Wednesday, December 31, 2008
3 Years
I've been asked what I like best about marriage, and I'd have to say it's just so much fun to be friends with Heath. I love that I don't yet know everything about him and that I have the rest of our lives to learn! I love you, Babe!! Thanks for 3 great years and for the hope of many more to come!
Friday, December 5, 2008
My 5 Things
The "5 THINGS GAME" The rules are to write 5 things under each of the 5 headings, and then tag 5 other people.
10 years ago...
1. I was fourteen years old.
2. I had never been on a date, much less met my husband, Heath.
3. I was looking forward to the Spring Band & Choir trip to San Antonio.
4. I was adjusting to a public high school with a class five times bigger than my 8th grade class.
5. I was scared to drive, even though I had my permit.
5 Things on Today's "To-Do" List
1. Go for a walk.
2. Fold the towels.
3. Plan Saturday's "To-Do" List.
4. Give Ainsley a bath.
5. Make pizza for dinner.
5 Snacks I Enjoy...
1. Chocolate & strawberries
2. Coffee & a bagel
3. Cheese
4. Kettle corn (only the Boy Scout brand)
5. Fresh fruit
5 Things I Would Do if I were a Millionaire!
1. Pay off our student loans.
2. Buy a house that we love.
3. Save for Ainsley's college fund.
4. Save for our future.
5. Help out our families & give a lot away.
5 Places I Have Lived...
1. West Marion
2. East Marion
3. Ames
4. Bangkok
5. Dallas
5 Jobs I've had/Still have...
1. Babysitting
2. The PretzelMaker
3. Gregory's Coffeehouse
4. MU Cafe
5. Joshua Expeditions
5 People I'm tagging:
1. Kendra
2. Emily
3. Dan & Lynn
4. Rosa
5. Karen
5. Kelly
Thursday, October 23, 2008
finally!
For those who are wondering where the name came from, I'll indulge your curiosity. George Mifflin Dallas, the Vice President under President Polk, was also the man for whom the city of Dallas was named. Fitting name for my scarecrow, I'd say, seeing as how Dallas is where we are living!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Happy October 1st!
There is, I think (in my imperfect knowledge on the subject), a fine line between drowning and keeping your head above water - somewhere between all-out panic at the first sensation of water lapping your nose and being so tired of treading water that your whole body aches. For the next month and a half, my goal is to keep my head above water. Not finish the work at the end of the day, for that won't happen for several weeks. But I will outlast the stormy waves.
I try to keep life as normal as possible - shower every morning, eat breakfast, lunch & dinner, workout, hang out with friends on the weekend, love on Heath & Ainsley. But I'll also get up a little earlier and stay up a little later. This actually works out well. Since I'm working from home, I can work while Heath does homework and during the day I get to watch Ainsley's antics out of the corner of my eye and hear her sweet, playful voice while I type away. And, for this month and a half, I'll swallow the perfectionism that says everything needs to be done at the end of the day. I'll leave a mountain of work for the next day - although hopefully it will be smaller than earlier in the day; and I will work steadily until I can finally say at the end of the day that there is nothing more to do.
I hope I haven't given the impression that I'm complaining or wishing October never came. As in every season, the good is often found in the difficulties. Besides that, each day is brand new; it has yet to be lived in; today's sunrise has never been seen before.
With that, I'm off to begin work for the day! Have a great one, dear friends!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Dirt-Covered, Yet Beautiful
But that would only be part of the picture, for it takes a slower pace to see the beauty. As Annie Dillard wrote:
"As I walked along...I got better and better at seeing frogs both in and out of the water. I learned to recognize, slowing down, the difference in texture of the light reflected from mud bank, water, grass, or frog."
A slower, closer look at our neighborhood affords visual treasures, things like:
the nearly hidden, but well tended rose garden;
neatly potted plants along a porch;
the earthy green front door which perfectly compliments the stone house;
the elderly gentleman who waters and weeds his wildflower garden nearly every day;
a well placed decorative wheelbarrow filled with dark, rich soil and crisp, white petunias;
large, shady trees lining the street;
the way the morning sunlight flickers through the trees, creating soft shadows;
a pair of cream rocking chairs inviting company;
sweet smelling honeysuckle climbing over a fence;
a vine-covered wall.
It has taken awhile, but I am learning to find the beauty in the broken & dirty things of life. I am broken, dirty, needy, sinful but God is making me sweet smelling, full of His beauty and grace.
