I feel like I am lifting out of the fog a bit today. Does anyone else ever have those days...weeks...months when you just feel a little off? A little not quite yourself? You look around your home or at your children and realize you just feel a bit disengaged? I think I have been there for a while and didn't even realize I'd been hanging out and getting comfortable in it.
Can anyone else relate? Is it the never-ending demands on the SAHM that can make us feel this way? Is it the "Groundhog Day" type of repetition in the daily routine that makes me more prone to sliding down into the funk? It isn't anything that I would call depression, not even unhappiness, really. It is just a sense of apathy that seeps into my bones and keeps me from enjoying my day, my children, my home, my husband, my LIFE the way that I really want to be.
It seems to effect many aspects of my life. I don't engage in relationships in a way that helps them foster and grow. I find that I am much too content to sit on the couch and watch more sitcom reruns and daytime court TV than is really healthy. I allow housework to build up around me and I find it difficult to work up the motivation to exercise or eat the way I should...which sometimes leads the numbers on the scale to creep in a direction that is really disheartening. I find that I am less spiritually in tune. My Bible may go several days without being cracked open and my prayer time may become all but non-existent. I am not engaging with my children in any meaningful ways, which often leads to THEM watching way more television than is typically advised. When I am not at my best, my family is not at its best.
The hardest part seems to be recognizing when I get to this point. It is difficult to see the pit for what it is when you are down in it. The next most trying task is to begin pulling myself out of it. It usually starts with a decision. A decision to turn off the TV, to pick myself off the couch and begin plugging back in.
We were out of town for the 4th of July weekend, and I have just been getting by since we have come home. Today I looked around and realized I had sunk back into apathy. It was time to pick myself off the couch and make a change. I started with opening up my Bible and doing some extra reading. I don't know why I am always amazed by how re-engaging spiritually has the ability to energize me to take charge in other areas! After breakfast it was time to put my house back in order. No more avoiding. Time to get things done. I don't think my house has been this clean for the past two weeks! Does anyone else find it invigorating when your environment is clean and ordered? I spent my morning cleaning, vacuuming, putting away laundry and it felt great.
I got a start on mowing the lawn, but I got rained out. Oh well, it gave me the opportunity to sit down in front of the computer and write a new blog post:) I get to sit and reflect on what I have accomplished so far today...and not just housework. I got to take the first steps back towards Normal. I am reminded that I need to take a little more time for myself. I need to take more time to enjoy my children. I need to be more intentional about staying connected with my girlfriends. I need to remember to take opportunities to date my husband.
Today is a reset. I think I am going to have my 6-year-old pick out a book and have her read it to me. Tonight I am going to have a Girls Night with some very good friends. But right now, I think I am going to go back outside and mow the lawn. The rain has stopped and the clouds are clearing...and not just in the sky.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Some of This Mom's Favorite Ways to Save While Online Shopping
So I thought I would take a little time out this afternoon to share with you some of my favorite online money-savers. From coupon codes to rebate checks, there are so many ways to make your dollar stretch when shopping out in the vast world wide web. Odds are good you are familiar with some of these sources, but perhaps not all! Feel free to click on any of the links provided below and check them out.
Ebates.com is a great place to start your online shopping experience. It is a website that pays you cash back when you shop online (up to 26% back!) Ebates works with 1,700 stores including Expedia, JCPenney, Kohl's, Home Depot, Best Buy, Groupon, and Walmart, so odds are good you will find some of your favorites.
How does it work? Simply go to Ebates first and select the store you wish to shop. You will be redirected to the website and Ebates will track any purchase made and you will start banking up rebates in the percentage that is represented on Ebates.com. In addition to cash back, Ebates has thousands of great coupons, free shipping, and special offers from its stores to help you get a great deal.
Membership at Ebates is free and there are no forms to fill in or points to redeem. You get paid cash back for shopping by check or Paypal. As an added bonus, when you use the link above, you will receive a $5 bonus when you make your first purchase! It perhaps won't cover a mortgage payment, but since becoming a member, I have received checks totaling up to $102.67. Who doesn't love a little extra fun money?
RetailMeNot.com also needs to be in your savings arsenal. It is the world's largest digital coupon marketplace. If you are not already armed with a coupon code when you head to a website, you absolutely MUST check with RetailMeNot before doing your final checkout. I ALWAYS search for a coupon code whenever I see there is a place to enter one. I often am able to save anywhere between 10%-30% simply by taking that extra step. I also have found that if you cannot find a coupon code at RetailMeNot, odds of finding one elsewhere are slim to none...believe me, I've tried!
Zaycon Foods is a way for you to buy quality food for your family in bulk at great prices. I am new to this, but I am excited about the great deals! The way it works is you go online to ZayconFoods.com and create your account. You will then be able to see the upcoming "Events" in your area. Some of the events include: Ground Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Pork and Fish. Choose your event and place your order. On the day of your local Zaycon sales event, you bring your order confirmation to a designated location (in my case it is a church) and you get your fresh, delicious, nutritious food! They cut out the grocery store middleman so your product is fresh, direct from the producer. This service is not ideal for everyone. Because they sell product by the case, you must be willing to devote a certain amount of time and effort to prep and portion your products for consumption and storage (a vacuum sealer will be your friend!). I think the prices are worth it and my family can go through a case of chicken breast fast enough that I don't worry about losing it to freezer burn:)
Online Consignment Shopping Options:
Twice and thredUp are both online consignment boutiques that sell carefully screened used clothing. Twice offers quality women's clothing items while thredUp offers accessories, shoes, handbags and children's clothing in addition to women's clothing. I am totally obsessed with this new way of "thrifty" shopping! The selection is constantly changing and I have saved so much money on brands that I would not typically wear because they are usually out of my price range.
I have also earned some cash cleaning out my own closet (which I, of course, have used as credit towards my purchases but you can choose to cash out through PayPal if you prefer). If you want to get paid to de-clutter, you can go to either website and request a free shipping bag and send in your own gently-worn items (they do carefully screen items for quality so do not expect to get paid for every item you send in). In full disclosure, I have used the thredUp clean out service and I have been pleased with what I have received for compensation. I have not used the Twice service so I cannot comment on their selling program (if you give it a try, please come back and leave a comment and let me know about your experience!).
If you are new to these sites, using the links above will provide you with a $10 credit for your first purchase on either site.
Finally, there is Amazon Mom and Amazon Subcribe and Save. These are both ways for you to put products you buy often on auto-delivery and save some money in the process. When you join Amazon Mom, you can take advantage of 30 days of free Two-Day Shipping with Amazon Prime, 20% off diapers, other promotions for parents, and a free trial of Prime Instant Video. With Subscribe and Save, you can save up to 15% on grocery and household items and never have to worry about running out since you decide how frequently you want deliveries. I used this for years when my girls were in diapers and it was consistently the best price around for my prefered Luvs diapers and Pampers baby wipes. I also think it is great for other items like cleaning products or multi-vitamins. Shop around and when you find one of your favorite products at a great price, start your subscription and forget about it!
I hope you give some of these money-savers a try. Let me know what you think and if you have any great wallet-friendly websites or tricks, please leave a comment below and let us know about it! I am always on the lookout for the next way to stretch a dollar. Hopefully I will continue to find new ways to save and this will be just the first installment of frugal hints and tips. So to all my fellow Home Economists out there, Good Luck and Happy Saving!
Ebates.com is a great place to start your online shopping experience. It is a website that pays you cash back when you shop online (up to 26% back!) Ebates works with 1,700 stores including Expedia, JCPenney, Kohl's, Home Depot, Best Buy, Groupon, and Walmart, so odds are good you will find some of your favorites.
How does it work? Simply go to Ebates first and select the store you wish to shop. You will be redirected to the website and Ebates will track any purchase made and you will start banking up rebates in the percentage that is represented on Ebates.com. In addition to cash back, Ebates has thousands of great coupons, free shipping, and special offers from its stores to help you get a great deal.
Membership at Ebates is free and there are no forms to fill in or points to redeem. You get paid cash back for shopping by check or Paypal. As an added bonus, when you use the link above, you will receive a $5 bonus when you make your first purchase! It perhaps won't cover a mortgage payment, but since becoming a member, I have received checks totaling up to $102.67. Who doesn't love a little extra fun money?
RetailMeNot.com also needs to be in your savings arsenal. It is the world's largest digital coupon marketplace. If you are not already armed with a coupon code when you head to a website, you absolutely MUST check with RetailMeNot before doing your final checkout. I ALWAYS search for a coupon code whenever I see there is a place to enter one. I often am able to save anywhere between 10%-30% simply by taking that extra step. I also have found that if you cannot find a coupon code at RetailMeNot, odds of finding one elsewhere are slim to none...believe me, I've tried!
Zaycon Foods is a way for you to buy quality food for your family in bulk at great prices. I am new to this, but I am excited about the great deals! The way it works is you go online to ZayconFoods.com and create your account. You will then be able to see the upcoming "Events" in your area. Some of the events include: Ground Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Pork and Fish. Choose your event and place your order. On the day of your local Zaycon sales event, you bring your order confirmation to a designated location (in my case it is a church) and you get your fresh, delicious, nutritious food! They cut out the grocery store middleman so your product is fresh, direct from the producer. This service is not ideal for everyone. Because they sell product by the case, you must be willing to devote a certain amount of time and effort to prep and portion your products for consumption and storage (a vacuum sealer will be your friend!). I think the prices are worth it and my family can go through a case of chicken breast fast enough that I don't worry about losing it to freezer burn:)
Online Consignment Shopping Options:
Twice and thredUp are both online consignment boutiques that sell carefully screened used clothing. Twice offers quality women's clothing items while thredUp offers accessories, shoes, handbags and children's clothing in addition to women's clothing. I am totally obsessed with this new way of "thrifty" shopping! The selection is constantly changing and I have saved so much money on brands that I would not typically wear because they are usually out of my price range.
