Tonight Sonshine and I went to church together. Just the two of us. He did pretty good overall, I sang in the choir and he stayed by my side throughout the service. Mostly quietly. One of the things he did to stay out of trouble was to draw a few pictures on a little notebook I keep in my purse for just such occasions. He tore them out of the notebook and wanted to carry them to the car after church was over. He let me know he was going to hold onto them very tight because he really liked these 4 pictures. I suggested he put them in his pocket so they wouldn't blow away.
After church we went up to the director and "thanked her for letting him sing." She asked me how I was doing, if I was okay. She knew I had struggled with having him with me and was very sincere in wanting to know if I was "okay". I assured her I was doing well and we headed to the car.
Once we're in the car I hear Sonshine ask, "Are you okay? Are you OKAY??" I thought he'd either caught onto her concern for me, or was simply parroting her question so I told him: "I'm fine honey, thank you for asking."
To which he said, "I was talking to my pictures I was taking out of my pocket!!"
sure lets me know where I stand, huh?
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Do You Remember Me?
Waaay back in June 2007 when I started this blog I made a promise to myself.
I would not use it as a place to whine about my life. I promised that I would only talk about my life as seen from a humorous or inspiring viewpoint.
Sometimes that's been easy, Other times it's been hard.
Here lately it's been hard. Which is a part of why I really haven't written much for the ol' blog in awhile.
Now, as a part of giving the next women's retreat that I went on in January, I am to write up the story of my life. I've procrastinated this to the maximum extent. I'm scheduled to read it for my group next Tuesday!! So I finally sat down to start writing. Now I realize just why I didn't want to do this! It's a long, sad, story. There's nothing to laugh about there. Really, there isn't. I don't wanna write it or read it and I can't imagine why anyone in their right mind would want to listen to it!!
I keep thinking if I just find the right approach the humor will show through. It's GOT to be in there somewhere, right?
I can't find it. And believe me I've looked. I looked with a candle, I looked with a flashlight, I looked with a spotlight and a fine toothed comb. I tried setting it to music, I tried to make it rhyme, I tried to put it in the rhythm of a banging drum. I read it upside down and backwards and sideways too. It just doesn't make me laugh no matter WHAT I do!
So now what?
Well, the one thing that I find when I look over the story is perseverance.
Matter of fact I always have been kinda stubborn!
Therefore I shall keep on writing, till my story is told. Reliving the trail that has long since gone cold.
And when it is finished, the last line written. Then I shall laugh for sheer joy that it's done!
I would not use it as a place to whine about my life. I promised that I would only talk about my life as seen from a humorous or inspiring viewpoint.
Sometimes that's been easy, Other times it's been hard.
Here lately it's been hard. Which is a part of why I really haven't written much for the ol' blog in awhile.
Now, as a part of giving the next women's retreat that I went on in January, I am to write up the story of my life. I've procrastinated this to the maximum extent. I'm scheduled to read it for my group next Tuesday!! So I finally sat down to start writing. Now I realize just why I didn't want to do this! It's a long, sad, story. There's nothing to laugh about there. Really, there isn't. I don't wanna write it or read it and I can't imagine why anyone in their right mind would want to listen to it!!
I keep thinking if I just find the right approach the humor will show through. It's GOT to be in there somewhere, right?
I can't find it. And believe me I've looked. I looked with a candle, I looked with a flashlight, I looked with a spotlight and a fine toothed comb. I tried setting it to music, I tried to make it rhyme, I tried to put it in the rhythm of a banging drum. I read it upside down and backwards and sideways too. It just doesn't make me laugh no matter WHAT I do!
So now what?
Well, the one thing that I find when I look over the story is perseverance.
Matter of fact I always have been kinda stubborn!
Therefore I shall keep on writing, till my story is told. Reliving the trail that has long since gone cold.
And when it is finished, the last line written. Then I shall laugh for sheer joy that it's done!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
morning y'all.
Hey there folks! in case you were wondering where I've been....
I'm spending my free time quilting this gigantic quilt so that I can take enough safety pins out of it to put together my sister's quilt.
Oh and I'm trying to read all of the posts in my reader that I've been missing this month!
