With Six you get Eggroll

    There I was, my heart racing, my knees weak, my throat dry, my hands trembling, and the thought of vomiting becoming more and more appealing.  I found myself in fight or flight mode.  Every eye was on me and the music began to play....I had practiced so many times, I knew what to do.  Focus Mandy.  I heard the notes I was waiting on to remind myself to take a deep breath, then I began to make a sound.  As I sang, my mind was desperately trying to figure out how to stop making the dreadful noise that was coming out and just do it like I had rehearsed.  Every syllable was shaky, every breath was shallow, the people were all still looking at me!  Now my brain was on autopilot as I sang the words while also discerning every expression on the faces staring back at me. Oh wait! That chorus seemed to come out ok, maybe I can do this afterall!  Nope... I totally messed that part up.... Finally, I was hitting the last note and standing perfec...

    Many of us have received the message or phone call that starts with, "I don't want to be a tattle tale or get your child in trouble, but I need to talk to you about _______(insert your child's name here).  I have heard my fair share of this phrase.  Not because my children are overly mischievous, just because of the fact I have multiple children and the probability of this happening is much (x4) greater.       I've heard it all.....he was playing a game we don't approve of, she was reading a book we don't allow our kids to read. (those are the easy ones) I've also heard....she was using inappropriate words, he got angry and yelled at my son, and she kicked my husband in a "tender" area!  Those of us who pride ourselves on being morally upright and protective parents never enjoy hearing from another parent whose company we would like to keep, that our child has been a bad influence. You immediately see red, want to take all their technolo...

   Want to know what it's like to have 4 kids?  One of my favorite comedians, Jim Gaffigan (who has 5 kids-bless his heart), puts it this way, "Imagine you're drowning then someone hands you a baby.".  Literally, there you are handling your activities of daily living like a rock star then BAM! You quickly feel like you're sinking, you can't get enough air, and the light you saw at the end of tunnel just got pushed at least five years away.  I've heard it a million times that children are a blessing and a gift from God. I 100% agree! They help you grow up, help you learn what selflessness REALLY means, and make you feel an unconditional love like you've never experienced before.  They can also drain the ever-loving life out of you...     Some of the points I make today might be a bit harsh but I believe them to be honest thoughts that most moms of four kids have had.  Also, just to be clear, I need to disclose ahead of time that I absolu...

      There comes a time in most every life when you look around and wonder...."who are these people?", "How did I get myself into this?", or "What could I possibly have to offer?".  Now the situation you use these phrases in could be detrimental or unrealistic to most, but in my case it's easily just my crazy chaotic (but normal to most) life.  Who am I that I would wake up one day to wonder such absurd questions about a seemingly normal life?  Well that is the reason for beginning this blog.      Humans throughout history have taken journeys and tried to discover who they were and what their purpose in life was. Albeit a very worthy endeavor, this is not my reason... (insert eye roll).  I was recently challenged to use my God-given gifts to help others.  There in lies the rub. I began to take inventory of my talents... Well, there was the obvious; choking on air, tripping up stairs, and being a worst case scenario exper...