Thankful: Day 6

Everyone thinks their kids are the best, cutest, brightest...but mine really are.

We're pretty strict parents around here. We have fun; they have everything they need and most of what they want. You have to draw the line somewhere and that line is different for every family. For our family, it is with electronics. We have a Wii, PS2, PS3, Original Nintendo, Super NES, N64 and more currently a throwback SEGA genesis and Intellivision. So, we like our video games around here. Matt has an iPhone through his job and I have a Galaxy S4. I also have a Mac laptop for school, but believe me, if not for school...that would never have happened. I say all this to let you know, we aren't all hung up on modern technological gadgets. Our home doesn't hold a single tablet or iPod. If one of my kids wants a tablet, he/she has to save his/her own money and purchase it. Look, our Christmas budget for each kid could buy them a Kindle Fire and they would get nothing else. It's pretty simple because they don't want only one gift. They aren't allowed to have phones until they can drive; my oldest is 10 years old, WHO IS SHE GOING TO CALL?!? I guess I just don't get it, probably because we are a part of the few who still have a land line...but I like it this way. If my kids want to have a conversation with someone, they know how to do it...FACE TO FACE. They know how to respect their teachers, family members, and other children. They aren't perfect, but they're still pretty darn great.

The real story here is Mady. She's a great listener. Well, she is a great selective listener...but apparently she was listening every time her father taught her what we feel is a very important lesson in life.

My conversation with Mady after school today went something like this:
(Names have been changed to protect the innocent...haha)

Me: So, how was school today?
Mady: Well, everyone was bragging about what they got for Christmas.
Me: Ok, so what did everyone get?
Mady: (lists off several kids and what they said they got, then...) Marly said she got a phone, but I know she didn't. (lists reason why she "knows" Marly did not get a phone) Why do kids lie about what they got for Christmas? Who cares?
Me: Well, some kids want you to think they got better stuff for Christmas than they really did so they just make stuff up. But the real reason is; Well, what does your daddy always tell you?
Mady: "Kids are stupid"

Lesson learned!

Ok, so we aren't that harsh.  We say it like a joke because kids always do stupid stuff (most adults do too...so there is that...) Kids are funny, watch them. They make up stories about guys trying to break into their house on Christmas morning and then defending their home by shooting them in the eye with their brand new bow and arrow they just opened for Christmas.  Something tells me that didn't really happen.  Haha!

Today I am thankful for amazing kids who are funny, talented, smart, kind, and good.

Thankful: Day 5

I survived the first day of spring semester today, which means I am 1/4th and one day done with dental hygiene school!

I won't lie, today was rough. We stayed up until midnight watching Downton (season 2, we're trying to catch up!) and then had to get up at least 2 hours earlier than any other day in the past 2 weeks. Also, it's cold out there ya'll. I ate a good breakfast and packed a healthy(ish) lunch. By the time the last class was over, I was falling asleep and really hungry, but I survived!

I'm gonna share two things I am thankful for today...because it's Monday and why not?

1. Besides finishing my first day of spring semester, I am also thankful for coffee. It's possible I couldn't have survived today without it.

2. I haven't had a coke (diet or otherwise) in a week and a day. It's not that I have forbidden them from my diet, because goodness knows, that would cause me to crave them more than ever. I decided that I didn't want to pump my body full of high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners all day long. Surprisingly it hasn't been hard at all. They hardest part was when I had a huge energy slump in the middle of class today and could have really used a caffeine boost.

Thankful: Day 4

I am struggling tonight because I start my spring semester of dental hygiene school tomorrow and I am scared out of my mind.

Ok, that is an exaggeration...but I am really nervous.

This semester brings 11 classes equaling 18 hours plus we start seeing patients in February. It is so exciting and terrifying at the same time. I really hope I can sleep tonight!

Today I am thankful for this long Christmas break from school. As it comes to an end, I look forward to a new routine; however, I will miss the late night Downton marathons and the 10:00 mornings. I will miss the days filled with nothing to do but whatever I want. All of this is nothing compared to the excitement I feel when I think that in 4 short months I will have completed my first year of dental hygiene school and will be halfway to my dream career!

Thankful: Day 3

The hard thing about going back to school when you have kids is that you often don't have the same schedule. This requires babysitters and help from friends and family and it often results in me feeling like a burden to others. Today, my step-mom informed me that her schedule had been rearranged and she was able to watch my kids Monday while I am at school. Not only that, but she invited them to spend the night Sunday night so they don't have to get up early and I don't have to drive across town before school. God always works things out, and for that I am thankful.

Also, the new dishwasher if fabulous!

A new year, a new...

January 2nd, 2015

Today I am thankful for a new dishwasher.  It's not hooked up; in fact it is in the garage and I HAVE to remember to bring it in the house before we go to bed and it freezes up. When we moved out of my Grandma's house 7 1/2 years ago all I wanted in a new house was two toilets and a dishwasher. So, thankful as I was and have been for such a blessed invention and its presence in my home, it is time for a new improved machine!

Write this down because you will probably never hear (or see) me say it again: I can't wait to install the new dishwasher and do my dishes tomorrow!!

