SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GOLDA!!!!
hee hee, i couldn't help myself!!
i hope you have the best day ever!
stacey
(we will celebrate next week!!)
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
In case of unraveling
I must say that we are nearing my favorite time of the year!
Oh, how I wish Texas saw just a tad bit more change of color which would nicely precede a little more white around here!
But as much as this season can bring so much joy, if you are like me, you might find it bringing on a little more stress as well.
Which reminded me of a few things I have been meaning to tell you about for several months now.
I wanted to share with you a couple of places to visit that make life a little easier to handle. Maybe for you. Maybe for someone you know.
TighterKnot and TeenShrink are sites that were individually developed by people that I know and trust. And while at this point I have not used either service personally, I can TOTALLY AND WITHOUT RESERVATION recommend these sites just based on the incredible integrity of these two men.
TighterKnot is online marriage enrichment. I know Scott and know that he has worked hard over the last year to develop this program. His passion was great enough to quit a lucrative employment situation to make this happen. Boyish grin and salesman tone of voice aside ;), he has a true heart for down-to-earth and compassionate ministry that reaches out across boundaries of any kind.
TeenShrink is accessible teen counseling that fits our busy life styles. Koy is another incredibly Godly man that believes in the power of serving both in his personal and his professional life. He is passionate about making God real to those he meets and I have no doubt this will be a ministry with great impact on many lives.
If you or someone you know ends up using either of these services, be sure to tell Scott or Koy that I said "Hi!". They did not know I was going to introduce them to you and I am getting absolutely nothing to say all this nice stuff about them! ;)
I just thought it was worth sharing!
Stacey
Oh, how I wish Texas saw just a tad bit more change of color which would nicely precede a little more white around here!
But as much as this season can bring so much joy, if you are like me, you might find it bringing on a little more stress as well.
Which reminded me of a few things I have been meaning to tell you about for several months now.
I wanted to share with you a couple of places to visit that make life a little easier to handle. Maybe for you. Maybe for someone you know.
TighterKnot and TeenShrink are sites that were individually developed by people that I know and trust. And while at this point I have not used either service personally, I can TOTALLY AND WITHOUT RESERVATION recommend these sites just based on the incredible integrity of these two men.
TighterKnot is online marriage enrichment. I know Scott and know that he has worked hard over the last year to develop this program. His passion was great enough to quit a lucrative employment situation to make this happen. Boyish grin and salesman tone of voice aside ;), he has a true heart for down-to-earth and compassionate ministry that reaches out across boundaries of any kind.
TeenShrink is accessible teen counseling that fits our busy life styles. Koy is another incredibly Godly man that believes in the power of serving both in his personal and his professional life. He is passionate about making God real to those he meets and I have no doubt this will be a ministry with great impact on many lives.
If you or someone you know ends up using either of these services, be sure to tell Scott or Koy that I said "Hi!". They did not know I was going to introduce them to you and I am getting absolutely nothing to say all this nice stuff about them! ;)
I just thought it was worth sharing!
Stacey
Sunday, November 18, 2007
FRIDAY FUZZIES!
Um, it is still Friday, isn't it?
Just a brief synopsis so you won't think I have lost my mind. Or maybe I have! I prepped this post on Thursday evening before heading out for my much-needed GNO. Although it was actually a girls' night in, we had a glorious time! So.....got home around midnight (that would be friday morning!) and went to bed in order to rise at 6 am the "next" day. Friday included a vendor show until 11:30 am, packing up and driving home, managing kids and house, taking dtr to birthday party, going to dinner with husband and son, picking up dtr and getting kids to bed, AND falling asleep while putting kids to bed! Saturday included working at a hospital, coming home, changing clothes, taking kids to coop, out and about with husband during coop hours, putting kids to bed AND falling asleep while doing so!
So........here we are on Sunday morning with your latest addition of FRIDAY FUZZIES!
I am nothing if not efficient and timely!
Actually, I am, but it was just one of those weeks!!!!
However, these ladies deserve some kuddos, so we are all just going to pretend that it is still Friday!
The FlipFlop Mamma
She is young and hip. Yes, there are tattoos involved, but I will let you read about those yourself! She has 3 gorgeous kids and is striving to live a healthy life. She also supports her husband in his role as a pastor. Go check out her cute site!
