PMS warning . . . .

Mark swears I have terrible PMS.   He said when we were first married and did not have the kids he used the mushroom defense.  He stayed real still and in the dark out of sight.  Then he said when Jack was born and starting to walk and be more mobile  he played the Jurassic Park defense.  That was when he stayed real still and did not make a move and let poor little Jack fall into the radar and then he would quietly sneak away.  I laugh about all this now but I must say I did have a problem.  I went to my doctor and told her that I wanted to scream just hearing the dog walk across the hard wood floor.  She wanted to prescribe medication for me of course.  I also talked with my sister and she said I should go to the gym.  I took my sisters advice over the doctors.   I found that on most days when I went to the gym I did feel much better and did not seem to get as aggravated at everyone for the littlest of things.   My niece says PMS stands for "prepare my shotgun."  HA HA!!  I liked that one.  I always said it stood for "putting up with mens' s*^+."  Well you get the picture.  My niece also says that everything that goes wrong with a woman starts with "men."  Menopause, menstruation, mental illness ect. . .  That girl is wise beyond her years.  
Oh, and Mark and I have been married 18 years in April.  HA HA HA!!  So PMS does not kill you.

Happy Birthday Thomas!

Thomas is 8!  He told me he has only 8 more years and he gets his drivers license and of course Jack chimed in to add, he only had 5 more years before he would get his.  After I picked myself up off the floor we all laughed about that one.  I am not ready for my kids to drive and I don't think anyone else is either.
  Thomas had a big day yesterday we went to Jacks' basketball game then to early dinner and then home for presents and cake.  He will have a big celebration today at his grandmas' Super Bowl party.  We all get together and eat way to much and of course the boys watch the game and the ladies play cards or dominos and enjoy the fellowship of family.   We will not only be celebrating Toms' birthday but we will also celebrate Marks' Moms as well.  She and Thomas have the same birthday. 

Thomas is all about nerf guns and army men these days.  He and Jack set up the army men and shot them with their nerf guns in the playroom yesterday.   Jack made Thomas a base for his army men.  He took one of my Pampered Chef boxes and painted it in a camouflage pattern and added some trees for cover.  This was Jacks' gift to Thomas.   I guess they are pretty cool kids if you can get passed the fighting and sibling rivalry. 

I have created a monster. . .

Actually, I have created two lounge lizards.  Both the boys got robes for Christmas and they love them.  When we had all of our snow they wanted to stay in their pjs' and their robes ALL day long.  I finally told Jack, "your name is not Hugh Hefner, you are not a millionaire, and you do not live in a mansion; so put on some clothes."   
Jack got an electronic monopoly game for Christmas too.  Later that week he wanted to have a family game night and wanted to play monopoly.  Anyone that has ever played a game with Jack knows he is very good at games especially ones that involve money.  We are all sitting at the table waiting on Jack and he comes down the steps in his robe.  He said, "Just call me Hugh Hefner."    (a side note to all parents Jack only knows the things I listed above about Hugh Hefner.  He does not know anything else.)  
Mark had played monopoly with Jack once before and he told me that he is either going to be a millionaire or he will be in the poor house.   He plays to win at monopoly and most everything else too.  I guess we all do.  It is just  funny to see it in our kids at this age.  My boys, they do keep things interesting.

Praying Moms. . .

There is nothing we cannot accomplish with God behind us lifting us up.    As Moms we battle daily with our children; whether it is bedtime, brushing of teeth, snack time, or watching TV and playing video games.  We spend our time fighting the devil at every turn.   Some say our time is spent in the trenches but after reading my first chapter of my new book it came to me, we should be battling the devil on our knees.   Prayer is our only option when it comes to him.   As Moms we owe it to our kids to pray for them but, what I did not realize is that we also owe it to ourselves.  It is amazing how much prayer can relieve our stress and anxiety.  It does mine anyway.   I have started writing my prayers down too, it helps me keep track of things plus once they are on paper I don't have them floating around in my head anymore.  I sleep better with this method. 
The book also says no parent is perfect and we do not have perfect children.  I was shocked, I thought mine were perfect.  Just kidding, sorry.   We are not perfect parents we are praying parents. 
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  Philippians 4:13

Praying Parent. . . .

