Annelise, my sweet girl over in Switzerland, turns 20 today.

TWENTY!

Once Upon A Time....





...and then it was March.

To be specific, my daughter Rachel's 24th birthday is today. My daughter who is number 2 in the Land of Foyts chain here. An amazing young woman who has grown up, married her sweetheart and lives far too far away. I could go on and on about her wonderful attributes in this young life of hers. She truly is beautiful.

We love her endless amounts. To the moon and back. And, oh so unconditionally.

My blogging leaves little to be desired. A true lack of desire to write down my thoughts and post anything of relevance has plagued me. Something awful.

I still write. I just do not post. I look at my posts and think...who really, truly wants to read this? I will get back to it. I just am going to be going in another direction.

I am a parent, a mother, with extremely opinionated views on raising kids. I have some strong ideas. They do not always mesh with other parents. But, this much I do know....I am very confident with how I am raising my children. Confident in what I do to make sure they leave our home prepared for the world.

Independent and confident.

I dare say, I do have some independent girls. Elijah is still a young almost 11 year old boy, but fairly independent in his thinking. I like that. I appreciate a kid who can stand up for what he or she believes in. Not afraid to take a stand. Not afraid of possible criticism. Learning to be critical thinkers and form their own opinions. This is very crucial and many kids are getting lost trying to "fit in." Often, having no idea as to what it is they are trying to "fit in" with.

I am grateful for my kids. Strong minded girls who would let anyone know they could not be persuaded into a particular way of thinking unless they agreed honestly.

I love these kids of mine.

Susan Adelheid Rieder Foyts

Arrived to our family as the fourth child in a family of all girls. She is her daddy's Sunshine and has always been the sister who keeps the conversation lively at the dinner table. Loved by everyone and always turning heads and setting trends. I could go on and on about her attributes. The things she does to make her a case in study for all parents, but as her mother, I couldn't ask for more.

Little Miss Sunshine Susie turns 17 today.

I am now in the very last lap of this race. The race to raise daughters through their teen age years and live to tell about it. I know many other parents have survived this just as well. Have done fine and also lived to tell about it. I suppose that is a bit of a exaggeration. When in reality, it's amazing that our daughters LIVE to tell about it.



Seriously, there are days I want to slap Susie silly. I have refrained of course. But, she is my one child with an answer for everything. Not always a kind answer too. Often, wait.... always has to have the last word. Always.




I have told myself time and time again, this is only a phase. A phase that in the whole spectrum of raising children is short lived. Oh all right, who am I fooling.

Raising daughters who follow the Mormon religion is NOT easy. Not always fun, and often misunderstood. That is another post for another day.

For today, I will concentrate on Susie's 17th birthday. My little tiny (born at 5lb 4oz) bundle of spunk who turned into a bigger version of teen spunk. Truly a blessed child of God. Who has equally blessed our home with her part in our family.

So, for today as everyday, I will love her unconditionally. But, specifically, I will not engage in any form of motherly sarcasm. Which seems to be how things go down lately. I will let her chat online for another 10 minutes. Allow a few more texts in front of me, and probably not say anything when she fills her plate with more than she can eat. I will refrain from rolling my eyes when she exclaims that her A- should have been an A+ but the teacher.... yada yada yada.

If I had been half the kid she is when I was her age..... yada, yada, yada.

Today Susie turns 17 and she is beautiful and sweet.


Susie did not want cake
so we bought a pecan
danish. That's what
she wanted and that
was fine with me!

I'm Back. Did You Miss Me?

Yeah, well at least I thought I would ask. I missed you.

If by some remote chance you are still coming by to read my oh so neglected blog, then that means you are still in the "allowed" readers list. Yes, I have chiseled my list down to a very few family members, blogging friends, and close friends.

Not that I still don't have a lot to say. I think moms everywhere who have raised kids are a value to others. However, as you have read before, I had hit a wall. I had so much to say but it seemed to be a little too snarky. Too negative. Maybe even a tad bit rude, even for me!

If a creepy stalking woman from Utah was harassing you, you might end up fleeing the scene too.