And we're planning parties for Sugars (she'll be 4 March 2) and Gator (he'll be 6 March 18)
So, I read a really terrific post about St. Valentine's Day from my favorite humor author this morning and have gotten permission to repost it here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
From SherryTex, who's 10th child is almost 6 weeks old now! (yeah, she needs your prayers!!)
Happy Saint Valentine's Day
Back in early January, late December I was surfing the web, reading some of my favorite Catholic bloggers. As a lurker and sometimes participant in "7 Quick Takes Friday," with my blog via "The Conversion Diary" I saw the saint generator and thought about it but didn't push the button. Then I saw a link again when I was over at First Things reading another favorite of mine, “the Anchoress." This time, I decided to try. I got Saint Valentine of Rome. Feeling vaguely disappointed, like oh, I already know this saint....I scanned his biography but didn't give the matter much thought.
Two hours later, my second daughter was helping in the kitchen and explained out of the blue, how she loved all the celebrations at her school except for Valentine's Day. I asked why. She said, "It is just an excuse to give paper and candy, it doesn't have anything to do with the real Saint Valentine." I gave my educated Mom answer, "Saint Valentine is patron saint of marriages and happy couples, having celebrated the sacrament for early Christians who wanted their relationship to be reflective of the person of Christ. It's the beauty of sacramental relationships as versus their lesser imitators, relationships not rooted in a desire to be faithful, forever and oriented towards deepening the other's connection to God." I thought I was on a roll. "It is as the difference between fine chocolate and carob; vintage wine and grape juice, a deeper fuller relationship than can be imagined by this world or those who love the world first." I'd overdone. It happens. She sort of rolled her eyes a bit and left the kitchen. But I knew right then and there I needed to go back and start to know this saint better. Saint Valentine had asked for my attention twice in one day. God doesn't do random.
Now my middle daughter had struggled with double vision since November. Over the weeks, we have been scared out of our minds about the possibilities --cancer, tumors, stroke, blindness, diabetes; you name it, and had all sorts of tests to try and determine the cause but to no avail. We also had her eyes tested in November and December and visits to a Neurologist and were in the process of trying to bang down a door for an Educational Psychologist on the theory that she might be seeing things that weren't actually there. All we ever got was "We don't know. Let's do more tests."
The week I accepted the invitation to let Saint Valentine be a source of inspiration and education in my faith for the year, I got a phone call. The team of specialists had discussed my daughter's case and asked that I take her back to the eye doctor. They were finally able to address her vision properly and now she has glasses that correct her vision and her handwriting which had deteriorated to the point of being illegible is beautiful. She is 8. She fell asleep that night reading. I can't tell you the last time that happened or how much great joy and blessed relief seeing her resting with the lights on and the book over her chest 3/4ths of the way through brought me.
I went back to reread the story of Saint Valentine and the part about the daughter of the jailer being cured of her blindness leapt out at me. I had not seen it or taken it in before. Saints are God's means of bringing the community of Heaven and Earth closer together, of connecting us in our modern world and sensibilities with the universal timeless truths of our Church, as revealed across centuries of faithful witness.
So I'm heading out to buy chocolates and cards for my children and a little something for my husband. We've already sent flowers to my mom and his as part of celebrating this Saint's feast day with a bit more emphasis and personal enthusiasm for the traditions however hokey they may appear. The hearts and flowers mean a lot more than Halmark's bottom line with the focus on beauty and truth; how much we love and how much we want to love. And I want my kids to know that while you can go overboard with words and sentimentality, you can never go overboard trying to be loving to others, it's an infinite gift to give.
Happy Saint Valentine's Day!
P.S. If you want to use the saint generator, go to http://jenniferfulwiler.com/saints/. I'll be spending this year in Saint Valentine's tutelage.
I'm spending my free time quilting this gigantic quilt so that I can take enough safety pins out of it to put together my sister's quilt.
Oh and I'm trying to read all of the posts in my reader that I've been missing this month!
And we're planning parties for Sugars (she'll be 4 March 2) and Gator (he'll be 6 March 18)
So, I read a really terrific post about St. Valentine's Day from my favorite humor author this morning and have gotten permission to repost it here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
From SherryTex, who's 10th child is almost 6 weeks old now! (yeah, she needs your prayers!!)
