Wow, I almost forgot I had a blog...
Life is a little busy these days to say the least but it's Fall Break and I have a house full of boys running around at 7:30 in the morning (oh and Elizabeth chasing all of them)so I better take advantage of the few minutes I'm sitting here.
My crazy big news that I long ago posted was...I had an "AWE HAH" moment (yes, I almost failed spelling class not to mention phonics 101)this summer while sitting at a Sounds baseball game next to a new friend who could be my mother and has been a nurse her whole life - she now teaches in the nursing program at MTSU. During that evening I decided that is exactly what I was supposed to pursue - a degree in nursing - it just made sense - I could work part time while the kids were little, make a lot of money, and feel like I was doing something to help others. The best part is I keep thinking about all the times I screwed up with Elizabeth during her crazy emergencies over the years where I literally freaked and didn't know what to do with her...if I was a nurse I wouldn't do that!!!!
And I get all excited picturing myself traveling when I'm older to do mission work as a nurse and helping others with my new found talent/skill! It's just so exciting I want to run buy a nurses hat at the Halloween store and walk around checking every one's temperature and blood pressure! Someone please...give me a needle! =)
But it is a huge elephant to chew up so you know what I'm going to say...I will be taking one bight at a time - starting with Statistics!
Before I could talk myself out of it I went and signed up for Elementary Statistics on line - yes, I'm teaching myself something I don't know anything about! Well, actually if that was the case I would have already failed but Nate (who is the Stat's king!)is teaching me each night around 9:00pm! To say I hate this class would be an understatement but it is what it is and yes, I'm striving for an A! =)
I have just a few classes to take that I didn't with my sweet and kind Communication's degree oh, 13 years ago so I'll be focusing on that the next two years. I plan on applying to MTSU's nursing program when Elizabeth is 5. It is a 5 semester full time program and I will graduate with a BS in Nursing. Wow! I'm so excited!!! I'm already thinking about what cute outfits I will need to buy so I can jaywalk across TN. Blvd. with the other cool students and make all the mini-van soccer moms crazy with rage as they slam on their brakes so as not to hit me! =)
(I have issues with rage over 20 year old, boot/jegging wearing jaywalkers in front of my kids' school - FYI)
Other than spending all my "free" time finding Z-scores and making Binomial Probability Distributions I am teaching a class of 3 year olds at Preschool. Don't worry though - no diaper changing and I am actually teaching them! They are all precious and I truly love planning out my lessons for them..."No Dad, I do not think I should be a school teacher!" =)
On M/W/F I am still a stay at home momma to sister girl who is a lot easier these days although she has a loud voice when she screams, "NO!" and has a tendency to shake her booty as she stomps her little foot down to show she really doesn't like what I'm asking - BUT...other than all that with a toddler we are getting along just fine, thank you!
I have actually kept my commitment of exercising at least 2 days of the week now for almost a year...results showing in my "guns" that I will now be hiding during the winter season - but watch out I can totally take you down (as I do often with sister girl) =)
And lastly I am still acting out my role as VP at the boys' school's Parent/Teacher Club - insanely dramatic as most things with large groups of women are but "I will surviiiivvvveeeee!" =)
So, no I'm not pregnant (Amy & Dawn O. - I know you were hoping for more exciting news but thankfully that was not it! =)
I will try to keep up my posting in the months to come...in between putting out fires at the PTC, planning alphabet learning games for my little class, and finding the mean, variance and standard deviations. =)
Oct 6, 2011
Aug 25, 2011
Changes, they are a coming...
I love being around women...I mean people...set in their ways.
Lord have mercy - the facial expressions, the leg crossing, the biting of cheeks, the crooked eyebrows, the eye rolling, the pinched lips, the grunting under one's breath...it is all quite amusing!
Whenever someone new comes on board you know a little boat rocking is about to happen. You can always tell the difference between the crew members who have been serving long enough to inform you on who built their precious boat and the newbies - the one's who are nervously taking notes, nodding their heads in agreement, smiling and shouting out "amen sister" under their breath.
