To migrate or not to migrate...

Can we talk?  I love a good joke/meme/prank just as much as the next person, and usually have no problem just passing on by things that don’t make sense (to me), are offensive or whatever.  But every once in a great while I have to say something… and it’s usually when someone is trying to compare apples to oranges.

With the recent hub-bub about President Trump and “his” actions on the already immigration laws I’m seeing more and more people comment about how we’re all descendants of immigrants, that so and so came to America illegally and look at their great contributions and how President Trump's grandparents and own mother came to America illegally.  Except they came here before it was actually illegal to do so… and then became American citizens, worked hard, paid their dues, and lived a good life – the reason most came to America in those days.  They played by the rules. Yes, I understand that we are a “Nation of Immigrants”.

There’s a BIG difference between the “old” immigrants and the “new” immigrants… most of the older immigrants were literate and skilled, came over as a family, assimilated with their new “homeland”, and usually had at least “some” money.  The newer immigrants that come over illegally (in the more recent years) are generally not educated or skilled… they come over as “birds of passage” as it were, are reluctant to assimilate and often demanding that “we” as a country conform to their ways, they rarely become citizens and more often than not they arrive penniless.

I’m not against immigration.  But I can’t and won’t stand behind those that come illegally and make no effort to become a positive force in society, that make no attempt to become a citizen or try to stay here legally.  If you’re doing ANYTHING illegally, it should raise red flags.  We have rules and regulations for a reason.

A Visitor from Heaven...

I recently joined this challenge group where you’re to walk 30 miles in 30 days… sounds easy enough right?  I thought so too… until I started doing it… in the hottest month of the year!   We’re on day 12 and I’ve gone 8.7 miles… the first day was the hardest but as you all know, every journey starts with a single step and even though I’ve missed a couple days, I’m still pushing forward.  Last month I walked no miles… so I’m already ahead of the game and as they say, it’s more than those that didn’t get off the couch.  With that said… this has been a tough week.  Emotionally, mentally, financially, it’s just been absolutely draining and the end of the work day left my mind spinning…  

Halfway through the walk a cardinal flew across the path and perched on a tree branch.  He sat there staring at me, I immediately felt a connection and it was like everything stopped spinning, for just a second the world stopped.  As silly as it may sound or whether you believe in old wives tales or not, it’s believed that a cardinal is a representative of a loved one who has passed. When you see one, it means they are visiting you. They usually show up when you most need them or miss them. They also make an appearance during times of celebration as well as despair to let you know they will always be with you.   Yesterday was my father’s birthday… he would have been 76.  Without a doubt I believe that cardinal was my father, he knew my struggles and knew I needed to be reminded to believe in myself, that I can handle whatever life throws at me.  Telling me to stand tall, lift my head high and take pride in myself… you’ve got this, everything will be ok.

Keeping Focused...

God never leads you to do something without equipping you for the task.  We must keep our eyes on Him not only for direction, but also for empowerment.   

Best Advice Ever

A great video I had to share about life perspectives throughout the various stages of life...

The message is clear... Love What Matters.

Amen.

We Can't Take The Cuteness
This is entirely too adorable.Video courtesy of CBC Radio
Posted by Love What Matters on Tuesday, November 10, 2015

A Problem Free Life?

We’ve all read or heard the saying… everyone has struggles or problems, don’t judge. I can’t help but wonder if we hear it so often that people tend to just block it out and pay no attention to it or the meaning and purpose it serves when in fact it’s probably the most important message of the day.

Everyone, and I mean everyone has problems.  If you’re sitting back and admiring someone for the care-free life they’re living and thinking they don’t have any problems, you’re delusional.  Instead of focusing on and putting hope into having a problem free life, we should direct our energy into seeking the one True God and a problem free life for all eternity in Heaven.

Easier said than done, right?  I know, I’ve had my share of problems and struggles but I am also reminded that there is ALWAYS someone out there with greater struggles.  How do we make it through?  Where do we find the strength to carry on?  For me it’s through Him and His believers… my light tends to shine brighter when surrounded by believers.  Believers who trust me even in the darkest of times.

