Minor Phillies

Today marks the beginning of the playoffs for Headless Boy#1's baseball team, the minor league Phillies. It is a 2 week, double elimination extravaganza, that has all of us parents biting our nails.

The season started out a little rough for us. HB1 is not the best player on the team and it has taken all season for him to hit his stride. He took things really hard in the beginning, including some evenings of tears, but has grown as a player, made some great friends, and learned some life-lessons along the way.

Our team party was on Saturday evening. The family that hosted, the M's, have a great pool, with a waterfall, slide, and a jacuzzi, so obviously the kids swam first. I think that there were about 20 kids crammed into that pool! Also included in the evening was a frozen drink machine, (fruit punch for the kids and margaritas for the parents!), a popcorn machine, and an outdoor movie for the kids after dinner. Dinner was mostly potluck, and our contribution was Headless Dad's unmatched tri-tip. (Really, you should try it. He's the Grill Master.)

The best thing about this team is that we have finally connected with so many local parents on a personal level. Even outside of baseball. All of the parents have agreed that this has been the best social team that we've ever been on, so you can imagine the fun that we had on Saturday night. This was no sit-and-watch-the-kids-and-make-small-talk-party. Oh no. There were plenty of adults that rotated to watch the pool, but in between there were deep belly laughs, and eventually shots of tequilla for those with iron stomachs. (Uh, not me.)

Our manager and coach were the perfect balance of tough and positive. They only ever expected any boy to perform to his own level and that helped each boy to reach his potential for this year. We started the season with one pitcher, and are going into the playoffs with 3 really good ones, and at least 3 others that can finish out a game well. I think the kids are 'peaking' at the right point of the season-within the last few weeks they have bear the first place team, tied the second place team, and come from behind to win or come that.close in 2 other games. We could actually do well over the next 2 weeks.

Finding my people has been a highlight of the season for me. I have people! For 11 years I have looked for my people and all it took in the end was the minor Phillies. Who knew? So on Monday evening, between 5 and 7 pacific time, could you send up a little prayer for us to extend this season a little bit longer? I'm not ready for it to be over quite yet, and neither are the boys.

Choices and Discipline

Sweet mercy, Lysa has got it goin' on today.

Go forth and see what she has to say today about choices and the discipline to make things happen.

And the very best quote? Is this:

A very wise man once challenged me with the reality of God’s holiness. “God tells us to be holy. So, be holy. He wouldn't have said it, if it wasn't possible.”

Can you say convicted?

16 Things for Summer

I was tagged on Facebook for the "16 things that I can't do without this summer" meme. Thanks, Kel! Way to give me some filler!

1. My Macbook Pro
   
2. Wireless internet for lounging on the patio
3. Chore lists for the kids
4. A new bathing suit
5. Airline passes
6. Sunscreen
7. Friends with pools
8. Books
9. Bananagrams
10. New friends for the kids
11. New friends for the adults
12. Small coolers that can be carried by the kids
13. A sangria recipe that I want to try
14. Church camp
15. Angels' games
16. My most amazing partner and friend, Headless Dad, because he never questions the pajama days.

I won't tag anyone but if you write your own link it in the comments here so I can come by and check them out!

5 Things to do in 5 minutes

I am constantly finding my self with 5 or 10 minutes before I have to do something. 5 minutes until I have to pick up the kids from school. 5 minutes until bedtime (for the kids, not me!), or until a television show comes on, or until the oven goes off, or whatever. Here is my-

Top 5 Things to do when I have 5 Minutes to Spare:

1. Put that load of laundry in the dryer, or start one in the washer.
2. Dust and polish that vase that you've been eyeing on the mantle. Yes, the one with the fingerprints from Christmas!
3. Throw away 5 pieces of paper off of your desk that you don't need.
4. Pick up the family room, (blankets folded, pillows off of the floor, shoes and other miscellaneous stuff grabbed and moved out of the floor.)
5. Check email/facebook/twitter/reader one more time. (Hey! I'm a blogger! Do you really think I would leave that one out?)

