Olympics? I don't care...

The Olympics are ending today.  Is it bad of me to not really care?  I enjoy watching bits and pieces of it here and there.  A couple of minutes of figure skating, bobsledding, snowboarding, skiing, and I'm good.  I feel badly for not caring any more about it than that.  I realize these athletes put years of their lives into training for just this occasion.  Somehow, the enormity of it is lost on me.  It's just a whole lot of days that sports infiltrate the normal TV programming.  I haven't always been this ho-hum about the Olympics.

My parents love the Olympics.  They sit up every night watching until 11:00 or 11:30pm.  I can remember being more interested in them when I was a kid at home.  I particularly remember one Olympics.  I remember the year that Mary Lou Retton won the summer Olympics.  I'm thinking that was 1984.  I loved that.  I was so jealous of her gymnastic abilities.  I couldn't even do a cartwheel at that point.  I never did learn to do them well.  I could do the splits.  That was the extent of my gymnastic ablility.  I remember having to tryout for the cheerleading team my seventh grade year.  One requirement was that you had to do two gymnastic manuevers.  I managed to pull off a cartwheel and the splits.  Thank goodness the standards weren't any higher than that!

That actually brings me to another point.  Why don't kids have to tryout for sports anymore?  I mean, I realize that it's nicer to just let everyone play if they want.  However, I think there is something to be learned from failure.  I don't know of anyone that was permanently scarred from not making a team.  My kids' school doesn't have cheerleaders.  I'm fine with that.  They get on my nerves now.  I was a cheerleader in 7th and 8th grades.  I loved it.  Now, I just see them as unnecessary distractions.  It might be better if schools didn't let just everyone on the team that wants on the team.  Cheerleaders kind of suck now (not all).  I know.  That's horrible of me to say.  I can't help it!  They do!  You've got girls out there that don't have a clue what they're doing.  And the floor cheers...give me a break!  What happened to doing exciting lifts and formations?  Oh yeah!  You can't do that when your team is made up of girls not cut out for cheering.  Someone will get hurt.  I'm not referring to all levels of cheering.  I realize some high schools still have good squads, but it's been a NUMBER of years since I've seen a decent middle school squad.  

This idea of shielding kids from disappointment doesn't sit well with me.  I think there should be opportunities for everyone to participate.  I just don't think that every level of play should be open to whoever wants to join.  I think the sport suffers from this mindset.  I know the teams' abilities suffer from it.  I'm sure coaches would love to be able to focus on the kids who have the potential to make a successful team.  However, political correctness has forced them to deal with whatever group shows up.  I could NOT be a coach!

Okay.  I know my opinion on this probably isn't the popular one.  That's fine.  My opinion is just that, MY opinion.  Really, what would it hurt to teach kids to deal with disappointment?  It's not like there aren't countless opportunities outside of school to participate in whatever sports you want.  A few life lessons might be a good way to teach kids to deal with what life will send their way.  A lack of coping skills has become an epidemic in today's world.  

I guess that's enough venting for now.  Tune in tomorrow to see what kind of mood I'm in!!  :) 

Three Against One

This is actually tomorrow's blog.  It just hit me tonight.  I will one day be a woman living with three men.  I don't know why I've never really considered this before.  I've always just thought of my  two sons as boys.  Tonight, as I sit here typing and they all three (husband included) sit watching basketball, I realize I am truly outnumbered.  I have three males that all enjoy watching sports, history, and nature shows.  Gag me now, please.  My husband won a battle that I never even knew was underway.  He has two comrades in his corner, while I sit all alone in mine. 

I really hate the sound of basketball games on TV.  For some reason, my brain seems to focus on the squeaking of the players' shoes.  I could go into my bedroom right now, turn on the radio, and fold some laundry, but I will still be able to hear that incessant squeak, squeak, squeaking!!!  AAAHHH!  Calgon, take me away!!!

My Robbie is now fully eye to eye with me.  He's beginning to even pass me up a little.  It also just occurred to me today that I will one day be the short one in my family.  Huh??  I've always been tall.  Yet all too soon, I'll be the shrimp of the group.  That depresses me.  I'm not sure why, but it does.  

I am thankful for my boys.  As I've said before, I think I'm better suited to mothering boys.  However, I feel for all the other moms of just boys out there.  I know your pain as you cannot drive anywhere without farting becoming a topic of discussion in a vehicle.  It tends to come up, because someone is always doing it in the small confines of the vehicle.  I feel for you as you sit alone in a corner of your home while the guys watch the shows least appealing to you.  How many things do you really need to know about mythical monsters, snakes of the Amazon, or last night's ball scores??  I fear I will one day know the pain of coming in second behind a daughter-in-law's family for every holiday, coming in second as a babysitter for my grandkids, and coming in second-best as Grandma.  Won't the hands of time just slow a little, PLEASE?? 

A Chore Worse than Mopping??

So, I've found something I hate doing even more than mopping and vacuuming...recaulking the tub and cleaning the tub.  UGH!!  It might help if I didn't have literally twenty kinds of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash lined up around my tub.  How silly is that?  This goes back to my hair product addiction.  Also, I always buy just regular cheap shampoo for the guys, but they end up using my stuff instead! 

Anyhow, as I was applying new caulking strip to the tub this morning, I somehow managed to shove something up my thumbnail.  OWWWIE!!!  Now my finger is so sore I can't do anything with it.  So much for finishing up the dishes.  Don't you hate when you hurt yourself but there's nothing to show for it?  I mean, if I'm gonna injure myself, I want some blood or bruising.  It's hard to get any sympathy for something that no one else can see.  :) 

I cry at the stupidest things.  Most people would probably not guess me to be such a softy, but I am.  I cry at TV shows, sappy emails, someone else's embarrassment, whatever.  Last night I went to our school's senior recognition night.  All of the senior athletes are introduced, along with their parents.  The parents are presented flowers.  I am not super close to any of these kids, but I still found myself tearing up.  I really got choked up when our senior school mascot made a little speech passing the mascot uniform on to his younger brother.  He got choked up, the brother was wiping away tears, and I'm digging for tissue in my purse.  Give me a break!  I have no control over such things, either.  It's completely involuntary.  Of course, I also cry when I laugh.  Well, not cry really, but my eyes water up like crazy.  It drives me crazy. 

I married a guy that I'd never seen cry.  He was Mr. Unemotional.  I am proud to say that he's gradually giving up that title.  Every once in a while, I catch him tearing up at the most unexpected moments, too.  I find that so attractive.  I like seeing that my man has a big heart.  

A good cry can be the best therapy.  I strongly recommend doing it occasionally.  It's very cleansing.  

