Please pray for my hurting friend

While I have had an incredibly great day, I've just read about a friend of mine who is hurting severely. And so it hurts me too.

Please pray for my friend Melanie. It has been four years since her 3 year old son Hunter was killed by an impaired driver. She has lost her father and suffered through treatments for breast cancer during those four years. She is having a really difficult time this week (the 4 year anniversary of the accident).

I can't express to you how extraordinary this lady is. She was my best friend for years before the tragedy. I love her dearly. I would do anything for her. I don't know what to do for her. Except pray. And ask you to pray.

The quiet has ended...

Yes, the quiet has ended and it is LOUD around here once again! I hear SpongeBob playing upstairs, Guitar Hero (the game) playing loudly on the TV downstairs, and an electric guitar belting out some sort of Rock-n-Roll (they are each de-schooling this afternoon). Today, I'm enjoying it. I'm not so sure about a month from now, but I hope to be managing my time (and theirs) well enough to have enough play time with them to appreciate it!!

After working outside the home all last summer, I WILL NOT take this summer break for granted! I love my children so much. I am so glad they won't be spending their summer in daycare. I am so thankful that I get to spend it with them!

Ahhhh...quiet...

As much as I am looking forward to my kids being out of school today for summer, I am very much aware of how hard it is going to be to work with all three of them around! I'm going to savor my last morning working at home...with quietness. Ahhhhh...

Mohawk Man!

I had to put an update on CandyMan on here! He's been begging for a mohawk since Christmas. I told him he could have one this summer. He talked me into letting him get it for his last day of school tomorrow. It's just hair, right??

Candy Man's Award!

Candy Man had his awards program this morning. He was awarded a Good Citizenship Award from his teacher. She said that even when every other child in the classroom was out of control, she could count on CM to be good! I'm so proud of him!

I got a good picture of him with his friends. One of those friend's became sick right after this picture was taken... hope CM doesn't get it!!

CM had a great year in school. He's excited to begin a new year at a new school, but he's also sad to say goodbye to his friends. Of course, I'm sure he'll have no problem making new friends at the new school. Easy for me to know and tell him right now. Harder for him to understand at this point. He's not too upset though. He's Mr. Laid Back!

This year was his teacher's first year teaching. She was great! We loved her to pieces! She was so sweet and so good with him. She had so much energy and was so gung-ho all year. I was very pleased with her! CM really liked her too!

Guitar Hero's Award!

Guitar Hero is just glad it's almost over. For his sake, I am too. He has had the worst year of all at school. He's had a terrible teacher. He's struggled through the year (after being a great student his previous years).

Today was the Fifth Grade Awards Program. I couldn't help but notice the 'stats' on each class. There were four classes. The other three classes each had many children who made Honor Roll for the year - 11, 12, & 14 in each class. GH's class had 7, and only one of them was a boy.

We were encouraged to check out our fifth graders and take them to lunch to celebrate. By the time we got in the car, he was crying. He had overheard his teacher talking about him this morning. Then, he'd endured a long and drawn out awards program. Normally, he's one of the children getting all the awards. He's been used to that, I suppose. That was not the case today however. He got a "certificate of completion" for fifth grade, along with every other student there. He was really hurting. I am hurting for him.

At lunch we talked about his part in not having a better year. We talked about what we could do differently next year to make it a better year. We talked about what we could do this summer to prepare him for next year. We both feel much better now.

Only 1 1/2 more days and he's out of there!! (And a middle schooler!!??)

Missy Prissy's Award

Tonight was Award's Night for Missy Prissy's grade at school. Her teacher has been great this year and has been so good for her! Missy is still at the bottom of her class and that is made more obvious seeing her with her class. She is just still immature. I feel certain that another year of kindergarten will be best for her.

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Now for her awards... she was given a "Citizenship Award". Only 2 girls from her class were given this award. I'm so proud of her for this!!

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She was also given the "Rookie Reader" award, for being so good at sounding out words this year.

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Her teacher was very creative and gave silly awards predicting their future careers. It was really funny - and cute! Missy was awarded the most likely to be famous as a talk show host!!

