A new look

Well, I finally sat down and made some changes. I wanted a different background, but the ones I was trying, kept making my posts go away. I finally put a pic and some blinkies on here. I'll probably do more, but for now, I'm happy :) Hope ya'll like it.

Our freezer went out in our refrigerator the other day. So now we have a bunch of food we have to eat before it goes bad. :(

Ross has been getting into trouble at school. Ugh! Having problems doing the whole raise your hand thing. Oh, well. We'll just have to work harder on it.

Can you believe it's almost Oct? It's crazy!

Trivia question~ Where does this phrase come from~ "The Lord helps those who help themselves"?

Please don't critize me

Kinda a rant~ just need to vent

I'm was looking into some new insurance the other day. The guy calls to find out info. Well, I tell him that Mark is diagnosed with ODD and ADHD. Then he begins to take our birthdays. Here's a part of our conversation:

Me: Gives Mark's b-day
Him: Oh~ he's only 4?
Me: Yeah
Him: And he's already diagnosed with ADHD and ODD?
Me: Yeah
Him: Just sounds like being a 4 year old to me. I have a 4 year old and she can be kinda wild, but that's just being 4.
Me:Well, he was having problems at school and at home
Him: I have a 4 year old and a 7 year old. My four year old can get rowdy and everything. Sometimes she doesn't listen. That's just a part of being 4.

EXCUSE ME??? Does he know my child? All he knows is that he's 4 and he assumes that there's nothing wrong?

Let me be clear with everyone. I wrestled for many months about taking him to the doctor. I knew something was going on and figured what it was. Just was trying to not take him to the doctor~ I knew what they'd say. I just know that a lot of parents use these conditions as crutches for not wanting to parent.

The past year everything has been going crazy. I just didn't want to resort to going to the doctor. I wanted to be "Super Mommy" and be able to handle it. Then it got so bad that he was even having problems in pre-school. It was to the point that I was in tears almost every night and was so discouraged. I had tried all kinds of discipline. I had tried all kind of reward incentives. I had tried the taking away of toys. I was at my wits end. I had no reserve left. I HAD to get help. If I didn't, I'd be in a nut house.

Since being on medicine, he is doing awesome in school. He's been paying more attention in school. At home, he's been able to get one "project" done before having to hop up and do something different. He's more compliant. He's listening better. He's getting better sleep at night.

If you don't agree, it's ok. A lot of people don't agree with children being put on drugs for these conditions. To each his own. Some people NEED them. My son is one of them

As someone told me when I was wrestling with this~ "If your child was sick, wouldn't you treat it?" That's what I'm doing. Helping him stay well.

Not doing so well....

....with keeping up with my blog :(. Well, I'm still here :)

Schools going ok. I'm having a tough time with my Astronomy. I hope it'll get better.

My schedule is CRAZY. I've never had to be in so many places as the same time and it's defiantly different.

Ross is starting Cub Scouts. I hope he'll stick with it. I'm just not sure.

L had his 20th HS reunion this weekend. It was cool, even if his "crew" wasn't all there. Met some of the people I've heard all the crazy stories about. They are talking about having a huge b-day party for them all when they turn 40. That's gonna be interesting.

Also, my "niece" had a birthday party Sat. So we were at the park from 11am to 7pm. Long day, but fun

My 10 year is next year. SO hard to believe it's been that long. Just crazy how fast the time goes by.

Time flying: Christmas in 3 months!; My 5 year anniversary in 4 months; Mark turns 5 in 4 months; I turn 28 in 5 months; my girls turn 12 and 14 in 6 months. CRAZY!!! Where~ please tell me~ has this year gone??!!

Pictures from this past Sat.

Write ya later.

Well, I'm hanging in there. Hope things are going good for everyone else.

School started for me last week. Such a different schedule for me. I'm going to school during the day since Mark is in preschool now. I'm such a night owl that this having to get up and be "ready to learn" at 8am is crazy.

The public schools started today. I'm going to pick up Ross from 2nd in a little bit.

Everything else is me just hanging in there. I know God is there for me.

Write ya later.

Wow

Didn't realize it had been so long since I had posted. My bad :)

Well, I'm starting a Bible Drill team with the children in Sept. and am hoping to start one sometime for the youth. I am so looking forward to it. The leader's guide I got has so many options of how to do things. It's awesome.

Started school today. Had my Intermediate Spanish class this morning. Then in the morning, I go to my Math class bright and early. Gonna be a big change for me, but I know I can do it.

Mark's doing better. He did get into trouble at school today. He wanted to be "line leader" and pushed another child out of the way. He has no patience (like his daddy hehe)

Next week~ Ross starts 2nd, Emily starts 6th (she's nervous about middle school), and Ashley starts 8th (she's happy about her last year in middle school). One more year before Mark is in "big boy" school.

Hubby's 20th year reunion is in September. It'll be interesting.

I can't believe how fast this year has gone! Where does the time go??

I guess that's it for now.

