A Night Off

I am downright giddy. My hubby is out of town again so I made plans to go to dinner with a dear friend tonight. Her hubby was gracious enough to offer to watch my kids and theirs. I think he deserves the "Father of the Year" award. We had so much fun. My friend and I both showed up wearing our black boots with huge heels (big deal for me because I never wear heels.) We ate at On the Border then went shopping at the mall. It was so much fun getting together to just have "girl talk." We also stopped by Starbucks and I got my usual. Delicious.

This dear friend has been there for me through thick and thin, when I didn't even act like I wanted a friend. It may seem weird, but it reminds me of how Jesus pursues us. We may not act like we want Him to be our friend, but He never gives up. He pursues us. I have been praying that I would slow down and be more concerned about other people. I found a verse recently that said in the end times people would stop loving each other. I don't want to forget that there are other people out there who need Jesus. I don't want to forget that I need other people. I pray I will change so that I can become a better friend to others.

After I got my kids and was on my way home, my kids could not stop talking about the fun they had. My kids have never been to Taco Bell so my friend's hubby took them there. Mr T ate 3 tacos and Miss A had 2; they seem to have a new favorite restaurant. Then, they went back to my friend's house to play. They played trick or treat. My friend's hubby dressed up as a mad scientist and the kids went trick or treating in each room of their house, receiving various "treats" such as socks, sippy cups, hats, whatever he could find. Then they pretended to go camping and my friend's hubby was the bear trying to get into the tent. They giggled and giggled and giggled all the way home. What a blessing friends are. Salt of the earth. How blessed am I.

Words from the Kids

This is a picture of a quilt cabinet that my hubby refinished for me. I asked for a quilt cabinet years ago, but we just never got around to getting it made. Recently, we found a cabinet in an old basement that was about 6' tall, but the bottom was eaten up years ago by bugs. So, my hubby cut the bottom off of it and made me this beautiful quilt cabinet. I love it. Some of the quilts are ones I've made, others my mom made, and 3 were made by my hubby's great, great grandmother. I will probably one day take the really old quilts that are kind of falling apart and make bears out of them for my kids. I have 2 bears made out of quilts, one from my great-grandma that my aunt gave me for a high graduation gift and one from my hubby's great grandmother.

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Here's a story that made me smile from ear to ear. Mr T and I were driving to pick up Miss A last week and he suddenly blurts out, "Mommy, did you know Jesus loves "P"? I wasn't too sure I heard him correctly so I asked him to repeat it...several times. He always said, "Jesus loves "P." Then he broke into a song to the tune of "Jesus Loves the Little Children" only he said, "Jesus loves the letter "P". Who knew Jesus was so fond of the letter "P."

Fall Festival

Here are a couple pictures of my little power ranger and my tinkerbell.

Last night was our church's fall festival. The kids had a ton of fun. I was dreading the whole thing because my hubby is out of town. That meant I was supposed to keep up with both kids and work some of the booths. In the end, it all worked out, partly because it rained, and they could not put up the inflatable stuff, relieving me of my duties.



And by the way, no one cried at swim lessons, not even me. I can't even imagine what I will have to bribe my son with to go back, but that's a worry for next week.

A Girl After My Own Heart

Sunday night, Miss A, Mr T and myself were riding home from eating dinner with my hubby's family. We had on the local Christian radio station, and the dj was having people call in to suggest places to hold her rehearsal dinner. We heard lovely suggestions like Maggiano's and Ippolito's (both places I have never been but am planning to go to one day.)

I had no idea the kids were even listening, but Miss A suddenly pipes up and says matter-of-factly, "They should just go to Captain D's. They give suckers there for eating all your food." Like, duh? Why wouldn't every one in the world want to go there? THEY GIVE OUT SUCKERS.

Love it.

Mr T has swim lessons today at a local indoor pool. I am dreading it. I'd give anything to not have signed up for it. There is guaranteed to be alot of screaming, whining and fussing (both from Miss A who loves to swim but doesn't need lessons, and from Mr T who DOES need lessons but DOESN'T like to swim.) And I'd bet money somebody will end up sick from it; can't say if it'll be me, Mr T or Miss A, but somebody is gonna be sick. I know it.

