All the things that go on in my life and inside my head
Monday, September 9, 2013
So there is definitely an inverse relationship between the number of children a woman has and the number of times she is able to post on her blog in any given year---something like the following, maybe:
y = 52 - 3(x)2 (I can't figure out how to make that 2 an exponent),
where y is the number of blog posts in a year and x is the number of children.
So if you have 4 children, por ejemplo, you are likely to only write on your blog around 4 times (and if you have five or more children, you may as well kiss the your blog goodbye for good). Sigh....
And I'm not about to try and recount everything that's happened in the last however many months, so I'll just start typing and let the pictures do the rest of the telling.
Did you know I love red onions? In case you haven't learned for yourself, the best sandwich in the world consists of slices of red onion, tomato, and spinach with mayonnaise--all on some super good bread--like Dave's Killer Bread. mmmm... Thank you, Heather Murphy, for the introduction.
I also love cutting mushrooms--but that's neither here nor there. (Brian taught me to say that.)
Hmmmm....I kinda took a hiatus from running and exercise and stuff over the summer and finally got back in the gym last week (to try and prepare for the Tough Mudder that Brian signed us up for) and guess what, peeps? I held my own :) Turns out running around outside all summer does a girl some good, too. It's the dunes, I'm telling ya. Oh, and guess what? I can do a pull up like Brian now!! (I think I'll post a video as proof for my descendants.) If you've ever read my little side-bar description thing, you know that this has long been one of my dreams. Granted, I still cannot do pull-ups (plural) like Brian, but I can do one, legitimate, dead-hang pull up--all thanks to the pull-up bar Brian installed in our closet door way. The man's got Tough Mudder preparation equipment all over our house. For the love....
I cut my hair. Or rather, Laura cut my hair. It was time. And I've loved it--except that while being outside does a body good, being outside in Florence DOES NOT do a hair-do good. Too humid. So the next time I'm somewhere hot and dry, I'll take a picture of my short hair to show you.
I miss you, Brooke. It was so wonderful to spend a couple hours with you, but it just reminded me of how much I miss you. Please come back.
On a date with my girl, Gain Goo. She ordered chicken enchiladas and was loving that virgin strawberry daiquiri.
The kids are doing fine, too. They are active and creative and fun. With all the things I have not done well to provide for my kids in the way of perfect motherhood, I feel very grateful to live in a place that-- despite the bad hair days and no Target-- allows me to let my kids be kids. They explore the bear trails behind our house; they ride bikes naked around the block (or Skip does, rather); they sell artwork from our driveway; they ride scooters and bikes on the skate park; they paint; they swim; they catch tadpoles; they have friends over; they eat popsicles; and yep, they watch TV, too. Netflix. So that's cool. A little healthy variety to balance out my shortcomings.
Shugee leaving on her date with Daddy. She made sure to wear her pink high-heels. :)
And Brian seems to be doing well, too. I say seems because even as his wife, it is sometimes hard for me to tell. Brian prefers to avoid communication about feelings and stuff like that, so I've just got to watch for other cues. He's stressed, I think, but he's always stressed to some degree. But I think he's happy right now, too. I hope. He is gone a lot--super busy with work and church and service--but he is good to me and good to the kids and he is always willing to take time out for us when we need him. I love that. He will soon be building new beds for Camp and Skip that I designed, and I seriously can't wait. I'm afraid I've become a little spoiled when it comes to designing furniture and then putting Brian on a timeline to build it. Oh, well. His fault. :)
Barbie and the Rockers, anyone?
Cousins reunited. :)
Ward Talent Show.
Sportin some briefs, baby.
That curtain pinned above the window was actually a shower curtain I scored at Grocery Outlet. I soon decided it was better used as it was intended.
Janey spent hours creating a variety of games in her room for kids to play when we had our annual 4th of July barbecue. She lay on her bed waiting and hoping for someone to want to come inside, and finally one child did. Thank you, Alyssa.
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Afton and Skip really hit it off this trip. They were always holding hands. :)
You did know that giraffes are my favorite animal, right? I can't help admiring their long eyelashes...
but have you seen the tongues on those suckers?!!
My first race ever with my BSF (and BFF, too). So fun...
Our 2-day, 16 hour drive was AL-most over...
First visit to Hugh and Theresa's. Such a delight.
We seriously had a wonderful summer. We visited Las Vegas, Utah and even Brian's dad's side of the family in Denver; and it was all just so wonderful. I feel so grateful for my family.
That's it for now, I think. Skip is pulling on my arm. He has played with his trains and eaten some toast, and now he needs my attention.
Perfect end to what was possibly the BEST. SUMMER. EVER.
Thanks for reading. I'll post a video of my pull-up(s) soon, and then I will be posting Camp's Room Reveal when the beds are done. Like I said, I'm super excited. This is the first time ever that I have ever saved my money up just long enough to have a small chunk of change to kinda re-do a room all at once. And it was fuuuuuunnnn. So anyway...
Oh, this is so exciting! I have the opportunity to write on my blog and I still have a couple miles' worth of energy in my tank! Such an unusual occurrence! I'd better spit it all out quickly... iiinnnhhaaaale...
