Under Construction.....

       That sums up the idea of Life, doesn’t it? As I sit here and listen to soothing Christmas songs (I find them very relaxing), I begin to wonder about everything. I’m sure everyone has done it at some point. The “Why am I here?" or the “How can I make our family happier and less messy?" or "Why am I Blogging?" questions. I started to Blog because I thought that if I say I’m going to do something, then the internet community would help me stick to it, as well as learn how to create web sites and write html better. I am very ashamed to say that I haven’t stuck to the couple of things I have said I would. I want to fix that. I want to fix a lot of things in my life, and I know I can. I know that Life is always "Under Construction". From graduating High School to joining the Army to having a family, Life always changes. My family is a constant chaotic change after another. I read many Blogs and I am truly amazed at how these moms and dads just keep on going, and they have the ability to share it with us. To show us that we are not alone. I thank you all so much for that. I realize now that I do not have to come up with witty posts or a ton of pictures to share my life. I want to, but one baby step at a time. To find out that I'm not the only mom with a teenage daughter that drives her INSANE, is wonderful news!

My plan is use some of my self help books and post the ideas and/or the outcomes of using them. We have a "WOW" wall that holds our chores, and I want to show ya'll how it works. Perhaps I can give ideas and help to other families, just as I have gotten idea and help from ya'll.

In closing, my fellow Bloggy Families, bear with me as I attempt to create a less Chaotic Blog and deal with the Chaotic Blessings of Life (hmmm... that sounds like a Post title).

So to those that are always "Under Construction"....

.... Good Luck and God Bless!

If a Moose Falls Into A Giant Potty....

Lately I have noticed a increase in the “What-If-athons” with my children. You know, the hypothetical situation they throw at you, just to see if you are listening (or care); these little dabs of fantasy to assure them that reality has not changed. We recently had a doozie of a question. On the long trip down to my in-laws our 8 year old daughter, who just got braces, piped up in the back, “What if two moose were walking in the forest and they came across a giant potty and one of them fell in?”
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Now how do you answer this question? I know she is testing the boundaries of reality, trying to see if she is normal (not a word I would describe my 8 year old… or any of my girls, but that’s for another discussion), and a touch of being silly. So I asked her, “Honey, what do you think would happen?” (I know by doing this she learns to come up with different problem solving skills) And she replied, ever so sweetly, “That they would probably get their horns stuck when it flushed.”
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This affirmation of reality has spread among all of our children, especially the 14 year old. She loves to come up to me and randomly ask me, “What-if my nose was upside-down?” or “What-if I looked like this?”, and would proceed to make the strangest face. With each “What-If” being a bit stranger then the last.

I had been struggling with my frustration at these “What-If-Athons”, until I had a lengthy conversation with my 14 year old. She told me that her friends are picking on her, talking behind her back and just being plain mean. It was then that I realized that all of her “what-ifs” she was constantly throwing at us, was her way of making sure we would always love her and accept her for who she was. With that epiphany, it became clear that the moose in the potty was more about her new braces than 2 silly moose in a forest. Each girl has had their own strange “What-Ifs”, and each are going through changing times of uncertainty.

So I look forward to my everyday experience with the off the wall “What-If-athons”, especially if they bring me closer to my children.

** Guest Blog **

I have decided to let my husband do a guest blog today. He is a wonderful writer and I hope he gets his dream of writing a book or two. I love that he is so creative and such a powerful thinker. Here he is my very own Knight in rusted and dented armor.....

What is the worst that an enemy can do?

By: Landon Owens

That is the thought that keeps running through my head. One that I have been mulling over for the past few days. What spurred the thought was the "National day of Service" that the President decided to make on Sept 11th. With the by-line of "commemorate and remember the 9/11 tragedy."

My first question is why do we need a "National day of Service"? This country is founded on service to others. We have an all volunteer military, last time I looked there has not been a draft for decades. More charities than you can name, even tax credits for charitable giving. Heck, there are a large number of COUNTRIES that would not be standing if not for our servitude. For most people, a week does not go by that they are not affected by this nation's service record. So why do we need a National day of Service?

My Second question is "why on 9/11?" that day was already claimed. It was called Patriot Day (See Public Law 107-89) by joint resolution congress has designated September 11 of each year Patriot Day. The day we are supposed to wear red, white and blue. Why are we lacquering over this title with a nice shinny phrase of "National Day of Service"? Is it because so many Americans' died that day? is it because of all outpouring of aid that occurred after/because of the attacks? In that logic why not call Dec. 7th, a lot people entered into service related activities after Pearl Harbor was attacked. How about June 6th the day that concrete started on Hoover Damn, the largest service project this country has ever undertaken. Maybe it's about American deaths... Why not the month of January, according to the bureau of statistics more people die in January than any other month. Oddly enough, January 3rd 1992 being the Day that the most Americans died, 7,422 across America for any and all reasons. So, I say call January 3rd the nation day of service. Why declare a new name for a day that already has one?

Which goes back to my first question. What is the worst that an enemy can do? I remember a book my mom talked a lot about called the Boomer's Bible. In it, Americans were called Yanks and one of our defining characteristics was that if we could label something a with a color we would kill it, with big pointy sticks. Red = USSR, Yellow=Japan, Pink-o = Communist, seems to hold true. Now we have gone further with that. Now we just shout out a color and react to it. Today's threat level is orange… so be ready with your pointy stick. We are almost at red. Red is throw the stick. Don't define it, just color it then kill it. Easy enough… like a first person shooter game, if it's colored wrong, kill it. But what happens when the enemy's threat color is red, white and blue?

So, again I ask, "why are we changing the name of 9/11?" Does it help our country to erase Patriots day and name it "National day of Service?" Are we being "good global citizen" by stopping to wear red, white and blue? Why is it that in 8 years, we have gone from celebrating American patriotism to erasing it? I am proud to be an American, I have a flag at my desk, and one on my car, I would have one on my house if my HOA would let me (another rant for another day).

What's the worst that an enemy can do? The worse that they can do is nothing. Because in doing nothing, our latest enemy has turned this country upside down and now we fight amongst ourselves, petty fights in plain view of the world. It's amazing just how much nothing can do.

Shame and Self Pity

I am very shamed to say that last weeks Operation Organization didnt happen. Between our air conditioners conking out (we live in Texas... where its still close to 100 degrees), Our car conking out (We only have 1), School and a bit of a tummy bug... well it just didnt happen. So I have moved it to next week. I have felt so massive self pity... even had a pity party... this past week, Im over it now. I cant wait to get to work on the project.