Just so I'll remember...

Pharmacy and Dietitians 
 Professional dress is required (see Professional Dress Guidelines below).
  Pharmacists should wear white lab coat over professional dress.
 Pharmacy technicians should wear pewter lab coat over professional dress. 
 Dietitians should wear professional dress and may wear burgundy lab coat.
 Pharmacy clerks should wear center-store uniform shirt.

Professional Dress
 Men: o Long-sleeve, button-down dress shirt and tie.
o Dress pant in coordinating color, appropriately hemmed or with tailored cuff. If pants have belt loops, a belt should be worn.
o Jewelry should be minimal.
o Fit of clothing should be comfortable and conservative in nature.
o Full coverage shoes should be worn.

 Women: 
o Blouse or dress shirt might be worn with a sweater or jacket. Material should not be jersey or knit such as a t-shirt might be. 
o Dress pants in coordinating color appropriately hemmed or with a tailored cuff. If pants have belt loops, a belt should be worn. Skirts or dresses in coordinating color that fall below the knee may also be appropriate – the type of work being performed (such as bending and climbing) needs to be taken into consideration.
o Jewelry should be minimal. 
o Fit of clothing should be comfortable and conservative in nature. 
o Full coverage shoes should be worn. 

Got it...

When things change

Time for a new post - yes?

I stumbled across this photo on FB.

Have the courage to make the change,
the strength to get through it,
and the faith that everything will turn out for the best.

So... changes have been made.

I applied for a job at the Knoxville Hospital and got it.  Quickly.

Going to start working there in Housekeeping... Environmental Services, February 14th.  Looking forward to being more comfortable financially.

I'm quitting both the school and the city janitor jobs.  I won't necessarily have more free time - I'll work a 40 hour week.  School was 36, and City was 6-10.  So I guess I'll have more free time... Usually only worked those 10 hours during the summer when I wasn't working at the school.

It will be more steady income.  Actually... it will be MORE.  40 hours a week, and 52 weeks of the year. Year round job will be nice.  I was having to saving anything over a certain amount to live off of during the summer.  I'll get to start up a new budget. LOL  I love budgets.  Time to pay off debt. Here we go.

Concerns?  Having a latch key kid. Leaving the kids home alone during the summer.  They are old enough - I know.  Fairly responsible... but lazy.  I'm afraid of what the house will look like each night when I get home.

Other then that - things are mostly the same.  Kids are still in school, Tori is still at Applebee's...

All is right with the world.

Update 10/08/2016

October 8, 2016

I'm fine.
Tori is fine.
Mansel is fine.
Milo is fine.
Dani is fine.
Wayne is fine too.

ha....

Tori (21) is working at Applebee's.  I love it when she has left overs from her lunch.  I steal them.  ;) She is at a Halloween party in Boone... how fun is that?  I love her.  She's a fun daughter.

Mansel (16) is going to school and working at Coffee Connection, as well as Hy-Vee.  What a guy.  He's going to be a better person than I.  A Junior at Knoxville High School.  Plans on wrestling... being on the Trap Shooting Team.  I love getting to hear him sing with the Chamber Choir.  One of my favorite things about him.  I love him.  He is a wonderful son.

Milo (14) is going to school and not working.  He is on the football team.  Plans on wrestling.  Then track and baseball.  4 sport student.  I LOVE watching him do sports. One of my favorite things - getting to cheer my kids on.    I can't wait for him to have a good throwing coach.  He sings in the concert choir.  I'll hear him sing on Monday for the first time.  He is a freshman at Knoxville High School.  I love him.  He is a fabulous son... makes me laugh quite a bit.

Dani (13) is going to school.  She is on the xc team.  She plans on playing basketball.  Then track and softball.  She doesn't want to play softball... but you know... it's 7th grade... mom makes you play 4 sports in 7th grade.  Gotta try them all.  If she doesn't like it - that will be her one year.  I think she will like it. A new thing for our family is something that I can't remember the name of... oh.. Mock Trial.  Is that is?  She seems to be learning a lot with that.  She sings in the choir and plays in the band.  She is a 7th grader at the Knoxville Middle School.  I love her.  She is a fantastic daughter.  