I joined a Moms' prayer group a couple of months ago.  We meet once a month and pray for our Elementary school, it's staff, kids, ect. . .  We met last about two weeks ago and one of the Moms brought up a book she was reading called, "The Power of the Praying Parent."  We decided that not only would we meet to pray for the school but we would add a Bible study in too.  How cool is that?  There is nothing a group of Moms cannot do when we put our minds to it.  I have always been a big believer in prayer and it's power.  The month of March 1996 proved to me the power of prayer.  March of 1996 my world was turned upside down when my Dad (my hero) fell through the roof of our barn (between 17-23 feet) and was in the hospital for almost 2 months.  He was in ICU for 41/2 weeks and on a respirator for 4 of those weeks.  We honestly did not know if he would make it.  During this time God and I came to know each other on a first name basis.  I prayed every day sometimes for hours at a time.   My Dad is a walking miracle, and those are not my words those are the doctors words.  He has problems with his balance at times and his right arm gives him a bit of a fit too but he is 79 years old.  He turned 64 in ICU.  Dad had a crushed right arm which took  a 51/2 hour surgery to repair and a fractured hip and lacerated kidney. 
During this time I learned the power of prayer.  I prayed for so many things during Dad's time in the hospital.  I mostly prayed that God would let my Daddy come home to his family.
Months after Dad had come home he pulled me aside and told me that there was a time while he was in the hospital that he was at peace with his life and with God and he could have let go.  Then he said he thought about Mom and he could not let go just yet.  He said that God had saved him for a reason and there was more he had to do on this earth.  I am so glad that the good Lord saw fit to save him. I have learned so much from him and I am so thankful for every day.   My Dad and Mom have taught me a lot about God and prayer.  I am very thankful that I had praying parents and I want to give that same thing to my kids.
The book I mentioned in the beginning talks about being a praying parent.  It talks about how you have to pray for every aspect of your child's life.  I am so excited about this book, I have read part of the first chapter and I highly recommend it to any parent.  I cannot wait to get together with our other Moms and discuss it.

Christmas Memories. . .

I am feeling a little nostalgic today.  I started wrapping gifts last night.  Christmas is my favorite time of year.  I love the smell of a fresh cut tree, even though we have an artificial one now.  I love the feel of the cooler weather, the excitement of the kids thinking about Santa, our Church music and Christmas carols.
I like shopping for that special gift for everyone on my list.  I always try to pick something that I think that person would like.  I love seeing their faces when they open their gift. 
 I remember one time trying to wait up on Santa Clause.  I sat my bean bag chair right in front of the fireplace so when he came down our chimney he would fall over me.  Mom and Dad have a picture of me asleep in that spot.  Needless to say I did not wake up when Santa came to my house, I slept right through it.  My kids tell me every year they are going to try and catch Santa sneaking in the house.  I always tell them he won't stop if you are not asleep.  They always leave cookies, milk and reindeer food.  I love that my kids believe in the Spirit of Christmas and I hope they always will.  I still do.  The saddest thing is when a child looses that belief.   Mark and I  are both still kids at heart and I guess that is why I love Christmas so much. 

The Wedding. . .

The Wedding was great!  Just fit the couple getting married.  They love their sports.  The men looked dapper in their tux and the ladies looked lovely in their dresses.   The men came out of the first base dugout and stood down the first base line.  The ladies came out of the third base dugout and stood down the third base line.  The groom and the preacher came from the first base dugout with a top hat and cane.  The bride came down from the stands and looked beautiful in her off white, strapless, tea length gown with a faux fur off the shoulder cape.   I must say I cry at most every wedding.  This one I did not.   I think my tear ducts may have been frozen.  It was quite chilly last night sitting out in the stands of the baseball field. 
Here is where it gets interesting.  After the vows and the pronouncing of marriage the groomsmen and bridesmaids leave the stadium.  As they are leaving each one has a baseball that they throw out to the fans or guests of the wedding.  Yes, I caught one.   We then go upstairs to the club floor for food and casino games.  That was a lot of fun.  Mark played craps and had the highest winnings with over $250,000++.  This was only in chips no money changed hands.   He did, however, win a prize for the highest winnings.   

I had the most fun at this wedding.  You just can't beat baseball and casino games.