I have also earned some cash cleaning out my own closet (which I, of course, have used as credit towards my purchases but you can choose to cash out through PayPal if you prefer). If you want to get paid to de-clutter, you can go to either website and request a free shipping bag and send in your own gently-worn items (they do carefully screen items for quality so do not expect to get paid for every item you send in). In full disclosure, I have used the thredUp clean out service and I have been pleased with what I have received for compensation. I have not used the Twice service so I cannot comment on their selling program (if you give it a try, please come back and leave a comment and let me know about your experience!).
If you are new to these sites, using the links above will provide you with a $10 credit for your first purchase on either site.
Finally, there is Amazon Mom and Amazon Subcribe and Save. These are both ways for you to put products you buy often on auto-delivery and save some money in the process. When you join Amazon Mom, you can take advantage of 30 days of free Two-Day Shipping with Amazon Prime, 20% off diapers, other promotions for parents, and a free trial of Prime Instant Video. With Subscribe and Save, you can save up to 15% on grocery and household items and never have to worry about running out since you decide how frequently you want deliveries. I used this for years when my girls were in diapers and it was consistently the best price around for my prefered Luvs diapers and Pampers baby wipes. I also think it is great for other items like cleaning products or multi-vitamins. Shop around and when you find one of your favorite products at a great price, start your subscription and forget about it!
I hope you give some of these money-savers a try. Let me know what you think and if you have any great wallet-friendly websites or tricks, please leave a comment below and let us know about it! I am always on the lookout for the next way to stretch a dollar. Hopefully I will continue to find new ways to save and this will be just the first installment of frugal hints and tips. So to all my fellow Home Economists out there, Good Luck and Happy Saving!
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Gearing up for Summer!
School isn't even out yet and already I am feeling like my summer is fully booked! Did anyone else start feeling anxiety over their summer schedule back in April, or is that just me? With swimming lessons, birthday parties, dance classes, church activities and all of the little weekend excursions we already have planned, it promises to be a fun, but busy, summer.
My husband only has one scheduled weekend off a month and we already have commitments, most of them out of town, for every single one of them this summer. What about all of the projects that I am hoping to get done around our little farm? The list is endless and it seems like we are going to have very little opportunity to tackle any of our planned DIY projecst this summer. And so, I start stressing.
If you are anything like me, you allow yourself to get bogged down in the planning and the details. I find myself, way too often, forgetting to enjoy the moment I'm in because I am worried about what I have to get done tomorrow. How do we mothers turn off the constant reel of "things to do" in our minds so we can sit back and appreciate what is going on around us right now? If you have the answer, please leave me a comment and share your wisdom! I need it! You can be my own personal Yoda:)
This summer I want to do something that I have found very elusive the last couple of years...enjoy my children. Does that sound bad? What I mean is that I allow myself to get swept up in the endlessness of my to-do list that I don't take the time to just sit back and watch my girls be little girls. They are growing up faster than I can believe and there are times that I wonder if I am missing it.
I need to watch them chase lightning bugs. I need to watch them twirling in summer dresses with flowers in their hair. I need to jump in their little pool and splash with them. I need to remember that the things that will make me smile years down the road are those moments. The details will take care of themselves. Our weekend getaways will be just as fun even if we don't come home to a spotless house. The dishes are just as easily loaded into the dishwasher the next morning if we decide to take advantage of the free admission evening at the pool. Bedtime doesn't need to be a hard and fast rule in July when we have a fire in the pit and there are s'mores to be eaten.
Summer is just about to begin and this year, I want it to be different. I am making myself a promise. I am going to worry less, enjoy more, and love my girls in the moment. Will I always get it right? Probably not, but I am going to try harder than I did last summer. I am going to be more of the mommy I want to be this time around. I am going to take hold of a passage that was read at our wedding, and probably many of yours, and make it my mantra for the summer.
I am writing these verses out and hanging them up where I will read them everyday. This is what I want to give to my children and my husband this summer. If I can just keep these words at the forefront of my mind when the kids are tracking wet sand and melted popsicles over my freshly mopped floors, I think everyone will be happier! What are you going to be more intentional about this summer? How are you going to make it the best one yet? Please share your tips because I could always use some!
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| Slip 'n Slides work so much better when you have Daddy to launch you down them! |
My husband only has one scheduled weekend off a month and we already have commitments, most of them out of town, for every single one of them this summer. What about all of the projects that I am hoping to get done around our little farm? The list is endless and it seems like we are going to have very little opportunity to tackle any of our planned DIY projecst this summer. And so, I start stressing.
If you are anything like me, you allow yourself to get bogged down in the planning and the details. I find myself, way too often, forgetting to enjoy the moment I'm in because I am worried about what I have to get done tomorrow. How do we mothers turn off the constant reel of "things to do" in our minds so we can sit back and appreciate what is going on around us right now? If you have the answer, please leave me a comment and share your wisdom! I need it! You can be my own personal Yoda:)
This summer I want to do something that I have found very elusive the last couple of years...enjoy my children. Does that sound bad? What I mean is that I allow myself to get swept up in the endlessness of my to-do list that I don't take the time to just sit back and watch my girls be little girls. They are growing up faster than I can believe and there are times that I wonder if I am missing it.
I need to watch them chase lightning bugs. I need to watch them twirling in summer dresses with flowers in their hair. I need to jump in their little pool and splash with them. I need to remember that the things that will make me smile years down the road are those moments. The details will take care of themselves. Our weekend getaways will be just as fun even if we don't come home to a spotless house. The dishes are just as easily loaded into the dishwasher the next morning if we decide to take advantage of the free admission evening at the pool. Bedtime doesn't need to be a hard and fast rule in July when we have a fire in the pit and there are s'mores to be eaten.
Summer is just about to begin and this year, I want it to be different. I am making myself a promise. I am going to worry less, enjoy more, and love my girls in the moment. Will I always get it right? Probably not, but I am going to try harder than I did last summer. I am going to be more of the mommy I want to be this time around. I am going to take hold of a passage that was read at our wedding, and probably many of yours, and make it my mantra for the summer.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8aI am writing these verses out and hanging them up where I will read them everyday. This is what I want to give to my children and my husband this summer. If I can just keep these words at the forefront of my mind when the kids are tracking wet sand and melted popsicles over my freshly mopped floors, I think everyone will be happier! What are you going to be more intentional about this summer? How are you going to make it the best one yet? Please share your tips because I could always use some!
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
When You Hurt My Baby's Heart, You're Breaking Mine.
How do you explain to a five-year-old that some people are just mean? That they will say things to hurt you, just to make themselves feel better? How do you look into those big, brown eyes that are fighting back the tears and let her know that she is amazing? I knew it was coming, but I hoped it never would.
"Look, Mommy! Ariel gave me a friendship bracelet!"
"Ooo! Pretty! That was nice of her."
"Yeah. She gave it to me so I wouldn't be sad."
"Why were you sad?"
"Because 'Sarah' was saying mean things to me. She said I was just a little girl and that I was the worst kid she had ever seen in the world." Eyes are now downcast and I can see tears sprinkled in her lashes.
Now, I know that this is by far not the cruelest thing that has ever been said by one child to another. This is not going to turn into a huge rant about bullying and the state of our country and children today. I am not going to be calling the bus driver demanding to know the child's parents' phone numbers so I can call them up and chew them out. I was just struck anew this afternoon by how much I love my children and how I wish I could shield them from everything bad in this world...even something as simple as an unkind word.
When we take on the roll of parent, we know that we will eventually have to deal with things like this. Children all say and do things to each other that are hurtful. I am doing my best to teach my girls that they should not treat others unkindly, but I am not naive enough to believe that they will never be the ones dishing it out (I've seen them do it to each other!). All I can do it try and instill in them a sense of empathy, a healthy dose of respect and compassion for others. But knowing this in my head does not dull the ache I feel in my heart as I see my daughter dealing with one of her early encounters with an individual who chooses to pick on her for no apparent reason.
I know I cannot protect her from every verbal assault. I know that it would not be wise to do so even if I could. I will not be around forever. She needs to learn how to deal with people who are unkind, people who want to hurt her so they can inflate their own ego. She needs to know when it's appropriate to deal with it herself and how to do so, and she needs to know when to find an adult who has the authority to make it stop when it crosses the line. I need to let her fight her own battles with poise and dignity. She needs to learn how to maintain her confidence in herself so that cruel insults don't bite so deep. I'm learning that one of the most difficult things I must do as a mother is allow her to find her own way through the minefield. I can offer counsel and guidance, but I cannot walk through it for her.
I can be grateful. Grateful for an older girl sitting on that bus that recognized a little girl who was being picked on and who took it upon herself to cheer her up. A girl with a cheap elastic bracelet bearing the word "courage." I hope my daughters become that girl.
I can be grateful that I began building a foundation of confidence and self-approval months and months ago that I can now call upon when her spirits are down.
"You know that none of the things that 'Sarah' said are true don't you?"
"Yes."
"Because you remember what you are, right? You're a Konen girl! You know what a Konen girl is, right?"
A big beaming smile, "Pretty and smart!"
"That's right!"
"I guess 'Sarah' didn't know I was a Konen girl!"
I suggest all you parents of daughters begin brainwashing them all right now so they answer this question like a parrot, "What is a insert last name girl?" Answer: "Pretty and smart!" Starting this months ago, I had no idea how powerful it would be when her confidence was shaken. Seeing that smile on her face helped heal my heart as much as saying the words healed hers.
"Look, Mommy! Ariel gave me a friendship bracelet!"
"Ooo! Pretty! That was nice of her."
"Yeah. She gave it to me so I wouldn't be sad."
"Why were you sad?"
