Guardian Angels

My sister, Sara, briefly mentioned this in a blog of hers, and I thought I would share the entire story since I was there that day. I will always remember this particular Saturday in July many years ago as the day that I saw my brother's guardian angels.

It was a hot Saturday afternoon in July, around 1993. We came home from our swim meet, had lunch and changed clothes and then headed out to the mall. I remember that I was really tired that day and didn't want to go to the mall with my mom and Eddie to pick out a new comforter set for my bedroom that my mom was redoing for me and Sara. We went to Security Square Mall and were in Wards. Mom and Sara had been there before and saw this set that they both really liked and they wanted to get my "ok" before they bought it. Sara was at Wynnewood Pool working, so it was just the three of us. (Dad was at work too). We walked through the store on the lower level and had to take the escalator up to the Housewares Dept. Mom and I were riding together and Eddie was a few steps behind us. No one else was on the escalator, so mom was ok with Ed being behind her. (It must have been 1992, I'm pretty sure Ed was only 10. I'm sure Sara will comment if I am wrong :p) As we were going up we felt the escalator kind of stop, and roughly start again, kind of knocking us off balance. Mom looked back to be sure Ed was ok, and I will NEVER forget what I saw then! Eddie's head was stuck between the diagional wall and the black rubber railing of the escalator, his feet were even off the steps because he was being pulled so hard! Mom and I yelled as we tried to get to him, but it was hard to do since we had to run down the up escalator. I remember Mom trying to yank him free as she yelled "Lord, help me!" All of a sudden there were about 6 HUGE men who appeared out of no where, grabbed Ed and yanked him out. He had been stuck so tightly that he had black streaks on his cheeks and his baseball hat had fallen off. (The dr's told mom that if he had not been wearing that hat he would have had some serious injuries). We got to the top level and mom turned to thank the men, but they had all disappeared. There were a few on-lookers, but none of them were the "men" on the escalator with us.

Some might think that is strange, coincidence, luck, etc... I however, know the truth, and that is that God sent his angels to protect my brother that day. I'm sure it is not the only time those angles have taken care of Eddie because, as Dani said, "he's pretty rotten" :) .

Oh, and for those of you who were wondering- I hated the comforter set Mom and Sara picked out but they bought it anyway.

Thanks for ruining it...

I'm sure you all have heard about the whole recall thing on Children's Cold Medicine. You know, it was causing problems with some kids and it was pulled from store shelves. (Most of it). Well, it was basically due to parents who were giving the wrong dosage, using the wrong syringe, etc... (ie, using the Tylenol measuring syringe instead of the motrin, etc). When Aaron was a few months old he got a horrible cold and was miserable! I found this stuff at Rite Aid, Infants Tylenol Cold Medicine. I gave it to him (using the dropper that was included, duhhhh) and it worked great! Now my little Belle was a nasty cold and I cannot find anything I can give to her! I can suck the snot out with a bulb syringe all I want, use all the saline drops in the bottle and wipe her nose a bazillion times, but NOTHING works! She is so sleep deprived, grumpy and miserable. She wants to suck her pacifier so much but cannot breathe with it in her mouth :( She's such a sad sight.

I just want to thank those morons who used the wrong dosage by being dumb. Now my little girl is miserable and there is nothing I can do. Thanks. Maybe you should pay attention to the dosage instructions, they're not that hard to follow.

Whole grains, no calories

Aaron come in with his box of cereal and goes, "Look mom!" (as he points to the side where the nutrition value is) "this has whole grains. And no calories too!" Ahhhhhh! Too many commercials for him!

Solicitors

The phone rings, it is a local number with "unknown name", so I answer since sometimes it is a person I know. The conversation went something like this:

"Hello?"

"Um, yes, Mrs. Casamento?"

"No, she's unavailable, may I take a message?" (a lie, I know, but I had NO CLUE who it was!)

"Oh, well, this is so in so from the Breast Cancer Society, I'll call her later"

Now, what happened to introducing yourself over the phone??!! Seriously! I just find it incredibly rude when people call you and don't say "I am so in so calling from such in such, do you have a minute?" I would be MUCH more open to listening to what they have to say, but if they don't introduce themselves, I just hang up on them. I REALLY hate it when the men call, they are so condescending! I even had a child screaming in the background once and when I said "This really is a bad time" he had the nerve to say, "Well, ma'am, don't you think it is important to support your local law enforcement?" Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! I hung up on him right then! Jerk! what kills me is when people refuse to give their name or info and say, "When is a good time to call back?" My response is always never :p

A Long Awaited Date Night!

