I love to purge. It feels so good to get rid of things I don't use anymore. I use the rule of 'If it hasn't been worn or used in 6 months to 1 year, it's time to get rid of it'. The victims of my purging become designated to piles labeled in my mind as "Trash", "Goodwill", "Ebay" and yes, I admit it, "ReGifting"!
My closet has been savagely edited and now I've moved on to reading through my old rants and blogs and having some good laughs at my own expense. I am closing down my old blog on myspace and recycling a few of the posts that made me snort out loud, sniffle or remind me of a lesson I need to relearn. I'm knee deep reading and weeding through the past to determine what to keep and what to throw.
So to my invisible audience who I think I am talking to when most likely I am just entertaining and amusing myself: Please endure the retro-blogging over the next few days or weeks or however long it takes me to complete this purging process. Be sure to read the 'Hotdogs & Popsicle Sticks' post... oh, so, funny.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Hot Dogs & Popsicle Sticks
Originally blogged 10/05/07:
I have to say, when I thought about having children, some things just never crossed my mind... if you are easily disgusted by doting parents, then please read no further. And if gross things gross you out, really, you need to stop reading RIGHT NOW.
The longer I am a mother, the more I wonder what I was like as a child... where's mom when I need her?!? Here's the latest that my beautiful, lovely children have done:
My daughter Emmi has been potty training herself. Yes, I said, potty training HERSELF. We've been working on it quite a bit, but just mainly going through the motions without any results. A couple of weeks ago, she was 'playing potty' and called me to tell me she had gone poo-poo. So I went to check and expectantly looked in the potty for nothing, when to my surprise she really had done exactly as she said! We commenced to cleaning and as she stood up, she looked proudly in the potty, gasped loudly and said, "Oh momma! It looks like a beeeea-uuuu-tiful hot dog!!!" ~ I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life!
Not to leave out my son , Kellan just had his 5th birthday this past Monday and of course we took him to the Doctor for his 5th year check up. As the Doctor was examining him to make sure he was developing properly in the private area, he said "Oh, what are these popsicle sticks doing here?" My husband and I looked at each other in confusion and I whispered to him, 'Oh, he must be trying to be silly to make Kellan comfortable'. We laughed quietly, relaxed and the exam continued without further mention of popsicle sticks. After the exam we headed out to eat for dinner. Halfway through our meal, I glanced towards my son's plate to the left of me and I noticed about 8 popsicle sticks on the table... and then I put 2 and 2 together... my son had actually put popsicle sticks in his underwear!
Allright, so there it is.
I have to say, when I thought about having children, some things just never crossed my mind... if you are easily disgusted by doting parents, then please read no further. And if gross things gross you out, really, you need to stop reading RIGHT NOW.
The longer I am a mother, the more I wonder what I was like as a child... where's mom when I need her?!? Here's the latest that my beautiful, lovely children have done:
My daughter Emmi has been potty training herself. Yes, I said, potty training HERSELF. We've been working on it quite a bit, but just mainly going through the motions without any results. A couple of weeks ago, she was 'playing potty' and called me to tell me she had gone poo-poo. So I went to check and expectantly looked in the potty for nothing, when to my surprise she really had done exactly as she said! We commenced to cleaning and as she stood up, she looked proudly in the potty, gasped loudly and said, "Oh momma! It looks like a beeeea-uuuu-tiful hot dog!!!" ~ I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life!
Not to leave out my son , Kellan just had his 5th birthday this past Monday and of course we took him to the Doctor for his 5th year check up. As the Doctor was examining him to make sure he was developing properly in the private area, he said "Oh, what are these popsicle sticks doing here?" My husband and I looked at each other in confusion and I whispered to him, 'Oh, he must be trying to be silly to make Kellan comfortable'. We laughed quietly, relaxed and the exam continued without further mention of popsicle sticks. After the exam we headed out to eat for dinner. Halfway through our meal, I glanced towards my son's plate to the left of me and I noticed about 8 popsicle sticks on the table... and then I put 2 and 2 together... my son had actually put popsicle sticks in his underwear!
