Spilt Milk

Sunday Thoughts

2009-12-20T05:43:00.000-08:00

"Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him."

Matthew 6:8

Junk E-mail

2009-12-19T05:38:00.000-08:00

I receive roughly 25 e-mails a day. I'm not that popular.

Lately I have noticed that most of my e-mails are advertisements from companies where I have signed up to receive a rewards card, or some other gimmick that I got talked in to.

Although it is easy to just delete the e-mails, I feel invaded by all of the wordy junk that passes over my computer screen. When I attempt to opt out of receiving the e-mails I am plagued with the "Are you sure?" and "You'll miss out on all of our incredible deals" warnings and then I crumble, and click on "cancel unsubscribe."

Bottom line: I am a wimp. I need to accept all of the junk e-mails since I signed up for them, even if they are annoying.

Check List

2009-12-18T08:29:00.000-08:00

Today marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. School is ending, and gearing up for Christmas is beginning.

My days have been filled with lists and things needing to get done in the midst of working full time too. I have been feeling very overwhelmed.

Secret Santa gifts for the kids, work party, birthdays, assignments, printing papers, helping with homework, baking cookies, Christmas cards, Christmas photo, garage makeover, dinner, lunches, birthday parties, e-mails, Christmas tree decorating, and the list is lengthy.

Next year, I'm considering pulling the kids out of school a week early and going away for two weeks. Where will we go? To the North Pole. I'm sure Santa could use some help.

Clap Clap!

2009-12-14T20:39:00.000-08:00

If you're busy and you know it clap your hands.
If your stressed and you know it clap your hands.
If your busy and you're stressed and you can't post a blog.
Then you're too busy and your stressed clap your hands.

Can I hear an amen?
Please don't give up on me.
I will post again soon, just not right now, too busy and stressed.

Attitude of Gratitude

2009-12-07T03:53:00.000-08:00

I’m trying to be more thankful.

I’m trying to be consistently thankful every day and not just on or near the Thanksgiving holiday.

Last week our pastor challenged us to wake up and tell God about five things for which we are thankful, other than the common stuff like family and health. Although I haven’t been consistent with doing this I have made a grand effort. This is a great way for me to start the morning.

In addition to starting our day with thankfulness our pastor also challenged us to be thankful in our situations and not for our situations as a way to defeat Satan. I considered this the other morning, at 4:00 a.m. to be exact, as I was forced to the middle of my bed, paralyzed into a pretzel shape. I had my husband on one side of me and my six year old on the other.

My six year old boy has a bed of his own. His bed is comfortable and warm. His bed has enough room for his body, and more. His bed is in his room. There is nothing wrong with my son’s bed.

Nothing.

For the last few days, between the hours of 3:00 and 5:00 a.m. my son has drug his blanket and pillow into our room and crawled into my side of the bed. He prefers to be spooned until the time comes for my husband and me to get out of bed and begin our day. Spooning for hours hurts. My shoulder and legs cramp and my back muscles slip into knots. Since I am too tired to get out of bed and return my son to his own bed, I lie in one position, awake and frustrated.

This one particular evening was no different, however, this time as I was drifting in and out of sleep while trying to find a comfortable position, I thanked God. I thanked Him for the fact that my boy has the ability to walk to my room, and can crawl up into bed with me and fall asleep. I thanked God for his deep breathing and his full functioning brain. I thanked God for the fact that I can carry him back to his own bed without him throwing fits. After I did this I felt better, not so angry, although my back was still cramping.

The next morning I was tired. I asked him for the third night in a row, why he came into my bed and asked him why he doesn’t stay in his own bed.

“I like to be next to you” and “I just miss you so much” were his two best excuses for waking me up for spooning. Although his sappy excuses were just a cover up to keep me from asking any more questions—I thanked God for that, too.

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Sunday Thoughts

2009-12-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

"Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips."

Proverbs 27:2

A Recent Conversation

2009-12-05T05:13:00.000-08:00

The following is a recent text message conversation with my thirteen year old son:

Setting: The mall. He is on a field trip with his school, his CHRISTIAN school. He is with some other boys in one of the mall shops.

