Man- I am Feeling OLD!!!

I think I have finally had one of those moments. Moments that make me look at myself and say, "MAN I AM GETTING OLD!!" Two recent incidents this holiday season have made me realize this. Let me share...

1. I was at the Christmas Eve service at church. I saw an old student from when I taught in Ponder. He was wearing a MILITARY UNIFORM!!! After talking with him, I learned that he had been in the Armed forces for about 6 months. How is it possible that I have a student that I use to teach, already graduated, and serving in the military?????!!! I was so proud of him, but felt REALLY OLD!!

2. My neice - my sister's first child - the first neice/nephew that I had come into this world is getting MARRIED!!!! Is that possible?? Just the other day I was sitting in her mother's kitchen and we were designing and making twinkie shirts (something we use to do every summer). NOW she is engaged!!! I am so proud of you, honey, but it has definitely made me feel my age!!

So, once again I have come to this frightening conclusion. There is nothing I can do-no watch to set back. I just have to learn to go with the flow and enjoy this journey we call life!!! (Actually - now that I am done typing this I am quite tired. It is only 8:00 p.m. Is that a sign of old age if I were to go to bed this early??? I can't win, can I ????

Dieting Again!!!

So, Joel and I have decided to try the South Beach diet again. It worked really well for both of us several years ago (before having two MORE children and multiple surgeries!) We are determined to lose weight for all of the weddings coming up this summer. Of course, it is only day 3 and I have already cheated - cheated I tell you! I was doing really well until I went to school and had students come in and out of my class. Something about being around my students makes me eat. Why is that exactly?!?! Could it be STRESS?!?! On top of that, I have a field trip that I am taking my GT students to in a couple of days. We are going to Outback Steakhouse ( yes - it is an EDUCATIONAL trip!) They feed us FREE lunch ...let me say that again....FREE lunch!!!! So I have already decided that I WILL BE EATING - who turns down Outback Steakhouse when it is free??! Diet or no diet!!! So my plan is to be really good until then, and be really good after. Hopefully that doesn't qualify as cheating...or does it!?

This Time Last Year...

So - while we were out Christmas shopping this year, I couldn't help but reminisce about last year. Actually I don't know if I would call it reminiscing - that sounds like I am remembering something positive! Anyway - I couldn't help remembering that this time last year I was shopping in a wheelchair, remember?!?! I wasn't allowed to stand for long periods of time due to my pregnancy, so I was sentenced to a wheelchair. I learned to have alot more respect for those in need of a wheelchair. Seeing the world from that perspective is VERY HUMBLING as well as it made me quite motion sick many times!! (Maybe it was my driver - hee, hee, hee!) You are not able to reach ANYTHING and it is extremely hard to carry on a conversation with someone standing up while you are sitting there. Let's not forget the electric ones in stores. I tried one out last Christmas because Joel said he couldn't push me AND carry toys. I don't see why not! Talk about fun!! Actually there were way too many people in my way for me to go above the 5 mile speed limit in the stores as well as the very LOUD beeping anytime I had to go backwards because I didn't know how to work it! Also I received many a look from jealous customers, wishing they had an excuse to cruise around the store and them wondering what I was doing in such a thing. I mean, besides, I was just pregnant! Joel did say that he thought shopping was easier last year. Due to the wheelchair, he said that people did get out of our way faster and so we were able to get done quickly. I don't really remember much of it except for what I have already shared.

So anyway, I was reminiscing - remembering how things were this time last year. WOW! Pretty exhausting when you think about it! I am so blessed that God is continuing to heal me daily. So - next time you see someone who is in a wheelchair, take a minute to help them out! Hold that door open, grab something off of the shelf that they cannot reach, and remember to smile!! I was once there and know how different it feels to be restrained to one! Hope all had a very Merry Christmas!!

8 Things About Me (for Lauren)

8 things you've always wondered about me!I was tagged by my niece!

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. Panera Bread (even though I am still rebelling against the chicken salad sandwich)
2. Olive Garden
3.Fuddruckers
4. McAllisters
5. Sweet Basil (thanks to Evie for introducing this one to me!)
6. Chilis
7. Abuellos
8.Cozymel's

Things that Happened Today:
1. Gave my kids a bath TWICE!
2. Went to Stonebriar Mall
3. Made a build a bear rabbit with my son for his sister's first birthday
4. Bought her birthday cake
5. Took back a Christmas gift
6. Went to Fuddruckers
7. Listened to Taylor Swift's new CD
8. Gave my hubby a kiss!

