Unanswered Prayers

Yes, occasionally I pray. Sometimes I pray for the health of others, sometimes for their well-being in general, and sometimes I pray that certain things happen in my life (yea I am aware that is selfish). I have always believed that things in life happen for a reason. I try not to look at situations in my life as regrets, but rather as lessons learned. Later, when I haven't gotten the selfish prayers I asked for, I realize that I am grateful that I didn't. I feel as if I am taking a path through the woods, and we are given short-cuts as to not have to walk further into the darkness...we pass path after path until we can't take anymore of the pain, when we finally turn off of the path and onto the short-cut into the light. Where ONCE again we are given another chance. 

I feel like I am finally on the lighted path relationship wise, as a mother, and soon my career. Never again to be led by the stupid of the world into the darkness.

"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."~Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

my 31st b-day, i took my first step into the light

Product of the Week~Jake's toy

IF you know Jake (my 1 y/o boxer) you know that he tears up EVERY toy we bring home. There is ONE product that we have that hasn't been torn to shreds. 

http://www.kongcompany.com/worlds_best.html

These toys are great,  no matter how long he chews and chews the are virtually indestructible! Another great feature is being able to put treats inside of them, keeping your dog entertained. Dogs need a brain stimulation, and putting a treat in the toy to figure out how to get it out gives them just that.

If you have a pet, you will LOVE this product!

Anti-Valentines Day

I can't stand Valentine's Day. The moment they start putting out EVERYTHING red, pink, and white I feel a wave of nausea come over me. Could we get anymore cheesier??? The best thing about Valentine's Day?? The day after when all of their chocolates are on sale. 

I once asked someone what the point of V-Day was, and their reply?? It's the one day a year when your love lavishes you with Romance....WHAT???? wait one minute, there is something wrong with this picture! Romance should be ALL year round! Who really wants a dozen roses because someone told your love that they HAD to do it??? UH NO, I want them because I crossed you mind and you wanted to show you appreciate me. Going out to dinner on V-day is a joke! You have to make reservations in advance, there are millions of people, traffic...tell me which part of all of that is romantic to you?

The boys came home with a list of students in their class, so that they can bring Valentine's cards. I told them to go back and tell their teacher that our religion doesn't celebrate. (yes I thought it was hilarious) They both looked at me like I was absolutely insane, and proceeded to tell me how they will have to go and do work if they are unable to participate. Great, so now I have to go to Wal-Mart and head down that dreadful V-day aisle with everyone else in town to buy some cheap, cheesie cards in order it insure that my boys don't have to do extra work. JOY!!

Remember, you don't have to wait for that one day out of the year. Do something meaningful tonight. Plan, shop, and cook his/her favorite meal. (and clean the kitchen) Bring her/him home something small (but thoughtful) home one day. Grab your love!!! Tell that you love them EVERYDAY!!! Trust me your relationship will thank you for it!!

For all you History Nerds: 

http://www.history.com/content/valentine/history-of-valentine-s-day

"There's one sad truth in life I've found
While journeying east and west -
The only folks we really wound
Are those we love the best.
We flatter those we scarcely know,
We please the fleeting guest,
And deal full many a thoughtless blow
To those who love us best."
~Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Incentive

Last night a thought came to my mind, what if we gave non custodial parents who pay their child support a tax credit?? Custodial parents get a child tax credit, why not the ones that help support them?? I know there is a small percentage of child support payees that have been allowed to claim the dependents on their tax return every other year, but their are a lot that do not. A lot of people might think that supporting ones children should be incentive enough, but that isn't always the case. And SOME child support payees pay a large amount of child support. This tax credit wouldn't have to be anything HUGE, just enough to feel "appreciated". Maybe, just maybe, this incentive would be enough to make the dead beat parents of the world re-think not paying their child support. Most non custodial parents that I know use their refund money for the children anyway. Good way to STIMULATE the economy...

But HEY what do I know??

