The Note

My husband was outside working in our shed, and I wanted to tell him something.  I sent T outside to give him a note.  He told me that he wanted a note so while he was outside I wrote him a quick note.  The note said

Tyler, Mommy Loves You, Love Mommy

 I folded it up and put his name on the outside of the note.  When he came in I  gave him that note.  His face lit up.  He asked me to read it to him, so I did.

He had to keep that note in his back pocket.  I went out with some friends and when I got home my husband showed me where the note was.  He told me that he was to keep it there to keep the note safe.  He was also instructed to make sure that the doors were locked so that no one would steel the note.

A simple note is a great way to reach out to others.  I never realised how much this little note that I wrote my son would mean to him. 

This made me think, if taking the time to send someone a little note would make them smile.  I am sure that a little note could make a person's day.  I know as a mom, I am going to during special times put little notes to Ty out so that he will always know that he is loved and feel special.

Teaching

I love teaching.  For me it is a great way to be able to serve God.  I work with Eight Graders.
Working with Eith graders has become challenging for me reciently.  I am not sure how to get and hold their attention.  After being in school all day, they find that they are not able to pay attention or do the work that is neccessary to do well in the class.

I pray that I will teach these students.   I pray that something that I am attempting to teach them will stick with them and make a difference in there lives.

It is hard to do a job that you will not be thanked for.  A job that is thankless, but might just effect one person in a way that they will be able to live their life beter and more fully

Family & Voting

Being out at the lake is so relaxing.  I know that watching the boys run round and play is nice for myself, but it is also nice for my husband.  They love being up at the lake because it is a different place for them to run and play in.

We decided to take the boys to the Toldeo Zoo today.  We have never been there, so it was nice to explore a new zoo.  I wish my patients was a little more, I think that I would have enjoyed the zoo more.  I got a picture of the boys walking and holding hands (I will edit the post and add the picture when I get it off the camera)

After the zoo we took them to the park that my mother-in-law took my husband to growing up and they loved running around playing (again pictures to follow)

We are home now and waiting for the election results.  I truely believe no matter what happens we have a historical election and our country is going to see some changes.  I just pray that they are good changes!

Election

I am so thankful for the right to vote and to voice my opinion.  My problem is I honestly do not feel that anyone really cares about the vote.  I am very interested in seeing who will become the next President.  My concern is will they do anything to change.

I understand and agree that we have to do all that we can to help others.  My problem is that you can do so much to help others, and still hurt youself.  I feel that we feel that we have to constantly go out and help others.  Provide food and shelter for everyone, everywhere in the world. 

The problem with that is that we are forgetting about the people who live here.  The people here in the United States who do not have food or shelter.  We are forgetting about taking care of our families because we are too concerned with taking care of everyone else.

I am honestly not sure if it matters who gets elected because who ever has the most money and the loudest voice will be the people heard.  If you are struggling now, you will continue to struggle.  If you are wealthy you will continue to be wealthy.

What we need is something to be done to fix the problems here first.  If we can not fix the problems at home we will never be successful anywhere else!

Family

Having some quiet time to myself I realised how much children have changed my life.  I never thought that I could worry so much about someone else.  Even when my children are safe in bed I am constantly worried about them.

I want to make sure that I am doing everything for my children. 

1. I want to teach them how to love someone unconditionally.  It is a unique quality to love someone so much.
2. I want to teach them the value and importance of sharing.  I find that sharing is much more than just allowing others to have your toys.  It is something that is needed in business.
3. I want to teach them the importance of trust.  That trust is fragile.  It must be earned, and it is important to keep.  It is also important to trust others, with out getting hurt.

These are not easy lessons.  They are lessons tha I still struggle with every day.  I want to give my children what they need in this world to be successful

All Saints Day

I have been thinking today about the meaning of All Saints Day.  I know that this is a day that is to honor those who have gone before us.  I like to take a few minutes to myself to think about my family members that I miss.

I have been thinking alot about my grandfather lately.  I miss him so much.  He passed away just before T was born.  It has been 4 years, and it seems like yesterday.  

I wish he could have got to meet my boys.  He would have loved to see them play and run around.  I know that he is looking over us and smiling.


Today I am saying a special prayer for everyone we have lost and miss.  Today I am thankful for the wonderful members of my family.  I know that they are there to help me, love me and guide me.


This is a special day, a day for me to honor so many wonderful people who have touched my life in special ways.

Still Sore

It has been over a week since my accident, and I am still sore.
I am thankful that it is better at some points in the day.  I am just praying and taking it day by day.
I took my car in on Monday to be fixed.  Before I took it in it looked like this:

 

It does not looks so bad, but there is quite a bit of damage on the car.  I am thankful that I was put in another Sienna.  I love driving my sienna, and I feel very comfortable driving this Sienna as well.

I am also glad that the insurance companies have determined that I was not at fault.  I knew that I was not at fault, but I was still nervous weighting.

Looking back this accident has effected me in so many ways.

• I had to stop breastfeeding my baby.  
• I was not emotionally ready for this
• He was not emotionally ready for this
• I am sore, and doing the simple, everyday tasks has become very difficult for me to do
• I have a hard time cooking, cleaning, sitting with my children
• Playing with my children
• Working out
• I can't work out.  I have been working hard to lose weight, and now I am at a stand still and I am afraid that I am not going to get back to working out.
• Screeching Tires
• Every time I hear them I have to stop what I am doing and take a deep breath.  This was the sound I heard right before I was hit.

It is just amazing to me that a simple accident that took seconds has effected me in so many ways.  I want my life to go back to normal.  I want my car back.  I want to be able to clean and play with my children with out pain and suffering.  I know that one day I will have it again.

I will never take for granted all that I did before.  I have seen how things change so quickly.

Car Accident

Last week my mother and I were in a car accident.  It was the scariest moment of my life. 
I was sitting at a light, stopped.  All of a sudden out of no where a guy turned left, and ran right into the front of my car.
I have had so many different emotions from the accident.  I have been scared, sore, sad, angry - just to name a few. 
The more I am thinking about the accident, the more that I realise that I am not remembering the entire accident.
I am very thankful that I drive a van.  I think that I would have been seriously injured if I did not drive a van.
I was taken to the hospital in my first ambilance ride.  I was on a back board with a c-spine collar on. 
In the hospital I was waiting, it seemed like forever.  Sitting there I was so uncomfortable.  But I am lucky I am only suffering from back and neck pain.
One of the hardest decisions I had to make was to force my son to stop nursing.  I was not ready to do that, and either was he.  I have found that I am going through a lot of emotions because I had to out of no where stop nursing him.  But I was given a choice, to take the medication and have some relief, or not take it at all, be in a ton of pain, and still nurse.  It was one of the most difficult decisions of my life.
It has almost been a week, and I am in so much pain.  Instead of the pain getting better, it is slowly getting worse.  I am having a very difficult time sleeping, sitting, standing - actually doing everything that I need to do.
I hope that things will start to get better soon. 

