No Vacancy

Audrey came padding down to my bedroom at 7:30 this morning. This is unusual for several reasons. One, Audrey isn't a morning person and typically never gets up that early. Second, On the occasion that Audrey wakes up before anyone else in the house she'll usually stay quietly in her own bed. She doesn't ever come down to my room to wake me up. But the most unusual thing about this morning... was the noise I heard outside when she woke me up at 7:30 this morning. It sounded the wind was whipping a tree branch against my front window, but I don't have any trees by my window. So I cracked open the front door and looked outside... but didn't see anything. I closed the door, came back in the house... and heard the noise again. At that moment... I look up at the window... and see a bird fly smack into the window. Pfft "dumb bird" I thought... and went back to bed. Only... the bird never stopped flying into that window. OVER & OVER & OVER & OVER!!!! When we finally did get out of bed around 9:00 this morning... that dumb bird was still smacking himself into the window. And when we finally left the house at 10... two and a half hours since I originally heard him smack into the window... HE WAS STILL OUT THERE doing it!! Two and a half hours he flew into that window.

A friend called this morning and I told her about it and she said there's a superstition about birds flying into windows. Great! Wonderful! I'm not a superstitious person... but I couldn't help look it up and was a little freaked out to find out that it means someone is going to die. Well... I'm thinking that the only thing dying here today should be that stupid bird. If he's not physically dead he should at least be brain dead after running full force head first in to my window all morning. Good grief!!

The funny part of this story is this...

The window that he was trying to fly into... I have this sign sitting in that window...



So, in his defense... I guess he DID think we were open. False advertising. This house is definitely closed at 7:30 in the morning!!!!

OH MY WORD... I kid you not... as I type this, the bird is back and smacking himself into our window again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish I owned a BB gun

There Are No Words

PO-TAY-TOE, PO-TAH-TOE

I just licked a spoon and stuck it to my nose.

My kids think I possess super human abilities.

Or else I'm just weird.

Whichever.


My parent's cat, Daisy had seven kittens this morning. I told the kids about the new baby kittens and all day long Audrey's been asking when we get to go to Paw Paw's house to see the baby chickens.

Kittens. Chickens. Whichever

The Climb

I'm ashamed to admit it (but ya'll know me, I'm gonna anyway... keepin' it real) but I really love the new Miley Cyrus song. It's called The Climb, and if you haven't heard it, here are the lyrics:

I can almost see it
That dream I'm dreaming but
There's a voice inside my head sayin,
You'll never reach it,
Every step I'm taking,
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking but I
Got to keep trying
Got to keep my head held high

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing,
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm going to remember most yeah
Just got to keep going
And I,
I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on, cause

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb (yeah)

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes you going to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb (yeah yeah ea ea)

Keep on moving
Keep climbing
Keep the faith baby
It's all about
It's all about
The climb
Keep the faith
Keep your faith

You know... it's so true... there's always going to be another mountain. I'm always going to want to make it move. The hurdles that we are facing right now... whatever those "hurdles" are... as soon as we past them, there will be more. It's life. It's the fall of Adam and Eve. The best we can do is stay strong, keep the faith, keep pushing, keep on moving, keep climbing.

Here is a link to the music video if you want to hear the song:

Dual Personalities

One of the hard things about being a single parent is having to take on roles of both mom and dad. Traditionally, dads take on more of the disciplinarian role while moms tend to be the nurturer. not to say that moms don't discipline or dads don't nurture... but I think you all know what I mean.

Yesterday we were dressed and getting to head out the door for a playdate. The kids were at the door bickering about who was going to get to be the "leader." It's a game they play. Sort of like shot gun. Whoever gets to the door first gets to open the door and be the leader. It turns into trouble though when they get to the door at the same time... as happened yesterday. Levi said he was going to be the leader, Audrey disagreed, it turned into a fight, Levi opened the door, and Audrey slammed it back shut.... on Levi's fingers. She slammed it good too! Instantly his finger started to bruise, and also the door had cut his finger and it was bleeding.

So... here was my dilema.

First of all, I hate this game they play. They made it up... not me. And usually they are in such a race to beat each other to the door and be the leader that whoever gets to the door first will throw it open... and I'm not even ready to leave the house yet. And that's exactly as it happened yesterday. I was mid-sentence trying to stop the fight by telling them that it didn't matter WHO got to the door first because I wasn't ready to go yet. And as the words were coming out of my mouth it's like it all happened in slow motion... the door opens... little sister yells... little sister slams door... big brother starts wailing... I'm standing there in disbelief.

