tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32761746609995310932024-03-13T15:48:36.659-05:00What A DayStories from a mom who manages family life and a job outside of the home. It's a little exhausting, but we love the adventure! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12763465295475318185noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276174660999531093.post-72794232531197081452014-04-01T09:14:00.000-05:002014-04-01T17:15:16.925-05:00I've lost that lovin' feelingFor the past several weeks -- maybe even months -- I've experienced a feeling of emptiness that I'm not sure I've ever experienced before. Don't get me wrong, I've had plenty of heartache and loss in my (almost 40) years of life. But this time it's different, and it's a little difficult to describe. The only way I know to explain it is "lost." Have you been there? That place where your days and nights are spent trying to think of something, anything, that would make you feel better. But nothing does. A place of numbness where you find yourself judging all the wrongs of other people to make yourself feel better. You know, that mom who doesn't raise her children like you would, that friend who isn't always a good friend, that co-worker who seems to constantly say and do mean-hearted things.<br />
<br />
There's no doubt this is why I spend so much time on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. It's why I turn the radio up when I'm driving. It's why I want to sleep every chance I get (which isn't much), or immerse myself in my kids' activities. Because when there's silence, I'm required to think about where I am. When there's noise and distraction, I don't have to address what's going on in my head and heart.<br />
<br />
But, it's time for quiet. It's time to take a look at the status of my heart. And when I do, clarity comes.<br />
<br />
The fact is, I don't love people.<br />
<br />
Aside from loving Him, it's God's greatest commandment. But I don't do it.<br />
<br />
Sure, I love people who are easy to love. If you're kind, see things just like I do, and never do anything that's too far from how I would do it, chances are I'll reciprocate kindness and love. But, if you're difficult to love -- if your actions are questionable, you're not perfectly nice, or you rub me the wrong way -- I'll probably judge you. You may never know it, but I'll question your motives, and I'll wonder why you're not just like me. I may even complain about you to my husband, sister, and/or closest friends. I'll raise myself up, and place you where I've decided you belong -- beneath me. <br />
<br />
Oh the ridiculousness. Oh the sin.<br />
<br />
Have you ever noticed how many versus in the Bible talk about love? A lot.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Leviticus 19:18</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses." Proverbs 10:12</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Mathew 22: 37-39</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart," 1 Peter 1:22</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us." 1 John 3:23</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us." 1 John 4: 7-12</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother who he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother." 1 John 4: 19-21</blockquote>
<br />
As I read these versus today, I'm even more convinced that loving people -- even if they don't act and think like me -- is a big deal to God. I'm also convinced that this "feeling" I've experienced is a direct result of being outside of God's will for my life. I'm not called to judge, I'm called to offer grace and to love.<br />
<br />
So my prayer today is that I would begin love God with all my heart, and as a result of that love that I would offer grace and love to the people around me -- regardless of whether they meet my expectations. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12763465295475318185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276174660999531093.post-62941459480639133082012-11-27T21:25:00.000-06:002012-11-27T21:25:43.558-06:00The Xmas Delima
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most of my life I’ve heard that I should never, ever use the
word “Xmas” to refer to Christmas, lest I be guilty of leaving Christ out of the
holiday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love Jesus and certainly don’t
want to leave him out, so I’ve just always stuck with using “Christmas,” and
assumed that people who don’t, well… they don’t. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But then last year I saw my pastor refer to Christmas as
Xmas in a Tweet… he loves Jesus (and only had 140 characters to make his
point). Then, I saw a few other friends use Xmas in text messages, tweets and
Facebook statuses… they love Jesus, too. So, it made me think that maybe, just
maybe I was missing out on something. Maybe there was something more to the
word Xmas. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, I did some research, and guess what I found? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The use of the word Xmas was, in fact, not designed to leave
Christ out of the holiday as the marquees, bumper stickers and Facebook posts
say. I’m almost embarrassed that I’m just now doing the research (and if you’ve
posted one of these posts, or have the bumper sticker, I’m not judging). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The “X” comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first
letter of the Greek word <i>Χριστός,</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">
