Falling Asleep at the Wheel...

Of my computer mouse. :) That was me last night. I was laying in bed, snug in my fuzzy robe, wrapped up in my electric throw, computer on my lap, dozing off. I would wake up for a few minutes, drowsily stare at the screen, then promptly fall back asleep. I don't know if it was my lack of sleep the night before. (There is that vicious cycle...I LOVE Sunday naps but then cannot sleep on Sunday nights, throwing my whole week off...) Or maybe it was my Wii Active workout which was more of a workout than I have done in a long time. It was squats and lunges day. Oh my. Have I ever admitted I was not an athlete in school? I do remember watching basketball players do things like "sit on the wall". Didn't understand the purpose of it then, and still don't now. :) The only good thing was that my kids were watching me while I did it. And they heard me say, "Oh, no, more squats?" Then they saw me do it anyway. And that is exactly what I want them to learn! It could just be the normal fatigue of being a mom, a teacher, a wife. I don't know. I just know that I could not stay awake. And I am not exactly hopping out of bed this morning!

Quick update: Mark's mom got her test results. The levels weren't as high as the doctor's originally thought. She has a follow up next week and surgery will be planned then. Of course, they won't know much more until surgery but it sounds like the doctors are feeling a lot more positive about everything.

Another quick update: I don't think I ever mentioned that by the end of last week, my friend Jill posted that her husband Jeremy's test results (follow up to colon cancer) came back benign! (He had had some polyps removed during his follow up tests that the doctors were concerned about) Such a praise!

Since I didn't get on yesterday, I didn't get to say..."Happy birthday, Bonnie!"

If I weren't running so late, I would post links above. But for now, I must go face the day.

More later,
Reba

Week End Wrap Up

I know that on the calendar Sunday is the start of the week. However, when you are a teacher (or a student), you live on a different calendar. Your year is August to August. And your week starts on Mondays. So I can honestly say this is a wrap up of the week because in my mind, the week is just now coming to a close. :)

We had a good weekend. It wasn't as busy as it has been which was a nice treat. However, you would think I would have accomplished a whole lot more since I didn't have many places to be!

We started the weekend with a basketball game. Child 2 had a game at 8 a.m. yesterday. Ow! Saturdays are meant for sleeping in. I don't like to miss her games, but we do have other kids too. So, Mark took her (and met up with Child 1 who had spent the night with my parents), while I stayed at home and let the little ones wake up on their own time. Our days are much more pleasant that way! (They unfortunately don't sleep in like I want them too, but they did sleep until 8:15 or so). Through Facebook and Mark, it sounds like she played pretty well. Her team is undefeated which makes her very happy. She definitely has my competitive spirit, though I didn't use mine in athletics...only academics. I admire that about her. She is a hard worker and very "coachable". It has been fun to watch her play. Hopefully next week's game will be later so I really CAN watch her play!

Last night we had taco night. I don't know why it is our one of our favorites, but it is. We eat it up. Yum! It is one of the few meals everyone will eat without complaint, even though they all like different parts of it.

Today we went to church. All of us. Nobody was sick or out of town. That may be miracle #1. Miracle #2 is the youngest. Every single Sunday he willingly goes to church but within a few feet of his class door, this magnetic force (invisible :) seems to come down and prevent him from walking in willingly. Suddenly we are passing his limp body over to the teacher as he cries for us down the hallway. Loads of fun, especially since we have been going to the same church for...his whole life with us. Thankfully all of the teachers are sweet and patient and just take him as he is. And by the time we pick him up, he is having a good time. Well today he told us he wasn't going to cry. We of course said "Sure..." Guess what? He didn't! Mark said not only did he not cry, he willingly walked in, handed his teacher his backpack, kissed Mark on the leg, then went off to play. It really is a miracle.

The last miracle was that I offered up our house for the Bible Fellowship Super Bowl party. You would have to know me to know why that is a miracle. For one thing, we usually go to my parents' house which is nice. They have a fun playroom for the little ones, which means I can watch the commercials in peace (since I am not a die hard fan of pro football). Another thing isn't that I don't like to socialize. I do. I don't even mind entertaining, though I am not sure how entertaining I am (no comments please). I just worry about how organized the house will be. I will want it to be perfect, and even then, it won't be good enough. Our house is a decent size...we all live here comfortably. But it isn't nearly as big as many others I know. Plus I am not a decorator at all. So this is no Southern Living home. All that stresses me out a bit...I am afraid it will be a disappointment. (The one thing we do have going for us is that big t.v. we won through the Panasonic Living in HD program!) So I was torn. But I think once I get over the feelings of panic, it will be a lot of fun!

