so Jason's birthday is coming up on Tuesday and I called his boss to see if I could have the day off...I am going to take him away for a day trip. I have always wanted to do something like this, but never knew what he would like that I could afford... anyway, I told him about the call and for him to get his work done on Monday b/c he was off Tuesday... He did not believe me at first, but after I told him about what John, his boss, said... he started believing... He has guessed fishing trip, dog trials, messing with horses...but when he ask what to wear, I told him Sunday nite or what he would wear to Amarillo, he told Kolin they would not be able to get dirty... he is going to be very surprised!! I will have to write back to let you all know how it goes. It is not something I would necessarily enjoy, but he has talked about it for several years now, so we will see. I am really excited that I was able to think of it, and get it done.. esp because he is not very good at surprises, and he really wants to know what it is!! SHHHHHH don't tell him!

the serious side

I have been doing lots of thinking these days... I guess with school "out", I have time for such things.
Some of my thoughts have lingered on:
1. How blessed I am... husband, kids, health, friends...just to name a few.
2. How great God is... and because of this... it leads me to think on
3. How to know Him better
4. How to teach my children about Him
5. Longing to grow spiritually
6. Realizing that what we do with the time we have is of utmost importance.
**7. What we become when we are old is just a magnification of what we have focused on in this life.
**8. We put so much emphasis on control, and being right, and we need to focus on letting God have control and our "rightness" or righteousness only comes through Christ.
**9. As a wife, it is my responsibility to let my husband lead me, and even though this is what I confess I want, in reality it is much harder to accomplish.
**10. I want to go to heaven and even though the streets are made of gold, it is not always an easy journey.

learned a new trick...

So I learned a new trick and now I get to try it out. Took some photos I had of the kids, and put together a video. Hope you enjoy.

The Mole

Kolin and Jason were playing when Jason ask me what was under Kolin's arm... I said I was not sure, maybe dirt! :)
Jason tried to "get it off". A few days later, I was gettting the kids ready for bed when I saw the spot Jason was talking about. I ask Kolin if Dad had tried to pick this off and he said yes. I told him, "Kolin, that is a mole. You have a mole.".....
Kolin promptly replied, "Is he moving?"

Funny little kid.

telemarketers

The other day, Kolin answered the phone and thought it was Jason. I told Jason about Kolin talking to the man on the phone thinking that it was him. He said we should hand the phone to Kolin for every telemarketer.... so yesterday...
The phone rang, the person on the phone ask for Sidney Floyd. I knew it must be a close friend since they knew Jason's legal name. Usually we tell them "no" and they ask what would be a good time to reach him. Today, I say "Just a minute".
I find Kolin and hand him the phone as if it were a call for him.
He picks up the phone and says "hello?"
Telemarketer "Sidney Floyd?"
"No this is Kolin"
"Is Sidney there??"
"Jyl, is that you?............. Jyl, (laughter from Kolin) Jyl? This is Kolin."
"May I speak to Sidney Floyd?"
"Jacy! Jacy, this is Kolin. What are you doing? K. O. L. I. N. Kolin Floyd. Jyl? is that you ?"
I take the phone thinking the poor lady probably hung up, and I hear her screaming into the phone..."May I speak to Sidney Floyd" I give the phone back to Kolin.
"Jyl, this is Kolin."
Then Kolin tells me. "Mom, I got her to hang up."
He says things backwards sometimes, but this time he was actually correct. He did get her to hang up. He never knew it was not someone he knew who called him.
I think eveyone who has access to a little kid that likes to talk constantly should allow them the opportunity to express themselves all they want every time a telemarketer calls.