Happy Saint Valentine's Day
Back in early January, late December I was surfing the web, reading some of my favorite Catholic bloggers. As a lurker and sometimes participant in "7 Quick Takes Friday," with my blog via "The Conversion Diary" I saw the saint generator and thought about it but didn't push the button. Then I saw a link again when I was over at First Things reading another favorite of mine, “the Anchoress." This time, I decided to try. I got Saint Valentine of Rome. Feeling vaguely disappointed, like oh, I already know this saint....I scanned his biography but didn't give the matter much thought.
Two hours later, my second daughter was helping in the kitchen and explained out of the blue, how she loved all the celebrations at her school except for Valentine's Day. I asked why. She said, "It is just an excuse to give paper and candy, it doesn't have anything to do with the real Saint Valentine." I gave my educated Mom answer, "Saint Valentine is patron saint of marriages and happy couples, having celebrated the sacrament for early Christians who wanted their relationship to be reflective of the person of Christ. It's the beauty of sacramental relationships as versus their lesser imitators, relationships not rooted in a desire to be faithful, forever and oriented towards deepening the other's connection to God." I thought I was on a roll. "It is as the difference between fine chocolate and carob; vintage wine and grape juice, a deeper fuller relationship than can be imagined by this world or those who love the world first." I'd overdone. It happens. She sort of rolled her eyes a bit and left the kitchen. But I knew right then and there I needed to go back and start to know this saint better. Saint Valentine had asked for my attention twice in one day. God doesn't do random.
Now my middle daughter had struggled with double vision since November. Over the weeks, we have been scared out of our minds about the possibilities --cancer, tumors, stroke, blindness, diabetes; you name it, and had all sorts of tests to try and determine the cause but to no avail. We also had her eyes tested in November and December and visits to a Neurologist and were in the process of trying to bang down a door for an Educational Psychologist on the theory that she might be seeing things that weren't actually there. All we ever got was "We don't know. Let's do more tests."
The week I accepted the invitation to let Saint Valentine be a source of inspiration and education in my faith for the year, I got a phone call. The team of specialists had discussed my daughter's case and asked that I take her back to the eye doctor. They were finally able to address her vision properly and now she has glasses that correct her vision and her handwriting which had deteriorated to the point of being illegible is beautiful. She is 8. She fell asleep that night reading. I can't tell you the last time that happened or how much great joy and blessed relief seeing her resting with the lights on and the book over her chest 3/4ths of the way through brought me.
I went back to reread the story of Saint Valentine and the part about the daughter of the jailer being cured of her blindness leapt out at me. I had not seen it or taken it in before. Saints are God's means of bringing the community of Heaven and Earth closer together, of connecting us in our modern world and sensibilities with the universal timeless truths of our Church, as revealed across centuries of faithful witness.
So I'm heading out to buy chocolates and cards for my children and a little something for my husband. We've already sent flowers to my mom and his as part of celebrating this Saint's feast day with a bit more emphasis and personal enthusiasm for the traditions however hokey they may appear. The hearts and flowers mean a lot more than Halmark's bottom line with the focus on beauty and truth; how much we love and how much we want to love. And I want my kids to know that while you can go overboard with words and sentimentality, you can never go overboard trying to be loving to others, it's an infinite gift to give.
Happy Saint Valentine's Day!
P.S. If you want to use the saint generator, go to http://jenniferfulwiler.com/saints/. I'll be spending this year in Saint Valentine's tutelage.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Thank God for Routine!
Oh and Happy St. Valentine's Day!
We have finally gotten back to normal around here!
Whoever can guess what Sonshine is in this picture gets a Silly Goose award!
catchup via facebook....
--I saw a large flock of Canadian Geese sitting in a cow pasture on the way home from church this morning. Valentines Day is almost over. The highs all week are 65-75. GOODBYE WINTER!! Bring on the Spring!
--Praise Jesus the Vday boxes and cards are done!! I am now locked in my room with the cats and 2 boxes of chocolates my hubby gave me for Vday!!!!!!
