HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

How are you?

Today is my first day back to work (sniff sniff...tears.... :( )

The little man in the one picture devouring his hands is Remiel!

He was my little 7-11 boy (born July 11th)
a beautiful home water birth
weighing in at 8lb 4oz and being 19 1/4" long :)

He is my long and lanky one.

If you look at the other pics you'll see

Boy (child#6) with long hair :) lol still growing it out for "locks of love"(almost 4) holding Remiel (almost 3 months)
Boy (child #5) with grin on his face holding my GRANDBABY(only 1month!!She's gonna give Remiel a run for his money! :)


The summer was an eventful one! Many blessings....many trials too though.
My husband spent a week in ICU for heart issues and then a week later my grandbaby was born -
She was a "lazy breather" at first and she went to the local hospital for observation...they blew out her lungs (perforated them and collapsed them both) by "bagging" her too roughly (forcing too much oxygen in too fast). This sent us on a two week trip to the children's hospital ICU.

As you can see - she's doing wonderfully and is happy and healthy!! Praise God!!
but it was a ROUGH road!!

So....that is a quickie update with pics for you dear ones!

I'll post again real soon!!

with all my heart~
Michelle!!

And the list goes on

9 days and counting (but really - knowing that this baby has the most stubborn parents in the universe...probably a few extra days)

the belly casting was done last night - such fun but wow is it hard to hold still in one position for about 45 minutes.
I plan to paint it with a batik look and a little swimming turtle (since we're planning a water birth) and then put all his "stats" on it when he arrives :)

I have the water cooler set up...


I am going to the second Chiropractor appointment today....


I am down to the weekly Midwife appointments.....


The Jacuzzi is all set up and ready to go......


what else? what else?


Why is it that at night I can NOT sleep and think of a ton of stuff.

Daytime...I'm in a fog (probably from lack of sleep right?? :)

Well gang - that's all for now...

Keep me in your prayers :)

THANK YOU!! :)
MICHELLE

So here I sit - with 10 days left till I am done with work and 16 days till my due date.
Having lots of back pains.
I am sitting on my labor ball as it seems to be the only thing that makes me even a bit comfortable :)
Sure does freak people out though to come into the office and see me sitting on a huge ball.
They all get this panic look on their face and say "are you okay?" I'm half tempted to say "oh I'm fine - I'm in labor" they'd probably RUN AWAY :)

I have heartburn to end all heartburn -even the "organic heartburn tea" is not helping - nor are the tums & rolaids - or really anything else I've tried. :(

My cankles have cankles - you know...all the end of pregnancy fun that you just endure and know "this too shall pass"

I peeked at a few birth videos on youtube and was crying at lunchtime - not so much a "panic what have I gotten myself into" type of feeling...more of a "wow...yeah I remember THAT...it's hard work but so rewarding" type of feeling :) OH and hormones of course I'd cry over anything at this point.

I need to check a few last things off my "to do" list and then we're all set to go :)
I REALLY want to try to get up to see the Chiropractor at least two times more....
I need to set up my "nursing station" as I call it with the water dispenser, lactation cookies (they're pre-made and in the freezer) and comfy chair.
I ordered a belly casting kit (which hopefully arives BEFORE baby decides to :)
and I'm gonna try to add a few frozen meals to the freezer - this of course is very active thinking and by the time I get home from work - I'm not VERY ACTIVE :) So we shall see!

Will try to keep you updated :)
Blessings and Love to you all
With all my heart~
Michelle

Swollen feet are sexy right???

My swollen feet and legs (aka "cankles") are sooooo uncomfortable. :( I'm going to spare you the
photos....

I know it's all part of the package at the end of pregnancy - but I can't help but
whine a little ;) Thank you for indulging me and listening to that!!

I am down to 4 weeks till the due date (which means probably 5 weeks till the birth)

AND COUNTING :)

I think that I'm about as prepared as I can be.....