Check out other Works for Me Wednesday tips over at We Are That Family. Hey! This is my first entry over there! Can't wait to check out other tips, and next week is the ever-popular "Mom, I'm Bored" summer extravaganza. Don't forget!

A Big Fat Rat of a Tale

(Warning: this is going to get gross. Please don't read while eating your breakfast, and don't say you weren't warned!)

Several months ago when Headless girl was home for the weekend, she mentioned that she was hearing something in the attic.

Um, what?

Apparently, there was quite a lot of activity at night, somewhere above her room. Like the great parents and homeowners we are, we ignored it.

A few weeks later I went in the garage early one morning and a rat ran up the garage door track, across the ceiling, along a beam (over my head, I might add,) and into a hole. Yes, I screamed bloody murder.

Headless Dad diligently set traps in the garage, and at the hole where I saw the rat disappear.

Fast forward a couple of weeks to when my parents were visiting, the first week of March. (We had not yet caught one critter.)

While my parents were here we caught not one, but 2 rats. Coming out of that hole in the wall. (Apparently, they were living in the attic and this hole was their gateway to food and water. Nice.) Thank goodness for my dad, the Master Rat Trapper. He was the one that took care of the dirty work. (Love you, Dad!) Each time, he would empty the trap and reset it.

Sometime in all of this, Headless Dad was cleaning the garage and saw a mouse running around the other side and decided that our problem was just mice. Yeah, right. I know my rats from my mice, Mister. Fat bellies and long tails.

About this time I was going into the garage late in the evening and noticed that the trap had been sprung. Like the grown up that I am, I decided against going in the garage, closed and locked the door, and left. Left it all for HD in the morning. I'm a giver. When he checked the trap he made the most lovely discovery. We had certainly caught another rat coming out of the wall, but his buddies must have been reeeeealy hungry, because they had canibalized him to get out of the attic. (I warned you!)

Around this time we started to have a lovely smell that we discovered was coming from the wall between the garage and our guest room. (Maybe you saw my tweets about this? I was desperate to get rid of the stink; it was awful!) Turns out they only stink for 7-10 days. Who knew?

So right after the stink went away my parents came back for another visit over Mothers' Day. And yes, the Master Rat Trapper caught another rat. Not even kidding!

So now we are thinking that this has GOT to be the end of the rats, right? Hahahahahahahahaha.

One afternoon the following week I was innocently taking out the trash and right outside my back door was another one. Luckily, that one was already dead, but that also meant that our neighbors seem to be having the same problem and rather than using traps they must have been using poison. I left that one for Headless Dad, too. I told you, I'm a giver.

Fast forward to the past week, and we have begun to smell 'it' again. The smell was faint, would come and go, but we had not been able to find the source.

Leave it to Mom, right? Yes, I found the culprit today- RIGHT UNDER THE CHAIR WHERE HD SITS IN THE GARAGE!!! We had been sitting over and walking around a dead mouse for over a week. No kidding, when I told HD and he went to get it we were both so creeped out. Thank goodness he will do stuff like that because I would have been tempted to just move out and leave all of the crap in the garage. Possibly including my car.

Dead rat count: 5 Dead mouse count: 1

Can this please be the end? Please?

Around The Blogosphere

Happy Memorial Day, everyone. I hope you have hugged your local vet in honor of today.

I have so many links for you that I thought a holiday would be a great time to throw them in. Most of us will have a little extra time today, right? Please follow the trail I'm leaving, and throw these gals (and a guy!) a comment or two to let them know you were around.

Queen B- The royal family asking for some serious prayer for their daughter to be released from Guatemala for adoption. God moves in mighty ways, let's all help them out, ok?

Carmen of Mom To The Screaming Masses and Issa of Issa's Crazy World both have recently had miscarriages and could use some cyber hugs.

Shan of Charming B**** is recovering from the most radical cancer surgery that I've ever heard of. Please pray for her family and her recovery.

If you're new to blogging, or are just looking for some tips to freshen things up, go see Michelle of Scribbit. She has written an e-book that is knocking my socks off. And it's FREE!!!

