Prayer alert

Years ago i purchased this thing called the TV Guardian
it is designed to edit out bad language from movies and TV shows, and for the most part it has worked well--
I had one child who was very sensitive to things that he was hearing, and i got this in response to him--
but i also have enjoyed not hearing those words said in my house, and i can't help but cringe when we watch something without it...

You can choose the level you want it set to
Strict, Moderate, Tolerant
and each level contains a list of words that will be blocked
It also has subfilters that can be turned on for
Offensive Religious References, Hell/Damn, and Sexual References.

Instead of saying the offensive word it will substitute another one instead
actually it mutes out offensive phrases,
and displays a cleaned-up version of the phrase at the bottom of the TV screen.
The only problem is that it does not take into the context of how the word is used.

Take the word SEX for instance--
it replaces it with the word HUGS--
in this context it works
"So you went up to her apartment and had consensual HUGS"
then there is the context that bothers my husband
"So he was of the opposite HUGS"
it doesn't work so well.

Most of the time it does catch the offensive words
and i have gotten used to it.
When my kids have had friends over and they are watching a movie, on occasion they have had to explain it to their friends-- why the TV mutes and words pop up on the screen.
They don't seem to mind so much....
They just blame it on their crazy mom...

Here is the kicker
today i received a e-mail from this company
they are a christian company
doing there best to eliminate some of the evil in this world--
trying to make a difference
this is what it said:

Dear Friend of TV Guardian,

Tens of thousands of you have let us know how much you appreciate being able to watch TV without having to hear offensive language. Now I'd like to ask you for one more bit of support: your prayers.

After pursuing major cable and satellite providers for three years now, a major national provider is ready to make a decision. This could make TV Guardian available in your area, and to nearly 20 million current pay-TV subscribers.

We'd like to see this work! We'd like to see millions of families be able to choose what's heard in their homes while watching TV and movies.

This will be the most dramatic move in that direction our company has ever experienced.

We have had at least six meetings with them thus far. A final meeting has been requested to negotiate TV Guardian terms, but they have been hesitating due to the current economic environment. They are right at the decision point. Please join us in praying that they will meet with us soon, accept TV Guardian and help make it available to America's families.

Thank you so very much!

How refreshing that we are being asked for something good to come from technology--that we actually might have another choice other than turning it off.... Even though i don't pay for TV (we have decided that the free airwaves bring in enough crap already--plus we're cheap and who has that much time to watch TV?) it would be wonderful to have the choice!

I know i will be including something else in my prayers tonight--it will be nice to be given a choice...anyone care to join me?

state playoffs

I can't watch--
it makes me crazy
so instead i sit with my computer in front of me
trying to watch the game with general indifference.
I have found in the past that when i actually pay attention
my team has lost,
and i want these girls to win.
It is the state semi-final basketball game and my daughters high school is playing
and i am getting paid to watch,
and bring them luck.
I have been their lucky driver in the past
they have even said so--
and if i believed in those sort of things
i would have to agree...
but even with my "luck"
i know this is going to be a nail biting game--
of course that would be if I was watching it...
and since my computer is about to die
it looks like i will be....

I'll keep you posted

Tied at half--

I can't watch....
I can't watch....
gnawing pains are in my stomach
plus it is cold.
The air is blowing on me....
I wish i had a blanket.
My feet are freezing...
I should have worn socks...
My team is up by 11
wait
up by 9
with 2:16 left....
two minutes is a L-O-N-G time.
A lot can change...
I need to quit watching...
I need my general indifference...
we are now up by only 6...
time out has been called
"calm down girls...play your game...."
I am trying to pretend that i am interested in this magazine article
I can't watch.....

It is over
my stomach has calmed down
my team has won--
they want their lucky bus driver to take them to the championship game--
only i don't know if my nerves can handle one more game like this...

thinking about the brain

Yesterday found me behind the wheel for many hours.....
Usually, continuous driving without the benefit of radio
or idle chit chat will lead me to thinking....
Usually, I mull over thoughts during these long periods of time
and usually, I come up with something random,
or profound or at least interesting to me....
But on this trip I got
NOTHING--
my mind was a sieve
and anything that poured through it went out as quickly as it came in.
No deep earth shattering thoughts....
not even shallow ones.
No AH HA moments...
just driving with my brained turned off--
i think my Cerebrum was in sleep mode
it was rather peaceful
a quiet of sorts--
it made me realize that it is not often that i don't think
usually i have a million chagillion things running through my
prefrontal cortex
(that would be the multi tasking part of the brain)
but yesterday the only part of my brain that was working was the
Cerebellum (yes that is the smallest part)
and my brain stem--
they were kinda important to keeping me alive
and since i was in control of the bus
it also worked at keeping those in the bus alive as well.

budget cuts

Our state, along with the rest of the country
is in a budget crisis.
BIG TIME!
Hard choices are having to be made-
on how our state spends our money--
Those elected officials throw around the word million and billion as if it is something we can all relate to-- I have seen about a quarter of a million dollars. It really is not that big of a pile of cash--but to wrap my brain around billions is hard....

Last night i went to an open forum regarding the state budget and cuts that are being made. It was a chance for the public to speak out and give some input/solutions to this problem. It gave a face to some of the children who were going to be affected by these cuts. And while i was touched by what many had to say, and their stories i was still left wondering

"What is the solution?"

I have 5 children (Say it isn't so) and many of the cuts that are proposed will have a large impact on their lives. They are talking about DEEP budget cuts to education. They are talking about doing away with the AIMS scholarship--I did not have the heart to mention that to my son as he went off to take the AIMS test today. Just yesterday he told me " I hope i can exceed now so i won't have to take it again" (If you carry a certain GPA and exceed on these tests you had been promised tuition to any state school) My oldest is thinking of going to college to become a therapist for kids with special needs--something that the state is talking about cutting funding for--And then there is my little man--who has benefited from Early Intervention and therapists for years to get him where he is now. They want to do away with these programs--or cut the pay to them so dramatically that the therapists cannot afford to provide the services. It will deeply impact those in our society that are the most fragile--many that don't have a voice--and the cost in the long run will be more expensive.

I know that money does not grow on trees.

I know that you can not pull it out of thin air.

I also know that i really don't want my taxes raised--

so where does the solution lie?

