So, Friday, during our weekly therapy session, the kids were playing quietly, and the therapist and I had a chance to talk. She wanted to know all about our fostering experiences. She has just recently taken on foster families and is quite disturbed by the whole system. Everyone from the foster families on up. She's disgusted with therapists who don't take the time to research Attachment Disorders. Caseworkers who lie to families just to get a bed for a kid, when if everyone was honest with each other, kids would get into homes that were willing to care for their own needs. And Foster Families who return kids into the system with all the thought they give tossing out the take out boxes. So, who's the therapist now?
Just kidding. We have had two long term placements, one older sibling group of three, and our current sibling group of three. The pictures of the first group still hang on our wall. Even though they have been gone for over three years now. And it's not that I'm too lazy to take them down. I hung those particular pictures up after they left. They were a part of our family for over a year, just because kids don't stay in your house, doesn't mean they don't stay in your heart.
So, she had noticed that we had pictures up of kids that don't fit the profile of the ones living here, and asked who they were. I explained. She was amazed that I'd hung them up in the first place and had kept them there for years.
She went on to tell me that most foster parents don't participate in therapy in a meaningful way.
What? Now I know there are some doozy therapist's out there, like the ones who discourage you from telling the children "no". And other's who are so easily sucked into triangulation. I've had them, but still I participated in therapy. Even playing cars with a 12 year old girl, don't know how that helps her get over abuse, but hey.
And then she said, "you treat these kids like they are your own."
Yeah duh. All of them. From the moment they stepped foot in, had all the rights and privileges of our family. That caused some problems, but that's what we did.
She finished our conversation with, "well you're just not the norm." If I'm not normal, then I don't want to be.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
...the gauntlet was thrown down
This kind of scares me. Rachel over at Home Girl tagged me saying I needed to join her little reindeer game. The rules? Look into the fourth folder in which you store pictures on your computer, and select the fourth picture therein. Post it. Explain it. This is it.
This is Princess about July of '05. Where she looked a lot Asian, she's not. The hair is the after affects of her older sister at the time. Just so happens that we had two Big Girls at the time. They both had the same name, so we distinguished them by Megalaine, and Megaliz. Well, Megaliz liked to do the hair of our little Princess and this was the result of putting in a Chongo after the bath, and then Princess taking it out after the hair had dried. (I hope I spelled Chongo correctly, for y'all guys who don't live in S. TX, a Chongo is a pony tail, and y'all guys is what I meant)
So, that wasn't so bad.
I'm going to insist that Angie, Tiff, and Susie join in.
This is Princess about July of '05. Where she looked a lot Asian, she's not. The hair is the after affects of her older sister at the time. Just so happens that we had two Big Girls at the time. They both had the same name, so we distinguished them by Megalaine, and Megaliz. Well, Megaliz liked to do the hair of our little Princess and this was the result of putting in a Chongo after the bath, and then Princess taking it out after the hair had dried. (I hope I spelled Chongo correctly, for y'all guys who don't live in S. TX, a Chongo is a pony tail, and y'all guys is what I meant)
So, that wasn't so bad.
I'm going to insist that Angie, Tiff, and Susie join in.
...to look at my aeroponic plants
These are 2/7 of my Aerogarden plants. These were 'planted' eight days ago. I have two more just like these and three that are just waking up. The kids are already asking when we can eat them. Looks like a week or two and we'll have salad.
I hope this can keep up with our salad demands:) Otherwise our house will be aglow with grow lights, and the guys who stakeout our neighbor may turn their sights on us.
If I could label from mobbile blogger the label would be....'because I know you care'
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Flashback Friday Born of the Heart: Refined
Friday, August 31, 2007
Refined
First I'll say that God is not very subtle. You'll understand later.
Our three year old will have lived with us for 23 months tomorrow. We are his SEVENTH home. No one should ever have to live in seven homes, let alone do it all before you turn two. It should go without saying, but this boy has issues. Issues that were difficult to deal with in the beginning. They're getting better, but it has been a looooong road.
Several months after he first came to live with us, I had had enough for the day and decided that going for a ride would be the thing to do. He could scream at me all he wanted I had a super loud radio. On the ride I took it upon myself to discuss with God what I had done to deserve this. I'm a good person, I'm trying to do the right thing, all those things you say to God when you're in a situation you don't want to be in. Intellectually I know God has it all together and that includes His plan for my life, but when you're going through something, knowledge isn't always applied.
So here we are riding around, me shaking my fist at God, my baby shaking his fist at me. I had the radio on, but wasn't really listening. Then I heard a sweet voice from the back singing "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty" (example one of God's non subtleness) and my next question to God was, What had I done to deserve this.
Matthew 5:8 took on a whole new meaning to me that day. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. This kid saw God. This kid has seen evil. This kid is our God warrior in training. He keeps our minds on God daily, sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad. He has been through the fire seven times and has come out with a pure heart. There is never a doubt as to how his day is going. Pure, pure, pure.
And now for the other 2x4 Godsmack. As I was researching a verse on refining I came across this.
Psalm 12:6
And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified SEVEN times.
Next time you have a chance, read Psalms 12 and 13. It all applies here.
My question to God is still the same, "What have I done to deserve this?" Sometimes it takes on a sarcastic tone, but for the most part, I'm glad to take my place in the puzzle of God's will.
Born of the Heart: Refined
Refined
First I'll say that God is not very subtle. You'll understand later.
Our three year old will have lived with us for 23 months tomorrow. We are his SEVENTH home. No one should ever have to live in seven homes, let alone do it all before you turn two. It should go without saying, but this boy has issues. Issues that were difficult to deal with in the beginning. They're getting better, but it has been a looooong road.
Several months after he first came to live with us, I had had enough for the day and decided that going for a ride would be the thing to do. He could scream at me all he wanted I had a super loud radio. On the ride I took it upon myself to discuss with God what I had done to deserve this. I'm a good person, I'm trying to do the right thing, all those things you say to God when you're in a situation you don't want to be in. Intellectually I know God has it all together and that includes His plan for my life, but when you're going through something, knowledge isn't always applied.
So here we are riding around, me shaking my fist at God, my baby shaking his fist at me. I had the radio on, but wasn't really listening. Then I heard a sweet voice from the back singing "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty" (example one of God's non subtleness) and my next question to God was, What had I done to deserve this.
Matthew 5:8 took on a whole new meaning to me that day. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. This kid saw God. This kid has seen evil. This kid is our God warrior in training. He keeps our minds on God daily, sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad. He has been through the fire seven times and has come out with a pure heart. There is never a doubt as to how his day is going. Pure, pure, pure.
And now for the other 2x4 Godsmack. As I was researching a verse on refining I came across this.
Psalm 12:6
And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified SEVEN times.
Next time you have a chance, read Psalms 12 and 13. It all applies here.
My question to God is still the same, "What have I done to deserve this?" Sometimes it takes on a sarcastic tone, but for the most part, I'm glad to take my place in the puzzle of God's will.
Born of the Heart: Refined
I'm making chili
Roran,
Here is my recipe for Chili and Cinnamon Rolls
Chili
1 lb Ground beef
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes with chili's
2 cans red beans
16 oz can tomato sauce
1 can Campbell's Tomato Soup
1 onion
Oregano
Garlic
Brown beef
Add canned items
Dice and add onion, I add it after because I like the onions crunchy
Add spices to taste
The longer it cooks the more the flavors will meld together.
Here is my recipe for Chili and Cinnamon Rolls
Chili
1 lb Ground beef
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes with chili's
2 cans red beans
16 oz can tomato sauce
1 can Campbell's Tomato Soup
1 onion
Oregano
Garlic
Brown beef
Add canned items
Dice and add onion, I add it after because I like the onions crunchy
Add spices to taste
The longer it cooks the more the flavors will meld together.
...and cinnamon rolls
Cinnamon Rolls
20 oz flour
1 Stick butter
1 Cup Milk, heated
1 egg
1/2 cup Sugar
2 tsps yeast or 1 packet
Heat milk, and melt butter in microwave. Add sugar and yeast to the milk and butter. Stir into flour and add egg. Mix until blended.
Let rise until doubled.
Punch down and roll out on flat surface.
Spread cinnamon and butter
roll lengthwise and cut into individual rolls.
Let rise again. Bake in oven at 400 for about 13-15 minutes.
Frosting
In a bowl weigh
1 stick butter
1/2 cup cream cheese
Take the total weight and add to that an equal weight of powdered sugar.
Whip into a frenzy for 10 minutes. Add 1 tsp vanilla and 1 tsp lemon juice.
20 oz flour
1 Stick butter
1 Cup Milk, heated
1 egg
1/2 cup Sugar
2 tsps yeast or 1 packet
Heat milk, and melt butter in microwave. Add sugar and yeast to the milk and butter. Stir into flour and add egg. Mix until blended.
Let rise until doubled.
Punch down and roll out on flat surface.
Spread cinnamon and butter
roll lengthwise and cut into individual rolls.
Let rise again. Bake in oven at 400 for about 13-15 minutes.
Frosting
In a bowl weigh
1 stick butter
1/2 cup cream cheese
Take the total weight and add to that an equal weight of powdered sugar.
Whip into a frenzy for 10 minutes. Add 1 tsp vanilla and 1 tsp lemon juice.
...I am supposed to make a resolution or two
I know, January 1 is a perfect bench mark. As are birthdays and other such annual affairs. This is where our lives closely resemble the politicians. While they are for education and lower taxes, we never hear the plan, and we never seem to get anywhere. We all want to lose weight, get organized, eat better, quit something or another. All very noble things, but each new year rolls around and we haven't seemed to make much progress. We're begging for another chance to do it again, and yet when we're "in office" the daily grind gets us off track. We just hope that we made some progress in our last term.
So, I don't know how much better I'm doing things as opposed to last year, but can definitely see where I've made headway over say five years and I don't even know 10 years ago Annie, what was she thinking?
The challenges ahead of me in 2008 are not the same challenges I face in 2009. I don't know what I weighed last year, I'm still looking for my keys, and shoes, and sometimes clean clothes. Things I did accomplish last year were
1. No more diapers, ever. We're done.
2. Saved lots of money. See #1. Also began extreme couponing and refinanced the house to a 15 year fixed. Saving us $67,000 in interest, and believe it or not lowering our payment.
3. Swore off credit, forever. (Still causes a little anxiety saying that one)
4. Released an adult into the world.
Some challenges are leftovers from years past, can anyone say LET MY BABIES GO? Is this the final year of fostering? Is the state ever going to let us adopt these guys? I don't know, it's pretty much out of my control. We have an attorney in place should they ever try to take them, but I just want to be able to decide things for my family without running to a caseworker for permission. I think I should be able to take the kids to a pool 20 minutes away without bothering a judge for permission to travel out of county. Of course we always do that, we never forget. I want to be done with all the paperwork. Do I really need to triplicate our daily log? Or document applications of Neosporin? It is quickly approaching FOUR YEARS people.
I do think we are eating better, having three year olds is less time consuming than two year olds. Therefore less freezer and fast food.
Is my marriage better? Than last year, don't know. Than five years ago? For sure. Same with my parenting and friendships.
(The trips are currently dancing in front of the tv, it's too precious.)
My dancing, maybe that's something I'll work on this year. I am for dancing.
So anyway, if you don't get it all together this year, you'll likely get another chance in 2010.
So, I don't know how much better I'm doing things as opposed to last year, but can definitely see where I've made headway over say five years and I don't even know 10 years ago Annie, what was she thinking?
The challenges ahead of me in 2008 are not the same challenges I face in 2009. I don't know what I weighed last year, I'm still looking for my keys, and shoes, and sometimes clean clothes. Things I did accomplish last year were
1. No more diapers, ever. We're done.
2. Saved lots of money. See #1. Also began extreme couponing and refinanced the house to a 15 year fixed. Saving us $67,000 in interest, and believe it or not lowering our payment.
3. Swore off credit, forever. (Still causes a little anxiety saying that one)
4. Released an adult into the world.
Some challenges are leftovers from years past, can anyone say LET MY BABIES GO? Is this the final year of fostering? Is the state ever going to let us adopt these guys? I don't know, it's pretty much out of my control. We have an attorney in place should they ever try to take them, but I just want to be able to decide things for my family without running to a caseworker for permission. I think I should be able to take the kids to a pool 20 minutes away without bothering a judge for permission to travel out of county. Of course we always do that, we never forget. I want to be done with all the paperwork. Do I really need to triplicate our daily log? Or document applications of Neosporin? It is quickly approaching FOUR YEARS people.
I do think we are eating better, having three year olds is less time consuming than two year olds. Therefore less freezer and fast food.
Is my marriage better? Than last year, don't know. Than five years ago? For sure. Same with my parenting and friendships.
(The trips are currently dancing in front of the tv, it's too precious.)
My dancing, maybe that's something I'll work on this year. I am for dancing.
So anyway, if you don't get it all together this year, you'll likely get another chance in 2010.
Aerogrow Timeline
Day 29
We've been trying to recover from too much love from curious hands. Thus the block around the one in back. I think we're doing well. We've harvested 4 small salads and enough basil to choke a horse. Love that stuff. The one in front that got a late start is still looking quite pathetic. Going today to get more Dixie cups stabilizers, It really seemed to help the other one. Not going to harvest any until Monday to see how it goes. It is now on the third level of height for the lamp.
Day 24
Day 22
THIS IS AFTER 2 CUTTINGS. I HAVE HAD 2 VERY WONDERFUL, YET SMALLISH SALADS.
Day 20
I MOVED THE LIGHTS UP TODAY, THEY ARE GETTING TALL. THE BASIL IS GETTING CUT TODAY.
Day 17
Day 16
Day 15
Day 14
Lovin' the new phone, much better pics
Day 13
Day 12
Day 11
Sorry, my photog skills suck, I'll get better I promise:) Still a highly recommended product, we're 10 days from harvest. Wahoo.
Day 10
Day 8
This is the daily account of what is happening with the Aerogarden. I am always curious as to how things really work, and since this is such an investment, thought you might like to see them too. Sorry the picture quality is yucky, my phone sucks.
We've been trying to recover from too much love from curious hands. Thus the block around the one in back. I think we're doing well. We've harvested 4 small salads and enough basil to choke a horse. Love that stuff. The one in front that got a late start is still looking quite pathetic. Going today to get more Day 24
Day 22
THIS IS AFTER 2 CUTTINGS. I HAVE HAD 2 VERY WONDERFUL, YET SMALLISH SALADS.
Day 20
I MOVED THE LIGHTS UP TODAY, THEY ARE GETTING TALL. THE BASIL IS GETTING CUT TODAY.
