this morning, the choir sang a really joyful, upbeat song, Shout for Joy to the Lord. after church, i was goodnaturedly teased by a few people about looking like i was about to start dancing in the choir loft. i took no offense whatsoever and laughed about it...but i have to say this: even though i am overwhelmed with my life right now, as i just posted about, God is so great, and so big, and so powerful and loving and wonderful...i will worship him regardless of my circumstances. i can't sing "shout for joy" and not want to shout! i really don't care where i'm in church...fbc, pinelake, alta woods, wherever! so if i start dancing in the choir loft...and you don't have a problem with it...dance with me!
i worried for about a day or so whether being in a more traditional worship setting would bother me, since i tend to be expressive when i'm talking about or singing about Jesus. but God has really given me a peace that church is church. it's a body of believers coming together to worship him. so i'm going to do it my way. it's fine if it's not your way. i can worship standing still too...but this morning, i just couldn't. i also worried for another day or so about whether people would be offended if i raised my hands. or if they'd say something to my parents (and if they do...the problem is not with me!) but again, God has really given me a peace about being myself. now, if i'm a distraction, that's another story. i would never want to hinder anyone else's worship. but if i'm doing my thing, and you're doing your thing...and they aren't the same...that should be okay, right? i think so.
i'd better get some more video or pics of my kids...articulating my thoughts wears me out! or maybe it's all the dancing...
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Too much time, too little to do....wait, scratch that, reverse it.
i published my title, with no post to go with it. sometimes i amaze myself at how stupid i can be.
we just finished an "Albritton calendar meeting". ugh. all those do is remind me that we're overbooked and i'll be really tired and irritable by the end of each week this month. i have no pampered chef parties scheduled, and i really need to get a couple on the calendar, so please schedule one!! i have to find a couple of camps for the kids this summer, plus sign them up for swimming lessons. i also need to preregister them for school next year, but i really don't want to. i want to move and send Aidan to school for free...but unless someone pulls up in my driveway and offers to pay a really great price for this little house, that's not happening. And there are so many things we need to do to get ready to move, and we're not home enough to do them! plus, we're in dire need of a few pieces of furniture...but that's just not in the budget right now.
do you guys (whoever reads this) do this? start thinking about all the things you want to fix, change, make better...and it snowballs and really stresses you out? it's awful. so frustrating.
i am trying to accept the fact that i have 3 small children who, although we're trying to teach them, are not mature enough to really do chores yet. so it falls on me, and i am not superwoman (surprise, surprise!) now that paiz is starting to walk, i have to be with her all the time and supervise. so nothing gets done. it's a truly vicious cycle. i know, i know, i know that i have so much to be thankful for, and i have a wonderful life...but i feel like it's getting out of hand and i don't have the manpower to deal with it. michael's job is so demanding, and he's going out of town more. he usually doesn't get home until after 5:30 at night...which gives us no time to do any projects, if we want to eat and get kids in the bed. i work really hard in the morning when Paiz takes her nap...but that's only 2 hours, which means i get clothes and dishes washed. that's it. i've been told to just focus on my kids and deal with the house when i can...but that's just it. i can't! there is no time. during the day, that is. late at night, i could work...and probably should be doing dishes right now...
tomorrow, aidan has a doctor visit. his 5 year old checkup. he'll get shots. he HATES shots and is quite violent about it. i'm not excited.
on a happy, happy, happy note...the search committe announced that Ronnie is coming next Sunday in view of a call. i wish i could explain how this makes me feel. he is like a member of our family. there are not many people in the world that i love as much as him and martha. he is a wonderful, godly, smart man who is so perfect for the job. i can't wait.
off to the kitchen i go...then folding clothes...then adjusting paiz's carseat (she's growing so fast!)...then maybe i'll get to sleep.
we just finished an "Albritton calendar meeting". ugh. all those do is remind me that we're overbooked and i'll be really tired and irritable by the end of each week this month. i have no pampered chef parties scheduled, and i really need to get a couple on the calendar, so please schedule one!! i have to find a couple of camps for the kids this summer, plus sign them up for swimming lessons. i also need to preregister them for school next year, but i really don't want to. i want to move and send Aidan to school for free...but unless someone pulls up in my driveway and offers to pay a really great price for this little house, that's not happening. And there are so many things we need to do to get ready to move, and we're not home enough to do them! plus, we're in dire need of a few pieces of furniture...but that's just not in the budget right now.
