Well, it's been a while. I haven't had much to post about lately. Or, rather, I've had bunches to post, just not enough time or energy to post them. My oldest has been asking me to write another post so this one is for him.
Top 10 Reasons I Think My Oldest Is Pretty Awesome:
10. He encourages me to write on my blog. I never thought I had much talent writing. He makes me feel like I do.... perhaps even that I have something worthwhile to say.
9. He tries new things without batting an eyelash. He's always been like that. From wanting me to leave him when I went to register him for preschool at 2 to riding the Hulk roller coaster a few months ago, he's always looked adventure in the eye and said "Bring it on!"
8. He's so great with his younger siblings. I, too, have younger siblings. However, I have to admit to not being nearly the best big sister to them as my oldest is to my younger 2. He reads to them. Teaches them. Helps them. Plays with them. The best big brother anyone could want.
7. He loves to learn.
6. He loves to teach.
5. He humors me when I want him to do something he doesn't really want to do by not giving me too much grief.
4. He gets my jokes and I get his. I love that he loves telling jokes. His smile lights me right up and his laugh is infectious.
3. He forgives me when I'm not the being the best Mother to him or one he deserves.
2. He's very loving.
And the #1 reason my oldest is AWESOME:
He keeps his chin up in the face of disappointment. I've witnessed several interactions of his with others where he was let down. As his Mom, I want to take that hurt and disappointment away. I know it will make him a more compassionate, conscientious person and in the end make him a stronger, better person. But that doesn't make it pull less at the heart strings. I have honestly been on the verge of tears after witnessing these things and had it not been for his strength to move forward and not give in to the disappointment, I would have lost it.
My oldest is one great, amazing son. I can't wait to see the amazing man he will one day become. I love you lots! xoxoxo
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Yard Sale MIS-Adventure
Last weekend, I did it! I took the plunge into the deep end and didn't look back. I planned to have my first yard sale the following weekend.
My husband and I have become pack rats....at least where it comes to keeping kids' stuff. What if we have another baby? We don't want to start from square one all over again. Little did we realize how many baby showers we'd be thrown for each child, the birthday and Christmas presents they'd get and the hand-me-downs we'd receive over the years. So, I braved the attic and 100+ degree temps. (not to mention heat index, which made it feel like a million degrees) and cleaned out the attic. Toys, clothing and gear for newborns to toddlers. We had so much stuff....literally 10 YEARS worth! I spent the ENTIRE week sorting clothes and pricing toys.
So, yesterday was the big day. We made and put out our yard sale signs. We advertised on 3 different local websites. I even encouraged my Facebook friends to come by. While we got some traffic and $120 more than we woke up with, we really didn't sell much, given the amount of stuff we had. We ended up giving the clothes and toys to Goodwill....not before sorting, counting and itemizing first, as what we had went above and beyond the $500 deduction Uncle Sam allows on taxes. We still have the bigger items. My husband put it all on Craigslist and actually sold an item today. So, all in all so far, we earned $1000 in sales and tax deductions. Next time, however, I'm just going the Goodwill route....
My husband and I have become pack rats....at least where it comes to keeping kids' stuff. What if we have another baby? We don't want to start from square one all over again. Little did we realize how many baby showers we'd be thrown for each child, the birthday and Christmas presents they'd get and the hand-me-downs we'd receive over the years. So, I braved the attic and 100+ degree temps. (not to mention heat index, which made it feel like a million degrees) and cleaned out the attic. Toys, clothing and gear for newborns to toddlers. We had so much stuff....literally 10 YEARS worth! I spent the ENTIRE week sorting clothes and pricing toys.
So, yesterday was the big day. We made and put out our yard sale signs. We advertised on 3 different local websites. I even encouraged my Facebook friends to come by. While we got some traffic and $120 more than we woke up with, we really didn't sell much, given the amount of stuff we had. We ended up giving the clothes and toys to Goodwill....not before sorting, counting and itemizing first, as what we had went above and beyond the $500 deduction Uncle Sam allows on taxes. We still have the bigger items. My husband put it all on Craigslist and actually sold an item today. So, all in all so far, we earned $1000 in sales and tax deductions. Next time, however, I'm just going the Goodwill route....
