Tagged

Ok, I'm finally going to respond to one of these:

10 YEARS AGO:

We were living in Cedar City, UT and I was finishing up my Master's degree. I was a manager at Adriana's, working (briefly) at State Bank, and teaching Communication classes at Southern Utah University. I was a newly called Young Women's President, we had just purchased our first house and, after a couple of years trying, were eagerly anticipating our first child. 

5 PLACES I'VE VISITED:

Florida

California

Mexico (just across the border in Tijuana -- does that count?)

Niagara Falls

Washington D.C.

5 THINGS ON MY TO DO LIST:

Repost rental properties on Craig's List

Get soccer shorts for the kids

Clean/Organize the basement & the garage

Pay Bills

Exercise

5 LIFETIME GOALS:

Be Happy

Continue learning and pursuing new hobbies

Serve a mission

Stay healthy and active

Be the best mom I can be

3 BAD HABITS

Stay up WAY too late -- especially when Greg works nights

Lose patience with my kids

Let my kids watch too much TV so I can get other things done

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW:

*I cut my foot with a chainsaw when I was about 5 years old.

*I want to get my PhD...but the sacrifices it would take don't make sense with my life right now.

*As a child, I wanted to be a doctor -- but I don't like blood, as well as certain other words commonly associated with the profession. (S_ _ B and P_ _ S). (That's for you, Reed.)

*I got engaged in a hot air balloon.

*I had several pets named Squirmmy -- 2 gerbils and a cat.

 *I attended my first concert (R.E.M.) at age 14. I went with two of my best friends, and my dad. (It was the only way we were allowed to go. I think my parents thought I would decline the concert, rather than go with my dad.  They were SO wrong.) 

My dad had just had knee surgery and was on crutches. We had floor seats, about 35 rows back. When everyone started standing on their seats, my dad joined in -- crutches and all. He thought it was ridiculous that people didn't just sit down to watch the concert, but he didn't want to spend the whole evening looking at everyone's backsides either. Amazingly, he balanced, with his crutches, between a couple of chairs. I'm certain he looks back on that night with the fondest of memories. I know I do. I thought he was the coolest dad around.

I tag Gina, Jonelle, Eliza, Rachel, Heidi...and anyone else's who feels so inclined.

Rockstar - Like Real Life?

Yesterday, Addysen, along with two of her friends (and 95 other kids) tried out for the school talent show. From what I overheard during the few minutes I was at the school, I quickly surmised that the judges were likely going to hear A LOT of Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus or High School Musical numbers.

Addysen and her friends performed, "Rockstar," complete with singing, choreography and a guitar solo.

The mother in me thinks that any third grader who is gutsy enough to try out should automatically make it into the show. However, at 3 minutes each, 95 children performing could make for a rather lengthy production. 

Furthermore, I realize that granting everyone a free pass, just for trying, isn't like real life. We all face disappointments and heartache sometimes...no matter how hard we've tried...no matter how much effort and preparation we've put forth...and no matter how "deserving" we might be. 

And so, we're waiting on pins and needles until Monday when the results are in. 

We'll keep you posted.

A Day at the Metroparks

You better look now, because it may not last...but...the temperature gauge in Cleveland hit 60+ degrees! Given the shorts, t-shirts and large amounts of skin showing around town, an unsuspecting passerby might believe we were nearing 100 degrees. Car washing took place en masse, as well as yardwork, bike rides and ball playing. Amazingly, as it turns out, we didn't move into a ghost-town masquerading as a neighborhood...as people have been up and down the sidewalk soaking up every minute of warmth and sunshine. We, too, joined the crowds...and made the most of this wonderful weekend.

A Rock In My Shoe...A Rock In My Life

I had a rock in my shoe today. I found this somewhat odd as the rock was in my running shoes and they've never been worn outside.

I'd been wearing them for over an hour as I did my P90x video. It wasn't until I was running on the treadmill that I even noticed the irritation rubbing against my heel. Somehow, without any knowledge on my part, that rock snuck in and started messing with my life. 

Perhaps I am waxing philosophical due to General Conference this weekend. Or perhaps I just always look for analogies as a way to figure out my life.

Whatever the reason, I found myself pondering how this rock, this seemingly small irritation is like so many things in life. So often, I try to ignore the little things, thinking, hoping, they'll go away on their own or somehow, magically, take care of themselves. And yet, that rarely seems to happen.

Contrastingly, I sometimes forget that if I'd just take care of the little things...starting small...eventually I'll get bigger results. This can be both positive and negative.

For example:

*A chip in the windshield would cost about $20 to repair. If that chip is ignored, left alone to withstand the elements, it will spread, most likely resulting in a full-blown, $150+ windshield replacement.

*A single, cracked tile is annoying to replace. Yet, replacing an entire floor, significantly more complicated.

*Making an appointment to check out a cavity...a pain. Letting the problem go and ending up scheduling a root canal...literally a pain.

*Any home-repair project is not fun to deal with. However, procrastinating these projects until you need a Cleveland Heights Point of Sale inspection...well, let's just say that a 20 page report is not unheard of around here.

*Folding the laundry daily, rather than saving it for the 18 load marathon session. (Of course, this can be altered depending on which tv show you'd like to watch guilt-free.)

