This N That

My little cursor is blinking. A black line on a white page. It just keeps blinking as if it were saying, "Come on! Don't you have anything to say?" Maybe it's that I have so much to say and I don't know where to start? Or maybe I've been DOING so much that I haven't had thoughts to share? I guess this is when I do my "This n That" blogs. Let's just see what's on my mind right now. It's like the Russian Roulette of thoughts.

--McTeacher night is tonight. I need to work the 6pm-8pm shift. I actually like this. I just go up and socialize with J&A teachers and parents. Ted will watch the kids.
--I have 22 days left as the PTO President. I'm a little stressed that we don't have anyone interested in the VP position. I keep trying to give it to God, knowing that he has someone picked out. We've contacted everyone we can think of. Our Secretary said she would do it as a back up, but I'm not too sure she really wants to. Our election meeting is the 17th. Times a tickin'.
--The kids are playing together right now. Talking and laughing. I don't know that there is anything that sounds lovelier to me. Thank you, God.
--For the first time in a LONG time, I am all caught up in my albums. I went digital as soon as I got my paper albums caught up and it's been so much easier to keep up digitally. I'm lovin' it! I can't wait to have a book actually made. I'm a long way from that, though.
--I have my Women's Group retreat in a week and a half. I'm really looking forward to it.
--I'm also looking forward to getting away for Ted's birthday. I can't write details because he reads my blog. He's turning the big 40. I wish we could do more than we are doing, but we're trying to watch our money until we pay off the new family room furniture. Some day we'll take a nice trip.
--I had a dinner party last Friday night. It was great! We started with French Onion Soup and then we had chicken and vegetable kabobs with a salad. We finished with a brownie trifle. YUM!! My new thing is trifles! I bought a trifle dish through Pampered Chef. It hasn't come in yet, but I borrowed one from a friend. The one I made has layers of cut brownies, cheesecake and chocolate pudding and whip cream. Oh my gosh...it's absolute heaven! And the perfect spring/summer dessert! You can do fruit trifles with pound cake, brownie trifles and more. I can't wait to experiment with them all. People will get sick of my trifles by the time summer is over...."Damn! She's bringing over ANOTHER trifle dish!"
--This summer we plan on camping at Illinois Beach State Park on Lake Michigan. We'll also go to Eminence, MO for an extended fourth of July weekend. My friend, Jackie, has commissioned me to make a book of campfire sing a long songs like "Brown Eyed Girl", American Pie, you get the drift. I started on this last summer and then shelved it for a bit. I think it's time to get it out so I can have it all ready for the trip. I have to find chords and everything. It's a big job.
--Still lovin' Jazzercise. It's so busy, I'm only getting in two a week.
--I've managed to maintain an 11 pound weight loss. It's coming off slower now. I need to step it up a notch.
--I just watched a "Bringing Home Baby" on TLC while I was folding clothes. At first I was put off about how rosy they were bringing their baby home and saying "we don't care how much sleep we get, we are excited to have a new baby!"...and then they'd show shots of them all bonding in each other's arms on the couch. As time progresses, they start looking less smiley and more haggard. Then their statements were more like "This is hard work!"...and..."I can't get anything done because she wants me to hold her all the time!". I like real TV. I like real pictures. People need to be prepared! It's hard work...mixed with little joys a long the way, of course. I'm just amazed that I can look at babies now, love them, hold them, kiss them and treasure the moment....and then not want another one for myself. I feel complete! I've got my four and I'm happy. Sometimes I fear a surprise pregnancy. I picture my reaction and how I might feel. Would I fear that I would go back to that dark place after having Ben and Mary? I don't know. I just know I'm very happy where I'm going and where the kids are now.
--Just recently I started thinking about what next year will be like...with two days a week free. I think I might volunteer one day. I might split the day with the Care Service (helps people who are struggling to keep their house, pay the bills....it's a pantry too. It's connected with our parish). And then I might spend the other half of the day helping our office at school. I'm hoping that through spending this time in both places, I can find a part time paying job once Mary goes to full time school. This a new thought for me, but it feels so right. When I thought of this path, I immediately felt happy...like I had a purpose. At first I thought, "Why even work if it's for a small wage?". Recently I thought of how much I admire people who work for low wages for the sake of helping a good cause. Of course, I could continue volunteering and not get paid, but I would feel better if I brought in SOME money to help with high school. I'll just start on this journey and see where God takes me. I'm pretty open minded right now.
--Mary is telling me she wants to use the "waptop". Now she's telling me she has "a wot of hello kitties on my shirt". I asked her "how many" to keep her busy while I type.

Ok...it's hard to focus now. But I was able to regurgitate pretty many thoughts for you. Now you have a snapshot of where I am. Actually, it's a very good snapshot. Now it's time to get things done.