Happy New Year

May 2012 be a year of peace, joy, love and comfort - rest if that is needed, energy if that is needed, both if both are needed.
May you live 2012 intentionally, kindly, lovingly, and *fully*.
Happy New Year.

My dogs do not share well

I'm sitting here in my kitchen, about to clean up from dinner and the dogs have been given their own chew bone. However Jack, the more dominant one, will NOT leave Harvey alone. Good gravy, it's like two toddlers. He finally got the point and has gone into the other room with his.

This is officially the Christmas of 'Give Ourselves a Break". It is a hard Christmas for me. My FIL's news was good though, he is going to have surgery and chemo and the doctors are hopeful.
Still, it's hard for me. Tears at odd times.

Our oldest may be getting his driver's license next week, yikes!

Sorry. Not much on the writing front these days. May your Christmas be blessed, and if you do or  don't celebrate Christmas, I wish you peace, joy and love. And may 2012 be a good year for all.

Advent

Advent is one of my favorite seasons of the church year. I adore the hymns, the preparations, the entire thing. This year, I already knew that the hope of Advent would be something I would be clinging to. Now I find I'm clinging to it even more. My FIL has been diagnosed with mesothiloma ( I don't htink I"m spelling this right, but i'm in a hurry) around his heart and in his lungs. Not Good. So, for the second time in just a few years, I got to tell my children their grandparent is dying.

It is helpful to know certain things about yourself. 

I know these things:

Crowded stores and I no longer get along. They make me antsy. and grouchy. and make me want to run home. This should make Christmas shopping interesting this year.
Live music, when containing guitars and drums, and played loudly, gives me a headache and a case of spiritual grumpiness :)
I sincerely and utterly dislike hearing music playing while people are praying. Pick one or the other.
I have to have time alone to regenerate.
I have an addiction to books. I'd have an addiction to shoes, but I have such trouble finding ones I *like* (and that aren't 995 bucks. Who pays that for a pair of shoes???) (and why do I have to have such big calves???)
I have never been a good housekeeper. Ever. Don't really like it, although I like the results. Flylady works for me, but only when I am faithful to it :)
I am, however, pretty good at being a mom, a helpmate to the DH, a friend, and I can write a paper on just about anything. Oh, I also make some really yummy chocolate chip cookies. And brownies. And I made a potroast in the crock pot last week that was YUMMY.
I love learning - I love thinking about things - But I'm not a really deep, deep thinker on many things. I'm more of a practical thinker I guess, with a little whimsy thrown in. And my thoughts? Run the line from one end to the other.
I can knit some killer rectangles :)
I have two dogs who think every squirrel must.be.destroyed. I think the two dogs are missing a few nuts and bolts.

And the last one for today? I am going to be late to work :) 

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

House Repairs

Well, Mom's house is going to need a new roof. And new gutters, probably. And some minor mold issue stuff.
Our cabin we own needs a new floor and chimney repairs, a new mattress for the bed, and a tree removed.
The house we own in another part of the country needs serious cleaning, carpet repair, and a new tenant.

The house we are living in? Needed some things that were wants, not needs, so I guess they get to wait another year.

Work still busy. Update at 11.

That about sums it up. Work is busy, busy, busy.
I'm replanting some flowers the charming goats dogs ate. Who knew dogs liked rosemary. And lavender.
I'm awfully glad it is Friday.
I want a day where I don't have to go anywhere or do anything but focus on the things I need to get done. No outside emergencies, no outside tasks. Just my stuff. Pretty selfish, except that most of my "stuff" involves doing things for other people.

A Busy Week

This week the office where I work went over to electronic medical records. Well, we kinda did. It was the week we had the trainers here all week. Long days, lots of brain power required. I was exhausted.

This weekend, two of the three kids are on camping trips/retreats. So we took middle kid last night and went to the local fun park - went goKarting (Not my thing, but I tried it once. I'm sure I provided ample amusement for the workers - white knuckle driving the whole time. Actually, I hated every second of it and it took all my grown-up pride not to stop the cart, get out and say "I"m done!") and played putt putt golf (And I got THREE hole-in-ones) and then the DH and the boy rode the Karts again. Finished off with a trip to Sonic for slushies. Boy said 'That was a great night!" We don't get to hear that too often, so I was over.the.moon. PLUS he agreed to go with me today to a farmers market.