Yea! I'm so very happy, Dave and I had a date night for the first time in a looooooooooooong time tonight! It was the perfect timing, God knew we needed it, and he knew how badly we would need it tonight of all nights!

I was at work today, it was gloomy and dreary, I was tired and the kids were restless. I have been wanting to go out with Davey for a while and we just havn't had the time and decided today that tonight was the night if at all possible. I remembered that a dear friend, Debbie, had given us a "Free Night of babysitting" as a gift for Christmas TWO years ago and we had yet to use it. Silly me!!! I texted her to see if she was available and while I was waiting to hear back Dave called me. He was at work and was a little "shaken" for lack of a better word, the manager had just been fired for no apparent reason to anyone there and that was a concern to Dave. He likes Jeff, he was a decent manager and he and Dave got along well. No one was expecting it and it brings back memories of the whole Sterling fiasco three years ago where Dave was unexpectedly without a job for a few weeks. Thankfully Debbie was available and this evening she came over and we got to go out! Yippie! It was so nice!

I took Dave to Five Guys for dinner, then we went to His Way and we each bought some new devotionals (I highly reccomend Elizabeth George, she is great!) and then went to Starbucks for coffee and hot chocolate. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! It was so nice to have time to talk about what's going on, what Dave wants to do as far as a new job/career, what are certain financial ideas and goals that we have, a possible increase in work hours for me, etc... I love my husband and it was just wonderful to have him to myself tonight. It has been a joke at our church that he needs to take me out soon, so he's decided that he'll now be able to tell the other husbands at church that he's "just that good" since I've been nagging him to take me out and I was the one to take HIM out. What a prize :)

SIDE NOTE: The whole "job" thing should be a stressful time, but I have recently read "loving God with all Your Mind" by Elizabeth George, and it has not only drawn me closer to God, but I have really learned how to lean on Him, look for Him in every situation and see how God is in control of every aspect of my life. He is so very good to me and has provided far above every need I have had. Elizabeth George is a great author! I bought two more of her books and am so excited to start them later tonight! If you have never read her, you are missing out! If you have read her books, go get another!

Prayer Request: Dave and I are youth leaders at our church and are loving it! This Friday we are in charge since my dad is away and it is the first time that Dave is teaching. Dave is looking forward to it and has some great ideas! I'm sure that the timing of the work drama is not coincidential but Satan trying to distract Dave from serving God. Please pray for us that we would have wisdom and discernment for the work situation, but mostly, please pray for Dave as he prepares the lesson, that God would block out any and all distractions and that Dave would be sensitive to God's leading. The reassuring thing is that since we are experiencing some spiritual opposition, it means that we are doing what God wants and Satan hates. Thanks to everyone, prayer is so powerful!

Good Monday!

Usually on Mondays I start off behind. Behind "schedule" (I know, Sara, I sound like Mom), my cleaning seems to always be behind, the laundry, etc... I have to work on Mondays so I feel rushed to get everything done before I go in and since I have two children to care for, I never get it all done before I have to leave. But today is a different story. I have no work to go to today, I woke up to an empty sink, thanks to my lovely hubby, and a house that will be clean in less than 30 minutes after Belle is in bed. :) I've had my devotions, did 3 miles on the treadmill and feel quite accomplished today! Now I'll spend the next few hours with the kids, playing and having lunch, and then during naptime I'll get the last few loads of laundry done, clean up the house (which isn't too bad since I kept it clean over the weekend-which is a miracle!) and then maybe start on some much needed yard work. I HATE yard work and the yard is sooooo overgrown that i don't know where to start. My friend, Alicia, is taking the kids for a while tonight so Dave and I will be able to get a few things done in the yard tonight, so I think I am more motivated to start this afternoon since I should be able to get a lot done today and tonight. We'll see.

