Hey Venus visit Mars once in a while!

I have long ago stopped complaining about the toilet seat not being put down after one of the male species in my home has used it.  I came to this conclusion; when I get finished I don't put it up for the next time they use it so why would they think to put it down for me. 

Future wife of my little guy, you can someday thank me because I think I taught him pretty well!

This post is meant to be humorous. (hopefully I can pull it off without offending anyone) The statements are true and the names are not mentioned to protect those involved.  (You know who you are and that you are loved).

Men are just different, not worse, not better than women just different.  We are truly woven together with different thread.

I know that there is a reason for dropping your clothes next to the hamper instead of in it, I am just not smart enough yet to figure out what that reason is.

Why is it that picking up an item in the grocery store is so much harder when the man does it?  I mean there must be someone that goes in the store each night and moves everything around because NOTHING is ever where you tell them it should be, well at least until you get in your car after his return and go right back in- that fairy she moved it all right back where it was!

Thanks honey for cleaning for me today, when you were finished I picked up your Pepsi can from the bookshelf , your spots drink from the coffee table, your laptop from the chair, but hey thanks for folding that blanket that was awesome!

Men, putting laundry away is NOT carrying upstairs and putting it on top of the bed.  My clothes go in a closet and a dresser! 

None of these comments are at meant as a criticism, actually the opposite has occurred to me over the past several years.  Being married and happy trumps all the other stuff! You may not do the laundry like I do but boy have I relaxed about that over the years!

You go to the grocery store for me and may not always find what I need or get what I asked for BUT you offered of your own free will and went!

At the end of the day I know that everything you did do was an attempt to make my life easier, o.k not the leaving the t-seat up or dropping the laundry next to the hamper but even those things I know you do NOT do to irritate me.  I have learned it is just how you guys do things. 

I know that there is a laundry list of things I do different than you- no better, no worse just different! 

So let go of those tedious things that get your feathers all ruffled and embrace the differences that we ladies and men possess. life is so much easier.

Would you still wipe the dogs paws off please when they come in?
Thanks!

It's a Girl!

December 18th, 1960 the Cleveland Browns beat the NY Giants 48-34.

The Weather for December 18th, 1960 in the town I was born in was;

High Temp:	30F
Low Temp:	19F
Average Temp:	23.5F
Dewpoint:	16.1F
Wind Speed:	11.6 Knots
Precipitation Amount:	n/a
Snow Depth:	n/a
Observations:	snow and ice pellets I have been on this earth 18,627 days I took my first breath 447,048 hours ago or if you want to get even more specific 26,822,880 minutes. I prefer to use seconds- 1,609,327,800 I think I look decent for my age! In 1960 a new house cost $12,700.00 and by 1969 was $15,500.00 In 1960 the average income per year was $5,315.00 and by 1969 was $8,540.00 In 1960 a gallon of gas was 25 cents and by 1969 was 35 cents In 1960 the average cost of new car was $2,600.00 and by 1969 was $3,270.00 On December 18th, 1960, my mother went into labor for the 9th time, and for the 6th time heard the words It's a girl! Thank you to my late parents Eugene & Christina Huling for bringing me into the world, and Thank you Jesus for giving me life.

A new Gig

 With the birth of my Granddaughter only weeks away, I started thinking about my role as a first time Grandma.  Not only will I be a grandma but my little girl will be a mother.  With this thought I felt slightly out of step, my identity changes somewhat from active mothering to grand mothering, and her role changes immensely as she assumes a role foreign to her until now.  I have a different perspective when I look at my beautiful daughter preparing to become a mother.  I began to reminisce about the moment I became a mother for the first time, an experience you only have once!. 

After I catch my breath from the Earth Moving Announcement that we are going to be grandparents, I think about what this means, what will I be called, how will it feel?

My passage though, going from mother to grandmother (though I will forever me her mother) stirs entirely different emotions in me. It isn't just about Me becoming a grandmother.  I imagine my daughter cuddling with her baby and I have new images of her in my mind.  To see her love a child as she was loved, to watch her bathe her baby for the first time, to smile as she fumbles through the first days of this new role she has chosen.  I am excited to see the differences in parenting that the generations bring.  I am giddy to think of what momism's she will bring into her vocabulary as her child ages.

With these sentiments, however is does bring me right back to I am going to be a grandma. What kind of Grandma will I be? I want to be present, familiar, a comfort, but I want to leave a lasting memory for my Grandchildren.  I want to be a vibrant, active and healthy role model of aging.  I will do all the grandmotherly things for sure (I mean she already has her own apron) but I want to step out of the box if need be and create memories that will last for her lifetime, little moments and big moments.

If you are a grandparent and have already experienced this comeuppance, you likely have experienced these similar emotions, you know much like those we had when our own baby took the first step, got their first tooth, rolled over,we share that news as if our child was the only one to have ever accomplished those things.  It matters not to us that they are not ,they are still exceptional in our hearts.

So now I get to love on a little baby, play with a toddler, praise a preschooler, help an adolescent, cry with a teen, and be there for her when she is an adult and I do NOT have to pay for it! (well maybe a little) . I think I am gonna love this gig!


  

Yes Virginia there is a Jesus!

Today I was asked "what is your son asking for, for Christmas"?
This question had me think about the differences in the wish lists of children over the last 60 years.  It also had me think about why the list has had such a dramatic change.