Day 17
Day 16
Day 15
Day 14
Lovin' the new phone, much better pics
Day 13
Day 12
Day 11
Sorry, my photog skills suck, I'll get better I promise:) Still a highly recommended product, we're 10 days from harvest. Wahoo.Day 10
Day 8
This is the daily account of what is happening with the Aerogarden. I am always curious as to how things really work, and since this is such an investment, thought you might like to see them too. Sorry the picture quality is yucky, my phone sucks.
...for a little clarification
Now, we had what we like to call an "incident" here the other day. And after countless retellings of the story, I would like to cover my butt legally put it in perspective.
Booger was being a little curious, a little too curious. So curious in fact it was affecting his hearing. I had asked him to maybe step back a bit and focus on something else. My words fell on deaf ears. Now mind you, this was not causing a problem yet, but I could see the street signs ahead.
I'll give you the version he gave Dad later that evening, then we'll come back.
Daddy, Mommy told me to go and do something else and I didn't listen. So she spanked my butt and it went "kapow" and it scared me.
What actually happened was I put my right hand near his bottom, and clapped my left hand onto MY right hand. It did go 'kapow' and it did startle him, but once he realized what I'd done, it was HILARIOUS, and he can barely get through the telling without slapping his knee in laughter.
Luckily this happened after CPS had left for their bi-annualmaking sure we hadn't sold the kids welfare check. Although it is blatantly obvious to all visitors to our home that we love our little ones, and I'm sure that at least this worker would have listened to the story rather than go through all of the paperwork. But you never can tell.
Booger was being a little curious, a little too curious. So curious in fact it was affecting his hearing. I had asked him to maybe step back a bit and focus on something else. My words fell on deaf ears. Now mind you, this was not causing a problem yet, but I could see the street signs ahead.
I'll give you the version he gave Dad later that evening, then we'll come back.
Daddy, Mommy told me to go and do something else and I didn't listen. So she spanked my butt and it went "kapow" and it scared me.
What actually happened was I put my right hand near his bottom, and clapped my left hand onto MY right hand. It did go 'kapow' and it did startle him, but once he realized what I'd done, it was HILARIOUS, and he can barely get through the telling without slapping his knee in laughter.
Luckily this happened after CPS had left for their bi-annual
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
...I'll go over it again
In case you missed it:
January
Read all about my horrible parenting, and be amazed that I am not really the worst ever. Also a rare sighting of myself. That's right a picture.
February
Apparently I took that month off, so I'll try to remember all the fun we had. First, February is the month where all of our little ones are the same age. 2008 meant that they were all three. How could this not be fun? We had a combined "We're all three/three years here" party on the 28th, which is the date that the twins joined us in the middle of the night. We figured that 2008 HAD to be the year. It turns out it wasn't.
March
Read here about how Mama wants her kids to come home, not yet realizing they already are. And stupid people in the news.
April
Yes CPS, I got your note. I need more toys. Despite they overstimulate my kiddos, read about my better idea.
May
Do I not have a funny blog? I crack myself up. This is also the month I swore I'd forcibly remove Roran from the nest. It has been the best thing for our relationship.
June
June was stellar.
Here is where we learn myinternet IQ
Here is where we get an anatomy lesson
Here is where you can read how thankful I am for life
Here is where I couldn't buy windows
And here is where I lose a daughter and four hours of my life
July
OK, I haven't re read these, but I can't wait, this was the infamous Vegas Vacation along with the psychotic break at 32,000 feet. Buckle up.
Hunting happiness
Marvel at my super powers
Reunited and blah blah blah
Vegas, Vegas, and more
Vegas, btw I was totally serious about the booze.
I'm in love with Ronald Reagan
"It is no coincidence that our present troubles parallel and are proportionate to the intervention and intrusion in our lives that result from unnecessary and excessive growth of government. It is time for us to realize that we're too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams. We're not, as some would have us believe, doomed to an inevitable decline. I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing. So, with all the creative energy at our command, let us begin an era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength. And let us renew our faith and our hope." Reagan's first inaugural speech.
August
Extra Grace Required
How do they know these things?
September
Who's tired of politics?
Also, my new Tshirt
Having fun with telemarketers
Evidence of my brilliance
Seriously, you're wearing scrubs, you have to be smarter than this
I ran for Queen. I don't think I got elected, the super cool ball gowns haven't shown up.
October
Even more sick of politics
Observations
Really, you need a buffer to hang out with me?
November
I'm so glad that wasn't me
Pony Express should have had a bailout
Life goes on
December
All this and more.
As if that weren't enough, I had a whole other blog.
January
Read all about my horrible parenting, and be amazed that I am not really the worst ever. Also a rare sighting of myself. That's right a picture.
February
Apparently I took that month off, so I'll try to remember all the fun we had. First, February is the month where all of our little ones are the same age. 2008 meant that they were all three. How could this not be fun? We had a combined "We're all three/three years here" party on the 28th, which is the date that the twins joined us in the middle of the night. We figured that 2008 HAD to be the year. It turns out it wasn't.
March
Read here about how Mama wants her kids to come home, not yet realizing they already are. And stupid people in the news.
April
Yes CPS, I got your note. I need more toys. Despite they overstimulate my kiddos, read about my better idea.
May
Do I not have a funny blog? I crack myself up. This is also the month I swore I'd forcibly remove Roran from the nest. It has been the best thing for our relationship.
June
June was stellar.
Here is where we learn my
Here is where we get an anatomy lesson
Here is where you can read how thankful I am for life
Here is where I couldn't buy windows
And here is where I lose a daughter and four hours of my life
July
OK, I haven't re read these, but I can't wait, this was the infamous Vegas Vacation along with the psychotic break at 32,000 feet. Buckle up.
Hunting happiness
Marvel at my super powers
Reunited and blah blah blah
Vegas, Vegas, and more
Vegas, btw I was totally serious about the booze.
I'm in love with Ronald Reagan
"It is no coincidence that our present troubles parallel and are proportionate to the intervention and intrusion in our lives that result from unnecessary and excessive growth of government. It is time for us to realize that we're too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams. We're not, as some would have us believe, doomed to an inevitable decline. I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing. So, with all the creative energy at our command, let us begin an era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength. And let us renew our faith and our hope." Reagan's first inaugural speech.
August
Extra Grace Required
How do they know these things?
September
Who's tired of politics?
Also, my new Tshirt
Having fun with telemarketers
Evidence of my brilliance
Seriously, you're wearing scrubs, you have to be smarter than this
I ran for Queen. I don't think I got elected, the super cool ball gowns haven't shown up.
October
Even more sick of politics
Observations
Really, you need a buffer to hang out with me?
November
I'm so glad that wasn't me
Pony Express should have had a bailout
Life goes on
December
All this and more.
As if that weren't enough, I had a whole other blog.
...I am again the worst parent ever
Big Girl has recently decided to change her name to Roran, and when I say change I mean legally. She has decided that her given name is too common, and she is anything but. I don't know where she is going to come up with the money to change her name, she has no job. Does she think that I'm contributing? I don't know. She has recently found her father, who has been MIA since the diapering days, maybe he's upset that he didn't get a say in her original naming (because according to him, not his problem) maybe he'll fork over the money.
Couple this with the fact that we are not paying for her school. Our agreement since Middle School, has been that she pay for the first semester without assistance and we right a check for the rest. Guess what? She didn't. Guess what? We're not. She is currently freaking out a little that she has no money for school. And let me tell you, it would be easier for me to just write the stupid check. Because as you can all clearly see, this is my fault.
We have explained, over and over and over that she will in no way qualify for need based monies. Yet she continues to ponder ways around this. Right now her and Father Knows Best are figuring out how they can use his income to help her qualify. I'm sorry, but even if he made 1/3 of what we do he'd be better of financially what without not having five other kids.
It's not like she's going to Harvard. She has chosen to go to an in state technical college. An education that she could get by volunteering at our local church, but that was just another one of OUR dumb ideas. We even agreed to let her live here for two more years if she did that. The entire five semester program is $10,000 - and she's renting a $350 apartment next to campus. So, you'll see that had she saved $50 a week her senior year, she could have lived high on the hog, that first semester and been getting the mom/dad money from here on out. btw when she worked an 8 hour shift, she made more than we do for an entire day in foster money.
So, I will be sending my darling daughter this letter later, probably tomorrow because her and Father are going to a Flogging Mollies concert this evening, and we wouldn't want to ruin their fun.
Roran,
We will not be forwarding you our tax information for the past two years. We have tried since 2004 to get you interested in helping fund your own college education. You were never once interested in attending any of the scholarship or other "How to pay for College" seminars.
A year and a half ago when you got your job, we helped you figure out how much you would need to save in order to pay for your first semester, you were more interested in buying music and dvd's. Having seen your paychecks, had you saved half, you would have been able to pay for all of your schooling, and buy yourself a car. Having chosen to spend your money other ways, this is the position you have put yourself in.
We will continue to pay for your rent, as we are cosigners, but your tuition and other expenses are for you to figure out. We have pointed out many times, that you can completely pay for this yourself with a 20 hour a week minimum waged job.
You are completely aware of how we feel towards debt. If you would like to take out loans to pay for school, that is something you are able to decide, being an adult. We will not, however, participate in any process that leads towards one. You have the total right to be pissed off about this, you can even be pissed off at us, but this is the position you have put yourself in.
You are completely capable of doing this without any help from any others.
Love
Mom and Dad
p.s. I apologize for marrying so well. I will try to do worse next time so that you can get free money for school. What was I thinking?
p.p.s. have fun at your concert and skiing. Don't forget to call me when you get home from the airport.
p.p.p.s. Me and my friends all feel bad that you don't have any money.
Couple this with the fact that we are not paying for her school. Our agreement since Middle School, has been that she pay for the first semester without assistance and we right a check for the rest. Guess what? She didn't. Guess what? We're not. She is currently freaking out a little that she has no money for school. And let me tell you, it would be easier for me to just write the stupid check. Because as you can all clearly see, this is my fault.
We have explained, over and over and over that she will in no way qualify for need based monies. Yet she continues to ponder ways around this. Right now her and Father Knows Best are figuring out how they can use his income to help her qualify. I'm sorry, but even if he made 1/3 of what we do he'd be better of financially what without not having five other kids.
It's not like she's going to Harvard. She has chosen to go to an in state technical college. An education that she could get by volunteering at our local church, but that was just another one of OUR dumb ideas. We even agreed to let her live here for two more years if she did that. The entire five semester program is $10,000 - and she's renting a $350 apartment next to campus. So, you'll see that had she saved $50 a week her senior year, she could have lived high on the hog, that first semester and been getting the mom/dad money from here on out. btw when she worked an 8 hour shift, she made more than we do for an entire day in foster money.
So, I will be sending my darling daughter this letter later, probably tomorrow because her and Father are going to a Flogging Mollies concert this evening, and we wouldn't want to ruin their fun.
Roran,
We will not be forwarding you our tax information for the past two years. We have tried since 2004 to get you interested in helping fund your own college education. You were never once interested in attending any of the scholarship or other "How to pay for College" seminars.
A year and a half ago when you got your job, we helped you figure out how much you would need to save in order to pay for your first semester, you were more interested in buying music and dvd's. Having seen your paychecks, had you saved half, you would have been able to pay for all of your schooling, and buy yourself a car. Having chosen to spend your money other ways, this is the position you have put yourself in.
We will continue to pay for your rent, as we are cosigners, but your tuition and other expenses are for you to figure out. We have pointed out many times, that you can completely pay for this yourself with a 20 hour a week minimum waged job.
You are completely aware of how we feel towards debt. If you would like to take out loans to pay for school, that is something you are able to decide, being an adult. We will not, however, participate in any process that leads towards one. You have the total right to be pissed off about this, you can even be pissed off at us, but this is the position you have put yourself in.
You are completely capable of doing this without any help from any others.
Love
Mom and Dad
p.s. I apologize for marrying so well. I will try to do worse next time so that you can get free money for school. What was I thinking?
p.p.s. have fun at your concert and skiing. Don't forget to call me when you get home from the airport.
p.p.p.s. Me and my friends all feel bad that you don't have any money.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
...I answer my question
I would give up electricity. I like to go places, and not via rickshaw (see that was funnier with the actual word). My favorite answer, although not left here, (I posted a comment asking for a random question on another blog,) that blog author said he needed his car for work. Which makes me wonder what he does for work that doesn't require electricity.
Anyway, I could travel places that were cooler or warmer, in fact growing up in Wyoming I know that you don't need a fridge to keep the Cokes cold. Also, I would get more sleep, not being slave to the altered time line created by technology. I could have gone to bed six hours ago, instead of watching Iron Man, and blogging. At sun up tomorrow, instead of pulling that quilt over the head andwhining hitting the snooze button, I would be ready to take on the world.
Think how great my arms would be chopping my own wood for the fire I need to keep me warm. I am still trying to get my arms/back into the shape they were when the twins were in the little car seats with handles. Vavavavoom. My eyesight would improve, because of all the sewing, (or wait maybe not, can I get the Lasik first?) Of course it would render my new Aerogrow useless. btw we have 5 out of 7 aeropods sprouting already, it hasn't even been a week. You can all come over for a salad in about 10 days.
So that's me, I'd live off the grid.
Anyway, I could travel places that were cooler or warmer, in fact growing up in Wyoming I know that you don't need a fridge to keep the Cokes cold. Also, I would get more sleep, not being slave to the altered time line created by technology. I could have gone to bed six hours ago, instead of watching Iron Man, and blogging. At sun up tomorrow, instead of pulling that quilt over the head and
Think how great my arms would be chopping my own wood for the fire I need to keep me warm. I am still trying to get my arms/back into the shape they were when the twins were in the little car seats with handles. Vavavavoom. My eyesight would improve, because of all the sewing, (or wait maybe not, can I get the Lasik first?) Of course it would render my new Aerogrow useless. btw we have 5 out of 7 aeropods sprouting already, it hasn't even been a week. You can all come over for a salad in about 10 days.
So that's me, I'd live off the grid.
...I want an answer to this
If you had to choose,would you give up electricity or your car? When I say electricity, I mean all electricity, going Amish all electricity. You can't get it at work, or the mall. And when I say car, I mean all forms of motorized transportation. You are under your own power unless you have a horse and cart stashed in the back, or, and this would be really funny if I could think of the word, one of those guys who drags you behind him.
Let me know.
Let me know.
Monday, December 29, 2008
...for a life lesson
My friend is putting together a book for her son's birthday, she has asked several people to write down something from life they'd like to pass on to the next generation. Here is my contribution....
Dear (FoM's son)
It is not acceptable to propose marriage on Valentines day, just because you couldn't think of anything else. Neither it is acceptable on Christmas or her birthday. An engagement ring is not a gift, it is a down payment. Each of the aforementioned holidays require their own separate gift.
....or maybe not. I think he's 13. I am only kidding about the ring being a down payment, as far as you know, but am absolutely serious about it being its own separate gift.
