So my mom bought me a cute little desk calendar for Christmas. It's the kind with pages that you rip off with quotes for everyday. In fact, it's called "I Love You, Daughter: 365 Daily Thoughts and Inspirations." On the back it declares, "Show your daughter how much she means to you every day of the year with this uplifting daily calendar filled with inspiration, advice and love." Here are some examples of this inspiration, advice, and love:
A baby was sleeping, it's mother was weeping. --Samuel Lover
If your parents never had children, chances are you won't either. --Dick Cavett
Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome. --Isaac Asimov
The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents, and the second half by our children. --Clarence Darrow
The mother said to the daughter, 'Daughter, bid thy daughter tell her daughter that her daughter's daughter hath a daughter.' --George Hokewell
I don't know if I can take much more "inspiration."
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The daily-ness of it all
Brad noticed last night that I haven't blogged in a while. "Well," I said, "I can't think of anything to say."
Do you really want to hear about how Catie's face was full of oatmeal this morning?
Or about Nicky running around the living room with wild abandon with only his diaper on?
Our lives are beginning settle in to a routine again. Wake up, eat breakfast, watch Playhouse Disney, go somewhere, eat lunch, take a nap, wake up, fix dinner, wait for Daddy to come home, watch some tv, go to bed. On a weekly basis, we're going to a Mom's group every other Tuesday morning, lapsit at the library on Wednesday mornings, and Bible study on Fridays. Boring, but comfortable. Real life. I like it.
Do you really want to hear about how Catie's face was full of oatmeal this morning?
Or about Nicky running around the living room with wild abandon with only his diaper on?
Our lives are beginning settle in to a routine again. Wake up, eat breakfast, watch Playhouse Disney, go somewhere, eat lunch, take a nap, wake up, fix dinner, wait for Daddy to come home, watch some tv, go to bed. On a weekly basis, we're going to a Mom's group every other Tuesday morning, lapsit at the library on Wednesday mornings, and Bible study on Fridays. Boring, but comfortable. Real life. I like it.Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Why didn't I think to look in the laundry hamper?
One of Catie's metal baby spoons has been missing for a couple days. It wasn't in any of the usual places, but I expected it to turn up sometime. What I wasn't expecting, however, was to find it in the bottom of the washing machine. She must have tucked it in her pajamas for safe keeping one morning during breakfast. I suppose I better start checking her pockets for crayons.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Finding a church: part 2
Brad chose our church this week, a Lutheran church off Lake Otis Parkway that he went to sometimes when he lived here before. Well, that's where we thought we were going. When it came up faster than he thought it would, we decided to go even though it wasn't the one he remembered because it was 10:42 and the service started at 11. We probably should have left when they told us there wasn't a nursery, but the people were so friendly, we wanted to give it a try.
Catie has this adorable thing she does that we've encouraged, because normally it's, well, adorable. She says, "Yay!" when we finish singing a song. So, everytime we would pause in the middle of every verse in the 5 verse hymn, Catie would yell out, "Yay!" I couldn't help it; I got the giggles. Then, the pastor started praying, and Catie wouldn't stop talking, so I took her out to the fellowship hall where they had a TV streaming the service. A minute later Brad came in with Nick. He had started crying when I left without him.
It didn't take us long to decide that we could watch TV at home, so that's where we went.
(In case you're counting, we did go to church last week. That one wasn't a keeper either.)
Catie has this adorable thing she does that we've encouraged, because normally it's, well, adorable. She says, "Yay!" when we finish singing a song. So, everytime we would pause in the middle of every verse in the 5 verse hymn, Catie would yell out, "Yay!" I couldn't help it; I got the giggles. Then, the pastor started praying, and Catie wouldn't stop talking, so I took her out to the fellowship hall where they had a TV streaming the service. A minute later Brad came in with Nick. He had started crying when I left without him.
It didn't take us long to decide that we could watch TV at home, so that's where we went.
(In case you're counting, we did go to church last week. That one wasn't a keeper either.)
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Middle of the Night
10:30 pm. I fall into a fitful sleep, lists, to-do's, and should-have's running through my head.
12:00 am. I wake up, burning hot, throw off the covers, and try to drift off while listening to my husband snoring beside me.
12:25 am. Realize that the effort is futile and get out of bed. At least I can check some things off that list.
1:00 am. Tears fall into a sink full of sudsy water as I come to the realization that my expectations are out of control. My kids aren't perfect angels anymore, and I feel like I'm drowning in self doubt. My husband inadvertantly set me off this afternoon by inviting friends over for dinner. The house isn't ready. He offered to call them back, but my Martha Stewart ideals won't let me cancel plans already made. "That would be stupid," I said, all the while fuming at myself and at him. We made a fragile peace, but he doesn't understand. I don't understand either.
