Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Here is my New Year's eve day in pictures.

I actually made my bed today! First time in 21 days I think!

This is the night stand on my side of the bed. Now look at Loy's side......

Yeah.

I thought everyone would like to see the taxi Mom's uniform. I hope my van never breaks down when I'm on the road looking like this!

I decided to rest today but remembered I could accomplish something while sitting down. I took our HUGE box of papers that need shredding and shredded for about 3 hours. I almost got it all done until I overheated the darn machine. And then I......

shredded mail with pennies stuck to it!!! Why do they do that? I thought I broke the shredder but it's OK. I had to get tweezers to pry the penny out! At least I had the sense to turn the shredder machine off while I was operating on it with tweezers.

Of coarse there was a bunch of junk in the papers for shredding that was NOT papers for shredding!

The penny that almost broke my shredder.

I'm so close!

This handsome man is my editor. While he was home all day helping me recover from surgery he edited my blog posts before I posted them. Now I have to expose all my errors to you all until 7:30 pm when he gets home from work. Sorry, everyone. Just read my blog after 7:30.

The book I ordered came in the mail today. YEAH! My friend Jennifer is going to love this book!

We had BBQ ribs for our New Year's Eve dinner. I've never made them before but they turned out good. This was David's idea.

We also had chips and dip and mozzarella sticks.

This was our dinner, It looks like a summer dinner.

Loy likes the ribs.

Well David IS a teenager hence the scowl. He did like the dinner though.

Poor little doggie. She wants ribs, too.

I wish I could share them with you.
Now we are going to watch movies and welcome in the year 2009.

Tubal Reversal Surgery Recovery Day 21

Taxi Mom is now back on duty.
Each day seems the same these last few days. I feel good until about 3:00 pm and then walking starts to hurt my insides and back. I go slow and I rest when I feel like that. My incision feels much better. It isn't as sore or itchy. There is only one spot now that is oozing (blah!) Sorry, I know it's gross! The rest of my incision seems to be all closed and healing. The Doctor put the incision right between my "chubs" (as David calls it). I call it my fat rolls! I hope it doesn't become a problem. Maybe that's another reason it seems to have taken so long to heal. I still need 400 mg of ibuprofen every 5-6 hours. I noticed it doesn't hurt when I sneeze or cough anymore. I can bend over better too. The strange thing has been my back hurting so much. I think it's just from resting so much. It must have gotten weak. The saying "If you don't use it, you lose it" is so true the older you get!

This is from a devotion that Loy recently read to me. It's from a book on Spurgeon's sermon notes.

Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood. Galatians 1:16

Paul being converted, took an independent course.

Being taught of God:

He did not consult those who were already believers, lest he should seem to have received his religion secondhand.

He did not consult his relatives, who would have advised caution.

He did not consult his own interests, which all lay in the opposite direction. These he counted loss for Christ.

He did not consult his own safety, but risked life itself for Jesus. In this independent course, he was justified and should be imitated.

"To delay duty until we have held such consultation almost always ends in not doing the right thing at all. Too often it is sought after that an excuse may be found for avoiding an unpleasant duty."

Wow, thank you, Mr. Spurgeon! This encourages me because I was recently criticized for making such an independent decision without looking for counsel from anyone. I acted on faith knowing the action my Father wanted me to take.

Spurgeon also says: Faith needs no warrant but the will of God.

"It is not ours to reason why - Ours but to dare and die, and, at our Master's bidding, advance through flood or flame." - "feathers for Arrows"

"To submit the claims of duty to the judgement of the flesh is diametrically opposed to the character and claims of the Lord Jesus, who gave himself to us and expects us to give ourselves to Him without question or reserve." - Spurgeon

"God who began a good work in me will carry it to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. He is utterly faithful and will finish what He has set out to do. He will not abandon the work He has begun. To God our Savior be the glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore"! - from, "31 days of praise"

Tubal Reversal Surgery Recovery Day 20

I wore jeans for the first time since the surgery, yesterday. I feel like yesterday was a turning point in the recovery process. My incision is much better. I can't really explain how things are different, everything is the same, but lesser. I noticed I still walk slow. I'm still numb from my incision up to my belly button, too. I hope that goes away. I will drive for the first time since the surgery today. 10 more days and I will stop talking about recovery. 10 more days and a lot of things will change.

Annika moved in with us yesterday. She was sad because she will miss living with her boyfriend Chase. We had to clear out my sewing room for her. I put fabric into boxes and stuff like that, but I didn't really lift anything. Even so, somehow I hurt my back between my shoulder blades. Sitting around to heal is not so good on a 40 year old body. I'm healing from the surgery but the rest of my body is getting out of shape! We put all my sewing room stuff into the formal dining room. It feels so cluttered and it's kind of stressful but I'm trying to ignore my feelings. We may have all our kids back home with us by the end of the month because Daniel still has not found a job. I don't know if they have rent for next month. With Annika home, Daniel and Laura will have to be in the downstairs family room. This house will be full! It reminds me of a line from a DC Talk song "When love is in the house the house is packed, so much so that the back door's cracked." I'm not sure why God is bringing them all back home. But, I pray for peace and courage, and strength. And mercy.

Loy and Annika unpacking

A forced smile. She was sad.

Annika's stuff in the dining room. Her snake is on the counter. Ewwww!

My sewing room is now piled into my formal dining room.

I wonder what the future holds

Tubal Reversal Surgery Recovery Day 19

Resting with a heating pad...

