If you really want to know what I think about Valentine's Day, read last years post. Now go and kiss your loved one, darn it.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Don't Move That Throw Pillow, It's Covering A Kool-Aid Stain
Here's a few caveats before you enter my house:
1. There is a high probability that there will be bits of food on the kitchen floor. The probability is also high that said bits of food have been there for several days, because I overlooked them when I was sweeping, or I overlooked sweeping all together.
2. If you need a hair tie, look in the nearest corner. That's usually where they end up.
3. The stain on my shirt came from my kid. No it didn't. It came from me. Because, a) I'm just too tired to change my shirt when I get something on it, after all, who's here to see me? and, b) I can always blame stains on a kid. They'll never tell otherwise.
4. There will be random magnets stuck on lamps, the fire place, and the bathroom sink. The kids were experimenting and never went back to clean up their findings.
5. Don't move that throw pillow on the couch. It's covering a kool-aid stain.
6. Please complement me on my clean counters. I work VERY HARD to keep them free of Barbie boots, scribbled sticky notes, grocery fliers, pennies, a half eaten apple, crumbs, artwork, crayons, dirty plates, keys and crumpled streamers. Kitchen counters are the vortex of the home, everything ends up on them.
7. I am not responsible for what you may or may not find if you open the doors to the kids' rooms. Including a cup of colored water with markers stuck point-side-down in it, a rock collection, and a billion dirty clothes. Oh wait. I am responsible for those.
8. If there are bits of flotsam on the carpet, it's not because the carpet hasn't been vacuumed. It's because the carpet was vacuumed by a 5 year old.
9. If it's too high for the kids to reach, it's too high to dust.
10. If a room is clean, just wait for 10 minutes.
1. There is a high probability that there will be bits of food on the kitchen floor. The probability is also high that said bits of food have been there for several days, because I overlooked them when I was sweeping, or I overlooked sweeping all together.
2. If you need a hair tie, look in the nearest corner. That's usually where they end up.
3. The stain on my shirt came from my kid. No it didn't. It came from me. Because, a) I'm just too tired to change my shirt when I get something on it, after all, who's here to see me? and, b) I can always blame stains on a kid. They'll never tell otherwise.
4. There will be random magnets stuck on lamps, the fire place, and the bathroom sink. The kids were experimenting and never went back to clean up their findings.
5. Don't move that throw pillow on the couch. It's covering a kool-aid stain.
6. Please complement me on my clean counters. I work VERY HARD to keep them free of Barbie boots, scribbled sticky notes, grocery fliers, pennies, a half eaten apple, crumbs, artwork, crayons, dirty plates, keys and crumpled streamers. Kitchen counters are the vortex of the home, everything ends up on them.
7. I am not responsible for what you may or may not find if you open the doors to the kids' rooms. Including a cup of colored water with markers stuck point-side-down in it, a rock collection, and a billion dirty clothes. Oh wait. I am responsible for those.
8. If there are bits of flotsam on the carpet, it's not because the carpet hasn't been vacuumed. It's because the carpet was vacuumed by a 5 year old.
9. If it's too high for the kids to reach, it's too high to dust.
10. If a room is clean, just wait for 10 minutes.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Put On Your Fancy Clothes
Sophie's 5th birthday party last weekend was an affair to remember. She's all about Fancy Nancy right now, and we invited five little friends over to jubilate (that's fancy for celebrate). We served sorbet punch in my antique punch bowl, had a chocolate fountain with all the fixings, and made accessories galore.
Ooo la la.
The little girls were invited to wear their most fancy dresses, as befitting a fancy party. This resulted in a gaggle of princesses fitting around our house. It was pretty much the cutest thing ever.
I've had a lot of kids over to my home in the past. We've hosted play dates for years, and in the summer, our house is the 'pool house'. I'm used to crowds of children rushing from room to room, bent on imaginary quests, with the noise level to match. Of course with all the sugar at Sophie's party, I expected the same thing. These particular girls are typically neither sedate nor demure.
That's why I was so surprised when the party was the most hushed, decorous, and sedate gathering I've ever had, including our grownups-only small group meetings. I wondered if someone had slipped a Valium into the punch.
As I watched the girls, however, I realized that in donning their fancy clothes, they had also put on their fancy manners. They were perfect, sweet little ladies. Maybe I should have Sophie wear her princess dress every day.
This morning I read a passage:
I want to remember today (every day) that I am wearing my fancy clothes.
Ooo la la.
The little girls were invited to wear their most fancy dresses, as befitting a fancy party. This resulted in a gaggle of princesses fitting around our house. It was pretty much the cutest thing ever.
I've had a lot of kids over to my home in the past. We've hosted play dates for years, and in the summer, our house is the 'pool house'. I'm used to crowds of children rushing from room to room, bent on imaginary quests, with the noise level to match. Of course with all the sugar at Sophie's party, I expected the same thing. These particular girls are typically neither sedate nor demure.