In the 1950's- The most popular gift request among little boys, were skateboards.  These were not like the numerous models we have today but simply a box on 4 wheels and it was not an art or competitive sport but a way for little ones to go outside and have fun.  Matchbox was another favorite among little gents.  For the little girl in your life "ginny" dolls were all the rage, and the fashionable Barbie doll.
In the 1960's-
 #1 seller was Hot Wheels
 #2 Legos
 #3 GI Joe
 #4 Easy Bake Oven
 #5 Etch A Sketch
 #6 Super Balls
 #7 The game of Life
 #8 Sea Monkeys
 #9 Barrel of Monkey's
 #10 operation
In the 1970's
1971 - Space Hoppers
1972 - Mastermind
1973 - Magna Doodle.
1974 - Wombles
1975 - Slime
1976 - Raw Power. A handle that you added to your bike and 'revved' to create the sound of an engine.
1977 - Holly Hobbie
1978 - Star Wars
1979 - Space Lego
In the 1980's
 1980- Rubiks Cube
1981 - Lego Train. 
1982 - BMX Bikes, everybody went BMX crazy. .
1983 - My Little Pony
          He Man & The Masters Of The Universe.
1984 - Care Bears.  
Cabbage Patch Kids
The Board game Trivial Pursuit
1985 - Transformers
In the 1990's
1990 - Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael, the Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles 
1991 - Nintendo launched Game Boy in the UK.
1992 - Thunderbirds enjoyed a re-birth this year and dads of a certain age across the land re-lived there childhoods with their children
1993 - Power Rangers
1994 - Magic Eye Pictures.
1995 - POGS, small cardboard disks stormed into playgrounds and became a huge craze
 Star Wars toys start production again after a short hiatus, 1970's kids are now adults and collect the toys out of nostalgia but a new generation of kids also embraces the saga.
1996 - Toy Story, Buzz Lightyear doll
1997 - The year of T, Teletubbies, Tamagotchi and TY Beanie Babies are toy shop best sellers.
1998 - The humble Yo Yo returns as the craze of the year, after last being seen in the 1950's and the 1970's. The ProYo II is the Yo Yo of choice. Just before Christmas the interactive pet, Furby arrives in toy shops
1999 - A board game based on the hit TV quiz show 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' is the best selling board game.
Toys and games based on Pokemon the Nintendo game

In 2000

2000 - Robotic Pets and Aluminium Folding Scooters are this year crazes.
2001 - Bob The Builder toys are big hits, 
2002 - Bratz Dolls
          Beyblades, customizable spinning
          Micropets, miniature robotic pets are the favourite crazes
2003 - Beyblades continue to be the playground craze 
2004 - Nintendo launch the ever popular Nintendo DS
2005 & 2006 - Nintendo launch the Nintendo Wii, which with the Nintendo DS has proven to be very successful in bringing families closer together through playing games.
2007, 2008 and 2009 - Some of the most popular toys in these years are in the electronics .
Ok so now that we have that bit of interesting information out of the way, is it easy to see the differences in the wish lists of today's children? 

A quarter of US kids aged between six and 12 want a 3DS this Christmas, making it the most desired dedicated games console on the market among pre-teens.
 25 per cent of the six to 12 demographic are interested in buying Nintendo's new handheld in the next six months.
The iPad came top with 44 per cent, with the iPod on 30 per cent, the iPhone 27 per cent and a computer at 25 per cent
However, the results for the 13 and above age group were markedly different. The iPad, computers and e-readers topped the list, with dedicate gaming systems proving much less popular.

That said is it clear to see how so many aspects of our lives are affected by the growth and progress of society and the need for immediate gratification.
Don't misunderstand me I think progress is great and I have nothing against electronics.  What I see is that the rapid growth and changes to all the gaming systems, phones, e-readers, computers, just make us want more. I mean really that laptop computer you got less than a year ago is no longer efficient because it isn't an ipad?  Is it really less efficient or is it more desire driven?  A child is obsessed with his x-box until suddenly there is a new x-box that may be slightly better AND does not take the same games so now you have to buy the same games but for a different system.  I think I have dizzy spells keeping up with all the new phones and each one has a better and different feature than the last.  Can't we just use our phone for a phone?  If you need that phone to take pictures then why is a camera on your Christmas list?
Trust me I am no scrooge and I like to "give" my point is not so much these items as what it says about the changes in "us" over the years.  We always want the better and different.

This brings me (I know finally) to my thought on all of this.  If we want more and better then think about this;

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS.

I read this and thought , while this is a warm and fuzzy for sure how much truer would it be if it read like this;
Yes Virginia, there is a Jesus.  HE exists as certainly as Love & Hope & Forgiveness exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life the greatest joy.  Alas how hopeless would be the world if there were no Jesus. It would be as sad as if there were no Virginias. (or you).

I will still do all the traditional Christmas things with joy in my heart, I can make a mad mess in my kitchen baking goodies, and I can create reindeer food having deer come from near and far.  I can hang stockings and I can get giddy with excitement for Santa to come and fill them.  I can still put out that plate of cookies and milk for that jolly man in red, but what I can also do is Celebrate the Birth of a little baby who came to this world so that I might live and live abundantly.  That gift right there trumps any gift you will ever have to pug in.

Give the Gift of Hope- Give Jesus

 Dear Blog,
I am so sorry that I have neglected to give you the attention you deserve.  Please don't think my absence is a statement that I have failed to find a good thing in everyday.  I have been so busy filling my days with good things that I failed to share them.

Lets move forward because I am smart enough to know that my memory would fail me if I attempted to recall everything I could have shared in all those missed posts.