Feeling the same as yesterday. Sore, itchy, tired of not being able to do everything I want and need to do. I've been emotional and I have to admit fearful of what the future holds. I know God is faithful, good, and trustworthy with my mind but my flesh is freaking out. The problem is that my emotions prefer to listen to my flesh. These emotions of mine betray me! I must take every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ (For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5). And rest in His perfect peace (The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock. Isaiah 26:3-4). Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God! I will walk by faith into the future that God has prepared for me. Trusting Him that He will preserve my life and provide for me ("Arise, and let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. And will you sit still? Do not delay to go, to enter, to possess the land. When you enter, you shall come to a secure people with a spacious land; for God has given it into your hand, a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth." Judges 18:9-10). It's gonna be alright! No matter what happens It's gonna be alright!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:3-12)

These are the songs I'm singing today:

Newsboys "Gonna be Alright"
(This is the 5th song down from the top in my play list if you want to listen to it.)


Inside me, there’s a child afraid of
Growing up and letting go
Inside me, there’s a world of danger
Could you pull this whole thing down?


’Cause inside you there’s much forgiveness
Endless love unconditional
And inside you there’s a world of favor
Rising up (and) breaking through


Oh, how He loves you and me


OH, IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT
ALL THESE THINGS WILL HAVE THEIR TIME
OH, IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT
ALL THESE THINGS WILL FIND THEIR TIME


Inside me there’s a child afraid of
Moving in and getting close
Inside you there’s a world of healing
Ever free…..so dangerous


Oh, how He loves you and me


OH, IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT
ALL THESE THINGS WILL HAVE THEIR TIME
OH, IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT
ALL THESE THINGS WILL FIND THEIR TIME


IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT
IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT
IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT.




Newsboys "Stay Strong"
( This is the 23rd song down from the top of my play list if you want to listen to it.)


You're in the moment now
A bitter root
A wandering eye and then
The ties that bind start wearing thin, thin


You're in the moment now
When all you've been blessed with
Is not enough
Here's where the ground gets loose
Here's where the devils call your bluff


Stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
There's a new dawn to light our day, our day
You've gotta stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way


We've seen the tragic flaws
The tortured souls
The saints with feet of clay
Here's where sin becomes cliche'


We've come through wilderness and watched
The cloud by day
The burning sky into dawn
Have you forgotten who you are?
Did you forget whose trip you're on?


Stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
There's a new dawn to light our day, our day
We've gotta stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way


Get up, there's further to go
Get up, there's more to be done
Get up, this witness is sure
Get up, this race can be won
This race can be won


We've gotta stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
Our Father's dawn will light our day, our day
Come on and stay strong
His grip is sure
And His patience still endures
There'll be no letting go today, no way


Come on, and stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We've come too far to lose our way, our way

Tubal Reversal Surgery Recovery Day 18

I'm doing fine. I'm tired of not being able to do everything. We went to Church today and I was achey and sore from sitting in the metal chairs. I really can't be up walking around all day yet. I feel like I should be able too by day 18 ! but, I guess when your 40 years old you recover slower. Also my surgery was about 6 hours long. That is long for this surgery. The regular time is about 3-4 hours long. Maybe that is why I'm still sore and weak. My incision is doing much better. I just feel fragile. I also feel emotional. I was on birth control to keep my period away for the surgery so my hormones are probably all messed up.

Today Daniel and Laura came over to our house. Laura did laundry. I had a good time with Ben. We took lots of pictures. I had to lay down for awhile and Ben was keeping me company throwing crayons all over the bed. Also, Annika my oldest daughter is coming home to live with us for awhile. She will move in tomorrow. I hope we all adjust well to the change. I hope God will bless our time together and His will is done.

Smile Ben!

Smile

Smile you silly boy!

Ben reading Papa's Bible.

Crayon fun.

Peeling the paper off.

Studying the box.

Throw it!

WEEEEEEEEEEE!

Crayons everywhere!

Watch Myeah, Myeah!

Whoa!

Messy fun.

This is the cute face Ben makes when he says, "How about....".

Being goofy.

Silly Ben!

We had Fun while Grandma was .....??resting??

Cutie Pie!

Hey, The kitty wants to play!

I love you Ben!

Silly Isaac!

See ya next time Myeah, Myeah!

Tubal Reversal Surgery Recovery Day 17

It's been a long day and I'm very tired. My incision is feeling so much better since I took off the butterfly tape. My back and insides feel weak and sore though. I'm Ok when I'm at home and sitting most of the day but, I noticed while I was at my Moms tonight that I started out strong but, by the end of the night I was so tired and walking so slow and feeling sore in my back and tummy. I guess I still need to take it easy.

It was fun to see all the kids so happy tonight. Benjamin kept coming up to me to give me "love". Every time he wanted me to pick him up I had to tell him I can't, I have an owie on my tummy. Then he would just pull me and say "down" for me to go down on the floor with him. I love him. I went up and down from the floor so much I might as well have just picked him up! My best friend Laura was able to make it this year, it was fun to have her and her family there. Well, Christmas is now officially over for us. I hope everyone has a good New Year!

I'll post pictures later. I'm doing something wrong when I download them and I can't find them.

Loy recovered the pictures for me. Here they are.

David, Tyler, Jed, And Joey are no longer the "little kids".

From left to right. Uncle Claude, Aunt Bonnie, Marie, Greg, and Laura is standing up with the red shirt. I should have gotten some pictures of Laura and me together.

Natti sitting with Daddy, and doing the ear thing.

From left to right. Laura,Daniel, Joey, and Genevieve.

Ben

Jeremiah liked the spidey shirt.

Shellee and Juli look like they are dancing

This is only half of the room!

Batman car!

Tubal Reversal surgery Recovery Day 16

I did it!
I took all the butterfly tape off last night. It was scary. I'm going to be careful the next few days. I'm really sore tonight. My scar is going to look ugly. I don't mind though. I added all the pictures to yesterdays Christmas blog. The snow is starting to melt and will be gone by the end of next week because the temps will be in the 40's all week. Boo, Hoo.

Daniel and Laura came over tonight and had dinner with us. We gave Ben and Isaac their Christmas presents. They were so cute. We will be going to my Dad and Moms tomorrow to celebrate Christmas with the whole family. Here are some pictures of tonight with the grand kids.

