RECENTLYI am finally back on! After days and days of not being able to get on here, I'm finally back. Not that I have anything interesting to say at all, but it's nice to be up and running again.
And I have to say a HUGE THANK YOU! to Michelle (writmm) who helped me get back on my feet! I couldn't have done it without you, Michelle. Or the staff here. I was starting to freak out. I had no way of seeing all my friends and talking, except for the few addresses I had memorized (or could see on my comments). Anyways, I'm giddy to be back and get all caught up!
Like I said, I've got nothing interesting to say. My husband is on Spring Break this week. He's been gone more, though, because he's getting more hours in at work. So tomorrow my buddy from church, Tara, and I are taking the kids to the TULSA ZOO...in Tulsa, OK! It's supposed to be in the 40s with a 20% chance of snow, but I think it will be fun. I love going out when it's cold. Really gets my blood flowin', ya know?! I've got to remember to pack all of our coats and mittens and hats and scarves. It will be exciting, I think. It's been too wet here to go outside, so the kids really need some running around time.
Dear Lord, I pray that you will give us a safe journey to the zoo tomorrow. I pray that we will have fun, no matter the weather. I pray for safety and a refreshing day in the outdoors that you have created for us to enjoy.
HAPPY THANKS PATRICKS DAY!
I woke up to Sean saying this to me this morning. It was so cute. He was really excited...
So far, for breakfast we've had GREEN pankcakes and GREEN milk. I tried a bite, just to make sure they tasted ok. They were fine, so I served them to the kids (of course, I did not eat them). Sean really liked it! I read them a book about St. Patrick. We plan to watch the VTales episode later this afternoon. We are going to make a SHAMROCK card today that has the following:
THE FATHER, THE SON, and THE HOLY SPIRIT
We've read the story about St. Patrick and his mission to win Ireland to Christ. Thank GOD for him. Coming from an Irish-Christian background, I believe this is truly a wonderful day! I am so grateful to pass this beautiful heritage on to my children! HAPPY THANKS PATRICKS DAY!
I have another book to read to them, if they'll sit still long enough. We spent the morning finding where we live on the map and then finding Ireland and Britain (where St. Patrick was from). We're all in our GREEN today, even J. I picked out a GREEN LANTERN (from the comic books, Justice League) for him to wear and sent some GREEN food with him to work to share. NO PINCHING FOR MY HONEY!
Grace and I made St. PAtrick's Day CUPCAKES last nite. They are chocolate with GREEN icing on top (and GREEN sugar) with SNAKES (gummy worms). There is the legend of St. Patrick ridding Ireland of snakes...so I added them to the tops.
For supper tonite, we will have Roast beef (cause I don't do Corned Beef) and GREEN mashed potatoes and rolls, with our cupcakes for dessert. I JUST LOVE St. PATRICK'S DAY!
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind stay at your back
May the sun shine gently on your face
May the rain fall softly on your field
And until we meet again
May the Lord hold you in the palm of his hand!
Well, I first want to say, thank you for sharing your hearts and wisdom with me. I'm glad that I'm not alone! I've decided (and we'll see how this goes), that when I'm promised a nite out on the town, not to have high expectations, but to be pleased that I'll be able to get out and spend time with my honey. He was so sweet to take me out and then to let me go out while he watched the kids later in the weekend. And to make me feel even better, yesterday, he let me go to Hobby Lobby. He insisted I go by myself, but I took 2G2 with me. While there, I bought her a beautiful purple beaded butterfly. She thought it was so pretty! We had so much fun, just the two of us. I look forward to days where she and I can just have loads and loads fun days crafting together... I just love my family so much! I'm learning to appreciate them more and more, with each passing day!
I'm counting down the days to St. Patricks Day. I have several books that I'll be reading to the kids and crafts for that day. My mom used to make roast and GREEN mashed potatoes, along with salad and rolls. I'm gonna do the same. My son and I had a dry run the other day and we made GREEN mac-n-cheese. That was Monday and he's been talking about every meal since then. The potatoes will be fun. I've offered to make him GREEN milk, too. He and I are also gonna make cupcakes with GREEN icing and GREEN sugar. I wanna get gummy worms to put on top (the legend of St. Patrick freeing Ireland of SNACKS). I plan on sending them with J to work, too. They just love it when I cook...it's all those college students who don't have mommies to cook real food for them, I do believe. This will be so much fun, I think. It was years of public schooling before I learned who St. Patrick really was. I believe it was my dad and myself watching something on the History channel when I was in High School. The only thing I knew about the holiday, was that I was Irish and to wear GREEN on that day, so some bloke wouldn't pinch me or poke me. I knew of my own Irish heritage, but nothing more than that. So I'm excited to teach the kids about St. Patrick and his mission to serve the Lord. We'll be watching the Veggie Tale DVD on him, too. This'll be so much fun!
Dear Lord, I am so grateful for the love that you have shown to me through these lovely ladies on this site. I am so blessed to have come here and meet so many women who are encouraging and I am so happy for that. Lord, I pray that you will be with each and every one of them, thoughtout this day and days to follow. For their families, for their will and desire to serve you, Father...I pray that you will bless their efforts and continue a relationship between us all. Lord, I am also grateful for the heritage in which you have bestowed upon me. And I pray, Father, that I will be able to use this holiday to show my children the blessings and desire to serve their heavenly Father. Lord, I pray that it will be a lesson for us to get out there, and serve you and talk about you and be nearer to you. Thank you for this reminder that you honor those who are faithful to you. I pray these things in your HOLY and PRECIOUS name, AMEN
Well, if you've been keeping up with my last few posts, you know what a crazy last few days it has been. Just let me say, I'm thrilled this weekend is finally over.