Ok, so now... my boy is hurt... but he was hurt... while disobeying. This is where normally a dad would discipline and mom would kiss the wound. But I'm both. So... which do you do first? Discipline them with blood rushing down their finger and then kiss it ok? Or kiss it ok and hug on them and calm them down... only to have to turn right around and discipline??

*sigh*

It happened again tonight...

Different scenario.

I took a shower this morning and left my razor out. This is normal for me though because my kids have been taught to leave it alone and it's never ever been an issue. So it stays out. But this afternoon I put Audrey in an early bath. While she was in the bath (where I could see her with the door open) I was doing something with Levi, and I hear Audrey start to cry. I go in... and her finger is slashed and bleeding. I immediately asked her if she'd been playing with my razor... and she lied to me.

So here I am again... my baby has hurt herself. She needs to be comforted. She needs neosporin and a band-aid... but she also needs a swift swat on the bum for disobeying me by playing with my razor and then lying to me about it.

*sigh again*

I hate being mom and dad.

God created me to be a mom for a reason. He didn't expect me to be both.

And since this blog is so serious tonight I'll end it with a funny story...

Yesterday after Audrey slammed Levi's finger in the door and he was so upset and hurt and crying... Audrey suggested that he might feel better if he put some nail polish on that finger.

*eye roll*

*disclaimer... Audrey is ok. She has two cuts on her finger that aren't deep enough to worry about*

Spring Break - Day One

Today was gorgeous! 76 degrees.

The kids spent literally most of the day playing outdoors. This evening before it got dark, we walked up to the high school to run on the track. One lap into it Levi fell and skinned his knee. So, I finished one more lap so that I could at least say I ran a half mile today, and we headed home. Only... we hadn't driven up, we'd walked. So, he hobbled the whole way home, poor guy.

This morning before they went outside to play, we made a fort indoors. The kids have an easel that they got for Christmas this year, and we used it as a tunnel to crawl through to get into the fort. They loved it.



and as a side note...

look how long my girls hair is getting!!!

What Would YOU Have Done??

The kids and I just got back from the park. It's a walkable distance from our house and Levi wanted to ride his bike up... so we did. We've been to this particular park before... but never walked there and back.

but whatever, that's not the point of the story.

Well... it sort of is. After a long walk you want your time at the park to be pleasant, right??

Well, we get there and there are two boys. They are older than my kids... maybe 9 & 10, and they had the FOULEST mouths!! every other word out of their mouth (literally) was sh**. So there I was with my two little kids, and there's another mom there with two kids the same age as mine, and another mom with two young kids... and we all look back and forth at each other like SERIOUSLY??

I'm looking around to see if it's obvious who these boys are with, and I didn't see anyone. I was pushing my kids on the swings and these two older boys are kind of a ways away on this huge jungle gym/slide... but then they came right down to where we were pushing our younger kids on the swings... and continued with the foul language.

So I said something.

now... everyone who knows me knows that I just don't put up with it. I'm not the "honey babykins, there are other little shmoky wooky kids here so could you pretty please with sugar on top watch what you say around them? pretty please?"

no... that's not me.

Here's what I said...

"HEY! watch your mouth around these little kids."

stern... without being rude. but to the point so he knew I meant business. One of them ran off but the older of the two stopped and says to me "you're not my mama." To which I replied "I don't care, you can watch your mouth while you're here."

and.....

he looked me dead in the eye....

*faints*

and said....

"f*** you!" (and told me where I could go)

RIGHT THERE in front of my children!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*dies*

at that point another mom piped up... but she got the same treatment.

then the boys runs off spouting a stream of obscenities. He knew it was naughty... and he was using every bad word in the book... just cause he could.

At that point a teenager who I guess was supposed to be "supervising" them walks in to the picture... but says not a word. A few minutes later an adult with a badge around his neck came up and talked to the boys. Apparantly he told them if it happened one more time they were leaving. And he stayed right there on them watching them. Sure enough, not five minutes had passed before one of them cussed again and the adult said "ok, that's it, c'mon. we're going." To which the offender started pleaing for one more chance. But the adult stood firm... and drove them away... in a 15 passenger van. I guess they were from some home for troubled kids or something.

So now...

I'm faced with a situation.

What should have been a pleasant walk to the park turned into THAT. And when I brought my kids back home I had to sit them down and have a talk with them. I told them that the way those boys were acting and the words they were using was not how we were to act as christians. I told them that if they ever spoke to me the way those boys had... or ever spoke to another adult the way those boys had... they wouldn't live to see the next day.

So here's my question to you all...

what would YOU have done? If you were swinging your kids on a swing and a bratty older kid had looked you dead in the eyes right there in front of your pure and innocent children and spoken to YOU that way??

