Even More About Me You Never Wanted to Know

Yesterday was a lovely stay home and get things done day. The kids had playmates and even let Tigercub hang out with them and I got a ton accomplished! My coupons are now all cut and sorted, the WHOLE house got vacuumed (which is unheard of around here), the weekend away laundry is all done and the shopping list has been started. If we want to eat today, the shopping is a priority this morning. I used to kind of like going to the grocery store. These days I would love to just send someone for me. In fact, I would like them to plan our meals, make the list, sort the coupons, and shop. I totally don't mind putting the groceries away. I enjoy watching the cabinets fill back up.

But, since I don't have a personal shopper and 4 hungry children and a hungry husband are hard to contend with, I guess I have to do it myself! In the mean time, my friend at CiCi's Corner did this a few days ago and it was fun to read and since I am always looking for an easy way out in terms of blogging inspiration, I decided to steal it!

A - Age: 37

B - Bed size: Queen, and wouldn't have it any other way...I'm such a rebel!

C - Chore you hate: Hmmm,I really don't hate chores...just have trouble getting to them. I dislike pulling wet clothes out of the dryer to hang dry, not sure why. And I really don't enjoy cleaning the boys bathroom because, well, they are boys...enough said!

D - Dog's name: Gracie

E - Essential start your day item: Breakfast and Bible

F - Favorite color: Well, in this house, I would be remiss not to say purple, but I am actually a girly girly pink girl!

G - Gold or Silver: Yes!!! Could you throw in a diamond or two as well?

H - Height: 5' 6"

I - I am: scattered. I really wish I were a put together,organized person...but alas, I am not!

J - Job: Mother, teacher, maid, cook, taxi driver, task master...the list goes on!

K - Kids: I have four children: a boy, 12; a boy, 9; a girl, 6; and a boy, almost 2

L - Living arrangements: We have lived in our little Salt Box style grey house for 6 years. Love our house and our property...hate all the home improvement issues that come with an older house.

M - Mom's name: Sherrie

N - Nicknames: Starlight. As a child: Luke Star Walker, Star Jay Walker and Rats (Star spelled backward) were among the favorites

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: None, I'm a healthy little thing!

P - Pet Peeve: My middle son who keeps coming into my room in the middle of the night and sleeping on the floor. If we wake up and tell him to go back to bed, he does it...so he isn't scared or anything. Last night, I even hid the sleeping bags and blankets....HE FOUND THEM! I am not sure why this drives me crazy, but it does!

Q - Quote from a movie: "Sew, very old one, sew like the wind!" From Three Amigos...not sure why we used to love that show, but we did...and there are some classic lines people!

R - Right or left handed: Right.

S - Siblings: Two sisters, I am in the middle. I also have an unofficially adopted Japanese brother.

T - Time you wake up: 5:30, I should get up at 5 to exercise, but I just can't get myself out of bed these days!

U- Underwear: Yes, I wear them...every day!


V - Vegetable you dislike: There are many, although I have gotten better as I have aged. My most recent discovery is that I really dislike kale because I can't get past the bitterness.


W - Ways you run late: I hate being late, but with an OCD husband and four kids, I run late most of the time.

X - X-rays you've had: 5th grade when I broke my arm. That's about all I can think of.

Y - Yummy food you make: MMMMM, dessert! Usually with chocolate, or cheesecake. Although I like my chicken and dumplin's, too.

Z - Zoo Animal: Well, I often tell my children they belong in the zoo. But that is probably not the idea here. I guess one of my favorites are the meerkats I just love watching them "stand guard" and poke their little heads up out of the ground.

Six Things That Make Me Happy

A few days ago, The Mother Load mercifully tagged me for this meme. I was quite appreciative because I have been in a bit of a bloggy slump and can only think of things to whine about...so this helps!

First, let me tell you what brings me joy. Because happiness is fleeting, but joy is eternal and that I get from my assurance of my salvation through Christ and the knowledge that He has plans for my future, plans to prosper and not to harm me! So, even on the days where I left happiness at the tenth load of laundry or in the toilet that desperately needs scrubbing, I always have that joy to cling to. This has been important lately, because, truly, there haven't been a lot of "happy" days. I am struggling a bit right now but oh, the joy that this, too shall pass!

Okay, now on to business!

1. The feel of Tigercub's tiny little arms squeezing my neck when he first wakes up in the morning. I cannot even tell you what it does to this tired soul when that precious boy smiles, grins, hugs my neck and pats me on the back. It is so important to carry that feeling with me throughout the day when I am chasing him off the stairs, repairing broken ornaments, putting the pans back in the cabinet (again), and vacuuming up the soil from the houseplant he tried to eat (again).

2. The boys VOLUNTEERING to clean out their room and give away some toys and get it organized! Football boy has already cleaned out two cabinets and filled two garbage bags with things he is willing to part with! Oh, glory, I thought this day would never come!

