Nothing Like Scoring!

Yesterday I worked for 14 hours. First kids arrived at 6 am, last kids left at 8 pm!! It was a LONG day, and I'm paying for it today-- I'm sooo sleepy.

And with a day like that, I don't have much to talk about. Wiping bums, cleaning peed pants, feeding lots of snacks, cleaning-- it's a regular, boring day. And I was so busy, I didn't THINK about other things, even. Just worked.

Watched Bear's soccer last night. He didn't play last year; we signed him up and brought him to a few games but he whined and cried on the sidelines. Shocker, I know-- my boy who doesn't like to try new things. So, this year, he said he wanted to play, and I got nervous. Will I spend another season on the side, trying to convince a child to go PLAY!?

He was excited, though, so we got to the pitch, and amazingly, he played with enthusiasm. On top of that, scored three times. They don't keep score at his age, so whatever. Just cheer when they score (on either net sometimes!) and try to keep the ball within the pylons. haha

At the beginning, he got conked in the head. They all run watching the ball, and bang into each other constantly. So he fell to the floor and cried, a big bump starting on his forehead.

After a bit of love, I tried to convince him to get out there and play again. He didn't want to. So, I offered to help him and hold his hand while he tentatively ventured onto the pitch. It was after that he scored his three goals.

I thought of times in my life when I've been hurt, or embarassed or afraid. How many times have I decided not to try again? How many times have the hands of family and friends given me the courage to try again, and succeed?

So You Think You Can Mother?!

Motherhood is so peculiar.

Yesterday was a day of mothering. Of appreciating mothers, and realizing the great gift of being a mother. In addition to Chris leaving on a work-related trip for a few days, leaving me a single-mom, I was engulfed in children yesterday. Today looks the same. (the next indefinite period of time looks eerily similar too!) Him leaving, and me being faced with the thought that I'm 'alone', really made me think about being a mom and what that is to me.

Pooh-bear, March 2004 (age 7 months)

I had 10 kids in my house yesterday, all under the age of 5. My kids not included, I had a 5 yr old boy, a 4 year old boy AND girl, a two year old boy AND girl, and an 8 month old baby. Wait-- that's nine. Okay, well, nevermind. Still, it was a LOT of kids! I had never watched 4 of them, so in addition to having a bunch of new kids, I had no idea what the kids were like or how they would respond to me. And they didn't know me and had their own adjusting to do.

In particular, the baby. Babies can't tell you what they want. While this child cried and cried, I tried relentlessly to figure out what it wanted-- food? Diaper? sleep? Soother? To be held? I know it's a baby, so it's easy to go crazy with a crying child. But on the same hand, I know that baby was so sad and my heart was sad that I couldn't make it better.

I realized, that as mothers, we're given a little 6th sence the MOMENT that baby enters our lives. We can start to figure out their cries, we know them and their schedules, and usually without even thinking about it, we are attending to their needs from the start.


My neighbour and her 2-yr old daughter came over and jumped on the trampoline with the rest of the brood. I sat there (getting some more sun on this pastey-ness of mine) chatting with my neighbour. We have a lot in common in regards to our marriages and lives, so it's nice to sit and 'gripe' with someone who mostly understands. We spoke of how men don't have what WE have. From the moment we find out we're pregnant, our lives are INSTANTLY changed. We grow up in that minisecond. We are responsible for another human's life, and we know that our lives have changed forever-- although, until you ARE a mother, you have no idea how much change that really is!


Men, they don't have that. They have 9 months to wrap their heads around the thought of being responsible for a baby. But their bodies don't change on them. They don't have to feed the baby or carry it. They don't love it as quickly because they haven't nurtured it since conception. They don't 'grow up' like we do.

Chris and Little Lyssie, August 2001 (age 3 months)

Not everyone can be a mom. But I think there's something uniquely God-given to mothers that I am really grateful for. God didn't make Moms the way he made other women-- With Moms, he put eyes on the back of our heads, an internal 'rocker' when we stand with a baby on our (MUCH LARGER NOW) hips, ears that can hear 'dangerous' silence ('What are you doing?" "I'm NOT being bad!!!"), a nose that can differentiate between your child's dirty butt and the way-more-stinky neighbour's kid's butt, tastebuds that don't mind testing babyfood jars of pureed stringbeans, and, most special of all: a heart that has no out-of-bounds or time-outs.

