Highs and Lows

Today was one of those days, we've all had them, were I'm just now able to sit for more than 2 seconds! I've been up since 6:00am and it's 11:40pm! Over seventeen hours of go, go, go! Now that's what I call a long day!
This morning, after a quick shower and feeding Josiah, I begun the daunting task of putting all of my garage sale items outside. I don't have a garage so all of the items needed set out the morning of the sale! I was able to get most of the stuff out before loading everyone in the van to run Zach to school. Zach, who loves school so much he thanks God every night that he gets to go, was not at all happy that he would be missing out on the action at home and put up quite the fuss. On the way back, I couldn't resist stopping at a garage sale! I am so thankful I stopped! I was able to get Mariah a new bike and Jerry a huge Thomas the Train set(Christmas present!!!)
Then, back to setting up my garage sale, which became a constant chore all day long! It was windy all day! Not just a little windy. I'm talking major, blow all my stuff to the neighbors yard, windy! Other than the wind, I was very pleased with how the sale went. At 12noon I had to leave the sale to run Jerry to school. One of my neighbors was nice enough to come over while I was gone and chase after runaway items and help the occasional customer. Once the traffic had died down, I thought about sitting and enjoying the "wind" but couldn't manage to get my mind off of the three large loads of laundry waiting to be folded inside. I drug all of the laundry outside and proceeded to fold it all. I'm sure my neighbors watched in disbelief as I fought with the wind and somehow managed to get all three loads folded!
Finished, but this time I didn't even think about sitting down. My strawberry plants were calling my name. "Plant us, plant us," they cried. Needless to say, I couldn't resist their cries! At 2:30 it was time to drag the remaining items back into the house and tear down all the tables. By this point in the day it was close to 80 degrees and just as windy as ever! I changed into shorts so I could complete my chore without totally melting. Although, my children reassured me that I would not melt! Only witches can melt and that's only if water is poured on them!
I decided I really liked my strawberry plants and wanted to get some more so I headed over to my mom's to pick up the boys and then we all headed to Meijer. I picked out two more bunches of ten plants and also fell in love with two blueberry bushes, along with lettuce, spinach and watermelon seeds(the kids idea, not mine)! I think I better get going on digging that garden I've been planning on making! After getting the groceries I needed and realizing the back door on my van wouldn't open we headed back to my mom's. Yes, you heard correctly! My van door is absolutely refusing to open!!! Made for a fun time of putting all those groceries in the van!
My dad was home when we arrived so he was kind enough to take a look at the door. After confirming it wouldn't budge and finding that there was no way to easily get to the problem area, we had this brilliant idea of taking the door off of it's hinges. Okay so it wasn't a good idea at all! Not only could we still not get to the part we needed but the one side tried to open while the other side stayed stuck. After battling for way too long with the door and thanks to a kind neighbor we managed to get the hinges back on the door and shut it again. I'll take it in to a shop next week!
Thanks to my mom, we ate a wonderful dinner! Afterward, we all went outside to help my dad put up a new trampoline. This endeavor took the remainder of the evening. At 9pm it was finished and what fun it was! Even baby Josiah got a turn on it. I'm not sure which he giggled over more, being in it or watching his Papaw and his siblings in it! While Mariah was jumping, Josiah clapped for her and squealed with delight!
9:30pm-time to go home, but not so fast! I went to back out and heard this horrible grinding sound! I immediately remembered I had put on the emergency breaks while we were working on the van so released them and began to back up again. Same sound! I stopped and pulled the van back up, got out and found the ladder we had been using still standing there. Ooops! Okay back in the van and on home we went. The children helped me bring in the groceries then got in their jammies. In the meantime, I decided I wanted to move the seats in the van back further so I could, perhaps, have more room up front. Not meant to be! The springy/wirey device that is supposed to release the lock and the back bench seat apparently was in a bad mood today! Urgh!!! I finally gave up on it and went in to read the children their goodnight story.
I spent the rest of my evening getting ready for another big day tomorrow! I'm just hoping I can move after today!

