December?

Remember all of my well-laid December plans?
Of cookie making and shopping and present wrapping?
I haven't got any of it done.
Because I suck.
Bleh.
I am mad at me.

Maddy's Other Life

So the other day I took Maddy with me to the store. This is how it went:

[in parking lot]

Girl I Don't Recognize: "Hi Maddy!"
Maddy: "Hi!"
Me, when she's out of earshot: "Maddy, who was that?"
Maddy: "Oh, a girl that goes to my school. She's not in any of my classes, though."

[in produce section]

Boy I Don't Recognize: "Hi Maddy!"
Maddy: "Hi!"
Me, when he's out of earshot: "Who was that?"
Maddy: "Oh, a boy that goes to my school."
Me: "Is he in your classes?"
Maddy: "No, but I see him in the hallway."

[two minutes later]

Woman I Don't Recognize: "Hi Maddy!"
Maddy: "Hi!"
Me, when she's out of earshot: "Maddy, who was that?"
Maddy: "Oh, that's Mrs. So and So, she teaches Senior history."
Me: !!

This continued on throughout the store two more times. It was like grocery shopping with some sort of celebrity, I tell you.

I am intrigued at this other life she leads, where she seems to know every single person in the universe.

For the record: I did not see a single person I knew at the store.

Heartbroken

Sweet baby Mandy Grace went to be with Jesus yesterday afternoon. I am heartbroken for my friend. Please keep Carrie, her husband, Don and their kids, Gabby, Moses and Melody in your prayers.

Mandy Grace Update from Carrie

Day 19, Our baby has Trisomy 18. An extra chromosome. Three of the #18 chromosome instead of two. Well, so what? Sounds pretty benign. doesn't it? After all, we have what, 46 all together? What's one extra chromosome among friends? Well, it turns out that one little #18 chromosome has more power than all the others put together. It is a tiny tornado, packing a destructive force stronger than life itself. Each day is borrowed from here on out. Today we are going to try out our car seat in the house to see if we may be strong enough to travel... Possibly to Church and Thank Everyone in Person for Praying for Us!

Q & A with Elek, Age 3 1/2

1. How old are you?
3

2. What makes you happy?

You do, Mama

3. What is your favorite animal?

My cow, Herbie. (he has an imaginary pet cow)

4. What is your favorite thing to eat?

McDonald's Fruit Salad

5. What is your least favorite thing to eat?

Boogers

6. What is your favorite thing to do?

Exercise and Eat

7. What is your favorite TV show?

Peppa Pig (Peppa is a British pig. Elek now asks for pounds intsead of dollars, calls me mummy on occasion, and told me to turn on the telly.)

8. What are you really good at?

Building towers with my blocks.

9. What is your favorite movie?

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs

10. What is your favorite song?

ABC's and Jesus Loves Me

11. What is your favorite color?

Red

12. Who is your best friend?

Xavier

13. What do you and mom do together?

Clean up my mess. (I think I do the majority of the cleaning up, he pretty much only makes the mess.)

14. What do you and dad do together?

Wash clothes (Michael does help with the laundry often)

15. What is your favorite sport?

Skateboarding (his brother may be a slight influence)

16. Where is your favorite place to go?

The corn maze (he has never been to a corn maze, but has been bugging to go for several days. he wants to run around it "like a mouse".)

17. What is your favorite book?

Little Red Riding Hood

18. What do you want to be when you grow up?

A chef

Update from Carrie, Mandy Grace's Mom

Praise the Lord Day 8 has arrived and we are all still in good spirits! Baby was cold last night and gave me a scare but this morning warm, cuddly and eating! We met our hospice nurse for the first time yesterday. Mandy was all dolled up bow and all. Lungs were clear of fluid and she looked good! Mat 21:22 — And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive....

