A Job Well Done........

True love with Build a Bear. She is my adventure Queen!

Of course his car is green ~ his favorite color. He was able to pick every accessory that he wanted for now, and customize his own car.

Sadly, you can't even see the TRUE soaking that happened. This is a teaser really.

My kids have worked REALLY, REALLY hard this year. When I went back to work that was adjustment #1. Going back to school, adjustment #2, and for Missy, going to school all day for kindergarten, was the biggest adjustment of all! Well, I quite honestly didn't know what to expect for this year according to grades. 3rd grade at our school is a HUGE jump from 2nd, as a Mom I was concerned for Bubba. How would he do, what could we expect, there was a lot of maturing that was expected and required from him. Then there was the start of kindergarten. Because we had already done this once, I was at peace with Missy going, but not sure how she would adjust. She is different from Bubba academically.

However, my kids shined!!! Yes, I am taking this moment to brag on my kids. They each learned the meaning of perseverance this year. They learned what it meant to really work, respectively on their own. The final report card for each of them was GLORIOUS!!! Truly I was amazed and proud of both of them.

So, Hubby and I decided that they deserved a bonus for all of their hard work. We took the kids to California Adventure, and let them make ALL of the decisions. They chose the rides, the shows, where and when to eat, EVERYTHING! I love days like these. It is fun to see them come up with compromises on their own, decide things together, and know that they have the run of the park. This meant that we rode on Grizzly Rapids ~ TWICE!!! WE go SOAKED!!! We played in the Redwood forest for a long time, just enjoying the play area. We ate pizza, popcorn, and indulged with Cotton Candy. Most important, was we laughed ~ a lot.

Then came the fun part.......Shopping!!! Bubba really wanted a remote control car that he got to build himself at Ride Makerz (think Build a Bear for boys). Missy split her money between Build a Bear and then saved some for American Girl store (future post to come). It was an incredible day spoiling our kids for all of their hard work.

Welcome Summer

Ah Summer is officially here! Not only is it officially here by the calendar status, but it is also here because school is FINALLY over. This has been a year of growth for all of us. Yet, we have successfully finished Kindergarten for Missy, 3rd Grade for Bubba, and College for me. WHEW!! Now, we can relax, look forward to the days spent at the beach, and as of today get assigned new chores.

My Mama is a smart lady! Here is one of my tricks I am stealing from her. When we entered school, our primary job was school. So although we had chores, there were some that were lessened, or forgotten during the school year because our focus was school. Then came summer. With summer came extra responsibility so that we ALL could play. In her wisdom, there was NO need for her to be doing the primary share of the chores, when there were helpers who could help and who wanted to do fun things. So alas, every summer we either learned a new chore working toward independence or regained a chore that was set aside during the school year.

This summer Missy is learning to make her bed. She was very excited this morning when lessons started. It is going to be interesting to see her progress since she is the littlest member of the family with the tallest bed in the house. What a hoot!

Bubba is going to learn the domestic lesson of loading and unloading the dishwasher. Now because of the design of our kitchen, there may be some I have to help with if I want any dishes left at the end of summer. But for the most part he should be good, and able to reach.

I am looking forward to days spent by my brother's pool (since we don't have one). Setting up the slip and slide, going to the beach, having picnics in the backyard with the dog. We are attempting to have a movie screen set up in the backyard for nighttime showings of fun family flicks, with neighbors and friends. I am looking forward to friends coming to eat on the patio, and listening to the sweet music of our children playing. I need summer in more ways than one, and am very excited that it is finally here!

My Word........

Months ago, many of you selected a word for the year 2010. In all honesty, I had never thought about selecting a word to focus on for an entire year. Well, leave it to God's sense of humor, apparently HE picked my word for me.

The last few months the word that keeps coming to mind, being put on my heart, and one that is whispered to me in my times of whining is:

PERSPECTIVE

Apparently, this is my word for the year, and it has changed me in a great deal. WE all whine. We all have situations in our lives that we feel are tough. They might be tough, but one thing I have realized is there is two different kinds of tough situations. The first kind, will only last a moment or for a season. Now while you are in that season, you may at many times feel like it is NEVER going to end, but it will and you in your inner most heart know it. Then there is the Earth shattering tough. The kind, that may never go away, will change your universe as you know it, and will grow you in your faith and outlook more than you ever could have imagined. Either situation that we face and want to whine and complain about takes perspective, for somewhere out there, in our not far distant circle are people whose situation is worse.

