Coffee Talk

Good Morning! Come on in and help yourself to a drink! I wish I could join you, but I have just dropped off all my sickly children at my MIL's and have jutted off for the day and night with my sweet Tigerfan!

After weeks of sick kids and 3 with ear infections right now, this is a much needed getaway (although I will owe Nana BIG!). We plan on shopping, eating well and enjoying one another's company without having to dose out medicine, change diapers, cut up anyone's food or break up any fights! I can't wait!

Bear with me! I probably won't be by to visit until Sunday but I look forward to catching up with everyone then! Have a great weekend. I plan on it!

What is Your Love Language? Mine is Chocolate!

Have you read that book...The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman? I actually haven't, but I totally know a lot about it!


Anyway, I am not sure why, but for some reason it has been on my mind a lot lately. I would really like to know the Love Language of my husband and children. So, I have been doing a little research (the online variety...my favorite!). Of course, if I was doing this right, I guess I would just go get the book and read it...but where is the challenge in that, really?


Okay, so in my online explorations, I read that you can take a test to figure out your love language. So, I clicked on it. And my answer...YES!


I mean seriously:

I like to spend one-on-one time with you.

I feel loved when you give practical help to me.

Is there really a choice there? I like them both. It was totally like that with the whole test. So basically, in a nutshell the languages are:

1. Words of affirmation-I like those

2. Quality time-of course!

3. Receiving gifts-who doesn't like an unexpected prize now and then?

4. Acts of service-Love 'em

5. Physical touch-especially with no "expectations", Yeah!

So, do you see my problem? I have no idea my love language...I kinda like 'em all!


I also read that you should see how your mate expresses love to you and that is an indication of their love language. So, in the past week, Tigerfan has left me two sweet little notes, bought me my favorite "gourmet" ice cream and took me to breakfast, helped me with undone chores, hung out with me in the evenings after the kids went to bed, and rubbed my neck and shoulders, just because.


See, that is a problem...he does them all! That means he likes them all, too!

Now, I know Dr. Chapman is a renowned speaker, author, counselor and all, and I think this whole love language thing is a great idea. I just think that sometimes you can improve on a good idea.

For instance, in MY opinion...my love language is chocolate. Yep, chocolate and if ya throw in a diet soda, I'll be yours forever! Now, Tigerfan...he can take or leave the chocolate, but bake him a good ole apple pie and he is IN LOVE! And...the test works! Because what do I love to give more than anything? Chocolate...that is why I am forever making chocolaty, delightful desserts only to have them snubbed by Tigerfan because deep in his inner self, he just wants apple pie!

It totally works for the kids, too!

Football boy loves him some Pizza and Dr. Pepper. Nothing says "I Love You" more than some pepperoni and sugary, caffeine laden bubbles!

Baseball boy? Well, give him some salty chips and some fruit...with ketchup (ewwww!)

Dancer-Chocolate and Peanut Butter people...She has a lifetime commitment with Reeses. Throw in a little chocolate milk and it is the REAL THING-FOREVER!!!

It even works for the baby! Yep, give Tigercub a puffy Cheetoh, and all is good in the world!

So, I'm not sure if I'll ever figure out what Dr. Chapman would say my love language is...but as for my family, I totally have them figured out...I just need to go to the grocery store and probably plan to spend the latter half of our lives at a fat farm!

But at least we will be feeling the love!

What I Learned This Week

I hope you'll stick with me. This week has been educational but only in the "we have been plagued with sickness and that is all I can think about" sense.

First, I have learned that no matter how many times you spray your house down with Lysol, somehow the germs remain and spread. According the our Dr. even seclusion cannot keep the pesky things at bay this year. Save your money from Lysol, your gonna need it for drugs!

Second, I learned that while they are sick, I allow my children to watch entirely too much unsupervised T.V. which is evidenced by the conversation I had with Dancer last night. I had cleaned out my jewelry armoire and brought her some necklaces to add to her dress up bag. She came running back to my room holding one. She was terribly excited. "Momma," she said. "I have seen another necklace that looks almost just like this on T.V....it's on Cash for Gold.com!" Why do I suddenly have the need to lock up all my valuables?