Mandy Grace

Was reminded this morning how truly blessed I am. My heart is broken to learn of my friend, Carrie, had her sweet baby girl, Mandy Grace...she was born with trisomy 18 which doesn't have a very long life span...usually 10 days. Right now they are at home enjoying each day with their miracle....Please, please, keep them in your prayers and that they have many days with her.

My New Favorite Quote

"Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.
Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag. She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.
She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.
Buy her another cup of coffee.
Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.
It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by God, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.
She has to give it a shot somehow.
Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.
Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.
Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.
If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.
You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.
You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.
Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.
Or better yet, date a girl who writes." --Rosemary Urquico

Pinspiration - Wordy

So I'm totally addicted to the site Pinterest. It's one of my FAVORITE places to find inspiration. Thought today I'd post a few things I've "pinned" and maybe it will inspire you. If you have never heard of Pinterest before - you don't know what you're missing! Let me know and I can send you an invite and you can start pinning goodies, too!

Today I'm posting some word art that I love.

Break the wrist and walk away.

Do you remember that line from Napoleon Dynamite? I say it in my head every time I spend large amounts of time with my teenager. Every teenager has crazy good, if quite absurd, argumentative skills. They can walk you up and down, back and forth, till your dizzy in your head, with their theories, reasoning, evidence and debates. "Break the wrist and walk away," I tell myself. Which doesn't really involve any breakage of any wrists, just a quick cut and run. State your point (the wrist) and walk away. If you argue back, you might as well sit and get comfortable because it's going to be a long one. There is nothing like, "Because I said so", that terribly frustrating line we all said we'd never utter after hearing it ourselves years and years ago, but now come to learn it's the oasis in the middle of the stormy shore of adolescent.

Monday Musings

What's with Mick Jagger lately?
Not Mick himself, but other song writers,
writing about Mick Jagger. Weird.


I first noticed this in 2009's MUSH
(aka Mandatory Ubiquitous Summer Hit) Tik Tok by Ke$ha.


And now, the dudes are lining up
'Cause they hear we got swagger
But we kick em to the curb
Unless they look like Mick Jagger


I remember thinking....
"Hey Ke$ha. You DO know what Mick Jagger looks like...right?
No? Here's the object of your desire..."




I know, I know....That's not fair! Post a picture of Mick in his PRIME!
Okay...





Yeah...still not good.


But then...it struck again!
Imagine the humiliation of copying lyrics from the likes of Ke$ha...
her name has a dollar sign in it.
{shudder}


From The Time by Black Eyed Peas


All-all these girls, they like my swagger
They callin’ me Mick Jagger
I be rollin’ like a Stone
Jet-setter, jet-lagger


Is it possible they used it more stupidly than Ke$ha? Yep.


And NOW...the most baffling of all.
An entire song about Mick Jagger by Adam Levine
(of Maroon 5 and "super-hot guy" fame)

Don't need to try to control you
Look into my eyes and I'll own you
With them moves like jagger
I've got the moves like jagger
I've got the moves like jagger


I'm just sayin'. It's a weird trend.

Summer In My Ears

mom
mom
mom
mom
mom
can we
when do we
what time are we
why
why
why
why not
what are we
can you take me
are you going to
mom
mom
mom
mom
what's for breakfast
what's for lunch
what's for dinner
mom
mom
mom
why do i have to
why do you have to
why do they have to
why
why
why
mom
mom
mom..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What I Believe

As a mom, I am my child’s best advocate. Who loves them more? Who knows them more? No teacher, no doctor, no friend, no one else. As they get older, the advocating needs to be handed off to them…but when they are young, I will be the one to trust my gut. Mother's intuition is a gift that comes along with that baby. I’ve learned to never doubt mine-even if it makes me uncomfortable, even if it makes others uncomfortable, even if it makes me unpopular, even if it makes me the odd ball out.

