Surviving the Storms

I got a late start to my day. I don’t think my hubby being home had anything to do with that (just kidding, honey!)

Sweet potatoes went in the oven, then I got in the shower. After showering, as I was getting ready, Jamie melted the butter for the artichoke & spinach dip. Then Sher & Xander helped Jamie get the corn casserole going in the crock pot. It took me the longest time to figure out how to keep the casserole warm for may parents’ house when we were going to Jamie’s parents’ first. Duh! Cook the casserole in the crock pot while at the in-laws’ and it will be ready and perfect upon arriving at my parents. (and it was!)

When I finished getting ready for the day  I finished up the artichoke & spinach dip, got all of the food ready for the ride to my in-laws’. We left, but only made it around the block when I remembered my phone charger. So we went back home to get it. My phone was only half charged, and I had to keep up with all of my friends/family via plurk, google talk, and text messaging, so I needed that charger.

Whew! Finally arrived at my in-laws’. Standing in the front door waiting for me was my big, little guy, Maddox. “MOMMY!!!!” (he stayed the night with Grandma & Papa the night before) Everyone in, table set, food ready, we sat down for dinner. Maddox said grace for us, “Thank you God for our day and our food and please make Sheridan feel better.” (from the mouth/heart/soul of a 3 yr old! proud mama moment!!)

After dinner was eaten, kitchen was cleaned up, sale ads were looked at. My father-in-law, Jim, was talking about baby food containers. You know, the new gerber plastic ones. Anyway, we were telling Xander about his favorite foods as a baby. Then it hit me! “SWEET POTATOES!!!!” They were still at home in the oven. They had been in the oven for 4 hours at least.

We all hurried up and bundled up, packed the van and headed home. Mother-in-law, Donna, was with us because we were taking her to Aunt Kathy’s house to stay the night so they could be among the crazy people that get up on Black Friday at 4am to go shopping.

My heart was pounding the entire way home. But all was well! At some point I had shut off the oven before we left! So my home was fine, the sweet potatoes were fine, not burnt, and still warm actually. Put them away, and headed to Aunt Kathy’s house.

When we got there, the van was so hot and had smoke coming off the engine. WHAT???? Maybe it is the thermostat. I think I might have to take my words back from my previous post. Added some water, let it cool, then started towards my parents’ house. Half way there I called to let them know we would be late, but we were coming. We did make it there, with smoke (actually steam I think) again.

We ate a quick dinner (we weren’t that hungry), rushed through a visit and headed home. My brother followed us home just incase. Luckily he did too. We had to stop once with it being too hot and not having any power. UGH! Once more it got real hot again and we started losing power, but we were almost home and Jamie didn’t want to stop. We kept chugging along. All of a sudden, the temps dropped, power picked back up and we made it home safely. Thermostat had to have been stuck…but we aren’t chancing that again. We’re going to have to put it in the shop today. UGH! (Jamie knows how to change a thermostat, it’s just all of the electronic wiring that has to be removed and such b/c it seems Pontiac didn’t think of the thermostat needing to be changed every so often when they decided to cover it up with numerous other wires.)

But all in all we all survived and made it back home safely. For that I am thankful!

• it doesn’t matter how much you think you know, you still can be wrong
• it doesn’t matter how cheerful your voice sounds, you can still sound like you have no clue what you are doing or what you are talking about
• when all else fails, take a step back
• waiting is not as much fun as I make it out to be…at least not as much fun as I tell my kids it is
• texting is so much more fun than talking on the phone late at night when you should be sleeping…
• kids will be kids no matter how much you want them to mature or grow up…even when you are married to one
• Econ tests are hard no matter how many times you read the chapters and study.
• math can be just as confusing to everyone who attempts the same problem. unfortunately the one grading the problem understands it and marks you wrong.
• iraq is tooo far away right now.
• online friends are some of the best friends in the world – someone is always there no matter what hour it is.
• no matter how much you want them too, your friends can’t come out of your computer to play
• the world would never be right without my best friend in the whole world… think of her & her son this week as he is having his tonsils out next week, and he’s only 3
• when your vehicle starts overheating, don’t assume right away it’s the thermostat going out. check your water/antifreeze level first…b/c sometimes the person writing this blog is actually right!
• while we’re on the topic, please check the oil level too
• no matter how long the day has been, it always ends well when I hear the words “I love you”

Four years ago today I lost my grandad. He had a short battle with cancer, but a tremendous battle he fought. I miss that man every single day of my life. I know his passing was a blessing in the sense that he was no longer suffering. But that never made it any easier.

One year and one day later my youngest son was born. Grandad never met Maddox, but Maddox will know so many stories about Grandad that he will one day think he was actually there when these stories were real events taking place.

I get to pass on stories like my dad used to pass on to us about his grandad. Sometimes it makes me feel all grown up when I can remember situations and circumstances of the past and am then able to tell my kids all about them. Sometimes, being all grown up can be better than being a kid but only because we get to live those childhood moments all over again.

Today, my daughter handed me a paper and said she wrote this for Aunt Julie. I just put it aside to send with a package we will be sending out this week. But I changed my mind and will send this letter separate, but first I had to copy it down without changing any of the spelling or punctuation. (I did xxx out the teacher’s name though.)

