Mall Ponderings

I was watching the kids at the mall. Jason was running around like a bat. He was having so much fun with kids his age. He has changed so much since he has been here and I can't wait til he is mine. Just hearing him giggle makes me smile today. He was so carefree today. Faith, on the other hand, didn't look very happy. She was fighting with the kids on the playground because they wouldn't do what she wanted. I had to give her a times out 3 times before I finally gave up and said lets go. And then it was "Mom, can I get some earrings from Claire's?" Well I stood my ground I'm not rewarding that behaviour and I said no.

Cincinnati Picture

This picture is sooo perfect for Cincinnati.

Meditation

Meditation need not be transcendental to be effective. A few minutes each morning can be the difference between chaos and preserving the mindset. Take time to reflect on the day ahead of you, see what needs to get done, what can wait and what can be let go of altogether. Remember, don't prioritize your schedule, schedule your priorities!

What Makes A Mother

Today I was pondering what makes a mother. Is it blood? No, I don't think so because I couldn't love Jason anymore than I do Faith. Is it the willingness to give all that you can for them? Well thats possible because I would give up my own life for my kids. You worry about what will happen to protect them such as providing stability if something happens to you. Is it love? Yes I think love is where it all comes down to. I love Faith and Jason more than my own life. I simply am a mother.

Bob's Picture

I just got off the phone with my sister in Florida. Her next door neighbor has been causing them a lot of problems lately. He has been talking bad about them to all of her friends and at church. So now he has a picture of her husband ciphering gasoline from his work truck. He is planning on sending that to her husband works. What kind of person does that? I have never heard of such a thing and can't believe someone did it.

Too Old

Today, I was talking to my sister on the phone. We were talking about growing old. She is going to be a grandma very soon. She was a little wacky about it as she is only 41 years old. She was talking about how my mother was older than that when she became a grandmother. I thought her worrying about being too young to be a grandmother was just so silly. I mean come on..she knew she had her kids early in life so it’s natural that she would become a grandma early. Her oldest son is 21 years old. His girlfriend is pregnant. Yes, they aren't married yet which I am finding becoming the standard nowadays. Back when I was younger, your parents would have killed you if you got pregnant beforehand.

Now, her being upset that she was going to be a grandma started me thinking. When my kids have children, I will be over 60 years old. Is that too old? I want to be able to spend time with them to share my experiences. Will I be too old to appreciate who they are? I sure hope not.

Acceptance

One of the greatest gift you can give a child is acceptance – the radical, you-are-perfect-mind-body-and-spirit-just-the-way-you-are kind of acceptance. This may seems hard, because so few of us have experienced this soul-deep level of comfort ourselves.

Accept your child for who they are - not necessarily who you want them to be - but who they are. It is not easy, especially if you have a child that is not living up to their potential. Does this mean you should not discipline? Of course not! Discipline is essential. You should state and reinforce what your expectations of your child is. They need to understand what is expected of them, and they need to know that what is important to you that they excel in life. It is possible for you to accept them and still instill values, ambition and drive in them.

Difficult Day

Jason wants more attention tonight than usual. We just talked about me and Faith becoming his real family..his forever family. He started crying and wanted to know what he did so wrong that his original mommy and daddy didn't want him. As usual, I told him that he was a wonderful little boy and that he did nothing wrong. That his parents were ill. I hugged and cuddled him and told him that we would always love him no matter what. For the first time in a very long time, he pushed me away.. it almost broke my heart in two. He doesn't deserve to be hurting like this. How can someone his age even comprehend what he is going through? How can parents do this to their own children? I feel so helpless when I see what he feels. Its as plain as the nose on his face. I want to help him but at the same time I know he has to process it himself. Sometimes I wonder if he realizes just how very much we love him already. Faith told me that she can't imagine living without him in our lives. Quite frankly neither can I.

Life is too short

Life is so short and so very precious. One doesn't think about things until they happen. I see my life changing before my eyes. I know it is what is suppose to happen. I have acknowledged who I am and what I am. I have no problems with me or even with what others think. I have learned from this experience to be strong for myself to accept that people will be who they are. I now know that I am happy as I am.

