Last Day of NaBloPoMo

I did it! 30 days of writing/posting something. Today's writing prompt is "What did you learn from doing NaBloPoMo?"

Well I learned I could do it, of course. I learned that it takes some planning to do a post everyday or you end up posting random items. Which is okay if randomness is what your blog is about. I learned the more you write the more you think of topics to write about. Also, sometimes you just have absolutely nothing to say. I would post random things on those days, I could of done some thinking or researching and actually came up with something worth writing though.

Well I've got to get going with my day. I probably won't post much the next couple of weeks due to finals coming up. Studying out ranks blogging. I will be putting up a Jesse tree tomorrow. I thought I would try it as it sounds neat and we need to be reminded why we celebrate Christmas.

Have a great day dear readers.

Day 29

Almost there, can't believe I've done the entire month thus far. Anyway today's writing prompt is "What is the last thing you do before bed?" Well, if I was being smart I would say turn off the light(actually that's not it either, the very last thing I do before nighty-night is turn off the t.v.).

I think they're wanting more of a bedtime routine thing. I'm not sure I have one though.

I send the kiddies to bed between 8 and 8:30pm. Hubby and I usually go somewhere between 9 and 10pm. So for routine it's kisses good night then after they're in bed Hubby steps out to smoke one last cigarette(I know, it's a very nasty habit and I really hope he's able to quit soon) and I begin turning off lights. Then it's our time to bathe and tuck in. No big routine, no setting out clothes or anything. Sometimes I remember to plug my cellphone in to its charger. We watch the weather channel or news for a few minutes then turn over to sleep.

Not very interesting, but that's our typical night.

Heirlooms

Today's writing prompt was/is to describe a family heirloom. Also to describe what it means to you personally.
Well, I can't really write on this one as I don't think we have any family heirlooms just yet. I have some old costume jewelry that may or may not be worth anything from my great grandma. I have some quilt tops from another grandmother. I have some crocheted pieces from a cousins grandma. None of these are actual heirlooms. Personally they mean a great deal in memories to me.
Heirloom is defined as: A valuable object that has belonged to a family for several generations. So by definition my family doesn't have these. I don't come from wealthy ancestor's. Mine on my mom's side came across the Atlantic either search of the American dream or for political reasons. The vast majority on my father's side is Native American. I don't have any Mayflower pilgrim ancestors or the like. Just everyday peoples.
So my goal is to keep what I am given from my grandparents and great grandparents in hopes that when my great or great great grandchildren receive them they are actual heirlooms for them to be proud of.

Sunday Post

Matthew 5:8-9

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Lazy Weekends

Love them and that's what we're having this weekend. I didn't do Black Friday shopping, didn't see anything I wanted to get even if I could afford to go splurge this week. Instead we've visited friends, dear daughter is still visiting. I put up the Christmas tree. We've watched movies and now I'm going to watch the rest of the new Conan the Barbarian movie with Hubby and oldest son while I go over some chapters for marketing. Nice, peaceful, perfection.

25 Days

So after this post I'll have made it 25 days of NaBloPoMo 2011. You know, it's not been too bad. Sometimes my posts were kind of small while I had to write something quick due to time and energy restraints. I've done it though.

So for a post Thanksgiving day post, the writing prompt is "Do you like to buy presents ahead of time or right when you need to give them?"

I would love to have a closet full of gifts to give throughout the year. One of the kiddies have a last minute invite to a birthday party? Lets just wrap something from the closet. No running to the store for a gift card(I really dislike giving gift cards). However, that's usually what happens.

I have a hectic life at times. Also, I never seem to know about birthday parties till a day or two before they happen. With my own bunch it's just easier to wait till a day or two before needing the gift or they have a tendency to try and hunt them down. Also we have smallish closets and just a small amount of available attic space (we really need to put some kind of flooring down up there to open up use of all that space). So last minute shopping is where it's at for us.

This also goes for Christmas gifts. While I would love to be done by Halloween, I haven't time for shopping and wrapping until after the second week of December (when finals are over). Plus, I love shopping when everyone else is also last minute Christmas shopping. There is a total different environment at the stores. I think everyone is nicer...well as long as you didn't go out today. Black Friday has a tendency to turn nice, little, pie-making grannies into monsters.

Happy Thanksgiving

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,"

Ephesians 5:20

A very Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours.

Twas the Day Before Thanksgiving...

...and all through the house, I'm searching and looking trying to decide "What will I fix this year?"

The past month or two has been financially tight as we recover from extra trips and extra bills.

