Crazy Time of Year!

Hi all, I have been so busy.  Life is like a roller coaster, especially this time if year.  I said I work at a CPA firm and man o man, I never realized the crazy "tax season", until now.  And...I don't want to experience that again!  I finally gave my 2 week notice, and the end of April will be my last day.  WOW, I survived, just barely!  This was so not the right fit for me.  However, I think it's me, not "the" job.  I am best at being a wife and mom.  I honestly feel that is what I am called to do.  God knows what I can handle and what I can't.  So, why did I go through this transition?  I really don't know, other than to realize this and be OK with it and not try to force myself to be a supermom and be the working mom I wasn't meant to be.  Needless to say, this has been a trying 8 months of my life.  But, I will continue to seek the Lord's way for me, even when I get off track, He gently gets me back on the path He intended for me.  I will be working at a consignment boutique/cupcake bakery.  Now, that is more up my alley.  Birdie is a little confused why I am not going to be working "up town" anymore.  I tell her I will be home more and not have to work so late, she loves that answer.  So, I think this will be a better fit for all of us.  She will be more excited when the shop opens early May, (actually, it is open now, just moving to a new/bigger location).  It will make more sense to her and, birdie will be able to hang out there, since it will have a kiddie play area.  She can be like the 'babysitter'...  I am really looking forward to working there and decorating cupcakes.  I have been watching YouTube videos of how to decorate cupcakes, using a pastry bag.  I tried it out on birdie's birthday cake, I still need lots of practice, but I'm afraid I'll eat all my mistakes...

Speaking of birthday's...birdie turned 13 last weekend and had the cutest "Teen Queen" party!  I am so glad we did something special for this birthday.  You only become a teenager once, so we did it up right, right up her alley, and she had a ball.  Did I mention, she was so beautiful?  She is looking so grown up, it is bittersweet.  I love seeing her act like a teen, minus the snippy stuff, but miss my little girl so much.  I think I'm seriously having issues with her growing up.  Is this normal?  I hope so, but I can't stop the progression.  Progress is wonderful, and she has made so much progress, it is wonderful.  We have just been through so much over her 12 years, that it is hard to not look back and wonder where the time went.  I know this is probably how all parents feel, but we are both reminded to never forget where we have been, and how far she has come!!!  It is all a gift from the Lord.

I was checking Facebook today and saw this post about an amazing video.  I'll share it now, and then the comment I made after viewing it.  So touching and heart wrenching.  I have such mixed emotions about this.  In one way I am so happy for the family to see such progress with their daughter.  Yet, in another way, sad that we may never see this kind of progress for birdie.  Then, I realize, God is not done with her and I am putting limitations on what she can or can't do.  That is not the right attitude for birdie, much less the right attitude God would want me to have.  So, snap out of it momma...move on, cheer up.  Who knows what may lie ahead for her, hang on and God will show us, just TRUST in His plan.  So, here it is...

http://carlysvoice.com/

Oh, how this touched me so! Oh, how I wish for my baby to come out of her "shell" and be able to tell us what is going on in her mind/her world. For the world around her to know her sweet, kind and loving spirit, and not look at her as if she doen't matter or cannot amount to anything. She is EVERYTHING to her mom and dad. God gave her to us as a gift, and we will treasure her with everything we are and have.

Maybe this is just because I'm emotional about my baby turning 13, her upcoming 6th grade graduation and then heading off to Middle school.  So many changes all at once.  Well, not really all at once, but too close to each other for momma to handle.  Like I said earlier, it is probably just "me".  I need some strong drugs to cope, or just a good walk and a long prayer/quiet time.  Don't worry, I'll pick the latter...

See, ain't she perty?  I can't believe how grown up birdie looks with all that makeup.

Actually, the picture makes her makeup look way darker than it really was.

Such a fun party, fun time birdie and her 3 friends had.

