Humming

I was listening to the MoTab Praise to the Man CD today. Now my Tree Monkey is humming the tune to The Morning Breaks.

It's pretty awesome to my ears.

Happy 4th of July everyone!!! I LOVE this country cause it's the BEST!!!

Holy Pay Day Batman!!!!

Updated to fix the weird formatting that happened and I just noticed.

Welp, I've been a bawling tears of love and gratitude for going on a week now.

Last week my girls and I had some great moments of love and togetherness. Touched my heart BIG time.

Thursday our foster son from Venezuela found out that he will get his green card and work visa in the mail with in 2 weeks. He then proceeded to tell me about his education plans. I asked him if he would be staying at our home while he did all that. He said, "I want to."

Most kids in foster care don't want to be where they are. When they turn 18 they want to do what ever they want . . . . .  when they want. They don't want your rules and they can't wait to get out of your home. So to have one say that they want to stay is . . . . . WOW . . . . . . just WOW!!

L'il Red stopped by with a rose and a bookmark. He gave me card that tells me he loves me and he wrote a note inside that says, "Thank you for everything" in. He is doing well and transitioning back to his aunt and uncles. They will eventually adopt him. Makes me smile to see that happening. He can now call me auntie Klin instead of mommy.

Sunday after all the wonderful things that my family did for me I got the cherry on top.

The grandfather of my former foster son, who went to a group home for a time and the plan is for him to come back, stopped by. He had a hand made card from E.

Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you'll get until you take a bite. I thought that your chocolate was a bad one, but then I took a bite and it was one of the best. I wish I did not run. This place is a bad chocolate.

Being in a group home/residential treatment center sucks. It sucks even worse when your grandma - who raised you - dies 3 days after you enter treatment. All of this has been for the better. It doesn't make it easier and I know it will make him stronger. To hear him say it is a sweet, sweet bite of chocolate.

His card has a pop up heart in it.

I got a card from Squirt- Sassy's dog- that I found at Shopko. It was to the mom from "your dog" and was sooo soooo cute. She teared up. She certainly didn't expect to get a Mother's day card at 14!!!!

There are times when I think, "why am I doing this?" Months where much of what I do doesn't feel appreciated by the system, the foster kids, even my own kiddos (although they don't go months, just days thankfully). It's not that I think I need to be recognized daily. I just don't want all the resistance that I often get. I knew it was part of the deal when I signed on. I am generally ok with it and can cope.

When pay day comes it makes it all worth it. All the worry. All the tears. All the having to be the mean mom. It's all worth it when ONE child recognizes what you do for them. To have THREE in one week is like an extra BIG tax return on top of the Pay Day.

Now, if you'll excuse me I need to go buy some more tissues :)

A Handbook for 2010

Totally copied this from Tori. She got it in an email from her sister. Who is probably as RAD as she is.

HANDBOOK 2010

Health:
1.     Drink plenty of water.
2.    Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3.    Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4.    Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5.    Make time to pray.
6.    Play more games.
7.    Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8.    Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9.    Sleep for 7 hours.
10.   Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.


Personality:
11.    Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12.   Don’t have negative thoughts on things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13.   Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
14.   Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15.   Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
16.   Dream more while you are awake
17.   Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need…
18.   Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19.   Life is too short to wast time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
20.  Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
21.   No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22.  Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.  Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23.  Smile and laugh more.
24.  You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree….


Society:
25.    Call your family often.
26.    Each day give something good to others.
27.    Forgive everyone for everything..
28.    Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 and under the age of
29.    Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30.    What other people think of you is none of your business.
31.    Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32.    Do the right thing!
33.    Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
34.    God heals everything.
35.    However good or bad a situation is, it will change…
36.   No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37.    The best is yet to come..
38.   When you awake alive in the morning, thank God for it.
39.   Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Feel free to post this with the things you are going to work on bolded. 

Found this and need it to remind me of the people I come across, sometimes ;)

To Be Offended or Not. . . . That Is A Choice

I was reading my friends' blogs and one posted about how she offended someone and now they won't talk to her. This lady is a very sweet lady. When I first met her I felt as thought I'd known her forever. She makes you feel right at home. She makes you laugh. She is sincere, hangs with dead people (in the cemetery for genealogy work), has a smile that brightens your day.

As I'm reading her post and reading about how she didn't mean to offend and how she is hurting because the person took it as an offense. She is truly a sweet sister that would not hurt another intentionally.

So this got me thinking. People have CHOSEN to be offended by my words. The frustrating part is when they get offended when I am speaking the truth, quoting a prophet or religious leader, or even just talking about something. Many times I was just commenting to someone when another has decided that I was offending them or speaking of them.

Over the years I have learned that those who get offended are usually feeling guilty about themselves. What was said was taken and personalized and then the offended party CHOSE to be offended.

No one can offend you without your permission. You have to decide that you are going to be offended and then put the energy into feeling negative towards another. People will be people and they will say things that you are not going to agree with. You can CHOOSE to not be offended and put your energy into improving your own life.

I have been in situations where some will take the word of the one CHOOSING to be offended and decide that they know what happened. Unfortunately those CHOOSING to be offended are not completely honest. They twist the story to make themselves look like a victim and then use that to justify their offense and their other actions (like not talking to someone or spreading gossip, or just plain lying about your part in the whole thing).