We have food a plenty, however we don't have the little extras that Thanksgiving dinners make.

I have no pecans, no cranberries either, no pumpkin and all our fruit is in a can.

A turkey, yes we have two, thankful for the sales the stores do.

What I do have is flour, milk, butter, sugar and eggs, and two loving hands and great mind.

Thanksgiving is not really about the food or the parade. It's about being thankful for what you do have.

I have a husband who works hard to support his family. I have 3 sons who are growing in to kind considerate men. I have a daughter who is funny and smart. I have a roof over my family's head and food in their bellies.

So when we sit down tomorrow to the meal I have prepared I will give thanks to everything because I have everything I need.

15 Years

15 years ago today a wonderful thing happened. Hubby and I became parents for the first time. We were a little nervous but confident we could handle anything and everything. What can I say we were very young.

November 22, 1996 at 9:59pm the United States of America welcomed a new citizen.

Also in 1996: Duke Nukem 3D shareware was released, Ask Jeeves was formed, Ebay had just gotten started and we're using IE 3.

Oldest son at age 1

The following year brought: the bird flu, Hong Kong went back to China, Tiger Woods, a sheep named Dolly, and the Hale-Bopp comet.

In 1998, we welcomed a daughter. Also, the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, Windows 98, and Google.

1999 followed with the birth of another son and: the devastating Columbine High tragedy, the West Nile virus shows up, IE 5, MySpace, Bluetooth.

Next came 2000. We celebrated Oldest Son's fourth birthday, already the years were flying by too fast. We also experienced: the election of George W. Bush, and Y2K.

Quickly onto 2001. This year we welcomed our youngest child and: Watch our country fall apart and come together on 9/11, experience the terror of going to war in the Middle East, Hear stories about anthrax laced letters and get wary about checking the mail, Wikipedia goes online, the Ipod is released, as well as Windows XP.

The next 10 years sweep by and in this time period of your young life son you witness: the election of another president, the crash of the economy, and many other highs and lows.

I'm saddened that my children have to grow up in a time of war and terror. A time of financial hardships everywhere. A time of broken dreams and hearts. Still, son, you are the next generation. You are the generation that will help my generation fix the mistakes made and being made by the generation(s) before me.

My little golden haired boy. My child who loved eating the inside of a piece of bread, Barney, Teletubbies, George of the Jungle and Toy Story. My silly little boy who loved sleeping with a spoon of all things. Now you're nearly grown. 15, wow, it doesn't seem right. No longer a boy and not yet a man. What a hard age to be. You're doing great though. Your kind to everyone around you, respectful, responsible. You are working out a plan for your future and I know you'll do great. Just take you're time these next few years, I need this time with you before I send you out in the big scary world.

Taken earlier this year

And Now a Haiku...

Physics test tonight
Notes calling me to read them all
Dreaming of turkey



Not a good one I know, however since I have to get back to Archimedes, Pascal, and thermodynamics it's all you get today.

Day 20

Nothing much to type today. I've been feeling ill the past 3 or 4 days and hopefully I'm seeing the other side of it. This also means my brain is just not wanting to work at optimal levels right now.

So I hope everyone has had a blessed day and is looking forward to spending time with friends and family on Thanksgiving this week.

Happy Birthday Honey

sorry ladies he's taken :)

A very happy birthday to my amazing husband. Yes sometimes you irritate me. Yes sometimes I just want to thump a cast iron skillet across your forehead. However, you also make me laugh, make me feel loved, make me feel sexy. I love you good times and bad, always and forever. So happy birthday Honey.

Happy Moments

Today's writing prompt from Blogher.com is "What has been the happiest moment of your life thus far?"

Wow, How do I just pick one happy moment as the happiest? The traditional thing to say would be the day I got married, the birth of each of my children, earning an associates degree, Christmas morning. I don't have just one happiest moment. I even have a moment in my life that was good for me but not something you would normally pick as a happiest moment.

I have a truly blessed life even though it has had it's dark moments. Trying to narrow down though I would have to say my happiest moment happens every day. It's when I tell my children goodnight. It's the kiss on the cheek I get, and give, from my youngest son. It's my daughter remembering at the last minute something exciting that had happened or a thought she had and she can not wait a moment longer to tell me. It's the hug that I, sometimes, get from my middle son. It's the kiss on the forehead that my oldest gets, though this is happening less and less as he gets older. It's even when they all four keep getting up out of bed to tell me and their dad one more thing.

It's this moment that I feel the love of my children,and when I'm not feeling well I get tea made and blankets given to me before they go to bed. I have really loving children, though sometimes you have to look for the little things to see it.