Allright, so there it is.
Doggie Paddling
Originally blogged 04/05/06:
Remember when you were first starting to learn to swim? One of the first things you learned to do was to doggie paddle... you submerged yourself nearly completely, with just your head and shoulders barely above the water and you cupped your hands palm down at the water alternately, so that you stayed afloat and moved ever so slowly and slightly from point A to point B. It took a long time to get where you were going, and sometimes it didn't seem like you were moving at all, and it took a lot of effort to keep yourself from sinking down into the water again. You were breathless, you were tired, and you wondered if you'd ever get to where you wanted to go.
Last week my new boss asked me how things were going. I told her I was "doggie paddling", just trying to stay afloat and keep my head above water. Since then, I started thinking how much the concept of doggie paddling can relate to so many areas in life. I don't know about you, but there are some areas I have been doggie paddling in for a while now, desperately trying to get to my destination, feeling like I'm not moving or making any progress, barely able to keep my head above water, breathless, tired and wondering if I'll ever make it.
It's so easy to let life's distractions, worries and concerns overwhelm you to the point that you're struggling to keep yourself from going under. It's easy to make mistakes and it feels nearly impossible to fix them. Sometimes it can feel as if you are nearly drowning. You are stuck in the middle of the water, all alone, desperately trying to keep from sinking. And sometimes you can get so tired, so exhausted from all your effort to stay afloat, that you can't keep your head above the water, you can't quite catch your breath... it's as if you've reached the point of no return and there is no other way to go but down.
This is where I am so glad, so thankful, so blessed... because I have a God, a personal God, who is my best friend, my biggest encourager, my source of joy, my confidence and my strength. Every mistake that I make, He has forgiveness for. His strength makes up for my every weakness. Without Him I am nothing, and with Him I can do anything, be anything. When I've done all that I can do, I have used all my resources, I have doggie paddled until I can't doggie paddle anymore... He is there to rescue me. When I fail, He is there to lift me up and keep me from drowning. He breathes new life into me, and gives me strength to begin again. That's the kind of God that I have... the kind that will give everything He has to give me everything I need, whether I deserve it, or not.
This weekend is Easter weekend, a weekend that symbolizes the moment that God gave his only son to bear the weight of all our burdens, all our pains, all our grief’s and sorrows, all our failures. And as well it symbolizes Christ rising from the dead. His resurrection brings new life, renewal, healing, hope, forgiveness, peace and freedom.
And this is my prayer. I pray that this will be a weekend of renewal for you... where you are weak, you can find strength in Him; where you are wounded, you can find healing in Him; where you have failed, you can find forgiveness in Him. And if you are doggie paddling right now, I pray you will surrender to Him whatever it is you are holding onto and trying to make happen on your own. No matter what it is you've done, no matter what obstacle you're facing, He is there just waiting to lift you up and keep you from drowning. That's the kind of God He is...
Remember when you were first starting to learn to swim? One of the first things you learned to do was to doggie paddle... you submerged yourself nearly completely, with just your head and shoulders barely above the water and you cupped your hands palm down at the water alternately, so that you stayed afloat and moved ever so slowly and slightly from point A to point B. It took a long time to get where you were going, and sometimes it didn't seem like you were moving at all, and it took a lot of effort to keep yourself from sinking down into the water again. You were breathless, you were tired, and you wondered if you'd ever get to where you wanted to go.
Last week my new boss asked me how things were going. I told her I was "doggie paddling", just trying to stay afloat and keep my head above water. Since then, I started thinking how much the concept of doggie paddling can relate to so many areas in life. I don't know about you, but there are some areas I have been doggie paddling in for a while now, desperately trying to get to my destination, feeling like I'm not moving or making any progress, barely able to keep my head above water, breathless, tired and wondering if I'll ever make it.
