The Sutton Adventures...

More then anyone else, dead or alive, my dad has helped shape the way I see and view the world. When Lauren and Hailey came along… they too greatly helped define things for me… becoming a stable mommy figure to Lauren… and helping create a life with Hailey… helped me to see life in a whole new way. My boys have shaped me too. They have helped me to see just how incredible life really can be. Sean has been an treasured person in my life… it’s so amazing to have someone to be a witness to my life and share it in such a close and intimate way. And my dear friend Annie has taught me so much… with the way she lived her life and the way that she died. Because I lack the words so often to express just how excited I am to be alive and how greatful I am for the people in my life… I’ll share some quotes that have helped guide me along this path called “life”.

“Don’t help me or serve me, but let me see it once, because I need it. Don’t work for my happiness, my brothers—show me yours—show me that it is possible—show me your achievement—and the knowledge will give me the courage for mine."

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle"
"Do or Do not- there is no try"

” Her children arise and call her blessed”

“So let them be little,'Cause they're only that way for a while.Give 'em hope, give them praise,Give them love every day.Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,Let 'em sleep in the middle,Oh, but let them be little.”

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”

“I have found that the greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warm-hearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It is the ultimate source of success in life.”

“If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry”

And finally… something that helps tie it all together…

"Learn to make the most of life, lose no happy day, time will never give thee back chances swept away. Leave no tender word unsaid, love while life shall last, the wheel will never turn again with water that has past."

And a few pictures of those that have inspired me…

My Dad… Me & my husband… My girls… My boys… My friend Annie…

Everybody has pet peeves and I understand that often they're deeply rooted in some irrational behavior or slight compulsive disorder. My husband reminds me to tell people that he has “obsessive compulsive traits” and not a disorder! And although I have found great joy in exposing and poking at some of his “traits” … this week I’ll list my top ten things (in NO particular order) that drive me nutty!

1. ADD, ADHD and Over medicating kids. Is there any bigger fraud of a disease than this catch all for lazy parents and teachers to diagnose? Why can't kids run around anymore? Okay- here is a little disclaimer for this one... this IS NOT true of all cases. I have met and cared for some children that simply seem "wired" differently. They have wonderful parents and teachers and have behavioral problems that just can't seem to be tamed. There are true medical issues out there that some children face... and medication can truly help them. These are not the children that I am referring to in this gripe. It's scandalous that medications are used in staggering amounts to subdue kids for the convenience of overworked and underpaid staff or because of lazy parents. These medications THEY DON’T NEED can have life long negative affects on these kids. Here is a "when I was a kid" statement for ya... When I was a kid you had to force me and my siblings inside for dinner. We hated it. We were outside playing tag and building forts. The idea of being forced inside was absolutely horrible and would end our playtime! Now it seems we have to force sedated children outside and away from their TV and video games. How and when did this happen? And has this overmedicating helped create our out of shape and obese children too? The most frustrating part to me about it all... is that everyone except the child wins when a "mental illness" diagnosis is determined and treated. Clearly the drug company wins. The schools win too; they get more state funding for the education of a mentally handicapped student. Teachers have more obedient and subdued students in their already overcrowded classrooms. And finally, what irks the heck out of me, parents are not forced to consider their poor parenting practices. Of course their child's behavior issue isn't "their fault" because they have the perfect excuse: Their child has a chemical imbalance! GRRRRRR! Parents NEED to be more accountable for their own children. Parents need to be more careful with who they entrust their children's mental health with... Parents need to be more responsible and better advocates for their children.

2. School scare tactics… School officials often resort to "scare tactics" to intimidate parents into submission with vaccinations. How many times have you heard "Children aren't allowed in school without being fully immunized." School administrators are only referring to part of the law and never seem to mention the exemptions. How EXACTLY is this not lying? If our children tell us a half truth, we call it lying… but what about school officials? And I hate, hate, hate how schools, pedi offices and drug companies benefit monetarily by pushing these shots on our children! Well guess what school officials?? Your scare tactics fail to scare me... but they do seem to manage to make me one ticked off parent with high blood pressure that is not so trusting anymore. So thank you very much for that lovely joy I now associate with my child's education!!