Wayne (11) is going to school also.  He is in 5th grade - no teams.  He did the football drills and skills thing on Thursdays.  He will do the wrestling club practice this year too.  He likes the practice - hates the tournaments.  So - we'll just do the practice.  No choir - no band - ... just being a kid as long as he can. He goes the Northstar Elementary School.   I love him. He is outstanding.

I really love getting to watching my kiddos grow and mature.  I wish I were a better parent.  How come there isn't a manual that says, "do this - get that result."  I keep plugging along... doing the best that I can.  Seeking advice from friends... gleaning all I can.

We are all going to Celebrate Community Church in Knoxville. I LOVE going to that church and seeing my friends out and at about in town.  What a neat idea...  seeing church friends in town.  Love that.

Me... I'm still doing what I do.  Working with a student 1:1 at the Northstar Elementary School.  I have the best job at the school.  I work at the best school. Love what I do.  Since I do what I do - I'm a budget-er... living frugally.  Work two jobs... I am a janitor while the kiddos go visit their dad.  We live in a small house - close knit.  It's an interesting way to live.  Different then I've ever experienced... and this will be my kids "normal".  I wonder how they will turn out because of it.  Will they feel poor or middle class?  I bet poor... but who knows?

No pets.
A few of us read a lot.
I've lost the battle of electronic entertainment... most of the kids get computers from the school... and phones have become a necessity with a two household family.  I want to be able to communicate with them always...

Still trying to sell the suburban... but don't have the money right now to repair it to be sold.  Weird times we live in.  Never dreamed we'd end up like this.

No marriage plans either... so don't ask.  Their dad has a girlfriend - causes my kiddos stress.  Funny how that works.  I think I've raised them to be selfish beings.  Probably a failure on my part.

all in all... all's right with the world...

Until next time -- turn the music up loud!!

6 school days left

Monday is a holiday.  No school.
We return to school Tuesday-Friday, then 2 more days the next week.

We will start summer time in 8 calendar days.

I had once said I will recover from May in June... I'm beginning to think I'll recover from June in July?  I sure hope July we slow down.

We will vacation in MO with my family in July.  :) I'm looking forward to that.

June will be full of summer school, baseball, and... other fun stuff.

I am looking forward to summer time.  Yippee yi yeah!!

Let the Tutoring Begin

Our school is offering tutoring after school M&W.  I signed the kiddos up - I remember the Japanese family we hosted a while back.  They really take the kiddos education seriously.  My kids are not failing math - but really... can't they be doing better?  Sure they can... so - until they have "arrived" they will be going to school, after school.

They are not excited.

Thank you Northstar for offering this to us.

Monday 03/23

Back to school.

This week we traveled to Wasserbahn. A water park connected to a motel. The kids had fun. I am a bit of a s safety geek. So I wasn't really comfortable with the lifeguards. So I tried to keep my eyes open.

The finest thing for me was shopping with the kiddos. I didn't realize they would enjoy it so much.

Eating at Ox Yoke Inn was delicious. Shrimp, steak, ham and chicken.

An eMail I sent to Walmart

My sons want to participate on the local  School Trap Shoot Team.  In order to do this - they have to use a GUN to shoot the clay pigeons.  I went to Knoxville Iowa Walmart SUPER store.  The employee said I was not allowed to buy a gun - he refused to sell me a gun, because it was for my sons and that was illegal and he would go to jail.  
I would like you to explain to me how a local high school has a shooting team with over 50 individuals who are breaking the law.  Wait - you can NOT do that because it it NOT illegal for a parent to buy a gun and register it in their own name and allow their child to use it for a lawful activity.  
I'll refresh your memory...
No unit of local government may regulate the ownership, possession, legal transfer, lawful transportation, registration, or licensing of firearms otherwise lawful under state law.
PossessionNo state permit is required to possess a rifle, shotgun, or handgun.PurchaseNo state permit is required to purchase a rifle or shotgun.JUVENILES AND FIREARMSA loaded firearm must be secured if it is known or there is reason to believe that a minor under the age of 14 years is likely to gain access to the firearm. A loaded firearm can be secured by a trigger lock mechanism, by placing it in a securely locked box or container, or by placing it in some other location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure from a minor.A person under the age of 18 may possess a rifle or shotgun or its ammunition for lawful use when allowed to do so by the person's parent, guardian, spouse who is 18 or older, or another with the express consent of the minor's parent, guardian or spouse who is 18 or older.​You lost a $600 sale tonight.
​Jennifer Johnston
Mom to 2 young men who WILL be using GUNS to shoot on the Trap Shooting Team
We will be buying our guns at another store - a store who educates their employees on the state laws.  ​

