Tag, I'm it!

So tired.

Still recovering from my long shift Sunday night, followed by minimal sleep on Monday morning, followed by dentist appointments (which went fine, Gabe did great, no cavities, thanks for asking), followed by running errands and not returning home 'til 7pm with a huge headache...

Wasn't going to post today, but Matt from My Side of the Story, who is married to Becky from the Wife o Riley, who was first friends with my sister, Michelle, from Tales from the Lunchroom, and now is my friend, too...

Where was I?

Oh, yeah, Matt tagged me with the ole "4th photo from your 4th folder" tag. So here it is:

This was from 2007. Morgan, Michelle's youngest, and Elijah, my oldest, playing a little Guitar Hero down in my basement. Look at that stringbean of mine in his underarmor. Jeez, I need to put some meat on that boy!

Okay, now I need to go rest. I'm gonna be a slacker, and not tag anyone specifically. If you're looking for a post idea, take this and run with it...

Three-day Weekend

I remember looking forward to three-day weekends as a kid, especially as a teenager.

Man, those days are so over.

Now it seems as if we try to pack as much as we can into those three days. By Tuesday, I'm going to have to spend a whole day doing a bunch of nothing to recover!

Our weekend started out with bellyaches and drama. Actually, Isabel started it off last Monday, and it continued on and off through Friday. Only the threat of no Disney convinced her to suck it up and go back to school.


Speaking of Disney, we have had a lot of fun with the planning stage of the trip. We sit together and look at the travel books I borrowed from the library, discussing our resort and the parks and the rides each of us wants to ride first/most/least. I love this part of a vacation (OCD much?).

Always, laundry.

Thursday evenings, practice. Saturday mornings/afternoons, games. Elijah is playing Upward basketball for his second season, and the games are so fun to watch (way better than NBA). For those of you who may not know, Upward is a Christian sport association which focuses on teaching kids a sport in a Christ-like atmosphere, emphasizing prayer and sportsmanship on and off the court. Love it!

After recovering from the yucks, we started on Isabel's Extreme Room Makeover (a belated birthday gift). Oh, just wait 'til you see the finished product... Here she is before the painting begins. Isabel's room was the first one I decorated after building our house seven years ago. She was two, and I had so much fun painting that little picket fence, then finding the picket fence bunkbeds to match, along with a little bench and butterfly stencils. Now she has an actual opinion on what she wants (bummer).

Sunday morning. Joe is off early to teach Sunday School in his Dad's class. I stay home to prepare...

for my sixteen-hour shift at the hospital. Haven't pulled one of these in quite awhile. Lots of coffee, a chocolate cake, and hopefully some downtime with co-workers during the wee hours of the night/morning...I'll be fine. Unless it snows, like the weatherman keeps threatening. Did you know I only work two days/nights a week? Did you know it only snows on the days I work, forcing me to drive a stressful thirty miles in the stuff? One more Murphy's Law to add to the books.

Then, after catching a few quick hours of catch-up sleep in the morning, we'll be off to the dentist for all three kids. Gabe has never let them clean his teeth yet. One more benefit of Disney vacations: the opportunity for bribery. Disney World does not allow kids with dirty teeth in the parks, did you know? Elijah and Isabel love our dentist, and I'm hoping this will rub off on Gabe. I'll let you know how that works out...

Oh, I'm so ready for Tuesday.

Jealousy.

In every relationship, there comes a time when Jealousy rears its ugly head.

You're Jealous of your co-worker's promotion and hefty raise.

You're Jealous of your brother's new wife (with her perfect 36-24-36 figure).

You're Jealous of your husband's ability to buy a brand new computer at the drop of a hat because his mother-board caught on fire when a certain un-named preschooler fell into it during a wrestling match.

You're Jealous when your best friend announces her plans to go to freakin' Mexico (without you) while you're trying to figure out how to stay warm in the godforsaken twenty-degrees-below-zero weather that's headed your way.

Really, Becky, I'm happy for you.

I am.

Seriously.

Blog Bible Study, Jan 15th

I used to worry and have nightmares about tornadoes as a kid. Ever since being scarred by The Wizard of Oz, those "tornado dreams" had the power to strike me breathless, waking up terrified and alone in my room. Yet when, at the age of 16, a tornado hit my hometown and destroyed my house, not one of us were injured.

There were so many things to worry about when I was a teenager. Who would I eat lunch with? Did he/she really like me? What college was I going to go to? What career should I choose?

Then I graduated nursing school, and more worries arose. Would I make enough money to support myself? Did I choose the right career? Would I ever meet Mr. Right?

Fast forward (a few) years. Now I am a wife, a mother, still a nurse, a daughter, a sister, a friend. I am responsible for lives on a daily basis. Those of my children, my patients, even the other drivers on the road when I am drowsily driving home after a long shift. My worries are far greater now than they were when I was younger, yet I am able to handle them with a calm assurance that transcends my abilities.

How? Well, I'm glad you asked. (Okay, you didn't ask, I did, but maybe you were thinking it...)