Zac: Can i get a wristband that says i heart boobies...all the monny gos to breast cancer

Me: Not. A. Chance!

At least he asked first.

Sub-Par Parent

2009-12-03T20:44:00.000-08:00

So, I have blown it not once but twice. Not twice in one month, but twice in one week, and twice in two days, if I am being completely honest, which I am.

My parent badge was removed today. I am officially on detention until tomorrow.

Mistake number one:
A few weeks ago we were notified, via my mother having a conversation with the second grade teacher, that our 2nd grader was going to get an award in chapel. Wednesday came around, chapel day, and I realized that because of a staff Christmas party, I would not be able to attend chapel, and whistle like a trucker when my son got his award. I solicited help from my mother who was happy to attend chapel, sit with our boy, and clap more loudly than any parent in attendance.

I never told my husband about the chapel happenings because when I asked him what he was doing, he told me that he was going to L.A. and I knew that he would not be available.

Our son received the "Peace" character award. Awesome. My husband wondered why I never told him to attend chapel. I told him that since my mom was going, and he wasn't going to be close, it was fine. It was not. My mom said that our son ran up on stage, and she teared up. We should have been there.

Mistake number two:
Our oldest boy just finished the flag football season at school. He played quarterback and although they lost more games than they won, he had a great experience. The awards assembly was today, at 2:15. After asking our son numerous times if he wanted us to attend, he said "no" and insisted that all of the awards would be given to the 8th graders since this is their last year. "Are you sure you don't think that we need to be there?" we questioned more than once. "I'm sure."

We were fairly confident that we really didn't need to be there especially since the coach himself said that it was going to be low key and no awards would be given, however, he told us that two weeks ago. Evidently his plans changed.

We should have been there. Not only did our son get an award, but he got the MVP award. How did I find out? My girlfriend texted my from the assembly to tell me all of the nice things that were said. Our boy had no family representation. None. There was no one to whistle like a trucker or "whoo hoo" like a construction worker. He was all alone.

My husband and I felt terrible, beyond terrible, especially since both of us could have made plans to attend.

I am a sub-par parent only for the time being. I made up for my lack of support by cooking three different dinners the boys love, bacon and eggs, chili, and pasta with peas and bacon. That should at least count for something.

I will not miss the next awards assembly.
I will not miss the next awards assembly.
I will not miss the next awards assembly.

I Love Skating

2009-12-02T20:37:00.000-08:00

Wearing my very best roller derby gear, our team/staff participated in a very non-traditional Christmas party.

It was the most fun ever.

I Love skating.

Christmas Cards

2009-12-01T21:29:00.000-08:00

I got my first Christmas card today, from the same person that always sends it first. Grr.

Christmas cards? Oh yea. That would require getting everyone coiffed and clean for a fabulous photo some time between now, and oh, the 15th. Just another thing I need to plan, soon. As if I've got nothing else going on at the moment, but then again, Christmas always comes at the same time every year. I just happen to be a procrastinate planner.

Can you sense the bitter?

Sunday Thoughts

2009-11-29T04:52:00.000-08:00

"Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Colossians 3:17

Black Friday

2009-11-27T04:48:00.000-08:00

Every Friday following Thanksgiving, my mom and I set out shopping. We don't usually end up buying much, and would never wake up at 4:00 a.m. to get the best deals out there, but we do enjoy the thrill of Black Friday.

Today is no different.

What do you do on the day after Thanksgiving?

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T05:41:00.000-08:00

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

Philippians 4:6

Say What?

2009-11-25T08:26:00.000-08:00

Slogan shirts, hat, and sweatshirts are very popular. People have a need for others to know how they stand on issues, what appeals to them, and in some cases, the food that they prefer. I am not that concerned with making sure that every human being that I come in contact with, knows that "I [heart] NY," or want to shout to those around me, "Careful or you'll end up in my book." (That is actually true, but not public knowledge). More appropriately would be, "Watch it our I'll blog/Tweet about you." Consider yourself warned.

