Deep Thoughts

Was listening to the Mosaic podcast today, as I often do on Monday. I get a little Erwin at least once a week. He's so dynamic and so profound, it's like he's talking about a connection with God, but in a way that isn't overwhelming, just that there's a God, and so therefor this is how we should live our lives. Today he was talking about Jonathan in 2 Samual 14, and about Samuels Armor barrier. Just how well the armor barrier would have had to know him. And that they invested into each others lives, they knew each others junk and in spite of that built each other up to continue to face battle after battle. Good stuff!

" You need to begin to ask yourself who in your life are you investing in? That in that critical moment, that moment where you need help, that moment you need others to join you in the adventure that God is calling you into. Who would look at you and say......?" Erwin McManus

"Do all that you have in mind......I am with you heart and soul." 1 Samuel 14:7

I think after I Walk on Water, it's a good possibility I'll need to Chase some Daylight. And while I am doing that I will also be experiencing, The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus. I am being forced to read like never before, and it's all good stuff.

Shoes???

Ok so my husband is giddy with excitment because he's on vacation all week, and theres a good possibility a week or so after his vacation he'll be going to day shift. DAY SHIFT?? Holy crap life as I once knew it is soon to be over. He's been on night shift for 10-12 years! I'll have to share the bed, I've been sleeping alone all these years and now? We'll need to get us a king size bed so it'll still seem like I'm sleeping alone. LOL It's actually a really good thing. It'll be a chance at a normal life. My house might actually get cleaned. He's already started. Last week he did the computer room which had become a catch all when we cleaned the rest of the house, that and our bedroom. Today, while I was out with my dad birthday shopping he started on the bedroom, and found shoes I ain't seen in like 2 years. I do wear all these shoes, at least I did when I knew where they were 2 years ago. With a hardwood floor things get pushed around so easily. So they slide further and further under the bed till you forget they even exist. I forgot how cute those pink flip flops were. Just in time for spring.

Upwards Basketball

The season has come to a close, with a fabulous awards ceremony at Fairfield High Schools Arena. What a fabulous Basketball program. A lot of hardwork goes into making this program a success.

The coaches did a great job teaching the boys sportsmanship and what it means to be Christlike. They had a speaker, Terry (Lewis I think) used to play for the Bearcats, during their final four days. He gave a great talk that was beneficial to the kids and the adults. The boys got a certificate, a coin, and a basketball.

Ron and I then went to his friend from works wedding reception. I am going to attempt to describe the experience without sounding like a snob.....ok....lemme see...Someone did comment the other day that they like my blog because I am raw and honest. WARNING: I AM NOW GOING TO BE RAW AND HONEST, AND I SWEAR TO YOU I AM NOT A SNOB.

I would not consider myself classy. Not at all, I mean I've been in my fair share of 8 weddings, including my own. All of which were fairly fancy affairs, probably the least classy wedding I was in was the one that had the reception at the VFW, and everyone got liquor'd up on Jagermeister, and many ended up going home with strangers, (ok so the last part was a bit of an exaggeration), however that was probably the most fun wedding, since it was all our college friends. Last year we got invited to 2 weddings both of which were fancy affairs, one of which could have been on TLC's a wedding story. Ice carvings, shimp cocktail bar, good food....nice dancing, place cards.....you get the picture. Heck we had a pretty fancy affair ourselves. So why is it this year....well....not so fancy. There was the wedding just before Christmas, where apparently leather was the dress code and no one told us. Then today, I'm not sure what was going on. This reception was at his friends house that he rents in Hamilton as in Lindenwald...(locals will know what I'm talking about) Beer, and Big K pop were the beverages of choice at this fancy affair, iced down in beat the hell up coolers, help yourself cake....meaning cut it your damn self, a bride who was yelling at her kids and at one point called one of them a crackhead......and Ron asked, "Why didn't we bring Perry?" I think he was serious. All that being said, Ron was the only friend from work who show'd up. Sad but true. Now granted it wasn't the most comfortable I've been at a reception, (this seems to be the trend lately) But if I have to endure 45 minutes of WAY out of my comfort zone type people to show a friend I got their back well I'm going to do it. Ron and I had a good discussion about it when we left to go to Starbucks (cause dude owe'd me after that nightmare). He said it kinda sucked that no one from work came, and he had considered not going too. But was glad he went. After thinking about it, I was glad we went too. I mean they ain't my people, and I doubt we'll be hanging anytime soon. But I know it meant a lot that we show'd up, you could tell. Although they didn't know what to do with us. The only thing they could say to us was, "So how's it going?" We have decided from now on if we get another invite, we'd like it to have a picture of the reception hall, picture of the other guests who will be there, and a sampling of the food. Just so we know what to expect, we'll show up, cause we are those kind of people. All the stuff you send with the invite will determine the amount of time we will stay at your affair.

Cleaning....

I freakin hate cleaning. And you can sure tell by my cluttered home. So today I tackled the bathroom. Cleaned the toilet. Ewwww....why me? I'm the one who actually pee's in the toilet. Men should always have to clean the toilet since they somehow can't freakin aim. We'll blame the smaller man of the house, but we can also blame the big man since he should be teaching him the fine art of aiming. Don't you think?

Fancying things up a bit. I hooked up my links all by myself and nobody was hurt in the process. Computer coding nonsense is not my thing. That's why I liked type pad so well. But alas I dove in and did it. If you'd like me to hook you up with a link give me a shout in the comments section. Several folks leave comments but not everyone has a blog, and not sure if those who have one want me to link them.

Fall Out Boy

Love this song....

DANCE DANCE DANCE

Amazing!

As if I haven't cried enough lately. Minding my own business I come across this story about a kid who is autistic, Jason and cried like a big freakin baby. Ironic it comes at the end of my own special needs childs basketball season. Where he struggled to even know what the heck was going on. To think someday after some extensive training from professionals who know what the heck they are doing, that could be him. Or not, but it'll be something else as spectacular I assure you.

Old Times...

Ahhh yes old times.
Perry: It's so great remembering the old times isn't it mommy, like when I learned how to use scissors. I live to cut things out.
Mommy: Ahhh yes, don't we all. Who the hell invented scissors anyways remind me to smack them!

You people think I'm kidding. The kid draws everything......EVERYTHING.....and then has to cut it out. So if he draws everything, and every waking moment of his life, and then cuts them out, imagine the enormous amount of cut up paper that I am unable to keep up with on my living room floor. It's quite overwhelming really, since apparently I am the only one who lives here and can instruct the child to pick the shit up, or give up and pick it up myself. Does no one else see that paper on the floor??? So now his latest obsession is My gym Partners A Monkey, yeah they go to Charles Darwin Middle school, because a yellow sponge living in a pineapple under the sea wasn't cool enough. Now we have a kid who goes to a middle school full of animals and his gym partners a spider monkey. Did people ever have gym partners anyways? Ok so he's drawing these characters off Cartoonnetwork.com, and I say "please don't cut those out....please.....I'm begging. So he's able to hold off, for oh say 15 min. I turn my back for 5 min, and he's got the freakin papers...in his room with his scissors cutting away. Ahhhh.....but then he comes in and says "Mommy I got something to tell ya,.......now don't be mad......I had to cut out my pictures. But look I'm throwing away the scraps." So I'm putting him to bed, and he says, "ahhh come on mommy, show me a smile, you know I live to cut stuff out." I do not make this stuff up, it's my life! I will someday soon accumulate a pile of these lovely paper creations and take a picture for the world to see.

Cube Crying.....

I am consumed with the enormousness of the responsibility of doing the right thing for my kid basically. As well as wanting to do what God has planned for me. So I'm reading comments from people who are amazingly supportive of my honesty, and see me completely for who I am, can not tell you how much it means to me when you drop in your pearls of wisdom as comments. But when I read them at work.....well....it ain't pretty! Probably doesn't help that the song by Kate Miner (brilliant worship leader and singer) just came on the ipod, yeah it's called "Who will cry for Me?" Stacie's right when she says....and I wish I could've remember this last night for my Alpha peeps......if God was easy to figure out, I doubt he'd be a God we'd be willing to serve. I guess I know "Who will cry for me....." Thanks for "getting" me.

HOLD UP....

Forgot to give a big ol shout out to Stacie for hooking up my sweet blog. She's got mad graphics designing skills. And she cuss's from time to time....shhhh....don't tell her mom!

Afraid.