***A FOOTNOTE:  AFTER POSTING THIS, I WENT TO MY BATHROOM AND COUNTED THE BOTTLES I HAD REMOVED FROM THE SHOWER/TUB.  THE ACTUAL NUMBER IS 25.  I PARED IT DOWN TO 18.  :)*** 

I Don't Know...Just a Blog

I absolutely hate cleaning my floors.  We have two dogs and a cat in the house.  So, I have no choice but to clean the floors.  However, I despise that particular household chore. 

Our carpet is old, stained, and worn.  I would love to have all new floors.  I just don't know what kind I'd want.  I'm not sure that wood, vinyl, or tile would be any better.  I like that look, but I cannot imagine how much sweeping would be required to keep it looking nice, not to mention mopping.  I would certainly love to give up the vacuuming, though.  I just think it would be cleaner with all the pets if we didn't have carpet.  I also LOVE area rugs.  The only problem I see with that would be my desire to change rugs frequently.  That could get a little pricey. 

I love picture frames, almost as much as I love pictures.  The more unique they are, the better.  I wish I had more walls so that I could make little galleries of family photos.  I found this family tree frame on Amazon.  I just love it.  I could spend thousands of dollars on frames, though.  I only made it through the first 30 pages of frames on their website.  I found a dozen or so that I'd love to have.  Have you noticed I have unusual attachments to some things?  I don't know why.  Most people have one or two things they love to collect.  I have many.  Just a few are cookbooks, watches, frames, hair products, shoes, earrings, deer antlers, antique kitchen utensils...the list goes on and on.  Hmm....maybe I'm a bit too attached to "things."  I'd love a clean slate of a house to start over in.   I would pare down some of the things that clutter up my life. 

What things are you holding onto?  Could you stand to pare down your life? 

Calling All Cookies

Today's posting is a simple one.  I am in search of good cookie recipes.  I know, I know.  I'm dieting.  Don't worry.  I'm not jumping off the wagon so soon.  I am just looking to come up with some good recipes for cookies.  I figure the more I have to go over, the more likely I am to find one that is just perfect.  If you can, send me your favorite cookie recipes in the comments. 

The only other thing I really have on my mind today is commercials.  I am commercial intolerant.  I don't care what I'm watching.  I will find something else to watch on standby during the commercials.  I have no patience for them.  I am the same way with the radio.  As soon as a commercial comes on, I switch the station.  I find it hard to watch TV with someone else in control of the remote for this very reason.  I am squirming if they don't flip the channel during the commercials.  How old am I, right?  You would think my attention span would be a little more developed.  It's not.  I can't help but think about all the money companies spend to make these commercials, and I live to skip over them.  :)  Aah.  It's the little things that amuse me. 

Have a great day!!

Turn the Other Cheek

I'm too critical and confrontational.  I like to face differences and problems head on.  If you have a problem with me, tell me.  If I have a problem with you, you'll know it.  If you have a problem with one of my kids, watch out.


Admittedly, this is not an attractive quality to possess.  I realize I turn a lot of people off with my assertiveness.  There are times I wish I wasn't so outspoken, usually after I have been.  I just don't know how people keep their feelings bottled up, though.  Don't they realize it can be destructive to oneself to do that?  Sure, it can be hurtful to relationships to be so forward, but what good is a relationship that isn't authentic? 


I'm usually not even trying to convince someone to agree with me.  I just have this inner need to speak my mind, regardless of popular opinion.  I don't really care if someone disagrees with me.  I welcome it at times.  I like a good debate.  I am sometimes accused of stirring the pot or opening a can of worms.  That's not my intention, either.  I just refuse to sit idly by without making my feelings known. 


I need to work on more tactful ways of being myself.  How can I voice my opinions without creating a negative reputation for myself?  I need to be slower to anger and more accepting of differences.  Once again, just another character trait I need to work on. 

A Potty Mouth Does Not a Movie Make

Have you ever wondered why the people that make movies find it necessary to throw in the foul language that they do?  I sure have.  Nothing frustrates me more than to sit and watch a movie that tosses around the F bomb like it's "hello" or "goodbye."   Seriously?  Do you think people want to pay to watch people act like idiots?  I realize that real life includes some cussing.  But where do these people live that they think this type of language is ordinary?  If I couldn't walk out of my home without being bombarded with F this and F that, I think I would just stay home all the time. 


Also, when did it become okay to use the "lesser" of the cuss words on network television?  I can remember a time when you wouldn't have heard a single cuss word over the air.  I watch a lot of television, so I hear a lot of bleeps on cable networks.  It absolutely amazes me what they will and won't bleep out.  I was watching Ax Men last night, and they bleeped out bast***s but said a**hole.  Okay.  Who sits back and decides which is worse?  And who can sit and listen to the bleeps without mentally filling in the blanks?  I tell ya, it gets on my last nerve.


So, the question of the day is, is it okay to let our kids watch shows as long as the worst words are bleeped?  Do we really believe that our kids aren't filling in the blanks in their little minds?  This is truly a case of the pot calling the kettle black.  I'm as bad as anyone about letting my boys watch those shows.  I'm just wanting to take a closer look at my parenting techniques and think about what I could stand to change. 

So Long, Farewell Brownies....

I hate being fat.  I really do.  I am mentally preparing myself for another whole-hearted attempt to lose some weight.  It's mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting.  You wouldn't think it would be SO difficult.  I've lost considerable amounts before, and it's so incredibly rewarding.  Why isn't that motivation enough to keep it up?  I did really well most of last year.  I went on a serious diet in November of '08.  I managed to lose nearly 40 pounds and keep it off until August of '09.  That was the month that I had elective surgery.


Okay.  Ever since I was about nine years old I had big breasts.  I was the only girl in third grade that needed a bra.  It only got worse as I got older.  As an adult they caused me additional problems.  I started having back and neck trouble, which lasted for years.  I tried just doing physical therapy for my back, but it didn't completely alleviate the pain.  When I found out that our insurance would cover the costs of a breast reduction, I got the ball rolling.  I had the surgery in August of '09.  From that moment on, I started gaining back the weight.  I couldn't have imagined how much the surgery would weaken me.  The recovery process was much worse than I thought it would be.  I was so thankful to everyone that brought food in for my family and me, but I ended up just sitting a lot and eating.  I still have not completely regained my upper body strength.  I am still about fifteen pounds lighter than I was when the original diet started, but that means I gained about 25 pounds.   


Enough excuses!  It's time to take hold of the reigns and get back on the dieting horse!  I am hopeful that I will be able to lose fifty pounds by August.  That gives me six months to take control and get serious.  If you also struggle with your weight, join me in this quest to become healthier.  I will try to update my weight loss every two weeks on here.  I will NOT be posting my actual weight, just the pounds lost.  Feel free to add your own successes or struggles by way of a comment to my posts.  Let's do it!  I am going to go and make some farewell brownies now.  Tomorrow morning starts the real deal.   

