It's the Little Things!

A few weeks ago, Diana tagged me for a 6 UNimportant Things That Make Me Happy meme.

Like the others, I had to determine what "unimportant" was in my life - and I decided it was the things that made me happy, but it didn't matter one tiny bit to someone else.
Without further ado, I present to you my list of 6 UNimportant things that make me, Momma Roar, happy.

1 - I am obsessed wtih mowing and creating lines in my yard. I know I sound like a nut job, but a freshly mowed lawn with a pattern makes me smile.

2 - Every now and then, when I'm outside mowing or hanging out laundry, I'll catch the smell of honeysuckle and that puts a smile on my face every time. It's like a little present just for me and I was there for the right moment to receive it.  The same is true for lilacs.

3 - I guess I could have grouped 1, 2 and 3 into a category of "being outside" - but then I would have had to think of more. ;-)  I love sitting on the beach, period.  But, the sounds enhance the experience.  I love hearing the ocean waves with the muffled sounds of families playing all around.

4 - I find happiness looking at the stack of papers I typed up last month filled with checklists of 2nd grade standards.  From this, I'm planning 0ur upcoming year and it feels so good to be so organized, realizing it's early in the ball ame and by the top of the 4th, I'll be maxed out on my organization abilities! ;-)

5 - Music makes me happy - especially "my" music.  We have a great local Christian radio station, but I grow tired of the commercials and weather and news.  We recently purchased a speaker for my iPod and now I can listen to my favorite music as well as the podcasts I enjoy...life is good!

6 - Happiness is, finding the gas tank filled when I jump in my truck!

What UNimportant things make you happy?  If you'd like to play along, consider yourself tagged!

Yippee it's Friday and my final tag of the week!

Mary at Not Before 7 tagged me for this meme.  We are to write about 5 specific ways blogging has affected us, either positively or negatively, link back to the person who tagged us, and tag a few friends.

1 - Blogging has helped me think through many issues.  Sometimes I just click into blogger and start typing out thoughts trying to work them into a post.  It usually has to do with something troubling me.  These types of posts don't often make it to my blog, because through the process of writing it, I've been able to settle the issue in my mind.  Once it is settled, I delete it and move on.  Is it unsettling that I settle things before I post them?  Would it be less unsettling if I still posted my thoughts that have gone from unsettled to settled?  Hmmm... ;-)

2 - PEOPLE - It is just crazy how many great people I've met through blogging - and if you are reading this (and you've left a comment before and you aren't a lurker that I know nothing of) then you are one of those awesome people I've come to know.  Some of you I did know pre-blog, but I've gotten to know you better from your comments on my crazy posts.

3 -  iv ben getten betr aht miy tieping skilz"

4 - I can keep my family up to date on what is happening in our lives.  My parents read pretty often and T's parents check occasionally.  It's good to have a way to keep grandparents up to date - you know, since we live 5 minutes from both of them...

5 - The biggest way blogging has affected me (and I'm still trying to decide if this is good or bad) is it keeps me up late at night, gets me up early in the morning and keeps me busy all day long!  It's almost better than Pepsi!

Now for the fun part, I'm going to tag:
Just Mom
and ... surprise,
Just Mom
and
again,
Just Mom

'Cause y'all know she's begging for some new blogging material!  Anyway one else who wants to play along - Please do!  I'm feeling like the bully who is "it" the entire recess period and I just can't bring myself to tag anyone else.  Except, JM!  You're it again!

Consider yourself tagged for any of the memes this week - but be sure to let me know when you've done them.  I know you've been enlightened by my Tag posts this week - and I don't want to miss out on your wisdom either!

Have a Terrific Weekend!  We're going to a concert this weekend - I can sing loud and no one will hear me!  WAHOOOOO!

And now back to our regularly scheduled week of Tags...

An award...

Here are the rules:

• Mention the blog that gave it to you and comment on their blog to let them know you've posted your award
• Publish these rules
• Share 6 values that are important to you and 6 things you do not support
• Grant the prize to 6 people

Susan, at Penless Writer, passed this award along to me. Susan is one of the first bloggy buddies I made when I started out. We had both started just within days of each other. Susan has become a wonderful, dear friend - a mentor. It is a blessing to have someone a "click" away when with whom I can share and ask advice. As a mom of little ones, that are home all day-every day, email is sometimes the only communication I can do (because then no one has to be subjected to the sounds of my children when I'm on the phone)!