So, this has been a long, exhausting week and weekend.  Now that her party and tax season are over, I can relax.  Yeah right!  Next up, all the 6th grade activities.  Oh, and my new job...see its always something!

Have a Blessed EASTER, for HE is RISEN!!!

Until next time, Serving Him,

Christina

Update on Netbook...

Here is the update on the much anticipated "Netbook".  I had gone to a workshop in the 'big city' to learn more and help with my blogging, and they promise a free netbook to all who attend and stay to the end.  That should have been my first clue.  Anyway, I did not get home until that evening and hubs tried to work with it.  He said we'll try again in the morning.  Well, he then said let's get our friend to look at it.  So he did, and it was a complete loss.  It is not compatible with any windows application, therefore totally unusable.  I thought we could at least let birdie play with it, like her playhouse disney and type a lot of nonsense (she likes to type fast and then change the font size and font type and color certain words-but it is still gibberish).  Hubs said if you could get one of these netbooks out of a gumball machine...this is what you would get!  So, for the most part, it was a waste to spend all day in a class, but I got to have my one night away, all by myself.  So, I guess I got something out of that dumb class afterall!

So, that is the fabulous update on said Netbook.  Nada, Zip, Zilch...My, how do I get myself into these things?  Wishful thinking gets me in so much trouble.

Well, birdie & I are off doing errands for the day.  Need to buy a party dress for the "Teen Queen" party and we always get her a new pair of tennis shoes for her birthday.  That is not a surprise gift, just a necessity that we make fun in getting.  Aren't I cool?...

Until next time,
Serving Him,
Christina

Seeing Spots...

Hi y'all,
Sorry, its been a while since writing on my blog.  I have been busy checkin' out other blogs for tips, ideas and how to's.  Remember, I said this was a work in progress.  I at least hope I'm progressing...I have said this before, but I have a gazillion ideas and thoughts rolling around in my head.

Also, I am trying to "land" or "secure" another job.  Remember I said I was not a good fit for the current job I am at.  Well, not only is it 'Tax Season', but little did I know, this kind of work goes on for months and months.  Duh!  I figured, 'tax season', ya know, February thru April 15.  That is how my pea brain works.  Like I said, this job is not a good fit for me.  So, this "other" job I am checking into, is right up my alley.  It is a consignment boutique.  I just love that word...boutique!  It sounds so quaint and dainty.  That's me right there...just kidding.  Anyway, I am waiting on the owner to get back with me on the particulars of the job.  It is so close to my house I could walk, that is if I chose to walk...which I'm sure I won't.  Working out, (according to my pea brain) has to be done in the right clothes, the right footwear, and at the right time.  'Cause you can't be dainty and smell like a sweat sock!  Duh!  I am all about the shoes too, but that we'll have to save that topic for a whole other post.  Have I mentioned, "I Love Shoes"?  I even get birdie in on the shoe action.  That girl has about 20 pair of shoes.  Yep, not a type-o.  I haven't counted lately, but 20 is pretty accurate.  I know, I'm sick.  But, can you blame me?  I have a serious shoe fettish, so naturally it wears off on her, and girl shoes are so darn cute.  Actually, since I buy them, it really is mostly me.  But, she loves her shoes and plays in them and loves to dress up and wear all sorts of cute shoes.  Right now, she has discovered "high heels".  Birdie specifically asked for high heels for her 6th grade graduation.  So, thinkin' hubs is gonna kill me if she falls or breaks something, I told her, just be very, very careful.  She says, "OK momma", and off she runs in her new high heels.  Nothing broken...yet.  I can't believe she is wearing my shoe size now.  She is gonna pass me in a flash and then we can't even share the same shoes.  That should not be allowed, know what I'm sayin'?  The last 3 pair I bought her (see, we may already be up to 23), I tried them on and they fit me.  She is about to turn 13 next week.  So, can I really expect her to suddenly stop growing, just because we can finally wear the same shoe size?!  Oh well, such is life...never fair!