Loralee, Backpacking Dad and Ramblin' Red became parents again this week, (although not with each other, heh), and their boys, all 3 of them, are so cute, it's making my ovaries hurt.

I have an IRL friend that has recently joined us bloggers. Just Breathe is becoming a delightful place to hang out, and her puppy is TOO adorable. Go see for yourself!

Anne Glamour of My Tiny Kingdom has thrown in the towel on blogging. I'm heartbroken. If you haven't added your goodbye to her last post, you should, and while you are there read my favorite post of hers titled "It's Natural, But It's Rated R" and be prepared to laugh your socks off. I miss you, Anne!

Carmen is also now writing for Diets in Review, which is a great place for exercise and nutrition information. Check it out and let her know you were there on one of her posts!

Gwendomama is having a rough time right now, to say the least. If you can help her out, (and after reading her story you'll want to,) then use paypal to give her a little boost if you can. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

You all read Post Secret, right? Well, similarly there is Dear Old Love. And if you like more interactive sites, then there is In Three Words, where you can add your 3 word answer to the prompt. These blogs always make me think...

So, I think that I have covered them all. Have a great day, y'all, and have a hot dog for me!

My Spring Comforter

I have been paralyzed by the tired this week. On Wednesday my kids get out of school early and after homework was done I took a two hour nap. On Friday after I picked the kids up from school I took a 3 hour nap. The tired has taken over, like an oversized comforter in winter that keeps the snowy chill away.

I want the possibilities of time to take over. Projects await, screaming at me from all directions. Paint! Clean! Purge! Laundry! But the loudest voice of all is that comforter of sleep, lulling me back down, down, until my eyes flutter shut. I don't see the mess all around. All I see are the dreams running through my mind, the ones that are not regularly there, the ones that incorporate all of the sounds that drift in through the windows of sleep.

Some are energized by this time of year. The beautiful weather lulls them outside for the sun's energy and possibilities that were dampened by the winter's gray. All I can ever seem to muster is the opening of the windows for the fresh breeze to blow sweet sleep across my freshly bare arms as I roll over and pull the comforter around me once more.

Blended Families

I don't often talk about it, here or in real life, but I am 'technically' a step-mom to Headless Girl. Her father and I married when she had just turned 7. Her bio-mom was out of the picture (at least at home,) by the time she was 3 and I am the only day-to-day, in-the-home mother that she has ever known. (She does have a relationship with her mother, which I will might discuss at another time.)

First, I don't talk about this because I don't feel like a "step." HG has always lived with her father. When we met, she made it very clear that her mother lived in another city. Headless Dad made it very clear what he was looking for (yep, another post,) and clear that I would instantly be her mother-figure in the home. I went from being single to being a wife and mother in the same instant. Notice that I didn't say step-mother. I am her mother-from being the Brownie leader, to tending skinned knees, to talk about boys and college, I have always felt like her mother and always treated her as such.

Another reason that I don't talk about this is because I am only one wheel on this four-wheeled bus. It is not entirely my story to tell. HG, HD, and the bio-mom all have their own "truth" about this whole saga and in many ways I feel like I am the spare tire, rather than the actual wheel. I will try to talk about me, about my feelings, my reactions, and my general beliefs about step-families, hopefully without injecting how they feel, react, and what they believe.

I have to be sensitive about this. I'm sure you can see why.

My Mother and Granny used to say that there are always two sides to a story, and then the truth. I want to share some of my truth, and the knowledge that I've gained, with you. Tune in next time!

American Idol-Finale

Here we are at the end again. I was so sad to see Danny go last week but glad that Kris was staying. Why couldn't Adam have gone home?

I think that I must say here that I think that Adam is very talented. He has an excellent voice and great stage presence. I like that he is so humble and appreciative of this opportunity. He seems sincere about supporting his fellow contestants. My problem with Adam is that his style is more suited for the stage-as in Broadway or Las Vegas. He has already had a career and I'm certain that it will continue-in a big way, but I don't feel that he is a pop star. American Idol, to me, is the person that will appeal to the widest possible audience. That person is not Adam, in my opinion.