My kids are my blessing as is my family and friends. My friends are many. I admit how very lucky I am. This week will change things for me. I will reflect on who and what is important to me. I will reflect on my life and goals and directions that I want to follow. I will not rush into anything or anyone.

Oldtimers - Oh No

My grandmother, on my father's side, passed away from Alzheimer's when she was 83 years old. Now, I've been watching my mother do the wackiest things. She tells me something then tells me fifty more times. If we are talking to her, she tells the world what we said in her version. It may not be what we said at all. It’s kinda like learning something new about you every other day from a sibling. So now, I'm researching how to save my memory before it’s too late.

Did you know that chewing gum keeps your attention longer? Ok I'll try that. Sounds simple enough but my husband has been chewing gum for years. I don't see his attention span very good. It does keep him awake though.

Then there is the continuing education thing. Sign up for a new program every term so that you are always learning something. Is that why people go back to school in their old age? Sounds kinda expensive. But I have heard there is a discount for seniors.

I, also, read that reading the newspaper every day will keep your mind going. There is always something new in there.

I will keep looking for things and sharing as I go on.

Baby Shower - Heather

Heather's Baby Shower is today. I had to run to the store with Faith and pick up the cake. It looks wonderful.

Things that make my eyes cross

1. People that think that their opinion is the only one that counts
2. People that are soo stuck on themselves that they can't smell the bs
3. Someone that tells my child that she should be scared of something
4. My son saying yes when he means no
5. Rings around the tub
6. Kids being hurt
7. My daughter not standing up for herself
8. Doubts
9. Not knowing what to do

Working at Home

I started working from home about 6 years ago. Its a lot of hard work. I always suggest that you start with the forum called Work Place Like Home ( http://www.workplacelikehome.com/ ). You will have to join the forum to really see the jobs. This forum has people talking about work at home jobs that really do work for them. They talk about how to apply. Sometimes how much they get paid. If its hard. Don't be afraid to ask questions. People are really pretty helpful there.

Jason

We start the foster care program back in October 2007. It has been the hardest thing we have ever gone through. When they say they want foster care parents, they are really saying they want perfect people. We definitely aren't. I'm not the typical mommy. We only did it because my daughter's half brother was in foster care. We wanted him so that they could grow up together. We did not want to take the chance of losing him in the system.

So we started the process. First thing we had to do was go through 10 weeks of training. The class was once a week for 3 hours each time. Now my husband has ADD so keeping him in still was next to impossible during that time. As you will learn as you read my blog, he also says whatever is on his mind at the time. Now most people love him so thats good. He loves people. And he will talk about anything that comes up. Unfortunately, I can also say the wrong things at the wrong time. I'm shy which doesn't help matter so people don't get the chance to really know me. I would think by the end of the class they knew my husband by his name. I was just his wife.

Ok during the training, we have to have various things we have to do such as: credit checks, FBI checks, criminal background checks, personal references, get the house ready which means totally revamping the house which is small, and take extra classes. Did I mention that I was working at home as a recruiter and my husband had to work 40-60 hours at his job as a plumber while this was going on? Not to mention taking care of everything at home as well. We were a little nuts and exhausted. I was wondering if they wanted our first born by now.

Finally in April, we get to meet Jason. We start seeing him once a week. We think everything is going great. We are painting his room and buying things for him by now. Nothing bad was mentioned to us yet. I should have known that it was coming. Our credit is not perfect and neither of us had the perfect childhood. At the end of June, our caseworker goes on vacation. We get to meet her supervisor who tells me, "The next meeting is coming up and anyone that wants a 3 year old little boy can be there to try and get him." Ok now.... This was a total shock. We thought we were a shoe in. She's telling us not to plan anything at all for him.

So the our original caseworker comes back from vacation a week later and sits down with me. My husband is watching the kids and we are at Chuckie Cheeses. She tells me that they have decided to appoint a Guardian Litem to the case because they don't want to make a decision. She then tells me that all the comments in our report don't make sense. There are remarks that my husband fell asleep during the training and said some things that were inappropriate. She can't tell me the remarks because the trainers wouldn't tell them. Ok like I said, my husband says things just out of the blue. That doesn't surprise me. I was worried about that to start with. Now my husband was also sick at one of the meetings and yes he closed his eyes. Now I'm reeling from this. Then she tells me that the current foster mom might be interested in keeping Jason. I was devestated. My heart literally felt like it was crushed. She tells me at this point that its a 50/50 chance that we will get him. She tells me to stop preparing ourselves for him because we may not get him.

