...and TREKaren. Maria is probably busy singing or redecorating (or both) :)

Yes, TREKaren! Last I recall, she had quit the job she hated, done a ton of organizing around the house and was going into another job in which she had negotiated in advance for the flexibility she wanted/needed to spend time with her daughter. Hey, Karen, where are you? HOW are you???

Ann

There are quite a few people missing. I'm wondering if their membership expired? Mine expires in January and, to be honest, I haven't decided if I'll renew it. I haven't seen Brenda or Karen on the other forums, either. For quite awhile this forum was pretty dead, and they might have decided it wasn't worth renewing for. (I'm glad to see it picking up again.)

Sheryl

oh, Sheryl, we would miss you!

As usual, I second Talley Sue's emotion...! Sheryl, it just would not be the same around here without you.

Ann

And I'll third that - Sheryl, please don't leave!

I hope some of these friends will drop in again sometime.

Greta

You all are so sweet!:)

And guess whose name I saw over on the Home Decorating Forum last night? Yep, Brenda's. But you don't have to be a member to post over there, I don't think. I told her everyone was asking about her, but I haven't checked back yet to see if she responded.

Sheryl

Well, I just renewed a few days ago, after having let my membership lapsed. I almost didn't renew as it seems life is so busy and things had been so slow on this forum. But, I couldn't take it anymore, so I renewed. I am hoping we will be seeing Betsy back here too (Artmom).

Things have been so crazy lately that I really didn't have time for the forum. DH was lucky enough not to get "down sized" in yet another corporate re-organizing spree, but he did have to take a lesser position (still a supervisor, but not at the same level) which at least didn't involve a pay cut. It does mean freaky hours again though. After 18 years in the field and 16 of them with AMR, you would think he would finally have the seniority for normal hours, but I guess paramedicine and normal hours just don't go together. To add to the chaos, our oldest son was in an "experimental" school. I won't bore you with the details, but I will tell you this school didn't have a regular grading system and he was obviously not grasping the basics and was "slipping through the cracks". The only other middle school is about as safe as Frankenstien's laboratory, so this wasn't an option, so I am now homeschooling him. Our middle son will be ready for middle school in the fall, so he will be added then and a year from then, we will add the last son (yes, I had three boys in three years and yes, I was insane!) So life is suddenly very different. I resisted homeschooling, saying "I couldn't do it" or "wasn't the teacher type", but after a lot of prayer and Dr. Phil (LOL!) I realized if I was really honest with myself I just didn't want to because I didn't want to make the sacrifice for it. So, once I dealt with my own ugly selfishness, the decision was actually very clear. I know there will be the days when I "lose my grip", but those will be the days I say "get pages 14 -20 done in your math and read chapter 2 in your science" and in the meantime I will head to my favorite coffee shop! At least the boys are old enough to be pretty independent. My oldest is already enjoying it, as he was able to go snowboarding with a homeschool group for only about 1/4 of the regular prices at Mount Spokane. I however, aged 10 years while driving up the mountain on the narrow winding road in the snow and ice! Also, I started an interior decorating business (Comfy Couch Interiors) and DH is very seriously looking into a couple other business ventures, plus is planning to buy a fixer upper to redo and flip. I still am working on my needlework kit business I have been trying to get off the ground too. And, of course, I am still selling on ebay. DH also continues to play drums for the symphony, teach drum lessons, teach first aid classes on the side and also sell jewelry on the side (he was a jeweler years ago and still has wholesale connections). Gee, do you think we could wear a few more hats? I also am in the midst of designing a new logo for our church along with new brochures, letterhead, business cards, etc. All this, while of course trying to be balanced and spend lots of quality time with the kids! It really has become kind of a zoo lately!

And, you ask . . . what has become of my home? Is it in a state of total chaos? Believe it or not no! It is actually quite neat. We entertained constantly during the holidays, which meant the house had to always be picked up. So I stayed on top of it. So it still looks great . . . but it also looks like Christmas is still waiting to arrive . . . two trees still up, the lights all over the outside of the house (but they aren't turned on at least!), all of my santa's on my china cabinet and above the kitchen cupboards, my nativity . . . stop by if you need some Christmas spirit! LOL! With our present lives, the decorations should still be up come July!

