...give me something good to eat!

Meow....

Trick or Treat

Some of my Trick-or-Treat memories....

• My dad always took us trick-or-treating.
• It was always raining - and cold.
  
• My dentist always gave an entire pack of sugar-free Trident.
• All my brother and I ever wanted was a plastic pumpkin for our candy.
  
• Instead we used pillowcases.
  
• It seemed like we went to every single house in town. Of course, back then my parents knew everybody in town!
  
• Once, my little brother saw a cat and ran screaming all the way down the street. My dad threatened to take us home.
• Another year he saw a dog and stood there screaming.
  
• EVERY year my brother had a hole in his pillowcase (from dragging it on the ground) and would loose almost all of his candy. He would cry and I had to share my candy. I would give him all the weird stuff and the apples and oranges.
  
• My grandma always made rice krispie treat "balls" with a gum drop in the middle.
• Grandma also tallied every single one of her trick-or-treaters and would call us with the final count.
• When I was in the 8th grade my dad still wouldn't let me go out alone. He drove my best friend and I all around town.
• Randy and I saw the movie Halloween on Halloween.
• When the girls were young we had an ice/snow storm on Halloween.
  
• My friend, Pam, always made Halloween suckers. Her house was my girls favorite place to visit.
  
• A few years ago my brother dressed up as a scarecrow and sat on our porch and scared the trick-or-treaters when they walked up.
• We never had store bought costumes. They were always homemade (and so much cuter) Except for Abe and his super hero costumes.
• The best part of Halloween is dumping all the candy and seeing what you got! (lots of Snickers, hopefully!)
  

Disappointment

Life lesson #2,019:

Some things don't get easier with age.

Disappointment, for instance.

It still gets stuck in your throat and makes it very hard to swallow.

Apparently size DOES matter!

When I came home from coffee on Saturday morning I was greeted by my very independent 7 year old.

"Don't worry, mom. I got hungry before you got home and so I got my own breakfast."

I looked around the kitchen and saw no dirty dishes. No milk. No cereal boxes. No peanut butter jar. No bread. No mess.

"What did you have?"

"I got a pumpkin cookie out of the freezer. But it's OK because I got the medium size one and not the really big one."

Due Date 10/26/86

21 years ago today was Abby's due date.
She finally arrived 15 days later.
Jaundice. Colicky. Bald.

10. Quick Exit

10 things I would take (in addition to my family) in an evacuation:

1. Baby Books - Even though not one of them is complete.
   
2. My Grandma's journals - I have three, including one from 1965. The year I was born.
3. My Bible- No explanation needed.
   
4. My Computer - Most of my pictures from the last 2 years are on it.
   
5. Home Videos - I don't want to forget how life was yesterday.
   
6. Pictures - Ditto above.
   
7. Rascal - Abe sleeps with him every single night.
8. Cell Phone - I didn't have it last night at the Halloween parade and was so lost without it.
9. Glasses- I can't see or read anymore without them.
10. My Cedar Chest - Lots of mementos from my childhood and also from my own children.

I must be very sentimental or else I live in the past. Judging from most of the things on my list.

Cousins

photos courtesy of Aunt Sarah

27. A Love Story

27 years ago (GASP!) today, was an important date in history. It is the day that I met the father of my three adorable children. I tell them that I hand-picked the best Daddy just for them.

Here are some of my cherished memories from that wonderful day. Funny how much detail I remember and I couldn't tell you what clothes I wore or had for supper two days ago!

disclaimer- I would lock my girls up forever and a day if they ever did this. However, I need not worry because they are so much smarter than I ever was at their age. I credit my wonderful parenting! Except for Abby- she never did listen to a word I told her.

