This Crazy Life

TV

2011-05-17T20:42:00.002-04:00

I am starting to really hate TV sometimes. There will be shows that I love and then they go and cancel them. UGH! Why can't they just keep writing and leave well enough alone. Or at least continue until there is a better stopping point.

Butting heads

2011-05-13T13:34:00.000-04:00

First, I have a few great friends. The kind that will keep you in check and also tell you the truth no matter what the situation or the outcome it could have. I respect them and love them for that ~~most of the time~~. Although frequently that will cause us to butt heads.

My kids have Facebook pages. That is my choice to let them do so so don't give me crap about their age. They are friends with some of my friends; the ones who I know are OK and that they know personally too. One particular friend whom I have the kids really like. Our sons are the same age and are in cub scouts together. She's actually the cub scout leader for them. My kids were of course her friend on Facebook.

This morning she made a post about her son. She said that he had grown up a little bit that night. He had lost a molar and had found out the truth about the Tooth Fairy. She didn't word it that way though. She worded it in a way that completely blew it out the water. (not saying it here in case there are some kids reading over shoulders) I made a comment about her saying that particular comment on Facebook, especially with kids on her page. She got really, really defensive about it. (she does that, taking things too personal sometimes) Of course when something like that is started other people have to chime in; people I don't know. It came down to my parenting techniques/values being questioned. Mainly because I said that I wanted them protected from the truth of those things for now because I feel that childhood is sucked away from them too quickly sometimes anymore. They said I should put them in private school and take away any and all tv/computer/radio/public interaction. There is absolutely NO need for that. But I also don't believe that adults should bring those truths to light for children that still have that sense of childhood. Personal preference. She made a comment...'I doubt you go around correcting people or saying something to them if they are within earshot of your kids and you don't like it'. (not her exact words, but that is what she was saying but with more attitude) I told her, yep, actually we do. We've done it many of many times. I don't care, but if someone says something unkind or out of sorts around my kids, I will say something. My Hubby usually beats me to it though. We've had people kicked out of restaurants for things they were saying within earshot of my kids. Of course that got a rise about free speech or something, but that to me was a mute point. You lose some of that if you can't respect people.

It ended with me deleting my kids from her Facebook page. I told her that it was nothing personal between me and her, but I felt it was best if her posts weren't child friendly. Maybe I do protect my kids a little too much, but I'm just trying to hold onto their childhood as long as possible.

What do you do to help protect your children from things like that?

Did I overreact? (I was told I was taking it too personal)

Happy Mothers Day

2011-05-08T03:16:00.000-04:00

God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. ~Jewish Proverb

They are the whole reason I am a mother. :) Love them!

Life

2011-05-08T02:50:00.000-04:00

I know I need to do a randoms post again and get some things out. I do it for myself as much as I do it for the people that follow me and care what I write (if there are any). But it's almost 3am here now and for now I just feel like uploading photos that I have taken recently to share with you. Hope you enjoy.

Our dog, getting ready to go for a ride.

My Hubby napping in the hammock.

Hubby feeding the fish in the pond.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-22T02:25:00.000-04:00

I hope that everyone has a blessed and wonderful holiday weekend.

Images found via Google.

Wednesday Randoms

2011-04-14T00:09:00.000-04:00

Just a few random things from me this Wednesday.

I am eating popcorn and I am LOVING it out of these new Pop Up Bowls. YUM!

One of my little girls best friends started her period yesterday. I know, you may not have wanted to know that part exactly. I hadn't discussed this with my daughter yet because I thought she was just slightly too young yet. Apparently not. :( I guess the teacher at school explained it to the girls a little bit because she came home with very, very basic info on what it was. They don't actually talk about it in school until almost the end of 5th grade. She's not close to that yet. Guess I will have to have this talk soon.

I am missing my Hubby. He's been working some crazy hours the past couple days, like getting up at 4:30am for work and then working again at 11:00pm. I know it's nothing compared to what some people deal with, but I still miss talking to and seeing him. I should be used to it by now, but I'm not. His work usually slows down sometime around fall, is almost dead through winter, and then starts back up again around spring. Well, it is that time and this week he's had a lot to do. The rain has been messing them up lately so he's still been home with me more. Complete sunshine this week though. He did say that he would take me to a wonderful, big garden thing here that I like to go to for pictures this weekend or next if I would like. That would be wonderful time together. :)

I watched another episode of Extreme Couponing tonight. It amazes me! I think I partly have it figured out. How they do it I mean. Hubby said that if it was something I wanted to get into he would support me and help me if he could. Those people on that show are almost insane with it. I don't need 1500 tubes of toothpaste. Sorry, but I just don't. Hubby said that if we are getting it for free, we might as well get it and donate it. I agree with that. :) He even said that he would help me with an area to do a stockpile if I needed one.

The bird that Hubby brought home the other day has died. We tried hand feeding him and he was OK with it for a little while, but that just isn't what he was used to so he wasn't dealing well. Some friends of ours told us to expect this, and we did a little, but it's still heart breaking. :( Hubby said to look at it in a different way...if he hadn't picked him up and at least tried to save him then he probably would have died right there. At least he got a few extra days of fun.

Our garden is coming up nicely...finally. It took an extra week for everything to sprout. The only thing that we are hoping now is that the deer don't eat it. The family/neighbors who we share the huge garden with us already had one row of their beans disappear. Not sure whether it was the last frost we had the other week or whether it was deer. We are hoping frost, otherwise, we need to figure out something else to protect the garden.

I've been napping/sleeping just about everyday with the quilt that my Grandma made me when I was younger. I miss her. About half of my adult life I didn't live near her, but that was when the Alzheimer's starting setting in too, so she barely knows when I moved to the East Coast. I didn't realize how much I would actually miss her or how much it would bother me. I spent the most time with her out of all of us kids, so I think that may be why I'm taking it harder than the rest of them. I will see her again another day.

My Grandma on my Mom's side hasn't been doing so well. Her job was in jeopardy with all this government crap that had been going on and she hasn't been feeling too well. The doctor keeps telling her that she is too stressed, but that is not all that is wrong with her. She is getting older, and I know this, but she is like me and she is tough and stubborn. They did diagnose her with pneumonia a couple weeks ago and told her to take it easy. She hasn't been dealing with that so well. I hope she ends up OK.

Currently watching reruns of Criminals Minds...I just have to say Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore) is really cute. :) And yes, Hubby knows this. Actually he knows a lot of the people I think are attractive. Of course, I know his too. We are secure enough to be able to talk about things like that. He even looks at girls at work and will tell me about them. His work guys can't believe he tells me. No reason not to, I trust him, he trusts me. So we find other people attractive, that is human nature. We still know who we are married and committed to...each other. :)

Images found via web.

He's so loving

2011-04-07T02:53:00.000-04:00

My Hubby is so loving.

Not just to me, but to things around him.

He has a soft heart, even though he seems tough on the outside.

Case in point...

The other night he was driving home from work and in front of him in the road he saw a bird that was trying to get out of the way of cars passing by it. After a few cars and seeing it couldn't get away, he noticed it just sat in the middle of the road and let the cars go over it. He figured it had a broken wing. Most people would just pass it by as did everyone else. Not my Hubby. He stopped, picked it up, and brought it home with him. I didn't even see the bird until dinner when he pointed it out. He had sat him on top our coat rack and he didn't make any noise or movement. He told me the story and it made me feel happy inside. You could see that he was proud of himself. He is a big ol' country boy.

I asked all kinds of questions, because I am not one to normally bring wild animals into our house. Mainly because...their WILD. They are unpredictable, not trained, dirty, etc... He assured me that he was fine. He told me what kind of bird he was and off to Google I went. (Google is magic) He was right about the kind. I narrowed it to species and approximate age. I wanted to know what it ate, what it did, what its behavior was. I learned a lot and then some.

He's a Purple Martin.

I have named him Marty.

Isn't he pretty?

Surprisingly, he will let you hold him, pet him, feed him, and he has never once tried to claw or peck or be mean in any way. For a wild bird this really astonishes me. You would think he would go absolutely crazy if you tried to come near him being that we were humans. Hubby believes that he knows he saved him and therefore knows we won't hurt him. Plus, this type of bird is normally found around people houses, within 100 feet or so.

He eats flying bugs and likes to catch them on the fly to do so. That is hard considering his wing is hurt. We didn't know what we were going to do about food, but knew that by the next day we had to figure something out.

When Hubby got home from work today he put water in an eye dropper and Marty actually drank out of it. Later on he turned on our porch light (to attract flying bugs) to find him some dinner. Hubby grabbed a small moth to feed him. That took a little more work because like I said before they are used to grabbing it out the air while it is flying. After he bit it one time and killed it, he then ate it. I'm glad, because I would hate to be trying to heal his wing only to know that he dehydrated or starved.

We're not crazy, we know there is a chance that he could die while in our house. But he would probably die outside too seeing as how he can't fly. I would rather him be in here with us being taken care of then outside and possibly not being able to take care of himself. Not sure how long it takes a bird wing to heal, but hopefully he will be good as new soon.

Isn't my Hubby wonderful? So caring.

You say it's your birthday...

2011-04-05T01:56:00.001-04:00

Want to play? Click the picture above. :)

My birthday is September 30th.
I was born in sunny Florida, near the beach. Wish I was still there sometimes.
I left my 20's last year and so far it hasn't been bad.

My birthday falling where it does makes me a Libra.

My greatest birthday memory is the year that my Hubby asked me to marry him. That was a wonderful birthday.

I always spend my birthday with my family (Hubby, kids). Always have.

It's actually a tradition of our family that whoever is having the birthday gets to choose where we eat and what we do.

If I could do something where money was no option though...

For some birthday, doesn't matter which one, I want an asymmetrical cake. Something to this effect.

What's your birthday about?

Most images found via Google, other than my wedding photo.

New!! :)

2011-04-01T01:19:00.000-04:00

I love these new template styles that Blogger is coming out with. I will be so happy when they actually fully roll them out, rather than right now where you can just 'see' how they work. The colors and stuff are just plain right now so hopefully they will make them fully customizable like all other layouts.

I think I am going to put my picture blog like this when it happens.

http://amberscrazy365.blogspot.com/view/snapshot

I am going to change this blog to another one too, probably mosaic, but not sure.

Here's a preview of this blog in mosaic.

http://crazylifeofamber.blogspot.com/view/mosaic

Have you seen them yet or messed around with them yet?

I'm sort of excited. I love new and interesting things.

HOO are you? plus some

2011-03-23T03:39:00.000-04:00

I haven't done one of these in a while, so I thought I would do this one that another friend done.

1. Have you ever had a professional massage before?

Nope. I would love to go though.

2. When drinking bottled water do you have a preference on which brand you drink?

Not ALL the time. I buy Propel, Aquafina, Purelife, and ONE usually though.

3. What is your favorite kind of soup?

I like soup, most of them actually. My absolute fave though is Zuppa Toscana. You can get the recipe here.

4. Do you have a preference on which Kleenex brand you use?

Kleenex...or so I thought. Isn't Kleenex a brand itself?

5. What is your favorite breakfast food?

If you go by what normal people consider breakfast foods, I guess it would have to be either cereal or bacon. I will eat just about anything for breakfast though and I will eat typical breakfast foods for any meal as well.

Figured I would do a few random updates while I am at it since I haven't actually wrote much lately.

The trip back 'home' for my Grandmothers funeral went better than I expected. My younger sister said about 10 words to me, surprisingly. My kids asked to go see my Mom. I wasn't thrilled with the idea (my Mom and I had a huge falling out and we don't speak to her anymore), but I was the bigger person and did it for the sake of my kids. I think they enjoyed it, although I'm still not thrilled they went. I got to spend a lot of time with my Dad. I miss seeing him on a regular basis. We've considered moving back since he is getting older and needs help with some things. I have four other brothers and sisters that live in the area but they are busy with their own lives. I wouldn't mind moving back, but we would really have to feel out that job market and it probably won't be in the next couple years. I also got to see almost all the family from my Dads side. That was nice. It was a sad reason for us to have to come together, but it was still good. She was my last grandparent on my Dads side. Miss you Grandma.

Hubby's eye healed up just fine and he is doing better. He had his MRI done and they said he has major issues in his neck/spine and that is what is causing the pain/tingling/numb sensation in his neck/arm. He goes to a spine specialist next week to find out what his options are. His general doctor said he may be looking at more surgery. Prayers that is not the case.

