624 Frogs

This past 2 weeks have flown by....with this warm weather & last minute scramble for the PTO annual Valentine fundraiser, I can't seem to keep up with the date!  I have been volunteering by cutting, taping, & writing messages on Val-o-grams; cards that the students can order & send to each other.  I have completed 624 frogs for this.  YES, I do have ocd & have been diagnosed by a doctor, but my meds don't always stop all of my tendencies.  The main things for me are counting (as you already know) & organization.  Anyone who has been to our house knows, Don't mess up my pantry!!  It is the silliest thing, company doesn't come over to examine our canned goods or the silverware drawer, but my mind says that these places MUST be orderly at all times.  Vernon has always known this & it has been a huge joke for years...he will go into the pantry & purposefully mix everything up, just to watch me go into full freak-out mode & close myself up in there to re-arrange everything!  This may sound cruel, but I always end up laughing at myself in the end.
   I have always loved frogs & the meaning behind the name...Fully Rely On God; but after 624 of those cute little paper creatures, I am sooo glad that the weather is back to winter temps.  I am not ready for spring just yet!!  I need a month or so before they come out of hiding to croak all night long & the tiny ones jump in front of us as we walk out to the car!!  I'm going to try really hard to not let another 2 weeks go by, but there's soo much to do & soo little time!       

Keeping the PEACE

It has been a few weeks & I haven't had any takers on the assistant job---can't imagine why!!  I have been searching for that PEACE that I wanted & I think I have found it.  I am learning to not let the little things become BIG things.  I am a sort of Pinterest addict & I remember a saying from there that goes something like "The laundry may not all be done, there may be dirty dishes in the sink, the house may be a little messy.  That just means my kids have worn clean clothes, eaten at meals, & that we have enjoyed our time together."  I know I am not quoting this perfectly, but you get the idea.
  I am still trying to stay with the daily chore chart that is on the dry erase board in the laundry room, but I am not going to run around like a chicken with my head cut off & stay up all hours of the night to try & get it done!  So, if you come to our home to visit, don't expect everything to be oh-so perfect...it is 'lived in'.  We haven't given up by any means...but we are enjoying each others company & keeping the PEACE in our home, lives, & sleep schedules!!

Job opening

   I LOVE to volunteer my time to organizations close to my heart.  My church; I teach Sunday School & am the Social Activity Director, which includes a number of things (organizing potlucks & picnics, floats for parades, children's skits, all holiday events....), Girl Scouts; I am a troop leader for the 4th year in a row now & this year became service unit manager over the area with 6 troops under me.
   Along with these, which are the largest 'jobs', I also am trying to keep my household together.  Remember before you continue reading, I LOVE to volunteer!
   This first week of 2012 started with the kids going back to school & myself trying to find that PEACE & get onto the household schedule I had set up.  It was also my son's birthday & the week that we began selling GS cookies, along with Vernon coming home from his 2 week shift.  The kids & I were ecstatic for him to be coming home after being gone through Christmas & New Year.  His flight was going to arrive on Nicholas' b-day & the kids could hardly wait for the school day to be over so they could see him.  I could hardly wait too, but as I was driving the 1 1/2 hour drive to the airport, my phone started to ring like crazy!  I tried to be polite & helpful, but all I could think was, "Here we go...".  Usually when I get to the airport I am so excited I have to stand outside the vehicle & tackle Vernon as soon as I see him.  He must be used to this because as I am sitting there on the phone (feeling very frustrated at the fact that I just need 1 day without distractions), Vernon came walking up with his hands in the air saying, "Hello?"
   We were able to celebrate Nicholas' b-day that evening with a quite dinner, but that was all we were able to squeeze out of this week (until today).  These are volunteer positions & the key word is 'volunteer'.  This means  I give of myself freely & am not paid.  I should not be at someone's "beck & call", but when they call every 30 minutes & send texts in 15 minute intervals...really!?!?
   So, today, I did not answer that phone that at times is a life saver, but this week, has been my worst nightmare!  We had the best time hanging out with our dearest friends & I now feel refreshed.  So refreshed, that I am going to announce that I am not at anyone's beck & call & I am not anyone's personal assistant.  If anything I need one myself, so I will be taking applications--no pay, long hours, no benefits, & you will be responsible for this cell phone!!!   Any takers?!?!?