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Date Night
My husband and I have a weekly date night. We've been doing this for years. We started this because the day-to-day business of being parents was wearing us out. Though we love our children more than life itself, there is more to our lives than our children. Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be enough time in the day (or enough red bull energy drinks in the world) that allowed us to be "just us"....the way we were before we became parents. So, we decided we needed a weekly date night to allow us to do just that....reconnect on a personal level.
We have set aside the same day each week for our date nights. We do our best (and have been mostly successful) to make sure everything else (meetings, kids' extra curriculars, etc) happen around this date night. To my surprise, my husband's work peers have been baffled by this idea of date night....including the married ones!
Really? Is this really a foreign concept? Well, dear reader, if it is a foreign concept to you as well, allow me to explain its significance. I am a product of a divorce. I do not have a memory of my parents going out together, just the two of them. I had babysitters, but that was so both of my parents could work at night. Looking back, I realize that my parents most likely never made time together. I realize that they both worked hard to make sure our needs were met. However, the most important need any child has is for their mother and father to have a strong marriage....to keep the family unit (ie the child's support system) together. My father didn't seem interested in my mother's interests (I don't know if he even knew what her interests were) or vice versa. They were not friends and that's one big reason, in my opinion, they divorced.
Divorce is not an option for me. It's not that I'm necessarily against divorce. I understand and have witnessed situations where divorce is the only option because of abuse. This is not what I'm talking about. Divorce due to growing apart is what I'm against. I have told myself long ago that I was going to do my best to make sure my children did not have to endure what I endured with my parents' divorce. Those who say the kids aren't affected by divorce are wrong. They are affected. I just decided that I would turn what was an awful experience into a learning experience in an effort to have a strong marriage and family. So, when my husband and I started having children and feeling ourselves meeting every need of our children and not our own, we instituted date nights.
You don't have to spend money for date nights. You can put the children to bed early at night and watch a movie or tv show together. You can give your children an early supper, put them to bed and make a nice meal for just the two of you to enjoy. The important thing here is to reconnect. Keep in touch with the person you married. He/She is growing and changing (everyone does) and just like you don't want to miss out on that with your children, you also don't want to miss out on that with your spouse. Take an interest in what he/she does. Ask about it. You don't want to get to your "empty nest" years and realize you have no idea who the person you've lived with for so long is anymore.
The best gift you can give your children is a strong marriage. It's the foundation of the family. With a strong foundation, anything built upon it will be able to weather any storms of life.
We have set aside the same day each week for our date nights. We do our best (and have been mostly successful) to make sure everything else (meetings, kids' extra curriculars, etc) happen around this date night. To my surprise, my husband's work peers have been baffled by this idea of date night....including the married ones!
Really? Is this really a foreign concept? Well, dear reader, if it is a foreign concept to you as well, allow me to explain its significance. I am a product of a divorce. I do not have a memory of my parents going out together, just the two of them. I had babysitters, but that was so both of my parents could work at night. Looking back, I realize that my parents most likely never made time together. I realize that they both worked hard to make sure our needs were met. However, the most important need any child has is for their mother and father to have a strong marriage....to keep the family unit (ie the child's support system) together. My father didn't seem interested in my mother's interests (I don't know if he even knew what her interests were) or vice versa. They were not friends and that's one big reason, in my opinion, they divorced.
Divorce is not an option for me. It's not that I'm necessarily against divorce. I understand and have witnessed situations where divorce is the only option because of abuse. This is not what I'm talking about. Divorce due to growing apart is what I'm against. I have told myself long ago that I was going to do my best to make sure my children did not have to endure what I endured with my parents' divorce. Those who say the kids aren't affected by divorce are wrong. They are affected. I just decided that I would turn what was an awful experience into a learning experience in an effort to have a strong marriage and family. So, when my husband and I started having children and feeling ourselves meeting every need of our children and not our own, we instituted date nights.
You don't have to spend money for date nights. You can put the children to bed early at night and watch a movie or tv show together. You can give your children an early supper, put them to bed and make a nice meal for just the two of you to enjoy. The important thing here is to reconnect. Keep in touch with the person you married. He/She is growing and changing (everyone does) and just like you don't want to miss out on that with your children, you also don't want to miss out on that with your spouse. Take an interest in what he/she does. Ask about it. You don't want to get to your "empty nest" years and realize you have no idea who the person you've lived with for so long is anymore.
The best gift you can give your children is a strong marriage. It's the foundation of the family. With a strong foundation, anything built upon it will be able to weather any storms of life.