Great now you all think I'm shallow. I'm not. Really. Maybe those census.gov updates I hear on the radio everyday could do a bit on how many people who got engaged on Valentines Day eventually got divorced. Probably more than half.
Anyway i'm hoping that I can pass on to my children that it's more important to have a marriage than a wedding. All of you with lots of daughters feel free to borrow that.
Dear (FoM's son)
It is not acceptable to propose marriage on Valentines day, just because you couldn't think of anything else. Neither it is acceptable on Christmas or her birthday. An engagement ring is not a gift, it is a down payment. Each of the aforementioned holidays require their own separate gift.
....or maybe not. I think he's 13. I am only kidding about the ring being a down payment, as far as you know, but am absolutely serious about it being its own separate gift.
Great now you all think I'm shallow. I'm not. Really. Maybe those census.gov updates I hear on the radio everyday could do a bit on how many people who got engaged on Valentines Day eventually got divorced. Probably more than half.
Anyway i'm hoping that I can pass on to my children that it's more important to have a marriage than a wedding. All of you with lots of daughters feel free to borrow that.
...we cleaned our rooms
And when I say we, I mean the four year olds. Since Big Girl is in college, we now have the luxury of everyone in their own room. Which means three acceptable play rooms, which means three rooms to clean every night. I lose it put them to bed every night around 8:30, cleanliness be damned. We're trying to not take naps, because if we do we are up till midnight, yet if we skip the nap they are dead tired at dinner. And if they do take a nap, they never recover their cheerful dispositions, it's just a lot of wine whining around our house in the evenings. (I'm kidding about the wine, it is on the long list of things that freak my body out)
So, because I've discovered that a little investment of time lets me be lazy yet look amazing I am investing the same effort we did with swimming two years ago into room cleanliness. Now as you'll recall (or not as swimming was preblog), we were in the pool for at least an hour every day for six weeks before the then two year olds caught on. But once Felpsy caught on it was peer pressure to the rescue and they were all sans floaties shortly thereafter. And since I don't miss a chance to brag on them, we went swimming today, Boog can swim the width of the pool, no assistance. Princess can dive off the diving board about 20 times and swim to the edge, even under the lane lines. Felpsy and his broken arm, well lets just say even though at least three doctors confirmed it was indeed broken, you would never know it.
But back to the rooms. Usually I nag for about 17 hours a day for them to clean their rooms. Tonight after the nightly daddy debriefing time, I was annoyingly excited about them cleaning their rooms. I even controlled myself enough to not freak when one of them decided to put everything in trash, not just the trash and we had to start all over. Felpsy even swept for Princess. Boog picked up all of her trash. Now to be fair, Princess currently has the "it" room, so there is a lot more mess in there. It was not perfect, but it was perfectly ok to me.
And it is my new week resolution to continue. Keeping in mind the swimming. Because if I do this right I can go right back to being lazy, like I am in the pool. And if you're wondering how teaching two year olds to swim is lazy parenting, when is the last time you took three, let's say three year olds to the pool? It's hard work. Not for me, Iam could be drinking in the hot tub and they would be just fine.
I'm just waiting for TLC to contact me about doing a documentary on the best parent in the world. It'll be the best, what with all the blobs over the kids faces as I do not have video release rights to the babes.
So, because I've discovered that a little investment of time lets me be lazy yet look amazing I am investing the same effort we did with swimming two years ago into room cleanliness. Now as you'll recall (or not as swimming was preblog), we were in the pool for at least an hour every day for six weeks before the then two year olds caught on. But once Felpsy caught on it was peer pressure to the rescue and they were all sans floaties shortly thereafter. And since I don't miss a chance to brag on them, we went swimming today, Boog can swim the width of the pool, no assistance. Princess can dive off the diving board about 20 times and swim to the edge, even under the lane lines. Felpsy and his broken arm, well lets just say even though at least three doctors confirmed it was indeed broken, you would never know it.
But back to the rooms. Usually I nag for about 17 hours a day for them to clean their rooms. Tonight after the nightly daddy debriefing time, I was annoyingly excited about them cleaning their rooms. I even controlled myself enough to not freak when one of them decided to put everything in trash, not just the trash and we had to start all over. Felpsy even swept for Princess. Boog picked up all of her trash. Now to be fair, Princess currently has the "it" room, so there is a lot more mess in there. It was not perfect, but it was perfectly ok to me.
And it is my new week resolution to continue. Keeping in mind the swimming. Because if I do this right I can go right back to being lazy, like I am in the pool. And if you're wondering how teaching two year olds to swim is lazy parenting, when is the last time you took three, let's say three year olds to the pool? It's hard work. Not for me, I
I'm just waiting for TLC to contact me about doing a documentary on the best parent in the world. It'll be the best, what with all the blobs over the kids faces as I do not have video release rights to the babes.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
...I'm taking requests
Mrs. Dawagner requested the recipe for the basketball bread, and since Mrs. Dawagner is growing a person as we speak, I'll oblige. These are them, kind of. I made one batch into bread bowls for potato soup. AWESOME. So, the basketball bread is four times the size of these. And don't plan on having them for dinner tonight. You need a minimum of 17 hours for them. Mind you it requires a fraction of that time for you to be doing something, but you have to start it the night before, no you can't cheat, it's scientific gluten bonding and whatnot.
Things you need.
A mixer with a dough hook
A cake pan
A baking stone
Will power, or a double batch if you actually want to serve it for dinner, because you will want to eat it while it's hot.
Ingredients
1 pound of flour (that's 16 ounces for you public schoolers, I don't know how many cups)
10 ounces of water
2 TBS honey
1 pkg of yeast or 2 1/4 tsps
1 tsp salt
Step 1 the night before
Mix together
5 ounces of flour
10 ounces of water
2 Tbs Honey
1 tsp yeast
Mix it well and cover, and since I got this recipe from Good Eats, put it in the chill chest (fridge) and go to bed.
Step 2 - a minimum of 5 HOURS before you intend to serve it, 7 hours is what I do. p.s. I hope you have a Kitchenaid mixer.....
Place in the mixing bowl the remaining flour, (11 ounces) and the salt. Add the wet ingredients from the night before on top. That way when you start mixing the flour won't go flying.
Mix on speed 4 until it is well mixed. Turn off the mixer, cover bowl with a towel and let rest for 20 minutes.
Turn the mixer back on speed 6 for about 10 minutes. The dough should be in a ball being kneaded against the sides of the mixer, if not pry it off the dough hook ball it up and turn the mixer on speed 10. While this is happening and you are goal tending so that your precious Kitchenaid mixer doesn't fall to the floor and die, start water boiling.
Once you have kneaded for ten minutes and you have boiling water, get a cake pan. Fill the cake pan with the boiling water, fill it up and put the cake pan in the bottom rack of your oven. Put the dough still in the mixing bowl, or other container that will allow it to double, on the rack directly above the steaming cake pan full of water. Close the oven and leave it alone for 2 hours. The oven should be cool, and off and not needed during this time.
After two hours, take off your rings, pull out the dough and knuckle out the air bubbles on a slightly floured surface. Once you feel you've knuckled it down enough, knuckle it down into a square about half the size of a laptop, then fold it into thirds, lengthwise, then again the other direction. Cover it with a towel and let it rest for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes, punch out the air bubbles and without pushing down on the dough, roll it into as tight a ball as you can, about the size of a soft ball. It's kind of a spinning, twisting motion, kind of rubbing your hands together, mine happens to turn counter clockwise. When you get it into a tight little ball, cover it and let it rest for 1 hour.
At 50 minutes, put the baking stone in the oven above the cake pan full of water, you'll need to refill the cake pan with water, doesn't need to be heated, let the oven do it. Heat your oven to 400 degrees. Brush the top of the bread with a little bit of corn meal in water. Then cut vent holes in the bread, try not to go deeper than 1/4 inch. I cut a square, it's for venting, if you forget it will blow a hole.
When the oven hits 400, put the dough ball on the hot baking stone, close the oven and DO NOT OPEN FOR 50 MINUTES. After 50 minutes pull the bread off of the stone and let it rest for at least 30 MINUTES. It is not done cooking when you pull it out of the oven, if you do not wait 30 minutes you'll get dough in the middle. It's hard, I know, I'm there for you, but oh so worth it.
So, here's the recipe as it reads on my card
Mix 5, 10 water, honey, yeast
Sleep
Mix 11, salt, wet ingredients
Rest 20
Knead 10 and boil water
Rise 2
Knuckle and trifold
Rest 20
Punch and ball
Heat the oven/stone, fill the water
Brush and cut
Bake 50
Rest 30
Eat
It's a lot of work, but if you're like us you won't need to cook dinner that night, we just eat bread. Let me know how it works for you.
Things you need.
A mixer with a dough hook
A cake pan
A baking stone
Will power, or a double batch if you actually want to serve it for dinner, because you will want to eat it while it's hot.
Ingredients
1 pound of flour (that's 16 ounces for you public schoolers, I don't know how many cups)
10 ounces of water
2 TBS honey
1 pkg of yeast or 2 1/4 tsps
1 tsp salt
Step 1 the night before
Mix together
5 ounces of flour
10 ounces of water
2 Tbs Honey
1 tsp yeast
Mix it well and cover, and since I got this recipe from Good Eats, put it in the chill chest (fridge) and go to bed.
Step 2 - a minimum of 5 HOURS before you intend to serve it, 7 hours is what I do. p.s. I hope you have a Kitchenaid mixer.....
Place in the mixing bowl the remaining flour, (11 ounces) and the salt. Add the wet ingredients from the night before on top. That way when you start mixing the flour won't go flying.
Mix on speed 4 until it is well mixed. Turn off the mixer, cover bowl with a towel and let rest for 20 minutes.
Turn the mixer back on speed 6 for about 10 minutes. The dough should be in a ball being kneaded against the sides of the mixer, if not pry it off the dough hook ball it up and turn the mixer on speed 10. While this is happening and you are goal tending so that your precious Kitchenaid mixer doesn't fall to the floor and die, start water boiling.
Once you have kneaded for ten minutes and you have boiling water, get a cake pan. Fill the cake pan with the boiling water, fill it up and put the cake pan in the bottom rack of your oven. Put the dough still in the mixing bowl, or other container that will allow it to double, on the rack directly above the steaming cake pan full of water. Close the oven and leave it alone for 2 hours. The oven should be cool, and off and not needed during this time.
After two hours, take off your rings, pull out the dough and knuckle out the air bubbles on a slightly floured surface. Once you feel you've knuckled it down enough, knuckle it down into a square about half the size of a laptop, then fold it into thirds, lengthwise, then again the other direction. Cover it with a towel and let it rest for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes, punch out the air bubbles and without pushing down on the dough, roll it into as tight a ball as you can, about the size of a soft ball. It's kind of a spinning, twisting motion, kind of rubbing your hands together, mine happens to turn counter clockwise. When you get it into a tight little ball, cover it and let it rest for 1 hour.
At 50 minutes, put the baking stone in the oven above the cake pan full of water, you'll need to refill the cake pan with water, doesn't need to be heated, let the oven do it. Heat your oven to 400 degrees. Brush the top of the bread with a little bit of corn meal in water. Then cut vent holes in the bread, try not to go deeper than 1/4 inch. I cut a square, it's for venting, if you forget it will blow a hole.
When the oven hits 400, put the dough ball on the hot baking stone, close the oven and DO NOT OPEN FOR 50 MINUTES. After 50 minutes pull the bread off of the stone and let it rest for at least 30 MINUTES. It is not done cooking when you pull it out of the oven, if you do not wait 30 minutes you'll get dough in the middle. It's hard, I know, I'm there for you, but oh so worth it.
So, here's the recipe as it reads on my card
Mix 5, 10 water, honey, yeast
Sleep
Mix 11, salt, wet ingredients
Rest 20
Knead 10 and boil water
Rise 2
Knuckle and trifold
Rest 20
Punch and ball
Heat the oven/stone, fill the water
Brush and cut
Bake 50
Rest 30
Eat
It's a lot of work, but if you're like us you won't need to cook dinner that night, we just eat bread. Let me know how it works for you.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
...I'm tagged and it
Tiff tagged me. She's my shoulda, coulda, woulda friend. I shoulda got to know her, I coulda but I didn't, and I woulda had I known how cool she was. Anyway, here is my assignment.
Rules: Once you've been tagged, you have to write a note with 16 random things, shortcomings, facts, habits or goals about you. At the end choose 16 people to be tagged, listing their names and why you chose them. You have to tag the person who tagged you.
1. I was born at home. Not by choice.
2. I am easily distracted, not always by shiny things, I once put on a tablecloth half way, then got distracted.
3. I am 98% in love with my kitchen.
4. I am trying to find the joy in the everyday. I want to REALLY love cleaning the bathroom. I am nowhere near.
5. I love to laugh til it hurts.
6. Karma is funny, although I don't believe in it.
7. I love Las Vegas in the middle of July. It's so hot and wonderful.
8. One day I would like to open a restaurant that seats about 20 and only have one or two sittings per meal.
9. I have learned that Flax Seed Oil is a great mood stabilizer.
10. I hate all things foster care. I've been a foster parent for 6 years. I will probably do it the rest of my life.
11. I moved in with my husband before we were married, and while I was married to my first husband. I have three biological children by three different men. Two outside of marriage. I am saved by Grace.
12. I have great ideas, for many years I feared they may be dorky, so I kept them to myself. I no longer care what anyone thinks.
13. I cannot for the life of me scrap book so I get tattoos.
14. Coke, big C, is the best man made product on the planet.
15. I love burnt offerings, or bbq as we call it these days. The fragrance is indeed pleasing.
16. I have stopped following recipes. I go with feel and smell to know if it's right. Except with the basketball bread, that is weighed and measured so as not to ruin its perfection.
I tag you and you HAVE TO leave a comment with at least one random fact about yourself. No excuses, I have sitemeter, I will hunt you down and NOT comment on your blog. Cause that's how I roll.
An added bonus - here are Tiff's answers.
Rules: Once you've been tagged, you have to write a note with 16 random things, shortcomings, facts, habits or goals about you. At the end choose 16 people to be tagged, listing their names and why you chose them. You have to tag the person who tagged you.
1. I was born at home. Not by choice.
2. I am easily distracted, not always by shiny things, I once put on a tablecloth half way, then got distracted.
3. I am 98% in love with my kitchen.
4. I am trying to find the joy in the everyday. I want to REALLY love cleaning the bathroom. I am nowhere near.
5. I love to laugh til it hurts.
6. Karma is funny, although I don't believe in it.
7. I love Las Vegas in the middle of July. It's so hot and wonderful.
8. One day I would like to open a restaurant that seats about 20 and only have one or two sittings per meal.
9. I have learned that Flax Seed Oil is a great mood stabilizer.
10. I hate all things foster care. I've been a foster parent for 6 years. I will probably do it the rest of my life.
11. I moved in with my husband before we were married, and while I was married to my first husband. I have three biological children by three different men. Two outside of marriage. I am saved by Grace.
