The Outspoken Mom Blog

Nurture the Nature.

Good Morning Everyone!

So I have been up for over 2 hours already and yet, not much has been done today.  The house looks like a trash house and my laundry somehow has reached epic levels.  Does it ever end?  Really!  When do I get to have staff?  I would really like some staff around the house.  I thought I would have cheap staff having 4 children.  I truly thought it would be built in free child labor, hahahahaha WRONG! 

All children do is create more mess.  This past weekend we switched our children's bedrooms around, again.  Oh yes, this seems to be something we do every couple months lately and frankly, it really isn't a lot of work.  Whatever!  Officially the upstairs now has 3 bedrooms so, we have moved from a 4 bedroom house to now a 5 bedroom house without adding on or moving.  However, never mind the 5th bedroom has no closet and it 7.5 x 7.0 feet (not much smaller than our 'master suite') but, it works and that room comes complete with a super clean child and a even more super cool secret hiding space/playroom.

Our 5 (almost 6) year old daughter really wanted her own room because she is a neat freak and her big sister is a hoarder, oh yes a hoarder!  She has emotional value attached to every single thing in her room.  She can tell you where she got everything and when and nothing can be thrown away because it means too much to her.  So, my almost 6 year old begged us to move her into a different room.  I didn't understand until after we moved her how bad she really needed it.  Her room is perfect, I mean perfect!  She makes her bed every morning, something she didn't do before.  There is nothing on the floor, her shoes are organized in a container underneath her bed, her playroom/attic area is perfectly organized and clean.  I didn't realize how much of a cleaner/organizer she was until we moved her into her little bedroom.

Now, I also didn't realize how much of a hoarder our 7 year old daughter was until I moved her sister out.  Wow, words could never describe the mess I found in there.  When my husband took down their bunk beds...wow.  The amount of just plain crap she had on her bed that she slept with every night, I don't know how she slept!  Then, once the bed was down the amount of things that were underneath the bed!  It took me over 2 days of just going through things, sorting out what is really something to keep and what can be tossed and the clothes!  Wow, I found items of clothing that had been missing for over a year under her bed. 

I am still trying to get everything cleaned up and out of her room and it is Thursday!  That is my plan for the day is to finish her room once and for all today.  I have hauled out 3 full garbage bags out of there already, I had to sweep, yes sweep the carpet before I could vacuum it.   I am taking her bookshelf out of her room because she is such a collector that I am not giving her an opportunity to create massive amounts of collections in her room anymore.  OH!  I forgot, when she saw her room cleaned up and how big her room was(she has the biggest room in the house) she was so excited!  No, not because it was clean but, because she saw how much room there was now and exclaimed, "YAY!  And right before Christmas!  I can fill it up with lots of gifts from Christmas!  Oh mommy, thank you!  I can't wait to fill it up again."  Sigh.

So, I am removing a bookshelf, I moved her bed to the other side of the room, she has a really cute dresser and I added a mirror to the top of it.  She also has a little desk in her room with only book and pencils in it and a nightstand with books on it for her to read and that is it!  Her trunk(that is FILLED with animals) is still in her closet out of the way and her rule is the animals have to be in the trunk or mommy will throw them away.  She even helped me yesterday by throwing away 6 stuffed animals that she had left on the floor!  However, it was only after doing it that she told me it was because she wanted new ones.  Again, sigh.
I love that girl though, she is amazing in every way and her imagination and her heart is pretty incredible.  I guess it is a trade off? 

I have to laugh because really, I am the same way.  My house is filled with 'stuff'.  I love stuff.  I can tell you who gave me what, where I bought what, and when.  I can also probably tell you the price I paid for most of the things in my house.  Granted, I can't remember appointments, dates, what I was doing 5 minutes ago, what I really was going to write this blog about but, I can tell you in great detail the stories behind the 'things' in my house.  I guess when my mother would tell me when I was little, 'I can't wait until you have children, I hope you have one just like you.'  Well, she got her wish and frankly, I don't think it is all that bad. 

Granted, I drive me crazy, and frankly my 7 year old drives me crazy too but, we both have other great qualities and so there!  :-)

It really is amazing how different yet, how similar we all are and I am even more convinced than ever that Nature is MUCH more powerful than Nurture.  Don't get me wrong, they are both just as important but, you can't mess with nature, nature will always win.  You can change nurture and control nurture, you can't change or control nature.  You can try but, you will only get frustrated.  So, embrace that crazy child of yours, embrace those weird tendencies we all have and know THAT is how God made you and God doesn't make mistakes or create imperfect things.

Baby just woke up, need to really start my day now. 

Blessings to you all!

-Liza

Diet? or Lifestyle change?

Good Evening Everyone!

Oh wow, it has been so long since I have written and I truly missed it!  Life just isn't getting any easier with 4 children!  Hahahahahahahahaha.  Yes, our lives are crazy however, I wouldn't change it, any of it for the world.
I love my children, I love being a stay at home mom and I love being a wife. 

My husband is busier than he has ever been at work, apparently when you own your own business, you are not only the owner but the secretary, the computer geek, the phone tech, and the delivery boy.  All of those roles my husband has been playing lately, in addition to his executive/trader role.  Sorry honey but, at least you are working for you and not someone else.  I promise it will pay off someday.

So, I need to give you all an update on our son.  I can't remember if I wrote about this or not but, he saw a DAN doctor a few weeks ago.  A DAN doctor is a Defeat Autism Now doctor.  They specialize in treating people on the Autism Spectrum.  As you all know our son has Asperger's Syndrome which is considered a high functioning form of Autism.

Well, after seeing the doctor we have radically changed his diet and wow, the results have been so amazing.  It has been almost 2 weeks since the diet change and everyone is noticing including our son and his classmates.  For the first time all school year he is sitting in class, listening and not bothering the other students.  I am so pleased with how well he is taking this new diet.  It isn't easy for him, it isn't easy for any of us but, it is worth it to see my son finally happy at school and actively participating in his class.

It is amazing how dependant our family had become on 'processed' foods over the years.  Now that I have to feed my son ONLY Organic, whole foods..nothing processed, nothing conventionally grown, no GMO's, no wheat, no dairy, no gluten, no casein, no sugar, no soy, no eggs and minimal amounts of meat.
So, pretty much he is to eat mostly vegetables and fruit with a small amount of meat and even smaller amounts of grains or simple carbs.

