She Sleeps

Sleep habits of teenagers remind me of the sleep habits of newborns....
...and when they have their days and nights mixed up.
Like this one here....

sweet dreams marzee.
see you this afternoon!

trying

trying to be helpful
without coming off as
being bossy,
pushy
or self-righteous




There should be a class on this.
Maybe even a degree program.

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort." - Herm Albright

It's National Chocolate Cake Day

I heard about this on the radio.

How have I never heard of this before?

An entire day.....who's honor is devoted to chocolate cake? 

Clearly I need to take the time to check in to these lesser-known national "days."

And treasure them.

And eat cake. 
(maybe for breakfast?)

I think the world would be a much happier place if we all did.

I will be. 

After I eat my cake!


5-Minute Chocolate Mug Cake
4 T. Flour
4T. Sugar
2T. Cocoa
1 Egg
3T. Milk
3T. Oil
3T. Chocolate Chips (optional)
Small splash vanilla
1 LARGE coffee mug

Put dry ingredients in the mug; mix in egg; pur in milk, oil and mix.  Add choc. chips, vanilla and mix.
Microwave mug for 3 minutes.  (CAKE WILL RISE OVER TOP OF MUG)
Allow to cool. 

remember how i said i love those 4th quarter strong finishes????

THE OVERTIME-STRONG-FINISHES ARE EVEN MORE FUN!!

time to rally wildcats...you aren't done yet!

This is a win to be proud of!

Good job boys!

i like this one

"God's promises are like the stars: 
the darker the night, the brighter they shine."
~David Nicholas

8th Grade Boys Beat Wilton

Yeah!
1-1

The kid that in this picture that the Wildcat was up against was also in honor chior last Friday.  (All Day at North Scott)  So they have been talking about this game.

Good kids. 

In unrelated News:

We came home to work on some more school projects....

This time Tookie is teaching the cat about Sacagawea.

Social Studies Meets Art Class....

....on my bedroom floor.

Claire is working on a project for social studies.  Not her favorite subject.

She has been known to, how should I say.....

downplay?

ignore?

fail to tell mom about?

her social studies tests, assignments, etc.

This weekend we spent some time on her favorite subject, tho....

that would be art.

Except it was a social studies project.

Shhhhh.

Don't tell her. 

Friendship

I have lots of friends.
So thankful for every single one of them.

But sometimes I question whether or not I really know how to be a good friend.
Cause I don't know where I fit in.
And I'm longing for a best friend.

sigh.

Season Kick-Off

We started a new basketball season around here today. 

Nathan and the 8th grade boys played West Liberty.

We lost.

But oh did those boys hustle!

The impressive thing for me was that those boys finished strong.

Not like they were down or giving up.

Huffing and puffing....yes.

Giving up:  no.

I love those 4th-quarter-strong finishes.

Oh, and my sources tell me that the post-game locker-room talk was positive with a clear focus on looking ahead.....kicking some butt at Wilton!

Go Wildcats!

It's a Sick Day

...or, if you want to put a positive spin on it:

It's a pajama and movie day!

 With tissues, tylenol and toast.

Got it!

Got a lead from a friend about a possible writing gig.
Met with person in charge last week.
Talked about a few options and ways I might be able to help.
Negotiated some prices.

And I got it.

I will be compiling and writing a monthly newsletter for Beacon of Hope Hospice, Inc. starting.....about now.

Deep breath.
Whew!

It's the little things....

It really is.
It is the little things that I hope I will remember for the rest of my life.
Because it is those seemingly little things that make the biggest difference to me.

Like my kids coming home, while on their long week with dad, to say hi.
And tell me they miss me.
And for my son, who hasn't seem me in 24 hours, to say....."mama, you smell good!"
.....and the reality is that I smell the same as I did 24 hours ago, he just must sort of miss me.

And my 12-yr-old to say "mama......(fill in the blank cuz i just want to not reveal what she really said cuz it could work against her in her other house....) and topped off with an "i miss you"

And my 10-year-old who comes in, gives me a big hug and thanks me for being home at right that exact time....she tells me to "check my phone."  I did.  30 seconds after she is out the door again a text comes thru...."i luv u"

Or Brain's son who tells me...."i need more (spagetti) sauce.  No seriously, I do.  this is the best spagetti sauce I have ever had."

Or another who refers to me as his "dad's wonderful girlfriend"



And oh my heart.....
....is all about those little things.