I've had a few big disappointments in my life recently. Things I thought were God moving me in the right direction. Granted looking back I do recall significant doubt occurring during the time of making the "right" decision. So therefor I feel a big gunshy if you will. During the events of the disappointments, I didn't give up I kept pressing on with hope, only to not get what I myself wanted and being slightly disappointed but in no way devastated. Bummed for a day or two, then moved on. But because of those disappointments I am afraid I'll be unable to have faith when I need to. Does this make any sense to anyone or am I talking out of my butt? Oh how I feel that way often. Everything in my being tells me to pursue this whole Springer thing, yet I'm afraid I won't have the gumption to push for it. Like because of disappointments I'll begin to doubt, and not push forward and that would be a disservice to my child. So I need to build myself up to be a freakin grown up and get shit done. End of story. If it doesn't work out it doesn't work out, I'll move on. But there's part of me that like "Ok God but now it's my kid you are messing with, and if this doesn't work out, I'll be more than disappointed." This could be the time I am devastated. Ok Ok Ok....wait a minute! God doesn't mess with you! Geez.....he nudges you to pursue things that are outside of you comfort zone to build character, even if he knows things won't go the way you want them to, he's building my character so that, when I do pursue the thing that will happen, I'll have built up the character to do so......HOLY CRAP....now that people was a cathartic moment. Or as Oprah says, and Ah-ha moment. Only a good Christian girl, like myself can use the word Shit and God in the same blog and get away with it. I challenge you to do the same. It'll feel good, and seriously God doesn't care. He's just happy you'll be talking about him. Now I wouldn't suggest dropping F-bombs.....but cuss at will.....it'll feel good.

Overwhelmed

I am completely overwhelmed by lifes responsibilities. Work, finances, child raising, husband raising, schedules, scheduling me time, church, leadership responsibilities, domestic responsibilities, extended family, friends.....it's never ending. Does anything ever just happen without the involvement of me in some way? No, highly unlikely. I will give my husband props for making an effort to be up and ready to go to church early yesterday. He was a tired and a complete ass most of the day, but he made it to church for the 10 o'clock service, and I believe he was actually touched by the first part of it, the rest of it he was fighting falling asleep. I would very much like things to just happen like him being up and ready to go to the 10 o'clock service, that was clearly and HG hook up (Holy Ghost or God hook up) why can't all things happen that way? Like my kid going to bed and staying in bed and just going to sleep without getting up and begging for a snack at 10 pm.....yeah it's too late. Why can't the bills just be paid, without me having to do it? Why can't the house just clean itself? Why can't all the big decisions in life just be easy to make without trying to make sure you are making the right decision? Why can't life just be normal? Sorry that post probably made no sense to anyone....except me who is clearly OVERFREAKINWHELMED!

GEEGAW!

Geegaw and the Wee Gnome
Originally uploaded by Yoda0419.

Ok so mom says I am ashamed of her usually and often a whole lot of other nonsense...the women suffers from low self esteem or something. She's quite lovely actually. Look here she is with the Wee Gnome at my Nephews birthday party. If you click on the picture you can see what else he's been up to. So mad props to Geegaw for going to the circus with Perry at the last minute so Ron and I could go to the Springer School Open House.

THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH

A little about the circus. Layni (my best friend) and I used to go to the circus before I had a kid every year. We'd always get the snowcone cups because they were always so cool. So I couldn't wait, to go and get my cup, cause really it's really the only reason to go right. Because really walking on the tight rope makes me a bit squeamish. The motorcycles in the giant steel cage is completely frightful. And after what happened to Roy...well the tigers are just unpredictable. And clowns, well after the movie IT, they are kind of creepy. Ecspecially the the Bello dude they got traveling with them now, he doesn't even look like your traditional clown, do clowns evolve??

So Geegaw and Perry went to the circus with some friends from cub scouts.

Ok so Ron and I headed over to Springers Open house. Gosh what a breath of fresh air. The school takes a total of 200-250 students a year. The class sizes are 12 students at the most. The teachers all have educational assistants, so theres 2 people for 12 kids.....WHAT? The teacher I spoke to said that more often than not she is working with kids one on one. She'll have a group of kids no more than 4 at the most. Can you imagine the concetrated educating that goes on with that small of a class? All of the children in this school have learning disabilities, so the kids are not looked upon from their peers like theres something wrong with them. It's more like "what kind of learning disability do you have, oh really well I have that too." I'm not saying the seclusion is the answer, but building ones self esteem, and being accepted by your peers is such a huge part of growing up. If you constantly looked upon as being "different", you begin to build a wall, it's hard to get over or through that wall. Perry already will say "well mommy I'm not really that smart." How can he feel that way already at age 8?? I haven't told him that, I've only told him how smart he is from the time he could understand what I was saying. So somehow the message of "you aren't smart is being communicated to him from somewhere, yeah see I don't like that! And if you have this kind of an oppurtunity early on, by the time you get to high school when the more difficult peer issues begin to happen he'll have all sorts of strategies and confidence theres no question he'll be able to handle it. I so want him to have this kind of oppurtunity. There are 2 big obsticles that would keep him from it. 1. MONEY, we don't have one of those trees in the back yard, right now they are doing possibly 50% financial aid, but that doesn't mean we'll get that much. 2. Location, it's about a 40 minute drive from our house. We've not explored the transportation options of which there could be many. These 2 external options makes my husband shut the whole thing down as even an option. He's so much a glass half empty kind of person and I am the complete opposite. I am a "wow this place is perfect for him who cares how much it costs or how we are going to get him there, lets just get him in." Not sure if that's good or bad. So heres the thing I've not yet given where he is now even the oppurtunity to come through on educating him, it just seems like such a burden that I have to fight and work for every step of the way. I am not confident that him being educated properly and well where he is now is just going to happen without a constant fight. Not to mention what happens to him when he's not being protected by a teacher or friend when no one's looking. How is he being treated? Why can't I just be by his side where ever he goes or standing off watching so nobody picks on him? All kids should have a mini mommy who shrinks down like Mike TV in the original Willy Wonka, and you could just slide mini mommy in your pocket or backpack, and when punk kids pick on you you can snap your fingers, and she becomes life size, and puts the punk kids in their place, or give them an annoying lecture on how to treat kids who might be a little bit unique. Oh and when we were taking a tour (some of the mom's who read my blog will love this) all the kids have lockers, even the primary age kids, and many of the lockers were decorated with their name and stuff, well one of the lockers had a bumper sticker on it that was retro looking and it said Autism Awareness....how cool. You wouldn't see that in your average public school. Ok so big decisions to make, and we have an IEP meeting on the 16th. So be praying oh faithful prayer warriors.

ADD book

cover
Originally uploaded by Yoda0419.

Heres a book I created to document our journey with ADD. It was great therapy. I did it because Stacie told me to initially. But once I really got into it, after alll the evaluations were over, it was so so so very helpful. If you click on the picture it'll take you to the rest of the book.

It's been a Month.

Can you believe it? A month since my idea to be a trader. I am leaning on returning to blogger. I might be able to fancy things up a bit to make me happy. With the help of Stacie, we'll make things prettier. Lots to talk about but for now just wanted to give folks a heads up that I'll be back to blogger tonight. And typepad is getting shut down this evening. In the mean time heres a picutre to hold you over....that's my man and my niece. Both are pretty darn cute. Lots to update you on, stay tuned.

Trader...?

Ok I'm going to give typepad a try. Go check it out. I don't think I'm going to like it as well as blogger. If I can figure out how to customize my banner here at blogger I'm gonna stick around so far theres not a lot I can do that I couldn't do here, it's just a little more user friendly over there. So we'll see. Check it out.

Back in Business

So when I was beside myself with fear this morning that my ipod having days were numbered, my co-worker Angie felt my pain. She too is a member of the ipod obsession club. Probably because she works in the same place and hears the same people talk all day long, you have to have a way to tune folks out. Well she was frightened for me, and my ipod. So when I called Apple and they told me the news I was rather excited and joyful at my good fortune. That within 24 hours my ipod would be either new or back in working order. So I told her that "who ever that guy is, I could just kiss him I'm so dang happy." Obviously I spoke out of excitment, cause I won't hug folks much less go around kissing strangers. So I added...."well I mean, if he's cute." Ha.....well.....unfortunately for the ipod "genius" (it's what they are called), I'd rather call him a geek, but they like to refer to them as genius's.....yeah goodlooking he was not. Saved my life yes he did, but a kiss he was not getting from me. Dude could barely speak, he looked like a white version of Urkel, except he dressed cooler. But he messed with my dead ipod for less than a minute and said I'll be back with your new one....I'm sorry do what? And he brought me a brand new 6GB pink mini......YIPPPEEE.....no the size of a dang credit card nano, or a too much technology video, good old fashioned mini. Thanks Apple, Ipod Genius......Mr. Steve Urkel.

Truely a Sickness!