and is translated as “Christ.” The use of Xmas showed up in English in the 1500’s,
pre printing press, when books were handwritten. Because it was so difficult
and expensive to handwrite books, they used the word “X” to save time, space,
and money. Pretty smart.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course, now days
we don’t have much reason to abbreviate Christmas to Xmas (unless limited to 140
characters), but there’s a bit of a sense of relief that I no longer feel the
need to question the motives of a person who does. I’ll just assume that they’re
familiar with the origin and definition of the word, they need to abbreviate, or they’re in a hurry—regardless,
I’ll choose to see Christ in it. And when my kids ask what Xmas means, I’ll
explain the true origin of the word, so even if it is meant as an attempt to
avoid including Christ (which no doubt happens a lot), they’ll still see Him in it. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, if you get a
card from us (which may not happen until January the way things are going), I
can guarantee that we'll say "Merry Christmas"; I just like the word
(and I don’t want to run the risk of offending those who can’t get past it). But,
if I’m sending a quick text or a tweet where I need to abbreviate, I may use
Xmas. If that happens, you can rest easy knowing that I do love Jesus and the “X”
isn’t replacing Christ, it’s just another way to say His name. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12763465295475318185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276174660999531093.post-28713695951462601562012-11-19T15:45:00.002-06:002012-11-19T15:45:54.068-06:00Almost Got this Starbucks Thing<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
thing about being perpetually tired is that I’ve learned to like coffee. A
couple of years ago (in the midst of really, really bad sleepless nights) we
bought a Keurig. It’s now on my list of favorite things (so if you’re thinking
about getting one for someone for Christmas—I say YES!) No one even has to know
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">By
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Since
I’m pretty frugal (and paying $4+ for a drink gives me the shakes), I’ve just
never gotten in to drinking coffee from coffee shops. That’s the story I’ll tell
at least. Reality is, I’m a coffee shop dummy. And I’m intimidated. I’m afraid
I’ll (a.) pay $5 for something I really don’t want, or (b.) say something
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
lately I’ve done some work travel with much more sophisticated and cultured
co-workers, and I’ve learned a little. What I know is that both a Salted Carmel
Mocha and a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks are yummo. That’s where it ends. I feel a
little embarrassed to say “Grande,” instead of my typical “medium,”—do I say it
like “grand-a” or “grand” without the “a” sound. A girl with an Arkansas accent
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This
weekend, while out with Kerry (my sister) and Christina (my friend), we stopped
by Starbucks, and I ordered a Grande Salted Carmel Mocha. It didn’t disappoint.
Again today I went through the drive through and ordered this:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DtWSZM2BPuc/UKqoDpXPXJI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/-bVpZw4Ntqw/s1600/IMG_0973%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DtWSZM2BPuc/UKqoDpXPXJI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/-bVpZw4Ntqw/s320/IMG_0973%5B1%5D.JPG" width="238" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A Grande Peppermint
Mocha. But this time threw in “skinny.” Almost like a professional. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
may even do it again tomorrow. I think I’ve got this.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To those who are professional coffee drinkers/orderers, etc., feel free to send advice and tips. I'm trying to own the fact that I don't get out much. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12763465295475318185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276174660999531093.post-550674275790099712012-11-15T10:40:00.001-06:002012-11-15T10:44:05.545-06:00A Date With the TreadmillI've struggled a little with whether to post this--I'm typically pretty guarded. But I'm confident my struggle is similar to that of a lot of other people, so here we are.<br />
<br />
If you've known me long, you know that my weight has gone up and down my entire life. You probably even know of my most recent weight loss. Two years ago I decided to try Metabolic Research Center. Within 4 months of eating almost nothing, and drinking lots of protein supplements, I lost around 40 lbs. I felt amazing. I was getting up at 4:30 a.m. to work out before work, running 5k's, and was very encouraged by the compliments of people who noticed the weight loss. I stopped going to MRC in February, knowing that I had things under control. And I did. I kept the weight off for several months. Then, in late October I injured my ankle running on the treadmill and had to stop running for 6 weeks. That 6 weeks turned into 6 months...and now a year. And the lack of exercise turned into eating anything I wanted. And no exercise and eating anything I wanted turned into no energy... and here we are, back to the girl who felt terrible.<br />
<br />
This is a lack of self-discipline that I can't hide. It's totally visible to all who knew me then and know me now. I'm super disappointed in myself. Losing the weight initially was such hard work. Like really, really hard. And now that hard work was for not. Ugh.<br />