I've been "nesting" for a couple weekends now - My hubby said "you nest and I get the 'Honey do list'!" To which I replied..."Ah yes but I give birth so we're still not even" ;) lol

Everything is washed....put out....folded....cleaned....and perhaps "ready" for this baby boy's arrival.

My daughter is helping get to the things I can't quite do - ie. cleaning out the pantry, really scrubbing down the fridge etc...

I keep thinking I should cook some meals ahead, but really my husband is such an awesome cook I hate to miss out on his cooking by having mine warmed up :)

Oh...the other "whine" would be heartburn. Sigh. Even water gives me heartburn. I've resorted to taking baking soda in water a couple times when I couldn't sleep (I know..the sodium isn't good...but we're talking DRAGON FIRE heartburn!!!)

I know it's been seldom at best that I get a chance to check in with you guys....but I DO want to say hello & let you know what craziness we've all been up to.

I hope to get in another blog post or two prior to the birth....
and then maybe some baby pics :)


Much love!
~with all my heart ~
Michelle

Just was sitting here (amidst many braxton hicks)...down to 6 more weeks of work and 7 more weeks (although probably more like 8 knowing that my kiddos never arrive early)of pregnancy. What a blessing this pregnancy has been. This weekend we are having a "family" party - it's listed as a family shower...but that sounds weird! lol


Our 18 year old son got married this winter and they are expecting a baby girl in August..
Our 21 year old daughter is getting married this October.
We are excitedly awaiting our baby boy around the 4th of July!

So it's a double wedding shower, double baby shower!

I read a friend's blog and she was telling some of the "marriage advice" she has learned over many years of marriage.
This got me thinking....what are my "RULES" of a good marriage?
Here goes -

1. NEVER EVER threaten divorce. It is just hurtful and scaring to our hearts -and it even causes doubt in our own minds.

2. Love even when they are at their worst - because WE are often at ours!

3. Know that WE are not perfect and do NOT expect them to be!

4. Strive to tell them how much you love them (even in those bad times...and there WILL be bad times!)

5. Have sex. Work on keeping it exciting and even when it's something you think "REALLY? NOW? CAN'T I JUST SLEEP?" do it. It's important. It keeps your hearts tied to each other.

6. Do little things for each other. Sometimes you can do BIG things - but every day you can do SOMETHING!!

I tell my kids - It is NOT all just flowers and candy. You WILL wake up one morning (or perhaps many in a row) and look at the person next to you and think "UGH! Really? Forever?" but it's having the strength to LOVE through those times....till it all circles back around to flowers and candy and giggly love. That's marriage! That's commitment!!!
That is TRUE LOVE!

So...how bout you? What are your "rules" or "advice"??

Wait...WHAT day is it?

I find myself - OFTEN - having grand plans for things and then waking up and it being over.

I woke up this morning thinking..."But I wanted to do a wondeful pancake breakfast for my gang for Valentines day....I wanted to get the boys each a balloon and a card to tie to the end of their beds so that they'd see them when they first woke up....I planned to do something special...I don't know how it's now the day after!"

Do you do that? I mean...seriously - there are still things I'm thinking of that I had wanted to do back at the Christmas holidays! :)

I had wanted to do a birthday party for our littlest at his pre-school. (I was down with the flu)I even often pre-buy stuff (like the birthday hats and plates and cups that are STILL sitting in my closet) and it's a swift little guilt kick when I see them a month later (after the event has passed)

Maybe I should come up with a day each year that we bring all that out - and party. For no reason other than I either got too busy, sick, pregnant, tired or just plain forgot - and it NEEDS to be used up. it NEEDS to be brought out and quit haunting me in my closet!

I can think of things I fully intended to do with my daughter (who is now 21 and probably a bit beyond the age of most of it).

I try try TRY to get more organized - but often find that it takes me SOOOOOOO much time trying to organize, and list, and pre-menu, and grocery shop etc. etc. etc. that I don't have any time left.

The other night I was stressing (and I mean STRESSING) about doing a grocery list and STILL having to grocery shop. The family was out riding on the golf cart having a WONDERFUL time. They kept coming in and asking me to join them. Finally I put down the list and just joined in. I kept thinking - I can be (what I think is) A GOOD MOM or I can be A FUN MOM.

