I've come to realize....

I've come to realize....
1. I've come to realize my job...
is exactly where God wants me to be!

2. I've come to realize that when I'm driving...
I shouldn't text!

3. I've come to realize that I need...
to take a breath, relax and purely trust God...he's right 100% of the time.

4. I've come to realize that I have lost...
everything...a time or two!

5. I've come to realize that I hate it when...
I lose my patience!

6. I've come to realize that if I'm pissy...
everyone else in the house will become pissy too!

7. I've come to realize that money...
is not everything nor will it buy you anything that will make you TRULY happy!

8. I've come to realize that certain people...
are better being in my life from a distance!

9. I've come to realize that I'll always...
have everything I need because that is how God works!

10. I've come to realize that my attitude...
shapes everyone's behavior around me!

11. I've come to realize that my mom...
did the best she could with what God gave her...and it ended up being more than she could ask for!

12. I've come to realize that my cell phone...
is a habit and not a necessity.

13. I've come to realize that when I woke up this morning...
my baby was officially "school age"...

14. I've come to realize that my dad...
was the greatest man in the whole world

15. I've come to realize that today...
is simply another day of choices. And I'm responsible for my actions, reactions and emotions-no one but me!

16. I've come to realize that tomorrow...
is a new day...and hope God grants me the privilege of seeing it

17. I've come to realize that I really want to...
finish school and get a job working NORMAL hours

18. I've come to realize that my friends...
are few and far between

19. I've come to realize that this year...
has brought me close to the people who really care about me and I have weeded out the ones who want to be reckless with my heart!

20. I've come to realize that my family...
is the one thing that brings PURE joy in my life!

21. I've come to realize that maybe I should...
try to live a healthier life...

22. I've come to realize that I love...
my husband because of who he is...who he is not....who he is morphing into...and who he will never be.

23. I've come to realize that I don't understand...
why 99% of people who come to the emergency room don't just stay home.

24. I've come to realize my past...
is why I am me.

25. I've come to realize that I'm totally terrified...
of being stagnant and not living this life given to me to the FULLEST

26. I've come to realize that my life...
is better than I deserve!

Alabama!!

ahhhh.....So we're officially back from the vacation at Grampa and Gramdee's. Had a wonderful week filled with pool, fun and sun! I honestly believe I have an extra five pounds to show for the wonderful food we enjoyed. The child God allowed for wonderful trips to and from Alabama as well. We were able to take the kids to a japanese grill, which was hillarious with the boys. Clay is now master of "chapsticks" (otherwise known as chop-sticks). Myles was tormented and stung at least 6 times by a pesty wasp at bass pro, not to mention the swimmer's ear from hours in the pool. He learned to swim, dive, tread water and eat crablegs-all in one day. As we returned home I realized we have exactly three weeks until school, which has sent me into overdrive! Tons of stuff to obtain prior to school, so I will start that this week. Anyways, thanks again to the best in-laws a girl could ask for! Many times people wouldn't enjoy spending a week with the in-laws, in my case.....I have october open!

Kleenex, Clorox and Summer

Well, vacation time is officially here for the Stark Family! Myles has hit the road back to Alabama with his Grandpa, very exciting! Jared is leaving as well this weekend, headin up to TableRock with the gang for a weekend of diving. Clay and I are lounging around the homefront, cleanin, packin and lazin until Monday morning. Then we are all headin south to Alabama for a week of lazy with Grandpa and Gramdee! We expect nothing more than daily picnics and pool parties all week! As well we will be hitting our local fave's for delicious cuisine! I can't believe summer is on the downhill spiral as we speak.
I stopped at Walmart, which I rarely do-mainly due to my total disgust and hatred toward that place, and picked up the "Back To School List". This year I had to get two and that was sad enough, let alone realizing I have to buy two boxes of Kleenex per kid. I'm not sure about the rest of you, but this time of year makes me ask myself one question, "Just exactly what do my $400.00 per year school taxes go toward?" Neither of my kids need two boxes of kleenex, maybe a few extra shirtsleeves, but two boxes-NEVER. Yet every year I purchase enough Clorox wipes and Kleenex for the class and my kids still get sent home with runny noses and a cough! Soooo...my point...this year I am rebelling! I know, not a good influence on the kiddo's, but who cares. I am purchasing the following...a 6 pack of germ-x individual size bottles to fit in the boys' backpacks, a 12 pack of individual size kleenex, once again to fit in the backpacks and a bottle of airborne! I am done suppling the school's snotty faced little kids with kleenex and clorox! I spoke with the teacher this past year and she said it was appreciated because a lot of the kid's parents can't afford them and so the supply dwindles. Excuse me, did I hear you right? Can't afford it? Who-total price $8.00? Who can't afford that? I understand being on a budget and maybe one or two kids-total, in the entire school-can't afford eight dollars. But, are you serious. My reply, "Stop smoking for two days and you take over the Kleenex/Clorox fund!" Maybe, "Get a J-O-B" or "Stop cheating the system, then I would have an abundance of monetary influx and then I wouldn't mind buying a few extra kleenex. Anyway, just thought I would share! -Stacey

