Take a walk with me ...

To be honest, my life doesn't seem like my own right now.

I am waking up early to get myself showered and dressed and then packing Jacob's lunch, and then finally waking my sleepy head to get him ready.

I drop him off at school and then I dash off to school myself.

I sit in class wondering if I should comment on what is going on or answer a question. Am I right in what I am thinking or am I wrong? If I say it out loud will the professor wonder what I am doing in that class to begin with.

Then after classes I get Jacob.

If it is Wednesday, we have soccer practice.

If it isn't Wednesday, we have a dinner to make and Jacob's homework to do.

After the dishes are cleared, I put Jacob to bed.

At nine o'clock my night is just beginning. I still have my homework to do.

I read, I write, I type, and I think. I look through notes and syllabus' in order to make sense of my new chaos.

I am overwhelmed and super tired.

Even though I am exhausted I am waking up atleast a half a dozen times during the night.

I know this is exactly what I wanted. I knew that it wasn't going to be easy.

I look at my house and I have laundry to put away or clothes to wash. I see tables that need to be wiped down and counters that are sticky.

It is hard to handle my new life.

I am making no money and I wasn't able to get a loan to help pay some of my bills. I need a cosigner and no one is willing to cosign for me. Well maybe that is a little dramatic but no one can cosign for me. They either have kids that are about to go off to college, kids in college, bad credit, a house to sell, another house to pay for, or they don't like the idea of cosigning.

I am not sure how I am going to fit a part time job into the mix of everything I already have going on.

I did stop by a restaurant, got the application, and filled it out but I am struggling to find time to go in and hand it in to them. What hours would I write down?

I know that this is going to make my life easier in the long run but now I am just wiped out, overwhelmed, and exhausted.

I haven't been to church in two weeks. And before that I wasn't there in a month. How is that for honesty?

I guess I am looking for a little encouragement. I guess I am looking for someone to tell me everything is going to be ok.

I know God says "For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

I need to go to church is what I really need to do. I need to make right with God. I need to get my soul cleaned and refreshed and restored.

I know at church (Harvest Bible) we are discussing the seven churches found in Revelations. My mom is loving the series.

Thank you for taking this very long and pity filled walk with me. What do you do when you need a little encouragement? What is going on in your life?

What Matters Most

Bubble baths and birthday wishes.

Sweet I love you’s and little man’s kisses.

Warm cups of tea with a cookie to dunk.

Wonderful friends for when you have been in a funk.

Eating shepard’s pie an old English tradition.

The smell of homemade cookies wafting through the kitchen.

Silly laughter when we are having fun.

The biggest bear hugs from my loving son.

Whisper quiet moments being in prayer.

Reminding him I will always be there.

Dancing in the rain and jumping in the puddles.

Curling up on the couch enjoying the cuddles.

Belting out tunes while driving in the car.

Looking up at the night sky enjoying the stars.

A merciful Father and His promises of love.

And knowing He is watching me from above.

Reading Problems

I got a phone call from Jacob’s teacher today. Jacob is struggling with his reading skills. I need to sign and return a permission slip to school on Monday for him to get extra help. He will be taken out of class for 30 minute everyday for one on one time with a reading specialist. Also, his teacher informed me that Jacob is having an issue keeping his hands to himself on the playground. He is constantly pushing other children and rough housing.

I am just at a loss on how to handle this situation.

I was looking up books online and came across a book called Parenting the Strong Willed Child. If it wasn’t so late I would have run to the store to pick it up.

I am willing to do anything to help him. It must be hard to struggle in school everyday.

Has anyone else ever had to deal with issues like this? What things have you done to help your child? Any advice would be helpful.

I need your help

Does that title sound dramatic? Maybe a little but I want your opinions. I have been trying to get organized with my school papers, Jacob's school papers, bills, stamps, ... you know the stuff that can take over your house if you let it. So I have this little 3 drawer plastic cubby thing that I want to use to stay organized. I have placed it in two separate places in my house. Please let me know which place looks better.

Spot #1
I have a side table tucked into a corner of the living room.
The top of the table looks like this.
But I have put the command station underneath it.
This is what is there ... my textbooks that I don't need for the day, my filing box, and the 3 drawer cubby.

