Mom vs. the Dot: Making it COUNT!

We've had an anniversary getaway, dyslexia testing, puppy training and end-of-year portfolio prep, along with the everyday laundry, dishes, homeschool, standardized testing, errands, doctor's appointments, and church activities.  Throw in a few sicknesses, an ER trip, foster care training (12 hours) and a fender bender, and you've just described our entire April and May. Hence why I haven't posted much.  We've been a little busy. My oldest has informed me I've been yelling a lot lately, and she thinks it's because of the puppy.  I try hard to be gentle and loving toward my children.  The puppy has added a degree of difficulty to our household that we haven't had to deal with in a couple years.  Sort of like having a toddler again...but I don't think that's it.  I'm thinking the probable cause is STRESS !!! I sometimes wish I could hear from you, my readers.  What are you up to?  Are your lives this crazy?  Most of the time I feel...

This week, I came across this in a devotional book.  I wanted to share it with you.  Here it goes: "A Mother's Meditation" There is nothing but peace in my life today.  I know only serenity inside, despite what is going on outside of me.  I react positively to every event I am faced with today.  I respond with only love and kindness, no matter what I am responding to.  I  am empowered and strengthened from within, and I am capable of handling any challenge that faces me, any obstacle that obstructs my path to a perfect, joyful experience of being alive today. And so it i s."* All I have to say after reading this is: Bahahahaahaha!  (sniff)  so funny. You know,  I think I could actually make this happen, but only if I were on vacation.  Without children . In reality, it's more like this: There is nothing but chaos in my life today.  I would love peace, but I'm not at that time of life yet. The children ...

I finally showered and put clean clothes on - it's almost 5:00... p.m. Yep...It's one of those days. I woke up late because I had trouble getting to sleep last night.  My mind was racing with all the things that need to be done this Christmas season.  Sound familiar? My boy came in and woke me up several times before 7:00 a.m.  I finally roused myself and shleppped down the stairs to make him some chocolate milk and popped in a dvd for his viewing enjoyment.  I dragged myself back upstairs and spent the next half hour trying to fall asleep.  My boy returned to announce that he had pooped.  " You need to change me! "  He loudly proclaimed.  OK - forget about falling back to sleep.  After I cleaned him up and sent him on his merry way, I returned to lay in bed.  And - you guessed it - I fell sound asleep.  The next thing I know, it's 9:13.  9:13!!?!  Rats. I have this schedule I try to maintain - breakfast at 9...