A casual conversation

I had a great conversation with a man in the doctors office this morning and I wanted to reflect on it here. (Warning : This could take a while! ) This man has served in the military in Iraq and he is about to serve again. He had been talking with two other women when I walked in. They were talking about how disheartening it was to see a protest like the one last Saturday in Washington DC where Cindy Sheehan and 100,000 others called for an end to the war, NOW!

He said he, and others in his unit, felt like these protests were a stab in the back. He talked about the need for someone to stand up and fight for freedom and what is right. He talked about telling his mother and family not to ever join such a protest even if he lost his life, because he is doing what he believes in and is happy to serve. He said he had heard from those who served with Casey Sheehan that he would have never wanted his Mom to do this.

He said all these polls saying America doesn't back this war sicken him. He also talked about how Americans are spoiled to all the freedoms we enjoy and that we don't realize what a privilege it is to live in this country. He talked about how there are those in this world who feel we have too much freedom and would love the chance to snatch those freedoms away. He talked about how horrible it would be for the US if we just pulled out of Iraq. He said that those who have been there understand how important it is for this war to be won. He said he didn't think the US would ever be able to pull out of Iraq completely ...Unless we want to see the whole region explode and acts of terror on our own soil.

The soldier was calm, well mannered, and very respectful. He wasn't gritting his teeth or pounding his fist. He just seemed resolved to do what needs to be done. I have a world of respect for that man!

The other two ladies and I told him that we think most of America understands that we have to stay the course and stand behind our troops by helping them, not calling for them all to come home now. I told him that I think it is sad that the news focuses so much on the radical groups who give their lives over to protesting. (Really, do these people not have jobs? How can they even afford to sit out in a pasture for 20 -30 days protesting?) We talked about the fact that there are hundreds of thousands of us who don't take polls or take the time to stand out in the streets to show our support of troops and their efforts to win this war, but we are behind them 100% and resolute to see this ugly thing through.

We asked him about his family and and the places he had served. We all said how much we respect military families. We thanked him for serving for us. He grinned and said he thought it was great that three strangers would be so open and caring.. He was saying "Every where I go I meet people like you who build me up. That is why I am willing to fight. That is what makes America great..." Then I was called back to see the doctor. I was sad for our conversation to end. I shook his hand and again said thank you. He said it was his pleasure. I never caught his name.

I have thought about that soldier all day today. I have thought about just how much freedom we enjoy here in the good ole USA. I have thought about the families of these brave men and women that go without and suffer immeasurable pain when separated...And to think I start to feel sorry for myself when Rob works late three nights in a row! I have thought about what that soldier said about having to win a war in Iraq to keep a war off of American soil and ensure freedom. I have thought about the pain of the families who protested last Saturday and the commercials that show grieving Moms and Widows asking President Bush to bring all our sons and daughters home NOW, no matter what the consequence. I have thought about what Jesus would do and what God wants us to do.

I wish there were easy answers. I wish no one had to loose a loved one in a far away land for a cause they don't really understand let alone believe in. It's easy to support a war you don't have to fight. It's easier to be against a war in which you have lost someone you love deeply. It must be hard to go fight for something, even if you believe in it, knowing so many do not understand or appreciate what you are doing for them. We humans are complex animals.

Sometimes it seems like all the options are bad and none of the answers are right. But this I know, our God, who does understand, and who always knows what is best and what is right, is in control. He is in control when nations rise and fall. He is in control when storms rage and when storms wane. I may never understand the heart and mind of our awesome God, but I believe in my heart and mind that he is good and he will save all who come to him. While we are on this planet we must do our best to fight what is evil and show great love and humility to bring honor to his name. We may never solve the worlds problems or know complete peace but we press on. In the end, this world is temporary and fleeting and God is in control.

Well enough reflection... Now back to action. I will fold the towels and clean up the juice spills with a bit more gratitude in my heart today because of the man in the doctors office and the incredible God who loves and directs us all.
I will appreciate the freedom to take my children to church tonight and the option I have not to.
I will tell my kids I love them as I tuck them into their soft safe beds and hug them extra tight thinking of the sons and daughters fighting for us so far away.
I will pray for the man I met today and pray I am the person I need to be tomorrow.
Everyday is a gift.

Love-n-logic VS Spanking

This forward came to me from another stay home Mom friend. What do you think?

LOVE AND LOGIC vs SPANKING
(A PSYCHOLOGICAL CONUNDRUM)

Most of America's populace think it
improper to spank children, so I have
tried other methods to control my kids
when they have one of "Those moments."
We recently went to a LOVE AND LOGIC
class where the instructor encouraged
us to give our kids choices and to
come up with creative ways of disicpline.

One alternative I found effective
is for me to just
take the child for a
car ride and talk.
They usually calm down
and stop misbehaving
after our ride together.