12. I have great ideas, for many years I feared they may be dorky, so I kept them to myself. I no longer care what anyone thinks.
13. I cannot for the life of me scrap book so I get tattoos.
14. Coke, big C, is the best man made product on the planet.
15. I love burnt offerings, or bbq as we call it these days. The fragrance is indeed pleasing.
16. I have stopped following recipes. I go with feel and smell to know if it's right. Except with the basketball bread, that is weighed and measured so as not to ruin its perfection.
I tag you and you HAVE TO leave a comment with at least one random fact about yourself. No excuses, I have sitemeter, I will hunt you down and NOT comment on your blog. Cause that's how I roll.
An added bonus - here are Tiff's answers.
...I've really enjoyed my girls
I have two girls and four boys, God knew what he was doing. My girls are the bookends to the family. Technically, Princess is technically Twin B, but if you know her you know she is totally Twin A. Truth be told, when I found out I was preggers with Big Girl, I cried and cried. I have issues with my own mother, and did not want to be a mother to a daughter who would likely have issues with me because I never learned how to parent a daughter.
I did not want that daughter, but she saved my life.
Four years ago, I had that daughter and a house full of boys. We were contemplating an addition of a baby, I decided we should ask for a girl. We got a Princess.
I wanted that daughter, I saved her life.
Over the years it has become increasingly obvious that I do not relate well with girls. Especially ones that I live with. I am not close to any of my three sisters, I barely started having girl friends, and not until I was well into my thirties.
I have been trying to understand the male/female image of God thing. I have been trying to see it in my girls. I know they long to be sought after. I know they want all of my attention. I know they want me to be interested in things that I do not care about, because they do. I just don't get it. Feel free to judge.
During the break Princess has slept in. This makes for a happy Princess. She is not a morning person. She needs her beauty rest. During the break she has been very sweet. Yesterday, Daddy was taking the trips on a "sidewalk" as we call them, and when he walked off with her brother she said "oh I will miss him" and when he returned she ran across the yard to hug and kiss him. SWEET. Tonight she took a late nap and is up way after everyone else. She is teaching me all sorts of things like.....
"you can make squishy cookie things with chocolate over the fire in the forest and they are called hot dogs."
"there are no sinks in the forest"
She can also recite the entire screenplay of any movie she's ever seen.
Girls are fun when there are no boys. Add boys, and we fight each other for their attention, why is that?
Big Girl is flying out to meet her father tomorrow. When I say meet, I mean meet. I've not spoken to him in 8 years, seen him in twice that. This is a rabbit trail, what I meant to say was she is leaving tomorrow and so I took her and her bff, also named Big Girl, we call her Other Big Girl, out for steaks. It was fun. We got to share my traumatic, "Oh crap I'm preggers and getting kicked out of Bible College" story. Laugh at the lunacy that is my family. We just had an all around fun time, and even ran into some old friends. She is flying directly back to school so it will be awhile before I see her again.
So, while I'm a little late to the party, at least I'm here, and I'm trying to figure it all out. And tomorrow when I get to play Kingdom for the 200th time since yesterday, I will enjoy it, because I can.
I did not want that daughter, but she saved my life.
Four years ago, I had that daughter and a house full of boys. We were contemplating an addition of a baby, I decided we should ask for a girl. We got a Princess.
I wanted that daughter, I saved her life.
Over the years it has become increasingly obvious that I do not relate well with girls. Especially ones that I live with. I am not close to any of my three sisters, I barely started having girl friends, and not until I was well into my thirties.
I have been trying to understand the male/female image of God thing. I have been trying to see it in my girls. I know they long to be sought after. I know they want all of my attention. I know they want me to be interested in things that I do not care about, because they do. I just don't get it. Feel free to judge.
During the break Princess has slept in. This makes for a happy Princess. She is not a morning person. She needs her beauty rest. During the break she has been very sweet. Yesterday, Daddy was taking the trips on a "sidewalk" as we call them, and when he walked off with her brother she said "oh I will miss him" and when he returned she ran across the yard to hug and kiss him. SWEET. Tonight she took a late nap and is up way after everyone else. She is teaching me all sorts of things like.....
"you can make squishy cookie things with chocolate over the fire in the forest and they are called hot dogs."
"there are no sinks in the forest"
She can also recite the entire screenplay of any movie she's ever seen.
Girls are fun when there are no boys. Add boys, and we fight each other for their attention, why is that?
Big Girl is flying out to meet her father tomorrow. When I say meet, I mean meet. I've not spoken to him in 8 years, seen him in twice that. This is a rabbit trail, what I meant to say was she is leaving tomorrow and so I took her and her bff, also named Big Girl, we call her Other Big Girl, out for steaks. It was fun. We got to share my traumatic, "Oh crap I'm preggers and getting kicked out of Bible College" story. Laugh at the lunacy that is my family. We just had an all around fun time, and even ran into some old friends. She is flying directly back to school so it will be awhile before I see her again.
So, while I'm a little late to the party, at least I'm here, and I'm trying to figure it all out. And tomorrow when I get to play Kingdom for the 200th time since yesterday, I will enjoy it, because I can.
Friday, December 26, 2008
...I hope you enjoyed Christmas
because she is so out of here today, sneaking out the service entrance before today's sweetheart, Valentine's Day shows up. And what did we get for our $450 BILLION? Apparently dissatisfaction because today is about as busy as Black Friday. All of us waiting in line to return the "thoughtful" gifts that we received. When will we learn that what we want cannot be bought?
But buy is what we try every year. And shortly after lunch someone is crying. Guess that stuff we keep burdening ourselves with isn't really making us any happier. Now I will attest to some joy being given and received this year at our house. I got a Pampered Chef baking square, some pizza paddles and an Aerogrow. I was very joyful. But what I really wanted all of that for is for making bread, which will bring joy to us throughout the year.
Princess is very joyful, she received a Dollhouse, a Kingdom complete with a horse and "courage". I toppled the candelabra, luckily Boog got a firetruck and was able to rescue her kingdom. It was quite fun. Felpsy on the other hand was distraught from the lack of structure and schedule, lack of Wii time, lack of everything and had a rough day. The teens you'll all agree cannot be bought for, so they got cash, sue me I'm a horrible parent. Our nine year old was the most difficult, he still believes in Santa, but wants to be a big kid. We mixed it up a little, he got both cash and gifts, although not massive quantities of either.
Our favorite part of the Christmas Season, has never been under the tree. It's our Christmas Eve Eve dinner, and driving around looking at lights, and Christmas Eve services at church, and food that we only make at Christmas. It's the tradition. Which was the hardest part of being a foster parent without permanent placements. These kids come in with their own traditions, or no traditions at all, and why invest in someone else's tradition? Who even knows if we'll be here next year. I can remember about three Christmas presents, they were the same year and two of them were puppies. The other I remember because it was a hideous 80's outfit that is in all of my puppy pictures. Aside from that I remember Christmas Eve at grandma's, Christmas morning at home, Christmas afternoon at the other grandparents, and an evening of leftovers and board games. Christmas Eve dinner was soup, but we got the little crackers. We drew names so we only got one gift, which is another gift I remember all of us got a watch from Grandma the year we were in second grade. My uncle always wrapped his gift so that whomever received it needed a hammer and a crowbar, I don't recall that he ever gave a snowglobe.
So, I hope you enjoyed your Christmas, and if you haven't figured it out you cannot wrap love, or time, or grace, or salvation, and I hope you have all of that permeating your life.
But buy is what we try every year. And shortly after lunch someone is crying. Guess that stuff we keep burdening ourselves with isn't really making us any happier. Now I will attest to some joy being given and received this year at our house. I got a Pampered Chef baking square, some pizza paddles and an Aerogrow. I was very joyful. But what I really wanted all of that for is for making bread, which will bring joy to us throughout the year.
Princess is very joyful, she received a Dollhouse, a Kingdom complete with a horse and "courage". I toppled the candelabra, luckily Boog got a firetruck and was able to rescue her kingdom. It was quite fun. Felpsy on the other hand was distraught from the lack of structure and schedule, lack of Wii time, lack of everything and had a rough day. The teens you'll all agree cannot be bought for, so they got cash, sue me I'm a horrible parent. Our nine year old was the most difficult, he still believes in Santa, but wants to be a big kid. We mixed it up a little, he got both cash and gifts, although not massive quantities of either.
Our favorite part of the Christmas Season, has never been under the tree. It's our Christmas Eve Eve dinner, and driving around looking at lights, and Christmas Eve services at church, and food that we only make at Christmas. It's the tradition. Which was the hardest part of being a foster parent without permanent placements. These kids come in with their own traditions, or no traditions at all, and why invest in someone else's tradition? Who even knows if we'll be here next year. I can remember about three Christmas presents, they were the same year and two of them were puppies. The other I remember because it was a hideous 80's outfit that is in all of my puppy pictures. Aside from that I remember Christmas Eve at grandma's, Christmas morning at home, Christmas afternoon at the other grandparents, and an evening of leftovers and board games. Christmas Eve dinner was soup, but we got the little crackers. We drew names so we only got one gift, which is another gift I remember all of us got a watch from Grandma the year we were in second grade. My uncle always wrapped his gift so that whomever received it needed a hammer and a crowbar, I don't recall that he ever gave a snowglobe.
So, I hope you enjoyed your Christmas, and if you haven't figured it out you cannot wrap love, or time, or grace, or salvation, and I hope you have all of that permeating your life.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
...oh I hope I'm around for Armegeddon
I know, I know. DO NOT GO TO THE GROCERY STORE OF CHRISTMAS EVE. It should have been a commandment, but even God could not know the horror of it all. Even though I have it all together, there are some things that are important enough to break fake commandments. Ham Balls. Yep, that's right. Ham Balls.
We had our annual Christmas Eve Eve Dinner last night, and despite my quadruple batch of ham balls, we didn't have enough to sustain us through the weekend. So, to the store I go. BTW our party was fabu, as was the food, and it was great to see everybody, except Brandon, who knows I'm kidding. We like him too.
But, like I said, 12 Ham Balls does not get hubby and I through the weekend. So back to the grocer for mo meat, and croissants, because really who has that much butter on hand? You'd think that there was a one day only opening of this store where everything was 90% off. All 400 lanes had lines. Poor kid who was scanning the items in my lane looked as if he were about to lose it at any moment. The whole time I was thinking, this store was opened yesterday, and it will be opened on Friday, can we not live for 32 hours without access to it? I got my meat and some produce and got the heck out of there. It's likely that someone will be trampled before the night is over.
I just don't want to be around for an actual food emergency. Hurricane season will see our pantry stocked. Of course there is the argument that you shouldn't stock your freezer anytime you might be likely to bug out, but isn't that what coolers and the Residence Inn in San Antonio are for?
Anyway, calm down people, there will be food on Friday. As for me, next year I'm making six batches and having enough for three more on hand. And I'll be right back in line at the grocery store on Christmas Eve.
We had our annual Christmas Eve Eve Dinner last night, and despite my quadruple batch of ham balls, we didn't have enough to sustain us through the weekend. So, to the store I go. BTW our party was fabu, as was the food, and it was great to see everybody, except Brandon, who knows I'm kidding. We like him too.
But, like I said, 12 Ham Balls does not get hubby and I through the weekend. So back to the grocer for mo meat, and croissants, because really who has that much butter on hand? You'd think that there was a one day only opening of this store where everything was 90% off. All 400 lanes had lines. Poor kid who was scanning the items in my lane looked as if he were about to lose it at any moment. The whole time I was thinking, this store was opened yesterday, and it will be opened on Friday, can we not live for 32 hours without access to it? I got my meat and some produce and got the heck out of there. It's likely that someone will be trampled before the night is over.
I just don't want to be around for an actual food emergency. Hurricane season will see our pantry stocked. Of course there is the argument that you shouldn't stock your freezer anytime you might be likely to bug out, but isn't that what coolers and the Residence Inn in San Antonio are for?
Anyway, calm down people, there will be food on Friday. As for me, next year I'm making six batches and having enough for three more on hand. And I'll be right back in line at the grocery store on Christmas Eve.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
...have you seen your daughter's hair?
Mmmmm? Yes.
This was the question posed to me last week at church. Yes, Big Girl was sporting a rainbow mohawk. No, I don't care. Now it's Cherry Bomb, either in celebration of Christmas or of Al Gore's bestest invention, the internet and its ability to connect her with hair color not available in our local marketplace.
She's eighteen. Has no job, no immediate prospects for one, this is the one time in her life where she can get away with a Cherry Bomb mohawk. What concerns me is the miniskirts over the jeans, that one I don"t get. Was it just too close to call this morning when you were getting dressed? For goodness sake, make a decision. Skirt OR pants, not both.
I would much rather she come home with a rainbow mohawk than a guy with a rainbow mohawk, or a meth problem. And let's face it, were I to freak out about hair, and piercings, and clothing choices, my freaking out about meth would have little impact.
Of course she is completely oblivious to the current economic state our country is in and our own teachings regarding credit. All she really wants for Christmas is a student loan. You don't need a loan YOU NEED A JOB. But this falls under the category of not my problem, she really is a Big Girl and one day will reap this harvest of laziness. I could lecture, but I won't, I'll rant a little here because if I remember anything about being 18 is that parents have nothing to teach us.
Truth be told, her life works quite well for her. Why work when somebody will give you money not to? She does not recall the chaos that was my life 15 years ago. All that chaos was a result of many many poor decisions when I was 18. She doesn't realize it took twice as long to get to where I am because I had the baggage of those decisions to carry.
Right now she's not going to church or seeking God in any visible way. I think it sucks but if she's not being convicted in herself how am I going to do that for her. God will take her where he needs to to get her back. Just as He did with me. I can talk with her, pray for her, but I cannot make her get it. He will, in His time, for His glory.
This was the question posed to me last week at church. Yes, Big Girl was sporting a rainbow mohawk. No, I don't care. Now it's Cherry Bomb, either in celebration of Christmas or of Al Gore's bestest invention, the internet and its ability to connect her with hair color not available in our local marketplace.
She's eighteen. Has no job, no immediate prospects for one, this is the one time in her life where she can get away with a Cherry Bomb mohawk. What concerns me is the miniskirts over the jeans, that one I don"t get. Was it just too close to call this morning when you were getting dressed? For goodness sake, make a decision. Skirt OR pants, not both.
I would much rather she come home with a rainbow mohawk than a guy with a rainbow mohawk, or a meth problem. And let's face it, were I to freak out about hair, and piercings, and clothing choices, my freaking out about meth would have little impact.