do you guys (whoever reads this) do this? start thinking about all the things you want to fix, change, make better...and it snowballs and really stresses you out? it's awful. so frustrating.
i am trying to accept the fact that i have 3 small children who, although we're trying to teach them, are not mature enough to really do chores yet. so it falls on me, and i am not superwoman (surprise, surprise!) now that paiz is starting to walk, i have to be with her all the time and supervise. so nothing gets done. it's a truly vicious cycle. i know, i know, i know that i have so much to be thankful for, and i have a wonderful life...but i feel like it's getting out of hand and i don't have the manpower to deal with it. michael's job is so demanding, and he's going out of town more. he usually doesn't get home until after 5:30 at night...which gives us no time to do any projects, if we want to eat and get kids in the bed. i work really hard in the morning when Paiz takes her nap...but that's only 2 hours, which means i get clothes and dishes washed. that's it. i've been told to just focus on my kids and deal with the house when i can...but that's just it. i can't! there is no time. during the day, that is. late at night, i could work...and probably should be doing dishes right now...
tomorrow, aidan has a doctor visit. his 5 year old checkup. he'll get shots. he HATES shots and is quite violent about it. i'm not excited.
on a happy, happy, happy note...the search committe announced that Ronnie is coming next Sunday in view of a call. i wish i could explain how this makes me feel. he is like a member of our family. there are not many people in the world that i love as much as him and martha. he is a wonderful, godly, smart man who is so perfect for the job. i can't wait.
off to the kitchen i go...then folding clothes...then adjusting paiz's carseat (she's growing so fast!)...then maybe i'll get to sleep.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Easter, baby showers, spring is here!
Easter Egg pics to come!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Things I think about
When I'm not on the phone while driving...I think. The kids are strapped in, nobody can touch me, it's a good environment for pondering. So I pondered on the way to Clinton today, and when my thoughts got to be too much for me, I called my friend Jennifer and gabbed.
My first thought: if I received news that I had a terminal illness...and it was getting close to the end of my life, I think I would like an "early" funeral. I want to be there. We'd have great music, an awesome worship time, good food afterwards, and I'd get to say "see ya, I'm going to heaven!" I know this will not happen, and it's probably a dumb idea...but in theory, it makes a little sense!
Second thought: Elliot Spitzer's scandal. The gov. of NY. This whole thing has made me mad. I mean, what he did was wrong, and he made a very, very, very bad choice. But the girl, the prostitute he was with, is now being handed book deals, her songs are being played on the radio! No condemnation, just fame and fortune. I know it's not up to us to condemn anyway, and that's not what I'm getting at. I just think it's so sad that his family is having to suffer while she gets rich. He made a wrong choice, but she's in an immoral profession, and nobody seems to mind about that. She also made a Girls Gone Wild video, and will probably make loads of money from that too.
And while I'm soapboxing...can I just vent a bit of frustration about the presidential candidates? I mean, I don't like either democrat, and John McCain was my LEAST favorite of the republicans. And I've never cared before...but the older I get, and as my kids grow, it matters to me. And I'm really sad at having no good choices. (By the way, you don't have to agree with me. I can be friends with a democrat or a McCain supporter...maybe.)
Michael got us all up this morning at 4. There was a "rotating cell with serious tornado potential" in Canton, so he put the kids on the floor in the hall. They never woke up. He got me up to hold Paiz, who wiggled relentlessly. We sat on the floor for 30 minutes, then back to bed. Paiz kicked me, pulled my hair, and poked me in the face. It was most uncomfortable. I told him next time, save the kids, and take a chance with me.
My 3rd Pampered Chef party is tomorrow night. I have a new recipe. Should be fun, this is all the praise team girls I sang with from Pinelake. I haven't seen them in 6 months or more. They were my church family for a year or more, so I'm excited. I can't wait to hug them all.
I'm going to actually read more than one page in my book then fall asleep. 4:00 a.m. was a LONG time ago!
My first thought: if I received news that I had a terminal illness...and it was getting close to the end of my life, I think I would like an "early" funeral. I want to be there. We'd have great music, an awesome worship time, good food afterwards, and I'd get to say "see ya, I'm going to heaven!" I know this will not happen, and it's probably a dumb idea...but in theory, it makes a little sense!
Second thought: Elliot Spitzer's scandal. The gov. of NY. This whole thing has made me mad. I mean, what he did was wrong, and he made a very, very, very bad choice. But the girl, the prostitute he was with, is now being handed book deals, her songs are being played on the radio! No condemnation, just fame and fortune. I know it's not up to us to condemn anyway, and that's not what I'm getting at. I just think it's so sad that his family is having to suffer while she gets rich. He made a wrong choice, but she's in an immoral profession, and nobody seems to mind about that. She also made a Girls Gone Wild video, and will probably make loads of money from that too.