It is really eating a diet of the foods God created.  Nothing processed, nothing 'man-made' or machine made.  Just whole, organic foods.  Seems easy enough but, wow, it is really, really difficult but so worth it for my guy.  He is happier, he listens better, he is calmer, he flat out enjoys life so much more.  It is nice to see the my true son coming out again.

I want to challenge all of you to try cutting back or even cutting out some of the processed foods.  Even if they seem healthy.  Try only shopping the outside of the grocery store.  Try only buying organic, foods and only grass-fed beef and free range chicken.  Limit your proteins, they aren't as good as you might think.  Keep your diet simple yet, colorful.  Eat more legumes, beans, and such.  It is fun experimenting and trying new foods that we would have never tried without this diet.  I am trying new recipes and frankly, even though my son may not like some of the new foods, with 6 people in the family, I have yet to make a recipe that at least one person didn't like!  So, I take that as a mark in the win column.

Try it, just for a week.  We are doing our diet for our son for 6 months but, try eating a diet for one week without all the processed stuff and I promise, you will see a change not only in your children but, in yourself too.

Blessings to all of you and if you do try it for a week, or even a day...please let me know how it went for you, I would love to hear!

-Liza

Health Care reform and H1N1.

Good Morning,

I am a bit frustrated and ornery so, watch out!  OK, that is my disclaimer for the day.  So much going on with the family lately.  First of all, we have H1N1 in the house.  It sucks.  It seems to be getting worse as it moves through the family leaving me very worried for our baby who has yet to get it.

My 5 year old daughter just woke up crying with a temp of over 104.  She tested negative yesterday morning for the pig flu (yes, that is what WE call it) and by the time dinner rolled around, her temp was spiking up to 103.  So, please be careful with your children and yourself.

Many doctors both friends and the doctors we have seen have said, if you see a temp before November, it is H1N1.  We were told yesterday at the doctor if she gets a temp, she has the virus.  So, if anyone in your family gets a temp, get in there and get tested and then, STAY THE F HOME!!!!  I am so sick of hearing of all these people who are too busy to stay at home when they are sick or running a fever.  My father just left on a business trip, which includes him flying on a plane to at least 2 different cities all while he is sick.  But, in this 'economy' he feels like he needs to continue doing business.  So, he is traveling.  Yep, and we wonder how this stuff gets around so fast.

I am not sure if I am for health care reform or not either.  Man, I am even more frustrated with that crap!  Our family has terrific coverage, and a low cost because we are on our state run insurance and as we are trying to find new health care for our family, I am growing more and more frustrated that there are NO policies out there that don't have deductibles that aren't obscene.  The lowest I could find is $3000 but, that is paying about $700 a month and then still having to pay out of pocket the first $3000!!  Holy cow.  I am very willing to pay more a month if they just cover everything from the start.  I don't want my worrying about money get behind whether I take my children or myself to the doctor or not.

I have many friends that do everything but take their children or themselves to the doctor.  I don't want to be like that, if my children are sick, I want to take them to the doctor.  I have 4 children and the faster I get them to the doctor, most times the faster we are all better and the less people in our family get sick if it is something like pig flu or strep or whatever.

I need to go, my over bearing husband who doesn't think I am capable of taking care of my sick children just got home.

Oh one more thing that makes me anti health care reform...last night found out Merck quit making the MMR vaccine in separate doses due to pressure from Congress.  Stop legislating MY life and my children's life.  If I choose to still vaccinate but, I would like the shots done one at a time instead of in mega doses, that should be MY choice no my governments. 

So, there you see, I am VERY torn on the health care reform.

The baby is awake now.  Please keep you and your children home if they are sick and anyone with any answers about health care reform, please let me know.

Oh...and I am fine with my husband...just a bit grumpy today.

Blessings to you all,

Liza

No robots allowed..update

Good Evening Everyone!

My baby is in bed and my husband took the other 3 to a water-park!  Oh, I feel like I can breathe!!!  I just have to clean up the kitchen before they get home but, I will take that any day to trying to entertain tired and fussy children at night.

So, today was school conference day at 2 of my children's schools and as always, just terrific news. hahahahahaha.  Just once, I would like to go to a school conference and not hear about how my children don't listen, they don't sit still and they don't follow the rules.  Hey, I get it OK?!  My children aren't rule followers, I don't really like it but, at the same time, I don't feel like they should be expected to sit all day long in a chair and just look up and listen.  I don't want that child!  I like that my children have fire in their belly's.  Oh granted, it would be nice if my children listened ONCE IN A WHILE and if they didn't choose to use mommy's bad words in class, and well, I guess it would be nice if I didn't have the child that throws stuff at the teacher when they get a problem wrong...OK!  So my children aren't the greatest in the classroom, lol. 

But, I don't think they are absolutely horrible either.  OK, well my son is pretty horrible sometimes and he is difficult...OH fine....my children SUCK in school. lol. 
Oh, where was I going with this?  OHHHHH!

So, my children aren't the easiest and I don't really know what would help them sometimes but, I do believe a lot of what our schools and school systems are trying to do is force our children into becoming robots.  We want and expect them to sit and be quiet, to not talk in the lunch room and if they throw food, they can't eat in the lunchroom anymore!  What ever happened to food fights?  I LOVED those!  Or what happened to sitting with your friends and yes, many times I sat alone but, oh those times I got to sit with a big group of people, that was awesome!  I remember school being fun.  I remember spending tons of time out on the playground and in the parking lot with NO playground ladies telling us we couldn't run.  We had 3 recesses a day at my elementary school.  One in the morning when we first got to school.  See, our buses didn't drop us off right before the bell rang, we got dropped off about 20 minutes before school started and played up until they told us to line up.  Oh, and we all ran as fast as we could to get our backpacks in line first when we got dropped off. 

Things were pretty fair, if you ran slow, you were always last...I liked that, I believe it made me the fast runner I am today.  We played games in the parking lot, did penny drops over the TAR parking lot, we stuck our tongues to cold metal poles and lived.  It was crazy scary!  Oh and get this, I even had to WALK to school across busy roads and a freeway!  What?!  Oh yes, I walked to school every year 6 blocks and nothing happened to me, no crazy person stole me or my friends, we played games all the way to and from school.  I was home alone starting in 2nd grade and made myself breakfast and dinner.  I woke up to the timer on the stove and never was late to school.