Of course she is completely oblivious to the current economic state our country is in and our own teachings regarding credit. All she really wants for Christmas is a student loan. You don't need a loan YOU NEED A JOB. But this falls under the category of not my problem, she really is a Big Girl and one day will reap this harvest of laziness. I could lecture, but I won't, I'll rant a little here because if I remember anything about being 18 is that parents have nothing to teach us.
Truth be told, her life works quite well for her. Why work when somebody will give you money not to? She does not recall the chaos that was my life 15 years ago. All that chaos was a result of many many poor decisions when I was 18. She doesn't realize it took twice as long to get to where I am because I had the baggage of those decisions to carry.
Right now she's not going to church or seeking God in any visible way. I think it sucks but if she's not being convicted in herself how am I going to do that for her. God will take her where he needs to to get her back. Just as He did with me. I can talk with her, pray for her, but I cannot make her get it. He will, in His time, for His glory.
Friday, December 19, 2008
...I got my computer back, but not
Last week my computer grinded to a halt. Diagnosis:Virus' to the nth. Which sucks because the only thing I do is read blogs and play flood-it. Anyhoo, got it back, but now my power supply is bendy wendy. So mobile blogging it is.
I've been able to do limited stalking on my phone, but the experience is not the same. Oh well. You've missed a lot of fun on this end. Big Girl dyed the bathroom, I mean her hair Cherry Bomb. The trips had this fight....
A..."you're a butt"
B..."I'm not a butt, you're a butt"
Repeat ad naseum.
A..."if you call me a butt, I'm going to call you a butt"
B..."ooh i'm so scared that you're going to call me a butt cuz you're a butt."
A..."oh yeah butt"
B..."maaaaaaawwwwwwwm" insert inconsolable crying, "A called me a butt."
Again, repeat ad naseum.
Felpsy is cast free. We went in for a checkup, doc asked who did such a horrible job, I told him Bob put it on but Felpsy had done his best to destroy it. Anyway, we left without it.
Another interesting note, Felpsy developed Tourette's for a few days after watching the Hallmark movie of the season. The one correct thing he learned is that it is uncontrollable and incurable. That would be fine, if he actually had it. Luckily, he's forgotten it.
We have about 40 minutes left of freedom, then we're on break for EVER, still haven't found a "Wow" gift for Felpsy. He wanted movies, I'm afraid that not having a toy may be a problem. But am sticking to the three gift thing. Which means we're set for a birthday present for Princess.
Booger has developed an affinity for smelling things. One shouldn't have to say "stop sniffing me" more than once a day, but as it turns out one actually does.
We've got a church thing tonight. I overheard hubby on the phone with bff earlier discussing the wardrobe. I suppose that's good, just odd. And in case you're wondering, it's shorts and flip flops for at least us three. Yes, Christmas is less than a week away, got to love south Texas.
Therapist came by today for Felpsy, decided after nine weeks that she cannot therapize only one so we're, from here on out, doing 90 minute family sessions. I actually got the kitchen cleaned while she was here today, with 90 minute sessions i'll be able to clean the bathrooms as well, so exciting.
Our Annual Christmas Eve Eve dinner is coming, it's the most wonderful time of the year. I have 34 confirmed at this point, which means anywhere from 17 to 51 will show, hoping the weather is nice enough to throw some kids outside, even if we'd not converted our formal dining room into a bedroom, we don't have that kind of room.
I will share more after I get adequate computing capabilities (spell check) back. If I don't chat with you before have a very blessed Christmas.
I've been able to do limited stalking on my phone, but the experience is not the same. Oh well. You've missed a lot of fun on this end. Big Girl dyed the bathroom, I mean her hair Cherry Bomb. The trips had this fight....
A..."you're a butt"
B..."I'm not a butt, you're a butt"
Repeat ad naseum.
A..."if you call me a butt, I'm going to call you a butt"
B..."ooh i'm so scared that you're going to call me a butt cuz you're a butt."
A..."oh yeah butt"
B..."maaaaaaawwwwwwwm" insert inconsolable crying, "A called me a butt."
Again, repeat ad naseum.
Felpsy is cast free. We went in for a checkup, doc asked who did such a horrible job, I told him Bob put it on but Felpsy had done his best to destroy it. Anyway, we left without it.
Another interesting note, Felpsy developed Tourette's for a few days after watching the Hallmark movie of the season. The one correct thing he learned is that it is uncontrollable and incurable. That would be fine, if he actually had it. Luckily, he's forgotten it.
We have about 40 minutes left of freedom, then we're on break for EVER, still haven't found a "Wow" gift for Felpsy. He wanted movies, I'm afraid that not having a toy may be a problem. But am sticking to the three gift thing. Which means we're set for a birthday present for Princess.
Booger has developed an affinity for smelling things. One shouldn't have to say "stop sniffing me" more than once a day, but as it turns out one actually does.
We've got a church thing tonight. I overheard hubby on the phone with bff earlier discussing the wardrobe. I suppose that's good, just odd. And in case you're wondering, it's shorts and flip flops for at least us three. Yes, Christmas is less than a week away, got to love south Texas.
Therapist came by today for Felpsy, decided after nine weeks that she cannot therapize only one so we're, from here on out, doing 90 minute family sessions. I actually got the kitchen cleaned while she was here today, with 90 minute sessions i'll be able to clean the bathrooms as well, so exciting.
Our Annual Christmas Eve Eve dinner is coming, it's the most wonderful time of the year. I have 34 confirmed at this point, which means anywhere from 17 to 51 will show, hoping the weather is nice enough to throw some kids outside, even if we'd not converted our formal dining room into a bedroom, we don't have that kind of room.
I will share more after I get adequate computing capabilities (spell check) back. If I don't chat with you before have a very blessed Christmas.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
...we eat at Chelsea's, day oh
I love the remixed versions of the classics thru the ears of a four year old. Felpsy asked today why people sing songs about eating at Celsea's. I replied that I had never heard such a song. He was quite perturbed with me as I have it in my cd player not one, not two, but three different times. He was kind enough to sing it for me though. "Glo-o-o-o-ria's we eat at Chelsea's day-ay-oh"
And for an added bonus. Pick up the one about Hurdoff the Red, Red Nose Deer, I'm sure they have it on Itunes.
And for an added bonus. Pick up the one about Hurdoff the Red, Red Nose Deer, I'm sure they have it on Itunes.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
....we go over a few things
My husband has been bugging me incessantly casually mentioned once or twice that I am not fulfilling my blogging obligations to their fullest extent as of late. So, get yourself cozy, here's what you may have missed.
The UC visit.
Felpsy broke his arm, it took them almost a week to set, and he went home and took the plaster off.
I've discovered that limits are good when it comes to extreme couponing. Yesterday I got six boxes of cereal for under a dollar each. Not the granola-y kind either. Big boxes of sugar laden name brand fun. Had I had 40 coupons we may have been in trouble. 50% off no longer even gets me in the store. I'm running 80% at CVS even with buying snacks for the triplets at full price, (which is lots and it's killing my numbers). For example on Black Friday I got two sets of ear buds, a bottle of shampoo, a bottle of conditioner, three Hershey bars, three tubes of toothpaste. They ended up owing me $0.03 so I had to buy another candy bar. I also walked out of there with almost $30.00 in ECB's which allowed me the next week to buy almost two years worth of Cascade Gel Paks for about $0.75 a month. It would have been a lot less but I did the unthinkable and bought the Christmas scented ones for full price. And if there is another Seventh Generation product at a Walgreens in this town, let me know, I'm getting them for a buck or less.
I have not been running for almost a month now. Skipped that first one because I had a sinus infection and never went back. This was to be the week I was going to get back to it. Hahahaha.
Big Girl is home from college. She has survived her first semester away from the nest. And without a job. Her father found her and has been making up for the last eighteen years. She's flying to see him after Christmas and they along with half of my siblings are going to a concert together.
Big Boy is competing in a drum off this Friday for a spot in the worlds coolest band. Wahoo, more drumming.
I've learned, from a three year old, that if you say "shuty up" it's not the same as "shut up" and therefore you can't get in trouble for it. Also, no hitting does not mean any of the following:
No pulling hair
No grabbing
No pinching
No pushing
Each of these must be coverd separately to be covered it the most legalistic sense.
Not starting the washing machine does not get your clothes clean.
Radical got his first ever write up. He's in fourth grade. He was playing on the playground improperly. He was worried we'd be mad, he apparently hasn't been paying attention for the past five years. Improper playing doesn't even hit the radar.
I am remodeling the kitchen. Again. Not a big change, moving the dishwasher and adding counter space. Should be able to do it for cheap, yippee. Will be trading for the $10/50 Lowes coupons.
Booger was the victim of a random act of haircutting. It was kind of a mullet with sides, he's since been shorn. Boo hoo. I loved that hair.
Don't tell your kids anything you don't want the neighbors to know. We have a neighborhood stray that comes over to play with our babies. Boy do we now have way too much information. Also regarding strays, and this one in particular. I had been awfully annoyed with this situation. A lot of nights, right around dinner time, this seven year old girl would show up with a 40 ounce soda from the convenience store and a big bag o' Cheeto's. Here I am cooking dinner and telling my own kids not to snack and someone sends their kid over with enough junk to feed to world. I would confiscate and feed her dinner. This annoyed me. I even fought the urge to send her home a couple of times. Then one night, God smacked me when her parents showed up after we'd sat down, but before we went through the multiple "I need to pray"s. She wanted to sing the prayer songs with us before she left, "cuz it's fun and we don't get to do that at my house." Aaaaahhhhh.
Christmas is fun for me, I buy things, hide them, forget where I put them and am surprised when I find them. Totally fun.
And last but not least, whomever taught Princess to say "damit" should learn to control themselves. I say whomever, because I know it wasn't me.....
Hope that helps.
The UC visit.
Felpsy broke his arm, it took them almost a week to set, and he went home and took the plaster off.
I've discovered that limits are good when it comes to extreme couponing. Yesterday I got six boxes of cereal for under a dollar each. Not the granola-y kind either. Big boxes of sugar laden name brand fun. Had I had 40 coupons we may have been in trouble. 50% off no longer even gets me in the store. I'm running 80% at CVS even with buying snacks for the triplets at full price, (which is lots and it's killing my numbers). For example on Black Friday I got two sets of ear buds, a bottle of shampoo, a bottle of conditioner, three Hershey bars, three tubes of toothpaste. They ended up owing me $0.03 so I had to buy another candy bar. I also walked out of there with almost $30.00 in ECB's which allowed me the next week to buy almost two years worth of Cascade Gel Paks for about $0.75 a month. It would have been a lot less but I did the unthinkable and bought the Christmas scented ones for full price. And if there is another Seventh Generation product at a Walgreens in this town, let me know, I'm getting them for a buck or less.
I have not been running for almost a month now. Skipped that first one because I had a sinus infection and never went back. This was to be the week I was going to get back to it. Hahahaha.
Big Girl is home from college. She has survived her first semester away from the nest. And without a job. Her father found her and has been making up for the last eighteen years. She's flying to see him after Christmas and they along with half of my siblings are going to a concert together.
Big Boy is competing in a drum off this Friday for a spot in the worlds coolest band. Wahoo, more drumming.
I've learned, from a three year old, that if you say "shuty up" it's not the same as "shut up" and therefore you can't get in trouble for it. Also, no hitting does not mean any of the following:
No pulling hair
No grabbing
No pinching
No pushing
Each of these must be coverd separately to be covered it the most legalistic sense.
Not starting the washing machine does not get your clothes clean.
Radical got his first ever write up. He's in fourth grade. He was playing on the playground improperly. He was worried we'd be mad, he apparently hasn't been paying attention for the past five years. Improper playing doesn't even hit the radar.
I am remodeling the kitchen. Again. Not a big change, moving the dishwasher and adding counter space. Should be able to do it for cheap, yippee. Will be trading for the $10/50 Lowes coupons.
Booger was the victim of a random act of haircutting. It was kind of a mullet with sides, he's since been shorn. Boo hoo. I loved that hair.
Don't tell your kids anything you don't want the neighbors to know. We have a neighborhood stray that comes over to play with our babies. Boy do we now have way too much information. Also regarding strays, and this one in particular. I had been awfully annoyed with this situation. A lot of nights, right around dinner time, this seven year old girl would show up with a 40 ounce soda from the convenience store and a big bag o' Cheeto's. Here I am cooking dinner and telling my own kids not to snack and someone sends their kid over with enough junk to feed to world. I would confiscate and feed her dinner. This annoyed me. I even fought the urge to send her home a couple of times. Then one night, God smacked me when her parents showed up after we'd sat down, but before we went through the multiple "I need to pray"s. She wanted to sing the prayer songs with us before she left, "cuz it's fun and we don't get to do that at my house." Aaaaahhhhh.
Christmas is fun for me, I buy things, hide them, forget where I put them and am surprised when I find them. Totally fun.
And last but not least, whomever taught Princess to say "damit" should learn to control themselves. I say whomever, because I know it wasn't me.....
Hope that helps.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
...I got sent to collections
Hello, my name is Annie, I like stuff. I will be the first to admit that I am quite capable of being a financial failure. Get what I want, consequences be damned. This is my daily struggle. And I am proud to admit that for years I have done well. Buy something, use cash. Get a bill, like for electricity or doctor's visits, what not...I pay it. Right then and there.
Our electricity provider just sent us to collections. For a bill that was due on Wednesday, and marked paid by my bank on Tuesday, which for those of you who went to public school, WAS THE DAY BEFORE IT WAS EVEN DUE. I am personally offended. It was sent to collections on THE DAY IT WAS DUE. I'm sure they had to process that well before the end of business. I pay this bill electronically, but even if I didn't, give me a day for mail this busy holiday season. Were this not all bad enough, I only had 13 days from the time the bill was printed and mailed to me to pay it in the first place. Maybe it was late in coming to me. Like I said, I pay this particular bill electronically, so having gotten a bill or not, my bank would have sent them $300, just in case.
Cynical old me is wondering if this is some evil corporate trick to void my "contract" which they can alter at any point with cause, yet should I move to Timbuktu where they have no electricity I have to pay a cancellation fee. I'm wondering if this is the cause they are looking for.
Were it old me, I would figure they were justified in doing so. I would have figured that I probably overlooked it or ignored it, and it wouldn't have bothered me. But this is new me, and new me is on top of things financially. And this is the reason that I don't do credit. I'm sure that a $250 power bill is going to drop the ol' FICO down a bunch, which is fine, I'd prefer that thing to say 0 - you don't exist financially. Unlike Suze Orman, my valuation does not lie in my FICO score.
This is why we will always pay cash. For everything, forever. This may mean we don't move for a looooong time, this may also mean that we'll be even more careful with our money, knowing there is no card to save us. Which is ok, because we are already saved.
