of his Dad's absence. I don't know, maybe I have a decent enough reason to waste an entire day watching sci-fi stuff on my laptop?

Getting better

I am so completely shocked with myself right now. After I got the kids off to school this morning, instead of going about my usual chores and business I climbed back in bed. That is so not like me. I stayed there for about three hours! That also is so not like me! I've never done that before, but now that I have I feel like myself again. And I think I understand why I've been slowly getting back into that funk that totally took over yesterday. I'm the type of person that needs a solid eight hours sleep. I can function well enough off of seven, but less than that and I am not at my best. Ever since we got our dog over a month ago I've been averaging five to six hours a night. I think it's been taking it's toll on me, and I just don't have the energy anymore. I really should be getting in bed earlier than I do, but I just don't want to. With hubby deployed I find myself wanting to just stay up so late that I literally pass out with the TV on. It's not healthy, but I just can't force myself to go to bed at 10pm. Stupid emotions... why do I have to let them rule?

So, I'm getting a late start to this day, but hopefully I'll get more done around here!

Last night was my kids' concert at school. It was folk songs across America. I love living in this little town! (Have I mentioned that before?) :p The music teacher mentioned at the beginning that she strives to have an important role for each and every kid, and as far as I can tell she accomplished it. There were approx. seven songs and throughout them different kids came and sang solos or with one or two other kids, or played the big bass xylophones. Michael got to keep beat during Polly Wolly Doodle, which we found out, has roots here in St. George! Kirsten sang a verse at the mic on Clementine. Unfortunately I didn't get the best of pictures. They were too far away and the lighting wasn't so great that my camera did a less than stellar job of capturing moments. But they had fun and they did a good job. I caught some of the last song on video, I wish I had caught it from the beginning. Can you tell what song it is?



During one part I zoom out and you can see near all the kids. That's all of third and fourth grade, not quite a third of the entire school. Next year, all four of my kids will invade it! Kindergarten, second, fourth and fifth grade! lol Watch out St. George Elementary!

Nada...

Nothing, nada, zilch, zero, that's how much stuff I've gotten done today. I don't know what it is, but I just can't seem to get motivated. I'm not depressed, I just have no energy and no drive to do anything. Maybe staying up past one in the morning did me in. My mom wants me to get my thyroid checked since problems with that run in the family. Maybe it's my lack of exercise lately. What ever it is, it has me in a funk. Despite having a nifty schedule that should be keeping me on task, I just want to lay on the couch. I did go to the school and eat lunch with my kids. In a few hours I'll be picking them up, dashing to Kirsten's gymnastics, grabbing some food to eat and getting back to the school. Johnathan is missing Taekwando today because Michael and Kirsten have a concert they're in at the school. They have to dress up prairie style. Michael is so nervous because he gets to play the Xylophone and he hasn't quite mastered it. Before going to school, they keep telling me "make sure you bring your camera mom"! So they're excited.

In other news... I got an e-mail from a woman that was a dear friend of mine back in highschool. Her hubby is in the Army and they're expecting to be moved to the same base my hubby is stationed at this summer. I'm excited to see her, meet her hubby and two boys. People change a lot in life, I'm not the same person I was back in highschool, but it'll be neat to catch up with her.

Hubby sent me good news via e-mail. During their deployment award ceremony Sgt. Major told him he wants hubby heading up the Tactical Airspace Integration System (TAIS) team when they return. This is huge and such a sign of God's hands at work. Thanks to a couple different people in charge at different times, hubby had pretty much been dismissed as a looser, having no future in the Army. Now he's finally being recognized for what he does. I know it'll make a welcomed change for him. Maybe now he'll be happier in his career. Before that ever happened though, he had to get right with God for that to happen. I'm just so glad to see Him work, He is a great God.

Hmm... lets see... there was something else that I can't remember right now. Guess my brain is on vacation too!

It's coming...