I don't remember having to sit inside on snowy or rainy days for recess either...we went outside rain or shine, I think that was the teachers break time!  Every girl knew how to do a cartwheel, back-bend, and how to hang upside down on the bars by 1st grade and everyone jumped rope for hours.  You were considered weird if you couldn't do a cartwheel by 1st grade.  We flipped, jumped, scampered, flipped some more, and hung upside down for what seemed to be hours every day. 

We didn't have to 'train' for our Presidential Physical Fitness awards because we did most of those things daily anyway.  I remember in gym class we played Red Rover Red Rover and tried our hardest to break through that line no matter how much we hurt the other person, it was GREAT!  Then there was dodge-ball, bombardment (how do you spell or say that?!), ships across the ocean, OH and we picked teams!  Yeah, that's right, 2 people were picked and we picked teams based on skill and yes, the weakest person was always picked last, get over it, none of us cared, it was life and we knew it.

We listened to our teachers, we followed the rules and wow, when an adult spoke, we listened!  We knew they were big and scary and weren't to be messed with.  Our parents and their friends and ALL adults were NOT our friends and we were OK with that, in fact, we preferred it that way. 

Our playgrounds were simple and metal....not plastic which, isn't plastic bad for the environment?  Yes, our playgrounds were 'Earth friendly' before we even knew what that was.  They were metal, not painted, not pretty, they were a bland gray but, they worked.  We had monkey bars, hanging bars, lines and lines of swings on super long chains that could help us to reach the sky!  We had merry go rounds, domes to climb, and super tall metal slides that burned your butt in the summer and made you go about 50 miles an hour in the winter in your snow pants.  I remember always packing snow onto the slides so you would go faster.  Everything was about speed, danger, and I never remember feeling afraid.  I wasn't, didn't know you could get hurt and if you did get hurt, oh well, you got a band-aid and got right back up to do it all over again.
I wasn't a dare devil by any means.  I was actually considered a scaredy cat by those older standards.  I didn't dare do a penny drop until 5th grade for goodness sake! 

 I remember by 6th grade I was playing basketball for the entire recess and get this...WITH my 6th grade teacher the whole time!  Yea, that is right, my teacher would eat lunch with us and then go out and play some b-ball with us on the playground!  How many of your children's teachers do that now a days?!!  I remember in junior high being teased profusely about my nasty red hair and gaingly legs.  I was often compared to a flamingo on the soccer field and hey oh well.  Yes, I have horrible memories of junior high but, really looking back, I had a lot of fun then too.  I was ugly back then!  Heck it was the 80's there weren't too many good looking people back there and by the way...for all of you trying to bring back 80's fashion...dig out the old jr high photos, you will put that flashdance sweatshirt and leggings with a super mini lace skirt back right away!

People often tell me I probably looked like Molly Ringwald with my short red hair, I laugh hardily and let them know that I looked like the OTHER red head from Sixteen Candles...yes, that is right, Anthony Michael Hall...yep, proud of being so stinking ugly!  Man, my scanner isn't hooked up...I need to find a photo to post for you all, it truly is a sight to see.  Ok, I am back couldn't find the truly horrible ones but, found one that will show you just a piece of the heinous puzzle of junior high

Yes, that is me on the right!  Oh and the person to my left that is actually a girl too..see, the 80's horrible!!!!

OK back to my rants and raves.  Point is, I am going to include an email my girlfriend sent to me to put this all into perspective...relax!!!!  We all survived so we might have broken a few arms (I never did) or a leg or two (again, not me) and so what if we have scars, that is what happens when you LIVE life!!  Let your children LIVE life, don't just let them be molded into something that is 'easy' or 'manageable'.  Don't teach your children to just exist..life is way to short for that.

Encourage your children to think for themselves, to problem solve and to think outside of the box.

Here is the email.....

 First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-base paints. (again...sorry, no belly's please!)

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads.

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes. (I don't condone this one as I was ALWAYS in a car seat)

Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.  (Everyday in the summer!, still do!)

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And, we weren't overweight. WHY?

Because we were always outside playing...that's why!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. And, we were O.K. 

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times,we learned to solve the problem.

 

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's and X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms. 
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them! 

 

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

 

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. 

(I TOTALLY did the eating worms thing!  In fact, we made worm cookies for a badge in Girl Scouts!!!)
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them. 

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.

Imagine that!! 

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! 

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever.

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas..

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. 

If YOU are one of them? CONGRATULATIONS! 

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.

While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave and lucky their parents were.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it ? (YES!)

 

So everyone!  Go out and make a mud pie, cook up some worm cookies, eat some grass, run through the sprinklers and for goodness sake, hang upside down once in a while!!!!

Blessings to you all!

-Liza

Oh By The Way, I too wash my children's mouths out with soap occassionally if bad things come out of that mouth.  We have a bar of Ivory soap sitting in the hall closet for just that occassion.  Trust me, after even one time, they see that bar coming and they quickly change their potty mouth tune.  So, throw me in jail or throw the book at me in court but, I am trying my hardest to raise children that will respect adults and some day be hard-working, upstanding, well educated, adults that will contribute something to society other than a pain in the neck.

What am I talking about?  Here is the link :

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local-beat/Mom-Arrested-for-Washing-Kids-Mouth-With-Soap--64112132.html

The American Girl Doll 'Dream'

I feel a blog coming on.....

Those are the words I just heard in my head as I am debating our newest, whatever, on Facebook.  Good Afternoon Everyone!  I hope this finds you all well.

So, what was I debating on Facebook just now?  American Girl Dolls.  So, we have escaped the hype of those overpriced dolls for a long time but, eventually, we knew it would probably find us.  Well, about a month before our oldest daughter turned 7 she started talking about how she wanted an American Girl doll.  We didn't even know she knew about them but, apparently one of her friends has one and she liked it.

About 2 weeks ago my mother in law took our daughter as a birthday surprise, to the American Girl Store at the Mall of America to get her a doll and some clothes and whatever else there is there.  I have never been in the store or really knew a lot about these dolls but, my mother in law was great and went to the store to do some 'research' and figure out how the whole deal went.

