God Bless American Veterans...

FOR TODAY... November 10, 2008...

Outside My Window...the sun is rising and it looks like it will finally be a nice day after many rainy days!

I am thinking...about what I need to get done today...busy, busy week. Largest fundraiser of year with PTC ends today and going away this weekend. Many things in between.

I am thankful for...my cold seems to be finally leaving. Although, my self diagnosis is that I really had influenza. What ever it was, it was bad and I am thankful that I felt a bit better when I got up this morning

From the kitchen...I "re-found" my bread maker over the weekend, so I think I will make some bread. As well, I think I am going to make some birdseed wreaths for teachers gifts for the upcoming holiday season

I am wearing...my pj's and a sweater

I am creating...an organized craft room. I should say Rick and I are. It is beautiful and I love what we have done so far!

I am going...away for the weekend with friends which I have had since elementary school. We are going to a beautiful spa resort and getting all sorts of goodies "done" to us! Warm rock massage, pedicures like you've never seen before...should be very fun!

I am reading...nothing. being sick all last week, I have yet to get something new to read and really have not felt like reading this past week. But, one of the things I plan on doing this week is finding a good book to take on my spa weekend

I am hoping...that our new President will make sound decisions but I am scared of what I think his decisions will be

I am hearing...my baseboard heaters clicking as the heat comes up in the house. I like that sound kinda like a fire crackling

Around the house...the "boys" are still asleep and Brownie, Shirley and I are enjoying the peace

One of my favorite things...Brigham's Peppermint Ice Cream. You have not had peppermint ice cream until you have had Brigham's

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...get ready for trip

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



This is from the summer at Funtown Splashtown USA!!
It was so fun!

Simply Woman's Daybook...

For Today...

Outside my Window...is sun and clear skies

I am thinking...I am sad to have my first cold of the cold season : (
And wishing it was not true!

I am thankful for... a safe, warm home as winter approaches. There are many people who will struggle with basic heating of their home and my heart is heavy for them and that struggle.

From the kitchen...Roast chicken and fingerling potatoes...yum!

I am wearing...sweatshirt, yoga pants, slippers

I am reading...nothing, just finished need to find new book

I am hoping...my cold will depart soon

I am creating...quilted place mats in fall colors

I am hearing...TV in the other room and my dog drinking his water

Around the house...busy week until about Wednesday night

One of my favorite things...listening to my son read...he loves to read

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...vote, sell hot dogs for Fuel for Friends project during voting hours tomorrow and rest after that

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...


My twin sister and I on our first day of Kindergarten

Who knew...

You Are a Labrador Retriever

You are very optimistic. You approach life with enthusiasm and vigor. You aim to please, and you are a very quick learner. You can be a bit rowdy and unruly, especially when you don't get enough exercise. While you are a bit wild, you're never dangerous. You are a truly gentle creature.

What Breed of Dog Are You?

Warning to Nigeria...

"I want to warn all the people in Nigeria that you may be receiving emails stating that the United States government wants to borrow 700 billion dollars. Don't answer them...it's a scam."
Jay Lennon

You've been X'd...

Gosh, when I signed on the dotted line for this motherhood gig no one told me that the old saying (which goes something like this) that once you have kids, you will walk around with your heart outside your body would actually be true.

After talking to my son the other day, I found out that he has been X'd out at recess by another boy. Don't know what being X'd out means? Basically, it is the beginning of his life lesson about being excluded. Turns out that this other boy, let's just call him J, decides what kids get to play at recess and what kids do not. WHAT??? As Bobby described what happened, it was like a bad nightmare, I started feeling so angry at this kid I wanted to go give him a good ol' school yard pummeling. OK, take a deep breath, I only mean that metaphorically....but metaphorically speaking it would have been one serious pummeling. I tried to tell Bobby that it did not matter, go find other kids to play with but then I felt that rage again. This was not a case of some kind of game of elimination, like capture the flag or any other numerous games. This was pure and simple bullying. I will control what happens here and who gets to play.

This has been the story with J since Kindergarten. During "Open House" kindergarten year, the teacher had the kids draw pictures of a fall scene. Most pictures depicted a scene of a stick figure jumping in the leaves, apple trees, and horse wagons. J's picture was of a stick figure holding a gun shooting at a bird in the sky and two bloody ducks on the ground. No one in my family hunts, although I do understand to a certain degree the interest in the hunt. But, really, a kindergartener draws this?? I was a chaperon on a few field trips and so was J's mother. This kid would talk to her with such rude and fowl language it choked me and what was the mothers reaction...laughter and a roll of the eyes.

I know, I know...I can only teach Bobby how to deal with people like this but it breaks my heart that it has started at 7 y.o.

Hey, J...I have just X'd you out of my son's life...OK, now I'll go back to being a 40 y.o. mature adult.

May we never forget...

My prayers go out the families who lost love ones and also for those who survived... May we never forget... Blessings to all. May your hope be restored, for God is faithful and cares for you.

New Vocabulary

This is a video that I saw which cracked me up!! It reminded me of what Rick was like with all the baby stuff!

