The hustle.....of Christmas

I

Most of the time I am done shopping.....at least a couple weeks before Christmas.   Not this year!  I did not even get the annual family photo taken!  The photo is my Christmas card....so guess that means,  No card from our family this year.    Maybe I will get something in the mail for New Years!   may be, not.

 Two days ago I tried to get the last of my shopping done.  I am in the store....really having trouble picking out the gift!   Now keep in mind.....I do NOT like shopping.   I love giving gifts!  I just don't like SHOPPING!

Everything I looked at that I thought was a good idea....wrong size,  wrong color,  wrong, wrong, wrong.

This was the 3rd store I was in...so was already feeling tired.  With a nice, huge neck ache!  Finally found what I needed!!!!!   YES! I am out-a-here!  So I am standing in a pretty short line,  and all of a sudden there was a bunch of commotion.......some one threw-up a couple isles over! Not someone little either!.....didn't even squat down to keep it in one spot....so you can imagine... puke was just every where!   Not just in one nice little spot!  EVERYWHERE!  and A LOT of it!   Oh-my.... I have had to clean a lot of that up in my day,  but boy was I glad it wasn't me to have to clean it up that day!

Needless to say I fell asleep EARLY  that night....on the couch till 3 am.

I am so glad that all the hustle bustle at Christmas time is not what Christmas it about!

Christmas.....the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus!  Born in a manger.    What a night that must have been!  Merry Christmas to all of you!   and remember.....Jesus  is what Christmas is really all about!

CANDY !!!!

Two of my favorite candies.  Ribbon candy, more for the looks than the taste.

And homemade peanut brittle...I always add extra peanuts!

I have found I need to be very careful eating it though...my teeth have trouble handling it!

Making three kids gave me ..... not so good teeth! 

Busy butt! His job is a real pain right now...has been for quite some time, so it is good to just stay busy!  Usually this is my job....but this time he did it!  I usually do it while I am in the shower, but this time it needed the harsh cleaner job...ya know, bleach......I hate the smell of bleach, in fact I asked him if it wasn't to strong and opened the window, didn't seem to bother him and I was literally gagging and had to leave the room!  He did a really good job!  Maybe this can be his job from now on!  ( wishful thinking!)
It looks better than when I do it!   Thanks!

Some days I feel like I need to get a life!  People call to check in and ask:  What are you doing?  Well the same thing I do every day.  Get up at 5:15, shower, make lunches, make breakfast, bring people to school, daycare kids come at 6:40,  clean kitchen, figure out what to have for supper, do laundry, make bed...sometimes!, vacuum, do crafts or color , make snacks, wipe butts, change diapers, wipe noses and goopy eyes...yes goopy eyes...hope it is not pink eye!  Bring kids to play lands or rec-center, go to $ store for cheap color books, play games, watch Curious George, walk the dog, change more diapers, play toys, and take a nap,.....Okay I am in the mood for a chick flick, not a rented one....one at the theater!!!  
1 John 5:12   He who has the Son, has life!     I know I have a life, now to just get a little more fun into it!

Jack Frost

Jack Frost has decided to visit Colorado!  It is 8 degrees!  This is colder that normal!  The squeak of the snow under my feet and the bite on my nose from the cold, cold air reminds me of growing up in Minnesota!  I am a wimp when it is this cold...unless of course, I was ice fishing or 4-wheeling or something fun like that.   This week we had the carbon monoxide detector go off......furnace is dead!   Our pickup truck is broke....needs a new rear end, and is too old to put a lot of money in.   "when it rains in pours"   So today I will look at the positive..... The new heater is in and working great!  We had enough money to get one.  Even if Christmas will be slim this year, we are all warm and full and have warm running water!  Even though we are down to one car for a bit,  I am glad I can still walk the dog and get on the floor to play with the little kids!  So whether I like Jack Frost or not he sure is very pretty!

My kids

There was no such thing as a blog when my kids were little.  So here are some "Then & Now" pictures of them.  They are too old for me to write about them all the time!  LOL!

Kids!

Here are my daycare kids....helping their parents raise the next generation!

Understanding Women!

A man was walking along a beach and stumbled across an old lamp. He picked it up, rubbed it and out popped a genie. The genie said "You released me from the lamp, blah blah blah. This is the fourth time this month and I'm getting a little sick of these wishes so you can forget about three. You only get one wish!" The man sat and thought about it for a while and said, "I've always wanted to go to Hawaii but I'm scared to fly and I get very seasick. "Could you build me a bridge to Hawaii so I can drive over there to visit?" The genie laughed and said, "That's impossible! Think of the logistics of that! How would the supports ever reach the bottom of the Pacific? Think of how much concrete! How much steel! You're going to have to think of another wish." The man agreed, and tried to think of a really good wish. Finally, he said, "Any girfriend that I have ever had always say that I don't care and that I'm insensitive. So, I wish that I could understand women. I want to know how they feel inside and what they're thinking when they give me the silent treatment. I want to figure out why they're crying, know what they really want when they say 'nothing', and know how to make them truly happy." The genie paused for a while and said, "How many lanes do you want on that bridge?"