Welcome 2015

This is the year all 80's kids have been waiting for since we watched Back to the Future and 2015 seemed to be so very far away. Here we are. I have to admit, I am disappointed. I was really excited about hover boards and flying cars and movie billboards that are so 3D you really think you are being eaten by a great white shark. Oh well.

2014 was good to me. I got into Dental Hygiene school on the first try. I have to admit, I wasn't sure I could do it. I find myself surrounded by these wonderful ladies day after day and it is really special. I rocked my first semester of DH school with 6 A's and 3 B's. It's not perfect, but with my responsibilities as wife, mom, cook, chauffeur, and dance teacher...I'll live with imperfection.

I resolve to be thankful for something, at least one little thing every single day of my life for the entire year. I might miss a day or two, but I will make up for it. No more 10,000 reasons in one year for me. It was amazing for my friends who did it, who were up for the task, however, for me...it was daunting. The more I tried to come up with 27 things to be thankful for in one day the harder it was. I'm not saying that I didn't have overwhelmingly more than 27 things to be thankful for each day, it is just that identifying them and then putting them into delightful little sentences was just too much for me.

But enough excuses.

This year, yes, this year, I will strive to let go of the chaos for 5 minutes each day to type a single sentence (two if you're lucky) to say something I am thankful for. Some blessing the Lord has seen fit to bestow upon me. Big or small. Exciting or boring. And so a year begins.

January 1st 2015: Today I am thankful for a new beginning. A new year, a new chance to be better. I am also thankful that my husband decided he will watch Downton Abbey with me...and even more thankful that he actually likes it.

A (Wonderful) Inconvenience

Facebook.  My dad says it is "of the devil", sometimes I agree and sometimes I don't. I will concede that at times, it stirs up emotional responses that I would rather not experience.  Other times it makes me extremely happy or hopeful.  It keeps me in touch with friends and family who are far away.  It makes "communication" (at least some form of it) available at all times.

Anyhow, all that aside.  A friend of mine posted on another friend's timeline today.  She was being a great friend and sending thoughts and prayers towards a healthy labor and delivery.  Her comment rubbed me the wrong way and I spent my entire shower this evening planning out a clever Facebook status update when it hit me, I have a blog.  So, I will blog instead.

The comment was along the lines of babies are the greatest. You will do awesome.  You know.  That. But one comment was in essence, People told me having a baby would change everything and they said it in a negative way, but in my experience, it was the best thing to ever happen to me.

Let me make this very clear: What she said was great, it was kind, it was helpful and there was NOTHING wrong with what was said.  The problem was ME AND MY EMOTIONAL REACTION.

1) I LOVE MY CHILDREN.
        But, they are an inconvenience.  A WONDERFUL inconvenience.  They eat my food, they spend my money, they stain my carpet and they make me late.  How is that not an inconvenience?  But, I WOULDN'T HAVE MY LIFE ANY OTHER WAY.  I love them.  I dearly love them.

2) Don't judge anyone until you walk a mile in their shoes.
         How does that quote go?  Then you will be a mile away and have their shoes...something like that.  But, here it is.  The people who said that a baby would change your life and it sounded like a negative thing...do you know their story?  Maybe you do.  Maybe not.  Having a baby sure changed my life.  It was the most wonderful negative thing to happen to me.  How can I say that??  Well, for one thing...I was 22 when I got married.  I was 22 when I found out (6 months later) that I was pregnant.  I was 23 when I had my daughter.  There was no money.  We had (my) ridiculous credit card debt.  We had a new car. We just (stupidly) bought a new truck we thought we needed.  We couldn't pay our bills and buy diapers and formula. We were hurting.  We didn't get to go to Europe (yes...all of it) first before starting a family.  We didn't get to live out our dream of building a house before starting a family.  We didn't get to take a baby moon vacation to Cozumel (or wherever people go on baby moons to).  We were dirt poor and now we had a baby.  That changes your life.  Hamburger Helper is not delicious...but you eat what you can afford.

3) Everyone has their story and sometimes they trust you enough to tell it.
        Even my friend has her own story to tell about her journey into parenting.  It is a roller coaster ride.  I consider myself blessed because I have two beautiful children.  I didn't have to try hard to get them.  In fact, I didn't have to try at all.  That fact is a slap in the face to my friends who did have to try hard.  Those who had to use IVF to birth their own children.  Those who struggle with infertility or miscarriage. Everyone has a story.

4) I am still on a journey
       Guess what?  I have now been married (almost) 11 years.  My daughter is 9 and I have a 6 year old son.  I still haven't been to Europe.  I still haven't built my dream house.  Heck, right now, I am trying to pay for dental hygiene school, but that is another story for another day. BUT, we can pay our bills.  We can clothe and feed our children.  God is good.  Here's the deal.  Life isn't fair and is sure as heck isn't easy.  Sometimes it plain sucks.  So, to sum it up: Life's a journey.

My reaction was wrong, but I still had to share because I need that accountability when jealousy rears up its ugly head in my life.  I was immensely jealous when I read that comment.  I was jealous of the house and the baby moon and the friends and the baby who is never an inconvenience.  Why can't my life be that wonderful and easy?  God has a plan.  His plan will use all my struggles for His glory.  You can't beat that.
















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