I've included a photo below
of one of my sessions with
my son, in case you
would like to use this technique.
S
S
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S
S
S
S
S
S
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Tag - you're it!

Clarissa tagged me, so here it is.
7 answers to 7 questions

7 things I plan to do before I die:
See my children baptized.
Spoil my grandchildren.
Return to Nairobi, Kenya.
Travel to Alaska, Hawaii, Paris, Switzerland, China,and Brazil.
Take yearly vacations with my husband.
Volunteer somewhere on a weekly basis.
Meet George W Bush.

7 things I can do:
Plan a party.
Cook.
Spot a bargain.
Install a ceiling fan.
Plant a garden.

Talk to absolute strangers about almost anything.
Scrapbook. or design invitations and cool stuff on the computer.

7 things I cannot do:
Keep on a set schedule for more than a week.
Listen to talk radio.
Jog.
Sports.
Finish the laundry.
Stay mad at my husband for more than two days...I have tried!
Think of seven things I can not do because I know I can do most anything I put my mind to doing...Its just putting my mind to doing it that gives me fits.
( OK as DJG reminded me.. I can not SPELL!!!)

7 things that attract me to people: (in general ~Rob knows why I love him!:)
Signs of Faith in hard times.
A great laugh which is heard often.
A can-do attitude.
Not taking one's self too seriously.
Generosity.
Compassion .
A non-judgmental nature.

7 Celebrity Crushes:
Peter Reckle~ Bo on DOOL
George Clooney
Ben Aflec (only in Pearl Harbor)
Greg the yellow Wiggle
OK add this to my list of things I can not do...
I don't have celebrity crushes really!

7 things I say the most:
NO! or TURN OFF THE TV!
Wow!
Oh my!
Is there a nicer way to say that?
Right now!
Good job!
I understand. (Learned this at a PTA parenting seminar...There is a story behind it that I'll share later)

7 bloggers I am tagging: (but don't feel you have to do this!!!:)
Elizabeth
Lauren
Susan
Kendra
Deana
Jenni
Meredith

Blame it on George!

Pavlovs dog learned to drool at the sound of a bell. Tiny infants automatically turn towards the sound of their mother's voice. When faced with a tragedy or problem, no matter how big or small many on/in the media automatically blame George Bush. It is ridiculous. It is ignorant. It is a harmful, hurtful, and very dangerous trend for our society take on the roll of victims and blamers, yet that is what appears to be happening when I see the news. It is to the point I can't stand TV anymore.

But I guess in some ways people are right to blame George Bush, especially for what has happened here in Texas.... After all he was our Governor for six years before we lost him to Washington. It may be that his leadership in Texas back when he was Governor helped the state accomplish the biggest evacuation the US has ever seen in the face of Rita this week. Were there problems? Yes. Was it a bit chaotic? YES! But by the time the storm hit last night somehow those 100 mile traffic jams were gone. Somehow the evacuees from Katrina that our state has been caring for 3.5 weeks now were moved out of harms way. Somehow the nursing homes were evacuated and the hospitals had emergency generators that were not, and had never been, in flood likely basements! Our people in distress were rescued. We were out of harms way. AND THE STORM WEAKENED AND TURNED! I guess that is all Bush's fault too? The man does pray quite a bit after all!

Maybe Bush is responsible for laying a foundation for excellent communication between the Governor and local leaders, despite their political affiliations. Maybe Bush should share in the blame for Texas being able to harbor and care for hundreds if not thousands of Katrina evacuees in such a short time.

When Katrina struck our neighbors to the east, Texas took out pre-existing emergency plans and put them into action. When Governor Perry (who was Bush's Lt. Governer in the last term)needed help, he asked for it. This weeek our state government was ready. Our local governments were ready. The people of Texas were responsible and did not wait or expect the government to take care of them. That is the kind of leadership and citizenship our former Governor and current President inspired. I would have to agree that what has happened in Texas over the last few weeks is partly George Bush's fault, and we are so proud of him!

So let the rest of the world blame Bush for global warming, rolling blackouts in California, terrorist attacks, gas prices, interest rates, deficits, consumer spending, credit card debt, acts of nature, and oh, let's not forget incompetent Governors and mayors not being able to do their job when a crisis comes. I for one am proud of our President for taking a deaf ear to his critics and doing what he feels and knows to be right despite approval ratings and popularity polls. If other leaders in this country would do the same, America would be a better, stronger, more secure place. If that were to happen, I am almost 100 percent certain that Bush's detractors would never say "America is great! Let's blame it on Bush!"

So go ahead blame Bush! He can take it. In two more years he will retire to Texas and then there will be someone else to blame. Who in their right mind would ever want to be President? Then again I guess the next President can just blame it all on George Bush!