We are fast approaching The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year however what constitutes the wonderful? Is it the twinkling lights that adorn our trees? I love to sit and look at the tree and squint my eyes and for some reason it brings instant Christmas memories from my childhood.  On my mantle sits two reindeer that Were in my family home before I was born and while this holds very dear memories for me it is not the most powerful memory I should have.

Is it the Holiday baking?  I use some of the same cookie cutters my mother once used and they are especially dear to me because she is no longer with us and using them brings forth a flood of memories of the endless cookie baking she did.  While that is a warm memory that can bring a smile to my face, it is not the most important memory I should have.

Let's not forget the the Christmas smells, the fresh scents of pine, cinnamon, wassail, and burning candles.  The nose is a powerful thing in that smells often trigger memories for us.  I can smell jello, and instantly recall that every Sunday morning I would waken to that smell and know that mom was in the kitchen preparing dinner before church.  The pine trees bring forth numerous years full of memories of prodding through the woods to cut down our tree.  These are great memories but not the greatest memory I should have


  The endless hours of shopping choosing that one gift that will be loved.
 The parties, choir musicals, children programs, Holiday traditions that may include a trip to the zoo to see all the lights, a production of Nutcracker, or The Living Christmas tree. 

Unfortunately we live as though the song is "The most busiest time of the year" when in fact it truly is "The most Wonderful time of the year."

Not because of the baking, lights, celebrations, or traditions but because of our Lord and Saviour. 

I understand that Christmas is a season of pure enchantment, where toy lands and fantasies fill the minds of our little ones and we find joy in fulfilling those dreams . Let us not forget though that it is a time of Hope, of new beginnings .  It is a time of angles announcing glad tidings of great joy to Shepherd's in a Field , and Wise men following a star to bring gifts to this child.  This memory, this here is the most powerful, the most important.

It is a time to focus on the importance of delivering this message more than delivering gifts, that when we are shopping for that "special" gift we think of the Christ Child because there is no greater gift to give or receive.

Can you balance family traditions with celebrating the Birth of this King?  Would your family celebrate your Birthday without you?

This season remember that long ago The Virgin Mary had a baby boy and his name is Jesus.
 
 The Birth of Jesus Christ
"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord". — Luke 2:1-11

May you have a Blessed Christmas

Leave the dirt, find the Blessing

I am having trouble today in finding that 1 thing to write about.  I find random thoughts throughout the day and say "Hey I think I can make that into a semi- interesting blog" and then when I sit down it is gone!  Does this happen with a painter?, A potter? do they dip their brush into mounds of colors of paint and then say I am not sure where this is going?  Does he pick up a pile of soft un-molded clay and throw it down on the potters wheel and say I wonder what this will be?

Isn't that really how life is?  How many times do we get up with a plan in our mind for exactly how our day is going to go, only to have the first hour pass and already your perfect list is already a bust?  This used to be a real hard thing for me to deal with.  Not OCD hard but challenging.  If my tasks had to be set aside for some unplanned event I had a hard time getting back to my list thus wasting more time than probably need be.  I have learned however that usually the disruptions are just Blessings in disguise and hey why should our Blessings be disguised? 

Last Sunday, after church I had a few errands I needed to run, check done , feel good.  Get home ready to go full force into the tasks I MUST complete and my husband says hey lets go for a ride.  I felt my insides go all gobbelygook because I know with him it is not just a little ride it is an adventure!  Could be an hour (not likely) could be 4 (more realistic).  I threw caution to the wind and said "sure" with all the enthusiasm I could muster.  It was a beautiful day and I felt so accomplished because I got in that car and never once thought about what I could/should be doing at home. 

We found a little hiking path (not dressed for, this was supposed to be a drive) but it was a find that we can return to when we are planning a hike.
We drove through small old towns, saw the beginnings of the changing leaves, Stumbled upon a great place to eat and drove home in the sunset. My unplanned gobbelygook day turned out to be a Blessing.  Time spent doing nothing with a loved one will hold more memories than getting those tasks done that no one will remember.

I have learned over the years thought that going with the rhythm of the day is all by choice.  If the rhythm is out of sync and you choose to stick with the beat then you will feel out of sync, but if the rhythm is smooth and you dance to that beat chances are whatever you choose to do will be the right dance for you.

So this weekend if you are offered a better deal, tear up that task list, close the door to that messy room, put the vacuum away and let your hair blow in the wind, someone is waiting to Bless you day.

Soups on!

I rarely follow a recipe when making soup.  One of my favorites is pasta fagioli from Olive garden and I have had it so often that I can mirror what is in it. 

While throwing a pot of it together this evening I thought about how each ingredient plays a role in how it is flavored, much like our lives and the people in it.

Each person, relative or friend has had some kind of an impact on our life, leaving a memory with that connection.

A parent is most likely our foundation much like the base of our soup. Our siblings, each with their own personalities are like the spices we use to create the flavors.  And then there are all the substance ingredients, the vegetables, potatoes, meats whatever we are adding into our soup that become the unique differences we find in our friendships.  Once my soup was all put together I realized how nice it looked combined and thought how plain and unappealing it was when it was merely the foundation.  I thought about how all the relationships in my life are intertwined in one way or another and like my soup, each ads it's own unique dimension to my life.

I like my soup and I like my life all thrown together.

Birth is how you get here, love is how you grow!

 Because I have a 45 minute drive to work I often utilize this time for my quiet time, either with God or with my own scrambled thoughts.  Before turning off the radio the other day though, I was informed it was " National trim your nose hair day" Really?  What flag do we fly for that?  Is there nothing more worthy to celebrate than trimming our nose hairs?  Made turning off the radio much easier!