Laura helping Ben With a present.

Ben's first View Master. He really liked it.

Mommy helping

Ben REALLY liked it!

We just played with the View Master for awhile.

Ben helping Isaac open his big present.

Wow! It makes sounds and lights up. They both liked it.

He sure knows how to open the presents now!

A race track!

Ben wants to play with Isaac's toy some more.

Ben trying to open the chalk. This is a little travel chalk board that you can fold up and bring with you in the diaper bag. We will try it out at church this Sunday. We go to a church where the children stay with us during the whole service so having activities for the kids to do is helpful.

Eating Grandmas home made pizza. He had three pieces!

holding his little brother and giving him a kiss.

My little cutie pies.

Merry Christmas to all!! Tubal Reversal Surgery Recovery Day 15

Happy Birthday to Jesus!!

I'm feeling better today. Last night I was so wiped out. I couldn't wrap any presents. Loy did it all! I handed him the tape and that's it. I talked to my friend Laura today who has had about 7 surgery's and she said I may be allergic to the butterfly tape. My incision seems to be better where I have taken the tape off. If I take all the tape off I'll have to be careful and not do to much physical activity. I am thinking of taking it all off tonight after my shower. If I'm brave enough. I was hurting so much last night that I have stayed on 600 mg of ibuprofen all day Today. I may have done alittle too much today too. I made some cookies that took me all day to make. I also made a ham, with mashed potato's and gravy and corn and rolls for dinner. Loy did the corn, potato's and gravy. I'm going to rest for the rest of the night. I have pictures but I need Loy's help finding them hopefully I didn't lose them.

Loy found my pictures. I was looking at them and noticed Loy really needs a hair cut and a shave! Here they are, we had a nice day.

Good morning Christmas snow.

My Christmas miracle... Valarie gave ME a Christmas present. It smells really good. She knows I like lavender. When I first looked at it I thought it said "pagan" organics. I thought she was trying to be funny getting me, a "Jesus freak" in her opinion, "pagan" soap. But she was actually being sweet. Shame on me for thinking that.

Wrapping presents at midnight.

Me handing Loy the tape. This is the first year he wrapped all the presents. He got really tired at the end, and we didn't even have very much to wrap this year. It's a allot of work.

Isn't he a sweetheart! Here's more tape Love.

All done and ready to go to bed.

Loy got gloves and a scarf from his Dad and Ingrid. I also got gloves and a scarf form them but alas I am the camera holder so there are no pictures of me in them. Sorry.

The kids are teenagers but they still love the stockings.

Davids stocking contents, Joeys was the same.

Valarie got a hold of my camera.

Valarie's stocking contents.

Vala happy with her gifts.

Don't know why she made this face she really was happy. Maybe it's a TEENAGER thing, I don't know.

My beautiful girl. I realized this is the last Christmas we will have with her living at home...sniff, sniff, ....

Joey in his new leather jacket. I can NEVER get a good picture of him!

David happy with his piano. He played with it all day and made up a song. We are going to get him piano lessons too.

This is the tea set Loy got me for Christmas. Isn't it beautiful!

Bonny, a lady at our new church made this calligraphy picture and handed them out to everyone at church. I framed it for Loy for Christmas. He had been telling me for months and months he wants scripture to put on the walls. He was very happy with it. I'm going to ask her to do more for us and pay her for them, she does beautiful work!

The snow was a gift to me from God for Christmas. I really wanted snow this year for Christmas. We rarely get snow here at Christmas time. I was so thankful for it! It is so wonderful and peaceful and beautiful.

My silly Kitty Bunny went outside when I had the back door open to take a picture of the snow! She LOVED it out there. She tried to get the snow flakes as they dropped. She was getting all wet and looks unsure in the pictures but when she finally came back inside all she did was meow at me and scratch at the door to go back out!

Can you believe this! I got a great shot of her licking the snow, she is just too cute!

Tubal Reversal Surgery Recovery Day 14

If anyone is wondering, this surgery recovery blogging will go on about 30 days. That's when the Doctor said I should be recovered. So, I am at day 14 and I'm a hurtin'! It's my fault though. We went Christmas shopping today. Yes, the day before Christmas. I know it's crazy, but with the surgery and all the snow, this is the first time we have been able to do some real shopping. We left around 9:00 am and got home around 4:00pm. We even went to Costco and did some Winco grocery shopping, too. My incision is sore, but more than that, my back is really tired, weak, and all achy. The worst thing though is that my insides hurt. I got sharp stabbing pains and also it feels like I have a headache in my belly. I did too much today. I'm going to sit around all night and blog, and watch a movie with the kids. We still have to wrap the presents we got the kids, though. I'm not sure if I can. I may have to hand Loy the tape while he wraps! We'll be up late tonight. Maybe I should have some of that Kona coffee.

Last night I went through some Christmas boxes that Loy took down for me. I got a tree up. Well, kind of, I still haven't put all the ornaments on it and the kids don't consider it a real tree. They call it the freaky 50's tin foil thing. I hadn't done any Christmas decorating because of the surgery and because I'm also trying to figure what traditions we want to keep and what we want to throw out. Santa has been out for a long time, but I need to do some research about the tree and where the tradition came from and what it means and all. I want to worship Christ my Savior on Christmas, not a tree with presents. I want Christmas to be memorable and special but I want to do it differently. I like the lights and stars because of the star of Bethlehem, and nativities are perfect. Presents are of course wonderful because giving is kind and loving just as God gave His Son for us to save us. Music of course is also great, even music about the season which brings good feelings like - "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" and songs like that. Good food and cookies are super, too. So, I guess it's just the tree and the stockings I'm rethinking. I love my little retro tree, though. Does anyone know where the tradition of the tree came from? Is it pagan? Does anyone have any traditions that are Christ honoring? I only have 4-5 years left with my boys and I don't want to change things so much that they feel shocked and sad at Christmas. If God does give us more children by birth or adoption I need to think of these things now and start practicing them. We read a wonderful advent book that I absolutely love called "The Advent Book" by Jack and Kathy Stockman. Other than the book, we don't do anything unique. The Advent book tells the story of the birth of Jesus and each day has a door you open like a pop up book. I have been trying to get more copies of this book for years but I can't find it. Amazon is always out of it and eBay sells them for $40-$60 dollars, it's ridiculous! Hey, I just now found their web site and they sell it on there! It's still expensive though. I originally bought the book years ago for only about $25.00 at Costco. Here it is if you want to see the book. http://adventbook.com/thestockmans.html . They also have a blog and ideas for traditions!!! I'll be reading that after I'm done posting this!