That's why I was so surprised when the party was the most hushed, decorous, and sedate gathering I've ever had, including our grownups-only small group meetings. I wondered if someone had slipped a Valium into the punch.
As I watched the girls, however, I realized that in donning their fancy clothes, they had also put on their fancy manners. They were perfect, sweet little ladies. Maybe I should have Sophie wear her princess dress every day.
This morning I read a passage:
... lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth ... Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:22 - 25, 31 - 32I sat amazed by the fact that, in believing in Christ and accepting His sacrifice for my sins, I'm actually clothed in His likeness. This ugly old self that revels in bitterness, malice, wrath and clamor feels comfortable and right. Feels like the only option. But to think that I can cast aside those things, like an outgrown garment that is torn and stained, and put on the likeness of Christ - pure, spotless, safe, beautiful - shakes my heart to its foundations.
I want to remember today (every day) that I am wearing my fancy clothes.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Never Girl
As I was cleaning the other day, Sophie came bounding into the living room. She was dressed in her rainbow swimsuit from last summer, and had tied a purple scarf around her neck. She leaped across the carpet on her tiptoes, pirouetted once, then stopped in front of me with her arms raised and head thrown back.
"Wow, who are you today?" I asked.
"I'm Never Girl!" She shook out her cape and struck a dramatic pose. "Because I never give up!" Then she took off down the hall, springing on her tiptoes.
As her, "Don't worry, I can help you!" drifted down the hall, I smiled to myself and let my hands still for a moment. My heart suddenly overflowed. I let out a small sigh. This was one of the moments that slip so sweetly through my fingers, gone before I recognize it, leaving a glistening gem of remembrance that I, like Mary, "treasure up and ponder in my heart".
Happy 5th Birthday, baby girl. May you be blessed.
"Wow, who are you today?" I asked.
"I'm Never Girl!" She shook out her cape and struck a dramatic pose. "Because I never give up!" Then she took off down the hall, springing on her tiptoes.
As her, "Don't worry, I can help you!" drifted down the hall, I smiled to myself and let my hands still for a moment. My heart suddenly overflowed. I let out a small sigh. This was one of the moments that slip so sweetly through my fingers, gone before I recognize it, leaving a glistening gem of remembrance that I, like Mary, "treasure up and ponder in my heart".
Happy 5th Birthday, baby girl. May you be blessed.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
2012 Goals - January in Review
At the beginning of the month, I blogged about my goals for the year. They are not hard-and-fast, pass-or-fail rules, because knowing myself, that just sets me up for failure. They are, however, targets to shoot for this year, things I want to keep in mind in my day to day life. Accountability is a good thing, so here I am revisiting how I did on my goals, the first month I set them.
1. Focus on Scott
Can you believe it, we went on two dates this month? If you count a political function, we went on three dates (and, let's face it, any meal we get to sit down at, together, without the kids, counts as a date)! I've also been very intentional in praying for him. Sometimes (often) I forget that my big, strong man needs my backup prayer support. I've tried to develop the habit of praying for him on my morning walks, as well as when I'm doing mindless household tasks. On this goal, I give myself an:
A
2. Focus on the Kids
I've been pretty consistent with homeschool this month. We have done about an hour and a half a day, four days a week for the past few weeks. Sophie can now make change with pennies and nickels. She knows about 7 sight words (from the Dolch sight word list), and her fluency / confidence in reading has improved. Xander can now pick up a pair of scissors and hold the properly on his own, and can cut along a line (although he has trouble staying on it). His one-to-one correspondence (counting) is improving, but he gets confused after number 13. He can also now dress himself.
I've added many chores to their list (thanks to the handy schedule I made), and am happy to report that cleaning has become part of our morning routine. They clean with me, and I'm starting to feel like we're a team. It's a good feeling. I have my friend Althea to thank for that (you can read the guest post that inspired me about her homeschooling experiences with her kids on my other blog). They now: vacuum their rooms and the living room. Wipe down the toilets and bathroom sinks with Lysol wipes. Wipe the surfaces in the living room and TV room. Keep their toys organized. Set the table. Keep their rooms clean. Pick up the living room and TV room. Empty the bathroom trashes.
We've been diligent this month, so I give myself an:
A
3. Focus on the House
No remodeling yet, but a project to put in french doors in the living room is underway, budgeted for, and scheduled to happen the last week of February. I have, however, done a good job keeping up with my housework. Again, thanks to the schedule. The hour by hour schedule may seem over the top, but I've learned that I really don't do well without structure in my life. There have been mornings when I just don't feel like doing anything. I'm not sick, or particularly pregnant, just unmotivated. These are the mornings when my schedule really helps me. I can just go to it, and take one task at a time. Before I know it, a few hours have passed and the house is clean.