--Sister has a fish bath toy she carries around everywhere. I was getting her ready for bath this AM. Asked hubby to "bring me baby wipes and the fish". He hands me the baby wipes and a box of frozen Tilapia!!!!!!
--Watched the school bus and the garbage truck fight out who was gonna make it down my NARROW street first while I did the happy dance that after 2 weeks they BOTH found my house!!!
-Now if the mailman could just find me again all'd be well. There He Is!!
-Even Pizza Hut found my house today!!! Hooray! We're back in business!!
catchup on goals....
Haha! these were written Jan 22!!!!
For next week (ish?)
1) Piece top for my sister's quilt This I got done. Then as I was getting ready to layer and baste it I realized that EVERY SINGLE SAFETY PIN I OWN is in my huge Mommie Quilt!! As I was iced in at the time so getting more pins was out of the question I did the next best thing! I started quilting my Mommie quilt to pull out enough pins for my sister's quilt!
2) put away all ribbon etc and generally straighten up my sewing corner eh, why rush?
3) continue rearranging and decluttering my "stuff and pretties" so that my living room is a bit more livable. The top of the entertainment center with my cacti is part of this ongoing process. I'll show you more as I go. huh? WHAT was I thinking????
4) relax more, enjoy more, sleep more, exercise more.
well... 3 out of 4 ain't bad right?....of course it was kinda forced on me by the ice storm!
I have made good headway on my Mommie Quilt and am really enjoying quilting it...
Which led to this facebook post:
Is thinking I want to quilt this gigantic blanket! But I'm tired. But I want to quilt. But I'm tired. See I've got it spread out over my lap and ready to quilt. But I'm tired. Here's the thread and it'll be warm and lovely to work on. But I'm tired. Where's the needle....ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz
My grandmother used to say "that's the kind of project you'll take many naps under before it's done"!!!!!! Yes, I really was asleep under the quilt in progress when my hubby came home. :-))
And today is the first day in TWO WEEKS that all 3 kids are back at school!!
Hallelujah!!!
Don't forget to leave a guess on the picture in the comments! I'll try to make it around to catch up with all of YOU over the course of this week.
Enjoy your day and remember to hug the ones you love on this beautiful, WARM (high of 68 Praise the Lord) and SUNNY St. Valentine's Day!!
We have finally gotten back to normal around here!
Whoever can guess what Sonshine is in this picture gets a Silly Goose award!
catchup via facebook....
--I saw a large flock of Canadian Geese sitting in a cow pasture on the way home from church this morning. Valentines Day is almost over. The highs all week are 65-75. GOODBYE WINTER!! Bring on the Spring!
--Praise Jesus the Vday boxes and cards are done!! I am now locked in my room with the cats and 2 boxes of chocolates my hubby gave me for Vday!!!!!!
--Sister has a fish bath toy she carries around everywhere. I was getting her ready for bath this AM. Asked hubby to "bring me baby wipes and the fish". He hands me the baby wipes and a box of frozen Tilapia!!!!!!
--Watched the school bus and the garbage truck fight out who was gonna make it down my NARROW street first while I did the happy dance that after 2 weeks they BOTH found my house!!!
-Now if the mailman could just find me again all'd be well. There He Is!!
-Even Pizza Hut found my house today!!! Hooray! We're back in business!!
catchup on goals....
Haha! these were written Jan 22!!!!
For next week (ish?)
1) Piece top for my sister's quilt This I got done. Then as I was getting ready to layer and baste it I realized that EVERY SINGLE SAFETY PIN I OWN is in my huge Mommie Quilt!! As I was iced in at the time so getting more pins was out of the question I did the next best thing! I started quilting my Mommie quilt to pull out enough pins for my sister's quilt!
2) put away all ribbon etc and generally straighten up my sewing corner eh, why rush?
3) continue rearranging and decluttering my "stuff and pretties" so that my living room is a bit more livable. The top of the entertainment center with my cacti is part of this ongoing process. I'll show you more as I go. huh? WHAT was I thinking????
4) relax more, enjoy more, sleep more, exercise more.
well... 3 out of 4 ain't bad right?....of course it was kinda forced on me by the ice storm!
