My Waitress Days Are Over

Finishing things is hard for me. I am realizing that follow through may not be my strong point. I should have realized this back when Pete and I were dating. He would come home from the Academy for Christmas break and I would quit whatever waitress job I had at the time. I was constantly walking out after a shift if Pete was in town and wanted to go somewhere. He, of course, was horrified. For a guy who was surrounded by structure, commitment and obligation seeing me throw obligation out the window was mystifying. Somehow he saw past all of that and had faith that I could stick with something...hopefully him.

For years my inability to see things through has been my own battle. I am someone who has the , energy, heart and desire to volunteer to run things, but finishing them is a different story. So I learned to help others, never being in charge myself. I am a great cheerleader, I just struggle with being the team captain.

The reality now is I am the team captain and I have to push myself through this "not finishing" business. This situation effects more than me now. There are five people, sometimes six, who watch every move I make and they are recording and reviewing ALL of it. If I don't finish, or even worse don't make them finish, what type of virtue am I building in them, and in me?

What virtue was I working on all those years ago when I walked out of countless waitress jobs because I wanted to have fun with my boyfriend?

That is why Homeschooling is so good for me. It makes me finish. I am SO accountable for finishing. I can't walk out. I know how I want this story to end. I want my kids to grow up close. I don't want to dread the teenage years. I want them to get a good Catholic education. I want them to be pure virtous kids who love our Catholic Faith and love Jesus. I want Jack to be a priest, Molly a Sister and do whatever God calls the rest to do. Do I ultimately have control over any of that? No!! But I know that quitting will not get me any closer to this goal.

In no way do I think Homeschooling is the magic potion for all my goals. I just know that this is the path God has put me on to best acheive these goals for these kids.

So, I am sorry Lone Star, Applebee's, Los Rancharos, Barney's, Pit Boss, Tally's Diner, Congo Craigs, Breakfast Club and countless other places that I walked out on because I did not know how to finish. And thank you Pete for believing I could finish something!

December Give-A-Way

I am sorry about the MAJOR tease the other day on the whole give-a-way thing. I really don't know what happened this weekend. We just had all our moments taken by all sorts of important needs, you know, falling for the 900th time at breakfast because of rocking back and forth on a chair, spilling ONLY milk...never water, and ...oh never mind.

This is Monday, it is raining and HOT here in Alabama, and I want to bring some Christmas Cheer to this little Blog O' Mine (I'm gonna let it shine...) So, my give-a-way for December is this beautiful White House ornament. The White House Historical Association releases an ornament each year honoring a past president. This year the ornament is honoring Grover Cleveland's second term 1893-1897. I know you all love good old Grov, but really the ornament is beautiful. It comes in a beautiful box with a great little booklet informing you about Grover Cleavland . Call me sentimental, but we live in the greatest nation on earth and we are so lucky to live in a land that has such amazing traditions and freedom. I am just a proud American and I want your tree to have a little piece of our history. All you have to do is comment to this post who your favorite First Lady is. I know lots of people read this blog and NEVER comment. I would love to hear from you all !!

I was hoping to give away the recipe to this AMAZING caramel cake Jane made me for my birthday...but I do not have it myself which would be essential to being able to give-it-away. However, I did get her recipe for an amzing salad dressing she made me. You never know what bonus prize will come with this great ornamnet.  Just be sure to comment and check back on Wednesday!!

So, Good Luck!! May the best First Lady Win!!

The picture above is of Jane and I touching a "lucky spot" in the Capital Building...passing on the luck!

You May Be Wondering How Pete Did

Some of you may be wondering how Pete did on his first solo mission with all 5 kids for 5 days. Before I left he had grand plans of keeping us all entertained by blogging for me, amidst all his other duties. I am sad to say the blogging never happened. But he did an amazing job.

I was feeling guilty about the kids having 2 weeks off for Thanksgiving so I left Pete in charge of their schooling for the week. I walked him through some basic assignments and hoped for the best. He was a great substitute. I am not sure if he wants to quit his day job (thank goodness I could never fly a helicopter, although the flight suits do look comfy). This is the first time that my kids were in school and I was not here!!! He can run my class any way, any day!

I came back to a clean house, no laundry, fresh sheets and a happy family. The first thing he said to me was, "Lisa, this is hard work. You deserve a trip like this. Where do you want to go next?" He loves me, he really loves me!!!

......We quickly tucked all in bed and some real thank yous were issued...but that is for another post!

Random Thoughts On A Random Night

#1
Pete's Dad is such a good guy. Not to many men can handle what happens when I walk into the room. Not because I am so attractive...but because what I usually have attached to me is 5 hungry, loud people who like to announce our presence. Pete's dad can handle it..and usually grabs a baby or 2 to participate in it!

#2
I am not a huge fan of dogs. Nothing personal. However, over Thanksgiving I met a dog that took a small chink out of my cold- dogged heart. And when I went to DC I once again met a dog with a really great name (Molly) that made me smile more than I ever allowed myself to smile over a canine.  I would love to have shown a picture of her here...but that dog never was still enough for me to snap a picture.

#3
I am not a sweets person. I would much rather inhale a bag of Doritos than a tray of brownies...I just thought you all should know that!



p.s. I am trying to think of a fun Give-A-Way. Do you have any ideas??? Check back tomorrow night. I think I just might have something. You will never guess what it is????

The Old ME

I may have mentioned my birthday a time or two recently. I got to go to DC for 5 days and celebrate with my friend and her family.

I got to dress in cute clothes every day. My lipstick stayed on and my mascara did not run. My hair was washed and flat ironed EVERY day. I wore high heel boots ALL OVER DC!! I ate dinner after 5:00. I had no stains on my shirt. I did not have to eat or see ketchup AT ALL!! I woke up after 5:30. I got to start and finish EVERY sentences. People actually did not ask me to cut their meat. I did not have to say, "What do you say?" to ANYONE!!

And now here I am back in reality...mascara totally running by 10:00 because I have rubbed my face in utter frustration 65 times during multiplication with my 3rd grader. I am so NOT wearing high heeled black leather boots (more like faded gold flip flops and yoga pants, to be exact ). My hair is washed and I do flat iron it every morning, but the humidity, even in December, is an evil enemy to my daily hair battle. I see more ketchup than I thought possible. I have not finished a sentence in days and I have stains on my shirts from breakfast to dinner!!!

And to top it all off...I have several gray hairs.

I AM SO GLAD TO BE HOME!!!!

Does Anyone Have A Wipe?

Some people take really amazing pictures of wild mustangs charging into a sorting pen.

Some people take amazing pictures of shrimp pasta.

I do the best I can with the subjects God has given me. I would love to just get to take a picture of Lucy with her face clean.

With her looking at the camera and standing still....

But then I would have to ask her to stop playing in the dirt so I can wipe her face and why would I do that???

Meet Joey

I am the "little sister" in my family. Joey had the misfortune to be my older brother. I was not exactly the type of sister he would have ordered. My brother is a bit more of the quiet type, the type that would rather die than be the center of attention. As you can imagine I am the opposite, I would rather die if I CAN'T be the center of attention....go figure!

But here we are, much older, him a little less quiet and me as "unquiet" as ever.

He is a wonderful father to now 3 kids. My baby niece Julia is 1 week older than Priscilla Mae. My nephew Ryan is 3, just like my Jack. And now I am the proud Aunt to Ben. He now leads the pack of these cousins. He is 10 and my brother's new son.

I always knew my brother was a good man. I could not be a more proud sister. I love you Jedi Joey!!!