I feel better having that out. Sorry to rant. Sorry to be so political, but I just can't help myself! Let's just blame it on George Bush!

Evacuating

This picture should auto matically update with the storms progress.
I talked to some friends from Houston who are busy packing and trying to secure their houses so they can get out of the area before the storm hits. How stressful to try to put your family and your most valued possessions in a car and drive away not knowing when or what you will come back to! Hoping some of them end up here with us to ride the storm out. Glad to know they are willing and able to leave because they know protecting their family is the most important thing.

May God bless all the residents of the coast as they ready to get out of the storms path! I hope this hurricane season is a freak incident that will not be repeated! Dear Lord, please muffle this growing storm and rescue those who cry out to you!

PAWS for the moment...

I hope I am not breaking any copy right laws by plagiarizing the title of a section from my high school newspaper that ran back in 1986, '87 and '88. I was a San Angelo Central Bobcat back in the day. Our newspaper, The Campus Corral, ran a section where the editors ( I was the ad editor) gave "paws up /down" to different school events/happening. For example:

Paws Up To >>>
The Lady Bobcats for making regionals
The Drama department for wining state
The cheerleaders for blah blah
Paws Down To>>>
Drinking and Driving
Smoking in the boys room
Tutorials during lunch

You get the idea. My friend (Hi Anita) and I made fun of this section to the point we incorporated "Paws up" or "Paws down" into our vocabulary. Almost 20 years later, I still bust out with a "Paws up/down" comment from time to time. With it raining outside, the thermometer barely hitting 80, high school football and Mexican food on the agenda for tonight, no errands to run , and no places I have to be today... I just have to say PAWS UP TO FRIDAYS!

Here are a few more in no particular order if you care to paws with me....

Paws down to...
Ads in comments on blogger.
Hurricanes
Cancer
Alheimers
People who drive too fast down our street.
The PETA guy in front of the Baylor Bear Habitat. (Lady & Joy love their new million dollar home, thank you!)
The cost of dental work.
E-mail forwards.
Tummy aches
Protestors in Crawford.
Car bombs
Telemarketers
Taxes

Paws up to....
The thousands of volunteers working to rebuild the lives of the evacuees from New Orleans!
The state of Texas for stepping up to the plate!
President Bush for stopping the buck!
Churches going outside themselves to help people who need it!
Waco getting a Rosa's Tortilla Factory soon!
Kolby acing four spelling test in a row!
MK and family for being featured in the Wacoan ...AGAIN! :)
Sari making it safely to South Carolina for her BMW training...she is going to be an auto show rep. like me!
Circle of Friends weekend at Gymboree! Click here for printable coupon
The incredible chocolate Birthday cake from SAMs for Nana that we didn't have to make!
BUSH'S CHICKEN!!!
Baby Kelton!
The good people of Mississippi who got hit harder but gripe and blame a lot less!
The dollar spot at Target!
Football season!
Sweater weather (hoping)!
People who leave comments on my blog !
Rhett being melt-down free for almost eight hours now!
Old friends who make my day when they e-mail/call me!

Feel free to add your own PAWS here. Have a great weekend blog world!

Grandparents Week

It's grandparent week at Kolby's school. Yesterday my Dad got to go brave the cafeteria along with throngs of other 2nd grade grandparents and special seniors. It is so fun to see the faces of the kids when they see their grandparent there waiting for them...Of course I always feel so sorry for those who don't have a special visitor on such days, but such is life.

This year on PTA we have two grandmothers as Room Moms. They are the primary Moms for their little ones. They bring a different perspective to the table to be sure! But both are so young and loving and seem to be having a grand time with it all.

I only knew three of my grandparents and all three had a huge impact on my life. I am so glad my kids have all four grand parents and some great uncles and aunts to boot! We are blessed by that generational love and wisdom.

Today my last living grandparent turns 94. We're having a little party at "the home" for her. She doesn't know much these days but she knows when something is for her and she loves to see all the little kids, even though I'm not sure she realizes that they are her great grandchildren. Kolby and Rhett only know Nana as the little confused lady in the wheelchair who lives in "an apartment." I hope someday when it is easier to remember, I will be able to tell them of my spunky Nana who could play the piano, cook the best desserts, and play a mean game of bridge.

Grandparents Day was last weekend I think. Somehow I always forget that day! But for me and Nana, today will be Grandparents Day. Happy Birthday Nana!

Birthweek

Today ended our week long celebration of Rhett's fourth birthday. It's been fun! Rob was off last Monday and this Friday. We have eaten out many times. We had a family party with my parents and sister, another with Rob's mom , sister and nephew, and today we had the real party. A week of partying can take it's toll on a 4 year old! This is my little sleeping Jedi tonight at 7:30PM.
We are all happy and exhausted! Happy Birthday Rhett! Here are some glimpses of our week! Going to bed early to get a good start on next week!

