The Sky is Blue

Do you struggle with boundaries?  Saying no is hard.  Sometimes you even have to say no to things that you would enjoy doing, because you have other priorities.   I certainly haven't mastered this, but I am not bad at it.  I remember many years ago, when my oldest sons were still little.  I was working full-time at a Training Consulting firm, had a great job, and a boss who knew and trusted me.  That is where I learned that I could, and needed to set boundaries that were in line with my values and priorities.  It was tough.  No matter how understanding your boss is.... it is not cool to have to get up in the middle of a meeting to get to daycare on time to pick up your kids.  It wears thin on the boss, and they start to question your dedication to the job. When that happened in my career, I decided to chose my family.  I quit my job, gave up a really good income, and made a go of it at home.  I stayed home for 10 years, what a gif...

In my last "This one is for the girls" blog post, you got a big ol' dose of whining from me. Sorry about that, but....let me tell you, this mid 40's hormone thing has been rocking my world.  Good news on that front....well good and bad.  The good news is, when I finally went to the Dr. he was great.  He really seemed to get what I was experiencing--- for some reason that surprised me.  I guess I am not the first 45 year old woman who came to him thinking she was losing her cookies. The good news is, I am doing about a 1000 times better.  The bad news is, now that I am not calming my nerves with wine so often (which has a great side effect of killing my appetite)...... I am eating.  I feel like I am eating anything that is not nailed down.  I know I already look plenty "healthy" (voluptuous, pleasantly plump, full figured....what ever nice descriptor you prefer), but if I keep noshing at this pace, I am going to be as fat as Santa by Christmas.  ...

This was a CRAZY weekend.  There was so much going on around here.  I had two 6 year olds jacked up like Tasmanian Devils. I mean literally, running, and spinning, and yelling, and laughing, and screaming, and did I mention running. My two oldest guys had their homecoming football game, and homecoming dance.  They of course were going with different friends, in different directions.  My 6th grader had a Hockey game, then a birthday party on the other side of town.  And to top it all off it was the weekend of my little ones, Halloween Carnival at school.  My husband was out of town, but did get home to help with the late night pick ups Saturday night, thank goodness. I am not sure how, but it really didn't register in my brain, that Saturday- in particular-- was going to be mission impossible.  I am only one person, I can only drive one car at a time, and it didn't occur to me that I couldn't be in three places at once.  Until...

How many of you have jobs, or situations that you absolutely love?  The perfect job, a career that you are still excited to wake up to every day.  How many of you left the workforce to raise your kids, and miss working, even just a smidge. Go on, you can admit it.  While I think most women enjoy the freedom that staying home affords you, being able to volunteer at school, go on field trips, make dinner (instead of picking it up on the way home from work).... I think it is fair to say that there are perks to working that we miss. Let's explore that for a minute. Ok, I'll say it first (even though I know you are thinking it)--- It is nice to have some guilt free, legitimate, time away from my children. When I am working I can have someone help clean the house, and I don't feel guilty. When I am working, I don't have to say NO every time the boys want/need something, and if I say NO, it is because they really don't need it, not because we are financially stretc...

This morning I was listening to talk radio, and the focus was on the topic of foster care and adoption.  This is a topic that has engaged me for many years.  I am not one to quote scripture, I am pretty new to the whole reading and understanding the Bible thing.   I do however find more and more that this big "complicated book", is really a very simple manual for life.  It really isn't complicated, God is pretty clear about what he expects from us. Something that really resonates with me, is this: James1:19, 22-24 "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry," "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like." My point is, knowing what God wa...

I believe most of those who read my posts are women, but warning, if you are a man, you may want to pass on this one. Ok ladies, I have to take a little time to discuss the maddening side effects of female hormones. They have always caused me trouble.  And by trouble I mean...... MIGRAINE HEADACHES DOUBLED OVER IN PAIN CRAMPING MOOD SWINGS SUPER NASTINESS.... the b word would be very descriptive here, but I will refrain. Let's just say I can be meaner than a snake. EXTREME TIREDNESS -- this precedes the monster migraine. THE BLUES...so sad.  Everything is horrible.  My life is a mess. I am a sucky parent, wife, sister, daughter. Blah, Blah, Blah I don't know how it works for everyone else, but for me it is like clockwork.  "Wow, I am being a real B today......oh, it is the 15th." "I am a failure! How are we ever going to get out of this mess?? My husband just doesn't understand me.... why doesn't ANYONE GIVE AN S ABOUT MY FEELINGS???...

Much going on here, as usual.  Michael's team won their first football game of the season, yeah!  William and Jack are getting into a good groove with football, lost their first game, but all in all they both played well.  They start school next week.  The little guys are getting adjusted to their routine.  Nick is loving K (again), he is in just the right place.  He is with kids who are his own age this year, and he is much more ready for K, than he was last year.   Victor is adjusting too, he is struggling a bit with behavioral stuff, but he is just going through something all around home & school, he'll get there. I am feeling ready for all the fun of fall.  I have limited my volunteering a little to give me more time to work.  I love this season, I love football, and cold weather (ha! cooler anyway), I love the holidays. I am trying hard to not get too involved at school, because I was soooo stretched last year, I really need to kee...