Am I shallow? Weak? Or striving to stay sane?

I've been avoiding news-y TV like the plague. So I'm wondering, which of the above categories do I actually fall into?

One reason is that I've been really busy just living my own "normal" (or abnormal, really!) life of being a Mommy, wife, volunteer, housekeeper, chef, accountant, dog handler, chauffeur, laundry woman, knitter, seamstress, dish washer, personal shopper, full-service gas attendant, decorator...well...I'm sure you get the idea! (Shallow? Because life is going on "as usual" for me, but not for "them"?)

Part of me can't handle the footage of yet another major catastrophe (after this Fall's hurricane season and living in the midst of it, can you blame me?), just because emotionally I am not sure if I can stomach it. The astronomical numbers of the death toll from the earthquake and tsunami are just mind-boggling! The footage and stories (the few I've read/heard) are so sad. I have kids, and a job, and no money, so I can't just drop everything and leave; but I also can't financially make a difference either. (Weak? Because I don't want to see any more devastation and lives in ruin?)

Then there's the part of me who's trying to be a responsible parent. Sometimes there is so much media coverage on things that you can watch it 24/7. I know here in the Tampa area, on 4 different occasions in the span of only a few weeks, our TV was ONLY on local channels and the ONLY thing on TV was hurricane coverage. After 9/11, same thing. Presidential election 2000, same story. Presidential election 2004, ditto, just not quite as long. War in Iraq, endless coverage. When is too much not a good thing? I got my answer today, sitting in a waiting room for a seemingly endless amount of time...my little girl made friends with another girl her same age (she just turned 5, my daughter will be 5 in February)...playing, talking, discussing what Santa brought them just a few days ago.... All of a sudden she starts talking about the " 'nado that made the lake come up and put water in the streets and all of the houses were broken".... Luckily, being the 5-ish kids that they are, it was easy to distract them and totally change the subject quickly...but it just goes to show that my kids are affected by world events, even if I'm not watching it 24/7. (Sane? Trying to be, by not over-watching devastating news coverage.)

I realized that being "up" on the latest devastation is absolutely NOT important. I KNOW that thousands upon thousands of people have died, and thousands more will because of the disease and lack of decent water supply. I also realize, from growing up on a farm, that there will be continued devastation for quite some time just due to the fact that plant life cannot grow when there is salt in the soil, so there will be far-reaching future problems because of this too. But I think most importantly, I have "finally" come to realize (thankfully after the hurricanes, and NOT during this current crisis) that to saturate myself in the devastation not only affects me and may cause me to feel empathy and slight depression because of the unfairness of life and all of the innocent victims, but it also affects my kids. Real life, everyday life, is overwhelmingly stressful enough at times. Kids do a great job at coping with problems, crises and changes, but as a parent it is my responsibility to shelter them from the brunt of the overwhelming pain that can be seen on TV when that pain is not necessary for them to experience. I want my kids to be savvy in what's going on in the world, so they can live in it as responsible people. But they don't need to know every little story to be up on current events either.

So I have to say, though my curiosity has been piqued this evening and I've really wanted to "see" what the latest news was, I am glad that I didn't give in and put it on a news channel to keep watching "updates" on every little detail of the story. Some moments I may be shallow in "why" I'm not watching it, other's it's just because I'm weak. But mostly, I think by not watching it I am fighting for the sanity and emotional/mental well-being of not just myself, but also the children that God has given me the responsibility of raising, protecting, caring for and loving!

Oh yeah, I did figure out something I "can" do (since I can't go over there, neither am I wealthy and able to make large financial donations)...I can pray! And I do, I pray that God will put His hand of protection over those who are suffering, and that He will help those of "us" who can assist to know exactly what the right way to help might be. I also pray that the survivors will have peace, and one day again experience the happiness and hope that life can give, that eventually they can move on with their lives and have joy once again.

You can pray too, if nothing else, just pray!

Company gone...