So there's my happiest moment. What's yours?

Happy Birthday to Me and Happy UnBirthday to You!

...or if today is your birthday then happy birthday to you as well.

Yep another year older. Nope don't feel it a bit. In my mind and body I'm 10 years younger (don't ask me how I have these teenage children, I have no idea).
I don't have aches and pains people complain about when they get older (except aches and pains from running low fevers and feeling crummy today, those don't count). I don't have gray hairs (and Madames Loreal and Clairol will never tell if I ever got them). I have energy to keep up with my kiddies (I will have more energy once I finish losing weight and get checked for adult asthma...I don't run out of steam just breath and it's not from being out-of-shape).
In my twenties I was told "Just wait till you hit 30, it's all down hill from there." Well, this hill must actually be a huge plateau, because I have yet to see the other side. I'm sure as I go through my 30's and here "Just wait till you hit 40." Then the same in my 40's. Age is just a number, I truly believe you are only as old as you feel. Also I believe if you feel younger then you are it transfers itself to your face. Eating well, exercising and wearing sunscreen help too.

So I'm 33 now. What have I accomplished in the past year? Well I've finished 2 semesters plus a summer semester of classes, making me that much closer to my undergrad degree. I've been constantly thinking of changing my major...well have to see if I can bring my science grades up. I don't know because I do enjoy nutrition classes, but I really want to be more hands on with patients then a dietitcian is...I may just go with my original...get a degree, pass MCAT, apply to med school.
It's been a rough year with my daughter, lots of lows and a few highs with that one. Welcome to the experience of having a teenage daughter. Apparently those Hallmark movies have it all wrong.
It's not been a perfect year, but I have to say it's been a good one. Every year that I can spend loving my Hubby and kiddies and having a great family is a good one.

Have a very merry Unbirthday!

Being an Adult

Today's writing prompt is "What is the moment that you leave childhood and enter adulthood?"

Technically we all reach adulthood about the same time. I would say we're all considered adults once we are handed that high school diploma, shake hands and step off the stage. Usually between the ages of 17 and 19. Adulthood is pretty much a number.

I think this question would be better worded "What is the moment that you become a grown-up?" You can be an adult without being grown-up, in my opinion. I know plenty of adults who still have some growing up to do(at times me included).

We become grown-up when we start thinking of responsibilities before fun. When we realize that others depend on us to make good decisions. I'm not talking just about children depending on us, adults depend on each other as well. You make the decision to drive safely, you may of ensured that someone arrived home. You pay your bills, it means that another adult now has the money to pay theirs. Little decisions count.

Being grown up is hard. The responsibility can be tremendous, overwhelming. However it's fun too. As a child you couldn't do some of the things you can now. Also being a grown up isn't permanent/constant. You can have moments of being less then grown up. You should have these moments. They keep us grown ups sane.

Day 15! Halfway Through NaBloPoMo!

Today's writing prompt from blogher.com was about your favorite place. Well I don't really have a favorite or go-to place. However I do have favorite times of the year and one is rapidly approaching. I love this brief month of cheer when the world is turning gray for the winter months.
So for your viewing pleasure, I give you my favorite version of Silver Bells.

Sigh, I just love Bing Crosby's voice...they just don't make singers like that anymore.

Day 14...Facing Fears.

Today's writing prompt is about facing and overcoming fears. I'm not good at this, I'm a big chicken I guess. I get anxiety about calling unfamiliar people/places. It takes me a week to make a doctor's appointment sometimes (unless it's because one of the kiddies are sick, I'm quicker then).
I have to talk myself in to things. If I want to ask about changing my major, I talk myself in and out of going to or emailing the person I need to talk to before doing it.
I can't say I've ever overcame a fear. I have a fear of heights after I get so high. I could climb an average tree no problem. I get more then say 20 feet up and my body freezes up on me and this sensation that I'm going to die comes over me. I'll talk myself through it, because the view is awesome and I want to look. In my head I'm telling myself over and over that I'm safe, I'm not going to fall...I may be trembling and white knuckled but I know I'm safe I just have to get my body to believe it.
I have a fear of deep water. I panic if I go past were I can touch ground and still keep my face out of water. I'm not a strong swimmer so this is something I've not been able to talk myself through.
I have a fear of losing my children. I still sometimes get up at night, stand by their doors, and listen to them breathe in their sleep. I have great kids. Yes they can be annoying, frustrating and worrying, but they're great. Since the day my oldest was born I've been afraid that it's all too good to be true and will be taken away from me. This isn't something I'll ever overcome.