Life on a Sugar High

Another year has gone & for the 1st time in our marriage we weren't together for that New Years kiss at midnight.  This year marked another holiday 1st as well, no gathering or party to attend, so the kids & I stayed in & played card games (all day).  I made homemade hot chocolate in the crockpot & when it was ready the kids got their mugs, added the flavored marshmallows of their choosing...& fell asleep!!  This left me with 3 mugs of rich, creamy hot chocolate &...let me just say, I didn't want it to go to waste.  Talk about a sugar high---I was up till 4 am when Vernon called to start his work day!
   Let me tell you, in a quiet house for all those hours (the kids crashed at 9) I had lots of time to think about the coming year.  To make a resolution or not?....it will just get broken within a few months just like in years past.  I decided I will strive for PEACE....in every aspect of our lives.  Peace for the worries about Vernon traveling so often; Peace for my new journey as a housewife; Peace for my ongoing work as Girl Scout troop leader, Service Unit leader, Social Secretary & Sunday School teacher at church; Peace for our crazy schedules that sometimes get way out of hand & over-booked at times; Peace for our church as we look to grow; and Peace for our household.
   For the last, I thought of 'The Little House on the Prairie'....(not sure why, but my mind works in overdrive & never shuts down!)  Monday is for washing; Tuesday is for mending; Wednesday is for churning.....I updated this as I don't do much mending & I don't churn!  Monday is laundry; Tuesday is floors; Wednesday is errands--post office, groceries, airport trips :-); Thursday is bathrooms (yuckk); Friday is dusting & extras; Saturday is project day (yard work, crafts...); & finally Sunday is prep day for the coming week.  Wheww...just putting it all down seems exhausting!!  I may need lots of Peace for our household.....
   On to the 1st week of the new year & tomorrow we begin with school for the kids & laundry, or washing, for me.  As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "What lies behind us & what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us."  I pray for Peace within me & Peace within you for this new year!

Skeeter?!?

   This week has been pretty calm with the kids & I staying in & watching movies.  I haven't ventured out at all until today for fear of hurting myself yet again...so I have been just taking it easy with only 1 fully functioning hand!
   I have read 'The Help' & have wanted too see the movie for some time now, so when the opportunity came we borrowed the dvd.  Nicholas is a history junkie, so he was interested (some what) in watching it for that reason.  Brooklynn...not so much.  I have too tell you, this girl has a mind of her own & is not afraid to share her thoughts or opinions with anyone at anytime!!  She has been voicing, profusely, her desire to be called by another name, stating that she doesn't like being the only Brooklynn in her school, her name has too many letters, she just doesn't "feel" like a Brooklynn, & the list of of her reasons could go on & on....& on (especially when she is tired).
   I got her settled down with a blanket & pillow, then started the movie.  For me, books are almost always better than movies, but sometimes seeing a character on the screen gives them new meanings.  Skeeter in the movie is tall, slender, & long-legged, as is Brooklynn.  Couple that with the "I have a lot to say & i'm not afraid to say it" attitude that they both have & oh my, we have a Skeeter!!  After watching the movie 2 more times, Ms. B (as we sometimes call her) has now decided she is kind of fond of that name....gone is the Ms. B nickname...Skeeter it is!!!
   Only a few more days till the kids head back to school & there is soo much to do & soo little time.  :-)

