Pig Stand, Fried OREOs, and Turning 15

This post is a bit late. 

Skyler's birthday celebration took place on more than one occasion, and I wanted to wait until all of the photos were taken before posting. 

So, without further a-do:

Birthday Aweseomeness

FIFTEEN.

Yes. You read that right.

I have no idea how that much time flew by!

The place of honor.

(Yes, I was starting to get the, "Okay, Mom, enough pics!" look.)

BEHOLD! 

The mighty grease-stained PIG STAND wrapper!

Enough pig fat to clog his arteries for the next 15 years!

Can

He

Eat

It?

I think the only intelligent answer to that question is,

"DUH!"

I believe that it's safe to say someone made a pig of themselves.

(Okay, that was bad...like, really bad. But I had to work the pig in somehow!)

Fast forward to the Oklahoma State Fair.

Deep Fried OREO cookies.

Yes, the birthday guy DEFINITELY approved.

I'd show you what he bought with his birthday money, but he stashed it into his savings account. 

Mr. Responsible. ;)

I often hear people complaining about their teenagers. They talk about what a pain they are, how they never do anything to help out, how they are selfish, and rude, and think only about themselves...

...it makes me sad. 

While shopping, I observe the interactions between parents and teens. It's enough to scare the daylights out of anyone with a toddler. A toddler who is sure to eventually be...

*GASP*

...a TEENAGER!

All I can do is breathe a sigh of sadness, because just about every aspect of my life has been completely blessed with Skyler. (And all of my kids, for that matter.) He is easy going, artistic, fun, thoughtful, courteous, and loves the Lord. He cares about the feelings of others, is very handy with tools, and cars, and such. Like anyone, he isn't perfect, but he is a HUGE blessing. 

A blessing that this momma (and his dad) will always cherish...

...even when he turns 16...

...and scares the life out of his momma...

...by driving.

I just hang on to what everyone tells me. That boys are never too big for their mommas. Even when they tower over them, and drive away in the sunset.

But this year, he's fifteen. 

And we are going to pretend that cars no longer exist.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SKYLER!

Proud to be your mom.

*Side Note: I am happy to say that I have seen some very good teen/parent relationships out there. Good for you, parents and teens! Be the world's "Teens are Trouble MYTH BUSTERS!"

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,

Layla

Manic Monday: In Which My Little (Son)Flower is Not Listening (Or IS He?)

Today, I discovered that ADHD is not ABCD. Meaning that teaching my ADHD child how to alphabetize is yet another home schooling puzzle for me to solve.

I felt as if my little (son)flower was both listening and NOT listening.

I also felt impatient and ready to just get through the lesson.

 I caught a glimpse, or two, of his frustration. 

And that is all I can think about right now.  

You see, I felt that he was not listening, but inside I knew that he was.

I WAS NOT LISTENING. 

I saw the signs of a boy unable to concentrate, yet I was set on just getting it done.

(So I ask myself...)

Really? Is that what I want this all to come down to? Getting it done?

And I know the answer.

"No."

Tomorrow, I put on his glasses, and I do my best to see through his lenses. 

I allow myself to see the world through his eyes...

...because...

...I am not anywhere near wanting to be done.

Did you have a Manic Monday? What are you doing to iron out the wrinkles, and try, try again?

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,

Layla

Cursed and Unimportant

I have a disorder that causes me swallowing difficulties. Sometimes it gets so bad that I have to go on a baby food, or a liquid diet. I am on the baby food diet at the moment.

 I think an  ulcer may be causing this particular flair-up, but I really don't want to talk about that right now. That's not the point of this post. The point of this post is attitude. I usually go into a major funk when I have to go on one of these diets. I LOVE to eat. I LOVE to bake. And I LOVE to eat what I bake. Take my food away, and I get a tad grumpy. Okay, probably more than a tad. I start to feel sorry for myself, because "everyone else" gets to eat a cheeseburger.

No, not everyone.

There is this little place. You may have heard of it. 

It's called, "Africa."

I have some friends who are there at this very moment. Friends who stood in an official's office today. They dug in their heels and said (in so many words), " We are not leaving until you sign the paperwork." And they didn't, until a certain official signed that significant paperwork.  Paperwork that NOW legally allows them to feed 60 children in Korah.

My sweet friend, Lindsey Andrews, posted this on her Facebook status:

"I made our entire team (5 of us) go the government office this morning. He about freaked to see all of us sitting at his desk BUT paperwork was signed and filed with the government!!!!! We are ready to start feeding tomorrow. THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!!!!"