Sunday

Jeremiah 29:13

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Today's random quote is a good one. I say this because last Sunday my oldest son made the decision to accept Jesus and become baptized. This morning he was baptized. I'm so happy and proud for him. When friends and family were asked to stand, I looked down and saw at least a dozen teenagers stand up for him.

I didn't get a good picture of him, I was too far away up in the balcony. With the way our church is designed you don't get a straight on view of the baptistery when you sit on the ground level. Still there you can sorta see him being submerged.

Today's sermon was on having a closed mouth, a caring heart and a clean mind. Based on James 1: 26-27. The closed mouth meaning we should watch our tongues. Tongues have a great amount of wickedness in them and you should check your before you send it wagging. Kind of a think before you speak thing. A caring heart being we should love each other like a father loves his child. James 27 mentions visiting widows and orphans. The preachers said this isn't a check in say hello kind of visit. It's a if-you- see-something-needing-fixing-fix-it visit. He used how a father will do anything to make sure his children have everything they need. We should do others the same way.

A clean mind, well that's sort of self-explanatory I think. We should not let our selves be tainted by the crap going on in today's world. We should seek to keep ourselves pure as possible.

Weekend Wanderings

I don't really have any idea what to blog about today. Blogging for like what 12-13 days straight will do that I guess. It's been such an ordinary day, which is quite lovely actually. So I decide I'll find some interesting posts from blogs I read from the past week.

Nicole, from over at Baking Bites, posted a recipe for No Knead Pumpkin Bread that may have to be added to my Thanksgiving menu...I may have to make some prior to just try it.

Cammy, from The Tippy Toe Diet, posted links to 11 Healthy-ish Recipes on Veteran's day. My favorite is the Harvest Apple Cake...go check her out.

If you want to see some gorgeous photos of the Ozarks (and just gorgeous photos of other places), check out Tammy at Photos By Tammy.

Spring fever already? I'm getting there and winter isn't here yet. Kylee, from Our Little Acre, posted about planting Crocuses in the lawn. Be ready to enjoy those small purple beauties when the spring thaw comes (I have some planted down by my mailbox with tulips...can't wait to see them in March).

Mary from Owlhaven posted crafty Christmas ideas. I want to do the cinnamon candles. They would be great in my home (and as gifts too).

Okay I think that's enough for today. Hopefully you enjoy reading what these other bloggers write about. I have to go pop some cinnamon rolls in the oven, but thats a post for tomorrow.

3 Wishes

It's 11/11/11 so today's writing prompt was to make three wishes.

Wish one:

I wish for strength. Mental strength to finish college successfully, Mental and emotional strength when it comes with raising my children(and dealing with attitudes and teenage drama). Physical strength so that I can continue on my path to be healthier, fitter.

Wish two:

I wish for more time. I need more then 24 hours a day. 30 might do it. I need time to slow while my children hit this last leg of growing up before they are out on their own. I need time to ensure that I'm doing my best by them and they will be ready to be good, caring, responsible adults. I need more time to spend with my hubby. I don't have enough time to show him how much I love him. I need more time to spend with my other family members. I would love to have time to drive and visit with my sisters that live anywhere from 4 to 8 hours away. I would love to go to Kansas and visit with family that haven't seen me since I was a baby. I need more time to get everything done that needs done.

Wish three:

I wish for everyone reading this to have an extra wish. If I could get my first two wishes I would have everything I need to accomplish all I want to accomplish in my life. Some people need more, some less. I'm somewhere in the middle. However, if I didn't struggle a bit in getting what I want then I wouldn't think it worth it when I got it. I never wanted an easy life, just the tools to get the life I want.

My Passion

Today's writing prompt is "What is your secret (or not-so-secret) passion?"

When thinking of this question a few of my passions ran through my mind. The one that stuck out the most is my passion for healthcare. My personal goals that I want to achieve should I achieve my professional/educational ones.

I want to bring back the country doctor. The doctor who brought his little black bag to your house when you were too sick or injured to leave. I want to visit the elderly ladies and gentlemen that are trying their best to stay out of nursing homes. They want to live at home but maybe they don't have a ride to go to the doctor and keep their diabetes, blood pressure or other chronic illness under control. I want to visit the newborn babies and moms who don't want or need the babies to be exposed to illnesses at the doctor's office. The patient with autoimmune problems, maybe just finishing up radiation treatment. The person who survived a traumatic automobile accident and isn't mobile enough yet to come in for a check up.