Do I really have to choose?
Isn't there a way to be both?
Does it require getting up at 4am and going to bed at 11pm to attempt it? (because really I don't think I can exist on 5 hours sleep!! :(

So - I'm 20 weeks pregnant now - and I worry that I'm gonna be neither a good OR a fun mom - and that even this little one will be doomed to a life with a less than acceptable parent! (is it hormones?)

How do YOU balance it?
(I'd love to know any and all secrets!! :)

Thank you for reading - thank you for commenting - thank you for "listening" to me ramble :)


~with all my heart~
Michelle

On December 31st - New Years Eve - My husband and I celebrated our 27th anniversary! I can't even believe so many years have gone by. When I stop and think of all that we have been through, all that we have accomplished - all that we have survived...I suppose it COULD feel like 27 years :)

But I am simply so thankful for the time we've had together.
I am so thankful for the love and yes even the arguments!
I am so thankful for the blessings we have had and yes...even the trials -
because it has made us stronger. It has brought us closer.
Now I understand why they say "older and wiser"!! lol

We have a HUGE year ahead in 2013~
Many surprises in store!!
Can't wait to tell you more - SOON!!!!!!!
Hopefully with PICTURES :)

Happy 2013 gang!!
May you be truly blessed beyond all measure!

It's the big reveal day! I had a blast this month joining the foodie pen pal group! What a fun thing to both send and receive yummy stuff in the mail!

My "foodie pal" Rachel sent me tons of yummy stuff! My kids danced around like it was Christmas when they saw the apple butter! We had waffles one cooler morning topped with it and it was delightful!

Other treats included granola bars (those I tucked into my purse to take to work for a mid-day snack!) and a lovely assortment of tea!

Fresh granola from a farmers market! Crackers that clearly my husband LOVED (because I got all of ONE! He sure didn't share well with others! humph!)
It really was such a delight! What fun! I highly recommend you join up! What a great way to meet, bless and be blessed by new people!!!
Many Many thanks to Rachel Gergely! While you're here - zip over to THE LEAN GREEN BEAN and check out all the other goodie boxes that people received!

It's that time of year again..............it's a super fast slide right into the Holidays........
I always get to this time of the year and the war begins.
The war between who I am and who I feel I should be.
Maybe even "who I wish I was" joins in a bit...
This...I can tell you... causes many sleepless nights.
Many very tired mornings.
Maybe it's because my memory is so/so...but with MAJOR events like Holidays - I have linked memories of the kids....the home....the traditions...
I feel like I am running in 100 different directions at once - and yet I feel soooo guilty for not adding to it. There are SOOOO many things I'm just NOT accomplishing and really should be.
Yet I don't even know how to accomplish what i am already "signed up for".
I woke this morning with the feeling that you just can't plan ahead.
I KNOW where this feeling is rooted.....
we were supposed to go to a great aunt's 100th birthday party this Saturday.....
she died yesterday.
My first reaction was "why would they plan a 100th birthday party MONTHS in advance....why didn't they celebrate RIGHT AWAY?" Life's too short (even at 99.9 years old!) why didn't we just have a party for her at 99?

The time to hug is now.
The time to love is now.
The time for dinners and laughter and family time and holding hands and good times is NOW.
Because really - who knows where we'll be tomorrow?

How bout you? do you have a war going on? maybe just a small conflict?

I'd love to hear about it!

~with all my heart~
Michelle

stories...