• I had talked to Randy on the phone several times but had never met him.
• He lived in the "city" 15 miles away.
• He had seen my cheerleading picture but I had no idea what he looked like.
• This is what I knew: He had an identical twin brother, divorced parents, a broken shoulder (bar room brawl?) He drove a White '57 Chevy. He had long hair. He wore flannel shirts & work boots (neither were cool) and brown tinted glasses. He did not play a musical instrument (didn't everybody?) He had lots of speeding tickets AND he smoked (OK. What on earth was I thinking?! I could not have met a person more opposite than myself)
• It was a Friday night.
• We had a home football game.
• My ride to town was with the quarterback.
• We lost the game.
• My ride DID NOT want to make the trip. He was not happy about game.
• It was cold. Much colder than today. No - I don't have an opinion on Global Warming but it was way colder in 1980.
  
• Said football player finally decided to bring me to town. In his Green VW Bug. With no heat.
  
• He dropped me off on Main Street and turned around and drove back home. 15 miles away.
• I stood on Main Street, with lots of upperclassmen from my school, wondering how I was going to get home.
• No cell phones in 1980. Who would I have called anyways?
• I waited on Main street until a HUGE white car started to make a U-Turn.
• I waived. Big white car stopped. I asked his name. He said Randy. I got in.

...and we drove off into the sunset and lived happily ever after.

New Standard Operating Procedure

It seems like the cold and flu season has already begun. Since I hate to be sick (OK - that is a stupid statement. Who LIKES to be sick?) our family is all scheduled for our flu shots the first weekend of November. Just precautionary. Just in case.

We have hand sanitizer in the SUV. We have plenty of soap in the house. I have given my children lessons and lectures on the importance of hand washing and I am ALWAYS asking them, "DID YOU WASH YOUR HANDS?"

No sharing drinks. Those days are gone.

Even with all of that - we will get sick. It is inevitable. However, those germs are going to have to work overtime to catch us.

I was feeling like I had a grip on things. And then I read this. The 12 Germiest Places in Your Life. Now, I am working on new standard operating procedures for my family.

Here are some of the new rules:

Drinking fountain -Abe is officially finished with the drinking fountain at school and church. He will have his own personalized water bottle. To be attached to his belt loop at all times. Not be shared. With anybody. Ever.

Laundry- I have heard about the washer being full of bacteria before. This makes no sense to me because isn't the laundry CLEAN when you take it out? So to avoid the icky stuff they are talking about the family is going to be wearing Depends. They are disposable. Enough said.

My Purse - I try to be careful where I put my purse. Now I am going to be a Nazi. I guess I'll be holding it on my lap at all times. I have an aunt who does this. So when you see me clinging to my purse - it's not because of my Vodka inside - it is because I don't want it contaminated.

My Bathtub - I knew this one, too, but I think I forgot about it for a while. I shower in morning and take a bath in the evening. I guess I need to take a shower after work, too. That will remove the germs from my morning shower. The afternoon bathtub germs can be washed off at night and then those can be washed off in the a.m. This won't be just my cycle. No. I want my entire family to be clean and as germ free as possible. It will be for all of us.

Shopping Carts - We will no longer use them. We will only buy what we can carry in our arms. If I need several things the family will have to be a team and go to Wal-Mart together. I may even have to call in extended family and friends for our big grocery shopping trips. They won't be too surprised. They already think I'm a little odd....And I'd do the same for them.

ATM Buttons - I was aware of money being filthy. I really had never thought about the ATM machine. I guess we will just stay home so we don't need cash. This is great for my budget, anyways. No more cash.

Playgrounds - I'm going to talk to Abe's teacher about having him sit at his desk and color during recess. Or maybe some quiet reading time. This won't be hard since he LOVES those kind of calm activities. He will eventually thank me because he will be avoiding (and I quote) blood, mucus, saliva and urine, all of which are found on playgrounds. Do you think his desk would be dirty or clean?

Who needs an EXIT?

Abe had a lesson in map reading this weekend. We went through the corn maze at dusk and it was great. After chili dogs and diet coke we tackled the maze again. In the dark. We were overjoyed when, after 45 minutes of what seemed like miles and miles of walking in circles, we finally made it out. The exact same way we had come in. We walked right out of the "ENTRANCE."