11-11-08

Dear Aunt Julie,

Thank you for helping to load the planes. And on the very Veterans’ Day I remember you. This morning I almost cried because today reminded me of you. And at 11:00a.m. I stood up from my seet and had a molment of silenens untill 11:01a.m. I can’t wait for you to come home for Christmas. And if you get time tell some arrmy people thank you and if you didn’t fight in the war people in this u.s. would not be at school or church or lots of other places. I’m in Mrs. xxxxxxxx’s reading class now. Mom, dad, Justin, Billy, Jake, Mulisa, granny, grandma, grandpa and there children are all fine. I’m writing this to just thank you and all the people in war. Be safe!

Your Nese,

S

3 years ago my baby was born. I say “baby” because he will always be my youngest, my baby. Perfect delivery, all was well. The next morning I had my tubes tied. 6 miscarriages and 3 babies, my body couldn’t handle anymore. My heart on the other hand wanted nothing more than to have a million little people. But I listened to my doctor’s advice, prayed about it for months,  and of course went through with it.

I never had the chance to really think about it for the first few months. But as Maddox started learning to walk, I started tearing up. My baby, my youngest, the last baby I will ever see start to walk, start to talk, will ever be able to hold in my arms and nurse all night long. I couldn’t get used to that feeling. It was breaking my heart. I could never do this again!

As most know, in May I had a hysterectomy. That was it. No way ever I could have another baby. That hit me for sure 3 weeks post-op. I cried and cried. What was so odd at that point is that I didn’t want to have another baby, but the thought of IF I ever wanted to have another one, I couldn’t…

I no longer have the thoughts or desire to have another baby. I am so very happy and content with raising my children and loving every minute of it. I know that one day I will be a grandma (hopefully many many many years from now) and I will be able to enjoy those moments just as much. I have many nieces and nephews that I can hold and cuddle and love.

I have taken the next step in life. Raising kiddos (out of the toddler stage pretty much), back to work, still trying to finish school, and loving my life exactly the way it is. We of course struggle with parts of life everyday. The economy is eating at Jamie’s job. I struggle with sleep – okay, I get sleep, but I want more of it, as I get up every morning around 4am. I am 1/2 way through training for my new job and can’t wait for it to be over. But on the other hand, I love the feeling of freedom that it has given me. I am on a schedule, have my kids on one, have learned to drive through traffic without having white knuckles from holding onto the steering wheel too tight, met many new people, discussed more ideas and thoughts w/ my husband because it has become more of a two parent household instead of just me taking care of it all since I was a stay-at-home-mom…but in the end, I am still Mom, I am still a wife, and I still love this moment in life.

possibly.

The other night on the news I heard a bit of something about the GM industry, especially Chrysler, going downhill. Sales are down, stocks are down, yadda yadda yadda…

Well, what do you know? Jamie’s job is directly affected by Chrysler.(Along with Ford and Toyota.) Another economic hardship. Another loss on our end.

But there has been good news…They are supposed to be getting a new contract through Chevy to start 2010 parts. This line was supposed to be up and going and creating all kinds of work, more hours, even overtime. His employer even went as far as trying to call back past employees that they let go over the spring and summer. They didn’t get a good outcome on trying to have those people come back. They needed 150 more workers (I think that’s what I was told) and they couldn’t get anyone to come back.

So, if they needed 150 more people to come back to work, what are these people supposed to be doing? They can’t even provide 3 whole days of work for the people who are still there. 2 weeks in a row, they have been sent home early on Wednesday night (which calculates to Thursday morning). The new line hasn’t started….I don’t even know if they have it built. They (the employers) keep pushing the deadline back further and further…

I’ve been telling Jamie “only 2 more years” and now I am down to “only 3 more semesters” before I graduate w/ my Associates of Applied Science. These past few months have been quite difficult at times. But I have let go of the worry of it. That is a big, huge, gigantic deal for me to not worry about something. I just do the best that I can to make it through the day, the rough times, and know that one day (hopefully soon) we have to come out on the better side.

Like my granny told me the other day, there is a reason why she read the article in the paper about the place that I am now working for coming into this area. She never would have read anything in the classified-ish area. So, there’s been a reason behind it all. And it’s that reason that keeps my chin up for yet another day.

In the end, He always provides, we just need to do our part and stay faithful.

with not much time before the polls closed, but I was able to make it.

I knew and still know that in my heart I made the right decision.

I pray for a safe day for everyone. I am heading out to work on this very dark, and a bit chilly morning. Supposed to be warming up to the 70s again, then to be drenched in rain tomorrow and Friday. Fall is here (somewhere).

I think I will be sick to my gut all day today, and maybe for days to come. The anxiety of it all. The thoughts of what could be. Can it really be worse than what it is now? I do believe so. But why worry? What can I do to change it? Not much, of course, but I could vote….if the polls were open later!!! But since they open from 6-6, where is my time to vote? I leave at 5:45ish and get home at 6:15ish. I guess today is the day I decide is my future worth one vote that in all reality may actually count towards something today, or is my future worth keeping my job so that I can at least attempt to have a better furture for my family? I lean towards the latter.

If by chance I do get to town before 6, I will head straight to the polls before I even head home. If not, I will be one upset person…

Happy Voting Day! Please vote for yourself, not for the views of your fellow friends and family. Please vote for the future of your children. Please know in your heart that your choice is the right one!