And while I'm soapboxing...can I just vent a bit of frustration about the presidential candidates? I mean, I don't like either democrat, and John McCain was my LEAST favorite of the republicans. And I've never cared before...but the older I get, and as my kids grow, it matters to me. And I'm really sad at having no good choices. (By the way, you don't have to agree with me. I can be friends with a democrat or a McCain supporter...maybe.)
Michael got us all up this morning at 4. There was a "rotating cell with serious tornado potential" in Canton, so he put the kids on the floor in the hall. They never woke up. He got me up to hold Paiz, who wiggled relentlessly. We sat on the floor for 30 minutes, then back to bed. Paiz kicked me, pulled my hair, and poked me in the face. It was most uncomfortable. I told him next time, save the kids, and take a chance with me.
My 3rd Pampered Chef party is tomorrow night. I have a new recipe. Should be fun, this is all the praise team girls I sang with from Pinelake. I haven't seen them in 6 months or more. They were my church family for a year or more, so I'm excited. I can't wait to hug them all.
I'm going to actually read more than one page in my book then fall asleep. 4:00 a.m. was a LONG time ago!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Easter Eggin'
Molly's Recital Pictures
Manic Monday
It took 3 hours to get everyone dressed and out the door today. I learned that Paisley really won't nap if the kids are awake. She yelled at me all morning. We finally made it to the van, and everyone was safely buckled in and then I had to decide where to go. The mall was my destination of choice, because I figured we'd get the chaos out of the way early in the week. We accomplished a few things...the largest being the consumption of 2 kid-sized icees while walking from dillards to belk with no spills.
Tomorrow we'll take it easy, hopefully clean out the van, and play outside. I have to go to the grocery, I need to practice my new dessert for my PC party on Thursday. Another food to send to Michael's office for taste-testing. Engineers are good for that sort of thing.
This weekend was wonderful. Friday night was our almost-regular trip to Chicfila, where the kids ran crazy and we ate sandwiches and enjoyed being "out". Saturday was a lazy morning, then a wonderful, relaxing Easter Egg hunt. It's so nice now that the kids are a bit older and we don't have to watch them every second. Then out to eat for a grown up fun time Saturday night at Pan Asia. I love the stir fry bar. I feel almost healthy...even though I know the sauce is super-sugary. I bought a pair of cute shoes and got Aidan's Easter shorts. Today I got his belt and shoes, so now all I need is a bow for Molly. I hope Michael and I have things to wear!
We decided yesterday to take vacations this year. We haven't done that since Aidan was 1! So we're taking the fam to New Orleans in April, and the beach this summer. I am SO excited! Especially if it works out that we can leave Paisley. Then we might actually get to vacation.
Michael and I have been discussing the fact that we won't have any more kids. The doctor doesn't want me to...says it would be dangerous. And we certainly have a full plate. I can't imagine being any busier than I already am. But there's a grief that comes with knowing that chapter is over. Our hospital experiences and all of that have been very good, thankfully. But we're ready to raise the kids we have and move on with life. Anyway, we've been praying a lot about this and I feel this is what God wants for us.
So...anyway...tomorrow we're taking it easy, Wednesday we're going to Clinton to visit my aunt, Thursday and Friday, who knows? I want this to actually end up feeling like a spring break...but how do you do that with 2 kids and a baby?
Gosh this post was boring...but i'm too tired to have provocative discussion about anything.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Nothing you could say could take me away from...My Guy
Just for fun....
1. Who is your man? Michael
2. How long have you been together? Off and on in '97, official in Feb. of '98, married since July of '99.
3. How long did you date? 11 months, seriously, but he broke up with a few times in that year.
4. How old is your man? 34
5. Who eats more? I'd have to say we're equal on this. And that makes me sad.
6. Who said "I love you" first? Me, and looking back, he loved me, he just didn't know it!
7. Who is taller? Michael, by a little bit.
8. Who sings better? He's not bad...but I have a bit more experience. And I have a crazy ability to learn lyrics, therefore making me a better singer. (that's what i tell myself)
9. Who is smarter? Michael's an engineer with really good grades in undergrad and grad school. He knows how to study. I am excessively practical and self aware and have a great memory. So I would hope that we'd be equal, just different.