We have honey!
Here's a youtube video of the honey we've gotten from our bees. It tastes oh so good!
click here to see the honey goodness
click here to see the honey goodness
Thursday, April 29, 2010
My Newest Endeavor
My daughter celebrated her 4th birthday on April 12th and wanted a Tinkerbell cake. Here it is:
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Mountain Climbing
We took our annual trip to Disney World at the beginning of March and had a fabulous time. My 6 year old son kept urging me to go with him on Big Thunder Mountain from the moment we entered the "Welcome to Walt Disney World" sign (better known to our family as the "Disney Bubble"). I told him I would think about it. I hate roller coasters and the thought of going on this one nearly gave me a panic attack. But was I about to let my 6 year old down? What kind of mother do you think I am???? Of course NOT! He kept telling me I would have so much fun and not to worry because he'd be right beside me, holding my hand. Ever so reluctantly, and yet determined to show my boys how to not only overcome your fears, but also look them square in the eye and say "I'm not afraid of YOU anymore," I walked to the entrance of Big Thunder Mountain. I put on my brave face, heart pounding, hands trembling. I swear to you, God is so awesome and good and places the people in your life just when you need them because there was this woman who was in the adjacent line with a little stuffed Minnie Mouse, using the stuffed Minnie to give everyone a "high five". Most people would find this annoying, especially since she did this not once, not twice but quite a few times while we wound around, passing each other in line. I, on the other hand, am not like most people and almost hugged the woman because each time I high fived that stuffed mouse, I felt like I'd be ok. I finally got on the ride and actually enjoyed it. I did scream and when I got off my legs felt like jell-o. My 6 year old said "See, I told you you'd like it." "What made you think I enjoyed it?", I teased, "I was screaming the whole time!" He said "That was you enjoying it!" The next day, we realized that my 3 year old daughter was tall enough to ride the ride, so all 5 of us rode it 3 times in a row. My daughter LOVED it! She even copied her 9 year old brother by putting her little hands in the air throughout the ride. We had so much fun! I'm so glad my 6 year old got me to "climb" that mountain!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The Scream
My oldest son brought home a piece of artwork he made in art class at school. I thought it was so good that I wanted to include it on the blog. His assignment was to create a drawing, using Edvard Munch's The Scream as inspiration. Here's Munch's:
Here is my son's version:
His teacher printed out digital black and white photos of the students and they pasted the pictures on their paper, using oil pastels to emphasize the photos and create the background. What do you think?
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Margarita Week
So, I'm not really a drinking person but I have been known to indulge in some beverages of the alcohol persuasion every now and then. Margaritas, strawberry maragaritas, mamosas....just about anything mixed and fruity is my personal preference. Margaritas are usually the first thing that come to mind. Though I don't actually (usually) drink them, I usually refer to a hard day as a "Margarita day" meaning if I had the stuff in the house and the stamina to make one, I'd have a margarita in my hand to end the day. Well, this week has been a margarita week.
The boys are tracked out this week (and the following 2 weeks). So, we've done dentist appointments (me and all 3 kids), cubscout pack meeting along with work and grocery shopping (3 different stores). We are going on vacation soon, so my younger 2 are doing make-up gymnastics classes (for the ones they're going to miss) as well as their regular classes (total of 4 times at The Little Gym this week). My Grandmother's birthday is the 19th so we're meeting for lunch to celebrate. My husband had the 8 :00 am shift this week, so I had to take the boys to their track-out camp, meaning I wasn't able to get in to work early or stay late so I wasn't ready with my materials this week during preschool, which makes me feel incredibly disorganized. We also got 2 new students this week (as well as 1 new this month and 1 new last month) so that makes 8 kids (age ranges from 19 months to 3 years) on Mondays and Wednesdays and 10 kids (age ranges 22 months-3 years) on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The only saving grace to this is not having to worry about planning for preschool next month. My teaching partner and I take turns switching off month to month with planning.
It's weeks like this I feel like I'm treading water, trying desperately to keep my head above it before I sink in. Perhaps, instead, I should just learn to ride the waves. Surfing lessons, anyone?
