No, not the Christmas season...not yet. Thanksgiving. The bridesmaid, never the bride of the seasonal calendar. Everyone wants to rush right past it and get to the gifts but I really like Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday and I refuse to be pushed into Christmas until Thanksgiving has been given it's allotted time. But I will admit that I have already done some online Christmas shopping...sssshhhh!
Perhaps I like this holiday because I really like autumn. There's something about the cold mornings, the leaves, the feeling of storing up for bad weather...it resonates with me. Right now I'm sitting in front of a fire, drinking a cup of coffee. The kids are still sleeping and the house is quiet. It's just about perfect (except that my hubby has left for his shift...that part sucks). I have an overwhelming sense of contentment and thankfulness. Granted, that may change when the heathens wake up but that's why I'm writing this now while I can enjoy it.
It's good for me to be thankful, even if it's just been brought on by the season. Too many time I'm caught up in what we can't afford or don't have time to do...it's good to be brought back to the basics. Is our house wonderful and big and everything we wanted? Nope. But it is sound and warm and where each of our kids will remember being raised. It holds our pictures and our memories and the kid's height against the wall. We don't have everything and we don't have a lot but we do have more than some and just enough for us. And what we have is directly related to how much we have worked for it and that fact makes it even more precious than any price tag can state.
So, this Thanksgiving my goal is to be thankful in all things and try to keep this attitude throughout the day...even when the kids are awake.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
The Joy of Driving with NO kids...
First, let me just say that I love my kids. Most every day. But...there is a certain joy I derive from being in my car by myself. The freedom to listen to anything or nothing is one of the purest forms of independence a mother can have. And I claim it every chance I get.
I drove to town today to get some office supplies before picking up the kids at school and I enjoyed every moment. See, I like a lot of music and some of the music I like is not suitable for my children. Judge me if you must but some of my favorite songs are explicit. And I like my music loud. Feel it in your chest loud. Leave you ears humming loud. Don't get me wrong, I am not one of those annoying people who cranks their music up so that every car in a block radius hears it. I tone it down when in town. But, we live out in the countryside, so I have a good 20-30 minutes of drive time, cruising at 60, with no one around to hear me listening to Marilyn Manson at high decibels. Yea, it's nice.
So as I was driving along today with Pink's 'Raise Your Glass' turned way up, I got to thinking about people and the music they like. Some people are easy to read, there is no mystery to the music they listen to. Most of those people know all the words to songs like "Honkytonk Badonkadonk". (I have no idea if I spelled that right and I don't really care) Then there are some people who are like little musical onions...each band is like another layer of their personality. I like people like that. I like to get to know someone by what they listen to because I think it tells you interesting things about them. I've been known to raise or lower my estimation of someone based on their musical tastes: you like Coldplay? Hhhmm...sorry, down you go. Know who Veruca Salt is? Bonus!! Listen to mainstream country? Back of the line buddy. Listen to Cake or Foster the People? We will get along great! Ok...you get the point.
If you really want to know someone, listen to their running playlist. Of all the playlists people make for themselves this one should tell you who they are when they aren't putting up respectable fronts. Those are the songs that move you, motivate you and tap into whatever it is you need to find when your a few miles into the run. So, in the spirit of honest blogging, here is my running playlist...a little glimpse into my brain, a few layers of my onion. Enjoy.
Pumped Up Kicks - Foster the People
Ain't Nothing Wrong With That - Robert Randolph & the Family Band
Volcano Girls - Veruca Salt
All My Life - Foo Fighters
Cold Hard Bitch - Jet
Watch It Burn - Disciple
Lights & Sounds - Yellowcard
Raise Your Glass - Pink
The Beautiful People - Marilyn Manson
Seether - Veruca Salt
Bridge Burning - Foo Fighters
DOA - Foo Fighters
Put Your Hands On Me - Joss Stone
Hammerhead - The Offspring
6 Gun Quota - Seether
Whatever - Godsmack
Down With the Sickness - Disturbed
I drove to town today to get some office supplies before picking up the kids at school and I enjoyed every moment. See, I like a lot of music and some of the music I like is not suitable for my children. Judge me if you must but some of my favorite songs are explicit. And I like my music loud. Feel it in your chest loud. Leave you ears humming loud. Don't get me wrong, I am not one of those annoying people who cranks their music up so that every car in a block radius hears it. I tone it down when in town. But, we live out in the countryside, so I have a good 20-30 minutes of drive time, cruising at 60, with no one around to hear me listening to Marilyn Manson at high decibels. Yea, it's nice.