"Because 'Sarah' was saying mean things to me. She said I was just a little girl and that I was the worst kid she had ever seen in the world." Eyes are now downcast and I can see tears sprinkled in her lashes.
Now, I know that this is by far not the cruelest thing that has ever been said by one child to another. This is not going to turn into a huge rant about bullying and the state of our country and children today. I am not going to be calling the bus driver demanding to know the child's parents' phone numbers so I can call them up and chew them out. I was just struck anew this afternoon by how much I love my children and how I wish I could shield them from everything bad in this world...even something as simple as an unkind word.
When we take on the roll of parent, we know that we will eventually have to deal with things like this. Children all say and do things to each other that are hurtful. I am doing my best to teach my girls that they should not treat others unkindly, but I am not naive enough to believe that they will never be the ones dishing it out (I've seen them do it to each other!). All I can do it try and instill in them a sense of empathy, a healthy dose of respect and compassion for others. But knowing this in my head does not dull the ache I feel in my heart as I see my daughter dealing with one of her early encounters with an individual who chooses to pick on her for no apparent reason.
I know I cannot protect her from every verbal assault. I know that it would not be wise to do so even if I could. I will not be around forever. She needs to learn how to deal with people who are unkind, people who want to hurt her so they can inflate their own ego. She needs to know when it's appropriate to deal with it herself and how to do so, and she needs to know when to find an adult who has the authority to make it stop when it crosses the line. I need to let her fight her own battles with poise and dignity. She needs to learn how to maintain her confidence in herself so that cruel insults don't bite so deep. I'm learning that one of the most difficult things I must do as a mother is allow her to find her own way through the minefield. I can offer counsel and guidance, but I cannot walk through it for her.
I can be grateful. Grateful for an older girl sitting on that bus that recognized a little girl who was being picked on and who took it upon herself to cheer her up. A girl with a cheap elastic bracelet bearing the word "courage." I hope my daughters become that girl.
I can be grateful that I began building a foundation of confidence and self-approval months and months ago that I can now call upon when her spirits are down.
"You know that none of the things that 'Sarah' said are true don't you?"
"Yes."
"Because you remember what you are, right? You're a Konen girl! You know what a Konen girl is, right?"
A big beaming smile, "Pretty and smart!"
"That's right!"
"I guess 'Sarah' didn't know I was a Konen girl!"
I suggest all you parents of daughters begin brainwashing them all right now so they answer this question like a parrot, "What is a insert last name girl?" Answer: "Pretty and smart!" Starting this months ago, I had no idea how powerful it would be when her confidence was shaken. Seeing that smile on her face helped heal my heart as much as saying the words healed hers.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Closet Purge = Fashion Upgrade for this Mommy!
It is FINALLY is starting to feel like spring! I want to pull out the capri pants and the pastels and feel as fresh in my look as the breeze feels upon my face. I go to my closet and I am immediately crestfallen for I realize that I am in desperate need of a fashion overhaul.
I find myself staring at a closet that is bulging with clothes that I either haven't wanted to wear for at least three seasons or clothes that I would love to wear, but can't due to my current scale status. Listen! Can you hear that? It is the malicious laughter of shorts and t-shirts that are mocking me for they know there is no way they will be doing any work for me this summer :(
I have finally come to the decision that it is just not worth it to hold on to items that I cannot wear right now. If you are anything like me, you may have a whole dresser dedicated to all of the clothes you know you will be able to wear again because you are determined to make it back to your pre-(you-fill-in-the blank) size. I finally realized that letting go of all those items is not admitting defeat. It does not mean I will never reach my weight goal. It is allowing me the peace of saying, "I might not ever make it all the way back, but that's ok. I can still look and feel great!" It is time to give myself the gift of a wardrobe that works for me just as I am and I hope I can inspire some of you to do the same for yourself.
I wish I had thought to take a "before" closet picture, but you can get an idea from the empty hangers and free space visible in my "after" pics of how much I ditched. I was not about to hang it all back up in order to stage a photo!
I finally have some space in my closet and I can look at what is in there and only see things that I would actually be happy to wear! I don't have to dig through layers of ill-fitting crap to find something that will look nice. I cannot pull out something cute only to try it on and be filled with disappointment (again) when it still doesn't fit, despite my best efforts. Now the closet purge is over so I move on to my drawer full of jeans.
Here I did think to take a before and after. My drawer was absolutely stuffed with jeans! On those rare days when I am completely caught up with laundry and all my pants are clean, there is no way in this world that I am able to fit them all in the drawer, let alone come anywhere near to closing it. I would employ the method of cramming pants into it and then leaving the drawer halfway open with the extra just sitting on top, but of course you've never done that :) When I pulled jeans out, trying some of them on to be sure, I realized that more than half of them either didn't fit or I deemed them unflattering. Why have I been holding on to them?!
So now I have a giant pile of clothes. Do I bag it all for Goodwill? Not necessarily. I recently discovered a website that sells consignment clothing. One of my favorite finds of 2014! It is called ThredUp and it is so easy! You can request a "Clean Out Bag" like the one I have pictured below and fill it to bursting with your "no longer right for me" clothing (they accept women's, juniors and kids clothing so you don't just have to stop at your own closet).
I find myself staring at a closet that is bulging with clothes that I either haven't wanted to wear for at least three seasons or clothes that I would love to wear, but can't due to my current scale status. Listen! Can you hear that? It is the malicious laughter of shorts and t-shirts that are mocking me for they know there is no way they will be doing any work for me this summer :(
I have finally come to the decision that it is just not worth it to hold on to items that I cannot wear right now. If you are anything like me, you may have a whole dresser dedicated to all of the clothes you know you will be able to wear again because you are determined to make it back to your pre-(you-fill-in-the blank) size. I finally realized that letting go of all those items is not admitting defeat. It does not mean I will never reach my weight goal. It is allowing me the peace of saying, "I might not ever make it all the way back, but that's ok. I can still look and feel great!" It is time to give myself the gift of a wardrobe that works for me just as I am and I hope I can inspire some of you to do the same for yourself.
I wish I had thought to take a "before" closet picture, but you can get an idea from the empty hangers and free space visible in my "after" pics of how much I ditched. I was not about to hang it all back up in order to stage a photo!
I finally have some space in my closet and I can look at what is in there and only see things that I would actually be happy to wear! I don't have to dig through layers of ill-fitting crap to find something that will look nice. I cannot pull out something cute only to try it on and be filled with disappointment (again) when it still doesn't fit, despite my best efforts. Now the closet purge is over so I move on to my drawer full of jeans.
Here I did think to take a before and after. My drawer was absolutely stuffed with jeans! On those rare days when I am completely caught up with laundry and all my pants are clean, there is no way in this world that I am able to fit them all in the drawer, let alone come anywhere near to closing it. I would employ the method of cramming pants into it and then leaving the drawer halfway open with the extra just sitting on top, but of course you've never done that :) When I pulled jeans out, trying some of them on to be sure, I realized that more than half of them either didn't fit or I deemed them unflattering. Why have I been holding on to them?!
So now I have a giant pile of clothes. Do I bag it all for Goodwill? Not necessarily. I recently discovered a website that sells consignment clothing. One of my favorite finds of 2014! It is called ThredUp and it is so easy! You can request a "Clean Out Bag" like the one I have pictured below and fill it to bursting with your "no longer right for me" clothing (they accept women's, juniors and kids clothing so you don't just have to stop at your own closet).
Choose only items that are brand-name and like-new quality for your Clean Out Bag. Once it's full, you drop it off at the post office or your local Fed Ex at no cost to you (you can see the shipping labels come already affixed to the bag). Once received, your items are sorted and you can choose to be paid through PayPal or opt for a credit to spend at thredUp. I have done some shopping on this site as well and scored some really great deals! If you are interested in shopping, you can click HERE and receive $10 off your first order :)
So, I have done my sorting and you can see that I am going to need to request another Clean Out Bag! I also have a couple of bags of clothes that either were an off-brand that thredUp won't take, or they are showing more wear than would be acceptable for consignment. Those bags are heading to a local thrift store that benefits Easter Seals.
I still have some work to do. I have a large plastic tote that is full of summer clothing that I put away for lack of space last fall. I have a feeling that most of it is going to head strait to one of these piles when I get to it and not back into my closet :)
It is amazing how freeing it feels to let go! I now feel no guilt about going out and purchasing a few quality items that will look great on me, feel comfortable and be incredibly versatile in my wardrobe. I am finally learning that a few great pieces can be a wonderful investment if they are flattering, timeless, and versatile! Along with a couple new pairs of capri pants and shorts for the summer, I have also purchased a great skirt that is quite possibly the new favorite item in my closet.
I'm not sure if I have ever owned anything that I can wear so many ways! This is called the "Seasonless Skirt" and it is available exclusively at Seamly.co. I was just recently introduced to this clothing company and I am in love! Kristin Glenn is the owner and designer and it is her mission to create sustainable clothing from deadstock fabric and create it all, from start to finish, in the gool ol' US of A!
Not only is everything lovely, it is super comfy (this is coming from the self-proclaimed "Queen of Sweatpants" so you can take that to the bank)! I couldn't stop at the skirt, so I am also the happy owner of the "Wrapped Cardigan." I think I now have a problem because I am currently anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new "Versalette," which is currently out of stock on the website, but I was able to purchase one from someone else who decided it wasn't for her. Talk about versatility to the extreme! Click on the links to find out what I am talking about. I'll try and post some pics of the cardigan and the Versalette later.
Well, I hope I have given you some inspiration or at least some food for thought. Perhaps it is time to attack your closet with a critical eye and purge it of everything that doesn't make you feel fantastic. My closet was holding me back from making some long overdue style changes. Is yours?
