I am so reminded of how little time we truly have in life today. Simply in the example of my day today. I know, how morbid, thinking of how short life is.
Sometimes I feel like we rush around all the time and truly accomplish nothing. At times I feel helpless to be able to slow any of it down.
Occasionally I take a look at what is going on and prioritize, trying to find something I can cut. The only thing that ever seems to be is spending time with/on family and friends. I am not willing to go there. I know it has already happened to a degree. I have friends that I miss. Many of them online friends because that is what has definitely decreased - online time. It makes me sad. You may say, "How does one miss an online friend?" I do. There is a spot in my heart that misses them and makes me miss being able to get together IRL even more. (Know you ARE missed.)
Being so busy makes it easier to lose track of what really matters. I know it adds to my stress levels, which triggers anger for me. I find myself in that place where I am actually spending time with my kids but it feels so worthless because I am so stressed and angry about everything. Instead of being able to just relax and spend the time together it gets wasted. I am making a conscious effort to really be in tune with my stress and anger and take it to the one I know can and will help me. Talk about LOTS of prayer!!! Someone told me the other day that her job is really demanding and it is reminding her to go to God with it. It shows her just how much she needs help. It was a good "refresher" perspective. Sometimes the stress in our lives is there because of us - because we need the reminder that we can't rely on ourselves alone. I have lived life "as an island". I don't want to be there again.
Today I am juggling a million things. It all started with a VERY late morning. I haven't been getting a lot of sleep and somehow I slept until 9 AM. Um, WOW!!! I was talking with Dave and saying that I need to remind myself not to get all stressed about how much HAS to be done today because I desperately needed that sleep and felt so much better for it. However, it is easy to look around me and get stressed out. That's when I really lose the value of those extra hours of sleep.
I know this is a bit of rambling but somewhere in there, I hope you can hear an echo of sense. It isn't how much time I have. It isn't about how much I get done. It's about what I do with the moments of time I have. Today my house may not be completely sparkling when company comes for dinner but my prayer is that I am at peace and my kids feel that company tonight doesn't mean they had a totally trashed day.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
What you really CAN do!
A few months ago my KitchenAid mixer BROKE. That is one of the worst kitchen things that could break for me. Of course it isn't under warranty anymore, even though it is only 3 years old. The frustrating thing to me is that it was still running. It just wasn't turning the beaters.
Enter me, the "fixer of all things". I took that baby apart but got to a certain part and couldn't figure out how to get it apart enough. I put it back together and finally, weeks later, we went to look at new ones.
This time we decided to look for the top of the line one. It's pretty simple, I know what I want. Of course it costs $400 BUT with a 20% off coupon AND a rebate for buying one of 2 attachment options, you really couldn't beat it. The problem was they didn't have warranty information on the box AND I really don't have $400 for a mixer right now. The other problem is that I really DO need a mixer. It is somehting that I use several times a week.
We decided to go home and figure things out. Dave decided that maybe I didn't take enough of it apart (obviously I didn't since I couldn't find anymore pieces to take apart.) Here is why it is so much better for two to work together. He found some hidden screws. Between the two of us we got everything apart and found out that Kitchenaid mixers have A TON OF GREASE in the housing, like gobs of the stuff...grotesque amounts of it!!!!
We found out that a PLASTIC gear had stripped. Yes, everything but the most important gear on the mixer is metal. We got it off, found a replacement part on Amazon, and in 3-5 days we will get the new part for $12.97 and free shipping. Now we are going to hope and pray that goes in easily and WORKS.
If it works we have just saved ourselves over $300. If it doesn't we have lost $13. I prefer to risk losing $13. You just never know what you are capable of until you try.
Oh, BTW, you can buy Kitchenaid Mixer grease on Amazon for $20...just in case you ever need to know that.
Enter me, the "fixer of all things". I took that baby apart but got to a certain part and couldn't figure out how to get it apart enough. I put it back together and finally, weeks later, we went to look at new ones.
