tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26369095399423584182024-03-05T14:49:47.209-06:00The Vest NestMilk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-74502297019147530222010-12-30T10:11:00.004-06:002010-12-30T10:18:09.933-06:00Some Pictures from Mimi's Diaper Bakery and Boutique<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAhtKGLWVp-w2j1eYBsnHxhCzdT3X6IezyusT-UYM753zEV4LRu97RPpDMqA2hzktwj3izF7uFG2EbsqH6b5Fjwd1058-RhVyAZijRYubjqleSVMmxiYo4-L38wA4AujdQNAnYpOwJV8/s1600/015.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 258px; HEIGHT: 322px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556509611976702562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAhtKGLWVp-w2j1eYBsnHxhCzdT3X6IezyusT-UYM753zEV4LRu97RPpDMqA2hzktwj3izF7uFG2EbsqH6b5Fjwd1058-RhVyAZijRYubjqleSVMmxiYo4-L38wA4AujdQNAnYpOwJV8/s400/015.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQI5XtNFc_3I6KwQG_LE_gaHzn7RBrmB_dd0LzR6tc9_rbO1DoZdpSoWPAXJcdlJWOCdaTjZCflLgF4FK7xfaXJvmwer6nLTQ5A4HFwQM8Rp-o02SUIXDEt8PJ1PZ_FVgXBJr9fWUI2E/s1600/276.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 243px; HEIGHT: 322px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556509251533195602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQI5XtNFc_3I6KwQG_LE_gaHzn7RBrmB_dd0LzR6tc9_rbO1DoZdpSoWPAXJcdlJWOCdaTjZCflLgF4FK7xfaXJvmwer6nLTQ5A4HFwQM8Rp-o02SUIXDEt8PJ1PZ_FVgXBJr9fWUI2E/s400/276.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HkUfXPGCG-LGQcwR6gFKU0JyzI0HsQkEsAhK62oXB8PZeKdkJO5piJsr-F6lRa7_Gza_gqcrHTRAvTz5sSjz9hZGzJsDJVJPCrrzE-rPCJGFIjQ_E2aNwtj_PAO7AQ4sGikQNwBCmU8/s1600/016.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 203px; HEIGHT: 290px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556509246552350450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HkUfXPGCG-LGQcwR6gFKU0JyzI0HsQkEsAhK62oXB8PZeKdkJO5piJsr-F6lRa7_Gza_gqcrHTRAvTz5sSjz9hZGzJsDJVJPCrrzE-rPCJGFIjQ_E2aNwtj_PAO7AQ4sGikQNwBCmU8/s400/016.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdroyUfg482DREoggSGO__yW1WiLO1uh4N5pknrqM-3aZ9r5LEAryksp2uWU31fv2AHU4JmeaJjFmbuX-q9sNc89A5yB3sr40JFD7_FxX-zPZXlP1IRs0XMYvPqtqCSNNhoPJUjvODQw/s1600/1212102144%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 253px; HEIGHT: 339px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556509238629857634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdroyUfg482DREoggSGO__yW1WiLO1uh4N5pknrqM-3aZ9r5LEAryksp2uWU31fv2AHU4JmeaJjFmbuX-q9sNc89A5yB3sr40JFD7_FxX-zPZXlP1IRs0XMYvPqtqCSNNhoPJUjvODQw/s400/1212102144%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div> <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJKy2f60t1IImIEY_dBxu1IZoJqf78qhnoaUBdzMBujX5W4Kd6c5v63CUnbO3GmAjEAZSCRXj5RYvnAqO3cG5ayOtzoEgOBXDLvRZhi3th2P6Tbge1oJ1C6UQQ4v9C7H0lcDD8LgWqBk/s1600/1213102102%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 248px; HEIGHT: 354px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556509241061256178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJKy2f60t1IImIEY_dBxu1IZoJqf78qhnoaUBdzMBujX5W4Kd6c5v63CUnbO3GmAjEAZSCRXj5RYvnAqO3cG5ayOtzoEgOBXDLvRZhi3th2P6Tbge1oJ1C6UQQ4v9C7H0lcDD8LgWqBk/s400/1213102102%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnegTE3XTGBaFTBWSh-6IsjcPM8vnw0jSmK0n0k48tLqZropTZ7dnIV1WDKz7QrmDc3HNOsZSf4s0Gkvt1V9gqL9tX306jGYy7JNmgwh3zEwZXxiSWbsYSb6vpDWOTrmeEyANuJ68nQQ/s1600/courtney.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 92px; HEIGHT: 130px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556509241867202834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnegTE3XTGBaFTBWSh-6IsjcPM8vnw0jSmK0n0k48tLqZropTZ7dnIV1WDKz7QrmDc3HNOsZSf4s0Gkvt1V9gqL9tX306jGYy7JNmgwh3zEwZXxiSWbsYSb6vpDWOTrmeEyANuJ68nQQ/s400/courtney.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3-tZHgA-XpbQ2fv10Gps3mlLCn7bAYXt6UsDrADTNiN8yCUL6cQaHxA910dSfwZ-0LIYoLpFyc9Q71pJCfuyx9kERVdt75XOlaDxXyonkYqf6COd1PAJBwivviGQwr6JQXgzNNZhuPw/s1600/011.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 220px; HEIGHT: 252px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556510103248413042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3-tZHgA-XpbQ2fv10Gps3mlLCn7bAYXt6UsDrADTNiN8yCUL6cQaHxA910dSfwZ-0LIYoLpFyc9Q71pJCfuyx9kERVdt75XOlaDxXyonkYqf6COd1PAJBwivviGQwr6JQXgzNNZhuPw/s400/011.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-15556897879914696322010-12-04T15:05:00.000-06:002010-12-04T15:05:12.675-06:00Mimi's Diaper Bakery and Boutique - Contact Us<a href="http://www.mimisdiaperbakeryandboutique.com/Contact-Us.html">Mimi's Diaper Bakery and Boutique - Contact Us</a>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-12689048094203017012010-06-24T13:27:00.004-05:002010-06-24T13:35:34.417-05:00Where am I going to school??<span style="color:#33ccff;"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffff00;">It has been crazy around here as we prepare to move and I look at where to continue my education. UT being my first choice just isn't in the cards for me or as I would put it, not God's will at this time. My second choice? TCU. Has anyone ever looked at how much the tuition is there??? Oh my! So, I am touring UNT tomorrow to check it out. I was a little hesitant because it wasn't really in my top 5, but I do know alot of people that have graduated there including loved ones so it is definitely growing on me. I am still seriously thinking of taking the Fall semester off for a break and to get the kids settled into a new school/neighborhood. We will see. Maybe a mini-mester. Anyways, I wanted to share an essay I wrote for one of the schools. I thought it was cool and I don't think that of my own writing most of the time. Let me know what you think! And..I'll let you know if I will be Mean Green or a Horned Frog. A Horned Frog with a heckuva lot of debt to pay back. Whew.</span><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em>From the seat of an old tractor, the fields went on for miles. I would watch my daddy feel the dirt in his hands as if he could feel it breathe. From the back windshield of our old Monte Carlo, the roads went on forever. I would crawl up against the warm glass and fall asleep counting the stripes in the road. From the top of an oak tree, the ground looked hard and unforgiving but I lay on the branch to watch the clouds form into unobtainable mountains. The world seemed so big, yet I knew I could somehow touch it. I could run through the mile-long fields and eventually find there was a dirt road that served as a boundary. I could press my face against the window and wait patiently until I saw the old white house that was my home. I could climb down the tree and know the mountainous clouds would eventually fade into night. As a child, all of these things made themselves known to me but none served more definite than the fact that Texas encompassed them all and I knew then that I never wanted to leave. I am still that wide-eyed curious child. I seek adventure. I have a glass that’s half full. I see my goals within reach and they begin to take the form of a wide open Texas sky.<br /></em><br /></span><span style="color:#33ccff;"><em>As a farmer’s daughter, I never had much in the way of material possessions. One thing that my daddy did give us was an educational drive. He pushed us beyond our limits with our school work. He encouraged us to drive forward and be something he never had the opportunity to be. A man that seemed genius to me gave it all up to work a farm for his parents, all the while watching his sisters go on to higher education. It has been years since he has passed on and I still find him somewhere deep within me encouraging me to do more. To be more. Sometimes, when I speak, it is not me talking to my own children, but the voice of my father telling them to push forward and drive. It’s time that I remind myself to do just that. It’s time to listen to that voice within me. It has been a quiet whisper as I set myself aside for my family. That whisper has become a roar these last few years. A roar to be heard throughout Texas. I will <strong>do</strong> more. I will <strong>be</strong> more. For my dad. For my kids. For me. I have the drive within me. The drive to go beyond the mundane into extraordinary measure.<br /></em><br /><em>I had put off the inevitable for years to take care of three very individual personalities and while doing so, lost sight of my drive. My drive found me at a conference for a non-profit organization reaching out to youth. While speaking to the founder, an epiphany came about. Here I was, so involved in everything I wanted to do, all the while not doing anything I needed in order to take it to the next level. So my journey began. Never in a million years would I have thought to take on a full course load with three children; but I did it. Not only did I do it, I did it with enthusiasm. I was in my element of both motherhood and student. It was as if I were made for both to coexist. With diapers in one hand and pencils in the other, I faced the challenge head on and have come out stronger because of it. As I look back at that same horizon on a field that is now a thousand homes, I can close my eyes and see my dad grinning at where I’ve been and where I’m going. I’m doing what I was made to do. Maybe not in the world’s view of the right timing, but in my own. Everyone thinks insanity has taken over me as I tote a book bag with my diaper bag. I just smile and watch my kids watching me. They watch me read. They watch me study. They see me learn. That, to me, is the greatest achievement of my life. Taking the drive that my father gave me and being able to see my children witness it and absorb it. I never want to stop the display. I never want to stop learning. I want to drive.</em></span>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-51021462061631806542010-05-06T17:05:00.004-05:002010-05-06T17:10:38.293-05:00Just a Vessel<span style="color:#990000;">For the last two weeks, I have been a part of a team going into the Dallas Juvenile Detention Center. What a blessing it has been! I'm a little bummed that I have to have surgery again next week so I will miss all the girls terribly. Here is something I wrote about my first week! More to come...