I tell my husband about all of this. Now he's pretty laid back typically. Well he's not this time. He's as crushed as me. He doesn't even want to talk to her because we feel like she has lied to us this entire time. She didn't claim anything was wrong. But we have to put on a brave face and not give anything away to Jason about how upset we are.

So a month later, we meet the Guardian Litem. He tells us that there are issues in the report but that he thinks we are the best possible situation. He is going to advise them that he should be placed in our homes. Its truly his decision. We are just so happy. So overjoyed to be getting our boy. I didn't know how much my husband wanted a son until now.

Now we go into the CPS and are told by the cabinet that they will begin the process of placing him into our house. He comes over the first time with the foster mom so that he knows that she is ok with it. Then she goes home

To continue later

Cell Phones

Ok no one told me that I would ever get addicted to my cell phone. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have thought about a cell phone since it was stolen. Its really kind of crazy. I went to Borders today. Yes I'm a book worm sometimes. I suddenly thought, "Man, my husband can't call me if he needs me." Now that was a concern since every time something bad happened to Faith. She was with him. Such as both times the dog bit her, when she busted open her mouth falling in the bathtub and lets not forget when he turned her into the green monster.

I think that was the funniest thing I ever saw when I got home. I went to Bingo. Now, I know more people go to Bingo then I ever thought so don't think it. Well, I left a dabber at home. (For those of you Bingo virgins, that's a bottle full of green ink with a dabber on top of it). Faith was upstair and my husband got distracted as usual. She was in a diaper when she found the dabber. She got the lid off and poured it all over herself. The only part of her that wasn't green was where her diaper had been. It took 2 weeks before she was not a martian anymore. You wanna talk about old ladies staring at you like you were the devil reincarnated? Well they did. So needless to say, I came home right after I had the thought about the cellphone lol. Everything was alright though.

I really do love him

I really do love him. Jason is such a wonderful child but could someone please slow him down? I just simply don't know how to handle it. He never stops. Faith and he are the complete opposites. I was used to this little girl that was calm and peaceful. Now I have a 4 year old that doesn't stop. I mean HE DOESN'T STOP! He is running or getting into trouble all the time. I thought Faith's 2's were bad. I had no clue what 4's would be like with Jason. He has times where he gets so mad. Now he is starting to hit. We went to the mall today and he hit 3 little girls. I have no clue why. I made him apologize and then put him in the corner for a while. If you can call it that, I made him sit next to me and watch everyone else play. I didn't think it would be fair to make Faith leave since she didn't do anything wrong.Oh well, that helped get the frustration out of my head so I'll go run again after him.

Simple Ponderings

--You know God created us to have someone else. We were not meant to be alone. We need that physical contact and support. Most of all we need love.

--I was given a gift of being connected to someone that I care about. Of knowing when something is wrong. I feel it in my heart and usually I am not wrong. It could be as simple as someone having a bad day. My friend, Cricket, will think of me because she needs my attention on something. I always receive the message and not by phone. My poems from my grandfather are a testament that things happen that are not always understood.

-- I got really involved in the Jaycees.

My very first function was a Halloween party in the lower Rhine area. That’s a really bad part of town. So being a Halloween party I got dressed up. It was not required. I got dressed up as a witch. And I didn't know the neighborhood well and ended up lost. Well I pull up to this house and I couldn’t help thinking I’m going to be killed watch and see. Anyway I asked for directions from this little girl.

She looked at me and asked, "Are you a Jaycee?"

Of course, I replied, "Yes, do you know where this is?"

Her face literally lit up and she said, "Yes, you go... well to suffice to say she gave me directions.