Seriously though, we need to get some balance back in our lives and figure out how to make the new schedules work for our family. The church logo, etc. will hopefully be done in a week or two, so that will be in the past. I will be listing a bit less on ebay each week also, which will free a few hours. The kids are old enough to be involved in a lot of the activities, so that also helps. My oldest son is getting good at packing my ebay stuff and they are all getting good at household chores.

Anyway, sorry this was such a long letter. Just thought I should play catch up. Good to be back!

Brenda

Brenda, welcome back and wow I can understand why you've been too busy to visit here!!

Good luck on ALL your ventures, but especially with your children. I do think homeschooling has really come into the mainstream much more in the past few years, so hopefully you'll have lots of support and resources to help you find the best path for you and those boys you so clearly cherish.

And hey, put that holiday un-decorating on your list and let us know when it's done, we'll cheer you on :).

Ann

Hi all! I was not going to renew, because I'm not certain how much I can pop in, but I'll miss everyone far too much. I keep in touch with Betsy via email as much as I can, but we're both so busy lately.

Nov/Dec for me are a mad dash and I have zero personal time, because of trips, Christmas preparation, and also planning and prepping for DD's 12/23 birthday each year. I usually start around Halloween to get everything done. Next year, I will begin earlier, if I can.

My new job is great! Is it perfect? Nope. Still some chaos, but nowadays I think that is the norm. So I asked for and received flexibility with working from home, and in fact last week I worked from home two days, once because DD was sick, and once because I had a repairman coming to the house.

These are the things that really make a job work for me. My boss, as well as the other folks I work with are very professional, and I enjoy working with them a lot. I have learned a whole lot from them already.

I also learned from my four months of being home, last summer. I know now that part of my problem is not working, in and of itself, but rather my own ability to cut loose at quitting time, and let go of the un-done at work. And also not volunteering for too many activities in the evening and on the weekend. In other words, I have to learn balance in life. I have a couple of days a week where I put a reminder in Outlook to tell me to go home. :-) Sounds funny but it really snaps me out of work projects and refocuses my mind on the evening.

Anyway, organizationally, I used one of my work-from-home days last week to undecorate the house, while I was on a conference call on my cell phone. I have all these empty rubbermaid tubs, yet I have decorations stored in rickety cardboard boxes. Why? So I reorganized, and purged old lights and old junk out, then stowed stuff in the rubbermaids.

Behind on other org projects though. I didn't get my December tax-deduction load to Goodwill done. Was one of those things that had to get cut from my list of to-do's. I'm getting better at letting things go like that. I figure, who cares if it's on this year's taxes or next year's. Is it really important enough to beat myself up about? And often the answer is no, I have realized!

So I really need to get my closets done, and also DD's old toys. But other than that, I'm in really good shape around the house. Not company ready every single day, but most days I am.

Thanks for asking about me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope you guys have a great New Year!!!

~~Karen

ooh, I'm so glad you guys came back. Look at all this wisdom!

I know now that part of my problem is not working, in and of itself, but rather my own ability to cut loose at quitting time, and let go of the un-done at work.

That's me, often!

And this one:
Is it really important enough to beat myself up about? And often the answer is no, I have realized!

Ain't that the truth? We can set our own standard so high, and forget that we're allowed to relax them if we want.

Welcome back, Brenda and Karen!! Wow, you both are very busy, but it sounds like you are re-evaluating priorities and trying to stay organized. Brenda, yes you are wearing a lot of hats! "Hats off to you" (sorry!) for taking on the job of homeschooling. I'd do the same if I questioned the public schools my children attend. And here I just figured you were busy fixing up your new house. Guess you had a lot more going on!!

Sheryl

"Is it really important enough to beat myself up about? And often the answer is no, I have realized!

Ain't that the truth? We can set our own standard so high, and forget that we're allowed to relax them if we want."