Our electricity provider just sent us to collections. For a bill that was due on Wednesday, and marked paid by my bank on Tuesday, which for those of you who went to public school, WAS THE DAY BEFORE IT WAS EVEN DUE. I am personally offended. It was sent to collections on THE DAY IT WAS DUE. I'm sure they had to process that well before the end of business. I pay this bill electronically, but even if I didn't, give me a day for mail this busy holiday season. Were this not all bad enough, I only had 13 days from the time the bill was printed and mailed to me to pay it in the first place. Maybe it was late in coming to me. Like I said, I pay this particular bill electronically, so having gotten a bill or not, my bank would have sent them $300, just in case.
Cynical old me is wondering if this is some evil corporate trick to void my "contract" which they can alter at any point with cause, yet should I move to Timbuktu where they have no electricity I have to pay a cancellation fee. I'm wondering if this is the cause they are looking for.
Were it old me, I would figure they were justified in doing so. I would have figured that I probably overlooked it or ignored it, and it wouldn't have bothered me. But this is new me, and new me is on top of things financially. And this is the reason that I don't do credit. I'm sure that a $250 power bill is going to drop the ol' FICO down a bunch, which is fine, I'd prefer that thing to say 0 - you don't exist financially. Unlike Suze Orman, my valuation does not lie in my FICO score.
This is why we will always pay cash. For everything, forever. This may mean we don't move for a looooong time, this may also mean that we'll be even more careful with our money, knowing there is no card to save us. Which is ok, because we are already saved.
Friday, December 5, 2008
...of fruits and frustration
Several weeks ago, I decided I have not been the most fruity lately. You know, not so loving, not so joyful, not so peaceful, not so patient, not so kind, not so good, or gentle, faithful, and definitely lacking in the self control department. So, I decided that I would assign myself a fruit for the week, and work on it. Here's how it's going.
Love went well, love never fails. I tried to tell all the kids every day that I loved them, even the drumming teen. This by far is the easiest, I just tend to get sidetracked and forget to tell others that I do indeed love them.
Joy, ahhh, coming off the success of love, this one was going to have to be hard. Satan is not big on self improvement. What brings me frustration? The particulars are not important, but the frustrations arrived by the truckload. Whiny kids, check. I took joy that I was their mother and that we were hand picked for each other by the God of creation. Sickness. Joyful we live in a place where medications are readily available. Especially the Nyquil.
Moving on to Peace. The kids were home from school for the week. Self improvement is never easy. We went swimming and wore the littles out, made it more peaceful. We disrupted the schedule and had family over, making it less.
The timing of Patience, coming when I needed it most. A very wise woman once told me never to pray for patience, the only way to get more is to have it tried more. I should have known. Not that I asked for it, per se, but the timing is impeccible. This week we had court. Patience is needed here. It's not like I've already been patient for four years or anything, but they are asking me to be patient some more. Now I am not wishing that the state terminates the rights of mama, consequences be damned. I want that they should terminate them correctly and permanently and without a way to have it appealed, I just wish it wouldn't take four years. Then Felpsy with his broken arm. Three days after we are still not in a cast. Apparently, it is not an urgent matter, but it's there on the list, taunting me. I also realize that it's going to require my patience to carry over into next week. Irony. I guess this work is never done.
Coming up is kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control. Kindness is going to be the worst. I'm kind, to people I know and love, and I'm not unkind to others, but I'm not kind either. It feels foreign. Since the last random act of kindness involving me, also involved a VHS tape, I'm going to have to find another way.
I'll let you know how it all goes.
Love went well, love never fails. I tried to tell all the kids every day that I loved them, even the drumming teen. This by far is the easiest, I just tend to get sidetracked and forget to tell others that I do indeed love them.
Joy, ahhh, coming off the success of love, this one was going to have to be hard. Satan is not big on self improvement. What brings me frustration? The particulars are not important, but the frustrations arrived by the truckload. Whiny kids, check. I took joy that I was their mother and that we were hand picked for each other by the God of creation. Sickness. Joyful we live in a place where medications are readily available. Especially the Nyquil.
Moving on to Peace. The kids were home from school for the week. Self improvement is never easy. We went swimming and wore the littles out, made it more peaceful. We disrupted the schedule and had family over, making it less.
The timing of Patience, coming when I needed it most. A very wise woman once told me never to pray for patience, the only way to get more is to have it tried more. I should have known. Not that I asked for it, per se, but the timing is impeccible. This week we had court. Patience is needed here. It's not like I've already been patient for four years or anything, but they are asking me to be patient some more. Now I am not wishing that the state terminates the rights of mama, consequences be damned. I want that they should terminate them correctly and permanently and without a way to have it appealed, I just wish it wouldn't take four years. Then Felpsy with his broken arm. Three days after we are still not in a cast. Apparently, it is not an urgent matter, but it's there on the list, taunting me. I also realize that it's going to require my patience to carry over into next week. Irony. I guess this work is never done.
Coming up is kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control. Kindness is going to be the worst. I'm kind, to people I know and love, and I'm not unkind to others, but I'm not kind either. It feels foreign. Since the last random act of kindness involving me, also involved a VHS tape, I'm going to have to find another way.
I'll let you know how it all goes.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
...We're off to see the wizard
Again, well, not us personally per se, but it's a court day. Our lives should not change significantly today. There are so many people involved and so many opinions and suggestions as to what is going to happen. Who knows? One camp says it's going their way, the other camp thinks it's going their way. We have almost four years of legal precedence going our way. But as you all know anything can and does happen.
We've opted not to go to court. Seven hours round trip for a 2:00 hearing that will not negatively impact us was not how we chose to spend our Wednesday. Which is good, because I will be taking Felpsy to the orthopedist today to have a broken humorous set. I have a feeling that the only thing humorous about the whole thing is going to be the actual bone. All of you who know him, know that six weeks of limited activity is going to be a challenge.
Not that I want him to be hurt, but it might well suit our missing eighteen months of dependence. He's been fully capable since the day he walked into our lives. Now, he's going to need to rely on me for some things. Here's to hoping.
So, say a little prayer for our court case. Say another for our medical issues. Say another for our mental health. Also, keep Mama in your prayers as well, she really believes that tomorrow is going to go her way, and according to the grapevine not only will it not be status quo, they are finally going to start pressing some issues.
Hugs and kisses
We've opted not to go to court. Seven hours round trip for a 2:00 hearing that will not negatively impact us was not how we chose to spend our Wednesday. Which is good, because I will be taking Felpsy to the orthopedist today to have a broken humorous set. I have a feeling that the only thing humorous about the whole thing is going to be the actual bone. All of you who know him, know that six weeks of limited activity is going to be a challenge.
Not that I want him to be hurt, but it might well suit our missing eighteen months of dependence. He's been fully capable since the day he walked into our lives. Now, he's going to need to rely on me for some things. Here's to hoping.
So, say a little prayer for our court case. Say another for our medical issues. Say another for our mental health. Also, keep Mama in your prayers as well, she really believes that tomorrow is going to go her way, and according to the grapevine not only will it not be status quo, they are finally going to start pressing some issues.
Hugs and kisses
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
...He is
This past weekend has been filled with the anxiety of fostering. Court is coming, while one would think that after four years of nothing happening I would be OK. I'm not. It's about time something should happen. And change is not always what you'd like it to be. I want something to happen. It scares me. I often go back to Moses during times like these. And despite rereading it a hundred times over the years, each time I find something new.
Moses' mother could not care for him at home. It was not that she didn't love him, she did, A LOT. But due to circumstances she could not control, that baby could not live in her house. In order to save his life, she had to let him go.
The Pharaoh had ordered all the boy babies to be killed. Probably thrown into to the Nile and drown. The very river that had taken so many lives was used to save this child. And one day an unsuspecting daughter of the Pharaoh, found a baby a claimed him as her own in order to save his life.
Fast forward eighty years. That baby is an old man tending his flock in the desert. A stranger in a strange land. A man living in exile. Hiding from his past. A man whose life was saved, is called upon to save the lives of others and bring them home. His question? Who am I that you should send me?
I AM THAT I AM.
Who I am is not a factor in this story. Just a girl, saved from a certain death, minding her own business called upon to claim three babies as her own, called upon to bring them home. What happens in court is beyond my control. We have come to understand that the law is not I AM.
Last night when I put them to bed, I told my husband that I cannot believe that this will not be my life. It may be that the very thing that brought these children to me, will be the thing that takes them from me. I AM will be with me not matter what. I AM will be with them no matter what.
I cannot be worried about what happens on a random Tuesday. THIS is the day that the Lord has made. This day, I draw them out of the water and claim them as my own. I AM the judge. I AM the jury. I AM the protector of the children. And I have to believe that either He IS or He isn't.
Moses' mother could not care for him at home. It was not that she didn't love him, she did, A LOT. But due to circumstances she could not control, that baby could not live in her house. In order to save his life, she had to let him go.
The Pharaoh had ordered all the boy babies to be killed. Probably thrown into to the Nile and drown. The very river that had taken so many lives was used to save this child. And one day an unsuspecting daughter of the Pharaoh, found a baby a claimed him as her own in order to save his life.
Fast forward eighty years. That baby is an old man tending his flock in the desert. A stranger in a strange land. A man living in exile. Hiding from his past. A man whose life was saved, is called upon to save the lives of others and bring them home. His question? Who am I that you should send me?
I AM THAT I AM.
Who I am is not a factor in this story. Just a girl, saved from a certain death, minding her own business called upon to claim three babies as her own, called upon to bring them home. What happens in court is beyond my control. We have come to understand that the law is not I AM.
Last night when I put them to bed, I told my husband that I cannot believe that this will not be my life. It may be that the very thing that brought these children to me, will be the thing that takes them from me. I AM will be with me not matter what. I AM will be with them no matter what.
I cannot be worried about what happens on a random Tuesday. THIS is the day that the Lord has made. This day, I draw them out of the water and claim them as my own. I AM the judge. I AM the jury. I AM the protector of the children. And I have to believe that either He IS or He isn't.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
...I'm totally excited.
Which is opposite of what I probably should be. The grocery store, from last spring, that is by my house and has been empty for three years, and I want to do something with......it sold today. Yippee. You yokels will be *gasp* shocked to learn they are turning it into a strip mall, and naming it La sumthin another. First of all, look south, there is a vacant strip mall. Look east, there is a vacant strip mall. Go up to the spid - vacant stores for miles and miles.
Yet, I am excited. Because.....someone will be paying for improvements,getting out the rats and possum and I won't have to use all 45,000 s.f. at once. I can start with my 5K or so, and slowly take over the world. (Insert evil laughter.)
And best of all, NO DEBT. Isn't God good?
If that doesn't work out, I'm thinking pancakes, all day every day, from all over the world...I wonder why no one has thought of that.
Yet, I am excited. Because.....someone will be paying for improvements,
And best of all, NO DEBT. Isn't God good?
If that doesn't work out, I'm thinking pancakes, all day every day, from all over the world...I wonder why no one has thought of that.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
...oh dang I forgot to write this one down, but it's top priority
These were erroneously left off of my Christmas list. This if it's the one behind the desk, and I think it is, because the other is vertical, or this. I am having issue with authenticity and conforming sizes. The horizontal Awesomeness is 20x23 Conformity is 16x20 I would prefer they match, size wise. Why do they have to be so difficult? But I get bonus points, because this does not involve a trip to the store. (you love me).
Also, this movie. Bueller?
Don't you just love Christmas?
And for the giving side of the holiday, hubby and I found the perfect Princess gift today. A doll that is the spitting image of our little HRM. Of course, we also bought the castle which comes with it's own princess, we decided that the princess will be the BFF, otherwise the little blondie was getting das boot. I will post pictures, once I hobble up to the attic to get presents to wrap. Also, wish us luck, it is the first year of the Wise Men gifting. Jesus got three, you get three. I'm repping Susie for that one, I think it was her that gave me the idea. We had to instill some limits this year, we are waaaaay to generous, and they end up playing with the boxes which is frustrating. So, three awesome presents coming your way.
Also, this movie. Bueller?
Don't you just love Christmas?
And for the giving side of the holiday, hubby and I found the perfect Princess gift today. A doll that is the spitting image of our little HRM. Of course, we also bought the castle which comes with it's own princess, we decided that the princess will be the BFF, otherwise the little blondie was getting das boot. I will post pictures, once I hobble up to the attic to get presents to wrap. Also, wish us luck, it is the first year of the Wise Men gifting. Jesus got three, you get three. I'm repping Susie for that one, I think it was her that gave me the idea. We had to instill some limits this year, we are waaaaay to generous, and they end up playing with the boxes which is frustrating. So, three awesome presents coming your way.
...the music died.
Ok, it's a game at musicoutfitters.com you search your year of graduation and bold the songs you like, strike through the songs you hate, and tell us your memories.