The boys are tracked out this week (and the following 2 weeks). So, we've done dentist appointments (me and all 3 kids), cubscout pack meeting along with work and grocery shopping (3 different stores). We are going on vacation soon, so my younger 2 are doing make-up gymnastics classes (for the ones they're going to miss) as well as their regular classes (total of 4 times at The Little Gym this week). My Grandmother's birthday is the 19th so we're meeting for lunch to celebrate. My husband had the 8 :00 am shift this week, so I had to take the boys to their track-out camp, meaning I wasn't able to get in to work early or stay late so I wasn't ready with my materials this week during preschool, which makes me feel incredibly disorganized. We also got 2 new students this week (as well as 1 new this month and 1 new last month) so that makes 8 kids (age ranges from 19 months to 3 years) on Mondays and Wednesdays and 10 kids (age ranges 22 months-3 years) on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The only saving grace to this is not having to worry about planning for preschool next month. My teaching partner and I take turns switching off month to month with planning.
It's weeks like this I feel like I'm treading water, trying desperately to keep my head above it before I sink in. Perhaps, instead, I should just learn to ride the waves. Surfing lessons, anyone?
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Quilt
The quilt for my almost 6 year old is FINALLY completed! Woo hoo! It's about time too, considering I started it when I was pregnant with him! I'm slowly but surely cleaning off my back burner. Here's a picture of the quilt:
Now a Nicholas Sparks book is calling my name....
Now a Nicholas Sparks book is calling my name....
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Lump
My Bible study Mom's group has been watching these Nooma series short videos. This was one we recently viewed and I was inspired to share it on my blog. This one is titled "Lump" and it discusses the love God has for all of us. It reminded me of when I became a mother and how intensely in love with my newborn baby I was (and still am with all of my children). It's amazing how you can just meet a person and immediately feel this powerful unconditional love for this person.....for no other reason than he/she is your child. That baby didn't do anything but be born into this world. And then it hit me. How much more must God love me? I believe becoming a parent has given me a small glimpse into how much God must love me and everyone...for no other reason than we are His children. Please take the time to watch the short video that I have linked in this post. May all who read this post have someone in their lives who has shown them a glimpse of the enormous amount of love God has for them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYWGmGc6-kQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYWGmGc6-kQ
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Wish List
My oldest son's 9th birthday is coming soon. We asked him to make out a wish list. This was too good not to share. Googey, by the way, is his favorite Webkinz.
My Birthday Wish list
Paper recycling kit (craft section at Wal-Mart)
2.(book series)DK's “Ask Me Anything”
3.Garfield books, any 2 except 1,2,3,13,14, and 15 4.”Webkinz” lava dragon 5.Nintendo DS with “Mariokart” game
6. 2 wii remotes
7. something for Googey
8. 75 erasers, assorted
9. a gem
10.carrot seeds and a large pot
11. fish (at bent tree plaza on falls of neuse Rd.,please. With 2 packages of fish food
12. 2010 through 2012 calender
13. something strange
14. something solar powered
15.College dictionary
16.SMALL remote-controlled car
17.every state quarter
18. a good watch
19.Spanish,French, and Italian dictionary
20.Webkinz signature panda
21. a world atlas book
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Dreams
The other morning, my daughter woke up at 6:30. In an effort to get a few more minutes in bed, I offered for her to join me in bed. Not long after she crawled in, I smelled something a bit rank. My daughter has been potty trained since July (yay!) and I suspected she'd had an accident. I proceeded to touch her rear to confirm my suspicions, when she says to me "My buhiney is wet because I went down the wet slide." Ummmm...yeah nice try!
We got back from a weekend at Myrtle Beach, trying out our new 5th wheel. We had a fabulous time! When we got our first camper trailer, we had so many issues with leaks (shower, rain, etc.) that I was a bit apprehensive about getting another trailer for fear of dealing with all of those "new trailer" issues. Well, I'm so relieved that didn't happen! Now, I'm really looking forward to our weekend trip to Boone, NC next month!
We got back from a weekend at Myrtle Beach, trying out our new 5th wheel. We had a fabulous time! When we got our first camper trailer, we had so many issues with leaks (shower, rain, etc.) that I was a bit apprehensive about getting another trailer for fear of dealing with all of those "new trailer" issues. Well, I'm so relieved that didn't happen! Now, I'm really looking forward to our weekend trip to Boone, NC next month!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
My "Bad Mommy" Moment
Ok, all you Mommies out there....you know you have 'em. And the Dads out there are not immune either. I'm talking about "bad parent moments." You know, the moments you wish you could push the "rewind button" on and do a do-over.