Although I have only purchased one slogan shirt in my mid-life, as a teenager, my drawers would have been stuffed with slogan shirts. My only slogan shirt has a picture of a rock and a ruler. The rock is saying, "you rule" and the ruler is saying, "you rock." I like to be encouraging.

One of my son's favorite shirts states, "Save the Humans" with a big picture of a blue whale. He also loves his, "Future Rock Star" shirt, although, after trying the clarinet for exactly one school year has deemed playing an instrument "not his gift."

My daughter had so many shirts that I really cannot even remember one. Okay, maybe one. She is partial to her "Crazy like a fox" slogan shirt which is exactly opposite of her personality. She would never be considered for the "Craziest People" photo in her high school yearbook. Crazy to her is painting her fingernails black - watch out.

While I enjoy reading people's t-shirts, and have chuckled now and again at certain slogans, I have only one rule: You are never allowed to wear a slogan t-shirt with a slogan hat, there is simply too much to read. I'm impatient like that. Plus, having to read that much information on a person's body would teeter on staring like a stalker, and a stalker, I am not.

What is the best slogan t-shirt that you have seen?

Major Motion Pictures

2009-11-23T04:31:00.000-08:00

I never see movies. Let me rephrase that, I never see adult movies. Oh, let me rephrase that. I never see movies in the theater that were made for adult audiences. Let me make myself more clear. I typically only see animated movies, those made for school age children.

I enjoying watching "At the Movies" on Sunday nights, and sit with my husband, as we decide which movies look good, and which movies, we wouldn't want to see. That's where it ends. We rarely ever make a date to actually go the the movies together and see one of the movies which received rave reviews from the critics.

We do have scheduled date nights, however, when the evening rolls around, and we have to decide between fast food and a movie, or a restaurant, followed by coffee and adult conversation, we always choose the latter.

We do rent DVD's but usually in the summer, when nothing is on television, and we have nothing recorded on the DVR worth viewing. We need to get out more. We need to go and see a movie. Our big kids are always going to the movies and seeing the latest release. We should follow suit.

This week we are taking the children to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. The big kids keep saying that they don't want to see a baby movie, guess what, neither do I, but do you see me complaining?

I really want to see Blind Side. I'll have to schedule a date with my husband, and some hot, fresh, fast food.

Sunday Thoughts

2009-11-22T18:44:00.000-08:00

"Take care! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, because then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven."

Matthew 6:1 (NLT)

1 Little Indian and his Pilgrim Cousin

2009-11-21T08:15:00.001-08:00

Temperature Control

2009-11-20T14:59:00.000-08:00

In the morning I am so cold when I drive my kids to school that I want to scream. The heater finally kicks into gear about half way there and then, everyone is yelling at me because the car feels stuffy. I should just tell them to walk, in the cold, and leave the temperature regulation to me.

When I say cold, I am referring to a person who was born and raised in southern California and has very little tolerance for the cold, however, my house was 65 degrees this morning, that is cold.

By lunch time, I am turning on the air conditioner in my car to cool it down. I am typically wearing a sweater and pants because of the temperature when I left my house.

My office still remains cold so I bring a blanket, but then when I leave to office to go home, the air conditioner in my car is turned off, and the heater is turned on again.

Does anyone else have temperature control issues with the current season, or is it just me?

Not Guilty as Charged

2009-11-19T11:49:00.000-08:00

I hate guilt, whether I am guilty or not, I hate it.

This time I was guilty, sort of.

My 13 year old stopped me in the kitchen the other day and told me that he wishes that I would document his life more. I tried to consider what he meant by that comment without actually engaging him. I didn't want to feel any more guilt that was already settling in my brain. My defense mechinisms were red hot.

I assumed that he meant that because I do not own a working camera, I haven't taken many pictures. I have left the past three years of photo capturing to my mother, and she has done a fantastic job of documenting. He failed to remember that fact.

I have saved every reasonably important paper and art work piece that he has brought home from school dating back to preschool when he was only five years old. He failed to remember that fact.

I have every Tustin News article which talked about his team winning some competition and in addition, have every team photo, class picture, and report card from the past 13 years. He failed to remember that fact.