Kris, on the other hand is much more like what I would expect a pop star to be. Very talented musically and vocally. Kris definitely has the 'David Cook" vibe, as far as the variety of style goes. He can change up a song to be exactly "him." Not to mention that he is so darn cute!

So, rather than blog each song I'll give you a quick synopsis at the end. (I do like the format tonight. Quick, not much time in between performances.)

Well, to be honest, (like Simon says!) I really think that Kris knocked it out of the park tonight. The last song by Adam was awful, not his style at all and the vocals were off, just like Randy said. And actually, Kris had a hard time with it too but I liked Kris' version better-no screaming.

Well, all that's left is the voting and I'm sure you can guess who we are voting for. What about you?


photo courtesy AmericanIdol.com

Sophie has her Mr. Linky up at BooMama- head on over and see if your favorite is getting votes!

Bananagrams

I heard about this game from a blogger, I think. (Melanie? Shannon?) Really, sooo addictive.

The basic gist of it is that you get a bunch of tiles and have to make your own 'crossword' with them. You play against others and the first to run out of tiles is the winner.

I bought this last week when my parents were in town and my mom and I were addicted within minutes. It is a great game for parents to play with kids-it is equalized. You make your own words and 2 or 3 letter words count just as much as 7 letter words. Since it is very portable I would suggest it for your motor home, or toss it in your bag for vacation. You'll be glad you did!

My PSA for the day. Go get this game-it retails for $14.99, so it's totally affordable. Available at Amazon and Target.

(Not compensated for this, just love it!)

Twitter-I'm Not In It For The Numbers

Edited below

We all know that Twitter has exploded lately. First it was politics, now it's celebrities and newscasters. Even my followers have gone through the roof. Is that really a good thing? Some would say yes, but I'm here to tell you that I disagree.

Twitter is essentially an entertainment and communication site, right? But if you are following thousands of people how can you possibly focus on any one of them? Or ten or twenty for that matter? There are 343-some odd followers of @HeadlessMom out there and I would venture to say that there are about a hundred businesses/web gurus/random people that could care less what my kid did today, if I had a flat tire, or what I'm cooking for dinner. Honestly, I could care less what their latest thing is, either.

I'm here for my friends. To me, Twitter is a conversation with my friends-that live all over the country and world. Marcy recently wrote about her criteria for a follow-back. I loved her list but would like to add a few of my own. Why I won't follow you back:

• You reference Oprah in your bio. Unless you're her blood relative I don't care how much you love her. I don't.
  
• You don't have a blog or a website. (Unless you're my own blood relative, then you get a pass.)
• You have 1 follower and no updates.
  
• All of your updates are links to your site, or @ messages that are not conversational. Remember, I'm here for the relationships, not the advertising.
• You are a tarot card reader/wiccen something or other/hocus pocus believer. I follow Jesus, and if you had visited my blog you would know that. I'll pray for you, but you won't get a follow.

If I've missed you and you are a blogger, I'm sorry. @ me and I'll make it right. But if you fall into one of those categories above, don't bother. Actually, feel free to unfollow me if you wish. I'm not in it for the numbers.

Oh, and check out how I would have Twittered an evening last May. Comedy, if I do say so myself.

*Edited to add: I will not follow you if the first thing I see on your website is an ad for penis enhancement. Seriously?

A Benefit of Living in Southern California

I'm usually pretty clear about the fact that I don't love living in Southern California, and there's many reasons for that. However, I'm here today to tell you that there are some benefits. (I know!) There are also benefits to having a husband that is on call 24/7- he makes really good friends on those overnight jobs; friends that want to take us out to have fun.

On Wednesday evening we had the great fortune to have been invited to Angel Stadium of Anaheim to see the Angels host the Boston Red Sox. I'll get to the game in just a minute but Oh Man, we had the greatest dinner before the game.

We met Headless Dad's business friend and his wife at The Lazy Dog Cafe near the stadium a couple of hours before game time. Happy Hour Pomegranite Mojitos for me (I'd never had one before...y'all were holding out on me. Summer yumminess in a glass. Seriously,) beers for the guys, and a cosmo for my fellow wife-in-attendance. I had the Maggie's Snake River salad: BACON, (hello, anything with bacon is yummy,) cranberries, candied walnuts. (Don't talk to me about calories, folks, it could have been worse.)

