Book Club Reading Selections. . .

After talking with our local librarian about our book club, she gave me a list of books that might be of interest.  Here is a list she gave me:  The Fallen Angel, Backfire, Shadow of Night, Sandcastle Girls, Creole Belle, and Next Best Thing.  These are all fiction titles.  Here are some non-fiction titles:  Wild, Unbroken, Killing Lincoln, Marilyn Monroe:  The Final Years, and The Amateur.  You can also google to find the latest book club lists.

I think I would like to read the Marilyn Monroe book or the one about Lincoln next.  They both seem like they would be worth while.  If you are interested in joining a book club you can always start one of your own or check out your local Library and see what they have to offer.  The group I am with started on Facebook.  

Book Club, Book # 2

The second book we are reading for book club is "The Memory Keepers Daughter."   This title reached out and grabbed me, the book has been very different than what I was expecting.  It has it's tear jerking moments and then it has points where you want to smack the main character.  I have not finished but, I am only a chapter or two away.   We have our next meeting on Friday, I am excited about it because I have not been on Facebook since we started the book.  I cannot wait to hear what everyone else has thought about this one.  We wrote comments on Facebook when we were reading the first book and I kinda liked that.  It was neat to see what everyone else was thinking while they were reading the book.  I have missed that about not being on Facebook.  
I was not sure I would do well in a book club.  I read slowly and I really have to be in to a book to read it.  The book we have read and this one were not books I would have picked for my self so, I feel like I am broadening my horizons.  I personally like a good mystery; medical murder mysteries.   The first book we read was "Water for Elephants," it was hard to get around some of it but I am glad I read it.   I cannot wait to find out what we will be reading next.

Bedtime. . .

My oldest son is 13 and thinks he is 19, he has complained the last several months about his bedtime.  My kids start toward bed around 8:15 to 8:30 with a goal that they are in the bed by 8:45.  Don't everyone blow up my comments section with how strict I am being.   My kids are so grouchy when they don't get enough sleep I just believe they need to go to bed early.  Dear hubby has been championing the cause for a later bedtime for my oldest.
Here is the other grab.  My youngest is 10 and  the boys share a room.  They have only been sharing a room maybe 5 years.  Since they are sharing a room it is hard to send the youngest to bed by himself.  I am really trying to adapt our bedtime routine to fit both boys.  Our bedtime routine consists of:  nightly devotions, Bible readings, prayer, and teeth brushing.  I know that my oldest is growing up and that he should probably not have to go to bed so early but, I also know how bad they need their sleep during the week.  Now I am way more relaxed about bedtime on the weekends and during the Summer.  It is just during the school year that I stick to my early bedtime.
For about a month now the oldest has been going to bed at 9 and the youngest still going to bed at 8:30ish.  So far it is working out ok, the oldest is getting up and getting ready fairly well in the mornings and the youngest is not too traumatized going to bed alone.  The first of many hurdles to having two boys only three years apart.

Flashback to dating. . .

Dear hubby and I were talking the other night about when we first met.  We were talking about this because we were wondering how our boys would be when they met "the one."   Dear hubby and I met working together third shift in a lab.  I never thought in a million years I would be working third shift or that I would meet my husband at that time.   We ran a test together and he was the lead tech, so I guess you could say he was my supervisor.  When we first met I thought he was a dumb jock.  He listened to heavy metal music and loved football.  He was always saying dumb things about women and how we were inferior to men.  I went with him to a concert for what I thought was  a first date.  He let me know quickly after the fact, that was not a date.  I was a little confused because he picked me up, he paid for everything, and he took me home.  That to me was a date.  I was very upset when he announced to everyone that it was not a date.  I told him he need not worry about asking me on a "date" because I would not go anywhere with him again.   We both worried the poor girl that worked behind us to death.  He would go to her and complain about me and I would go to her and complain about him.  After almost two months we did have an official date.  We went to  a nice restaurant that had horse drawn carriage rides out in front.  When I saw the carriage rides out front my heart just fell, I had always wanted to do that.  We had drinks at the bar and then went to our table and ate.  Over dinner he asked if I would like to go on a carriage ride.  I just about jumped across the table with glee, but I nonchalantly said yes that would be nice. Deep inside I was a 10 year old little girl doing cartwheels.  Dear hubby at this time did not use credit cards and the drinks were more than he expected.  You guessed it, he did not have enough money to pay for dinner.  When he made that face and looked so pitiful I offered to help with the tab.  I was quite sad because I figured that this meant no carriage ride for us.   Dear hubby was determined to keep his word on the carriage ride so he went to the teller  to get enough cash so we could take our ride.  We got there just in time, we were the last ride before they closed up shop and took the horses back to the barn.  It was the most romantic date I had ever been on.  That is what he considered a date and was our official first date.   He always finds a way to surprise me, even now after twenty years.  

