Short and to the point!

short blog today....

NOT EVEN NOON, AND ALREADY I NEED A GLASS....

I love my kids but it's one of "those" days :) Gotta love territorial boys!

PS...it's all in fun, I'm really not going to have a drink right now. HAVE A GREAT DAY!

I Wine Because They Whine!: The Real Stick Family

I Wine Because They Whine!: The Real Stick Family: Aren't those freaking little stick people on the back of family car's freaking annoying? No? Well allow me to change your mind... There's ...

The Real Stick Family

Aren't those freaking little stick people on the back of family car's freaking annoying? No? Well allow me to change your mind...

There's dad first, he looks dashing in his work suit carrying his briefcase, or sporting his military uniform. He's smiling and ready to go out and earn some money to help support the family he has helped to create. He is strong and the head of the family, that is why he is first in line.

Mom is next. She is wearing whatever attire best suits her. Just for fun we'll say she's a stay at home mommy and she is wearing a cute dress and is all smiles. She looks like she should be mother of the year and never loses her cool. She has everything under control and runs her house with the greatest of ease.

Now we reach the first born child. I'm going with a teenage girl since I posses one of those. She is the tallest and she is just your average high school sweet pea. She loves her family so much more than anyone else in the entire world!

Second child is also a girl (again, going with what I own ;). She wears either a tutu or cheerleader outfit. She smiles...funny how everyone is so dang happy!...and she is so proud of her sport of choice. She never misses practices and excels at it!

The third child is a boy and he is a bit smaller. He would be wearing some sports attire and possibly have his jersey number on his shirt. Yep, you guessed it, this guy is smiling as well. He seems to be well behaved and is loved by the whole family.

Now, let's not forget that cute little adorable baby. He sits there in his little diaper with his one little hair sticking up out of his head. A smile is spread across his face, and why not, after all he has the entire family eating out of his hand! They all love him and smother him with hugs and kisses.

We can throw a pet in there too. I'll say a dog. That little puppy sits there beside that little baby and if that little tail could wag it would do so with gusto! Happiest little mutt in the all the land!

OK...now you have the image. You see what I see, right? One big happy family and their happy little dog!

HA! HA! HA! You've been fooled! Here is what my stick people would look like...

Dad is pretty much the same, only his hair is thinning and there are some wrinkles from late nights at the office. He pretty much carries the financial load and works hard at it. Then the poor man comes home to his family, and not the one described above, and becomes daddy and husband. He is brave and tired!

Mom really needs a makeover. She should be a little overweight (after all she just had all those kids and is at home with them all day and no time for exercise!). She would be wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt that has multiple unidentifiable stains all over it. That cute baby? She's holding it on one hip while she pushes the vacuum or mop with the other. That little life sucking parasite cannot stand to be out of her reach for any amount of time.

Child number one, the teenager. She may be wearing the cute clothes and a smile but it's not because she loves her family and is happy to see them, it's because she is holding a phone in one hand and iPod in the other. She's texting twelve people at once while listening to the latest whoever singing whatever that she thinks is so freaking dreamy on the iPod. She is daydreaming about her boyfriend and cannot stop talking about him or what that one girl said about that one boy in that one class at school today...like you know what I mean?

The Ballerina/Cheerleader is next. She has on her tutu but instead of a smile her mouth is wide open because she is screaming for mom to please make her brother (the kid in the baseball uniform) stop pulling her bun! She morphs into this thing that is not human and begins speaking in tongues. She is not putting up with it any longer and wants to move to grandma's house!

The little ball player is getting a quick thrill out of pulling on the ballerina's bun. It excites him. He's the middle child and feels he doesn't get the attention he deserves. He picks one question to ask over and over and over and over and over again, without breathing and allowing anyone to answer him. This frustrates him and he takes it out on his sister. She's such an easy target and if mom and dad actually let her go to grandma's maybe he can have her room!

We've heard where the baby is, mom's arms. That's where he's been most all day. His diaper is dirty, he's teething and won't stop crying and has something oozing from every hole in his little body. He refuses to sleep, which only adds to the crankiness and cannot tell you what he wants so he just keeps on screaming...hour after hour after hour!

