Running Friends...

I started a Facebook group, "Crazy Running Girls" or now known to us all as CRG... A lot of us participated in the local Hastings Summerfest Race this weekend. This new runner , yet old friend of mine, completed her first race... And she started a new blog! Maybe she'll inspire me to start blogging some more...


http://godsrunnergirl.blogspot.com/


Hope you enjoy her blog as well!

Oops... I took a wrong turn!

Life is busy, always busy. And there are times we stray off on our own, and then all of a sudden I realize that I really did take my own road. Instead of looking for guidance and asking for help, I tried to navigate murky waters and ended up stuck in quicksand and sinking fast... I was just thinking today that there are things that I just "don't know what to do" with... Then I read this blog from the Praise and Coffee site, as I drank my morning coffee today. It is so true, and I have to thank Angie there at Praise and Coffee for writing what it was that I needed to read...

Walking in the Dark

Frantic Morning

Saturday was another wrestling tournament for our team, and it was WAY over in Hillsdale (this is -according to mapquest -1hr and 37 minutes away). I got up early, got my husband's coaching clothes ironed, warmed up some breakfast for my son, and decided I was going back to bed. They were leaving our house at 5:20 am to make it to the school to catch the bus. But I didn't have to leave till 7, therefore, I should have time to sleep for another 45 minutes before this long long day ahead of me...

6:00 am - Get up, make more coffee, get in the shower and start some laundry.
6:20 am - getting out of the shower, two missed calls from the husband... uhoh...
6:21 am - digging through all our football paperwork looking for contact numbers for one of our wrestlers, the little 85lb kid that missed the bus, and the number my husband had didn't work.
6:25 am - found the number, called hubby back
6:30 am - hubby called back, needs me to get keys to the school, open the school and locker room for this kid, and then give the kid a ride to the tournament. Ok... only I AM STILL IN A TOWEL from my shower.
6:31 am - called my dad, to make sure I could get keys to the school.
6:33 am - called the kids dad, who missed the bus, made arrangements to meet him at the school.

So now I am freaking out... Not only am I now almost 15 minutes behind the schedule I had for myself, but I'm still in a towel, and now I have to stop and get keys and then drive 8 miles in the WRONG direction to unlock the school and pick this kid up, and then try to have him to the tournament in time...

So as I'm yelling at Robby (who I had forgotten about till this time) "Get up, Get up, Get dressed... Hurry we've got to go!!" I'm also pulling on my clothes, trying to at least put a little makeup on and pull my hair up, no time to dry and style, calling my friend who was supposed to meet me at my house to let her know plans have changed and now I will be running a tad bit late... and I am mentally cursing out everyone and everything that has thrown my morning into a tailspin, and I haven't even had a cup of coffee yet! I am mad at the kids' dad for not getting him there in time, mad at myself for going back to bed, venting that my husband won't just leave the kid behind (not that I really would even do that - but at the time it seemed like a viable option). And, this is the SECOND time going to this tournament across the state, that I've had to pick up a wrestler who has missed the bus.

7:02 - I'm out the door, calling the dad again and saying I'll be at the school in 10 minutes.
7:03 - getting the keys from my dad
7:05 - called my friend to tell her the new plan, then realized I DIDN'T BRUSH MY TEETH!
7:14 - unlocking the school and locker room
7:19 - on the road to pick up my friend since there's no point in her driving to my house now...
7:32 - picked up friend, and had to ask her to borrow a tooth brush since I forgot that little bit of importance during my morning rush!
7:37 - we are ON THE ROAD! Only 37 minutes behind schedule! Tournament starts at 9am... Cutting it close.

As I finally start to breath, I realize that maybe there was a reason for this whole fiasco. This kid, whose family obviously has needs bigger than mine, and who was so polite and apologetic the entire time, maybe he just needed to not be on the bus that day. Maybe he needed to be at the tournament and I was making a difference in some way. I started to realize that instead of venting and mentally screaming at everyone for ruining my morning, that maybe I should be grateful that I was able to provide safe transportation. I always believe there is a reason for everything. I may not ever know what that reason is, but there was a reason. Maybe it was just another one of God's ways of "thunking" me on the head with a nice little wake up call to show me that life isn't about me and that calm morning cup of coffee. It's about Him and helping others. We are put here for a reason and we have to allow him to show us what those reasons are, whether we ever understand them or not.