Write ya later.

The Zoo and news

We took the boys to the zoo last Wed. It was HOTT!

(Ross didn't want to make a good face for the pic)

They were able to "paint" with water on this chalboard.

This is a marble egg statue. It's made from Georgia marble.



This explains what eggs are what.

My boys on the egg statue.

My Shorty :) awww



Another pic of Shorty

Took Mark to the doctor today. I have been going absolutely crazy~ and I mean literally. I cried Sun. cuz I just can't handle how Mark has been behaving lately. When we went to the zoo~which is 5 MILES long and Mark walked the whole time~when we got home, you'd think he'd drop from being tired. But noooooo~ he was bouncing off the walls. Sunday, he talked for 5 hours straight and never got quiet. Now he's done a lot of this before, but it's getting worse and worse. He was diagnosed with Oppositional Deviance Disorder and will also be diagnosed with ADHD. She couldn't say ADHD until she gets an evaluation from Mark's teacher, but it's pretty clear.

The evaluation~ First 9 questions~the attention part of ADHD~have to have 5 out of the 9 questions.....Mark had 8 (I didn't answer one question cuz it didn't have to do with Mark~ so technically he had all the ones I answered)

Second 9 questions~the hyperactivity part of ADHD~ have to have 5 out of the 9 questions.....Mark again had 8

Next 5 questions~ODD~have to have 3 out of the 5...Mark had 4.

Then the rest had to do with depression and anxiety disorder~ which I knew he didn't have that.

So now maybe I can get some help for him AND me. I've been having a tough time dealing with him the last few months. Especially when I have Mark and Ross together. They just grate on each other and fight all the time. Just pray that I can get thru all this.

Write ya later.

Semester's over :)

Whew. The semester is over. I made an A in both World Religions and Intro to Computers. Yeah me :) Next semester: Astronomy, Math, and Intermediate Spanish 1. Astronomy~ I've always wanted to figure out where all the stars are. I can find Orion's belt....but that's it. I can't even find the Dippers. Math~ the math I'm taking is cuz I can't remember what I learned in HS. hehe. I had to take a test to place in college math and didn't do so well, so I have to take this one first. Intermediate Spanish 1~ I've been out of Spanish for 3 semesters now so I figured I needed to go back and take this one again. I'll take Spanish and Math at the school and Astronomy online.

Lewis stayed home Wednesday and we took the boys to the zoo. I'll post pics later. It was fun, but it was hot!!!

We're having a bit of problem with Ross. Don't know if his medicine isn't working right or what. He's also not sleeping thru the night, so I don't think his sleep medicine is working. So frustrating.

We did our first performance the other night at church. It went real well. I'll have to get the pics from my FIL and post them.

Hope to get our bible drill teams going soon. Don't know when, but hopefully soon.

Write ya later.

New Photos

Mark actually made this cake for Lewis. It was great!!!

Can ya tell he iced it, too? hehe

Our new member of the family. He's such a sweetheart. He was free at the Animal Shelter. His owners abandoned him. I don't know how. His name is Shorty. He's a pug mix and is such a loving dog.

Great News!

Ok first~ I've got my new creative ministries group going at my church. It's so awesome.

Second~ I am starting some Bible Drill Teams with the children and the youth. I've got some information right now, just got to get a few more things.

Third~ I have been asked to help out with the youth group more. The lady working with them now and I are going to sit down sometime and find some new curriculum to get for them. I'm excited to work with them. It's what I've wanted to do for a long time. Just at my other church, I was so far away to really get as involved as I wanted to be.

Let me tell ya, these youth have been so neglected. During our Bible study on Wed's, I asked them one time who had ever given their testimony. They asked...."What's that?" I was like "Did I hear that right?" Also, these kids don't even know the books of the Bible, they have to look in the table of contents every time I asked them to look something up. At their age, I already knew them for years. So I had gone up to the pastor and asked if I could start the Bible Drill Teams. And he said yes. I'll do it with the youth and the children. I'm going to get ahold of the children before they are neglected too.

And fourth~ Saved the best for last~~My daughters got saved this week! I'm so proud of them. Just keep them in your prayers that their mother will support them. That worries me a lot.

L's b-day cake

My best friend got this b-day cake for L. It's so cool.



With 38 candles



Blowing the candles....



See all the smoke?! hehe

After candles taken out. Looks like he missed shooting the deer hehe

Not dead :)

I'm still around :) Just haven't been doing good at keeping up with everything. School's out for the semester in a week, so I'll be able to keep it up for a few weeks.

Went to NASCAR Speedpark last Sat. for L's b-day. It was a blast.



L beating Emily



Ashley



Playing putt-putt



Miniature L hehe (I made him do this lol)



Miniature Emily



Miniature Ashley

My unique items

I did two things cuz I couldn't decide.

This trunk is from my mom. It's over 100 years old passed down through the family(can't remember the exact # of years) My brother was supposed to get it, but never came and picked it up, so I got it :)

When L's step-father passed away, we got this. I just think it's so cool. We have it hanging up above our mantle. Definitely a conversation piece.

