Kids THESE days

I know they say that teens are the devil. I heard that many times when I was one. The truth-They DO battle the devil, and demons everyday. It is amazing what is out there now in the way of peer pressure, availability, and normalcy. Do you know that it is not considered normal if you are NOT having sex.
There has always been pressure in growing up. That struggle to reach the top rung of popularity. The struggle to fit in with any group, just to avoid having to stand alone. I was not very good at battling off the pressure that comes in teens clothing. I had, and still do have trouble stopping the demons from creeping into my life.
As I watch these teens that I am doing life with, sharing time, and trying to be a good role model for, I see such pressure in their eyes. I listen as they share stories of setting boundaries in relationships. It is not only hard in the relationship, but they have to struggle at school, and among friends who know they are trying to set, and keep these boundaries, and moral guide lines. It is hard enough for them to have a conversation about abstaing from intimacy sexually. Then they are teased and ostracised by their own friends and peers. They are making choices that blows my mind.
These kids have their flaws, as we all do, but they are getting out of bed, and facing temptation daily, and doing a good job at beating it. I am proud of their accomplishments, dedication, and courage. The choices that are being are tough. Sometimes they will trip up, we all do. But they are facing it. I am learning so much from them.
This is a society of drugs, illegal and prescription. A public display of sex is on the TV, any channel. Everyones life is fair play for scrutiny by the media. Scandals, and wrong doings, are done even in the white house. Some Churches are being found out to be full of sex, and hate crimes. The TV, radio, magazines, and anything that is a soap box for sex is available to their Young minds. Porn and addiction can be found in any family. This is their reality!
Self mutilation is at its high. Record numbers of teens walk through my life, and share their stories of how they hurt themselves. Emotionally they have been scared from poor relationships with their fathers, absent parental supervision in their lives, and divorced situations. Again, an opportunity for sheer disaster. Being alone, in your home, as a child, is the first step toward a direction of anger. They come and share how cutting themselves seems to be a solution to releasing anger. Punching things or people seems to be a good idea to get rid of their feelings of saddness, and feeling lonely.They ask for, and listen to advice, and are searching for a different direction.
It is really tough to be a teenager in this day and age. If you have any in your life right now, may I suggest sitting down and really asking whats going on in their lives. It will amaze you if they tell you. You would be surprised to find out the day that they faced. Every corner that they turned, another opportunity to let the demon in. Temptation rules their life. I wonder how many times a day they really say no. It is no wonder they want to sleep so much. I would be exhausted too.
Honestly, grab a young person in your life, and take them out to lunch. Sit down and share your own faults and failures. Let them see that you to have fallen to temptation, and have made some wrong choices. How that made you feel afterward, and what you did with it after that. Share with them how proud you are of them, for any reason. It is important. You need to have a good line of communication, and keep it open. Understand what they are going through. Ask them how that makes them feel. Tell them how that makes you feel to know what they are facing. Acknowledge that you know and understand how tough it is. DO NOT tell them you know what they feel because you were young once too. That is in fact obvious. Instead, share that it was tough when you were young, and recognize that it has gotten so much worse. It really has.
I say all the time that we live in a broken mirror society. You, nore I will ever see the same me staring at me in the mirror, the way other people see us. We are taught to point out our flaws, and dwell on our weaknesses. It is not socially acceptable to accept a compliment. We will never be skinny enough to feel perfect, and everyone is forever on a diet. These walls forbid us to recognize the beautiful people we are right now. Just as God has created us. Take a really good look at your whole self. What is it that you are adding to your child's plate when it comes to demons. Together, we can help shape this era of "Me generation" kids, into something beyond the expectations we ourselves are setting for them. In the meantime, we will learn a heck of a lesson along the way....

Now thats a birthday

It is odd to me, that they say " I wish I could only go back" or "If I could do it all over." ARE THEY NUTS??? I do not, have not, never will, do not not not, wish to EVER go back. I am turning 35, and absolutely loving where I am in my life. My husband and I have our moments of ups and down, but a community and family of people that help us, and really listen.
Support in anything that we may encounter. I have wonderful friends, and neighbors, and amazing kids. I have so much to be thankful for.
My mom is probably writing nearly the exact same thing right this minute. She is the one in our life that taught us to be thankful for what we have. Each day is a gift. My girlfriend Denise and I were talking the other day, and it was the controversy about how we, and others feel when it comes to immunizations. We spoke of our Doctors opinions, and how we felt. Then she asked me what my mom said. I answered....well, she has her opinion, but will always support MY choice. She laughed out loud. I asked her why? She replied, " I knew you were going to say that.I knew that your mom feels that way."
It was awesome to know for one that my mom not only supports me, but I have friends that pay attention enough to know that about my mom. My sister and I have those ah ha moments all the time. Like I know that her husband is a sugar junky (like mine) and likes to put lemon heads in his pop. Or that she could tell you every amount of buttons, on every piece of electronic thing they own. I love that I know that about her. I know that her husband is color blind. He loves to harrass many of people, so that is an on going circle when we see him.
I love where I am in my life. With relationships that I did not have, or even appreciate just 10 years ago. Some of my greatest friends are twice my age, some more, and some much much younger, and yet I love them like they were all my girlfriends my whole life.
My girlfriends that I have had since the 6th and 7th grade are also still in my life. I do not see them often enough, but we are the same when we are together, like we never missed a beat. I have reconnected with a friend I have had since the kindergarten. That is 30 years!!!
I do not feel old, I do not feel I have missed out on anything in my life. I am exactly where I would be today, if I made the best wish for my life to turn out!! Thank you for all of my birthday wishes. It was amazing to have such a variety of people who have passed through my life. Some I have not seen in what feels like centeries, and yet I know we would probably pick up right where we left off, just as I feel we have through face book.