Just to update, my father-in-law is still in the hospital as of this morning. We thought he would be released on Monday, but the Docs are still unsure as to why his heart was racing. Something about an enzyme and trying to figure out if it was caused by the racing heart or if the racing heart caused the enzyme. I'll admit, I'm clueless when it comes to things like that. But he is up and walking around the PCU (progressive care unit) and hopes to go home today or tomorrow. And my friend Andrea is now home and re-couping. She did just tell me she's in a lot of pain, but feels better already. She received 3 units of blood in the transfusion and is taking iron suppliments. She is already feeling much better and hopeful that this is the end. This has been a daily reminder of our health and for my husband to get tested very soon. There is the blessing, I'm sure!
It has been a weekend of disappointments and lessons all around. On Saturday afternoon, my husband and I had plans to see a play that a friend of his had written. J's mom and sibs came to watch the kids. I got all "dolled up" and we were off. We got all the way into town and found a parking place and set off for the door. I was very disappointed to discover that the play was not only sold out, but the waiting list was so long, we were not invited to put our names on it. I was very frustrated that my husband had not gotten tickets before hand. But I was polite and did not bring it up. But I was disappointed and frustrated. I just knew I was going to have a horrible nite. Instead, he took me to the restaurant where we used to celebrate EVERYTHING (first pregancy, first anniversary, new car, new house, etc). Then we went to Barnes & Noble and just walked around. The night turned out ok afterall.
Did that evening teach me anything? NO! So for Monday nite the Ladies in the church had made plans to meet for supper. We had planned to go to TGIFridays, which we discovered, it was their grandopenning. I was bombarded with phone calls on what we were going to do. We rearranged our site and they decided on Red Robin. I was very frustrated, again, because I had already laid my clothes out. (People tend to forget that I'm a stay-at-home mom who doesn't get out a whole lot. I love to get dressed up and don't get to do it very often) I was very frustrated that I was going from nice pants and shirt and boots, to jeans and a t-shirt. And I wasn't really in a burger mood. But once I settled down (and called my mom to complain), the atmosphere was great and we were served much more quickly than if we would have gone to Fridays. We had a great time. The ladies were very understanding that I needed to get out of the house and were great. It's hard being in a small church, where I'm the only SAH mom. Sshheesh! I'm the only mom w/ kids under the age of 13!
So when am I going to learn? I get so worked up and so excited about doing something and then my plans never follow through as I hoped. I keep worrying and panicing when things don't turn out the way I want them to. And it shouldn't be that way. I've really gotta just take it one day at a time, don't I?! So, my weekend is finally over and I'm so excited.
I did have big plans for my kids yesterday. I wanted so badly to do lots of fun activities, but we just spent the day together reading and cuddling. The phone kept ringing with news on my FIL and the LNO, that we didn't get done all I had planned. But that's ok. The purpose of yesterday was to spend the day with the kids and I did do that. And then they got to have the evening with their dad...and that was the most special time of all! I feel really blessed right now (as I am hollering in the next room for my son to stop yelling at his sister and for her to share HIS toys with HIM...I love my life!)
Dear Lord, I am just so thankful for my family and for all that you have blessed me with. Lord, I pray that you will help me to not worry about tomorrow, or even today. That I will lean on you, Father and leave all my worries in your hands...
My family covets your prayers.
As some of you may know, 6 weeks ago, it was discovered that my father-in-law has colon cancer. He has been getting 5 weeks of chemo and radiation therapy. He has 1 more week to go and then will wait for 6 weeks and then have surgery. The therapy, however, is starting to take a toll on his body. He was teaching the BENCHMARK exam this last week, which was very tiring, along with his therapy. This morning, he was feeling ok after having a day off to rest. He preached this morning (he's our Pastor) and took us all to lunch. Rather an appropriate sermon, he preached on WORRY: Matthew 6:34. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
After lunch, he and my mother-in-law went to Wal-Mart to prepare for our evening fellowship. While there, his heart started to race and he was unable to settle it down. She took him to the emergency room and they have decided to keep him overnite for observation. My husband and our kids are here now with my brother-in-law (who is 13) and my sister-in-law (who is 16), while we wait to hear anything. He has been admitted to the ICU until tomorrow. Please remember us in your prayers.