So, about those spots...One day I noticed a couple of spots on birdie's arm and neck.  I checked them carefully, but thought it is probably a bug bite.  Then I kept seeing more and more of these "spots" appear.  Mostly on her trunk.  Puzzled, (I always expect any spot or rash to be chicken pox), told hubs while on travel and he said, "take her in".  That is our language for "pay $20 bucks for piece of mind".  So he was due home Thursday night and she had already gone to bed.  He saw them the next morning, also puzzled.  So we proceed to take her in.  The 1st doctor to look at her says, " I'm guessing it is this*****.  But I'll be back, I want to get birdie's regular doctor to see this and make sure he agrees.  Sure enough, her regular doc see's them and immediately says the same *****.  Some long-name virus and its not contagious, it will go away on its own in 4-6 weeks.  Mind you, she is a "PICKER".  She will destroy her skin picking at a boo boo.  I thought, how am I going to keep her from picking at these?  But, lo and behold, they have not bothered her like an itchy rash or bug bite would.  She has scared herself over the years just picking at spots until they bleed, then say, "uh oh, I need a bandaid"  We say "why?", and she covers her face.  Yeah, that makes it all go away...  Birdie's quirks, I'm tellin' ya!  What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.  That should be our motto. Ha!

Well, that should cover it for a few days.  I need to really focus on this blog, but toward the end of school, there is so much goin' on.  Her b-day is next Friday and her party will be on Saturday ( a Teen Queen theme-will have to post pics).  Then we have Easter weekend, a doctor visit in the 'big city', and a "Special Saturday" event up town with her friends, then...(we are not done yet) if I get this job I want, the first week of May will be getting trained and up and running after the grand-opening , then the last "Edge" event for the 6th graders at church.  It will be an overnight trip back to the 'big city', then the 6th grade ROPES trip which is a "3 day/2 night stay" and lots of activities for the graduating 6th graders, then...Graduation.  She is so excited!  I am exhausted just typing it all out.  So, needless to say, the rest of April and May are going to be super busy, super crazy.  Hubs gets annoyed with all this "stuff" going on.  This too shall pass...Oh, and I cannot forget one of her biggest events.  Her dance recital in May, the day we return from the overnight trip...she is in 2 classes, jazz and modern.  So, 2 pieces to perform and, birdies favorite...2 costumes!  Will definitely be posting pics of those.  The proud momma bear!  :)  Then, best of all...SUMMER!!  Can't wait.

Here is a verse I'll end with,
Enjoy!

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him"  James 1:12

So, I shall persevere!  Carry on...we have come this far with God right by our side, so what more can we do, but persevere this trial called life.
Serving Him,
Christina 

Lazy Day...

Well, hubs is on travel again, this time its just for a week.  So, birdie and I slept in.  I know we should have gone to church, but...I had a lovely "quiet time" while she was still sleeping.  My favorite thing is to have the house all to myself.  Absolutely quiet, no phone, no TV, no music, it is just...Aaahhh!  It is not that often that I get it either.  We are not a noisey family, but I love the quiet and solitude.  In our world today, there is so much noise.  Does anybody else feel that way?  So I treasure that quiet time all to myself, armed with my Bible, devotional (Journey by Lifeway...love it!), and my prayer journal.  I write my personal prayers in it, along with the praises and requests of my fellow bible study gals.  We meet every Tuesday evening and share requests that are on our hearts and minds, after we have discussed the chapter(s) in the current book or study we are doing.  This is a special time we share with LOTS of laughter, tears, and stories.  'Cause we all have to tell the story before we actually share the request, know what I'm sayin'?