I often think about my life as a mother, probably because I am so passionate about it. Having been given the Blessing of raising another child after giving birth to 2 was not something that I would have necessarily said was in my lifelong plan.  How thankful I am that it is God's plan that prevails and not my own.

I know I am not unique in having birth children and an adoptive child. ( I sometimes hate that word) I have such mixed feelings about it because, through adoption I became a mother to a wonderful baby boy, but because of adoption people don't always see them as yours. 

I have thought of this a lot recently however have been inspired by a friends, blessings and struggles with international adoptions and her story has only emphasized my thoughts.

The reason I struggle at times with the word adoption is because I am, often forced to use it.  My son is African American so the differences are obvious, which leads many people to ask about his position in our family.  "Is he adopted"? "Is he a foster child"? How long have you had him ? and this one I always love Where did you get him? 

People he came into the world in the same manner as you and any birth children you may have been Blessed with.  Cameron's position in our family is only different because of his birth order, not because of how he became a member of our family. 

I am not blind to the challenges that may come Cameron's way as he ages, or the feelings he has at times now about his birth, but my eyes are wide open to the opportunities to love him and have him know that he is a family member by choice.   My eyes and heart catch every wide toothed grin when we are all together and he is doing something with his older siblings, or we have family portraits taken and there is Cameron with his Beautiful brown skin and huge brown eyes, looking so very different yet fitting in so very well.

My heart melts when he does school projects and his dad is his inspiration, and his brother Mike is his hero, and his sister is going to make him an aunt (all his words) and his mom well she "Loves me"  that is really all that matters.  And when someone asks in his presence, how many children do you have? and I respond with 3 - he NEVER lets me get away with that.  Because his sister and brother are grown and married we have 2 additional children and he is so right in how he gets that, it doesn't matter how you come into a family, you are no less family.

As I shared, I never said "one day I think I will adopt" it just happened.  I will be honest I always wondered after having my children and falling so in love with them if anyone who adopted felt that same love- I can say without conviction yes!

I am the same mother bear with Cameron as I was with Mike and Ashley.  I will defend him when right, teach him when wrong, and love him through it all

It doesn't matter why or how you have come to make the choices you have made in your life it is what you do with it that matters, just as it doesn't matter how you came to be a member of a family, just that you are.

As I have told Cameron many times when talking about his birth, and what he now knows "I grew in mommy's heart not in mommy's belly. 

Everyone has a different birth story- similarities of course but different.  Love though is Love, and when a mother "just loves me" that rivals any story , labor pains or not. 

Breakfast is being served!

If you have ever been to Disney you know that they are a world class example of excellent customer service.   Well Mr. Ronald McDonald let me tell you what happened at your place today.  After Church before our back to school shopping excursion Cameron wanted McDonald's (yuk).  So we pulled into your house at 10:56 a.m.  After carefully spilling out what we wanted we got the following response " We are still serving breakfast" to which I said "You mean you are not serving lunch"? "Well we do serve lunch (duh) but not until 11:00" "So what you are saying is that in 3 minutes you will serve lunch but you will not take my order now" "Mam do you want breakfast"?  (drive away)

So Mr. McDonald, you lost a little money today!  I know I know you have gotten so big that customer service really isn't important as you have billions of people who will still come and eat at your house.

Treasure Chest

Imagine, discovering a treasure chest that is ornately decorated with shimmering jewels.  You lift the lid to find an abundance of gold coins, and jewels. You could only imagine finding this prize on a deserted beach after years of searching with the crumpled, torn , yellowed map.

Of course, chances of ever finding a real treasure chest are nearly non- existent, however our "treasures" are not necessarily made of gold and shining jewels. 

I remember as a child having a special place that I kept my treasures I didn't have a beautiful box, it may have been as simple as a shoe box but it held things that were dear to me.  It may have been my favorite troll doll, or a coin I found in the parking lot of the store and I just knew would bring me good fortune.  I am certain there were pieces of broken jewelry that would never again be worn but couldn't be parted with.  I know there were stones, stones that I thought to be the most beautiful from our driveway.

I began thinking of our "little treasures" when I was cleaning and there were several small pieces of candies and a small rubber bouncy ball with a smiley face on the counter top left from Cam's birthday bag goodies. When asked if he wanted any of it , he swiftly replied "I want the bouncy ball"  He picked it up and waled away and I smiled.  My boy who wanted an I Pod touch for his birthday treasured this little bouncing ball.  I knew instantly as he walked away where it was going- the treasure box !

Looking inside  ones treasures gives us a glimpse of what that person may be like, what they cherish, what simple things hold special meaning to them.  Looking into my 10 year old sons box I see shells that we gathered on the beach this summer on vacation, an orange pumpkin whoopee cushion, oodles if silly bands,his official autograph book that he got when we took him to Disney 4 years ago, Wow the Hawaiian Leigh he got at the Luau when we were in Hawaii when he was 3, His first leather carving from Boy Scouts, A Buckeye, Bible buddies from VBS, A Hockey puck from a game his dad took him to, Postcards from his big brother from all over the world, Many tiny trinkets, Tender from various countries given to him also by his brother, trading cards, acorns from walks in the park, and there in the bottom are rocks that he too thinks are beautiful!.

What can I tell about Cameron simply from this glimpse into his "treasures" ?  I can tell he is sentimental, he is adventurous, family and family time are important, most of what he has saved has a memory attached to it for him.  I know that this chest will set in his room until he leaves for college and if he is anything like his older siblings, when he leaves for college he will say "I don't want to take this with me BUT I want to keep it" and it will go into the basement where ALL the "PLEASE DON'T THROW AWAY STUFF" goes.