Soccer is once again in full swing for the Spring season. Both the older kids are playing, on separate age leagues. In the fall they will be back on the same age league thankfully. It's easier when they are together so I only have to worry about one practice instead of two. I wasn't going to coach this season as I had given up Spring coaching and just do Fall coaching. The guy that runs it said he REALLY needed a coach and he REALLY needed me to do it. He twisted my arm so I did it. I am coaching teenagers though. WHOLE different atmosphere with them than what I am used to. Thankfully a very good friend (probably one of my best friends) said she would assistant coach with me. She is great because she played soccer all up through college so she is very knowledgeable. I was actually a little intimidated to teach teenagers, but so far they haven't been as bad as I thought they would. Pray it stays that way.

So, now instead of just keeping up with two practice schedules, I have to keep up with THREE. I'm a glutton for punishment.

We've got most of my flower bed out front planted. The tulips are already blooming and they look awesome. I will have to take some pictures.

We have about half our regular garden planted too. If it all grows well we should have a good harvest.

I've been out of college for almost 10 years now and I believe that I have decided what I want to do with my life. I know, about time right!? I'm not actually going to do anything with what I went to college for. I want to go back to school. I've been thinking about it and Hubby and I have tossed it around once in a while, but tonight we sat down and really talked about it. The final decision was 'go, we will make it work'. Not quite that lacksy-daisy, but you get the idea. A lot of me going back is going to depend on how much money we can save over the summer. Hubby's job is really, really slow in the winter and we don't want to struggle or have to worry about money when I go back. I would have to cut back on some of my church work too so it is something we will have to sit down and plan out.

Next item of business would be to decide WHAT exactly I want to go to school for. I want to try to get into a profession that will last even in hard economic times. So I've been trying to think about things that people will always need/use/do even if the economy starts to plummet again/more. Nursing was the first thing that came to mind. I don't like needles though and I'm not too fond of bodily fluids. If I went into nursing I would probably want to work with babies or little kids or something like that, so either labor & delivery or pediatrics or something.

Technology was the second that came to mind. Technology is always going to keep improving and changing. I love electronics and gadgets and stuff too. I don't really want to fix them or anything though so I don't know where I would fit in that.

Third idea was just a general management degree. You could use it for a multitude of things.

Hubby said to go in the school and talk to them and see if anything strikes me. I think I will do that soon.

Well I guess this has gotten long enough plus I need sleep. (haven't been sleeping well again) I have more but will see about writing it in the next few days.

I leave you with a picture of the little boy I love and love to spoil.

I love him like my own and he fills my need right now for wanting a baby. :)

Purex Complete Crystals Softener

2011-03-01T21:57:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone!

For those of you that don't know, I am a Purex Insider. They send me products to try and I give my opinion, get other people to try them, and sometimes give out things to people that comment and want to do their own evaluation.

The most recent product that I was sent was a bottle of the new Purex Complete Crystals Softener.

I have used this before. Bought it right when it came out and did a review of it then.

You can read that full review HERE.

I still like it and still use it. I especially like it for linens (towels, sheets, etc.) I use it on everything, but really like it for towels since it is not oil based. Oil based softeners can leave a residue on your towels and can cause them not to absorb water properly. Plus, who wants oils on things touching their bodies!?

*Follow PUREX on Facebook*

*Follow PUREX on Twitter*

So how would YOU like to try Purex Complete Crystals Softener for yourself?

Purex is giving me a few coupons to give away to a few lucky readers.

Drop me a comment here about what you thought if you have used it and if you haven't why you would like to. I'll pick a few random people out of the comments.

I received a free small bottle of Purex Complete Crystals Softener, a coupon of my own, and a chance to give away a few coupons in exchange for doing review.

Grandma :(

2011-02-16T02:06:00.002-05:00

My Grandma passed away late last night.

Please say a prayer for our family in this time of need.

Happy Valentines Day!

2011-02-14T01:21:00.001-05:00

Hope everyone has a LOVEly day. :)

It went well

2011-02-01T00:37:00.000-05:00

Hubby's surgery went well. They were able to remove the metal and as of right now none of his vision is messed up. Below is a picture right after they did the surgery. The next day and even through today it looks really bad because it is swollen more and the bruising has increased a lot. We expected this because we were told about it, but it always seems worse than you expect.

The incision that they had to make was larger than originally set out to be, but at least it is fixed. Now he is scheduled for his MRI to check out this neck/arm/back and see if he needs surgery on that.

Say a little prayer

2011-01-27T23:55:00.000-05:00

Hubby goes in for surgery in the morning on his eye.

I think I am more nervous than he is.

Anything dealing with surgery and your face is scary, especially when dealing with your eyes.

The surgeon didn't make me feel any better about it by giving me the 'risks' like going blind. Thanks Doc, that helped make it ~~better~~ worse. Plus he said that he was only a general surgeon and that he had never done something around the eyes before.

Is that supposed to make me feel more confident!?

I asked if he thought maybe we should get another surgeon? Of course, that was in the middle of my almost hyperventilating/wanting to cry/almost panic attack moment. He said 'no, I'll give it a shot'.

I didn't think I was going to be able to stand up again when he said that.

After he told me the risks and then said 'I'll give it a shot'...I was a little frightened. I am a little frightened.

He better be glad he came recommended.

Chicken Enchiladas

2011-01-20T03:07:00.000-05:00

I made a recipe from Casondra's blog the other evening for dinner. Everyone absolutely LOVED it.

Hubby even ate the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. :)

Hop on over to her blog for the whole recipe.

Here's a few pictures I took of making it the other day though.

Glad it has gone away...

2011-01-19T02:05:00.000-05:00

We had quite a bit of ice the other week. My first time since living in this part of the South that we have had ice. We had a day of snow last year but it literally only lasted one day.

I would much rather deal with snow than ice, though I prefer not to deal with any of it. Ice is dangerous stuff.

That being said, ice looks really beautiful on anything in nature when it covers it.

Here's a few photos I took when things were slightly ice covered the other day.

The foot

2011-01-10T01:27:00.000-05:00

My children received a trampoline from 'Santa' this year. Of course we had to go out and play on once it warmed up a little. It's definitely an energy sucker and good exercise. All of us got on it and wore ourselves out. Nice picture opportunities though. While sitting on the trampoline taking pictures of the family, the Hubby jumped really high bouncing both kids into the air. It just so happens that my daughter was standing near where I was sitting when he did that. She went up and came right down on my foot. This smashed all my toes backwards. My big toe was hurt the most in this situation. It hurt SO bad that day that I could barely walk on it. For a few days after it kept hurting worse. Hubby told me that he believes it was broken. No reason to go to do the doctor for that because there is nothing they could do for it.

It still hurts depending on which way it gets moved.

In person, the reddish/purple lines on the swollen one are awful looking. Thankfully the color and swelling have gone down.

I haven't gotten on the trampoline since. Maybe another day.

Got gas?

2011-01-05T10:00:00.000-05:00

Gas prices are going up and up and up here again.

We are at almost $3 a gallon.

I was shocked the other day when I got gas and saw it getting so high.

Hopefully this is a seasonal thing.

What's the price where you are?

Vote for me!

2011-01-05T08:56:00.000-05:00

Go to the post below for the photo faces challenge I entered and vote for my photo I entered please, #659.

I Heart Faces 2010 Photo Challenge

2011-01-04T00:33:00.000-05:00

The challenge this week at I Heart Faces is to show your best picture of a face for the 2010 year.

I've never entered, but I thought I would try this one.

I chose a picture that I took within the last few months of the year of my daughter.

I love her expression to the static.

Fun for the year

2011-01-01T04:46:00.000-05:00

I decided to try a 365 photo a day challenge.

You can find my blog for this at Ambers Crazy 365.

Feel free to follow me along in my journey and feel free to join in too!

First edited photo of the new year! :) My Hubby's pretty eyes.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T01:19:00.002-05:00

Hope everyone has a wonderful start to their new year. Do something great and something that makes you happy.

Upgrading my header

2010-12-31T02:38:00.004-05:00

It will be missing for a little while until I get together what I want. Thanks for being patient and looking at boring words for right now.

OK, so I decided and designed a little quicker than I had thought I was going to. And now that it is 4:10 in the morning I hope you all enjoy this.

Love new fonts

2010-12-30T03:21:00.002-05:00

I love the fact that Blogger has added 40 new fonts to their options. YAY!

New things

2010-12-29T01:09:00.003-05:00

I believe that I should be a product tester for companies. I like new items, trying new things, and I am quite opinionated. Seems like good qualities for a product tester.

Alas, that job has not come open to me yet. So, instead, I am suckered into buying new things in stores when they come out and trying them myself and giving you a review.

The other evening while wandering around Walmart, I found a new fabric softener sitting in the middle aisle. I am in love with things that smell good and I actually like doing laundry (but not all the time).

This is what I found. Anyone else bought and tried this yet? I thought it was interesting. Crystals...

It came in three scents, this one which is Lavender blossom, a yellow one which is Tropical splash (also smelled nice), and a blue one that is Fresh spring waters (this scent didn't thrill me).

At first when reading it I worried about 'crystals' being put in my washing machine. It actually is little crystals, about four or five times the size of salt. It says it's safe though. Also says that it is about 92% natural.

The difference with this softener is that it doesn't go in your rinse cycle and it also doesn't go in your fabric softener dispenser or your little softener ball thing. This you pour directly into your water at the same time you do your laundry detergent. Apparently the crystals being sloshed around with your laundry the whole length of the cycle is supposed to make the smell infuse better and therefore last longer on your clothing. Makes sense if you think about it, but does it work?

I put my first load in with this less than an hour ago and I just heard the washer tell me that it was done. After they finish drying I will let you all know how it went.

Let me know if you try it and how it went.

I love laundry tips too and knowing what people use to make it easier or better.

What sort of laundry detergent you use. How good is it. Price equal quality.

You know, the normal stuff.

I use Arm & Hammer laundry detergent, normally the one with Oxi Clean in it. Different reasons, one is that it is made with Arm & Hammer baking soda which I love using to help get laundry clean, two is that a couple of us have sensitive skin in our house and it is one (scented) kind I have found that doesn't bother us, three is that it's not that expensive (baking soda is cheap you know).

I've used it. I have to say, it does dissolve, surprisingly. So far it hasn't harmed my washing machine either. :) The smell of these crystals is so strong in the bottle and even in the washing machine which I figured if it was on my clothes afterwards would be WAY overpowering but it was not at all when it came out. It was just as normal as though I had put a liquid in there. As for a 'long lasting' effect, don't know about that yet as I have only just done it a few days ago, but I don't expect fabric softener to last forever on clothes. If it lasts anymore amount of time at all than a liquid, then I guess it is doing its job as the bottle says. I will have to say that they fact that you can put it in when the laundry is beginning is definitely convenient. No ball to remember to put it in or catching the rinse cycle. So for me, that is a plus because I don't forget as much then.

Oh, and as Laural had mentioned, something about animal fat in normal fabric softeners...ewww. I don't know about that, wouldn't doubt it though. I don't believe this is composed of that although I haven't read the ingredients exactly. I will look and let you know.

Quick update

2010-12-27T16:23:00.000-05:00

Cousin I had spoke of before had his biopsy today. I was told that it went well.

They have to wait up to 10 days for the results though. They said with the holidays it sometimes takes longer than normal. That is hard to tell a mother that is anxiously waiting though.

Prayers still appreciated.

So good I had to repost

2010-12-27T09:07:00.001-05:00

The minister at the church that we attend has a blog. He writes what he feels personally and he will tell you that everything he writes doesn't always have something to do with the church. His opinions are his opinions and it's his blog so he has that right. Something he wrote about 2010 I really liked so I figured I would post it for all of you to see. I am also putting a link to his blog & website so that you can read or listen to some of his other stuff if you wish.

Well 2010 is rapidly moving toward the rear view mirror. Get ready for a spate of articles about the Best and Worst and Biggest and Most Newsworthy things of 2010. And about the whole first decade of the 21st Century.
Here’s (in no particular order) my own Top 10 Biggest Deals of the past year.

The Gulf Oil Spill.
The WikiLeaks Document Dump
The Repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
ObamaCare
The Emergence of the Tea Party
The iPad
Chilean Miner Rescue
Saints win the Super Bowl (1st time EVER!)
Iran’s gone Nuclear
Continuing U.S. and international Financial Crisis

Do you know how easy it is to attach a biblical principle to EVERY one of those contemporary issues?

