If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.
Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Kohl's
I went to Kohl's yesterday to do a little holiday shopping, and while I was there I saw this Zillions brand Deluxe ATM. The sign above it read 10-65% off. I got all excited because just the day before, John had bought that very same Deluxe ATM machine for Madison at Target for $30. I wasn't close enough to it at Kohl's to see the price tag, but I just assumed that it would be the same price regularly as Target's and that it would be an extra percentage off of that. I get up to it and the price tag said that it is normally $59.99 and ON SALE it was $29.99... the same price that the thing sells for REGULARLY at Target. Grrrr. If someone didn't already know that, they would think they are getting a good deal.
It annoys me that they try to say that their products are "normally" one price when that price is WAY above the retail value of the product.
I noticed the same thing with their Imaginext brand dinosaur toys. At Wal-Mart the larger dinosaur sells for $28. At Kohl's the same dinosaur was "50% off" but they say that their normal retail price is $44.99.... making the dinosaur's sale price $24 and change.... a whole whopping $4 cheaper than Wal-Mart.
Their Little Mommy Sweet As Me Dolls were 50% off. "Normally" $39.99 "on sale" for $19.99. Wal-Mart sells the same doll for Kohl's "sale" price.
You really have to be careful when shopping there. They try to trick you like that into thinking that you are getting a bargain but you're really not. I bought my dad the game "The Last Word" there. They said that the regular retail price was $30 but that it was 50% off which made it $15. I thought I was getting a deal. Later I saw the same game at Wal-Mart for $14.99.
That gimmick annoys me.
It annoys me that they try to say that their products are "normally" one price when that price is WAY above the retail value of the product.
I noticed the same thing with their Imaginext brand dinosaur toys. At Wal-Mart the larger dinosaur sells for $28. At Kohl's the same dinosaur was "50% off" but they say that their normal retail price is $44.99.... making the dinosaur's sale price $24 and change.... a whole whopping $4 cheaper than Wal-Mart.
Their Little Mommy Sweet As Me Dolls were 50% off. "Normally" $39.99 "on sale" for $19.99. Wal-Mart sells the same doll for Kohl's "sale" price.
You really have to be careful when shopping there. They try to trick you like that into thinking that you are getting a bargain but you're really not. I bought my dad the game "The Last Word" there. They said that the regular retail price was $30 but that it was 50% off which made it $15. I thought I was getting a deal. Later I saw the same game at Wal-Mart for $14.99.
That gimmick annoys me.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Vomit Comet
I got woken up at 4:30 this morning by Levi SCREAMING for me up in his bedroom. I ran up the stairs to find him standing beside his bed in a pile of throw up with throw up all over his chin and face.
I don't know what is going on, but I am MORE THAN ready for my children to be healthy.
please keep us in your prayers as we try to figure out what is going on and get everyone feeling better.
*sigh*
thanks.
I don't know what is going on, but I am MORE THAN ready for my children to be healthy.
please keep us in your prayers as we try to figure out what is going on and get everyone feeling better.
*sigh*
thanks.
Friday, November 30, 2007
One Of Those Moments
Last night I had one of those moments where you just stare at your kids and are filled to the brim with the deepest love for them. The kind where you look at them and are taken back to the moment when you are laying in a hospital room and a doctor places your brand new baby on your chest, and then time flashes back to the present and they are singing songs like "God's word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." And you wonder when did they ever get so big??? And you beg God to let them stay little forever. But you know it won't happen.
*sigh*
I love these little monkeys. They are my world.
When they play together... when they help each other... when they say goodnight to each other... when they give each other hugs or kisses... when Levi says "it's ok" to Audrey when she's upset... when they sing together in the car... when Audrey has to do everything just like her older brother... when they make each other laugh...
oh the laughter. Music to mine ears.
I feel like my tiny heart could just burst into a million pieces.
My precious babies. I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my babies you'll be.
*sigh*
I love these little monkeys. They are my world.
When they play together... when they help each other... when they say goodnight to each other... when they give each other hugs or kisses... when Levi says "it's ok" to Audrey when she's upset... when they sing together in the car... when Audrey has to do everything just like her older brother... when they make each other laugh...
oh the laughter. Music to mine ears.
I feel like my tiny heart could just burst into a million pieces.
My precious babies. I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my babies you'll be.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Tis The Season
Just got home from Urgent Care with Levi...
diagnosis: Strep Throat. (at the hospital he had a 105.3 temp.!!!!)
I'm just ready for the members of this household to be WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!
can a girl get a break??
Please keep my precious little boy in your prayers. He's pretty miserable. The doctor took one look at his throat and said "that throat looks bad!! EVERYTHING is swollen."
*sigh*
diagnosis: Strep Throat. (at the hospital he had a 105.3 temp.!!!!)
I'm just ready for the members of this household to be WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!
can a girl get a break??
Please keep my precious little boy in your prayers. He's pretty miserable. The doctor took one look at his throat and said "that throat looks bad!! EVERYTHING is swollen."
*sigh*
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Always Low Prices...
I went to HyVee today and I was walking down the Christmas aisle when I saw this...
SERIOUSLY??
I was thinking it must have been an accident on the part of the person who assembled the tree...
and then I saw the tag....
This is no joke, folks...
SERIOUSLY??
haha. Go to HyVee and check out the upside down Christmas tree... and if you have $193.00 to throw away... it can be yours!!
SERIOUSLY??
I was thinking it must have been an accident on the part of the person who assembled the tree...
and then I saw the tag....
This is no joke, folks...
SERIOUSLY??
haha. Go to HyVee and check out the upside down Christmas tree... and if you have $193.00 to throw away... it can be yours!!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
When I Say I Am A Christian
I'm stealing this from Mindi...
with all of the stres in my life right now, this just rang so very true to me.
When I say, “I am a Christian”When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not shouting “I've been saved!” I’m whispering, “I get lost! That's why I chose this way”
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I don’t speak with human pride, I’m confessing that I stumble - needing God to be my guide
When I say, “I am a Christian” I’m not trying to be strong I’m professing that I’m weak and pray for strength to carry on
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not bragging of success I’m admitting that I've failed and cannot ever pay the debt
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I don't think I know it all I submit to my confusion asking humbly to be taught
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not claiming to be perfect My flaws are far too visible but God believes I’m worth it
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I still feel the sting of pain I have my share of heartache which is why I seek His name
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I do not wish to judge I have no authority -- I only know I’m loved
with all of the stres in my life right now, this just rang so very true to me.
When I say, “I am a Christian”When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not shouting “I've been saved!” I’m whispering, “I get lost! That's why I chose this way”
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I don’t speak with human pride, I’m confessing that I stumble - needing God to be my guide
When I say, “I am a Christian” I’m not trying to be strong I’m professing that I’m weak and pray for strength to carry on
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not bragging of success I’m admitting that I've failed and cannot ever pay the debt
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I don't think I know it all I submit to my confusion asking humbly to be taught
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not claiming to be perfect My flaws are far too visible but God believes I’m worth it
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I still feel the sting of pain I have my share of heartache which is why I seek His name
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I do not wish to judge I have no authority -- I only know I’m loved
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Everything Glorious
Becky is feeling: Glorious!
Tonight at church, they played a song that really touched me, and I wanted to share it with you all, although I'm sure many of you have heard the song before... but even though sometimes we hear songs, they don't really TOUCH us until we take the time to STOP, be STILL, and truly LISTEN. I had one of those moments tonight.
The song is called Everything Glorious by David Crowder Band
I couldn't find the song anywhere on the internet to put it into this blog. VideoZone doesn't have it and neither does project playlist... so I added it as my new profile song on my myspace profile... check it out!!!
the lyrics that really got me tonight go like this:
"You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours
What does that make me?"
What does that make me?
I was no math major, but I know that 1+1=2, so let's so some simple math....
1 (God makes everything glorious) + 1 (God made me) = 2 (I am glorious)
that's powerful!!!!
put a big fat sloppy grin on my face.
Psalm 13:5 says "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation." verse 6: "I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me."
Tonight at church, they played a song that really touched me, and I wanted to share it with you all, although I'm sure many of you have heard the song before... but even though sometimes we hear songs, they don't really TOUCH us until we take the time to STOP, be STILL, and truly LISTEN. I had one of those moments tonight.
The song is called Everything Glorious by David Crowder Band
I couldn't find the song anywhere on the internet to put it into this blog. VideoZone doesn't have it and neither does project playlist... so I added it as my new profile song on my myspace profile... check it out!!!
the lyrics that really got me tonight go like this:
"You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours
What does that make me?"
What does that make me?
I was no math major, but I know that 1+1=2, so let's so some simple math....
1 (God makes everything glorious) + 1 (God made me) = 2 (I am glorious)
that's powerful!!!!
put a big fat sloppy grin on my face.
Psalm 13:5 says "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation." verse 6: "I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me."
Friday, October 12, 2007
Foiled Again
When I first moved back to Columbia one of the first things I did was sign up at Gold's Gym... DETERMINED to lose the baby weight from Audrey (who was now 8 months old). I went regularly... even meeting with a personal trainer for a month. Things were going good. And, then... I stopped meeting with the personal trainer. And, I didn't feel guilty if I didn't make it to the gym all of the sudden, because I knew I wasn't letting anyone down but myself...
... and let myself down I did.
I stopped going to the gym religiously... and oh my... yeah, that's all I'll say... Oh my.
So, one day about two or three months ago, I lace up the old running shoes and decide that I'm going to get back to going to the gym. I had it all planned out that I'd go right before they closed so that it was the kids bedtime when I left there and I could come home and put the kids straight into bed. The kid's club at Gold's closed at 8:30... I KNEW this. So, I planned everything out just perfectly to give myself a good 30 minute workout... and showed up at 5 to 8....
... only to be told that the kid's club was closing in 5 minutes.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME??
nope, they had changed their hours and I'd known nothing about it. So, feeling sorry for myself (and for Levi who I'd been promising ALL DAY that we'd go to the gym... which he LOVES)... I headed back home. And that incident was enough to make me hang the boxing gloves back up.
The kids started pre-school, Summer was in full swing and I was busy every weekend with John... and I never made it back into the gym...
UNTIL tonight.
Tonight, I, AGAIN, planned things perfectly. This time I go in, KNOWING that they close the kid's club at 8. So, I'm going to show up at 7:30 and have a good half hour workout, end with some crunches on an ab machine... and get my butt in gear. I tell Levi that we're going to the gym, getting him all sorts of excited. I get both kids all bundled up in jackets (what's up with the chilly weather overnight, anyway?), I get myself all decked out in workout clothes and dust off the tennis shoes... and we head out to the gym.
Anyone want to guess what happens next?
that's right...
the kid's club was closed.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!!
and there was no one behind the desk to give me a clue to what was going on. A guy even went in search of someone who worked there and we NEVER found the girl that was supposed to be behind the desk. So, after a little bit of digging around in the papers they have sitting on the counter, I found the hours of operation for the gym AND for kid's club.
Turns out, on Friday nights, kid's club closes at 7. The stupid thing is... I had been ready for a while and had been sitting at home wasting time until 7:30 when I knew I could go and get a half hour workout in before the kids bedtime.
FOILED AGAIN.
SO... to keep this little incident from happening YET AGAIN... and to inform anyone else who might be reading this and wants to know...
the hours of kid's club operation at Gold's Gym (now Key Largo Fitness) is such:
M-Sat. 9:oo am - 12:00 pm
M-Th. 4:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Fri. 4:30 - 7:00
Sun. Closed
I will NOT be moved. I am DETERMINED to get back to the gym and get this old body back into shape!!!
I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. A lot of soul searching and personl assessment. There will be a lot of changes happening with Becky. Out with the old and in with the new!!! I'm excited!!!
Welcome to my ride.
SHINE ON!!!
... and let myself down I did.
I stopped going to the gym religiously... and oh my... yeah, that's all I'll say... Oh my.
So, one day about two or three months ago, I lace up the old running shoes and decide that I'm going to get back to going to the gym. I had it all planned out that I'd go right before they closed so that it was the kids bedtime when I left there and I could come home and put the kids straight into bed. The kid's club at Gold's closed at 8:30... I KNEW this. So, I planned everything out just perfectly to give myself a good 30 minute workout... and showed up at 5 to 8....
