BLACK FRIDAY

Well if you keep up with my blog, you probably read I chose to get a job this holiday season.  We spent Thanksgiving with my grandmother and a few other family members.  It was a really nice and quiet Thanksgiving.  On Wednesday, I called to see when I would be on the schedule at Belk.  The human resource manager replied how about 4:30 in the morning?  I was completely floored.  I'm on the other end thinking 4:30 in the morning?  You mean 4:30 the middle of the night?  But I said yes so that I could be off by 12:30 and spend the rest of the day with Mario and Dalen because Mario was off.  

I get up at 3:15 in the middle of the night and when I pull up to Belk I see lines of people at our 3 entrances waiting in the freezing cold to be one of the 1st 250 customers to get a lousy $5 gift card.  There were moms with their little babies bundled up in the freezing cold.  I am sorry if you were one of those moms but you are totally stupid if you were.  You are getting you kids out in the middle of the night for $5 off a purchase.  Come on now and pray for a little common sense.  

Anyway, I love it when its busy because time just flies by but here are a few scenarios of the day.

1.  Customer: Does this coupon work on this, this, this, or that?

My Mind:  Can you read?  What does the coupon say?

My Audible Voice:  Are your purchases early bird specials, red dots or final clearance items?

Customer:  Oh well I don't know.

My Mind:  You must really can't read! If you really cared about the discount you would read the sign.

My Audible Voice: Well lets just get you rung up and see.  (I ring their items in and OF COURSE they don't trust that the register is right.)

Customer:  Oh well that was supposed to be 50% off and that sounds really high and then I get an extra 15% percent off with my coupon.

My Mind:  WOW!  You can read!  But isn't it funny how you can read something is 50% off BUT you totally miss the MASSIVE sign above the discount that says EARLY BIRD SPECIAL (which excludes an extra 15% off).

My Audible Voice:  Oh I'm sorry you didn't read the fine print on the coupon I can just void the sale for you.

Customer:  OH NO!  I still want the items!  

My Mind:  You conniving person!  Trying to see if I would mark your items down even more....AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN!

*Tip:  Read the coupon.....the WHOLE thing. Fine print included!  Then when you see a discount sign read the WHOLE thing.

Scenario #2

I must add this happened at the time when the line was the longest and customer was the loudest.

Customer:  Well they surely made a mistake by putting you in the children's department.

My Mind:  Yea it surely was b-c I am about to knock your kids upside the head if they don't calm down and quit knocking stuff off of the racks that I have to go pick up!!  GRRR!!!!

My Audible Voice:  Why do you say that

Customer:  Well you're expecting!  Expectant mothers shouldn't be put in the children's because I am sure you just blow your check on baby stuff!

My Audible Voice:  Oh well, if I were expecting that MIGHT HAVE been a problem but I NOT!

My Mind:  Don't punch her, don't punch her!!!  

Customer:  Oh you aren't!!??  Well, I thought you were.

My Audible Voice:  Nope, Just fat.  

*An eerie silence breaks out all over the line and all eyes are on.....ME!  Great.  What a GREAT day. Why couldn't they look at the idiot who said something you NEVER say to a woman?

TIP:  NEVER, NEVER say a woman is expecting to her face.  No matter how sure you are....you just never know.

Scenario #3

*I was working with a lady who looks no  younger than 79.  Her name is Nancy and I hear she isn't a morning person.  I'll let you decide from the next scenario.

Customer:Why did the store hand out a coupon that excludes so many items?

Nancy:  says nothing and her blood is boiling I can tell

Customer:  I didn't know it excluded so many things.

Nancy:  Well, its not my fault that you can't read the fine print.

My mind:  TELL 'EM NANCY!!!  WAHOO!!!

My face:  I look at Nancy like you are gonna pay for that one

Nancy:  (Look at the 2 lines of about 12 people she says out loud....Any1 stupid enough to be out shopping this early doesn't deserve customer service or common courtesy.

