I don't know YOU - but here is a GIFT

Okay I read a blog talking about buying your children's teachers "end of school" gifts. Anyway I started replying and then went off on a tangent and decided to VENT in my own blog.

When did buying gifts for Teachers become expected? Okay maybe not expected but I know people who get stressed out trying to decide what to get "little tommy's aide to their aide". (This blog post was not really that stressed but just started me thinking.) Do we really think that a teacher wants a bazillion little plastic "Your the best Teacher" apples? I agree with Susan that gift cards are the best gift, however I never bought gifts for my children's teachers (and they passed to the next grade without it)I never even bought the teachers Christmas gifts. Am I the only one in the country that never did?

This is where a tangent starts - Why do we give gifts just because they are expected? Someone's getting married - I was invited to their shower so I must buy a gift.......they're having a baby - another gift........Friend's child is Graduating - yet another gift. Most of the time these are for people I do not know well enough to know what they would like - then why am I buying them gifts? Because our culture says I MUST is really not a good enough answer to me.

I have a friend (and she knows who she is) who has a gift closet. She is never caught unprepared when someone invites her to a shower or gives her a Christmas present she has gift bags right there ready to be dropped in and out she comes as if she had planned on giving the gift all along. She stocks her closet with items that she finds during the year (mostly on sale) but that are nice gifts. (oh to think ahead like that........now I'm dreaming) I am one that gets caught up in the cycle of "* gave me something so I must get * something" Not that I don't love getting presents I just don't like feeling obligated. So the last few Christmas seasons I make a list (no I don't check it twice; cause I don't care who's naughty and nice) and buy for the people on my list. If someone gives me something that was not on my list. I say "Thank you - I love that you were thinking of me" and that is it. I can remember when money was TIGHT (if we even had any) and following Christmas I had to borrow money from my parents to pay bills because I had bought everyone that had bought any of us something - this was a Christmas that I should have spent every bit (what little there was) on my kids for Christmas not on people I barely knew.

So am I the only one that thinks it craziness to get so caught up in the "giving"?

And the Winner is...........

My Daughter-in-Law. YEAHHHHHHHHHH. What a great/fantastic even job she did in creating my new Blog Look. She's the best! Thanks T.

I've RESIGNED!!!!!

With Randy leaving for his "next" trip before I got home from Indy - I have had a long lonely week to do little more than think (okay I hear you thinking - OttOhh that could be trouble!)

During my thinking I have resigned myself to the following truths this week:

1. I'm the only one that can change my attitude (which has been negative lately)
2. I'm the only one that can decide it is time for a new job (which I'm thinking it is)
3. I'm not meant to be alone for long periods of time because I get good at throwing myself a "Pity Party" (even I don't like the guest that attend the party.)
4. I am not physically or mentally capable of doing everything (I must learn to pick and choose)
5. I spend too much time trying to please everyone that I end up not pleasing anyone (when you spread yourself too thin there is not enough for anyone)
6. If something hurts or makes me sad I avoid it (which results in others being hurt - like I get homesick when I talk to my family in Texas so I just don't call them or am not as "opened" on the phone as I should be when they call me. It's sad that I let them talk about "THEM" and very seldom tell them much about "ME" - even sadder that some of them don't even notice that when we've hung up I know what time they got up, what they ate etc... and they don't know the first thing about me.)
7. I've realized that I avoid "heart to hearts" with everyone but Randy and he cannot understand how I can be so sad (but with most people it's easier to keep it light and fluffy.)
8. I've realized that even as I type I'm not saying what is deep in my heart (still trying for that light and fluffy)
9. I've realized that my whole reading audience is now ASLEEP so I'm going to shut up now!

Your assignment (if your still awake) is to let me know at least 1 resignation you have come to lately about yourself.

4 hours for 3 weeks

This would be a GREAT work schedule (as long as you were salary!) but it BITES when it is the hours you and your DH have been in the same town in 3 weeks. Randy has been traveling (too much if you ask me) he was gone for 10 days. He got into town exactly 4 hours prior to my leaving for a 5 days - unfortunately he was only in town for 4 days and then out for another 8 days. So I'm feeling (yes this is cheesy) but incomplete! After over 26 years of being together with the exception of a week here and week there - this is a long long time.

Things I've discovered during this time:
1 - He does a heck of a lot more than I give him credit for.
2 - I am not made to be a single person
3 - Absence does make the heart grow fonder!
4 - I miss my friend and love

Okay having covered all that let's talk about craziness in my kids life.

