One Hot Mess!!

“Wow… you have your hands full!”  I hear that a lot.  And it’s true, I do.  But it doesn’t usually get to me.  While my life is most definitely full of chaos, I like to tell myself it’s controlled chaos (for the most part).  There are weeks, though, when even *I* question my sanity.  This was one of those weeks. 

There wasn’t one particular thing that made it so crazy.  It was just EVERYTHING combined.  My job is crazy busy, my CASA cases required extra time and attention, my laundry was piled up to the ceiling, I was doing respite for another foster family, so I had 5 little girls and the oldest is 8.  There were 9 people living in my house this week. 

Wednesday was bad.  I was running all over the country taking kids to visits, had a couple of appointments, got chewed out by a client, had a crisis situation with a CASA case, kept having to pull off the side of the road to answer emails…. Just a crazy, crazy day.  I knew I would be gone all day so I disbursed my kids here and there.  Between daycare and sitters, I had kids scattered everywhere. 

As the day was winding down, I started making pickups.  I was in a hurry because Yuri, Gigi, and Aubree had been attending an evening VBS all week, and it was due to start in about an hour.  I’m running around picking up kids here and there, and when I get to Aubree’s daycare, I walked in to sign her out.  My first thought was hmmm… I forgot to sign her in.  Then I saw the daycare workers looking at me like I had two heads, and it hit me.  SHE WASN’T EVEN AT DAYCARE. She was at home with a sitter.  How do you cover that up?  Well, you don’t. You feel like an idiot and try to laugh it off, all the while making a mental note to Google “early signs of dementia” when you get home.  Fortunately, the girls at daycare were good sports and they laughed too (AT me, not WITH me). 

So, maybe my hands ARE too full.  I’ve given it a lot of thought and it’s with a heavy heart that I need to announce that I have to give something up.  I just can’t do everything anymore. The problem is, there is nothing I do that I can just walk away from.  I have to have someone ready to step in for me, or …. I don’t know what… but SOMETHING bad would happen.  Having said that, I’m turning to you for help.

Who wants to volunteer to take over my laundry?

A Glimpse Into My World....

Randomness.  That's what this blog is about.  Just a few random things that have happened in my world over the past few days.

There was the night before Easter when the Easter Bunny finally had all the candy put out for the kids and then she noticed a note from Gigi....

Well, of course, the "Ester" Bunny had to say yes.  So she found herself in the front yard at 11 p.m. hiding plastic eggs in the bushes.

Willard's side of the family meets at the park for Easter lunch.  A mud puddle full of tadpoles and some red Solo cups made for great fun... but bad news for Aubree's BRAND new shoes.

Easter at the Randoph farm followed... How many of you had your Easter egg hunt around a John Deere plow?  (I think it's a plow... it's green and you pull it behind a tractor)

And then yesterday morning I had court for CASA.  I drove around the courthouse for seriously 20 minutes looking for parking place but I couldn't find ANYTHING. I finally parked in a spot that was clearly marked "no parking" but it wasn't blocking anything and it seemed like the only option. I wrote a nice little note and stuck it to my windshield that said "I am sorry for parking here but I couldn't find another spot.  Please don't give me a ticket".  In case you're wondering if it worked...

And then Willard was in a terrible accident.  With his razor.

A few months ago, we got this precious fluffy yellow cat from the vet. We named him Petey but we call him Fuzzy Cat most of the time.  He's the friendliest kitty ever and lets our girls torture him and dress him up and strap him in the doll stroller.  Willard pretends like he doesn't like him because he's not a "real" cat.  He says unless he catches mice, he's worthless.  Well, guess what...  our sweet kitty showed up at the kitchen window this morning with a prize for us.

A day of work, two dentist appointments, and a softball game today.  I'm sure there are more random moments coming!

It's Friday....

A few months ago, I remember reading something in my women’s bible study book that really stuck out.  The book is by Angela Thomas, and I believe she’s quoting E.V. Hill….

It’s Friday.  Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday.  The disciples are hiding and Peter’s denying that he knows the Lord. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter.  But Sunday’s coming. 

It’s Friday.  Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon.  But Sunday’s coming…

And on that horrible day 2,000 years ago, Jesus the Christ, the Lord of glory, the only begotten Son of God, the only perfect man… died on the cross of Calvary. Satan thought that he had won the victory… BUT THAT WAS FRIDAY.

Even though I distinctly remember reading this a few months ago and it having an impact on me then, it has even more impact on me today.  Sometimes when you’re going through changes or have big decisions to make, it feels like Friday in your heart.  I’m so glad these words hit me again (in the middle of the night, of course, when I have my most important thoughts).  It may feel like Friday in your heart, but hang in there… Sunday’s a-coming!