Also, my jr. and sr. high best friend has had to deal with endometriosis and cysts for the last several years. 2 years ago, at the age of 24, she was faced with a drastic decision: to have a hysterectomy. She is married to a wonderful and supportive husband, but they have no children (which is seeming to be more and more a blessing as she deals with all her illnesses). She has had a recurring cyst over the last few years and has had to have them removed. However, she has been advised not to have many more surgeries, due to the amount of scar tissue. And, in the last surgery she had on Thursday, the oncologist discovered that at some point, the doctors in the past cut thru her intestines and then sewed them back up, without telling her. The surgery to remove the mass on Thursday was successful and they believe they got everything, including the pieces of ovary that were growing back, but on Friday they discovered her kidneys were not functioning properly. They said this is "common", or at least, has happened with this type of surgery before, but they are unsure as to what is causing the kidney failure. They moved her to an ICU to observe her heart. When I talked to her on Saturday, she was in the middle of a blood transfusion, because they realized she is also very annemic. Please pray for Andrea. She is honestly the strongest person that I have ever known. She is a believer, but her patience and faith is starting to waver some. She just doesn't understand what is going on and for how much longer this will last. She is only 26! She had confided in me recently that she was struggling with the idea of not having children, even adoption, considering her numerous amounts of surgery. But she was hopeful when she went in on Thursday. Now, she is scared.
Anyways, I thank you for prayers and hope that will remember these 2 families.
UPDATE: MONDAY
My husband and I were able to go see his father last nite in the PCU (he was moved out of the ICU after the medication they gave him started to take effect). My MIL sent us up to take a bag of clothes and toiletries and visit with him. This made us very excited! We had ever intention of dropping off the bag and staying for 10 minutes. An hour later, I finally dragged my husband out of there. He and his father were bantering back and forth, as they always do. He was in good spirits and hopefully will be home today! PTL. Please continue to pray for him
I've had no word yet on my friend, as to whether treatments are effective at this time. Please remember them in your prayers, as well. Thank you!
Dear Lord, I just don't know how much I can handle anymore. I'm stressed and I'm tired and I feel so alone sometimes. Lord, I offer up a prayer to you, that You will carry these families and heal them and make us all stronger through this entire ordeal. I pray that you will remind me not to worry, for tomorrow is a new day. That you are a God of healing and of answers and of understanding...and that your time is not mine, but Your own. Thank you for the faith that these two people have shown to me and my children. Thank you that they recognize who the Savior of this universe is, and that they trust only in You. I pray that you will give wisdom to the doctors as they work on their patients and that you will guide their hands, the heads, and their hearts. I pray for the families involved, that you will bring comfort and wrap your hands firmly around them. In your name I pray all of these things, AMEN
I came up with, what I thought was a fantastic idea yesterday. While making out my grocery list this week, I kept getting very frustrated with thinking of new meals, or at least, what to eat by the end of the week. Coming up with breakfasts my husband can just hand to children 2 days a week (he lets me sleep in 2 days and gets up with them and feeds them and changes diapers, etc.), lunches that my son will actually eat, and dinners for the entire family! Now, my husband will eat anything, as long as I don't tell him how I made it. However, we have discovered that he is allergic to certain shell fish, like shrimp. This kinda put a damper on my menu system I had implemented a few years ago. My son, however, is very picky and will only eat certain things. He really doesn't mind eating mac-n-cheese 4 days a week. In fact, he asks for it. But, my daughter is starting to get tired of it and I don't blame her. I prepare lunch and breakfast just for my kids, "catering", as it may be. But at supper, they are served what we are. I am a huge stickler for eating the right way.
So I devised a plan. Every day of the week, the breakfast will be the same week to week. For example, on Sunday I can serve muffins. It's tradition in our family. Started way back w/ my mom. This is something I can make the night before and as we are getting ready, the one who has not nabbed the shower first can serve muffins and banana, and then as we are walking out the door, the adult who didn't eat can have their fill. Also, for the 2 days that my husband serves them breakfast, he can make poptarts and banana and milk or mini muffins, banana and milk (see a pattern: each breakfast, I serve banana and milk to start the day). Now, here's where it got tricky: LUNCH! I am a big supporter of the food groups. I try everyday to insure that my children get a protein (whether it be ham, bologna or peanut butter), diary, fruit (applesauce, grapes, or jello) and a grain (bread, crackers, etc). I allow my son sprite at lunch and juice for my daughter. She doesn't always eat her fruit, but she will her juice. I try to fit V8Splash in the day at somepoint, but I don't serve them sweets (sprite or chocolate) after 4 o'clock. Noticed a bad pattern when my son has sprite with supper. My problem was not coming up with enough meals. I was able to come up with at least 6 (on Sunday afternoon, we got for pizza w/ my in-laws after church), but how to let my son have some control over what he is eating. I finally figured it out, with the help of my big sis (I love you, sis). I called to talk to my mom to ask for her help and my sis answered instead. Also a homeschooler, she tries to come up with creative meals throughout the day. So, we decided that I could kill 3 birds with one stone. I'm going to make a chart for the fridge with all the food groups. This way, he'll learn these in a "game" of sorts. I will put, say, a picture of GRAPES on the fridge (thanks to her magnetic/laminator) with the word written across. He learns great this way, memorizing pictures and letters. Each day, he'll get to pick his meal. We'll move it off the fridge once that fruit or protein has been used. I think it will work and I'm really excited about this...
Dear Lord, I thank you that you have given me this fun and creative idea to help my children learn. I pray that I will be able to work it out, so as not to get frustrated. I pray that this will bring some sense of responsibility to the kids, while having fun. I pray that this will help me to eliviate the pressure of meal planning.