I remember as a child - hearing the story of how the people - when Moses went up on the mountain - how they almost immediately FORGOT the goodness and provision of God. And I was amazed at how quickly they forgot. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I remember hearing the story of Mana...and how the people had NO doubt that it was from God...but soon grew tired of the blessing...and wanted MORE.MORE.MORE. And I was amazed at how quickly they grew selfish. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I remember hearing story after story about how pride, selfishness, anger, etc... can cause SO much damage. And I remember thinking I "GOT IT" when the story ended. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ But now..... As a mother. As a wife. As a woman. As an adult. I know in my heart and in my life - How quickly I can forget the blessings. How quickly I can grow selfish/angry/prideful/forgetful/demanding.......wanting MORE. Today my prayer is that I remember to STOP and give thanks. NO matter how things are. NO matter how finances are. NO matter what my kids are up to. NO matter what life brings.... Because GOD is still working - He doesn't have the "blessing amnesia" that I often have. He is still LOVING. He is still working all things for good. Some days.... I just need to step back and look for the mana :)

Happy Fall Y'all! :)

Well - We live WAY down south - and we really don't get much in the way of weather changes. So I have to live vicariously through many other "blog friends" posts - those wonderful colorful leaves....the recipes for hot soups, chowders and stews....the mention of crisp mornings and warm jackets leaves me longing for a change of season. Down here we have summer with a bit of cooler weather. Thats it! I will tell you that I am making more and more crock pot meals. and I'm introverting a bit more. I feel like I'm pulling those near and dear to me - a bit closer.... I am at that point where I am focusing more and more on family events (perhaps it's the holidays coming up that makes me do that) And I am focusing less and less on all the other "noise" that often interferes with the peace. I sooooo want to hear what you're doing - the little things that truly tell you it's autumn (even if the weather outside isn't telling you anything yet ;) As always - I love to see comments :) It lets me know someone out there is still reading :) Happy Fall Y'all! With all my heart~ Michelle