Finally there's the beloved family pet, a dog. When the screaming oozing baby is in the floor the dog is severely abused. It's tail is chewed on, ears nearly bitten off, squeezed until it can barely yelp for help and has to share its food and water with the little mutant. The dog is deaf, snores when it sleeps and loves to fart out loud for all the hear and smell. It is old and tired and just wants to die.

Looking for your help :)

I am still learning the ins and outs of blogging. I have days I feel inspired, or are pushed into posting something, but I want more! I want to know what interest you, what you would like to hear about. I like my topics to be fun and light. I do dabble into the serious stuff but only when I am compelled to do so...and I'm not often compelled. Please feel free to comment below and let me know what you would like to read.

I'm a stay at home mom and have very little time on my hands but for you, I will make time, research topics and make the posts for you. I will still dabble in my wine obsession and mommy moments but would like to incorporate a little more of you into my life. After all, who wants to read about me all the time ;)

Thanks and I really look forward to hearing what you want to read about!

On a more serious note...Getting into Heaven

I normally like to make my posts light and funny. However, today I am taking on a serious topic. One that cannot be disputed. One that many do not understand because they are so busy trying to prove it wrong or just simply want to stir up debate and get peoples blood pumping.

I will lay it on the line up front first thing: YOU CANNOT ENTER HEAVEN UNLESS YOU HAVE ACCEPTED JESUS AS YOU SAVIOR. To say that is not true only proves that you do not understand and are not ready. I pray daily for lost souls. Souls I cannot reach and the ones who just plain refuse to hear it.

A couple of questions were raised on Facebook and I would like to share my thoughts on them. Please understand that you do not have to agree with me, or accept it (although it would be in your best interest to do so.) I am not a greedy Christian, a selfish Christian or a bad Christian. I am just a Christian. One who makes mistakes daily, one who knows that she has a God who loves her unconditionally and hears my prayers.

First thing I would like to address is that there is NO other way into Heaven other than through Jesus Christ. I cannot say or stress that enough. It says so in the Bible. You CANNOT get into Heaven just because you are nice to people and live a good life. You MUST accept Jesus and that is that.

Are Christians the only ones to enter Heaven. In my belief, the answer is yes. IF you believe that Jesus died for your sins then you are a Christian and since that is the only way into Heaven then you must be a Christian to enter God's kingdom. This may seem harsh to those who do not believe in God but it is what it is. So yes, I believe you must be Christian to go to Heaven. No, not just Baptist, or Methodist, or Lutherans or whatever other Christian religion you choose to follow will only be allowed into Heaven...only those who know that Jesus died for us and have accepted will enter.

What if I'm wrong? Well, what if I'm right? Do you really want to experience an eternity in Hell because you chose to believe that just by doing good you will go to Heaven? It's not something I would want to risk. I feel God working in my life every single day. He has answered prayers, He has shown me the way, He is my lifeline. The question you should ask yourself is this: What if I, insert your name, am wrong?

Here's my favorite question. I chose not to elaborate on it on Facebook because I was exhausted from the whole situation...I mean a girl can only say "the way into Heaven is through Jesus..PERIOD!" so many times. So it was asked, and I'm not 100% sure of the wording but it's message was clear...Does it make me a bad Christian to believe that you must be Christian to enter Heaven? UM...NO! I am a follower of God and I choose to obey Him. It makes me a Christian because I believe in the saving grace of Jesus. I was most offended by that particular comment than anything else. Do not assume that I am ignorant and arrogant. I am nothing more than a child of God who chooses to follow His commandments and do His will. That's like saying my very own earthly children are bad kids because they choose to follow my rules and obey me. It's just not true.

I could sit and quote the Bible all day and point out what it says about believing in Jesus and receiving the gift of eternal life in Heaven, but I haven't the time and trust me, it would take a while. The best way to learn of these verses is to take time to read the Bible, it's all in there. We are all God's children and we are only asked to follow him, lead others to him and share in His glory. The punishment for not obeying our Heavenly Father is an eternal life in Hell. It cannot be put any more simply than that. Our children disobey us we set up consequences for that action. It is the same with our God. You disobey the one who created you and there will be a punishment for you.