It was wonderful!  My daughter had the time of her life!  She got to pick out a doll, get a pet for the doll, get some clothes, a hairbrush, and whatever else.  Then, her and Grandma and the doll got to have dinner at the Bistro there and her doll even got her own food and her own chair.  It was quite cute hearing the story and seeing the photos.  My mother in law had a great time and my daughter had a great time.  My mother in law also dropped a small fortune on the entire event but, she was more than happy to do it.

So, we now have this very expensive doll with her very expensive accessories and pet.  She doesn't really do anything and we only have one so, it is hard for my girls to play with her but, my 7 year old daughter loves her and that is all that matters I guess.  That is until today.

My husband sends me a text that says, "Gwen Charlie's American Girl doll is the first homeless doll ever!.....f***ing a"

So I call him back and I ask him what he is talking about.  Turns out our local paper had an article in the paper about how this American Girl doll is the very first doll EVER to be homeless.  Ok.  What?!  I thought American Girl dolls were to let our daughter's sort of live a fantasy of living in Colonial times, Revolution times, the 70's, and current.  I thought they had positive messages for our daughter's and were sort of sold as a 'doll they could look up to' type deal.  Yes, I know they are fiction but, I thought they were sold as more of a positive message and truly about living the American Dream type thing.  You know, the normal BS that goes with marketing super expensive toys.

I had no clue that a doll that has a father that left the mother, a mother who lost her job and lost their home and now lives in a car was considered the "American Dream".  Truly, I don't know much about these dolls but, that is NOT a message I want to send to my daughter that 'hey, you too can pretend to be homeless and living in your car if you just fork over $100 + to imagine it with this doll'.

First and foremost, let me all tell you, only by the Grace of God and our families were we not homeless at one point in our marriage and because of that we have been drawn to working with, feeding, and plain loving on homeless families and families and children in financial hardships.  It truly is where we feel led by God.   But, that is OUR choice, it is our decision and we choose to teach that to our children hands on NOT through a very expensive doll that frankly I feel we can barely afford let alone any family or child that might actually find comfort in having one that is 'just like them'!

I don't think my daughter needs to learn from a doll the life lessons of homelessness and a father abandoning his family and his responsibilities. 
Is there an American Girl doll that has a father that loves his wife and his children unconditionally, that works his butt off to provide for his family and the mom stays at home to raise the children?  If you read that last statement and say to yourself, 'but that isn't real life' well, shouldn't it be and truly, shouldn't that be something to aspire to pretend instead of living in a car?  My children can't possibly relate to that even though they eat, play, and pray with many homeless children through out the year, they still don't get it.  They just like the children and like to play with them and know they just need some friends and a little bit of help.  At ages 8, 7, 5, and 16 months...I think that is all they need to know right now.  They just know that we make food for some families and hang out with them and guide them a bit, they have no concept nor should they quite yet about this.  Besides, it is Steve and MY job to educate our children on homelessness in a way WE feel is best for our family.  I don't need some HUGE mega toy company to tell my children about it. 

Now...if American Girl is giving proceeds of their Gwen doll to charities that help homeless children and families, that is quite another story however, I have been unable to find any information saying they are doing that.  So, they are trying to teach MY child a lesson but, not themselves.

You know what, I am sick of being so politically correct it makes me sick!  I am sick of public schools so worried about the 'little' kids or whatever so, they have to protect everyone and treat them all the same, I am sick of children not being able to be children I am sick of my children being taught it is OK to be different as long as we are all the same.  Yes that is the message here people.  As long as everyone is treated the same, it is OK HOWEVER, embrace your differences.  What?!  It truly makes no sense.

I have a lot of very liberal friends and I too used to be a very liberal, bleeding heart.  I know that all of you just want things to be equal but, that isn't how it works.  It will never be equal.  In order for everything to be equal are YOU willing to give up things?  Are you willing to give up your big house, your nice new car, your fancy clothes, your bonuses at work, are you willing to give more to others out of your own pocket and your own time to make someone else's life more equal to yours?  Truly, that is what it will take to make everything equal and truly, most of you reading this blog live in nicer homes, drive nicer cars, and have bigger diamonds than my family and I feel like we are extremely blessed.  Are you willing to give up those things to live in a $200,000 or less house, drive used cars, and live among the true 'American Dream'?  Are you willing to move from your cozy home in a safe neighborhood and live in inner city Minneapolis (or where ever you live) and live among your 'peers'?  Are you willing to sacrifice quality education, good schools, and a safe community so that things can be more 'equal'? 

Truly, how many of us could really dig the ditches, walk in the trenches and live among the very ones we feel like deserve more?

I get this world is horribly unfair, however, I don't think it will get better by selling my daughter a $100 doll that is supposed to 'teach' her about the 'real America'.    I can't wait to see if American Girl doll comes out with a doll that has drug user parents, or how about the dad that beats the mom and the children, or I know, can't wait to buy my daughter the doll that gets involved in sex trafficking overseas.  YES, that is the doll for my family for sure!   Oh the life lessons I could teach my daughters:-)

So, yes, I am a bit miffed at American Girl and Mattel about this as you can tell.  I don't know if we will get her a different doll (someone she can look up to) or if we just won't tell her about this one's 'secret life'.  But for $100 or more, I feel like I should be able to trust a company that my daughter is getting something fun, enjoyable and frankly, a little bit un-American.

Here is the link to the article that started it all:

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/62405777.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU

Blessings to you all and as always, I welcome any and all feedback :-)

Here is a link to a CNN discussion about it.  I think American Girl and Mattel only giving $120,000 since 2006 is a joke!  These dolls cost $95 a pop.

<script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/us/2009/10/05/nr.baldwin.homeless.doll.cnn" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>

-Liza

Girl Time

Good Morning Everyone!

Ok, enough with the political blogs!  Too serious for me plus, frankly really boring.  I have no clue where today's blog is heading or what it will be about but, I am sure I will find something to write about, otherwise, I will just sit here and type stuff to you all.

So, I am getting ready for my first time away from my family.  I am really excited to have a girls weekend up at the cabin!  Sad to say but, I have only been on ONE other girls weekend anything and that was when I was dating Steve!!!  So, this is only my 2nd girls weekend in my life and my first time ever leaving my husband or children behind.

I have discovered that in my years of being thrifty and/or broke, I have always put off travel and 'girl' time for work, family, and when in my 20's, boyfriends.  So dumb!   Here I am 37 years old and I am just starting my weekends away with girlfriends.  Well, I guess the old saying fits here, better late than never.