After-Christmas Shopping

   With the Holiday Hustle over, it's time to look back & reflect on how the holiday was spent; was it less stressful than years past, did we enjoy spending time with family...  The answer to both questions, YES!  We spread the family gatherings out & stuck with the vow to not fight & stress each other out.  (This is Not to say there wasn't a fight at a family gathering...but it wasn't us & we sure didn't get anywhere near it!!)
   With Christmas Day landing on Sunday this year, we had our annual Christmas Eve candle light service with the children's play & then had worship service on Sunday morning.  Leaving church on Saturday night, the rain was pouring down so hard it was difficult for me to see the road.  I was thinking out loud & asked the kids if it continued to rain so hard throughout the night could we just stay home all day on Sunday, in our pj's & watch movies.  I got a very loud "No way" from the back seat & just said, "I know, i'm just tired.  Everyone would be upset if we stayed home."
   Well, God did continue to bless us with the downpour all night long & into Sunday; creating not only a risen lake level in our back yard, but a small pond in our front!  The kids & I made our way to church, & our two family gatherings, coming back home between each to gather gifts & food.  Each time we stopped by the house, Brooklynn ran into her room saying she would be right back & came out in a different outfit.  Now, let me just say, I was exhausted, so I let her do this.  Playing Santa alone for the first year gave me a whole new appreciation for Vernon & all that he does to help (yes we still do Santa even though the kids are 11 & 9 but they do know,  it's just part of the holiday magic)!!
   When we returned home for the night, the kids began talking about the worship service from the morning.  The shephards in the fields had to go 'after Christmas-shopping'.  They had to go tell about the visit from the angel & the birth of Jesus...to spread the good news---shopping for people!  The stores are going to have after-Christmas sales for left over decorations for a few days, but Jesus didn't come to the world in that stable for 'left overs' just for a few days after Christmas...He came for all, for eternity.  Nicholas said he really enjoyed the sermon & was going to try to 'shop' all year.  Brooklynn then stated she loved going to church on Christmas Eve then again on Christmas morning & that Jesus should always have lots of Birthday parties!!  (This made it clear to me why she kept changing clothes; she wasn't changing to go to different gatherings, but to different Birthday parties.)  I went to sleep last night with a great feeling of pride for these wonderful children that God has placed into our lives & given us the opportunity to raise.
   Today, we began with discussing this weeks to-do list: clean your rooms, put away new clothes & gifts you received, household chores....  God is still showering us with rain, so I offered to help Nicholas take the trash to the dumpster.  The trash truck had arrived early this morning & emptied the dumpster, closing the lid, so I had to take the broom with us to throw the lid open (I am vertically challenged & the dumpster is a large size).  Now, anyone who knows me knows I am very accident prone....some say an accident waiting to happen.  I really did think the lid was going to go back & open--alas, it did not.  It came back down with a horrible thud, right onto my hand.  I tried to move, but just wasn't quick enough & my pinkie was smashed.   I have broken enough bones to know,  it is broke!   The kids have been helping me but things are getting done at a slower than normal pace.
   Thank goodness I don't need my hand for the 'after-Christmas' shopping I am going to be doing!!!   Oh well, sooo much to do & sooo little time!!

Holiday Hustle...

With only becoming a house-wife at the end of November, I made a vow to my family & myself that this holiday season would be our first 'stress-free' yet.  I did the gift shopping early & avoided the black-Friday crowds for the first time in four years.  Instead, the kids & I had a nice quiet day at home slowly putting up Christmas decorations at our own pace & enjoying our kittens amazement at all the sparkly decorations that they just knew were all for them!  The kids waited in anticipation for Dad to come back home from work so he could help finish the outside lights & be here for the last week of school, which was scheduled with band concerts, parties, & dances.  This year our church participated in the Christmas parade after taking a year break, & that was scheduled for that last week of school as well.  So, my loving, sweet, but very tired husband flew home after a hard 12 hour shift & without us even realizing it, was thrown into the Holiday Hustle!
 We had been going at our own slow pace & just kept going with all the scheduled events, dragging this tired man right along with us!  Don't get me wrong, he did complain...but he just kept right on going with us through that whole first week.  I have always said, & firmly believed that God works in mysterious ways & that everything happens for a reason.  Even though we thought we were moving at a slow pace, we were stopped completely at the end of that week.  I had gotten a cold that just wouldn't go away & settled in my chest.  After several doctor's visits, shots, meds, chest x-rays, & being kept at home for fear of spreading my germs.....our two weeks together were over & that tired man that we had dragged all over the place, had to get on a plane & fly back out for more hard work.  As we left the airport five days before Christmas, it dawned on me...we hadn't had a stress-free holiday season, just a more stretched out version that somehow took over our time together that we hold as precious.  So, for the past three days the kids & I have been spending 'real' time together...reading Christmas books, watching movies, doing crafts.
Now as I sit here early in the morning on Christmas Eve, that 'Holiday Hustle' is creeping back as I realize...I haven't wrapped any gifts, done all my cooking, finished cleaning the house, finalized the preparations for the children's skit at church...& the list goes on---sooo much to do!!!
God Bless