60's and loving it!

Just wanted to make a comment on the weather today! Its sooo beautiful outside right now. Its 68 degrees, sunny and perfect fall foliage is everywhere! It is one of the days you just want to freeze in time and relive over and over again. I could take this all winter! Ha ha ha, yes I know that is not possible here in Michigan but just for today I am going to relish it! :)

Get out there, walk, run, bike ride, do something....hey trick or treat even! :)

Until next time......

Halloween

Hi everyone,

Well its Halloween today! But more important its Friday! :) We have never been very big on Halloween around here with our kids...don't get me wrong they have had their share of the candy just not a lot of the holiday per se! We for the most part don't do a lot of trick or treating...a few close neighbors at most if any. Most years the kids have wanted to go to my parents church indoor games/jump house/free food/lots of candy kind of party they throw for the neighborhood. One year we took them trick or treating because they thought they would like to try that ...too much work for the same outcome they thought. :) You see they get as much if not more junk from the other party. We also have had the opportunity to go to my brother n laws work trick or treat party for a couple years. The kids already have soo much candy if we just stayed home tonight and did nothing we would be set, but they enjoy the games and other things at the church as well so we will go there. When Caleb was about 2yrs old we took him to a neighbor or two (the year the boys wanted to go out), what a nightmare that was literally! One house had the super scary thing jumping out of the ground at you and spooky set up ....well the poor kid had nightmares for months...actually he still will not turn off his light since then while falling asleep! Scarred for life I suppose (bad mom)! :(

So its am preschool today, we barely made it again! Youth group on Thursday nights always has the older two boys sleeping in on Friday (they are usually up by 7am). Caleb is not my early riser (at least I have one who is like his mom), he likes to sleep in at least till 9am most days ....so it was rush around again this morning, but he made it with a minute to spare. :) So now we are working like crazy people to get as much done as we can while he is gone! Homeschooling while he is at school is sooo much easier! We get by with him here too but it is more productive while he is away to be truthful.

Well I am needed to move on mow...independent work time is over! :)

Until next time....

Little things...

Isn't life funny....don't we all want things fast...I mean we have fast food, easy money access with ATM's everywhere, express lines at the grocery store, etc....on demand cable. Well that last one just doesn't seem fast enough for some of us either. My little guy who really isn't a TV watcher much anymore...seems today wants to sit and veg, anyhow he would like to pick what order he will watch things. Today its that he wants Backyardigans before Diego, well I just can't do that today. At least he was okay with that for a bit, especially because he probably won't sit there long enough to see both anyhow. But don't tell him that right now! :)

School is done so we are now gathering the books and putting them away for the day. Now on to dinner...what should we have. Its another short night here, dinner quick then get one to youth group while the other two try to get to bed early for another early Friday. Fridays are tough on us here....Caleb goes to school at 9am on only one day of the week! WHEW ~ its a good thing too! We are horrible about getting out the door before nine with all of us. We are used to our mornings being restful and productive but not always ready to face the world out the door kind of ready! Ya know what I mean? Don't get me wrong we aren't sitting around here in our pjs all day while we work through school we just don't get moving that quickly...so needless to say Fridays are our trouble days. If it must go wrong it usually does on Fridays. Even with prep work on my part we can still push the limits of time. Its a good thing we picked a close preschool! :)

Well I had better stop typing and get working on some must do items around here....
Until next time....

Preschool, MAFA, Midterm ...oh my!

Hi everyone,

Today is Wednesday again....which around here means get Caleb off to preschool, today for a Halloween party, then the boys dropped off at MAFA, then back to preschool for pick up and then back to get the boys....very much a taxi sort of day for mom! Anyhow...then its on to my class this evening for my midterm.

So today I have to get Caleb to school in his costume ...he is a skeleton this year. Its rather tight already, kind of a jump suit type, but hard to get lots under it like jeans ....so the dilemma, does he put pj pants under it? He doesn't want that of course, going to school in pjs is against his little 4yr old rules. So I have sweats on him right now...he also doesn't like sweats (thinks they are pjs again) UGH! So anyhow...the other thing is if he has to go the bathroom at school poor kid will never be able to get that thing off! Oh dear...what a bad mom getting this costume! UGH! Oh well we will see what will end up with....What's a little more stress in an already stressful day! :)

MAFA starts at 1pm, (preschool 12:30), so we don't have any time to lag behind here. Anyhow, today Luke is a bit worried, since we were gone on vacation for a week then he was sick last week he has now missed two MAFA's...which in his mind is dreadful! Poor kid is my worrier! So he is thinking he will be very behind and that is very stressful for him! So pray he does well today if you happen to remember us around that time of day!