I wasn't to know that I would later see this same little girl at the party. She came in dressed as a jelly bean bag. She was so cute and her mother was fortunate enough to come. Anyway during the party, I did my scary voice and told a wicked horror story to the kids. I literally had them spellbound... they were so rapt on my words. One of the other Jaycees tried to put input into the story. I tried to tell him but he just kept going. It didn't work. He wasn't aware that I wasn't reading from a book. I started to read from the book originally. But I could see the children must have heard it before so I changed it and made it into my own story. So I continued after he made a comment that there was no way he could take over. Two of my gifts from God are my writings and my voice. Its not that my voice is beautiful...its that I can change it sometimes to reflect different things such as a wicked witch...Australian accent...English nanny...Scottish...even a frog. I have always been able to change voices in the middle of a story and it does me well when I am telling stories to the kids now.

So any way while I was at the party, the mother of that little girl came up to me. It still makes me get teary eyed when I think of that conversation. I hadn't realized her daughter had won the costume contest... or that there even was one. So this mother tells me how very excited and blessed she feels that she was able to attend the party because she had to take off from one of her three jobs that she works to support her kids. That happiness and love that this woman showed to her child instilled in me that I wanted to continue to do the good work so to speak.

Random Thoughts

Running around the house pulling my hair..trying to get it all done...flowers here..flowers there... pull the weeds...mow the grass..swimming..baseball..tis the day for it all to happen.

welcome visitors...welcome friends...welcome the nut that shouldn't be here... cookout surprise..we wanna eat... do you think you could have told me at church? lol

got to love family..they complete us... the stimuate the mind

ohhh wait thats friends and family to stimulate the mind...

random thoughts oh my goodness what a good life tis mine

McDonald's playground

Sitting here at McDonalds pondering the ways of life. The things that make you go hmmm... What will happen where will they go? I often wonder what is happening with today's society. I mean come on the kids are going wild. Kids shooting other kids or adults. Kids making bombs. When is society going to realize that we have become too lax with our kids? Yes my kids are well mannered and behaved usually. But I have friends that can't control their teenagers simply because that child will call on them. Their hands are tied and it’s simply not fair.

Wonders

Today I watched the kids simply play. Every day I wonder how they can be so close today as if they were never seperated. For those that don't know, Faith is my husband's daughter. Jason, on the other hand, is Faith's half brother who we adopted through foster care. Its amazing to see them together. Like they were always together. Siblings are simply siblings.

Crime in my Neighborhood

Ok, I have waited to post because I have been so angry about this. On Sunday night, I had my purse stolen out of my car. They got the jackpot as my husband says when they hit my car...they got my debit card, credit cards, check book, digital camera and then the personal stuff. Yes, I know I shouldn't have left it in the car let alone unlocked. But the thing is..it was in my driveway. You have to have some gole to take it out of some one's driveway.

So here's the deal we found out:This crook was going up and down my street, the neighboring streets and the apartment complex up the street. Now, they rifled through my car, my neighbors car, my neighbors truck but the police department didn't think it was important enough to take fingerprints?? I know there had to be fingerprints in my car since they opened my glove box. There had to be fingerprints in my neighbors truck because they went through every thing. All this happened with people outside..some in their backyards with the fire going, some in their garages, and some just roaming around.

Now, I'm pretty sure I know who did it. They had a FOR RENT sign on their front yard on Sunday night. The little kid has been caught red handed in people's purses at a birthday party. There is an older boy there as well. Who just happened to be showing off digital cameras to his friends the day before. Which means it wasn't my digital camera that they stole. And he fits the general description of the culprit. Now all of this is subjectal since we can't prove it because we don't have fingerprints that the cops didn't take..grrrr. Did I mention that the FOR RENT sign is now gone? Guess they made enough for the mortgage this month.

Ok so thats the facts.. The parts that frustrate me the most is that I feel violated. I get in my car and I can't forget what they did. I no longer feel safe in my own neighborhood. I'm so angry that someone could do this to me. They took priceless pictures when they took my digital camera. They took away my peace. I'm so mad.

I still don't understand why the cops didn't dust for fingerprints. I'd better money that they would have been in the system.