... only to be told that the kid's club was closing in 5 minutes.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME??
nope, they had changed their hours and I'd known nothing about it. So, feeling sorry for myself (and for Levi who I'd been promising ALL DAY that we'd go to the gym... which he LOVES)... I headed back home. And that incident was enough to make me hang the boxing gloves back up.
The kids started pre-school, Summer was in full swing and I was busy every weekend with John... and I never made it back into the gym...
UNTIL tonight.
Tonight, I, AGAIN, planned things perfectly. This time I go in, KNOWING that they close the kid's club at 8. So, I'm going to show up at 7:30 and have a good half hour workout, end with some crunches on an ab machine... and get my butt in gear. I tell Levi that we're going to the gym, getting him all sorts of excited. I get both kids all bundled up in jackets (what's up with the chilly weather overnight, anyway?), I get myself all decked out in workout clothes and dust off the tennis shoes... and we head out to the gym.
Anyone want to guess what happens next?
that's right...
the kid's club was closed.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!!
and there was no one behind the desk to give me a clue to what was going on. A guy even went in search of someone who worked there and we NEVER found the girl that was supposed to be behind the desk. So, after a little bit of digging around in the papers they have sitting on the counter, I found the hours of operation for the gym AND for kid's club.
Turns out, on Friday nights, kid's club closes at 7. The stupid thing is... I had been ready for a while and had been sitting at home wasting time until 7:30 when I knew I could go and get a half hour workout in before the kids bedtime.
FOILED AGAIN.
SO... to keep this little incident from happening YET AGAIN... and to inform anyone else who might be reading this and wants to know...
the hours of kid's club operation at Gold's Gym (now Key Largo Fitness) is such:
M-Sat. 9:oo am - 12:00 pm
M-Th. 4:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Fri. 4:30 - 7:00
Sun. Closed
I will NOT be moved. I am DETERMINED to get back to the gym and get this old body back into shape!!!
I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. A lot of soul searching and personl assessment. There will be a lot of changes happening with Becky. Out with the old and in with the new!!! I'm excited!!!
Welcome to my ride.
SHINE ON!!!
The Birthday Continues
Good Grief.
I write about my birthday, totally intending to get to the second half of it the next night... and next thing I know an entire week has flown by and you all still haven't heard the rest of my birthday story. I know you've all been sitting on pins and needles for this... and it's completely worth the wait. =D
So... recap:
Wednesday the 3rd was my birthday.
The next day was our regularly scheduled bible study at Take T.W.O.
First, I took the kids to my friend Heather's house to play because I didn't want to run the chance of exposing them to hand, foot, and mouth disease, which had been spreading around the kids at Woodcrest it seemes. So, off to Heather's they went, and off to bible study I went... CHILDLESS. It was a weird (in a good way!) feeling to not have to go directly to Kid's Crest after bible study to pick up the kids. I could hang around and visit, take my sweet time, you know... all that stuff you dream about doing (like, peeing with the door shut for once!)
After bible study, our group of girls went to lunch at Hu Hot Mongolian grill. It was my first time ever going there, but I had heard rave reviews and wanted to try it out for my birthday lunch. Tina (and Q), Jessica, Mindi, Kim, Margie, and Misti all helped me celebrate my birthday at Hu Hot. I fell in LOVE with Hu Hot. YUMMY! Can we please make this a monthly tradition, girls?
For my birthday dessert, they brought out this neat thing I've never seen before where basically you can make s'mores right at your table. There's fire in the middle, and graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate on the sides. You use a chopstick to roast your marshmallow and make yourself a s'mores. It was HEAVENLY!!
Mindi making a S'more:
YUMMY! S'mores!!:
After lunch, I opened my birthday gift from the group. It was a card that said "enjoy your day of freedom." They told me that this meant that they had all gone in together to hire me a babysitter for the ENTIRE day on Saturday.
*falls over dead*
I had been SERIOUSLY craving some alone BECKY time, but couldn't afford to pay a sitter, so this was an AWESOME present!!! I still don't think they all know just how great it was. Also, Mindi got me a massage.
SO...
John came up Friday night. Saturday morning, he stayed with the kids while I went and got my hour long massage (heavenly!!). When I got back, I bathed and got into nicer clothes... fed the kids lunch... and then the sitter arrived. John and I went to a late lunch together and then spent the rest of the time at the mall. Can I just tell you all how wonderful it is to get to spend time in Barnes and Noble WITHOUT kids?!?!? Oh my. We also swang by Sam's Club and picked up some Mizzou stadium seats because we had tickets for the Mizzou vs. Nebraska game later that night (THANKS MINDI!!!)
The game started at 8:15 p.m. It was an evening game because it was being aired on ESPN. This was quite possibly THE best game I've even been in attendance at in my entire history of attending Mizzou games. For those of you that don't know what I'm talking about... we SPANKED Nebraska. 41-6. The only points they got came off of two field goals. They didn't score one touchdown the ENTIRE game... and they didn't score AT ALL in the second half.
We didn't get home from the game until almost 1:00 in the morning.
It was SUCH an awesome birthday weekend.
Thanks again, everyone!!!!
I write about my birthday, totally intending to get to the second half of it the next night... and next thing I know an entire week has flown by and you all still haven't heard the rest of my birthday story. I know you've all been sitting on pins and needles for this... and it's completely worth the wait. =D
So... recap:
Wednesday the 3rd was my birthday.
The next day was our regularly scheduled bible study at Take T.W.O.
First, I took the kids to my friend Heather's house to play because I didn't want to run the chance of exposing them to hand, foot, and mouth disease, which had been spreading around the kids at Woodcrest it seemes. So, off to Heather's they went, and off to bible study I went... CHILDLESS. It was a weird (in a good way!) feeling to not have to go directly to Kid's Crest after bible study to pick up the kids. I could hang around and visit, take my sweet time, you know... all that stuff you dream about doing (like, peeing with the door shut for once!)
After bible study, our group of girls went to lunch at Hu Hot Mongolian grill. It was my first time ever going there, but I had heard rave reviews and wanted to try it out for my birthday lunch. Tina (and Q), Jessica, Mindi, Kim, Margie, and Misti all helped me celebrate my birthday at Hu Hot. I fell in LOVE with Hu Hot. YUMMY! Can we please make this a monthly tradition, girls?
For my birthday dessert, they brought out this neat thing I've never seen before where basically you can make s'mores right at your table. There's fire in the middle, and graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate on the sides. You use a chopstick to roast your marshmallow and make yourself a s'mores. It was HEAVENLY!!
Mindi making a S'more:
YUMMY! S'mores!!:
After lunch, I opened my birthday gift from the group. It was a card that said "enjoy your day of freedom." They told me that this meant that they had all gone in together to hire me a babysitter for the ENTIRE day on Saturday.
*falls over dead*
I had been SERIOUSLY craving some alone BECKY time, but couldn't afford to pay a sitter, so this was an AWESOME present!!! I still don't think they all know just how great it was. Also, Mindi got me a massage.
SO...
John came up Friday night. Saturday morning, he stayed with the kids while I went and got my hour long massage (heavenly!!). When I got back, I bathed and got into nicer clothes... fed the kids lunch... and then the sitter arrived. John and I went to a late lunch together and then spent the rest of the time at the mall. Can I just tell you all how wonderful it is to get to spend time in Barnes and Noble WITHOUT kids?!?!? Oh my. We also swang by Sam's Club and picked up some Mizzou stadium seats because we had tickets for the Mizzou vs. Nebraska game later that night (THANKS MINDI!!!)
The game started at 8:15 p.m. It was an evening game because it was being aired on ESPN. This was quite possibly THE best game I've even been in attendance at in my entire history of attending Mizzou games. For those of you that don't know what I'm talking about... we SPANKED Nebraska. 41-6. The only points they got came off of two field goals. They didn't score one touchdown the ENTIRE game... and they didn't score AT ALL in the second half.
We didn't get home from the game until almost 1:00 in the morning.
It was SUCH an awesome birthday weekend.
Thanks again, everyone!!!!
Monday, October 8, 2007
Birthday Bloggin'
Wednesday, October 3rd was my birthday. I turned the ripe old age of 27. *GASP!!*
I have to say that I have the best friends and family (and everything in between) LOL (that's for John, who's technically not family... but more than just a friend.) =D
Wednesday morning I got up and went to teach at pre-school as usual. When I got there, my phone rang. I looked to see who it was, and it was Mindi. Mindi knows I teach pre-school so I thought it was odd that she was calling me when she knew that I was at pre-school and I figured it must be important. So I answered it and she goes "I was just wondering what the birthday girl wants from the coffee shop." YAY!! I told her I'd love a mocha. So when she got to pre-school to drop AKP off, I got a big Mocha to start off my birthday. Some parents were there dropping off kids and they heard Mindi tell me happy birthday, so the secret was out of the bag. I started getting a bunch of happy birthday wishes.
When the school day started, I could not have asked for a better class. I teach 10 one year olds for 4 hours. Sometimes it can be very very stressful. But on my birthday every single one of them was an angel. They picked up when I asked them to pick up... they sat in their chairs when I asked them to sit... they all paid attention to the lessons and interacted... it was just wonderful. I've never had cooperation like that before, and it was doubly rewarding because my assistant wasn't there that day. She went with her son's class to the pumpkin patch so I had a substitute and was worried about how the kids would behave with someone new in the classroom, but they were all awesome. MUCH appreciated!! That set the tone for a wonderful day.
School gets out at 1:00, and after school that day we had a staff meeting. I got my paycheck which was a nice birthday gift!! The meeting lasted until about 2:00 and right as I was getting out of the meeting, John was pulling into town. On his way to my house he stopped at one of my favorite baked sub places called W.G. Grinders and picked us up lunch. When he got to the house, I was on the phone with my dad; my parents had called to wish me a happy birthday from England. John didn't just walk on in like he usually does... he rang the doorbell. Levi went and answered the door and I followed, and there were John and Madison and Madison was holding a birthday cake for me.
When I was growing up, living at home, it was a birthday tradition that we could request whatever we wanted for our birthday dinner, complete with dessert. I ALWAYS requested "Texas Chocolate Cake." I had casually mentioned this tradition to John on the phone once and told him I was bummed that I wouldn't be getting my cake this year. He said that if I emailed him the recipe that he would make it. This is not a man who cooks, so I went ahead and emailed him the recipe but wasn't really expecting a homemade cake from him. Turns out... after he had dropped Madison off at pre-school, he went to Wal-Mart and got all the stuff to make this cake of mine FROM SCRATCH and took the morning off of work to bake this cake for me. When he was done, it was time to pick Madison up from school... and then they drove straight here. What a great guy, huh?!? I'm STILL impressed. The cake turned out really good. I told him though, that even if it had tasted horribly I still would have eaten a whole piece with a smile on my face. This was truly one of those "it was the thought that counts" moments.
John and Madison spent the entire day here with me and drove back late that night. We ate dinner at Chipotle (one of my faves!) and just generally had an awesome time together.
My gift from John was an HP deskjet copy/scan/print photo printer. I didn't have a working printer so now I have one to use for pre-school things... and... more importantly... FOR SCRAPBOOKING!!!!! I'm thrilled.
My birthday continued into Thursday, Friday, and Saturday... but this blog is getting long so I'll save that for later tonight when I have more blogging time. Got to get kiddos in bed.
I have to say that I have the best friends and family (and everything in between) LOL (that's for John, who's technically not family... but more than just a friend.) =D
Wednesday morning I got up and went to teach at pre-school as usual. When I got there, my phone rang. I looked to see who it was, and it was Mindi. Mindi knows I teach pre-school so I thought it was odd that she was calling me when she knew that I was at pre-school and I figured it must be important. So I answered it and she goes "I was just wondering what the birthday girl wants from the coffee shop." YAY!! I told her I'd love a mocha. So when she got to pre-school to drop AKP off, I got a big Mocha to start off my birthday. Some parents were there dropping off kids and they heard Mindi tell me happy birthday, so the secret was out of the bag. I started getting a bunch of happy birthday wishes.