I don't know if they "recorded this call for better service" but there may be a note on our number, "waste of time"

pride goeth before the fall

Pride:
Yesterday we put out some scraps for our kitties, and the neighborhood cat stopped over for a snack. Jaylee tried 2 times to run it off, but the temptation was too great for the little feline. I had seen Jason shoot Wes' bb gun so I decided it might scare the cat away.
I got the gun and it had bbs in it so that was a plus. The safety was not on (which it should have been) and I knew there was some sort of pump action.
Well, the little gun was not quite as easy to operate as I had figured, but come on, it belongs to a 7 yr old. It had to be mastered. So after some trying, I got all the sequence of things down... load bb into chamber, close chamber, pump gun sereral times, aim, and fire.
It was a success... somewhere in the "b"hind.
Well, I called my husband to brag on myself for being so resourceful, and he did not seem as impressed as I had hoped.... thus my pride.
The fall
As soon as JF got home, I got out the gun to show him how I had bagged by trophy. I commented to him that it was wierd that the gun did not sit straight. He ask me what I meant. I told him I had to twist the gun around and hold it at a crooked angle to line up the green dot in the little v on the top of the gun. He started laughing and told me to hold the gun straight and to ....(are you ready for this?) move my head. Are you kidding me? I told him my head was attached.... I knew what he meant, but it seemed easier to move the gun than to move my head. He was still laughing.

If I had not been so intent on impressing him, I would have missed the humiliation.....
isn't life fun?

in the swing of things

we are in the swing of things here at the Floyd place. School is moving along... this is the middle of the 5th week and we are much better this year. Usually finish up before lunch and then do our History or Science after lunch together. They don't even think it is work b/c there are lots of fun activities. Jaylee is busy with 4h again and the boys can hardly wait until they are old enough to be in 4h as well. Jaylee is the President of the club this year which gives her lots of responsibility plus puts her on the council.... which she really likes. Jason loves his new job and is trying to get all the policies in place to make the feedyard more efficient. He is able to be home most every day by 6 which is wonderful.... we love seeing him more. Wes is doing great in school and has lost his 2 front teeth... only one has shown back up and it is HUGE!! Kolin is a constant source of something.... yesterday he took the training wheels off his bicycle---by himself---found the wrench, the correct wrench and took them off... now he is riding like he has been doing it all his life...born to ride.
I feel like God has blessed me above all. I have a wonderful husband, top of the line kids, some great friends, health, am able to stay home and teach my kids about God and we are able to build our life upon the words of the Almighty whos promises are sure.
I hope anyone reading this will be able to see all the blessings God has given you or has in store for you if you will only claim them. Blessings!

TCC

We just returned from Denver City and TCC. We took Jaylee and Kolin. Wes stayed in Canyon to take care of Mia. We had another family come with us from Dalhart and one of Jason's college friends met us with his son. We saw some old friends and met some new friends.
I hope if any of you have the chance or will take the chance to expose your kids to functions where there are Christian kids from all over who meet to sing and praise God. There were 608 people registered. I know God blesses us when we put Him first!! I know our kids see the time and effort we put into their relationship with their God.
I am so encouraged by what we heard and saw in Denver City.

19 years on the 20th

I am happy to announce the 19th Anniversary of my kidney transplant. My family went to Dallas for my check up last week and I got a great report. Thank you to God!! It does not seem like 19 years... it will soon be longer that I have had my transplant than I did not have it.... It is strange when you get to a place in your life when you measure time by how long you have been something besides alive.... ie. bdays. Jason and I also just celebrated our 15th Wedding anniversary. Whoever coined the phrase "Life is good" sure knew what they were talking about. So to each of you out there reading about our lives, Life indeed is good... But how much sweeter still to know that this life is not all there is... we have a greater hope and know that eternal life is great!!

Tagged -- AGAIN!!

Rules:
1. Post rules on your blog.
2. Answer the six "4" items.
3. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving them a comment.