Being Present

This little quotation is a reminder to us all I think. It is a call to slow down, it is a call to log off, it is a call to leave that cell phone unanswered, to STOP and listen to our children, to be PRESENT. When we are not distracted all day long, we have the ability to be engaged with our families. When we are engaged with our families, we are more calm and centered and tuned in to our children. Our children feel worthy of our attention and love. And that's the feeling they will carry with them into adulthood, and never forget.

Wallowing

Forgive me if I don't answer my phone for the rest of the day. The phone calls I have received so far this morning have been such that I am not willing to risk answering another one. Because, really, what are the chances of it being someone with good news or kind words? Slim today. {Plus I have caller ID, so if you're friendly I'll call you back. . . . tomorrow. You wouldn't want to talk to me now anyway.} It's just one of those days. I'm completely overwhelmed with the circumstances of my life and I don't want to see or talk to anyone. I know it's ridiculous -- my life is pretty simple compared to most -- but sometimes I just really wish I lived by myself in a cave where no one wanted or expected anything from me. So I could wallow without feeling guilty. I'll be back tomorrow with a bright new outlook. Promise.

Today

Memorandum

To: All Household Team Members

From: Mom (CFO, Senior VP, Head of Maintenance)

Subject: Kitchen usage during Summer schedule

As I'm sure you are aware, due to our current summer schedule the staff kitchen is seeing much heavier traffic than usual. I feel it is necessary at this time to remind all crew members of the guidelines regarding kitchen usage.

1. The kitchen appliances (other than refrigerator} should only be used during designated meal times.

2. Designated (and reasonable) meal times, as determined by the management are as follows: Breakfast: 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. (to accommodate for differences in shift starting times.) Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Dinner: 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

3. Please try to coordinate your meals with your team members. (eg. if you would like to make macaroni and cheese, you might ask everyone else if they would like to share a box with you.) This will eliminate food waste, decrease water consumption, and alleviate dish pile-up in the sink.

4. Dishes used during meal preparation should be rinsed out and placed in the sink for further cleaning. Please do not leave dishes anywhere other than the sink. The desk, coffee table, arm of the couch and counter tops in any room are not "close enough" to the sink to count.

5. Likewise, the phrase "I'll get that in just one minute" should not be used as it relates to removal of dishes from aforementioned locations. A DVR has been provided for your convenience, therefore waiting for a commercial to rinse dishes should be unnecessary.

6. Furthermore, if you allow the dog to lick the remnants of food off of your dishes, the dishes are neither a) clean nor b) the dog's responsibility. You must still return these dishes to the sink for further cleaning.

7. If you are hungry at times other than designated meal times, you will find prepackaged snacks in the pantry. Perhaps you would also occasionally consider the fruit bin in the refrigerator as a reasonable source for snacks.

8. As dinner is often provided by the management at no cost to you, please check with the manager on duty before consuming anything after 4:00 p.m. to be advised of dinner's ETA.


Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. I feel that following these guidelines will result in a much happier and more pleasant workplace for all involved.

Never.

“I will not leave you comfortless:
I will come to you.”
John 14:18


I'll never grow tired of reading that.
Never.

Ten on Tuesday

1. I started this post 15 minutes and have yet to come up with 1 thing, 10 should be near impossible.

2. Summer vacation started on Thursday and I have yet to sleep later than 6:30. Boo!

3. Maddy has 7 softball games this week. One yesterday, one today, one tomorrow, one Friday and 3 Saturday. Add to that practice, All-Star practice and cheer practice and you've got a very busy girl (and mom!).

4. Elek has had it with softball games.

5. I want to redecorate my house. Especially my bedroom. This is not a good thing. We've only lived here 16 months and nothing really needs to be redone. I just get bored with things.

6. I'm addicted to the Clorox Bleach Pen.

7. 15 more minutes have elapsed.

8. I got my replacement Kindle yesterday. So happy. I never want to go 3 weeks without a Kindle again.

9. I really want an iPhone. Not getting one any time soon, but want one.

10. Watching "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant" on TLC. I find this show nutty because seriously, how do you not know you are pregnant?