I found my thing!

You know how Jeff Gordon drives a race car.... and Keith Urban plays guitar.... and Colonel Sanders does chicken?  It's just their THING.  It's what they do.

Y'all, I found MY thing.  It's called CASA and I can't wait to tell you more about it.

Here's the official word:

What is CASA for Children?

Every day in this country, 1,900 children become victims of abuse or neglect, and four of them will die. Every day. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children is a network of 951 community-based programs that recruit, train and support citizen-volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in courtrooms and communities. Volunteer advocates—empowered directly by the courts—offer judges the critical information they need to ensure that each child’s rights and needs are being attended to while in foster care or for children whose safety has been called into question by the court.

Volunteers stay with children until they are placed in loving permanent homes. For many abused children, a CASA volunteer is the only constant adult presence in their lives.

Do you know a child who is living in a meth house?  Or who is being abused by her mother's boyfriend? Or who has missed 18 days of school this year because Mom just doesn't feel like waking up to take him to school? If you answered no, then you are wrong.  You DO know a child in this situation because they are your neighbors. They are in your local elementary school.  They may even be in your church.  

At some point, if they're lucky, someone will notice that these children are living in danger and they will enter the juvenile court system. This can happen through a private custody case (such as a grandparent petitioning for custody) or through a DHR case (where the child has been removed from the home and is in foster care).  That's when CASA comes in.  We are appointed by the courts to help determine what is in the best interest of the child.  We speak with the child, parents, family members, social workers, school officials, health providers and others who are knowledgeable about the child’s history. The CASA volunteer also reviews all records pertaining to the child — school, medical and case worker reports; and other documents. We compile all our information and submit a recommendation to the court as to whether it is in a child’s best interest to stay with his or her parents or guardians, be placed in foster care, be placed with other relatives, or be freed for permanent adoption.

Since CASA of North Alabama was started in November, we have advocated for 35 children.  We have 9 active volunteers (and 11 more who have completed training and will be sworn in soon).  These volunteers pour their heart and soul into every case.  It's heartbreaking and exhilarating all at the same time.  It's exhilarating because you know you are making a difference, but it's heartbreaking because you see things that just should never happen.  Our volunteers become advocates, mentors, friends, and sometimes the only Jesus these children will ever see.  We take them Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, school supplies... anything we see that they need.  Maybe some young man needs a calculator for math class.  Or a teen mom needs diapers for her baby.  Or an 8-year-old can't enjoy the SNOW of the century because he doesn't have appropriate outerwear.  We pay attention to those kinds of things and we FIX it.  Maybe we just visit their school and eat lunch with them once a month.  It may very well be the first time anybody has ever taken the time to come to school and eat with them.  

I love my thing.  I want to do my thing forever.  And I want you to HELP me do my thing.  We need funding.  We are a non-profit organization and we depend on private funding to keep us afloat.  

Will you consider making a donation to CASA?  Any amount, no matter how small or how large, will be appreciated.

To make a donation


Please note that you can make a one-time donation (GREAT!!) or a recurring monthly donation (EVEN BETTER!!).

This is tax deductible for individuals and businesses.  If you own a business and a need a philanthropy project, please consider CASA.  

Thank you, my peeps, for all your support.

Bring on 2015!!

Well, 2014 is gone and 2015 is here.  Ready or not!  My resolutions are usually related to weight loss, exercise, and laundry management.  This year I’m going to be more realistic, and I’m also going to make resolutions that matter so much more than what size my jeans are.

I resolve to be more patient with my littles.  When Yuri asks me for the 10^th time in 2 hours if she can download a new game, I resolve to still say no….. but in a nicer way.  I resolve to change the sheets for the third time in a week because of an overnight accident with a smile on my face.  I resolve to belly laugh along with Aubree when we are watching the same episode of “Peppa Pig” for the 4^th time in a row. 

I resolve to do the little things that make my husband happy.  I’ll make that enchilada casserole that nobody else in the family likes.  I’ll watch “Machinery Pete” or “Pigman” without rolling my eyes and making sarcastic comments.  I will cross my fingers that he thinks going to Talladega this year is a great idea, but I won’t throw a fit if he vetoes it. 

I resolve to listen to my big kids.  I mean, really listen.  I want them to tell me their dreams and their plans… what makes them happy, and what makes them sad.  I want to support whatever they want.  I just hope it doesn’t involve obliterating my checking account. 