This time we decided to look for the top of the line one. It's pretty simple, I know what I want. Of course it costs $400 BUT with a 20% off coupon AND a rebate for buying one of 2 attachment options, you really couldn't beat it. The problem was they didn't have warranty information on the box AND I really don't have $400 for a mixer right now. The other problem is that I really DO need a mixer. It is somehting that I use several times a week.
We decided to go home and figure things out. Dave decided that maybe I didn't take enough of it apart (obviously I didn't since I couldn't find anymore pieces to take apart.) Here is why it is so much better for two to work together. He found some hidden screws. Between the two of us we got everything apart and found out that Kitchenaid mixers have A TON OF GREASE in the housing, like gobs of the stuff...grotesque amounts of it!!!!
We found out that a PLASTIC gear had stripped. Yes, everything but the most important gear on the mixer is metal. We got it off, found a replacement part on Amazon, and in 3-5 days we will get the new part for $12.97 and free shipping. Now we are going to hope and pray that goes in easily and WORKS.
If it works we have just saved ourselves over $300. If it doesn't we have lost $13. I prefer to risk losing $13. You just never know what you are capable of until you try.
Oh, BTW, you can buy Kitchenaid Mixer grease on Amazon for $20...just in case you ever need to know that.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Brownies and Egg-less Molasses Cookies
This is about a lot of things. I knew coming into my "blogging life" that I can be quite random so I wanted to call it "ramblings and randomness". However, someone had that brilliant idea before me. Oh well. You have been warned.
I woke up this morning and made the children their favorite breakfast-oatmeal. We decided to try chocolate chips instead of cranberries, raisins, and sugar. Excellent idea, right? In theory, yes. In actuality, no. Oh well. You live, you learn. It started our day off badly because everyone thought this was going to be the best breakfast ever and it was a dud.
Then I thought Kieran had a one-on-one class with his teacher at 9 so I delayed starting school until then since it is always a pain to be half way through the subject and have to set it aside until later. WRONG!! After arriving at his classroom online and waiting 10 minutes I double checked the time - 11:30.
Next I got him started on a subject and started up my netbook. Ok, tried to start up my netbook. The dying battery light flashed even though it was plugged in. *Sigh* I tried to start up the PC and the data wasn't making it from the computer tower to the screen. YAY!!! Two broken computers. Thankfully the PC did start up later but I don't know how long that will last.
(Yes, I am getting to the brownies and molasses cookies.)
On a positive note I was able to wash 2 loads of laundry today without my children killing themselves or each other. Some of you know my horrible laundry room situation but if you don't, here it is. **We live in a very very small house. That means there is no space to put inside stairs to the basement. Really, it would take up my whole bathroom space to do so! We also have a front 2nd story porch that is the whole length and 1/3 the width of our house. I have to go outside, downstairs, through the garage, a second room and then back the length to the back of the basement to get to the washer and dryer. Great for exercise, not so great when you hear a thud and scream from upstairs.**
You would think two technology issues in one day was enough but no, my husband texted me on the way home and when he got home, with no coffee in hand (he asked me what I wanted), asked why I didn't text him back. I did. However, my phone says it sent it but he never got it and the sent copy had no message. Good thing a new phone is on its way.
Halfway through the day I received an email reminding me that I have snacks for our Community Group meeting tomorrow. I thought it was in November. OOPS! So now what??! I am gone from 5:30 AM until 10:30 PM tomorrow!! I finally was able to think about what I was taking around 5:00 tonight. There are a lot of allergies in our group and I really try to make sure there is yummy stuff for everyone, or as close to everyone as possible. With tree nut, peanut, egg, dairy, and sulfite allergies it is a challenge I honestly love. (I am so sorry Becky. I am not sure if I was successful.)