6 Things I Value...

- My family and my faith. Jesus Christ is the most important part of my life. Without Him, I could not do all that I do. He has placed me on this earth, at this time, for His needs and I strive to discern His Will for my life and do my best to live it out.

- True friends that don't say one thing to your face and then turn around and say something totally different behind your back. (ie, "It's so cool that you homeschool, Leigh Ann - that is really great" 5 minutes later to a friend, "Leigh Ann is crazy for homeschooling.") No, I'm not bitter - but just don't tell me how much you respect my decision if you're going to say something else behind my back - I just rather not know. My true friends are the ones that tell me their honest feelings ... to my face and still love and support me.

- A strong work ethic. I do not perceive this as something many parents pass on to their children anymore. Mom and Dad do the work for the kids or someone does the work for Mom and Dad. I admire a person who works hard for what they have and doesn't complain about what it took to get there - instead of fussing, they move on and get the next task accomplished.

- Humbleness. Someone who does what needs to be done without looking for credit or attention. Someone who lives within their means and doesn't point fingers at those they "perceive" are living above their means. You don't know what people make/earn, so do not try to judge. We all spend our money different ways - and sometimes, what you see...isn't what you get.

- The ability to keep quiet. There are times when people should talk - and times they shouldn't. I place value upon those that know the difference.

- Individuality - I love a person who looks to Christ for their self concept rather than those around them. Do it for you - not because someone else is doing it. I can again go back to homeschooling on this, because I am the only mom my age at my church that homeschools. It can be a lonely road - but I am striving to be the woman/wife/mom Christ has called me to be. So take it or leave it! ;-)


Ok, that was on the heavy side, let's lighten things up a little, shall we?


6 Things I do no Support

I do not support...

- Restaurants that serve Coca Cola products. ;-) (a couple of you can vouch that you've seen me drink coke in restaurants...sigh - I wish I could start a "Just Say No to Coke" campaign.)

- The carrying of a nice, dressy leather purse while wearing your workout wear. Just leave the purse at home when you go to the gym.

-Half-worn-off toe nail polish. Its got be the whole thing or nothing. When it starts to wear off, please ladies, repaint or remove!

- The idea, simply because I drive a large SUV, that I use a lot of gas. That would actually imply I get myself and my 3 children out of the house on a regular basis, and well, it doesn't always happen. I've learned to enjoy being at home with the bonus being that it does save gas! ;-)

- The use of cell phones while in check-out lines.

- And lastly, I do not support the democratic presidential nominee.


Granting the prize to 6 bloggers who deserve an award for their personal effort in blogging:
- Ginger
- Short Stop
- Jillian, Inc
- Not Before 7 Teaches (Her homeschool blog)
- Sew Sensible
- Just Mom

These blogs are all ones I enjoy. They make me laugh, they make me cry, they make me think and learn - thank you for that!

Well, if that wasn't the most UP/DOWN extreme opposite post I've ever written, LOL!

One more to go y'all, hang in there!

Please.

Tag - Part 2

Peculiar tagged me on my prayer blog, Lifting Hands.  I like to keep that blog devoted to the prayers for our children so I'm playing along on the ol' family blog!

Rules:
1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

8 Random things about me:
1 - Leigh is my first name and Ann is my middle name.  My parents always wanted to use the two together and it did create many problems throughout school.  But, I do really enjoy the uniqueness of my name (Thanks Mom & Dad!)

2 - My hubby is the only serious boyfriend I ever had :-O and God knew it needed to be that way!

3 - My oldest child is named after a stuffed animal - I plan to post it as a "Show & Tell Friday" soon.

4 - I always liked my freckles until I saw an episode of The Brady Bunch and then I tried to "remove" them with a lemon just like Jan Brady.

5 - I have my ears double pierced.  The first piercing was in elementary school and the second was 7 years ago.  T could not watch, he had to walk away as I was getting them done - LOL!