Once we got to the game we only had to wander for a moment to get to our seats. (If you want to see exactly where we sat, click on this, then click on section 111. Oh my word.) Our seats were right behind the dugout. Honestly, Vladimir Guerrero stood in front of us for half of the game, and we could have set our beers on the dugout. Well, if they allowed that sort of thing. After a slow start for the Angels, they beat the Red Sox, 8-4, in an entirely-too-short game. With seats like that you want to linger a little longer. We even made the jumbo-tron in the first inning-a first for the headless couple!

So, see? There are great benefits to living in Southern California. I'll take nights like that any time! My only regret? That I didn't bring my camera. (I know, "bad blogger!")

Just in case you're wondering: I was not paid for this post. My husband and I were guests of another couple for this evening and I loved every minute so much I had to share my experience. I'm a good blogger that way. However, if you are a business owner or PR person in Southern California feel free to contact me to write about your product at my review blog.

Wordless Wednesday

American Idol-Top 3

Adam, Kris, and Danny with 2 songs each tonight. Whoot!

Danny- Dance Little Sister-I somehow don't know this song, but it sounds good vocally. I'm not sure if the lack of recognition will hurt him though. There just isn't a whole lot of excitement on our couch.

Kris-Apologize-Hmmm, don't know this one either. I'm waaay out of touch. He sounds great, like the piano, but not the song I would have chosen for him at.all. Same as with Danny-good but no excitement. (Thank you Simon. Give him a song but criticize him for not changing it? Sheesh.)(I wonder if the no excitement thing will carry over to Adam, if they will give him a no excitement song too? Oh, that's right. He is the golden boy so it's probably a given that he will get a great song. Gah!)

Adam- One- (By U2. Oh, no song recognition there. Cough.) Sorry, but I hate this. I hate his screaming, his facial expressions, THE TONGUE. Gross. I really didn't like this at all.

*I'm pissed. 2 unknown songs and then this? A major song by a group known all around the world? Really unfair.

Danny- You Are So Beautiful- Wow. I don't know what to say. There are some really great parts to this, but there were some bad notes in the beginning. I like it now that the tempo has picked up some. Headless Dad digs it-a lot!

Kris- Heartless- Perfect that he is back with his guitar. This is what he does best, and he did a great job tonight. I really think that he rocked it! (And he has the sweetest smile ever. You can't tell me I'm wrong.)

Adam- (Of course he's going last, right?) Crying- Nope. Still not doing it for me. (Could have something to do with the fact that I don't love Aerosmith, too, but not much.) He ends his songs like he's on broadway. Oh yeah, he does stage work. Ha. I really didn't like the arrangement, either. (I'll give Adam props for his humble-ness with Ryan at the end, though. That was really nice.)

All right. I bet you know who we are voting for in the Headless House, no? Exercise your rights and GO VOTE!

Then head on over to Sophie's place and read more recaps! (Uh oh. I think she may be taking a break this week. I'll link it later if she posts.)

Update-Cuz You Totally Care, Right?

So, last we checked in on the Headless family they were preparing for grandparents. God, I love those people. Our weekend, by the bullet:

• They got in late, late, late on Wednesday evening.
• I ditched the volunteering responsibilities for Thursday and Friday.
• Errands and baseball on Thursday.
• Headless Dad and my dad played golf on Friday.

Side note: HD shot a 77 on Friday. A 77!!! It was his best round ever, and believe me, we still haven't heard the end of it yet. I think that we now have a monster on our hands.

• My mom and I went shopping. Such a treat! We went to Anthropologie, and found oodles of fun stuff. A post of it's own.
• We had lunch at Cheesecake Factory and ordered from their new little portion menu. 3 things for the 2 of us was perfect. Go try it! The price was right, too.
  