Finally this, and it is less than profound, people! But it is the best I have this week. In this less than stellar economy, I have often wished I could do something to bring in some extra cash. Unfortunately, I have no talent. At least none that people would pay for. So, in my time at home...and there has been A LOT this week, I suddenly came up with, what I feel, is a profound business opportunity!

I totally think that I, and other moms like me should rent our lives out to young, impressionable teens. I am telling you, this is birth control at its best. What better way to promote abstinence than to allow a teenager into my home this week. They can be an intimate part of the chaos that ensues when an entire house is plagued with illness. Imagine the possibilities as they participate in late night escapades like temperature taking, screaming, uncontrollable crying and countless nighttime visitors. Then, they can wake up at some ridiculous hour to begin caring for the pitiful bunch. Soothing, laundering, preparing food no one will eat and, of course Lysoling everything and chasing people down with germ gel only to get one child well as another goes down. They can experience the cries of missed activities, the joy of the Dr.'s office and the thrill of an overused pharmacy that can't keep up!

I figure I could earn a little extra OR they could pay me in help around the house and they get an education unlike any other...we all know experience is the best teacher. And let's face it, real life is nothing like the flour sack experiment from high school!

So, what do ya think...am I on to something?

For more What I Learned this Week, go to Musings of a Housewife!

Coffee Talk: Needed, Computer Specialist

Okay, Company Girls, grab a drink, come on in and HELP ME!

This whole linking, grabbing the Company Girls thing is driving me crazy! I had a whole post for today. I thought I would outwit my computer (Ha!). I grabbed the code from the Home Sanctuary page. I pasted it in HTML code thing and then instead of going back to compose, I typed the whole post right there. I previewed it...it was perfect. I saved it. Then I went to Compose to do spell check.

All I could see was the Coffee Talk picture and the very last line of my post, highlighted in blue. The rest...gone. I went to where I had saved it, gone. I am not computer literate, earlier this week, I deleted all my comments from a giveaway post, so I am totally aware that this is probably user error, but it is making me CRAZY!

Someone, please be a bright spot in my day and help me.

I tried to do it again. Went to the Home Sanctuary page, copied the code, put it into Html code, changed to compose...gone. when I go back to Html, it only says this:

okay, this is where I try to show you what it says...but I can't, because it keeps disappearing...html, you are dead to me!!!

Why is it that everyone else can do this...it isn't rocket science. Is it?

If anyone can help me and solve this mystery for me, you will be my best friend...hey, I might even do my second ever giveaway and not even delete all the commenters!

Update:

***three cheers for Kerri---I don't know if this is the "right" way to do this...I don't think you can click on it and go to the Home Sanctuary page, but it is at least here and gives credit where credit is due. There is much rejoicing going on in the Tigerden right now! Who knows what I may do to celebrate...

And the Winner Is.....

I had big, elaborate plans for a drawing and pictures and lots of hoopla. Unfortunately, a house filled with flu, ear infections and upper respiratory crud has sapped all my "hoopla" strength. So, I went to the random number generator instead.

Which, is actually a little funny...I wonder if 7 is the smallest minimum it has ever had to do? Anyway...the magic number is 4.

So, congratulations to my 4th commenter, Aimee, at the Mother Load! I'll be sending you an email this afternoon to find out your shipping info!

In the meantime, I am going to go nurse my babies and my own head that feels like it was run over by a "snot bus" that left its cargo as a parting gift!

Have a great day!

What I Learned This Week

1. If you are doing your first ever bloggy giveaway and you moderate your comments, be VERY CAREFUL because if you highlight all said comments and then accidentally press reject...it erases them. All of them. FOREVER! If you are reading this and happen to be one of those unfortunate commenters who was forever erased, you might want to go back here and re comment before Wednesday so I will include you!

2. Apparently kindergarten cheer leading can be a very lucrative business. Friday, Dancer announced that she couldn't wait until Saturday! I, of course, had to ask why.

Dancer: very matter of factly, "Tomorrow, I get paid!"

Me: "And what are you getting paid for?"

Dancer: "Cheering."

Me: "You are getting PAID to do cheer leading?"

Dancer: rolling her eyes and looking at me as if I am the stupidest person ever, "No, Mom, Papaw pays me for GOOD cheer leading!"

So, there ya go...something you might want to check into in this repressed economy.