Start Of A New Year

I am very excited to be starting my thrid year as an eight grade Catechist.  I have a lot of exciting ideas for this year.  For me, eight grade is a challenging year.  I love working with this age group.  My problem is the feeling, all too often that they just don't car.  The feeling that no matter what I am saying that no one is listening.

I am starting this year off differently than I have ever before.  I am going to start by preparing weekly.  Taking what the students like to do an build on that.  I am searching for good christian music that I can introduct to my class.  I want music that will touch there lives, and that they are going to enjoy to listen to.

Each Wednesday, sometime during the day I am going to take time to me to say the Rosary.  Time to pray that my heart be open to hear the students, and that there hearts be open and allowing the Holy Spirit to enter into there hearts.

I am blessed to be working with 19 young men and women.  I know that I have a bunch of challenges ahead of me, but I know that I am up for the challenge.  This year I am going learn from my students.  I am going to learn to have the Holy Spirit be apart of my lesson plans and apart of my class room.

I am in the final stages of preparation.  I am ready for a wonderful and blessed year.

LEt It Go

Learning lessons in life is a difficult process.  I have learned some great lessons!

• Stay away from negative people.  Negativity spreads quickly.  Being negative will get you no where.
• True friends will not expect  you to do everything for them, they will also do things for you.
• If you start to give, and give, and never receive - be cautious
• Follow your heart.  Trust your heart.  
• It is better to know, follow and trust God, he will always lead you in the right directions
• Forgive all, but never forget
• Forgive the people who as for forgiveness, and the people who do not ask for forgiveness.

Life  is too short to hold on to everything.  Let you hear be free.  Know that you can grow!

Always Remember

7 years ago, I was sitting in my office and working.  I remember hearing someone say that a plane it the World Trade Center.  I also remember not thinking much about it.  Then I started seeing more and more people walk past my office going to the conference room.


I decided to follow.  That is when I realized the impact that this event would have on my life and everyone's life around me.  I got in the conference room just in time to watch the second plane hit the second tower.  We all sat there in awe.  Wondering what happened and why it was happened.  I was in shock, not knowing what to think or do.  I went to my parents house to eat lunch thinking that it was the end of the world.


I was scared, not sure what to think about.  I remember watching television and watching the death count rise.  Hearing  about the heroes that had lost their lives, just doing their jobs.  I started thinking of all of the children who had lost one or both of their parents.


As a result, much has changed in seven years.  I am now married with two children.  I have been very lucky to not have been effected by this tragic event, because I did not lose a loved one.  I have been effected by how I live my life, and the feeling of being scared every time a plane fly over my house.


We are at war, many men and women losing their lives for our freedom.  However, seven years later I am wondering if we have lost the reasoning why we are there.  If we are just fighting, to fight.  So many Americans have lost the will to fight this war.


We need to protect ourselves, but why not protect ourselves on our boarders?  With the Presidential election coming up, we have a big decision to make.  Who do we want to lead our country?  Who is going to make changes in how we live?


I know that when I cast my vote, I am going to make sure to keep one thing in mind - the events of 7 years ago, and now we can make a change.

I have come to realize

Looking around me today I realized so many things...

1. I've come to realize that my legs... carry me, through everything - good and bad

2. I've come to realize that my job... is wonderful, stressful, happy, amusing,

3. I've come to realize that when I'm driving... I am telling Tyler to stop talking - he is just like his mother

4. I've come to realize that I need..... to have a stronger Faith, and Self- Esteem

5. I've come to realize that I have lost....who I was; But found who I am

6. I've come to realize that I hate it when....I am not listened to; When Nathan has to pinch my nipple to fall asleep; when Brian gets to sleep in and I have to get up with the kids - yet again

7. I've come to realize that when I'm drunk.... I get sentamental

8. I've come to realize that money....always seems to disappear as you find it

9. I've come to realize that certain people.... just don't understand me

10. I've come to realize that I'll always be..... emotional, sentimental and have trouble spelling

11. I've come to realize that I have...I have a great family who I love more than everything; a sister who is my best friend; and children that just want to make me smile

12. I've come to realize that my mom...is a hero to me

13. I've come to realize that my cell phone... is amazing, I would be lost without it


14. I've come to realize that when I woke up this morning... I want to be a better person

15. I've come to realize that last night before I went to sleep.... my arms were sore from giving Brian a massage. He is an amazing and caring man.
I am lucky to have him and all of his faults

16. I've come to realize that right now I am thinking about... working - I have to get blogs completed; If I want another cup of coffee; and if Nathan is a monkey

17. I've come to realize that my sister... is an amazing mother, friend.  I would be lost with out her

18. I've come to realize that when I get on the internet... It is to work or get away from reality

19. I've come to realize that today... is going to be a fresh start, so make the most of it

20. I've come to realize that tonight....will mean working again...

21. I've come to realize that tomorrow.....starts a new week;

22. I've come to realize that I really want to....Be myself; Be happy; Be healthy and Be a good mother to my children.

Preschool Started

Today is my son's first day of Preschool.  I was nervous all morning.  I was thinking about everything that had to be done.
Would I get him to school on time?
Would he be o.k. with out mommy?
Would he have fun?
Would he make friends?
Would he share?
Would he cry?

These among so many other questions were going through my head.  He was so excited when we got there.  He jumped out of the car when I dropped him off and ran right to the teacher.  He had a big smile on his face.  Not once did he stop to turn around and look at mommy.

I had so many mixed feelings.  Part of me wished he wanted mommy more.  But the bigger part of me made me realise that he is growing up.  He is turning into such a wonderful little boy.  I have been told so many times tha the is so polite.  I am so proud of him.

I know he had fun.  I hope he knows just how proud mommy is of him!

Birthdays

The end of August and begining of September is time birthday time.  My mother, Father and Sister all have birthdays in the a two week period.  It is a busy but exciting time.

For my parents we got them both a Tshirt with all of the grandkids picture on it and tote bages also with a picture of the grandkids on it.

I am excited because for my sister's birthday I am going to offer to take a family picture for them and print out pictures for them.

I love birthdays.  It is such a fun time to spend and celebrate another year of life.

Sad to say goodbye

With one part of my life gone it is hard to say good bye.  I decided to let the MOMS Club chapter dissolve.  I can not do it alone.

I have met so many people in the MOMS Club that have changed my life.  Some have walked through it and left an impression.  Others have stayed and have made a special place in my heart. 

I had some of the best times of my life in that group.  I believe that God put them in my life to help me find that I am stronger than I give myself credit for.

I believe that God took them out of my life because he wanted me to be myself and learn and grow.  I know that no matter what happens, there is aways a reason.  I am stronger now than I was in the past.  I know who I am and who I want to be.

Juggling a new job

I have been feeling overwhelmed alot lately.  I have decided to start working from home.  I have jumped in head forst with 3 seperate jobs and the possibility of a couple of more jobs.  Sometimes I wonder if I am crazy. 