Toilet

Jason is just so cute. But he's also a pain in my butt. He just whines so much that it drives me nuts sometimes. I realize that his life has been upset with us adopting him. I know he's so young that he doesn't understand. We just want to give him the life that he deserves. He deserves to have a loving happy family. Today he took off his pullup and put it into the toilet. He said that, "I wanted to see how much pee it would hold". Well it held a lot of water. It was really funny but I know my husband won't be happy. He's a plumber you know. lol

Kids and Death

Ok so Faith and I had a little mishap today. We were goofing around on her bed. Faith leans forward and then all of a sudden she comes backward hitting the back of her head into my head. Later I would find out that I had one heck of a bruise from it. She literally knocked me out cold. I must have been out a good five to ten minutes. When I finally came too, I hear Faith telling Jason that, "Daddy is not going to be happy when he comes home and finds mommy dead." To which Jason says, "Let's jump on her and see if she moves." Faith's response is, "She isn't going to move dead people, don't move."

It was only a couple of seconds while I heard this conversation. I immediately let them know that I was awake. They hugged the stuffing out of me. Now this whole episode made me start thinking that they had absolutely no idea what to do in an emergency. First off, they had to have been terrified during it. It was after school so all of the kids were home and parents as well. They didn't go outside to get help which isn't good at all. They literally were waiting for my husband to come home because Faith thought she killed me. We have now talked about what to do if something ever happens. They seem to understand.

Get invitations out for baby shower

Ok so I have written all of the invitations and sent them out for Heather's shower. She is my future sister in law. I'm looking forward to the shower but at the same time I'm dreading it. I was never fortunate to have my own kids. Even though, I now have two of the most wonderful kids in the world. I am still sad whenever I think of not having one. Infertility is one of the hardest things that I have had to go through.

Memories of Michael

I was just thinking about my first husband, Michael. He was such a wonderful guy. Maybe that’s why I say that The Love She Found In Me is my favorite song of all time. He said that it was written about me. You wouldn't have known what Michael really was like unless you knew him. He was genuine. If he liked you, he would give you everything. If he didn't, well let just say that you didn't get to know him at all. With everyone that I know knew him, everyone liked him. He was one of those people that asked how you were not told you about how he was. Even in his darkest hours when he was so ill that I know how much pain he was in. He still would ask how someone was. He still cared about others. People were important to him. He wanted to bring joy to everyone. No matter who they were. He wanted people to smile. He wanted to be remembered as a good guy.

Michael was told when he was just 3 years old that they didn't expect him to live long. He had a hard childhood. He was born a diabetic. So he learned about needles long before anyone should. And then he learned tragedy at 8 years old when his mother passed away. Michael missed his mother more than anything in the world. In his final days, he often talked about how he wanted to talk to his mother again. To stand beside her in heaven. I know that he safe now. I know she is taking care of him. When his mother passed away, his father gave him up to foster care. His father was an alcoholic and didn't think he could raise Michael. Michael went in and out of foster care until he was 15 years old. He told me stories about foster care that made my blood run cold. He told me about the treatment he experienced by cruel sadistic foster parents. I guess that’s why I have no problem adopting my son from foster care. I want him to live a life unlike what Michael experienced. I hope that I'm saying a child from that.

I don't like to remember those things but they did teach me what to do in my future. I believe that I was supposed to know those things so that I could say my son, Jason. I believe that things happen for a reason. Unfortunately, I didn't have a clue I would have to get to be over 40 when they started happening. But who am I to question it? I'm not going to.

Ok, I got off the subject a little. Michael was a diamond in the rough. There was so much good about him. I don't think he realized. He used to tell me that he would have changed everything if he known me before it was too late. But it was too late. I couldn't have known that. I was 17 and in love with the most wonderful man. We got married and shortly thereafter he lost his eyesight. I had to work to support us. He had been a mechanic. He couldn't take the chance that he would forget something because he couldn't see it. So I worked and supported us. I took care of him through it all. I was blessed to have known him. He taught me that life was about living. He knew he was living on borrowed time. Take every moment and enjoy it. This is what I ask of you...remember to hug your kids every day and tell them that you love them. Cherish what you have. I think we all live on borrowed time..so make it worth it.

