The power of T.V.

We have all heard that children are very impressionable when it comes to television. Children seem to want everything that is advertised. "Mom, i want to have a Goo Blaster 3000." This might be a cry a boy might scream as he is watching a commercial, his eyes never leave the glow of the screen. "Mom, i need to have this new Barbie cereal, it will help me have all the daily vitamins a kid needs." This might be a cry of a little girl to her mother, explaining why she should have a sugary cereal.
My children are forever screaming the toys they want when a commercial is on. I have to keep explaining that we cant get every toy or item that they see. We are unable to afford all of the vitamins, clothes, skateboards, adult diapers, baby diapers, soft soaps, penis enlargers and Barbie cereal that they see everyday. If we bought all these things,yes...we might be cleaner and sexually happier...but we would be broke. The kids are kinda getting this...and now they will only ask for one item that they see a day. So we are making progress.
The other day i had a conversation with Ian. He was asking me why i do not use Oxy Clean? I was doing the laundry and spraying shout on everything. Here is how the conversation went.

Ian: Mom, why don't you use Oxi Clean?
Mom: *looking at Ian with really wide eyes* Ah, i don't know.
Ian: Mom, Oxi Clean is really important for getting out deep stains.
Mom: *biting my tongue trying not to laugh* Ian, we don't use Oxi Clean because i use shout and it works just as well.
Mom: Besides i used Oxi Clean and it really didn't work too well.
Ian: When did you use Oxi Clean?
Mom: When you were a little boy Ian.
Ian: Well Mom, there is a new and improved Oxi Clean and i think you should try it again.
Mom: *dumbfounded* .....silence
Ian: Oxi Clean will really help you for getting out my stains on my shirt.
Mom: You know what would help me...having you use a napkin when you need to wipe your hands off.
Ian: Mom, will you try Oxi Clean again?
Mom: I don't think so. It really didn't work too well.
Ian: But Mom, that was a long time ago. I think it has changed now.
Mom: *getting a little annoyed* I don't think i want to use this, it is a waste of money.
Ian: Maybe you were using it wrong
Mom: Ian, you cant use it wrong. There are instructions how to use it.
Ian: Why would the man sell something that doesn't work?
Mom: Because he would like money and it might work for other cleaning around the house.
Ian: Oh, you mean like Orange Glow!
Mom: *thinking her son is watching a little too much T.V* Ah yes Ian...but that stuff sucks as well.
Ian: Why do people sell stuff that doesn't work?
Mom: Maybe some people like it Ian. Maybe the stuff works for them.
Ian: I think you need to use Oxi Clean again mom.

I kinda got up and threw in another load of laundry at this point. I love my son, but wow!

Learning to Juggle Life

My life is like a bag a sand with a slow leak in it. My day starts out as a beautiful full, round bag....full of homeschooling, Sashi's school, my food storage commitments, Ian's friends coming over, cooking, cleaning, playing with children, being a caring wife and trying to find time for myself. As my day progresses "my bag" begins to leak out knowledge, patience, can do spirit, patience, imagination, determination, patience, patience, and a bubble bath. When the day is ended my bag is deflated, ugly, withered old thing that nobody would want to look at. I find when i have had a bath and have mommy time, my bag slowly starts to fill again. I find it calming to know that sand is never ending. I enjoy life and love to teach my children things. I don't always like having to "add" sand to my bag...it almost seems like it might burst with the pressure of outside obligations. At times i wish that the leak would increase in size so the outgoing sand would flow faster, maybe my day would be over sooner. I know that my bag will never be empty and this makes me really happy...an empty bag would surely mean death. Life is good...even when one seems like they are being pulled in every direction.

Simple pleasures

What delights a child? Is it a ice cream cone? Is it a walk with the family to the beach? Maybe it is running up and down man, made sand dunes? It could be a race home with daddy
....or maybe it is all of the above. Today we had a family walk down to Sandy Beach. This walk isn't too far from our house, in fact it is about 10 minutes away. The children put on coats and we walked down to see how the "new playground" was coming along. It was AMAZING. There are huge sand dunes piled all along the beach cabins. The dunes are so high they match the top of these buildings. The kids delighted in climbing to the very top of the hill and then run, crawling, jumping, rolling down the hill. Oh what fun! Ian and Sashi got covered in dirt... so much dirt that Sashi said, "i will never be clean again, mama." We stayed at the beach until hubby could no longer stand the bugs biting him. "We have to go now!" my darling grumbled.
The walk home was a lot of fun, Ian and daddy raced as fast as they could to see who could get home the fastest. Daddy won, because he took the shortcut up the road to the gas station. Ian looked at me and said, "where is daddy going...oh, we are going to get goodies!" In the store the children's eyes were wide with excitement of the goodies they could buy. Ian got skittles. Sashi got Hershey kisses. Wow! The kids were so happy with this outing with mom and dad. As we walked home, Ian said, "This was the best short walk we have ever been on mom." Oh the joys of being a kid and having simple pleasures.

Ian wins his game....finally!

