Ya know...I thought this blogging thing would be fun to pick up again. I should know better. How am I supposed to fit this in? When I started to blog, I needed an outlet. I needed to be able to express myself. I had a LOT of time at home and needed something for myself. I feel like many things have taken the place of blogging.
1) I have a job. I love my job. But my bored days at home have totally changed. On my two days off, I'm running all the errands, catching up with friends for lunch, and attempting to clean my house. I remember when I had time to dream up redecorating rooms and home improvement projects. While we have put in wood floors almost a year ago, my house has virtually stayed in a time warp...frozen in the way it looked 2 years ago. I'm not complaining. I had 4 years of being a stay at home mom in this house (we moved in 2004)and got all that decorating out of my system in that time. If you think I'm kidding, it's all documented in my blog...including before and after pictures!
2) My fourth child just started full time school this year. You think that makes my job easier? Helllooo! Homework? Soccer? Cheer? Daisies? Birthday parties? Puhlease! This girl is busy! How did it all happen so fast?? Ben and Mary have entered the "activities scene" in the past two years. They have doubled the activities that went on my calendar in that short time period...just by becoming school age. My life will never be the same.
3) My brain is scattered. I'm running in three different directions almost every night. I can't think straight. Which makes it very hard to focus on a blog. You don't believe me? I forgot that Abby was at a friend's house tonight and it wasn't until she called me at 8:38pm did I realize she was forgotten. How embarassing! She was with her carpool friend so it's not like a new friend or something. Which is why I guess I forgot. No excuse, though. It makes me think...where is my head??
4) Sam is in his last year of Eighth Grade so we are busy with high school application, practicing for the school play, preparing for Confirmation, and tearing up at every "last" experience he has at the school.
5) My sister's family lives with us now. I don't know if this is a good excuse for not blogging, but I can say that is totally adds to the lack of focus when you are in a household of 10 people. It just does. I have to admit, she helps me straighten the house and helps with the dishes. Thank God. But there is just a little more chaos and I think whatever form of A.D.D. I have just gets challenged. I don't have an official diagnosis of A.D.D., but focus is definately a problem.
My house groans as it reminesces those days where it was lovingly cleaned up daily. I try to keep up with it, but it's just so hard...so I basically tolerate it. My mom says that me and my sister Lisa do it right. My mom grew up with a house cleanliness obsession. It all had to be perfect or you were unfit to be a wife and mother. I guess these expectations have loosened a little through the years. My house is rarely presentable these days. But I'm not willing to drive myself crazy trying to keep it perfect. So I just have to tolerate it during this busy time in our lives. I refuse to nag and nag to get others to make what is important to ME, important to THEM. It just won't happen. So maybe our mom thinks we are taking a "higher road" by tolerating the mess, but frankly, I don't feel I have much of a choice!
Monday, December 06, 2010
Monday, November 08, 2010
My "Day Off"
It was my "day off" work today. Did you notice that I put "day off" in quotation marks? That's because my days off work feel like major "squeeze in everything you couldn't get done while you were working" days. Which just means more work, but just a different kind. I work three days a week, Wednesday through Friday. But because of a retired payroll person, I worked Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday last week. With this odd schedule, I happened to be off 4 working days in a row. This meant a lot of calls at home today because it is so CRAZY at work. These were my calls:
--"Can you respond to the custodian's e-mail. She was upset because she wasn't invited to (payroll coordinator)'s retirement luncheon?" Me--"Sure...I guess because she's not an employee and not a volunteer, but a vendor...she wasn't in the e-mail groups that I sent it out to. I'll add her to the volunteer group and make sure this doesn't happen again." Sent nice, but groveling e-mail to custodian.
--Voice mail of a call I missed--"The Creative Memories consultant is here to meet you about the set up of the room for the Fundraiser Crop (we are holding it all day Saturday). Are you coming in?" Me--Shoot!! That was today??? Sent another groveling e-mail thanking them for taking care of it.