Life.

How can I put this into words?  I have had my share of struggles along the way of life, struggles caused by my own mistakes or bad decisions.  Or struggles that just happened.

  Oh---- on the outside everything looks great and perfect I suppose.  But on the inside I have found myself, angry, bitter and extremely hard hearted. My way of building walls to protect myself.   Over the last few years or so I have really been working on this.  Taking a real good look at myself.  I am thankful, for I can now feel my heart softening, the bitterness going away, the anger not as profound!!  This is a GOOD thing!  Under pressure, your faith-life is forced to show its true colors...and mine was not very pretty.   But you know what? The color is becoming prettier every day!   For I know,  that God is in complete control of this world and He loves me!   My life is not by random chance, fate or luck.....it is fully planned,,, planned out by God.  All my mistakes, hurts, struggles, illness, pain, divorce, debt, death of  loved ones, addictions of any kind,  what ever it is, for you or me....good can come out of it.  If  I become a better person or a more sympathetic person or if I can help someone else because of my life story.....than that is Good coming out of something bad.  So I can actually say as hard as life can be sometimes...I am thankful because through the toughest stuff....(once I got rid of my stubbornness) I am like a jewel...shaped with a hammer and chisel.  The hammer wasn't strong enough to chip off the rough edges, out came the sledgehammer,  if that wasn't strong enough...out came the jackhammer!  okay, okay,  I got it! Easy does it.  God is refining me into what he wants me to be and that makes me thankful.  

Can't eat enough.....Drink'em!

Drink up your fruit and veggies!  I do pretty good job drinking enough water....but fruit and veggies?  I eat salads and steamed veggies....but a lot of the fruit just doesn't tasted that great to me so several weeks ago I invested in a really good blender....so now to be disciplined to drink them....this morning I ate

1 small apple, core and all

1 small pear, core and all

1 small orange everything but the peel!

a few blueberries and raspberries

1/2 a banana

and some spinach

pretty good but would be better with Half and Half poured in with some sugar!  Ha-ha-ha!

Oh well.......trying to feed my body healthy!

Me....clip coupons!??????

So, I am the worst shopper when it comes to groceries.  I do make a list, but only of the things I don't want to forget.  Then I just go about getting everything else I need as I walk down the isles. The only good thing I do is, keep with in a certain amount! Recently I have been trying to clip coupons to save money and spend less than what I budget for!

This does NOT come natural for me. In fact I think it is a pain!  So this morning I went through all the adds in the paper,  planned my meals according to what is on sale, ( this is a real pain to me too!) and now I am ready to head to the store.  Grocery shopping is one of my least favorite things to do.  So I am going to see how much I save.  Maybe that will make it more fun.......If anyone has any tips on saving $$$$ at the grocery store......HELP!!!!!                                                           

Awww....to live life backwards!!

Ha ha ha! I laughed out loud when I saw this! I posted it many months ago....here it is again! Author not known!

I want to live my next life backwards.

You start out dead. Let's get that out of the way right off the bat.

Then, you wake up in a nursing home feeling a little better every day.

When you are kicked out of the home for being too healthy, you spend several years enjoying

your retirement and collecting benefit checks.

When you start work, you get a gold watch on your first day. You work 40 years or so, getting younger every day until pretty soon you're too young to work.

So then, you go to high school: play sports, date, drink a little, be carefree and have lots of fun. As you get even younger, you become a kid again! .

You go to elementary school, play and have no responsibilities.In a few years, you become a baby and everyone runs themselves ragged keeping you happy. You spend your last 9 months floating peacefully in luxury, spa-like conditions: central heating, room service on tap.

Until finally...You finish off as an orgasm. I rest my case.

Sorry again, but that was funny!

Do you know someone who needs you to take them by the hand?

Or do you need someone to take you by the hand?

Life is good and life is hard. I know some days I am exhausted and just plain sick of it. But I know
when we take our eyes off our fears, our doubts, our struggles and focus on someone else's needs, we somehow forget our own, for a little while. In believing the power of God's promises for others, our confidence in His promises for us, seems to grow as well.

Each day we have the same opportunity. We can come alongside each other in some of life's hardest challenges and highest peaks and say, "Don't give up, you can do it!"
Everyone has struggles, so lets take each other by the hand and do life together!

Gag-me!!

Jerid has the day off today....so he has two 15 year old friends over. Three teenage guys equals STINK!!! Between stinky feet, body oder, and butt air, and what they call good smelling cologne, It seems as though every room they are in reaks! I mean I literally gagged when I opened the door! Covering it up with cologne only made it worse! While I write I am airing out the house...every window is open and every door is open! It is a beautiful day so I kicked them OUTSIDE! Oh-well, I still have to say I am glad they are here, where I know what they are doing!
PEEEEWWWWW!

Parental Job Description

I do not know the author of this....
so I hope it is still okay to post it!