<br /><br /><br />When I first felt the desire to work with young girls at the Juvenile Detention Center, I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew it would not be easy and I knew it would not be an immediate bond. Nevertheless, God has always put His will on my heart to work with young girls in difficult situations and I was both excited and nervous to see how it would unfold. Wednesday evening, April 28th, we entered Dallas Juvenile Detention Center for our first Girls' Circle meeting. We weren't sure how many girls to expect, let alone if they would be responsive at all to our lesson and activities. I felt I had realistic goals and expectations. I knew the girls wouldn't trust me. I really wasn't even expecting them to talk to me the first day. Boy was I surprised! What started out a little awkward, ended up being a warm beginning to what I hope to be a long relationship with fourteen very special girls. Fourteen girls lined up for a seat in the circle. Not all fourteen talked openly but they did share at least their names and things they were good at. This meant more to me than any of them will ever know. As the minutes passed, the girls became even more comfortable. I know that this is just a tiny look into what the weeks to come will be. I looked into some of their eyes and saw quite a bit of hurt. I spent time on my way home praising God for breakthrough as well as some tears shed for the hurt that brought them there. They can do so much more with their lives. They can be so much more. They ARE so much more. They dream of friendships and family. Things that I have taken for granted. They dream of being loved. I can't wait to show them the love of a Father who sees passed the guilt and shame and sees them for all that they really are. I can't wait to see what God has in store for these fourteen girls He has placed in my path. I can't wait to see how He will use me for their benefit as well as His glory. I am so grateful for the opportunity. ~Ecclesiastes 4:12~</span>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-12607286501219870032010-04-03T23:03:00.003-05:002010-04-03T23:41:47.341-05:00Easter!<span style="color:#ff99ff;">What a crazy week this has been! I received cast number 2 ON my birthday on Tuesday. Had an MRI on Wednesday to see what's taking my foot so long to heal and found out on Friday that I have to have surgery next week!! One wrong step on a volleyball court cost me a ruptured ligament, a dislocated joint and a fracture! Whew! So next Wednesday, I will go in to have screws put in my foot. I secretly admit I always did want to baffle the officers at the metal detectors. I will start ministering at the Dallas Juvenile Detention Center this month so here's my chance! I am just not looking forward to having my foot up for several more weeks, several more casts, lots more pain and back into the OR to have the screws removed after all of that! I guess I better just start accepting a chaotic house for a while. Thank God for mothers!<br /><br />Even though I still can't get around well, I did want to make sure the kids decorated their eggs to take to Nanny Vest's tomorrow to hunt. I was gathering things for my Sunday School lesson anyways and making cookies so I tried to knock it all out so I only had to be "up" once. I am in awe at what my kids listen to and think about. I love to listen in on their conversations when they aren't fighting and especially when they think noone is around. I always loved Easter growing up. Well, once my step-dad came into the picture anyways. I love the spirit of Christmas, but Easter I loved even more. The spring colors, the dresses, the warm weather and the grace and mercy that surpasses all. When my dad would preach about the crucifixion and resurrection it would bring tears to your eyes. He had his doctorate in Theology and was always ALWAYS studying. Before beginning his sermon he would always say he doesn't like to sugar coat the crucifixion. He felt that often it wasn't portrayed how it really was and that even he could never come close to describing the inhumane torture that happened to our savior that day. But, nevertheless, he would tell it so distinctly that you felt you were there. You grieved as he described the skin hanging from His body having been beaten so badly, and you rejoiced as you listened to the part of the stone being rolled away. I'm thinking of him and the story tonight as I try not to get down about my foot. I bet he would say, "It may seem like Friday night, but Sunday's on the way." I miss him terribly this Easter season.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf5deQzFgjD0CH7be638Z1vYsvCJ3JEmGfFnQuz73Ymy5SObTwmp_dDVV69NSgfjdRAt4gdQoV3OhHK52be3Yu_BIanx10T3ne9-vJzKdEKN9pHKvtxANYi3LosQeq1SKuW-ZPLhNz3s/s1600/Easter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456137550314186370" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf5deQzFgjD0CH7be638Z1vYsvCJ3JEmGfFnQuz73Ymy5SObTwmp_dDVV69NSgfjdRAt4gdQoV3OhHK52be3Yu_BIanx10T3ne9-vJzKdEKN9pHKvtxANYi3LosQeq1SKuW-ZPLhNz3s/s400/Easter.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Sometimes I don't know how much my kids actually listen and when I was filling their egg color cups up with vinegar tonight, Reese commented on how yucky it smelled. Ross told her, "you know, they gave vinegar to Jesus when He was on the cross." I smiled as I kept pouring and Ross continued to tell her the story. It doesn't matter how many times I tell it, they seem to listen more intently when it's Ross telling it. I don't care who tells it, as long as it gets told. The birth of Jesus is a beautiful season but the death and resurrection of Him is worth so much rejoicing! I am saddened that it is not praised as much as Christmas as I think about it tonight. I hope all my blogger friends have a beautiful Easter Sunday with your families. I am missing the family that is already gone but also rejoicing with the ones I still have here to hold!</span>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-44473373364281548792010-03-22T16:36:00.003-05:002010-03-22T17:22:07.605-05:00Things NOT to do while in a cast<strong><span style="color:#000066;">Over the last few weeks, I have learned what can and cannot be done in a cast. So, if you ever find yourself in a cast, here are a few things NOT to do.</span></strong><br /><div><span style="color:#660000;"><strong></strong></span></div><br /><ul><br /><li><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>Don't insist on going down a long flight of stairs. You will fall. You just will. It's Newton's law. </strong></span></li><br /><li><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>Don't try to care for three kids and a house on your own. Just accept that it will become a dump before you are recovered.</strong></span></li><br /><li><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>Don't take showers. Just live in filth until the blessed day comes for cast removal.</strong></span></li><br /><li><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>Don't think that your arms can automatically handle three weeks of crutches. You will plead for mercy at the end of day one.</strong></span></li><br /><li><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>Do not, I repeat, DO NOT attempt the zoo. You're poor petite friend will be left with the job of pushing you UP hill in a wheelchair.</strong></span></li><br /><li><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>Don't get excited about the motorized carts at Wal-Mart. They will start to get old when you are stuck like Austin Powers. </strong></span></li><br /><li><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>Don't try to mow the grass. You will inevitably run out of gas and be stranded waiting for someone to bring you your glorious knee scooter.</strong></span></li><br /><li><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>Don't try to dress up. Nothing you can do will glamorize fiberglass.</strong></span></li><br /><li><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>Don't bother planning a Sunday School lesson, because all the kids will be too fascinated by the cast and apparently in awe that you hurt yourself.</strong></span></li></ul><br /><p><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>And finally the number one thing to NOT do while casted:</strong></span></p><br /><p><strong><span style="color:#000066;">Refuse to ask for help!! Thanks to Bart and Mom for trying to make my life somewhat easier the last few weeks!</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#000066;"></span></strong></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvj07WPkDmlJtEuXGW2uUBMPi6UPcnl9lP-jLZQzQhsqEyvxC7qbASfv7G8pDONYxFd46kLGXRH6htVIOKtumrb2_76o3JmRIRUvGR3VHkQV9dTC4f7JUqlWcnrg0DDsHpLEwwTIOWE0I/s1600-h/kneescooter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451585841360118258" style="WIDTH: 272px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 287px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvj07WPkDmlJtEuXGW2uUBMPi6UPcnl9lP-jLZQzQhsqEyvxC7qbASfv7G8pDONYxFd46kLGXRH6htVIOKtumrb2_76o3JmRIRUvGR3VHkQV9dTC4f7JUqlWcnrg0DDsHpLEwwTIOWE0I/s400/kneescooter.jpg" border="0" /></a>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-11808180765648684402010-03-16T22:48:00.003-05:002022-12-21T20:56:07.933-06:00Forged<span style="color:#990000;">What a year this has been for me and my family. I have alot on my mind tonight and am a little pensive as I lay in bed. The Biggest Loser on TV and Reid asleep by my side. I watch him sleeping and wonder what lies ahead for my kids. What kind of mother I have been and how handling what comes my way reflects on that. I have been through a lot in my lifetime. I don't like to bring it up much because things are easily used as a crutch. I feel I am better than that and refuse to let things define who I am. But I am also learning that you can't escape some of those definitions. I also know that you can take those same harmful past experiences and grow from them. This year has been a forging of sorts. A spiritual roller coaster. Emotions ranging from pain to anger. Back to pain and feeling you've beaten the odds. Then some things tend to happen and you begin to feel like you will never make it to the top to see the horizon before you. Honestly, I've been quite angry with God this year. How healing it is to finally say that. Maybe I should've said it sooner. I've told many people that I think God wants to hear us say this. He knows our hearts anyways. Anger is a passionate emotion. It also means we care.