4 Things I Did Yesterday: Went to church, went to a small group Christmas party, practiced singing for a Christmas party tonite, made a ham ball

4 Things On My Wish List: my kids to never fight, my husband to think I am a genius, help putting away the Christmas decorations, the body I lost somewhere in the 90's

4 Things I Look Forward to: heaven, my kids not fighting, my husband realizing my intelligence, anytime I'm with family (for how long depends on which family, but all is good for some amount of time)

4 Restaurnts I like: Panera (for Breakfast), Tacos Garcia if in Amarillo, La Madeline w/o Jason, Baker Brothers when I'm with Jaylee and Wes

4 Favorite TV Shows: Grey's, Private Practice, The Factor, don't know what else


4 People I Tag (You're it): Amy, Katy, Sydni, Tara

Someone worse than me

Most of the time I like to think of myself as a strong person... I don't mean able to lift heavy weights, I mean mentally and emotionally strong. It happens every year almost without fail that during October or November, I realize I am weak... Not only weak, but miserably weak!!

October and November just happen to be 2 of my most favorite months of the year. Not because of Halloween or Thanksgiving, (which Thanksgiving also happens to be my favorite holiday) but because we have 4 birthdays at our house... And I don't necessarily love the birthdays in and of themself, but I love the...................................cake.

I love birthday cake, or wedding cake... the kind with the icing that is pure crisco and hardens your arteries before you can get up from the table... which would not be so bothersome had I not been blessed with high cholesterol.

So as I eat another piece of birthday cake tonite, I came to tell my husband of someone worse than me. Isn't that what we always like to do, compare ourself to someone worse, so we won't look so bad?

So, after my confession, I want to share with you the stories of someone worse than me.

I have a friend, you know who you are, who is addicted to sweets. I did not believe her when she told me, but after her confessions....... I will let you decide for yourself.

Example 1===My friend often makes trips out of town and on her way home picks up a bag of something.... usually something sweet. After she has had her allotment, not having the stamina to stay out of the candy, she tosses it to the back of the vehicle. This is an excellent remedy, except for the times she cannont help herself, and she stops the car to get the bag at the rear of the car. Poor lady......

Example 2====My friend bought some chocolate candy and could not stay out of it. She really tried. So after countless atempts, she did what any intelligent person would do, she threw them in the dumpster. NO problem..............until, she could not stop thinking about this candy. So you guessed it, she went to the dumpster to get it out. Fortunate for her, it was all individually wrapped.

I dearly love this friend, and you too may have some addiction, not a bad addiction, but something that you know better, and yet you just can't help yourself.... If you can relate, I feel your pain. And in the morning, when I get on the scales, I will feel my own pain...

Something to look Forward To

You can fill in the blanks. Maybe going to the dentist, pediatrician, just about anywhere....our "something" just happens to be going the eye doctor.

It was an ordinary kinda Monday in Dalhart, TX. We had pleasant weekend, and no one would have suspected what would happen. Jaylee had an eye appointment. She had lost her bifocal eye glasses in less than a year and was complaining about headaches. So as any good mother with vision insurance... I made her wait until insurance would pay for a new eye exam.... (disclaimer--we were within 6 weeks of insurance paying)
So I head off early to our appointment, 3 kids in tow. We arrive and the aid takes us to the little machine you look into that does most of the work for the eye doctor-you don't even have to read anything- this machine does all the work for you. You just have to hold your head still....which we had trouble doing that day.
When we arrive in the acutal office, we all find a place to sit ( littlest and most likely to get into trouble is on my lap) Jaylee now is to cover one eye and read the smallest letters she can read. She reads the lines from R to L... Why? you ask, good question. So we tell her, read it like a book...L to R. Still she want to read R to L. (Oh, well)
After a short wait, the doctor comes in. We like the doctor. All 5 of us use him, and today --we abuse him.
Kolin pipes in, "My mom said you are wierd." (which I did not say at any time, but why should this poor may believe me) I try to act like Kolin doesn't really know what he's talking about.
During the exam, which took 1 1/2 hrs, Jaylee would not hold her head still---she kept bobbing up and down and looking around the funny face mask, she read from R to L-when she read,. Most of the time, he would ask her what is the smallest line you can read, and she would say "#2 or #3"-and not read it out loud for him to see how close she was getting it.... he would say please read it for me, and she wouldn't---SHE WOULDN'T. (She does not practice not doing what she is ask to do, so I was wondering if we should be at the hearing doctor instead of the eye doctor.) The poor man knows what prescription she had before in the bifocals, and eveything that Jaylee is telling him now is she needs no RX... This is all for the distance part of the exam.
We now start the reading part. It went from bad to worse..... our poor doctor friend was at a loss. Finally, he opens a drawer and pulls out 2 glass circles and holds them up to Jaylee's eyes. He tells me what he would do is get her a pair of +150 reading glasses at the Dollar Store.
I did not mention that our middle son is part cat. He likes to rub his head on things, people, whatever, it really does not matter. He has been sitting in the chair like Mork from Ork. If you don't know about Mork and Mindy, you might try to catch it on Nick or something.
The smallest boy has been on my lap and for the most part very good. As the patient doctor leaves us, Kolin speaks up once again, "My mom says You're not funny."
Not only is he disrespectful and embarrasing, he thinks using my name gives him some sort of authority.
As we leave, the doctor is asking his aid to come in and interpret for him and a spanish couple who are supposed to be able to talk English. I look at this poor man and tell him he should cancel all his patients and go home.
I had ask the doctor before we left if he had any children. He said, smiling, one daughter who was less than a year. I tell him he has something to look forward to. Many of you have had similar experiences, and the rest of you have something to look forward to.
When relating this to a friend, I ended it with I wish the father had been there. She laughed in an understanding way, knowing that I meant that none of this would have happened if the father had been there.

