Hurtin' for a Good Laugh

My bones just need it.

And it's just not just a psychological thing, though I can be quite psycho at times.

It's scientific.
It's quantifiable.
It's physiological.

Check out how humor contributes to physical health: (according to this website)

Muscle Relaxation - Belly laugh results in muscle relaxation. While you laugh, the muscles that do not participate in the belly laugh, relaxes. After you finish laughing those muscles involved in the laughter start to relax. So, the action takes place in two stages.

Reduction of Stress Hormones - Laughter reduces at least four of neuroendocrine hormones associated with stress response. These are epinephrine, cortisol, dopac, and growth hormone.

Immune System Enhancement - Clinical studies have shown that humor strengthens the immune system.

Pain Reduction - Humor allows a person to "forget" about pains such as aches, arthritis, etc.

Cardiac Exercise - A belly laugh is equivalent to "an internal jogging." Laughter can provide good cardiac conditioning especially for those who are unable to perform physical exercises.

Blood Pressure - Women seem to benefit more than men in preventing hypertension.

Respiration - Frequent belly laughter empties your lungs of more air than it takes in resulting in a cleansing effect - similar to deep breathing. Especially beneficial for patient's who are suffering from emphysema and other respiratory ailments.

Wow, do I ever need a good laugh.

I'm feeling the frustration of trying to be

everything to everybody on everyday at everymoment.

I am energetic PTA member

dependable soccer mom

yes lady to many a task

on-top-of-it Bible Study girl

keeper of the calendar

oh so athletic tennis mama HAHAHAHA

queen bee of the home

doctor and pharmacist

brillant tutor of math and reading

gourmet cook of many healthy dishes

yet chicken lickin skinny mini

thoughtful, loving, daughter

never-forgets-to-call grandaughter

super sister

awesome blogger

bubbly friend

adoring wonderiffic wife

supportive coach's spouse

taking one for the team

always fill in when you need her volunteer

never forget to pack a snack in the backpack kind of mom.

English Teacher Extrordiare

to put it another way....
I'm timekeeper, referee, and cheerleader.
And most of the time, the starting quarterback.
Heck, I also sell the tickets and clean up the crud after the game.

Pleaser

Parent

Prayer

Pillow
Pretty

Pickerupper

Planter of flowers

Part time Printshop

Previewer of Books, Movies and other media

Plucker of Attitudes

Player of Games

Piano Teacher

Protector of my kiddos

Passionate Preacher

Play Practice Princess

Phone Police
"Pick up Your Stuff" Yeller

Peace keeper

Party Planner

Poop Patrol

Producer of Eggs

Preventer of Accidents

PTA Phreak -(!!!!!)

Pretender to have it all together
Picker of noses

and other orifices.

Priveleged to do each and every one of these things.

But Prover of only one thing:

I can't do it all.

you can't do it all.

i know that i'm not the first one to feel this way.

So half-done.

So scattered.

So lacking.

Cause I can't effectively be all the things i really want to be.

But.

One thing I know that I am.

I AM a Child of the King.

I know the truth is that i only need to be what He wants me to be.

expectations and true desires aside.

Starting now.

And what he wants me to do right now, right this minute is laugh. Be healthy. Be happy.

Here are a few things that make me laugh:

Ellie is preparing her Nerd costume for Halloween. She found these glasses at the thrift store. She can always bring a smile to our faces.

My friend Kerry came into town from Thomas for a meeting and stayed here with us for one night. It was like having a cross between Lisa Kudrow and Anjelah Johnson in my house.

Kerry is so stinking funny.

I have always adored Calvin and Hobbes. Click on cartoon to get a closer laugh.




And finally, this guy cracks me up. Check out all his videos on You Tube.

You may just get a good laugh yourself.

Na Na Na Na

Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey, Goodbye!

Oh, did I really give this post such an obvious title? And let on that I am secretly (or not so secretly) jumping up and down that our venture into guinea pig care is now O-V-E-R? Well, it all began very sweetly. We all were intrigued with these creatures (Edward -pictured- and his buddy Marvin). They were so cuddly and had a place of honor in Ellie's room. But then, they got demoted, because they kept waking her up at night wanting FOOD more FOOD. Poor critters, I think that's the only brain cell they have... one that tells them "I need food." The demotion landed them in the kids' bathroom. Still, not bad living if you're a guinea pig. We can handle it. After all, these are God's handiwork. Made. for. us. to. care. for. But they sure poop a lot. And stink. Oh, they stink. Let's see how they fare in the garage. Surely they can survive out there. They do: those hardy little fellas. But I deal daily with guinea-pig-guilt. Strangely, no one else seems to care, much less feel guilt. Why, when I have 299 other things to think about, am I agonizing over these nervous, little, wide-eyed, animals? Well, my parents raised what seems like hundreds of animals during my childhood. Can I not handle a dog and two guinea pigs? Well, it seems like God is saying, "Let me help you out with this one." Or maybe Marvin and Edward were desperately praying to be rescued. Or maybe it was the prayers of the family who wanted a new guinea pig to replace another one that had recently died. Whatever it was, when the call came... out of the blue... the answer was, "yes, Marvin and Edward would love a new home." And since the Princess of Hearts had recently read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, (thanks, Chere) she could see the value of being loved... by someone new. Her exact words were, "It's time for Marvin and Edward to go." And on Saturday, they went with a new family, a family who seems intent on loving them. I breathed a sigh of relief, and then Ellie asked, "When can I get a crab?"

A Confession (or 2)

Ok, I admit it....
I HAVE been taking some pictures. Although I've been whining like a lost puppy about how bad I miss my camera, I must tell the truth. There's another camera. A little Casio that fits in my purse, walletlike. It is a fine camera. It takes nice pictures. I don't know why I didn't tell you about it to begin with. I'm sorry.

Also, since I'm in the confessional mode, I must tell you that I'm looking at changing my blog site, a-g-a-i-n. I've been checking out some different designs, so enjoy the dots while you can. Changes are being cooked up! I'm so excited! It's kind of like getting a new car! A whole new look is on the way to my blog.

And another thing, speaking of new cars, I got one. Today. Today! Or more accurately, shall I say, Tommy went and bought me one. I told him it was one of the very nicest thing anyone has every given me! After 8 years with the Green Bomb, Big Black Beauty is now living in our garage. The car is not new, but new to us, (Luke's age) and I have to admit, quite an upgrade. The best perk Green Weenie had was power windows, power steering and a decent heater. Oh yeah, and tinted windows. Woo-Woo. Although I am having a quite a struggle with new-car guilt (am I the only one?), I am going to do my best to enjoy the keyless entry (a great thing to have with kids), outdoor temperature display, (it is sometimes nice to know that yes, it really is 23 degrees outside,) and my very favorite: heated seats!!! (So nice when you get frozen bones like I do) And I am going to try not to think how bad the gas mileage really is.