My Weblog

Actually....

"We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?" - Marianne Williamson

We do, don't we? Ask ourselves that question. We don't dream up the big dreams because we wonder how we'll look to the rest of the world if we say we want to be something greater than what we are right now at this moment. Why should I think I could ever be brilliant or gorgeous or talented, we think to ourselves the second that brilliantly gorgeous dream pops into our mind, that dream we so want to pursue but are so afraid to pursue. The dream that we cling to as the dot.dot.dot at the end of the 'someday I will..."

And if we do try and we do dream and we do fail... there's no dot.dot.dot left to live for, right? Isn't that what we think?

I suppose in a way it's true. If we fail, then there's a death to be recognized. But it isn't the kind of death that keeps you in the ground, it's the kind of death that gives you new wings and lets you fly - this time bigger and with more information. With the criticism and knowledge of the past failure you can soar higher... and if you fail, then you can get back up again.

It's so cliche. But it's so true.

We've all got those big dreams. The bold ones. The ones we've painted with broad strokes in vibrant colors. We hold on tight to them.

But maybe it's time to let them go. Not to 'let go of them' but to send them out there into the atmosphere... to let them go... to put them to work for us... to try and try and try and yes, maybe even to fail and fail and fail. But all to get back up at the end of the day and try one more time.

Don't you think you have the right to strive to be brilliant and gorgeous and talented?

It is how He made you, after all...

Note to Self

When going on a mini-vacation - even one only one state away, do not under any circumstances forget your stroller. Especially when you have plans to attend the children's museum and the zoo and quite possibly spend an afternoon exploring downtown Indianapolis.

Also, do not stress out when your nearly six month old baby decides sleeping is overrated and screams until 3 a.m. only to be moved in his hotel crib into the bathroom where he finally falls asleep. Don't be alarmed when, only an hour later he is up again, screaming and plowing his head into the bars of said crib and seriously - has anyone ever heard of bumper pads?

Heed the advice of a good friend and remember flexibility is key. Things aren't going to go your way on this trip. Case in point: when lack of sleep during the night ends up in your sleeping until 10:30 a.m. you can't stress out about it. It's okay. You will be okay. You will find your way to the Kmart where you will purchase a new stroller and no, it's not your dream stroller, but it's a heck of a lot better than the stroller you have had for seven years, and it'll do. Then you will even be okay when everyone else finds acceptable lunch at the Kmart and you do not, which means you will be left to wing it at the museum. How do you count your points on museum food?

(Good question. I have no answer. I know chicken salad wasn't the wisest choice, but considering I didn't eat until 2:30 and I had stockpiled those breakfast points, I think I had a little leeway.)

Yes. You will be okay. Even when you pass by two different Starbucks' and your husband the non-coffee drinker doesn't bat an eye. You will be okay when everyone passes by the Superhero comic book exhibit and when you literally have to choke back tears walking through the Anne Frank exhibit. You will survive the mini vacation and you will not come back ten pounds heavier.

You will not keep your hotel neighbors up all night with a screaming baby. You will survive.

You will focus on the positives - the ridiculously cool hotel you're stay in (pictures when I get home). The fact that your kids were amazing at the museum and there was hardly anyone there. The fact that as of this very moment, the baby is asleep on the king sized bed (surrounded by pillows and no bars), the older kids are at the pool with daddy and there's a very well written Angela Hunt book waiting to be devoured. You will find a way to relax even though not everything has gone according to your plan. After all, as my friend said, you have to get 'flexie' (which she pointed out is not a word. I propose it should be) - while on trips with kids. There's just no alternative. Flexie has to win.

So, I"m feeling a little 'Elastigirl' right now - flexie to the max. And if we skip the Old Spaghetti Warehouse tonight in favor of pizza in our room - I think I'll be okay with that too.

Wish me luck!

:)

WINNER!!!

Yay! I'm so excited to do this kind of stuff. I have a winner for the scraps bag and it's:

that bag looks adorable. love it. love love it

Posted by: sarah | May 02, 2008 at 11:45 PM

Sarah! Email me your address and I'll forward it to Jill so you two can discuss your fabulous scraps bag! And I realize my picture didn't show up so I'll have to take another one and repost! It's super cute! :)

Thanks for playing!

Relationships.

I'm not going to lie to you and say that because we're pastors, Adam and I never fight. We do. It's rare because truthfully, we just don't have that much to argue about. Plus, we've learned to choose our battles. I mean, why fight with him because he insists on leaving yesterday's clothes in a heap on the floor next to the bed? A heap that is hidden from the entrance of the room and therefore goes undetected until later on in the week when the heap becomes a pile which by then is out of control. I mean, why? Really? There's no point. Instead, I pick the clothes up, glaring at him, and chuck them the five feet away into the hamper. Typically I'll add a sarcastic dig like "Wow, that was hard."