Here's mine
1. Look Away, Chicago Really?
2. My Prerogative, Bobby Brown
3. Every Rose Has Its Thorn, Poison Every cowboy sings a sad, sad song....
4. Straight Up, Paula Abdul
5. Miss You Much, Janet Jackson
6. Cold Hearted, Paula Abdul see Paula, you can do it. hahahahahahaha
7.Wind Beneath My Wings, Bette Midler I am so much cooler than you...and might I add, BLARG
8. Girl You Know Its True, Milli Vanilli ooh, ooh, ooh, I love you.
9. Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird, Will To Power
10. Giving You The Best That I Got, Anita Baker
11. Right Here Waiting, Richard Marx
12. Waiting For A Star To Fall, Boy Meets Girl
13. Lost In Your Eyes, Debbie Gibson
14. Don't Wanna Lose You, Gloria Estefan
15. Heaven, Warrant
16. Girl I'm Gonna Miss You, Milli Vanilli
17. The Look, Roxette
18. She Drives Me Crazy, Fine Young Cannibals
19. On Our Own, Bobby Brown
20. Two Hearts, Phil Collins
21. Blame It On The Rain, Milli Vanilli the ultimate in personal responsibility....
22. Listen To Your Heart, Roxette
23. I'll Be There For You, Bon Jovi
24. If You Don't Know Me By Now, Simply Red
25. Like A Prayer, Madonna
26. I'll Be Loving You (Forever), New Kids On The Block
27. How Can I Fall?, Breathe
28. Baby Don't Forget My Number, Milli Vanilli time for me to get a fake music career
29. Toy Solider, Martika
30. Forever Your Girl, Paula Abdul
31. The Living Years, Mike + the Mechanics
32. Eternal Flame, The Bangles
33. Wild Thing, Tone Loc
34. When I See You Smile, Bad English
35. If I Could Turn Back Time, Cher
36. Buffalo Stance, Neneh Cherry
37. When I'm With You, Sheriff
38. Don't Rush Me, Taylor Dayne
39. Born To Be My Baby, Bon Jovi
40. Good Thing, Fine Young Cannibals
41. The Lover In Me, Sheena Easton
42. Bust A Move, Young M.C.
43. Once Bitten, Twice Shy, Great White
44. Batdance, Prince I have zero recollection of this
45. Rock On, Michael Damian
46. Real Lov, Jody Watley
47. Love Shack, B-52's tin roof, rusted
48. Every Little Step, Bobby Brown
49. Hangin' Tough, New Kids On The Block
50. My Heart Can't Tell You No, Rod Stewart
51. So Alive, Love and Rockets
52. You Got It (The Right Stuff), New Kids On The Block
53. Armageddon It, Def Leppard
54. Satisfied, Richard Marx
55. Express Yourself, Madonna
56. I Like It, Dino
57. Soldier Of Love, Donny Osmond where was I? again zero recollection
58. Sowing The Seeds Of Love, Tears For Fears
59. Cherish, Madonna
60. When The Children Cry, White Lion
61. 18 And Life, Skid Row
62. I Don't Want Your Love, Duran Duran
63. Second Chances, .38 Special
64. The Way You Love Me, Karyn White
65. Funky Cold Medina, Tone Loc
66. In Your Room, Bangles
67. Miss You Like Crazy, Natalie Cole
68. Love Song, Cure
69. Secret Rendesvous, Karyn White
70. Angel Eyes, Jeff Healey Band
71. Patience, Guns N' Roses
72. Walk On Water, Eddie Money
73. Cover Girl, New Kids On The Block
74. Welcom To The Jungle, Guns N' Roses
75. Shower Me With Your Love, Surface
76. Stand, R.E.M. in the place where you are, now face north. Brilliant.
77. Close My Eyes Forever, Lita Ford
78. All This Time, Tiffany
79. After All, Cher and Peter Cetera
80. Roni, Bobby Brown
81. Love In An Elevator, Aerosmith
82. Lay Your Hands On Me, Bon Jovi
83. This Promise, When In Rome
84. What I Am, Edie Brickell and The New Bohemians
85. I Remember Holding You, Boys Club and yet I don't remember this song....
86. Paradise City, Guns N' Roses
87. Iwanna Have Some Fun, Samantha Fox
88. She Wants To Dance With Me, Rick Astley
89. Dreamin', Vanessa Williams
90. It's No Crime, Babyface
91. Poison, Alice Cooper
92. This Time I Know It's For Real, Donna Summer
93. Smooth Criminal, Michael Jackson Annie are you OK? Are you OK, Annie?
94. Heavan Help Me, Deon Estus
95. Rock Wit'cha, Bobby Brown
96. Thinking Of You, Sa-fire
97. What You Don't Know, Expose
98. Surrender To Me, Ann Wilson and Robin Zander
99. The End Of The Innocence, Don Henley 99? How is that even possible. Well I guess I'd rather have staying power.
100. Keep On Movin', Soul II Soul
OK so I don't know most of this, I guess music wasn't big in my town of 25. Maybe I'll try another year, I'm just upset about Don Henley's poor showing......
Here's mine
1. Look Away, Chicago Really?
2. My Prerogative, Bobby Brown
3. Every Rose Has Its Thorn, Poison Every cowboy sings a sad, sad song....
4. Straight Up, Paula Abdul
5. Miss You Much, Janet Jackson
6. Cold Hearted, Paula Abdul see Paula, you can do it. hahahahahahaha
7.
8. Girl You Know Its True, Milli Vanilli ooh, ooh, ooh, I love you.
9. Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird, Will To Power
10. Giving You The Best That I Got, Anita Baker
11. Right Here Waiting, Richard Marx
12. Waiting For A Star To Fall, Boy Meets Girl
13. Lost In Your Eyes, Debbie Gibson
14. Don't Wanna Lose You, Gloria Estefan
15. Heaven, Warrant
16. Girl I'm Gonna Miss You, Milli Vanilli
17. The Look, Roxette
18. She Drives Me Crazy, Fine Young Cannibals
19. On Our Own, Bobby Brown
20. Two Hearts, Phil Collins
21. Blame It On The Rain, Milli Vanilli the ultimate in personal responsibility....
22. Listen To Your Heart, Roxette
23. I'll Be There For You, Bon Jovi
24. If You Don't Know Me By Now, Simply Red
25. Like A Prayer, Madonna
26. I'll Be Loving You (Forever), New Kids On The Block
27. How Can I Fall?, Breathe
28. Baby Don't Forget My Number, Milli Vanilli time for me to get a fake music career
29. Toy Solider, Martika
30. Forever Your Girl, Paula Abdul
31. The Living Years, Mike + the Mechanics
32. Eternal Flame, The Bangles
33. Wild Thing, Tone Loc
34. When I See You Smile, Bad English
35. If I Could Turn Back Time, Cher
36. Buffalo Stance, Neneh Cherry
37. When I'm With You, Sheriff
38. Don't Rush Me, Taylor Dayne
39. Born To Be My Baby, Bon Jovi
40. Good Thing, Fine Young Cannibals
41. The Lover In Me, Sheena Easton
42. Bust A Move, Young M.C.
43. Once Bitten, Twice Shy, Great White
44. Batdance, Prince I have zero recollection of this
45. Rock On, Michael Damian
46. Real Lov, Jody Watley
47. Love Shack, B-52's tin roof, rusted
48. Every Little Step, Bobby Brown
49. Hangin' Tough, New Kids On The Block
50. My Heart Can't Tell You No, Rod Stewart
51. So Alive, Love and Rockets
52. You Got It (The Right Stuff), New Kids On The Block
53. Armageddon It, Def Leppard
54. Satisfied, Richard Marx
55. Express Yourself, Madonna
56. I Like It, Dino
57. Soldier Of Love, Donny Osmond where was I? again zero recollection
58. Sowing The Seeds Of Love, Tears For Fears
59. Cherish, Madonna
60. When The Children Cry, White Lion
61. 18 And Life, Skid Row
62. I Don't Want Your Love, Duran Duran
63. Second Chances, .38 Special
64. The Way You Love Me, Karyn White
65. Funky Cold Medina, Tone Loc
66. In Your Room, Bangles
67. Miss You Like Crazy, Natalie Cole
68. Love Song, Cure
69. Secret Rendesvous, Karyn White
70. Angel Eyes, Jeff Healey Band
71. Patience, Guns N' Roses
72. Walk On Water, Eddie Money
73. Cover Girl, New Kids On The Block
74. Welcom To The Jungle, Guns N' Roses
75. Shower Me With Your Love, Surface
76. Stand, R.E.M. in the place where you are, now face north. Brilliant.
77. Close My Eyes Forever, Lita Ford
78. All This Time, Tiffany
79. After All, Cher and Peter Cetera
80. Roni, Bobby Brown
81. Love In An Elevator, Aerosmith
82. Lay Your Hands On Me, Bon Jovi
83. This Promise, When In Rome
84. What I Am, Edie Brickell and The New Bohemians
85. I Remember Holding You, Boys Club and yet I don't remember this song....
86. Paradise City, Guns N' Roses
87. Iwanna Have Some Fun, Samantha Fox
88. She Wants To Dance With Me, Rick Astley
89. Dreamin', Vanessa Williams
90. It's No Crime, Babyface
91. Poison, Alice Cooper
92. This Time I Know It's For Real, Donna Summer
93. Smooth Criminal, Michael Jackson Annie are you OK? Are you OK, Annie?
94. Heavan Help Me, Deon Estus
95. Rock Wit'cha, Bobby Brown
96. Thinking Of You, Sa-fire
97. What You Don't Know, Expose
98. Surrender To Me, Ann Wilson and Robin Zander
99. The End Of The Innocence, Don Henley 99? How is that even possible. Well I guess I'd rather have staying power.
100. Keep On Movin', Soul II Soul
OK so I don't know most of this, I guess music wasn't big in my town of 25. Maybe I'll try another year, I'm just upset about Don Henley's poor showing......
Monday, November 17, 2008
...you must have been mistaken
That wasn't me at McDonald's today. That wasn't my kid yellin' for "y'all guys" to "shut up" because he was singing his "Jesus songs". Nope, you must have been mistaken.
That wasn't my little girl interrupting your prayer time to see if your kids wanted to trade Happy Meal toys. That wasn't us.
It wasn't me moving every 15 minutes to stay in the sun. It wasn't. It wasn't me freezing even though I had on long pants, long socks, real shoes, a long sleeve shirt and a jacket.
It wasn't my kid that pointed out to your kid that they'd probably be safer eating with unwashed hands than washing them in the playland restroom. Nope, those kids weren't mine. My kids wouldn't tell your kids that public restrooms are "nasty."
Nope, we stayed home and watched cartoons instead of sitting in a playground and watching the exact same ones that we can't sit still through at home. So, you must have been mistaken.
That wasn't my little girl interrupting your prayer time to see if your kids wanted to trade Happy Meal toys. That wasn't us.
It wasn't me moving every 15 minutes to stay in the sun. It wasn't. It wasn't me freezing even though I had on long pants, long socks, real shoes, a long sleeve shirt and a jacket.
It wasn't my kid that pointed out to your kid that they'd probably be safer eating with unwashed hands than washing them in the playland restroom. Nope, those kids weren't mine. My kids wouldn't tell your kids that public restrooms are "nasty."
Nope, we stayed home and watched cartoons instead of sitting in a playground and watching the exact same ones that we can't sit still through at home. So, you must have been mistaken.
Friday, November 14, 2008
....of my favorite things
Susie had this up, and I so love these, so I'm jumping in.
8 Favorite TV shows
1. How I Met Your Mother
2. CSI Vegas
3. Criminal Minds
4. The Amazing Race
5. The Unit
6. Life
7. My Own Worst Enemy
8. Big Bang Theory
8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Lupo's in Vegas
2. Texas Roadhouse
3. HuDat
4. Hester's
5. Quizno's
6. Arby's for the curly fries
7. Chinois in Vegas
That's gonna be it, I also go to McD's for Fat Food, but it's more of an addiction than a favorite culinary experience. I'm cheap and I love to cook, so most times I find eating out to be not worth it.
8 Things that happened today
1. Booger answered a telemarketing call, was upset that they wanted to talk to Dad. Felpsy got on to tell them Dad wasn't home. He asked the caller if she was a girl, and then informed said girl that Daddy doesn't talk to girls unless they are his wife.
2. Ran over Princess with a shopping cart when she flopped at the notion that there would be no gum purchased today.
3. Honked Booger's nose.
4. Bath's x 3
5. CVS'd got a $4.00 bottle of shampoo for free, and $2 ECB's back.
6. Pancakes, Yummo
7. Tasha was not on Back Yardigans, it may be the end of days.
8. I noticed the inside of my microwave is melting. That can't be good.
8 Things I'm looking Forward to.....
1. Adopting my babies, which will mean I no longer have to....
a. Have people in my house, looking through my fridge, medicine cabinet, laundry room, closets, back yard, or whatever else they want to look for.
b. paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork.
c. rely on Medicaid and their stupid rules for providing health care for my kids.
d. having to call and check in whenever I want to go somewhere with my kids, even if it's the pool 15 minutes from my house that happens to be in another county.
2. Lunch
3. Thanksgiving
4. Paying off the house
5. 2012
6. Cooler weather
7. The day they invent the patch for kids, would like them to have them for Tylenol, Ibuprofen, antibiotics, and cough suppressant.
8. NAPTIME
This is a free for all, let me know if you join so I can go see.
8 Favorite TV shows
1. How I Met Your Mother
2. CSI Vegas
3. Criminal Minds
4. The Amazing Race
5. The Unit
6. Life
7. My Own Worst Enemy
8. Big Bang Theory
8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Lupo's in Vegas
2. Texas Roadhouse
3. HuDat
4. Hester's
5. Quizno's
6. Arby's for the curly fries
7. Chinois in Vegas
That's gonna be it, I also go to McD's for Fat Food, but it's more of an addiction than a favorite culinary experience. I'm cheap and I love to cook, so most times I find eating out to be not worth it.
8 Things that happened today
1. Booger answered a telemarketing call, was upset that they wanted to talk to Dad. Felpsy got on to tell them Dad wasn't home. He asked the caller if she was a girl, and then informed said girl that Daddy doesn't talk to girls unless they are his wife.
2. Ran over Princess with a shopping cart when she flopped at the notion that there would be no gum purchased today.
3. Honked Booger's nose.
4. Bath's x 3
5. CVS'd got a $4.00 bottle of shampoo for free, and $2 ECB's back.
6. Pancakes, Yummo
7. Tasha was not on Back Yardigans, it may be the end of days.
8. I noticed the inside of my microwave is melting. That can't be good.
8 Things I'm looking Forward to.....
1. Adopting my babies, which will mean I no longer have to....
a. Have people in my house, looking through my fridge, medicine cabinet, laundry room, closets, back yard, or whatever else they want to look for.
b. paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork.
c. rely on Medicaid and their stupid rules for providing health care for my kids.
d. having to call and check in whenever I want to go somewhere with my kids, even if it's the pool 15 minutes from my house that happens to be in another county.
2. Lunch
3. Thanksgiving
4. Paying off the house
5. 2012
6. Cooler weather
7. The day they invent the patch for kids, would like them to have them for Tylenol, Ibuprofen, antibiotics, and cough suppressant.
8. NAPTIME
This is a free for all, let me know if you join so I can go see.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thought Tools #46 - Did Moses Marry a Man?
Did Moses Marry a Man?
November 13th, 2008 15th day of Cheshvan, 5769 Issue # 46
While I was still a young child, my parents repeatedly asked, “Do you know why God gave you two ears and only one mouth?” And before I could reply, they would remind me to listen twice as much as I spoke.
Later, parents and teachers taught me that before I could be original and creative, I first needed to learn and value the wisdom of those who preceded me. My father also practiced this. He even learned German in order to read in the original one of the great 19th century transmitters of ancient Jewish wisdom, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch.
One of Rabbi Hirsch’s specialties was pointing out what looks like incorrect gender usage in the Bible. Hebrew nouns, pronouns, adjectives and verbs communicate gender. For instance, field - SaDeH -is a masculine noun, whereas city –IR –is a feminine noun. Rabbi Hirsch taught that these categories are not happenstance and how apparent grammatical “mistakes” in the Bible are actually the equivalent of flashing red lights that should cause us to stop, ask questions, and gain wisdom.
When I say, “You need a rabbi” it is often because English translations clean up the “errors” causing the lesson to be lost. In my Genesis Journeys series, my mission is to return these valuable lessons to those who can’t learn the Bible in the original.
What do I mean? Well, after fleeing Egypt as a young man, Moses meets the daughters of Jethro by the well. The problem is that the pronouns used in referring to these women, repeatedly flip gender.
Take a look at this:
And the shepherds came and chased them (masculine);
and Moses arose and saved them (feminine);and he gave their (masculine) sheep water.