I have heavy things on my heart, but just ask that if you pray, pray for families that need physical healing, for ones that need emotional healing, and for all of us to grow more loving in our responses.

Matthew 5:44-45

New International Version (NIV)

⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.




But oh, how I wish I could make the rain go away for a dear friend and her family. 


But I also know that NOTHING can take the Love of God away from us. We may fail, but God never does. 

House for sale

My mother's house has a sign out in front. The kind of sign that says "For Sale".
I can't seem to catch my breath when I think about it. I can't seem to swallow, I can't seem to keep the tears from falling.
I want to scream.



*Note to say, that intellectually, I know it is just a house. I know it has to be done. My siblings have worked so hard at getting it ready and i'm grateful to them.*

The text this morning at church will be Matthew 5:38-48. If someone strikes you, turn the other cheek...if they say go one mile, go the other as well.
Praying for peace, peace in the world but also peace in our hearts. For without one, can there ever be the other?

Still here

Life just got really, really busy.
Let's see, school has started, no major mishaps yet, but of course homework forgotten, quizzes bombed because they didn't study, and so on.
Work is slam busy, but it's good. I'm working three basically full time days a week.
We transition over to electronic medical records in October, which will either be terrific, or hell, or both.
I'm betting on both.
Dogs are HUGE and vary between sweet and a pain in the butt. Currently they are barking at some unknown threat (my vote is on a squirrel) in the yard. I lied. Jack just came in to see what I was doing, and if I had any food I'd care to share. Tough luck pup, not sharing my lunch. Edited to add that I'm tired of people in my neighborhood not keeping their dogs in their yards. Two collies and one Husky ( Maybe a cross but had super icy blue eyes) while i"m trying to walk two boxer/hound mixes who are still really puppies was NOT fun. Grr.
I'm taking another class in the online Christian ed series I've been doing. And as I have turned in the first assignment three days late, I"m wondering if perhaps I'm not supposed to be doing this. But the program is no longer going to be hosted by the peeps hosting it now, and if I don't take it now I don't know WHEN I'll be able to do it online again. But my question is "Am I supposed to be taking it at all?"
I am wondering if a call can be revoked. Or if it is just in hibernation until other stuff (like grief) gets worked out?
The grief, it is still there. It comes in waves and it goes in waves. It is for my mother, but also for my father who has been gone 20 years. Apparently I thought I grieved it all the way through with him. But I didn't - and so now I have a double whammy.
Our church hired a new Director of Christian Ed. He's from a non Methodist background, but willing to learn and to grow. He seems very nice, willing to listen to my crazy ideas, and has taken a large portion of tweens off of my plate. Early days yet.
So, hope all of you are well and happy. I'm still in awe of a little boy I know (OKAY, he's not little any more) growing up and getting married. Sheesh. Wasn't I just giving him fake bugs as a gift???

One of my favorite blogs that I read, http://handmadehomeschool.wordpress.com/  talks often about living purposefully and thoughtfully. She often sets goals for herself, but doesn't seem to beat herself up if she doesn't reach them. 
Purposeful living is something that I am occasionally good at, but mostly I feel like I am running a day late and a dollar short. Especially lately. 
I think I want to try to set some goals, nothing huge but still some things to keep my mind and soul focused on life, not just day to day tasks. 

I am still mulling over this, but I do know I want to:

1. Be more consistent about devotional and prayer time. Pray a lot, but I am wondering if my ADD prayers might not be the most effective way for ME to pray. Maybe they are. 

2. Devote some time every day to Bible Study- Reading- learning about things that aren't usually in my line of sight. Also this ties into work learning - I have a need to learn some specific things, and I need to set time to do that.

3. Learn how to knit socks. I have wanted to do this for over a year. My goal might be to knit a pair of socks before New Years. Or at least start a pair. That's probably more realistic.

4. Plan out menus and shopping so that my time is not wasted frantically thinking of what has to be done

5. Restart Flylady - not full blown, just her basic principals. Really helped me years ago, and I think I need to just jump in and do it again.

6. Plan things with the kids, and DH to make some structured family time or at least some more memories to add to the mix! 

I have so much wasted space in my day. Not down time, not quiet time, just wasted space. I want to take that down time and make it into something that is enriching, not just time wasting! 

What are your goals? What do you want to do?