One of my girl friends seems to travel a lot with her various girl friends, she even has a group of girl friends from high school that she sees every year!  Yes, every year they travel somewhere and meet up as a group and just hang out and do whatever girls do on weekends.  Is it really bad that I really don't know?  My husband keeps being gross and asking if we are going to have pillow fights in our underwear and various other gross statements.  Love you babe :-)

I guess I always in-visioned girls weekends as spa trips, going to a spa and being pampered and just eating, drinking, and going out on the town with soft skin, new make-up and your hair and nails professionally done.  I think that is what the 'rich' ladies do, lol.  Someday I plan on doing a trip like that but, for now, that truly isn't really me.  Granted, I would have a lot of fun but, not willing to fork over that much money for a weekend away from the family.

This coming weekend is perfect for my first time away.  It is up at the family cabin(free), only a 2 hour drive(close), and NOT on a plane (praise the LORD).  Plus, I am going with my close knit group of friends that I tend to do a lot with and so, it won't be awkward, or weird.  We will all be able to relax, hopefully giggle a lot, and just truly enjoy each other's company and the weather looks perfect too!

Oh, where was I?  Sorry, forgot tonight was slow cooker night due to all of our family activities tonight so, I had to quick get up and peel the carrots and defrost the chicken!  My hands are orange from peeling all the carrots.

Back to the girls weekend!  I really am in shock of how fast the 10 years have gone since my first and last girls weekend and truly, I am the person that always says, "I can do that later, or tomorrow."  I put off things and before you know it, I haven't done anything and 10+ years have gone by.  Yes, I know I was very busy having babies and my husband didn't have a job for a while but, still, I really did put off getting away from the children.

Honestly, it is because there isn't anyone to watch our children and I really wanted my first time (away) to be with my husband.  But, neither one of our parents is willing to take all of our children and our friends all have children the same ages so, they are doing the same things we are!  I now feel like our lives are finally going at a pace where we can get away, or at least I can.  The older ones can actually help out a bit around the house and with the baby, whether they will or not is a whole other issue.  We also have a nanny in our lives that we have known since before Libby was born so, she knows our children and our family and we trust her completely to be able to be with our children for a weekend.

I hope this weekend is just the beginning of time away not only for me but, for Steve and I.  We have never taken a honeymoon and have only been on 2 trips together without children(both of which were when we were dating).  So, it is our time to start concentrating more on us instead of just the children.  I think it is very important for the children to see us focused on our marriage which frankly, we haven't been lately.

Oh bummer, I need to cut this short, the baby is about to wake up, I need to change laundry, clean the house, and still need to try and get in a shower today! 

I will try and write another blog before I leave for the weekend but, if I don't, look for an update on my first time away on Monday!

Blessings to you all and pray for my family and I!

-Liza

My perfect and unique Snowflake

Good Morning Everyone!

Wow, I have to say our fall is so much nicer than our summer was here in Minnesota!  I can't believe how utterly perfect the weather has been lately.  I think it is supposed to take a turn for the worse but, these past few weeks have been wonderful.

As many of you know, my son has Asperger's (on Autism Spectrum).  We have done most things by trial and error with him and by me doing lots of research, talking to parents, educators, etc.  We have done very little with our pediatrician because frankly, they just don't know much about it.  Our chiropractor knows a little but, again not too much.
We felt our 'window' had closed in really doing much more with him and that who he is, is who he is.  However, on our date night Monday night at a vitamin store, another couple overheard Steve and I talking and told us about some new vitamins, creams and such I had never tried and a new DAN (Defeat Autism Now) doctor/clinic that had just opened up and how growth spurts and especially puberty can really affect our son and his behavior.  Wow, I never knew!  So, we think our son might be in a growth spurt as he hasn't really had one in a while and is definitely due for one and with that and the stress of starting a new school, with new friends, new teachers, it is all just too much for him.

So, I started him on liquid vitamin B12 and vitamin D and even my husband has noticed a difference in our son since Tuesday when he started them both.  He is much calmer.  He still wanders a bit but, when we tell him he can't do something, he doesn't fly off the handle and I guess last night at his soccer game, he didn't get frustrated and had a great time and even passed the ball!  What?! 
Now, by no means do we think adding those two vitamins are the miracle cure for our son but, it is hopeful.  It might also be because this is the 3rd week of school and he is starting to settle into the new routines and starting to relax a bit.

It is so hard to know because there are so many variances and factors in raising a child with Asperger's.  It is so true that no two children with Asperger's are the same, they truly are like snowflakes all different and beautiful in their own way.  I love our son, I love how quirky he is and how smart that little guy is.  I am excited to see how he grows in life and to see what kind of a man he will be. 
With all of that though, it is hard to see my soft-hearted boy being a fist flailing, screaming, running away, disobedient, almost crazy boy.  That isn't my guy and that is when I know we are missing something or something is really stressing him out.

Now with him being on these new vitamins, which by the way, he is a champ at taking vitamins!  Some days he takes up to 15 and never once complains!  What a guy, he knows that he feels so much better on his vitamins and supplements than without them and he asks for them if I forget them.  So, we have new vitamins and yesterday I finally got him an appointment to see a DAN doctor!  I am very excited, I have no clue if she will be able to help our son but, I am hopeful.  Seth is so close to being 'normal' and I know we are just hovering near finding that key that will put him back together and back to a calm, loving, soft-hearted little guy that truly is fun to be around and has a heart of gold. 

The DAN doctor I talked to yesterday for almost 2 hours seems to be very optimistic about our guy because of how pro-active we have been in his treatments and she gave me the best compliment a mother of a child on the spectrum could ever here; she feels like us being so observant of his food issues when he was an infant, and choosing not to put him on any gas meds and instead work with my diet(since I was nursing) and with his diet once he started eating, she thinks we saved him from being full blown Autistic or being lower functioning.  Wow, I feel like I finally did something right. 

So, for those of you with children/infants, here is my advice to you, try to feed your children a diet of the least amount of processed foods as you can.  NEVER feed your infant or child Sodium Nitrate (found in bacon, luncheon meats, and other processed foods), if your infant has colic or spits up a lot pull ALL dairy out of their diet and if you are nursing, pull it out of your diet too.  Don't give your infant gas medications, they were created and designed for adults, NOT infants.  Try to do as much organic fruits and vegetables as you possibly can find and afford.