Adam and Shellee came over last night to give the boys their Christmas presents early. They got the boys neoprene gloves so they can play in the snow and stay dry. Shellee brought some food over and we made tacos and played cards it was fun.

Here is last night and today in pictures...

I got some candles up.

I love this Christmas decoration. It's me and Loy.

Shellee getting her tacos.

The "freaky 50's tin foil tree". It's not even all the way decorated yet.

Does anyone else have a TEENAGER that looks at them like this?

My niece Renee standing by the retro tree.

I got my Nativity up. The most important Christmas decoration!

Valarie playing with Renee while we played cards with Shellee and Adam.

I could not for the life of me get a good picture of Joey!

I like old things. These are the retro cards we played cribbage with last night. Adam and I won by the way.

Joey, let me get a picture of you!

Urrgghhh! Joey!

Adam showing something to Loy.

Shellee working on a brain puzzler puzzle thingie.

Diaper and wipes drop for our grandchildren. It was good to see Daniel.

This is Oregon, can you believe it! 1968 was the last time it snowed this much.

Crazy Oregonians getting their Starbucks in chains!!

Mt. Hood

Mini-me Mt. Hood

Doesn't this look like Mt. Hood? It's a pile of snow in the parkin lot at the bank.

Look how high the snow pile is next to this van and ON this van!

The hill by our house.

Look how high the snow is!

Tubal Reversal Surgery Day 13

I found a song when I was making my music play list and it has helped me keep my focus on the Lord and not on myself. It is hard to see at times that God can make something work that is broken.

I have broken wings.
But God carries me where He wants me to go.

I worry because I know I can't do it.
But God has taught me how to rest in Him. It is better to trust in Him and submit to Him and let Him carry me.

I have not been successful in anything I have tried to accomplish. I am inadequate. I have not arrived at the heights I have tried to reach.
But God will lift me up and accomplish His will in my life. And God has made me more meek by my broken wings.

I see no ability or skills in me.
But I believe in God's will for me in spite of what I see in me. I have faith in Him not in my ability and I am at peace even though I will never reach the heights I want to get to because it is not about my ability to accomplish great things or even simple things, but it is about faithfully following my Savior in obedience and love.

I try, I work, I spend my resources for freedom.
But it is what God has done and is doing that sets me free. This humbles me before my Mighty God and drives me to place my faith and trust in Him as He lifts me up and makes me free.

I will get where He wants me to go not because of me but because of Him.


James 4
Humble yourself in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you.

Here are the lyrics to the song. It is by Downhere and it's about the 35th song down from the top in my play list if you want to listen to it.

Not About Wings

Wake dove, stretch your feathers,
Worry not love, how far you could fall.
Fly now, darling find how;
A broken wing can feel the best to soar on.

It's not the perch you've climbed to reach,
But the broken wing that's made you meek;
that's when He lifts you high.

Chorus
Believing is not about seeing,
Faith is not about reaching,
and on this journey I keep learning,
Flying is not about wings.

Sparrow trapped by a window,
every resource spent for just one goal.

It's not by work you find your escape,
but in your defeat when you seek his face;
that's when He lifts you high.

Tubal Reversal Recovery Day 12

Another fine day of being snowed in. My incision is OK. I took a shower last night, so today it's kind of gunky. Still needing 400 mg of ibuprofen every 4 hours. I'm kind of hurting tonight. I made dinner so maybe that's why. I tried to wear jeans today. I had to change into some stretchy pants. I'm not ready for jeans yet. I tried to make another play list of Christmas music but I just ended up adding them to my old play list. I'm just going to leave it that way. I hope you enjoy the Christmas tunes.

This is my day in pictures....

I woke up to snow piled higher than my cat on our back deck. I hope the deck holds up - that has to be heavy!

Snowed in! This is the view from our front door.

Look at all of that!

My brave husband making the trek to the mail box. The mail never came though. Shellee and Adam took it to the post office for us.

Cool picture that Loy took of his foot deep in the snow.

The snow is up to Loy's knees!

This is our street.

Our front walk way.

See me waving at Loy from the door?

Taking the garbage out for me. My hero.

To our front door.

The palm plant I'm sure I killed this year.

A pretty peek outside.

My other heroes, Adam and Shellee. They actually risked their lives and brought me Christmas cookies from my Mom's house! They spent their day making rounds for family, friends and neighbors taking them to the store or picking up things for them. Can you believe they actually went out of their way and brought me cookies? I feel guilty because I didn't NEED them but I sure am thankful because I really WANTED them! Yummy! Thanks, guys!

Here they are. Don't they look good!

Wish I could share them with you

Valarie eating a peanut butter ball.

I played with my camera today.

I also made Chicken and dumplings for the first time ever. I doesn't look very good but it tasted great. I used an easy recipe from the food network. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/chicken-and-dumplings-recipe/index.html. It's by Sandra Lee.

Loy cleaning up for me. I was kind of sore after making the dinner.

This is for you Laura. A picture of me looking into the camera and smiling. I had to ask someone to take it.