The Squeaky Wheel Does NOT Necessarily Get the Oil

Another trip to Wal-Mart is under my belt.  I got myself up early today and headed to town before 8am to hit Wal-Mart.  I got the third parking space from the door, and all looked well.  Why is it that no matter how many carts I have to choose from, I always pick a noisy one?!?  Seriously, I walked in this morning, and the cart area was full.  I picked one, and immediately realized I had, as always, chosen one with a messed up wheel.  I was too stubborn to just turn around and take it back.  So, I set off in the quieter than normal Wal-Mart with a cart going CLUNK, CLUNK, CLUNK the whole way.  On a normal trip the clunking would have been muffled out by the crowds of people.  Not today, though.  I was on my game and at the store before the masses.  About 5 minutes into my shopping, all I could think about was the sound of my cart.  Then I met another shopper.  I slowed, hoping to decrease my clunking and not disturb her.  That's when I realized her cart was squeaking with every step.  Hahaha!!!  I had to chuckle to myself.  What is it about shopping carts??  I thought the squeaky wheel gets the oil.  I guess not when you're at Wal-Mart!


Now, on to what I planned to blog about today....Smells.  I find it amazing how quickly a smell can send your mind back to a specific time and place.  I associate many smells with times in my life.  I think the place that harbored the most smell-related memories for me was my grandma's house.  The most vivid smelling memory of her house is the aroma of BenGay.  Every night before bed, my grandma would rub BenGay all over my uncle's back and shoulders.  I fell asleep many nights there with the smell of BenGay hanging in the air.  Ivory soap also takes me right back to her bathroom.  I never knew of them to use any other bath soap.  Every now and then, I will go and buy some Ivory soap just to conjure up the sweet memories of their house.  Right now I have Prell shampoo in my shower for the very same reason.  It's all my grandma used, and I can't open it up without thinking of her.  I am thankful for such vivid memories through smell.  There's a tangible aspect to those memories that most others don't hold. 


Do you know your house smells?  I can still remember how certain friends' homes smelled when I was growing up.  My favorite was Cindy's house.  Mmm.  I can't even begin to describe it.  I don't know if it was laundry detergent or perfume or air freshener or what.  I'm sure it was a little of all of that just mingled together to make its own original scent.  Whatever it was, it was always pleasant.  I remember friends telling me that my parents' house smelled good.  I didn't know it.  You can't smell your own scent.  It's funny how I still can't really smell my parents' house.  I'm there too often I guess.  There are times, usually in the Spring, when I do capture a scent memory from my own childhood home, though.  It's tied to laundry.  When the weather gets warmer, and I am able to open up the windows, the smell of Bounce dryer sheets through the outdoor dryer vent remind me of home. 


Oh how I wish I could just bottle up some of these smelly memories.  It would be so nice to just call on them whenever you wanted to wander back to those times and places in your mind.  For now, I will just continue buying these things on occasion to take me back on demand. 

A Perfect Day

What does a perfect day look like?  I'm sure you can imagine what your perfect day might look like.  I could have conjured up a vision of what I would have imagined to be my perfect day.  I haven't put much thought into it, but it wouldn't have looked like today.  Oddly enough, though, today felt nearly perfect.  Isn't it funny how unexpected little moments can add up to a whole new version of perfection?


Today was really no different than any other day might be.  The weather was considerably nicer than what we've had lately.  I guess that may have been the perfect backdrop to this day.  I woke up to find that my new haircut didn't take too long to fix this morning.  That's always a good start to things.  I got dressed, fixed my hair, and put on makeup before leaving my room.  That's a plus, too.  Reuben and I headed out to burn some fields together around ten.  I took advantage of the darker burnt ground to look for deer sheds.  I found one small spike horn.  Hey!  It's the best I've found this year.  The burn went just as planned, with no problems.  We spent over two hours working as a team to get this job done.  We came in for lunch and decided we would go back out and look for arrowheads.  We spent about an hour doing that together.  Keep in mind that the weather was so warm, and the sun was shining the whole time.  We rode in the truck with our windows down.  Reuben took a short nap when we got back to the house, while I started on supper.  I made homemade pizza that got done just a few minutes after Reuben picked the boys up.  The kids were anxious to get outside and enjoy the warmer weather and slightly longer daylight, too.  So, after we ate, we all went back outside.  Reuben and I played a game of HORSE, with Brady joining in along the way.  The guys then played a quick game of football, while I watched and played with the pets.  The evening has been just like any other.  Overall, this day has added up to the perfect day.  I love days like this.  We're all dirty and grimy from the day, and it's about time for everyone to clean up and get in bed.  I somehow feel closer to my family on days like this.  I wish every day could be like today.  It really is about the little things in life. 

Time for a Change

I love changing my hair.  I am obsessed with hair products.  Right now, my hair doesn't require much more than shampoo and conditioner, with an occasional dab of pomeade. 

My hair is a continuous project of growing it out.  Tomorrow I am planning to get it cut quite a bit shorter.  I'm looking forward to the change.  I love change.  However, I know that I will inevitably start growing it back out almost immediately.  Why do I do that?  If I want it grown out so bad, why don't I just leave it alone? 

The answer is I can't help it.  I get tired of the same old hair all the time.  I find this particularly funny, since my mom hasn't made a significant change to her hair in my lifetime.  My sister, similarly, has kept pretty much the same style for the last ten to fifteen years.  Where did I get this desire to change things up? 

My hair has had so many different styles and shades over the years it's ridiculous.  You would think I would eventually find something that I would like so much that I wouldn't want to change.  I don't.  The color is always just a little different.  The cut is always just a little different. 

Here's my theory:  I am an instant gratification person.  When I want something, I want it now.  I have spent my entire adult life trying to change the things I don't like about me, without much success.  My hair is the one thing I have total control over.  When I want to change it, I do.  If I could make other changes with such authority, maybe I wouldn't feel the need to change my hair.  How great would it be if I could just wake up one day and say, "I want to be thinner," and it would just happen that same day?  Or how about if I could just order up prettier skin, longer nails, whiter teeth, or bigger eyes?  Wow.  I think that would be nice, but maybe it wouldn't be.  Maybe I am who I am.  Maybe I need to work for the things I want.  The hair is just a release of my decisiveness for change.  So, I will enjoy what I can change when I want.  And I will continue to try and work for the other changes I want.

Kids and Money

I love my kids, I do.  I cannot help the fact that they occasionally get money from people for gifts or for work done.  However, I am sometimes frustrated by how they handle their money.  My friend and I went on a shopping trip today.  We had a two-hour drive, so we talked about a lot of things.  We touched on the subject of kids and money.  I realized that mine are not alone in their ways of spending/saving.


