A Day in the Life of a Mom of Six

When I grow up....

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:33:00 +0000

As a little girl I dreamed of doing many different things.

I wanted to be a nurse, a teacher, a veterinarian, a ballerina, and always a mom.

As a mom, I have done so many of those things, in some form or another. I homeschooled my children for 4 years. I am nurse to my children and husband. I am a closet veterinarian for our animals. I dance my way through each day, and though it may not look to others like ballet, I know the complicated twists and twirls that are required to make it through.

Now, I've FINALLY figured out what I REALLY want to be when I grow up. I have actually known for a while, but now that my children are getting older and our financial situation is a little more secure, and my husband has figured out what HE wants to do with the rest of his life....NOW I can start working on what I want to do.

Come, be inspired with me....

Teens are scary creatures....

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:51:00 +0000

I should know. I have two of them, currently. They do things that scare lots of years off of the lives of their mothers. Things that seem like normal marking the years, growing up activities...getting their drivers' licenses, gaining more freedom, spending more time with friends, dating....

Oh, that last one has me frightened. You see, we've almost reached that point where we told our oldest that she will be allowed to date. This has really made me think...and quake in fear.

Who was it that decided it would be a good idea for hormonal, curious TEENS to spend time together with a teen of the opposite sex?!? I think I want to STRANGLE whoever it was who came up with this notion. I KNOW how boys think. Even GOOD, solid, G0d-fearing boys. And one of them wants to DATE my little girl. This scares me...A LOT. And NOT just one young man...oh, no. She has been asked out by *2* young men THIS WEEK. HELP!!!

So, any words of wisdom for me?!? Because I'm starting to think that *I* may not survive this whole children dating thing....

To Add to the "Want to Read" List....

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 21:34:00 +0000

I am always on the look-out for new books that will fill my need for understanding of our way of life...and comedy ALWAYS helps!!! This book by Mollie Gross looks like it will fit the bill...can't wait to read it!!

Do you have any more books for me to add to my list?

Board Games

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:46:00 +0000

I came across an article today about another use for an innocent game that everyone is familiar with, in some shape or form. It seems that during World War II, British intelligence in conjunction with the British makers of Monopoly created special editions of the popular board game to include maps printed on silk, money, compasses, and other tools to aid prisoners of war in escaping from German war camps. The article gives much more detail...and if I were still homeschooling would spark a whole weeks' worth of study of World War II!!

You can read the article at Get Out of Jail Free: Monopoly's Hidden Maps

New Avenue of Support

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Military wives everywhere are often on the look-out for support. The job we do is never easy, and we all know that any job is easier if we have friends to help carry the load.

THAT is why I was SO excited to come across the web page for Wives of Faith. What an exciting source of support for Christian Military Wives!

Check out the page...there is support for the Military marriage, Bible study, a prayer ministry, and local groups. I think there's also live chats, and newsletters.... I can't wait to dig further!

Remembering...

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:24:00 +0000

From a friend and one-time fellow student, a moving post....

Go read it! Afghanistan 2002

Thank you, Omar, for the powerful reminder and for your service to our country!

Back to School, and all that jazz

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:42:00 +0000

I can't decide whether I should cry or party...today is the first day of school for this year, which includes a 10th grader, a 7th grader, a 6th grader, a 4th grader, a 2nd grader, and my baby starting Kindergarten.

Of course, I got pictures. What kind of mom do you think I am?!?

Okay, so I missed the op for the 10th grader...later...I'll get one of her this afternoon, I promise!

This one is TOO cool for a real picture...had to snap this on the fly.... He was NOT happy with me!

It's her first day of middle school...she's EXCITED!!

The 4th grader LOVES school and has been chomping at the bit all summer....

The second grader...she loves school too...because she LOVES her friends!!!

My baby...she looks too little to be going to school, right?!?

My house is too quiet today...I KNOW I'll get used to it...but this Mommy's a little sad this morning....

Review

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 02:14:00 +0000

Tonight, while avoiding working and packing and all that goes into getting a family of 8 (okay, so 7 of us are actually travelling...) out the door, I went back and took a trip down memory lane. Do you ever do that? I love remembering the good, the bad and the indifferent of what life was as a child, teen, young adult....those things that eventually slip from my mind...Yeah, I've finally put some of them on paper...or, rather, digital paper! I LOVE seeing how God has worked in our lives over the years! I have now decided that I need to go back and add to those memory posts....because life goes on, and more memories are added every day!

A blog worth reading

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:45:00 +0000

Chaplain Brad Lewis posted an entry on his blog Training for Eternity. The article from July 6, 2009, One of Those Days, is well worth the read. Head on over there.

I cried. Jus' sayin'...

Gotta LOVE those Marines!!!!

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:35:00 +0000

August has been INSANE...

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:42:00 +0000

Every month has its own brand of insanity..but I think August has been especially hard this year. Actually, this last week was the most crazy week of the whole long crazy month.