I am very nervous/excited to see the DAN doctor next month!  I don't know what she will find, if anything.  But, as I have discovered with our son and from other parents with children on the Spectrum, sometimes it is the littlest change that makes the biggest difference.  I don't know how much it will cost, I don't know if our insurance will pay for any of it even though they do accept insurance.  But, this is my boy, how can I let something as truly meaningless as money stand in the way of my son being the best he can be and achieving his highest potential in life?!  Granted, we do have our limit of how much we truly can spend since we will have to find the money and cut back in other places in our life to pay for it but, still, I think/hope it will be worth it all in the end.

Then, we have a call into a behavior specialist that works with only Autistic children and I am hoping getting him into behavior therapy will finally help him understand why he can't just take off for a 3 hour long bike ride without telling anyone.  Or why while his thinking was so nice, it just isn't right to bring all your money in a shoebox and walk 8 blocks to a pet shop to buy your little sister a bunny without telling anyone you left or asking if mom and dad would let your sister have a bunny.  Or when you are mad at mom because she won't let you eat cream cheese puffs, you can't just leave the restaurant and walk home by yourself even though you know the way home and we have often Roller-bladed back and forth from home to that restaurant. 

These are some of the things we have been dealing with lately with our son and while none of his actions are truly 'dangerous', he needs to understand he needs to tell mom and dad where is going and ask for permission.  He isn't understanding that right now and although when you ask him the rules, he will recite to you, "I have to ask permission to leave the yard", "I can't ride my bike without a helmet", "I can't buy anything without asking mom or dad first", you can look at his face and see he is only reciting the rules but, he isn't connecting with the rules and doesn't truly understand the rules.

It is hard to be a parent of a special needs child that 'looks' and 'acts' normal for the most part but, struggles with some basic parts of life.  He isn't like the little guy in a wheelchair, or who has down syndrome, or anything that people can see because it is physical.  Children on the Spectrum, look and act mostly normal unless they are truly Autistic and low functioning.  For the high functioning children, I think life is almost harder because we expect them to be able to fit in with the mainstream of life, school, etc.

I know my son can fit in, he actually does a really good job, we just need to constantly tweak him and keep working with him on the social basics and behavior basics.

Our guy is awesome and he is exactly the way God wanted him to be and I know he is the son God sent to me for a reason and I am thrilled and honored to raise this little guy.  So, I ask that you cover our son and our family in prayers and I also ask you pray for our DAN doctor and that we might find another piece of our son's Autism puzzle to put into place to make him more, 'whole'.

For those of you with a child on the Spectrum, don't EVER give up on your child or yourself!  Don't quit trying to find those missing puzzle pieces, they are out there somewhere and you will find them, I know you will!  Remember, your son or daughter is a snowflake, no two are alike and that is what makes them so special and perfect!

Blessings to you all!!!

-Liza

Hectic Schedules

Good Morning Everyone!

I can't believe I am taking the time to write this blog but, I do love writing so yes, I am taking the time!

I never knew how busy I would be as a stay at home mom, truly busy.  Back to school is usually the hardest part because everything starts at the same time.  So, I am not only making sure my children all have their backpack, lunch box, and school supplies but, I am also writing insane amount of checks, blowing through even more cash than at Christmas or vacation and I still am forgetting some things.  I think I am going to keep our baby out of any activity until her older brother can drive to help out!  That is only 7 1/2 more years so, she can do her first activity of any kind when she is 9.  Yeah right!

I just laugh looking at our family calendar and how some of the days are so full I have run out of space to right!  Even my Outlook Calendar can't take it all in!  I think it thinks there is some error with how busy some of the days are. 
I admit, I completely overbook myself and my children on a couple days a week but, that is because we try to book most if not all of their activities in the middle of the week so that Mondays, Fridays and weekends we have very little scheduled.  I know that will have to change as they get older but, for now, we barely see each other Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Our schedule is actually manageable with the amount of activities they have but, then you add in birthday parties, birthdays, my book club, our dinner club, date night, doctor/dentist appointments, and Bible study and WOW things get really hectic fast.  Our craziest time of year is usually September and October too which I would love to be the least hectic with school and everything getting going again but, in Minnesota you can only play summer soccer or fall soccer and for the little ones, fall soccer ends 2nd week of October due to cold temps.

Yes, many of our schedules are forced by our seasons here in Minnesota and others are forced by working parents and other over scheduled families.  So, I guess we all do it to ourselves.  Really, how much is too much?  See I had no siblings so, I did a lot of activities because there also weren't children in my neighborhood to play with and my mom worked a lot.  So, I did dance, gymnastics, softball, soccer, and basketball.  Granted, I didn't do any sports until 4th grade which is when most of the children started sports...not like now when if you don't have your child proficient in a sport by age 5 forget it! 

So, my 8 year old is playing soccer right now but, only 1 or 2 days a week and next week he starts church choir(which he hates, I will admit).  He will start Cub Scouts again next month and we are forcing him to play hockey again this year.
My 6 year old(will be 7 on Sunday) is doing dance, gymnastics, and ice skating(only in winter) and thinks she will be playing basketball again this year(so painful to watch!  She just sits on the floor unless she is bringing the ball down) and Daisy's(baby girl scouts) will start up again for her in October and church choir will start for her again next week too.  Plus, she wants to play softball next spring..add to that her social calendar of birthday parties(which she LOVES as friends are her life) and that she makes us sign her up for after school care because to her it is social hour :-)  I do truly love that girl!
Then, my 5 year old who is finally a big girl in Kindergarten, she is our most active and gets most joy from sports and activities along with friends.  She is in dance, gymnastics, soccer, ice skating(in winter only), and new this year swim team(2-3 days a week).  She also wants us to sign her up for tennis and hockey..we are waiting a bit. 

I only have so many hours in a day/week but, I am also flat broke some months by all the activities fees!  This month of September has been so expensive I blew through my entire months grocery budget(on activity fees) in less than 2 weeks.  Sorry family, it is beans and rice for the next 2 weeks!  Just kidding honey, I know you read my blog daily.