But you see, I'm a grown up, so that one little dig is all I allow myself. (Very adult of me, no?)

Adam is a laid back personality. He's also the type of person who says whatever he thinks. This is why, in his sermons, he can get away with naming bodily functions and occasionally making sound effects into the microphone to support his case. (Why is it that fart noises always make kids laugh?) Anyway, the main thing we've learned is to communicate with each other. I guess that's why we don't fight very often. If I misinterpret something he's said or done, I ask for clarification. He does the same.

Most often, our misunderstandings with other people are the result of some sort of miscommunication. I interpret what you said the wrong way, and, being the adult I am, I swear never to be friends with you again, stomping my foot and crossing my arms with a "Hrumph." How silly. If I would get the courage to, instead, walk up to you and say "Hey, did you mean what I think you meant when you said..." then everything would turn out completely different. Odds are, I would realize that NO, of course you didn't mean what I thought you said the way I took it and oh my goodness, you are so sorry I took it that way... and then we'd go on living happily ever after. Blissful friends who can laugh about the time I thought you meant....when you said....

I read an article recently about restoring damaged friendships. It's easy to think in the back of your mind that it doesn't really matter, but the truth is - it does matter. You can convince yourself that it doesn't and tell yourself you're fine without that former friend, but are you really? Is there some sort of resentment building inside that could turn you into a bitter old person who shouts at kids to get off your lawn?

Anyway, the article's got me thinking. And I'm wondering how many of us - especially us young moms who can so easily delve into the world of our kids - are hurting over the loss of a friendship that ended as a result of a miscommunication? And then that sent my brain spiraling into the thought that we really need a forum at our church for young moms to come together and talk about stuff like this. And I've always been of the mindset that if God shows you a need, you're supposed to be the one to fill it. But I'm thinking I CAN'T TAKE ON ONE MORE THING! But my head is shouting "But we NEED this!"

ack!

So, I'm thinking about starting a bi-weekly something. Bible study, I guess, where we would have a book to follow and everyone would take a meeting where they would be responsible for the lesson. Then, I would only have to do the first one and I could pass it off on other people to do the others to help with the teaching/leading.

Obviously, this is all in the planning stages, but is this a dumb idea? I don't know. I may be off my bean.

I think I should just go pray for awhile and figure out what God's telling me. He must be saying something, right?

:)

By the way, you'll be pleased to know that Ethan in all his four year old glory has taken to wearing underwear again. Of course, this is the ONLY thing he's wearing, but it's a start right.

If it's not the underwear, it's the rediscovered Spider-Man Costume from Halloween. At least it isn't going to waste! :)

A note to the toymakers of America and A GIVEAWAY!

Not really a note. More like...a  request.

How about for a change we create toys that are NOISY but HAVE an OFF SWITCH?

How about instead of manufacturing the Speed Racer line of amazing Hot Wheels complete with random (and I do mean random) outbursts by the announcer's voice and car noises that could rival the Speedway at the other end of town, we manufacture the same toy with a silent mode? Or perhaps a simple off switch? How about when that vehicle finds its way into MY vehicle I am able to SHUT IT OFF to ensure that every time I hit a bump on the road it doesn't launch into the entire sequence yet one more time? How about that? A novel idea to be sure. Toys with off switches. Who woulda thunk it?

Said Speed Racing vehicle has now found its way underneath our stove and since I was smart enough to remove the batteries prior to at-home play, I think it might stay there awhile, serving its sentence for, oh, let's just say 'being annoying' - does that work?

Okay. I promised a giveaway. And I need to deliver.

This is absolutely the MOST adorable thing ever. A few weeks ago (Sorry it's taken me so long, Jill) - one of my creative and crafty blog readers sent me a link to her etsy shop. You can see it HERE. I love Etsy. I wish I was crafty enough to have my own shop. Anyway, this is a scraps bag, and Jill sent one to me. When I got it, I instantly started thinking of all the different ways I could use the thing. Plastic bag container is one that I'm seriously think of, but of course, I'll have to get another one because the one she sent me is perfect for scraps. The idea here is to keep those scraps you don't want to throw away in one neat little place until you can file them away into whatever system you're using.

You could use it for tools. Pens. Candy. lol (You can tell I'm on Weight Watchers, can't ya?)

Anyway.

Jill has generously offered to donate one of these fabulous bags to a winner of a drawing we're going to do on my blog! (How fun is that? It's like a carnival.)

Mine looks like this;

And the inside is laminated.

I love this bag. I want to re-do my new scrapbook room in these colors. :)

So. Here's the deal. Leave a comment to this post on or before next Wednesday, May 7th. Then I will select one lucky winner to get their own bag like this from jill, the crafty goddess!

Good luck! :)

And Happy weekend!