Oh yes I did!

This has been a great week. Not once but twice my friend of 39 years (this month) has been in my very dirty home to spend the night. I love spending time with her and her family!
This morning after Suzie and Nikki left, I put on my big girl panties (true size) and headed into the "tax free jungle". (Oh yest I did)Not because I was planning on saving a load of money (I had some great coupons) or because I wanted to be like all the other goobers in the world, but I went because I suddenly realized that I needed shoes for both kids and feared that IF I waited until tomorrow I would be unable to fine those shoes,and there might be no more jeans my daughter's size. (she is a teen and very picky!) So, We called Aunt Traci and faced the day. We hit the mall which wasn't too bad. We shopped several stores and then ate.(the eating is another story...had to go home later due to what I ate). At one point we decided to go into Victoria's Secret. My son was looking at the back of his new DVD and didn't realize where we were until we went into the store. At that point there was sheer panic on his face. The scene was as follows:

Kauy: Mom, No, No way am I going into this store. Please No. (he is the one who hides his eyes during the commercials and then asks if it is legal to put that on daytime TV)
Me: It will be okay just a few minutes.
Kauy: No, Mom NO
Me: Noticing two teenage boys standing just inside the door waiting for someone, I said to Kauy: You stay here with these two guys. Don't go anywhere. You two guys...you are in charge of him. Don't teach him to drool.(Oh yes I did!) Everyone laughs...I go deeper into the store.
So, Traci, Makaley and I are looking at a few things, and I hear the sensors at the front of the store go off. Then, I hear it again two more times,and one of the ladies head to the front quickly. She approaches my son whose eyes are huge. she looks at him and says: "Sir, I will need to search your bag". Makaley says: "For what, a bra?" I am laughing because I KNOW that my son has nothing lacy,frilly nor does he have Victoria's sexy secret in his bag! He won't even touch my underwear to do laundry. Makaley is beside herself because she knows how he acts at home to anything that isn't his whitey tighties. So they search his bag which contains the DVD and his new lego man. What they finally figure out is that when he came into the store, he had his DVD in his hand covering up the sensor, but when he put it back into the sack and stepped in front of the sensor,there was nothing to block the detectors hence, the alarms go off. And since he is a little on the inquisitive side, he moved in front of the sensors to see if he really was causing them to go off....hence it goes off three times.
He will probably never step back in there again. When he marries, his wife will have to do her own shopping there. I am sure he is scarred for life.
On the way home (about 2 hours later) the kids are talking about how much fun they had today trying on things, looking, and being silly. Suddenly, Kauy says, "And what lessons can we learn from today?" Makaley makes her statement; Traci hers, and I finish up and ask him what his answer is.
"Victoria's Secrets's detectors are messed up. Of course...that store is messed up!"
All in all....the jungle today was bearable because "oh yes I did....have fun!"

Hey mom...Why?

If you are ever in the car with the kids and me you know how the drive(be it short or long) can become one of three things. Either it is "mom make him/her stop",or miles of unstoppable laughter, giggles, jokes and more laughter,or the the mighty "Mom, why did/are/is...?"
This week it is the "Why" moments and then the laughter that makes it hard for me to drive because either I don't want them to know that I am laughing or I am laughing so hard I can't see, OR I am shocked at the conversation taking place. You may not laugh at the following conversations. You may sit there and wonder "wow...what a great conversation". It's your call, but I will say this, I have had the hardest time giving answers and NOT judging! AND...Don't worry, I am not going to the "Wild side".

After a week at church camp(that is in the next blog) and the Wednesday night missions report which included a slide show featuring the "Interlude dance" by all campers, the ride home went something like this.

Makaley: "Mom, why couldn't we do the interlude dance after the video presentation at church tonight. They asked and were told no."
Me: "Hmmmmm could be the instrumental music. Could be the word "dance". Hmmm hello, what do you think?"
Makaley: "But don't people understand that God wants us to enjoy worshiping and praising Him. That is what we were doing...having fun throughout the day. We just wanted to finish out the year with that fun!"
Kauy: Oh, you know. The elders are saving all the fun worship for when the Lord comes again. Then they will dance for joy at His return, then realize what we missed on Earth, and then ask God for just a few moments for the "interlude dance". And to think........they could have done it all this time.

Conversation #2: This one was tougher.Let me set the stage here too. This week, my family will be the ones to go up on the "stage" area to collect the children's offering. No biggie. Well to some it is no biggie, remember.......I am female. Remember.. I don't have a spouse to introduce us...so
Me: Kauy, you will need to introduce our family, talk about the orphanage we are collecting for, and then offer the prayer. Can you do all of that in a nice loud voice?
Kauy: You got it mom.
Makaley: Mom, can't you just introduce us and let him lead the prayer?
Me: No
Makaley: Why?
Me: I am female.
Makaley: No, your kidding. Seriously mom, why?
Me: I am female.
Makaley: Okay, you mean you can't even say "Hi, We are the Ostliens?" What if Kauy forgets can you prompt him? Seriously mom? It's okay for the girls to lead the prayer in our Bible classes. It's okay for girls to lead songs in Bible Class. Teachers all my life have asked girls to do both in class. Seriously? What if a little girl decides to say AMEN at the end of the prayer while her family is up there?" (On a side note..she was getting a little lively and the pitch of her voice rose here. It truly bothered her that I couldn't introduce our family and she might not be able to say AMEN..which we teach our 3,4 and 5 year olds to say in Bible Class.)
Me: That is not my call. I respect the decision of the elders even if I don't always agree.
Makaley: Mom, this is crazy. It's not like you're preaching.
At this point I started the sermonette that has always been presented to me when I ask "why" concerning this church topic. And I ended with my soap box invitation(which I would never offer to give on a Sunday morning) that no one else hears. Maybe husbands and wives should work together in the Bible classes of our young instead of just the wives! They(males) need to be in there to lead, guide, and teach. Until then, the younger generation of females that are growing into adult women, are going to question because the majority of the Bible class teachers are....women.
And, as one of those female Bible Class teachers, I often forget(well, forget is a good word for now) to include the lesson about about women's roles in the church, authority over men(Eve was a help mate), and all those other lessons that are not in the book of Genesis(which is what I have always taught with two women).
I would probably stroke out if a woman led the song service,the prayer, preached, or served the Communion. However....."Hi, we are the Ostlien family". I get her point there!
And I think she got mine. Well, maybe she just agreed so I would quit preaching. Preaching....the thing a mom does best!