My Mind:  HOLLA!!!  LOL!

All in all it was a good day- besides feeling big as a cow, being exhausted and working with a temperamental senior citizen...I'd say it was great.

Fishy Kisses

The Gift

I am so very thankful that I was raised as a hard worker. My mom is a teacher with her ph.d. and does so many extra things like teach Sunday School and teach night classes and still makes time for Dalen pretty much weekly. My dad travels the world and NEVER complains about being tired or worn out. Basically I was taught to do what you have to do to survive.
This year I got a 2nd job at Belk so that I could afford gifts. I have never in my life regretted anything more than this decision. Of course, I want Dalen to have a good Christmas but he really doesn't even know what is going on. Even though my parents tell us not to get them anything can I really not get them something after all of the times they have kept Dalen for free or helped us out? I feel like I should get them something REALLY, REALLY good.
So, because I felt pressured from a few people telling me to get a job for the holidays and because I allowed myself to feel obligated to get good gifts for others I got this job. I regret this decision because I know that I am teaching Dalen (even at this young age) that its about gifts and its NOT. It's about a saviour born so long ago who is still Emmanuel (God with us) today. I will never do this again. I feel obligated to work the job throughout the holidays because I already commited to doing it but never again! I am sacrificing time with my family and memories that could be created for a few gifts that I won't even remember next year.
Think about it. If you have a spouse think back to last year and see if you can think of what they got you. I cant. See if you can remember what you got them. I can't. But I can remember the memories of fun filled holidays with family.
I think back to last year and know that God just meets needs. He provides for those who have worked hard all year long. Sometimes we stay so busy trying to do what God can do. I wish I would have left a door open for him to provide for our family again.

Moms Nurturing Moms

Moms Nurturing Moms met on Thursday of last week. I enjoy this event so much! The leader of it, Tara Waldrop, is so heartfelt and shares personal things. It really makes you feel like there is a relational connection among the group even though you barely know anyone there. We talked about the giving spirit of Christmas which has been on my heart a lot this year. Then we made homemade bags and cards. They were really easy! Here are some pictures below!!

Card

Bag

Little Indian Boy

Dalen decided he didn't like his jesus loves me book anymore.

Bundled up.

Here's dalen on one of the coldest mornings we have had yet. I LOVE this pic!

Here's Yibby getting her Christmas picture taken at Aunt Mel.

Here is Dalen jammin to Pop's music.

I have no clue why this uploaded...its so old.

At parent's day out Dalen had a Thanksgiving party and they made all of the kids indian headbands and took their pictures and put them in frames with leaves on them.

What your priorities say about you

If you will join me on a little journey that will tell you much about yourself.  If you can think about your day today.  (not yesterday, not ten years ago, but think of ONLY today)  What did you do first?  Where did you spend your time?  Who did you call?  What did you say?

If you woke up just in time to get yourself ready, check your messages, start your car, and head off to your busy day at work chances are your priorities are you, yourself, and YOU. But what does this say to your husband/wife, kids or friends.  If you are like most working America you probably come home and check messages throughout the night while watching TV, lay on the couch and go to sleep.  What is this saying to your husband/wife and kids?

You are staying connected with the rest of the world through e-mail, text, twitter (the most annoying things ever invented) and televsion, devoting your life and heart to work while  your husband/wife sits at home empty, feeling used up.     Your children sense second best and starve for your  attention.

I think so often we realize when our priorities aren't right but we justify what we did yesterday to excuse what we didn't do today.  The truth is needs are needs and needs must be met DAILY. This is why I told you to only think of today. You just never know what's in store for your spouse, friends, children or family today.  Did you rush out the door without kissing your spouse or kids goodbye and telling them you love them?  You may never return home.  Did you tell your spouse they are beautiful today?  Today may be the day they are tempted to commit adultery with a man/woman who is willing to tell them they are beautiful.  Did you tell  your spouse you appreciate what they do (it could be providing for the family through work, taking care of the children or anything else)?  Today could be the day your spouse feels unnoticed and becomes depressed due to feelings of worthlessness.  Would you want to be responsible for your spouse's suicide attempt?

