Lindsay Sayings

More things from the mouth of the babe:

1. Almost every single night when I put Lindsay to bed, I say, "Good night, love you!" and she says, "And in the morning when I wake up, I going to Monkey Bizness!" I think she has been 3 times in the past year, but her optimism has not failed once in the past 3 months!

2. While driving in the car to a friend's house, I hear:
  Lindsay: Mommy, there are monsters following us!
Me: Oh yeah?
Lindsay: Yes! Let's go in the trees. We hide from them there!
Me: Uh, okay...

Me: Why is Lindsay hiding from monsters?
Arlin: Well, she did watch Scooby Doo this week...

3. A certain 3 year is the expected thief of my phone. She says, "I washed it in the dirt really good. You NEVER find it." Yep, spent a week phoneless, and had to buy a new one.  We never did find a trace of the old one!  She stuck to her story for the entire week too.

4. I was cleaning ketchup off Lindsay's face and I told her, "Bring that pretty face over here." As I was wiping she goes, "Mommy, don't wipe my pretty off!" 

 

Free at Last

So last week our latest batch of roomies moved out.  It was a very dramatic, unexpected ending, and suffice it to say I'm pretty sure the friendship is over for good.  And I'm not even broken hearted about it.  It feels like HEAVEN to have our home back, with no other families living there with us.  Even the girls have told us how they love having their own rooms back.  No more playing keep away and fighting the bed time fight.  Now I can put them to bed in their own beds, without an audience, and shut the door and let them relax and find their peace and not have to worry about each other.

Of course, it also means less dishes, less house cleaning, not waiting to use the washer/dryer, no children fighting no children fighting with other children I cannot punish, and just no melding of different rules, lives, and social backgrounds.  It's like I've gained 2 hours in my day!  I can hear quiet harmony, feel the spirit, and remember what it is like just to buy things for myself and my family without having to worry about covering the bills of 4 other people.

Ah....  :)

AND in case you were wondering, NO NO NO, there will not be other roommates again.  Just ask our friends or our Bishop.  They have all offered to be the person to say NO WAY! to the next individual that even looks at the office/spare room.  So much less stress on my shoulders as the primary worker!

Running on Empty

Well, it's been about 9 weeks or so, and I'm still running/walking about 2-3 miles 5-6 days a week.  Yay me!!!  In honor of my sacrifices for waking up at 5 am every day to get it in before I leave for work at 6:30, I'm giving you:

Jackson Browne 1977

Gotta love us oldies but goodies.  :)

Laney's Results

A couple of days ago Laney and I went to her third psychologist appointment about her school issues.  Click here if you don't know/can't remember what those are.  After multiple appointments, questionnaires completed by teachers, counselors and myself, visits to the psychologist, tutoring, small group teaching, testing special assistance, and on and on, we've determined Laney has ADHD - Impulsivity Disorder.  There is a great explanation of it here and it almost perfectly describes my Laney.  My sweet eager to please Laney.  I'm so happy to have an answer.  Now that we know the problem, we can develop coping skills, we can stop expecting the almost impossible for her, and we can work with her teachers to determine the best methods for her learning.  We've been told memorization is crazy hard for her (both by the psychologist and by my adult co-worker who also has this disorder).  We are looking into medication to see if that will help, so she can regain her confidence and enjoyment of learning.  Fingers crossed, prayers sent heavenward, and ready to start fourth grade!

I Did It!

So I feel committed!  I submitted my application for grad school and ordered my transcripts to be sent in.  Now all I need is to gather a letter of recommendation and meet with a counselor to organize my classes.  I don't remember if I was this excited the first time I went to grad school, but I am this time!  I'm happy to finally be making progress on finishing this goal and to begin a new stage of life.  Here I come 30 credits!  Watch out!

Oh, Yes I Am

I am going back to grad school.  There, I said it out loud.  That makes it true right?  I've not picked a time, but I've found the school and the program.  I found a Masters in Education that will not require me to retake the GRE (thank you!) and is completely online minus the student teaching portion.  Once complete, I will have my masters and also a teaching certificate.  There are 10 classes and if I do 6 a year (2 fall, 2 winter, 2 summer) I should be done in a year and a half (minus student teaching again).  That would get me done at the beginning of a school year I think (or so).  It depends on the classes, I might be able to take more or less.  I know I'm already incredibly busy, but I do feel this is right and I'm almost feeling like this is now.  I was thinking about starting in January, but I might call the school and see if I can start at the end of the month.  Start praying for my sanity people... full time work, church calling, small business owner with 10 employees, and mom.  Oy vey!

Feeling the Blessings of the Lord

Lately, I've still been tired and busy and mostly overwhelmed, but more than anything I seem to feel so blessed.  Things are not perfect, no.  Some things are not even necessarily remotely close to where we want to be.  I can see clearly the difference from where we were and where we are.  And I can see myself on a path, and the path leading ahead.  It gives me such peace to know that I don't understand, nor do I want to endure, but I am exactly where I am supposed to be.  And maybe that's not such a bad place after all?