Yawn

This is Bart. He's a little tired. Why? I don't know. He's not the one running around cleaning up pee and poop day and night. He gets carried up and down the stairs. We run around the yard trying to get him to chase us and he just sits there, yawning. He's just 7 weeks old and a tiny little thing. I don't know how he'll ever grow up because he pees and poops out twice what he takes in. Again, I must ask myself the question I ask myself so often, "What was I thinking??"

Invisible My Foot

There are these beautiful emails circulating about the "Invisible Mother." They are very well put and are very emotional. We (Moms) are compared to the great cathedrals of Europe, how the builders themselves never got to see the completed structure in all its beauty. Moms are just invisible beings, building the lives of their children into beautiful structures and God sees all we do, even if the children don't. . . .ho-hummmmmmmmmmmm

Here is my little rant. Children who think their moms are just invisible beings with hands and feet that own a mini-van are severely mistaken. As in all things there needs to be balance and boundaries. I don't want my children going around saying things like, "My mom works day and night for my family!" However, a simple thank you and recognition once in a while is not only appreciated, it's expected. Invisible Moms are creating an "entitlement generation." I do not want my children thinking all the work done on their behalf is without effort and that they are entitled to it. And I know that my reward is really in Heaven and all the things I do, I do to honor God. But I am not invisible. (Let's face it, it would be really hard to make a woman who is almost 5'7" and over 150 pounds, with loud-mouth Polish and Italian ancestry invisible, but now I digress.) I want my children to know that I love them enough to climb the highest mountain for them and cross the widest river for them, but I draw the line at their bedrooms, they've got to clean them themselves! And even if my children don't thank me someday, I know their spouses will. . . .

Etc. etc. etc.

Now that my daughter is at college, I can write stories about her that she can't delete. Heh -heh-heh. . .

When my kids were young we read a lot!! We went to the library weekly and took out 10 books each (the maximum allowed,) and we belonged to a children's book club and received new books monthly. We went to story hour at the library every Friday morning. We read all kinds of stories and poetry, children's books and novellas. We were, however, discretionary. There were books about a certain bear family that I refused to read to the children. The father bear was an idiot and always doing something stupid. He was lazy, ate too much, never helped in the kitchen, forgot to take out the garbage and watched too much TV. I said, "Uh-uh, no way are we reading these books; he's a poor example. . . etc. etc. etc."

So, one Friday morning we went to the library for story hour. I had my youngest in an infant seat, my middle child with her "dolla" and my oldest, with her books and markers and pads (to take notes I guess?) 1, 3, and 5 years old. The presenter got up and said, "We are reading some ***** Bear books today!" My 5 year old stands up and announces in a too high voice, "We don't read those books because my mother said the father is a boob!" It's always in the "etc. etc. etc." that I get myself in trouble................

Bart

Do you like the name Bartholomew? Bart for short? Bartholomew is credited with saying only three things in the Bible. First, he said to Philip, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (ahh, yeah) Then he said to Jesus, "How do You know me?" And then he said, "You are the Son of God! The King of Israel!" That's it. He was one of the 12 Apostles and was martyred for his faith. Jesus said to him, "In you there is no deceit!" Are you warming up to the name? I am and really that's a good thing because Bart is the name of our next Seeing Eye puppy!! He's not due to be released until Thanksgiving morning, but we are getting him on Tuesday. Since the Seeing Eye NEVER releases a puppy before it's time, my son is convinced he is a trouble-maker and The Seeing Eye is releasing him to us early just to get rid of him. Me, I think they trust my son. His first puppy went home with his new owner last Saturday, a blind man from Georgia. They made it home in time for Thanksgiving - how apropos. As for Bart, I can't wait to meet him. I hope he is like Bartholomew of the Bible, a puppy of a very few words................

Good Mother?