This I Know

I know that I can learn something from every person.


I know that time heals wounds.


I know that the process of creating makes me feel deeply happy and close to God.


I know that we each have something important to do on this earth and I get excited when I feel like I'm figuring mine out.


I know that patience is one of the most divine qualities and I'm definitely still working on it.

I know that laughter makes everything more bearable.


I know I sleep well when I've accomplished a lot in a day.


I know that I shouldn't keep score.


I know that helping others is an important part of life.


I know I need to care less about what others think.


I know that each year of my life will pass faster than the one before.


I know that Madison, Ian and Elek were supposed to be mine.


I know that marrying Michael was not only the right decision, but a privilege.


I know that I can change.


I know that all I have comes from the Lord and He's pleased when I share it.

Ten on Tuesday

1. It feels like I just posted yesterday, but nope, it was 2 weeks ago. Oops!

2. We have Maddy's honors banquet tonight. That means I actually have to change out of the yoga pants (no, I don't do yoga.) I am currently wearing. And I have to put on make-up.

3. It's way too hot outside. Please bring back Spring.

4. I need to go grocery shopping.

5. Elek is currently watching Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs for the 127,403 time and he's naked.

6. I really need a vacation.

7. I have lots of new ideas for shirts for Elek. Made his Fourth of July shirt the other day. I wish my oldest 2 would wear shirts that I make for them, but no, they they claim that they are too old for that.

8. My Kindle got stepped on a few nights ago. By the biggest foot in the house. The Kindle is dead now. :( I feel lost without it.

9. Thought I was going to go all Hungarian on someone last night, but thankfully 30 minutes if Pinterest time made me feel lots better.

10. Can you believe this post doesn't have a single photo in it?

Ten on Tuesday

1. I have spent numerous hours the past few days looking at recipes online. I am quite sick of everything I make. I need something new. The only problem is the people I live with are crazy picky and pretty much refuse to try anything new. Sigh.

2. I my search of new recipes I discovered this website. My Recipes Online. Love that there is somewhere online that I can store my recipes.

3. You would think that with all my recipe searching I would have made something fabulous for dinner tonight. Wrong! We had a store made pizza that I just threw in the oven.

4. I have decided that I have a slight obsessive personality. About a month ago I decided rather than paying $20 for a personlized t-shirt for Elek on Etsy that I could just make him one myself. I have now made 20+ shirts.


5. Elek is finally completely potty trained! Praise the Lord!

6. I can't wait until school is out and we can sleep in. Also, I am tired of driving for an hour in the morning driving people to school.

7. It's 10:19 p.m. and Elek is still awake. Someone had a late nap.

8. Ian came in from skateboarding earlier and was holding his hand and tearing up. I almost passed out. He just got his cast off last week and does not need another one. Thankfully it was just scratched up.

9. I need something new to read. Any suggestions?

10. My porch light keeps flickering and it's slightly freaking me out.

The End.

Heartsy

Have you heard of Heartsy? I’m so excited about this adorable new site.

If you like Etsy and you like deal sites like Groupon (both are weaknesses of mine), then Heartsy is for you!

Heartsy is a site that only offered handmade Etsy vendor deals (though the site is not affiliated with Etsy). Deals are at least 50% off and are often in the $7-$20 range!

When you sign up with my referral link, you should get an automatic $5 credit in your account.

And when you refer others and they purchase a deal, you get $5 in your account! I signed up yesterday and immediately got my $5 credit.


So go sign up for Heartsy!

No one else will ever know

the strength of my love for you.

After all, you're the only ones who know

what my heart sounds like from the inside.

Moms

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house..
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did Mom need to know about Dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your Mom marry your Dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms WORK AT WORK AND WORK AT HOME and
Dads JUST GO TO WORK AT WORK.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your Mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd dye it, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.


Have a blessed Mother's Day!

