Josh is asleep and more praises

Wow, Joshua is asleep. PTL!!! I was nervous as we had church tonight (dinner 5:45-6:30 and then adult, youth, and children's classes 6:45pm-8:00pm.) But he did not get up from bed or anything tonight. He will actually get to play his video games tomorrow. It has been awhile for that. Jason is also in his bed almost asleep as well.

I am going to make lunch for co-op; straighten up for about 20 min.; and then do some homeschool paperwork and preschool co-op prep. This will be 10:00pm-11:00pm. Next, I will read in my bed. I am reading an old western love story. Finally, I it will be lights out by 11:30pm, so I can get up at 7:30am. This is still such a struggle for me.

Another praise is that I have all of Sept.'s bills paid in full. I also prepaid Oct.'s phone and gas bill. I managed to get through the months even giving a few small gifts for the many Sept. birthdays we had. I even was able to send money for my sponsor child so they can purchase him a Christmas gift (they ask for the money by the end of Oct., you don't have to give, but I want him to have a Christmas gift.)

Also after all the fiasco and another $101, I now have hot water again and my washer and dryer hooked back up (thanks Scott.) I will try and get that $101 back though, we will see about that.

God is so amazing to us. We have an awesome home, our health, plenty to eat, an amazing support system in my family and friends, a running car, no debt, money in savings, this computer that I type on, toys and books galore, a working tv, vcr, and dvd player, and the list goes on. I am so thankful for all of this.

But I can never thank Him enough for His love for us, and Him sending His son Jesus Christ to this earth to die for my sin's (and yours as well.) I don't deserve that, but He loves me that much (and you too.)

I pray you are reminded of His love for you every single day. I pray you try and share Him and that love with all you meet.

-Becky

Early Night

Kids were asleep by 10:30pm. That is a good night for us. Josh did get up so he did not earn video game privileges for tomorrow though.

After boys were asleep I wrote in my prayer journal (which I highly recommend, it helps keep distractions while praying to a minimum.) Then I read the first day of Becoming the Woman I Want to Be by Donna Partow. It has a daily verse to memorize, scripture reading, prayer, and questions to help you grow in the Lord. Plus it gives you assignments to help treat your body like the temple God intended. Today's items were:
-drink hot lemon water (1/4 a real lemon steeped in hot water, then squeeze the lemon and drink-yummy)
-take a good multi vitamin and vitamin c (which I still have to get the vitamin c)
-eat as many raw/steamed veggies from list as possible
-jump on rebounder (mini trampoline 2-3 min.)
-walk 15 min.

This study is meant to be done in am, so I did not eat any veggies and I did not exercise at all, but tomorrow my goal is to do study in am, so I can get all the mini assignments in.

I feel good. I am off to bed. This is an early night for us, I may actually get a full 8 hours of sleep (I plan to be up at 7:30am to pray on the phone with my friend Kristen and start my study.)

-Becky

Cheering Up

My younger brother, Kevin took the boys and I out to the China Buffet. That was nice. I feel a bit better.

After I put the kids to bed I am going to start a 90 day devotion, Becoming the Woman I Want to Be. I am really excited about that.

Duane is still in the air and will arrive in NE about 10pm tonight (he had two connecting flights today-yikes.) I will be excited to talk with him later as well. After I spend time with the Lord that is.

Off to put the boys to bed.

-Becky

Help out my baby sister

My sister, Samantha (who just turned 20) is now selling Avon. I love Avon stuff (I used to sell it as well.) Go to her website and browse. You can now have things from the website sent directly to you and she still gets the credit (you must order through her site though.) Thanks so much!

-Becky

Obeying God is hard

It is not easy for me to write as I am so sad today. Duane left on a plane back to NE this afternoon. He and I met online just over two years ago. We have been dating on and off for about a year and a half (mostly long distance.)

In Feb. of this year he had moved here to try and get work. He rented a room from my brother. After about 6 weeks he left (ran out of money.)

He came again in July for a brief visit and then again at the end of July to try and once again get a job. Again he was unable to find work. So out of money he had to return home.

I feel him leaving was positive because we both felt that it was from God, however I enjoyed having him around.
And I will miss him.

Obeying God is so hard, I am not sure why as His ways are always better than our ways, yet still my old sinful heart wants what it wants, NOW!

Honestly, having Duane around was a huge temptation and my walk with the Lord has suffered because of it. I do not blame Duane, I am responsible for all my own decisions.

I will be real here, being a single mom is hard, and staying pure after having already had experiences is hard as well. Maybe not for others, but certainly for me. So having Duane in NE is a good boundary for me right now. Pray that I will use this time to get reacquainted with the Lord. I desire to put Him first in all I do.