Poor ignorant Walmart employee - I wonder if it is his fault or the management's fault?  Another thing I noticed... I walked away instead of educating him.  This is going to be a long path I walk, trying to unlearn my behaviours that have been ingrained into my head these last 20 years.  I stood there looking at the toothless man KNOWING that he was absolutely wrong.  I said "really?"  he said, "yup."  I walked away.  Makes me so mad at myself. 

I color My Hair

GASP!!

I do...  :)

I use eSalon

I LOVE to go to a salon for a cut and color - that is my favorite thing to do.  With eSalon, I can get a good color, for waaaaay less money.  I think it works nicely.  I have tried to go the less... well really CHEAP way by getting color at the WalMarts, and I think this color from eSalon is much nicer.  I don't end up with fried hair and needing a hair cut every other month.

So - to be honest.. .if you click on the link I posted above - I get a credit for a referral.  But I think you also get a cheaper price the first month as well.  It's a great way to try it before you buy it.  I'm actually set up on a auto ship deal - and they will send me a box of hair color every 6 weeks.  I like that deal.

I'm due for a coloring - my box has been setting on my counter for about 10 days.  SO - I went to my "auto ship plan" and had them skip the next shipment.  It's flexible... not set in stop or you get fined sort of deal.

Very user friendly.

Hope you have happy hair!  I hope you liked eSalon, friend who has tried it once already.  :)  I'll never share your name - because maybe no one knows you color your hair.  It will be our secret.

SPRING BREAK

I am declaring that we will be moving in slow motion this week - all.week.long...

I do have a to-do list... but I'll not be very aggressive while working on that.  

Wasserbahn is on the list - going to visit the Amana Colonies, and shop in Williamsburg.

Slowly...

Buying A House

We are renting Harold's house.  :)  

Soon we will own Harold's house.

This process has been amazing.  

Tomorrow is the home inspection - then we close.

Woo Hoo...  I will be a home owner.

Some times I look at the new low income housing going up across town - I could live in one of those with brand new everything for $250/month... but it wouldn't be mine in the end.  

I get nervous.  Can I take care of a house by myself?  What if everything fails all at once?  I get a little nervous.  Just a little.

Soon...  :)

NYC

Mansel it's going to travel to NYC with his school choir. I am so excited for him!!

Leave on a Saturday, come home on Thursday. They will take in a Broadway show, eat fun food, visit the statue of liberty, go to the 911 memorial... The trip is crammed packed full of interesting things. Oh and they will sing in a chapel somewhere.

I am thrilled that Mrs. Duffy provides this opportunity for the kids. Wonderful!!

Shooting Club

Knoxville Community School District has a shooting club. Middle school and high school age. Milo and Mansel have asked to be in this club. SURE!!

Since they are both interested in hunting why not get trained by experts. They are both interested in hunting or shooting... They bought their own guns with their own money.

One catch here - they registered their guns in their dad's name.

He won't give them their guns. They offended him last week. I wasn't there, I don't know the full story.  I asked for him to bring the guns to town.  He won't. He insisted on an apology. Both boys thought they didn't need to apologize.

Last night... After the initial safety meeting, before the first practice... He insists on talking to the boys - he takes them to McDonalds... They come home and say, "he won't give us our guns."

They were not sincere enough in their apology.

This is starting to sound like a case of narcissism. How unfortunate.

One would think, since the boys paid for the guns themselves, we could go get them... No - they are registered in his name and he had threatened to call the police if they do that.

Mansel asked for him to pay for the guns... He won't.