So as I was driving along today with Pink's 'Raise Your Glass' turned way up, I got to thinking about people and the music they like. Some people are easy to read, there is no mystery to the music they listen to. Most of those people know all the words to songs like "Honkytonk Badonkadonk". (I have no idea if I spelled that right and I don't really care) Then there are some people who are like little musical onions...each band is like another layer of their personality. I like people like that. I like to get to know someone by what they listen to because I think it tells you interesting things about them. I've been known to raise or lower my estimation of someone based on their musical tastes: you like Coldplay? Hhhmm...sorry, down you go. Know who Veruca Salt is? Bonus!! Listen to mainstream country? Back of the line buddy. Listen to Cake or Foster the People? We will get along great! Ok...you get the point.
If you really want to know someone, listen to their running playlist. Of all the playlists people make for themselves this one should tell you who they are when they aren't putting up respectable fronts. Those are the songs that move you, motivate you and tap into whatever it is you need to find when your a few miles into the run. So, in the spirit of honest blogging, here is my running playlist...a little glimpse into my brain, a few layers of my onion. Enjoy.
Pumped Up Kicks - Foster the People
Ain't Nothing Wrong With That - Robert Randolph & the Family Band
Volcano Girls - Veruca Salt
All My Life - Foo Fighters
Cold Hard Bitch - Jet
Watch It Burn - Disciple
Lights & Sounds - Yellowcard
Raise Your Glass - Pink
The Beautiful People - Marilyn Manson
Seether - Veruca Salt
Bridge Burning - Foo Fighters
DOA - Foo Fighters
Put Your Hands On Me - Joss Stone
Hammerhead - The Offspring
6 Gun Quota - Seether
Whatever - Godsmack
Down With the Sickness - Disturbed
Friday, September 30, 2011
The 100
Okay...note it on the calendar: today is the first day of my new workout plan. I have let this 38 year old body get too far out of shape and I'm putting a stop to it NOW. Not only have I not run in weeks, due to a sick child, I haven't even walked on the treadmill this week. In fact, I haven't done a whole lot of anything physical this week and it's driving me batty. Especially since I had found this workout over the weekend and had been planning on starting it Monday morning. Then I had a puking kid on my lap for most of the week....
The workout is called 'The 100' and it's all around the internet in a variety of forms. I like that I can easily modify it for my needs. Here is what I came up with:
The workout is called 'The 100' and it's all around the internet in a variety of forms. I like that I can easily modify it for my needs. Here is what I came up with:
Monday - Wednesday - Friday
The 100 Workout – Lower Body
100 Lunges
90 Crunches
80 Squats
70 Leg Lifts
60 Lunges
50 Crunches
40 Squats
30 Leg Lifts
20 minutes of running
10 minutes of stretching
Tuesday – Thursday – Weekend
The Modified 100 Workout – Upper Body
50 Hand to Knee Pulls – each side
40 Curls
30 Chair Dips
20 Lat Raises
10 Pushups
50 Hand to Knee Pulls – each side
40 Curls
30 Chair Dips
20 Lat Raises
10 Pushups
Clearly the original (and I use that term loosely) plan is geared toward lower body exercises. So, I made up my own modified version to work my upper body. The beauty of this is that I can swap out exercises when my body becomes used to these. It's relatively quick...although it took me a while to get thru it this morning. And it's deceptively hard! When I first looked at it I thought, really? It's 4 or 5 exercises, repeated twice, how hard can that be? Answer: my legs are still shaking.