Daily Devotions. . .

I was reading the daily devotions with the boys one night before bed and this particular one talked about improper touching.   As I was reading this I was thinking to myself, do I really want to broach this subject with my boys now.  We have talked about the fact that nobody should touch their body.   What we had not talked about was that they should not touch anyone else either.  I always thought I was glad I did not have girls because this was one issue I did not want to have to deal with.  You always think of girls being victims but boys can be victims too.  As a mother I want to protect my children from everything; from bicycle injuries, bullies, drugs, and all things evil.  I have said numerous times that God has a plan and he puts things in our path sometimes to help us and sometimes to slow us down.  I feel like this particular devotion was in his plan.  I believe this because I had gotten off schedule with their devotions and I was catching up.  This devotion made me have that talk I had been avoiding.  We had a good conversation about how to behave and that they can tell their Dad and I anything.  I know that God is watching over our family and I am so thankful for that.   I know that he sends things to me when I need them and that is comforting.  I know that he is leading me so that I may lead my children.

Lent. . .

As we enter the season of Lent, everyone is talking about what they are giving up for Lent.   I grew up Baptist and we never really talked about giving things up for Lent.  The first time I remember hearing someone talk about giving up something for Lent was right out of college.  I worked with a girl that was Catholic and she was talking about what she was giving up and what she had given up in the past.  I never gave things up for Lent until three years ago when my oldest son came home from Church and said I am giving up the X Box for Lent.  I was surprised to say the least, since the world often revolves around the X Box at his age.  He did well and he did not give in to temptation.  I decided since my son at 10 could give up something that I should also reflect and give up something that meant a lot to me.  That season I gave up soda.  That was not easy.  This year I decided I would give up Facebook during Lent.  My oldest is giving up caffeine and my youngest is giving up sugary drinks.  I am really proud of them and so glad that we are able talk about our spiritual lives together.  I did not tell them they had to give up anything, this is their idea of what they want to do for themselves.  I haven chosen to give up Facebook all together for Lent.  No checking, no updates, nothing, I am not even going to log on.   I did post an update on the Famine the kids were doing on Saturday but that will be the last time until the end of Lent.
Our minister talked about Lent yesterday and he said it was not a season of anticipation and joy like Advent but, of reflection and soul searching.  It is a time for us to reflect on our lives and our relationship with God.

The Famine is over. . .

The boys survived the 30 hour famine.  It ended with our Day of Prayer Lovefeast at our Church.  They enjoyed their Lovefeast and then had pizza, baked spaghetti and doughnuts to round out the evening.  So proud of the boys.  They learned what hunger is and they learned about different countries too.  They were aligned with a particular tribe and ate a traditional meal from that area.  Jack said he did get a little bit of a headache from not eating but he was ok.  They are tired and grouchy, which I was anticipating.  Thomas said Jack was talking in his sleep last night.  I think they had a good time.  I hope they make it through school tomorrow.  Mark and I enjoyed a quiet evening at home last night.  Just us and the B.  She seemed to miss the boys too, she didn't have anyone to chase and play with.  The boys raised $185 to go to World Vision.

30 hour Famine . . . .starts Saturday

Our Fundraiser 30 hour famine begins tomorrow at 10 am.  Poor Jack has baseball tryouts at 10 and then on to Church.  Now they will not be completely with out food for the full 30 hours.  They will have fruit, juice and water available all day for the kids.  They will be affiliated with a particular tribe in one of the 100 countries that World Vision covers and they will be fed a small meal similar to what a child eats in that particular country.  They will be joining another Church for an evening of fun and games and a lock in.  They will be attending morning worship on Sunday at that Church.  Their famine will end with our Day of Prayer Lovefeast at our Church and a potluck after the service.  We are still trying to raise money for the World Vision 30 hour Famine.  Please check it out www.30hourfamine.org.  If you would like to make a donation for Jack, just click the "Donate" icon and then click "Donate" again to find a student, then enter Jack Crater and follow the prompts from there.  All donations are welcome and appreciated and are Tax deductible.
There are 46 million Americans living below the poverty level, 16 million children are in food insecure homes, part of our donations will go to the US.  Thank you and please remember our youth doing with out to raise money, raise awareness, and learn more about famine.

Valentines Day . . .