Today has been a frantic day. Not in the chaotic sense of the word, as I'm glad I've gotten a bit more organized with my tasks lately. But it's been busy busy busy. Tuesday morning is my youngest's speech class, so I spend near an hour bringing the kids to school, and various things. Then we head out to do errands. I had to bring my new wedding ring to the jeweler for it's six month check up. Gosh that sounds really goofy, but I have to bring it in to keep it's warranty in tact. Anyhow, they cleaned it, and wow it's shiny. Who knew it had gotten so dirty!

Anyhow, then it was off to the library for story time for my youngest. Then to hobby lobby for searching for supplies. I couldn't find anything that was a clincher, so I got one of everything and figured this way I could play around with them at home and come up with something then go get enough supplies to do all of my project. Naturally that took waaaaay too long. lol

Then off to walmart for the typical items needed all the time. I got home a good hour later than what I had planned, so there was little time before driving to the school and picking up the kids since it was pouring rain. We were home less than two hours before I headed out with my youngest two, leaving the older two at home. We had taekwando and women's bible study, I didn't get home till 9pm. This is exactly what I'm talking about when I feel like I don't get to see my kids. I got to see them a whole two hours today. It's what I don't like about public school, the kids spend more and more time away from family, it's only a matter of time before the family bond isn't so strong. This is one of the reasons I've struggled lately with all my church responsibilities. I took on half of the admin, then a couple months later the sunday school got added on, then a couple months later I got the rest of the admin added. I've been so buried down with extra activities when my kids don't have school, I'm busy with church stuff. Yes, we are to put our God first, but it goes, God, family, church. I can't be the jack of all trades, I'm practically a single mom right now, I can't sacrifice my kids for the church.

So, I prayed, and Sunday I told our pastor that I need to pass on the admin duties to someone else by the end of the month. If I had it my way, I'd be passing on the Sunday School responsibility, but God has made it obvious that wasn't what he wanted. Today I found out that someone else has stepped up to take over the admin, and I'm sooooo looking forward to it. The next two weeks are going to be laden with extra duties as I need to train the new person in all the ins and outs of the paperwork and financial aspects of it, but once it's done, I will feel like I am getting my priorities in line. Just in time for the hubby to come home. :)

Wow... lookie there, I've gone on and on. I'm not even going to go back through and spell check it... too much to do, too little time. So I'm just going to finish with, God is sooooooooooooooooooo good!

Bye bye weekend

*sigh* The weekend is over and it's back to the week. I feel so drained that I am so tempted to say adios to the schedule I made for myself. But the boys' clothes hampers are overflowing, so is the sink with dishes, so I do have to get some work done today. I'm thankful we don't have to go anywhere after school today.

Saturday was good. We tried something a little different than usual. We worked for an hour cleaning up the house, then we took an hour break. Then we worked for an hour in the garage organizing the leftovers from our garage sale so I can hopefully get rid of it easier, then took an hour break. After lunch we went outside and worked for an hour raking leaves, then... well, you get the idea. Work, break, work, break. It actually worked very well for my kids. Since their work was interrupted by play time I got less attitude from them, and it worked well. Saturday seemed really long for me.

Then yesterday a lady at church that I really felt was a friend of mine dropped a bomb on me. She picked up her son from class and told me they would not be returning. She didn't want to talk about it, but they were leaving and not coming back. My jaw sort of dropped. I wanted to ask her why, I could tell she was hurt about something, but if someone tells you they don't want to talk about it, what are you to do? I'm not a pushy person, I am more than happy to listen if someone is willing to talk, but if they don't want to talk, then I'm not going to pressure them. It was the suddenness of it that really shocked me. There had not been any hinting to dissatisfaction, in all the times we talked, even looking back with hindsight I didn't see any hints to something boiling underneath the surface. For someone to just up and leave without talking about it is hard to accept.

And not to sound selfish, but she was the pre-school teacher. So we have one week to figure out what we're going to do. It looks right now like I'll be taking both classes. Thankfully we're small enough, I can do that, but if we get a visitor with little ones, I won't be able to do that on my own. You can't effectively teach six 9-11 year olds while trying to keep a couple babies happy while they're going through separation anxiety.

