Today I am thankful that my boys have reached the age that they don't want me around all the time, but still think I'm totally awesome and make sure they know where I am every three minutes.
Don't worry, the motherly requirement to keep an eye and/or ear on them at all times is still in effect.
Confusion aside, what does this mean?
It means I can deep clean my kitchen while they make messes elsewhere in the house and interrupt me often, but still let me get something done.
Still confused? Me, too:)
How's this- all week long the boys have wanted my complete and undivided attention. Constantly. And when they didn't get it, there was much acting out. Factoring in that I have three children who wanted this at the same time and there were always at least two boys behaving in ways they have been taught not to.
But today? Today they want me to be in whichever room they are not. This means they can run up to me at any point and tell me what awesome thing they are currently doing and run out again. This also means I can be in the kitchen, conveniently placed in the "center" of the house, and clean, clean, clean while pausing to say, "That's amazing!" or to break up yet another fight.
My kitchen is a happy place today. Spots are coming off the walls, the sink is shining, the window is clear, the dust and grime is gone from many a surface, and 1/3 of my kitchen is looking new again.
Sadly, it looks as though it may be too big of a job to finish today. I still have the bar to clean, the cupboard doors to wash, two more walls to wipe down, and the microwave, the fridge, and the floor to tackle. Not to mention the fact that I need to dust the ledges above the fridge and cupboards and I should clean the inside of the oven.
But even a partly deep cleaned kitchen makes me happy. And the chicken pot pie my sister in law made for us, thereby saving me time making dinner tonight, gets me all the closer to having a feel-good kitchen.
Thanks, boys, for playing together. Now if you could just stop the fighting, it'd be a perfect day. And wouldn't you know it, that cued another screaming match. Time for a nap, another blessing from heaven:)
What are you thankful for this awesome Thanksgiving season?
Friday, November 5, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Under the wire!
There's still time:)
I am thankful for energy, of which I had none today.
It was a very long day. The likes of which I would not like to repeat, but probably will.
Lots of fun sprinkled throughout the day, though. Just not the energy to enjoy it. And staying up this late is not good for energy tomorrow. I'm off to bed!
I am thankful for energy, of which I had none today.
It was a very long day. The likes of which I would not like to repeat, but probably will.
Lots of fun sprinkled throughout the day, though. Just not the energy to enjoy it. And staying up this late is not good for energy tomorrow. I'm off to bed!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
I voted
I love getting to wear my "I voted" sticker on election days.
Not so long ago (as ages go) I would not have had the option to vote. If I lived in another country, odds are I still would not have that option what with being female and all.
I enjoy being a girl. Since I live here and now, I can be a girl AND vote.
Awesome!
There are people who would like for that opportunity to be taken away from me.
Sometimes, I would like to give them a good slap across the face.
But that would not be a very Christian thing to do.
Therein lies our problem.
They don't want me to vote because I am religious. I shouldn't slap them across the face because I am religious and subscribe to the "turn the other cheek" belief.
"Now, that's what you call ironic."
People who define the term separation of church and state in the extreme-not-what-it-means way, would have me not vote because my religious beliefs lead me to support things they'd like to see dead and vote against things they think the world would be better off with. They see that as a church infiltration of state.
First off, separation of church and state is a paraphrased statement from the great Thomas Jefferson and is not in the US Constitution.
Technicalities aside, it does not mean any person with any belief that was found in any church is not allowed to have said belief affect their vote. I sure wish people would stop defining it that way.
Because, by golly, I LOVE to vote! I'd hate to be barred from it because of my beliefs or my gender or anything about me. That would be totally against the idea of voting!
"Let's hear what the people want us to do, but only the men. Who think only this certain way, we don't want religion making a mess of things. And they must have this certain type of job to vote. And make this much money. And own this much property. Yes, that will give us a clear picture of what we should do."
Reeee-diculous. And yet, it's been seen many times in this ol' world of ours.
I'm so thankful to live in a time and place where I am allowed to vote. It's very exhilarating...even when candidates win elections I'd rather they lose and propositions pass that I'd rather not. Voting is such a great privilege.
Not so long ago (as ages go) I would not have had the option to vote. If I lived in another country, odds are I still would not have that option what with being female and all.
I enjoy being a girl. Since I live here and now, I can be a girl AND vote.
Awesome!