My dad and mom always got my sister and I a small box of chocolates for Valentines.  It was always there beside our breakfast dishes with a card.  I have been doing the same for my boys since they were little.  I always get a little choked up(shock surprise) on Valentines thinking about my folks and all the little things they did for us as kids.  It really is the little things that your kids will remember.  I remember the orchids we got for Easter to wear to Church and of course our Easter baskets.   I got the boys a small box of the Russell Stover chocolates with the teddy bear on top.  Thomas still likes to sleep with little bears and stuffed animals, Jack cannot because of his allergies but he still likes getting them.  I was trying to get Toms' bear off of the box of chocolates when Basil saw it.  She thought it was for her.  She followed Thomas around all morning waiting to get her toy.  Basil has a small bear similar to the one on the chocolates that she plays with and I guess she thought she was getting a new one.  I guess I should be ashamed for not getting my only daughter a  Valentines toy.  I will be running by the drug store to pick up another box of chocolates for my sweet Basil.  The bear for her and I guess I will have to eat those darn chocolates myself.  My, my, what a mother has to do for her babies, even the four legged babies.  Happy Valentines Day!

Long Day. . .

Today was such a long day.  So many things going on but, I did get to enjoy some of the wonderful sunshine with my dear sweet Basil.   We took two good walks today in between all the hustle and bustle with the kids.  Jack  had baseball try outs and his last basketball game of the regular season today.   They won their last regular season game.  They went 5-1 in the regular season.  So proud of those boys.   They worked really hard all season and I have to give kudos to the coaches too.  Kevin and Chris did a great job with the boys.   We will be starting the tournament sometime in the next week or so.  Then we move on to baseball.  I love that my kids enjoy playing all sports.  They may not be super stars in them but they enjoy them all.

Back to school . . . cont. . .

I told you earlier that I was going back to school.  I have been taking a basic computer class on campus and an ethics class online.  I am enjoying them both.  The computer class makes me feel old.  I am one of the oldest in the class and feel so in the dark when it comes to technology.  I am embracing that technology though, and learning so much.  Since the ethics class is online, it doesn't make me feel old.  
The past couple of weeks we have been talking about censorship in my ethics class.  I did not realize how much censorship there is around the world.  Some countries completely censor their citizens, and others selectively censor.   As US citizens, we really do have more freedom than any other country in the world.  We should really be more thankful for our freedom and those that fought and died for it.  
I am not only learning about the world in these classes but I am learning a great deal about my self.  I am excited looking forward to what classes I might take next session.  So far I have an A in both my classes this session.  I have written three papers in Ethics and completed four projects in my basic PC class.   Who knew I had that in me?

Kids talking smack. . .

Jack had a basketball game today, we won.  It got intense and the other team started talking smack to our kids.  The kids on our team are a lot like Jack, similar family backgrounds.  They are not used to kids talking the way these kids were.  One of their kids was being rather aggressive in guarding one of our kids and he did not even have the ball.  So our kid, being the outgoing and full of life kid that he is, started dancing around and bouncing all over the place till the kid that was guarding him was laughing so hard he could not do anything.  We were all laughing!  Our kids take things in stride and I am so glad for that, because as a parent I get so worked up over these games.  I love the way our kids handle themselves under pressure.
We have talked to Jack about being a good sport and not using bad language and how it is a reflection on him when he does that.   I have tried to teach him things to say when people talk that way and I hope it will sink in.  It is so sad to see and hear kids his age and even younger using such bad words.  The boys endured all of the smack talk and they came out ahead.

What Happens at Night

What happens at night, I do wonder?
Do elephants stop around sounding like thunder?

Do parents wake up and run around crazy?
Or do they sit around and like to be lazy?

Do monkeys grow wings and fly around like bats?
Do dogs act like cats?

Will a killer stab you with a knife?
Or will a random hobo teach you about life?

Will a baseball player make a winning pitch?
Or will a shovel dig a ditch?

Will you hear an evil man's plot?
Will you fear you might get shot?

But I do know one thing that happens at night,
I will be fast asleep dreaming of a kite.

by:  Jack Crater

Tough week. . .

