Dismissed

Since no one reads this, I feel more liberty in saying...

I am tired of not being heard.
I have been dismissed for years.

As a teenager, I was told that it was my "thyroid talking" when I tried to express myself.

Later, it was that I was p.m.s.-ing.

Maybe there is a little truth to the hormone thing. I'm definitely not denying that hormones affect me.

I wish that I could be more like my friend. She says it like it is, but she is the nicest person I know. You don't have to wonder where she is coming from - she'll tell you straight up!

It's my fault, really. I have a reputation of not standing up for myself. People are shocked when I occassionally do say something.

I am not a confrontational person; I enjoy peace. Therefore, I evade and avoid certain people, subjects, or situations that cause tension or stress. I have walked on eggshells for others many times in my life. I am usually the one who backs down or apologizes - even when I don't feel I did any wrong. I care about others and how they feel. I just wish everyone was considerate of other people.

I feel that if a person respects you, they will not intentionally do the things that bother you or take advantage of you. I try to be patient after I ask someone to please do/don't do suchandsuch. I have a "long fuse", so to speak. I let things go for a while, until I blow. I am not proud of this.

So, what can I do to be heard? I don't want people to be blown away when I say something. I don't want to hurt anyone. I just don't want to be dismissed. I want to be taken seriously. Respected. Is that too much to ask?

Are You Living in Neutral?

Before we were married, my husband drove a car that had a mechanical problem. It made an awful noise everytime it was idling. My husband would have to shift into neutral at every stop light/sign to make the noise stop. Why didn't he get the problem fixed instead of living with it? Honestly, it was probably because he couldn't afford the repairs.

I was thinking about how we do this with our lives. Sometimes we become content with situations in our lives and learn ways to "live with it." Why not fix the problem? Instead, many of us use excuses such as,

"I can't afford to ________."
"I don't have time to _______."
"I was never good at school."
"I don't know how to ______."
"I'll just ______ instead."
"It's no big deal!"
and even use scriptures,[Philippians 4:11] "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content."

While I believe it is the will of God that we should give thanks in all things [1 Thessalonians 5:18], I believe we should also strive to make things better. John 10:10 "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

If we see a problem and do not fix it, we are "like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was." [James 1:23-24]

Ecclesiastes 10:1 "Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour:"

Ecclesiastes 10:10 "If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success."

Luke 14:5 “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out...?”

James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

If you don't know what to do, pray, read the Word of God, and seek Godly counsel.

James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraides not; and it shall be given him."

Joshua 1:8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Proverbs 12:15 "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise."

If you have a situation that you have been "living with" - Stop shifting into neutral and fix the problem! Whatever it is, you CAN do it - with God's help. Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Proverbs 6:6-10 "Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber."

Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;"

How I Spent Labor Day.

Guess what I did yesterday...

...for this little guy...



(The date on my camera is wrong - gotta fix it!)





Yep! I MADE a pinata!

I got the idea from At Second Street. Of course it's a little different shape, but the same idea.
Here is the tutorial if you are interested. I was going to do my own tutorial, but I got going on it and forgot to take pics, as usual.

I hope the kids can get the pinata opened; hubby helped tape it ~ a little too generously! ;oD

I learned something new today...

I read an interesting article that I thought might be appreciated - or not! It is called 24 things you might be saying wrong. I found it on my Yahoo homepage. Read it and learn something new!

Happy Friday!

First Day of School

Today is the first day of school.
Fourth grade and first grade.
Wow!
Where has the time gone?

Rachel looked so cute! Remember when kids used to dress in their very best outfit and fixed their hair real nice. That's Rachel. And she was so excited, she got up when the alarm went off and was ready in 15 minutes!

Then there's Emily. She also looked cute. She wore a cute dress, but she wanted her hair in just a pony. She likes it simple. We had to make her get up - 15 minutes after the alarm went off! Ha,ha! She so funny!

Rachel loves school. She has a thirst for knowledge.
Emily likes to go to school to see her friends.

Two very different girls.

(Pics will be added later.)

I've got the mighty Messiah that manifests miracles down in the depths of my heart...

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart (Where?)
Down in my heart (Where?)
Down in my heart
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart (Where?)
Down in my heart to stay
And I'm so happy
So very happy...

Me & My Blessings

Sisters

Bless you, my darling, and remember you are always in the heart - oh tucked so close there is no chance of escape - of your sister. ~Katherine Mansfield

Just thought I would share a picture of my two beautiful little sisters. Cassi, 16, is on the left and Sarah, 21, is on the right.
(I have two more sisters, but they were unavailable. lol)
I haven't seen them in forever!
I really wish I could enjoy the company of my sisters.

Sister to sister we will always be,
A couple of nuts off the family tree.
~Author Unknown

A Must Have for Camping

My mother-in-law gave me the best idea for hand washing while camping.
When you have used all your liquid laundry soap, DO NOT throw away (or even recycle) the container!
Fill with water (I would use HOT since it will cool down by the time you get there.) and take on your camping trip to use to wash your hands and or dishes. The container has a "handy" dispenser and already has soap (detergent) in it. Genius!

Thanks, Mom! It works [for her]!

Laundry Help

Sometimes my laundry gets piled up. Well, I DO have four kids! When this happens, I sort my laundry a little differently.