--"How is the food planning going for the Fundraiser Crop?" Me--Gave her the update but agreed I should send out a follow-up e-mail asking employees and volunteers for more food donations (snacks, desserts, and someone to donate sub sandwiches for lunch. This fundraiser crop landed on my shoulders when we lost our Special Events Coordinator. We are working to replace her with a Director of Development, but haven't posted that job yet.
After some of those calls, I decided to read my work e-mail to take care of any outstanding issues...including responding to interested applicants for the payrolll position. So basically, I put in about an hour's worth of work today.
Besides work, these are my other accomplishments today on my "day off":
--Went to the 8:00am mass. Great way to start my day!
--Went to the band shop to pick up some new band book Abby needs. It wasn't open yet. Went later mid day...they were out of it. Was told they had them at the other location.
--Helped Becky drop off her car at the shop, which happened to be near the alternate band shop location, so I picked up the book on the way home.
--Went to purchase my "dry goods" and other groceries which are cheaper there than the grocery store. Cereal, pop-tarts, granola bars, frozen pizzas,Velveeta Cheese (for a meal I wanted to make tonight). I also got jeans for Ben (he's outgrown all the others), tennis shoes for Mary (her new school shoes are ALREADY SHOT!!), a Ripstik for Ben (fancy skateboard to be a Christmas gift from my mom), soda, and hair gel.
--Went to the grocery store for chicken and sourcream to round up tonight's Chicken and Rice meal that the whole family loves! Also got some bananas, a card for my nephew who is earning his Eagle badge Thursday night, and some deli meat, cheese and Pane bread for another meal this week (panini sandwiches).
--Ran to Walgreens to get the poster board I should have gotten at Target but forgot! Sam needs it for a Saint project in Religion.
--Sent an e-mail out to the family asking them if they wanted to pitch in on a season pass to Six Flags for my nephew who is earning his Eagle. They all agreed so I went online to purchase the pass, printed it out and put it in the card after signing everyone's name to it.
--Ate lunch with Ted.
--Typed up the lyrics and chords to songs that my friend is having me play (guitar) and sing at her renewal of vows mass in her home on Wednesday night. I practiced the songs because I knew I wouldn't have time tomorrow night because I'm taking out my neice for her 16th birthday.
--Carpool friend called and she said she would take home the kids today (Thank God! Normally my day to take home)
--Read and responded to personal e-mails.
--Cooked dinner
--And while I was cooking...got the following calls: 1) Can you sub tomorrow night for the walleyball game? Me--No...Ted has to drive Boy Scouts and that will run late so I need to be home to put the little ones in bed. 2)Called my carpool for Boy Scouts to tell her we will drive tomorrow night because Ted has to be at the meeting anyway since he is planning the Northern Tier trip and needs to talk to the boys.
3)Got call from friend (vow renewal one) who's son also needs a ride to scouts tomorrow. Can she drop him off around 5:30pm so we can bring him? Husband will stop by after work to pick him up and take him home after the meeting. Me--Sure...no problem.
--After dinner, Ted and Sam bring up the dusty, underused treadmill so we can use it for Sam's fitness plan which is a requirement for Eagle. After this, Ted runs off to Men's Group. The house was so crazy and loud, he couldn't wait to get out.
--I help Sam with his big Saint project. He has to finish tonight because tomorrow night he won't have time because of Scouts. This includes helping him with facts about Padre Pio because he needs to do an oral report and must know his saint well. This also included rounding up stick glue (no small feat!)
--I drag Sam through the fitness test which he needs to do get a baseline performance so he can measure his results biweekly to track his progress. This fitness test involved running a mile on the treadmill, sit ups, push ups and measuring parts of his stinky, sweaty body afterward. He moaned and complained the whole time. THIS IS YOUR EAGLE BADGE, NOT MINE!!! We (me dragging him the process) devised a fitness plan for the next 12 weeks, where he will have to record his almost daily fitness activities (GOD HELP US ALL).
