Klepetko Book of Virture - Table of Contents

The Klepetko Family Book of ... Virtue, Character, Etiquette

Our Table
Social Interactions
Work Ethic
Being/Making Friends
Respect for Authority
Being a Disciple of Christ
Being/Choosing a Spouse
The Seasons of Life
Cherishing Extended Family
Being Authentically You
Meal Planning
Hospitality
Maintaining a Home
Managing your Money
Keeping the Fun in Family
Your Many Roles (Mother, Father, Daughter, etc.)
Relationship Skills (Boundaries, Taking Responsibility, Forgiveness, etc)
Life Goals for our Children
Education
Career
Addiction

Mean Girls

Tell me, tell me what did she say about me.  I just need to know.  I know she is talking bad about me. It's not like I'm going to hurt her.  Your not going to tell me?  Your mom says that would be gossip?  Well I'm just trying to warn you.  She can't be trusted.

My ten year old says all the girls are like this.  What's a mom to do?  I've instructed her not to listen or spread gossip.  If someone wants to talk badly about someone to her they better be ready to confront the situation with that person.  My daughter might be friendless today because of it.  She may be surrounded by whispers, finger pointing and stares.  She could have gone with the flow by giving the information the girl wanted.

My daughter is sweet, emotional, and avoids conflict like the plague.  Laugh it off, change the subject but if they are stronger than you don't make waves.  She can give the what for to her little brothers and the dog but that's about it.  Get a back bone we say.  Stand up for yourself.  The whole family ready to jump in and rescue our sweet little flower from being trampled on.  Yet coach from the sidelines I did.  Praying, hoping that we can teach this girl some courage.  Praying, hoping just one kind girl will invite her to their lunch table.  Yet telling her it is better to sit alone than to succumb to the whim of everyone.

Game Truck Party Mom

Game Truck, Game Truck oh how will you be.  A place of wonder and delight to me.  Games for the children and tranquility for me.  A parties entertainment you see.  Years upon years you have satisfied my guests.  Sticky cup cake hands all around me.  Game truck, game truck you will always be.  My friend my ally you are to me.  That coach, that coach how does he do it.  Screaming, chaos, a whirling derby to me.  Yet in they go one by one.  It amazes me.  He smiles and laughs and the chaos exits me.  My head I poke in and dare to see all my darlings playing peacefully.  Guns a blazing, Mario carts a racing, mind craft a building and Just Dance feet a dancing.  The fun they have on these games amazes me.  My darlings my darlings happy at last content with control in hand.  Now I can rest my guests and me.  Feet up as I gaze at a party well done.   Game Truck, Game Truck you have made a star out of me.

Zojirushi lunch

This is the best lunch box system my family has found.  My oldest and I wake at 5:30 to pack steaming lunches for all 5 kids.  This morning we made grilled cheese, tomato soup celery sticks and apple sauce.  The best part is working with my teen age girl to prepare all the food.  We are quite a team and with all her studies and clubs it is the only part of the day i am sure to see her.  Sure we are a bit tired and CRANKY but that just give opportunity to say we are sorry A LOT.  The best part is that all these containers are dish washer safe and keep the food hot.  We had tried regular thermos but the food tumbles around and turns it into a pile of mush by lunch.  Keeping the foods separate seems to be the key. 

Today recipe:
Grilled Cheese
Tomato Soup
Celery
apple sauce

Snack for Twins:
snack bar
frozen tube yogurt

What to do with the leftovers from dinner

Tonight was breakfast.  I  got to try out grits for the 1st time.  Not a southern girl here.  Actually I had never had them till I was in my 20's on a road trip with my family.  Can't say I liked them then but they weren't to bad tonight.  Everyone at them.  Now they weren't as big a hit as my scramble with eggs, potatoes, cheese, green onion, ham and fresh spinach.  So I have leftovers grits.  What to do.  That's what I am all about.  Not going to through good food down the drain.  Not with 7 mouths to feed.  Thinking grit muffins, pancakes or maybe the waffle iron.  Been searching the internet for some ideas.  I am thinking that pancake grits is going to win.

God is For Us

How can it be that I can still loose faith from time to time?  Seeing an opportunity to take the reigns of my life into my own hands. Instead of rejoicing in the door that may be opened planning out the next 20 steps.  Creating a decision tree in my had.  If this happens I will do this and so on.

The Mind

The mind, the mind what a wonderful terrifying place to be.  Full of so many words.  Swirling about on a never ending comet.  Playing tricks on you, taunting you, drawing you away from your purpose.  How to train this unruly beast.  For it desires so many things.  It wants to be overshadowed with a blanket of tranquil feelings that invigorate, and stimulate the whole body.  Yet when such divine nectar is denied it ruminates, contemplates and wrings its  hands.  Planning, plotting and preparing for all that we are responsible for.  For pain and suffering must be avoided at all costs.  That is what my mind desires.  Keep everyone safe.  Keep everyone in check.  Yet my mind wars in the heavenlies over how this is to be done.  Self wants to pick up the pieces and take the problem on.  While faith is much more patient, deliberate and willing to wait out the storm.  Yet faith often leaves us in our tears, makes us feel what we are experiencing and gives us hope only for what is yet to come.  Self will produce results on the spot but they most often end in ruin where faith must pick up the pieces.  Where do faith and actions find each other on this road to wholeness?  My mind wishes to betray my faith so I must turn on another voice.  A voice that is not my own.  One of reason, hope and truth.  One that reminds me that God is for us and not against us.  One that gives me strength.  It is then that the word of God must be poured into my brain on IV drip.  Allowed to fortify, replenish and drive out self's quick fix.  Songs of worship must be upon my tongue,  My feet need to dance and my body, heart and soul must become one with the spirit of God in a supernatural dance that takes me out of self.  I will be victorious over the enemies of my soul,  I will believe that God is doing all he can and should do in my situation.  I will choose this day whom I will serve.  I will tie self to to cross and demand that she surrender her will over to the knowledge of God.  For without self fully surrendered to the mission of the body we go know where.  We but wage war within our mortal bodies.  God has so much more for us to do.  Souls to be won, joy to be felt, hope to be reborn and seen by all as a testimony of his divine plan.