At the end of the day, we made it there about 10 minutes late, but the wrestler had a bye first round and didn't miss any matches. He ended up taking a 3rd place, and he had a nice big medal to bring home. The team squeaked out a 1st place, just 8 points over the 2nd place team. This wrestler did make a difference in that aspect. We couldn't have snagged first without him. And most of all, I survived the frantic rush of it all. My son took 1st as well as the team. No one cared that my hair didn't get done, and I learned a lesson from it all... I would say that the frantic rush turned into a really good day!

Down Time

I realized yesterday that my brain does not function when it is not in "rush rush let's go" mode. I had a half hour of down time yesterday. The kids were at practices, husband was at practice, work was done for the day and I didn't have to start my volunteer duty till 5:30. I had 30 minutes before I had to leave the house...

What to do, what to do?? Well I decided that since my sister had just loaned me a new book on her Kindle, so that I could try it out and decide if this ereader concept was for me, that I would read. So I did just that. I sat in complete silence and read for 30 minutes. I was feeling proud of myself for not rushing around and trying to do a quick clean, running to the store, or any of the other little things I could have found to cram into that 30 minutes. So then I packed her Kindle up, and headed into town to work the middle school concession stand, prior to my youngest son's wrestling meet later that night.

I get to town and I'm sitting in the truck listening to the end of the song, because again, I'm NOT RUSHED for a change. Then it HITS me... I forgot EVERYTHING important. My coffee, poured fresh and in a to go mug, sitting on the table, and my son's wrestling bag with everything he needs - shoes, headgear, UNIFORM... ugh! It was all ready. All I had to do was grab it on my way out the door, but NO, I was so relaxed from my 30 minutes of down time that I think the "To-Do" section in my brain froze up from shock of not being used.

So after calling and making sure the other mom could cover for me since I now was again in RUSH mode. I had to drive the 8 miles home, grab the stuff I forgot, drive the 8 miles back into town and then of course, I was almost 20 minutes late. And just when I thought I was doing so good... That is when I realized, that my brain does not know how to operate in non-rush mode. Or maybe non-rush mode is so out of practice that it doesn't know how to operate correctly anymore. I don't know, but feeling proud of myself for relaxing for 30 minutes - which I cannot even remember the last time that happened - was shortly lived as I was soon mad at myself for having to waste the gas to drive home and back, be late, and ruin that good feeling.

So maybe next time I'll just save the reading for my normal, few minutes before bed allotted time, and continue to use those spare 30 minutes to try and check of the remainder of my to do list. I could have - got gas, grabbed a few groceries, folded laundry, maybe scrapbooked a page or at least got a layout started, done abripperx (only takes 15 minutes), ran a few miles, etc... the list goes on. Or, if I want to try enjoying that gift of down time, maybe next time, you know - 5 years from now, when I get that 30 minutes of free time. Maybe I'll remember to sit in the car and read after I've safely loaded everything needed for when my 30 minutes is up!

Hope

"Once you choose Hope, anything's possible."

~Christopher Reeve~

Hope: (n) the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best; (v) to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence...

Where would we be without Hope? I think I would be lost. Lost in my dark daydreams and fearing for the worse. I would worry too much, pray too little. I would fret and fear and fill my days with anxiety, and not see past the now to tomorrow's possibilities.

I am a "cup half full" person, and I don't like being pessimistic. I could not survive without hope. Hope for my children's future; Hope for the sick and injured; Hope that I will make it past the daily "junk" that wants to bring me down.

What is hard is to see the lack of Hope in those around us. Facebook posts full of mood shattering statements that reflect the worry, sorrow and despair of the world around us. I realized today, that there are many kids that already show no signs of Hope. How is it that someone so young has given up Hope already, that they can't see past the todays and into tomorrow?

I "Hope" that in all my parenting skills that if I can't make a perfect kid, that I at least instill Hope into them. That they will be able to believe in themselves, in others and in general in the goodness of the world around them. I "Hope" that they will be able to see past the dark days, evil people and horrors of society, to see that underneath it all is goodness waiting to be had. We all have a choice, do you hold "Hope" for your tomorrows, or have you given up?