Now what?

I woke up yesterday excited and ready for the day. Mr T had a play date and for the first time in 2 weeks, I had not over committed myself. At 6:30 my hubby came in from his shop to say he had something in his eye. We worked for an hour to get it out but couldn't even find anything. We sent Miss A off the school and headed to the doctor. He worked for 30 minutes and couldn't find anything either. Off to Atlanta to the eye doctor we go.

Let me just say that I love going to Atlanta. My toes get all tingly, and I cannot help but smile when someone sends me to Atlanta. I lived there for 6 years and besides my parents' house, it is the place where I felt the most at home. I met the most wonderful people, I loved learning and being challenged, basically I just loved the whole experience. I used to wish I were still there but have recently changed my mind. I did love it, but I was so selfish then and so outside of God's will personally that I really was in turmoil most of the time. I am finally admitting that life is so much sweeter when I am living like God wants me to live. There is peace. I tried to tell myself that life was more fun when I was doing what I wanted, but it's just not true.

Ok, back to the story. My poor hubby was in so much pain by the time we saw the doctor. The nurse tried to give him an eye exam even though he couldn't open his eyes. I wanted to smack her and tell her to go get that doctor, but my 4 year old was there so I restrained myself. All the people in the waiting room were staring and whispering about that poor man who was doubled over in pain, the lady who was powerless to do anything, and the 4 year old boy who was content to watch tv and eat his sucker. That's right, all I grabbed for Mr T was a sucker, and yet he managed to make that last a LONG time.

The doctor finally came in and numbed my hubby's eye. INSTANT RELIEF. They removed a small piece of sawdust and said it had scratched his cornia all over. So, we are doing eye drops 4 times a day. And my hubby is doing much better today.

I say all that to say that we did not make it to the play date. We got home just in time to pick up Miss A from school, put the boys to bed for a nap and the girls to run around looking for a prescription. I babysat my nieces and nephew for a couple hours after we got home and then we went out to put up signs for the yard sale today. (Just writing about this makes me tired all over again.) Needless to say, we ALL went to bed at 9:00 last night and slept soundly until 7 this morning. Now it's off the yard sale. I'll try to put up some pictures soon. I have some from Stoney Mountain and Mr T's trip to the petting zoo (at preschool.)

Quick thoughts

I have been so so so busy this past 2 weeks. So much has been happening and I find myself praying that it all ends soon. I would say that I am weary. This morning Mr T got up and immediately asked if we were late. We got in the car and he repeated, "Are you late again?" I feel like I am a minute late everywhere I go these day.

Mr. T had an ENT appointment and they are wanting to take his tonsils out. It will happen in about 6 weeks so I have that much time to get ok with it.

Miss A had her teacher/parent conference at school today and as expected is doing great. Her teacher said she is sweet, kind, helpful, and very motherly (in a good way---wonder where she gets that good mothering from.) No problems with her.

Disclaimer: I am trying to be vague so this is not going to make any sense. :) I have a situation that is probably why I am so weary. I have a friend who is really struggling so I have been helping them out, or at least trying to. But all that has happened is I am stressed, my kids are stressed, and my friend is not any better off. I hesitate to say too much but I just am so sad over the whole situation because I know that all I do will never be enough. I have been thanked over and over again for helping, and yet I find myself wondering why they don't try to fix the stuff that is wrong so everything would be better. I could about cry over the stuff that I see. I guess we all forget that everything we do affects other people, lots of other people.

Well, I'll try to add more but I gotta go oversee my kidders. :)

How did this happen?

By 7:15 this morning, I had gotten a shower, made lunches for the kids, packed snacks, ironned clothes, gotten kids dressed and fed. I was on a roll. I was standing in front of the bathroom mirror brushing my teeth when my hubby stops, stares at me, and says, "Is that a grey hair?"