In addition to maintaining a clean home, I: organized the study this month. I've also kept the pile of clothes that seems to reside continually in the laundry room folded and put away. I cleaned out the fridge. Go me.
A
4. Focus on the Whole
I've done moderately well with my exercise this month, walking about 2/3 of the times that I plan to. That bed is just so darn comfortable at 5:00 in the morning! If I do get up, I then have time for my morning devotions, so I'd say I did those about 2/3 of the times I intended to, as well. Pilates has gone out the window, I do not have the energy during nap time. I nap during nap time. I did really well with my eating for the first half of the month, but the past two weeks, I have started craving sweets big time. Since I only cave in about half the time to the cravings, I consider myself a success on my goal to eat well. Apparently I have entered the biggest growth (and eating) phase of my pregnancy. So considering I'm 24 weeks pregnant, I feel that I've been a very good girl on this goal, and kindly give myself an:
A
How about you? How have you done on your New Year's Resolutions / Goals this month? Was it an easy month, like it has been for me? I expect my motivation to take a nose dive in a month or so.
1. Focus on Scott
Can you believe it, we went on two dates this month? If you count a political function, we went on three dates (and, let's face it, any meal we get to sit down at, together, without the kids, counts as a date)! I've also been very intentional in praying for him. Sometimes (often) I forget that my big, strong man needs my backup prayer support. I've tried to develop the habit of praying for him on my morning walks, as well as when I'm doing mindless household tasks. On this goal, I give myself an:
A
2. Focus on the Kids
I've been pretty consistent with homeschool this month. We have done about an hour and a half a day, four days a week for the past few weeks. Sophie can now make change with pennies and nickels. She knows about 7 sight words (from the Dolch sight word list), and her fluency / confidence in reading has improved. Xander can now pick up a pair of scissors and hold the properly on his own, and can cut along a line (although he has trouble staying on it). His one-to-one correspondence (counting) is improving, but he gets confused after number 13. He can also now dress himself.
I've added many chores to their list (thanks to the handy schedule I made), and am happy to report that cleaning has become part of our morning routine. They clean with me, and I'm starting to feel like we're a team. It's a good feeling. I have my friend Althea to thank for that (you can read the guest post that inspired me about her homeschooling experiences with her kids on my other blog). They now: vacuum their rooms and the living room. Wipe down the toilets and bathroom sinks with Lysol wipes. Wipe the surfaces in the living room and TV room. Keep their toys organized. Set the table. Keep their rooms clean. Pick up the living room and TV room. Empty the bathroom trashes.
We've been diligent this month, so I give myself an:
A
3. Focus on the House
No remodeling yet, but a project to put in french doors in the living room is underway, budgeted for, and scheduled to happen the last week of February. I have, however, done a good job keeping up with my housework. Again, thanks to the schedule. The hour by hour schedule may seem over the top, but I've learned that I really don't do well without structure in my life. There have been mornings when I just don't feel like doing anything. I'm not sick, or particularly pregnant, just unmotivated. These are the mornings when my schedule really helps me. I can just go to it, and take one task at a time. Before I know it, a few hours have passed and the house is clean.
In addition to maintaining a clean home, I: organized the study this month. I've also kept the pile of clothes that seems to reside continually in the laundry room folded and put away. I cleaned out the fridge. Go me.
A
4. Focus on the Whole
I've done moderately well with my exercise this month, walking about 2/3 of the times that I plan to. That bed is just so darn comfortable at 5:00 in the morning! If I do get up, I then have time for my morning devotions, so I'd say I did those about 2/3 of the times I intended to, as well. Pilates has gone out the window, I do not have the energy during nap time. I nap during nap time. I did really well with my eating for the first half of the month, but the past two weeks, I have started craving sweets big time. Since I only cave in about half the time to the cravings, I consider myself a success on my goal to eat well. Apparently I have entered the biggest growth (and eating) phase of my pregnancy. So considering I'm 24 weeks pregnant, I feel that I've been a very good girl on this goal, and kindly give myself an:
A
How about you? How have you done on your New Year's Resolutions / Goals this month? Was it an easy month, like it has been for me? I expect my motivation to take a nose dive in a month or so.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Evening Prayer
Luaniua's Anglican church sits in the center of the village. Its whitewashed, cinder block walls rise only four feet, leaving the sides open to the ocean breeze. It really is more of a pavilion than a church, except that at the front there is a raised dais with the alter, preaching podium, candle stands, and seats for the priest and catechists to sit.
Every sunrise and sunset the catechist rings the bell that hangs from the eves, summoning the faithful. The church's 'bell' is really just a hollow, rusty propane cylinder, but it serves the same purpose. When struck with a hammer, it echoes as far as the island's sandy tip.