You just never know...get your priorities in line.

I am MATURE?

Well folks, I'm not sure what to think of today...yet.  I have been planning a trip to Florida for over a month now.  My flight was scheduled for departure at 3:55  p.m. tomorrow.  I was going to be staying with my cousin who is just six months younger than me and has a new baby girl.  I was also going to be able to spend a lot of time with my other cousins and aunts and uncle.  I was super excited to be able to take Dalen to spend time with my grandparents.  

Well as my luck has it, I came down with a fever of 102 and chills last night.  This all occur ed during training for the seasonal job I got at Belk to be able to put a few gifts under the tree...or table (I doubt we will do a tree considering Dalen would just eat tinsel, break ornaments and pull the tree over on himself).  So get home only to find my throat nearly swollen shut...literally.  I know, I know you are all probably beginning to think I am an infamous hypochondriac due to all of my sick stories on here but please keep reading. 

I head to the doctor 1st thing this a.m. only to find out I have been catching everything under the sun because I have a lovely case of MONO. Oh great.  My heart sank.  Dramatic, I know but seriously I have been really excited about a chance to spend time with my family that I never get to see!  So my supermom instinct kicked in and said I can do this.  I can lug a one year around for 7 days by myself and get enough rest and go to bed on time and be rested to start my seasonal job the day after Thanksgiving.  And of course then my altar had an out of body experience, met me eye to eye, called me an idiot and convinced me to use wisdom.  So here I am.  Chillin in lovely, freezing cold Clevegas.  

So I am trying to think of a few positive things behind this and all I could think of was maybe I am one step closer to maturity.  I made a decision that wasn't based on my selfishness....for once.  I am beginning to think I may be cursed though.  JUST KIDDING!  Its just been a rough few months.  

So here are 84 things I am thankful for in spite of the crappy cards that were dealt my way, some of which are quite humorous.  You should do this...it will allow you to reflect on so many things you have and also allow you to see how vain you are (if you are anything like me)

I am thankful...

1.  that my sister was raised from the dead

2.  that my God performs miracles.

3.  for Parent's Day Out...

4.  and that its cheap enough for us to afford.

5.  for a healthy, growing marriage.

6.  that Dalen is asleep right now.

7.  we live in a house.

8.  for our free washer and dryer that was left by the previous renters. (even though our house has an earthquake when the washer gets off level)

9.  my sisters live less than 5 minutes away.

10.  for picture texts.

11.  that I have a holiday job (even though holiday shoppers are the absolute rudest!)

12. for  free samples offered by shampoo companies

13.  for my girlfriends who know how to pray.

14.  for my job.

15.  that even though my husband and I have a king size bed we wake up very close to each other.

16.  2 cars that get us to point A and point B.

17.  that Dalen is a happy baby (most of the time)

18.  for my grey new balance that are 5 years old and still in style and in great shape.

19.  we can get free Internet from else's wireless connection.

20.  for our family photographer Daisy Moffatt who captured one of the last important occasions I had with my grandfather

21.  for the dumpster at the end of our driveway.

22.  that I now know the true meaning of Christmas.

23.  that we didn't have to buy diapers until Dalen turned 5 months old.

24.  that I don't believe in fairy tales

25.  my parent's raised me to work hard

26. for Florida

27.  a healthy baby

28.  a God who provides.

29.  gracious family and friends who love me "in spite of"

30.  free insurance

31.  that I had a childhood pet

32.  my grandparents lived in my neighborhood growing up.

33.  for my all girls bible study.

34.  for Rhonda Kinches and the truth she teaches

35.  that my hope is in glory.