Early this morning my son asked me if i could do a blog about him winning his favorite game Kingdom Hearts 2. Ian has been working very hard to win this game, he enlisted his friends, family and a little sister to help. He would have friends take turns trying to defeat the "bosses" then would ask for the controller, when all the hard work was done. (i am getting an ugly look from Ian) I guess this isn't all the whole truth...Ian did work hard...screaming, stomping his feet, yelling and throwing the controller around the house...oops Ian has his angry face on again....hahaha.
Here, Ian will tell the story of how he defeated the main boss or BIG BOSS. "OK, how i beat the boss there are two parts. First, i watched the basic part on you tube and my friend said i couldn't do a part of the boss level, but he was wrong i did that part really well. Well, actually mom, there is more.... Xeamneas controlled all of the organization 13 weapons. This part was easy even though he made water clones to distract me and he also knocked me back with shields of light sabors. Next i had to defeat a giant nobody that was very hard for me. After that i had to defeat Xeamneas again....he was hard because he shot a ring of lasers around me. Xeamneas caught Sora in a bolt of lightening. That is when i got to play Riku. Riku is Sora's friend. Then when i saved Sora...Xeamneas covered the whole battle ground with lasers and i had to block them using the Key blade. The key blade is a weapon with lots of cool powers. Then Sora and Riku went to the door of light and went back home. Then there was peace throughout the world where i had to fight battles."
Holy cow!!

Woot and holler Ian has finally defeated Xeamneas..meaning there is an end to Kingdom Hearts 2!!!

We have cable let the games begin!

Are you ready? Are you set? The BIG day has come FINALLY come! I am way excited...no...excited isn't the right word...thrilled!? No, not the right word...intoxicated! Yes, this is the right word! Yay! 6:30pm tonight I will be sitting in front on my TV with a huge smile on my face watching one of my loves in life. I have told my friends and family not to expect to much from me, for the next two weeks. I will be worthless...Waahaha!! *evil laugh*
I have a couple of problems however, I have to go to the mall tomorrow and help out at a home school function...ugh. I might also have to teach a class at church about canning in the next two weeks...dang....boohoo...what am i do to?! Why does life have to continue?? Why can't it stop for two weeks?? Do people not understand that I have been counting down for 4 years?? Do they not realize my passion for these games?? I need understanding....I need something.

Just thinking

I thought this picture was pretty funny. I am by all means not angelic, but i thought it would go good with my topic. :)
I have been thinking a lot today on being good or being Christ like. I don't know how Jesus does it? I know that Christ is perfect and there is no way that we can even remotely be perfect, but that we are to aspire to be like him. I want to be like Jesus. I try so very hard. I can honestly tell you that i fall flat on my face all the time. I know how to be good. I see it right in arms reach, but i cant seem to touch it. It is like i am walking towards a rainbow trying to touch it, but every time i get to where i think the rainbow is...it is just a little bit further. I gotta tell you it is very frustrating.
It is taught that you should give service willingly or to help others. I love helping others, but where i fall flat is when i complain about the service that i need to give. I am working on this very hard, but yet i find myself still complaining. I was thinking...what is the point of giving service, if you are going to complain about it? There really isn't any point. You should want to do a favor for someone. What is my deal? I know what my deal is. I am embarrassed to say. My deal is i don't like to be wronged. I find myself wanting to help others who truly need the help and ask ahead of time. I can plan my day and help out. I don't like it when someone asks for help at the last minute, because they have not planned their day right and are in a "jam." I am embarrassed to say... I KNOW that this is when you should help someone.. . When they are in a jam. I have fallen flat on my face. I am ashamed.
It is said that you should forgive 7 times 77. I forgive really easily, this truly is something i do not have a problem with. Where i am falling flat is....should i keep forgiving someone and getting hurt each time i do it or should i step away from the problem and try to avoid having it happen again? I feel like Jesus would want me to keep forgiving and just move on. I am finding this REALLY hard to do. I don't know how much i can continue to have someone stomp on me. You will not believe it. I have found myself doing the right thing. I am still forgiving and "hanging" out with this person. I am terrified though that i will be hurt again. Forgiveness is a process, once the sting is really bad. I have to work through everything and then heal and move on. Some of the things that are done to me are really mean. I keep forgiving, but after you have done it for 7 years it starts to get harder. I hate falling flat.
This is a strange post i know. I had to write about it because i needed to get it out of my mind. I am hoping now that i have posted this...it can help me to reach the rainbow.

New Discoveries

Life is full of discoveries. Some of our discoveries are big and important, others are small and rather insignificant, but our brains crave knowledge and we need to learn. I love watching my children discovering "their" world. I laugh at the things in which they say and do. I stand amazed at some of the ideas that go through their minds. How did they come up with that? I ponder if i have kids with superpowers... i just don't know that they in fact have mega brains.
Today one of Sashi's discoveries was the little refrigerator light. Sashi was helping me make dinner. She loves to mix, chop, stir and get items that i need out of the fridge. I had asked Sashi to please get the milk out for me. Sashi's gets off her little stool and grabs the handle to the refrigerator she gives it a great pull and POP the little light goes on! Sashi grabs the milk and hands it to me. As i go on with my dinner making i see out the corner of my eye, Sashi opening the fridge again. I wonder what she is doing. I decide to watch. Sashi would open the door just a crack and press her little face into the crack and say, "mama, the light comes on! *giggle* Sashi would then quickly shut the fridge and then just a quickly open it again, this time a little wider. She then shouted, "Mama, the light goes off when i shut it and then it comes right back on when i open it." "It knows when i am coming!" *giggle* Then Sashi wants to know why the light comes on and off. I tell her that people need to see the food in the fridge and that is why the light comes on. She just stares at me. I then tell her the the light doesn't need to be on when the door is closed. Sashi thinks about this and states, "OH!" Sashi is happy with that answer and away she goes dancing down the hall. A discovery was made!


Ian has made the wonderful discovery that he is able to beat Kingdom Hearts 2! Ian is almost to the end of this game that he has been playing for almost 4 months. He has been so frustrated that he has given up more times then i can count. Just in the last few days, he has made more progress then he has ever done. He is SO excited. He and his friends sit and discuss how they are going to beat the next level. "Mom, i cant see the end...it is coming." Ian says with delight. Yay the discovery of an actual end to a game!