Just Being Lazy & Catching Up on Thoughts

Well, I have been at my new job for a month! I am really enjoying it - especially since it is 15 minutes from my home. Even when I have to take the kids to school it is still just 30 minutes from home to school to work. It is really cool in the fact that it is a small building and it has a family feel to it. I actually get to sit with my residents and talk about whatever they want to talk about. They tell me stories that are amazing. One man had been in the bed for three days so I was asked to go and see what was going on with him. He told me he would be 95 years old in a couple of weeks, and he was ready to go see his wife. She had died several years ago. He was really missing her - it was also their anniversary. We talked a little longer and he began to perk up. He finally told me that there was nothing wrong with him that 1/5 borboun (sp?) would not fix. I thought that was funny coming from a 95 year year old!

Although I liked working on the oncology unit with end of life issues, I really love the nursing home. My motto has always been, "They come here to live not die!" So many people are scared of old people. They are just a wonderful generation of people who have brought more joy to my life than I will ever be able to return. For Halloween, each department head is to pick a resident and together come up with a costume that we can wear together. Then the other residents will judge the costumes to pick a winner. I have chosen this lady who we will only call Shirley. She is a hoot! She carries a fly flap on the back of her wheelchair. When I asked her about it she told me it was to pop sassy social workers on the rear end! Anyway, we are going to wear grey sweatsuits with a huge black P painted in the middle. We are going to blacken our eye and we will be "The Black Eyed Peas." The other idea is for me to dress like a cow and she as the moon, and we would be the cow jumping over the moon! This is what is fun! This is what I hope brings some joy to their lives.

Kids are doing good - I guess. They are in a weird stage right now. Get this...I come home from work yesterday to find my hubby in his underwear and my son running around NAKED! When I asked why neither of them had on clothes, I was told, "There were no women here and we just wanted to be free!" What is it with men and their frank and beans!!!!!!!

It is true, Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Revelations Conversations with a Teenager....

You have not lived until you have tried to explain the book of Revelations to a teenager. Now it is hard enough to understand the book of Revelations as an adult. Stephen and I have just lived through 20 questions, and that is being conservative, of what that book means. I also have often thought that teenagers don't think about anything but clothes, friends, music, food and sleep. Well let me tell you more goes through those heads than I ever thought. Jamie has asked some questions that me and Stephen just looked at each other like...how are we supposed to answer that.

After this conversation, I realized that I have done miserable job as a parent because I am not able to inteligently answer the questions that she puts before me. I know that may sound strange, but it has just been a real eye opener.

Please pray for us as we as a family are trying to make a very concerted effort to live the life that God expects of us and that will make Him proud to call us His children. Hope everyone has a great week!

Does anyone keep their word anymore - Part 2

Well evidently I am just a nerd who expects too much! My daughter had no clue that the money I gave her today for Six Flags - money out of the clear blue sky - had no connection to the promise she made me of helping me at work. She thought I was just feeling like being nice. Now I have my moments where I like to be nice, but let's keep in mind that her bathroom is horrible - I asked her last week to clean it up, the kitchen has not been cleaned up. Her definiton of clean is loading the dishwasher. There is no wiping down the counters or sweeping the floor. In addition to the fact that we have the whole "Yea I will go to work with you and decorate your door for Halloween." I just feel like I am getting the short end of the stick right now! Again this is NOT a pity party - it is a venting session. I am beginning to think I am just way out of touch with being a teenager!

Does anyone still keep their word anymore?

Ok, this is NOT a pity party, but a soap box! I have had two experiences today that have infuriated me about people keeping their word. So please read these instances and respond to me. I would like to know if I am just old fashioned, expect too much or live in a different world.

First of all, my daughter, Jamie, told me she would go with me to work on Sunday to help me decorate my door for Halloween. I am the manager on duty on Sunday. There are alot of little things that she could help me do, and get paid for, since I am the only member of management that will be there. So, we had a plan. Last night a girlfriend of hers invited her to go to Six Flags with her today. So being a good mom, or so I thought, I told her she could go. Tickets were free - how much better can you get? So I have been texting her this morning. I talked to her just now and asked what time she would be home. She said she did not know. I asked if her friend's mom could bring hr home and she said yes, BUT...if it is too late she said I could spend the night again! I said what about going to work with me. She said, I will if I can! This really flew all over me! I don't want to be a mean person, and I am not trying to be a friend to my daughter. I am basically tired of being the responsible person. Any feedback?

Second situation. This person will remain anonymous. This person had been volunteering at the nursing home - mostly in my office. So as things came up that needed to be done, I would contact this person. I have a new project that I just found out about. I asked this person yesterday, and I was told, "no...it depresses me to go up there." I am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but since when do we do only what we want to do? It does not really make me want to turn cartwheels to go into a nursing home and see these people in the conditions they are in, however, it makes me feel a little better about myself and about our world knowing that I may be able to brighten someone's day just by giving a little bit of my time. Am I totally living in another world? Please somebody give me some feedback!

DHR is not here yet....

Well, it has been so long since I posted anything, but I thought this would be the greatest way to get back in the spirit of blogging...

Last week, I got a phone call at work from the school. This teacher identified herself as a behavioral specialist, and she had been working with Jacob on his temper and mouth. Now before we go any further, please help me understand where he gets those two characteristics. Anyway, she proceeds to tell me that Jacob has told her that I "whip him with a boat paddle and lock him in the closet when he does not do what I ask him to do...he eats popcicles and cereal for supper every night."

I was totally shocked - speechless. It was to the point the lady asked, "are you there?" I said, "Oh yes I am here." We continued to talk and I basically had to tell her my whole life story in order to keep her from calling DHR."

Do ya'll know how I really wanted to beat him with a boat paddle? Oh I forgot - I could not do that if I wanted to - why? - the boat paddle is on the roof of the house where Jacob chunked it two weeks ago.

Does anyone else have hellion children? Please don't get me wrong. I love both of my children very much, but never in a million years would I have thought one of mine would go to school and tell such.

Anyway this is just one of many upcoming posts! Have a great weekend!