I do this because I want to provide my family with the best.  It is so scary when there are so many different expenses that come up on a monthly basis.  We have birthdays coming up.  And don't forget about Christmas.

I feel blessed that I was able to find a work from home job.  I just wish I could find a balance with everything I am doing  I have been struggling this month, taking on so much more than I can handle.  I  now know that I am doing it for a reason. 

I look forward to September.  I am looking to start to scale down what I am doing.  I have not had much time to spend with my children this month.  I want to find a balance between working, sleep and my family.  I know that it can get done.  It is just going to tak a little time for me to figure it out.

Finally starting to feel happy

What a difference a couple of months make.  I have had so many changes in my life, I am just amazed.  I have learned that my life is finally taking a path I believe I should have been on.  I am working which I have not done in a while.  I am just amazed on how much I missed it.  While I am working from home, and it has added a level of stress to my life, but it is worth it.  I love it.

I have decided that I am not ment to be president of the MOMS Club.  I love the organization, but because of the recient events I believe that MOMS Club is not what this area, or I need.  I am still acting as an Area Coordinator, and I am glad for that, I love volunteering for this organization.  I miss going out with the ladies.  Tyler misses playing with the kids.  I feel so bad for him.  He was not involved in anything and the poor kid no longer has the friends that he was closest too.  But he does have a few. 

I know that I want to see my son succeed.  I am so happy that he will be starting school here soon.  That is going to be so much fun for him.  I am so excited.  He will be able to make some new friends and that will be great for him.  I think that he needs this time.  I am looking forward to it too.  I want to see what he learns.

I believe that I have been put on a new path in my life for a reason.  What the reason is I am not sure.  I know that God will give me that answer when he is ready.  I want to be his servent.  I want to live my life in the way he would want me to. 

As one of my favorite songs says -
Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord, I have heard you calling in the night
I will go Lord if you lead me....

One door closes, another will open...

I have been struggling alot lately.  With what I am doing and why.  I have found that something has been missing in my life.  I had no clue what.  I have a beautiful family:

 

Two wonderful kids that make me so proud.  My husband had to take on a lot so that I could stay at home and raise our wonderful boys.  But I still felt that I was missing something in my life.

I joined a moms club thinking that would help, and it did for a while, and then I found myself being run over by others.  I would do anything for anyone.  I wanted to make other people happy and have them like me.  But I found out something very interesting...  It did not matter, two short years later, they are no longer part of my life.  I found myself back at square one.

Everything happens for a reason.  The experience I had with the moms club I learned that I am much stronger that I ever imagined.  I learned that people won't like you for giving in, that they will respect you for being yourself.  What an important lesson to learn.

I felt that all the doors around me were closed and there were no windows.  So I started to pray.  I prayed a novena.  I prayed every day.  I for the first time in my life, not only made time for God, and not just a little time, but in many cases I found a way to thank him for every little things I did, from doing laundry to eating a healthy meal.  Putting God first started to change my life.  It improved my life.  It made a difference in my life.

Now I am happier than I have ever been, or could ever be.  I found a new group that I am excited to join.  I can start over again with a clean slate.  The difference this time... I will be myself.  I will have fun.  I will get to know everyone.  I found a job.  A job that I love.  I am still able to stay at home and raise my children,  but now I can make some money.

I could not ask for anything more.  I am happier in my life now than I have ever been.  I know that by finally realizing that I need to put God first in all that I do that I will make a difference in my life.  A difference that is just going to help me grow.  I know that some days are going to be rough, but I also know that I can over come it and I will make a difference

Another Door Will always open

I have been struggling alot lately, between my PPD and everything that blew up with my chapter of MOMS club and the women that I thought were my friends.  I had alot of very difficult months.  I did not know if I was going to make it out.  I was badly bruised, and hurting.

I have learned alot about myself from this experience. 

• I have learned that you can try to be what others want you to be, but in the end it will show that you are not being yourself. 
• I have learned that it does not matter if you continue to give to others that they will not respect you in the end.  You can not keep giving, because they will just run you over and not care.
• Be yourself.  People will either like you or not like you for who you are and it does not matter.  Be true to yourself.
• Make decision that will make you happy.  Don't worry about what other think, because in the end it does not matter anyways.
• Be true to your faith.  Be proud.  People don't have to join you, but you don't have to join them either.

I am still healing and some cuts are very deep and will need time to heal.  But I have picked up most of the pieces and I am ready to start over again.

I am looking forward to what the future holds.  It can only get better and brighter.  I know that my life will only get better from here

Saying goodbye

One of my friend's Aunt passed away today.  Last week she passed out at work.  They found she had an aneyrsm in her brain.  They knew they had to do surgery to try to stop the bleeding.  But in surgery they could not fix the problem.  Now they had to clamp off the artery.  She went into a coma and never woke up.  She died while donating her organs so that others could live.

I remember when I was growing up over the summer going with my friend to stay at her house for a week.  I had so much fun there.  We went swimming.  We took a walk to get ice cream.  She welcomed me into her house.  What a generous person.  She treated me like I was her child. 

She is going to be missed. 

This brough up alot of different feelings in my life.  My grandmother passed away when I was 5 of the same thing.  She had a Brain Aneyrsm.  I don't remember much of her.  I also have been told stories of my aunt who died at the age of 17 of the same thing.  My father was the one who carried her down out of her bed so that the ambliance could take her to the hospital. 

How do you say goodbye?  God gives us so many different blessings, one is to touch the lifes of others.  One is to be touched.  My life is better because they have touched me.

Nothing better

One of my favorite times of the day is the mornings.  Having such a specilal times with my kids.  They love to cuddle with me and hug and kiss me.  There is nothing more special than take the time to spend with the kids.  Not worrying about anything else that needs to be done for the day.

There is nothing more important than taking that time with kids.  I love having this time.

Prayers

I have been praying the Rosary Novena for myself the past 9 days.  I am doing the 54 day Novena.  I have found out that a friend's Aunt had to go in for brain surgery.  This has all happened over the past 2 or 3 days.  She is in a coma currently so I have decided that from now until God's plan for her is revelaed that I am going to continue with my novena and dedicate it to her. 

I remember as a young teen going with my friend to spend some time at her aunt's house.  I think that we were there for a week.  I had so much fun.  Her Aunt is one of the most generous people that I have ever met.  We walked up to an ice cream store.  I still remember having fun with her. 

I pray for her to recover.  I pray that this coma is just what her body needs to heal.   I pray for her children and husband that they will find peace and understanding.  I pray for her whole family that they will find that during this time that Jesus is there holding them.  I pray for God to heal her and to be with her during this difficult time.

Playing together

I love watching my children play together.  It is amazing how each passing day they interact more and more.  I love watching them together.

I have to laugh because Tyler is always trying to get Nathan to laugh.  For the most part he plays so well with is brother.  It is a great feeling.  They love each other.

