However...

I truly believe everything I said in my post yesterday.

HOWEVER, there does come a point in time when time DOES matter and you do have to get a move on!

Case in point: This morning. Evan, although in a pretty good mood, lolligagged around, taking his own sweet time about doing every. single. thing., would get upset when I told him he couldn't do something (whatever it may have been) because Mommy has to leave to go to work, blah, blah, etc., I told him (and this, too, is a fault of mine: thinking that a 3-year-old can rationalize just because he's really intelligent) that I have been trying for a long time to get him to hurry and eat or get dressed or whatever, so he can have some extra time to play with this or that (or whatever it was).

I have no idea if any of that even made sense.

But my point is this: Sometimes you DO have to hurry. This is the real world and time does matter. It's all about how you handle things with people. It's a tightrope balancing act...you don't want to push someone else off, but you can't get pushed off either!

Intolerant of the Unnecessary

I have discovered, just within the past few weeks, that I am very intolerant of things that seem unnecessary to me. My intolerance isn't discriminatory. It does not matter who is doing something I find unnecessary - it grates on me anyway.

Today - just this morning, actually - I think I figured out why I have developed this "affliction." And after reading my dear friend's post about her family's choice to educate at home, the relationships and values they want their children to develop, and how very quickly time passes, everything really pulled into focus for me. I am feeling very remorseful for the way I've become - but at the same time, I'm so grateful for the fact that I have finally figured out why I am this intolerant person. Now I need to give myself an attitude adjustment.

Why am I suddenly intolerant of the self-proclaimed unnecessary? Time. I feel so pressed for time every single day in just about everything I do, that if something seems unnecessary to complete a task - or it's something that stands in the way of my completion of a task on my time frame - I get very, very irritated. All I know is I want this done right now. Hurry up. Move. Here...just let me do it and get it over with. And at that exact moment in time, I'm not seeing the "big picture."

Does taking two more minutes in the morning to let Evan "tie" his shoes really affect the outcome of my day? Nope. In fact, taking those two minutes will do nothing but brighten my day - if for no other reason than to see the sunny smile on his face.

Does taking a few extra minutes to listen to Mikel talk about getting angry at the fact that he might have to work a day this weekend - before he deploys on Tuesday - affect how much work I'll get done? Maybe. But who cares? He's my baby...my first born...and he's deploying to Iraq on Tuesday. I should take every. single. minute. I can and enjoy him and even just the sound of his voice. And it means so much to him to know that I am really and truly listening and I really, truly care about what he's saying.

If I "lose" a few extra minutes by taking the extra time to enjoy and love my kids, my husband, my family, my friends, I can take a few extra minutes at the end of the day before I go to bed. Losing those few minutes will actually give me so much more...

I do tend to go out of my way to be as friendly - and tolerant - as I can be to people who aren't closest to me - sometimes more so than I do for those closest to me. I don't want to hurt those people's feelings. Subconsciously I probably take for granted that my loved ones will forgive me and that it's all good... and that's probably true. But hurts - even forgiven ones - leave scars. Our Savior loves us unconditionally and has forgiven us with all his heart - but he still bears the scars. But those scars aren't there to remind him...

I do think that our scars -whether emotional are physical - remind both the injured and injuring.
I certainly don't want to leave anymore scars on my cherished ones. I don't want my loves to feel pain I have inflicted, regardless of how unintentional it may be. I don't want to see the sad eyes or quivering lip or dejected downfall of shoulders or the shuffle off walk...I don't want to wake up in the middle of the night with the remembrance.

Granted, we should treat everyone with God's love and grace. But those who are our real, everlasting, true love relationships, deserve every ounce of love, grace, kindness, patience, respect...everything...we have to give. I know none of us are infallible and we will all make mistakes, make poor choices and decisions and treat even those we love badly sometimes. It can be a tough struggle and balance, as I have so abruptly realized. But I think that if we are truly aware of how valuable our love, relationships and time are, and if we do our very best to behave the way we should, our loves will see, feel and understand that and our mistakes will leave fewer and smaller scars.

Carrots and Broccoli and Bears, Oh My!