This is a scan of my most recent scrapbooking pages that I attempted. You will notice, there is no title on the page. I had somebody ask me, "do you not put words on your page?" Well, yes I do, but I didn't on this layout...at least, not yet. I am attending a scrapbooking retreat with my mom, sis, and best friend in April and will add the title then. It will read: FACES & FASHIONS. This will appear around the picture of my daughter on the first page. I have also included a place for journaling. can you find it? It's hidden. On the very last page, there is a "flap" that opens up to reveal the journaling. It's under the pic of my daughter with her hair blowing. It's matted on brown. See it now? This is one of my favorite tricks. This way, you can add more pics and still have journaling. And it makes it interactive for the one looking at the layout (mostly my 2 kids).
The first two pages (which appear side by side in my book) are of the faces my daughter has made that I just fall in love with. The second set of pages is of all her fashions as the dress up queen in our household.
**keep in mind that I had to scan these 12x12 pages on my 8 1/2 x 11 scanner, so I had to piece it together. I promise it didn't hurt her at all, being split down the middle. It took me awhile to get the hang of our scanner. And no, you're not crazy. I had to change my blog template AGAIN b/c the pages didn't all fit on my other template, but I will change it back and KEEP it in a few days! ENJOY
I've been searching all day on line through homeschooling information. I want to find something for my son, that he will learn, enjoy and grow closer to God. He's at that vulnerable age, where he's starting to ask questions and really needs to experience God first-hand. I know he's not quite ready and that's great. I want him to take his time, but I also want him to know what all is out there for him to know. So I want to find something that has both Christian perspective, bible verses, etc. He doesn't get a whole lot from church, so I really want him to get it at home (well he should...that's where he's supposed to, right?!!?).
On a lighter note, I got my laundry mostly done today. I HATE the laundry. It piles up, whether it's clean or dirty. I have had in the past...recent past...a pile of CLEAN clothes, ya hear me, it's all clean, piled high on the love seat in our bedroom. I'll get it cleaned, just not hung up. I'm trying, I really am. I feel so bad for my husband. He has to go through a basket full of clean underwear to find his. It's very sad. I do layout the clean shirts and pants that are to be hung up one on top of the other, but then they sit on the couch. And all the undies and pjs sit in a pile in the basket. It's so aweful. It makes my mom so mad. She says, "didn't I raise you better than that?" And I say, "maybe that's the problem. You pushed me too far to succeed in the skill of laundry making, and now I'm bucking the system"...she's not amused. I will say, it all started a few years ago when we lived in MS. When we were dorm parents for our 20 boys, I was in charge of their laundry. I got it done over a few days: left wing on Monday, right wing on Tuesday and Top floor on Wednesday. Then on Friday, I'd do what they needed to get thru the weekend, if they needed it. The problem, was that I hated doing my own...so I slacked off. After doing 60 loads a week, why do my own? So now I hate it and my family is suffering. aahhhh! But I got it done, for the most part, today and we will all have a clean pair of underwear, socks, and shirt tomorrow. No more living in our pjs tomorrow...it's time for a change. A change of clothes, that is!
Dear Lord, I pray that you will help me to get my duties done. I know I joke about them, but I do want to show to my family how much I love them and how much I care for them. I also ask that you will help me to make a good decision regarding our homeschool curriculum. Give me wisdom as I find what it is that I need to do for my son, something that is pleasing to you and helps him to learn more about you. Help me to use the work to help him learn about you and enjoy getting to know you...In YOUR HOLY NAME, AMEN
What a crazy weekend! Everything was fine for the most part. I didn't really do awhole lot between Friday and Saturday afternoon. J was working both of those days and had rehearsal on Friday pm. I did talk to him several times on the phone, though. He came home on Saturday from work and was sneaking around the pantry where the medicine and bandaids are. I saw him messing with his hand. He had bandaids all over his hand. As he told me the story, my mommy mode kicked in and I began to thank God for his protection.
At work, J was helping his co-worker hang some airplanes from the ceiling. He had been standing on the ladder, but there was a huge case of toys in this way. So he stood on the edge (you know those cases, like jewelry cases, that have glass on the top and the side, and are incased with metal or wood...then there's the sliding back to get the product out. that's what he was standing on). He said he thought his foot was on the metal, but apparently it was not. Next thing he knew, his foot went thru the glass (praise the Lord for his new thick tennis shoes and new jeans with no holes in them). He landed on the floor surrounded by glass and his feet and legs were still on the counter. He said there was blood everywhere. All over him, all over the floor, all over the glass. I tried so hard to look at his face, unharmed, instead of imagining my wonderful husband laying in a pool of blood on the floor. He said his co-workers began to question him and make sure he was ok and he felt nothing, but only saw blood. Turned out, there was no serious damage, but since it was on his hand, there was a lot of blood. He cut the top of his hand where the veins meet. After he cleaned up, he went back and saw a chunk of glass that was sticking up. He said, in all seriousness, it could have killed him. Thank God for his angels and a praying wife, huh?! I feel so blessed that the Lord was watching over my husband that day...while I was sitting at home watching tv.
We gave the kids a bath that evening. Our bathtub is dangerous. I've fallen once and was bruised from head to toe. J fell a few days later and sliced his knee. As 2G2 was standing up, J went to put the towel around her and she slipped. She came down right on the metal door slide with her chin. She screamed, he yelled, I cried (afterwards...I was pretty calm during the initial fall). She was only bruised on her chin and has a scratch. Again, the Lord was protecting us. We're going to get things to put in the bottom of the tub, before 1B5 falls next. But until then, I pray that they Lord protect us in that tub. WOW, what a crazy afternoon...