There is so much that is unattractive in this world - Lord help me to view it all through your eyes of grace.
What's in your cupboard?
- Plastic kitchen serving/stirring spoon
- Empty & clean individual size plastic juice bottle filled with pennies (or beads)
- Empty, clear plastic hand soap dispenser filled with water (bath toy)
- Nesting Tupperware containers
- Tupperware container with a lid filled with pennies (or anything that makes noise)
- Sponge & container to squeeze water into (bath toy)
- Empty, clean diaper wipe container with a top that opens by pushing a button
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sparkling Names
The sign reminds me of the tendency of Amy Carmichael & Anne Shirley to give ordinary and plain places more imaginative names. Instead of "the bathroom or restroom", Amy called it The Place, creating mystery & politeness around something unremarkable. Barry's Pond became The Lake of Shining Waters to Anne, allowing the simple pond to take on a romantic and magical element.
It's the art of naming, a skill I don't possess - as illustrated by my scarecrow name poll!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
A Bit of Fall Nostalgia
Fall decor has been on my "to-do" and my shopping lists this past week. I found a very cheap small pumpkin the other day which made its home on the bookshelf in our entryway. Two other very cute miniature pumpkins nestled on my kitchen counter, but they needed one more friend. I decided a scarecrow would be perfect, and since I was planning on going out yesterday, thought it would be a good time to look for one. But then I remembered making rag dolls and rag rugs out of strips of leftover material when I was a kid. It's been many years since then; even so, my hands had an itching to try it again. So out came the big sewing tub and I began to dig through it, searching for pieces of fabric that would be long enough. Ainsley was playing on the floor with the toys I brought downstairs for her, but she wasn't really interested in them. Instead she discovered (again) the fabric that used to be my living room curtains which is now tossed under my sewing table. I don't usually let her play with it, but yesterday was different - it was crafting day. And she needed a "craft" as well. While I cut strips of cloth, Ainsley rolled around with that fabric, pulled it this way and that, and even caught her leg in it a couple times.
"Together" we created a rag doll scarecrow with a little set of overalls, patches included; a shirt; a handkerchief; and a straw hat. He took his rightful place by the two pumpkins on my kitchen counter. The only thing left to do is to give him a name. I'm terrible at giving names - really terrible. I think it took me at least a week to name my kitty once I brought him home and then I called him "Bashful", the complete opposite of what his personality turned out to be. So, I need some help - please vote in the poll to the left and help me name this little guy!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Four Things - Belated
Four Things...
Four jobs I've had:
1. Babysitter
2. PretzelMaker worker
3. Church Youth Intern
4. Barista
Four movies I've seen more than once:
1. You've Got Mail
2. While You Were Sleeping
3. Aladdin
4. Pride and Prejudice (the long BBC version)
Four TV shows I watch:
1. The Office
2. CSI
3. Monk
4. Chuck
Four places I've been:
1. Thailand
2. Maine
3. Niagara Falls
4. Monaco
Four people who email me regularly:
1. My Mom
2. Brandi
3. Rosa
4. ??
Four of my favorite foods:
1. Cheese
2. Strawberries
3. Chicken
4. Dark Chocolate
Four things I'm looking forward to in the next year:
1. My 25th Birthday!
2. Ainsley's 1st Christmas
3. Fall
4. Christmas in Iowa
And now I'll tag Steph.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
The Weathermen were 100%
There are still plenty of people who were affected and could use your prayers for safety, quick cleanup & restoration of their property. Two of my cousins are in South Texas with my aunt & uncle waiting out the storm, and friends of ours have families' in the Houston area. Our prayers are with you!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Hurricane Ike
Say, what?!!
That's right - a few days.
I still might have ignored the newscaster's advice had there not been something else that confirmed their story. Yesterday morning, I had emailed some girlfriends to see if anyone was up for hanging out today since Heath would be at class all day. At first, they were all gung-ho about doing something fun, but as the day wore on, emails trickled in...
"...I saw the weather report, and well, uh, maybe we should hold off on making plans."
"Yeah, it looks like it's going to hit around noon, so maybe this isn't such a good idea."
"Let's play it by ear."