Skeletons from the past

As I was "Face booking" today, it hit me. Many of the people that I am friends with, are from so many directions in my life where I have been. The new friends you make in school each year, to friends through sports, and activities like that. Drama club, or student council, then into the relationship friendships. People you meet through boyfriends, or girlfriends. Then the friends of your friends boyfriends or girlfriends. The people you once loved in your life, then lost. The ones that got away so to speak. I have had so many wonderful people that I have crossed paths with. Bonding over common interests, jobs, and some even through tragedy.

I have cried many tears for the people I have loved and lost, and along with them, goes relationships with others that were related to you through "The other one" I was married before. I had an entire family that I adopted by love, then lost through the breakup of my marriage. That was such a lifetime ago it seems. As much as I gained through that relationship, such as an appreciation for the guitar, and love of "Good" music. The Rolling Stones, Buddy Guy, Bob Marley, and Etta James. I learned that not everyone has the same view when it comes to Religion, and the rules that come with that. I learned that even in the strictest of Religions, there is adultery, bigotry, and mistrust. Pedophiles sometimes come with the largest of grandfather smiles. And I also walked away having to have felt the pain so deep from having to say-good by. Even if it was time.

These are hard lessons life teaches us. My boyfriend I had through High School. "The love of my life" back then. He was it. Along with that relationship came one of my best friends to this day. Their family has always been a part of my life. In some way or another. But yet the loss of the relationship with that guy, was a loss of a part of me. We are all so entangled into each others lives. I am now friends with that guys wife, on Face book!! Face book. Who would of thought after all of the years I have lived without so many of those people, that they would bring such joy to my life today. Friends from the past. Even enemies. Relationships from the past. Revisiting them feels somewhat like taking all the skeletons from my closet, and kicking them out. Letting them know they have overstayed their welcome. It is refreshing in some manor.

Mending friendships that you really did not want to lose to begin with. Break ups sometimes feel like divorces if you are deep enough into the mix of the people that come along with that. I love knowing that all I have to do is turn on my computer, reach out to someone, and on the other end, is a conversation that you did not even know you were missing out on. Finding family members, classmates, and even old neighbors. Just this week, I was friended by my mother in laws sister. We have never met, but found a common place to communicate, and form a relationship. The ability to see into each others lives, even if there is a million miles between us. My husband does not see the excitement the same as I do. I know so many men that feel that way. Are they afraid of digging into the past? Opening their closets and kicking out skeletons? Or is it that when they close those doors of the past, they never intend on reopening them. Or maybe they have a wife with good reason that they do not have permission to revisit the past. Either way, it is amazing.

Once around

They tell me that I am in charge of my own destiny...they say that it was written in the stars, played out in the cards....and even what goes around comes around. Doesn't that mean that we are not in charge of anything really? I like to think that I can make my own decisions, direct my own path, but on the other hand, I also like feeling that someone is watching out for me, and has created a path for me.
Does God somehow know each mistake that we will make? And anticipates the one that will follow, that leads me to where I was supposed to be? But now I had the experience from the mistake, that gave me the knowledge for the next chapter. How does it all work? It always all works out. Or does it?
I know that in my life, I do feel that there is some sort of a plan, and I often feel some sort of da'ja'vu'. Like I already visited my life at another time. I was in the right place at the right time. Even if I come across many walls in the road, it always manages to come out for the better in the long road. Take family for instance. You cannot get a divorce, or force another person to feel the same, or do what you tell them to, unless they want to, and still cannot change them. I like feeling reassured that in the end, I may not know much, but I do know that family is amazing. We need them. The relationships that keep us strong. Even if there is distance between. The phone was invented not very long ago you know. My husband and I learned how powerful that connection can be. A void filled. Family is forever. Through tough times, hard times, sad, bad, and in celebration of it all. Family is needed. A sense of purpose, and history. Memories of your childhood, and a friendship that only siblings can understand.
God does have a plan. Is it exactly where we end up? Where He intended us to be? Maybe not, but He has given us the sense to turn every situation into a positive one. A life lesson. One that I am not always happy to be a part of. But glad it was the was it was in the end.

He's still "The Man"

They say the sign of a real man is one that will get a vasectomy....without hesitation. Well, what kind of man is it that will sign up for it, make the appointment, visit the Doctor, schedule the surgery, and then walk out of the office after being asked by his wife to leave???????


