I cannot decide if my brain is turning to Summer mush or if I am still waiting for 'the dust to settle' after returning from our trip. (Is that even realistic?) But, I am a bit scattered these days.
Since I am having a hard time pulling together a cohesive thought and I recently crossed the threshold of my 800th post, I thought I'd try to list 8 random things I have never addressed on the blog. After 800 posts, it is going to be a challenge to think of any stones I have left unturned, but here's my stream of consciousness attempt.
1. People ask how I have time to blog. It really doesn't take very long. My blogging ritual happens immediately after I put the children to bed each night. I head back downstairs and make myself a hot cup of tea (Stonewall Kitchen's Raspberry Peach--YUM!), then sit on the sofa with my laptop. Generally, my hubby is either still at work or next to me on the sofa signing charts on his laptop. It generally takes 30 minutes or so--and as I have said, it is my decompression time.
2. I have a new Tivo addiction, Intervention, on A&E. I am so intrigued by addiction and the way these folks are so clearly in bondage. I know it is a picture of our spiritual condition, but at the same time it is baffling and heartbreaking. I cannot imagine being a mother of an addict and watching my children trapped and slowly killing themselves. I have seen addiction up close in my life, but something about the rawness of this show just gets me.
3. I was planning to write a post about the beauty of Silly Putty and what a great, old faithful toy it is after the hours of entertainment it provided while we were traveling. That all changed yesterday when K sat on hers as we ran errands in 93 degree heat. It melted into her car seat, her clothes and the upholstery on the back of the seat in front of hers. I've been googling solutions and they all seem like a real pain, involving several steps, so I am basically in denial.
4. I am completely ashamed to admit that our family has not been recycling other than donating used things. In our old house there was no pick up because we were in the county and "I had three babies" as an excuse. Since we moved into the city I have known I need to get with the program, but just haven't gotten around to picking up the city issued bucket--for 15 months! YIKES! I am confessing this online as the ultimate accountability for me to spare the 20 minutes to drive over and pick up the bucket and start recycling. I know it will be a great lesson for my children and it is the right thing to do. I have 'pick up bucket' on my list for tomorrow.
5. My transition from PC user to the Mac is not going so well. I would equate it to trying to teach myself to give up being left handed and use my right hand predominantly instead. It just feels unnatural. I am still using my old PC laptop 75% of the time which is literally duct taped together and has a few of the letters rubbed off the keyboard. It's like an old comfy pair of jeans. Maybe I need an intervention...
6. My little P has suddenly experienced a confidence explosion and it is really fun to watch. I know I should raise him to walk in humility, but right now I am enjoying seeing him blossom and learn to try new things. In the last couple of days he has said the following. "I like me." "I am great at this." "I am important." "I want to thank God for making me when we pray." The world will attempt to suck this out of him soon enough. I think every 4 year old boy (and girl) should get to feel invincible while he/she can.
7. Monday the kids caught me "shhhh"-ing myself. I was really frustrated with something silly one of the children had done that made a huge mess. As I was about to snap at them I caught myself and let out an audible, "Shhh!" P's eyes grew wide as he said, "I didn't say anyfing, Mommy." Then the ever-curious K said, 'Who were you shh-ing?" and I had to admit it was myself. You can imagine the crazy stares and follow up questions that prompted. I can hear them on their therapist's sofa one day...
8. The kids and I are in a really good place with each other since we returned from our trip. I am loving age 4 SO MUCH!!! It seems to be a precious place where they are still innocent and sweet, yet just independent enough to allow me to breathe a little. Their personalities, relationships and conversations with each other are pure sweetness. (Well, most of the time...)They are absolutely my little buddies and I really WANT to be with them as much as I can because I want to soak this all in. Today in the shallow end at the pool they were all three hugging me, giggling and hanging from me and God blessed me with the insight to just take a deep breath and smile. It was, as Max Lucado calls it, an eternal instant. A perfect moment to sear into my memory. Simple, joyful and full of love!
Wow! This turned into more of a confessional than a meme, but it was certainly cathartic!
17 comments:
I enjoyed this confessional post!
We do recycle most things, but shame on your city...I thought every city delivered the bins right when you moved in...every place we have lived has at least!
I'm sure it would have taken me longer than 15 months if I had to go fetch them myself!
I completely agree with #6 - the world will beat him down sooner than you'd like. Home is the place to feel completely confident and loved. He'll learn humility but right now he's seeing himself as fearfully and wonderfully made ... you're obviously showering those sweet babes with lots of love.
And good luck on the Silly Putty ... it's like a curse word in our home.
ok, J....the fact that you are not LOVING your mac is just wrong. :) there has got to be someone around you who can help show you all the fun mac has to offer (not to mention the reliability...no computer crashes or freezes!).
i can't believe you have written 800 posts! that is a lot of words!! and i enjoy reading them!!
I like the fact that P is thanking God for making him! We all should. I know there are days that I don't like myself very much, when in reality I need to look at why I'm not liking myself & remember who made me.
I know what you are saying about the being 4. My girls just turned 3 the end of March, but I am absolutely loving this age! (outside of the temper-tantrums & attitudes.)