3. Cheerios on the floor that get crunched into a thousand pieces. Mommies- need I say more?

(oh and my husband would like me to add... he swept up an entire 3 course meal last night... and he sweeps EVERY night!)

4. Press one for English… And ESL schools. I live in the United States of America. I do not understand why I have to press one for English. English is the language here and I resent anyone who thinks otherwise! How blessed was I to be born here… born an American! And how blessed are people to be able to come here and claim this blessed nation as his or her home? Be thankful… then learn English or get out! Plain and simple! Oh- and I especially love after I have “pressed one for English” and have endured heinous wait times just to speak to someone who can’t understand a dang word I am saying. I think it would be more appropriate to hear “press one for English and press 2 to disconnect until you learn the $&*@# language.” I’m just saying…

5. Starbucks: May I please just order a SMALL, MEDIUM, or LARGE? Do I really have to learn a new language to order? Why do the employees get so darn snotty when I ask for a small hot chocolate? And another thing… it’s inaccurate. A small is NOT “tall”. A regular, medium sized anything is NOT “grande”. And every time I see the word “vente” I just want to vent. And then I think of G-tubes and work… and then I wonder what I am doing standing in a Starbucks line anyway…

6 Squirrels: These animals are not cute, they are not friendly and they are not meant to co-exist with people. PERIOD.

7. Failure to use turn signals: Do some cars actually come without them? I like to be choosy when picking the packages a new car comes with. Everyone can appreciate saving a buck here and there- especially when deciding against an unnessasary feature. But I sorta feel like it’s an import feature to have when purchasing a new car. Call me crazy… Why do people feel they are not required to use their turn signals? I won't complain about mergers/lane changers/people who cut you off, that's something I learned to accept a long time ago. But I am talking about drivers who could reasonably be expected to use a turn signal. If people would signal their intentions, then others could plan accordingly. Idiots need to pass a test to drive… but they manage to skate around this issue. (of course… this reminds me of my biggest pet peeve of all time- so big it would need it’s own blog day… idiots that have children… why can’t we require passing a test first for this one??) Anyway…I am as religious about turns signals as I am about my seatbelt. I grew up driving that way, never even think about it at all. It's what you do. So what gives with everyone else?

This is me... ;-)

8. Toilet paper that rolls from the back instead of the front. I can’t express with words just how nutty this makes me. I have actually been know to take the roll of paper off and replaced it so that it rolls “correctly” in both public restrooms and at homes of friends and family. How crazy am I?? Toilet paper makes me think of another thing that drives me crazy in the bathroom…

9. Automatic towel dispensers in public bathrooms: Man these things drive me nutty! Either they have a sick mind of their own or there’s a hidden camera in there. Someone is watching me from somewhere and is laughing his or her butt off at us every time we wave our hands and dance in front of the darn thing and the towel dispenser doesn’t work. I am learning though… and I WILL concur these infuriating little machines one day! The way I have found to make them work properly is to pretend I don’t care. Same goes for automatic sinks and soap. Oh- and don’t even get me started with the automatic flushing toilets. I am sure we have each succumbed to one in our use of public bathrooms now! Seriously- I AM a responsible adult... I CAN and WILL flush when I am done. And really- is a machine more suited then I to decide exactly when I am done?

TAKE THAT!! ;-)

10. And lastly…people who don't hold doors for others. Come on people!! Didn’t your Mama ever teach you manners? Can you really not afford 10 seconds of your day to help a fellow human being out a little? I might have been raised in the Northern sticks… but I was raised to use manners and to help people. I especially can’t stand it when I see people fail to hold a door open for a child, an elderly person, a disabled person or a pregnant woman. Makes me want to hold the door open for the person in need… then run like heck to go smack the crap out of the person who failed to do it first.