3 ~ Sarah's Savvy Savings ~

Do you have battery chargers and adapters that you can't remember what they belong to?

Mark all of your adapters/chargers with a permanent marker telling what they belong to (I use a silver one, it shows up nicely on black). Make sure you mark them as soon as you get them or you'll end up wishing you had! I started this a few years back and my only regret is that I didn't think of it sooner! If you have two of something like two cell phones, mark the chargers "cell phone 1" and "cell phone 2". Then, be sure to put a corresponding 1 and 2 on the phones.

Watching Her Fade

There's nothing quite like finding out your cat puked by stepping in it!
About a month ago I was petting my families beautiful persian, Prissy, when I felt a lump on her right hip about the size of a marble. We immediately set up a veterinary appointment to get it looked at. Our worst fear came to pass, as we were told she had cancer. The vet gave us some options that we could go home and think about. None of which seemed at all promising.
Within a week the lump had grown to the size of a golf ball! We took her back to the veterinary. The vet was shocked to see it had grown so fast and told us there was nothing that could be done at this point. Every day, I watch as Prissy becomes more lethargic and her hip becomes more tender, and I wonder how much longer before I'll need to take her back to the vet...for that last visit. I've never had to make that final decision for a pet before...How do you even begin to decide?
One day she'll be looking really worn out and sickly and the next she perks right up and wants to be petted by everybody. She's still eating and seems to mostly be enjoying life. On the other hand she is puking more frequently and pooping outside her litter box about every other day and her hip definitely has slowed her down. But just when we think her time is just around the corner, she'll do something totally adorable which makes it impossible to make that call to the vet's office. Yesterday, we came home and she was meowing at my daughter, Mariah. Mariah was ignoring her so Prissy put her front paws up on Mariah's legs and meowed at her again! Mariah was still just standing there so I commanded her, "Pet Prissy!" Prissy loved every minute of her petting and her favorite: under the chin scratches!
I stepped in some cat puke, but it was worth every minute of seeing Prissy's affection towards Mariah!

Fire on the Ceiling!!!

My five year old, Jerry, has always preferred to sleep in total darkness. I've always thought it was a bit odd. Especially when both of my other kids sleep with their lights on. Nightlights don't even cut it with Zach and Mariah. They have to have their room light on, their doors open and the light in the hallway on! Yes, we have had long talks about my electrical bill!!! Then there's my Jerry, he wants the door shut, the curtain drawn and all the lights off.
Tonight, Jerry kept coming out of his room. He gave me this "story"about how the light was scaring him. Of course, this didn't make much sense to me so I acknowledged his fear and sent him on his way. But like a boomerang, he kept coming back to me mumbling about how he couldn't sleep. Finally, as I walked past his room he pointed to the ceiling and exclaimed, "It's like fire on the ceiling! I can't sleep with the fire on the ceiling!" Sure enough, I looked up and the lamp in the nearby room was casting a shadow that appeared as fiery flames on the ceiling!
It always fascinates me to see things through the eyes of a child! To think, for the last few years, Jeremiah has been scared of light at night because, in his eyes, it was a scary fiery flame!

You Never Let Go

I love this song by Matt Redman which was sung in curch this morning. How reassuring it is to know that throught it all God is holding on to us! I have been through my fair share of "the storms of this life!" To name a few: my mother's cancer, abusive husbands, my son's autism, severe sickness during my pregnancies, not one but two divorces, financial troubles, fear for my children's safety and the list goes on yet through it all I can still, not only, sing this song but believe every word of it. My God has seen me through all of the ups and downs life has brought me and I know he will continue to be faithful! I will continue to praise God through my current hardships for I have seen his unfailing love and provision for me! Thank you Lord for being my rock when all else seems to be falling apart around me!