When the school day started, I could not have asked for a better class. I teach 10 one year olds for 4 hours. Sometimes it can be very very stressful. But on my birthday every single one of them was an angel. They picked up when I asked them to pick up... they sat in their chairs when I asked them to sit... they all paid attention to the lessons and interacted... it was just wonderful. I've never had cooperation like that before, and it was doubly rewarding because my assistant wasn't there that day. She went with her son's class to the pumpkin patch so I had a substitute and was worried about how the kids would behave with someone new in the classroom, but they were all awesome. MUCH appreciated!! That set the tone for a wonderful day.
School gets out at 1:00, and after school that day we had a staff meeting. I got my paycheck which was a nice birthday gift!! The meeting lasted until about 2:00 and right as I was getting out of the meeting, John was pulling into town. On his way to my house he stopped at one of my favorite baked sub places called W.G. Grinders and picked us up lunch. When he got to the house, I was on the phone with my dad; my parents had called to wish me a happy birthday from England. John didn't just walk on in like he usually does... he rang the doorbell. Levi went and answered the door and I followed, and there were John and Madison and Madison was holding a birthday cake for me.
When I was growing up, living at home, it was a birthday tradition that we could request whatever we wanted for our birthday dinner, complete with dessert. I ALWAYS requested "Texas Chocolate Cake." I had casually mentioned this tradition to John on the phone once and told him I was bummed that I wouldn't be getting my cake this year. He said that if I emailed him the recipe that he would make it. This is not a man who cooks, so I went ahead and emailed him the recipe but wasn't really expecting a homemade cake from him. Turns out... after he had dropped Madison off at pre-school, he went to Wal-Mart and got all the stuff to make this cake of mine FROM SCRATCH and took the morning off of work to bake this cake for me. When he was done, it was time to pick Madison up from school... and then they drove straight here. What a great guy, huh?!? I'm STILL impressed. The cake turned out really good. I told him though, that even if it had tasted horribly I still would have eaten a whole piece with a smile on my face. This was truly one of those "it was the thought that counts" moments.
John and Madison spent the entire day here with me and drove back late that night. We ate dinner at Chipotle (one of my faves!) and just generally had an awesome time together.
My gift from John was an HP deskjet copy/scan/print photo printer. I didn't have a working printer so now I have one to use for pre-school things... and... more importantly... FOR SCRAPBOOKING!!!!! I'm thrilled.
My birthday continued into Thursday, Friday, and Saturday... but this blog is getting long so I'll save that for later tonight when I have more blogging time. Got to get kiddos in bed.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Thursday Thirteen
Thirteen Things I Got For My Birthday:
1. A Homemade Cake from John. MY FAVORITE!!!
2. an HP Deskjet All In One Copy/Print/Scan photo printer
3. a new diaper bag
4. Magnetic picture frames
5. LUSH bath stuff
6. Lavendar sachets for my unmentionables drawer from Paris
7. Harrod's mug
8. Harrod's tea towel
9. Bathina by Benefit
10. Massage
11. a WHOLE day without kids
12. Lunch yesterday (W.G. Grinders)
13. Lunch today (Hu Hot Mongolian Grill)
I had an absolutely FABULOUS birthday. Pictures and blog to come later.
thanks guys for everything!!! I am SO blessed to have the best family and friends a girl could ask for!!!! (I mean that!)
1. A Homemade Cake from John. MY FAVORITE!!!
2. an HP Deskjet All In One Copy/Print/Scan photo printer
3. a new diaper bag
4. Magnetic picture frames
5. LUSH bath stuff
6. Lavendar sachets for my unmentionables drawer from Paris
7. Harrod's mug
8. Harrod's tea towel
9. Bathina by Benefit
10. Massage
11. a WHOLE day without kids
12. Lunch yesterday (W.G. Grinders)
13. Lunch today (Hu Hot Mongolian Grill)
I had an absolutely FABULOUS birthday. Pictures and blog to come later.
thanks guys for everything!!! I am SO blessed to have the best family and friends a girl could ask for!!!! (I mean that!)
Monday, October 1, 2007
How To Be A Perfect Parent
This semester at bible study, I've been participating in a parenting class. It's called "Proactive Parenting" and the basis is that PROACTIVE parenting is parenting to meet needs versus REACTIVE parenting which is reacting or only addressing behavior.
The two women who teach the class are basing their teachings from various books that they have read and liked, but two in particular that they've mentioned and had with them in class are "Love and Logic Magic Parenting" and "Boundaries with Kids." I tried to check these out at the library today, but all copies are currently out. So, instead... I got a new(er) book by James Dobson that an old(er) christian friend suggested titled "The New Strong Willed Child." I'll let you all know how I like the book as I get further into it... but I DEFINITELY have a strong willed child on my hands. "They" say that a person's character is formed by the time they are three years old. In class this past week we learned that there are seven main traits that one should look for in a person of reputable character. Maybe I'll get around to posting those some other time... but today's post has to do with my trip to the library today.
As I was trying to find this particular book in the parenting section... oh my goodness... there are a MILLION books on parenting!! A person would be utterly confused if they were to read every single book on those shelves and try to take them all to heart. There is everything from (literally!!) The Idiots Guide to Being A Perfect Parent (no, I'm not kidding)... to... How To Raise My Child Up Without Tearing Them Down (this one, I had to admit, sounded interesting)... and everything in between. I walked away from there overwhelmed at all the parenting advice in the world. There will always be someone to tell me how to do my job better. And, while I think that can be a good thing.. I realized today that it can also make me feel inferior as a single mother, and that, really, I just need to take bits and pieces of advice from here and there and tweak it to fit my little family.
So, welcome to the ride I'm on this semester as I strive to be a better... more Godly woman and parent. Buckle in though... I can't guarantee a smooth ride but hopefully the landing won't be too bumpy.
anyone who knows me at all knows that I'm a complete bookworm... reading anything I can get my hands on. I read the back of cereal boxes, for pete's sake.
So, for tonight's blog, I'm going to share with you all the books that I checked out at the library today...
The Organized Parent: 365 simple solutions to managing your home, your time, and your family's life
One of my newest undertakings is to be a better organized person not only for me, but for my FAMILY.
so... I also got...
Smart Organizing: simple strategies for bringing order to your home
Facing Your Giants (by Max Lucado)
The New Strong Willed Child (by Dr. James Dobson)
Rachael Ray's Open House Cookbook: Over 200 recipes for easy entertaining
White House Nannies: True tales from the OTHER department of homeland security
How To Start A Business In Missouri
and last but not least...
Water For Elephants (by Sara Gruen) (the book the library is doing this year for their community -wide reading program called "One Read")
The two women who teach the class are basing their teachings from various books that they have read and liked, but two in particular that they've mentioned and had with them in class are "Love and Logic Magic Parenting" and "Boundaries with Kids." I tried to check these out at the library today, but all copies are currently out. So, instead... I got a new(er) book by James Dobson that an old(er) christian friend suggested titled "The New Strong Willed Child." I'll let you all know how I like the book as I get further into it... but I DEFINITELY have a strong willed child on my hands. "They" say that a person's character is formed by the time they are three years old. In class this past week we learned that there are seven main traits that one should look for in a person of reputable character. Maybe I'll get around to posting those some other time... but today's post has to do with my trip to the library today.
As I was trying to find this particular book in the parenting section... oh my goodness... there are a MILLION books on parenting!! A person would be utterly confused if they were to read every single book on those shelves and try to take them all to heart. There is everything from (literally!!) The Idiots Guide to Being A Perfect Parent (no, I'm not kidding)... to... How To Raise My Child Up Without Tearing Them Down (this one, I had to admit, sounded interesting)... and everything in between. I walked away from there overwhelmed at all the parenting advice in the world. There will always be someone to tell me how to do my job better. And, while I think that can be a good thing.. I realized today that it can also make me feel inferior as a single mother, and that, really, I just need to take bits and pieces of advice from here and there and tweak it to fit my little family.
So, welcome to the ride I'm on this semester as I strive to be a better... more Godly woman and parent. Buckle in though... I can't guarantee a smooth ride but hopefully the landing won't be too bumpy.
anyone who knows me at all knows that I'm a complete bookworm... reading anything I can get my hands on. I read the back of cereal boxes, for pete's sake.
So, for tonight's blog, I'm going to share with you all the books that I checked out at the library today...
The Organized Parent: 365 simple solutions to managing your home, your time, and your family's life
One of my newest undertakings is to be a better organized person not only for me, but for my FAMILY.
so... I also got...
Smart Organizing: simple strategies for bringing order to your home
Facing Your Giants (by Max Lucado)
The New Strong Willed Child (by Dr. James Dobson)
Rachael Ray's Open House Cookbook: Over 200 recipes for easy entertaining
White House Nannies: True tales from the OTHER department of homeland security
How To Start A Business In Missouri
and last but not least...
Water For Elephants (by Sara Gruen) (the book the library is doing this year for their community -wide reading program called "One Read")
Heart Attack City!!
This morning as I was getting ready to drive back to Columbia from Waynesville, my cell phone rings.
Me: "Hello?"
Man on the other end of the line: "Is this Becky?"
Me: "yes"
Man on the other end of the line: This is Tony from the Columbia Fire Department.
*CHEST HITS THE FLOOR IN PANIC*
Me: "ok"
Man on the other end of the line: " I have a note here that you requested a fire truck to make an appearance at a preschool during Fire Prevention Week?"
*PICKS CHEST BACK UP OFF OF THE FLOOR*
seriously...
when the guy introduced himself on the phone as being from the Columbia Fire Department all I could see was visions of our home up in smoke. What a relief when I found out he was only comfirming a phone call I had made earlier last week.
Last week I called the Columbia fire department and requested a fire truck stop by pre-school as part of Fire Prevention Week. It should be cool. I think the kids will like it.
Don't forget!! The second week of October is Fire Prevention Week. Talk to your children about fires and always have an escape plan!!! Let's keep our babies safe.
Me: "Hello?"
Man on the other end of the line: "Is this Becky?"
Me: "yes"
Man on the other end of the line: This is Tony from the Columbia Fire Department.
*CHEST HITS THE FLOOR IN PANIC*
Me: "ok"
Man on the other end of the line: " I have a note here that you requested a fire truck to make an appearance at a preschool during Fire Prevention Week?"
*PICKS CHEST BACK UP OFF OF THE FLOOR*
seriously...
when the guy introduced himself on the phone as being from the Columbia Fire Department all I could see was visions of our home up in smoke. What a relief when I found out he was only comfirming a phone call I had made earlier last week.
Last week I called the Columbia fire department and requested a fire truck stop by pre-school as part of Fire Prevention Week. It should be cool. I think the kids will like it.
Don't forget!! The second week of October is Fire Prevention Week. Talk to your children about fires and always have an escape plan!!! Let's keep our babies safe.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Who Am I Kidding?
This past weekend, John and I took the kids to the Mizzou vs. Illinois State football game. I've been wanting to take Levi to a game, thinking that he would enjoy it, and I figured going to last weekend's game would be a good idea for a few reasons.
A.) John was in town to go with us
B.) it was the last non-conference game so...
a.) tickets were cheaper
and
b.) it wouldn't be such a crowded game
and
C.) the weather was beautiful
Sounds good, right? *pats self on back for having such a great idea*
I had been talking all the night before and all morning to Levi (excitedly, I might add) about how we were going to go watch the tigers play football. I was trying to get him psyched up for the game. I decked both kids out in Mizzou gear... including a little Mizzou cheerleader outfit on loan for Audrey from Mindi.
(not the greatest pic [taken with my camera phone]... but you get the idea)...
we get to the game and there are people EVERYWHERE. we had had a late lunch with John's sister and her husband driving through on their way to a wedding in Kansas City, so we were late getting to the game and there was absolutely no parking and we still hadn't stood in line and bought tickets yet. I mean... cars were parked all along stadium all the way from Providence to Old 63!!! (for those of you who live here... that means something!)
As we were driving around in circles looking for a place to park, Mindi calls and asks if we had tickets yet. I told her that we hadn't even parked yet and she told me that she had some extra tickets that she would leave under the front tire of her mom's Land Cruiser for us.
SCORE!!!!! (thanks again, Mindi!!!)
we FINALLY found a (not so horrible) parking spot (thanks to John's truck being able to jump curb's. LOL), got the tickets, and entered the game.
The sun was blazing heat. Levi kept asking me where the tigers were and I kept pointing out Truman the mascot to him... but he seemed to be searching for something else. I didn't get it.