<br><br>Tonight I feel beat down and I ask for prayers. I want to be close to God and I want to know that when bad things happen, He longs to comfort us. This forging is more than I can bear sometimes. The only drive I have is knowing I have to keep moving forward through it for my family. I can't give up. I can't let the bad win. I just have to ask, how much can one person be expected to bear? I feel the weight so heavy on my shoulders. I just want to set it down. I led a group therapy this week for class. It was on self-forgiveness. I used Max Lucado's book "Traveling Light" as an example. Carrying the burdens we were never meant to bear. The burden of shame and guilt. Fear and hurt.<br><br>Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day. Some know the difficulty it brings but many don't. God knows and I just ask that He shows his presence for me tomorrow and as an anniversary grows near. I'm not sure how much more I can carry. I have to have faith that He will never give me more than I can bear. I know that I will not get burned in the forging process, but rather shaped and molded.<br><br>Here's my song for the week. The Almost again. I find healing in music. I find strength in the lyrics. It's called No I Don't.<br></span><br><em><span style="color:#990000;">I'm looking for some stable ground/ Some kinda place to lay it down/ And settle for a while/ I'm sick of looking for a star/ I won't show anyone my scars/ Can you help me out?/ I wanna see a change in me</span></em><br><em><span style="color:#990000;"></span></em><br><em><span style="color:#990000;">When it's time for another round/ I get in then, I bow out/ I'm kinda freaky that way/ I used to stand as tall as I could/ I used to be better than good/ I guess I've made my bed/ I wanna see a change in me</span></em><br><em><span style="color:#990000;"></span></em><br><em><span style="color:#990000;">No, I don't listen when they tell me/ They think I won't Come back around/ Find my way out/ It's none of their business! It's none of their business! </span></em><br><em><span style="color:#990000;"></span></em><br><em><span style="color:#990000;">I've got another song in me/ Because of you, I'm changing/ I'm learning how to wait/ Ugly as I could've been/ Down and out and all broken/ You never made me wait/ You saw me/ You didn't see my shame/ I'm free because you said so/ And I'm learning to grow/ Because you held my hand/ I'm free because you said/ Go, keep walking</span></em>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-71423312117967462042010-03-07T12:25:00.005-06:002010-03-07T12:49:37.442-06:00Overnight Transformation<span style="color:#006600;"><strong>I'm going to skip the Debbie Downer blog for later because it was a long day to experience again. Basically, car breaks down, miss class and landed in the Urgent Care center for a broken foot. On to better things.</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;"></span></strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>What happened to my eldest child this week? Just a few weeks ago, I was talking to some moms about Ross not having any interest in girls yet. He could've cared less. He was more worried about Halo and sports and inventions. Then, <em>she</em> showed up one day in conversation. A little girl that Ross has been in class with since Kindegarten. Ross made a comment in passing that she might like him. I said, "oh...do you like her??" He shrugged his shoulders and went on. I knew the day was coming. And I guess I hoped she would be a first girlfriend for him. Cutest thing ever. Best girl athlete we have. Super smart. Perfect, right? Yeah, in about 5 more years!! A couple of days later it happened. "Mom, can you ask Bridget's mom if she can go to the movies with me/us this weekend?" Ok. OK. I can handle this. I really can. Luckily, I know her mom. That helps. We email back and forth laughing about the situation. Ha ha. HA. She comes and watches Ross play basketball Friday night AND Saturday morning. They go to Dairy Queen Friday night. Insisting they sit by themselves. My mind is a whirlwind. I can't keep up with it. My baby. MY baby. I was glad that her mom decided to go to the movies as well and we brought the younger siblings sans Reid. No way would I go there. Ross and Bridget sit alone while we sit close by. He was so handsome. So courteous. I watched them thinking both have grown up so fast. I remember them playing t-ball together....then kindergarten. Now between kids and teens, unsure of where they fit in. He is already texting her today. I think I lost my place. It is a bittersweet sting. I guess it's inevitable. I remember 4th grade all to well. The boys that liked me were jerks. Well, other than Bart, but then again, he was too shy to tell me. Glad he grew out of that!! I'm glad Ross already has good taste at his young age. And I know there will be many others. It was just like an overnight transformation. One day it was Halo and the next it was deodorant and Axe. Enjoy your childhood my love. I won't let you out of it that easily. What kind of mom would I be?</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;"></span></strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47hmFFoNmDXPwTlWC30LkZ3UGth-8UcPiHkzacy-qc6vbgkXH3p_oiY01v6JslZ2YoU_v5nhjns2q-zDTK1eOmYkve90XFmTqwzSv5ADQvufcVK1ejVOoRppB5iUHh6rRND7a4Nz4YZ8/s1600-h/date.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445965315105045058" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47hmFFoNmDXPwTlWC30LkZ3UGth-8UcPiHkzacy-qc6vbgkXH3p_oiY01v6JslZ2YoU_v5nhjns2q-zDTK1eOmYkve90XFmTqwzSv5ADQvufcVK1ejVOoRppB5iUHh6rRND7a4Nz4YZ8/s400/date.jpg" border="0" /></a>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-50804914600919776862010-03-01T22:17:00.006-06:002010-03-01T22:34:46.740-06:00March MadnessI just realized today is the first of March. Well, I guess I didn't literally realize it. I knew it was coming but forgot that it started TODAY! I will be glad when it's over. I know. 30 more days to go, right? Okay, here we go since I've been in a list making mood lately. Top Ten reasons I will be glad when March comes to an end: (drumroll please)<br /><br />10. One month closer to the end of this stressful semester!<br />9. My baby will be celebrating his 4th birthday on April 5th!!<br />8. I, however, turn 34 during the month of March. Bleh.<br />7. April marks the official beginning of baseball!! I heart Josh Hamilton if you didn't know.<br />6. SPRING!!<br />5. Which means we are closer to SUMMER!!<br />4. Garden planting.<br />3. Shorts wearing.<br />2. I will have my biggest assignment behind me!<br /><br />And the number one reason why March should hurry? Well, that blog will be later this week but I buried my dad 20 years ago this week. Time sure has flown by but that gentle reminder is always there.<br /><br />So, March, there you have it. I know I can't skip you every year and I'm definitely not one to wish for time to "hurry". It's just that twenty years is a long time. A big number. I would rather move past it and enjoy the spring as soon as possible.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSVcUDoPAuiPstyYdfh6lZeLL_qHsf9Y2g_vcy_CP4FrxxGvNR1g3OS1xcxD9AJYdBlspKAIkzo5MxlNhwlVZqD2_pFawC3CEWj5jqbl558Z5zmNucNS0pedxUzU_aYr-9RBOCb47hw0/s1600-h/menross.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443889101534963698" style="WIDTH: 293px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSVcUDoPAuiPstyYdfh6lZeLL_qHsf9Y2g_vcy_CP4FrxxGvNR1g3OS1xcxD9AJYdBlspKAIkzo5MxlNhwlVZqD2_pFawC3CEWj5jqbl558Z5zmNucNS0pedxUzU_aYr-9RBOCb47hw0/s400/menross.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p>Oh and Ross and I went to our first dance! Professional pictures coming soon! If I had a picture of my dad on my laptop, it would look like Ross. :)</p>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-34075790089376897852010-02-20T22:41:00.005-06:002010-02-20T23:10:52.848-06:00Saturday Smiles<strong>Things that made me smile today:</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHYUi4L067RQeUg9S_5VZjQVBqTSRXEeXH3xY73ev6fNwjIp6imPS8T7dQNVMCAnqIUMv1WRo0Sp2ePxk_VY7cVdANp5d9Qv_9gfBlehOIfMOzesCimXdNBNL_I9R6m16L8ZO_q5HOmg/s1600-h/vampire+reid.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440556559333292242" style="WIDTH: 136px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 173px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHYUi4L067RQeUg9S_5VZjQVBqTSRXEeXH3xY73ev6fNwjIp6imPS8T7dQNVMCAnqIUMv1WRo0Sp2ePxk_VY7cVdANp5d9Qv_9gfBlehOIfMOzesCimXdNBNL_I9R6m16L8ZO_q5HOmg/s400/vampire+reid.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><ul><li><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>Noticing more freckles on Reid's nose.</strong></span></li><br /><br /><br /><li><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>Giving my sister a heart attack by making her believe I had my niece's lip pierced. (Totally priceless!!)</strong></span></li><br /><br /><br /><li><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>Having a "play off" on Guitar Hero at Main Event. (Okay...so several)</strong></span></li><br /><br /><br /><li><span style="color:#003300;"><strong>Singing lyrics with Cheyenne at the top of our lungs while simultaneously playing air drums. (Anberlin of course)</strong></span></li></ul><p> </p><ul><li><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>Reese falling asleep before my hair was completely white.