tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91249123240419288822024-03-13T22:14:54.231-05:00Adventures of MommyGirlMommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.comBlogger996125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-38703422134522382292017-10-17T12:58:00.002-05:002017-10-17T13:07:48.292-05:00Church of the Small Things: Today's Lackluster Stop on the Blog Tour<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The world tells us we have to do it all, be it all, and achieve it all. We need to do big, important things to leave a legacy. All while looking fabulous and being a size four and raising kids who are fluent in at least two languages and in gifted classes. Our houses have to be straight out of Pinterest, our dinners need to be clean and healthy, and our Instagram accounts should be full of beautifully filtered photos that capture every single moment of our kids' live or they'll end up in therapy wondering why they don't have an Instagram book like all the other kids. </i></div>
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<i>We are a generation of women who have never worked harder to have it all, yet go to bed most nights worrying that we aren't enough.</i></div>
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-Melanie Shankle, <u>Church of the Small Things</u></div>
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These wise words are in the last chapter of Melanie Shankle's latest book, <u style="text-align: center;">Church of the Small Things</u><span style="text-align: center;">. This was a book that had me nodding or laughing or reading out loud to my family on every page. It's good stuff, y'all. This book came into my life during a busy, crazy season: I switched careers at 42, right out of the blue. It's not the stuff of Lifetime movies, but for this girl who craves order and routine, it's been a stretch. </span></div>
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I was going to back out of the blog tour, actually, because my new website isn't finished. <span style="text-align: justify;">This is what I posted on Instagram this morning (and why lie, I shared to Facebook, too, because I'm too lazy to do both), once I decided to put on my big girl panties and follow through, even though this stop on the blog tour didn't turn out the way I'd planned:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.12px;">I’m dusting off the old blog today for my stop on the </span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/churchofthesmallthings?source=feed_text&story_id=10215083310623073" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: "SF Optimized", system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.12px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="color: #4267b2; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="font-family: inherit;">churchofthesmallthings</span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.12px;"> blog tour. I applied for the launch team months ago, thinking my new website would be up and running by now...but, it’s not. I thought about telling the Admin I’m sorry, but I didn’t get my website ready—but that’s like saying I can’t have a party until my house is...(fill in the blank: bigger, cleaner, decorated...). That just didn’t feel very ME. So, come visit me at </span><a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="async" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fadventuresofmommygirl.blogspot.com%2F&h=ATNI4l_nMp8wbS0OMib5IgKbBDrFZm209Zx89F8IVtSbNJRYfyukfsBE4YK_aU6Hdf5ACiWYbCOE483h5NV4xI2lSYuz_X4OSOMJAYBJBZBBD8YJWps_Mw3oyE7ls0KCsGsn5fmP062jJV8zBlVdLEgR1cegH6Ab0FKjUTszoPydJKJajM9G45RDymOAcLavHi7bCINRwroTURsey-4bRfdYRxjy9rNY9Z8ubw2uM_SqtEtRGHfuMgfd12gRtlHwvK4WQghCT2M3JWNahc2urUDYFip0NYKu7ZnDkM-N" href="https://adventuresofmommygirl.blogspot.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: "SF Optimized", system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.12px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">adventuresofmommygirl.blogspot.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.12px;"> later today and read about the next book you’re gonna buy. </span><span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.12px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v9/f49/1/16/1f4da.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /><span class="_7oe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; width: 0px;">📚</span></span></div>
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My friend Tara reminded me what she reminds all of us: the most important thing to do is <i>just show up.</i> Tara rocks at showing up--here she is at a book signing she hosted recently for Melanie Shankle. (For the record, I was totally cool when I showed up and I didn't ask to touch Melanie's fabulous hair at all. Or ask about her boots. Or tell her I like Magnolia, too. Or remind her that once I went all the way to Nashville just to hear her speak with BooMama and I may have stood there a bit too long after she signed my book and took the obligatory photo. Cool as a cucumber, I tell ya.) <br />
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I don't have any words of wisdom today. I haven't slaved over the perfect blog post that's the right blend of sweet and sassy, like Melanie Shankle's book. (By the way, she also goes by BigMama if you like to read blogs. I highly recommend hers.)<br />
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Here's what I know: someone who reads this post needs to know that I fell short today. I'm cool with that--it will happen again, but I may or may not post about it on social media. (I try not to make it a highlight reel, but when things are rough I'm too tired to pick up my phone to post anything.)<br />
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Someone who reads this post will buy this book (I just click right over to Amazon because I have a problem like that) and read something that will click at just the right time. Whether it's a message from Melanie or God, it'll be exactly what they need.<br />
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Someone needs to hear that other women wonder about being enough, too. (For the record, my overachieving self also spends way too much time worrying that I'm simultaneously not enough AND too much. What kind of crazy is that?)<br />
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Read the book, girls. Share it with a friend. And if you haven't, pick up Melanie's other books--she's written about parenting, marriage and friendship in her unforgettable voice. Each book made me laugh and think, and I cried some, too.<br />
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If you aren't familiar with Melanie Shankle, check out her blog. She's a Texas girl (mostly Houston and now San Antonio, with an unforgettable stop at A&M), and reading her words is like sitting down with your favorite friend. (Which may explain the trip to Nashville. Quit judging me.)<br />
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I've got to get back to work, but here it is. I showed up.<br />
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What brave thing will you do today?<br />
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Love you big,<br />
:) kcp<br />
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<br />MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-15814001652746365072016-12-20T07:45:00.001-06:002016-12-20T07:45:45.361-06:0042!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After a year of telling people I'm 42, I really am.</div>
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I told my Boy that this year I should tell everyone I'm 41 (since I apparently skipped that one) and then next year I can just turn 43. Seems very Kristi-like, right?</div>
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My birthday was AWESOME this year! Thank you all for the birthday love--I am still working on responding to Facebook notes. I got some of the cutest texts, too--y'all know me so well. Amanda sent this fun cat--it's a keeper!</div>
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We started the day at home with presents. I was blown away with how thoughtful Daddyboy & the kids were. The boys started hunting for one of my gifts Thanksgiving weekend, and it sounds like it sent them on quite the adventure. :) Kayci got me a cute dress I've been wanting from Lolli & Dauts (our favorite Brenham & Round Top boutique). And my Boy? He gave me something I really want...a tattoo. I haven't gotten it, yet, but I've had it planned since last fall. Stay tuned on that one. That gift means a lot, because I know the kids aren't into tattoos...I love that they gave me something that I really want, even though it's not their favorite. </center>
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My Boy and I had a surprise for the kids, too--the last gift I opened actually had 4 wrapped gifts. We reminded the kids about how we've been talking about experiences over things--and we told them that we had a gift for ALL of us. Each of us opened something related to the Texans, and then we told them we were going to get dressed and head into Houston for the game. When we bought the tickets, James was unsure about going ON my birthday...but it was that or Christmas Eve. And I didn't mind sharing my birthday at all--what a fun way to start the break! </center>
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The kids were 100% excited about the game, and the day was practically perfect in every way. (Thanks, Mary Poppins!) I love that they are cool with getting their big gift, an experience, a week early. They seem to be cool with not opening a lot on Christmas morning...fingers crossed that holds!</center>
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I just dumped all of the photos from the 18th into this blog post...I'll hit the high points for you. </center>
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Birthday donuts have been a tradition since I was 21, thanks to Lynn. The kids and I *LIVE* for Shipley days, so it was fun that we got to do birthday Shipley donuts this year! </div>
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It was cold on Sunday, y'all. James Pharaon made us layer up. We had several discussions about wearing warm socks, and he was very grumpy with my sock choice. I told him that for someone who doesn't WEAR socks, any socks would be considered warm. He didn't follow my logic. But that's okay--my outfit was solid. </div>
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Riding the Metro train is always fun--we hadn't been on it for a few years. If you visit Houston, I highly recommend it. It's even easy for those of us who are directionally-challenged!</div>
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Astrodome selfie. Still pretty wonderful in our eyes.</div>
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Before we sat down, we walked around the stadium and showed the kids the sights. The players' parking lot was a big hit, and James had fun explaining the tailgaters to the knuckleheads. </div>
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I forgot to tell you--Sunday was Battle Red Day, so we all got free t-shirts. Thanks, Halliburton!</div>
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Like the good Texans fan he is, James had us in our seats for pre-game. </div>
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Noble was fascinated by the Susan B. Anthony coins we got </div>
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as change when we bought our train tickets.</div>
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Toasty nuts are one of my all-time favorite foods. The kids were concerned that I wasn't having a birthday dessert on Sunday, but I assured them that this surprise from Daddy was exactly right for me. He gets me. :)</div>
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Man, I love this Boy. And I was wearing 4 shirts in this picture. #layering</center>
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Our seats were in the highest section. I will always pick high seats over low seats, because I have a hard time focusing when I can't see the whole field. And, we could AFFORD 4 of these! :)</center>
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Santa IS a Texans fan!</div>
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The people watching at the game was fun. My favorite people to watch was this guy on the sidelines. I have never been less than impressed with JJ Watt--to see him on the sidelines during the game was to see a man in his element. Well, almost, because he wasn't in uniform on the field. It's hard to explain his body language, but you could tell he wanted to be out there helping his team. Take heart, girls--good men are out there. </div>
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We totally staged this one because James always falls asleep on the couch when they watch Texans games after church. ALWAYS.</div>
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It took me a minute to realize what was happening after everything settled down. That's a group of players from both teams, praying together after the game. That made my heart so happy.</div>
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Escalators up...walk down. It was still fun!</div>
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Why yes, people DO still play Pokemon Go. </center>
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There's one, now. SCORE!</center>
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I love Kayci's face in this picture. </div>
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I love our family of four more than words can say. </div>
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I don't want to be cliche and say how blessed I am...but how can I not? </div>
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I know what matters.</div>