Anyhow, it just really brought me to my knees in praying that God will save this church. There's so much turmoil, and it really feels like we're under attack of the evil one. He despises churches that teach the word of God, and he's apparently not very happy with us right now.

I also spent a good amount of time on the phone yesterday with family in Arizona. My (husband's) grandpa's funeral service was Saturday. It was neat to hear of the people that came to pay their respects. The man that hired him back in 1950 something was there, along with old friends he worked with, and even his hearing aid guy came. The church has really surrounded my (husband's) grandma and has been bringing her food and checking on her. She has her sister with her, along with her sister in-law. So God has been good and answered/is answering prayers to surround her with love. I got to talk to her, and she's doing good given the circumstances. The church recorded the service and we'll be getting a cop of it. One of my father in-laws friends from his church made a picture slide show to celebrate his life. And my father in-law who is a worship leader sang a song for his dad. I know that had to be a hard thing for him to do.

Wow... I've rambled and rambled. I guess I'm making up for my relative quietness lately. I need to find the will power to actually do my household chores today. Cause tomorrow I'm going shopping for supplies for baby girl announcements and I want all my work done today so I can spend time creating tomorrow!!

Turn it back on... please!!

I know we are not machines, but I swear that someone somehow turned my brain off today. I am just so out of it!! Earlier today I tried to create a card. I stared at the stamps, rummaged through my papers, and shifted things around. And shifted, and shifted. Just nothing came from me, nothing at all. Despite having my nestabilities now, which are so cool!! But nothing came to me. So I wasted an entire hour with that.

Then while cooking dinner once again my brain was not turned on. I had to put the dish in the oven so the crust could get browned. I removed it and about five minutes later I poured the egg filling over it and proceeded to grab a hold of it with my bare hands. Completely forgetting that just five minutes ago it sat in a 325* oven. My poor finger tips are so sore!

So anyhow, we're resuming family game night tonight. It used to be a weekly happening, somewhere along the way it got put aside because of my lack of patience. With my brain not working my kids are assured to win!

I'm here...

I'm here... and there... and everywhere. *phew* What can I say except for I feel like I'm split in a hundred different directions. I feel like there's not enough hours in the day to do what I want, but when I honestly backtrack over how I spend my days, there's a lot of time that's not so productive. I'm just so unorganized, so yesterday I sat down and made a schedule for myself. Trying to fit in time for chores, church duties and quality family time, it's quite a juggle. But hopefully this will be a good launching pad to get my time better spent, for I must admit, I'm a procrastinator and really don't get nearly enough work done. This will also help me to make a decision regarding cutting out a responsibility on more facts and less feelings. After all, if there's one thing I know about me for sure, it's that I can be rather emotional and make rash decisions based on those emotions.

Anyhow... yesterday Johnathan tested for his camo belt. That boy is so psyched up. He's thrilled that now he'll get to participate in sparring and weapons training. I'm riding on the coat tails of that excitement as long as I can and trying to use it to influence his behavior at school. Today is his show and tell day at school so he brought all four of his belts to show off.





Unfortunately two of the pieces of sparring gear that I bought used are too big for him. So the good news is he'll grow into them and use them later if he sticks with it, bad news is, I need to find proper sized gear super quick. This stuff is so expensive!!

Today I get to watch my daughter's gymnastics for the first time since the gym reopened after the tornado. Usually I have to drop her off and run to something else. I'm really looking forward to that and just wish I could be more involved with her. *sigh* Yeah, some responsibility needs to go, cause my kids are growing fast, and they are not getting the attention and time that they deserve.

Rainy day...

I'm up early this morning. Usually Nahla wakes me about 6am, I let her outside to potty, then I come back in and lay on the couch, drifting off to sleep till 7. I couldn't this morning though, I feel tired, that's for sure, but my mind won't be quiet, so I'm up instead.

It's raining outside, a perfect match for what's going to happen in our family today. My prayers are with my grandmother, my father in-law and his brother, and my brother in-law. They're all going to be there at the hospital (hopefully) to say good bye to Grandpa as he passes today. I've been praying simply for comfort, and His peace, which passes all understanding.

