Eek.

Posted on by JustAskMaia

Yaaay me, I made it through day three! Today was a piece of cake, even though I was hungry a little, I managed to make it through…wait, I bit a chicken nugget. Oh, God! I will see a five pound increase on the scale in the morning. I am not like normal people who can eat and not worry about it but even worse, if I so much as LOOK at a cheese burger I feel the added pounds instantly. Pray for me you guys. I am determined to  make it through this thing. It is no longer about a detox or shedding weight, for me it is about proving to myself that I can do something for myself. I give so much to other people that I misplace myself. By the time I find me I have to be dusted off and reaffirmed. I am too old to continue to put myself to the back burner. I am taking baby steps to live the words I pass on to my clients. I. Am. Worth. It.

In other iRush news, I am planning my New Years black and white tie event and I have put out a post that i needed an event planner because I have too much going on to pick up a project like this entirely and let me tell you, These people and their customer service skills are so ridiculous. I actually taught a few classes in customer service etiquette and most of these people need it. It seems as though I will end up doing it myself because not only are the people skills lacking but the prices are ridiculous. You cannot charge a small business the same amount you would charge a major company that has made the Forbes list four times, DUH. If you feel like you can, good for you, do not undercut yourself, however do not be nasty and negative when I have to say i will pass because I do not want to pay $97,00 for a dinner event. I declare.

In happier news, My children are doing very well in their academics. I am going to call the schools tomorrow though and get them screened because I want to be sure they are on the excelling track. Please, if you even think that you can home school your children, I implore you to. I know it seems like I go on daily with business as usual without bringing up the issues like my people being gunned down and stories being fabricated in order to criminalize them instead of just saying you made a mistake. It is senseless and I am not only hurting, I am also keeping my love ones in my sight at all times. I have a loving husband who does not do drugs, smoke, or even cuss/curse whom has never been in any trouble besides a speeding ticket for going 35 in a 30. In addition I have a soon-to-be 16 year old boy who is finding himself as a young man but also has no criminal record, honor student, and is awesome at avoiding peer pressure, but I also have five other sons and three daughters who I am teaching to be respectful yet wise. I see it, I hear it, I feel it. I just refuse to capitalize on it by turning my blog into an opinionated banter of back and forth between myself and followers. Its pointless and arguing will solve nothing. I will say I pray for you guys every night and I pray that you are returning the favor.

-Rush
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Family vacation my FOOT!

Posted on by JustAskMaia

So I have been off of here for a few days and there is so much that I would like to share with you guys, my thoughts, interactions, and goings-ons, that I am going to have to post a few blogs tonight just to catch up.

Let us start with this “family vacation” we have recently gone on……..

I do not even know where to start but let me first say that whoever came up with the term FAMILY vacation was obviously delusional in every aspect of the matter. At no point during our trip to Myrtle Beach did I feel or have the remote inkling that I was on vacation. There was nothing that I did that said vacation. I will admit though that everything said, family.

We were blessed to be able to get a room for a very reasonable rate that had a kitchenette in it. There was a pool right outside our door and the beach was like a 45 second walk. The customer service was awesome. The keep was exceptionally pleasant and I even messed up a plate and they did not charge me for it (mostly due to the fact that I was honest and brought it to their attention first). The best part is they were a family and couples only hotel which meant everyone was civilized and respectful of one another. The best part was they never one time turned their noses up or turned us down once they found out that we have 9 children; this is especially a rarity for us when we travel.

Now, the trip. While I felt very extended while away because i was not only doing the same everyday things that I do at home, I had to do them in tighter living quarters and if you know me you would know that I hate clutter and cluttered situations but I digress for the good of the trip. I still had to get up and cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I still taught school and created daily lessons, I still worked for one of my clients (which I will not do ever again), and I still had to pack, unpack, and clean. This has brought me to the sad conclusion that no matter where I am I will always be slave, er, I mean mom.