 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your 

God will be with you wherever you go.”  -Joshua 1:9  

Waiting on Him

I woke up and looked at the clock... 5:00pm!!  Wow!  My head was pounding just thinking of the day I just wasted, so many things I'd wanted to accomplish... and didn't.  As I laid there thinking about everything, more specifically, my life... I started crying and was upset how everything was so out of control.  So many things that needed to be done, so many things that needed to happen, and there isn't a thing I can do to make those changes happen, NOW!  Why?  Why God?  Why can't I get this to work?  All my life I've always been able to make things happen, pull the impossible out of my rear... and now, when it was me that needed it most - nothing.  My "powers" had vanished.  Or had they?

It was then He showed me Lamentations 3:24-26... I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."  The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Instead of trying to figure things out myself I need to trust Him with every fiber of my being.  It's the way He designed us, to stay conscious of Him as we go about our daily tasks.  He has promised many blessings to those who wait on Him... renewed strength, increased hope, and the awareness that He is always present.

I am again reminded on this beautiful day, to wait on Him.  Don't be so impatient, slow down, pay attention... waiting on Him means directing my life and my attention toward Him in hopeful anticipation of what He'll do next.

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. ~Isaiah 40:31

Thursday Thoughts...

... from the shitter...

Whilst sitting on the throne this afternoon my thoughts drifted to the health properties of coconut oil and then for some reason I felt the need to remind myself that I was thinking about coconut oil and not olive oil.  Olive Oil… that’s all it took for the ADD to kick in and my brain was off on an olive oil tangent. 

There are literally dozens of varieties of olives… black olives, green olives, Italian olives, greek olives, French olives, Turkish olives, Spanish olives, sigh… the list goes on and on.  So which olive is used for making olive oil and why are there so many different kinds?  Pure olive, virgin olive, extra virgin olive… seriously?  How does anything become an extra virgin?  And can I get on that bus? 

Thankfully someone came in the bathroom and rattled my brain free from the grip olive oil had on it… stay tuned for more random musings.

What's Your Purpose?

I know you've all asked yourself at least once in your life what your purpose was.  I have - over and over and over.  The life events of the last few years have kinda left me just hanging in limbo, wondering and asking God for a hint... something, anything to let me know what I'm supposed to be doing, where I'm supposed to be.  Through Him I was able to find peace, and keep from making what would have been some very poor choices but I'm still hanging from that nail... wondering and asking - personally I think God is holding out just so I keep talking to Him.  He's such a worry wart.

I came across this article and wanted to share it with you all... I don't know who wrote it, but it's very thought provoking.  Eye opening actually...

Consider a hammer. It’s designed to hit nails. That’s what it was created to do. Now imagine that the hammer never gets used. It just sits in the toolbox. The hammer doesn’t care.

But now imagine that same hammer with a soul, a self-consciousness. Days and days go by with him remaining in the toolbox. He feels funny inside, but he’s not sure exactly why. Something is missing, but he doesn’t know what it is.

Then one day someone pulls him out of the toolbox and uses him to break some branches for the fireplace. The hammer is exhilarated. Being held, being wielded, hitting the branches — the hammer loves it. At the end of the day, though, he is still unfulfilled. Hitting the branches was fun, but it wasn’t enough. Something is still missing.

In the days that follow, he’s used often. He reshapes a hubcap, blasts through some sheet rock, knocks a table leg back into place. Still, he’s left unfulfilled. So he longs for more action. He wants to be used as much as possible to knock things around, to break things, to blast things, to dent things. He figures that he just hasn’t had enough of these events to satisfy him. More of the same, he believes, is the solution to his lack of fulfillment.

Then one day someone uses him on a nail. Suddenly, the lights come on in his hammer soul. He now understands what he was truly designed for. He was meant to hit nails. All the other things he hit pale in comparison. Now he knows what his hammer soul was searching for all along.

