I was driving. He was crying. As desperately as I tried, there was zip, zero, zilch I could say to ease his sorrows. He just whimpered… and whined… and worried. We were on our way to swimming lessons, after all. Scary, awful, torturous swimming lessons — instructed by the deplorable, eight-legged Ursula herself. [Or so my son’s anxiety would lead one to believe.] Truth be told, he has been a water warrior since nine-months of age. On this particular day, however, he was making a mountain out of a molehill. So much so, he missed the trucks. Trucks – the very reason he breathes – were zooming past his window.…
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As Easy As #1, #2, #3
I signed up for this. Yep, sure did. Used permanent marker and everything. #2 was rearin’ to go in the 5AM hour (ahhhgain), with #1 and #3 quick on his heels, darkness mocking us through the window. With her 3AM smorgasbord erased from her memory, #3 was amped up for breakfast while #1 and #2 were just amped up — lap after obnoxious lap around our house on their riding toys — darkness still pointing and snickering. #1 and #2 played, whined/argued, got dressed, whined/argued, watched a show, whined/argued, made a flipping mess of our house, whined/argued, and rounded out the morning with some whining and arguing. #1 eventually left…
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Dear God
Dear God, Thank you for this day. I must profess… I am killin’ it today! Not once have I complained or grumbled. Nor have I been impatient or ungrateful. I have not disregarded any of my responsibilities or any of the people placed along my path. I have not fussed at my children. I have not overanalyzed, overreacted, or felt overcome by an overly overloaded To-Do list. The goings-on in the world have not threatened my joy, and I have not ingested an exorbitant amount of sugar. I have not gossiped or worried or been dishonest or generated excuses or required ten deep breaths or caused my hubby to wish…
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An Elephant and a Donkey
She inherited two Beanie Babies this summer. Their fur is decorated in stars and stripes. Red, white, and blue. An elephant and a donkey. We named them Trump and Clinton – seemed fitting. Just an innocent little girl and her two stuffed friends. Oblivious to their symbolism. Unaware of politics, policies, promises, and party lines. Simply loving each animal for its yarn mane or its wavy trunk. Getting lost in imagination as her patriotic pals play — get this — together. She went to bed last night with those bean-filled animals by her side… and she woke up this morning with the elephant packed in her book bag. And that…
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Happy Mother’s Day
We can read books. We can solicit advice. We can pray. Each is helpful. All are wonderful. Yet – for me – one of the most valuable tools in learning to become a loving, devoted, and passionate mom is… being in the presence of a loving, devoted, and passionate mom. Even as wide-eyed children, we may not see it until hindsight is 20/20. I see it now. Good gracious was my mom good and gracious!! Her name is Momma. She is mine. Well, not entirely. I share her with three of my best friends. Her KAOTIC4. We were her sunshines, her only sunshines… her top priority… the pleasure of her…
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My SAHM Vent
Like every good book, let me begin with a preface. (1) I love my children. Madly. (2) I have chosen – of my own free will – to be home with my kiddos. SAHM is an acronym for which I am both fortunate and grateful. (3) The good days supersede the bad. (4) My husband is a rockstar teammate. Rockstar. (5) Our village is inhabited by ridiculously awesome people. (6) Life is good. It really, really is. [End preface] OK, now it’s time to be really frank. Frankly, it’s time to be real. Staying home with kids is H-A-R-D. There are days – and many moments during those days –…
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Bidding Farewell to 2015
My sentiments last New Year’s Eve came from Dr. Seuss: “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” A lighthearted little quote intended for simple inspiration. A gentle nudge to begin day 1 of 365 with cheerful anticipation. “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” Those nine words flow effortlessly from the tongue of someone wrapping up an awesomely normal year. It’s easy to possess a positive outlook when your days have been [for the most part] easy. So I suppose the true test – the ultimate test – comes when life DOES make you cry. When you find yourself walking aimlessly through the valley of the…
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Not Everything Changes Though Everything is Different
This week I heard something that has stuck with me. “Not everything changes though everything is different.” When my dad went to Heaven on February 24, my world stopped. Yet the rest of the world kept going. I wanted to shout at the top of my lungs, “Hello people!!! I just lost my dad!!! Stop! Please just stop!!!” It seemed only fair. But the world didn’t stop. As a matter of fact, life went on. That included MY life. Day after day, things around me were very much the same (whether I liked it or not). The same responsibilities. The same routines. The same distractions. The same sunrises and the…
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Give It To God
Nowhere in the Bible does it say… “God will never give you more than you can handle.” It’s a nice sentiment, and it’s often said by nice people. But the truth is… sometimes we ARE given more than we can humanly handle. Life can feel crushingly heavy, to the point it’s hard to breath. So what do we do? We give our trial, our heartache, and our pain to the one who makes this promise, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you…
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I Have Run
I have run and trained for five months. I have run countless miles and seemingly endless hours. I have trained by myself – with no music, with no running partner. I have been coached and given priceless advice from fellow runners. I have started days with a 4:30 AM run; I have ended days with a 9:30 PM run. I have run in the dark – unable to see the ground beneath me. I have run in the bright sunlight – my eyes squinting and watering. I have run on streets, on sidewalks, through neighborhoods, on nature trails, in the water, and through world famous theme parks. I have run…