3. And on a more serious note, I am doing a great Bible Study written by Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore and Kay Arthur...how can that NOT be a good Bible Study!?! Anyway, I have done a lot of soul searching and have really tried to apply the study. Maybe no one else has the problem I do...but I LOVE to do Bible Studies, love to learn and grow, but often when they are through, I find myself right where I was before. I am really trying to not do that this time. To dig deeper and do it more for me than for checking it off or so I am not embarrassed because I didn't get my homework done. So, this week, my AHA! moment came when thinking about where I have been, where I am now and where I want to be.

We talked about times when we have been angry or afraid with God and how we have to make the choice to move beyond those moments. I wouldn't say that I am angry with God...but I think I often question why. Why do we struggle financially when so and so doesn't? Why does that person seem successful in everything and I just struggle to make it through a day with clean clothes and safe children? Why is one person good at everything they touch and I am 36 and still haven't figured out what I am good at? Let's just be honest...why is she skinny, pretty, outgoing....when I still need to lose 10-15 pounds of "baby weight", my hair is stuck in 1990 and I freeze and want to run into a closet in any new social situation?

But this week, what I am learning is that I have allowed myself to become stuck in the why's instead of moving beyond them. I also realized that ultimately, I am terrified of failing. As a result, I have chosen not to do so many things I wish I would have done because I don't want to fail, don't want to see someone else do better, don't want to be heartbroken if I don't succeed. I often wonder how God is going to use me, what can I do...and this week I wondered...has He planned something for me that I have missed because I was too afraid to trust Him with it.

David wanted to build a house for the Ark, but God promised David to build a house for him instead and David praised God asking, "Who am I?" Have I missed that Who am I moment out of fear or busyness or lack of trust? I pray I haven't. So this week, I am going to try not to be afraid, to take a risk, to put myself out there and not wonder "what if" but rather "what if I don't?"

A Valentine's Day Report

***You still have time to enter (or re-enter if I happened to erase your entry)my first ever giveaway! Right now, your odds are freakishly good so go here and comment!***

Now, onto Valentine's Day! We don't normally go overboard with the Day of Love around here. Usually we have a little surprise for the kiddos on the table in the morning and if I am feeling wild and crazy I'll put a little food coloring in the pancake batter and make heart shaped pancakes so I can hear phrases like, "ewwww, why is it that color?" "I like round pancakes better" or "Can't I have cereal this morning?"

Then Nana comes through with an elaborate bag of "treats" that totally put us to shame and provide the children enough sugar to fuel them to the moon and back.

This year, both Nana and us decided to scale back on the chocolatey goodness a bit!

Now, another little thing about me is that I HATE large crowds. They make me very nervous, which is why I start twitching if my Christmas shopping isn't done by Thanksgiving. Anyway, this phenomena rings true for entering into restaurants on V-Day as well. I just do not find it enjoyable to wait 2 extra hours with a million other people to eat in a crowded joint with stressed out, overworked waiters! So, this year I offered to make Valentine's dinner here at home and invite Nana and Papaw to eat with us. I told the kids they could choose any meal they wanted, they all just had to agree.

So, what would your kids choose? I thought spaghetti, maybe tacos, my kids even like Manwich...I was totally expecting some kid-friendly meal...they chose pork loin. Pork loin? What kid chooses pork loin? But that is what they asked for, so that is what they got and the adults got to enjoy it as well!

We had grilled pork loin, Caesar salad, green beans, roasted red potatoes with bacon and cheese and some home made biscuits (heart shaped, of course!). And might I say...it was WAY better than any meal we could have gotten out and there were NO CROWDS...well, except for mine, which is big but doesn't really count!

And, it is a really good thing we cut back. Because right now, in this house, 2 days after the big V, we have a batch of homemade fudge (heart shaped of course), a batch of heart shaped spritz cookies, a package of iced sugar cookies with valentine sprinkles, a giant Hershey bar with almonds, each child has their own, personal 5.3 oz pack of M&M's, a box of Lindor's Truffles, a giant Hershey kiss, the kids have heart shaped Reese's and the candy bucket is OVERFLOWING with sweet goodness! I hope we can find a little something for dessert today!

So, how was your Valentine's?

P.S. Guess what my Valentine gave me? A night in Nashville with NO KIDS! He is the BEST!!!