Chlo Bo

Chloe patiently waiting for her morning cup of java.

10. Happy things from my week!

• My new little Brown Belt (soon to be Black Belt)...and his smile!
• Abe and I were both home at 12:30 Thursday.
• Clean House.
• Nap-time. Mine!
• Open Windows.
• Lemon Meringue pie and Carmella coffee.
• Dinner out with my two favorite guys AND a Mariachi band.
• 3 miles in cool weather!
• The last week of Flag Football.
• Prayers. answered, unanswered and to be answered at a later date.

Aquage. Chi Flat Iron, maybe.

This trivia question was on the radio yesterday morning while we were getting ready for school and work.

What is the number one profession that women warn their friends not to marry?"

The answer: hairdresser. (followed by policeman and bartender)

This was Abe's reply:

"Why wouldn't women want to marry a hairdresser? They could get their hair colored whenever they want and they would have ALL THOSE HAIR PRODUCTS!"

DUH! Stupid Women!

Monday! It really started on Sunday.

My weekend was pretty uneventful (just how I prefer it) until around supper time yesterday.

My brand new stove blew up. I am exaggerating but only a little. One of the fancy switches blew up. And now it doesn't work. I was going to "simmer" my waffle syrup and when I pushed the "simmer" button that is when sparks flew and it popped! Loud! It is a miracle I am still with you all today. I could have been shocked or electrocuted. This is per Randy who witnessed the entire thing. I must be pretty well "grounded" 'cause I didn't feel a thing!

I have decided when it comes to appliances less may be more. Frankly, my stove may have too many options. Too many cool buttons that will probably just give out. When the salesman told me this stove may be the last stove I would ever have to buy I should have questioned it. I should have asked him how old he thought I was? I'm not THAT old! Shouldn't it have lasted longer than a few months?

Then at 10:30 last night the middle child came home. Tired and Cranky. She said 12 hours in the vehicle put her in a bad mood. Boo Hoo.

I was being a good mom and trying to help her with her midnight snack and apparently didn't "do it right." Another case of my parental incompetence. She likes her waffle torn apart into bite size pieces and I just put them on the plate whole and then poured the syrup over them. Jeez! Don't I know ANYTHING??!! Apparently NOT! I seemed to have forgotten which child I was helping. It is the 7 year old who gets whole waffles and the 17 year old who gets them torn up. I will try and remember that from this point forward.

And then at 12:30 a.m. she realized she had NO CELL PHONE! We are in the middle of the fourth or fifth thunderstorm of the day and all I can imagine is it in the street. Ruined. Ran over. Wet. We don't carry insurance on our cell phones. Not in the budget. Thank goodness it was located this morning in the Vetter's Durango. Nice and dry. Along with her missing hoodie.

Speaking of hoodies....

Abe's Roosevelt hoodie is missing. Hopefully, he left it at school on Friday. I am trying to teach him that hoodies and coats are NOT disposable. They need to to remain in his possession for longer than 24 hours. This is bringing back memories of last winter. I sent him to school fully clothed. Then he gets hot and starts stripping, either in the school or on the playground and I never see his outerwear again. EVER! Coats. Jackets. Sweatshirts. Gloves. Stocking caps. Gone. Forever.

I think I put too much effort into making sure he is dressed cute. I am going to start shopping for the boy at Save -N- Share.

Other than that - HELLO MONDAY!

10. The Good. The Bad. And the Ugly!

My week.

• got a haircut (Heather rocks!)
• beautiful flowers delivered to me at work (Fruits of the Spirit, no less!)
  
• prayed with friends (this always changes my perspective)
• confrontation (with somebody in our family. all is better for the time being)
  
• new son-in-law turned 30! (holy cow!)
• my baby brother turned 35! (this even makes me start feeling old)
  
• spent time at the nursing home (finally - a working phone! BTW - It was AT&T's issue)
• finished a written budget for home (I'm $185 over budget-bummer because there is a cute jean jacket at Fruits I want!)
• spent an evening with step-mother-in-law at her new apartment (work in progress....)
  