I can never remember what I said on Facebook and what I said on here. Did I mention our carpet? About 18 months ago, we got new carpet. We made the last payment (it was an 18 month, no interest deal) in December. However, in the last few months, we had noticed some issues with it, particularly in the "transitions" spots...the part where it butts up against our kitchen tile. It happened in both the living room and our bedroom doorway. It pulled up, giving it a "bald" look in spots. It also left staples or something exposed which I think we all managed to step on a few times. Ow! Anyway, so Mark called the carpet company. And they came right before Christmas to check it out. Right away, they agreed it needed to be fixed. The head guy came out and he too agreed. So this past Friday, we got new carpet. They took the living room carpet and put it in our bedroom. Then they put new carpet in our living room. The only problem is that the carpet in the living room came from two different lots or whatever you call rolls of carpet. And there is a very obvious seam down the living room. Again, the carpet people agreed it needed to be fixed. However, it will be about a month before that happens. Meanwhile, I am slowly (and very slowly) putting things back knowing that in a month, we will have to empty out the room again. Ugh!

Have you seen "cuties"? Those little oranges or orange like fruits? My kids are addicted (all but Hunter who won't touch a fruit or vegetable). They are really easy to peel. We just have to give Child 4 an opening and he will have the whole thing peeled and sectioned in no time. He asks for them at every meal. I actually found myself saying today, "No, you cannot have any more cuties today. You will have to wait for tomorrow."

Uh oh, I am listening to the youngest. He is coughing quite a bit. Where did that come from?

Today I got to take a really long nap. That was a treat! During naptime, Mark took the big kids ice skating. Child 1 has decided he doesn't care for it. Child 2, on the other hand, loves it. She is already asking for her own ice skates (pink).

Today in church, our pastor started talking about adoption. Today was Sanctity of Life day (I think that is the right term), so he was talking about the option of adoption. He urged people to think about adopting. Then he invited anyone who has been involved with adoption to stand up. It was very emotional for me (and totally unexpected since we have never done that). Child 3 got the cutest smile on her face, kind of like "Hey, this is for me!". Needless to say, when I had that long nap, I dreamed about Guatemala. As usual, I dreamed we had gone back to visit and show our daughter where she came from. I hadn't had one of those dreams in a while but they are so real when I do. I was even panicked because I didn't remember taking my passport. I wasn't sure how I was going to get back into the US. Thankfully I woke up before it was a problem! :)

Quick Biggest Loser update...I don't weigh until Wednesday. And I really don't know what to expect. I cannot tell a big difference in my clothes, so I doubt I have lost much. I told someone that I am trying to eat smarter but I will not give up food completely (good food). I just really enjoy flavors! I am trying to eat smaller portions, more fruits and veggies, and limit sugar. I am limiting my soft drinks to one a day (with the exception of Friday when I indulged in two). I have also probably doubled my water intake. I have so far exercised every day since we started. I am just learning that I have to get up and do it...even if that means giving up other things (like the computer :). I am mainly doing a 30 day challenge on Wii Active which is quite a workout and supplementing with the elliptical, Richard Simmons/aerobics, and walking. I don't know that there is a big difference in how I look but I do feel better! (That being said, we had flank steak, potatoes, bread, and black eye peas for dinner...yum!)

Oh, before I go, and I do need to go...I have school tomorrow, I need to add a few more gratitudes. I keep forgetting which is a shame. We can always find things to be grateful for, right?

• A husband who is willing to go out in the cold to grill flank steak for our families. And it was yummy!
• A carpet company who wants to do it right. They could easily walk away but thankfully don't!
• Pumpkin muffins. Oh, my...so easy and so delicious. And I figure they cannot be too terrible for you. They have pumpkin in them, right???

Have a marvelous Monday!
Reba

Comfort One Another

Yes, two posts in one day! Who knew??? :) This is one that has been on my mind all week...

First of all, I want to clarify that I am not an expert. I will NEVER claim to be an expert on anything because that would mean I had to possess all of the knowledge on that topic, and I am so far from that in any area of my life. Do I know a little about teaching? I have learned a few things over the year. Am I an expert? Oh, goodness no. I am always learning and in awe of teachers much better than me. Though I have learned a little about parenting along the way, I am no expert in parenting. Anytime I even begin to think I might know something, my kids prove me wrong! Besides, even if I were an expert in motherhood, there are no guarantees that my kids will turn out "right". After all, they are their own people, they make their own decisions.