36.  for my education (but not what it cost me :)

37.  for John Washington and the great friend he is to Dalen

38.  that I do not worry 

39. I live like 2 minutes from work and church (anything that saves us gas we should be thankful for)

40.  that I didn't lose ALL of our money in stock

41. for the sunday school lessons of Ted Gee (they made the Bible fun)

42.  the movie Annie

43.  for peace of mind

44.  for my friend Adrienne who leaves me feeling appreciated and encouraged

45.  Dalen doesn't bite a lot anymore (this is serious, it was becoming a pretty big problem)

46.  For spellcheck (I have misspelled about 10 things already)

47.  for Glenn Procopio because he showed me what being passionate is all about

48.  my immediate family knows God

49.  my sister has a good watch dog

50.  flats are in

51.  for Andrea who can relate to my life

52.  that I am spirit filled

53. I am ready to die at any moment

54. we do not have cable.

55.  that I still live in Cleveland (i NEVER, EVER thought I would EVER say that)

56.  that Dalen will grow up close to my parents

57.  that I hate drama

58.  I have a husband who isn't afraid of what others think of him

59.  I never got into the habit of letting Dalen sleep in our bed.

60.  that I am cautious to not be selfish.

61.  for my great friend Abby who knows how to be a consistent friend.

62. for my bright colored homemade blanket Julie WHeeler handmade me (we use it every day)

63.  my sister Mel used to beat me up because it made NOT a crybaby

64.  for all of my memories from my childhood

65.  I no longer hurt over losing a certain friend....

66. and that I don't blame myself for something I didn't do anymore

67.  that my husband is so creative

68.  I have more self-control than I have ever had in my life.

69.  for the NYC missions trip I went on.

70.  that my husband wants more kids

71.  that my niece and Dalen will grow up together

72.  my hair is short for a good cause

73.  I remember prayer requests

74.  for true love

75.  I don't sunburn

76.  for Paige's obnoxious laugh that leaves no doubt that she is happy

77.  for the Binions

78.  for my church

79.  for sunshine

80.  for the best gift I have even gotten-rechargeable batteries

81.  my tooth in need of root canal doesn't hurt every day

82.  for bluff view district

83.  i know that a true sacrifice should have nothing to do with me.

84.  that Dalen had a halloween costume

Mouthpeice

My Dad does this with Dalen all the time. He loves the sound. I can occupy him with this forever while I make a call or watch TV. He knows how to do it to himself and others too. It's pretty hilarious.

Bow Wow

The other night Mario taught Dalen how to bark. I taught him how to say bow wow but now every time I say bow wow he says what a bow wow says. Listen carefully....if he were a dog he would be a quiet little Maltese or something. His bark is really soft.

Chicken heads

This picture was at Chick-Fil-A. Dalen is sooo a daddy's boy. The whole mommy's boy saying is NOT true in our house. I think its probably b-c Dalen is with me everyday by himself from 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m. so he is probably just always wanting Mario so bad by the time he gets home.

These were taken last Sunday. Dalen kept raising up in his sleep and resting his head back.

Trash It

i love this pic! I had to sweet the leaves off of the front sidewalk at work and when i went to make a copy I found Dalen "sweeping". Praise God I have a child who will pick up my slack in the cleaning department.

So last night, I was straightening some things up in Dalen's nursery. Mario always puts Dalen to bed and gives him his breathing treatment but before he did it last night he had to do something. So, I keep doing what I am doing and Dalen is playing with toys. We have hardwood floors and I keep hearing Dalen run to the kitchen and run back to his room laughing. I finally begin to notice he is coming back emptyhanded. Great....I have to go hunt the toys and pick them up. NOT FUN! After looking everywhere I notice Dalen has been throwing his toys away! So not only do I get to find the toys then I get to lysol and sanitize them as well. Fun, fun.

Dalen trying to sweep.

She did it again!