Today the kids and I are going to drive up to Topeka to go shopping at Sams club. It's nice to have a three day weekend. (Thank you Columbus!!) The two days is just so short I could never get everything done AND spend quality time with the kids. It's just hard to get it all done.

14 cards, oh my!

Today's kind of mellow. I have been having a really hard time focusing lately because of the events going on in my family. Today I had planned that the sunday school kids would watch a veggie tales movie just because I wasn't at my best. The teacher of the preschoolers and I ended up combining classes, and it was just amazing how God had prepared her to provide for my kids as well. God is really good!!

There are some other things going on at church that I find just really bothersome. I feel torn and lost, I wish I knew what God has in mind for me and my family. One day we'll find out. God provides a light to our feet, not a spotlight to show us the whole journey. One step at a time!

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For my Grandma

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Generations

This picture was taken over a year ago, right before my husband deployed to Iraq. It's four generations of boys. From my own two sons, their dad and his brother, their dad, and his dad. Four generations of men/future men. Soon to be no more. The oldest there, my husband's grandpa, the man he's named after, will soon leave us. He went into the hospital about a week ago, with stomach pains that have been bothering him. One thing led to another, led to another, led to another. And now he lays in the hospital kept alive only by machines. Today the family that lives there is meeting to decide when to pull the plug. Shine, (his nick name) had always made it very clear that he never wanted to be kept alive artificially. When it was his time to go, he wanted to go.

Death is one of those things you hear about all the time. You can't watch the news without seeing some headline of another person meeting their end. It's so easy to brush it aside, to not let it actually penetrate us, or our emotions. It's almost as if we've been inoculated with it. Never mind all the dramas on tv, some nearly glorifying death. But it's different when it hits your own family. Though this man is technically my husband's grandfather, I always refer to him as my own. I've grown close to his grandparents. And I find myself facing regret, wishes and questions.

The last time I saw him was the day that picture was taken, over a year ago. I wish we could have visited them more often. I find myself recalling things about him. He was a stubborn man. Though his hearing had gone some time ago, he hated hearing aids and would opt to read lips. This would make for some odd conversations some times, having to repeat yourself over and over. He liked things a certain way, and as I recall was rather picky about baby diapers. lol But he was also a big hearted man. Though he and his wife fought a lot they absolutely loved each other. If his wife needed something for one of the big meals she would prepare for her guests, he would drop everything and run to the store for her. He adored his great grandsons. An avid golfer, I'll never forget that he bought my oldest a set of kids clubs before he was four months old. He bought him his first t-ball set when he was one.

I'll never forget the Christmas he hand painted little wagons for my then two kids. They were the perfect size that my kids would put their favorite stuff animal in there and pull them around the house. In the garage he had a big old bulletin board filled with pictures of his grandsons & great grandkids. He would rather spend time with his great grandkids than adults any day.

I'm going to miss him.

Lots.

I'm frustrated!!

I'm not sure if this is constructive or not, but I'm seriously frustrated right now and I just have to let it out somewhere.

My husband's grandfather is in the hospital, has been for about a week. Right now he's listed in critical condition and the docs are saying there's a 10% chance he'll pull through. Now I know in my heart if God wants to heal him, he absolutely will, but I don't know that that is his will. This man has lived a long good life. He's had health concerns for a while, and has been in a bit of pain or discomfort.

So, I wanted to get word to my husband, so he could call his grandmom and just talk with her, comfort her a bit. I know hearing from her grandson would mean the world to her right now. She has always loved her grandsons, and there's just a lot of history between them.

Anyhow, so I call up the american red cross, because that's the quickest way to get word to him. About an hour later I get a phone call from my hubby's dad. The red cross had called him asking for a bunch of personal information and apparently mentioned stuff about my husband coming home. I just wish they would have TOLD me they'd be calling him so I could have warned him. This man is looking at his father in the hospital, not doing well at all, and then people call him up wanting to know information about power of attorneys and releasing medical records.