I know that they say imitation is the best form of flattery, well if that is the case, Nathan takes the cake.  When Tyler is tired he will sit down and rub his nipples, or play with is belly button.  He does it while he is drinking. 

Now Nathan picks up his up and is doing the same thing.  How cute. 

I love watching them play together

Novena

I have not posted updates from me doing my novena.  But I am doing well so far.  I am proud of myself.  I have made time every day to say my rosary.  I feel great.  I am so glad I decided to start doing this.

Day 3

Yesterday marked day three of my Rosary Novena.  I had along day.  While on vacation I found out I got a new position writing.  But it requires alot of writing.  Because I am on a trial period it is important to me to make sure that I do a good job.  So when I finished writing I decided that it was time to go to bed. 

I remembered that I was doing the novena, so I took the time before bed to say my rosary.  I am so glad that I did.  I know that I need to make more time in my life for God, and by doing this I am able to do this.  I can take 30 minutes out of my busy day for him.

I am very excited that the novena has become a success for me

Vacation with the Family

After a long day, I am setteling down and getting ready to go to bed.  I look at he past couple of days and I realise that my vacation would not have been so much fun if things were different.  Having the time with everyone has been wonderful, you could say even amazing.

I got to get to know my brother in law so much better.  He is a lot of fun, and such a great father.  The way he looks at his little girl is amazing. 

My sister got to get some rest that she needed and to see her look so well rested was great. 

Seeing my parents have so much fun with there grandchildren was wonderful. I am so glad that they are here to play with them, and have fun with them.  It is wonderful that my children have grandparents who are so involved in  there lives.  I just don't know where I would be with out them. 

Being able to spend time with my Grandma is wonderful.  I have enjoyed it so much.  These are moments that I will never get back and I am so glad that we were able to do that.  Watching my boys interact with her is so wonderful.

This is a great place to be.  Relaxing by the lake!!!

Day 2

I got some time this afternoon I got sometime to pray.  I was so relaxed, and it was so nice.  I actually fell asleep after I was done, and doing some relection.

Sun Set

Vacation is wonderful.  We have had such a relaxing trip.  We took a sunset trip on the boat, and we got some beautiful pictures:

 

Just a beautiful picture.

 

 

God shares some beauty with us!

Start Over again

So I have a hard time with following through with somethings.  So here it goes.  I missed a day with my novena, so I started over.  I missed yesterday, so I woke up this morning and said my first day for the novena. 

Starting habits are hard to do but I am glad that I am trying to do it.  I will do it.  I can do it.

Quiet

I have to say as much as I wish I could sleep in, it is so nice that I am getting up early with nathan and enjoying the quiet.  Coffee is already made.  I can blog for a few minutes.  I get the time to myself.  What a great feeling.

It is not often that I get to take time for myself.  It is not often that many of us can stop to take time for ourselves.  It is hard when we all need that time.  It is our time for prayer, for centering, for letting things go.  It is so important for our well being, for our soul.  

The quiet is so nice.  I feel very blessed to have the quiet.  I recommend if you don't already - take some time to step back and take some time for quiet in your life

Feeding my spiritual hungar

In my last post I said that I was going to for the first time do a 54 day novena for the rosary.  I did my research and I sat down today to start it.  It was a great feeling.  To be able to take the time for Mary and to take the time to pray.  This is time for me to build my faith.  Time for me to grow closer to Mary.  Time for me to grow closer to God.  And time for me to grow closer to Jesus.

I have been feeling this hungar for a while and I am very excited that I am finally going to be able to feel satisfied.  I am taking it one day at a time.  Remembering why I am doing it.  I am going to look forward to saying the rosary every day so that I can grow closer with God, and so that I can fill the void in my heart.

To help keep myself motivated I am going to post each day, how I feel with praying the Rosary!

Hungry for God?

I have decided that I need to bring the Rosary back into my life.  We had a long car ride and I was starting to feel unsettled, so I decided to take the time to pray the rosary.  That was one of the best decisions that I could have made. 

So far it was a very stressful trip, the kids were crabby, it just seemed to drag along.  I was listening to a Rosary Army Catholic Show Podcast and Jennifer was talking about doing a 54 day novina.  So I have decided that this might be something that I should do.  They were talking about a spiritual hungar, which made me think.  Looking back now I think that I have been feeling this way for a while, but I just never knew it.  The "symptoms" that she had listed are ones that I have been feeling for a while now. 

I feel so blessed this episode could not have come at a better time in my life.  I just started praying the rosary, I am still learning.  I am sure that there are times that I don't do it right, but I know that as long as I am trying that I am doing my best that I will learn and that is all that matters. 

So now on to my research on how to do a 54 day novina.  I am very intersted and I know nothing about this idea.  I have been feeling this spiritual hunger for a while and now it is time to feed my soul!

Lake House

We are getting ready to go on vacation for the week.  My husband's family has a lake house.  How wonderful that we can go on a week vacation - It costs us gas and food.  What a nice thing to do.  We are right on the water. The boys love being able to play outside.  I love sitting in the water and relaxing.

 

We have everything that we have at home.  Internet, cable TV, telephone, so it is just like being at home. 

It is so beautiful.

A Mother's Gift

I often wonder how a mother can stay well while her children are sick.  Both of my kids got sick.  Nate was running a 102.5 fever.  He still has the cold symptoms.  His poor little nose is bright red.  I have to keep cleaning it out and doing sailene drops to help keep him clear.  Tyler has been coughing and just acting more clingie - which he does when he is not feeling well.  Brian is not feeling well, he sounds terrible and you can see in his eyes he is just not feeling well.

I have to take care of my children, and take care of the house, and get everything ready for vacation.  I am amazed with staying up as late at night as I have been, that I have not come down with anything *Knocking on wood*

It just amazes me that mothers will stay well to take care of there families.  How does our bodys know that we need to be healthy during this time?  What makes us different?

My thoughts on this are simple - God made us that way.  He made us have the ability to fight off the germs that our children have so that we can take care of them and still get everything done that we need to do.  He did this because we need to be strong.

So Thank you God for letting me take care of my sick family and keeping me healthy!!

Lets Get Ready

We are getting ready to go on our week away.  I love going away, but preparing is another story.  Laundry has to be done.  I hate keeping up with laundry.  And of course someone has to wear something that they will need so I always have to do a last minute load. 

The dog has to have all of his things together so that he can go to the kennel.  That means packing all of his food into individual bags, with his name on them.  Getting his pills ready and anything else I want to bring for him.

Don't forget to clean up the house before you leave.  Nothing worse than coming home to a messy house.  So I make sure that everything is cleaned up.  The trick is to do this with kids playing and messing while cleaning.

Litter boxes need to be cleaned.  I hate cleaning those out, they smell so bad.  But they need a good cleaning before leaving.  I try to make sure that is as last minute as possible.

Then packing.  Making sure that you have enough cloths for the boys, expecially Ty because he is potty training and still has accidents now and again.  Making sure that any "special" toys and blankets are ready and easily found.  Don't forget my sleep apnea machine and other things like that.  And of the most important thing - The lap top and camera, LOL.

