It seems that yours truly, the humble maintenance worker at the local Wal-mart, has been dubbed "Associate of the Month".  What does that mean?  My name will forever be immortalized on an engraved sign at the back of the store and I get a parking spot that is a whole 30 feet closer than where I usually park!  Alright!!!! 

Do you know that Spongebob episode where Mr. Krabs makes Spongebob employee of the month every month to get him to just work a little harder?  It's hilarious.  That episode popped into my head when a fellow associate congratulated me on being the chosen associate of the month (2nd shift) but no managers have yet to tell me that I have received the coveted title.  I just chuckle.

I don't think it is that hard to get chosen for such a title as long as you smile, work hard, and do a little extra to help out your fellow associates.  I think some people will never get chosen as associate of the month...they never smile.  Someone told me they have never seen a happier maintenance worker as myself, pushing my cart or hauling trash to the back of the store.  I just smiled and said thank you.  If you can't be content cleaning toilets you won't be content doing any other task at Wal-mart.  I must confess, however, that cleaning various forms of bodily outputs off the tiled walls is getting a bit old.

I have heard through the grapevine that I may be up for another position in the toy department.  I think I would really enjoy working in toys.  I know the products well as made evidence by my mini Wal-mart toy department that is strewn throughout my home!  Oh well, let's just wait and see how this saga unfolds.  I know you all will be waiting with baited breath to know if I get the position.

Paul and Susan have been at camp this week and I am very excited about them getting back tomorrow!  It has been a long week with the little ones.  We've had some really great moments and some really bad ones.  Nothing different than the usual but it sure does help to have your spouse available to help untangle the thrashing children when they have a weak moment!

        

Okay, you know it's bad when you haven't blogged for 41 days!  Have I been that busy?  Maybe so.  The end of the school year was a hectic event with musicals, choral choir performance, dance recital, a promotion ceremony for Susan (cap and gowns for 8th graders?  How lame!).  Then it was prep work for a family reunion on my dad's side of the family.  We had it this past weekend and it was an absolute blast!  We went to Camp Trinity in New Haven, MO.  A beautiful place and a great part of the country.  We had the whole camp to ourselves and the kids never got tired of all the activities: canoeing, fishing, swimming, hiking, campfire, etc.  I'd highly recommend the place to anyone who wants a great place to have a special get-together without too much hassle. 

Now it is looking forward to Paul's family reunion in Helena, Montana!  I can't wait for that.  We plan to visit Glacier National Park and Yellowstone.  Also looking forward to visit with family and friends before, during, and after the reunion.

My brother, Jon, and his family will be stopping through here today for an overnight visit on his way to Wisconsin.  I look forward to spending more time with him and his family.

Also, the countdown for Susan to attend boarding school is on.  She will need to be there a week in advance for Volleyball camp.  I'm really glad that she will be revisiting her interests in sports.  I think she could be a good player if given the proper coaching.  We shall see.

        

Yep, you heard me, poop! I have to find some comedy in my situation.  Wherever I turn, I deal with it.  At home I've got a 4 year old still needing a bit of assistance and a 20 month old who needs constant diaper changes.  And now, I've added work outside of the home that includes the smelly stuff.

There is a great quote by Martin Luther.  I can't remember it completely but it basically says that there is no nobler task than a mother caring for and changing her children's dirty diapers.  Is it still considered noble cleaning up after customers in Walmart?  I guess so, since the reason why I'm doing it is for my daughter.

Work has been going really well.  I tried my hand at being a cashier and decided I'd rather clean bathrooms than do check-out!  It was soooooo boring and you can't move around and go anywhere!  I had a REALLY bad headache last night, though, and still had to work.  Paul let me sleep in so that I could get over it...I still have a tinge of one.  I'm thinking about getting back on my Inderal to see if it will help decrease the occurence of them.  They have come back again and I seem to be getting them a couple of times a month.  Not fun!  This truly is my cross in life that I have to learn to live with because it has been with me now for about 13 years with no sign of leaving.

Just having random thoughts.  I've got a little time to type so I'm taking advantage of it.

A couple of weeks ago Theodore got a hold of our black permanent marker.  He wrote all over the walls, counter, chairs, fridge, you name it.  It was a fun time cleaning, let me assure you! 

        

Why is it that people feel like they can say anything they want, good or bad, without offense?

Yesterday, someone dropped an item off at our house for me.  We were chatting a bit and then she had the nerve to ask me if I was ill or something because to her I was too "skinny". 

Excuse me? 