One of the driving forces behind getting myself in shape again is that I've been asked to be a part of a team running the Cascade Lakes Relay next summer. This is great on a bunch of different levels. First, I finally get to run with my very awesome cousin who is a very accomplished runner. Second, if gives me a concrete goal. I have to pay an entry fee and I have people counting on me. Third, I'm nothing if not competitive. I have no illusions of being the fastest person on the team but I'll be damned if I'm going to be the slowest.
So...here's to a new workout plan, healthy kids, a great cousin, a goal and a little competition!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Tattoos
See that line up there? The one right under the title of this blog? "I know what it is to live entirely for and with what I love best on earth". That's from Jane Eyre, my absolutely favorite book ever. And I mean EVER. I never paid attention to the book when I was growing up, it was just another english assignment. But, I picked it up and read it again last year and I was completely taken by it. I've re-read it several times and always find another layer of depth to the characters and storyline.
That particular line of literature is spoken by Jane at the end of the book when she finally finds happiness with Mr. Rochester. It struck me as the perfect line to sum up how I feel about my husband & my family. So much so that I had it tattooed on my side. Really. I did. It goes from my ribcage to my hip bone and is surrounded by some freehand scroll work done by the tattoo artist. I love it. Muchly. Most people respond to seeing it with "Oh my, that's big" or "Holy Cow", which always makes me smile. Not that I go around hiking up my shirt for people to see it. I've only shown it to a few family members and close friends. I didn't get it done to have a lot of people see it, I got it done for my own enjoyment. For me, I am glad to have a statement that means so much to me immortalized with me forever.
Soon I plan on getting my ring finger tattooed instead of wearing my wedding band. My ring broke last month and I lost the setting out of it. I took it off since it was catching on everything and now I'm totally used to not wearing it. But, I don't want it to appear that I'm single (especially as I'm dragging 3 kids around) I am going to have my husband's initial tattooed on there instead. A very simple 'M'.
And from there, who knows....I might get a few others. :)
That particular line of literature is spoken by Jane at the end of the book when she finally finds happiness with Mr. Rochester. It struck me as the perfect line to sum up how I feel about my husband & my family. So much so that I had it tattooed on my side. Really. I did. It goes from my ribcage to my hip bone and is surrounded by some freehand scroll work done by the tattoo artist. I love it. Muchly. Most people respond to seeing it with "Oh my, that's big" or "Holy Cow", which always makes me smile. Not that I go around hiking up my shirt for people to see it. I've only shown it to a few family members and close friends. I didn't get it done to have a lot of people see it, I got it done for my own enjoyment. For me, I am glad to have a statement that means so much to me immortalized with me forever.
Soon I plan on getting my ring finger tattooed instead of wearing my wedding band. My ring broke last month and I lost the setting out of it. I took it off since it was catching on everything and now I'm totally used to not wearing it. But, I don't want it to appear that I'm single (especially as I'm dragging 3 kids around) I am going to have my husband's initial tattooed on there instead. A very simple 'M'.
And from there, who knows....I might get a few others. :)
Monday, September 26, 2011
The Quilt Business That Wouldn't Die
About 4 years ago I started a custom quilting business out of my home. I purchased a mid-sized machine and set to work. My client base grew steadily and I found great satisfaction in the work. About a year and a half ago, the business really took off and I upgraded to a long-arm machine w/computerized options. I had 5-6 quilts in my sewing room/office at any given time and they just kept coming in.
Around this same time I got offered a job with an organization I had worked closely with through my work on the trade show. Fearing a missed opportunity if I passed it up, I jumped on board. I now had 3 jobs/businesses...all of which I could run from my at-home office. What I also had, over the next few months, were ulcers. Both of my office jobs have the same January deadline since they work in conjunction with each other and the vast majority of quilt clients wanted their quilts done by Christmas. I was living under one deadline after the other.