• ordered a new Pampered Chef can opener since my old one was broken (I can't figure out where this goes in my budget. I also suppose I need to start cooking since I can once again open cans)

I don't REALLY know my kids.

I hate to admit this but sometimes, when it comes to my kids, I'm dyslexic.

I DO know what they like and don't like. The problem comes when I get it backwards or all wrong. Which happened to me twice in two days.

One loves peas- two hate peas. Three like corn but then one of them announces she doesn't really like corn at all. Then a week later she likes corn again! Some love Rootbeer. Some love Cream Soda. A couple love my dump cake and one hates anything with warm fruit. And they wonder why I can't keep it all straight!

Tuesday evening Annie had college class. I told her, as she was heading out the door, that I would make something really good and we would have dessert and coffee when she came home.

I had just pulled a Cherry Dump Cake out of the oven when she walked in the kitchen.

I dished it out. With Cool Whip! and hot coffee.

This is when she "reminded" me that she HATES ANYTHING WITH WARM FRUIT! Don't I know that about her?? How could I not know that about her? Don't I remember EVERY Christmas morning when she doesn't eat that warm fruit salad? Jeez. (forgive me about the naughty word. Growing up, my grandma taught me that jeez was a bad word. I'm feeling a little rebellious today)

Then yesterday.......

Every time that Abe and I fill our Culligan water jugs at Wal-Mart he tours the pop isle. AND he always want some goofy flavor of pop. Not Diet Coke or Fresca (my faves) but something red or purple or orange.

For one thing - that's not even pop. It's like Kool-Aid with fizz. For another thing- the little guy has already had something like 7 cavities. I don't just buy the stuff for no reason!

Since Annie is gone this weekend and it will be tough on my little buddy (and me!) I thought I would surprise him.

I bought fizzy Kool-Aid. Strawberry pop.

Me: Abe! I bought you a surprise treat for this weekend.
Abe: What?
Me: You need to see if you can guess it.

after several guesses of everything Wal-Mart sells except Strawberry pop I gave him a give-away clue.

Me: You always want me to buy this pop when I am filling our water jugs.
Him: GRAPE POP! He practically wet his pants he was so excited!
Me: Close! Strawberry pop and ice cream. We are going to make Strawberry floats.
Him: I HATE STRAWBERRY POP! Don't you know that? I always want GRAPE pop.
Me: Strawberry. Grape. Not much difference, honey, It all rots your teeth.
Him: Can we take it back and exchange it, PLEASE?

Where did he get THAT idea from? jeez (sorry...again)

I have returned a lot of things in my day but I refuse to take back Strawberry pop!

He is going to have a Strawberry float and he will love it! Just like the Pickled Beets.

A preview of things to come.

Annie has been very busy getting ready for her trip to Chicago. She leaves tomorrow after school. Until then she has lots to get done.

In this picture she is finishing her first grade homework (AND talking to Abby.) She helps with a first grade class and she is in charge of this Franklin project. EVERYTHING the girl does turns into a major art project. Why oh why does she make everything so complicated?

After that art project she studied for a vocab test and is currently getting ready to read Spark Notes for a book that she has read but didn't understand (really. She read it. I saw her. She's not cheating) She still needs to finish packing. We are waiting for jeans to dry and I was just informed she doesn't have enough clean undies. Lovely.

I already am missing my little Van Gough. She'll only be gone for three nights and three days so it's not so bad. But I do feel this is a little sneak peak of what my life will be like next year.

Outnumbered.

I realized tonight that I am outnumbered when Annie is gone. 2 males in our house and 1 female. I'm not going to like that too much. The scales have never been tipped in that direction before. I have enjoyed so much girl talk with my girls for so long that I took it for granted. With the boys it's different. Batman, Superman, Karate movies, Model Rockets.

I guess only one thing for me to do.

Girls Night on Friday. Coffee on Saturday. I can't wait!