Questions from the Stall

Hey everyone! I'm heading BACK to work after 3 wonderful days OFF! Nothing really happened on my days off, except I got to spend them with my boys, which is always exciting. I realized my little Clayburn has a mind like no other. Here's why:
~ While at the water park, like usual, he decided he needed to go potty. (poop, of course!) So as I was standing in the stall, looking at those big blue eyes looking at me, here was our conversation. Note the chuckles from the older ladies in the room as well. "Mommy, do you like cats?" "yes, clay I like cats." "I don't, they have claws. Mommy do you like trumpets?" "Yes, Clay I like trumpets." "What about paxaphones." "Saxaphones? Yes I like saxaphones." "Do you like flip-flops?" "Yes, you know I like flip-flops." "Did you wear flip-flops to your wedding?" "Yes I wore flip-flops to my wedding." "Will I ever have a step-dad?" "Nope, not in my plans." "Do mommies poop?" "Yes Clay, we do. Are you done yet?" "No. Do old ladies poop?" "Yes clay they do. Hurry up" (chuckles louder now) "Mommy do you like frogs?" "Yes Clay, I like frogs. Are you almost finished?" "Well, I've done a baby pooper and a mommy pooper, but you'll have to wait on the daddy one." "Thanks Clay!" "Mommy why do you like your swimsuit?" "Because it hides the fat you and your brother caused me!~" "Yeah and it hides the cake you had for breakfast!" "You're done, come on!" CHUCKLES ALL AROUND!

What I NEED for Christmas!

Looking back over the last three years, I know that I am the culprit to my own exhaustion. I am the enabler to my sleepless nights, but he is so darn cute! I'm speaking of Clayton. He has been invading my bed now, every night, for three years. In the beginning stages it was because he was a preemie. After we got home from our stay at St. Louis Children's Hospital, it was because he was sick. Once I got him sleeping, with his brother, in their own bed and he would sneak into my room at night it was because he was scared. After age two I chalked it up to, "but he's my baby", because he is such a momma's boy and I love it. But now he's three and there is no excuse! I attempted a strange, yet just-my-mothering-style tactic two weeks ago. When he would get in my bed, I would waller him, elbow him, hang my leg over on him and push him until he had had enough. Instead of going back to his bed or moving to the pallet that is by my bed, he got up-walked to dad's side of the bed-and snuggled in. Jared loved it, the whole crossing-over moment and this cycle has started again! I realized the other night I should just move to the couch when he enters my bed....but his sniffer realized I was gone and FOLLOWED me to the couch, "mommy, why'd you leave me!" Yes, it was true. Now I was on the couch and in the dog house! I've prayed, I've screamed, I've cried and I've thought of giving him up for nighttime adoption. In the end-I think I'll ask Santa for a King size bed.

It has been a while since I've had a chance to blog my thoughts. I realized today that July is midway over, which means that school starts in a few weeks. To most that's not a huge deal, but at our house it is over-whelming! This fall my Myles starts Kindergarten, Clay starts half days at early childhood, I finish up my last year in the BSN program and Jared has decided to return to college to work on his nursing degree. It's okay, the dog will be at home! I cannot believe how fast time flies! It seems like last week Jared and I were saying "I do" and Myles was on the way, but that was almost 6 years ago. So many times in life people get distracted with trying to achieve more things, that they miss out on the important things. Thankfully I can look back over the last six years and know that my eyes were open and I made memories with my family, that no object could ever take the place of. I hope and pray that you do as well.

A day's work!

So...it's Wednesday morning! I planned on bloggin last night, but instead fell asleep cuddled with Myles in my bed watching Bolt! (at 9 o'clock!) I had a moment this am, for those of you that care! Myles was sprawled out in my bed and the alarm went off! He jumped up, pee'd, hopped in the shower, washed his body and hair, got out, threw on his dad's deodorant and dressed! Meanwhile, I was laying in bed with my coffee! He's getting too old. Really, I know he's only 5, but he did not need my help AT ALL this morning. That's a hard fact to swallow as a mom. Pretty soon he'll be asking to borrow the car! I was proud of little man, but geezz could this whole growing up process slow down a bit! I tried to get him to skip school this morning, but that was a no-go. Jared is still at camp, but we get to go see him tonight! I really miss him...almost as much as Clay! I'm a loner today until 3........guess I'll go layout at the waterpark! Happy Humpday everyone! -stacey

My First Blog Ever!

Today was the first time in 5 years that I've had my house to myself for more than thirty minutes. My baby Clay was in Alabama-playing with Grandpa and Gramdee; Myles was a Kindergarten summer school until 3 and Jared is at scout camp ALL week! I thought it would be nice, as it was, until about 1 o'clock. An hour is truly long when you have nothing to do. I cleaned the house, scrubbed the baseboards, finished the laundry (my wonderful husband had most of it done) and scrubbed the nursing home (otherwise known at the boys' bathroom). After that, I mastered rockband (not as much fun without Jared), got the highest score on Bejeweled (Shelly's busy packing) and initiated this blog thing. I also loffed on the couch and watched Bride Wars (thanks Pilar-it is you and me). I thought it would be bedtime, but it's only 4 o'clock! I miss the chaos of three boys running wild, wrestling and the "mom, do you know..." or "honey, where's my...". Life is crazy, but I like it, I guess. Otherwise, I'd be enjoying my day and wanting them to stay away a little longer. My how a person changes over the years!!