I used to go to the evening service every night. Our house stood just opposite the church, so my walk was a short one, past the carefully tended bushes that ringed the pavilion. The old man who cared for the building kept the flowers meticulously trimmed, and at sundown every night they opened tiny, trumpet-shaped petals to release their soft sweetness into the air.
It was through this lingering incense I walked, prayer book in hand, to take my place on the woman's side of the church. The sides were strictly divided by sex, with the women on the left and the men on the right. Children sat at the very front, their little butts squirming on the worn, 1 x 8 benches. Behind them were the teenagers, with adults at the very back of the church.
The village catechist ran the weeknight services. They were always the same, read with comforting predictability from the Melanesian Anglican Prayer Book. Opening song. Liturgy. Sing the Magnificat. Scripture readings. More singing. Prayers. Benediction. Dismissed.
The very last prayer, read as the sky purpled and the first star appeared, was a hushed request to the unseen God.
Every sunrise and sunset the catechist rings the bell that hangs from the eves, summoning the faithful. The church's 'bell' is really just a hollow, rusty propane cylinder, but it serves the same purpose. When struck with a hammer, it echoes as far as the island's sandy tip.
I used to go to the evening service every night. Our house stood just opposite the church, so my walk was a short one, past the carefully tended bushes that ringed the pavilion. The old man who cared for the building kept the flowers meticulously trimmed, and at sundown every night they opened tiny, trumpet-shaped petals to release their soft sweetness into the air.
It was through this lingering incense I walked, prayer book in hand, to take my place on the woman's side of the church. The sides were strictly divided by sex, with the women on the left and the men on the right. Children sat at the very front, their little butts squirming on the worn, 1 x 8 benches. Behind them were the teenagers, with adults at the very back of the church.
The village catechist ran the weeknight services. They were always the same, read with comforting predictability from the Melanesian Anglican Prayer Book. Opening song. Liturgy. Sing the Magnificat. Scripture readings. More singing. Prayers. Benediction. Dismissed.
The very last prayer, read as the sky purpled and the first star appeared, was a hushed request to the unseen God.
Shine on our darkness, we pray you, Lord, and by your great mercies keep us from all troubles and dangers of this night, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Media Monday - Downton Abbey, Season 2
Happy Monday, folks. Time to bring you yet another movie / documentary / show I have found (for free) online. I've already heard a lot of buzz about today's selection, but couldn't resist adding my own two cents:
This is one for all you period drama lovers out there. "Downton Abbey" offers an enthralling look at the inner workings of a post-Edwardian English manor. It showcases both those living upstairs and downstairs, following the drama and intrigue of their lives as they interact with each other and the changing world around them. As the first World War collides with their aristocratic paradigm, each character struggles to cope with the shifting times, and discover where his or her place is in this new world.
The character development in this series is fantastic. I lived, suffered, loved, laughed and despaired right long with the residents of the Abbey. The plot takes unexpected twists, and sweeps the characters masterfully through the historic setting. The costuming is fantastic. I now want to bob my hair and get some drop waist dresses.
As of today, we are three episodes into the 9 episode second season (I reviewed the first season last Spring). You can watch all the episodes streaming on the PBS Masterpiece Classic website here. The website also has cool extras like a look into the style of Downton Abbey, and a fun quiz to discover which character you are most like. Definitely worth checking out!
*** Edited to add: After some wiki reading, I discovered that this entire series has already aired in the U.K. Lucky you! A third season is in the works, to be aired in the United Kingdom in September 2012. It will be set in the Roaring 20's. So we know the costuming will be fabulous!
This is one for all you period drama lovers out there. "Downton Abbey" offers an enthralling look at the inner workings of a post-Edwardian English manor. It showcases both those living upstairs and downstairs, following the drama and intrigue of their lives as they interact with each other and the changing world around them. As the first World War collides with their aristocratic paradigm, each character struggles to cope with the shifting times, and discover where his or her place is in this new world.
The character development in this series is fantastic. I lived, suffered, loved, laughed and despaired right long with the residents of the Abbey. The plot takes unexpected twists, and sweeps the characters masterfully through the historic setting. The costuming is fantastic. I now want to bob my hair and get some drop waist dresses.
As of today, we are three episodes into the 9 episode second season (I reviewed the first season last Spring). You can watch all the episodes streaming on the PBS Masterpiece Classic website here. The website also has cool extras like a look into the style of Downton Abbey, and a fun quiz to discover which character you are most like. Definitely worth checking out!
*** Edited to add: After some wiki reading, I discovered that this entire series has already aired in the U.K. Lucky you! A third season is in the works, to be aired in the United Kingdom in September 2012. It will be set in the Roaring 20's. So we know the costuming will be fabulous!
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