10. Whose temper is worse? He is more demonstrative when angry. I cry. So that would make him with the worse temper.
11. Who does the laundry? Me...but he helps me put the clothes away.
12. Who takes out the garbage? Michael. I hate, hate, hate garbage.
13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Michael. He's closer to the door, so the kids attack him first.
14. Who pays the bills? I do. And therefore I don't shop. I know what we don't have.
15. Who is better with the computer? Michael knows more. I use it more.
16. Who mows the lawn? Michael. I did it once this summer, and he didn't tell me about the self-propel feature. I was almost finished and he let me in on that. I'm never doing it again.
17. Who cooks dinner? Me, unless we're having pancakes.
18. Who drives when you are together? Michael, unless he wants to talk to the kids, then i drive so he can turn around. I can't turn around or I'll throw up.
19. Who pays when you go out? Michael...but we never go out.
20. Who is most stubborn? Michael. All day long.
21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Me. I have a sad problem with assuming I usually am.
22. Whose parents do you see the most? Mine.
23. Who kissed who first? He kissed me. On a hill in Starkville while looking at stars. I finagled the moment, but he made the move.
24. Who asked who out? I asked him, and I still can't believe I did that. My girls will not do that.
25. Who proposed? Michael
26. Who is more sensitive? um...me.
27. Who has more friends? I guess me. I know a lot of people.
28. Who has more siblings? Michael, 2 half siblings. Me, one whole brother. So does that make us equal on this one?
1. Who is your man? Michael
2. How long have you been together? Off and on in '97, official in Feb. of '98, married since July of '99.
3. How long did you date? 11 months, seriously, but he broke up with a few times in that year.
4. How old is your man? 34
5. Who eats more? I'd have to say we're equal on this. And that makes me sad.
6. Who said "I love you" first? Me, and looking back, he loved me, he just didn't know it!
7. Who is taller? Michael, by a little bit.
8. Who sings better? He's not bad...but I have a bit more experience. And I have a crazy ability to learn lyrics, therefore making me a better singer. (that's what i tell myself)
9. Who is smarter? Michael's an engineer with really good grades in undergrad and grad school. He knows how to study. I am excessively practical and self aware and have a great memory. So I would hope that we'd be equal, just different.
10. Whose temper is worse? He is more demonstrative when angry. I cry. So that would make him with the worse temper.
11. Who does the laundry? Me...but he helps me put the clothes away.
12. Who takes out the garbage? Michael. I hate, hate, hate garbage.
13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Michael. He's closer to the door, so the kids attack him first.
14. Who pays the bills? I do. And therefore I don't shop. I know what we don't have.
15. Who is better with the computer? Michael knows more. I use it more.
16. Who mows the lawn? Michael. I did it once this summer, and he didn't tell me about the self-propel feature. I was almost finished and he let me in on that. I'm never doing it again.
17. Who cooks dinner? Me, unless we're having pancakes.
18. Who drives when you are together? Michael, unless he wants to talk to the kids, then i drive so he can turn around. I can't turn around or I'll throw up.
19. Who pays when you go out? Michael...but we never go out.
20. Who is most stubborn? Michael. All day long.
21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Me. I have a sad problem with assuming I usually am.
22. Whose parents do you see the most? Mine.
23. Who kissed who first? He kissed me. On a hill in Starkville while looking at stars. I finagled the moment, but he made the move.
24. Who asked who out? I asked him, and I still can't believe I did that. My girls will not do that.
25. Who proposed? Michael
26. Who is more sensitive? um...me.
27. Who has more friends? I guess me. I know a lot of people.
28. Who has more siblings? Michael, 2 half siblings. Me, one whole brother. So does that make us equal on this one?
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
The Pledge of Allegiance
Molly has learned the Pledge. I had no idea until tonight, when she was saying it in the car. So I made her do it for the camera, which is no small feat. Sorry for the lack of clothing. I have to take what I can get when I can get it!!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Chinny Chin Chin
This is what the Albrittons do when we finally get a night at home. Other families watch American Idol...we showcase our own talent. ha!
why i don't blog late at night...