Skepticism meets Worry. All of these girls are seasoned Texans and know much, much more about hurricanes than I do. Since the storm is supposed to hit us around noon or 1pm with the strength of a tropical storm, I decided it would be better to be safe than sorry. I made an "emergency" run to Walmart at 6:30 this morning. My goal - non perishable things to eat. Not my forte. I try to stay far away from packaged foods 1) because generally they aren't extremely healthy and 2) because if it's in the house I will eat all of it! I wandered the aisles of Walmart and here's what I left with:
Besides the food, I picked up a couple more candles and topped off my tank of gas. Of course, if the anticipated deluge of rain hits us, our street will be flooded, and my full tank of gas rendered useless. Heath filled up our giant camping water jug. Now we just wait. Mostly I hope we don't have to go without electricity for too long. Which reminds me, I better do some laundry, take a shower, and make coffee now, just in case.
All this fades in comparison to what the people of Houston & Galveston and all the cities in between are facing. Many of them had to evacuate their homes, leaving precious things behind and taking only a few essentials. And now they get to wait out the storm in some warehouse or gym with 300 other people. When I think of that and of what they might have left (or not have left) when they return to their homes, I'm ashamed of my worries, humbled, and ready to get on my knees for them.
measured heaven with a span
and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure?
Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?"
"Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us."
Isaiah 40:12; Psalm 62:8
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Fabric, Fabric
I made another one for a friend at church who had a baby girl this summer, but it was more of the typical girl blanket. I didn't think to take a picture of it, but I think it turned out very pretty. Then last week, I made a third - this time for a friend in Iowa who is due mid-October to have a baby girl. This one was especially fun because I took Ainsley to the fabric store with me to pick out fabric. She sat so big in her stroller and enjoyed looking at all the brightly colored fabric. Anyway, here's the finished product. (And a note: their theme is more green & yellow and animals than pink & purple, so that's the direction I went with their blanket.)
I tend to have creative spurts, mostly because it costs money (not a lot, but still money). So whenever I get an excuse to make something new, I run with it! After I thought of making the most recent quilt, it was finished in 2 days and in the mail within a week. The downside of that is I'm back to not having a project to work on! Actually, that's not true - I have some photos of Ainsley that need to be scrapbooked...perhaps I'll work on that tonight!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
"Not Even A Sparrow...
Lest I forget that the Lord watches over and cares for us, I had an alarming reminder on Monday morning. I left earlier than normal for work, hoping to have time to stop for coffee. It didn't happen exactly as I imagined. About 20 minutes into my drive, I heard a horrible "WAP WAP, WAP WAP" and knew I had to get off the highway immediately. (I have no idea how to describe the noise I heard in letters, so just use your imagination.) For the past week or so, I've been thinking that my car was making more noise than usual, but after mentioning it to Heath, I chalked it up to paranoia because of the recent trips to the mechanic. So, I was driving unusually & tediously careful. The Lord watches over us. Since I had left so early, the traffic was light and it was easy to move quickly from the far left lane to the right shoulder. The Lord watches over us. I called Heath from my cell. The Lord watches over us. He not only was home, but not terribly busy, so he left right away (after waking Ainsley up and gathering a bottle & diapers for her). The Lord watches over us. He pulled off the left rear tire, noticing that the tread had slowly started to come off - rather than blowing all at once. The Lord watches over us. This was the same tire which the mechanic had noticed was soon in need of replacement and had kindly moved it from the front of the car to the rear. The Lord watches over us. The offending tire removed, the spare was replaced, without either Heath or I (or Ainsley in the backseat of Heath's car) being run over by the speeding Highway traffic. The Lord watches over us. We were able to get to a nearby Discount Tire and get a new tire, which would be ready in an hour. We had time to go out for breakfast and coffee!!! The Lord watches over us. So, a couple hours later and a spontaneous date, we were back home safe & sound. (I had called work to tell them I wouldn't be in after all.)
Yes, the Lord watches over us!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Keeping Busy
Besides working and watching, playing with and trying to teach our little girl, I've been creating a few things of my own. In the evenings, I hop onto AllRecipes.com, which is a fantastic place to find any sort of recipe to you want - simple, different, easy, international, homecooking, desserts. You can also sign up (for free) for an account and get a digital recipe box. It's wonderful! My sister-in-law introduced me to the recipe box, and I can't get enough of it.
I love to find and try new recipes. In the past week or so, we've tried Bacon Wrapped Chicken, Chicken Pot Pie, Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup, and Turkey Shepherd's Pie for dinner. Each turned out great and were put in the "Definitely Will Eat Again" category. Dinner is something I have to make (at least several times a week) so it's imperative to make it fun.