When I was little, and didn't want to finish my dinner, my Grandmother (GG to my kids now) would threaten to send it to the starving children in.................(fill in the blank, for she did!) It was hard as a child to imagine kids in a world and place I could hardly imagine starving. Yet, they were, and still are. Perspective comes into play more, when you aren't focusing on the kids in ................... but rather, on people you know or see in our world around us daily.

Here is a sample of what is to come on Perspective. My family was waiting in line at a Lego store for the free monthly build. It was hot, and sort of a long line. As my children were beginning to whine, be bored, and basically be kids, we turned the corner of the vinyl ropes containing the flow of the line. Behind us, now in our line of site was another family. They had several kids, and were just as hot and tired. However, as I stood observing this family, the Dad reaches in the backpack connected to his daughter's wheelchair (Perspective #1) and pulls out her feeding bag, and proceeded to "feed" his daughter. (Perspective #2). You see my attitude changed in an instant. At that moment, it didn't matter how hot, tired, bored, aggravated, or irritated I was with waiting. I have been blessed with two very healthy kids. They can walk, and eat on their own. Whatever I had to whine about, I heard a small voice saying "What would they say to your problems and whining. They would probably trade you in an instant.

My lessons on perspective are not all that drastic, but it is one that has stuck with me for the last month or so. There have been many lessons, which I don't know if I will share or not, and every week God seems to be showing me there are more. Next time you whine, I challenge you to take a look at perspective and I am confident you will find it.

Funny

I carpool daily with my Sister in Law. It works for both of us. She does drop off and I bring the crew of children home.

The other morning, the kids were tired. I was tired. Because of life circumstances, I knew my SIL was tired. So I banked on her being a bit late in the morning. I let the kids sleep in for a bit. We didn't rush through breakfast. The kids were buying lunches that day, so nothing needed to be done on that front.


Then the phone rings. It is 7:40. Who could THAT be???? when I answered it was my brother announcing he was around the corner! He is 20 minutes earlier than my estimated and somewhat normal time for pick up. My response was:

HOLY COW!!! YIKES!!!!

(Okay in honesty that isn't really what went through my mind but you get the picture)

I run upstairs screaming as I am skipping stairs "Hurry! Hurry! Uncle Matt is HERE!!!!"

Bubba is naked in his room, not sure of what is happening but gets his rear in gear. Missy is right in front of me running moving as fast as six year old legs carry her. Literally as she is pulling pj's off, I am putting her clothes on. WE are a team. WE can get this done. We RUN to my room, and yank her hair in a ponytail. Off we rush for socks and shoes. Forget brushing of teeth, or bringing the extra stuff to school. WE are on a mission. The three of us clamor down stairs (giggling I might add). AS Bubba is putting on his shoes and hat (oh thank goodness for baseball caps!), Missy and I are putting on her shoes.

The three of us run out the door to the driveway, where my brother is waiting. Get kids buckled into the car and look at the time. In 5 minutes flat we went from leisure breakfast to dressed, and in the car. NOT too shabby for a Mama who was tired! My brother's response: "I didn't realize I was early, I thought I was on time!" OK, he was "on-time" and nice to his wife, but made me laugh all day long at the hilariousness of the morning.

HIp HIp Hooray!!!!

YAHOO

HIP - HIP - HOORAY

WHO RAH

SKIPPY-DO

YIPPEE

WHEW

These are the emotions that I have felt the last week. You see, it is OFFICIAL!!! I am an officially Licensed NILD Educational Therapist. That is right. My score has been posted, my finals done, and now I wait patiently for the Postman to bring me my actual license that will one day hang in an office with my Name on it. These are the small things that I am so looking forward too!

One small step for some, one GINORMOUS leap for this Mama. I started this school year as a stay at home Mom. Then in October I started tutoring and seeing kids with reading needs at my children's school. Now, I am there almost full time, 4 days a week. I have 15 kids on my schedule with more coming as poor work notices go out next week, and parent / teacher conferences were today. The Principal already warned me that more are coming. What about therapy? Well, with 8 weeks left in the school year, it is a hard place to start manipulating their brains, so we wait until September. I have NO idea what next year will look like. I do know this: God has brought me through this leap of faith for a reason, and won't let down or dangle without purpose.

I am back, for those blogging friends, but with warning. Life is funny.......when crazy, it is CRAZY. When relaxed, it is peaceful. NO matter what the craziness I face today, I am at peace and that is the most important thing.

HUGE thanks and Hugs for the love, support, text messages, and even dinners!

