It Can Be A Good Thing

Last night I had a Southern Living Party at my house.

We had fun conversation, yummy food, and great drinks ;)

At the end of the evening, conversation turned to small businesses, and home businesses, and how difficult things have been for everyone with the state of the economy.

Of course I did my fair share of moaning and groaning, and made sure to let everyone know that I spent 6 months worth of work that all went down the tubes last year when none of my house listings sold.

I'll also admit, though, that I seemed to maybe be the only one that doesn't really think the state of things are such a bad thing for the poeple of our country. I am by NO MEANS saying that this economy hasn't had some serious or even devastating consequences for some people, and I don't mean to diminish that.

But in my corner of the world, the main effect I've seen it have on people is just that it's making them watch their spending a little bit more. Maybe things are tighter than they've been in a while. I understand - it's that way for us right now, too.

Even though I'm not thrilled with the fact that there isn't *extra* money to be spent in our family, I just don't think it's a bad thing. Our country's expectation of what normal should be is so far off from what I hear it was just one generation ago. People actually saved money for years to take a vacation. They saved and saved and saved to finally be able to buy that new sofa. New floors or counters or vehicles just weren't a part of normal, everyday life. And I guess recreational shopping wasn't considered the norm, either. (Can you imagine???)

There's part of me that wants this recession to be over - like, right now.

But there's another part of me that hopes it lasts a while. Maybe just long enough for most of America to get used to doing without, and to be ok with it. Can you imagine how it could change the state of people's hearts - to actually be CONTENT with what they have? (And believe me, I'm including myself in this, too.)

I read this little poem somewhere, at some point in time, but don't remember where:
"Use it up,
Wear it out,
Make it last,
Or do without."

Yikes!!! I SO do not live like this. Do you??
But I do wonder what other parts of me would change if I adopted this attitude.

Whew. That's enough thinking for me on a Thursday morning.......

I can't BELIEVE what I did.......

I cannot believe what I agreed to this past weekend.

It all started a few weeks ago.
My husband says: "I have an idea. But I don't want to tell you because you're going to think it's crazy."

Uhhhhh.......

Me: You want to move????
Hubs: "NO"
Me: You want another BABY???
Hubs: "Well, along those lines...."
Oh, Lord have mercy.........

You guessed it.......
A DOG.
Isn't three kids enough???

Here's the problem. I am not, Not, NOT, NOT an animal person.

My mother raised me to think I would get rabies from touching a bird feather.
(and I am SO not joking.)

If I come to your house, and you have a dog, I will smile and exclaim how cute and sweet he is.
And, I will be lying.
I don't like your dog. Or your cat, or your stinky hamster that I smell from downstairs.
(SO sorry........)

The fact that both of my girls not only want to be vets, but ride horses every week is hard enough. They have been begging their whole gosh-dern LIFE for a dog.

(I will NOT mention the fact that we got a puppy a few years ago and GAVE HIM AWAY a few months later because he was such an idiot.......)

(Animal lovers, please just let that comment pass........)

ANYhoo.

Back to the story.

After Ryan picked me up off the floor, and gave me glass of water, I listed to his explanation.

He wanted to do something really WOW for the kids.

Yep, that's WOW, all right.

Here's where the problem comes in.
My ladies group is doing a book on marriage. We've been talking about things we can do to bless our hubbys.
Could my husband have asked for a clean house, a back rub, a nice dinner? Lingerie?
No, he wants a stinkin' dog.

And I obliged.

After looking for the perfect dog for a few weeks, we adopted a sweet, 5 yr old dachshund/chihuahua mix named Chaz. Ryan surprised the girls on Saturday, and an hour after we told them, he was delivered. He's so quiet, and he snuggles all day. I have to admit, he's not that bad.
Actually, I kinda like having him around.

So on Tuesday morning, when my friends are talking about the new recipe they fixed for their man, I will show a picture of a canine......
Who woulda thunk it????

Is it really OVER?

Happy New Year!


I'll admit, this is the very first year that Ryan and I have EVER had our decorations put away before New Years. We had our second annual "family friendly" New Year's Eve party again. With 60 people that rsvp'd, I felt like I HAD to take everything down to make more space!

I've actually heard some people say that they take their tree and decorations down the day after Christmas.

SERIOUSLY??? I would love to know how they explain THAT one to the kids.

Christmas night: Tuck the kids in bed, give hugs and kisses, kids go off to bed dreaming of all the presents they found under the tree that morning.
Wake up: BAM! Sorry kids, Christmas is OVER!

To each his own, I guess......

Not that I've ever had issues with wanting to extend the Christmas season.
Nope. Not me.

Because I surely DO NOT have a picture of Ryan and I, in front of a Christmas tree, holding a sign that says "February 2nd, 1996 - Christmas is OVER!!!"

No, I most definitely do NOT. :)

DEAR SANTA

EDITED 1/3/09: To any Readers out there...... I just wanted you to know that I did not write this letter myself.... if you know who the author is, please let me know! But I DO agree with every last sentence! Enjoy!

Dear Santa:
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:
I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy. If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with three kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to 20 cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,
MOM

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel ALL my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa!

(Santa has asked that this gets passed on to all the mommies you know, feel free to copy and paste onto your own blog!)