Why do we save things that are of no worth to others? Why is that plastic glow in the dark dinosaur at the bottom of his chest important? It isn't, but the memory that is stirred for him when he picks it up years from now will define why it has an honored place in the treasure chest.

Hold on to the small things in life that give you pleasure.  Get a box where you can keep small things that you can pull out on days that you need to feel warm moments, silly smiles, or cherished memories. 

Cameron's Treasure Chest and all of it's contents

Back to School

I don't know if memories become more important as we age or if they become more humorous as we age.

As "Back to school " fast approaches and I once again am sending one off to school I couldn't help but think about the differences there are not only from my childhood but even the differences since my now adult children have attended school.  My oldest son turned 30 the same day my youngest turned  10 and then my only daughter is 27.

I smiled as we talked about school clothes shopping, and could have died as I looked at the supply list. 

I recall so much excitement over shopping for new clothes.  I am the youngest of 9 children and we did not get a lot of new things throughout the year or even at the beginning of the school year as our mother sewed a lot of our clothing.  As we got older though and styles changed we needed to shop more and sew less. 
I can vividly see my mother hand us an item of clothing or assist up when we were smaller in trying something on right in the middle of the store- no wasting time with the dressing rooms.  I never really minded until the day came when in the middle of the store she held a bra and had us turn around so she could try it on us to see if it fit.  Really mom?  isn't this an undergarment? 

Then the shoes which even though bought soon enough were not to be worn until the first day of school which was a good enough reason for me to attend school.  Corny I know but I loved the sound of my souls hitting the pavement, almost like a tap shoe. That memory is still so vivid for me.

I am not sure we even got a supply list filled with required items we MUST have before the first day of school.  I remember getting what we thought would be basic things we needed paper and pencils.  No backpacks, we had those rubber book straps with a buckle that fit around our books. (mine was red).  We had to cover our books with book covers and we always made ours out of paper grocery bags, after all then they could be custom made! We did not need markers, crayons and colored pencils.  Red pens, well they were for the teachers to use to correct our papers.  We did not need spiral notebooks (colors specified by the teacher), three ring binders, Glue sticks and bottles glue.  Scissors were something we used in art supplied by, none other than the art teacher.  This year we have graduated to 2 boxes if tissues instead of only one and yes zip lock baggies too.  I am not sure but I think we are supplying these for all the teachers to pack their lunches in because I cannot recall more than a time or 2 that anything comes home in a baggie.   Oh and the hand sanitizer is a must not only a must to have but a must to have the kind that is on the list- Are we not teaching our children that the number one way to fight infection is hand washing.  Is my son going to a school where there is no water?  I think I could actually build a rubber room with the must have "pink erasers" that come back home every year nearly untouched.  Add all the must haves with the want to's and I need to cash in my 401k to send my son to 5th grade! 

Cameron is so excited that this year he has to ride a bus to school, I do not get this enthusiasm at all as my daily 1 hour bus ride consisted of blowing chow from motion sickness or enlisting someone (usually my sister) to sing with me as this seemed to help.  No kidding there were days when the bus driver just had me sit on the bus steps and ride.  That  stuff they would sprinkle over the mess was a common odor on my bus. 

Homework was important for sure and if we lost ours we had to get it the next day and turn it in late, we could not go to our teachers web site and get it there.  Styles of teaching have changed for sure and I was never more aware of it than when I had to go to the Internet to google math terms, that have changed.  Even the way they do simple math has changed.  I would sit at the table with Cameron with what I though could be fun and simple, however I soon  began sweating and my heart began racing when I had to admit to my 4th grader that I do not have a clue how to do this math.  I was then thankful for the Internet! 
All that said and done, we have been very pleased with the school system it just does amaze me with all the changes that have taken place over the past few decades.

So this weekend Cameron and I will set out with our laundry list of supply must haves from the teacher, and Cameron's list of must haves. 
We will get through it all and the memories we make will far outweigh the money we spent- after all a future genius needs a lot of stuff !

The Color of Water

After vacation, family visits and just "summer stuff" I am trying to get back into a routine with my posts.  As I was thinking the past couple of days about what I wanted to write, as usual it has to be something that just comes natural.  When I try hard nothing comes to mind.

I was driving and as I looked at the beautiful sky I smiled, "skybluepink" I say that like it is all one word because that is what my mother would say.  I never figured out what color exactly that was but when asked her favorite color she would say "skybluepink"  It made me think about how we see things.  If I had to guess (which since she is gone I will have to do) I would say she was referring to the times when the sky would have a faded pink color against the blue hue.  Beautiful yes !  Would I think to say it was skybluepink?  Could I color skybluepink?  I can see it in my mind though.

I started thinking about how we see things and as I did I started putting colors with  my thoughts.  We have all heard someone say they are "feeling blue" or they are so sick they look "green"  Have you every seen a sad person look blue, or a sick person look green?  How did green get associated with sickness?  When I think if green I see rich beautiful grass, when I think of blue I do not think of it being a sad mood but a picture perfect sky with marshmallow clouds.

The more I thought, the more I saw colors.  I laugh at something really funny and I think yellow.  If I am sad I think gray, if I am feeling nostalgic I see pink, cold I see orange, tired I see black, excited I see red!  I have no idea why those colors are associated with those thoughts for me and may not be for others. 