Have you even known someone who is doing EXACTLY what you know they were created for? I mean there is just no doubt in your mind that should ever do anything else? Daisy Moffatt is a photographer Mario and I have been using since I pregnant and now my sister uses her too. This is one shot that she got of Olivia at her recent shoot. The pics are amazing! Check a few others out at daisyphotographer.blogspot.com
Each photo captures so many elements you can't even explain them all. Some capture Olivia's developmental stage, her personality, the time of year and happiness in her heart in one photo. She is an amazing talent! check it out

Starbucks

This weekend was Lee's homecoming and my girlfriends and I decided to meet up at Starbucks to catch up for a little bit. Friday was a yucky day. It was rainy and cold, which makes it super difficult to get a baby out. I arrive at 2:55 at Starbucks just as I am recieving a text saying everyone is going to be late....so typical (I am the only person ever on time, because I am old). So at 3:30 I am still waiting. During this thirty minutes I find out Starbucks doesn't have diaper changers or highchairs and it is the loudest place I have been to. I can't believe people try to say they go there to study....yea right.
I am just not into the coffee craze. I hate the taste of it and I can't imagine paying $3-$4 for a drink that is going to make my breath stink and my teeth yellow. So anyways, Dalen was completely out of control trying to pull coffee off of tables and run wild. There was no way to restrain him. So I got my stuff and left. Then I find out the house of my friends was hit by a car. Yea, thats right a car. Interesting day.
So we got together at my house and caught up. Anyways, my point in this whole blog is....I just can't believe how many public places are not family friendly. It's crazy and it makes me so irritated.

Yibby

It's been a while since I have posted pics of Yibby. We got to spend all afternoon with her on Sunday and here are a few I got. Nothing like an afternoon nap. Her cheeks are massive.

In her church dress and hat.

Close-up of her big smile!

Date With Dad

Thursday nights are "my" nights. My supportive and hands on husband resumes all responsibility for Dalen and himself and I take off to my sister's house for a Bible study. There are 5 women in all. Most Thursdays I don't get home until 12 a.m.. Mario never complains and recently he has started waiting up on me. I LOVE Thursdays!
This last Thursday night I heard Mario talking to Dalen in our kitchen, explaining the AWESOME night he had planned for them. (he took Dalen to a Lee basketball game) It was quite humorous because Dalen was babbling away back to Mario as if he were excitedly responding.
Mario begins looking for something Dalen can wear. Mario's friend had told him earlier it was a "whiteout" game. Who knew there was such a thing? But basically all of the fans are supposed to wear white. So Mario is frantically trying to find a white shirt for Dalen (God forbid him stick out). The only 2 he can find are stained. So, he picks the white shirt with the smallest stain on it...lol. It was so funny. It made me really grateful though that I have a husband who wants to take our son out and spend quality time with him. The more families I get to know, the rarer a hands on dad becomes.

I love my husband.

Silent No More

*Please know I feel I have a duty as a Christian to "Fear God and honor the king."  I am not a supporter of Obama, but I do feel as a Christian and  citizen of this country he deserves my respect.  The following is written as a personal disappointment with heartfelt questions and much thought.  I do not want this post read or dismissed as another ignorant and outlandish bash against our president elect.

Mario and I have been sitting in our living room for months keeping up with the election process.  Boy, has it been a long one!  Our nation has recently made history by electing America's first minority president.  Notice I did not say African-American.  I will not tip toe around the confession that I am so disappointed in reporters who refer to Obama as an African American or black man.  He is NOT black.  He is bi-racial.  It bothers me more that he has not corrected this.

I am by no means trying to bury the history we just made, I am only raising awareness that for some reason the nation is seeing Obama for something he isn't.  Because I am the mother of a bi-racial son, I know the importance of recognizing your roots...both sides of them.  Research shows children conceived in interracial relations typically only battle confusion about their race, when the parents pressure them to choose one race or the other.  Typically, when this happens the child and society correlate the individual with the race of more dominate color.  Seven percent of all marriages are interracial in America.  We are the fastest growing relationship in our country.  Before long, you are not going to be able to ignore this race.