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On a little different note... I just googled her teacher's name to try to find a picture of her and found this and this! It is her teacher! She's very good, huh?

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Here is a picture of Missy and her favorite friend:

Here is a picture of Missy with her "boyfriend" (she says!):

Dude, Rock On!!

Those are the only words that have come out of GameMaster's mouth. "Rock On!" That is all he has to say about his birthday present!

Today, my oldest child turned 11 years old. All he wanted for his birthday was an electric guitar and an amp. He's been playing an old electric guitar of my fathers, but without an amp (you can't hear much at all). But still, he's been really into it. He has asked and asked for me to buy him an amplifier to go with it. I kept telling him that there was no way that I could afford to get him one for his birthday. I'd looked online and they are all so expensive!

Well, earlier this week I talked to my dad about it. We decided to go shopping to see what we could find. I knew that dad would not be happy with the $100 cheap kid's guitar at Walmart. He knows more about this than I do. So we went about trying to find a quality guitar at a price that I could handle.

In the end, we bought a new Fender StarCaster. We split the price and got it from all of us. It came with an amp, picks, strings, strap, and more - basically everything he needs to get started. I was thrilled to be able to get him a guitar this nice. So was my dad.

So, my dad (we call him Doppler Daddy - a story for another blog post) takes it all home with him to hide it. Of course, he decides he better get it out and tune it. He's been so excited about it for the last few days! It has been hilarious! He's called me and played it over the phone to me!

Tonight, after a yummy Japanese dinner (GameMaster's choice), we went by my mom's office (it was closed) and gave it all to him. He was speechless.

So, in honor of his new hobby (he's just not into video games as much these days), he will no longer be called GameMaster. I think "Guitar Hero" is more fitting!

"Rock On, Guitar Hero!"

You're Fired!

No, not me this time. I don't know what I'd have to do to get fired by my dad! Actually, he's usually begging me to do more work!

The Papa got fired from yet another job. I've lost count now. He's avoided calling us for a whole month now. I had a feeling that was why (history keeps repeating itself and I knew it wouldn't be long now). So it wasn't a huge shock or disappointment when I finally got the call from him. He's been without a job for a month. He starts a new one next week (he says). He won't tell me where though.

It will take the state a couple of months to find him again and for them to garnish his wages so that we'll get child support. That'll hurt.

He says it is my fault that he got fired. Apparently a friend of mine was eating in Papa's restaurant (he was the store manager). When Papa tried to say hello to this friend, the friend went off on Papa. The only thing he'd tell me that was said was... "When I heard that you were abusing your children, I wanted to bash your head in." Papa admitted that it was said calmly. But Papa became furious and was yelling and telling this friend off. A customer called in a complaint to the headquarters, and Papa was fired.

Papa is mad that I have been talking about him hurting the children. He's still in denial about what he did. He's not really denying it anymore, but he's not admitting to it either. He feels like us going to court and the whole ordeal is nobody's business.

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Oh well. That was my decision to talk to friends and ask for help and prayers. I didn't do anything wrong. And I won't take responsibility for him losing his job either. I'm certain there is more to it than just this one instance anyway.

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I don't know who the friend was who did this. But if you are him, thank you. You stood up and honored me and my children. Even Papa said you did it in a calm and respectful manner. Good for you!

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He told me about another friend who ran into him in Cracker Barrel while he was eating with his new wife. She cornered him by the bathrooms and accused him of cheating on me. She didn't know that we'd divorced. I thank that friend too (don't know who?). We should be quick to hold others accountable in their marriages!

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I don't know who these people are, but I am thankful for them. I know it must be hard. But they are standing up for their beliefs and for me and my children! I appreciate that!

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I recently ran into a man who'd I'd been friends with him and his wife. He has cheated on her and left her and married the new woman, leaving his wife and child out of the picture. I froze. I didn't know what to say to him. I wish I had had the nerve to tell him how I felt, to tell him what me and the kids have been through and what he is doing to his wife and son. But I didn't. Instead I just said hi.

I am thankful for you, my friends - whoever you are!

Nicely said...

