There is a situation that I am involved in right now that is making me very uncomfortable and it’s mostly because of gossip.  I don’t like gossip.  I’m not going to go so far as to say I’ve never done it because I think it’s one of those things like lying – we don’t want to do it, we know it’s wrong, but sometimes we catch ourselves doing it.  It’s frustrating!

But anyway, gossip can turn someone’s opinion of another person into a completely different direction if you’re not careful.  And the old adage is true – there ARE two sides to every story.  I know a lot of us, including me, like to think our side is the “right” side and that we are always right but unfortunately that’s not true.  We ARE wrong sometimes, we DO get mistaken ideas about people, we DO misread situations.  It’s not fair to tell other people something negative about someone because you aren’t happy with them at the time or you think something happened a different way.

I had a situation yesterday where three or four different people were talked about in a totally negative way – things were said that totally turned people’s opinion of these people in a different direction.  They now may think they are “bad” people or people that they shouldn’t be around.  It’s ridiculous!  I know these people and they AREN’T bad people!  I also (kind of) know both sides of a couple of the stories and I know that the facts are not what are being shared.  I really think things have been blown out of proportion and only one side of the story has been told but conclusions have immediately been drawn and now I’m afraid these people have a “bad” reputation.

It just makes me so sad.  And the hard part is, I really don’t see a solution to the problem.  I don’t see a way to fix it.  It’s something I’ve been praying about for quite a while and will continue to do so but it’s so hard.  I just pray that God moves in these people’s hearts and shows them that what they are doing is wrong.  Will you pray with me?  I know you don’t know the people or the situation but I would sure appreciate a quick little prayer even as you read this!!

The moral of the story…think before you speak.  Just like mommas always say, if you don’t have something nice to say don’t say anything.

Watching my kids grow older is so bittersweet.  The sweet is that they are growing into wonderful young adults with such great personalities and they have such strong thoughts and opinions – of which I am very proud… most of the time.  haha!   They aren’t afraid to be themselves, they aren’t afraid to stand for what they believe in, they are fun to be with, they are just all in all great people!

The bitter part is that the more they grow and the more mature they get, that means they are so much closer to flying the coop.  My daughter will be a senior in high school next year.   Even though she hasn’t decided exactly what she will choose for living arrangements for her freshman year of college, I figure I have one year left with her as my baby girl.  Yes, she will always be my baby girl but I’m sure it’s very different when they don’t live with you.

If she chooses to move into a dorm or an apartment with some friends, I won’t get to see her beautiful, smiling face every morning when she wakes up (okay – maybe not right when she wakes up!) nor will I see it every night when she goes to bed.  I won’t get a sweet hug and kiss before bed every night.  I won’t get to laugh with her throughout the day.  It’s going to be hard.

Don’t get me wrong…I don’t wish to hold her back and hold her here with me.  I am excited about her future.  I’m excited about the experiences she will get to have in college, I’m excited about the new friends she will make, I’m excited about the classes she is looking forward to taking, I’m excited to see what her future holds for her.  But I’m still sad to see her go.

And I can guarantee you I will cry when that day comes and she moves into a new place.

Part of the problem is that life is just too busy.  I miss the days, back when my kids were in elementary school, when we spent a few hours on school and then we had time to play together and do other things.  I miss the simpler form of homeschooling where I could sit down with my kids and really spend time teaching them new concepts and going over things with them and having fun learning.  It’s not that we aren’t doing any learning now but high school is just a little bit different and a little bit more intense than elementary school. 

We are also in a homeschool group that meets once a week for classes and we have loved it but this year it’s starting to wear on me.  I really never thought I’d say that either.  Last year if you’d asked me I would have told you I might just keep going even after my kids graduate!  Now, I know that will definitely not be happening.  I’m not even sure I want to do it next year!  One of the worst things about it is I’m on the board.  I’m wondering if I step down from that for next year if it will improve tremendously??   There is a lot of stress, a lot of pressure, and a lot more work that goes along with that job.  Maybe things will get better if I give that up?

I’ve also taken on homeschooling another child this year – another high school student.  I had great expectations and envisioned how it would go but it’s not really going like I thought it would.  It’s not bad, it’s just different.  But different enough that I’m having a hard time with it.  I’m used to my own kids and it’s a totally different thing to take in someone else’s.

