Hallelujah Honky Tonk

Saturday night I went to the Amy Grant/Vince Gill Concert with three girlfriends. The last time I was at an Amy Grant concert I was in high school. I thought about how much both our lives (Amy Grant's life and mine) have changed since then. We have both married, had babies, and ditched leather pants. She of course had the whole divorce, marriage wrecker, selling out thing going on ~ I didn't.

Ms. Grant has had a great deal of influence on me over the years. I was only 7 (Kolby's age) or 8 when I first heard Amy Grant sing "The Lord has a Will." She was 16.

I loved her music all through Jr High and High School. My youth minister had a crush on her and I remember watching a reel to reel movie about her life at a Jr High devo. (yes before video tapes and DVD's were so prevalent) I tried to look just like her when she came out in leather and hot pink leopard in my early high school days. Does anyone remember that album cover!?

She had her first daughter Millie when I was 20. Millie is now 15 ~ Ouch! I danced through many a diaper change with Kolby singing the song Amy wrote for Millie, "Baby Baby!" Now I have never been the picture-taking-autograph-getting kind of person, but I consider myself an Amy Grant fan. I loved singing along with her Saturday night partly because it brought back so many memories. Thanks Amy for all the great tunes over the years!

Then there was Vince Gill... To quote my friend Kris, "I bet he was a real pill growing up!" But what a great performer! A bit of a stinker. It seemed weird to hear "It's hard to kiss the lips at night that chew your a** out all day long" sung from the same stage as "My Father's Eyes."

The Vince portion of the show reminded me of my honky-tonking two-stepping summers in San Angelo. I was a good girl, but I will always have a little saw dust in my blood. There is just something about two-steppin' to George Strait across a saw-dust filled floor in west Texas that stays with you. You can take the girl out of west Texas, but you can't take west Texas out of the girl!

The dynamic duo closed with a duet from their Christmas show "Give me Jesus." Fernado Ortega would have been proud! I have been singing the song ever since. I heard a lady in front of me say how wrong she thought it was for Vince to sing something spiritual after "raising hell" all night long. I actually thought it was pretty cool. Something must be wrong with me.

The concert was a trip back in time on many levels. Am I getting old? My friends and I debated this over Starbucks before the show (not after...Yes we are showing our age!) and decided that the "30" years are a time of great introspection. Maybe so... I'm fine with that if it means many more fun concert filled Saturday nights!

All Skate!

I am working on plans for Kolby's birthday party. We are renting a church activity center. This church has rollerskates for kids from kindergarten through adult, so we are turning their gym into a roller rink. (We are truly getting our moneys worth out of that mirror ball I bought a few years back!) ANY WAY, I am trying to make a list of fun songs to skate to and have burned on a CD.

Below is my list so far, (which totally dates me!!!) but I want suggestions! I just can't think of skating songs?? Help me blog friends! What do you think a bunch of 5-8 year olds would enjoy skating to? What did you skate to once upon a time? I need help!

1. YMCA
2. Boppydoo ("Trashing the Camp" from Tarzan)
3. Various from The Kim Possible &The Ella Enchanted Soundtrack
4. Disco Duck
5. Hokey Pokey
6. We will, We will Rock You

Red Velvet Cake ~ The Recipe

Those of you who read this blog know that this is not my favorite cake. This recipe however is the best Red Velvet Cake I have ever eaten. I am posting the recipe because a while back I got an e-mail request from a reader(still amazes me that people actually do read this) for a Red Velvet Cake Recipe. She wanted to make one for her mothers Valentine Birthday. I was going to reply, but somehow the e-mail was erased and I do not lnow who she was. So, I am posting the recipe for her and for all. Although my kids perfer strawberry cake with buttercream icing for V-Day... most grown-ups dig Red Velvet!

I think the recipe is from my cousin Ashley's grandmother on her Dad's side, Totsy Hagelstein. We just called her "Great".