I gave this as my 10th ToastMasters speech last night. I heard a lot of people laughing - thinking I must be exagerating. Sadly - I was not. I'm confident that a lot of you out there can relate.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I became somewhat obsessed a year or so ago with....Finding Ideal "One wife/mother’s journey to live the ideal life" The basis for my obsession goal...was this….. If I set up the "habit" of living the ideal lifestyle - striving for the “ideal” life - what would happen? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So I set out to review: A. What do I think the ideal mother/wife does? (acts, accomplishes) B. What do others think the ideal m/w does? C. What does my family think the ideal m/w would be like? D. How to incorporate my ideals and my family’s Ideals together to become...well...IDEAL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It all "SIMPLY" boiled down to this -My Theory of Ideal - Super early riser 5am would be best. Wake up happy—relaxed—no need to rush! Have personal time *devotions, learn a foreign language—with Rosetta Stone, spend some time Singing, and practice my Writing each day without fail.* Be a Runner or Gym member have a goal to run a 1/2 marathon before I’m just too old. Prepare Breakfast for the family (even if night before) Be Prepared for the day (Clothes, shoes, accessories etc.) Spend one on one time with each child (even if each child is scheduled a day a week for QUALITY time) Know exactly what the day should hold by way of schedules, menus, events & extras. Run a load of laundry at the start of each morning and map out the day for when I am not there. “List” 1 item each day (ebay, amazon, craigslist) for “family cash” Set goals (budgets) for things important to the family and individually. *Vehicle * Vacation etc. Do something to improve myself each week - set personal goals. Make sure to schedule personal growth. Each evening set out clothing & shoes for the next day (accessories) pack the diaper bag! Pre-Set the table for Breakfast (as breakfast should be promptly at 6am) Pre-make lunches for the next day Intentionally design time for: Date night Grocery Shopping what I like to call“Business Baseball” (making sure all the bases are covered with the family business) Set aside time and money to work on physical maintenance aspects including hair, makeup, nails Have “command station” set up and fully functional. This would be a set area of the house where each child’s individual schedule and “stuff” is neatly kept. Each week go through an area of the home and “bless” someone else with the “extra stuff” allowing the home to become lower maintenance and stress free. Set aside money and ideas on home up-keep. Have a running list or notebook of items needing attention, and systematically work on them. Have a schedule of set appointments for my children - Health dental or eye exams as provided by insurance. KNOW my insurance benefits. Have time set in stone to spend with friends and family. Be very conscious of what I eat and drink. Keep records to maintain weight goals. Take bi-weekly photos and measurements along with weigh-ins. Prepare meal plans according to coupon supplies and provide extras stored up by shopping fabulous deals. Maintain a 6 month stock supply incase of emergency situation. Be totally crafty, making things from scratch whenever possible. Spend time volunteering—making sure that our legacy goes beyond our borders—helping others. Assist with the family business. Do all billing, payroll, accounting, proposals, banking and fire fighting (as anyone who has had a business knows...a substansial amount of time is spent on putting out fires. Have a career. Maintains a secure income—provides insurance—Life, health, dental & vision. Along with a steady check weekly or bi-weekly. Hostesses. Throw parties—dinner, birthday, holidays too. Homeschool our children—preparing curriculum, keeping records, encouraging our children to reach and grow. When un available for homeschooling—schedule time in each child’s classroom/school to maintain a presence in their education. Have all holiday shopping done well in advance. Find just that perfect something for each family member or friend. Have all items wrapped (preferably with home-made wrap and bows) packaged and mailed ON TIME. Send out holiday cards—not just Christmas mind you—oh no—Halloween—Thanksgiving—Easter—Valentines day and oh so many others! Not only for the family but also for the business! Have pen-pals that I write to weekly. Maintaining friendships long-distance. Maintain a blog with at least 1 post a week. More if possible. This was just the beginning of my list. The very tip of the iceberg if you will—and I began to feel more and more like the titanic. I actually began to comment to people about how I was failing miserably at so many things in my life—I just wasn’t sure I was surviving. The way I made myself a little more miserable was to go on pinterest—and see all the other fabulous things I should be doing/cooking/cleaning/organizing/crafting/wearing. I’ll be totally honest with you—I never asked anyone else their version of Ideal—I couldn’t imagine living up to my OWN expectations—I just couldn’t bring myself to add anyone elses! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I realized it was time to stop. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How many years had I allowed these many many “ideals” control my life? This was really the first time I had written them down (and trust me—this is not the entire list!!) For how long had I fought depression and the feeling that I was just not good enough—just because I had made up all these rules for myself!!?? I had all these rules that I was failing at—and no one was enforcing them but me! What was the bottom line? What truly mattered? If I found out tomorrow that I only had a short time left in my life….. What “ideals” then would I be concerned with? These: Did I spend enough time loving my kids and husband? Did I show love to the people I came in contact with? Did I show them respect—no matter who they were or what their situation was? Did I let my kids know that life is sooooooo much more than never living up to unrealistic expectations?! Would my kids remember me laughing/singing/playing with them instead of always being just too busy? So— I challenge you to find your ideals—I don’t encourage you to make a list 10 pages long. I challenge you to look inside your self— deep in your heart and think on what TRULY matters.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Then and only then—you will have found your ideal!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * I'm sorry it all ran together like that - I haven't figured out how to leave spaces - even though I typed it up with spaces - they don't transfer over when I actually post. Hmmmmm...something to ponder :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May you be totally blessed. ~ Much love ~ With all my heart Michelle

A letter from mom.

this is a letter I wrote today to my oldest son. Please keep us in your prayers! M Well – Where do I begin? Your brother has recently gotten into some trouble. You'd think he would have learned first hand to say far far away from trouble. I wish you were here to talk to him. I love you. He needs someone out here who can tell him first hand that this is not the road he wants to travel down. He needs someone to be honest and say “I’ve been there and it sucks” All I can hope for him is that this is the worlds greatest wake up call ever. EVER. We’re all shell shocked feeling. The little boys are teary-eyed as are we. They don’t understand. Hell, we don’t understand to be honest. It’s like having a reoccurring bad dream. It’s so hard to love someone as much as our kids – and see them making their life so hard. We want MORE for our kids. We want sunshine and happiness and merry-go-rounds. Not dark grimy parts to their life story. I know it’s what makes us truly who we are – the tough times we survive. But parents ache as much if not more. Guess it’s just the other side to that coin of getting all those hugs and kisses from sweet babies. You get all full on smiles and giggles – and then you have to keep that in the front of you minds when you are watching them do difficult things. When they are making their mistakes and learning things the hard way. The hard way sucks. It’s not that we want to keep you from having fun – it’s that we know that although you are free to make your own choices – you still have to live with the consiquences of those choices. It’s excrutiating to love someone so much. To have held their hand while they learned to walk, cheered them on when they rode bikes (or God forbid jumped off shed roofs into apple trees)…..sat up nights praying their fever would come down when they were sick…fed them the best you could….loved them always….and watch them hurt themselves. I guess it’s a part of growing up – of learning who you are – but believe me – it’s no easier on the parent! After years of trying to keep someone safe, it’s so very hard to let them go. Hoping and praying that it’s all going to be Okay. Hoping and praying. And loving them. ~ALWAYS~