I grabbed my old standby - Pillsbury chocolate fudge brownie mix (sorry Erin). Instead of oil I used some of my yummy home canned applesauce and threw in chocolate syrup and cinnamon. Dairy and nut (both types) free!!!
Then, around 9 PM I found a recipe for eggless molasses cookies. SWEET!! I have been wanting molasses crinkles for awhile so it kills 2 (birds) with one stone. I get them and I don't eat them all.
They are so good, even though they are a little low on the molassesy flavor. I will definitely make them again. Once I perfect the recipe I will share it with you.
I feel accomplished. My whole day felt like such a bust but when I pulled those trays of cookies out of the oven-I felt IT. I accomplished something!
Plus those cookies were awfully yummy.
I woke up this morning and made the children their favorite breakfast-oatmeal. We decided to try chocolate chips instead of cranberries, raisins, and sugar. Excellent idea, right? In theory, yes. In actuality, no. Oh well. You live, you learn. It started our day off badly because everyone thought this was going to be the best breakfast ever and it was a dud.
Then I thought Kieran had a one-on-one class with his teacher at 9 so I delayed starting school until then since it is always a pain to be half way through the subject and have to set it aside until later. WRONG!! After arriving at his classroom online and waiting 10 minutes I double checked the time - 11:30.
Next I got him started on a subject and started up my netbook. Ok, tried to start up my netbook. The dying battery light flashed even though it was plugged in. *Sigh* I tried to start up the PC and the data wasn't making it from the computer tower to the screen. YAY!!! Two broken computers. Thankfully the PC did start up later but I don't know how long that will last.
(Yes, I am getting to the brownies and molasses cookies.)
On a positive note I was able to wash 2 loads of laundry today without my children killing themselves or each other. Some of you know my horrible laundry room situation but if you don't, here it is. **We live in a very very small house. That means there is no space to put inside stairs to the basement. Really, it would take up my whole bathroom space to do so! We also have a front 2nd story porch that is the whole length and 1/3 the width of our house. I have to go outside, downstairs, through the garage, a second room and then back the length to the back of the basement to get to the washer and dryer. Great for exercise, not so great when you hear a thud and scream from upstairs.**
You would think two technology issues in one day was enough but no, my husband texted me on the way home and when he got home, with no coffee in hand (he asked me what I wanted), asked why I didn't text him back. I did. However, my phone says it sent it but he never got it and the sent copy had no message. Good thing a new phone is on its way.
Halfway through the day I received an email reminding me that I have snacks for our Community Group meeting tomorrow. I thought it was in November. OOPS! So now what??! I am gone from 5:30 AM until 10:30 PM tomorrow!! I finally was able to think about what I was taking around 5:00 tonight. There are a lot of allergies in our group and I really try to make sure there is yummy stuff for everyone, or as close to everyone as possible. With tree nut, peanut, egg, dairy, and sulfite allergies it is a challenge I honestly love. (I am so sorry Becky. I am not sure if I was successful.)
I grabbed my old standby - Pillsbury chocolate fudge brownie mix (sorry Erin). Instead of oil I used some of my yummy home canned applesauce and threw in chocolate syrup and cinnamon. Dairy and nut (both types) free!!!
Then, around 9 PM I found a recipe for eggless molasses cookies. SWEET!! I have been wanting molasses crinkles for awhile so it kills 2 (birds) with one stone. I get them and I don't eat them all.
They are so good, even though they are a little low on the molassesy flavor. I will definitely make them again. Once I perfect the recipe I will share it with you.
I feel accomplished. My whole day felt like such a bust but when I pulled those trays of cookies out of the oven-I felt IT. I accomplished something!
Plus those cookies were awfully yummy.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Losing the Invisible (Miscarriage mentioned)
I read of an older woman once who had lost a baby just a short time into her pregnancy over 20 years before. Her words will always stay with me. Paraphrasing her - "Don't be afraid you will ever forget. You will be old and gray and will always remember the special baby who never made it. You won't always have the same gut wrenching pain that you do today but each year the memory and emotions will change. Twenty years from now you will still have the pain but the freshness will be duller, the pain will change. That baby will still be your baby though, will always be your baby. No one can take that away from you."