POSITION :
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :

Long term, team players needed, for challenging,
permanent work in an
often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication
and organizational skills and be willing to work
variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends
and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive
camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in
far away cities!
Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,
until someone needs $50-5,000.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a
pack mule
and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat
in case, this time, the screams from
the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,
such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets
and stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and
coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings
for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute,
and a total embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a
half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for
the quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and
janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :

None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining,
constantly retraining and updating your skills,
so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :

None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training by method of self-study offered on a continually
exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :

Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because
of the assumption that college will help them
become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that
you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :

While no health or dental insurance, no pension,
no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and
no stock options are offered;
this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth,
unconditional love,
and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.



Forward this on to all the PARENTS you know, in appreciation for everything
they do on a daily basis,
letting them know they are appreciated
for the fabulous job they do...
or forward with love
to anyone thinking of applying for the job.

** FOOTNOTE **
"THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!
There is a possibility you may qualify for admission to the finest nursing
home, which you will also be financially responsible for.

Woman.......you are AMAZING !!!!!!

One Flaw In Women
Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colours.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what
makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their
family and friends.
Women have vital things to say
and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.
Please pass this along to all your
women friends and relatives to remind them just
how amazing they are.

Prayer

Why is my prayer not answered?
If my request is wrong, God says, "No".
If the timing is wrong, God says, "Slow".
If I am wrong, God says, "Grow".
But if my request is right, the timing is right and
I am right, God says, "GO"!!!

Some answers are: direct....we see it and know that God has answered.
Some answers are: delayed...we have to wait.
Some answers are: disguised..we don't know he answered but he did and we don't notice until later.
Some answers are: denied...God sees the big picture and the future and knows what is best for me!

So don't forget....
The Father Does Know Best!

Let them soar into adulthood! (Family Life)

With these hands, I gently cradled this child, held him close to my heart, nursed his wounds and calmed her fears; held the books that I would read and rocked this child fast asleep. With these hands, I made his lunches and drove the car that carried her to school, snapped endless pictures, wrapped countless gifts, then did my best to assemble those gifts. Combed his hair and wiped her tear, let her know that I was near; to nurse his wounds and heal her heart when it would break. With these hands, I made mistakes, and with these hands, I prayed and prayed and prayed. These hands are feeble, these hands are worn; these hands can no longer calm the storms. These hands have done all they can do; these hands now release this child, my child, to You. For Your hands are able, Your hands are strong, Your hands alone can calm the storms. Your hands will continue to do what they are so gifted to do – to shape his life and make her new. Into Your hands receive this child, for my child I now give back to You. In the strong name of Jesus and with all my heart I pray, amen."

a day early

Happy Valentine's Day

For God so loVed the world, That He gAve His onLy BegottEn SoN That whosoever Believeth In Him Should Not perish, But have Everlasting life. John 3:16

Honesty

Pretty much all the honest truth-telling there is in the world is done by children!

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Over the past several months I have had a little "skin tag" by the corner of my left eye.It was very bothersome because I could see it sometimes as it stuck straight out! Uggg!

Anyway....my 2 year old daycare girl, Evelyn, kept wanting to pick at it and it bugged her, so last week she was trying to pull on it and said... "You're yukey!" Needless to say the next day I froze it with a ice cube for several minutes...disinfected and burned the scissors annnnd....yep! Cut it off! It bled but didn't hurt a bit! Should of did it a long time ago!

Now I'm not "yukey" anymore! :-D

The Rednecks 10 Commandments!

(1) Just one God.
(2) Put nothin' before God.
(3) Watch yer mouth.
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meetin' .
(5) Honor yer Ma &Pa.
(6) No killin'.
(7) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
(8) Don't take what ain't yers.
9) No tellin' tales or gossipin'.
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff

Now that's kinda plain an' simple, don't ya think?

I Love it!.....

Time

Do not squander time, for it is the stuff life is made of. (Benjamin Franklin)

Time cannot be bought, only invested!

Priorities are what I do, not what I say. What are we doing with our time?
Time is precious and we can't get it back.

How are we investing our time...in things that fade away or in the eternal things like, God, family, friends and all the other people around us. These are the things that are eternal!

Time: Treasure it. Invest it!
( From church by Pastor Skattum)

sanctity of Human Life

Precious from the moment of conception!!!

What I see on my walk everyday!!

This is the view I get to see on my walk everyday.......well, almost everyday!

It is just beautiful! Special time to talk to God!

Don't know the author of this....

It is said that 86% of

Americans believe in God.
Therefore, it is
very hard to understand
why there is such a mess

about having
the Ten Commandments

on display or '

In God We Trust'
on our money and having

God in the Pledge of
Allegiance. Why don't we
just tell the other 14% to

Sit Down and SHUT UP!!!

Mom

THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD!!!!!
We are the "influencers" of the next generation!
What kind of influence are we? hmmm?
We also need to let our children see us build up our husbands!
We have more power than the President of the United States!
Think about it....we are raising the next generation!!! our power is GREAT!!
Wow ! what an awesome job and responsibility!!
Soooo if you ever feel like "just a mom" think again!!!
(This goes for Dads too :-).....)
Parents....It is the MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD!!