Two (or more) For Tea

What an exciting day! I sucked up my "what if's" and attended our Ladies Tea with the ladies at my church. I don't get out much and I should. I've said that before. Even less do I invest in good fellowship with the abundantly rich souls that can be found right in my very own church community. I have my reasons. None of them good. They all begin with "what if" but we'll save that topic for another day.

Today, I didn't let anything stop me. What excuse did I have? The ladies ministry offered free childcare! I didn't even let the threat of snow convince me that it was a "sign" not to go. I went. I met ladies I've walked by for years yet never truly held a conversation with. Oh and no, giving baby instructions (or taking them) does not count.

In a beautiful city. In a quaint little tavern. On a rainy day. How better to converse then over tea?
Not wanting to impose on those in the party I didn't do any photo snapping until the waitstaff was cleaning up.
I can vouch that the place was decorated very festively.
And the walk back to the car was enjoyable and scenic.
And that silly old snow, though frosting my windows, didn't pick up too heavy until I was home.

Thank you to to all of you who made this day possible. I had a great time and can't wait until we meet again.

Thankful Thursday Friday

Sorry for being so lame and not posting this on it's appointed day. Yesterday was quite a busy day. Filled with gratitude for it though (and for the cyber break).

1. Public libraries and patience to keep going back and following around my favorite lil girl in the world while she "finds" her place there.
   "Mom, do they have non-fiction books here?"
   "Yes. What exactly do you want to read about?"
   "Um. Hmm. I don't know. Hmm."
   "Start with this...person place or thing."
   "Thing."
   "What KIND of thing?"
   "Um, cookbooks?" (found 'em, next?) "What about fish?"
   We came home with a books about bats, and gorillas. Go figure. God bless the book
   selection though. We are getting there.
   
   Oh and both kids (I picked for the future pilot since he stayed home with "the-Law") got books by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers. If you haven't seen these books yet you MUST. Ingenious illustrations! (You can check out some of the art work here http://morarwen.multiply.com/photos/album/1/Saxton_Freymanns_Food_Art)
2. Soothing Christmas lights. The tree is up and it is beautiful. The lights are twinkly and pleasing
3. Children who, though rambunctious, share good times together
4. My favorite first born, who promises me he is going to roll up his sleeves and help me get the basement converted into a workout area and place for the kids to go wild without harming themselves (padded cells come to mind--for me...)
5. Eggs! LOVE 'em
6. Patient husbands who, when their frustrated wives throw in the cooking towel now and then, muster up and grab a bowl of cereal
7. Mints. Not as much as gum mind you but, well, when you can't have gum...
8. Sleep. People this is soooo under-rated!
9. i-Pods. A device which allows you to finally here your children sing without them tell you to stop listening. Is it me or do kids just think you can't hear them because THEY can't hear them?
10. Warm fuzzy pj's (they go especially nice with a steaming cup of coffee) Mmmmmmm

I know some of these may sound a bit frivolous but I am thankful for them. It is the little things sometimes. It truly is.


Thank you Jesus for providing for us!

Wordless Wednesday - Next Year's Tree

The Long Short Road

I am no longer allowed to chew gum. Yep, the dental hygienist said yesterday I'm killing my teeth and jaws. I kind of think it will be worse if I don't chew. There will be nothing between my teeth and the grind. Oh well. I have to suck it up and be a good sport. Why?

Because this little guy...

This sweet lil boy...
has been told he has to give up his thumb. Yesterday. And he's doing it!

He's a man boy of great logic. I didn't argue with him, brow-beat him or bribe him. I didn't even lecture him. In fact he saw past his sorrow with enough compassion to tell ME he was sorry that I had to give up gum. He asked me WHY it was again he had to give up his thumb and I calmly explained that it would push his teeth in a position that wasn't natural. He then came up with a few different things he could try instead of sucking his thumb. Thank God for Blanky and Pooh. Thank God for the logical future pilot.

Today's lesson. Never underestimate the mind of a child.

I've Lost My Christmas Spirit

I know. It's only November 30 and here I sit feeling like I wish it was January. I have lost my spirit before it has had a chance to really break out. Here are my reasons. And yea, I realize this is breaking my 30 days of delightful aka positive posts. Sorry. Count me among the humans.

