I like honesty.
I don't like when I find out someone misquoted me.
I like pita chips.
I don't like that I discovered this and have been eating them constantly.
I like going places.
I don't like (read that as, hate) packing.
I like cooking.
I don't like doing dishes. (Really, does anyone like doing dishes?)
I like my children.
I don't like it when they complain about stupid stuff. (It's the truth. It's getting on my nerves.)
I like to sleep.
I don't like going to bed.
I like the really nice coffee guy that flirts with my 3 year old.
I don't like feeling old.
I like my husband.
I don't like being separated from him. (That's for anyone that wonders if we are having marital problems. And, yes, I have been asked about that.)
I like playing Tooth Fairy.
I don't like pulling teeth.
I like that my 3 yr old daughter is excited about using the potty.
I don't like a zillion bathroom trips for a few drops at a time.
I like having alone time (me time).
I don't like being lonely.
I like how much my sons' adore my neighbor's new sports car (buy me a car like that one day, please).
I don't like how the car alarm on that car goes off constantly.
I like how my oldest is taking on new activities.
I don't like how I have more taxi responsibilities. (Yes, I should have seen this coming.)
I like that Trader Joes is in another town -about 30 minutes away.
I don't like that I am going to want to go there for the Trader Joe pita chips. (tasty, oh-so-tasty)
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The Perfect Letter
Yesterday, my son brought this letter home from school. It is perfect.
Dear Families,
Valentine's Day is coming up.:) This year February 14 is on a Monday. That means you just may be looking for classroom Valentines the weekend before! I would urge you to look for your Valentines soon so your child can get started on writing them. You will be getting a class list home in the next couple of weeks. Look for it in the Friday Folder.
Valentine's Day is about Friendship. We will be writing friendly letters in the coming weeks. We will write to our principal, school secretaries and district personnel. Please look for a letter to you, also.
In the spirit of friendship, we will NOT be having food items come in from kids this year. David is our boy who is severely allergic to peanut butter and we want to be a good friend to him. (He can't even have products made in a plant that has peanuts.) However, if you would like to provide a fun "something" with your Valentine, I would suggest a party favor-type thing. Erasers, pencils, and party favors are great in lieu of candy. Your child will still get candy and treats at the party, just prearranged by room parents.
Thank you so much for encouraging FRIENDSHIP.
I would like to take this teacher with me for the rest of David's schooling! She suggested this approach for celebrating Valentine's day. She's an amazing teacher. Her attitude about his food allergy makes a tremendous difference in my comfort level and, most importantly, my son's safety.
Dear Families,
Valentine's Day is coming up.:) This year February 14 is on a Monday. That means you just may be looking for classroom Valentines the weekend before! I would urge you to look for your Valentines soon so your child can get started on writing them. You will be getting a class list home in the next couple of weeks. Look for it in the Friday Folder.
Valentine's Day is about Friendship. We will be writing friendly letters in the coming weeks. We will write to our principal, school secretaries and district personnel. Please look for a letter to you, also.
In the spirit of friendship, we will NOT be having food items come in from kids this year. David is our boy who is severely allergic to peanut butter and we want to be a good friend to him. (He can't even have products made in a plant that has peanuts.) However, if you would like to provide a fun "something" with your Valentine, I would suggest a party favor-type thing. Erasers, pencils, and party favors are great in lieu of candy. Your child will still get candy and treats at the party, just prearranged by room parents.
Thank you so much for encouraging FRIENDSHIP.
I would like to take this teacher with me for the rest of David's schooling! She suggested this approach for celebrating Valentine's day. She's an amazing teacher. Her attitude about his food allergy makes a tremendous difference in my comfort level and, most importantly, my son's safety.
Monday, January 24, 2011
A memory and a vision of strength
Some moments can define or reshape a person.
. . .
There are few moments I will never forget. I remember events and moments in time in spurts. Usually, my memories are sparked by feelings or a picture. Those few moments that powerfully lodged in my memory are associated with intense emotion.
. . . The Memory . . .
I have an image I cannot erase. It's so powerfully painful, I'd give most anything to forget.
In haste, I rushed into the emergency room. I wasn't functioning well enough to register much. I cannot remember now how I got where I needed to be. The people, the hospital equipment, the noises- it was all a blur of sounds and sights.
I managed to find my mom. We embraced. We talked about the events. I know we did. I just don't remember the conversation.
I remember the stillness.
My dad was laying on a hospital bed, hooked up to an IV and monitoring devices, unresponsive and very still.
I felt lost.
I wasn't without hope. I was scared. But, more than anything, I felt lost. I was without my anchor. The man that meant strength to me lay motionless.
I wanted to look into his eyes. I wanted him to hear me say that I loved him. I wanted to tell him that he gave me wings to fly.
I cannot forget that pained feeling of despair. I cannot forget the fear I had of the future- the fear of the "what if".
I have a snapshot in my brain. A picture never captured by film or in pixels. It cannot be erased. The stillness. The despair. The fear of loss.
I remember how time seemed frozen as I looked into his emergency hospital room. I remember my heart melting.
. . . Strength. . .
My dad had a severe stroke. His stroke changed him. Sometimes he wonders who he is and why he is still around. I am grateful that he lived. I am grateful that he lives now. This 7 plus years after his stroke have been a mix of struggle and triumph. He has done amazing things. My relationship with my dad has grown, deepened, and strengthened in ways I could not foresee.