I just wanted to die. What I wanted to do was spank his bottom! Or wash his mouth out with soap. Or both.

Lord,
I pray that You would fill Levi and Audrey with a love for You that surpasses their love for themselves or anyone else. Hide Your word in their hearts so that there is no attraction to sin. I pray they will run from evil, from impurity, from unholy thoughts, words, and deeds, and that they will be drawn towards whatever is pure and holy. Let Christ be formed in them and cause them to seek the power of YOUR holy spirit to enable them to do what is right. And Lord... please be with me as I strive to be the parent that you call me to be as I take responsiblity here on Earth of YOUR children.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Shout Out

today was Absolutely Incredible Kids Day

so I'm honoring my absolutely incredible kids.

I love these boogers.

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum...





You should have seen Levi literally blush when I told him how incredibly awesome he is today.

Le Happy Sigh

anyway...

so Audrey will be three next month and a little bird told me that she would really really really like to have the new rascal flatts CD that comes out on April 7th. I'm just sayin'

(hey... I do what I can!) ;)

It's Not Really The Thought That Counts

All day long I'd told the kids that today we'd walk up to the high school by our house and they could play on the football field while I ran on the track.

Except for that.... I have killer allergies this week.

I went to wal-mart last night, walked straight up to the pharmacist and said "I'm about to die," He pointed me to Zyrtec. I bought some. It didn't work. Today I was even more miserable than yesterday.

So, today, with eyes rubbed almost completely raw, I went BACK to wal-mart, stopping first at customer service to return the Zyrtec, then I walked BACK to the pharmacy where a different pharmacist was on duty. I told him about the non working zyrtec through red, squinty eyes. He led me to some itchy eyes eye drops.... which have worked a miracle!!!!!

Also, I went to the natural foods store in town and bought some allergy meds. you let one tablet dissolve under your tongue every hour.

SO... this afternoon, feeling a little better, I got the kids ready, I got my jogging pants on, put on my sports bras, laced up my running shoes....

.... and we started our walk up to the track....

.... and halfway there it starts thundering, lightning, and raining.

*beats head against wall*

so I had to turn around and bring two disappointed kids back home. And I didn't get to run today. I'd LIKE to start training for a half marathon again. I was training for one and was up to running six miles (a half of a half marathon) when I found out I was pregnant with Audrey.

So... I made deals with the kids when we got home. They get to help me fix supper (grilled cheese sandwiches) and jam to new tunes I've bought for them lately on iTunes.

better luck tomorrow, I hope.

Because I Yove Your Yips...

Today is Lip Appreciation Day

(I don't make this stuff up!)

You know what I'm going to say next....

Appreciate someone's lips today. ;)

What Did I Expect??

This weekend, I had an opportunity to go to a relationship conference at a church here in town. It was put on by author and speaker, Paul Tripp and was called "What Did You Expect? Redeeming the Realities of Marriage."

The conference was Friday night from 7-9:15 p.m. and continued Saturday morning from 9-noon. It was $10/ person... and excellent childcare was provided. (emphasis on excellent!!) One of my friends asked me if it was worth the $10. Oh my goodness... despite the fact that the conference alone was well worth the ten dollars... the fact that that ten dollars helped to cover the cost of childcare for 5 hours!! are you kidding me?? Yes!!!! it was worth it. Also, they served complientary sodas, waters, and cookies on friday night and on saturday morning there were complimentary bagels, donuts, coffee, apples, bananas, and granola bars. I'd say it was the best $10 I've spent in a really long time!!

I left that conference feeling like a different person. I took in so much awesome information. It was just.... well.... awesome.

Towards the end of the conference, Paul painted a very visual picture that impacted me. He used an illustration of a paint brush.



A brand new paintbrush is very soft and easily glides along a surface... but... you know how when a paint brush has been used and not washed off properly the bristles get stiff? If you try to use it, it will scratch whatever surface you use it on.

What kind of paintbrush are we being? As a Christian, friend, spouse, parent, etc... are we scratching the surfaces we touch? Or are we gentle and beautiful?

Something to think about.

Lord,
I come to you in prayer tonight a convicted person. Lord, I ask that you forgive me for times that I've been hard bristled; for times when I've been less than gentle and have scratched the very surfaces you created. May I use the talents you have given me to leave impressions of grace and beauty on your creations, Lord.
In Jesus name,
Amen

May The Force Be With You

Princess Leia...



One month from tomorrow, this little girl will turn three years old.

*cries*

Really... I looked around the house today to try and find where the last three years have gone...

