I am thankful that in a few short hours...all my kids will be asleep...lol
Today I am thankful for my friends....they come in all different shapes, sizes, and ages. They have different strengths, weaknesses, gifts, talents, backgrounds, education, spiritual walks, needs, and personalities.
There are those whose children I have taught, as I have taught theirs. There are those whose children I held as babies, those whose pregnant tummies I am now rubbing, and those whose children I have met as elementary students, junior high, and high school students.
There are my children's ministry friends...as awesome group of friends who have been knit together by the Lord himself to serve with excellence, purpose and passion. This group of friends carries each other with prayer, compassion, and truth. We have seen each other through some of life's biggest challenges and come together every week with joined hands, hearts, and prayer.
There are my submarine wife friends...these are a unique breed of woman, who roll with each wave that the sea sends our way. They understand the tears I cry and the pain I feel for my husband as he serves in the deep, and my children as they attempt to push me off the deep end.
Then there are my soul sisters...those who minister to me in my deepest places to my hurts, fears,and struggles...they know me like no others. As we pour into each others lives...we are lifted and taken higher and higher in the Lord. We are bound together by the Holy Spirit, who has us so in tune that we can feel each others anguish and joy.
Then there are those who I love like my own daughters...those who no matter their choices and path I love them unconditionally...and that's why they love me:)
Then there are those friends that God has given to me as family...my daughters Brittany and Becca...even though they don't know it yet....they are my friends...bound to me as only daughters can be. My sisters Cole and Amy....even though they tell people I left them at 2 and 3 (it was really 9 and 10)....I am sorry I missed your proms and graduations.....I promise to never miss anything like that again:) Cole thanks for my Nino and Amster thanks for those babies to come. To my sisters in law Jenn and Tina.....Jenn you are the woman God meant for my brother and I am thankful that you love us like we love you:) Thanks for Cassidy and Kendall...they are beautiful. T....you and I both know that I AM the woman meant for your brother:) Through thick and thin...kids or no kids...you get me:) Ladies we are bound by love, legacy, honor, and the fact that we all have to put up with the same crazy family members...Griswolds:) Then there is my mom....mom I understand so much more now than I did then..what you are tried to tell me...I am sorry I wouldn't listen and had a hard head...I love you:)
I am thankful for my friends...some of them overlap into several categories....Thank you God!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
In Honor of the Upcoming Anniversary of My Hysterectomy.....
This is an actual letter from an Austin woman sent to American company > Proctor and Gamble regarding their feminine products. She really gets rolling after the first paragraph...
Dear Mr. Thatcher,I have been a loyal user of your 'Always'maxi pads for over 20 years and I appreciate many of their features.Why, without the Leak Guard Coreor Dri-Weave absorbency, I'd probably never gohorseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear ofrunning up and down thebeach in tight, white shorts..
But my favorite feature has to be yourrevolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smartenough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. Ican't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's alittle F-16 in my pants.
Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr.Thatcher? Ever suffered from 'the curse'? I'm guessing you haven't.Well, my time of the month is starting right now. As I type, I canalready feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just afew minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed intowhat my husband likes to call 'an inbred hillbilly with knife skills.'Isn't the human body amazing?
As Brand Manager in the Feminine-HygieneDivision, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactlyhappens during your customers monthly visits from 'Aunt Flo'.Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping weendure, and about our intense mood swings, crying, jags, andout-of-control behavior. You surely realize it's a tough time for mostwomen. In fact, only last week, my friend Jennifer fought the violenturge to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a George Foreman Grilljust because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written bydrunken chimps.Crazy!
The point is, sir, you of all people mustrealize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capripants... Which brings me to the reason for my letter.Last month, while in the throes of cramping sopainful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, Iopened an Always maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing,were these words: 'Have a Happy Period.'
Are you freaking kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness- actual smiling, laughing happiness is possible during a menstrualperiod? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable?Well, did it, James?FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freakgirl, there will never be anything 'happy' about a day in which youhave to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with ahunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory.
For the love of God, pull your head out, man!If you just have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't itmake more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like 'Putdown the Hammer' or 'Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong', or are you just picking on us?
Sir, please inform your Accounting Departmentthat, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthlyprofits, for I have chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere.And though I will certainly miss your Flex-Wings, I will not for oneminute miss your brand of condescending bull sh*t. And that's a promiseI will keep.