My dad's stroke changed me. I recognize the frailty of life. I notice the beauty of a smile. I respect those that are disabled. I realize that strength is not physical. Strength comes from within.
My dad is a pillar of strength.
. . .
There are few moments I will never forget. I remember events and moments in time in spurts. Usually, my memories are sparked by feelings or a picture. Those few moments that powerfully lodged in my memory are associated with intense emotion.
. . . The Memory . . .
I have an image I cannot erase. It's so powerfully painful, I'd give most anything to forget.
In haste, I rushed into the emergency room. I wasn't functioning well enough to register much. I cannot remember now how I got where I needed to be. The people, the hospital equipment, the noises- it was all a blur of sounds and sights.
I managed to find my mom. We embraced. We talked about the events. I know we did. I just don't remember the conversation.
I remember the stillness.
My dad was laying on a hospital bed, hooked up to an IV and monitoring devices, unresponsive and very still.
I felt lost.
I wasn't without hope. I was scared. But, more than anything, I felt lost. I was without my anchor. The man that meant strength to me lay motionless.
I wanted to look into his eyes. I wanted him to hear me say that I loved him. I wanted to tell him that he gave me wings to fly.
I cannot forget that pained feeling of despair. I cannot forget the fear I had of the future- the fear of the "what if".
I have a snapshot in my brain. A picture never captured by film or in pixels. It cannot be erased. The stillness. The despair. The fear of loss.
I remember how time seemed frozen as I looked into his emergency hospital room. I remember my heart melting.
. . . Strength. . .
My dad had a severe stroke. His stroke changed him. Sometimes he wonders who he is and why he is still around. I am grateful that he lived. I am grateful that he lives now. This 7 plus years after his stroke have been a mix of struggle and triumph. He has done amazing things. My relationship with my dad has grown, deepened, and strengthened in ways I could not foresee.
My dad's stroke changed me. I recognize the frailty of life. I notice the beauty of a smile. I respect those that are disabled. I realize that strength is not physical. Strength comes from within.
My dad is a pillar of strength.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Moments of Hilarity (TTT 148)
We were landing. The long flight was finally over. It was the end of the trip and I was ready to be done with traveling.
As soon as the fasten seat belt sign turns off, my 5 year old jumps up from his seat, leans slightly over the edge of the seat in-front of him. He makes his hand into a fist and in one quick motion moves it back and forth over the very surprised passenger's head.
"Noogie, Noogie, Noogie!!!"
In a nanosecond, I scan passengers' faces, especially the innocent man's, for reaction. Everyone was laughing. The man was a good sport.
I said, "You cannot do that to someone you don't know!"
My oh-so-fun son said, "Momma! I didn't really do it. I just pretended."
~
Over Christmas break, we went with my parents to a Christmas light show. We drove through the amazing lights and then enjoyed a petting zoo at the end.
It was C-O-L-D.
There was a small figure outside the tents of animals. My 3 year old daughter apparently noticed the fire on the way in.
"I go to fire. I go to fire! I want to go to the fire!"
So, my dad and I took the little princess over to the fire. There were just a few people standing around it.
My daughter stood there for a minute, looked around and then said, "WHERE are the marshmallows?"
~
Today I went grocery shopping at Wal-mart. I had to walk back down part of an aisle that I missed. I left the cart and walked about 5 feet away. My daughter yelled, "MaaaaaMaaaaaa... MaaaaaaMaaaaaa... I'm OVER HERE."
During the same shopping trip she said with urgency in her voice, "Someone wants you!" To which I replied, "Why do you think that?" And she said, I heard someone calling "Momma".
~
I am thankful for the everyday little moments in life that make me laugh. I will remember some of the funny moments with my kids. I won't remember them all. But each funny conversation or silly exchange brightens my world.
As soon as the fasten seat belt sign turns off, my 5 year old jumps up from his seat, leans slightly over the edge of the seat in-front of him. He makes his hand into a fist and in one quick motion moves it back and forth over the very surprised passenger's head.
"Noogie, Noogie, Noogie!!!"
In a nanosecond, I scan passengers' faces, especially the innocent man's, for reaction. Everyone was laughing. The man was a good sport.
I said, "You cannot do that to someone you don't know!"
My oh-so-fun son said, "Momma! I didn't really do it. I just pretended."
~
Over Christmas break, we went with my parents to a Christmas light show. We drove through the amazing lights and then enjoyed a petting zoo at the end.
It was C-O-L-D.
There was a small figure outside the tents of animals. My 3 year old daughter apparently noticed the fire on the way in.
"I go to fire. I go to fire! I want to go to the fire!"
So, my dad and I took the little princess over to the fire. There were just a few people standing around it.
My daughter stood there for a minute, looked around and then said, "WHERE are the marshmallows?"
~
Today I went grocery shopping at Wal-mart. I had to walk back down part of an aisle that I missed. I left the cart and walked about 5 feet away. My daughter yelled, "MaaaaaMaaaaaa... MaaaaaaMaaaaaa... I'm OVER HERE."
During the same shopping trip she said with urgency in her voice, "Someone wants you!" To which I replied, "Why do you think that?" And she said, I heard someone calling "Momma".
~
I am thankful for the everyday little moments in life that make me laugh. I will remember some of the funny moments with my kids. I won't remember them all. But each funny conversation or silly exchange brightens my world.
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