I also like to try new "just for fun" recipes - those that you don't have to make every day. Things like desserts, breads, and appetizers fall into that category for me. With zucchini in abundance and cheap these days, I've been craving zucchini bread. After searching AllRecipes, I found two promising recipes. I tried the first and didn't even glance at the second. The best part about it is it's relatively healthy. The recipe calls for brown sugar and honey rather than white sugar and uses some whole wheat flour. Yummy and healthy?! Awesome! And the recipe was huge, making enough to put in the freezer and give away!
Another recent craving necessitated a recipe search - lemon bars. The first ones I made - no good. They had WAY too much lemon in them. I like the kind of lemon bars that just barely have a lemony hint. So I searched again, this time striking gold. Another fantastic recipe!
Cooking hasn't been my only creative outlet. I've also been painting quite a bit, making new card designs and building up my stash. I don't like to be out of note cards - I never know when I may need one. Here's what I've been up to:
These are the "classic" cards that I've been making for years.
For this one, I used a brown paper sack to paint on and attached it to the white card stock with a bit of ribbon.
This is my new bouquet design, in a variety of colors.
I also tried a single flower; I'd love to know what you think about these!
All in all, I'm having fun trying new things while I take care of our little family and home!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Surprise!!
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Another Favorite from Grosgrain
Click the link below to see it.
Train Stop Shirt Dress GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
return of the prodigal cd
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Pasta
1. I am incredible impressed with anyone who makes their own pasta.
2. Next time I do this (if ever) I will make a bigger batch.
3. If I ever do this again, I would like a noodle cutter machine to be in my possession.
4. Buying a 16 oz box of noodles for $1.25 never sounded so great!
Lest you think that I am completely discouraged from trying new things, think again. Despite the work and little frustrations, this was a delightful experience. Besides, now I can say that I've made my own pasta!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Coupons That Actually Save Money
But alas, I completely spaced when the pharmacy dude asked if I wanted him to ring up all of my items. I guess that threw me off because I did not give him my $1.50 off kitty litter coupon or my get-a-free-$10-gift-card-coupon.
I realized my blunder after arriving home, but couldn't turn around then and it didn't work out to return the rest of the day. Instead, Ainsley and I headed off this morning hoping for favor from the Customer Service representatives. I think they would have liked to help me; there were four women working on it and trying several different options. They gave me a $1.50 for the kitty litter coupon, but they just couldn't swing the $10 gift card. They couldn't return the prescription and then re-sell it because that's unethical (I guess) and also because it would look like they were giving out more pills than they're getting paid for. I couldn't argue too much with that because Heath & I have a friend who is a pharmacist and I would hate for him to get in trouble for something like this. Still, it was quite a bummer. I walked out of Target with tears brimming - mostly out of frustration that I had forgotten the coupon in the first place. And now I have a perfectly good coupon that I can't use (since I already filled a new prescription).
Ah well, perhaps that's the kick in the pants I needed so I won't forget again!
Friday, May 23, 2008
all about me
I am…an artist wannabe.
I want…a soy latte.
I wish…that I loved to run.
I hate…bugs in my house, especially the unmentionables (roaches) which grow much too large in hot places.
I miss…the fields of
I fear…failure.
I feel…content.
I hear…baby Ainsley “talking” as she plays.
I smell…the glorious fresh air!
I crave…chocolate ice cream & fresh strawberries. (together of course!)
I search….for great bargains.
I wonder…at the miracle of a baby.
I regret…misplacing my favorite CD – Music from the Coffee Lands.
I love…rising early.
I ache…when my daughter cries.
I care…about my family.
I always…take a shower, even on Christmas morning.
I am not…a risk-taker.
I believe…that the grace of God is enough for me.
I dance…when I’m feeling giddy and silly.
I sing...when I’m alone.
I cry…most often when I’m extremely tired.
I don’t always…turn off the lights when I exit a room. I’m getting better, though!
I fight…rarely, but when I do, it is generally when I’m tired and over insignificant things.
I write…letters. Call me old-fashioned, but I still love snail mail more than email.
I never…floss. I really should start.
I listen…to the morning traffic reports on the way to work.
I need…the words of God throughout the day.
I am happy…with a cup of coffee in hand & sitting across the table from a good friend.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Danger! Watch for Falling Objects!
Anyway...