<br />
I know for certain that in order to be at a healthy weight, I have to work hard every single day. I have to be disciplined in so many areas of my life (work, family, schedules, etc.) that in selfish childishness, I've been telling myself that in this area I'm going to do what I want to do, not what I need to do.<br />
<br />
You know what? It stinks. But, it's life. And I know for sure that I'm not the only one with these struggles (though it feels like it some days). I also know a lot of people with amazing self-discipline, who have the same responsibilities and time constraints I have--so there's no doubt it's possible. <br />
<br />
Though I lost weight with MRC, I'll never do anything like that again. It's not a reasonable way to live. I have to control my diet and find a way to get some serious activity back in my life. Likely that means going back to a 4:30 a.m. date with the treadmill; that doesn't sound fun at all.<br />
<br />
More sleep, more exercise, a healthy diet--sounds like some big changes are about to happen around here.<br />
<br />
Now...who wants to hold me accountable?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12763465295475318185noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276174660999531093.post-2717015405408419632012-11-14T15:06:00.000-06:002012-11-14T15:54:20.540-06:00Sleepy Time<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
covet sleep. Had you told me when I was a 19-year-old college student that I
would be getting up at 5 a.m. to be at work at 7 a.m., (while going to bed at
midnight) I would have told you that you were absolutely out of your mind. But
alas, this is my reality. I’ve actually learned to live on very little sleep.
Until it catches up with me. Then watch out—I’m a cranky mom (and wife,
daughter, co-worker, etc., etc.). The good news is that I have a fabulous
husband who knows when I’ve hit the wall and tells me to lay down. If I’m not
trying to be a martyr/hero, I usually take him up on it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here’s
what I know (because I’ve read about it). We need sleep—and lots of it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
National Sleep Foundation (you know it’s important if there’s a foundation
about it, right?) says that adults need eight hours of sleep a night. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Eight
hours of sleep. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can
I get an amen? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When
I look back at my old posts, I can see exactly when the sleep deprivation began.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">With this guy...</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57IAVSesgfE/UKQGAo6c_CI/AAAAAAAAAcw/cKaNRCqbabI/s1600/silly+Eli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57IAVSesgfE/UKQGAo6c_CI/AAAAAAAAAcw/cKaNRCqbabI/s320/silly+Eli.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> My precious little silly, rambunctious Eli. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Chris and I joke that we think we’ll be able to
consistently sleep through the night in 2015. It’s good to have a goal. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Over
the past four years we’ve gone through colic, night terrors and just plain old
not wanting to sleep. We’ve prayed, read books, talked to his pediatrician,
researched blogs and websites, but in the end, I think it’s just going to have
to get better on its own. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve learned some tactics that
definitely help, but I think he’s just a bad sleeper. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s getting better, though—most nights we
just have to get up with him 1-2 times. We can actually see the light at the
end of the tunnel. This morning at about 4 a.m. he walked into our bedroom and
whispered “mommy, tan I tet in your bed?” This is a HUGE improvement from lying
in his bed screaming several times a night. And the night terrors are few and
far between. They typically only happen when he’s had a very, very active day
with no nap. For Eli, naps are good/over-stimulation is not.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now
that Eli is beginning to sleep better, I’m challenging myself to go to sleep
earlier. Bedtime for C & E is designed to be at 8:30, but somehow it always
turns into 9... 9:30... And then I feel like I’m missing out on life if I just
fall asleep when I finally get in bed at 10/10:30 (though I’m usually so tired
that I totally could). So I spend the next 2-3 hours talking to Chris, watching
my DVR’d shows, reading blogs, catching up on Facebook and Twitter, etc. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously I love sleep, so I’m not sure why I
choose media over it... but I do. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
experts say that apathy, slowed speech, flattened emotional responses, impaired
memory and the inability to multitask or be novel are signs of sleep
deprivation. If you spoke with me today, that’s exactly what you would find. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Starting
tonight I’m shooting for 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep at least 5 times a
week. That means drinking a little of this (sleepytime tea is my fave),</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--F5ZiTtpTXU/UKQGndPVSnI/AAAAAAAAAc4/JcEh4dwGEGo/s1600/IMG_0937%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="sleepytime tea" border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--F5ZiTtpTXU/UKQGndPVSnI/AAAAAAAAAc4/JcEh4dwGEGo/s200/IMG_0937%5B1%5D.JPG" title="I love sleepytime tea!" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">then going to sleep by 10:00 without