Now that we have concluded that I am no expert, I wanted to offer a hopefully helpful post about comfort. Again, I am no expert on this. I personally have not lost anyone closer than a grandparent to me (and even then, I was married with children when I lost my first grandparent...I then lost three in a few years period). A few years ago I started following some caringbridge websites of children with cancer or life threatening diseases. It was kind of a God thing when it happened. And it happened at a time in my life I needed to concentrate and pray for others (our adoption stages). Sadly, several of the children I prayed for have since gone on to heaven. Since then I have watched people I know (or know of) bury their children, their spouses, their parents. And again, I am NO expert, but I have learned a few things along the way about comforting others with losses...

• Offer to help. You can ask how to help and some people may be able to answer but from what I have heard and read, there is a "brain fog" when you lose someone. Sometimes it is hard to think and articulate what you are thinking. So offer to help and if you can see a definite need, just do it. When I lost my first grandparent, even though it was kind of expected, it was devastating. We had young kids. One of my sweet co-workers immediately offered to come and take care of the kids during the funeral (they were just too young to go). She also brought a meal that could be frozen.
• Speaking of...meals are helpful (from what I have heard). I have heard more than one person say that after losing a loved one, making decisions is a bit overwhelming. After all, your mind is already dealing with so much processing grief, emotions, details, etc. Where is one of the biggest places that requires decision making? Grocery stores! I remember one friend who lost a parent unexpectedly saying that standing there and deciding on what exactly she needed was just too much. Really, just go and stand in front of the ketchup at the store. See how many bottles there are. Brands. Flavors. It is overwhelming for me in a normal, daily state of mind. Imagine facing that after facing the very real loss of someone you love! Bringing a meal helps reduce that decision making plus it relieves your friend of having to use the energy to cook. I highly recommend taking disposable dishes...it can be overwhelming for anyone (new moms too) to have to figure out what dish belongs to who and how to get it back to the owner. Another recommendation: the Care Calendar. If you know someone who has lost someone close, you can set up a care calendar. I have only seen it set up for meals, but I think you can set it up for other tasks too. People get a password to log on but then they can find a day where a meal is needed, sign up online, and even see what others are bringing so nobody eats lasagna five days in a row.
• More on food: something I remember reading on Bonnie's blog was that some people were bringing her other foods like things for breakfast. Again it saved her a trip to the store plus all that energy that goes into shopping. (I myself have to psyche myself up to go). I never would have thought of that before. I am sure even picking up an extra gallon of milk (which is a regular trip to the store for us) would be appreciated.
• Be careful how you word things. I think a lot of well-meaning people say things without thinking about how they sound. Things like "It is for the best..." doesn't seem very helpful to me. Saying "I know how you feel" probably isn't true unless you have been in an identical situation.
  
• At the same time, say SOMETHING. Just an "I'm so sorry for your loss..." or "I am praying for you." Ask them how they are doing, what they need, etc. I think a lot of people shy away from saying anything because they are so scared of saying the right thing. But then, I am thinking, how would I feel if I just lost someone and nobody said anything to me?
• Remember special days. That first year after someone dies, there are lots of firsts...first Easter, first Valentine's Day, first Christmas. All tough. Let your friend know you are thinking of them that day. If you are really close, help keep them busy (if they want) on a special day with activities.
  
• Remember the other days too. Even not special days are tough. And they are all tough even beyond the first year.
  
• Don't be afraid to cry. Or just hug your friend when he/she cries.
  
• Know that you are in different places for now. The little things that annoy you (like getting cut off in traffic or dealing with a telemarketer) are so very minor in the life of someone who just lost someone they love. It doesn't meant that one is better than the other...it is just different places. Be sensitive to that. I don't think that means you have to stop sharing your life or your feelings with your friend, just be sensitive to where they are.
• Acknowledge the loss. Even if it is someone you don't know well, send them an e-mail or a handwritten note saying, "Hey, I am thinking about you today." Be the support they need!
• Anytime they come to mind, pray for them. It doesn't have to be long or detailed. God knows. Just pray that He will meet their needs, whatever they are.
• Share memories of the one they lost. From what I have read, anyone who has suffered a loss needs that "connection". Plus you might share something they had never heard before (like "I remember his generosity when he paid for my meal...")
• Go to the funeral if possible. I saw that on someone's blog, that they remembered exactly who came to the funeral. And in some ways that is true for me with my grandparents...I remember a lot of who was there. And it meant alot. I also shared not long ago that I didn't go to Bonnie's husband's funeral. At the time I didn't know her all that well. Now, I wish I had. Learn from my regret!
• Know that everyone grieves differently. Some people may weep for days, others may not weep (at least in front of you) at all.
  