I don't have the energy for all that hateful energy. I need all my good energy to just fulfill all the tasks that the Lord has for me. Like doing therapy, having foster children, serving in my church, studying my scriptures, reading good books, etc.

I don't understand how others have time to be bitter. Surely there is more to do in life than sit and fester hate and bitterness toward another. Haven't we all done things that have offended others when we didn't mean to? The bitterness and animosity that is carried is reflected in the countenance of thee one holding the grudge. It weighs them down, not the one they CHOSE to be offended by.

I know I am not easily offended. I have decided that I will CHOOSE to not be offended. Because it is a CHOICE. I am sure that this post will offend someone. I just hope that they will heed the words here and CHOOSE another CHOICE.

Jesus said to love everyone. If you can't love them when you have frequent contact then pull back. Negative feelings hurt you more than the one that you are bitter towards or claim to be offended by. This is isn't easy and can be misunderstood. Hard because you have to make a decision as what you will CHOOSE to do and misunderstood because some will accuse you of being the grudge holder. No matter what they say, if it's not true they can't make it true. It is more peaceful than the hurtful feelings you feel by actions of another. Also, you can try to understand them and realize why they may be saying or doing things that feel offensive. It doesn't mean that you have to condone their behavior. Just understand where it comes from and leave it. Do not take it on. Do not CHOOSE to be offended.

This is not a suggestion to accept an abusive situation. Abuse is NEVER okay. When you find yourself in that situation get out as quickly as you can. Get help if you need to.

What I am saying is that it's much better, more fulfilling to not take offense at what someone says. It is your CHOICE.

Random Saturday Musings

Because there is never enough random

** While driving Frog states that oldest tells her she is directionally challenged. Really?! Maybe she is like his mom and just likes to explore while driving and traveling. Seriously. We have seen some amazing parts of San Diego, CA due to my amazing skills to sight see.

We found the dock and some amazing lights, trees, and boats.



**Today my BFF Amy is moving into her new home. Her two youngest were running around and well, not helping too much. For instance they have the reliance shelving for their pantry. The shelves fell over during the move and got all messed up. Her middle son, "fixed" them. Only problem is that the cans fell out when one tried to load them with cans. :) It is really sweet how he helps.

Her youngest was just running around with excitement, anxiety, or maybe just because he's 8. I showed up and they started begging to come to my house. Well, I do have a pretty cool house with nothing to do, so who wouldn't want to come and sit and do nothing? Hahahahaha.

Well I totally brought them home with me. We went to the park and they played with two little guys that Sassy was baby sitting. Holy kids running everywhere! How do you do it Tori? I had a hard time keeping track of these four boys ages 7, 8, 10,& 10.

We did have fun. Here's proof . . .

Sassy swinging like a little kid :)

A on the monkey bars

K swinging and thinking of jumping out.
He didn't.

M on the monkey bars.

Sassy pushing Z in the swing.

Tree Monkey showing up the boys
She rocks at the monkey bars AND tree climbing.

** Mr. Fabulous Hubs did the grocery shopping. I guess that means he wants me to cook.

**We took Monkey Wrench, Sassy, and Tree Monkey to Dairy Queen for ice cream treats on Thursday. We had 45 minutes with just them. They have been feeling neglected with the foster boys needing so much running around. They have noted that it seems that I am always taking one or more of the boys somewhere and they miss their mom. A more concerted effort is now being made to spend one-on-one time with each of my kids each week.

As each boy gets a visit with their family each week and gets treats and other special things we have decided to have things that are just for our children. One of the boys is way okay with this and the other two think they should get everything that our kids get AND what their families get. Well, I am the boss and we are doing it my way. They may understand later or maybe not, but I'm okay with the new arrangements.

** This week friends of mine are beginning to sell a CD that will make your Sunday mornings peaceful. His music is so soothing and beautiful. The CD's will make a great Mother's Day gift, birthday gift, or a just because gift. Get one for you and some to gift. Go here to get a sneak peak and to order. I promise you won't regret it.

** This little guy is providing hours of entertainment. Here is a short video of just one of his many antics.

Do you think it's AFV worthy?
The kids do.

You Are What You Eat

at least at the Cheescake Factory.*

Last night we met cutie Lauren and her mom Nancy Face.

We ate at the Cheesecake Factory, and by we I mean fabulous bloggy ladies, me, and Mr. Yep, you read it right. Mr was the only man there. He is an awesome sport. Not many men would venture into that world.

Several things were learned last night.

Some bloggers don't cook.

Bride barf isn't as bad as other things involving body fluids.

Nancy only eats original cheesecake (but we did get her to taste the dulce de leche and she liked it- she liked it!!)

Lauren is loved in real life by many as well as by many online

Nancy is a wonderful mom and friend and you feel so good when you leave her presence.

Most men are wimps/babyish when they are sick.

Most men does not include Kris Face or my Mr.

The Cheescake Factory serves HUGE meals and a cup of soup and slice of deliciousness- aka cheesecake- will fill you up.

When dining in large groups they bring out your check and identify you by what you ate.

*We are affectionately known as "Factory Burger and Soup."

Pictures will come later. Check back.