Take Robbie, for instance.  The child can save up $200 over a few months.  He will go shopping countless times in those months.  He will insist on accompanying me on every trip to Wal-Mart.  He will scour over the electronics and sporting goods departments dozens of times.  Every once in a while, he will let go of a few dollars on some jerky or candy or other little junk.  The next time he opens up his wallet, for whatever reason, he will swear someone has taken money out of it.  It's amusing to me how quickly he forgets his little purchases.  I will give him a little credit.  He usually manages to hang onto enough money to eventually purchase something of substance.  It may take awhile, but he will finally settle on something.


Now Brady, he's another story.  That child cannot stand to have money.  If he gets $5, he will want to make a special trip to town just to spend that money.  Of course, we don't drive him up there just to spend a couple of dollars.  Watch out when we do go out, though.  I don't care if we are stopping at the gas station!  He will spend that money.  The other day he had $5 when I stopped into a home decorating shop.  He just had to go in with me.  Just imagine a seven year old boy shopping in a home decor store.  Well, he managed to find some Beanie Babies.  The child doesn't even have Beanie Babies.  It didn't matter to him.  He found something to buy.  He picked out a Lion.  It was $3.24 with tax.  This left him with $1.76.  A day later he found a $2 item that he had to have.  So, I kicked in the extra 24 cents.  This is how he operates.  If you give him a dollar, he'll spend two.  If he has $50, he spends $55.  I swear he cannot handle the pressures of shopping with more than $10.  He will look at every toy in the store and not settle on one.  We will get to the checkout line, and he will frantically pick out little crap to buy.  Heaven forbid he leave the store without spending every penny, plus some.  The boy had about $50 after his birthday.  The first stop I made in town was at Big Lots.  Nothing against Big Lots, but it's not where I would recommend taking a kid to spend their money.  It didn't matter to Brady.  He was ready to shop!  I think we left there with about ten items for his $50, all of which were junk.  He has no control whatsoever. 


There isn't a moral to this story.  I just found it amusing that my kids are similar to my friend's kids.  How do your kids handle money?  How can we teach them to spend responsibly?  I'm not sure, but I'm open to suggestions!

Too much of a good thing?

I love a lot of things, but most good things can become less so in excess.  This is the case with snow.  We live in an area that sees a couple of good measureable snows a year usually.  This is the way I like it.  I love the snow, in moderation.  Tonight, the ground is covered once again with the white stuff.  I do not like this.  I have plans tomorrow.  I rarely have actual plans.  Tomorrow is one of the few days a year that I take a break from normal life and get out with my oldest gal pal.  (Not oldest in her age but in our friendship's age.)  We take about a two-hour trip to the "city" to shop and eat out.  It's a nice way to catch up with each other and escape the dullness of our everyday lives.  The snow must not stop us!  This isn't even to mention the fact that our children DO NOT need another snow day.  As it is, I have no idea how long our school year has been extended to account for lost days.  I foolishly look forward to snow days, then regret it months later when summer is ticking away, and we're still in school!  Let's all hope that this snow is diminished, and we are able to proceed with our plans.

Today is Valentine's Day.  The sermon at church this morning was about love.  I took something very important from this.  I realize that grudges are a waste of energy and time.  God does not wish for us to harbor ill feelings toward one another.  I am going to work toward repairing broken relationships.  Life is too short to live with these petty feelings eating away at us.  If you are holding onto hurt feelings, think about letting them go.  You only have healing to come your way if you do. 

This is a short blog, and it's late.  I did want to take a moment to share what I got from God's word today, though.  Maybe I'll have tales to tell from my outing tomorrow.  Be safe out there!

My Heart

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and I'm reminded of how quickly another year has gone by.  We have no big plans to mark the occasion.  We're sort of over that in our relationship.  Still, it's a good time to remember why we are with the one we are with.

I met Reuben when I was sixteen.  He was eighteen and out of school.  I was just about finished with my sophomore year in high school.  I had always had this habit of falling for boys that weren't as into me as I was into them.  So, I spent many many months, even years, of my life chasing after one boy or another.  Oh I had some boyfriends that had initiated the relationship before, but they were short-lived.  There was just something about the chase that I thrived on.  At this particular time in my life, I wasn't too focused on any one boy.  I guess I wasn't really looking for a guy. 

I was cruising town with two girlfriends of mine.  We were riding in my friend, Kathy's, Toyota Previa van.  It looked like a giant egg.  It was white and ugly.  We spotted these three guys driving a Camaro, and Kathy followed after them.  When we finally got them stopped, they agreed to join us in the van for some cruising.  As it turns out, Reuben was one of those guys.  He seemed to take an immediate interest in me.  I recall him sitting a little too close to me and feeling my knees.  Weird, huh?  He said I had pointy knees.  Anyway, from that night on, I couldn't seem to shake him.  He pursued me.  A week later I agreed to go on an actual date with him.  That is the date I consider our dating anniversary.  It was April 6, 1991.  The rest is history.  He won me over with his romantic ways. 

Nearly nineteen years later, it's hard to believe he was ever that romantic.  That guy is a distant memory.  It doesn't really matter, though.  We've had our share of bad times and good times.  Somehow, we've managed to work our way through it all.  The fact that he still chooses to wake up next to me every morning is romance to me.  The fact that he's a GREAT father to our boys is romance to me.  The fact that he chose me those many years ago is romance to me.  Of course, there are times I'd like more, but I just remind myself that I am a lucky woman to have this man in my life.  I don't deserve him, but don't tell him that!

I hope that you, like me, have someone to spend this Valentine's day with.  Don't get too caught up in the gifts or motions of the occasion.  Just choose to be happy for what you have year round. 

Friday already?!?

Typically speaking, I look forward to Fridays.  However, considering the kids just went back to school yesterday, I would have preferred something like a Wednesday.  Oh well.  Here comes the weekend!

I had a pleasant experience last night that I'd like to share this morning.  We drove about an hour to a high school basketball game last night.  We got to this school and found they have a beautiful new gym.  Shortly after we sat down, the girls came out to warm up for the game.  Lots of schools play music over their sound system during this warm-up period.  You never know what you're going to get.  It's usually classic heavy metal music or something current that is either unrecognizeable as music or has so many cuss words bleeped out that it sounds like the CD is malfunctioning.  So, imagine my surprise when the music came on, and I immediately recognized the song to be "Blessed Be Your Name."  Wow!  This song was followed by "Lean on Me," "We are Family," and "Oh Happy Day."  Now this is a school I can get behind.  Last night was Senior night, too.  I specifically noticed at least three of their five Seniors listed among their involvements their church memberships.  My goodness!  I didn't know if such character still existed among our youth and schools.  I was encouraged to see that there are people and schools out there that are still proud enough of their faith to snub their noses at the separation of church and state.  This world of ours would be a much richer place to live if there were more examples like this being set for our kids.  I turned to our group of high school boys that were sitting behind me and said, "We could learn a thing or two from their music selections."  Of course, I was met with opposition from them, but I was pleased that I had the support of a couple of parents that overheard me.  So, why don't we take more "risks" to display our Christian morals?  I say why not do it at least until someone says we can't?  And even then, I'd like to see us stand up for right and do it, anyway!  Maybe that's partially my rebellious side coming out, but that's a fight I'd love to back.  Anyhow, it was SO refreshing to my spirit to experience this at least for that one night.  I am going to see if they have a local newspaper that would publish a letter to the editor from me praising their school for their outstanding show of character. 