It turned out to be a pretty good week. We took the grandparents to MOSI one day. We went to the Christmas store and antique shops another. One day we stopped by a quilt shop and I found a new scrapbooking store (YAY!!!). My dad isn't used to being around kids anymore, so I think Elisa overwhelmed him a bit. She's full of energy and never stops.

We also went to the Christmas Eve candlelight service at our church. It was a very nice service and I have to say how proud I was at how grown-up Elisa acted!!! She sat quietly and listened through the whole thing and participated in singing too. It was really neat to see her be such a big girl in "big church"! It was a really good evening.

Christmas was wonderful for us. It couldn't have happened without all of our wonderful friends, but it all came together and was awesome!!! We had Blueberry French Toast and a Spinach Quiche for "brunch", and later a cheese ball and little smokies for a snack. I made "lefse" for dinner, it was a bit of a disaster since I ran out of flour, but I used wheat flour and was able to make it work. It turned out pretty good and everyone liked it. I wasn't sure how well Nana would like it, but she did. (It's a tradition from my mom's family---Norwegian flat bread or "lefse" with potatoes and salmon, some pretty good stuff there!!!)

Nick got a cool Nerf blaster and Spiderman Lego set, along with a CD player and the new Relient K CD. Elisa got a Cabbage Patch Kid, Baby AnnaBelle (who cries, slurps, burbs and coos), some cool Barbies and the FP Noah's Ark set. They got more than that, but that was kind of the big stuff. Nana and Papa got them some cool stuff--Nick got a soccer ball, new shin guards, etc. and Elisa got a handmade baby bed (made by Nana) and a Strawberry Shortcake. There really were too many things to mention!!!

I think my favorite gift was the amethyst earrings from Nick because it's the birthstone of both of my kids. Jerry's favorite gift was from me, a book called "The World According the Mr. Rogers--Important Things to Remember". He even thanked me in his blog, so sweet! LOL

I have decided to start counting how many "crafty" projects I do between now and next Christmas (even if they're not presents or whatever) just to see how many I can do in a year. I guess yesterday I completed project #1--a red knitted scarf for Elisa and a matching one for her CPK doll. She was beside herself when I gave them to her, so cool how something so simple and made just for her made her so happy!!! I'll have to keep track of everything so I can look back and see how much/little I accomplish this year!!!

Now I need to finish a couple of "late" presents for the other grandparents so I can send them out. I'm making "journal jars" for them, also a calendar and an ornament with our family picture in it. I did the same for Nana and Papa, just got theirs done on time since they were here! LOL

Oh yeah, I'm filling in at Elisa's preschool b/c they're short-staffed this week. Today was a nightmare, praying for a better experience tomorrow!!! :)

First blog post here, I think this will be cool--having a place to post my random psychotic thoughts! heehee

We had company arrive today. The thought of having company for Christmas was quite stressful for me. I'm so used to having the freedom to do Christmas "my way", but this year it's different. And it is a good thing for the kids too, having grandparents visit is always exciting for them! It's still Christmas "my way" just not the "usual" way.

With all of the stress I've been dealing with, what's one more thing, right?!? It's been one heckuva year, that's for sure!!!

But I have to say...we have been truly blessed this year too, in the fact that God has seen us through some really hard and trying times. Nick broke his arm, Jerry changed jobs, we moved (4 times if you include everything), Nick was bitten by a dog,.........that's enough stress listed, dontcha think? We are relatively healthy, have a roof over our heads, food in our fridge (when I have time to go grocery shopping), and clothes on our backs, along with two vehicles (one is paid off).

More than anything though, we have been blessed by friends, some of whom we've never met and probably never will, this side of Heaven. We have MANY many friends who have stepped in to help us through prayer, words of encouragement, listening ears, shoulders to cry on, and gifts that are too great to describe...and too many to mention for fear of missing the proper mention of someone!It's just great to see how God uses people, failures that most of us are, to do good and to be a blessing to others. This time, the blessings are coming my way. Hopefully next year, we'll be able to be the blessing to others...

"For I know the plans I have for you,...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listn to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord. --Jeremiah 29:11-14a