Don't get me wrong, I was glad for the work and job opportunities. There are a lot of people who don't have either right now so I'm not complaining. But, this spring I decided I had to let one of them go and the quilt business seemed like the easiest one. I made the decision, told a few clients and even posted it on Facebook (where the entire world could see it...ugh). However, the machine hasn't sold as of yet and, low and behold, the quilts keep coming in. "Could you do just one more before for me before your done?" and "It's just a little one...". Since I still have the machine and could use the extra cash, I've been taking them. And...that's how I continue to have quilt business even though I had every intention of closing up shop. In fact, as I write this I should be working on one of the 7 quilts I have sitting here because I have several others that are still on the To-Do list.
So...I could sit here and spin this into a 'grasping opportunities' schpeel or I could just get back to work and make the most of what's been set before me.
Around this same time I got offered a job with an organization I had worked closely with through my work on the trade show. Fearing a missed opportunity if I passed it up, I jumped on board. I now had 3 jobs/businesses...all of which I could run from my at-home office. What I also had, over the next few months, were ulcers. Both of my office jobs have the same January deadline since they work in conjunction with each other and the vast majority of quilt clients wanted their quilts done by Christmas. I was living under one deadline after the other.
Don't get me wrong, I was glad for the work and job opportunities. There are a lot of people who don't have either right now so I'm not complaining. But, this spring I decided I had to let one of them go and the quilt business seemed like the easiest one. I made the decision, told a few clients and even posted it on Facebook (where the entire world could see it...ugh). However, the machine hasn't sold as of yet and, low and behold, the quilts keep coming in. "Could you do just one more before for me before your done?" and "It's just a little one...". Since I still have the machine and could use the extra cash, I've been taking them. And...that's how I continue to have quilt business even though I had every intention of closing up shop. In fact, as I write this I should be working on one of the 7 quilts I have sitting here because I have several others that are still on the To-Do list.
So...I could sit here and spin this into a 'grasping opportunities' schpeel or I could just get back to work and make the most of what's been set before me.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Goodbye and Hello
Today I made the decision to leave Facebook. Not a huge deal but it did take a little convincing just because of how easily I can keep in touch with relatives and friends. But I got tired of the confusing changes, the hacking attempts and, quite frankly, the temptation to sit and waste chunks of time that I'll never get back.
So...I say goodbye to Facebook and hello to all the moments that I hope to gain back with this decision. Maybe it will even allow me to blog more often, who knows!
So...I say goodbye to Facebook and hello to all the moments that I hope to gain back with this decision. Maybe it will even allow me to blog more often, who knows!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Memento Mori
I've been thinking about time, and it's speediness, alot lately. I have two big things that I can point to as the reasoning for this train of thought: my kids and a vivid reminder of mortality.
My kids are constant reminders of how quickly time goes. It's a sneaky thing though...when your around people every day you really don't notice the changes that are happening. Which is why I love that my husband has set our computer up to scroll family pictures as our screen saver. When I'm working at the desk, I will look up to see a picture of Wyatt as a 3 year old, all bundled up to play in the snow. Or a 2 year old Kate giving me her gremlin face. Or Abby, just last year, on the soccer field. No matter what the age of the kid, its always a reminder of how quickly they change and grow. And then there's the way my son is growing...he's pushing 5'10", his feet are huge and he eats everything that's not green. The other day he looked at me, or should I say, he looked down at me and I could see facial hair! Facial hair, people!
The other reminder...a very potent reminder...was the passing of my brother-in-law. He was just shy of his 46th birthday. 46. That's only 8 years older than me. His diagnosis was so out-of-left-field, which I suppose is the way for most of them. And, as I suppose it is with most every death, it seems so unfair. It makes me realize that time can be so short and it can be taken away before we can do all that we think we will do 'someday'. I have so many 'somedays' in my life: someday I want to write a book, someday I will try sushi, someday I will travel to New England in the fall, someday we'll take the kids on a cross- country road trip through all the states, someday I want to dive with sharks. Someday. Someday. Except someday might not come. Someday doesn't come for everyone and it might not come for me. Morbid, but true. And something to remember...that's my Memento Mori.