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Out of Hibernation
So here I am, staring May in the face, and wondering where I have been the last five months. If you are like me, you are still recovering from an endless winter that has left you shell-shocked and dazed. This may be known as "The Spring that Wasn't" around my house as we are still working to shake the last bit of winter off our boots. It's April 30th and I still can't turn off the furnace!!! Welcome to Wisconsin everyone.
Well, this isn't supposed to be a post full of whining complaints. I am willing myself to renew my commitment to this blog project I decided to undertake just under a year ago. I so enjoy sharing my experiences as a wife and mother with my friends and family and whoever else may wander across my path. I love the feedback and comments that I get that remind me that I am not alone on this journey. There are women everywhere who can relate to their child taking a spill and kissing pavement.
Whose heart wouldn't melt when their five-year-old decides she wants to make a big sacrifice and cut off half of her hair to donate it to another child who is sick and had theirs fall out? What a proud moment for this mama!
It is time I recommit to taking more time for reflection. Sometimes I need to be still for a moment so I can truly appreciate the many blessings around me. Other times I need to autopsy a situation so I can find the lesson that God wants me to learn so I can be a better mother, wife, friend, fill in the blank. I have found this blog so helpful in accomplishing this goal. It is fun to go back and read what I have written before and have a chuckle or shake my head over what I must have been thinking or find a renewed sense of thankfulness as I remember the fun moments and blessings that have filled my life.
So here's to a new year (only four months late)! Can't wait to see what happens and I look forward to sharing it with you. Until next time, make it a great life!
Well, this isn't supposed to be a post full of whining complaints. I am willing myself to renew my commitment to this blog project I decided to undertake just under a year ago. I so enjoy sharing my experiences as a wife and mother with my friends and family and whoever else may wander across my path. I love the feedback and comments that I get that remind me that I am not alone on this journey. There are women everywhere who can relate to their child taking a spill and kissing pavement.
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| Sorry, can't figure out how to turn the pictures! |
Every once in a while, it is also fun to be able to share our little "Pinterest Worthy" accomplishments. If you are anything like me, the successes are few and far between!
I realize that when I allow myself to be dragged down by circumstances that I cannot control, like a relentless Wisconsin winter, I miss out on sharing the fun little moments that bring the sunshine into the gloom. For instance, a later Easter this year meant we didn't have to chisel the little plastic eggs out of snow and ice!
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| Easter Egg Hunt 2013 |
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| Easter Egg Hunt 2014 |
It is time I recommit to taking more time for reflection. Sometimes I need to be still for a moment so I can truly appreciate the many blessings around me. Other times I need to autopsy a situation so I can find the lesson that God wants me to learn so I can be a better mother, wife, friend, fill in the blank. I have found this blog so helpful in accomplishing this goal. It is fun to go back and read what I have written before and have a chuckle or shake my head over what I must have been thinking or find a renewed sense of thankfulness as I remember the fun moments and blessings that have filled my life.
So here's to a new year (only four months late)! Can't wait to see what happens and I look forward to sharing it with you. Until next time, make it a great life!
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Endlessly Thankful for I am Eternally Blessed
I find it hard to begin counting my blessings for they are so numerous. I cannot even begin to understand why God decided to give me the life I am privileged to live. I did not choose to be born in the most prosperous country in the world, one in which the nation's most poor still have more than 70% of the world's population. I did not choose to be raised in a relatively normal family environment (whatever that means) by parents who are still married after 41 years. I did not choose to grow up in a safe community with low crime and few incidents of stranger danger. I did not choose any of that.
I had no way to control the fact that my future husband would be my high school sweetheart, saving me the pain of numerous broken relationships. I had no control over my two uncomplicated pregnancies that resulted in the birth of two perfectly normal, healthy daughters. I have no way to protect them from major unexpected accidents or terrible debilitating diseases and yet, so far they are thriving and developing into loving, happy, kind and respectful young ladies (for the most part:-).
My gratitude is deep, and yet hardly enough. I lift my thanks and praise to the Lord God, who has done so much more than just give me, what some might call, "easy living." I have been blessed eternally by my Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave his life so I may have mine. Just as I did nothing to deserve being born into favorable circumstances, I have done nothing to deserve His healing grace. He offered it freely, knowing I could never be perfect, knowing I could never earn it. He rescued me from the great lie that if I would just be "good enough," I could sneak into his good graces. I am so thankful that I was shown that I could never measure up to the standard required, the life of complete and utter perfection that has only ever been lived by one man, Jesus Christ.
How freeing it is to know that He does not require my perfection, only my repentance! Only acceptance of His grace, which He desires to give to every one of us. This truth is the ultimate gift, the greatest I have ever received and the only thing that can never be taken from me. Lord, my gratitude could not be greater, and yet it can never be enough. I am so thankful for all that you are and all I that am able to be through your grace. It is my prayer that all who read this will know that same peace.
Have a very happy Thanksgiving and remember what we are celebrating:-)
For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
I had no way to control the fact that my future husband would be my high school sweetheart, saving me the pain of numerous broken relationships. I had no control over my two uncomplicated pregnancies that resulted in the birth of two perfectly normal, healthy daughters. I have no way to protect them from major unexpected accidents or terrible debilitating diseases and yet, so far they are thriving and developing into loving, happy, kind and respectful young ladies (for the most part:-).
My gratitude is deep, and yet hardly enough. I lift my thanks and praise to the Lord God, who has done so much more than just give me, what some might call, "easy living." I have been blessed eternally by my Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave his life so I may have mine. Just as I did nothing to deserve being born into favorable circumstances, I have done nothing to deserve His healing grace. He offered it freely, knowing I could never be perfect, knowing I could never earn it. He rescued me from the great lie that if I would just be "good enough," I could sneak into his good graces. I am so thankful that I was shown that I could never measure up to the standard required, the life of complete and utter perfection that has only ever been lived by one man, Jesus Christ.
How freeing it is to know that He does not require my perfection, only my repentance! Only acceptance of His grace, which He desires to give to every one of us. This truth is the ultimate gift, the greatest I have ever received and the only thing that can never be taken from me. Lord, my gratitude could not be greater, and yet it can never be enough. I am so thankful for all that you are and all I that am able to be through your grace. It is my prayer that all who read this will know that same peace.
Have a very happy Thanksgiving and remember what we are celebrating:-)
For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Sunday Morning Do's and Don'ts
Do leave yourself plenty of time to get ready for church.
Don't practically fall asleep standing in the shower...you may get out and realize you only have ten minutes to get out the door.
Do dress your daughters in pretty dresses. Everyone will oooh and ahhh.
Don't try and dress them five minutes before you need to leave because one will inevitably hate what you have chosen and insist on a wardrobe change.
Do make sure their hair is combed and their teeth are brushed.
Don't forget to remind them to use the bathroom before you leave because the little one will tell you seven minutes into your 35 minute backroad drive that they need to go potty.
Do keep a towel, disinfectant wipes and an emergency change of clothes in your car.
Don't hesitate to think twice about hitting the drive-thru after church, even if it is after lunchtime, because you never know if this is the day that your child will get sick and you will get to witness projectile vomit happening in the backseat of your SUV or minivan.
Wish I had read this list at about 8:00 this morning...I might have had a better day. Hopefully I can help save another mother with this prophetic wisdom!
Don't practically fall asleep standing in the shower...you may get out and realize you only have ten minutes to get out the door.
Do dress your daughters in pretty dresses. Everyone will oooh and ahhh.
Don't try and dress them five minutes before you need to leave because one will inevitably hate what you have chosen and insist on a wardrobe change.
Do make sure their hair is combed and their teeth are brushed.
Don't forget to remind them to use the bathroom before you leave because the little one will tell you seven minutes into your 35 minute backroad drive that they need to go potty.
Do keep a towel, disinfectant wipes and an emergency change of clothes in your car.
Don't hesitate to think twice about hitting the drive-thru after church, even if it is after lunchtime, because you never know if this is the day that your child will get sick and you will get to witness projectile vomit happening in the backseat of your SUV or minivan.
Wish I had read this list at about 8:00 this morning...I might have had a better day. Hopefully I can help save another mother with this prophetic wisdom!
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Lord, Today We Remember.
Lord, today we remember the towers that once stood tall.
Today we remember the souls that were lost on those airplanes, who saw lifetimes rush before their eyes as they plummeted towards their end.
Today we remember the heroes who ran into the unknown, those who made it out and those who didn't.
Today we remember how our nation gathered together as one.
Today we remember how the flag was lowered to half-mast, but then was joined by thousands of others as Americans united beneath them.
Today we remember what our nation can be when we put aside our differences for what really matters.
Today we remember to pray for our leaders, to hug our children, to thank our soldiers, to volunteer our time, to kiss our loved ones, to give to a cause, to enjoy your creation as we offer up our praises.
Lord, today we remember that life is fleeting. Life is fragile. Life is a gift.
May we remember to live it will.
Today we remember the souls that were lost on those airplanes, who saw lifetimes rush before their eyes as they plummeted towards their end.
Today we remember the heroes who ran into the unknown, those who made it out and those who didn't.
Today we remember how our nation gathered together as one.
Today we remember how the flag was lowered to half-mast, but then was joined by thousands of others as Americans united beneath them.
Today we remember what our nation can be when we put aside our differences for what really matters.
Today we remember to pray for our leaders, to hug our children, to thank our soldiers, to volunteer our time, to kiss our loved ones, to give to a cause, to enjoy your creation as we offer up our praises.
Lord, today we remember that life is fleeting. Life is fragile. Life is a gift.
May we remember to live it will.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Nothing Like A Good Grease Fire To Motivate One To Clean The Oven!
Today I put some chicken nuggets in the oven for the girls' lunch. I was sitting in the living room and after about five minutes, I noticed it smelled like smoke. I went to the kitchen to investigate and I saw that smoke was pouring out of the oven vent. What in the world?!!!