On to other things...I came home last night to watch two "reality" shows.  The first was The Real Housewives of Orange County.  Now I have always had an issue with the classification of this show as "reality" TV.  If you've ever watched, you know these people live in a world far from what most people would consider realistic.  It's actually ridiculous.  However, true reality is creeping into the lives of some of the wives.  One family has received an eviction notice, due to their living way beyond their means.  Another wife has been served with divorce papers, after her husband has gotten fed up with her childish, wild ways.  And last night, another family was faced with a health crisis after their daughter discovered several nodules in her neck and needed a biopsy.  I would never wish any of these crises on any family.  However, I did find it interesting to see how these reality stars are dealing with true reality.  The other show I watched was the final episode of American Choppers.  I loved this show when it first came out.  I loved the bikes they made, and I enjoyed the guys on the show.  Over the years, my interest had waned.  The guys changed, and the bikes started looking more and more alike.  Now this show has met its demise, along with the family depicted in it.  These shows, along with Jon & Kate Plus 8 and Little People Big World and many others, have shown that money and fame can be a bit of a curse.  Here you see people that were living regular lives and dealing with regular problems changed forever by the stresses of being in the public eye and making more money than they are able to manage.  It seems that the more money they make, the less capable they become to deal with life's struggles.  So, I ask, is it worth it?  Have you made enough money to pay for the family that you lose?  Does the money bring you more happiness than the relationships, dysfunctional as they were?  I just feel like I'm watching train wreck after train wreck on these shows.  Yet there are new ones popping up left and right.  I'm sure they all start out with the best of intentions.  I realize that I am part of the problem, because I am watching and helping to make these shows successful.  It's sad.

An update on our Valentine box...Brady won second place for second grade.  He was thrilled.  I'm glad that he got some sort of recognition.  He had such high hopes.  Whew!  One more project under our belts.  

I would also like to thank everyone that said a prayer for my friend, Shealia, this week.  Her surgery went well yesterday.  They believe they were able to remove all the cancer they found.  She will have a long recovery and fight ahead still.  Please continue to pray for her.

Well, I have a short four hours to accomplish my normal routine before the kids get home.  So, off I go to get it started.  Have a good day all! 

A Slave to Technology

Do you remember party lines?...rotary phones?...busy signals?...ringing with no answer?  If so, you, like me, are part of a dying breed. 

I've started watching the early Cosby Show episodes with my kids.  We started with the very first episode.  It's fun to see Brady laugh at all the right moments.  I've seen them so many times that I know when to watch him.  I love it!  The other day we were watching an episode where Denise is talking on a rotary phone to a friend when Cliff comes up and takes the phone from her and tells the friend that's he's hanging up now.  Brady looked at me and said, "How does he hang that phone up?".  Wow.  That's when I realized that my youngest child is growing up in a world of only cordless phones.  We don't even have a home phone, but my parents have gone completely cordless.  So, he's never really seen anyone use a corded phone.  It would really blow his mind if he could see how we dialed a rotary phone! 

I am a slave to technology.  Don't feel sorry for me.  This is a self-imposed captivity.  I am a gadget girl.  I'm the one that hooks up all the electrical wires when we get a new TV or DVD player or whatever.  I'm also the one who usually figures out any new gadget we get.  I've had a cell phone for years now.  I upgrade at every availability, if not sooner.  I always get a phone that's a little nicer with more capabilities.  I love playing with these things.  Back in the summer I upgraded to my first "smart" phone.  Talk about a whole new world!  I now have email, Facebook, and internet at my fingertips at all times.  This is both a good and bad thing.  I find myself constantly checking it.  I turned the audible alert for emails off.  I get so many that my phone would be in a constant state of beeping if I didn't.  Instead, a little red light flashes nearly continuously.  And if I see that, I feel obligated to check and see what message awaits me.  It has become almost an annoyance. 

Why do we feel the need to be so available and so connected at all times these days?  Are we ever unreachable?  I am, only for the time I spend in church.  My phone is put away on silent for that time frame.  There are times that I think I'd like to just turn my phone off and put it away during a normal day, but I don't dare.  I would have to post it on Facebook and call people just to tell them that I'm turning it off.  I wouldn't want anyone to worry if they tried to reach me and couldn't.  Isn't this ridiculous? 

Sometimes I long for a simpler time.  When I was a kid, if you left the house, you were unreachable.  If you went outside, you were unreachable.  If you happened to be talking on the phone, no one else could interrupt that call but the ones in your own house walking by.  If you happened to share a party line with a talkative neighbor, you might be unreachable and not even know it.  Somehow, the world still went round.  People didn't rush over to check on you.  It was just accepted that you were doing other things.  I think that would be a nice way to live.  I think we would be able to focus more time on those we love if we were a little less connected to the outside world.  It's easy for me to say this, but I will undoubtedly be tied right back to my phone the minute I quit typing this. 

I am making a concerted effort to change one thing in my phone routine, though.  I am choosing to try and ignore my phone while driving.  I watched an episode of Oprah the other day with a guy that killed two men, fathers, while texting and driving.  This guy lives captive to grief and guilt now and will for the rest of his life.  It's just not worth it.  Two families were destroyed by the loss of their fathers, and one family was destroyed by losing the person responsible.  He's still alive, but he's not the same guy he once was.  He served time in prison.  People, no text or phone call is worth this.  We think that texting is bad, but they did experiments with people just talking on their phones, even hands-free.  You lose so much of your reaction time by being distracted with your conversation.  It's just not worth it.  I don't have anything to say that is so important that it can't wait the 5, 10, or even 30 minutes that I'll be driving.  Please join me in trying to avoid using your phone while driving.  And if you try to reach me with no success, don't fret.  I'm either driving or just taking a break from my addiction to communication.  Leave a message.  I will get back to you...eventually. 

An Eeyore Day!

Ok.  So some days are good, like yesterday, while others are what I would call Eeyore days.  Today is an Eeyore day for me.  I feel the frown on my face, though I'm not intentionally putting it there.  It seems beyond my control.  The sun is shining, and the snow is still pretty, but none of that is lifting my spirits today.  I am a woman, a hormonal woman.  My moods come and go like clouds in the sky. 