Well, I don't seem to have them too often but this is one that happened recently that I thought I'd share. I'm sure every parent can relate to it.
Those who know me or read this blog know that I have 3 children....2 boys and a girl, who is the youngest. Well, the boys lately seem to be outgrowing shoes so much my husband and I have seriously considered buying some stock in Payless Shoe Store. Even in this down turned economy, everyone's gotta have shoes and my boys have been making sure we've been stimulating the economy for shoe retailers. Every time we turn around, they have worn a hole in the soles of their shoes. They MUST be twirling on their feet every day....that's the only explanation for how they wear holes in their soles so quickly (or poor workmanship, but I digress...).
Well, recently my 3 year old daughter has been complaining (though not too often) that her shoes hurt her feet. So, I put on my mental "To-do list" to take her shoe shopping soon. A few days later, I turn on my computer and as it boots up I once again look lovingly at the computer desktop picture of my 3 gorgeous angels. Then something catches my eye. It's the shoes on my daughter's feet. They're the exact same ones she's wearing today....only the picture was take A YEAR AGO! We hadn't bought that child shoes in a YEAR! We took her shoe shopping today and found not only were her feet NOT the size 7 shoe she was wearing (DUH!) but she is wearing a SIZE 9! Maybe she needs to do a little more twirling in her shoes....
Well, I don't seem to have them too often but this is one that happened recently that I thought I'd share. I'm sure every parent can relate to it.
Those who know me or read this blog know that I have 3 children....2 boys and a girl, who is the youngest. Well, the boys lately seem to be outgrowing shoes so much my husband and I have seriously considered buying some stock in Payless Shoe Store. Even in this down turned economy, everyone's gotta have shoes and my boys have been making sure we've been stimulating the economy for shoe retailers. Every time we turn around, they have worn a hole in the soles of their shoes. They MUST be twirling on their feet every day....that's the only explanation for how they wear holes in their soles so quickly (or poor workmanship, but I digress...).
Well, recently my 3 year old daughter has been complaining (though not too often) that her shoes hurt her feet. So, I put on my mental "To-do list" to take her shoe shopping soon. A few days later, I turn on my computer and as it boots up I once again look lovingly at the computer desktop picture of my 3 gorgeous angels. Then something catches my eye. It's the shoes on my daughter's feet. They're the exact same ones she's wearing today....only the picture was take A YEAR AGO! We hadn't bought that child shoes in a YEAR! We took her shoe shopping today and found not only were her feet NOT the size 7 shoe she was wearing (DUH!) but she is wearing a SIZE 9! Maybe she needs to do a little more twirling in her shoes....
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Summer Time
It seems I blinked and the summer was over. We have had lots of fun and stayed busy this summer.
My oldest started 4th grade and my 5 year old started Kindergarten in July. There weren't as many tears (his or mine) with my 5 year old starting school as I thought there'd be. He's becoming so independent and proud that he knows how to get to his class all by himself. He enjoys buying school lunch twice a week. He's so shy so I wasn't sure how he'd do with having to say his lunch number aloud but I've been to lunch with him a couple of times so far and he's sounding pretty confident! He's starting to learn and recognize sight words. He's on his way to reading!
During the summer, my daughter went to preschool camp and loved it! The first month she went gave my 5 year old and me some time to spend, just the two of us. I rarely have the time to spend one-on-one with each of my children but I feel like my 5 year old, being in the middle, really doesn't get the chance. The way I see it, my oldest got all of my time prior to my second being born....3 years....and my daughter is having her time with me alone now that the boys are both in school. So I try to steal time as best I can with each of my children. The second month my daughter went to preschool camp, I had 3 whole hours, 3 days a week for 3 weeks all to myself! I never knew what I was missing! I was able to finish tasks that I started. I feel so ADD at times because I'm constantly having to stop something I'm doing to referee or help them and so I'm constantly barraged with "Mama!"