My children are spoiled to the max and I am okay with that sometimes; on vacation is NOT one of those times.

I am just whining. Although I still felt like the nanny-cook-housekeeper-slave, the smiles and enjoyment from my children makes it all worth it. We went to the beach that my children beg to go to all the time but when we get there, they remember that they are deathly afraid of the water. The laughter I get from that alone makes the trip worthwhile. Lol. Likewise with the pool. Sai almost drowned in 3 feet even though he is 4 foot 2 inches tall. I laughed so hard at his dramatics that I almost forgot to save him (so his brother jumped in to do it). I kept yelling stand up but he was too busy being dramatic. And before you flood me with the fact that it is possible for him to drown in three feet while being over four feet tall, yes, I am well aware of that but if you knew Sai you would totally see why it was funny.

In the end (and even some parts of during) I did thoroughly enjoy the trip <—— (notice I didn’t say vacation). It was fun plus I got to hit some cool Thrift Stores on the way home.

 

-Rush

Maia is tired. Maia is overwhelmed.. Don’t be like Maia.

Posted on by JustAskMaia

Hello, my loves. Let me first start off by apologizing for my lack of blogging. It’s not that I don’t post because I have nothing to post rather it’s really the opposite. I cannot describe how full my life is. Well, I probably can but I am too full of procrastination to do better. See, the thing is, I am honestly not sure if it is because I procrastinate, which by the way I swear is generational curse, or whether it’s because I am so overwhelmed that I just do not feel like it. Maybe it’s a little of both but I cannot rid myself of the nagging feeling that I could do better.

 

While I have a ton of things to update you on, I will contain myself to talk to you about an important lesson I seem to keep learning over and over again. Don’t spread yourself thin. Although you may have the strongest heart’s desire to do so, you cannot help everyone.

 

Last night I posted a fraction of what my family went through and why we now do what we do with Rush Consulting Firm. It stated as follows:

 

“In 2012 I lost my job and my husband had already lost his. We became homeless and living in our car. Everywhere we went no one could or was willing to help us, including the church we went to. It was hard. We slept in our truck with our children (4 of them at the time). We washed at gas stations and fast food restaurants. We would get out early to labor pools just so we could pay the car note (our current HOME note) about once a week we would be able to check into a hotel to thoroughly wash and get a decent night’s sleep. No charities, No churches would help because we were a big family and they had no resources or room for us. We applied for government assistance but could not get it because we did not have an address. That is how Rush Consulting Firm was born, initially a resource and research business for the less fortunate it turned into a full time business with an array of services. Our most important goal still to this day is helping people because we have been there. We are sincere in everything we do because we believe we were not meant to struggle and if each one of us would just reach out and lend a hand, we wouldn’t. We start with us and hope everyone we help will pass it on.”

 

My intent was to post so people know that we have been where they are and teach them how to press forward and use their experience as a mountain of hope to others and while I am sure it came across to many that way, it also was taken as an offer of assistance to those whom have found themselves in our once similar position. And though I have no financial means or initial intentions what-so-ever to aid or assist anyone, only a fool would turn a blind eye to what could easily be a nightmare to my sister or brother.

 

The strings on my heart hang very low so are easily tugged. I used to hate it because people know I will do all I can to help someone, anyone. I have learned over the years not to hate the woman that God has made me to be, sensitivity and all. I over extend myself often. I put more on my shoulders than I am able to carry. I cry when I see someone in pain. I grind my teeth at injustice. Yet, I oftentimes find myself standing alone in my troubles and drowning in my fears feeling as though no one understands and I think to myself, that is probably how these people feel. I can’t help but to fantasize about helping every single person who comes across my path. But how can I? That’s easy, one person at a time; one sleepless night at a time. I cannot do it all but I will continue to try.

 

I will not sit here and tell you that is that hard because it isn’t; all it takes is a made up mind and a lot of dedication. I have that. I also will not say it is that easy because it surely is not.