The day started with our cat, Neko, sitting outside our bedroom door crying repeatedly.  This cat is something else.  She is a pampered puss.  She ran out of her cat food two days ago and is left having to eat regular cat food.  It's like she knows she's not a regular cat, and therefore she deserves something better.  We got her from the humane society back in August.  When you adopt an animal, they give you a bag of the food they eat.  Guess what?  They eat well in the shelter!  They feed them Hill's Science Diet food.  We're talking about $10 for a small bag, very small.  A few months ago I decided she could get by on the same food our outside cats eat.  Wrong!  She became very sluggish and sickly acting.  After just a week or so, I switched her back to the expensive stuff, and she was fine!  So now she is out of her food, again.  I have to go to Petco to find her food, and I haven't been there in a few weeks.  I guess I'll be making a special trip down there soon.

Upon waking up to the crying cat, I also woke up to a cramping belly.  Yes ladies; you know what I mean.  UGH!  That's never a good way to start a day.  This should add to the fun.

I walked into the living room to find our satellite malfunctioning.  It required a reset to the box.  Not that it's a big deal, but it's an inconvenience.  Then Reuben got up and realized that some of our channels were missing from the guide.  (sigh)

It only took a couple of hours for the kids to have their first fight, which resulted in Robbie being punished.  I don't enjoy disciplining my kids.  It's a necessity, though.  I will make sure that he is ever mindful of the fact that his little brother is little in comparison to him.  He cannot take out his frustrations with him through physical contact.  Why is this such a hard concept to grasp?

Now I am sitting here at the computer not satisfied at all with this posting.  It's not interesting or insightful.  It's a gripe fest.  And it's just past noon!  Oh, why did I get up today?  Yes; today is an Eeyore day.  I feel just like the purple donkey with the rain cloud over his head. 

I will try to focus my attention on better things...a much-needed getaway with my buddy on Monday, a concert in March, the promise of school resuming one day.  I will also try to focus on the fact that I really have nothing to complain about.  Others in this world have real problems and real struggles.  I have much to be thankful for.  I will try to count my blessings for the rest of this day instead of counting the raindrops falling on my head. 

The finished product revealed...

Well, here's Brady's Valentine box.  It is finished.  We had to ditch the pipe cleaner grass.  It was just TOO time consuming.  Overall, it turned out like we wanted, though.  Brady ended up helping quite a bit.  He colored the roof, held the pieces together for me while I constructed the building, shaved a lot of crayons for the windows, helped glue down the felt grass, made the "rock" walkway, and made the "God loves you" and "Love is kind" signs.  I think that's a fair amount considering the project.  The cutting and ironing were things I HAD to do.  The steeple was a mess, even with me doing it.  So, I feel good calling it a collaboration.  We'll see if it's award-worthy.  If not, it was a good way to pass some time together.  Making memories...

It's a Beautiful Day!

Wow!  That's all I can say about the beauty of this morning.  How can a person wake up to this canvas and not acknowledge God's creation?  I wonder if an aetheist even has a glimmer of doubt on a day like today.  It is COLD!  That didn't keep me in, though.  I had to get out and take advantage of the sun shining through the snow-covered trees.  Here are some photos I shot a little while ago...

Aah.  This is the perfect boost for a good mood.  I will enter this day with praise and thanksgiving.  I can't wait to get my day started.  I have lots of normal daily work to do, but I will do it a little more gladly today.  Thank you Lord for this reminder of Your handiwork.

Take time from your day to soak in the awesomeness of our Lord.  It will brighten your mood and lift your spirits. 

A Work in Progress...

Here's a picture of the box as it stands for now.  We still have lots to add to it. 

Snow Day Slow Day

Today is a snow day for the kids, and I find myself wondering why I still get excited over a snow day.  Every night before I go to bed, I lay out clothes for my husband and two boys.  I make up lunches for the boys.  I then go to bed knowing that they will not need my help the next morning.  Reuben takes the boys to school early every morning.  So, I can basically sleep in if I want just about every day.  Why then do I look forward to a snow day?  It's funny how that inner kid comes out every time the first snowflake flies.  I stayed up last night watching the radar, wishing it would just hurry up and get here so school could be called off.  I'm over the whole snow thing, too.  We've had enough to satisfy me for the year.  Still, if it's coming, I'm hoping for a school cancellation.  I guess that's just something I'll never outgrow.  By the end of the day I'll be wondering why I wished this confinement upon us. 

This week is a busy week for us.  There's a talent show at school, a dance, and Valentine's Day parties.  With Valentine's Day comes that yearly pressure to make a Valentine box.  The school has a contest.  I find this both fun and frustrating.  Why don't they just call it a parent contest?  We all know it boils down to which parent can make the best box, with limited help from their child.  Brady wants to make a box.  So, I'm digging into my creativity trying to come up with an original idea.  Sure, I looked online for ideas, but I didn't find anything I liked.  Instead, we'll rely on my cluttered brain to try and invent a box.  I'm thinking a church.  White.  With a steeple.  Stained-glass windows of melted crayons.  God loves you.  Yes.  This will be "our" box.  Don't get me wrong.  I will let Brady help in every way I can.  I wish he could do most of it.  It will end up being mostly my work, though.  It's just too hard.  This is where the frustration will set in.  I don't like the fact that parents do the hardest work.  However, if my child is to have a chance at winning any recognition, he will be up against other parent-generated work.  So, off we go.  Today is our planning day.  Brady is drawing up ideas right now.  That's part of his contribution.  He will tell me what will go into the box.  Wish us luck!  I'll try to post pictures when we get it done. 

Well, I guess it's time to get this day rolling.  I have breakfast dishes to wash and lunch to plan.  Yes; I got up and made pancakes today!  It's little things like this that make me proud of myself.  Maybe there will be enough snow for a little more snow ice cream later, too.  Remember, just add sweetened condensed milk and a little vanilla if you want.  I hope you have a great day!

A Temporary Home

Well, I am reminded today, again, how fleeting life is.  This is not an uplifting posting I'm afraid.  Sometimes I think it's good to explore the sad feelings, too.

We lost a member of our church family this week to cancer.  She had a long, painful battle with it.  It's been months since she was able to attend church regularly.  Her family was there today.  I was surprised to see them there.  Her funeral was Thursday. 

Last night, I heard from another friend about her sister-in-law that is battling cancer.  She also has MS.  She and her husband just got home from a 45-day hospital stay.  Her prognosis is poor. 

I was getting groceries (at Aldi's) today when I got word that one of our teachers lost her dad this morning.  He was elderly, but it was unexpected. 