Replying

One thing that we really work on with my middle kid is acknowledgement that someone has spoken to you. Oh, heck, we work on that with all 3 of them. And occasionally DH. But telling someone that they have been heard is a powerful thing, regardless of the subject. A household chore, a life crisis, a sad event, a happy event, we all want to hear that we have something to say and that it *has been heard*.
On a less grand level, it drives me crazy to say something to the above mentioned child and get no response. We're starting to institute the 15 pushups rule. Don't acknowledge me? 15 pushups.
Worked for them remembering to turn off lights!!! And for occasional lapses in manners.
If I could do it with the dogs, I surely would. They ran off yesterday (tripped, dropped leashes, dogs went AWOL) and 15 minutes later I finally caught up with them again. Ok, so it wasn't 15, but it was a good 10 and many trips into the creek later. I sometimes wish we had bought land like we originally intended to, so they could just run to their heart's content. Oh well.
On a totally unrelated note, I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the wedding present I bought. I am SO excited about it - handmade pottery that is dishwasher safe. Plus I'll get them something else, like a gift card. And I'm sticking in some homemade knitted dishcloths. It's the first kid of my friends to get married. I remember when he was born. Shoot, I remember when his older brother was born!!!!

All I keep thinking this evening was that there were still so many things I wanted to say. And ask.

I don't have any guilt or true regrets. We did the best we could to come and see her, and to be in contact with her. I called until calling was impractical. I emailed. I did all I could. She knew we loved her and I knew she loved us. and so it's not guilt. It's just loneliness.

Towels

How exactly, does one lose not one, but two very large beach towels?
I don't know but apparently we have managed this in my house. And I have discovered it right before a short little jaunt to the beach.
Luckily, I have some older ones to fill in the gap.....


Packing for a short trip to the beach is SO MUCH easier now that everyone can pack for themselves. I supply list, they do packing. With supervision, otherwise things get a little interesting.

“The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea.”

--Isak Dinesen

"One learns first of all in beach living the art of shedding; how little one can get along with, not how much."

- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

What needs curing for you? And what do you want to shed? 

Summer

It doesn't really feel like summer. Except of course for the heat and always present humidity.
Work is busy, but fine.
Family is here, there and everywhere. Youngest is attempting boy scout camp, oldest is going to California, and middle one was supposed to be doing a week with dad at "boot camp" (not really doing the boot camp part, just the enjoying the outdoors part) but isn't feeling well. Nerves, I think.
I've been playing around with the family tree info on ancestry. Fun, and a big time sucking hole.
This was going to be a witty post, full of good stuff, but i'm too tired. Early bedtime for me tonight, that is for sure!

Even the dogs are being lazy

Okay, so I'm not really being lazy. I'm just not getting things done. VBS is almost here. That means it is almost over, which is even better.
Work is hopping busy, although this week is the week the doc is out of town so not much going on. Although I have to go in tomorrow for a bit and I went in on Tuesday.
Oldest kiddo gets to have dental surgery in mid july. The ortho consult is in a week, so we'll probably have a consult with the oral surgeon in there somewhere too.
Sigh.
Baseball is almost over, I think middle kid has done okay with it.
Swim team is quickly losing its appeal for little guy - the 2 times a day practice is NOT his favorite thing.
Although he liked his first meet.
Me, I'm trying to keep busy. Not trying to deny the grief, or the loss, or the emptiness, but realizing that life continues despite how I feel. I am not nearly as efficient as I once was. That's okay though.
I did just spend some money on I tunes. Bought some good summer music - Beach Boys, B 52's, Brown Eyed Girl, and so on...
About to read two books that came today from Amazon. Trying not to melt in the heat. Trying to find time to go to the pool!!!! Maybe I'll do that tomorrow!

I'd like

I'd like to write a happy post, but I can't.
I'm still in the middle of the river of grief. I do okay most of the time, but the tears come and will not be stopped until they are done.
I have several volunteer responsibilities  I would like to get rid of. I just don't have the emotional energy for them. I just don't see how to ditch them, however.
And the person who I thought would perhaps jump in and be that buffer has not done so. I've worked really hard for someone since the fall. And now it seems I'm expected to just "soldier on". I'm fighting against resentment and anger and hurt.
My family, my friends, and my workplace have all been amazing. My church? I hate to say it, but not so much. Words are fine. And I'm grateful for prayer. But I would have really just loved someone to call. And then I feel like i'm being selfish or too demanding. I don't need meals. I just needed a call.
But, I did get calls from dear friends of long ago. That made all the difference in the world.
Okay, edited to add that two women from church have called/visited. One was of the "it's okay to drop everything" school of support - but with the realistic acknowledgement that I probably wouldn't, but that it was okay if I did. I'm sure that doesn't make sense, but it was a wonderful phone call. The second was from one of the sweetest women I've met there, and she brought chocolate bread over last night. So the support is there. Maybe I just couldn't see it. Now the leadership support? Still hearing those crickets chirping...