Mimi and I, April 2006 (age 4 months)

Small Rant

prod·i·gy
(prŏd'ə-jē) n. pl. prod·i·gies

• A person with exceptional talents or powers: a math prodigy.


• An act or event so extraordinary or rare as to inspire wonder. See Synonyms at wonder.


• A portentous sign or event; an omen.

THIS is not a child prodigy. This is rediculous and should NOT have that title.. What's this kid gonna grow up and DO with his 'talent'? (okay, there's a FEW things he could do, but seriously!?) Given the above definition, yes, there's exceptional talents. And yes, he inspires wonder. But really, prodigy!?!? Let's celebrate TRUE achievements...



THIS *is* a child prodigy. THIS is a child prodigy. And THIS is a child prodigy.



Seriously people... just because your kid has no life and has mastered a VIDEO GAME, doesn't make them prodigies!

A Day of Rest

So, it's Monday morning, and I'm surprisingly NOT as sleepy as I thought I'd be-- I was up early early today for the first of 2 new dayhome kids. Two hours into it, and we're doing awesome! HAHAHA (don't ask at noon-- cranky and hungry and stinky kids everywhere! loL)

Yesterday was so good. I had a really crappy sleep Saturday to Sunday, though, so I was pretty tired. And I had 'issues' that I was dealing with too, so I was emotional and sad all day. HOWEVER, it was a good day, all in all. Remember how I wanted these books?

After searching online, I found out they're out of print (and have been since, like 1984) and a NEW series is being made for $16.95 PER BOOK, once a month. You have to subscribe, pay per month, blah blah blah. And they're not from the original authors or illustrators and they're not about IMPORTANT people in history like the original ones are. I didn't want that. Instead, I went on ebay, and didn't want to pay that much!, so I listed a want-ad on Kijiji (great site, like a local garage sale). I picked up 20 books from a lady who contacted me that day, so that made me so excited-- 'specially since she only wanted 10 bucks for ALL of them!!! I felt kinda guilty taking them off her for that price-- seems like robbing the poor lady-- had she gone to Ebay, she woulda known she could have asked a LOT more for these books! I went back online last night and realized there's probably another 24 books *(that I know of) that I don't have and now want! I can get them off EBAY, but I'm not prepared to pay the exorbitant amount of $50.00 per book!! yikes.

Okay, totally tangent, what a cool bishopric we have-- yesterday they (with the ward clerk and executive secretary) sang in sacrament meeting. AND SOUNDED DECENT, IF NOT GOOD! I was impressed with that. Nothing like 5 men singing to get smiles on people's faces.

Then we had a nice ham supper, and then had birthday cake for Uncle, and that was about it.

I heard something yesterday that I already knew, but it touched me again. Sunday school we were talking about King Benjamin's address to his people in Mosiah. We were on chapter 3, if I recall correctly. The teacher works for CES/LDS family services, so the discussion was great and enlightening, at least to me. I really like sunday school-- I like marking my scriptures up. (I got new ones for Christmas and need to 'break' them in)

King Benjamin's Address to His People

We spoke of beggars. Of 'imparting our substance to the poor'. Not only physical substances, but emotional and spiritual too. Of giving what we have. And to do so in WISDOM. I have not, therefore I give not, but if I had, I would give.

At one point, we talked about the Atonement. And how we all need to use it, and how we all need to apply it daily in our lives for things we've done wrong. But one point was made that I want to share-

sometimes, the atonement isn't for our sins. Sometimes it's for the sins of others who've made us into the 'victims'. And, in those times, He knows our pain in the way of physical AND emotional hurt. In knowing this, it's comforting that, no matter what, someone has felt what I'm feeling and understands my pain.

Couldn't It ALWAYS Be Like This?

A good day of weather here in my household can't be beat!!!

Yesterday was one of the best days-- we had a busy, packed, memory-making day and loved it. I, of course, slept in. Which, in and of itself, is enough to make the day splendiforous. Upon waking, I packed a picnic, and we trekked out to our park (FISH CREEK) again. Kids on their bikes, Mimi in stroller and Chris and I walking. We saw LOTS of animals, although nothing's quite beaten the coyote that first trip. We *DID* see a decapitated, half-eaten mallard duck. Thankfully only Chris and I saw it and the kids don't have that memory ! ew.

Can you believe you can't find a picture of a decapitated Mallard on the web!? I KNOW!!!!