At the time, I tried to picture the pain being just a little else. I couldn't imagine how that could be but it's true. Five years later the pain isn't the same. Occasionally I get flashbacks to just how dark those days were and I see how far I have come. When I was in the moment I just coped and got by. I didn't see the just how dark it was. Looking back though I can. It scares me that I've been there.
I lost a lot of friends. When you are in that place you just want your "normal friends" to understand, to be what you need. The problem is they can't. They generally feel pretty helpless and in trying to help, to put it bluntly, make it worse. I feel for friends who were exposed to me in those days. I don't remember much of what I said or other people said but I remember some things and I remember some horribly awkward moments. I also remember some long time friends who I lost through it. Like it wasn't enough to lose my baby, live far from anyone I knew, I lost my friends. I can't lay the blame. Well, one or two I can but others -they didn't know what to say or do. I can't blame them. At 16 a best friend told me she had a miscarriage and I lost her then because I didn't know what to say so I said something stupid. We never got to speak again and I never got to tell her how sorry I was that I didn't know the words to say.
Maybe you are one of those women who suffer in silence, not knowing what to say. Maybe you are one who doesn't WANT to say what you have been through. It's ok. We each grieve differently, we each remember in our own way.
Now, no matter who you are we have a day specifically set to remember those who left before they came, came silently into the world, or left us with only a few memories. October 15, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day is set to make it just a little less taboo.
I truly believe that if women stop being afraid to talk about "it" we can change the way our friends think. We can change the way the world thinks of loss. 1 in 4 women suffer from a miscarriage. This does not factor in later term losses, stillbirth, infant loss, young child loss. IT FACTORS NONE OF THAT. OVER 1 in 4 women suffer a traumatic loss and many of them don't know what to say. How do you tell a stranger who comments on your 3 beautiful children that life isn't fair and they should be commenting on 4? You don't. Instead you silently feel torn that you have one who can't be recognized.
They say everything happens for a reason. I firmly believe that. Do I know why? No, I don't but someday maybe I will. Someday I can't wait to meet my precious little one that the average person on the street knows nothing about.
Next time you hear of someone who lost a pregnancy or infant, here's what you can do: take them a meal, send them a thinking of you card, offer to be there if they need you. Give them something to recognize their loss.
DO NOT: say "Everything happens for a reason", "I know they are better off", or "time will heal your pain". They hear it enough. Don't give them flowers. The worst reminder of their loss is when those flowers die and they have to throw them away. The places that can take a mind, you don't want to know. Don't be silent and pretend they don't exist.
All around the world today at 7 PM people will be lighting their candles in memory and honor of the little lives that are gone just like a candle's flame - one little breath. My prayer is that all the mommies and daddies suffering will feel the love and peace I ask for them.
At the time, I tried to picture the pain being just a little else. I couldn't imagine how that could be but it's true. Five years later the pain isn't the same. Occasionally I get flashbacks to just how dark those days were and I see how far I have come. When I was in the moment I just coped and got by. I didn't see the just how dark it was. Looking back though I can. It scares me that I've been there.
I lost a lot of friends. When you are in that place you just want your "normal friends" to understand, to be what you need. The problem is they can't. They generally feel pretty helpless and in trying to help, to put it bluntly, make it worse. I feel for friends who were exposed to me in those days. I don't remember much of what I said or other people said but I remember some things and I remember some horribly awkward moments. I also remember some long time friends who I lost through it. Like it wasn't enough to lose my baby, live far from anyone I knew, I lost my friends. I can't lay the blame. Well, one or two I can but others -they didn't know what to say or do. I can't blame them. At 16 a best friend told me she had a miscarriage and I lost her then because I didn't know what to say so I said something stupid. We never got to speak again and I never got to tell her how sorry I was that I didn't know the words to say.