Eenie Meenie Minie Moe

Apparently there has been a rumor going around that I have a favorite child.

According to married daughter the favorite is baby sister. She was the baby for 10 years and then became the dreaded "middle child." That right there should put all speculation to rest. If she was still the baby she maybe could be the favorite. But everybody knows that middle children are NEVER the favorite!

Isn't it common knowledge that the oldest child is the favorite. The first born.

Let me say that again.

FIRST born. FIRST! Perfect. Smart. Organized. Driven. Beautiful.

I am a first born! Go figure!

That also describes my little Abby Jo. She must be my favorite. You can never love a child as much as that first little baby you hold in you arms! She made lots of good choices. She's always had a job and earned her own way. She did great in school and continues to be an over achiever in college. BUT she was colicky as a baby. Very, very colicky. I just can't overlook that. AND she didn't like to clean her room as a teenager (or as an adult - that messy attic is still fresh in my memory!) THEN she grew up and decided to move to Chicago. Far from home. THEN she pulled the wedding shenanigans. OK. It wasn't the wedding inasmuch as the short notice for me - the long processor. Maybe baby.....

In the family I grew up in I always thought the BABY was the favorite.

That means Abe must be my favorite. AND he's the only son. It is most possible that he could be my favorite. He is cute and smart and funny. I like funny a lot. Yep. Funny is Abe. He always is thinking of others. He is a little giver. When I saw his handsome face for the first time I loved him as much as I did his big sisters. He does get in trouble at school, though. AND he gets rambunctious. I like things calm. AND I have no idea what kind of teenager he will be. He may be out of control and I will be senile when he is in highschool and who knows? I may not be able to control him. He may have to move in with one of his grown up sisters so they can take over. Maybe it is the middle...

Scratch what I said about the middle child not being the favorite. That isn't the case at all. Annie has a huge heart and likes things neat and tidy (just like me!) She loves people and is a servant. She is artistic. She always decorates my chalkboard at home. Yep. She could be the fave. The first time I saw her darling face all I noticed was that dimple in her chin. WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? I love that dimple and I loved her just as much as I did her big sister. BUT I just remembered that she snuck out of the house one night. Not our house. Our PASTORS house. With HIS daughter. AND her head spins completely around - in circles - when she gets mad. Not a good idea to even be in the same house as her when she is in a mood. Nope. Maybe not her....

Which of my beautiful smart children is my favorite?

I love them all the same! I adore all their quirky personality traits. I find joy in how they are all so different. Well, not so different. Abe is a perfect blend of Abby AND Annie.

Funny thing with love is that it GROWS. It does not DIVIDE.

So each of my little Punkins' is my favorite.

My love for them grows more everyday.

That said - I can be bribed. Whoever agrees to take me into their home and NOT pack me up to the nursing home when I am old - they will be the favorite. For real. Not kidding.

Pain in the neck.

I have not felt the best over the weekend.

I have had a head-ache and haven't been able to turn my head either direction without feeling as if a million knives were stabbing me.

This morning I finally figured out what has caused all this pain.

THE PHONE COMPANY!

It only took 49 days.

After 49 days I finally cleaned the attic, AKA Abby's room!

I had much help from Annie and Abe and it wasn't bad at all. All three of us found some gems up there that Abby left behind. There are 25 trash bags of very old clothes and shoes from 1995 and 6 bags of trash. My child is a major pack rat.

I'm glad I was successful at something today because there is still no working telephone at the nursing home.

10 on Friday

TEN THINGS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ME!
YOU MAY NOT WANT TO KNOW OR EVEN CARE!

1. I could eat pasta every meal. every day. 7 days a week.
2. I like my music loud! (Gotta love my Bose stereo)
   
3. I can't buy ANYTHING without changing my mind. It may be days, weeks and sometimes years later. (Remember? We returned a brand new van to the dealership)
   
4. I have never finger painted (I didn't want to get my hands dirty in kindergarten- or my dress)
5. I don't drink milk or eat cheese (no comment - both are gross)
   
6. I was the Easter Bunny. (I worked for the Balloon Landing when Abby was a baby. I delivered balloons on Good Friday. In a bunny costume, ears and all!)
   