Things are Alright

Sometimes I need to take some time to remind myself that things are alright.

That's not to say that things are the way I had always dreamed they would turn out.

And some dreams may never come true. 

But I have today.

And today is alright.

I need to take the time to enjoy the "todays"
and not worry so much about the "tomorrows"
or dwell too much on the past.

Cause the reality is that I really only have today.
And, because of my faith, I know I have the everlasting....
But tomorrow is no gaurantee. 

(wow, that was pretty deep for me)

Some Things I Just Love

Homemade pizza

A daughter who unexpectedly just wants to do the dishes....cause mama had a hard day

And focus.

There is no picture here.

I'm not having that clear focus right now.

Unless focusing on getting through today counts. 

In that case, I'm focused on a nap....

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

Yesterday I was a food photographer.

Last night I was an advocate for a woman in crisis.

This morning I was brushing up on some of my legal terminology.

This evening I was a freelance writer....finished up the last of my five assigned articles (due by midnight!)

What will I be tomorrow?

I better get some sleep.....since there simply is no way of knowing. 

I will....

I will look back on this situation....a family matter....that I am....in and believe wholeheartedly that God has been preparing me for this.

To be supportive in this exact situation. 

To be a miracle to somebody.....as crazy at that sounds.....

....in a situation that sounds like an episode of Dateline.  

God, please grant your peace and presence and blessings on this.  Now. 

Weekend-in-Review

Busy weekend. 
Ball Games
The last of the Christmas Party celebrations.

oh.
And one of the most surreal experiences of my life.
I was riding along in the back seat of my own car.
While my baby boy drove.

Tookie scored 12 points and won her first basketball game. 

Brian and Nathan playing pool at my aunt and uncle's house.

Candy-cane tongues!

Here's the boy.  4 hours out from getting his drivers permit.  And he's already driving a Lexus. 

Cruising with uncle Shawn. 

He drives.  Away.

Famous Quotes from the Last 2 Days

Yesterday:
Danielle:  Hey.....I know three words that mean the same as poop.
Claire:  I know four.
Marisa:  I know five.  Hey mom, how many do you know?
Me:  Six.  Off the top of my head, anyway.
Girls:  Tell us.
Me:  No. Enough poop talk.

Today:
Danielle:  I'm not lying, I'm kidding.

And heard through the bathroom doors while someone was showering: (I'm not allowed to say which of my youngest daughters likes to sing this song)
Life don't go
Quite like you plan it
We try so hard to understand it
Irrebutable? Indisbutable fact is
Shhhh
It Happens

Happy Birthday Nathan!

Oh my how proud I am of you. 

You are such an AMAZING young man....and I honestly don't have any idea of what I have ever done to deserve you!

When thinking about your last year, there are a few things that pop up in my mind:

You know that saying that goes something like "Sports do not build character, they reveal it"?
I have seen this to be so true in you.
You don't always have the successful record that you strive for.
And yet, you NEVER stop striving. 
You expect the best from yourself, and when that isn't cutting it, you work harder.
And you take it upon yourself to not let your teammates get down, slow down or give up.

You are a leader.
I see it tons when you are playing sports and with your peers.
You have such power to make a difference in the world, and you do it every day, in your own ways.

You care.
You don't just hang out with certain people because they are "cool" or because you are "cool."
You notice needs around you and somehow, without making a big deal about it, you reach out.
And you are so cool about it, too.

You make being the "nice guy" look good.

You take care.

You look after me and your sisters...instictively.

I don't have to ask you to mow or shovel.
You warm up the car and you pump the gas.
You are always asking me to teach you to do things that would help you take care of me.
And you hardly ever ask me for money.
You are responsible, and even try to protect my feelings on some things.

You are brave.

I don't have to list the reasons....cause you know.

You stand up for the right thing.

You are smart.

You ask questions to learn the answers, not to be fed the answers.

Before you were born, I prayed for you.  I made sort of a deal with God. 

(i know that me thinking that God makes deals is poor theology...so what)

the circumstances in which you were born in were less than ideal.

But I promised God that I would bring you up "in the way" of Him if He would grant me the

priviledge of being your mama. 

I know I fall short

but I keep on trying.

Because you are worth it.

You make me want to be a better mama. 

Love you so much, Wildcat!!

7th Grade Girls Finish Season Undefeated!