Maybe you are one of those women who suffer in silence, not knowing what to say. Maybe you are one who doesn't WANT to say what you have been through. It's ok. We each grieve differently, we each remember in our own way.
Now, no matter who you are we have a day specifically set to remember those who left before they came, came silently into the world, or left us with only a few memories. October 15, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day is set to make it just a little less taboo.
I truly believe that if women stop being afraid to talk about "it" we can change the way our friends think. We can change the way the world thinks of loss. 1 in 4 women suffer from a miscarriage. This does not factor in later term losses, stillbirth, infant loss, young child loss. IT FACTORS NONE OF THAT. OVER 1 in 4 women suffer a traumatic loss and many of them don't know what to say. How do you tell a stranger who comments on your 3 beautiful children that life isn't fair and they should be commenting on 4? You don't. Instead you silently feel torn that you have one who can't be recognized.
They say everything happens for a reason. I firmly believe that. Do I know why? No, I don't but someday maybe I will. Someday I can't wait to meet my precious little one that the average person on the street knows nothing about.
Next time you hear of someone who lost a pregnancy or infant, here's what you can do: take them a meal, send them a thinking of you card, offer to be there if they need you. Give them something to recognize their loss.
DO NOT: say "Everything happens for a reason", "I know they are better off", or "time will heal your pain". They hear it enough. Don't give them flowers. The worst reminder of their loss is when those flowers die and they have to throw them away. The places that can take a mind, you don't want to know. Don't be silent and pretend they don't exist.
All around the world today at 7 PM people will be lighting their candles in memory and honor of the little lives that are gone just like a candle's flame - one little breath. My prayer is that all the mommies and daddies suffering will feel the love and peace I ask for them.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Too Many, Not Enough....How about mind your own business?
I think it is "funny" how people believe that other people with no children can't "possibly know". Ok, so yeah, you CAN'T possibly "know". Then of course, it tends to be hinted that "IF you were a parent then you COULD "possibly know".
Boy have I got news for you!!! It doesn't end. One of the biggest things about parenthood that I never saw coming with parenthood was how many people "possibly know" so much more than you and aren't afraid to tell you so.
Today's pet peeve is "amount of children".
It is not acceptable to have one child because obviously one child will be pampered and spoiled and generally have a horrid and lonesome life. True to some degree? It CAN be. It all depends on the family and/or child. Coming from 1 of 7 I can't imagine how lonely it could be but I can imagine the sheer bliss of your toys actually being YOURS and not broken or stolen by some one else. Oops, I was the one who broke my sister's doll in a very creative way. Oooooooookay, moving right along.
It is not acceptable to have 2 children unless of course you are so good as to purposefully have 1 boy and 1 girl. Even at that, we know there are cons because obviously, 2 children of opposing genders means no sibling who truly "gets you".
Next, we have 3 children families. Oh yes, that would be my family's category. I have heard so many lame reasons why you simply cannot have 3 children. Among many other statements I have gotten "Well, two's company, three's a crowd". How absolutely silly that can be. Ok, I concede. If there are 3 children of the same gender, perhaps the older two leave out the younger. I don't know. it isn't my life. However, in our household it runs splendidly. They all fight equal opportunity. If for some reason my daughter simply cannot handle not having a companion sister of the same gender, well, she will hopefully get along perfectly with her "girl cousin" who is 2 years younger than her. Really, how much better can it get? My sister fixed that one up for me.
On we go to 4 children. This is when you start hearing "YOU HAVE HOW MANY KIDS?" Ok, so really, 4 kids IS a perfect number, especially if you have been so lucky to get 2 and 2, preferably each 2 the same gender so they will most obviously be best friends forever who never fight over room colors or sides or anything else.