3. Seeing the house all decorated up for Christmas! It is sooo pretty! This year I did something I have wanted to do for a long time! Most of our "decorations" were gifts from students over the years and many I put out because I remembered the student or I just felt guilty but I didn't LOVE them. This year, we are simplifying and focusing on the real meaning of the holiday, so if I don't love it, I did not put it out. Our church is trying to raise money to build a clean water well in Africa through Blood:Water Mission. We had a big yard sale this weekend, so everything I didn't use, I donated for the yard sale. I felt no guilt (totally unlike me) because it was for such a good cause! Wow, that is two for the price of one: happy decorations AND cleaning out!

4. My Momma and Daddy! I am so blessed to have such amazing parents! I do not get to see them as often as I like, but I am so grateful for them! On the same note, I really have amazing in-laws, too!

5. My bloggy friends. I tend to get a little isolated at home sometimes because of homeschooling and the sheer torture of getting out with all the children all the time, if I go, they go! So, when I get a comment or an email or a word of encouragement from someone I have never met but dearly love, it means the world to me!

6. CHOCOLATE! No explanation needed!

Okay, I am tired, Dancer is screaming for computer time and the boys need guidance in their room before the baby wakes up, so I am tagging anyone who wants to participate, if you do it, please leave me a comment so I can come check out your list!

Happy Monday

We Now Take a Break From Our Regularly Scheduled Whine

I am not exactly sure how it happened. I know it is undeserved. It was DEFINITELY unsolicited...but I was given an award today!
I received this award from: My Compass Points South.

Here are the rules for this one:
1. Mention the blog that gave it to you and comment on their blog to let them know you’ve posted your award.
2. Publish these rules.
3. Share 6 values that are important to you and 6 things you do not support.
4. Grant the prize to 6 people.
5. Mention the blog that gave it to you and comment on their blog to let them know you’ve posted your award.

Here goes!Six important values/beliefs:
1. I believe I am a sinner saved by grace
2. I believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and offered me salvation not because of anything I had done myself but because of his love for me and for His purposes (John 3:16, 2 Timothy 1:9)
3. I believe that my purpose is to share that love of Christ to everyone I can and to live a life that Honors God and turns people toward him
4. I value my family, friends, and church as precious blessings and gifts from God
5. I value the freedom we have to worship and live in a free country and I NEVER want to take that freedom for granted
6. I value the privilege I have to stay home and homeschool my children. I don't always like it, but I do value the freedom to do it!

Six values/beliefs I do not support:
1. I do not believe in the overall good of mankind, there is none righteous, not even one! (Romans 3:10)
2. I do not believe I (or anyone else) can ever be good enough to make it to Heaven on our own, our salvation comes through Christ alone. ( I know that is not the popular opinion, but I believe it is the truth.)
3. I do not believe in hiding what I know to be true because it is unpopular
4. I do not value material possessions above my true blessings (like family, friends, and faith) or at the cost of peace in my home...I have found that often the desire to accumulate "wealth" often robs me of the peace and simplicity I really desire.
5. I do not believe our President Elect is the answer to all of the country's problems and we are in serious trouble if we put all our hopes and beliefs into the ability of one man.
6. I don't believe in Santa...although I love the idea of such a round and giving man bringing lovely treasures I otherwise could not afford. And so, if he really is out there, I would just like to throw out this suggestion: Wiifit!
Okay, that is far deeper than the usual quality posts you get around here! I am truly thankful for something to blog about besides my whining and business.

Six bloggers I pass it on to:

1. The Mother Load

2. Growing With It

3. Sewsensible

4. Happy Mommy

5. We Are That Family

6. Four Little Penguins

I know I have seen this award around and I was trying to think of people who haven't yet received it...if you have already, sorry...I second that motion and will not be at all offended if you totally ignore this post! Have a wonderful day!

Lessons Learned from Blogging

I have been tagged for yet another meme. Some people might frown on being repeatedly tagged for memes. I, myself, am quite appreciative! It gives me something to blog about that requires very little thought or creativity on my part and that is exactly what I need at this stage in my life.

I was tagged by my bloggy friend, Aimee, from The Mother Load. And, people, she needs some love right now. So, before doing anything else, jump over to her blog and just tell her Jesus loves her or something because I know EXACTLY how she feels and I wish I could just hug her, hire a babysitter and get away with her and enjoy some peaceful away time. But I can't. So, this is the best I can do!

Okay, now down to business. The meme is simply to tell five things that I have learned from blogging.

1. I have learned that just because the whole free world likes to read Big Mama and Boo Mama and I like to read them, it does NOT mean they (the whole free world) want to read me. Now, I know that probably seems obvious to you, but in my early blogging career (hah!) I was quite saddened that I did not have a following, in fact, I still do not have much of a following. But now I am at peace with that.

2. While at one point, I was striving for a feeling of significance, I have learned that what I love about blogging is not being acknowledged by hundreds (okay, not even tens) or having a "super blogger" comment, it is the relationships that I have begun to build, the bloggers I truly think of as friends, even though I have never seen them or even heard most of their voices. It is reading a blog from another person in the same place as me and not feeling so alone or like such a failure, it is reading someone's blog who is past this stage and seeing that there really is light at the end of the tunnel and that maybe, just maybe, I will not completely screw up my children!

