I wish I taught Kindergarten

I think Kindergarten teachers are some of the luckiest professionals in the world. They get to spend the day with fun, happy little kids. Then right when things are starting to fall apart, when the kids are losing interest for the day and they are getting tired, they send them home. Home, where it is supposed to be a peaceful place for our families. I will be the first to admit that when my wonderful, funny little man gets home from Kindergarten he is no longer a wonderful or funny little man. He is an over-tired, temper-tantrum throwing force to be reckoned with. By Thursday and Friday he is over the top tired and I seriously lack the words to explain him to you. Yes, he is still my wonderful, funny little man on the inside but that is buried under days of fatigue and it is hard to reach down in there to pull him out.
I'm not sure where I was going with this, but I think I was just trying to (nicely) tell you J is being bratty. He wont nap, wont fall asleep early and wont sleep any later than 7am. At this point the best I can hope for is for him to pass out from exhaustion, right?

Hey....guess what?! I won a Tupperware giveaway over at Marine Corp Nomads. Thanks DevilDogWife. Head over to her blog and show her some comment love <3

The Sound of Sleigh Bells Book Review- GIVEAWAY

I love the Amish.
I love their food. I love their values. I love their farms, and I love their stories. OK, technically the Amish books I read aren't written BY Amish but lets ignore that fact, alright?
I recently got a copy of The Sound of Sleigh Bells from Multnomah Publishing. I read it in one night. I needed to put it down and go to bed but I couldn't. I just HAD to keep reading and see how the story ended. It is one of those stories that give you warm fuzzies and make you wish you could experience their life. Well, I take that back because the main character of this story is in a very dark place. Her fiancé died over a year ago and she is still in mourning. Everyone around her tries desperately and unsuccessfully to bring her out of that darkness, but she has build up walls that prevent anyone from touching her heart again. She plunges herself into her work and plasters a smile on her face. It isn't until she finds a piece of carved wood that fascinates her, that she and her loved ones realize she isn't a “lost cause”.
After seeing Beth so drawn to this carving, her aunt Lizzy concocts a plan to break through the shell around Beth’s heart. I wont tell you any more because I don’t want to ruin it. It is really a great story, and I recommend it anyone who loves Amish stories or any type of love story. You wont be disappointed. Plus the book is so easy to read. It just flows and you get so engrossed that you’re halfway through before you realize it.

And I do NOT regret staying up to read the whole book. It was worth the extra yawns this morning.

If you are interested in reading this book, go HERE. If you are interested in WINNING a copy please leave me a comment. Any comment will do, but I would love it if you told me whether or not you read Amish books regularly or let me know what type of books you do normally read. I will be picking a winner on Sunday, October 18th.

Good luck!!

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Award, update and more

Today was a busy day for us. We took J for his chicken pox vaccine. Ouch. He handled it VERY well, thank God. Then we stopped at the farm and had lunch with my MIL. This afternoon I went to my doctors appointment with the surgeon. I'm having a stitch issue. This offending stitch is in a BAD PLACE. Real bad. And this stitch is poking out, but it is under the skin. Does that even make sense? I hope so. Anyway, after the doc checked me out he said it is a Delayed Dissolving Suture and that I have a 90% chance it will dissolve on its own in 5-6 months.

Did I mention it hurts? Not a horrible hurt, but a catch you in the wrong way kind of hurt. Quick, sharp pokes in a BAD PLACE.

My options are A) wait it out. See if it dissolves on its own or B) outpatient surgery so he can remove the stitch quickly. I have already had 2 surgeries this year (3 if you count my colonoscopy) and I am not sure I am wanting another one. Yes, it would be a super quick, in and out thing. For most people. I am not most people. I have Sjogrens and Fibromyalgia and I am still fighting the effects of the last surgery.

Hubby said it is up to me, my choice. I said I would like to wait it out. I at least want to give it a month and decide by my next visit with the surgeon.

If you had a sharp suture poking you in a a BAD PLACE would you wait or have them take it out?



On to better things......

My friend Mimi from Screaming Mimi gave me a new award. A very, very pretty one too! Thanks Mimi.....love you!!!

This award states:
Neno's Award - Rules & Regulations:


1.As a dedication for those who love blogging and love to encourage friendships through blogging.


2.To seek the reasons why we all love blogging.


3.Put the award in one post as soon as you receive it.


4.Don't forget to mention the person who gives you the award.


5.Answer the awards question by writing the reason why you love blogging.


6.Tag and distribute the award to as many people as you like.


7.Don't forget to notify the award receivers and put their links in your post.

My reasons for blogging have changed since I started. At first I just wanted to try something new. To have a place where I could keep a record of my family life. Now my blog friends ARE family. I have found some awesome friends, learned alot and grown as a person. Blogging helps me to feel like a part of something, which is great when you are home all day everyday. It feels good to feel like you belong somewhere. I love blogging. I love sharing my thoughts, good or bad and knowing I have support.

Blogging has turned into a very important part of my life<3

I am picking a few bloggers who I KNOW love to blog.....

Amy at Amy's Awesome Nest

Alice at Alice in Wonderland

Susan at Warm Chocolate Milk

The last thing I want to share today is a scripture that touched me today....

