Blessings

Whining about having no money? No, probably not.

More lists of jobs I didn't get? Boring.

Whining about the cold weather? Gets old.

Excuses about staying up too late? No one wants to hear that.

All the things that are breaking or falling apart? Even I don't want to think about that.

So, because I'm not writing about THOSE things, I haven't been writing much here. I am sure you're tired of clicking here and finding nothing new though. Pictures of James on his TENTH birthday are nice, but they don't really tell you anything NEW, do they?

Yes, my little boy has hit the double digits! My oldest will be FIFTEEN quite soon - amazing, eh? And my second born will be a teen in the spring, making me the mom of TWO of those exasperating and inspiring creatures known as teenagers.

I'm really glad Bob is working and he's adjusting to it pretty well, I think. I wish he had more hours since 32 hours at minimum wage just isn't enough. We continue looking for work. That reminds me, I have a phone call to make.

Have I ever mentioned I hate making phone calls? Well, this phone call is for a telemarketing job. Are those the only people HIRING nowadays?? I can't even get the local grocery store to call me. I even applied at Walmart, for gosh sake. Oops.... Ventured into boring territory there.

Got the tree up Saturday and we decorated on Sunday. Looks Christmas-y around here, although we don't do a LOT of frou-frou. I admire it in other people's homes though. My kids are all excited - snow, pretty tree, stockings hanging. They've been making presents and wrapping them. At least the girls have.

I'm going to try listing some books on amazon.com for sale. Maybe that will bring in a little money. I have three Spanish classes starting in January, and I thought about calling the enrichment program I used to teach for and seeing if we could get that on the schedule again there. Another phone call. Hate making phone calls.

I sorted out our medical insurance. (Bob and I finally qualified for Medicaid again. Thankfully!) Bob really needed to go to the doctor. He hasn't been in a year or so. He was off all his meds since we couldn't afford them. The kids and I changed health plans and hopefully I can get new glasses. I need bifocals, I think. Sigh. We are all going to try new doctors (except Bob). I had enough of the run-around that we got at the old practice. I need to call the new place and get the records transferred over.

Dentist needs a call too. Kids are overdue for 6 month checkups. Sadly neither Bob nor I can go to the dentist. Kids out there? TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR TEETH!

It takes a huge effort to stop thinking about money problems and focus on the kids. They need me to be directing my energy at their education and well-being. It's hard when there is so much stress.

Im not even going to mention the hot water heater.

Let's try counting blessings. That always helps!

• A friend just dropped off a box of goodies. I need to go poke through that. It'll make me feel loved.
• A local ministry is buying some gifts for the kids for Christmas. VERY thankful for that.
• Christmas money came in the mail from a couple different places. THANK YOU!
• I won a prize in that writer's contest I entered a couple weeks ago (and posted about on Cornerstone). When it arrives, I will blog about that.
• Everyone is healthy.
• The medical insurance finally came through.
  
• I'm still losing weight.
• I love having hot water whenever it decides to cooperate.
• We are not (very far) behind in any bills.
• I have book club tomorrow! That's always a bundle of laughs!
• I can find lots of good books and DVD's at the library.
• I'm still homeschooling. (That IS a plus, I keep reminding myself.)
• Bob's remodeling the kitchen to fit the "new" fridge Maryann gave us (was that 2 years ago?! lol)
• Christmas cards are rolling in from loved ones near and far.
• I have internet access in my home.
  
• We are warm and fed and loved.

There, I feel better. I'm going to go make some yummy potato soup.

A Little Blah-Blah-Blah

Going to my first AYSO board meeting tonight. Dinner - paid for! Woot!

Took the fam shopping today - Dropped the guys at Home Depot, took the girls shopping for party stuff. Cannot find a mini-tea set anywhere! Argh!

David had an eye appointment today - increased prescription, ordered glasses. Two to three weeks and they'll be in.

Party planning driving me insane. Why did I volunteer for this again? Eeeeeek! She wanted a nice easy sleepover. lol OK, when the sleepover sounds BETTER? then I know I'm insane.

Watched Galaxy Quest for the first time this week. Very funny! Laughed and laughed. David found it extremely amusing too. On my second disc of NCIS Season 1. We like it. Remember I was looking for a current TV show to watch on DVD? Think I've found it.

Just something I wanna say - Whining drives me batty. For some reason, and I'm sure it's not present company, this has come to the forefront of my mind.