It is God’s world, and “earth-altering catastrophes” are never as big as the planet’s ability to survive. This world will end when the Owner says it will end.
One day everything that is hidden will be laid bare for all to see.
If you don’t want to know what God’s Word says about normal sexuality, don’t ask me. Or I’ll tell you.
Caring for the poor should be primarily the job of the Church, not Nanny Government.
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”(1 Tim. 2:1-2) In other words, pray that government would LEAVE US ALONE to take care of ourselves.
Man, made in the image of a creative God, has barely scratched the surface of ingenuity and creative genius.
No effort is too extravagant to rescue those trapped in the pit.
Sooner or later the saints win. Read Revelation if you don’t believe that.
When God said to Joshua to wipe out Israel’s enemies or they would one day arise to make everyone regret it, THIS is some of what God meant.
” … and the borrower is servant to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7)

There’s a Southern Gospel song whose refrain is, “Has it ever occurred to you that nothing ever occurs to God.” True. Nothing ever takes God by surprise. He never has to learn or adapt or change. So into whose hands are you confident placing your life? Experts? Politicians? Your own? Or the One who knows and orchestrates all things.

Lovely, just lovely Kevin! I think everyone should see this.

Where this post originated from...click here.

Meet Me Monday

2010-12-26T23:59:00.000-05:00

1. What are your New Year's Eve plans?

I'm not actually sure yet. We have friends that usually do a big party but we haven't heard anything about it this year. Hubby mentioned going to a restaurant he wanted to try and there is a movie I would like to see.

2. How tall are you?

5 foot 8 1/2 inches

3. What is your favorite pudding flavor?

When I eat it, I usually eat chocolate although I really don't like chocolate by itself. I prefer chocolate over any other pudding flavor though.

4. What room of the house do you blog the most in?

Usually in my bedroom, but I can do wherever I want with my laptop.

5. What is your best physical feature?

I would say my eyes. Hubby said my butt.

Fun for me...

2010-12-26T20:55:00.001-05:00

Though I get enjoyment out of watching my children open gifts, it's even more fun when they have to do a little work in order to earn it. :)

A simple, little box addressed to them from Santa was perched in our tree.

Inside the box they found a note and a bunch of letters. The note said 'put me together'.

Figuring out which letter went first.

They figured it out and turn around to look under the tree to find it. Don't see it or any box big enough to hold it.

Confusion!?

They figure out where it must be.

What it spelled. :)

Now you know their big gift from Santa! :)

Oh, and they LOVE it.

:(

2010-12-23T14:47:00.000-05:00

Please say a prayer or whatever it is that you guys do for my cousin.

They found a spot on his head at the doctor and he has to go in for a biopsy on Monday.

He's only 8.

Christmas Ornaments

2010-12-15T02:03:00.000-05:00

We went to the aquarium the other weekend when it was rainy outside. They have a festival of trees going on for the holiday season. Here is a slideshow of a few shots of different ornaments and things from the Around the US trees.

Make slideshow

I LOVE Christmas lights!

2010-12-13T22:43:00.001-05:00

Things like this make me love them even more!

Looks even cooler in HD if you go to their YouTube page.

This one takes donations and all of it goes to Make-a-Wish Foundation. :)

Icing anyone?

2010-12-13T02:37:00.000-05:00

Our kids think we're crazy!

Love my Hubby!

2010-12-08T01:32:00.000-05:00

Hubby was bored the other night and the kids had all their crayons out coloring since I had printed them some Christmas coloring sheets so he colored me a picture. He added all the special little comments and I LOVED it.

He can be SO sweet sometimes.

(excuse his spelling on some of it, he's admittedly a bad speller, HaHa)

19...19!...19!?

2010-12-07T09:42:00.000-05:00

This was the temperature here this morning when I took the kids to school.

I live in the SOUTH! It's not supposed to be that cold here; that's one of the appeals of living here. Apparently Old Man Winter took a detour and decided to come warm up here. It's time he go back to where he came from and take this cold weather with him.

I can deal with cool or chilly weather, but cold doesn't suit me well at all.

Off to get back under my heated blanket.

Fun at the park

2010-12-05T07:56:00.001-05:00

They built a new park in our area. It was designed by elementary kids from here. Kids love it and we pass it frequently so we usually stop.

He couldn't do this the first couple times we came, but now he can climb the whole wall.

They love the tire swing so much I am thinking of putting one in our yard.

Inside the giant rope tree.

He is REALLY good at the monkey bars. Though I saw a little bitty girl today FLY through them, even skipping rungs. She was amazing.

Her hat kept making her hair staticy. She didn't like it, but I think it looks neat.

My first fave of the set I took today.

My second fave of the set I took today.

Tree is up

2010-12-04T23:43:00.000-05:00

Not all of the decorations are up yet, but at least the tree is.

He is happy to be out of storage. :)

He is even happier to be out.

I have a silvery star garland around my tree. This is what it looks like up close.

I LOVE Christmas lights.

I'm not actually too fond of this photo. It's OK, but not the greatest.

Randoms

2010-12-02T00:54:00.000-05:00

I love to browse the internet and I love helpful or interesting things.

Here's a list of things I have found recently that I enjoyed.

Awesome!

6 Things to buy after Christmas
Helpful information

Tiny House
Apparently this is becoming a trend. I SO could not live in 90 square feet of house. And it kills me the thought that people pay $50,000 for this.

I believe this article, almost fully. I also believe that I tend to do working out more like a guy. I am going to fully put myself to this next year though.

YUM! Potato Pancakes!
Some people also refer to them as latkes. Ever had them? SO good! December seems to be a big month for these. My mom used to make them, but her version was slightly different where instead of grating the potatoes, she used already mashed potatoes. Either way works.
On a side note, we have nothing to do with the religion or celebration that these usually go along with, just like to eat them.

This video makes me SO angry! Seriously! It took him 20 seconds, or less, to do that. What is the world coming to where a kid can't take 5 seconds to thank God for being his strength.

Can you believe it?

2010-12-01T08:41:00.000-05:00

It's December 1st...already.

That means 24 days until Christmas.

That also means 30 days until a brand new year.

Honestly, I'm looking forward more to the new year than Christmas.

And I just found out that it is going to get below freezing tonight and tomorrow night.

I'm not thrilled with temperatures that chilly.

Blog reader cleansing

2010-11-30T01:40:00.000-05:00

I love to read other peoples blogs. It's like reality TV for me, without all the commercials and drama and crap that goes along with TV. I have all the blogs that I read set up in my Google Reader (if you read blogs, get something like this). As of today my 'unread' count of all posts in the blogs I read said 1000+. NO WAY in GRAVY was I going to be able to read all those any time soon, considering people just keep writing and writing and writing. I felt the only way out of this was to completely mark ALL of them...READ. Sorry, it had to be done.

Now the next time each of you lovely bloggers that I read posts something new I can read it right away and maybe start trying to keep up. Maybe. No promises though.

This helped me to feel better and that is what matters.

Guess that means that all of you need to go and write something now so that I can read it and you can show up under my 'unread' list again.

Happy Writing!

Mom Rocks

2010-11-30T01:16:00.000-05:00

We're Moms and we KNOW that we ROCK! (especially during the holidays)

Wouldn't a little extra money help you 'rock' out even more this holiday season.

Enter the Rayovac sweepstakes and make you can 'rock' away with $1000 for this holiday season.

Enter here now!

Disclaimer: “Followers who promote the Rayovac Mom Rocks the Holidays Sweepstakes may receive gifts from Rayovac.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T03:35:00.003-05:00

What's for dinner?

2010-11-24T15:35:00.000-05:00

What's on your menu for Thanksgiving?

Is it fairly traditional or more modern?

My menu so far:

Turkey (fried of course, YUM)

Ham (baked)

Mashed potatoes

Turkey gravy

Green bean casserole

Macaroni and cheese

Cranberry sauce

Rolls

Apple pie

Pumpkin pie

Possible add ons:

Dressing (if I find a recipe I like)(I want my Grandmas recipe, dang Alzheimers)

Sweet potatoes (or yams)

Cherry pie

Cupcakes

Vegetable tray

We're having some friends over and I am trying to accommodate everyone while not venturing into something I really don't know how to make. We are doing our big meal around lunchtime. We also got invited over to some family's house tomorrow evening. She just had surgery and can't leave the house. I figured we would go. I mean, even if we are stuffed to our feathers with food we can still socialize. :)

Want to hear my Thanksgiving food secret?

I dislike pumpkin pie. Very much in fact.

Everyone I know seems to eat and like it though. We are having one, but not by my choice.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

2010-11-24T11:40:00.068-05:00

1. If you had know what they knew then, would you have boarded the Mayflower?

Probably, I can be pretty adventurous when need be. Plus if I was married to my Hubby now he would have convinced me that it was OK.

2. How far have you traveled on a boat and how do you feel about boats in general?

The furthest I have ever traveled on a boat was a few hours out to different islands. Most recent hours travel by boat was my honeymoon. Hubby and I went and visited an old fort, only accessible by boat.

I didn't used to care that much for boats. Hubby actually had one when we got married, well, he still does. It's a little fishing boat and it freaked me out even more than a big boat simply because it is small. He assured me we would not tip over so off we went. That was years ago, and now I am very comfortable with boats. I have learned how they work, the parts of them, how to drive one, the safety, etc...

3. What traditions have you kept, acquired thru marriage, and/or tossed?

Ones we have kept I guess would be saying grace, saying what we are thankful for, eating turkey, and being with family/friends. I didn't acquire any new ones thru marriage that I can think of. Can't say off hand any that we have exactly tossed either.

4. What time is your dinner and how many will be round your table? And what is the one side dish you cannot do without on Thanksgiving Day?

Our dinner that I am cooking is going to be somewhere around lunchtime, so probably about 1pm or so. The one that evening with family is at 6pm.

For the one I'm cooking, there will be 8, possibly 9 people around the table. For the evening one, there will be roughly 20 or so.

Hmm...I would have to say green bean casserole.

5. Have you ever used a fire extinguisher? Do tell...

I have not actually ever used one in an actual incident of any sort. I did have to learn how to use one though for a job.

6. Tell about a situation that caused you dreadful trepidation and much feet dragging only to realize later it was a true blessing.

My ex-husbands father passed away. They lived on the East Coast. After he came back from the week long trip out there he came home only to tell me that 'he' was moving there. HE!? What about me and your two children? He had said I could stay and keep my job and such. I was 21, had an almost one year old and a newborn, and he wanted to leave me here to work and raise them while 'he' moved. He said he needed to go out there and help his Mom through this time. He said he would get settled and in a year or so we could come out. Was he out of his flipping mind? No freaking way! I threw a fit. (there are other issues surrounding him and being out there by himself, but that isn't meant for this hodgepodge) I told him that if all of us didn't go, none of us would go. I also told him that if he went alone, he would spend the rest of his life alone. You don't just make that decision all on your own and TELL me what you are doing. We discuss it.

Honestly, I though he would say, well, I'll just go visit a few more weeks and be back. Nope, he said to start packing. This is where feet dragging became involved. For one, I had two little ones, packing wasn't easy even though the military helped us. At that point I realized I really didn't want to move all the way to the East Coast. My family was here and I wanted to raise my kids here. I felt indebted to my husband. I felt that it was only right that he be near his Mom.

Well, after a few years and a few issues, our marriage ended. I ended up in the beach area of another state and I LOVED it there. I had thought about moving back home a BUNCH of times. My Dad was always supportive and said I needed to do what made me happy. Well, at that time, the beach made me happy.

A couple years later through a friend I met my Hubby I have now.

I would say that meeting him has been my blessing through all of this.

We are decently simple people raising our kids and living happily. :)

7. Baked, sweet, mashed, hash browned, or french fried...which one's your favorite?

This would either have to be baked or mashed. It's a toss up.

8. Insert your own random thought here...

Sweet potatoes and yams are NOT the same thing. Research it.

I don't like either.

Meet Me On Monday

2010-11-22T21:56:00.000-05:00

1. How many pillows do you sleep with?

Two, no more no less.

2. Where will you eat on Thanksgiving?

At our house. We seem to ALWAYS go somewhere on Thanksgiving and this year we are staying home. We have some friends coming over who said they were going to a restaurant and I wasn't about to let that happen. My Hubby said that he is inviting his mother too, whom he doesn't get along well with and whom doesn't like me or my children. He's trying to better his relationship with her I think. If you knew the way she was you wouldn't support it. I'm not fully on board, but I support my Hubby, so if it is what he wants, then so be it. I will do my best to be supportive.

