Packages. My Christmas Letter to You!

Well here we are today on the only day where I let my kids eat green and red holiday Skittles before breakfast.  I also wanted to see how many would be brave enough to post a picture of their living rooms after presents were shredded open. It looks as though I appear to be the only one. As big of a mess as it looks, I'm not one of these parents who goes crazy with shopping each year. It only seems as such because there are seven of us.
    The kids were happy, none the less, with dollar tree items, a few nicer things they had requested from Santa and all of us received new socks with, once again, good intentions of not ending up in the ever growing so quickly misfit bag. I have tried to keep everyone fairly up to date on all of our family happenings this year to include, a summer vacation, a visit to my place of heritage and anything having to do with volleyball. However, there were other things not mentioned that happened this year that I found to be memorable and even perhaps, presents that cannot be wrapped.

Rebecca, 15:

Has autism and made the Honor Roll after the first semester of her sophomore year.
Took me to see "Mocking Jay" and "Spiderman."
Got baptised.

Madeline, 14:

Let me borrow her cowboy boots, earbuds and hair straightener.
Had meaningful conversations with me instead of her iphone even if she didn't feel like it.
Cleaned her room. Twice!

Emma, 9:

Trips to the pottery studio with me on Saturdays.
Became best buddies with her older sister whom she used to fight with.
Still wants to sit on my lap at age 9.

Laurel, 6 :

Climbs in bed with me on Saturday mornings.
Puts her dirty cups and plates in the sink on her own.
Brought home a good conduct grade after being nice to the boys for a change.

Deidre, 3:

Sings the song "Let it Go" for us.
Discovered what the green frog on the bathroom floor was all about.
Didn't choke on a hot dog.

I, for one, celebrated a 20th wedding anniversary, saw an old friend that I had not seen since high school and found my college graduation tassel that I had been looking for. I didn't make a Christmas list this year but if I had, I can now say that I have received everything on it.

On this night of hope and salvation
One child lies embraced in a dream
Where each man regardless of station
On this night can now be redeemed

All rejoice
Raise your voices
Raise your voices
All rejoice, Anno Domine -Trans Siberian Orchestra


Merry Christmas!
Mike, Sam and the Fair Fab Five                            

Space Heater

Each morning after the kids are gone and the house is quiet, I go to my room and begin what I consider to be the most important part of my day. I have a rocking chair, a cup of coffee and a space heater. As a cold natured person, the space heater keeps me warm as my mind begins to sort out all the details of my very colorful world for that day. However, I don't stay in the rocking chair for long before I get on my knees.

It takes about an hour to pray through everything. A lot of it is the same as it was yesterday since I have the same kids, work and marriage I had yesterday. However, there are certain times throughout the day I don't always consider beyond the space heater where divine intervention is needed. I have a lot to be thankful for but when it comes to prayer, there are some things of which I'm not afraid to ask.

Mail

As I walk to the mail box each day, I sometimes feel a twinge of nerves as there is always a chance for an unexpected bill or a violation notification from our HOA. As a result, going to the mail box can change the course for the entire day. However, good things can also come from checking the mail. I always welcome the inexpected check from the insurance company or the 5$ coupon to Publix. Either way, prayer is needed as I walk to my mail box.

Deer

For work purposes, I am in my car a lot. Years ago, I ran over a frog on a country road going to teach. I felt really bad about it. Even in my denial, I checked the road very carefully the next day in the off chance that I may have dodged it but unfortunatly, there he was flat on the road. It was my first roadkill. Some days later, on that same road lie a deer and a teacher friend of mine on her way to work sobbing on the road's shoulder. Her car was damaged and we all spent the day trying to comfort her. From this day forward, I prayed that that would never happen to me and so far it hasn't.

Ian

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love the UK. I have been there twice and plan to return in 2016 (if not sooner). But in the mean time, I still study maps, cook fish and chips and educate myself more about the culture anyway I can. One afternoon while feeling bold and daring I replied to a tweet by one of my favorite bloggers. It was kind of like daring myself to squeeze the ketchup bottle all over the shy kid across the table in the cafeteria. This blogger got a good dose of my ketchup all the way across the pond through cyberworld. He's a complete stranger and I had the nerve to tell him God loves him after a sarcastic comment that was religious in nature. His reply: "@samantha_fair I doubt a fictitious character from a fairy story loves anyone." On my knees by the heater, I pray for him everyday.



A few other things come to mind such as when the key to my music room gets stuck, when I lose my glasses, that God would bless our entrance before we walk into the house when our teenagers have been in charge for a couple of hours, and that I will never get Bell's Palsy.

I run the space heater a lot and have for several years now. Like most of our appliances it should have worn out by now but hasn't.

  .......I pray about that too.


1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray without ceasing.