Part of the problems with spending bills are the strings that are often attached to them--those in power are left wondering--"if the good that will pass is enough to offset the bad that is attached to it." Politics suck--pure and simple--there is not a perfect answer--just a lot of people with a lot of needs--that need money to continue on. Our family is luckier than most--I have had wonderful therapists that have worked with little man, as well as our family to help him progress. The same can not be said for all children whose services will be cut--many of those unheard voices have no one to advocate for them....and if we do not take the time and money to help them now i really feel we will be spending more in the end--and some of the costs that they are not taking into account is the quality of life or even life itself that potentially could be lost if changes are not made.

Let's trim the fat where there really is some....

No blood for you

I am a strong spirit.
I have always hated being told what to do.
And more than being told what to do,
i really--i mean really
hate being told what i can't do.

Being raised as the only girl in a house full of boys, I never knew that there where things i shouldn't/couldn't do because i was a girl. I never let being a girl stop me from doing anything a boy could do.In fact i loved to prove people wrong--just because i could.

Tonight however, I found out that no matter what i want--

--I am no longer able to give blood.--
I am being told i can't.
It doesn't matter that i haven't given blood in many, many years--

just the idea that if i wanted to

and knowing i would be turned away makes me a tad bit sad.

I had heard that if you lived overseas during a certain time period in the 80's-90's you no longer could donate--but i had never actually checked on it myself--until tonight. Sure enough--having lived on a military base in Germany for more than sixth months has disqualified me from donating ever again. Never mind the fact that i don't smoke or drink and have never used any drugs---Or that i was the one friend that was trusted enough to do a direct donation when my girlfriends daughter was having brain surgery years ago. No matter that i had given several gallons before i started having babies and was too busy being a mom to donate.

Now it is not an option...

Something so selfless and easy and yet I can no longer be part of this club.

It is one thing to choose not to

--on your own volition--

another to have the choice made for you.....

F.Y. I.

I have been a busy blogger this weekend--
catching up on drafted posts--
randomly placed over the last couple of months
good luck finding them....
even i don't remember what i have already read....

An ending of sorts

Individual state is over for another year.
It did not quite turn out as we had hoped
not as my son had hoped---

but that is OK,

he did well,
and the two kids that he lost to
went on to place third and forth in the state
If you are going to have to lose....
you might as well lose to some of the best....

He was one round short of medal-ing
bummer.....
next year Nacho--(as in Libre)
Next year...

Actually we have one more day of wrestling for this year
team state is this next Saturday
and our team is currently seeded second-
should make for an interesting day....
I can hardly wait....

Anxiety

Oh the nerves, the nerves;

the mysteries of this machine called man!

Oh the little that unhinges it,

poor creatures that we are!

~Charles Dickens

I am not know for being a worrier. I figure life is too short to worry about things that i have no control over. It is an attitude that has worked pretty well for me. I have some friends that lose weight when they are stressed and worry--i guess if you are going to worry you should get something good out of it--but i just can't manage to get that one to work for me--thus here a sit fat and happy.

Now this is not saying i never worry--it just is not an everyday occurrence--and i try to limit it to the things i actually can control--which let's face it is not that much. Last night I found that i had no control over the butterflies in my stomach. I probably should not have looked at the wrestling brackets prior to going to sleep--it did not make for a peaceful calm night of REM sleep--instead it left knots in my stomach. I awoke early with those same knots in my stomach--thinking only of wrestling this morning and my son having to make weight--just feeling stressed over something i had absolutely NO control over. As i was thinking about this and why i was so worried i remembered that i had forgotten that i was needed to go into work this morning! ARHHHHH!!! I jumped out of bed and threw on my clothes and was out the door--and i just made it in the nick of time.

Normally i enjoy my time driving and use the time to think--but on this morning all it did was give me more time to tie my stomach in a larger knot ball of stress. Even the idea of food was not appealing--and really how often does that happen in my life? Even though it was Waffle Friday at work i found that i could not partake--my stomach was full of worry and there was no room for food. I now understand how those that have a lot to worry about lose weight. I have decided that it is not a weight loss plan i want to participate in--way to much stress for me.

The knots did finally go away--they were replaced by the loud thumping of my heart--
You know the kind of thump--the kind you feel throughout your body and rings loudly in your ears
Thump
THUMP...
THUMP...

At least my appetite was back.....

“You can't start worrying

about what's going to happen.

You get spastic enough worrying about

what is happening now.”

---
Lauren Bacall

side note for the day---my boy lost his first match and then won the second--which means he is still in it for another day--which means he gets to make weight for one more day--LUCKY??

the longest six minutes

today was the first day of state wrestling....
a rather intense--
heart racing--
heart stopping
kind of day.

Six minutes can be an ETERNITY
as in like FOR-EV-ER
(say it with me sandlot style)
FOR-EV-ER.
FOR-EV-ER.....

i think those six minutes were longer than the actual time i spent giving birth to this child--
my stomach was tied in knots (again similar to the giving birth thing)
and then my heart would race
(does this constitute aerobic exercise because it was beating as if i was working out)
and then my heart felt as it stopped.....
and time just kinda stood still....
almost like an outta body experience
the seconds ticked off the clock ever so slowly....
How long is six minutes--
360....slowly....... moving seconds
tick...tick...tick...
when will this agony be over?......

I wanted to look away--
i wanted to watch--
torn and anguished at the same time
and for six minutes
i rocked,
and twisted,
and contorted myself in my seat--
occasionally i would yell
and i did drop my head for a moment
not wanting to see.....
and then i couldn't stand it and looked up--
by golly, if he was going to put me through this
i was going to see it to the end....

and in the end
i screamed for joy
(thus starting my heart again)
and my boys hand was raised in victory for the second time today!

Not a bad start for the day
and lucky me/us
we get to go through this again tomorrow--
and hopefully Saturday as well!