When the world says, "Give Up," Hope whispers, "Try it one more time..."

Blogs...

I forgot how addicting reading and surfing through all these blogs can be. I've been able to laugh at/with Denise and her 4 boys, see a far away friend's snow day down South, and I've picked up some good ideas on organization, crockpot recipes, challenges, scrapbooking, running plans, diets, and writing. I've also shared my morning coffee with the Internet Cafe, which filled my morning with some much needed lessons on "Love"... and the list goes on. It seems that each blog has a link to something new and exciting... What will I find next!

I think I may make a "Blog Wish List"... I've added containers from the Container Store, Scrapbook paper files from someones office - not sure where to find them but they sure looked good in the pictures... I'm going to become a wood plaque maker, thanks to the blog showing the wood plaques my friend Jamie made. I might have to give my self a chance to try Studio J digital layouts after looking at the pictures of those. A bigger or second crockpot will soon be added as I realized mine is not quite big enough for everything that can possibly be cooked in one of those things! And challenges... oh there are so many scrapbook challenges, where will I find the time?? Off I go... time to get some work done, to make time to read, so I can add more things to the list of things to take up my time. Happy Blogging!

Box of Chocolates

I'm re-using an old blog today. A friend of mine had posted a question on facebook about whether life was really like a box of chocolates, and I was instantly searching through old posts for this one. It was one of my favorites, and as I re-read it, I realized it still applies to me today. I still don't know exactly what it is that I'm searching for, but I'm constantly praying for guidance and hoping that I am at least headed in the right direction. There are many paths in front of me right now, and I'm hoping that the chocolate that I end up with  is a great one!

Life is Like a Box of Chocolates

What I Learned at My First Half Marathon

So I did it! I finished my first half marathon, and was almost dead on to the time that I wanted to be at. I had set a series of goals for myself and I hit the top three. First of, I wanted to finish on my own two feet. My sister and I had seen a t-shirt at the running expo that said, "If found on ground, please drag across the finish line." I didn't want that to be me! Although I made my sister promise to drag or roll me across just in case... Secondly, I wanted to be able to RUN the entire 13.1 miles - and I DID! We didn't stop to walk at all, we didn't stop to stretch or to take a potty break. We ran the entire course, and the first 8 almost 9 miles is all UPHILL! Finally, my time goal was to finish at a 10 minute pace for my first one, which would be a time of 2 hours and 11 minutes. Well, we finished at a 10:02 pace, for a time of 2 hours, 11 minutes and 19 seconds. I consider it goal achieved. I think there is a 30 second grace period on this... (new rule of mine).

So, for the next one, I'm hoping to be closer to 2 hours 5 minutes or less... Now, I just have to figure out which one that will be. All in all, the race was fun. It was a little scary at first. Cincinnati was in the midst of THUNDERSTORMS! My brother in law pointed out that I can now call my self a true runner since I've finally ran in the rain. My sister was nice enough to follow that up with, not only did you run in the rain, you PAID to run in the rain... It rained the entire time. It did let up after the first few miles and it wasn't storming and coming down quite as hard. By the 5th or 6th mile, I was sweating so bad (it was probably 67 degreees with 95% humidity at that point) that the rain and the puddles felt heavenly!

Anyway, here is my list that was going thru my head that first night after we got home, and what it was I had learned from the whole experience. So here's my Top 20!