--I then round up the little kids to get them ready for bed and sit outside their door to brush their teeth.
--Wrote this blog while sitting outside their door.
Does this sound like a "day off" to you? I didn't think so. This rundown of my day gives you a great idea of what is going on in my life right now! It's a crazy life, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. As much as this may sound like complaining...I'm very happy...even if it is a bit overwhelming at times.
Maybe tomorrow I can have some fun before heading back to the other roller coaster ride called "work"?
--"Can you respond to the custodian's e-mail. She was upset because she wasn't invited to (payroll coordinator)'s retirement luncheon?" Me--"Sure...I guess because she's not an employee and not a volunteer, but a vendor...she wasn't in the e-mail groups that I sent it out to. I'll add her to the volunteer group and make sure this doesn't happen again." Sent nice, but groveling e-mail to custodian.
--Voice mail of a call I missed--"The Creative Memories consultant is here to meet you about the set up of the room for the Fundraiser Crop (we are holding it all day Saturday). Are you coming in?" Me--Shoot!! That was today??? Sent another groveling e-mail thanking them for taking care of it.
--"How is the food planning going for the Fundraiser Crop?" Me--Gave her the update but agreed I should send out a follow-up e-mail asking employees and volunteers for more food donations (snacks, desserts, and someone to donate sub sandwiches for lunch. This fundraiser crop landed on my shoulders when we lost our Special Events Coordinator. We are working to replace her with a Director of Development, but haven't posted that job yet.
After some of those calls, I decided to read my work e-mail to take care of any outstanding issues...including responding to interested applicants for the payrolll position. So basically, I put in about an hour's worth of work today.
Besides work, these are my other accomplishments today on my "day off":
--Went to the 8:00am mass. Great way to start my day!
--Went to the band shop to pick up some new band book Abby needs. It wasn't open yet. Went later mid day...they were out of it. Was told they had them at the other location.
--Helped Becky drop off her car at the shop, which happened to be near the alternate band shop location, so I picked up the book on the way home.
--Went to purchase my "dry goods" and other groceries which are cheaper there than the grocery store. Cereal, pop-tarts, granola bars, frozen pizzas,Velveeta Cheese (for a meal I wanted to make tonight). I also got jeans for Ben (he's outgrown all the others), tennis shoes for Mary (her new school shoes are ALREADY SHOT!!), a Ripstik for Ben (fancy skateboard to be a Christmas gift from my mom), soda, and hair gel.
--Went to the grocery store for chicken and sourcream to round up tonight's Chicken and Rice meal that the whole family loves! Also got some bananas, a card for my nephew who is earning his Eagle badge Thursday night, and some deli meat, cheese and Pane bread for another meal this week (panini sandwiches).
--Ran to Walgreens to get the poster board I should have gotten at Target but forgot! Sam needs it for a Saint project in Religion.
--Sent an e-mail out to the family asking them if they wanted to pitch in on a season pass to Six Flags for my nephew who is earning his Eagle. They all agreed so I went online to purchase the pass, printed it out and put it in the card after signing everyone's name to it.
--Ate lunch with Ted.
--Typed up the lyrics and chords to songs that my friend is having me play (guitar) and sing at her renewal of vows mass in her home on Wednesday night. I practiced the songs because I knew I wouldn't have time tomorrow night because I'm taking out my neice for her 16th birthday.
--Carpool friend called and she said she would take home the kids today (Thank God! Normally my day to take home)
--Read and responded to personal e-mails.
--Cooked dinner
--And while I was cooking...got the following calls: 1) Can you sub tomorrow night for the walleyball game? Me--No...Ted has to drive Boy Scouts and that will run late so I need to be home to put the little ones in bed. 2)Called my carpool for Boy Scouts to tell her we will drive tomorrow night because Ted has to be at the meeting anyway since he is planning the Northern Tier trip and needs to talk to the boys.
3)Got call from friend (vow renewal one) who's son also needs a ride to scouts tomorrow. Can she drop him off around 5:30pm so we can bring him? Husband will stop by after work to pick him up and take him home after the meeting. Me--Sure...no problem.