• Along with that, know your friend. Some may want you to just listen while they talk, others may prefer to grieve in private (that is when sending a quick e-mail is a good way to go).
  
• There are lots of ways to help. If you don't want to cook, maybe you can help do things from a "honey do list" if a spouse or child recently passed away. When a child is sick, offer to stay to help out or just give the parent a little break.
• Grieving goes beyond a year. Remember your friend two or three years later. Send a note on an anniversary or special birthday and say, "Hey, I am thinking about you today..." Let them know you remember the loved one. Isn't that always the fear we have? That our loved ones will be forgotten...

Well, enough of that. I think you get my point. I don't know why I posted this...it has just been on my mind recently. Hopefully nobody will have to put it to use any time soon!

Reba

Trojan Wars

Well, it all started innocently enough. Last night, we did our usual busy routine. I had faculty meeting, so Mark picked the kids up. Then I headed out for a couple of errands (kid free...woo hoo!). When I got home, Mark and I enjoyed our sushi (while the kids ate their own dinners of choice). The sushi was my treat to myself for exercising every day last week! (I did go DOWN on the scale too...yippee!) I almost cried when the sushi was gone...it was so yummy. I hadn't had any in a while. At that point, I passed the "baton" (pretend one anyway) to Mark. He ran out the door and headed to church for a meeting. I was left to deal with the kiddos and bedtime. That hasn't been fun lately. The youngerwo have been SOOO tired and cranky at bedtime (which I even moved up a little this week). Tears everywhere...I wasn't far behind. It was not one of my finest Mommy moments. Finally everyone was in bed.

When Mark got home, we turned on the t.v. to watch a little American Idol. We had the DVR set for it. Mark checked the DVR list. No American Idol. It was going to be "our time" to relax and enjoy. I felt a sense of panic start to rise up. (We later found out that because the show wasn't coded as "new" even though all American Idol episodes are new, it didn't get recorded to our settings...bummer!) I decided to do an Internet search to see if anybody had it to watch. So I googled. That is when things went downhill.

I found a few sites that looked (on the surface) promising. I clicked on them. Uh oh. Fatal error. Okay, "fatal" may be a bit strong, but you get the drift. Shortly afterward I started getting these annoying pop up messages saying I had a virus on my computer. I had lots of plans for the rest of my night (besides watching American Idol which never happened), including starting up on my online Bible Study. Instead, I spent the rest of the night trying to clean up (without much luck) my computer. Unfortunately, while I could download malware programs, the virus/Trojan thing disabled it so I couldn't use it. When I tried to research how to get rid of it, the Trojan thing would re-route my website to something else. It was frustrating and annoying. I finally forced myself to go to bed around 2 this morning. Thus, no post yesterday! (I feel like the little kid standing in front of the teacher saying, "And that is why I don't have my homework..." :)

Needless to say, I am not having fun times with technology right now!

Okay, a quick cute story before I forget (and with only four hours sleep, that is a VERY likely possibility)...

Mark asked Child 1 after swimming this evening why he was such a bear this morning. I mean, it was stormy outside but that didn't mean it had to be stormy inside! Our son told him that he likes to sleep facing the north. And that is true. Anytime I go in there to say good night or pray with him, he is facing north. Well, apparently when he woke up this morning, he was facing the opposite direction. He was facing south. So, he told Mark that he apparently woke up on the wrong side of the bed! I think from now on, we will make sure he gets up facing north...

Speaking of the grumpies, the two youngest ones are about to do me in this week. They are both so tired and grouchy. There is NO reasoning with either one. I can't get them to bed early enough. I am hoping that next week will be a better week!

Well, this is short, but since I am on Mark's computer, I better get off and let him play for a bit. Plus I need a little more sleep tonight than last night!

Reba
PS In light of the not feeling so happy this week feelings, I better share a few "gratitudes"...

