Mirth on Monday

Hosted by In His Hands

Last week was crazy so maybe that explains my big booboo this weekend......that or just plain old inattention! It was a week *full* of 5 church services, TKD classes, late work hours, hours in ER one evening, blah, blah blah......

Anyway, it was time for TKD belt testing again. Testing and moving up in rank is always so exciting. Only Jared and Jeff were testing but thrilled about getting promoted to blue belts.....but I made a big oops. Testing is *always on Saturday. Always. And in December when the next testing date was mentioned it was Sat, Jan. 27th. We did receive letters in the mail with all the testing information. I noticed the time - much later than usual - and the place - different than normal - but did not pay attention to the actual DAY. So, Saturday I ironed uniforms and was about to leave when Jen checked the information and found that testing was done on Friday night! Ain't I just so funny.......... :P That's ok, they will be retesting this Saturday, just a week late.

I got something funny on a list I'm on that I'll share. Telemarketing Prank language warning

ABC meme

Thank you, Terri! :P

A - available or taken: Happily taken!
B- best friend: My husband
C- cake or pie: Depends on my mood - apple pie or German Chocolate cake or Carrot cake or...
D- drink of choice: Dr Pepper or iced tea
E-essential item you use everyday: Computer! No doubt!
F-favorite color: sky blue
G-gummy bears or worms: either as long as it is sour
H-hometown: Eunice, LA
I-indulgence: well.....I get a craving for chips now and then - NEVER had any as a kid
J-January or February: February
K-kid's names: Jennifer Diane, James David, Jared Daniel, and Jeffrey Dwayne.....yes, I know......
L-life incomplete without: faith, family & friends
M-marriage date: August 22, 1987
N-number of siblings: two younger brothers and a younger step-brother
O-oranges or apples: apples with caramel dipping sauce
P-phobias or fears: tight/small spaces, heights, being restricted in any way, loosing my family...yes, I am a phobomaniac
Q-favorite quote: One I have to depend on often "I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me."
R-reason to smile: many, many blessings and hugs from my sweet boys
S-season: Fall -- love the colors, the smells and the cooler weather!
T-tag 3 people: Wendy ? ?
U-unknown fact about me: We watch the show Monk every week
V-veggie I don't like: HATE cooked greens
W-worst habit: procrastination
X-xrays: too, too many
Y-your favorite food: *real shrimp gumbo and boudin
Z-zodiac: Pisces

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things to do when call volume is really s-l-o-w . . . . .

1. read email
2. search for new cell plan (want a treo but do I *really need that? not really)
3. read fox news online and local news every hour
4. watch tv
5. surf for sales/specials
6. harass kids
7. carve new stamps
8. eat, eat, eat
9. clean my desk
10. reorganize my craft supplies yet again
11. read a book
12. try not to fall asleep
13. If I have made it this long then try to get someone to pick up some of my hours!!!

PS: I work at home processing phone calls. Some days it is fast and furious but some are so slow it is boring.

back to regular scheduling!

Today is the first day back to regular routine school and work days after the Christmas break. We were all ready for the break just a few weeks ago but boy is it nice to get back to that regular routine again!

The morning went off with only one small hitch...Jeff couldn't find the right shoes. That's minor to what could have happened....right? I expect those boys will be cranky this evening. We have all gotten into the habit of late lazy mornings so having to get up at 6:30 will have an impact on this evening. I'm glad it will be just a 4 day week for them.

This upcoming weekend will be a 3 day weekend for all of us, including James so we are planning a unique weekend. It will be a tv/computer free weekend that will instead be spent doing family activities. The thought of living without news and email is kinda frightful but sometimes we need to step back and focus on what is most important in our lives.

Mirth on Monday

I took the whole day off work today. I needed rest but also wanted to have some fun with the kids before they go back to school tomorrow. I rested alright...............until noon! I must have been exhausted!

Jeff wants to play Sims. He is sitting here behind me waiting for me to get off the computer so he can have it. He waited in here ALL DAY Saturday while I worked 9 hours so he could play. He even fell asleep for awhile. The last hour he watched the clock and counted down the minutes until he can *finally have to computer to play Sims. Did I say he loves Sims?

Yesterday we had the county sheriff stop by........a goat was loose in the neighborhood so someone told him to check with us. Nope, Freddie was still on his trolley set-up out there. I did tell James if it was a nannie I'd take it. When he said it was a cute baby billy I said NOPE! No way! One billy is enough for this gal!