Now time to clean out the car.  Yes clean out the car.  I try to keep it clean.  Before I had kids my car was spotless, now a completely different story.  We have to take all of the junk out of the car to fill the car up with everything we need to bring with us.

We need to make sure that the potty seat is easily accessable for Ty just in case he has to go as we are traveling.  Hopefully not, but better safe than sorry.

So now that I have written about what I need to do, time to do it... 

To Forgive...

Things have changed in my life a lot recently.  Through these changes I have learned many things about myself.  I have also learned that  forgiving someone is not for there benefit, it is for yours.  And forgiveness can be given if people don't ask for, just if you are willing to do it.  Forgiveness is not easy, but it is worth it.  I know I feel so much  better when I take the time to to just forgive them.

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Mark 11:25-27 

We need to forgive one and other.  So I have been asking for help to be able to forgive others.  It is not an easy task, but it is a task that is neccessary.

“To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.”

 Robert Muller quotes

So I am working on asking for others to forgive me, but mostly that I forgive others.  People that don't even know that they need to be forgiven.  People that you no longer talk to.  It is amazing how forgivness can raise your spirit.  Make you feel great.

I suggest that you try it... Just forgive one person and see how you feel when it is all over.

Party Time

We had our little get together yesterday to celebrate Nate's birthday.  It was such a nice day.  Warm, but great to have the kids get in the pool and swim.  the weather held out all day.  It was beautiful.  Kids were running around playing outside and having a great time.

We had a cook out.  Simple food, hambugers and hotdogs.  Very nice time.

My children are so blessed we had my grandmother and my husband's grandmother with us to celebrate Nathan's birthday.  How nice to have 4 generations there to celebrate.  It is so nice to have our grandparents around to be apart of our children's lives.  

It was so nice to see my cousins, my god children, my niece and my children all playing together.  The adults were talking and having a good time. 

When the heat got to much outside we were able to come in and play inside.  We have so many toys that there was something for all of the children to play with.  The dog even had a good time going in and out.


It was so nice to have everyone here to celebrate and have a good time.

My Rating...

Movie Reviews


Wow, how fun.

Speeding Time

Wow a year goes by so quickly.  I remember being a child and thinking how long the summer was.  That waiting for a special day seemed to take forever.  Waiting for my birthday was an eternity.  I never thought that a year would pass.  

Then came highschool.  The days started to go by faster.  Events would come just a little faster.  But waiting for swim meets or to turn 16 so that I could drive still took forever.  Being excited about going out with friends seemed to take forever.  Christmas and summer vacations seemed to fly by at the time but looking back they were not that fast.  

Then came college.  The days started to get shorter.  Having time to fit everything in became a little more difficult, but somehow everything would fit in.  The days went at a good pace.  Time for everything was there.  

Here came my 20's and some how the same 24 hours I had in my teens or when I was a child seemed to speed up.  It was almost like time changed.  It is amazing how things start to speed up.  Then I got married and had added some bigger responsibility in my life, and again time started to speed up.  Two years later our first son was born, and again time speeded up.  Two years later our youngest son was born, and the same thing happened again.  

Now I am 30.  My baby is 1.  The past year has gone by in a flash.  I don't know what happened.  How does time magically speed up?  What happened?  Time is amazing.  

When I stop to think about it, the more responsibility I have the faster time goes.  The more that I have to do in a day the faster time goes.  The more that I have to do the less time I have to do it in.  

Now the secret is to find out how to make time slow down!

The Computer - Part 2 Lost with out it

I have a lap top and I absolutley love it.  It is a great investment.  I love the fact that when we go places it can go with me.  I just don't know what I would do with out it.  Expecially with all of the places that now offer free wifi.  Places like coffee shops, McDonalds, malls, airports, hotels, ect... almost everywhere I go I find a business that offeres it.  It is amazing that everywhere you go you can find free internet access.  The laptop allows you to do so much. 

Yesterday I was with out my laptop.  We had to wipe it clean and start over again because of a problem with Outlook.  I like usin outlook and have not found another e-mail client that I liked for what I need it to do.  So I was with out my laptop all day. 

It was nice to be able to spend the time with my boys.  We do have a desk top so I was able to do somethings, but nothing like what I do with my Laptop.  I have it back again, and now the tedious job of re-install everything, putting everything back.  We did a back up of everything, but you still have to set up the little things, so that it is how you like it.

So one day with out my computer made me feel lost.  I felt like I had lost a limb.  I never realized how dependent on the computer I really am until it was gone.  I could not talk to my friends on plurk or twitter.  I felt like I was missing something.

But on the other hand I got to spend the days with my boys.  I did not have to check my e-mail, or tell the wait mommy has something to do.  It was nice to be able to play with my children.

But I feel better that I am back to feeling normal.  I have my computer back.  I can get things done again.  I am glad to have everything back.

Computer - Part 1 The Blessings!

The invention and evolution of computers is really amazing. You can organize you life on a computer. Keep all of your information at you finger tips. You can access information in a matter of seconds. It has made businesses more efficient, allowing them to access information with a touch of a button, instead of going through mountains and mountains of paper work. We are saving the environment because we don't have to print out everything. We can read it on the computer. We save money because we can keep in touch with people all over the world in a matter of seconds.

I really don't know how I grew up with out a computer. It just does not seem possible. I rely on the computer to organize, record events, save pictures, talk to friends. It is a great tool, that I could not live with out.

We have the internet. We can search for anything we need to, and find hundred or thousands of websites with information about that topic. You can find games, educational and ones just for fun. You can look up medical information about problems. You can keep track of your finances. The computer will do almost anything for you.

With all of the social media you can talk to people all over the world, that you would have never met any other way. You can find people who have similar interests. You can have find people to help you with anything. Talk to them instantly through social media sites such as plurk, twitter, friendfeed, just to mention a few. You can play games with them on sites like facebook. Share about your life on Myspace. You can talk to people with the same religion on 4marks.

I have learned so much though podcasts. They are wonderful because you can find one on any topic, and learn information. There are hundreds and thousands of people who have put out information on podcasts. Don't forget about blogs, they also share so much great information.

Email is a great tool. You can contact people at anytime of the day, ask questions, talk about anything. They can respond when they have time. You can keep in touch with friends that you may not be able to call. I love the fact that if I can't sleep I can talk to a friend because I am not waking them up, and they can respond when they can.

Computers have really changes my life. Being able to do so much is so much fun. I can't wait to see what comes out next!

Taking time for Children

As my boys get older I often forget that they are still little boys.  It is so hard to realize that my 3 1/2 year old is only 3 1/2.  He is such a big boy.  He is very tall for his age, and his face make him look like he is at least 5.  I never realized how hard it is to remember ages, when he is so big.  I expect so much more of him because he looks so old.  With having his younger brother around, and having him be so dependent on me, that I want my older guy to be more independent.  I forget that he is not that independent.

