free books!

Posted on by Julie Stiles Mills

I’ve taken action again!

I’ve listed some books on www.paperbackswap.com See something you want? Request it, it’s free! I’ll send it right out.

Not familiar with Paperback Swap? Here’s the short scoop. Free membership. You list 10 books and you become eligible to receive FREE books. The sender/lister is responsible for shipping costs. Supposedly, the book credits can be exchanged for credits on DVD Swap and CD Swap too, but I haven’t ordered anything from any of the three sites yet. I’m just purging excess books.

You know, taking ACTION to clear the clutter.

In other action news?

  • Still on track with the workouts.
  • Had the sonograms on Wednesday.
  • Moved the biopsy up to Monday.
  • Got sick this week and went to the doctor instead of . . . you know, not going to the doctor, which I tend to do (or not do as the case may be).
  • Took FavoriteSon to the doctor and RUSHED to get to the lab for bloodwork the same day instead of putting it off for days, and days, and days.
  • Made FavoriteSon an appointment with an allergy specialist on Monday because he is miserable and I’m tired of standing by helpless as he suffers from October to February EVERY year. We have exhausted all pediatric efforts. It’s time for the big dog. (which we don’t have, so he’s not allergic to that).
  • Volunteered at PinkGirl’s school for Fiesta week and delivered TWENTY 7 minute presentations on the sea turtles near and around Panama.
  • MUCH reading with highlighters in my quest to develop topics and prepare for opportunity.
  • Cleaned off my desk! Papers filed, shredded or thrown away!
  • Finally got a long over due cut and color today.
  • Ordered my dad a new cell phone because scotch tape doesn’t work on a broken antenna.
  • I even called my mother this week.

It’s Friday night, 11:12 p.m. and FavoriteSon’s last cough was heard 7 minutes ago. Hopefully he can get some much needed sleep. Unfortunately for him, the allergist needs him to be off antihistamines for 3 days prior to the appointment. So, he’s feeling “miserable,” as he put it. Last night we gave him some of my prescription cough suppressant and he slept all night – first time in a week. Praying for the same tonight. He’s exhausted.

Then Sings My Soul Saturday – One Life to Love

Posted on by Julie Stiles Mills

I was speaking to another mom the other night. She has four kids and lives 30 minutes from school. She was telling me about her day and I said:

“I don’t know how you manage everybody’s schedule – 4 kids, you, your husband . . .”

“He lives his life. We live ours.”

She said it so matter of fact.

And then I paid attention. I was sitting next to her, across from her two daughters, at a restaurant. We were celebrating the end of basketball season for one of their big brothers. The other brother was playing in a varsity game about 45 minutes north east of the school. Both daughters had their backpacks at the table, both had their homework on the table, next to their empty plates. Both girls had their heads resting on the table. It was 7:30 p.m. and their older brother wasn’t due back to school for another 2 hours. The mom was talking about driving them home (30 minutes south west of school), and then driving back to school to pick up her oldest son. That would make three round trips to school that day. Three hours on the road.

I asked her if she wanted to move closer and she said yes, but . . . and cited the condition of the real estate market. She had already talked about work and I didn’t get a sense that she really enjoyed it, so I asked her if she HAD to work. She didn’t really answer and I got the impression she worked because they owned the business, one of two. Her husband worked and traveled a lot for the other business. Although she had shared so much with me, I got the impression that my questions made her uncomfortable, so I didn’t ask any more. I walked away from the conversation feeling very bad for her and her family, wishing there was something I could do to help, but knowing that their circumstances are a cumulative result of the smaller choices they’re making every day.

It all seemed so counterproductive. I’m so thankful that when we had an opportunity to buy a larger, more expensive home, we decided against it because of the sacrifices that would have been required. Sacrifices I’m still not willing to make. Our home may be smaller than most of our friend’s homes, but you know what?

It’s home. And we get to spend a lot of time there. Together. So we have to squeeze in. It’s cozy.

Every time I don’t buy something, I get something in return. Every time I say no to something that doesn’t support our family’s goals, we’re better for it. Every little decision we make is a building block in our daily lifestyle. These kids are growing right in front of my eyes and this window?

It’s closing.

This is one of the songs I’ve ordered an accompaniment track for. Strengthens my resolve.

Follow-up: It may seem like I’m saying that being a stay at home mom is the best way to go. Not exactly. I’ve written about this before, in “to work or not to work, that is the question.” My point is that WHATEVER lifestyle you choose for your family – I hope you choose it ON PURPOSE.

For more Saturday music, check out Then Sings My Soul Saturday every Saturday hosted by Amy at Signs, Miracles and Wonders.