Grief is

*selfish. I Read FB updates and just don't see how they matter. And I know they matter, to them, and I know they will matter to me. But right now, some of them just seem pointless. And unfair.

*tiring. I am bone weary. Still functioning, because life trudges onward. And sleeping, and eating, and all those things, but in and amongst it all, bone weary.

*frustrating. Because I know that the only cure is time.

*repetitive. Saying "thank you" over and over. And "yes it is hard" and all the phrases we so carefully construct so we don't burst into tears in odd places.

*. It just is.

But there is joy amongst the grief, and happiness and laughter in life as well. Like youngest boy joining Boy Scouts. Like puppies who try to climb in your lap. And they weigh about 59 pounds each. Friends who call and shore you up to get through the day. Far away friends who send you emails that make you sob, but in a good way, because they offer such deep comfort.  Things to do, a family to care for, a God who is in all of this with me.

A quote

This quote has been floating around my head today:

"With my mother's death all settled happiness . . . disappeared from my life. There was to be much fun, many pleasures, many stabs of joy; but no more of the old security. It was sea and islands now; the great continent had sunk like Atlantis."  CS Lewis

My mother

My mother passed away today.
It doesn't suck any less to lose the second parent.
The waves of grief consist of wanting to puke, not being able to breathe, tears, laughter, rinse, repeat.
She lived a good life, full of love and laughter.

This and that

1. There is something blooming outside that is stinky in a cloying, overwhelming sort of way
2. I've been to Atlanta this week, with a mess of 5th graders, and I didn't get to see one of my dearest friends. THAT is a bummer. 
3. I do not enjoy kids who have an attitude of learned helplessness. I just don't.
4. I am tired from that trip, but it was good overall. 
5. Still trying to make a final decision regarding a part time job at church. We find out tomorrow if DH's job is going to stay at one level or be reduced. That may be a factor.
6. I've felt for awhile like I am a tumbleweed, just rolling around in life, trying to stay caught up with the immediate but not paying enough attention to the details. It's been a busy year. 
7. A year ago we were in France. I think. 
8. Axe has improved. But it still is very....um, STRONG. 
9. Youngest goes to the dentist tomorrow....yikes! 

Momentum

It is a beautiful day here, so I'm taking advantage and throwing open the windows and cleaning.
So far I have vacuumed up an entire dog worth of dog hair.
Trying not to lose momentum. As long as I don't sit down, I think i'm fine. This is not a "make it through the week" cleaning, this is clean out and clean up. I even vacuumed the couch :)
And cleaned out a junk drawer. Amazing, no?


And edited to add that my husband does not think much of listening to opera while cleaning. So he's shut the door to the den and promptly fell asleep. I think he's lost his momentum.

Expressions

I heard a great expression today - "Jealous for you". It was in reference to a friend of mine who is one of the pastors at my church. Today she found out she got a good appointment - in the UMC the ministers are appointed to churches, which is sometimes a good thing, sometimes a God thing, and sometimes a bad thing. THis one is a good + God thing, we think. Although all she could say was 'Big church, happy about it, have to sell my house to move there". We'll know more in May.
Anyway one of her other pastor friends warned her that some of the women in the district are going to be jealous. My VBS co director said "We'll assume they aren't going to be jealous of you, but jealous for you - they're happy for your good assignment and realize what a good thing it is".
I liked that phrase. ALthough I'm fairly certain the former will be in existence as well.

I use phrases all the time. I had a friend once who said she was going to write them all down in a book. Of course, as I'm writing this, I can't think of a single one. Oh Good Gravy! (wait, there's one!)

Do you have a favorite expression? If I think of more, I'll add mine.

Decisions are tricky

I have a few decisions to make soon.
Some involve deciding to do or not do something
The other involves choosing between two choices.
First up? Should I apply for a part time job at my church, in addition to the part time job I currently have and enjoy?
Second? Invited to participate in a leadership summit for the UMC worldwide - one
day thing- everyone meeting at the same time across the world to talk aobut, pray and discuss the church.
Same day as field trip for oldest to see a play that he wondered if I wanted to chaperone.