I want to have a staff who feels the same way. The nurse who does follow up calls after a patient has been in the hospital. The nurse practitioner/physician's assistant/fellow doctor who may handle office visits while I'm doing home visits or takes turns. The receptionist who leaves her post to open the door to a young mom struggling with making sure her children get inside while having arms full of baby and/or the paraphernalia children and babies require. Staff that honestly cares about their patients. Staff that refuse to become jaded in today's society(okay maybe that's just a dream).

I also want to encourage good nutrition as a main way to achieve good health. I'm working on this right now with myself. I want to work on it with my patients as well. A lot of health problems can be overcome with we would just open our eyes and look at our plates. However, this is really difficult for some people. I want to help them learn.

Now, this might not sound so passionate on your computer screen. However when I talk about it I feel it, it bubbles up out and I could go on and on, on the good I want to be able to do. I can't do this good without successfully finishing my education so I need to get off here and finish a chemistry lab report. Have a wonderful day dear readers.

Day 9 of Nablopomo

Yesterday's post title was wrong. I wrote day 7 and it was actually 8 so here we are 9 days into NaBloPoMo. Woot, on a roll.
Today's writing prompt from blogher is "When was the first time that you realized that your home was not like other people's homes?"

Well I've always lived in homes not like everyone else's. Kids know pretty quick that their home life is different, and so I could not pin point an actual time that I realized it.
Even today my home is not like everyone else's. It's a bit messier, a bit more crowded, a bit nosier then what I think everyone else's is. I like it though. It's messy because we spend our spare time as a family not freaking out over dust bunnies. It's crowded because we bought a house within our budget. Which means there are 6 people, 2 small dogs, and a cat in a house that kisses 1500 square feet(and we think that it may be actually a few feet smaller). Outside we have 2 bunnies, 2 chickens, 1 rooster, 1 big dog and a goat. We have 1.3 acres to call our own.

I'm sure our neighbors are probably different. Some may even be what's considered typical suburban families/homes. Not all, not the new neighbors with the minitature pony. Not the neighbors with all the dogs and chickens, not the other neighbor(the vet) with chickens, not the one at the end of the street with 4 dogs of varying sizes that bark when you run by. I don't mind barking, they're just doing their job.

So we're different, but our different is my normal. So while I've always lived in a home not like everyone else's it's okay with me.

Day 7 of NaBloPoMo

Today's writing prompt is "Has anything traumatic ever happened to you? Describe the scenes surrounding a particular event ."

Hmm, yes stuff pretty traumatic has happened to me. I had a pretty traumatic childhood. So do I pick a story from back then? My adult life has been fairly tame in comparison to the first 13 years or so of my life.

I'll give it a shot...

I grew up in a small town in the Ozarks. One of those places were everyone knows everyone and everything. If something bad goes on in your family...well, they're more likely to look away then try and do something (the movie Winter Bone depicted the type of people I grew up around very well). My mom married my stepfather when I was four years old. Everything went down hill rather quickly afterwards. I'm not going to tell about everything that happened the 7-8 years they were married, that would take too long. The one I'm telling is probably the only time anyone came to our rescue.

I was about 11 I think. Mom had just came from the grocery store and unloaded the groceries. They were still in bags, when everything started. My stepfather was an alcoholic, a violent person prone to erratical outbursts of anger. This day happen to be a bad one. He started yelling at mom asking where his guns were. Apparently she had hidden one or two out of fear. He started slapping and pushing her and I guess this day she had enough. She told us kids, there were three of the five of us at home that day I think. I know my brother was at our grandparents, but my memory fails me if one of my sisters was there too.

We each grab an arm full, my sisters being so young an armful was a bag of chips or marshmallows. We run down the driveway and start running down the highway we lived on. It didn't take long for my stepfather to get in the van and chase after us. He pulled the van sideways on the highway trying to block our path of escape. My mom and other sisters make it to the field beside the road. My middle sister didn't make it. My stepfather had her and was trying to take her to van. I pull her loose and we get to the ditch. A car drives up and asks if we need any help. Mom hollers "Call the police!" My stepfather yells at the man to stay out of it and yells at us that he's going back to the house to find his guns and kill us all. My mom tells me to run to the store for help. I was gone before she finished the last word.

I'm running and crying, going as fast as I am able. I fall in the gravel parking lot of a trailer fabrication place that is on the corner of the two highways near were we lived. I see people staring at me, I'm too worried that if I don't make it to the store my family will die to stop there.