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People matter.</div>
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And I, my friends, and people-rich. :)</div>
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MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-58157825956363464172016-08-05T09:45:00.002-05:002016-08-05T09:45:21.664-05:00Happy New Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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August is even more exciting for me than January, y'all. I love the promise of a new school year, the hope, the excitement, the new crayons...all of it. Every. Single. Bit.</div>
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Today's the day I switched from last year's work book to this year's (it's a big deal. Trust me.)</div>
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Today's the day I wrap up a project that I have carried over from last year, and I'm SICK of writing it down in my daily intentions every single day and putting it on every to-do list and every calendar square...for real, getting it done. Today. </div>
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I even wrote a note to myself on my new June 2017 calendar page to hopefully head this mess off at the pass next summer. I'm GOING to do it right when school ends instead of "intending" to do it all. Freaking. Summer. (Sorry for the strong language. I have strong feelings.)</div>
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What's that? Perhaps I should quit doing all the other things and get to THAT thing?</div>
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You think it's unreasonable that I've just gotten caught up on my written correspondence and have written a whole marketing plan for a friend instead of working on my main, do-or-die task?</div>
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Hmm. I agree. </div>
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Back to work it is.</div>
<br />MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-46617450299516395862016-07-23T11:09:00.003-05:002016-07-23T11:09:56.315-05:00What Love Looks LikeThe other day my yoga instructor (who's also a friend from church who absolutely inspires me) was talking about a kid we both know--a kid whom I love dearly, but don't have much patience for. My friend was leading a group of kids through yoga and this kid was in the group, doing his own thing. Exactly the opposite of what the yoga instructor said to do--typical of this kid, I thought as she told the story. So the next day, the kid comes up and tells the instructor, look, I'm not gonna do it today. Not feeling it.<br />
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At this point in the story, I'm thinking, UGH. THAT IS THE <u>WORST</u>. MAN, I HOPE YOU GAVE IT TO HIM! <br />
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But this woman, y'all, she looks at the kid and really, <i>really sees him</i>. This kid likes to be center stage, which is great when he's pointing other kids back at what the lesson is about, not so great when he's off in left field and takes the whole class with him. Instead of lecturing the kid, or saying any of the things I would have said, she invites him on to the platform with her to help lead the class. And that ding dang kid hopped up there and did every pose perfectly.<br />
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Not how I thought--okay, hoped--that story would go. It really threw me for a loop. And I told her, I am so impressed by you...I would have wanted him to <u>obey</u>. Period. I was struck by the love in that story, and humbled by how small it made me feel because I get so stuck on wanting things to go MY way. That's really the problem with me and kids, sometimes, that they don't do what <i>I want. </i>Then <i>I </i>get grumpy because <i>they're</i> disobedient...but that's just my warped view of it.<br />
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So that.<br />
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Then yesterday, Noble and I went to the library so he could check out a book (because that's what we need around here, right, more books?). As usual, I took up my post at the New Releases section and flipped through books I won't read. There were several on parenting, and I picked one up that looked like a whole bunch of New Age hooey. My opinion didn't change after glancing through it, but I opened straight up to a page that almost--almost--made me check out the book. It was a section about unconditional love, and the author talked about how the problem with love is how we make it about how the other person makes <i><u>us</u></i> feel. Ouch. I closed the book because Noble was ready to go, but that has been rolling around in my head.<br />
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This morning, I read for a few minutes. And danged if I didn't read a section where Jess talks about love from the Father's point of view. (Yes, universe, I'm listening.) <br />
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You know the story of Hosea and Gomer? You gotta read Jess' thoughts on it in <u>Wild and Free</u>. <br />
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Here I'm going to backtrack: I've been spending a lot of time in my head this past week and a half or so. Thinking about how I feel, how and when I feel loved and unloved, how I want to feel, how I want more...and I'm not gonna lie, y'all, I was feeling pretty self-righteous about it all. That's how the enemy works, isn't it? To come in when we're feeling low and whisper agreement to our deepest, darkest, most selfish thoughts...to use the language that we long to hear: you deserve...you should have...he doesn't...they don't...he should...<br />
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Man, that's a dangerous place to be. <br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arimo, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8</span></div>
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So, back to love.<br />
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I get to this place every so often. I don't like it there--I'm much better with big puffy hearts and hugs and unicorns and rainbows. <br />
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So there I was this morning, in my happy place, not feeling that happy at all, reading the truth I needed to hear. It wasn't packaged the way I would have expected, but Jess' words about how Hosea pursued Gomer and that's how God loves us...wildly...well, for the first time in my adult life I didn't see myself as Gomer in the story. What if I'm Hosea, and all He wants me to do is love my Boy and my people unconditionally, like He loves me? Without worrying about how they "make" me feel. Without worrying about what I'm doing/giving/putting in...just doing what I'm called to do.<br />
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Loving.<br />
Serving.<br />
Giving.<br />
Without expectation.<br />
Without condemnation.<br />
Wholly.<br />
Freely.<br />
Wildly.<br />
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Here I am again, at the truth that chases me: it's not about me. <br />
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What? Social media just stopped for a second. For real, it's not about me.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arimo, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Then Jesus said to his disciples, </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-family: Arimo, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">"</span></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-family: Arimo, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me</span></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-family: Arimo, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">."</span></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arimo, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"> Mark 16:24</span></div>
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It's funny, I find myself wishing now that I had some time to sit and process what this looks like. But that's not how it works--family calls.<br />
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Time to practice, y'all.<br />
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Practice loving--and listening--when I really just want some peace and quiet.<br />
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Time to really see my people--see what's important to them, what they need from me to grow.<br />
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Time to worry less about what I want to do and spend more time doing what they love to do, just because that's what love does.<br />
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Love doesn't look much like I expected, and it's much more about what I give and do than what I get or how I feel. MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-49072449191835574222016-07-19T08:42:00.001-05:002016-07-19T08:44:48.095-05:00A Place for Everything<br />
I was joking the other day with a friend that I related more to the husband in "Sleeping With the Enemy" than the wife. (Simmer down, domestic abuse is not a laughing matter nor is it my intent to imply that.) It's just that I like things...a certain way.<br />
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Um, my way.<br />
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Yesterday I handed Noble a clean towel and asked him to hang it on the oven door. I handed it to him smooth and folded, polka dot side up JUST THE WAY I WANTED HIM TO HANG IT. And he DID hang it, only wonky is the best descriptor. And those polka dots? The heathen hung them facing the stove. Don't worry, I didn't beat him...but I sure did fix that towel when the kids left the kitchen.<br />
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It's a sickness, I know.<br />
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I also straighten the hand towel every time I'm near the bathroom.</center>
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If you've ever been to one of my organization talks or worked with me on a project, you know I'm fond of saying "a place for everything and everything in its place." That's pretty much a pillar of my life, whether talking about physical items or time. I like everything in its place, whether physically or on the calendar/agenda.</center>
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After lunch yesterday, Kayci went off to Theater Camp and it was just going to be Noble and me for a couple of hours. I suggested he get out his big Lego set and build. And naturally, then came the question of where to build. I suggested the dining room table, because selfishly, I can live with creative mess at one end of the table. (But heaven help you if you leave mail on the eating end of the table). Bubby wasn't wild about the table, because he needs room to spread out. So we debated the living room floor. My sweet Boy was home for lunch and he listened to our conversation for a bit before offering a compromise: the floor at the end of the dining room we don't use. Perfect! So Noble got out his Legos and spent a good 2 and a half hours building. In fact, he woke up this morning and got right back to it. <br />
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We bought Daddyboy a corn hole game last year for Father's Day. We bust it out when we have friends over, and people often borrow it for their own parties, etc. James set it up for Kayci's Sunday School party on Saturday night, and they played for over an hour. Sunday afternoon, our family was back out there. And yesterday when I left to take Kayci to camp, the boys headed outside and played for the second half of Daddy's lunch break. <br />
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Because it's available. Accessible. Inviting. <br />
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That's something I need to really think through, is how to make a place for play. And creativity.<br />
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My boys taught me a valuable lesson yesterday: neatness and play can coexist, side by side. <br />
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Now to apply that to my own goals, and quit letting discomfort over crazy stuff keep me from creating. (What's stopping me from scrapbooking? It's not time anymore--it's getting all that stuff OUT of my closet and dealing with it...seeing the clutter every day until it's done. I've almost, almost gotten myself psyched up to put a table at the foot of our bed temporarily, just to work on scrapbooks. Almost.)</div>
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I'll post a pic of the mess when I make it. ;)</div>
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<br />MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-30234664688793958252016-07-02T07:51:00.003-05:002016-07-02T07:51:53.324-05:00Window Day<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Man, I couldn't take a more unflattering picture of myself if I tried. Ignore the stump of an arm/hand there, and focus on the window. 'Kay? You never know when inspiration will strike...sometimes, it's when you're outside, precariously balanced on a stool in yesterday's clothes, pre-shower, washing windows. If you look reeeeeeeal hard, you can see a sleeping kid's feet on the couch. And Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots. </span></i><br />