Dear hubby has been out of town this week.  It has been hard on everyone, all the way down to the dog.  He comes home tonight, cannot wait to see him.  I know there are families that have spouses that travel more frequently than mine, and I sympathize with them.  I am so thankful that he only travels a couple of times a year.  My kids have really stepped up to help out around the house and I am so proud of them.  They have helped with the meals and taking care of the dog and each other.  They have gotten up early to get ready for school so that we are not late.  This morning on the way to school I was saying my prayer with Jack and I just broke down.  I don't know if it is because dear hubby is coming home and I miss him so or if I am just worried about Jack.  Luckily my kids are used to me crying at times and I think they understand that Mom is emotional about things, especially them.  I love my kids and I worry about them so much in this mean world. Some days I think my kids are too innocent and kind for this hateful world.  I told Jack I was worried about he and his brother and all the meanness out there.  Jack replied, we are stronger than you think Mom.  He is growing up so fast and I am proud of the young man he is becoming but I am still worried.

Bullying. . .

How do you explain to your children that there are some people that just won't like you no matter what?  It doesn't matter if you know them or not or even if you have interaction with them.  Some people are just like that.  There are a couple of kids around that are being mean to my kids for no reason.  Some of this is happening in the neighborhood too. My kids don't see them in school except in passing and don't have anything in common with these kids yet they see fit to be mean and talk ugly about my kids.  They say mean things to them just to get a rise out of them.  I am very fortunate though, that my kids are good at ignoring most things.  Jack has a thick skin so not a lot bothers him but Thomas on the other hand wears his heart on his sleeve.  He is more like me.
Why is it that some children cannot just leave well enough alone?   Are their lives so miserable that they want everyone else to be miserable too?  I pray for these kids everyday, I pray that they will leave my kids alone and that what ever is bothering them will be resolved.  I pray that if there is a problem at home for them that God will resolve it so maybe they will be happier with themselves.
In the meantime what do you tell your children?  You always hear about kids doing things to themselves because they were being bullied.  I don't want that to happen to mine.  I think they are stronger than that but you just never know.  I have told them many times if there is a problem to please talk to me or their dad.  Sometimes you can just tell that there is something going on.  More people should be aware of bullying and we all need to be aware as parents to what our kids might be going through.  I always ask questions about school and their day trying to find out if anything has happened.  Some days I just want to cry.

Super Bowl. . .

What a great game!!  Spent time with family, celebrated birthdays, enjoyed good food, and some cool commercials.  We celebrated January and February birthdays with the family.  My sweet Thomas turns 10 this month and well, we won't tell how old Mommy and Memaw are turning but we celebrated those too.
How crazy for the power to go out at the Super Dome?  I said I bet it was some crazed 49ers fan sticking their finger in a light socket.   So glad Ray Lewis was able to go out with a bang and I love that he wears Psalms 91 on his under shirt.  I also loved what he said in the post game interview.  How cool to have someone in that spot light to talk about God and everyone else on the team and how they all worked together to win.  The NBA could really take a lesson from all that.  I don't know if anyone really caught what Ray Lewis said when he was on the stage holding that trophy.  He said, "if God is with you no one can be against you."   I love that and it is one of my favorite weapons of warfare from Psalms.

Book Club. . .

Had our first book club meeting last night.  It was a lot of fun.  I only knew one person going in to this club.  I met three very nice ladies last night and enjoyed getting to know them the way women always do.  We talked about our kids and having kids and what we did when we were kids.    We enjoyed good food and fellowship and discussed our book.  We read "Water for Elephants."
I enjoyed the book.  There are parts of it that are very graphic with regard to sex and hurting animals.  I am an animal lover so that was hard for me to get around.  Overall I did like the book.  I still have not seen the movie.  I tried to watch it before I read the book and I could not get past the animal cruelty.  I am a softy when it comes to our four legged friends.  If you have not read the book I would recommend it.  It does make you think about how you treat others.
Our next book may be "The Memory Keepers Daughter."  I have not read this one yet so I am pretty excited about it.  I have heard good things about it.

Growing boys. . .

My boys are growing up so fast.  It seems like yesterday they were teetering around barely talking and now they do not stop.  They have been going through a bad phase where they are fighting all the time and constantly picking at each other.  I have talked to them till I am blue in the face about how they treat each other.  My spill to them is, there are plenty of people out there that want to be mean to you, we need to be good to each other.  I have been preaching this for quite a while .

So yesterday Thomas came running upstairs to tell me something and Jack was in the kitchen.  When Thomas rounded the corner Jack jumped out and scared him.  Thomas immediately started crying and turned his back on Jack.  Jack put his arms around his brother and told him he was sorry and that he loved him.  I did not tell him to do that, he did it on his own.  Thomas immediately stood up and said, "that's ok".  Normally this would have gone on forever with crying and fighting on both sides.  Instead they both went downstairs and played for the rest of the evening.  It is amazing how powerful "I'm sorry and I love you" are. I am so thankful that I was privy to this moment.