I cross the highway and burst in telling the kindly owner of the store to call the police, my stepfather is trying to kill us. I'm sure I freaked everyone in the store out. My long dark hair all straggly, a knee scraped up and bleeding, my eyes wild with fear and I'm out of breath due to the run. The store owner puts me in the apartment attached to the back of the store. I'm imagining all sorts of terrible things happening to my mom and sisters while I'm safe. Waiting anxiously for them to appear. It doesn't take long, but feels like forever. We huddle back there waiting for the police to show up. My stepfather shows, we can hear him yelling at the store owner asking were we are. Finally either he leaves or the police ask him to leave. The police give us a ride to our grandparents(my stepfathers parents) home. We stay the night there then go over to a friend of the families home. We're there for a few nights before he finds us. In truth he probably knew where we were the whole time. He takes the van my mom had went and gotten from home and leaves us with an old jeep type vehicle that didn't run well. The next day we get police escort to the county line so that we can stay with another family member.

This hiding and worrying that he is going to find us is terrible. After a few days here we end up at my grandparents home two hours away. This running doesn't last long, and when I finally feel we are in a safe place...he calls. He feeds my mom the line "He's sorry, it' won't happen again. He's changed." blah, blah, blah. Typical of an abused woman, she believes him and goes back. We have two more years of torment before he finally dies of cirrhosis of the liver.

My childhood is also why I'm slow to trust, quick to distrust and believe people never change. I've never seen any evidence of it anyway.

One More for Today

Just a quickie...

I found this blog on the blogroll at Blogher. Just reading a couple posts and my breath catches. My eyes tear up. I feel this could be me, I hope that this won't be me, I pray. I feel the pain in the posts.

I've seen the posts in the past, these stories repeat themselves. The names change, the places...but the story stays the same. I pray this doesn't become my story.

However I encourage you, dear readers, to go over to The Notebooks of Mother X and read her story. She's a great writer and draws you in so well.

Balance?

Today's writing prompt is a good one. "How do you balance your children, relationship, and work life? "

I wouldn't call my life balanced at all. Between my classes, kids school and other activities, church, Hubby's work. It gets very unbalanced and crazy. I can only wish for some semblance of balance around here.

My typical day goes like this:

On Mondays and Wednesdays I wake up about 5:30am(after hitting the snooze for at least 30 minutes). As I walk down the hallway toward the coffee pot(that is the only object that exists at 5:30am) I'm turning on bedroom lights and telling the kiddies it's time to get up. I get to the coffee pot and start the manna from Heaven. I then go back down the hallway, telling any stragglers that it's time to get up and ready, and get myself dressed and ready for the day. Sometime during this time I usually kiss the Hubby good morning. Next, I go back up the hallway, checking again to make sure everyone is up out of bed and at least pretending to get ready for school. I'm also deciding breakfast, usually cold cereal on these two days. I grab my coffee and kiss Hubby good bye.

At 6:15-6;20am I'm telling the kiddies it's time to get stuff together and how much longer they have before time to head out the door. 6:30 am we are out the door and heading down the driveway to wait for the bus(only exception was last week were I had to stay on the front porch due to my poor banged up foot which is still sore but I think is healing nicely, thanks for asking). Between 6:32 and 6:35 the bus arrives to pick up the kiddies. I then head back to the house to get my stuff together(books, lunch made, gym bag ready) and get out the door by 7:00am. I then go through the next few hours sitting in lectures, going to the gym, studying, and more lectures before leaving for home between 6:30 and 6:55pm. Well that's Mondays, Wednesdays I add two labs then leave for home around 8pm.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays my mornings are calmer. Routine is pretty much the same but these days I'll fix a simple but hot breakfast. After the kiddies are off to school I can check emails and do a check to make sure homework is done or do any last minute studying. I leave the house about 7:45 to 8:00am to get to school early so I can find parking anywhere else but BFE. Tuesdays I have two classes, unfortunately they are 6 hours apart. So this day is my library and do homework/studying for the week day. Thursdays I have the same two classes plus lab in between and a fitness class for the next couple weeks anyway. I leave campus about 6:45pm to head home.

Once home, no matter what day, I eat whatever dinner Hubby has produced lovingly for his family(or whatever he threw together and said good enough, both work for me). I kiss the kids goodnight and watch some t.v. or check emails, blogs and then go to bed myself...usually by 10:00pm.

Fridays are great, morning routine is the same, but I don't have classes so it's home all day and hopefully finding the motivation to clean, do homework, study for finals that are rapidly approaching.

