CHEERS!

Here's to all of you out in blog-land. Another new year. Do you make new year's resolutions? I used to, but I don't anymore, for several reasons. First, people don't usually keep them, myself included. Second, we tend to make the same ones each year. If we make a resolution over and over and never keep it, what's the point?

The most important reason why is that I don't believe we should try to make positive, healthy changes in our lives just on January first. If something needs to change, why wait till the new year? Why not start when you realize the change needs to be made? I understand a lot of people like the symbolism of starting their new diet, or what-not, on new year's day, but for me, it isn't really important. I know I need to shed some pounds, so I will cut back on my desserts. I don't have any habits currently (like drinking or smoking), and I try very hard every day to be nice to others. So, I guess what I'm saying is that we should make positive changes in our lives on a regular basis, not just because it's new year's day. If I absolutely HAD to make one, it would be to do more random acts of kindness - anonymously - to give that glory to God, not myself. I wish everyone a happy, safe, and productive 2006!

lost and found

I am truly the forgetfulone! The thing is, though, I almost always find what I've lost. I lost some gift cards. Found them the next day. Lost $20, found it the next day.

And my lost husband may be found after all. Tonight at dinner, he told me he wants to completely quit drinking. Long ago he used to have quite a problem with drinking, but he doesn't drink often anymore, maybe once a week. It's just that when he does drink, he tends to drink too much. Luckily, he's at home, not at a bar. He says the desire to drink is gone now. It's just a habit. And he even wants to join the recovery group at my church. He is such a private person that I never expected him to make that kind of decision without being asked to do it! So, I am in awe of the prayers that have been answered through this. Trust me... that is a HUGE step for him, to be willing to open up to other people, especially people he doesn't know, and become part of a group. It's just awesome. I had mentioned the group briefly in passing just to let him know that there are other "normal" people at my church who have suffered with addictions of one kind of another, that not everyone who goes to church is perfect. In fact, none are, and this church is open about that as far as admitting our mistakes. He remembered that I had mentioned a personal story about one member, and he wants to talk to him. We have been praying at church that God would touch his heart. We are one step closer to that prayer being answered! I'm so excited!

Merry Christmas

I don't care if it's politically correct or not. Frankly, who cares? I'm going to say Merry Christmas. Not happy holidays. Not season's greetings. Merry Christmas. Christmas is the day that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Perhaps December 25th is not the actual day that Jesus was born, but we celebrate it symbollically on the 25th. Gift-giving is done in remembrance of the gifts of the wise kings to the baby Jesus as well as in gratitude for the greatest gift of all: Our salvation. Yes, Christmas is commercialized, and yes, I get drawn into some of the commercialization, but my family and I still know in our heart the meaning of Christmas. It is Christ's Mass. No, I am not Catholic, though I have nothing against Catholics. I have been a Methodist most of my life, but I now attend a non-denominational Christian church that has a "Church of Christ" background. It is the most warm and friendly church I have ever been to. So, anyway, my point was that I am not going to cater to those that would have me make my holiday greetings more generic. My holiday greeting is MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Just wondering

Have you ever gotten out of the shower then wondered if you washed your hair while you were in there? Maybe I should be embarrassed, but sometimes I forget! If I don't follow my exact routine, do this first, this second, and so on, then I leave something out! No creativity or spontaneity here! There's too much else to remember.

I did some Christmas shopping today. I am almost finished. Since I started off about forgetting, and now I'm talking about shopping, these two go together. I purchased some gift cards and they were delivered to me at church today. I set them down with my other things to take some toys and packages to the car, and then I forgot all about them. I drove home, and it wasn't until then that I remembered. I had to go back, and luckily, a friend had picked them up for me. There would have gone $100 quick bucks!

Forgetfulone signing off for now.

My Purpose

You know what I've decided? I was made to be a mother. I was made to be in service of one kind or another to other people. I didn't say I was the best mother or server, just that I believe that is my purpose in life. That, and to serve God by serving others.

I was made to be a mom! What a revelation! I don't know what this household would do without my "mom" skills! It'd be pretty scary! I think being a mom and serving others is my calling.

Here I am again

Everyone else is in bed or asleep. I'm sitting here at the computer like I do almost every night. It's MY time. I have very little of that these days. But that's okay. We had a house of six people, and now it's seven, since the "jumbo" one has moved back in due to mismanagement of funds! Just kidding, sort of. He's 25, and he hasn't completely gotten basic money management 101 skills yet, but he's working on it. I'm sure he's not happy to be living here after having his own place for quite a while. Actually, though, we rarely see him. He works at the hospital (nursing), so he has long hours, rarely gets a day off, and tries to see one of his two girlfriends when he can, or play golf, play poker, or whatever he does. How he can manage on so very little sleep, I can't understand. But I guess I could, too, when I was 25!

Which brings me to being 40. Wow. I once thought 40 was old. Now I KNOW it is. LOL! Seriously, it's not so bad except for the forgetfulness (yesterday's post), but I guess I can't blame that on being 40 since it's been happening for a while.

Did you know I'm not teaching full time this year? I'm only subbing, and I love it. I do mostly 4th and 5th grades, but I've done middle school and high school, and I especially like working with ESL kids, and last week I actually did a kindergarten class! WoW! That was something. I couldn't do that full time. But it was at a school I really like going to, so I couldn't say no. I really developed a bond with one student who seems to have a difficult time in school. I saw him in the hall Monday, and he was so excited to see me again. It's sweet. I guess all kids need to have someone who doesn't judge them or control them in some way.

I did something today that I used to hate for parents to do. I got my kids out of school early, and I even went to get the middle schooler, and ... I... took them to a movie! I'm such a bad mom! Not really, I guess. The 4th graders have been doing benchmark testing for three days, and all they missed today was music, and I figured they needed a treat and a break. I picked a terrible day to be in and out of the car and driving, though. It was raining buckets, and the streets were flooded. We were wet to the bone!

Good night all. I have so much more to say, but I will cut myself off at this point.

What was I looking for? Why am I in here?

Well, here I am in the world of bloggers, although I have no idea what I'm doing or why I'm doing it. Of course I have heard of blogs, but do people really read them? Or do they just read them if they're on a site they like or if their friend writes one? I'm really curious about that. Who actually reads these? How do you find them?

The title of this blog refers to my forgetfulness. Often, I'll walk into a room and forget why I went in there. I can usually back track a little and figure it out, but it's really annoying! But, I can never do this without saying out loud, "What did I come in here for?" or something along those lines. My 9 year old twins respond with, "I don't know. I'm not your brain." You'd think I'd learn not to say it out loud, but it is virtually impossible. So... I guess that's all I have to say right now.