How old is old enough?

My son just turned 12 last month and wanted to go hang out at the mall this afternoon with a girl from school and supposedly some other people. I told him no how, no way, not gonna happen. First off, I was 12 once. Granted it was a bit different then and I was allowed out to roam around and come and go as I pleased. (Of course my mom wasn't exactly mother material.) I just don't think anything good can come of a group of 12 yr olds hanging out alone at the mall. I told him that his group of friends would immediately attract security, and I'm sure they would be showing off to draw attention. Not only that, but I am extremely paranoid about the perverts roaming around looking for kids.

Maybe I'm overreacting. But I would rather be hated right now and still have him around later.

The Gratitude Campaign

Ever seen a soldier and thought "I should thank them" but didn't do it? I have. Many more times than I am comfortable admitting. I came upon this site and thought it was a great, simple idea, yet could make a big difference.

http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/

The politics of the war aren't what this is about. It's about the people that made the decision to fight for all of us, regardless of what we may feel or believe.

I Will Here By Be Known As "That Crazy Lady With The Coupons"!

We just finished a 3 week series at church about money. It made me realize just how much gets wasted on silly things that we don't really need. I usually think, "well, it's 5 bucks" or something around those lines, but when you stop to think about all those 2, 3, or 5 dollar purchases, it all adds up. I don't want to live in a rented apt. my whole life. I don't want to struggle month to month and worry about what big pitfall is coming next. I would like to take the kids to the movies every now and then without having to make the decision about what bill would have to wait in order to do that. It is time to make a change. Jon has been saying this for awhile, but we all know that I rarely listen to anyone. ; )

I have decided that starting today I will be paying much more attention to what we buy, how we buy it, and where we buy it from. I have always used coupons. I usually save a few bucks doing it, but I have come across a few blogs and message boards that have amazing amounts of info on different stores, weekly ads, rebates, etc, etc. I think with these tools and a new determination to do what is best for my family, it will pay off.

Anybody Know Where I Can Find A Nap?

I'm tired. It is 9am on a Saturday morning. Big deal, right? Well, I have been up for an hour, and didn't go to bed until 4am. Why? Oh, thank you for asking. It is because I CAN'T SLEEP!!!! It is awful. I sit on the couch and watch mind numbing repeats of 'Who's the Boss?' and 'The Facts of Life'. (Thank goodness for OnDemand.) Maybe I am overstimulated. That's what "experts" say about kids all the time. I hear people out there saying, "Turn off the tv, get into bed, and wait for sleep." Seriously? You are crazy! If I do that I lay there for hours until I finally get out of bed and catch up with Tony Micelli and Mrs. Garrett. Sometimes Samantha and Darrin find their way into my living room. *sigh*

Sleep has eluded me. I miss it. Maybe one day it will find it's way back. We really were good together....

I Need Some Work

I realize just how little I update this thing. I'm not sure if that is just because I am afraid of I what I put here being known to the masses (or the 2 people that read this...lol), or if I am worried that what I have to say isn't that interesting. I read several other blogs and am always amazed at how funny and inspirational I find them. I in no way see myself like that. I wanted this to be a place where I could vent and relive the day, or even record memories of my life that I probably won't remember otherwise.

I spend too much time comparing myself to others and not enough time being content with me. I guess I need to work on that.

Way Back In The 80's

(This was too true not to post)


Way Back in the '80s

When I was a kid adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were when they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning uphill both ways through year 'round blizzards carrying their younger siblings on their backs to their one-room schoolhouse where they maintained a straight-A average despite their full-time after-school job at the local textile mill where they worked for 35 cents an hour just to help keep their family from starving to death!

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up there was no way in hell I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it! But....

Now that I've reached the ripe old age of thirty something, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so damn easy!

I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a darned Utopia! And I hate to say it but you kids today you don't even know how good you've got it!

I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have The Internet, if we wanted to know something, we had to go to the library and look it up ourselves! And there was no email! We had to actually write somebody a letter with a pen! --And then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox and it would take like a week to get there!

And there were no MP3s or Napsters! You wanted to steal music, you had to go to the record store and shoplift it yourself! Try sticking an LP Album under your jacket, buddy! Or we had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ's usually talk over the beginning and screw it all up!

You want to hear about hardship?

We didn't have fancy stuff like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal! And we didn't have fancy Caller ID Boxes either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was it could be your boss, your mom, a collections agent, your drug dealer, you didn't know! You just had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!

And we didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like Space Invaders" and "Asteroids" and the graphics sucked! Your guy was a little square! You had to use your imagination! And there were no multiple levels or screens; it was just one screen forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!

When you went to the movie theater, there was no such thing as stadium seating! All the seats were the same height! A tall guy sat in front of you, you were screwed!

And sure, we had cable television, but back then that was only like 20 channels and there was no onscreen menu! You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on!

And there was no Cartoon Network! You could only get cartoons on Saturday morning... ...D'ya hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK, you spoiled little brats!

That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy! You're spoiled, I swear to God! You guys wouldn't last five minutes back in 1987!

A Letter From Jesus

A Letter from Jesus about Christmas --

Dear Children,
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other ministry which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :

I LOVE YOU,
JESUS

Momsense

Missing Stuff

I love my life right now. I wouldn't change it. I wouldn't go back to how it once was. But the truth is, I miss some stuff. I miss being able to see people that I have known forever. I miss being able to find my way around without asking for directions. I miss the familiarity.

It's hard living somewhere for a majority of your life, and then moving clear across the country, where you know no one, don't know East from West or North from South. I'm not complaining, not even trying to whine. I'm just saying. I miss some stuff.

I have no title for this

Yesterday was the last day of school for my kids. I now officially have no children in elementary school.

I don't like it. Not one bit. Doesn't matter what you say. You can't make me.