I resolve to advocate for children who can’t advocate for themselves.  Becoming a part of CASA (court appointed special advocates) was one of the best things that happened to me in 2014.  It’s hard and it’s heartbreaking and it’s frustrating… that’s for sure… but it’s necessary.  Now that the need is so apparent to me, there’s no way I can turn my back on it.  I want to be the voice of the child in 2015. 

I resolve to be more tolerant to those around me who are so absolutely so ridiculous and annoying that I want to punch them right in the face.  I haven’t walked in their shoes.  Who knows, I might be equally as obnoxious if I had. 

And finally, I resolve to stop and smell the roses.  Life is passing us by, folks.  The years pass so much faster than they did when I was younger.  I notice things now that I never noticed before.  Sunrises, sunsets, leaves changing, flowers blooming.  I promise to slow 

down and enjoy what God has created. 

I hope you all have a healthy, safe, and blessed 2015! 

How I Know Our Elf On The Shelf is Male....

The girls keep asking why our Elf (KB) hasn’t shown up this year.  We've always had trouble out of this elf.  Remember the year he had an accident at the North Pole and was immobilized for a couple of weeks?  (You can read about it here)

I’ve been thinking he’d show up for several days now… you know, since I’m the Queen of Christmas Spirit this year and got my tree up in NOVEMBER! I was wondering where the little guy was and then I got this email from Santa:

Dear Mama Garnett –

Please let the kids know that their elf, KB, should be arriving soon.  He keeps getting lost and refuses to stop and ask for directions. 

Signed – Santa

Yep, I knew it.  Our elf is definitely male.

9 Things That Annoy Me....

Willard says I’ve been grumpy for a couple of days so I might as well use my blog to voice some things that annoy me.  These are in no particular order of how much they annoy me, by the way.  Just saying that so if you see yourself in one of the categories, you won’t think I’m any more annoyed by you than I am by anything else.

(1)    People who repost articles on Facebook that are obviously fake (and are outraged because they think it's true).  It’s called satire, folks.  It just means some poor soul who isn’t talented enough to be a real journalist is allowed to write garbage and publish it.  Take a minute and investigate the article before you share it to all of your FB friends.  Really.  It makes you look silly.  If you read something that is so absolutely unbelievably stupid that you just cannot imagine it being true, it’s probably not.  Unless, of course, it’s something dumb Obama has done…. That’s usually always true.

(2)    Ketchup.  Ketchup annoys me.  It’s gross.

(3)    People who update their FB status or upload pictures dozens of times a day.  Nobody wants to see all that.  I know what you’re thinking….  The obvious thing would be to hide those people, right?  Well, I can’t, okay!?! It’s like a train wreck.  I want to look away, but I just can’t.  Now, don’t be texting me and asking if I’m talking about you. If you have any doubt, then I probably am.  If you’re posting more often than you’re going to the bathroom, that’s NOT NORMAL.  Moderation, people, moderation….

(4)    Alabama/Auburn fans.  I am totally a sports fan and I love a good competition, but sometimes this whole rivalry thing gets out of hand. It’s ugly, it’s petty, and it’s immature. I’m a Bama fan (duh!) but I’m talking to both sides.  Can’t we all just get along?

(5)    Mean girls. I blogged about this one time.  I know all us females have the Mean Girl gene (some have a more dominant gene than others), and it usually peaks in middle school.  If you’re over 14 and you still need to feel powerful by playing on the insecurities of others, then you have a problem.  It’s time to grow up.  You’re not cute. 

(6)    I was going to say negative people, but given the subject of today's blog, that’s probably a bit hypocritical of me.  I’m not USUALLY this negative though, so I’ll say it.  If you don’t have anything positive to say… EVER… then you should probably figure out why.  Chances are, the problem is not the circumstances or the people around you… it’s probably YOU.  Stop blaming everybody else and fix yourself.

(7)    Winter.  Annoying.

(8)    Common Core Math. Seriously sooooo annoying.  The majority of the people I know agree with me on this one.  A few of you don’t.  And that’s okay.  I understand the general concept of Common Core, but you will never in a million years convince me that this new way of learning math is a good idea.  Instead of Common Core, how about some common sense?

(9)    Alexander Shunnarah.  You know you agree with this this.  Gah, so annoying.

Did you notice my list is Top 9, as opposed to the typical Top 10? Well, that's in honor of this year's Heisman winner (got to be!!) ... the one and only... #9 Amari Cooper.  Roll Tide! 

Whew. I feel better already.  So, now it’s your turn.  What annoys you?  And please don’t say ME!