I have this wonder of a corner cabinet which has a three tier spinny thing in lieu of regular shelves. It used to work great; I would spin it and find whichever measuring cup or leftover dish was needed. Recently, it has randomly fallen out of it's groove thereby dumping its contents into my surprised and clumsy hands. Luckily nothing has broken. It had become so hostile towards me that finally I removed everything and stacked it as nicely as I could on the counters. This temporary solution, however, had reached the end of my patience this weekend. I decided to tackle my Number 2 problem - cleaning out the cabinets. The thing is, in the process of cleaning, I decided to rearrange a few of my cabinets. It may take a few days for me to open the correct cabinet! Toward the end of this project, my sweet husband hauled his toolbox upstairs and began to look into my Number 1 problem - the leaning tower of Pisa. We were shocked to find out that the reason the spinny thing had been falling more often lately is because the bottom of the whole cabinet was slowly falling out. It's a good thing it didn't - can you imagine the disaster?! He got right to work. Just a few minutes and a handful of screws later, all was fixed. The spinny thing is sturdier than ever! Yea! All thanks to my brilliant husband!
So, my kitchen is organized, clean, and no longer a hazard zone. I keep glancing in and smiling. It's quite satisfying to finish a project and get to enjoy the results!
Ironically, as I was putting the finishing touches on the kitchen, Heath said,
"Wouldn't it be funny to take a picture of your sparkling clean kitchen and then compare it to a picture of my not-so-sparkling clean office area?"
Laughing, I said, "Why, yes, it would. It's funny, though, that each means we've been working hard - your desk area is covered with stacks of monster books because of the papers and projects you've been working on. And the kitchen is clean because I've been working to clean it."
That begs the question: Is cleanliness really next to godliness?
Nevertheless, when I arrived home from work this morning, the desk and its surrounding area was looking much less cluttered. Thanks, Babe! He knows how much happier I am with less clutter!
By the way, Mom, I found two lids that belong to you. I'll try to remember to bring them up this summer.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
a lesson in power
Our power is out again. I really need to stop giving it fun money and time off. (see last post) When I realized at 12:45am that the intense thunderstorms had once again knocked out our electricity, my heart sank. The first time this happened two weeks ago it was rather fun, but today I just thought, "What in the world am I going to do with myself all day?" Most days the time flies as I make breakfast (toast and coffee, neither of which I can have this morning), begin the work day on the computer, do some laundry, and fix dinner. Some days I am up for a little spontaneity. Today is not one of those days. Nonetheless, I tried to gear my mind into creative mode. What beneficial things can I do today which don't require electricity? So I pulled out my paints, brushes, and cardstock and got to work on building my supply of notecards. Other tasks on today's to-do list include: reading more of "The Grace Awakening" by Charles Swindoll, going to the church to lend an administrative hand on a project, perhaps organizing my art supplies, making a grocery list for next week, and spending extra time playing with Ainsley - maybe we'll even go for a walk! Hmmmm...all of a sudden, it sounds like a productive and energizing day. I can't wait to begin!
P.S. Almost as soon as I had finished writing the above paragraph, I heard the beep of the microwave clock, the humming of the refrigerator, and the whirring of the ceiling fan. Bummer, now my plans are changing again! What do you suppose I did first? I turned on the computer, reset the clocks, and made a strong pot of coffee. I gained something valuable this morning - 30 half finished notecards and a better appreciation of how little control I have over my life. With just a word, the Lord send thunder & lightening so powerful that the electric power which runs everything upon which I depend is rendered ineffective.
Does the rain have a father?
Who fathers the drops of dew?
and can your voice thunder like his?
What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,
or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?
Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
and a path for the thunderstorm,
to water a land where no man lives,
a desert with no one in it,
to satisfy a desolate wasteland
and make it sprout with grass?
Friday, April 11, 2008
life in the olden days
I began to think through my normal morning activities. Which of them, if any, could I actually accomplish? I definitely could not work because I had to access my work computer from the home computer which would not run without the electricity. Laundry and dishes were off the list; I was glad that I was caught up with both anyway. I couldn't work on budget stuff because I needed my laptop for that. It seemed that I was down to the basics...take a quick shower and then read. I was glad. I've had books piling up that I want to read; this was the perfect chance to just read guilt-free. So I did - I relished my quiet, distraction free day. I finished two books, which were both wonderful in their own ways. I played with Ainsley more than I usually do, which was quite fun! If she were older, we would have spent the day pretending we lived in the days of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her Little House in the Big Woods. Those days will come quickly enough, so for now she sat in her Bumbo and grinned. And I had time to think about how I love the little things in life - wildflowers growing beside the highway, a monarch alighting on a twig, watching Ainsley play with her hands, listening to the birds sing their sweet song. I don't ever want to get to the point where I ignore these things.
