Ahhh...what a life!

Now this is the life! Relaxing in the shade.

Samuel loves being outside. 

He'll lie in the grass watching the leaves and the birds for a good hour, while I read.

WHAT A GREAT PARADE!

Every year there's a parade at my parents' mobile home community.

This year's parade was a big one...first the golf carts....

and more golf carts....

and more golf carts.

This is the guy who squirted us with a water gun. Samuel didn't like the cold water.

This dog was so cute!

Then the wheel chairs....

...and more wheel chairs.

It's not a parade without the Statue of Liberty!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

A year ago Richard and I hadn't been chosen by "K" yet. On this day last year, I was in New Hampshire at my 40TH BIRTHDAY BASH! In my home town this year, there is a little parade going down main street. All the children are lining the road and will stand as the flag passes. There are home made floats, a tractor or two, streamers on bicycles, miniature ponies, dogs dressed up as clowns, the Nights of Columbus band, police cars, fire trucks and a few local politicians. They will meet to have their floats judged, eat watermelon and then their parents will go to the American Legion for a few drinks. That night they'll all meet again to watch fire works and make Smores!

This was last year....

These guys (minus me) are getting together again this year and I miss them very much. I loved seeing them, but it was still hard seeing all their children. I was very good, by this time, at hiding those hurt and jealous feelings.

This year I am celebrating the 4th OF JULY with MY SON! WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES! Have a great time guys, but NOTHING...ABSOLUTELY NOTHING...is better then this! I miss my friends, but I would miss 100 birthdays and 100 reunions to have what I have now! God is so good!

RULES

The FEMALE always make THE RULES.

THE RULES are subject to change at any time without prior notification.

No MALE can possibly know all THE RULES.

If the FEMALE suspects the MALE of knows all THE RULES,
she must immediately change some or all of THE RULES.

The FEMALE is never wrong.

If the FEMALE is wrong, it is due to a misunderstanding which was a direct result of something the MALE did or said wrong.

The MALE must apologize immediately for causing said misunderstanding.

The FEMALE may change her mind at any time.

The MALE must never change his mind without the express written consent of the FEMALE.

The FEMALE has every right to be angry of upset at any time.

The MALE must remain calm at all times unless the FEMALE wants him to be angry and/or upset.

The FEMALE must, under no circumstance, let the MALE know whether or not she wants him to be angry and/or upset.

The MALE is expected to mind read at all times.

The FEMALE is ready when she is ready.

The MALE must be ready at all times.

Any attempt to document THE RULES could result in bodily harm.

The MALE who doesn't abide by THE RULES can't take the heat, lacks backbone and is a wimp.

EDUCATIONAL WEBSITES

Before I left school I had to turn in my old laptop. I had to delete all my information and in doing so I needed to record all the educational websites I have to transfer them to the new laptop I'll be getting when the school year begins.

Here is the list for anyone interested: (www.)

enchantedlearning.com
rhlschool.com
a4esl.org
funlessonplans.com
123helpme.com
ABCteach.com
teachervision.com
factmonster.com
www.prongo.com
teachers.net
math.com
multiplication.com
coolmath4kids.com
practicalmoneyskill.com
vocabulary.com/
timesaversforteachers.com/index.htm
readwritethink.org/

PARENTING by THE BOOK...Chapter 5 and 6

CHAPTER 5: PARENTING AS ONE FLESH

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." Genesis 2:24

Too many husbands and wives don't "unite." They are too interested in being right. Kids are too good at finding your weak spots and if the mother and the father aren't in this together, the kids will use that to their advantage.

"Husband/wife must trump father/mother." (p. 118)

"...nothing makes a child feel more secure than feeling his or her parents' marriage is rock-solid." (p. 121)

My own parents were not tremendously lovey-dovey, but any time I did see them hug or kiss, it made me feel very good. Kids may act like this is "gross," but secretly they love it.

"...make sure they do not get so wrapped up in their kids that they lose their identities and fail to meet their own needs." (p 126)

"...give [yourself] permission to pursue interests and relationships that do not include [your] children." (p. 127)

You definitely can't be selfish when you're a parent and your plans or wants get put on the back burner, but you still need to find time to take care of yourself so that you can come back to your child energized.

"These are parents who were of "one flesh" with their children for the entirety of their child-rearing years. As a result, they have forgotten how to be of "one flesh" with each other. Another way of saying the same thing: They don't know how to stop being parents. Being parents gives meaning to their lives. If they have to stop, meaning will drain out of their lives and they will have to confront the brokenness in their marriages. to avoid that unpleasantness, they seize upon every opportunity to do what they have learned to do best: protect, enable and defend their kids." (p. 128)

I have seen, first hand, couples that were so invested in their children, that when the children finally left home, they had no idea who they were married to and very soon after divorced.

STUDY QUESTIONS:

1. Imagine a household that isn't child centered. What five things would be different? What should you be doing differently?

2. Are you parenting as one? If not, what cultural and social forces have influenced you in that regard?

3. Have you become so consumed with child-rearing responsibilities that your own needs have been neglected?

CHAPTER 6: CHARACTER FIRST

"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:6-7

"To have God's commandments 'upon your heart' means that as a parent you are to live your life according to the model laid out in the Bible, thus being a living example to your children of what is always and forever right and proper. Your example is to be a constant, consistent presence in their lives. The Bible says that you should take every possible opportunity to talk to your children about the difference between right and wrong and guide them toward doing what is right according to the commandments, directions, and instructions God has given us. You should explain to them why you are doing what you are doing, and in your explanation you should always be able to refer to God's Word, the gold standard." (p. 131-132)

"...tell children that beyond the third birthday, tantrums, sulking and petulance are not allowed and will be punished." (p. 136)

You would be amazed with the tantrums I see even in 5th grade. Parents are shocked when I don't put up with it and how differently their children behave in my classroom compared to at home. A lot of parents have forgotten that they are the parents.