Tomorrow is looking busy with Ladies Bible Study, work, getting Tori from school and yucky rain, so I need to get moving today! Oh, wait, I have to make something for LBS tomorrow for the breakfast. Grrrrrr. Hopefully I'll remember that later this evening :)

Aaron's Friends

We live right next to a private school, so our front yard is parallel with the schools front yard. Every day (weather permitting) the kids come out for recess around 10:15am. They run around and play games, have a great time, and work off lots of energy. Aaron loves to watch this. At first, in the Spring, he would yell to them to stop running and yelling and be nice to each other, but then as time went on, he realized they were playing and having a good time with each other. Aaron was sad when the school year ended, and asked probably once a week when the kids would be back.

Fast forward to last week, now. Aaron saw the kids playing Tuesday morning in the yard and runs to the window (our kitchen and living room windows are right next to the fence seperating the yards and the boys especially like to hang out by the fence since the shrubs kind of hide them from the teachers :p) to watch, while yelling, "Hey, look mom! It's my friends!" He stood on the recliner to see them and got embarassed when the kids looked up and made eye contact with him. He slid down in the chair for a minute and then got up to knock on the window at them. He always gets sad when "his friends" go inside and has told a few people that his friends will be at his birthday party. :)

The Japanese Tourist

My grandfather was in this past week for a visit. He lives on the Eastern Shore and since my Grandmother is in Disney with my Aunt, Grandpa was visiting my mom. I suggested that we all get together for breakfast on Friday morning before he left to go back, so I took my van with Mom, Alyssa, Aaron and Belle, Grandpa followed SLOWLYYYYYYYYYY in his stylin purple truck and then Sara and her girls met us at BobEvans. It was a marvelous idea if I say so myself! We had a nice time of visiting, the kids were good and the food was yummy as well. As breakfast ended, my mom said she wanted to get a picture of Gpa with the kids. She jumps up and arranges the people she wanted in the picture (Sara, I guess you and I are not important enough to be included :p) and then, she breaks it out. A HUGE honkin camera. I leaned over to Sara and said, "Geez, she looks like a japanese tourist. I'm just waiting for her to say 'Me take picture?'" I'm telling you, it is insane! It has the strap and all to go around the neck! It is one sizeable camera. The only thing missing is the telescopic lens and she could be part of the paparazzi! I think next time I see her I might start to bow "hi" to her.

Crazy Hairy to the rescue!

Ok, so I know I have said a few things about my mom that wern't exactly "glowing", so I thought I should set the record straight on how I feel about her and tell a nice story so you all don't think she's so stinkin terrible.

First off, I want to say that I love my mother. I really do. We have a typical relationship where we have a good time together but cannot spend too much time together. Once I got married and moved out, our relationship changed and we can now enjoy and appreciate each other. My mom is sweet, thoughtful, helpful, loving, encouraging (even though she goes about it in a weird way sometimes) funny, creative and is honestly one of the women I admire most. She thinks EVERYTHING through and does nothing out of haste -except for maybe impulse shop. She raised her children prayerfully and to the absoulte best of her ability. Her knowledge of scripture is probably the one area of her life that I wish I had for myself.

Now I'd like to share a little story with you so you can get a glimpse of the kind of loving things my mother does for me. (And it's not just because I'm her favorite! :p) A few weeks ago I was supposed to take mom, Alyssa and my kids to visit my grandparents for a few days. We were leaving on a Thursday afternoon so I got up and was getting packed when I started to feel really sick. I called mom and told her I had decided not to go and she offered to come help with the kids if I needed it, and I told her no, I'd be fine. Well, by 11:30 I was curled up on my bed with the kids playing next to me and I realized I was too sick to take care of them. I called Dave to see if he could take a longer lunch and come home until Belle was down for her nap and he agreed to come home even though it was a Thursday and those are bad days for him to take off without notice. He came home and I told him to call mom and ask her to come over since he really needed to get back to work, so after he got me the barf bucket off he went with the kids. Of course mom insisted I should have called earlier and she would have walked over :) She came over and stayed the whole afternoon, gave the kids lunch (which was hard with Belle since I got sick in the middle of nursing her and mom had to drop everythig to make a bottle for my little diva), played with them and got them settled in bed for naps. She hung around for a while after that "just in case" and basically wasted her whole afternoon over here with us even though she had a lot to do at home. See what I mean? She drives me crazy, but then does stuff like that and I cannot help but be reminded of how wonderful she really is. I certainly don't love her anymore than I always have because she came over, but it was a great way for me to remember how much I love and appreciate her.