Pre-school

Well my 2 year old started pre-school today. I haven't gotten any phone calls so I guess that's good?! He was so much better at letting go than I was. He was immediately impressed by the classroom and a little boy who clearly wanted to be his friend. sniff! I wish I could be more places at once. I AM working on a plan to be able to be back home some day (hopefully soon) but until then - I have to pray alot and keep busy so the time passes quickly and I get to go pick him up :) Maybe he's just toooooo sporty :) Can't wait for 5 oclock! This being a mama stuff is NOT easy! :) Thanks for listening ;) Thanks for praying!

Seasons & decisions

Do you ever feel lost? I'm sure someone out there does.... That's kinda where I am right now. I wish I had someone to talk to.. Do you have days where you think...I'm wasting my life?! - not wasting on family but wasting at a 40hr work week? Do you worry that you were meant for bigger things...and then worry that you WERENT meant for bigger things? Do you have too many things going on - and yet still think about all the "shoulda woulda coulda" things that are falling by the wayside? I don't know if anyone is still out there reading this blog anymore - it's just kinda like therapy to type it all out. Our family babysitter has decided to take the summer off. I know this is not LIFE OR DEATH. but it's a bit of a tailspin for our gang... The only option I've come up with in 3 weeks of searching is daycare. I get sick at the thought of day care. sick. I know that anytime my kiddos have ever been in daycare they've had fun. They've played and made little friends - but yet I still cringe at the time I feel LOST holding and cuddling and teaching and loving......:( I don't judge ANYONE by whether they love or hate daycare. I know that each family has a different situation - a different season that they are in. :( This is the season we are in. I just feel a little broken. a little teary. and like each and every day of my life... I hope I'm making GOOD MAMA decisions. That those are the ones that will be remembered. Not all the LOUSY ones I KNOW I've made ;(

THE GOOFY PICTURE!

I don't have a lot of "THE OTHER PICTURES" on my computer at work - I LOVE the link up and I'll now start looking for those pictures that don't make the cut - but this one was one we all laughed over like crazy - The boys had all gotten candy that had "bling" gold teeth on the front of it and they were all acting like they were tough with their arms crossed and heads bobbing - when Snap got one and looked like this: We howled. Kinda looks like he should be saying DURRRRRR!

Linking up HERE with Lynette Kraft! Make sure to check her blog out! You won't be disappointed :) Happy Friday gang! SMILE LOTS!!! With all my heart~ Michelle

Useless yet fascinating(?) facts all about me :)