That is exactly what my husband just went through. He did all of the preparations himself. I was pretty proud of him, yet full of hesitation. I had been telling him that I was not sure if I was ready for that, but not very forceful about it. I guess I put it out of my mind, that he was really planning on doing it. We have 3 wonderful children, and they are a handful. I said to my husband that after my youngest, I was defiantly ready to be done. Pregnancy does not agree with my body at all. I know that the thought of feeling the way I did for 9 long months, is torture, but you all know the flip side with the end result. I love my kids. They are amazing, I cannot picture never creating another human, when God gave us such a gift in doing that. I know financially that it is so hard, especially right now, yet again....NEVER AGAIN? I did not think that I would fall to this place again. Especially after my youngest was born. My husband and I were in Baby's R Us with all 3 kids. My oldest was running one way, my son another, and in the cart sat my new baby....yelling her head off. I looked at my husband, while reaching for my 2 running kids...and asked...."who's crazy idea was this???" We did get a laugh or 2 out of that, but I was serious. Who ever said that 3 was just as easy as 2, was lying!! They really just wanted another couple to join the crazy house club with them. They did not want to go it alone.


But as time marches on, how easy we forget. I can picture how I felt, yet somehow, it does not seem so bad. I survived right?


Did I miss my perfect opportunity? My husband going into the surgery voluntarily? As we approached the office, I began to get very panicked. I had already been crying all the way there. I just did not want him to go through with it. I just kept saying I was not ready. "I am not ready, I am not ready" He would tell me that he was. It went back and forth all the way there. We approached the office, and he grabbed my hand. "We can have in un done you know" I even thought about that for a second. "Yes, but we won't" I said. It is covered by insurance to have it done, but not un done, and we would never save that money. I knew that once he did it, that was it, it was all over. We sat in the parking lot for a little while. We had to go in, I knew that. I got out and walked slowly into the office. While sitting inside, I lost it, I could not stop crying. I knew that everyone in there knew I was crying because my husband was chopping off his baby making tubes.


After many minutes of me crying, I looked at my husband and said.." I REALLY am not ready for you to do this."He got up, went to the desk, and told the receptionist that we would reschedule another day. He took my hand, and we walked out. I never felt so relieved. Was it because I really want another baby? or was it because he let me be a part of the choice? That he really wanted me to be comfortable about it. He told me on the way home that he really does not want another baby, but if I was not done discussing it, then we would have to talk about it more, before he went and had the big V. I think in that moment I feel in love with him all over again.

Men v/s Woman

I know that the old saying Men are from Mars, and woman are from Venus rings so true in all of us. Does it have to be from 2 totally different planets though? I have said it before, but I know it to be true, it IS one of Gods biggest jokes. Why are we SO different? Everything is done with a separate thought process completely. It really makes it tough on the days our husbands are home from work, when they are normally gone in the day. Why does that throw our schedules off completely?
Even the kids are different when Dad is home. I mean, I do love my husband, so I am okay telling you that there are times that I totally hate him. I know it is because we see things so very differently. " Why do we Betty crocker girls, and Tonka truck boys? Are we that separate in our likes even as children? My son does have a doll that he sleeps with, and has carried around since he could walk, but I have seen him put that same doll in a truck, and roll it down my stairs. He loves to jump, and smash things, and yell loudly, and pick up bugs. My oldest daughter likes to color, and dance, and help cook. And flinches at the thought of a bug in hear vacinity. It is fascinating.
Have we placed these stereo types on each other? Or is it really our natural instincts? Would a boy who only had Barbies to play with, never play at all? Or would a little girl that grew up with 4 brothers turn out to be a Tom Boy? No. No. NO!
I understand that in many other cultures, the woman is not to be seen, or heard from. They are not to ever expose any part of their bodies, let alone expose an opinion. Even as my Grandparents were growing up, the woman was viewed as the lesser of the 2. Why do they say that all MEN were created as equals? Why is this a sore spot to me?
My husband and I bicker. It really makes me upset when I think that he is trying to pull the old "But I am Man!" bit with me. I will not be made to feel any less equal then he is, just because he is the one that brings home a pay check. I am constantly feeling like I need to prove to him what I do that is worth a pay check, but I do not see a payday financially. My payment comes through my children. They are clean, and happy, well fed, and never lonely. There clothes are all washed, with lunch for school, and a note inside exclaiming that I am thinking of them, even when they are at school. Yet, 5 minutes around my husband on many days, and I am left feeling inadequate. He really has no idea that he makes me feel that way, let alone do it on purpose. So again I ask???? WHY WHY WHY are we so different?
Why can they handle the noise of the television, the baby crying, and the phone ringing, while still singing at the top of their voice? While there are days I can't stand the sound of silence. Why can they play like children, with out the thought of consequence, and I am left to say, "be careful, before you crack your head." Why can they have the children out side in the snow, and I have to yell, "put on a coat gloves, and hat." Why do I need to take a backpack of toys, an extra change of clothes for each kid, snacks for the car, wipes for their hands, an extra drink, diapers, and PJ's just in case? While my husband leaves with them for the afternoon with out even a diaper bag, and survives!!
Daddy always knows how to turn home work into a game, and I am left with the role as the mean principle. Are we really supposed to be able to co exist? I am telling you, every time you and your husband say to each other....WHAT....WHATEVER!!! $@*#!%+^*& ? God is up there laughing. Entertaining himself with the thought that after all of these millions of years, we are still night and day.
My husband and I have been taking a class on the 5 love languages. We are all made up very differently when it comes to the way we express and receive love from each other. Gift giving, acts of kindness, quality time, physical touch, and words of affirmation. Very strong languages. I know that I am words of affirmation, and physical touch. So as much as kind words make me feel good, lack of kind words makes me feel empty inside. Is it that easy? If we figure out our love languages, we could learn to communicate better? I will have to get back to you on that one. My husband and I have to get past the butting heads part.
In the mean time, I am teaching my son to do laundry, cook, and over endoulging him in the affection department, and giving my youngest daughter a Tonka truck for Christmas. Maybe this will give them a heads up in their future relationships!!