I take pride in the fact that I am a Christian, and things like yesterday are put into my life to test my faith. I will not fail my God. There is no one on this earth who can shake me. He has a greater plan for me and I have chose to follow Him. He has yet to mislead me. I also take pride in the fact that my children, ages 7, 4 and 3, can walk circles around nonbelievers and share the gospel with them. My husband and I have worked tirelessly in teaching them God's will and I have to admit, they are pretty unshakable as well. There's no way anyone is going to turn their eyes. They know to stand their grounds. We saw our 7 year old fight the fight in her school earlier this year, she was not letting anyone tell her she could not say God or bless her food. We backed her up all the way. She will continue to gain strength and defeat the devil at every turn!

Our sixteen year old niece lives with us and battles the same battles in her high school daily. She too stands her ground and is not shaken. We have her back as well, but she knows God has it even more. She is doing amazing work for the Lord here on earth and she will make a difference in peoples lives. I have full faith that all four children in this home will be working for the Lord all their lives.

I posses a key. It's not your average looking house key, it doesn't look like the old skeleton keys. My key looks like a cross...It is the ONLY key that will open up Heaven for me.

I could go on and on and on and some day I may continue this subject. However, for some it may be more than they can take at once and I do have a home and children to take care of. I pray for all the doubting and lost souls. If you believe in Jesus you should be sharing his grace and love with others. Please do not make them doubt it even more. That is not what we are suppose to do. We are suppose to bring people closer to God, not farther away.

God Bless you all and know that I love you, but God loves you more!

No Wine for Mommy, Means MORE Whine...

I have decided to only "wine" on the weekends. This leads to loads of "whining" during the week. I'm quite certain my family would love for me to drink more during the week to help save them some heartache.



There are a few reasons why I have come to this decision. For one, and most importantly, I do not want to come off as an alcoholic. I do like my red and I do like the ease that comes over me after a glass or two. BUT I have examples to set and when the three smallest kids of the house are pretending to serve wine, or when asking what we want to order, will automatically pipe up with, "I know what you want mom, wine!" I suppose I should step back a little.

Another reason falls in the hands of our medical experts...or so they claim they are experts. One glass of wine per day for women and two glasses for men. This bothers me because I have NO idea why men deserve more than women. I know in my household it is I who gets it all done when it comes to the home and kids. No offense to, my ever hard working, husband and I can say he pulls more than his weight around the abode...BUT, I get to see the life sucking parasites 24/7, therefore I deserve the extra glass of wine.

So, with the "experts" advice, I figure if I save that one glass per day, during the week, I can then enjoy a bottle or two on the weekend! YEE HAW! I may hate it the next day but in the moment it's a good time! Please support me and send encouragements throughout the week as I attempt this task and take time to hug one of my household family members as I am sure they are experiencing my withdrawals as well.

Thank you and peace out!

So is the Life of a Military Wife

I wear many hats in life, as I'm sure we all do. There are none, however, that I take more seriously and wear with more pride than my "military wife" hat. No, I do not get into all the wives clubs and hob knobbing with the Officer wives and such. I prefer to do my part from home. Please do not get me wrong, I can think of at least one time when having the support of other wives and the "club" came in very handy...however, I'm not one for social gatherings of this type. I love doing my job from my home.

I have followed, supported and waited endlessly for my husband during his career. We were married December of 1991 and I have moved from Arkansas (my home since birth) to South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, California, Tennessee, California and currently Maryland. I have made so many friends, seen so many amazing places, put THOUSANDS of miles on a car, had three children, and packed up EVERYTHING, we own, on our own a time or two...this was before we decided to let the military do the grunt work...worth it too by the way!

We had an unexpected order change in the summer of 2010 to Japan. We were not ready, not interested and a little anxious. Luckily, we managed to get out of those orders and are now here in Maryland. I believe God puts in places and situations to help lead us to bigger and better opportunities. Although we never really knew the real reason behind the Japan scare, we are following His lead and doing His will.

I have spent many nights alone enduring countless deployments and travels away from home. Our children have said goodbye to their daddy and felt the excitement of having him return. They have lived in places that most children their age have barely heard of. Our seven year old has endured four moves, and the three and four year old boys have done three of those. They handle changes well and have many friends who have, or do, live all over the world. They have experienced so much and lived in such diverse communities and are completely aware of the world around them. I did not understand half of what they do when I got married at eighteen! I love what this life has taught them and will bring to their lives in years to come.

