Quick Update

I have lots to write and only a few minutes so I'll probably have to come back to this. I'm going to Bible study this morning, and I am really excited about it for some reason. I have started singing "This is the Day that the Lord Has Made" to my kids each morning. For some reason, that really seems to put everyone in the right mindset for the day. What a great way to start the day.

I wanted to update you all on school. I had both my kids' conferences yesterday, and they went great. Miss A's teacher said that she expected Miss A to grow up and be something great and very special. Mr T's teacher said that we had done a good job with him. Both those reports just really encouraged me. I struggled so much with this whole school thing, and I know I am doing the right thing by having them where they are. But it's nice to get encouragement every once in awhile too. I have learned to really rely on God during this time because He is the only one who can keep them safe. I spend alot of time on my knees praying for my kids, something I would not have been doing if I had gotten my own way. So, there are good things happening. I just want to remember next school year not to pitch such a fit when I don't get my way. I want to handle the whole situation alot better; I think it's time I grew up. :) You all are free to remind me of this next August. :)

I got a call from work saying that they couldn't send me any work for awhile, until things turned around. So, once again, I feel like I've been fired. When I was working so much, I remember thinking that I wish I had done some things on my "to do list". Now I'm going to do them. I am determined to use this little break to accomplish some things I've left undone, to have something to show for this time once it's over. I'm over feeling sorry for myself and I'm going to make this time count.

This weekend the boys are supposed to go camping, if it doesn't rain, and the girls are going...shopping. :) I've promised Miss A new curtains and she wants some with butterflies on them. So, we'll see what we can come up with. Yes, that means I will attempt to sew....or at least con my mom into sewing them for me. :) She'll do a better job anyways.

My Little Photographer

My daughter won 2nd place in her division in a school competition for this picture she took all by herself. Way to go!!! She was excited about winning but showed it like her daddy shows emotion, subdued and with little outward signs. I, on the other hand, was showing it by hugging and laughing. (Notice the bird flying in the sky on the left side of the picture If you click on the picture, you can see it bigger.)

Here's another one she took that is now hanging in her room.

The Demise of our TV Viewing Selection

Two quick things.

My hubby discovered last night that we get the "Do It Yourself" network on our cable package. He was glowing. I figure I'll never get to see anything but fix it stuff. Good bye chic flicks and cheesy movies. I should have deleted that channel while I had a chance.

I am going to meet a college roommate for lunch. We are eating at Johnny Rockets downtown. I cannot wait. I get to see a dear friend who lives far away. I don't think I've seen her for 2 years. I get to go downtown--which I LOVE. And I get to do it without worrying about taking my kids. I knew this school thing would eventually pay off. :)

So I'll Remember Next Time I Pity Myself

I was having a very good pity party for myself this afternoon. It was rather cozy there all. There was just myself and my pity and my horrible jealous thoughts. But I was desperately praying to God that he would help me stop those horrible thoughts and feelings I was having. And guess what he did? A complete stranger stopped by and said, "I just love that blouse. It is so beautiful. That color is just beautiful on you." She even reached over and touched my arm. Then she walked on. I do believe it was an angel. :) My God really cares about little ol' me.

What's Goin' On

I don't have anything great to share. We have been busy getting our house back into order. While we had our hardwood floors refinished, we moved out of our house and stayed at my hubby's grandmother's house. It was great to have a place to be but after a few days, I was dying to come back home. We moved back in a week ago Monday, and lived for a week with no furniture downstairs. We would lay the kids down at night in their beds and then when we were ready for bed, we would move one to the floor and take their bed. It was great be home, but I was still longing for some normalcy. So, last Friday, we moved all our furniture back in and finally had somewhere to sit, somewhere to eat, our own bed to sleep in. HEAVEN!!! I'll try never to take those things for granted. I have spent every minute since trying to bring all our "stuff" back inside from the garage where we stored it. My mom came up and spent Monday and Tuesday with us. We decided to purge our kids' rooms. By the time we were finished, we had taken out 10 bags of trash, 8 bags to the local thrift store, and I have about 5 more bags I'm going to try to consign before I donate. The upstairs looks amazing. My kids are so excited to be able to finally see what toys they have. Less really is more. (The kids haven't even mentioned one thing they miss.)

This morning, I met a dear friend for breakfast, and we had so much fun just talking about our lives. I haven't seen her in about 4 months so it was alot of fun catching up. Afterwards, I decided to treat myself to some shopping. I bought the cutest clothes at Kohls; I got the best snack stuff from BJ's; and of course I had to run into to WalMart. I can't wait to try on my new clothes again and make sure I like them. I got the greatest pants at Kohls. I wanted to wear them out of the store; they were that comfy.

Life is good here but busy. There is always something to do it seems. It is raining today, which is such a blessing. It could honestly rain for days and I wouldn't mind.

Here are a few pictures we had taken while we on vacation. Enjoy!!




Our Family


The Kids


Mr T loses his first tooth and gets glasses

Here's the crazy thing about the glasses. We had them for less than 24 hours before I KNOCKED them off his face and he stepped on them. It took less than a second for the whole thing to happen and YES, they did have to be replaced. Welcome to my world! He now has new ones that fit him like a glove and look even better on my cutie pie, if that's possible.

Clean House, Here We Come

Once again, I have more thoughts than time to write them. We are back in our house. We've been living at my hubby's grandmother's house while our floors have been sanded and re-polyurethaned. The floors are finished now so we are living at home. There is no furniture in my first floor so my fridge, my bed, my sofa, my clothes are all in my garage. We lay the kids down in their beds and then move them to the floor so we'll have somewhere to sleep. Needless to say, I am ready for live to be "right" again. Tonight, we are planning to move everything back in so it won't be long.

Right now, I should be putting my kitchen back together, bringing my clothes back into the closet, or hanging up pictures. What I'd like to do (and in this order) is go back to bed for a long nap, get a shower, go shopping at Wal-Mart and the outlet mall, and watch tv (which I haven't seen in over a week and half.)

As busy as I feel, today is the first day in over 2 weeks where I don't have to go somewhere. I am really enjoying the aloneness and the quiet. I can't stop smiling because I am all alone with nowhere to rush off to (and it seems like these days I'm normally running late.) Hope you all have a great day.