OK, sorry but my mirth post will have to be short today....Jeff is bugging me and another needs to go to the feed store and yet another to the bank..........Did I plan being off today?

reflections

Just sitting here during what is supposed to be my planned lunch break (working today) and I looked up and noticed the calendar needed to be switched over to January. (Yes, a week late) Maybe it was unconsciously intentional----for as I pinned it back up and stepped back my eyes zeroed in on the number 16. Every year it is like this big enormous monster waiting for me. Once I'm past it I'm ok. It's just the dread leading up to that date that overwhelms me. 5 years.

Depression is something I've battled off and on since my teen years. When I feel it encroaching at the edges I try to fight it off: sometimes successfully and sometimes not. So it being early January again I can feel the darkness. I hate the darkness - it is such a feeling of nothingness. So I started thinking on discussions I've had with my counselor. One of his favorite bible verses I had qouted in my email sig for awhile "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Sometimes I need just those little tidbits to hang onto. Another verse came to memory, "He is the light of the world". I started reflecting on lights: candles - Jesus, my family, my special friends - and how I have to stay close to my best light sources when my own is flickering and weak. That is what I'll attempt to do over the next week until the 16th passes.

Thursday Thirteen

On this dreary, rainy Thursday with the natives getting restless after being inside so much recently while on winter break my thirteen will be Thirteen things I can smile about today.

1. The expressions on my boys faces while they concentrate on their gameboys.
2. Hugs and kisses from those same boys.
3. A daughter responsible enough to go out into the rain to tend to animals that she loves having.
4. Working (still) on that 1000 piece picture puzzle with even my 8yo enjoys.
5. Playing games like Sorry (teaches sportsmanship, I tell ya!), battleship, and Cosmic Ball to have fun laughs with my kids.
6. Memories of my precious babies that I can share with them now. They love hearing those stories. : )
7. Listening to the guinea pigs sqealing.
8. A puppy that wants to curl up in your lap and cuddle.
9. A kitty's happy purr when satisfied from a simple head scratching.
10. A call from my dear hubby just to check up on how things are going.
11. Reading Terri's blog with sympathy, of course, about her airport nightmare. I always have a tendency to pack too much........working on that one myself.
12. Taking a few moments of time for myself and reading some of the wonderful stories in Guideposts Magazine.
13. a biggie.......finding new emails in my mailbox from my loopie friends. : )

Posted as part of a meme hosted by http://riobello.typepad.com/adventures

that's finished!

My day in court turned out to be anticlimatic. The defense attorney pleaded no contest. At least that part is behind me now.

I think I may have reached *the point with my son. The complete lack of respect, the not coming home for days at a time, and finally shooting a BB gun in a business parking lot. I've reached the point that the next time he gets into trouble he may just be on his own. I'm sick of rescuing just for him to turn and around treat us the way he does. He thinks he *knows everything and doesn't have to listen..........fine, let him deal the the consequences with the law.

I need to be sleeping, but, ahum, after napping too long this afternoon I am awake.

site I found

I don't remember where or how I found this blogger but I Love it! Having spent time myself overseas in a developing country it speaks to me. I've felt a calling for Africa myself for years. http://aaroninafrica.blogspot.com/

New Year and Monday's Mirth

My friend Terri is hosting Monday's Mirth. We all need mirth and joy. :)
http://riobello.typepad.com/adventures/

Oh, goodness.....I was just required to check to make sure James did ok with a glaze on the ham. Picture him standing there with honey and brown sugar dripping off the end of his fingers...

We ended the year 2006 with alot of great family memories and at the perfect place: attending church with a wonderful sermon, communion, and foot washing. Yes, footwashing, just as Jesus washed Peter's feet. It is the *most spiritually powerful thing. Afterward we spent time eating and fellowshiping for awhile at church. We then came home to watch the ball fall in NYC and the gumbo pot in New Orleans. I then stayed up too late working on a picture puzzle. : P

2006 brought an important change for me. I found a way to earn income while still being at home for my kids. Being home for the kids has always been most important to both of us. It brought us a new hobby. Check out letterboxing.org. We've all had good health. (except for that one accident that left me injured)

I look farward to 2007 with hope for a new beginning. I think being more dedicated to church attendance, bible reading, and prayer will be my first resolution. I will also continue to focus my energies toward my family. James is my best friend and we will celebrate our 20th anniversary this year. My daughter will become a legal adult. When the new school year begins in August I'll have a Senior, Junior, one in middle school, and the youngest one in his last year of elementary........mercy how the time does fly.

Here's to a good year 2007!!!