Did i mention that I also get to go through this with my nephew--
I guess we get more bang for the buck...
a two-fer
and my emotions run as deep and true for him as if he were my own--
i love that punk...

loss of wisdom

Prior to Christmas we received a note from the Orthodontist and while he should be sending a personal thank you note for all the money we have given him in the past, it was actually requesting that middle child get her wisdom teeth pulled.? I hadn't really thought about my kids getting their wisdom teeth pulled until i read this. They all seem so young--my babies....they barely got their teeth in....and then i got to thinking....If the middle child is getting hers done than we might as well have the oldest done as well--after all we don't know how long she will be on our insurance--(and since it is much cheaper with insurance we figured we would get the three oldest all done now. This week was the girls turn--it could have been easy to have them both pulled on the same day--but some schedule conflicts had them doing it on different days. This is what my oldest looked like on the way there--so happy--having NO clue as to the pain she was going to be put through (insert evil laugh here BRAAHAAHAHHHA and the evil wringing of the hands)
This is here in the same seat in the car on the ride home--

feeling a little loopy--

She spent the day drugged out with ice on her face.

We have determined that the use of narcotics is to make your stomach hurt so bad that you forget about any other pain--that is until you throw them up--then you remember how bad your mouth hurts....Not a pretty picture

Even with all the ice she had kept on her face she woke up looking rather "Chip-munkish"

or like she had been inflated like Violet from Willy Wonka

--minus the purple--

although the possibility for black and blue does still exist...

she did finally manage to muster up a smile

the younger sister had her wisdom teeth taken out a few days later--
she let me take a picture of her before the procedure
but has been camera shy since then...
her teeth were harder to get at and she has been more swollen and more bruised than her sister. She thinks it will never return to normal...
I really wanted to take a picture so she could see the improvement--
but like her, you will just have to take my word for it....

killing time blogging about nothing

I love getting paid to sit on my behin-ey and blog. It makes me feel like such the multi task-er--like i am actually accomplishing something when i could be doing nothing--and getting paid for it.

There are few benefits to this job--but i do enjoy this one. Today finds me sitting in the Student Union at Scottsdale CC. I have decided that this is just a step above high school. Many young adults acting goofy and still pretty clueless on the real world---AHHH to be back to that point in my life....not that i am not loving being half way to 80....


Speaking of being half way to 80--(were we really talking about that?) I took a "real age" test the other day. It takes into account your health--blood pressure,HDL,LDL,CDL's(wait the last one is Commercial Drivers Licence and they really don't look at that--although the rest of it is looked at for my CDL)and I only came out one month older than my actual age. Not so bad i guess--they told me if i knew those magic numbers (like the LDL's and such) that i could have scored higher or is it lower? My weight (big surprise) brought me down--but the fact that i don't smoke,drink and more often than not I do wear my seat belt counted for a lot. It makes me feel good to know that somewhere in my life i do have some good habits--i am not all bad.


So speaking of weight loss(again were we talking about that?) My son is the epitome of self control when it comes to consuming...We are at the end of wrestling season--only two more weeks where he will have to watch what he eats. Have i mentioned that weight loss makes one cranky? That is why i am against it--I don't want to be cranky--at least that is what i continue to tell myself. So back to this boy of mine...he can manage to lose 8 pounds in less than a week, which is huge considering he is such a skinny one already. Between work outs, running and watching what he puts in his mouth he can get down to where he needs to be. He shows such amazing self control--in the sport of wrestling the weight is as big of an issue as anything. Wrestling requires a greater discipline than other sports. It has been said that once you wrestle everything else in life is easy.....


Can i say: THANK GOD FOR OUR FAMILIES!!! I am so grateful that i have been blessed with a wonderful extended family. Today while i am at work my wonderful favorite sister in law (how could she not be--they got engaged in the back seat of my car--but that is a story for another day) took my middle punk in to get her wisdom teeth pulled. I had made the appointment not knowing that today would be the only day i would work this week--It is such a nice thing to know that you can count on family...we are here for each other--to make our burdens lighter. Family should be the one thing that you can always count on and i am lucky that i can....

random thoughts on bathrooms

In my discussion of bathrooms
--primarily those public in nature--
i will try to keep it clean and limit my "potty" talk

There is something about a bathroom that smells all "fruity" that is a bit disconcerting.
I like the fact that it is not offensive and gives the allusion that it is clean--but i am not sure i want to be thinking about food as i am using the facilities? It makes me think--
"is someone having a picnic in here?"
--watermelon smells make me think of picnics--what can i say?

With all the modern technology comes the self flushing toilets--are we really that lazy or forgetful that we can't even flush for our self? I know that I don't usually touch the handle with my hand--i use my karate kick to flush--

(insert picture of the karate kid on one leg here and that is me)

how is that for a blast from the past?
And truly can you believe that i am that nimble in a bathroom stall?
I definitely get points for style.

The idea that the automatic toilet was to do away with the obligatory flushing--and when they work (that is the key word) they do--but my experience with them is not one of complete success. More often than not when they don't work i find the target a bit harder to hit with my toe...and can we talk about the mid-flush? You know the one that leaves your bum damp--when you were not yet finished doing your business. When i was potty training my middle daughter that was about the time these technology based toilets made it on the scene. We were at the movies and my daughter told me she had to go--so off we went to be entertained in the bathroom. Her little bum perched on the toilet--holding on for dear life--and if she so much as twitched the toilet would flush--leaving her cracking up. It soon became a game.
I patiently stood waiting--"Are you done yet?? flush--followed by her little laugh, and then when she would catch her breath she would respond "NO." flush--again laughter--this went on for a long time--all the while the movie went on without me--who needs to actually see a movie when you can be entertained with the toilets at the movie theater I told myself.

Most of my bathroom experience came from having kids. I have learned not to fear public restrooms. For many years i could tell you where any and all bathrooms were located in any store. (no exaggeration here). I was a pro. It was guaranteed that as soon as i was in the farthest proximity from the given bathroom I would hear "I havta go". Off we would go traipsing to the entirely other end of the store. It would not matter that we had just visited the bathroom at the last store--(and no liquid had been consumed between the stores)she would feel the need to make a visit. We used to call her a wolf--as she was always marking her spot. I learned alot about public restrooms during those formative years.

I have learned that you are better off pretending to be handicapped than to try to do the hokey pokey in and out of small stalls. I thought it was just because i was pregnant that the stalls got smaller--but it wasn't. Some of them really are that small. I feel like a contortionist getting in and out at times--wedging yourself alongside the toilet so you can get the door open--leaving the touching of surfaces to a minimum. Although i have found that a close door is good when it doesn't stay shut. My ability to hold a door closed while using the facilities is in direct relation to the length of my arm--which in a small stall works to my benefit.