So even though we don't live with the Narc fulltime, he still controls us. Still manipulates.

What ever the boys did to offend him better have been worth it, because they sure are suffering the consequences. Bummer...

And what ever point he is trying to prove... :(

2 hour delay

If school were not delayed 2 hours

we pay be pushing.

So we will put off taking showers

until 8:00

I am not a poet...

Update

Updates are always nice.

What's nicer - is someone asking for an update.  We are remembered.  Two people asked me for an update last week.  ahh...  Makes me feel good.  Thanks friends.

I am finally getting to this - where I can sit and type with all my fingers.  Not just my thumbs.  LOL  That's not so easy for me... I'm old.

Dan and I are legally separated.  Final December 2014.

The kids and I are at a new church.  We go to New Covenant Church in Knoxville.  I really love that church.  AWANA on Wednesday - 4ONE2 youth group on Sunday evenings - I get to sing with the praise team on Sunday mornings.  Wonderful...

I'm doing ok.  :) I have been trying to exercise regularly at the local Recreation Center.  3 times a week... I bought a suit - maybe I'll try swimming on those other days.  I'm a bit afraid I'll only be able to swim 1 lap.  Then what?  HA.  My eating isn't under control.  I love food.

I bought some new glasses for myself.  Going to forgo the contacts - trying to save some money.

I got another job.  Still working at the school as an associate.  Like that job - love the perks of getting to be able to see my kiddos regularly.  My 2nd job is being a janitor at the City Hall building... which includes the police station.  10 hours a week.  I'm saving as much as I can through the school year - so that I can stay at home with the kiddos during the summer while they are off school.

Thus - I've started a chore chart.  The kiddos are supposed to help me - most of the time they do.  Or the house is a mess and I don't care.  That is a wonderful feeling actually.

Tori is still in TX.  She has been gone a long time.  I hope she is enjoying that weather down there.  It has been so bitterly cold here.

Mansel is about to start the shooting club at school.  It's an official sport that you can letter it.  How cool is that?  I don't remember a shooting club when I was in school.  Very neat.  Mansel finished up the wrestling season a few weeks ago.  I like watching him wrestle.  I hope he sticks with it - he got to wrestle varsity this season.

Milo is going to join Mansel on the shooting team - I believe they all practice together - high school and middle school.  They both have their own shotguns.  Another new sport I'll have to learn - I wonder if anyone cheers?  Milo also plans to wrestle next year instead of basketball.  He may practice some this summer with our Pastor.  (A former wrestler and coach). Pastor Strode does a great job of including my teens at church!

Dani loves school.  I gave her the choice the other day - whether or not to go - and she went.  The middle school had a bomb threat and the administration said they could stay home if parents wanted them to, and it would be excused.  She chose to go.  (she's not in the middle school yet, but the threat didn't say explicitly where the bomb was).  She's making friends.

Wayne doesn't love school.  That makes me sad - I'm not sure why exactly.  He is getting special attention for his reading.  Really doing well with that.  Improving. He and I really love his teacher.  He does have some crazy kids in his class - I told him what I would do and said I would back him up in the principal's office if need be... Some of the behavior is gross - like a girl talks while she is eating and spits food on his plate.  So then he doesn't eat his lunch.  So he just hasn't seem to hit his stride in school yet.  He chose to stay home that day I mentioned earlier.  He and Mansel. It won't be long... and they'll be done with school.  That's a sad thought.  Wayne went through a basketball academy with the Methodist Church in town.  He really liked that - seemed to learn a lot.

We are buying the house we are living in.  Soon.  I have the money - Speaking of money.  I feel like this was a God thing.  I was advised to save 30% of my settlement to pay taxes.  Well - the VERY day it was deposited in my account, I had an appointment to get my taxes done.  I had set this appointment up 3 weeks earlier and feel a little bummed that I had to wait so long to get my tax return.  HA!  I actually NEEDED an appointment that very day.  God knew when I needed it.  I was able to talk to that man about how much exactly I should be saving to pay my taxes in 2016.  They had taken some off of the top and prepaid it - but it wasn't exactly correct - too much federal, not enough state.  So I put some aside for next year's state taxes and now I'm good to go.  And it wasn't 30%.  You know what that means?