BonBon Boutique
Christy is a work of art. Or is it that she does great works of art? Both! She has a cute site where you can learn about her and ALL the super cool stuff she creates! Don't miss out!!
A Mei Mei for Mallory
Adele's site is such a wonderful online "scrapbook" about her life and her beautiful daughter. You will feel happiness and love the minute you arrive. You can tell how dedicated she is to her family and we can all pray for next addition they will have one day. Warning-if you have a young daughter, you might pray now for God to suppress your desire to covet super cute outfits with matching bows! Go enjoy!
Rose Cottage Lane
"Grace" found me during the giveaway and I am looking forward to learning more about her through her archives. She has a beautiful old-charm site and I was so happy to learn about her love of shabby chic on a budget. Maybe I can get some more great ideas for my home decor file folder! And my new friend lives in Oklahoma, so maybe I can sneak in a visit some day when I am back home!
Black Friday Ads
And in preparation for next Friday, be sure to check out this site for a head-start with all your holiday shopping. Plus, sign-up for their email list so you can learn about the great deals faster!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
For when I forget
Confession time!
This post has been patiently waiting for me to finish it for, well obviously, 2 months now! I just kept getting stuck wondering if I was remembering all I wanted to say to them. Then I just got distracted!
So, read it knowing that some of the details are the past, but the feelings are forever! And I needed to remember how I really felt after wondering if my place has been in the fiery furnace lately! :)
Even though I am not currently writing about them by name, I decided to leave the names in with this one because it feels more personal and meaningful. The verses below are displayed respectively in each of their rooms.
Thanks for letting me share them with you!
Stacey
**************************************************
I already told y'all the long story of how we got where we are, so today I will just share a few thoughts about the kids and the pictures I took on our first day. Just so you know, I had to round them up and manage pictures and a smidgen of video on my own their first day. In case you can't tell by the past posts, I love taking pics and recording history of my kids. This day was such a special day, but I just couldn't manage to get all the pictures and video that I really wanted. And of course, I had to stay behind the camera on this day as well :( And then on top of all that, our good camera's lens is broken (has been for a long time) which means that pictures are coming to ya courtesy of my cell phone (or my "mobile" as I like to call it; my friend makes fun of me cuz when I leave messages for someone to call me, I always say "I am on my mobile" and apparently no one says that!!) or our video camera's picture-taking component. Just not the same!!
The kids were so ready for the day. Well, sorta, as you will soon see! The night before, I had prepped folders, backpacks, lunches, extras, camera, you name it! I got up early and put my cute-Mom look together! Some days, these people are lucky to see me with make-up on before 9 am since I usually put it on in the car after I drop the kids off!
Good morning Anysa! She is eager for Kindergarten!
Dressed and ready! She looks a little peaked to me, but it is just the stinky lighting and my phone. And it didn't help that all she would settle on is a ponytail. I would have much rather utilized on the millions of giant cute bows in her closet, but she is soooo over those!!
Luke, or Mr. Sunshine as we like to refer to him around here, was not so ready to greet the day! I seem to recall something like "Leave me alone! I not going to school!"
He is telling me to turn off the light and go away!!
On his terms, he is a totally happy and eager boy who is also not camera shy!
This picture of them cracks me up! I so want to photo shop a leather jacket and jeans on him. Doesn't he look like a cool biker dude with his Pink Lady by his side!!
I love kids' feet!! And besides, you have to go your first day with just the right pair of shoes. His shoes zip up and have little baseballs and bats on them. And Anysa, well, who can resist a little sparkle!
While at a stoplight, he requested this picture of him and his "map mat".
Anysa settled in quickly and really had no use for me or my camera. I was trying to control Luke and my camera at the same time plus the room was too chaotic with kids and parents to ask for someone to take our picture. That is why 2 parents would have come in handy that day.
As we got closer to Luke's classroom, I got a little more nervous. He is hit or miss; either he separates with no problem or he has an attachment attack. Well, he was a trooper. He marched up, we found his mat and name star, he put is star up and headed straight over the table were one of his "girlfriends" was sitting. He said "Hi, R....", sat down, and started attacking the play dough. So proud of him!