3. Would you rather go to a party or host a party?

Go to one, although I don't mind hosting, just not my preference.

4. How many purses do you own?

I actually got rid of a bunch when we moved last year, so I would say somewhere under 25. I actually just moved them all from the top of my closet because they were in the way and put them all in a rubbermaid tub to make room for clothes. I need to find somewhere else to put them.

5. What is your favorite kind of seafood?

Crab cakes, shrimp (not fried though), mahi mahi, grouper and flounder. There are probably others.

Fall Car Show

2010-11-22T01:59:00.002-05:00

We went to a car show recently. These are some of the shots that I took that I love.

Same as above, but it looks neat in black and white too.

:( Do you see it?

An old 'rat' rod

Front of the old 'rat' rod

Kids sitting in the 'rat' rod. This guy was awesome letting people get into his car.

My son wants a car with wooden sides. He also wants an Avalanche and I don't think those two go together.

The sun was AWFUL that day and in their eyes no matter which way I turned.

Christmas Cards

2010-11-20T08:32:00.001-05:00

I finished our Christmas cards.

I haven't been in the holiday spirit as of yet, but taking pictures and putting together a Christmas card isn't so festive, especially with the choice we made. We're not typical red and green people. We usually go for something a little more modern classical.

I made 14 different card options and then had Hubby sit down and pick out his top three with me. We actually agreed on most of our likes. It took us a little bit to narrow it down to one finally but we did it.

I'm not going to post it yet until I get them ordered and probably sent out too. That way I don't ruin it for anyone. It was fun making it.

Fridays Fave Five

2010-11-19T14:21:00.000-05:00

Things...

1. Things that made me heart feel good.

We have some good friends who asked us what we were doing for Thanksgiving. I answered her and she mentioned that she hates to cook (actually burnt herself pretty bad last year) and that they would probably go to a restaurant for their dinner. A restaurant!? My grandmother (90+ years old and in a nursing home) probably just croaked. OK, not really and I would feel awful if she did, but eating in a restaurant on Thanksgiving. She would be unhappy with me had I not stopped that shenanigan. Neither of us have family that lives incredibly close and so I know how they feel to be family-less on holidays. Of course we invited them over. They have have two kids just like we do and they all play well together. They are providing the meat, turkey and a ham, and we are doing the rest. It should be an awesome day!

2. Things that I sometimes forget to thank God for.

We are not rich by any standard of living. Honestly, we usually live paycheck to paycheck. We have what we need and probably then some. We have our weeks where we get in tight spots now and then. And since we don't own any credit cards it can be killer on us, but I'd rather not eat out that one time during the week in order to avoid having to deal with a credit card and the crap it brings. God knows, although I tell him, that we are truly thankful for Hubby's job. What I've probably not thanked him for is the little things he does at work that can earn him more money, like working on a Sunday. Obviously that earns him more money because no one else wants to do it but people need the job done. I hope he knows that especially around this time of the year, it's greatly appreciated.

3. Things that make my life easier.

Hubby working, daughter gone to camp and son has a friend over to play and spend the night. All of that combined means that I didn't have to deal with arguing children or a Hubby trying to help who is more in my way (I love him for trying though). It made it a LOT easier to get my bedroom clean.

4. Things that make me smile.

Took the boys (my son and his friend that spent the night) out to eat McDonalds and to see MegaMind 3D. While getting ready to order at McD's I asked the little boy what he wanted to eat. He asked what he could get. I was slightly confused. My son of course popped off what he wanted without second thought. This little boy said he wanted the same. I asked if he was sure (kids change their mind) and said he could get what he wanted, didn't have to be what my son got. He said 'really!?' and I said 'yep'. He changed his order. I didn't think anything of it. We get to the movies and as we are sitting waiting for it to start the little boy TOTALLY made me giggle, but smile all at the same time. He said 'I got a MegaMind toy in my happy meal and I get to see the movie ALL in the SAME DAY! This is the GREATEST day of my LIFE!' I giggled at the hand movements and his expressions. The smile came when I thought about how happy he was. It kind of tugged at my heart strings a little too. I come to find out that his Dad has been unemployed for over a year. :( He's not an only child either, so I presume outings like I took them on are few and far between. Glad I could help make his day as he did mine.

5. Thing I hope for.

Peace. Not complete peace, but happiness without as much hustle and bustle while this holiday comes and goes.

Love at first sight

2010-11-19T10:23:00.001-05:00

While at a friends house for a birthday party, my daughter fell in love...with a puppy. The friend was giving said puppy away for free. Daughter begged us to take him home. I admit he was really cute and that he would have been the perfect small inside dog for us. Sadly, two dogs is enough for us right now (or so Hubby says) even though they stay outside. Daughter said she would take care of this one. I knew that wouldn't work though so that wasn't going to cut it.

For the few hours we were there she carried him around like he was a baby. If he wasn't spoiled already, she definitely spoiled him.

Shhh....

2010-11-18T06:19:00.004-05:00

Don't wake the sleeping Bear!

I love him more than anything in the world!

He works so hard to keep us happy and taken care of, therefore he sleeps when he gets the chance, which isn't usually much.

Wednesday HodgePodge

2010-11-17T23:36:00.000-05:00

1. What is the most amazing weather you've ever seen?

Probably the weather surrounding a hurricane, even a small one. Not any of the really bad stuff, but a couple days before and after are usually beautiful outside.

2. What is a sound or noise you love?

My kids laughing

A car driving slowly on a rock road

Crunching leaves

Birds singing/chirping

Rain on a metal roof

Music

3. Do you like seafood? What's your favorite seafood dish?

I like some of it now. I didn't eat a lot of it until I moved towards the South. I have tried many, many different kinds of seafood now.

My favorite is probably crab cakes or mahi mahi.

4. What part of your day requires the most patience?

That would either have to be in the morning when the kids get up for school or right after I pick them up from school. For some reason they are the most whiny and argumentative then.

5. What's your favorite shade of blue?

Probably a normal bright shade of royal blue.

6. Do people underestimate you?

Absolutely. I am one of those type of people who like to prove things, especially things where people have underestimated me.

7. When was the last time you had butterflies in your stomach?

Probably when I met the man who is my Hubby.

8. Insert your own random thought here...

I totally take back all those times when I was younger and didn't want to take naps.

Wordless Wednesday - Play Time

2010-11-17T08:13:00.005-05:00

Taco Night

2010-11-16T09:30:00.001-05:00

We let the kids help sometimes in making choices for dinner each week. One of the faves for them is taco night. We try different things occasionally but the original usually wins out. The other week when it was taco night I also had chips and queso to go along with it. After we ran out of queso we still had chips left over. I normally buy these new chip 'strips' that I found (they fit better in the jar). Hubby usually picks out scoops. He decided to combine the scoops with some of the taco stuff we had. He made these cute little appetizer taco things. Simple too; just a scoop chip, meat, cheese and salsa (his salsa, as he eats it quite spicy). You could put whatever you wanted on top too. Perfect finger food.

Meet Me On Monday

2010-11-15T22:56:00.000-05:00

Blogging is a funny thing...we tell our most intimate thoughts for all to read and yet most of the time I find myself sitting and wondering, "who is this person!?" I know them...but yet I don't know them! I want to know who the person is behind all those words so I thought of a great way for all of us to "meet" each other!

Click the silhouette above to read more about this, the host and to link up.

1. Do you eat Sushi?

No, not so much. Once in a while I will eat a vegetable roll or something. I have tried quite a few different types, with the last being an eel roll.

2. What kind of bath soap do you use?

Usually whatever smells nice. I usually have more than one in my bathroom. Right now I have a Softsoap liquid that is orange peel and honeysuckle, and I have Caress Exotic Oil Infusions Moroccan and I also have a Toms of Maine natural soap bar that I use for my face only.

3. How often do you talk to your Mom?

Sadly, never anymore. It's a long story with a not so good ending and leads all the way back to Easter.
4. What TV shows do you watch on a regular basis?

This would take up the whole post. Let's just say I watch a decent amount of reality TV, crime drama, and channels such as the Food Network and HGTV. I will say though that I don't usually have time to watch much TV when it's actually on. Most of my TV is recorded.
5. Did you start Christmas shopping yet?

No, although I do know what we are going to get them.

Some stuff...all put together

2010-11-07T15:01:00.000-05:00

So I figured I haven't done a random post of a bunch of things lately so I will do one. Sort of keeps you updated...and helps me keep myself updated on things going on in my life when I ~~write~~ type it.

Kids BOTH scored a goal at soccer the other night. Plus they BOTH won their games too. I am so proud of them.

My soccer team (the one I coach) starts tournaments next week. Wish us luck!

They did GREAT on their report cards too. A's all around except for one B that my son got but the teacher said he should be able to bring that up easily this 9 weeks.

I finally got around to changing the theme on my BlackBerry from the Halloween one I had. I know, days into November. I'm a slacker sometimes.

I've been trying really hard this week to conquer Mt. Laundry but it seems every time I get about halfway through it, another peak forms. Craziness.

I am sending my older sister a Christmas card this year. I know, that seems stupid to say. I haven't sent her one EVER in the 12 years that I have lived away from home. Who am I kidding!? I barely spoke to her in those 12 years. She used to be into some really bad stuff and I resented the way she was to our family, what she put us through, how selfish she was, the way she made us look and the lack of self-worth she had for herself. It disgusted me and I was angry at her for it. She's been clean for not quite 4 years now. Just this year she made a connection with me. She apologized for everything; for never being there for me, for the way she treated us, etc... I can be a forgiving person but I will never forget what you did. She's my sister and I love her, but 15+ years of crappy feelings don't go away instantly. We are mending it and working through it though.

The holidays are approaching us. Not sure what we are doing for them or if we are going anywhere. We usually spend part of it with my family (my mom, her husband, younger brothers and sisters, etc.) but after what happened at Easter, I doubt we spend any holidays for years with them. I wish my Dad, older brother and sister, aunts and uncles didn't live so far away or we could spend it with them. Even if it ends up just being the four of us here that will be perfectly okay by me. :)

I'm letting my hair grow out. I've had it different lengths of shortness (above the shoulders) since mid 2004. I had it really long in 2000 and I think I am going to try and go back there. I believe I am going to see how much it will actually grow in a year starting in January. I will take a picture each month to document it. I will occasionally get it trimmed as I have always been told that you have to cut the dead ends off in order for it to grow. Not sure if it's really true or not though.

A friend made me a fall wreath for my front door. She said she would give it to me this week. I am excited.

Went and tried to take our pictures for our Christmas card. It was chilly and windy. Not sure how well they are going to come out but we will see. I will probably be able to make something work. I have a session planned in the next few weeks to do Christmas pictures of two kids. Can't wait, should be fun.

My Hubby is off work ALL next weekend. I am just a little excited as he has worked the last few. I have some things planned, but not sure how much of it will get done.

Did the clock changing, daylight savings time crap mess anyone up yet? Some people say it affects their sleep and everything. I've never had that issue, but I actually never had to change my clocks around until I moved to the South. I grew up in an area where we didn't change them so I guess you just grow accustomed to things.

I guess that is enough for right now. I will do some more later.

Love it!

2010-11-04T10:16:00.000-04:00

A friend sent me a huge text forward yesterday with a bunch of junk in it. I usually ignore them because I hate the ends of them where they always talk about passing it on to so many friends. For everyones knowledge, Jesus will still love you, you're not going to die, no one will haunt you, you won't get any money that way and no job will come from it. Sometimes the messages are great, but the end always makes me roll my eyes.

Anyway, after all that garbage there was a quote at the end of yesterdays and I REALLY liked it so I thought I would share.

Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet.

Awesome!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-03T11:57:00.002-04:00

November 2010 Photo Hunt Challenge

2010-11-01T21:35:00.001-04:00

I believe that my month of November will be slow enough that I will be able to participate in the Photo Hunt Challenge. I have a whole month to take all 10 photos.

Like to take pictures? Join us over at Photo Hunt Challenges.

Here are the 10 things I have to photograph:

1. Home Sweet Home

2. Thankful

3. Family

4. I Ate This- Thanksgiving Edition (if you don’t live in U.S then pick something you ate in November)

5. A Turkey

6. Something Hand-Made

7. Something Hot

8. Something Cold

9. Something Orange

10. Anything Goes (Any photo you take in November!)

Wish me luck!