                                                              
                                            
                                                                           

My World. Again.-Potty Training

Dear God,

        It's that time again. Next to treating head lice, probably one of the most stressful times for me to be a parent.Though my children all do well in school, pick up after themselves when asked, say their please and thank you's, there just aren't a lot of other parents running to me for advise on this subject. I just need a little help that's all.
   
      Remember that little accident she had on Monday while she was at the table coloring? Well it happened again.....this time at the mall. What can I say? I guess she likes those juice boxes and I guess I like my house work so much that I just, well, I forget. Please help me to remember before I realize my negligence at the time she decides to sit on my lap.
       
    Lord, I feel sometimes that I am going insane when we are running late for church, brushing hair, tying shoes, changing clothes that are not appropriate for church, some of us....then, that other little something happens that wasn't planned. Keep me, oh God, in your loving arms during these times and free from the talent scouts for the Lysol commercials.
 
    I can only dream about where I'll be a year from now, (though I pray it will be sooner). There will be diaper freedom, replaced garbage cans, and a phone call to the carpet cleaners. But for now, I just need a little strength, perseverance, and provision for a little more laundry detergent than usual. And maybe, just maybe, a few more days like today when we go to the dentist without a change of clothes and come home with dry pants. Thank you, God.

In your name we pray,
Amen


Written on  9.17.14. We've progressed since.

10 Reasons Why I Take Bubble Baths by Candle Light, Listen to Mozart, and Drink Merlot on Fridays

1. I walked past the laundry room.
2. The episode that involved a walk through the house carrying a plunger.
3. The puddle in the kitchen I stepped with socks on.
4. Laurel did her homework at the last minutes and left for school without her folder.
5. My student scheduled tennis lessons on Tuesdays which is also when
    she happens to have piano  lessons.
6. The fight we all got into in the car over Taco Bell.
7. Deidre found an old sandwich that was left over in someone's lunchbox and offered me a piece.   
    How sweet.
8. The cranberry juice spill on the carpet that was steam cleaned two weeks ago.
9. I opened the power bill.
10. The now thawed and useless carton of ice cream that ended up in the bathroom 
     for some apparent  reason.

Alas....it's only Tuesday..sigh.

.James 1:2 Dear brothers and sisters,^a when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

Dental Check-up Appointment-A Memoire

I remember it was a Monday. Not just a Monday, but a morning on a Monday. The dimly lit kitchen was even more so as dark clouds appeared in the sky. It was raining. Monday. Morning. Raining...and wasn't Laurel's dental appointment today?  "Ok. This is bad." I thought. "But.....I..got..this."

I thought about the advantage of having fewer kids to get ready for school that morning. Then, step by step, continued to work my way  through the early hours to that which I dread most. I prayed that there would be no cavities.

With an eighth of a tank of gas in my car, I was optimistic that the dentist would still see us even if we were 15 minutes late. With no umbrellas left, I had hoped that there would be a break in the rain as we made our way to the car. There was.

I did not notice the hole in Laurel's pants before we left home. Maybe no one would notice once we would arrive at the office. If so, I secretly hoped the other parents in the waiting room would think: "Been there." rather that stone cold stares of critique.

While Peter Pan played from the outdated VCR tv monitor, the kids were entertained by toy trains with magnetic connectors and wooden train tracks. They were not interested in the books or the puppet that was missing an eye. The magazines were useless....I forgot my glasses.

I remember the endless wait. I thought about the many chores that had to be done before leaving for work that afternoon. I thought about all the fruit snacks eaten, followed by the nights when she fell asleep with her clothes on before brushing her teeth. And I just knew I was going to get yelled at for not scheduling that follow up after she had that tooth pulled. Finally it was time.

It was only a check-up. Somehow Laurel had her doubts. The x-rays were a no-go.  She was not convinced when I told her the dental instruments were just toys that the dentist use when they clean your teeth.
You could not have pried that mouth open with a crow bar. Even the strawberry flavored flouride paste applied with a soft toothbrush caused her pain. I think I saw tissue being handed around in the waiting room. "It's gonna be fine. We're just cleaning your teeth. It's gonna be fine. Tell her, mom!" The doctor said sternly. I securly held her hands through it all. Then it was over. "She will need sealants but I'm not going to do that today." said the doctor.

No cavities.

Cheap Glasses, Pantyhose, and Music Lessons

                                    

When I was  kid I wanted to be the kid who wore glasses. I even went as far as buying a pair of sunglasses, breaking the lenses out and just wearing the frames to school one day. Well, I had my classmates for a little while, but eventually, I had to come to grips with the fact that I was just going to have to accept the fact that I had 20/20 vision.

Later, as I got older, life without glasses was not as much of an issue when I saw how much trouble it was for my friends to care for their contact lenses while taking them out at night and the hopelessness if one of them got lost down the sink. I simply forgot about it and enjoyed the fact that I had good vision.