20. I'm sooo looking forward to this thing called "Recovery Week",
19. That there should also be a "Recovery Sleep" period as well ... A mandatory 12 - 15 hours would be a good start;
18. That icing and ibuprofen are part of the prize, and should be included in the post-race handouts;
17. Even 14 hours after the start time, that one's endorphin levels are still at an all time high and fighting with the bodies need for that "recovery sleep;"
16. Those endorphin levels would be great blog stimulants, if I wasn't too sore to get out of bed and get the computer;
15. Only crazy people would pay to run in a thunderstorm, across two very large steel bridges...
14. That I am one of those crazy people;
13. Wet hills are VERY slippery, and man hole covers are worse, but the yellow lines in the road were the sneaky little slippery spots on the course;
12. I really wish sometimes that I had the freedom to urinate like a guy... those lucky dogs that we spotted lined up in the bushes...
11. I can drink a WHOLE LOT (about 60 oz) of gatorade and water within 2 minutes of crossing the finish line, without feeling sick...
10. I can simultaneously hold 2 bottles of water, hold the running blanket around me, while devouring 2 little bowls of pineapple by pouring them down my throat, and reach for a donut at the same time...
9. While attempting previous feat, I did not care that I yell at my kids for eating like heathens...
8. The pain in my foot was thoroughly outweighed by the sight of food;
7. That soggy feet take a long time to "de-prune" after a couple of hours in wet socks and shoes;
6. Noticing blood soaked the back of my shoe was a source of pride, because I hadn't even noticed the sore that developed on my heel...
5. In all seriousness now, making it the last two miles through the foot pain was totally motivated by my sister and the runners around me, but that it was MY own inner voice telling me "don't stop now;"
4. That when you are exhausted and fighting pain on mile 12, that giving high fives to a bunch of kids who are cheering you on, is an incredible sense of motivation;
3. It's heavenly to hear your six year old say, "Dad, did you see mom's medal? It's awesome..." and then have that six year old ask you, "Mom, are you going to hang this up in your room?"
2. Obtaining goals is awesome, but I'm already looking for another one to run, so that I can beat my time...
1. and that (#2) means I'm hooked - Yes, world, I'm a runner now!

Baby Steps...

So my first step on this journey of figuring out if a writer I may someday be, is doing a little bit of research. I've been reading my online friend, Cheryl Pickett's blog: http://publishinganswers.blogspot.com and I have found some very helpful information. If you are interested in all at writing or publishing, she has a lot of answers and info!

Since my true passion has always been children's literature, I loved this quote, which I found on her blog...

"No book is worth reading at the age of 10 which is not equally & often far more worth reading at age 50 & beyond"— C.S. Lewis

I would agree with this quote, as most of my favorite books, the books I can quote and remember, are children's books. Maybe that is just because after having three kids that I've read a few of them hundreds of times each, but nonetheless, they are memorable. And part of me wishes I had little babies to keep reading them too. Remember "Love You Forever"... my oldest loved that book, and we used to read it ALL the time, and I read it to the other two kids as well, but now, who do I read a book to about a mother climbing into her grown son's window and rocking him to sleep?

I also found the below link, which I did remember most of the information from a class in children's literature that I took at WMU "fourscore and seven years ago"... or something like that, maybe eon's ago would be better, simply said a LONG time ago, when I thought for sure I'd be writing for a living, I had a class... Anyway, it was good to reread a lot of the information on the facts of the actual book construction itself of a children's book. http://editorialanonymous.blogspot.com/2008/10/basic-book-construction.html

A better question, why am I blogging this stuff? Well, for me, I am a very unorganized individual. Yes, I admit, that I have never, ever in my life been able to stay on an organized "plan" for anything. I start books, and journals, planners, etc... but unless I hold myself accountable through some other means, it all just disappears. Those planners become lost beneath a pile of clutter, usually "stuff" that needs to be added to the planner, the planner then ceases to have a pen touch it's fine surface after a few weeks and remains blank for the remainder of the year... Bad, I know. Very, very bad... Like running, I have my sister to make me accountable. I tell her I want to run, she sends me a training plan, and she holds me too it. So for writing, well, I'm trying to be organized and maybe by blogging the links I find, it will help to at least be able to find them in the future!

So there they are, my baby steps into the grand adventure of figuring out what I want to be when I grow up....

Alone Time...

I have rediscovered something yesterday and today that I have not had in a long time.... Time alone! No kids, no hubbie, and not at the house where there is always plenty to be cleaned or put away.

Last night I had 2 hours to myself and I spent them browsing at Barnes & Nobles with a white chocolate mocha in hand. This morning, I had to drop my oldest off for SAT testing at WMU and it's from 8:15am - 1:00pm, and it is an hour from my house. So, while I could spend 4 hours on the road driving home and then back and then back home again. I decided to pack up a couple books and my laptop, and here I sit... At Starbuck's with another white chocolate mocha (2 in two days - going to have to workout tonight) and time to be alone.

Although I could work, and I might do some of that in my 4 hours of time, I think I'd rather spend it going through all these wonderful blogs that others have written, read some, blog some of my own, etc... all while taking in the glorious smell of coffee!