It's so easy to let life's distractions, worries and concerns overwhelm you to the point that you're struggling to keep yourself from going under. It's easy to make mistakes and it feels nearly impossible to fix them. Sometimes it can feel as if you are nearly drowning. You are stuck in the middle of the water, all alone, desperately trying to keep from sinking. And sometimes you can get so tired, so exhausted from all your effort to stay afloat, that you can't keep your head above the water, you can't quite catch your breath... it's as if you've reached the point of no return and there is no other way to go but down.
This is where I am so glad, so thankful, so blessed... because I have a God, a personal God, who is my best friend, my biggest encourager, my source of joy, my confidence and my strength. Every mistake that I make, He has forgiveness for. His strength makes up for my every weakness. Without Him I am nothing, and with Him I can do anything, be anything. When I've done all that I can do, I have used all my resources, I have doggie paddled until I can't doggie paddle anymore... He is there to rescue me. When I fail, He is there to lift me up and keep me from drowning. He breathes new life into me, and gives me strength to begin again. That's the kind of God that I have... the kind that will give everything He has to give me everything I need, whether I deserve it, or not.
This weekend is Easter weekend, a weekend that symbolizes the moment that God gave his only son to bear the weight of all our burdens, all our pains, all our grief’s and sorrows, all our failures. And as well it symbolizes Christ rising from the dead. His resurrection brings new life, renewal, healing, hope, forgiveness, peace and freedom.
And this is my prayer. I pray that this will be a weekend of renewal for you... where you are weak, you can find strength in Him; where you are wounded, you can find healing in Him; where you have failed, you can find forgiveness in Him. And if you are doggie paddling right now, I pray you will surrender to Him whatever it is you are holding onto and trying to make happen on your own. No matter what it is you've done, no matter what obstacle you're facing, He is there just waiting to lift you up and keep you from drowning. That's the kind of God He is...
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mother's Day, Then and Now
Below is a blog I wrote on Mother's Day 2006. My son was 3 1/2 years old at the time. My mom told me once that I would never know what true love was until I had a child of my own. I didn't understand what she meant then. But I learned.
Today my little boy Kellan made a card for me in Jr. Children's Church. It is red and shaped like a teapot and inside it has a little pocket with a poem printed on it that is holding a little tea bag. It's obvious that his teacher made it with the exception of one little crayon scribble from Kellan. When he gave it to me, he was so excited. He said, "Here Mommy! I have a paper for you! I made it for you mommy!" I looked at it and started crying. I have never been so proud. All he did was make a little scribble with a green crayon. Maybe he pressed the glue on the little pocket with the printed poem so it would stick to the card. And maybe he placed the mint tea bag in the pocket, but his little hands made it, just for me.
For 2 weeks now, I have really been missing my mom. I guess it's been building up for Mother's Day, and just about everything has been making me cry, remembering her. But what makes it even more special, is looking at her through new eyes as a mom of 2 little children. How many times did I make little cards for her that made her day? How many times did she stare at me for hours on end thinking how beautiful I was and how much she loved me? How many times did she want to squeeze me until I couldn't breathe because she couldn't get me close enough to her?
I remember going through her things after she passed and finding some of the cards I had made for her. I remember her staring at me, taking in my every word and movement that I made. I remember her always reaching out to embrace me at every chance that she had; and now I find myself doing the same to my own children. My love for them consumes me. I can't get enough of them, I can't love them enough, kiss them enough or hold them enough. I can't quit staring at them and I can't quit thinking about them.
It's overwhelming to think that my mother felt the same way about me. I'm so thankful that God allowed me to become a mother, because now I know how much I was loved, even when I didn't realize it.
My mom has been gone for more than 6 years now. I still find myself wishing I could call her for recipes when I crave her split pea soup or her beef stew. There are moments when I'm exasperated or worried or amused by my children and I would love to ask her if I was like 'that' or how she handled 'this'. And there are nights that I dream about her so vividly that it's as if she is still with me. And although within the dream I know it's not reality, I still pursue the mirage and talk with her, laugh with her or cry with her because for those brief moments I can smell her favorite perfume, hear the timbre of her voice and touch her soft skin again.