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Yesterday was designated "spring-ish" cleaning day around here. My main goal was to wash slipcovers, and to have the kids do some of the bigger jobs they haven't done lately (I'm looking at you, gallery wall and baseboards and doors). Buuuuuuuuuuuut...I'm me. After quiet time, I did the photo a day challenge, which was "out my window." After I did that, and totally enjoyed the view for a minute, I noticed how dirty the curtains behind my desk were (dang cats!). So, I took those down and put them in the washer. And that started a whole chain of events...kitchen curtains and back door curtains were washed--and ironed--and every white curtain in the house came down and went back up clean. While the curtains were in the wash, I cleaned the windows and window sills. By the time I got to the dining room, I noticed something that I couldn't ignore anymore. The inside of the windows was great--but when I looked out the windows, there was dirt on the outside. It felt wrong somehow, to do all that work and still have a view of dirt. So, I packed up my supplies and went outside.<br />
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Cleaning outside windows is a whole different endeavor, and I was grateful my Boy wasn't home to see how I balanced on a kitchen stool to wash the high parts instead of fussing with the ladder. I know. But, I'm glad I did it.<br />
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Washing windows wasn't on my to-do list yesterday, but it's obviously what I needed to do. I thought a lot about myself and my habits as I cleaned...and a lot of what I thought about isn't the way I want to see myself. <br />
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Truth? I'm not a window washer. I've washed windows 2 or 3 times since we've lived in this house (about 19 months)...but in the little green house, I only washed outside windows ONCE in the entire 9 years we lived there. For real. <br />
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The thing with windows is, we get so used to looking out of them we stop looking at the window and focus on what's beyond. I'm like that with myself. When something's not working in my heart or my personal life, a lot of times, instead of doing the work, I'll just start looking beyond it. And it stays, and the dirt or whatever piles up. And then when I realize what's going on, I've got a LOT of work to do. On the other hand, if I'd just stay on top of it and do a little at a time, it wouldn't be a big deal at all. So many things in life--and housework--are like that, right?<br />
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The kids were inside sleeping when I was outside washing windows, and I could see them as I worked. They probably would have found it creepy to wake up and see me outside the window staring in, but I did a lot of thinking while I watched them sleep. The thing with kids is, they don't know the windows are dirty unless we tell them. Kids are so accepting--whatever you present to them as "normal," they believe is normal. Pretty scary thought, right? <br />
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Feeding them junk has become normal.<br />
Eating on the run and in front of the TV? Normal.<br />
Minimal exercise? Or NONE if you're Mommygirl? Normal.<br />
Spending too little time at home and too much time out and about? Normal. <br />
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I could go on, but you get the picture. Sometime in the past two years, I just let go and let our lives run on autopilot while I worked and commuted and stressed and decompressed and then did it all over again. Lots of great things have happened in that time, and I don't discount that at all, but I'm talking about habits. How we <i>live</i>, really and truly. And I'd say that for some reason I don't understand, we haven't been living as much as surviving...and living now and again. I want more, for all of us. <br />
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Now, I have a choice. I can continue on autopilot or I can do the hard work of cleaning things up and living intentionally. I'd say <i>again</i>, but you know, that implies I've done it well at some point and that's debatable. <br />
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Another good lesson? Our windows are clean...but there are still streaks and specks here and there. They won't ever be perfectly clean on my watch, and I'm okay with that. Good enough is good enough sometimes--I can appreciate how clean they are without focusing on the almost-impossible to improve areas. Do you see the fine line there? I do, and it's one I have to walk well with my tendencies. It can't ALL be about clean windows, or living well. Sometimes it's just about enjoying the windows (cat nose spots and all) and living fully in the moment. <br />
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I think you and I can both see where my mind and heart are right now...at home, with my family, trying to enjoy and improve at the same time. Looking for that elusive balance of the good enough and better. MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-3237835753862537882016-07-01T08:00:00.000-05:002016-07-01T08:00:35.254-05:00The First Time<center>
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They say you never forget your first time...and they're totally right. The other day at the pool, I was swimming laps (okay, <u><i>A</i></u> lap) with Noble and suddenly, I was a kindergartener again at the pool in Round Rock. </center>
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I remember, vividly, viscerally, the first time I quit. </center>
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It was the final day of swim lessons, and all I had to do was swim across the pool (the width, not the length). To this day, I remember what I felt like, moving through the water...I remember looking at the side, maybe 10 feet away, and KNOWING that I could make it...but for some reason, <i>choosing</i> to put my feet down and quit swimming. To this day, I don't know why I quit. But I do know this: quitting, like any other skill, gets easier with practice. </center>
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7th grade basketball tryouts: the lay-up was difficult for this uncoordinated girl. Rather than ask for help or try harder, I quit.</center>
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Soccer. Same thing. Quit--before tryouts that time, I was a pretty accomplished quitter by then.</center>
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Dance team, cheerleader? Didn't even try.</center>
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How many times have I been running and just decided to quit moving when it got hard? Can't even count, but I remember some of those times like it was yesterday. </center>
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Speaking of yesterday...the reason I remembered to write this post is that yesterday was yoga. I went on Tuesday, for the first time in forever. And I know I didn't really push myself, because I didn't feel it on Wednesday. Yesterday, I was tired. As we went into the first hard-ish pose, a few seconds in I thought, this is hard. I could just put my leg down and rest for a few seconds before we switch sides. And in that moment, I was back in the pool, putting my feet down. Quitting. </center>
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So I kept my leg up in the air, and did every pose with everything I had (which, frankly, wasn't much but it's <i>enough</i>). And today? Today I hurt. A LOT. </center>
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But I didn't quit. And you know what? I'm thinking not quitting is a skill that will get easier if I practice, too. Maybe 40 years from now, I'll look back at that yoga pose and remember it vividly as the day I quit...quitting.</center>
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<br />MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-86428623372150680962016-06-27T07:26:00.001-05:002016-06-27T07:26:05.021-05:00Home AgainI've missed you, old bloggy friend. <br /><br />Starting now, I'm going to visit you regularly, share pictures of the knuckleheads and what's going on in our lives and in my head.<br /><br />Sitting here with you is like sitting in my favorite chair after weeks apart.<br /><br />Feels like home here.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-10180058169632925612016-01-01T20:08:00.001-06:002016-01-01T20:08:45.430-06:00DVDs for sale!<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=16/01/01/376.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/16/01/01/s_376.jpg' border='0' width='157' height='280' 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/>MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-65056892212421282922015-10-29T13:16:00.002-05:002015-10-29T13:16:58.988-05:00On top of the world...<br />
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I love this Boy. He's a wonderful, wonderful man.MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-82038365876944662672015-10-17T17:31:00.001-05:002015-10-29T13:17:51.283-05:00Happy PlacesI don't have all the answers, but I know that each of us has a happy place.<br />
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For Bubby, that place is with us. <br />
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For DaddyBoy, it's a great bbq place and better company.<br />
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For me, it's the hammock. And when my Boy stops and enjoys it with me, it's even happier.<br />
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Kayci started off the day with Jenna's family, and I'd say anywhere they are is a happy place for Bitty. We've had a great afternoon together, and when I asked what she wanted to do, my girl wanted to work on her history project. I'm happy to have time to work on my planner. And sit here with her, listening when she wants to talk. Just being. And typing this, so totally not being productive. Just trying to be better about documenting. :)<br />
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The boys are off riding bikes (Noble's only request for this weekend, other than, "Can I sleep with you?" last night). I think Bubby would say that anyplace with Daddy is his happy place.<br />
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Where or what is your happy place?<br />
<br />MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-62629131662209632702015-07-31T15:14:00.001-05:002015-07-31T15:14:11.876-05:00Hope<br />
A little bit ago, the kids wanted me to get some books down from the very top of their shelves. I climbed up and did it...and in the process, knocked down a very special Willow Tree figurine. My sweet friend gave it to me when we were knee-deep in wanting a baby and being disappointed month after month. I was so focused on what I wanted, I lost sight of what He wanted for me. I don't know if my friend saw what I couldn't see then, but opening this gift was the first step in letting go of the way I thought it should be and hoping for a baby while accepting that having an only child would be pretty awesome, too. I don't think the important part of the story is that we DID get pregnant a few months later...I think the important part is that I sought His will rather than my own. (After years of seeking my own, don't give me any credit I don't deserve.)<br />
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So, this little guy is special to me. I keep him with Noble's stuff because he reminds me of the time before we had a Noble, and what a blessing that boy has been. An unexpected, undeserved blessing. <br />
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Because I'm me and I lean toward the packrat-y sentimental side, I was pretty sad when I realized Hope's hand came off in the fall. Luckily I drop stuff a lot, so I have a superglue stash and a system for fixing stuff. I got right to it, but I just wasn't having any luck. The glue kept running and my fingers were sticking to his hand and I just made a mess. I came pretty close to letting Hope go through life Luke Skywalker style, but I stepped back from the counter for a minute and considered my options. Tweezers worked like a charm and accomplished what my heavy-handed ways could not. So now Hope is drying and he'll be good as new up on the shelf shortly. <br />
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My heart is still heavy, though. That little boy that I hoped and prayed for, not the figurine but the real one? He's having a rough time right now. It's not anything that all of us don't struggle with--ungratefulness, disrespect, selfishness...I'm guilty of all of these things, as well. But something is off with him and we're having heart issue after heart issue after heart issue. And I'm weary, y'all. He's a 7 year old boy, and he's just being human. And being human ain't always pretty or sweet, I know. But the kid I've lived with this summer is not someone I want Noble to be for the rest of his life--I've seen this kid as a grown up, and nobody likes that guy. Especially, sadly, that guy. So, we're working on it. <br />
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In the car on the way home from the pool (where he ended up sitting out most of the time because of his disrespect), he wouldn't let it go and I finally raised my voice when he informed me that he worked hard to go to the party today and deserved to go. Then I was angry. And I get it--if I'm yelling at my kid explaining about the grace of Jesus and the cross, I'm doing something wrong. I'm doing lots of things wrong, I suspect, or Noble wouldn't be struggling as much as he is. <br />
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There's a fine line here between taking his human-ness personally and looking too much at myself, and also not taking a good long look in the mirror at what I'm modeling, at what Noble is learning from us and our relationships. Am I one person at home and another in public? Do I expect respect but not give it? Do I say the right things to the right people and do the wrong things when I feel like it? Yes, yes, and yes at times, I'm certain. Do I get it right sometimes, too? Sure. Could I be better at lots of it? Definitely. Because I'm human, too. There's grace for me, just as I'm expected to give grace to him. <br />
