Well, this week has been crazy busy. I am excited about 2 big events this week.
First, we are officially homeschooling again. There was a lot of problems with public school and I was so tired of of the constant fight just to see nothing done. So, I brought them all home and we are done with public school. We have decided this is a permanent change. As you all know the old saying fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Well, I let the public school system fool me twice but I won't make the same mistake a third time. I don't know of a saying for that one, but I know the definition of crazy is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. And, crazy, I am not! (Okay I am, but I'm smart enough to steer clear of public schools!)
Secondly, I have been writing as a freelancer through oDesk. I completely love it! I have been doing steady writing for the blog healthyfamilygrowth.com and had a post go viral! Super excited!!! It spawned a press release as it hit over 6640 views in less than 24 hours. The press release can be seen here: http://newswire.net/newsroom/pr/00086226-csection-tummy-tuck-2-for-1-delivery-controversy.html
Currently, since the blog only needs me for a few hours, I am still drafting emails and making lists to cover most of my hours I'd like to work each week. Hopefully, one day, I'll just be able to write all the time. It's such a passion for me.
Anyway, we have missionaries coming to dinner tonight and I am making Shrimp and Grits. The only problem? No grits in the house! So, it's off the the store we go (which is completely insane this close to Thanksgiving)
Have a safe, happy, and blessed Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Friday, November 14, 2014
Lack of Customer Service is Astounding!
I'm sure I am not the only one out there already well into my shopping for Christmas. With 6 kids, if you don't start early, you just don't have time or money to get it done. So, this year as the big shared gift we found an item we loved but didn't buy it that moment and the local stores sold out. It looks like it's going to be a popular item for this year as several places online are sold out as well.
Then, wonder of wonders, I find it at 2 sites still in stock. Sears.com and Amazon (because let's face it amazon has EVERYTHING!) But, Sears has it cheaper by about $13. I know it's not much but every little bit adds up. So, I try to order it and get a blank page when I select pay with Paypal. Great. But I have no time to deal with it at that moment so I leave it. I come back today with a little more time. The item has now gone up in price by $8. Arg! Oh well, that's what I get for waiting. Same problem again.
But wait, there is hope. The site says the item is available in store in Norman. Okay, I can work with that. I call the store to be told, nope, they don't have it. She says sometimes the sears.com shows items in stock inaccurately. I get that. It happens. She assures me they can order it by phone and gives me a number for sears.com. Alright! Progress.
So, I call and explain the issue to the "customer service" rep. She says we can go ahead and order it at the new price, she just needs my credit card. Nope. I want to use Paypal. There are reasons for my selection. None of those reasons are her business but I'm still trying to get my item. I explain to her I don't want to use a credit card but would like help with ordering the item using Paypal. She continues to insist that ordering by credit card is the best option and they will match the online price. I am obviously not communicating with her. I ask to speak to a supervisor. She again explains how I need my credit card to order. At this point, frustration takes hold.
I tell her that I don't want to use a credit card. I have asked to speak to a supervisor and that request was ignored as well. So, I will not be shopping with Sears at all. Instead, I will spend a few dollars more and buy the item at Amazon.
What a hassle! But, my item is now ordered from Amazon and will come with free delivery instead of store pickup or $28 in shipping. I should have started with Amazon and saved myself the headache!
Then, wonder of wonders, I find it at 2 sites still in stock. Sears.com and Amazon (because let's face it amazon has EVERYTHING!) But, Sears has it cheaper by about $13. I know it's not much but every little bit adds up. So, I try to order it and get a blank page when I select pay with Paypal. Great. But I have no time to deal with it at that moment so I leave it. I come back today with a little more time. The item has now gone up in price by $8. Arg! Oh well, that's what I get for waiting. Same problem again.
But wait, there is hope. The site says the item is available in store in Norman. Okay, I can work with that. I call the store to be told, nope, they don't have it. She says sometimes the sears.com shows items in stock inaccurately. I get that. It happens. She assures me they can order it by phone and gives me a number for sears.com. Alright! Progress.