Jason travels a lot with his job here in the DC area but nothing long term, and for that we are grateful! He recently took a trip to Massachusetts and while there had learned of a job opportunity that could greatly benefit him. We usually know (with the exception of the 2010 Japan scare) well in advance where and when our next move will be. This one, however, is requiring a little more effort, on our part, to get. Jason has to talk to people and prepare himself before it can happen. I have prayed that if it is God's will for us to move then show us the way. So far, the way has been paved and things are going good.

Retirement is only a few years away and the thought of all the traveling and moving coming to an end saddens me a little...even scares me a bit. We will have to choose a place to live..LONG TERM...I'm not even sure how to do that anymore. We may possibly buy a house. We've NEVER done this for fear of being left behind while daddy moves on. I've seen it too many times and am NOT willing to do it. I applaud the families who do, especially the ones who survive it and make it work. I know we could, but I do NOT want to. Retirement would also bring us to the scary task of finding a job and actually keeping it. The economy and job market are not the best and we have been spoiled with steady income and EXCELLENT medical care for our family. However, retirement will happen and our trust in God will only strengthen. I am amazed at how far He has already brought us and I know He would never leave us needing (not wanting) but needing for anything.

I pray we go where we are needed and that we do what is expected of us while there. I pray that if we are suppose to stay here in Maryland and continue our work for the Lord here, then so be it and it be clear. I pray if Massachusetts holds bigger and better things for our family and for God's glory that that be clear. Please keep us in your prayers. I am always ready for the next step and our family is perfectly capable of making the move. Just pray that it is God's will and not just ours.

Mom's are robot's...PERIOD!

I shouldn't have to go on and elaborate but you know me, I'm going to anyway. I won't speak for all mommies out there but I'm pretty sure we all feel the same. Our schedules may be different and some have only one or two children, while others have three or more...doesn't change the robotic affect in the least!
This is pretty much my morning EVERY Monday through Friday...I seriously could do it in my sleep...wait, I think I have!

Here's a BASIC rundown of my morning. Please feel free to share yours with us as well!

6:45am..if I haven't already been up for two hours I roll out of bed, pee (yep, I include it b/c it may be the last time until after lunch before I get to do it again!), waddle down the hall like a drunk while rubbing my tired eyes like a toddler. Gently and kindly snuggle up to the princess to wake her. Amazing how the "princess" turns into something ugly and terrifying at the first twitch of her eye. After a few minutes of being sweet MY ugly turns on and I force her out of bed. I have had visions of dragging her out feet first or throwing a cold cup of water on her head, but I assume this would only make things worse.

6:52am...stop running toilet from running.

7:07am...FINALLY downstairs with ALL three kids in tow and sitting at the breakfast table. Now, I don't like having them eat the same old boring bowl of cereal every morning. So I, USE TO, give them options. French toast sticks, waffles, oatmeal, cinnamon rolls...and whatever else I have stashed away. No our breakfast may not be the healthiest but I do add fruit and I also make them very healthy lunches. My mornings are crazy busy and I need something I can whip together in a pinch. Don't judge. OK..the USE TO portion of choosing what they eat has come to an end because, you guessed it, I would be making three different meals. This was not conducive to my schedule, nerves, or lack of coffee. I now choose for them! They don't argue, much...anymore.

7:11am...everyone has something in front of them and I now can make my first cup of coffee that I sip between tending to the needs of my children and packing a lunch for the first grader. I am very picky about what she eats at school and REFUSE to let her eat lunch from the cafeteria. I have been there to eat with her a few times and it is completely ridiculous what they consider nutritional! ANYWAY...I make  her a healthy lunch being sure to hit all the food groups...drink included!

7:20am...let the dog out to pee.

7:23am...the boys have finished their meals and are running down the hall to wash their hands but not without running their hands across the walls the entire way there first. My youngest will even come back to me, show me his hands and declare ever so proudly "MINE ARE CLEAN!" Well, yes, why wouldn't they be? The walls are proof that someones hands are in fact very clean. I find the rag and wipe the sticky substance off the wall, all while cursing under my breath.

7:25am..finally let the begging dog back inside.

