I'm over at Faith Lifts today. Join me and calm your heart in the midst of the chaos of life.

Also, Sarah of Real Life is hosting a blog carnival - Mothers and Daughters.

Yes...me...the mother of four sons is participating because Sarah is one clever lady.  Her guidelines state if you are a mother of a daughter(s) you may participate.  If you are a daughter of a mother, you may participate.  I'm a daughter, I'm a daughter!  But I also have a daughter and if you did not know that, then you should visit the carnival Monday, August 27 and read all about her.  She's incredibly beautiful...inside and out.

You should participate, so head over to Real Life for the carnival details today.  Because unless you're a man, you meet the guidelines.

It seems by the time Friday rolls around I am a woman with a fragmented mind.  Be nice, keep those comments to yourself because I know my mind is quite fragmented any day...thank you.  In honor of my fragmentariness (It's really a word. I checked.) here are a few snippets...

Saturday you will find me at Faith Lifts. 

Monday another part of me will be a contributor to next week's edition of TopBlogMag.

Also on Monday there will be more posted here at Slurping Life about my new blog.

The final fragment of me will be here for Best Shot Monday.

Contests

Pickel of My Two Boys is beginning week three of her series of Signing Time contests.  I've always been very impressed with this DVD series which teaches American Sign Language to children (and adults) of all ages.  Any DVD which can teach me anything is worth it's weight in gold and this series qualifies. Wonder if Pickel knows of a DVD teacher to sub in for me in our homeschool? Might she want the job?  I digress, just click here for information on how enter. 

Alyssa of Life From My Laptop is having a Back to School Contest sponsored by Momagenda.  Do you need your life organized?  Bawahahahahahaha...let's stop laughing over my stupid question and go enter the contest to win one of two prizes which will help us do just that.

Nell of Casual Friday Everyday wants to plan your weekly menus and make your grocery list for one full year.  I"m not kidding!  She's just doesn't have enough to do, so she's offering.  Wonder if she cleans toilets?  Seriously, go over to her place and enter her contest to win a one year membership to Menu Planning Central.

Last, but by no means least, Janice and Susan of 5 Minutes for Mom ALWAYS have multiple contests running.  Just click here and go read about the latest ones.  Remember to check back daily because they constantly list contests.  I wonder when they sleep?  Or do they?

Stop It Already, You're Making Me Blush

Dear sweet Nell of Purple Valley has awarded me another Nice Matters Award.  Thank you from the bottom of my tries-really-hard-to-be-nice heart.  I have to tell my mom about these...just so she knows all those years of being tormented frustrated by a teenage girl were not wasted.  Sincerely, I am humbled and honored.

Since I have recently passed this award to other specific bloggers, it now goes out to each of you...my very "nice" readers...with a big THANK YOU for reading and always being nice with your comments.

Have a fun weekend.

And sometimes, I don't know where to find him...

Thursday's Theme is up at Picture This.

...that I love you.  You know...that non-physical from the heart adore you way.  Wouldn't want people to talk.

Your comments and emails in response to my fear of misleading you were all so heart-warming and real.  Many of you comforted me, others confessed, still others said "whew, thank heaven to hear you blow it, too".   Indeed, there was a feeling of bonding and love throughout them all.  We blogging moms and dads (can't exclude my fave blogger dad, Mike, who commented) truly do make a difference in the lives of one another and in the world.  I just want to say "good job and keep it up".

~~

Have I told you lately that I have something up my sleeve?  I do.  Monday I'll share a little more about it, and, of course, it has to do with blogging and having fun.

~~

Have I told you lately about any contests?  Check out the Girly-Girl Contest at Pinks and Blues and do it before Wednesday, August 29th at 3 PM EST.  This is a prize package fit for a little princess with more items in the giveaway package than I want to list.  Get over there and enter by leaving a comment.  Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter.  Shoo, get, go on...

Do you have a contest going on?  If so, please let me know because I do love me some contests and love telling people about them. 

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. ~~Albert Einstein







Stop by the home of photo fun at Wordless Wednesday ~ 5 Minutes For Mom.

Remember this morning I talked about us moms supporting one another through laughter or tears?  Kristen needs some of that support right now.  Please go over and give her a little hug and let her know you are thinking of her.  If you pray, please pray for her and her babies.

*Comments closed on this post.  Please go talk to Kristen.

My husband slathered the boys in sunscreen, gathered towels, various garb, snacks, drinks and herded the boys down the street to the neighborhood pool.  The door closed behind them.  Good.  I was about to meltdown and cause more harm than a nuclear explosion.  It had been that hard of a day.  I sat down and wept.