(Yeah, now you know why Lindsey is often referred to as: "Bulldog." That's what you get when you have someone who is CrAzY in love with Jesus, AND an attorney.)

Do you know about Korah?

Please watch this if you don't.
(You'll need some Kleenex.)

"Cursed and Unimportant."

What if that was said about YOUR children? 

What if that was YOUR child digging in the trash for food?

Yeah, kinda puts a whole new spin on things. Things like complaining about having to eat baby food.

I eat like a queen.
Enough with the "poor me," already.

The following is a post from Tom Cox, who was also in Korah:

"Visited the trash dump and met some boys that live in a make shift hut. They collect plastic bags and sell them by the bundle. They get about $0.30 per bundle. On top of that, they do this while dodging the bulldozer. The cool thing is, they are pooling their money together to send one of the boys to school.

That's the love of Jesus!"

 

 Yep...

 ...that'll give you a GREAT BIG attitude adjustment! 

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,
Layla

Non-Sense/Just Write--The EO

To understand what is going on here, go to: http://extraordinary-ordinary.net/2011/09/10/just-write/#comment-120853


Join the FUN!


Here is my first entry. I wrote it in about three minutes, or less. No grammar checks (okay, I did check the spelling). Keep it real. Keep it simple. Just write whatever pops into your head. It is SO MUCH FUN!!!




Entry #1

(I checked. I have no lemonade.)

Sick.

 No, actually, nauseas.  I guess that’s the same thing. It’s my son’s birthday, so there is NO WAY that I am going to let this thing win. You can rock the boat, but momma’s not going to get sea-sick.

Yogurt. It’s the only thing that helps. Just don’t put cherry jelly in the Greek yogurt, because, while yummy, it is acidic.

Acidic. Lemons are acidic. I hear lemonade helps nausea. Hmmm…I need some lemonade. Not Kool-Aid though. That stuff is disgusting. No…I need the real deal.

Moms.  Moms are the real deal. My mom was anyway. Sick or not, the birthday must go on. I will find a way to be like Mom.  

I am not really sure how I am going to handle the smell of pork ribs, but my fifteen-year-old son is worth it. I’ll just make sure that we have a booth, where I can sit with my feet underneath me (people judge if they see you doing that). I’ll sit on my feet in secret. I’ll smile. I’ll laugh.

Because my son is fifteen, and I get to be his mom!

 Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,

Layla

 

 

P.S. This is NOT Skyler's official birthday post. Stay tuned for that. :)

Useless Crap, Priceless Friendship

Sometimes, when I come across totally useless crap...

... I ABSOLUTELY must purchase it,

because it makes me laugh.

Exhibit A:

Are you laughing yet?

How about now?

I thought so. That is just stinkin' hilarious!

Exhibit B:

Sometimes, I cannot help myself.

I make no excuses.

I never want to be normal.

I am blessed with many people in my life who make me smile and laugh, but there is only one who grew up by my side. There is only one who can make me laugh until I spew tater tots. There is only one who I can totally cut loose with and not feel judged, because she already knows all about me, and has never left my side (though I deserved it).

Neither one of us are normal (thank heavens!).

Exhibit A:

No, seriously, we are not normal.

In fact, we may need professional help.

Exhibit B:

 But we don't want help.

While miles are about to separate us, the bond remains, the laughter continues, the private jokes commence, childhood memories stick around...

...and all of it will flourish in our hearts forever.

Because friendship lasts forever,

and so does crazy.

~PRICELESS~

I LOVE YOU, HOWY!

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,

Layla

How in the WORLD? (Manic Monday)

Back in the Dark Ages, when I was being home schooled, we didn't have:

 

...laptops/Internet.

When dinosaurs roamed the planet, and I was being home schooled, we didn't have:

...Jammin' iPods to keep us motivated.

Back in the Old Days, when I was being home schooled, we didn't have:

...iPads. *GASP*

Before the printing press, when I was being home schooled, we didn't have:

...just about any book on the planet, delivered to us wirelessly, within seconds.

So, when this happened (you may need to avert your eyes):

And this:

And this:

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

You can imagine my panic, because we no longer live in the Dark Ages.

HOW IN THE WORLD DID MY MOM HOME SCHOOL US???

I have no idea how I would home school without a printer/scanner.

Luxuries?

Yes!

Thankful?

YES!!!

God has blessed me with some amazing "teacher helps," and I just want to say a great big,

"THANK YOU!"

I can't wait until my hubby gets home with the new printer/scanner, so I can stop dragging my knuckles around. What am I? A cave woman? 

;)

Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,

 Layla