Lord, Help Me!

Oh my goodness. Today was definitely a Monday! It was horrible. Grant it, I did get to wear my new boots so the total day wasn't a bust. My children drove me to the cliff of my sanity today. I'm talkin' to the EDGE. Days like today are what encourages me to write to my Senators to encourage Prozac being put into our water supply. Days like today make me want to grab a can of Reddi-Whip and squeeze that nozzle straight into my mouth. Yes, on days like today I am tempted to pull out the duct tape and adhere my precious little half-pints to the wall with only enough of an opening for them to get sufficient oxygen through. Oh, you just might not understand. I'd read to them; an educational book of course. I'd feed them broccoli and carrots and give them milk through a straw. I'd go over multiplication tables and the alphabet. Heck, I'd even sing a song to them. I am currently wearing a smile as big as Dallas; simply because this idea delights me so. I find great peace in just thinking about it. I think I'm done writing for the night. Yes, I'm sure of it. I need to sit here and relax while I'm in the zone. The quiet zone, that is. (I think if I were a yoga person, this would be the point where I would be chanting ... OHMMMMM.)
Ciao`

Need some help? Try this:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/relaxation-technique/SR00007

Joke of the Day

Q: Why does Peter Pan always fly?




A: Because he can 'Neverland'.

Missing My Baby Boy

     Because of divorce, I am having to share my youngest son with his father. This is NOT an easy task, to say the least. The holiday season makes it much harder because these are times that remind us of all the things we are thankful for. Of course, moms are thankful for their children. It makes me miss my youngest all the more. He left Friday night and I won't get him back until the evening of the 29th. (sigh)
     Oh, I know that his dad and his side of the family are thankful for him as well. But, I'm his mommy, indulge me. I love you, Ben. Happy Thanksgiving sweetheart. I pray that God keeps you in the safety of His arms.

HaHa ...

Q: Why are chefs hard to like?




A: Because they beat eggs, whip cream, and mash potatoes!

Hahahahhahaa! Sounds like my kind of Chef! Just in time for the holidays, too.

I Think That's NOT Ok

Ok, so Ben asks Dodge if he can have something. Dodge says no. So, Ben sneaks over to MEEEE, and proceeds to ask me the same question. My answer was of course, the same as Dodge's answer. (Wouldn't want to confuse the little tike, or create any animosity.)
So, that should be nipped in the bud, huh? Going from one parent to the other, to see if he can get the answer he wants?
We ARE a blended family, you know. Advice anyone?

Religious Freedom

Just wanted to share this link with you, it's about our religious freedom here in America.
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091119/stand-up-for-religious-freedom/index.html

Joke of the Day

I sooo borrowed this from my friend PSN.

One cow says to a bunch of other cows
"I wanted to love all of you; but I couldn't get pasteurize."

:)

Oh, and one more ...

What bird is always out of breath?

A puffin.

Need a link to some cute kids jokes? try http://www.bestfamilyadvice.com/kids-jokes.html

Counting My Blessings

     Woke up with a sore throat today, ew. I just got over the flu, I don't want to be sick again! Guess I'll up the vitamin C.
     Don't you just love it when you call the doctors office and you're put on eternal hold? Yeah. Amid all the errands I had to do today, I did find that Bank of America is offering a free year of McAfee's antivirus thingy. I noticed it while doing some banking online. Yeah, like transfering money from one account to another so bills don't bounce! Oh my, mine have been known to bounce quite high! Yes, I admit it, I am an airhead. You just wouldn't believe my lack of skill in the banking department. Ha! No, I cannot balance a checkbook. So, I don't even bother trying anymore. I don't even look at my bank statements. Ever.
     I am listening to the Immanuel Broadcasting Network, which I love. Sophie & I are sitting here on the loveseat, humming to the music (well, Sophie's not humming-she's a dog), and catching up on blogging (Sophie doesn't blog, either). I can't help but be thankful for the blessings in my life. I'm thankful for days that my 4 year old takes naps, I'm thankful for bread machines, and I'm thankful for my wonderful husband. My world would not be complete without that man.
     I just sent my boys to bed an hour ago and my 4 year old  just walked in here. He said, "Uh, Mama, could I just give you one more hug?" I said, "Sure." Then he said, "Oh, and could I have just one more tiny drink?" So I said ok, then hollered down the hall, to turn the cartoons off. Then I hear, "Barnacles!" Yep, we ARE a Sponge-Bob family. I'm thinkin Sponge-Bob needs some Jesus. I try to use even the smallest things, like cartoons, and turn them into learning lessons. With this particular cartoon, it turns into "What NOT to do to your friends," and "Lying is bad." Where are the Waltons when you need them?
     Guess I'll turn in for the night. By the way, if the dog ever starts humming, I'll send a video in to Pet Star. Hmph, if she figures out how to blog, we're taking that show on the road!
    