Great's Red Velvet Cake:
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 oz. red food coloring
2 1/2 cups flour
1 scant tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1tsp. soda
1 cup buttermilk
1TBSP vinegar
1 tsp butter flavoring
Cream shortening, sugar and eggs. Make a paste of food coloring and cocoa and add to mixture. Add salt and flour with butter, milk, and vanilla. Alternately add soda and vinegar and don't beat hard, just blend. Pour into two greased and floured round cake pans. Bale at 350 for 30 minutes. Cool completely. Split layers -(dental floss is great for this) to make 4 layers if desired. Frost with Cream Cheese icing, Butter Cream frosting or Divinity icing. (We always use cream cheese for this cake, but if I ever make it, I'll try Divinity.)

Cream Cheese Icing:
8oz cream cheese
1 box powdered sugar
1 stick margarine
1 tsp. Vanilla
Blend ingredients. Whip until creamy. Spread on cake.


Happy Baking! It truly is a pretty cake!

This can also be made as a sheet cake,BUT you will have lots of extra icing if you don't turn it out and split the layer before frosting. Christmas variation ~ make it in a bunt pan and glaze with a powdered sugar, milk and crushed peppermint mixture.

Because of Winn-Dixie

Last night Kolby and I read the first eight chapters of this book by Kate DiCamillo. I cheated and finished the book after Kolby went to bed. The book has been around for years and many consider it a "new Classic". It's only 182 big print pages, but it's story seems to go beyond that.

If any of you are looking for a good book to read with your kids I highly suggest it. I only wish it could have been a little longer... but part of the fun is writing the rest of the story in your mind long after you have put the book down. I have been thinking about India Opal all day today! Someone said this book has been made into a movie and will be released soon...so hurry up and grab a copy before the big screen blows it for you! :)
Because of Winn-Dixie

Did it change you?

"Mommy, does God love the people who lost everything in the tsunami?"
Sobering question.
"Yes, Kolby he loves them very much."
"All of them?"
"All of them, every last one."
" Then why did he let them get hurt."
" ................I don't know honey. I really don't know. Sometimes bad things just happen. "
"I thought God would save them if he loved them."
"That is something that is very hard to understand even for grown ups, but I promise you God loves them."
That is a small glimpse into the talks we have had ever since I decided to stop sheltering Kolby completely from the Tsunami tragedy.

When it first happened we were traveling for Christmas so it was easy to avoid. We never watch the news with the kids around and didn't watch much of the coverage. What I did see, read, and hear broke my heart. I felt my sensitive little six year old was too young to know too much about it. We told her the tsunami was a big wave that hurt a lot of people. But about a week or so ago we had to have the "tsunami talk."

It came up in a weird way. We are planning Kolby's birthday party. My very social daughter had and invitation list a mile long that we paired it down to 24 girls and 8 boys. I told Kolby months ago that this would be a "No Gifts Please" party, not to punish her, but to try to keep her 30 + friends from wasting money on stuff we don't need. (Not to mention that there is no room in our house for 30+ more toys!) But I got to thinking, most people want to give something. So I approached Kolby about asking for donations for the tsunami victims instead of presents. I quickly realized I had sheltered her too well. Kolby didn't seem to get what the big deal was about the tsunami. ( She calls it the two-saw-me)

I tired to explain it in words she would understand, but in a way that would not terrify her and give her nightmares. We talked about what it would be like if a giant wave came and suddenly washed away our house and the houses of everyone in Hewitt. Then I asked what if she and I couldn't find Daddy or Rhett or any of our family? What if every thing we owned in the whole world was just gone? Wouldn't we want someone to help us? Wouldn't we be sad? Wouldn't we pray to God that some one, even some one we didn't know, would help us? Wouldn't God want the people who still had warm homes and plenty of everything to share?