I began thinking about the many different colors there are and being a crocheting fool right now I thought about the wool at it's natural state.  When spun it is all different yet when dyed it becomes one color, the strands are still themselves but blended into one.  You don't really know if you will get the color you want as you don't know how the fibers of the wool will take to the coloring and I thought of all the different strands of color there are.

As I imagined wool being spun and then dyed with a chosen color not knowing exactly what will come out I thought back to my mothers "skybluepink" to her it was a distinctive color that she associated with something that made her feel good.  It reminded me of James McBrides book The Color of Water, A Black mans Tribute  to his White Mother.  In this true story James knew his mother was different and when he often asked her why, she would say I am "light-skinned"  Later he wondered if he was different too and he asked his mom if he was black or white and she said "you're a human being, educate yourself or you'll be a nobody! and when James asked what color God was, she said "God is the color of water"

How many different colors do you see in a day?  Can you take an ordinary string from your life and turn it into something beautiful by adding color? 

Try being a rainbow knowing that the only thing you will find in the pot at the end is what you put into it!

Have a great Monday!

Do it anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.  If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.  If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.  If you are honest and frank people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.  What you spend years building, someone could destry overnight; Build anyway.   If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.   The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.  Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough; Give the workd the best you got anyway.  You see in the final analysis it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.

Take a trip with us.

I have returned!  Vacation was awesome.  We spent 5 days in Ocean Grove New Jersey being beach bums !  We stayed at a beautiful bed and breakfast right on the beach so early morning walks were a must! 

Ocean Grove is a quiet, quaint Christian town with so much charm. 
Cameron learned to ride the waves on day 2 with his must purchase boogie board.  He did not however enjoy day 1 when a wave tumbled him under and he experienced a mouth full of salt water.  I made him get back on that horse again as we had 5 days ahead of us.  Soon he became a body surfer.  He learned to go out beyond the crest where one can easily ride over the wave.  By day 4 though he was riding them in and even going under those that proved bigger than he wished to conquer! 

We experienced new tastes, good times with friends, and daily trips to the weezer truck for delicious Italian Ice.

We then traveled into New York City for a couple of days what a change in pace!  We experienced Ellis Island and stood where many immigrants did as they came into this Country.  I imagined, as we traveled over on the Ferry what it must have been like for them when they caught their first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty- she indeed is an impressive lady!

From there we took a train into the city and was immediately thrust into the sights, sounds and smells of New York.  Mmmmmm my favorite smell was the nuts being roasted on the street corners.  So many sounds that were foreign to our daily lives.  The sounds of the train tracks as we make our way from place to place on the subway, to horses hooves (and smells) from the horse drawn taxis,  We experienced a Bike taxi in which we all 3 rode in a cart being pulled by a bicycle (for a mere $30 for several blocks). 

We heard the sounds of 4 men breaking out into song on the subway (very good by the way) in hopes to pick up a few $'s for their troubles.  We saw the sadness of homelessness, next to the abundance of wealth.  We saw freedom of religion on a street corner as a man knelt on his prayer rug and prayed.  We saw the hustle bustle in Central park, and that over sized disco ball that falls each New Years Eve.

We experienced China town in which very few spoke English as they sold their goods and fresh fish at the markets.  We went to Little Italy and ate lunch at an outside cafe where our waiter was a gentleman of 69 (he shared)and a true Italian (came to US in the 60's) If he wasn't so nice I would have been certain he played in a mafia movie- We laughed several times over hearing him say
"Forgit about it".

We walked many many blocks to get the Nike Town on our first night there for Cameron to get a pair of shoes only to find when we got there at 8:45 they closed at 8.  My heart was broken as this was what he planned on doing our whole vacation this is the one place he wanted to go!  That is when we swallowed the $30 and took the bike taxi back to Penn Station to catch our subway when we went into Foot action which was right where we started and he found a pair of shoes he loved! 

I was truly inspired by our stop at St Pauls next to ground zero.  So many memorials and photos and love poured out there still after all these years.  We watched them as they worked to rebuild where so many lost their lives. 

No trip to NY is complete without a visit to FAO Swartz so we walked in and immediately went to the BIG piano that was used in the movie BIG.  Cameron experienced what that was like and then we walked around in awe of all that was there and new that we would need a complete day to see it all.  After visiting a few favorite areas and purchasing a couple cool items we left for one last stop the Apple store!  Getting Cameron out of an electronics store where you have free range to play with any thing (and everything is live) is like wrestling an alligator with a blindfold on.  He played on the ipad with ease of a pro while Mark and I looked at each other and shrugged. 

It was time to head back to our hotel so we boarded the metro and said good bye to the Big Apple!

 Riding the waves

 Evening stroll with my 2 favorite guys

 Ferry to Ellis Island

 Sleeping quarters at Ellis Island

 Lady Liberty

Times Square

Memorial

 New York Stock Exchange

The Big piano and Mark and Cam with Jack Sparrow made from Legos.

Go wild!

I have been thinking (oh no right?) lately about different ways in which we find to relieve stress, relax, channel our creative juices or just simply let loose and live!

I know most of us have our hobbies or favorite past times that we usually engage in during our free time but how many of us take a minute each day to just be silly?  I mean like running in the rain silly, dancing down the hallway crazy, singing in the mirror with your brush as your microphone, really "rolling on the floor laughing " instead of just as a virtual response to something funny.  How many times after a long day, difficult situation, or just because, do we let our inner child out to play?

I have been thinking about children and my own childhood and how easy it can be to let the bad roll off our shoulders, Children just move on to the next thing that makes them happy and play! 