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We've been doing a lot of talking lately about grace, and about blessings. We can't get the two mixed up, but don't you think modern American Christians do? We believe, so we should receive. We're good people so good things should happen to us. We deserve...yep, that one, too. <br />
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I don't really know what my point is. The point is that parenting is tough but I have to keep an eternal perspective, literally, for his sake. Or maybe the point is that I'm struggling with struggling...that I've hit a bump in the road that's inconvenient and sometimes embarrassing and it's thrown me for a loop. I don't know. I do know that it's not all about me (despite the focus of this blog post) and it's not about him. <br />
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I guess I just felt like I needed to document the not so pretty stuff, too.<br />
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So I'll find my hope in Him, and pray that's the legacy I'll pass on to my kids. <br />
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<br />MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-91485183175674468352015-03-13T06:59:00.001-05:002015-03-13T06:59:03.183-05:005 for 5<center>
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I've discovered the secret to the elusive 90 minute commute: get up 10 minutes earlier, leave 30 minutes earlier and do quiet time on the road over the phone. And pay the toll to drive in the HOV lane. :) Whatever it takes, I'm getting at least 90 extra minutes in my work day so I'm a happy girl. It's the little things in life that make me downright giddy! <br />
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I'm at Starbucks for the 5th day in a row this week...I worked at the Brenham Starbucks until my laptop battery died Monday, I worked here for 90 minutes Tuesday morning in between my commute and office time, I took James coffee Wednesday, we had our Thursday date yesterday, and here I am again, fitting in some work before work officially starts. No wonder our budget is out of whack. :)<br />
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Whatever the case, I owe y'all an update. I finished the project that's been hanging over me since December, and now this morning I feel like I can finally move on to other things that have been on hold. It's a wonderful feeling! In other news, my online work is settling down a bit--although an intern did basically threaten my job this week. I'm not worried, but I don't like being on anyone's bad side. <br />
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I'll work in Houston until after lunch, then I'll head home to catch the end of Kayci's last Innovation Day and pick up Noble and his friends for a trip to Chuck E. Cheese. He's a happy boy, and his birthday celebration(s) this year have been interesting...so not "my way" at all. I guess it's really not all about me, right?<br />
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Happy spring break, friends. We're almost there! Thanks for going along for the ride this week. OH--and a BIG thanks to Heather for cooking for us last night. We had such a great time just hanging out at their house and relaxing, and then to get a healthy home cooked meal? Such a blessing! My poor family, the closest I came to cooking this week was sliders Wednesday night. :)MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-36619406581111070042015-03-09T09:54:00.000-05:002015-03-09T09:54:18.642-05:00time management<center>
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This is my office this morning.</center>
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My house is a wreck. Like, it's not just cluttered with projects that need to be finished and decorations that need to be hung and recycling that needs to be recycled and papers that need to be filed...it's dirty.</center>
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Baseboards, window sills, blinds, ceiling fans, nooks and crannies, floors...dirty.</center>
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I told James yesterday that I was going to clean house before I did anything else today.</center>
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But then this morning as I was getting dressed, I started thinking about time management. Here's how my day would have gone if I had my druthers: I would have taken the kids to school, picked up laundry detergent because I forgot it at the store yesterday, then I would have gone home to clean for a couple of hours. Which would have been more like four, because every job I would start would remind me of something else. And at the end of the four hours, I would still have tons to do, and my paid work would still be undone. And I would still feel like I have a gorilla sitting on my chest.</center>
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Instead, I counted up my work hours this week--I'm looking at a minimum of 46. </center>
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4 jobs, 3 employers. </center>
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That means I will clean house at night like the rest of the working moms out there, or it won't get done. But my paid work? It has to get done, because I can't handle the stress of letting so many people down when they're paying me to be better, to do better.</center>
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So I'm working this morning instead of cleaning. Until the job is done. And when it's done, I'll head home to turn 30 Twinkies into Minions for my favorite 7 year old's birthday treat at school. </center>
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And then I'll take two car loads of kids to after school activities (4 elementary, 4 middle school).</center>
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I'll pick one up at 4:45 and one up at 6. In between I'll cook soup and bake bread (both are already in the freezer, so that'll be easy). And I'll play Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots and read and listen and hug and talk and just BE with my people. </center>
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And then I'll clean house.</center>
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And go to sleep.</center>
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And wake up at 4 in the morning to head to Houston. I discovered on Friday that the elusive 90 minute commute is possible...if I leave at or before 5 am. Which means more time to work and less time in the car, which is a win-win.</center>
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Wednesday, I'll be all Kids' Ministry until lunchtime, then I'll finish grading my online classes before the after school runs. </center>
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Crap, I gotta work grading into my schedule tonight, too.</center>
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Thursday, maybe I'll fit in a work out. Fingers crossed! I'll go watch the 1st grade program at 2 and clap really loud for my Bubby and his friends.</center>
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Friday, I was going to volunteer at Kayci's school but work calls, instead. I'm going to have to get back early to take Noble and friends to Chuck E. Cheese for his birthday, but I can do it if I get there early enough. </center>
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Then Saturday? Saturday, blessed Saturday, is spring break. </center>
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That means 1 of my jobs goes away for 9 whole days. </center>
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Poor James doesn't get a spring break--he'll start his weekend with 3 photo shoots. </center>
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Why do I write all of this? Because I'm struggling with time management, and struggling to make sense of why I always feel so busy and behind. I realized that people don't actually know what I do for a living, so when I'm back on social media I'll share more about work. Because I don't want to be two dimensional, I want to be real.</center>
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And real? Right now? </center>
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It's a dirty house, and undone work.</center>
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It's happy kids and family time. </center>
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It's figuring out what makes it to the top of the to-do list and what can wait.</center>
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And this busy? It's a season that will pass. </center>
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<br />MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-85022771775478075532015-03-04T05:16:00.001-06:002015-03-04T05:16:47.798-06:00I miss Jack.Remember Audrey in "European Vacation?" <div>
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That's how I feel about social media.</div>
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I've got all these great photos in my camera that I think, "I'll post this and say..."</div>
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And then it hits me.</div>
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I miss Facebook.</div>
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I miss Instagram.</div>
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I play lots of solitaire.</div>
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Lent score, if there is such a thing: social media fast? Winning. Moving every day? Progress, but not an actual WORKOUT every day.</div>
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This morning I thought I would dump photos from my phone onto my blog and get caught up, but it's acting funny and won't upload my photos.</div>
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And then I realized, maybe because that's cheating.</div>
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Sigh.</div>
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I miss Jack.</div>
MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-71673468194436837842015-01-08T05:37:00.003-06:002015-01-08T05:39:21.965-06:00cheers!<br />
Let's pretend this is our little family toasting the new year. In reality, Noble insisted upon toasting our Sammyversary (oh, that's right--you don't know. Noble decided that HE should get to name this house, and we couldn't get him to understand that we didn't TRY to name the last one "the little green house," it just happened. So he thought for about .5 milliseconds and said, "Sammy. The house's name is Sammy." So now when we say, "let's go home," or "...something about the new house..," Noble will say, "You should just say, 'Sammy.'" Sigh.)<br />
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Anywho, we moved in on November 2. So Noble has deemed the 2nd of every month our Sammyversary. We toasted with root beer, I think, on December 2nd, and this month we got fancy with the sparkling apple juice we never drank last New Year's Eve. So, a toast, to Sammy.<br />
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And also, a toast to a year that's off to a great start. In the past two months, we've had more company than we had in the last year or more at our old house. We've had friends and family over for meals, and Kayci had two sleepovers during the break. One of the things we were most excited about when we thought about moving: a bigger dining room, with a table to seat more than just our family comfortably. And we've got it--our friends with 5 kids came over one night, and it was such a blessing to all sit at the same table (we didn't even have to add any of the extra chairs!). I love--we love--having company, and it's wonderful to have places for people to BE. We had over 20 for Thanksgiving, and the weather was gorgeous so we had seating outside. There are no pictures of that day, apparently, or many of the other days since we've moved in...neither James nor I have taken many pictures. I don't know if it's because we're too busy or too busy living in the moment...I suspect more of the former but we'd like to think it's the latter. :)<br />
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So here's to Sammy. And to 2015. And to living intentionally, and joyfully, in close fellowship with each other and the people we love. Cheers!MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-90380739358308791352014-11-24T06:04:00.001-06:002014-11-24T06:04:01.251-06:00Intentional & EssentialThose would be the two words I am AIMING for as we create systems in our new home. (I love, love, love it, btw!) I'm not hitting the target every time, but I'm trying. And there's something to that, no? <div>
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A few weeks ago, I was blessed to speak to the Bellville MOPS group about organization. Oh, they were lovely, y'all. So fun, so wonderful, so Christ-centered...they made me want to have another baby (or find one, as my kids would say) just so I can join them. It took me 3 weeks to follow up, but here's what I sent them this morning:</div>
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This is what I really feel called to share with y'all--I'm not thinking we all need to be minimalists, and I do not qualify as one, either. But I do like a LOT of what Joshua Becker posts. His writing (and links) make me think about living more intentionally, and I think that's always a good thing. I think if I were to adopt any "ist" or "ism" officially, I'd want to be an "essentionalist." And "intentionalist." But since there aren't any Facebook groups for those things, Becoming Minimalist will do! </div>
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I love having this come across my Facebook feed, where it's so easy to get caught up in the "more is more" mentality of our culture.