I have been pretty ticked about Obama not correcting this. Today, however, that ticked turned to boiling mad.  Irate.  Infuriated.  Speechless.  As Obama, referred to himself as a mutt while comparing himself to a shelter dog referring to his bi-racial roots my husband and I sat totally silent in our family room staring aimlessly in each others face.  I am still wondering if that really happened.  

This ticks me off to no end because if I were to refer to him as a mutt I would become racist.  It makes me shutter to think the only time he has pretty much referred to his "white" roots was today during his puppy dog spill concerning his daughters.  and it was a negative referral.  To be completely honest this is NOT an Obama slam.  I would be disappointed in anyone who did this.   

Mario wrote a post about this matter a few days ago and you just wouldn't believe the remarks he received (publicly and privately)  I could go on but don't want to disrespect.  It obvious what my point is.

Yibby's Dedication

Mario Dalen in their sweaters...so cute.

Olivia reaching for Dalen.

Dalen reaching back.

Happy (?) Halloween

Well, Halloween came and went. I'm not too sure how "happy" it was but we made it through with a cute costume. I guess that's what matters right? Being the penny pincher I am I decided to wait til the week of Halloween to get Dalen's costume b-c they are marked down. Because we got really sick we ended up waiting til the day of!The 1st costume we picked didn't fit Dalen grrrr! So being the awesome husband Mario is he ventured off at 5:30 p.m. to find a very cute Mickey Mouse costume at Walgreens. He knew it was important to me and he did a great job at picking a cute costume. Dalen and Olivia.

Olivia

Mickey

Enjoying a ride.

So folks, this is me. No make-up for over a week b-c I was too sick to care. Aren't I just gorgeous....ha, ha. That was typed with most sarcastic fingers ever.

The Hood Plague

Oh gosh, what to say?  The last week or so has been horrible.  I came down with what I thought what the flu on Saturday night but it turned into a monstrous stomach something or another (no I'm not pregnant, but if you want people to think you are just say you have the flu with stomach problems on top of it and it will SURE have people thinking you are grrr!)  Sunday was niece Olivia's dedication and I could barely stand through the prayer of blessing (the only day in my life I was wishing I wasn't Pentecostal....boy do we pray a loooong time).  Sunday night our plumbing screwed up and I could barely even stand up (no exaggeration).  We move out to my parents "for the night" and the plumber comes to our house 1st thing the next day.  We needed a new line b-c a trees roots grew through our old line....who knew this could happen??!!  We ended staying at my parents for 2 nights but thankfully they were out of town so they wouldn't get sick.  Mario stays home to help me with Dalen.  Wednesday Mario catches the monster and I am out of work for a whole week!  Mario was out for 4 days!  Who knows how we will be paying bills!?  Kidding, God always provides!  I have pics of the dedication and Halloween and Mario and Dalen cooking pancakes this morning (I wouldn't try this at home with a 1 year old) but I will post later.  I am still a PC gal and I have no clue how to upload pics on a Mac.  Mario had to do the last pic on my last post.  Thankfully, we are all feeling much, much better!!!

Loved This

When I was pregnant I got a subscription to the magazine Cookie (parenting magazine) for free.  I love this magazine!  This month Jada Pinkett Smith and her daughter, Willow, were on the cover.  The Smith's are one of my favorite Hollywood families because they seem so down to earth and normal.  I absolutely LOVED something she said about teaching her kids about manners....

"It's not 'please' and 'thank you' or 'because I told you so,' she explains.  "I tell them, 'Everytime you go out into the world, you are leaving an impression of yourself and this family with other people.  What impression do you want to leave?  Do you really want people thinking you are spoiled rotten?"

I think this is a great way of explaining why manners are important.  Children don't understand what being polite is but they do understand other may think poorly of them if they act certain ways.  I will be using this one!!