Exodus 2:17
Obviously Jethro’s daughters were female and deserved feminine pronouns. Moses eventually even marries one of them. Needless to say, God did not commit a grammatical error. Therefore we can know that in this passage, God is not teaching us history but providing information that can enhance our lives.
These shepherds were not gentlemen. They chased the girls away because they were stronger, feeling no sense of shame at abusing girls. The masculine pronoun tells us that they treated them exactly as they would have treated men. From our perspective, their bullying would have been wrong against men too, but is even worse because of the
victims’ gender.
By contrast, Moses recognized an obligation to protect the women, as the pronoun tells us. However like most interactions between men and women, there was potential psychological impact. Whenever a man rescues a woman from trouble he gains an emotional window when he can take advantage of her. So when Moses gave water to the girls’ sheep, the masculine pronoun informs us that he was careful to do so with the same attitude that he would have had he been helping a group of guys. He was being genuinely chivalrous, not trying to score points.
We like to pretend that women and men in the 21st century live under new and liberating rules. There would be far fewer tears and much less heartbreak if this was true.
This verse helped me teach my teenage son about his choice of being a knave or a knight. It helped me teach my daughters the necessity of monitoring their emotions carefully and guarding against being manipulated. Knowing when you are emotionally vulnerable makes you less so.
You too can use this information to open a dinner conversation with your son and daughter about male behavior. Maybe it’s even a conversation you or I need to have with ourselves.
Although he died before my father was born, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch saved my father’s life. Trapped as a student in Lithuania as it was overrun by the Nazis, he used the German language skills that he learned studying Rabbi Hirsch’s teachings to convince a Nazi official to grant him an exit visa. He then fled to Switzerland. But the Biblical lessons that Rabbi Hirsch and other Torah transmitters teach are life saving in many ways. Not least of these is helping us to understand unchanging human nature; particularly our own.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
....SERIOUSLY??????
I was watching the Today show I had DVR'd yesterday, I had wandered through when the title at the bottom said "Does Motivation Hurt Kids" or something similar. Surprisingly, the "expert" said "all kids don't deserve trophies". Preach it. I am sorry to say there are some children who need to be left behind.
But the thing that got me was, the expert said that colleges now have people on staff who deal exclusively with helicopter parents. WHAT? THE? FRICK?
Even worse, these parents are now interfering with salary negotiations. It's about time for me to move to my compound in Alaska, because the end days are upon us!
But the thing that got me was, the expert said that colleges now have people on staff who deal exclusively with helicopter parents. WHAT? THE? FRICK?
Even worse, these parents are now interfering with salary negotiations. It's about time for me to move to my compound in Alaska, because the end days are upon us!
...not the change I'm looking for
This really sucks. And not in the good way. I hope that all of you who voted blue will be happy with my money. I'd have been happy to give it to you, but when it's forcibly taken, that's called stealing. And stealing is bad.
While we're at it, let's think about what this country would be like if we were built on bail outs.....
The Pony Express bail out
The dirigible bail out
The phone operator bail out
The rotary dial bail out
The transatlantic passenger ship bail out
Even the best ideas evolve into not the best ideas. Would it suck if GM went under. Yep, but guess what, they have not been productive for years. I don't know if it's management or regulation, or what, but they are not building cars that American's want.
As for the airlines, it's time for a major overhaul. Let's combine some routes, I don't know how many times I've flown IAH to DEN in a plane where at least a third of the plane was empty, and yet when I booked my ticket I had three flights arriving within an hour of each other to choose from. Hey, here's an idea, let's pack one plane.
Can you imagine what the world would be like if all of our correspondence still had to go via horses? It was a great idea a billion years ago, now there's a little thing called txt. Even email is so last year anymore. I want my flying car, I want to have a car that doesn't look exactly like every other car on the road. I want the airlines to figure out how to get me from point A to point B and not take me through points P, F and G in the mean time. I'll pay extra, I would rather get there than sit in Bush International waiting for the plane to get in from Shreveport. And if I can't get on a plane without my bag, why is it that my bag isn't always on my plane? There has to be a better way, but just about every industry out there is the 40 year old living in mom's basement. He hasn't had to come up with a better idea, someone is still feeding him.
Yes, the car industry will impact the steel workers and the cow ranchers and the printers and the advertisers and the turn signal makers. Yet, what are we giving up to keep living in mom's basement? I'd be happy to use the leather for some really awesome shoes, and I'll eat the cow. I'm sure that instead of writing car commercials the advertising agencies can go back to forcing parents to explain to their five year olds that they should not be having an "organic experience" while washing their hair. (Thanks by the way) My point here is that our Founding Father's would not have stood for us living in the basement, they would have told us to get our butt's out there and figure something out because this is not what America was meant to be.
While we're at it, let's think about what this country would be like if we were built on bail outs.....
The Pony Express bail out
The dirigible bail out
The phone operator bail out
The rotary dial bail out
The transatlantic passenger ship bail out
Even the best ideas evolve into not the best ideas. Would it suck if GM went under. Yep, but guess what, they have not been productive for years. I don't know if it's management or regulation, or what, but they are not building cars that American's want.
As for the airlines, it's time for a major overhaul. Let's combine some routes, I don't know how many times I've flown IAH to DEN in a plane where at least a third of the plane was empty, and yet when I booked my ticket I had three flights arriving within an hour of each other to choose from. Hey, here's an idea, let's pack one plane.
Can you imagine what the world would be like if all of our correspondence still had to go via horses? It was a great idea a billion years ago, now there's a little thing called txt. Even email is so last year anymore. I want my flying car, I want to have a car that doesn't look exactly like every other car on the road. I want the airlines to figure out how to get me from point A to point B and not take me through points P, F and G in the mean time. I'll pay extra, I would rather get there than sit in Bush International waiting for the plane to get in from Shreveport. And if I can't get on a plane without my bag, why is it that my bag isn't always on my plane? There has to be a better way, but just about every industry out there is the 40 year old living in mom's basement. He hasn't had to come up with a better idea, someone is still feeding him.
Yes, the car industry will impact the steel workers and the cow ranchers and the printers and the advertisers and the turn signal makers. Yet, what are we giving up to keep living in mom's basement? I'd be happy to use the leather for some really awesome shoes, and I'll eat the cow. I'm sure that instead of writing car commercials the advertising agencies can go back to forcing parents to explain to their five year olds that they should not be having an "organic experience" while washing their hair. (Thanks by the way) My point here is that our Founding Father's would not have stood for us living in the basement, they would have told us to get our butt's out there and figure something out because this is not what America was meant to be.
...I communicate the most effective way I know how
Rule Number 1 in all things legal....if it isn't in writing it didn't happen. So, here is my Christmas list, in writing. You know who I'm talking to.....
Pampered Chef Stone's I'm going to need 2. If you are a Pampered Chef dealer type, let me know.
At least one more, two would be better, bread/pizza paddle - the wooden thing I rise the bread on. At World Market.
One of these. In Silver or Black. Linens and Things is going out of business, they are cheaper there. Would like the salad green pods too.
I'll keep adding to it as I think of things.
Pampered Chef Stone's I'm going to need 2. If you are a Pampered Chef dealer type, let me know.
At least one more, two would be better, bread/pizza paddle - the wooden thing I rise the bread on. At World Market.
One of these. In Silver or Black. Linens and Things is going out of business, they are cheaper there. Would like the salad green pods too.
I'll keep adding to it as I think of things.
Monday, November 10, 2008
...I'm going to whine a bit.
I'm a little peeved, first reading blogs where they started their homestudies in June and have already adopted. That's June of this year, not 2003 which is when we were first certified, so back that up a year and there's the first homestudy. Still no adoption.
Second peeve of the day, people who say "help" and then never respond to the "how" I throw back. Stopping there would be annoying enough, but those people tend to take it a step further and complain they can never get anyone to help. Be warned, if you ever ask me how you can help, I have a list, so don't ask if you don't want to help. Also, if I offer to help, I am up for just about anything.
Next, people who don't ask for my help, because I "have the kids". That does not mean that I can't help if you are in need, but if you don't ask, don't complain that you were there until 2 a.m. because no one showed. I also have a husband and at least two sitters, not to mention my own friends who would help me if I needed to help you.
Last but not least, the kids having to retest their limits periodically. The rules have been the same for several years, they aren't going to change because you are on the floor wailing.
That's all for now.
Second peeve of the day, people who say "help" and then never respond to the "how" I throw back. Stopping there would be annoying enough, but those people tend to take it a step further and complain they can never get anyone to help. Be warned, if you ever ask me how you can help, I have a list, so don't ask if you don't want to help. Also, if I offer to help, I am up for just about anything.
Next, people who don't ask for my help, because I "have the kids". That does not mean that I can't help if you are in need, but if you don't ask, don't complain that you were there until 2 a.m. because no one showed. I also have a husband and at least two sitters, not to mention my own friends who would help me if I needed to help you.
Last but not least, the kids having to retest their limits periodically. The rules have been the same for several years, they aren't going to change because you are on the floor wailing.
That's all for now.
...we'd like to thank our sponsors.
Yes, this past week has been brought to you by the lovely people of Mucinex D and Afrin. Thank you so much, it would have been a miserable go without you. I probably could have shortened the duration with a Zpak, but I more of a pro-biotics girl. And, much to my chagrin, the healthier route is not always the fastest.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
...I realized what I could be doing.
This weekend the babies (I really need to stop calling them that) were having a sleepover with friends. A much needed mommy break. IT WAS SO BORING AROUND HERE. Big Boy is 15 and was sick to boot, so there was no drama with him. Radical, who is nine is very independent, and he had a friend over. His only need was for me to make them pancakes, after that they were at the school playground, and searching the neighborhood for friends. Hubby has his ministry group on Saturday mornings. So, there I was bored.
So, I caught up on some emails. There is a group from our church going somewhere to drill wells for Living Water International. I could have done that. I have about 15 business ideas floating around my head at any given time. I could do any of those things. I could have also slept 'til noon, and no one would have missed me. All things that I think I REALLY want to do. REALLY, I would like to be able to sleep until noon, I couldn't.
I eventually decided that there was nothing more worthwhile than what I am already doing. There will always be wells to drill, and money to make, and time to sleep. My kids are here for such a time as this, and while the other things will be there for me when the time comes, kids are only kids for a season. I'm not saying that I won't do any of the above, it's just not the right time. And I married well, so when I need a nap, I can get one.
So, I caught up on some emails. There is a group from our church going somewhere to drill wells for Living Water International. I could have done that. I have about 15 business ideas floating around my head at any given time. I could do any of those things. I could have also slept 'til noon, and no one would have missed me. All things that I think I REALLY want to do. REALLY, I would like to be able to sleep until noon, I couldn't.
I eventually decided that there was nothing more worthwhile than what I am already doing. There will always be wells to drill, and money to make, and time to sleep. My kids are here for such a time as this, and while the other things will be there for me when the time comes, kids are only kids for a season. I'm not saying that I won't do any of the above, it's just not the right time. And I married well, so when I need a nap, I can get one.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
...we've come a long way, baby.
My grandmother, my dad's mom, taught in a one room school. The following is her teaching contract.
1. Teachers each day will fill lamps, clean chimneys.
2. Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal for the day.
3. Make your pens carefully. You may whittle nibs to the individual taste of the pupils.
4. Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes, or two evenings if they go to church regularly.
5. After 10 hours in school, the teacher may spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.
6. Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.
7. Every teacher should lay aside from each pay a goodly sum of his earnings for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden on society.
8. Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool or public halls, or gets shaved in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect his worth, intention, integrity and honesty.
9. The teacher who performs his labor faithfully and without fail for five years will be given an increase of 25 cents per week in his pay, providing the Board of Education approves.
And we thought our teachers were underpaid. I thought this was hilarious when I saw it. Today we can't get our kids to take out the trash for 25 cents a week, let alone teach for five years before getting it. I do not dismiss the poor pay our teachers receive, especially since they are also in many cases parenting their students, but it could have been worse.
1. Teachers each day will fill lamps, clean chimneys.
2. Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal for the day.
3. Make your pens carefully. You may whittle nibs to the individual taste of the pupils.
4. Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes, or two evenings if they go to church regularly.
5. After 10 hours in school, the teacher may spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.
6. Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.
7. Every teacher should lay aside from each pay a goodly sum of his earnings for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden on society.
8. Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool or public halls, or gets shaved in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect his worth, intention, integrity and honesty.
9. The teacher who performs his labor faithfully and without fail for five years will be given an increase of 25 cents per week in his pay, providing the Board of Education approves.
And we thought our teachers were underpaid. I thought this was hilarious when I saw it. Today we can't get our kids to take out the trash for 25 cents a week, let alone teach for five years before getting it. I do not dismiss the poor pay our teachers receive, especially since they are also in many cases parenting their students, but it could have been worse.
Friday, November 7, 2008
...of less, but not.
I had a great CVS week, I got 4 12 packs of Coke, 20 Hershey Bars, 2 tubes of Crest Pro Health toothpaste, 2 Sure deodorants, 2 Oral B flosser packs, and a bottle of dishwashing liquid. Total OOP $8.40 I am figuring I got over 80% off. WAHOO. I could have done better (100% off) had I not gotten the Coke and Hershey products, but I am a realist, I will not be giving up the Coke anytime soon, nor the chocolate, so get it cheap. I do have $7 ECB's to start next week with. Which is more than I had to start with last week.
The but not part? I am into my sixth week of C25K and I have yet to lose 1 ounce, 1 inch, 1 anything that can be recorded scientifically. My next pair of Lucky Brand Jeans need to be a size smaller. I will not invest in $80 fat jeans. Bright side? I can run for 12 minutes, couldn't say that six weeks ago, but still a little less for validation would be nice.
I doubt the previous two paragraphs have anything to do with each other. 48 Cokes and 20 Hershey Bars and she can't lose weight? Really? They say if you cut out 1 Coke a day you can lose 24 lbs a year, at the rate I consume Coke products, I wouldn't be around next Christmas, and really, that would be irresponsible of me, orphaning more children, some for the second time. So it is my duty to keep drinking Coke. God Bless America.
The but not part? I am into my sixth week of C25K and I have yet to lose 1 ounce, 1 inch, 1 anything that can be recorded scientifically. My next pair of Lucky Brand Jeans need to be a size smaller. I will not invest in $80 fat jeans. Bright side? I can run for 12 minutes, couldn't say that six weeks ago, but still a little less for validation would be nice.
I doubt the previous two paragraphs have anything to do with each other. 48 Cokes and 20 Hershey Bars and she can't lose weight? Really? They say if you cut out 1 Coke a day you can lose 24 lbs a year, at the rate I consume Coke products, I wouldn't be around next Christmas, and really, that would be irresponsible of me, orphaning more children, some for the second time. So it is my duty to keep drinking Coke. God Bless America.
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