Wordless Wednesday

Life Lesson For My Daughter

To my daughter:
One doesn't like to generalize about any group of people, but here's the deal. You have to play a bit hard to get when dating boys. I know, I know...you don't want to play games. But it's not really a game. Yes, it's stupid and childish, but it's instinct.

(this is my dream man, jared leto)

Men can't go hunt buffalo for us anymore while we guard the cave. But they want to hunt. Deep down, they need to hunt. And sadly, the only area in their lives where this is still a possibility is on the dating scene*.

Sure, it's silly and immature and kind of lame. But I think you'll find that, before you find the right one, you'll date plenty of boys that are silly, immature and kind of lame.

So, when it's time to date, just play it cool. Not freezing. Just cool. They'll want you more. I promise.

P.S. Daddy is going to try and tell you this advice is wrong. That he wasn't like this (he was). That lots of boys are not hunters (they are) and that boys don't play relationship games (they do). Don't listen to him. Listen to me.

*unless they actually hunt. Like deer and elk and stuff. With guns.

The Curve on Cursive

Help! Am I the only one who feels the country is on the slippery slide to Hell? Case in point, read this, as reported by ABC News:

"Forty-one states have so far adopted the new Common Core State Standards for English, which does not require cursive. Set by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governors Association (NGA), the standards provide a general framework for what students are expected to learn before college.

States are allowed the option of re-including cursive if they so choose, which is what Massachusetts and California have done.

But the latest to contemplate abandoning the script is Georgia, where teachers and administrators will meet in March to discuss erasing the longhand style from its lesson plans, says Georgia Department of Education spokesman Matt Cardoza.

The argument is that cursive is time-consuming and not as useful as the keyboard skills students will need as they move on to junior high and high school."

In the musical "Bye Bye Birdie" there is a song titled, "What's the Matter with Kids Today?". I guess it could be sung throughout the centuries for every generation. No cursive writing? Who will be able to sign their own name? Text. Texting. Sexting. All it takes is two thumbs and a lowered understanding of the English language. Spelling? Oooops, who needs that? Where U At? Dear God, what is happening in the world?

Do teachers not remember what cursive teaches us beyond just a writing style? Neatness, concentration, control over motor skills, and maybe even an appreciation for art, beauty, and vision? Since it opens the way to drawing, painting, and many other forms of hand-eye visual coordination, how can we cheat (cripple!) future generations by leaving out this important feature of their education? Maybe I am a little crazy about this, but I honestly remember drawing my first butterfly in the margins of my First Grade writing exercises.

I guess kids today will have to learn to draw with their thumbs on a tiny keyboard. Good luck.

Not Me Monday

It's been quite some time since I've done a Not Me Monday so I thought I'd do one today.


It wasn't my son who fell off his skateboard, whined for minute and went on his way skating with his friend for the next 3 hours. He didn't then come home and say that his hand wasn't hurting pretty bad. I didn't look at it and decide that we didn't need to go to the ER. He didn't have to have x-rays and the doctor didn't say his finger wasn't broken. The break isn't very close to the hand and he doesn't have an appointment with the pediatrician today.


It isn't me who knows more about Thomas the Tank Engine than I ever thought I would know. I don't have to watch it everyday and have to build tracks.


It's not my 14 year old daughter who was "asked out" by a boy she likes, but told him no because she thought they were too young for a relationship. She didn't say that she likes her life the way it is and doesn't need to deal with a boy. I am not unbelievably proud of her. Her dad isn't thrilled too.

Tap-Tap-Tap

Is this thing on?

He

...is really into not wearing clothes. i believe i am raising a future nudist. he goes into his bedroom with clothes on and most of the time comes out with them off. the other day i told him "let's get some clothes on" and he quickly replied "let's get our naked on".

...is totally obsessed with thomas the tank engine. i've been teaching him our address and he remembers the numbers by saying james, gordon and toby. james is the #5 engine, gordon is 4 and toby is 7.