I have been blogging for the past three years, documenting his, and the other kids' victories, defeats, and injuries. He failed to remember that fact. He needs to visit the web.

I Twitter and Facebook about what I am doing, in addition to things he has done, and have even done a few videos on YouTube for which he was a part. He failed to remember that fact. He needs to friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter-@lvujnov.

I wrote a book called Spilt Milk-Devotions for Moms which is clearly devoted to stories about my family for which he is part. He failed to remember that fact. He needs to read my book.

I have calendars from years past which are littered with things that he has said which have made me laugh and, in addition, have his baby calender labeled with all of his "firsts." He failed to remember that fact.

I rebuke guilt. If my son wants pictures, he can buy me a camera, either that, or go visit my mom's house. She has plenty.

God is Never in a Hurry

2009-11-17T13:05:00.000-08:00

Lately I’ve been having trouble waiting.

Although, in the past I have been known to rate high on the impatient scale, I have been desperately trying to be more patient not only in my daily life with family, friends, and bad drivers, but also in my spiritual life.

As I contemplate my present circumstances, and what the future holds for our family, I get easily frustrated with the praying and waiting, praying and waiting some more, praying and waiting even more. Constantly, I remind myself that God’s timing is perfect, and I have no business hurrying Him along, as if that were even remotely possible.

The other day, as I was thinking about what I am doing, what I want to do, what I have been doing, and what I would like to be doing, it occurred to me that my plans do not seem to be moving along as quickly as I had hoped. I have my own agenda, and my own plans that I desire to be inside of God’s will for my life, it just seems that my plans are on hold right now, and well, that God isn’t moving fast enough.

Before I reached the destination to which I was driving, I asked God to speak to me. I drove in silence for a while and kept thinking mundane thoughts regarding homework projects that needed supplies, and where kids needed to go after school instead of truly being silent so that I could absorb exactly what God was trying to each me. I then turned on the radio which was tuned to a station which broadcasts pastor’s messages.

“God is never in a hurry” came blasting through my speaker like a gigantic head thump. I laughed as I told God, “Ok, I get it.” I remembered again that when I rush my plans instead of waiting for His timing, I miss out on intentional planning orchestrated entirely by God, which is much better than my plans orchestrated by me.

Lately I’ve been having trouble waiting, but I’m learning to get over it.

God’s timing is always perfect.

What plans are you trying to rush?

Skill Sharpening

2009-11-16T09:42:00.000-08:00

From a very young age I have always enjoyed drawing. I would draw the dog as he slept, cartoons from the newspaper, and glasses half filled with iced tea which sat on the dinner table.

Doodling was the perfect time passer in class and otherwise. I would decorate letters to friends with block lettering, and sketches of puppies, horses, or animated replicas of the faces of friends.

In junior high I had the privilege of enrolling in yearbook staff class. Although my pre algebra grade continued to slip, academic probation wasn't an option. They needed my skills, my drawing skills.

When I ran for junior class president in high school, I painstakingly created posters of famous cartoon characters who supported my vote. I lost the race, but had the best looking posters by far.

In junior college I took all the beginning art classes that were necessary and continued to do well enough. I had my own art table and stool, complete with a bright lamp to help with close up detail, and enough money spent on art supplies to pay for a years registration and text books.

I then majored in art at the state college level. I failed my watercolor class, and squeaked by with a D in illustration. Art history bored me, and sculpting was messy. Gone were the hay days of thinking that I had skill. It was just a matter of graduating at that point, and then trying to figure out my next option for a career. Between waiting tables and running around the sorority/fraternity race, I wasn't practicing my skill and soon enough, my skill level deteriorated.

Thankfully, I graduated, and then decided to become a fifth grade teacher.

I don't draw much anymore. I'm out of practice. I cannot even doodle correctly, which goes to show you that when you don't practice something, you become worse at the skill instead of becoming better.

Writing is now my thing. I try and write every day. The more that I write, and read great writing, the more my writing improves. Practicing daily is key to improvement in any skill. And, when I'm sitting in meeting and begin to doodle, I get depressed.

Five years of art education, and I can't even draw a bear. However, I can write a great story about a bear, that is, if I happened to know one.

