A Refreshing Change

So I heard on the radio (probably S. O. S.) that there are three things that you can do to reduce your chances of being on Welfare.

1. Graduate High School
2. Have a job.
3. Wait to have children until after you are married.

We were discussing this at dinner this past week and my oldest said "Welfare, isn't that what is good for you?" WOW I thought, I knew what Welfare was at 12 years old and my son doesn't. Am I too protective? Have I sheltered him too much? NO WAY!! Although we were not on Welfare growing up times were tough and we knew people that were. He knows now. Hopefully he can keep his innocence a little longer.

I'm not the only one!

Did you see this article?


http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_19654471

I can so relate to this woman.
It feels a little better knowing I'm not the only one that feels that way! Now I just need to find a support group...or maybe start one. Yeah I have time for that. :-)

Stress

Did you know that if you bottle up stress it comes out in other ways? Like migraine headaches and snappy comebacks? Well I have always been a bit, how can I put this - blunt.  I guess I have trouble holding or biting my tongue at times.

Stress - Stress is the body's reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional adjustment or response. Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, nervous, or anxious. Stress is caused by an existing stress-causing factor or "stressor." Dealing with a serious illness or caring for someone who is can cause a great deal of stress.

http://dying.about.com/od/glossary/g/stress.htm

How funny that I found a definition that focuses on the exact thing I am dealing with (and I did not have to search hard to find it).

Frustrated, angry, nervous or anxious yep feeling that way but not as much as six months ago. It seems like it comes in waves for all of us on this journey of living in the middle. Luckily it is (usually) one at a time or we would/could really hurt one another (with words that is). We each have our own unique gifts (and that’s the way God planned it) and meet different needs in different ways. But guess what it is working WOW!! Only by God’s infinite grace does this unusual living work. Let’s just say we have gotten into a rhythm.

Is it really unusual living though? How has the world lived for thousands of years? How did Ruth and Naomi live? History shows that families have lived with three or more generations under one roof for EVER. It is even portrayed in movies like “Moonstruck”.   Why do we Americans think we have to live alone – to be independent, to be successful? This was my thought when I was younger – I have to go live on my own before I even think about getting married so I know I can take care of myself.

I thought this post was about stress. It is or what leads to my stress. I do not feel stressed today maybe because it is after Christmas and I still have a couple days before I get into the crazy back to school routine. Maybe it is because I am thankful for all the good things I have. Maybe it is because I was able to make a good dinner and still get to spend a good half hour with my hubby just me and him at DQ. Oh yeah it must be the ice cream and chocolate high. (Peanut Buster Parfait YUM!!)  

Swagger

Swag bucks that is. Ha ha I got you. So I signed up for Swagbucks to earn for the things I do online anyway. Hey why not get paid for surfing the internet and playing games. Right? I have succumbed to it, I have been reading from my Frugal bloggers how much they are getting for free and I just had to get some too. I have been a member of My Points for a little less than a year and have really enjoyed how easy it has been to earn (esp. dining out gift cards). I have been able to eat out more and even give teachers gifts. Well Swagbucks is really easy so far and it is only 450 points to get a $5 Amazon gift card. I have really been shopping Amazon this holiday season esp. since Borders closed. Are you earning online yet?

Disclaimer - Swagbucks, My Points and Amazon have NOT compensated me for these views. They are my own.

Christmas prep

Every year since my oldest was in kindergarten I have brought my Christmas breads for the school staff to munch on. I start baking sometime around Thanksgiving or when it turns cold and I have a good excuse to warm up the house with the oven. This year I am cutting it really close because the day is quickly approaching and I still have one other bread to make. In case you do not know already - I love to bake. It is a way for me to relieve stress. I call it my therapy. I prefer easy things that take longer to bake than to mix up and I hate to roll out anything or use yeast. (I do not own a rolling  pin.) So Santa's cookies are always the Pillsbury slice and bake sugar with can frosting that has food coloring in it. Anyway the breads that I make and give away are: Pineapple, Cranberry, Banana, Zucchini, Strawberry and Pumpkin. Yummy plus then we get to have them for Christmas week. Yummy breakfast for me and the little one (the only one besides me who will eat them). I always make peanut butter balls and English toffee too. What are you making/baking this Christmas?

Thanksgiving week Part 2

6:30 am Happy Thanksgiving it is turning out to be a good week was able to get most of my plans done. I was even able to do some power shopping. Return a Christmas gift at one store to purchase it at another $20 cheaper, $5 jeans and get another gift. Woo Hoo.

