I haven't really said much about it lately, but we are leaving for vacation on MONDAY. I guess I haven't said much about it because I almost kind of forgot about it for whatever reason, and suddenly I woke up this morning excited. There is much to do to get ready:

1) Print out an itenerary for all the family so they can have one on hand in case of emergency. Of course, this will mean that our phone will ring probably every 30 minutes, if not more often, and 99.9% of the calls won't be emergencies.

2) Pack. We only have 2 suitcases, and I'm wondering how the heck I'm going to fit ALL of our clothes (particularly all of MY clothes) into one suitcase, because the other one has to go with the kids to Mamaw's house. Plus, I know I am just going to forget something, or probably several things, and we'll spend half of our vacation in Wal-mart.

3) Clean out my car truck SUV thing. I don't know why, but there's so much kids junk in there. Maybe because we have two kids. But we really don't go, go, go like a lot of moms I know do. But when we DO go, we take everything with us.

4) Get the laundry caught up. This is a near-impossible feat. I could get it all washed, dried, folded and put away on Saturday, and by Monday morning, the laundry hamper will be overflowing again...mark my word. I actually have to do this BEFORE I pack though, or else I won't have anything TO pack.

5) Make sure all the bills are paid. Nothing worse than coming back from vacation with late notices and bills out the wazoo.

6) Drop the kids and the kitty off at Mamaw's house.

7) Drop the dog off at the kennel.

8) Top off the gas tank.

Then FINALLY we will be on our way. I swear, whenever me and Michael are trying to get ourselves and the kids ready to go ANYWHERE, it's nothing but a big fight! Once we drop off everyone and get on the road, it's like "WHHHHEEEEWWWW!!!!"

Anyway, Gatlinburg will be fun. Of course, now I'm wondering why we are staying in one of those uber-nice cabins, because it's not like we're really going to have TIME to RELAX in it. After vacation, we're going to need a vacation.

I am tired.

Here's my question of the week, before I move onto something else:

Why is it that whenever I sit down to do something, or maybe not even do anything...just rest on the couch...SOMEONE, whether it be kids or husbands or pets, NEEDS me to get up and do something, and there is suddenly no one else in the household willing to help out? Is there some law of nature that says "Mothers cannot sit down without someone in her household needing something from specifically you."? My butt hits the couch, and automatically "MAMA!?!?!" is triggered to shoot out of someone's mouth. Why? This theory is tested, tried, and true, therefore it must be a law.

Okay, and just one more question:

WHY does the TV have to be cranked up so loud? I mean, I can't sit here on the computer and blog or carry on a conversation or read something without the TV slowly making its way up the decibel chart. If you can hear it and make out what is being said on the TV, then why make it louder? I was a drummer in high school and am partially deaf in one ear due to a ruptured ear drum, but I can enjoyably listen to the radio or TV quietly. The only movie that needs the loud volume to get the full sound effect thing going is Star Wars. Or maybe a few other great movies, like Lord of the Rings or something, but by the time some people I know are 30, they'll need a hearing aid, and I know plenty of 50+ year olds that desperately need a hearing aid as a result from turning up the TV way too loud, and they didn't spend all that time watching Star Wars...they spent all that time watching the World News at full blast!

Okay, enough griping, I think...for now anyway...

We got a kitty last night. I know I said I didn't want one, but when I am told that it is going to the pound if it doesn't find a home, well I start feeling sorry for the poor animal and I take it. No, this information does not give you free reign to dump your unwanted animals on me. It will not work. Anyway, she's a really pretty kitten, gray with black stripes. She has the sweetest little face. She's right at 6 weeks old. We named her Kira (pronounced Kee-rah). She spent most of the day hiding/sleeping under the couch. I'll try to put a picture of her on here later.

Did I mention I'm tired? I am going to go pass out on the couch...until I hear "MAMAAA!?!?!?!" at least.

Maybe I'm just feeling sorry for myself right now, but I feel depressed. Here's why.

Let's say you are a parent or a grandparent of a 20-something young woman. What would that young woman have to do in order for you as a parent or grandparent to disown her?

For almost 4 years, my grandparents (on my mom's side...my other grandparents passed away several years ago) have had nothing to do with me whatsoever. Why?

Well, does the fact that my grandfather was my preacher in the Church of Christ for the first 20 years of my life, and then I became a Baptist after marrying my husband, sound like a reason for disowning someone? No, it does not, but it happened to me.

Apparently, I was not allowed, as an individual, to disagree with some of the religious beliefs I was brought up to believe. So because I did disagree and acted accordingly once I joined my husband in Holy Matrimony, my grandmother took down all of the pictures she had of me in her home and at her desk at work (I learned this from another source). I was sent a Christmas card the first year we were married, but it was signed, "Mr. and Mrs. ******", not "Grandma and Papaw ******" I am dead serious. And what's worse, they have never seen my children. Well, with the exception of my other grandmother's funeral (my dad's mom) in 2002. My grandparents were THERE, yes, but my grandmother would not even HOLD Travis (Jacob wasn't thought of at the time), and my mother had to FORCE my grandmother to give me a hug before it was time to leave. But OTHER THAN THAT, my grandparents weren't there when they were born, they don't come to see them for birthdays, Christmas, etc., etc. So how do I refer to them now? "My mom's parents?" "Mr. & Mrs. ******?" And how do I explain all of this to my children someday?? "Oh yeah, you had
great-grandparents that were still living, but they didn't want anything to do with you." They live 10 minutes away. What REALLY is their excuse??

So I'm sorry if every time I go to a wedding, I'm reminded of all of this. I've been told by another family member that this is a choice I made. I chose my husband and my own beliefs over my family. Excuse me, but isn't a FAMILY supposed to LOVE YOU no matter what "mistakes" you make? Aren't Christians supposed to "forgive"? Is there even anything for them to forgive me FOR? NO! And don't give me that old-fashioned spiel. I don't care how old fashioned I get someday, I'm always going to love and be involved with my children, grandchildren, etc., etc. I'm sorry, but I think my grandparents chose to disown me.

My children could commit murder, become Buddhists, and move in with their girlfriend before marriage, and I'd still love them! I would not/could not shut them out of my life!!