Luke- I can hardly believe how much you have changed over this last year, and especially these last few months. You are just like your sister with your "terrible three's"; so opinionated and moody! Oh my, and the whining and "me do" seems so prevalent right now!! You try to make up for it with your infectious laugh, the way you share in exclamation points, and your general zest for life! You want to do everything Anysa does or at least irritate her while she is doing it. You two have become such good playmates; you have learned such neat play skills from her and I always love listening in on your conversations. I am always amazed by your imagination and your thoughts. And, of course, they don't always come out the way you mean to say them; such funny phrases! You don't mind playing by yourself sometimes, often zooming your cars across your car track rug. Unless it is a big mess that you have created, you love to help me :) Cooking seems to be your favorite thing to help with, although I personally think you just love running the mixer. Oh, and vacuuming! It must be an engine thing!! You are such a speedy fellow on your Spiderman bike; just the other day, you pretended to drive your bike to "Chifla" while we were stopped at the "circle street". You love your friends and are really trying to learn to play nice and share. Funny though, you have learned the fine art of letting me know it was an "asident" before I can scold you. Having an older sister has also meant you are learning other things quicker than I prefer; teasing, claiming it is "her fault" or calling her a mean name, fibbing! We have had to watch Flo, the Lyin' Fly and Buzby, the Misbehaving Bee for more than entertainment value lately! Getting the hang of underwear has taken longer than I wanted but you are really trying and have mastered it mostly! The other day, you disappeared, and when I found you in the bathroom on the toilet, what you did all by yourself made this momma proud!!! Bedtime is not your favorite time and nap time is starting to be a distant memory for us. Despite our best efforts of a routine, it is a hard time for you. It has been fun reading with you at night. Lately, you are so into Jonah (VeggieTales style) or to be more specific, "The Pirates Dat Don't Do Anyfing." You can practically tell me the whole story yourself, and with expressions that are so humorous. Speaking of expressions, I must take a picture some time! You have this face when you are really trying to get your thoughts across. You tilt your head slightly, squint your eyes, scrunch up one side of your mouth, nod your head, and share your thought or idea. Love it! You love to sing and hearing you try to sing praise songs and your Sunday school songs so tugs at my heart. You have been willing to say dinner prayers for awhile and your bedtime prayers are simple and to the point. "Dear God, tank you for Mommy, and Daddy, and Nysa, and my family, and Mommy." Yea, I score twice!! My favorite is when you stop, open one eye, and say "What else?", then keep going. Or when you slip in thanking God for your food, then stop yourself and say, "No, no, no.", then get back on track. You love to play ball, cars, super heroes, dress up, pretend, sing, color, paint, and you are starting to learn board games that I play with Anysa. Of course, when Daddy comes home, the gloves are off. It is chase, hide-n-go-seek, chase-tag-tickle, playing ball. You seem so big these days; taller, leaner, longer legs, more mature face, advancing skills, an ear-to-ear grin with a big dimple! I am so glad you still have a tender heart for Mommy and I am the one that can make you feel better and who gets the best hugs and kisses. Just the other day while at the library, you leaned into me and Anysa, put your arms around us, and said, "I love you guys.". I am so proud of you and am waiting to be amazed by the plans God has for you! I love you Lukey!