Oh, to be the new captain of an experienced sailed ship and stand in front of your new crew trying to prove yourself worthy of leading them out into fair weather. To stand tall and not waiver as the dirty looks are given and the whispers float through the air and sting you. To put on your mean face (when you probably want to just hug everyone and ask them to like you) and tell your new crew that you are to be taken serious!
"It won't work." "We've tried that." "I don't think so." "Who is she kidding?"
But in time as the boat sets sail, the crew members start working and the captain exhales a little bit and gets the feel of the worn down planks beneath her feet all becomes calm again.
"Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better."
King Whitney Jr.
Lord have mercy - the facial expressions, the leg crossing, the biting of cheeks, the crooked eyebrows, the eye rolling, the pinched lips, the grunting under one's breath...it is all quite amusing!
Whenever someone new comes on board you know a little boat rocking is about to happen. You can always tell the difference between the crew members who have been serving long enough to inform you on who built their precious boat and the newbies - the one's who are nervously taking notes, nodding their heads in agreement, smiling and shouting out "amen sister" under their breath.
Oh, to be the new captain of an experienced sailed ship and stand in front of your new crew trying to prove yourself worthy of leading them out into fair weather. To stand tall and not waiver as the dirty looks are given and the whispers float through the air and sting you. To put on your mean face (when you probably want to just hug everyone and ask them to like you) and tell your new crew that you are to be taken serious!
"It won't work." "We've tried that." "I don't think so." "Who is she kidding?"
But in time as the boat sets sail, the crew members start working and the captain exhales a little bit and gets the feel of the worn down planks beneath her feet all becomes calm again.
"Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better."
King Whitney Jr.
Aug 20, 2011
"The little house that wouldn't sell"
You know...like "the little engine that wouldn't run"...get it? Sorry, I'm getting into preschool mode so bear with me.
It has been nine months. Wow, that's like carrying a baby. I never thought about it like that but for goodness sakes I've been carrying this dang house around on my shoulders for the past nine months but it didn't birth into a new, larger, more spacious house for my troubles. No...it just fell off my shoulders and allowed me a break - a break to step back and look at it from a new perspective. And it has changed - well my perspective has changed.
This will be hard for some of you to understand depending on your own financial living and your own desires of what you want out of life and for your family. We all don't row in the same boat as we travel down the path of life but we are all going the same route so to speak.
I so wanted to row in a bigger boat. I deserved it didn't I? I have three kids now and I've lived in this house for five years..."everyone" else has bigger houses so why can't I?
I managed to convince my very skeptical husband (who is in the heat of working on his dissertation for his PhD and trying to secure tenure at the university - not a very stable time for the man in my life) to jump on the realty bandwagon and "just give it a try for a few months" before we were both caught up in the whole mess of real estate and selfish desires. I see now why our country is in such a mess.
But wait a minute...let me explain...because I'm being very vague as I try to process my thoughts while writing to strangers/friends in cyberspace. My goal was to find a deal - something bigger that wasn't too much more - but realistically you can't get bigger without paying more and I sure was trying to fool myself (and my husband) into thinking we could.
All that to say - no one offered to buy our house. We had the most viewed house of any property my realtor has ever had. We showed our home over 40 times in nine months. I should have bought stock in Lysol for crying out loud! (I learned to clean my entire house very fast and very good) But no takers. Why didn't it sell? Well, goodness ask any realtor and they'll tell you why...
* priced too high
* needs a bonus room
* And the most precise answer of all - there are so many dag gum houses out there to buy in our market why would they buy ours when they can get a foreclosed house dirt cheap or a new one sitting there with the builder giving it away practically.
My thoughts are finally positive after I humbly and with a bit of wounded pride took down the sign in the front yard. I don't feel like I lost or that I gave up...I know that we will sell the house in a few years but right now I am actually content again.
Ian asked me one day after taking the sign down, "Mom, why did you want to sell the house again?" After I hit my head on the steering wheel and bit my lip I replied, "Well, Ian because mommy thought you and Eli needed more room." Ian's reply, "Oh...we are okay. I like our house." Enough said...