So, I am off to web surf, read blogs, and anything else that I never have time to do at home!

p.s. 1 hr into my venture, I have 2 other notes of interest (or maybe not interesting at all)... 1. That the music is also good. I brought my new ipod touch, but I don't even need it; and 2. that it's kind of fun to sit back and people watch... I can hear their orders and then try and "match" the customer to the drink. What does your drink say about you... I'm sure my Non Fat Venti White Chocolate Mocha with Carmel and Whip Cream says, "balancing the abundance of calories between the non-fat and plus whip..." Does that mean I'm a balanced person? Probably not...

Oh, actually another point. Not many people now a days make eye contact. So now, as I sit by the exit door. I am looking up as people walk out, they probably think I'm some crazy lady, I am trying to smile a friendly "good day"... Two takers so far. A kid, and a young man, who hopefully didn't think it was anything more than a "good day" smile and nod...

p.s.s - Ok... It's now 11:43 am and I have to be back at WMU Campus in an hour... the cozy seat is finally beginning to put my rear to sleep. Time to get up and stretch... might have to get another coffee to go though! Thanks for sharing my alone time...

A Box of Chocolates

"My mama always said 'Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.'" Forrest Gump sums life up pretty well, you never know what's around that next corner, over that next hill, or just on the other side of your own front door, or maybe standing over your shoulder and breathing down your neck - it could be the loving hubby or the monsters from your dreams coming to take you back to fantasy land... I am the absolute proof that just when you think you have a plan someone else shows you a different plan. I have almost given up planning altogether because lately they don't seem to pan out anyway.


So back to Forrest and my box of chocolate... Unfortunately, I'm a pretty picky "chocolate" person. I love it, but only those certain few pieces of it really grab my attention/appetite. Dark chocolate for instance, and not just all dark chocolate, but the 65% cocao pieces... almost as much antioxidants per serving as a bowl full of blueberries! So, anyway, back to the "box," in my pickiness for the chocolate in my life, it seems that I have poked my nail into every piece in the box and I still can't "find" that plan that I had.

Plans that we set for ourselves, like "debt free in 5 years" yeah, that chocolate did not only miss getting put in my box but I think it grew feet and ran as far from me as the little milky legs could carry it. Or, how about the plan to have written a children's book... yeah, I found that chocolate and every time I try to take a bite out of it, I choke on it and set it back in the box for another day. Then there all the little plans, dreams, "to-dos" on my list of chocolates to try... it seems like I reach for that rasberry creme chocolate and come up with a vanilla nut carmel that is shocking when you bite into and get some unexpected, yet still yummy, flavor, but that new and exciting flavor totally takes you of course and again, your plan is left by the wayside.

You could say that I've been looking for that perfect dark chocolate, that is pure and good, and coats your tongue with bittersweet smoothness, and a hint of berries... but, i keep grabbing something with nuts that just adds to the craziness in my life, and crazy it is. Not as crazy as some, or maybe just as crazy, just a different type of crazy. Like my chocolates are filled with almonds and maybe yours are filled with pecans... and then there is the carmel, the carmel that sticks to your fingers and leaves a little trail of goo on your chin. The carmel that sticks to you and won't let go, it's so sweet and tantalizing, but soooo off course, but it's so sticky that you just can't let go and get back on track.

So yes, my life is like a box of chocolates. I'll keep looking for that dreamy piece of perfection, and I'll keep that plan to find it, but I know enough to not close my eyes and savor the expected flavor before actually biting into it, beacuse someone out there is looking down at me and waiting to see the shocked look on my face when I bite into yet another carmel nut concoction instead of the creamy raspberry that I wanted. And when I do give that shocked expression after biting into that "chocolate" that wasn't the one I had planned, His heavenly sense of humor will get a little enjoyment of seeing me realize that it's not my box of chocolates after all. It's a great big box of chocolates that He is holding open for me. He actually even has one of those neat little "maps" that shows you which piece of chocolate is the one you are looking for, my problem is with all my planning, I forget to read His map, and instead I try to poke around and find my own perfect flavor. One day I'll find that chocolate I've been looking for and realize it was right in front of me all along.