People who are close to me know that my ipod is a necessity. My job however mentally stimulating can be boring, and I am a cube dweller so therefor I am surrounded by talkers, who sometimes I just don't wanna hear what they have to say. So my work productivity is better off if I have an ipod. My company should provide it honestly. And now that I am a lover of podcasts well I have to keep up with Sean Hannity, Mommycast, Erwin McMannus, The Crappy Christian (not reccommended for everyone), The Bored Again Christian (highly reccommended), among other nonsense I love to listen to. Well my pretty pink ipod took a spill last night. From the desk to the hardwood floor, face down............UGH..........I quickly snatch it up in hopes that it had not been injured. There was a pulse (sound), it could see me, but I could not see it. Meaning, no words on the screen. I did all the things reccomended on the apple site, reset, restore, NOTHING......thank God theres still sound. So it could still be listened to, I just didn't know what I was listening to. And no shuffle so everythings playing in alphabetical order, I'm in the B's so I am catching up with Bored again Christian, thank God that means at least I have some talk and variety.

As soon as I got to work I contacted the fine people at Apple. My pretty pink ipod has an appointment this evening. If she can't be fixed they will replace it.....ahhhhh....how cool is that. Except I hope she doesn't have to be replaced, and if she does I hope they have back up pink mini's because I wouldn't be satisfied with anything else.....now if they were to give me a 30 GB with video to replace my 6 GB no video, well that wouldn't be so bad, but I'd imagine they'd try to replace it with a nano.........nice..........color.........to dang small. So those of you who understand my obsession, and feel it worthy send up some words, God is not above a little ipod love besides, I'm being theologically educated by the Crappy Christian. (yeah see that is a big joke, if you ever listen to them.....and you know me, you'd know that's a joke.) More like I am being educated by Erwin, not to mention spiritually moved and inspired.

POOP!

It's been quite a while since we've discussed poop, on the blog. Actually has poop ever been discussed here? If not geez, what have I been waiting for. I am not too proud to discuss poop. That's right I've gone directly there. It's DTMT, and today I reached an all time high of way too much stuff. Seems I am always wanting to top the tuesday before, I'm not so sure I'd like to top today.....I am done finished so over DTMT, (until next Tuesday, than it's game on!) So I have enjoyed my time spent with the lovely folks at Childrens hospital, however 3 doctors visits in 2 weeks, plus one more today, for a total of 4 IS TOO DAMN MUCH INFORMATION. I do have my limits. Today's visit was one of those follow up visits with his regular doctor, you know the ones where they say, I'd like to see you back in a month, this particular visit I had hoped we'd already have our results from our evaluations, so it'd be a good time to see him, but we didn't so I tried to reschedule, and he made me keep the appointment. So I went from meeting with the folks at Childrens who block off 4 hours for one visit, and treat you like you are the only patient on the planet they have to deal with, to our family physician who's got 10 min for you to download all the info you've aquired in the past month to him so he can come to some sort of conclusion on how to treat your child. Riiiiiiiight......not going to happen. He up'd his dose of medication in hopes that we can increase his 5 SECOND attention span to maybe 10.....brilliant, I have no doubt that is going to be effective. I swear if he's zoned from this increase, I'm giving up on meds all together. Ok so back to poop.....so my kid apparently has this condition Dr. Green refers to as D3, theres a rather lengthy really hard medical term for it, but nobody wants to know that, besides I can't remember it, and it's hard to say. So he's had issues for, well forever with pooping. I've almost gotten it down to a science as to when it's going to happen. My success rate has been better than previous years. But I'm not always successful, and once you read about this condition, he doesn't know it's happening basically. Trying to get a child with ADHD to sit on the toilet for a long period of time is like Steve Erwin trying to take down a giant croc. So that's where the gameboy comes into play....thank God and it usually does the trick. So anyways today was DTMT, with the added bonus of an unnessesary doctors visit. So he got off the bus, and we ran directly to the doctor, he had time to pee, and that was it. So we get in the room at the doctors office, and I was like gross, there must have been a baby in here with a poopy diaper. Nothing registered at that moment. So the doctor comes in we discuss medicine, evaluations, ect.....and he has Perry jump up on the table. A unnecessary doctors visit becomes suddenly no longer a waste of time with they listen to the kids lungs. And he says "the D3 (he used the large unpronouncable word) seems to be out of control huh?" I'm like not really, we seem to be ok. He says, "kids with this condition will often have an odor." I'm all like defensive and say I think it's that garbage. LOL......he's like "check his pants when you get home." (and then smirks at me...gasp) Suddenly I am flooded with memories of my brother and I as children always taking a bath before going to the doctor so that we were the cleanest we can possibly be, or brushing and flossing before going to the dentist. And here I am taking my kid to the doctor probably bacteria infested and here now he's pooped his pants. Yes that's right he had, and it wasn't pretty. Big kid poop ain't the same as baby poop. And it sure don't smell the same either. I have dealt with poop far longer than most mothers, and it ain't fair, nuff said. We hope to treat this condition properly this summer when we can sufficently clean him out in the privacy of his own home. For now I just need to be more on top of things even on DTMT. Now I've completely aired all, I've reached an all time low with my ravings.....but seriously did you come here on DTMT for some sort of theological lesson? If so, sorry to say you've come to the wrong blog. That only happens on Thursdays, so come back then for something less gross.

*If one of my super cool creative computer savy friends (Stacie) could create some sort of DTMT icon to replace my self portrait tuesday sign, that would be way cool.

I still Got It!

Apparently no one else does. I could be....... HERE......but Ashton (friends 12 year old) is on lockdown (grounded) for bad grades. DAG! And all, I mean ALL my friends are old beyond their years. Except Stacie, problem is she lives in Maryland, hello......kind of far, besides it's Pinewood Derby weekend for the whole US apparently. They're going to be in Columbus next weekend, wonder if I can get a posse together, or spring Ashton from incarceration and go get my party on? Uhhhh....did I mention the Sphere of Fear? Yeah that's right we are missing the Sphere of Fear! Dang it sucks being a grown up!

Unforgiveness......

I urge you to go see the video they show'd at church last weekend. I really felt it soften my heart, quite a bit. Go to VCC Productions, click on last weeks message then you can fastforward it to 52.48, and then just watch and feel.....amazing stuff! I can't imagine having that kind of ability to forgive in that way.

Meds are Good!

So it's kind of blurring, it was with my camera phone. This is Perry in the soundproof room at childrens. Which I could have got him with the wire earplugs that tested his hearing. So flippin cool. The soundproof room with the window was way cool too. Why do I not bring my camera for these occasions? I do have it to document though. Good news theres no problems with his hearing. He doesn't have bionic ears either. The fear of loud noises is probably some sensory issues that OT will take care of. We've been at childrens the past 2 days. The developemental disabilities area is just a fun place to be. As is the main lobby. Just folks milling around. Tons of fun colorful murals that just make you happy. Everyone so dang nice and friendly. They always gotta be happy so they can keep the kids happy. Love that! This was our last test so now we wait for the psychiatrist to compile all the data, and then we go from there. It's actually been a fun informative process. Wouldn't trade it for the world. Funny.....forgot to give Perry his meds this morning. Thought he'd be fine, since during the testing he was totally focused and did well, but as soon as we left Audiology....well it was apparent something was missing, such as CONCERTA. The humming doesn't stop, and he feels the need to run pretty much everywhere, and he doesn't walk in a straight line he zig zags, and apparently is unable to be aware of other people space. Yes it's exhausting, ADD medication is a very good invention and I LOVE IT! Here is mister super hyper by one of the cool murals, this ones in t he main lobby, it's of the world, and it has movable parts, and a ginormous sun that spins. Thought Perry looked like he was modeling the giraffe here. Ha! Love him so much even when he's outrageously hyper.

The Truth Matters.......

Dang it I was home today and I missed it. I didn't know. Go Oprah, she outed a liar. Although that doesn't mean it's not a good book cause it still well written. (I haven't read it yet, I own it as I do many books I haven't read, but my mom read it and assures me it's a great book, I will put it at the top of my pile of books that I am one day going to read on a deserted island.) Why not just write it as fiction and use some of your life as inspiration. Can't you just say that at the beginning. "I used my life for this book and embellished it quite a bit." Reminds me of an episode of Gidget where she writes in her diary about this dreamy kiss with this hot surfer dude, that just didn't happen, but her dad read her diary and thought it did. Fact is the truth matters, and Oprah was keeping it real. I think I'll stay up and watch her at 1:30 am.