Halloween

2010-11-01T09:36:00.001-04:00

Hope that everyone had a wonderful Halloween (if you celebrate).

We went Trick or Treating on Hallow's Eve instead of the actual Halloween day. I didn't really like that it fell on a Sunday and that the kids had school the next morning. So we just did it a little early. We went with some friends and it was a LOT of fun.

Friend of ours little girl. Cutest dinosaur ever.

Skullzor

Vampire girl

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T01:48:00.001-04:00

Our pumpkins we carved, well, Hubby carved with my help, but who's calling anybody out. :) Top left is my daughters; top right is my sons; bottom one is mine.

SWAGGER WAGON

2010-10-29T01:17:00.000-04:00

This makes me laugh.

Fishing

2010-10-26T16:32:00.000-04:00

This past weekend we went fishing with family and friends. There was quite a few of us, almost 40 I think Hubby mentioned. It's an annual thing we do. It's meant to get kids and parents out and doing something together, and it's free, so that is nice.

Hubby and a friend of ours Hubby did some 'big boy' fishing. They were trying to catch king mackeral or something similar. The kids and the rest of us were just trying to catch whatever else swam by and ate our bait out there from the big giant ocean. A few flounder, croakers, spots, pins, drum, crabs and baby shark later, we were all tuckered out. It was a LONG day (like 14 hours).

Middle of the day at the beach. Whole reason it's great to live here.

What we saw when we walked on the pier to start our day. AWESOME!

This was right at sunset. Most people were packing up to go home.

Jelly Ball

Everyone's poles lined up waiting on the big one.

Fishing line contraption

She caught a fish JUST her size

Baby shark

This made me giggle

Crab that Hubby caught

Fridays Fave Five

2010-10-22T10:04:00.000-04:00

Join Susanne and the rest of us at Living to Tell the Story.

Click the picture above and add your Fave Five.

1. Togetherness...This hasn't happened yet this week but it will happen tomorrow morning so I am including it. We are getting together with a bunch of friends and their kids (probably 10+ families) tomorrow morning for a few hours and going fishing. We do it every year and it is a bunch of fun. It's a fishing competition through our city here for kids. Supposed to encourage 'togetherness' through fishing. It's quite a big production actually with every pier in the area doing it. Although we don't get along with EVERY family going within our group, we are civil for the kids and I am very thankful for the ones that we do get along with because they are awesome.

2. Lunch...only on the days that I get to share it with Hubby though. :)

3. Truth...although some people don't like to hear it, it's usually best. My Mom taught me to speak my mind and my Dad told me to always tell the truth. I do both, which sometimes translates into people getting upset with me. If someone is your true friend, you will tell them the truth. If they are your true friend, they will accept what you have to say and still be around knowing you only say things because they care.

4. Facebook status messages...I know, this sounds pretty stupid to be thankful for. Did you know that you can actually learn a LOT about people by watching what they post on their status messages? I sometimes learn that I don't like the way certain people are, the way certain people behave, or the way that certain people believe just be reading them. Sad, but true. I know I shouldn't judge anyone based on status messages. But, as I have heard from our minister, God created us, and in creating us he put a little bit of judgemental-ness in us. He forgives us, that is what he does. No, I'm not judging based on what color your skin is or what your income level is or anything else like that. I do judge based on how you post your daily life standings, such as you talking about drinking and getting 'plastered' all the time or your updates on how many people you sleep with or how many 1000's of times you complain about your kids. I complain about my kids sometimes too because I know they get on my nerves and I also know that happens to other people too; they test us and I know this. But I have a couple friends that almost EVERY post is about how annoyed they are with their kids and the bad things they call them. Hello!? Did no one tell you the TRUTH about what it was going to be like to have kids? Guess not. Anyway, I think that God will forgive me for doing a little bit of judging for those things.

5. Complainers...for making me realize sometimes that everything I have going on isn't as bad as it seems and it could be worse.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-20T00:23:00.001-04:00

(click to see bigger)

Drink it up!

2010-10-16T19:38:00.000-04:00

Had some of my beloved drinks been on this list it would have ruined my day. :(

Thankfully, I drink NOTHING listed on this list. Probably wouldn't either, other than the smoothie at the end because I LOVE smoothies.

America's Most Fattening 'Diet' Drinks

Fridays Fave Five

2010-10-15T10:22:00.000-04:00

If you read the description for the Friday's Fave Five, you are supposed to post your blessings for the week. She says that some weeks are going to be harder than others. This week is one for me. I am always thankful for ALL the normal daily/weekly blessings I have like my kids, Hubby, family, friends, food, shelter, etc... I know what those mean to me and I don't take them for granted.

1. I'm thankful for the vehicle that we have. After some idiot smashing and totaling mine over the summer, we got a new one a couple months ago. It's bigger, has more space, more seats, more options, and is a year newer than our last. Although it is needing new tires right now (which are expensive because they are a special order), I am thankful that we have it.

2. I am thankful that my Hubby has a lot of the same views on things that I do. In us being alike in that way it makes it easier to 'vent' to him because he understands and usually agrees. And no, he's not one of those people that just agrees with me to get me to be quiet. Trust me, if he doesn't agree or there is a difference, he lets me know.

3. Thankful for letters from my Dad. I got one in the mail and it made my WHOLE day. He calls me a queen and says I should be treated as such.

4. Thankful for my warm, fuzzy, green blanket, especially this morning when it was 49* when I woke up. Love the fall, hate the cold.

5. Thankful for the weekend, because I sure need it this week.

Click the picture above and post yours next. :)

You can't do dirt your whole life then say "oops'!

2010-10-15T09:22:00.000-04:00

I love Will Smith!

Inspiration

2010-10-15T00:39:00.000-04:00

Of the few things that inspire me in my life music is a big one that does.

I love the words to songs, like short stories, said in a fashion that makes life lively.

I like ALL kinds of music too. I have an appreciation for it. That appreciation comes from my Dad and his constant pushing for me to learn how to play instruments and read music. It made me realize that music is art.

Anyway, while reading a magazine the other day, a story about a band caught my eye. They are called FLAME. All of the people in the band have a disability or something that holds them back in some way. Through autism, down syndrome, being blind, etc... they have a band and play concerts. How awesome is that!? Well, I thought it was awesome and truly an inspiration. They are living life and doing what they enjoy. Plus, in reading the magazine story, it talked about how being in the band has helped them. So I guess it was an inspiration for them too. That is even better.

Check it out if you get a chance.

http://www.flametheband.com/

Pictures...as promised

2010-10-13T09:54:00.001-04:00

Here are some of the recent pictures that I promised of my kids playing soccer (taken by Hubby as I coach) and my friends kids playing football (I took).

Soccer and Football

2010-10-09T16:30:00.000-04:00

Daughters team lost their soccer game today 0-3. They played really well though. Daughter did good on goalie once again, but not so good when she played on offense. For years she has been training for defense (she likes it best) but for some reason he won't put her there. During practice he trained her and one other girl for goalie and no one else. They are doing ALL the goalie stuff in the games. This is supposed to be equal opportunity playing and ALL team members are supposed to get a chance on playing every position. About five minutes after her game when we were walking towards the football field, she broke down crying. She said she likes goalie but she doesn't want to play it every game. That means it's time for me to step in because she said she told him today she didn't want to next game. He sort of ignored her. Her coach and I will have words on Tuesday and I will remind him of the paperwork that he signed saying every child would equally play every position.

After soccer we walked over to the football field. We have some friends whose boys play on a team there and we went over and watched them. Football for 9-10 year olds is pretty much a jumbled up mess. Some are confused, some are timid, some are really mean and I believe some don't care at all. It gives them experience and it is sort of cute but they are either always in the middle of the field in a bunch or one is fully breaking away and scoring. There is no in-between battling really. It gave me a chance to take some pictures though. Their team lost and from what I was told they know how to play better than that but today was an off day. It's OK, we all have those.

I have the pictures, but they are on my camera and it is charging right now. I will post some later.

Fridays Fave Five

2010-10-08T22:34:00.000-04:00

1. The 20 pounds of candles that my Hubby brought me the other morning. A store near the mall where he was doing the parking lot was cleaning out their votive inventory. They probably got rid of about 60 or so pounds so he brought me a bunch. There was about eight different scents. These work GREAT with my electric candle warmer because all I have to do is put three or four in an empty glass candle jar (which I can find at a thrift store all the time) and warm. I can change the scent multiple times.

2. My soccer team and how well they are doing. I know it's kids and a lot of it is supposed to be for fun, but they do keep score so there is a side of competition. I am the only woman coach in our league. I believe that some of those men get upset when my team beats theirs. I see the defeat in their faces when we shake hands at the end of the game; disappointment. There is a side of me that likes it too though and I shouldn't be that way I guess. Knowing all about the game and doing all these trick moves isn't what will always win the game. Getting to know your players individually, their strengths, their weaknesses, what intimidates them, what makes them 'tick'...that is what wins games.

3. Kind words from a very good friend. Her and I have gotten closer and closer over the past year. She is one of the most honest and upfront people that I know. She will tell it like it is whether it will hurt your feelings or not. I respect that about her. Just today she told me that she trusts me and I told her the same. I'm not an all too trusting person, and like I said, it's been a year I've been talking to her, but I feel I can tell her just about anything now and it will be safe. That is a good feeling. I need more people in my life like that.

4. Breakfast and lunch dates with my Hubby. We have conflicting schedules a lot of times, so I cherish the small times we get to ourselves even if it's just to grab a quick bite to eat at a fast food restaurant. We try to do at least one a week. This week we've done two I can remember, but it might have been three.

5. My dog for being my entertainment today. He humors me sometimes and chases that tennis ball around the front yard or jumping to catch it in his mouth just to make me laugh. I don't know whether he actually likes chasing it around, but he seems like he does. Today he also caught peanuts and individual pieces of dog food that I flung in the air for him to catch. Thanks Jasper for entertaining me. :)

Click on the image above and you can link up too. While your there, read the Fave Fives from others.

Thursday 10

2010-10-08T21:50:00.000-04:00

Today Lora was talking about JOY and the things that bring her to such happiness that her heart sings.

Here is a partial list of things that do that for me as well (in no particular order).

1. My electric candle warmer

This is so much safer than actually lighting the candles and having an open flame, plus the smell is stronger when the candle actually melts. I love things that smell good.

2. Ghirardelli chocolate and caramel squares

I am not a huge fan of chocolate and I really don't like caramel much at all, but for some reason I can eat it in this particular candy. Any other thing though and you will hear me say 'I don't like it'. On a side note, my daughter doesn't like caramel either.

3. Photography and my camera

Anything revolving around these two things is definitely a happy thing.

4. Movies

I love to watch them and review them.

5. Music

Who could live without music? I mean really, it's everywhere.

6. Babies

I love all of them, but I especially love them from about 4 months until about 15 months. To me that is when they really discover things and I love to see the joy on their face when they learn. I also love to go shopping for baby clothes. They make the cutest things for them.

7. My Hubby and kids

This is probably a given, and a little bit of a cliche I guess. I'm not real close to a lot of the rest of my family, so my hubby and kids mean a LOT to me. No matter what they have always been there. We've been through a lot, but we always get through.

An add to this would be the relationship I have with my ex-husband. I know when a lot of people divorce they don't get along AT ALL. We didn't get along the first few years, but now we are quite good friends. He calls me for advice, stays at our house when he visits, and spends time with all of us (my new hubby included) as a family. And I adore his other son.

8. My BlackBerry

I've had my BlackBerry for a while, my second actually, and I like it quite a bit. Although I do think I would like an Android powered smart phone and think I may buy one in a couple months. I'm sort of an electronics junkie and if I had the money would probably be dangerous. I'm a junkie in the sense that I love to keep up with it, although most of it is SO expensive that I can't afford it all the time.

9. Smoothies

Right now I am really liking the strawberry banana ones from McDonalds. I really should invest in a blender or smoothie maker and just make them myself, since I probably could have paid for a bunch of them by now with as much as I pay for someone else to make me a smoothie.

10. Thrift shopping

This really makes me happy, as you have seen in other posts. I stop by a couple thrift stores a few times a week. Things in their change hourly so I like to stop in every now and then. I LOVE the thrill of the hunt, the good deals I can find. I've actually gotten the Hubby into liking it too. The kids have always liked it because being that things are cheaper they usually get something each time we go.