The first cake on the real birthdayRhett's costume and light saber were a birthday present.Celebrating again with silly string and cousin Drake. A few hurried group shots from today's party! We had lots of fun!

Hope in the Bittersweet

For days I have wanted to post something but in the face of all that is going on in the world right now, but just can't find the right words. I feel like most of world I know is either living in collective denial or collective gloom. I really don't want to be part of either of those.

I really just want to load up my van with survival gear, trash bags, and lots of anti-bacterial cleaner and head for New Orleans and start cleaning... But I have this life here with kids, a husband, a house, a mortage, bills and several responsibilities...Though some of those responsibilities seem more like a pleasure to enjoy in the face of what is happening to so many. So no, I guess I can't abandon my family and go crusade to clean New Orleans. That makes me feel guilty. Anyone else feeling this way?

Monday was Rhett's birthday. As it was Labor Day, Rob was off and Kolby was home. We had a fun day of going where Rhett wanted, seeing a movie, and even though his birthday party isn't until next Sunday, we had my little family over for hamburgers, cake and presents. Star Wars rules the house this week. We are having so much fun and Rhett loves his presents ...But I keep feeling like we should be somewhere else helping someone. Where? I am not sure. Who? I do not know. I've felt like this around Rhett's birthday before.

Rhett was six days old the morning I sat on our couch nursing him and praising God for our first normal morning home. Then I watched the second airplane hit the second tower of the world trade center live on Good Morning America. It was September 11, 2001. The whole week before our family had been so worried about Rhett because he was in the special care nursery and gave us a real scare or two. My whole pregnancy had been a bit scary as I had several miscarriages in between Rhett and Kolby. I was never more tired or grateful when we finally got to bring Rhett home on September 10th. I thought the bad part was over...and for us personally, in most ways it was. I was so happy that Rhett was home and OK and still so sad and scared for our country and all who suffered in the 9-11 attacks. It was bittersweet.

My mom says the older she gets the more bittersweet her life becomes... Sweet as she watches her children grow and have children and bitter as she has watched her father die and her mother whittle away to a somewhat familiar stranger who lives in an alziemers unit down the road. With the events of 9-11, and now this current crisis in New Orleans, I think I understand what Mom means. Life is a combination of bitter and sweet and it is impossible at times to feel one and not remember the other.

When will life just be sweet again? When will there just be joy, pure joy without the familiar tug of sorrow for all the pain of this world? I ask these questions not knowing the answer... But here is what I hope. I hope that in an all-loving, omnipotent God I can find joy in the midst of sorrow. I hope that when the tunnel is long and the light at the end seems too dim to guide me, HE will be the light shining in me that will direct my steps. My hope comes from believing that as big as the disaster is, my God is bigger and in him all things are possible.

While life is bittersweet, hope is the shining light at the end of the tunnel fueled by faith and secured by love. At times like this, I THANK YOU Lord for giving us hope. There is a song from my youth that keeps coming to the surface this week . I find myself humming it when I am not thinking about it. It comforts me. Maybe it will comfort some of you out there in blog land too!

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

My prayer continues to be that I will be a blessing to someone who needs me today, as I have been so blessed in my life. Lord open my eyes to what I can do and give me the strength and courage to do it!

Katrina Junkie

I can't stop watching the coverage. I can't stop wondering how these people must feel. I can't stop hoping that this is all a bad dream. I can't help wondering why everyone is trying to blame someone.

Over and over I hear "How can this happen in America, the richest nation in the world??? That strikes me as odd that some think America is immune to disaster, chaos and human suffering. I guess we would like to think that. Denial is a strong and dangerous thing. Horrible things happen even in a nation that is a "superpower". SUPERPOWER...I think that Katrina deserves that title more than we do.

Did we honestly think that all our technology, infastructure and expertise could match a natural disaster of Biblical proportions? News flash...Americans are fragile, frail, faulted human being who hurt and cry and bleed. I love this country, don't get me wrong...but things happen here just as they happen all over the world. We are no better than any other nation in the only eyes that count...God's eyes. We play God sometimes but things like this remind us that only God is God. Our government is not all powerful. Bad things,really bad things, happen to us.

I think this hurricane is the biggest challenge to our nation since the world wars. It is not going to be easy to recover. We will all feel the affects of this horrible storm. No one is going to be exempt. And the people who lost everything...God please heal their hearts and give them courage and strength to start over! Give us unselfish compassionate hearts to help do what ever we all can to help.

My heart hurts for so many of the refugees of this storm! On the other hand, I am a little ticked at a few of them.... Shooting at EMT's trying to evacuate hospitals...Stealing TV's and jewelry when you could be helping rescue people from their flooding houses.. Lord help these people know you and know your grace and discipline.