In August, during the boys' track-out, we went to the lake for the week. We camped in our travel trailer. My husband's parents and aunt and uncle camped with us as well. It's always so much fun to spend a week swimming and spending time with the whole family. With everyone being so busy, it's nice to be able to get together. While we were camping, we decided that the RV we had (Damon (now Keystone) Hornet) was just getting too small for our family of 5...not to mention feeling like the 10 year old trailer was being held together by 3 year old caulk. So, we took the plunge and bought a new RV. It's a Keystone Laredo. Here's a picture of the new trailer along with a link to the floor plan and other pictures.
http://keystone-laredo.com/index.php?page=321BH-gallery
We are going to try out our new trailer next weekend when we hit Myrtle Beach. I'm hoping all goes well. All of the kids are so excited to have their own space and beds. My oldest has even told me that with the exception of taking showers (the shower is in the kids' room) we (the parents) are not allowed in their room. Perfectly fine by me! We're also planning on going to Boone, NC next month to try out the new camper.
My youngest and I started back to preschool this week (her as a student and me as a teacher). This year I am teaching the young twos (as opposed to the 3's for the past 2 years). Our first week has gone great...very low-key and easy-going, though we do have a couple of kids who are having a hard time adjusting. We'll see how next week goes. I know it'll get better....or so I'm told!
My oldest started 4th grade and my 5 year old started Kindergarten in July. There weren't as many tears (his or mine) with my 5 year old starting school as I thought there'd be. He's becoming so independent and proud that he knows how to get to his class all by himself. He enjoys buying school lunch twice a week. He's so shy so I wasn't sure how he'd do with having to say his lunch number aloud but I've been to lunch with him a couple of times so far and he's sounding pretty confident! He's starting to learn and recognize sight words. He's on his way to reading!
During the summer, my daughter went to preschool camp and loved it! The first month she went gave my 5 year old and me some time to spend, just the two of us. I rarely have the time to spend one-on-one with each of my children but I feel like my 5 year old, being in the middle, really doesn't get the chance. The way I see it, my oldest got all of my time prior to my second being born....3 years....and my daughter is having her time with me alone now that the boys are both in school. So I try to steal time as best I can with each of my children. The second month my daughter went to preschool camp, I had 3 whole hours, 3 days a week for 3 weeks all to myself! I never knew what I was missing! I was able to finish tasks that I started. I feel so ADD at times because I'm constantly having to stop something I'm doing to referee or help them and so I'm constantly barraged with "Mama!"
In August, during the boys' track-out, we went to the lake for the week. We camped in our travel trailer. My husband's parents and aunt and uncle camped with us as well. It's always so much fun to spend a week swimming and spending time with the whole family. With everyone being so busy, it's nice to be able to get together. While we were camping, we decided that the RV we had (Damon (now Keystone) Hornet) was just getting too small for our family of 5...not to mention feeling like the 10 year old trailer was being held together by 3 year old caulk. So, we took the plunge and bought a new RV. It's a Keystone Laredo. Here's a picture of the new trailer along with a link to the floor plan and other pictures.
http://keystone-laredo.com/index.php?page=321BH-gallery
We are going to try out our new trailer next weekend when we hit Myrtle Beach. I'm hoping all goes well. All of the kids are so excited to have their own space and beds. My oldest has even told me that with the exception of taking showers (the shower is in the kids' room) we (the parents) are not allowed in their room. Perfectly fine by me! We're also planning on going to Boone, NC next month to try out the new camper.
My youngest and I started back to preschool this week (her as a student and me as a teacher). This year I am teaching the young twos (as opposed to the 3's for the past 2 years). Our first week has gone great...very low-key and easy-going, though we do have a couple of kids who are having a hard time adjusting. We'll see how next week goes. I know it'll get better....or so I'm told!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Kid-isms
My oldest ended his third grade school year today. Yesterday, he participated in "step up day" where the children meet their next year's teacher and see the kids in their upcoming class. Before this happened, my son's teacher asked her class to complete a writing assignment on a foot shaped piece of paper titled "My advice", for the children in her next year's class to read at their desk when they came to her for "step up day." He brought home his paper and here's what it said:
"My advice to you is for you to listen to the teacher and to make sure to finish your work on time. Believe me, it is not fun! And, did you know in your lifetime you will walk equivalent to 5 times around the equator."
That's my boy! :)
"My advice to you is for you to listen to the teacher and to make sure to finish your work on time. Believe me, it is not fun! And, did you know in your lifetime you will walk equivalent to 5 times around the equator."
