Now I Am Super Cool

Tonight we celebrated Christmas with my family. It was a great time with my siblings and their lovies. My dad said that he wanted to sing some songs before we dove into the presents. Now, that was not an odd request since we grew up singing like the Partridge family. Anyway, he asked my brother if he had brought his guitar over and my lil' bro said "yeah" and brought it out. I had not seen this new guitar. It was so cute. Now I know this will sound weird but it was blue. Well, after we sang some songs my brother walked over to me and said that it was mine. I thought he was kidding until the rest of my family started laughing and confirming his comment. I was shocked!!!! I have been wanting a guitar for years but had not been disciplined enough to save the money to buy one. So this was a majorly big deal. It looks vintage and if I had every guitar in the world to choose from I think it is the one I would have picked for myself. I LOVE IT!!!! Now, I just need to learn to play. So, I have to give many thanks to my parents and my mother-in-law for my super cool gift. And I can't believe they were all in on it and that everyone managed to keep their mouths closed for so long. I am impressed. As soon as I figure out how to retrieve pics from my new camera I will post some pics of the new addition to my family.
Of course, my brother had to play every song he ever learned on it tonight....you know...just in case we forgot that he is the "coolest".

My bed

So, after a week away from home, hubby and my bed I am once again enjoying all three. And before you go and think something off-colored, I mean that I am very glad to be sleeping in my bed. Over the course of the last week I have spent two nights driving in a SUV with 6 other people. And then spent 5 nights on a couch. So, my bed was looking pretty darn appealing when I arrived at home. And thank the Lord for a full nights sleep.

Christmas with my grandparents was wonderful. It was so great to see all of my Okie family. I truly have the best family ever. ( I know, I know, you think you do........but no, I do) The trip out there was not bad at all. The DVD player did its job so that was great. And the rest of us had a nice time. My children could not have been any better behaved last week if they tried. I don't think I have ever seen them that angelic EVER. Too bad they don' t do that at home....... but it did make the trip away from home so much easier.

We are celebrating Christmas with my side of the family this weekend. My brother and "sister" came over. It is so great to see them. They don't live that far away but visits are too far between. And on a side note....my boys are going to be rotten by the end of this month. My youngest had his birthday during the first week, so we had his birthday with presents, then we celebrated Christmas with my mom-in-law so they both had presents to open, then Christmas at my grandparents, so more presents, then this weekend with my family, you guessed it, more presents. Then my oldest's birthday this week. So more presents again. Poor planning on the part of hubby & me.

Well, I guess I should go sleep in my wonderful bed. So good-nite!!

Man is it cold outside...

WOW!!! As I am writing this, the cold air is beginning to seep through our wood floors. It is making my feet cold. I think that is absurdity that we had 85 degree temperatures 4 days ago and that the low tonight is supposed to be 28 degrees. Anyone else think that is crazy? Of course I guess it just shows us that God has a sense of humor. You know, in case any of us were beginning to feel smug after not having any significant hurricanes this season, or huge wildfires, or massive ice storms. Speaking of ice storms, my family in Oklahoma have been living for the last week without electricity or heat since the huge ice storm hit there last weekend. Talk about bbbbbbrrrrrrrr! I am taking my little guys out there for Christmas. I am hitching a ride with my parents and sister and brother-in-law. I am not looking forward to that 16 hour drive with two little people. But maybe I should try to remain positive. At least my family doesn't live in California. I bought myself a Christmas present and told my husband that it was from him. After much thought I decided that I would go against everything I ever said about raising children......I bought a portable DVD player with 2 screens to put in the car. I always said that "I would never". Well, I did. And I feel great about it. Now, maybe the adults in the car will have some peace and quiet while my children are hypnotized by VeggieTales. It is amazing to me how your belief system regarding childrearing can evolve so rapidly after you have children of your own. And it also make you want to call every "bad" parent you ever criticized, whether aloud or internally, and apologize profously. How could I have known in my blissful ignorance that they were just trying to remain sane and keep their children safe? Believe me, a 16 hour car ride without something for them to watch just might put me over the edge of reasoning and therefore put them in danger. So, to all of you mommas out there. SORRY!!!! If I ever judged you. NOW I UNDERSTAND!!!! Peace?

We celebrated Christmas on Sunday with my mother-in-law. It was a very nice evening. My children received more toys, of course. But the thing I was most excited about was the digital camera she gave me. Now you have to understand, this is the first digital camera I have ever owned. Up until now I have only used cameras that used actual film. I know, I know, I am way behind the times. But I love pictures, and photo albums and most of the people that I know that use digital cameras have neither. So I resisted, alot. I liked the fact that I would take the picture and then be somewhat surprised at what was in the picture when I picked them up from the store. But now I will strive to take pictures and still have them printed off. I am sure that it is not fancy like Uncommon Blondes new camera but it is just right for me. Already I am having alot of fun with it.

And I would like to say to everyone out there.......MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I loved the little clip that Photochick posted about it. If you haven't seen it check it out. You may have to cut and paste because I am also as far behind in computer technolgy as I am in digital cameras. LOL
http://www.citizenlink.org/content/A000005834.cfm

Anyway, good night!

Doing Better

Well, after a nice nights sleep, I am feeling better this morning. Nothing external has changed but I know that the prayers are making a difference. So thank you to all of you out there that have been praying. And I think that sometimes it helps to let out our feelings so we can see exactly where we are at and to move forward.

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run an not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

Monday

Well, the birthday party for my youngest gentleman was great. The cake was fabulous, the time with family and friends was wonderful and my little guy could not have been any better. He dug right into the cake. I didn't know he could move so fast.