If you come back to me and trust me, you will be saved. If you will be calm and trust me, you will be strong. Isaiah 30:15

Resistance

This post might seem a little vague, only because I am not planning to name names or go into specifics. But I am hoping you will still understand my point.

I, after years of doing nothing for myself, am now spending between 3 and 5 hours a week doing what I want to do. There! I said it. See, aren't you all judging me? Saying how horrible it is for me to take a WHOLE 3 to 5 hours (a week) to MYSELF?!? How dare I!!! Right?

No? Really? You don't think that is the worst thing you ever heard? You don't judge me (except Kristina P) or think I am horrible? Wow. I'm shocked. Because if you knew the crap I am dealing with now you would think that I took up a hobby of skinning cats or worse.

I don't know why. No, I take that back. I KNOW why and I know what the problem is, the problem is that I have slowly given up every part of me. It didn't seem like much because it was a little bit here and a little bit there. Eventually over time, all of Me was gone....and no one noticed but me. So now that I want a little bit of that part of me back, I am the bad guy. Or at least certain people would have you believe that.

Want to know a secret? I'm not falling for it this time. Nope. I am older, wiser and have my priorities set. And I am not giving in......you can't make me.

So there!!

Take the pledge....

Take the "Keep Your Mind on the Wheel" Pledge

Our Pledge

Driving while distracted can be more dangerous than driving drunk.
As moms, we want safer roads.
We know the time has come for us all to recognize the risks of distracted driving, to be more responsible and to mind the wheel.

Here is what we pledge:

We pledge to model safe behavior when we drive.
We pledge to set firm house rules on texting and phoning while driving.
We pledge to help spread the word on the dangers of distracted driving.

Here is what we ask for:

We ask for the dangers of distracted driving to be included in drivers’ education classes.
We ask for innovations in technology to help solve the problem.
We ask for laws to make it illegal to text and drive.
We ask for enforcement of existing distracted driving laws and consequences when the laws are broken.
By working together we will make everyone safer.

I took the pledge and Im asking that you will too....to keep all of our famlies safe.

Please go HERE and take the pledge.

Alphabet game Meme

I stole this from M-Cat at That's what she said





Alphabet Tag


A: Addiction: Chocolate or Internet, lately they are running a close race.


B: Breakfast: Decaf and raisin bran cereal


C: Chocolate or Chips: Chocolate.....duh!


D: Dessert or Appetizers: Dessert


E: Essential Items: books, Bible, cellphone


F: Favorite Color: Purple


G: Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: Bears


H: Hometown: *****, NJ


I: Indulgence: Books


J: January or July: JULY....camping season!!


K: Kids: 3....all boys.


L: Life isn't complete without: Jesus


M: Most exciting memory: I dont remember, lmao


N: Number of Brothers and Sisters: 1 brother....and we aren't close.


O: Oranges or Apples: Oranges, but I only like them cut up


P: Phobias or Fears: Losing a family member or friend


Q: Quote: Our God is an Awesome God!


R: Reading: Just got my copy of "Arguing with Idiots" by Glenn Beck today


S: Summer or Spring: Spring


T: Tag 6 people: Nope.....not tagging anyone. Take it if you want it.


U: Unknown Fact About Me: I have abnormally short toes. Hubby calls them Barney Rubble feet.


V: Vacation I want to go on: I would love to go on a cruise to Alaska. Or a road trip across the entire USA.


W: Walking or Running: Walking


X: X-Ray or Ultrasound: X-Ray....ultrasounds use that COLD gooey jell, YUCK!


Y: Your favorite food: Mexican, Seafood or CHOCOLATE


Z: Zoo or Bowling: Zoo, I suck at Bowling....in fact when I was a girl scout I got a trophy for being the WORST bowler. Yep. That was a proud moment.



Grab it if you want it.....and if anyone sees my Hubby tell him to bring home some Chocolate. Please.

Happy 1 to Me!!!

Today is my One year Blogoversary. This time last year I didn't even know if I would finish blogging for one week, let alone a whole year and 300+ posts. Now I have over 80 followers. Wow! All my life I could barely get one or two people to listen to me and now 80 people read my foolishness. And I love each and every one of you....seriously. You are now part of my extended family, and I share more with you than I do with most REAL family members.



I was trying to decide what to do for my big day. Confetti....No, too messy. Food.....sure, but in the end I would be the one eating all of it. Gifts and Prizes.....I wish I could, but I am broke. (so broke that I cannot join in the Secret Santa over at Georgies......boo hoo) So that leaves me with Posts. My old posts to be exact. I am going to list a few of my favorites, and you can skip them or read them, maybe even for the first time. Let me know what you think, and if you think I have progressed in the past year.



Boardwalk Fighting



Brotherly Love



I'm Still a Girl



My Lifeguard



Sleepwalking



Abbott and Costello



Poppop



I cried last night



He must like fat girls



I Lose



TMI



Health Class 101



Good Friday



T-Ball



He likes older women



I know, I know...that is a long list. But these are old posts that I really enjoy. Hopefully you will enjoy one or two also.

Look! Just in time for my Blogoversary! My buddy Alice in Wonderland gave me a new Award.....and I do believe this is one of the most beautiful ones that I have received. Thanks Alice!!! You Rock!


And thanks again for stopping by and celebrating my Big Day!