Joey was sleeping in the living room and it was cold with me filming out the front door. He sounds funny telling me to close the door. I believe the news said this is a 40 year record snow fall! "Winter Storm 08"

Shellee and Adam driving away after the cookie drop.

Tubal Reversal Surgery Recovery Day 11

As the flowers die... I heal. I want to be all healed up! The incision is sore and itchy. I broke down and took 600 mg of ibuprofen this morning at 7:30am. I'll go back to 400mg at noon. I peeled off one of the little butterfly tapes on the spot that bothers me the most. There were 12 strips of butterfly tape across the incision so I think it should be fine that I took one off. It's not healing flat in the problem area, It's kind of bumpy. I feel like peeling off all the tape but, I don't think I should. Shellee said her Doctor peeled her tape off before they started peeling off on their own. I better not, I'm just going to leave it alone. I notice that the days I take a shower, it gets gunky. That's when those three spots started to look bad. I've tried to only take a shower every other day for that reason. Keeping it dry seems to be the best thing for healing. I'm feeling better every day.

My dog is not very happy about all this white stuff! She looks like she is thinking... Make it go away, make it go away, make it go away....

I think I have killed my palm from California this year. I should have brought this plant inside last October!

This is what I woke up to this morning.... Ice on the windows....

...and snow drifts on the back deck....

....Isn't it pretty?

This is what an entry way should look like when it is snowing outside and you have kids!

Loy still taking good care of everything. He is getting the cat food here.

He has also been keeping the litter box clean.

I ventured down stairs this morning and this is what I found... This is David's room. Why can't boys keep sheets on their beds? It looks like he is trying to attract mice by leaving marshmallows on his floor. Oh, and look at the lovely Christmas lights he put up, no, wait, put down on the floor. He is such a boy!

This is Joey's room. It's not as messy. Do you like the THREE mattresses on his bed? I tease him about it and call him the princess and the pea. He wont let me take one away he says its comfortable.

Yes, my children obey me so well, they never take food and drinks downstairs and they always clean up after themselves!

This is what I found in the family room. At noon!

Notice the picture askew?

Sleeping beauties.

Right at the front door on the welcome mat. I'm an idiot.

Tubal Reversal Recovery day 10

I was up so late last night. I couldn't sleep because I had a cup of Kona coffee (thank you, Les and Beth Araki, our friends from Hawaii). I think it was after 4:00 am that I finally got to sleep. Note to self, NO COFFEE after noon! Feeling good today. I lowered my dose of ibuprofen to 400 mg (I was taking 600 mg). I tried to do this a couple days ago but I was just too uncomfortable. I'm feeling good so far so I think I'll be able to stay on 400 mg, now. This may be too much information, but three small places on my incision are looking red and draining a little puss-like stuff. Pray for me. I don't have a fever and it isn't too bad but it worries me. I think it will be fine but I would still like your prayers.

Shellee and I talked about our incisions last night at Family Night. I showed her mine and she showed me hers. Shellee's has healed nicely. It looks like our incisions are about the same length. We talked about how it is more sore where the doctor ended the incision rather than on the side he started it on. We also talked about the weird numbness. I feel numb all the way up to my belly button. I'm starting to get some feeling back but it's still numb. Shellee told me her friend who also has an incision calls it her heeby jeeby spot. Shellee said she still has some numbness and this is 2 years later for her! At this point the numbness doesn't bother me, I just don't want it to get infected.

We went out last night to get pizza for Family Night. We celebrated my niece Renee's 2nd birthday. While we were out we stopped by World Market to get the kids the unique Christmas candy we get for them there, every year. This may be the last year we go there. It's too expensive. I got some Lindor truffles for me. Oh my, I am going to be in trouble when it's time to get back to normal!! It's very nice sitting around blogging and eating truffles. Pray for me please.

Here are the pictures from Family Night...

Adam, Renee's daddy, did the decorating. WOW! I loved it. He did such a great job. And you were worried, Shellee. I think Adam should do all the birthday party decorating from now on! Renee had a Dora party.

Renee and her Dora Party

Julia made the cake but we wont talk about the Dora cake... Renee loved it anyway! We stuck all her "Dora Party" stuff on the cake.

This is my grandson Isaac enjoying sitting up like a big boy making a silly face.

Happy Birthday to you, Renee!

Shellee with Renee. Shellee got her hair cut and colored it looks beautiful.

Look at all the people!

It's all about the 2 year old!

Renee is happy with the present we got her. Natti likes it too.

How many parents does it take to cut a 2 year old's Dora? (YES, it's a Dora cake!) birthday cake?

Aunt Debbie and Uncle Jeremy getting the Kona Coffee. I wonder if they were up all night too?

Benjamin my grandson look at those cute little teeth.

The pregos. You guys are getting HUGE! My sisters Debbie and Julia.

My sister Shellee, my niece Renee, and brother-in-law Adam. Happy Birthday Renee!

Tubal reversal surgery recovery day 9

Recovery is going well. My incision is getting itchy and sore. There is one part that is kind of red and worries me. I took a picture of it. You want to see it? Just kidding. Shellee, I'll show you later, I know you'll want to see it because you're weird that way, but I still love you. You weirdo.

I'm feeling like I can do more activities now. Although when the time comes for my next dose of ibuprofen, I'm feeling it. It's not really pain just annoying soreness and discomfort.

