I've been far too busy the past week and a half to worry about a monkey that's been on my back; he jumped on sometime around the start of school, he's hung on relentlessly, and this past weekend he really started to get heavy...and stinky.
I knew that I'd have to shake him soon because he's a big headache and he gets in my way much too often.
I've been toying with deleting my Blog altogether. It's a decision I have wrestled with deeply, which I find ridiculously silly; it's just a Blog, for Pete's sake.
I enjoy writing, to say the least, and I find Blogging to be very therapeutic, which I also find ridiculously silly; however, that particular aspect of Blogging has been studied and documented and recently published. But that's another Blog.
My toying with this "deletion idea" is rooted in Blogger's Block.
There are a million subjects of which I could Blog, most of them being personal in nature. My own and my family's mundane, daily, life events I mentally file consistently during the day as potential Blog materials; however, when I sit down to Blog, the events quickly identify themselves as not worthy to be Blogged. Why? I have no idea. Much of it has to do with my mood and my energy level, of that I know for certain. I guess you could chalk it up to Artistic Style. Ridiculously silly, huh?
For a long time now, I feel I have Blogged nothing of substance--which disappoints me (I'm a functioning first-born with a somewhat anal personality). It really chaps my hide because one reason I decided to start posting Blogs is I felt maybe I could make a difference, even if just for one person, I could express my opinions, I could share my deep faith and my struggles to get there, I could be funny, I could showcase whatever "talent" some people thought I possessed, I could help someone, I could be a role model to my oldest, whom also enjoys writing. My Blogs, as of late, have been...boring and horribly unoriginal.
For this, I sincerely must apologize. I have not done my best work; I've been posting crap, just to have a new post (sorry, Mark, I know the last thing you want to see at the end of your day, is more crap--ha, ha-ha).
My decision: I'm not yet ready to throw in the towel.
Today, on my way home from taking my youngest to get his four-year-old shots and to have the doctor check his "shrinking feet" (as he told the doctor), I discovered a little flush of hope welling up inside me once again.
I have a story, one that will make a difference, will give hope, will heal, will make some laugh and others cry. It will make me a role model once again in my daughter's eyes!
That story...
Is still being written in my head. It will appear sometime Tuesday, when my laundry and errands for the day are complete. When I have completely emptied myself of all my wife and motherly urges, I will once again renew my spirit with a Blog post.
I am determined to shake that monkey, once and for all, Tuesday.
At the least, he'll get a bath. He really stinks!
For now, I must retire for the evening.
5 Kids 1 Great Journey
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Friday, August 10, 2007
Bouncin' for Jesus
My hubby's been so busy with Back-to-School planning that he accidentally gave our tithe twice last week. I found it a little humorous when I thought about going back and asking for one of the checks back.
The thing is, he didn't realize it until he took a break from school orientations and teacher work days and all the school's board meetings to check our online account, which he usually checks daily; both the checks had already cleared at that point. We couldn't even "Stop Payment" to Jesus. :0)
All in all, it wasn't bad--we took all our budget cash we hadn't used yet (we're on the Dave Ramsey plan) and put it back into the bank, so that extra tithe cost us some groceries, clothing, cosmetics, blow money, kids' allowance, eating out and entertainment for the next five days and we only actually bounced one $4.60 debit swipe; however, that swipe ultimately cost us $38 in insufficient fund fees. Apparently, we have such upstanding credit with the bank (how that happened, I don't know) that they continued to let us swipe that debit card even though we didn't have the funds. The kicker is, our account isn't so important to the survival of the bank that they thought, "Hey they're never overdrawn, maybe there's something awry here, we should inform them today!" As a matter of fact, we JUST TODAY finally received that letter from them, informing us of our deficiency. That's exactly one week since the overdraft happened. Thank goodness my hubby is anal about checking our account.
So, this is how I interpret the bank's actions:
And when did Overdraft Protection become an option, not the norm? I don't know, I thought banks were there to protect our money while we allow them to invest it and make money for themselves. On the contrary, it seems that it's now a priviledge to use the banks services and we should bow down and kiss their feet at such a priviledge and beg for Overdraft Protection?