Today I Smile

I smile
I love a little too much
I live through tragedy
A tragedy that did not need to be

I smile
I weep at the loss
watching the glory pass
A tragedy that did not need to be

I smile
I tenderly remember days gone by
I remember what is
A tragedy that did not need to be

I smile
I hold my memories close
I remember who I am
A tragedy that needed to happen

Memories Haunt Me

today brings such joyous thoughts...such memories such dreams... I wish you the very best my friend.. I pray that your soul has found a new place on this earth. we both agreed that our souls would be reincarnated. I wish I knew where yours was.

I remember you like it was yesterday.. I remember the love... the laughter... the kisses...oh the kisses... the way it felt like my bones were melting... how wonderful we were together.. and I shall always wonder where we were going. things were changing... we were growing... we were experimenting

family called cuz they were worried today how I was handling it... you know its been years since you were here and it still feels like yesterday when I think of you.. when I smell your scent upon my skin.

I love you

Recession

Ok what part of recession didn't the goverment get? I've known we were in a recession for over a year now. What did they think was going to happen when we went to war? I don't really get on my high horse about government very much but this subject just ticks me off.

I go down the street and see house after house now that is empty because someone couldn't afford their house payment. My heart breaks for those families. I know how easily it would be for us all to be there. I think the government should wise up and stop sending our people over there. We need our money here in the United States not in other countries. So lets bring all of our troops home.. Let's take care of our homeless and economically strapped families. Lets take some money from the rich companies so that us middle class people can survive.

Stop giving our money away to companies that should be able to survive.. I didn't say car company but you know what I was thinking. Cars have gone up every year. Please don't tell me that the car companies can't afford to build them. Please don't tell me that the top executives can't afford to take a pay cut. We all know they can.

I think the people should take back the government. You know we keep electing a president every year but quite frankly..the president doesn't really make the decisions. The houses do. The people need to stand up and say..."We want better health care programs, less taxes...we want to be able to support our families. We want to keep our kids home from the wars. Keep our money in the United States and not out of it. Save flood victims. Save people losing their houses. Help those poor people on the street. Help the middle class that is now becoming the low class."

Playing

Underneath the ride at the mall. The kids love to go and play there. The floor is rubber made so you don't have to worry about them getting hurt. I always wondered how in the world someone thought of that. It’s totally awesome. The kids will play for hours. I think if I didn't tell them it was time to go home they would just keep playing.

I've had some moms tell me that they don't understand why I go there. They say that is the loudest thing to do. Well, then I'm not typical because I love to hear the sound of a child's laugh. I even love to hear Jason's drum set that we had his nana by for him. He loves it. He could pound on that thing all day long. I do mean pound as well.

Aggravations

I was finally going to be able to really work again. I work at home. I was ready to commit myself to it full time. Since Jason came, I can't even work for an hour a day. I need to work to help support my family. We are in debt but I can't do anything. I am so frustrated and just don't understand the government. We can't adopt him for six months but the state pays nothing while we wait? They did not even give us time to the adjust to the fact that I can no longer work because he is here. They gave us no help financially at all. We don't even get daycare expenses. Although if we were just a foster family we would. It doesn't make sense at all. So we have lost my income which was substantial for someone who works from home. But its not worth it if I have to put a two children into daycare plus pay all the taxes that go with being self employed. Don't take me wrong..I love him to death but I simply can't afford not to work. Any ideas?

What to Ask and Not Ask a Prospective Employer

Candidates need to realize that they are interviewing the prospective employer as well. So when they come to that ultimate question, "Do you have any questions for me?" The answer should always be "YES". This is the time to ask for answers that you need such as:

• Why is this position available? You really want to know did the person get promoted, did the company grow to need the position, or did the person resigned.
  
• What are the most important skills for this job? When they answer that question..counter it with what skills you have.
  
• How would you describe the ideal candidate? Let them know that you think you have those characteristics.
  
• Is there opportunities for advancement? This question shows them that you are looking for a career and not just a job. They like to hear that.
  
• Where do you see the company is five years? You are asking this question to see if they expect growth. They will know the answer. All executives of a company know the plans for the future of their company.

By asking questions, you are showing that you are interested in the company. It also gives you the chance to show how knowledgeable you are about the industry and the position. Most important, it allows you to demonstrate why you are the perfect candidate.