<a class="_553k" href="https://www.facebook.com/becomingminimalist" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/becomingminimalist</a></div>
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This is the blog--I love his weekend posts, and look forward to hanging out with a cup of coffee and my thoughts.
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Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, and as we head into a time of year that can be busy and crazy and waaaaaaayyyyy too focused on "stuff" and keeping up with the moms on Pinterest, I invite you to join me in taking some time this week to think and pray about what we want Advent to look like this year. </div>
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I know I want to have less to do--so as a family, we chose a one-night trip to Marble Falls instead of our usual weekend to Marble Falls AND a trip to Santa's Wonderland. At church, we decided NOT to do a Christmas program or weekly ornament crafts, but instead to focus on an Advent curriculum based on a book families can use at home to go through Advent. I've already started shopping for teacher gifts--and I'm thinking 12 days of small, $1 type things for Noble's teacher and 1 $5 gift each for Kayci's teachers. I've purchased the ornament for our Bible Study ornament exchange on the 10th (crazy--I usually stress the day of!). (Lest you start thinking I'm on top of things, I haven't actually figured out how Noble's leaving school TODAY...so there's that. I'm still me.) I'm determined to be less ME and more intentional this holiday season, friends. Sure, I'll probably blow it, but I figure if I start out and I visualize a season of peace and focus, maybe, just maybe, we'll hit the mark some days. And those other days? Well, there's grace for that. And there's grace for you, too, lovelies. </div>
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Blessings to you, sweet friends, and big hugs.
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MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-32854734313799558642014-10-16T08:20:00.001-05:002014-10-16T08:20:27.384-05:00More.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=14/10/16/285.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/14/10/16/s_285.jpg' border='0' width='280' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Most days it feels like time is racing by.<br /><br />I accept that one morning, we'll wake up and there won't be that expectant time while we wait to hear feet hit the floor in the next room. Those feet will be tucked into bed at college, or in a first apartment. Sigh. Suddenly, 18 years doesn't feel like long enough to teach and show them everything they need to be servants of God in this worldly world.<br /><br />James took off Monday to hang with the kids since I had to work. There's been a lot of that lately--kind of the storm before the calm. But back to them...the weather was gorgeous Monday evening, so they went to the park to play. They ran into our favorite friends and got some bonus together time. The pictures James & Heather texted are just priceless, like this one. When I saw this, it made me think about how time is racing, and what I want for those beautiful children. I pray they will have more.<br /><br />More happiness.<br />More love.<br />More joy.<br />More fun.<br />More contentment.<br />More laughter.<br />More success.<br />More satisfaction.<br />More excitement.<br />More wisdom.<br />More strength.<br />More faith.<br />More hope.<br /><br />And I pray that they have enough.<br /><br />Just enough sorrow, and just enough pain, to make them truly appreciate all of the above.<br />MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-2974851080379045722014-10-09T08:48:00.001-05:002014-10-09T08:48:33.310-05:00Where you go, I'll go...<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love Thursday mornings. Usually...usually, not always, Daddyboy goes to Bible Study, the kids wake up and hurry to get around so we can run to the donut store on the way to school, and then I drop them off and go have a breakfast date with my Boy. I love our Thursday morning dates. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This morning we met at Big Daddy's for our favorite breakfast tacos, then spent a few minutes sitting on the tailgate of his truck eating and talking about our days. And whatnot. ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, that's a beer truck. Romantical, no? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Marriage is hard work. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a damn liar. But it's worth it to do the work. It's always worth it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Every morning, we do 3 things without fail: he makes us coffee, we hug at some point, and we ask each other and the kids, "what does your day look like?" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And this is my day today...my least favorite kind of day, the stuck at the computer working all day kind of day. So I escaped from my desk and came into the living room. At least I can listen to bad tv while I work. :) </span><br />
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MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-62213538693663511822014-09-11T20:36:00.002-05:002014-09-11T20:38:20.252-05:00Used to be...The other day, Noble and I were laying on the couch watching "Mom's Night Out." The main character had a freak out when her family trashed their house and she admitted her clean freak tendencies. Noble looked at me and smiled, "you USED to be like that." <br />
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My first response, that I'm not proud of? I was like, what? Is this kid saying I don't like things clean? But I realized, he said it totally without judgment. Don't you just love kids? <br />
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That was cool, that he accepted me both as I was and as I am. <br />
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And you know what else is cool? That our kids know who we are, that they know our stories. They know where we come from and where we hope to go. They KNOW us. <br />
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Isn't that all any of us wants, to know and be known? To be accepted?<br />
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What a blessing, all from a simple statement and a smile.<br />
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PS--this made me think about my favorite workshop to present back in the day...I dug this out of the closet! Those are transparencies, people...<br />
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<br />MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-32940488413563484902014-09-01T17:12:00.000-05:002014-09-01T17:12:23.693-05:00A tale of two houses...okay, three. Technically four if you count the little green house...<br />
I would be remiss if I didn't stop and write down what's in my head this weekend. It's Labor Day, and this year that coincides with the opening of dove season. Happy September, y'all! We've had a great weekend with Ronny's family here and Timmy's family came up on Saturday, too. It's been a good mix of productive (finally got our DVDs catalogued and have about 120 ready to go OUT THE DOOR!) and lazy, with lots of family time. <br />
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Oh, and we closed on our house Friday.<br />
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Yup. <br />
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It feels...pretty awesome. It will be at least a month before we can start moving in, but with everything else going on, that's okay by me. We're so blessed to have a landlord like Amy, who's willing to roll with whatever we need. Let me say it again: this lady has blessed us in ways she'll never understand, by sharing this little green house with us these past 8 years plus. Leaving the little green house is absolutely the only hard thing about this process. <br />
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Our tale starts with our decision last winter to start looking into our options--did we want to live in town, out of town, build, buy, big, small, new old...and how much house could we really afford without affecting our quality of life? (Read: eating out. Buying clothes when the kids need 'em. Starbucks. Man, I sound like a douche for that last one, but it's the truth.) So we started looking in February. James and I searched for rural properties first, and spent a few lunch hours driving around to see what it felt like, how long the drive was, etc. Well, it didn't feel right, I know that. And the more we thought about what living out would mean at this point in our lives, giving up lunch together, limiting my volunteer time at the kids' schools, etc., well, it just didn't work. But in the searching, one day I came across a listing for a house in town that appealed to me. And the closer I looked, I realized I'd BEEN in the house before several years ago. It belonged to a local architect and I wanted my Boy to check it out, like, yesterday. So we went, one Friday evening. Granted, we didn't have a down payment, yet, but we figured if it was meant to be, the finances would work out. And we loved the house, although we had reservations about the location. It wasn't exactly what I wanted, but once we started thinking about the house we wanted to buy now as a "right now" home, until the kids are out of school, it made it easier to think about what's most important. What's important to us: room to entertain, but not so much room that we live separate lives, rooms enough for everyone to have their own space, but not so spread out that everyone can go to their separate corners, room for James to work, space for all of us to be creative, a great yard for entertaining and living, and it needed to be pretty close to the places we spend most of our time. That house, and a bungalow that we'd looked at when we moved here originally, were the only two homes we looked at in February. And Elizabeth's house is the only one that felt right.<br />
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So we handed it over to God, and we quit looking. It felt like He'd answered our questions about where, and the clear answer was: in town. We felt like we had a good idea of budget and what we needed to save for a down payment, and we figured it would take us until about December 2014 to save up. And we waited. And before too long, it was obvious that God was moving, and way faster than we ever expected. At the beginning of May, we had the down payment (okay, okay, James earned the down payment by working crazy hard at all of the opportunities God threw his way). That same week, Elizabeth's house sold to another family. And it was okay...we immediately knew that it wasn't our house, and God had gently closed that door for us. And truly, I haven't looked back until I started this post because it doesn't seem right to talk about this process without mentioning the house that started it all, for real.<br />
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We kept our eyes open, and in mid-June we looked at a house that had TONS of potential. Like, I could SEE the before and afters being posted on a blog somewhere. Great price, great lot...meh location, but I figured to get a great house on a great lot we had to compromise somewhere, right? Visions of new plumbing and designing a kitchen and moving rooms and walls danced in my head. Yes, I was temporarily insane. But where the old Kristi would have plowed on and made it happen and lived to regret it, I knew to keep myself in check and remember that God was in control. We were very grown up and consulted experts and all signs pointed to...this house needed much, much more cash than we could ever hope to put into it. And truly, I was more interested in the house itself and the possibilities (oh, the possibilities!) and the story than I was the life we would live there. Because you know, the life we would have lived there would have revolved around renovating and figuring out what to do with the awesome lot that had zero landscaping and no fence and...needed lots of work. It was pretty easy to face the truth: that house wasn't our house. So we left for vacation and I gave myself a vacation from house-hunting. <br />