The Giving Moment

Some say that it's the little things that make us who we are. Tthe little things that happen, the little things we notice, the brief moments in time that shape who we are and what we believe. Not just what we believe in, but what we hope for, and what we set our dreams on, who we are at the base of our soul. It's the little moments that are so meaningful at the time they occur, those brief moments that touch our heart, and we think we'll never forget that moment, and how we felt in that moment. You hope you can alwasy remember that moment as clear tomorrow and next year as you felt it when it happened today. Today I had that moment. That heart touching, tear inducing, bring me back down to earth and face reality moment. Today, I was at the coffee shop, which I am at 5 days a week about 3 times a day, but today was different. Today was Maryanne, the owners, birthday, and she is a great person, but "the moment" was when I walked into the coffee shop and stepped up to the counter to see her hugging Dave. This is the moment... Dave is this elderly gentleman, who is there at the coffee shop almost as often as I am. I have heard his stories as I've passed through, and it really shames me to say that I've ignored him, although I've nodded and said hello, I've never talked to Dave, even though Dave says hello to everyone. You see, Dave is the homeless man that sits in the coffee shop drinking ice water in the summer to stay out of the heat, and coffee in the winter to stay out of the cold. Dave is Maryanne's customer. He may not always be able to pay, he may not always order something other than a glass of water, but Dave listens. Dave hears things. And today, today Dave took 95 cents out of his 35mm film container and bought Maryanne a slice of apple spice cake for her birthday. Dave didn't buy himself a breakfast muffin. He didn't save it for half a sandwich at lunch. Dave may not always get a meal, and may not know when he can get the next one when he does get a meal, but today was Maryanne's birthday, and today Dave spent his money on her. I walked into the coffee shop today to see Maryanne giving him a hug, with a tear in her eye, and to see the little piece of birthday cake. I knew, and Maryanne knew, that Dave had given just about everything that he had for someone that he thinks of as a friend. Dave gave something to her that wasn't just a piece of cake, he gave it all except for the few pennies he had leftover. And he gave me something. He gave me the gift of just witnessing someone give everything that they have for another. How many times can you really say that you have witnessed an act so generous? How many times? I can't remember any other time that I have witnessed such a self-less and giving act. It was an act so small, yet so kind and so full of meaning that I cannot even begin to express everything I felt in that moment. Dave gave everything in a piece of birthday cake. Everything that makes my heart feel heavy with shame for not respecting him more as a person, and yet light as a feather for knowing that this type of generosity still exists, that there is hope for me as a person to be the kind of person I saw today in Dave. Dave gave Maryanne an absolutely perfect birthday gift. And I know that Maryanne will treasure the memory of that gift, and I know that I will treasure the memory. And I only hope that in a week or month or years from know that when I look back, I can feel that moment as strongly as I felt it today. Because that type of moment, that moment, will help me be a better person, and I don't ever want to forget that moment.

Success in Childrearing...

OK, so I'm not of the "age" yet where I can say I'm "good" at this. Can one ever say, "I was a complete and utter success at everything involved in child rearing..." I doubt it. I look at some of the best moms I know and I know they have "things" they might change, I know I do. And in those times of wondering could I screw this up anymore (usually when they are fighting, dinner is burning and homework is again being done at 8:00 at night..) you suddenly are hit with the revelation of revelations, "wow, they really do listen to what I say."

The other day was one of those days when I realized that, by golly, I must be doing "something" right. I decided this when I realized that my three year old had just "out-witted" me with my own wisdom. On the way to school, while asking me about what everyone was doing that day and what we were doing when we got home, he asked if I would play with him that night. Now, playing with my children is something I love to do; however, I also know better than to promise him to devoted and uninterrupted playtime, since by the time I get home do dinner, go through homework and everything, the play time seems to get cut short. And, I knew that night was one of those nights (which does little for your self-esteem as a mother to realize that you have to choose dinner vs. play or homework vs. play, etc...).

Anyway, while telling him that mommy really wanted to play and if we got home and ate all our dinner really quick and mommy would play with him while we helped the older kids with homework, he (the ever so wise 3 year old) tells me in this matter of fact tone. "I know you will play with me mommy, because it's nice to play with others, and God likes it when we are nice to each other." Hmmm... yes God, I will play tonight, we may eat frozen dinner or fast food, but my three year old will have a play mate to "be nice to him" tonight, because yes God, I know you like it when we are "nice to each other."

Keep Moving Forward...

"Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors, because we're curious... and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." ~ Walt Disney ~

Yes, I have been inspired by Walt Disney, or a movie in his name. I just watched "Meet the Robinsons" with my kiddos, and it is inspiring. I think it's good to sit back and enjoy a nice, feel-good, let's unwind and eat popcorn movie... and yes, maybe I cried at the end (isn't that what Walt Disney really means - you will cry...). Well I did. And, for Meet the Robinsons being a "kid" movie. There is a whole lot in there that I, and probably most any adult, to learn from (and I love the theme song, "Little Wonders" by Rob Thomas).

I will keep moving forward. As children we stood up when we fell down, we wiped the dirt and gravel from our knees and hands, we jumped back on the bike that tried to kill us, and we kept moving forward. A little road gravel didn't slow us down, a broken hand, a sprained ankle, whatever the ailment, as a kid it didn't matter. Whatever the insult or injury, you just kept going. As adults, I think we lose some of this, whether it's age (it is harder to jump back up as you get old, the back and knees just don't cooperate as well as they used to), or just the fact that sometimes it is defnitely hard-mentally-to stand back up and get on the bike when you've been knocked down so many times. Sometimes I wonder when it will be my time, my moment in the sun, my time to shine, and any type of disappointment is hard, but even as an adult, I know I have to keep moving forward.

I will do just as I did as a kid, I'll stand up wipe the dirt off, "suck it up" as they say, face my fears and move on. I won't let the hurt feelings, the scraped knees or the humility of being knocked down in front of the world stop me from moving on. I will look at each failure as an opportunity to learn. I will accept the challenges of "new" situations and know that by doing so, I will teach my kids the same thing. And yes, I will keep watching "kid" movies. Because I like simple. I like good and wholesome, and I like knowing that there is still good around me and good to pass onto the next generation. And now, I can go to bed with a good song running through my head, for as the song "Little Wonders" says... "Let it go, Let it roll right off your shoulders, Don't you know, the hardest part is over..."

My Talking Stove...

I just had a little light bulb hanging above my head! A great idea! Why hasn't someone invented a talking stove? Because for me, in my multi-tasking world... I need a talking stove. Because I can't even count the number of times I've turned on the wrong burner without realizing it and tried to start a fire, because in my kitchen there is always something sitting on the other three burners. Last time it was a leftover plate of pancakes that got burned to a crisp, this time it was just the empty pan that I hadn't intended to use just yet. The problem is that I am so accustomed to that smell, that nice hot, something is burning smell, that I don't notice it quick enough. And, when I do, for god's sake - don't grab a hold of the pan or the plate (whatever it is I happen to be burning) without a HOT PAD!

So why hasn't someone invented a stove that says, "You have turned on the right front burner. Please make sure the pan you want to use is on the right front burner. Please make sure your freshly washed hand towel is not on the right front burner as I am a new stove and do not want to be destroyed in your house fire just yet. Thank you." Or, how about this, "Your oven has been on for four hours at a temperature of 350 degrees. At this time, I think whatever it was you intended to cook - unless it's Thanksgiving - is completely and utterly destroyed or you have left me turned on just to make sure that I do work. If that is the case, yes I work and I am hot and tired of being at 350 degrees, if not, then please remove your disastrous cooking experiment from the oven area and place it directly in the garbage."

Of course, if and when I ever get time to make a really good meal, well then it would also be programmed to say, "You have just won mother of the week for working, being mom and still having time and energy to make this fabulous 3 course meal that is packed full of all the necessary vitamins and minerals. It has been an honor to cook with you." Yes, a talking stove with a little attitude would do me a world of good.

And yes, while I was blogging away, I realized that the front right burner has been on for 2 hours past dinner time. I managed to put the extra chili in a tupperware bowl and store it in the fridge, but that burner just doesn't speak up and say, "hello, this is your right front burner letting you know that I am still on and making sure that all of the extra chili is cooked right into your pan for extra duty cleaning. Have a nice night."

Lincoln Logs and Race Cars

So, the other night I had like three different, incredible blog ideas... but life happened. Namely, Robby Jay.... he decided mom hadn't played enough with him lately and that I needed to "play a game." That game ended up being Lincoln Logs and race cars on the floor for an hour and a half.