So I have to decide. Meanwhile, I've decided I really like the weight watchers chocolate covered raspberry bars. That was easy. :)

The positive

What do I like about Mothering and what do I do well?
I love seeing them grow and change. I love the fact that the older two can now open jars for me or reach the top shelf. I love seeing their sense of humor, their friendships, their lives open up and take directions mine never did. Sometimes that is bittersweet. They have opportunities different than mine, but I wish they could have some of mine as well - some of the simpler, less restrictive ones. Like being able to go talk to your teachers before school.
I love when they text me. Or write me little comments on the church bulletin.
I love how they humble me - that again and again I am reminded that they are not me, this is not my childhood, and they get to make their own mistakes.
I love to play games with them, the kind that don't involve a tv or computer. Although I am always amazed at how much better they are with my iphone games. sigh.
I truly *like* my kids. I think that shows in their willingness to share with me, that even the 16 year old still says "Love you mom" in public.
When they were younger, I really liked doing messy projects with them. Not everyone does, but I loved the playdoh and the paints and the crayons. The science experiments and the art projects.
I have found, lately, I am seeing a need to reconnect a little bit. We are all so busy, and the computer and tv and video games are such a draw. But I can't give in to that, I need to be purposeful in my connections.
They drive me batty occasionally, but I think any mother who says "I have perfect kids, we are the perfect family" is delusional or psychotic. We argue, I occasionally yell, we mope, we fuss, but we always come back together. We tell the boys when they fight, look, you can fight, but remember, no one else knows you as well as your brothers. Stick together.
I hope they remember that as they get older. That you must stick together.
I have my flaws, and I have a temper. But showing them that, and showing them how to argue fairly, is not a bad thing I think. I don't want to be seen as perfect, just as someone who loved them perfections, imperfections, and all.
They look quite a bit alike. And they all share some basic character traits. But their personalities and actions are each unique. Some days one child may be closer to me than another. The youngest is still in a different stage of life, the middle is in the throes of early teenagerdom, and the oldest is trying to find his way. I don't love any of them more than the other. Some days I enjoy one more than the other, some hours even. But it all evens out in the end. Some days they like Dad more than me :)
There is no "golden child" in this family. Each child is allowed their differences and loved for them. Some of the differences we wish were different :) but all in all , they are wonderful kids. THis mothering gig? Hard as all get out, but wonderful. I cannot imagine my life without my kids.
ALthough I would like to imagine that someone else in this house can hear the dogs needing in and out, and understanding that the laundry fairy is not going to come!

The blogging world

I'm not a big fish in the blogging world. Heck, I'm not even a minnow, and I like it that way. But I do have several blogs I read faithfully, and the thing is, many of them are going through rough times. Divorce, child issues, just life in general. One has seemingly stopped blogging, which makes me sad, as her perspective and voice were different than many others out there. Some are raising the second round of kids AND dealing with health issues. I didn't read blogs for a few days and came on to find one of my favorite bloggers is getting a divorce. Hopefully all will work out for her and her family. But I don't really "know" her so...no details.
I suffer from incurable nosey-ness. But unless I know the person in real life, so to speak, I try not to ask for too many details. Just because a person chooses to blog doesn't mean they have to blog about their whole lives, and it doesn't give me the right to pry.

I like blogs that are *real*, that share the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful. I enjoy blogs that make me think, and ones that make me laugh. I don't enjoy reading blogs that are entirely focused on one thing. I like variety :)
What makes a blog read-able for you? What makes you return?

totally silly but totally fun

You were born during a Waning Gibbous moon

- what it says about you -


You like to question things and have issues settled before going to work on a problem. You appreciate art, elegant forms, and efficient designs. You seek deeper meanings in things that you see and want your actions to make the world a better place.

What phase was the moon at on your birthday? Find out at Spacefem.com

Why?

Why, exactly, does Tricare need a twitter account?
The Facebook page is bad enough. But twitter? Really? You couldn't spend that money on a slightly better phone system?