7. When I graduated from MHS (Moundridge not Mac) I wanted to be a radio disc jockey.
8. If I see OR hear somebody brush their teeth - I gag.
   
9. I have never mowed a lawn. (I don't' even know how to start the mower)
   
10. I nap. (Prefer daily but take them when I can get them!)
    

To hook up a telephone....

We thought Bon needed a phone in his room so he could call us without having to go into the hall.

Since I have so much time on my hands and nothing else to do I got the job of getting Bon's phone transferred from the house to his room.
Let me tell you that I know AT&T.
Let me also tell you that I am not so good with activities that require patience.
So good ole AT&T & me... it's not gonna be pretty.

The first time I called I needed the last 3 digits off of the phone bill. Didn't have it. I did have the last 4 digits of the SS#, which work just as well. YEA!!

My enthusiasm was short lived. I had Bon's SS# and apparently it was Judy's who was on the account.

It takes me a while but I get her number and call for the second time. After 20 minutes on the phone with customer service (I know this because my phone has a timer on it) I am given the transfer confirmation number. THEN I am given the NEW phone number! HUH? I panic. Why are they getting a new number? "Lydia" says there is no other way to do it. I tell her "yes there is!" So I am put on hold for yet another 5 minutes. She comes back and says "We have to have a new phone number." She doesn't speak English so well - so I'm not sure she even understands what I am saying. I cancel the order.

I am frustrated.

I take two Ibuprofen.

I call back. After less than 5 minutes with an English speaking customer service representative we have everything scheduled for the next day. Same phone number. YEA!

In addition to moving the phone I am in charge of the new cordless phone. I programmed all important numbers in and typed up a speed-dial list along with instructions how to use the new phone. Yesterday afternoon I went to hook up the phone and give Bon a phone lesson.

The phone doesn't work. It worked at my house just fine.

So I call his phone number from my cell phone to see if it will ring.

There is a message that says that number is no longer in service or has been disconnected.

I call AT&T AGAIN! Go through the entire automated system and give them all the pertinent info that they need before they can give me any information. (good grief!) They inform me that the order is in the system and it should be completed before 8:00p.m. It is currently 4:00.

At 8:30 last night - you guessed it - NO PHONE!

It takes me 30 minutes of calling and re-calling and entering and re-entering numbers to talk to a human being.

The latest update - the order will be completed today.

I have a feeling something is wrong and I am ALWAYS right!

I take three Ibuprofen and go to bed.

I call this morning. I hold for 10 minutes. I finally get to talk to somebody only to be put me on hold again to check on the order.

I am disconnected.

I take four Ibuprofen.

I call back and start the entire process all over again.

I hold.

I explain.

I am transferred.

I talk to Gerald. Gerald speaks English AND is competent. BINGO!

It appears something is wrong with the order. HELLO!!

Gerald "fixes" the order and PROMISES the phone will be hooked up today.

YEA!! For real this time!

I hope.

I am completely out of Ibuprofen.

Random Mrs. Jones

Abby finally has a blog! Check it out! Random Mrs. Jones.

Time out

Mama needs a time out. I'm not sure what has happened in this life of mine but it is crazy busy!

OK. I do know what happened. His name is Abe.

For the past three years we have put Abe in a fall sport. My idea. Only me to blame. (the story of my life) This involves a weeknight practice and Saturday morning games. It didn't seem so bad a few weeks ago when I signed him up but now it seems HUGE!

Taekwando. Twice a week at 3:30. Plus fight night. Abe is advanced enough now that he needs to be doing tournaments (according to his dad.) More Saturday's and cha-ching. More money!

All because we think we need well rounded kids.

There is more going on my my life but I won't bore you with the details.