I find that sometimes it is just so important to take a few minutes out of my busy day to sit down and cuddle with my children.  Read a book with them.  Play with them.  Listen to them.  Taking the time to put them first is not an easy task.  I often want to get so many things done that I forget that my children are there.  I get angry when I want to do something and they are in the way.  It is so easy to do that. 

I find that by taking the time and letting them help me, it makes such a difference.  It might take longer, alot longer at times, but in the long run it really doesn't.  I don't have to yell as much.  I don't have to get angry with him. 

He just wants to help mommy, it is so important to him to make mommy proud.  The smile on his face when he helps. 

I have to remember that my children are my world.  They love me no matter what happens.  They are so easy to forgive, and forget. 

It takes two

Before having children, I never knew how much I would appreciate being able to sleep in on the weekends, have an uninterrupted night of sleep.  I remember complaining because I had to get up and get ready for work.  Feeling like I did not get any sleep at all.  I was so rested.  

Sleep is so important to so many things.  Having a lack of sleep can effect, concentration, the ability to "keep your cool," weight loss, and so much more.  

With the receint weight gain I have had, I have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, adn I have to wear a mask at night to keep my oxygen level at night up.  Which is great when I get a full night of uninterruped sleep.  What a great feeling.  I feel refreshed.  But that does not happen often.

With the kids getting up, I am unable to wear my mask all night, even half of the night.  I am so tired most of the time that it is hard for me to really be a good mom.  I have been working on getting more sleep but that is hard to do most of the time. 

With all of the struggles I am going through my husband has been wonderful to help me out.  He is really stepping up to make it so that I can get some sleep.  I don't know what I would do without him.  We are such a team.  He understands and does his best to make sure that I can start to get back into a routine.  I try to make sure he can sleep in on the weekends and help him out that way.    Having children is a hard job and it requires both parents.  I have to say I don't know how single parents do it.

MOMS Club Meeting

I have been a member of MOMS Club of Parma for the past 2 years.  I love being a MOMS Club Member.  What a wonderful support group.  As of reciently our chapter has been going through a tough time.  Actually most of the chapter left.  I was very upset at first.  I did not want to see it disband so I took over the president's position.  I think that this is the best thing I could have done. 

Right now we only have 4 members, but we have people looking into our chapter so we are a work in progress.  I struggled at the first meeting. I wanted to run things like they were run in the past, but I realzed that it did not work well, so things have to change.  So that is what I am doing.  I am working on changing that.  I guess the best way to put it is that I am working on changing myself.  It will be a good change I truely believe that.  I know that by trying and keep trying I will be able get the chapter back into the glory that it once had.  

It is hard  because I was friends with most of the people that left, but I guess this is for the best.  I finally feel that I can be myself, I don't have to put up a front to get people to like me.  I know now that I will not make any friends by being a monkey, but I will make them by being myself.  

So anyways, the meeting went well, and I feel we are off to a good start.  I am now working on planning out August and getting people to help me to join the board and grow our chapter.  I know I can do it!!

Fourth of July

What a wonderful weekend. We got to spend some time with my inlaws. We were there for the 4th of July. It was a fun time watching all of the kids play together. They were running, swimming, and playing. T was youngest of the kids that were running around. But he played well with them. It is hard because he is so tall and yet is just a little shorter than all of the rest of the kids. He is 3 years younger than the next closest to his age. It was so much fun watching him play with the kids. I did not know that gender separation starts so young. The boys basically played together and the girls played together. But they all had so much fun. I can't wait to see what happens as they get older. There were three little ones that were crawling or just sitting there. That was fun watching them play together, or I should say next to each other. They were so cute. You could tell what toys were at hit - the empty water bottles. I often wonder why we spend so much money on toys when kids like toys like boxes and empty bottles better, but that is another blog all together. I can't believe how big my children are getting. Watching T play with other children is so much fun. It is amazing how each year things change so much. They are so much more fun as they get older. Watching there imagination grow and develope is so much fun.

Blessings From Within Podcast

Episode 3 Is now Ready

I can make it through

I have a lot of changes in my life as of lately. I know in my heart that they are for the better. That by no means make them any easier. I have had people who I thought were my friends just turn out not to be. I have had many days of crying and feeling a lot of self pity. I have had many days of eating anything just to help fill in the hurt.

I have been praying for help. I have been praying that I can be strong and I can make it through. I put my entire life into God's hands for the first time. I trusted that God would help guide me through the rough spots. I have a hard time trusting that anyone will help take care of me, and that things will work out.

I am amazed that by the trust that I put in God. By the faith, I have pulled through. I feel comfortable. I feel at peace. I know that I will make it through anything.

While there days I feel that I am starting over, I know that it is for the best. I am so much happier than I have ever been in my life. My boys are starting to see a mommy that is happy, and that is a wonderful feeling. I am appreciating what I have more than I ever have before. I know that I will make it through everything.

Desperate Housewife?

One of the shows I love to watching. I love to think about which of the housewives I would be. I love that show because of the fact I have a little of each of the woman inside of me.

Bre - I love to have my house tidy. I have found that outward appearances can be very important to me. People have such different opinions, and it is important to hold it together for them and keep the real me inside. I have a heart of gold. I volunteer to help everyone.

Gabby - I love to shop. I love expensive things. I want to have the newest and best of things. I will fight to the death for what I believe in.

Lynette - I feel that I am behind the 8 ball all the time. I am exhausted chasing after my kids. My family is the most important thing to me and I will protect them at all costs.

Susan - I feel that everything I try to do just goes wrong. I get caught in the most award situations. I need the people in my life and love them more than they will ever know or understand.

Each of these woman are incredible, they fight for what the believe in and do there best to protect there family. If I could have half of there fight then I know I am an incredible woman as well. Striving to be the best that I can each day and knowing that I am doing what I feel is right, never looking back because it was exactly what I wanted at one point in time, and that is all that matters.

Blessings From Within Podcast

Shopping

The other day I was at the store and getting ready to check out. I decided because I did not have much in my cart that I would go to self check out. I hate the self check out because people can't handle using them, or they have too much. I just don't have the patience for people to sit there trying to check out for 30 min for 3 items. But I decided to try it.

The lady in front of me forgot something, and decided that she just had to go back to get it. All of the lines in the store were long, and there was a line behind me. I was next. She had a little girl in the cart with her. Instead of finishing up she left the line, not allowing anyone to go in front of her because she was in the middle of checking out. She start to walk away leaving her child in the cart.... Her daughter was probably only 3. Just was going to leave her by herself...... Then she stopped, looked at her daughter and sat there a while and though if she should go back and get her. I was amazed. After a minute of thinking she finally decided that she should take the little girl with her and when back to get what she was missing. She was gone a couple of minutes shopping again. I could not believe it.

I know that some days you just have to get things done. But I am amazed that people don't think. I am amazed that people can be so inconsiderate of others. I was in a rush, and I was amazed that she did it.