And how about airport bathrooms? Your choice is the small stall on the plane (which lets face it is the size of a dollhouse) or the one in the airport terminal which is slightly bigger only you have your bags with you. Now you are not supposed to leave your bag unattended--have you ever tried to get your bags in the stall with you? Not a task for the faint of heart--especially since some of my bags are the size of little people. I kinda like the the airplane bathrooms-everything is right there--very efficient if you think about it.Wash your hands without even moving...they are just a little to small to sit and think--not that you would want to with the smell, and the noise,plus i always feel guilty with the time i take anyway--especially if there is a line....and there always seems to be line--you know it is just a matter of time before the airlines figure out that there is money to be made in charging to use these tiny rooms. On top of the actual usage fee there will be a per sheet fee installed as well--and then only one flush will be included--more than that and you will incur an additional charge. Of course you will have the option of paying for it upfront with your ticket--or maybe the facilities will be limited to first class only--mark my words--it is coming---if they can get by with it they will.....

I have found airport bathrooms entertaining as well. In Chicago they have automated toilet covers--none of this rip and tear stuff and then hope it gets flushed. NOPE--these wind around the toilet with the push of a button. A girlfriend and i were talking about it once--she marked a line on it just to make sure it didn't wind it's way around---making you think you were getting a fresh cover when in reality it just went in a small circle. If you are ever in that airport keep an eye out for one with a line on it--it is only a matter of time

Now when it comes to sinks in bathrooms that varies greatly as well. Again the automated sinks test your patience. How long are you willing to stand there waving your hands till you get it to work. Sometimes it seems that you are just short of doing an interpretive dance move to get them to turn on. Then there are those faucets that ration the water. You know the ones where you have to hold with one hand while washing the other. Personally i have found that washing hands works better when you have two to rub together---and then there are those faucets that give you the tiniest bit of water and you stand there trying to get the soap off forever....

I love almond smelling soap.....

Not so thrilled with hand dryers--would rather have paper towels any day--except at the airport in Phoenix. They have awesome state of the art hand dryers--you insert your hands and it blows like no other. Kinda reminds me of the wind machine in car washes. It is so cool.....

I think that is enough potty talk for today---i have more that i want to delve into--but we will save that for another day.....

Elbow grease

I have been a busy girl as of late.
Working my fingers to the bone--
painting,
sanding,
staining,
sealing.
I can never manage to do anything just "simple"
In fact i feel that the word simplify mocks my very being--
i would like to simplify, i think....
and then i realize that i like details...
the more the merrier.
Details make me happy...
I think of details as eye candy--
something to make you delve deeper into what you are seeing--

but that is not what i really wanted to write about...

I wanted to write about
ELBOWS...
yes, i realize that is rather a vague subject--
not one that is normally discussed in mixed groups
or any group for that matter--
but bare with me as i give you some food for thought.

In my painting endeavor I found out that i had gotten some red paint on my elbow
but not because i could actually see it.
Have you ever noticed that there is a spot on your elbow
that no matter how you turn your arm
it is not visible to the owner of the said elbow.
Recently I saw that i had paint on my elbow when i was trying on a shirt in a changing room--
some how, those mirrors give a much larger, more complete view than i am used to.
I twisted my arm to see it for myself--
since originally i thought it might be blood since it was red--
but when i could not see it and it didn't rub off i figured it was indeed paint.
I made a note to myself to remember to scrub that when i got home.
Apparently i did not do that great of a job since several days later
someone mentioned it to me again--
Again i tried to contort my arm so i could see for myself
and it was in vain.
You are not meant to view your own elbow--at any angle.
It made me think....
what other body parts are visible to others that we have no view of....
EWWWEEEE
and then i quickly dismissed that thought....

So please if you are my friend--
tell me when i have paint in spots i can not see.
I will love you for it.
THANK YOU for your support....

Nickles and Dimes

I find it interesting how many people will not stop to pick up dropped coins. I don't know if i am just cheap or what, but i do. Those coins can quickly add up into big money--at least enough to get a drink from QT or something. This weekend we found out how quickly nickles, dimes and quarters really do add up. We had a garage sale to earn money for the oldests trip to Africa. It is a LARGE chunk of money that she has to come up with in order to go be a "do good-er". From the start the money thing has not intimidated her, she has said "it will work out".
Oh the faith she has.
I know she is being blessed:

1. For her willingness to be open and help others

2. For her faith that the money thing will work out

Prior to finding out that the oldest was going to Africa we had started a purge (still have a ways to go) and figured that what is one persons junk is another persons treasure. We started storing these treasures in my mom's garage and then when we heard the amount that was needed for the Africa trip we knew we had a real purpose for the sale. We decided to have the sale for two days and while the traffic was not super busy on Friday it was worth being set up for. Saturday came and we were ready to go by 7:30--although we had quite a bit of traffic prior to that.(the serious people start way to early for me) It was crazy busy. My daughter and mom were out working the crowd like pros. We didn't have much marked--instead when asked a price they would say "make an offer--it's all going to charity". Often this remark would lead to a discussion of where my daughter was going and what she was going to do. We received some donations and people were generous and the best part was we got rid of a bunch of stuff that we considered junk.

It was amazing the things that were bought--things that we had thought about putting in the alley to throw away. Some of the things we sold had actually been recovered from the alley at one point--someone elses alley. It just goes to show that we need to quit disposing of so much--that others can find need in our cast offs.

When all was said and done and the money was counted she had made over $700.00.
We were SHOCKED!
We had never made that much in the past. It was amazing to me how all the change really did add up-and how much stuff we had to sell to equal that amount.? That is 1/7 of her total that she needs...what a great start. I know that this experience will be life changing--it already has been. I am seeing her grow and mature just in the process to get there....

Needs vs. Wants

We live in a country of indulgence. For years we have been living beyond our means—on this thing called credit.
We have fancy cars,
big homes
and nice clothes.
We have tables full of food from different parts of the world
—at our disposal—
and that is where a lot of it ends up—
in the disposal.
We don’t think about where our next meal is coming from—or if it is coming.
We are blessed beyond measure and yet we still complain…
This recession is hitting everyone-jobs are being eliminated…
businesses closed and yet we still have so much more than most…
but many are choosing to focus on seeing the things they don’t have or can’t afford.
This is not to minimize the real problems that our country is currently having—
but to make us think about where our focus is in relation to what others are doing without.

