Well, that's what I thought. You know, I felt really great when I got up this morning. I went to bed earlier than usual, got plenty of sleep, woke up with no aches or pains...had lots of energy...feeling like my old (literally) self again. I was having a super morning when I decided to do a load of laundry. Nothing out of the ordinary...just a nice load of whites. I decided to let my kids share in my load and they all quickly obliged. (When mom will do their laundry they jump at the chance.) I casually mentioned to middle son that there was a pair of socks in the van that looked like his. He diligently retreived them, then came willy-nilly to the laundry room with them, shooting them one at a time into the washer for a thrilling slam dunk... And then the day went KA-POOEY!
First sock landed behind the washer! :(
Middle son tries to retrieve said sock with a hanger and drops the hanger, too....
Youngest child, dear daughter, is summoned. She's smaller and can reach in tight spaces. She rescues the lost hanger and pushes the lost sock to the edge of washer up against a book shelf. Middle son gets excited that he can get lost sock by reaching through the slats in the bookcase....but while clearing his space, he topples over the deep fat fryer which has OIL in it (from frying fish...which middle son is allergic to)...and there is carpet on the floor! Ugh and double ugh!
So, I scrub and wipe and scrub some more. I'm sure it will stain. Maybe I'll get a new floor? Maybe I'll just get a stain.
Hmmm...well, at least I did get all of the Christmas decorations to the garage this afternoon.
And...I'm heading to the mountains on Monday with a young lady from church. Two days and nights without mommy duty. My hubby is tops!
Melanie, I remember my sister telling me about a day where the kids spilled things all day [they were small], ending in a bottle of ink getting spilled on the table. And.... she was in South Africa, away from her extended family! You mention aches and pains. You seem young for arthritis... is there something else going on?
Hope you have a great visit to the mountains [which ones?] Sounds like you need it.
You asked why I'm herb Lady... mostly because I love to grow them. Sometimes I forget I have them, though it's fun to go to the yard and get bay for soups, basil for summer flavor, and echinacea seeds for energy.
There probably ARE healing herbs for joint pain. I take a supplement called "Joint Advantage Gold" a supplement developed by a Dr. David Williams. I'm pretty suspicious of all these guys with miracle formulas, but this supplement does seem to help me.
I'd love to see pictures of your family. Here's my e-mail address: ystreeter@msn.com. Send me pictures and your home address, and I'll send our Xmas updates to you. You gotta keep track of all of Alyson and Brad's moves (the latest to St. Louis). This is getting too long....
My business is with Mary Kay. I am an independent beauty consultant, and teach skin care and color application. I hate that I have to work, but this is a great business for someone who needs to but wishes to be there for her children!
Happy New Year, Friends. I hope wonderful things happen for all of you this year!
Our family rang in the new year last night by watching Kung Fu Panda (kids' choice---and good one!), watching the ball drop in NY (Central time), and then setting off fireworks in our front yard. Brr...it was cold, but the sky was clear and the stars were beautiful!
This morning we sat around our kitchen table and had a "family meeting". It was a good time of sharing and reflecting. We discussed our Family Mission Statement and made suggestions for additions and changes. Then we all gave our resolutions for the year. It is so rewarding to see our children maturing to the point that they can make their own meaningful resolutions and then work to keep them. They did a good job this year, and we talked about helping each other keep their personal goals. I sure do hope that we can achieve what we set out to. I think it builds self-esteem to see that you accomplish a goal you set for yourself.
2008 was hard for me, and I'm not sad to see it go. I have a new appreciation/application for the Bible verse that says God won't give you more than you can bear.
I appreciate all of your sweet comments to me regarding my struggles this year. I am blessed by all of you...thank you!
Have a wonderful beginning to a new year!
Is this the family meeting where you present awards and such? I've always thought that was such a cool family tradition of yours... If you don't mind sharing, I'd like to hear more about the award ceremony...what all you do and when you do it, etc.
I loved hearing about the beginning of your year together. What a precious thing to do with your children.
Love you guys so much! Happy New Year to you!
(Sample New Year's Resolution for you: I resolve to share some of my homemade salsa with my friend, Nancy. Just an example, mind you... No pressure or anything...you know... ;) )
Hee hee! You made me laugh out loud - as if I need to be pregnant to eat chips at all hours! (I don't really like sweet stuff much, but give me chips and they are a downfall!) I am still playing volleyball every Monday night in spite of my knee hurting. Some days are better than others as far as how my knee seems to be doing. During the holidays, I was on my feet too much and my knee just ached. It has definitely slowed me down. I'm actually concerned about teaching a fitness meeting for Keepers unless I am feeling alot better - I can barely run. I would love to hear more on here about your family's award celebration too - maybe the recipe for homemade salsa also? Good to see you getting on here. :-)
Melanie, thanks so much for writing me! I, too, ask "how did you find me? I miss your mom, too, though I didn't write her nearly as much as I wanted to. She was truly a wonderful woman.
I will post more... thanks for the encouragement. My sister Phyllis is truly draggin me kicking and screaming into Pleonast. It's harder to use than my other blog site... but it has such nice people in it!
Christmas is my favorite holiday...but this year it wasn't really anxiously awaited. My mom died in June and our family was not enthusiastic about our first favorite holiday without her. Thanksgiving turned out ok...not too bad, actually it was fun. Christmas was a different story. Anyway, we came home a day early and it is so good to be home...even if that means unpacking, doing laundry and getting back to chores.
My dad remarried Nov. 1 and the holidays were even harder to endure having to get used to a stranger in mom's kitchen. Somehow we survived. It's not that we don't like her...we do! It's not that we were against dad remarrying...we're not! But, it was all too quick for us to get used to and be thrust into a different life.
I cried most of the way home yesterday. Bummer.
But, really...we are well blessed. It has been a hard year, but we realize that God is good and we know that all things work out when we put our trust in Him.
Otherwise, our family is healthy and happy. We are looking forward to what 2009 will bring. Happy new year to all of you!
I am deducing that you must be M. Miles -- cool username! Glad you found my spot on the nast.
I'm sorry the holidays were very jolly for you this year -- so many changes to absorb and none the ones you would have picked. I am sure you know to be gentle with yourself and all your loved ones through this. Wish I could give you a squeeze in person, friend.
Hello Melanie. I'm sorry you had a rough time. Each year will get a bit easier; you're just going through that hard first year missing every event with your mom. I didn't realize your dad had remarried.
Oh, my dear. I know that is really hard... your grief is so fresh, still going through those firsts. Please understand that your father's remarriage is not a reflection on your mother... it shows the greatness of his loss. Still, I can see how complicated it makes everything for everyone... you feel like you can't openly grieve when you have this new person there, because it could seem like you don't like her... but I can tell you from experience, don't hold in your pain. It will come back to haunt you later! Grief WILL be dealt with... so sorry about your deep loss.
Hey all you people out there! This is my first time to try a blog. I decided to make my own after I got a link from a friend to hers...and then got hooked on reading about everyone. I guess I'll learn as I go!
Looking forward to staying in touch with my friends this way.
So, drop me a message and let me know you are there!
****Melanie****
So, where are all your posts, my friend?? Still waiting to taste some of that yummy salsa y'all were making the night I dropped by... ;) Merry Christmas to you all!