Midterm tonight....first one....oh and did I mention my professor is a very nice man but I am not really sure what will be on the test, he likes to talk about current economic woes not much book stuff. So if the test would be on that ~well pray for me too! :)

Well I am off and running....just wanted to write now before the marathon began!
Until next time....

Man that's it!

Seems we have a new phrase at the Steppey House. Our now 4.5 yr old seems to get mad at us frequently lately, he is going through a stage, anyhow his favorite line is now "Man, that's it! " Translation: Done with you guys, I am not getting my way and I want you to give in!

Well tonight was over candy corn or dinner. He was very upset with me that we were having Chicken, baked potatoes, and salad, rather than candy corn by the handfuls! I am such a mean mom! Meanest in the world at times! :) Anyhow...he just had a fit that we wouldn't let him go with out dinner and skip to candy! Its now after dinner and we all have survived some of us less scathed then others but all in all still a successful dinner!

Wonder what other trouble I can cause tonight before bedtime....
Until next time....

Google Search...link to the right

Hi everyone,

Okay I added a new feature on my blog today. Its a search bar from Google, just like any other google search except this one earns me some more cashola! YIPPEE! Anyway ~ what you do is type something in the bar there...example cats. It will take you to a new result page and at the top there will be a box of ads, then another list ....if you click on the ads within the box (usually 4 of them) whamo I am earning some more money for tuition and school books!

Any help would be great! Keep clicking on those other ads as well...still earning me money!

Thanks again!

Until next time....

Peace

Today was Sunday (well still is, what is left of it anyhow), we had a busy day as usual. Started with the treadmill and then on to church and ended with our small group tonight....so this morning while exercising (I do some of my best thinking at this time) I was feeling really anxious I guess. With the turmoil of the economy, upcoming election, jobs in jeopardy, etc...it was all weighing pretty heavy on me. A song on my Ipod really hit the spot today so to say...its by 33 Miles, Hold on. I will leave ya with the words to the song today but check it out on itunes if you have the chance to listen to it, its worth it! Okay so now off to church~the topic this morning "Godliness" and the Fruits of the Spirit...anyhow the one thing that really hit me today was when our pastor asked questions about how we would rate ourselves on the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control) A scale of 1-10, one being the coldest 10 the hottest, could not use 5, no average Christians allowed. Anyhow with each one he would ask a quick question to give you an idea of what it meant so you could evaluate your walk a bit. Anyhow to be honest I am feeling not so great about my scores, but the one that hit me the hardest today was peace. I have a hard time saying I am at peace right now with everything going on in my life. I do know in my head and heart that I believe that God has a plan for my life and he will take care of me no matter what this present day has in store~ but to say I am not uneasy with things would be lying. He mentioned today that Fear is the opposite of Faith or having more faith in the devil than in God to overcome it. Anyhow...I guess these are the times when your faith grows more ...or so I have heard anyway. When met with hard times how we handle it says more about our character than anything else. Well today I was challenged really to live out those fruits more and let God take that control at all times...why is it we pull back on the reigns all the time? Its easy when things are going well to say wow God is good. Today when things are so scary and uncertain I am saying GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME, even when we don't know what he has for us next!

The definition of Godliness~ a life long process of becoming more and more like Jesus.

To say I am not there yet is an understatement, but I am going to keep on putting forth that effort! This song below really sums up how I was feeling this past week....the part about the current pulling me under and then when its dark I'll light your way was so real to me. That was the perfect description of how I was letting the world and all its troubles make me lose sight of what the real picture is and that is this world is not my home, I am just passing through. I will spend my eternity in Heaven with Christ and that is the ultimate goal! :)

Lord light all of our ways this week!

Thanks for listening to my ramblings today....

Until next time....

HOLD ON~ BY 33 MILES:
I've been there a thousand times
Felt the rain like a thousand knives and it hurts
I know it hurts
I've been there like a fighter plane
Trying to fly my way through a hurricane and it's hard
I know it's hard
Don't be afraid
You'll make it through
Just call out to me
And I'll come running to you
And hold on, hold on
When the current pulls you under
And your heart beats like thunder
Just give me your hand
And hold on, hold on
Until the storm is over
And I'll be fighting for you
Just give me your hand
And hold on
I'll give you hope, I'll give you faith
And when it's dark, I'll light the way
For you, for you
I'm by your side until the end
Until you're standing tall again
I'm here, I'll always be here
And if the tide sweeps you out to sea
When your strength is gone
And it's hard to believe
Hold on, hold on
When the current pulls you under
And your heart beats like thunder
Just give me your hand
And hold on, hold on
Until the storm is over
And I'll be fighting for you
Just give me your hand
Hold on
Oooohhh
So hold on, hold on
When the current pulls you under
And your heart beats like thunder
Just give me your hand
And hold on, hold on
Until the storm is over
And I'll be fighting for you
Just give me your hand
And hold on
Hold on, oooooooh

Customer Service anyone???