America is one of he most complex cultures in the world. What did we think would happen if in less than a week a city of several hundred thousand had to be evacuated..When NOTHING is working and hundreds if not thousands are stranded in flooding?
My mom said tonight that she feels guilty for enjoying her good life while so many are suffering. I wonder if we shouldn't feel more guilty for not truly enjoying and appreciating our lives when we see true suffering in the lives of so many.

Just some Katrina ramblings. No words seem big enough or deep enough to capture this tragic event, but thankfully we have a God who is!

WE HAVE INTERNET!

So exciting! And per request, here are some back to school pictures




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Rhett's birthday is Monday...can you guess what type party he is going to have?

We have a problem?

Yes! I have a new network card installed on the computer and it might work just fine. I however do not know because the installation disk was faulty and does not have the correct drivers for my Windows. Sigh.... Maybe all this is a sign?

In the mean time... my house is cleaner than it has been in a long time, I have considered scrapbooking again, I actually read the paper this morning, I went TO the Childrens Place actual store to see if they had a good sale, and I have started reading a book... a real book with pages that turn instead of scroll. Life with out internet...who knew??? :)

I sure do miss all of you. I had to call Elizabeth today to make sure that all my blog friends survived the storm... Can you believe how bad it is? Without the computer to bring me my info, I have started watching the news again. Two observations ... First, commercials are more annoying than I ever remember. Second, there is a reason our local news people are still local! OH MY!

Hopefully the computer problems will soon be over and I can return to my beloved net! But really is this sabatical from the net a problem? I can't complain about an old computer or a downed internet when so many in LA, AL and MS have lost so much.

I can't imagine what it will take to rebuild all the homes and businesses destroyed in the storm, let alone all the shattered lives. Is re-building even possible? I know of a family at Spring Valley who will soon have seven additional people living under their roof. Storm evacuees. They have no idea how long they will be here... but they are enrolling their kids in our school. It is going to be a long time before all these people have a safe place of their own again. Seems so unfair that some have so much while some have lost everything. My heart and prayers go out to all of Katrinas victims.

Rob and I were married nine years ago today.... I would tell you all about it, but I did that last year! So I'll just say Happy Anniversary Honey! I am married to a great guy! :) Be back in blog land as soon as possible. I have to say it is really nice to be missed! :)

P.S. My parents computer will not let the spell checker pop-up so you can all just appreciate my disgraphia for what it is! :)

Oh Happy Day!

What a difference a week can make! Last week after I posted the death of the green car and the computer, Rob was able to fix the car! It was just a $10 thermostat. I am so proud of him! Then Sunday night, spurred on by Rob's accomplishment I sat down with the system restoration disks and revived the computer! The internet is still out because we need a new network card. We think that the terrible storm from two weeks ago may have zapped us! Our electricity was out for over four hours. ANYWAY I have been told that a network card is easy to replace, so I hope to get around to that this weekend.

This has been a very busy week for us! Kolby started school Wednesday~ and loves it! I had a big PTA blast-off luncheon that my friend Emily and I were in charge of on Monday. We started teaching Wednesday night 3's. Rob had two softball games Tuesday. I had PTA meetings Wednesday and two today. And Rhett-r-roo has a yucky old sinus infection! It has been a week!

Not having internet acess at home has driven me crazy! I feel so out of touch! I'm sure after my long absence noone even reads this sad little blog anymore, but I hope to be back to regular posting soon!

I have to share a Rhett story from today...
I took Rhett to my 9am PTA meeting. I usually try to avoid doing that at all cost, but it couldn't be avaioded. Besides that i knew at least two other 4 year olds would be there. He did fine during the meeting. As I was leaving I stopped in the office to ask our principal a question. I put my bag and Rhett on the bench inside the office, handed him his Leapster, and told him to stay put while I talked to Mrs M. I heard the Leapster music and assumed he was happy. I never left the room where he was and I kept hearing the Leapster sound so even though my back was to him I thought all was well.

About three minutes later i turned around to get my stuff and Rhett was gone. The Leapster was still going but Rhett was no where to be found. At first I did not panic. But after searching all through the office, the adjoining cafeteria, the stage the bathrooms and two halls I was terrified. I ran out to the parking lot to check our car...no Rhett. I started screaming his name. A million thoughts...none good, raced through my mind. A dozen silent paniced prayers raced to heaven As I raced around the school calling Rhett.

I was walking into the office to tell the staff to lock down the school and call the police when across the cafeteria I saw my friend Shae who works at school walking towards me, Rhett in tow. After thanking God and Shae profusely, Shae informed me that she just happened to go to her car to get something and she spotted a short kid in the parking lot. When she got closer she recognized Rhett and of course demanded to know where his mommy was. He said i was in the building. She asked him if he was supposed to be outside and he sorta grinned and said no. So she brought him in to find me. I felt so blessed and happy that he was OK and so angry that he wandered off. AAAGGGHHH!

