Social Sunday on a Tuesday

Did you ever sleepwalk as a child?

I don't think so, but Katie did when she was little and that was just strange. 

Did you ever try to run away or sneak out of your house?

No way!   My mom did think I was a boring teenager though and did show me a way to sneak out of my room.  I then asked her why I couldn't just go out the door if she really didn't seem to mind.  We agreed that was a safer way then jumping off of the roof.

Did you have any imaginary friends?

I was the only child at home because my brother was 14 years older than me.  So yes, I think I had an entire boat load of imaginary friends.

Did you ever go toilet papering?

No, my mom would have killed me!!!!  She did have her boundaries for bad behavior.

Did you ever sneak TV shows you weren't allowed to watch?

I had cable in my room and was definitely a room dweller.  I don't think my parents even knew what I watched.

Just for the record.  I was a pretty good kid which is why I probably did not have very many rules.  If I would have pushed the envelope my Drill Sargent father and not to be messed with mother would have stepped in.  Knowing this alone, kept me on the straight and narrow.

Thank you God for amazing parents :)

New Name

I decided to change the name of my blog.  I finally thought of something kind of cute with a play on words.  Katie thinks I just don't think they are great anymore....not true!  I find my posts are more encompassing than just motherhood, so I thought a name change was in order.  I have always liked my name for the most part and I do like the comments that occur because of it.  The only one maybe not so much is "it keeps turning up like a bad penny".  But that is probably true sometimes as well.  So don't fear, I am still a proud momma!!!

Progress on my Spring List



Spring To Do List Update

Dye Easter Eggs with koolaid

Take an updated  family picture

Start a regular walking routine

Start my tomato plants early

Plant strawberries

Buy the big plant that I look at every year for my deck

Get a comfy lounge chair for my deck

Get rid of that stupid swing set this year!!!

Talk Katie out of buying a duck at Rural King :) 



Well, I  consider this progress.   I decided after looking at it about 10 times, that I no longer want the big plant for my deck.  So I crossed that off.

I got the comfy lounge chair and am looking forward to sitting out there on the deck with a good book and catching some sun :)

The swing set is gone!!!! Thanks hubby.  As is the pile of old bikes, we look a little less redneck now.  Yeah!!

I am actually still planning on dying those eggs even though Easter is over.  That is just a fun thing to do whenever.   It has been too chilly to plant anything yet, and I only walk when it's nice out, so that has been put off as well.  I am bidding my time with the duck.  Surely they don't sell those all year long :)

Why and When to start a family

This is a copy cat post from my friend Carla's blog Our Happy Chaos.  I liked the writing prompt and decided to share my story with you. 

Well, my family story has a few interruptions and a start over.  So here goes.  I always wanted to be a mom and a wife.  I could have easily been one of those drop out of school and get married type of girls from the fifties.  However, I did finish High School (with good grades), I went to Beauty School first (and graduated)  and then got my degree in Family Services from EIU. When I was 23 I got married.  I wanted children right away and was pregnant with twin boys 3 months after getting married.  However, when I was at my 23 week mark, my boys came early.  Because they were so small and weak, they did not make it.  Their birth story will be another post.  God blessed me with a second pregnancy 3 months after their deaths.  That is where my beautiful Katie enters into my life story.  She was the most wonderful baby you could ask for, and she loved her momma's attention.  She got it.  That is when I decided to be a stay at home mom.  However, her Dad and I were divorced shortly after she turned one and I then became a single mom and working was a necessity.

Enter Doug two years later and that is the "do over".  Doug and I were on the same page and Cassidy followed a little over a year after we were married.  She too was a beautiful baby, but a little more high maintenance as a toddler.....anyone who knows this spirited chickie would not be surprised!!   Madison was our unplanned but ecstatically happy surprise child born 23 months after Cassidy.  She has always had a quieter spirit than her older sisters and was such a low maintenance toddler.  Doug and I contemplated ending our family here, but anyone who knows me knows that baby fever is easily caught in the Krabel clan.  Lucy followed 3 1/2 years after Madi.  She is a strong headed gal who mirrors Lucy from the Peanuts gang with her attitude.  She would so pull the football away from a running boy just to watch him fall.  tee hee hee.  I was a stay at home mom for most of this period of our life and marriage.

Today, I am the busy mom of four amazing girls who are growing up too fast for this momma.  I work full time and run the rest of the time to and fro with my busy family.  Doug is an amazing husband and father and I am so blessed for the family that God has chosen for me. 

   

Social Sunday on a Monday

 

What is your shopping weakness?

It changes all the time.  I love to hang out in a furniture store, just ask my hubby.  I love to buy jewelry  (cheaper so I can get more!),  I like to stroll through Hobby Lobby or Michael's.  I like to look at make up.  Currently most of my purchases are on ITunes so I can listen to all my old high school and college favorites on my IPhone.  I think I need an intervention.  I also love, love,  love antique stores.