YEAH

We had our first practice tonight for our new group, Creative Ministries. It went well. We came up with our name: Water Walkers. It refers to a song I did when I first came, Voices of Truth. We are stepping out on the "water" and having faith that God has big plans for our group. Plus, I found out that our church name means "Living Water", so it fits us all the way around :)

Our first piece is "I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb" We did a great bit of work on it. We are already planning on doing it for the 5th Sunday sing. I'm sooo excited.

Just wanted to let you know how it went.

Write ya later.

I will miss you Chris

I don't know how many of you watch WWE. It's my bad vice. Pray for the family of this man. Chris Benoit. I've watched him for the past 10 years. Today, him, his wife, and 7-yr-old son were found dead in their house. The police at this time are saying it's a double murder-suicide and he was the one who did it. Although I don't know him personally, I don't believe he would do this. He was too passionate about life and such a loving father to do his kids. He has 2 other kids from a previous relationship. Pray for peace in their heart while everything is coming out about their father.

Just pray for the family and that the police will come out with the truth.

Well, been a while. Sorry. :)

Mark finished school on May 25th. He goes there for summer camp. He had the cutest little end of year program. He's the 3rd from the left.



He ate an olive. Didn't like it hehe.



Daddy just chilling with his big guy.



A couple of weeks ago, we went for a family "date" night. L, me, Emily, and Mark went out for pizza then out to the movies. We saw Night at the Museum. I liked it.







Well, almost 5 weeks ago, I started a diet and an exercise program. I'm only allowed to weigh myself once a week (so I won't know until Mon. what I lost this week), I've lost 8 lbs in 4 weeks. Although I know that's a healthy way to lose (2lbs a week), it's frustrating when I'm eating healthy and exercising and not losing more than that. I know I'm doing good, cuz I have a pair of shorts that I bought before I started and they are too big now. Pray that I can stick with this.

Next weekend, we won't have the girls (they're going to their grandmother's house in Fla) so we'll have a one kid weekend. I tried to talk L into going away for the weekend (since we haven't gone anywhere in almost 5 year), but it looks like it's a no go. They've loaded him at work and so he'll probably be working all weekend. :( Oh well.

We started a new youth group bible study. It's by the Billy Graham people. It's called Dare to be a Daniel. It's awesome. We started last Wed. and it's a 13 week study. I'm excited. It's a good bible study.

Also, on July 1st I'm officially starting my Creative Ministry group. We will meet every other Sun. night. I have 8 people so far. Might get more :)
This weekend is going to be crazy. Tomorrow~ morning: have a soccer game; afternoon: Mark has a Kindergym performance, meet up with my MIL; evening:soccer award presentation; MIL spends the night. Sun.~church in morning, family reunion afternoon, church at night. So it's all going to be interesting and tiring. Pray for me :)

Write ya later.

Saw this on mychurch.org and just had to post it!!

Whoohoo

I got my letter from the college. I'm getting my grant!! Yeah!! I thought I might only get to take one class a semester next year, but I got the grant to go full-time (if the classes I need are available). I'm so happy!!

We have a fly problem. It's driving me nutz. We have a fly strip in the kitchen and in our bathroom (there was 7 in there the other morning!), but they are like low flying flies hehe. They stay below the fly strip. The one in the bathroom got one yesterday and one today, but there are others and it's driving me nutz.

Mark's end-of-year party is tomorrow. The "school" year is over for him, but he'll go to WeeSports. It's a summer program for him. The schools aren't out until June 8th and hopefully Ross will get to do a summer program too.

Hope all is well with everyone.

Write ya later.

Pictures

Me playing putt-putt



What my niece did during her "naptime" hehe (click on the next 3 pictures to get the full effect :) )







Carnations I got for Mother's Day~ The white one in memory of my "mom" Charlene and the red one in honor of my mom, Anne

Mark's 1st award~ For knowing his opposites.

Ross' soccer game

Hola

Well, I'm still not keeping up with this as I wish to, but I'll catch ya up again.

*I made a C in my American History class (I forgot to do one assignment and one test grade killed my grade) I don't know yet what I made in my Abnormal Psychology class. (hopefully good :) )

*Ross is still doing good. I'm proud of him.

*I start my first class tomorrow night (Mon.). I then start my other 2 classes next week. I'm so excited.

*I started a new diet. Plus, I've been exercising everyday (I did miss one day) I know I've lost weight, but I don't know how much yet. With this diet, I'm not supposed to weigh myself but once a week, so I'll find out tomorrow how much I've lost (I'll keep ya posted) Plus my BFF and I have a challenge going with our exercise. I'm competitive, so I'm motivated :)

*Mark is doing great in preschool. He's getting used to having to go and he's loving it.

*I'll get some pics up this week. I have a bunch I need to get downloaded onto my cpu , so I'll put them on then.

Write ya later.