• A friend who just e-mailed to let me know he got my computer cleaned up (which was badly infected). He is also going to fix my other computer/screen when it arrives. I am SO grateful for the help because I obviously don't know WHAT I am doing.
• Losing some weight. I know that it won't always happen. And I just cannot give up all of my indulgences. But I am SOOO happy with losing what I did and hope it happens some more!
• Crockpots. I ran home today and threw a Chuck Roast Barbecue in the crockpot. When we got home from school, I could smell that chuck roast cooking away. Oh yum! (The only bad thing is that I was hungry right away and had to wait a few more hours)

Another Day, Another Dollar

Well, another night I was just sure I was going to get out some posts and thoughts that I had hoped to get out. Big mistake on my part. I am Single Mommy tonight...Mark is out of town. I have been running around (and throwing in some exercise) with very little time to sit down. Not that I haven't missed it...I have. I love my computer time. It is my "down time". Just not today (which is really yesterday but if I haven't been to bed, the day is still the same day to me :)

Today of course was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The kids did not have school (thanks, Grams!) but I had in-service. The youngest did go ahead and go to his school. Sometimes keeping his schedule as normal and consistent as possible helps. Oh, he had his second day (with that promise of playing the Leapster later hanging over his head :) of NO crying! He loves school. He just doesn't like drop off. But we are getting there. :)

Tonight I was thinking (sorry, totally random thoughts today. It is late or early depending on how you look at it, so logical and deep thought flew out the window a few hours ago), it is getting easier. Not EASY but EASIER. I made most of dinner without interruption. I did have to deal with a little behavior issue, but for the most part, I worked without much interference. It seems like just last month, oh, wait, it WAS last month, a little person wrapped himself around my leg as I tried to cook. We were talking recently how going out to eat has gotten easier. Child 4can usually drink out of a cup with a straw. He sometimes uses a bib depending on the food, but can do fine without it. We do try to take our Table Toppers, but again, we are fine if we don't. It is getting easier. Well, sometimes...

Please continue to pray for Jill and Jeremy, my friends I mentioned yesterday. He had some of his tests today and some polyps were present. Now there is more waiting for the pathology report. (We were hoping for clear reports all around) The waiting is SOOO hard. Please pray for peace as they wait and of course, a clean bill of health. Also, please continue to pray for my mother in law. I think her test results will be available tomorrow/today.

Since I am mentioning prayer requests, I need to throw in two families in our area who are STILL waiting for kiddos in Guatemala. Adoptions have slowed down (the existing ones...all others are closed) tremendously. We have two sets of friends still waiting for their children to be approved. On top of it all, Guatemala had an earthquake today. Thankfully, there was no damage (or reported, last I checked) but as a mom, imagining your child without you in an earthquake...heartbreaking! Please pray that both kids will be home THIS year! They started shortly after we did to give you a time frame.

I don't think I ever mentioned my New Year's "goals". I actually didn't start ON New Year's...more like last week when I returned to school. I am exercising daily. Instead of sticking to the "mandatory" half hour, I am trying to actually go a little above. I am trying to be more faithful with the Wii Active which is a BIG workout for me. And I try to throw in some walking, aerobics, elliptical, etc. Another "goal" is our house. We are trying to clean up and clean out. It is a long process, and I know that going into it. I figure if I can do just one thing a day (and most days I do more) to better our house that goes above and beyond our normal house routines, then I am making progress! Going back to the "it is getting easier" argument above, one area that I have been cleaning out is Joshua's dishes. He doesn't need some of the specialty plates or cups he once used. So we are passing them on to whoever wants them. My final "goal" was to re-ignite my passion for Him. Last year I clung to a quiet faith, a steady faith, especially in light of some sorrow and pain experienced by friends. This year, I want that passion back. That means getting back in the Word. One thing I am going to do is an on-line Bible Study with some other teachers in the area. I am looking forward to that accountability as well as having this time to grow but at times that are convenient and possible in our daily lives!

I know, I know, I am rambling. I must get to bed. Early to rise tomorrow...

More later.
Reba

Be Careful What You Wish For...

So yesterday I was bellyaching a bit at the failed efforts I had in organizing our house.

Sometime in the middle of the night, I hear the all too familiar, "Dad...I just threw up." Not that I am Dad, but since I am in the same room, same bed, I hear it too. (This should be a time I say "thank you" that this particular child, being our oldest son, ALWAYS goes to Dad's side first!) Thankfully (again) my husband usually does the sick clean ups because otherwise, there might be another sick episode (being me). I can handle blood. I can handle loose teeth. Vomit? Not so much.

So this morning comes around, and we start doing the guessing game...what do we do? He seems fine. He only threw up once. It was probably something he ate. What do we do? In the end, Mark took the other three on to church, and I stayed home with the patient who seemed to be feeling just fine. We decided not to risk it just out of consideration for those in his class and his teachers.