We are created in God’s image for relationship with him. Being in that relationship is the only thing that will ultimately satisfy our souls. Until we come to know God, we’ve had many wonderful experiences, but we haven’t hit a nail. We’ve been used for some noble purposes, but not the one we were ultimately designed for, not the one through which we will find the most fulfillment. Augustine summarized it this way: “You [God] have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.”

A relationship with God is the only thing that will quench our soul’s longing. Jesus Christ said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” Until we come to know God, we are hungry and thirsty in life. We try to “eat” and “drink” all kinds of things to satisfy our hunger and thirst, but yet they remain.

We are like the hammer. We don’t realize what will end the emptiness, the lack of fulfillment, in our lives. Even in the midst of a Nazi prison camp, Corri Ten Boom found God to be wholly satisfying: “The foundation of our happiness was that we knew ourselves hidden with Christ in God. We could have faith in God’s love…our Rock who is stronger than the deepest darkness.”

Usually when we keep God out, we try to find fulfillment in something other than God, but we can never get enough of that thing. We keep “eating” or “drinking” more and more, erroneously thinking that ‘more’ is the answer to the problem, yet we are never ultimately satisfied.

Our greatest desire is to know God, to have a relationship with God. Why? Because that’s how we’ve been designed. Have you hit a nail yet?

There’s much more meaning in life once you know your purpose.

As for me and my house...

Everyone wants to truth right?  Nobody likes to be lied to... it greatly diminishes trust, respect, and belief in those that have lied.  I wish I could say I was perfect and have never told a lie (intentional or not) but I'm sure I have some little "white lies" following me around - of course I do, I have small children!

Lying is something I've always preached about and always requested that people tell me the truth, no matter how bad they think it is or how upset they think I might get.  So what if I get mad, I'll get over it and I'll respect you more for having the balls to tell me the truth!  With that, I just gotta say, I have never in my whole life experienced or been lied to so much as I have in the past seven years... and because of my profession, it's just gonna continue.  But the seven years I'm referring to is my personal life and a certain individual... ups and downs as any normal "relationship" would have (ANY kind of relationship) but this past year has just been a bugger of lies and deceipt!  I knew when it started, I knew it was getting worse and I knew before it blew up that it was about to blow up... and that's ok.  It's not ok how it all went down because it could have been avoided if there had been truth... not necessarily the parting of ways, but the blow up and the way the parting took place.

I've been attending a program at church called Celebrate Recovery... its similar to AA in that there's a recovery principle/process but it's a Christ based program focusing on hurts, habits and hang ups.  It's a really good program and every week I attend I walk away with new insight to my life and how to "deal" with the things (be it old or new) affecting me.  Last night's class was no exception... it was probably one of the classes that spoke to me most.  There were so many verses and attributes that fit perfectly in what my life is managing right now... and how lies and deceipt are the work of the Devil (which I knew but it's always good to have a reminder).  NO GOOD CAN EVER COME FROM LYING!!!!

 The mind of a sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God.  It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.  Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God... Romans 8:6-8

A greedy man brings trouble to his family... Proverbs 15:27

In my walk I've struggled with "knowing" when God is talking to me or showing me a true sign, "how will I know" and will I be strong enough to relenquish control and actually listen to him?  I learned last night that, you just know, and yes I am strong enough to hand it all to Him... I've been telling Him for months now that it's out of my control and that I was handing it to Him but still had that struggle of knowing.

On my way to work Monday I was blessed with a beautiful sight... A Bald Eagle flew overhead right in front of me!  There I was driving along and the most beautiful bird ever flew across the road right above me as I passed under him.  A warmth came over me, a feeling of pride and freedom... I don't know how else to explain it, it was just a feeling of renewal and hope.  I thanked God for his awesome and wonderous works of nature and for allowing me to enjoy in its beauty.  Then last night in class the teacher played a song for us called Voice of Truth, in his video of the song (not the one below) as the song was playing a picture of an Eagle soaring  popped up... I seriously almost lost it and was glad to be sitting in the back so nobody could see me.  He spoke to me, I heard him and I'm listening...

If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever... 1 Timothy 5:8

March on in...