We went shopping!  :)  The kids and I all have regular beds and mattresses to sleep on now.  And dressers of our own.  They aren't all put together yet - but hey... they are ours.  LOL  A couch is on it's way. chair.  ottoman.  shelves for books...ahhh... wonderful feeling.

Attorney paid off.  Discover card paid off and reset to pay in full each month.  I may have all my bills paid through that to earn rewards and use it for Christmas money.  

After we get this house business settled, I'll call a contractor and see about adding a 1/2 bath in the basement.  As it is now - we have to schedule the bathroom use.

Oh... we also got a basketball hoop.  Milo played basketball this season.  He doesn't really LOVE the sport - but he'll shoot hoops at the Rec Center to kill time.  So - I got one for home.  Now we need nice weather to set it up.

One of my favorite things?  Since we don't do bible class in our home school anymore - we have started family devotions before the kids and I head to school.  My favorite time of day.  Love it.

I am practicing to sing a special with a lady at church - The Wonder of It All!!  The wonder of wonders that thrills my soul - is the wonder that God loves me.  He does...

Just to thing that God loves me.

Friends

Friends come in all sizes and shapes... and ages.

I was planing on going to an exercise class at 1:00 today after church.  BUT - a friend invited me to lunch.  Oh let me think... FRIENDS!!  I chose friends!

What a wonderful time I had with church friends during lunch.

ahhh....

Tax Return

I get a rather large tax return, because I have so many children under the age of 16.

I'm going to share it with them. (Not equally... just giving them a small portion)

They have a rather varied wish list.

One is trying to see how she can get what she wants, and have some left over for savings.  LOL  One of them is listening to me.

One is going to buy a slug barrel for his gun.

One will buy an old iPod - for playing games on.

Another said to me, "Oh, I didn't even think of saving for a car."  So -  now it's clicking, although on the late side.  That's ok...

They don't know that I'm going to pay them for their good grades this year as well.  I love surprises.

I'm a Janitor

I am off to clean City Hall/Police Department offices.

My house is a mess.

I will be a janitor all day long.

Maybe tomorrow I will work on Para-Educator class homework.

Can I say - the house mess is rather enjoyable?  We are receiving new stuff and the mess is boxes and wrapping and moving in and out of new and old furniture.  Ahhh....  so grateful for the mess.

So grateful for the part time job.  I'm not complaining - just stating the facts.  A janitor I will be.

So - protein has been consumed.  Caffeine swallowed.  Now I'm off!

How do I feel about Love

Well... well.. well...  Interesting that I should stumble across this subject.  Love - I feel that I don't really want to write about this subject - that's how I feel.

I see some young people around me who are "in love". I remember those days... as I look back, I think I can remember the physical feelings.  It's like they are in.  Like the looks... the laughter... the desire to be near.  To see someone across the room, or come in the door and zing - the feelings thrill you. 

I don't have that "like" stage anymore.

I think I'm not "in love" in this stage of my life.  Although I do LOVE things.

I love food.  LOL  too much...  but I wouldn't lay down my life for it.  I've gone through stages in my life where I've had very strict control of the food in my life.  I wish I could get back there...

I LOVE my kids.  I really do.  I hear people say, "I can't wait until they go to school."  I recently put 2 of my kidlets in school.  I can't wait for them to get off the bus each day and I ask them all kinds of questions - trying to pump them for information.  I miss them, and I miss that I don't know everything about their every day.  I really like my kids.  Even the kids that don't like me as much as I like them.  I had one tell me that they thought I've hated them since they were 8.  Oh my word - that cut like a knife. 

I cried...  I felt wounded for several days... I made a conscience effort to love the unlovely.  I sure do NOT want them to think that.  Why would they think that?  I just kept on keeping on - kept saying I love you.  Kept inviting them to tag along with me. I think THAT'S love... when we keep on keeping on! 

I want to train my kids how to love others.  How to be a friend.  I want to set them up the best way I know how.  Now some are getting to the age where they are making choices, and I don't have much input.  Well - I can input all I want, but whether it bounces off or soaks in is their choice.  So - I try to keep loving them even when they chose differently then I would want them to.  LOVE is still loving them even though they are different.