Kolby took it to heart. It was almost an instant transformation. Not only did she want to give them all her birthday presents, she wanted to go through her toys and clothes and send them some nice things. I told her that they really just need money because the people who lost all their things need to get exactly what they want and need. She then wanted to send them her coveted Target Christmas gift card. (Like her Mama, gift cards are her favorite thing!)

Since then we have talked about the tsunami a lot. We have researched aid agencies and talked about where to send her donations. Kolby paid very close attention to the special collection we had at church for the Tsunami victims. Last week she wanted to put all her reading quarters in the jar at school for the victims because "they might need some stuff before my party."

Bless her heart! She thinks her skate party will be able to pay for everything. I think it is important for her to feel what she does and what she gives makes a difference. I think the tsunami has changed Kolby. Her eyes are more open to her blessings and other's misfortunes. I think it has changed me in the same way. Many times lately I have found myself petitioning God for something only to stop mid-prayer and say "Forget that Lord, I don't need anything. That was just totally selfish."

I think more about how to really be about the work of my Father. Sometimes I get so caught up in "just getting through the day" that I forget why I am here. I am here to live a life that glorifies God above all else. This event and Kolby's reaction to it has forced me to take a more spiritual focus and intent in my parenting and think more about the example I set for my kids.

I do not know how to answer all of Kolby's questions about the tsunami ...Or even my own, but this I know... I do not want 200,000 plus people to die in vain. I think this event should change me, change all of us. Nothing will justify this loss, but in memoriam to those who lost so much, the least I can do is try be better and love deeper. God must be glorified or it is all for loss. For all our differences the entire human race recognizes the pain and suffering of this event. I guess pain is universal. But so is love... I hope we are able to show our world love during this horrible trying time.

You can take this rhetorically or literally but the question put on my heart to ask tonight is "How has the Tsunami changed you?" I pray that all our answers together start to form a healing balm that will salve the gaping wound left in the wake of this awful, awful wave.

I know this is long and rambling. If you made it this far...Thanks for reading! :)

Mommy Moments

Indulge me as I share some Mommy moments with you...

Kolby is enjoying Upwards Basketball Cheerleading for 8 weeks. Last night I asked her how practice went as she climbed in the van. She said "Good. Did you know cheerleaders are supposed to yell and jump and act hyper, even inside?" She was quite amazed that I signed her up for this gig!

Yesterday when I asked Rhett how school was... "Let's just talk about your day Mommy. How was shopping?"

Kolby upon finishing her AR book the other night. "Mom do you take a test after you read your blogs?"

A few nights ago Rhett wanted to "lay down for a little" in our bed. We sang a few songs, read a few books and said a few prayers. Rhett then said he was going to sing a song for us. Sort of to the tune of "Jesus loves me"
Mommy loves me, yes she does
Daddy loves me, yes daddy loves me
I sleep in their bed all night!
I laughed all the way to Rhett's room where I deposited him in his bed for the night. But nice try.

Last night Kolby and I were doing Eskimo kisses and butterfly kisses as I tucked her in. At butterfly kisses she said "That tickles but I am going to be brave and not laugh" ... Just cracked me up.

This morning Rhett told McKenna to eat her Pop-tart so she would be "big and strong with stinky breath."
"Stinky breath?" I asked
"Yeah like Mommy's and Daddy's in the morning" as he pretended to smell my breath and plug his nose.

Pardon me while I go brush my teeth!

Open Wide

In keeping with the dental theme that is floating around today... I took Kolby to the dentist this morning for her 6 month check and cleaning. The Hygentist didn't believe Kolby when she said the tooth fairy had come to see us 9 times...but she has. Yes, my daughter has lost nine teeth.

All was well. No new cavities. Then the dentist, Dr. Cox, came in to take a look. The next words out of his mouth were not surprising, but they struck fear in my heart. "This time next year we will probably need to refer you to an orthodontist..."