Psalm 119: 9-16
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, O LORD;
teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
Anysa-Ah, my special girl! I am almost at a loss as where to begin! I kept pretending you were not starting kindergarten this year. It just didn't seem possible. See, right before I blinked, you were a precious infant quietly napping in your Moses' basket. And now, you are an emerging young girl. Your eyes sparkle most of the time and you always have wonderful ideas to share with others. I loved watching you try gymnastics again this past winter. You were taller, leaner, and even more brave. You so have gymnast thighs! Then summer brought you one of your greatest joys-swimming!! You can never get enough of the pool. I was so proud of how hard you worked during lessons-watching you learn those amazing strokes-wow! And now, as you are about to try dance again, I know you will be even more graceful and lovely as you were the first time! Your imagination has exploded this past year! There is pretend, drama, re-enactments, music, singing, accents, costumes. OH.THE.COSTUMES! You have even matured in how you take care of your baby dolls. Along those lines, you so creative with your drawings! You love your movies and a good snack while watching them. And although you shed a few tears, you also shed the training wheels on your bike!! Now all I see is smoke coming from those tires at the speeds you are reaching! My favorite part is how you just sing and sing as you ride your bike! You have no problem grooving to your own words if you can't think of the originals! You are not fearful of higher and faster; your toes tickle God when you swing! Like Luke, you love to help me bake. You could play all day long, but you still get overwhelmed and upset when clean up time arrives (it is like we have dumped one hundred pounds on your shoulders!), but you are getting better. And no one even had to teach you the stuff and shove method! I am very proud of your bed-making ability; you shame your momma! You are a true nurturer, and though sometimes a tad bossy, you love and care for those around you. Maybe you will be a famous director one day! As you fast approach 6, you have yet to let me forget what I promised you on a whim 2 years ago. A puppy! You remind me often and tell everyone you meet that "when I turn 6, I get a puppy!". I love listening to you; your phone conversations and prayers are so much more mature now, you are learning about riddles and jokes, you are asking what more and more words and everyday phrases mean, and you still have one or two words that just don't want to come out right. I love watching you sleep at night with one hand clasped tightly around the corner of your pillow. You told me one time that it kept the bad dreams away. Mostly, I love what an incredible big sister you are! And that is NOT always easy with you-know-who! And while there are days you cry out, "WHY.DID.YOU.HAVE.ME.A.LITTLE.BROTHER!", more often, I hear you asking him to play, teaching him how to do something, sharing bursts of laughter together, and assuring "little buddy" that it will be alright. I know you will continue to love him, teach him, laugh with him, and protect him for many years to come. I love most when you run to me for "just one more huggy and kissy" and I must remind myself not to let those moments be less special than they truly are. I know God is preparing you for great works! You make my heart burst with pride and I love you so very much my sweet girl!
Psalm 139: 13-16
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
As you grow, I pray that each of you know the fullest favor of God's richest blessings throughout your lives.
Mommy
This post has been patiently waiting for me to finish it for, well obviously, 2 months now! I just kept getting stuck wondering if I was remembering all I wanted to say to them. Then I just got distracted!
So, read it knowing that some of the details are the past, but the feelings are forever! And I needed to remember how I really felt after wondering if my place has been in the fiery furnace lately! :)
Even though I am not currently writing about them by name, I decided to leave the names in with this one because it feels more personal and meaningful. The verses below are displayed respectively in each of their rooms.
Thanks for letting me share them with you!
Stacey
**************************************************
I already told y'all the long story of how we got where we are, so today I will just share a few thoughts about the kids and the pictures I took on our first day. Just so you know, I had to round them up and manage pictures and a smidgen of video on my own their first day. In case you can't tell by the past posts, I love taking pics and recording history of my kids. This day was such a special day, but I just couldn't manage to get all the pictures and video that I really wanted. And of course, I had to stay behind the camera on this day as well :( And then on top of all that, our good camera's lens is broken (has been for a long time) which means that pictures are coming to ya courtesy of my cell phone (or my "mobile" as I like to call it; my friend makes fun of me cuz when I leave messages for someone to call me, I always say "I am on my mobile" and apparently no one says that!!) or our video camera's picture-taking component. Just not the same!!
The kids were so ready for the day. Well, sorta, as you will soon see! The night before, I had prepped folders, backpacks, lunches, extras, camera, you name it! I got up early and put my cute-Mom look together! Some days, these people are lucky to see me with make-up on before 9 am since I usually put it on in the car after I drop the kids off!
Good morning Anysa! She is eager for Kindergarten!
Dressed and ready! She looks a little peaked to me, but it is just the stinky lighting and my phone. And it didn't help that all she would settle on is a ponytail. I would have much rather utilized on the millions of giant cute bows in her closet, but she is soooo over those!!
Luke, or Mr. Sunshine as we like to refer to him around here, was not so ready to greet the day! I seem to recall something like "Leave me alone! I not going to school!"
He is telling me to turn off the light and go away!!
On his terms, he is a totally happy and eager boy who is also not camera shy!
This picture of them cracks me up! I so want to photo shop a leather jacket and jeans on him. Doesn't he look like a cool biker dude with his Pink Lady by his side!!