Hey there my peoples... long time no talky eh?  It's not that I don't have anything to say, cause you all know I don't stop talking!  I've even reverted to old school and started throwing thoughts out on paper, with  intentions of putting them here... cause I know all my faithful followers are having withdrawals.  hahahaha  No seriously... just stopping in to let you know I'm still here, still thinking, still kicking it and should be back in full internet mode within the month.  For now, this is all I have to say.........

10,000 Reasons...

It's always annoyed me when people would say, "I can't wait for the new year" as if starting a new year was going to solve all their previous year trials and tribulations.  We all have trials and tribulations - don't we?  I don't think I've ever had a year go by where something happened that I wish hadn't.

I get it.  This year, I finally get it.  I've had my share of rough times over the past few years but 2012 has by far been the roughest, most especially the last couple of months.  I didn't sit around waiting with anticipation of the new year, no I was way to busy and focused on other tribulations to worry about what the new year was going to hold.  It wasn't until well into January 1st that it hit me... the crap of 2012 is over... it's 2013, a  new day, a new chapter in my life and it's up to me how it plays out.  While I know there are things in life that I are beyond my control and without a doubt there will be trials and tribulations this year too... I can guarantee it.  But I also know that because of the 2012 tribulations, the worse is over and I'm free to start a new.  I hate starting over or starting out "new" but this time, it's ok.  I'm ok... or at least I'll be ok.  God brought me here via a strong blood line and we may falter from time to time but we don't give up and we sure as hell don't run.  Look out 2013 and all that get in the way, cause this woman is standing strong and tall!

But what about my kids you may ask?  Well they may not be quite as strong as their Momma, right now... and that's ok too cause I'm their Momma and I will be their strength.  Of course that doesn't mean I don't have my fears, it doesn't mean they won't hurt, it doesn't mean a thousand tears won't be shed... however when this song starts playing on the radio and I hear this tiny little voice coming from my back seat start to sing "Bless the Lord oh My Soul..." - it was then that I knew they too would be ok... it's all going to be ok.

There is nothing sweeter than hearing the voice of a child singing praise to His name..

Proud MaMa Moment

A little over a week ago the local dry cleaner here in town caught fire during the night... it was adjacent to a shopping center that housed other businesses including an empty storefront that was being used as a holding for the donated toys for Toys for Tots.  Over $15,000 in toys and about $6,000 in clothing were lost... as always you can count on the Gaylord community to spring into action and start restocking of those items so that every child can have a Christmas (there was no insurance).  Even I was/am holding a fundraiser and ALL proceeds earned from my Tupperware sales through December 14th will be donated to the Toys for Tots program in Gaylord.  So where does the proud Mama moment come into play?

The first thing out of my baby girl's mouth when she woke up this morning was, Mama we gotta put this money (lefting a handful of change she'd been saving for month) in a baggie so I can take it to school for Toys for Tots!  I wished I'd had a camera handy, her sad little face looking up at me as if to say "if we don't get this money to them there won't be any Christmas"... that's my baby girl.  She really does have my "giving" blood in her.  A moment in time when she wasn't thinking of herself and wouldn't stop until I had the baggie down and filled with change.  I even offered to get some more money for her to take but she didn't want it... this was HER money and SHE was giving it for something she believed to be special and purposeful.  that folks, is my proud mama moment!!

Are You Strong Enough?

Yesterday was a big day here in America... Election Day.  Not just any Election Day, but the one where we decide on who our president will be for the next four years... sometimes a tough decision, sometimes not so much.  There's always a few extra names listed on the ballot of people you've likely never heard of and two you most definitely have... this year, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney were our Primary choices.  When it comes to the president and presidential elections things can get heated, arguments begin, friendships end, people laugh, people cry... for some it's a highly emotional time.