Hi ~

I was out today making a return and while standing in line waiting I was taken back really with how there really doesn't seem to be anything called Customer Service anymore....when did that happen really? I mean when I was a teenager working you were indoctrinated that the "customer's always right"....now the tide has changed really and it seems the customer has no rights! Today I witnessed the customer is "never" right really. You snooze you lose attitude was abundant! In today society with people all over out of jobs it seems that if you have one you really need to thankful and those customers are why you are employed, so my best advice is treat them kindly or your job may be next....

Just my 2 cents...

Until next time....

Thank God its Friday!

I am so glad its Friday! We have so much to Thankful for in this present day~ family & friends, employment, good health, a warm home, food in our tummys, etc. I am so thankful for all those things and wish to pass this legacy on to my children. We live today in a ungrateful nation in my humble opinion, we take so much for granted. We are so blessed to live in this FREE country and for all our service men and women who are putting their lives on the line for that Freedom daily! Have you run into people who seem to have forgotten that Freedom isn't FREE? Seems like lately I keep hearing these things....like why are we over there fighting anyway? COME ON PEOPLE! These young people are fighting for our freedom to continue here in the United States, don't they get it? Sorry it just can make me so angry sometimes to hear people take things for granted! We all do it with something or another...whether its that you just went to a restaurant or store and were able to buy food, or you were able to cast your vote for a president, both of them require us to be thankful! They are a privilege!

Well here today at the Steppey house, we are able to go to a Halloween party at my brother n law's workplace tonight! The kids so enjoy this activity, (okay so do their parents) they have trick or treating at each office door, and crafts to make and take and even dinner is provided! All this for free! What a nice night ahead! :) Plus the best part its indoors out of the cold! The kids actually get more candy there than actually going door to door on Halloween! :) Anyhow I think I have been asked by my little guy today about 100 times when we are leaving ???? Its still a few hours away so I expect some more to come! :) So exciting....

This weekend is supposed to be kind of dreary around here in Michigan. Big changes from our trip to Florida! No more sunshine here....its on to clouds and gray till March. Oh how I dislike the winter. But hey I am still thankful for heat in the house to get through this winter! :) Anyhow...we plan on getting some stuff indoors this weekend and maybe next week work outside with what is still left to do there.

Gotta run a child is calling!

Until next time.....

P.S keep clicking those ads here I have covered this semesters books but now am working on next semesters! :)

Whew...room accomplished!

Okay the boys room is done ....now it just needs the daily upkeep that I will need to stay on top of! Boys are just gross, did you know it? The preteen years just start to make you wonder how they ever make it to adulthood! Whew...did I mention the smells....not good. :( Even the boys thought I did good, that is saying a lot when they notice that their room isn't growing things!

Anyhow...I just wanted to post and let you all know out there I almost made enough to cover all my books for school this semester with your help! Click those ads here on the side of the screen each one once and you just earned me a little cash! Thank you so much! I am 6 bucks away from my total for books! Isn't that awesome! So keep clicking you can do it once a day from each IP address you have access to!

Okay now I am off to relax...we have a busy day tomorrow and lots to prepare for!

Until next time....

A bit overwhelmed....

Hello out there....

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with my life right now. Really my house and the stuff that needs done in it...its as if no one picks up after themselves at all here. Well not as if, really they just don't! There are five of us here and it seems I am not enough for that job with the other responsibilities I have crowding in too now....

School is good, mine anyway. I am hanging in there with that. The house is a mess, the basement even worse and the boys rooms ...well let's just say you could get lost in them. Literally! So...what is a mom to do? This one has been ranting this morning! Not a good thing really, it accomplishes nothing. So we are working this weekend on getting things in order. Its supposed to be rainy outside and so lots of things inside can get done! Then maybe next week we can tackle the garage and outdoors.

I have a research paper and a presentation to work on this week as well and my midterm in this coming week and then of course I start my next class soon as well I think not this week but next Saturday! UGH....well I am off to tackle the world now! Wish me luck!

Until next time.....

Vacation....

We are home from our trip to Florida! It was so incredibly awesome! We had great weather and lots of sunshine! The kids were well behaved and we really didn't have much trouble until Caleb got sick with some fever rash thingy....he survived and now is much better. Luke now has the fever thingy, no rash as of yet! :)

Its so hard going back to a scheduled life after having a break! We did school today, had speech therapy and did some grocery shopping too, so not bad for a first day back. I could not have done that if my hubby hadn't taken day he returned off too! Thank goodness! So even with a sick kid and lots of tired campers we are another day down in our school year! Tomorrow its back to Preschool for Caleb and on to MAFA for the boys! (hopefully both of them)

Well I have homework of my own to finish for tomorrow nights class so off I go to work on that!