Dear Lord, I thank you so much for your protection over this family. I don't like playing the "what if" game. I know that you are with us and that you are taking care of this family. Thank you for the minimal damage to all who had an accident. Thank you for a peace of mind during these situations. Thank you for loving us...AMEN
I got a phone call this morning. My 6 year old niece called me this morning with some news. At first, all I heard her say was something about me and her heart and an invitation. I honestly thought she was saying something about she was having a heart themed party and she was inviting me to come. I asked her to repeat it and heard the word JESUS and started to cry. She said, "Aunt Megan, I invited Jesus into my heart" My heart was filled with joy. I was so excited. I just couldn't stop crying and telling her how happy I was and how proud of her that I was. She told me that Nana (my mom) and Grandma Gene (her other grandma, whom my own children love and call their Grandma Gene) cried when she told them. She passed the phone to my sister and my sister said, "hannah had to call and tell you". She then turned to Hannah and said, "Hannah, Aunt Megan is crying too". My mom said that after she called to tell her (even though she lives right next door to my parents), that my mom starting asking specifics, like how did it happen and what and she said, "I'll have to tell you later, I wanna go call Aunt Megan." What a joyous day this is for me. Not only is she my niece, but my new sister in Christ (I always wanted a little sister). I can't wait to talk to her about it and hear all she has to say. I'm going to make her a card right now! PRAISE THE LORD and THANK YOU!
Dear Lord, thank you so much for this blessing. Thank you that I have a new sister in Christ and that she felt so happy to share it with me. I am so grateful that you are open to us all and of the daily reminder that you sacrificed your life, so that we an live!
I woke up this morning, with a deep urge to scrapbook. I have so many pictures that need to go somewhere, other than in my scrapbook cabinet (I have an old island/cart that is on wheels that I use for my scrapbooking. I keep most of my supplies in there and the top folds out, so I have a huge space to work on. Function meets style). I started looking through all of our family photos and zoo trips and reunions and holidays. It made me feel a bit sad that I'm not "at home", but so blessed that my family is safe and near me.
A few years ago, my cousin in NC, who is a homeschooling mom of 5, had her oldest daughter send out Christmas newsletters as part of her English + History project. It was great. She was 16 at the time (16? where does time go?) and ever since, she's sent letters and pictures to our family. I can't wait to get my kids involved in scrapbooking and making it part of their "schoolwork". 1B5 loves to look at pictures. If he sees me get my albums out (I currently have 8...thanks to my husband for letting me get a new book yesterday, just for our zoo trips), he will immediately crawl up on the couch and look with me. 2G2 has learned many family members this way. It's so neat to hear her point out people and call them by name, whether she rememebers them or not. I have a scrapbook that I made for my son that has the songs that we sing at night and the stories that we tell. It has a song called KISSES. Kisses are described by colors. Very vivid imagery. For example:
Did you know that kisses have all kinds of colors? Some pink. Some white. Some summertime green. Some just as orange as you've ever seen. And sometimes they're bright, as bright as the sun. And sometimes they're bluish when evening is done.
Each kiss given is by a different family member who represents a different color.
Oh my nana's are silver like old wedding ring and Papas are speckled like butterfly wings. Daddy's kisses are mostly tan, maybe that's because he's a man. Auntie Rebecca's are watery pale and ole Uncle Toms are white.
I was able to include a picture of each family member mentioned, with the mat done in the color mentioned and the words beside it. I love this, b/c the kids don't see their Aunt Rebecca but once a year, even though she is my husbands sister and lives 2 hours away. And their great-uncle Tommy they see at Christmas. But when they do see them, the recognize them and love them. It's so sweet. This is my favorite scrapbook page, b/c it not only is creative and very pretty, but it allows my children to see their family and get to know them better. I just love to scrapbook. It shares a part of me that I could never convey in words.
BTW, the last sentence of the song goes like this:
...but Mommy's are like a rainbow, she she kisses me ... goodnight
Dear Lord, I am so grateful for my family. And I am so grateful that you have blessed me with the talent of scrapbooking. Your word tells us to pass on our heritage and our stories to one another, and thru my scrapbooks, I am able to tell stories of our past and present; to share my family and my faith with others, including my children. Thank you for the opportunity to share a legacy with them, that only can be shown in pictures.
It's time that I buck it up and deal with it. Disregard my last post. It was whinny and full of complaints and only ended in sadness. And that's not me! I'm not a whinnie, complaining person...at least not all the time.
See, my husband is back in school. He is a drama major at the University in town. He has a few more semesters left and then he will go into the Masters Program. As his major, he has to do certain things to graduate. One of which, is try out for as many plays as possible. He is in a play (which I will not reveal the name of it b/c I cannot pronouce it, let alone embarass myself by attempting to spell it). In his play, there is a kiss scene. A KISS SCENE?! And it was his. We had had this discussion YEARS ago when we were dating...no kissing. We also had a re-run of this conversation last year. Thankfully, his director says the scene does not call for the kiss. He said that he wants me to feel comfortable, so he will not have J do it. This unknown, however, put me in a funk for several days. We were not sure if his director would take the kiss out, but thankfully, he did. I prayed and prayed that the right thing would be done. I also had discussions regarding this topic on another blog and it caused MASS CHAOS. More on that later...