A girl that I used to work with is currently struggling against cancer.  She's just a few years older than me, a mother of three.  She is having surgery this week to try and remove some of the cancer.  They will be cutting her entire spine open to remove a mass and explore for tumors.  They will also be cutting into her front abdomen to remove more.  She is fighting with all she has.  Please, please say a prayer for Shealia this week.  Her surgery is scheduled for Thursday. 

This week I discovered Carrie Underwood's new song, "Temporary Home."  It's beautiful.  I've already purchased the soundtrack to it, planning to sing it at church soon.  The song is about how this earth is just our temporary home.  How true is that?  For some, it may last many many years.  Others may just grace this earth for what seems better measured in moments.  There is no lease on our lives here.  There is no known end date.  It could be today, tomorrow, or 50 years from now.  Our futures are uncertain.  One thing is certain; this is our temporary home.  Make plans for your future home.  The epitaph on my grandfather's grave reads, "Remember man as you pass by, as you are now so once was I.  As I am now, so you shall be.  So, prepare for death, and follow me."  If you take anything from any of my blogs, take that message.  We cannot control all the grief that befalls us in this life.  Some will suffer much more than others.  We can only rest safely sheltered in the arms of God. 

****I need to correct myself.  I heard from my friend again today about her sister-in-law.  She did have her cancer of the mouth removed.  Her MS is getting worse, though.  I mistakenly thought her prognosis wasn't good in regards to the cancer.  As we all know, MS is a sad prognosis in and of itself, though.  Still, it's good to know I was wrong about the cancer!!****

A Spoiled Child...

My kids are spoiled.  I admit it.  Am I proud of that fact?  No.  Do I wish I could undo some of the spoiling I've done?  You bet.  It's very hard to try and change that fact, though.

Robbie was an only child for his first six years.  Reuben was self-employed and made good money.  We always had a pretty good cash flow.  This combination resulted in Robbie being spoiled before he was even old enough to understand what that meant.  We lived in town at the time and made several trips to the store per week.  I don't think we ever left the store without him getting a new toy.  The child had enough toys to fully stock an entire daycare center.  It was ridiculous!  He wasn't snotty about it, though.  He knew no different.  So, he didn't know it was something to brag about.  For that, I am thankful.  I think he just thought everyone had mountains of toys. 

Life changed when Brady was born.  Reuben had to take a job at a local factory, and we were barely staying afloat.  Robbie never seemed to really notice a change.  We still managed to keep him supplied with all of his needs and most of his wants.  I did learn that buying toys on every trip to the store wasn't necessary or possible.  So, Brady has never known that same level of "spoiledness." 

Reuben's work as a boilermaker has definitely helped us financially.  Most of the year, the funds are flowing pretty well.  However, I've never reverted to the extreme of pouring presents on my kids.  Still, they somehow manage to get most everything they want.  I'm not really sure how it happens, but it does.  I'm getting to the point where it's driving me crazy.  When a special occasion does arise, the boys are unable to come up with anything they really want.  This is ridiculous to me.  I think kids need to know how it feels to want something and have to wait on it. 

I am resolved to try to change.  I want my kids to learn to truly appreciate their belongings.  I want them to know how it feels to not get everything  you want when you want it.  I hope this instills in them the value of working for something and the appreciation of having something.  I don't know if it's too late to teach these lessons.  I do know that they will never learn them if we don't at least try. 

Oh The DRAMA!!!

If you have a school-age child, you either already know or will know all too soon that a plague is enveloping our schools these days.  This plague has a name.  Its name is DRAMA.  You may think your child is immune to such things, but I assure you it will effect him/her in one way or another.  What can we as parents do to reign it in?

I am blessed with two great sons.  My oldest is thirteen, nearly fourteen.  My youngest is seven.  I thank God regularly for giving me sons.  I have watched in horror over the last few years as daughters of my friends have been sucked into the black hole of drama.  It seems that it's a destination of no return.  That's not to say that boys are immune to it.  They often are at the crux of the female drama.  They even tend to become participants of it for the cause of one girl or another. 

I do not understand this phenomenon.  I don't feel as if it's been THAT long since I was a teenager myself.  I simply do not recall the bitter hatefulness between peers then.  I'm not saying I always got along with everyone.  I had my share of run-ins with this girl or that girl, usually over a boy.  It was a rarity, though.  For the most part, I lived my life without concern of what others thought of me. 

We live in a world today that offers our children no privacy.  The kids are so connected by phones and internet that everyone knows everyone else's every move.  We post our every move online to share with our "friends."  We are constantly out and about running here and there.  Our children have social lives that we never even dreamed of.  If someone sees your child talking to or interacting with another kid, it immediately becomes headline news over the texting airwaves.  Sadly, our kids are sharing more and more intimate details of their lives and feelings with anyone that will listen.  They mistakenly believe that if you are their Facebook or MySpace friend, you are entitled to hear their deepest thoughts and feelings.  I hate to say it, but we need to stress the difference in friends and "friends" to our children.  They are daily learning the hard way that not everyone in their social network can be trusted. 

I think there's a false sense of being closer to people now than ever.  We do keep in closer touch by way of phones and internet.  Yet I can't help but feel that we are losing a more personal connection with most of our so-called friends.  It is important to look someone in the eye and hear the tone of their voice when you are sharing the vulnerability of your emotions with them.  Your gut can't judge a person's intentions as well through written word. 

We are raising an entire generation of people that will learn the hard way that you can expose too much of yourself to too many people.  I think we need to foster those personal friendships, the ones where you actually spend time together.  I also think that if we, as families, spent a little more time building relationships at home, our kids would not be searching for so many connections outside of their inner circle of friends.  We must put a stop to this spirit-destroying evil called DRAMA.  If we're not careful, it will chew our kids up and spit them out, permanently scarred from the damage done.  Know what your kids are up to, and care about what they're up to.  That's my prayer for this generation, that parents take an active role in overseeing where their kids are headed and steer them in the right direction. 

Why Blog?

Yesterday, I just couldn't get my brain to focus on any thoughts long enough to write a blog.  This is a pretty rare thing for me.  You see, normally my brain is always working overtime.  I've never really talked to many people about this.  I discussed it once with a friend of mine, and she was surprised.  She thought it was unusual.  So, you be the judge.  Am I normal?  Is she normal?  Is there a normal?

My brain is constantly going.  I rarely have what I'd call down time.  I don't hear voices or anything, but I do seem to have a continuous internal dialogue with myself.  I am always either replaying things that have happened, things I think may happen, things I need to do, what I should have said, what someone else said, my thoughts on things, etc.  I've always been this way.  Is it a sign of creativity or instability?  I don't know.  It's just always been that way for me.  I always assumed that everyone was like that until I brought it up with a friend one time.  She said, "Really?  Don't you just ever sit and not think?".  No.  If I'm awake, I am thinking.  That is probably why I love music and television so much.  They are a necessary distraction for me.  I hate complete silence most of the time.  I have so many thoughts running around in my head that it's hard to reign them in at times.