Anyhow, he's understandibly under a lot of stress, and the red cross didn't get the information they wanted. It makes perfect sense that they need to verify the situation so they don't have a bunch of fakers passing on fake emergencies to get them home for a bit.

So I guess I'm going to have to go through the rear detachment commander. But I won't call him at this hour of the night, I'm gonna have to wait until tomorrow morning. I'm just frustrated, almost to the point of tears. I want to get a message to my husband and thanks to the lack of internet it's impossible. His grandmother is such a sweet loving woman, I want her to hear from her youngest grandson in her moment of need. This just sucks.

$2.99 & 9/10ths

Yesterday I was driving my kids to Calvary Kids Club when a gas station employee was out changing the price of gas on the street sign. I couldn't believe my eyes! Gas has finally dropped to just below $3. (What is up with that 10th of a cent thing, I mean really?) But hopefully those prices will continue to go down.

Today's been good so far, though I still feel like I haven't actually got anything done. When it comes to dishes, laundry and cleaning, it seems that I'm always doing them, but they're never done!! I think that's why I like to create cards, I have something pretty to show for my time after an hour.

For anyone wondering, yesterday Johnathan had a great day. He came from the school doors with the biggest smile on his face in a hurry to show me how good he had done at school. Hopefully it will keep up that way!

This post is short because it's just one of those days. But I'm thankful for it. :)

Wacky Wednesday

Hola big world! I'm sitting here on my couch with Backyardigans on the tv and seeing our puppy go to town licking my daughter's feet and legs. It's almost as if Nahla thinks she's the mom and Caitlin's the pup. Should I be offended that Nahla is telling me my daughter is dirty? lol It's funny though.

Yesterday I visited with Johnathan's teachers after school. (You can see the reason why two posts down.) I still don't know exactly what the solution will look like, but it became painfully obvious to me, that part of the problem was the lack of communication between the teachers and I. They had to go so far as to put him on a special plan where he tries to earn rewards for good behavior, and I wasn't told about it! So I approached them asking for what types of things they've done in the past to keep better communication with parents when needs like this arise. So now he has a notebook that he has to bring to every class he goes to. The teachers will write just a little note on if he's had a good day or not, and he'll bring it home to me. I'm hopeful. Part of the issue is he knows they don't have any real consequences to give him. He leaves school and leaves his problems. Now he'll be held accountable for his behavior at school at home. I'm hoping this will help him make better decisions. This morning I had him stand in front of my bathroom mirror and I used styling cream to make his bangs stand up/out. He liked the extra attention and then I held his hands and prayed for him. It seemed to have given him a new confidence as I asked him if he was going to have a good day at school he shook his head yes and pointed up and said "Because of God." I am so thankful that Jesus is real in their lives. I don't know for sure if he's believed in Christ with a saving faith, but at least he's getting a decent foundation. Who knows, maybe this is why God has allowed this to go so far, maybe Johnathan needs more discipling.

Any how, Caitlin and I will be heading to the library today to do story time. I haven't done a story time at a library since my first two were itty bitty things. I'm hoping this will become a weekly thing for us, something special between Caitlin and I.

Hubby called this morning. It's official he's reenlisting this Friday! Woo-hoo! And God's fingerprints are all over it. He's likely to even be promoted come November. Double woo-hoo! God is good. So very, very good.

Which reminds me, I have card kits to put together. During Calvary Kids Club the kids of the church are going to be working on getting packages together for Operation Christmas Child. Their leader wants the kids to make cards to go in them, so I volunteered to put kits together for them. Hey any reason to stop by Hobby Lobby is a good one for me. :)

Coloured Christmas Challenge

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What a day!

What a day today is turning out to be, and it's not even half way over yet! (Though it probably will be by time I finish typing this out and get it posted.)

To begin with I found out that my younger son has been lying to me this whole past week! We're having issues with him at school, I had been holding his Sparring gear captive, saying he wasn't going to get it until he had five days at school where he didn't purposefully give the teachers a hard time. All last week he was ensuring me he was having good days at school so he finally got his sparring gear. This morning I went into his class with him, because he had not been turning in a book, just to find out he has not been behaving. In fact it has gone so far as he will stand outside of the room refusing to go in.