I don't think we need to talk in detail of those people who get looked at as if they have 2 or more heads when they mention anything over 4 kids. We all KNOW they belong in a padded room. There simply is no other explanation.
Ok, so let's get real. Seriously, whose business is it how many children someone decides to have or not have? When did it ever become socially acceptable for people to make the comments they do about someone else's decision on family size? Too bad it isn't socially acceptable to say "Mind your own business"? Why do people NOT think before they speak? Maybe the person has 1 child does so because they tried for years and couldn't have another? Thank you so kindly for rubbing it in their face. Maybe the person who has 7 lived a life as an only child and wanted a whole house full. Either way, it really is none of your business if you aren't being asked to raise them.
Maybe the next time it would be better to mind your own business. Instead of telling me how hard it must be for "sister" to be the only girl and in round about ways suggest that my children will be -psychologically harmed because we have an uneven three, you can simply tell me how blessed I am. I remember the lady who said that with a smile versus the cringe at some other comments I also remember. Be a blessing to someone instead of pulling their day down by reminding them of just one more way they are failing their children because they simply don't feel enough guilt over things they aren't perfect at.
Boy have I got news for you!!! It doesn't end. One of the biggest things about parenthood that I never saw coming with parenthood was how many people "possibly know" so much more than you and aren't afraid to tell you so.
Today's pet peeve is "amount of children".
It is not acceptable to have one child because obviously one child will be pampered and spoiled and generally have a horrid and lonesome life. True to some degree? It CAN be. It all depends on the family and/or child. Coming from 1 of 7 I can't imagine how lonely it could be but I can imagine the sheer bliss of your toys actually being YOURS and not broken or stolen by some one else. Oops, I was the one who broke my sister's doll in a very creative way. Oooooooookay, moving right along.
It is not acceptable to have 2 children unless of course you are so good as to purposefully have 1 boy and 1 girl. Even at that, we know there are cons because obviously, 2 children of opposing genders means no sibling who truly "gets you".
Next, we have 3 children families. Oh yes, that would be my family's category. I have heard so many lame reasons why you simply cannot have 3 children. Among many other statements I have gotten "Well, two's company, three's a crowd". How absolutely silly that can be. Ok, I concede. If there are 3 children of the same gender, perhaps the older two leave out the younger. I don't know. it isn't my life. However, in our household it runs splendidly. They all fight equal opportunity. If for some reason my daughter simply cannot handle not having a companion sister of the same gender, well, she will hopefully get along perfectly with her "girl cousin" who is 2 years younger than her. Really, how much better can it get? My sister fixed that one up for me.
On we go to 4 children. This is when you start hearing "YOU HAVE HOW MANY KIDS?" Ok, so really, 4 kids IS a perfect number, especially if you have been so lucky to get 2 and 2, preferably each 2 the same gender so they will most obviously be best friends forever who never fight over room colors or sides or anything else.
I don't think we need to talk in detail of those people who get looked at as if they have 2 or more heads when they mention anything over 4 kids. We all KNOW they belong in a padded room. There simply is no other explanation.
Ok, so let's get real. Seriously, whose business is it how many children someone decides to have or not have? When did it ever become socially acceptable for people to make the comments they do about someone else's decision on family size? Too bad it isn't socially acceptable to say "Mind your own business"? Why do people NOT think before they speak? Maybe the person has 1 child does so because they tried for years and couldn't have another? Thank you so kindly for rubbing it in their face. Maybe the person who has 7 lived a life as an only child and wanted a whole house full. Either way, it really is none of your business if you aren't being asked to raise them.
Maybe the next time it would be better to mind your own business. Instead of telling me how hard it must be for "sister" to be the only girl and in round about ways suggest that my children will be -psychologically harmed because we have an uneven three, you can simply tell me how blessed I am. I remember the lady who said that with a smile versus the cringe at some other comments I also remember. Be a blessing to someone instead of pulling their day down by reminding them of just one more way they are failing their children because they simply don't feel enough guilt over things they aren't perfect at.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
In Our World today....