Imagine this............. You come home from work after a grueling day and you throw it all to the wind and you get out your Childhood toys (Not literally).  You may have had a favorite doll, or truck or game, puzzle, jump- rope, anything that made you feel good.  So why not try it now. 

I am 50 years old and yesterday I went out back and jumped on the trampoline and it felt good!  I have been known to pull out my Dick and Jane coloring books and let me tell you I can color a mean page and drink a glass of wine while doing it.  Now I don't sit and play house with my old dolls or anything but I find what feels good now and just do it.  It may be as simple as hanging a new picture on the wall, or moving furniture around.  It is still the same furniture, the same room but man just changing it all around is something new! 

Just take time to reminisce, I always smile when I think of the things I did as a kid, my friends, favorite toys, memories can make you feel remarkable.

When you feel good don't suppress it, run down the hall and jump high and say yea!  When you don't feel so good, look in the mirror and make faces at yourself- you will laugh!

My wish is just that you find joy in each day even if it is small joy!  A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.  Embrace the unexpected !

We could learn alot from a box of crayons, some are sharp, some are pretty, and some are dull, some have wild names, and all are different colors but they all have to live in the same box !

Gotta go I have the urge to sing in the mirror while making faces at myself!

plug it in, charge it up!

In a world of laptops, ipads, netbooks, e-readers, cell phones that do everything for you but breathe for you I can't help but think we are missing something.  I get progress I really do but I still wonder if we are missing something in the midst of all the advances.

Before I get alot of naysayers I am not anti-technology.  I love the doors that have been opened through the use of the Internet how easily I can get an answer to any question within seconds.  I love knowing that I can reach a loved one so easily by the use of cellular phones.  I have to say though that I cannot see me using an e-reader.  It is not about convenience for me.  Shopping for books is a hobby, it is a date night, it is so competitive that you can buy bestsellers on line for $.02. 

Where am I going with all of this? 

While I love some of these advances, I feel losses at times as well, even with the changes I love.  The Internet is awesome I agree and it has opened so many doors for me, however have you ever thought of when you were growing up and you did not have the world at your fingertips?  Just the fact that I have a good memory about using encyclopedias shows it had a lasting affect on me.  I am not sure if it is the idea that your parents invested in them for you that makes it a warm memory or how important I felt "researching" something.  Now you type in a few words and you have more search engines than you need with a plethora of information.  ( Not a bad thing) but I know that my 9 year old is not unique in knowing how to do that on his own.  He does not need me to sit with him and help him sift through all the information so is he losing out on a special memory?  I like to think that his memories will just be different but still special. 

I can't really say many negatives about the benefits of instant connection with the use of our cell phones.  I have to admit I love that my son can reach me anytime.  I know that when 40 years ago when I was 10 it was unheard of, but my son carries one in his pocket so I can be available to him at a moments notice and I like that.  I guess I would have to wonder though if  the little device in his pocket had made him more independent of me.  Having the ability to reach one another while he rides his bike all over the neighborhood makes me feel safe and I still make sure he has clear face to face expectations so not to lose that communication.
I am also saddened by the misuse of phones and how it has shaped our society.  I recently was out to dinner with my husband and son and watched a family of 3- mom, dad and teenage daughter eating as well.  Throughout the entire meal the dad and daughter were texting while to mom glared out the window, what a loss of time together. 

I have to add though that I do think there are some amazing opportunities because of technology.  I smile when my 29 year old son who is living in Saudi Arabia can get on his x-box and play a game with my 9 year old while talking through a set of headphones. 

Wow- I started this blog with the idea of breaking out of all the stresses that life brings us and be a kid.  How did I end up here?  I guess I was thinking of the changes that are so prevalent in our lives.  So the idea I had will grow with tomorrows post.

Inspiration overload

Ok so we have 6 more months before the arrival of our first grand baby!  One would think putting together a nursery should be fairly simple but it is more overwhelming than the cereal aisle in a grocery store!

No longer is it just a room or a space for baby to sleep.  A nursery is the baby's comfort place.  As adults we have our favorite place we like to go to.  Our dogs if they have a crate come to rely on that as their "safe place".

A baby's nursery needs to be pleasing to both the baby and mom and dad.  Of course our little nugget in training cannot tell us what he/she prefers and must rely on us to choose wisely.  The nursery is the place that baby will want to go when he/she feels overstimulated, when he is tired and wants to comfort of his own space.  It must have a calming effect for the times when times are not so settled.  It needs to be a happy place, a soothing place, a comfortable place for mom & dad as they will spend many hours there standing over the crib making sure nugget is sleeping ok.  It is the place where many miles will be put on the rocking chair and many lullabies will be sung.

So a nursery is so much more than a room to place the crib.  Look at some of my most recent picks.  I think I will take multiple ideas from different rooms and combine my favorites!

Here is an argyle idea if little nugget is a girl!

Love the colors in this gender neutral nursery !

Possibilities!

Dots for our Southern Gentlebaby!

Love the Vintage travel bedding and wall art!

Definitely a favorite for the little Prince!

Fun and Sassy!

Would be a front runner for me!


Well this is a few of the cazillion ideas out there.  I know that we will be inspired once we find the 1 thing we love we will design the rest around it!
I do know that it will be done with a tremendous amount of love and anticipation.



Are you current?

At every stage of life, we find peace and fulfillment in our relationships that are current.  A current relationship is one in which both have said everything they need to say to one another, whether it is supporting or challenging.  Our relationships are current when we no longer harbor unexpressed feelings.

Lately I have been thinking alot about the relationships I have and have had.  If we were to create a category for all the different relationships we have I imagine there would be an abundance of varied answers.