I love kids' feet!! And besides, you have to go your first day with just the right pair of shoes. His shoes zip up and have little baseballs and bats on them. And Anysa, well, who can resist a little sparkle!
While at a stoplight, he requested this picture of him and his "map mat".
Anysa settled in quickly and really had no use for me or my camera. I was trying to control Luke and my camera at the same time plus the room was too chaotic with kids and parents to ask for someone to take our picture. That is why 2 parents would have come in handy that day.
As we got closer to Luke's classroom, I got a little more nervous. He is hit or miss; either he separates with no problem or he has an attachment attack. Well, he was a trooper. He marched up, we found his mat and name star, he put is star up and headed straight over the table were one of his "girlfriends" was sitting. He said "Hi, R....", sat down, and started attacking the play dough. So proud of him!
Luke- I can hardly believe how much you have changed over this last year, and especially these last few months. You are just like your sister with your "terrible three's"; so opinionated and moody! Oh my, and the whining and "me do" seems so prevalent right now!! You try to make up for it with your infectious laugh, the way you share in exclamation points, and your general zest for life! You want to do everything Anysa does or at least irritate her while she is doing it. You two have become such good playmates; you have learned such neat play skills from her and I always love listening in on your conversations. I am always amazed by your imagination and your thoughts. And, of course, they don't always come out the way you mean to say them; such funny phrases! You don't mind playing by yourself sometimes, often zooming your cars across your car track rug. Unless it is a big mess that you have created, you love to help me :) Cooking seems to be your favorite thing to help with, although I personally think you just love running the mixer. Oh, and vacuuming! It must be an engine thing!! You are such a speedy fellow on your Spiderman bike; just the other day, you pretended to drive your bike to "Chifla" while we were stopped at the "circle street". You love your friends and are really trying to learn to play nice and share. Funny though, you have learned the fine art of letting me know it was an "asident" before I can scold you. Having an older sister has also meant you are learning other things quicker than I prefer; teasing, claiming it is "her fault" or calling her a mean name, fibbing! We have had to watch Flo, the Lyin' Fly and Buzby, the Misbehaving Bee for more than entertainment value lately! Getting the hang of underwear has taken longer than I wanted but you are really trying and have mastered it mostly! The other day, you disappeared, and when I found you in the bathroom on the toilet, what you did all by yourself made this momma proud!!! Bedtime is not your favorite time and nap time is starting to be a distant memory for us. Despite our best efforts of a routine, it is a hard time for you. It has been fun reading with you at night. Lately, you are so into Jonah (VeggieTales style) or to be more specific, "The Pirates Dat Don't Do Anyfing." You can practically tell me the whole story yourself, and with expressions that are so humorous. Speaking of expressions, I must take a picture some time! You have this face when you are really trying to get your thoughts across. You tilt your head slightly, squint your eyes, scrunch up one side of your mouth, nod your head, and share your thought or idea. Love it! You love to sing and hearing you try to sing praise songs and your Sunday school songs so tugs at my heart. You have been willing to say dinner prayers for awhile and your bedtime prayers are simple and to the point. "Dear God, tank you for Mommy, and Daddy, and Nysa, and my family, and Mommy." Yea, I score twice!! My favorite is when you stop, open one eye, and say "What else?", then keep going. Or when you slip in thanking God for your food, then stop yourself and say, "No, no, no.", then get back on track. You love to play ball, cars, super heroes, dress up, pretend, sing, color, paint, and you are starting to learn board games that I play with Anysa. Of course, when Daddy comes home, the gloves are off. It is chase, hide-n-go-seek, chase-tag-tickle, playing ball. You seem so big these days; taller, leaner, longer legs, more mature face, advancing skills, an ear-to-ear grin with a big dimple! I am so glad you still have a tender heart for Mommy and I am the one that can make you feel better and who gets the best hugs and kisses. Just the other day while at the library, you leaned into me and Anysa, put your arms around us, and said, "I love you guys.". I am so proud of you and am waiting to be amazed by the plans God has for you! I love you Lukey!