I'll make no bones about it, I didn't vote for Obama the first time and I sure as heck didn't vote for him this time.  He didn't win and honestly I'm ok with that... I'm not ok with some of his past choices, and probably won't be with some of his future choices.  It's ok... it's ok because everyone has made some poor choices throughout their lives and I'm sure Romney would have made some poor decisions throughout his presidency had he won.  We all (I'm guilty of it too) seem to hold the president responsible for everything that goes wrong, and for not making positive changes.  The economy is in a hard hard state right now, people are hurting and struggling, fighting to survive and one man can't fix that.  It is unrealistic to think Obama could have made such great changes in the past four years, and it would have been unrealistic to expect Romney to fix the mess that was created over the past eight plus years.  There is only one that can truly heal the hurt, feed the starving and lessen the struggles... He's our Almighty God.  You know the verse, "I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me" - pull him near, feel his warmth and I promise he'll pull you through whatever your troubles may be.  No president can do that!

So here we are... Obama has another four years to finish what he started, another four years to get it right, to learn from his mistakes and go forward making GOOD decisions to help America turn itself around.  Just keep in mind that ONE man can't do it alone, we all have to be a part of the equation.  We all have to be a part of the solution, be the change you want to see in the world, be the role model the world needs you to be... shake your neighbors hand and let's put this country back together again!

Thankful Thursday...

**only one day late this week**

Yikes, it’s Thankful Thursday already and I wrote nothing in between… boo me.

I’ve been thinking about this Thankful Thursday thing, and I’m thinking I need to think about it sooner than on Thursday’s… I played through so many things that I’m thankful for that I literally got a headache.  Seriously, where do you start when you have so many things to be thankful for?  I’ll tell ya where…  with God.  I know, there was a time when such a statement coming from my mouth would have caused panic but don’t worry… Mercury isn’t in Retrograde or anything like that.  Well maybe it is, I haven’t checked lately so who knows.

Anywho… if ya know me, and I mean really know me and not just think you know me… you know there was a period when me and God didn’t exactly see eye to eye.  I never stopped talking to him, well maybe it was more like yelling at him… but either way, I’ll tell ya flat out he never left my side.  I’ll save you the gory details of my past but there were many a time when, in looking back, He was there catching me every time I fell… except that one time that involved black ice and a concusion, and that other time that involved high heels and ½ dozen shots, but I digress…

It was rough… it still is.  But now I have more faith that everything will be ok.  It was 2010 and after seven years of “bad luck” I’d had enough, I heard his call and followed his lead… the decision was made, me and the kids would be going back to church.  Their father didn’t want any part of it at the time, which was ok cause I was going to need someone to take care of the kids after I burst into flames from stepping foot in a church.  Seriously.  I researched the area churches and decided on Oak Pointe Church in Novi.  The day came, the kids were excited, I was nervous and cautiously approached the building slowly walking in further and further… sigh, phew… no flames.  Would you believe I noticed changes happening right away… and for the better!   For the longest time, while at odds with God, I had that attitude of “just because I don’t go to church doesn’t mean I’m not a Christian, or a good person”… it’s not enough, it really isn’t.   There’s a BIG difference in saying I believe in God and actually believing in him… know what I mean?  You can go around and say, yeah yeah I believe… but do you really?  What do your actions say?  What does your heart say?  Do you feel the belief or is it just  a passive statement??  Do ya get it now?

Anywho… long story short, we only attended that church for about 8 months when God started making big moves in our lives and he took us to Port Huron for a new and wonderful career!  Then a year later we were called to head north… and back to my home church, Gaylord Evangelical Free Church.  The church has grown TREMENDOUSLY since I left the area in 1999 but it still has that small town warmth and love about it… even though the attendance has grown so much, I still see so many faces I recognize and I’m thankful for that.  A little sad when some of the faces are of those that were in elementary school the last time I saw them, or were just graduating high school and now have families of their own… sigh, I feel so old.  :o(

Back to my long story short… I’m thankful for God and his forgiveness.  If you’ve never heard of 2wordstory, I highly recommend you check out their site and program – it’s AWESOME!  I struggled with my own 2 word story and what it should be, there were sooo many words I could use but I settled on the one most fitting.  My story… Forgiven?  Forgiven.  Someday I’ll tell ya about it, but for now this song by Mercy Me describes it pretty well.

Thankful Thursday...