Halloween Head ache

Hello all....and Happy Halloween... As most of you know, I mentioned many of times....I LOVE HALLOWEEN!!!!

Dressing up, and pretending to be some one other then who you really are. We had a fun filled weekend, with many of hours, in many of costumes. We had a kids Halloween/Birthday party a few weeks back, to start off the holiday right. We went as the Incredibles from Disney Pixar. I have to say, it was fun fun fun. From my husband in red tights(a child size extra large, in little girls) with black briefs over them. Tighty black undies. He is a pretty good sport.

Then at 12 on Halloween, we had our annual Fall Fest at our church. Talk about some great stuff! From our youth pastor...Jake in the box-Very Funny!! To an animated coo coo zoo. There was a chili cook off, and costume contest. This was until 4. My kids were sooo cold, and already tired at this point. So we left there, to come home and change into comfy, snofty clothes. Not before seeing the greatest costume ever though. Right as we were leaving, we see one of husbands work partners dressed up. As we approach this very chauvinistic guy, we see that he is dressed in a puppet costume, with the title "Perfect Husband" written on his shirt pocket. It was great!!! I also entered into an end of a truck, that was caped off in a large square. I went in with my son, and sat down on the "Haunted toilet", and was chocked by the monster ghost that peered out from the bed of the dark truck. We WERE at church mind you. I stopped my pastor on the way out and said to him..."Hey man, do you claim this very bazar, yet extremely creative and talented congregation?" "HECK YA I do," He replied. I LOVE our group of friends and family there. Any how, cute as a button all of the kids were. And my family did just as promised, passed out tricks. Over and over, we scared kids with the old monster hand in the box when you reach in, and handing the kids a bowl of plastic Easter Eggs....and they take them, as I say Happy Easter, before they realize its a trick. Great stuff....Yes, we are in charge of many of your children in group I know...alll in Great Fun though..Hope everyone was safe, and had lots of fun.

HAPPY HALLOWEENNNNNNNNNNN

BOO

HALLOWEEN-My absolute favorite time of year. Not for any other reason, besides Halloween. I am not a fan of the weather at all. I love the heat. Dry, hot heat. But as far as Halloween goes, I love it! The dressing up, getting to be creative. Using Masks, and costumes to become someone else if even just for a moment. Even going back to as far as I can remember, I have gotten a kick out of it. Doing costumes from scratch, what ever is in the house. I do not like the frilly, girly things either. I am talking the scarier, the goofier, the more creative the better.

I have been Edward Scissor-hands, Frankenstein, Mortisha Adams, 1/2Dalmatian/1/2 Corilla Daville, A Pregnant dog, an afro queen, Peg Bundy, Pamala Anderson, Cat woman.

Oh I don't know, the list goes on and on. It is so stinking fun!!!! So I absolutely love having 3 kids to torture with costumes for Halloween!! My parents used to have an annual Halloween party. It was amazing. Then they gave it up. After a billion years of Halloween. So I think that is why I love it so much. It was always a part of our family traditions. Now I am trying to pass that fun and excitement on to my kiddos.

I bust out the face paint as much as I can to begin with. Any excuse will do when it comes to having a face painting party. So Halloween is right up my alley. Of coarse this year the warning with that is the lead in the paint. Can't we trust anything these days? It is out of hand. I even heard on a talk show this morning that we should have a bag of candy at home, just so we can throw out the candy the kids collect. I understand checking, and re-checking all of the candy, but I would just rather take my kids to homes, and places that I already trust. We are headed to our fall fest at church. We are doing a trunk or treat, and a chili cook off. If any one would like to come. It is 12-2 on Halloween. Anyway, as far as our candy that we pass out, this year, I think that I am going with the tricks. I love to pull pranks anyhow. I can't wait to see their faces when I say....I do not have any candy, but heres a trick!!!!

GERMS GERMS!!!!!