A blog has been a perfect outlet for some of these running thoughts I have.  I am finding that pouring my thoughts out on the page, has helped to slow the constant spinning in my mind.  I probably would be diagnosed with some degree of ADD if I went to a therapist.  I have tremendous difficulty focusing if left to my own devices.  I have trouble praying for long periods of time.  Thinking of those in need, my mind tends to veer off in other directions.  As a result, I find myself saying lots of short prayers over the course of a day.  I've also always had trouble falling asleep at night.  For years, I had to have the TV on to fall asleep.  If left to my own thoughts, I'd lie there for hours trying to sort through it all.  I have finally managed to get by with just a radio, but I stay up as late as I can in hopes of falling asleep quickly.  It's not that the thoughts are negative or anything; they're just exhausting and overwhelming.  Reuben falls asleep within a couple of minutes of lying down most nights.  I can lie there for an hour or two easily.  Even with staying up late, I find myself lying in bed at least thirty minutes or so before falling off.  That's with a radio playing softly. 

So now you know, this blog isn't necessarily for others.  However, I am so pleased that some are enjoying it.  In some way, it's a therapy session for me.  It helps to clear the clutter from my mind.  Please bear with me while I sweep it out.  Some days will be better than others.  Let me know if you, too, experience the active mind syndrome that I do.  I really don't know what's normal. 

Cookin' Up Some YUM!

Today my brain is a little sluggish waking up.  I can't seem to make my thoughts align for any insight into anything.  I've decided to just share a couple more recipes that my family likes.  I hope yours will, too!

Fried Chicken Strips

1 pkg of chicken tenderloin strips

30 saltine crackers

2T all-purpose flour

2T potato flakes

2t seasoned salt

1/2t black pepper

1 egg

Crush the 30 crackers in a gallon baggie until coarse crumbs.  Add the flour, flakes, salt and pepper to the bag.  Mix well.  In a bowl, beat egg.  Dip chicken in egg one piece at a time then add to bag and shake to coat.  Fry in hot oil in skillet. 

Homemade Spicy Fries

2 1/2 pounds potatoes

1c all-purpose flour

4t seasoned salt

water

Peel, wash, and cut potatoes into fries.  Place in bowl of cold water until ready to use.  Combine sifted flour and salt in lg bowl.  Add just enough water to make a mixure that will drizzle from a spoon.  Get your oil hot in a skillet.  Dip fries in mixture and add to hot oil one at a time.  Watch and separate fries that clump together while cooking.  Fry until golden brown.

Milk Chocolate Brownies

1/2 c butter

2c sugar

1 1/2 c flour

1/2 c cocoa

1/4t salt

4 eggs

2t vanilla

Melt butter.  Add remaining ingredients.  Mix well.  Spread in greased 9X13 pan.  Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees.  Let cool before cutting.

Now, I never claimed that these would be healthy recipes.  I do guarantee that they are good, though.  I hope you and yours enjoy them.  Give them a try!  I would welcome you sharing any good recipes you may have, too. 

Thanks Mom & Dad

The other day I was talking to my mom, and she mentioned that she looks back on her early years as a pastor's wife wondering why she didn't do more for others.  This floored me.  My parents are two of the most giving people I have ever known.  It made me realize how, as kids, we just take for granted all the things our parents do for us.  It's high time I officially thank them.

Growing up, my dad was the principal at my elementary school (K-8).  He was also the pastor of our church.  My mom was a second grade teacher at another local K-8 school.  We lived about one mile from my school, but I chose not to ride the bus.  I could've stayed home until about 15 minutes before school started.  I chose to go to school when my mom left for her job.  I remember getting up and leaving for school well before 7:00 each morning.  My dad was never home when I got up.  He was already at school working.  My mom didn't have to be at school so early, but she chose to devote herself to her job of teaching.  So, both of my parents put in many excess hours each week just to do their jobs well.  

In the 80s, a principal of a rural elementary school had a lot of weight on his/her shoulders.  They didn't have a superintendent over them.  There was no assistant principal under them to share the workload.  It was just my dad and two secretaries, Helen & Nita.  Those secretaries were awesome ladies.  Between them and my dad, they oversaw every detail of the day-to-day routine at the school.  My dad attended every school activity after hours, too.  Again, there was no one to share that responsibility with him.  A lot of kids would have described my dad as scary.  I didn't have a lot of sleepovers as a result.  It was just part of the job to assert himself as an authority figure.  Truth is, he was a lot of fun.  The kids who did come and stay with us learned quickly that he wasn't so bad after all.  A principal always attracts a lot of criticism, because someone's kid is always getting into trouble.  Others just always believe someone else could do a better job.  It's a thankless role.  I can't begin to imagine the stress that he dealt with all those nearly 20 years. 

In addition to his job as principal, my dad was a pastor of a small country church.  We didn't miss a service.  We were there every Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening.  His Saturdays were spent preparing for his Sunday sermons.  My dad was a minister that ministered to his congregation.  If someone was sick or had a problem, he was there for them.  He made countless trips to hospitals hours away to visit those in need.  We had a lot of good fellowship with our church family, too.  I remember many Friday evenings spent in fellowship with church members.

My mom went above and beyond expectations to be the best teacher she could be.  As I said, she arrived at her job much earlier than anyone expected.  She wanted to be prepared for her students.  She always went to great lengths to decorate her room and make it a pleasant place to be for the kids.  She was organized like no other.  You wouldn't see her leaving the school the minute the kids cleared out, either.  She rarely made it home before 4:30, even though school dismissed nearly an hour earlier.  She would come home to a house full of hungry kids.  I'm sure we hit her with "What's for supper Mom?" nearly every single night, the minute she walked in the door.   She cooked a complete meal most every evening.  We ate out very little.  Her evenings were spent grading papers and making lesson plans for the days ahead.  She had precious little time for herself.  Yet, I never remember the laundry or dishes piling up.  I never remember our house being messy.  She gave of herself completely.  This is why I was appalled at her questioning of her performance as a pastor's wife in those days.  Where would she have found one extra minute, let alone hour, per week?  

It sounds as if my parents couldn't have had any time for our family.  However, it's quite the opposite.  I have many great memories of my childhood and my parents.  Somehow, they always made time for us and made us feel important.  Don't you wish in childhood you could really appreciate the sacrifices made by your parents for you?  I do.  I wish I'd have told my parents how much I loved and appreciated them then.  I am glad that it's not too late to tell them that their selflessness was much more than I deserved.  I am thankful that God gave me such wonderful parents.  If you still have parents, grandparents, or guardians that were devoted to you, tell them thank you today.  Tell them that they did a great job and met all your expectations.  Tell them everything they did for you was just enough or more.  I couldn't have asked for more.