Sure, I was a little peeved about the whole thing, especially after sitting for twenty minutes with a four-year old that they tempted with crayons but no paper to color on. Maybe they expected us to purchase that also. We did NOT--I let him color on their nice, shiny, colorful, expensive flyers offering customers Overdraft Protection and all those other neat little "perks". I think we colored on about $38 worth. I told him to make sure he colored both sides. :0)
My hubby worked on them for awhile and I think we got our $38 back but not b/c we threatened to take our "large" balance somewhere else. They just snickered at that threat.
Now that I've blogged about it and let it all out, I feel much better.
The thing is, he didn't realize it until he took a break from school orientations and teacher work days and all the school's board meetings to check our online account, which he usually checks daily; both the checks had already cleared at that point. We couldn't even "Stop Payment" to Jesus. :0)
All in all, it wasn't bad--we took all our budget cash we hadn't used yet (we're on the Dave Ramsey plan) and put it back into the bank, so that extra tithe cost us some groceries, clothing, cosmetics, blow money, kids' allowance, eating out and entertainment for the next five days and we only actually bounced one $4.60 debit swipe; however, that swipe ultimately cost us $38 in insufficient fund fees. Apparently, we have such upstanding credit with the bank (how that happened, I don't know) that they continued to let us swipe that debit card even though we didn't have the funds. The kicker is, our account isn't so important to the survival of the bank that they thought, "Hey they're never overdrawn, maybe there's something awry here, we should inform them today!" As a matter of fact, we JUST TODAY finally received that letter from them, informing us of our deficiency. That's exactly one week since the overdraft happened. Thank goodness my hubby is anal about checking our account.
So, this is how I interpret the bank's actions:
We were a little worried about YOUR money's safety so we took a look at your account after you overdrew your funds. We found that you responsible people have enough ethics, and just enough income, to possibly get your bank account back into good standing (and still pay us overdraft fees...first). We'll be underhanded enough, legally of course thanks to our big money lobbyists and expensive lawyers, to take advantage of those ethics by letting you have a negative balance and still keep swiping so that we can get paid by Visa and also get $38 more of your money to invest back into Customer Service training. If enough customers keep a negative balance, soon we'll pay our tellers enough to smile and say, "Next, please" instead of "Helloooo, I'm open (you idiot)" and our lines will be shorter than 50 people at Noon on Fridays, when we all, especially Managers, take our long lunch breaks. Maybe we'll even open our doors at 9a.m. as posted, instead of 9:15, therefore alleviating our customers of late arrivals to dentist appointments. Have a nice day and have a yummy, green lollipop!
And when did Overdraft Protection become an option, not the norm? I don't know, I thought banks were there to protect our money while we allow them to invest it and make money for themselves. On the contrary, it seems that it's now a priviledge to use the banks services and we should bow down and kiss their feet at such a priviledge and beg for Overdraft Protection?
Sure, I was a little peeved about the whole thing, especially after sitting for twenty minutes with a four-year old that they tempted with crayons but no paper to color on. Maybe they expected us to purchase that also. We did NOT--I let him color on their nice, shiny, colorful, expensive flyers offering customers Overdraft Protection and all those other neat little "perks". I think we colored on about $38 worth. I told him to make sure he colored both sides. :0)
My hubby worked on them for awhile and I think we got our $38 back but not b/c we threatened to take our "large" balance somewhere else. They just snickered at that threat.
Now that I've blogged about it and let it all out, I feel much better.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Untitled
Today being Wednesday, August 8, 2007, I was going to sit down after a week of intense school-preparedness and blog about the kids' first day back.
Things went well.
I feel a burden upon my heart today though b/c while I'm sort of celebrating four of my children being back in school, there is a mother and father in our church whose seventh grade daughter was diagnosed with leukemia this weekend.
I feel I need to post the struggles that Ginger (the mother) writes about everyday, though I have no idea why.