My weekends are my balance. I try to make sure I have the majority of my homework done during the week so that I can spend time with my family during the weekend. Now, finals week does negate this a bit due to the stress and anxiety making a big urge to cram every bit of knowledge I can in my lil' 'ol brain the weekend before.

I'm blessed that I don't have to work and thank God that Hubby has a good, steady job(right now, it's not always been steady). If I had to work then the balance would be off even more, my weekends would be full of clocking in and out and I would miss my family greatly(been there done that, didn't do well).

After writing everything down the balance isn't as bad as it seemed when I was thinking of it beforehand. I guess things always seem worse till you give them some light.

So my balance currently is just try to make sure everything gets quality time. I try to give my classwork quality, my Hubby gets some quality, my kiddies get some quality...my housework is lacking somewhat, I'll catch that up between semesters.

Oh and heard this song today, think it kind of suits:

Great Day

My oldest son has made the decision to accept Jesus and be baptized next Sunday morning. God is working in my family this year. My sons are much braver then I was at their age, smarter too I think.

Day 6 of NaBloPoMo

Matthew 6:34

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Sitting here getting ready for church. Well, I'm ready I'm just waiting on it being time to go. I missed going last Sunday. We skipped due to my sprained foot and Hubby is a big worry wart when it comes to me. I notice, I'm not sure he notices how much he worries when I'm sick or injured but I do. Sometimes I resent it a little, it feels like he's treating me like a child. However, I do know it's his love for me that makes him worry so, so I try to just accept it.How do you like that bible verse at the top? I was looking through random bible verse websites and that verse popped on this site and I thought, hey that fits how our life has been going the past couple of weeks. Financial strains, school strains, health strains...everything seems to be piling up. I'm one of those people who like to plan and then make plans for plans. I will have plan A, B, C,....and so on. It's how I deal with uncertainties. It keeps me calm, unless something comes up that I don't have a plan for. Then I freak out a little, I don't do surprises good or bad. So I'm going to try, for a little while anyway, to not worry so much about tomorrow. I do have enough going on with today.

Weekend Plans

Well, I don't really have any. I took my oldest son to his Civil Air Patrol meeting this morning ( I have to say it makes my heart swell with pride to see him in his uniform). I've read various recipes thinking of ideas for quick weekday breakfasts, looking into freezer meals. I've raked the front yard closest to the house. I've played with my big girl (a german shepherd/akita mix) Elizabeth. I've watched t.v. did some searching using Swagbucks in hopes to earn a few more bucks so I can get an amazon card or something.
Tomorrow is church and getting ready for week, so nothing big going on. I'm kinda glad for it, quiet weekends are so needed at times. Especially with the holidays quickly approaching.
I've gotten my scarf a little more then half way done. I'm going to finish it this weekend and begin on the kiddies. I've got to motivate myself to work on it more so I can get them all done in time.
Oh and this is day 5 of NaBloPoMo , I have to say I'm on a roll. Hopefully I can keep this up for 25 more days.
Speaking of NaBloPoMo, if you haven't checked out the blogroll on Blogher you ought to. I enjoy reading others blog and like the ability to see bloggers I haven't read yet. Maybe later, like tomorrow, I'll post a few I found that I like.

Well I Caved...

Not totally though. I made a new Facebook account. There were so many websites I like to fan and enter contests and guess what...they require a Facebook account. I do miss the ease of sharing photos on facebook with my family and not worrying if they got the email.

What I've noticed is that since making a new account I'm not interested in status updates. I doubt I'll update mine much unless something exciting happens. Then I'll probably post here first anyway. I much rather tell the whole story then just a piece of it. I'm also only "friending" a select few people. Just close family and friends, mainly my siblings and a few cousins, aunts and uncles and my dad (my mom doesn't get on there much). Former classmates, while I do fond memories of school, are just excess noise unless I've kept contact with them over the years (I haven't). I pray they continue to have great lives (because everyone's life is great on facebook), but don't feel the need to include them in mine. Same thing with some relatives, I wish them well and when we meet in person I'm more then glad to see them. However, I don't see the need to know every little detail of their life on facebook.

My sisters don't post on facebook much except to share pictures. We call each other when something comes up (and even when nothing happens, just to check in). One of my sisters doesn't have internet so with her it's snail mail and phone calls (she'll be happy to see my free pictures from Walgreen's I'm going to go pick up here in a bit). My dad doesn't use facebook much either.

I'm also realizing I really need to pick up the phone as there are a handful of loved ones I haven't talked to in a few weeks.

I think the time off facebook has served me well, and it's better I created a new one instead of reactivating the old one. I can use as a tool now and not as a habit.

