On the way to take Callie to school this morning, as I preparing to exit I-440 the car in front of me stopped suddenly because the car in front of him stopped suddenly, and I tried to stop or veer around it, but ended up hitting him in the rear. We weren't going very fast and I thought I was maintaining a safe following distance, but obviously, I wasn't.  It just looked like a scuffed up bumper to me--a Mitsubisi Galant with one of those special bumpers that are impact reisistant, but the police officer said it could have undercarriage damage, trunk damage, and something else that I couldn't hear over the roar of traffic.  My car got the lights on the driver's side boogered up, and the hood got pushed up a little on that side.  The police officer made me promise not to drive it over 35 (or else he'd have it towed) because he was afraid that at  high speeds  it might catch air and make the hood fly up.  I doubt it, as the bumped up area was on the side, not the front, but I promised.  I am going to take a hammer, a crow bar and some epoxy glue and see if I can make things a little better. Of course, I don't have collision coverage on a car I only paid $1300 for.

For a interstate wreck, it was pretty minor.  It was scary sitting there, people were flying by on both sides--driving on the shoulder on my right. The nice guy in the car I hit stopped traffic so I could pull off. I was afraid as long as I sat there, that I might get hit from behind myself, though I immediately put my hazard lights on.

Nobody was hurt. Air bags didn't go off. Cars were driveable, and we got the best police officer ever.  His name was Jerry Coleman and he has been a police officer for 38 years and is retiring in 11 days.  He gave us both tickets for not having our insurance cards with us. I think we can send in proof that we had coverage, and get out of having to pay a fine.

Officer Coleman said NEVER carry your registration in your car.  I have always kept mine in the glove compartment. He folded it up to the size of the driver's license before giving it to us and said the way he folded it left a little pocket your insurance card fits in.  He said if someone steals your car and has your registration, you can't prove the car is yours.  I knew not to carry the title in the car.  He also said that the thief had your name address and could pay you an unwelcome visit.

He said it is against state law to not report an accident that has over $50 in damage. I can't imagine how any accident involving a car would cause less than $50 damage.  The guy I rear ended said last time he got rear ended, he didn't call the police, but later found out that it was against the law--something like leaving the scene of an accident or something.

I am a "safe driver" in general. Most of my "accidents" have been while backing up or leaving my car in the wrong gear. My present car has lots of safety features--1998 Toyota Corolla LE.  I can't lock my doors when the keys are in the ignition and I can't take my keys out unless it is in park.  I need to always take my keys out of the ignition, even if I havejust stopped for gas, cause it WILL roll if I leave it in drive.

Good news is I seem to be migraine free for the first time in 4 days.  I felt awful yesterday, but pretty good today.  Hope I get a lot done!  The sun is shining and it is a beautiful day! Let's all drive safely and remember to keep a wide margin between ourselves and other cars!

When I picked up Dilara today, her Dad said they talked on the phone to his mother in Turkey and she wants Dilara to come visit.  A month is too long.  when I suggested 2 weeks, he said it wasn't long enough, as it takes 2 days to just get to and from Tarsus. Callie and Noah don't think it is a good idea, either. He'd like to take her in April or May, or in the fall at the latest.  Callie suggested 2 weeks and 4 days to cover travel time, and not  before October, which is her birthday month.   He said "She'll be fine" and when I said, "What about me?" he said, "You'll be fine, too."  But I don't think so. I don't think she has gone more than 24 hours without seeing me.  How would he feel to not see her for a month?

I think Grandparents are tremendously important.  I don't want to keep them apart. I just feel that Dilara is a little too young. I also worry that she may not come back. This is going to be a problem, I think. I expect that I'll hold him off till the fall, when Dilara will be 3. I still think a month will be too long, and I think he should teach her at least "survival" Turkish so she can communicate her needs if he's not right there to translate.

Well, I stayed in bed till 11 this morning and went to bed by 8 last night. Was SOOO tired last night.  I dropped Dilara off with her Dad around 6. Fixed the older kids something and then went to bed.  It seems like I read an article lately that mentioned "sleeping in" once a week as being good for the adrenal glands.   I don't know if I believe it.  I tend to think a regular schedule is healthy.  Maybe the article meant it was good if during the week, you don't get enough sleep.  I have had one or 2 migraine attacks every day for 4 days.  I need to stock up on Coke and Excedrin and take that before the Imitrex.  As I am still breastfeeding, I don't want too much Imitrex in my system.

I feel pretty wiped out today, but I need to go buy groceries and take Callie and Noah to their Dad's to put away Christmas decorations. I really need to force myself to walk a little, too. I need to get a exercise habit established.

I am writing down all my expenditures.  See how long that lasts... I need to pay my bills today. I really like the Living on a Dime website and I have gotten a lot of good ideas from the ebooks.  They are having a sale till Jan. 10 on a collection of books on a variety of topics.  Not all of them were of interest to me, but it was a package deal and I think it's worth the $13 http://www.livingonadime.com/go.php?offer=calnodi03&pid=16&tid=calnodi03 
 and the Penny Pinchin Mama book is good, too: http://www.livingonadime.com/go.php?offer=calnodi03&pid=23&tid=calnodi03 

I think one HUGE area I have for improvement is cutting down waste when it comes to food. Waste not, want not. i cringe to think of how much food we throw away.  Forget the starving children in China....are WE going to have grocery money left at the end of the month if we don't improve?  Noah likes the crust cut off his sandwiches and I usually compost the crusts...why? One of the LOAD ("Living On A Dime) suggestions (in the ''Kid's Cents'' e-book included in the sale collection above) was to save them and of course, I can freeze them and use them for bread crumbs.  I was glad Tawra gave "permission" to cut the crusts off.  I think it is LESS waste that way. 

There are many SAHMs at my church and  I hope it can stay that way.  I know of other mothers who would LOVE to stay home with their kids. But it can be so hard financially.

I still have to figure this blog thing out.  i accidentally deleted my first post.  There I had I mentioned how the LOAD mother/daughter team of writers struggled with Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia, just like me. They even have a page on their website about it. www.livingonadime.com  The LOAD site and www.hillbillyhousewife.com  are both on my favorites as they cover lots of things that apply to me in my work at home, trying to take care of family, good stewardship, etc.

I think I am in the mood for my Tuna Casserole I invented a week or so ago.  I hope I can have a page somewhere here to put favorite recipes on.

It was suggested to me that I start a blog.  What would I blog about?  Who would read it? Would I have anything to say that would be of interest to anyone?  If nothing else, writing is therapeutic.

Who am I? I'm a mother.  I'm a Christian. I used to be a wife, and I hope someday I will be that again. I am in my 40's and wish I could turn back the clock.. My youngest child is a preschooler and my eldest is a teenager. I am interested in making my life better.  I need to lose weight, I need to be more organized and to declutter my house.  I need to get into a better spot financially. I need cope better with recurring depression and aching loneliness.  I need to stimulate my young child's development and encourage my older children in their studies and help them to develop good habits. I need to stay in God's Word and build a stronger prayer life. 

I have been unable to work much for several years.  I suffer from Fibromyalgia with Chronic Fatigue.  I get frequent migraines and I have ADD. My thoughts, my life, my enviroment seem to be in total chaos and I long for order and peace. 

I enjoy spending time with my kids, gardening, cooking, and I have other interests, but seem to have too little time and energy, I don't expect  to change my life in 2011, but I am hoping to see significant improvement in every area.  I hope that in sharing I may encourage others, and also give others the opportunity to encourage me.

I haven't gotten this blog thing figured out, but I'm having fun in the process!