Maybe because life seems so small at times like these.
And you just go where the Spirit leads....do your part, as part of The Vine, without questioning.
First, to catch you up to speed:
Friday night the family was at a movie and the daughter complained about her back hurting; by the time the movie had finished, she was writhing in pain. They decided to take her to the Emergency Room as a precautionary measure. That's it. It was that quick.
They say they caught it very early and that it's a very treatable form of leukemia...but it's still leukemia...and she's just a little girl.
They are at St. Jude's Hospital now, as well as, for the next sixth months and from there, will probably transfer to the St. Jude's Annex here in Huntsville. They are being provided a hotel room free-of-charge, but it only covers up to four family members and they have seven. They are trying to figure out what to do.
They are a homeschool family so they are close-knit but this puts an even greater burden on Ginger (the mom) to nurse her sick child and educate the others.
We don't know them personally, it's possible we've met but our church is very large and I don't remember them. Regardless, Lori (their daughter) is just about the same age as ours and their lives were turned upside down in one night.
Her updates are very open, honest, insightful and interesting. I feel compelled to pass this on to whomever may read it so that they can receive as many prayers as possible and feel the power of the Spirit.
Today's Update:
Here is an update from Ginger Clements on Lori. Please pray!
-------Original Message-------
From: ginclements
Date: 08/08/07 04:42:10
To: WBCShomeschool@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WBCShomeschool] Latest update
I'm watching the clock tick down on my timed computer session and wondering how to best use 26 minutes. Also I forgot to put my contacts in, so I'm missing a lot of errors--try to interpret my mistakes!Lori's fever peaked tonight at about 104 degrees. It's currently down to 102. Fever is an enemy they swat at viciously around here. It means infection somewhere, so they started a course of strong antibiotics, morphine for pain, tylenol for headache, ice packs for comfort...I can't count how many drugs this child has received since Saturday. This is just the beginning, though. Chemo begins soon (probably tomorrow) and that is a veritable soup of medicines, all with really nasty side effects. Good news--chemo is not as difficult as in the past--there is less nausea because of some wonderful preventive medicines they've come up with. We are under the direct care of the head of oncology and under the watchful eye of the doctor who has written most of the leukemia protocols (the guidelines as to what medicines to give and when). Because this is a research hospital, we are being asked to take part in a study that will include an enhanced protocol. We need wisdom before the morning to decide. There is little chance for harm and a slight chance that it will be a more beneficial treatment. The main benefit is to posterity and I think that we're here by the grace of God and the patients who've undergone experimental treatments for years before we got here. Anyway, I'm absorbing what this all really means and this is the bottom line--we haven't a clue what we're about to go through! This much we know--we will be here for at least six weeks. I'm not sure when the timer begins on that: yesterday or tomorrow or the end of the week. Many of you have volunteered to bring us clothes or belongings from home. I believe my mother, brother and sister-in-law are coming up this weekend and they will be able to re-supply us for now. My head is spinning when I contemplate re-arranging our lives for six or seven weeks. That is just the beginning, however. Possibly we will be coming back and forth for six months for intensive treatments and then at least 2 1/2 years with most treatments taking place in Huntsville. For the next 10 years, Lori will be under a physician's care for this disease.We await the results of a few more tests before we know just how the above schedule will really work. This is barring complications, such as the fever she's currently running. She's still a very, very sick girl. The staff here already loves her and they've started spoiling her and bribing her with gifts (I think she racked up about four new toys/crafts today). One of the nurses from Huntsville Hospital called to check on her yesterday. She's getting a lot of attention by her sweet spirit. Every time they check her temp (hourly), give her meds (every 2-4 hours) or draw blood, she says "thank you". She has a gentle spirit that is winning hearts and breaking mine.I haven't begun to cry over this. I've leaked a few tears when I get alone, but I'm not away from her for any longer than I have to be. The clock is ticking away and I haven't said anything about how wonderful you have been. I've gotten calls from old friends that I had lost touch with because you have forwarded the updates to friends who continued to forward. I'm here without my email addresses, so if I've left anyone off of this mailing, it's only because I can't remember my name, let alone anyone's email! I appreciate every call and I know some of you have left messages that I want to return, but my phone decided to completely die yesterday and it took hours to resurrect it. My fully charged battery only lasted 1/2 a day thanks to all the sweet phone calls I received. I appreciate them and actually I thrive on them. It is a blessing to tell Lori, "Mrs. Spain said this hug is from her" or "Mrs. James says that she loves you". I've given her those messages dozens of times and i'm hoping to get it together enough to compile a list of all who have called and keep it in a journal for her. She is buoyed by your love. She had a few moments yesterday when she felt well enough to talk to someone on the phone, so please tell your children that if they want to talk to her, call my cell and maybe she'll be able to say hello. I'm down to 1 minute and I haven't thanked the Gureaskos for coming by. What a JOY to see the faces of friends who held our hands and prayed with us. I love you all so much. Please continue to lift us up as we make the hard decisions.