My kids are constant reminders of how quickly time goes. It's a sneaky thing though...when your around people every day you really don't notice the changes that are happening. Which is why I love that my husband has set our computer up to scroll family pictures as our screen saver. When I'm working at the desk, I will look up to see a picture of Wyatt as a 3 year old, all bundled up to play in the snow. Or a 2 year old Kate giving me her gremlin face. Or Abby, just last year, on the soccer field. No matter what the age of the kid, its always a reminder of how quickly they change and grow. And then there's the way my son is growing...he's pushing 5'10", his feet are huge and he eats everything that's not green. The other day he looked at me, or should I say, he looked down at me and I could see facial hair! Facial hair, people!
The other reminder...a very potent reminder...was the passing of my brother-in-law. He was just shy of his 46th birthday. 46. That's only 8 years older than me. His diagnosis was so out-of-left-field, which I suppose is the way for most of them. And, as I suppose it is with most every death, it seems so unfair. It makes me realize that time can be so short and it can be taken away before we can do all that we think we will do 'someday'. I have so many 'somedays' in my life: someday I want to write a book, someday I will try sushi, someday I will travel to New England in the fall, someday we'll take the kids on a cross- country road trip through all the states, someday I want to dive with sharks. Someday. Someday. Except someday might not come. Someday doesn't come for everyone and it might not come for me. Morbid, but true. And something to remember...that's my Memento Mori.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
"Holy Crap is that the Sun?" aka "Oh, look it's Spring now"
Spring looks like it has finally arrived around here this week. Wahoo!
I have lived here all my life (except 2 years in Eastern Oregon) so I am completely used to the amount of rain, gloom and general darkness associated with a Willamette Valley Winter. That being said...I have had enough! I want to go to soccer practice without preparing to board the ark....I want to kick my kids outside to play...I want to get some freakin' Vitamin D! I'm not greedy, just every third day or so, could it not rain??
So thank God, the sun has finally arrived this week!! Everyone is in a better mood around here...even the animals. The pigs have come out of their little house to run around the pen, the steers are sunning themselves in the pasture, the chickens aren't hiding under the stock trailer to avoid the rain...it makes for a happy little farm!
And today we get to go play soccer without two giant umbrellas, under armour, towels and hats....that calls for a bit of a happy dance around the kitchen!
I have lived here all my life (except 2 years in Eastern Oregon) so I am completely used to the amount of rain, gloom and general darkness associated with a Willamette Valley Winter. That being said...I have had enough! I want to go to soccer practice without preparing to board the ark....I want to kick my kids outside to play...I want to get some freakin' Vitamin D! I'm not greedy, just every third day or so, could it not rain??
So thank God, the sun has finally arrived this week!! Everyone is in a better mood around here...even the animals. The pigs have come out of their little house to run around the pen, the steers are sunning themselves in the pasture, the chickens aren't hiding under the stock trailer to avoid the rain...it makes for a happy little farm!
And today we get to go play soccer without two giant umbrellas, under armour, towels and hats....that calls for a bit of a happy dance around the kitchen!
Monday, April 11, 2011
My Girls Rock
This Saturday was the opening game of my girls' spring soccer season. As I've alluded to in other posts, I love sports, so you know I was excited! I just love to see my girls out there on the field learning all the great things that sports can teach them: teamwork, winning well, losing well, sportsmanship and self-worth.
Anyway, this season is doubly great because both of my girls are on the same team. Kate, my older girl, is technically a U11 age but playing on a U12 team. Abby, my younger one, is usually in the U9 age bracket but was able to play up with the U12 team also. Both of my girls are the same height right now: short. In fact, our whole team is short...little...on the small side. And all the other teams are tall...big...huge. So, it gets a little rough out there on the field with younger, smaller girls taking on the bigger, older ones.
