Quotes

So while at the doctor's office with my sick little man I was reading this magazine and they had a page of quotes that I thought were so funny so I had to share!



" Golf wear is the disturbing thing that happens when men take an interest in fashion."



"Sign of a great housekeeper - You haven't misplaced your house once."



" Nothing says 'new mom' like a baby in a dry-clean-only sweater." (my fave!)



"Don't the tires rotate themselves every time the car is driven?"



Kids occasionally need space. Adults occasionally need martinis. Don't mess with a system that works."



"Achieving work/life balance is easy. Especailly if you like creating synergies and leveraging your core competencies in your free time." (Scarily, I know people who talk this way and I have no idea what it means.)



Hope you got a smile out of one of these!

Rosie

So we have a new addition to our family, Rosie. Who might you ask is Rosie, a dog, cat maybe? No, Rosie is Grace's "imanginary daughter." Not imaginary friend or pet, her daughter.

I was watching the kids play outside the other day and Grace was pushing the swing (with no one on it)and talking to "Rosie." When I asked her who Rosie was, she said, she's my daughter. Granted Rosie is not a traditional imaginary friend, she doesn't go with us all the time and only seems to pop up on occasion, but what I notice when Rosie is around is that Grace tends to sound alot like me. It can be very weird to hear your words come out of your daughter's mouth. Although most of it was very sweet and gentle, I did notice a couple of harsh tones and words that I recognized as something I had said to Grace before. It reminded me (again) that my kids are sponges and soak up every word I say, every smile, every bad attitude, every bit of playfulness, and every harsh tone I use.

I in no way have the expectation that I have the ability to raise my kids to be perfect angels all while perfectly dressed and never raising my voice, because I can use the "voice of reason" instead (you cannot reason with a 2 year old). I gave up on that pipe dream a while ago, but I think I do need to be more careful that I don't let my temper get the best of me on a regular basis. There is nothing more special than being a mom, and I love my kids with all my heart and I want to make sure that they know that without a shadow of a doubt.

I want there to be more I love you's than time-outs, more hugs and kisses than angry words, more laughing than crying, and more playfulness than arguments. I just have to keep reminding myself because there is nothing more devious than the monotony of everyday to steal those thoughts from me. So I guess my fight is against the everyday and finding the joy in making my 1,000 ham and cheese sandwich, saying go back to bed for the millionth time with the same calm as I did the first time, or laughing and playing while I clean up the playroom that I just cleaned 10 minutes ago (It's amazing what kids can do in 10 minutes).

So, Fight Against the Monotony!!!! This week coming up I am going to find a new way to look at the laundry or the dishes! It's all about the perspective.

Bennyisms

Okay for posterity I have to write about some of my favorite Bennyism's.

Donuts: When ever I say we are going to church his response is "Donuts?", but the best part is how he says it, "Doo-nuts?"

McDonald's: As any kid does, Ben loves McD's. When I asked him, "What are you going to get at McDonald's?" Grace said cheeseburger, Ben's response was, "Daddy's Coke." Ahhh, another coca-cola addict on my hands I fear.

Mickey Mouse: Ben refers to Mickey Mouse as "Hot Dog." Why you may ask, because the song on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse starts out as hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog, and somewhere in the process that song translated into Mickey's name. Don't ask me how, because I really don't have a clue.

Castle Party: Both of my kids LOVE Disney, and I must admit, so do I. They both adore the castle stage show called Dream along with Mickey. Right at the beginning they sing a song called "Castle Party." Grace can sing a good part of it, but Ben doesn't have all the words down quite like she does so you only get every seventh word or so, and he throws in some repeat phrases. He does have the tune down though. My favorite part of the song is how he says castle party, it comes out as, "cashew potty."

"Me": Whenever we ask a question like, "Who wants a cookie?" Ben now raises his hand and shouts, "Meee!"

Princess: Ben loves the princesses, partly because Grace does and partly I think he likes giving them his coy little smile that just melts your heart. The princesses were the only characters at Disney that little booger would take a picture with! He also likes the princess songs, and he can sing the Sleeping Beauty song, "I Know You", at least in part and it is so adorable.