--After dinner, Ted and Sam bring up the dusty, underused treadmill so we can use it for Sam's fitness plan which is a requirement for Eagle. After this, Ted runs off to Men's Group. The house was so crazy and loud, he couldn't wait to get out.
--I help Sam with his big Saint project. He has to finish tonight because tomorrow night he won't have time because of Scouts. This includes helping him with facts about Padre Pio because he needs to do an oral report and must know his saint well. This also included rounding up stick glue (no small feat!)
--I drag Sam through the fitness test which he needs to do get a baseline performance so he can measure his results biweekly to track his progress. This fitness test involved running a mile on the treadmill, sit ups, push ups and measuring parts of his stinky, sweaty body afterward. He moaned and complained the whole time. THIS IS YOUR EAGLE BADGE, NOT MINE!!! We (me dragging him the process) devised a fitness plan for the next 12 weeks, where he will have to record his almost daily fitness activities (GOD HELP US ALL).
--I then round up the little kids to get them ready for bed and sit outside their door to brush their teeth.
--Wrote this blog while sitting outside their door.
Does this sound like a "day off" to you? I didn't think so. This rundown of my day gives you a great idea of what is going on in my life right now! It's a crazy life, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. As much as this may sound like complaining...I'm very happy...even if it is a bit overwhelming at times.
Maybe tomorrow I can have some fun before heading back to the other roller coaster ride called "work"?
Friday, November 05, 2010
My Baby is Six
We just finished celebrating Mary's birthday party with family tonight. I can't believe my baby is six! I feel bad saying, my last two children totally stressed me out! I blogged during this time of total stress and it really helped....but it was very difficult for me. I thanked God for every major milestone they reached and prayed they would get older...FAST. Well, now they are 6 and 7 1/2 and things are much easier. They are all in school. I have a lot more freedom. I am happier. But it's odd....I now want to slow this whole thing down. It was easier to wish that they would start eating table foods, learn to walk, talk or get potty trained. Before I know it, one is heading off to school and the other follows quickly behind him. And that's it. It all goes so quickly now! She's in Kindergarten, playing soccer, going to Daisy meetings and getting ready for cheerleading. What happened to the girl who clung to me and wanted to be held all the time? She's off with her own schedule on the calendar now! Ben and Mary used to just follow along while we ran ragged with the older two. Now they both have their own agenda full of games, practices, birthday parties and homework. Ugh.
This afternoon Ted and I went to the kids' parent teacher conferences. Four conferences scheduled in a row, one after the other. Kindergarten, 2nd grade, 6th grade, 8th grade...this year only. This is the only year they will all be at the same school. After that, it will all change.
Just like there was no "fast forward" when they were younger and I wanted to skip my way out of a difficult period....there is also no "rewind" to bring me back to those stages that slipped by me like a dream. For the first time, I want this train to slow down. I want to enjoy the ride. I want to hold them longer. I want to kiss them more. I want to relish every moment with them. This year she's six. Next year she'll be seven...and before I know it, she'll be packing up the car to head to college. I want to be a part of every conscious moment. I want to be fully and completely present. This is the only way I know to slow down this process. .
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Jumping Through Hoops
Sometimes I can be very skilled at jumping through hoops. It's funny...sometimes the presentation of a hoop can be the very excuse I need to get out of something. But SOMETIMES, I want something so badly that I am willing to jump through hoops to get it.
What am I talking about? Well, just a couple of days ago my nephew posted on Facebook that he had made it to regionals on his high school swim team and that the meet would be held this Thursday (I get all my latest news from Facebook). We have two functioning adults in this family so we are used to tag teaming to get it all done. Thursday night is our ultimate tag team event! It is totally my luck that this would HAVE to fall on a Thursday! Did you ask what was scheduled for Thursday? I thought you did. Here is what I saw when I looked at the calendar:
3:00-4:00 - Sam's play practice
4:00-6:30? - Kyle's Regional Swim Meet
5:00-6:15 - Abby's volleyball practice
6:00-7:00 - Ben's soccer practice
7:00-8:00 - Abby's soccer practice
Time to jump through hoops.