It's not giving up and walking away.

I've never been one who loves animals - as pets.  We've had many who have died - I never mourned that loss.  I don't love clothes shopping.  I went shopping Saturday - and an overly agressive sales cleark was annoying me.  I left that store not having spent all I could have spent.  I asked one clerk if they worked on commission - I think she was on crack.  Good grief...  shopping I do not love.  LOL

Maybe reading - I love reading.  I'll even read a bad book.  LOL  Bad as in not well written.  I'll usually regret it later - waste of my time.  I read lots of things - many signs.  Instruction manuals.  Newspapers... blogs... I think that is why I like FB so much - read, scroll, read, scroll, read...

Love... Friends and Family - I've found I'm not a good friend or sibling, or kid... wow - now that my kids are making choices to so closely mirror some of my own, I think - my poor parents.  I'm so glad I circled around and came back to their morals and beliefs.  I'm so glad I have sisters who love me and show me in very tangible ways.  I have a sister who called me today - for no reason.  That's love... not because she wanted anything -or needed anything - and it was a weird time... Sunday morning.  I REALLY like that sort of love! 

The romantic love - how do I feel about that?  I feel burnt out... some folks go from one relationship to another... I'm pretty much stuck in motherhood mode - not looking and not wanting anything more.  No desire... In fact - I'm thinking I need to lose some weight, so I can start wearing my wedding ring, just to keep questions at bay.  Stay away. 

#642 Back of a Police Car

"Your Friend Calls to say she saw you in the back of a police car Yesterday. What happened?"

You know what?  If a friend asked me that recently - I would LAUGH OUT LOUD! Literally...  I wouldn't be surprised.

March 29 - a Saturday night - I was driving home from working at Casey's.  Late at night - it was dark.  I got pulled over by a police car.  Hmm....  It could be multiple things - as I was reading a text from my dear daughter and I had no idea how fast I was going.

It was neither - I had a bulb burned out on the license plate.  After not showing the kind police man my license and registration or insurance papers (as both papers were out of date, that were in the glove compartment), he gave me a verbal warning. I showed him my old ones and he scanned my name, and found me to be an upstanding citizen.  He took my word for it.  Plus they have it in the system that my insurance is up to date.  Whew...    I saw a man and woman walking straight lines on the highway after being released - I do believe they were on the look out for drunk or drugged drivers.  Me - I got nothing.  Whew!!

One week and a day later.  April  6, on my way to church no less... pulled over again, this time by a sheriff.  I was speeding.  "Did I know how fast I was going," he kindly asked?  Not a clue...  67 in a 55 zone.  Oh me... once again - no current papers to show the man - and this time - not even a valid driver's license as it was left as home.  He walks back to his car and I'm praying that the fine will not be $300 or even $500 as I've so recently heard others received.  Please, oh please, oh please..... 

Just a verbal warning and a thank you for wearing my seatbelt. 

WHAT IN THE WORLD!!?!!  Oh happy day - I sure did Praise the Lord on my way to church THAT week. 

So - if some one ever says they see me sitting in the back seat of a police car - I'd say, "Third times a charm."  HA!  AND... a few days later - A Wednesday I believe, I was driving Dani home from Softball practice.  That's right... I see lights in my rear view mirror.  Oh no... oh no, oh no...  Out loud I say, "Oh Dani - a 3rd time, I can't believe it."  I pull over - and a fire truck ZOOMS past.  "Oh it's a fire - praise the Lord."  HA!  Sound odd I'm sure - but I've never been so happy to see a fire truck. 

There is an inside story to all of this - that someday God will reveal.  He is faithful and just... helping me to see people's true colors in all this.  I am happy to say that I am walking with him and doing the best I know how with what he has given me.  Praise the LORD I've never been in the back of a police car - other then during a school field trip.  But by the grace of God. 

Believing God - Experiencing a Fresh EXPLOSION of Faith

I am going to be doing a Bible Study on Sunday Nights.  Beth Moore wrote a book - Believing God.  I look forward to seeing what God has in store for me!