I am not a cooked veggie eater. I prefer them raw, or not at all. I don't like the smell, texture or taste of cooked veggies. Well, except green beans, corn and potatoes...although I kinda don't count corn and potatoes as veggies. Anyway, since I don't eat them cooked, I really have no way of knowing if there is a difference in taste in frozen or canned. I know fresh is best (and, again, raw, in my opinion), but sometimes we can't always do that. Apparently there is a difference. And apparently Evan can taste it.

Tonight he had carrots and broccoli (both frozen, but cooked and had butter and even honey, in the case of the carrots) with his chicken. After he ate, he wanted to have the last two cookies that were made last night. He ate all the chicken, but didn't eat more than a bite of the carrots or broccoli. I told him he had to eat a lot more carrots before I would let him have the cookies.

So, he goes off into the dining room (I was in Mikel's room at the time) and in a couple of minutes tells me, "Okay, Mom...they're all gone. The carrots are all gone." I thought, to myself that he must've really wanted the cookies...I said to him, "They're all gone?" he answered yes, and as I turned around, I caught him getting down from the table - plate in hand, and still full of carrots, thank you - and heading off to the sink to dump them out. I was floored. Couldn't believe it.

I went in and explained to him that what he was trying to do was wrong and the same as lying, which would get him in a lot of trouble. I told him if he wants the cookies, he has to eat his carrots. I told him not to get down from the table and I would come back and check.

A few minutes later, he says he had his bites. I went in to look....and the little con man had HIDDEN THE CARROTS UNDER THE RANCH AND KETCHUP HE HAD FOR HIS CHICKEN!!!!!!!! I sat there and made him eat three bites as a matter of principle, but I thought that was probably really cruel and unusual because obviously, he didn't like them. He never complained - just flat out wasn't going to eat them and was determined to find a way not to. He usually eats carrots (and broccoli, only raw), so this was unusual.

Now I'm really going to have to watch him...and check the trash...and the toilet...and the dog bowls...

Outsourcing

I hate outsourcing. Well, let me clarify that. I hate international outsourcing. And unfortunately, I encounter it every. single. day.

My soapbox is the same as that of many other Americans, I'm sure. It sickens me that there are millions of people here who are out of work and there are thousands of jobs - if not millions, when you include all American companies and "American made" products that fall into the category - that are being given to outsourcing companies or factories in other countries.

I called AT&T the other day about my U-Verse service. It was about 11:00 p.m. I got a young lady who didn't have the faintest clue what I was talking about. I finally asked her if she had ever seen the U-Verse product. After a long pause and some hesitation, she finally told me she had not. I proceeded to give her some insight as to my thoughts on the matter...how on God's green earth (and I did NOT care if my reference to my Holy Father offended her) could AT&T outsource CUSTOMER SERVICE and TECH SUPPORT to a company full of people who had never even SEEN the service??? It sent me right over the edge. And believe me, when I can figure out a way to get to someone who "counts" at AT&T, I plan to let them know about it.

Several times a week I have to call various insurance agencies and I seem to always wind up talking to someone who is somewhere other than the 48 contiguous United States - or even in North America. Like they have ANY clue about how our insurance system works.

And you know, there are SO MANY people who are not in the U.S. who have access to private information. Kind of a sobering thought, really.

And you know what "reasons" I hear (other than the obvious that it's cheaper)? I hear that American workers don't want to do the jobs, so companies don't have a choice. I hear that American workers aren't educated enough to do the jobs. Oh really? As opposed to someone who hasn't ever seen the product or service???

I can't argue with the fact that American's probably don't want to do a thankless job (since most people calling for customer service or support are typically ticked off) for minimum wage or something else insulting. If companies make it worth a worker's while (and I'm not talking outrageous amounts here), the return from the worker is well worth it. And if you think someone isn't educated enough, educate them. Hey, that concept can create more jobs...

Yeah, let's fix the economy...

Let's start by giving corporations a break (tax or whatever) for bringing jobs back here. Let's have them renovate some unused buildings (renovation - more jobs for construction, etc.) to house these American workers who want to go back to work. Maybe they can get some type of rebate for that, too. Or maybe they can figure out a way for more people to telecommute, which would save money and the environment if there are less people driving.

Let's make things attractive to EVERYONE by bringing jobs back. See what that does for the economy. Don't you think that if more people are working, more money will go back into the economy? People can maybe pay their bills and mortgages...Banks and lenders can get back on track.