I am thankful that I would never have to think about leaving my children, that would never even cross my mind. I would never have to make that kind of decision, my children would go with me. I feel blessed because of the conscience I have. I feel blessed that I have the ability to think and know right from wrong. I pray for patience for people who still need to learn it.

Changing perspective

My children know how to make mommy so mad. Push each and every button. Fustrate me. Make me wonder why I choose to become a mother. Each day make me wonder about every decision I have made the past couple of years. Each day is a struggle... Guess what, it is the most amazing experience in my life. I have never been so angry, so sad, so happy, so fustrated, so excited, so proud, and the list goes on and on. Each day I experience most if not all of these emotions.

I ask for a break, but when I am away I wonder what they are doing. I am amazed every day what they can do and how they learned it.

Children are amazing. Watching them experience new things. The every day experience that I take for granted makes me feel great, to watch them through the eyes of my children. To experience things new again, is an experience only a parent can relate to. To have the trust, the love, the amazement that a child has is an amazing experience.

God does this to remind us not to take for granted what we have. To see the amazing creatures, and things that are in this world. Looking at the moon before we had children was nothing special.... but now to see the different shapes is amazing. To see how one night it is so bright and the next not so much. The different colors it can be. Or taking a look at the falling leaves. Before kids they were a burden. You had to clean them up. They got into gutters, and were slippery. They never seem to end. Watching the eyes of my son light up to experience the different colors it is amazing. Playing in a freshly raked pile is so much fun. The laughter, the smiles it is all worth it.

When you start feeling like the magic is out of every day life, try looking at the day through a new perspective... ones of a child.

Finding a Balance

I realized a lot today. I love the computer and I love technology. I have let it start to take over my life. I have a love of learning, and learning new things is one of the biggest benefits of the internet. I have a need to make friends. How quickly we can make friends by being on the internet? I listen to podcasts, and after hearing the podcasters for weeks you start to think about them as people you find in your every day life. While they are, for me it is a part of reality, a reality. Everything I have found on the internet has enhanced my life in so many ways.

I am starting my own podcast... Why because I want to. I want to pass along and touch others lives in the same ways that the podcasters that I listen to have touched mine. I want to blog, again to share my thoughts and feelings with everyone. I love social media, talking to everyone on plurk and on twitter... but hey.... I am forgetting someone.....

Yep I have noticed something. I am forgetting someone, or a few someones.... My family. I have let myself go. I spend all of my free time on the computer. I wait for e-mails to come in. I am addicted to the internet, to my email and to my social networking friends. I am leaving my family behind me. I am not taking care of them like I should. My house is a mess, my children are acting out because they miss me. My husband keeps making comments about the fact I am on the computer all the time.

What a blessing, I can start to work to step away, to find a balance. To make my first priority be my family, and my job as a mom, and have the rest just be icing on the cake. I can start to learn balance. It is something that is just an amazing ability we have a people.

Quote

Watching Children Play

It is a wonderful feeling to find your children playing by themselves. I know that sitting here watching them play is a wonderful feeling. I am so amazed that not only can they play together, but each of them can play on there own. I love that feeling. Watching Captain N watch is brother and then start doing the same motions is such an amazing feeling. He loves to watch his brother play. But at the same time, the things he comes up with on his own.

I often wonder why we spend so much money on some of these toys because my children have so much more fun with a laundry basket, pots and pans, a box and my Tupperware. Not that the trucks that they have are not fun for them to play with, but they love playing with things that are not "toys."

I often think about all of the "advantages" we have for our children. Our tv, games, computers, game systems, cable is really an advantage. What are they learning? We have so many wonderful tools at our fingertips, but at the same time where is the imagination going? I really wonder.


I know as a parent, especially when I am tired it is so easy to put on Sponge bob Square pants and let the tv babysit the kids while I get some things done. I often wonder how my mother did so much. She worked part time, our house was always clean and we always had food on the table. I can't figure out how to do all of that, and still have time to spend with my children.

I am so lucky not to have to put my children in day care. That is a blessing for me. I get to interact with my children all day long, watch them play, teach them and help them grow. I am not worried about watching my children learn from others. I am not worried about who is taking care of them and what they are teaching them. But I am very fortuante to be in a situation to be able to do that. It is not something that alot of families are able to do. Most have to work, and that is wonderful what they are providing for there children.

We all have sacrafices that we have to make. But following our heart and what we have avaliable to you, you can make the decision that fits you.

Being Thankful

I have been thinking alot today about being thankful. There are so many times that I have gone each day with out being thankful for all that I have. I have so much to be thankful for. I have found out that by realising what I am thankful for and being appreciative of it makes my day so much better.

I have a wonderful family. My husband is a wonderful man that works so hard to take care of us. There are times that it is hard, but we work together and stick with it we can make it through anything. My children are so funny, they make me see the wonder in the world. They are teaching me patience. They are teaching me unconditional love. My parents are so supportive of me. They show me how to be a wonderful parent. My sister shows me how beautiful people are. How they can care and be there for you no matter what. I have learned so many great lessons from them.

There are so many people that I have not met that have changed my life. I love listening to podcasts, expecially the ones associated by SQPN. These are wonderful faith filled people. They have shared there faith and lives with us though there podcasts. Through this faith, I am able to find my faith and find how I want to live my life. They are people that will never know how much they touch lives, but they really do.

My online friends through all of the social media sites have taught me how taking some time for people you don't know makes them feel special. Every time I get a response to something I put out there it makes me feel special.

Even people who have come into my life and have left. Each of them have taught me something new. They have helped to shape my life. They have each taught me some lessons. Some are through the good that we have shared, some are from things that are not so good. But each lesson has helped me become a better and stronger person.

So many times we can go through out the day with out being thankful. It is an amazing gift we have. This gift can help us become better people and can help shape our lives.

Count Your Blessings

Count Your Blessings

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;

Count your gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes;

Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears;

Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean;

Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth;

Love your neighbor as much as yourself.

Author unknown

While reading today I found this. How true. We can change our life by just counting the good, learning from the bad. We can find our blessings by stepping back and knowing that they are there and they make a difference. Each time we count a blessing we are making our life, and our outlook so much better.

Yesterday I learned alot about counting my blessings. My uncle was in an accident 5 years ago. His life has completely changed. He can no longer live on his own, and needs constant help and supervision. It was his birthday, and seeing the family together, laughing and having a good time was wonderful. We were all looking at our blessings. Telling stories of the good. Living our lives to the fullest. Watching the children play, laugh, and learn.

We did not look at the bad. The fact that everything has change, not only for him, but for all of us. We did not look at the trials that he has and still has to go through, we were happy to be together, to celebrate, to laugh and to love. That is amazing. To take the time to count the good and learn from the bad is a wonderful gift we have, we can share and we should share.