I just have to share with you the Mother's Day card that GameMaster gave me. He insists that he read every card that they had and chose this one. I have to tell you that it could not be more perfect! I've cried all 3 times that I've read it!

It says:

"When a son says, "I love you, Mom," it can be for lots of reasons. Perhaps, it's the way she held him when he was small, or the way she taught him to be strong and proud of who he was...

Maybe it's because even when it wasn't easy, she loved him anyway and went right on believing in him. And maybe, if he's very lucky, it's because of all those things. At least, that's how I feel when I say, "I love you, Mom."

There can't be a more fitting card out there!

A special surprise and a flash to the past!

I received an unexpected phone call yesterday afternoon. The caller told me to change clothes, drop my kids off with her husband and head to the Oak Ridge Playhouse.

Since this call was from my good friend Lisa, I did it! Several women in our church had gotten together for dinner and a production that evening. At dinner, it was announced that there were a couple of extra tickets for the production. Lisa immediately thought of me, called her husband about keeping my kids and called me.

Guess what the production was? One of my all-time favorite movies! Grease!

A few years ago, I watched the movie again (it had been years). I had forgotten how "naughty" it was! I was a bit shocked - that my parents had let me watch it over and over when I was younger!

Well, the stage production has different words in it than the movie. It was even "naughtier"! Even though it was a mother/daughter night with the church, I was thankful that my daughter wasn't there! I did see some other kids there. I saw a few open mouths a couple of times from our group, but noone said anything about it being offensive or anything. I think everyone enjoyed it!

This local company did a very good job. It was impressive. I think the music was especially good, but maybe I was partial since I knew the music director? I don't think so, I think they did a really good job!

I had a very nice evening. I'm so thankful for getting to go (especially to Dennis for keeping my children!). It was a special Mother's Day gift!

I'll write more about Mother's Day later...we are off to my mom's for lunch!

It's a Sign

Do you think that God gives us a "sign"?
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I've had the strangest experience happen to me TWICE in the last two weeks. When I shared it with my children this morning (that it had happened again), GameMaster said, "Mom, that is a sign."
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Well, I've had that thought, but I'm not sure what "the sign" says!!?

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Here is the experience:

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I have witnessed two wrecks. Both involved one vehicle. Both were in the middle of the day on nice, pretty days. They just simply lost control of their cars and flipped them upside down.
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One car was in front of me when it happened. It was like it happened in slow motion. It really shook me up. I was calling 911 before the car had come to a complete stop (on it's roof in a ditch).
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In the other wreck, the truck was heading toward me. It was in real-time - hitting a telephone pole and flying off the other side of the road in front of me. Again, I was calling 911 - even before I'd seen where the truck had landed (on it's roof in the woods).
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In both instances, the victims were able to get out of their cars (crawling out the window). They were both sitting beside their vehicles when emergency vehicles arrived. I don't know about any injuries, but I do know they survived.

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The only thing that I could think was I've got to slow down and be more careful. I called my dad and told him to please be careful (I was returning home from meeting him).
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Now, do you think this is a sign? If so, what is the message?

How to Use Your IRS Check:

I got this in an e-mail from my aunt last week. I thought it was so true, but a bit funny too!

As you have heard, most of us will be getting a rebate check to stimulate the economy.

If we spend the money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China.

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If we spend it on gasoline, it will go to the Arabs.

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If we purchase a computer, it will go to India.

If we purchase fruits & vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras, & Guatemala.

If we purchase a good car, it will go to Japan.

If we purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan.

None of which will help the American Economy. We need to keep that money here in America. The only way to keep that money here at home is to spend it at Yard Sales since those are the only businesses left in the U.S.

How about eBay!? Feel free to spend your tax check at Mama Duck's Nest! (I have no shame, do I?)

Some sort of control...

The beginning of the week was unbelievably crazy! It all escalated on Tuesday when I found out that GameMaster has been lying to me about being caught up on his school work when he really wasn't.

I've been living with a liar for a long time. I am not going there again! That is all it took for me to put on the skids and take control.

Here is what I learned. The more structure (i.e. grounding him in his room with homework and cleaning to do) that I provide for him, the sweeter he is.