THE TIDE

The tide recedes, but leaves behind
bright seashells on the sand.
The sun goes down, but gentle warmth
still lingers on the land.
The music stops, yet echoes on
in sweet, soulful refrains.
For every joy that passes,
something beautiful remains.
--Author Unknown

I found this poem the other day and thought it was so pretty. Thought I'd share...

Schools about to start but I want recess already...

Busy time for a lot of us moms! I have much to do to get Bobby ready for school next week. The thing I hate is the huge amount of stuff he needs on the first day of school. I think he will have to take a suitcase, in addition to his backpack. Oh well. I’m excited, yet a bit sad. I see the years whipping by and I am wondering how they are passing so quickly.

Seems like just yesterday Bobby was entering preschool for the first time. I know some mothers cry, I did not, but I had a bolder in the pit of my stomach until it was time to pick him up! I did not know what to do with myself. Now Bobby is entering 2^nd grade and I just don’t feel old enough for all this. You know, I still get that bolder in my stomach some days when he gets on the bus and waves goodbye. I remember a time Bobby could barely see over the edge of the window on the bus to look back and wave. Now he is in clear view up to the chest. When did he get so big and old?

I often think about how at his wedding, when the groom is standing at the end of the aisle, waiting for his bride, and the huge weight of that moment. I get all choked up realizing that will be my son someday.

The thought of passing him over to some girl, praying they will have a happy life and make good choices. I can see why so many parents push their kids for grandkids. It’s just plain sad, they want to have THIS time we are in right NOW again. I want to FREEZE him at this age right now. It is just perfect, as it is. Why don’t we get that option?!

I’ll miss the hugs at my knees, the excitement over holidays and things in life and nature that we as adults get too busy to stop and look at. If these little people didn’t say “WOW! Look at that!” with all that excitement in their LITTLE voices, we would not see it again, as we did as children. His voices that will change and become grown up. He will be taller than Rick and I, although that is not such a feat in itself. Ha! Someday I won’t be mommy or mama…I’ll be ma or mom. I like the little voice calling me as it does today. Even if it feels like it is 1,000 times a day…and I swear, on most days I am going to change my name because I have heard it too many times!!

I Found My Pot O' Gold...

This was truly an amazing sight last night in our backyard. I always forget how breath taking rainbows are. This was especially beautiful because it was literally IN our backyard. If you look carefully in the first picture, you will see there were actually two rainbows!! It seemed like we were sitting on top of the pot of gold. Which made me realize that we really do feel that way, everyday, since we moved to Maine. It is very gratifying to have your husband tell you he has never been more happy in his life than since we moved here. I suppose someone else had that same feeling when they came up with the state motto of "Maine, The Way Life Should Be". There are even signs when you drive into Maine letting you know that. I am sure most people drive past it thinking something along the line of "yea, ok...whatever" or "these Mainers sure are full of themselves". But, if you come to Maine and truly experience Maine you will walk away knowing why that motto really stands the test of truth. I mean look at these pictures, besides the amazing rainbow, take a look at those trees!! So beautiful and lush. And the sky, man it looks so blue it actually looks purple! And I get to look out my back windows everyday and look at this!! Anyways, we do truly feel like we are sitting on our pot of gold...and Rick would tell you I spend it, too!

I Want My Mama...

Car conversation with Bobby and I...

Bobby: "Mom, I'm feeling sad the last two days".
Me: "You are? Why?".
Bobby: "Cause I hear that I am not calling you Mama anymore and I only call you Mom".
Me: (lump in throat) "That's okay. You can call me anything you want".
Bobby: "I don't want to call you Mom, I want to call you Mama, but I can't remember".

Give her a chance to sing...

My sweet little boy and I were sitting on the couch tonight and he saw that a show called "America's Got Talent" was coming on and wanted to watch it. So, reluctantly, I agreed. The first performance was a woman who by the third note was so bad sounding that the audience and judges were boo-ing and so forth. Well, Bobby decided that it was so mean for them to be doing this. He turned to me and said "that's so mean", "I can't believe they are dong that", etc. I said "yeah, but these types of shows get ratings if they have people come on and make a fool out of themselves. He just said "oh".



In about one minute I looked back over at him and he was crying. I said "whats the matter?" and he said "I am so sad for that lady. They did not even let her try to sing".

President of the Debate Team...

My son is going to be the President of the Debate Team, this I know. Lately, my son has decided to debate everything. By everything, I mean everything. He also has decided that during these debates, he knows everything. It does not matter what the subject, he has decided he knows it ALL. He will ask a question, you will deliver a sound answer and it is like he heard a bell ring and that is the start of the debate. Subject matter makes no difference to him. Whether it is what can he have for a snack, what time does he need to go to bed, how does his mother weed the garden, why did I pass that car, what is a "Managers Special" at the store, whatever. When given an accurate and reasonable answer he will find a reason to debate it. I don't really understand why this has started but something tells me it has to do with him being a 7 year old who thinks he's a 17 year old.

Lord, help me when he is really a 17 year old. And if the next 10 years go as fast as the first 7 years went, it is just around the corner.