Not A Supermom: Christmas Giveaway--Penzeys Spices!

Not A Supermom: Christmas Giveaway--Penzeys Spices!: "I'm not a great cook, but I do like good-quality ingredients. I think this makes my humble offerings turn out better than they otherwise w..."

It's too dern cold out!

I'm done with it. Seriously, I really enjoy a cold snap here in South Florida but two serious cold fronts in a row may be too much for this Florida native. The inside of my house is 62 degrees. I sure hope the sun heats it up soon.

In better news, I'm having a blast with my new Captivate Android phone. In fact, I'm using it to post this blog entry. How cool is that? It's a huge transition from my Blackjack II, that's for sure.

Here's to a great day! (well, if it warms up, anyway. LOL)

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It's dark outside this morning. For some of you, that probably doesn't come as a surprise. For me, sometimes I forget that there are people who get up before the sun. It's a strange feeling for me to sit in a dark, quiet house with all my children snoozing in their beds. Usually, by the time I'm rolling out of bed, at least one of my offspring is up making noises. *we won't mention that usually those noises are electronic in kind

But this morning, it is dark and quiet and I'm sitting here playing on my computer, contemplating the day. Schoolwork for the kids, at least a little, anyways. Physical Therapy for me. A long work day for my beloved. More coffee for sure.

Oh, and a shout out to my lovely friend, Sooze, who kindly let me know that I've been ignoring my blog way too long. Thanks, Sooze!

Not a Happy Anniversary

So today was the 9th anniversary. I don't have to tell you of what, do I? I think we all know what happened the morning of September 11th, 2001. Some folks have been posting where they were that morning. I was home. The kids and I had just returned from my morning shift as a crossing guard and I had this idea to turn on the television in my room. I did not usually do this as we were new homeschoolers and I was trying my hardest to fit our homeschool into a mold that, come to find out in later years, was not the one that worked best for us.

As I went about my room, doing whatever I was doing, the news interrupted the normal broadcast and announced something had caused an explosion at the World Trade Center. All cameras available were trained on the towers. This got my attention and I sat down to watch and see what was going on just as the second plane struck. SURREAL. That describes the feeling at the time. I just couldn't even focus on anything else.

The changes in our society since that time have seemed so many and, yet, so few. Some of those changes have been in our interpersonal relationships. I see and hear of so many people who live there lives based on fear and use that day as one example of why they should. What a sad existence that must be. This morning, I remember 9/11/01 and all of the people who were lost that day, by loving my family and friends and celebrating the life we have. I can't imagine that those who no longer can do that would want anything less than that.

Happy Memorial Day!

We are having a quiet day here at home, eating hamburgers and watermelon. But we are very aware that we have many men and women to whom we owe our gratitude for sacrificing daily to help make the United States of America into the greatest country in the world (at least in my opinion). So, many thanks to all of you, soldiers and your families, from the past to the present for the freedoms your sacrifices have made available to each and every one of us.

What I'm doing...cuz you've been on pins and needles, right?

My life lately seems like a bunch of appointments, :)

I don't mind, but it's sure a good thing we home school. I honestly don't know how folks with children in school (public or private) manage all the dentist, doctor, orthodontist, etc... appointments. Yesterday, all three children had their cleanings. Good news not a cavity amongst them. Yay! This was Emma's last cleaning before she gets her first phase of braces on. (yes, I said first phase. Like Raina, she'll probably have to have braces again as a teen, but hopefully a first phase will reduce the amount of movement and pain the second phase brings) It was Raina's first time without her braces. She said it hurt more because they could really get in there and get to everything. LOL. I told her to floss more.

Today, we visit the orthodontist for a followup on Raina's teeth to see how they are doing out of braces and a regular check for Jacob. I sure hope he's been wearing his bands enough. I think I'm helping orthodontist buy his yacht.

On top of those, I have physical therapy three times a week. It's great, because I need to strengthen my core muscles. I spent two weeks flat on my back, it was horrible. I don't ever want to do that again.

I'm still waiting to hear about the presidency for the girls' softball league. I hope to hear ASAP so that we can start getting the word out. School is out at the end of May and we need to get the flyers in the schools before then. Off to the orthodontist then...catch ya later.

Today is the National Day of Prayer

Please, take the time to spend some time in prayer, whatever your beliefs and whatever your nationality and pray for the leaders of your country. Today, we pray in the US for our President, Vice-President, Senate and Congress and for our state officials.

The Fragility of Life

This week has been so difficult for me. So many reminders of how fragile life is. Reminders that my life is rarely touched by tragedy or disaster. I forget how blessed and protected I am from how life works for so many people. Even with Miguel working the job that he does, dealing with what some call the dregs of society in our county's jail, I forget that the world is not as sunshiny and cheerful as it is on my little acre here in South Florida.

In the last few weeks, I have had friends whose five year old daughter with down syndrome has been diagnosed with leukemia. A well respected family in our homeschool world whose grandchild was born at 22 weeks and went home to be with the Lord after a 10 day fight for life. A lovely missionary who've I've come to know through online chats and forums whose surprise, but most welcome, pregnancy was lost while traveling on furlough to raise money for their life's work in Mexico. And a respected college professor who I'd love to teach at the college my children would attend(whenever that happens) whose family member has been diagnosed with what will most likely be end stage cancer. Life is not all sunshine and roses, no matter how much we'd like it to be. Sometimes, I forget that.

As a Christian, it's so easy to throw out a pat answer of "God is in control", "We can't know His purposes" or "He'll get you through this." I'm not sure how I'd feel if I were the one hearing these things. All I can say is, "I'm so sorry. I'll be right here if you need me."

Tiaras and Tommy Guns

So, the other day, my youngest was terribly funny. The latest craze for my girls is to create a mess, er, a masterpiece with the art supplies. My youngest discovered that if she cut out shapes from the cereal boxes and wrapped them with aluminum foil, she could make tiaras. It was such a wonderful girly way to play and she was having such fun, I just left her to it. Admittedly, I was dreading the clean up fight.

About an hour later, she started bugging me about something as I was on my computer playing, er, doing massively important research and I tried to ignore her. Apparently, she was not fond of my ignoring her, but left. About 5 or 10 minutes later she was back. "MOM, look!" she demanded. So I turned my head to look and as I did so, she said, "you need to listen to me now or I'll shoot." Sigh...she had "built" a huge double barrel, um, GUN? out of two milk jugs taped together and decorated. Not so girly, huh?

I'm spending way too much time on that marvel called Facebook, lol...

But here's a funny to share with you. From what I understand they mine some photos for the ads that show at the side of the pages, I'm okay with that somewhat, I guess. But sometimes they just crack me up. Do they really not pay attention? Here's my latest fave:





LOL, Seriously? is that what Americans with over $10K in credit card debt look like? I sure hope not, that's just scary...