Today as I was driving I drove by several high end car dealerships. It appeared that they did not have as many cars on their lots. Even your normal cars sales (those would be for the common people—like us)are down—WAY down—but we are still driving…other parts of the world don’t even have cars…and we are complaining that we can’t get/afford new ones? Some of these cars are the prices of homes—some would support families for years—and some would be willing to live in a car thinking it was a step up from what their current living conditions were. I guess it is all relative….

I know we are accustomed to a certain standard of living in our country- I have six grocery stores within a two mile radius of my home—I can shop for just about anything I want…and yet in other parts of the world people stand in line to wait for a simple loaf of bread or some grain. I can turn on my faucet and clean water comes out…and while I choose not to drink it because of its taste—I could if I had to. That is a luxury that others do not have and yet I take it for granted.

We complain about the cost of medical care—yes it is expensive but have you heard of anyone dying of Tetanus in our country as of late? I recently watched a nightline documentary and they spoke of the fact that one out of every four children are dying a painful death of tetanus in Tanzania, Africa—all because they can’t/don’t receive that simple vaccine. One out of four—that is not acceptable when we have the knowledge and we have the where with all to prevent those deaths…

We complain that our standard of living is not the same as it was because we are not able to indulge like we have in the past—our wants are not being met---not our needs—our wants are being impacted. It is time to focus on what is really important…to focus on those things we do have—those things we are blessed with, because if we were to walk a day in someone else’s shoes (providing they even had shoes)we would realize how indulgent our lives really are….
We are Blessed
---Oh so blessed….

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed

When you are discouraged thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings;name them one by one

And it will surprise you what the lord has done

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings; ev'ry doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold

Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold,

Count your many blessings; money cannot buy

Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.

So amid the conflict, whether great or small

Do not be discouraged; God is over all.

Count your many blessings;angels will attend.

Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

Count your many blessings

Name them one by one

Count your blessings; see what God hath done.

Count your blessings.....

name them one by one.......

count your many blessings see what God hath done.....

making it count

You have heard the statement
"if a tree falls in the woods and nobody is around--does it make a sound?"
I have a new one for you--
"If you attend your children's function, but they don't see you--does it still count?"

Tonight i attended my daughters orchestra concert--I sat next to my husband and then I snuck out after she had performed to get back to work. Her group had done a wonderful job and i wanted to let her know. I didn't know what time i would be home and not knowing if she would still be awake or not i went ahead and called her. My husband answered the phone--
"Can i talk to dear daughter?"
"Why do you want her--is she in trouble?"
"No--I just wanted to let her know what a good job they did"
He got her on the phone and i told her the same thing...
"Were you there?" She asked
"Yes i was....daddy didn't tell you?"
"Umm---no"
Now back to the--"who's in trouble"......
At least he could have mentioned to her in passing that i had been in attendance...
he could have given me a tiny bit of credit....
Next time i am going to stand up--wave my arms and call out her name--
just so she knows, without a doubt that i am there.
Nothing quite like embarrassing them to get them to pretend like they don't know you...
which brings me to the next question--
"If your children doesn't acknowledge you--are you really there?"
Only time will tell.....

It finally has happened

It has been months in the coming....
I am beyond giddy....
If you take a look back at this entry you will see that the porta potty has been removed from the roof.
I have been waiting with great anticipation
and i have just one thing to say....

The MOTHER SHIP

has

called me

HOME!!!

First day of driving....

On occasion my kids have been known to drive me nuts
or up the wall—
or even drive me crazy.

And while they might raise my blood pressure at the time, it is OK.
The potential for someone to get hurt is slim to none—
but today...
I let my son DRIVE me—as in...
I was the passenger and he controlled this vehicle of potential death.
I am not cut out to be the passenger—with anyone.
I like to drive….
I like controlling my own destiny and if I must be the passenger
I prefer to do it with someone who has a wee bit more of experience.

He did fine—we arrived safely at the doctors office (where I promptly had my blood pressure checked—well not really) and he even managed to park the van in between the lines--which is more than i can say about some people who actually do have their licences. It is hard as a mom to let go—to let your kids grow up—especially when you see the weirdos’s and bad drivers that the road is continually filled with. I only hope that I don’t drive him too crazy with my words of wisdom and advice. I know things will get better but I also realize that we are only on child #2 with this driving thing—I will have at least 2 more to go through with this experience—will my heart be able to manage? I guess that would be as good as an excuse as any to have a smaller family---but think of the rest of the fun I would miss out on.!? I am looking forward to having another person who can run errands, pick up siblings etc..etc…of course he will have to get his eagle scout first before it will happen “for real”

—he is due to get his actual license on his birthday--(also the first day of school)—that is six months away—seems to me that should be plenty of time for him to finish up what needs to be done—nothing like dangling the carrot or car keys to get a kid to move….Remember I am not above bribery---that being said—can I BRIBE anyone to take a nice young man out for a driving lesson---must have a strong heart and color in their knuckles…



Sometimes when I am driving
I get so angry at inconsiderate drivers
that I want to scream at them.
But then I remember
how insignificant that is,
and I thank God
that I have a car and my health and gas.
That was phrased wrong -
normally you wouldn't say,
thank God I have gas.
---
Ellen DeGeneres

Something to think about

I don't like forwarding inspirational e-mails. It's not that i don't want others to be inspired or for them to know that i am thinking about them--I just kinda hate being told what to do at the end of them...Sometimes i hate having one more thing to read...so instead they sit on my computer because i don't feel like i can erase them. I thought this one had some value--maybe it was #31 that touched me given the recent events in my daughters life. It is the advice i have been giving her--sometimes it is hard to actually live it though....I need to work on #6 more which would make #19 more possible. I know i can benefit from applying some or most if not all this things in my life....

Just something to think about......
An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.'
1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and un-clutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry an inspirational book and/or the Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19 Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Jesus .'
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33 Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.

GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.
'If God is for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31)

DMV experience with my son...