Please don't forget to click on those pesky ads to the side here, really they are helping me pay off my school bills! At least books! :)

Thanks

Until next time.....

More ads....

*******Okay I just found on someone else's site that if you click these ads here to the right side of the page-------> I know you already know this but I get paid. Okay the new thing is though the ads have little arrows at the bottom of them, see them ? They look like little greater than- less than signs but upright....anyway it changes the ad to click, if you click all of them I get more cash! YIPPEE! Okay so I am still new to this and still learning but hey I have made $100 bucks so far....not a ton but enough to cover my school text book so far! :) Click at your leisure, but please click daily and keep me going here! :) ************

Okay a little more stuff going here....

We leave for Florida tomorrow! (one more sleep for kids out there)

I can't wait to go! I have tons to do before I leave but I am so emotionally ready for a vacation!

Did you know that there is actually something called vacation stress? I didn't either but there is! I know this because I have first hand knowledge of it this week! You see we have two dogs, and one was going to a friends, and the other to in laws (bless their hearts)...anyhow the friend that was going to keep the one has a dog herself, a big one (St Bernard) anyhow, Chino (our pup) and their pup did not have the best introduction! They were not going to be staying together in the same house let's just say! Oh dear! So anyhow...we were panicked its not like we have tons of extra cash to afford the kennel, and he is a quirky dog so he wouldn't of fared well there either...anyhow as of this morning, my dear wonderful in laws have agreed to watch the two here....Whew what a relief! So anyway all that to say there really is Vacation Stress....but like the other stresses in life none of them are worth worrying over! :)

Thanks mom & dad for keeping our little boogers!!

Until next time....

How many more sleeps?

"How many more sleeps?" asks my 4 year old every day lately! You see in our family that is how he counts how many more days till we leave for vacation! It works really well for him. :)

So we leave for Florida this weekend, I can't wait! I am so excited, to just go and relax and forget about the silly economy, job security, and therapy, as well as school! (Okay yes I am taking my homework with me~midterm is coming) Anyhow I just want to go and lay in the sun and play with the kids and really enjoy our time! :) This time we are going to Vero Beach's Disney resort, its Disney on the ocean basically, although very relaxed and not at all like the busy theme park packed days. They have tons to do for the kids and adults alike and a great water slide into in the large pool and of course the ocean for those of you who like to be more daring! I personally love to look at it and walk next to it but going into it isn't really my style! Those hidden creatures are not much too my liking! :) I LOVE to listen to it though! Its sooo relaxing to sit out on the patio of the villa and just watch and listen to the waves! The power of the ocean so reminds me of God's unlimited resources and endless power! Its his design and his creation, to me its just that perfect reminder that there is GOD and his limits are endless! :)

This past week we had Caleb's speech therapy session, 2nd one there but technically the first one was all testing and evaluation stuff! Anyhow...He scored really well on comprehension and well not so well on expression (the getting it out part- in his speech) So really nothing we didn't know, he has not struggled with cognitive skills ever its always been the muscle weakness part that makes the trouble! Anyhow...back we went and will be at it now on Tuesday's each week for quite some time to come, I suppose! More things to schedule for that's all! :(

Well I have tons of things to get done around here and many things to do to pack ....so

Oh....there are only 3 more sleeps!

Until next time.....

ADS here ...

Okay so the ads to the side of this blog , do you see them? When you click on the ads they take you a site, whenever you do that I earn some much needed cash, so please take a quick second (literally) and click each day! Thanks
Until next time....

paper

I am sitting here wondering what to write a research paper on this morning.....

I had my first Psychology class night and we have to write a paper on something that interests us in the field of Psychology or a great psych pioneer such as Freud. I just haven't quite decided what to write about....I would like to just get it done...but then again I would like to learn from it as well. :) SO here I sit wondering.....

My life seems to be turned upside down right now....I can't seem to keep up with anything. I really need to better manage my time....I should probably not be writing this but working on something else right now! I have laundry piles, dishes to wash, floors to clean, papers to write, kids to teach, etc...but I am still here typing ....UGH!

I need to stop and regroup and make a plan....need to go do that! I'll let you know on the paper topic as soon as I decide....Funny remember I didn't want to have to write a paper this semester and have already two due and its only one week into the game! :)

Until next time....

Stuff...

Well its a new day here.....

Today I feel a bit better, but still like a big black cloud is lurking just around the corner. We are still employed....we still have medical insurance (which sounds like a huge plus with so many not having it)....we are still current on bills....we have a roof over our heads....we are well fed (sometimes too well)...and we have each other.

Wednesdays around here are very fluid...we go go go...Get up try to focus on Math and Reading and then its off to Preschool with Caleb, then on to MAFA with the boys, and back to pick up ..then off to my class tonight. Home by 10pm....its a long day ahead.

Gotta run
Until Next time .....