I am at a loss with this boy! Basically he pretends to be stupid. Says he doesn't know where things are when he does know. He pretends he doesn't know the rules when he does. He yells "why are you ruining my paper?" when he's the one crumbling it up. I mean it's just weird extreme stuff. All I can think is it's an attention thing. He acts like that he gets attention. He didn't just start this since going to school, it's something he's always done so school isn't the cause of it. But I've grounded this boy, I've restricted him, I've taken things away. None of it works. I'm afraid I'm going to have to go to just plain old spanking him.

My youngest had her speech therapy today, so I was able to spend sometime with him in his class, and I see things that I think are triggering it. The fact that at the age of 6 & 7 these kids have to constantly change classrooms. I understand why the school does it that way, but I think the constant changing isn't good for my son, it's distracting and works against him trying to pay attention. There's other things too, and now I'm wondering if I made a mistake by putting him into the public school. My oldest two are doing great, I have no doubt that they are right where they need to be, but I fear for Johnathan. He is a really smart little buggar. I've been telling these teachers that he's a bright boy, they need to challenge him, but all they're seeing is a little boy that is struggling at the level he's at. I'm going to have to seriously pray over this. I thought I was done with homeschool, but if it's what will save my son from building this bad foundation, and it's holding him back, then it's what I need to do.

Anyhow, I got my haircut today. She went ahead and straightened it and it looks so good! I would buy one except I know I will never spend 15 extra minutes on my hair. I just don't have the time, nor the want honestly. Today for example, I have September financial reports that I MUST get done today!! And I am running out of time!

There was so much more I wanted to share. The fact that Michael is going to try out taekwando, that my step-brother about gave my mom a heart attack. lol My frustrations with not being able to talk to my husband, a card I want to make and more. But I've rambled enough and I have work to do and a daughter who wants attention!

Calling me again...

You know, sometimes I am just blown away by my Lord. I've been missing from here a few short days. Though I'm sure no one missed me, I'm going to share my heart anyway. It's weird, I don't know if it's because I'm human, because I'm a woman, or because I'm me, but my life seems to go in the same old cycle. A rich closeness with God, then some complacency. Then something comes my way to kick me back into my closeness with him. For the last almost month, I've been in that state of complacency. Yesterday he kicked me back into closeness with him, and I am so very thankful He never gives up on me. If I were him, I would have kicked me to the curb ages ago! But His love is never ending, never fading, always there for me. I am glad to say however that my bouts of complacency are getting less and less severe, so at least I'm learning something on the way.

Anyhow, a couple days ago a sister in the Lord called me, wanting some advice on dealing with family that is against her beliefs. Her husband had encouraged her to call me because he knows I've been there and dealt with that. Then yesterday I was chatting with a dear brother in Christ, and he told me that I was such a rock, he knows he could always count on me to point him in the right direction. And you know, I felt so convicted! I mean, on one hand it's great that those close to me know I will do my best to point them in the Lord's direction, but if these people knew what I struggle with they wouldn't be so quick to complement me. Then yesterday, I was getting bombarded by unclean thoughts. I mean things were just coming at me left and right, it was as if someone else was in my head. And I was convicted. I go to church Sunday Morning, Sunday Evening, and Tuesday nights. Other than those times, I'm ashamed to say my Bible has not been opened in the last month. No wonder I was suddenly susceptible to attacks, whether these thoughts were coming from my flesh, the world, or the evil one's henchmen, it really doesn't matter. All that matters is that they weren't from God, so they had no business being in my head!

On the way to church last night I had a compilation CD I was listening to. "My Jesus" by Todd Agnew came on, and I began bawling. I love this song, always have from the moment I first heard it. It reminded me of all my Lord has done for me, and how dare I forget that!

I don't know why I felt compelled to share this. Maybe just because of my natural want to share things, maybe someone is going to stumble across it when they come to see the cards I've submitted, I don't know. But really, it doesn't matter. At least I'm being obedient again. Now if I could just kill that stupid cycle!!