But today, I've been searching other sites here and am feeling my pain and stress melt away. We are also having dinner with friends tonite. Jessica Simpson is her name...I kid you not! They are a couple we met in college. He and my husband actually grew up together and she and I roomed next door to one another. She got me thru many a nite. They know live up here near us. She is expecting her first baby and we are going over to see the nursery (I am praying that the BABY BUG doesn't hit me tonite when I see that nursery and all the cute clothes and smell good lotions). I am also praying that my kids act well and don't scare her into keeping that baby in the womb till she's 18. I'm looking forward to a nice evening with other adults. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids and this computer thing, but I need a conversation with a real human who doesn't talk about the WIGGLES, VEGGIE TALES or their poop/snot. I wouldn't mind it so much if they talked about those things (well, not the snot or poop, obviously), as long as it was in relation to "if I hear another WIGGLES SONG I will scream", not "did you see what Greg Wiggle just did? He's so silly!" and "I can clap my feet together, see...and I can touch my toes to my nose". I will get dressed up, put on my makeup, get a shower (that's a big deal!) and zip up my "pretty" boots tonite. WOW! 2 days of make-up in a row. Tonite and church tomorrow! That's a big deal, too. I don't know if my face will be able to handle that. Maybe I should just sleep in my make up tonite and hope for the best tomorrow morning! what do you think?!
Dear Lord, I thank you so much for our adult friends and a chance to get away tonite. And Lord, I thank you for selfish things like make-up and fancy clothes. The chance to impress my husband and feel so pretty. Thank you for the ladies on this blog who make me laugh and remind me what an awesome God You are. Thank you for simple things like a smiling baby, my daughter's laughter, and my son's dinosaur obsession. Thank you for the miracle of birth and the joy of life...
I also changed my layout. I am very OCD and liked the crayons all stacked in a row and nice and pretty...but I felt it wasn't accurate to my life. I like the crayons all spilled out and scattered...waiting for me (because heaven know the kids won't get to it today), to pick them up and place them back in their box, in their color-wheel order.
It has been crazy in the McEuen household. I'm tired, need a break and am ready to collapse. Won't go into too much detail now (mostly, cause I don't want to relive it all), but things have been tough here. I'm trying hard to not complain, b/c I know that God is good and that He is taking good care of us. We did receive a lot of money for our income taxes and loans this semester and were able to pay 7 months of rent to our landlord. What a true blessing that was! And we were able to also pay some debts off and pay forward on our water, electricity, gas, and car. That is such a relief.
My husband is now working 38 hours a week at his new job. It's very exciting to see him doing something that he wants to do. He loves it and I'm happy for him. I've been doing what I want to for the last 5 years, staying at home with my wonderful children and teaching them. So I understand his desire to do the same. He is also going to school 2 full days a week (plus a lab on Wednesday). It's funny to see him talk about school. He's so much older than the other students, but he gets a kick out of them anyway. He wishes he could speak to them about school...how they take advantage of it now and in the future, will wish that they had studied and were attending classes. He's also doing another play this 6 weeks, so he's gone quite a bit. I'm really ready for a break and could use a few hours off. Don't really know what I would do (go to the scrapbook store, maybe). But the kids and I really do need some time away from each other and they need some time with daddy alone! He did make them breakfast this morning (pre-packaged mini muffins and a banana), so I'm grateful for that.
We are thinking of leaving our church. We've only been there for 1 year and a few months, but we are not growing and my kids (no LIE) are the only ones in the children's dept. It's frustrating to me that we are not growing and I need some ministering of my own. I just can't keep doing it all. I feel like I'm giving and giving and giving so much of myself, that I'm not getting in return and I'm slowly breaking down. And I can't be effective that way. There is a church here in town, only minutes from our front door, that I would like to try and my husband is willing to try it out and see. But I need to wait on him (considering he's the music minister at our church and the pastor is his father) and I only want to make decisions with him...although, these days, it's hard to talk about such big, life-altering changes, when we barely get to say "so how was your day?".
Sorry for the rants and raves. I'm tired and need a nap desperately. But I'm barreling through... On the bright side, my kids are so sweet and precious and my baby (who is 2) is sing OLD MCDONALD HAD FARM...ON HIS FARM HE HAD A DOLPHIN...it's so cute. The snow has finally melted (we got 5 inches this time last week) and so it's time to go outside, considering it's already 55 degrees outside. May be time for another zoo trip...ha!
Dear Lord, I pray that you give me strength and patience the next few weeks, as we sort out schedules and activities. Lord, I pray that you will help me to stay busy, while keeping up and not feeling like I'm "drowing" in all of this. Lord, I pray that you will continue to heal Mark, as he continues in chemo and radiation. I pray that you will help us to discern what it is that we should do in regards to church. Thank you for my two little darlings. They are such blessings to me and I cherish their smiles and laughter, their hugs and kisses, their tinkles and pokes. Thank you for them and for a husband who works so hard to make his family feel safe and protected. Thank you that he strives to work hard for us and make a better life for us. And thank you, so much, for the life that you've given me and this beautiful home that you have blessed me with. In YOUR HOLY Name, Amen
We did get to go see CURIOUS GEORGE yesterday. It was really good! And all those people who got upset because the Man with the Yellow Hat has a name...it's not that big of a deal. In fact, half way thru the movie, my son turned to me and said, "Is that the man with the big yellow hat?" I hadn't even noticed that he had a name up until then. It's no big deal.