There are people who would like for that opportunity to be taken away from me.
Sometimes, I would like to give them a good slap across the face.
But that would not be a very Christian thing to do.
Therein lies our problem.
They don't want me to vote because I am religious. I shouldn't slap them across the face because I am religious and subscribe to the "turn the other cheek" belief.
"Now, that's what you call ironic."
People who define the term separation of church and state in the extreme-not-what-it-means way, would have me not vote because my religious beliefs lead me to support things they'd like to see dead and vote against things they think the world would be better off with. They see that as a church infiltration of state.
First off, separation of church and state is a paraphrased statement from the great Thomas Jefferson and is not in the US Constitution.
Technicalities aside, it does not mean any person with any belief that was found in any church is not allowed to have said belief affect their vote. I sure wish people would stop defining it that way.
Because, by golly, I LOVE to vote! I'd hate to be barred from it because of my beliefs or my gender or anything about me. That would be totally against the idea of voting!
"Let's hear what the people want us to do, but only the men. Who think only this certain way, we don't want religion making a mess of things. And they must have this certain type of job to vote. And make this much money. And own this much property. Yes, that will give us a clear picture of what we should do."
Reeee-diculous. And yet, it's been seen many times in this ol' world of ours.
I'm so thankful to live in a time and place where I am allowed to vote. It's very exhilarating...even when candidates win elections I'd rather they lose and propositions pass that I'd rather not. Voting is such a great privilege.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
America's favorite pastime
You might wonder why today's post is not about voting. If that is the case, don't worry; I'm very grateful for the opportunity to vote and will be posting about such tomorrow:)
But today? Today it's about baseball. I married a second generation Giants' fan and am currently raising generation three.
Last night the Giants won the World Series. I watched the exciting game with my husband, uninterested sons, parents in law, and brother in law and his girlfriend.
I've almost always like baseball. I remember going to a few professional games as a kid and enjoying them. I never really tried to understand more than the basics though and such led to a teenage dislike of watching baseball, though I always enjoyed playing. I even considered joining the high school softball team, but the girls on the team and the annoyingly large ball they played with led me to stick to only soccer.
Annnnyway, in college (the one year that I wasn't married), after some observation, I decided that I did not want to marry a sports fanatic. I liked my Sundays to be sports-free and my guys to care more about going on a date with me than watching the game (of which there was ALWAYS one to be found on tv). But then, I also wanted to find a man who would enjoy playing sports. What's a girl to do?!?
I found the perfect combination in Bret. He'd play soccer with me on the weekends and come to my intramural games if he could. He found enjoyment in sports without feeling the need to watch every game. We'd go to school basketball, volleyball, and football games and have all sorts of fun. But he would do his homework instead of watch a game. He'd plan a date that did not involve sitting in his apartment to cheer on an obscure team on the other side of the country. He loved baseball. But most importantly, he clearly showed me that his love of the Lord was greater than his love of baseball.
Long story short, we're married and I recommend baseball fans as good marriage partners:) In the last seven years I've really come to appreciate baseball myself. I'll never be into all the stats, know the players and their positions on every team, or understand all the rules. But this is a sport that I can get behind. A sport I can feel good about my boys playing.
I love the pace of baseball. I love the suspense. I love the finesse. I love that pitchers will bean a batter for doing something stupid. I love that there are extremely few professional players that I would classify as "thugs." Lots of family men play baseball. I love the moment after a batter gets a hit before they drop the bat and sprint. I love watching an outfielder line up under a fly ball and wondering if he'll catch it or not. I love watching infielders fancy work in getting the ball there in time for an out. I love going with my family to the local minor league games. I love that there is actually a definable season, unlike the basketball season which seems to never end. Baseball is a great sport.
Though society seems to be gravitating toward the more stupid forms of entertainment, I hope baseball will always be America's favorite pastime.
But today? Today it's about baseball. I married a second generation Giants' fan and am currently raising generation three.
Last night the Giants won the World Series. I watched the exciting game with my husband, uninterested sons, parents in law, and brother in law and his girlfriend.
I've almost always like baseball. I remember going to a few professional games as a kid and enjoying them. I never really tried to understand more than the basics though and such led to a teenage dislike of watching baseball, though I always enjoyed playing. I even considered joining the high school softball team, but the girls on the team and the annoyingly large ball they played with led me to stick to only soccer.