Yes, I know it’s not Thursday but Thursday got away from me so here we are… celebrating Thankful Thursday on Saturday.  Soooo, on the way to work Thursday morning I was listening to 89.3 and callers were calling in to tell what they were thankful for – after all, it was Thankful Thursday.  What an awesome idea right?  The whole way in I thought about the blog and what to write in regards to Thankful Thursday, had a whole line up of things… then as soon as I got to work it all left and my brain turned to squish.

Let me start by going way back to April 30, 2012… I arrived to work and found this hottie sitting on my keyboard, just waiting to make my day special!

Seems strange I know, but it’s the little things that matter most… and my old cell mate knew just how to make me smile.  She’d come across this old poster and for some crazy reason thought of me, wrote up a little caption bubble and perched him on my keyboard for my morning pleasure.  I am soooo thankful for a great number of things but I’m starting this one off with my cell mate and dear friend Mellea… we’re like sisters that were separated at birth.  We’re both twisted, have minimal filters on our mouths and get each other’s off the wall sense of humor.   People were jealous, I know they were… and they were lurking, just waiting in the wings like vultures for when I left, hoping and praying that I’d leave the poster behind so they could have it – not a chance!!  Here he is in his new home at my new office…. And yes, I did put baby in a corner…

So, of all the things I could have mentioned being thankful for in relation to Ms. Mellea why did I mention the Bon Jovi story?  Because of this stellar young man right here….

Yup, he’s one to be thankful for too.  He’s a Foster Care Worker here in Emmet County and I know there are a lot of people thankful for him.  There must be, because he’s being recognized and honored for going above and beyond and is Foster Care Worker of the year!!! 

On a personal note I think he's jealous of my Bon Jovi poster... he's a jokester too and has made a few silly comments about him.  It's ok though, it puts a smile on my face and that's something to be thankful for!  So can you imagine the smile, not to mention flat out laughter that followed when I saw this on my cube wall just hanging there staring at me...

Here, let me zoom in so you can see that it's actually autographed...

Not only am I honored to be one of the select few to receive one, but he spelled my name right too!!  Told you it's the little things that matter most!  And in case you can't read what it says, let me help ya out... "Best Wishes and keep striving for greatness, continue Living on a Prayer" - told you he was jealous.  ;o)

Happy Today

There are many things that make me happy... the warmth from the sun, the beauty of fresh fallen snow on the trees, waking up, being able to walk, and talk, you know the little things like that.

But what makes me the happiest today??  Knowing that my baby girl loves me and isn't afraid to show that love and affection in front of a bus full of kids.  Every day she gives me a hug goodbye and says "I love you mama."  That just makes me puff all up inside and darn near make me wet my pants with joy... cause I know it won't last long. :o(

Be Aware, Very Aware

Well now apparently October is Bullying Prevention Awareness Month – and here I thought it was domestic awareness month, or was it breast cancer awareness month?  We have grown to have so many “awareness” causes that we not only have to double up and share month’s now but we’ve worked our way down to giving each day an awareness!!   Did you know Oct 27^th is Cranky Co-workers day – since that’s on a Saturday this year I think I’ll celebrate a day early!  Now don’t everyone go having a stroke about this but, Oct 29^th is World Stroke Day!  Yes, I know having a stroke isn’t funny, it’s very serious – but do we need a day for it?  November 15^th is World Philosophy Day… really?  Cause around here it’s known as Opening Day for Firearm season… To hunt or not to hunt, that is the question… I think, therefore I’m overqualified… no wait, I have more!!  Bwahahaha   Do ya see where I’m coming from here folks?  Do I need to go on?  You want to know why this week is traditionally hell week for me?  Because of all these dumb made up days… Boss’s day is Oct 16^th, Sweetest Day (BLECH) is the 20^th this year but sometimes those two are neck & neck with each other and what falls in between??  Of course you don’t know, that’s why this rant has taken this direction (it seriously has gone in a direction I didn’t intend)… because there’s always so much love being shown to boss’s and sweeties (sniffle sniffle) that I get left behind, forgotten and kicked to the side without even so much as a bottle o’ booze. 