What do you think?

Spot #2
Then I thought maybe since I don't look under my coffee table very often I might forget to pay my bills if I kept it there. So I cleared a spot on the kitchen countertop and placed only the 3 drawer cubby there.


Do you like this spot better?

I have kept the filing box and the textbooks that I am not using for the day under the side table.

So now I need your opinions. Which spot do you like better? Where is your command center located? How do you keep all your paperwork organized?

I honestly can't wait to read your responses.

I want to be this woman!

Sorry my posting has been a little (or a lot) spotty lately. I really do apologize. Once I get my school and Jacob's school routine (plus my new laptop should be here tomorrow) down pat I will post again more regularly.

Anyway, I got an email forward today (normally I don't read them but today I did) that had something I could help but pass along.

It really got me thinking. In today's society women have to fill so many roles. We have to be workers, mothers, wives, sisters, and friends. Sometimes all these roles can be a little confusing. What we really want to be get's lost in the shuffle. But I know that the woman I want to be is what I read in the email.

Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the ground each morning the devil says, "Oh Crap! She's Up!"

Don't you just love that? I totally did.

What kind of woman do you want to be?

Let's Play Catch Up ... I'll Go First!

I cannot believe I haven't updated since 9/2 ...shame shame on me. Have you wondered what has been going on with me? If you follow me on twitter you may have noticed that I have been going to school and Jacob started first grade. Whew!

This is Jacob before school started.

Look at all the school supplies he is carrying. He said that since he is in first grade he doesn't need my help anymore.


Jacob in front of the school sign. I think I might make this a mandatory picture every year.

This past week has been intense. Jacob and I are getting used to our new schedules. He loves his teacher and is enjoying the fact that he has gym class everyday but he is not happy that he attends school all day long. He has been super tired and quite irritable since he started school. I am trying to cut him some slack but he is driving me a little crazy. It seems like now everything he has to say comes with his new found attitude.

Also, I have been trying to update my house. I have lived here for over 2 years and only Jacob's bedroom, the bathroom, and my bedroom have been painted. I guess I never got around to actually decorating my house. So I am trying. Here is what I have done so far ...
I got new sheets for my bed. Pardon the clothes but this is typical.

I painted my dining room table. I forgot to take a picture with the new fabric. So here is a photo of the fabric.
Oh wait I have a photo of just the chair. So here it is ...

Tomorrow I have to find a part time job. I calculated my bills and the amount of money I have left in the bank. It doesn't look good. I am trying to get another student loan to help out with the bills but it looks like I will need a cosigner. The problem is ... I don't have anyone who is willing to cosign for me. I am giving it to God and I know he will provide.

I will try to post again really soon. I don't mean to not post but homework is really kicking my butt.

So I went first and now it is your turn ... What have I missed that has happened in your lives over the past 9 days? I can't wait to hear all about it.

Overwhelmed

Disclaimer: My mind is warped and confused. I cannot promise this post will make any sense. I have a feeling bullet points would simplify things. So please bare with me as I am not adjusted to my new life.

I am O.V.E.R.W.H.E.L.M.E.D.

• School started on Monday.
• While I am thrilled that I am finally able to attend school ... school is tough.
  
• In my first two classes I was partnered with 19 year olds. 19 year olds!! It makes me feel old just saying that. They were nice 19 year olds though.
  
• Every class has an extreme syllabus.
  
• I have papers, learning logs, team work, community service, books, binders, pens, highlighters, and notes. I am not sure how I am going to keep this all straight.
• I have never been so tired in my life. (That probably isn't true ... I may be exaggerating a little bit)
• My math class isn't what I thought it was going to be. I am hoping algebra is like riding a bike and that after doing it for a little bit it will all come back to me.
  
• Greek Philosophy is very interesting.
• I don't think I have ever walked so much in my life.
  
• I have made dinner every night this week ... which is rare. I also, made a weekly meal plan. I am giving myself a round of applause for this one.
  
• That's it ... I got nothing else.
• Oh yeah I do .... I have to do my homework now.
  

If you stuck with me this long .... thank you!