Annnnyway, in college (the one year that I wasn't married), after some observation, I decided that I did not want to marry a sports fanatic. I liked my Sundays to be sports-free and my guys to care more about going on a date with me than watching the game (of which there was ALWAYS one to be found on tv). But then, I also wanted to find a man who would enjoy playing sports. What's a girl to do?!?
I found the perfect combination in Bret. He'd play soccer with me on the weekends and come to my intramural games if he could. He found enjoyment in sports without feeling the need to watch every game. We'd go to school basketball, volleyball, and football games and have all sorts of fun. But he would do his homework instead of watch a game. He'd plan a date that did not involve sitting in his apartment to cheer on an obscure team on the other side of the country. He loved baseball. But most importantly, he clearly showed me that his love of the Lord was greater than his love of baseball.
Long story short, we're married and I recommend baseball fans as good marriage partners:) In the last seven years I've really come to appreciate baseball myself. I'll never be into all the stats, know the players and their positions on every team, or understand all the rules. But this is a sport that I can get behind. A sport I can feel good about my boys playing.
I love the pace of baseball. I love the suspense. I love the finesse. I love that pitchers will bean a batter for doing something stupid. I love that there are extremely few professional players that I would classify as "thugs." Lots of family men play baseball. I love the moment after a batter gets a hit before they drop the bat and sprint. I love watching an outfielder line up under a fly ball and wondering if he'll catch it or not. I love watching infielders fancy work in getting the ball there in time for an out. I love going with my family to the local minor league games. I love that there is actually a definable season, unlike the basketball season which seems to never end. Baseball is a great sport.
Though society seems to be gravitating toward the more stupid forms of entertainment, I hope baseball will always be America's favorite pastime.
Monday, November 1, 2010
It's the tops
Top Ten Reasons being a parent of young children is awesome.
10. Holidays become magical again.
9. You are forced to put someone else's needs before yours. And let's face it, that's good for everyone.
8. You suddenly have superhuman emotive powers. Never before have you been able to feel six unrelated emotions at the exact same time!
7. Soft cheeks you can smother with kisses any time you want.
6. For a handful of years, a few people think you are the most amazing person ever.
5. You regularly hear awesome things from little mouths. Like a two year old tugging on the neck of his shirt complaining, "Look! My paper!" (translation: help, my tag is bugging me). Or a young mind refusing to call them blueberries because they are obviously "purpleberries."
4. Everything is cuter in smaller sizes. Socks, shoes, clothes, toys, dishes, hands and feet, etc. Surrounded by cuteness, sometimes cluttered with it;)
3. Praises are sung to you for simple things. Serve chicken nuggets for dinner and you are the hero of the day. However, serve something you spent an hour in the kitchen making and be met with "yuck!"s, "gross!"es, and "disgusting!"s (which is especially shocking coming from a two year old, albeit surprisingly cute). Best to stick with the simple!
2. A miraculously changed perspective. Quiet evenings become sacred. An uninterrupted sleep becomes a treasure. Trivial things are seen for what they are. Your spouse becomes even more amazing. You find yourself praying for forgiveness for all those parents you've previously judged as inept. The world is simultaneously brighter and scarier.
1. Your hardest days are made easier when waist-high heads crash into your stomach, little arms hug your leg, shining eyes looking up at you, and a sweet voice says, "I luh loo," before running off again.
It's November! Thanksgiving season is here. 'Tis the season for giving thanks:) So I'm going to post gratitude-esque posts everyday through Thanksgiving.
How about you? What's in your top ten awesome things about being a parent?
10. Holidays become magical again.
9. You are forced to put someone else's needs before yours. And let's face it, that's good for everyone.
8. You suddenly have superhuman emotive powers. Never before have you been able to feel six unrelated emotions at the exact same time!
7. Soft cheeks you can smother with kisses any time you want.
6. For a handful of years, a few people think you are the most amazing person ever.
5. You regularly hear awesome things from little mouths. Like a two year old tugging on the neck of his shirt complaining, "Look! My paper!" (translation: help, my tag is bugging me). Or a young mind refusing to call them blueberries because they are obviously "purpleberries."
