This story might not seem like a big deal to any of you, but it really made an impact on my day. When I returned home from exercising this morning, I jumped in the shower and started to get ready for a lunch date I had with a friend. As usual, when it was time to do something with my hair, I was at a loss. It is really humid today in Charlotte so I knew I had to tie my lion’s mane back and a headband had to be included in the styling. I have such a hard time controlling my hot frizzy mess called hair. So I opened my drawer that holds all my combs and brushes but of course I couldn’t find a black headband. An image of my boys using my bands to shoot each other with quickly filled my mind. I knew I did not have the energy to look behind the couches, in the laundry hamper, under the beds, in the toy box or in the back yard. So I had to be resourceful and find an alternative. I remembered that I have a bra that has detachable straps, so I took one strap and hooked it into a loop, Instant Headband!!! At that moment I felt so smart but then thought I must have seen it on TV or something because how could I be so cleaver. Anyway it worked and I averted a hair dilemma. But, as with all my life lessons I wondered how I could be resourceful in other areas of my life. I now have homework to do in this area, to seek out ways to minimize and simplify. I encourage all of you to do the same. If you can take one thing in your life and use it in another area, do it. Be Resourceful.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Today's Word is....Resourceful
Monday, April 25, 2011
Grow Garden Grow
This weekend I planted my garden. I am a little behind schedule since I start all my plants from seed and the first set of seeds were duds. I started them over and now have them in the ground. I planted roma tomatoes, white potatoes, leeks, green peppers, walla walla onions, broccoli, cauliflower, long beans, butter crunch lettuce and all my herbs. I also have strawberries and garlic in hanging pots on the fence. I know it sounds like a lot but that is only half my garden. My darling husband built three new beds for me that we will fill with soil and compost in the fall for a whole crop of fall veggies. I’m actually thinking about doing grapes next year if I feel brave. I love my garden, it provides me with peace and tranquility. Love It!!! After all these years I finally found an outlet that provides me with an escape and it feels good. I sometimes daydream about living on my own small farm teaching my kids how appreciate what God has made.
I am currently shopping for a food mill so I can make my homemade tomato sauce and marinara sauces this summer. I seeded all the tomatoes by hand last year and I promised myself to never make that mistake again. If anyone has a food mill they love please recommend it to me. I want to buy one that is sturdy and heavy duty for the hundreds of tomatoes I will have to process for the jars of sauce. My goal is to use all my own onions, green peppers and tomatoes in my homemade sauce and can it for my pantry. I hope I can make enough to last me through the year. If anyone is interested in learning how to do this let me know I would love to have you over and teach a lesson, it really is an activity you and the kids will love. Happy Growing.
Monday, April 18, 2011
"It's Like Googling Something Broad"
A friend said this recently when describing that person we all know who always has an excuse. You know, the co-worker, the classmate, the neighbor, one of the girls….. the one who always has to explain themselves out of something. It’s like Googling something broad and getting thousands of results. You can ask a simple thing like, “would you like to go to lunch next Friday?” He or she stumbles on words and then starts in on their long list of reasons why they may or may not be able to go. It’s like work isn’t it? It gets so bad you just want to back away quietly and hope they don’t notice you left the room. I don’t get these types of people. You either want to go or not. Stop with all the nonsense and make up your mind. Maybe they don’t think much of themselves and have to make themselves feel important by sounding busy. Or maybe it’s a cry for attention or help. Well, I’m crying out for help, “HELP”!!! Stop the madness and just stop talking! I know that this doesn’t sound very kind and I’m sorry if you’re offended, but you know everyone is thinking it.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Boys Will Be Boys
As you all know I have three boys and they are all boy. They fight, bite, spit and fart. They do it all. So it isn’t surprising when they are together they wrestle and wrestle hard. It makes me nervous but I know it’s normal. When my boys greet their friends, there are no handshakes, it’s usually a high five or a body slam. Boys will and have always been physical, it’s just in their blood. As a mom it is my job to nourish their natural instincts and supply them with safe environments to be themselves. Boys will model their behaviors after their fathers and so my husband gets down and dirty with them. It really is cute to see the boys walk around without a shirt and act tough. I’m sure they are acting out being a “man” or at least what they think a man is. So mommies, give in a little and let your boys be boys, let them scrape up their knees and elbows and act wild. I think if we want our boys to be manly we need to allow them opportunities to tune into their masculinity and recognize that they will never be like us (women). So the crazy things they do will never make sense but will help develop masculine characteristics.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Cookies for Breakfast
I have been a parent for nine years now and I can honestly say that for the majority of those nine years I have been super stressed out. Mainly I just want to do everything right and not damage my kids too badly. This morning was the first time I can remember allowing myself to relax and just let it happen. My older boys were not ready on time for the bus, so I just took them to school. It was that simple, why yell and scream and get all worked up. I remember that I’m not on time every single day, so they can have a day or two when they are running a little late too. I had to go to the grocery store and my one year old was a little difficult and fussy, but instead of getting all frantic and rushing through the store, I ignored the cries for attention and continued my shopping. Today I became “That Mom” with the loud kid. So What! After my shopping was done I walked over to the free cookie bin and gave my baby a sugar cookie at 9:00 am. It felt good and I didn’t feel judged. Sugar cookies aren’t bad as a treat once in a while. I didn’t become a bad mommy just for giving a cookie for breakfast. I just need to relax a little more and rest assured that God has placed a hedge of protection around me and my family and that I should be spending my time enjoying my kids not worrying about things that really don’t matter.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Horses Don't Have Seat Belts
During my lovely vacation with my husband to Punta Cana Dominican Republic we had an opportunity to go on a horseback ride right on the beach. Sounds romantic right? Not really. We were in a group of twenty other people and three guides. They put us on the horses and forced them together to get the all-important picture. Let’s just say my horse wasn’t friends with the others. My husband’s horse instantly bucked up and tried to eat my horses face off. If you know anything about me I’m not the adventurous type so as soon as my horse moved on its own I wanted OFF! Now there is a huge language barrier between me and the guides and all I could say that they would understand was, “I Don’t Like!” This wasn’t effective what so ever. The reply was, “O, Lady, You OK.” And my reply, “No, Lady Not OK!!!!” The guide took my horse by the reigns and lead it closer to the water facing away from everyone else. This didn’t make the LADY feel better at all. Next thing I know I am begging to get off the horse with no result and tears rolling down my cheeks. When all the riders were ready to go, I refused to go. The guide ended up leading my horse the whole way and not letting me off. I have never been so miserable in my life and was surly glad when it was all over.
So the trip down the beach would have been great except for one little detail, or should I say big detail. Horses Poop a lot!!!! These horses had no bags on their butts to catch their urges of bowl movements and release. What? Gross. Right on the sand next to the people splashing in the waves. I didn’t understand how anyone could be ok with this but it seemed normal to the people in the water as well as the guides. So the other problem with horses freely pooping in the sand was, when you are in a group of 20 and all the horses are bunched up together you have to watch where your knees are in regards to the horses butt in front of you. That’s right kids, if you aren’t paying attention a horse can sh** on your leg. Sounds like fun right, oh and definitely romantic.