Always.Best,
Wendi AaronsAustin,
T XPC Magazine's 2007 editors' choice for bestwebmail-award- winning letter
Dear Mr. Thatcher,I have been a loyal user of your 'Always'maxi pads for over 20 years and I appreciate many of their features.Why, without the Leak Guard Coreor Dri-Weave absorbency, I'd probably never gohorseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear ofrunning up and down thebeach in tight, white shorts..
But my favorite feature has to be yourrevolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smartenough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. Ican't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's alittle F-16 in my pants.
Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr.Thatcher? Ever suffered from 'the curse'? I'm guessing you haven't.Well, my time of the month is starting right now. As I type, I canalready feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just afew minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed intowhat my husband likes to call 'an inbred hillbilly with knife skills.'Isn't the human body amazing?
As Brand Manager in the Feminine-HygieneDivision, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactlyhappens during your customers monthly visits from 'Aunt Flo'.Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping weendure, and about our intense mood swings, crying, jags, andout-of-control behavior. You surely realize it's a tough time for mostwomen. In fact, only last week, my friend Jennifer fought the violenturge to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a George Foreman Grilljust because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written bydrunken chimps.Crazy!
The point is, sir, you of all people mustrealize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capripants... Which brings me to the reason for my letter.Last month, while in the throes of cramping sopainful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, Iopened an Always maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing,were these words: 'Have a Happy Period.'
Are you freaking kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness- actual smiling, laughing happiness is possible during a menstrualperiod? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable?Well, did it, James?FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freakgirl, there will never be anything 'happy' about a day in which youhave to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with ahunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory.
For the love of God, pull your head out, man!If you just have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't itmake more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like 'Putdown the Hammer' or 'Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong', or are you just picking on us?
Sir, please inform your Accounting Departmentthat, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthlyprofits, for I have chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere.And though I will certainly miss your Flex-Wings, I will not for oneminute miss your brand of condescending bull sh*t. And that's a promiseI will keep.
Always.Best,
Wendi AaronsAustin,
T XPC Magazine's 2007 editors' choice for bestwebmail-award- winning letter
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
This is not for the weak at heart....
Ok....this is not for the mothers that are weak at heart or live in some surreal world where your children are perfect angels and never do anything that makes you gag....I am just warning you now.....
I was sleeping in my bed nice and cozy Tuesday morning at 4:45 am when Becca came in to use my bathroom..I asked her what she was doing and she said that her toilet was clogged. I asked her who clogged it...of course her response was...Not me Brittany. Of course Brittany said that she did not do it...Becca did it. So I told them to knock it off, figure it out,and unclog the dang thing.
So this morning I walked past their bathroom(something I rarely do because it just makes me crazy)...and see that the toilet seat is down and that they have covered it with a towel...like it was a dead body...which it may have been for all I know...how do you just cover something like that up? Like covering it up makes it go away?
So, when they came home tonight I made them unclog it and clean it...how gross can you be? Becca unclogged it and cleaned it and Britt is suppose to clean the rest of the bathroom...we will see how that goes....as if I need a crystal ball to see how that will be playing out!
Speaking of gross....their bedrooms are another thing that are icky. Brittany's room requires you to step up into it, and Becca's smells like a boys gym locker room.....its quite frightening:(
So the deal is that they cannot get their new phones(which they really need,the ones they have just randomly fall apart...while they are talking on them...and yes they need phones, because they take public transportation to and from school...sometimes leaving early in the morning and if they have practice later in the afternoon/evening. At this point the phone is more for my piece of mind than for them.) until they clean their rooms.....so not happening.
Today they both got their panties in a wad because I had to go get Josh a new phone because his got stolen a couple of months ago. I was so mad that I wasn't getting him one for a while. But then the football team started weight training and he is having to ride the bus home later in the afternoon again....so I need to know how to find him and make sure he is safe. So, I got him a phone....much to the girls dismay...but I have to give them kudos...they didn't ask me why they didn't get one.....
I was sleeping in my bed nice and cozy Tuesday morning at 4:45 am when Becca came in to use my bathroom..I asked her what she was doing and she said that her toilet was clogged. I asked her who clogged it...of course her response was...Not me Brittany. Of course Brittany said that she did not do it...Becca did it. So I told them to knock it off, figure it out,and unclog the dang thing.
So this morning I walked past their bathroom(something I rarely do because it just makes me crazy)...and see that the toilet seat is down and that they have covered it with a towel...like it was a dead body...which it may have been for all I know...how do you just cover something like that up? Like covering it up makes it go away?