I don't think I could catch my breath for an hour! Terror! I think I broke all the love and logic rules of parenting after Rhett and I were alone in the car. He now thinks I will call the police to take him to ajil if he wanders off like that again or bad people will take him away from us forever.... It scared him a bit too to see me cry, and that is a good thing.

Who knew parenting would be such an adventure? Thank you God for keeping my little boy from harms way!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

A sad, sad day

It is a sad, sad day in the Grosz house hold. In the last week two old friends have left us.... our computer and our green car.

After 7 years of dutiful service, our dear friend Gateway kicked the bucket four days ago. I never realized how dependant I was on my computer until this week of not having one. It is driving me absolutly crazy! I use the computer for everything! Shopping, communicating, getting news, all projects, PTA work. pictures, keeping up with blog world... It's almost sad how down I am about the death of my computer... and loosing all the information on my precious hard drive is just killing me! Addresses, pictures, tax information, countless down loads, and my entire invitations business... all gone. Yes, I know I should have backed it all up but, I didn't. Now I am praying that some techno genius somewhere can revive my computer just long enough to get a few things off of it. Not sure when a new computer will come into our life so this may be it for my blogging as well.

Then the car died..or at least it is close to death. My 1995 hunter green all leather Mazda 626, the car I bought, the car Rob inherited when we got the mini-van, the "paper route" car, the "go to work" car, the "we don't bother fixing cosmetic things anymore" car, the "don't drive her out of town" car, the "do we look trashy for parking her in the drive way?" car is finally on life support. Rob maybe be able to patch her up and send her back out for a few more weeks, but it isn't looking good. I have been really sad about loosing this car!

I am struck by how attached I get to things. Things that can be replaced, but still things that we work hard to pay for. Things that are temporal and have no feelings. Just things. Maybe this is God's way of telling me it is time to let go of the things, or at least not hold on to them so tightly.

Still, I will miss you Gateway and Green car! You both have served me well and I will not forget you!

PS ~ Anyone in blog land have an extra computer laying around? :)

It's a boy!

Here is the newest member of our clan! Born to my cousin a few days ago, little Kelton weighed 9lbs 11oz and is 21.5 inches long. AND... NO she did not have a C-section! Yes, my cousin has lots to brag about these days...this cute little guy tops the list of course! Congrats Eboo and Hi-me!

That hurts!

OUCH!
To read the story that goes with this picture, click here!

Have you ever heard a story that sounded as bad as this picture looks? You know one of those tragic true stories where just thinking about it makes you cringe? It seems I have heard of several of those heart breaking, life-altering, teeth grinding, heart peircing situations lately. Seems like there is lots of hurt in the world.

In most of these situations I don't know the people that well but my heart hurts for them. I have blogged about my confusion over the heart felt, right Christian response to tragedy. It's something I struggle with, balancing compassion and sympathy with a positve outlook.

However, other peoples tragedies serve to remind to me that my life is good and I am blessed. They remind me that we all, every last human on the planet, NEED God. We all NEED to serve him. We live in a fallen imperfect world. The only perfection any of us will ever know is through the blood of Christ. The closest to perfect I will ever be is when I bow before him.

All my life I have heard that death is the great leveler, meaning all are equal in the face of death. I have not found that to be true, at least from this side of death. I have known people who died terrible deaths while others seemed to die with ease and peace. I think Christ is the great leveler.

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God ~ the rich, the poor, the strong, the weak, the smart, the dumb, the big and the small...ALL All need Christ. I love that thought. It comforts me when I feel unworthy, encourages me when I feel down, inspires me when I feel drab, and it humbles me when I feel boastful. We ALL need God. ALL!

On a somewhat seperate note, the baby I talked about Sunday is doing better. They are slowly weaning her off the respirator and the oxygen and hoping she will be home in a week or so. My friends parents are back from their cruise. I think my friend went home from the hospital yesterday... I can't imagine how hard it would be to go home with out your baby! But overall, things are looking better.

These precious little babies are all miracles! We forget that don't we? As a parent you don't ever want to hear that anything is wrong with your baby, not even temporarily. Being a parent has done more to show me my complete dependence on God than anyother thing in my life. Heaven help all who venture into the wonderful but sometimes heart wrenching world of parenthood!

There is a mother/daughter girls night out at church tonight. Kolby is so excited. NO ONE enjoys a party more than my little girl!Wonder where she gets that? :)

Back Again!

I just returned from the Texas State PTA Summer Seminar in Austin. It was a great weekend but a very tiring weekend. I was privileged to go to five outstanding classes. Three on parenting, one on dyslexia/ADD, and one on appreciation. I also got to spend a few hours in the Exhibits hall talking to all sorts of vendors, promoters, child advocacy groups, educational product salesmen and fundraiser. Our group collected quite a stash of samples and brochures...much to weed through. We were also given all sorts of free stuff! I have an entire bag of cool stuff!