Psalm 119: 9-16
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, O LORD;
teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
Anysa-Ah, my special girl! I am almost at a loss as where to begin! I kept pretending you were not starting kindergarten this year. It just didn't seem possible. See, right before I blinked, you were a precious infant quietly napping in your Moses' basket. And now, you are an emerging young girl. Your eyes sparkle most of the time and you always have wonderful ideas to share with others. I loved watching you try gymnastics again this past winter. You were taller, leaner, and even more brave. You so have gymnast thighs! Then summer brought you one of your greatest joys-swimming!! You can never get enough of the pool. I was so proud of how hard you worked during lessons-watching you learn those amazing strokes-wow! And now, as you are about to try dance again, I know you will be even more graceful and lovely as you were the first time! Your imagination has exploded this past year! There is pretend, drama, re-enactments, music, singing, accents, costumes. OH.THE.COSTUMES! You have even matured in how you take care of your baby dolls. Along those lines, you so creative with your drawings! You love your movies and a good snack while watching them. And although you shed a few tears, you also shed the training wheels on your bike!! Now all I see is smoke coming from those tires at the speeds you are reaching! My favorite part is how you just sing and sing as you ride your bike! You have no problem grooving to your own words if you can't think of the originals! You are not fearful of higher and faster; your toes tickle God when you swing! Like Luke, you love to help me bake. You could play all day long, but you still get overwhelmed and upset when clean up time arrives (it is like we have dumped one hundred pounds on your shoulders!), but you are getting better. And no one even had to teach you the stuff and shove method! I am very proud of your bed-making ability; you shame your momma! You are a true nurturer, and though sometimes a tad bossy, you love and care for those around you. Maybe you will be a famous director one day! As you fast approach 6, you have yet to let me forget what I promised you on a whim 2 years ago. A puppy! You remind me often and tell everyone you meet that "when I turn 6, I get a puppy!". I love listening to you; your phone conversations and prayers are so much more mature now, you are learning about riddles and jokes, you are asking what more and more words and everyday phrases mean, and you still have one or two words that just don't want to come out right. I love watching you sleep at night with one hand clasped tightly around the corner of your pillow. You told me one time that it kept the bad dreams away. Mostly, I love what an incredible big sister you are! And that is NOT always easy with you-know-who! And while there are days you cry out, "WHY.DID.YOU.HAVE.ME.A.LITTLE.BROTHER!", more often, I hear you asking him to play, teaching him how to do something, sharing bursts of laughter together, and assuring "little buddy" that it will be alright. I know you will continue to love him, teach him, laugh with him, and protect him for many years to come. I love most when you run to me for "just one more huggy and kissy" and I must remind myself not to let those moments be less special than they truly are. I know God is preparing you for great works! You make my heart burst with pride and I love you so very much my sweet girl!
Psalm 139: 13-16
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
As you grow, I pray that each of you know the fullest favor of God's richest blessings throughout your lives.
Mommy
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
One-Stop Shopping
I'll admit, as much as I love all this, the technical part of it has come slower for me. I am too busy to figure out how to do this and that (all things I want to do) to enhance my site and my ability around blogland. I have improved along the way by asking a few questions here and there, but mostly by trial and error.
Because I bestow Friday Fuzzies each week, I have mentioned several times my HUGE list on my computer where I keep track of who I need to visit. Once given a FF, I try to slide them over to my sidebar in the following weeks. That way, I can simply go to my site and then visit all of them. Thus allowing me to decrease the size of my other list.
See where I am going here?
Are y'all out there rolling your eyes along with "tsk tsk tsk"?
FINALLY, some sweet soul (who I have momentarily forgotten who, but will acknowledge as soon as I remember!) had mercy on me and let me in on the BIG SECRET!
WELL.GOOD.MORNING.GOOGLE.READER!WHERE.HAVE.YOU.BEEN.ALL.MY.LIFE!
SERIOUSLY! No more guessing. No more clicking unnecessarily. No more wasted time.
All my peeps are there with one click and I can know INSTANTLY who has a new post (or two!). I only click on those with a new post and then mark them "read" once I am done. Their site is not highlighted again until they post again. This is brilliance in action!
I have had a few that Google Reader won't add. Again that is technical stuff and I will have to worry about it later.
And although I need to tweek a few more things so I can streamline my time even more when it comes to reading, commenting, and posting, I am so thrilled with my new found discovery.