_____________________________________________

I am experiencing this now. January and February are tough times for me as that is when we are doing heavy PR for our preschool and recruiting new families and hoping our current families sign on for another year. I beat myself every year when someone decides not to return, or when someone observes and never returns. Even once I'm at home, I might as well not be here because I am NOT focused on my family - my thoughts are still at work. I am working very hard at not letting that happen this year, although I admit that it's already reared its ugly head a couple of times.

Sheryl

Welcome back, Brenda & Karen! Glad to hear from both of you.

Greta

I'm glad you didn't lapse! The more the merrier, even if you can't spend as much time here as you used to. I really find it helpful to get motivation here, though sometimes I am too busy to spend much time here.

I'm here, too. Been lurking but too busy to chime in. My wonderful friend Brenda renewed my subscription. I hope this doesn't embarrass her but she's a very kind person and I wanted everyone to know!.

Life has been busy and I've been whining about being tired and sore from long hours on my feet and cleaning houses and selling tools. After I read what bouncing pig has been up to I decided to just "shut-up" LOL. DH still has not found a job with benefits so we are still without insurance. We still have a home to organize so the bills are getting paid. My mom was here during the holidays and , in some ways, was very helpful with laundry and cooking while I was at work. it was good she left when she did cause I was starting to want my routines back and thats hard when you are sleeping in the living room and sharing a bathroom with 3 other people. Our cat has been missing for over 2 weeks now and I really miss her. She probably ran away from all the chaos around here with all the other animals. The chicken turned out to be a rooster and he is learning to crow which delights the neighbors to no end, I'm sure. Science fair is in a month so I'm not sure what will become of him after that. We spent a fortune building him a coop. I think he needs a girlfriend. Maybe I'll run away.

I'll try to post more and be a better friend. I'm trying to gety some new routines down which is so hard since I work different hours and have different days off. I told my boss I can't work Saturdays anymore cause I don't want DD home by herself since DH has to work on Saturdays. As long as I have a plan for dinner every night and there is clean laundry I try not to worry about much else. I guess, with all of your help I can make it happen.

A rooster??? LOL Glad you're not my neighbor.
Contact the Yellow River Game Ranch in Lilburn and see if they will take him. They just might, as they have lots of chickens and roosters there already.

Actually, maybe I'm weird, but I love waking up to roosters. We had one near our old house, but he was a very lazy rooster . . . he crowed everyday at 10:30 a.m.! I really miss him in my new neighborhood, though we do get pheasant roosters crowing quite regularly. Would I want to own a rooster though or be responsible for caring for him? Hmmmm . . . can you say "Chicken Devon" or perhaps "Chicken Ala King"?

Betsy, I am glad you are back and I believe with all my heart 2005 will be a better year for you and your family. You really are an important part of this group!

Okay, enough of that slobbery gushing . . . go clean up the chicken sh_t!

Brenda

Welcome back, Betsy! (Thanks, Brenda!)

We, too, had a rooster in our old neighborhood. I sort of grew fond of him. We only moved down the street, but I can barely hear him anymore. :(

Sheryl

we didn't have a rooster, but we did own a chicken! She was kinda cool.

Maria showed up recently at the cooking forum......

Here is a link that might be useful: Maria MIA

mitch,

You may have gotten the wrong Maria...

I'm here all the time reading, just too busy to post.
I'm definatelly going to renew and hope to post more.

I have some news: I'm one month pregnant! (first time)

Maria (in Greece)

Maria, we've missed you - welcome back! Congratulations on your news; that's wonderful!

Greta

Maria! Congratulations! What a lucky baby that will be, to have you as a mommy!

Congratulations, Maria! It's great that you have been so organized BEFORE you have the baby - I didn't really start to think about organizing until after my kids were in school. We spent WAYYY too long drowning in stuff!

Hi Karen and all.
Congratulations, Maria! You can start singing some sweet lullabies.

Welcome back Maria and congratulations!!!! Your life will never be the same!

Brenda

Brenda's right, it will never be the same...but better! Congrats.

maria, congratulations on being pregnant; dh and I just became grandparents for the first time !! I remember your username now and you're right, I confused you with maria from cooking....sorry about that.....
maria on cooking was awol for a while too....

Best of luck and keep us posted on your development !!