I bet you didn't know that I have one of these annoying animals peck at my office door for HOURS at a time! It's mirrored and the males like to fight with each other! Dumb Dumb I mean...lovely animals!!................................................................................................................................... I finally printed out this picture and hung it there to deter him! Now he stands off a bit and YEOLPS real loud - like he'd LIKE to fight...but he's just not sure (they are my least favorite animal! lol) But because I have the picture out there - people like to bring me peacock feathers! (they think I LOVE them...lol...I can't bring myself to tell them I had a running joke with the other employees in our office that if I didn't get a good Thanksgiving turkey last year...I'd just get a Thanksgiving Peacock!) So I arrive each morning and have a good chuckle to myself as I look at a whole vase full of peacock feathers - given in love - hope they never see me out grumbling at the birds in the parkinglot! :)..........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... this is NOT my picture - it's beautiful though huh? It's more like where we are moving to than where we live now! The "new" house (small mobile home actually) you can stand at the front of it and see the ocean - so that's somthing huh?! :) We're looking forward to actually enjoying where we live....since we live in a vacation spot - and can hardly ever vacation ourselves! :) .............................................................................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................................................................ I am actually starting one of these! ........................................................................................................................................... I've gone so far as to get the gutters and the dirt! As we get moved in...I will start working on this too - and let you know how it goes! :).............................................................................................. My yard has the following (and I am SOOOOO excited about it!) Banana Trees.............. Papaya Trees............... Plantain Trees................ Barbados Cherries.................. Pomegranates.................. Chaya (Mexican Spinach)................. Pineapples................... Key Lime tree.................... Coffee trees.................. Cinnamon tree..................... Guava Tree................... Coconut palm..................... Star-fruit tree......................................... stevia :) looks like a weed really - and takes over a planter area like one too! (0bviously I'm not into plants for looks! If they don't give me something I can use...I'll switch em out for something that does!) ............................................................................... I also had a couple tea plants - but they didn't make the move :( little dead sticks in the ground ;( Will have to replace those someday soon. ......................................................................... anyways....someday I'll be able to make a killer fruit salad huh?! :) maybe with a little cinnamon coffee on the side? lol -we'll see!

Directions Directions!

Do you ever sit back and think...WOW I am going in too many directions?!?
I sure do!
I mean....I blog (occasionally at best... I know)
I am packing...
we host an organic co-op every other week and box up "shares" of produce for others...
we have 2 boys in little league right now - which means practice 3 days a week (in different locations) and games at least once a week (usually taking up all day Saturday...in different locations also!)
We have a family business..
I go to ToastMasters..
We have a toddler - that in itself is beyond full time work :)
I LOVE to sing - so I do that whenever I get the chance...
Along with all this...i try to list things on ebay and craigslist when i can...
i work a full time 40 hour week outside the home....
and then I heap trouble on myself by looking at pinterest and WISHING I could do like a billion craft ideas ;) lol
I KNOW I don't have more commitments than others...you're probably thinking right now "THAT'S IT?" - but shoot...we're all going in 1000 different directions these days right?!?!
So...back to my original question -
Do you ever sit back and think...WOW I am going in too many directions?!?
I sure do!
:)
Michelle

new nerves

a case of nerves.
that woozy stomach feeling,
yet no fear.
no heart pounding pit of my stomach hurts feeling.
but..some excitement!
oh and some overwhelm.
you see....tomorrow starts a new beginning.
6 days in a row of used "vacation time" to box, label, haul, lug, unpack or simply store until "later".
downsizing is gonna = super closeness for us.
super
close (did i mention down sizing? mini mini micro mini?)
So...today I have that
super
wild-scary-quantum leap "gonna jump" kind of feeling.
but I'm looking ahead at new horizions.
and looking out at horizions usually gives me a mildly sea-sick queezy feeling..
but now we get to dream much
bigger dreams..
all because we're willing to...for now...go to a
much smaller space.
It's really
pro-active.
I've
just.. gotta.. make it.. through.. today.
tomorrow is a brand new day!
a brand new life really.
brand new.
but for now...its kinda
a case of nerves.


linking up with Just Write! Over at the EO!

letting go.

you'll have to excuse these "mama" tears.
I know it's just another "thing"
Our computer decided to start acting up.
Yes it was old.
Yes we've had it almost 6 years.
Yes it had all the videos of the welcoming of Malachi. birth video. newborn baby stuff.
Yes it had 6 years of pictures.
Yes it had many many many things such as all of my flip videos of the kids over the last couple years.
yes it froze up
yes it died.
no it can't be saved.
no they can't retrieve it.
no.
oh no.
:*(
it's gonna take me awhile to get over it.
a
very
long
while
to let it go.

crying and linking up at Just Write