yesterday, we didn't have a church picnic. it was an easter egg hunt. i was made very aware of this tonight at bunko. sorry ladies. next time, i'll get my nap, and i'll be on my A-game.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Wild and Wooly Weekend
Aidan's birthday was Friday. I have a 5 year old. It doesn't bother me so much that he's 5, but that I'm older because he is! Anyway, the day was great. It snowed, sort of, which is cool when it's your birthday. We stayed home Friday night and cooked breakfast for supper. Saturday was the Main Event. We had his party in the gym at church and the kids had a blast. We made sock rockets, which are socks filled with a cup of rice and then tied in a knot. They fly pretty good when you throw them, and all 17 or 18 of those things were whizzing past our faces. Nobody got hurt, and everybody laughed a lot. Mission accomplished. Dad organized some really cute relay races, and they had a great time. I was touched that so many of his buddies came. We've moved 4 or 5 times in his life, so for him to be in a place where he has made friends means a lot to me. He's a great kid, and I'm so proud of him. It makes me feel good as a mom to know that he's nice to people when I'm not around.
Today, we slept in. We remembered the time change, but I have a cold, and the house was a wreck. I stayed in bed till 9! I haven't done that in who knows how long. Then we had the church picnic this afternoon...and I had so much fun. It's great, now that Aidan and Molly are old enough to participate in things without me standing right there. I actually get to visit with people. I may surprise myself, but I think empty nest won't be a big deal for me. I really am very okay with the kids branching out. It may be different with Paisley, though. She's the baby, so I may hang on tighter to her.
So the weekend is over...and I laughed a lot. I learned a lot about some things that have worried me for a long time. I realized new ways I need to pray for my friends and family. I lived a lot of life, it seems, in 2 days. And I think I'm better now than I was on Friday night. God is continually working in my family. I love being a witness to what He's doing with my husband and kids.
My dad made a great DVD of pictures from the party, backed with some music by the Go Fish Guys. It's great, and if I figure out how to put it on here, then I'll share it with you! But I'll post pics anyway very soon.
Happy Monday tomorrow!
Today, we slept in. We remembered the time change, but I have a cold, and the house was a wreck. I stayed in bed till 9! I haven't done that in who knows how long. Then we had the church picnic this afternoon...and I had so much fun. It's great, now that Aidan and Molly are old enough to participate in things without me standing right there. I actually get to visit with people. I may surprise myself, but I think empty nest won't be a big deal for me. I really am very okay with the kids branching out. It may be different with Paisley, though. She's the baby, so I may hang on tighter to her.
So the weekend is over...and I laughed a lot. I learned a lot about some things that have worried me for a long time. I realized new ways I need to pray for my friends and family. I lived a lot of life, it seems, in 2 days. And I think I'm better now than I was on Friday night. God is continually working in my family. I love being a witness to what He's doing with my husband and kids.
My dad made a great DVD of pictures from the party, backed with some music by the Go Fish Guys. It's great, and if I figure out how to put it on here, then I'll share it with you! But I'll post pics anyway very soon.
Happy Monday tomorrow!
Saturday, March 1, 2008
march madness...
this week was nuts. not bad...but just way too busy, and i just didn't get enough sleep. as i write this at 11:45 on saturday night, with droopy eyelids, i realize that i haven't even looked at my blog in a week.
my first pampered chef show was thursday. it was very successful. i was a nervous wreck, and my ultimate mandoline certainly didn't convince people they had to have one. but we had fun, the three cheese garden pizza turned out yummy, and i made a good commission. that's the point, right?
i also observed a show, took paisley to the doctor for a checkup. all the kids got runny noses. my brother and his wife welcomed their new baby, Jack, to the world on friday. everything went well, and he's a little cutie. he was 6 pounds and just absolutely beautiful. i can't wait to hold him. so it was a busy week.
gosh, i wish i had something interesting to write about. my brain is too tired to process anything important. and i know it's boring for people to just read about what i did this week. let's see...presidential election...oscars...spring break...aidan's birthday coming up...so much i could say...but i'd fall asleep while saying it. so i'll get back to you.
my first pampered chef show was thursday. it was very successful. i was a nervous wreck, and my ultimate mandoline certainly didn't convince people they had to have one. but we had fun, the three cheese garden pizza turned out yummy, and i made a good commission. that's the point, right?
i also observed a show, took paisley to the doctor for a checkup. all the kids got runny noses. my brother and his wife welcomed their new baby, Jack, to the world on friday. everything went well, and he's a little cutie. he was 6 pounds and just absolutely beautiful. i can't wait to hold him. so it was a busy week.
gosh, i wish i had something interesting to write about. my brain is too tired to process anything important. and i know it's boring for people to just read about what i did this week. let's see...presidential election...oscars...spring break...aidan's birthday coming up...so much i could say...but i'd fall asleep while saying it. so i'll get back to you.
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