Conventions like that are fun to me. It's a bit of a high. I love to watch all the people and get into the speaker sessions. It's a little like camp was for me when I was younger. I drove back today with my head spinning with new ideas for our PTA and for Rob and I to try with the kids.

The parenting classes were so good. My favorite was led by a man named Dennis Mitchell. He was funny and straight forward. None of that pie in the sky parent theory junk. Just practical, logical, easy to implement parenting patterns. He was an excellent presenter. He had everyone in the room (about 300) in stitches! I'll talk more about this later.

Besides the conference being so good, it was just fun to get away and get to know some of my fellow PTA buddies better. Last night five of us ate at PF Changs. YUM!!! It was so fun because we all ordered something different and shared. It was so good. So many laughs! Good, food, good friends, good times. Our PTA pays for the board ( or whoever wants to go from the board) seminar fee, and gives us enough for lunch. I think that is generous! I almost feel guilty because most of my sessions were about parenting issues...but really that is part of what PTA is for, to provide parents with resources to be better parents.

I learned that the state of Texas estimates the value of an hour of volunteer work to be $18. Based on that figure it is estimated that volunteers donate 20 million dollars worth of volunteer time to Texas schools every year. That number is thought to only be half of its' real value since only 46 present of all Texas school districts track their volunteer hours. This also does not include volunteer hours from private schools. I makes me feel better about the world to know so many parents and community members volunteer in our schools.

Back on the home front... Rob held down the fort with the kids. They had a great weekend that included buying a clearanced Star Wars Slip-n-Slide from Target, renting movies and dinner at the ever popular Chuck E Cheese! WHAT A DAD! It is so nice to be able to go away for the weekend and not worry for a minute about my kids. Rob has never once acted as if keeping the kids was a burden. I don't have to leave written instructions, ask my Mom to help him, lay out clothes, or leave pre-cooked meals in the frig. I just get myself ready, leave, and call at bedtime. Rob can handle it! Sadly I have friends whose husbands can't. I think that is just sad. LOVE YA' HONEY!!!

Must unpack and do laundry. This week we are going to start trying to do all those things we want to get done before school starts. (Only three more weeks! YIKES!!!...deep breathes....) Tomorrow we are off to the Children's Museum after Kolby's camp. Then we have a birthday/swim party tomorrow night. The rest of the week is pretty busy with activities every day and night... but for the first time in 6 weeks none of us plan to leave town... Of course the week is young! Have a great week blog world!

P.S. I have a friend in Plano who delivered a little girl two weeks early last night. From what I understand, the baby has had lots of breathing problems and as of late this afternoon was put on a breathing machine (a vent I think)to help slow her respirations per minute and let her lungs rest and finish developing. No one has said the baby won't be ok, but it is so hard to watch a tiny baby have to go through all this when you just want them to be ok and go home! PLEASE pray for them. I am not comfortable posting their names as I know they have not yet been able to reach all their family. (My friends parents are on an Alaskan cruise!) So just pray for K, C and baby L. I think God will know who you are talking about! Thank you!!!

Precious Days

I seem to be surrounded by pregnant people or people who have just had a baby. Talking with them has taken me back to when Kolby and Rhett were born. I feel very sentimental about my children's baby days...and its hard to admit that they are over. One of my pregnant cousins is going to be induced next week. Talking to her last night reminded me of those precious moments after Kolby was born. They were so full of anticipation, emotion, and honestly a little fear.

The minute I saw Kolby I expected to feel instantly bonded. Truthfully, I didn't... though I was completely amazed by her! It was overwhelming to know that the bundle of pink baby girl in my arms had formed and grown inside me. It sounds sorta silly I guess, but most of my pregnancy with Kolby I just felt sick, swollen, and fat. It wasn't until Kolby was born that I truly appreciated my pregnancy. It's strange to say, but I remember finding it hard to believe she was mine. Yes, I was right there and witnessed her coming out of my body, but still it took some time to absorb.

Kolby's eyes were wide open the minute after she was born. She really didn't cry much. Her face was all squishy and her nose looked huge because it was flat to her face. Her whole face was a little swollen and puffy. My mother kept saying how pretty she was.. I kept very quiet. I remember everyone coming in and holding her. I remember thinking it all didn't feel real and I kept wondering if I would wake up to find it had all been a dream(it was only 5am).

But what I remember most were those tiny baby blue eyes looking back at me. Kolby looked at me as if she understood the miracle that had just occurred better than any of us, and she was waiting for us to catch up. Kolby was born looking confident. I know that sounds crazy, but if you know her, it isn't much of a stretch.