Ok if anyone cares, I'd like these shoes. I know they are ugly, but I bet they are comfy. Like in a birkenstock kind of way. I think I'd like the butter yellow, and in a size small, and my birthday is March 18th, so if anyone would like to hook that up straight away that'd be sweet. You'll need to sneak them into the house without Ron noticing since I think he might leave me if I bring another pair of shoes that aren't for him into this house. A GIRLS GOT TO HAVE OPTIONS. Besides when I'm down shoe therapy always brings me up. I'm not down, I'm just saying. One of the best things about discovering podcasts is rediscovering Sean Hannity, a fine american indeed. Just yesterday I was listening to him and he was doing man on the street where they ask regular folks on the streets of New York questions about polatics, admittedly I didn't know some of the questions myself, like that dude who's being elected to the supreme court that's got the democrats flipping out. I know now, except his name escapes me, and I couldn't remember who Bush ran against, in a pinch, John Kerry, I know now, and I thought Condi Rice was Secretary of Defense, but she's Secretary of State.....I know these things now, thanks Sean, but that's not my point. The point is, there was a homeless women they ran into, in her 20's and they put her on the air. Sean show'd such compassion for her, it made me want to go reach out to some folks right then and there (but I couldn't cause I was at work). He asked the women why she was homeless, and she said she lost her job at the smoothy stand. He asked if she had family that could help her, and she said they had their own problems and lived in another state. He first offered her $10 to get on the air. Then he put a shout out to his listener to call in if they could hook her up with a job. The phone lines went nuts. He got a contact number for her, and told the intern to come to the station he was going to give her $100. Then his he told the guy on the air with him he could pitch in $100 too, and he said I'll give her $500, so Sean said I'll give her $500 too. So it went from $10, to $1000 in a matter of minutes. A fine, american indeed.

SMITTY!
Almost forgot to mention about Tuesday, definately a DTMT (do too much Tuesday), Perry had his derby practice (Ron went to that), then I had Alpha, but that wasn't all that was going on at VCC, come to find out on Friday and then again on Sunday, Michael W. Smith, or "Smitty", if you are a HUGE fan like myself, was going to be at the Vineyard on THE TUESDAY, to promote his new movie Second Chance. But I had Alpha, and hello I'm a table leader, and it's only the second night, so it's not like I can say hey you know I can't make it cause I wanna go see Michael. Yeah that's right such a huge fan I have a scrapbook page about him! So, as a grown up I did not dismiss my responsibilities, I led my table and so glad I did. I did try and catch a glimps of Smitty inbetween our talk and discussion time, caught the back of his head and that was it, it's all good. You'd think those folks at VCC would have been more sensitive to a groupies needs and had him come in the gym and at least say hi!

MIA

Well I'm not really, just busy busy busy, and internets down at home. Over the past few days I've had a ton to blog about, but I've forgotten what all that was. I do remember I wanted to plug Sundays message, the whole thing was good, but if you don't have time fast forward towards the end and the video, was particularly life changing and amazingly thought provoking, she said all the things we as christians think often but aren't able to articulate so eloquently. Amazing.

Unstoppable Force........

That's right bout to get all crazy spiritual on you right about now. With the discovery of podcasts, I now have the priviledge to listen to Erwin McManus over and over again. Dude is OFF THE HOOK. Listened to the one on prayer today at work, he's just so dang brilliant. His preaching style is that of a baptist minister, he's somewhat of a yeller, but once you get past that and absorb all that he has for you WOW........so motivating and heart stirring. Makes you feel like God is really speaking to you. Interesting thing he pointed out which I've actually thought of before. You often see statistics that say 80% (that's a guess but it's something like that) of average folks pray. To God I would assume. He's saying what sets Christians appart from everyone else is, when we pray we hear from God and obey. When God speaks, it's not a subtle request it's a command, and it's up to us whether we act upon it. So I'm asking you, my faithful blog reader.......DO YOU HEAR FROM GOD? I encourage you to hear from Erwin.....you won't be sorry!

WOMEN WANTED

Cyndi might just kill me for this but here goes. So in my lame attempt to start yet another small group, I've frighten folks off I guess. Initially I had 3 people interested, then lost one, then I had 2. Both of which were really excited about the idea. Then I lost another, not sure why, or where she went, I called....what else can I do....so it's just me and Cyndi now. As lovely as we both are, it'd be fun to have some more input from other lovely women as well. We got to choose the book cause hey you weren't here. and we chose Brennan Manning's The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus Trust me I combed through countless womens books and was drawn more toward his books and Donald Millers books. I think it's going to be really good. The next time we meet will be the Thursday after next, so if you know me and wanna come call me. I don't wanna advertise really at church (is that wrong?) It's a huge place (as if cyberspace isn't bigger) and you get all kinds of folks calling you, I kind of want to be able to pick folks sort of I'm sure you know what I mean. If you don't well you can go on and be a hater, it's my blog, and my small group and I can do whatever I want.....ha......man that felt good. Can you remember when you were kid thinking that, "I can't wait till I grow up and then I can do whatever I want!"? I'm a grown up!

Mr. Pibb+Redvines=Crazy Delicious!

Lazy writer....

Ok so is it wrong that I am too lazy to journal and I blog instead. Problem is if I wanna talk about folks who actually read my blog, well then I just have to write. Had our special ed appointment at childrens today. Nothing more satisfying than someone who gets your kid. Who upon meeting your child for the first time instantly connects and loves him. I was completely comfortable with Dr. Carroll as soon as I met her, she was so genuine. Before spending time with Perry she asked me a few things about school, and if I was happy with his IEP (individual Education Plan). I informed her that I was happy that this year was less stressful for me, but I didn't think he was being pushed towards his potential. Seems that he is learning less, and the expectations are lower since he is in special ed a little more than half the day. She spent about an hour and a half with him doing some testing of his abilities to see if he is working up to his age. And afterwards she said he did wonderfully and that he is very bright. And one of the first things she said to me was he just needs an aid. Ding ding....that's the first thing Mrs. Emenaker (1st grade teacher) said in our very first intervention meeting. Probably the most expensive intervention method, but if it's what he needs why can't we have that? The assistant principle when this was first suggested in that meeting was like that can't happen. Apparently a kid has to be severely handicap to get an aid, I guess. Perry's attention span is 5 seconds.....5 SECONDS, he will write word and then watch a bird fly outside, get redirected write two words.....and think about whatever scene from a movie is going on inside his head. At this rate his first novel will be done when he's 80. Dr. Carrol is going to suggest an aid in her report, once all these evaluations are done there will be one big report, and we'll develope a plan of action to take on the school. He's going to be an artist someday and in order for him to be a brilliant artist who makes a good living, the schools going to have to step it up a bit and teach him in a way he's able to learn. That's not to say they aren't doing their job now, heck I don't know because they don't communicate with me dang it. That's another thing I need to work on again. Dr. Carrol gave me some good suggestion on how to get them to communicate. So I'll give them a try. Keep the prayers going, they are working, I'll make sure the famous Artist Perry does some artwork for your walls! Been absorbing the scrapcasts, it's a really good podcast, with some great suggestions. Lynette knows her stuff. Check it out Scrapcast.

DTMT

That's right it's suppose to be self portrait tuesday, but I'm not a fan of my hairdo so no self portraits. Instead it's do too much tuesday. Or over extend yourself. But honestly I do one thing, I just have to schedule others to do the other things I would be doing if I was not doing my one thing. The scheduling others is the hard part. But everyone fell into place, and we skipped homework, we'll attempt to throw that in in the AM, we'll see what happens.

New session of Alpha, here we go. Always a fun ride, just the first night you are always skeptical, and excited, and uncomfortable, but I am hopeful that God will use me in some way, he always does. Good stuff. Love it!

Oh since no suggestions were made, I found this lovely little video. I've never watched the family guy but this is dang funny. Puke is funny when it ain't you, your kid, your spouse or the person who gets to clean it up.

I suck!

No matter how hard I try I can not get to bed before 1 am. No matter what I do. Tomorrow is DTMT (do too much tuesday) and I have nothing prepared. I did well by calling my new Alpha people, but after that the motivation to be organized fizzled. So I sat and ate dorito's and orea's....and I had McDonalds for dinner. Brilliant....I feel like a ginormous fat cow at this point. I've seen a tiny bit of interest in the magazines. Once I distribute some to the locals that expressed interest, Heather I will attempted to motivate myself to fill one of those one price boxes and send them off to Oklahoma....at least I think that's where you are, only if you promise if you are ever in Cincy you'll come scrap with us, You'd have to spend the night cause Oklahoma is kind of far from cincy, so you can totally crash on my couch.

Ok something has needed to be addressed for a long time. I am lucky enough to work for a company that provides lots of perks for their employees. I nice cafeteria, gym, and the beloved C-store. I stop in the C-store every morning to pick up free hot water to make my chai with. Occasionally I might purchase a muffin, but for the most part just free water. But the once a week I do purchase a muffin or something, the women who works in the C-store doesn't hardly even look at me. I'll look at her all smiling like "hello I'm nice." or I'll even say good morning and I swear the women grunts at me. So, I was in there buying a muffin with a friend, and someone else comes in and purchases something and she's all nice, and even says something to the girl like you always have such a nice smile for me......and the grumpy women is all smiling and tells her to have a nice day. I go pay for my muffin or whatever, and she doesn't even speak to me.....what? Granted I often will pay for my small purchase with a 20 but that's no reason to hate a girl. I am convince she just don't like me. So it's my goal to just be abnormally really really nice. Maybe I'll make her some chai!