6 - In high school, I bartered my firstborn for a college reference letter.  The letter was written by the secretary of the guidance department and is a dear friend of my mom's.  She sent the finished letter to me with a note saying, "You owe me your firstborn!"  When we had Quintin, she came to visit and I pulled the letter out.  I have a picture of her holding the letter and Quintin and trying to get out the door! :-)

7 - Throughout college and my years teaching in a public school, I never, ever saw myself homeschooling.  I love how God turns things around to work in His time and for His purpose.

8 - I am a "Project UnFinisher."  I LOVE to start projects - read up on the directions, gather the supplies, set up a work area and get started.  But...then I never finish. 

Tag - You're It!

If you'd like to play along, you can.  Til this week of TAGS is over, I'm gonna be pressing my luck with listing everyone twice! ;-)

So, if you'd like to play along, you can. 

Oh, but Just Mom, you *have* to play along!

Hot Diggity Blog!

A week's worth of tags!

I've been accumulating some tags and I've decided to declare this

National Tag-You're It Week @ Momma Roar's!!!

Why?

Basically, 'cause I can! :-D

Jill at Jillian, Inc awarded me this "Kreativ Blogger" award. I'm supposed to list six things that make me happy, and then pass the award on to six people.

For those who read my blog often, you know the things that make me the happiest (friends, family, faith) so I'm going to do the "...and then comes..." list.

1 - Having long hair that I can pull up off my shoulders on a hot day and to keep my neck warm on cool days!

2 - A freshly mowed lawn. If you know me, you know I like to mow my lawn. There is something about creating the almost perfect lines that is therapeutic.

3 - Freshly baked ... anything!

4 - Lasting 4 months without bringing Pepsi into my house. This past week I did buy a 6-pack - and it's amazing to me that I could seriously go back to drinking a 24 oz soda a day. But I'm not going to - it was just a treat!

5 - Capturing, on camera, my children's delight, silliness or even "I dare you" looks.

6 - Knowing that my friends are reading this right now because they think I'm fabulous!! BAH hahahaha :)

Now, to do my part in keeping this award moving through the blogosphere, I tag:

Michelle at Frazenfam

Krista at Corn Rows and Meadows

Tammy at Lattes and Lollipops

WeaverMom at Learning to Weave

Renee at The Shirk Family

Just Mom at Just Mom's Musings

So, um, TAG - YOU'RE IT!!

Countdown Tag

Tara tagged me for this one last week.

TEN THINGS I DID THIS WEEKEND
1. Planned out our Thanksgiving meal and got most of my groceries. My family will be here on Thursday - there will be a total of 17 15 people!! Apparently, I can't count...and that includes me, T and the kids...so, 10 additional people, that sounds much better than 17! HA
2. T and I worked to clean the windows in our 2-story family room and foyer.
3. Wiped walls and woodwork in the family room and playroom.
4. Put away the summer decorations on my mantle.
5. Began playing around with my Christmas/Winter decorations for the mantle.
6. Went to Sunday School and church with my family (not a rare thing - we do it every weekend!)
7. Friday night we attended the closing program for the Fall Homeschool Co-op session.
8. Enjoyed seeing Quintin's Pre-K/K class say their verse and sing their colors song for the whole group (will post pictures Tuesday!)
9. I walked on the treadmill Saturday morning (I usually don't walk on the weekends)
10. As I was walking, I saw a deer outside at the woods - at first I thought it was a 3D archery target - then I remembered we don't have one of them, lol!

9 things on my agenda this week:
1. Make it to Thursday without hurting anyone!! ;-)
2. Finish cleaning the downstairs windows/woodwork.
3. Vacuum and dust the upstairs.
4. Give the bathrooms a thorough cleaning...yuck
5. Exercise each morning to reduce my stress and have time to plan out my day.
6. Make a Thanksgiving Tree with the children.
7. Post pictures of Thanksgiving Tree and Friday night's Co-op program.
8. Make a lot of food!
9. Catch up with friends through blogs!