When it was time to feed her, the room cleared and it was just me, Rob, Kolby and the nurse. I was panicked at the thought of nursing, but the nurse and the baby knew just what to do! About ten minutes later Kolby drifted off to sleep and Rob took her off to the nursery to get all cleaned up. When they left I sat in bed and cried. I can't tell you why I cried, hormones I think, but I cried until I feel asleep.

An hour or so later Rob brought Kolby back in. If he hadn't been with her the whole time I would have sworn they switched babies! This time she really did look beautiful! Her face wasn't swollen. Her little head had already started to look more round and less squished.. and her nose wasn't so big after all.

It suddenly hit me that I was a Mommy. Her Mommy. I cried again. Rob just laughed at me. We slowly started making phone calls letting everyone know "It's a girl!" I think we woke up many that morning, but no one griped!

Baby Kolby, just four hours old!

Fast forward 7 years, 5 months and 9 days.... Kolby is watching Kim Possible and eating jelly toast that she made herself. She is wearing light pink Pj's with hot pink feathery cuffs. She talks a mile a minute about everything. She still has that confident gleam in her eye. WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?

Rob mentioned that Kolby would be going to college in ten years the other night. I can't even think about that. My mind can not reach that far. But it made me realize that everyday with Kolby and Rhett is a gift. There are no days to waist. It will all be over way too soon!

So on that note I am off to make some memories with my two precious gifts from God. I hope you too make a memory with your blessings today!

While We Were Out...

The kids and I rolled in to Waco yesterday evening around 6:30pm. Isn't it funny how just four or so days away can make you look at your little world differently? Last night as we drove in our driveway I was pleasantly surprised by the red brick house before me. For months I have only seen the grass in the beds and trim that needed painting. But yesterday when I drove in I just saw my home ... and it looked good.

We went to Arkansas last Thursday to visit my good friend Susan and family who moved to Arkansas almost two years ago. We had never been to their neck of the woods and it was way past "our turn"!!! Susan was sweet enough to send us passes on Southwest so we could fly instead of drive. This was my kids first time to fly and one of their few trips out of Texas. Despite the three hour delay on our flight Thursday, both kids loved the airplane. Rhett complained that his "ears weren't normal" during our decent, but over all they did great!

Arkansas (or at least the Conway/Little Rock area) is so pretty to me. I love the trees and the hills. It rained every day we were there. Susan's husband was working from Friday to Monday and was not home. (He is a pilot.) So what did we do with four kids with four straight days of on and off rain storms? We re-decorated and reorganized several rooms in Susan's house!

That wasn't the plan at all, but that is what happened. We mainly focused on converting their playroom to an office. We decided we would pull a "while you were out" thing for Susan's husband Mark. Several late nights and a few hundred dollars later, we stood quite proudly in the new office. It is almost weird to me how much I actually enjoy decorating and organizing other peoples homes! It seems so much easier than doing my own. Am I the only one who feels that way?

I would post before and afters pictures ...but I'll leave that to Susan since it is her house. Go over to her blog and bug her to post pictures if you want. I wish I could have seen the look on Mark's face when he walked in late Monday night to see what all we had done. He told me himself that he loved it. Susan said he even mentioned something about a spa weekend.... Mark if you read this....I'm all over that idea!

And what were the children doing while the decorating divas did their thing? Miracle of miracles I have never seen four kids play so well for so long together. Susan and I were both amazed and very grateful. We did make it to the pool one day and we ate out a lot. Rhett loved playing with boys and with big boy toys. I think Kolby loved being the only girl, and therefore Queen. It was a great visit.

Meanwhile back in Waco, we are un packing and continuing the "clean and organize" campaign I began several weeks ago. It has been a slow go since three of the four of us have been out of town every weekend for over a month now, but we are trying.

In other Grosz news, Kolby let me pull her loose tooth today. That's tooth number 10 if anyone is keeping track. The tooth fairy is going to have to rob a bank to keep up with Miss Kolby. We all go to the dentist next week. I have a feeling he will soon refer my small mouthed, extra toothed child over to an orthodontist...and yes, she is only seven!

I guess that about covers it. Ever had one of those times when you are constantly doing things and going but it doesn't seem like much is going on? That is where I am.. Perhaps it's denial... Anyway good to be back and wish me luck with the projects... Less than one month until school starts. You don't know the panic fear and dread that sentence just produced in me!!! Take care blog world! :)

Nick remembered

A year ago today my distant cousin Nicholas Whitaker died in a Dallas hospital while waiting for a second liver transplant. His heart couldn't take the strain and it stopped. He has been memorialized many times since then. I talked about him on this blog a lot last year so I won't repeat all the details. I just couldn't let this anniversary go by with out recognizing him and the loss of his precious life. He died way too soon. He is missed by all who loved and knew him. We'll never forget you Nick!