I am sure you all are tired of being switchfooted. Honestly I've been looking and I can't find anything good enough to replace it. Just hit stop as it starts. Feel free to make suggestions.

Love this photo of Perry at practice with his coach. Learning the defense slide. Is it crazy that I get all misty as I watch the boys catch on to things? I am so touched that Perry is completely clueless in regards to the actual game of basketball, he has no idea what offense and defense, doesn't even know what the heck he's suppose to be doing. Yet the coach just rolls with it and doesn't get frustrated at all. And Perry totally loves it. There will be much rejoicing the day he actually gets the ball in the basket.

Forgot to mention I am totally into Podcasts as of a few days ago. I have been listening to scrapcast, and it's actually halfway decent. Theres Podcasts for everything. The Naked Scientist is also a favorite, some of that one you have to weed through quite a bit of boring science stuff, but it can be quite amusing. It's from the BBC so their accents are too dang funny. Just go to itunes hit podcasts and explore.

Game #2

Well I know my blog fans are wondering about Perry 2nd basketball game. I am sad to say I missed it because of Alpha leadership training, however I was receiving text messages during the game as Christa was talking about leader roles (sorry Christa). I was so happy to find out the little man was on the court, and it appeared he was part of a game. Although he wasn't trying to get the ball or even paying attention to the ball, although he was guarding his man.....errrr.....following him around and talking to him. Apparently the man he was guarding was as clueless about the game as Perry was, excellant! I was super excited that he was even on the court. We got him some ear plugs, the super sticky kind you use for swimming. Those seemed to do the trick for 2 quarters. Then the buzzer got to be too much and he couldn't take it and he sat out. Babysteps. He got a star for most improved, how cool is that. Gotta love Upwards.

Ok I got a little motivated this afternoon, and purged a ginormous pile of magazines. We're talking a ton. Mostly scrappin mags, but theres a few idea books, and some Home Companions. If you are a blog reader and want these you can have them, as many as you like. They are mostly 2004, some 03, and 02 also, all varieties. You gotta be local cause I ain't mailing them, being realistic, I have little time to go to the post office, much less pack up stuff to send somewhere. So if you aren't local and you want them real bad you'll need to come and get them! Seriously it's a lot, I am thinking like 40-50....it could sustain you and your creative scrappin juices for a very long time. Now the true test is if anyone responds. Those celebrity scrappers out there post something like this and it's insanity, folks are all over it....I'll get nothing...bet!

The message at church was real good this week. It was on Anger.....no question I am a stuffer, and it's pretty much not healthy! I'll work on that. I'd encourage everyone to check it out Andy did a great job. The new worship leader is great, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I miss Robbie.

Why?

So we are broke! Stupid 2 car payments! It was his idea not mine, and now we are dang poor. So I had to go to GREAT CLIPS......UGH.....to get my wig busted. No pampering and hair love there. They try for the price, but it's just not the same as a nice slick salon do! So I took a picture of Donna Downey, I know, I know, I'm like some sort of scrapbooking celebrity groupie or something, but ha as if she'd ever read my blog and even know. But my hair has grown out quite a bit since it's been since August since I've gotten it cut, and I'm growing out my bangs....(why do we do these things?) So I figured this hair do was doable, and it's what I had pictured in my head. Plus she has the same glass's as me, so she has to be cool. (I so did not copy the glass's....I swear!) Hopefully I can work it in the morning myself cause right now it looks like they put a box on my head and cut around it, my head looks very square. Hopefully if she ever does read my blog she'll be flattered and not think I'm a dork. And no there will be no pictures, if I could wear a hat to work I would. Just look at the picture of Donna and pretend it's me.....

Heart Smart

You know you need to go to the grocery when you have an egg and cheese sandwich with a bowl of oatmeal for dinner. Can a person have too much fiber? I had a Kashi granola bar for breakfast, and then a huge bowl of oatmeal for dinner. I mean the Kashi only has 4 grams of fiber, but you can taste that it's fiber infused. Then well oatmeal, is all fiber....and YUMMY...not that instant crap, the real deal. With slivers of apple, cinamon and brown sugar. Ok so I don't feel over fibered, at least not yet, probably won't hit me till morning, I'll let you know if I blow out my colon or something.

So we are thinking ear plugs might do the trick for the basketball game this weekend. My only fear is that they'll fall out or he'll pull them out and play with them, or he just won't be able to hear anything. My hope is that they will buffer the noise enough that he'll relax, and at least pretend to be playing a basketball game. At least run around the court while someone guards him. I try to inforce no TV until homeworks done on a daily basis. Problem is my husband FORGETS on a daily basis. Hard to inforce some sort of structure when you are the only parent parenting.


This particular bag did not come with a warning to keep out of reach of children. Sometimes if theres a particular tuber or zot you need you should just put your whole head into the bad and you will have better success in finding what you need.

Why me?

Ok feeling rather pathetic and not so lucky right about now. I should feel lucky to have kid like Perry right? I mean he's not your average kid, he's funny, cute, charming witty, loving, and creative. But, to me on many day's he's EXHAUSTING. My friends who know me well will tell you I am the most patient person they know. I once waited patiently for 45 minutes for chicken wings at BW-3's only to find out they lost my order when I finally went and asked about it. And even then I didn't flip out I just waited another 20 minutes for my order. Very patient. Having a kid who never responds to you when you speak to him, I mean never, can be amazingly exhausting. Having a kid who is 8 and you can't just say go take a shower and he does.....wow....exhausting. Having a child you have to remind to take a bite of his food every 5 minutes, until you just give up and feed him so he can just go do whatever is more important than eating, unless he's eating a pop-tart......can make a girl a bit nutty. I am hoping in the long run that him participating in a team sport pays off in some way because right now it is hard to watch him practice. He has no idea what's going on. He doesn't look lost he falls into line when the coach tells him where he needs to be, however he hasn't any idea what he's doing. The first half of practice he was actually dribbling the ball and not slapping it, he was actually making a effort to shoot properly. The dribbling was huge, since I thought he'd never get it. But then something snapped halfway through practice. And he decided he needed to be clueless, they decided to play 4 on 4 at the end of practice and literally the kids were playing around him. The poor kid who had to guard him just guarded him where ever he was, which was not even in the game, he wasn't even looking at the ball. He was in some crazy cartoon Perryland.....which is where he is often. DRIVES ME INSANE. Ok this is my bad parent post of the month. I'm just keeping it real folks, it's hard being Perry's mom. Now onto something cute. Kids know him everywhere we go. In the neighborhood, he's quite the man on campus apparently, could be he's the only Perry in his whole school, and because of his attention issues, they probably hear his name a lot. But it's so cute to be at walgreens or Kroger and some kid with their mom will go "hey that's Perry...and they'll go hey Perry...and wave."

Guilty pleasure: The new Bachelor is hot....why do I watch this trash? I love watching desperate women fight over a hot doctor.

Highly Anticipated First Basketball Game.....

It's going to be a looooong season. 6 more games to go. It could take quite a few to build up his confidence level. It's the over sensitivity to loud scary noises. It's the fire drill at school, and now it's the dreaded BUZZER. It's not even the noise of people being loud in the gym, it's just the anticipation of the buzzer that lasts about 2 seconds. He heard it before the game. And instantly he was concerned. Before the buzzer anxiety he was anxious to get out there and play. Once he was aware there was a buzzer, it was over, participation wasn't going to happen. The coaches were amazing. They didn't give up. Each quarter they'd try to play him, and he'd be on the court for about 5 seconds and it was obvious the hands weren't going to come off the ears, and he'd sit back down. The cool thing was, when this sort of thing happens and you feel like you are the only parent in the world who has a kid with wierd issues, God plants someone to help you not feel so alone. The women in front of me asked if Perry was my son who was afraid of the buzzer, and I said yes. She said her son was the same way for a long time and she couldn't get him to participate because he was afraid of the buzzer. Even when he came in today, he heard the buzzer and looked at her with fear. But then I watched him, he played and played well, with his eye on the clock. After a year of basketball, he figured out at what point the buzzer would go off, and it wasn't until it got about 10 seconds away the anxiety would hit, and he'd look a bit scared with his hands close to his ears, and then it would go off, and even then he wouldn't put his hands over his ears. It was just the anticipation of the buzzer, kind of like a balloon being popped. Perry's hands were planted over his ears tightly, the whole game. So hopefully Perry can figure out the timing of the buzzer and get out there and play. If anyone has any advice how to take good pictures in a gym, like what setting do I put my camera on, I'd really like some help. Anytime I take pictures in a gym, they are always crap.