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know you are near
And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?
(Chorus:)
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth
(Chorus)
Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You
(Chorus 2x's)

2 Things That Helped Save My Son From His Autism

Two things that helped save my son from his autism:
1. Applied Behavior Analysis therapy
2. Gluten/Caesin free diet


Two things that currently help save my son from his autism:
1. Glutamate Free diet
(I tell more about this at http://www.msgfreemeals.blogspot.com/)
2. Structure/routine

Five Chores I Could Live Without!

1. Seperating Laundry
2. Washing Laundry
3. Drying Laundry
4. Folding Laundry
5. Putting Away the Laundry

It doesn't take a genius to see the laundry and I don't get along! Day in and day out the laundry and I battle it out. No matter how prepared I am for the fight I always lose, but I've come up with a battle plan that I think might work and if it doesn't work I have my backup plan!

Battle Plan A

• All people in this household shall wear their same clothes for one week.

Battle Plan B

• All people in this household shall not wear anything for one week.

I can picture it already! All of the clothes washed and folded, put away neatly in their drawers! No dirty laundry waiting to be washed! No clean clothes waiting to be folded. Not even a dress waiting to be hung in the closet! It would be such a wonderful feeling! To be able to rest in peace for a whole day knowing the laundry was all caught up! (Only a day because it would take me the other 6 days just to get it to this point!) Alright, alright I've snapped back to reality! I better quit day dreaming and go fold some more laundry and put it away so the kids will have something to wear tomorrow.

A Toilet!?

Today my mom was talking to my 6 year old son, Zach, about a drawing contest our city is holding. She told him the contestants have to draw a picture that shows, "What the city means to you." She proceeded to ask him what he would draw to show what our city means to him. He matter of factly stated, "a toilet!" Not wanting to squelch his idea, she gingerly inquired why he would draw a toilet. Feeling a bit silly he responded, "because of the smell!"
We both were rolling with laughter as poor Zach's face turned red with embarrasment.
We had to give him credit for that one! When the weather turned from cold to warm the sewer smell was unbearable and obviously it left a lasting impression on my son's view of our city!

2 ~ Sarah's Savvy Savings ~

Making homemade baby food and the cubes are stuck in the tray?

Just put the ice cube tray in a warm pan of water for a few seconds and they'll pop right out!

National Don't Flush Day!

My children forgot to inform me that today was "National Don't Flush Day", but don't worry I catch on quickly!
Honestly, what is it with children and flushing the toilet?! Is it really that hard? I would have thought they would enjoy flushing and watching everything swirl down the hole. But oh no! Not my children...
My oldest son doesn't flush out of pure laziness. Who would have thought it would be so hard for a six year old to take the time to push the little silver handle down when he gets off the pot.
My second son has twisted this popular saying to "If it's yellow don't let it mellow, if it's brown don't flush it down!" We have had a few mishaps with the potty getting stuffed full of paper and overflowing when an attempt to flush was made. So this smart child has decided, if he does more than pee, he better error on the side of caution and leave the flushing up to mommy!
Then there's my four year old daughter! She not only thinks I should flush for her but also prefers to have me wipe for her!
Ahhh, the joys of motherhood! It doesn't look like "National Don't Flush Day" will be coming to an end anytime soon!

1 ~ Sarah's Savvy Savings ~

Are your baby wipes to dry?
Just add a few tablespoons of water to the top wipe in the container and they'll be as good as new.

Time For Mommy!

