She's lost a few pounds so she thinks it's okay to post a pic of herself. 
She's delusional like that.



I just wanted to see how this pic translated to the blog from my phone.



Home Alone



So, I have this Japanese app that helps me do
all the bubbles/dots in my pics.  It's true that
I cannot understand Japanese.  All I know is that I LOVE the app!

Except without all the mischief of the Home Alone movies.  Well.  Sort of no mischief!  haha  I tease!!

I'm just glad to be home by myself.  If all I accomplish today is staring at the walls for a few hours, then my job is done!  I tease again.  :)  My major beef is always that my husband gets time on his days off with no one at home.  Just to be able to hear silence in a home that you work all damn day to have!  Thank you, Lord, of course, for the aforementioned home and job!  :)

Two days before Christmas though automatically means, equals stuff to do.  But, if I work out, shower, think about baking, wrap a couple of presents, look at the files that I brought home from work, pick up the kids from school, look (and, I mean, only look) again at those files, maybe bake, and maybe think about cooking dinner--I will have accomplished the world.  So, of course, with all that, I'm stealing some time with my blog.  Yeah.  Makes so much no sense!

In deeper news, I've been going through a soul-cleansing, a rebirth, if you will.  Not trying to get back to where I was.  But, moving ahead to a better place.  I've learned so much about myself.  I've been humbled too.  And, I love humility.  It's one of my favorite characteristics.  I'm a big believer in it.  I'm reminded of that verse that says Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.  And, since there is no up without Him, I only want Him lifting me up in this life.  It's a daily rebirth so it does not come easy but to know that He has not left my side and loves me still, despite me, is A MAY ZING!!  God is good is all I know.  :)



I'm majorly into cupcakes these days. 
It does not help my efforts in cutting my sugars. 
But, whatcha gonna do?  Something about living once, right?!?  :)

It's thrilling to still have a journey to walk, a lesson to learn so that I can hopefully be a help to someone else.  Something to pass onto these children of mine.  :)  Who, by the way, are precious.  Or, perhaps, extremely well-behaved since Santa [a.k.a. me] is on her way!  :)

Well, I better get going if I'm going to attempt to accomplish anything on the above meager list.  Thanks again, Blog.  You're sweet to let me babble.  You cool like that!  :)

For the one person who comes by ---> Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!  ::))

Preoccupied...

Here are my kids and some of their friends rolling down our tiny hill.

So preoccupied. That's the only way that I've been able to describe myself lately when I am speaking to a friend who I haven't spoken to in weeks. I say that I'm all over the place...which is to say--I feel out of control. But, I also feel that I can't say anything of why I'm out of control. So, I just try to shake it off and have a normal conversation. Yeah--nice try!

Anyway, this weekend has been good--trying to catch up with family and friends somewhat, laugh with my kids, and spend time with my husband. This is the week that my husband and I normally take off together to reconnect since our anniversary is not something we are really able to celebrate the way some do. Who has the time or money? We actually have only taken a couple of days off work. (Thanks to those early 2011 snow days...I was very short on vacay days.) But, they have been productive and fun days so surprisingly satisfying since I normally slack off for most of the week and try to cram it all in the last few days as documented here and here. I think there was an urgency to make every day count which, as can be imagined, I've completely impressed and surprised myself by my hard work and effort. :)



Omigosh--the fun that I've had with Faith! She is such a funny girl!! We have danced and laughed so much these couple of days. I love her so much. Her personality is really amazing to me. We are very cool girls that's all I know! :)



Well, my boy, Elijah, turned eight yesterday. There was only one thing to get him for his birthday. Mario Kart...I don't think that is a new Mario Bros. game but he likes the racing games and he only knows the old Mario Bros. games thanks to Daddy. So, I don't really want him to get to know the new stuff too much yet. So, that damn Mario Cart is expensive so we bought it as a community. Mommy, Daddy, Louise, Carol, and Faith all chipped in for the purchase. How else was I going to get Daddy to spend that kind of dough?!? ::)) I know what you're thinking--She's a genius!! haha

Elijah played the game for some of yesterday. But, in order to play the game today, he had to work on his math since he has not been doing well in math at school. So, this miracle happened this morning--Elijah is now a math genius since Mario Cart was waiting for him. Unbelievable this kid!! At 9 this morning, he's ready to work on his math!! He better do better in school is all that I have to say on that!

Well, Blog, other than that, all is well and the same around here. You know that I really appreciate getting to vent to you about once a year now. I blame that damn Facebook!! Really. :)

Psalm 119:55 NIV

"In the night, Lord, I remember Your name, that I may keep Your law."

