I am a game player. My husband is not-- but that's another story:) I don't know if it's because I'm so competitive but I am sure that is a part of it.
I will play most any game but right now I'm a bit obsessed with Scrabble on the computer. I like it because I play by myself whenever I want. There's no distraction of anyone else and how they play. I am only satisfied with a score of over 400 at this point. If I don't get over 400 I will play until I do. So there is a scary factor to it. I can spend hours playing which is not good. I could be doing lots of other things.
When my mother visits, we play lots of Upwards. It is fun but it takes hours. I like the challenge of it and I like spending the time with my mom that way.
With my kids, it's lots of Life and My Littlest Pet Shop Monopoly. I have to say that Monopoly is not my kind of game. It takes too long---especially with a 9 and a 6 year old. Yuck! They also like to play these games over and over. So how many times can a person get excited about this stuff. We play Connect 4 and Battleship too. We also play card games, although they don't like my favorite-Uno. They don't like to play because I must admit I usually win.
So maybe that's the problem --I like too play the games I know I can win. Or maybe I'm just a good game player. So I guess Scrabble on the computer might be my best choice after all!!!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Summertime!
I talked about this a little the other day--how it is summer weather here already. I laugh when a commercial comes on saying something like "Spring has arrived..." Spring has come and gone. We are already deeply entrenched in summer planning.
Since we homeschool, summer is a bit different for us. We don't have any of those end of the school year field trips, parties or graduations in May. But we are affected by those things because we have friends who go to public school and we hear all about these events. Plus parks are more crowded, kids start appearing at the library in the mornings, friends are busy.
Summer really starts for us when our church starts serious preparation for Vacation Bible School! Our church always has it the week after public school ends so we kick off the summer with it. My kids love VBS. They like to paint the sets, they like to help me organize the snack, they LOVE!!!! to sing the songs (especially before the other kids know them!), they shop with me, they help me in the kitchen. They just think it's great all the way around! They love to feel a part of-like they helped. Especially my 9 year old--just tell her we're going to church and she's says "when? what for? how can I help?" She's so sweet!
For that one week it is amazingly easy to get them out of the house! They are bright eyed and bushy tailed at 7am and actually functioning at 7:30am when we leave the house each morning. Even the one day when I need to be there at 7am, they are ready to go! It's incredible that they are so motivated for one week!
So we started about a month ago with serious preparation. Now we are in the full swing of things! We are planning meals, planning decorations, inputting info on the computer, trying to get donors, coordinating with people AND OF COURSE, we are listening to music! Even my 3 year old and I know know the words to the music! On a side note, what a great way to memorize scripture! It's how I learned John 3:16 and how I am now finally learning the fruits of the Spirit.
God is Good!!! He is so good to me!
Since we homeschool, summer is a bit different for us. We don't have any of those end of the school year field trips, parties or graduations in May. But we are affected by those things because we have friends who go to public school and we hear all about these events. Plus parks are more crowded, kids start appearing at the library in the mornings, friends are busy.
Summer really starts for us when our church starts serious preparation for Vacation Bible School! Our church always has it the week after public school ends so we kick off the summer with it. My kids love VBS. They like to paint the sets, they like to help me organize the snack, they LOVE!!!! to sing the songs (especially before the other kids know them!), they shop with me, they help me in the kitchen. They just think it's great all the way around! They love to feel a part of-like they helped. Especially my 9 year old--just tell her we're going to church and she's says "when? what for? how can I help?" She's so sweet!
For that one week it is amazingly easy to get them out of the house! They are bright eyed and bushy tailed at 7am and actually functioning at 7:30am when we leave the house each morning. Even the one day when I need to be there at 7am, they are ready to go! It's incredible that they are so motivated for one week!
So we started about a month ago with serious preparation. Now we are in the full swing of things! We are planning meals, planning decorations, inputting info on the computer, trying to get donors, coordinating with people AND OF COURSE, we are listening to music! Even my 3 year old and I know know the words to the music! On a side note, what a great way to memorize scripture! It's how I learned John 3:16 and how I am now finally learning the fruits of the Spirit.
God is Good!!! He is so good to me!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Being a mother is...
Being a mother is...
Incredibly challenging.
Life changing.
Tiring.
Exciting.
Surprising.
Hard work.
Entertaining.
Rewarding.
Did I say exhausting?
Fun and funny!
Exasperating.
Awesome!
But the thing that I get the most of out of being a mom is the chance to see myself in my children . This can be a good thing and a bad thing.