Now, I'm not like that. You put a bunch of boundaries on me and tell me what to do and how to do it - I go nuts! That is not how GM is though. He needs me to put up the boundaries on him, because he can't do it for himself.

So, after me putting in some pretty strick boundaries and showing him that I meant business - now I have my sweet GM back in the house. He's so much more enjoyable to be around. Now, I just have to keep at it!!

On another note... a KNOX COUNTY, TENNESSEE SCHOOLS note! Remember my outrage about not being allowed to be there to view the "sex video" (GM calls it the "puberty movie")? Well, guess what!? There was a parent there that day!! But I was told NO! Wha!??

Then on Tuesday I was told that I couldn't go on the upcoming field trip with GM. (They are going to Thompson Boling arena for the 5th grade DARE graduation). His teacher told me that I could drive myself if I wanted to go, but that I couldn't sit with my child. Wha!???

My friend in bible study told me - "I've been pegged!" They've found me out. I'm a parent who cares about her kids!

Going Crazy as a Mother

Okay. So I wrote that title and now I realize what it sounds like! Sorry! I really don't mean it like in the way a really bad word would come next. I just mean that as a mother, I'm going crazy!!

I have this child...let's see... Can you guess which one?

He is driving me crazy. Or more likely, I'm letting him drive me crazy! I'm trying really hard to stay on top of his discipline. It seems like he is totally out of control - most of the time. He can be so mean and terribly disrespectful. He lacks any regret of his actions. It is really disturbing. It is so exhausting!

Twice this weekend he got to go over to a friends for awhile to play. I can't tell you how calm and peaceful our home was during that time. Even CandyMan commented about it. He usually can't stand to see his brother go anywhere. He wants to be with him at all times. That wasn't the case this weekend. CM was relieved to have a break and said so!

But with each return of GM, everything was out of whack! He was yelling, screaming, name calling, picking, hitting, threatening, crying, tantrum throwing, lying out of control! I hate to admit this, but I'm NOT exaggerating! It was really terrible. He is so emotional (mostly angry). He's just mad about not getting his way. It doesn't matter how big or how small the issue is - he can't handle being told no. I'm almost scared of him.

We've been seeing the pediatrician in the last month about this behavior and have another appointment on Thursday. It seems like I ask for prayer for him all of the time. Please pray for me too! I need wisdom and strength to continue dealing with him.

Busy Day!

Today is a big busy day for us! It is all good stuff, it's just ALL on one day!!

I have my Bible Study this morning. I'm really hoping to get to go to lunch with Lisa afterwards! She's been sick and I miss her so much!

I'm picking the kids up early from school and taking them to their new school for testing. I'm not sure what to expect with this - written, oral, both?? I'm sure they will do fine. I'm more nervous about it than they are - I'm sure!

After that, we have to go and get Missy Prissy signed up for summer school. Her teacher recommended this in January and even though she is doing tremendously better, I still think it would be good for her. Today is the only day to get signed up for that.

Then GameMaster has Aikijuitsu (Martial Arts). He's loving it so much. He knows he's got to be close to getting his first colored belt (yellow). He's awaiting that with much anticipation!!

At some point in all of that, I'm hoping for enough time to do the drive-through dinner thing for them.

From now until school is out the calendar is so busy! We have all of the normal things, plus more. Besides that, it is one of my job's busiest time of the year. Which is good. I have plenty of work to do. I'm hoping to "bank" some extra to get through the summer, since the kids will be home all summer with me!

Okay, for my prayer request... You guessed it! Please pray for GameMaster. He's come home early from school twice in the last week. Both times he says he's gotten sick. Then he's fine when he gets home. I'm starting to wonder if he is making himself get sick so he can come home?!?

After today, there are 21-1/2 days left of school. Then we are out of there!!

One more reason that I hate public school

I am so glad my children will not be attending public school next year. I just can't get them out of there fast enough! Today's example:
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Today is the big day for GameMaster, my fifth grader. You know, the day when they seperate the boys from the girls and show them a video that teaches about their changing bodies. You know, the birds and the bees.