I dislike the word HATE.
It is such a harsh word—
so extreme.
And to boot is it a four letter word
—It is a word that I try not to use—
it is such an absolute word-
not giving room for any doubt.
With that being said
I really hate having to go to the DMV

(Department of Motor Vehicles)

I have found in years past that the DMV only serves to set back my eternal progression.
In the past I have had a number of really bad experiences with the incompetency and general bad service to shake my faith in this organization. It frustrates me to see my tax dollars at work—we pay them for the privilege for them to treat us poorly—to give us little to no customer service, and the most frustrating part in the whole matter is:

we have no choice.

They have total control of you.

In a free market if you do not like how you are being treated you can take your business else where—but that doesn’t work with the DMV. As I walk out the door the feeling of dread came over me. I am ready and willing to accept that something bad or frustrating will take place upon my visit to their office. I want to be positive for my son—he was so excited for this right of passage—and as much as I wanted to be there to experience it with him—I didn’t want to be there….We even paid to have him take a driving class so it would minimize the amount of time we actually have to spend at the DMV.

Upon arriving at the DMV I was pleasantly surprised that I found a parking spot right away—(in the past I have had to circle the building many times stalking those that were leaving) I got out and hurried in to get into line—my son did not realize that we were in a race and took his sweet time coming in.—I actually walked up to the front of the line to get my number—I said “I am here to get my son’s permit”(he was not in as of yet) “ Do you have him with you?”(What I need the actual child here with me? Who knew?) He came in shortly there after….We got the form we needed to fill out with our number and I settled in preparing to wait. I was taking my time filling out the form when I realized that in their odd alphabetic number system that we were actually the next number for the “B’s”—which doesn’t mean a whole lot since the letters go all the way to K’s or something like that—and there is no rhyme or reason as to the way the letters are called—at least not to us lay people.

Imagine my surprise that within a minute of filling out the form we were called up? I did not have the punks’ social security # and was in the midst of making the call to get it from home when the woman actually looked it up in her system for us. Simple enough—but not what I would have expected—I paid my $7 and then we had to get his picture taken—again it all happened so fast that I was not prepared with my camera. I wanted a picture of him getting his picture—this was taken just after his mug shot…

He walked over we exchanged a few words and they called him up to get his permit. I felt like asking what was the catch—this was far to easy and painless?!!!
We actually were in and out of the DMV in

17 record breaking minutes.!!
I about passed out from shock...
this does not happen in my life...or anyone i know!?
17 minutes??? Say it isn't so?

Now I have actually been in and out in a shorter amount of time but that was the day the computers were down and they could do nothing for us---but today we had actual success. I had to take back all those bad words I had been thinking—my eternal progression stayed intact today—do miracles never cease?

So do ya wanna see something funny? This is the picture the last time I had to take the punk to the DMV to get an ID card.

He was almost 13—and was leaving home to travel with his scout troop for the national jamboree. He looks so little—especially when you compare it to todays picture.
Just a wee bit of change has taken place in the last 3 1/2years—kinda hard to believe he was ever that little…. Kinda hard to believe he will be operating a motor vehicle--legally....

too many scheduals

Most of the time i don't mind having five kids. It can be rather fun--crazy at moments--sometimes loud and i have learned to count to five really fast. It can be an adventure getting everyone in and out of the car and the laundry is non-stop. That aside, the hardest part of having 5 kids is trying to keep track of their on going, ever changing schedules. Nothing is ever the same-with 4 different schools to manage and the various extracurricular activities. Then there are the multitude of appointments that comes with having 5 children, especially one with special needs. I know some people resent those reminder calls--I resent when i don't get them... I need to be reminded..again and again.... Sometimes it is a wonder that i don't forget more than i do--thank goodness my head is actually attached--or then we would have real trouble.

It does amaze me that i actually manage to show up for work at the right time--since my schedule is always different it does get tricky--but somehow i do manage to remember that.In my 12 years i have forgotten one time--and that was because it was on a Sunday and i rarely to never work Sundays...talk about outside of the normal?..(what is normal anyway?)

My children have learned that my feeble brain can only remember and process so much information in a day. They have learned to remind me--and remind me again of things, so i won't forget them. Just because you tell me the night before you still need to remind me the day of--or the hour before--and just in case mention it about 15 minutes before we need to be out the door...they have learned and we have adjusted. Little man is still working on his ability to communicate--so when it comes to his schedule i am required to remember it all...and some days i do better than others....

I knew that little man had an appointment this morning--I had remembered it all last week--but to actually remember it on the actual given day seemed to allude me. He got on the bus as usual and i proceeded to delve into my day--at 8:25am i remembered that he had an 8:30 appointment ( i am impressed that i actually remembered it before the actual appointment--even if it was only 5 minutes before) As i jumped in the car to go get him and I had the phone to my ear trying to call the office-I finally got a hold of the office and they said they cancel the appointment after 15 minutes (i knew i was going to be about 1/2 hour late) but i should try anyway--Since this was an appointment that was 6 months in the planning I really did not want to have to reschedule. Poor little man had to move it--fast. We arrived at the office 25 minutes after his scheduled appointment time--and they went ahead and let me check in. HOORAY! Everything checked out fine and we made an appointment for 6 months---for the first day of school--can you believe that is only 6 months away? Where does the time go?

After almost blowing it this morning i did look at my schedule and i realized i had a home appointment with little mans case manager at 2pm. I was so glad that i had looked as i had a few errands to run and i would have missed her....if she had actually shown up. I guess i am not the only one who forgets....Maybe that was why i almost forgot the appointment this morning--so i could be more sympathetic and understanding when others do the same thing to me....I am only hoping that i didn't write it on the wrong day and end up missing her later in the week......Did i mention how crazy life can be with FIVE kids.....

My new mantra

There comes a time in life....
when you have to let go
of all the pointless drama
& the people who create it.

Surround yourself with people
who make you laugh so hard
that you forget the bad
and focus solely on the good.

After all,
Life is too short
to be anything but
HAPPY

emotionally drained

I feel drained....or maybe deflated is a better word? Sorta like the life has been sucked out of me today....Maybe that is a slight exaggeration...or not?


As a mom you are tuned into the pain of kids...it doesn't have to be only my kids that i feel empathetic toward--it is any kid that is hurting.

I have often drove teams to state games--and i have brought home winners and i have brought home losers--today i had a team that lost. They were the #1 seed for state and they lost in the final minute of the game. You could tell the magnitude of the game by the intense quiet that was present during the ride home. There were tears---and heartache felt for the young lady who had been the goal keeper. The pressure she felt for the lose was like no other. You can say "it's just a game", but for this group of young woman it was what they had been working toward for their entire high school career. Many commented that this would be the last game they played--an ending of an era--and not the way they had pictured it.