Dancing: Ben has quite a little groove and loves music. Give him a good beat and he likes to shake it. He has his little signature move he does that is a cross between the chicken dance with the arm flapping and some type of little bouncing up and down move while turning around in a circle. It is quite a sight to see.

Just writing these makes me smile. He is such a unique little boy and I love him with all my heart. He's my little man!

Girl's Night

So Peter has been away this weekend for a business planning retreat, so it has been just me and the kids. Grace and I have had a "girl's night" which requires Ben to be asleep, rootbeers (in the bottle), cheese, popcorn, and cookies. Don't ask where that food combination came from, I really don't know, but that is what we have at every "girl's night." We watched a Christmas cartoon "on demand" for 4.99, which amazingly gave Grace the creeps because of the bad guy in it. I am always amazed at what she finds scary.

It was alot of fun, I always enjoy getting to hear her thoughts and reasoning on life. She is such an inquisitive and thoughtful little thing, so we always have interesting conversation. She is really getting to the age where you can talk things out and she can listen and really dialouge with you. She has her own opinions on things and wants to be heard. Having the girl's night reminded me that even at this young age she has the need to be heard, to be affirmed, and to be seen and loved.

I think it is easy for her to get "lost" sometimes because Ben is still young and is at that cute stage where he says cute things and he is just adorable, so he garners alot of attention from everyone. Granted Grace had that same thing when she was 2, but I can see in her now that she wants that same attention, that same recognition.

I believe that her love language is quality time, she likes gifts, but nothing seems to excite her more than a date night with Daddy or a Girl's night with Mommy. What I am sure about is that we need to make them more frequent, because if her love tank is full from those times, I think that her need to copy, to be first, or to win would be less. Granted, I don't expect her not to copy Ben when he is getting a laugh or to try her own thing to get laughs and praise, but I want to make sure that she understands that she is wonderful just by being her. That she has been created uniquely beautiful and special. That she doesn't have to be #1 or do the same thing as Ben because she is wonderfully made by the Father himself. And that her worth doesn't lie in how funny she is or who is done with dinner first or who can jump the highest or run the fastest, but instead in who she is as a person. Grace is a pretty amazing little girl and I know she will be a remarkable young woman, and an astounding adult. I want to make sure that she knows Mommy thinks that way about her.

The Kids

So Grace is on vacation for Thanksgiving all of this week. Sounds great right?! Well, I have come to believe that my children (when together) conspire with each other to make the biggest mess humanly possible, find as many things as they can to get into (and subsequently tear up), and use Mooommmmy! (yes they drag it out like that, and if you are a mom, you can literally hear it in your head right now can't you!) at least every other word.

I have come to this conclusion of the team approach after much research (not!, like I have time for that, I don't even get to go to the bathroom on my own half the time.) Grace and Ben alone are a joy to be around, you can play with them, you can get work done, have a conversation, essentially it is quiet and calm. That is my life 5 mornings a week while Grace is at preschool, I have Ben and it is wonderful and easy. Then they get together and for the first few hours they play with each other and have a great time making a giant mess as mentioned above, I rarely have to intervene, but about 5 o' clock, BOOM!, orange juice and toothpaste, they can't stand to be with each other, all they do is annoy each other and we move into the Moooommmmy! stage. Well with Grace being home in the morning, it brings on the latter even sooner, in essence making it last longer and I think I might just lose my mind sometimes. I mean really, how many times can you be the referee on who had the Thomas the Train toothbrush that plays music first, my count today on that issue 6 times.

Granted my kids love playing with each other, they can be soooo sweet with each other, (I mean Grace even calls him sweetheart), but I think when the schedule is changed or interupted for extended vacations like Thanksgiving and oh boy, Christmas, I don't think they know what to do with themselves and all that extra time together.

Well, they are playing like angels right now (making a mess of the playroom that I just cleaned), so I am off to folding laundry before the madness ensues, and trust me it will.

Journal

So I wrote in the last page of my journal today. My husband got me this journal last year for Christmas and I have treasured its special meaning. I went back and read the first couple of entries I made in the journal which would have been December of 2007. In the prayer I prayed that God would let us find a church that is home. I was struck by the fact that almost exactly one year ago we were looking for a church home, one that we could feel comfortable and that would "fit", we have tried a few this year and well, I am happy to say that we are a part of Element Church and it is home. We all really love it and find it to be a great place to worship God. It is exciting to think about raising our kids there and them knowing that church can be and is different where we worship. That we the people form the church and our heart is for our community.