1) I don't feel like buying this year. Seriously. My kids do not need one more single thing that comes packaged in pretty paper and pretty ribbons. (And I seriously do NOT want to be stepping over, around, and ON them for the next 18 years)

2) Shopping for my husband is a nightmare because a)he buys what he wants when he wants it thus leaving me nothing to buy and b)no matter how much I try to wow him I never wow him and he always goes overboard thus making me feel very guilty.

3) I do the tree sans my husband. He wants no part of it. I find that seriously depressing. I opened my big mouth about 5 seconds too late tonight when he was entering "the building" from walking the dog. Just in time to hear me tell the kids, "I HATE doing this because your dad NEVER wants to help." Talk about a foot in the mouth. His response? "I don't do it because it's ALWAYS like this!" Do you think he meant like this?
I honestly think the doing it myself "for the kids" is just a bit overwhelming honey. That's all. Really.

My favorite first born son managed to take a few shots that seemed a bit more festive (thank you good son for lugging up all the boxes from the basement for us)
and though I felt like this must of the time...
I tried really hard not to crank on the kids for refusing to stand up and "spread" the ornaments around a bit.
In spite of it all the tree is up.
and it's over. It has to be all good from here right?

The truth of the matter is that I haven't lost Christmas. Because Christmas isn't about a tree and it's branches being spread just so. It's ornaments adorned perfectly. It isn't even about me and my family doing something together wholly. It's about God sending His Son for me. And for you. And no earthly thing can take the place of what Christmas is all about. So as I stood there and admired the tree I took in the cheerfulness heard in my excited childrens' voices. I paused for a moment and remembered that childlike joy and though I long for it, I know much better presents await me in heaven where perfection and wholeness abound. And then oh praises I will have my joy.

Sunday Beautiful Sunday

Today was a good day. Church in the morning with absolutely NO yelling or fighting between my kids or my kids and I. Woot.

A trip to Walgreens to buy some essentials (b-day card, plastic wrap, tape, etc). No fights!!! Woot woot!

Home again home again jiggity jig. ZERO TV until after 6:30 pm when "the Law" arrived home. I actually found some books that belonged to my favorite first born son that are proving to be enjoyed by my favorite lil girl in the world! If you are trying desperately to keep your children from the ridiculous Goose Bumps and other Vampire, Werewolf, etc. subjects that they don't really need to be feeding on maybe give these authors a try. Fred E. Katz. He has a series called "Spine Chillers". They are suspenseful and maybe a tad spooky but on a spiritual level demonstrate Christian character. Paul McCusker. Adventures in Odyssey series. Sooo happy that I could find these books packed away. Maybe holding onto some things is a good thing.

Here's hoping you had an extra beautiful Sunday.

Saturday Snippets

My day started at 7am. It's when the Advil wore off and left my right shoulder blade feeling like it was wrenched in two and my arm numb. I don't like the discomfort but I fear if not for pain I would lie in bed all day some days being lazy.

We had things to do today. Gifts to get to be delivered tomorrow through our church and grocery shopping. We had a short time line because we had a super cool invite to make Christmas centerpieces in the afternoon.

I was her former babysitter as a teen. She and her husband took turns teaching me to drive and she taught me to parallel park in the parking lot just hours before I took my test. She's been in my life for years. I love her. Every year since I first had a home to call my own she's been making me Christmas centerpieces. She's been making them for a LOT of people. This year she decided to have a party and teach us how to make our own. It was awesome.

She provided the greens, ribbon, oasis, container, and candle. She offered her talent in the form of instruction. She gave us tips and such to make them perfect and personal. It was such an awesome idea. I actually got to spend time in her company and not the hustle and bustle of gift drop off/pick up. I'll cherish it.

I was nervous because "the Law" was working today and my precious mama has prayer meeting on Saturdays. I could not imagine how I'd keep the complaints of the little people to a minimum. Oh how God works things out.


See?

The future pilot was very patient for a couple of hours. Then he found a buddy. All was well.

There were a lot of productive hands working...

And in the end we brought two home.

My favorite little girl in the world is created this one...

And here is mine.


What a fun day.