It's Thursday And I Know I Should Be Thankful...

but right now my chest hurts, my heart is racing 90mph, and I just had the most terrifying 2 mile ride in the car!!

For those of you with teens...well...you'll understand my traumatic experience!! I let Kat get behind the wheel of the car this morning. *hands and body is still shaking*

Let me do some back tracking as to WHY I let her...lol

Last night, after church, Laura (the youth minister) was going to bring Kat home. Conversation led to her asking Kat if she had a license. Kat said she had a permit but hadn't been behind a wheel yet because I wasn't ready. (hehehe...this girl knows WHY I wasn't ready...Matt almost killed me twice!!) So Laura says, here's the keys. Kat jumped for joy and proceeded to drive home under Laura's patience and guidance. Kat was on cloud nine and told me all about it.

I figured if she did this well, and because she begged to drive to work this morning, that maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Sadly, that just wasn't the case...

She first had to back up in the driveway and then pull around the semi-circle in front of house to get onto the road. There are a few plants, trees and flowers that block a portion of the road if you pull up too far...I told her where to stop, how to glance between and when to pull out. We made it fine...but she almost took out 2 of the neighbor's mailboxes before she straightened enough to keep it between the lines. We got to the stop sign and we abruptly stopped 5ft short of the line to where she couldn't see oncoming traffic to her left. She creeped slowly up then stopped abruptly again. (At least the 2nd time my head didn't feel like it was going to snap off.)

Finally, we were off. The next two miles were gut-clenching, butt-chewing-hole-through-seat, intensive-therapy-to-get-over-trauma kind of drive. She rode the outside line to the point we ended OFF the road on several occasions. She was so close to a few mailboxes that I could reach out and touch them. She never made it out of 2nd gear...keeping it between 30-35mph...BUT...it was speed up...slow down...speed up...slow down. We finally made it to the next stop sign and I nearly snapped my head off again. She looked all ways and pulled forward...we made it to the church and I had her pull into the parking lot. She didn't have it completely stopped when she put it in park.

I was never so more glad to be switching places and driving again...OMG!! OMG!! OMG!! And it is painfully obvious that I truly don't have the patience as a driving instructor...we were both in tears as I drove the remaining 5 miles to her work.

As traumatic as this was for me...I just hope I didn't make it worse for her by screaming, "STAY OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD" 15 gazillion times.

Thankful Thursday...6/4/09

1. I am thankful that while we are still waiting on truck parts, Liz and Shea have continued to let me borrow her car for errands and "Taxi-Cab" services.
2. I am thankful that the bills for this month are much less than last month.
3. I am thankful that we have "extra" cash for this month and have offered $$ to Liz and Shae for new car tag while car is in my possession.
4. I am thankful that this week hubby began cleaning out the shed...it means I am one step closer to moving EVERYTHING off my back porch to begin screening!!
5. I am thankful for BOGO sales at the grocery store...all freezers, the pantry and fridge are overflowing.
6. I am thankful for Kat being at camp. Though I miss her something awful, it has done wonders for mine and hubby's private time.
7. I am thankful for unexpected visitors...one of hubby's friends came over today to discuss car parts for Kat's 1970 VW.
8. I am thankful for the thrift store...I've had to buy more capris and jeans this week because all of mine are too loose. (Hehehe...that means I can do another "Waste Not Wednesday...lol)
9. I am thankful for my hubby's sense of humor...he knows exactly how to put a smile on my face and bring me out of my depression.
10. I am thankful I have the strength and energy today to do my chores, run errands and play Taxi-Cab driver!!
    

Ten Thoughts...6/2/09

1. I wonder how long it will be before I see the new Multiply changes.
2. I must have been really tired...or the weather is playing havoc with me...I slept on and off until 4pm today!!
3. It's awfully quiet with Kat being gone.
4. Yesterday I spent some time downloading new scrap kits and working on a new page. (YES! I had to drag myself away from YoVille to do it...lol)
5. Speaking of YoVille...I am on a desperate search for LOTS of red velvet items.
   