An ORTHODONTIST.... Already? She's 6 and will be only 7 in two weeks! But it seems Kolby inherited traits from both Rob and I that will set us back thousands of dollars over the next few years, and force her to be a metal mouth. Kolby has big teeth and very small jaws, like me. ( How in the world could I have such an unusually small jaw yet be so gifted in the art of GAB? One of life's little ironies I guess! ;O )

From Rob, Kolby inherited the trait of developing a few extra teeth. ( Rob had over a dozen teeth removed or cut out by age 16) There is no room for all those teeth! That is why Kolby has lost nine baby teeth to make room for only five big permanent teeth. So as soon as the 6 year molars (that they say don't usually come in until age 7~go figure) are in we are off to the wonderful world of orthodontics.

And truly it is great that we live in a time when teeth can be "fixed." It's just that paying for all of this and seeing my baby girl in braces is a bit hard to swallow. I guess I have to face the fact that Kolby is growing up, dang it! As for paying for all of this, well I guess it's like the dentist said this morning,, get out your wallet and "Open wide!"

PS I am having an awful time with blogger. Is anyone else having trouble?

Why I blog

Ok my friends and various other strangers, I feel the need to talk about blogging today.

I love to blog. I love to read other peoples blogs. I love comments. I started this blog as a type of E-journal. A place to vent and explain myself and learn from others. I started in hopes that others could be encouraged by knowing they are not alone when their three year old throws produce at people in the grocery store, or their husband buys them a birthday cake they really don't like.

Because it helps me so much, I thought it might help others to know that Christian women have good days and bad. At times, from a place of love and desiring to be and do better, we question our faith, our Creator, or our congregations. We mourn when loved ones are lost. We rejoice when our toddlers finally get potty training. We share diet dilemmas, pregnancy stories and shopping tips. We learn best by experience, even shared experience. I love to pray for my blog family, even though most of you I would not know if you walked up to me on the street. I think blogging is a way to share, to minister, to encourage and be encouraged.

Having said that, I feel I need to explain that my goals in blogging are not to keep a "day by day, minute by minute, could be published on the front page of the paper" account of my life or the lives of my loved ones. The rules of journalism do not apply here. I may draw on experiences from months ago. I may be very dramatic. This ain't no AP article! (See they can't say "ain't" in the AP unless it's a quote!)

I may have a different take on an event than someone else who was there... It's called perspective. I may color my world rosier or grayer than it really is... Again it is my perspective. I think most of you know this. I don't think it bugs anyone. Just something I needed to vent about. Thanks for reading.

Woosh ... I feel so much better. Out of curiosity, why do you blog? What do you expect to find in blog land? Just wondering.... Hey that is a great title! Hope you have a wonderful blog filled day!

AND my friend Elizabeth (who as you will see in the comments helped spark todays topic... in a good way) has taken up residency in blogland. Go check her blog out here! Welcome to blog land Elizabeth!!!

Vote for Carrie

Ever since she moved in next door, I have been telling my neighbor Carrie that she looks just like Amy Grant. Now she has gone and entered an Amy Grant look alike contest!!! Go vote for Carrie at this Link. or go to star929fm.com and click on the Amy Grant contest link. GO CARRIE!!!!
Ok, in all fairness, if you see someone else who looks more like AG vote for them...but you won't!

Random Fun Friday

Kolby and I just returned from Fort Worth. We took off around 10:30 this morning (after Kolby's spelling test) and headed north to "our old home town", as Kolby calls it. After a pit stop in West for treats from the Czech Stop, we headed for Cowtown's hospital district. From May 1997 to February 1998 (roughly my entire pregnancy with Kolby) I worked for Family Service Hospice. I became very familiar with all the hospitals, and the whole hospital area. Going back there brought back memories of puking into baggies at stop lights, the restaurants around that soothed my crazy pregnancy cravings and more than anything the Chapel at Cooks Childrens Hospital.