I want to go Christmas shopping but we can't because of the snow. I had an emotional time two nights ago because we are not going to be getting the kids what they want this year. I think Christmas morning will be a disappointment to them and it makes me feel sad. Also one son already expressed that if he doesn't get the things he wants then he doesn't want anything. Can you believe that! These are the kind of bad attitudes that come from them. It makes me feel like a failure as a mom. They are not learning the things I'm trying to teach them. Valarie won't be hard to shop for. She is planning on moving out when she turns 18, so she just wants anything that she can use for when she moves out on her own. David wants a PSP 3000 and the PSP game Monster Hunter Freedom 2. It's actually not a bad game I think. There is no magic in it and the "monsters" are dragons and reptile like things. Joey wants a Wii and Wii games. We seriously thought of getting a Wii about two months ago as a family present but my boy's life revolves around games. They waste all their time on these games. It's not good for them. Last summer they did something bad and got their Nintendo DSes taken away. During this time they have changed and we have seen them do things they would never have done if they still had their gaming stuff. They rode their bikes, they walked to the store, they pulled out their legos, David drew a lot, they played cards, and board games. They read and they did more of their homework. We don't want them to waste their life on playing games and not being in the real world. Yes, we did set up a computer with two games on it Age of Empires and Civilizations, so they are still playing some games but they are games Loy knows exactly what is on them and Loy is playing with them so they are spending time together. So, My dilemma is, "What do we get the boys for Christmas???" Does anyone have any suggestions? Help!! Should we just not get them anything like they said and teach them a hard lesson? Help!! What should we do?

My friend Jennifer gave me a book to read called "Boys Adrift." It's about the five factors driving the growing epidemic of unmotivated boys and underachieving young men and is written by Leonard Sax. Factors like...teaching methods in public schools, video games, prescription drugs (for ADHD), devaluation of masculinity (from Father knows Best to the Simpsons), endocrine disruptors (environmental). I've just started the book I'm only on chapter 1. It's not a Christian book but it seems interesting. My kids don't take any medication so that's not an issue. They do go to public school, though, and they do play video games. This is the book http://www.amazon.com/Boys-Adrift-Epidemic-Unmotivated-Underachieving/dp/0465072097 if you want to check it out.

OK, I did it. I went around the house and took pictures. These are the things you can find at thrift stores and garage sales to make a home look nice for CHEAP! I just copy what I like from Romantic Homes magazines and Shabby Chic books here are the links to both. http://www.romantichomes.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/Shabby-Chic-Rachel-Ashwell/dp/0060982047 and http://www.shabbychic.com/. I never buy from this shabby chic web site it's way too expensive, but Target has cheaper Shabby Chic merchandise by Rachael Ashwell. I have bought a few things from Target when they are on 60% off clearance.

I made dinner last night and used my Demarle thing for the first time. http://holly.demarleathome.com/ check it out. I made lasagna and it was yummy. I blogged all day yesterday. I added a book list the the right and a link list, you should check them out.

Lasagna in my round, flexible Demarle baking dish.

Ready to put in the oven.

Just out of the oven.

Always remember to lift the top away from you or you will give yourself a nasty steam burn.

Yummy, cheesy lasagna ready for my family on a cold winter night.

OK picture time... I am only going to post a few a day because the post will get too long if I do them all.

The plates are $6.99 from Goodwill. I can't remember if the plate on the top was from Goodwill or not but I know the one on the bottom was from Goodwill. $6.99 may seem like a lot for a plate but I use them like pictures on my walls, so $6.99 is cheep for a picture. The angels are Norcrest collectibles - they were between $2.99 - $4.99.

This is the pink chair I was talking about. It has velvet fabric! I love it. It was $9.99 from Goodwill.


I collect tea cups. most of these tea cups were between $4.99 - $6.99 from Goodwill. Some were from garage sales and they were $6.00-$10.00. The tea cups that are hanging on the bottom don't have saucers they were only .99 cents to $1.99. The shelf I painted white was $2.99.



Goodwill sells perfume for $2.99. I got Oscar de la Renta, Giorgio, Fred Hayman's Touch, and Ysatis de Givenchy - all for $2.99 each. The two White Shoulders perfume bottles are from my mom and Loy. They paid a lot for those last Christmas and the one before that. My grandma wore White Shoulders so I love it and it brings back good memories when I smell it.

This mirror was kind of expensive for a Goodwill purchase, but I liked it so much I got it. It was $19.99

Tubal reversal surgery recovery day 8

It's snowing again. Doesn't this look so peaceful?

This is what happens when you have teenage boys at home while it snows outside. Note the wood laminate tearing off the computer desk.

Teenage boys (part 2).... Note the candy wrapper under the chair and the table cloth on the floor and the books spilling off the tea cart. The basket with the handles is the kitty bed. I guess they wanted the kitty near by when they played games.

Beautiful snow.

More beautiful snow.

Me lying around. It's all I have been doing for 8 days. Well, I've been blogging a lot! Look how much I have blogged in the last 8 days compared to the last few months!! This picture of me isn't emo or Myspace-y is it?? I'm beginning to think any picture taken of one's self looks Myspace-y and emo. Oh, look the chandelier has a light bulb out.... The things you notice when lying around!

Doesn't this chandelier look like it is from a palace? I got it for $35.00 and then the crystals were probably about $30.00, too. But, I already had them. The ceiling thingy was from Home Depot maybe $15.00 or $20.00? So all together It cost me about $85.00 for a $500.00 looking rich person chandelier! Just about everything in my house is like that. Like those wonderful pink chairs in my living room, $9.99 each from Goodwill (my favorite place to shop). Actually that's not true. Goodwill's prices have gone way up so I like Salvation Army better, now. I should go around my house and post all my cheap, but great finds from thrift stores! You want me to? I'm sooo BORED!

My silly kitties - Ghost is the one going after Bunny and she is getting good at dodging him. We want some white fluffy kittens but Ghost just can't figure things out, this is about as far as he gets. I don't know what to do. Maybe if I put some cat nip on him like kitty cologne, Bunny would like him more. Anyone have any suggestions?

Tubal reversal surgery recovery day 6 You're so emo...You're so Myspace!!!!!!