Our friend from church got home from a 7-month deployment.
We went to the homecoming...and those are always fun...DJ, flags, pompoms, pictures to color, spouses all dressed in their best, new babies seeing daddy for the first time, anxious girlfriends unsure of where they stand, older children running around not sure how to handle the pent-up emotions....and face painting!

Our girls partook of that particular fun part of the party....

Heather

Leah

Katherine

Then, on Sunday, we hosted a BBQ at our house, so he could get to see all of his friends from church...it was a blast...and a little bit overwhelming.

But we're GLAD to have him home!!!

Aliens and Strangers

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:10:00 +0000

Lately, Jason and I have been hurting with some friends who are struggling with their relationships as a direct result of separations imposed by the military. While marital difficulties are by no means limited to those in the military, statistics attest that those in the military have a higher rate of divorce.

I talk to military wives all over this country, and hear about multiple, back-to-back year-long (or longer) deployments, and how much they miss their husbands. They talk of making the most of every minute their husbands are home. They testify to children who do not remember their dad when he comes back from being gone for half of their little lives.

Those same wives get very frustrated with their civilian counterparts who are complaining of their husbands going away on a week-long business trip. They get tired of the attempted compliments of "I could never do that" or "I don't know how you do it."

Make no mistake. We did not get married planning to be separated for months on end. We did not plan to raise our children as single-married parents. We have our difficult days (and even weeks).

Yet, somehow, we dig deep and find reserves we never thought we had...and probably only have developed since entering this lifestyle. We make friends quickly at each new duty station (and probably frighten some of our non-military friends with the intensity of the need for those friendships to grow quickly). We find new churches and dig in deep, quickly, because we highly value our extended family in the local church. We KNOW where our strength comes from, and will do what it takes to stay plugged into our power source.

Yes, we know we are different from the mainstream of American life. We thrive in our own circles. But, please recognize that we are not super-human. We have our faults and weaknesses. We are going to have our down days. Please allow us those. And PLEASE, support us when we are trying above all else to hold our relationships together. Long-distance relationships are never easy. Long-distance relationships with the added stress of war and trying to maintain day-to-day life are immensely harder.

Please do NOT suggest that we divorce him, since he's never home anyway.
Please do NOT ask why he doesn't get a job where he can stay home. He has a good job that he loves (for the most part).
Please recognize that when he is sent somewhere, he does not usually have the option to tell his superiors "no"....not that he really wants to, anyway.
Please remember that we are also human and need a shoulder to cry on some days.
Please recognize that we are individuals, and as such have our own opinions about politics, the military, and life in general...though we may not share them with you.

If you want to be supportive of your friends, family and acquaintances who are in the military, or are married to someone in the military, be a friend. Recognize the differences. Be supportive when things are hard. Be available. Make a little effort to learn what their life is like. Invite them for dinner...they usually do not have family close by, and would relish the opportunity to get to know you. Chances are they will be some of the most loyal friends you will ever meet. And if not, at least you will have expanded your view of the world and blessed a military family.

Who knows but what you will entertain angels...we certainly already feel like strangers.

It is Friday...

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:23:00 +0000

My plans for today are limited to working, supervising the grounded teen, and heading to the base gym for an appointment concerning nutrition and exercise. My doctor has given me a new label, which I am trying to shake, if I can only lose 10 to 15 pounds in the 3 months. So, my project for the next 12 weeks. The problem is that some of this weight has become really good friends with the rest of me...having been hanging around here since my eldest was born, more than 15 years ago.

Oh, and we have our LAST softball games for the season tonight...at 8:45 and 9:45 p.m. It's going to be a late night...and that's a hard time for me because that is when my blood sugar tries to tank on me. Then tomorrow, the kids are wanting to spend the day with some friends from church and Jason has drill.

Do you have plans for your weekend?

It's Official....

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:12:00 +0000

...I have a teenager with a Learner's Permit. If you live anywhere near Virginia Beach, you might not want to be out on the roads.

Well, you might just avoid the roads in Virginia Beach because the drivers here are CRAZY. Really stinking crazy. The kind that make you wonder where they acquired their licenses.

And my daughter gets to learn to drive here. THAT is what scares me. Fortunately, I am NOT the one getting in the car with her to teach her. My husband, who, bless him, has nerves of steel, will be performing that sacrificial act. I can't. I remember when I was learning. I remember how anxious I get with Jason driving. I CAN'T do that to my daughter.

So, I will be spending a lot of time praying....because otherwise I will probably die of a heart attack!

I thought it was supposed to be warm outside!

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:31:00 +0000

I think our last make-up game for the softball season is going to be rescheduled because it is raining, thundering and lightening outside.

Our tribe is scattering...Frances is at her friend's house, Jason took Jon and his friend to trade in some an old PS2 and some games, Heather is spending the night with her friends who are twins. Then Jon is going to spend the night at his friend's house. That means we'll only have 3 children home for supper...

In the mean time, Jason and I are hoping to go out for breakfast with some friends that we haven't gotten to spend any time with lately. Frances' plans for tomorrow have been cancelled, so we have a wide-opened day ahead of us.