turning on the TV, laptop or iPhone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll
let you know how it goes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12763465295475318185noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276174660999531093.post-61391103573163521612012-11-13T18:04:00.005-06:002012-11-13T18:08:15.913-06:00I'm back! Today I realized how long it's been since I've blogged (personally anyway). I write every single day of my life at work (and love it), but to go home and write while caring for an infant, a toddler and a husband was a little more than this sleep-deprived momma could handle back then. So I decided to take an indefinite hiatus.<br />
<br />
But today something inspired me to pull this old blog up and take a look.<br />
<br />
And surprise, surprise... I got a little (okay, maybe a lot) emotional. I had no memory of a lot of what I read, until I read it (thank goodness for my mother-in-law writing down everything my kids do and say or they would never know anything about themselves). I love that I can look back at the things going on in our lives back then and see how far we've come. In retrospect, I wish I had never stopped. <br />
<br />
Now that we've gotten through the no-sleep infant stage (though we took a long trip through the no-sleep toddler statge too), we're sailing throught the elementary and Pre-K stage with a whole new set of struggles and victories.<br />
<br />
And this is when I start writing about them again. I can't wait.!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12763465295475318185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276174660999531093.post-39770118298809855152009-10-17T13:31:00.002-05:002012-11-13T15:41:03.954-06:00Saturday blahs...It's Saturday...and I'm at work. And, my sweet husband is at home taking care of my sweet children. Really. No one should have to work on Saturdays - especially when they work Monday through Friday too. I plan to make that rule when someone puts me in charge of something.
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12763465295475318185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276174660999531093.post-23657360072630580682009-09-28T12:10:00.002-05:002012-11-13T15:41:17.666-06:00The Wedding GirlWell. It's starting. Gone are the days of Carlee being completely care-free. She has become a self-conscious little girl. And, it makes me sad.<br /><br />We went to a wedding Saturday night. Carlee was the only little girl there her age who wasn't a flower girl. The other three girls (including her cousin Jenna) were all in matching "twirly" flower girl dresses (and we all know how Carlee feels about twirly dresses). She looked really, really cute - even if she wasn't in a flower girl dress. But, she didn't "feel" like she was as cute as they were.<br /><br />While we were having dinner at the reception, Carlee broke off a piece of her bread, walked over to me and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">whispered</span> "mom, can we go give this to the wedding girl?" My sweet tender hearted girl. I told her I thought the wedding girl already had bread, but we could go say hi to her. She said "no thank you" and put her little head down. <br /><br />When it came time to dance, she went out on the floor and did ballerina twirls...looked like she was having a ball. Then, 'the wedding girl' picked up each of the flower girls and danced with them...and Carlee stood back and watched. I kept seeing her get close to her, but then back up. When it came time to leave, I put her in her car seat and saw big tears falling down her face. When I asked her what was wrong she said "momma, I was trying so hard to think of a cool dance, and I just couldn't." Oh sissy, your dancing was beautiful. "But momma, I wanted to do a cool dance like the other girls, and I just couldn't think of anything". I assured her several times that her dancing was cool. Then, it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">occurred</span> to me that she was sad because she didn't get to dance with the 'wedding girl'. When I asked her if that's why she was sad, she said "yes, I wanted to, but I was too shy." <br /><br />So, my sister is getting married this weekend and will be a beautiful 'wedding girl'. We have secured a dance with her! Carlee said "I'm not shy at Lissa, just people I don't know." (Lissa is her Aunt Melissa). We've got her twirly dress all ready too. <br /><br />Even though I knew it wasn't a big deal, in her little precious, tender heart, it was a big deal. And it made me so sad to see her sad. <br /><br />I really hope boys are easier.
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12763465295475318185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276174660999531093.post-55320191214489727212009-09-22T11:27:00.002-05:002012-11-13T15:41:34.013-06:00Scripture memory has never been my thing. I want it to be my thing. But, it's not. This memory of mine doesn't seem so great. That's the excuse I use. But every single day as I try to just get through life, I realize how much I need it. I've always heard that if you 'hide the Word in your heart' you have the solution. And, I know that's true.<br /><br />So, the verse I taped to the left corner of my computer monitor today is:<br /><br /><strong>"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute...dwell on these things". Philippians 4:8</strong><br /><br />Now, if I'll just do a little more than memorizing it - and actually live it.