</strong></span></li></ul><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuHS49h7viUm-nQPhlo143S0XxgKfSXjGvy_FLZKxOUbVGp2NiJDSmtu3WwzFpr6t3vtAXSdR1TqTtgr7Rt-P1ioJh3z9RSyKtN59E7VWbJZcrXNLiL-OSon8fi-zDxX-reelGFUuKXtk/s1600-h/sleeping+beauty.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440557412042559426" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 140px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuHS49h7viUm-nQPhlo143S0XxgKfSXjGvy_FLZKxOUbVGp2NiJDSmtu3WwzFpr6t3vtAXSdR1TqTtgr7Rt-P1ioJh3z9RSyKtN59E7VWbJZcrXNLiL-OSon8fi-zDxX-reelGFUuKXtk/s400/sleeping+beauty.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><ul><li><span style="color:#330033;"><strong>Knowing that tomorrow is Sunday and my sweetie will actually be home to have a good family church day.</strong></span></li></ul>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-60321583957133533912010-02-08T11:54:00.003-06:002010-02-08T12:02:09.398-06:00Another great season!<span style="color:#000066;"><strong>Another basketball season comes to an end. My Tigers got 2nd place again and I'm very proud of all the boys. I am looking forward to a week or two of some kind of a break, whatever that is! We also had all of the boys over for a sleep over Saturday night plus a couple extra to celebrate a belated birthday for Ross. Pictures coming soon. Note to self: Do not have 12 boys over to spend the night again. Ever. I am still exhausted.</strong></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRIznxg2kqgIwzca4vRibckQkywectlQdEwTPzeET29biA2P1loPGueKJjJpYO9N5L_3Trfw8bpK_MMKc6W0CBwbJ6DnQEMiO1rCCRxwXAMWdTTKBnGvQg9IKZ7jyW0lkCxCviSl9tMU/s1600-h/tigers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435933965394147410" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRIznxg2kqgIwzca4vRibckQkywectlQdEwTPzeET29biA2P1loPGueKJjJpYO9N5L_3Trfw8bpK_MMKc6W0CBwbJ6DnQEMiO1rCCRxwXAMWdTTKBnGvQg9IKZ7jyW0lkCxCviSl9tMU/s400/tigers.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>So for now, I'm a little sad to say goodbye to basketball. These are great boys, even if they were up until 7am and trashed the house like a frat party! I've enjoyed having the privilege of coaching them another year.</strong></span> </div>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-21429983328653786452010-01-27T08:46:00.004-06:002010-01-27T09:06:24.053-06:00Group TherapyI should be studying instead of blogging. The books are looking at me but my ADD doesn't want to concentrate on them!!<br /><br /><br /><br />So, one of my big classes this year is Dynamic Group Counseling. It's major, because as I start out my counseling career in the Drug and Alcohol field, I will use group therapy quite a bit. I won't lie...I was a little afraid of this class. It intimidated me. I have never experienced group therapy as a patient (suprising I know) let alone ever led a group. My first week of class was interesting. I have run late every day because of the wonderful parking situation at GCC. With Reid's preschool schedule, I can't get there any earlier to at least start walking my 2 mile hike to class any earlier. I felt like everyone in class had either been in group or led a group before so I felt a little behind. My second day of class, I tried to be smart and park in the "dirt". Uh...the dirt was mud and our 4-wheel drive is out so guess who got stuck? Not only stuck, but stuck enough to have to get the maintenance guys to get a backhoe!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6VwXBYeJl7GXWUikx203exHEKoNpoRyKBZUy4hImm_4rLkDUOkxB7rMeKBk6vigBKMr7gwqY3h3xM5aThmeTUZH2FgXF9NWHLJE38PBGSJ6LMywzhQIySk3RlzjULV7CHXahbKJ8_Ak/s1600-h/stuck.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431432871319138146" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6VwXBYeJl7GXWUikx203exHEKoNpoRyKBZUy4hImm_4rLkDUOkxB7rMeKBk6vigBKMr7gwqY3h3xM5aThmeTUZH2FgXF9NWHLJE38PBGSJ6LMywzhQIySk3RlzjULV7CHXahbKJ8_Ak/s400/stuck.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So obviously, my start off to the semester was definitely with a bang I guess you could say. Then something happened yesterday. We started actual group therapy. We have to learn all the theories and practice them in a group setting. Each of us has a turn in leading, in which we get the majority of our grade from. Tuesdays, our professor demonstrates that theory and Thursday, the student that picked that particular theory leads. Let's just say I have never had a class where I both cried AND got peed on. It's amazing how many abuse survivors choose counseling as a career. Paying it forward. So, yeah, I'm not quite as alone in my endeavor as I thought. This semester will be a venture of sorts. I am thinking by the time it's over, our class will not want to part. I already love my professor. I'm already empathetic with my classmates. Am I ready to lead the group? Well, I'm a little closer than I was a few days ago. Luckily, I have until March 11th!! Oh and the peed on part...well...our class is raising a baby it seems and I've been waiting on the chance to hold him. He is 4 months old. His grandmother is a student but she doesn't look like a grandmother. She is younger than my mother. Anyways, I knew he was wet when I picked him up. I didn't care. I have a feeling it won't be the last time.<br /><br />I guess I better study. You know I'm going to leave with lyrics obviously. I'm thinking between two songs in my head as I write. I'll go with the shorter one. I have come to absolutely love a band called The Almost. Aaron Gillespie writes with such raw honesty. I love it. Maybe I will open MY group session with some lyrics. What do you think?<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><strong>-Dirty and Left Out-</strong></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>Hello, I swear I won't be too long</em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>Hello, I promise I'll be real strong</em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>Wait up, I just wanna tell you</em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>Hold up, why are you still here?</em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>I've been dirtier than you wanna know</em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>I've left earlier than you'll ever know</em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>Why do, you wanna be all listenin' to me</em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>Why do, you spread your arms and tell me I'm free</em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>Why do, you wanna be in my life</em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>In my life</em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>I've been dirtier than you wanna know</em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>I've left earlier than you'll ever know</em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>Jesus, Jesus, Jesus</em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>There's something about your name</em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>Master, saviour, Jesus</em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>I've been dirtier than you wanna know</em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>I've left earlier than you'll ever know</em></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>Jesus,Jesus </em></span>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-26273938420643280532010-01-21T13:56:00.005-06:002010-01-21T16:09:06.039-06:00Music!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7oV-eqU5Qa_RrK8ezd-BptyXvax_YltJG5J3x6ZLc6RXIdweNcdTDLIahLb3_yjlxVESSdXptc4DRwzqdwgtfnnytnlWZxe4T_wqzaPqWAKAowNs5xexIvtYAl64rUtfkXdRjPV_VLg/s1600-h/RED.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429288766692744594" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7oV-eqU5Qa_RrK8ezd-BptyXvax_YltJG5J3x6ZLc6RXIdweNcdTDLIahLb3_yjlxVESSdXptc4DRwzqdwgtfnnytnlWZxe4T_wqzaPqWAKAowNs5xexIvtYAl64rUtfkXdRjPV_VLg/s400/RED.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;">Well, crazy me went to a concert last Friday with my favorite concert partner, Cheyenne. (my niece) I am looking at some permanent hearing and nerve damage to my left ear after my last concert, when I was right next to the amps and since then can hear nothing but static. I go to the doctor in two weeks to find out the results of my MRI. Will it keep me from going to concerts? Not at all. That would be like taking a part of me away. Music is my life and especially Christian rock. Finally, after all these years, we have great lyrics, guitar riffs and music to appeal to even the hardest of rockers that didn't think it was possible to have both a great Christian message AND great rock. It's what I do. It's who I am. It's part of what I'm called to do with working with teens and adolescents in the future and now. I've had people tell me I'm too old. I spend too much time into my music. I go to too many concerts. You name it, I've heard it. Try telling that to my niece, who I take to every Christian rock concert that comes within a 50 mile radius. That's also part of what Bart and I love to do together. A passion we share. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;">To put everyone's mind at ease, last Friday, I did at least wear an ear plug in my bad ear and was still able to achieve the perfect concert experience other than getting elbowed in the face and hitting my niece in the jaw while jumping around like fools in the mosh pit. Here are some lyrics from a band called Children 18:3 and I think of them quite often when people try to put down my love of music and concerts. I have also posted a couple of pics from the concert last week. It was The Wedding, Pillar and RED. Great music, great guys, great messages. Rock on!