...recognizes all his letter and number up to 100. he knows the sounds that half the letters make. can spell the words book, elek, mama, daddy, hello, spell and joy rd. he knows how to spell joy rd. because it is painted in ne of the hallways at church. he also can add some. one day he came up to me and said "1+1=2, 2+1=3, 3+1=4, 4+5=9, 9+5=14, 14+10=24, 5+5=10." i have no idea how he knows this. it's kind of amazing that my 3 year old knows this stuff.

...has a crazy imagination. last night i was trying to get him in bed and he was too busy being a baby bird flying out of his nest (his bed). everyday, he is a different animal. today he's raccoon who likes to bite toes.

...is loved beyond words. i cannot imagine my life without him. so glad that four years ago when i thought i was done having kids, God knew otherwise.

Freckles and stripes, speckles and spots.
The nicest of creatures love polka dots.
Look at the leopard, the ladybug too,
and any zebra you see in the zoo.
The dappled giraffe stands on delicate legs.
And thrushes and swallows lay speckled eggs.
Nature is fondest of stripes, spots and speckles
and that is the reason I don't mind my freckles.

It's Heaven to be Eleven

Eleven years ago today Ian was born.

It was a freezing cold day in Garden City, Michigan but with only 3 pushes he was out and ready to face the world.

It was 4:47 AM and he was 20 1/2 inches long. (I'm not sure of the actual weight because I'm pretty sure the hospital got it wrong. They claimed he was 8 lbs. 2 oz., but when I took him to the pediatrician 8 days later he was 10 lbs. 10 oz. No way did he gain that much weight that quickly!)


I remember him looking me right in eyes and knowing he was going to do great things.

He's shy, and unsure of himself at times, knows what he wants, has quite the temper, and is not afraid to try anything (unless it's socially), he will jump off things, fly down the street on his skateboard and climb onto the garage roof. (Ask me about all his injuries some time.) But he teaches me everyday what it really means to love.

Happy Birthday Ian Thomas!

I love you.

I'm proud of you.

I'm so glad I'm your mom.

love this

i think...

i need a mani and pedi.

i need to clean up the mess that elek just made in the floor.

we're having meatballs for dinner.

a nap sounds amazing.

i am enjoying the rain outside my window.

i love wi-fi internet.

i especially love netflix through the wii.

my desk looks like a bomb went off on it.

i am so glad to be home.

i have quite an awesome life.

i wouldn't trade it for anything.

coming to you live from detroit metro airport

i was told by delta to arrive 2 hours early. going through security took 5 whole minutes. i have now been sitting here for over an hour. thankful for my kindle. i am blogging from it now. sitting next to a woman from clarksville, tennessee which is only 30 minutes from my granny. found that cool. i suppose that's about all i've got for now. somewhat nervous. it's my first flight. glad it's only a 90 minutes long. would appreciate some prayers.

14 Year Pics

14

She is now 14. The baby who taught me what love was...what love is. The kind of love that makes you willing to lay down and die or stand up and live. She is that for me. The first baby that grew in my belly. She is, the startling curly head who forced me to wear my heart on the outside. She is love. She is beauty. She is peace.


Fourteen is hitting me harder than 13 did. I have four years before she spreads her blessed wings. I have so much I want to share with her, to teach her, to learn from her. It certainly causes me to stop and think about how fast that time will go... four short years. It makes me want to hide away from all the other things, to shut out the world and just enjoy her, enjoy them all.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - Turkey Cheeseburgers and Potato Wedges

Tuesday - 3 Envelope Roast with Mashed Potatoes

Wednesday - Chicken Tostadas and Spanish Rice

Thursday - Lasagna

Friday - Celebrating Xavier and Michael's birthdays

Saturday - Beef Stew

Sunday - Eating Out after church

How To Care For Introverts

* Respect their need for privacy.