When Heath returned from class & work, we all went for a walk and out for dinner. We even stopped to talk with our neighbors, something we are usually too shy or too busy to do. Not having electricity made us bolder, more alert, and more compassionate toward our neighbors. It was great to connect with people so different from us.
The day began unlike any other day and ended in the same way. And despite my dislike of change and spontaneity, it was surprisingly refreshing. It made me wish that I was born in the olden days...almost. I really like that we have plumbing.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
In Memorium
Before I continue, I should give you a little of my background in botany: Every summer when I was young I helped my mom plant, weed, and harvest a vegetable garden in our backyard. But somehow, there's a difference between helping with mom's garden and owning my own plants. I think it was my freshman year of college that I got my first ivy plant. I thought it was beautiful and couldn't wait for it to grow. And it may have sprouted a little, but mostly it just turned yellow and finally died. I couldn't understand what had happened. Here's to you, little ivy - I'm so sorry I didn't know what to do for you.
Then there was ivy #2; I guess I thought I would do better the second time around. Instead of improving, my little ivy fared much worse than the first one. Poor ivy #2; I'm sorry I was just too busy to pay any attention to you.
Now, you're up to date and we can continue with the Dallas plant saga. For a short time, I had several plants - a sweet smelling Jasmine; a fragrant Rosemary; some kind of flower that I never saw sprout, much less bloom; and I'm sure there was another one, but I just can't remember it. None of these plants lasted too long, either. The Jasmine was left out in the scorching Texas sun for too long. The Rosemary was over watered or under watered - I don't know which. And the flowers, well, the poor things just never got a chance. Soon all I had was a pile of empty pots.
What's funny, though, is that despite my obvious bad luck or irresponsibility or black thumb, I still relish the idea of having a deck covered with wonderful green plants! So, last year when a woman at work said I could snip a bit of her ivy, how could I pass up the opportunity? This was my chance! She said if I put it in water for a few weeks, roots would grow, and then I could plant it in a pot. So I got a styrofoam cup, filled it to the brim with water and gently placed the ivy in it. Days went by and I began to see little roots, then weeks, then months and the ivy was still sitting on my desk in its styrofoam planter. Finally, I brought it home, put it in a pot, and set it on the windowsill above my kitchen sink. I'm sure I haven't given it any more attention than any of my other plants, at least not on purpose. But a couple weeks ago, I noticed a tiny leaf forming on the end of it. Oh boy, was I excited! Not only have I managed to not kill it, but it seems to be growing!
Here's to you, Little Ivy #3, I truly hope you have a long and luscious life!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
an unusually exciting day
Congrats to the Mamminas & Andersons!
something new
You non-coffee lovers, I know you're still reading, so I'll say it for you. I may be a little bit crazy.
I've been sitting here for 5 minutes trying to think of a title, and this is the best I've come up with; please humor me and keep reading!
But then, the inevitable happened; my fairy tale ended, the bubble burst, hopes were dashed. For late last night, as Heath and I were headed to bed, we saw a light dusting of snow covering the grass, rooftops, and vehicles. "What?!" I exclaimed. A woman at work had mentioned that the weather people were now expecting snow, but I mean, really, what were the chances that we'd have snow now in March when there's been not a single ice or snow storm all year? Content with my fantasy of Spring, I had easily dismissed the thought.
Faint in my memory are such days in Iowa, where an unexpected snowstorm would interrupt Spring's arrival. At least in Iowa, everyone knows that snow is possible even through April (even though its not often welcome). I just thought Texas was bigger than that. Texas is independent, the only state to join the Union voluntarily, and the only one that can legally cede at any time. Can't someone here decide that when Spring comes, the snow stays away?
This is all in jest, really, because I know just as much as the seasoned Texan that the snow will melt by 9am, and we probably won't see another hint of winter until next November.
So, stubbornly, with the snow covered roofs in plain sight, I gleefully exclaim, "Welcome, Spring!"
Monday, February 18, 2008
once upon a time, there was a perfect morning...