Germs, germs, please go away. My house is not the place to stay.
Can you, will you go find somewhere else to play?
From little fingers, to little toes,
Out comes a snotty, runny nose.
A sneeze, a cough, so many germs.
Thousands of tiny invisible worms!!
This time of year is really bad,
All these germs make me so mad!!!
Look out bugs
here I come, all you germs had better run.
I have the bleach, and the Lysol too-
I plan on getting rid of you!
You are a menus I must say, and all you germs have got to pay.
Scrubbing, cleaning all day long,
I will find all you critters that don't belong!
A waste of time some may say, they will be back right away!
I am not going to think of that right now- I am going to get them anyhow!
I know they hide and laugh at me-but I will win-just wait and see.
In my house so many places for them to play-I am going to kill them! Well, for at least 1 day!!!

Well, as you can see, I have not been here in a few days. I had a wonderful fun filled weekend with an old, yet newly connected with again (face book of coarse) friend. It was really nice to have her and her family here. Our kids, as well as our husbands played very well together. The boys had there moments, but nothing out of the ordinary for young boys. They just got over being very ill with the N1H1, that has all of us lately, or so it seems. So I was glad they made it here.

It is rather devastating all of the illness going around. Every time I talk to someone, they know someone, or are someone who is very ill. Actually, before they left, my girl friend was coming down with something.We are no stranger to illness ourselves. I know when I was younger, and even into my adult life, I have always seemed to get the extremely rare, and unusual illnesses. So I guess I should not be surprised that my son is turning out to be the same way. Of all the things I could pass on to him, right? I mean, how many of you can say that you had Scarlett fever? If you have, are you 80? I really thought that disease died out somewhere along the lines with like leprosy. No-it isn't so. My son managed to have it this year awhile back. He is not a sickly kid, but when he gets sick, he can't just catch a cold. This time, he has developed wierd warts on his neck. He had a few in a cluster, that just looked like tiny warts. I did not think a whole lot about it, I just wondered where he got a tiny cluster of warts. I was not sure that a toad didn't pee on him, but I am pretty positive a toad did not pee on his neck!! Well, a week or so has gone by, and they have started to change. They are developing into tiny blisters. They kind of resemble chicken pox, but he has had them.(of coarse)

Considering he has had Scarlett fever, that is the first thing I thought of. Those were blisters on his hands and feet, that eventually peeled. Then I thought that it might be hand, foot, and mouth...He has had that as well, 2 times. However, I called the Pediatrician, considering he felt some what warm, and was pretty flushed for a few days. Besides, I did have a house full all weekend, so I really wanted to know for sure what it was. I described it to the Doc on the phone, and she knew right away that it was a virus called Moluscum. What? I said very confused. How does one get this, is it contagious, how long will he have it, and when will it go away? The good news, it is NOT contagious.....as for the rest of the answers, not as good....she has know idea how he got it, except she knows for certain that it is NOT from a toad peeing on his neck, there is not really a treatment, and he could have it for 6months to a year!!!!!

COME ON!!!! Really? It can't just be a cold? Or even the N1H1? That even sounded a little better at this point. These things are really sore, besides being very gross. You would think that I lived on a farm, with dirty animals running around. Or that my son never washes his hands, or that maybe I do not own soap. No, all of this in a small child that won't even use paint, or glue, or sometimes even touch his food if he thinks it will get him messy! He washes his hands a lot, just so he can play in the water. He loves taking baths, and it obsessed with brushing his teeth, so he can use the blue bottle of rinse, that finds his "germ bugs" and shows him where he needs to brush.

I know that kids get sick, especially when the are school age, but I am just asking that next time it can be a simple cold! And for the rest of the wierd, and unusual germs to just find some where else to take up living!!! LEAVE MY BABY ALONE!!!! Anyone have any suggestions?

I was woke up this morning to a little voice..."Momma, is fire hotter then hot sauce?"


I mean, was he dreaming of this? "How about lightning? Is fire hotter then lightning?" How does he come up with this stuff? I do not remember asking such questions when I was little, but my mom said I did. "Can we put fire out with the sink? How will we get the fire to the sink?" "Maybe we will have to bring the hose into the house." "Why don't we have a hose in the house?"


Is my brain really supposed to be able to work so early in the morning? I do not think my brain works like that in the height of my day. Actually, I do not think that it has ever worked in that way. Is that the diffrence in the way boys and girls think? It is like the whole direction thing. North, South, East, West. You may as well be speaking Spanish to me when telling me directions. Even in my own town, or right down the street. That inner compas thing. If it is not written down word for word in front of me, I am not getting there, in any timely manor that is.

When I was younger, and first able to drive, to I was lost all the time. It was actually pretty fun at times. My girl friend Brandy and I used to drive all over the world, lost, trying to get to where we intended to go to begin with. That was so fun. Hours we would spend in other towns, no where, any where...it was fun to just go and drive. Do boy get lost like that? I guess they do, but they just do not ask for directions. Even when they are little, my sone refuses to ask for help. He will whine about it, but not ask for help. Why is that?? Is he mimiking his father? Or me? I cannot see my behavior from that point of view. I guess that is something I will have to track from now on. I wish I could write longer today, but I have had to fight the whineing kids to get this much done-

Who said that??