My Christmas Favs

My Favorite Christmas Songs

I'm in a Christmas-y Mood Today! Also, I'm playing along with my friend Janel, at DandelionDayz, who is listing her top 10 fav Christmas songs. So here are some of my favorites!

1. O Holy Night (any version. But I especially love it when Jeff Nielsen sings it on Christmas Eve at church! And I love Josh Groban's too)
2. Carol Of the Bells (instrumental and with vocals)
3. Gloria (Michael W. Smith) LOVE this!!!
4. Breath of Heaven (Amy Grant)
5. Strange Way to Save the World (4Him)
6. Mary Did You Know?
7. What Child Is This and Angels We Have Heard on High (Third Day)
8. Wexford Carol (instrumental)
9. Don't Save it All For Christmas Day (Clay Aiken)
10. Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Point of Grace)
11. Most instrumental Celtic Christmas music, especailly when the fireplace is on!

Don't recognize some of them? Then look 'em up on Youtube and have a listen. I think you'll love them too! What are your favs? To see Janel's list, go to http://www.dandeliondayz.com/. She got the idea from Jo-Lynne, at http://www.musingsofahousewife.com/, so check that one out too!

Funny story about "Angels We Have Heard On High." Years ago, when Emma was only 2 1/2, we were at church, and everyone was singing this song. Since it was Christmas Eve, she was in the service with us. Never thinking to explain the words, there she stood on her chair, singing with all her might: GLOOOORRRIAA, "Pulling Jessie's Tail All Day!" We never did figure out who Jessie was, or why she'd be pulling his tail.......... haha :)

Merry Christmas!

Light

It's dark and rainy here today.

It would be a perfect nap day. But I have such a bad headache, I can't fall asleep.

So I went tip toe-ing (is that a word??) into my bedroom to put some things away while John is asleep. Not much light was coming in the windows, so I turned on the lamp to see better.

But it didn't do much good.

There was just enough natural light in the room already so that the light from the lamp didn't really make a difference. I turned the other one on, but it didn't really help either. It aggravated me for a second, and I finished up and walked out.

It doesn't seem to make a lot of sense...... a lamp gives light, and if I turn it on, it should make the room lighter. Had the room been really dark, the lamp would have worked wonders.

I guess God speaks in strange ways sometimes, when I'm least expecting it. Cuz I sure wasn't expecting anything while putting socks away today.

But this is what I started thinking about.....
I had "just enough" light in my room today.... enough to do what I needed, and carry on, whether that lamp was on or not. And in life, sometimes it's easy to go along with what we think is "just enough" God, too.

Just enough of Him doesn't really make any sense. But I guess people trick themselves into thinking that. We get so used to going about our business that we can't see Him in the little things everyday.

The lamp is on, but it just doesn't seem to make a big difference.

Until the sun goes down. And it's dark, and we are desperate for light.

We turn the lamp on, and it illuminates the room.

And in those times, that light is the only thing that allows us to see.

......just thinking.........

Thanksgiving Thoughts

My random Thanksgiving thoughts........ about thankfulness and abundance.

Thankfulness
I'm thankful for my childrens' laughter. There's nothing like hearing my 3 kids laugh so hard that they're almost crying!

I'm thankful for our fireplace. Love, love, love snuggling the fam by the fire with hot cocoa.

I really am in love with my flat iron right now. Do you understand how amazing it is to make a curly head of hair shiny and straight??

I'm thankful for disposable diapers. Obviously.

And for children's Benadryl. That stuff can really knock a kid out. (ooops, did I say that?)

I'm thankful for mascara. And I'm sure my friends and neighbors are thankful that I use it.

I'm thankful for God's love, and forgivness.

I'm thankful that I can go to the grocery store, buy more food than we need, and even have enough to splurge on Starbucks while I browse the aisles. I know that's completely incomprehensible to much of the world.

And I'm thankful that God gives us opportunities to use what He's given us to help others. And I'm not just being sappy cuz it's Thanksgiving. Really, truly..... I know that I don't even comprehend the extent of what I have.

Take for example, what most of us think of as "problems."

Here are some of my recent problems:
I don't have enough cupboard space, or room in my pantry.
The fridge is full of old food.
The laundry is piling up.
I want more closet space.
I can't stand sorting through all the kids clothes each season.
There is no room in the attic to store all the off-season clothing for 5 people.
The toy room is always a mess.
I want to lose ___ pounds.
What in the world am I going to buy everyone for Christmas?

I'm seeing some similarities here.......

ABUNDANCE.

So many of our so called problems stem from the fact that we have SO MUCH. We can't keep a clean house because we have so much stuff. Too much laundry to do, because we have so many clothes. It's hard to take off the weight, because we can eat all we want. We have enough financial resources to buy so many gifts that we can't figure out what to buy.

And yet people all over the world live on such meager amounts as $600 a year. If they are fortunate enough to have a home, they most certainly aren't worried about having so much "stuff" that they can't fit it all. They worry about providing just one meal a day to their family, not about the willpower to stop eating so much. They worry about having something to wear, not about finding the time to weed through closets and donate to Goodwill.

My point is this: God has blessed us so much that I think we don't realize much of the time what we really have. I want to have a thankful heart. I am blessed beyond measure.