Ah, but my heart and mind can not go there. I am not even linking to any of those posts and at some time, I am going to completely delete any posts that I wrote about her. (They are previous posts in my blog this past fall)

So, many of you followed me through my 2009 new year's resolution attempt to stop using that a.s.s. word. For the most part I did. Then, I realized, this is true life. I am living it. ON the east coast. Simply put, ass is going to be part of the vernacular.

So, now that you know and have been warned. My blog will be using such language and will deal with raising kids in a very honest, raw, and truthful fashion.

Consider yourself warned.

Raising kids can be a pain in the ass and hopefully, we will all be able to laugh while learning what to do and more often than not... what not to do!

Oh, and by the way, my new years goal this year? To not add extremely offensive words to the word ass. You know like.... sh.... uh

well, you know!



This is my peaceful, easy feeling....
Or, the view out my front door a
few weeks ago.

Love, Peace & Joy

Where did the time go? Where did October and November go? Where did I go? I have neglected my writing here and been gone for a few weeks. I remember the days when I went for a few years without missing one day of posting. For some reason, I have not felt that anything I may have to say was interesting enough to share.

I have enjoyed blogging and will pick it up on a regular basis come January. Until then, I just want to enjoy the holidays with my parents who will be with us. It has been ten years since I had Christmas with my mom and dad, and it can't come soon enough.

Until then, I am on Facebook. If you want to add me as a friend, please drop me an email at [email protected] with your Facebook name that you are under and I will add you. I have my name and profile private and can only add if I request. Although, I do believe a majority of you who read are already my Facebook friends.

Considering how much aggravation the whole stalking episode was this past summer, I still am being a little over protective of my privacy. I do keep up on Facebook and again, I will continue my blog postings come January. I am working on a few projects that seem to take more time than you realize after signing on.

Peace to all during these trying times. May the Lord bless you and protect you through out the holidays and into the new year.

"Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others."

As quoted by Booker T. Washington

You may have noticed that I have had the above quote posted on the bottom of my blog from day one. Of course, that would imply that you have actually read to the bottom of this blog. Any how, it is a family motto of sorts and I do try to live by it. I try to teach by it. I implore my children to learn by it. Most of all, it is what I try to do when I am feeling sorry for myself. I do love this quote.

Last year we broke with Foyts family tradition and went to the home of a friend for Thanksgiving. It was nice and we had a great dinner, but it just wasn't the same. Not to mention that I came down with what everyone else had who sat by one of the guest's... a very nasty case of the stomach flu. So, this year....back to my home. My style. Our traditions. Can not wait.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and take a moment to reach out to someone less fortunate than yourself. We will have a home filled with friends this year. We are very fortunate to have several families coming to share Thanksgiving with us.

Click here to jump to my Thanksgiving post from last year, 2008. A tribute to my favorite Thanksgiving poems.

Thank you to all of you who have stuck with our blog throughout the nightmare of the stalking. I am grateful to you reading and leaving your comments.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

You Have The Same Shoes....

Recently, someone I know became offended. She made a conscientious decision to allow her feelings to get a little bent out of shape. To say things that bothered her and in a somewhat arrogant fashion try and put another friend down. She proceeded to change the story around and make it look as though she was "taking the high ground." Yes, this friend was not acting in a very nice manner.

I know this may be hard to follow and I am not mentioning names. Albeit, no one concerned reads this blog. Nor would I allow them to. However, It bothered me. I felt as though several of us, in our efforts to make a fun event come about, this woman had to rain on the festivities and cause problems. It bothered me in that I just do not understand a person purposefully allowing themselves to be offended. Or to act offended.

Notice, I use "allowing?" I do so because I truly believe we have a choice when we hear something that is offensive or something has been done to us that hurts us. We certainly have times when to be offended will be a productive thing in our lives. We can use that to turn negatives around. However, too many people decide to stay angry. To hold a grudge. To make others feel less than human. This situation was a case where basically, times and dates, places and posting of events was being questioned.

Simple. Nothing more, nothing less. An announcement was posted that was not suppose to be posted to the general population. An announcement for a party that was only for a few invitees. Unfortunately, my friend (of whom is hosting this celebration/party with me) posted that everyone who had received a mass email sent out, was invited. Causing the "hostess" to come unglued. So much to the point she decided to not host anything and I am now hosting the party.