I still grieve that my children are unable to spend time with her as they grow up. She would get such a kick out of my fireball Emmi and she would be so in awe of Kellan's gentle spirit. She would have taken them for weekends and adventures and she would have been their biggest fan. They would have gained so much from her love and wisdom and the strength that emanated from her.
Simply, I miss her. And I'm remembering her today with soft smiles, a few tears and an extremely grateful heart that I was blessed with such an amazing woman as my mother was. Thank you mom, for everything and I cannot wait to run into your arms again some day, exactly the way my babies run into my own today. Happy Mother's Day!
May 14, 2006
Today my little boy Kellan made a card for me in Jr. Children's Church. It is red and shaped like a teapot and inside it has a little pocket with a poem printed on it that is holding a little tea bag. It's obvious that his teacher made it with the exception of one little crayon scribble from Kellan. When he gave it to me, he was so excited. He said, "Here Mommy! I have a paper for you! I made it for you mommy!" I looked at it and started crying. I have never been so proud. All he did was make a little scribble with a green crayon. Maybe he pressed the glue on the little pocket with the printed poem so it would stick to the card. And maybe he placed the mint tea bag in the pocket, but his little hands made it, just for me.
For 2 weeks now, I have really been missing my mom. I guess it's been building up for Mother's Day, and just about everything has been making me cry, remembering her. But what makes it even more special, is looking at her through new eyes as a mom of 2 little children. How many times did I make little cards for her that made her day? How many times did she stare at me for hours on end thinking how beautiful I was and how much she loved me? How many times did she want to squeeze me until I couldn't breathe because she couldn't get me close enough to her?
I remember going through her things after she passed and finding some of the cards I had made for her. I remember her staring at me, taking in my every word and movement that I made. I remember her always reaching out to embrace me at every chance that she had; and now I find myself doing the same to my own children. My love for them consumes me. I can't get enough of them, I can't love them enough, kiss them enough or hold them enough. I can't quit staring at them and I can't quit thinking about them.
It's overwhelming to think that my mother felt the same way about me. I'm so thankful that God allowed me to become a mother, because now I know how much I was loved, even when I didn't realize it.
Present Day
(May 10, 2009)
My mom has been gone for more than 6 years now. I still find myself wishing I could call her for recipes when I crave her split pea soup or her beef stew. There are moments when I'm exasperated or worried or amused by my children and I would love to ask her if I was like 'that' or how she handled 'this'. And there are nights that I dream about her so vividly that it's as if she is still with me. And although within the dream I know it's not reality, I still pursue the mirage and talk with her, laugh with her or cry with her because for those brief moments I can smell her favorite perfume, hear the timbre of her voice and touch her soft skin again.
I still grieve that my children are unable to spend time with her as they grow up. She would get such a kick out of my fireball Emmi and she would be so in awe of Kellan's gentle spirit. She would have taken them for weekends and adventures and she would have been their biggest fan. They would have gained so much from her love and wisdom and the strength that emanated from her.
Simply, I miss her. And I'm remembering her today with soft smiles, a few tears and an extremely grateful heart that I was blessed with such an amazing woman as my mother was. Thank you mom, for everything and I cannot wait to run into your arms again some day, exactly the way my babies run into my own today. Happy Mother's Day!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Simple Sunday.
Have you ever wanted or longed for one of those simple, uncluttered, uncomplicated days? A day without having to rush here and there to pick up more toothpaste or toilet paper? A day where you could just sit back and relax and enjoy the things that are, even in the midst of some things that aren’t? Today is a day like that. There are still things that need to be done and that I am going to do, but for right now I am selfishly settling in for a few moments of soaking in a simple Sunday.