--I texted my friend who coaches volleyball, asked her about the carpool of girls that goes from volleyball to soccer practice and if Abby could hop in this time (there are quite a few on both teams). She said that should be fine. She then was nice enough to offer to take Abby home from school and BRING her to volleyball (which I felt too guilty to ask her to do). Yippee! She asked me how Abby would get home and I told her that Ted coaches Ben's team and their practice is held on the same field as Abby's and that Ted is already there coaching Ben's practice when I drop her off...so he stays and helps her coach and takes her home after her practice.
--So Ben's practice is taking care of since Ted is the coach, and Abby's volleyball and soccer were just taken care of with one phone call. Now on to the play practice!
--I texted another friend who lives near us, who we carpool for Boy Scouts with. I asked her if she could bring Sam home from play practice. She said she wasn't sure if the boys had play practice because Friday is Parent Teacher conferences and they may not have it (this is a lady who is always ON TOP of things...her act is TOGETHER and I rely on her for all the latest information when my act is NOT TOGETHER). She texted me back today letting me know that they don't have play practice! Another yippee! I'm totally cleared to go to Kyle's swim meet!!!
Not so. In reading my e-mails after three busy days, I discovered an e-mail that came in Monday from Mary's Daisy leader saying that the meetings for the month are November 4th and November 18th. Really? THIS Thursday? I just want to go to a swim meet! Why is this so difficult? I don't know Daisy moms well enough yet to ask for a favor. She already missed the first two meetings. She can't miss another. She has to go. They are working on a petal for the daisy flower (really...that's their badges) and I can't have her be the only one missing a petal!
So I drag myself to ask Ted for a favor for him to leave work early and pick up Mary from Daisies. He proceeds to tell me how busy he is with work and he has to get all of his sales in before Thanksgiving because after Thanksgiving it's too hard to nail people down. But he senses how hard it would be to say no to me because the more hoops you have successfully jumped through, the more you do NOT want to go back. He knew if he didn't do it, then I wouldn't be able to go. I got a very begrudging "Yes" from him.
Fall is crazy with one volleyball team, and three soccer teams on top of Daisy's, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, play practice, speech practice, piano lessons and whatever other miscellaneous thing you want to throw on top of there. It's not easy. But the volleyball, soccer, speech and play practices will be over in three weeks!! Then it's on to two basketball teams and one little six year old cheerleader who will learn to cheer them on. Darn. That still sounds busy.
The point is...I'm willing to beg, borrow and steal to not miss something that's important to me. It can feel a little selfish. But I know if I sacrifice too much, then I lose myself. And if I lose myself, I'm not happy and no good to my kids or husband.
(Raising wine glass) Here's to making time for things that matter and husbands that pitch in so you can. Cheers!
What am I talking about? Well, just a couple of days ago my nephew posted on Facebook that he had made it to regionals on his high school swim team and that the meet would be held this Thursday (I get all my latest news from Facebook). We have two functioning adults in this family so we are used to tag teaming to get it all done. Thursday night is our ultimate tag team event! It is totally my luck that this would HAVE to fall on a Thursday! Did you ask what was scheduled for Thursday? I thought you did. Here is what I saw when I looked at the calendar:
3:00-4:00 - Sam's play practice
4:00-6:30? - Kyle's Regional Swim Meet
5:00-6:15 - Abby's volleyball practice
6:00-7:00 - Ben's soccer practice
7:00-8:00 - Abby's soccer practice
Time to jump through hoops.