</span></div><br /><br /><div><em><span style="color:#990000;"><strong>It's alright it's a stereotype</strong></span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#990000;"><strong>And I don't mind if you use it </strong></span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#990000;"><strong>It's alright you can say what you like </strong></span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#990000;"><strong>Just don't mock the music! ~Children 18:3<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0bk_pp_sqF3SxRIeq5ISZAu2ryfrILkeFtzzwOH7-l75yLyhFq2P6bRC8Ho8hebKcJtZmRGE4xUjkLZyZ-2-h_nHzrPsk6eRPrVlzqgFI6F1YePtFiFQMqsWEzYZYnpnlTKjC2EucAE/s1600-h/The+Wedding.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429288774479624034" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0bk_pp_sqF3SxRIeq5ISZAu2ryfrILkeFtzzwOH7-l75yLyhFq2P6bRC8Ho8hebKcJtZmRGE4xUjkLZyZ-2-h_nHzrPsk6eRPrVlzqgFI6F1YePtFiFQMqsWEzYZYnpnlTKjC2EucAE/s400/The+Wedding.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFjzk1aPqJheEsMQ9Q2jWPDbOJtR7Pu6NVYITp5O_pg_vxvfWLRTw_L4pO141awZSW4fNw2Oo4fiN2VwRLPPQZ2don1CZsokc8i9gtHtPeS3SvcvFBy3653z2A2XS7ob4QcD4ZiTKQFU/s1600-h/pillar.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429288765550640818" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFjzk1aPqJheEsMQ9Q2jWPDbOJtR7Pu6NVYITp5O_pg_vxvfWLRTw_L4pO141awZSW4fNw2Oo4fiN2VwRLPPQZ2don1CZsokc8i9gtHtPeS3SvcvFBy3653z2A2XS7ob4QcD4ZiTKQFU/s400/pillar.bmp" border="0" /></a></strong></span></em></div>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-64230891169902754262010-01-10T23:13:00.004-06:002010-01-11T00:39:53.083-06:00Light and Heavy<span style="color:#006600;">It's been a long weekend. I know it's a saying we all use, but seriously, it's Sunday evening and I feel like the last two days have felt more like ten. A few days ago, my baby turned 10. I laid in bed Saturday morning just thinking about the last decade. Where did it go? Have I been doing enough? Am I preparing him for what he will be faced with the next few years and for the rest of his life? This last year has been a year of milestones for Ross. He has had his first experience with church camp, accepted Christ not long after that and was baptized as well. Ross is my tender hearted, loving, giving, considerate and sensitive child. Unfotunately, he sometimes wears his feelings on his sleeves and I feel the need to protect him at times when I probably need to let him deal with harsh winds. There is nothing to me more beautiful than a son's love and relationship with his mother. It is unique and a relationship that paves the way for future relationships with others and especially eventually a wife and how he will treat her. I take this very seriously when it comes to my boys and how they will grow in their relationship with God and their relationship with me. Of course Bart has a role in there somewhere. (ha ha!)<br /><br />So this weekend, Ross wanted his best friend to spend the weekend and also requested to be by themselves with no siblings! So Reid and Reese had plans elsewhere and Ross and his friend played video games and did boy stuff and laughed and did disgusting things and well, you get the jist of it. I was also alone all weekend due to Bart's schedule so I wanted to spend some time with my niece so I begged her to come over Saturday!<br /><br />It wouldn't take much reading of some of my blogs to know how close I am with my niece so I try to pencil myself into her busy schedule when I can. I love our talks and feeling like I can contribute to her life. This weekend brought both that opportunity as well as the opportunity to just be quiet. Yesterday afternoon, I "helped" her break up with a boyfriend she felt was more of a friendship. (Oh how I remember those days..) She had pretty much made herself sick over it for the fear of hurting someone's feelings. I sat in the car with her and listened and she tried to explain to a 14 yr old boy why she felt the didn't need to be "going out" anymore. After she hung up, we sat there in the quiet as she replayed the situation and waiting for the relief to come of finally having done what she felt needed to be done. I could tell immediately that she wasn't sure of herself. They had been good friends as well. This was the first boyfriend she has really had that treated her as a 14 yr old should, he was shy and quiet and not pressuring at all, which she has dealt with already unfortunately. We rode together by ourselves to the video game store while the boys rode with my sister. She was at a loss on what happened next. Had she just done the wrong thing, would they still be friends...how did it work? Oh how I wish I knew the answers to all the questions that she had. I mean, I'm supposed to be a future counselor right? I talked to her of my own teenage experiences which were much similar. I always hated the break up period. Even when I didn't like someone, I never wanted to hurt anyone's feelings.<br /><br />The evening progressed and her mood only worsened as she thought of what she had done and any pain she might've caused. As trivial and young as it sounds, I felt for her as I realized just how much we are alike. On our way back to the house, I could see the tears just streaming down her face. The boys were in the back messing around and horseplaying so I tried to divert any attention that might've come her way. I could tell her tears were quickly turning to uncontrollable sobs. I wanted to stroke her hair and tell her it would be okay. They would be friends again before she knew it. I also remember at that age that you don't really understand the dynamics of how that works. It's all about here and now. So, instead, I turn up my rock music to allow her to cry as loud as she needed until it was out. My heart breaking as I listened. For once, even I was at a loss for words.<br /><br />We got to the house and I told the boys to go ahead. I prayed for the words to help her understand what she was feeling but they never came. So, when we got inside, I pulled her to me and wrapped my arms around her and didn't say a word. Just let her cry. I wanted to carry the weight of the situation for her. I love her that much.<br /><br />She went to the restroom and I thought, hmmm...heartbreak+teenagers=CHOCOLATE!! I begin to whip up some brownies and I went to my room to grab some sweats to enable me to eat chocolate! When I got there I hear the loudest and worst sobs coming from my bathroom. I tiptoed out so she doesn't know I heard. I had to take my plan to the next level. Funny movie!! I popped in House Bunny, crab the snacks and our Starbucks and finally got her to laugh! At the end we curled up in bed and I watched over her for a while thinking about how devestating life seems at that age. I'm glad I can be a part of her life and I'm glad that sometimes I know the words to say and I'm also glad that I know when to be quiet. Just like God wants us to be still and listen to Him, I feel like there are times when we need to be quiet for others as well.<br /><br />I was so tired this morning, I overslept for church. I wanted her to sleep so she would feel better as well. It will come as no suprise that tonight, the young couple are back together as of this evening. I'm so glad I don't have to relive my teenage years. Whew!</span>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-75565559942719399962009-12-29T18:24:00.002-06:002009-12-29T18:36:20.609-06:00Tonsillectomy Chronicles Day 15<span style="color:#330033;">I skipped alot of days I know. Christmas and the holidays kept me busy. Not busy enough to take my mind off the nagging pain in the back of my throat but good enough. It's definitely been better than the first week of ice picking and throat stabbing pain. It all seems to go in stages. The throat feels better but the ears hurt. The ears will feel a little better but the head hurts and well, you get the point. I felt decent around Christmas like I said and was able to eat quite a bit. I'm still eating almost normal but with caution. I think I got too excited with eating and over did it so I backed away from the Indian Tacos after the first one! I have finally made it to the day of my follow up appointment. (I thought it would never come!) It's tomorrow morning and guess what?? I have snow piling up all around me! It figures. I'm just curious about how I'm doing and if it is, in fact, okay to eat normally now. That aside, the weather is amazing...as long as I stay inside! The cold air pierces through my ears and straight to my throat! Yuck! </span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">Two weeks later and I will say that looking back it probably was the worst surgery recovery I have ever had to deal with. I can at least sleep all night now without the excrutiating pain. It hurts when I wake up but nothing like before. According to others, I've done very well comparitively so definitely thankful for prayers, research on the internet and of course, my husband for taking care of me while I was down all the while playing "mom" to the kids. Now on to my house. I am starting to see a path at least from my room to the kitchen. Mom and I have shoveled trash from kids' rooms only to have them pile back up with new toys. So, my PRE-New Year's Resolution will be to get this place back to normal...whatever that is. I hear it takes a few months to feel normal again but I can handle what I feel now especially once I can breathe! Never knew how much your sinuses were intertwined in all of this either!</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">One thing I absolutely can't give up is my game shows. Deal or No Deal is on now. Howie is calling my name!</span>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-65894129171363922672009-12-23T00:33:00.004-06:002009-12-23T00:41:41.716-06:00Merry Christmas!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrEBlQMkABdemHoxNPYHBjef2MaCLcS6VDU3WgNnn61QXNfKpwCfj1T-FxF7pMiG3nFZ3dx1bMdInxbIBLqFSupxWGK6ripRPD_lG7N5R5a4H-OvNcKUxGF_b0p7UMMPY2yyxCLJRIX0/s1600-h/menreese.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418317413782391874" style="WIDTH: 341px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrEBlQMkABdemHoxNPYHBjef2MaCLcS6VDU3WgNnn61QXNfKpwCfj1T-FxF7pMiG3nFZ3dx1bMdInxbIBLqFSupxWGK6ripRPD_lG7N5R5a4H-OvNcKUxGF_b0p7UMMPY2yyxCLJRIX0/s400/menreese.