An ode to the Friends we met. . .

In June LaVell and I travelled to Jamaica. It was absolutely awesome. . .beautful weather. . .lovely accomodatioons. . .romantic setting. . .!

We made friends! And it is funny since we have been back a number of them and I have been keeping in contact via facebook and even texting. We are from such different settings and cultures but we cliqued. So I am gonna leave ya with some pics of these awesome people. . .

And Here is a parting shot of me and my hubby. . .

Today I am FRUSTURATED. . .not that any of you really care but it just feels good to write it down. I like using the bold capital letters. But I am not going to focus on my frusturation right now. I am tell you the things I am thankful for--

Absolute beautiful sunshine and it is so warm. . .For your info last year we had snow today. . Blah

Little arms and hands that take my face and look me and the eyes and say "Momma, me lob you." Ahh, Lindsey Jo, you are so awesome.

A Job that I actually enjoy. . .I know doesnt make sense to most of you but somehow it does give me a sense of accomplishment

New tires on the van so I dont always have to make sure I can get to the next gas station. Now that sure did give me a sense of uncertainty!

And Chocolate. . .Now what was I frusturated about?

Have You Ever Felt Like a Bad Mom. . .

Have you ever felt like a bad mom, I mean a really bad mom. One that has been completely out of touch with one of your kids. . . I am going to let you in on something that happened in our family in the last week. I feel horrible, but hopefully maybe this will spare another child the trauma my child faced! This incident happened about 5 years ago and I believe Sierra had repressed the memories
. . . .Here is the email I sent to our now wonderful dentist--



October 7, 2010

Dear Dr Spitz,

This is Johanna Kauffman, Sierra Kauffman's Mother. She was into your office yesterday and had a wonderful visit. However it seemed to jog some memories of which we are very concerned. Here is the story. On our way home last evening our baby was crying because she was fastened in her car seat. All of the sudden Sierra just burst out crying saying "Daddy, get Elle out of her seat, . . ." She was hysterical. LaVell was like "Sierra, I cannot take her out when we are driving" Sierra kept crying, "I know how she feels" As the story turned out I guess seeing Elle struggling against the restraints of her car seat brought back her experience at the dentist years ago. As much as LaVell and I could put together without saying anything except that we love her etc it happened at All Family Dentistry. She said she was taken to a room where there were kids tied with 'ropes'. She said she wanted her mom and they told her she could not have us. Then she said they tied her down. She said other kids were screaming and the nurses etc were yelling at them. She said then they started yelling at her and pinching her and knocking her head around. She said they finally started working on her. She said saw needles and they just yelled and pinched. Then the last thing she told us is that they covered her head with something. When they brought her to us she was drenched in sweat and she had peed herself. I had questioned the attendant about that and was told "oh, that is just a little sweat."

I am so hurt that she has been holding this in. . .My concern is for other kids that have gone through this or may be gone to go through it. Is there any legal complaints etc that can be filed with it being so long. We specifically asked her how she felt about her hospital stay. She said 'o they gave me warm fuzzy blankets.' She described the facility to a tee without any help from us. If you have time email me back and let me know your feelings on this.

thanks. I needed to get this off my chest. I am crying as I write this.

Johanna Kauffman


What would you do in a situation like this. My heart breaks for Sierra. Her comment to me the yesterday morning when we were talking is, "Mom, I feel better now that I talked to you and Dad, but do you think other kids are still having stuff like that done to them?" What would you have told her?

The Lil' Black Dress

For what seems like a very long time I have wanted a Lil black dress! I found one that is my taste, fit my budget, and I love the way I feel in it! O I feel like such a woman. I am so excited. . .So excited. Now if I can just find an occasion to wear it! One of these days I will model it (LOL) and let you see it. But for now the pic to the left is the one I indulged myself in! I LOVE IT.

I Wish. . .

I wish. . .My mornings did not start at 3am

I did not have to work to make money (ha on that one)

My house stayed perfectly clean for at least one hour after I am done cleaning

I was able to blog and say exactly what was running around in my head

I wish. . .My heart was always happy and my lips were singing happy little ditties(is that a word)

I never got angry at my kids or my husband or even the dog for that matter.

My Bible would be my favorite reading material.

I found joy even in cleaning up a million bbs my son spilled just because he is my son.

I wish. . .I knew God and never disappointed Him! How I wish. . .

And it rains and rains and rains. . .

Yesterday was one of those days. . .I had two bushels of grapes waiting to be done. . .apple butter that was begging to be made. . .kids who needed their faces washed and their lil noses kissed and all I wanted to do was SLEEP. I tried everything to motivate myself but all to no avail until like noon. . .I am ashamed to admit the lil girls still had jammies on, (so did I). Outside rain kept falling. . .

Do you ever have these days? I even gave my husband an angry glare when he asked what was for supper. Probably did not have very much faith of anything good coming out a wife that hair was aflying and ugly old pjs were adorning her body!

Then out of nowhere I was like--"Jo, this is crazy. . .I popped some music in and got to work and amazingly my day turned out ok. . .I did one bushel of grape juice concentrate (14 quart), got the apple butter simmering, made LaVell a fresh pot of coffee. . .

Believe me not every day has this good of ending. . .