I know that they say "you can't teach an old dog new tricks," or to "let sleeping dogs lye"...but who? Who is the question. Who said that? Or what about "Boys will be boys?" "A Bird in the hand?" Or "see a penny pick it up, and all day long you will have good luck." Is that true?

"How about monkey see, monkey do?" "It is what it is." "Once a liar always a liar. "

The things we say all day long, over and over. Where does that come from? I know when I was little someone told me that they had to walk to school, in the winter, at 20 below. They were definatly not wearing any gloves, or shoes for that matter, and it was up hill, BOTH ways. Did your grandparents have this same trouble? I wonder if they were told that story when they were young?

"You have it soo easy." "Back in my day"..... Sound familiar? I always said when I was younger, that I would NOT say the things to my children, that my parents said to me. Boy was I wrong. I look my mother in the mirror every day. From..."If I have told you once", or "did you hear me?" "If I have to tell you one more time..." "I do not care who started it, you are the oldest" "Because I am the mom, thats why!!"

It is funny to think that your parents, and even your grandparents lived a very similar life. Hearing the same quotes, and reliving the same days. It just shows how similar we all are. I am not saying that in each generation, there was not change, and that helped life become somewhat easier, but generally speaking. The foundation of our lives, were so much alike. Each family with its own unique spin on things, and each family with its own traditions, but the same idea around these things.

What about little nick names your family gives things, like "neb nose" That means nosey. Or "Red up the house" If you are from Pennsylvania, that means to clean up. " I Lo Lo" means I love you in my family. My son loves to say "Home sweet home" when we pull into the garage. I know that I have always said that from my child hood, so I think that is too cute.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star...Isn't that a universal song? In every language.

ABCDEFG...come on, we all know ABC song. Old McDonald? Hes had a farm for at least a couple of hundred years? Right? Just think about that. All day long, ask yourself who is the voice behind the sentance you just spoke. It is really interesting to think. Our vocabulary comes from each other. Picking up so many things to say. Everytime someone picks up a new "saying", they carry that home, and to a new conversation. Then someone from that conversation, takes on to another one. This transition happens all day long. From home to work to school, to home. From home to the phone to Indiana, to Illinois, to Florida, and Pennsylvania. There is no end to this circle. A bunch of loops to a bunch of family and friends.
We often tease my my that she is 7 times removed from everyone in the world. If you really think about that....she is.

Oh-those days of sick kids....

A new day has begun!! It is very early, and I am exhausted from last night. Last night I learned my 11 month old cannot take ANY cold medicine. 1am......AHHHHHHHHHH....AHHHHHHHHHH.....over and over again. I got up. Changed her pants, and rocked her back to sleep. 3am....same thing!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHH Okay, get up, get her a bottle, change her, feed her, rock her back to sleep. Just as I put her in bed, she pops right up...Smiling, laughing, clapping. On no, I think to myself. She is wide awake. I grab her nookie, and head into my bed with her. I snuggle down in my bed, her in my arms. I was so excited, she was still, and quiet. I start to doze off, and right then....SMACK accross my forehead!! She just cracks up. I however, DO NOT...I try and ignor it. I tell her NO! We lay still again. WHAP!!!! Right in my nose... NO NO I say, and try to fall asleep. We lay still.. She finally falls asleep.....I think.... I doze off.
My husband gets up to use the washroom. It is about 4 am or so. I ask him to put her in her bed. He takes her down the hall.
It was not even enough time for me to doze back off again, and she was yelling. It was then I realized that it was the medicine. My son has the same trouble, so I should have seen this coming. I have just been so desperate to have these kids be able to breath, and get somewhat better. It was a lesson I needed to be reminded of why I do not really care for kids meds, and choose to try and stay a head of the germs. I know..I know...IMPOSSIBLE!!
Well sickness or not, never again will my daughter see medicine before bed. Oh, and she was wide awake to start the day at 6am. I however, AM NOT!!!! My son is always up early, so you can imagine what my morning has already consisted of. Please do not get me wrong, I love my kidos, and love taking care of them when they do not feel well. I do not enjoy crabby wake up calls every single hour of the night.
This is the third sick day for my son in a row. Did I mention that it is very early?? How old are kids supposed to be when they learn to tell time? We have already watched morning shows, danced to crocadile doc, eaten breakfast, well, we have thrown breakfast all over the kitchen floor, so momma has to sweep it up, and then danced some more. We have taken tubbies, and splashed all over the bathroom floor so that momma has to mop that up. We combed our hair, and brushed our teeth, while spitting blue toothpaste all over the sink, so that momma has to wipe that up. Of coarse it would not be morning with out the spray of water that mysteriously appears while brushing our teeth, so that momma gets to clean that off.
Am I alone here? I know all you mommas have had these days...
Today I will pray for patience. Please grant me patience. Please may I have patience??? Did I get it yet? It doesn"t feel like it. Please God- I need some patience!! But soon. I cannot wait patiently today. Not for patience. Did I say please?

whos the boss?