Just one of those Days!

Where you don't wanna get up. That was me today. Felt like bleh, so put Perry on the bus, called in and went back to bed. Call it a listen to your body day. I slept in, can't say it felt good, seems I felt worse and more depressed cause I stayed in bed all morning. Went to lunch with my husband, and still felt just bleh, not all that barfy sick, just depressed I guess, maybe the "mean reds". Could be after the holidays blues, or lack of a spiritual connection. It seems to get like that when there's an Alpha break, or I don't connect with my church peeps. Trying to pull together a womens small group so maybe if I pull this one off I'll have more of a constant spiritual accountability built in. Seems like a simple enough concept. Hopefully I can make it happen.
Mr. Foreman has good teeth, and good hair. How fun would it be to throw some newspaper on the floor and rock out? Whose with me?

Hard to choose!

Man having a kid involved in 2 things creates some kind of crazy business. Not to mention Alpha starts in a few weeks, which adds even more to the craziness. I refuse to give up what I like to do , I need balance. Gotta have some me time. Tree needs to come down very soon, I can't stand looking at it another second, but I can't stand taking it down either. Geez I need a life assistant. Something funny....U2 OMG...too funny....and even funnier....Green Day!

Adventures of the Wee Gnome

Biggs
Originally uploaded by Yoda0419.

That's right he's been grocery shopping. I went to Biggs after scrappin at Archivers with my peeps to get food for New Years Eve festivities, and ended up doing full blown grocery shopping at Biggs at like 12:30 am.....good times. Nobody was there had the whole place to myself, excellant.

Do you know people who just say ridiculous things to you not even knowing how idiotic they sound? Not just once or twice but almost everytime you speak to them? And no matter how you present it to them that they sound ridicuolous, they just don't get it? Am I just over sensitive? Do I just pick apart what people are saying to me and over process it to be just plain ignorant, and insensitive? Or do other people have people in their lives that do this to them? Most recently I've avoided interaction with these people. Is this the right thing to do? Ahhh who knows, I just know dealing with this crap is more trouble than it's worth. Or I could just be rambling because it's after midnight and I should be going to bed. Click on the Wee Gnome to see where else he's been.

Oh and say hello to Mr. John Foreman....it's been a while.....consider yourself SWITCHFOOTED!

What about me?

So I was reading Heathers blog, as I do daily cause she is dang funny and inspirational to me and life in general. And there she is in Glamour magazine. How cool is that, for blogging no doubt, and she's got the article lead photo, so cool. So then all the sudden I am purchasing Glamour magazine, while picking up Perry's concerta, which went up $5, yowza. What once was costing $9, is now $35.....ahhhh....worth ever penny in my opinion to not have a child climbing the walls and able to maintain a decent level of noise while medicated. But good lord that's pricey.
It was baptism weekend, oops, Ron doesn't go to church on baptism weekend. Apparently being previously catholic (is that what you call it? since he no longer attends mass, but hasn't said "I'm not catholic.) the whole thing with the people being dunked freaks him out, makes him uncomfortable, whatever, I guess he invisions some overly happy vineyard Christian, Jesus freak person grabbing him and submerging him in the water proclaiming that he is now clean. Ha wish it happened that way cause that would be highly entertaining. I look forward to the day he understands what exactly is going on and would even welcome the possibility to show an outward sign that he has chosen to live a life for God. Not saying that he hasn't, but that's what baptism is, merely a symbol saying I've chosen to walk with Jesus and wish to be cleansed, so you go into the water a sinner, and come up out of the water, forgiven and cleansed. Cool....I've been sprinkled as a baby, but would consider being dunked someday. Not saying the first baptism didn't "work", but saying I'd like to make the decsion for myself to me symbolic, and embrace the life I've chosen to live.
Funny, Discoveryland (sunday school) teachers take the kids into "big church" when the baptisms are happening, and Perry mentioned that they had watched. I questioned him to see what he thought. I said what were the getting baptized for? He said " I think it's cause they were dirty, and they needed to take a bath, they should have a shower too, it'd be easier, then they could call it Showerized. They need a shower in that big bathtube." Ha, funny I'll make that suggestion to the VCC staff. As he was getting into the car, I told him the actual reason and said they were being baptized to wash away their sins, and he said "or to wash away their smelly's." Ha!

Good-Bye 2005

Truth is I miss this Michael Jackson, just keepin it real!

Ok I've decided to end 2005, by not getting out of my jammies. Is that wrong? Ron's in the storage room going through boxes that have been untouched since we moved here in 2003. So I think I will venture into my scrappin/laundry room and ORGANIZE. You heard me right maybe if I find my table I'll do one more page for 2005. Happy New Year everyone, the only resolution or intention (sounds more doable) I have for the coming year is to continue to eat healthy, I lost 20 lbs last year, gained 10 back, so I am still 10 lbs lighter than last year so I seem to be going in the right direction. Yipeee......

I love Technology......

Not as much as you, you see, always and forever! Good heavens long time no blog. I was checking Stacie's blog and was like dude blog already! Um duh....I haven't blogged either. I feel like I've been a veg since Christmas was over. Not really wanting to do much of anything but mess with my ipod, take photo's of my gnome and watch TV. But alas, I met my peeps tonight at Archivers, and we got our scrap on. I may have only done 2 pages and did a tiny bit of gossiping, but it felt good. The page creating did anyways. I think we frighten newer scrappers. After all according to some we invented scrapbooking (little inside jokey). We had a stranger sitting with us this evening. From what I've seen and know, it seems your average scrapper does not use staples or sandpaper. Heck they may not even own an inkpad. We scare them with all of our equiptment. But a page creation just doesn't feel right without using something rather unconventional. I picked up Big Picture Scrapbooking and I have to tell ya it could be one of those idea books that changes my way of scrappin forever, just like Becky and Rebecca did, not to mention Heidi Swapp. Such simple and doable ideas on how to organize crap, and taking the stress and tension out of scrapping photo. Wow who knew? We all did it's just nice for someone to say it outloud. So I submitted this layout but so what I will also blog it because it probably won't get picked up, nothing ever does and I am completely fine with that. It was one I had sketched out when I was considering doing HOF this year, it's done but not for HOF.....too dang stressful. I don't care how amazing this layout may be to anyone, NO I am not entering HOF so don't even start people. This is the first I've scrapped since November I believe. Felt good, real good....can I do it again soon?

The Wee Gnome has been on the move. This is from this evenings antics. Went to Biggs after scrappin, so it was around midnightish, did my grocery shopping, great time for that basically had the place to myself, just me and the Gnome. So much fun, I'd venture to say one of my favorite gifts ever. Oh and yes I am aware it's nearly 4 am.....good Lord, I should go to bed now.

It's really over!

Christmas that is. Now the after Christmas sales. Favorite gift given to me? Oprah in a box. Very thoughtful of my husband to give me that. I stayed up till 2:30 am watching the first disc, cried and cried. Didn't sob till I came to the story about Mattie! Oh if we could all be as inspiring as this little boy and view life through his eyes, what a better place this world would be. Photo's of the festivities.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Something very sick and twisted about Mr. Hanky the Christmas Poo. But it's dang funny!
Those of you who can't really stomach dancing poo with a Santa hat, check out this rap about The Chronic-les of Narnia.

Have a blessed Holiday!

Meet The Wee Gnome.

First Adventure out
Originally uploaded by Yoda0419.

My friend at work Marianne gave me this Wee Gnome, because she knew I'd have fun with him. Guess the legend began in england. Respectable folks would steal other peoples garden gnome, take it on a trip, take photo's while gone and send to the owners. This is a small Gnome, perfect to go anywhere, and fun I shall have indeed.

Jesus is the Reason for Life....

So little to blog about so much time, strike that reverse it. Still running this marathon called the Christmas season. I remain behind this year. All I know is that my non-helpful husband better pull himself together, not complain and just be helpful tomorrow. Lots of stuff to do before we head out to Indiana to celebrate with family. I decided since I am lame, and have no gifts for my relatives, they always get gifts for Perry and often for us, just a little something, usually less than $10, but for some reason I forget that I am now a grown up and am suppose to participate in the gift giving. My immediate family, and close friends whom I buy for every year, I do fine, and I don't forget, everyone else, I'll get a gift and be like "ah dag....had I known"......DUH! So this year I will cook, I'll take a side dish and a desert and call it my gift. Not to mention the 2 bottles of wine I am taking to show some love. Except I'm not sure I've ever seen these relatives drink wine. Ahhhh come on cousins we're grown ups lets have a little wine and be respectable. Which brings me to one of many topics I'd like to discuss at this wee hour in the morning.