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And then we got back, and I looked at new listings and there were a couple of promising ones. When we were looking at one (that we hated, btw), we ran into a lady who mentioned that she owned the home across the street and was looking to sell it, and she also owned a home around the corner that she MIGHT sell. She invited us to look at either or both, and we politely thanked her and went on our way to our listing appointments. Dead end, dead end. So we went back and took a risk and pulled into her driveway. I immediately realized that I'd been in that driveway before. A friend of mine lived there before this family, and I had dropped her off after Bunco or something. I'd never been IN the house before, but I'd been in that friend's new house and it was lovely. So I hoped that would be the case with this house, as well. And when we walked in, that was pretty much it...I felt like I was home. And James felt the same way. The kids weren't such an easy sell, as this house only has 2 bedrooms and they wanted their own rooms already. But it felt right, so we went home and wrote up an offer. Twenty four hours later, give or take, we had a contract. That's how it happens here, sometimes--and now we're one of the lucky few who can say we got a great deal on a great house that wasn't even for sale. This is God's math: the house payment is almost exactly equal to our rent. Which means I don't feel guilty for that Iced Caramel Macchiato I had this morning. <br />
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It will be a year before we can add the master suite, but that's okay--truth be told, I don't think the kids are ready to sleep apart yet, anyway. And that will give us time to figure out what we really want/need, and to save $$ for the addition. Can you tell we're really against being house poor? I don't want a beautiful home and an ugly attitude...and I want the life we already have, just in a slightly bigger space. (And trust me, it's only slightly bigger...I think people think we're a little nuts for buying such a small 2/1, but we've learned we're small house people. We'll be thrilled when it's a 3/2, but we're pretty happy in the meantime, too!) The house is great as-is, but we've budgeted $$ for painting the interior (after all these years of taupe, I long for white walls!) and will do a couple of small things before we move in. But really, we could move in the same day they move out. If you've been house hunting in Brenham before, you know what a rarity that is. It's a great house, y'all. And it's a great lot. When I think about it, I don't think about how the house looks as much as how it feels...and it feels like a place where we're going to have a great life...pretty much like we do now, but with enough room to have friends over for dinner. And a yard where kids can go and play. And a patio where James and I can enjoy our coffee. And a space where he can work, uninterrupted and without me moving his stuff (maybe). <br />
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I love this house, and the idea that it's about to be our home. I hope you'll be able to join us at our table one day soon...I can't wait!<br />
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<br />MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-55510859188969608762014-07-25T05:39:00.001-05:002014-07-25T05:39:43.924-05:00DeclitteringWe have a contract on a house we love, on a lot we love, in a neighborhood we love. But, these things aren't over til they're over, so while I hope to be moving in 6-8 weeks, that may not be the case. <br /><br />You know what? After so long of living in limbo, I finally got fed up and got moving. So we're decluttering (or declittering, as my phone keeps autocorrecting) and paring down and preparing to move only the things that are necessary or loved or both. <br /><br />While this is one more thing in an already crowded schedule, it's a very satisfying thing because I've needed to do it for so long!<br /><br />Yesterday we sold our dining room set. We've already bought a new (possibly 100 year old) table...but we don't have chairs, yet. That's something we need to work on--the irony of all of the wood chairs I've collected over the years that we've shared with friends. Sigh. It was satisfying to do a belated spring cleaning on the table...now this morning I have to find a temporary home for all of my scrapbooks & Noble's candy science stuff. <br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=14/07/25/81.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/14/07/25/s_81.jpg' border='0' width='209' height='280' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />I am giving my heat press and all of the vinyl to a sweet friend who will use it and love it. I don't have time or the love for it that I did before...honestly, once I got going with it I realized that silk screening is what makes my heart sing, but I don't have the time or space for that. Maybe someday, but for today, it feels good to release these things.<br /><br />They say that sometimes you have to give up good things for better things. That's in the back of my mind as I picture this next year...I picture saying no more, so I can say yes to what matters most. <br /><br />This is my quiet time view today...projects for this morning<br />on my work table, unfinished journaling because I can't concentrate, stuff that needs to go to other people and some that just needs a new home after yesterday's decluttering frenzy. <br /><br />It feels good, this letting go.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=14/07/25/82.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/14/07/25/s_82.jpg' border='0' width='280' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />It feels good to picture our new home all simple and clean, with only the most important things out and about. I did what I promised I'd never do again...I quit working on the little green house once I decided a move was in order. Furniture shopping this week has been so freeing, and so fun...and so easy because I know exactly what I want! :) Ahem, we. What we want.<br /><br />I've got to get to work, but I felt like I needed to take a minute and document where I am right now. It's been 16 days since we made an offer on this home and started the process, but in so many ways it feels like it's been months and months. And then in other ways, it feels like the blink of an eye! Time is funny that way, isn't it?<br />MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-24826000316236595852014-07-10T06:26:00.000-05:002014-07-10T06:30:29.908-05:00Reimagining HomeIn February, my car was in the shop. (Ironically, it's in the shop today, as well. Unrelated.) James picked me up for lunch and as he was taking me back to the church, we saw a realtor putting up a "for sale" sign in the yard of one of our favorite houses in the neighborhood. We were not in any position to buy a house, with the car bill, but seeing that sign go up lit a fire in us. We'd been TALKING about buying a house for years...after we do this, after we pay off that, and most recently, after Disney...but this inspired us to get serious. <br />
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So we did.</div>
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And then, the next day, I came across the listing for a friend's house that was for sale--a home I absolutely loved. And we looked at it, and we all loved it, but the simple fact remained: we didn't have the money in the bank to buy the house.</div>
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So we didn't.</div>
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But we saved and we searched and we saved and we searched...and here we are, 5 months later. I know God is moving in this because we thought we needed 6 months to save a down payment, and James got a ton of jobs out of the blue and basically had a down payment in 6 weeks. Yes, that's right.</div>
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God is good. All the time.</div>
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The problem we've had, and it's not a problem so much as a question, is, where do we want to live? How much house is enough? What about land? In town, out of town? Big or small? New or old? That's just the tip of the iceberg. We told a homeowner yesterday, it's both a blessing and a curse to be so wide-open in this process...we believe that God will lead us to the right home for us. So we're trying really hard not to picture how the home will LOOK, but instead focus on how we want the home to FEEL.</div>
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The irony? We have made an offer on a home that's HALF the size of the last home we looked at seriously (to the point of bringing a contractor out for a remodel bid...I really, really wanted that house, even though it was waaaaaaaaay bigger than what we need). The home we're considering right now is less than 100 square feet bigger than the little green house, it's still a 2/1, and the office isn't attached to the house. But it feels GOOD, y'all. It feels like a home, and we can totally see ourselves there. If it's meant to be, it'll be. And I might be able to tell you in a month or so that the payment totally evens out with the small amount of rent we're paying now--we met with a banker yesterday, and if the numbers we went over hold, our new house payment would be our rent here + the difference in utilities + what we pay for our storage unit. God is good, y'all. That's His math. Now, we're budgeting to spend more, but the cool thing is we can use that surplus to save for the addition we know is coming just as soon as we can afford it. Or just use it to put in savings for when the AC breaks or the roof leaks or anything else that comes with home ownership. Those are the things I haven't missed.</div>
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The things I have missed, and probably have never really had? Roots. I've loved the little green house, but in the past few years I've felt like we've been poised to jump up and move out of here. So I've quit decorating, changing, updating...it's been stagnant. It feels stagnant. And I'm so over that feeling. I'm over the Texas stars everywhere, and the color scheme of wood & red. I'm over the clutter, and the dust under stuff because I don't feel like deep cleaning if we're just going to move, anyway. I'm broken, I know. </div>
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I look forward to dreaming about our new home and seeing ourselves living our lives in a new space. Will our lives change? No, but the landscape will. Here's the thing, and I couldn't have put this into words until this week: we looked at a beautiful home on a beautiful lot that would have taken all of our money for years to come. And all of our time bringing it up to code and then keeping it up. It's not like we have lots of spare time and money, and I'm sure I'm crazy for considering it. </div>
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A few days ago, a friend who bought and loves a fixer-upper put it into words for us: they spend all of their free time and free money working on their house. He said it out of love, because that's his thing. And they have a beautiful life in their fixer-upper that's now a beautiful home that's well-loved and well-lived. </div>
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But it's not our thing. I'm not comparing our family to theirs and saying they don't do any of the things I'm about to say--I'm just saying our situations are different. I work 2-3 jobs, James has a full-time job and an almost full-time side job...our time is finite. Our resources are finite. Our time with our kids at home? Also finite. Sigh. </div>
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Oh, the rabbit trails.</div>