Sunday Thoughts

2009-11-15T05:24:00.000-08:00

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Galatians 6:9

The Heat is On

2009-11-14T08:24:00.000-08:00

I turned on the heater today for the first time in a very long time. Not only did it smell bad, but my husband made fun of me for turning it on and not being able to hang out in the 65 degree house without help from the heater.

Since I had on a sweat shirt and sweat pants already, I figured that igniting the heater was a must. My children should not have to pull their arms into their sleeves to warm up or don jackets with hoods while playing inside.

That's my thought.

Today is is supposed to be 80 degrees, but it is not 80 yet.

The heater is on and my son told me that it feels like Christmas.

I'm not quite ready for Christmas, but the heater does feel nice.

Consider it Pure Joy?

2009-11-13T11:19:00.000-08:00

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” James 1:2

I have a difficult time swallowing this one. After I read this scripture with great enthusiasm, I than consider the circumstance I am currently experiencing and things don’t seem so joyful. The verse gets easily forgotten as I move toward a more palatable scripture, “Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.” Proverbs 3:29. No harm plotting here, unless you count the fact that I wait for my neighbor to take out her trash so that I can relive our bursting trash receptacle via her nearly empty trash can.

Joy is an interesting emotion. Although I would consider myself someone who has joy in their life most often, I know how easily my joy can be stolen. Ultimately my joy is fickle and often connected to my circumstances. However, as a Christ follower, my joy should never coincide with circumstances and should be ever present because God loves me, my sins are forgiven, and I am going to spend eternity in Heaven. That alone is a platform on which joy should stand continuously. I don’t always get that part right.

Our pastor told us about 5 ways that our joy gets zapped: undernourished spirit, unbalanced schedule, unused talent, unconfessed sin, and unresolved conflict. Any of these, at any moment can take away our joy. In addition, several of these happening at the same time are a blueprint for despair. When I avoid these my joy is more visible.

I trust in the truth that God knows the end from the beginning, and if I can focus on that, and the fact that he wants the very best for His children, the least I can do is find joy in midst of my situations.

Chances are, as I work toward trusting Christ more, being content, and avoiding the joy zappers when they attempt to set up camp in my life, the joy will follow.

The Bible tells me so.

Running Reds

2009-11-12T11:22:00.000-08:00

"Sixty percent of fatal intersection crashes are caused by yellow and red light runners T-boning left turners and green light jump starters." (http://roadrules.ca/?cat=33) I knew the rate had to be high since I am a witness to red light runners and stop sign sliders all the time. I am amazed at the amount of people who turn right on a red without stopping, or those who cut off my jog because the are turning left on an arrow which has already turned red. There are never any police offers around to catch the law breakers.

I assume that people are in such a hurry that they have deemed themselves in charge of when they can go through an intersection and not some glaring signal. Admittedly, I have pushed through an orange light; however, after reading some staggering statistics, I am going to follow the law more closely.

I rarely witness drivers making a complete stop at a stop sign either. There used to be a joke in my husbands family that S-T-O-P stood for "softly tap on pedal" and last time I had to endure eight hours in traffic school someone asked how long you had to stop at a stop sign. The teacher simply stated, "You have to make a complete stop." Folks in my town, roll through stop signs and I am always aghast by those who barely slow down. As if the stop sign is so inconvenient.

It is no wonder why there were over 43,000 fatalities in the US from car crashes last year and that car crashes are the number one killer among teens, not drugs, car collisions. Yikes! At the moment, my almost sixteen year old daughter has no desire to drive. Although it is a bit inconvenient for me, I'm in no hurry for her to drive either. She told me that she doesn't feel confident yet. It is no wonder, with all the crazy drivers.

Just recently, I began to slow down while approaching a red light, as it turned green I sped up until I saw a car running a red, left hand turn signal which caused me to stop. This happened twice in one week.

I'm not perfect. I had my fair share of red light running, mostly accidental of course. We all need to slow down and not be in such a hurry that we have to run red lights, unless of course, it is three in the morning and there are no cars for miles, then you have my permission to go through the red.