It took about 2.3 seconds for both kids to be tired and cranky from the heat and confined space of football stadium seating...
So I offered to get up and get us all some drinks (and Tiger Tracks ice cream!!) while John stayed and watched the kids at the game.
when I got back with the drinks and cold treats, I was informed by the girl sitting in front of us that she was highly entertained by Levi while I was gone when he had loudly announced to everyone sitting around us that "Dose aren't tigers!! Dose are boys!!"
I hadn't thought when I was excitedly telling him that we were going to go watch the tigers play football that his little three year old brain would quite literally be expecting to see tigers... the ANIMAL... playing football. The thrill was gone when he found out that it was just a bunch of dirty, sweaty boys, throwing the ball around. Ya can't get anything past my Levi!!!!!
But, the cold drinks worked for a while anyway to get them to not go absolutely crazy.
We ended up leaving at the beginning of the fourth quarter... with half of our faces sunburnt... and it was another win for Mizzou.
Here's to hoping we can pull off our first conference game win on October 6th against Nebraska!!!
GO TIGERS!!!!
A.) John was in town to go with us
B.) it was the last non-conference game so...
a.) tickets were cheaper
and
b.) it wouldn't be such a crowded game
and
C.) the weather was beautiful
Sounds good, right? *pats self on back for having such a great idea*
I had been talking all the night before and all morning to Levi (excitedly, I might add) about how we were going to go watch the tigers play football. I was trying to get him psyched up for the game. I decked both kids out in Mizzou gear... including a little Mizzou cheerleader outfit on loan for Audrey from Mindi.
(not the greatest pic [taken with my camera phone]... but you get the idea)...
we get to the game and there are people EVERYWHERE. we had had a late lunch with John's sister and her husband driving through on their way to a wedding in Kansas City, so we were late getting to the game and there was absolutely no parking and we still hadn't stood in line and bought tickets yet. I mean... cars were parked all along stadium all the way from Providence to Old 63!!! (for those of you who live here... that means something!)
As we were driving around in circles looking for a place to park, Mindi calls and asks if we had tickets yet. I told her that we hadn't even parked yet and she told me that she had some extra tickets that she would leave under the front tire of her mom's Land Cruiser for us.
SCORE!!!!! (thanks again, Mindi!!!)
we FINALLY found a (not so horrible) parking spot (thanks to John's truck being able to jump curb's. LOL), got the tickets, and entered the game.
The sun was blazing heat. Levi kept asking me where the tigers were and I kept pointing out Truman the mascot to him... but he seemed to be searching for something else. I didn't get it.
It took about 2.3 seconds for both kids to be tired and cranky from the heat and confined space of football stadium seating...
So I offered to get up and get us all some drinks (and Tiger Tracks ice cream!!) while John stayed and watched the kids at the game.
when I got back with the drinks and cold treats, I was informed by the girl sitting in front of us that she was highly entertained by Levi while I was gone when he had loudly announced to everyone sitting around us that "Dose aren't tigers!! Dose are boys!!"
I hadn't thought when I was excitedly telling him that we were going to go watch the tigers play football that his little three year old brain would quite literally be expecting to see tigers... the ANIMAL... playing football. The thrill was gone when he found out that it was just a bunch of dirty, sweaty boys, throwing the ball around. Ya can't get anything past my Levi!!!!!
But, the cold drinks worked for a while anyway to get them to not go absolutely crazy.
We ended up leaving at the beginning of the fourth quarter... with half of our faces sunburnt... and it was another win for Mizzou.
Here's to hoping we can pull off our first conference game win on October 6th against Nebraska!!!
GO TIGERS!!!!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Invisible Women
Two blogs in one day?!? *gasp*
I come back with a vengeance!!! =D
tonight, I was reading my friend Sandi's blog and came across an entry she wrote about something she calls the "Stay At Mom Blues"... and it reminded me of an email I got from my dear friend Kimberly (Kim... you need to start a blog!!!)
the email was one of those heart touching stories that gets passed around, and I would like to share it here with you all in hopes that it speaks to you the same way it spoke to me. My friend Mindi refers to herself as the "Household Executive"... I shall from herefore be referred to as a "Cathedral Builder"
so, this goes out to all my fellow builders... SHINE ON!!
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Pick me up right around 5:30, please."
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude -- but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going . she's going ... she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."
In the days ahead I would read -- no, devour -- the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals -- we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it."
And the workman replied, "Because God sees."
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand-bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
I come back with a vengeance!!! =D
tonight, I was reading my friend Sandi's blog and came across an entry she wrote about something she calls the "Stay At Mom Blues"... and it reminded me of an email I got from my dear friend Kimberly (Kim... you need to start a blog!!!)
the email was one of those heart touching stories that gets passed around, and I would like to share it here with you all in hopes that it speaks to you the same way it spoke to me. My friend Mindi refers to herself as the "Household Executive"... I shall from herefore be referred to as a "Cathedral Builder"
so, this goes out to all my fellow builders... SHINE ON!!
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Pick me up right around 5:30, please."
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude -- but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going . she's going ... she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."
In the days ahead I would read -- no, devour -- the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals -- we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it."
And the workman replied, "Because God sees."
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand-bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Shine On
Hello to all of my faithful blog readers who have diligently and patiently been waiting for the next installment of What's On Becky's Brain. Sorry I've taken such a long hiatus. Blogging seems to keep me sane, and hopefully I'll be back on more often. I've needed this.
Now, on with the show...
Just the other day I sat down to blogspot and did a bunch of catching up. Not only have I not been writing... but I haven't been reading either. *slaps hands* So, the other day when I logged on and read my friend Mindi's blog... I just had to do a blog of my own. Thank you Mindi for the awesome blog.
The following is a video that I stole from Mindi's blog. Watch it...
Something about this video touched me to the very core of my being. I want to be the type of person who, just being around others, makes them shine. It's a basic principle that we teach our children from infant-hood... remember the old song "This Little Light Of Mine" ?
This little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
let it shine
let it shine
let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? NO!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? NO!
I'm gonna let it shine.
let it shine
let it shine
let it shine
Don't let the devil Pfft it out.
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let the devil pfft it out
I'm gonna let it shine
let it shine
let it shine
let it shine
Recently, I've had my light hidden under a bushel. I had let the devil pfft my light out. But... i'm happy to report, that while it might not be shinging as brightly as I would like... I at least have found the source of light... and am working on getting plugged in.
To help me, I dug out a book that I've had forever called "The Power of a Positive Woman." I'm not sure how long I've had this book, but I bought it a few years ago at the Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop and put it on a shelf without ever reading it. Fat lot of good it did me that way, huh? So, I've gotten it out, dusted off the cover... and I'm working on letting my light shine.
SHINE ON!!!!
Now, on with the show...
Just the other day I sat down to blogspot and did a bunch of catching up. Not only have I not been writing... but I haven't been reading either. *slaps hands* So, the other day when I logged on and read my friend Mindi's blog... I just had to do a blog of my own. Thank you Mindi for the awesome blog.
The following is a video that I stole from Mindi's blog. Watch it...
Something about this video touched me to the very core of my being. I want to be the type of person who, just being around others, makes them shine. It's a basic principle that we teach our children from infant-hood... remember the old song "This Little Light Of Mine" ?
This little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
let it shine
let it shine
let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? NO!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? NO!
I'm gonna let it shine.
let it shine
let it shine
let it shine
Don't let the devil Pfft it out.
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let the devil pfft it out
I'm gonna let it shine
let it shine
let it shine
let it shine
Recently, I've had my light hidden under a bushel. I had let the devil pfft my light out. But... i'm happy to report, that while it might not be shinging as brightly as I would like... I at least have found the source of light... and am working on getting plugged in.
To help me, I dug out a book that I've had forever called "The Power of a Positive Woman." I'm not sure how long I've had this book, but I bought it a few years ago at the Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop and put it on a shelf without ever reading it. Fat lot of good it did me that way, huh? So, I've gotten it out, dusted off the cover... and I'm working on letting my light shine.
SHINE ON!!!!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Camping
check out what my big boy did this weekend!!!!
we went camping on Bull Shoal's Lake this weekend with some friends who own a boat so we got to get in the water and do fun things like water skiing and intertubing. I haven't waterskied since high school, and I am proud to announce that I got up on my first try. I guess it's like riding a bike... once you learn how to get up and keep your balance on water skis it's not something you forget how to do.
anyway... my camera died shortly after taking these pics so I didn't get anymore of the kiddos camping which I'm bummed about... but I just wanted to show off my little man being brave.
we went camping on Bull Shoal's Lake this weekend with some friends who own a boat so we got to get in the water and do fun things like water skiing and intertubing. I haven't waterskied since high school, and I am proud to announce that I got up on my first try. I guess it's like riding a bike... once you learn how to get up and keep your balance on water skis it's not something you forget how to do.
anyway... my camera died shortly after taking these pics so I didn't get anymore of the kiddos camping which I'm bummed about... but I just wanted to show off my little man being brave.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
The Best $8 I've Ever Spent
Two days ago I went grocery shopping. Been in the mood lately to make a good lasagna, so after I met with our minister at church to talk about life, I swung by the grocery store right next door. It's THE BEST grocery store EVER. anything I ever want... yup, I can find it at Hy-Vee.
So, there I am perusing the motzerella cheeses, when my eyes catch sight of the familiar thomas the tank engine packaging. I decided to take a quick stroll past them without stopping long enough for Levi to completely freak out at all of the train stuff... and I noticed that they had a pair of cool trains that Levi didn't have for his collection yet. (Bill and Ben, if you must know) They were normally priced at $10... but were on sale for $7.99.
*rewind*
I've been at my wits end lately with my THREE YEAR OLD about potty training. We had ALMOST gotten peeing down, but pooping... nope. the kid absolutely refused.
*fast forward*
I saw these trains and they had the word "incentive" written all over them. It'd been a good long while since Levi has gotten any new trains. So, I put them in the cart. Of course, Levi immediately got excited thinking that I was just frivolously throwing money around. but, oh no... i had specific plans for those trains. When we got home and he was expecting to be able to play with his new trains, he was dissappointed to find out that he wasn't going to get them until he pooped in the big potty.
DARN IT!
He did what you would expect him to do. Immediately he told me that he needed to poop on the big potty. Of course! Why was I not surprised? So, in he goes, and gave grunting and pushing an honest effort, but no poop.
*sigh*
We went all night, talking about how he would get the trains when he pooped in the potty. Bed time came and he went to sleep. I kid you not, FIRST THING the next morning, I'm laying in bed and I hear this little voice at my head saying that he needed to poop.
WONDERFUL!
We went into the bathroom, and sure enough... POOP!!!
(in case you're not keeping up, this was yesterday)
I put big boy underwear on him and for the rest of the afternoon we had NO accidents. When he needed to pee, he would go into the bathroom and do his business. and he pooped two more times I might add. Last night we went to church. Levi LOVES wednesday night church so I knew he would be disappointed if we had to leave. I took a pull-up "just in case" but didn't take a change of clothes and told Levi that if he peed in his pants we were going to have to go home. When we got there I let his teachers know that he was wearing big boy underwear and to please ask him occasionally if he needs to go potty. When I picked him up from class they told me that they never had to ask him, because when he needed to go he let someone know. He went all through church with no accidents!!!!
he had one minor accident before bed, but other than that he was in big boy underwear all day yesterday. he wore a pull up at night. and today he's been in big boy underwear all day with no accidents. and we've had poop on the potty today too!!!
I think Levi is completely potty trained!!!
that $7.99 was the best 8 bucks I've spent in a good long while!!!
CONGRATULATIONS LEVI.... You are among America's finest that poop on the potty!!
*dreams of all the money I'll save now that I only have ONE kid in diapers*
So, there I am perusing the motzerella cheeses, when my eyes catch sight of the familiar thomas the tank engine packaging. I decided to take a quick stroll past them without stopping long enough for Levi to completely freak out at all of the train stuff... and I noticed that they had a pair of cool trains that Levi didn't have for his collection yet. (Bill and Ben, if you must know) They were normally priced at $10... but were on sale for $7.99.
*rewind*
I've been at my wits end lately with my THREE YEAR OLD about potty training. We had ALMOST gotten peeing down, but pooping... nope. the kid absolutely refused.