What are your plans for the weekend?

Summer time...

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:01:00 +0000

...and the kids are driving me crazy. They all are feeling severely deprived of their school friends. They MUST spend every available moment at their friends' homes, having sleep-overs, parties, play dates, time at the pool, playing on the slip-n-slides. THEY are having a BLAST this summer!

I am, however, fighting a losing battle with each and every one of them, every day. I am DETERMINED that we WILL get the house picked up and the bathrooms and kitchen cleaned, EVERY DAY. For some reason, those 13 loads of laundry per week (or more right now, since we're going through copious amounts of towels and bathing suits) do not wash or dry themselves, and certainly do not fold themselves up and walk up to their respective homes.

So, I get to be the mean mom. I grounded my eldest from her Facebook page (yeah, I finally gave in and let her have one...). They are all MINE until after lunch. Oh, and the oldest is taking an AP class this summer...she is going to be glad I am making her work on it now, instead of waiting until that last week before heading back to school!!

Meanwhile, I am in denial about how much summer we have left...no school shopping here yet. I'm not even thinking about it...though I *do* have my lists hanging right there on my bulletin board above my desk...just ignoring it for now!

My husband writes...

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:03:00 +0000

Jason surprised me this week by starting his own blog... You can check him out at Chaps Insites
I'm so proud of you, honey! Can't wait to read what God's teaching you!!

Some good things to think about...

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:34:00 +0000

Posted on my friend Trish's blog is a VERY good list of lessons learned...

My Odometer Rolled over Today

Go read it!!

Laura

A wise and timely article...

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:58:00 +0000

A friend from college days has posted a response to some of the disturbing things in the news today. Please check out his article.... Every Bullet Has Your Name On It!

Thanks, Sam! That was a good reminder!!

Why Are Conservatives So Mean?

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:13:00 +0000

I was given a link this morning that presents things SO much better than I could...and it's a video...how cool is that?!?

Why Are Conservatives So Mean?

Quick update

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:04:00 +0000

I've been away for TOO long. My apologies. I'm trying. My brain seems to be on perpetual overload right now.

May included:
13 or so BASEBALL games
6 or so SOFTBALL games
A wedding (complete with rehearsal and rehearsal dinner)
New glasses for 3 kids
one drill weekend
A surprise visit from the husband's best friend and also from my brother (the same weekend!)
Mother's Day
Classes
Work
5 Concerts
Doctor's visits
Band rehearsals
Club meetings
baseball and softball practices

June looks like it is going to be just as full...fun.

More later.

Rip Van Winkle here....

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:13:00 +0000

Today I feel like I just woke up from a really long sleep, and I have a lot to say. I feel like I am just now coming out of that sleep-fog that has enveloped me for the past, oh, about 4 months.

My life is CRAZY....baseball season has started again. The school year is winding to a close, bringing with it enough activities to make a 1-child family declare "ENOUGH!" With five kids in school and preparations for the "baby" to start kindergarten in the fall, it's enough to drive anyone out of their mind. Today, I am that anyone.

I TRIED to get more organized. I have a calendar. It is sort of my lifeline at the moment...otherwise I'd forget all of the activities...I'm already forgetting some...and I had THEM written down...

And....I just ran out of time. Must go...more later! Have a lovely day! Enjoy the beautiful spring weather!!

Here is where I do what I planned to never do here...

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 23:02:00 +0000

...I am delving into something resembling politics...though, to me, this looks more like a lament on the direction of demise of our nation. The situation in our federal government scares the wits out of me. It also turns my stomach that Christians support this atrocity.

Go read this article, Obama's Torture Policy for the Unborn, and then come back and tell me what you think...

Army Strong video

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:47:00 +0000

This video made me cry...wish they had one of these for Navy families!!

Stress and Sickness

laurap9@juno.com (Laura) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:34:00 +0000

It seems I will *never* get past this whole everyone is sick and I just can't function stage. Only this time, the person that is sick is ME. HOW doe this happen? Moms are not allowed to be sick. Amazingly, we went through the whole 7 weeks of misery with me only having about 1 day of feeling poorly. Now, I've been slammed. Friday night, Jason and I dropped the eldest off for a showing of Grease at her school (and subsequent sleepover), and we went out for supper. We had a chance to talk and deal with some HUGE stressors in our lives, but when we got back to the house, suddenly I felt like I was body-slammed. EVERYTHING hurt...muscles, joints, head, throat, sinuses....OY! I went to bed early, and slept in late, and called off for my Brew Group on Saturday, and stayed home and did nothing. All day Saturday AND Sunday....which is just fine. I find this morning that I really don't have the energy to do things like go for a walk (my walking buddy is also sick). I just want to sleep...but work beckons.

This week should be interesting...some things to be taken care of this week for the husband's work, and then he's off to SC for the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston, SC...which means he'll be out of town for his birthday...which I guess is fine....since I have no money to surprise him with anything...

Again, work beckons...must go....