This morning I was reminded of a story I once heard. 
A little boy walked along the beach after a big storm one day.  He was surprised to see hundreds of starfish that had washed ashore.  He decided to start at his feet and bend down picking each starfish up, one by one...to gently toss them back into the ocean.  
     After some time had passed, he approached an old man fishing on the beach.  With his age and wisdom, the man felt that he needed to teach the young boy a lesson.
     "You know son, I've been watching you for quite some time...and you need to know that sometimes you just have to quit while you're ahead.  There are far too many starfish out here from the storm...and you'll never be able to save them all.  You can't even make a difference."
    The little boy thought about it and looked down at the small starfish he held in his hand.  After a second or two, he looked back to the man, then tossed the starfish into the water.
    "Well Sir, the way I see it, I made a difference to that one."
    Even when things seem to be overwhelming or impossible, when it seems like there's just too much...it's good to remember that sometimes even the little things, can make the biggest difference.

    I've mentioned before that my husband used to be a fighter pilot.  He had this amazing life full of flying and unbelievable stories in the Air Force. 
    Out of the jet, he was typically a calm and easy going guy, but if anything came up...like, let's say...someone cut him off in traffic, or if his favorite team was losing...he could spew a tapestry of curse words that have otherwise been left unheard by man.  He said that he got it from the jet.  When he became focused and intense when flying, it was part of the package.
    Fast forward to four kids later...and life is very different.  Just about the only time Adam will explode...is again...when somebody cuts him off in traffic or his favorite team is losing.
    You know how they say, "Children will repeat what they hear?"  Take a three year old little girl and guess what happens next.
    Lauren was walking with me into Preston's preschool when she decided that it was too cold outside.  She bundled her arms together and looked right up at me and said, "Damn it!"  (Preston's preschool is at a church, by the way.) 
    A mom walking in beside us looked down at Lauren, then back at me with a look of confusion as though it wasn't possible what she just heard. 
    Smiling back, I tried to shuffle in and not make a big deal about it...hoping that Lauren wouldn't say it again.  If I don't react, it won't encourage her, right? 
    Yeah, no.
    Evidently deciding that it was her new favorite saying, on our way back outside after dropping Preston off, into the cold..."Damn it!"
    "Okay, Honey, look.  We don't say that alright?  Let's use a different word, like, "Wow! It's cold!" Okay?!"
    "Okay, Mommy."
    Feeling like everything was resolved and she understood, I put my keys in the ignition and smiled as I shook my head.
    "Mommy?"
    "Yes, Baby."
    "Damn it, it's cold!"
    It's going to be a long winter.

     Our oldest son is nine.  He's beginning to ask questions like, "Can I just stay in the car when you run into the store?" or "Mom, can I stay home by myself...you'll only be gone for a little."
      Although I am glad at his growing level of independence,
 there's nothing in me that feels like he should be left alone. 
      When should that be then? 
      If you knew our son, he's about the most laid back, easy going kid you could find.  I actually wouldn't worry about leaving him home by himself as far as that goes.  The younger three?  They would tear the house down.
      It's the fact that he's NINE.  I just can't bring myself to let him be alone.  Even though I wouldn't actually worry about what HE would do, I would worry about what could happen TO him.  As responsible as he is, is a nine year ready to handle atypical or possibly dangerous situations?
     In August he will turn ten.  I think I was BABYSITTING by the age of 13.  I know the time will come when it "feels right", so I guess for now, it's a good sign that he's beginning to stretch his independent wings.
     I hope it's not just me trying to hold on to our baby.  I'll have to say though...the wind got sucked right out of me when he tried to convince us that he was "old enough" by saying, "You KNOW Mom and Dad...in only seven years from now, I'll be driving a car."
     Lord help us. 