In case

This Blog is for all you Floyds out there who may be wondering:
"What am I gonna be doin' for Thanksgivin'?'
(cause that is how Floyds sometimes sound when they talk to themself)

Well, I have a little teaser for you:

Here are some photos from when Wes was the newest little Floyd. I forgot my camera 2 years ago, and seein' hows we do this thing regular like every 2 years... you better get on the band wagon now!
Dominoes anyone? and Aunt Neva, it is unfair to call for advice....

have any of you heard of the infamous Montana Men Mafia? They are suckers for cute Texas gals.....

We would like to take this opportunityto appologize to all you out there who are not members of the Floyd clan. Ifin you can get in by any means, I would advise you do so without delay. There are always hugs to give/receive, stories to share, kisses from some, homemade waffles, (I hope there is rice casserole), and tons of love and laughter. It makes you want to go to Heaven, because that is what our time together is like

I love my Floyd Family!!

41

I just had my 41st bday!.. it was not near as bad as 40.... After 40, I am sort of looking forward to the whole maturing thing...the worst part is the way your body starts to change....I had always heard about it, even seen it in others, but thought somehow that it would escape me ...but it has not-- and it is an adjustment

The main reason I mention the fact that I turned a year older, is because this was one of my best birthdays.... Jason planned (key word--planned) a time for us in Amarillo... baybsitter and all! It was his parents as babysitters and the kids loved that. Anyway, we went to Canyon to drop off the kids and then on to Amarillo.... I picked where we ate lunch.... what we ate.... and then whatever we did all day... shopping --even at the mall! and he did not complain ONCE--he did not even look like he was bored or irritated! Then he had gotten us a room at a nice hotel...and we changed and went to eat ---across town! still no complaints and then back across town to the movie-- a love story! and he stayed AWAKE! Then we went back to our hotel for the night. Next morning, we had a good breakfast and met the kids at church.---By the way, next morning was Wes' birthday---he turned 6! He picked where we ate lunch and opened his gifts... and we headed back to Dalhart. When we got home, I found 2 gifts on the porch waiting for me .... how sweet!
After church, Jason had to return something to a friend's house, and he ask me to run it up to the house, and they had a suprise party for me !!!! YEA... delicious fajitas with all the trimmings, and my favorite cake (baked by a dear friend--it was heavenly)
So Just when I think I have had a great bday, I get a call from my Wednesday Friends and we are going to meet at the BarH for supper on Tuesday... The funny part is I hated to be late, so when I was a few minutes late, I scanned the place for the girls, and did not see anyone. So I was seated at a large table and waited.... and waited.... and had these flashbacks from school and practical jokes.... I called my sister..... and then my friends walked in....( I did not realize the dependable friends were the ones who moved.) We ( except for Katy) all sat in the exact same place we usually do(we do the dinner thing for everyone's birthday) except it was sad that Amy and Teresa were not there....I realized how much I missed our Wed Times. I was sporatic at best, but that seems to be how we do things when we don't realize they may not always be there.
I would have to say I would put my friends and family up against anyones as the sweetest and most thoughtful....
I hope that your next birthday will show you how much you are loved and how blessed you are by those that God has placed in your life!