Day 4 of NaBloPoMo

"When you are writing, do you prefer to use a pen or a computer?"

I was going to write either then got to thinking. I rather write my thoughts down with paper and pen then type them up on a computer. This way I can edit what I write. However, when blogging, I usually just type what comes through my brain at that moment. I know this is obvious with the random and sometimes erratic posts I post.

Okay and now on to something else...

I'm getting nervous about Christmas coming up. Money so tight right now and getting tighter. I feel like we are in quicksand and it's starting to suck us in even faster. Hubby is trying to make financial decisions and he's not quite consulting a calendar or me to make sure we can handle what he's doing. He's trying to get stuff caught up and telling banks that yea we will pay such amount on this date. Then not realizing that um, hun, we have 2 other moderate sized bills coming out automatically on that date. I'm going to go through the bills and make a calendar so I can show him what is coming out on what date. I've tried to write them on a calendar before, but I think he ignores it. I also constantly remind him what is coming out when. He has selective hearing at these times.

I'm flirting with the idea of going back to work part-time. Trying to figure out how I can fit in 16-24 hours of work a week on top of being at school approximately 23 hours a week, and another 15 hours or so of homework. There would be no time for the kiddies or Hubby, no time for church. It would suck majorly. Also another thing is that it wouldn't bring in much money-wise. I would only be bringing in approximately 200-300 every two weeks, probably closer to the 200 actually. CNA's don't get paid what they deserve. Another downside would be that during holidays I don't have a babysitter right now, and the kids would have to be home by themselves for the time I'm at work. Yes my oldest is almost 15 and could probably handle it, but I'm not ready for that.

I'm really considering this, between bills, holidays and my van making an awful knocking sound and needing a new tire...

I really wish we were smarter with money, I wish I could get more cooperation with the budget. I know we could make it on what Hubby brings home. Many families do it on less. However, every time I try to start a budget, Hubby wants to go on a shopping spree. Because budgets are so restrictive at first he starts to feel it and goes against it. I know I could set one up and after 6 months to a year we would be fine and getting ahead. Hubby likes to have one paycheck that's free each month. I try to tell him we can't do that with the amount of our bills. A $900 mortgage payment is much easier to handle if we set some back 4x a month then if we try to pay it out of a check and a half.

It'll get easier eventually. I have to graduate college sometime, right? I'm so tired of pinching pennies when it feels like it's totally unnecessary.

Yay Day 3 of NaBloPoMo

Today's writing prompt is: "Can you listen to music and write? What song did you hear today?" As I haven't yet listened to music today I can't answer to all of that question. I've been listening to Klove a lot lately and really loving Mikeschair song "Someone Worth Dying For." As far as listening to music and writing, yes I can and do quite often.

Oh and here is my favorite current song(never thought I would be liking Christian music so much, but it's so calming while driving).

What Would You Eat For Your Last Meal?

"If you knew that whatever you ate next would be your last meal, what would you want it to be?" Today's writing prompt is a bit odd to me. If I knew that my last meal was coming I don't think I would be worried about what I would be eating. I'd be more worried about the up coming lost time with my kiddies. That last kiss from Hubby. Whether I have the chicken, steak or fish would be the last thing on my mind.

I would be gazing at the loving faces of my family for one last time. I wouldn't want to be distracted by something as unimportant as food. What good would it be to worry about that last meal? Any nourishment gotten from it would be a waste.

Favorite Part About Writing?

Today's prompt for NaBloPoMo is, What is your favorite part about writing?

For me that would depend on the type of writing. If I'm writing for school, say a research paper, then it would be the research part. If I have to write poetry then none of it (I really suck at writing poetry of any type). Essays are okay as long as I have a good topic. If I'm writing for fun, such as a blog post, then it's the feeling of release. My thoughts, my worries, my achievements, my failures. I put on my blogs. I find that after I write these down, good or bad, then it's gone. I no longer have that worry since I gave it to the universe. At least I don't have it so bad it's totally stressing me out. It eases some, then I read other blogs and realize I don't have it so bad. It's easy to become rather singular in today's world.

I don't do creative writing. It's not that I don't have a good imagination and cannot come up with several ideas. I'm just not good at getting those ideas down on paper to where they make sense. Blogging allows for some randomness. Writing stories doesn't. So I'll never be the next Christine Feehan, or Stephen King, or even a Harlequin book author. That's okay, I leave all the creativeness up to my daughter (who has a blog for her writing HERE). She has the way with words that I lack.

So that's my thoughts for today. What is YOUR favorite part about writing?