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Well, being a concerned parent, I want to know what is in this video. Excuse me if I've made too big of a deal about it! I want to know what my child is being taught!!

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I'm SURE that they won't mention that GOD had anything to do with it!

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So, anyway...a permission slip was sent home for me to sign to allow him to participate in seeing this video. (I guess the children who aren't given permission will have to stay in the classroom and miss it.) I talked to GM about it. He was kind of excited about the video and looking forward to it (which I thought was kind of cute). So I signed the slip and sent it back to school. Here is where I "messed up"...

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I e-mailed his teacher asking if I could just be there during the showing of the video. I wasn't planning on making a big production of it or telling my own testimony or anything!! I just wanted to sneak in the back of the room and watch it with them. GM was not only okay with this, he wants me to be there!! (Of course we've already talked about all this stuff and it won't be anything "new" to his ears. I'm just curious as to what they are teaching.)

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I received an e-mail back the next day from his teacher explaining to me that she had consulted with the principal about this (?!?!?). Basically, the answer was NO - I could not watch it with the students!

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Okay. What is the deal? I'm ever increasingly aware of the principal's attitude toward me. It is very clear that I am a "problem parent"!! I think this is hilarious! I care about what junk is being put into my children's brains. I don't trust the school to teach them what I want them to be taught!! I'm NOT sorry that I don't want them to be just another number in public school. I'm NOT sorry that I want the very best for them. I'm NOT sorry that I don't want my 5th grader told that it's okay to have sex, as long as he wears a condom! (I'm not saying that this is what he will be told today, but I don't know - since I'm not allowed to be there!!!)

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But this I can rejoice in: GameMaster wants me to be there. He feels comfortable talking to me about this. He will come home and share with me what he heard (even what all the boys in class had to say about it all). Why? Because, as he said this morning: "I'm just more comfortable with you, Mom."

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Thank you, God!

Poor Lulu!

My friend Lisa just recently introduced me to a local tea room called LuLu's Tea Room. I have only gotten to go there once for lunch, but have looked forward to returning! It is such a sweet place with really yummy food that leaves you feeling satisfied.

Unfortunately I heard on the news last night that LuLu's had a fire yesterday! One report says that 75% of the inside of the building is damaged. I'm so sorry to hear this. It is not an easy thing to go into business for yourself and work so hard everyday as I know this woman has done. Deana Hurd opened the tea room just 2 years ago. I hope to see her re-open LuLu's soon!

Can We Talk?

My Bible Study group has reconvened! We began a new study last week. It is, "Can We Talk?" by Priscilla Shirer. I have completed the first week and look forward to going to our group time this morning.

The study has been difficult for me this week. I don't know what is wrong with me. The last day of the study was on Hebrews 13:15-16. It talks about giving a sacrifice of praise. It isn't that I am going through some difficult struggle right now. I just feel blah. I don't know why. So, I am going to praise - even if I don't feel like it!!

My friend Lisa is sick. She has a bad cold and has been sick for almost a week now! She isn't going to bible study today. I will miss her so much! Especially our lunch and afternoon talking!! I think we both need this so bad. There is nothing like a good godly friend to talk things through with, is there? Get better soon, my friend...

Cinderella

Have you heard the new song by Steven Curtis Chapman? It is called "Cinderella". Go here to hear it: http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/cinderella.htm. I wish I knew how to put it on this page, but oh well!

This song makes me sad for my Princess. Lately, I've been mourning the lack of man in my children's life. I don't want one right now. I'm not ready. But they are. They need a godly man to love them and show them the way.

A week ago at church I saw two boys come up to the altar to pray during church. A few moments later I saw their dad come and pray over them. I bawled.

Later this week they are having the sex ed talk at school in GameMaster's grade. I've been the one to talk to him about all of these changes that are coming for him. It seems like it'd be good for him to have a man to talk to about it. I'm glad he can talk to me about it though.

Missy Prissy dances with me. It's fun and we both love it. Imagine how she'll feel someday when a boy will dance with her. I wish she had a godly man to dance with now...

I know that God is the father of the fatherless. And I do see ways that He takes care of my children as a father would. I guess I just want more for them - you know?