I would be willing to bet that if you started asking the out-of-work Americans, they would be really happy to take back OUR jobs!!!

White Cloud

I have tried a couple of different White Cloud products.  Overall, they are pretty good, especially for the price.  Here's what I tried and what I think:

White Cloud diapers - They work GREAT!!!  They fit Evan very, very well and we haven't had any major accidents.  The only time we use these now is at night.

White Cloud pull-ups - Again, GREAT!!!  One feature that these have that other major name brands don't, is the ability to adjust the size.  (Evan wears a 3T-4T, but they're a bit big so I adjust them.)  While they all have the kind of "velcro" stuff on the side to enable access to check for wetness (or other unmentionables), none of the others are as good at re-closing as White Cloud.  They are very absorbent and, when adjusted properly, don't leak.  They're pretty soft and comfy for him, too.  Oh yeah, he loves the monster truck design!

White Cloud toilet paper - Two thoughts:  cardboard and sandpaper.  Oh, yeah...not very "absorbent" either.  Kinda seems like that generic, industrial TP at Wal-Mart...  

Leavin'...On a Jet Plane...Then Heading for a Looong Layover...

I took Mike to the airport this morning to go back to Ft. Benning to finish Basic Training.  He is connecting to Atlanta through Dallas.  After I dropped him off, I got a call from American Airlines that his flight from Dallas to Atlanta was canceled and he had been rescheduled on a later flight.  Lucky him!  He gets to spend six glorious, fun-filled hours in DFW Airport!!!  Now his flight leaves Dallas at 3:30 and arrives in Atlanta at 6:40.  Not a great day for him...

Happy New Year - and all that good stuff!

Christmas has come and gone. So has New Year's Day. It's January 4, 2009. And this is my first blog of the new year.

First, an update of the Christmas holiday season.

It flew by so fast I hardly saw it coming and I don't know that I've even missed it now that it's gone. Mikel came home on December 20, left for Colorado on December 24...came home on December 29 and then leaves again for Ft. Benning on January 6. I've barely seen him. I keep telling myself it's okay...he's still a kid...his friends are who he wants to see (obviously more fun)...don't get my feelings hurt...don't get mad...It's hard NOT to get mad/hurt when he takes off to see his dad's side of the family, though, without even a thought as to ask me if I have anything planned...sigh. It's hard to just let things go when you know how much you've done - and continue to do - for someone, and they go the other way. What do you do? Quit doing? Quit helping? I don't think that's what Jesus would do.

Anyway... Christmas was a hoot. Evan had a blast. He got a keyboard (something I question my sanity about every day), a remote control dinosaur (which is really, really cute), a semi-truck, a camping gear set - complete with binoculars, a set of eagle binoculars (that I got for $2.00 [they were originally $12] because I didn't think the ones in the camping gear set would work, but they do...and better than the eagle ones), a block puzzle, clothes...and Santa brought him a kitchen, a Peter Pan DVD, a Curious George book, and a HORN. I'm wondering when it will be bring your favorite Christmas present to daycare day...

I worked in the office through most of the Chrismas season. Fortunately, Pat got to be home and he and Evan "hung out" while I worked. They had a B-L-A-S-T! I'm really, really, really glad they got to!

So, I've made some New Year's Goals. Yes, "goals." Resolutions, to me, are something that must take shape immediately. Like going cold turkey on something. I think you're setting yourself up for failure with things like that. Goals are something you work towards.

Some of my goals:

1. Blog regularly. About whatever. (See...here's my start.)
2. Keep in touch with people better. (I sent an e-mail to Vlad, Marina and Mascha with some pictures attached yesterday.)
3. Keep my house cleaner and neater. (I started this one on New Year's Eve. I cleaned most my kitchen - need to do some more thorough cleaning of the fridge, oven and floors. And it's stayed that way. Cleaned out the junk drawer. No dishes stacked in the sink. No junk on the counters. I also cleaned up my closet. Got lots more to do on that one. On New Year's Day I rearranged my desk in the living room. I admit this was more to mask some of the clutter behind it because I can't get rid of most of it. But hey, it looks better. I have more to do all over the house...)
4. Exercise regularly. Something every day.

These are just a few. I have more. Don't want to give away everything in one blog...