One word of caution though. It can be very easy to just read the new posts quickly and move on (especially if I can read the whole post without going to a person's site to finish the story) and I have found myself doing that more than I like. I am a firm believer in commenting as much as I can when I visit people. I know how it makes me feel to know, really know, people are reading what I write and I want to make others feel that way. (hint, hint all you lurkers or those who I visit a lot!) So lately, I have made a conscious effort to take the time to comment even if it takes a few extra steps to their "house".
Google Reader works for me!
How to:
1. Go to Google
2. Click on "more" in the tool bar at the top of the page
3. Click on "reader" near the bottom of the list
4. Sign in with your Google account. So worth getting an account just for this!
5. Then simply start adding sites to the "subscription". I usually keep two screens up so I can grab an url and then add them to my list quickly.
For more great tips, go to Rocks In My Dryer!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Warning! If you are destined to raise perfect children, then look away now! But just remember, DeNial is a fun place to live; it just ain't cheap!
I am not officially tackling today because most of my tackles are in limbo right now.
Unless you want to count tackling my son!
I love that boy something fierce, but truly, he and I are like two wrestlers right now. Just going round and round, eyeing our opponent, and waiting to see what move the other makes first.
Exhausting!
I have tried to stay true to the thought that it is important for them to make many mistakes and learn how to make good choices when young. It is just the training part of all that which is killing me!
Listening and obeying mix with him like oil and vinegar right now.
And although big sister is not quite as bad right now, she is dealing with her own sassy/whiny issues right now too!
But that boy!
Sneaky, demanding, whiny, sassy, not listening, wash, rinse, repeat!
I have tried old-fashioned correction, new-age correction, creative correction, you name it.
I know 3's can be such a mixed stage. It was my hardest (thus far) with my daughter as well. He just seems to have the ability to push my EXACERBATION button way easier than she. Let's see....there has been the fish torture, the hiding under sister's bed with a container of chocolate powder and a spoon, the relieving of oneself out in nature, the store touching fiasco, and the not listening. Did I mention the not listening. OH, and now, we are having to work on not fibbing to get out of getting in trouble!
I do believe his heart is big enough and full of enough love to withstand the moments that I just simply lose it. And I would be lying if I led you to believe some of those moments were not occurring before 9 am! I am still getting plenty of hugs and kisses, lots of please and thank you's, and just those moments of pure 3-year old joy over the simple things that I forget to notice anymore.
I will leave this light. Some of my favorite quotes of his from the past several weeks are:
"OH! I.AM.SO.SORRY! Mom, I am so so sorry!"
"Are you still upset to me?"
"Moooom! Why are you always mad at me?" (this is with head and hand gestures)
"Mom, I am being a good boy!"
"Mom, I want to watch the naughty, naughty boy!"
Ok, this one cracks me up because at first I had no idea what he was talking about and he was saying it in such a funny way. Turns out, he was referring to the little boy in a recent Madeline video he had watched! Yes, I was getting it in his best British accent!
Ironic viewing choice, don't you think!
Stacey
p.s. Some friends and I are starting Lisa Whelchel's book "The Busy Mom's Guide to Prayer". I am really looking forward to getting specific with God in regards to my children!
Unless you want to count tackling my son!
I love that boy something fierce, but truly, he and I are like two wrestlers right now. Just going round and round, eyeing our opponent, and waiting to see what move the other makes first.
Exhausting!
I have tried to stay true to the thought that it is important for them to make many mistakes and learn how to make good choices when young. It is just the training part of all that which is killing me!
Listening and obeying mix with him like oil and vinegar right now.
And although big sister is not quite as bad right now, she is dealing with her own sassy/whiny issues right now too!
But that boy!
Sneaky, demanding, whiny, sassy, not listening, wash, rinse, repeat!
I have tried old-fashioned correction, new-age correction, creative correction, you name it.
I know 3's can be such a mixed stage. It was my hardest (thus far) with my daughter as well. He just seems to have the ability to push my EXACERBATION button way easier than she. Let's see....there has been the fish torture, the hiding under sister's bed with a container of chocolate powder and a spoon, the relieving of oneself out in nature, the store touching fiasco, and the not listening. Did I mention the not listening. OH, and now, we are having to work on not fibbing to get out of getting in trouble!