That's my boy! :)
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Love....Actually
In honor of my husband's and my 13th wedding anniversary, I thought I'd write on the subject of love. At our wedding, one of the scripture readings the minister read was in 1 Corinthians. I think many Christian weddings these days have some sort of reference to this passage from the Bible during their ceremony. But recently, I read the whole chapter that these excerpts are taken from and I thought it shed a whole new light. Here it is: 1 Corinthians 13 (Revised Standard Version)
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. So faith, hope, love abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
This love that Paul is speaking of, I believe, is not only just a love shared by a husband and wife. This is a love that should be in all of our relationships. It's a love God gives us...unconditional. It's a love given to us not because of what we've done or the fact that we love Him. It's given to us for no specific reason at all.....for lack of a better explanation: just because. And the best part is, this kind of love...this unconditional "love never ends"....no matter what we do or say. Everything we do should be out of this kind of love for one another. This is especially hard when someone has hurt us deeply.
For some reason, it's so much easier to harbor that pain and resentment, build up a wall and never look back. The bad part about that is, most of the time that pain and resentment that built that wall comes from the filter of negativity and depression. You start to forget the good things about that person and let the looming dark cloud take over, overshadowing any and all positive memories. Years pass and either you believe your dark thoughts to be the truth or you forget why you were mad in the first place. But as this Biblical passage reminds us, "our knowledge is imperfect."
God wants us to let His light of love shine through us. We can't, however, do this when we've built up walls. Walls cast shadows, blocking the light. We've got to let those walls down. God will let you know when it's time for you to break it down and will help you do it ("when the perfect comes"). When you accept this journey, God will help you see the situation for what it truly was ("the imperfect will pass away"). It will give you a peace you never thought you were missing and that is when God's light will shine through you like never before. Is there a wall from the past or today that's blocking God's light in you?
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. So faith, hope, love abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
This love that Paul is speaking of, I believe, is not only just a love shared by a husband and wife. This is a love that should be in all of our relationships. It's a love God gives us...unconditional. It's a love given to us not because of what we've done or the fact that we love Him. It's given to us for no specific reason at all.....for lack of a better explanation: just because. And the best part is, this kind of love...this unconditional "love never ends"....no matter what we do or say. Everything we do should be out of this kind of love for one another. This is especially hard when someone has hurt us deeply.
For some reason, it's so much easier to harbor that pain and resentment, build up a wall and never look back. The bad part about that is, most of the time that pain and resentment that built that wall comes from the filter of negativity and depression. You start to forget the good things about that person and let the looming dark cloud take over, overshadowing any and all positive memories. Years pass and either you believe your dark thoughts to be the truth or you forget why you were mad in the first place. But as this Biblical passage reminds us, "our knowledge is imperfect."
God wants us to let His light of love shine through us. We can't, however, do this when we've built up walls. Walls cast shadows, blocking the light. We've got to let those walls down. God will let you know when it's time for you to break it down and will help you do it ("when the perfect comes"). When you accept this journey, God will help you see the situation for what it truly was ("the imperfect will pass away"). It will give you a peace you never thought you were missing and that is when God's light will shine through you like never before. Is there a wall from the past or today that's blocking God's light in you?
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Race For The Cure
They say that laughter is the best medicine. Certainly the creators of these and other similarly amusing t-shirt slogans take that to heart when it comes to supporting breast
cancer awareness.
On June 13th, I'm heading back to my ol' alma mater to participate in the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure. This is my second year and I am very much looking forward to it. Though many participants use their race shirts to memorialize their loved ones whose lives were cut short due to breast cancer, the event itself is very uplifting. Along with the amusing shirts, seeing the sea of pink shirts signifying the breast cancer survivors is quite inspiring.
Below is my story that's on my race center webpage as well as the web address to my race site. Please feel free to copy and paste that address into your web browser to learn more about breast cancer, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, or ways you can help this cause. Perhaps one day this and all cancers will only be learned about in history books.
http://race.komennctriangle.org/goto/shaunaschmidt
http://race.komennctriangle.org/goto/shaunaschmidt
I am participating in this race to honor the memory of two dear friends who lost their battles with breast cancer. My friend and former co-worker Libby Peebles died in the fall of 2000 and my friend and neighbor Shirley Feldbusch passed away in November 2005. I am also participating for my mother, sisters, grandmothers, stepmother, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, countless friends and myself who are fortunate enough right now to not be stricken with breast cancer but certainly face the threat since this disease has not been cured.
If you would like to contribute to this great cause, that would be awesome! You can contribute by making a donation. If that's not possible, then prayers for a safe race and the eradication of this dreadful disease are another way to contribute.
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