Naturally, last night around 6pm I started thinking about everything I would need to do and take with me this morning. I put the box of papers that need to be filed at the office by the stairs so I wouldn't forget them. I got a bottle for Ainsley ready to go in the refrigerator. I made sure I had diapers, wipes, and a changing pad in my purse. I reminded Heath that I'd have to wake him up early so he could move his car from behind mine. I even planned out what both Ainsley and I would wear on this BIG day, all the way down to shoes and socks. For those who may be interested it was a classic black shirt and jean jacket with comfy khakis for me and cute green and white outfit for her. I thought through how long getting myself ready and fed and Ainsley dressed and fed would take and set my alarm clock accordingly. And then I went to bed assured that everything was just right, planned perfectly so that the following morning would go off without a hitch.
I awoke this morning to my lovely alarm music and only dilly-dallied for a minute before getting out of bed. The morning went exactly as planned; both Ainsley and I were dressed, fed, and ready to go by 7am. I was quite pleased to be walking out the door right on time. (If my life was a B-rated movie, this is the point where a song going something like "pride goes before the fall" would start playing.) After backing the car out of the driveway, I put it into drive and looked up into a completely fogged over windshield. Immediately frustrated, I pulled the car over, blasted the defrost, and impatiently leaned back to wait until I could once again see the oncoming traffic. All you who live in the North are shaking your heads at me right about now - how could I, a good Iowa girl, forget that a cold car needs time to warm up?! My justification is that it is so rarely cold here, it is usually safe to assume that I won't need to utilize my cold weather common sense. Anyway, a full twenty minutes later, I was finally leaving our neighborhood. I was fuming as I merged with the early morning traffic on the nearby highway. I mean really, what Dallasarian would ever think to add more time in their schedule to allow for car window to defrost?
And then I realized "I'm such a control freak!" I've never thought of myself as a control freak, but I can hardly deny it after such a performance. It had absolutely destroyed my mood to have one relatively small unexpected event disrupt my perfectly planned morning. Hmm...what a discovery! I guess it's true that you learn something new every day.
Friday, February 15, 2008
hi, my name is...what's my name, again?
Unconsciously, I think I've been trying to figure out where I fit into this new role as "Mother." (Doesn't just the name sound daunting and intimidating?) Even though I've been able to lay claim to this title for over 5 weeks, I am just now "feeling it". No one told me it would take this long before I'd feel comfortable considering myself "Mother." From everyone's comments, I assumed I would just slip into the role naturally, without any confusion as to where "I" come in. What I mean by that is this: Pre-Ainsley (from here on out, PA) I knew who I was and what sorts of roles and activities characterized my life. I was wife, daughter, sister, friend, employee, co-worker, neighbor. I took care of the house, cooked, worked, hung out with Heath, enjoyed many creative outlets. Adding "Mother" to my established list threw a wrench in things, to say the least. Suddenly I had become feeder, bather, diaper changer, put-er to bed, story teller, teacher...you get the picture - a whole new list of activities and roles which til now were altogether unfamiliar to me. During those first weeks, my days and nights were quite consumed with feeding, waking, diapering, and playing with Ainsley. I had neither time nor energy to think much about my PA activites like cooking, cleaning, working, reading, shopping, going for walks, being creative, hanging out with friends. Was the new role "Mother" supposed to trump everything now? Are my PA activities and roles supposed to go into hibernation until the empty nest period?
Only in the past several days have I been able to begin processing all this to discover again how it fits together. True, I've added "Mother" to the top of my list of roles (after child of God and wife), but the PA me that I knew is still there. I still like to read, paint, scrapbook, cook, decorate, sew, crochet. My heart is still refreshed by creativity, deep friendships, a good book, and a cup of coffee. I am still interested in a great bargain, in hunting down the perfect gift, in trying new & different recipes. I am still Me. Me just also happens to be "Mother" to a precious baby girl named Ainsley. And I'm so glad to discover that I am and can be both! I love the new "Mother" emotions I'm experiencing - hurting when she's in pain, glee when she's happy, relief when she falls asleep, anticipation of her next milestone, the desire to protect her, hope that she'll understand her need for a Savior, pride in her accomplishments, and a deeper trust that the One who made her and gave her to me loves her more than I ever could. I love the idea of teaching her how to tie her shoes, color in the lines, bake cookies, and write a research paper. But most of all, I love that I've been given the awesome joy and responsibility to teach and train this little one to be a godly woman who will be a refreshing light in this dark world.
Hi, my name is Kristen, and I am a Mother.