Things went well.
I feel a burden upon my heart today though b/c while I'm sort of celebrating four of my children being back in school, there is a mother and father in our church whose seventh grade daughter was diagnosed with leukemia this weekend.
I feel I need to post the struggles that Ginger (the mother) writes about everyday, though I have no idea why.
Maybe because life seems so small at times like these.
And you just go where the Spirit leads....do your part, as part of The Vine, without questioning.
First, to catch you up to speed:
Friday night the family was at a movie and the daughter complained about her back hurting; by the time the movie had finished, she was writhing in pain. They decided to take her to the Emergency Room as a precautionary measure. That's it. It was that quick.
They say they caught it very early and that it's a very treatable form of leukemia...but it's still leukemia...and she's just a little girl.
They are at St. Jude's Hospital now, as well as, for the next sixth months and from there, will probably transfer to the St. Jude's Annex here in Huntsville. They are being provided a hotel room free-of-charge, but it only covers up to four family members and they have seven. They are trying to figure out what to do.
They are a homeschool family so they are close-knit but this puts an even greater burden on Ginger (the mom) to nurse her sick child and educate the others.
We don't know them personally, it's possible we've met but our church is very large and I don't remember them. Regardless, Lori (their daughter) is just about the same age as ours and their lives were turned upside down in one night.
Her updates are very open, honest, insightful and interesting. I feel compelled to pass this on to whomever may read it so that they can receive as many prayers as possible and feel the power of the Spirit.
Today's Update:
Here is an update from Ginger Clements on Lori. Please pray!
-------Original Message-------
From: ginclements
Date: 08/08/07 04:42:10
To: WBCShomeschool@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WBCShomeschool] Latest update
I'm watching the clock tick down on my timed computer session and wondering how to best use 26 minutes. Also I forgot to put my contacts in, so I'm missing a lot of errors--try to interpret my mistakes!Lori's fever peaked tonight at about 104 degrees. It's currently down to 102. Fever is an enemy they swat at viciously around here. It means infection somewhere, so they started a course of strong antibiotics, morphine for pain, tylenol for headache, ice packs for comfort...I can't count how many drugs this child has received since Saturday. This is just the beginning, though. Chemo begins soon (probably tomorrow) and that is a veritable soup of medicines, all with really nasty side effects. Good news--chemo is not as difficult as in the past--there is less nausea because of some wonderful preventive medicines they've come up with. We are under the direct care of the head of oncology and under the watchful eye of the doctor who has written most of the leukemia protocols (the guidelines as to what medicines to give and when). Because this is a research hospital, we are being asked to take part in a study that will include an enhanced protocol. We need wisdom before the morning to decide. There is little chance for harm and a slight chance that it will be a more beneficial treatment. The main benefit is to posterity and I think that we're here by the grace of God and the patients who've undergone experimental treatments for years before we got here. Anyway, I'm absorbing what this all really means and this is the bottom line--we haven't a clue what we're about to go through! This much we know--we will be here for at least six weeks. I'm not sure when the timer begins on that: yesterday or tomorrow or the end of the week. Many of you have volunteered to bring us clothes or belongings from home. I believe my mother, brother and sister-in-law are coming up this weekend and they will be able to re-supply us for now. My head is spinning when I contemplate re-arranging our lives for six or seven weeks. That is just the beginning, however. Possibly we will be coming back and forth for six months for intensive treatments and then at least 2 1/2 years with most treatments taking place in Huntsville. For the next 10 years, Lori will be