Just Waaay Too Busy!

I just realized a moment ago that I missed my own post party this past weekend. I had read through some great blogs too so you may get a mid-week party or maybe even a two week party next weekend. Who knows.

I have been waaaay too busy. My sanity is shaky. I think. :) I gave my Saturday to helping my son with his Eagle Project, Sunday was given to church and training of new Awana volunteers. Yesterday we had a full day of school, followed by errands to get done for Boy Scouts before they met last night. Then I endured the onslaught of American Heritage Girls registration in the evening. Can't tell you how many times I've cried on someone's shoulder this weekend and said, "I can't keep up this pace."

Today we went to two art classes and then spent the day running errands which included lunch out, a little time at the playground and 2 hours at the library. I feel better now. I just needed my family time back.

My house still looks like it didn't survive a hurricane and the remaining clothes in the drawers/closets is reminding me of poor Mother Hubbard, but my sanity is less shaky and I'm grateful.

I am reading a book on stress management (which I'm sure my cardiologist would be glad to hear) and it mentioned a simple "tool" to use that I put into practice a little bit today and it helped.

The idea is that even if you ARE rushed, as we all are at times, you should tell yourself in the MOMENT YOU ARE IN that you have all the time that you need. Don't tell yourself you don't have time to load the washer, if you are standing there loading the washer.

Hmmm.

You, actually, do have the time, but the mental load you are carrying by telling yourself that you don't have the time drains you of energy and increases your stress level.

I tried it today while driving to the art classes. I ended up singing summer camp songs with my kids and still making it there peacefully and on time.

I tried it while sitting on the park bench waiting for my girls to explore all the areas of the new playground. I did have time to enjoy them climbing, sliding and running instead of constantly looking at my watch trying to figure out how I was going to get it all done.

I won't get it all done. It's never-ending, but I can get the most important things done today in MOMENTS that I'm completely in...trying to enjoy the task at hand.

The rest I just leave in the Lord's hands.

Quick Prayer Please!

Update:
The day went well and there were no injuries! Praise the Lord!
I'm looking forward to showing you the day in pictures. Until then... Have a great Sunday!

Tomorrow, Sat the 11th, is my son's Eagle Project Work day. We will have over 30 scouts helping Rhett build portable roll-up boardwalks for local park events. There will be power tools, including two saws (table & hack?) and a drill press. All will be well-supervised, but it will be dangerous. Would you say a quick prayer for safety and success? It would be greatly appreciated. I'll be sure to take pictures and fill you all in when completed.

Tooth Fairy Inflation

Tara lost a tooth last night and carefully tucked it into the Tooth Fairy pillow at bedtime. The following conversation occurred right after breakfast this morning:

Tara: "Mom, I think the Tooth Fairy left me $10!"

Me: "What?" (looking a little shocked!)

Tara: "I think she left me $10. Probably because I gave her the tooth on the first night."

(Tara usually holds on to teeth in a baggie for months and shows it to everyone. Then loses it; then finds it. Then extorts the tooth fairy with an old tooth.)

Me (thoughts scrambling): "Wow! That would be somethin! I've never heard of the Tooth Fairy giving so much money though. Why do you think she left you $10?"

Tara: "When I got the money out of the pillow I saw a one; maybe I just missed the zero 'cause when I counted all my money I had $12."

Me: "How much did you have before?"

Tara: "I don't know. I thought I paid you for the silly bandz with my $10. I don't think I had one."

Me: "Silly bandz?"

Tara: "Yeah, when we were at Staples!"

Me: (relieved) "Uh-uh! You did NOT pay me for those silly bandz. I think we forgot you owed me. You already had the $10 and the Tooth Fairy gave you $1."

Tara: "Oh, man! I was going to turn my teeth in on time from now on."

Me: (sighing with relief) "I bet you were."

Three Wishes...

Recently on Beth Moore's Living Proof Ministries blog, Beth asked readers to share three wishes. We were to finish the phrase, "If I could, I would..." Commenters were not to be negative with thoughts of redoing past mistakes, but were to look ahead and dream of doing things without regard to money, energy, time or ability. It was all in good fun, but got me to thinking. I perused some of the 1200 comments and many did not ring true for me, but I was caught off guard when I had emotional responses to some of the entries. Could these be my dreams, as well?

I usually try to keep it lighthearted around here, but if I were truly unlimited to do as I wish, I would love to have one or all three of these dreams come true:

1) Build and run an orphanage in a poor country. (Peru?)

2) Own a restaurant with my husband in the town where my daughter goes to college. After closing hours, open the doors to the college students and feed them snacks while we have Bible study and prayer together.

3) Speak to women about their faith - share my journey and encourage them to trust God fully.

Any one of these would fulfill my longing to minister in the name of Christ.

What are your three wishes?

Post Party!

I'm startin' something new around here called the Post Party!

Have you ever read a great post and wished you could share it with your friends, but then spent the next hour meandering through other good-ish posts and forgot all about that one jewel that you thought was worth sharing? me too.

Each weekend I'm going to highlight some posts from the previous week that I think you might be interested in reading. I will categorize these posts so if you want to skip a category that doesn't interest you, feel free.