So, I had a nice quiet time to myself, then I hear, "mom".  Guess who's awake?  That is when the noise begins.  How does that always happen, they are sound asleep, then wake up and start the day with a million questions or chatter about any and everything!  At least that is what birdie does...  I used to adore her little voice, her soft little chirping sound.  Now it is TV or her CD player, (sometimes both) and her fun chatter.  I am NOT complaining, just stating that I enjoy cherish the quiet.  I have to remind myself that she is able to talk, dance, sing and jump around like a monkey.  When she was about 3 months old, doctors said she may never do this and may never do that.  The worst thing new parents can hear!  What if we had held tightly to their words?  Boy, that would have been a tragic life for all 3 of us.  Instead, we chose to trust in the Lord and seek His plan for us.  Trust me, it was (and still is) hard, but I am so glad we went down that path versus listening to the negative, and gloom and doom that can come with having a child with special needs.  Remember, we did not realize the "special needs" that we faced.  It was new to us and it was something we had to learn each day and pray the Lord would guide us.  We had family to help us through, plus, our wonderful pediatrician and the service that the doctors told us about.  It is a program through the state which provided Occupational therapy, Physical therapy, and later Speech therapy.  She still recieves those services, but they are provided through the public school system, (still provided by the state).  Those people were a huge part of our life.  These therapist's would come into our home on a weekly basis.  So, needless to say, we had a good relationship.  I never would have been able to grasp all of this, had I been told, say in a birthing class, you may have a child with health issues or physical issues.  A pregnant woman is overwhelmed at all the new information anyway, along with all the changes happening to our body.  Could you imagine being told these possibilities too?  I for one could NOT have handled any of what I was "in" for.  Hubs either.  So, God is in control and gives us what we can handle only when we are ready for it...when He thinks we are ready for it, not when we decide we "might" be ready or not.

I am so thankful for the services provided by the state to help us, as well as our many doctor and nurse friends we have encountered along this journey.  Otherwise, we would be huddled in a corner sucking our thumb and rocking back and forth.  Thank you Dear Lord for carrying us down this unknown and scary path.  We can face tomorrow because we know without a doubt that You are there for us, even when we are fearful, scared, worried, anxious, and skeptical.  Thank you does not seem to be powerful enough to express our gratitude.  We are truly blessed beyond words.

So, I leave you tonight with a verse to think about, meditate on.
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"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  1 Peter 5:6-7
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Until next time...
Serving Him,
Christina

Sweet Simplicity!

Hi there,
Have I mentioned before what a kind, caring, genlte and sweet spirit birdie is?  Well, she is.  She can have her moments, don't get me wrong.  She is a tween, afterall!  Anyway, she found a framed picture of hubs and I on our wedding day.  It has been in a hall cabinet for a few years, but it used to be out on "the" shelf, (you remember, the shrine).  Apparently she took notice of it again and pulled it out and was talking 'to' it, talking about it, pretending she was married.  You know, all those cute, innocent things little girls do?  Then she set this picture on her bedside table.  So, being the decorating mom I am...I decided to put it in a proper place.  I tried placing it on the shelf above her bed but the stand was too big.  So I put it back on her bedside table.  Then, this morning (my day off/YAY), I decided to hang it on her wall below her cross-stitched framed name from Nanny. {Boy,that was a mouth full}  She is the type of kid who notices everything.  So it will be fun to see her reaction to seeing this special picture (to her), now hanging in her very own room, just below her own name.  She will probably squeal with delight!  I LOVE IT!
And, I'm telling on myself here, she thinks it is so funny that mommy had 'dark' hair when we got married.  It is blonde now, {to match birdie, of course}.  I have been told I look like a natural blonde.  I do know that I act like one, so why not be one! Hee Hee :)

Another thing that birdie loves to do is "play" in the kitchen pretending to cook.  So a few days ago, dad had been watching the news and all the Japan news was on.  This disturbed her, so she was in the kitchen cooking.  We asked her what she was making, and she said without hesitation..."I'm making meatloaf for the peoples of Japan".  She had my {glass} pyrex loaf pan out, a cutting board and a fork.  She was cutting up a storm, then proceeding to put the cut ingredients into the pyrex dish.  She was very busy and had several pans going into the oven.  Next she had a tupperware container ready to fill with water, because..."they will need some water".  This touched our hearts so much.  Such a tender soul, wanting to help those in need!