under a physician's care for this disease.We await the results of a few more tests before we know just how the above schedule will really work. This is barring complications, such as the fever she's currently running. She's still a very, very sick girl. The staff here already loves her and they've started spoiling her and bribing her with gifts (I think she racked up about four new toys/crafts today). One of the nurses from Huntsville Hospital called to check on her yesterday. She's getting a lot of attention by her sweet spirit. Every time they check her temp (hourly), give her meds (every 2-4 hours) or draw blood, she says "thank you". She has a gentle spirit that is winning hearts and breaking mine.I haven't begun to cry over this. I've leaked a few tears when I get alone, but I'm not away from her for any longer than I have to be. The clock is ticking away and I haven't said anything about how wonderful you have been. I've gotten calls from old friends that I had lost touch with because you have forwarded the updates to friends who continued to forward. I'm here without my email addresses, so if I've left anyone off of this mailing, it's only because I can't remember my name, let alone anyone's email! I appreciate every call and I know some of you have left messages that I want to return, but my phone decided to completely die yesterday and it took hours to resurrect it. My fully charged battery only lasted 1/2 a day thanks to all the sweet phone calls I received. I appreciate them and actually I thrive on them. It is a blessing to tell Lori, "Mrs. Spain said this hug is from her" or "Mrs. James says that she loves you". I've given her those messages dozens of times and i'm hoping to get it together enough to compile a list of all who have called and keep it in a journal for her. She is buoyed by your love. She had a few moments yesterday when she felt well enough to talk to someone on the phone, so please tell your children that if they want to talk to her, call my cell and maybe she'll be able to say hello. I'm down to 1 minute and I haven't thanked the Gureaskos for coming by. What a JOY to see the faces of friends who held our hands and prayed with us. I love you all so much. Please continue to lift us up as we make the hard decisions.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Let The Games Begin
Most of the schools in our state officially open their doors to the new school year exactly one week from today, August 8, 2007.
And yet, I find myself in the midst of school activities already.
This week, three of my four school-age children will be chaufeurred, by me (who else?), to and from class back-to-school pool parties and pre-season sports activities like *voluntary* volleyball open gym. *Open gym* is just code for: "We cannot officially start team practices until the first day of school, per league rules, but you'd better be there to hone your skills with your teammates". While I agree that these are great for introducing new students to "old" students; all students to the "new" teacher; furthermore, allowing friends & teammates to reacquaint themselves after the horrendously long summer break (all of two months), I am not sure that I'm ready to start the rat race again.
Alas, Five Kids and Life go on regardless of how I feel or if I'm ready.
SEND CHOCOLATE! (preferably Dove).
If I ever post another Blog, it'll be a miracle.
And yet, I find myself in the midst of school activities already.
This week, three of my four school-age children will be chaufeurred, by me (who else?), to and from class back-to-school pool parties and pre-season sports activities like *voluntary* volleyball open gym. *Open gym* is just code for: "We cannot officially start team practices until the first day of school, per league rules, but you'd better be there to hone your skills with your teammates". While I agree that these are great for introducing new students to "old" students; all students to the "new" teacher; furthermore, allowing friends & teammates to reacquaint themselves after the horrendously long summer break (all of two months), I am not sure that I'm ready to start the rat race again.
Alas, Five Kids and Life go on regardless of how I feel or if I'm ready.
SEND CHOCOLATE! (preferably Dove).
If I ever post another Blog, it'll be a miracle.
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