5 words

The rules:
Rachel got 5 words from another blogger and she did a post about the words she was given. She then offered to give 5 words to someone else. I thought it would be fun, so now I'm going to post on the five words she gave me. If you want to join in, tell me in the comments and I'll send you your own five words!

MONEY

I hate money. I hate dealing with money, I hate paying bills, I just hate it all. Curtis deals with it. If he died tomorrow, I honestly wouldn't even know how to log onto our on-line account.

I'm not advocating this. And I'm not saying it's a good thing. Just the way things work in our home at this point. It is something that I want to change. However, Curtis knows that I have a lot on my plate already without having to worry about the finances, and he graciously takes care of it for me. So my head doesn't pop. :-)

Speaking of moneys, a subject that's recently come up in my mind and in conversation with Curtis is allowance for the kids. When should we start? Should we start? How much should we give them? Is it earned just by being a normal, working part of the family, or should extra chores/tasks be required? Clearly, I don't know! But it is something that I want to figure out and get going.

Also on the topic of money, I wish there was enough room in my budget to get the house cleaned by a professional once a month, and to pay someone to watch my kids every other week so I could just take a break. I know some day, I will have three (4!!!) kids to help with the house. And I'm sure that before I know it, Elizabeth will be watching the younger kids for me while I do the grocery shopping. So I'm working on being content.

KITES

Kite flying is a lot of work when you have young kids! But it does make for some fun pictures. My theory on kites is that they are like a first kiss. A wonderful idea, but the application isn't always as wonderful as the idea. But still fun!

CHURCH

Growing up away from grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, my parents encouraged us to find close relationships with people at church. I now find myself encouraging the same thing for my children.

Our church is amazing! They are often our family, when we're missing our real family. The church body loves us, encourages us, challenges us, helps us, and has helped Curtis and I grow so much in the past several years. We love our church family!

It's no secret that I despise the weather here. It's also no secret that I miss my family so much, and would love to move closer. But we have relationships at church that would make it so terribly hard to ever leave. And the funny thing is, I think that's their plan!

SHOES

I heart shoes. Shoes and I go waaaay back

The first pair of shoes that I remember owning (and tying my laces for the first time) were blue, Smurf tennis shoes.

I had a very narrow foot as a child. My parents would drive to the mall with the Keds store (which felt like hours and hours away) so that they could by me good narrow shoes.

I am death to shoes. I don't know why. I don't fall down nearly as much as I used to, so that shouldn't be the problem. It doesn't matter if it's a $60 pair of shoes or a $8 pair of shoes, I will find a way to kill them.

Shoes make me happy. No matter what size I am, my shoes fit! If I buy a cute pair of shoes while pregnant, I can wear them again after I'm pregnant. It's awesome!

And the very best thing about shoes is that you need cute purses to match your cute shoes. And cute jewelry to match your cute purse and shoes. Sigh. I love shoes!

HAPPINESS

I guess you wanted me to think a little, right Rachel?

I am amazed that even when I'm not happy, I still have joy.

And I'm amazed that just because I'm happy, doesn't mean I have joy.

I can fake happy. I can fake happiness. I like happy, I like happiness, and I want everyone to think that I'm happy, and I want everyone else around me to be happy too.

So happiness isn't a struggle for me. But there have been many a time when joy is the struggle.