That is all… Carry on people, carry on.

Mama it Fell Out!

For the last couple of weeks all I've heard is, "mama my tooth is really wiggly."  Well ok, that might not be ALL I've heard but I've heard it a LOT, until this morning.  I was getting breakfast ready for baby girl and next thing I know she comes running to the kitchen saying "mama mama it fell out!", I spun around and sure enough there she stood with her hand out holding a little tooth!

It was so cute & funny to hear her talk that I made her repeat herself several times just to hear her talk... luckily she was so excited that she didn't realize what I was doing.  Then I warned her about eating and drinking now because the tooth is missing and things could fall out - she looked at me like I'd gone bonkers. 

As you can see, that tiny little tooth left quite a decent size hole...

I'm not sure what the going rate for teeth is these days but I can sure bet you it won't be as much as the Tooth Fairy's new door that will magically appear tonight....

Yes, I know I'm a dork - so what!  Santa has a chimney, why can't the Tooth Fairy have a door?

Bully Time...

**NOTE... my access to a "real" internet connection is currently limited, therefore you will likely see, from time to time, a rash of posts come about that one would normally see several days or weeks apart from each other...


Soooo... three days into riding the bus, the bus she so excitedly loves to ride to and fro, she encountered a bully.  Some students get on the bus at the end of the day and then get off at another location to catch their "real" bus home - they are called transfer students in the eyes of the busing system.  One particular little girl, also a first grader, decided it would be fun to hit baby girl on the head while she was departing for her bus.  Baby girl asked her to stop multiple times but the bully continued and even dared grab at her face resulting in this...

Of course I made the calls necessary to make sure this doesn't happen again and I was assured that reports were made, parents talked to and an investigation was under way.  I also found out that the bus has a camera on it but, of course, the girls were close to the front of the bus in the "blind spot" of the camera.  The Bus Garage Supervisor said you can tell something's happening based on the other kids movements but you can't actually see what's going on... then he went on to tell me of all the new safety improvements being made to buses... he was rather chatty & offered no real solution other than to keep an eye on them and hope that it doesn't happen again.  The scratch is healing well and it's a little early to tell how it will eventually look but right now it's looking like a scar on her nose...

You would think an apology would come from the parent and child... nearly 2 weeks later and not one word from either... Hmmm...

Firsts...

My baby girl started first grade last week... sigh.  It was a day of many firsts for us... last year she attended a school that I absolutely loved and could have and would have been the only thing that kept me from moving.  It's a charter school and while still considered a public school, the kids all wore uniforms, there was no busing system or in house lunches & breakfast options.

I had hoped to be settled closer t work before school started but it was crazy to think that would happen so quickly... I barely had time to prepare for the initial move north, let alone find a place too!  So for the moment we are with family and making it work... bouncing her from school to school isn't what I wanted to do but she won't be the first to do it, right?  Other kids have survived starting at multiple new schools during their child hood, right?  She'll be ok... right?

So the day quickly came upon us and it was time... the FIRST day of the FIRST grade and her FIRST experience in riding a bus to and from school, and don't forget her FIRST time with the option to either take her luch to school or to buy it there.  I think I was more scared than her... having been a shy child I know it can be scarey doing something new for the FIRST time.  The bus came, she timidly got on and away she went... my baby girl, growing up and learning indpendence.  As the tears filled my eyes I prayed I'd taught her enough and covered all the scenarios of what to do in a "what if" situation... and with that, I was in my car headed for the school to make sure she made it safely.

I'm sure I looked like some kind of child creeper... I sat in my car, waiting and watching, waiting and watching... wondering what was taking so long... and then the buses all started pulling in.  Her bus pulled in and of course I couldn't see it so I scurrying out of the car and "snuck" up into the school yard and hid behind a tree, watching and waiting once again for her to appear from the big yellow bus... being careful that she didn't see me.  Off she came, just a trucking along and keeping up with the other kids and heading into school - my very own, Ms. Independent.

The traditional first day, in front of the door picture...