But yah, things have been really good lately. Did any of you actually do the love dare with me? It's hard, right? Hard enough that I regret to report that I did not totally "do it" like I planned to and like I told you I would. Some of the dares I just wasn't able to do because of varying circumstances. However, I did do the dares that I could, and I did read them all. And I didn't just read the parts I was posting on my blog. I read a good part of the supporting discussion offered in the book as well. And you know what? Just reading those things for 40 days changed me. You know why? Because it was a constant 40-day reminder to stop being selfish and instead to focus on Brian. It was a reminder to stop arguing. It was a reminder to compliment and express appreciation. It was a reminder to have some faith. It was a reminder to serve. It was a reminder to not get offended. True love does not take offense... Why is it that for 34 years I have demonstrated my hurt feelings by becoming cold and short and...offended...in the hopes of Brian (or whomever) recognizing my feelings and feeling terrible and coming to offer me love and apology while hugging me and doing whatever it takes to make me feel better? Whom on earth was I kidding? Like guys are gonna wanna hang around for that. Did that ever in 34 years work?! NO! (Remember us talking about that, Melissa? :) ) So, for the first time in my life--or certainly in my marriage--I am learning to brush off hurt feelings or offense quickly and walk back into the room, cheerfully, and just act normally. And guess what? THAT works. The tension immediately dissipates. Who knew? So anyway....Do I think it is just a coincidence that I did the love dare a month or so ago and a month or so ago things started to be really good with Brian and me? I would like to think not. I would like to think my efforts have mattered--mostly because they have mattered to Brian. And really, all it takes is a little effort with Brian--and he more than makes my efforts worth it. So I'm super grateful. And I plan on re-reading through the love dare from time to time, just to get my head and heart back to the right place.
Other than that, our family has really struggled to have peace in our home. There has been a lot of fighting. But just in the last few weeks, especially, I feel like we have made some real progress. And I think a lot of that is because Brian and I have been getting along so well. It's not so much that we were fighting a lot and now we're not, but rather that we are better handling the the kids' constant fighting because we feel more unified and happy with each other. And I think Brian and I have both realized that in order to help our kids to fight less, we have to be super proactive about getting them outside, interacting with them, keeping them busy, etc; and we have had to be absolutely determined not to lose control ourselves. So I think we're really making progress.
In the meantime, there are still plenty of reasons to love and adore my kids, of course. Camp has been absolutely Harry-Potter obsessed over the last couple months. He has now read all the books (minus some of the fifth since I caved and let him see the movie), and can easily rattle out 12 hours or more of Harry Potter trivia. He still loves legos, too, and is currently working on a number of pieces that will be a part of the museum that is to become of his room. I love that he loves legos and Harry Potter. The boy's got good taste. Janey is, of course, loving school and is constantly updating the "school room" that is her closet. She's got homework pages, and sight words, and prizes, and charts, etc. The girl is never more ecstatic than on those occasional days when she actually has a child who is willing to play school with her. And she just ran her first 5k by herself. She got first place out of the one girls that ran in her age division :) And Shugee ran in the 100 yard dash and won, too. Man, that girl. She's got some serious sass. And she is strong--the only child in her gymnastics class that can climb to the top of the rope. I wasn't surprised. And Skip is at that stage where he does little wrong in our eyes. We all adore him. We can manipulate him to do and say anything that we do, and that is always hilarious. He recently learned to pedal his tricycle and if you ask him his name, he'll say, "Two." (Please excuse my bragging. I need to do some so that my kids will enjoy reading this in years to come. I promise to be willing and interested to hear all of the wonderful things your kids do and say as well. I'm serious. Thank goodness we all have moms to be proud of us. :) )
Janey drew on some awesome eyebrows...maybe a little high :)
Janey made this blanket with a lion on it for Skip for his birthday
It's no little thing to get these 20 hairs into french braids
That second to last word is supposed to be "courage"
Hmmmm...what else?...In honor of lent and as a practice in self-control (and because I had become addicted to sugar) I decided to go 40 days without treats--i.e. candy and/or deserts. I did take two days off for Brian's and my 12th anniversary trip to Portland, but other than that, I totally did it. And I can't say that I felt totally different during those 40 days; nor can I say I lost any weight (on the contrary, I actually gained a couple pounds). BUT, I can say that I definitely noticed not being as tired. AND, as it turns out, my girls weren't the only ones to get first place in their Shamrock Run races. Heh, Heh. I just happened to reach a new P.R. (22:38) in the 5k and got my very first overall women's first place. Pretty cool, huh? (Please don't ask me how few many women ran it, Ok?) First place is first place, alright? It's all about winning. :) But anyway, I accredit it all to having gone without sweets.