 

What is your food weakness?

I once gave up being a vegetarian because I wanted a taco, but I don't think that is actually my weakness.  I just love all kinds of food.  I absolutely love barbecue and seafood.  I just wouldn't have enough room for all my favorites.   

 

What is your go to movie to watch when nothing is on?

I LOVE Hope Floats and  The Notebook.  I also LOVE PS I Love You.  I could go on and on, but it is usually a love story.

 

What is your go to breakfast food?

I never have time for breakfast, so it would be a granola bar or yogurt during the week.  If I am at a restaurant, I end up with one of those ridiculously large breakfast platters because I love it all and can't choose.  Doug has learned to adapt and not order one himself :)

 

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Do you drink coffee?  If so, how do you take it?

Oh My Word!!! Does this girl drink coffee??  I like flavored coffees such as mocha, vanilla, or Kahlua (the nonalcoholic version).  I also like regular with some flavored creamer.  But I am equally as happy with some regular with some milk.  No sugar.

Blessed Sunday

 

Ecclesiastes 7:9  Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

 

 

This is such a hard one for me.  When I am angry I try to justify why it is just fine for me to feel that way.  It is always the other's fault.  They made me angry right?  If they would do what they should, I wouldn't be angry right?  If they would read their bible or just act accordingly to some moral code then I wouldn't be angry right?  Ugghhh......

 

Basically I am saying if they would just ask me what they should do and then do it, life would be great and I wouldn't have to be angry.  It is all about my desire to have the control over life and everyone in my inner circle.  Guess what?  Never gonna happen!!!

 

When we ask God to give us patience and self control over our emotions.....guess what?  He teaches us how to develop these skills.  Oh Why?  Please God just give it to me.  If you are teaching me, then I have to practice it......yuck!   My flesh does not like to learn life lessons.  

 

I have had to forgive a lot of people in my life, and I know a lot of people who have had to learn to forgive me.  Because while others do not always do what I want them to, I also do not always do what others want me to either.....surprise I know!! 

 

The good news.....Forgiveness brings peace.   Every time I have learned to forgive.  I have been blessed.  Always with a more sincere love and respect for the person I was angry with. Do I always see their side?  No, sometimes I never do, I just learn to love them anyway.  A bible study friend told me once that when you choose to forgive, you will then want to pray for them and their lives and for blessings to be heaped upon them.....No way!!! Oh Yes my friends.....it's true.  I pray for people I would have once wanted to see suffer (well not really, I am not that cold). 

 

The hardest thing about forgiveness is when God shows you your part in the struggle.  Ugghh! Then the harder part of that is when it is not a situation you can rectify or offer your apologies.  Sometimes you have to let sleeping dogs lie.  That is difficult for me.  I have situations I feel I should make amends for, but the situations would be more complicated if it were stirred back up.  Some day my peace can be made, but for now, God has given me his peace for my choice to forgive and repent my fault to him.

 

 

I loved this Pintrest quote this week, I bet others can relate;

 

 

 

And this one was too funny.....I Love You Jesus!!!

 

Have a blessed Sunday and a wonderful week!!

 

Finally Friday

picture from PINTREST

Finally Friday......

What happened this week? We bought a new couch, Cassie got her stitches out, Lucy had her IEP at school, the yard flooded,and the bunny massacre involving a new nest and a bad puppy happened (very sad ).

What's up for the weekend?  The Festival of the Young Child at the mall.  I have to work it which involves reading to children (which I love) and hanging with The Cat in the Hat....woot woot.  Then home for a spaghetti supper to support my father in law's mission trip.  Yeah, no cooking!!!

Looking forward to next week for?  The last of my evening trainings for a little while.  It is a literacy training I have developed and I feel it will be good, but will be glad when its done. 

It's More than OK

It's More Than OK!!!

Cassie's surgery went well and now that we figured she was having a reaction to her pain medicine, she is doing awesome.

That Doug and I have gotten to go on two motorcycle rides so far.....fun!

That Cassie got a first on her solo at music contest!!!

That I am getting the yard cleaned up and have finished my sidewalks, so no more mud!!!!  and the Schwan's Delivery Guy says he appreciates it too :)

That the living room is going to get done this month.  We bought the couch and are going to check out carpet!! I am super excited about that and happy that there should be enough big person seating for the whole family finally!!

That Madi and I are making some plans for an alone day.  This is such an awkward age and finding things to do with a tween that is not too grown up or too juvenile can be a challenge. We will figure out something fun though for sure :)

Katie is a Prom Princess Candidate.

Trainings at night are winding down, so back to a more normal schedule and summer hours are getting ready to start so WHOO HOO, Friday afternoons off again!!