We ate our lunch outside, it was awesome. Sitting on the park bench, the sun beaming on our faces. (Yes, yet again, no sunscreen, and yes, we're all sunburnt again. Oh well, I'm not sad about a little colour on our cheeks)

Then we headed home, 2 hours later. We played outside with our neighbours, while Chris had a nap. The Elders came over, needing to burn a shirt, so we fired up the fire pit and had a 'party' with shirt burnings and marshmallows. HAHA, the kids started chanting, "BURN THAT SHIRT, BURN THAT SHIRT" and, had my neighbours not been there chanting along with us, I'm sure that we woulda raised quite a few eyebrows! ("There's those Mormons, doing some crazy chanting and burning and whatnot... what a bunch of freeks. Who wears full suits on a Saturday!?" lol)

After we smelt a LOT like smoke, we packed into the car and drove to the ward swimming party. I don't like swimming, but I knew the kids would like it. And wow, they sure did. It's awesome-- the ward had the whole pool to ourselves, and it was FILLED with kids! (Welcome to Cranston ward) Much to my surprise, Mimi's a little waterbaby! She wouldn't get OUT of the water, she spent nearly 1/2 the time on the slide (where she completely dunks underwater before coming up, near choking, demanding "DO AGAIN!!!"). Little Lyssie is a fish too, (a fish who can't swim) so it's a little unnerving to let her THINK she can swim and watch her flounder around like a maniac--- can't tell if she's just trying to do a sumersault or drowning with her butt in the air!! Bear, to NO surprise, hates something new and was scared of the water. Wouldn't try the slide for the LONGEST time, and refused to get his face wet. My sensitive (read: scaredy cat) child!

Not us swimming in the pool, obviously. But a pic of the three of them near water. lol. Close enough.

By the time we got out of the pool, and ate the hot dog/chip/drinks afterwards, it was bedtime! 8 oclock, and the 15 minute car-ride home did the trick-- they were out like sunburnt logs.

We put them in bed, and after our own showers, Chris and I sat down at the table in the kitchen and worked out our budget again, made 'plans' for the rest of the school year and a bit of the summer, and before we knew it, it was 2 am!!!


All in all, a really great day.

The Spoils of Success

For those who truly care about my diet (cough-- lack of- cough), today I did NOT have hot chocolate for breakfast--- I had THIS instead.

I enjoyed 2 eggs on 2 slices of toast, Orange juice (my fave), and the bacon was NASTY so I threw it out.

N-E-Who, I had a surprising day yesterday. I woke in a good mood, but then I got into an email-conversation that REALLY upset me. And in that moment, my day went from great to CRAPOLA!! I was pissy pissy all day- ask my girlfriends who made the mistake of phoning me.





And so, in my bad mood, I was grateful for technology-- I had the ability to hide myself in the internet. I was able to upload Happy Bunny things to make me smile (and yes, forcing you to enjoy them with me). I had the privilege of talking to multiple friends on the phone (and unloading my personal, angry baggage on them). And I had a vehicle so I could drive to the store to shop out my issues.. (okay, so I went to Stupidstore and bought a few groceries-- I don't have money to burn like that-- BUT IF I DID, I SOOOO WOULDA SHOPPED OUT MY FRUSTRATIONS AND BOUGHT THESE PANTS!!).

LULULEMON pants are comfy and do great things for bums, but I can't justify the price! 100$ for pants I plan to shrink out of in a few months?!

I had electricity to turn on the radio and dance to music that makes me laugh (and sing at the top of my lungs to songs that make me cry). I had television for really lame shows that I can watch (and think that someone else's drama is better than mine). and a microwave for my popcorn.



People's ability to have a 'wild' dream and pursue it hard enough to achieve it are amazing. Think of these guys, who were told that humans flying was impossible.



Or this guy, who tried sooo many times to create something to save lives!

These books are freeking AWESOME. I loved them, I think I'll buy them for my kids off Ebay!!

I'm grateful for the guys above's unlimited visions, for their perseverance and the spoils of their ambitions. It reminds me that I can also have INCREDIBLE things in store for me-- that my understanding of my abilities are so miniscule in comparison to what I'm capable of. That, those 'dreams' I have are just as achievable as the lightbulb, the telephone... a cure for cancer? world peace? A self-cleaning house?



And, since I'm on a roll from yesterday's posters... here's a funny demotivational poster. You gotta love these spoofs on those 'classic' dentist office posters. NO JOKE, my dentist has a seriuos one ("TEAMWORK" ) in his waiting room!!