"Although there are many trial marriages... there is no such thing as a trial child."  ~Gail Sheehy

Alot of Children Left Behind

Haiti story on the news last night about children being adopted and saved. Very heart warming story about a couple of children who have lived without, and now have a bright future. Right after the news reports that in Colorado ALONE there are between 600-800 children in the foster care system. 600-800 CHILDREN!!!! Maybe there needs to be a little bit more focused on these kids....perhaps there need to be more commercials, or some celebrity can adopt one like a puppy and it will be the "NEW" thing to do. Maybe I am a little sensitive to this subject, because CM spent most of his childhood going from foster home to foster home. I hear the stories and see the hardness in his eyes, while his are not as bad as others they are still gut wrenching. Why don't we feel the need to save these children like we do the rest of the world??? I am not saying that we shouldn't adopt out of the United States, and yes I DO realize that it is possibly easier to adopt from another country than it is here. If we can dig up 100 million dollars to send to Haiti, possibly we can find another 100 million for our children here in the States??

The ending quote from a very wise man...and the reason why he won my heart??? (referring to the 600-800 children)

"If we had a huge house, we could take in all of those kids!!" ~Chris Money

Sleepless

I wish I could be one of those people that hit the pillow and are out for the night. Not me, I hit the pillow then toss and turn. Thoughts run through my mind like a freight train. Worries of finances, children, my relationship, if I locked the front door or not, a list of things that need to be done in the next week. I would like just 1 night of 8 straight hours of sleep!!! It is too bad that our bodies were made without an on and off switch. Any one have a magic pillow?

"Insomnia is a gross feeder.  It will nourish itself on any kind of thinking, including thinking about not thinking."  ~Clifton Fadiman

New Addiction-Item of the Week

My new addiction?? Eating Right Multigrain with SeaSalt Baked Pita Chips!! They taste soooo yummy I could eat the WHOLE bag! =X Guess that would defeat the purpose of it being healthy for you. You gotta try it! DO IT!

http://www.safeway.com/IFL/Grocery/TopCategoriesDisplay?identifier=EREatingRight

Kids these Days....

I catch myself saying these words, and have to laugh. Kids these days!!! Words that I remember my Parents and Grandparents saying. I would roll my eyes, and think to myself "they have no IDEA how bad I have it!"  yeah right. psh. One thing we did learn that children of the next generation aren't is work ethics. Everything will come easy to them. They do not know what "hard" work is. I didn't grow up where I had hard chores as a child, but I started cleaning and helping take care of my brothers at an early age. There is NO way I would trust my 14 y.o. home alone with the two younger ones for longer than 15 minutes.

Last night I came up with an idea....there should be a camp where we send our kids to a farm. Their daily activities would be getting up at the crack of dawn to tend to all of the farm animals. I would like to see my son get up at 5 am to milk a cow.  Go back to basics, show them how to work for their food and shelter.Maybe they could spend some time on a cattle drive?? no cell phones, no internet, no bed, learn to cook over a fire, and sleep on the ground. I think after a couple of weeks of this my son would not mind unloading the dishes 3 times a week!!

I have to make sure that my sons appreciate what they have. In the last month I have started teaching them how to cook. Showing them that it isn't just where the MOM goes and "POOF!" there is this dinner. It is like giving them a view of what happens behind the curtain. After they are done they feel a sense of accomplishment, and a new found respect for how much work it is. Let's teach our children how to survive.

I leave this blog with one of my favorite quotes:

"Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime."-Author Unknown.

Heartless?? Maybe

Before I begin, I know that there are a lot of people that will not agree with how I feel and what I express in the following blog. Some may perceive me as heartless, or stubborn. BUT they are my thoughts, and it is my right to feel and EXPRESS those thoughts.

When Haiti was hit...it was sad. I felt horrible for all of those people whose lives were taken and for the ones suffering of hunger and no where to sleep or be. I 100% supported our military heading over there immediately to help and aid this country. I support giving money to the Red Cross. So you ask....where in all of this is the heartlessness??

Does our Country REALLY have 100 million dollars to spend?? We are having our own financial crisis!!! More and more people are getting laid off here in the United States, needing government help. Companies are suffering from the downfall of our economy. I am not stupid I realize Haiti is in bad shape and they need the money...but I don't understand WHERE the money is coming from!! Taxpayers pockets?? With the red Cross I can CHOOSE or NOT CHOOSE if I would like to donate to another country or not, but now I don't have that choice do I?

I am not saying that we shouldn't reach out and help as much as we can, I am saying maybe someone needs to look at what we CAN do.