I’m relaxing on my comfy bed, enjoying the extra layer of a quilt I bought in my college days. My husband is napping beside me and I can hear the voices of my 6 year old and 4 year old happily playing Barbies & Transformers in another room down the hall. The fan is whirring and my tummy is full and I am wearing my favorite comfy slippers that my sweetheart bought me for Christmas. Sounds perfect doesn’t it?
Of course I’m not going to mention the dirty dishes that are calling me from the kitchen, or the trash that needs throwing or the last few pieces of laundry that need to be neatly tucked into their drawers. No, I’m not going to think about my long to-do list or my shoes that I forgot to put in my closet last night. Right now, I’m just going to enjoy these simple pleasures and the perfect imperfections of today. I’m going to twirl my toes in a clockwise circle because its comforting in this moment… ahhhhh. A simple Sunday. What could be better?
I’m relaxing on my comfy bed, enjoying the extra layer of a quilt I bought in my college days. My husband is napping beside me and I can hear the voices of my 6 year old and 4 year old happily playing Barbies & Transformers in another room down the hall. The fan is whirring and my tummy is full and I am wearing my favorite comfy slippers that my sweetheart bought me for Christmas. Sounds perfect doesn’t it?Of course I’m not going to mention the dirty dishes that are calling me from the kitchen, or the trash that needs throwing or the last few pieces of laundry that need to be neatly tucked into their drawers. No, I’m not going to think about my long to-do list or my shoes that I forgot to put in my closet last night. Right now, I’m just going to enjoy these simple pleasures and the perfect imperfections of today. I’m going to twirl my toes in a clockwise circle because its comforting in this moment… ahhhhh. A simple Sunday. What could be better?
Saturday, January 24, 2009
25 Random Things
1.) I am seriously direction impaired.
2.) I have been waiting to get taller since Jr High School.
3.) I used to think unruly children simply needed discpline until I was blessed with my beautiful daughter Emelia... and now, I understand some children are extremely hard-headed.
4.) Years ago I accidentally ran over a sweet little rabbit hopping across the road... on Easter Sunday.
5.) I didn't know there were people that couldn't sing until I was in the 10th grade!
6.) I was and still am somewhat of an airhead.
7.) I LOVE to write!
8.) I miss my mom.
9.) Having children made my feet and my nose grow. Blah.
10.) I love 80s music and 80s movies (Goonies, Breakfast Club, etc).
11.) I am still so in love with my husband!
12.) I am a book nerd!
13.) The B-52s Rock the house! ... Love shack baby!
14.) If someones arm gets too close to my face I have a strong compulsion to bite them. (But I don't, ...um... usually!)
15.) The only bone I have ever broken was my right pinky toe.
16.) I have some white hairs. Eeek!
17.) I use exclamation points way too often!
18.) I am admittedly not the best driver.
19.) I never should have taught my daughter how to say 'for shizzle my bizzle!'.
20.) I used to think with cartoon sound effects on occasion. What, don't you? Doink, doink?
21.) I am naturally cluttersome. And it drives my sweet obsessive compulsive husband nuts.
22.) Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year!
23.) I am extremely obnoxious when I am playing cards.
24.) Last week Donnie said I talked in my sleep and actually said the words 'wascally wabbits'. He woke me up shaking the bed with his laughter.
25.) I might be the weirdest person I know.
2.) I have been waiting to get taller since Jr High School.
3.) I used to think unruly children simply needed discpline until I was blessed with my beautiful daughter Emelia... and now, I understand some children are extremely hard-headed.
4.) Years ago I accidentally ran over a sweet little rabbit hopping across the road... on Easter Sunday.
5.) I didn't know there were people that couldn't sing until I was in the 10th grade!
6.) I was and still am somewhat of an airhead.
7.) I LOVE to write!
8.) I miss my mom.
9.) Having children made my feet and my nose grow. Blah.
10.) I love 80s music and 80s movies (Goonies, Breakfast Club, etc).
11.) I am still so in love with my husband!
12.) I am a book nerd!
13.) The B-52s Rock the house! ... Love shack baby!