• Joe's Crab Shack for dinner. Yum.
• 9:15 baseball game for #2 on Saturday morning, then a birthday party in the afternoon.
• HD put up my new ceiling fan in our bedroom. He was not happy during the process but I am elated with the outcome. The old fan was BLUE, people. Anything would have been a step up but this one is truly beautiful. That's all I wanted for Mother's day. Seriously.
  
• 2:15 game for #1.

Side note: It was HB#1's best game of the season. He got a hit, scored, and got an out at first base. He should have gotten the game ball for that, I tell you. I was so excited for him! They also beat the 2nd place team...soundly.

• We were invited to a friend's house for dinner-no cooking again!
• The kids got to swim for the first time this season.
  

Side note: This is a new family that we have gotten to know this spring and we have a great time together. Our kids get along well and we laugh. Oh how we laugh! I think we have found some people. Yay for people!

• On Sunday we went to church, had a relaxing afternoon, and Headless Dad grilled chicken.
• I got wonderful cards and gifts from my kids-handmade and from the heart-the perfect kind.
• I drove to the not-so-close airport today so they could get home. :-(

It was a great visit this time, the last one was truly headless. This one, not so much. Which is just how I like it.

Thanks for not publicly flogging me for my mini-break. It was just what I needed!

Oh man, how I hate to do this kind of post right now, but...

My parents are coming in for a few days and I may not post. The last time they were in it was really, really headless around here so this time? We are going to have some fun and enjoy one another. (And most probably sweat to death. What's up with the weather? Freezing, then hot, and nothing in between. Sheesh!)

I'll be back by Monday, for sure. Thanks for coming by...I see you! and I really appreciate that you come to see me.

Muuaah!

American Idol-Rock Night

I watched Bonnie Hunt today and she did a great interview with Kara D. I really like her. A lot. She is smart, she is focused, and she is real. Not all 'celebrity-ish', but down to earth and normal. I like that in a celebrity. Heh.

Ok, here we go-top 4, rock night. Could be good, or a train wreck... and Slash is the mentor. Hmmm. I like that it's going to be different, but I wonder who I will really like? Let's go!

Adam-Whole Lotta Love-Ok, see, I'm listening and it sounds ok, but then I look at him and I just die. Sorry Steph and The Mom; I just can't. The bare chest is just wrong, the make up is wrong, the black nail polish is wrong.

Allison-Cry Baby- I'm not a huge Janis fan, so we'll see how this goes..Huh. I like it so far. She's got great control. I really like this-she's got the voice for it, for sure.

(I love, love, love LOVE the Kris/Danny duet. I'm buying this one if it's on itunes!)(Rats. The duets aren't for sale.)

Kris- Come Together- Great song choice for Kris. I think he did amazing!

Danny- Dream On- (Can he hear himself? It looks like he can't hear the monitor?) Not great from Danny vocally, it's a really hard song. I'm still a fan, and we're voting because we don't want him to go home. So there's that.

(Adam and Allison duet of Slow Ride. Eew, the tongue. But good. They're having fun!)

Ok, top to bottom, Kris, Allison, Danny, Adam.

Tell me what you think, then go see what everyone else thinks at Sophie/BooMama's place!

Requesting Teachers: Necessity or No No?

Reading Lindsey's post the other day got me thinking about one of the things that I usually never do, but did anyway just last month. Before I get too far ahead of myself let me start at the beginning...

I don't believe in requesting teachers for my children. Here's why:

• Current teachers usually make the class lists for the next year. I have a fundamental trust in teachers, in general, that they really do want what is best for my/your child.
  
• Current teachers know what personalities of teachers/children will work best.
  
• Current teachers know what work load your child has to look forward to the following year and which teacher will work with your child the best.
• Each class level needs to be balanced within the classes and the current teachers are the best judges of how to balance them by district standards.
  
• We all have to learn how to deal with all kinds of people throughout our lives. College professors are notorious for being very strict in their rules. If I am constantly getting the nicest/most lenient/whatever teacher, then I am really doing my child a disservice. We will all have a teacher/boss/co-worker/neighbor that we really don't get along with but have to work with anyway. Isn't childhood the best time to learn how to deal with those that we don't get along with?