Happy Bunny

Because I love Happy Bunny. Here's a few to brighten your day-- it always brightens mine.

I have this one hanging from my rear-view mirror of the van. It smells like vanilla (my fave), it's bunnies (which I hate), and it talks about bums (which I ALSO hate). Perfect. Thanks, CC, I love it.

You Win Some, You Lose Some

Well, actually, in this case, I didn't lose some. I probably GAINED some! lol Lately, I've been eating like CRAP and I'm sure I've gained a few hundred pounds. Seriously, I haven't exercised AT ALL and I've craved junk for over a week. And by craving it, I mean bought it. And by bought it, I mean ate it. And by ate it, I mean CONSUMED it. Lately, my vices are THESE and THESEand THIS This was today's breakfast-- only with whipped cream on top!!! AHHHH

and THESE!

I, of course, bought them in bulk and keep them in my car!!

And absolutely no excersize to offset my indulgence! I'm not even PMSing! :( Becca, save me from myself!!!

Okay, so let's go with a NEW cliche, since 'you win some, you lose some' doesn't truly apply to my day yesterday. I'm going to go with "When it rains, it Pours!". And no, I'm not talking about the lame weather lately! :(

Tuesday night I mentioned to Chris how frustrated I was about not having more dayhome kids. I've advertised, I've been interviewed by many, I've had TONNES of people tell me they're interested but not until the summer, etc. Frustrating, since I've done everything *I* can do. Anywho, yesterday, I got a phone call. New kid coming next week, full time! SCORE! Then the phone rang again-- two new kids, for two weeks full-time, starting next week. WOW, double score! And then another phone call, part-time. Another phone call, part-time immediately. By the end of the day, my dayhome which was previously empty (apart from the one kid I have now) was full to near overflow capacity!! In the course of ONE day! It was nuts! And I still have an interview tonight with someone interested. This is it, though-- I'm telling others that I'm full for now and I'm going to pull down my ads on the mailboxes. Crazy, hey?

I'm super relieved, though. Money lately has been tough. This should bring in an extra couple thousand a month. Chris' previous job didn't cover our needs, and for 5 months we were living off our savings and credit. So now that he has his new job, we're trying to get our feet back under us and start saving again once we've done that. So, if you're feeling the need to donate, I take credit cards. lol. just kidding, cheques are preferred.

But, in sight of it all, paying tithing is my saving grace, I think.

Again, tithing was instilled in me at a young age, of which I am indeed grateful for! Now, paying tithing for me isn't hard to do at all... I don't usually even NOTICE that 10%. I woulda spent it on chocolate anyways! ;) Tithing isn't easy for everyone, and in my household, tithing may be different than in other LDS or part-LDS households. But it works for us, and I pay what I can. Lucky for me, my patriarchal blessing talks about tithing, so everytime I pay it, I know I'm one step closer to blessings that are promised me by doing so.

Paying tithing was a talk I gave years ago. I still remember it. I've never been wanting, and I'm sure that paying tithing was to 'blame' for that! How blessed I've been to have a husband who supports me in that, and parents who helped me to learn how to do it.

Elder Helland and us-- he was the first Elder we, as a family, bonded to.

The day I took out my Endowments. Bro-in-law, sister, me, Mom and Dad @ the Cardston, AB temple.

Journals/ Finding Balance

Okay, I know that last entry doesn't count- but it's funny.

On a serious note, yesterday.

I have figured out through the years that when I'm severely upsetted by something, I have the strongest need to find a journal. And my paper journal (obviously, not this thing) is where I put my deepest thoughts and personal feelings. I have kept a journal since I was 8, and am currently on my 8th one. (8th?? uh...counting...4,5...yep, 8th) I am EXTREMELY blessed to have been instilled that desire in my early years.

Mine look like this-- they're all the same.

Journal writing was my main source of support in my life through my teenage years. I wrote every day. really. I like to write, and though there's many of you out there who can outwit, outwrite and outplot me in your writing abilities, it's something I think I'm fairly good at. My journals are exactly how I think-- written in honest form and with no pretence, just as a personal journal SHOULD be. I find peace in writing the thoughts that bother me, I find joy in reading previous entries, and I learn sooo much through the hindsight while I reread what was written. I learn more about myself through that medium than any other in my life.

So, things in my life have gone spiralling down in the past few months, forcing me to reevaluate lots of things and turn to the basics once again. One being my journal-writing of late. In this journal #8, I have written only 78 pages over the course of 18 months!!! And, let me assure you, there's WAY more than 78 pages-worth of things to write about in that time. Aneurisms, TV shows, Post-partum, marriage, motherhood, family history....Being a mom has made it hard to keep up.

So, yesterday, I pulled it out. House was cleaned, and kids were fed and I had nothing better to do with my time (read: nothing else to distract myself with). I started to write, and started 'unloading' all the baggage that I so desperately needed to release, when little Lyssie comes to my side, trying to read it. I'd get back into the outflow of it, and two minutes later she was there again, asking questions. Then again, minutes after that. Then again, complaining about being bored. And then and then and then andthenandthen......

After asking her nicely to let me be, and doing it MORE THAN ONCE, I saw a tear fall from her cheek.

How bad I felt in that instant. My daughter wanted my attention and needed it, and I was too consumed with getting my OWN feelings dealt with that I didn't make time for hers. In order for me to be a better Mom, I NEED to feel at peace in my heart, and I do that through writing. I've learned that by NOT taking care of myself, I'm a horrible mother! So how can I balance what she needs and what I need when they conflict at the same time?

Motherhood is a neverending, tough job. I need to find a better middle-ground, and will work on it. She's so worth it.

Our Trip a few years ago to Nelson, BC. The love from Little Lyssie makes me so happy to be her mom.

Yoinked from Ginger

To: God@humanissues.earth.com
From: Debbi
Subject: Repair ticket for user Debbi Barber (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)

1. Who is reporting the trouble? Issue reported by: User
2. When did the problem start? Other start time:Approximately 36 hours ago
3. What are the systems out of service (ie. lymphatic, cardiac, neurological)Emotional
4. What are you experiencing? Customer complains of frequent unpleasant REM activity during nighttime hours. Error messages are not repetitive, but unique and disturbing in each instance. Results in impaired ability to control emotional state. In addition, customer has experienced unprompted extreme highs and lows. Tear ducts work intermittently. User hardware not performing properly, excersize failing.
5. Customer has clergy connected to the line [Y/N]: Customer is assigned to supportgroup.religion.lds but prefers to work directly with upper level support.
6. What has been done to troubleshoot? Customer has performed the following procedures:
A) discuss issue with on-site support technicians - (individual.chris) , (group.friends) , (group.8GVs)
B) consumed restorative substances - (chocolate) , (food.greasy) , (books) , (television.reality)
7. Have all necessary criteria been met to escalate this ticket to 2nd level support [Y/N]: Y
8. Script execution is complete. Your ticket has been escalated and a technician will be contacting you shortly.

A Day Of Forgiving

I love forgiveness. I love being forgiven and the peace that brings to my soul. I love forgiving others, and the inevitable weight that releases in doing so.

Yesterday, the friend I had a falling out with ( now EF-- estranged friend) and I talked for the first time since the incident (and no, the incident doesn't have to do with the vacuum in the link, it's just a side-note-- in case you were wondering, which you probably weren't, and now I've rambled on for no good reason). And being able to forgive her last night let me let go of some hurt, and today I feel soooo much better. I haven't forgotten just yet, and I'm still afraid of being hurt again, but now that's on me. In the pain I feel, I can't imagine the pain she must feel as well. And my love for her aides me in needing to help her by giving her my forgiveness. (makes sence in my head, bear with me) My heart aches for her hurt, and I really miss her friendship. It will be a long road to friendship again, if it's even possible given the circumstances, but it's a road I have been granted.

I am so grateful for forgiveness in MY life.

I know I've hurt a lot of people in the actions of my own life, if no one other than me remembers it. And for that, I really am incredibly sorry. I know I can't take things back, but because of such a shining example of forgiveness from my Saviour, I've learned that mistakes aren't permanent and can be 'fixed' in one way or another. Sometimes I have hurt others directly, and other times the only people hurt are me.. Now I need to learn how to forgive myself. A task many of us fail so miserably. When I taught the Relief Society lesson a few weeks back, it was on Repentance. In that lesson, and through what others shared in class, I am glad to know it's not just me that carries unnecessary guilt when the Lord has already moved on past my indiscretion.

I apologize for any hurt I've caused you. Please accept my plea for forgiveness. Hopefully I've asked you personally at one time or another, but if you still feel like you've been wronged, please accept this for me.