Kieran hates Rohanna's hair cut and doesn't fail to tell her this about once an hour. Apparently it is too short and she looks awful - she looks like a boy. *Giggle* Boys look awful?? Ok, BOY!
Kieran's vendetta continues - Me: Everyone clean up the boys' room. Kieran: Rohanna, I don't like you. Me: Why? Kieran: She always makes our room a mess.
Oh yes, I forgot, he doesn't play with toys OR sleep on the floor, which means his blanket and pillows are on the floor rather then his perfectly fine bed. It's all her fault.
Stopped at the bank. Kieran AGAIN: "Mom, tell her(bank teller at window) I said hi." Eann chimes in: "Me too." As I tell bank teller HIM "hi" from my children I want to hide in mortification. He looks at me like I am insane. Oh, that's right I AM!!!! By the way, as I was saying "hi from my children" Rohanna pipes up "For candy." Yup, see? There was a motive behind their friendly behavior. Can't you see their brains are working? "If we say 'hi' they cannot possibly miss the fact that there are children in the car and realize that they need to add some lollipops to the envelope. Maybe one of these days I will put a note in with the slip asking for dog bones instead of lollipops. See what happens then.
Before I got a mile down the road today that little red brake light popped on and started dinging at me. SERIOUSLY???!!!! WHAT NOW??? Oops, Dave forgot to add brake fluid when he changed caliper #1 yesterday. I was on the way to pick up caliper #2. Turned around, came home, found brake fluid and felt like a hero. I really did know where it goes lol. Look around, any macho guys watching? Look at me, I am THE WOMAN! I can fix cars!! :-D
Get home, call Dave, inform him that I picked up the caliper. "So, you gonna change it today?" I laughed, "How did you know I actually thought about trying it for about 5 seconds??!!!" He really wouldn't be surprised to come home to the car jacked up and missing a tire. I would most likely get half way through and not be sure if I had it quite right. I am tempted to try it just to prove that being assistant on a few too many of these jobs HAS taught me something.
Finally, in our world today, I am making tiramisu, tomato sauce, canning salsa, making bread, homemade potato soup for dinner, biscuits for dinner AND the freezer, and some yummy breakfast food for tomorrow. Maybe some apple muffins for the freezer too?? I think the caliper will wait.
Kieran's vendetta continues - Me: Everyone clean up the boys' room. Kieran: Rohanna, I don't like you. Me: Why? Kieran: She always makes our room a mess.
Oh yes, I forgot, he doesn't play with toys OR sleep on the floor, which means his blanket and pillows are on the floor rather then his perfectly fine bed. It's all her fault.
Stopped at the bank. Kieran AGAIN: "Mom, tell her(bank teller at window) I said hi." Eann chimes in: "Me too." As I tell bank teller HIM "hi" from my children I want to hide in mortification. He looks at me like I am insane. Oh, that's right I AM!!!! By the way, as I was saying "hi from my children" Rohanna pipes up "For candy." Yup, see? There was a motive behind their friendly behavior. Can't you see their brains are working? "If we say 'hi' they cannot possibly miss the fact that there are children in the car and realize that they need to add some lollipops to the envelope. Maybe one of these days I will put a note in with the slip asking for dog bones instead of lollipops. See what happens then.
Before I got a mile down the road today that little red brake light popped on and started dinging at me. SERIOUSLY???!!!! WHAT NOW??? Oops, Dave forgot to add brake fluid when he changed caliper #1 yesterday. I was on the way to pick up caliper #2. Turned around, came home, found brake fluid and felt like a hero. I really did know where it goes lol. Look around, any macho guys watching? Look at me, I am THE WOMAN! I can fix cars!! :-D
Get home, call Dave, inform him that I picked up the caliper. "So, you gonna change it today?" I laughed, "How did you know I actually thought about trying it for about 5 seconds??!!!" He really wouldn't be surprised to come home to the car jacked up and missing a tire. I would most likely get half way through and not be sure if I had it quite right. I am tempted to try it just to prove that being assistant on a few too many of these jobs HAS taught me something.
