The Wind Knocked Out Of Me....

You know, I am going on 53 years old and I totally get the life isn't fair thing and have for many years, but since when has the world become such a scary place that our children don't want to live here any more and they feel they can't trust anyone?

Wow! I know when I was growing up, things were simpler, but we lived in a scary world as well with the Zodiac Killer in California, Viet Nam war, Kent State murders, etc. Maybe it was because we weren't hit 24/7 with bad news. I know life wasn't perfect because my parents divorced and because of that, other parents didn't want me playing with their children. Like, we were going to rub divorce off on their family.

I lived in a small town, had wonderful neighbors (well, most of them), great friends and kept those friends until my mid-twenties when our lives just went in other directions. But, my brother still hangs with his friends from 5th grade.

Yesterday I saw such sadness on one students face and they were sad because they had made a good choice, the right choice and their peers were angry with them and telling them they didn't like them anymore for making the good choice. I can listen and counsel to a point and am glad they feel they can trust me. All I can do is tell them I am proud they made the right choice and to not worry about it.

Today, there was an assignment in one of my classes and many students stated the one thing they have learned was not to trust people, don't trust your friends, don't trust anyone, be careful what you say to others, don't trust them. Wow! It broke my heart that these students are so jaded before high school even begins! It really took the wind out of my sails.

What is more troublesome to me is that many of them feel they can trust me and tell me what is going on and I am a sub that isn't there everyday for them. What happens when they need to talk and the teacher won't listen? I try to tell the students to tell someone, an adult, but someone they can trust what they are feeling or going through, but many won't. It is as if, they are saving it up for me when I get to school.

I came home today so exhausted and weary and worried and these aren't even my children, they are just children who need someone to trust and it truly bothers me they feel I am the only one. Of course if what they tell me needs to be told to others, I do so!

SPLASH OUT...Save your money, buy water balloons

We were watching television a few weeks back and saw an advertisement for the Splash Out, a 2 piece toy that holds water balloons, has a timer and a small pin that pops the balloons.

We thought it a great idea to keep the little ones happy. Well, after spending $10 on this, let me tell you the best thing you can do. Instead of wasting $10 on the ball and all the balloons you will go through...

Spend the $10 on 400 water balloons and have one huge water balloon fight, or several smaller ones because the kids will have more fun than they will with this.

First, the design isn't all that great, so once you smoosh a water balloon inside it and follow the directions, it isn't very easy to reassemble. Many times, the balloon popped before they could set the timer, or the timer would go off and the balloon wouldn't pop.

What do you do with 80 water balloons and 8 little ones and a boring toy? You get a large bowl, have an adult fill the bowl with water balloons and then you let the kids have a huge water balloon fight. They had more fun with this and getting soaked with the hose than they did the Splash Out!

It is a good concept, but with little kids, it takes to long to load and the fun doesn't last. Save the money and find another water toy!

A Wonderful Gift

Isn't this just a fabulous bag? I was looking through one of the sewing/crafting magazines and saw it and knew without a doubt, I could not get anywhere close to having this made for myself before surgery, so I shot an Email to Dawn over at Dawns Designs and she not only graciously agreed to it, she found someone who had the magazine so she could get the pattern and she charged me for the postage only.

The Fabric is from the Paula Prass for Michael Miller Flights of Fancy collection and it came out beautifully. Inside are all these divided pockets that I can put my scissors, thread, etc. in and I can use it for my toiletry bag while I am in the hospital. My camera really doesn't do the inside of Dawns work at all the great job it should!

She even made me this adorable pin cushion that has a velcro back and attaches to the outside of the bag. On the inside, I might get ouchies, but on the outside it will be perfect while I am stuck in the house during recovery.

This is the second bag Dawn has made for me, the first being a diaper bag for my daughter in law. She is very sweet, quick to deliver and always sends an extra added surprise like the wonderful thank you card she sent me.

You simply cannot go wrong if you order a bag from Dawn and she does custom requests as you can see and does an excellent job.

Thanks Dawn for being such a sweetie!

Five Pillows For Five Little Darlin's

A short while back, I showed a pillow I have made for my granddaughter Emerald and then stated that anyone posting a comment (the first 2 people) would win the pattern as I was chosen to preview the pattern for the web-site, You Can Make This.

Jennifer Wilcoxson responded with enthusiasm and stated she has 5 little ones all under 3 years of age and she wanted to make these as gifts for her children. She also informed me this was the first time she had ever done anything like this.

I had to show case these so my readers can see what a wonderful job Jennifer did!

IT HAS SPREAD...

My mom called last evening. The news wasn't good, the cancer she had in her breast has Metastatic and has spread to her lungs. I didn't cry at the news, I still haven't. Perhaps because in some odd way I knew it was coming, but what are you supposed to feel when your mother tells you her life is going to end within 3 years??

First, I am a firm believer in Jesus Christ and miracles and just because this doesn't look good, doesn't mean her life will end in 3 years. Doctors are healers, they are not and never will be God. Why do they feel they must put a time line on life? They told my mother with Chemo she has probably another 3 years left, but for her not to give up hope because new cures are popping up all the time!

It just takes me back many years ago to my own son, Jacob. He was transferred from one hospital to Valley Childrens Hospital in Fresno & the doctor that met me in the waiting room came to me and said, 'it looks pretty bad, he probably won't make it another week.' I think that is where I got my backbone, that day at that moment. I requested another doctor and told him to stay away from my child.

My son did die, but he remained on this earth for almost another 3 months. I am just numb right now and even blogging seems to be a heavy chore.

We Have Three Winners!

We have the new winners for May's Glade Giveaway, if you know any of these lucky ladies, congratulate them as they were the three chosen for Mays giveaway.

1. Secret Burkheiser - The Glade Reed Diffuser
2. Raeleana Pavey - Apple Candle
3. Sherry - Earthly Awakenings Candle

Thank you to all who left comments, twittered and posted this on your blog.