No Greater Joy

We have great news!

Jaylee confessed her faith in Jesus being the Son of God, and was baptized tonite, Wed Sept 3, 2008. Please join us in celebrating her decision to put her lord on in baptism. We are so proud of her.

Please pray to the lord, rejoicing and praising Him in whom we have placed our faith and trust.

I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4

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It is official

It sounds really important when someone says: "It's official!"
If no one has been listening to you up until that point, all ears perk up...
Sometimes, people say "It's O..." because they want to announce the impending birth of their offspring, or because they have a new job, or even because they have made the "great "discovery... :)
Whatever the reason, when we see or hear that something is official, we all have a deep need to know this "official"news.
So, without further adue, "It's official, we have joined the homeschooler crowd." It was really easier than we (I) thought it might be. We have met several families, and we are very excited about school starting. Our curriculum should arrive the first part of next week, and we will be off! This is the first time since Jaylee was old enough to go to school that I am excited, and she is too... Wes and Kolin are excited too (they don't know any different)
We are lookiing toward our first field trip next Friday to the museum in Boise City for a living history day. There will be about 30 booths set up to demonstrate various things from the past. Example: wheat grinding, clothes washing, ice cream making,ect. My kids are really excited.
So we are off, and "It's official"

The other PC

The first time I called Poison control, I was terrified. Not terrified that my child was going to die or be permanently disfigured, but that someone on the other end of the telephone line was going to think me a bad mother. Jaylee was less than one year old, and you would have thought too small to get into something she did not need to be in. Well, you would be wrong if you thought that way...
I thought that way, and she had gotten into my medicine. It was my Prednisone. If you do not know what that is, it is a steroid. I knew enough to know that I had to call poison control. I had the handy little magnet on my fridge. (the one the doctor gives you and you thnk to yourself "I will never need this" Emphasis on I...)
Anyway, it was fine, and they told me to give her some milk.....

#2 I had to call PC b/c Kolin ate half a tube of toothpaste... the tube says, do not eat, if you do call a doctor.....Remedy:drink milk

#3 Hello PC this is Leslee and my son just drank 2T of children's Tylenol after I gave him a dose....Have some milk...

Any patterns here?

#4 So today, I am doing some cleaning and using Bar Keeper's Friend. My granny always poured a little on the counter and used her rag to pick up a bit and do her scrubbing.... so like the lady with the ham butt, I do as I see... My little worker bees are in the kitchen unloading the dishwasher and Jaylee (10 1/2) says Kolin (3 1/2) said this powder tastes bad....I look at the bottle... do not eat, if you do, contact a doctor... which to me means "hello, Poison control, this is Leslee (again)" When I pick up the phone to call for HELP, Jaylee tells me she had some too. Which is great b/c I can tell PC that not only am I a bad mother who doesn't watch her toddler, I also never taught my 10 year old not to put unknown things in her mouth...

Long and short of it is, Drink some milk!

It is humiliating to let others know you are a failure....It is scary that someone may come take your kids b/c you are doing a terrible job, and strike # ? of calling Poison Control could be your last....It is comforting to know that something that God gave us may be the cureall to what we need..... and it is good to know that a magnet on your fridge can stop alot of worrying.

So don't be afraid to call them if you find out that the small people in your care injest things you would never imagine....