So, now I can sit back in my very clean and updated house and look at my beautiful family photos again, sit on my soft rug again, put my books back on my bookshelf in my bedroom again, and enjoy hanging out with my kids again - instead of yelling at them, "hurry up, we have two hours to clean the house and get out...."
And my big future plans...they totally were born out of carrying this house for the past nine months - God has a plan for each of us - I spent the past nine months fighting against His will (and knew it the whole time) but He is patient and His timing is awesome.
It has been nine months. Wow, that's like carrying a baby. I never thought about it like that but for goodness sakes I've been carrying this dang house around on my shoulders for the past nine months but it didn't birth into a new, larger, more spacious house for my troubles. No...it just fell off my shoulders and allowed me a break - a break to step back and look at it from a new perspective. And it has changed - well my perspective has changed.
This will be hard for some of you to understand depending on your own financial living and your own desires of what you want out of life and for your family. We all don't row in the same boat as we travel down the path of life but we are all going the same route so to speak.
I so wanted to row in a bigger boat. I deserved it didn't I? I have three kids now and I've lived in this house for five years..."everyone" else has bigger houses so why can't I?
I managed to convince my very skeptical husband (who is in the heat of working on his dissertation for his PhD and trying to secure tenure at the university - not a very stable time for the man in my life) to jump on the realty bandwagon and "just give it a try for a few months" before we were both caught up in the whole mess of real estate and selfish desires. I see now why our country is in such a mess.
But wait a minute...let me explain...because I'm being very vague as I try to process my thoughts while writing to strangers/friends in cyberspace. My goal was to find a deal - something bigger that wasn't too much more - but realistically you can't get bigger without paying more and I sure was trying to fool myself (and my husband) into thinking we could.
All that to say - no one offered to buy our house. We had the most viewed house of any property my realtor has ever had. We showed our home over 40 times in nine months. I should have bought stock in Lysol for crying out loud! (I learned to clean my entire house very fast and very good) But no takers. Why didn't it sell? Well, goodness ask any realtor and they'll tell you why...
* priced too high
* needs a bonus room
* And the most precise answer of all - there are so many dag gum houses out there to buy in our market why would they buy ours when they can get a foreclosed house dirt cheap or a new one sitting there with the builder giving it away practically.
My thoughts are finally positive after I humbly and with a bit of wounded pride took down the sign in the front yard. I don't feel like I lost or that I gave up...I know that we will sell the house in a few years but right now I am actually content again.
Ian asked me one day after taking the sign down, "Mom, why did you want to sell the house again?" After I hit my head on the steering wheel and bit my lip I replied, "Well, Ian because mommy thought you and Eli needed more room." Ian's reply, "Oh...we are okay. I like our house." Enough said...
So, now I can sit back in my very clean and updated house and look at my beautiful family photos again, sit on my soft rug again, put my books back on my bookshelf in my bedroom again, and enjoy hanging out with my kids again - instead of yelling at them, "hurry up, we have two hours to clean the house and get out...."
And my big future plans...they totally were born out of carrying this house for the past nine months - God has a plan for each of us - I spent the past nine months fighting against His will (and knew it the whole time) but He is patient and His timing is awesome.
Aug 12, 2011
Nothing says a new school year like a color coded calendar!
First week down...27 weeks (nate's guess) left of busy, packed, fun-filled and probably a little hectic schedules.
I spent almost two hours last night color coding my outlook calendar for the family- soccer/green, piano/yellow, school events/blue, scouting/red, preschool/purple...I didn't even ask Nate what he was up to the next 10 months...
But I'm happy to be back at it again. We slept in enough (did I really say that?), watched too much t.v., soaked up way too many ultra-violet waves despite our 50 blockage!
Eli has survived a few anxiety attacks this week, Ian has already had his first x-ray for the school year (no broken wrist just very bruised), attitudes toward "school work" are more positive this time around although Ian told me 2nd grade wasn't as much fun as 1st grade and Eli swears he isn't learning anything new yet.