7:33am...I have to remind the first grader that it is now time to stop talking and finish breakfast. She is the SLOWEST eater and it is only because she does more talking than eating. I hear most of what she says, but I couldn't tell what she actually said. I haven't had enough coffee at the this point and what's left in my cup is quickly getting cold. She finally spends a little time chewing and manages to finish up.

7:34am...Break up some ongoing fight over which boy had what toy first.

7:35am...I clear the table,  hose it off and put the dishes in the sink. I summon my daughter over to me and begin working on her hair. She possibly has the thickest hair in all the world! It's long and can be fun to work with but most mornings I find that I can only manage a ponytail or headband at best. She complains that I'm hurting her and she hates having her hair done, yet she will have a fit at the mention of cutting it short. She is a Rapunzel in the making. She wants hair down to her knees...not happening, but she's convinced it will. We struggle for a few minutes, get the mane in a ponytail and attach a matching bow to tie it all to the outfit of the day.

7:44am...start cussing because I have managed to step on a tiny Lego and must now dig it out of the bottom of my foot.

7:45am...make a second cup of coffee and grab a few swigs.

7:47am...threaten to give the boys away to another family if they don't stop being so mean to each other.

7:47:32am...stop the boys from screaming and tell them I was just kidding because no one else would have them ;)

7:55am...make sure the first grader is putting her shoes on, getting everything into her bag, and putting her lunch in her lunchbox and into her bag.

7:59am...ask first grader to use the restroom so we can start getting ready to leave...which she says she doesn't need to go.

8:01am...begin process of bundling up for our trip to the bus stop.

8:01:27am..separate the boys and pray I don't really call some other family to come and get them.

8:03am..first grader is now ready, all bundled up, shoes on, hat scarf, mittens, hat and jacket all buttoned!

8:03:42am..first grader needs to unbundle because she now needs to pee!

8:06am...begin operation rebundle!

8:08am...first grader tells the brothers bye and heads out the door.

8:11am...first grader finally reaches the bus stop and is awaiting the bus!

8:15 (ish)am...bus arrives! Daughter boards! Mommy can now go back indoors and defrost, referee and begin her day of cleaning and managing the boys.

8:17am...sit down to a, now cold, cup of coffee and thank the Lord for the blessings in my life!

People ask me how I do it...it's because I am now a robot! No wonder I drink...

How we tricked our picky eater into eating food he normally turns his nose up to!

Our middle child is probably the PICKIEST eater alive! I truly believe that if you were to cut him he would bleed jelly and if you squeezed him hard enough he would ooze peanut butter! PB&J sandwiches are his absolute favorite! "Hey sweetie, what would you like for lunch?"..."Peanut butter and jelly sandwich!"..."R, what would you like for dinner?"...."Peanut butter and Jelly!"...at the restaurant, "R, what do you want to order?"..."Do they have Peanut butter and jelly?"

I should include he also loves mac and cheese and pizza. Trying to get this kid to eat anything we make for dinner can be a huge challenge! He's not much of meat eater but will dabble with (very limited) veggies and fruit. I try to implement the things I know he will eat, and get some nutritional value out of, at each meal. This would seem a boring meal to most since it is the same things every day. He doesn't seem bothered by it though, he keeps on eating it, over and over and OVER again!

Last night, we became creative, and liars, but it worked! I had made chicken Caesar salad and had decided to put all the items on the table and allow the kids to prepare their own salad. It was working and they loved serving their own plates...a little crazy but, in time, I'm sure they will calm down and it will become more routine for them. R didn't want to put chicken in his so I told him...and here's where mommy becomes a fibber...it was "kids chicken". I told him it was made to taste better and have everything in it that will make him grow big and strong like daddy. This got him excited and he put the chicken on his salad! He ate every piece too! AMAZING!

Tonight we're having pork loin, made for kids, with kid sized potatoes (red potatoes) and carrots (which he actually likes :) and cornbread (and he can butter it himself!). We will set out the food on the table again and allow them to serve their own plates. Here's hoping it works and that we have another successful meal!

PS...for anyone else who has picky eaters out there...IF they like mac and cheese I found some, by Kraft, with veggies in the pasta. It looks the same and apparently taste good b/c my boys ate an entire box by themselves once!

If there's anyone else out there with picky eaters and you have successfully "tricked" them into eating their meal...PLEASE share! I'm sure my "kid" meat will wear off eventually and I'll need back up!