Today we went to visit the Copes...well drop off goodies, hug and run before we got in the way. It was so good to see Mike and Diane. They never seem to age!! Both were in good spirits, but that tired Hospital haze was obvious in both their faces. The good news is that Chris is out of ICU and doing as well as a 12 year old can his first day off the major pain meds can do. He was in pain, but from all reports he is right on schedule to make a full, though slow, recovery. That is so good to hear isn't !? Chris will probably be at Cooks another week, but they are not sure about all that yet. I also talked to Sheryl Lemmons. She was very upbeat and expects Austin to go home in the next few days. I didn't talk to Bennets but I think he and Austin are sharing the road to recovery. Good news from the three amigos at Cooks!

After the hospital stop we headed to North Tarrant County for some shopping and sight seeing around our old haunts. Our old house looked sad... made me happy that we don't live there anymore! We spent sometime at Super Target...I forget how huge those super Targets are!!! And then got to go by the Lees house for a visit with Kristi (Yates), Josie and Lauren! Kolby loved getting to play with her "first friend" Lauren and Josie, who Kolby called "Sissy" for the first two years of her life. I loved getting to visit with Kristi.

Kristi taught me how to be a Mom to a baby. Lauren was born 6 weeks before Kolby. Kristi, though three years younger than I, had Josie, who was two ( and adorable) so she was my Mommy Mentor. I love Kristi like a sister. Though we don't visit nearly as often as we should, we pick up right where we left off every time. Funny how most of my best, best friends became my friends during that first Mommy year... and all have kids Kolby's age. Rooky Moms need lots of good friends and BUNKO! Susan, Heidi, Diana, Emily, Karen, & Kristi, I miss you girls!!! Actually, I miss girlfriends in general lately! I think it is time to resurrect Bunko night....Waco girls what do you think??? (OK, the two of you who read this anyway) But I stray.......

Kolby and I made one more swing by the hospital on our way out of town and ended our "Girls trip" with Kolaches and honey bears from the Czech Stop...Yes, twice in one day.. Kolby's choice. It was a great day! Now we're popping corn and about to watch Ella Enchanted. Saturday will be a big day of Cheerleading, birthday parties, and working on that room of mine...No it is nowhere near finished! :)

Hope your weekend is wonderful and full of times with friends!!!

Hallelujah and pass the creamed corn

Well I have to share the words that brought me to absolute sobbing tears tonight. I just read the update on Mikes blog. Please go there and read it for yourself, but I'm about to ruin the ending for you. I was fine through all of it, even the Megan reference, but these last words...

I'm fighting back tears as I tell you that my son appears to be all right. Thanks, Mike

Well it sent me over the edge. Can you imagine what the last 24 hours have been like for Mike, Diane, Matt & Jenna and all the family? Then you reach that point of releif, that hesitant and not to confident point of releif. All the worry, all the fear, all the "will he ever be able to?" thoughts just over load the emotions as they lift. Thank you God for helping Chris heal and helping them all cope... COPE how appropriate that name seems! God bless all who have prayed so hard. Don't let up!

A big helping of creamed corn is on my plate today... but that is so preferable to what could be... I am very blessed and very grateful...creamed corn and all! Good night sweet blog land!

Pray for the Highland family

As all of you probably know Chris Cope was in an awful accident on Sunday. You can check Mike's blog, Brandon's blog and Val's blog for updates.

All I have to say is that no parent should have to have two different children medi-vac-ed to Cooks Childrens Hosipital in such a horrible condition. Chris was two or so when Mike and Diane made the trip with Meagan. I can not imagine how painful it was to make that trip again. These people have had their hearts ripped out more times than anyone should. Please say a special prayer for Mike and Diane.... and for the family of Brody Bourland who I'm sure are reeling from the shock of loosing their precious son.

Dear Lord,
Please, please, please wrap these families in your love and grace. We cry out to you to heal the boys who survived and shelter the family of the boy who did not survive as only you can. Father God we don't know what to say or how to say it, but please let the love and warth felt for these families help to carry them through this tragedy! Your love Lord. Let us love with your Love!
Amen

(PS I'm posting from across the street at my parents, as my computer is still boxed up! NOT the weekend to have the computer in a box in the garage!!!)