So, I picked up my daughter from college and brought her home with 2 of her friends this weekend. I had these great plans of bringing them fresh baked goods for the car ride home and making home-made pizza for dinner when we got home. I planned on setting up clean towels with little decorated name tents and chocolate mints on their pillows. I planned to buy flavored coffees for their breakfast of homemade pancakes. I planned to vacuum the floors and dust the rooms and bleach the bathrooms and wash the front hallway and spray cinnamon spray all over the house for a beautifully scented atmosphere. But then on Wednesday my Bible study ladies stayed late, my husband went on a business trip, my other daughter was inducted into National Honor Society (way to go honey - but next time be more careful during the candle lighting ceremony), my son had basketball practice, I had a parent-teacher conference (shape up sonny boy), I helped a friend with her disabled husband, made dinner for a friend, took the kids to: youth group, the dentist, school, choir, the diner and the music store, went to a prayer meeting and talked to a friend in need for over an hour on the phone. So, I picked up my daughter and her friends, gave them granola bars for the ride home, stopped by the pizza parlor and shouted to my son to find the extra pillows when we walked into the house, that smelled like nothing at all, with dirty carpets and dull bathrooms. No chocolate mints and the coffee was just Maxwell House regular roast. . . .so, I asked my daughter if she felt like I was neglecting her because I didn't make her home-baked goodies or have a really clean house.

daughter: "Oh Mom, I don't need that, I'm not a baby. I know you love me. You are a great example to me of how we need to help others. God has called you to do these things."

me: *sniff-sniff* "But am I neglecting you??"

daughter: *smile* "nuh-uh."

me: *kiss* "Good. So, you can vacuum the downstairs and do the dishes. Sheesh, do I look like a maid or something.........................

Laugh With Jesus

I love the story in the book of Matthew (14:22-33) where Peter first thinks Jesus is a ghost walking on the sea, then to be sure He is not, Peter orders Jesus to call him to walk on the water with him. Peter walks on the water and because of his fear he begins to sink. Freaked out, Peter cries out, "Lord, save me!"

This is how I picture the rest. Jesus shakes his head, smiling and with a twinkle in his eyes, reaches out his hand and says, "O you of little faith, you're such a knucklehead, why did you doubt?" Sometime later, Peter and Jesus and the guys are hanging out in between miracles. Jesus walks up behind Peter and says, "Boo!" The disciples start to crack up remembering how they thought Jesus was a ghost, Peter gets up and begins to chase after Jesus. They run around for a while, finally coming to a rest, out of breath. Jesus looks at Peter and smiles. They share a very personal moment, with their eyes locked, laughing and smiling . . . . . .

That's what it's all about. Spending time together, building memories, goofing around, poking fun at each other with laughter and joy. When was the last time you laughed with Jesus?

Fall

A rare blessing - me, speechless.

Found My Core

Okay, so I found my core. You want to know how I know? - it's because it's killing me. It hurts when I stand, it hurts when I sit, it hurts when I lay down, it hurts when I drive, it hurts when I laugh and it really hurts when I sneeze. The only time it doesn't hurt is when I'm eating. Go figure.

Note to self: 1 session a day is a good start.

Core What?

I have a problem with my new work out videos. First, the guy on the tape tells me that I can look like the model - I got news for him, no matter what I do I will never look like a tall, skinny, black girl with perky boobs. Not happening. Second, he tells me to use my core - I think my core is made out of jello, either that or it was surgically removed when I had my last C-section 14 years ago. Third, my exercise bands are too short - they don't reach over my head, in fact, they barely reach my shoulders. Forth, he shows a modified version of the exercises for people who can't do the version the models are doing, but what if you can't do the modified version?? Fifth, I understand that you need to work out the major muscle groups, but he's got us working out muscles I didn't know I had. I figure if I haven't used these muscles for my first 49 years of life, I won't need them for the next 49 years. And finally, the background music is irritating. But other than that, it's a fine program.

Note to self: 2 sessions a day is a good start.