It's raining, it's pouring

It's rained all weekend. Not all the time, and not heavy, although it rained hard enough last night to wake me up. It is raining again this morning. Those grey rainy days make it hard to stay motivated.
Friday, oldest kid took new gf to dinner (Ihop) and the movies. I had gotten a Living S. deal on two tickets for 9 bucks, so!!! I drove to dinner (dropped off, then went shopping) and then picked them up and took them to the movie theater. Den picked them up, because I really hate driving at night.
Last night he (oldest kid) had people over for movies, video games, etc. Turned out to be all girls, but that was okay, they had a good time. All NJROTC kids. I took the younger two (I used to call them the 'littles' but since one of them is taller than I am..) to Ihop and then we went and saw Gnomeo and Juliet. It was a cute, funny movie. Not an "UP" or Ice Age, but cute, funny, and lots of little Shakespeare "hints' in the movie. All three of us enjoyed it.
The 'party' broke up about midnight. I am TIRED today. But I have to go to Sunday School to fill in.
Today's exciting agenda includes.....
Oldest working on Poe Paper
Middle child cleaning out backpack
Youngest child finishing cleaning his room. His closet is a scawy place.
Grocery shopping
Laundry
Keeping dogs from going stir crazy
Finding Tax papers

On a happy note? FINALLY found my Christmas Card address book. Seriously considering sending out Easter cards instead!

How do you?

How do you .....
Find a good place for two rather large dog crates?
Help a 15 yo realize he needs more than just school to get into college?
Help him understand that even though he doesn't want to do an activity, it's worth it?
Balance a need for what you want to do with what you HAVE to do?
Contact the laundry fairy? Because that little wench has been AWOL for FAR too long.

Do your children have friends who just make your head *hurt*?  One of mine has one who is really, a nice kid, fine parents, never *bad*...just sometimes makes my head hurt with the constant running commentary on how he has read that book, been to that place, and so on.

I am having a serious lack of motivation this afternoon. Had a busy morning, but seem to have lost the momentum. All I'd really like to do is curl up with a good book.
Instead, there is a heck of a messy house to clean up, tween ministry to run, week to plan, and class to study/write paper on.

However, I did make some rockin' roasted sweet potatoes and apples last night. And since they weren't coated in marshmellows, I didn't have to share them at all!!!

For a mission trip, my church is doing a month long marathon. All you have to do is walk a mile a day! How fun is that! I signed up, hoping it will kick my lazy tuckus off the couch. AND I remembered to drive the route I walk to make sure it was a mile. And it is a mile and a half, which makes me very happy.

And I'd better include a puppy picture. For the 2.5 hours they were clean. Now they are filthy. Again.

Oh wait, they are filthy in these pictures too. Oh I give up. White dogs + outside = dirty dogs

A quiet time

A very nice birthday - I actually liked working because I often spend a large part of my birthday feeling vaguely discontented.
So it was a nice day, except for the hour we couldn't find middle child. He had missed the bus and even after being told we would come and get him, panicked when the office staff left so tried to walk home. Got lost, ended up at the Charter Communications building and they called and DH went and got him.
All's well that ends well.
Cake and wine for dinner. The family had a more traditional meal, but I really only wanted a glass of wine and cake. So that's what I had. 

Also, took the dogs for a long walk this morning, and while it was nice outside, it is still kinda CHILLY out there. 

Tomorrow is a laundry-clean the house-clean the dogs- get lots done kinda day. I hope it turns out that way.

At Moms

I'm at my Mom's house. Flew all by myself today - haven't done that since BEFORE I had children. I've flown without my kids...but never all by myself. Kind of fun. Except for the whole cancelled flight thing.

The Greenville airport is a barbie dollhouse airport. IT's SO FLUFFY!
Nah, but it is kind of small. And low key. But also clean, quiet and reasonably efficient.
Did not check bags - made for a much nicer trip!


Now I'm off to bed, finally coming "down" from being on the go all day.

For your reading pleasure....

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/01/ff_lottery/all/1

A really interesting article on lotteries. I happen to be against lotteries, and try really hard not to participate in gambling myself. For a variety of reasons...some theological, some sociological, and lots of practical ones.

My mother is not doing particularly well, the ALS is progressing. As we knew it would. Still sucks though.
I am planning on going up soon, solo, and then all of us will go up sometime soon. In March SW airlines starts service from where I live to where I want to go. YES!!!!

The dogs are growing, growing and growing. No pencil is safe from them. I swear, they are Goats!

Report cards came out. All of them did fine. Not stellar, but fine.