Over the last few months we've had some issues with HB#2 not getting all of his work done in class. I can't just say that he doesn't understand the work, because he does. I have been working with his teacher but nothing really seems to work. I pop in unexpectedly (requested by the teacher,) and he is still daydreaming. I remind him to 'get movin', and nothing. In many ways I love my son's teacher but I'm not sure if her mild manner is 'harsh' enough for him to get over this hump. I have talked to her-and him!- about this, to no avail.

This is where this year's letter comes in.

I really need him to have a strict teacher for second grade. Not one that will be a push over for his cuteness. (He's seriously cute.) Not one that will let some of this slide. Not one that will just let him get over it in time. I need a teacher that will push him to achieve, that will help him to believe in himself a little more. {Yes, I know that most teachers, especially primary teachers, have these things built into their DNA. However, some are more effective than others, right?}

I spoke with his current teacher about his placement for next year, letting her know that I wanted him with a teacher that would be pretty hard on him. I also had a phone conversation with the principal about my wishes for the type of classroom that he should be in. I then wrote her a letter reminding her of our conversation but I also added the name of a teacher that I would like for #2 to have. She was planning on retiring and I just found out that she won't be retiring until later. I think that she would be a perfect fit for my son-she runs a really tight classroom, does not take crap from any student, pushes the kids really hard, and does it all in a pleasant way. My HB#1 had similar issues in 1st grade and the teacher that I requested for #2 was the best thing for him. He started out thinking that she didn't like him but by the end of the year was saying that she was his favorite.

If I can just get #2 through 2nd grade getting his work done then I think that it will be a success. In my experience so far, second grade is really crucial in this area because they are preparing them to take their first round of standardized tests, and if a child can't get regular work done then it cuts into test prep. (Just don't get me started on standardized tests, ok? That's a topic for another day. Or not.) If they don't get all of their work done now then they will have a harder time in 3rd grade, where things move much faster, and they will get behind even quicker than before. It just snowballs from here.

I want to stay on top of this and the best way to do it was to write the dreaded letter. We'll see what comes of it.

What are your thoughts on requesting teachers? Have you done it? Why or why not? Were you happy with the choice or did you wish that you hadn't requested anyone?

Joy

²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (James 1:2-3)

I am sitting right here in James this week, and I don't have to read very far into it to feel like I need to linger here for a long, long time.

If you've been reading me very long you'll now that joy is one of the hardest things to have. Finding it? It's elusive. Keeping it? It's slippery. I struggle with joy.

I do love my family more than my underlying lack of joy would have you believe. My husband is a wonderful man that routinely does the most amazing things for me just to bring a smile to my face. My children are happy and healthy. We have a great extended family.

Trials-I used to think of them as the BIG STUFF. You know what I'm talking about without even having to say it. I am so blessed to not have big stuff (so far) in my life. I have made so many friends through church, school, even this blog, that have had to step up to the plate for the big stuff, that I, in many ways cannot even comprehend what they have gone through. What they go through on a daily basis. What is my problem when compared to what other's do every day?

But that's the mistake when reading this passage. My mistake. My trials are not your trials. My internal trials are hard-for me. I really need to find- count! the joy in every frustration that I have, every day.

Dirty socks that don't hit the basket? At least I'm blessed to have socks and a basket. AND a floor for them to hit.

Dinner is later than I would have wanted? I am so thankful that we have food on our table, in abundance, when there are many others that have less... or none.

Whining during homework? I have children. They are healthy.

I want the joy. I want it deep in my soul. I want the trials that I face to end up reflecting the joy that God has for all of us when we believe and linger in Him. I don't want to miss one moment on this earth that could be- no, CAN BE joy.

So I'm going to read James this week, this month. Soak it into my soul. And find the joy.

Quoted

John O'Hurley, in the May 2009 PGA Tour Partners Magazine: (complete the sentence)

My worst vice is "I collect wine, but I don't have any rare wines because it's rare that there's any wine left in my house."

Hey John? Wanna come over? I think we'd be good friends.

Saturday Shots

Winners are up over at Headless Family Reviews and Giveaways, but I need some help with a winner...