Recently, I have "met" several mothers online who are in the beginning stages of parenting children with special needs and others who are feeling helpless in the middle of the process.  They've sent me emails and/or left comments on my blog stating how they admire my ability to "do it all"; that they marvel at "how I get it all done"; wondering "how I can be so strong and patient".  I'm afraid that perhaps you've been misled, and I do NOT want to seemingly set unattainable standards for you to emulate.  You need to see the disheveled, insane woman that is me.  Some days there ain't enough chocolate in the world.

(I'm fine...it's to squelch rumors life is all pretty and perfect here.*smile*)

Here on my blog I don't often talk about the bad days mainly because when blogging, I would prefer to let go of thoughts of the trying moments and focus on the humor and the photos I've taken.  In reality a part of each of my days is a bad day, but so is everyone's.  I do strive to find the humor in every moment of my life for what good does it do to constantly whine or fret.  Humor gets me through.  Focusing on the happy, fun aspects of parenting my special purpose sons is how I choose to live.  It's how I remain sane or at least hold on to the appearance of sanity.

You also need to know it is not an "I" effort, but rather a "we" effort.  First of all, I depend on my Christian faith.  God holds me up. 

Second, I depend on my husband.  There is no way I could nor was ever meant to "do it all".  People, in my opinion my man deserves sainthood.  Many are the days their dad comes home from a long day of work and takes the boys.  Completely takes the boys from the house for some fun or sends me somewhere...alone.  He understands the stress I deal with having three against one while homeschooling them through various abilities and needs five days a week. If the boys and I are tying up loose ends of homeschool when he arrives home, he'll prepare dinner which we always eat as a family...together.  He is almost always the parent supervising the rambunctiousness that is bath time at our house.  We go through administering medications, Lee's injection, games, discussions, reading aloud...together.  We tuck them in after family Bible study and prayers...together.  We take turns putting them back in bed because each child deals with trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep.  We then collapse...together.

While I have journalized a few of the hard times here at Slurping Life, perhaps I need to do it a little more often.  Oh no, not a whine fest, but a reality check.  Just so my adored regular readers and new people who venture by are not misled.  So that everyone knows I can't and don't do it all; don't have the patience of a saint; screw up constantly; often feel totally inadequate, stressed to the gills, throw up my hands in defeat and cry like a baby about it all.  And none of these things makes me OR you a failure at motherhood.  It means we are human.

So as parents let's continue to support one another...laughing and crying together...deal?

My Grandmama was strong...and soft...and bright...and never flickering.  She gave me childhood summers that I remember as perfect. Most of all she gave me herself.  Yesterday was the tenth anniversary of her death.  But she'd tell you it was the tenth anniversary of the beginning of her life.  She was that devout and steadfast in her Faith. 

Until this morning I did not understand why I felt so distant, so out of sorts yesterday.  Then I remembered...

Yesterday

I did not understand

My need to cry,

My feelings of loss and longing,

My heart's ache.

Today

I remember you being

My source of strength,

My light of warmth and hope,

My heart's joy.

Forever

I see you dancing;

I feel your spirit;

I hear your words of love;

I remember you.

~Melody

Thank you for reading and, thereby, honoring my Grandmother with me. 

Visit the home of Best Shot Monday where your gracious, talented host is Tracey.

Mama said there'd be days like this if I behaved nicely...

That nice Nell who has Casual Friday Everyday thinks I am a nice person.  Can you think of a better award to receive?  Thank you, Nell.  I humbly accept this award using my nicest manners because my mama taught me well.  She always said, "Melody, if you do nothing else in your life, you can always tell the truth and be nice to people".  I think my mama would be proud.

This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you???ve been awarded please pass it on to 7 others who you feel are deserving of this award.???

As I have said before, the best part for me is passing the honor to others.  The seven people I choose to honor today are by no means all inclusive of the truly "nice" bloggers I've encountered, but rather a small sampling...

De of Just Another Day In Paradise - Jennifer of Pinwheels - GiBee of Kisses of Sunshine - Natalie of The Benson Family and Other Stuff - Christina of Momology - Tammy of Praying for Parker -  Stacy of The Land of K.A. - Jenny of Gus' Gang (oops, that's 8)

If you visit their blogs, I think you would agree with my choices.  Ladies take a bow and post your award.

Saturday ~ Quick edit to say there's a Spotlight On Slurping Life.

Today I am at Faith Lifts...taking baby steps...itty bitty baby steps.

Saturday you will find me at 5 Minutes For Mom.  Janice will be shining the spotlight on Slurping Life and has interviewed me in true Katie Couric-Diane Sawyer style.  Please stop by 5 Minutes For Mom tomorrow to say hi and help squelch my interviewee jitters.

Beginning tomorrow you will find me at Faith Lifts every Saturday.  I hope you will visit each weekend and share your thoughts.