4. Everything is cuter in smaller sizes. Socks, shoes, clothes, toys, dishes, hands and feet, etc. Surrounded by cuteness, sometimes cluttered with it;)
3. Praises are sung to you for simple things. Serve chicken nuggets for dinner and you are the hero of the day. However, serve something you spent an hour in the kitchen making and be met with "yuck!"s, "gross!"es, and "disgusting!"s (which is especially shocking coming from a two year old, albeit surprisingly cute). Best to stick with the simple!
2. A miraculously changed perspective. Quiet evenings become sacred. An uninterrupted sleep becomes a treasure. Trivial things are seen for what they are. Your spouse becomes even more amazing. You find yourself praying for forgiveness for all those parents you've previously judged as inept. The world is simultaneously brighter and scarier.
1. Your hardest days are made easier when waist-high heads crash into your stomach, little arms hug your leg, shining eyes looking up at you, and a sweet voice says, "I luh loo," before running off again.
It's November! Thanksgiving season is here. 'Tis the season for giving thanks:) So I'm going to post gratitude-esque posts everyday through Thanksgiving.
How about you? What's in your top ten awesome things about being a parent?
Friday, October 29, 2010
Friday! Who's feeling fulfilled?
I had a fairly good week, especially if I'm allowed to just throw Thursday out of the equation.
Monday and Tuesday were great school days. The kind where everything just flows, Jonzy's brain clicks on everything-even the things he's been struggling on, and we breeze through multiple lessons in each subject and get ahead of schedule.
Wes and I were pretty sick on Monday, but after everyone slept until 8:25!!!! on Tuesday morning we were all happy. Tuesday was the best day this week. The house was clean. School went well. The boys screamed at each other so much less than they have been lately; smiles and sunshine all around while it stormed outside.
Wednesday we started to falter a bit. And yesterday...it's a good thing we got ahead during the week because I had zilch in the patience department.
Today is looking good so far except that there's already too much on the schedule that I'm afraid won't get done in time. And we're off!
Hope you all had a fulfilling week!
Monday and Tuesday were great school days. The kind where everything just flows, Jonzy's brain clicks on everything-even the things he's been struggling on, and we breeze through multiple lessons in each subject and get ahead of schedule.
Wes and I were pretty sick on Monday, but after everyone slept until 8:25!!!! on Tuesday morning we were all happy. Tuesday was the best day this week. The house was clean. School went well. The boys screamed at each other so much less than they have been lately; smiles and sunshine all around while it stormed outside.
Wednesday we started to falter a bit. And yesterday...it's a good thing we got ahead during the week because I had zilch in the patience department.
Today is looking good so far except that there's already too much on the schedule that I'm afraid won't get done in time. And we're off!
Hope you all had a fulfilling week!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thankful Thursday
"I'm not happy, Bob. Not happy."
Movie, anyone?
It's time to focus on some gratitude! Once again presented in list form.
-Eyes. My boys' eyes. All eight of them:)
-hot apple cider with cinnamon
-a working furnace
-blankets
-snow
-cold air...outside
-my totally awesome van
-homeschooling
-cute Halloween and fall decorations
-clouds that hang low on the mountains so you can see the peaks over the top of them. Gorgeous!
-spots of bright blue sky among puffy black, gray, and purple storm clouds
-marriage covenants
-a deep conviction about marriage no matter what I hear about divorce
-nieces and nephews
-SF Giants baseball loving family
-pumpkins
-apple dumplings...time to make some more
-co-op awesomeness
-friends
-being privileged to know so many amazing people
-sleeeeeeeeeeeep
-quiet nights with Bret
-hymns
What are you thankful for today?????????????????????????????
Movie, anyone?
It's time to focus on some gratitude! Once again presented in list form.
-Eyes. My boys' eyes. All eight of them:)
-hot apple cider with cinnamon
-a working furnace
-blankets
-snow
-cold air...outside
-my totally awesome van
-homeschooling
-cute Halloween and fall decorations
-clouds that hang low on the mountains so you can see the peaks over the top of them. Gorgeous!
-spots of bright blue sky among puffy black, gray, and purple storm clouds
-marriage covenants
-a deep conviction about marriage no matter what I hear about divorce
-nieces and nephews
-SF Giants baseball loving family
-pumpkins
-apple dumplings...time to make some more
-co-op awesomeness
-friends
-being privileged to know so many amazing people
-sleeeeeeeeeeeep
-quiet nights with Bret
-hymns
What are you thankful for today?????????????????????????????
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