Thursday, August 28, 2008

My sister Kris made cry today

Usually about this time of the month I call her bawling about some drama in my life, but today she made me cry without even talking to her.

In celebration.

Nearly six years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She has been in remission now for five years.

Please click on over to her blog to read about what she learned from cancer.

If your life has been touched in any way by cancer, leave her a comment letting her know what you've learned.

If not, then leave her a comment anyway.

Let's help her celebrate five years of remission.

Now go flood her comment box with LOVE.

By the way Kris, YMF!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

And the winner is..........

Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Not quite so fast.
First of all, I owe a huge THANK YOU to all the guests that visited me yesterday by way of Blog Around the World. That was so much fun and a little overwhelming, but WOW, this girls sure did enjoy the LOVE! I will do my best to get around to visit each of you and personally thank you.

And now, the winner is.......................


STOP
I said not so fast.
I also owe an apology to everyone for not getting this posted yesterday like I said I would. I was a little overcome by all the comment love that I completely forgot about drawing a winner. That and the fact that I realized that school starts next week and my child had exactly ZERO pairs of pants that fit him, so we had to go shopping. Oh yeah, and I am so wrapped up in Eclipse, the third book of the Twilight series, that all I want to do is neglect the rest of my responsibilities and curl up on the couch until I find out if Edward bites Bella, or if Bella agrees to marry Edward, or it the Vultori find Bella as they said they would. Alas, I am trying so hard not to let it consume me, but thanks to Lula, (who had the first book delivered to my doorstep less than 24 hours after she ordered it for me......ain't she sweet?) I am addicted to vampire love. So my heartfelt and deepest apologies that I did not get a winner drawn yesterday, thus allowing a few others to sneak in a comment.
So, without further..................
Oh, one more thing. I was going to let my mother enter, but then she went and did something very mean (don't you dare go look at that picture of me when I was 3 and super adorable with those coke bottle glasses and that home cut shag hairdo), so I took her name out of the drawing. Besides, there's no Sonic near her and she doesn't drink coffee.
All right, are you ready?
And the winner is:
Julie D.
(she's got a blog, but it's private so I can't send you there.
Just believe me when I say she's a gem.)
I used to stalk Julie's blog when I first started blogging, then I figured out that she and I had some of the same friends because we went to the same church, but we had never met. Then one day I was looking at her blog and Cooper came by and saw a picture of her son and said "hey, I know him". They had been in Sunday School class together. Then Julie mentioned that one Sunday after church about a year ago, both of our families went to Burgerville for lunch and sat very near each other. Finally we decided that since our circles ran very close to each other we should probably just meet and am I glad we did!
I tried to take pictures of the name drawing process, but they didn't turn out well. Besides, I've got a mahvelous love story calling my name.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Blog around the World

Hello to all who have made it here by way of Blog Around the World.

Isn't this fun?

I have had a great time visiting the states as Miss Debbie, the genius, features them and now it's my turn!

So welcome, come on in, take a look around, sit for a spell and enjoy because

it's my crazy life......... and I LOVE it


It's just about back to school time here. Our school district heads back to class the Wednesday after Labor Day. We don't know who Ben's teacher will be yet. That top secret info is not released until the "Back to School, PTA Sponsored, Ice Cream Social" (seriously, that's what it is called) on Tuesday the 2nd.

I'm not sure why they call it an "Ice Cream Social". It should be called the "Suck your Bank Account Dry Social" or the "Super Secret Teacher List Launch Social" or the "Preview of Every Ones Ultra Cool New School Clothes Social".

I mean really, here's how it goes: You walk in the front doors of the school, flanked by your darling little student all decked out in their new jeans, layered shirts, hoodie and tennis shoes even though it is 85 degrees out, only to be greeted by tables upon tables of lovely PTA volunteers waiting with open hand to accept your checks. You deposit money into your child's hot lunch account, then you pay your PTA membership fees, kindergarten snack fees, art enrichment fees, fundraiser fees, PE fees, library fees, band-aid usage fees, and the all important, but slowly fading away as more elementary students come equipped with their own cell phone, phone usage fee(for when your child needs to call home because his hot lunch account has been drained dry and he forgot to tell you).