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqTyQBFmefS1hhyphenhyphenRmz5K94jXCn-mGDXopf9W2FEaNTwKR0EQFTGfN6svTkR0Nz6KJrgk250wHYrcZX5EVg9Dh00zJw1JzVhdK8jcHePD1eu1y0kSLlaEgeq39RWegE6SOs-XFVP_4dX4/s1600-h/winnie+and+mimi.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418317418353389682" style="WIDTH: 341px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqTyQBFmefS1hhyphenhyphenRmz5K94jXCn-mGDXopf9W2FEaNTwKR0EQFTGfN6svTkR0Nz6KJrgk250wHYrcZX5EVg9Dh00zJw1JzVhdK8jcHePD1eu1y0kSLlaEgeq39RWegE6SOs-XFVP_4dX4/s400/winnie+and+mimi.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4mVagaKpkfpyvOzeAUYgnfVoWvXl97Iusj_8xmJ1-WrDDN5EG8WSU6ZkqGII0MG7ZcvtzdBVACd6-LbB_ct2bt0gizKALLbA0YFQ85U4MJfbBrg044sTJ5R8KO_xHtVwadp4RpFk6ug/s1600-h/christmas09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418317407208464386" style="WIDTH: 256px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 341px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4mVagaKpkfpyvOzeAUYgnfVoWvXl97Iusj_8xmJ1-WrDDN5EG8WSU6ZkqGII0MG7ZcvtzdBVACd6-LbB_ct2bt0gizKALLbA0YFQ85U4MJfbBrg044sTJ5R8KO_xHtVwadp4RpFk6ug/s400/christmas09.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><span style="color:#003300;">We finally went to have some pictures done for my mom this past week for Christmas. It is just me and my sister and we are both done having children so my mom has been wanting pictures of all of us. I also wanted some with my sister as well. Now I'm just hoping she won't read my blog before Friday! </span></div><br /><span style="color:#003300;"></span><br /><span style="color:#003300;">I left off the big one of both of our families combined in case she does take a look. I won't put it past her!</span> <div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-33685537691602704482009-12-22T15:16:00.003-06:002009-12-22T23:37:59.590-06:00Same song different verse...Day 8<span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#6666cc;">I keep waiting to wake up one morning and be pain free and just wowed! Apparently that's how it happens. Not today. Not for me at least. Good news is that by the afternoon I'm doing ok or at least functioning! Mom is gracious enough to come over tonight to help me clean my house while my mother in law has the kids for the day and night since Bart's at work. I didn't get to really do much with my mom to celebrate her birthday so it's too bad we can't have dinner together. Unless we went to a place like Souper Jell-O. I woke up in so much pain this morning and it was just killing me to get the kids fed and wait on Bart's mom! Then it got better as I started drinking water. I'm hoping that part is better by Thursday because that is our Christmas with the kids and with Bart's family so I really don't want to be sickly and lying around or holding my ears for dear life as the kids open their presents. Try to turn agonized face into excited. I can really see that!</span><br /><span style="color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="color:#6666cc;">Seriously, I am about to wrap some presents and try to do something productive. Not to worry, I don't want to overdue anything. Oh and I actually ate mac and cheese for lunch!! How exciting!!</span><br /><span style="color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="color:#6666cc;">One last thought...if anyone has NOT seen Julie and Julia, it's a great movie. It's inspiring me to take on some kind of blog accomplishment. I don't like to cook though. Bake..yes. Maybe it will be Mandie and Betty. </span>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-9326345395737505592009-12-21T13:52:00.002-06:002009-12-21T14:17:21.041-06:00Tonsillectomy Chronicles Days 6&7<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">Yesterday was sooo not good. This recovery is like a rollercoaster. You never know how you are going to feel one day to the next. I was going to go to a family Christmas with Bart and the kids last night but as I was going to my mom's to get ready, I started feeling blah and Reese was sick so we stayed with Mom. Mom made some homeade potato soup, which I usually LOVE, but anything with salt in it burns my mouth these days like Dante's Inferno. My whole mouth will start hurting and then I can't get anything down. So frustrated! The first couple of days, I was drinking water and eating popsicles and now I can't even drink water! My afternoons and evenings are the best but my nights are still, well, nightmarish!! Christmas is now only a few days away. Bart goes back to work tomorrow. Luckily the kids will be with my mother in law tomorrow for most of the day. I still have to finish shopping and wrapping! I keep telling myself the good thing is, I did this in between semesters and before insurance change. I will make it through the holidays. I will. Er..I'm sure I will. Surely. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000099;">So I'm still able to get you caught up on game shows. I know the complete schedule now! I also know all the celeb gossip thanks to the E! channel being right below the Game Show Network. One word of advice to the folks at E!. You can't beat a dead horse. Tiger Woods being said horse.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000099;">I have also become addicted to reading other posts about recovering from tonsillectomies etc. Seems I still have a ways to go. And WOW! I must not have it to bad. No trips back to the ER etc. No bleeds. (hope I'm not jinxing myself) I am afraid of dehydration at this point since I haven't been able to drink as much but I am trying to at least get jell-o down since it just glides on down the throat and it is considered fluid! Whoop!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000099;">I missed getting to have Happy Birthday Jesus with our class on Sunday. Thinking I may still do a late party. I feel like I'm having to miss out on alot of the Christmas festivities anyways. I'm hoping to take the kids to the lights maybe Wednesday since that is our Christmas Eve. Santa is coming a day early since daddy works on Christmas Day and all. I've already booked a room at the Nana Inn for Christmas night for all of us! =) We will be eating dinner and doing Christmas over there with her and my sister anyways so it will be nice to just curl up and go to bed and have her help. She has also been a lifesaver coming over to help clean up around my house. It's been quite awful. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000099;">Well, Lingo is on and its time for me to try and D-R-I-N-K and rest some more. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000099;">Thanks for the prayers and please continue to pray for my "turnaround" to be soon! Like today or tomorrow!! </span>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-27766303809043237962009-12-19T18:24:00.002-06:002009-12-19T19:04:00.219-06:00Tonsillectomy Chronicles Day 5<span style="color:#660000;">Today is not much different from yesterday other than the fact that I attempted to go WATCH basketball. Ross had two games this morning and they were big games for our team. No, I didn't try to coach. I stayed home during the first game and Bart texted me the details and we lost so of course, I had to make an appearance in the second thinking they must've lost because Coach Mandie wasn't there. I must've been crazy!! Everyone wanted to talk to me and ask me where I've been and/or how my recovery was going. Then, I realized I couldn't yell during the game when I realized they weren't where they should be on the court etc. I started hurting, realizing I had been talking too much. My ears were killing me! So after the game, I went back to my bed! Tomorrow we have a big day planned with birthday parties and family Christmas parties so I'm hoping I feel up to it and didn't overdue it today. I am already giving up my Happy Birthday Jesus party at church with the kids in Sunday School since I can't talk and I rely on Bart too much!</span><br /><span style="color:#660000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#660000;">I decided to come hang out on the couch to watch the Cowboys/Saints game tonight. Watching Bart eating left over enchiladas was a pain but what was worse than that was watching Reese throw up all over the floor. I sure hope she is not getting sick. I am sure it has NOTHING to do with the fact that she probably hasn't eaten a real meal since I've been down. I know she had a honey bun this morning and I'm pretty sure she has drank all the egg nog she can hold the last few days. The thought of regurgitated egg nog is making my stomach sick so this is all I have for day 5. </span><br /><span style="color:#660000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#660000;">Note to self- Next time I have to have surgery (which I hope is years), make sure I plan out all the meals for the week(s) so that all Bart has to do is pop it in the oven or microwave. </span>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-49995318557683076302009-12-18T21:45:00.002-06:002009-12-18T22:02:53.019-06:00Tonsillectomy Chronicles Day 4<span style="color:#006600;">I know, I know..I'm starting out on day 4 instead of 1. If I would've had the energy to write during days 1-3, I most certainly would have! So far, recovering from an adult tonsillectomy is much like what I've read and also NOTHING what I expected. I have had so many strep throat experiences my whole life that I thought I could deal with the soreness and the inability to swallow comfortably. Holy cow! I was not expecting to feel like someone was stabbing my throat with a few sharp steak knives! On day 1, I did just as I had read and kept drinking the water and eating the jell-O. I felt I was doing well considering many of the blogs I have read showed that some couldn't even get the water down. I was good snuggled in my bed watching my game show network all day. That Carnie Wilson is a hoot on The Newlywed Game! Oh and I now know the names of every single Deal or No Deal model. I had read not