Surprises already? Eli came home today asking if he should run for student council, which I almost ran off to start using my paint pens and designing his vote for me signs, but controlled myself and casually slipped in that I had been the student council president of my high school at one time. I think I saw a glimmer of awe in his eye but it was quickly replaced by his brother making some sort of disgusting noise in the tub and lots of laughter. Then Eli asked if he should join choir at school, which made me almost burst into laughter bc the boy can't stand being in the spotlight and refuses to let any song slip out his mouth that is audible. I'm thinking we are going through some "changes" this year!
Actually our family will be going through a few new changes this fall but more of that to come in a different post....I'm off to plan Eli's campaign speech and pick a new color for "choir" on my calendar. ;)
I spent almost two hours last night color coding my outlook calendar for the family- soccer/green, piano/yellow, school events/blue, scouting/red, preschool/purple...I didn't even ask Nate what he was up to the next 10 months...
But I'm happy to be back at it again. We slept in enough (did I really say that?), watched too much t.v., soaked up way too many ultra-violet waves despite our 50 blockage!
Eli has survived a few anxiety attacks this week, Ian has already had his first x-ray for the school year (no broken wrist just very bruised), attitudes toward "school work" are more positive this time around although Ian told me 2nd grade wasn't as much fun as 1st grade and Eli swears he isn't learning anything new yet.
Surprises already? Eli came home today asking if he should run for student council, which I almost ran off to start using my paint pens and designing his vote for me signs, but controlled myself and casually slipped in that I had been the student council president of my high school at one time. I think I saw a glimmer of awe in his eye but it was quickly replaced by his brother making some sort of disgusting noise in the tub and lots of laughter. Then Eli asked if he should join choir at school, which made me almost burst into laughter bc the boy can't stand being in the spotlight and refuses to let any song slip out his mouth that is audible. I'm thinking we are going through some "changes" this year!
Actually our family will be going through a few new changes this fall but more of that to come in a different post....I'm off to plan Eli's campaign speech and pick a new color for "choir" on my calendar. ;)
Aug 9, 2011
Sometimes it just stinks...
Sometimes being an adult just stinks...
Sometimes you realize that you have to go to the store at 9:30pm and buy milk for the next morning even when all you want to do is fall into bed (or watch some t.v.)...and it just stinks.
Sometimes you realize that a friendship truly is over and when you want to pick up the phone and call that person to share a happy thought you can't...and it just stinks.
Sometimes you realize that no matter how much you love someone they can still disappoint you to the point that it hurts...and it just stinks.
Sometimes you realize that a child's need is greater than you are capable of helping him with and so you must go elsewhere for help...and it just stinks.
But life keeps going. You wake up the next morning, with a full glass of milk, look to the friends you do still have, forgive your loved ones even when you don't want to, and reach out for help from those who can give it and you keep going.
Sometimes you realize that you have to go to the store at 9:30pm and buy milk for the next morning even when all you want to do is fall into bed (or watch some t.v.)...and it just stinks.
Sometimes you realize that a friendship truly is over and when you want to pick up the phone and call that person to share a happy thought you can't...and it just stinks.
Sometimes you realize that no matter how much you love someone they can still disappoint you to the point that it hurts...and it just stinks.
Sometimes you realize that a child's need is greater than you are capable of helping him with and so you must go elsewhere for help...and it just stinks.
But life keeps going. You wake up the next morning, with a full glass of milk, look to the friends you do still have, forgive your loved ones even when you don't want to, and reach out for help from those who can give it and you keep going.
Aug 4, 2011
bibbity boppity boo...
Sister Girl has a real (I mean crazy) infatuation for anything princess! I used to scoff at such girls as I sat alongside my sons and pushed tractors in the dirt and donned batman wings and Darth Vader masks. Now I have one of those Cinderella dressed, crown sporting, high heal clanking daughters in my house - AND I LOVE IT!
But I realized this week that maybe her obsession with pink, taffeta and glitter had gotten out of control when I proceeded to discipline her (I'm sure for some slight offense) and she looked at me with those serious "Callender gene big eyes" and said in a voice that sounded like Ursula (you know the sea witch from Little Mermaid...come on now...)