After Elijah was born, I invited Jesus Christ into my heart and life. Believe me, before I became a Christian, that particular sentence would've caused me to close out this blog post right now, and not read any further. Anything to do with religion, or Jesus, or church gave me an uncomfortable feeling inside. Couldn't put my finger on it, just didn't want to talk about it. That "feeling" was Jesus knocking on the door of my heart, begging me to let him in. I fought him for many years, but at the age of 24, I finally "let go and let God", as Lula would say.

It took me a few more years before I found a great church that helped me grow in my relationship with God, through bible studies, a great pastor, and wonderful friends who showed me what it meant to be a Christian. I am still growing in my faith every day, and some days are better than others. I'm sure yesterday God was shaking His head at me, wanting to give me a timeout for the words that were coming out of my mouth and the poor attitude I carried with me all day.

There are so many ways to live out a Christian life. Not one is "better" than another, just different. No, you don't have to go to church, but it sure helps to find one that you love going to, surrounding yourself with things and people of the Lord. Music, books, websites, even blogs.

When Betty invited me to become a part of the blog bible study, I readily accepted. What a great use of my blogspace! You never know who you might affect with your words, helping someone have a better day, helping them understand Jesus a little more.

My verse for today is one I carry with me everyday. I not only read and memorize it, I live it. Here goes:

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?...Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:27,34

I like the way my NIV bible explains this verse: "Planning for tomorrow is time well spent; worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps and schedules, and trusting in God's guidance. Planning can alleviate worry. Worriers, by contrast, are consumed by fear and find it difficult to trust God. They let their plans interfere with their relationship with God."

This is not to say I never worry; I do. But I can honestly say that after praying about my worries, I can give them over to God and trust in His plan. What on earth am I going to be able to change by worrying? Nothing. Now planning, on the other hand; folks, I was meant to plan. Nothing like a Disney vacation to bust out the planner in me!

Not every verse in the Bible will speak to your heart. But if you open your eyes, your mind and your soul, and let God in, I promise, you will hear Him.

(Now stop worrying about those bills, and start making a plan of how to pay them!)

So I know a few posts ago, I was all "I don't like passing on awards with a bunch of rules". And really, I'm not. But when the Wife of Riley gave me and Michelle this award, I was so honored, and I just had to post it. No, it's not the official Best Blog award from Blogger, or any other website. But it's from a friend, and that makes it even better!



Thanks, Becky, for the morale-boosting award. Really, I'm honored and it totally made my day!

So, without further ado (I've always wanted to say that), I present this award to my favorite three blogs. Ones I check everyday. Ones that make me laugh. And sometimes cry. Blogs that I love, and that I consider the "best". I would give it to my sister first, since we're related and all, but Becky already gave it to her, and really, she already knows I think she's the best.

Wow, I'm really rambling.

Seriously, here goes. The award goes to:

Becky, from In the Trenches. Yes, she's my best friend, and I'm the one that got her hooked, and I'm a little biased. But it's my blog, and I can do what I want here. So there.

Lula, from Lulaville. As awesome in real life as she is on her blog. I love this girl.

Betty, from Keeper of the Skies. Someday we are going to meet and do a swap in real life. Betty is truly an inspiration to me, and gives me hope that I will survive my kids' childhood in one piece (and maybe even look that good!).

So, go on girls, come get your award and pass it along. Or keep it all to yourselves. Whatever. 'Cause now it's your blog award, and you can do what you want (where else in our lives can we do that, really?).

Congratulations!

Guest blogger: Heeeere's Joe!

I was more than a little nervous about taking part in this debacle. I wasn't even sure if he would do it. But do it he did (and that's what she said), and while he doesn't know the correct names of all my blogger friends, he does care enough to please his wife. (Oh, and I helped with the links.)

So, in true guest blogger fashion, heeere's Joe:




Hello Blogging Community!! Heather has enjoyed voicing herself on this blogspot, and now i suppose its my turn. She has certainly met some interesting people on this site.

Tattooed Biker Mom ----> Wild!! Artisan of the F-Bomb.
Lula ----> A visit was necessary. And the phone conversations, lengthy :)

And many others, especially friends and family locally that have jumped on the blogging bandwagon.

I think its especially neat some of the exchanges that have happened across countries. Amazing!

Not Me, Monday!

Not being a Catholic, I don't get the chance to go to Confession on Sundays (do they still do that, or is that just in the movies?).

I think this is the reason why I like "Not Me, Mondays"...confession is good for the soul. So here comes some soul-cleansing, blog-style:

I did not put off doing this post until after my shift at the hospital last night, just in case I had something to confess about from my job (not necessary).

I am not putting off cleaning out my cabinets (see below) and organizing all of the kids' school papers. I am way too organized for that!

I was not so crabby yesterday after church that I couldn't wait to just go to work and be away from my sweet family. Nope, not me.

I am not so tired this morning that every little thing my children are doing is getting on my nerves.

I did not call my sister and bitch all the way down the interstate, about anything and everything. And God love her, she did listen to me the whole time (or at least pretended to; thanks, Michelle).

I am not PMS'ing.

Oh, I'm sure I could think of a thousand other things, but really, I feel better now, so I'll quit while I'm ahead. Now I'm gonna go suck down some Jamaican coffee and pack the lunches and fix the breakfasts and get started on my day. Maybe I should pray first...