I have been informed by the teenager that taking a picture of ones self in a mirror is very "emo" and very "Myspace" so there will be no more self portraits of me in mirrors. These are the pictures you will get of me from now on. unless my family starts using a camera! :o) That is me. standing up with the apron on. I have no idea why I'm holding my butt. My hair looks thin and straggly too. Sombody please take some pictures of me from the front!!!!

Tubal reversal surgery recovery day 5

My boys bonding playing age of empires on the computer before haircuts


during the dreaded haircuts


Joey after the haircut. He looks so old and like a marine!


David wearing my coat and Valarie getting ready to go out in the snow. David made the face cover for Valarie by cutting a sweatshirt sleve for her to squeeze over her head and put over her face.


Some kind of silly snow dance


Valarie contemplating what to make for dinner


Pasta


and more pasta


and breaded chicken strips for dinner


yummy


Loy cleaning up after the chef made her mark on the kitchen

and more cleaning

Feeling good today. I was relaxing all day and didn't even take a shower. Loy works tomorrow and the boys will be home because of the snow. It will be hard to not do stuff. Valarie and the boys played in the snow yesterday. I had to talk them into it. We took apart a dog kennel and made sleighs out of the top and bottom of it. The kids said it didn't work at all. Loy cut both the boys' hair. Joey looks sooo different! They look so grown up. Also, Valarie made an incredible dinner last night. She just got this bug to cook, and cook she did. She changed all the recipies and created her own meal and it was really good! She made a big mess and Loy cleaned it all since she cooked for us. Before bed Loy and I listened to a sermon by Leonard Ravenhill on sermonaudio.com http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=92302232142 and he read a poem/song I really liked by Charles Wesley here it is. It is from the story of Jacob wrestling with God.


Come, O thou Traveller unknown,
Whom still I hold, but cannot see!
My company before is gone,
And I am left alone with Thee;
With Thee all night I mean to stay,
And wrestle till the break of day.

I need not tell Thee who I am,
My misery and sin declare;
Thyself hast called me by my name,
Look on Thy hands, and read it there;
But who, I ask Thee, who art Thou?
Tell me Thy name, and tell me now.

In vain Thou strugglest to get free,
I never will unloose my hold!
Art Thou the Man that died for me?
The secret of Thy love unfold;
Wrestling, I will not let Thee go,
Till I Thy name, Thy nature know.

Wilt Thou not yet to me reveal
Thy new, unutterable Name?
Tell me, I still beseech Thee, tell;
To know it now resolved I am;
Wrestling, I will not let Thee go,
Till I Thy Name, Thy nature know.

’Tis all in vain to hold Thy tongue
Or touch the hollow of my thigh;
Though every sinew be unstrung,
Out of my arms Thou shalt not fly;
Wrestling I will not let Thee go
Till I Thy name, Thy nature know.

What though my shrinking flesh complain,
And murmur to contend so long?
I rise superior to my pain,
When I am weak, then I am strong
And when my all of strength shall fail,
I shall with the God-man prevail.

Contented now upon my thigh
I halt, till life’s short journey end;
All helplessness, all weakness I
On Thee alone for strength depend;
Nor have I power from Thee to move:
Thy nature, and Thy name is Love.

My strength is gone, my nature dies,
I sink beneath Thy weighty hand,
Faint to revive, and fall to rise;
I fall, and yet by faith I stand;
I stand and will not let Thee go
Till I Thy Name, Thy nature know.

Yield to me now, for I am weak,
But confident in self-despair;
Speak to my heart, in blessings speak,
Be conquered by my instant prayer;
Speak, or Thou never hence shalt move,
And tell me if Thy Name is Love.

’Tis Love! ’tis Love! Thou diedst for me!
I hear Thy whisper in my heart;
The morning breaks, the shadows flee,
Pure, universal love Thou art;
To me, to all, Thy bowels move;
Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.

My prayer hath power with God; the grace
Unspeakable I now receive;
Through faith I see Thee face to face,
I see Thee face to face, and live!
In vain I have not wept and strove;
Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.

I know Thee, Saviour, who Thou art.
Jesus, the feeble sinner’s friend;
Nor wilt Thou with the night depart.
But stay and love me to the end,
Thy mercies never shall remove;
Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.

The Sun of righteousness on me
Hath rose with healing in His wings,
Withered my nature’s strength; from Thee
My soul its life and succour brings;
My help is all laid up above;
Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.

Lame as I am, I take the prey,
Hell, earth, and sin, with ease o’ercome;
I leap for joy, pursue my way,
And as a bounding hart fly home,
Through all eternity to prove
Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.

Tubal reversal surgery recovery day 4. And a responce to my family and friends "I will show you my faith by my works".....

Day 4 of recovery. I'm up and dressed and feeling good! Still moving very slow. here are some pictures and a message for my friends and family. It's snowing today!!!!
The coffee Loy makes for me every morning

Loy getting me breakfast and taking good care of me



A self portrait of me recovering after surgery


The wonderful flowers Shellee and Adam sent me

The flowers are so me.

This is why. This is the only way I know how to express why I am getting a tubal reversal. If you can't understand after reading this I don't know how to communicate it and that causes me anguish because I do want my family and friends to understand. A couple things I want to say.

#1 This is not about having another baby although that is the natural outcome of a tubal reversal and a natural desire for any woman in any stage of life. This is about obeying God. Did God tell me "Diane, thou shalt get a tubal reversal"? No, He told me 14 years ago to trust Him on the number of kids He gives us. Actually He wants me to trust Him and give Him control of every area of my life - not just the number of children I have. I did not trust Him and it has taken me this long to put this work, this action with the faith or trust He has developed in me over the last 14 years.

#2 This is not about me and what I want. This is about serving the God I love. This is about living my life with my eyes on eternity not on me and my wants and comfort.