There are things that you should never ask about as well early in the interview process such as:

• Salary - you have the skills or you wouldn't be interviewing. Let’s negotiate that later on when they really are interested.
  
• Sick or Vacation time - No employer wants to think that you are thinking about vacation time before you start working. They will think you won't work hard.
  
• Compensation - Never go into 401k, medical policy. You do not want the employer thinking that you are more interested in compensation than the company itself.

I loved this

WII Fit

We have been trying the fitness program for the Wii machine. If you can afford it, I will tell you to buy it. It is absolutely awesome. First thing you have to do is make your little dude up. So you name it. You pick out face styles, hair, glass and color of clothing. Now the system takes over, you have to stand on the machine literally. The game weighs you and then gives you some physical challenges to see how old it. All this information is kept on each day that you work out. So its tracking your progress. There are different kinds of exercises such as: yoga, strength training, aerobics and balance games. My husband loves the balance games. In the balance games, you have things like skiing, boxing, a game that you try to put the balls in a hole by balancing. Lots it of fun stuff. The greatest thing about it is that you forget that you are working it. Because its fun. If we could just remember to get on it everyday that would be great. So I highly recommend it.

Difference in Kids

Wow its amazing to see how different 2 children can be. Faith is pretty laid back. Jason is, on the other hand, never stopping. Why is that kids try to mess with you more when you are outside with friends? Jason will not listen at all when he is outside. I've have tried everything. I have even put him on time out when we are outside. Now to do that, I literally have to catch him (which you know is hard) and make him sit down next to me. Then you have to stop him from getting up the entire time he is down. LOL 3 minutes never felt longer in my life.

Family Fun

running fingers through my hair
smiling so quietly
smelling the air
feeling the breeze on my face

hearing the kids' laughter
seeing parents' grimace
seeing the monkeys jump from vine to vine
looking at my demons

cotton candy vendors
ice cream galore
pizza slices
how can they eat that?

monkeys, bears, tigers..oh my
spiders, tarantulas, bugs...yikes
train tracks, rides, carousel...hooray
spending time with the kids...my blessing

Welcome to My Blog

Hello, my name is Tami. I am married to a wonderful man, Ken. We live in Independence, Kentucky with our six-year-old daughter, Faith, four year old son, Jason, and our nine-year-old Sheltie (Shetland Sheepdog), Lucky, eight month old Newfoundland, Jasmine and a two-year-old black and white cat, Tom. The chaos in our house is unreal.

I am a Stay at Home Mom (SAHM). I still work from home or at least try. In a previous life I was a administrative assistant and trainer. I have always lived around Cincinnati or close by. I am now as close as I ever want to it again.

I am a widow. I was married when I was seventeen to a wonderful man named Michael. I will periodically talk about my experiences with Michael as well since I believe that they helped to form who I am today. One touch cookie who doesn't believe everything she hears or sees. Life does go on after you lose the first love of your life and then you will eventually find the second love of your life but it will be crazy during the years between.


I am starting this blog for various reasons:

1. I need somewhere to talk about the craziness in my life. Its fun to share and family can check out the blog if they want. But be aware that sometimes it will be about you. Don't take offense I will never write an untrue remark. lol The truth is hard enough.
2. I want other moms to know that they aren't alone when their kids drive them insane.
3. I will talk about what its like to have kids from foster care and adoption. Though, I will tell you right now I love them completely so its not different from having your own.
4. I want to help other mothers learn how to work from home or find real jobs at home. Not scams. I can not believe how many scam artists there are out there.
5. I will talk about feelings and memories as they come up.
6. I will talk about work. Although names will never be mentioned there nor will I tell my coworkers about this site. I am currently a recruiter so I will talk about interviewing, career tips, how to find that perfect job, etc.
7. I might talk about products that I find that really are good or the ones that are bad.
8. I will talk about budgets and being frugal. As I learn those things I will talk about it. I'm not the best at it either.

So really its a place where I can just talk about anything to share the experiences of my life. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to email me at heartsmakefamilies@gmail.com
Thanks and enjoy.
Tami