So, I call and explain the issue to the "customer service" rep. She says we can go ahead and order it at the new price, she just needs my credit card. Nope. I want to use Paypal. There are reasons for my selection. None of those reasons are her business but I'm still trying to get my item. I explain to her I don't want to use a credit card but would like help with ordering the item using Paypal. She continues to insist that ordering by credit card is the best option and they will match the online price. I am obviously not communicating with her. I ask to speak to a supervisor. She again explains how I need my credit card to order. At this point, frustration takes hold.
I tell her that I don't want to use a credit card. I have asked to speak to a supervisor and that request was ignored as well. So, I will not be shopping with Sears at all. Instead, I will spend a few dollars more and buy the item at Amazon.
What a hassle! But, my item is now ordered from Amazon and will come with free delivery instead of store pickup or $28 in shipping. I should have started with Amazon and saved myself the headache!
Monday, October 27, 2014
An Amazing Weekend
The past couple of weeks have been fall break/fall intercession around here. That means I spent a week completely over scheduling the kids trying to get everything in on their days out of school. Nightmare level exhaustion!
The break ended with an unforgettable marathon of a weekend. First, Dani got into an altercation at school that ended with her arm being checked out in the ER. Another child was unkind about her beliefs, and being young she was not as well equipped to handle it as I would have liked. It quickly escalated into name calling and then she tried to hit him. She missed and he pinned and twisted her arm in response. Everyone is fine (dr says mild sprain for Dani) and we have done a lot of talking and trying to learn how to better handle conflict. Of course, this was not a one time thing between her and this boy. They have been at war since Pre K and I am constantly working with the school on how to help them stay apart.
My best friend and her oldest son were baptized on Saturday and confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday! Her beautiful and amazing daughter had already been baptized in September. It was such an emotional weekend.
In addition, we also had Fall Social Saturday evening and a Chili Cook-off. I was thrilled to take first place with my chili! The kids all got to dress up and participate in Trunk or Treat as well. That was such a blessing for Nicci as she will be serving as the flower girl during John Marshall's Homecoming game this Friday instead of doing the whole Trick or Treat thing this year. She is really excited but she is also 6 so I know she would have been disappointed to miss candy altogether.
Today I have several sick kids at home. Hopefully it's mostly just exhaustion from being too busy too many days in a row and everyone will be back on track tomorrow. I am supposed to go for my Temple Recommend Interview at the Stake Center tomorrow. Hard to believe it's been nearly 2 years since we were sealed together as a family. I'm glad we have Eternity because this life is flying by too fast!
The break ended with an unforgettable marathon of a weekend. First, Dani got into an altercation at school that ended with her arm being checked out in the ER. Another child was unkind about her beliefs, and being young she was not as well equipped to handle it as I would have liked. It quickly escalated into name calling and then she tried to hit him. She missed and he pinned and twisted her arm in response. Everyone is fine (dr says mild sprain for Dani) and we have done a lot of talking and trying to learn how to better handle conflict. Of course, this was not a one time thing between her and this boy. They have been at war since Pre K and I am constantly working with the school on how to help them stay apart.
My best friend and her oldest son were baptized on Saturday and confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday! Her beautiful and amazing daughter had already been baptized in September. It was such an emotional weekend.
In addition, we also had Fall Social Saturday evening and a Chili Cook-off. I was thrilled to take first place with my chili! The kids all got to dress up and participate in Trunk or Treat as well. That was such a blessing for Nicci as she will be serving as the flower girl during John Marshall's Homecoming game this Friday instead of doing the whole Trick or Treat thing this year. She is really excited but she is also 6 so I know she would have been disappointed to miss candy altogether.
Today I have several sick kids at home. Hopefully it's mostly just exhaustion from being too busy too many days in a row and everyone will be back on track tomorrow. I am supposed to go for my Temple Recommend Interview at the Stake Center tomorrow. Hard to believe it's been nearly 2 years since we were sealed together as a family. I'm glad we have Eternity because this life is flying by too fast!