I'm reading, for the class I'm taking, one of those personality test books. I'd give you the name but it is in the kitchen, and I'm in the office, and I am lazy! Anyway, I took it and was baffled on several of the questions. The choices didn't seem to relate to each other. So the first time I took it I was an ISFJ. Did you know that ISFJ's tend to have well kept, orderly homes? Hm. Maybe I need to revisit those questions! Next time I was an ISFP, but right on the border. I know I'm an "I". That's easy. I'm only an E if I have to be. I'm far more S than N, which surprised me. But I think that has come about out of necessity somewhat. I'm definitely an "F". and then we come back to Judging vs perceiving. Interesting to me that I'm both. Or maybe I'm just silly :)
Oh, I went and got the book. _Please Understand Me_ by Keirsey and Bates.

I'm enjoying our nice day to day - sunny and warmish. Tomorrow we are back to cold, I guess, but nothing like the midwest and northeast have seen.

Last thought - DH bought a Tempurpedic bed. We can't decide if we like it or not. Anyone have one and have any thoughts on it?

Musings

Facebook - I have a friend who has 'given up' facebook. I have a love/hate relationship with it. Love to chat and to see pictures, to catch up with my friends. But I hate all the 'games' and I sometimes hate the posts. It has been, however, a life saver when I am feeling isolated and alone. If you have ever moved to a new area, you know what I mean. I haven't reached the point where people are calling to chat yet - or where I run into people on a regular basis, and it is lonely.

I am taking an online class in Christian Ed - and just found out there is a small scholarship offered to students in my state. Every little bit helps!

My dogs are eating everything in sight. They are goats, just goats.

If you have snow on the ground, be careful. We have beautiful weather today.

I am currently eating a grape lollipop as I type this. Why exactly do we call it grape? It's not like it tastes like grape, really...
My oldest, and hopefully my middle, are going to a lock in and paintball thing for youth tonight. I fail to see the attraction of paintball, but they love it. I've seen the bruises. Ain't no way on God's green earth will I willingly do that!!!!

Have a lovely weekend!

Random Musings

Things that have been floating around in my head:
Do you have bloggers who you used to read fairly regularly but now? Eh. Don't like their tone, or their politics, or what have you. I've found that with a few blogs I hadn't read for awhile and then started again. And then quickly stopped.
Blogs can be like a black hole of time wasting if you let them :)

I have quite a few irons in the fire at the moment. Some of them are easy, some are harder. I'm trying to learn *again* how to balance time, energy, and talent. Some days I do well. Other days...well, not so much.

Today I have to go to work, then I have a meeting this evening downtown. Which requires 1. driving at night, which I hate, and 2. dealing with downtown traffic, which I am not too fond of either. Praying that I have a good attitude and that the meeting produces fruit. Or at least starts to dig the hole to plant the seed to grow the tree to produce the fruit. Sounds like a song :)

Internet went out last night! Couldn't figure out why, but was too lazy to go look at the little box thingy. Son 3 reported that the lights were "all out" on the box. Sighed and just used some neighbor's unlocked signal. This morning decided I would look at it. Reason no lights? No power. The cord had come unplugged. Glad it did not require any further effort on my part :)

Had my first "online" video conference yesterday, during which the dogs managed to get the porch door open and come back into the house. So all through the chat, I'm hearing "thump thump thump" of dogs running just about all over the house. Our house is on a crawlspace, not slab, so it echoes sound...it was too funny trying to pay attention while hoping they were not creating havoc in the house. Luckily they did fine, no messes, no eating pillows, although they did jump on the couch - the fabric one, thank heaven, not the leather.

It was so nice yesterday I even got to open the windows. Colder today. And they are saying 'wintry mix' for monday and tuesday. I don't mind winter weather, really. I just mind it here because it SHUTS everything DOWN.

Now, go wake up after this awfully boring post, and have a great day.

Updates

So, I've planned, led, and am currently recovering from a Tween lock in. We had 31 5th and 6th graders. Did games, ate, did some Bible study (not too deep - need baby steps with these kiddos), watched a  movie, and made them get some sleep.
I didn't bring an air mattress - that floor was kinda hard :)
One of the male chaperones got up early, made coffee and brought it up to the adults. Blessed man!
Besides, he is a super nice guy to boot :)
Everyone seemed to have a good time and were happy with the programming I did. SO I am glad I did it and far more glad it is DONE.