6. No news from the camp nurse today, so guessing my trip to camp yesterday afternoon to drop off Kat's glucose meter helped.
7. I seriously need a change of scenery...I think a day trip is in order!!
8. I'm nearly finished working on my FREE GIFTS...should be in the mail and on it's way to my 2 special recipients by next weekend!!
9. This evening I'm devoting free time to cleaning my den...dusting, vacuuming, steam cleaning and rearranging some furniture.
10. Have I mentioned how much I miss Kat?
    

I Had An AMAZING Saturday...

After sleeping in late (11am to be exact) I got up, checked emails, blogs & YoVille. By 1pm, Kat and Amber meandered there way to the backporch where I was enjoying the sunshine. We chatted for a few minutes when the most hilarious thing happened...all of our tummies made this HUGE growling noise at the same time. So I said, I'm thinking Arby's...no wait, I want an iced caramel coffee....NO, I want Burger King. The girls laughed at me while I tried to decide where I was taking them for a late lunch. We ended up going to Muffaletta's since Amber had never been there.

We couldn't have timed it better...the place was empty with the exception of the 6 guys working in the kitchen and behind the counter. (All brothers & cousins as it's a family owned Italian restaurant.) So, we had the entire place to ourselves. From the conversation between us and the ones the workers continued to carry on with us during our visit...it was an amazing meal!! Even both of the girls had a few workers being flirty...lol!! We enjoyed ourselves so much that by the time we left, we realized we had been there nearly 3 hours!!

With our bellies way too full, our next stop was the thrift store to walk it off and to search for some awesome deals. I found 6 summer tank tops. Kat found a pair of jeans, a t-shirt & a summer tank top. Amber didn't find anything for herself, but found a pair of jeans for Matt.

5:30pm we made it back home. Amber disappeared to spend time with Matt, Kat took off to her room to start gathering her stuff for her week long stay at Bible camp tomorrow, and I logged online to check emails, blogs & YoVille.

7pm, my GF Liz came over for me to help her get her on YoVille and connected to me. Her hubby was kind enough to drop her off SANS KIDS. Tommy fired up the grill and made us these ginormous hamburgers. (I couldn't finish mine since I was still full from all the Italian food from earlier.) Right before the burgers came off the grill, Tommy sent me to the store for buns...so Liz, Kat & Amber went with to Wal-Mart. We rushed through the store, grabbed the items and then to check out, only to learn that I didn't have my debit card with me just as she was scanning my items. (HOW EMBARRASSING!!) So all of us go to the car thinking we had to drive back home...thankfully it was sitting on the car seat!! We all rush back inside...the greeter said, "WELCOME BACK TO WAL-MART AGAIN" hahahahahaha...we paid for our stuff and got home just in time to fix the burgers.

By 9:30pm, Liz and I tried to get into YoVille, but the kids' pc wasn't cooperating. Tommy tried to tweak with it, but everytime YoVille would open, it would blue screen. ARGH!! At 10pm, Tommy got Liz online with our 2nd laptop, but I had to leave to take Matt to work. By the time I got back home, it was almost 11:30pm!! FINALLY we found the same server on our laptops and logged into YoVille. We added each other on MS friends' lists, YoVille buddy lists and crew lists and then I took her on a bunch of tours to all of my special friends. She loved all of it so much that we let the time slip away from us...the phone rang at 1am bringing us back to reality...it was her hubby begging her to come home. (He'd had way too much together time with the kids, they were asleep and he was out of smokes...lol) I drove her the 2 blocks to her house. As she got out she asked what I was doing most of Sunday...I told her I was staying up the entire night helping Kat pack for camp, color Kat's hair, and then was going to first service at church. She asked what time I would leave and when I told her 6:30am she said she wanted to go with! YAY!!

So now...it's nearly 4am, Kat has her hair wrapped in a towel after us coloring it a pale strawberry blonde, we're STILL gathering things together to pack for camp, and it's nearly time for me to start getting ready for church.