Oh, and last weekend, I joined my sisters and mom for our annual girls reunion. So fun. We ate fish tacos (did you know those are my favorite food?), attended a dance party in honor of Sarah's 36th birthday, went to an interactive museum, talked and laughed a lot, and....went to a karaoke barcafe. (We were in Utah, after all :) ) I had never done karaoke before, and I spent most of the evening squirming in my chair, watching all my cool sisters and sisters-in-law, and MY MOM get up on that stage and sing away like it weren't (I'm trying to say 'aint' in the past tense) no thang. I really wanted to be that confident. I really wanted to escape the last of the insecurities that still plagued me from my youth. And guess what? I did it. I did it. I sang karaoke. By myself. In front of a crowd (of like 10 people including my mom and sisters. :) ) So I've totally emerged from my 30 year cocoon, transformed into a beautiful butterfly--or at least a brown moth. But I've got wings!
I really love my mom and sisters--both those who share my blood, and those who married my brothers. They are each unique and interesting and entertaining and enjoyable and hilarious and I love and learn from every one of them. I have felt so grateful for these reunions, because it really has been the only time I get to really develop my relationship with most of them.
You may notice my new sister-in-law (Seth's wife) Alecia!
And please tell me any one of you ever cares to hear about my decorating news?! I get discouraged that I do not measure up to any decorating blogs out there. But you guys--I love to decorate. On a regular basis, I will stand just staring at one of the rooms, or walls, or shelves in my house--trying to imagine how to improve it. I was so thrilled a couple months ago to special-order some nice fabric that I then made into new toss-pillow covers. You see, I had ordered a new orange polka-dot rug from Joss&Main, and when it came, I was totally disappointed because it clashed with the pink stuff I had added to my front room for Valentine's Day (because it turned out to be much more of a burnt fall-type orange than a bright spring orange). However, once I got rid of the pink stuff, I decided I quite liked it, and I ran out to buy a bunch of fabric to make new toss pillows to coordinate with it. :) And I love them. The fabric is great and I even did zippers. That kind of decorating energy seriously gives me steam for like 4 weeks. And then I just want to go out and get more fabric for curtains! Oh, and I also got a new duvet cover. My old one was, and still is, great; but I accidentally bleached out the stitching on the matching shams. Crisis. So I sold a bunch of old bedding on eBay and bought 2 euro Z-Gallerie shams and Pottery Barn's Sienna Paisley king duvet--also on eBay. Score! Doing all that required that I change the drapes in my room to the green ones that used to be in the family room. What do you think? Do you like the bright hydrangeas on my dresser? They're fake! Brooke shared with me the secret of this weird little drugstore place on the way to Eugene that has the best selection of artificial flowers. They're a little expensive, but those suckers don't die! I love them. OK. I'm boring you. Moving on....
See the new fabric on my canvas boards next to the armoire?
Oh, and I got my first padded sports bra! Before, you couldn't tell the difference between me and any other GUY on the treadmills; but now, if you look closely, you can see my A's worth of difference. So that's cool.
And finally...guess what! After spending an hour on the phone with Applecare on Wednesday, I am finally able to successfully upload videos to my blog again!! (In case you're interested--the first video I posted was that caroling one I had tried to upload in January. See my previous post) Yay!
So this one's a little bit awkward...ahem... If at all possible, try to initiate sex with your husband or wife today. Do this in a way that honors what your spouse has told you (or implied to you) about what he/she needs from you sexually. Ask God to make this enjoyable for both of you as well as a path to greater intimacy.
Day 33: Love Completes Each Other (This one will be especially good for me, I think. )
Recognize that your spouse is integral to your future success. Let him know today that you desire to include him in your upcoming decisions, and that you need his perspective and counsel. If you have ignored his input in the past, admit your oversight and ask him to forgive you.
Day 34: Love Celebrates Godliness
Find a specific, recent example when your spouse demonstrated Christian character in a noticeable way. Verbally commend him for this at some point today.
Day 35: Love is Accountable
Find a marriage mentor--someone who is a strong Christian and who will be honest and loving with you. If you feel that counseling is needed, then take the first step to set up an appointment. During this process, ask God to direct your decisions and discernment.
Day 36: Love is God's Word
Commit to reading the Bible (or other scriptures) every day. Find a devotional book or other resource that will give you some guidance. If your spouse is open to it, see if he will commit to daily scripture study with you. Begin submitting each area of your life to its guidance and start building on the rock.
Day 37: Love Agrees in Prayer
Ask your spouse if you can begin praying together. Talk about the best time to do this, whether it's in the morning, your lunch hour, or before bedtime. Use this time to commit your concerns, disagreements, and needs before the Lord. Don't forget to thank Him for His provisions and blessing. Even if your spouse refuses to do this resolve to spend this daily time in prayer yourself.
Day 38: Love Fulfills Dreams
Ask yourself what your mate would want if it was obtainable. Commit this to prayer, and start mapping out a plan for meeting some (if not all) of his desires, to whatever level you possibly can. (Man, this one's hard. )
Day 39: Love Endures
Spend time in personal prayer, then write a letter of commitment and resolve to your spouse. Include why you are committing to this marriage until death forever, and that you have purposed to love them no matter what. Leave it in a place that your mate will find it.
AND FINALLY....
Day 40: Love is a covenant
Write out a renewal of your vows and place them in your home. Perhaps, if appropriate, you could make arrangement to formally renew your wedding vows before a minister and/or with family members present. Make it a living testament to the value of marriage in God's eyes and the high honor of being one with your mate.