"I put a spwell on yeww..." and then she pointed at me with her little two year old finger.
What! Did my toddler just curse me with some unknown preschool spell...was I about to grow warts and hop around in my dill pickle painted kitchen?
Luckily nothing happened to me but that evening to be on the safe side I walked around and collected all of her fairy wands and then dug a hole in the backyard, buried each one of them and if I had been Catholic I might have outlined her bedroom door in rosary beads.
(But currently being Baptist I instead sent out a prayer request and got a strong team of prayer warriors laying hands over my little one...)
But I realized this week that maybe her obsession with pink, taffeta and glitter had gotten out of control when I proceeded to discipline her (I'm sure for some slight offense) and she looked at me with those serious "Callender gene big eyes" and said in a voice that sounded like Ursula (you know the sea witch from Little Mermaid...come on now...)
"I put a spwell on yeww..." and then she pointed at me with her little two year old finger.
What! Did my toddler just curse me with some unknown preschool spell...was I about to grow warts and hop around in my dill pickle painted kitchen?
Luckily nothing happened to me but that evening to be on the safe side I walked around and collected all of her fairy wands and then dug a hole in the backyard, buried each one of them and if I had been Catholic I might have outlined her bedroom door in rosary beads.
(But currently being Baptist I instead sent out a prayer request and got a strong team of prayer warriors laying hands over my little one...)
Jul 24, 2011
A transformed life
Tonight I witnessed a man - a Chinese man - get baptized.
He has been coming to our Sunday school class for a few months now...studying the bible quietly with one of our teachers/friends at nights...and changing.
He gave his testimony tonight before he was baptized and in it he mentioned that over the last few years he has been through some very stressful situations in life and he often responded to his wife and son with anger. He told how he was searching one night when he wound up at our church and meeting his new friend in the hallway. He opened the conversation with, "What's this all about?" (pointing to the bible)
We soon all discovered that his wife was divorcing him and because of this he would have to return to China. He had been taking care of their son while she worked. Back in China he was a judge but could not practice law here in America. So he could not find work.
Despite the fact that his wife was leaving him, which would force him to return to China and leave his son he didn't respond with hatred. He was a changed man.
He came to accept Christ as his personal savior and learned to love his wife through this pain.
After he was baptized tonight he was driving with his son to the new city his wife was relocating to and helping her move/unpack. Then in a few weeks he will leave for China without a fight. His plan is to go for one year and try to master the English language so he can return and take a special proficiency test so he can work here - hopefully as a lawyer - and win back the affection of his wife or at least be with his son once again.
I am awed at the power of Christ when working in some one's life. It is such a wonderful experience to watch Him transform someone completely. I will be praying for our new friend and brother in the faith as he says, "I have peace with what is happening in my life and know that God is with me and has a plan for me."
He has been coming to our Sunday school class for a few months now...studying the bible quietly with one of our teachers/friends at nights...and changing.
He gave his testimony tonight before he was baptized and in it he mentioned that over the last few years he has been through some very stressful situations in life and he often responded to his wife and son with anger. He told how he was searching one night when he wound up at our church and meeting his new friend in the hallway. He opened the conversation with, "What's this all about?" (pointing to the bible)
We soon all discovered that his wife was divorcing him and because of this he would have to return to China. He had been taking care of their son while she worked. Back in China he was a judge but could not practice law here in America. So he could not find work.
Despite the fact that his wife was leaving him, which would force him to return to China and leave his son he didn't respond with hatred. He was a changed man.
He came to accept Christ as his personal savior and learned to love his wife through this pain.
After he was baptized tonight he was driving with his son to the new city his wife was relocating to and helping her move/unpack. Then in a few weeks he will leave for China without a fight. His plan is to go for one year and try to master the English language so he can return and take a special proficiency test so he can work here - hopefully as a lawyer - and win back the affection of his wife or at least be with his son once again.
I am awed at the power of Christ when working in some one's life. It is such a wonderful experience to watch Him transform someone completely. I will be praying for our new friend and brother in the faith as he says, "I have peace with what is happening in my life and know that God is with me and has a plan for me."
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