Things That I Look Forward To:
1. Next break from school (Spring Break)
2. traveling to Louisiana next week in my sister's sweet ride!
3. Getting together with all of my family again
4. My children getting married
5. Summer
6.When my husband has days off!
7. weekends
8. Seeing my friends at church

Things I'm Scared Of:
1. Being alone
2. Crickets
3. Spiders
4.Letting my family down
5. horror movies
6. drowning
7. Losing loved ones
8. Having a car crash and injuring my children

Things I Wish For:
1. ALL OF MY CHILDREN HEALTHY!!!!
2. to not have to worry about money
3. Christ centered house
4. my children to have a spouse that love the Lord
5. . No more medical bills
6. To Travel the world
7. To be able to go to every show on Broadway
8. to take care of family and friends financially

Things I Watch on TV:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. CHUCK!!!!!
3. Life
4. Leverage
5. Without a Trace
6. Disney Channel or Sprout (anything that the boys like)
7. Hallmark Christmas Movies
8. American Idol

Enjoy... send me yours back if you get a chance : )

Ainsley's Black Eyed Pea

So - Ainsley received her Christmas gift early this year - a beauty of a black eye! I am not real sure what happened. I have had the kids the last two days and we have been having a blast (these days make me want to stay home :). I really had to go to the restroom and had been holding it for quite a while! Noah cannot be left alone often with Ainsley - she usually winds up quite disoriented and unsure of who she is. So I told Caleb that I had to go and to hold down the fort for a few minutes. The next thing I know, Ainsley is crying her head off!! I hurry as fast as I can and come back into the living room. In the back of my mind I KNEW that I should have just taken Ainsley with me to the back. But of course I did not follow my gut. They were all playing so good together that I didn't want to mess with or interrupt a good thing!! When I picked up Ainsley I couldn't believe it!!! Her eye was swollen and red! After much investigation, one of two things had happened. Either she ran into the edge of the fire place OR she ran into a toy in Noah's hand....I have my suspicions of what really happened....although everyone has claimed innocence. SO, this year, for her very first Christmas, she has a beautiful purple eye for all her pictures! Merry Christmas, darling! (And I am sure that it won't be the last incident of your life - welcome to the clan!)

Why Change a Good Thing?!?!

My question today is - "Why Change a Good Thing?!?!?" The other day, Joel and I did some Christmas shopping and decided to eat out. We went to one of my all time places - Panera
Bread (thank you, Shelly, for introducing this to me!! You have helped me form a beautiful friendship with this place!) I was all excited because I had not been there in awhile. As I waited in line with the crowd, I automatically knew what I wanted - a chicken salad sandwich! No doubt about it! I crave, dream of, wish for, long for at times for this delicious sandwich. When it finally is our turn, I order the tomato soup and chicken salad sandwich (of course....!!) The man behind the counter looked at me and said, "Ma'am - we have changed our chicken salad. Now it has almonds, grapes, etc....in it. Would you like to try a sample of it?" By this time, I had zoned out. What in the world was this man talking about?!?! Is he from here, or was he shipped from another sandwich store to help corrupt the business of Panera Bread?!?!? I looked around - maybe someone was videoing me and waiting to jump out and tell me surprise- JUST KIDDING!!!!! Unfortunately to my demise, there was no camera and this "boy" truly was an employee of this well loved restaurant. I took a sample, but couldn't taste anything - by then the tears had begun. My relationship with this so called "well loved" restaurant had been severed-crushed-demolished. Taken away from me was my ultimate FAVORITE sandwich, and given back was a much more HEALTHIER sandwich that did not quite meet up to my high standards that I have as a sandwich eater. So I ask you one more time, why change a good thing!!???? Why do we change things that were perfectly fine!!!.................. I ask you................. FYI - My new favorite chicken salad sandwich - MCALLISTER's DELI *and they have great tea!!! Good bye Panera Bread!!! I feel as if I have lost a friend.....

The Bartlett Curse

For those of you who do not know, we have an addiction in our house. I call it an unwanted addiction. We can't seem to get rid of it no matter what! It is known to our friends as "The Bartlett Curse!" Since Joel and I united and became a family, we became plagued with it. Surgery after surgery, hospital visit after hospital visit, sickness after sickness - that was how we lived out our first 5 years together as a couple. When we thought it was all ok - the "curse" had lifted - we had our first born. For those of you who know Caleb, you would know that it had not lifted at all ! It reached a different level! He was an extremely sick little boy and once again we found ourselves in and out of hospitals and doctor offices for the next three years. Then our second son came, who we thought when first born, he would be normal. But no - he too was born with the curse having stomach problems and ear issues. A year after that, I continued the curse and am just now getting over the unwanted addiction after two years.

So here we are again. A new baby girl who can't get over ear infections and LOVES to CRY, a middle son who has stomach problems (probably because he eats anything!), a first born who "catches" anything around him because of a weak immune system AND is allergic to pet dander (which is why we don't have pets), a mom who is trying to get over extreme anemia problems, and a dad who has constant arthritis pain where he has had surgery in his arm. Does that sound like a curse or what?!!? Every year at work, Joel and I both use up all of our sick days and then some- and you wonder why?!?!?!

God is good despite all of this! He has blessed me with three beautiful children and a one of a kind, perfect husband ( I think God had him become a paramedic so he could take care of FAMILY!) I have realized recently that God truly does not give you more than you can handle. At some point, I have had a one on one conversation with God about that verse but as always He is right!!!

So - if we are not at work, Caleb is missing from school, a Bartlett is not found at church on Sunday or Wednesday, no one shows up for a party, the house looks as if it is in "quarantine" mode, then you know.....The Bartlett Curse is upon the house hold once again!!!!!!