to sleep too long and boy was that right. If you sleep longer than 5 minutes, you will regret it! You have to choke down some water on a throat that is as dry as the Mohave Desert and start over. You really don't think about the fact that your sinuses are all messed up too and you just can't breathe out of your nose. So, you are left to sleep with your mouth gaping open, drool coming out and all the while just drying up all the work you've done up until naptime. So, I figured that out. If I started to drift off, I would feel the pain set in and wake up pretty quick to down the water. That pretty much sums up my first two days. The dreaded day 3 came and everyone was right about it being bad. The ear pain sets in. Well, nobody said that day 3 was a set up for flippin' day 4!! I decided to go ahead and dope up and try to sleep through some of the ear pain. It was way too bad. Oh and note to self: don't eat anything salty. Bart made me some yummy thinned down mashed potatoes with chicken broth. Tasted really really good until the salt settled in to every single open wound I had in my mouth. Holy guacamole. One thing I've learned that I love is rice pudding!! Feels so good on my throat and is equally yummy. It seems to hurt worse when you eat but I know I need to keep eating to feel better so I try and push through that. </span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Day 4- Thankful for my husband for taking care of me these last few days as well as my kids. Get this- they have actually been relatively quiet! They come in to ask if I need anything and take away any jell-o or pudding containers etc. I sure hope I don't ruin Christmas by still being sickly! I've been worried about that. </span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Oh and Bart sent Reese to school in a princess play costume one day. I'm glad the teachers know I'm out of commission. I bet that was a good laugh. </span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">One last thing for day 4- Thanks to my friends that have brought me goodies. I know I can't eat much so thanks for thinking about me and hooking me up. You know who you are! </span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">I'm going to try to go to the game tomorrow. We have a double header. It's funny that I'm even typing that because I haven't even been able to make it to the kitchen and back to bed much so we'll keep our fingers crossed. </span>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-17304174185923229192009-10-23T12:38:00.001-05:002009-10-23T12:40:02.857-05:00It's gone!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2vnwMqwWnHPIwTThz5cK4YQdLcW221FvmwW2polnj2wt7Bhzq1P4TLBqvbgWTlBxWUJSHuDHF38G_8j-nktFfNBrCNfCVPgPX479f7sg5VdtnC4Qk_2TWragYx3Z-1x3kaF15fxtp9s/s1600-h/lost+tooth.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395851324068389714" style="WIDTH: 364px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2vnwMqwWnHPIwTThz5cK4YQdLcW221FvmwW2polnj2wt7Bhzq1P4TLBqvbgWTlBxWUJSHuDHF38G_8j-nktFfNBrCNfCVPgPX479f7sg5VdtnC4Qk_2TWragYx3Z-1x3kaF15fxtp9s/s400/lost+tooth.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><strong>And yes, the other one is already getting ready to come out!!! Thinking she will be minus two teeth before her 6th birthday!</strong></span>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-8659647367404163342009-10-17T17:56:00.000-05:002009-10-17T17:57:21.124-05:00Stay Tuned....A tooth is about to be lost.....Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-42752703201238077542009-05-24T18:07:00.003-05:002009-05-24T18:15:45.549-05:00Peaceful Sunday drive<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000099;">I got up this morning extra tired after a long day of soccer and baseball yesterday. We were all well over cooked needless to say. Bart worked yesterday and was on today as well, so while I was laying in bed, I told myself, "noone's gonna blame you if you don't go to church today." I laid there a while then got up knowing that not only would I blame <em>myself</em>, so would the kids! It is always so hectic when it is just me. Noone wants to cooperate or listen. Actually, I guess that's the way it goes in the Vest house regardless! I managed to get everyone dressed and fed and out the door. Only 10 minutes behind compared to the usual 20 or so! I marched them to the truck, handed out bibles, buckled seat belts and headed out. I was half way to McKinney when I realized it was unusually quiet for my bunch. Maybe they fell back asleep. They were so tired from yesterday. I turned around and this is what I got! (Don't worry, I was at a stop light!)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq21ih_ECGX-oZgRf9IBdV_yYsTQCqIauanh4kTA97_ArrpwpuKPSqkE6zAkHI4v9LGgmns6ayjEdAOHgyHoSMKiCvtfwoOxhgttnPShoEdFJecSUMzXCINpxjJPVZIE3_ciw0s6-qxo/s1600-h/Ross+reading.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339532657408904466" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq21ih_ECGX-oZgRf9IBdV_yYsTQCqIauanh4kTA97_ArrpwpuKPSqkE6zAkHI4v9LGgmns6ayjEdAOHgyHoSMKiCvtfwoOxhgttnPShoEdFJecSUMzXCINpxjJPVZIE3_ciw0s6-qxo/s200/Ross+reading.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEeQye4H-fiDu-dAbvKgdxPPhUH0IqydIlO6MGSDD4yHrAFswsj_sOev_r5d0xsgdOpaiUvi3jfM3gR1pji8h7q33AwygeD-PY_PqK_aqMdfNgGB-7A1pxTPSSBE2dVJMgwQCl-ytxf4/s1600-h/Reese+and+Reid+reading.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339532657993591282" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEeQye4H-fiDu-dAbvKgdxPPhUH0IqydIlO6MGSDD4yHrAFswsj_sOev_r5d0xsgdOpaiUvi3jfM3gR1pji8h7q33AwygeD-PY_PqK_aqMdfNgGB-7A1pxTPSSBE2dVJMgwQCl-ytxf4/s200/Reese+and+Reid+reading.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000099;">It's mornings like this when I know I'm doing something right. My cup runs over and my heart is smiling.<br /></span>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-75541640828005789322009-05-13T22:49:00.004-05:002009-05-13T23:14:41.202-05:002 adults plus 15 teenage girls equals madness!<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#003300;">A couple of weeks ago, I agreed to help my sister chaperone my niece's 13th birthday slumber party. What was I thinking?? When she first asked me, I thought, oh this will be alot of fun! Just a few of Cheyenne's friends and some time with my sister...what could be more fun? </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9OGZcelFUwe2xnJSr7XE4iVyYv9xCjBf9J5aBVhETm3kBSIzkNc3FfnhKVsW2LaiDiCjMAylmGXRWVsxJkViWIk_6pWpfBb9QhX2LccN14U_cTMd5RgsnE5sVG-lW9SV7_vpnMqiTl0/s1600-h/imadork.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335526261440459010" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9OGZcelFUwe2xnJSr7XE4iVyYv9xCjBf9J5aBVhETm3kBSIzkNc3FfnhKVsW2LaiDiCjMAylmGXRWVsxJkViWIk_6pWpfBb9QhX2LccN14U_cTMd5RgsnE5sVG-lW9SV7_vpnMqiTl0/s200/imadork.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Am I cool or What???<br /></span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#003300;">Well, first of all, it was around the same time as finals, so I was already more tired than usual. I say this because I am ALWAYS tired. Some say chronic fatigue syndrome, I say mom of three, full time student and married to a fireman with two jobs! Anyways, I show up to help set up the food and get ready for the girls. Then I find out that there are going to be 15 girls! I don't even know if I knew 15 girls close enough to invite over to my house for the night when I was that age! I'm still positive in my thoughts, thinking after they eat we will all settle down to watch Twilight. My fourth or fifth time. Their 3oth or so. Yeah, by the time the movie was over, I couldn't hear. All of the high pitched screaming over Jacob and Edward sent me immediately to the internet in search for hearing aids. Am I getting that old? I also found out that 15 different girls have 15 separate "favorite" parts of the movie. And each time one came on the screen, more screaming. </span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEg1-qmL9qLBDWNKV-bHY5DoIkwl56b5drl5X76dBe-envLGARj4SZ80SS4C881ZxcXWlqhLN3cFtIGyUghxoYKqyKr5skudw1u72TK3rhSsmwvTLALNkEN544Qu6tp5uZYYhQZKfJ-g/s1600-h/all+the+girls.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335526259393721362" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEg1-qmL9qLBDWNKV-bHY5DoIkwl56b5drl5X76dBe-envLGARj4SZ80SS4C881ZxcXWlqhLN3cFtIGyUghxoYKqyKr5skudw1u72TK3rhSsmwvTLALNkEN544Qu6tp5uZYYhQZKfJ-g/s200/all+the+girls.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#003300;">Finally, at 2:30am, I decide I really have to lay down. The girls are still in full swing of course. Ann and I figure we will lay down, take turns checking on them and watch some TV in the meantime. I found that it was much more effective to text Cheyenne then to go tell her to turn the music and/or TV down. So finally, at 6:30am, all girls were asleep. I was exhausted! I think we figured up that we got 3 hours of sleep all together! </span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKOZzGU6N3TJHDj3xq7nq4WgdmKqCOAs6vAgL2IQDbkP3xoYAy-qOjYdLqOBAbEkmZrqweY39EdjhUfnpJOgE7cQEqWaE0CddwNiS96XOGiBFBxg-VOtUX5McYqUyNc9XIU-Lz-m4uFE/s1600-h/girls+in+bed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335526258766196242" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKOZzGU6N3TJHDj3xq7nq4WgdmKqCOAs6vAgL2IQDbkP3xoYAy-qOjYdLqOBAbEkmZrqweY39EdjhUfnpJOgE7cQEqWaE0CddwNiS96XOGiBFBxg-VOtUX5McYqUyNc9XIU-Lz-m4uFE/s200/girls+in+bed.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#003300;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#003300;">I was tired but I definitely wouldn't have traded it! Cheyenne is getting to the age of needing someone to talk to and I'm glad I can be there for her. I'm basking in the aunt/niece relationship and am glad I can be that role model. I know that one day, Reese will look to her for the same thing so its important to set the example. </span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8cbM3Pwfh5a0pmMl-Qze-02R1N7SDE07xVsfLX0fHR42gRS8J9JWcq8MSRkAlakNJPlFQEs9PivXG1FaysTtzuXlYN7pGQMT_QB1kT4ZP6z4dZ7ME5mBgx_rOOGyt31TzRkZrItvnJg/s1600-h/me+n+chey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335526254996128242" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8cbM3Pwfh5a0pmMl-Qze-02R1N7SDE07xVsfLX0fHR42gRS8J9JWcq8MSRkAlakNJPlFQEs9PivXG1FaysTtzuXlYN7pGQMT_QB1kT4ZP6z4dZ7ME5mBgx_rOOGyt31TzRkZrItvnJg/s200/me+n+chey.