Dirty Secrets


Are you guilty of turning your clocks up a hour so your kids will go to bed earlier? What about passing store bought food off as your own? Have you ever called into work sick and failed to tell your family (because you were too busy shopping)? These are a couple of examples given today on Rachel Ray.


Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile wrote a book titled Dirty Little Secrets From Otherwise Perfect Mom's. Some of the "secrets" were defiantly mom-knowledge, but there were also invigorating A-HA moments.


What are your dirty little secrets?

My Home Makes Me Think Of...

1. Comfort - Put on your shinny red slippers and say it with me...there's no place like home...there's no place like home...there's no place like home.

2. Grateful - When I was toe-headed little girl, we were penniless. No matter where we lived, it was home. Despite how small, cluttered, or unorganized my house is...I am lucky enough to live in a HOME that when you put a ball on the kitchen floor it doesn't roll into the livingroom (if you want to call that luck?!).

3. Stressed - Because my home is small, cluttered, and unorganized... I am diligently attempting to establish some order but, the dishes overflow from the sink onto the counter and clean laundry free falls from outer space. Since I am a working, stay at home mom and not a house-wife, my kids are hauling more stuff out while I am purging drawers and cabinets. But...I wouldn't change it for the world.

4. Appreciative - There are so many people living in our backyards that don't even have a home to go to. No place to lay their head and feel safe, no family who values them enough to make sure they have a hot meal, and no one to care enough to make sure they have clean clothes or a shower. (enter your own clever comment to people living in my back yard)

5. Family - There are so many memories surrounding a home. The smell of a Thanksgiving meal, sound of children on Christmas morning, or the taste of your daily coffee... these are the memories that mold us into the adults we are today. Every child deserves a sanctuary where they feel loved and nurtured.

ORGANIZATION



This is another one of my one question quizzes.

What do you do about organization and keeping the creepy crawly clutter at bay in your home?

a) What do you mean organization? I have magazines from 1997.

b) I don't have a problem with organizing. Everything is in its place before I go to bed each night.

c) Every 3rd year I clean out all the clutter and organize again.

d) I am on an 8 week plan. Each room of the house is reorganized every 8 weeks.

e) add your own...



P.S. Do you clean out your husband's dresser and closet? Or, do you suggest that he does it himself and wait to see if it gets done?

WHAT'S EXPECTED...WHAT'S NOT EXPECTED...






To follow up on the previous post...My birthday was not forgotten. We were in Colorado visiting my Grandma and Grandad. My aunt was very kind in hosting a "cook out" for my birthday. It was great!! Steaks...hotdogs...baked beans...cake (made by my grandma)...kids swimming...blow up jump castle...etc. I had a great time and received wonderful presents from my Grandparents and cousin "Gretta".

But...there was something missing.


Yet...I was silent.


There was no guilt trip, there was no questioning, there wasn't even any pouting.

Until...I got home from Colorado. I just wanted him to know that my feelings were hurt. Anything to acknowledge my birthday would have been nice. Even a homemade card.

I don't expect my friends to recognize my birthday. Because, I so often forget theirs. Sending a card seems like an easy process. Somehow, between the store and home it becomes difficult to actually get the card into the mailbox. This is the mailbox I walk to every day!
My special day was forgotten by my Dad. But, my family did take me out to dinner on Friday night to make up for not doing anything for me on my birthday.

Here are a couple pictures taken on our vacation.

Seven Falls (Beautiful! But look close. See those stairs going up beside the falls? "Good Morning calf muscles")

Ashley and Payton at Focus on the Family

Aria and Payton - The "summer siblings"

Estes Park - Pay, Grandma, and Ashley

One more thing, last year I posted that I just turned 34. I was born in 1974, so I just turned 34 THIS year. What is it people say? "The mind is the first to go". But if anyone asks, I'm 29!!

One Question Quiz

How would you feel if your husband and children did nothing for your birthday?

a.) I would be fine. Its just a waste of money anyway.
b.) It would hurt my feelings.
c.) I don't even have birthdays, therefore there is nothing to forget.
d.) I would not buy them anything for their birthday and pout for the next year.