I always have whites, jeans, towels, sheets, and delicates. Then I usually have Rachel's, Emily's, Hayley's, Riley's, Tom's, and mine. Phew! Yes, that is 11 loads. In winter I have 1-2 more with blankets. If I keep up, I can do the girls' together and mine & Tom's together.

But, when I am behind or need to be busy with other chores, I sort the clothes like this: pjs, socks, panties, & shorts (things that don't need to be checked for stains *Spray'N'Wash*) and then clothes- darks/lights whatever. The reason I do this is so that I can quickly throw in the load without having to take time to check for stains. I can start one load and then have the pjs, socks, panties, & shorts load to throw in. I do loads of towels & sheets, while I'm busy doing other things for the same reason. Then, when I can focus on the laundry, I will check all the loads for stains and apply Spray'N'Wash as needed. It works for me!

I am linking to WFMW over at We Are That Family - even though it is almost Thursday! LOL

Mommy Rhapsody

Mommy Rhapsody from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

Help!!!!

While I was doing dishes a little while ago, Rachel came to me and said, in a clearly shaken voice, "There is a bug in the shower." I thought, "oh, brother, there's a daddy long leg or some kind of little bug."

I was wrong.

Oh, how I wish it had been a daddy long leg. Or a variety of other bugs. However, when I went to investigate, I found this:

EEEWWWW!!!! It was about 2-3 inches long!
Where in the world did it come from?
We have never had these kinds of pests!
And I pray we never have another one!
Please, dear God, PLEASE!

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a bug phobia. I have been known to leave my children to get away from bugs. I know, I am not going to win 'Mother of the Year'(unless worst is in front of it). Anywho, Tom was not here and I was stressing out! He finally got home a few minutes ago and I told him not to come in the house without Raid.
Thankfully, he disposed of it.
I could not watch.
I don't think I will sleep tonight.
It feels like they are crawling all over me.
I'm totally freaking out.

Yes, he has a lollipop. I had to entertain him at yet another [boring] graduation. It was the lollipop or this:


I guess I'm not up for mother of the year... again!

Popcicle!

Riley with his 1st Popcicle


Yum!

He sure enjoyed the cold, yommy treat!

Riley's Buddy

Brian & Riley at our Church Zoo Trip ~ April 2010


Brian is the young man who follows me like a puppy dog every time I am holding Riley after church. Most of the time I end up handed Riley over to him just to keep sane. Brian is a very smart, silly, cute young man. We love this little kid! He adores Riley and the feeling seems to be mutual! If Brian is around, (and he usually is!) Riley is sure to be smiling!

Frustrated!

I have been trying to add a header/new template/background and I am getting nowhere. If y'all have any tips, I'd greatly appreciate them.


I'm giving up and going to bed. Babe will be home in a few hours and Mister will be waking up soon after. I'm tired!


'Night!

It Was Time For...

a change. Hope you like it.

I really wanted to post some pics of the kids, but I don't know what Babe did with them.

Next time, k?

I will try to be more diligent in posting (especially pictures), however I must needs have some followers. You don't actually have to READ the blog. Just follow me to make me feel better. All you gotta do is click the button. Thanks!

Have a nice weekend!

A Giveaway!

Read about it and enter to win here At Second Street: My First Giveaway!. Good luck!

UN-Happy Meals?

I just came across a news story that said that Santa Clara County is making it illegal to sell kid's meals with toys at fast food restaurants. It said that restaurants are using toys to "sell the food"; that food choices are made according to the toy.



Excuse me, but when did kids start deciding what they are going to eat? If the kids are getting to choose what they eat it is because the parents are giving them the choice. I am smart enough to know that my kids are going to want a kid's meal because of the toy, but it is MY choice whether or not to buy it.

I know that the point was that unhealthy food options are associated with the kid's meals, but the problem isn't the kid's meals: it's lazy parenting [speaking from experience]. Obviously, the parent chose the restaurant.

On the other hand, sometimes parents [or other adults] want to take their kids out for a treat. Now this law will make that very difficult. Sad.


***Note: I am not saying that everyone who eats at a fast food restaurant is lazy. We eat out sometimes too. [More than I'd like to.] Sometimes circumstances beyond our control dictate it and sometimes it's a treat. Those times are okay. If you are eating fast food 5 days a week, then you've got problems [probably many!].

Confession Time...

I read craft blogs. A lot of them. I really enjoy craft blogs. But that is not my confession. My confession is that I strongly dislike cutesy kids' crafts. Yes, I am a mother of four small children and a former Sunday School teacher, but I don't like kid crafts. It's not that I don't like the kids to have fun and be creative, it's just that I don't see the point of making something unless it is useful. I know it sounds so weird.

There have been things the kids brought home from school or church that went straight to the trash. (Shhh!) Then there are things I will keep forever. I love the little magnet my oldest daughter made with a clothes pin. It has a picture of my husband's face and she dressed him as a farmer. It is so cute! And I can use it to hold something up on the fridge! USEFUL!


Yep. Playdoh is pretty much a no-go around here. Messy, germy, mess! YUCK!
I know I am a horrible mother. Hopefully, with therapy, my kids with make it as adults.
I mean, look at me, I turned out alright, didn't I? Right? Hello? Anyone there?
HEY!