--I texted my friend who coaches volleyball, asked her about the carpool of girls that goes from volleyball to soccer practice and if Abby could hop in this time (there are quite a few on both teams). She said that should be fine. She then was nice enough to offer to take Abby home from school and BRING her to volleyball (which I felt too guilty to ask her to do). Yippee! She asked me how Abby would get home and I told her that Ted coaches Ben's team and their practice is held on the same field as Abby's and that Ted is already there coaching Ben's practice when I drop her off...so he stays and helps her coach and takes her home after her practice.
--So Ben's practice is taking care of since Ted is the coach, and Abby's volleyball and soccer were just taken care of with one phone call. Now on to the play practice!
--I texted another friend who lives near us, who we carpool for Boy Scouts with. I asked her if she could bring Sam home from play practice. She said she wasn't sure if the boys had play practice because Friday is Parent Teacher conferences and they may not have it (this is a lady who is always ON TOP of things...her act is TOGETHER and I rely on her for all the latest information when my act is NOT TOGETHER). She texted me back today letting me know that they don't have play practice! Another yippee! I'm totally cleared to go to Kyle's swim meet!!!
Not so. In reading my e-mails after three busy days, I discovered an e-mail that came in Monday from Mary's Daisy leader saying that the meetings for the month are November 4th and November 18th. Really? THIS Thursday? I just want to go to a swim meet! Why is this so difficult? I don't know Daisy moms well enough yet to ask for a favor. She already missed the first two meetings. She can't miss another. She has to go. They are working on a petal for the daisy flower (really...that's their badges) and I can't have her be the only one missing a petal!
So I drag myself to ask Ted for a favor for him to leave work early and pick up Mary from Daisies. He proceeds to tell me how busy he is with work and he has to get all of his sales in before Thanksgiving because after Thanksgiving it's too hard to nail people down. But he senses how hard it would be to say no to me because the more hoops you have successfully jumped through, the more you do NOT want to go back. He knew if he didn't do it, then I wouldn't be able to go. I got a very begrudging "Yes" from him.
Fall is crazy with one volleyball team, and three soccer teams on top of Daisy's, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, play practice, speech practice, piano lessons and whatever other miscellaneous thing you want to throw on top of there. It's not easy. But the volleyball, soccer, speech and play practices will be over in three weeks!! Then it's on to two basketball teams and one little six year old cheerleader who will learn to cheer them on. Darn. That still sounds busy.
The point is...I'm willing to beg, borrow and steal to not miss something that's important to me. It can feel a little selfish. But I know if I sacrifice too much, then I lose myself. And if I lose myself, I'm not happy and no good to my kids or husband.
(Raising wine glass) Here's to making time for things that matter and husbands that pitch in so you can. Cheers!
Friday, October 29, 2010
What "Toy" Would You Take?
We just saw Toy Story 3 at the dollar show. It was very cute. Andy goes away to college. His toys are so important to him that he packs up his favorite toy to take with him (Woody), his other favorite toys he packs up and stores in the attic. He doesn't want to give them away.
After the movie, I asked the kids what toy is so important to them that they would take it to college. Sam (14) asked if the PS3 would count as a toy. Why not? Ben (7) said he would want to take the laptop and legos. Mary (6) thought and thought. I reminded her that her absolute favorite thing was her Strawberry Shortcake blankie that her cousin made for her when she was born. She agreed wholeheartedly. Abby (12) is in Florida with friends, so she couldn't weigh in. But Ted and I decided we would take our turn. Ted said he would bring his golf clubs. I asked the kids what they thought I would bring. "Your Laptop".
How did they get to be so smart? Is it because all of my pictures are on here? Or maybe because of my digital scrapbook albums? Are they thinking about how I can chat with Theresa, who lives in Australia, using Skype? Or that I can peruse Facebook to catch up with old friends? Maybe they know that I've started blogging again. Or that I can't live without e-mail? Perhaps they found out that I keep my complicated Christmas list on an Excel spreadsheet? They probably understand that I can't imagine life without the internet where I get recipes, my news, the dish on the stars, or how to spell "mostaccioli" (just looked it up yesterday). The internet...it was my window to the world when I was a stay at home with young children. Now I find countless uses including planning a trip, looking up job descriptions for work, and researching my next e-bay or amazon purchase. I'm sure they know that my calendar is on here, my addresses and phone numbers of all our friends and family, my recipe book, and scrapbooking software.