WINE: I've just discovered how nice wine can be. You find something you like have a few glasses with your friends, it's really quite appealing. There's just something about it. Sure I am a fine Christian women, who puts Christ first in her life and make great strides to make sure that is apparent. So why should an occasional glass of wine a few times a year be so controversial? You get the looks, and the comments like no Christian should be drinking at all. Ok um why not? You get nuts like my father who call a nice bottle of wine BOOZE....simmer down old man, it's chardonnay not moonshine. The bible clearly says do not be DRUNK with wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit. So 1 or 2 glass I am not drunk, even 6 still not drunk, my lips may be a bit numb, but I'm not what I would call drunk. Now if you know you clearly have a drinking problem or you know that it could become an issue than no an occasional glass of wine is not ok, because you know that's not all it will be. If you know you can't just drink a few beers and be done, then no it's not ok. Drinking strictly to numb whatever problems you aren't willing to deal with in life, nope that's not ok. So funny thing happened while discussing alcohol at church this evening. Ha! I was discussing wine and taking it to Christmas eve with the fam, along with a brief discussion on Appletini's with Cyndi before the play this evening. And a very nice lady sitting in front of us heard us, and her ears perked up, and she added what other "tini's" are good. Was sure to add, that she wasn't much of a drinker but a glass of wine or 2 is quite nice. Nothing like some alcohol advice while at church.......only at the Vineyard. Hopefully she found it to be a safe place after that discussion since I don't think she had ever been to our church before as she was filling out a "connect card".

CHURCH: Ok so apparently church not happening on Christmas Sunday is rather controversial. Who knew. I am so dang easy going, I didn't give it another thought. I respected the fact that VCC was choosing not to have church on Sunday. I'm sure a great deal of thought went into their reasons why. Besides Jesus isn't only the reason for the season he's the reason for everyday and every Sunday. And if folks are so hell bent (funny hell bent) on going to church on Sunday then go to another church, we all worship the same God! Selfish me, welcomes not adding church to the mix of the already way too busy and stressful day. I guess all this nonsense must be in the paper and on the news, I've not seen either so I am drawing my own conclusions. So for a good laugh check out what was going on in my life this time last year.

24 Hours....

Just doesn't ever seem long enough. Well the important thing is the cards are mailed. The last batch went out today. I have a few more last minute gifts to buy and that's done, just need to finish wrapping. Tomorrow after I shop with my dad, I hope to have time to make cookies. Bought ingredients tonight. Friday night is the play, then the Christmas festivities begin. All this prep, and it'll be over in 2 short days.

Perry started the evaluations with Childrens this week. We had our first appointment, with many more happening in January. I am hopeful for the outcome of all of this. He can be very trying at times. But most of the time he's delightful. When talking to the psychologist at childrens yesterday, I mentioned I get stressed out, and lose my patience every now and then. He completely understood, and said you are doing the thinking for 2 people, it has to be stressful, theres no way it couldn't be. Maybe if I'd just get more sleep, dealing with him would be easier, and less stressful. Hummmm...might be onto something.

Upwards...

Basketball that is. Ok so my son's not skilled as an athlete. But for this program you don't have to be. They are encouraged to memorize scripture for each practice. They were given a CD and each weeks scripture is put to song so they can get the verse down. Music.....now that he can do. Put something to song, he'll get it after hearing it once and sing it for days. So Mr. P-man, may not be able to dribble a ball, but ask him what Act 17:24 is and he'll give you the 411!
"The God who made the world, and all things in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and all things in it and does not live in temples built by hand." This is good stuff, I am a huge advocate of scripture memorizing. I don't do it as well as I once did, but hiding God's word in your heart is something that will stick with you forever.

Got my wrap on today. I get together each year with my peeps from church and do wrap it up at Tri County mall. 2 hours I connect with strangers over a counter while I wrap their gifts, ummmmm for free. Big fun. Best was the two little hispanic teenagers who were all giggly and embarrassed. One was 11 and the other 13. Giggling and talking in spanish to each other and asking me questions in english. The younger of the two, was impressed we did this for free, and she was curious as to why. When I said "to show Gods love in a practical way." it was like a little light went on and she was rather excited about it. She said she'd like to do that too. So so cute! Whenever I do wrap it up, I'm always afraid of the women whose going to be particular about how things are wrapped. And sure enough I got one of those this time. She was helping me and giving me instructions on how to wrap. Hey whose the professional here. LOL....she was helpful, but even in wrapping gifts I'm a women controled by chaos, don't mess with that. I promise you your gift will be completely covered with paper and tape when I am done and your gift recipient will not be able to tell what it is. Isn't that the goal really? To me pretty is optional. My sister in law filled in with her friends for folks in my group who couldn't make it, they had a blast, and plan to join us again next year. Ok the countdown continues and MY CARDS AREN'T MAILED YET......Be patient people. It's amazing to me what few cards you get until your's actually go out in the mail.

CHEESE

CHEESE
Originally uploaded by Yoda0419.

So it's year 11 for the annual Christmas movie Party, no movie was even attempted this year. The kids watched while playing Polar Express many times. We however drank wine and coffee, ate and played Apples to Apples. My gosh we get so loud. I often wonder if the loud people weren't there or if we'd all just quiet down for a while, would we actually have meaningful conversations and get a chance to catch up and hear about each others lives? Maybe someday when the kids are grown and we go back to drinking coffee. I love my friends, but my goodness you people can get rather loud. Always a blast...love my peeps no matter how different they are. More photo's of the festivities if you click on the cheese.

The countdown Begins

What is it like 9 more days till Christmas. Geez, I wish I was still in the Smokey Mountains, because that would mean it was still October, and I had a ton of time. I could go back and do some better planning and better budgetting. Why is it when you need money the most you budgetting skills fail you every year at the same time. Someday I'll get it right and we'll live within our means. From what I am hearing from my peeps, for some reason this holiday season has got a ton of folks overwhelmed and everyone is behind on their Holiday shopping and projects. Christmas cards are going out in stages, hopefully all will be sent before Christmas. So if you normally get one, and it's Christmas and you haven't got one yet, be patient! Steven Curtis Chapman, looks good for a dude in his 40's. Admittedly I've not been his biggest fan, but that's a dang good video, and song. Rock on SCC! I must say again Narnia was an awesome flick, and good to see even a non-christian can enjoy it and even call it beautiful. Oh yes cousin you may not see it, but some kind of seed has been planted in that Athiest heart of yours! CS Lewis is good for that, because he too was once an Athiest as well until the author of the Lord of the Rings got a hold of him.

Christmas Label Curse!

So I have all the address's placed nice and neatly in their individual boxes, prepared to be printed, so how come they don't print in the nice boxes for the labels? Why is that....I refuse to hand write 68 address's.

NARNIA.....

So much other stuff went on this weekend, I neglected to mention I saw Narnia on Friday! Beautiful, is the best I can describe it. Could be that I've been a fan of the books since I was a child, and to see them come to life so perfectly right before my eyes was awesome. As Lucy touched the snowy branches through the wardrobe, I wanted to cry, it was just how I imagined it would be. The symbolism is way cool if you actually know what's going on. But my question is would non-christians who know nothing of the bible even get it? Maybe not, but I do think that subconsciously the seed is planted, they may not even realize it.

God job's a no go, and I feel good about it. Last thing I want to do is be stuck in another mind numbingly boring job of data entry. I am sure I could have done it, but it probably would have gotten boring after a while just as my current position has. I venture to think that probably not as boring as life insurance since I would have some element of interest in the work I would have been doing, but they didn't think I'd be a good fit, and I trust they know what they are doing. They certainly didn't come to the decision quickly it was well thought through so it's all good. So in thinking through the process when they came to the decision that they did not want to hire me for the paying position, here they have all this information on me, of what I've done over my 20+ years as a christian and where my spiritual journey has taken me, which is quite a lot. They then offer me a coaching position, which is a huge deal, and flattering. Since for the most part volunteers are valued at VCC, big time. They probably run the majority of most ministries, as you will find in most successfully ran churches. So right now every ounce of my being is telling me not to do it, that I'm not there yet, and that it would take up more time than I am able to give. But I haven't given it the respectible amount of prayer that, that kind of decision needs, so I shall pray before I make my final decision. God knows what he's doing better than I. Kind of bummed I didn't get the job, but I'm ok.

Fancy To-do....

Heres a photo of us from the fancy to-do. Sorry the batteries were dead at the wedding reception so no photo's of the wedding party....I know you are all sad.

Is it over yet?