My girls didn't even flinch! Kate plays defender, or fullback, and she was blocking balls left & right! Sacrificing her body by taking shots to the stomach and legs...never pulling up or backing off once! It was amazing! Abby plays midfielder & forward. She was taking on girls feet taller than herself to get that ball. What she couldn't do with muscle & size, she did with footwork & agility...never giving an inch!
Watching them on the field fills me with pride and hope for their amazing futures. Whether they are on the soccer field, in the classroom or out on their own in the future, I know my girls are tough, resilient and talented...and that will take them where ever they want to go.
Anyway, this season is doubly great because both of my girls are on the same team. Kate, my older girl, is technically a U11 age but playing on a U12 team. Abby, my younger one, is usually in the U9 age bracket but was able to play up with the U12 team also. Both of my girls are the same height right now: short. In fact, our whole team is short...little...on the small side. And all the other teams are tall...big...huge. So, it gets a little rough out there on the field with younger, smaller girls taking on the bigger, older ones.
My girls didn't even flinch! Kate plays defender, or fullback, and she was blocking balls left & right! Sacrificing her body by taking shots to the stomach and legs...never pulling up or backing off once! It was amazing! Abby plays midfielder & forward. She was taking on girls feet taller than herself to get that ball. What she couldn't do with muscle & size, she did with footwork & agility...never giving an inch!
Watching them on the field fills me with pride and hope for their amazing futures. Whether they are on the soccer field, in the classroom or out on their own in the future, I know my girls are tough, resilient and talented...and that will take them where ever they want to go.
Friday, March 18, 2011
My Son
When I look at my son:
I see myself, in his rambling stories with 15 minutes of backstory, told at a volume that's just a tad too loud.
I see my husband, in his sense of sticking up for people and doing the right thing even if it hurts.
I see both of us in the flash of restrained anger in his eyes when we really crack down on him.
I see the baby he was, all pudge and roundness.
I see the toddler that spoke his own language that only we knew.
I see the sensitive heart that I fear will be broken by some girl soon.
I see the older brother who offered his sister some of his Blizzard last night when he realized that her ice cream was alot smaller than his.
I see the amazing athlete waiting to fully emerge from his quickly growing frame.
I see the inquisitive, and slightly obsessive, mind that can focus like a laser on his favorite topics.
I see equal parts mad scientist and artist.
I see his faith and pray that it never waivers.
I see a bad liar which makes me thankful.
I see my first born child and hope that I haven't messed him up too bad while I was learning to be a parent.
I see my child that I wish I could wrap in my arms and cuddle again without grossing him out.
I see a person that is growing so fast, physcially, mentally & emotionally, that I don't know if I even really know him anymore.
I see the man he might become and it makes me proud, hopeful and thankful, all at the same time.
I see myself, in his rambling stories with 15 minutes of backstory, told at a volume that's just a tad too loud.
I see my husband, in his sense of sticking up for people and doing the right thing even if it hurts.
I see both of us in the flash of restrained anger in his eyes when we really crack down on him.
I see the baby he was, all pudge and roundness.
I see the toddler that spoke his own language that only we knew.
I see the sensitive heart that I fear will be broken by some girl soon.
I see the older brother who offered his sister some of his Blizzard last night when he realized that her ice cream was alot smaller than his.
I see the amazing athlete waiting to fully emerge from his quickly growing frame.
I see the inquisitive, and slightly obsessive, mind that can focus like a laser on his favorite topics.
I see equal parts mad scientist and artist.
I see his faith and pray that it never waivers.
I see a bad liar which makes me thankful.
I see my first born child and hope that I haven't messed him up too bad while I was learning to be a parent.
I see my child that I wish I could wrap in my arms and cuddle again without grossing him out.
I see a person that is growing so fast, physcially, mentally & emotionally, that I don't know if I even really know him anymore.