I opened the oven door just in time to witness the foil I had lining the bottom of the oven burst into flame! Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh! FIRE! Cue that moment of panic when your heart jumps up in the back of your throat. I go to the sink and start soaking towels to throw into the oven as the hubby grabs a pair of tongs to remove the flaming foil. As he takes the foil to the sink, I toss the towels into the inferno because fortunately I remembered in my panic that you smother a grease fire:-)
Crisis averted. Fire out, hands shaking, saying a little prayer of thanks. What would have happened if I hadn't been there right when the fire started? What if I had waited another minute before investigating? I think someone was watching over my kitchen today.
I look at TheMostAwesomeHusbandInTheWorld and he says to me, "Oh yeah. I forgot that when I reheated those ribs the other night they kind of made a mess." Hmmmm. I was wondering why pie filling (which is what I remember recently boiling over) would have caught fire...now things are making more sense.
Well, I suppose the oven was due for a thorough scrubbing. Just hasn't planned on putting it on today's to-do list. Thanks for providing the extra motivation, Dear:-) Love you to the moon and back!
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
When God Answers
Every once in a while I become acutely aware of the human condition. In other words, our time on this earth is finite and not one of us is getting out of here alive in the end. The human race has a 100% mortality rate. I realize some may accuse me of being morbid for such a line of thought, but nonetheless, it is one I cannot seem to indefinitely avoid.
Most of the time I am able to combat any feelings of fear or worry with my faith and belief that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and I know where I will be spending eternity when my Heavenly Father calls me home. However, recently I couldn't shake the thought, "What if there isn't anything else? What if this is all there is?" For days I felt unsettled and disturbed.
Worry over things you cannot change will make you sick. Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matthew 6:27) I had a tight feeling in my chest that I could not shake. My mind was continually going back to the "what if's." I would look at my husband or my children and feel sadness instead of joy. I would wonder, "When my life as I know it comes to an end, is there anything more? Will I be with the people I love so dearly ever again?" I was having an internal argument with myself. I have been standing firm in my faith for many years, but I felt like my mind was under attack. I was filled with a sense of uncertainty that I cannot recall feeling ever before in my adult life. Never did I truly doubt my spiritual convictions, but the uneasiness continued to simmer just below the surface.
For days I prayed. I called upon God to give me the peace that I usually take for granted. I begged him to allow me to feel the presence of His Holy Spirit. I cried out for Him to ease the distress that was gripping my heart. I lay awake, tired but unable to retire the churning turmoil in my own mind. I finally opened my Bible and began flipping pages. I would read random Psalms, searching for one that would be a salve to my soul. I found myself unsuccessful. I was not finding the right verses.
I prayed, "God, please! I need you to give me what my heart needs to get through this uncertainty. I know Jesus really lived. I know He really died. I know He died for me. Please give me a Psalm that will speak the truth to me right now." I opened my Bible one more time.
Psalm 39:4-13
I read this and felt peace. To see how King David faced down his own mortality and human limitation, it calmed my spirit. It seems he was feeling some of the same things I had been experiencing. These verses aren't exactly light and fluffy. They aren't happy-go-lucky, all hearts and roses. This passage has some sting in it, but it brought relief to my heart. I once again saw that God's Scriptures are living, breathing, relevant truths that speak right into my life. It has the power to uplift me, to convict me, to reassure me, to teach me, to pour life into my tired soul. I am convinced that when I pray for guidance, He will never fail to provide it through His glorious Word.
I could not tell you why this was the Scripture I needed in that moment. I don't know exactly why it gave me such peace. I do know that I am now sleeping soundly and my mind is at ease. A few days after I found resolution in my heart, I learned there had been a death in my family. I am saddened to say goodbye to a kind man who was blessed with 99 years of life. Had I not already resolved the turmoil I had been going through, I don't know how this news would have hit me. As it is, I know I am only saying, "Goodbye for now," not "Goodbye forever." Praise be to God for providing peace and understanding, especially in times of grief.
Most of the time I am able to combat any feelings of fear or worry with my faith and belief that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and I know where I will be spending eternity when my Heavenly Father calls me home. However, recently I couldn't shake the thought, "What if there isn't anything else? What if this is all there is?" For days I felt unsettled and disturbed.
Worry over things you cannot change will make you sick. Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matthew 6:27) I had a tight feeling in my chest that I could not shake. My mind was continually going back to the "what if's." I would look at my husband or my children and feel sadness instead of joy. I would wonder, "When my life as I know it comes to an end, is there anything more? Will I be with the people I love so dearly ever again?" I was having an internal argument with myself. I have been standing firm in my faith for many years, but I felt like my mind was under attack. I was filled with a sense of uncertainty that I cannot recall feeling ever before in my adult life. Never did I truly doubt my spiritual convictions, but the uneasiness continued to simmer just below the surface.
For days I prayed. I called upon God to give me the peace that I usually take for granted. I begged him to allow me to feel the presence of His Holy Spirit. I cried out for Him to ease the distress that was gripping my heart. I lay awake, tired but unable to retire the churning turmoil in my own mind. I finally opened my Bible and began flipping pages. I would read random Psalms, searching for one that would be a salve to my soul. I found myself unsuccessful. I was not finding the right verses.
I prayed, "God, please! I need you to give me what my heart needs to get through this uncertainty. I know Jesus really lived. I know He really died. I know He died for me. Please give me a Psalm that will speak the truth to me right now." I opened my Bible one more time.
Psalm 39:4-13
“Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure.
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure.
“Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;
in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth
without knowing whose it will finally be.
in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth
without knowing whose it will finally be.
“But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.
Save me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the scorn of fools.
I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
for you are the one who has done this.
Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin,
you consume their wealth like a moth—
surely everyone is but a breath.
My hope is in you.
Save me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the scorn of fools.
I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
for you are the one who has done this.
Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin,
you consume their wealth like a moth—
surely everyone is but a breath.
“Hear my prayer, Lord,
listen to my cry for help;
do not be deaf to my weeping.
I dwell with you as a foreigner,
a stranger, as all my ancestors were.
Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
listen to my cry for help;
do not be deaf to my weeping.
I dwell with you as a foreigner,
a stranger, as all my ancestors were.
Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more.
I could not tell you why this was the Scripture I needed in that moment. I don't know exactly why it gave me such peace. I do know that I am now sleeping soundly and my mind is at ease. A few days after I found resolution in my heart, I learned there had been a death in my family. I am saddened to say goodbye to a kind man who was blessed with 99 years of life. Had I not already resolved the turmoil I had been going through, I don't know how this news would have hit me. As it is, I know I am only saying, "Goodbye for now," not "Goodbye forever." Praise be to God for providing peace and understanding, especially in times of grief.
Friday, July 19, 2013
The Day of the Domestic Diva
Today was one of those days where my ambition went into hyperdrive and I transformed into the Domestic Goddess. I was so amazing, I couldn't hardly believe myself. It was a day of cleaning, cooking, baking, play dates and swimming lessons. Would you believe me if I told you I made my own cheese from the milk of our very own goats? Well, believe it! Today I was everything I always wish I could be...except I wasn't.
Why is it that even on the really good days when it seems like everything is going right, things can so quickly go wrong? Why is it a three-year-old has the power to derail my sense of accomplishment with one three minute tantrum?
I was up nearly two hours before the kids this morning and I did not let the grass grow under my feet today. Before the kids were up I had cleaned the bathroom and the living room, done a load of laundry and folded three more loads and started vacuuming the floor. They came downstairs and I gave them breakfast before mopping the floors, taking out the trash, doing the dishes, cleaning the kitchen and the dining room. When all was done inside, I headed outside to clean the kiddie pool because the girls had a play date at noon. Are you tired yet? I sure was!
To much to do! Must keep going! After nearly five hours of housework, it was time to feed the girls lunch and get them into their swimming suits and slathered up with sunscreen. Not a moment too soon! Their friends came down the drive just as they were suited up. I got to spend an hour visiting with a couple friends as the kids played in the pool. Soon it was naptime for the little tykes and our guests had to leave.
My girls were still enjoying the pool and who am I to end a good thing early? I headed into the house and decided now would be a good time to make some goat cheese. It only takes 20 or 30 minutes to prep, so why not? I could have it done and hanging in the cheesecloth by the time my little one needs to come in for a nap.
Nap. It should have been a four-letter word today. I had to go out and deliver the hateful news at 1:40 and you would have thought I had told her I was going to string get up by her toenails. A very uncharacteristic, full out, screaming fit. That child landed herself in timeout faster than she could repeat, "I DON'T WANT A NAP!" I have a feeling that reasoning with an over-tired three-year-old is somewhat akin to trying to reason with a delusional mental patient. They are talking nonsense. They are completely out of sorts. They are convinced that they are right and will make you believe it too, even if what they are saying is coming out as complete jibberish to anyone listening to them. Anyway, nothing a three minute timeout can't fix, right?
Eventually calm is restored and it is off to bed. (But not before the truck book in which every little flap musty be opened and every picture identified) I have about an hour and a half before swimming lessons, so how about I start some ciabatta bread to spread the goat cheese on? Ok. I grab all the ingredients and get them working in the bread machine. Not only have I gotten all this done, but now I have an hour to channel surf while I put together my cousin's wedding gift and get it all packed for shipping:-)
Soon the bread machine dings and I get the dough out on the pan so it can rest and rise while I'm at the pool with the girls. Now it is time to wake the beast. Do you ever have one of those moments where you want to ask, "Who are you and what have you done with my child?" That was the case when I tried to convince my daughter to put her swimming suit back on. "I can't do it! No! Let me do it myself! I don't know how to do it! I don't want your help!" I finally told her that if she didn't suit up herself, I would do it for her. This resulted in her throwing the bathing suit across the room and a lot of screaming. Ok. Timeout number two.