We got dressed up in our red shirts for valentines day! It was fun. We had a great day just hanging out. Here are the pics from our day
MONKEY FEET (I'm pretty infamous in our family for my numerous *12* pairs of socks. These are my valentine socks w/ monkey...pretty fitting, considering our day!)
MOMMY's VALENTINES (in front of our house)
S at the movies
Mommy and her little Monkeys
A BARREL OF MONKEYS
G...so excited to see Curse George
POOPED (she waited till the last 5 minutes of the movie to fall asleep! poor baby)
We had a great time and I encourage everyone, kids or no kids, to go see this movie! It was so cute and my kids sat still for the entire movie!
I received this article the other day and thought that I would share it. It really assured me on some things:
Q: DO YOU THINK HOME SCHOOLING MIGHT NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE SOCIALIZATION PROCESS?
A: This is the question homeschooling parents hear most often from curious (or critical) friends and relatives. What if teaching at home somehow isolates the kids and turns them into oddballs? For you and all those parents who see this issue as the great danger of home education, I would respectfully disagree.
To remove a child from the classroom is not necessarily to confine him to the house. And once beyond the schoolyard, the options are practically unlimited. Home-school support groups are surfacing in community after community across the country. Some are highly organized and offer field trips, teach co-ops, tutoring services, social activities, and vairous other assistances and resources. There are home-schooling athletic leagues and orchestras. Even if you're operating completely on your own, there are outings to museums and parks, visits to farms, factories, hospitals and seats of local government. There are friends to be invied over and relatives to visit. The list is limitless.
The great advantage to home schooling, in fact, is the protection it provides to vulnerable children from the wrong kind of socialization. When children interact in large groups, the strongest and most aggressive kids quickly intimidate the weak. I am absolutely conviced that bad things happen to immature and "different" boys and girls when they are thrown into the highly competitive world of other children. When this occurs in nursery school or kindergarten, they learn to fear their peers. Research shows that if these tender children can be kept at home for a few years and shielded from the impact of social pressure, they tend to be more confident, more independent and often emerge as leaders three or four years later!
**boy, does this man know my family, or what?!!?
TULSA ZOO...it was about 55-60 degrees outside. We had a wonderful time!
Grace with DADDY at the TULSA ZOO! It was a LOOOONG DAY!
MY HEROES! Sean and Daddy at the zoo
Grace and Mommy...before entering the Living Museum Houses
The Lioness...getting a drink. Before our conversation with her
Posing Giraffe. Grace had been waiting all day to see this beautiful creature!
"Bubba" and "Little Sister"
Sean, watching the CHIMPS
Daddy and Grace...just hanging out!
Thank you, Lord, for the wonderful day that we had with our family! Thank you for the beautiful day, the lovely weather, and the safe trip. What an awesome Creator you are. Thank you for that daily reminder and the blessings of our children...
Yesterday J & the kids & I went to Wal-Mart to get our car serviced and to buy groceries. After being there for over 2 hours, we finally made our way home. We were tired, seeing as J had just come off of his first weekend shift and had only had 3 1/2 hours of sleep on Monday morning. On our way home, we received a call from J's dad. He wanted to have lunch together, so we headed that way. We were very excited to see them, seeing as the kids hadn't really visited with Luvie & Pops in nearly 3 weeks. J's dad had had a colonoscopy done earlier that day, so we knew he was ready to eat after several days of his liquid diet.
We sat down with them and began to chat. After awhile, J finally asked how the dr. appt went. His dad said very lightly, "There's good news and bad news." J responded, "the good news is that you don't have hemorrhoids!" and his dad responded, "yes, but the bad news is that I have colon cancer." We were quite floored. I had thought this appt was just a routine, yearly exam. We talked things over with them and he seems to be in very high spirits. He will have to have surgery and chemotherapy. They are going this week to have more tests done and to have a CAT scan to make sure the cancer is localized and hasn't spread.
I just wanted to let you all know, so you understand what is going on in our lives. And I'm asking for prayer for our entire family. It didn't hit J until last nite. He was in such high spirits with his dad, that once he came down, he was devastated. I was able to have dinner w/ our ladies group last nite (A HUGE thank you to TARA! I LOVE YOU SOOOO MUCH!). Gretchen shared after the meal about Bro. Mark (for those of you who don't know, not only is he my FATHER-IN-LAW, but he's also our PASTOR!). I know that our church will rally around this family and be a great support system. And our Pastor is a great man of faith. This will only make us stronger.
I'm also asking that you pray for J, as well. His grandfather McEuen had a tumor a few years ago in his colon and now his dad. This is something that we are going to have to watch with J, as he ages.