14.) If someones arm gets too close to my face I have a strong compulsion to bite them. (But I don't, ...um... usually!)
15.) The only bone I have ever broken was my right pinky toe.
16.) I have some white hairs. Eeek!
17.) I use exclamation points way too often!
18.) I am admittedly not the best driver.
19.) I never should have taught my daughter how to say 'for shizzle my bizzle!'.
20.) I used to think with cartoon sound effects on occasion. What, don't you? Doink, doink?
21.) I am naturally cluttersome. And it drives my sweet obsessive compulsive husband nuts.
22.) Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year!
23.) I am extremely obnoxious when I am playing cards.
24.) Last week Donnie said I talked in my sleep and actually said the words 'wascally wabbits'. He woke me up shaking the bed with his laughter.
25.) I might be the weirdest person I know.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Christmas in September?
It’s mid-September and my daughter is singing ‘Jingle Bells’ while she runs around the house with a remnant of material draped around her neck and trailing behind her as she declares “I’m Super Emmi!” How in Kris Kringle’s name does my caped crusader know that Christmas is hiding right around the corner? Earlier tonight as we watched Geraldo being blown over by the gusty winds of Hurricane Ike, Emelia was wrapping a gift for Santa. She asked me to call Mr. Claus and tell him to come get the present she prepared for him. I explained to her I couldn’t disturb Santa just now because he is busy building toys with his elves for Christmas. My little super heroine then asked, ‘Well why can’t he make a toy with one hand and talk to you on the phone with the other?’
Autumn is barely announcing its entrance with its seasonal storms and my daughter is already in full holiday mode. I have to admit my thoughts have also been drifting towards Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'm already fantasizing about Thanksgiving dinner and making the traditional Coconut, Chocolate and Sweet Potato pies my mom used to make every year. I just love how the fall slowly enters, lingers and then fades into winter. It’s natural for me to weave this time of year altogether in my mind so I suppose its fitting for Emmi to be singing Christmas carols even though there are still 9 days left before Autumn officially kicks in.
Autumn is barely announcing its entrance with its seasonal storms and my daughter is already in full holiday mode. I have to admit my thoughts have also been drifting towards Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'm already fantasizing about Thanksgiving dinner and making the traditional Coconut, Chocolate and Sweet Potato pies my mom used to make every year. I just love how the fall slowly enters, lingers and then fades into winter. It’s natural for me to weave this time of year altogether in my mind so I suppose its fitting for Emmi to be singing Christmas carols even though there are still 9 days left before Autumn officially kicks in.It saddens me that September holds only 30 days and we're already ending day 12! This is one of my favorite months of the year for more reasons than its announcement of the Autumn season. The Texas State Fair starts on September 26th this year, just one day past my 37th birthday. My husband and I went to the fair together for one of our first 'non-dates' 8 years ago when we were still pretending we were just friends. So this month always reminds me of funnel cakes and corn dogs, ferris wheels and fire crackers… and butterflies in my stomach.
I’ve noticed the late evenings have held a slight hint of chill the last couple of weeks. I found myself giggling light-headedly a few days ago as I climbed into bed after adding my favorite cozy blanket to my side. I even indulged in hot cocoa one night last week after the kids were tucked away and dreaming. Pumpkins and candy corns are popping up in the supermarket and harvest decor is dressing the entryways of Texas homes. Even the scent of the air is changing and I find myself becoming refreshed, excited and invigorated by the changes my old friend Autumn brings with it. I love, love, love this time of year.
I’m hoping we can plan a trip to see some of the beautiful firey red, burnt orange and golden yellow leaves as they turn during the peak of the season just before they coat the ground. I can’t wait to walk through the leaves and hear the rustling and feel the crunching beneath my feet. I was spoiled to grow up in North Carolina where they have some of the most gorgeous Autumns I’ve ever seen. Here's hoping you have the best Autumn yet, filled with the crunchiest leaves, the creamiest hot cocoa and maybe even a Christmas carol here or there!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)