I must be crazy.

I am seriously thinking about becoming a Pampered Chef consultant.

We could seriously use the extra income and I seriously want some of
their awesome products at a seriously awesome discount.

What do you guys think?

Do you know anyone who's a PC consultant?

Mom Groups & Play Dates

Being a mom is a tough (but awesome) gig no matter what your circumstances are and it always helps to have a group of peers who identify with you and can be a listening ear when you're in need.

So, I've been tossin' around an idea or two about putting together a group for moms of special needs kids - especially those of us with children with behavioral disorders.

I've been checkin' out Meet Up for some groups to potentially join but since Ethan's issues (bipolar, conduct disorder, adhd and 3 learning disabilities) aren't easily seen by others I'm really afraid I won't even be able to fit in with the group who's kids have issues like Autism, Fragile X and various other disorders.

So that's the reason behind putting together a new group.

Anyway, have any of you been involved in a mom group?

Do you have any tips for how one works?

I have no idea what I'm doing here!

You are AWESOME!!!

Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement!

Your prayers and love are appreciated more than you know!

We have total faith in God that He will provide our every need.

With that knowledge, we are at peace with where God has us even though it's wearing us out.

* * * * *

What are some ways you and your family cut costs?

What is your family's best budgeting tip?

Do you know any great resources (magazines, websites, etc.) that

offer good advice?

I meal plan and cut coupons.

We raised the deductibles on our insurance.

We buy clothes second hand.

(but not shoes, that's just nasty)

We've cut sodas and we now make our own tea and drink water.

I've tried making my own laundry and dishwasher detergent

but I find that the amount of time and the quality of the wash isn't worth it.

Thank you all for your help!!!

Trying Something New

I think it's safe to say that one of my hobbies is changing blog layout.

Here's what's going on:

I need order.

Simplicity.

I need it at home...

...work

...and even here on A Special Blend.

I'm working on getting my blogroll added to the tabs as well as archives, labels, etc.

What do you guys think?

Think I've gone off the deep end?

Testing...testing....

I'm trying to figure out how to do a link to my friend's blog through a picture....


Click on it and see if it takes you to Marge's blog! She's an AMAZING real life friend of mine...leave her some love while you're there!

Decisions...Decisions

David was called into his boss's office yesterday and offered a position as an OTR (Over The Road) truck driver's assistant. Working OTR means he'd be gone from Tuesday morning until sometime on Friday...who knows when, really. He will have weekends off but will still have to go into the warehouse on Monday's to load the truck.

We're stumped on what to do so I've come up with a handy-dandy pro/con list.

Pro
More hours = More money (we hope!)
The company pays for all meals and lodging
Home early on Mondays and Fridays
I get the whole bed to myself three nights a week
I can have my friend's over whenever I want
David gets to see more of the state he loves

Con
More hours = Less time at home
Our safety at home while he's away
Him missing out on Ethan
Ethan missing out on Him
I get the whole bed to myself three nights a week
The spiritual leader of our home will be gone A LOT
No more Thursday nights out


....they initially gave us only 24 hours to decide. We talked them out of another 12.

Suggestions...

Ok, I have a bit of a...dilemma...but first let me tell you about a giveaway that The Preachers Wife is doing! She has 5 books to giveaway by the amanzing...incredible...scholar and gentleman: John Piper!

What book is it, you ask? Spectacular Sins: And Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ!!! Even if I don't win this book, I can't wait to read it!

Anyway...on to my dilemma. I have a neighbor upstairs named (forgive the spelling) Shretta whose family moved here about a year ago from India. Since my husband and I keep such crazy hours and are rarely at home we have not gotten to know them as well as we'd hoped we would have.

I ran into her in the breezeway of our building yesterday. Ethan was being his typical self - running wild, back talking and not following directions and her little boy was as calm and as sweet as...well, no child I have ever seen. Anyway, while Ethan was running wild and I kept trying to get a hold of him to have him sit in time-out....Shretta finally got his attention and said, in a pretty think Indian accent: "Listen, God can't be everywhere. That's why he (He?) gave us mothers. You need to do what your mother says."

My jaw dropped. I couldn't believe she'd just said that to Ethan. I managed to hold my tongue and pray that the Lord would give me an appropriate thing to say at the appropriate time. Ethan, of course, went back to being wild and crazy and Shretta and I went on with our conversation.

In the middle of her inviting Ethan and me over for a playdate (date TBD) she stopped again (after I had already gotten onto him, but that's another post) to talk to Ethan and she said it AGAIN - "God can't be everywhere, that's why we have mothers". This time I piped up and said "Actually, Shretta, God is everywhere and can see everything. We're Christians, our God is omnipresent."

To this she said that she went to school in India at a christian conservatory but she is now Hindu.

Here's the dilemma - how do you effectively witness to a Hindu? I tried to look it up on http://www.carm.org/ (the best site on the planet for finding out about other faiths!). I Wiki'd it but it wasn't too informative.

Do any of you have tips?