I'm a yeller so guess what? So are my children.
I'm a whiner so they whine.
I can act a martyr so they act like martyrs sometimes.
I am not the best housekeeper so their rooms are a constant battle.
I am not so disciplined so they balk at being disciplined.
I can be judgemental so I hear judgements come out of their mouths.
But...
I love to read and sometimes we have to tell them to stop reading.
I love animals and so do they.
I have compassion for animals and people and they are very giving and have tender hearts.
I volunteer and help out at church and they love to help also.
I love babies and so they are so sweet with younger kids.
Being a mom is a mixture of happiness and pain, giving and receiving, crying and laughing.
I wouldn't trade a minute of the journey and am looking forward to the adventure that will come in the future.
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her-Proverbs 31:28
Train a child in a way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it-Proverbs 22:6
Incredibly challenging.
Life changing.
Tiring.
Exciting.
Surprising.
Hard work.
Entertaining.
Rewarding.
Did I say exhausting?
Fun and funny!
Exasperating.
Awesome!
But the thing that I get the most of out of being a mom is the chance to see myself in my children . This can be a good thing and a bad thing.
I'm a yeller so guess what? So are my children.
I'm a whiner so they whine.
I can act a martyr so they act like martyrs sometimes.
I am not the best housekeeper so their rooms are a constant battle.
I am not so disciplined so they balk at being disciplined.
I can be judgemental so I hear judgements come out of their mouths.
But...
I love to read and sometimes we have to tell them to stop reading.
I love animals and so do they.
I have compassion for animals and people and they are very giving and have tender hearts.
I volunteer and help out at church and they love to help also.
I love babies and so they are so sweet with younger kids.
Being a mom is a mixture of happiness and pain, giving and receiving, crying and laughing.
I wouldn't trade a minute of the journey and am looking forward to the adventure that will come in the future.
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her-Proverbs 31:28
Train a child in a way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it-Proverbs 22:6
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
90 degrees on May 4th!
This is what you get for choosing to live in Texas! And don't get me wrong I love warm weather. I would much rather be warm than cold any day but it seems like we went from cold to hot in seconds flat. No Spring. We have 2 seasons here in Austin--Summer and Winter--nothing in between. I am complaining but not really. There is one problem though...
I live with a man who is always hot. No matter what he's hot. In the winter with the heat on he walks around in shorts and in the summer with the air conditioning on he walks around in his undershorts. Meanwhile I have a sweater and socks on over my regular outfit-heat on or air on. It's a battle.
It's beautiful and sunny. I love the sunshine. I love the day light from 6:30am until 8pm. I might as well go to sleep at 8pm because all I do is sit around when it's dark. I can't seem to do anything when it's dark.
So, you see, even though I talk about it being hot already, I still love Austin as much as I did the day I stepped foot off the plane in March of 1992. I definitely wouldn't live any place else in Texas and you be hard pressed to get me to live any where that there is not any less than 6 months of summer! So I'm going to get the sunscreen, some lemonade and a fan because I'm staying right here!
I live with a man who is always hot. No matter what he's hot. In the winter with the heat on he walks around in shorts and in the summer with the air conditioning on he walks around in his undershorts. Meanwhile I have a sweater and socks on over my regular outfit-heat on or air on. It's a battle.
It's beautiful and sunny. I love the sunshine. I love the day light from 6:30am until 8pm. I might as well go to sleep at 8pm because all I do is sit around when it's dark. I can't seem to do anything when it's dark.
So, you see, even though I talk about it being hot already, I still love Austin as much as I did the day I stepped foot off the plane in March of 1992. I definitely wouldn't live any place else in Texas and you be hard pressed to get me to live any where that there is not any less than 6 months of summer! So I'm going to get the sunscreen, some lemonade and a fan because I'm staying right here!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Where did the day go?
Here I am at the computer wondering "where did the time go?". I even got up early this morning to spend some time with the Lord before my day started and I thought that would make the day flow smoother and we would get everything done.
One thing lead to another and we have gotten a bunch of stuff done but it's never enough. We probably did more school than we usually do but Math took forever today! I think we could have done another subject had the math been a more manageable amount of time. I guess I learned that it's better to accompany them in doing their math rather than having them do it alone while I'm trying to do laundry!