Tuesday night tornado(s) ripped thru the town where my eldest (who's due at the end of June with child #2) lives in Texas. Luckily she called in middle of the night to let me know it had happened and that they were okay because I got up yesterday morning and CNN was talking about how the majority of the little town they live in is GONE.

My son (in another town in Texas 8 hours away from his sister) had the "hail" beat out of him - well more accurately out of his vehicles and yard. For a solid 15 minutes they were hammered with marble size hail.

My daughter and SIL and 3 boys are in Florida with all the fires surrounding them.

But even with the craziness of the weather - God has protected our family. This is a good thing!

Well enough about me and mine - tell me what you have been up to lately!

2nd Mom & Memories

I don't know if everyone does, but I do know my sister, my children and many of my friends, all had someone that was like a 2nd mom to us. For me it was my best friend Leslie's mom - FoyJean.

Leslie and I have known each other forever (there are pictures of us together in the 2 year old nursery at church) our parents were friends, our fathers both deacons........you get the idea. Leslie and I would beg/sneak whatever it took to spend time together as long as I remember. A vivid memory is of me sneaking her into my car as we were leaving Kindergarten (knowing now that there was no way my mom didn't know she was there with all the giggling going on - but both our mom's lets us "sneak" - I love that about them). Leslie and I were best friends in High School - double dating etc.. - she was Maid of Honor in my wedding and we had our first two children exactly the same number of days apart as she and I are.

Leslie is the youngest of 7 children - I am one of two. All her bothers and sisters are older by several years - I think the closest one was 7 years older - mine is just 2 years older so I thought hers were the coolest and wisest people I knew. She has an older sister and brother-in-law that were friends with my mom and dad and a niece that ran around with us (Leslie and I were a year older but Ealon was cool enough to hang with!)

I learned many things from Leslie's siblings - like how to sneak out of church when your a teenager to be with your boyfriend (bad example - but a memory just the same) - I promised her oldest brother I would never pluck my eyebrows (which I've broken many times over but... again a memory) I learned from her brothers - it was cool to hang with your parents and play scrabble or 84 or just to sit around and read - everyone of her siblings as far as I know had a love for books!) I learned from her oldest sister that even when you live far far away you can still be a part of the family (a lesson I cling to many times since moving away from Texas), I learned from her older sister (how to shave my arm pits going only ONE direction).....silly silly memories about each and everyone of her siblings. I have cried with Leslie and her family as they lost 3 siblings to death.

I learned how to love your children no matter what from her parents - through Divorce, Drug and Alcohol abuse, Military service, pregnancy out of wedlock - her parents love for their children never faultered. (Not that I have ever felt my parents didn't love me - no matter what - but I was young (pre-highschool) when I witnessed this at thier house and had not tried that unconditional love of my parents yet! I witnessed Leslie's different siblings move back home at different times of their life - some alone - some bringing their whole family with them. I could go on and on (some of you probably think I already have!)

I say all this to comment on the fact that today Leslie and her siblings are gathering around FoyJean's bed - preparing to say their final goodbye to her - TODAY May 5 -18 years to the day from when they had to say goodbye the final time to Joe their father. My heart is breaking for them - I wish I lived close enough to be there with them, but will have to be satisfied with my prayers and love wrapping around them from Here.

Received an email from Leslie - Foyjean went to be with Jesus - Saturday, May 6th at 3:25 a.m. - Please remember them in your prayers. I love this quote from Leslie's email. "She is with Jesus and we are going to miss her, but mostly we are envious!"

"illegal" means nothing?

On Monday May 1, 2006 the illegal aliens are threatening todo absolutely no shopping of any kind. They want to show America howpowerful their numbers are by staying home and by not spending theirmoney at the stores.


I think the funniest thing I heard about this protest is - They were stating that they would not spend a dime to impact the economy. Here in Tampa each one that drove paid $5 for parking - then the vendors selling water, food, souvenirs said it was one of the most profitable days they had since Gasperilla (Tampa's Mardi Gra).

WOW what an impact that must have made on our economy.

I keep thinking that what part of "illegal" are we ignoring. I do not have a problem with green card workers - I think America is still the land of promises - I just think the "illegal" part should be upheld for Aliens as well as for American born citizens. If I as an American do something "illegal" I am punished not rewarded for it. We have laws for a reason!!!