So, when they came home tonight I made them unclog it and clean it...how gross can you be? Becca unclogged it and cleaned it and Britt is suppose to clean the rest of the bathroom...we will see how that goes....as if I need a crystal ball to see how that will be playing out!
Speaking of gross....their bedrooms are another thing that are icky. Brittany's room requires you to step up into it, and Becca's smells like a boys gym locker room.....its quite frightening:(
So the deal is that they cannot get their new phones(which they really need,the ones they have just randomly fall apart...while they are talking on them...and yes they need phones, because they take public transportation to and from school...sometimes leaving early in the morning and if they have practice later in the afternoon/evening. At this point the phone is more for my piece of mind than for them.) until they clean their rooms.....so not happening.
Today they both got their panties in a wad because I had to go get Josh a new phone because his got stolen a couple of months ago. I was so mad that I wasn't getting him one for a while. But then the football team started weight training and he is having to ride the bus home later in the afternoon again....so I need to know how to find him and make sure he is safe. So, I got him a phone....much to the girls dismay...but I have to give them kudos...they didn't ask me why they didn't get one.....
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Where Do I Begin?
I guess I should begin by apologising for not keeping up to date on my blogging....but for the last two weeks life seems to have been stuck on fast forward:)
Zach is now better and back to school...phew! The poor guy lost 6 pounds while he was sick. But he is back in the saddle again and riding on my last nerve sometimes..lol The boy has to know where I am every second, where I am going, where I might go and where I have thought of going....I think it all has to do with dad being gone so much. He also has nagging down to a fine art...ignoring it doesn't work....believe me....I do it....and he keeps asking....even when he is sleeping!
Becca, well Becca is just...I don't even have words. How do you lose a $20 bus pass in January, two days after I give it to you...and turn around and do the same thing in February...at least this month she found it. She also has this unique gift for doing everything half way....washing the dishes, doing her laundry, cleaning the kitchen....none of it is ever completely done. It a bit maddening. What makes it even worse is that as I fuss and fuss...she just looks at me and has no idea what I am talking about.
Now Josh.....he doesn't even attempt to do what I have asked....oh wait let me take that back....he just pretends he did it. Perfect example....Saturday morning I told him to take all the snacks I bought for Children's Ministry out of the Jag and put them in the truck. Then I told him to vacuum the truck and clean it out. This morning a friend called to get a ride to church for herself and her two kids. So I sent Becca out ( I took a risk here first of all) to check if when Josh put the stuff in the truck he had to put the back seat down. If he did she needed to rearrange everything and put the seat up so that we had enough room for everyone. She comes in and I ask her if she took care of it...she said...well I put the seat up, but underneath it was all the stuff that was in the truck that Josh was suppose to clean out and he didn't vacuum it. So I went down stairs and got him out of bed and told him that if he did not get that truck cleaned and vacuumed before I was ready for church he wasn't going to the probowl. Of course he's all about anything football....so it got done.
Britt...well I don't have words. She was told by HPU that they would give her 80-100% worth of scholarships. She doesn't want it. I am at the point that if she doesn't get this much aid from another school...then she will be paying for it. Her dad forbid me to buy them new phones like I had planned to until they cleaned their rooms.....well you all know how likely it is that this has occurred....so she is really angry at the injustice of it all. Never mind that I forked out I don't know how much for her probowl weekend, picked her up at practice at 10pm every night, and the fact that she did not do a flippin thing she was suppose to do around here....but I am suppose to run out and get her what she wants...............................................she must think I am as brain damaged as she is!
Rick is gone:(
Work is great....but to borrow a term from my husband...I am busier than a one legged man in a butt whopping contest:)
I have so much more to say...but I am too tired:)
Zach is now better and back to school...phew! The poor guy lost 6 pounds while he was sick. But he is back in the saddle again and riding on my last nerve sometimes..lol The boy has to know where I am every second, where I am going, where I might go and where I have thought of going....I think it all has to do with dad being gone so much. He also has nagging down to a fine art...ignoring it doesn't work....believe me....I do it....and he keeps asking....even when he is sleeping!
Becca, well Becca is just...I don't even have words. How do you lose a $20 bus pass in January, two days after I give it to you...and turn around and do the same thing in February...at least this month she found it. She also has this unique gift for doing everything half way....washing the dishes, doing her laundry, cleaning the kitchen....none of it is ever completely done. It a bit maddening. What makes it even worse is that as I fuss and fuss...she just looks at me and has no idea what I am talking about.
