preaching to the choir

What it's all about. (see video)

small reassurances

I have a sinking feeling that the state of the world is about to disintegrate swiftly at least for awhile, and in order to stay calm and not get caught up in the panic, I have decided to make a list of small ways in which I am reassured that "all shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well". (The Eucharist, the Mass, etc. are givens. Constants. And go way beyond a list of things)
This is a list I am going to try to add to each day. Feel free to join me in sidestepping chaos and clinging to the little things that keep us going throughout each and every moment. Also, help me to remember that this is a list of non-material things which go mostly unnoticed so that I don't get too lofty.

• clean sheets
• the way the sunlight dances in a child's hair
• giggles
• laundry dried outside
• seeing leaves fall from trees in Autumn
• the sound of wind chimes from the distance
• a genuine smile
• birds playing in a puddle of water
• having the kids and hubby home all at the same time

Oops, baby's awake..... more to follow as time permits.

on being fahrty-one

Yay! Happy birthday to me.

Here are the highlights from my special day:

• handmade kid cards
• sweet card from King, who worked from home all day today (reassuring having him here even though he is downstairs in his office)
• two e-cards from special people
• lunch with King and a great friend (the one who likes to fall downstairs and whom shall remain nameless)
• hearing my mother and my favorite sister sing happy birthday on my answering machine
• Bonefish Grille gift cards from a friend with a really keen sense of gift giving
• got to go to Curves this morning....
• AND "le grande gym" this evening where I jogged 1/2 mile on the treadmill

today totally mostly sucked

fannie mae
freddie mac
world's gone crazy
hold me back

what am i doin'?
spinnin' wheels!
no one knows
the stress i feel

kids are crazy
runnin wild
"you must obey,
my dear child"

weight loss stalled
what was the plot?
hard to focus
hurts a lot

world is crumbling
all around
must try to see
what blessings abound

shhh... not so loud

At the end of Mass, number 4 (the one who both keeps me young AND makes me old all at the same time) says, loud enough for everyone to hear, "YAY! It's oooooover!"
Ugh.

smells like road trip to me

If only my plants would grow as fast as #2. That boy has "taken a growth spurt" like none I've ever seen before.
King noticed that clothes were spilling out of his chest of drawers a couple of weeks back and I've been trying to get the time to go through it all, weeding out what doesn't fit and refolding what does fit.
This afternoon, he finished his homework early and I handed him an empty laundry basket and told him to clean out his drawers (muah ha ha ha). He brought it back overflowing with stuff. He tried on every single thing and we filled a big garbage bag full of stuff.
At present he has NO jeans, NO dress pants, a ton of shorts, and another ton of long sleeve t shirts.
I smell a road trip to da Gootwheel!

a moment

Tonight, before she ascended the stairs to get ready for bed, I told my oldest (aka #1) how proud I was of her for being conscientious, smart, beautiful, sweet, kind to others, etc.
She smiled a humble smile, said "thank you", then hugged me.

And then, in her truly blonde fashion, she looked at me, and smiled a vacuous smile and said, "You smell good."

some beanstalk

Over lunch, Number 4 told me that he had found some magic beans outside. He said that he and his sister (#3 for those of you keeping up or taking notes) planted them. He said they had patted them and that they were hidden under the mulch. His sister must have told him not to stomp on them, because he swore he didn't.

"Dey gonna gwow, Mommy." Through a bite of cheese sandwich, he added, "Big beanstalk."

"Oh yeah?" I mused, "Well, are you going to climb the beanstalk and see the giant?"

"Nope, I gonna see Jesus."

recharged

Today after Mass, King and I were determined to take the day completely off from work. We desperately needed some rest and some time together. The past few weeks have been whirlwind for both of us.
We got the two littl'ns down for their naps and we piled up in the bed. I got as close to him as possible (with clothes on that is) and snoozed while he read the current National Review. As a result, my "batteries" are fully charged and my spirits are elevated.
Y'know, somebody should make a law about not working on Sundays. (heh heh) Ennyhoo, I hope you had some down time that recharged your batteries, too! If not, schedule some soon - it is well worth it.

now that's good news

As seen in an article in a recent paper:



More Brides Seek Modest Gowns



Oh, praise God! There IS a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe I won't have to make three wedding dresses after all. Whew!

love ya, booger

Happy anniversary, honey!

my choice

Not that it will matter in the lives of others one iota, but here is why I am a McCain/Palin supporter rather than an Obama/Biden (note how closely that resembles Osama Bin Laden!) fan.
A cousin, an aunt, and a sister of mine (the one that is my favorite) are all in an email dialogue about our political choices. Sadly, the cousin is one of those on the other guy's team. Although he is displaying liberal tendencies, he swears he is not gay. And he does NOT eat quiche, and he is allergic to pink. Just be careful not to take away his Starbucks coffee in the morning, ok? ;o)

Ennyhoo, as I wrote in my last email: The thing that scares me the most about a future with "President Obama" is not his inexperience, his stance on taxes/big government, or the fact that he seems slicker'n owlshit. Its the "unknown". We don't really know this guy. He has not been in public office long at all. Face it, whether the media downplays it or not, the dude runs with some really scary characters. Violent friends. Some who talk a big game, others who actually do violent things. I think a race war - unlike anything Rodney King could get us out of with his wise, yet crack-induced words - is a distinct possibility.
I am glad I don't live in Atlanta or Chicago or Detroit (Well, I am anyway for the fact that I despise a big city, but for the sake of this argument as well.) because Lord help us all if the man is assassinated in office. Riots and conspiracy theories will be more rampant than a case of head lice going through a class of first graders.
I wasn't a McCain supporter during the initial stages of this game (as in before the primaries), but I do think he picked a very strong VP candidate in Sarah Palin. Aside from the whole race war thing, I feel very confident in McCain's ability to make sound decisions.
Obama...mmmm.... notsomuch.

the countdown begins

It won't be long now..... the second "gathering" of the weekend getaway.

...and your hand over my mouth

Y'know what is uncomfortable? and occasionally disappointing? It is brought to the forefront about this time every four years.... political differences.

It never fails. Though the following is a hypothetical situation, something like it has happened more often than I'd like to remember.
So there I am in full soapbox mode about something I feel strongly about and lo and behold, someone I thought I knew well is standing in the opposing team's dugout. Perhaps not too vocal in his or her opinions, but dressed out in full uniform. Gulp. I immediately go from soapbox mode to crawl under a rock and hide mode.

"Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth!"

happy birthday to da hubster

Happy birthday dear King. Today we celebrate you! I love you.

looking toward autumn

Each year I look forward to the day that I wake up to find the sun is just a smidgen different on its axis. It is the day which brings hope that fall is on its way. It isn't always a cooler day, but the light that is cast is just a little different. Last year it came in mid-August. It was a scorcher of a day, but I knew that I could hold on a little longer.
I have been so busy the past month, I haven't been alert enough to pay attention to the sun and how it sits on its axis. And, in fact, it has been so wonderfully rainy the past two weeks, that we've hardly seen the sun at all. (I am hoping to hear that all the rain has brought up the level of the nearby lakes.)
But, in case it hasn't happened already this year, today could certainly be the day. This morning brought a few more of the senses (sight and touch) on board to herald the impending fall season. Though humid, it was cool.

Gorgeous!