A simple mistake was turned into more than it needed to be. All because someone got a little irritated and I would dare say, a little holier than thou. Plans had to be changed, peoples' schedules had to be changed, and unkind words were thrown about like the fall leaves outside our windows. And all over a simple email that certainly was not meant to hurt anyone. A little misunderstanding.

So, as I was talking to my friend who inevitably took the brunt of most of the abuse from this disgruntled woman, I remembered the words that my mother always would say to us girls when we were sad or trying to deal with someone else' unhappiness. She simply would say "...well, they have the same shoes to get glad in that they got mad in!"

And that is what has, at times, been what gets me through some awful situations where people have chosen to be angry over trivial matters. I just don't think I can put it in any clearer terms than that. Easy on the anger. Easier on those who offend us.

Right mom?

Oh my goodness. TWO weeks and no post. I will let you all know that all is well. I just have been trying to get so much done and blogging is not on the list of priorities.

Working on catching up on all things important. You know.... like catching up on GLEE. Catching up on my latest book reading. Catching up on new fun recipes for Thanksgiving. Catching up on .... well, you get the idea.

Took a break and will be back soon. We are actually trying to muck out a basement that has been in need of a clearing for over 10 years.

Have a beautiful November day.

It Keeps Me Going
Not to mention sane!

I sit here clicking away into a blue screen on my laptop.

Blogging. Surfing. Checking "e-mail" and editing this post.

Chatting, online with Annelise, (via SKYPE) who is now living n Switzerland.

My home phone is nearby as I am coordinating some school events.

Here in Connecticut.

On my laptop sits my cell phone where I am exchanging texts with my dear friend Carol who lives in Boulder, Colorado.

In the other room I can hear the television and the news about the latest Iraqi election results.

Some may find this to be far too connected, however, the best part is that I can turn it all off when I need to. But, for now, I am "plugged in" to all that keeps me connected. In my world.

I absolutely embrace technology with open arms.

I have to, for it allows me to endure these long distance relationships from those I love the most.

Note: I have had such a wonderful week and will post pictures and all the fun with Susette's visit and Halloween here in the Land of Foyts.

Living in the "Now Factor"

"For babies grow up, we've learned to our sorrow!" (Ruth Hulburt Hamilton)

Every school morning of Elijah's young life, he has walked down to the end of our long driveway to wait for the yellow school bus. Where he will get on board with all the other rambunctious school kids for the one mile ride to his school. He loves the bus and we in turn love the school system for providing safe transportation to school for the kids.

What "we"("we" being Peter and me) do not like, from time to time, is the weather that we often have to wait in until the bus shows up. This year the bus comes at exactly 7:58. Last year his bus arrived at 8:28. Unless there was a substitute driver and then it was anyone's guess as to when that bus would stop. I will not lie... as I often find myself asking Peter to go down to the stop and wait. Sometimes lowering my standards to begging. However, and most often...I pretty much have to prove that I am on the verge of dying before he will agree.

Always telling me, "Rhonda....if I wait for the bus, I won't get into work until 8:30." And, yes you can read my mind as to what the man said last year. "Rhonda...if I wait for the bus, I won't get into work until 9:00." Oddly, Peter always leaves for work at about 10 minutes before that bus arrives. Regardless.

Maybe just a little convenient? Maybe? Just a little?

Especially since I do not ask for "back up" but from time to time.

Although, I have enjoyed waiting for the bus with Elijah, this is when he is the most chatty. These days will pass and I will no longer be welcome in his circle of time. His circles will be filled with friends, sports, and other activities. There will be no more public displays of affection and he will not appreciate my "...have a great day handsome!" Usually blurted out in front of all the other kids on the bus. I suppose I will be met with a stern look of "....please mom don't you dare!"

So, do you see where I am going with this argument? As much as I would love to have an extra ten minutes to myself, there is nothing that can replace the "now factor!" Of which I will forever be grateful that I am a very big part of in all of my children' lives. I am glad to say I can look back and know that I have not missed a whole lot.

Now, my children may have another version of how much I was "too into their lives," but no apologies from this mother.