Praise Him

Praise him you servants of the Lord;
Praise the name of the Lord.
The Lords name should be praised now and forever
The Lords name should be praised from where the sun rises to where the sun sets
The Lord is supreme over all the nations; his glory reaches to the skies.

No one is like the Lord our God,who rules from heaven, who bends down to look at the skies and the earth.
The Lord lifts the poor from the dirt and takes the helpless from the ashes.
He seats them with princes, the princes of his people.
He gives children to the woman who has none and makes her a happy mother.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 113
New Century Version

Today is Thursday. Rhett and McKenna are at Mother-day-out. I have the house to myself and the time an energy to get things done. The Lord is good! I am a happy mother who feels the need to praise Him!

I orignally wanted to blog about literature and the evil empire of AR (accelerated reader programs), but after reading Brandons post today, something inside just decided to go a different route. I am going to buckle down and tackel a project I have put off for over a year. I am totally cleaning out and redecoraing our room and office area. The computer will be unplugged and moved to get ready for painting...and to make sure I don't get side-tracked in my beloved blog land. So I'll be back on-line some time next week. Have a great weekend blog family!

PS: If I am really brave I will post before and after shots... but don't count on too many befores!
just discovered webdings!
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You get what you get

and you don't throw a fit!

This phrase has begun to tumble off my tongue as often as the word "hello". My precious little boy is going through a stage right now that has me daydreaming about boarding pre-schools. I am truly having to bite my tongue so often that I have ulcers forming in my mouth, and close my eyes to 'count to ten' so often some may think I'm having seizures.

Rhett has a very strong will (like his Mommy, Daddy and Sister). He also has a high pitched, loud cry. In the nursery as a baby, they called Rhett "Dolphin Boy" because his cry was so loud and so high pitched. I am finding that an iron will and a dolphin cry don't mix well. Add the fact that Rhett is extremely detail oriented and a hefty 38 pound 3 year old boy and ...Well sometimes it's a caustic combination.

Take our quick trip to the grocery this afternoon. Rhett started crying in the parking lot because he didn't want to go in. I didn't really want to go in either but we needed milk so, there was no choice in the matter. After I explained this to him, he went limp in the parking lot with the dolphin scream saying "I don't want to go in! I want to stay in the van." I commandeered a shopping cart from a lady across the way and scooped the screaming blob of dolphin boy into the buggy... His cry then changed to "I don't want to ride in this cart I'm not a baby!" You probably guessed my reaction... "If you cry like a baby, you ride like a baby."

So into HEB we went. Poor Kolby was trying to walk far enough ahead of us so that it wouldn't look like we were together. I wish I could have joined her! Every aisle was a new fit of "I don't want to go down this aisle" mixed in with "I don't want ___or I want a ___" or his typical "I want the BLUE one!" all in the loud dolphin cry. (I think Rhett would drink blue milk and eat blue meat if we could find it. The boy wants EVERYTHING to be blue!#**&^%"#**&;^%)

At first I just ignored him, but when he started throwing produce out of my cart and hitting passers by, I had to do something.... But what can you really do in a grocery store? I had already taken his "one item" privilege away. He was already in the cart. My Mom says to spank, but in this day and age, a pop on the seat in a crowded store is just an invitation for CPS to come calling. So I discretely pinched his leg lightly to get his attention and said "You better stop crying now and be the fine young man I know you can be." .... That did not work at all!

It never got better. In fact it only got worse, if you can imagine! Rhett cried all the way through checking out, loading the car, dropping Kolby off at cheerleading and the whole drive home. Dolphin boy was in rare form.