By the way, hubs, the cook in the house, always has to check the oven after she has "been cooking".  He always finds her dishes, sometimes they are the plastic ones.  He learned that the hard way, of course.  But, to her credit, we asked her a few years ago if we could give away her play kitchen to a child who doesn't have these kinds of toys, and she agreed.  So now dad has to share "his" kitchen with her, because he told her she was big enough to use the "real" kitchen.  He started it!  So here are a few pictures of her "doin' her thang".  Dad is just supervising...

So there you have it.  Our sweet birdie cooking for others to enjoy.  This meal (enchiladas) was really good and she was so proud of herself, so were we.  This is just a taste of our girl, being domestic.  Notice the towel around her waste.  Dad did that, mom would have given her a cute apron, one of the many she has been given.  Oh well, that is not the point!

Here are a few verses for you all to savor:
"taking the very nature of a servant..." Philippians 2:7 and
"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free."  Ephesians 6:7-8

So, here is another day in the life...of birdie.
Serving Him,
Christina

Making "Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas"




Using a REAL knife!

 

What a long day!

Hi there,
I have been away from my blog for a few days.  Been a busy week, but aren't they all?  I just got home from an Internet Workshop in the 'big city'.  We were supposed to go 'to town' as a family and hubs and birdie were gonna hang out for the day.  But, he was on call for work and did not want to risk being called out and have to scramble to get birdie to me at this workshop (which they stressed was for over 18 only!).  So, they stayed at home and I went alone :( and :).  Mixed feelings there.  Yay, that I got to actually sleep alone, all by myself with  no curfew and no rules!  I sound like a teenager.  But, when you never get away, this is such a treat.  However, that meant I was on my own in paying attention to the instructor and all this overwhelming information.  To my credit...I am a good note taker, just need to go back and refer to said notes.  Anyway, the bonus, or draw for this workshop, was a FREE Netbook.  Yes, that is right.  A free netbook to all attendees who stayed for the entire class. 8:30-5:00 was a very long day to sit in a hotel conference room and listen to "stuff" I'm not terribly "in to".  By the way...the workshop was offering you lots of goodies to buy into their company, all for only $6000.  Yep, that's right, not a type-o.  $6K  You get loads of stuff and 24/7 customer support, yada, yada!  So, you can only imagine how long this made my day.  Fully knowing I was NOT about to pay $6000 dollars for a business thingy.  I like my comfy little blog, thank you very much.  Also, the intent of their business is to sell whatever, and I do not have anything to sell.  They were sure willing to help me figure out what to sell...and I know you know what I'm talkin' about.  Needless to say, it is probably a good thing hubs was not there.  He would have got up and left.  And no, he would not have gotten a free netbook, 'cause he would have been there as my guest.  Once I got home, birdie was heading out the door to a pre-youth group function.  I can't believe my baby will be in the youth group at church in a few months.  Man, the time has flown bye.  She was fun to talk to on the phone today, during my breaks.  She is getting so grown up, yet still so much like a little girl.  Thank you Lord for these little blessings!

We all need to stop, or at least slow down long enough to recognize these little blessings in our lives.  They can be anything, just recognize it and be thankful to God, who offers them throughout life, and I believe He is pleased with us when we show Him that praise and gratitude.  Simply tell Him you are thankful and appreciative, talk to Jesus just as you would a close friend.  He loves to be a part of our daily lives, for us to include Him in our thoughts and decisions.  Too often we forget to acknowledge Him, much less thank Him.

Well, I'm pooped from a day of thinkin'!  Thinkin', how am I gettin' out of here today without paying $6K and still get my netbook?  After a while, I was comforted by the reminder that there was NO obligation.  Shew!  That was too close for comfort, but along with some prayers, plus I was texting a friend to pray for me as well, all turned out just fine!  Now hubs has to do all the tech-y stuff to get my new little netbook up to snuff.  That will be a Sunday afternoon project, while I go into work for a couple of hours to make up for leaving early on Friday.  SO...my weekend is packed and it will soon be Monday.  Yuck!  But it is my 2 day work week and I can play on my new netbook and write on my blog.  I love it!!