Okay- I may have to write a couple blogs a day. There is just to much to say. I know what you are thinking.... I NEVER run out of things to say. Well Good-then you will never run out of something to read.

As I was trying to write earlier, my 4 year old wanted to play on the computer. He was right next to me. Not really saying much, but his body launguage was telling me that he was adimit about playing on the computer...right then.

He is home from school sick. This is the 2nd day. I thought he was stir crazy yesterday!!! So- what did I do, I tried to keep writing for just a few more moments, until my 11 month old decided that the printer below my feet looked pretty cool. So as she is screaming that I will not let her near it, and my 4 year old is trying to prevent her from getting any closer to the computer table, I am just laughing. Really? I thought to myself. I am the mom right? Why is nobody listening, or demonstrating any patience? Sooooo, I got off of the computer, let my son have a turn, feed my baby, changed her, bathed her, rocked her, read and sang to her, and then put her to sleep. My son was doing rather well on the computer. That was until momma decided to start to paint. I thought I could get in some time on a painting I have been wanting to do, while my baby was sleeping, and my 4 year old was learning. Oh no-he was DONE_DONE_DONE with that. Okay, I said, as I set him up with some paints of his own. Yet frustrated in the back of my head. Am I the boss I thought? After a few moments of painting, he was ready to be done. So I stopped my painting again, so that I could clean his hands. The phone rang, I did not get it, because I knew that my son was NOT going to cooperate with me trying to have an adult conversation.....AM I the boss? I was really starting to wonder.

He wanted to watch a movie. I set him up in my bed, so he could watch his cartoons and relax. Just as I am about to go to the bathroom for maybe the 2nd time today-I hear from my bed....MOMMA, my son bellows, GET ME A SNACK!! Are you kidding me? I have really lost power here, to a 4 year old, and an 11 month old! "This is out of control" I say to him." Where are your manors" I ask him. Please? He says. Please what I ask. Please get me a snack. Please may I have a snack I say. He repeats me. So I tell him I will be right back with his snack. 1 second later...DON"T FORGET MY DRINK!! I just take a deep breath and think to my self, in a few moments, he will be setteled, and I can catch a break. WRONG!! The phone rings, and so I answer it. I was really thinking that I was going to get to have a conversation with an adult. Well just after a very few minutes, my daughter hollars from her room. She was done with her nap, and no longer happy being in her crib. She is starting to cry louder. I am trying to finish up the conversation as my friend on the other line laughs just laughs. See what I mean I ask...Whos the boss? I chuckeled, and said to her, there it is, another page... and so my second blog of the day was written. Thanks kids!!!!

Good morning everyone.....

It is funny to think that last night, I was wondering what in the world will I write about? That is silly considering since I have begun blogging, stories from all of my friends and family have come in realating to my blog. I am thankful that someone is reading it. It also hit me how connected we all are. How similar. Stories from all over, with a common thread. The things that we say, or hear everyday. From all walks of life, and all still very similar.

My friend called me up to tell about her son. "Talk about the things they say," she said when I answered. "I was taking my son to his friends house earlier, and he asked me what a mamogram was." Her son is a teen age boy, so that makes it even funnier. She explained that it was an e-ray of a womans chest, and then asked him why did he want to know. "Well, I sort of sent an invetation to get one to all of my friends." I know you are wondering why, because I was. She said that he went on to say that it was on the computer suggesting to send one to a friend, to raise awareness for cancer. So, I guess he thought he would help out and do his part. Imagine the faces of some of these kids when they get an e-mail suggesting this. Pretty darn funny!!!



Another girlfriend of mine called to talk about the things your mother like to imbead in you as a child. For instance, her mom would tell her if she swollowed her gum, she would grow a gum tree right in her stomach. Or of you swollowed water melon seeds, you would grow a water melon.

I know that all of your parents would tell you that if you did not eat your dinner, your muscles would never grow, and you could never become big and strong. It cracks me up.

She went on to tell me that she was with her son one day when she realized how much you really believe what your mom says. Her example, telling her son in a crowded place, if he lets go of her hand, there would be no more Ethan. She said it so often, and he listened. They were together some where, when he declaired to a stranger that he could not let go of his mothers hand, or there would be no more Ethan.

I am so loving all of these stories. Please continue to share them with me, and I will always have something to write about....

Soooooooo I was thinking.....When we talk of "they" who does that really mean? Are "they" the ones that tell us if we hold a toad, and it pees on us, we will get a wart? Or are "they" the same "they" that say if you sit too close to the T.V. you will go blind? Or how about when you cross your eyes, and your brother hits you in the back of the head, you will be cross eyed for life! Did "they" discover that by accident? How about when "they" say coffee stunts your growth? Who is "THEY"? "They" say that boys are faster then girls, girls are better listeners, and boys are better drivers. Really...I need to talk to this "THEY" I know that you have heard that "they" say that time heals everything? Or what about an apple a day keeps the Doctor away.
Is this "they" a group that gets together? Has a secret club? Do "they" really know what "they" are talking about?
"They" say you should wait a half hour before swimming, after eating, or you will get a stomach ache. "They" also told me that 2 snow flakes, are never a like. I think it is the same "they" that stated a full moon brings out the ware wolves in humans, and causes ordinary people to do very bazar and strange things. One of my favorites....when "they" say that if you really love someone, you will let them go. If they do not return to you, they were never yours to begin with. This to go along with when "they" tell you that it is better to have loved and lost, then never to have loved at all.
As I was pondering all of this, all I could picture was....