*fast forward*
I saw these trains and they had the word "incentive" written all over them. It'd been a good long while since Levi has gotten any new trains. So, I put them in the cart. Of course, Levi immediately got excited thinking that I was just frivolously throwing money around. but, oh no... i had specific plans for those trains. When we got home and he was expecting to be able to play with his new trains, he was dissappointed to find out that he wasn't going to get them until he pooped in the big potty.
DARN IT!
He did what you would expect him to do. Immediately he told me that he needed to poop on the big potty. Of course! Why was I not surprised? So, in he goes, and gave grunting and pushing an honest effort, but no poop.
*sigh*
We went all night, talking about how he would get the trains when he pooped in the potty. Bed time came and he went to sleep. I kid you not, FIRST THING the next morning, I'm laying in bed and I hear this little voice at my head saying that he needed to poop.
WONDERFUL!
We went into the bathroom, and sure enough... POOP!!!
(in case you're not keeping up, this was yesterday)
I put big boy underwear on him and for the rest of the afternoon we had NO accidents. When he needed to pee, he would go into the bathroom and do his business. and he pooped two more times I might add. Last night we went to church. Levi LOVES wednesday night church so I knew he would be disappointed if we had to leave. I took a pull-up "just in case" but didn't take a change of clothes and told Levi that if he peed in his pants we were going to have to go home. When we got there I let his teachers know that he was wearing big boy underwear and to please ask him occasionally if he needs to go potty. When I picked him up from class they told me that they never had to ask him, because when he needed to go he let someone know. He went all through church with no accidents!!!!
he had one minor accident before bed, but other than that he was in big boy underwear all day yesterday. he wore a pull up at night. and today he's been in big boy underwear all day with no accidents. and we've had poop on the potty today too!!!
I think Levi is completely potty trained!!!
that $7.99 was the best 8 bucks I've spent in a good long while!!!
CONGRATULATIONS LEVI.... You are among America's finest that poop on the potty!!
*dreams of all the money I'll save now that I only have ONE kid in diapers*
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Shelter Gardens
Saturday was such a beautiful day!! John and Madison came up and we took the kids to Shelter Gardens. I love going to the gardens, and this was our first time there this year. It was my kids first time there EVER. they LOVED it! I took a lot of great pics. The flowers were so beautiful, and all the little critters scampering around and the water in the ponds were just so beautiful. The gardens has a little old timey school house too. It was just a great day. There was a wedding party there taking pictures.
after the gardens we went for cold ice cream from shakeys! YUMMY!
waterfall
Tree Hugger
Audrey
dorks (me and john)
Madison
Maddy and Levi
All of us in the old schoolhouse
Fish in the waterfall pond
Madison and Levi watching the fish in the waterfall pond.
after the gardens we went for cold ice cream from shakeys! YUMMY!
waterfall
Tree Hugger
Audrey
dorks (me and john)
Madison
Maddy and Levi
All of us in the old schoolhouse
Fish in the waterfall pond
Madison and Levi watching the fish in the waterfall pond.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Mystery Rash
calling all medical professionals...
I've put steroid cream (Triamcinolone) on it, and I've taken Prednisone pills for six days. It's still here with a vengeance and spreading like wildfire. I'm miserable.
I've had it for going on a month now.
It itches BADLY
It's triggered by heat
diagnose me!!!
I've put steroid cream (Triamcinolone) on it, and I've taken Prednisone pills for six days. It's still here with a vengeance and spreading like wildfire. I'm miserable.
I've had it for going on a month now.
It itches BADLY
It's triggered by heat
diagnose me!!!
Pigtails
With summertime here and the weather getting hot I'm excited to learn that my little girl's hair is FINALLY long enough to put up in pigtails!!!!
I'm in girly heaven!!! =D
I'm in girly heaven!!! =D
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
For Donna =D
about a month ago, the kids and I were at John's house. Levi was playing in the playhouse outside and came running over to us to tell us that there was a bird trapped at the top of the playhouse.
sure enough, when we got over there we saw this little hummingbird just buzzing its little wings to death trying to escape, only, it didn't know how. You could tell the poor thing was just exhausted.
So, John held his hand up, and the hummer calmed down long enough to sit on John's finger and let John help him out of the playhouse. I got to snap a picture of John holding the bird before he released it, and the little guy flew to a branch on a tree to gather himself before going on with his day.
AMAZING!!!!!
sure enough, when we got over there we saw this little hummingbird just buzzing its little wings to death trying to escape, only, it didn't know how. You could tell the poor thing was just exhausted.
So, John held his hand up, and the hummer calmed down long enough to sit on John's finger and let John help him out of the playhouse. I got to snap a picture of John holding the bird before he released it, and the little guy flew to a branch on a tree to gather himself before going on with his day.
AMAZING!!!!!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Mother's Day 2007
Mother's Day.
This was my fourth Mother's Day and I have to say that it was the very very best one yet!!
It all started on Friday. Two of my good friends that I'm in an accountability group with had invited me to go to Omaha Nebraska to see Beth Moore. I told them that there was no way that I could afford the conference ticket, travel and lodging expenses, and a babysitter for the weekend. Well, Mindi says to me that if I could arrange for a babysitter that she had someone who would pay for the rest!!!!! So, at THE last minuted I got a college girl from church to watch the kids. We were going to drive to Nebraska. It's a four? five? hour drive. But, THE DAY BEFORE, mindi tells us that we are flying. Her dad has a private jet that seats eight and he was going to have his pilot fly us up there. There were five of us total that all ended up flying to Nebraska together and the trip was only one hour as opposed to a five hour drive. I'd never flown in a private jet before and I'm here to tell ya I never want to fly commercial again!! I've been completely spoiled.
We get in the plane and take off and one of the girls, Jessica hands me a giftbag. I thought it was a thank you gift for Mindi and so I was holding it while Jessica rooted around in her purse for her camera. I handed the bag to Mindi and Jessica says "what are you doing? That's for you." Inside was a card that read "happy mother's day! we love you mommy. Love, Levi and Audrey." and in the bag was a necklace. In the circle of girls I hang out with these days, they all have this particular necklace and I was the only one who didn't have one. Basically it's just a silver chain and then you buy separate rings to go on it and there are different rings that say different things. They bought three for me. Mine say "son," "daughter," and "courage."
The Beth Moore conference was EXCELLENT!!!!!!! I bawled my eyes out more than a few times. There were six THOUSAND women (ok, and a stray husband here and there that had been drug along) women in attendance at the conference. awesome! We got to sit in the second row from the front down on the floor which just happened to be right behind the hearing impaired section and I fell in love with one of the translators they had for the weekend. Seriously, I could not keep my eyes off of her. When she was signing the praise and worship I got goosebumps. I want to be able to do that! It is a passion of mine to fluently learn sign languge and use it as a ministry! (bet ya didn't know that about me, did ya?)
downtown Nebraska was a lot of fun!
We had one room at a Double Tree Inn for the five of us which, I personally thought was a lot of fun. (I'm sure Tina wasn't as thrilled.)
On the way home Saturday afternoon, Mindi gave up her seat as co-pilot and offered to let us experience it. I got to sit in the co-pilot seat for take-off which... on man... that's something I'll never ever ever ever ever forget!
Sunday I got up and took the kiddos to church. After church when I went to get Audrey out of the nursery, the ladies attending the nursery told me that my phone had been vibrating in my bag the whole time. I checked my missed calls and I had three calls from a number I didn't know. I checked my voicemail and a woman had been calling to tell me she had a flower delivery for me but couldn't find my house. So, I called the number of the florist that she left on my voicemail and it turned out they were right by our church building, so I swung by and picked up the flowers. I was thinking it was probably from my parents, since this was my first mother's day ever that I haven't spent with them. But, I read the card and saw that they were from John!! Is he not the absolute sweetest?!? I'm twitterpated!
at around 4:00 when it wasn't SCORCHING heat anymore, I took the kids to the park to play and then to Sonic to get something cold to drink. While I was at Sonic, Mindi called and invited us over to their house to grill out. So, I took the kids over in their swimsuits and my two kids and her three kids all played in the water together and her hubby grilled for us. I got to eat a yummy dinner and relax with a glass of chianti.
I seriously could not have asked for a better weekend!
I'm so blessed to have awesome friends.
Happy late Mother's Day to all my mommy friends!!!! I hope you were all treated like royalty
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This was my fourth Mother's Day and I have to say that it was the very very best one yet!!
It all started on Friday. Two of my good friends that I'm in an accountability group with had invited me to go to Omaha Nebraska to see Beth Moore. I told them that there was no way that I could afford the conference ticket, travel and lodging expenses, and a babysitter for the weekend. Well, Mindi says to me that if I could arrange for a babysitter that she had someone who would pay for the rest!!!!! So, at THE last minuted I got a college girl from church to watch the kids. We were going to drive to Nebraska. It's a four? five? hour drive. But, THE DAY BEFORE, mindi tells us that we are flying. Her dad has a private jet that seats eight and he was going to have his pilot fly us up there. There were five of us total that all ended up flying to Nebraska together and the trip was only one hour as opposed to a five hour drive. I'd never flown in a private jet before and I'm here to tell ya I never want to fly commercial again!! I've been completely spoiled.
We get in the plane and take off and one of the girls, Jessica hands me a giftbag. I thought it was a thank you gift for Mindi and so I was holding it while Jessica rooted around in her purse for her camera. I handed the bag to Mindi and Jessica says "what are you doing? That's for you." Inside was a card that read "happy mother's day! we love you mommy. Love, Levi and Audrey." and in the bag was a necklace. In the circle of girls I hang out with these days, they all have this particular necklace and I was the only one who didn't have one. Basically it's just a silver chain and then you buy separate rings to go on it and there are different rings that say different things. They bought three for me. Mine say "son," "daughter," and "courage."
The Beth Moore conference was EXCELLENT!!!!!!! I bawled my eyes out more than a few times. There were six THOUSAND women (ok, and a stray husband here and there that had been drug along) women in attendance at the conference. awesome! We got to sit in the second row from the front down on the floor which just happened to be right behind the hearing impaired section and I fell in love with one of the translators they had for the weekend. Seriously, I could not keep my eyes off of her. When she was signing the praise and worship I got goosebumps. I want to be able to do that! It is a passion of mine to fluently learn sign languge and use it as a ministry! (bet ya didn't know that about me, did ya?)
downtown Nebraska was a lot of fun!
We had one room at a Double Tree Inn for the five of us which, I personally thought was a lot of fun. (I'm sure Tina wasn't as thrilled.)
On the way home Saturday afternoon, Mindi gave up her seat as co-pilot and offered to let us experience it. I got to sit in the co-pilot seat for take-off which... on man... that's something I'll never ever ever ever ever forget!
Sunday I got up and took the kiddos to church. After church when I went to get Audrey out of the nursery, the ladies attending the nursery told me that my phone had been vibrating in my bag the whole time. I checked my missed calls and I had three calls from a number I didn't know. I checked my voicemail and a woman had been calling to tell me she had a flower delivery for me but couldn't find my house. So, I called the number of the florist that she left on my voicemail and it turned out they were right by our church building, so I swung by and picked up the flowers. I was thinking it was probably from my parents, since this was my first mother's day ever that I haven't spent with them. But, I read the card and saw that they were from John!! Is he not the absolute sweetest?!? I'm twitterpated!
at around 4:00 when it wasn't SCORCHING heat anymore, I took the kids to the park to play and then to Sonic to get something cold to drink. While I was at Sonic, Mindi called and invited us over to their house to grill out. So, I took the kids over in their swimsuits and my two kids and her three kids all played in the water together and her hubby grilled for us. I got to eat a yummy dinner and relax with a glass of chianti.
I seriously could not have asked for a better weekend!
I'm so blessed to have awesome friends.
Happy late Mother's Day to all my mommy friends!!!! I hope you were all treated like royalty
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Thursday, May 10, 2007
Thursday Thirteen
I've been doing a lot of napping lately. Probably more than i SHOULD be doing.
So, today's Thursday Thirteen is going to be Thirteen Things That I Did Today That Didn't Include Napping:
1. Went to Wal-Mart and loaded up on Slim Fast "goodies" for the latest in my efforts to attempt to lose weight.
2. Met with the girls for lunch to discuss book club matters.
3. Did two loads of laundry. (yes, two MORE. yesterday I did two.)
4. Had a phone conference and arranged a meeting for tomorrow morning.
5. Booked a babysitter for this weekend so I can go see Beth Moore in Omaha with the girls.
6. Watched the "Getting Started" DVD that came with my Close To My Heart consultant kit yesterday
7. looked over Gold's Gym's classes for this month and wrote which ones I plan to attend on my calendar. (being proactive yanno)
8. Sent out a few hundred emails
9. Watched it pour down rain outside
10. Cleaned my kitchen
11. Took a bath and washed my hair
12. Watched Grey's Anatomy (ok, so this one hasn't happened yet... but it WILL!)
13. Loved on my kiddos every possible second that I could.
So, today's Thursday Thirteen is going to be Thirteen Things That I Did Today That Didn't Include Napping:
1. Went to Wal-Mart and loaded up on Slim Fast "goodies" for the latest in my efforts to attempt to lose weight.
2. Met with the girls for lunch to discuss book club matters.
3. Did two loads of laundry. (yes, two MORE. yesterday I did two.)
4. Had a phone conference and arranged a meeting for tomorrow morning.
5. Booked a babysitter for this weekend so I can go see Beth Moore in Omaha with the girls.
6. Watched the "Getting Started" DVD that came with my Close To My Heart consultant kit yesterday
7. looked over Gold's Gym's classes for this month and wrote which ones I plan to attend on my calendar. (being proactive yanno)
8. Sent out a few hundred emails
9. Watched it pour down rain outside
10. Cleaned my kitchen
11. Took a bath and washed my hair
12. Watched Grey's Anatomy (ok, so this one hasn't happened yet... but it WILL!)
13. Loved on my kiddos every possible second that I could.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Shout Outs
Wednesday, Wednesday...
for the last, oh, however many weeks... (I'm actually too lazy to count)... Wednesday was my day to do my bible study in preparation for Take T.W.O. on Thursdays.
I woke up this morning, literally feeling like something was missing. Last week was our last week of group. Tomorrow I won't be driving to Woodcrest for study. I'm pretty sad about this.
To finish off the semester last week we had a brunch. Each class met with each other at their own tables and at each place setting were two or three cards that we could write on for whoever we wanted who we felt had been a blessing to us that semester. At the end of the session we all exchanged cards with whoever we wanted to give them to.
When I was sitting at the table I leaned over to Mindi and said "I don't know who to write my card to!" I seriously felt like I could have said something to each and every woman sitting at that table with me. So, in the end, I wrote cards to people who I know do not read this blog. Because for those of you who DO read me... I'm going to dedicate this blog to you.
Mindi:
Girl FRIEND! I never would have imagined four years ago that we would be where we are today. I always thought you were seriously cool and wanted to be your friend and I'm glad that I finally have that chance. I can't wait to start our accountability group... but yet, in a way, feel that we've already started! Thanks for being everything that I needed in a friend right now.
Jessica:
same goes for you! I'm SO glad that we met this semester and I can't wait to get to know you even more this summer! You are one of those people who I feel would jump through hoops for me... and you barely even knew me. You seriously rock!
p.s.-- I saw you at Wal Mart yesterday... sorry for not saying hi. haha.
Margie:
have I told you that I love your smile? Because I do... I love your smile. =D
It was great to meet you this semester, and I'm SUPER excited to extend that friendship into book club this summer!!! YAY!!
Tina:
Tina, Tina, Tina. why do I feel like we could have been sistahs? Thanks for your caring and brutal honesty with me this semester. Thank you for walking my journey with me. And, thanks in advance for the scrapbook sessions that we're going to have this summer! *wink, wink*
p.s. -- we need an excuse to get the boys together!
You ALL know how to get in touch with me... so, Um, i expect to see a lot of you all this summer!
thanks for blessing me this semester! i don't think any of you will ever fully know just how very much I needed you all at this time in my life. I thank my God every time I remember you!!
for the last, oh, however many weeks... (I'm actually too lazy to count)... Wednesday was my day to do my bible study in preparation for Take T.W.O. on Thursdays.
I woke up this morning, literally feeling like something was missing. Last week was our last week of group. Tomorrow I won't be driving to Woodcrest for study. I'm pretty sad about this.
To finish off the semester last week we had a brunch. Each class met with each other at their own tables and at each place setting were two or three cards that we could write on for whoever we wanted who we felt had been a blessing to us that semester. At the end of the session we all exchanged cards with whoever we wanted to give them to.
When I was sitting at the table I leaned over to Mindi and said "I don't know who to write my card to!" I seriously felt like I could have said something to each and every woman sitting at that table with me. So, in the end, I wrote cards to people who I know do not read this blog. Because for those of you who DO read me... I'm going to dedicate this blog to you.
Mindi:
Girl FRIEND! I never would have imagined four years ago that we would be where we are today. I always thought you were seriously cool and wanted to be your friend and I'm glad that I finally have that chance. I can't wait to start our accountability group... but yet, in a way, feel that we've already started! Thanks for being everything that I needed in a friend right now.
Jessica:
same goes for you! I'm SO glad that we met this semester and I can't wait to get to know you even more this summer! You are one of those people who I feel would jump through hoops for me... and you barely even knew me. You seriously rock!
p.s.-- I saw you at Wal Mart yesterday... sorry for not saying hi. haha.
Margie:
have I told you that I love your smile? Because I do... I love your smile. =D
It was great to meet you this semester, and I'm SUPER excited to extend that friendship into book club this summer!!! YAY!!
Tina:
Tina, Tina, Tina. why do I feel like we could have been sistahs? Thanks for your caring and brutal honesty with me this semester. Thank you for walking my journey with me. And, thanks in advance for the scrapbook sessions that we're going to have this summer! *wink, wink*
p.s. -- we need an excuse to get the boys together!
You ALL know how to get in touch with me... so, Um, i expect to see a lot of you all this summer!
thanks for blessing me this semester! i don't think any of you will ever fully know just how very much I needed you all at this time in my life. I thank my God every time I remember you!!
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Imagine Me
me:
Moods: Shopisticat
You’re romantic, sophisticated and love the beauty of wide open spaces. You can be a little nostalgic and love revisiting familiar places and memories. When it comes to art, you appreciate precision and hard work – real craftsmanship. You appreciate the history of a piece, the stories that it holds – you are a touch sentimental! As for music, you’re a discerning listener. You like to have the best available – always one step ahead. Your choice of treat shows you crave relaxation. Maybe you live a pampered life – or maybe you’re so busy you don’t seem to get any time to yourself. When you’re tense you need a little help to unwind.
Fun: Thriller
Oh – insatiable! Your thirst for affection never drops. You’ve got a high sex drive and appetite for lurve. For kicks you like to indulge in your great passions. You are happy to live life’s highs and lows; you are fiercely loyal and passionate. You like to be part of something big. When it comes to holidays, you reckon they should always be indulgent – a very special treat and a chance to recharge your batteries in luxurious surroundings as well as spending quality time with family and friends. What grosses you out? Good manners are essential. Prodding, poking and picking get your “yuk” factor ticking.
Thrillers can make the best of any situation – always a lot of fun to be around. They love to laugh, and have a bit of a naughty side.
Habits: Junkie Monkey
You never have enough rest - either you’re too busy, exhausted or perhaps just a little lazy? Either way your snooze is your best friend, and at times your worse enemy! You’re not neurotic about making healthy choices… you’ve got more of an easy going and carefree approach to your lifestyle… and a sweet tooth too. As for the home, you have very cool and contemporary taste. You have a simple approach to style, but you like things to have their place.
Love: Love Bug
For you love is about long term commitment, it means devotion and tenderness. When you think of freedom – nature takes over. Getting back, out into the wilderness is a big draw.
Love Bugs are the type to fall in love a thousand times a day. Their feelings snowball quickly and they are full of passion.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
The Webs We Weave
I watched the new Charlotte's Web today with my three year old (Gosh, that sounds so weird to say! THREE year old! dang)
It's a pretty good movie. There were many times in the movie when I thought to myself "hey! that's good! I should remember that and blog about it!" So, I grabbed a pen and paper, took down notes... and my blog for today will be:
Things We Can Learn From Charlotte and Her Web
First of all...
There's a part in the movie where Wilbur (the pig, for those of you who haven't seen it) says to Charlotte (the spider) "Charlotte, what are you doing?" Charlotte replies "Thinking. I do my best thinking upside down. Blood goes to my head and perks me up."
So I tried it....
See!
And, the blood sure DID go to my head! Don't know that it perked me up any though. So, I'll continue to do all of my thinking right-side up thankyouverymuch.
Moving right along...
Salutations:
Charlotte: "Salutations is just a fancy way of saying hello."
Wilbur: "Oh, Hello! Hey, since you said salutations, does that mean we're friends?
Charlotte: "hmmm. I suppose it does.
[Wilbur dances around giddily]
Goose: "Hey kid, what's going on over here?"
Wilbur: "Oh, sorry, I just made a new friend, that's all."
If only making friends were so easy, huh?!
SALUTATIONS!!
Promises:
In the beginning of the movie, Fern's dad is getting ready to kill Wilbur because he was born the runt of the litter. There were eleven pigs and only ten teats on the sow. So, Fern promised to take care of the pig. Later in the movie, Fern's dad approaches Fern and tells her it's time to get rid of Wilbur... that he's no longer a baby and can't stay in the house with her anymore as a pet. This is the dialogue that followed:
Fern: I promised I'd take care of him.
Fern's Dad: "Well, i'm letting you out of your promise."
Fern: I didn't promise you. I promised Wilbur."
Wow!
Reminds me of who I'm making my promises to... and who I need to keep them for.
Trust:
Later on in the movie, the smelly old rat, Templeton, spills the beans to Wilbur that he is a Spring pig that won't live to see Christmas because the farmer plans to kill him and put him in the smokehouse. This upsets Wilbur and he talks to Charlotte about how they can keep him from being killed.
Charlotte: "I'm making you a promise right now. I am not going to let them kill you.
Wilbur: "You're a spider! You're little, they're huge! How are YOU going to stop them?"
Charlotte: "I have no idea, but it's a promise. And promises are something I never break. Just don't you worry about it, Wilbur."
Wilbur: "Ok charlotte. If you say so."
The reason this struck me is how very completely trusting Wilbur was. He only questioned Charlotte ONCE, and all it took was for her to say "I don't break my promises... trust me." and he says "ok" and walks away with complete faith that Charlotte will deliver on her promise.
If only there were more people like Charlotte in this world who intended to keep their promises... and if only more of us were like Wilbur... complete in our faith.
and my favorite...
at the part of the movie when Fern's dad tells her that Wilbur isn't a pet anymore and has to go, Fern's mom suggests sending Wilbur across the street to live at Fern's uncle's farm. While Fern is carrying Wilbur across to the farm and into the barn, the narrator of the movie is talking...
"It was just a big red barn full of typical stuff. Come to think of it, it couldn't have been more ordinary, but, sometimes when you take two ordinary things and put them together at just the right time, there's a chance they'll become two less ordinary things. that runty pig for instance, and that big old smelly barn. One sniff and you knew it was a place full of living things. But that didn't necessarily mean it was full of life. Nope, for that, this barn needed a pig. Only... no one knew it yet."
I just love that!
*sigh*
It's a pretty good movie. There were many times in the movie when I thought to myself "hey! that's good! I should remember that and blog about it!" So, I grabbed a pen and paper, took down notes... and my blog for today will be:
Things We Can Learn From Charlotte and Her Web
First of all...
There's a part in the movie where Wilbur (the pig, for those of you who haven't seen it) says to Charlotte (the spider) "Charlotte, what are you doing?" Charlotte replies "Thinking. I do my best thinking upside down. Blood goes to my head and perks me up."
So I tried it....
See!
And, the blood sure DID go to my head! Don't know that it perked me up any though. So, I'll continue to do all of my thinking right-side up thankyouverymuch.
Moving right along...
Salutations:
Charlotte: "Salutations is just a fancy way of saying hello."
Wilbur: "Oh, Hello! Hey, since you said salutations, does that mean we're friends?
Charlotte: "hmmm. I suppose it does.
[Wilbur dances around giddily]
Goose: "Hey kid, what's going on over here?"
Wilbur: "Oh, sorry, I just made a new friend, that's all."
If only making friends were so easy, huh?!