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12763465295475318185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276174660999531093.post-63892412632380941682009-09-21T11:58:00.003-05:002012-11-13T15:41:45.285-06:00The discipline delimaThis discipline thing might just get the best of me...I've got a whiner on my hands. A typical morning goes a little like this:<br /><br /><strong>Me:</strong> Carlee, would you like blueberry waffles or cereal for breakfast?<br /><strong>Carlee:</strong> (in her "mean" voice) I don't WANT waffles or cereal.<br /><strong>Me:</strong> Your choices are waffles and cereal - you can choose, or I will choose for you.<br /><strong>Carlee:</strong> (crying now) no, no, no, I don't want waffles OR cereal.<br /><strong>Me:</strong> go sit in your room until you're ready to choose.<br /><br /><em>And...then goes the crying fit. </em><br /><br />Then, it's time to get dressed and we go through the same thing but up the whining a notch. Because, of course she can only wear skirts that "twirl". And, we only have so many skirts that twirl.<br /><br />So, last night we started earning marbles. We'll see how it goes.<br /><br />When she obeys the first time, she gets a marble. If I have to tell her twice, she doesn't get a marble. If I have to tell her three times, she gets a marble taken away. If she speaks to us disrespectfully, she gets a marble taken away. When she earns 20 marbles, she gets to pick out a treat. We counted out 20 marbles so she could see what 20 looks like and she's ready to go.<br /><br />I also let her pick out her clothes for the whole week. I laid 10 outfits on her bed and let her pick from them and decide what she wants to wear each day. She's definitely a control freak (wonder where she gets that), so I think this will help.<br /><br />So far, so good. Last night she earned 2 marbles for getting in the bath tub the first time I asked and getting in her bed (and staying) the first time. Then, she got another this morning for choosing her breakfast and getting dressed with ZERO drama. Please God, let this last!<br /><br />My prayer is to raise my children to be respectful, caring, kind and unselfish. I'm certain you all have things that work with your kids...please share!
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12763465295475318185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276174660999531093.post-38389870680076632122009-09-20T22:25:00.003-05:002012-11-13T15:41:56.997-06:00Back at it...I think I'm back...we'll see how it goes. I've made a commitment not to be on the computer while my kids are awake. I only get a few hours a day with them, so I don't want anything unnecessary to take away from that time. <br /><br />So, you probably saw this on my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">FB</span> post yesterday. I've been really, really disturbed by what I saw at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Wal</span>-Mart - I can't shake it.... Granted, on any given day there's probably plenty to be disturbed about at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Wal</span>-Mart, but this takes the cake.<br /><br />When I turned my half-full cart down the canned goods isle a man stomped by me yelling...He was actually calling his wife stupid and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ignorant</span> and told her she wasn't "allowed" to walk off. Bless his poor little heart, he was carrying 4 cans of green beans and didn't have the cart right next to him when he pulled them off the shelf. You I passed them again on the next isle...and he was still yelling about the same <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">stinkin</span>' thing. The woman never said a word. She looked straight ahead - no emotion. They had a teenage boy and another little boy who was maybe 4. If you could see the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">sadness</span> in their eyes, it would just break your heart. So, here's the reality - if this jerk thinks it's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ok</span> to yell at her in the middle of a crowded <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Wal</span>-Mart, I can only imagine what it's like in their house. My heart is sad for them. Those boys probably aren't going to bed happy like my kids are tonight. I kind of doubt they got hugs and kisses and bed-time stories. She probably never has that feeling of just being loved. I hope they all know they are loved by a gracious savior.<br /><br />Maybe tomorrow I'll have some happier things on my mind...I'm praying God's protection over them. Will you join me?
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12763465295475318185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276174660999531093.post-16904150317328368412009-05-28T06:15:00.002-05:002012-11-13T15:42:11.158-06:00Break TimeI'm sure you've already figured it out...but I'm taking a break from blogging for a little while. Still reading all the great blogs that I'm addicted to, but just not writing. I'm sure I'll be back.
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