Ahh....what a day!

I feel as if I'm out of circulation with my blogging world. My blogging sisters.... my favorite blogs that I love to read and grab inspiration.... my journal and my brain is filled with spiritual thoughts....draining ideas.....weakness and gloom. yes, gloom too

Where I should be thanking God for everything I have right at this moment.... I'm behaving like a spoiled little girl who just lost her tiara.

I must re-Jesus myself. thank you Pastor B.

I must reboot my spirituality and bounce back from what isn't happening in

my own little world- and realize things are happening around me to people.... horrible things....disasters and death. And there I sit on my cozy couch with a cup of Hazelnut coffee whining and complaining in my head....why, why not, and when's it gonna happen! sigh.

Humor has always been my pain reliever. I continue to carry my bottle of humor no matter where I go. So...without boring you with what needs to happen in my husbands career change.... let's just say I'm still laughing.... we are surviving these troubled waters.

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Here is one of my laughable relievers;

During my trip to Frederick with Gracie, LeeAnn we decided to head back to the parking lot where my car was parked. We are listening to her GPS system instruct on where to turn..... when I look over at my silly friend chat about how fun this day has been for her. How she needed to be with her BFF....long overdue....when oh, my gosh there it was...crawling slowly on the side of the drivers seat.... a very large Stink Bug! As everyone knows these armored critters are everywhere in the USA...it's an epidemic. And as much as I truly dislike these insects, I have never ever reacted like I did in her vehicle that day. I let out a scream as if there were a serial killer in the backseat! I am confident that my scream would have me in the next Steven King thriller Gracie didn't scream as I did...she yelled and I mean yelled back

"WHAT...WHAT....WHAT???????" Remaining on the road...she comes to a stop sign. Breathing heavy she continues to yell at me as if she were scolding a...well...really really naughty child! but she is laughing so hard too When she learns of the serial stinker stink bug.... she let's out some more cRaZed yelling.... as we look at our surroundings we notice we are no longer in Kansas anymore.... we are in a not so nice section of Frederick. We laugh..... laugh hard and long.

As for the stink bug... I took one of my Starbuck napkins and flicked it on the back floor of her vehicle.... and yes, I made Gracie find it on her own!!

Life Lesson: Never scream while in a moving vehicle!

Peace&Love,

Lis

Cute

Signs You're a Tuned-Out Mom

*Gaga still makes you think of a toddler instead of a woman with a zipper eye patch urging you to just dance.

*Black Eyed Peas are, alas, tragically unpopular with tweens.

*Eminem? A sheer delight, proven to inspire kids to act more politely.

*Vampire Weekend; was that time your 12-year-old saw Twilight, then

spent all her waking hours pining for Robert Pattinson (and all her bedtime hours afraid to go to sleep) my personal favorite

*The Pussycat Dolls sound like the perfect holiday presents for your 5-year-old niece

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

I'm enjoying mine with Gracie!! It's a vintage girls weekend! aka LeeAnn

Love&Peace,

Lis

Is that child an original?!!

Is he an original Prada? I love that daughter you're carrying, she is the perfect accessory!

I'm going to attempt to write my latest experience in the industry of child care.

I'll apologize now if any of my words offend mothers that just so happen to stumble upon my post...or those of my faithful readers who are mothers, I do hope you are not offended!

During a workshop this week the topic was: RAISING OUR FUTURE.

Most of the time I will admit I'm bored restless with workshops. If they are not hands on, or if the instructor does not hold my interest, I find my head spinning in thoughts of neverever land.

However this topic led into a heated conversation about todays parenting. We parents, us gals, yo' daddy....what ever your title- heads were on the chopping block!

Why? During the short 3 1/2 months that our Academy has been servicing military, professional, political and stay at home parents....we have found some and I say this loosely-some parents have shown a side of themselves that frankly, make it awkward for teachers to communicate with. Honestly, my only barrier is my lack of Russian and horrible French.

However, now that I am becoming familiar with other classrooms Apple Cheeks for one I find parents quoting certain things that have my head spinning with the other teachers.

Now, let's be honest here.....we have all at one time or another asked ourselves where these children came from.....and why did we have so many? I did today - ha ha

But I for one know why {we} had our children. I wanted to extend my family. I wanted to be a mommy. I wanted to nurture and raise loving caring children- in a loving and caring environment.

So as our instructor opened up the window of opportunity for us to chat about what our experiences have been with parents- one teacher spoke of her experience(s) with parents who talk about their children as if they were a fashionable accessory. She informed us how parents are so addicted to facebook and tweeting about how their children are tiring and if they are lucky to get through the next few years, they may consider having another child. ?? I wasn't really shocked then by our instructors reaction. She claims that in a DC poll there has been a high percent of young married couples having children in order to add to the appearance and social club status of their lifestyles. I laughed so loud that the instructor looked over at me....I apologized but stated that my oldest daughter is an import and my other two kiddo's are American made. She laughed.... but quickly reminded me that the parents I come in counter with now are not looking at life the same way we have 10-20 years ago. Okay, is this instructor trying to say I'M OLD! No.... later found out she is a Christian and was merely pointing out that family values are gone. Sitting at the table having conversation is gone. Selfishness is in.

Self centeredness is chic. Asking your children to sit at the table to eat is taboo...allowing them to run around the house eating is cool. Why? Because they are an accessory. They are beautiful, adorable, long eye lashed prima donna's in their Gucci jackets and Janie & Jack jeans.

This is sad to me. As the week continued I tried to listen to my parents. To survey them quietly.

Yes, it's in my classroom too. The 4 year old with a cell phone. The 4 year old with a flat screen TV in his room....or make that in the bathroom so he can watch Spider Man over and over as he takes a bubble bath. The little 4 year old who had a birthday party at Cookology which could be mistaken for a bridal shower! I wasn't invited to this one...but I do hope to make the next just to photograph for your enjoyment!

After our session ended....I spoke with my co-teacher about her experiences. She truly believes that we are in the land of technology and it is leading to the lack of parenting. I'm not sure that she is 100% accurate....but I do stop to think about how many times I watch a parent arrive at the Academy to drop off or pick up their accessory..... the phone is plugged into their ear....fingers typing 60 words per minute texting..... and all their little one wants to do is show them the awesome painting they created today. This can be heard..." oh, great...more trash for me to deal with".

I'm not sure about you....but my kids do not make great accessories for me. China Doll cramps my style with her teenage "tude" and Freckle Boy's unique physique makes him look as if we have been adding steroids to his bowl of Cheerios. Apple Cheeks well....let's just say she is a very cute 4 year old and looks even cuter in her Hello Kitty accessories..... the only accessory I truly need to wear when I prance out and about is my wedding ring. And with that maybe a cute new pair of Tom's.

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I need to post something less negative next time!

And for those of you who commented and are praying for Gracie LeeAnn is her real name thank you from the bottom of our hearts! You ladies (and Jeff) are wonderful blogging friends!

"For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy week to you all!

Peace&Love,

Lis