This morning as I was dropping her off at preschool, she was (still) clinging to my leg.

Hug your kids today...

It won't be like this for long



(to watch this video, you'll need to scroll down to the bottom of my blog and pause the music player that auto starts)

It Doesn't Get More Creative Than This

My current favorite candy bar is a whatchamacallit.



I know... right? Ha!

I went through a frozen snickers phase for a while. Before that it was Skor or Heath Bar.

But for the last few years, it's been whatchamacallit all the way.

Well, today I was at Walgreen's getting some Dimetapp to drug my children to sleep with (just kidding)... and I'm checking out and right beside the whatchamacallit's... I see this...

Limited Edition...



Thingamajig

I hope they are paying the guy big bucks who is coming up with these names!!

Anyway... I bought one of both. I'll do a taste test later tonight and let you all know what I think.

Go get one for yourself though. They just came out March 1st... and apparantly aren't permanent.

I Am That Girl

I have this book that I bought at Goodwill for a dollar. It's called "The Badass Girl's Guide to Poker" (sorry mom, I can't help what it's called)

but I mean... look at me...



I am that girl. =]

anyway... I had forgotten I had it, but found it yesterday and am now obsessed with learning how to play poker. The book is written by a girl, and she has excellent writing skills and does a great job explaining.

The book promises to be all I'll need to beat the boys.

We'll see

The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse

Levi went to his bedroom and picked out four books for me to read to him this afternoon. One of them was an old book that I had when I was a kid called The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse. It's an old Aesop Fable that's been retold many times by many different authors. The fable goes like this...

THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE

A Town Mouse and a Country Mouse were acquaintances, and the Country Mouse one day invited his friend to come and see him at his home in the fields. The Town Mouse came, and they sat down to a dinner of barleycorns and roots, the latter of which had a distinctly earthy flavour. The fare was not much to the taste of the guest, and presently he broke out with "My poor dear friend, you live here no better than the ants. Now, you should just see how I fare! My larder is a regular horn of plenty. You must come and stay with me, and I promise you you shall live on the fat of the land." So when he returned to town he took the Country Mouse with him, and showed him into a larder containing flour and oatmeal and figs and honey and dates. The Country Mouse had never seen anything like it, and sat down to enjoy the luxuries his friend provided: but before they had well begun, the door of the larder opened and some one came in. The two Mice scampered off and hid themselves in a narrow and exceedingly uncomfortable hole. Presently, when all was quiet, they ventured out again; but some one else came in, and off they scuttled again. This was too much for the visitor. "Good-bye," said he, "I'm off. You live in the lap of luxury, I can see, but you are surrounded by dangers; whereas at home I can enjoy my simple dinner of roots and corn in peace."

It's got a great moral to it... but of course for children they make it easier to understand. In this particular version that we have, the county mouse invites his cousin from the city to stay with him. His cousin, the town mouse doesn't think that life in the country is very exciting. "After dinner, they sat and talked. But before long, the town mouse began to long for some excitement. Finally he could not stand the quiet any longer. 'Doesn't anything ever happen around here?' he asked. "Life in the country is so dull! In the city, it's not like this at all. Why, something exciting is always happening! And there is more food than you can imagine!" And so he invites the country mouse back to the city with him to see what LIFE really is. While in the city, the country mouse got to dine on fine foods... but he had to run and hide from home owners and a big scary cat. My favorite part of the book is the end, when the country mouse says to the town mouse... "Life in the city is not for me. You may call it exciting, but I call it frightening! And I would rather eat crumbs in a peaceful place than risk my life for a banquet."... and he went back to his quiet home in the country.

Whoever thinks country life is dull never dated a guy with a four wheeler, a mud truck, a camper, a huntin' rifle, a frog giggin' boat, and a big ol' sky full of beautiful bright stars!! They've never eaten a freshly cut watermelon on the banks of a cool river after swimmin' all afternoon and they've surely never been to a fish fry or church potluck!!

Thessali Annette

Today is Unique Names Day.

I can't think of anyone on this planet with a more unique name than my youngest sister Thessali.

Tess.... you are even more special than your name









keep living up to your unique name, Tess!!

I love you!!

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

Tomorrow is I Want You to Be Happy Day, Unique Names Day, and National Anthem Day. The "Star Spangled Banner" became the U.S. National Anthem on March 3, 1931

So... in review... tomorrow... make someone happy, honor someone with an unusual name (this is where it pays to have a sister named Thessali!!), and be proud of our country!

God, Pass By Me

1 Kings 19: 11-12
"The Lord said [to Elijah], 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.' Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper."