Battle of the Heart......

it's trying 
it's amazing
it's heartbreaking 
it's heartwarming!
I can't wait to see the next step
I can't wait to see them in the next stage
I can't wait to see them grow 
I can't wait to see them mature and grow and handle life!
I miss cuddling them as babies
I miss the way they used to attempt to try something new, without concern!
I miss them needing me all the time
I miss handling their problems for them
I love that I get to be their mom and that they 
are growing up and becoming who they need to become, I love they still let me love on them, I love that they still try new things, I love that they can problem solve and that they don't need me for every little thing!

....I love that they have an understanding of the difference of "being somebody" and "being the person God created them to be!"  

I love being apart of their lives.......

I Call It

a few weeks ago, the laptop finally just wasn't enough!  I enjoy being able to sit on the couch and be on the Internet....I get to watch a movie and surf the net at the same time, kinda cool!  But it just wasn't cutting it any more!  I gave in and purchased a new computer......at the direction of a friend and much thought and tons of question and answer sessions....we went with a MAC.
I'm so thrilled with this thing......
So are the kiddos and the hubby.....
It's working out pretty good, the support is awesome and it's fast (any new computer would have been fast) and we like fast!!
It took two minutes to set-up and the kiddos were surfing the net......ahem, right after my session!!
I heard my youngest saying "wow, this is cool", then he hollered to me "Mom, Mom, this thing is fast"!  Well obviously he is thrilled! 
Ever since the date of purchase and set-up,
every morning....EVERY MORNING, I hear the youngest coming down the stairs, he doesn't even have his glasses on or the sleep out of his eyes, I'm not even sure if his eyes are even open yet!  I think he is still trying to wake up......
He says, loudly:

"I CALL COMPUTER NEXT"

(hmmmmm, maybe we have a problem!!)

Only at the Job

I'm excited
nervous
excited
someone started a new position tonite
even though I wasn't a huge part of it
I'm still excited
and nervous
I'll sleep with my phone
I'll hope for the best
I'll pray ALOT
I'll probably call and check on him
he'll probably be annoyed by me, but he'll answer his phone anyway
he will do a fine job
I'm not the only one standing by my phone
it's so exciting to be apart of someone headed toward a goal
it's nerve racking......and crazy
I love it!
I love seeing people and being apart of them move toward their goal
I'm excited
nervous
excited
I'm apart of it, only a little!  I'm still apart and my phone is on and on loud (I never do that)
I'm ready and waiting.....
but mostly, I don't think I'll hear from him tonite!
I do think I will read an email about his successes this evening, tomorrow! 
I'm excited
nervous
excited
I'm blessed to get to be apart of a new beginning for someone.....even if it's only at the job!!!

Love Lives Here..........

I walked into ......
the kids did their chores but didn't complete them
I found, they tell me it's done on the phone and when I get home.......
and walla      NOT DONE........it's so easy to say it's done, when there's no followup (immediately)!
I got upset, angry and aggravated
I then said, forget it and I'll do it myself
and then I realized, I was letting them "off the hook"
No Way Jose!!!!!
Get on it, get it done, do your part, make things happen, make your house a home, c'mon everyone pitches in and there's no argument about it......you wanna argue?  Good I'll add more
I'm frustrated, aggravated and disappointed in myself.....I wonder why I can't get a better hold on my kids, I get mad at myself for not catching the not done so-well, on the phone
I realize, I was on the phone
I'm aggravated, angry, mad and disappointed, all with myself
Then I remember,
A home I watched, hung out at, felt at home at, wanted to have for myself, enjoyed for myself,
while I was a young.
She was a young mom with kiddos, a few of them and she got it right..she made others feel at home, her home was always moving and working and it was more about the people than it was the clean!!!!
I remember feeling at home in that home!
a place of
LOVE LIVES HERE, Please come in..........
I feel like I'm doing something right, I feel like we are moving toward the place I see..
unfortunately, for my hubby, it isn't a place of immaculate keep it cleanness, it isn't a place where a clean freak with tons of energy lives (I wish I had tons of energy), and it SURELY isn't a place of spotlessness!!!!!
maybe one day I'll find that for him...(I'll keep trying)
It is a place of:
always working toward a goal
always trying to move in the right direction
It is a place of:
Trying to keep up
Trying to promote the positive
making people feel welcome (even if it means moving a pile of clean folded clothes off the couch, so they can sit)
It is a place of:
Everyone pitching in and everyone helping
But mostly,
It's a place of
LOVE LIVES HERE, PLEASE COME IN......
That's my goal, that's the life I've been chasing.......That's the feeling I want to produce.... That's how I wanna ROLL!!
I found it so long ago and I'm amazed that it took me this long to realize what I was looking for:
My Home to say:
LOVE LIVES HERE, PLEASE COME IN!!!!