A very large person with warts on their body. Sitting around the pool eating apples, and never going swimming. If I really imagine them correctly, I am quite sure that "they" are perminatly croos-eyed, and some what blind. I am certain that "they" turn into a wear wolf on a full moon, and do the most bazar and strange things after midnight, and are very lonely. Perhaps from losing a love that was not theirs to begin with, but happy that "they" loved them in the first place. Possibly "they" are studying a cooler full of snow flakes, just to prove that no 2 are alike. They are probably drinking coffee, so I am positive that "they" are no taller then a first grader!!!!!!!

I was thinking ablout what I wanted to write today, and I was remembering back to some stories people have told me about what funny things their kids have said.

My sister once shared with me that she had been sent some flowers to her at her school. (She is a teacher.) Well, as happy as my sister was to get them, she told me that the best part of the day is when a little girl in her class said that she wanted some flowers. My sister explained to her that when spring came, their would be lots of flowers, and maybe she could collect some for herself. The little girl said okay, but began to sob. "Whats the matter?"my sister asked. The little girl replied, "but my momma doesn't know where to find springs." Very cute!!

Another storey that was shared with me, was by my aunt. Her kids are all grown now, but she said that one of her favorite memories of the kids as children, was one on a Holiday. Everyone was gathered together talking, and in walked her little girl, with a mouth full of something that she did not give her. When she asked her what she was eating, her little girl replied, "I am eating those things in the suitcases." "Suitcases", my aunt asked. "Please show me what you mean." Her daughter took her over to where there was a bowl full of peanuts. "Those mommy, those are the things in suitcases." Priceless.

In that same conversation, my moms other sister shared how her husband likes to be funny at dinner. When his plate is empty, he likes to bang his fists to the table and bellow, "Woman, that was a damn good dinner, damn good!" Well much to their surprise, their little guy pays very close attention to daddy. Several days later when they were dining in a restuarant, after eating pizza, their son slammed his fists to the table. "Momma, that was damn good pizza, damn good." Just like her, I would have wanted to climb under the table, and crack up laughing, all at the same time.

I just love stories of kids. They are unpredictable, and unforgetable. I often think that God desighned them to be so cute, and so funny, so that they can survive childhood. Otherwise, I am quite certain there are times I could have killed those little monsters.

There was a time when my oldest, who is now 8, was very young. She could relly get you to a belly laugh. As most girls are, she is very dramatic. She was in the middle of getting in trouble for what? I cannot recall at the time. However, after receiving her ounishment, broke out in tears. As she was balling her eyes out, looks at me and says, "I am crying because you are standing on my feelings." I got such a kick out of that, we still say it to this day when we are upset with eachother.

I could sit here all day and spout out such stories of the humor our children bring to our lives, but then I would have anything to write about tomorrow. So I will leave you with this.... As your children are young, get a journal. Write down the things they say. I know you will have a book in no time. It is not only memories for you to keep, but I am sure that they would love to know the joy they brought to your life when they were young.

As I was writing my first blog, I thought of millions of things I hear from kids everywhere. It is amazing how there little brains work. For instance, a torn teddy, well of coarse it needs a band-aide. Just as much as a hurt finger, even when it is not bleeding. If you want to get into their minds, you often have to be a child yourself. Play in the rain, and jump in puddles. Build forts out of blankets and chairs. Make mud pies and sell them for a hug. Collect nature, so you can glue it down on paper. Draw on walls, bake ginger bread men just to eat right when they are done. Stick your hands in a bowl of cooked spaghetti. Make a fashion show. Build hideouts out of boxes. Make up secret agent names. Play in your food. Do crafts. Get messy. Don't be afraid to run around the house chasing after someone. Blow bubbles in your milk. Paint your face for no reason at all. Play dress up.
If you can say that you do any of these regularly, I will say that you are holding on to that child at heart. This will not only make you feel younger, it will help your children remember their childhood like a magical dream......

Have you ever really listened to your kids, and what they say? Even in talking with eachother? Their imaginations are unlimited. They say and do the funniest things. Ask the funniest questions. my son comes up with some doozies. He would like to know how the wind whistles. And how do we get our voices through the phone lines. Why can a squirrel go accross the phone line without being shocked. How does a plane stay in the air? Is it how the clouds do? Does God have voice mail? And is necker peck a sware word? He is 4. What am I in for when he is older? I just smile at his questions, and often tell him, "ya know, that is a really good question for your teacher."
If you ever want to laugh out loud, or really have to sit and think, sit down with a child, they may end up teaching you more then you ever thought you would want to know.