After you've been bled of your very last check you then make your way to "THE WALL OF CLASS LISTS". Yeah baby, this is where life begins or ends for most students. Did they or didn't they get the IT teacher? As we all know, there is only one IT teacher allowed for each grade level. You know the IT teacher, the one that everyone wants, but no one can actually request since our district does not allow teacher requests, but somehow certain, more influential families are able to get for each of their kids? The IT teacher is warm and fuzzy, super organized, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound all the while keeping 26 students engaged and interested in learning throughout the whole year. The other teachers? Well they must just biding their time until their retirement number comes up or something. So you push your way through the throng of parents and students (some weeping uncontrollably, others rejoicing as if the heavens were raining money) to THE LISTS. You're scanning, you're scanning, you're scanning until there it is............your students name..........nope, not under the "IT" teacher. Oh well, they'll live. Besides my kid is going to speed up the retirement process so that we can get a new IT teacher in here next year anyhow.

Then it's off to meet the teacher and see the classroom. You stand in the line to greet the teacher, who on first glance, doesn't look that unorganized or close to retirement age at all. When it is finally your turn, you shake hands and introduce your child, who is putting on quite the shy act beside you. The teacher sends your kid to pick out their desk and write their name card while you chat it up a bit, both trying to get an impression of what the year is going to hold. Meanwhile your student has picked out his desk, based on the names on the desks next to it, hoping that Katy is the cute Katy, not the Katy that picks her nose and eats it.

Finally you're done, and headed towards the door, when your child reminds you that there is ice cream still. That's why it's called the Back to School, PTA Sponsored, Ice Cream Social. And since the PTA does provide those little dixie cups of ice cream with the wooden spoons they can call it whatever they want.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Guess what today is?!?

It's my blogiversary!!



Yes, one year ago today I entered into the world of blogging. I must say that it has been a fun experience. I had no idea what to expect when I started, as I stated in my very first post, but I love what it has become........ a place to share life and motherhood with a bunch of fabulous friends, some of whom I have known for a long time and some who I have NEVER met. All the same I count you all as friends.
I am very blessed by you all.




So in return, I shall bless you.




You my dear friends (blog or real life) can win something here today. For the first time in the history of "it's my crazy life and I LOVE it" I am doing a giveaway. But, since I'm not very creative or crafty and since I forgot about it being my blogiversary until late last night all I have to give away is a gift card. But wait, dear friends, it's not just any gift card. It is a very special gift card for $15 to this place:



That should take care of a few Happy Hours for you.


So, to win, all you have to do is leave me a little comment lovin. Tell me how much you like me (yeah, I'm insecure like that) or how much you like Sonic, or how much you like the rain, or how much you like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Alright, just say hi. But in order to win you MUST leave a comment here so I can randomly draw your name.


For those of you who do not have a Sonic in your area, I'd be happy to contribute to your coffee addictions. So if you win and Sonic doesn't work for you then I'll send a little $15 Starbucks love your way!



PS. There's gonna be something fun going on here next Monday. And by fun, I mean more fun than this giveaway so come back because that's when I'll announce the winner!


PPS..... Yes, Meleea, there's a little somethin' big goin down here at the Hull house. Nothing confirmed yet, but please pray that God will continue to open doors, cuz we're havin fun steppin thru them!


Thursday, August 14, 2008

A Followup.........