Finally, with the garage door down and the car securely parked and locked, I burst from the van leaving dolphin boy buckled in with his screams. I ran in the house to call his grandmother who lives across the street."Your grandson may be spending the night in the van, unless you care to deal with him" She had tried to talk to me on my cell during the grocery store visit so she knew what was going on "I'll be right over." It's nice to have a Mom who is actually professionally licensed to work with difficult children just thirty eight foot steps away.

She walked in the door and headed for the garage. I warned her that her hearing might be impaired forever, but she marched on. I watched from the laundry room. Rhett was still in the van screaming. Mom pulled back the door and said "Hey Rhett!" That little toot stopped crying and in the sweetest little voice said "Save me Mama K" ~ Oh PuL-EEZE!!!! And then he dried up his tears and hopped out of the van like nothing ever happened.

I share this for several reasons... First, I know that there are many of you out there who can relate... at least I am hoping there are!!!. (For those of you who have perfect children who would never act this way, please "next blog" on) Any word of advice, comfort, assurance? Am I the only Mommy wondering if there is such s thing as a boarding military pre-school?-haha! How do you handle the grocery store? What do I do with Dolphin Boy? I have visions of Rhett being 19 years old, 6.4 Ft tall, weighing 240 and still crumpling to the floor crying when he doesn't get his way screaming "I want the BLUE one!!!" AGGGGG!

The other reason I share this is I had a young friend comment on how easy life must be when your married with two kids and you get to stay home. For any of you single dreamers who still think stay-home Moms sit around watching Oprah and eating Bon Bons, I am here to tell you that it just ain't so!!! Please understand that I am very blessed in my life. My husband, my kids, our house, my life are all more than I ever dreamed of...But easy? This is not easy. Truth in blogging... Being a stay home Mom is really tough at times. Today was one of those days! I can't share all the chicken soup-ish cute stories without letting you in on some of the bad. Parenting is not for cowards.

Lastly, days like today make me realize how much I need God. The last few weeks have been busy, but not really hard. Today was hard. Today I find myself on my knees praying that I will be the Mom I need to be to my son, that God will cover my shortcomings with Rhett and help him in ways I can't. Today I plead for the Heavenly Father to take over Rhett and I trust that HE will not let either of us down. How could anyone parent without God in their life? How could there ever be any sense of security on hard days like today if the creator of the Universe wasn't there to "get your back" when it comes to raising kids? I would have a lot worse than a hole in my tongue and a splitting headache if I couldn't turn to the ultimate Father on days like this, and for that I MUST praise Him!

Thank you Father God for being here with me! It's so good to know you always know what is best even when I feel lost and overwhelmed. Thank you for loving my children even more than I can. Thank you for being so patient with me, your flawed and imperfect child! ...................and could you PLEASE work on lowering that Dolphin cry ? :)

Hope you are not having one of Those days!

Secret's out!

First the teachers lounge was a huge hit!(Even though I did plug all three microwaves into one outlet causing the circuit to blow and the lights to go out for a minute or two ...oooppps!) The sweet teachers have been so expressive in their gratitude!

Then today Mae finally let the cat out of the bag! Go to her blog to read the big news and congratulate her!

AND Brandon and Sheryl are having a BOY! Little Sam Thomas, we can't wait to meet you!
What a fun week! I have big hopes for 2005 and so far I have not been disappointed!:)

A little Mommy side note: A week or so ago Rhett just out of the blue said "Mommy, my Thomas party was an ENORMOUS Success." WOW ! This tickled me for many reasons... First of all his party was in September and it was December. Second, what three year old says enormous success? And third, it is always nice to be appreciated, even if it is a little late and out of character.
Hope your day is an ENORMOUS SUCCESS!

It is finished

Ok my big secret is out of the bag!! (Not that it was a secret to blog world because I mentioned that a friend and I were redoing the teachers lounge over the holidays.) Today the teachers went back to find their "stark white walls, no color, no art, no homey feel" teacher lounge completely transformed. It took A LOT of work, but the sound of my friend Alain's voice on the phone this morning made it all worth while. "Holy COW!!!" she said as she called me from school to tell me the reaction to the big surprise. My "before" pictures are still in the camera, but my friend and cohort Shae Dickey took these after pictures last night as we finished it all up.
This is what I did over Christmas break.....