It's days like these when I realize how much I have on my plate. I haven't really wasted any time today. You know-- I haven't played multiple games of scrabble on the computer, I haven't talked to anyone on the phone, I didn't lay in bed until 7am, I didn't go running around on errands. We did important things--school, chores, laundry, meals, showers & baths. I even cleaned a tub, a sink and a mirror plus cleaned up a small "accident". So in reality I did do a lot. It's all in how you look at it I guess.
Thanks for helping me get some perspective!
Today is the day the Lord has made: rejoice and be glad in it!-Psalm 118:24
One thing lead to another and we have gotten a bunch of stuff done but it's never enough. We probably did more school than we usually do but Math took forever today! I think we could have done another subject had the math been a more manageable amount of time. I guess I learned that it's better to accompany them in doing their math rather than having them do it alone while I'm trying to do laundry!
It's days like these when I realize how much I have on my plate. I haven't really wasted any time today. You know-- I haven't played multiple games of scrabble on the computer, I haven't talked to anyone on the phone, I didn't lay in bed until 7am, I didn't go running around on errands. We did important things--school, chores, laundry, meals, showers & baths. I even cleaned a tub, a sink and a mirror plus cleaned up a small "accident". So in reality I did do a lot. It's all in how you look at it I guess.
Thanks for helping me get some perspective!
Today is the day the Lord has made: rejoice and be glad in it!-Psalm 118:24
Monday, May 3, 2010
20 Years!
Last week I celebrated my 20 year anniversary in AA! Wow! Even I am impressed.
It was kind of nerve wracking, though. I expect a lot out of myself because of that! I think I should be so much more serene than I am. All my defects of character should be under control by now. I think this might be the year I really have to work on accepting myself. Especially since both my sponsees are working on the same thing. God knows what he is doing. He put me with these women and these women with me so we can all work on it together.
Of course, I do realize that I did not string all these days together myself-God has done for me what I cannot do for myself. If I was in control, I'd probably be dead, gone crazy or be drinking again. God is so good. The only thing I did was I didn't pick up a drink. Really, because I didn't go to meetings regularly, I didn't have a sponsor all the time and I wasn't always rigorously honest or work the steps. So to God I have to give all the glory!
I am so grateful for my sobriety. I wouldn't have all the blessings I have if I wasn't sober. It's not easy all the time but a drink wouldn't help me at all. It might possibly feel good for a minute but the problems would all still be there tomorrow plus I would have to deal with the wreckage of that drink. So right now I am trying to live life on life's terms and to realize everyone has problems and the best way for me to deal with mine is straight on...AND SOBER!
It was kind of nerve wracking, though. I expect a lot out of myself because of that! I think I should be so much more serene than I am. All my defects of character should be under control by now. I think this might be the year I really have to work on accepting myself. Especially since both my sponsees are working on the same thing. God knows what he is doing. He put me with these women and these women with me so we can all work on it together.
Of course, I do realize that I did not string all these days together myself-God has done for me what I cannot do for myself. If I was in control, I'd probably be dead, gone crazy or be drinking again. God is so good. The only thing I did was I didn't pick up a drink. Really, because I didn't go to meetings regularly, I didn't have a sponsor all the time and I wasn't always rigorously honest or work the steps. So to God I have to give all the glory!
I am so grateful for my sobriety. I wouldn't have all the blessings I have if I wasn't sober. It's not easy all the time but a drink wouldn't help me at all. It might possibly feel good for a minute but the problems would all still be there tomorrow plus I would have to deal with the wreckage of that drink. So right now I am trying to live life on life's terms and to realize everyone has problems and the best way for me to deal with mine is straight on...AND SOBER!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Love this Song!!!
This is so beautiful!!!!
Hallelujah written by Leonard Cohen
Sung by various artists-here are a few of them.
Check this version out by Allison Crowe
http://music.allisoncrowe.com/track/hallelujah
Or watch k.d. Lang sing it on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_NpxTWbovE
This is for my kids! Listen to Jason Castro's version!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erjF2uxYcbo&feature=related
Words & Lyrics written by Leonard Cohen
"Hallelujah"
Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Baby I have been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you.
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
There was a time you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah written by Leonard Cohen
Sung by various artists-here are a few of them.
Check this version out by Allison Crowe
http://music.allisoncrowe.com/track/hallelujah
Or watch k.d. Lang sing it on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_NpxTWbovE
This is for my kids! Listen to Jason Castro's version!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erjF2uxYcbo&feature=related
Words & Lyrics written by Leonard Cohen
"Hallelujah"
Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Baby I have been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you.
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
There was a time you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah
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