I see the man he might become and it makes me proud, hopeful and thankful, all at the same time.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Mix-tape for my kids
Sometimes I wish it was like the 80s again and when we wanted to say how we felt for someone, we would make a mix-tape of songs to express ourselves. We put alot of time and thought into making sure those songs said what we couldn't, or wouldn't, say ourselves. I remember sitting with my handheld tape player, recording songs from the radio or another tape player...if you were getting songs from the radio you have to be quick on the 'stop' button so you didn't get the dj or the next song.
There are alot of things I would like to say to my kids but it seems like life takes my voice sometimes. Either I'm getting after them for their horribly messy bathroom or because they didn't do their homework or because they are eating a piece of cake for a snack. Or, like right now, I just can't bring myself to go there...for a vareity of reasons. So...here's my mix-tape to my kids. There's something in each of these songs that I want to pass on to my kids...sometimes it's something obvious and sometimes it's just a feeling I have when I listen to these songs.
Jack Johnson - Go On
Jack Johnson - Better Together
Jack Johnson - If I Could
Gary Allen - Life Aint Always Beautiful
Jennifer Knapp - Martyrs & Thieves
Jennifer Knapp - Lay It Down
Kutless - Strong Tower
Monk & Neagle - The Twenty First Time
Natalie Merchant - Wonder
Nickel Creek - The Hand Song
Nickel Creek - When You Come Back Down
Phil Wickham - Divine Romance
Sheryl Crow - Lullaby For Wyatt
Tenth Avenue North - Love Is Here
Tenth Avenue North - Hold My Heart
Addison Road - All That Matters
JJ Heller - When I'm With You
JJ Heller - What Love Really Means
JJ Heller - Boat Song
JJ Heller - Back Home
JJ Heller - Keep You Safe
JJ Heller - Lullaby
Jars of Clay - The Valley Song
Jars of Clay - Two Hands
Jars of Clay - Something Beautiful
This list could be revised and added to daily...music is such a big part of my life and an emotional outlet for me. It communicates to me and for me and someday I want my kids to hear all the things that these songs represent spoken from my mouth.
There are alot of things I would like to say to my kids but it seems like life takes my voice sometimes. Either I'm getting after them for their horribly messy bathroom or because they didn't do their homework or because they are eating a piece of cake for a snack. Or, like right now, I just can't bring myself to go there...for a vareity of reasons. So...here's my mix-tape to my kids. There's something in each of these songs that I want to pass on to my kids...sometimes it's something obvious and sometimes it's just a feeling I have when I listen to these songs.
Jack Johnson - Go On
Jack Johnson - Better Together
Jack Johnson - If I Could
Gary Allen - Life Aint Always Beautiful
Jennifer Knapp - Martyrs & Thieves
Jennifer Knapp - Lay It Down
Kutless - Strong Tower
Monk & Neagle - The Twenty First Time
Natalie Merchant - Wonder
Nickel Creek - The Hand Song
Nickel Creek - When You Come Back Down
Phil Wickham - Divine Romance
Sheryl Crow - Lullaby For Wyatt
Tenth Avenue North - Love Is Here
Tenth Avenue North - Hold My Heart
Addison Road - All That Matters
JJ Heller - When I'm With You
JJ Heller - What Love Really Means
JJ Heller - Boat Song
JJ Heller - Back Home
JJ Heller - Keep You Safe
JJ Heller - Lullaby
Jars of Clay - The Valley Song
Jars of Clay - Two Hands
Jars of Clay - Something Beautiful
This list could be revised and added to daily...music is such a big part of my life and an emotional outlet for me. It communicates to me and for me and someday I want my kids to hear all the things that these songs represent spoken from my mouth.
Monday, January 31, 2011
The Elephant in the Room (and other such nonsense)
If you have ever met me, you know that I am what's known as a 'blunt-talker'. Well, I don't know if that's the known name for it, but that's what I made up to describe how I talk about stuff: to the point, as-it-is, no drama needed. I'm pretty open about my life and my thoughts...ask me a question and I'll tell you what I think about it. So, don't ask if you don't want to know.