So I got some time this morning to organize. A few hours doesn't go too far (especially when you have to exercise in there too). But I got a lot of the girls' room done. It still needs some more work but it is a bit more organized (other than the pile where I threw stuff that was nowhere near where it needed to be).

I also got a nap today. Woohoo!

Random thoughts:
Child 4 still says "probably" probably all day long. "I probably done with my nap, Mommy..." or "I probably took her cars away; I probably won't do it again." I don't remember any of my others going through this stage. He is unique, I suppose!

Please continue to pray for Mark's mom. She will find out test results on the tumor on her pituitary gland tomorrow. Pray for the doctor's wisdom when reading the tests.

I have exercised five days in a row. I think that may be a record for me. :) I am trying not to get my hopes up that I might actually lose weight, but I am hopeful. The other day we were watching something on t.v. I don't remember what it was but there was a commercial for weight loss or a diet. Hunter quickly said, "Mom, you need to do that so you can lose weight for Biggest Loser!" So I am getting encouragement (I think :) at home.

Please pray for my friend Jill. Her husband Jeremy has had treatments for colon cancer through the second half of last year. This week he will have tests done to determine if the treatment worked and he is cancer free.

I am about ready for spring time. I am ready to get back to some hiking on the weekends!

I better go. I have more to say but as usual not enough time to say it. :)

Reba

It's a Bust...

We had BIG plans for the weekend. This was going to be the Cloud house clean up. We have new carpet coming in this week (well, new "used"...we have some carpet issues and they are fixing it), which means we have to clean out a couple of rooms. We still have Christmas stuff down (not out, it is all on the dining room table). And I am in a constant state of organization. Or at least constantly LOOKING for the state of organization. So this weekend it would happen. Well. Maybe.

You see, we slept in this morning (just until around 8), which was much needed. It was a long week getting back into our routine after a three week Christmas vacation. Then, I had to (yes, HAD to) make some pumpkin muffins. They are hard to make throughout the week because they take 10-15 minutes to prepare, then another 30 to bake. After about a week, I am so ready to have some more...plus they are a family hit. Meanwhile, we had dishes that needed to be put away (from the dishwasher) with dishes in the sink ready to go INTO the dishwasher. Meanwhile, I took a few minutes of quiet time in my room (door closed and everything) to work on a meal schedule for the next week which leads to a grocery list. I originally intended to have a two week menu, but decided in the end, I can only do one week at a time at this point in time. Plus, I HATE having to have two carts.

Then we put on our running shoes. Mark took one to his swim team practice. I took the other three to Child 2's basketball game. She played well; I love to watch her play. Child 3 hung out with another kindergarten sibling (who happens to be in my class). And Child 4...well, he was all over the place. By the time the game was over, I was about as tired as the players. Keeping up with him is no easy task! (I try really hard to contain him which is a challenge with a toddler but I don't want to disturb anyone else)

After the game, my mom graciously agreed to keep the three kiddos so I could head to the grocery store with the before mentioned list in my hand. My big boys headed to the Razorback basketball game.

After we got home, the kids (two young ones) went down for a nap. I finished putting away groceries. That usually leads to a quick clean out of the pantry, lazy susan, fridge. I got started on some laundry. Then I got busy cooking (or getting started on) dinner. When Mark came home, he did do some work outside and in the garage. I just added to the dishes in the sink.

I went to visit a friend. leaving the kids to clean the toy room (under Dad's supervision). When I got home, it was almost time for dinner. Then it was bathtime (for the kids, not me), books, and bedtime. Suddenly it is 10 o'clock (okay, so I rested for about an hour, chilling with my iTouch and a rerun of Chopped), and I still needed to exercise.

Needless to say, not much was cleaned or organized today.

I want to be. Clean and organized that is. I want our house to be "homey" but also fairly organized. However, I have decided for this to happen, life is going to have to come to a standstill. Until then...well, we are doing what we can!

I am still working on the habit of sharing praises/items of gratitude. Here are today's:

1. Getting to see a former student who was keeping the scoreboard at the basketball game. She was a delightful student and has grown into a precious young lady. Yes, young lady. She is a junior! How did that happen???
2. Getting an e-mail from a co-worker sharing about a few of my former students. (She ran in to the sister of one who also happened to be the cousin to a couple more) I am so glad to hear how they are doing.
3. A husband who steps in when I feel "called" to visit with hurting friends.

On this note, I must go for now. Have a wonderful Sonday, worshipping and praising His name. :)

Reba