I remember who You are--what You've done already in my life. That even in dark, difficult times, I will be able to find way to keep Your law, Your way in my life. I want to take heed to Your Word even in the difficult times. Difficult times, trying times are not an excuse to react badly. It's an opportunity. An opportunity to display Christ in my life. I have to continue to remember in those times--to remember who He is. Jesus is the Overcomer. The Holy Spirit is the Comforter. The Father is in control. ME, be a watcher of ways to keep God's Word on display in my life--to keep Christ on display in my life.

Vacation 2011

 

Bloggable Conversation 123

Elijah: Mommyyy! She [Faith] touched my body part!

I look over at the both of them.

Elijah: She touched my foot.

Taking that recent conversation about personal space ettiquette a little too far, I think. But, my boy is the poster boy of taking things a bit overboard. So, there you go! :)

I'm so frustrated...

This was last night before I read the email referenced below. Is he praying for mercy? :)

I received an email from the teacher about my boy yesterday. He gave the teacher some trouble--little meltdown with a side of a little rebellion. It's true that he was mad in the am that the little bit of snow outside did not a snow day make. But, I told him on the way to school no crying or giving the teacher a hard time.

And, what does he do? Just that. "It's too hard." That is what he said that caused the problem. He wouldn't do the simple task because he thought it was hard.

Oh riiight! I forgot that my line in those early grades was "I can't do it." Payback sucks!

I'm just frustrated because the task was so simple. Of course, the teacher had to use a tough voice. And, that's when he got angry with his arms folded and cried.

The teacher said he was better at lunch and the rest of the afternoon.

It's just hard...a situation like this is something to be dealt with at least for today. And, that then affects the whole day. I want to get together with one of his classmates and her mom--they are a great playdate. And, I do not want to leave out Elijah. His classmate is a girl and she loves playing with Faith too. We all have a great time. What to do?!? I really like hanging out with this mom. :)

Well, I've been working with Elijah on the situation this morning. He just asked me for a Poptart--I said I think you can handle that on your own. (Minor confession: I probably would have said that even if he hadn't been in "trouble" today.) He's seven, after all. He's got to start growing up because it's sad when the smallest of tasks overwhelm him. [sigh]

I guess I have to get that responsibility chart that I've been thinking about getting, like, forever!!

Well, I better get going. Oh, I'm sorry that I didn't re-introduce myself...Blog, how you doin'? I'm the slacker blogger that comes around here every so often to vent to the Blogosphere. Nice to see you again. And, thanks!

Oh--Merry and Happy to you for all the holidays that I missed recently!!

:)

It's that time of year again...

Where I quickly synopsize the last few weeks of life.



Specifically, I'm talking about last week.

Tomorrow. I go back to work. [mourning for a few moments] Basically, I've had my week of vacation with my husband. We have purposely bonded over doing nothing this past week. But, as usual, in order to find some meaning to my life--I did a few things to file under "Accomplished".

1. Cleared off the buffet table. This feat took me almost a week to do. Pitiful. Pathetic, I know. The problem is--I literally chipped at it for almost a week. There was no other way to do it. Truly.

2. Did a couple of neighborly things. But, since I use this place really to only brag on the more shameful things that I do, I cannot start now to brag on any virtuous things. Really--any good that I do is from the Lord so no point in saying that I did it.

3. My husband and I went to a few stores. Surprisingly, we spent more money than usual which only said to me that we were really on vacation since that is only when my husband is more liberal with the monies.

4. Slept in...

5. We tortured the children with our week off...they were so disturbed and jealous over our alone time. :) Not sure if this means we are doing a good job with them. Oh well. Lord, please fill in the gaps there. :)

6. Oh--we went to Disney on Ice Toy Story for my boy's birthday. He was thrilled to see Zurg, the bad guy. Faith was thrilled to see Barbie. We really had a great time.



7. Slept in...

8. We celebrated my boy's seventh birthday with just a small gathering and some ice cream cake which he did not eat. My boy can put on his list of accomplishments that he mortified me completely with his behavior. So glad that we are not going all out in the birthday party department for him--it cannot be justified. That's all I can say.



Well, that's the list--pretty much. We did a few other things that were important. But, again, some things do not need to be mentioned. :) Even today, I'm trying to get a few other things done online so that I know that I sort of used my time wisely. The countdown is on!! :)

I do feel that life is good. God is good. Life is still really busy and crazy. And, I need the Lord's help to cope with it all.

I want to get some pictures posted soon. For a little bit, I was able to post from my iphone but I don't know what I did to that situation. All this technology--sometimes I want to kill it!! :) haha

Hope all is well with you, Blog.

Thanks.

:)