* Never embarrass them in public.

* Let them observe first in new situations.

* Give them time to think. Don't demand instant answers.

* Don't interrupt them.

* Give them advance notice of expected changes in their lives.

* Give them 15 minute warnings to finish whatever they are doing before calling them to dinner or moving on to the next activity.

* Reprimand them privately.

* Teach them new skills privately rather than in public.

*Enable them to find one best friend who has similar interests and abilities; encourage this friendship even if the friend moves away.

*Do not push them to make lots of friends.

* Respect their introversion. Don't try to remake them into extroverts.

You Know Your Daughter May Have A Perfume Addiction If

...after you wash and dry her clothes and are folding them you can still smell perfume on them.

I give myself permission to..

1. Be real.
2. Trust myself.
3. Communicate deeper.
4. Clear out the distractions.
5. Seek deeper spiritually.
6. Dress funky and make sure every piece of clothing I own, I love.
7. Finish things and let myself succeed.
8. Stop believing lies and seek the truth.
9. Find my own groove in the hoop.
10. Seek out nature and calm places.
11. Let others love me.

Do You Love Photos? Watch This...

This 10 minute documentary is captivating. It is about a photographer from the fifties to nineties that was just discovered...




Her photos are AMAZING. I'm so inspired.

Worth every minute.

being honest

I know it's real because I can feel it.

It's painful. It's heavy. It drowns out the sunlight.

I recognize when it's happening.

Engraved deep in my mind are feelings of unworthiness. I don't believe that that I am good at anything or worthy of much- including love, friendship or success. I'm the outcast, the stupid girl who didn't finish college, who is too bogged down with fears and insecurities to ever amount to anything.

Most days I can fight those feelings, but on days like today- I can't. I can't fight them.

So, I get quiet. I isolate myself. I get angry. I get sad. I get sleepy. I cry.

I allow myself to sit with the pain and loneliness, hoping that tomorrow it gets better. It almost always gets better.

An Erma Bombeck Column

A young mother writes: "I know you've written before about the empty-nest syndrome -- that lonely period after the children are grown and gone. Right now, I'm up to my eyeballs in laundry and muddy boots. The baby is teething; the boys are fighting. My husband just called and said to eat without him, and I fell off my diet. Lay it on me again, will you?"

OK.
One of these days, you'll shout, "Why don't you kids grow up and act your age!"
And they will.


Or, "You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do ... and don't slam the door!"
And they won't.


You'll straighten up the boys' bedroom neat and tidy -- bumper stickers discarded, bedspread tucked and smooth, toys displayed on the shelves. Hangers in the closet. Animals caged. And you'll say out loud, "Now I want it to stay this way."
And it will.


You'll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces in the icing, and you'll say, "Now, there's a meal for company."
And you'll eat it alone.


You'll say: "I want complete privacy on the phone. No dancing around. No demolition crews. Silence! Do you hear?" And you'll have it.


No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti.
No more bedspreads to protect the sofa from damp bottoms.
No more gates to stumble over at the top of the basement steps.
No more clothespins under the sofa.
No more playpens to arrange a room around.


No more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent.
No more sand on the sheets or Popeye movies in the bathrooms.
No more iron-on patches, wet, knotted shoestrings, tight boots, or rubber bands for ponytails.


Imagine. A lipstick with a point on it. No baby sitter for New Year's Eve. Washing only once a week. Seeing a steak that isn't ground. Having your teeth cleaned without a baby on your lap.


No PTA meetings.
No car pools.
No blaring radios.
No one washing her hair at 11 o'clock at night.
Having your own roll of Scotch tape.


Think about it. No more Christmas presents out of toothpicks and library paste.
No more sloppy oatmeal kisses.
No more tooth fairy.
No giggles in the dark.
No knees to heal, no responsibility.


Only a voice crying, "Why don't you grow up?"


and the silence echoing, "I did."