I am also still reeling from the thoughtlessness of my daughters friend--only i don't think it was entirely thoughtless--i think it was planned and that makes me even madder and knowing that others are going along with it really torques me as well.... She on the other hand, is dealing with it so much better. She just shrugs her shoulders and says "whatever". She is determined to have a good time and won't let someone else rain on her proverbial parade. Sometimes I think it is harder watching someone else go through trials than actually dealing with them yourself--

Tonight will be better--i am going on a date--a group date--with my daughter and her date and his parents--which also happen to be our friends. I know it is not exactly what she had in mind when she asked him out--but i know i am looking forward to it--should be fun.
I NEED some fun!

frustrated with highschool drama

I have often said that you couldn't pay me to go back to high school. The games people play--the selfishness--the CLICKS!!! So with the intention of never having to deal with all that nonsense again i am finding that it is much more painful/frustrating the second time around. It is harder watching your children go through it--watching them deal with the actions and choices of others.
I am also going to interject that i hate TEXTING!!! It has its good points, but kids DO NOT communicate with actual verbal banter anymore--and more often than not things are not communicated effectively or completely--thus adding to the drama.

From 4 o'clock on this afternoon became one of complete and utter frustration for me. It is a good thing that i cannot reach through a phone and wring someones neck. My phone died on me twice today--do you think i was on it just a bit? I have never fought my children's battles and it has taken everything in me not to intercede--and give my "what for" in this act of pure selfishness by someone who was supposed to be a friend of my daughters.....Now here we sit trying to figure out a solution to a problem that someone else created...

Then came the fun shopping trip (read in a large chunk of sarcasm) trying to find a jacket to make my daughters dress modest. I am so frustrated with what is available for our young women to wear--since when did the "STREET WALKER" look become mainstream fashion? It is hard to find dresses that are long enough to cover a girls assets. I am sorry but most girls DO NOT have the figure to pull this look off. Why is sooo much skin soooo attractive these days--why is it so much work to teach your daughters to value modesty--that their body is not for everyones show?AHHHH i could go on--but i will leave it at that tonight--I am sure i will return to this rant another day.

Then the stupid (dislike that word but i am frustrated) dog took off again. I don't know what has gotten into her--but i received that call while we were shopping and my phone wasn't working so hot--i could hear my hubby but he couldn't hear me--technology that is enough to really frustrate me when it doesn't work right. He called me back a few minutes later to let me know she was back--

I know things will look better in the morning--or will they? We still have to figure out all this last minute dance stuff....with all this drama it makes me wonder if dating is worth it---i don't remember it being this hard in high school.....

ICE CREAM ON THE BRAIN

I can go months with out eating ice cream--
Winter is not your normal ice cream eating months--
but the last few days it has been on my brain....

It started at 6am in the morning--
when it was still dark out....
normally, first thing in the morning, food has very little appeal to me
but on this given day
I was wondering why DQ was not open for breakfast..
the idea of a breakfast blizzard was appealing to me--
very appealing!
what a better way to get you calcium intake for the day out of the way--
but are they open at that time of the morning--
NO!
Most days i would not care,
but i am under the belief that if i have to be up--
I should have what i want at my disposal!
(heck you would think i was a teenager or something with that attitude)

Later that day i found myself in the bus again--
this time i pulled up to a light next to a truck
and it was as if the ice cream gods were teasing me.
I found myself mesmerized....
watching the man in the truck next to me enjoying his thick shake.
He would dip in his spoon and take a bit
and i would wipe the drool away from my mouth--
I think he caught me looking before i could look away.
I wanted to open my door and ask him for a bite--
but we hadn't been at the light long enough to develop that close of a friendship...
So instead when the light turned green we drove off
only to be caught at the next light together.

I needed some ice cream or someone was going to get hurt
I had ice cream on the brain....
which is similar to brain freeze only different.
As soon as I was done with the route
I found myself getting my fix...
AHHHHH
satisfaction....
I will be good for a few more months--
hopefully that will keep me from drooling
as i see those around me indulging....

late night run away

I don't know about your house--
but when the phone rings after 10pm it means its an emergency--
(or on those occasions when the kids are out they are calling to tell us a change of plans or ask to stay out later...)but tonight--when the phone rang at 11pm, all my children were in bed--
except unbeknownst to me one of my family members had run away.
They hadn't run far--
just around the corner and up the block,
to grandmothers house they went...
(use your sing song-ie voice when you say that line)
apparently i had not given them the appropriate amount of attention when i came in tonight--
i guess i assumed that they were upstairs hanging out, sleeping on the couch--
where they are not supposed to be....
whatever the case they made their presence known at grandmas,
and grandma who normally could sleep through a train running through her backyard
(not actually--but you get the idea)
or people pounding on her door, or calling her house--
only to be ignored because she was dead asleep--
heard the cries of this family member at her door tonight--
and she promptly called us--
on the house phone--
then the cell phone--
to tell us, not to worry that they were safe.
UMMMM....
we didn't know they were missing????
So when did they leave? How did they leave?
Whatever the case, I threw on my bathrobe and jumped in the car
to retrieve ABBEY,the dog...
In the hast of leaving the house I failed to put on shoes and I think I stepped on something,cuz my foot is bugging me now.... keeping me awake so i can write this entry..
whatever the case--
Abbey is now home safe in her bed--
she was too emotionally distraught to talk about it when she got home..
I hope she realizes that at some point we are going to have to discuss this--
she needs to open up,
talk to us about what is bugging her
does she not have enough pillows?

or is it about the fact we dressed her up like a pioneer last year?

or perhaps little man was taking up too much of the floor?

Or that the bean bag needs more filling?

Perhaps we have not given her enough lap time lately?



She needs to let us know why she felt the need to leave....
especially at that hour of the night....