Notice the new floor.


Dark beige and an "ink drop" navy stripe cover two walls.


Added some "funk" above the eletric blue cabinets.


New curtains, valances, tables and decor.

New desk area


new curtains





the ugly corner


I want this bookcase!
So anyone up for a room makeover????

Secrets

I can not blog today because everything on my mind "Is a secret" CREAMED CORN!

I have a love/hate relationships with secrets. I am a great secret keeper if it is not MY secret. My "secrets" unnerve me. Unless it is for something like a really great surprise, I usually don't like to make things secret. I have pulled off many a surprise party in my life and those were very fun secrets. I have also had to carry some not so fun secrets around before. Bad secrets are awful. The sooner they can be dumped, the better. But good or bad, I seldom let a secret go until it's time.

Rob, on the other hand, can not keep a secret at all! Of course he knows when to use discretion and bad secrets are safe with him, but other secrets are as good as told when he learns them. He even has a hard time keeping Christmas and birthday presents secret. It is sorta a game with us now... but with Rob it is an endearing quality. Other people who blab before it is time get on my nerves.

What about you? Can you keep a secret?

Worrying

I have this quote framed on my desk. It has been there for years.
I first framed it for my Nana who made worrying a life long hobby.
Funny how the older I get the more truth I see in these words. Hope you have a great day with no worries! : )

Adult A.D.D. defined ...

My house looks like a total disaster area. Seriously!!! Christmas has almost left the building but the aftermath is crazy. I find myself overwhelmed and not sure where to start. It's times like this that my true ADD nature rears it's ugly head!

If any of you ever doubt that there is true legitimate adult ADD please read this. It's not original to me but it could be... focus, focus, focus!

I decide to wash my car.
As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the hall table.
I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.
I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the trash can under the table, and notice that the trash can is full.
So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the trash first.
But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my checkbook off the table, and see that there is only one check left my extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking.
I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over.
I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.
As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need to be watered.
I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.
I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.
I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote.
Someone left it on the kitchen table.
I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.
I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor.
So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.
Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.
At the end of the day the car isn't washed, the bills aren't paid, there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter, the flowers aren't watered, there is still only one check in my checkbook, I can't find the remote, I can't find my glasses, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.
Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long,

and I'm really tired.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Ahhhh a new day and a new year! I think 2005 is going to be a great year for the Grosz family.

Got any good resolutions you want to share??

For a fun way to eat your "New Years black eyed peas", try this recipe. (My grandmother swore by the black-eyed pea tradition!)

TEXAS CAVIAR
In a LARGE bowl combine:
3 cans of black-eyed peas with Jalapeno peppers AND
2 cans black-eyed peas (drained together and rinsed in a colander)
one large purple onion diced
one small white onion diced
two green peppers diced
two medium tomatoes cubed
salt or garlic salt to taste (optional)
one medium bottle of Wishbone brand Italian dressing (Fat free works great)
Refrigerate and store in an airtight container. Keeps 3- 4 days.
Serve with tortilla chips in place of chunky salsa.

This recipe has become a tradition in our family for New Years Eve/Day ever since Clara Talley shared it with us nine years ago. Thank you Clare! It is so much a tradition that yesterday, during my all day paint-a-thon at the school, Rob decided to mix up a batch of it on his own. He did a great job! Chunkier than my version but, yum yum... and I am eating it now! Thanks honey!

Still cleaning and painting. Just four more days to get it all done! :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR BLOG FAMILY!

P.S. I am enabling anon. comments again for visitors to blogland and for the lady at HEB. (tell ya' later) Just don't cuss at me or rip on the President. OK? : )