My Aha moment

As my son says...."no, the floor isn't cold so nothing has frozen over". I am sitting here thinking of my beginning of the year note to my children, my friends, and myself when I realize my last post was April! I had saved a certain post until the photos came in. They did...I forgot!
As the 2010-2011 school year came to an end, I found myself being the recipient of a few very special honors. All of these were surprises and made me smile. They all made me remember that God made me who I am, the way I am because HE is the I AM and knows what is needed...even when I am not sure about things, frustrated, and ready for a change of scenery.


That is me...in Grapevine at the Vineyards. You can't tell since this photo is small, but I am holding a beautiful glass award. As you know, my kids are part of Big Brothers Big Sisters...we have the best "bigs". THE BEST. Anyway unbeknown to me, our contact person, Suzanne, and the bigs decided to nominate me for a local award. Suzanne called to ask her normal novel length questionnaire and then ended with, "I just want you to know that there will be a guy from our production group calling to set up a time to interview you, your kids, and the bigs. I am excited to tell you that you won the Charles Allred Parent of the Year Award for this area." Now, at this point, I started to laugh! yep I laughed..in her ear!!! Seriously? Me? My kids will not agree with this I am sure! Then she continued to tell me that I had been nominated at the "Lone Star" level (from Houston to Wichita Falls), and had also won that award. At this point I was laughing so hard I was gasping for air. Me? Hello, I am Trina, the one who yells more than once a week. The one who had just been driving down the road the day before, pulled over, got out, opened my son's door and offered to let him get himself home if he couldn't stop what he was doing. Me? The one who mumbles under her breath? Then she explained. It isn't because I am a wonderful Mom, but because I am a parent who works with her bigs. Now that I could handle. Soon after the phone conversation we recorded the interviews. My house was lighted up like a lighthouse and had company for 4 1/2 hours. Jordan, Ashley and Kauy were interviewed in the barn with the pigs. Makaley and Karyn were interviewed at the house and then headed to dinner. I was last. I didn't listen to any of the others interviews. Glad I didn't. What a precious surprise when at the dinner in Grapevine the video was played. Tears fell onto my nice clean shiny blouse. Oh my, the things my kids bigs said about me! Sweet, loving, kind words that made me proud to be part of theird lives too. Jordan and Ashley couldn't be with us because they were increasing their family population by one...Miss Leighton Grace. Karyn was able to join us as did Tony, my sister and her husband. What an honor to be presented with one of the top honors in an organization because I am who I am....me...the mom who just survives and strives for everyone to feel like a family. As for the dinner...four hours long in a winery with lots of people and little space. A 10 year old who doesn't do veggies, or meat with sauce poured over it. Thanks to Michelle Senter, he had rolls and Dr. Pepper! Yep, parent of the year! And then when I began my little 2 minute speech, he graciously placed rabbit ears on his sister! In front of the populated room!



This is my third award of the year! The honor of attending the top 50 plus banquet for the Abilene High Schools. This young man was in my sixth grade ELA class at Clack. He was one of my favorites.(I have more than 50 or so) His creativity was astounding. His manners, study habits, and personality made him a joy in class. Just have to say he was one of the high lights of that year. Many of my students speak to me for anytime we meet in public. They grow up and become beautiful and handsome young ladies and young men. Just last night I ran into one of my students from 25 years ago. We had a great conversation as she caught me up on you 6th grade son. Love my students!!! One even stopped next to me at a stop light last week and just started honking and waving! Anyway...Marquis made my day when he called and asked me to join him at the banquet. I sat with his family (we are all friends) and I was so proud when he led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. What an Honor for me!!! What a joy to watch as his name was called out along with 2 other students who had blessed my room. Thank you for making me remember why I do what I do!

The final award of the school year came when I was honored for 30 years of service to AISD. Yep, 30 years. I only feel 30 so I must have come from the womb teaching. (Susan, don't say it!) For my 30 years of working at a job that I was made for and love, I received a beautiful chiming mantle clock. I cleared off a spot for it, got new batteries into it set the time and let her go. Hmmmm at 3:30PM the next afternoon, it still said 10:45. New batteries;reset; another 24 hours and it said 10:45. I think they are telling me that I have to teach another 30 years to get a clock that works. I took it back this week (ha, you think I would take it during vacation? I am smarter than that. I gave it over 24 days to work correctly). I will get a new one sooner than 30 years! Even though I love my job....that is good news!
So, I must say that my year ended on an uphill moment. That is good because wait till I tell you about the plateau and the roller coaster that followed!