Pleasant Surprises

(Yes, DJ, I thought of you when I wrote that title)

Stepping out of my comfort zone has almost always pleasantly surprised me.

Last night, I went to a nightclub to meet a girl I've never met, but am GREAT friends with. Weird, hey? Turns out, she found me on Facebook, and we started talking and sending messages. Months have gone by since, and we talk ALL the time. Last night, she and her girlfriends were in town (she's from Edmonton) so she invited me out with them.

I can't believe how dorky I felt. I'm meeting an internet friend! LOL. That, and I was TOTALLY nervous!!! Dragging Chris along with me, we went to the local country bar where they were, and met her. Pleasantly and somewhat surprisingly, I had a great time. And I realized my nerves beforehand were WAY over active-- it was casual and really fun and kinda like we were friends all along, you know?

Point is, I'm grateful for having oppourtunities to challenge my personal security boundaries in positive ways. Silly little things. But they make me happy to have them. So, at the risk of sounding childish and dorky, I share them with you.

Finding a Need

So, it sucks.

I totally did something to my neck last night, and today it's stiff like a board. I hate being 'sore'. With the TV show, I was ALWAYS sore, and I hate it when my body isn't acting 'normal'. (like I'm ever normal)


Sadder to say, I don't have much to talk about. Yesterday, while the snow fell, I was lazy and unproductive. I helped out my brother with a ride he needed, and that was the whole of my day-- lunch, nap, pick up Little Lyssie from the bus... We DID take her, after dinner, to the Zoo for her sleepover. She was so excited, it was awesome. Sadly, Buddy was feeling left out of the 'fun things' Lyssie "ALWAYS GETS TO DO", so once we dropped her off, we took the two little monkeys to the video store. We bought The Bee Movie for the kids, and I Am Legend for us and icecream treats as a special treat.

The Bee Movie is cute. Not as good as Shrek (it's a Dreamworks movie, too) but good. I like the message about how everything and everyone in this world has a job and how that job is dependant on other people doing their jobs. How, by NOT living up to your potential, nothing in the world works quite the way it should.


On the OTHER hand, I Am Legend should NOT be rated a measley PG14. It freeked me out, AND it freeked out Chris and Uncle. Like, CRAZY they think it's acceptable for a 14 yr-old to watch. It WAS a good movie, but freeky. I specifically like the premise of that movie, too. It's amazing how one little thing that man does can so EASILY affect many people! In regards to the cinematography and such, I liked it and hated it. haha, because it left a lot of things unsaid that didn't NEED to be said. I hate movies that spell it out for you. That being said, it left a few things feeling a bit unfinished. And I HATE that too.

Picky picky.

Oh, you know what? I lied. Something DID happen of note: After buying the movies, watching them, and eating our icecream treats, I put Pooh-bear to bed. We sang a song, and he started his prayers. It was a prayer SOLELY on thanks. On top of being thankful for more spiritual things, he was soooooo thankful for the movie, for the icecream, for the 'fun time' he had. I was super touched to see how this simple attempt to make him happy succeeded so strongly. I may not be a great mom, but I'm glad that I can still be attentive enough to my children's need for their own 'special' time and meet those needs accordingly. His thankfullness for something so trivial touched my heart. I was happy that he was so happy.


In all, back to the movie citique..both good movies. Just don't watch I Am Legend with your kids around!!!

Best and Worst of the day

I read something in a book I was working on.. I liked the advice, so I'm going to share it:


Instead of asking 'how was your day' to Chris, the book suggests asking 'what was the best part of your day?' and 'What was the worst part of your day?'. By doing that, it's not a 'how was your day?' "Fine" type of conversation. Not that it ever usually IS, but in doing this, I get to hear about details that I may otherwise not get. I tried it yesterday, and I liked it. So I'm jumping on that bandwagon for a while now.



So, the BEST part of my day was the interview I did. It was fun-- she asked questions about the TV show, what I thought of the trainers, how much I lost, etc... I haven't ever been interviewed by a reporter, so that was kinda cool to check off on my 'random things to do in life' list. (No, I don't have one of those lists, but I KNOW that'd be on it! lol) I also finished the book I wanted to finish by yesterday, so that was a good thing to check off too. The next book I'm going to read is this one:







Gary Chapman also wrote one for the relationship of a parent to child and the languages there, so if I like this one, I may check out the other one, too.