The Storms of Life

So I was thinking yesterday, something that is not so easily done at times but I try. I was watching a rain storm, it blew in quickly, rained hard, and blew out just as quickly. What a blessing, with summer and high temperatures here, it watered my garden, watered the grass, how much good it did. At the same time it started to flood parking lots and streets, brought in some tornado warnings. How can something so good, also do so much destruction.

By looking at the storm, and thinking about what was around me I realized that so many blessings in life are this way. Look at our children. What a blessing - unconditional love, hugs, kisses - they are truly something to be grateful for. On the other hand - what a big destruction of your body, your house, your sanity and your patience. Same can be said for animals, and other people in your life. But if you choose to look at them in that way, nothing good can or will come out of it. Everything in live has the good, the bad and the ugly attached to it. It is how you choose to look at it, and how you choose to handle it that will make the difference.

With everything there is good and bad. With every storm there is destruction and there are blessings. The challenge is to find the blessings. With the water, it provides life. It gives us something our body needs to continue going. It allows us to become clean, and clean things like dishes and laundry. It is a source of entertainment. It quenches thirst. It helps our food grow. We could not live without water. In the same breath you can say it destroys life. Too much water can hurt plants, can cause death, can cause destruction. Look at hurricanes, so much destruction comes with them.

The challenge is to take the bad and find the good. Take the people that are a challenge for you and find the good in them. We have been giving the choice of free will, lets us it to change the world.

Take the rain storm, while there was destruction, leaves and branches down in my back yard, toys moved, there was a lot of good that came out of it. The plants got water they need to grow. It cooled down outside. What a blessing.

Finding Blessings

Each day I try to take a look at my life and find a blessing in it. Something I find rough. Something that I find challenging. Something where I would never find a blessing before. This is a challenge. I find that by doing this I am working on changing my view point from glass half empty to glass half full. I never realized how hard that was to do. But being that it is hard to do, it is the most rewarding thing that I have ever done. Each and every day I am finding that there are different blessings around me. Blessings that have always been there, but I have never noticed.

Each day I wake up to two beautiful smiling children. I am still tired and I don't want to get up. I have taken this as a burden. Now I am working to change this into a blessing. They are beautiful. They are happy to see me. They are refreshed and ready to start another day. I have food on my table. Taking the time to prepare can be rough, but the fact is that I am blessed to have food available. I am blessed to be able to make food that is good for myself and for my family.

Taking the time each and every day to find the blessings in my life is such a rewarding experience. It is so easy to take for granted what you have in front of you, but to take the time to see that it is a blessing, means so much more.

Growing a Garden

With the rising costs of food, and the rising costs of gas I have decided to start a new adventure of growing a garden. I have nine plants I have planted to start with. So far two of them have some vegitables growing. Others have flowers, so it looks like they may produce some vegitables.

I never realized how much time and effort goes into growing a garden. Getting the soil ready was so hard. My back yard has a lot of clay and rock. So I had to find a place to put my garden that would not have so much of that, but have soil that would allow my plants to take root and grow. Using the tiller was alot of hard work on my arms. I had a lot of blood, sweat and tears go into getting the soil ready. Looking back that is how I feel when I start out a new class. They all need to have some time put into them. They are not ready to receive the holy spirit but through the blood, sweat and tears that I put into the classes through preparation and through teaching I am getting them ready to receive the seed that the holy spirit so it can grow.

Then I had to plant the plants. I had to dig a hole that is deep enough for the roots to take, but shallow enough that the plant can continue to grow towards the sky and the sun. That was was difficult because I wanted to just do it myself, but had my son help me. I learned patience with that. He wanted to help, he wanted to be apart of the garden. I knew that I could do it by myself and get it done faster, but the pride in his face for doing it with me was worth the time put into it. I taught him how to plant the flowers. We talked about them growing. We talked about different things. It was a great time working with him to get the garden ready. Taking a step back I need to do this with my class. As much as I just want to do things myself because it will be faster, I need to enjoy the time it takes for them to help me out, and use it as a learning experience. Watch there roots start to find a place to stay and them blossom into beautiful young men and woman.

Remembering to water the plants every day is proving to be a challenge. Sometimes it rains and I have nothig to do, other days I have to remember to water the garden. And learning that there are better times in the day to water the garden was a hard lesson to learn. It is easier to do it during the middle of the day when we are playing outside but it is not always the best time to do it. Being patient and knowing that by waiting to the right time the plants will get the most out of the water I provide is a hard lesson to learn. Same with my class and children. There are times that they are going to soak up all of the knowledge I put in front of them, there are other times when it is just not a good time. Being patient is the best way to teach and have your words and lessons be heard.

Waiting is what we are doing right now. We have to wait until the vegitables are ready before we pick them. Seeing the little buds start to grow, watching what they are turning into is exciting, but waiting is hard to do. I want to pick them now but they are not ready. Same with my children. I need to step back and watch them grow. Wait, it will happen, and the rewards will be great. Same as with my class. I may not see the results in the year, but I need to know in my heart that I have made there garden ready, know that I have planted and taken care of the seed, and trust that it will blossom into something beautiful.

Giving Time to Others

Taking time out of your busy day is hard to do . It is not easily given to others. We all have so much to battle each and every day. For instance being a stay at home mother, I have to take care of my children, play with them, clean the house, do the laundry, take care of the pets, make sure that every one is fed, teach my children, do the shopping, take them to the doctor, and so many other things. Most of these I have to do on a daily basis. I feel that my day is constantly going, I hardly have time for myself, and now I have to give to others. Why?

What a great question. Why would we want to give our time to others? Well because it is the right thing to do, first of all. It is also fills a space in our hearts, that we are doing something good for others. What a great lesson to teach our children, that everyone is important. If we need help we would want to have others help us, right?

We have extra time that we can give, if we just take the time to find it. Can we step away from the computer for a while and give that time to others? Can we step away from the television? Can we find the time in our heart to give... yes, we just have to have the want to do it. With the will we always find a way. A great example of this is when we want to exercise. If we really want to do this we find it in our hearts, the time to set aside for it. Same with volunteering, find the will in our heart and we will find the time in our day.

Finding the good in everyone

There are some days that it is hard to find the good in people. People who you have felt have done you wrong. People who are different. People that just stopped talking to you. People who you love. Finding good in people is not an easy task. Actually it is probably one of the hardest things we have to face. Especially with the struggles that are out there in this world. The pressures to be better than some one else. The pressure to succeed.

I remember as a child being told that I needed to be more like my sister. She always found something good in everyone, even people she did not care for. She would always find a way to compliment them. I never understood how you could do that. How can you compliment someone that you just don't like. How can you find something good about them. If someone has hurt you, why would you even want to find something good about them.

Now as I am growing older and experiencing so many new things, and raising children I see what my mother was talking about. We need to find the good in others. It is not a hard thing to do. Everyone has some good quailties about them. You have to focus and find it. Know that no matter what has happened that you can tak the time to find the good, and in turn you are showing that you can do it. You might have to look harder in some people than others but know that it is worth it to find the good in everyone.