#3 This isn't about me and my abilities. This is about trusting God with who He has made me to be and depending on His strength to live my life and accomplish the work He has planned from the beginning of time for me to do. He made me to do good works in His strength. I am just beginning to trust Him and follow Him, even though I have believed in Him for about 30 years.

Psalms 127:3

Behold, Children are a gift of the Lord The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Proverbs 3:5,6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

Eph.2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Chrits Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Gal. 2:20
" I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and delivered himself up for me."

John 5:30
" I can do nothing on my own initiative. As I hear, I judge, and my judgement is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of Him who sent me."

Gal 5:16
So I say, live by the spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the spirit and the spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.

Rom. 8:5
For those who are according to the flesh set there minds on the things of the flesh, but thoes who are according to the spirit, set their minds on the things of the spirit.

Col. 3:1-7
If then you have been raised up with Christ keep seeking the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on the earth for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life, is revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come, and in them you also once walked when you lived in them.

Col. 3:23-25
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for man knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve for he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.

Rom. 12:1-2
I urge you therefore, brethrn, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Heb. 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

James 2:14
What use is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?

James 2:17-26
Even, so faith if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works faith was perfected. And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. You see a man is justified by works, and not faith alone. And in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messangers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead!

James 4
What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wag war in your members? You lust and do not have, so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adultresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enamy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us?" But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you doubleminded. Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom.

Humble yourself in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you. Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the Law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy, but who are you to judge your neighbor? Come now you who say, "Today or tomorrow we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life with be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this and that." But as it is you boast in your arrogance, all such boasting is evil. Therefore to the one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.

John 14:16-25

"And I will ask the FAther, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will behold Me no more; but you will behold Me; because I live you shall also live. In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose myself to him.

Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, what has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us, and not to the world?"

Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me. These things I have spoken to you, while abiding with you."

I have to stop here but the fact is that on every page of the Bible I can find a reason for having faith in God, giving God control, and trusting God. Family and friends, this is the best I can do to communicate and respond to your comments and concerns. I was at peace and knew that God loved me before the surgery and I am at peace and know that God loves me after the surgery. Nothing has changed except that I am taking steps of faith.

Cookie making fun

Me rolling the russian tea cakes in Julia's cute apron looking fat

All the cookie tins waiting for the cookies

Russian tea cakes

Julie and Valarie taking a break and eating lunch. I'm sure Valarie washed her hands after picking her nose, I think....

Lots O' peanutbutter balls

A rare picture of Valarie working

My beautiful wildflower

Sorry Julie I just had to, It's too funny!

Julia dipping the peanutbutter balls

It's very tedious work

Julie in her apron

wonderful peanutbutter balls

Me again

Spritz cookies

My Mom doing the messy job of filling the spritz cookie machine.

The end.

Thanksgiving pictures

Tips for raising the teenager

THE TEENAGER

Question:
What do you do when the teenager is wearing a shirt that is not appropriate for the teenager to be wearing?

Answer:
You tell the teenager to change the teenagers shirt.

Question:
What to you do when you are in the car heading to the max station about half a mile away from home to drop off the teenager for a day of fun and you notice the teenagers sweat shirt is all zipped up to the top and you remember you told the teenager to change the teenagers shirt so you ask the teenager if the teenager changed the shirt and the teenager did not change the shirt?

Answer:
You turn around and go home and make the teenager change the teenagers shirt.


Question:
What do you do when the teenager does not say "thank you" for driving the teenager places the teenager wants to go? (whether the teenager is thankful or not, and weather you have told the teenager a gazillion times the teenager needs to say thank you when someone does something for the teenager even if the teenager hates the person who is doing something for the teenager like driving the teenager places)

Answer:
You do not take the teenager where the teenager wants to go the next time the teenager wants a ride. And the teenager cannot go where the teenager wants to go even if the teenager can find the teenagers own ride, because the teenager was ungrateful for all the good things you do for the teenager. (except to work. The teenager can find the teenagers own way to work even if it is raining. But you should pick up the teenager from work after it gets dark outside because that's not safe and you do love the teenager but when the teenager leaves for work and it's light outside the teenager can walk to the buss.)

Question:
What do you do when you plan with the teenager to pick the teenager up from Borders between 5:00 - 5:30 after you drove the teenager to the max station earlier in the day and gave the teenager permission to go to the mall and the teenager calls you and tells you the teenager is just getting on the max at 5:30 when you are already on your way to pick up the teenager and you started dinner in the oven and only have a certain amount of time to get back to take it out of the oven so this really messes things up?

Answer:
You Hope that the teenager gets to Borders in enough time for you to get back home before dinner burns and you look at the bright side of things either you can be thankful gas is only $1.85 a gallon and you can drive back home to be there when dinner needs to come out of the oven and you make the teenager wait for you to pick up the teenager when you can. OR you can go to goodwill and hope that the timing all works out and you enjoy your time at a thrift store and then you have a talk with the teenager and tell the teenager that because the teenager was not back at the time that was arranged the teenager can't go where the teenager wants to go next time.

Question:
What do you do when you ask the teenager how the teenagers day was when you pick up the teenager from Borders 1 hour late from the time when you arranged to pick up the teenager because the teenager doesn't care about what time it is and the teenager wants to stay out later. Then the teenager lies about why the teenager is late and the teenager says the teenager was not watching the time and thought it was 4:00 pm when it was 5:00 pm. And then you notice the teenager does not have the teenagers seat belt on and you ask the teenager to put it on and the teenager acts all mad and angerly whips the seat belt on with attitude? And then you ask the teenager what the teenager is so mad about and the teenager disrespectfully says "you annoy the HELL out of me!"?

Answer:
You explain to the teenager that it's rude and disrespectful to talk to the teenagers parent that way. Because you need to instruct the teenager in the right behavior and then you FORGIVE the teenager even though you want to reach over and SMACK the teenager because the teenager hurt you when you are doing nice things for the teenager at your own sacrifice and you are tired.