It does crack me up though.  Because after adding in the meetings about all the sports and activities, the volunteer hours, the working at the 3 different schools to help out, trying to have lunch with all three of the children AT LEAST once a month if not more and fundraisers, social gatherings, conferences, school pictures, buying things for teacher wish lists(which I NEVER will complain about because I believe it is SO important).  Then, add in my husband and my activities, we have a standing date night every Monday night(why our children don't do anything on Mondays), me in the process of planning my 20th high school reunion, my book club, my new Beth Moore study at church, and my husband and I belonging to a dinner club, well life is busy.

It is a good busy though!  Truly it is.  I think it is a good problem to have trying to figure out a time when Grandma can take your almost 7 year old to American Girl to get her first American Girl doll.  YES...don't tell our almost 7 year old but, she is finally getting one and she will flip out!  I also think it is a good problem trying to figure out how to get my daughter to a birthday party and the other daughter to gymnastics plus, feed everyone dinner.  Or how and when to give my almost 7 year old her bike from Grandma and Grandpa (yes...don't tell her!)  See, these are good problems to have, really good problems.

We are busy and I frankly don't know how we are going to manage some of our nights this year but, we always have figured it out in the past so, we can do it again this year.  God has blessed us with so much!  We have been blessed with great friends, great communities, great children, great schools and a great church, of course we want to be as involved in all of those things as possible!

I do have to say though, I do not know how working moms do it.  Seriously, how on Earth do they do doctors appointments, dentist appointments and not just for their children but, them too!  Then, conferences, sports, and social time.  I am exhausted at the end of my days, I couldn't imagine how tired I would be trying to do all this and work at the same time.

Oh...I almost forgot, we are doing all these activities and we have a 15 month old at home too!  She was lucky enough to go to a meeting with me today and by the way, she was perfect!  Thank you baby.  Life is truly very busy and I am sure we are one of those over booked families however, the children LOVE their activities for the most part.  They don't enjoy church choir as much as I believe they should but, that is NOT an option to quit so...smile children :-)

Maybe I am pushing too much on myself too trying to do book club, dinner club, soccer, and a Bible study but, I need activities too and I need to see my friends and have adult time.  Ok, so should we cancel our date nights...no way, our marriage is the pillar of strength to our family and our date nights are extremely important to keeping a strong and happy marriage.  So, looks like the busy schedules will just continue and that is OK.

This is why I don't work, this is my job of sorts.  I have always said I am 'retired' and I have scoffed when mothers say, I work I just do it in the home.  Well, I am finally going to agree with them!  I do work and it is exhausting!!!!  But, it is by far the best job I have ever had even though the vacation time sucks! hahaha.

I will tell you all though, I am taking my first ever time away from my family next weekend!  Yes, I have NEVER been away from my children!  Never.  The longest time I was ever away from any of my children has been around 12 hours.  So, this is truly going to be a new adventure for me and I hope it is just the beginning of my mini vacations from the children.  I am hoping my employer(my family) is finally going to start allowing for more mommy vacation time.  I am not nervous, although...I am worried a bit about the baby as my hubby tends to step on her a lot but, other than that, I am ready.  I think 8 1/2 years of working without a vacation...well, it is just time now.

It is a mini-weekend vacation up to the cabin but, oh how great it will be.  I just hope the weather cooperates and isn't too cold or rainy as I will be driving the convertible up and I love driving up there with the top down.

Anyway, way off subject there, can you tell I am a bit excited?!

So, today, think about your family, think about your schedules and don't forget to schedule time for your spouse and yourself.  It is so important for your children to see you doing things for yourself and you and your spouse doing things without them.  Enjoy your life, no matter how busy or easy going it is, for it will all go by so fast.

I love my life, I love my hectic schedule and I love filling out what seems to be millions of forms a year.  Life is good and these are the days our children will look back on hopefully with fond and funny memories.

Blessings to you all!

-Liza

Kindergarten jitters and a thank you.

Good Morning Everyone!

So, it is September 14th and get this...if it hits 80 again today, it will be our LONGEST stretch of 80's weather this entire year.  Yep, told you it was a cold summer this year.  Wow.  I think the stretch will only be 5 days too.  Pathetic summer but, great fall.

As you well know, I have my 3 older children all in school this year.  My 3rd started Kindergarten and loves it and I love it too because at her school, Kindergarten is MWF all day so, I still have her at home on Tuesday and Thursdays.  Tuesdays are her day for Gymnastics and then we either run errands or come home to do stuff.  On Thursdays, that is our 'field trip' day.  Last Thursday, we went to IKEA for our field trip!  She got to play in their kids area(which she loves) and I was able to do a little shopping.

Well, today is her first full week of school.  She was very excited for school today and we picked out the perfect green dress to wear for 'green' day.  We couldn't find an oval to bring to school though!  See, everyday for the first month of school they have a different color to wear to school and a different shape to wear to school.  Today was green/oval day.  Well, the only oval I could find anywhere in our house was a hairbrush but, considering that last week we got a notice of lice going around the school, I figured that wasn't a good choice.
Anyway, I drive her to school, she unpacks her backpack and puts her lunch box on the shelf.  She is so excited to be back at school.  Then, when I am leaving she asks if the baby can hang out with her today, I nicely told her no as she would be too much of a distraction.  Then, I see the eyes turning red and tearing up.  OH NO!  She hugs me and I ask her what is wrong and she says, "It is just that I am here all day and I really miss you."  Then, she holds on to me so tight I almost start to cry myself!

UGH, my heart was breaking that moment.  I really struggled with not crying however, mom can't cry or it will really be bad for my daughter.  So, I am kind, I hug her, I kiss her, I pray for her.   I tell her it is ok and remind her how much fun she has at school and how much she likes it.  I walk out into the hallway and can barely contain myself as my baby is so sad.  See, she was our baby for 4 1/2 years and I still consider her the 'baby' of the family because she is so kind, considerate and so filled with compassion for others it amazes me!

A quick example of how she is, this weekend, she decided to help me and took the broom, vacuum, and cleaning wipes down to the basement and cleaned out EVERY shelf and moved all the rugs, swept the floor and then vacummed the rugs!  She did a WAY better job of cleaning than I would have.  She did it all to help me and to make me feel good. 
Another story, at the end of the summer she went to Gymnastics camp and one of the days they had crazy hair/outfit day.  She brought lots of fun things and her outfit was by far the best as was her hair as she was determined to win the award for best outfit or hair.  Well, as everyone is getting ready, she noticed a couple girls were silently crying because they didn't have anything to wear so, she graciously gave most of her items to other girls so they could feel included.  She gave up her award for best costume or hair in order to make someone else feel better.  Best part of that story, she still got an award!  They gave her a special ribbon for being such a helpful and kind person and giving her own things to make someone else feel better.  To her, that is better than any other award.

