That Kind of Person

I hate being "that kind of person". But, this weekend we are. We bought Bubba an English Springer Spaniel back before the holidays because he loves dogs and Bailey - the 12 yr old chihuahua - is just not a kid kinda dog. He's a grumpy old man. So, we thought (and still think) that Bubba needs a dog. However, we got a bit more dog than we bargained for. She was way to hyper for in the house, drove me & Sweet Pea crazy, whined & barked if we put her in her crate to have a moments peace, nearly made Bailey lose his mind. So, after spring break, we put her outside, thinking she'd be happier. Wrong. I couldn't even open the blinds without her barking like crazy wanting out of her fancy (and big) pen. If we were outside, we had to let her out or she'd bark herself hoarse. She just wanted love and attention, but she needed more than we had to give. So, we made the decision to try to sell her. She wasn't a cheap dog, so we put an ad in the paper listing her for 1/2 of what we bought her for. The second day we got a call from a couple that has another dog just like her, just a few months older, who needed a "friend". These are true doggy parents...their dogs are their kids (much like bailey!). They came to see her, loved her, and took her home. The lady called me this afternoon to tell me that she is doing great and loves her new buddy. I feel good about how it's turned out, we obviously weren't the family meant for Dixie. She's going to have it good now, doting parents and a best friend. Bubba cried for a few minutes after she left yesterday, but hasn't mentioned her since. We told him that she was happy at her new home, and then had to explain that it wasn't that she wasn't happy here, but she's happIER there. I didn't like being the type of person to get a dog, then get rid of it because it was too much trouble, but I've got enough to do. We had to make a decision to benefit us AND Dixie. I think we're all better off. She is a sweetie, but man, she was exhausting! And she probably thinks her name is "SHUT UP!"

We are now researching the best (smaller) dog for us. One that is less hyper, more managable - size-wise, and good for little kids. Any ideas?

Quiet is Never Good

First, it annoys me how you can never get EVERY drop of something out of a bottle. This morning I did a load of laundry and realized the bottle was just about empty so I poured out the remaining into the cap to see if there was enough for another load. Not quite, but there was still some in there that wouldn't come out because of the spout thingy. I thought, " I wonder if I can pop that spout out and get it all to make one more load"(saving money! LOL) The kids were watching cartoons just on the other side of the bar. So I go about prying that spout out. Finally got it out, got EVERY lost drop of detergent and it did fill the cap enough for a final load. Very pleased with myself, I went into the living room to see how my angels were. This is what Sweet Pea had been doing...quietly...to my lucky bamboo plant. Now you can't get the full effect, but there were HUNDREDS of teeny, tiny rocks everywhere. All over the table, all over the chair and all over the floor, which is about the same color as the rocks. No big deal, but just a reminder that quiet is NEVER good with kids.

Deep Thoughts

Here's two things that Bubba was pondering over today:

While watching a Baby Einstein DVD with Sweet Pea - a farm one - He wanted to know if chocolate milk came from brown cows. Um, nope - that comes from Hershey! :)

While eating our oh-so-nutritious lunch from Burger King, he wanted to know if we planted the sesame seeds from the bun, would we grow sandwiches? LOVE THAT!

Fighting for a Soul

I think my sweet Bubba is under attack.

From Satan.

For the past several weeks, he's been asking alot about God and forgiveness and generally what salvation is all about. We were sort of taken off guard about it since he's only 6 (barely) but hey, no time like the present, right? So, we've tried to answer his questions and guide him the best we can. I've been praying alot that we'll answer his questions truthfully and lead him to Christ when he is truly ready and not just when he knows the right answers. We always let him start these conversations. For example, the other night he comes out of the shower, naked with only a towel, and tells us how he got down on his knees in a bowing position (never shown that by us) and asked God for forgiveness. WOW. Was that it? I have no idea. We have a friend down the road who is a preacher and he is willing to come talk to us and Bubba about the whole thing. I just want to know for sure what's going on in his heart.

Now here's the problem...the last couple of weeks, right after this started, Bubba has been acting like he's lost his mind. He's been taking things that aren't his (from his teacher and friends at school) and then lying about it. Knowing he's going to get caught. Lying anyway! And then he pinched a child on the bus. Hard, apparently. For no reason. And he threw an icepack in the lunchroom. And he's been sneaking things like snacks and money to school. Just all of a sudden, crazy behavior with no answers.

Well, it finally hit me last night that Satan is realizing he's very close to losing another soul to God. And he's pulled off the gloves.

So we are going to ease up a bit on the punishment (otherwise, Bubba will not be able to sit on his bottom for the next two years). We will continue to talk to him about this sort of behavior, as we've done the past few days. Lying, stealing, hurting others, it's all sin. It's bad choices that we make because of our sinful human nature. I prayed over him last night after he prayed himself, asking for forgiveness. Does he really get it? I don't know. I only know how God feels about the innocence of a child's heart and I know He's been working on Bubba for the past little while. Six seems awfully young for this, but today's world is a different place.

If you think of us throughout the day, pray for us all...this is an awesome responsibility that is truly hard for me to wrap my mind around. I am so angry at Satan for messing with my boy but I KNOW my God is bigger and we will WIN!!