8 shows I've watched last week:
1. Chuck
2. Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
3. Football
4. Criminal Minds
5. Sesame Street
6. Super Why!
7. Clifford
8. Dancing with the Stars

7 things I cooked last week: (I'm changing this to things that will be cooked this week)
1. Refrigerator mashed potatoes
2. Creamed corn
3. 17 lb turkey
4. Mom's stuffing
5. Sweet & sour green beans
6. Ham & cheese pie
7. Leftovers!

6 things I read this week
1. My bible
2. Blogs!
3. One Minute of Praise
4. Leading Little Ones to God
5. Southern Living Christmas 2007
6. The Story of the Easter Egg

5 Reasons to be happy today
1. Its soon time to go to bed!
2. I'm continuing to see my weight go down on the scale!!!!!
3. I have a wonderful family
4. You are reading this!
5. My family is coming on Thursday

4 things I need to buy:
1. Winter boots for Quintin
2. Christmas presents
3. A winter hat for Elle
4. I need to get Colin some new long pjs

3 people I saw this weekend:
1. Heidi
2. Jezz
3. Tracy & Andrea....who don't comment...just in case you wondered! HAHAHA

2 things I am thankful right now:
1. To be able to spend tonight at home, with my family
2. I have 3 healthy children and a wonderful hubby!

1 final thought:
With great chocolate, comes great responsibility.
~Larry Boy (VeggieTales superhero)

Consider yourself tagged if you'd like to play along!

Blogging Advice Tag

Susan at Penless Writer tagged me for this meme. I have not seen it before but I think it is fun.

The rules and instructions: It’s very simple. When this is passed on to you, copy the whole thing, skim the list and put a * star beside those that you like. (Check out especially the * starred ones.)

Add the next number (1. 2. 3. 4. 5., etc.) and write your own blogging tip for other bloggers. Try to make your tip general. After that, tag 10 other people. Link love some friends!


Just think- if 10 people start this, the 10 people pass it onto another 10 people, you have 100 links already!


1. Look, read, and learn.

**** http://www.neonscent.com/


2. Be, EXCELLENT to each other.

***** http://www.bushmackel.com/


3. Don’t let money change ya!

** http://www.therandomforest.info/


4. Always reply to your comments.

************ http://chattiekat.com/


5. Link liberally — it keeps you and your friends afloat in the Sea of Technorati.

****** http://chipsquips.com/


6. Don’t give up - persistence is fertile.

*** http://www.velcro-city.co.uk/


7. Give link credit where credit is due.

********** http://www.sfsignal.com/


8. Pictures say a thousand words and can usually add to any post.

******* http://scifichick.com/


9. Visit all the bloggers that leave comments for you - it’s nice to know who is reading!

******* http://stephaniesbooks.blogspot.com/


10. Make a blogger template unique: change the background colour, or add a background picture to your header.

** http://chris-book-a-rama.blogspot.com/


11. Write positively even if the situation is seemingly negative — spread joy and not gloom. You can do it!

**** http://www.aliceteh.com/


12. When you find something that interests you, write about it. Sharing yourself with others is one of the best things about blogging.

**** http://jhthomas.blogspot.com/


13. Start draft posts to capture ideas for future posts, so you don’t lose track of them.-

** http://charmingdelightful.blogspot.com/


14. Be helpful to new bloggers. Remember when you first started blogging and didn’t know how to post a link? Or was that just me?

***** http://islandlife808.com/


15. If you have a question about blogging, don’t be shy, go ahead and ask. There are so many bloggers happy to give you help if you need it.

*** http://www.arewethereyetmom.com/


16. Remember that blogging is a community - don’t be afraid to comment on the blogs you read. Reach out and make new friends, you’ll be glad you did!

*** http://debmomof3.blogspot.com/


17. Try to blog daily, this is the only way to build up a “cyber following”

** http://mylifeasmamajodi.com/


18. Check that box on your profile so your bloggy buddies can reply by email to your comments, it makes life so much easier... and by all means PLEASE make your profile public so when you click on your name it doesn't say profile not available. There's no way to reply to you or visit you when you aren't public!