If you'd like to nominate a post you've written ('cause we all know there are posts we love ourselves) or someone elses, just leave me a comment or send me an email. Maybe it will make the Post Party! The only rule is that it must have been published within the previous six days.

Here's this week's posts I think you'll enjoy:

Too Funny & relatable: http://allthingsaro.blogspot.com/2010/09/too-much-power.html

Books: http://aliteraryodyssey.blogspot.com/2010/09/book-54-on-fenimore-coopers-literary.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ALiteraryOdyssey+%28A+Literary+Odyssey%29

Decorating: http://www.impartinggrace.com/2010/09/arranging-silk-flowers.html

Family: http://lindsaycramp.blogspot.com/2010/09/two-weeks-before-d-day.html

Food: http://familyteamof4.blogspot.com/2010/08/in-case-of-emergency.html

I decided not to share WHY I love these posts; I wanted you to enjoy them without any bias from me. Happy Reading!

Good Riddance, Summer!

Anyone who knows me, knows I HATE summer. Anyone who knows me knows I HATE the word "HATE," but there it is. I hate summer. I survive it, get through it, whine and belly-ache about it, and generally, loathe it. But...I do love celebrating it's end, even if it is a bit premature.

So yesterday we celebrated summer's demise by going to the local water park as a family. I wanted to take my camera to share the day with you, but, you know, it is a WATER park. I can tell you, it was a lot of fun! Our local water park has a mining theme so there were mountain slides, raft rides, covered wagon slides, floating barrels to walk across and dumping water buckets along the lazy river. What fun! We were there for a couple of hours when all of sudden the lifeguards blew their whistles and everyone exited the pools. I loved the announcement over the intercom that followed: "Due to circumstances beyond our control The Water Mine will be closed for the next hour and a half. We're sorry for this inconvenience." Yep, someone pooped in the pool. Lovely.

The Martens' gang sat there wondering whether to wait it out and pay the exorbitant pizza prices for a late lunch or call it a day and leave. After much deliberation, we decided we'd grab a cheaper lunch outside of the park and go shopping for soccer gear for the girls. (They begin their first venture into soccer on Wednesday!) The girls, like any children, were disappointed, but were spirited by the suggestion of a carousel ride in the park across the lawn from the water park. It was free; we loved that.

On leaving the water park, we were told that if we wanted to relinquish our armbands (so we couldn't return later in the day), they would give each of us a pass that would be good through the end of next June. That cracked me up, because the water park closes on Monday and they are only open on weekends between Memorial Day and the card's expiration date next summer. How many guests will actually be able to keep, let alone retrieve, their free passes in 10 months? Seemed to me like a pretty safe bet for the water park. Oh well. For us uber-organizers, retrieving those free passes in 10 months won't be a problem! Hopefully, the water temperature will cooperate. Knowing summer around here that won't be a problem either.

Good Riddance, Summer! You've had your fun! Now let's get on to cooler weather!

By the way, it's a high of 79 today and I've got the windows wide open - which hasn't happened for months around here. It's just a two-day teaser, thanks to the crazy weather over the Atlantic, but I'll take it! Is it time to bake a pie yet?

Contemplating, but think not!

It's been half a month since I last blogged. In my blog world, that's an eternity! Honestly, I've thought about quitting. Hopefully, someone gasps, "No!" Or do I hear crickets?

Never fear, I think I'll stick it out.

Around our house we casually call August "Hell Month!"

It is usually the only month in the year that I do not homeschool, but spend an inordinate amount of time preparing for the next school year. (I took two months off this year, but did I get ahead...NO!)

I've also added the American Heritage Girls Troop registration drive the last two Augusts (which has been known to include some all-nighters.) The task of putting together the paperwork for 100 people is monumental.

Then we add the drama of sending Ashley off to college. It makes me sad.

Of course, this year we added two car accidents, a trip to the ER, purchasing a well-used car (oh, the pains of that!), and the acknowledgement that my husband will be out of work soon.

Wouldn't that be enough for anyone?

But on top, we've added work deadlines that I'm struggling with.

My son's Eagle Project Work Day is in 10 days.

Day 11...I lead Awana Greeter Training. sigh.

Rhett also began a new job that includes my chauffeuring back and forth.

Next week begins our homeschooling year, Children's Choir, Art Classes, Soccer, and CoOp classes.

Just putting this all into words makes me want to check my sanity! Hence, the need to blog!

I write posts in my head as I go through each day. I have moments where I think, "Oh, this would make a great post," but have nothing with me to jot down the idea.

I ENJOY blogging. I enjoy sharing my life with others. I love the quirky ways we look at life. I enjoy reading about what's happening in YOUR families, whether we're old friends or new. I think it would be so neat to meet a fellow-blogger someday (whenever you come to DC, just let me know!)

It fills a need. Don't know what it is, but I'm teaching Psychology this year so if I run across it, I'll let you know.

Until then...whether I'm ON or OFF, my heart is still with you. My brain...sometimes.

Today I will spend preparing for school, choosing music for choir and yoga tonight with a friend. That doesn't sound too bad.

And tomorrow...

Well, you'll just have to come back to find out!