Time for Mommy! Is this a foreign phrase in your house? As a parent you give, give, give then turn around and give some more! I’m sure you have heard the “professionals” say, “make sure you take time for yourself”. But is this really possible? Will you be a better mommy or daddy if you take time for yourself? And where in the world is this extra time supposed to come from?!?!
Well, today I took an hour to myself! My ex had given me a gift certificate for a one hour massage at my chiropractor’s office. He gave it to me for Valentines Day over a year ago. I’m not even sure why! Perhaps it was out of obligation. Maybe he was hoping to win Husband of the Year award! Kind of an ironic thought since the rest of our marriage was failing miserably. So I’ve had this certificate sitting around my house for over a year. A little piece of paper; yet every time I came across it an array of emotions rushed through me. The paper has moved from the card it came in, to my nightstand, to my computer desk, to my coupon drawer, back to my computer desk…and finally into my purse and into the hands of the chiropractor’s receptionist!
So what was keeping me from using it? A small part of me didn’t want to use it just because of who gave it to me, but the bigger reason it’s been shuffled around my house…TIME! I am raising four kids on my own; time is not something in over abundance around here! How can I possibly feel good about taking an hour to pamper myself when the dishes need done and laundry is stacked to the ceiling and the kids need me to spend time with them! The answer: I didn’t feel right about it! In fact, the certificate had expired in February so I had the perfect excuse to just throw it away, but my mom talked me into setting up an appointment anyway. She was sure they would still take the certificate since it was paid for and sure enough, they had no problem with letting me use it.
Finally, I got my mommy time! For a whole hour, I laid there and tried hard not to think about anything but relaxing and enoying my massage. Was it worth it? Am I a better parent today then I was before I took some time to myself? Well, my knees didn’t appreciate the massage and have been hurting worse than they were before, I was itchy and irritable the rest of the day from the oils (I didn’t exactly have time to squeeze in a shower!) and the laundry pile only grew larger. I’m thinking, next time I want some “me” time, I will go get a cup of coffee with a friend…oh wait! I can't stand coffee!

Because He Lives!

The first Sunday I went back to church, after having Josiah, this song was sung in the service. It meant so much to me! I was singing the following line "How sweet to hold a newborn baby..." when tears came to my eyes. To think I could let go of all my worries "Because he lives" was so reassuring.

Today, this song was sung again. After a very emotional week, I was able to sing the lyrics below and once again be reminded and reassured of the fact that my God is alive and taking care of my children and I! "How sweet to hold a newborn baby, And feel the pride and joy he gives;But greater still the calm assurance:This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!"

BECAUSE HE LIVES

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;

He came to love, heal and forgive;

He lived and died to buy my pardon,

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Chorus

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,

Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,

And feel the pride and joy he gives;

But greater still the calm assurance:

This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

Chorus

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,

Just because He lives!

And then one day, I'll cross the river,

I'll fight life's final war with pain;

And then, as death gives way to vict'ry,

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

Chorus

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,

Just because He lives!

Words and music by William J. Gaither© 1971

Matthew 28:6"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

Best Easter Ever

Yesterday my five year old,Jerry, told me this was the best Easter he's ever had!
Considering, every crisis that has ever happened in my life seems to happen right in the midst of Easter, I wholeheartedly agreed with him!
The first Easter that started my long line of eventful Easters took place in 2005. This Easter was a time of sorrow. It was difficult to celebrate the resurrection of my King when my second born son had just been given a life sentence of Autism.
Then in 2006, I was forced into leaving my first husband when he severely abused our first son the week leading up to Easter. That Easter will always bring back memories of uncertainty and fear.
The Easter of 2007 brought with it mixed feelings of relief and judgement as my long awaited divorce was finalized.
But none of these could prepare me for the Easter of 2008! I was extremely sick with my pregnancy and was admitted to the hospital, the week of Easter. At the same time, my marriage of 7 months was crumbling right before my eyes. I spent that Easter laying in a hospital bed wishing I could go home to celebrate Easter Sunday with my children, wishing I could fix all that was breaking down around me, wishing I hadn't gotten myself into yet another mess!
Then there's Easter of 2009! Believe me when I say it's had it's drama! But I still will have to agree with Jerry this is the best Easter we've had in a long time! This Easter had all the traits of a great Easter. Most importantly, we celebrated Jesus' resurrection every day up to Easter Sunday and we even all were able to go to church on Easter Sunday! We spent it with our family. Most everyone was healthy. We participated in Easter egg hunts, a carnival, egg painting and egg coloring. We did an Easter egg hunt at Mamaw and Papaw's and had Easter baskets for all the kids to enjoy. It just doesn't get much better than that!