The weekend that is? Nope one more day, tomorrow, and then it will be over with. What a freakin busy day! Started with picking up P's basketball uniform. He's going to look so dang cute in purple and gold, lets just hope he learns to dribble and not slap the ball. Lets hope he learns what direction to run, and all sorts of cool teamwork type stuff. It'll be good for him.....I think. We then went to walgreens and began our Christmas shopping....well I did begin, day after thanksgiving, but had only purchased gifts for Ron and P, but had nothing for anyone else, so we got some filler gifts at the Walgreens, which I'd highly reccomend for one of kind inexpensive yet appealing gifts. Ok now time to attempt to blog about todays festivities. Honestly you'd have to be there to get the full experience, but I will make an attempt at doing it justice. It was almost as if my husband and I were attempting to "one-up" each other at who could come up with the most "out of my comfort zone experience", and guess what I WON!

Ron: "Honey would you call that a non-traditional wedding?"
Yes dear I believe you would. Rewind 2 weeks ago, on a thursday evening around 8pm, I answer the phone to an unfamiliar number on the caller ID, and was greeted with an unfamiliar voice on the other end. He tells me his name...and still I'm like "who?" Then he said your husbands brother, still nothing is registering, because you see, yes my husband has a brother, however we've not seen or heard from him in over 4 years. I then apologized and we began to talk. He tells me he's getting married.......IN TWO WEEKS.......right no better time than the PRESENT! I suppose there was a bit of prior planning and we were just an afterthought after all he hadn't talked to us in 4 years. Theres not an actual wedding though, just a reception. Apparently something about friends and a justice of the peace, then a fancy to-do at STORMIN NORMINS SPORTS BAR. Ok when I read sports bar, I think of a place with big screen TV's, chicken wings and those cool tall glass's they fill with beer. Usually a large facility, with your typical smoking and NON-SMOKING areas. Commonly they'll have sports on the big screen TV's. I mean map-quest went so far as to give Stormin Normin's 5 stars, and we felt safe. Until we walked in through the steel backdoor with a sign directing us to the reception we were about to attend. Do you ever have one of those surreal moments where you feel like you've just entered a dream sequence.....like Wayne and Garth in Waynes World? That was us, after we walked through the door. Me in my nice festive green argyle cardign, cords, and sketcher hiking boots. Ron who had changed into some cargo pants from jeans, because he felt he might be too casual in jeans and a plaid long sleeve button up abercrombie shirt. Most of the guest appeared to be dressed in usual bar attire, mostly black, many in LEATHER. We felt a bit out of place to say the least. The only thing that would have made me feel more uncomfortable is if the music had come to a screeching halt when we walked through the door. Thank God it didn't. Because you see it was blaring as loud as it possibly could the whole hour we were there. Apparently they don't really like to talk to each other in these places, and if they need to they like to be as close to your ear as possible so you can hear them. Everyone appeared to be looking at us, almost the entire time we were there, I don't think they had seen anything like us. I felt like the humans on planet of the apes. And yes we did take the small human with us. He at least was some comic releaf that eliminated a tiny bit of the fact that we wanted to run right back out the door. He had a blast dancing, and talking to folks. At one point Ron was asked to dance by the bride, and he respectfully declined. I was then asked to dance by the best man, who happened to be a man in his 40's with long hair, and he happened to be wearing leather, pants and I believe a studded belt. Far be it for me to decline a dance with this nice gentlemen when Lionel Richey was playing.....so I danced.....for just a moment, since apparently another lady, who was intoxicated wanted him more than I, so I had my out. I don't think I am a snob by any means. I can go to a bar and have a beer or a glass of wine and feel perfectly comfortable. But this was a very small bar, with lots of smoke, and quite a few people I had never encountered before. It was what one would refer to as a "dive", "hole in the wall" bar. I guess his brother was very comfortable there, since these people have become his family at the absense of his own family, which is great. This was one of those weddings where the party was for the people who got married, not for the guests. And I am sure they had the time of their lives. We however were rather smelly upon our escape from the dream sequence. We both got in the car, first let out a good theraputic yell for what we had just encountered and then were like ewwwww...you smell really bad, like an ashtray soaked in beer. We both but all our clothes in the wash when we got home along with our coats. And then showered, and still feel like I smell. I am sure the party goers had a good laugh at our expence once we left.
Once we left there, I was really looking forward to the FANCY ARMY CHRISTMAS DINING OUT. This event I usually either avoid and have some lame excuse why I can't go, or I go and dread it. But after the "reception", this Fancy to-do felt like it could be a day at the beach! And it was. We had a lovely time, a few of the guys I've known and "dined out" with many times over 12 years. I've been to their weddings, got to know some of the wives, so much of the uncomfortable feel is tolerable. Completely tolerable after what I forced my husband to endure this afternoon. I wore my Austin Powers/ George Washington fancy outfit and was completely comfortable. Even though most of the ladies were wearing as I expected, dresses with no sleeves, or spaghetti strapped sequenced dress's. Barf.....it's dang cold out, aren't you people freezin? I think that tomorrows play will be rather uneventful compared to todays festivities, tough to top any of that. I am just happy to be the big winner of the "OUT OF YOU COMFORT ZONE" challenge. I challenge all of you to top me!

SNOWDAY!

It took me 3 hours to get home from work last night. Perry's got no school, and I got no childcare.....so we got to play in the snow, and I'll got to work when Ron wakes up. Such is life.  

DTMT...

That's "Do too Much Tuesday", it's back! Just incase you were concerned you'd never see it again, it has resurfaced it's ugly little head! Much needed prayer that I make it through today and that all things go well. I have no doubt today will be a good day.....busy but good.

Outfit for fancy to-do...done.
Christmas cards.....in progress
Christmas letter....NOT
Christmas shopping.....plenty of time

Still could use a life assistant if anyones offering their services for free!

Fancy "to-do" Outfit....

I couldn't get the desire to dress like Austin Powers out of my head while shopping. I saw this shirt and kept going back to it. Tried on a few things that were less than flattering, and just took the plunge got the shirt, w/o trying on, got the jacket, had the goucho's, hooked it up with some FISHNET stocking, (I've never owned a pair I swear, who knew these were such a turn on to men???), and some super cool boots. All the sudden I am totally comfortable and I look oddly like I should be kicking it whe Thomas Jefferson and his peeps signing the declaration of independence. And as you see thanks to Harold and his mad skills I could totally fit in!
I think Harold and Ron were plotting against me after the photo I posted of Ron....but ha....I am proud of the versitility of my outfit, that could be worn in many different eras.

By the way anyone know where I can find directions on how to make these as gifts?

Yeah Ok....

Is it too much to ask these folks to smile?? Always messin' with me....just freakin smile would ya?.....And look my husbands got the kid acting like a nut too. Geez!
All I got to say about that is....it's now on the blog for the world to see, and not only this picture but the one I'm about to show, the one you were begging to be deleted. Now next time maybe you'll smile!

Yeah um don't mess with me!

LET THE MADNESS BEGIN!!!!

Apparently all sorts of folks are begging for your attention around the holiday season. I being all about the boundries, and not putting too much on my plate try very hard to avoid doing too much but even when you limit you activities things get a bit overwhelming. Suddenly I am very behind on EVERYTHING! I have 3.....out of 80 Christmas cards done. Not even started my christmas letter, have sent no invites to the annual to-do thats in 2 weeks, and I still need to finish purchasing parts of my fancy outfit for a formal I am going to next weekend. CAN I GET A LIFE ASSISTANT PLEASE? And then my sister in law had to have a baby last year in December so add a baby's first birthday to the mix and you have holiday madness! Oh and christmas shopping, don't go there.

I did purchse P a super cool old school big wheel for christmas, that is in my husbands trunk....which I forgot so when we were shopping for the baby's present, and we go to put it in the trunk with P standing right there....trunk lid went up and quickly came back down....very funny! I think he saw but might forget cause he didn't get a good look at it, and he's not expecting it.

Things seem to be looking up on the ADD front. We unloaded the "insensitive, this is just my job what kind of drugs do you need" psychiatrist, and we saw our family physician, what a breath of fresh air, Dr. Lichter rocks, when I voiced my concern about Concerta and if it's working when it needs to he went so far as to get out the ginormous book of drugs to show me what it does and how it does it. It had cool graphs and everything. Love that he sensed that I was an intelligent person who would get that kind of stuff. I totally got it and feel much better about Conceta and it's effectiveness the goal is to medicate P as little as possible to get the most focus factor, and not take away his personality. So far we are getting there. First appointment with Childrens is tuesday, looking forward to them figuring out why he is the way he is, so that we can effectively treat him so that he can function better at school, or they just need to figure out how to teach him in away he can learn best. I think the latter is what needs to happen, since Perry is Perry and I don't want to change that. Nuff said. Off to the birthday party!