Even though I know God has amazing plans for my life, yet I am still sad today.

-Becky

I am mad

We discovered our hot water was not working some time last week. Odd since it was replaced by a licensed plumber no more than a year ago. I called the same plumber who charged me $101 just to come out and diagnose the problem. Why did I have to pay them? They bought the hot water heater. Anyway they said it was a faulty part on the unit. I could pay them another $165 to replace it? Huh? So I called Whirlpool and they said they would send a tech out to fix it (they knew about the faulty part.) He came today. He was supposed to come between 8am-12pm and he came at 1:00pm (after I called to see where he was.) Since he was not a plumber he could not touch my washer dryer unit. This has to be moved before you can get to the hot water heater. This is why I always call a plumber in regards to this stuff (I don't want to mess with the gas line.) He told me once I get the washer dryer unit moved he can come back and fix the hot water heater. I called Whirlpool again and asked them to send a plumber but they do not do that.

I am so so upset. We have been without hot water all week. Tues. night I took a cold shower. Yesterday I went to my aunt's to shower. It has been since last weekend that the boys have showered.

I paid about $1,000 last year to the plumber to purchase and install a new working hot water heater, thinking I would not have to think about it again for 5-7 years. Not 10 months. Yet, here I am without hot water and $101 more dollars. Plus now I have to pay a plumber to move the washer dryer unit and then what pay him again to put my the unit back?

I guess I am done venting. I will be in prayer about my heart as well as what to do.

What would you do?

-Becky

Getting Organized

I just went through and organized all my papers in my file cabinet (bills, taxes, etc.) I have needed to do it for awhile and had a huge pile of papers that needed to be filed. It feels good to do so. About 1/4 was no longer valid and I was able to toss. About 1/4 was daycare stuff that I can box up and keep it attic as I am not currently doing in home daycare. I will keep all that stuff though as I was told to save any IRS stuff for 7 years. So my file cabinets are much more spacious now. It feels good to get a boring task out of the way. Plus now when I get a paper to file I can file it right away as all folders are set up and labeled. This really helps. Hopefully this will eliminate paperwork piling up.

I also have been going through one room or area each night and filling one box for my yard sale. I know in a previous post I have mentioned that I have not been very successful at my yard sales. However, a few family members, friends, and I are going to attempt a multi family sale. Plus my grandmother has moved from her home into a senior apartment and has some items that she no longer needs. So this sale may be a bit more successful. We are planning it for Fri. Oct. 9th & Sat. Oct. 10th. It seems to be a trend in my area to do yard sales Fri. & Sat. They seem to be more successful; plus the weather should be nice for a yard sale. I LOVE the fall weather (probably because I was born in the fall.)

I have no problem getting rid of stuff, as I got rid of about half my stuff when I moved in this house 2 years ago. But we still have managed to gather more stuff than we need. I am trying to weed out anything that was used for the in home daycare, as we no longer needs toys for any child under 6. If a baby comes over I will give them a box and some tupperware to play with, they like that batter anyway. For any preschool friends we still have our wooden trains and train table which my boys still play with.

I also need to weed out some of the homeschool stuff. It seems to multiply, we have so much. It is hard, because I think, "Will I use this?" or "What if I need this?" But since we have a very small space to work with I want to declutter as much as possible. Flylady taught me, "You can't organize clutter!" It is so true. By the way check out the Flylady website for some awesome help in cleaning and organizing your home and your life. Fly stands for Finally Loving Yourself. It is a great, practical, helpful site. It starts with babysteps to get you in the right direction, instead of diving in head first which can be really overwhelming.

Have you been doing any major cleaning or organizing lately? What are some helpful tips you have?

Thanks! -Becky

Frugal, fun, fire night

Tonight we grilled burgers and then made a fire. We sat outside for two hours with the kids and just added to the fire, chatted, jumped on trampoline, and relaxed. We did not yell or fight. It was a very frugal, yet super fun night. Except of course when Josh peed to put out the fire. Where do they come up with this stuff?


Josh by the fire
Duane proud of starting the fire (he actually makes really good fires that last a long time)
YIKES!!!












p.s. I saved all my dryer lint for months to make a fire starter to start this fire

Lessons from a butterfly

Jason with his monarch butterfly

putting butterfly on flower

happy butterfly















We recently had two chrysalis given to us by a friend. Her family had already seen two butterfly emerge and knew Jason would enjoy watching the other two emerge. Our first one came out today. I love butterflies, they are so beautiful. But even more so, they are amazing. They will start to migrate as our weather gets colder. Some will go as far as Texas . All the while they will have all their needs met. God has already seen to that. They don't question or whine or wonder or even try to do it there own way. They just flutter on. It is a reminder to me that God has an amazing plan for me, and I just need to keep going His way and I will be ok.

