People and things that ROCK!

People that rock: As you know I sent our additional docs to Columbia to be Apostilled on Monday afternoon. Well this morning I got a package at work and they had already come back. My first thought was- Ughhh. I screwed up and it came back to me. A business card was attached inside. Everything was already done! The card was from Patricia at the SC Secretary of State's Office, the same lady that helped me before on my little road trip in June! I was so thankful, I almost cried.... That was so fast! I had the package back out the door on the way to Flat Rock before 10:00am this morning. I sat down and wrote her a thank you note, I was so grateful for her helping us so quickly. Maybe things are slow in the SOS office, but in my mind I see a woman that went the extra mile, dropped everything and got it done for Baby Deetz. The most she could have had it in her hands was an hour before sending it back out. PATRICIA YOU ROCK!

More people that rock: Our church people. Chad was in a meeting last night and was giving a report about the youth department and his very busy summer. Someone, concerned for his mental health I suppose, asked him when we were going on vacation since we didn't take one this summer. He kindly responded that our funds and our time is spent on Russia and that would hopefully be our vacation this year/early next year. After he got home from the meeting last night, two church people had called the house- one offering a beach house for the week and another to use their house in the mountains! WOW. We were just at a loss for words at people's generosity in our lives. We have such a spectacular family, God is just indulging us with a spectacular church family too.

Friends that rock: You'll also notice the bringing home the baby "Ticker" has made another jump. Thank you friends!

Things that rock: I am little addicted to craigslist. I have never bought anything from anyone that have posted an add, I have found a few garage sales here and there to check out- but I mainly just LOVE looking at people's junk. Since everyone is local- it's a lot more intimate than ebay (which I also love). It always surprises me what people think they can sell and put a picture up for the world to see "I am trying to sell my 15 year old Lazy Boy. The fabric is torn on the right arm and it smells like my cat, but if you'll come pick it up I'll only charge you $15. Call Billy Bob for more info." It's like looking in 100 people's houses and looking at what didn't sell in their yard sale. Fascinating. Well last night I was perusing the "Baby Items" looking for a not so hideous glider/ottoman (didn't find any, they were all grody) and came across "Baby Rock Star Clothes" It grabbed my interest, so I took a peek and it was soooo cute. And $15 for the lot of stuff! So I contacted Rock Star's Mama and arranged a pickup at our local Pizza dive downtown. It was kinda exciting- like a stakeout. And look at how cool the stuff is....especially the little Chuck Taylors! Love it! Baby Deetz: you are going to be the coolest baby, surrounded by so many people that ROCK!!

Parental Thoughts.....

If I had to describe our weekend in one word it would be: Normal. Our Dossier has definitely gone to Russia. (Confirmed with Denise it was sent Wednesday, YEAH!) We saw a movie (Up in 3-D) It was cute, but very sad in parts. Cartoons are not suppose to make you cry. I cried twice. That was my only complaint. But then again I cry at the "abused pet" commercials on t.v.
I did LOADS of laundry, cooked a few times, even took a nap today (which means I will be up for hours tonight) I read the last half of my book "Were Just Like You, Only Prettier: Confessions of a Tarnished Southern Bell" by Celia Rivenbark, which was as funny as it sounds. My favorite part is when she talks about the adventures raising her daughter and the high standards of those other "granola" mothers. She talks about when she almost wrecked her car when her daughter, in response to the question "What did you do in school today?" by stating that in show in tell the topic was "What did you eat for breakfast?" Every morning in a mad dash, she "throws" her preschooler a Nutragrain bar into the backseat. She does say that "sometimes she does unwrap it for her. She tries not to panic because "they've been down this road before" however their road is "strewn with cheeseburger wrappers and half empty containers of nugget dipping sauce." Her daughter said "Don't worry Mommy, we tell what we ate for breakfast every morning."
I've heard someone say "I was the best mother in the world before I had kids" I try to remind myself of this when a preschooler screams in church or a toddler is pitching a fit in the middle of the grocery store over a box of Fruit Loops. I try not to judge. I just pray that it's those kids' worst days and this behavior is not an every day occurrence for those poor parents. I'll admit that I pitched a fit at Wal-Mart before when a woman stole my parking place I was waiting for. It's not beneath me either. Every once in a while we must fight the injustice that is cast before us, whether it is over fruity cereal or rude public behavior such as parking space theft. Sometimes when you've had enough....well.....you've had enough.
Today, while at lunch with some friends (with teenage children) and some of the youth kids, the topic of "discipline" came up. One of the youth kids asked if Chad and I were going to spank our child. I wasn't spanked as a child, Chad was. I think we both turned out just fine. For a minute we just looked at each other like this was a trick question. We probably came across like we really haven't put a lot if thought into parenting. My gut instinct said "no" because in my head I am picturing a darling perfect angel that would never do anything that could warrant punishment of any kind. (I know you don't have to tell me this isn't true, I know, I know....) Chad said "I'm not apposed to it" I said "I guess, but I'm not doing it". Then I said "We'll just have to play that one by ear". That seemed to be a good fit for us. We both sighed a breath of relief. I think we should see how it all works out and then judge punishment based on what works for our child. As long as we are a unified front I think that will be key. And it looks like we'll add spanking to "the stuff we don't know what we are going to do about". Besides, I'm still holding out for the perfect angel.

P.S.- I missed the 3,000 visiter by 28 hits! Yeah!!! Thanks for reading my ramblings. It really does mean a lot to me!