It truly has been an AMAZING Saturday...I think I'll take a nap when I get back home around 10am.

Hope your Saturday was truly AMAZING and that your Sunday is beyond blessed...

Ten Thoughts...5/26/09

1. 22 years ago today, I gave birth to my oldest son.
2. No big party today, just me baking his fave yellow cake with peanut butter icing.
   
3. Took advantage of the break in severe thunderstorms this afternoon and cleaned off my back porch. (Daybed from FreeCycle last year has now been taken apart and is going to my friend Liz for her son Jr.)
4. Cleaned kitchen, den & bathrooms...ewww...my family sure can make a mess in just one week!!
5. Kat went to Kelli's homeschool graduation last Thursday and met a woman named Lisa and her two teenage sons. (19 & 17) Our family has plans to meet their family tomorrow at the park for a picnic and to get to know them better...as both of the sons has an interest in our daughter.
6. Kat is so nervous and stressed about tomorrow, she had a cold sore pop out this morning on the side of her mouth. First one EVER in her life...lol Poor thing!!
7. Lisa mentioned on phone last night both of her boys are nervous my hubby will beat/mangle/kill them...lol
8. Hubby is HAPPY that both boys are afraid he will beat/mangle/kill them.
9. We may not have money to spare...but we've gone another week with groceries in pantry and fridge, a roof over our head, and bills getting paid. I feel truly blessed beyond measure.
10. Jobs are so scarce here right now...I'm still continuing to pray that God opens the right door or window for hubby to find one. In the meantime, I have to give HIM the honor, glory and praise we are keeping our heads above water as hubby does odd side jobs, volunteer work and pounding the pavement.
    

It's Suddenly Sunday...

and I wonder where the week has gone. It just seemed that yesterday was Sunday, and here it is again. I try to think back at what I did this past week...why did it rush by so fast to make me miss it. Sadly, I can't remember. I know I bought groceries, cleaned the house, did laundry and paid bills...but none of those thing really stick out as a clear memory. I played online, I scrapped a new page and even worked on more "FREE GIFTS", yet the memory of doing those things is way too faded to give details.

I HATE MY BRAIN...

I worry that one day I will wake up and my mind will be a total case of mush and I won't be able to function or remember anything...

My Saturday Has Gone To The Birds...

LITERALLY!!

When I woke today, I went through my normal routine of uncovering both bird cages and changing water and food. Today I got a surprise...MO wanted out. Usually he is allowed to fly free in the late afternoons and early evenings, but this morning he was hanging on the door when I gave him food and water so I let him roam. His first stop? The top of Edward and Bella's cage so he could sing sweet nothings to Bella. Maybe it's the fact she is yellow and green...who knows...but he is madly obsessed with her. Much to the annoyance of Edward who likes to pick and nip and MO's feet while he is perched on top of their cage.

For a little while, MO got tired of having his feet nibbled, so he flew to my room and perched on my bed to watch cartoons. I laid down beside him and he hopped on my back and got comfortable. It was the first time he took the initiative to come to me on his own. I grabbed the phone/intercom and called Tommy and Kat to come take a peek. Kat grabbed the camera...lol

Thankful Thursday

1. I'm thankful my brain is still working...though I wish it would shut down just long enough for me to get some sleep.
2. I'm thankful that we have had pleasant spring days...but the chilly mornings are killing my joints.
3. I'm thankful that I have a friend that takes me to church...but I wish she would give me more than 10 minutes notice when she decides she'd rather stay home to watch A.I. instead so that I can find other transportation.
   
4. I'm thankful that Matt has a full time job at Krispy Kreme...but I wished he and hubby would stop bringing home those mouth watering morsels.
5. I'm thankful for sunlight, clouds & rain...all of which we're getting today!!
6. I'm thankful that my yardwork is finished before this next round of rain hits us.
7. I'm thankful that hubby continues to take care of me when my body won't allow me to do so...(this past few months were the longest that I'd gone with no severe joint pain)
8. I'm thankful for electric blankies and pain meds.
9. I'm thankful for lots of pillows and my laptop.
10. I'm thankful for my baby girl that is sleeping beside me.
11. I'm thankful for enough food, enough clothing, enough space in our home & enough love in our family...God has richly blessed us

This Or That...