Now Josh.....he doesn't even attempt to do what I have asked....oh wait let me take that back....he just pretends he did it. Perfect example....Saturday morning I told him to take all the snacks I bought for Children's Ministry out of the Jag and put them in the truck. Then I told him to vacuum the truck and clean it out. This morning a friend called to get a ride to church for herself and her two kids. So I sent Becca out ( I took a risk here first of all) to check if when Josh put the stuff in the truck he had to put the back seat down. If he did she needed to rearrange everything and put the seat up so that we had enough room for everyone. She comes in and I ask her if she took care of it...she said...well I put the seat up, but underneath it was all the stuff that was in the truck that Josh was suppose to clean out and he didn't vacuum it. So I went down stairs and got him out of bed and told him that if he did not get that truck cleaned and vacuumed before I was ready for church he wasn't going to the probowl. Of course he's all about anything football....so it got done.
Britt...well I don't have words. She was told by HPU that they would give her 80-100% worth of scholarships. She doesn't want it. I am at the point that if she doesn't get this much aid from another school...then she will be paying for it. Her dad forbid me to buy them new phones like I had planned to until they cleaned their rooms.....well you all know how likely it is that this has occurred....so she is really angry at the injustice of it all. Never mind that I forked out I don't know how much for her probowl weekend, picked her up at practice at 10pm every night, and the fact that she did not do a flippin thing she was suppose to do around here....but I am suppose to run out and get her what she wants...............................................she must think I am as brain damaged as she is!
Rick is gone:(
Work is great....but to borrow a term from my husband...I am busier than a one legged man in a butt whopping contest:)
I have so much more to say...but I am too tired:)
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
It's Not Hard.....
I know today is suppose to be walk it out Wednesday....but I have creative rights here:) Besides the topic today is my children...and if they don't keep me on my knees before the Lord...nothing does.
So you see...I teach a class until 9pm on Tuesday evening, a class that pays me very well...I make almost as much as I do in 8 hours in those three hours of teaching. So it makes sense to me that the whole family benefits (by whole family I mean those cell phone, clothes/sneaker/make-up wearing fools who do not do have JOBS) by me taking this class:)
So I try to go in later in on Wednesday's because I am tired, this means that I don't have time to get back to the house before I have to be at church. So the kids either get a ride with Shalei or catch the bus.
All they have to do is eat, bathe, get dressed, and get in the freakn car...ITS NOT HARD!!!!! But can they handle it? NOOOOOO They have to fight over what they are going to eat(even thought I tell them what to eat), who is going to cook it(tell them that too), if they are suppose to play the wii (they know they are not suppose to), and then finally who is going to sit where in Shalei's car.
So all the way ...I mean allllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll the way home from church I had to hear about what they argued about all afternoon...and on top of that none of them ate dinner!!! How hard is it to wash your butt, feed your face, and dress the butt?
I will tell you it is much harder for them to do those things than it is for them to walk around with their hands out like I owe them something. You know what I do owe them something......A BIG FAT NOTHING SANDWICH!!!!!!
Ugh! I cannot wait for shore duty....its going to be like boot camp around here for them!
So you see...I teach a class until 9pm on Tuesday evening, a class that pays me very well...I make almost as much as I do in 8 hours in those three hours of teaching. So it makes sense to me that the whole family benefits (by whole family I mean those cell phone, clothes/sneaker/make-up wearing fools who do not do have JOBS) by me taking this class:)
So I try to go in later in on Wednesday's because I am tired, this means that I don't have time to get back to the house before I have to be at church. So the kids either get a ride with Shalei or catch the bus.
All they have to do is eat, bathe, get dressed, and get in the freakn car...ITS NOT HARD!!!!! But can they handle it? NOOOOOO They have to fight over what they are going to eat(even thought I tell them what to eat), who is going to cook it(tell them that too), if they are suppose to play the wii (they know they are not suppose to), and then finally who is going to sit where in Shalei's car.
So all the way ...I mean allllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll the way home from church I had to hear about what they argued about all afternoon...and on top of that none of them ate dinner!!! How hard is it to wash your butt, feed your face, and dress the butt?
I will tell you it is much harder for them to do those things than it is for them to walk around with their hands out like I owe them something. You know what I do owe them something......A BIG FAT NOTHING SANDWICH!!!!!!