Came home, took a really hot shower (the church was cold) and took a two hour nap. Then I got up and went to the mall. WHAT WAS I THINKING??? The mall was totally packed. Parking lot was a zoo, stores were crowded, etc. We had to return some things to Aeropostale (have no idea how to spell it) as oldest got a sweatshirt that didn't fit for Christmas. So after much looking, he finally chose two t-shirts. The store is just not his style - doesn't like tight fitting clothes and doesn't like the layered fabric on everything. Of course, turns out my MIL must have gotten a great deal on the sweatshirt, so two t shirts actually had a $5 balance for me to pay, but oh well.
Then on to Penney's - easy because I know what jeans will fit them.
DH is after me to get new clothes, for a variety of reasons. He doesn't seem to understand the a) frustration involved or the b) MONEY involved! However, I may brave the mall tomorrow and go to some of the stores that were having great sales.
My problem? I'd rather buy anything else but clothes.

We're supposed to get a "light wintry mix" on Monday. AARRGGGHH.

Snow, Snow, Snow

So I think we have almost 6 inches by now. And it is still falling. Going to make all children go out and play in it, at least long enough to build me a snowman or something! Found the ski pants, so laundry will be somewhat reduced, anyway. 

I'm waiting to hear if I have to go into work. Our little road is snow covered, but I don't know about the main roads. 

No school, of course. If it keeps snowing they may not go tomorrow either!

A scattered post

• I am fighting a sinus/cold kind of thing. Which requires me taking decongestants and such. Which make me stupid. So, to sum up, I am slower than usual, can't hear, and can't breathe. 
• I am supposed to lead a tween (5th/6th) group on Sunday night. Today is the first day I feel mentally able to actually THINK about it.
• I went to an informal meeting about VBS this week, and my head was so clogged I could NOT track what they were saying. Hope I didn't miss anything important.
• Finals started today for the older kids. Now that I think about it, what a stupid day to start. Why not start on Monday? 
• The puppies continue to grow. They are getting so big. And eating. And chewing. They apparently got ahold of a cough drop the other day, according to son #1. It was a menthol type - I snickered. Served them right. 
• Trying to get oldest son to start investing in life HERE and not wishing for what isn't going to happen.
• Christmas WILL get put away THIS weekend. End of story. 
• I love my part time job, but we are all still adjusting. We now have a chore chart and allowances. And a big sign that says "IF you COOK dinner, you do not have to CLEAN UP after dinner"
• Hope everyone has a great weekend. I know I had something else to say, but it apparently has flitted out of my brain :) 
• Heh. Remembered. Attention all famous folks: I don't care if you are attracted to one sex or the other. And all the media outlets? Stop acting like it is news. It's not my business!!!!!

Movies

Okay, I KNOW I've been away from American movie theaters for 3.5 years.  And I know I was spoiled by Navy base prices. BUT. Today we went to go see Gulliver's Travels (don't bother) and the tickets were 7 bucks each. Okay, not bad. Less than I had heard in other places. However, I went to go get popcorn and drinks (nothing fancy - just a popcorn for us to share and two drinks) and the SMALLEST drink was almost $5!!!!!!!!!! We opted for no treats, and went into the movie theater.
Small theater. Should have sat farther back. Nice seats, though. And clean. VERY clean.
THEN...we sat through about 10 minutes of COMMERCIALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not previews, just normal, everyday COMMERCIALS!!!! When, exactly, did it become standard to charge me money to watch what I can on my TV? Then came the previews. And A funny little scrat short (he of Ice Age fame).
The movie itself? Okay. Not the dumbest I've ever seen (Happy Feet and some Renee Z movie that I've blocked the name of tie for that) but not the greatest. Javk Black is good, but the movie is a bit scattered and they obviously cut a part out.
We watched Despicable Me the other night. Funny, and I love the little minions. But not as good as Up.
However, there are some funny lines in
 DM. I especially like the littlest girl and the unicorn. And the minions reaction when told to go get a toy. Too cute.
Currently, my DH alternates between Saving Private Ryan (the worlds LOUDEST movie) and the Rose bowl game, which apparently takes a lot of yelling. Just wait till Ohio State plays in the sugar bowl.
Oldest went off to Sugar Bowl. And forgot his band shoes. luckily has black dress shoes with him that will fit the bill. I just hope he gets over his nervousness and has a good time.