Yup. I think it's my favorite toy. Ted thinks my iphone comes in a close 2nd. I agree.
After the movie, I asked the kids what toy is so important to them that they would take it to college. Sam (14) asked if the PS3 would count as a toy. Why not? Ben (7) said he would want to take the laptop and legos. Mary (6) thought and thought. I reminded her that her absolute favorite thing was her Strawberry Shortcake blankie that her cousin made for her when she was born. She agreed wholeheartedly. Abby (12) is in Florida with friends, so she couldn't weigh in. But Ted and I decided we would take our turn. Ted said he would bring his golf clubs. I asked the kids what they thought I would bring. "Your Laptop".
How did they get to be so smart? Is it because all of my pictures are on here? Or maybe because of my digital scrapbook albums? Are they thinking about how I can chat with Theresa, who lives in Australia, using Skype? Or that I can peruse Facebook to catch up with old friends? Maybe they know that I've started blogging again. Or that I can't live without e-mail? Perhaps they found out that I keep my complicated Christmas list on an Excel spreadsheet? They probably understand that I can't imagine life without the internet where I get recipes, my news, the dish on the stars, or how to spell "mostaccioli" (just looked it up yesterday). The internet...it was my window to the world when I was a stay at home with young children. Now I find countless uses including planning a trip, looking up job descriptions for work, and researching my next e-bay or amazon purchase. I'm sure they know that my calendar is on here, my addresses and phone numbers of all our friends and family, my recipe book, and scrapbooking software.
Yup. I think it's my favorite toy. Ted thinks my iphone comes in a close 2nd. I agree.
Lions and Tigers and Bears...Oh my!
Sometimes I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. A little overwhelmed with life and the demons I have to fight along the way. It seems like it's never just one thing...there's this and then there's that and then there's all the stuff in the future. I'm sure my demons are no worse than anyone else's. The stresses of work, the stresses of home...keeping it clean, and the stresses of family...trying to be a good wife and mother. Some days it feels easy and some days it feels hard. The thing is...God never said we had to fight the lions and tigers and bears. He just wants us to keeping getting up in the morning and trust in Him and take one action at a time.
Sometimes I've noticed when I take one action at a time and only focus on the action that is set before me at that moment, it seems less overwhelming. And piece by piece, the battle has been fought and I didn't even realize it. It's done. Overreaction is a beast in itself. How many times did I think I was facing a mountain when it turns out to be a mole hill? How many times did I not take into account the help I would get along the way? How many times did I worry and stress over something that never came to be? I guess this is why God wants us to trust in Him. We would save ourselves a lot of worry.
Trusting sounds easy, but it can be very difficult. However, the longer I live, the more I realize that most problems I encounter along the way are somehow dealt with in life. It's here and then it's gone. Or it cycles in and out of my life and I just have to learn to live with it and trust that God will help me with it. He doesn't always take them away. He sometimes uses them for our growth.
So I will continue to cycle into my times of feeling overwhelmed. It's just a fact of life. But each time I go into the battle with a little more wisdom from the time before ...and it doesn't scare me as much. And I also realize...I'm not alone. I have help! Just keep going on the yellow brick road!
Sometimes I've noticed when I take one action at a time and only focus on the action that is set before me at that moment, it seems less overwhelming. And piece by piece, the battle has been fought and I didn't even realize it. It's done. Overreaction is a beast in itself. How many times did I think I was facing a mountain when it turns out to be a mole hill? How many times did I not take into account the help I would get along the way? How many times did I worry and stress over something that never came to be? I guess this is why God wants us to trust in Him. We would save ourselves a lot of worry.
