A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

"Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking it's life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."

"You will simply call her, 'Mom.'"

So it is getting closer than I care to think about...yup, the start of another school year! My friends have been asking when I am going to start in my class....soon. I dread it, and I know that the heat will be coming soon. There are nothing like 90 degree days with 28 little ones to make you wonder why the weather wasn't warmer earlier.

I got up to type parent letters, etc. yet here I am being a slacker.

I finally talked my mom into calling the back doctor that did my surgery, just to see what's up. I know that he won't be quick to pull out a knife if it can be avoided, but it is time to know what the heck is going on back there. Fingers crossed! I try not to get nervous and make preemptive arrangements before it is necessary, so I am hoping it is not necessary.

So my little dude is on the move...he rolls all over the place, but can't seem to get his knees up to crawl. I guess it will come. There are two teeth in his mouth, which is so cute to see. He will be 8 months tomorrow. Holy cow! It seems like just yesterday that he was all curled up and cuddling. Now he just wants to move!

I'm having some folks over to cook out tomorrow...looking very forward to that. I am a decent planner, but it is tough sometimes. We made this work, as we did the Brewer game so cool!

Speaking of Brewers, I wish they would stop sucking.......nothing like being at the bottom of the list!

Honestly...where is my happy place...because I feel a long way from it!!
There have been so many interesting things that people have done these past few days and I have just had time to consider all of them.
To the lady at Menards who was smoking while you were filling your propane tank.....seriously?? They put up those signs for safety reasons. I don't feel like having my family blown to pieces because you couldn't put down the smoke for a minute. Now I smoke, don't get me wrong. But I don't stupid smoke. You are the reason that people have to be treated like ignorance is the way to go.

To the older woman driving in your car today....you narrowly avoided an accident when you swerved into the other lane without looking....there is reason number one to get the hell off of your cell phone and drive. Reason number two, and with all due respect, you probably shouldn't have been behind the wheel of that big of a car anyway, and you most certainly should be paying more attention.

To the kids who continue to scream at the top of their lungs outside.....you are screaming for fun, but that blood curdling sound that is coming out of your mouth sounds murderous.....seriously. It is one of those things that makes people look out to see that you are o.k. ....and while you are giving me that look like why the hell am I looking out my window for, please stop and think that maybe if you weren't drawing attention to yourself, I might not be looking!

and.....stop throwing things over the fence!! If you want the things you lose back, then quit throwing the things that could hurt someone into my yard.....

Tomorrow is a new day!

Happy 4th of July!

I think that it is important to take some time and think about the meanings of a parade and fireworks and the whole idea behind Independence Day. Would independence from England have come regardless of the American Revolution? Someone would have headed it anyway, probably.... just not at the time that they did....It could have been the 4th of September

Here are some general facts:
~1804 - The first Fourth of July celebration west of the Mississippi occured at Independence Creek and was celebrated by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
~1926 - The 150th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence takes place throughout the nation
~One lucky Philadelphian purchased a $4.00 picture at a flea market. What they found behind the picture was an original 1776 printing of the Declaration of Independence. It was sold to TV producer Norman Lear for 8.1 million.


And a quote I quite like:
"A thoughtful mind, when it sees a Nation's flag, sees not the flag only, but the Nation itself; and whatever may be its symbols, its insignia, he reads chiefly in the flag the Government, the principles, the truths, the history which belongs to the Nation that sets it forth."-Henry Ward Beecher from The American Flag

Here is also to hoping that the Brewers don't suck it again today and tomorrow against the Cubs. I really would hate to see them swept. Also, truth be told, I really can't take any more heckling!

Summertime

Well, I think that summer is finally here! It has been terribly hot, but I am not complaining by any means! Elliot loves the pool and he likes to watch the other kids play too. He is getting the hang of splashing, which is fun to watch.

It has been a hectic few days with mom in the hospital and all that stuff. I had to apologize to my doctor because I missed an appointment..I guess my brain was just a bit off!

Dan is coming to visit us tomorrow! I haven't seen him since October and he hasn't met Elliot so I am really excited for that. We are going out to dinner with some friends and then try to hit up a ballgame tickets permitting.

My little guy got dedicated last Saturday, it was great to have the people there that were there. I couldn't have asked for it to go any better. What an amazing day! I just wanted to share a piece of what she said because it seemed so prolific to me.

Our children will live in the world we leave them. They will live with the problems we have not handled. We can not tell them how to live in that future. They are learning from us right now. What values, what passwords do we need to transmit to them that will give them the tools they will need? In out community we are called to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. We hold that each is a unique individual, precious in his or her own right, entitled to be receivied by loving arms and to be guided with sympathy and respect. We take it as a duty incumbent on us all to provide that love, care and support so that our children may grow to be confident in self, joined to a larger humantiy and loving of life.

On a different note, (and I see their point, but geez) I got a letter from a child support agency here in town telling me that I hadn't named a father on my birth certificate (I know) and that I should list that so that I can get child support, or list why I don't want to seek it. It sort of irritated me because I have a family member who is owed three years my salary of child support and they can't seem to do anything for her. How about take the forces that you are using for me and put that out to her? Just a thought! I understand govt. protocol and what not, but it had me a bit miffed for a while.

I am off to have lunch with the girls this afternoon! Good times :)

Alls well that ends well

I won't say that it has been a tough road, but I will say that it has been a challenge. Last night was the "final" class. Now to wait for the diploma to come in the mail and take the IL administrators test. I also have to renew my WI license...soon!

I know that the bird won't remember being there, but my hope for him is that he sets his goals high and accomplishes all that he sets out to do. I was talking to some friends the other night who told me not to downplay my accomplishments. It hit home. I guess I don't like to see like the one who is being a bragger. 2 masters degrees is an accomplishment, so for a second, yeah me! :)

Now that it is officially summer in my mind, the weather can warm up anytime. I have an open pool and 60 degree temps. What the heck??

My little dude turned six months in the blink of an eye. It's funny when people say it goes so fast, it sure the heck does!

I Wish for You

I wish you the courage to be warm
when the world would prefer that you
be cool.
I wish you success sufficient to your
needs I wish you failure to
temper that success.
I wish you joy in all your days; I
wish you sadness so that you
may better measure joy,
I wish you gladness to overbalance
grief,
I wish you humor and a twinkle in
the eye.
I wish you glory and the strength to
bear its burdens.
I wish you sunshine on your path
and storms to season your journey....
I wish you peace ~ in the world in
which you lie and in the
smallest corner of the heart
where truth is ketp.
I wish you faith ~ to help define
your living and your life.
More I cannot wish you ~ except
perhaps love ~ to make all
the rest worthwhile.

By Robert A. Ward.

Mother's Day

Ahhh, the first one! I am so excited! It seems strange I know, but these five months have been the most amazing of my life. This little dude has stolen my heart and there is nothing strange about that. He has taught me more patience than the hundreds of children I have taught over the years, he has brought so much joy by just a smile. It is amazing to watch my son learn. To realize his hands can grasp, and his voice can make sound! I wish a Happy Mother's Day to all of you out there. I think back to all of the things people said before E was born. They are all so true. Thanks to all of you for being such an awesome support to us, and for loving him so much...this tiny piece of me that I will alway promise to do my best for.

I got this poem from a friend and it is so fitting:

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom .