Timing is everything, right?

Today there came some finality to a situation that I thought was dead a long time ago but today it was really done. In the midst of the decision I got to air my thoughts and feelings about the situation. I feel good about that but with other factors involved I'm struggling with feeling like I've been doing something for 10 years and what do I have to show for it. I shouldn't look at it that way but that's where I'm at right now. It sucks the way certain situations are handled and I don't like being treated the way I was treated. I deserve better. I'm trying to focus on that and not on the negative. I also think this is for the best, God knows that but I'm still mourning it. I'm also frustrated that I haven't been able to gain any new work on the website front despite my best efforts. This is just one of those days where I'm glad tomorrow will different.

Yesterday we had people over for home group. Alexandra came home from School and asked if we were having a party. I said no, we're not having a party. She said "Why did you clean up the season room". I said very stunned, "Because it was dirty". I laughed later when I told Paul because she's right, I only clean the three season room when we are having people over. Isn't that horrible. Who can I blame for that??? Just kidding Mom and Dad! Love ya!

you know it's a good day....

When someone asks you where you get your hair cut! I mean no one would ask if your hair looked bad, right?

This heat is driving me crazy.

Now it might not be what you think. Yes it's hot and humid and that makes me cranky but it's really all about the wardrobe. I have been wearing these short sleeve shirts for 6 months now. We had a warm spell in May! I'm ready to wear my jeans and my long sleeve t-shirts. I also have some great sweaters I'd like to break out. I know, I'm such a girl!

oh I hate getting my buttons pushed

There's something about me that is deep. I get ugly when it comes to injustice and fairness. I also get ugly when someone messes with my family. Now that's not just what you think. Yes if someone messes with my kids, I get ugly. But if someone messes with my "peeps", I get ugly. I don't like this ugly but it happens and sometimes I cool down quickly and sometimes I don't. Tonight is a long cool down time. Even though I'm ugly right now, my bowl of ice cream soothes this button pushed woman.

Helping someone who doesn't want to help themself

I have a situation right now with a family member where they need some help. I visited with them and felt compelled to help them. The reality is that I have three kids, two part time jobs and a house to run. I offered what I thought I could and come to find out they haven't done anything for themselves to make things better. When I offered to help I thought I knew the whole story but I found out later that I didn't. I'm not willing to step in and do everything but I do want to help because I think that's what God wants from us as his followers. I'm disappointed though that they are willing to step out and do something to help with their situation. I know I'm being vague, but what do you do when you see a need, try to meet it and then find out they really want you to do everything for them and they don't want to step up and take care of things on their own?

What kind of Friend/Christian are you?

Ever since I went to the women's weekend a few weeks ago I've been struck by what kind of friends I have. I've also heard a lot of stories lately from people who have been hurt or rejected by the church or people in the church. This just breaks my heart. I've been through some hurt as well from people in the church so in some sense I can understand but I have also had a lot of people who have been there with me as I walked through that pain and have accepted me for who I am and where I'm at. Not everyone is like that. I want to be the kind of Christian that walks through the hard stuff with people. I don't want anyone to feel the way I did and there shouldn't be anything that separates from each other. I can't imagine walking through my pain without friends like Jan and Jack Bishop, my friend Jennifer, Albert and Wendy Dumois and my husband. All those I mentioned have sat with me as I cried and tried to work through what happened. I want to be that for someone else. I also don't want to abandon people when they go through tough times. I think about people that I don't go to church with anymore. We don't see them as much but If they really needed me I'd be there for them as much as I could. I think about the people I mentioned above. Circumstances might draw us apart, but if they needed me I'd be there for them.
Putting this out there for the world to see, now allows you to hold me accountable. If you see or hear of me not holding to what I've said you have my permission to call me on it, in Love of course!

Two random acts of Kindness

Today is Tuesday so Alexandra is at school this morning. With us being so busy I hadn't had a chance to go to the store yet this week. So with the two boys in tow I decided to tackle it. As I'm pushing the cart down the pasta aisle, an older man stops us and gives me two pennies for the horse. He says that Sebastian looks like he's a cowboy needing a ride. We thanked him and kept going. Then as I'm loading up the groceries and the boys in the van, I forget the cart is behind the van and as I'm about ready to back out another man pushed the cart into the cart corral for me and then smiles and waves. I would have backed right into it with the van. What a nice thing to do. Two strangers helping out this mom with a busy day! How wonderful!

A simple trip to the store

It was a gorgeous day here in Michigan yesterday. It was one of those days where you have your windows open. I went and exercised and then went to pick up a few things at the store. Our Store has those cross walks with stop signs. I always go slow but have to admit I don't really come to a complete stop, I come to a complete pause. As I got to the first stop sign I did my usual pause and I hear this very angry voice yell "There's a stop sign there ya know!". I was startled and then shocked. An elderly lady was standing on the side of the road in front of the store. She wasn't in the crosswalk, she wasn't even close to crossing. Now to be yelled at in general is rattling but to be yelled at in Public by a stranger is just jarring. I hate to admit this but it ruined a perfectly good trip to the store without the children. I hate when I allow that to happen.

Idle rants

I love hot hot showers and my bed!

I love that the sun has shone two days in a row here in Michigan.

I hate that the show Hereos won't be back on until almost the end of April.

I love that there will a new 24 episode every Monday until then.

I love that I've trained my 2 year old boy to take dirty diapers to the trash and dishes that are dirty to the sink.

I love that at least 3 times a week I get to go workout without children at Curves.

I love that My 3 year old daughter is already talking about her new house in Heaven.

I love that I have a library in my town that brings stuff to me right down the street from my house.

I love that my 6 month old will just play in his bed quietly until I come and get him to eat.

I hate that my 2 year old holds food in his mouth so long that he starts to druel and then I have to stick my finger in his mouth and get the food out because he won't swallow it.

I hate that my 6 month old is so unfocused when he eats that most of the time I miss his mouth when trying to feed him baby food.

I love that my hair is long enough to put up in a pony so I don't have to shower everyday if its not in the cards.

I love that all three of my kids are ticklish.

A plumber I'm not....but

I'm also not helpless. We've been having trouble with our garbage disposal the last week so I decided to try and fix it. Well, I broke the pipe coming out of the disposal. No big deal right, just go to Lowe's and get another one. The only problem is all the men at Lowes' think I'm crazy for trying to fix this. Three different guys tried to help me and then when we got what I think I needed they said with a grin "Good luck". I don't need luck. What I do need is for those guys to use a less condesending tone!

I worked in a hardware store in Gobles when I was a teen and into my 20's. The guy who owned the store taught me some plumbing. The problem I have with those stores are they have so much stuff that I can't find what I'm looking for by myself so I need help. GRRRRRRR! I"m not willing to waste a bunch of time when they should know where it is.

Oh by the way, I also added coolant to Paul's truck and replaced a burnt out headlight in our Mercury. See I told you I'm not helpless. :)