Category Archives: family

Exhaustion

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In the past six weeks, we have all been sick.

Two trips to the hospital (with two different kids for two entirely different reasons), one rushed trip to the pediatrician due to a seriously swollen and red bug bite, a head cold that won’t quit for all of us girls, and that’s just all the stuff besides normal every day life.

I’m tired.

In fact, I’ve gone to bed before eight pm twice this week. Yes, twice. This week. And it just started!

The house is a wreck.

Days are crazy again due to the whole one vehicle thing – my schedule is insane. I feel like I should just set up shop in the car. I’m up and out the door by 715 every morning (this means waking up at 530 so I can have the girls showered, fed, and dressed) to take Alli to school – then home. Chris gets ready for work and then we pack Charlotte and Cameron up around 9 and take him to work. Then home. Then lunch and nap. Up and out the door by 215 to go pick up Alli. Then home for an hour and a half and then off with all three kids to pick up Chris. No wonder I’m asleep before my head even hits the pillow most nights.

I’m not resentful at all – this is just what we have to do right now so we do it. Life is so full of everyday challenges. If it wasn’t, I’d be bored. We’d all be bored without the daily drama regardless of how much we may moan about it.

Hopefully we’ll get the other truck working soon. We think the starter needs to be replaced but man that’ll be nice.

Another nice thing is the falling gas prices. I never thought I’d be ready to throw a party just because gas is actually less than three dollars/gallon.

Say a Prayer

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This past Monday, my mom called to ask if I had received an email from my brother. When I said no, she took a deep breath.

A friend of the family was killed suddenly on October 11, 2008 at two a.m. in an auto accident. Just two years older than myself, he died at the scene after a two vehicle accident. Jason and his mother welcomed my family when we moved to Virginia. The first summer we spent there involved a LOT of swimming in their pool and hanging out with him at church. Open, friendly, warm, and funny, Jason really made the adjustment to the rural country a little bit easier for us “Yankees.” I still can’t believe he’s gone even though I had not really thought of him in quite some time as life has moved on for myself and for all of us.

Jason went on to become a member of the National Guard and served an 18 month tour in Kosovo just this past year. He was also a highly decorated member of the local PD where my parents live. His funeral is this coming Sunday at 2p.m. If you can, at that time, please pause and just take a moment of silence for this fallen friend of mine. He was happiest helping others, something that is near and dear to my own heart. I truly do not have any words left to express how deeply saddened I am at the loss of Jason.

The One Flaw In Women

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A good friend of mine sent this to me today. Good thing she did because I really needed to read it. Enjoy.

By the time the Lord made woman,
He was into his sixth day of working overtime.
An angel appeared and said,
‘Why are you spending so much time on this one?’
And the Lord answered, ‘Have you seen my spec sheet on her?
She has to be completely washable, but not plastic,
have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable
and able to run on diet coke and leftovers,
have a lap that can hold four children at one time,
have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart
-and she will do everything
with only two hands.’

The angel was astounded at the requirements.
‘Only two hands!? No way!
And that’s just on the standard model?
That’s too much work for one day.
Wait until tomorrow to finish.’

‘But I won’t, ‘ the Lord protested.
‘I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart.
She already heals herself when she is sick
AND can work 18 hour days.’

The angel moved closer and touched the woman.
‘But you have made her so soft, Lord.’
‘She is soft,’ the Lord agreed,
‘but I have also made her tough.
You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish.’

‘Will she be able to think?’, asked the angel.
The Lord replied,
‘Not only will she be able to think,
she will be able to reason and negotiate.’

The angel then noticed something,
and reaching out, touched the woman’s cheek.
‘Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model.
I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one.’

‘That’s not a leak,’
the Lord corrected,
‘that’s a tear!’
‘What’s the tear for?’ the angel asked.

The Lord said, ‘The tear is her way of expressing her joy,
her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love,
her loneliness, her grief and her pride.’
The angel was impressed.
‘You are a genius, Lord.
You thought of everything!
Woman is truly amazing.’

And she is!
Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness,
love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don’t take ‘no’ for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They’ll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE TINY FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Seeking Spanish Language & Cultural Resources

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Stephanie Morales, the co-Coordinator for PSI’s Spanish Language Warmline is currently seeking appropriate Spanish language resources for women and families. Please forward any resources you may know of to Stephanie via email.

It is wonderful when the caller calls but we need to offer them sound, culturally and linguistically appropriate services in their geographical area.

Please do not hesitate to contact Stephanie with any questions or concerns you might have. If you speak Spanish and are also interested in volunteering with PSI for the Spanish Warmline, feel free to contact Stephanie as well.