No house painting has happened yet. Monday it rained. Yesterday Bob realized he had no masking tape. Bought some today. So maybe now we can begin. Oh wait, yeah, PARTY on Friday. @@ and it's supposed to rain tomorrow. It was supposed to rain today too, but it didn't. It better not rain on Friday.

Both the queries I sent on Monday got rejections the same night. Dang, those agents are fast! Edited some yesterday. Maybe I can edit a little more before I have to head out. I've been working on the laptop, since it isn't hooked to the internet. Then I don't get as distracted. lol

OK, I'm off! You feel free to hang out and do your thing.

Randomness

Randomness....

There's a redbox in the Kroger store in Imlay City now! YAY! I may just cancel Netflix, although when David heard me say that, he reacted with horror.

Suzy is playing across the street with her friends.
James is trying to figure out a way to fix the hanging basket he broke. (Anyone have an empty hanging basket pot?)
Emily is mowing the yard.
David is upstairs in his room playing with Legos and listening to Black by Ted Dekker. (At least I think that's what he's doing.)
Bob is working on the back porch. He's replacing the floor.
Lisa is procrastinating starting dinner. I think we'll be eating late tonight. lol

I took David to the thrift store to see if I could find him some more shorts. Ended up with another pair of shorts (white! ack!) and a pair of jeans. Got myself a long dress coat, which I have needed for YEARS. YAY! Also a fall coat on half price, 2 church shirts for James, and a smattering of clothes for the girls.

Suzy has been trying very hard lately to be sweeter and obey right away. It's very nice to see. I've been trying to reinforce it as much as possible.

I learned how to enter the soccer players into the online system. I am going to put some in tonight and see how I do. By the way, I am taking over for the current soccer registrar for the region. Right now I am Assistant Registrar and I am on the board, I guess.

Deb and Dar and I met last night and got the co-op schedule into some semblance of order. I've been emailing back and forth with teachers all day, getting their assignments straight. I have a phone call or two to make and I am waiting on several to get back with me. Then the schedule will hopefully be all set.

Suzy is going to have a fancy tea party to celebrate her birthday. I am looking for a place to have it since I don't like having parties at home. I am pretty happy she decided on this instead of a sleepover. Twelve little girls for two hours vs. five or six little girls ALL NIGHT on the living room floor? Yeah. lol

So, I have lots to do instead of blog, so I should get at it! lol

Randomness Times Ten

Randomness - Penny posted some and so I will too!

1 - A coworker's last name is McIvor. Say that aloud.

2 - Did you know that I often drink Diet Mountain Dew? Yes, at work, the pop machines have (GASP) only Pepsi products. I dislike Diet Pepsi, so I get Diet Dew when I need more caffeine.

3 - The Dauphin DIED in the Temple Prison. The Scarlet Pimpernel is fictional and therefore could not really rescue him. Sad. I didn't know he died. His jailers were very cruel to him (and his sister) before he died too.

4 - My children gave me a funny looking bird Beanie Baby called Kuku. It has a pink fluff on the top of its head.

5 - The surge protector for my computer has started to emit a very high pitched sound lately. It drove me nuts until I realized what it was. I guess I should replace it, eh?

6 - My son likes hip-hop music. My son LIKES hip-hop music. Has everything I've done been in vain?

7 - The brake pads on my Taurus needed replaced and my handy husband did that for me on Tuesday. Cost: $27 for the pads.

8 - We went to the first garage sale of the season on Sunday. I bought 6 items of clothing for 25 cents each and a VHS tape for 50 cents. :::shivers::: Isn't it exciting?!

9 - Someone on freecycle came and picked up something I was giving away and she left me two samples of perfume called Juicy Couture. There is a picture of a model on the package; she is holding a huge perfume bottle and is wearing a fancy strapless gown and huge puffy pink bouffant wig. (At least I hope that is not her hair.)

10 - I still do not have a bedroom door. Wait, I do HAVE a door. It's just not stuck to my bedroom wall. It's sitting in the back room waiting to be painted.

OK, if you didn't get #1 - McIvor sounds an AWFUL lot like MacGyver. Doncha think?

I have updated Mirkwood Reflections four times in the past week. If you haven't been there, I am pleading with you to go and comment over there. Does anyone read it? I am not too proud to beg! lol My April reads are up, as well as some movie reviews.