I admit that I have lost a good deal of weight since working outside of the home.  That is just how my body reacts to activity (remember:  I'm no longer a kept woman-ha,ha).  I know I've lost weight.  My clothes don't fit anymore and I've resorted to wearing belts with my jeans.  You need not point out the obvious to me.  The host of comments I've received recently have been largely negative.  I think there might be an ounce of jealousy by the women who feel it is their right to tell me I'm skinny or that I look ill.  If you feel so inclined to discuss my weight with me, can you put it in a more positive form of a question or comment?  I'm already self-conscious about the whole thing but these negative comments just exacerbate it. 

YES!  I'm eating right!  NO!  I'm not doing this intentionally!

Let's just hope you're not the next poor soul to comment about my weight!

On the flip side, Susan came home from school yesterday in tears.  It seems that a certain teacher of hers was inquiring about whether she was still involved in swimming.  Susan told her no, that the season had ended.  This teacher had the nerve to then say that she could really tell that Susan wasn't involved in any physical activity because she was looking a bit chunky!

Excuse me?

Needless to say, I will be making a phone call to the school today.  I can expect these kind of comments from peers, but from her teacher?  I take that back.  Given what I just wrote about myself, I guess it doesn't surprise me that this teacher felt compelled to comment on Susan's weight.  Again, Susan doesn't need anyone to point out the obvious to her.  She has always had weight issues and probably always will.

Lesson to learn today:  If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!

        

Well, it's official!  Susan has been accepted to attend St. Paul Lutheran High School next year.  They have offered us a VERY generous financial aid tuition/grant that will allow us to pay for her schooling and hopefully to allow for some "extras" that are additional fees.  We feel extremely blessed and Susan is so excited to attend school there next year.

I have mixed emotions with the whole situation (I'm a mom, what can I say).  I know that this opportunity will effect Susan's life far beyond the 4 years that she will go to school at St. Paul.  I'm pretty sure it will be in a positive way (at least that is what I'll be praying for).  For this reason, I'm ready for her to go.  On the other hand, she's only 14.  I know that she will be able to handle it and will probably thrive in this new environment but I will miss her terribly!  I know that some people think we are nuts...you can think that, if you want.  But given certain circumstances to weigh, this will be the best thing for Susan's development (spiritually, academically, socially, etc.).

If any of you have thought it would be great to help Susan (and us) out financially, I would strongly urge you to consider making donations to the school instead.  If you're looking for any new group to donate funds to, consider St. Paul Lutheran High School.  I believe that the web address is:  www.splhs.org.  This would be a great way to help other students out and maybe even allow for the school to expand and grow. 

Thank you to everyone for your prayers as we have deliberated this option for Susan and please keep her in your prayers as she gets ready to spread her wings and fly.

        

We watched the controversial beauty pageant this past weekend where I'm sure you've all heard by now the comments made by Miss California regarding same sex marriage.  She had, by far, the best response to any of the questions that were asked of the five remaining contestants.  You could tell that she thought about what she was going to say before she spoke.  What she spoke was her own personal belief, that same sex marriage was not in the best interest of the country and she opposed it.  She didn't even talk about whether she believed that homosexuality was right or not.

But the road to tolerance only goes so far.  So much for those "diverse" and "forward thinking" people.  No!  These enlightened individuals say that Miss California should recant and apologize for expressing her opinion.  There is no room for tolerance for this blond hottie!  She is being hit below the belt for her conservative views.  The sheer contradiction of these liberal nut jobs is pure irony.  "You can talk but only if you agree with what I say" is their slogan.

I was glad to hear that Donald Trump stood up for her.  Hopefully his comment will smooth over the ruffled dressed-in-drag feathers of the oh-so-tolerant homosexual community.

        

I was having some problems with my blog.  I won't go into all the gory details...but if anyone can respond to this just to let me know it is up and running I would appreciate it (Gary, the task might fall to you since I think you are my only reader)!

Easter was a wonderful time for our family this year.  It is my favorite part of the entire church year for obvious reasons.  There was a gentleman who is from our community that I see regularly while at work who is "fervent for The Word", his leaning is toward more charismatic christianity.  I saw him shopping on Easter Sunday.  I asked him if he was enjoying his day and he basically said that Easter Sunday was not so special.  I was very shocked by what he said.  I responded by saying, "Easter is the entire reason we are Christians!"  It brought to mind the song we sang Easter morning "This Joyful Eastertide".  The refrain says, "Had Christ who once was slain, not burst His three day prison...our faith would be in vain.  But now has Christ arisen, arisen, but now has Christ arisen!"

Easter is the victorious triumph over the Evil One...it is where our hope and comfort rests.  It is forever pointing us to the cross, not to some revival or emotional connection to God.  It is tangible and real.  Without that faith Easter is "just another day", but with that faith it becomes so much more!

        

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.