    

Joke of the Day

Ok, so my 9 year old loves silly little jokes. Here's one for today:

Why did the ghost have a tummy ache?
Because he was gobblin up all his treats.
:)

Days like these ...

     "Oh Lord, on days like this one, please help me not to lose my mind. Help me keep my sanity, because I will need it later when I have to remember how to use the A.T.M. machine. Help me not to strangle anyone because that is a crime, and I do not wish to go to prison. Lord, help me to remember that I must not take my eyes off of you; after all, THAT is when Peter began to sink."
     Hey, Dad, feel free to come back any time. Umm, but could you hurry up? Thanks. See, today was one of those days that takes you by complete surprise. I might as well have woke up to someone slapping me in the face-with one of those rubber chickens. (sigh)
     Mitch had a major meltdown; I'm talking the kicking, screaming, throwing, yelling kind of fit. I'm talking raw emotion. Of course, we believe in equality here in our household so Ben threw quite a tantrum, too. I wanted to hide. I really wanted to go get back in my bed and pull my pillow up over my face. And scream. No, today couldn't be handled by the dry-erase board that keeps tally of smiley faces and "x's." Today, we needed time, attention, love, and discipline. Don't get me wrong, we do discipline on other days, too. In fact, several times a day. However, it isn't always needed to this extreme.
     Sidebar: You know those reality shows on T.V., like "Extreme Makeover," etc ... ? Well, I think we need an "Extreme Tantrum" show. I'd be willing to hide a video camera around here so other people could see why my hair is turning so gray. I'd be willing to let JoJo come and stay with us. "Help me, Nanny JoJo!"
     Today was one of those days that makes me question my abilities as a parent. It makes me wonder if I have any idea what I'm doing, whatsoever. I've come to the realization that, "No. I don't." Nevertheless, I am doing the best I can. I think.  Days like this one, makes me fall back into a cloud of regret. I know I have made many many bad choices. I know that I have had consequences to pay. I know that my rebellion as a youngster led me across a rickety old bridge. I also know that I can't go get those days back. I can't get the time back. I can't change the  past, or my mistakes. All I have is right now, to make a difference. So, onward and upward I go.
     "God, help me to forgive myself, for all of my mistakes. I have asked you to forgive me, and you have. I just need to learn to forgive myself. Help me to stand in the assurity that you have given me. Help me to show the kind of love and compassion that you do, when you discipline me. Help me, Lord, day by day. Show me how to let others see you, in me."

The Power Team!

     Whoa! Go Power Team! Oh, and go ME! I took six boys to see them tonight. Six boys, all by myself. I saw the Power Team once when I was in high school. I felt like a kid again, cheering them on. Ben asked if I would be proud of him if he grows up to be as strong as those guys. Oh yeah. It was neat to see several familiar faces. The boys loved watching those men break stuff and bend steel. I think they liked the fire stuff the best though.
     Today was a Friday-school day, which I love. They are such good people. I had no idea there were so many homeschoolers in this area. It is very encouraging for me, as a first year homeschooler. Today I saw someone else's child misbehaving and I was so grateful! I know, that's terrible. However, it's normally my Ben that is acting up. I got to breathe a sigh of relief when I saw that he wasn't the problem. What really got my attention was seeing that this young lad didn't argue with his mother what-so-ever. He ran. He ran away when she came after him. Ben does that to me, so I could totally feel her pain. This mother, who by the way has eight children, was so calm. I'm thinking to myself, "Wow, I would have been running after him while screaming something about putting an "X" by his name. Kudos to you S.P. because seeing you handle that situation, truly inspired me. I've been learning about how I can shift my focus on a situation, and it seems to change completely. It's like a whole new set of solutions appears before me. Seeing you do that, made me pause. It made me think. I was thinking about how I could handle my own little runaway, using your technique.
     "God, thank you for opening my eyes to a new way of discipline today. Thank you for my new friends, that are so full of love and support for one another. Help me to be a better mother and a better example. Jesus, thank you for loving me and my children. If it weren't for you, I'd be doomed to an eternity in hell. My Lord, thank you for your compassion; please help me to show it to my children, even when disciplining them. Just as you do."