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, "Plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.""
Jeremiah 29:11

-Becky

Dream about Eric

Last night I had a strange dream. Eric was in it. He was his normal self. He was trying to help me figure something out. He was yelling at me (he talked like that sometime, half yelling, half annoyed, even that I miss.) I need to pray because I want to be sure I got his message right.

I am so sad. The boys did everything right today. They were ready on time and are even doing school work as I type. But yet I am so sad.

I just read my mom's blog post. My heart aches for her, for us all. I can't help her. I can love her and be there for her, but only God can be what she really needs.

I recall the first hours and days that I had learned Eric was gone. I was convinced everyone was wrong and he was in the hospital recovering. I thought did they try and save him? Or was he hiding for some reason? Silly, I know, but my brain could not process him being gone.

I still am not sure I am there. I want to believe he will show up at my house and talk with Jason or fight with Joshua or help me with a home project. I want this so badly.

I also want to think about others and there needs, I know there are so many, but I can't. I am so wrapped up in my own head, my boys, that is it. I can't be the girlfriend, the friend, the teacher, even the mom everyone needs. Sometimes I can't even be. God is getting us through each day, but it is so hard.

I want to be His servant, yet my heart is so empty. I know that only He can fill it. Thankfully He has me on auto pilot, maybe someday I can get off auto pilot and stop auditing life?

-Becky

Free bookmark for your child

I just found this blog . Go there to get a free personalized bookmark for each of your kids. Doing so will enter you in to win a nice looking tote bag as well.

-Becky

3 months gone by

3 months ago we discovered my brother Eric was dead. In a way it sees no time has passed at all, yet it also seems that it could have been years ago. Today my family (my mom, my sister, my other brother, my kids, Duane, and I) went to my mom's for dinner. We had pasta with my mom's wonderful meatballs. We also had Italian bread. Yummy!

It was nice to be together, but sad that we are missing Eric so much.

Plus there are still so many decisions to be made. What to do with Eric's dog, Bullet? (Sammie is currently taking care of her.) What to do with his house? What to do with his ashes? He currently is at my mom's. We did decide we are going to get a memorial plaque and put it next to my brother Adam's grave. We also are going to get some jewelry made with some of his ashes. That is healing, yet still I wish we did not have to make any of these decisions.

Sometimes I think Eric is on a vacation and he will return soon, but ever time my family gathers and he is not there is a reminder that he will never return.

I wonder how can my life continue to go on, even for me, yet his never will? It is still so hard.

-Becky

Walk For Life

Please prayfully consider supporting me in the WALK FOR LIFE. It is a fundraiser for our local pregnancy center, where I came to know the Lord 11 years ago (Oct. 1998.) PTL!!!

They do so much check out there website, Solutions Pregnancy Center

They are all amazing and mostly volunteers who care about the woman and men who are in unplanned pregnancy situations. They offer free pregnancy tests, counseling, parenting classes, mentoring, baby stuff (new and used, like diapers and cribs, and clothes.) And they do so much more. They minister to the spirit as well as the physical (kind of hard to hear about Jesus when your baby is hunger or needs diapers, they meet these needs.)

I will be taking donations through firstgiving at my fundraising page donate here. Or you can email me jason121097@yahoo.com to give a pledge amount (leave full name, address, and pledge amount in email.) My goal is $300, but even $5 (heck even $1) can help. Thanks!

-Becky

Confused emotions

I wonder how I can be so happy and excited yet be so sad at the same time. I miss Eric so much, but am happy about some things going on in my life.

I felt this way the day Joshua was born. I was so happy that I had another child, yet so sad that his dad was not there. That was the saddest moment of my life, until my cousin Cristie died 3 years ago, and now I am even more sad with the passing of my brother. Yet still I feel happy that my life is going ok.

It is a strange to feel two extreme opposite emotions so strongly at the same time.

-Becky

Today is Eric's Birthday

Today Eric would have turned 33. It is a sad day. We went to my mom's after dinner and had cake. We sang to Eric, something he would have hated, but it made us feel better.

Eric, we miss you!

Oversight

I am trying to stay on top of everything, especially at co-op, but today I realized I still needed to buy about 16 more readers for Jason for history. So I just placed my final order. They were $152 with tax. Yikes. Another unexpected expense. So far his history class stuff has cost me $297. This includes a textbook, flashcards, memory cd, timeline book, timeline figures, and about 20 readers (books he has to read.) I wanted to get the reader's at the library, but they did not have most of them. Joshua's history stuff only cost me about $50.