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Look at how tired I look!</span></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2P4q66YCShGPJTIWePstTMDr6VulYOUd5EvDGhw6dKtPcoIJ0p8HK-B4ZliJlFv_ijyfsHE6XxKkhHLsfxc9Xo4uPquPcALPVtiXcTZmlze0sXo5D4CVcVzP51rvldzyau9EmO0iqzg/s1600-h/ann+n+chey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335526260273463922" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2P4q66YCShGPJTIWePstTMDr6VulYOUd5EvDGhw6dKtPcoIJ0p8HK-B4ZliJlFv_ijyfsHE6XxKkhHLsfxc9Xo4uPquPcALPVtiXcTZmlze0sXo5D4CVcVzP51rvldzyau9EmO0iqzg/s200/ann+n+chey.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#003300;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#003300;">Also, notice that Cheyenne is wearing her To Write Love on Her Arms shirt I bought her in the pictures! I was able to talk to some of the girls about it and was suprised that many of them had actually heard of it. Two of them had shirts as well. I'm so excited that Cheyenne is strong enough to say no to cutting and self injury and instead promote love and hope. So I have finally recooperated from such a long night and finals. Oh and in case you're wondering, I did switch my major back to Psychology and counseling! I'm right where I need to be and never felt better.</span> </span></span>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2636909539942358418.post-3309461979353755122009-04-26T20:47:00.003-05:002009-04-26T20:50:52.843-05:00Free Treasures, Yet Not so Free by Tammy Wisdon-VirginThis is something my cousin wrote and really touched me today so I wanted to share. I never knew there was someone else in the family that loved to write as much as me! Thanks for sharing Tammy!<br /><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#003300;">Imagine unearthing a treasure so valuable that it takes your breath away or leaves you in awe wanting more. This is what I ran into today as I was clearing out one of the flower beds. I began to pull up weeds. I tugged on roots and found some black tarp that was used to combat weeds by the previous planter, however, underneath that tarp was good soil! I had to push my way thru layers of mulch, shingle pieces, and even a Capri Sun pouch to find the tarp but there it was. I thought, "well this is clever. I've done this before." Matter of fact, I was thinking about doing that again once I had prepped the beds but the treasure I was seeing before my eyes distracted me.As I sat right in the middle of the dirt, I noticed there were two kinds of roots that I was having to wrestle with. The first I'll call superficial, only grew as far down as the tarp. The other, deeply rooted and so hard to pull that I literally feel on my behind a few times. It wasn't going to win though; I was going to make sure of that. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a stubborn streak within me.Right in the middle of the bed I began to tackle the stubborn root that wouldn't budge. I dug away at the dirt and dug some more to get to the root. Now, this root was underneath this tarp. It didn't have a barrier so it was free to grow and seek out the necessary nutrients. In the middle of the flower bed, sitting on my backside, hands dirty, no filthy, with dirt and fertilizer and the true treasures began to be seen. It's not the treasure that you can sell or clean up and use a decorative ornament. These treasures are those you cherish and protect within your soul, within your heart. God began to speak to me through the dirt and work at hand. Remember, I had two kinds of roots I was dealing with but I also had the black tarp material.The black tarp. What's the purpose for it? Well, a practical use is to protect or create a barrier from unwanted elements. But it's also used to hide or cover up things we don't want exposed. Sometimes if you pull up a tarp you might see a cherished vintage car or you may see a rusted, decrepit piece of junk. Either way, that tarp is a cover up. For me, it was a cover up of good soil that flowers need. Instead of using it, whoever it was, covered that soil and created shallow beds that was barren, except for the weeds. Isn't that like each of us?We cover up our faces with masks and cover our lives with lies. We hide what we truly are. We're depressed but we say, "I'm fine." We appear happy and joyful but behind the scene we're falling apart at the seams. We build walls so that no one can penetrate the very depth of our souls. I'll decide who or what is allowed in my "turf" of life. We cover up the results of anger with make-up or long sleeves. We hide addictions by pretending there's nothing wrong. We overcompensate the bad within by doing works of "good" thinking no one will notice. God showed me that we cover up ourselves way too much that we've forgotten what it's like to be real, to be shown, and to be who He wants us to be. From the time of Adam and Eve, we've been covering ourselves from shame and guilt as if no one can see through the charade. He also showed me that those lil roots are our attempts to clean ourselves up. We make ourselves pretty because of the ugliness inside. Our attempts are feeble and won't take a good hard grasp because we don't have the foundation to grab hold too. For those of us that call ourselves Christians, we have a lot of growing to do but if we can't or won't take the time to pull out those "weeds" of life, they are going to choke out all that is good. We say we are free but live in chains. We say we love Christ and want to be like him but we don't want to read on how to do that. We want to know God more and more, we say, but yet we don't take time to talk to Him. It's time to be naked, figurately speaking, and say what we mean and mean what we say. Let's be real because it futile to hide. We usually end up exposed anyways!Those hard to pull roots, well those roots were deep in the soil. I worked on that for what seemed like an hour. I had to work my hands and fingers deep enough to reach underneath and pull. First, I had to break away all the lil bitty roots to get to the big ones. But once I did it came out and I won. Or did I?You see those deeply planted, growing roots represents the world. We've been engrained with worldly ways for so long that they've grown way deep into our minds and hearts. You can read in the Bible that the "bad" things in our lives needs to uprooted. You can't just cut the plant, tree, or weed at ground level. It will come back. We can cover them up hoping they won't sprout through but ya know what? They're still there underneath. The only way to truly get rid of something unwanted is by getting to the root of the problem and ridding yourself of it, just as I did with that one stubborn thing right in the middle of the bed.You see, even though I have the bulb and the main part of the root base, I didn't get it all. There was one left but I couldn't find it in the dirt. With my own hands it's impossible but if I had the right equipment I could probably do it. However, it would no longer be by my own power. I was reminded of Jesus' teaching of He being the Vine and we are merely the branch. Remove the branch from the vine and it can't produce fruit. Remove the plant from the root, well, it dies. So does every attempt we do in life to make ourselves better. We just simply can't do it on our own power. I say let's take off our masks, the phony perceptions we give and be real. Let's be real with ourselves and let His power be made in our weaknesses. It's futile to do so otherwise. I began to look at myself at that point of the day, the point of God's lesson/reminder as I was holding the root mass in my hands. What have I been covering up? Have I been deeply rooted or have been only allowing my roots to go so far?I'll be the first to say I've covered some things up. I've said I was fine when I really wasn't. I've tried to handle things on my own without going to the One who can do it for me, thru me. As I washed the dirt and grime off my hands and as it turned to clay-like substance I began to think of how God had fashioned me. I reflected on how each detail of my being was strategically and methodically thought out and prepared for me. Who am I to question and try to drive the car of my own life. I don't know the detours or the roads laid out before me but He does. I think I'll slide over into the passenger's seat and give him back the wheel. I may not understand the why's, how come's, and what for's that will/has come. But I do have a choice to trust in Him who has my best interests at heart. Just when I thought I had seen the good soil today I found another treasure. Underneath rocks, boards, and black tarps (oh how they liked those things) I found a small pond. Imagine covering up a water hole capable of sustaining life and even giving life as if it wasn't there. Hmm, don't we do that too? Turns out a simple task of clearing some flower beds turned into a treasure find. I didn't say a treasure hunt because, to be honest, I wasn't looking for any. It was simply a task. Jesus isn't a task but our source of life and in Him, well, he's the only covering I need and that's perfect. My little treasures just so happened wasn't free. Jesus paid for all my sins, shame, guilt, and even my inadequacies with his Blood. It cost Him everything but the good part is, He wouldn't have done it any other way.Take with it what you may but this was a good day. A good weekend. Not because of what I've done or how I've felt. It's because of my time with Him. There's no better feeling and there's no price that can be paid to ever buy it either. To me that's priceless.</span></em>Milk Carton Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586495020042411725noreply@blogger.com0