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Walk with me, here. Yes, we want to live out in the country. But we're thinking now that's a "someday" dream...because we would be on the road back and forth to town a LOT. There would be no more lunches together on the days I work at home, or popping in to the kids' schools to work on PTO stuff or have lunch. Living in the country would make us think about every single drive, every trip, every activity. And if that's what's meant for us, I know God will help us work it all out. </div>
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But truly? We've released the dream of a dream home on a dream piece of land...for now. </div>
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What we keep coming back to is this: we are not looking for a new LIFE. We are looking for a new PLACE to live this life that we love.</div>
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The thing that's most important to us: living a good life, making every day count.</div>
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I do have certain things I'm looking for in our next home: space to entertain, to be able to have more than one family over comfortably. Space for the kids to have their own rooms (which may be an eventually thing if we get this house). Space for James to work comfortably, and to have privacy and be able to play his music as loud as he wants while he creates. Space for us to be together in the kitchen while we make healthy and not so healthy food. A cabinet for Kayci to store her baking stuff. A laundry room I can actually walk into (I know). A garage or decent shed for clean storage. A carport or garage where we can keep our cars (or at least mine!) a little cleaner, or walk out in the rain and not get soaked. A yard for parties and gatherings, and places for the kids to just BE outside. Maybe room for a decent garden, as our commando gardening efforts seem to fail here again and again.</div>
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Sure, I'd love transoms...but the homes we've looked at that come with transoms don't come with central air and heat. Not a deal breaker, but also not where we want to put our limited $$ right now. Sure, I'd love a fireplace. I'd love a big ol' kitchen with enough room for my red couch. I'd love a space to spread out my scrapbook stuff and my craft stuff and leave it out for more than a few minutes at a time. It'd be nice if the current owners could be mind readers and have it all painted in my favorite colors, too. :) But these things aren't deal breakers.</div>
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Deal breakers? </div>
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A house that's so big and spread out that our family can choose not to see or hear each other for hours--I don't want us to live separate lives. And yes, we'll still only keep one TV. (The horror!) </div>
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A house that will eat up all of James' limited free time and limit what he's able to do with our family. I love that we quit working at 5 and just spend the evenings together, whatever that looks like. I love that we nap on Sunday after church. I love that he doesn't *usually* have to work on Saturdays, unless he's got a job booked.</div>
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A house that will eat up all of our money, so we tell the kids no, we can't go, or do, or we don't have enough...not that we don't tell them those things now, but I want to CHOOSE where we spend our budget, not be FORCED to spend it.</div>
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A house that I am so proud of that I lose sight of what a blessing it is, and Who that blessing comes from. </div>
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A house that we choose to impress people with what a great step up we're making. </div>
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A house that's perfect, just as it is...is there such a thing? </div>
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Oh, and a house without a garage/shed. Or with a small, crappy yard. Or that smells funny. </div>
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I've been thinking and praying about STUFF a lot...and what I do and don't want to move with us. I don't want to carry over the stuff that's been in storage for 10 years. Surely if I haven't used in in 10 years, I don't NEED it. The clothes we never wear aren't making the trip. The toys nobody plays with will find new homes. A lot of my work stuff can go to work--or go away. It literally just. Sits. There. We have a lot of stuff that we spend a lot of time managing and dusting and moving around to make room for new stuff, and I'm so over that. </div>
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We were considering buying a house with enough rooms for a guest room JUST to have a place to put this extra bedroom set we have. Seriously?? </div>
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So, all this to say: I don't know what's next. We may be right here a year from now, which would be okay because that'll give our down payment time to grow. Who knows. </div>
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But what I do know is this: wherever we are, we'll still be US. </div>
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And that's enough. </div>
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MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-56072337856015248302014-06-23T11:29:00.000-05:002014-06-23T14:20:45.233-05:00Summer 2014--my camera roll so far :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Summer 2014, so far, has been pretty good. I was picturing a summer off (except for a few hours at the church on Wednesdays & Sundays), but that isn't at all how things have turned out. It's turned into a summer of continuing to commute 1 day/week, working way more than a few hours at church, and trying to give our kids lots of downtime in between. And swimming, lots of swimming. So it's not what I pictured, but it's been a good summer. Every day has been it's own kind of adventure!</div>
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Today, for instance, I was supposed to commute. So we made plans for the kids to stay with Grandma (that has made a HUGE difference in our Mondays with me working!). But, it turns out I'm driving in on Wednesday this week, so we stuck with the plan and took the knuckleheads to Grandma's at bedtime last night so I could have an uninterrupted work day and they could DO something instead of waiting for me to be done working. </div>
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I was reminded this summer of the mornings that first couple of years after Noble was born, when I'd get everyone where they needed to go and then take an hour to put the house back together, blog a bit, and catch up on errands, etc. before starting my work day. I've got so much on my mind right now with both of my jobs (job #3 kicks in next week...pray for me?) that I'm just not at a point to sit down and put it on paper. Well, on screen. So I gave myself some time this morning to get things done and blog a bit and run a couple of errands...you get the idea.</div>
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And here I am.</div>
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I suck at blogging right now. And documenting with Project Life. But I still snap pictures when I think about it for when I have more time for documenting life instead of just doing my best to live every minute. :)</div>
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Here's our summer so far...</div>
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The first day of summer for the kids was NOT a day off for me. But I juggled things so I could make it a day at home when they could do whatever they wanted. After hearing the week before about how I skipped breakfast one day at work and grabbed a Snickers bar instead (go ahead and judge me, I would), they decided that THAT would be a fabulous way to start summer, Snickers for breakfast.</div>
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So they slept in, had some screen time, and had Snickers for breakfast. It was not, however, all they thought it would be. I haven't had any further requests for treats for breakfast, or for Snickers. Hee hee. My evil plan...</div>
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While it's summer for the kids and kinda summer for me, DaddyBoy's schedule hasn't changed. He has met us at the pool a couple of times during his lunch hour and we've had lots of meals on the deck and he's got more work time since we don't have to get the kids off to school in the morning, but summer's been a little hard on my Boy. There's no place he'd rather be than here with us, and I appreciate even more the fact that he gets up every day, works for a few hours, then goes off to his day job while we do whatever we're doing. Thanks, Boy, for being a great provider!</div>
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I don't think this picture shows it well, but we've been minimizing screen time this summer and spending time watching TV as a family when we're able. This was Noble's balloting one night, when we were choosing between "I Love Lucy" and "The Cosby Show." Lucy (Loosy) was his clear favorite. That night we watched the chocolate factory episode and loved it!</div>
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I've got lots of pictures like this. Swimming wears my Bubby out, and he often naps in the afternoon. Kayci enjoys the quiet time, and I enjoy the time to get things done (and I took a nap myself last week--it was pretty awesome!). </div>
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A group of friends from church hangs out at the lake each week. We'd like to go more, but we'll make it when we can. Love the fellowship, and we all love Matt's jet skis! <br />
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Swimming at the Country Club is still their favorite activity. See Paper Jesus in the picture? Brenham Bible Church is doing the Paper Jesus Project again this year, and while it's a lot of work, it's so rewarding to SEE the kids growing in faith and knowledge. Makes my heart happy!<br />
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Told you.<br />
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One of the Paper Jesus pics I can share since it doesn't have someone else's kids in it. It's so cool each week to see what families send in! If you want a Paper Jesus, let me know!</div>
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One night after dinner on the deck, DaddyBoy noticed something flying around. Turns out, it was several bats. I never got one on camera, but it was pretty cool to sit there and watch!<br />
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Our boys went camping one Friday night with a couple of other Dads and their kids. I think it's a toss-up as to who had more fun. Love this picture of our little guy who wants to be just like Daddy. I think that's a great goal, Noble. <br />
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Daddy snapped this sunset picture the night the kids and I stayed overnight in Houston so I could work 2 days in a row. That same day, on my drive in, I got a phone call that I'll never forget. One of our parents (the parent of a student), committed suicide. She was beautiful and strong and a wonderful advocate for her child, and it breaks my heart for all of them. When James sent me this picture, I was in the middle of a conversation with my boss, trying to figure out the best way to honor this parent as we go forward in training our teachers. When I look at this photo, I see hope. And that's what we have to hang onto.</div>
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On that same work trip, I managed to get my car stuck not in a ditch, but across a ditch. Long story. It all came out okay, but when I got back to the office I saw this...so I must have wedged it in there pretty good. Only me. And then a couple of days later I noticed that my bumper was pushed out and I got all indignant, thinking someone hit me and didn't say anything...then I realized that<i> I did it</i> in the ditch. Oops.</div>