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Long Time No Blog
Wow, I can hardly believe how long it has been since I wrote on here. So many things have changed since my last post. Of course, not everything has changed. Let's get an update going, shall we?
My knee still hurts all the time. I have pretty well accepted it is permanent and made modifications in my life to compensate. I'm still a plus size mom. Not really that big of a surprise either as I have been plus size since Jr High more than 25 years ago. I have made some dietary modifications. The gaining has stopped and the scale has come down some, but more importantly, I am comfortable with who I am. That is so critical and I wish it hadn't taken me the better part of 36 years to figure it out. You know what made the biggest impact? I stopped weighing. Really, completely stopped. I quit berating myself over every ounce. I stopped waiting until I was that "goal" size to buy clothes that fit and made me happy. I wear what I like at my size and it really has helped change my attitude about the whole process.
I still have six little ones running around everywhere. The oldest has reached 9 and the youngest is 18 months. Before anyone asks if I am done, I still don't know. I trust that Heavenly Father will guide me in this. When my youngest was born, my OB said I was fine to have more. I don't actively try to become pregnant or to avoid it. If I am supposed to have more, I will. If not, I won't. Simple.
This has encouraged me to ever strive to be a better parent to my children. I won't lie, I'm still far from perfect, some days so far from it I can barely see there has been progress. Still, I keep trying. Until I stop, I haven't failed no matter how many set backs there have been.
All of the kids that are old enough are in public school this year. It allows me time to focus and spend time with the little ones individually. It also lets me focus more on enjoying time with the kids in general and not always focusing on curriculum and progress. It was a difficult decision to make, but I really feel it was the right one.
And, I am working some. I have started doing some freelance writing and research which I am enjoying immensely. It has encouraged me to write again for me as well as for work. I hadn't realized how much I missed it until I started doing it again. So, hopefully, this will be the first posting of much more regular writing.
Anyway, I have so many things to do today and so many memories to make while they are still little. I leave you for now praying for peace and blessings for you and yours.
My knee still hurts all the time. I have pretty well accepted it is permanent and made modifications in my life to compensate. I'm still a plus size mom. Not really that big of a surprise either as I have been plus size since Jr High more than 25 years ago. I have made some dietary modifications. The gaining has stopped and the scale has come down some, but more importantly, I am comfortable with who I am. That is so critical and I wish it hadn't taken me the better part of 36 years to figure it out. You know what made the biggest impact? I stopped weighing. Really, completely stopped. I quit berating myself over every ounce. I stopped waiting until I was that "goal" size to buy clothes that fit and made me happy. I wear what I like at my size and it really has helped change my attitude about the whole process.
I still have six little ones running around everywhere. The oldest has reached 9 and the youngest is 18 months. Before anyone asks if I am done, I still don't know. I trust that Heavenly Father will guide me in this. When my youngest was born, my OB said I was fine to have more. I don't actively try to become pregnant or to avoid it. If I am supposed to have more, I will. If not, I won't. Simple.
This has encouraged me to ever strive to be a better parent to my children. I won't lie, I'm still far from perfect, some days so far from it I can barely see there has been progress. Still, I keep trying. Until I stop, I haven't failed no matter how many set backs there have been.
All of the kids that are old enough are in public school this year. It allows me time to focus and spend time with the little ones individually. It also lets me focus more on enjoying time with the kids in general and not always focusing on curriculum and progress. It was a difficult decision to make, but I really feel it was the right one.
And, I am working some. I have started doing some freelance writing and research which I am enjoying immensely. It has encouraged me to write again for me as well as for work. I hadn't realized how much I missed it until I started doing it again. So, hopefully, this will be the first posting of much more regular writing.
Anyway, I have so many things to do today and so many memories to make while they are still little. I leave you for now praying for peace and blessings for you and yours.
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