Of course I think this is important, but still a bit pricey. Especially since I still had to buy all other other subjects for each boy.

Here is my homeschool budget breakdown for this school year:

$ 50 co-op fee
$297 Jason history
$ 50 Joshua history
$ 40 Jason science
$ 57 Josh science (book, student pages, and experiment kit)
$ 30 Joshua Language Arts
$ 50 Jason Language Arts
$ 15 Joshua handwriting
$ 15 Josh Latin (book and cd)
$ 15 Jason Latin (book and cd)
$ 40 Jason math
$ 40 Joshua math
$ 30 Joshua Magic School Bus reader's to go with his curriculum
$ 10 Jason vocabulary
$ 10 Joshua art book and blank book
$ 5 Jason blank book for art
$ 10 Wiki sticks for Jasons OT stuff
$ 20 $5 for each class for supplies (history & science for each child)
$ 40 new backpacks
$120 HSLD membership

$944 total on books, bookbags, co-op, and HSLD membership

(this does not include school supplies like pencils, binders, paper, and such, my mom bought all these-Thanks mom!)

I did budget $1,000 for this stuff, but I thought I had bought everything so I spent about $200 on other stuff, but after today's order I realize I needed the full $1,000.

I think we are all set for this year. We have to be, we can not spend any more on books this year. (Even though it is a weakness of mine.)

What did you spend on homeschooling this year? (If you homeschool that is)

-Becky

Off to bed

It is not yet 11:00pm. The kids are asleep. The house is clean. I even folded and put away 5 loads of laundry. Everything is ready for co-op tomorrow (I even got into the attic to get some preschool stuff we needed.) All lunches are made (mine is a yummy salad.) I balanced my budget for Sept. (which will be really tight.) I watched a little tv and checked all my email and blogs, so now I will be reading a bit in bed and then off to sleep.

I am so excited as this stuff almost never all happens before 11:00. Yipee!

Goodnight!

-Becky

I am so thankful...

He does dishes

-Becky

Accomplished

Finally our house is clean and we are cooking dinner. This makes me feel good. I still have to lay out clothes for co-op, make lunches, and do my preschool prep, but at least the house is clean. Praise the Lord!!!
-Becky

Verse I need to commit to heart

James 1:19
"That we would be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."
James 1:19

I am too quick to stress out when angry, and especially yell. This is no good. The anger is ok, but I can't sin in it.

-Becky

Our day in NY yesterday

We all took the train in. We went to Times Square first. We went in the huge Toys R Us. That was fun. Then we walked around. Next we hopped on the subway (Jason, Josh, & Duane's first subway rides), and we went to Chinatown. We did some shopping (in my case window shopping.) We had an amazing Chinese dinner. It was so good. Finally we came home. I hope my sister enjoyed her day (it was her 20th birthday.) Oh, yeah for fun we had the entire train car sing her happy birthday. She was so embarrassed.

Joshua on train
Jason on train
Daune on train
Me on train
Walking around NY. Birthday girl is sticking her tongue at me.
Walking in Times Square
Duane, Josh, & I in Toys R Us
Joshua and Scott subway surfing
Daune St-Duane liked this

Why do we celebrate Labor Day?

The History of Labor Day

Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Founder of Labor Day

More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Labor Day Legislation

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

A Nationwide Holiday

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

Happy Labor Day

I hope you are spending today with your family. I also hope you are relaxing!!!
I am going to clean and get ready for the week. Then we are going to cook on the grill and eat outside. It is so nice outside today! We may even make a fire and roast marshmallows tonight.

What are your plans?

-Becky

Happy Birthday!

Today my sister Samantha is 20. Wow! I remember when she was born (I was almost 10.) She is such a beautiful and amazing young adult. I am so proud of her!

Me and Samantha














Sammie, have a great day, I love you!





Today is also my grandmother and cousin's birthday as well. Hope everyone has a great day!


Grandma and Joshua



















-Becky

Peach Picking

Friday we went peach and nectarine picking. It was fun. And yes my mom did try to throw peaches at me, ouch! Here's some pictures:

Joshua
yum
Joshua, mom, & Scott

Happy Birthday MOM

Mom and I yesterday













Today is my mom's birthday. Even though she does not want to celebrate, I want to remind her how much I love her and respect her and am so in awe of her. She is amazing!!! She is the strongest person I know, yet so loving and kind. She is everything I want to be. Everyday of my life I have known that she loves me and she has shown it in a million ways.

Dear Lord,

Thank you so much for giving me the mom you did. Please bless her today and everyday. Give her rest and comfort. Remind her of your love. Remind her that you are always with her.