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The kids were good sports about the 2 day work trip. Dinner with Lynn's family and a night in a nice hotel were great incentives, and even though they had to be there for the aftermath of the parent's death, it was a sweet time for us. Selfishly? I'm glad they were with me.<br />
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We have a few of these from this summer, too. Summer wears him out, y'all.<br />
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Hee hee. So, a few days after the ditch incident, I managed to slide DOWN a hill and into a ditch. In the car. Luckily Caleb was there to rescue us, no harm done to us. But sorry about your new road, man. Needless to say, the kids were suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuper freaked out. I'm just glad I didn't roll the car with us in it. It's already a funny story--Caleb told me to go slow but not too slow, and I knew as soon as my tires left the rocked part of the drive by their house that I was going too fast, but when you're sliding down a hill in the mud, a heavy car doesn't slow down. Whoopsy.<br />
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Oh, Noble and the cats. His new thing is talking in the cats' voices, which for some reason are 3x as loud as Noble's voice. He especially likes to "talk" to them early in the morning. For the love.<br />
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I can't believe our girl is 11 already. She planned her own party, and we let her go with it. She even did her own invitations (like, did the wording, etc. on the computer). I'm so impressed by her!<br />
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And back to me...this is the SECOND birthday party in 2014 when I didn't plan it, didn't send out invitations well ahead of time, didn't get to go all out with a theme...my kids are growing up, and I love seeing what THEY choose. Sniff. I guess.<br />
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We had a bit of drama when the kids went to work with me that week--they kept leaving their stuff laying around. Sure enough, when we got to the hotel that night, Noble's iPod was nowhere to be found. It was a rough week for him, but I think he learned his lesson. Luckily, he'd left it in the storage room at my office. Whew. That's a lot of money to leave laying around, and we were not going to replace it!<br />
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I've been, um, scheming to get rid of this HUGE microwave for a long time. It's James' from college, and while I'm so grateful to his Dad for buying it, I've always, always hated the finish on it. It's weird and rough and never looks clean...seriously, I've hated this thing since the day James moved in with it. So we gifted it to my mom, who needed a microwave (the sad thing is, it's a fantastic microwave!). I didn't think we used it much at all, and figured we wouldn't miss it.</div>
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It turns out, as soon as you get rid of your microwave you want popcorn. And melted butter. Which is fine by me, because I don't buy microwave popcorn, anyway. The only real inconvenience has been the kids' breakfasts (I cook sausage, pancakes & french toast and keep it in the freezer so they can have "real" food for breakfast whenever they want). Now we have to plan ahead and turn on the oven, but really, that's not such a big deal. <br />
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The kids have enjoyed cooking and baking. I've enjoyed eating it. :/ Hence the current cleanse. I also enjoy a good adult beverage when we're sitting on the deck or watching TV after the kids go to bed, hence the current cleanse. Dang, but I'm bloated. <br />
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Noble's sunflowers should be sprouting soon--it's been fun to watch their progress!<br />
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And did y'all see that we had a second wave of bluebonnets this year? Who's ever seen such a thing? These were in our flower bed...that was a lot of fun!<br />
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I signed the kids up for "Kids Bowl Free" and bought the pass for James and me, too. So far we've only gone once, but it's a great program and a fun way to kill a couple of hours! <br />
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The kids wanted to make popsicles. These are fun after the pool, because they're more likely to "eat" a popsicle than drink something. We're pushing the water and they do well, but they don't drink it all day like I do so I worry a bit. I have to worry about something, right? It's water. And processed food. Don't get me started. <br />
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Daddy & kids snowcone date...</div>
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Family date at the new Dickey's. Yum. (See cleanse note above.)<br />
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We're still house-hunting. And dreaming. And praying. And waiting. It'll come.<br />
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Speaking of dreaming...this would be a dream come true!</div>
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A friend introduced me to iced caramel macchiatos. Um, yum. (See cleanse note above. Sigh. Dammit.)<br />
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Father's Day at church was lots of fun, but dang it if I didn't take any pictures. SERIOUSLY?? I love that Kayci helped me with the signs!</div>
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Mom made lunch for us, with James' favorite strawberry pie. Yum! (See cleanse note above.)<br />
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We had a Father's Day get-together at a friend's pool. James enjoyed grilling 60+ hot dogs. And a cold Shiner. (See cleanse note above.)<br />
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Monday was an early commute day, but it was such a satisfying day at work. Getting stuff on the calendar for next year feels so good, even though everything we put on the calendar means more work, right? I can't get this picture right. Forget it. <br />
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We did VBS at Champion this year. It was AWESOME! I loved teaching the Missions rotation, and both kids had a blast. Most importantly, it was a great curriculum. Well done, Champion! (And Lifeway!) I seriously can't believe I didn't get any pictures. At all. <br />
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Kayci's birthday was different this year, as I didn't decorate the night before. And, she didn't want birthday donuts. It's okay, those things are traditions, not law. That's what I told her, and I pretty much am okay with it. Mostly. The one thing I did do--a picture of every birthday. :)<br />
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Kayci's "big" gift was a real camera. Can't wait to see what she does with it!<br />
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Kayci's party was wonderful--the colors don't show up well, here, but I love that she did the decorating herself. <br />
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The birthday menu...build your own nachos, build your own ice cream sundaes, build your own pancakes...<br />
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We celebrated Kayci's birth minute with confetti poppers. The next morning, I found some that I missed. Made me smile.<br />
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24 hours with her closest friends was a long 24 hours. But I hope they had fun! (In the picture below, see Noble on the far left? :)) Heather and the boys and Daddyboy met us at the pool for a junk food lunch. (See cleanse note above.)</div>
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We left all of the blankets out and let the kids spend the night in the living room the night after Kayci's party, as well. It was sweet to wake up and see them curled up like puppies. I love that they love each other!</div>
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Kayci got tons of gift cards for her birthday, and our rule is that you have to write thank you notes before you can spend the money. So, the next day, she knocked them all out. I don't have a picture of that, but here's one of Bubby writing thank you notes for his limo ride. "Thanks for the ride!" is what most of them said. Very inspired, sir.</div>
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Noble was invited to the inaugural meeting of the Brenham Lego Club. He's pretty psyched!</div>
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Those boys again.</div>
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Daddy put the training wheels back on so Noble could ride his bike whenever he wants. Right after I snapped this, Noble found out why we ride bikes with shoes on our feet. <br />
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Saturday morning dates = two cups of coffee (instead of our usual one) and some "Psych." I'm a simple girl.<br />
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Lynn sent James a happy! Mikey likes it!<br />
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We went shopping in Houston on Saturday so Kayci could spend some birthday money, Daddy could get some new jeans, we could get a picture frame for the family auction and Grandma could return some stuff. It was a fun trip! Jhido met us and took us to lunch at Panera. (You know what to do.)<br />
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James got me a fitbit last week. My friend Amy has one and I've been wanting one (not so secretly!) for several weeks. I'm hooked! The kids were so fascinated by it, Kayci opted to spend all of her Target birthday money on one for herself. And we got one for Daddy, too. And Noble got a "perdometer" of his very own. Dang kid gets more steps than all of us, but he cheats by banging the pedometer on stuff. Dork. :)</div>
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We went to an awesome Washington County wedding Saturday night, and spent time with great friends. The kids were playing hide and seek while waiting for dinner to start, and Noble found that he could hide under my maxi dress. </div>
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All that dancing wears a guy out.</div>
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I'm biased, but aren't they gorgeous?<br />
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It's another week. Time to work on Paper Jesus Curriculum, work on getting ready for the 14-15 school year, and do some major planning. </div>
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Last night was the first Financial Peace I've attended in a while (I'm usually doing the childcare since we've been shorthanded this summer), and ironically, the topic was real estate. Um, we're not going to have 100% down or even 20%, and I'm okay with that. We have reached critical mass in the little green house, and it's just a matter of time until we find the right new place for us. <br />
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While I was at FPU, Daddy & the kids went to a birthday party at Horseshoe Junction. A good time was had by all. And one day, he'll ring the bell at the top of that wall. </div>
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Happy summer, y'all. We're still alive, no news is good news. Hope you're doing well!</div>
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<br />MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124912324041928882.post-30800462458494891182014-05-31T07:18:00.000-05:002014-05-31T07:18:07.891-05:00day 30: reflectionhow appropriate. yesterday (may 30) was the last day of school. Kayci is now a 6th grader, and Noble is now a 1st grader. sigh.<br />
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first day of 2013-14:<br />
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last day of 2013-14:<br />
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<br />MommyGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892435877564285271noreply@blogger.com1