3. I have learned to post pictures!!!! I know, for many of you, that is not a big deal but for me, on Wordpress---ugh!

4. I have learned that no matter how tired you are, if you have a really good story or idea for a post, somehow you really can muster enough energy to stay up just a little longer and that, often that leads to checking other blogs, which can lead to finding a new blog and before you know it, you have found the energy to stay up MUCH longer and you now have to be up in 5 hours and yet, you don't regret it a bit.

5. Blogging is addictive!!! Why is it so interesting to read about other's lives? Why does what would be mundane if it happened to me seem so amusing when someone else talks about it? I now think of everything in terms of "Can I blog about this?" "I wonder if I should take a picture so I can post it?" "Should I ask this person if I can write about their embarrassing moment or just do it and hope they don't read it?" I have learned to prioritize but in my early blogging days, I spent far too much time reading, commenting, posting almost daily and searching for other blogs to read, etc.

6. Okay, I know the rule is five, but I just thought of one more I HAD to include. Everyone loves to get comments. Before I had a blog of my own, I lurked on many. I NEVER commented. When I began blogging, I longed for someone to say SOMETHING. Of course my daddy and sister commented me through the early days but I have now learned that it isn't just me. And while I can't always comment (usually because I am feeding the baby while I read the blogs) I do as often as I can even if it is just to say I am still there. I used to think what was the point of commenting if I didn't have anything "profound" to say, then I started commenting EVERYWHERE because I heard that is how to get readers. Now, I read a few blogs, comment as much as I can and do the "Happy Dance" anytime I get a comment on my own blog.

Now, I must proceed with tagging some others. You may notice a trend with me, how the same people are tagged every time. That would be because they are the only people I know who will read this blog and might actually do the meme. So, without further adieux, I will AWARD (that is for you, CJ) the following bloggers the tag:

Purple Diva
Happy Mommy
P.S. He Loves You
Four Little Penguins
Growing With It

Merciful Meme

In an extraordinarily merciful turn of events, The Mother Load, has tagged me for a meme. I LOVE her for many reasons including her highly entertaining posts, the fact that she has four children her youngest being only about 1 month difference in age than mine, and the fact that she (unlike some of us) is so positive! Anyway, this is just what I needed this Monday morning (okay, Monday evening now)! So here goes:

1. Post a picture of you with your kids.

Unfortunately this picture is from Mother's day so is several months old and Baby has changed a lot! However, I look freakishly skinny in this picture, so this is what you get!

2. How many children do you have?

Four: Boy, boy, girl, boy

3. What are their ages?

11, 8, 5, 8 months

4. What do you eat for breakfast?

I am trying to be a good little "spark" so I usually have 1 cup of Kashi Go Lean Crunch or Cheerios with 1 cup of milk, a piece of fruit and water. Sometimes I change it up and go with two pieces of whole wheat toast with sugar free strawberry preserves, yogurt, a piece of fruit and water.

The children eat a wide variety from the ultra healthy pop tarts and breakfast bars to cheerios, eggs, pancakes, waffles. It varies from day to day.

5. Do they watch TV?

Not as much as they would like. They are not huge T.V. watchers although Dancer loves Playhouse Disney and has been known to be "babysat" by it during a rough school morning (Don't judge me!) All of the kids LOVE "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" it makes our house seem sane! So I DVR it and we watch that every week. The boys sometimes watch Saturday cartoons and during the summer sometimes watch Disney channel in bed, but they are not too bad. They would much rather choose an activity with high mommy involvement that makes a huge mess!

6. What are their favorite activities?

Football Boy-baseball and he would claim football although he has never played on a team. Loves playmobil and putting on shows for us.

Baseball Boy-baseball, playmobil, drawing, jumping all over the house for seemingly no reason and, as strange as it sounds, tickle torture

Dancer-Dance, playing baby dolls, helping me cook

Baby-sleeping, eating, unrolling toilet paper, playing in the toilet, pulling expensive technological equipment off shelves, totally ignoring anything appropriate for a baby

7. Do you get a break from them during the day?

Rarely. I homeschool. And on Tues. and Thurs. when I send them to tutorial, I teach 5th grade so even though it is technically a break, it does not feel like it. I do have a wonderful MIL, however that is usually to help out on days that I am desperate!

8. How do you end your day?

On Mondays and Wednesdays, I iron. On Thursdays, Tigerfan and I have popcorn and House Hunter's night. The rest of the week--who knows? Hopefully with a little peace and quiet cuddling with Tigerfan.

9. What is your best parenting tip or advice?

Well, I usually do not take my own advice but if I was giving myself any I would say, slow down and enjoy the moment you are in. I look at baby and cannot believe he is 8 months old. He will be walking soon and talking...I do not want to miss even one more smile or laugh because I am stressed about the house or schoolwork, or whatever. I really wish I would sit down and play more, laugh more, talk more and not feel guilty or worry about what is left undone.

And now, on the business, I must tag 5 other people. I will tag Purple Diva, because she always has something fun to say, Happy Mommy, Growin' With It, P.S. He Loves You, and You--play along if you would like!