Wonderful news!!!

A friend I mentioned a few posts back, Lori, is pregnant!! This is their 2nd IVF attempt since losing sweet Matthew in December. Her nbrs are awesome! Please pray for a healthy & successful pregnancy that ends with her bringing home a healthy baby (or 2!)

The Amazing Self Cleaning House

I'm thinking...we have the most amazing technology these days...just my iPhone is a great example. I can go online, check my email, check FB (thank goodness!!), add items to my calender, play games, check a map, look up a number in the yellow pages, etc, etc. How cool! I've heard the iPad is really amazing. So, why then hasn't someone started working on a self cleaning house? Maybe Jetson's style? Oh wait,they had a maid, right? But she was cool - duster & broom would come flying out of her arms to clean up quickly. I'd take one of those. Robot maid. If only I had time to create & patent one, I'd be a gazillionaire!!

I wouldn't mind cleaning so much if it'd stay clean for, oh, I don't know...10 SECONDS??? I love a clean house. I do not love someone messing up my clean house. And with warm weather comes droves of neighborhood children tracking who-knows-what into my house. It's never-ending. At least I don't have another "real" full time job. How do working moms do this?? I no longer fault my working-mom-best friend for never calling me...when would she have time?

I think a dust bunny just waved at me. I should stop writing and chase it down.

Mother's Day

I am so blessed to be able to celebrate mother's day. I longed for years to do that. It amazes me still that this is really MY life. I have two kids...a boy and a girl...the perfect setup.

But I still miss my first babies...W & K were missing from our Mother's Day joy. I know they are "here" but not really and that doesn't always help. Sometimes I want them REALLY here,not there.

My heart aches for my friends who don't have their babies with them today. And for the ones who've never felt the joy of a life growing within them, yet long for that. Mothers in their hearts. Mothers with empty arms. Mothers with a hole in the heart and down to their soul. Mothers visiting graves and holding onto blankets, missing their babies (even if that baby was grown). It's such an empty feeling. I can still remember so vividly the feelings on Mother's Day...I wanted to stand up in church and say "BUT I AM A MOTHER!!!!"

A hard day for so many. I don't understand why so many can't have the babies they so desperatly want. Why? I can remember, while trying for a baby after the twins,"If I were 16, I'd be pregnant in a second". I would get so angry!! It's just one of those unfair things in this world. One of my first questions to God will be "why?" Why don't I have have all 4 of my little ones here with me to raise? Why?

I will not know this side of Heaven and I have to be ok with that. He knows what He's doing. I know He works all things for good. I have been able to minister to so many others. And if that's why...then ok.

And for those who have their babies with them...Happy Mother's Day to you! It's a hard job, but I hope you realize exactly what it means. Those without would give ANYTHING to be tired, puked on, hung on, etc etc etc. I try to not complain...I waited so many years to have this. I feel like I have no right to be anything but joyous all the time, even though that's not even sort-of possible. These 2 are my miracles...I do not know why I got to have them, but I am forever grateful to my Lord for them.

What's with the snowmen??/

For some reason my blog has reverted to winter. Don't know why & I can't fix it.

I'll try again tomorrow.

Meanwhile my parents are living with us since their house got flooded over the weekend along with much of the state. TN has had the worst flooding in about 70 yrs I heard. I've certainly never seen flooding like this here. The base had to be evacuated when a levee broke. What a mess. Our schools are closed because so many of our little country roads are washed out, including the one the back of our house is on. We aren't trapped, we just have to go around the world to get anywhere, but that's fine by me...my stuff is dry and my family is alive, the latter being more important of course!

Catching Up - birthdays, booboos and bunches of other stuff!

I've had a busy few weeks. I'm tired! Here's the scoop:

Spring break week was fun, we went to see the In-Laws and also my parents rented a cabin in Pigeon Forge so we could do some stuff together. We had a good time, Dollywood, Gatlinburg, and family time. Bubba went ice skating for the first time and I went with him. I only sort of fell one time and messed up my thumb. Nice! I have something sort of like tendonitis and I'm in a brace for another week. That's part of my excuse for not updating this blog! I have it off right now and it hurts!

The first week home was busy too...lots of laundry, grocery shopping, all that fun stuff. The thing that humbled me was this - I had lunch with a friend from high school who now has Huntington's Disease. It's sort of like MS or Parkinsons...she has tremors and trouble controlling her movements. It will rob her of her life within 20 years...and she is 36. She has two daughters who she is losing custody of in 26 days to the ex-husband who left her when she got sick. She lives with her parents and her dad takes care of them all, including her mother who is also dealing with this disease. My heart breaks for her. That is so unfair. I will see her again this week I think. I hope to help her through her girls going to live with their father. That will be tough on her and I pray I have the strength she needs.

And then...Bubba turned 6!!! When did that happen??? We had his party at Pump It Up...it was really fun! That would have been awesome when I was kid. He got lots of stuff and had a blast. Now the countdown to 7 can begin :) And then just yesterday, he lost his 2nd tooth. Growing up in a blink.

My thumb is throbbing so I'm going to close it now.

If your remember my friend Lori, please pray for her, she had an embryo transfer this week.