Relationship is the way in which two or more concepts, or people are connected, or the state of being connected.

Wow that opens up so many avenues. 

The relationships we have with our families and close friends are of a more intimate matter than what we may have with our co-workers or a mere acquaintance.  We have relationships with our pets, our hair stylist, our banker, the list of human relations can go on and on. 

We also have relationships with objects- we may have a love/hate relationship with our exercise equipment.  When we make a decision to buy a new vehicle we enter into it with great care in choosing this object that we will have a relationship with. 

Some relationships are called mutually beneficial relationships in which both parties will benefit from.  There is a bird that lives off the back of tortoises by pulling off the old detritus from their skin.  This is mutually beneficial because it feeds the birds and because the tortoises are better off without it.

With all that said ( I told you I ramble with my thoughts) my inspiration this week comes from my thoughts about my relationships in my life.

What can I do to make sure I am current with my spouse, my children, my siblings, my dear friends?  It is as much my responsibility as it is those who I enter into relationships with to be "current"  If I never had another chance to speak with them do they really know me?  So they know what is important to me? So they know how important they are to me?  Do they know that I fight fiercely for those I love?  Do they know that if they needed me the highest mountain would not seperate me from them?  Do they know that they and their feelings mean so much more to me than things? 
Do they know that loving them keeps me alive?

Not all relationships are supposed to last a lifetime; some are supposed to end.  Some are supposed to last fifty years, others six months, some relationships are only complete when a person dies; others complete themselves during our lifetimes.  The length of a relationship, or how it ends, in s never wrong.  It's simply life.  Ultimately, we have to look at relationships in terms of whether or not they are complete, and how to best complete them.

Are you Current ?

Changes

Today as I felt the sweltering heat at 90 degrees, I began thinking of why I like living in location that exposes me to all four seasons.  As I thought about this I really struggled to determine which was my favorite and then I realized that I love something about them all.

I smiled though in thinking that when I am in the middle of one of these seasons I am thinking about the next one and what that will bring.  Why do we do that?  We anticipate the summer fun and when we are smack dab in the middle of all the activity we desire the slower pace of winter.

I have decided that I am going to try harder to be reminded when I am in each season that;

Winter brings the crisp white snow that I Love even when it is so cold that breathing in makes your nostrils stick together.  I love how I feel each year when the first flakes begin to fall and you feel like it is the first time you have seen snow.  Why is that?  Are we amazed that it really did snow again?   Then the times when the snow keeps you home, when you have to go out and shovel in order to get out, Making a snowman and coming in for hot chocolate with red noses and burning cheeks.  The greatest thing about winter is celebrating the birth of our Savior.  I love everything about the preparations for Christmas.  The days of decorating so everything is just perfect for the family.  The hours of thought that is put into choosing just the right gift.  The baking of all the family favorites and making those cut-outs come to life with icing.  I love the smells of winter/holidays.  The cookie baking, candles burning, pine trees, smells that spark warm comfort memories of years growing up.  With winter though comes an end to all that is good about it and then it turns into the end of winter which brings gray days, dirty snow, after holiday blues and the desire for Spring.

Spring Makes me feel like everything is fresh again.  The grass changes from winter brown to a rich green color.  The flowers that lay dormant those long winter months begin to bud and soon burst with color. New life is all around us.  I feel a burst of energy and the need to rid our home of all the germs that may have been trapped through the winter.  Removing the dust that has accumulated and making everything feel new!  The smells of winter become the smells of spring- my favorite, when the Lilacs bloom.  I love  having that smell drift through the open windows and being amazed at the memories it prompts.  One sniff of the lilac bush and I am back at my childhood home picking one of many large bouquets from our giant Lilac tree.  Carefully making the stems long enough (something ingrained in me from mom) so that they can get water in just the right size vase.  Taking them inside and having mom wrap a wet paper towel and then foil around them so I could proudly carry them to my teacher.
By the end of spring usually we are tired of the rain and ready for the fun that will begin with Summer!

Summer guarantees warm temperatures and promises busy schedules.  Most people take their family vacations during this month.  We are excited about doing all the things that we are limited to during the other seasons.  We gather more frequently with friends and family.  It is likely the most popular season of all. Summer brings people out!  Clothing styles are completely different than those worn in any of the other 3 seasons.  Our meal planning changes in the summer.  Do you enjoy a hot dog or hamburger in the dead of winter like you do fresh off the grill in the summer?  How often do you make that favorite potato salad or fresh squeezed lemonade other than in the summer?  As much as I love summer and all the activity it brings I am probably more ready for it to end than any other season.  I am usually ready for the crisp temperatures and smells of Fall.

Fall  brings the death of our beautiful flower gardens, but the amazing beauty of the changing colors.  It brings the last burst of color before the stark white of winter.  I Love fall!  I love the fall holidays.  I love the slower pace of fall.  All those activities that do not take place in the fall are packed away with new memories made.  Fall brings smells all it's own.  No greater smell than that of the fall apples, fall scented candles, fall festivals and hay rides.  The colors of pumpkins and fall flowers.  Again our meal planning changes.  My first pot of chili for the season is on Halloween when I pull out the crock pot and simmer it all day.  Getting out the pumpkin glasses and fall colored dishes and sit down to a steaming bowl of chili before heading out to satisfy all the trick or treaters.  Fall brings the anticipation though of that next glorious season
Winter and we begin all over again anticipating a year of traditions old and new and memory making once again.










Silence of winter !





New Life!





Tastes of summer!





Colors of Fall!