Blessed Sunday

Today was a blessed Sunday indeed.  Today was a day that made me feel younger instead of older.  I have referred to my "mid life crisis", well today it was out the window.  Doug and I had our usual "we are the parents of four kids" type of date.  Lunch out by ourselves at Red Lobster (our absolute favorite),  followed by furniture shopping (yeah we are redoing the living room!!! new carpet, new couch!!!!!),  Sam's for some "organizing" furniture, and Home Depot for more landscaping blocks for the sidewalk I am making.......then.......dant ta da.....a Harley ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, motorcycle riding, how I have missed you!!!! Oh, how I have needed you!!!!!!!!  I love riding motorcycles.  My Dad always had a bike, my hubby had a bike before we were married, my brother had a bike, my guy friends had bikes, even one of my best gal pals had a bike!!  I love them.  It is a great feeling.  It was also the perfect day for it.  Yeah Spring!!!

 

Titus 2:4  And so train the young women to love their husbands and children. 

 

Loving them is the easy part, enjoying them takes making a conscious decision to spend time finding what makes you connect and grow in your relationships. Doug teased me this morning about not being interested in the new sprayer up at the farm.  I reminded him he is not overly excited about my new purchases or hair styles.  We have to work to appreciate the other's interests because let's face it....we do not always find the same things interesting.  Enter the answer to prayer.....we both love to ride.  We will not always be able to get away and enjoy this hobby together, sometimes it will only be his hobby, but sometimes it will be ours.  Thank you Jesus.  When we need something, you have the most awesome ways of making it happen.

 

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It's Ok

It's Ok.....

That I think snap chat is ridiculously stupid....I have teens and tweens that look like idiots taking pictures of themselves constantly...Oh My Goodness!!!

That I love shopping for shoes.....like love, love, love.  I also can't wait to wear some of the new spring shoes I have bought.

That Spring and Summer make this girl Happy, Happy, Happy.

That the Bates Motel is disturbing, but may be my new "can't wait to watch show." 

That it is official.  I am in a mid life crisis.  Katherine the Great says if I ask her one more time about my "wrinkles" or "old lady" features, she is going to scream.  But at least she is good for my ego, and I got carded when buying wine this week....score!!  

That my puppy has become my new baby....if I didn't want to be one of "those people"....just kidding, I would post about a million cute pictures of her on facebook.

That Lucy is hot mess if something upsets her in the morning.  You just have to laugh or you will become as angry as her.  My girls all wear their emotions on their sleeve.  Poor Doug :(



Currently

I love writing prompts.  It gives me a direction to start.  I especially love this monthly one from Oh' Boy Fourth Grade.  This is what is Currently going on around here.....

Listening to...

The gals playing Monopoly and singing.....

Loving...

That tomorrow is going to be the start of some warm weather....Yeah Baby!!!

Thinking...

About alot of things.....alot of important things :(

Wanting...

To eat Fruit Chill...like right now.....

Needing...

To be better at cooking a meal for my family....they are starting to complain...

Advice...

Enjoy each minute of each day....the unimportant tasks will continue to be there.

Sunday Social on a Monday

This week's interview questions are:

1.  Favorite type of workout you do? 

I love to walk. But not on a treadmill.  I like to walk around town and see all the beautiful yards, landscaping, etc.  I have no problem taking a few minutes to visit with someone outside.  This is just another added perk.  When the girls were younger and I was usually pushing a stroller, it was nothing for one of the other girls to be pushing a toy stroller with a baby doll.  No, I may not be a speed walker, but I am a happy walker.

2.  Favorite guilty pleasure candy or sweet?

I love ice cream or pie or pie with ice cream or cobbler or brownies or warm cake with NO frosting.  I especially love Strawberry Shortcake or Strawberry pie.....oh my, I am hungry now.

3.  What is one thing you consistently forget to do?

Send papers back to the school with my signature or send lunch money.  I go through the backpacks and get them out, but then forget completely about them.  Oh well, could be worse.

 4. Post its or Phone Reminders?

Both.  I keep a memo pad on my phone, but I still use post its for work.  I like that I always have my grocery list or Walmart list with me now that I use the phone more.

5.  Favorite picture currently on your phone that always makes you smile?

I have almost 500 pictures on my phone right now.  I wouldn't know how to choose.

Blessed Easter Sunday



There were so many beautiful pictures on Facebook this year, that I decided to let a few of them say the words for me.

We are all so blessed to have the opportunity to know and accept Jesus into our hearts and lives.  I love Jesus.  I would love to know that all of my friends and family had accepted Jesus into their hearts too.  Eternity with my loved ones is so important to me.  Today at church, three more souls were baptised in the Holy Spirit.  What a glorious Easter it was. 

Have a blessed Sunday and a wonderful week dear friends.