Couldn't have asked for a better day with the kids yesterday.  School went smoothly and organized-love days like these.  I never know if it goes smooth because I am relaxed and letting my guard down a bit or if something else is just aligning correctly.  Either way, it's all good.  Ella decided to wear her bathing suit yesterday so she did her math lessons, painted and read in her bathing suit.  Can you imagine allowing your child to wear this to a bricks and mortar school?  Wouldn't happen!

Cooked a nice meal last night and after we finished, took a walk around the neighborhood.  It's pretty apparent that their is a lawn competition going on in our neighborhood.  The grass is so green and perfect I was beginning to think I should have brought my golf clubs!  I just wanted to lay in the grass!  Leave it to us to mess the perfect lawn game up-we don't have a mower therefor we have not mowed since we moved in...oops!  Our neighbors mow just about everyday...

Joshua is at the bottom of the steps begging someone to carry him up the steps.  I just carried him up.  Another thing we tend to take for granted!  Do me a favor, today when you go up steps, take a minute and say "Thank you Lord for giving me legs that work.  Amen"

I got a phone call yesterday from one of my girlfriends from my BUNCO group.  Since I have moved I couldn't make it to our September dinner date:(  She called to tell me that they planned a surprise visit next month and they are all going to load up and come and see me!  This is so nice-one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me!  How did I get so lucky to land such integral friends?!  *~*~*~Feeling the love*~*~*~

When we were at the grocery store the other night I felt like aisle after aisle I had to listen to women who were on a power trip bitching at their kids.  Most of the women their were dressed in their heels and dress pants so I assume they worked during the day.  SO they were away from their kids all day and then the few hours that they got to spend with them in the evening they were belittling them and being rude.  This one girl who appeared to be about 10 was pushing her parents shopping cart and she bumped into me.  Her parents were paces ahead of her and when they realized she bumped into me they both turned around and yelled at her.  Poor girl was so embarrassed.  Josh and I both quickly said to the parents "it's OK!"  Have you ever ran into someone by accident with your shopping cart?  I know I have!  Of course it makes you feel stupid let alone can you imagine if someone yelled at you right in front of the person you hit and made you feel even more stupid?  It is our job as parents to constantly build up our kids.  Teach them by leading with good example and treat them like a human being.  A good rule of thumb is if you wouldn't talk to your co-worker or neighbor that way then you shouldn't talk to your kids that way, no matter how old they are.  When your child makes a mistake like running into someone with a shopping cart, quickly come to their rescue.  Apologize to the person for your child and encourage them to apologize too.  Maybe put your arm around your child and say "That's OK, I have done that before too."  Teach them to apologize and move on!  Don't ask them "why did you do that?" or shout "watch where you are going"  Obviously it was an accident!  I am guilty too of using poor tone with my kids from time to time.  Whenever I do this I always be sure to apologize later and explain to the kids the way I was feeling.  I also let them know that it is not ok for people to talk bad to you.  Otherwise they will grow up to accept people talking down to them!

A little rambling there but I can't stand to see this in the world!

Off to do more school and cleaning!  Embrace the rain today-be glad it's raining on your house, car and face and not your tombstone!