SALUTATIONS!!
Promises:
In the beginning of the movie, Fern's dad is getting ready to kill Wilbur because he was born the runt of the litter. There were eleven pigs and only ten teats on the sow. So, Fern promised to take care of the pig. Later in the movie, Fern's dad approaches Fern and tells her it's time to get rid of Wilbur... that he's no longer a baby and can't stay in the house with her anymore as a pet. This is the dialogue that followed:
Fern: I promised I'd take care of him.
Fern's Dad: "Well, i'm letting you out of your promise."
Fern: I didn't promise you. I promised Wilbur."
Wow!
Reminds me of who I'm making my promises to... and who I need to keep them for.
Trust:
Later on in the movie, the smelly old rat, Templeton, spills the beans to Wilbur that he is a Spring pig that won't live to see Christmas because the farmer plans to kill him and put him in the smokehouse. This upsets Wilbur and he talks to Charlotte about how they can keep him from being killed.
Charlotte: "I'm making you a promise right now. I am not going to let them kill you.
Wilbur: "You're a spider! You're little, they're huge! How are YOU going to stop them?"
Charlotte: "I have no idea, but it's a promise. And promises are something I never break. Just don't you worry about it, Wilbur."
Wilbur: "Ok charlotte. If you say so."
The reason this struck me is how very completely trusting Wilbur was. He only questioned Charlotte ONCE, and all it took was for her to say "I don't break my promises... trust me." and he says "ok" and walks away with complete faith that Charlotte will deliver on her promise.
If only there were more people like Charlotte in this world who intended to keep their promises... and if only more of us were like Wilbur... complete in our faith.
and my favorite...
at the part of the movie when Fern's dad tells her that Wilbur isn't a pet anymore and has to go, Fern's mom suggests sending Wilbur across the street to live at Fern's uncle's farm. While Fern is carrying Wilbur across to the farm and into the barn, the narrator of the movie is talking...
"It was just a big red barn full of typical stuff. Come to think of it, it couldn't have been more ordinary, but, sometimes when you take two ordinary things and put them together at just the right time, there's a chance they'll become two less ordinary things. that runty pig for instance, and that big old smelly barn. One sniff and you knew it was a place full of living things. But that didn't necessarily mean it was full of life. Nope, for that, this barn needed a pig. Only... no one knew it yet."
I just love that!
*sigh*
Monday, April 30, 2007
Say Cheese!!!
Levi's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese saturday was a total hit.
The guest list included:
little sister, Audrey
Caden Haustein (with mom, Sandi, dad, Dave, and baby brother, Chase)
Alivia Patty (with mom, Mindi)
Madison Mills (with dad, John)
Amy Steffen
B.A. Burroughs
and, of course, Chuck E. Cheese himself.
pics of the big day...
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Thursday Thirteen
I've been horrible about doing the "Thursday Thirteen." Today's Thursday Thirteen will be Thirteen Things You May Not Know About Me.
1. I may not have the cleanest house in the world, but I have an obsession with cleaning products. Seriously. I peruse the cleaning product aisle almost every time I'm in Wal Mart and/or Target.
2. I can shop for other people all day long, but I find it extremely difficult to shop for myself. Even though I know there are things that I want/need. I would rather shop for others first.
3. I constantly like to have projects going. Usually more than one at a time. I haven't had a project going in a long time though, and I feel pretty unsettled about this.
4. Speaking of projects... it is a dream of mine to own a fixer upper one day and completely gut and renovate the place. I think that would be seriously awesome!
5. I get my thoughts out clearer in blog or paper journaling form then I do when talking to a person face to face. I can write one heck of a letter... but don't expect me to be good at words during a conversation with you. People who know me well already know this.
6. I want to own a Chinese Shar-Pei
7. I don't think I'm done having kids
8. I count things. It used to be a serious problem of mine. I would count cars going down the road for MILES. I would count chairs in a room. Or ceiling tiles. I haven't done it in a really really long time but it used to be a horrible habit I had.
9. I like to eat Cheez-its IN Yoplait's red raspberry yogurt.
ok, bathtime for kiddos. So, it's the Thursday Nine. maybe I'll come back and add four more later.
1. I may not have the cleanest house in the world, but I have an obsession with cleaning products. Seriously. I peruse the cleaning product aisle almost every time I'm in Wal Mart and/or Target.
2. I can shop for other people all day long, but I find it extremely difficult to shop for myself. Even though I know there are things that I want/need. I would rather shop for others first.
3. I constantly like to have projects going. Usually more than one at a time. I haven't had a project going in a long time though, and I feel pretty unsettled about this.
4. Speaking of projects... it is a dream of mine to own a fixer upper one day and completely gut and renovate the place. I think that would be seriously awesome!
5. I get my thoughts out clearer in blog or paper journaling form then I do when talking to a person face to face. I can write one heck of a letter... but don't expect me to be good at words during a conversation with you. People who know me well already know this.
6. I want to own a Chinese Shar-Pei
7. I don't think I'm done having kids
8. I count things. It used to be a serious problem of mine. I would count cars going down the road for MILES. I would count chairs in a room. Or ceiling tiles. I haven't done it in a really really long time but it used to be a horrible habit I had.
9. I like to eat Cheez-its IN Yoplait's red raspberry yogurt.
ok, bathtime for kiddos. So, it's the Thursday Nine. maybe I'll come back and add four more later.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Happy Birthday, Princess
Audrey,
I sure don't know what I would do without you in my life. You make everyday an adventure for me. You have such a way of making me laugh at the goofy things you do. I hope your second year is as wonderful as your first. You are such an amazing little girl.
I love you with all of my heart!
Happy Birthday, Princess.
Love, Mama
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Unconditional Love
I've had this blog about unconditional love going in my head for almost a week now. Ever since last thursday's bible study at Take T.W.O. I guess I just don't know where to start.
*think think think*
This morning as I was getting ready to get out of the house and do errands, I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth. When I came out, Levi was standing there and he looked at me with a twinkle in his eye, got a great big smile on his face and said to me "*gasp*, You are SO beautiful!"
There I was, wearing paint splattered wind pants, an old t-shirt, my badly-needing-to-be-washed hair thrown up into a ponytail, absolutely NO make-up, and flip flops showing off my horribly chipped nail polished toes....
and my two year old thinks I'm beautiful!
Yesterday I thought I was going to pull all of my hair out because of how horribly Levi was behaving. It seemed bed time couldn't come any faster. I was just DONE for the day. And then today he pulled such sweetness on me.
it made my heart swell.
Unconditional love.
Last thursday in group we talked about what we hope that we project to others about ourselves. I said that I hope that I project a sense of invitation. I hope that people know that they can come and sit with me whenever they want to. That they can talk if they feel like it, or that we can sit in total silence. Either way, I enjoy being hospitable and inviting, and I hope that others around me feel that about me.
Some others in the group said that they hoped that people felt accepted around them.
and that got me to thinking about uncondtional love.
I might not always accept the things that my loved ones do. I might not always like their behavior... but I always love. Unconditionally. When I commit to a relationship, I'm in it for the long haul. I don't jump ship when things get rocky. I don't bail. I'm loyal. to a fault many times. It's not a hard things to do... love unconditionally... so it makes me wonder why there can't be more people like that in the world. Why do sooo many people claim to love one day, and then the next claim that their love just subsided? My brain can't wrap around that.
and that's what I'm thinking about this week.
*think think think*
This morning as I was getting ready to get out of the house and do errands, I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth. When I came out, Levi was standing there and he looked at me with a twinkle in his eye, got a great big smile on his face and said to me "*gasp*, You are SO beautiful!"
There I was, wearing paint splattered wind pants, an old t-shirt, my badly-needing-to-be-washed hair thrown up into a ponytail, absolutely NO make-up, and flip flops showing off my horribly chipped nail polished toes....
and my two year old thinks I'm beautiful!
Yesterday I thought I was going to pull all of my hair out because of how horribly Levi was behaving. It seemed bed time couldn't come any faster. I was just DONE for the day. And then today he pulled such sweetness on me.
it made my heart swell.
Unconditional love.
Last thursday in group we talked about what we hope that we project to others about ourselves. I said that I hope that I project a sense of invitation. I hope that people know that they can come and sit with me whenever they want to. That they can talk if they feel like it, or that we can sit in total silence. Either way, I enjoy being hospitable and inviting, and I hope that others around me feel that about me.
Some others in the group said that they hoped that people felt accepted around them.
and that got me to thinking about uncondtional love.
I might not always accept the things that my loved ones do. I might not always like their behavior... but I always love. Unconditionally. When I commit to a relationship, I'm in it for the long haul. I don't jump ship when things get rocky. I don't bail. I'm loyal. to a fault many times. It's not a hard things to do... love unconditionally... so it makes me wonder why there can't be more people like that in the world. Why do sooo many people claim to love one day, and then the next claim that their love just subsided? My brain can't wrap around that.
and that's what I'm thinking about this week.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Thursday Thirteen
This week when we were at the library, I picked up a list of "Books Every Toddler Should Know"
There are 55 books on the list.
So, today's Thursday Thirteen is going to be:
Thirteen (plus 42) Books That Every Toddler Should Know
1. Each Peach Pear Plum: An "I Spy" Story by Janet Ahlberg
2. Grandma by Debbie Bailey
3. Boats by Byron Barton
4. Moo Baa La La by Sandra Boynton
5. The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
6. Hand Rhymes by Marc Tolon Brown
7. Mr. Grumpy's Outing by john Burningham
8. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
9. Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear by Nancy White Carlstrom
10. Find the Duck by Stephen Cartwright
11. Five Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed by Eileen Christelow
12. Freight Train by Donald Crews
13. Ten in the Bed by Penny Dale
14. Jamberry by Bruce Degen
15. Tomie dePaola's Mother Goose by Tomie DePaola
16. What Bounces? by Kate Duke
17. Busy, Busy Toddlers by Phoebe Dunn
18. Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert
19. The Baby Sitter by Frank Endersby
20. In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming
21. A Year in the Country by Douglas Florian
22. Babies by Gyo Fujikawa
23. ABC Bunny by Wanda Gag (how'd you like THAT last name. LOL)
24. Asleep, Asleep by Mirra Ginsburg
25. Jungle Sounds by Colin Hawkins
26. Look! Look! Look! by Tana Hoban
27. Animal Sounds for Baby by Cheryl WIllis Hudson
28. Giving by Shirley Hughes
29. Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins
30. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
31. Whose Mouse Are You? by Robert Kraus
32. The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
33. Sam's Bath by Barbro Lindgren
34. Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin
35. Mommies at Work by Eve Merriam
36. Whose Hat? by Margarte Miller
37. The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel
38. The Saucepan Game by Jan Ormerod
39. Family by Helen Oxenbury
40. Mother, Mother, I Want Another by Maria Polushkin
41. Read-Aloud Rhynes for the Very Young by Jack Prelutsky
42. Shake My Sillies Out by Raffi
43. We're Going On A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
44. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
45. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
46. Sheep In A Jeep by Nancy Shaw
47. What Do Toddlers Do? by Debby Slier
48. The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst
49. Cookie's Week by Cindy Ward
50. How Do I Put It On? by Shigeo Watanabe
51. Father Fox's Pennyrhymes by Clyde Watson
52. I Went Walking by Sue Williams
53. The Napping House by Audrey Wood
54. Piggies by Don Wood
55. The Lullabye Songbook by Jane Yolen
There are 55 books on the list.