"The lower our expectations concerning children, the more we tolerate behavior that should not be tolerated, and the more undisciplined children will become." (p. 137)

I see this the most with young parents (not all but most). I had older parents and my siblings and I tend to parent "old school." We don't put up with talking back, attitude and rudeness. Young parents tend to be more of a friend to their children.

"Are you the number-one influence in your child's life? Make a list of the influences in your child's life (television, music, after-school activities, teachers and so on) and rank them from most influential to least influential. If you and you family aren't at the top, make a second list of things you need to do in order to reclaim that important role." (p. 140-141)

I may be your child's teacher and see them 6/12 hours a day, but you are much more important then I am. You are their first teacher. They need you more then they need me.


"....possessing high self-esteem and being a person of character are incompatible.....high self-confidence is fine as long as it's tempered by realistic self-assessment.....people with high self-esteem tend to think they are capable of excelling at anything and everything...In overestimating their aptitudes, people with high self-esteem tend to be boastful and take foolish, often life-threatening, risks....Humility governs self-confidence; without humility, self-confidence is potentially hazardous to self and others....The opposite of high self-esteem is humility, modesty, and "meekness" (strength under control)." (p. 142-143)

I feel it is just as important for children to know what they are not good at, as it is to know what they excel in.

Meekness does not mean you allow others to walk all over you, but it is patient and humble. I may sound like I am 105, but I feel modesty is a virtue that is lost on today's teenagers. The clothes they wear, the music they listen to, their speech: it is embarrassing, profane and rude.

I love to teach in elementary school because once you hit middle school children forget they are children. I love talking to kids....as long as they aren't rude. By the end of the year my students know to hold doors for others, apologise even when it's for something they didn't intend, say please and thank you, listen while others are speaking and to use proper English.

STUDY QUESTIONS:

1. Do you think you have been sufficiently attentive to the need to discipline your child's thoughts?

2. Have you been reluctant to correct something your child said, even though it was definitely wrong?

3. Are you the number one influence in your child's life, or have you allowed other influences to eclipse your own?

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY #46...We don't want to invade anyone's privacy!

For more WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures go to 5 MINUTES FOR MOM.

Chores done, a great lunch and a good book!

Today was Richard's day off. I promised him that if he'd help me with a few household projects this morning, I'd treat him to lunch....Here is the yard work getting done!

We wrapped our trees in wire so the neighborhood cats can't use them as scratching posts anymore.

While Richard was working outside, I organized the files and paid bills.

While we are busy working the cat is taking a bath in the sun!

We went to THE FLYING STAR for lunch. Doesn't Samuel look just like his daddy?

Ignore the scary lady without makeup on...just look at the cute baby!

After our nice lunch we spent the afternoon with me reading this.....


....Samuel napping and Richard reading this.

I also made some cookies. Our CRAPPY NEIGHBORS moved and new ones have moved in. We are taking these to them tonight.

I hope you all had a great Tuesday too!

TWO SENSE TUESDAYS #17...Crying Out

Being a new mother I seem to get a lot of advice, which can be helpful, but is also very frustrating when it's from people who are insistent that their way is the BEST way. I also get advice (because I'm an adoptive mother) from those who think that my son is just a stand-in until I get "the real thing."

Each week I will post a new question. I'd love it if you'd play along and offer us new mothers your pearls of wisdom.

HERE IS THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:

DO YOUR CHILD(REN) EVER CRY OUT IN THEIR SLEEP (NOT WAKING UP)? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

I am praying for his children!

I wasn't planning on posting about Michael Jackson because of all the posts and news coverage praising this man, but I've finally had too much.

My husband calls Michael Jackson..."The most beloved pedophile on Earth." I know, I know...he was never convicted of anything....yah...yah...yah...neither was OJ Simpson, but I still think he's a murderer.

I hate the fact that the media and "stars" ate this man alive while he was on trial, but ignore that part now. I also hate how they are forgetting the other two people, Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon, who died the same week.

I too think Michael gave a lot to dance and music, but FOR ME (please note I said "for me" and that the label for this post is "In My Opinion."), what he did to young children, taints all that he did for the music world! 

NOTE: I know there is a lot of controversy surrounding the victims taking money etc. etc...but it doesn't negate what Michael did. Only Michael, the children and God know, for sure, what he really did. You may not think I'm a very good person because I judge him when the courts have found him not guilty and although it may not be fair, I am on the side of protecting my child. 

I like to remember Michael Jackson as the young boy in the picture above. This was before he made choices that hurt others. I do believe his parents abused him and that he never had a real childhood. I feel sorry for him. I think he was a tortured soul and was warped very early on, but he did have a choice. He could have used his amazing talents to better the world, the way a lot of his songs professed, so eloquently. I have no sympathy for Michael Jackson. I believe he brought all his woes on himself. I know that he is now in front of the ultimate JUDGE and Michael will have to answer for all that he's done. He was very talented, but there will be others that will do more and be better then he was. Worshipping this man has gone over the top.

My final word is this: I feel for Michael's children. They didn't ask to be brought into this family, into the media, used as pawns to get attention. Their dad is gone. No matter what kind of person he was, he was their dad. I am praying for his children!