So I am scheming today. Hoping to get in trouble. So much trouble that I will get sent to me to my room. For an entire day! I may even be grounded from the phone and computer. So if you don't see me or hear from me - don't be sad for me.

Rejoice with me!

I am in time out!

The price of a haircut

We took a vote to see if Abe needed a haircut. It was 3 for and 1 against. Guess who was against?

Sorry Buddy. You lost.

I go back and forth trying to decide long hair. short hair. long hair. short hair.

I love his long curly hair but he gets hot. Which means sweaty. Which means stinky. I'm not so much into a little boy who smells like a wet dog all the time.

Since he is in football and tae kwan do, it only makes sense to have short hair, since those activities equal sweat. Not to mention P.E. and recess at school.

I need you to be aware that HE DID NOT WANT A HAIRCUT! He despises haircuts.

His identity - well it's his hair.

He didn't try to gently talk his way out of it. No being diplomatic. It was a full blown fit.

Me being the in control mother that I am - I just told him how it was going to be.

I offered him a Pumpkin Sugar Cookie from the Cake Lady, conveniently located right next door to the barber shop.

Luke always remembers Abe from his past "not wanting a haircut" haircuts. I think he was impressed that it went much better this time. We went next door and got the cookie BEFORE the haircut. I kept it until after the haircut so Abe had something visual to concentrate on.

This is what the afternoon cost me:

Pumpkin Sugar Cookie $1.00

Barbershop Haircut $10.00

The toothless smile of MY 7 year old with a new haircut - Priceless.

Princess Revisted

Happy Birthday Pam!!

My Saturday morning coffee friend is celebrating her birthday today.

Now down to business....

I have been blah and God has used two people, in particular, get me through my blah days.

The first person is the birthday girl.

Last week, I blogged about wanting to be a Princess. If you don't remember reading it that is because after reading and re-reading it, I thought I sounded very bratty (surprise surprise) and I deleted it.

In case you didn't get a chance to read it in the six hours that it was up, here is a summary:

• I am sick of working.
• I want to be a stay at home mom and not give up anything in return.
• I don't want to sacrifice any of the finer things in life we currently enjoy. ie: eating out, cell phones, new clothes, hair color, groceries, blah blah blah.
• I want to live like all of the other Princesses who get to stay at home.
  
• If you are currently all snug in your house and wearing slippers, you are a Princess
  
• If you are a Princess - I am jealous of you!
• I wannabe a Princess, too!
  

It sounds bratty, doesn't it? I have tried not to complain about working because I really have a great job. My bosses have been more than accommodating over the years. Why would I complain?? My job has been a blessing to my family.

This week Pam was blah just like me. She told me that if she could only stay home she would be so much better. HELLO! A fellow Princess wannabe (now I know why our friendship has lasted for all these years.) All problems would vanish if we could be permanently unemployed and not loose our income. Actually, we were both stay at home moms, once. The thing is we would appreciate it so much more today. We would both be stay-at-home moms with NO kids! How wild would that be?

Back to reality....

It was my turn to be her encourager. I pointed out all the positive things about her job. Was a friend as a friend should be. By the end of the morning I was feeling much better myself! By this coming Saturday, hopefully, she will be all whipped back into shape herself or I will keep her birthday gift.

God also used my friend, Rhonda, to help me see things more clearly.

I am a money girl. It is what I do from 8:30 - 2:30 and I love it! Paradox. I love my job but just want to stay home! Go figure. Princess - I want it all!

I like nice things (read list above.) Sometimes, people make me feel bad about it. It is usually people that can AFFORD to do things that think I have issues.

Rhonda's top 10 this week was me! She is somebody whose parenting skills and life choices I admire. She is very successful and she has a "wish list", too!

God has shown me once again. Using the people who are close to me. Friends who I think have it all. I have been allowed to see that they also struggle and they struggle with the same things I do.

If you are in my life - God is surely using you in my life!

I may not be so crazy after all.

OK. Scratch that last sentence.

But if you don't want to be part of Stephanie's Life Lessons - run now!