So, today's Thursday Thirteen is going to be:
Thirteen (plus 42) Books That Every Toddler Should Know
1. Each Peach Pear Plum: An "I Spy" Story by Janet Ahlberg
2. Grandma by Debbie Bailey
3. Boats by Byron Barton
4. Moo Baa La La by Sandra Boynton
5. The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
6. Hand Rhymes by Marc Tolon Brown
7. Mr. Grumpy's Outing by john Burningham
8. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
9. Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear by Nancy White Carlstrom
10. Find the Duck by Stephen Cartwright
11. Five Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed by Eileen Christelow
12. Freight Train by Donald Crews
13. Ten in the Bed by Penny Dale
14. Jamberry by Bruce Degen
15. Tomie dePaola's Mother Goose by Tomie DePaola
16. What Bounces? by Kate Duke
17. Busy, Busy Toddlers by Phoebe Dunn
18. Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert
19. The Baby Sitter by Frank Endersby
20. In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming
21. A Year in the Country by Douglas Florian
22. Babies by Gyo Fujikawa
23. ABC Bunny by Wanda Gag (how'd you like THAT last name. LOL)
24. Asleep, Asleep by Mirra Ginsburg
25. Jungle Sounds by Colin Hawkins
26. Look! Look! Look! by Tana Hoban
27. Animal Sounds for Baby by Cheryl WIllis Hudson
28. Giving by Shirley Hughes
29. Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins
30. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
31. Whose Mouse Are You? by Robert Kraus
32. The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
33. Sam's Bath by Barbro Lindgren
34. Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin
35. Mommies at Work by Eve Merriam
36. Whose Hat? by Margarte Miller
37. The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel
38. The Saucepan Game by Jan Ormerod
39. Family by Helen Oxenbury
40. Mother, Mother, I Want Another by Maria Polushkin
41. Read-Aloud Rhynes for the Very Young by Jack Prelutsky
42. Shake My Sillies Out by Raffi
43. We're Going On A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
44. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
45. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
46. Sheep In A Jeep by Nancy Shaw
47. What Do Toddlers Do? by Debby Slier
48. The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst
49. Cookie's Week by Cindy Ward
50. How Do I Put It On? by Shigeo Watanabe
51. Father Fox's Pennyrhymes by Clyde Watson
52. I Went Walking by Sue Williams
53. The Napping House by Audrey Wood
54. Piggies by Don Wood
55. The Lullabye Songbook by Jane Yolen
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Thursday, March 1, 2007
It Takes A Village
Been thinking lately about discipline.
This may be a controversial blog for some of you to read, depending on your views of discipline, so I'll just put it out there that I spank my child and now it's up to you if you want to continue reading the rest of this blog. fair?
And now, I just have to decide how I actually want to start this blog. Hmmm.
ok, here goes...
Before Levi could talk verbally, I had taught him sign language. He was required to sign "please" and "thank you" at the appropriate times until he could learn how to speak them. At 8 months old, if Levi touched something that I had already told him once not to touch, I swatted his hand. He learned from this and wouldn't touch it again. I had no problems with him. I didn't have to childproof my house or worry about what he would get into because he KNEW what would happen. I had an obedient child. People didn't hesitate to invite us over or cringe when we showed up somewhere. It was expected that my child was going to behave, or he was going to be punished. period. the end.
I need to interject here and say that I've been raising Levi alone since he was 6 months old and my (now ex) husband left for Iraq.
that first year of raising him alone was.... well, not EASY... but easIER for me. I could do it alone because I (thought that I) knew that at the end of it all, I would have my partner to help and that it wouldn't always be just me. I never expected that one year of raising Levi alone would turn into now two and a half years going on however many years I'm intended to do this alone.
*sigh*
it's hard!
well, after the whole shock of the horrible homecoming I really got leniant (sp?) in my discipline with Levi. For one, I felt like he was having to deal with SO MUCH already with all of the confusion and dealing with me in my pregnant, hormonal, emotional state that it wasn't... i dunno... fair? And for two, I just had SO MUCH going on that discipline all of the sudden became not so important.
And I guess I let that go on for too long and now I'm finding myself trying to play catch up. Now, I've got this totally rambunctious two year old. and yes, I know two year olds are rambunctious... but golly he's SO whiney sometimes and before I would not have put up with that. But now he's learned that he can get away with crap like dramatically falling to the floor if he doesn't get his way. and it's driving me nuts.
anyway...
this weekend my best friends brother was in town and while he was here Levi did his dramatic fall to the floor and whine routine. John, knows that I'm a spanker. We've had conversations before about how not enough people these days still spank their kids. Well, Levi did his attention getting act and I tried to ignore it when John says to me "oh no. I'd spank that bottom." And at first it really threw me off that he said that and I said to him "are you trying to tell me how to parent my child?" and he said "uh yeah. Just then I was." (which also threw me!) THEN... to top it off he goes "I'll do it for ya!" and I at this point started thinking THE NERVE!
BUT....
The more I thought about it the more it didn't bother me that he had said that. No, I didn't let him spank Levi. But I got to thinking that sometimes it really DOES take a village to raise a child. And, I appreciate it when people jump in and help.
A couple of weeks ago I went to lunch with Amy and after lunch Levi started to run out into the parking lot and she said something to him in a foreful tone of voice and then caught herself and apologized to me. But... it didn't bother me. A stranger off of the street trying to boss my kid, yeah, that would bother me. But not people that I know and love. I appreciate their support in trying to help me raise a good boy.
*shrug*
I watched a comedy routine recently by Sinbad and in part of it he was talking about back in the day when if you did something wrong, you'd get whooped by all the neighbors on the way home so that by the time you actually got home you already couldn't sit. People were comfortable letting their friends and family help in the disciplining of their children.
where is all of this going?
well... this week in the book I'm reading for my study (Captivating), we were forced to think about how our own upbringings have shaped us into who we are today. We looked at what kind of parents we had as kids and we looked at what kind of parent we, ourselves, were being.
There is a sentence in the book that reads "when my sons were young and got hurt, their dad would say something encouraging like, "cool wound." I would hold them close and tend their injuries."
This is something that I struggle with daily. Being BOTH mom AND dad is extremely difficult and I don't know that I've gotten a comfortable grasp on it yet. On the one hand, I don't want to raise a sissy boy, so when he falls and gets a little scrape part of me says "shake it off, you're tough." and not make a big deal of it, but my insides... my motherly instincts are yearning at the same time to run to him and coo over him and kiss his boo boo and love on him and make everything ok.
where is the happy medium?!?
In the class we are being required to ask ourselves the question "am I lovely?"
*deep breath in*
I honestly can say that I don't ever think that I've felt lovely.
I grew up a tom boy. I had an older brother and did things like shoot bb guns, and fish, and I even owned a bow and arrows. I rode the four wheelers and I went swimmin in the nastiest places and jumped off of bluffs into dangerous waters.
In high school I was 25 pounds lighter than I am now and I vividly remember my mom saying to me once "you could be a model if you would just lose some weight." that stuck with me! It gave me a bad self image.
then I got married to a guy who I thought adored me and thought I was lovely. turns out he had a pretty major addiction to pornography and any woman knows that's the last thing she needs to feel lovely... a husband who gets satisfaction looking at perfect big chested women. Didn't help that he ended up having an affair in the long run either.
and now...
now I'm supposed to be the mom... the lady of the house. I'm supposed to dress my little girl in pinks and treat her like a princess, but at the same time I'm having to act like I think the frog that Levi found out front is SOOOO cool.
lovely?
not so much
*deep breath out*
(I feel like I had more to say in this blog but after stopping to re-read what i've written so far a million times, I'm emotionally exhausted and need to just sign out for the day.)
P.S. -- some of my blogs are forcing myself to look deeper into who I am than I have in the past and it's a big deal for me to "put it out there" so if you read these blogs please at least sign your name. thanks
This may be a controversial blog for some of you to read, depending on your views of discipline, so I'll just put it out there that I spank my child and now it's up to you if you want to continue reading the rest of this blog. fair?
And now, I just have to decide how I actually want to start this blog. Hmmm.
ok, here goes...
Before Levi could talk verbally, I had taught him sign language. He was required to sign "please" and "thank you" at the appropriate times until he could learn how to speak them. At 8 months old, if Levi touched something that I had already told him once not to touch, I swatted his hand. He learned from this and wouldn't touch it again. I had no problems with him. I didn't have to childproof my house or worry about what he would get into because he KNEW what would happen. I had an obedient child. People didn't hesitate to invite us over or cringe when we showed up somewhere. It was expected that my child was going to behave, or he was going to be punished. period. the end.
I need to interject here and say that I've been raising Levi alone since he was 6 months old and my (now ex) husband left for Iraq.
that first year of raising him alone was.... well, not EASY... but easIER for me. I could do it alone because I (thought that I) knew that at the end of it all, I would have my partner to help and that it wouldn't always be just me. I never expected that one year of raising Levi alone would turn into now two and a half years going on however many years I'm intended to do this alone.
*sigh*
it's hard!
well, after the whole shock of the horrible homecoming I really got leniant (sp?) in my discipline with Levi. For one, I felt like he was having to deal with SO MUCH already with all of the confusion and dealing with me in my pregnant, hormonal, emotional state that it wasn't... i dunno... fair? And for two, I just had SO MUCH going on that discipline all of the sudden became not so important.
And I guess I let that go on for too long and now I'm finding myself trying to play catch up. Now, I've got this totally rambunctious two year old. and yes, I know two year olds are rambunctious... but golly he's SO whiney sometimes and before I would not have put up with that. But now he's learned that he can get away with crap like dramatically falling to the floor if he doesn't get his way. and it's driving me nuts.
anyway...
this weekend my best friends brother was in town and while he was here Levi did his dramatic fall to the floor and whine routine. John, knows that I'm a spanker. We've had conversations before about how not enough people these days still spank their kids. Well, Levi did his attention getting act and I tried to ignore it when John says to me "oh no. I'd spank that bottom." And at first it really threw me off that he said that and I said to him "are you trying to tell me how to parent my child?" and he said "uh yeah. Just then I was." (which also threw me!) THEN... to top it off he goes "I'll do it for ya!" and I at this point started thinking THE NERVE!
BUT....
The more I thought about it the more it didn't bother me that he had said that. No, I didn't let him spank Levi. But I got to thinking that sometimes it really DOES take a village to raise a child. And, I appreciate it when people jump in and help.
A couple of weeks ago I went to lunch with Amy and after lunch Levi started to run out into the parking lot and she said something to him in a foreful tone of voice and then caught herself and apologized to me. But... it didn't bother me. A stranger off of the street trying to boss my kid, yeah, that would bother me. But not people that I know and love. I appreciate their support in trying to help me raise a good boy.
*shrug*
I watched a comedy routine recently by Sinbad and in part of it he was talking about back in the day when if you did something wrong, you'd get whooped by all the neighbors on the way home so that by the time you actually got home you already couldn't sit. People were comfortable letting their friends and family help in the disciplining of their children.
where is all of this going?
well... this week in the book I'm reading for my study (Captivating), we were forced to think about how our own upbringings have shaped us into who we are today. We looked at what kind of parents we had as kids and we looked at what kind of parent we, ourselves, were being.
There is a sentence in the book that reads "when my sons were young and got hurt, their dad would say something encouraging like, "cool wound." I would hold them close and tend their injuries."
This is something that I struggle with daily. Being BOTH mom AND dad is extremely difficult and I don't know that I've gotten a comfortable grasp on it yet. On the one hand, I don't want to raise a sissy boy, so when he falls and gets a little scrape part of me says "shake it off, you're tough." and not make a big deal of it, but my insides... my motherly instincts are yearning at the same time to run to him and coo over him and kiss his boo boo and love on him and make everything ok.
where is the happy medium?!?
In the class we are being required to ask ourselves the question "am I lovely?"
*deep breath in*
I honestly can say that I don't ever think that I've felt lovely.
I grew up a tom boy. I had an older brother and did things like shoot bb guns, and fish, and I even owned a bow and arrows. I rode the four wheelers and I went swimmin in the nastiest places and jumped off of bluffs into dangerous waters.
In high school I was 25 pounds lighter than I am now and I vividly remember my mom saying to me once "you could be a model if you would just lose some weight." that stuck with me! It gave me a bad self image.
then I got married to a guy who I thought adored me and thought I was lovely. turns out he had a pretty major addiction to pornography and any woman knows that's the last thing she needs to feel lovely... a husband who gets satisfaction looking at perfect big chested women. Didn't help that he ended up having an affair in the long run either.
and now...
now I'm supposed to be the mom... the lady of the house. I'm supposed to dress my little girl in pinks and treat her like a princess, but at the same time I'm having to act like I think the frog that Levi found out front is SOOOO cool.
lovely?
not so much
*deep breath out*
(I feel like I had more to say in this blog but after stopping to re-read what i've written so far a million times, I'm emotionally exhausted and need to just sign out for the day.)
P.S. -- some of my blogs are forcing myself to look deeper into who I am than I have in the past and it's a big deal for me to "put it out there" so if you read these blogs please at least sign your name. thanks
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