God Bless, -G
Hi J,
I live in the same town as you and I know the city 'use' to deliver the green bins. They usually have extras on their truck when they make their weekly rounds. When we moved to our new house, I didn't have to go pick one up, but maybe that's changed.
Also...where do you find the Stonewall Kitchen's Raspberry Peach tea? I love hot tea, and that's a new one for me. I would love to try it.
I enjoy reading your post daily. Your vacation was awesome. It takes me back to when our twins were that age, and all the fun and craziness that happened. Your children are blessed to have you as their mom!
Linda- I added a link up top to the tea. I buy it in bulk from amazon, but there is a little store in town that carries these types of products--I am just not sure about this specific flavor. E-mail me from my profile.
J- I, too, was not a recycler until we moved. It has been great for us because you would not BELIEVE the room it leaves in your trash can! I know this shouldn't be the reason we recycle, but with a family of six--we sometimes can't fit all the trash in! FYI--they will take it out of one of those storage bins without the lid! Sometimes I use the green bucket and a storage bin. Great Post! M
I love Intervention as well! It is heart breaking, yet so uplifting when the addicts really get help and clean themselves up. We've been watching it for years and telling everyone about it. I think it is finally starting to catch on. I'm ready for a new season!
I don't know if I have ever commented on your blog before, though I have been reading for a while. I too have a 4 year old and identify with so many of your posts. You lift me up with your words and your belief in our Lord.
Thank you and keep up the beautiful posting!
dee
sa,tx
The Mac transition takes awhile. I used to be totally Mac platform in the 80's and 90's then Mac almost became extinct and I had to switch to the "Dark Side" (aka - "PC") which took me MONTHS to figure out. A couple of years ago we moved back to the US after 9 years overseas and decided to go totally Mac platform again - desktop, laptop, iPhone - the whole nine yards. It was intense but I'm so glad I did. Now when I go to a PC (or Windows OS), I'm having to think about how to use it as IT is foreign to me now.
Once the kids are in Montessori next year, sign up with the Mac Genius program - where you go to an Apple store and you get 52 hours of one-on-one with an expert - ask any questions, have them run through all kinds of features with you - it's very reasonable ($100 I think for the 52 hours) - you can take an hour a week or more often - it's up to you. I want to do that but don't live near an Apple store. Been relying on my adult son who's always been "mac faithful" to guide me through when I have issues.
And you can't beat a Mac for photos, graphics, artsy-fartsy stuff. Just runs smoother, displays better, etc.
Sorry - this has turned into a Mac commercial without the two funny guys, but I do love my Macs! So I wanted to give you encouragement on learning their OS better.
Love your blogging routine - sounds like therapy in and of itself. Wish they'd had (a) the internet and (b) blogging when my children were young. We were living overseas and the world would have literally opened to me with the 'net and blogging! What a wonderful tool this medium can be if used properly.
Can you imagine if JANE AUSTEN blogged?? Wow!
Blog on, sister, blog on!
I love your 8 random things! And I'm with Randi - #6 is right on. My husband's parents held humility as such a high value that my husband and his brothers were scolded if they ever verbalized any pride in anything they had done, even as young children. I have seen the ill effects of that, and I have vowed to raise my own kids differently. I think it's wonderful when little kids can be proud of themselves about something, or happy with how they were made. I reinforce that kind of positive self-identity whenever possible.
Good luck getting the recycling bin picked up!
Intervention makes me cry big, fat tears. Especially when I see little babies BEGGING a parent to "please don't die." And I cannot imagine what I would do if one of my kids were ever an addict.
Recycling was not my first priority until recently - we actually cut our garbage down by several bags a week once we got serious about it. (It was so embarrassing how much we could have recycled before.) Also, we're military and they provide the bin for us, so it was easy.
Oh and, hi! I read regularly but just now decided to comment. I'm shy like that. You have such a sweet family and I enjoy reading!
i have a solution for your number 3 - silly putty problem.
its called goo goo spray.
works great for clothes and such.
everything.
its in our local market with laundry stuff.
now it might also be with the wd-40 as well
i had melted crayons on clothes , after multiple washing it did all come out.
now on the upholstery -depending on what kind it should work too.
wd-40 would work too.
need to make sure it wont wreak the seat.
if what you are missing most is the ability to right-click, just attach an external mouse and you will have that familiarity. It helps me. My husband bought me a "mini-mouse" for my laptop and I love having the right click back. :)
~Dawn
Dawn! I desperately miss my right click..that is an awesome tip!! And, Jeanne, thanks so much for the goo goo spray info. I'll look for it!
Everyone: I got the green bucket today. I felt like a better citizen immediately..woo hoo!
The Mom Lady is right. You should look into Apple's "One to One" program. I had the hardest time adjusting to my MAC laptop. one to one helped sooo much! It is definitely worth it!
What a great post! Though I have to say... I'm a little sad about the silly putty incident. I really love that stuff, and it's too bad that it gets all icky like that.
And... isn't pool time with our babies great?! I mean, right?!
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