Have a great Thanksgiving. I am looking forward to all the good food and family.

Thanksgiving week plans and realities part 1

Do you have a list of things you are planning on doing this week of Thanksgiving well yeah, me too.

Here is what I had planned.

Sunday - get up and look at newspaper to plan some shopping trips and/or look for coupons. Church -  Sunday School and my turn in the Preschool Department during Worship time, Drive home, make lunch, clean pot shelves and fans then reverse the fans.Put up Christmas tree (at least part of the way) make dinner, put children to bed, have time with hubby, sleep til 6am.

This is what really happened - no newspaper but the rest was all flowing smoothly (with even a lunch out with my brother and sister in law til 1:30am my oldest woke us up with the sound of vomit. Now maybe you don't know this about me but if I smell it then I do it too. UGH! But since I have the best husband in the world (with a cast iron stomach) he got up and cleaned up that boys bedroom floor, yep couldn't make it to the toilet. Thank goodness I got a REAL good deal on a new Bissell Steam cleaner just five days ago. So I made sure everyone was fine and snuggled back in bed with my littlest. 4am again this time right outside my bedroom door. Yes, hubby took care of that too. He had just laid down to try and sleep. I think he only got about 3 hours sleep.

Monday - get boys ready for school, pick up brother at automotive repair shop, take boys to school, get some groceries, do some laundry, put the rest of tree up, go to work, pick up brother to get his car back, help at littlest ones school, get littlest, pick up oldest from band practice, take friend home, help with homework, get dinner ready, go to sister in law's to meet with dietician for mom in law, get home, help boys put up their trees, get ready for bed, sleep til 6am.

This is what's happened so far - stumble out of bed at 6am ask hubby how oldest is doing, get directions on what hubby was unable to do, look for yesterday's paper - still not here, check email, play Gardens of Time (my guilty pleasure), put fresh sheets on oldest's bed (he's sleeping in littlest's bed so can't do laundry yet), get phone call from brother (oops I forgot, that's what happens to the sleep deprived), go get brother in pajamas and robe (no one will see me), after picking him up unlock gates at mom in law's (hubby's daily routine), take brother home, get call from oldest "Can I lay in your bed" "No, lay in your own I put fresh sheets on, figure out which blankets are not icky and put them on", go home, start to have coffee, start load of laundry, get littlest ready for school, put on warm up suit over pajamas, grab grocery ad, take littlest to school and while there scan ad and write a list of things to get (need that cheap turkey), see teacher she says she has some more things for me to cut, follow students in and get those items to take home and cut, tell her I'm planning on helping this pm as planned but oldest is sick, she says I can stay home (whew), go to store score $8 butterball turkey and some other good deals while texting hubby to find out what he wants for dinner 'cause I need meat if he doesn't want what I have in freezer, get home check on oldest, wash more laundry, finish coffee, clean up kitchen, take shower, check on oldest he has a fever now, give him several things to drink while I'm at work, grab all fliers and coupons from the HUGE pile on my counter to sort at work, get to mom in law's to make sure trash gets out, scrounge something to eat from leftovers, get to work, write blog. It is only 11:45am, I am ready for a nap.

Tuesday - Get up, take boys to school, get mom, go do big grocery shopping, drop off some groceries at mom in law's, go to work, help in littlest's other teacher's class, get home with littlest, do some more decorating, make dinner, get ready for bed, start packing for staying at mom in law's on Wed and Thurs nights, sleep til 6am.

Wednesday - Get up, take boys to school, finish packing for mom in law's, get things over to mom in law's, go to work, go to mom in law's in time for occupational therapist, pick up boys from school, practice and take friend home, get home, have boys pack for grandma's, go to grandma's, make cranberry relish for Thanksgiving, make dinner, get ready for bed, sleep till 5:30am.

Thursday - Happy Thanksgiving, get up, do morning routine, watch Macy's Thanksgiving day parade, make mac and cheese, green bean casserole and cherry pie. Spend Thanksgiving at sister in law's have a good time. Get back to mom in law's and get ready for bed, sleep till 5:30am.

Friday - Get up, do morning routine, decorate mom in law's, get home about 4:30, have some quality family time, go to bed, sleep til 6am.

Saturday - Get up, more family quality time, haven't been home on a Saturday in a few months not sure what we will do.

Hopefully my Tues - Sat will turn out the way I planned. I do not want to miss Thanksgiving because one or more of us is sick. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. Psalm 20:4