Ugh! I cannot wait for shore duty....its going to be like boot camp around here for them!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
I'm So tired and its only Tuesday.....
So Rick tried to leave yesterday...but didn't...they left today:)
I went back to work yesterday after being off for almost a week and a half with Zach. I was greeted with 38 phone messages and 57 emails....took me all day just to deal with those:) Today had me working on the respite care contract and pulling my hair out trying to get state and federal agencies to play nice and share.....need I tell you how that worked out?
Tonight I taught a class that almost revolted on me when I told them I may not be their instructor next week....I have a respite meeting to be at. Oh! how I could clone myself so that I could be in two places at once. So it is 9:45 and I am jut getting home from work.
What did I come home to you ask? Well...a dirty kitchen and four children who wanted to share the injustices imposed on them by their siblings, a request for money, and news that a bomb blew up at one their high schools today. Pretty typical Cr**
Let me run this by you...Britt received an offer for a full ride scholarship to HPU here in Hawaii...but she doesn't want to go to that school...nor does she want the new car that comes with going to school on the island (hey...we figure a new car payment is cheaper than living expenses in another state).
Me, well I am 38 trying to decide what to get my master degree in for two reasons.....one I like school (I'm a knowledge junkie) and two if I am in school I do not have to pay back my student loans yet....at this rate I figure I will have a doctorates degree before I want to pay them off. I have two car payments, a mortgage, and a host of other bills.....how about if someone gives me a full ride scholarship and a free car!
I went back to work yesterday after being off for almost a week and a half with Zach. I was greeted with 38 phone messages and 57 emails....took me all day just to deal with those:) Today had me working on the respite care contract and pulling my hair out trying to get state and federal agencies to play nice and share.....need I tell you how that worked out?
Tonight I taught a class that almost revolted on me when I told them I may not be their instructor next week....I have a respite meeting to be at. Oh! how I could clone myself so that I could be in two places at once. So it is 9:45 and I am jut getting home from work.
What did I come home to you ask? Well...a dirty kitchen and four children who wanted to share the injustices imposed on them by their siblings, a request for money, and news that a bomb blew up at one their high schools today. Pretty typical Cr**
Let me run this by you...Britt received an offer for a full ride scholarship to HPU here in Hawaii...but she doesn't want to go to that school...nor does she want the new car that comes with going to school on the island (hey...we figure a new car payment is cheaper than living expenses in another state).
Me, well I am 38 trying to decide what to get my master degree in for two reasons.....one I like school (I'm a knowledge junkie) and two if I am in school I do not have to pay back my student loans yet....at this rate I figure I will have a doctorates degree before I want to pay them off. I have two car payments, a mortgage, and a host of other bills.....how about if someone gives me a full ride scholarship and a free car!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Unexpected Happiness....
Well, I have been burning the midnight oil with Zachary being sick and last night I planned to go to bed at 7pm....for real Zachary was tired and I was tired...so my plans were to go to bed EARLY:)
So as I prepared to get ready to head upstairs for the evening when I decided to check my email one more time and to send Rick an email with the updates of the day. As I log in I see an email from the ombudsman....that said the boat was pulling in...NOW:)
So I scratched the whole going to bed thing, got things ready to drop off at church so I would be able to spend today with my husband, and headed out the door.
The email did not have a pier or a time....so that meant I had to drive around the waterfront to find the boat. Have you ever driven around looking for a large black submarine at night? Not such an easy task, I'll tell you! So I finally find them, and they look like they are offloading a bunch of stuff, so rather than take Zach out into the wind, I sit in the truck and read while he watches a movies.
After about an hour I got in touch with Rick and we headed home.....I was ok with not getting to bed at 7:)
So as I prepared to get ready to head upstairs for the evening when I decided to check my email one more time and to send Rick an email with the updates of the day. As I log in I see an email from the ombudsman....that said the boat was pulling in...NOW:)
So I scratched the whole going to bed thing, got things ready to drop off at church so I would be able to spend today with my husband, and headed out the door.
The email did not have a pier or a time....so that meant I had to drive around the waterfront to find the boat. Have you ever driven around looking for a large black submarine at night? Not such an easy task, I'll tell you! So I finally find them, and they look like they are offloading a bunch of stuff, so rather than take Zach out into the wind, I sit in the truck and read while he watches a movies.
After about an hour I got in touch with Rick and we headed home.....I was ok with not getting to bed at 7:)
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