Thank you all for your input on what to do about the nameless four year old and the broken clock. I loved every ones suggestions and the fact that so many of you reminded me that it is just a worldly possession and he is a four year old with a spirit that needs grace. Except my mother whose comment was:

Gramma 2 Many said...
My two cents worth, is beat him black and blue with your old rubber shoe. Feed him black bread and water for a week and make him pay for it. Maybe then he will learn to listen the first time. Can't be to easy on these ruffians or they will take over the whole world!! Cut them down while you still can.
August 13, 2008 9:07 PM

I THINK she was kidding.

At any rate, I did go back and apologize to him for blowing up (and I really blew up!) over the clock. I told him that a clock is not as important to me as him and asked him to forgive me. Then I explained to him that because I had asked him to stop throwing the ball and he did not listen and obey my clock got broken and because he did break something that did not belong to him he would need to help pay to replace it. So I have him lined up with extra chores for the next few weeks to pay off the debt. I also had him go get his wallet and surprisingly he had $4.83 in there to start the "CLOCK REPLACEMENT FUND". I called my friend Michelle, who happens to be traveling the US doing gift shows right now, so I spoke with one of her trusty gals, Rachel, and she assured me that the clock is still available and also told me that there are candle holders available that match the clock! With his $4.83 down payment, my little four year old is over 10% of the way towards replacing the clock.

My friend Erica had the great idea of taking the broken clock and make something else out of it. I think I'll make a mosaic picture frame out of it to put a picture of my two boys in as a reminder that they are my most prized possession!

Now, who wants to teach me to mosaic?

Thank you all who responded! I love blogging for this very reason!

Saturday, August 9, 2008

What would you do.......

I have a dilemma and I am willing to take some suggestions to help me solve this dilemma. So here is the back story:


First of all, I don't have very many 'things' that I LOVE. My personality is such that 'things' don't mean much to me. I am not a big shopper and gifts are not my love language. If you want to show me how much you love me then help me clean my house or help me tackle a big project or just spend time with me........that is what I love and makes me feel loved.


Well, it just so happens that a few months ago, I found something, a tangible item, that I LOVED.

It was this clock:



My friend Michelle designs and creates the most amazing and fun art pieces and this is one of her clocks. I fell in love with it when I first saw it at our church's youth ministry auction. So I bid on it and won it.

Now, this is how much I loved that clock:

While my kids were gone to visit my mom last month, I spent the ENTIRE week painting the inside of my house butter yellow and brick red. Inspired by my love of that clock. (That may not be a big deal to some people, but you have to know that I have lived in this house for nearly four years and my walls have been WHITE the whole time because I couldn't decide what color to paint them.)

Fast forward one month. A little four year old, who shall remain nameless, was tossing and kicking a soft, stuffed, toy ball around in my house. I was at the computer (no surprise there!) when that said four year old hit me in the head with that stuffed ball. I responded by saying "four year old, please stop kicking and throwing that ball, something is going to get broken."

Fast forward thirty seconds:

I was furious.

Yep, it's just a clock.

I yelled, screamed and cried in the minutes that followed. I was so mad at that four year old. (Now granted, my reaction what probably accentuated by the raging hormones that have been acompanying my monthly visitor lately, but that is for a different post.)

So here is my dilemma:

Should the nameless four year old (who has practically NO access to money) have all, some or none of the financial obligation of replacing that clock?

I liked it.

There, I said it.

I liked the book.

Alot.

It was a fun piece of fiction and it consumed me. Sucked me in (no pun intended) and left me wanting more, so I went and bought the second one instead of waiting for my hold to come up at the library.

I decided that my struggle this week has not been about the book necessarily, but more about the TIME I've spent reading that book and subsequently the second in the series. Between Sunday and Monday alone I spent about 10 hours reading.

When was the last time I spent more than 30 minutes reading the Bible?

Monday, August 4, 2008

DONE

But still processing.........give me time.
I'll be back.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

A sigh of relief......

Look what I found:
Actually, Dave found it last night when I asked him to see if we had any fresh garlic.
Sure enough, there in the bowl where I keep my garlic was my hidden candy bar.
I guess I was sure no one would find it there.