Not the best--just sometimes the luckiest

I was banished from watching the super bowl by my husband long before the game started—actually days before it started. He thought I brought bad “mojo” to the team because I was a non believer….I wanted to believe—I did, but for years I have seen this team---HMMMM for lack of better words—“BLOW IT”. I did watch the game and for the first time in years it was more interesting to me than the commercials. I thought the commercials were pretty lame for the most part—the game kept me on the edge of my seat. It had to be one of the most exciting games in a really long time—and not just because I was watching it—but because there was actually a good game being played and you had no idea how it was going to end. Right up to the end I was on the edge of my seat. I thought that the Cardinals were going to pull it off—(and I would have gladly eaten a large helping of crow) and they almost did…take away one defensive 101 yard run for a touchdown and they would have—one major costly error, that allowed the Steelers to come out victorious. Often you say the best team won—but on that day I really don’t think they did. The Cardinals played a better defensive game leaving the Steelers to have to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns---(don't i sound all knowing?)but alas the game is not over until it is over----as I learned earlier in the week…..

Oldest son was wrestling—he had wrestled this kid before and had gotten caught and lost the last time. This time he wrestled this kid GREAT—he dominated the match for the most part—had the kid in a pinning position a number of times—but alas with 8 seconds to go—and my son leading, things changed. He made a tactical error and got too high on the kid and the kid was able to flip him off....
and over....
and pinned him in the last few seconds.
It was a heart wrencher of a loss
—something to be learned from—
but once again the best kid/team does not always win---
sometimes the luckiest just pulls out the upset….

last chance saturday

More and more i am realizing that our time together as our little family will be changing. When my kids were little it seemed that they would be around FOREVER--but i am figuring out that is not the case. I cherish those moments we get to spend together--all together. Doing the extraordinary to the mundane i realize that i need to take advantage of our time together--you never know when the "last chance" might happen.....

I got home late(or really early depending on your perspective) from Yuma the night before and my kids let me sleep in---not only sleep in but they got up and did chores—unsupervised-- because hubby had already left with middle child and little man to take her to her swim meet.
I love this independent adolescent stage....sometimes

After helping the daughter with her coronation invite and doing a few things around the house, it was decided that we needed to go to Last Chance to look for a dress. We convinced the two boys to go with us.
First of all let me say
“ WHAT WAS I THINKING?”
Last Chance is an insane place, full of insane during the week---like the weekend should be any better? I love the signs that say if you fight over things you will be asked to leave or something to that effect. Also you can not—let me stress this CAN NOT go to Last Chance with a particular purchase in mind—you just have to take the luck---and we were not—lucky that is---at least not enough to make it worth standing in line for….(if you have been there you understand what I am saying)

We then met up with the other half of the family and went to lunch at Arriba’s Mexican Grill. They are known for their use of Hatch Green chilies—we like hot food---but I will say that this batch of chilies was HOT!!! Some of it was to the point that we were having problems eating it because after two bites your mouth was burning---ah chips—can’t go wrong with those—so even though the entree was too hot we left full. They had some balloons by our table---little man is OBSESSED with balloons—it is one word that he will say (in his manor of speaking) over and over again until he gets one----only ONE was not enough—he convinced our server into giving us all five—and all my children were thrilled—did they let little man carry the balloons---NO—he might let go of them, was their rational—so my oldest son had the bulk of them. You should have seen his face when he walked into the Yucca plant and the balloon popped.

They were cracking up (little man was not happy that they were abusing his balloons in such a manor and wanted to take possession) Then we got to the car and my oldest had taken a teal balloon—because that was the color she wanted for a dress—and wouldn’t you know it it came untied and floated off and up into the blue sky.

We then went to Best Buy as a family to get a new Wii game since I had some gift cards. Taking kids especially teenagers to Best Buy is like taking them to Disney land
—never a dull moment—
so much to see,
and do ,
and touch,
and play….
It was rather a fun afternoon.
While hubby and I debated a new camera—talking pros and cons, the kids were busy video taping each other and taking funny pictures—ahhhh the joys of technology.

Later that evening I went with the girls(the boys all opted to stay home and play the new Wii game) to see the high school musical—and no, it was not “High School musical”—They performed Willy Wonka and did a great job. It was fast paced (I have been to some high school plays that leave you looking at your watch wondering “how much longer”—but not so with this one) and really fun watching my niece as a Ompa Lompa.(did you know that Ompa Lompa does not appear in spell check—imagine that…) You had to really know what your Ompa lompa looked like in order to pick them out—they just kinda blended together and they did their song and dance.

Afterwards the girls and I went out for dessert.

They were being soooo cute and I wanted to get a picture of them together. I asked, and they promptly responded
—in unison—
I might add,
“NO.”
“What? Please just let me have a picture of the two of you---you both look so cute”
---again in unison—
“NO!”
---My children are not the only ones who can beg
—they had to learn it from somewhere—
so again I pleaded—
“Just one”
--which then my oldest turned to her sister and told her
“we might as well do it or she won’t leave us alone.”
This is the one I got….
I asked for another but I knew better than to push my luck—
and I am lucky to have such wonderful girls that don’t mind spending time with their mom….

We then came home to the coronation response---happy way to end the evening….
and then I came down stairs and saw this—
Little man asleep with his balloon---the two shall ner be parted—
Sometimes it really is the simple things in life that make you happy
They leave you with a smile on your face
Joy in your heart—
Like a day well spent with those you love
I am a lucky person
Who could ask for more?.....

go cardinals

this picture was posted on Cake wrecks the other day

(if you have never gone to this site it is good for a laugh--who knew so many cakes could go so horrible wrong!!!)

like the odds for winning: one out of three aint' bad

it has happened

Despite all my personal nay-saying.....

and others who said it would never happen

as long as Bill Bidwell owned the team

and the fact that they keep talking about global warming...

I am here to tell you

HELL has Frozen over....

what else could it be?

I mean the fact that for 21 years my poor husband has been tortured by the Cardinals--

truly tortured!!!

Every year he has been on the band wagon--

and when others were jumping off the band wagon he stayed on--

He wanted to believe.....

and now out of the blue they are playing in the super bowl?--

Say it isn't so?

I am still in denial of this fact....

Should we be looking for other signs that the world as we know it is coming to an end?

I am a wee bit concerned--

who knew the planets would all align--

and have you seen all the rabbits that are missing their feet?--

Now if they actually do win the Superbowl--

watch out

--the world as we know it will change--

it has to...

There is NO other explanation for this anomaly to happen....

What's next?

The Boston Red Sox win the world series in game 7?.....