    For once in my life, it's actually hard to think of what to say.  We just left the Bryan Adams concert and I've been trying to decide how to put the night into words. 
    Walking into the experience, I was so excited for my husband.  He's always wanted to see Bryan Adams live, but never thought he would have the chance.
    As soon as we took our seats, I loved seeing how Adam was.  He wondered what songs would be played and couldn't stop smiling as he looked at the stage.
    That's when I became surprised.  The stage had nothing but a piano and a microphone.  That was it.  No other instruments, no elaborate set up.  It made me curious as to what to expect.
   When 8:00 came, in walked Bryan Adams from the right side of the stage.  The crowd went crazy and it was wild to feel the energy that immediately pumped through the audience.  
    He simply walked to the mic, had his guitar...and began to sing.  His voice and the guitar were all that were heard...and it was surreal.  If you weren't looking, it sounded like an awesome Bryan Adams song that you would hear on the radio...only, he was RIGHT THERE...in real life.  He was so good and so pure that it was truly amazing. .  
    A couple of songs into it, a pianist named Gary walked out and began to play the piano like nothing you've ever heard.  It was hard to believe that just these two people with a piano and a guitar, could make such an unbelievable sound.
    I was awestruck.  Adam leaned over with a smile and said, "This is my whole life.  All of these songs remind me of different times growing up but it's so much better than I ever would have expected - hearing them live."  
    He was right.  I closed my eyes and smiled at so many of the songs that took me back to my younger days.  The pureness of his singing and the music, along with the intimacy and the dialog that he carried on with the audience, truly made it the best concert I have ever seen.
    When it was over, Adam took my hand and said, "That was one of the greatest memories that I'll ever have in my life...and I'm so glad I was with you."
    I couldn't agree more.
Thank You for such an Awesome night Bryan Adams!  You truly are a Rock Star!   

    As I write this, "There Will Never be Another Tonight" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5N6dupJ2Ko  is playing in the other room.  My husband is getting ready for work and his Bryan Adams playlist is blowing up his iphone.  Tomorrow night is the night.  Adam gets his Birthday wish of seeing his all time favorite singer in concert.  He has wanted to see Bryan Adams his entire life...and it's finally going to happen. 
    If I didn't already know every word to EVERY Bryan Adams song known to man...I do now.  Adam has been playing his music non-stop since the day he found out he had tickets.  It's been so much fun to watch how excited he is about the concert. 
    It's going to be a great time tomorrow night and even greater, just to watch his reaction.  It's not everyday that you get to see someone's wish come true.  Especially when they never even thought it was possible.  The BIGGEST Thanks again to Sarah and Chris for making it happen.  You guys are the BEST!!!  
    Get ready for some fun Honey!  Let's rock like There will Never Be Another Tonight...well, tomorrow night anyway!  Can't wait!!!  I Love You!!!  XO

    It was just a little...but it sure was Fun!!!  The kids woke up around six in the morning to peek through their windows.  The screaming and jumping that came just after, almost threw us out of our bed.  
    Sometime around seven, we finally had them dressed and ready for a morning of play.  There was enough snow to barely cover the ground, but you would never know it from the excitement of the kids.  
   Our nine year old smiled as they ran outside.  He looked around the yard and said, "It's a Winter Wonderland!" - and to them...it really was.  Happy Snow Day!!!

      We can hardly stand it.  The house has been all abuzz with the news that there might possibly, maybe, iffy be a chance of getting some snow tonight?!  Thoughts of "No School Tomorrow!" have danced around the heads of three little boys.  
    Living in North Carolina, the chance of snow seems to come few and far between.  We haven't quite figured it out yet, but when there's even a hint mentioned of a flake or a dusting...people seem to run to the store in droves to buy out the entire stock of bread and milk.  Why bread and milk?  No clue.  But it seems to be a fun ritual.
    Back home in Ohio, I LOVED the snow.  It actually makes me sad that my kids don't get to grow up in it like I used to.  Snowmen, snow forts, snowball fights, snow cream...the days were filled with play and the nights were the most quiet and beautiful picture of the world and trees covered in a blanket of sparkles.
    Yes, I'll be doing a snow dance tonight right along with the kids.  I know that even IF it were to snow, it would only last for a minute or two...but one can dream. 
    Please excuse me while I go to the store for some bread and milk...

    There's such a big difference in the relationships between our kids.  Our older two get along well enough, but the younger two fight.  A lot.  I don't mean, bicker and fuss over things...I mean - WWF, wrestle mania, knock down, drag out, fight.   
    Adam and I have racked our brains trying to figure out how to get them to stop.  Time outs, separating them into different rooms, not allowing them to play together...nothing works.  Within about ten to twenty minutes...regardless of anything we've done, it's on...and the fighting begins.  
    Yesterday, Lauren and Preston were in his room and they began yelling over a toy.  "It's MINE!"  "NO!  I had it FIRST!"  (ding, ding!)
    Out of complete exhaustion, Adam and I decided to try something that we've never done before.  Become Monsters...literally.  We snuck up to their door and put our hands up like bear claws then ran in screaming.  At first it scared the bejeebies out of them until they knew that we were playing.  
    Within minutes, they were screaming and laughing while trying to run around the room to get away from us.  Then the oddest thing happened...they became - a team.  Preston would jump on Adam's back if he got Lauren and Lauren would nail me with a pillow if I tickled Preston.  
    By the end of the Monster jam, the two little ones were holding hands, running and laughing around the room...while trying to protect each other instead of fighting. 
      Into that evening, they actually played better than they had in months.  When they did start to argue, Adam and I would put our monster claws up and growl, causing them to scream and laugh...forgetting about their argument.  
    Granted, this method probably shouldn't be used in public without expecting quite a few stares, but at least for one day, in this house...it kept the peace.  Grrrrrrrrrrr 