P.S.  I broke down and bought the Easter/paster M&M's, so I'll put them in my Peter Rabbit dish and take and post a picture.  I always forget what decorations I have until I start pulling everything out.  Oh how I love Spring!

Until then,
Serving Him,
Christina

Sunny Sunday afternoon

Good afternoon,
I am so happy to see the spring weather...EXCEPT for the allergies that come with it.  Apparently juniper is through the roof and spring isn't officially here yet.  Oh boy!  We are all sneezing our heads off, even the dog.  I had to give poor Tori a benadryl this morning.  In my book, that's pretty bad.  But, I love it when the sun is out and you can see signs of spring, green is starting to sprout.  If only we could stop the winds and the pollens and all that stuff.  Picky, aren't we?

I got home from church today, and changed the heart wreath on the door to my "Welcome Spring" sign.  I just love decorating at this time of the year.  I love the soft pastel colors and especially the pastel peanut m&m's.  The look so pretty in my crystal bowl.  I'll have to submit pictures, but I don't have the m&m's yet, its too early, I'd eat 'em up too fast.  They can be addicting, ya know!

Plus, Easter is fast approaching.  My favorite HOLIday.  Why, you ask?  Because, as the song says..."Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o'er His foes".  I love that song, along with many others, but that one stands out in my mind when I think of Easter songs.  Thank you Jesus, for being obedient to your Father's will.  Think how different "everything eternal" would be, had God not had His Son follow through with His plan, actually "taken that cup from Him"???  It was cruel and unjust, but that is how God the Father wanted it.  So, we too need to be more obedient, but boy that is so hard.  Especially when we want things to go our way, when we think we know what we need vs. what He knows we need.  He has the perfect plan for us, we just need to trust Him and "Let go and Let God".  Easier said than done, I know...

Now, I have to confess, or tattle on myself.  This morning in chruch, my sweet birdie sitting a seat down from me, just kept on talking and trying to get my attention, bugging me!  It is so hard to focus and pay attention with her in church.  To answer the question, no we do not have another program for kids her age to attend.  Our children's church is for those thur Kindergarten, she is in 6th.  So I get testy with her and super frustrated.  Of course, hubs sitting next to me is cluelss to all this going on.  How can that be?  It must be a mom/kid thing.  Arrggg!  I want her to be in church and to listen, but that ain't happenin'.  And, I have mentioned this to our Pastor and he says, she is listening and getting "IT" in her own way.  I'll admit, she does "GET IT" alot more than we give her credit for, it is just tough having her comment on every detail or this person or that song..."God, grant me patience".  But, I better be careful what I pray for, He may give me something to really be patient for...Yikes!

I need to take a rest, just curl up on my 'daybed/couch' in what hubs calls my "woman cave".  I love that room.  It used to be birdies playroom, then a guest room, (which we never have guests) and now it is my craft room/play room/guest room.  Don't y'all have one of those multi-purpose rooms in your house?  Anyway, it is cozy and very bright  (from natural light-faces south), and has things I love in that room.  An afghan my loving Mamma made me, lots of pictures and my crafty stuff.  What more could a gril/mommy want?  Silence, peace and quiet!  I guess I am asking alot...

Anyway, enough for today, I'm off to my "woman cave".  BTW, hubs has his "cave" too, so don't go feelin' sorry for him, his is a room with a TV and his wall of "ME".  You know, his awards and certificates, etc.  He is in there right now.  So, we each have our 'own' space.  So nice, and our house is not big at all, however, there are only 3 of us, well 4 if you count Tori, and yes, she too has her own space, several actually!  We are a tad spoiled :)  Blessed really!

Until next time,
Serving Him,
Christina