I get her sister and all of our junk strapped and packed into the car and go back into the house. I then struggle with a kicking, screaming, fighting child and finally get her into a swimming suit. (I imagine this must be what it is like to dress an angry cat) I quickly rush her out to the car and get her strapped into her carseat before she had a chance to strip it back off. I climb in and turn down the driveway, only to now see that sometime within the last hour a giant dead tree limb has fallen down and is blocking the end of the driveway. Just what I need.
After all I just went through to get out the door we might not make it out of the driveway?!!! Someone has a twisted sense of humor. I turn and tell my girls I don't think we can go and tears of disappointment immediately start welling up in the eyes of my five-year-old. "Fine! Don't cry!" I think we can make it with a little off-roading. We squeeze between the branch and the ditch and we are off.
Just another day in the life of this average woman trying her best to be Supermom. We can start of with the best of intentions, but life will always happen. We cannot control all the actions of our children, our husbands, our dog, the weather, or even the trees and shrubbery. We can do all the right things to set ourselves up for success and glory only to have everything turned on its head. I look back on the day and I am honestly impressed with what I got accomplished, but I am more greatly aware of how things seldom go as planned.
Why is it that even on the really good days when it seems like everything is going right, things can so quickly go wrong? Why is it a three-year-old has the power to derail my sense of accomplishment with one three minute tantrum?
I was up nearly two hours before the kids this morning and I did not let the grass grow under my feet today. Before the kids were up I had cleaned the bathroom and the living room, done a load of laundry and folded three more loads and started vacuuming the floor. They came downstairs and I gave them breakfast before mopping the floors, taking out the trash, doing the dishes, cleaning the kitchen and the dining room. When all was done inside, I headed outside to clean the kiddie pool because the girls had a play date at noon. Are you tired yet? I sure was!
To much to do! Must keep going! After nearly five hours of housework, it was time to feed the girls lunch and get them into their swimming suits and slathered up with sunscreen. Not a moment too soon! Their friends came down the drive just as they were suited up. I got to spend an hour visiting with a couple friends as the kids played in the pool. Soon it was naptime for the little tykes and our guests had to leave.
My girls were still enjoying the pool and who am I to end a good thing early? I headed into the house and decided now would be a good time to make some goat cheese. It only takes 20 or 30 minutes to prep, so why not? I could have it done and hanging in the cheesecloth by the time my little one needs to come in for a nap.
Nap. It should have been a four-letter word today. I had to go out and deliver the hateful news at 1:40 and you would have thought I had told her I was going to string get up by her toenails. A very uncharacteristic, full out, screaming fit. That child landed herself in timeout faster than she could repeat, "I DON'T WANT A NAP!" I have a feeling that reasoning with an over-tired three-year-old is somewhat akin to trying to reason with a delusional mental patient. They are talking nonsense. They are completely out of sorts. They are convinced that they are right and will make you believe it too, even if what they are saying is coming out as complete jibberish to anyone listening to them. Anyway, nothing a three minute timeout can't fix, right?
Eventually calm is restored and it is off to bed. (But not before the truck book in which every little flap musty be opened and every picture identified) I have about an hour and a half before swimming lessons, so how about I start some ciabatta bread to spread the goat cheese on? Ok. I grab all the ingredients and get them working in the bread machine. Not only have I gotten all this done, but now I have an hour to channel surf while I put together my cousin's wedding gift and get it all packed for shipping:-)
Soon the bread machine dings and I get the dough out on the pan so it can rest and rise while I'm at the pool with the girls. Now it is time to wake the beast. Do you ever have one of those moments where you want to ask, "Who are you and what have you done with my child?" That was the case when I tried to convince my daughter to put her swimming suit back on. "I can't do it! No! Let me do it myself! I don't know how to do it! I don't want your help!" I finally told her that if she didn't suit up herself, I would do it for her. This resulted in her throwing the bathing suit across the room and a lot of screaming. Ok. Timeout number two.
I get her sister and all of our junk strapped and packed into the car and go back into the house. I then struggle with a kicking, screaming, fighting child and finally get her into a swimming suit. (I imagine this must be what it is like to dress an angry cat) I quickly rush her out to the car and get her strapped into her carseat before she had a chance to strip it back off. I climb in and turn down the driveway, only to now see that sometime within the last hour a giant dead tree limb has fallen down and is blocking the end of the driveway. Just what I need.
After all I just went through to get out the door we might not make it out of the driveway?!!! Someone has a twisted sense of humor. I turn and tell my girls I don't think we can go and tears of disappointment immediately start welling up in the eyes of my five-year-old. "Fine! Don't cry!" I think we can make it with a little off-roading. We squeeze between the branch and the ditch and we are off.
Just another day in the life of this average woman trying her best to be Supermom. We can start of with the best of intentions, but life will always happen. We cannot control all the actions of our children, our husbands, our dog, the weather, or even the trees and shrubbery. We can do all the right things to set ourselves up for success and glory only to have everything turned on its head. I look back on the day and I am honestly impressed with what I got accomplished, but I am more greatly aware of how things seldom go as planned.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
What Was I Thinking?!!!
Have you ever gotten an idea to do something that sounded awesome in the beginning, but the closer you draw to the point of no return, you wonder if you've lost your mind? You spend months preparing yourself mentally and physically until you fool yourself into thinking you're prepared...until the day arrives. Now you may think I am talking about childbirth, but I'm not. Somehow this spring I managed to talk my husband into thinking that doing a half marathon with me would be a good idea. I know. My powers of persuasion astound even myself!
We ran a 10k last summer and survived, how much harder would a half marathon be? Do the math. It's twice as far. It could be A LOT harder! And this is not an ordinary road race. Oh no! We sign up for an extreme trail run. This translates into a lot of steep uphill climbing on rocky, sometimes treacherous, terrain. I lost count of the number of times I tripped and stumbled over a rock or a tree root, but I do know that I only fully wiped out twice!
Oh, it was all fun in the beginning...if you think running is fun, which I only do about a quarter of the time. The first couple weeks of training, the furthest I ran was only about four miles. In the beginning that was plenty. Very quickly, the distances got longer and I began to question whether or not this was something I really should be doing. I'm not sure if my body was designed for this. But did I listen to that little voice telling me this was not a good idea? Noooooooooo! (Imagine I said that in the sing-songy, I-told-you-so way) The deadline for the early-bird pricing was approaching and I went ahead and signed us up. We were now financially committed.
I gutted out the rest of the training schedule. I made it through. So...I can do this, right? Yeah, you keep telling yourself that. The last long run was 10 miles (3.1 miles short of the full race distance). I had to cut it a little short when I looked up ahead and I saw a skunk between me and my turn-around point. Nuh uh! Screw that! I high-tailed it back and I finished it with a very limited amount of soreness. Ok, not quite 10 miles completed. On race day the pumping adrenaline will push me through the last few miles, right? Right?!!!
So the night before the race, I print out the waivers we must sign and turn in before the race. Here is just a little excerpt of what I was insane enough to sign:
I realize that the course for the Dances With Dirt (DWD) race presents a number of potential dangers to me and I hereby assume the risk arising from all of them. I realize that I will be running on a variety of surfaces, some of them far less than perfect, including but not limited to roads, unimproved trails, mud, swamps, cliffs, lumpy fields covered with waist high grass and river crossings. The roads are open to motor vehicle traffic that has the right of way. I know that broken bones, reactions to poison ivy and other plants, insect bites and bruising are common occurrences in this extreme event and that I will be far into the wilderness away from medical support. I realize that the danger of injury and even death exists as well and I hereby assume all the risks that may be present on the (DWD) course.
Oh. My. Word. This may have been a bad idea. But we paid money! We have to do it! So of course we wake up at 5:00 a.m. and head out to Devil's Lake (ironic?) for the race. We get our numbers and join the herd. The gun goes off at 7:00 and we are off. The first half mile wasn't bad. The next 1 1/2 miles were death. It was all strait uphill. Steep and rocky. We pretty much walked at least a mile of that stretch. I thought, "If the whole thing is like this, there is no way! I cannot do another 11 miles like this!" Fortunately, at mile three it got better. There was a lot of uphill battling, but there was plenty of downhill action as well where I could let momentum do half the work for me.
We wound up climbing all the way to the top of the bluffs, where we even passed by some rock climbers! The view over the top of the bluff down to the lake was breath-taking. I wished I was able to spend more time looking, but I had to watch where I was going because of the rocky trail. At times I felt like I was running through a tire obstacle course as I dodged the rocks and the tree roots. I was constantly tripping and stubbing my toes and, like I said, I really did manage to wipe out twice. We kept on going. With about three miles left my husband felt his hip starting to strain so we had to pull it back somewhat. He couldn't run uphill anymore because the shortened stride really caused a lot of pain. Fortunately, the race ended by going back down the hill that had been such hell in the beginning. It was a great way for me to finish out the race! (My husband maybe not so much)
Once we were down at the bottom of the horrible hill, we had to walk for a while as my poor hubby was in a lot of hurt. I could have run ahead for a better time, but since I talked him into this insanity, that would have been a pretty jerkish thing for me to do. When we could see the end, we jogged it in and we finished in 2 hours 58 minutes. That works out to an average of about 13.5 minutes per mile. Not a stellar time, but when you figure in the amount of walking we had to do for either safety, because it was simply impossible to run, or pain, it wasn't too bad. I am happy we finished in under three hours.
Today I am really feeling the pain, but I also feel accomplished. I can check that one off the bucket list. I think I may have run two half marathons yesterday...my first and my last!
We ran a 10k last summer and survived, how much harder would a half marathon be? Do the math. It's twice as far. It could be A LOT harder! And this is not an ordinary road race. Oh no! We sign up for an extreme trail run. This translates into a lot of steep uphill climbing on rocky, sometimes treacherous, terrain. I lost count of the number of times I tripped and stumbled over a rock or a tree root, but I do know that I only fully wiped out twice!