Back from dinner out

     Ahh, it was nice to have dinner out this evening. Dad kept the boys for us; they had pizza. We got to eat a grown-up meal with drinks served in glass glasses. Wow. I'd almost forgotten what it feels like to play dress-up. I actually put on make-up today. Now THAT rarely happens.
     My headache finally went away, thanks to pharmaceutical drugs. Perhaps if I'd eaten more than two cookies throughout the day, I wouldn't have gotten the headache to begin with. (sigh)
     Can you see my living room? It looks like a tornado hit it. There are tiny little green army men all over the floor, and my coffee table. The pillows from the couch are scattered on the floor and the laundry that I should have folded this morning, rests comfortably on the love-seat. Let's not forget the dog and all of her toys; which are also scattered about. My desk is piled with papers and old mail. I really need to get organized but since I'm a procrastinator I'll just do that tomorrow.
     When we came in the door this evening, the boys jumped out of bed and ran to me to give me hugs and kisses. Bedtime has always been my favorite time of the day. No, really. Not just because the kids are out of the way either. More so because things are winding down, the boys aren't so rambunctious, and we get to spend a little bit of  quality time together. We always have prayers, and sometimes a story. I find great peace in knowing that my boys are asleep in their own beds at night, in their own room, in their own house. It doesn't really matter if the room is a mess. Nah, it doesn't matter if Ben has colored all over the walls and put stickers on his dresser. It doesn't matter if there are legos in every nook. What matters is that my boys are safe and sound, sleeping sweetly in the comfort of their own room. I never have liked for them to have sleep-overs. If it was with my parents, it was ok; but that has ended now and ... please. Don't get me started. It has just always been important to me, for my children to be at home at bedtime. Their home should  be a place of refuge, and their bedroom a restful place to sleep. Sometimes Ben sleeps so hard that he doesn't even wake up when he falls out of the bed. I hear a thud sometimes, and get up because I know what the sound is. I go pick him up and put him back in his bed, and he never wakes. It'd help if he didn't have 20 stuffed animals in his bed but he thinks he has to have them ALL. He has to have "Beary" the green teddy bear and he has to have his puppy, and let's not forget the blue snake that Bubba won him at Six Flags. Sometimes when we go in to have prayers with the boys, if I plop down on the end of Ben's bed, I land on a Star Wars Storm Trooper. Of course, when I pull him out to toss him onto the floor, Ben insists he needs him to sleep on the bed, too.  No wonder he falls out of the bed so often, he sleeps with people from another galaxy! Thanks Mr. George Lucas, you've made my sons life complete. I'm currently breathing like Darth Vader, and I can do a really good impression, just in case you were wondering.
     Well, off to bed I go. My rear is getting numb from sitting in this position for so long. Of course it probably didn't help that I am also sitting on that neat little pile of laundry I told you about. "Lord, I need a maid. Could you get me one? Oh, and, she needs to be really good, and really cheap. Thanks, God. I knew you'd have my back."

Tired of being sick!

     Oh man! After having the flu, thanks Ben, I'm trying to get back to some degree of normalcy. Ha! I know, I know, nothing about me is normal. Come on now, I really want to lose the headache before it becomes a migraine! Ahhhh!
     Oh, and if I could get away with turning off the T.V. would help. I'm tired of "Word World" and "Ruff Ruffman." They just add to my headache. 
     So, Dad just walked back in and the shooting began. Ben just couldn't wait till Mitch got back. He was ready, sitting inside his fort with his gun aimed at the door.
     While they were gone, I was able to get some writing done, despite the headache. However, it was only after I fixed two plates of snack food and agreed to let him have his glass in the living room. Oh, and I had to pretend to be scared every time he shot a bad guy. Poor Ben, he kept saying, "Mama, can I tell you sompthin?" He continually got my, "In a minute," until he couldn't take it anymore. Finally he exploded and said, "Mama! Are you even listening to me or not!?" So I took a break. Had to; I had to help him find his camo pistol. The world would have ended if we hadn't found it!