Here is a great way to get rid of coffee stains in a carafe, coffee pot, or the filter basket: 
SHINES LIKE NEW!!!
Let us not forget...
"A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken." James Dent
The temperatures are in the 80's and the sky is clear. Get the kids outside, hook up the sprinkler, and enjoy the day!!!
Matthew graduated from preschool Wednesday and is excited to start kindergarten in August. The class performed many songs learned throughout the year including nursery rhymes and scripture verses. They put on quite a show! Each parent was presented a scrapbook of crafts and other momentos gathered throughout the year. I was surprised to see photos of Matt and me along with other neat items. I sat back and witnessed another chapter closing in my son's life -- bittersweet!
To add to these feelings one of Matt's lower teeth is loose! He asks every day if it'll come out. Where did my baby boy go? It seems like yesterday I was holding his hands while he tried to toddle around the house. Remember when we long for the first tooth to come in? Now they are coming out!
As for Mark, he is growing quickly too. Can you believe he'll be a year old in less than a month? This year was a blur!!! He is starting to take small steps without help, but does not desire to be walked around. "Let me just get there my way" is his attitude -- so be it! He is babbling more and saying lots of ma mas, da das, and ba bas.
Sharing has been an issue in our household as well. Gone are the days when Matt's toys were all his and he didn't share space with anyone. I find myself reminding him that Mark lives here too, but he argues that he was born first and has the last say-so. I don't think so!!!
Please view our photos taken throughout the month of May --> CLICK HERE!!
While watching the auditions, there was something about Taylor Hicks that made him so likeable. In our home he became known as "the gray-haired man". As the final 12 performed weekly, I grew to like him more. He was so much fun to watch with his quirky moves and "woes". Now TAYLOR HICKS is the new American Idol -- WAY TO GO!!!
I decided to jump on the bandwagon and join the "Works For Me Wednesday" club. Not that I feel I am an expert on tips and advice, but why not share little things I do to make my life easier. Here we go...
Now kiss those wiggly microorganisms good bye!!!
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34
Steve purchased Spongebob Squarepants Life a few weeks ago for Matthew and it is played daily! One space is labeled "Life". You draw a "Life Card" and it explains a life lesson in kindness and giving which earns a player "life tiles". For instance:
Today as Matt and I played the game questions came to mind: "What life tiles am I earning? Am I courteous to the cashier at the grocery store? Do I yell at my kids when I am frustrated? Am I friendly to those outside my circle of friends? Do I try my best at what I put my hand to?"
"But store for yourselves treasures in heaven (LIFE TILES), where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal" Matthew 6:20
Most people love surprises. Whether it's a future vacation, a proposal, or finding out the sex of your baby when he/she arrives -- everyone loves surprises. But when you need everything to go according to plan, surprises are not welcomed.
So, when my father's doctor approached us in the surgical waiting room to give his final comments after his surgery, he smiled and said "There were no surprises. He is doing very well."
AH - what a sigh of relief!! Everything went according to plan, no unexpected snag appeared, and what matters most is my dad is resting and comfortable (thanks to strong pain meds).
I can't even begin to express how impressed we are with University of Chicago Hospitals. Not only were they ranked 14th in "US News and World Report" 2005 Best Hospitals, but they are ranked among the best in 11 specialty areas. This hospital not only treated my dad's esophageal cancer, but our son, Matthew, was diagnosed with Celiac Disease when he was two and is a part of U of C's Celiac Disease Program. We have many reasons to be grateful for that establishment.
Thank you to everyone who prayed and hoped the best for our family. Blessings back!!!
Doesn't this ring true in a mom's life? My breakfast usually consists of the leftovers my two boys didn't finish: a few pieces of pancake soaked in syrup, bits of waffle on my baby's high chair tray, the peanut butter sandwich with a bite mark on the corner..."A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five
people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." Tenneva Jordan
On Tuesday, May 16th my father will undergo the extensive and serious surgery of removing his esophagus and replacing it with tissue from his stomach (the next step in esophageal cancer treatment). I won't go into detail on how the doctors accomplish this, but most importantly my mother asks for many prayer requests and here they are:
Thanks to all of you who pray and believe God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and ALL-MIGHTY!!
From Good Housekeeping (May 2006), here are the list of 50 things turning 50 this year:
After receiving an email from my friend, Stephanie, I did some soul searching about my role as a mother. Who said the role would be easy? Leave it to the media to glamourize and portray these lives like a blissful walk in the park. Has anyone had this perfect experience? I can definitely speak out and say "NO!"
The neverending days of worry, discipline, and sickness can weigh on any mother. Have you seen those episodes of A Baby Story when the mom is elated and says over and over again: "Oh, I feel so complete and my life is full of joy with little so-and-so around." Does any mother feel that sense of joy when they are cleaning throw up, changing the 200th diaper, or leaving a hopeful trip to the mall early because of a crying toddler's tantrum? The overwhelming thoughts that I am not cutting it as a mom sets in and I feel guilty.
But then when Matthew walks into my bedroom in the morning, says, "I love you," and kisses me, it's all worth the pain and struggle. I could never imagine life without my boys. To witness first steps, first words, and first days of school is priceless.
A mother's sacrifice produces a wonderful blessing!!!
When Matthew gets ready for the day he always enjoys listening to his favorite music. His tastes range from Lazytown to The Wiggles to Worship Jamz. I have spied on him "shaking his booty" as he brushes his teeth -- what a sight!!
When it was time to turn off the music I asked Matthew, "Turn off your stereo, please." He corrects me and says, "Mom, why do you call it a stereo? It's a CD player!!" He has that come-on-mom-you-should-know-better tone.
The sense of getting old creeps in as I reminisce about when I was young and had a "boom box". Remember thinking our parents were goofy for playing 8-track tapes? AH - those days when my family would listen to John Denver's Christmas with The Muppets or Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits!!
Now it's me calling his CD player a "stereo" and I am the the fuddy duddy. It's just a matter of time when Matthew's friends say, "Your mom is soooo out of it!"
What goes around, comes around...