I am searching for some clever anecdotes or funny stories but its just not happening tonight. To be honest, I feel a little confused. Some of my favorite people in the whole world are hurting right now and it is tearing my heart out. And on top of that I am missing my sister so much that don't know what to do. She has been gone for 11 years now. It doesn't seem possible that it has been that long. The anniversary of her passing was the day before my little guys birthday. That day is also my brother wedding anniversary. So alot of stuff going on. And it hit my like a ton of bricks on Saturday that she never got to meet my two little boys. Sorry....I am not trying to be depressing. Then I heard some sad news today from my brother and sister-in-law. I don't want to publish their business but I am so confused. I know that God is all powerful, all knowing, all loving. I just pray that God will wrap them up in His arms. And to risk sounding selfish, I guess I want to fall into His arms tonight too. I am feeling a little disconnected right now. My husband and I left our church about a month ago. I have been at that church since I was in the 8th grade. So half my life. I went to school there until I graduated. And I worked there too. I had been the praise and worship leader for the last several years. I loved it. But things have been changing. My hubby and I have been praying for months about our place there. And last month God released both of us. So we met with the pastor and left. I have a peace about that decision but I feel adrift. We haven't found a new church home yet so please pray for us. I know that God has a plan for our family and I want to be in the center of His will. I would just like to know what His will is for us. So, to put a period on this rambling blog..........I need prayer tonight......and so do so many others. Thanks.

Is he 1 already?

Well, today my youngest son turned one years old. My oldest sang Happy Birthday to him no less than 20 times. It was precious. But as we spent the day together I had so many emotions surface. From happy to sad. I am so grateful and thankful to God for my two little boys. They are truly the sunshine in my life. Their zest for life and the fact that they do everything with all of their might inspires me to live my life differently. I was going through the birthday boys clothes and was packing up things that were too small. I came across the hat that the hospital put on him after he was born. It still smelled like him. That was when I lost it. I was happy that he is here in our family but sad that the last year has flown by so fast. I know that as a mom, my moments of temporary insanity have just begun and as odd as it seems I will try to be thankful for every one of them.

So I have decided to blog a bit about my mommy experiences.

1. there is no better feeling in the world than feeling your child nestled up close to you.
2. there is no better smell in the world than your child after their bath
3. I love the faces on my boys right after they wake up....priceless
4. I had no idea my heart could hold so much love
5. I must have been a very bored and boring person before my children arrived
6. I love to hear them laugh, especially when they are laughing together at each other
7. My favorite thing is to hear my oldest singing songs about and to God and to hear him throughout the day praying to Jesus regarding everyday things. He thanks God for his toys....his bed....his walls. And then there are the times that you hear him praying for a specific person. Sometimes its me and I think about how blessed I am to have a prayer warrior talking to our Heavenly Father on my behalf.
8. The other day I was having " a day" and my oldest came up to me and said he wanted to talk. This is how that conversation went:
Sweetie: Mom, I just want to talk to you.
Me:What do you want to talk about?
Sweetie: I just want to talk about you.
Me: Really? What about me?
Sweetie: I just want to tell you that I love and that I am proud of you.
I could have hit the floor. To hear my two year old encourage me blew me away.
9. I love to see my children in the arms of my husband. I don't think he fully realizes how important that is to our family but he is learning.
10. I love Sunday mornings when all of us are in one bed for a full hour before we have to get up. It is truly heaven on earth to me.

I love being a mommy!!! I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am truly blessed. So here is to another wonderful year!!!!

Joys of Womanhood

So without getting a little too personal.........I hate that "time of the month".

Since having my two sons it has gotten worse. I truthfully think that I would rather be pregnant and deal with the weight gain, bloating, food cravings and all of the rest of the drama than to deal with the monthly reminder of the fact that I am a lady. It is not a subtle reminder either. Why can't we just wake up for 7 days in a row and feel pretty or feminine? Or look in the mirror and notice a glow that signifies health? Why does the glow have to be accompanied by hormonal surges that produce sweat? I realize that in the whole scheme of things without our lovely "friend" that children would be out of the question. But I propose another option. An option that would allow us to have our kids, feel beautiful and say goodbye to Uncle Red and Aunt Flo. Why can't they just figure out a way to keep us from having them after we are finished having children? And I don't mean a hysterectomy because that would throw us into a whole new set of problems, menopause. Something else.........someone out there must know how to do it but they are keeping quiet and are silently laughing at us women as we walk by hunched over with cramps, bloated, and bascically feeling sub-human. I feel like Mel Gibson in Braveheart right before he dies.......FREEDOM!!!!!!!! Give us freedom!!!!!! No more periods!!! There....I said it. Periods. I HATE PERIODS!!!!! The mood swings, the cramps, the irritability, the fact that I want to eat everything in sight, and the fact that I know that no matter how good I feel the week after it ends......its coming again and again and again.

And to make it worse.......men don't have to deal with it, so they really can't be sympathetic about it can they? If they try it just comes off as patronizing and that makes it even worse when you already feel like a slobbering, blubbering, bloated mess.

So, it seems to me that the only cure for this ailment that we all share is to take the week of our periods and go on a vacation. ALONE!!!!! No hubby, no kids, no smartie pants people that just look for ways to tick us off. Ok, maybe its just me that is already ticked off. Nonetheless, I need a break. Lets' pack a bag, buy a ticket, take off and say bon voyage to our meanest "friend".

Whoever decided to call it our "friend" anyway?