I'm also praying that this will be an awesome opportunity to share with Sean. We sat him down last nite and explained to him that Pops was very sick and was going to need some time. We also explained that his appearances might change, he may lose some weight and possibly some hair (J couldn't help but laugh here, seeing as his dad is somewhat bald on top already!). Sean was understanding and said that he would help to take care of Pops. We've already prayed for him this morning w/ the kids over breakfast and Sean wants to continue to pray for Pops at night, when he goes to bed. I really debated over what to tell a 5 year old, but since this would a topic of conversation at home and at church, I thought he should know, before he found out from someone else or wondered why Pops wasn't at church.
Again, please pray for our family. If you would like to keep up-dated on J, you can check out his blog (www.xanga.com/spiderman81). I'm sure he'd appreciate any support and help that we can give to him.
Boy, if we'd only have known what kind of day it was going to be, we wouldn't have listened to our new Johnny Cash CD quite the same. It was in the mail when we got home from lunch with J's folks. WOW! What a "revelation"...
We know that God is a God of healing and a God of miracles. Please be in prayer with us as we try and figure out what all is going on the next few weeks. Thank you!
Dear Lord, I pray for healing, understanding and strength in the next few weeks. I know that you are a God of healing and a God of miracles. I pray that you will heal Brother Mark. I pray that you will give the doctors strength and wisdom as they make decisions the next few days and I pray that you will give the rest of the family understanding as we figure all of this out. I know that you are not surprised by what is happening, but that you are in control. I pray these things in Your name, AMEN
I've started reading Dr. James Dobson's book BRINGING UP BOYS. So far, from what I've read, I feel really blessed! My son is not a daring little boy. He likes to be safe and keep his feet firmly planted on the ground! My daughter on the other hand, is a climber. We have to take the ladder from her older brother's bunk bed away every morning, just so she doesn't climb up there. And that doesn't even stop her everyday. I walked in a few days ago, and her little two-year old body was dangling from the side of the bed, where she had pulled out all the drawers from his built-in dresser to make steps up to his bed. When she got stuck, she yelled for me. Not to get her down, but to help her further up the bed. Is there a book out there titled "Bringing Up Girls who act like BOYS!"??? If so, I'll buy that one in aheart beat.
I also bought Dr. Dobson's book/workbook STRONG WILLED CHILD. This one I had in mind for my little one. Although, I'm sure it will be helpful for each of them. While J was at his play rehearsal this afternoon, my MIL watched the kids (so I could finally get a "day off"). I started to read the BOY book, but was a bit disruptive w/ all my gasping and giggling. I'm so grateful that my kids aren't too much of the dare devils. One broken bone in childs life is enough...that was so scary that I never want to do it again!
Lord, I pray that you continue to protect and watch over my children. Thank you for the blessings that you have shown me with the near misses and thank you for saving me the worries from the times that I don't see your angels watching over me, but I know that you are there! Thank you for giving me charge over my two beautiful children. And I am extremely grateful for Luvie & Pops, watching the kids so I could get a break and so J and I could spend some real quality time together. I ask that you continue to give us little moments of time, to be alone and to be a family. In Your Holy name, AMEN
I'm very aggitated right now and for the last week have been! I'm tired of being critisized by other parents who don't know what it's like to be in my household. I think it's wrong to tell someone that they are parenting wrong, if you yourself aren't a perfect parent. I don't tell other people how to parent and I don't expect others to tell me how to do it. And they especially don't know what it is like to be a stay-at-home, homeschooling family who values church, family, and children. I get so frustrated that people think they know everything about parenting. I'm a parent. I'm a parent of two and have been a parent for 5 years...but that doesn't make me an expert. And I've read Dr. Dobson, Dennis Rainey, and Lisa Whelchel. Yes, I attended a great highschool and got a good education. Yes, I went to a Bible College and studied to be a Bible teacher. But that still doesn't make me an expert. Just b/c you've read all the books, learned about the Bible, and studied works of famous Christians in history, that doesn't mean you have the right to tell others to parent or that you are even smarter than the other parents in your group
...maybe that's just me. I'm just venting!
I really like this site! (even if I don't get loads of hits here). I feel that it is a safe place for me to go, to talk to other mothers in the same situation as me! None of my friends here in NWA homeschool...ok, none of them up here have kids yet, either, but none of them plan to. I do have my on-line friend that homeschools and I'm glad she found this blog. (and I love the set up here...especailly the RANDOM BLOG button. I'm learning so much from other ladies)
I feel like this is a place I can talk soley about my kids...they are my life, ya know?! I get frustrated on my other blog, b/c some of the people on their don't believe the same things I do or argue with me about parenting styles. But they don't know me or what I believe. If they looked at parenting from a homeschooling point of view, I think they may be more understanding...who knows?!!?
Anyways, I ordered some books on-line from BNN. They are books about different seasons and holidays (written by Imogene Forte). The books were written to help preschool teachers in their classroom, come up w/ fun projects about each month, season, and/or holiday. But we use them in our own home to teach...at least till we start school FULL-FLEDGED. I had a friend in LR who told me not to worry about a structured school environment till Sean was at least 6. I don't know about other people or other opinions, but I'm listening to her, since she's the homeschooling, stay-at-home mom of 6! And her kids are wonderful and so smart. So, right now, we do school work, but it's not a "sit down at 8am everyday" kind of thing. We do read together and have educational outings and videos, but right now, we're just taking it easy.
...and I can't wait for my new books to come in, so we can learn about the month of February. I should be getting them any day now!