Daughters first game

2010-10-06T00:42:00.000-04:00

My daughter had her first soccer game tonight. She played goalie for part of it (one of her main positions) and she did GREAT! She blocked a bunch of goals. The team never scored on them. They ended up winning 3-0.

Our other team (my son's team that I coach) did awesome as well. We won 2-1.

All of the kids did great and I am SO proud of all of them!

Hubby was supposed to take some pictures but I haven't looked at them yet. If any of them are okay enough to post I will do that soon.

First game

2010-10-04T16:26:00.001-04:00

Tonight is our first soccer game.

We haven't had a practice in over a week because of all the rain we have gotten lately and it put our fields underwater.

I hope they do well playing and I hope I do okay coaching them along.

Wish us luck!

ETA: Well, we didn't win but we didn't lose. We tied, 2-2. Another game tomorrow.

Daughter has her first game tomorrow too.

DR visits

2010-10-04T07:47:00.000-04:00

Kids had one year checkups the other day at the doctors.

They received the second round of their chicken pox vaccine. Apparently they fell into a year range when they got their first that they had to get a second. Oh well, they barely hurt at all and it's protection.

Both are growing at GREAT rates.

Daughter is the same weight as she was when we took her in last winter for a illness. She has gained a few inches in height though from last years checkup. She is SO tall for her age. She is 59 inches. I know, 59! She has a eczema rash behind one ear (she's had spots since she was little) and she has been messing with it. He said to use neosporin until it was healed and then more eucerin lotion, the thick one on it. She has been having some issues that I thought were going to become the onset of asthma (I have it slightly). He said not yet and that she needed to condition her body more, 30 to 60 minutes of running DAILY. Wow, even I don't do that.

Son has lost a big of weight, but nothing of concern the doctor said. They said he might have shed some unnecessary baby fat (because of playing sports) he still had and that he is actually growing up. He said he may want to eat more though. Great. He too is quite tall at 53 inches. He's been having some sinus/nose issues. He always sounds stuffed up and acts like he can't breathe. Doctor said his nasal passages and sinuses are really dry. We were told to put sinus drops in them twice a day to keep them moisturized.

We have been doing both things for the kids for over 72 hours now (her ear, his nose) and they are so much better. Love good doctors.

And for those that have asked, both kids are upper elementary school aged.

Sweet Memories...Cookies

2010-10-01T01:28:00.001-04:00

I have a new store open if anyone is interested.

Putting an image/text of your choosing or one from the stock clipart available onto a cookie. Customizable to your liking with the design studio on my site.

They come wrapped in individual cello wrappers. There is a gift bag option and a gift box option as well. Everything is edible and it is NOT just on rice paper, these are actually printed into the icing.

You can get these for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!

Very reasonably priced and they are shipped directly to you. Shipping is usually done within a few days of ordering.

Take a look!

You can click below or click on my banner on my sidebar. :)

Kids and the Bible

2010-09-29T00:47:00.000-04:00

My children, who are elementary school aged have, of course, never read the whole Bible. For one, without a LOT of help they wouldn't understand the wording in most of it or what was going on.

While at the book store one day I found a Bible that had the title Extreme Teen on the front. I opened it up and found that while the parts of the Bible are in there, it actually explains things as it goes in a way that a teen would understand. I believe that my kids will be able to understand this too as they are older elementary school aged kids, or I am hoping so anyway. I am hoping that if a part is confusing that my 20+ years of the Bible would be able to help them too, although I don't know ALL about it either, but I do know how they learn things.

I've had this Bible sitting here for a year now on my bookshelf and probably only cracked it open twice.

I have decided that as of October 1st I am going to start reading this to them, hopefully a little each night. My hopes are that in less than one year we will be completed with this task and my kids will be able to say that they have at least 'heard' the Bible all the way through.

What brought this on?

Well, I turn 30 this year, in a couple days actually. Not too long after my children were born we had them baptized. In that ceremony you and the family you choose promise to help guide your children down a life of faith, belief and love. You also promise to teach them the Word. Although my kids know some stories that are taught, like Noah, and Jonah, and others, it's still not ALL the Bible. I want them to have that knowledge, and it's about time I give it to them. Here's to a new decade in my life and hopefully a new learning in theirs.

Wish us luck!

Proverbs - Chapter 4; Verses 4, 5 & 13

he taught me and said, Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live.
Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.

Proverbs - Chapter 6; Verse 23

For these commands and this teaching are a lamp to light the way ahead of you. The correction of discipline is the way of life.

Cupcake Birthday

2010-09-28T08:25:00.007-04:00

Friend of ours little girl had a birthday party the other weekend. It was supposed to be outside, but it rained. :( We had to crowd into a very small living room, but I guess that just made it more cozy. :)

Instead of a big birthday cake they had a cupcake decorating station. Really cute idea.

They were also supposed to have a movie on the projector outside. Rain of course cancelled that. We tried to do it inside but for some reason the brand new DVD wouldn't work. They had cute little popcorn buckets and even box candy just like a movie theater for that.

Any little girl would have LOVED this party.

Alligator...turtle

2010-09-27T07:25:00.002-04:00

So the other weekend this was in our yard. Biggest turtle I had ever seen crawling around in a country suburbia yard. I of course wanted to take his picture. Hubby told me not to get to close because it was an alligator. I laughed. I said, hello, that's a turtle, not an alligator. He said, yeah, an alligator turtle. He said it is called that because of it's tail and strength. He said it could seriously hurt us if it got a hold of us. Uh...can we say scary? And it was in my yard, which could be near my dogs or my children. He's wasn't that nice looking.

Anyway, my brother in law was there and put him in the back of his truck and said he would find a pond or lake or somewhere to put him where he would be safe. :) Anywhere but my yard is OK with me.

Rain, rain, we finally got rain...

2010-09-27T00:18:00.000-04:00

It's been about six weeks since we have seen a good rain here.

We finally got some today and we really needed it too.

People had been praying for rain.

I was personally a little selfish about needing the rain the past couple of days. I wanted it mainly so that I didn't have to wash my car of all that dust from going down the road to soccer.

It's clean now though. And I realize that in general we really needed the rain for other things, I know this.

Everyone got their rain today, and we are supposed to get even more this week.

Remember this post from the other day?

They called me the other day needing information, my help again. I feel bad about not giving it to them because of the boys involved, but then I remember what they did and think twice. The boys are not being hurt and their program isn't hurting based on certain things I won't tell them. If it was something that they really couldn't do without me or like I said, something that would truly hinder the boys quality program, I would tell them. These particular things are just crap that they don't want to take the time to figure out on their own and want me to do for them. Sorry, you're not taking credit for things I have done or my organizational skills. They called my friend too (the one not allowed to vote) and she wouldn't tell them much either. They want her to 'watch over me' saying it is her job as a member. She reminded them that the other week when her vote, as a member, should have been there, they disregarded it. She told them she will not be used only when they need her.

Talked to one of the other members again who weren't informed of the meeting on Saturday. He's really quite upset. More upset than we originally thought. Their is a level of hurt there considering they have to PAY to be members and then their payment isn't being regarded to make decisions that they were told they would be able to.

I hate to be spiteful, really I do. I see at each meeting or through each e-mail though that they are starting to feel the strain of what they did by getting rid of me. They should have thought of the short term impact of this particular move on their part. They should have thought about the friendships I have formed while being in this position. Those particular friendships are the same ones that they are forging a wedge between with all this between themselves. The more you piss off my 'friends', the more they are NOT going to do things for you. A cub scout pack is run completely on volunteers. Not a good idea to piss off all your volunteers, or piss off someone who knows the ins and outs of an organization you are running. Informed people are sometimes the worst kind of people.

Catching up

2010-09-25T01:59:00.002-04:00

So I made that list of shows below of the shows that were all last week, with a few exceptions of some being on Sunday that I was going to watch. I think I've barely made it through half them yet in my queue. We aren't home early enough sometimes in the evenings for me to catch them or if we are home I am busy doing something usually. So, here's my thoughts so far of what I have watched.

1. Glee - Definitely not the season premiere, life grabbing, show stopper I was expecting. Honestly, if this had been the pilot episode, I may not have watched ever again. It had some funny parts, don't get me wrong, but the story wasn't there for me yet.

2. Hells Kitchen - Awesome as always. This show has never disappointed me. I love Gordon Ramsey. My predictions, which are really hard to do in the beginning like this, are Boris for the guys and the Asian girl from the girls. We'll see how that goes though.

3. Desperate Housewives - Starts Sunday.

4. CSI - It was gripping; I liked it. I miss Grissom and Warrick, but the show must go on and it will. It is good without them, but I still miss them. Warrick was kind of hot too, although Nick is looking pretty good.
CSI: New York - Still in queue.
CSI: Miami - Still in queue.
-
5. House - Still in queue.

6. The Big Bang Theory - Still in queue.

7. - Criminal Minds - Still in queue.

8. Brothers and Sisters - Starts Sunday.
This was quite an emotional show. They sure packed a LOT into this show. They have really taken this one year later thing to a different level. I am hoping that as the season goes on that more of the stuff will be drawn out a slight bit more now. I guess I am hoping each episode this season will focus more on the issues going on with the family. They never did show 'Robert' as being in the hospital or at his funeral. Wonder what he is doing now? Usually when one leaves a show like that they are doing something else and need to make the time.

9. Amazing Race - I believe it starts Sunday.
Awesome as always! I actually really liked the two guys that got eliminated already. :( Oh well. That Miss Kentucky girl is gonna have to tone down all that happy crap or she will be hard to deal with all season. I like the doctors and the asian father/son team as well. Still early so we will see.
Oh, awful moment in that when that girl got hit in the face with a watermelon. She kept saying she couldn't feel her face. I hope she is OK.

10. Parenthood - For some reason I love this show. It's one of those shows that is so REAL. I mean, there probably people out there that are just like this and I love that about it. I wish my family was like this, but alas, you put all of us together it is definitely NOT like this.

The others from the other list:

Melissa and Joey - Joey is a good looking guy. This show has funny moments. I hate that Melissa acts like such an airhead sometime though. I know she's smarter than that and I know it's a TV show, but geez, she seems like a complete idiot sometimes.

Bones - Not in my queue, but I will get it there.

**** my Dad says - LOVED IT! SO FUNNY! This is gonna be a good show.

The Mentalist - Still in queue.

The Good Wife - Starts next week.

Extreme Makover: Home Edition: Starts Sunday
Was good. I only watched part of it, but I saw the end. I LOVED her office with that mural thing on the walls and all the photography everywhere. Wish I had an office like that. I liked the shape of the house too; very casual modern.

19 Kids and Counting: Always like this show, but not sure how crazy I am gonna be about new ones. I'm beginning to think they are having kids just for the money and fame. I would like to hear what her announcement is about having or not having more though. Preview has me sucked in on that.

So there is my reviews so far. We'll see if they change in a few weeks. Oh, and as I watch the others I will update this in different colored writing.

Thursdays 10 DVR List

2010-09-23T09:30:00.000-04:00

My friend Vanessa over at Dilly Dally did this and linked to someone else's blog (which you can get to clicking above). They did a list of 10 things that would be on their DVR's for the fall season of TV. Sadly, I have more than 10, but I will post the ones I really hate to miss with pictures and then maybe make a list of others (it expands daily). And no, I don't sit around all day/night watching TV. I seriously don't have time for that. My holding queue is usually really, really long. I have seven hours worth of shows waiting right now for me. I get them in when I can, and I try to make that before the next weeks episode comes out but that doesn't always happen.

Anyway, here's my list.

1. Glee

2. Hell's Kitchen

3. Desperate Housewives

4. CSI (all of them)

5. House

6. Big Bang Theory

7. Criminal Minds

8. Brothers and Sisters

9. The Amazing Race

10. Parenthood

Few other mentionables that I like to watch too but don't die if I miss. I watch a lot of stuff on Hulu, so therefore I can watch just about anything. Some shows don't allow their stuff to be shown there and those I know I HAVE to catch on TV.

1. Melissa and Joey

2. Bones

3. **** my Dad Says (new, haven't seen yet, but I love the book/blog/writings he did)

4. The Mentalist

5. The Good Wife

6. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

7. 19 Kids and Counting

I am sure there are others, but I usually can't keep up with all of it.

All images copyright their respective owners.