Oh, it was all fun in the beginning...if you think running is fun, which I only do about a quarter of the time. The first couple weeks of training, the furthest I ran was only about four miles. In the beginning that was plenty. Very quickly, the distances got longer and I began to question whether or not this was something I really should be doing. I'm not sure if my body was designed for this. But did I listen to that little voice telling me this was not a good idea? Noooooooooo! (Imagine I said that in the sing-songy, I-told-you-so way) The deadline for the early-bird pricing was approaching and I went ahead and signed us up. We were now financially committed.
I gutted out the rest of the training schedule. I made it through. So...I can do this, right? Yeah, you keep telling yourself that. The last long run was 10 miles (3.1 miles short of the full race distance). I had to cut it a little short when I looked up ahead and I saw a skunk between me and my turn-around point. Nuh uh! Screw that! I high-tailed it back and I finished it with a very limited amount of soreness. Ok, not quite 10 miles completed. On race day the pumping adrenaline will push me through the last few miles, right? Right?!!!
So the night before the race, I print out the waivers we must sign and turn in before the race. Here is just a little excerpt of what I was insane enough to sign:
I realize that the course for the Dances With Dirt (DWD) race presents a number of potential dangers to me and I hereby assume the risk arising from all of them. I realize that I will be running on a variety of surfaces, some of them far less than perfect, including but not limited to roads, unimproved trails, mud, swamps, cliffs, lumpy fields covered with waist high grass and river crossings. The roads are open to motor vehicle traffic that has the right of way. I know that broken bones, reactions to poison ivy and other plants, insect bites and bruising are common occurrences in this extreme event and that I will be far into the wilderness away from medical support. I realize that the danger of injury and even death exists as well and I hereby assume all the risks that may be present on the (DWD) course.
Oh. My. Word. This may have been a bad idea. But we paid money! We have to do it! So of course we wake up at 5:00 a.m. and head out to Devil's Lake (ironic?) for the race. We get our numbers and join the herd. The gun goes off at 7:00 and we are off. The first half mile wasn't bad. The next 1 1/2 miles were death. It was all strait uphill. Steep and rocky. We pretty much walked at least a mile of that stretch. I thought, "If the whole thing is like this, there is no way! I cannot do another 11 miles like this!" Fortunately, at mile three it got better. There was a lot of uphill battling, but there was plenty of downhill action as well where I could let momentum do half the work for me.
We wound up climbing all the way to the top of the bluffs, where we even passed by some rock climbers! The view over the top of the bluff down to the lake was breath-taking. I wished I was able to spend more time looking, but I had to watch where I was going because of the rocky trail. At times I felt like I was running through a tire obstacle course as I dodged the rocks and the tree roots. I was constantly tripping and stubbing my toes and, like I said, I really did manage to wipe out twice. We kept on going. With about three miles left my husband felt his hip starting to strain so we had to pull it back somewhat. He couldn't run uphill anymore because the shortened stride really caused a lot of pain. Fortunately, the race ended by going back down the hill that had been such hell in the beginning. It was a great way for me to finish out the race! (My husband maybe not so much)
Once we were down at the bottom of the horrible hill, we had to walk for a while as my poor hubby was in a lot of hurt. I could have run ahead for a better time, but since I talked him into this insanity, that would have been a pretty jerkish thing for me to do. When we could see the end, we jogged it in and we finished in 2 hours 58 minutes. That works out to an average of about 13.5 minutes per mile. Not a stellar time, but when you figure in the amount of walking we had to do for either safety, because it was simply impossible to run, or pain, it wasn't too bad. I am happy we finished in under three hours.
Today I am really feeling the pain, but I also feel accomplished. I can check that one off the bucket list. I think I may have run two half marathons yesterday...my first and my last!
Thursday, July 11, 2013
What, Wait! July?!!!
Does anyone else ever find themselves cruising along and all of a sudden, life hits hyperdrive? I looked at the calendar yesterday and realized we are about to close out the second week of July. What?!!! Hold up! The second week of JULY? That means the summer is practically half over! It seems like pre-school just ended and it finally just got warm!
We have been so busy lately that it feels like life has just been happening to me rather than me living out my life. Fourth of July trips, swimming lessons, gardening and lawn mowing, dealing with a flooded basement, church service projects and all of the little summer things that have eaten up my time. I look back on it an see that most of it has been fun, but at the same time, I have not really been savoring the moments.
My children are growing up so fast and it seems that each day goes by quicker than the last. One moment I look at my older daughter and she is little and cute and still has that look of baby about her and the next minute I turn around and she is tall, leggy, independent and looks every bit the kindergartener she is about to become. It thrills me and scares me all at once. I am so proud of who my children are becoming, yet there is that piece of me that doesn't want to let go of my babies.
On the other hand, I am sure I am not the only housewife who fantasizes of all the things she will be able to accomplish during the day once the children are in school. The idea of regular trips to the grocery store without any helpers I must say does make me feel a little bit giddy:-) Being able to get to the gym before supper on a regular basis would be amazing! Cleaning my house without turning around the next minute to see all of my efforts trashed would give me a great deal of satisfaction.
Then I wonder, will it be lonely? Will I be bored by the end of back-to-school week? Will I run out of projects to keep myself busy? Ha! (Pause a moment for some mental hysteria.) I am looking forward to doing some of the things it seems like I have been putting off for the past five years. I am looking forward to baking cookies for snack time at school and chaperoning the field trips. I look forward to really digging in to some of the home improvement projects around the house that I can't effectively work on with constant interruptions. But still...
The summer is flying by. I see the school year looming over the horizon. I am trying to squeeze in all of the fun things I was thinking about back around Memorial Day. Still looking forward to a trip to the amusement park. Perhaps a trip to the zoo. We need to finish up swimming lessons and take part in activities at the local library. We have a little weekend vacation coming up next month. And still, it will all go too fast. I need to remember to take a moment, take a breath, and allow myself to enjoy the moment. Laugh. Goof around. Take pictures. Squeeze a little hand, they won't be little for long.
We have been so busy lately that it feels like life has just been happening to me rather than me living out my life. Fourth of July trips, swimming lessons, gardening and lawn mowing, dealing with a flooded basement, church service projects and all of the little summer things that have eaten up my time. I look back on it an see that most of it has been fun, but at the same time, I have not really been savoring the moments.
My children are growing up so fast and it seems that each day goes by quicker than the last. One moment I look at my older daughter and she is little and cute and still has that look of baby about her and the next minute I turn around and she is tall, leggy, independent and looks every bit the kindergartener she is about to become. It thrills me and scares me all at once. I am so proud of who my children are becoming, yet there is that piece of me that doesn't want to let go of my babies.
On the other hand, I am sure I am not the only housewife who fantasizes of all the things she will be able to accomplish during the day once the children are in school. The idea of regular trips to the grocery store without any helpers I must say does make me feel a little bit giddy:-) Being able to get to the gym before supper on a regular basis would be amazing! Cleaning my house without turning around the next minute to see all of my efforts trashed would give me a great deal of satisfaction.
Then I wonder, will it be lonely? Will I be bored by the end of back-to-school week? Will I run out of projects to keep myself busy? Ha! (Pause a moment for some mental hysteria.) I am looking forward to doing some of the things it seems like I have been putting off for the past five years. I am looking forward to baking cookies for snack time at school and chaperoning the field trips. I look forward to really digging in to some of the home improvement projects around the house that I can't effectively work on with constant interruptions. But still...
The summer is flying by. I see the school year looming over the horizon. I am trying to squeeze in all of the fun things I was thinking about back around Memorial Day. Still looking forward to a trip to the amusement park. Perhaps a trip to the zoo. We need to finish up swimming lessons and take part in activities at the local library. We have a little weekend vacation coming up next month. And still, it will all go too fast. I need to remember to take a moment, take a breath, and allow myself to enjoy the moment. Laugh. Goof around. Take pictures. Squeeze a little hand, they won't be little for long.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
When Mommy Flips Her Lid
This morning was not my finest mommy hour. I'm trying to get everyone dressed and out the door, for church no less, and it happened. I lost it. My temper, my cool, my sanity, whatever you want to call it. Do you have mornings like that? Days when you are trying so hard to get everyone ready and not be late, again, for wherever you're heading and five minutes before you should leave, the house flies into chaos? Today was one of those days and unfortunately, today I did not handle it well.
I actually woke up with plenty of time to make it to the first church service today, which is usually my goal when I can make it happen. My three-year-old was up at the same time and I got her sat down to breakfast. I went in the living room and caught the weather on the news and got in my Scripture reading for the day. An excellent start to the day in my book. Too bad it didn't last long.
I went upstairs to take a shower and get dressed. I soon look at the clock and see we have 25 minutes until go-time. I go to the girls' room to rouse the sleepyhead. I get her settled with her breakfast and head back upstairs to dry my hair and get clothes for the kids. This is where the breakdown begins. I find some outfits and as I'm trying to get the last item off the hanger, the whole clothing rod crashes to the ground. I don't have time for this! I leave it and figure I'll fix it when we get home.
Time to dress the rugrats. I'm already on edge after the closet debacle and I am in no mood when my three-year-old is uncooperative. Ten minutes before it's time to leave is not the time to play cat-and-mouse! I can feel I am simmering below the surface as I finally manage to get clothes on and hair combed. Time for some deep breathing. I quickly run upstairs and do a super-quick makeup job and rush back downstairs.
Just as I'm about to tell them to put on their shoes, I see the mess. The half-empty juice jug, the full-to-the-brim cup, the puddle on the table and the spillover on the floor. It is time to leave and I just lose it. How many times have I told that girl that she is not to pour any drinks by herself? How many times have I already cleaned up a mess like this in the last week? Why does this happen right when it's time to leave? I realize I am yelling at my poor little three-year-old as I am hauling her, without much gentleness, to the timeout chair. I am still yelling as I am cleaning up the mess. Come on now, deep breaths! I calm down and I go release my girl from timeout.