Finally, in our world today, I am making tiramisu, tomato sauce, canning salsa, making bread, homemade potato soup for dinner, biscuits for dinner AND the freezer, and some yummy breakfast food for tomorrow. Maybe some apple muffins for the freezer too?? I think the caliper will wait.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Homeschooling AND Work
Homeschooling and working isn't always easy. I can't imagine the moms out there who work full time days (or nights) AND homeschool elementary to middle school. INSANITY. Ok, so it would be a little easier if I did the whole "order books" style home schooling. At least when it comes to flexibility but it would take so much more time planning.
Today is a juggle it all day. I clean three houses today, starting at 9 AM and ending whenever I get done. However, wouldn't you know, the teacher that oversees 3rd grade schedules their group classes for Tuesday mornings. Honestly, out of ALL the days it would HAVE to be Tuesday AND his lucky time? 9 AM. As if that isn't enough, apparently Tuesdays are every one's favorite day!! Kieran has a group lesson at 1 PM. Thankfully his is only once a month.
I have gotten all sorts of comments about homeschooling but here's the deal. I am no hero. I am also not a lunatic, although somedays I feel like one. We are doing what is best for OUR family - not YOUR family. If you think you can't do it, you could if that is what you needed to do for your family.
My house doesn't look like a million bucks. Actually, right now you couldn't pay me to let you see my house. Some days I wonder why I am cleaning other people's house when I walk into mine but I do what I have to do.
Somedays I do think it would be easier to stick them on the bus and wave good bye for the day but then I think of the reprecussions that would have on our family (yes, there would be quite a few) and realize it just isn't an option for us.
Instead, I pray hard and when I start to freak out and say I can't do it, my husband reminds me just get through one thing at a time then move to the next. Guess what? It works. I make it to the end of the day and move on to the next.
But in case you still think I make it all sound pretty, it's not. It's hard to juggle my life right now. There are just so many things that you can't even possibly know that are going on but I do it because this is what I have been called to, to serve my family and care for them the way they NEED me to, not the way I WANT to. Somehow God gives me grace to get through it - just one more day.
Today is a juggle it all day. I clean three houses today, starting at 9 AM and ending whenever I get done. However, wouldn't you know, the teacher that oversees 3rd grade schedules their group classes for Tuesday mornings. Honestly, out of ALL the days it would HAVE to be Tuesday AND his lucky time? 9 AM. As if that isn't enough, apparently Tuesdays are every one's favorite day!! Kieran has a group lesson at 1 PM. Thankfully his is only once a month.
I have gotten all sorts of comments about homeschooling but here's the deal. I am no hero. I am also not a lunatic, although somedays I feel like one. We are doing what is best for OUR family - not YOUR family. If you think you can't do it, you could if that is what you needed to do for your family.
My house doesn't look like a million bucks. Actually, right now you couldn't pay me to let you see my house. Some days I wonder why I am cleaning other people's house when I walk into mine but I do what I have to do.
Somedays I do think it would be easier to stick them on the bus and wave good bye for the day but then I think of the reprecussions that would have on our family (yes, there would be quite a few) and realize it just isn't an option for us.
Instead, I pray hard and when I start to freak out and say I can't do it, my husband reminds me just get through one thing at a time then move to the next. Guess what? It works. I make it to the end of the day and move on to the next.
But in case you still think I make it all sound pretty, it's not. It's hard to juggle my life right now. There are just so many things that you can't even possibly know that are going on but I do it because this is what I have been called to, to serve my family and care for them the way they NEED me to, not the way I WANT to. Somehow God gives me grace to get through it - just one more day.
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