Mawha!!!!

Light at the end........

There is a light now at the end of my educational tunnel. This light will represent that I have completed the tasks necessary to become an intern! Wahooo!!! I won't be completely certified as an Educational Therapist for another 4 or 5 years, and two more levels of certification to go. Baby steps.

I have seen with my own eyes, what an educational therapist is capable of, given time. This is not a quick fix process, with a magic wand ~ don't I wish. It is slow, steady, and when given the time it needs extremely successful. Here is an extreme example that I am not qualified to do, but maybe one day.......Twin girls with Cerebral Palsy, when born the parents were told they would not talk, walk, or be able to function is society ~ ever. The parents wouldn't swallow that. They started them in EVERY kind of therapy as soon as the girls were old enough. They started educational therapy when they were 3 for 4 days a week. They are now seven. They read at and slightly above grade level. They walk on their own (the physical therapy and educational retraining the brain), they can write at slightly below grade level, but if given chance to verbalize ideas, they are incredibly smart. They comprehend what is said and done in a regular classroom, but have an aide for physical reasons. They are being written up in medical journals because as their physical therapist said "They are a miracle." I cried when they left their session because until I saw it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it was possible.

I have learned a great deal on this journey. I have learned what it truly means to rely on God for strength and endurance. These are lessons I have dealt with before, but apparently I had gotten in the way, and needed to learn them yet again. I have learned the true definition of perseverance and how to live with it.

I have learned that taking classes at this level, working basically full time, and running my family with all of life still happening is stressful, and FULL. During this process, 3 of the 4 birthdays in our family have occurred. Missy's is the last and is right as finals and a DVD showing techniques is due ~ yikes. I have learned to respect those professions that regularly call a parent away for a time, to have them home, only to be called away again ~ like firefighters. I had to learn how to keep the suitcase packed and the beauty products, since I was only home for three days before leaving yet again.

I have relearned the true learning process. To celebrate the small victories, keep your eye on the prize, and truly learn from mistakes so they don't occur again. I had to swallow the hunk of pride, and relearn defeat and what my response to that was going to be. How was I going to recover and pick myself back up and be back in the game before break was over.

This is a journey, and like others, the path continues for a short while before a break. I am looking forward to being able to catch my breath, take a drink, and regroup before going down the next path around the corner.

Thank you all for your encouraging words, e-mails, voicemail, and dinners. You have been part of my journey and they have all come, when I couldn't do anymore and needed help or encouragement. Now off, to get back on my current path until I am DONE..................

Happy Valentines Day!

One of the days, that I ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, down to the core of who I am,

LOVE LOVE LOVE

VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!

I haven't been the greatest this year like some, ahem Lady Dunbar. But I am trying. Tonight we are keeping the tradition of Family Valentine. The table will be set, with the finest china, and glasses for all. The only light will come from candles, and there will be music streaming from the ipod nestled on the counter of the kitchen (Thanks for the reminder Cathy). Then tomorrow we get to keep the tradition set by some loved friends, and have Valentines surrounded by other marriages that support us and love us.

However, this year I pose this challenge: LOVE your Valentine. Simple and yet hard I know, but seriously. It doesn't have to be expensive, or fancy, or super elaborate, but I think now more than ever we need to celebrate our marriages. We made a promise to these men, to love, honor, and cherish them, until death do us part. I know of too many marriages right now that are crumbling or about to. I can't help but think that if we put work and effort into our marriages like we do when we are happiest on this weekend, we might be able to fight off the enemy. So I for one, am picking up the pieces of a stressful life and going to make my HONEY and little cupids some dinner. We will probably watch Charley Brown Valentine, and snuggle on the couch or make Big Bed. Not glamorous, but I hope they feel the love. NOW go love on your cupids.

P.S. When I am stressed out, I like to cook. I mean COOK. So following is a menu idea in case you are stumped for ideas, for Valentines, or any other night. Seriously can be done quick and easy, but the rewards are GREAT!

Menu Idea:

Tri-tip (premarinated from Costco)

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes: (They are from the box. Add 1/3 cup sour cream for every 4 servings and shredded cheese. Follow cooking instructions without adding time. For super fancy add French Onions around rim and bake until they are golden)

Dinner Rolls (mine are homemade, but I am super stressed! Pillsbury Grands are great too)

Salad (Hubby picking it up at store right now)

Brownies for dessert (cut with a heart shaped cookie cutter for cute factor)

Wine: Whatever your fancy