I find a pair of shoes for each child and tell them to put them on as I take a load of stuff to the car. I come back in the house and tell them it's time to go. My five-year-old runs in all ready to go and I see her sister is snuggled in a blanket on the couch, shoes still on the floor. Final straw. The top blows. My lid is flipped. "Why can't you listen? I asked you to put your shoes on! It's time to go! We're going to be late! Why don't you listen to Mommy and obey?" I can feel my hands shaking, I am so angry. And over what? Some clothes on the floor? Some spilled juice? My daughter's selective hearing? I put the sandals on her feet and tell them them both to head outside.
I go upstairs and grab my shoes and hurry downstairs to make a PB sandwich for me to eat on the drive. The whole time I am praying. "Lord, why am I doing this? This is not the mother I want to be! I don't want to be the mom that always yells and screams. Please help me! Give me patience in this moment because right now I have none. Give me peace in my heart and soul because I feel like I am choking on my anger and anxiety."
God always comes through. He meets me right where I am. His peace and assurance can wash over me like a river if I will call upon Him. I prayed the words of Paul and admitted that I am doing exactly what I know I shouldn't do and I can't seem to make myself do what I know I ought to be doing. As I was yelling at my poor child, I could hear the voice in my head telling me to be quiet, but I couldn't seem to make myself stop. I needed the Holy Spirit to give me strength in that moment. I am grateful He did.
I was able to walk outside calmly. As I buckled the girls into the car, I asked them for forgiveness. "Even when you misbehave, Mommy should not yell like that. I was angry but I didn't need to scream at you. I'm sorry, will you forgive me?" I look into those beautiful eyes and I am grateful that little children are so quick to forgive.
I know it will not be the last time I must ask my children for forgiveness. I fail. I mess up. I fall short. I lose my temper. I am constantly trying to do better, but I know I will never reach perfection this side of heaven. I can only rest in the grace and mercy of my Heavenly Father and know that I can be better today than I was yesterday if I make an honest effort and lean on the one who can give me strength. I want to be a better mother, wife, friend, woman of God. I know I can be better when I walk in the ways of Christ who strengthens me. Not perfect, but better.
I actually woke up with plenty of time to make it to the first church service today, which is usually my goal when I can make it happen. My three-year-old was up at the same time and I got her sat down to breakfast. I went in the living room and caught the weather on the news and got in my Scripture reading for the day. An excellent start to the day in my book. Too bad it didn't last long.
I went upstairs to take a shower and get dressed. I soon look at the clock and see we have 25 minutes until go-time. I go to the girls' room to rouse the sleepyhead. I get her settled with her breakfast and head back upstairs to dry my hair and get clothes for the kids. This is where the breakdown begins. I find some outfits and as I'm trying to get the last item off the hanger, the whole clothing rod crashes to the ground. I don't have time for this! I leave it and figure I'll fix it when we get home.
Time to dress the rugrats. I'm already on edge after the closet debacle and I am in no mood when my three-year-old is uncooperative. Ten minutes before it's time to leave is not the time to play cat-and-mouse! I can feel I am simmering below the surface as I finally manage to get clothes on and hair combed. Time for some deep breathing. I quickly run upstairs and do a super-quick makeup job and rush back downstairs.
Just as I'm about to tell them to put on their shoes, I see the mess. The half-empty juice jug, the full-to-the-brim cup, the puddle on the table and the spillover on the floor. It is time to leave and I just lose it. How many times have I told that girl that she is not to pour any drinks by herself? How many times have I already cleaned up a mess like this in the last week? Why does this happen right when it's time to leave? I realize I am yelling at my poor little three-year-old as I am hauling her, without much gentleness, to the timeout chair. I am still yelling as I am cleaning up the mess. Come on now, deep breaths! I calm down and I go release my girl from timeout.
I find a pair of shoes for each child and tell them to put them on as I take a load of stuff to the car. I come back in the house and tell them it's time to go. My five-year-old runs in all ready to go and I see her sister is snuggled in a blanket on the couch, shoes still on the floor. Final straw. The top blows. My lid is flipped. "Why can't you listen? I asked you to put your shoes on! It's time to go! We're going to be late! Why don't you listen to Mommy and obey?" I can feel my hands shaking, I am so angry. And over what? Some clothes on the floor? Some spilled juice? My daughter's selective hearing? I put the sandals on her feet and tell them them both to head outside.
I go upstairs and grab my shoes and hurry downstairs to make a PB sandwich for me to eat on the drive. The whole time I am praying. "Lord, why am I doing this? This is not the mother I want to be! I don't want to be the mom that always yells and screams. Please help me! Give me patience in this moment because right now I have none. Give me peace in my heart and soul because I feel like I am choking on my anger and anxiety."
God always comes through. He meets me right where I am. His peace and assurance can wash over me like a river if I will call upon Him. I prayed the words of Paul and admitted that I am doing exactly what I know I shouldn't do and I can't seem to make myself do what I know I ought to be doing. As I was yelling at my poor child, I could hear the voice in my head telling me to be quiet, but I couldn't seem to make myself stop. I needed the Holy Spirit to give me strength in that moment. I am grateful He did.
I was able to walk outside calmly. As I buckled the girls into the car, I asked them for forgiveness. "Even when you misbehave, Mommy should not yell like that. I was angry but I didn't need to scream at you. I'm sorry, will you forgive me?" I look into those beautiful eyes and I am grateful that little children are so quick to forgive.
I know it will not be the last time I must ask my children for forgiveness. I fail. I mess up. I fall short. I lose my temper. I am constantly trying to do better, but I know I will never reach perfection this side of heaven. I can only rest in the grace and mercy of my Heavenly Father and know that I can be better today than I was yesterday if I make an honest effort and lean on the one who can give me strength. I want to be a better mother, wife, friend, woman of God. I know I can be better when I walk in the ways of Christ who strengthens me. Not perfect, but better.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Rainy Day Eats
It is summer in Wisconsin and today we are enjoying a steady stream of rain and thunderstorms. Feeling bored, I'm surfing the net and come across a Groupon for Pretzelmaker. You know, the place in the mall food court that sells the big soft pretzels? I love soft pretzels and this made me hungry.
Unfortunately, it's raining and the nearest mall is a thirty minute drive from my house. I do not want a pretzel a thirty minute rainy drive's worth. (If you do want to go buy yourself a pretzel, here is the link for the Groupon: http://touch.groupon.com/deals/pretzelmaker-madison, supplies are limited) I do however have a great recipe for pretzels! I got this recipe from my sister-in-law, who got it from a blog, that posted it from another blog, which credits Alton Brown. Anyway, you know it's tried and true:-)
These are the most awesome pretzels! They are not super complicated to make, it just takes a little time...like on a rainy afternoon. I will give you the link to one of the blogs with the recipe and all the awesome pictures to tantalize your appetite: http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2013/01/07/soft-pretzels/. I swear, if you do these right, they are just as good, if not better, than the ones you would buy at the mall!
Now, in my book, there is nothing better than a side of cheese sauce to go with your fresh, hot pretzel. Go ahead and open a jar of some cheese-like substance and melt it down for your dipping pleasure of you want something quick and easy. Been there, done that. If you want to go the extra mile (and today I will, 'cause hey, it's raining!), here is how I make a homemade cheese sauce:
-Melt about 2 T butter in a sauce pan over medium heat
-Add about 2 T flour and stir until you have a wet sand consistency
-Pour in about 1 cup of milk and whisk until smooth
-Add 1-1 1/2 cups of your favorite cheese, a little parmesan gives a nice salty flavor
-Continue to cook until it reaches your desired thickness (if you let it go too long you may add some more milk to thin it out to your desired consistency)
-Salt and pepper to taste
This recipe makes a good amount but feel free to play with the measurements and make as much or as little as you wish. I rarely am very precise when I make this and it always turns out nice.
I hope you enjoy! Let me know if you try it and how it turns out:-)
Unfortunately, it's raining and the nearest mall is a thirty minute drive from my house. I do not want a pretzel a thirty minute rainy drive's worth. (If you do want to go buy yourself a pretzel, here is the link for the Groupon: http://touch.groupon.com/deals/pretzelmaker-madison, supplies are limited) I do however have a great recipe for pretzels! I got this recipe from my sister-in-law, who got it from a blog, that posted it from another blog, which credits Alton Brown. Anyway, you know it's tried and true:-)
These are the most awesome pretzels! They are not super complicated to make, it just takes a little time...like on a rainy afternoon. I will give you the link to one of the blogs with the recipe and all the awesome pictures to tantalize your appetite: http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2013/01/07/soft-pretzels/. I swear, if you do these right, they are just as good, if not better, than the ones you would buy at the mall!
Now, in my book, there is nothing better than a side of cheese sauce to go with your fresh, hot pretzel. Go ahead and open a jar of some cheese-like substance and melt it down for your dipping pleasure of you want something quick and easy. Been there, done that. If you want to go the extra mile (and today I will, 'cause hey, it's raining!), here is how I make a homemade cheese sauce:
-Melt about 2 T butter in a sauce pan over medium heat
-Add about 2 T flour and stir until you have a wet sand consistency
-Pour in about 1 cup of milk and whisk until smooth
-Add 1-1 1/2 cups of your favorite cheese, a little parmesan gives a nice salty flavor
-Continue to cook until it reaches your desired thickness (if you let it go too long you may add some more milk to thin it out to your desired consistency)
-Salt and pepper to taste
This recipe makes a good amount but feel free to play with the measurements and make as much or as little as you wish. I rarely am very precise when I make this and it always turns out nice.
I hope you enjoy! Let me know if you try it and how it turns out:-)
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