I have made good headway on my Mommie Quilt and am really enjoying quilting it...
Which led to this facebook post:
Is thinking I want to quilt this gigantic blanket! But I'm tired. But I want to quilt. But I'm tired. See I've got it spread out over my lap and ready to quilt. But I'm tired. Here's the thread and it'll be warm and lovely to work on. But I'm tired. Where's the needle....ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz
My grandmother used to say "that's the kind of project you'll take many naps under before it's done"!!!!!! Yes, I really was asleep under the quilt in progress when my hubby came home. :-))
And today is the first day in TWO WEEKS that all 3 kids are back at school!!
Hallelujah!!!
Don't forget to leave a guess on the picture in the comments! I'll try to make it around to catch up with all of YOU over the course of this week.
Enjoy your day and remember to hug the ones you love on this beautiful, WARM (high of 68 Praise the Lord) and SUNNY St. Valentine's Day!!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
dreaming!
I wanna roll down a grassy hill.....
for those of you not on facebook, a little update about my part of the world.
Last week, starting Monday night we got ice...then more ice.....then snow.....then ice......Everything, including all SCHOOLS, was closed from Tuesday till Saturday afternoon, when the sun came out and everything melted away.
Because my hooligan clan all had bad coughs we didn't let them play outside in the cold. OH, and I mean COLD. It got down to single digits a couple of those days.
By Wed night Gator was quite sick and hubby took him (with the other two in tow) to the ER while I was at work. He was diagnosed with an ear infection and a "virus".
By Friday night Sugars had been running a fever for 24 hours so hubby took her to the ER (while I stayed at home....HE can drive in this mess, not I!) where she was diagnosed with bronchitis and a "virus".
By Sunday Sonshine was coughing pretty nastily but we'd already made appointments for everyone Monday morning at our Pediatrician's office.
So, Monday morning, the first day that SCHOOL is open again, we all head out to the doctor for follow up appointments.
Guess what!
All 3 are diagnosed with STREP THROAT!! (which, ahem, the ER doc never tested them for!) And so, now they have to stay home Mon and Tues to let the antibiotics kick in.
Oh, and did you know?..........
There's a 90% chance of freezing rain starting Tues night with snow on Wed???? (which means SCHOOL will be closed again)
I'm searching ebay for a Sherman Tank to drive.....these kids MUST go to school!!! I mean REALLY! Any more days in this house and we're all going to be swinging from the ceiling fans!
And if you don't mind, I need to borrow 2 quarts of sanity and a gallon of patience from someone. I promise to split it with hubby!
for those of you not on facebook, a little update about my part of the world.
Last week, starting Monday night we got ice...then more ice.....then snow.....then ice......Everything, including all SCHOOLS, was closed from Tuesday till Saturday afternoon, when the sun came out and everything melted away.
Because my hooligan clan all had bad coughs we didn't let them play outside in the cold. OH, and I mean COLD. It got down to single digits a couple of those days.
By Wed night Gator was quite sick and hubby took him (with the other two in tow) to the ER while I was at work. He was diagnosed with an ear infection and a "virus".
By Friday night Sugars had been running a fever for 24 hours so hubby took her to the ER (while I stayed at home....HE can drive in this mess, not I!) where she was diagnosed with bronchitis and a "virus".
By Sunday Sonshine was coughing pretty nastily but we'd already made appointments for everyone Monday morning at our Pediatrician's office.
So, Monday morning, the first day that SCHOOL is open again, we all head out to the doctor for follow up appointments.
Guess what!
All 3 are diagnosed with STREP THROAT!! (which, ahem, the ER doc never tested them for!) And so, now they have to stay home Mon and Tues to let the antibiotics kick in.
Oh, and did you know?..........
There's a 90% chance of freezing rain starting Tues night with snow on Wed???? (which means SCHOOL will be closed again)
I'm searching ebay for a Sherman Tank to drive.....these kids MUST go to school!!! I mean REALLY! Any more days in this house and we're all going to be swinging from the ceiling fans!
And if you don't mind, I need to borrow 2 quarts of sanity and a gallon of patience from someone. I promise to split it with hubby!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)