Happy Birthday

To my Dad!!!

His heart is golden and his love is sweet!  I love you Dad!!!!

My cousin joined us.....I was so happy and so was Dad!!

Let's take a picture Dad

Stop chewing and let's take a pic Dad!  Man, he does enjoy food........good food!!

One more time PLEASE stop chewing and smile (ahem like you like me)!   I'll take it water spots and all!!!

We don't get many pics together Dad, this is ok!  Now, you can go back to eating.......Enjoy your Birthday dinner!!

Hey Dad, Let me get one of you and the kiddos before we leave............

Looks pretty good, 

Let me take one more

I'll tak'em both.........

You have to know that Aunt Polly was trying to get them to "give up" their to-go boxes, right before this pic!  Made me laugh, they didn't wanna give them up!  Even the kiddos enjoy good food!

I had to STOP the oldest from ordering lobster!  What have I done!!

Happy Birthday DAD!!!!!  Enjoy your day today and make it alllllllllll about you!  

I love you DAD!!!

I Love My Team

Team Witt came through again!
We had a ton to accomplish, owning a home requires everyone to pitch in!  Owning two homes requires everyone to carry part of the load! 
We had all those things you have to get done in a rest day, X's 2! 
From one home to the other and school before all that!
My big boy has made an excellent choice of getting his 2 credits of gym out of the way before he starts his freshman year!  It was an excellent choice on his part.  This does require me to get up early and give him a ride to school (no bus service)!
My kids are required to help and I don't find a problem with that.  They are required to help in every way with keeping up with these houses, after all, it benefits them too!
I don't ask my children to pitch in, I require it and it is expected!  I think it helps to produce "go-getter" attitude for life!  so far so good!
I don't usually get complaints from them to me and today was no different!  They didn't complain to me, they pitched in and got the tasks completed.  They did however, complain to one another!
At one moment, I finally told my oldest "have you met my two bitchy old women in the back seat"?  He laughed and the other two joined in the laughter and the complaining stopped for a minute and we were able to complete another task and the laughter lasted an extra moment!
Then back to getting stuff done, all the while they complained at each other!  But as long as their mouths were moving their bodies were moving and stuff was getting done!
Taping, tarping, cleaning, cutting, carrying, redoing and resupplying!  It was a day of accomplishments!
Not without trial and not without a few failures
But mostly full of success!
I have a pretty good team and they seem to be a good bunch of go-getter's!  Maybe, we did somethings right!  I'll keep praying, believing, training and disciplining!
I will take my small victory for today and enjoy the moment where...........................
Team Witt comes through again!
still another reason to be thankful....I love it!

Find 2 lose 1, Find 1 Lose 2.........

When the kiddos were little, I remember the line
"I find two and lose 1 and then I find 1 and lose 2"
This is the line I have used ever since I have had 3 kiddos!!!!
I'm finding, that as they get older, the scenario is the same!
I get two at home and one needs to be picked up, but in the process I pick up one and drop off two!
I pick up two and drop off 1!
I never have more than two at home at the same time!
UGH!
I miss them, I like them, ahem, I LOVE THEM!!!
They need lots and lots of direction!
I find that I discipline and correct, far more than I laugh, play and joke with them.
I'm doing something right!  Right?
I hope and I want to do it ALL right!
The pick-up and the drop-off prove to be a great place to chat with my kiddos!  It's a place to  get in touch with them, I use it, enjoy it, I take the time to train, I use it for discipline and I use it for REAL heart-to-heart truth talk!
I'm one that believes I need to listen to my kiddos, I really need to hear them, whether I like it or not!  They need to trust me, so that they can always tell me the truth.......good or bad, right or wrong!
Most days, when I get the "I lost two and found 1" thingy going on, I find, I'm hearing straight truth from that 1.  I don't always like what that one is telling me and I don't always agree......depending on the kiddo, is how I handle each of these!
I am finding as they get older, UGH! They need way more listening and understanding...........and the discipline needs to be more and more strict!  They are closer to being on their own than on me and I need to insure they are prepared!
My words come back to me and I thought I would not be saying this by now........it still stands..................
I find 2, I lose 1, I find 1, I lose 2!!!