Knowing this about me perhaps you can understand why I can't stand it when people pretend things aren't what they really are. Playing ostrich, ignoring the elephant in the room...whatever you want to call it, it drives me batty! Just call it like you see it and let it go at that! (Side note: no offense to my own gender...but this is why I tend to get along better with guys. Things are usually pretty cut and dried and you can tell someone they are off base without 6 months of drama.)
Here's one of the problems I see with not speaking your mind: people can assume what your beliefs are and they may be wrong. Better to let people know where you stand so there is no misinterpretation of your truths.
Another reason to speak your mind: it keeps drama and manipulation to a minimum, at least on your part. If you have the same stance on something and everyone knows it then it's like water off a duck's back...they can keep throwing the water at you but it won't effect you.
And I guess I don't feel like I have to 'keep up appearances'...I'm a flawed person and I know it. I tend to cuss like a sailor, I like a raunchy joke, and I've been to a strip club before. There. So what. I'm not going to act like these things aren't real...but here's what else is real: I love Christ and believe he is my savior, I cry at really stupid movies and I wish I could actually move my hips like your supposed to in Zumba class. It doesn't take much to know about me...just ask. Or, like just now, you may find out more about me than you wanted to know without even asking.
OK...I'm done with my rant now. It was either this or make other people upset with my 'blunt-talking'. For once I chose the path of restraint...
Was this a cohesive blog today? No. Do I care? No. Did it make feel better to write it? Yes.
Knowing this about me perhaps you can understand why I can't stand it when people pretend things aren't what they really are. Playing ostrich, ignoring the elephant in the room...whatever you want to call it, it drives me batty! Just call it like you see it and let it go at that! (Side note: no offense to my own gender...but this is why I tend to get along better with guys. Things are usually pretty cut and dried and you can tell someone they are off base without 6 months of drama.)
Here's one of the problems I see with not speaking your mind: people can assume what your beliefs are and they may be wrong. Better to let people know where you stand so there is no misinterpretation of your truths.
Another reason to speak your mind: it keeps drama and manipulation to a minimum, at least on your part. If you have the same stance on something and everyone knows it then it's like water off a duck's back...they can keep throwing the water at you but it won't effect you.
And I guess I don't feel like I have to 'keep up appearances'...I'm a flawed person and I know it. I tend to cuss like a sailor, I like a raunchy joke, and I've been to a strip club before. There. So what. I'm not going to act like these things aren't real...but here's what else is real: I love Christ and believe he is my savior, I cry at really stupid movies and I wish I could actually move my hips like your supposed to in Zumba class. It doesn't take much to know about me...just ask. Or, like just now, you may find out more about me than you wanted to know without even asking.
OK...I'm done with my rant now. It was either this or make other people upset with my 'blunt-talking'. For once I chose the path of restraint...
Was this a cohesive blog today? No. Do I care? No. Did it make feel better to write it? Yes.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Walking with the girls
The last three days, the girls and I have gone for a walk and enjoyed the frigid air. Bundled up in our scarves, hats and gloves, we've set out for a mile or two or three. Usually I like to walk by myself because I really, really, really like to have that time to think and ponder and recharge. But, they wanted to come along and we can all use the exercise so we headed out the door....
What a great time! Each time we talked about everything and nothing...we laughed, we skipped, we talked in british accents. It was a more fun than I anticipated and I was sad that we didn't have time to go out again today.
Now that we are starting back to school schedule and sports, I don't know when we'll have time to go walking again but when we do, I will be looking forward to it!
What a great time! Each time we talked about everything and nothing...we laughed, we skipped, we talked in british accents. It was a more fun than I anticipated and I was sad that we didn't have time to go out again today.
Now that we are starting back to school schedule and sports, I don't know when we'll have time to go walking again but when we do, I will be looking forward to it!
