I love to garden. It is the neatest thing to plant something and watch it grow (kind of like having bambinos). I get a real thrill out of eating my own grown veggies. This will be my third year of growing my own veggies. My parents and grandparents always kept big gardens when I was a kid and I helped with those, but now I'm in charge and that is scary. This year I plan a BIG garden. Potatoes, onions, tomatoes, corn, broccoli, green beans, okra, zucchini and whatever else I can get in there. We'll see if it all happens or not.
Keep in mind that I often have lofty aspirations that I don't carry through with. Usually I start out with a bang and then fizzle as life happens in the middle of my grand schemes. I plan to can and freeze tons of food this year. Here's hoping!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Dealing With a Chronic Illness
Since I was 15 years old I have had a problem. At 17 I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. Now, I don't want to give you a lot of gory details but lets just say it is a bowel disease and there is bleeding involved, if you need more info, Google it please. I've lived with this for 18 years now. There is not a lot of treatment out there for my condition. Basically medication, some people have success with exercise or dietary changes, but really, Dr.s don't have a lot to help except surgery, I am so not going there.
Anyway, I pretty much have a constant condition that is gross, embarassing, uncomfortable and scary. I've always had to be aware of bathrooms and their location to me. It has always affected me in social situations. Slumber parties as a teen were really interesting. I think of it as "normal". I don't like taking the medicine (because I am CHEAP!). Usually I am in a "flare up". You can imangine how tired you get when your losing blood constantly. Sometimes you just have to rest. The chores will wait, trust me, no one else around here is going to sweep!
But here is the thing, I am living with this disease, living. I don't let it stop me from doing what I want to do. I go where I want, when I want. I can probably count on one hand the number of times that I have actually let my little friend keep me from living. It helps that I have a sweet, loving, adoring, fantabulousa Hubby, who will run interference for me as needed. I've asked God to heal me and that was a negativo. This is my life quirk, and I'm ok with that. I try to take care of myself as far as Dr. visits and medication, at least that is true in the last 3 or 4 years. I'm going to a new Dr. tomorrow so...well, it probably won't mean a thing but I'm ok with that.
I have friends who litterally cannot get out of bed in the morning. When you get right down to it, my life is beautiful. Bathroom time is a little odd, but other than that, I have it made.
Anyway, I pretty much have a constant condition that is gross, embarassing, uncomfortable and scary. I've always had to be aware of bathrooms and their location to me. It has always affected me in social situations. Slumber parties as a teen were really interesting. I think of it as "normal". I don't like taking the medicine (because I am CHEAP!). Usually I am in a "flare up". You can imangine how tired you get when your losing blood constantly. Sometimes you just have to rest. The chores will wait, trust me, no one else around here is going to sweep!
But here is the thing, I am living with this disease, living. I don't let it stop me from doing what I want to do. I go where I want, when I want. I can probably count on one hand the number of times that I have actually let my little friend keep me from living. It helps that I have a sweet, loving, adoring, fantabulousa Hubby, who will run interference for me as needed. I've asked God to heal me and that was a negativo. This is my life quirk, and I'm ok with that. I try to take care of myself as far as Dr. visits and medication, at least that is true in the last 3 or 4 years. I'm going to a new Dr. tomorrow so...well, it probably won't mean a thing but I'm ok with that.
I have friends who litterally cannot get out of bed in the morning. When you get right down to it, my life is beautiful. Bathroom time is a little odd, but other than that, I have it made.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Why I Don't Homeschool
OK, you need to understand that I am humbled by folks that Homeschool. I am envious of their ability to committ and give their kids the best they've got. Why don't I take the leap? I can't even lose the weight that I've been packing on for 10 years how can I believe that I will not completely screw my kids up?
They need a schedule, they need books, discipline or some kind of game plan. I just can't go there yet. I have come to believe (recently) that the school system is not there to torture me or take my kids away. I need to work with them. I pay taxes so I should have some say in how they teach my child right? I have figured out that if something is bothering, talk about it. That's what you do in a marriage so let's apply that theory to the school system.
I refuse to let the school rear my child. I talk to him, "What did you do today?", "How'd that make you feel?' yada, yada, yada. Get it? I ask what went on and try to direct him in the Christian way to handle situations. I understand that one of the arguments for homeschooling is that we never used to put children in a peer group for so many hours a day and asked them the socialize. I agree with that on the one hand, on the other I say this...I want my kids to relate to the problems of other kids their own age. I want them to learn compassion and also when is the right time to stand up for themselves. This world is mean and ugly sometimes; they must learn to deal with issues young, because they only get harder with age.
All this being said, if you homeschool, wow, I am truly in awe of you. I say that with all sincerity. Maybe some day I will take that leap of faith in myself, for now though, my #2 child starts kindergarten in the fall
Dum, dum, dum, duuummm.
They need a schedule, they need books, discipline or some kind of game plan. I just can't go there yet. I have come to believe (recently) that the school system is not there to torture me or take my kids away. I need to work with them. I pay taxes so I should have some say in how they teach my child right? I have figured out that if something is bothering, talk about it. That's what you do in a marriage so let's apply that theory to the school system.
I refuse to let the school rear my child. I talk to him, "What did you do today?", "How'd that make you feel?' yada, yada, yada. Get it? I ask what went on and try to direct him in the Christian way to handle situations. I understand that one of the arguments for homeschooling is that we never used to put children in a peer group for so many hours a day and asked them the socialize. I agree with that on the one hand, on the other I say this...I want my kids to relate to the problems of other kids their own age. I want them to learn compassion and also when is the right time to stand up for themselves. This world is mean and ugly sometimes; they must learn to deal with issues young, because they only get harder with age.
All this being said, if you homeschool, wow, I am truly in awe of you. I say that with all sincerity. Maybe some day I will take that leap of faith in myself, for now though, my #2 child starts kindergarten in the fall
Dum, dum, dum, duuummm.
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