** http://mylifeasannie.blogspot.com/


19. Be REAL and don't put up a false front. We want to get to know the REAL you.

* http://penlesswriter.blogspot.com/


20. Post what is on your heart - the things that matter most to you!
http://mommaroar.blogspot.com/


Link-loving my friends: Just Mom, Mary, Amber, MorningSong, Devildogwife, WeaverMom, Kelli, ShortStop, Myrna and Amy

**Update - I realize some of you have already been tagged since I'm getting around to publishing this now - if you want, just add my #20 at the end of your list.

How are my kitchen drawers?

I want to say thank you to each of you who shared such sweet comments last week on my kitchen drawer post. Your heartfelt comments mean so much!

A few of you asked how my break was so I thought I'd share. Also, last week Susanna at Mommy Inc tagged me for an 8 Random Things post (as did Ghost Girl some time ago, sorry MA) so I'm combining the two into a "8 Things I did over my break" kinda post! You know, like the first writing assignment when you get back to school - What I did over the summer? lol :)

1. One drawer that needed cleaning out was the sewing projects I started but never had the time to finish. Last Friday, I finished this for Elle.

2. And she wore it here on Saturday.

We went with my hubby's company for their 70th anniversary. We had a wonderful time. It was a very hot and humid day (we have heat warnings today). We invited my parents along for the day too - I think they had fun - it was hot, did I say that already?

3. I made some yummy recipes I had been wanting to make but never had the time. You can find those recipes here.

4. I decided to let Elle cut her pacifier (nuk) Friday afternoon - right before bedtime. I wish I would have done it sooner, but it was one of those things that wasn't a problem for me, because she was good about keeping it in her room and using it only for her nap and at nighttime. Except on Friday. She was running around upstairs with it and I told her before I would take it if she continues to do that....so, we cut it, well, I let her cut it. The rest of the weekend she kept telling me, "Next time, no me cut nuk!" :) Her drama is beginning to settle down now and I'm happy it is gone. I seriously thought she was gonna sneak into Colin's room and take one of his. :)

5. I spent time in prayer and in the Word. I also used the time to pray God's will over my children and to bless the new blog.

6. I spent time with the man I love!!

I love this guy - he is an awesome husband and a wonderful father!!! He works so hard for us and I'm thinking about him and his employees a lot today because of the heat warnings outside.



7. I spent time with a great group of kids!!!!! :)

Colin is 8 months today - I can't believe it! He is finally sitting up - this seemed to take longer for him than the other two. I realized he was enjoying playing on his belly and didn't mind being on the floor. Every time I would sit him up he would throw his head back so he could lay down. Now he is sitting up and he is also starting to crawl - in army crawl fashion with a touch of inchworm thrown in for style!! It is so fun to watch. Why must he grow up so fast?






And, that would be batman on the right - he was kind enough to push his mask up for the picture - gotta love his sidekick!! I'm not sure if she is his sidekick or the one causing the trouble for batman!






8. I came away feeling refreshed and acknowledging that I need to do that more often, (my hubby acknowledged that too) especially with kindergarten starting soon. So, you will be seeing a little less of me in the blogosphere as I try to cut back on my posting on this blog.




Oh, and, that bottom drawer, with the boxes of sandwich bags and plastic wraps?



I still can't get it to close - no matter how much I rearrange it! I guess that just goes to show there will always be drawers that we can't get closed and projects that won't get finished, right?

Name Tag Challenge

Jennifer @ Pen of Jen had a great idea - "to write 8 of your blog friends names in a unique way and post them. . You must write the blogger's name that tagged you, then add 7 others. Be creative and if possible use the natural wonders of the world!"

You can see my name in the White Sands of NM on the top of my sidebar. Jennifer also tagged Susan @ Penless Writer, who also tagged me. You can see Susan's creation under Jennifer's. You can click on each of those buttons to see their other creations, too.

I didn't use the natural wonders of the world - but I did use the creative and educational talents of myself and my children as we created these together!

Now for my 7 - only play along it you'd like to - no pressure! ;)

@ A Mother's Heart is a Garden of Love

@ Short Stop

@ Trust in the Lord

@ Just Mom's Musings

@ Learning to Weave

@ Morning Song

@ Reign from Above