1:30 am. I take a break to gather myself back together. I try to pray, but I know the answer. Let it go. I scrub on...
12:00 am. I wake up, burning hot, throw off the covers, and try to drift off while listening to my husband snoring beside me.
12:25 am. Realize that the effort is futile and get out of bed. At least I can check some things off that list.
1:00 am. Tears fall into a sink full of sudsy water as I come to the realization that my expectations are out of control. My kids aren't perfect angels anymore, and I feel like I'm drowning in self doubt. My husband inadvertantly set me off this afternoon by inviting friends over for dinner. The house isn't ready. He offered to call them back, but my Martha Stewart ideals won't let me cancel plans already made. "That would be stupid," I said, all the while fuming at myself and at him. We made a fragile peace, but he doesn't understand. I don't understand either.
1:30 am. I take a break to gather myself back together. I try to pray, but I know the answer. Let it go. I scrub on...
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Happy Valentine's Day!
Now that our surroundings are a little more interesting, we're back to a family tradition that dates back to our time in Las Vegas, but especially Colorado, the road trip. Brad and I both love to hop in the car and go, just for the day, so that's what we did today. After dinner we did a little Valentine's Day celebration. Here is our day in pictures:
We're on our way. Catie gets comfortable:
Nick wouldn't stop moving and talking long enough for me to get a good picture.
This is part of the view before you even get out of Anchorage.
We drove down Turnagain Arm. There are things to see on both sides of the road. Ice falls with occasional ice climbers:
Turnagain Arm and the mountains on the other side:
After dinner, the kids ate their Valentine treats from Grandma and Grandpa Phelps.
Mmmm... Marshmallows on a stick!
Then, we made Valentine's cookies! The heat from the oven kills germs, right? Please tell me I'm right.
We're on our way. Catie gets comfortable:
Nick wouldn't stop moving and talking long enough for me to get a good picture.
This is part of the view before you even get out of Anchorage.
We drove down Turnagain Arm. There are things to see on both sides of the road. Ice falls with occasional ice climbers:
Turnagain Arm and the mountains on the other side:
After dinner, the kids ate their Valentine treats from Grandma and Grandpa Phelps.
Mmmm... Marshmallows on a stick!
Then, we made Valentine's cookies! The heat from the oven kills germs, right? Please tell me I'm right.
Friday, February 6, 2009
On finding a church
Well, we've been here two Sundays (not including our first morning here, which doesn't count) and we've tried two churches.
The first church we tried was a smallish church that most of Brad's friends went to when he lived here before. He tells me that nothing much has changed. The people were friendly, the music was old-school, and the pastor had a very meaty sermon. The things that appeal to me, in no particular order, are: a chance to get involved in a church choir, everyone knows everyone else, a challenging pastor, comfort. I really believe that we could go to this church, but I can't give up the idea of finding a church that has more to offer our kids and small groups for us, particularly a women's Bible study. So, if the comfortableness of a church resonates with me, is that enough to say that that's where God wants us?
So, we kept looking. Last week we went to a church that was a mini Willow Creek or Woodmen Valley Chapel. They had really nice children's programs including nurseries separated by age, something that I really appreciate. The music was contemporary and the pastor's sermon was also meaty, but a little different style than I'm used to. We're not totally crossing this church off our list (in fact, I'm planning to attend a women's Bible study there beginning at the end of this month) but we also didn't feel like the Holy Spirit was telling us that this was where we should be.
So, my question is, not so much what you look for in a church, but when you chose your church, how did you know it was "the one?" This is harder than getting married!
The first church we tried was a smallish church that most of Brad's friends went to when he lived here before. He tells me that nothing much has changed. The people were friendly, the music was old-school, and the pastor had a very meaty sermon. The things that appeal to me, in no particular order, are: a chance to get involved in a church choir, everyone knows everyone else, a challenging pastor, comfort. I really believe that we could go to this church, but I can't give up the idea of finding a church that has more to offer our kids and small groups for us, particularly a women's Bible study. So, if the comfortableness of a church resonates with me, is that enough to say that that's where God wants us?
So, we kept looking. Last week we went to a church that was a mini Willow Creek or Woodmen Valley Chapel. They had really nice children's programs including nurseries separated by age, something that I really appreciate. The music was contemporary and the pastor's sermon was also meaty, but a little different style than I'm used to. We're not totally crossing this church off our list (in fact, I'm planning to attend a women's Bible study there beginning at the end of this month) but we also didn't feel like the Holy Spirit was telling us that this was where we should be.
So, my question is, not so much what you look for in a church, but when you chose your church, how did you know it was "the one?" This is harder than getting married!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
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