One week and counting...

Thought I'd spruce up the blog a bit in honor of the upcoming holiday. I can't believe that Thanksgiving is only a week away. Before we know it, we'll be sitting on a couch, too stuffed to move. Brandon and I have the pleasure of doing that two days in a row! Thursday with the Kirkwoods and Friday with the Schillings. So I thought it would be a good time to start thinking of all of my blessings, before the holiday rush really gets going. Holidays are always so stressful, even though they are supposed to be cheerful. But this year Brandon and I have a goal of making this a less stressful holiday season. I am so grateful for all that I have in life. Even on my worst days, things are a lot better for me than a lot of other people. I am glad for this time that I can take to reflect on this year and my life. I am so blessed. -P-

I'm in Heaven!

I'm sure this will come off as being a bad mother, but I'm going to write it anyways. My friend April has given me a little bit of Heaven on earth. Once a month, Anna gets to got to school from 8:45 - 1:35 and my friend April takes Evan for that whole time. Do you know what that means? Most of the day to do whatever I want to in my own home! Usually I have to argue to get my own way, but not today! I'm sure in a few years, when Evan is in school full time, I'll be lonely. Until then, I am just so happy to have a little "me" time that I don't have to fight for. I'm going to go take a nice, hot, long shower that no one will interrupt by saying "Gotta go potty" or "I can't find my..." or just "MOM!" It'll probably be so quiet that I'll get freaked out. Then I am going to sit on the couch and play video games and eat BonBons. Just kidding. I'm actually going into school later to cut up more than 1300 strips of red and green construction paper. Hurray for Christmas paper chains! But until then, no kids! -Pam-

From one virus to another!

Our computer is fixed. No more EVIL Trojan bug in it. We had to restore it down to new status, but have been able to get almost everything back to normal, with an upgrade to Office 2007 even. But, as I should have predicted, we have all come down with colds! So we skipped church today, got a little napping in, and off to another fun work week we go.
It's fun to be in the holiday season. We've already started talking about who's family we will see for Thanksgiving and Christmas. And the stress of thinking up gifts is upon us as well. I read some funny songs updates in the Reader's Digest last night. Here's one to get your holidays started! -P-

Taken for a Ride
(To the Tune of "Sleigh Ride")

Just hear that cashier jingling,
Ring ting ting-a-ling, ooh!
That will be 16 dollars
For three bananas for you.

Come watch our dollar falling
While friends are bawling "Boohoo!"
Because it's 16 dollars
For five green olives for you.

Giddyup, giddyup, giddyup, they go,
Those prices we know.
They're leapin' like those
heatin' bills we owe.
Going up, going up, going up, it's tons
For hot dogs and buns.
We're tryin', our credit's dyin',
Did somebody say "bank run"?

Our cheeks are red from sneezing
Since it is freezing in here.
We're bundled up in blankies
And craving hankies and cheer.

Let's move into the Taurus
And sing a chorus or two
Because it's 16 dollars
For seven fish sticks for you.

Pity Me Perspective

Well, it's been awhile since our last blog. No, it's not the pee that did me in. It was a computer virus. Somehow, while Anna was playing on the computer, we were infiltrated by a TROJAN virus. Not fun, really not fun! I am updating this from Brandon's laptop, as we are currently saving all of our files and music and pictures onto Cd's so that we can restore our computer. I won't go into much detail about it, except to say it is EVIL! Evan has conquered the potty. I wrote a cute little story about it to blog, but I feel so much past that right now. I have been so caught up with our virus and potty training and Peeka problems, that I think I spent a lot of time this week thinking "Poor Me!" I don't mind saying that a little bit once in awhile, but this week it just consumed me. When the reality is, I am so blessed. Brandon and I take an opportunity every month to fast on one Sunday. Today was that day. There is something about feeling so hungry that helps you find your deepest thought. As my belly rumbled for food, I realized, it never really does that. Brandon and I have enough in life. We have enough food, enough transportation and housing, but mostly enough love and laughter. We are truly blessed by all that is around us. Sometimes, I can't believe that people don't always see God everywhere. Yes, our computer crashed, but we were blessed to have just gotten a back up. And maybe I was able to play with my children a little more this week, because I wasn't reading or writing a blog! Yes, Evan took awhile to potty train, but as my sister pointed out, some people will never have the opportunity to potty train, because their child is physically challenged. As I type this, I can hear my children running around with their father playing a game that makes them laugh, while I get one last moment of sanity, before we head back into the work week. These are all small gifts to me from a Father in Heaven who loves me and this week He gave me a perspective test. Did I pass? I hope so. There is a hymn that we sing at church called Count Your Many Blessings. The whole song is great, but the first verse says "When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged thinking all is lost, count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done." Sometimes when I am having a pity me moment, I think of this song. It really is good to count your blessings, big and small. It helps you to have a great perspective on life. No matter how hard this day may be, it will end soon, and tomorrow has a whole load of possibilities. Heavenly Father is with us in all of these moments, just waiting for us to ask Him for help or comfort. We just need to humble ourselves enough to realize that all of these burdens can be lifted when we rely on the loving guidance that is offered to us. -Pam-