She is the one in our family with the biggest heart, kindest words, and nicest little voice.  So when she is sad, I ache.  I really ache for her.  My husband is going to have lunch with her today to make her feel a little special and I am sure she was fine right after I left but, it is still hard. 

A lot of people think I am crazy to have 3 children in 3 different schools but, I am confident in the choice Steve and I made about their schools.  Each child is so incredibly different in needs and personality how could we not send them to different schools?!  Especially in a larger family like ours where there are 4 children and 3 girls...I think it is so important for children to feel special in their own way and their differences should be embraced and nurtured. (As well as their similarities)

So today, as I sit and not really worry but, have a heavy heart for my dear little one in Kindergarten I am grateful for the choices we do have and praise God daily for sending me 4 perfect little people each with their own spirit and desires.  I am so grateful for being allowed to be a mom to such 4 neat people and I love that I am the one that gets to watch them grow up and see who they become in life. 

I may not be the worlds greatest mom, Lord knows I am not the world's greatest wife or homemaker but, I am honored and deeply humbled by what the Lord has put in front of me for children and the people he has put in my life to help raise those children and guide them.

Thank you.

-Liza

Back to School and facing fears

Good Afternoon Everyone!

Another glorious day here in good ole Minnesota.  Today is the day after Labor Day, the day my older two children started school for the year..finally.

As Nemo would say, "First day of school, first day of school!"  That excitement is exactly what I feel today!  Tomorrow will be even better when all 3 of my older children are gone for the entire day.  I know I shouldn't wish away summer, I really do love summer but, toward the end of summer, I am over it, I am ready to get back to schedules and some normalcy.

I like it when I know every Tuesday we have girls and boys scouts, dance and gymnastics.  I like on Wednesday nights we have church, I like it when the weekends actually mean something!  I like it when my dinner club starts up again, when my children are playing sports and coming home with great tales of school and their friends.  I like knowing that Monday through Friday at 7:13am my older two are on the bus on their way to school and on MWF at 8:20am I am in the car driving the 3rd one to school.

It makes me very, very, very happy to have a schedule.  I am thrilled to be able to finally workout again on a normal schedule!  I am excited to know which days I will be heading to the Y and which days are errand days and getting back to laundry day, mopping day, changing sheets day!

I work so much better under the demand of a schedule, I don't do well flying by the seat of my pants or with sudden changes in plans.  To me the beginning of school is the beginning of a life of normalcy and a bit more peace.  Ahhhhh, I feel like I can breathe a bit more now.

I will say however, we had a very fun summer!  This was one of my favorites so far and we really didn't even do that much stuff!  We just hung out together as a family.  We had the cabin to ourselves a lot this summer which doesn't happen very often.   That was a nice break and fun to just be together as a family.  We didn't end up getting to do a road trip this summer which was a bit of a bummer but, we really had a full schedule somehow!

We only went to the pool a handful of times, the weather just wasn't that great this summer.  But, it was fun when we were there.  This past weekend was really fun!  My son had been putting off water-skiing all summer and we told him he had to do it ONCE before the end of the summer.  He finally did it this past Sunday and then again on Monday after seeing me ski.

I love water-skiing, just wish I wasn't such a ninny.  Really, I am a baby when I ski.  I just started water-skiing about 5 years ago and I still won't go out of the wake.  lol, yes, I know ninny.  I tried it a bunch of times the first summer I started skiing but, would crash and burn every time I tried.  I watched my nephew learn how to go out of the wake this weekend and now he looks like a pro!

See, for those of you who don't know me or know me very well, I am a baby.  I was raised by a woman who never tried anything because she was afraid of everything!  So, I will try things but, I will never let myself go past a certain level because of fear.  Also, doesn't help when I don't like speed :-)  Yep, if I could just cruise around the lake at about 5-10 miles an hour behind the boat....I would LOVE water-skiing.  I don't like going fast, I don't like the feeling of being out of control.

Very similar issue when I downhill ski too except for, you add in another thing I don't like, height.  Oh, I bug me!  So, slowly, I am trying to crush down all of those fears.  This winter will be my first true winter of skiing.  I have made the decision to go skiing with my Kindergartner at least once a week this winter and hopefully a few times with my family.  3 of my 4 children all ski and I can't show them my fears. 

I have been very conscious of trying to not let them see or hear of my own fears as I don't want to transfer mine to them.  Hence why I got up and skied this past weekend, my son was saying it is too dangerous and he was scared(even though he loved it last summer).  So, I threw on my favorite skis, my USA ones(they are now collector/vintage ones) and grabbed my life jacket and lowered myself into that FREEZING cold lake and took off.  I even skied again after biting it at the end of one of my runs.  I even braved skiing with one hand so I could wave to my children as I passed by the dock.  See, I can fake it with the best of them!

Actually, I really do like water-skiing, I am not good, probably never will be but, I get up at least once or twice a summer and I really do enjoy it.

Sometimes life hands you things that scare you to death and really, it would be so easy to just walk away and say, you are too scared.  But, as I have learned over the years, that is the easy way out and that isn't really living it is just existing.  I want to live my life.  I want my children to learn things from me and to see me doing things. 

My goal is not to become the best skier downhill or water but, to be able to do it with my family and to get out there and enjoy that time with my family.  I have a lot of things I am fearful of however, I need to get over those fears for myself and for my children.

Here is my current list of fears and things I haven't either done yet or done alone yet and need to work on:

-driving a boat...my goal is to someday be able to pull skiers and drive and park the boat without fear

-downhill skiing, I just want to be able to go out skiing for the day with my family and hold my own with little or no fear.

-water-skiing, to get OUT of the wake AND back into the wake!

Those are my current goals right now and the ones I am actively working on each year.  What are your fears?  What are your goals?  Mine may seem silly and small but, they are the easiest ones right now and the most important to my family and me.

Get out there, start your life, live your life and have fun!  So you might crash a boat, get hurt or whatever, big deal, at least you will have a good story to tell!

-Blessings to you all and again, Happy New Year and praise God for school being back in session!

Liza