Now, I love playing on the floor, and I really don't do it often enough, but why do kids insist on building this great, fantastic, marvelous masterpiece of wood. You use all the lincoln logs available and even make a trip back to the bedroom for more, and then... then... you knock it down! And, what is really great, is that in the mind of this incredible 3 (3 and don't forget the 1/2) year old, the knocking down is better than all the building. I can put in fancy rooms with windows and make doors and even add a roof, and in the end, "whoosh" it all comes tumbling down in a burst of glory. And then, all of a sudden, it was time to put them away and play race cars. But, oh, don't try to keep the house together when you put it back in the tote, that's no good to have it pre-assembled for the next lincoln log session. I tried, believe me, I tried to save that masterpiece that I sat on the floor for so long to make (so long that I had numb feet and legs from sitting there), but I tried in vain. The "destructinator" (Robby Jay) decided "Mom, no... you can't leave it together" and then he decided to make sure by conveniently sticking his big boy foot in the tub and smashing my labor of love to pieces... but it brought a smile to his face.

But then, next was the race cars.... Now why is it that with race cars, you have to line up 100 different cars across my living room floor (on carpet nonetheless) and then feel completely helpless when this same 3 and 1/2 yr old decides "ready, set, go..." and you can't push 100 cars all at one time to make them race. How was I supposed to do this? I had to try and think quick, because the "Mommy can do it" look was on his face.... Of course, it was really only like 15 - 20 cars, but when you are suddenly challenged to race them all at once, it seems like a 100. The quick thinking failed me, and I have to admit mommy did not know the answer to this one... So, what did this quick (rather, not so quick) thinking mom do? I bailed, I distracted, I tried the "which one do you think will win?" and the "guess which one is mommy's favorite?" But it was all to no avail. Robby wanted to race... So, what do you do? I am ashamed to say, at 10:30 at night, I bribed my way out of race cars with the option of watching "Barnyard" instead. Who wouldn't rather here a cow sing Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down"? I know it seemed like the better option to me!

But back to the beginning of my blog, being that I did originally, three nights ago, have some really good ideas to blog about, but I lost them. They are somewhere in the neverland of my mind, buried under lincoln logs and race cars, and some night, I'm sure I will be wide awake at 3 am and those ideas will hit me all of a sudden, and maybe, just maybe I will have the energy to drag my weary self out of bed and blog those three good ideas that I once had... But, instead of those great blogs that I know I had... you get lincoln logs and race cars instead!

Laughter

I copied this from an old blog of mine and entered it into a writing contest for a spot on a "Dear Reader" column and actually won! I thought I would repost it here...

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." ee Cummings

Lately I tend to get too busy rushing through all the steps of mylife. The movements of going here and there, making this and fixing that, "Hurry comb your hair, brush your teeth, get your shoes on..."and the list goes on. In all this busyness, I sometimes lose sight of what is really important. I get irritable and stressed, and I tend to see those traits rubbing off on those around me.

Yesterday, amidst the rushing around and hurrying to do the littlethings, I was stopped cold in my tracks by...LAUGHTER! While trying to get three kids ready for bed and trying to finish dishes so that I can unwind and go to bed; I hear it--hysterical laughing. Myolder son is "mocking" me (using an overly stern, funny voice) andtelling the youngest "hurry and brush your teeth." Of course, of all funny things in the world, this voice is one my youngest finds hilarious, and of course, his belly laugh is completely contagious. So, my oldest, keeps going, and every time the youngest gets a louder and longer belly laugh.

Laughter begins to spread...my daughter is laughing, my husband is laughing, I think I even hear the goldfish laughing...I try to gain control, which I should have realized was a lost cause once the hilarity had set in, but I try... "come on, it's time for bed..." The only answer I receive is more laughing. A smirk at first, then a smile, next a giggle, and finally a true laugh as I break free from these bonds of time and control and slip back into enjoyment of the little things that life gives me. It's these moments in life, which are brief, too often forgotten and occur over a simple thing--like "lets mock mommy"--that keep me sane. In this world of schedules and deadlines, workloads and volunteer workloads (that become more work than the regular workloads), the light that breaks through the grayness of day to day mundane "stuff" is the laughter. The joy and laughter that my children share with each other and pass on to me is my sanity. Laughter really is the best medicine!