(borrowed from Mister E.)

Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater Revival's version or Ike and Tina Turner's version? CCR...most definitely!!

Pepsi or Coke? Neither...Crystal Light or Sprite Zero

Positive or Negative? Positive

Stripes or Polka-dots? Stripes

Tea or Coffee? Coffee

Paper or Plastic? Plastic or my denim shopping bag

Answer or Question? Answer

Happy or Sad? Happy

Beer or Wine Cooler? Wine Cooler

Spicy or Mild? Mild

Red or Blue? Blue

"I Heard it Through the Grapevine" - Marvin Gaye's version or Gladys Knight & the Pips' version? Marvin Gaye, baby!!

Myspace or Facebook? Hard one, as I use both daily for different things

Cable or DSL? Cable

Italian Food or Mexican Food? Italian

Upset or Mad? Upset

Target or Wal-Mart? Wal-Mart

Desert or Jungle? Jungle

"With a Little Help From My Friends" - The Beatles' version or Joe Cocker's version? The Beatles

Money or Happiness? Happiness

Chocolate or white milk? Chocolate

Fries or Onion Rings? Onion Rings

Mac or PC? PC

Tortellini or ravioli? Tortellini

Half empty or Half Full? Half Full

Cats or Dogs? Dogs though we have both.

Love or Lust? Love

Looks or personality? Personality

Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate

Portraits or Snapshots? Snapshots

Internet Explorer or Firefox? Firefox

Pudding or Jello? Pudding

Fantasy or Reality? Reality, though fantasy can be fun

B&W or Color? Color

Hamburgers or Hot Dogs? Hamburgers

Left or Right? Right

Fast or Slow? Fast

Right or Wrong? Right

Hope or Faith? Faith

Guitar or Drums? Guitar

Future or Past? Future

Vegetable or meat? Meat

Football or Basketball? Football...ROLL TIDE ROLL!!

Cold or Hot? Hot

Cyber or Real? Real

Hugs or Kisses? BOTH!!

Just Plain Ol' Tired...

Saturday night, Kat kept me up until 4am chit chatting.

Sunday, we got up early for church where Vickie Yohe was the guest singer for our Mother's Day service. Once we got back home, I spent nearly the entire afternoon chatting with Robert on the computer. (He had to work all day at the dorm's front desk, and had his laptop with him.) As for flowers, cards, or pretty wrapped gifts...I didn't get any this year. I did get lots of I LOVE YOUs, lots of HUGS & SMOOCHES, and a peaceful afternoon with an empty house. (Kat and Matt went off with friends, while hubby snuggled beside me in bed to nap as I chatted with Robert.) Honestly, it was an awesome Mother's Day and I wouldn't change a thing.

Today, I went to bed at 3:30am...slept until 8:00am. Checked email for half an hour then fell back to sleep until 11:00am. Made my rounds on YoVille, Multiple, and Facebook then cleaned the kitchen, started a load of laundry and made a list of things needed from the store. At 3:00pm, hubby and I dropped Kat at work, then grabbed groceries from WalMart. Soon as we got back home, I put away groceries while hubby started cutting the grass in the backyard. (Still WAY TOO wet to cut back there, so most of it had to be done with the weedeater...and was SO needed as much of it was waist high!!) He got the push mower going for me, and I cut most of the front and side yards while he continued to weedeat. At 7:30pm, we called it a day, leaving only a portion of the backyard and all of the area across the ditch to do for tomorrow. It's now pushing 10:30pm and I'm so tired that I can barely keep my eyes open. (I sure did miss my riding lawn mower today...my body is aching all over...lol)

Here's hoping you had a beautiful and productive day...G'night
*yawns*