Trusting sounds easy, but it can be very difficult. However, the longer I live, the more I realize that most problems I encounter along the way are somehow dealt with in life. It's here and then it's gone. Or it cycles in and out of my life and I just have to learn to live with it and trust that God will help me with it. He doesn't always take them away. He sometimes uses them for our growth.
So I will continue to cycle into my times of feeling overwhelmed. It's just a fact of life. But each time I go into the battle with a little more wisdom from the time before ...and it doesn't scare me as much. And I also realize...I'm not alone. I have help! Just keep going on the yellow brick road!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Fall Break
The kids are on Fall break this week. Today I'm watching my friend's boy and my sister's kids. Since Abby is out of town for the week, that makes 6 kids home with me today. Yippee!! My mom thought she would come over to help and has the kids making bird feeders. Gotta love her. Here are pics from the day...
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Pesto Parmesan Ham and Asiago
Had a tasty dinner tonight. They were more like appetizers, but it was a big hit with the family and that's all that matters. About a month ago I was at the Schnuck's deli and they offered these yummy samples. I liked it and grabbed the recipe. Their recipe didn't have quantities, so I winged it and everyone was happy. So here it is:
2 mini loaves--bread sliced
Mayo mixture (Italian seasoning, garlic powder, Mrs. Dash Table Blend and Black Pepper)
Boar's Head Pesto Parmesan Ham (I bought 1 1/2 pounds)
Boar's Head Asiago Cheese (I bought 1/2 pound)
I layered the mayo mixture, then ham, then cheese and baked at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes. I probably didn't need so much ham, but the cheese was just right. It was a little fattening. Oh well.
2 mini loaves--bread sliced
Mayo mixture (Italian seasoning, garlic powder, Mrs. Dash Table Blend and Black Pepper)
Boar's Head Pesto Parmesan Ham (I bought 1 1/2 pounds)
Boar's Head Asiago Cheese (I bought 1/2 pound)
I layered the mayo mixture, then ham, then cheese and baked at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes. I probably didn't need so much ham, but the cheese was just right. It was a little fattening. Oh well.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Is This Thing On?
My last blog was January 14, 2009. Woah. I purposely stopped. My life got too busy. And actually, I really didn't stop writing. Well, maybe I did for a little bit. But then I started writing in a paper journal. You know...the old fashioned kind. I still do that. But typing is faster.
I'm trying this on again much like you try on an old sweater that you used to like, but kind of forgot about. I may wear it again, I may not. Who knows. Like I said, my life is VERY busy, but that's kind of why I want to do it again. I unwind by writing. I find it therapeutic. I'm not going to worry about what it looks like, or if it's interesting to other people. I just want to do it. Because. I said so. LOL. I just wanted to say that. See? It feels good!
Anyway, it'll take me a while to catch up here. Basically, the writing became rare once I got a job. I started doing status updates on Facebook. Shorter and easier. But I got a little obsessed with Facebook and was spending oodles of time on it. Then I got bored with it. Now I'm hardly ever on the computer and that is fine.
Tell me if you see this post so I can see who I'm talking to. I guess it's ok if it's just me. But I talk to myself all the time and that can get boring. So like the title of an old blog I used to read, I'm asking, "Is this thing on?"
I'm trying this on again much like you try on an old sweater that you used to like, but kind of forgot about. I may wear it again, I may not. Who knows. Like I said, my life is VERY busy, but that's kind of why I want to do it again. I unwind by writing. I find it therapeutic. I'm not going to worry about what it looks like, or if it's interesting to other people. I just want to do it. Because. I said so. LOL. I just wanted to say that. See? It feels good!
Anyway, it'll take me a while to catch up here. Basically, the writing became rare once I got a job. I started doing status updates on Facebook. Shorter and easier. But I got a little obsessed with Facebook and was spending oodles of time on it. Then I got bored with it. Now I'm hardly ever on the computer and that is fine.
Tell me if you see this post so I can see who I'm talking to. I guess it's ok if it's just me. But I talk to myself all the time and that can get boring. So like the title of an old blog I used to read, I'm asking, "Is this thing on?"
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