*Washing/rinsing the dishes prior to the Bran Flakes (or Rice Krispies or mushy Lucky Charms) drying and encrusting themselves to the bowl/highchair tray/floor would make life so much easier.

Ahhh...the examples from my own life could continue on long and lengthy...so let's move to the more proactive portion of this rambling.

Regarding Health:

Committing to drink 8-12 glasses of water each day sure beats setting myself up for failure by saying I'll:

* Lose 25 pounds

* Run 25 miles per week

* Lift weights 3x per week

* Exercise 6 days for 1 hour each

* Eliminate all sugar, treats, chips and "fun foods"

I know, I've tried it both ways.

With Children:

*Teach them, train them, nurture them...while they are young. 

*Set boundaries and stick with them. 

*Discipline. 

*Love them. Laugh with them. Play with them. 

Do all these things while they still want me around. That's the key. As hard as it is to imagine, my kids aren't always going to want me around. 

I better do the little things now...because someday, all too soon, these "little things" (my kids) will be "big things." And unlike the rock in my shoe, once they are grown, I'm not going to be able to stop and "fix" things. 

In A Marriage:

Same principles apply, it's the little things. 

*If there is a communication issue, resolve it. If it's still being brought up months or years later, it's not resolved.

*Serve. It's that whole theory of, "A-peanut-butter-and-jelly-sandwich-tastes-better-if-someone-else-makes-it." Enough said.

*Laugh...together. (Although, laughing at each other sometimes works too.) Greg sings a mighty version of the Eagles, "Love (insert WAFFLES) will keep us alive."

Yeah, the list could go on, but in the midst of writing this, my two little girls have disappeared. If I really want to love them today, I better find them before they write on another wall, or spill the sugar container all over the floor. Again. (We try to limit that to a once-a-day occurence.)

Interestingly, just as a FYI note: 

I "posted" this entire blog in my head before stopping to take care of the rock in my shoe.  

Clearly, I have a long way to go.

Boring...How I Like It.

I am nothing, if not consistent. Some might even call me boring. I prefer routine, but however you term it, it works for me. I make no apologies.

I'm the type that wakes up and does the same thing every day. I don't even need to leave the house in order to be happy. I can find plenty of intellectually stimulating situations within the walls of my own home.  (YOU define 'intellectually stimulating.')

I shop at the same grocery stores. (It's efficient to know where everything is...and when you have 4 children with you...efficiency is SMART.) I buy the same brands, make the same meals and eat at the same restaurants.

I even wear the same clothes. But before you get the totally wrong idea, know that I do go out on a limb and spice up my wardrobe with 3/4 sleeves, short sleeves, or (usually) long sleeves. I venture out when it comes to crew neck, v-neck, turtleneck, pima, cotton, 95% cotton/5%spandex, thermal....you get the idea. 

Of course, those variations almost always come in black or white. (Black is more "kid-friendly" and white...well, it can be bleached.)

                       

So then, isn't it interesting that I am married to a law enforcement professional?  I don't know too many law enforcement personnel who went in to their line of work thinking it would provide routine situations everyday. If anything, they wanted the exact opposite. 

                    

Take Greg, for example. As a police officer/SWAT team member, he tells me what goes on at work. But, if I want to know the real details of a raid or an arrest, I have to eavesdrop when he tells his dad about it (retired FBI).

The faster the foot pursuit, the happier he is. The harder the dog bit someone -- the cooler it makes the story. The bigger the gun, the better. Tased someone and they crashed to the ground? Sweet. Interviewed a murder suspect? A rape suspect? A drug dealer...all in a days work...and it's exciting.

It used to strike me as really odd that while the kids and I were at home reading bedtime stories, he'd be out running through backyards, jumping fences and chasing bad guys. Now, in  a twisted sort of way, that has become the routine. 

Granted, many would look at our family "routines" and think they are anything but. But, it works for us...or, it doesn't. Either way, isn't that some sort of consistency?

Little Girls

   

    

 

Believe in yourself. Believe in your capacity to do great and good things. Believe that no mountain is so high that you cannot climb it. Believe that no storm is so great that you cannot weather it. You are a child of God, of infinite capacity.

Believe that you can do it -- 

          whatever it is that you set your heart on. 

                            ~ President Gordon B. Hinckley

Is there anything more beautiful, anything that speaks more of divinity than a lovely little girl? I have little great-granddaughters, bright-eyed and beautiful, who sing and smile and touch my heart with thoughts of heaven. When I see them in their innocence, I recall the words of the Lord, "Except ye....become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." 

                             ~ President Gordon B. Hinckley

For the Record

Clearly, I have the kindest friends and family. To those of you who even insinuated (albeit, sarcastically) that this could possibly be my p90x BEFORE photo...well, may blessings and sunshine rain down upon you. (There's an interesting thought, huh? Raining sunshine. It could happen in Cleveland.)

There is NO WAY this could be my photo -- in high school or college (as was Greg's photo), let alone, after having 4 children. And, quite frankly, there is NO WAY I would post 'before' photos and subject myself to such embarrassment and ridicule.

My kids took one look and all concluded the same thing. Brynnley summed it up best when she said, "OOOH Mom! You're BAAAD! You're wearing a belly shirt. YOU shouldn't wear something like that!"

She is right....on all levels.

Shoot -- I can't even pretend.

PS -- I think I am starting to like hummus.