    I have seen the light.  Earlier this week, one of our local grocery stores was having a double - triple coupon something or other going on. 
    It was early in the morning and the three boys were in school, so I decided to pop Lauren Elizabeth in the car and go.  Not because of the coupon thing, but because in this house, we run out of food faster than you could shake a stick at.     
    As I pushed our three year old in the grocery cart trying to decide what to make for dinner, I noticed that almost every other woman at this time of day - had some sort of binder with tons of pockets in it.  They would pull a stack of coupons out of the slots, shuffle through them, then reach for an item on the self.  (I wish I had time to do that) I thought to myself.
    Heading to the front of the store, the pharmacy area was my last stop to get a bottle of children's vitamins.  Standing with my hands on my hips, I looked at Lauren Elizabeth and said, "Can you believe how expensive these vitamins are?"  Without realizing it, a Mom with a baby and a toddler in her cart was standing behind me.  She leaned forward and said, "I have a coupon for this brand right here if you want it.  I don't buy this kind."  She reached into her perfectly kept Trapper Keeper looking binder and handed me a tiny coupon that said it was worth one dollar.  
    I thanked her and was tremendously grateful.  She smiled and said, "No biggy.  I'm glad you can use it."  I could tell that she had to keep herself from giving me a lecture on how much money I could be saving each year by couponing...but alas...she didn't.  She didn't need to.  She went to check out and I ended up being a little behind her...unaware of the lesson I was about to learn.
    When it came to be my turn, I lost track of the *beeps* as the person scanned my items.  "That'll be 198 dollars and 25 cents Ma'am."  She said as I opened my pocket book.  "Oh!  I have a coupon...here!" I handed it to her for one last -beep-.  "Okay...196.25."  I stood for a second wondering how a one dollar coupon took two dollars off and she explained that they doubled during their promo.  Shocked, I asked what the most money she ever saw anyone save was - and she said, "Well I don't know about the MOST, but right before you came through, a lady took 116 dollars off her bill." 
    Nicely done lady with the extra vitamin coupon...nicely done.  As I said before...I have seen the light.  How did I never do this before?!

    I recently wrote about wanting to get into better shape.  Besides the pounding headache that I've had for the past two days from cutting out processed foods and sugar, I'm starting to feel a little better and seem to have more energy.  
    I'm actually waking up and eating a healthy breakfast as opposed to a handful of candy or cookies to get me through the morning.  Lunches have included fresh fruits and vegetables and salmon or grilled chicken instead of a cupcake on the go.  It seems to be working as I've lost two pounds this week. 
    I've kept the home cooked dinners pretty much the same for the family but the BIGGEST change that we've had, has been everyday when Adam gets home from work.  That's when we all go outside and run.  Try to imagine six people running together with four of them being kids ages 3, 5, 7 and 9.  It's a Motley Crew.  We have never done this before because we were worried about the two younger ones not being able to follow or keep up.  Holy Moly.  Little did we know that Lauren Elizabeth at the ripe old age of THREE was as fast as lightening.  
    Sure we've seen her run around the house or at the park, but in her two plus years of walking/running...she's never really had a straight stretch to go on.  
     If you have little ones at home and you think you can't exercise with them because they're too young, they just might surprise you.  Lauren loves "racing" with her three big brothers and we love that it's actually fun for the whole family...as much as I never would have believed it.  
    I hate to run unless I'm getting chased by a bear, but it's good for us to get out and get some exercise.  There's no dealing with the gym...we just go.  It's even better if you can find a local school with a track. 
    It's pretty cute how excited our little girl gets now when her "Daddy gets home".  She has her "Racing" shoes on and she's ready to run.  
    Now if I could just get the song "Eye of the Tiger" out of my head, we'll be alright.