Christmas is... challenge

You know, the Lord is good!! I have been creating cards all day long thanks to Splitcoaststampers challenges. The kids are wanting to earn a little extra money, so they've raked leaves, done a little laundry and now they're finishing up the dishes. Yeah, so all that work is going to end up costing me about six dollars, but hey, I think it's worth it! I get to create and they actually want to do chores, so it's a win-win situation.

In between stamping I got an e-mail from my hubby. His Marine Corps paperwork was accepted, so maybe, just maybe he'll manage to get promoted as well! Did I say good?? Nah, He's great!

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Nice Quiet Mornin'

Yay! The weekend is finally here!! As I sit here on my couch, with my laptop on my lap, I am so very much enjoying the quiet. By this time in the morning, the kids are usually finishing up brushing their hair and teeth, and we're out the door in twenty minutes. Today, everyone slept in! Including Nahla who didn't wake me up till near 7! It's nice to have a day without the stresses of places to be by certain times.

Unfortunately though, I feel a sinus cold coming on. I have the sinus drip, and that's not good. Hopefully I won't get it full force until after tomorrow. Now with Lisa gone and Lee in the nursery, I can't imagine who would take over the 6-12 year olds for me. Not to mention I promised Myron I'd be there early to get the worship songs in the computer program. So yeah, I don't want to be sick.

Today is World Card Making Day! So along with my usual participating with the Christmas Cards All Year Long challenge, a stamping community that I participate in is having "festivities" I hope to play along with. All while getting some major dishes done, financial reports and other church business. Hmm... did I say this was going to be a relaxing day? lol

Hmm... Three-quarters of my children are awake, and poor Kirsten doesn't sound so good. Looks like it's that time of year, along with falling leaves, we get scratchy throats!

Blingy Thingy

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It's gonna be one of those days...

It's gonna be one of those days where I have to keep prayin all day to not loose my mind. My youngest is driving me crazy. The thing with Caitlin is she has a sensitive tummy. When she skips a meal, she gets nauseous and if she skips two meals, she's definitely throwing up. The rule in this house is if you don't like the meal I cooked for you, then you don't eat. Otherwise I'd be making four different meals to accommodate everyone. Well, Caitlin does not like anything resembling spaghetti sauce. Last night I cooked Italian Chicken and sure enough little miss thing didn't like it. So at 4am she's up complaining she thinks she's going to throw up. Now she has breakfast sitting in front of her, and she doesn't want to eat it! Who in the world doesn't like Cinnamon Grahams?? I mean really it's not like I gave her shredded wheat or something! I must go shopping today, I have supplies I need for Sunday School, and there's no doubt, if she doesn't start eating her cereal, she will be throwing up on me. Oh Lord, please give me patience!!

Good news is, I got a call from hubby this morning. He did fantastic at his board review yesterday. He scored 149 out of a possible 150. So he'll be reenlisting. And it appears that nearly everyone in his unit wants to leave the area, so we should be able to stay here several more years! That's a good thing, because we live in a wonderful little town, the kids' school is top notch, and we have a house that would be hard to sell in today's market.

Anywhoo... I gots to get going. It's just about time to walk with the kids to school and get a small amount of energy out of crazy dog. Thankfully she's no longer peeing continually!

*gah*!! Yup, sure enough, as I was checking this post for spelling errors, she threw up all over the place. *sigh*

Tropical Christmas

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Woo-hoo!

Tonight's going to be a long one. Nahla has an infection and won't quit whining or peeing! I need a doggy diaper!

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Yup, it's Wednesday already

Nahla had another appointment today. The vet thinks her unending need to pee is caused by a urinary tract infection. So $100 later she had shots, and will have medicine to take all week. I can't help but wonder, we gave her a bath on Monday, and then Tuesday she comes down with the unending pees. I can't help but wonder if something to do with the bath caused it. But there's no way I'm going to let her go on and on and on without a bath. Not if she's going to be in my house majority of the time.

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