What? Have I not taught him anything? Never ask me if I have a grey hair. Never ask me anything before 8:00. Never, never, never. It's not a grey hair. It was just the light. Yes, it was just the light. I know it was.

I have made a highlight appointment, and we'll resolve this little issue next week. Never fear. By this time next week I'll be blonder than I could pay to be, once again.

Just Call Me "Handy-Woman"

This morning after my hubby left for work, I noticed that one of our toilets was running continuously. I tried the normal "jiggle the handle" trick but it just wasn't working. So, I called my hubby and asked him what to do. He suggested I cut off the water and wait until he got home but I just couldn't do that. So, I slowly lifted the back lid and entered into new territory. I began working and within 2 minutes, I had the problem fixed.

To fix something that early in the morning just sets my day in a wonderful direction. When I am cranky and at my wit's end, I should just go break something and then fix it. I think I'm ready for the day.

My kids don't have school today because it's Columbus Day so we're having their cousins over to play. I've got little pumpkins to paint, cookies to decorate, and all kinds of little crafts to do. They'll probably just want to play in their rooms, but at least I'm prepared.

Update on the Trapped Mommies

Quick update. We picked up Miss A from school on Friday and the first thing out of Mr T's mouth was, "Miss A, we had to help mommies today that were stuck at home. Those mommies had no where to go and they didn't even have any keys."

At least Mr T was saying this to his sister and not the "nice stranger" I had predicted.

We did have a great time at "Stoney Mountain." The weather was great and the entire place was covered up in pumpkins. I love pumpkins. I would have them all over my house and lawn if I had that many pumpkins. We had that many pumpkins out of our garden last year. They were ready to harvest in July because we planed them too early. Pumpkins in July? Anyways, we decided to plant them later this year and just plumb forgot. So...no pumpkins this year.

Yes sir

This morning was the first MOPS meeting of the year. So, needless to say, I was buzzing all about trying to get my quiche ready, kids out the door, and Mr D off to work. At one point, Mr T was upstairs and asked me to come upstairs. I get upstairs to him, at which point he turns around and asks, "Scratch my back." Oh my goodness. As if I don't have enough to do.

When Mr T finally found out we were going to MOPS, he was less than pleased. He really doesn't like being left with other people. So, I began to explain to him that we are going to MOPS so that other moms can have a chance to get out of the house. I told him that many moms just can't seem to get out of the house and MOPS is a great place to meet others moms. His questions that followed were, "Why? Can't they drive? Can't they find their keys? Why can't they get out of the house? Are they locked in there?" Lets hope he doesn't tell some nice stranger that his mommy has to go help other mommy's that are locked in their houses.

MOPS went fine. We had several new moms that had never been to our MOPS group. I had to fill in for a missing worker and help keep the babies, which turned out better than I could hoped. I was holding babies for Jesus. Man, are my arms tired.

Love ya'll.

Happy Thursday

It's been awhile since I've posted anything, and there are various reasons for that. I have been having computer issues, school has really picked up, and we've started all our programs at church. So, needless to say, life is busy. We have also been battling strep throat. We have an appointment with the ENT in a couple of weeks and I am praying that finally solves this problem. It's so frustrating for me because I feel like I am doing all I can to prevent it, and yet I cannot prevent strep or figure out how to make it stop. We'll see.

Mr. T is loving preschool. When he gets into the car at the end of the day, he is smiling from ear to ear. Every Thursday, the kids get to pick something out of the treasure box. He normally pulls out the goofiest thing he can find. For example, one day he came out to the car wearing fake sunglasses with a huge nose and moustache attached to them. The next week it was a fake purple worm that he cannot sleep without now. Do you know how impossible it is to keep up with a 2" fake worm?

We are going to Stone Mountain this weekend and staying in the old hotel. We have some reward points that are about to expire. I am just sad that the "snow" will not be there. We'll do the laser show and all the other stuff. Last time we went to the laser show, the kids fell asleep halfway through and totally missed the fireworks. Yes, they are heavy sleepers.

Hope you all have a great weekend.