Stressed...maybe not

2010-09-21T13:16:00.000-04:00

Are you ever really, really busy? Stressed out? Have so much to do that you don't have time to think or eat or pee or.... I have days that I am glad that I don't have to remember to breathe. :)

Something happened the other evening that had me quite upset. I was taken out of a volunteer position that I held. Yes, a volunteer position. I know, sounds dumb. It was within our cub scout pack. I was one of the people in charge of getting activities together, heading them up, making sure they worked out right, and basically making it fun for the boys. The 'master' of said group said that they were voting to take me out of my position because I had taken the FUN out of it.

I only had three votes against me and one with me. Sad part is that of those three votes, one was him, one was a leader with no children involved and has nothing directly to do with me, and the other was someone he had added to our list on Friday because she had a issue with me from before. He didn't let my husband vote. He didn't let my friend vote. He didn't call or inform in anyway four of the members that were allowed to vote at such a meeting. I have spoken to them myself and they are quite upset. Why did he not call them? Well because he knew they would have voted to keep me in and he just couldn't have that. He has personal issues with me stemming back from a couple years ago when he jumped in anger at another parent and I stood up and defended that parent. I also had one of his mentors (woman from above he had added back to list) taken out of scouting because of her son being arrested for drugs and her bad care with our pack money. Her son was taken out of scouts as well. So, he has a personal vendetta towards me.

I walked into the room, took my seat next to a friend, and waited to hear what he had to say. One of the leaders was asked to say a word of prayer because scouts are reverent. We then recited The Pledge of Allegiance. When I was informed of such meeting, this (me) is not what I was told it was to be about. No one else was told this either. He lied about what the meeting was about. When he began speaking about me, over half the room had their mouths fall open, especially when he said the part about me taking the FUN out of it. My friend, after listening for a few minutes, got up and left the room. She told me later that she was so in disgust with the way that they handled such a matter and to make such a show of it that she couldn't deal with it anymore and had to step out for a little while. I wasn't a bad volunteer. I had no complaints, other than from those exact three, but obviously you can tell why. And all their complaints were personal, nothing professional to do with actual scouting. There is a little more to it, but you get the picture with the trio coming together to backstab and try to get their way.

Was I upset? Yes. Did I want to cry? Yes. Did it hurt to hear those things? Yes. Did I feel like screaming at them? Absolutely.

So what did I do you ask? I did nothing.

I look back now and I think maybe I was slightly in shock (same as a lot of people there). No, I was in shock. In shock knowing that we had just said/heard a prayer about the people there and then in the next breath they can say such mean things about someone. (I, nor anyone else, was allowed to make a statement or defense either, he wanted NO discussion) I'm an adult, a Christian adult at that, and we don't do that. I admit that me and Hubby and friends and whomever sometimes talk about people, but not right after I say a prayer and have God's attention. And it's more between us, not put out on show like this was.

So you're still asking what I did? Essentially nothing. I got all the files, paperwork, etc. together and I set it up on the desk (had been working on it at home). I informed them where some things were in my 'system' of my desk and Hubby and I left. I didn't say one word to them. There was no need. I wanted NO part of that situation and the way they had just handled things. I didn't need to say anything, because God forgive me for this, but I felt higher than them at that point. I was not going to stoop to that level they had just reached.

I walked out sad and upset. It bothered me for a while afterwards. The next day though while sitting around thinking about it (people do that when people say bad things, makes them think, even if the other person was wrong), I felt a sense of ease. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I all of a sudden had a calm clarity in my heart about the situation.

A friend told me it was GREAT. She said that now I could spend more time doing some of the fun activities that I used to plan with my son as he is still in scouts. She was right. I now get to actually HAVE the fun without the worry, planning and execution of the actual fun. It's someone else's issue. All I gotta say to them is it BETTER be fun.

And thank you to ALL my friends, fellow scout parents, etc... that have contacted me in one way or another once this news spread. I absolutely cherish the fact that you believe they were wrong in what they did and can stand up with me in this as support.

Answers to a few questions I have been asked:

Yes, I was put into that position, voluntarily.

Yes, they can vote me out. Supposed to be a democracy with discussion, but it doesn't happen.

Yes, my son is staying in this pack, for now anyway. He started with these boys and is in his third year now. I hate to uproot him because they are being dumb although we have checked around at other packs, as well as some other parents have too.

Yes, there is something I can do about it. It's a huge chain of command though. Though wrong what they did and how it was handled, I'm not 100% sure it's worth the fight. Fighting for what, my position back? I don't want it back to work with those people.

Yes, I am still fully trained and no, they can't take that away from me. Will it come in handy? Probably.

Yes, I could go to another pack and lead. Do I want to? Not sure on that. This left a bad taste in my mouth.

Yes, my son knows what happened. Both kids do. I keep them informed since some of it involves them. They are not entirely happy with those three people as I told them who voted against me. My son was upset at who was taking my place because he has heard her cuss at a meeting and her son is a trouble maker.

And the final and funniest question:

Would my Hubby have voted for me to stay in my position?

NO!

Know why? Because he said that it was too much stress on me and that I don't need to work with people like that.

Bet their jaws would have dropped when they say him raise his hand to vote me out. He definitely thinks of my feelings and loves me. :)

Don't anyone get me wrong. Scouts in general is a GREAT program for kids. Just be careful which people you choose to join.

Thrift store finds

2010-09-18T00:04:00.000-04:00

I LOVE to shop at thrift stores...any kind. I think it's the thrill of finding the deals that gets me. Two in the area that I go to know EXACTLY what gets me. :) One sells clothes with original tags still on them, but for a LOT cheaper of course. The other gets discontinued or overstock (unopened) from Target. That is the most awesome thing ever. Target items at like a quarter of the price from normal. I usually stop in to them at least once a week because there is always something new and good deals to be found.

On my 10 Things Tuesday I told you about my good deal on the Nike cleats. That was probably one of the best deals this whole year considering they were still 'new in box' and are still sold on their website.

Hubby and I stopped in there yesterday and I found a new pair of Billabong flip flops for me, a DonnaKaran purse (seriously, does anyone know what these sell for new!?), and an unopened ZhuZhu pet for the kids. Didn't buy much, but the purse was most definitely the steal of the day.

I've probably spent a lot this year in thrift stores, but if I added it up for what I would pay for all that stuff retail, it is SO worth it. And like I said, a lot of it still has original tagging or is unopened overstock or something.

Hubby was happy with one purchase a few weeks ago. I got him a Makita cordless drill with two batteries, a charger and a case all for $10. I've gotten the kids quite a few clothes, about 10 pairs of shoes and a few toys. They had a stock on Osh Kosh shirts for my son one day. I bought six different ones and each of them were only $3. I got myself a pair of Columbia hiking boots, basically new, and still a style they sell on the website (at $75) for $4.

A lot of times when I go in there I see the same people. I call them 'thrifters'. I know, real original. But seriously, with the kinds of deals you can get, I too wish I could spend more time there as new things were put out. I think some of them check in every few hours. I only wish I had that kind of time. :-/ Anyway, I get some good deals regardless of being there 24/7.

Anyone else thrift shop? Are you a 'thrifter' or a casual shopper? What has been the greatest deal you have scored?

Grrrr....

2010-09-17T01:14:00.000-04:00

I had a wonderful day today with Hubby. We hung out at the house together this morning, just the two of us (and the dog). We lounged around in our PJ's until almost lunch time just chilling and talking. We finally got up and got dressed because we had some errands to run and we went and got lunch together. All of it was pretty nice. :)

I went and got my church work done. All was well there when I left.

We then went to the soccer field because my daughter was supposed to have practice. The coach never showed...again. They have only had four scheduled practices so far and he has missed two of them now. Both with NO notice to parents. That is just plain RUDE. So I was sort of ticked off when I left there.

Went and got dinner with the family. That was nice.

Went to Cub Scouts and it was fine...or so I thought. During the meeting was fine, but afterwards it got bad. Since we got done with scouts tonight I have been on the phone almost non-stop until about 20 minutes ago. It is a pretty heated discussion/issue that we are having (all between leaders, no children involved and they know nothing as they shouldn't). I can't talk about it right now because I am not supposed to until we have a real meeting. This is supposed to go down Sunday evening so hopefully after that I will be able to talk about it more so you know what I am speaking of.

I am ready to head to bed, I have a headache and this afternoon my throat got scratchy and I have started losing my voice. Not good. Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday!

Day 2: Our Week

2010-09-15T09:05:00.000-04:00

This particular post means a lot to me because of how much time and how many photos we got of Hubby's son (my stepson). If you know me personally, you know the struggles we have with his mother and that situation. If not, imagine the worst scenario of a father not seeing his son for NO APPARENT REASON but she is not nice. Anyway, here is what the post said....and the beloved pictures are on the original post.

We've been pretty busy lately, between school, the business, soccer practice and games, coaching, boy/girl scouts, and etc... Seems when you have kids, your to-do list is never ending. Although it may be tiring and a lot of running around, it is all worth it. Especially the part for the kids, because they deserve to be happy and doing the things they like too.

My son had his first soccer game this past week. They won 5-0, though we're not supposed to say it that way. They like to instill in kids this age that it is 'just a game' and that everyone wins, not just one team. We have some VERY competitive kids on our team though and they of course pay attention to who is scoring what, so they know the difference. I thought it funny though because one kid (a good sized little kid I will say) from the other team came up to some of our players, grabbed their shirts and yelled 'we're *blank, blank, blank* (team name there) and we're gonna win'. It was kind of funny, and kind of ironic that they didn't win and that same kid got in trouble during the game. I thought it cute to see such a little kid be so pumped up over a game though.

Guess our coaching wasn't that bad either. (we coach his team) Considering we knew absolutely nothing about soccer when we started, they are doing really well. The referee actually told me that they were a good team. She said they were hard to ref, but good none the less. That made me smile. :)

My daughter doesn't play her first game until next week. We'll see how that goes.

The other day the kids bugged me to take them to the park, partly because they like to go down there and feed the ducks crackers. It is neat to have these wild ducks come running for you when you get out of the truck because they know you and know that you feed them. :) It's also neat that they will eat the crackers right out of your hand. The kids REALLY enjoy this. Anyway, when we were done we went over to the actual park to let the kids play. It just so happens that when we walked up, hubby's son was there playing. His aunt had brought him. It was a nice surprise. I snapped a few pictures of him because we haven't got to see him much in the past year because his mother isn't the nicest of people to get along with. We stayed there a lot longer than we had expected, but it was worth it. He's growing up so fast; he's such a doll.

I'm writing this trying to win Thelma and Louise which is sponsored by Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances.

Day 3: A Pipe Dream

2010-09-15T08:33:00.002-04:00

The challenge for today was to re-post a post with a title you were proud of or that you thought was funny, amusing, cute, etc... So I chose, A Pipe Dream.

Here is what it said:

In this quaint county we live in there is a thing called 'piping' that men do (not what you are thinking you dirty minded people). They have loud tail pipes on their vehicles, usually trucks and when they come up to another truck that either A: has a man in it that they want to race or act macho around or B: has a woman in it that they are showing off for they will usually put their truck in neutral and rev it really loudly so that their pipes roar. All the while I am sure that their 'pipe' is getting some kind of enjoyment out of this, especially if they are 'piping' a pretty girl. Nonsense really.

So a couple days a couple weeks ago I got 'piped'. One was by a man in a truck (a Ford no doubt) and the other by a man in a Jeep Wrangler.

The man in the truck was acting stupid like he was trying to flirt through the window. He looked silly. He's flirting and revving his truck and I was doing my best to ignore him without laughing at him. I presume that when they see me driving a truck that I am just 'another pretty girl in a truck' to them. So as the light turns green we go down the highway, side by side, his eyeballs still half glued to me. The particular highway that we are driving on goes from 2 lanes to 1 in less than half a mile; right lane merging into left. I was in the left. I saw him inching slightly forward to try and get in front of me before his lane merged. I hit the gas and flew out in front. Shouldn't waste those 'pipings' on a girl that drives a better truck.

The man in the Jeep was a total pretty boy. Not quite sure why he was even driving a Jeep with mud tires and loud pipes. That Jeep didn't even look like it had ever been in the mud. And if I was going to pay that much for rims like he had, I wouldn't put it in the mud. Total waste of money if you ask me. Anyway, I was behind this guy and he saw me in his rearview mirror. He started 'piping' me and then went to fixing his hair in the mirror. Told you he was a pretty boy. That had to be the longest I had ever sat at that particular light, and the whole time, he fixed his hair. I had no option when the light turned green but to follow him because it was only a one lane at the time and not a passing zone. Once we got to a passing zone, I passed him. You should have seen his face as I went around him, it was priceless. I don't know what goes through their heads, but you can see sheer disappointment on their faces when the girl they 'piped' does something to hurt their ego.

So that all you people out there know, yes, I drive a truck, but that doesn't give you the invitation to 'pipe' me. Keep it in your pants, er...pipes. If you still feel like 'piping' me, go ahead, but don't say I didn't warn you. :)

If you click up top to view the original post, I also have a picture I took of the front of the Chevy Truck, but did it in my own way. Of course as you all know now, I don't drive a truck anymore. That particular truck had the transmission go out on me. I now drive a mommy-fied SUV. Though I do love my SUV. Hope you enjoy my post.

This is being sponsored by Standards of Excellence , Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances so that I can hopefully bring home Thelma and Louise.

Day 1: My very first post ever

2010-09-15T08:11:00.003-04:00

You can see it here, but this is what it said:

So I don't actually know much about blogging, but I figured I would start. I love to read other peoples, so I thought I would start my own. I think my life is FAIRLY boring, but who knows, maybe someone will want to read about it. :)

Here is supporting other girls, other blogs, and a hope that Thelma and Louise can come home with me.

Sponsored by Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances.

10 Things Tuesdays

2010-09-14T23:47:00.000-04:00

Ten things made you happy this week? Blog about ‘em! Ten things you want to do before the week’s over? Blog ‘em! Any ten things, any theme you wish, every Tuesday.

1. Soccer. I love it, I coach. My kids love it, they play.

We are a soccer family. Hasn't always been like this though. We didn't have soccer where I went to high school and so it never interested me before. I started coaching when my kids took an interest in it at age six and started playing on a team. I've been coaching and they've been playing for a few years now. They usually play two seasons a year.

What I love so far this season...the new Nike cleats I got for an incredibly insanely good deal of only $3! Score!

2. American Eagle Outfitters. Probably my ALL time favorite brand of clothes. Though I don't have loads and loads of money to spend on designer clothes otherwise I might find something else I like. This one does me well until I hit the lottery. Their jeans/pants usually fit me perfectly; even though they discontinued my favorite style of jeans. Some of you might think I am crazy at how much I like them. Over half my wardrobe is AEO. Hopefully going this weekend to see if they put their summer stuff on sale yet.

3. Bath and Body Works. I love smelly good things. This store is usually overwhelming with smell goods when you walk in. I buy something just about every time I go in there. Even my kids like to go in there and get something. They really love those little hand sanitizers in different scents that go into their special holders that came from there. This store fuels your need though with those buy 3, get 3 sales and all those coupons they send me. With the deals, I can walk out spending $25 and have a whole bag full of stuff, which probably saved me over $80. They suck you in like that.

This is just a small section of one shelf in my bathroom of stuff I own from them. Told you I bought a lot.

4. Socks. Only certain socks and only at certain times. I particularly love the thicker Joe Boxer socks that come with different colored bottoms. Not the kind with the waffle type feeling though.

Last year I did buy another sock, one by Timberland. They were a little expensive for a regular cotton sock, almost $12 a pair. They are really nice though. I won't be buying a whole bunch of those at one time though. That's the reason I only own two pairs.

5. Inspirational/cute sayings. This particular one is on a big mirror in between my dining room and living room. I have one above my bed too that says 'Always Kiss Me Good Night'. I have another in my dining room above the door going to my kitchen (seen from my front door). It says something about entering as guests and leaving as friends. Wish I had room for more on my walls.

6. Rest. I need some and I really should try to get more daily, but it's really hard. Anyone that knows me personally knows that I am a really busy person. Even when I do lay down, my brain is still going 100 mph. Some friends of ours told me that her husband was/is the same way. He went to the doctor and they diagnosed him with adult ADD. I don't know about having that, but I guess anything is possible.

7. My hair. Hoping to get it trimmed this weekend. I am going to let it grow out I believe. It's not been since 2004 that it has been below my shoulders. I've kept it short for just over 6 years now and I think it is time to let it grow a little. Hubby has never seen it long and he says he would like to see it longer.

Getting the boy's trimmed too. Not sure if the girl wants hers done or not. She is letting hers grow out too she says.

8. The shed. Hubby fixed our shed out back the other weekend, put the new lock on and painted it. Now I get to put decorations or whatever on it if I want. Right now it is plain white and that is TOO boring for me. Might go shopping for another shelf to put in it and start putting stuff in it soon too.

9. The yard. Needing to decide what sort of decorations I want to do for the Halloween/Fall season in the front yard. I'm not one for putting out a bunch of crap in my yard for most holidays, but I like some nice simple decorations out there. For example, at Christmas, we will put some lights around the house and usually do a wreath or something on the door, but you will never catch one of those gigantic blow up things in my yard.

10. Getting this done BEFORE midnight...on the day it was actually supposed to be done. That is an accomplishment in itself for me.

Enjoy reading?

2010-09-13T23:52:00.001-04:00

Do you enjoy reading a pre-determined book and then discussing it with a few other people who are reading it also? Yes...a book club. Over at the community blog that I am apart of we are doing just that.

The book chosen for the first installment of this book club is Delta Belles.

Here are some reviews given about the book:

This book is an unusual writing in which the author so truthfully and poignantly shows the journey of our lives as relational and spiritual beings. The lives of the women are transformed from life-tangled webs into labyrinths of hope, healing and joy. I felt gifted by her clarity of Christian faith offered so carefully and tenderly. The author owns and offers to the reader the courage to accept the mystery of life, the worth of searching and the value of cherishing our relationships. To me, she gave words to a faith I embrace.

This book is a gem! By B.G.

Delta Belles is a fabulous story of friendship, heartache, and redemption. It is a must-read for the many people who seek a broader sense of the spiritual life than the religious right often provides. I highly recommend this novel. By L.B.

If you go to the blog and leave a comment on the post about Book Giveaway, you could possibly win a copy of the book. That would make it pretty easy to join in our discussion.

If you don't win, you can still join us. Buy, rent or go to your local library and check-out the book so you can join us.

Click below to go the blog to enter and get more information.

A hard reality hit

2010-09-11T01:41:00.000-04:00

I don't even know if I can call this a hit, more like a knock-you-on-your-butt-punch-in-the-face and gut at the same time.

I feel awful. Truly awful to the point I have tears running down my face.

A friend told me tonight that the doctor put her on a liquid diet to try and give her an extra year. I was confused when I got this message. She had never mentioned anything of any reason to be put on that. I awaited her response to come back. It seemed like FOREVER until that new message thing popped onto my screen. Something told me something wasn't right before I opened it. After reading it, my heart sank. It sank so low, I think it is still in my stomach.

My friend is sick. Really sick. Sick to the point that her kidneys and stuff are failing. She's young, early 20's, has kids and a husband. Doctors don't know what is wrong. She's at the point of being put on a donor list and probably needing dialysis.

This is my friend. MY FRIEND. Reading that makes me nauseous. Nauseous that someone I talk to was going through something like this and I didn't know. Have I become blind to other people? She didn't want to tell because she didn't want it to be a burden in my life. I got a little upset at that thought. Then after that, I felt like crap. Total crap. Crap that I can sit here daily and complain about stupid stuff in my life and one of my FRIENDS is going through something like this.

In all fairness, her family doesn't know yet, other than her husband. And as of right now, only a handful of friends do know.

She doesn't want a daily pity party she said. She doesn't want to think about it. She wants to go on living her life as if nothing is wrong in the hopes that one day nothing will be wrong. Her words.

I originally told her to 'let go and let God'. He will always take care of you. He knows best.

When she told me that she didn't want the pity party and wanted to basically go on living her daily life as normal I told her my nightly prayer for her would be different. It would be for the strength to focus on being the best wife and Mom she can be RIGHT NOW. So, if you get a chance, say a prayer for my friend.

**Friend, if you read this and want me to take it down I will gladly do so.**

Changes

2010-09-09T03:24:00.000-04:00

Changed the look of my blog again. I like giving it different looks once in a while. I get bored easily, plus I learn new things that I like to do so I change it up.

I know, a lot of people say that once you get your blog set, you shouldn't change it because people get used to it and they don't like the changing all the time. Well guess what? It's my blog, I will change it if I want. If someone quits reading/following me because I change up colors and such, well that is their loss. :)

All alone

2010-09-02T11:57:00.003-04:00

Although I didn't follow the normal rule of thirds on this picture, I still love it, no matter what anyone says.

I want to blow this picture up big and hang it in my house. It looks good big.

Taking time

2010-09-01T11:44:00.002-04:00

Taking the doggy out for a walk can make a normally patient person lose their mind. He wanders around aimlessly until he finds the PERFECT spot to do his business. It drives me insane sometimes.

When going back in the other day though he stopped by the edge of the steps for what I figured was another pee stop. He has seriously peed on every plant in my yard, some multiple times.

He surprised me though and didn't pee on them, but instead took time to put his nose up to my roses and sniff.

My doggy took time out of his ~~pampered~~ life to stop and smell the roses.

Maybe it was a sign telling me I should do the same.

Country view

2010-08-31T11:32:00.004-04:00

When choosing where to live Hubby wanted to make sure that we were far enough away that we had a safe place the kids could play and be away from the city. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't that far away from reality...or in other words, within 15 minutes of the city.

So we both won, and although we have neighbors on two sides of us, none are close enough to peer through our windows. I can see their houses, but that's about it.

I'm not too much of a 'country' girl, but how could you not love this view off my front porch into the neighbors yard?

So relaxing...as long as you can deal with the smell of cow poo.

Pray for Positive...friends

2010-08-30T10:45:00.002-04:00

My daughter is still young and right now so I don't worry about her friends too much. Or so I didn't until the other day when I saw her playing with her Barbies. Her choice in Barbie 'friends', well, it frankly frightens me for her future.

She had four Barbies in the pool and they were all 'hanging out' and having a good time she said.

They were what I would call a rather odd collection of friends, but I've seen crazier.

Here's my rundown of who was at the party (from left to right):

The naughty one - obviously she can't even keep her top on around her friends so there's no telling who else she takes her top off around

The hippy/eclectic one - dying her hair a crazy color or two or three, then braiding it in a crazy fashion, and wearing fins thinking you're one with nature like a mermaid

The sassy one - tanned, pretty, seemingly innocent, wearing a non-matching bikini but with coordinating colors and a flower and a belt just because you can pull it off, all while probably being the 'mean' girl...because you can

The drunk one - hair a mess, while not only wearing your clothes and accessories from last night but also the crazy shorts from a guy

The drunk one and the naughty might be really close friends...

Pray this has no impact on who she could befriend as she gets older.

Pray for positive friendships.

Lovely Laundry

2010-08-29T22:36:00.005-04:00

I guess my daughter thought that I wasn't cheery enough while doing laundry. Either that or she doesn't approve of my choice in plain white baskets.

Therefore, she attached flowers to her basket before she brought it to me.

No matter what the reason, they did make me smile for a minute and made doing the laundry a little more bearable today.

Support my son, please!

2010-08-28T22:48:00.003-04:00

Hi friends and family, Did you know you can help me earn my own way in Scouting?
Just click here and place an order on my behalf. Trail's End has
made a lot of improvements this year. All microwave products are
made with canola oil and all caramel products are naturally sweetened,
so there are plenty of healthy, flavorful snacks to choose from.

70% of your purchase will be returned to my council, my unit
and my Scout rewards. Online purchases help us fund fun,
educational activities and help more kids experience all the
things that make Scouting great.

Thanks for your support,
De




If you cannot click on the link above, please copy and paste this full URL
into your Internet browser address bar:

http://www.trails-end.com/estore/scouts/email_referral.jsp?id=7103829

Everything is sent straight to your home right from the company. :) Thanks guys, and feel free to pass this on to help us out.

Out and about

2010-08-24T16:38:00.003-04:00

I love to go anywhere within a few hours of where we live and scout out new places to take photos. Love to find cool places or things to use as backdrops. Hubby brought me to a wonderful place not too far from home and it has lots of potential. It's really old, but the color and atmosphere is awesome. These are just a couple of the shots I took that day. I can't wait to dress the kids up and go back and take a few pics. And I have one GREAT idea for a family pic, but will have to take someone else with us to do that one so we can get all of us in. :)