The worst part of my day was all the kids fighting after school. NON STOP! I had to quench SO many fires between the kids I dayhome and my own, and it wasn't fun. SO many feelings were getting hurt. My heart hurt for the kids from the dayhome who were here-- they have family issues at home that are contributing to their outbursts. I wish I could help them more, but there's really not much that I can do.

I Promise to Share and Be a Friend

I promise to share, and be a friend,

In showing I care, it's love we spend,

Oh, the world is so wide,

with love deep inside

I promise to share and be a friend.

Lyssie-loo sings this 'song' at Sparks each week, standing in a circle with her peers in their pink outfits. They're soooo tone-deaf but they sing with all their hearts and might.

I am so grateful for organizations like this-- that help my child to achieve great oppourtunities and experience. Tomorrow she's going for a sleepover at the Calgary Zoo-- she'll be sleeping with the elephants, including MALTI, the new baby elephant. I know-- it's going to STINK in there, but I'm thinking it's a pretty cool night for a 6-year old! Sparks wasn't around when I was young-- I was a Brownie, a Girl Guide, and a Pathfinder, but Sparks came out when I was done my Guiding years.

In guiding, I learned to have good friends. I was always accepted. I learned to make fun crafts, to use my imagination in silly skits, to challenge myself in gaining ALL the badges, and to enjoy and respect nature and my world. I was able to sing songs I still cherish, to camp and gain some outdoor survival skills in a fun, non-threatening way. I got to spin wool for a badge-- which, by the way, is WAY cool and TOtALLY harder than it looks. (Thanks Sister Wegemer!!) I learned to give service.

What else could I ask for in a program for my daughter than those things listed above!?

What I'm really thankful for? The leaders. It's all volunteer, and without them, Lyssie would miss out on these valuable life-skills. I appreciate their inability to carry a tune :) and their desire to serve my daughter.

Oh, yah, and I'm also thankful for Girl Guides in April ---- the good vanilla and chocolate sandwich cookies come out! If they don't come to your door, find a Girl Guide you know to puchase these decadent treats! :)

Mother May I?

Sucky.. I was thinking last night of a 'good' topic to write about for today, and even thought to myself that I could write it last night and 'skip' this morning's writing. Now, morning's come, and I've forgotten what topic it was. :(

I'm grateful for the opportunities I have to serve. Helping out a girlfriend by watching her kids so she can go on a date--- service? Not to me. But in truth, I guess it is. I would just do that for a girlfriend-- that's what girlfriends do! At least, the kind of girlfriend *I* am. I think maybe I'm slightly unique in this way, as other previous girlfriends of mine have taken advantage of this characteristic of mine and hurt me with it. Maybe that's why I'm a little skittish about making good girlfriends. Doesn't stop me from being that way, though.

Yesterday I spent some time perfecting my 'mother-skills'. I broke out a new craft for the kids, and we spent literal HOURS making fun things. It was really fun to watch them so engrossed in something for so long. I used to make these when I was a kid, and loved it.

It's good for me to take time away from cleaning the house or making a meal or typing a blog to actually TEACH and play with my children. It's something I need to be MUCH better at-- some parents have the natural desire to play with their kids, and I don't have that as much. I know I'm a good enough mom, but I don't think I'm good enough. You know? So, today, what's on the docket of excitement???

Anyone have any great KID-ORIENTED ideas that are FREE, educational, entertaining or spiritual?

Baby, Oh Baby, the Places You'll Go

The best book to read to a babe in utero, I read to my kids, and totally <3>

I can't believe, sitting here, how many good oppourtunities have fallen into my lap during the course of my life- things I really had no control over.

I've been one of hundreds chosen to be on TV and lose weight (most recently),

Minutes before my final routine for the TV show.

I've been picked out of crowds to be on Nickelodeon's SLIME show, I have been chosen out of the audience to be in Disney parades (not to mention, I've been a performer in them, too).

That's me, in the middle, holding the baton

I've been elected Student Body President for my highschool,

I've been chosen to be an exchange student to Japan for a year in grade 11,

That's me, third from the right, showing the most leg!! haha

I've helped my parents win TWO trips to somewhere cool.

Okay, so the list isn't as extensive as first thought, but really, those are some really cool things. They don't include winning contests or competitions or draws. They don't include things I received because I worked hard for them, either. In retrospect, I sure have a lot of great experiences to be thankful for!