In fact, today as we were driving by Riverview High School Grace said, "We used to go to church there!" I asked her which church she liked best and she said, "The one we go to now." When I asked her why, she told me because she likes her teachers and class there the best, that they do fun things and even though they don't go outside, it is her favorite, and it takes alot to be "going outside in Grace's book.

Greatest Story

So I have heard the song by Avalon called "The Greatest Story", but I have never really listened to the words with purpose. I heard the song the other day and I was struck by the message in the words. For those of you who haven't heard it, here's the beginning:

Some days your own resolve is strong
And other days you bend
it's two steps forward, one step back
and a stumble now and then
You wonder if you'll ever really make the difference
you've prayed that you will
Well, I know that prayer will be fulfilled 'cause
Your life woven day by day
is a new design of the glory God displays
on the canvas of creation
Through the poem of history
in the pattern of redemption
running through the tapestry
Your life in christ can be
the greatest story ever told.

My first reaction to this was, Wow, how awesome to think about my life being the greatest story ever told, to have made a difference, a difference I prayed for, a world changing difference. My life mattering to more than just me. I started to think about what big dream would be fullfilled through my life, what big thing God could do through me! It was in that moment of grandiose thought that God spoke clear and loud to me saying, your life is the greatest story ever told because you live that life for me, whether it be being a great mom to your kids or a wife that supports her husband, a good friend to those in your life, or even a good daughter and sister. These are the things that make your life great. They are what make the biggest impact, they are world changing all in themselves. Your life matters to more people than just you, every tear you dry, every scraped knee you kiss, each resume you write, or holiday you host, each person you call, or time you invest, each task you do is world changing to someone even if they don't know it in that moment I do and I see you. Don't get me wrong, God can totally use me to change the world, I might be the next first lady, you never know, but I can't only dream the big dream. I have to remember to relish the small dreams, the little things in life that make up my everyday, because it is those little things that are woven day by day and displays God's glory to those around me. So I choose to continue to dream about the big things, but relish in the "small things" that I get to do each day, because they matter.

The Week in Review

So I have totally flaked on my blog here the last few days. Let's start with the fact that the air conditioning has been broke for two weeks. Yes, you heard me two weeks. It wasn't so bad the first week because it was so cold it was actually nice, but this last week, whoa! I am a Florida girl, but 85 outside is 90 inside with no air. You know you are hot when you have to change your shirt midday because you are sweating so much. Eww, gross I know! They came today with our new system since the old one was unrepairable. An expense I would have rather done without, but Florida without air would be as bearable as licking an ashtray. I realized I could have bought 840 McDonald's value meal, or 104 pairs of shoes with that money.

On another note, I have been thinking about running a 5K in March. It sounds like a good idea in theory, but the question is can I actually get my butt in gear and do it. I refuse to run/walk it. Either it is run the whole way or forget it. Having to walk part of a 5K means you should have never signed up to begin with, that would be so lame to have to walk. So I am contemplating it, but no decision as of yet.

Grace spent the afternoon at her friends house this week and when she came home (after crying for five minutes about not being with her best friend) she proceeded to inform me of how cool everything is there. She let me know they have a TV in their van, and her mom calls them pumpkin and pea, and she has a leapster, and she . . . on and on and on. So typical, the grass is always greener on the other side.

So for those of you that don't know, I sell Premier jewelry. I really love it, it is alot of fun and I make good money. I am working hard at sponsoring some more jewelers by January. I really want to make designer by then. That means I need to sponsor 6 more jewelers personally, it seems unobtainable, but I am going to work hard at it. It would be really great to earn funds for flying from the Mahusay's. Anyway, I am calling, calling, calling. Doing an event this month to help with the sponsoring. I am praying God will bring those people that could benefit from Premier into my life and that I would seize the opportunity with them, which is half my problem I think, sometimes I miss them. I need some courage and words beyond my own self to inspire others to think about the business.

Anyway, I have a book to read, so I am out of here!

Quote

Here's a quote from Phyllis Diller for all you mom's who have a messy house like me!

" Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing."

That is exactly how I feel. It never ends and seems to be the most fruitless activity I do sometimes.

Fruits

I have started reading Tender Mercy for a Mother's Soul. If you are a mother and you haven't read it, it is a must read. I am only a few pages in and I am already going back to re-read the beginning again because it so speaks to my soul. She talks about how her children are God's instruments to grow her in the fruits of the spirit. She gives examples of how God is doing that and I thought I would do the same for my own children, because it reminded me that sometimes things I think of as inconveniences might be opportunities that God is using in my life to grow me through my little ones.

Love: I definitely have learned what it means to love someone for who they are not what they can do for you, what position they are in society, how funny they are, what they look like, or even how good of a person they are. Love is a warm snuggly little body laying next to you and whispering I love you when you look a mess with morning breath. Love is hearing them run to the door calling your name when you come home. Love is being the only one who can soothe a hurt knee or spirit. Love is having your heart burst with pride when they share their toy with a friend or remember to throw away their juice box container in the trash instead of on the floor. Love is the smile that comes when you let them have a sip (or gulp) of your coke. Love is wanting to be with your children more than having a pristine home. Love is deep, heartfelt and soulful.

Joy: Joy now takes so much less than it used to. I can remember the heart brimming joy when both of my children said I love you with out me saying it first. Just knowing that they felt that in that morning and wanted to say it was a joyful moment not be forgotten. Joy is listening to my kids laughing their heads off together in their carseats for a reason that is beyond me all together. Joy is letting them help bake cupcakes just so they can eat the batter off of spoons and eat more frosting than they put on the cakes. Joy is watching my daughter dance in her recital or hearing my son say watch me as he does his latest dance move. Joy is soap smelling, frizzy headed toddlers snuggled up watching a movie we have all seen a thousand times, but still being totally engrossed in it.

Peace: Peace used to be about quiet. Peace is now more of a state of being. It is being peaceful when the chaos of everyday life ensues, knowing it is part of what being a mom is about.

Patience: I don't ever think that I would have realized the amount of patience that would be required when being a parent. Patience is letting Grace try on 3 different outfits before she chooses one. Patience is not hurrying even when you are late (because toddlers do not understand hurry). Patience is holding the treat bowl for 5 minutes while they root around to find the perfect treat. Patience is saying the same thing 10 times without yelling at them because little ones are still learning what it means to listen . . . and then remember. Patience is getting up 10 times a night with a newborn or a sick child.

Kindness: I always thought that I was a kind person, but until I had children I did not understand the full scope of kindness in its truest sense. The sense that looks out for others, that desires better for others than for yourself. It is what allows you to go without and make sure your kids have all they need . . . and sometimes want. Kindness is pushing your kids on the swing for 1/2 an hour when you have tons of laundry to do or just need to rest.

Goodness: Goodness is a hard one to define. Goodness is a heart thing. Goodness is having a heart that matches what God's desires for your children are and doing them, even if it is hard. It is teaching instead of punishing and providing a home where God is glorified.

Faithfulness: My children trust me and rely on me, they have faith in me that I am going to do what is best for them. That I am following God's desires for them. Faithfulness that I love them no matter what they do or say. Faithfulness is a trust beyond words, undefinable.

Gentleness: Gentleness cares about scraped knees about kissing them and putting on cream. It helps them hop around the house on one foot because their boo boo hurts that bad. Gentleness lets your kids fall asleep in your bed because they are scared their room. Gentleness is letting your little girl do your makeup and your hair and then say it is beautiful and how much you love it even though it will take you an hour to wash it all off and comb out the knots.

Self-control: Self control is an internal waiting. It is letting your son help you with the laundry or the dishes when it would be faster to just do it yourself. Self control is letting your kids watch the same show over and over and over and watching it with them. Self control is slowing down so your kids don't have to catch up. Self control is taking a second trip around the block even though you are hot and want to go inside. Self control is putting your son back in bed for the 10th time without yelling when you have had a busy day and just want to rest.

Being a mom is amazing. God continues to help me grow and learn from them everyday and I hope that never stops. He is using these little people called Grace and Ben to shape parts of my heart and soul to be better each day. Who knew people so little could have such a big impact.