I do believe his heart is big enough and full of enough love to withstand the moments that I just simply lose it. And I would be lying if I led you to believe some of those moments were not occurring before 9 am! I am still getting plenty of hugs and kisses, lots of please and thank you's, and just those moments of pure 3-year old joy over the simple things that I forget to notice anymore.
I will leave this light. Some of my favorite quotes of his from the past several weeks are:
"OH! I.AM.SO.SORRY! Mom, I am so so sorry!"
"Are you still upset to me?"
"Moooom! Why are you always mad at me?" (this is with head and hand gestures)
"Mom, I am being a good boy!"
"Mom, I want to watch the naughty, naughty boy!"
Ok, this one cracks me up because at first I had no idea what he was talking about and he was saying it in such a funny way. Turns out, he was referring to the little boy in a recent Madeline video he had watched! Yes, I was getting it in his best British accent!
Ironic viewing choice, don't you think!
Stacey
p.s. Some friends and I are starting Lisa Whelchel's book "The Busy Mom's Guide to Prayer". I am really looking forward to getting specific with God in regards to my children!
Monday, November 12, 2007
You Knew Me When
Oh, I so needed some inspiration for today's thoughts!
Unfortunately, for some, it may be repeat thoughts! Hopefully, for most, it will be like a fresh breeze on a muggy day!
Right!
See, I just found Maura over here and she has inspired me with something fun! She is having a bloggy birthday and celebrating by giving away some $ if you share your first post and tell a little bit about how you have grown. You can find all the details here
I pretty much explain why I started doing all this in my first post, so I won't repeat myself. But, what I know for sure, is that it has become so much more than I ever expected. Now someone in this home likes to refer to all this as a possible outcry to Bloggers Anonymous, but I would disagree.
True, it has meant late nights and early mornings to either read or post. True, I should really analyze my time with all this and see how to manage it better (thoughts on that coming Wednesday!). True, maybe I should actually try to earn some $$ since it seems to be my new hobby.
But do you want to know what is most true?
* Making some really nice friends, both in-person and online.
* Liking people online before I ever had a chance to make in-person judgements that might have never allowed me to know some INCREDIBLE women.
* Learning so much! And really, good stuff!
* Laughing for so many reasons, but mostly for realizing I am so not alone!
* Crying because someone was hurting and I didn't even know them.
* Having the opportunity to pray for so many and making a conscious effort to let that be visible here.
* Occasionally writing about things that make a difference.
* Realizing this is so much bigger than a few contests-which was the real catalyst for finally starting my own blog (so I could enter and host them; silly, huh!)
Oh well, all that being said, read here to see me in action on my first day!
Stacey
Unfortunately, for some, it may be repeat thoughts! Hopefully, for most, it will be like a fresh breeze on a muggy day!
Right!
See, I just found Maura over here and she has inspired me with something fun! She is having a bloggy birthday and celebrating by giving away some $ if you share your first post and tell a little bit about how you have grown. You can find all the details here
I pretty much explain why I started doing all this in my first post, so I won't repeat myself. But, what I know for sure, is that it has become so much more than I ever expected. Now someone in this home likes to refer to all this as a possible outcry to Bloggers Anonymous, but I would disagree.
True, it has meant late nights and early mornings to either read or post. True, I should really analyze my time with all this and see how to manage it better (thoughts on that coming Wednesday!). True, maybe I should actually try to earn some $$ since it seems to be my new hobby.
But do you want to know what is most true?
* Making some really nice friends, both in-person and online.
* Liking people online before I ever had a chance to make in-person judgements that might have never allowed me to know some INCREDIBLE women.
* Learning so much! And really, good stuff!
* Laughing for so many reasons, but mostly for realizing I am so not alone!
* Crying because someone was hurting and I didn't even know them.
* Having the opportunity to pray for so many and making a conscious effort to let that be visible here.
* Occasionally writing about things that make a difference.
* Realizing this is so much bigger than a few contests-which was the real catalyst for finally starting my own blog (so I could enter and host them; silly, huh!)
Oh well, all that being said, read here to see me in action on my first day!
Stacey
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