Well, apparently the joke is now on me that I, too, at this stage in my life know what it is like to open my Bible or my email without seeing something that looks similar to the letters on someones t-shirt on a reality show. Yes, after baby number 5, my good vision was a thing of the past.

Everyone warned me and I have much to look forward to as I have been told that the problem does not go away on it's own.

It hasn't been all that bad really. I managed to find some pretty decent reading glasses for about 5 dollars that I can purchase at Kroger. However, it does make for somewhat of a lifestyle change. I have to make sure I have them with me at all times when I leave for work, keep them away from Deidre and take every measure I can to prevent that sinking feeling when I cannot find them.

The only downside to cheap grocery store glasses is that I can usually get about two months wear out of them before the screw falls out and sides fall off. Sadly, today was that day for me.

Though I won't make it to the grocery store before work, it's nothing a little duct tape and a sharpie cannot fix. No one will notice a thing..... well, almost no one.

I teach music for a living and work with school-aged children one on one. Back in the day when I taught in a classroom, every hand in the class would ascend into the air simply due to a run in my pantyhose. When I would address the issue telling them that I was already aware of the problem, the hands would disappear.

Today, Norah asked "Why is there tape on you glasses?"

I no longer wear pantyhose. Additionally, maybe it's time for contacts.

w

Not Your Ordinary Day at the Salon

                                            

In 2009 my life would forever change. I became a blonde!  Though I like to think of myself as youthfully minded while not matching my chronoligical age in as many ways as I can, my hair at the time just did not reflect this. I noticed the first of many grey hairs before the age of 30. So, since I did not wish to be of salt and pepper at the age of 40, I stepped out and made this bold move. It was a very exciting time.

Of course in making this decision  it would mean I would have to commit. Just because I color my hair doesn't mean anyone has to know about it (with the exception of those who already knew me as the ex-brunette beforehand). In any event, I was willing to invest a little more in my hair care needs and visit the salon for the upkeep as often as necessary.

Across the board, most salons are all alike pretty much. Hair styling stations with the many reflections throughout of the many mirrors, sinks, the array of hair care products and very colorful people working there. Another thing I've noticed is that they are also very well lit. With this being the case, I see more wrinkles in those mirrors, my teeth don't look as white and I look fat in those smocks. I look around and the stylists seem as though they are best friends with their clients while engaging in endless small talk. I used to feel a bit awkward as I do not have a gift for small talk but since I came to the realization that I am an introvert this does not bother me as much. I am also fortunate enough to have a stylist that understands this. Though we do converse somewhat, it's still nice to not be under any obligation.

With all these elements aside, I enjoy the salon. My favorite part is when the stylist is finally done wrapping my hair in foil and I have 20 minutes of solitude. Sometimes I even get a five minute bonus if my hair is not ready yet. I also don't mind staring at the ceiling with my head over a sink while my stylist massages my scalp with whatever it is she uses that always smells good and makes my hair so smooth. Ahh...and now the hair dryer. Once again, I don't have to converse. My imagination runs wild!

Salons can be very interesting places. Now that I visit more often for longer sittings, something is bound to happen at some point that will get my attention. People have different reasons why they visit salons. Everyone seems to have their own needs for whatever their hair requires with their own story. It could be a prom date or a wedding do, the "chop it all off" before and after, or maybe a new look all together like I once did.

But today, the inevitable finally occured........as well as the unthinkable.

I arrived at the salon at approximatlely 10:15 this morning. As I made my way to my stylists station, the neighboring stylist's client arrived a few minutes later. Her hair was 50 inches long. It hit the floor once she was seated. The stylist began to work and at times had to stand a good few feet away just to work on the ends of this woman's very long hair. I marveled at it. Everyone did. I, as well as any of the stylists had never seen anything quite like it. She had not had a haircut since 2005.

At the time, I didn't really know why she was there. But it soon became evident. She had gone to sleep one night and woke up the next morning unable to brush her hair. It had tangled so badly during the night, it was more than she was able to care for the next day.

At first, it seemed like it just needed to be brushed a little more than usual. The next thing I noticed, there were 3 stylist collectievly working on the task. What might have seemed simple became grueling. As 45 minutes became 60 then 90, the job continued. While I was being soothed by scalp massages and the theraputic aroma of hair product, this woman was in agony. Strand after strand was combed and pulled from the top of her head to the bottom. She fought back the tears as did I. I envied this woman at first as I have never been able to grow my hair past my bra strap. Now, I tried not to watch as she continued to go through hell. It was 12:45PM. I was done before she was.

As I was checking out the two behind the counter were bickering as they were trying to figure out the new computer system. As I waited, I thought about the woman and hoped she was ok.

10 minutes later, I went back to tip my stylist. When I saw the woman again, her hair looked almost fully restored. As I walked away, her stylist from a distance said "Thank you for your business." I walked back, hugged the woman from behind and kissed the back of her head. I think I heard her smile.


If anyone knows, it's me....sometimes you just need a hug.