I really think after the end of this month that things will get a lot better.  You see football season will be over and I won’t be running all over town or having my kids gone almost every night of the week anymore.   I guess we’ll see!

Thanks for “listening” to my venting session.  I believe I sound a little crazier than I even thought after putting this in writing!  haha!

I’ve really liked this system and it’s worked really well for me.  If you need help in this area, save my list to your computer and tweak it to fit your house.  You might just love it! 

Deep Cleaning List

Kitchen

Clean refrigerator

Clean freezer

Clean/organize pantry

Clean plate cabinet

Clean spice cabinet

Clean pitcher cabinet

Clean under sink

Clean pot/pan cabinet

Clean extra dish cabinet

Clean pot/pan drawer

Clean oven

Clean stove

Dust top of cabinets

Clean toaster oven

Clean glass/cup cabinet

Clean Tupperware cabinet

Kids’ rooms

Clean closets

Clean shelves

Clean desk

Office

Clean out desk

Clean top of desk

Clean off table

Clean under desk & table

Clean bookshelf

Clean closet

Clean out file cabinet

Laundry Room

Clean under washer

Clean under dryer

Straighten top shelf

Clean bookshelf

Clean game shelf

Clean top of dryer

Dining Room

Clean trash can

Clean buffet

Clean chairs

Clean spoons/spoon rack

Clean movie stand

Clean TV stand

Headboard

Clean under bed

Master Bedroom

Clean under bed

Clean out chest

Clean under couch

Clean TV unit

Master Bathroom

Clean out cabinet

Clean out medicine cabinet

Wash shower curtain

Clean out basket

Master Closet

Go through clothes/shoes

Clean out drawers

Clean top of chest

Clean under/around chest

Straighten stuff on shelf

Hall Bathroom

Clean out cabinet

Clean out medicine cabinet

Wash shower curtain

Clean basket

Living Room

Clean out desk

Vacuum under furniture

Clean coat closet

Clean TV stand

Vacuum furniture

I do have some things that I hope to accomplish this summer though – as well as some things that we already have planned:

• We have a DVD player that also records to DVD and I have wanted to back up all of our home videos on to DVDs ever since we got it.  I’ve been able to get a lot of them done but I have so many more to do!  I’d like to make a bigger dent in that this summer.
• I also scrapbook and I haven’t touched it in a while.  That busy school year thing again!  Anyway, I’d like to pull all that out and get busy getting some pages done!  I am SO far behind on that it’s not even funny.  Maybe I’ll finish when my grandkids are grown!  (And my kids are still teens so that tells you how far out that is!  haha!)
• One thing I’m pretty positive will get accomplished at this point is a minor surgery I have to have at the end of the month.  I’m both dreading and looking forward to that. 
• Along with that I still have some more doctor app0intments – I’ve kind of had a flurry of those this spring!
• My son is just starting a new indoor soccer session so we’ll be attending lots of fun soccer games over the next eight weeks or so!
• My daughter is in a talent competition called American Kids and we are getting ready to go to the state competition and then if she makes it to nationals we’ll be heading to Branson, Missouri, in the middle of July.
• We are in a homeschool co-op and some of us moms have decided to plan some fun get-togethers over the summer.  I’m really looking forward to those.  We always have so much fun together!   In the past we’ve done murder mystery parties, game nights, and even a lock-in (yes – just for moms!) at the church where we have co-op.  This summer we’re doing Bunko nights and craft nights together.
• The kids also have some parties with the co-op kids planned.  The kids also have a blast at those.
• Our family has passes to a local water park as well as an amusement park so we’re hoping to enjoy those a lot this summer.  We’ve had unseasonable cool temperatures for this time of year around here though so we haven’t even been to the water park yet!  A lot of times we’ve seen quite a few days in the 100′s by now but it’s mostly been in the upper 80′s and occasionally some 90′s.  Weird stuff!!  I’m not going to complain too loudly though. 

I need to get busy on all this stuff though.  Before I know it, August will be here and we’ll be at football practice four nights a week and I won’t even have time to think much less do any of this! 

What about you?  What are your summer plans?  You can share in the comments or make your own post and just leave a link here.