In Jesus name,

Amen


Mom,

Have a great day! I love you so much!

-Becky

First week of homeschooling at home complete

Our first week of homeschooling at home is almost complete (tomorrow is a light day as each boy only has to do Bible, devotion, reading, & a current events.) Jason is sleeping at his grandparents and will do that stuff with them, so I only have to work with Joshua on those things.

I can say that I am exhausted! I did not manage to get up by 7:30/8:00 everyday, but we managed to get all school work done and get to co-op on time Tues. & Thur., so that is a positive for this week.

Monday & Wed. at home Joshua did:
Bible (reading it and a devotion), Handwriting, Creative writing, Math, Language Arts, Cooking, Arts and Crafts, and Reading. He also did 6 chores each day (as he is 6.)

Jason did:
Bible (reading it and a devotion), Handwriting, Creative writing, Math, Language Arts, Vocabulary, and Reading. He also had to do History and Science homework from co-op. He also did 11 chores each day.

Tues. & Thur. we all did Bible, reading, and co-op.

Each day we did some sort of P.E. I even took three walks this week (not my goal of five, but better than none.)

I will say that Joshua was very well behaved during school time. We still had going to bed issues a few days, but that would occur no matter where he was in school (as it has been an ongoing problem.) Jason also has been well behaved, although new routines and people are harder for him to adjust to. He did do well on his history test today.

Also both my boys played very nice together this week. I was really impressed by that. They both discovered they like to play catch together and found mitts and balls in the shed.

I have loved being in preschool at co-op, especially working with the two woman I am working with, they are such a blessing to me. Although six active preschool boys are a lot of work, the joy I see in their faces is such blessing as well.

I am going to go food shopping now and then get to bed early. Tomorrow after Josh and I do those few things he has a doctor's appointment and then we are going peach picking with my mom. I am so excited. I love picking fruit. Except I hope no one throws any at me like when we went blueberry picking, the peaches may hurt. Ouch! Lol.

-Becky

p.s. as a teacher I know things like history are common nouns and are not supposed to be capitalized, but I did it anyway in this post.

carpet results

Both my homemade laundry soap and the Seventh Generation carpet cleaner got the coffee stain out of my cream carpet. However I have a strange mystery stain that neither cleaner got out. At least Duane and Josh are off the hook.

-Becky

Something vinegar doesn't do

I only have one carpet in my house (in the living room.) The rest is hard wood floor (bedrooms, and part of living room), tile (bathroom), and vinyl (kitchen and front hall)
Well, the carpet is really stained (it is cream colored), but vinegar alone does not get rid of the stains. I just tried some of my homemade laundry soap to see how that will work. I also bought Seventh Generation carpet cleaner. I am trying both on two separate coffee stains on the rug, to see which if any works better. Here is the funny thing, I do not drink coffee. Both times Duane brought his coffee into living room and set it down. Both times Joshua knocked it over on accident. Duane is not yet used to the fact that little kids will spill stuff. So if the stains come clean they will both be off the hook.

What works for you on carpet stains? Any home made solutions? Any good natural / organic stuff?

I will let you know if any of my solutions worked.

-Becky

It's Sept.

Yikes, where does the time go? Today we had co-op and then we went to the park with another homeschooling family.

I was a little peeved as Jason usually climbs to the very top of any playground (like above it.) This never bothers me as he knows his limitations, plus it keeps him from climbing the curtains at home-lol. The playground we were on had a sign that said, "this playground is geared for 5-12 year olds." Well, he is only 11 (and doesn't look older.) But another mom with toddlers told him he couldn't play on the playground. I assume her kids were trying to emulate him and climb up, but he got very upset (he wasn't doing anything wrong) and then he would not play on the playground until the woman left.

Now, when I am on the playground I will tell a child I do not know to be nice (if say they are hitting my child), but I felt like this mom should not have told him he couldn't play. Plus technically she was in the wrong as the playground was for 5-12 year olds. Right next to it was the 0-5 playground. Her kids did not look five. Yet still, I would never tell them they can't play there. I actually tell my kids to watch out for the little ones (by the way Jason is very good with little kids.)

No real point to this post, just venting. I am glad Jason was respectful of the woman and didn't tell her off as I have seen some kids on the playground do (not today.) But my mama bear instinct kicked in and it upset me that he was upset. He handled it well, and actually used that time to whittle with his, gasp, pocket knife. I am sure the playground lady would have objected to that as well. Ok, ok I will calm down and say a pray for this family later. Alright, I'll do it now. I will even be grateful that someone else was looking out for Jason's safety.

-Becky