http://www.style.com/vogue/feature/2009_March_Stephenie_Meyer/
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Confession Time
I feel the need to confess some stuff...you know, air some of my own dirty laundry. Feel free to commiserate, or hold me accountable :)
1) I have been complaining WAY too much lately. I think as a mom we sometimes get into ruts, groundhog days, whatever you want to call them. Instead of making the best of each trying situation, I've found that instead I've just been really vocal about my dissatisfaction.
2) I've been way too lenient with my almost-four-year-old, Cody. He has been giving me some serious attitude lately. Most of the time I correct it, but since Mike's knee surgery, I think most of my energies are spent just getting him (and myself, Mike and Tyler, too) fed, dressed, and out the door to wherever it is we need to go. All that to say, I haven't put much energy into spiritual development. People tell me that he's just asserting his independence, that it's a stage he'll grow out of...but I'm beginning to wonder. I definitely feel the need to tighten up the ship. No more sparing the rod...ya know? I want him to reap good fruit one day, so I need to sow the seeds of good discipline now, right?
3) I'm totally a space cadet when it comes to money and bills. Mike's been telling me this for years, because he does all of our bill keeping (I think when you're not the one earning the money it's easier not to think about how you spend it). I don't mean that I just spend spend spend with no thought; I don't believe that I'm frivolous in that way. I just don't know where my/our money goes. I'm bad about receipts, and could probably spend Mike's entire paycheck at the grocery store (I just love that place). Our small group has been doing a bible study that has totally opened my eyes to this fact. Something to work on as well.
4) I think I have a lot of patience with complete strangers, but have a hard time extending that same patience to my own family. Why is that?
Ok, I think that might be enough for now. We all have our struggles...you just got a peek at mine. The joy I have in all this is knowing that God loves me anyway, and that there's nothing I can do to separate myself from his unfailing love. Thank you, Lord!
1) I have been complaining WAY too much lately. I think as a mom we sometimes get into ruts, groundhog days, whatever you want to call them. Instead of making the best of each trying situation, I've found that instead I've just been really vocal about my dissatisfaction.
2) I've been way too lenient with my almost-four-year-old, Cody. He has been giving me some serious attitude lately. Most of the time I correct it, but since Mike's knee surgery, I think most of my energies are spent just getting him (and myself, Mike and Tyler, too) fed, dressed, and out the door to wherever it is we need to go. All that to say, I haven't put much energy into spiritual development. People tell me that he's just asserting his independence, that it's a stage he'll grow out of...but I'm beginning to wonder. I definitely feel the need to tighten up the ship. No more sparing the rod...ya know? I want him to reap good fruit one day, so I need to sow the seeds of good discipline now, right?
3) I'm totally a space cadet when it comes to money and bills. Mike's been telling me this for years, because he does all of our bill keeping (I think when you're not the one earning the money it's easier not to think about how you spend it). I don't mean that I just spend spend spend with no thought; I don't believe that I'm frivolous in that way. I just don't know where my/our money goes. I'm bad about receipts, and could probably spend Mike's entire paycheck at the grocery store (I just love that place). Our small group has been doing a bible study that has totally opened my eyes to this fact. Something to work on as well.
4) I think I have a lot of patience with complete strangers, but have a hard time extending that same patience to my own family. Why is that?
Ok, I think that might be enough for now. We all have our struggles...you just got a peek at mine. The joy I have in all this is knowing that God loves me anyway, and that there's nothing I can do to separate myself from his unfailing love. Thank you, Lord!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Love is in the air...
So it's almost Valentine's Day.
Ahh yes...bring on the chocolates and flowers. Actually, my Valentine's Day will be spent taking care of a husband who has just gotten out of knee surgery :( Poor Mikey. The truth is, there is nothing I would rather be doing than taking care of the Mann I love; isn't that what Valentine's Day is all about?
In honor of him, here's a little list of why I love that Mann of mine (those with a gag reflex, stop reading here):
1. He still makes me mixed tapes (although they are on my iPhone, and aren't called mixed tapes anymore...I guess "playlist" is a better word?)
2. He comes home from a long day of working with crazy kids and plays with our crazy kids to give me a break (and most weekends will get up early with them so I don't have to <sigh>)
3. He loves his mama...you gotta love a man that's good to his mommy :)
4. He brings me chai tea for no reason...yum!
5. He reminds me to keep things light, and still manages to make me laugh really, really hard sometimes.
The rest of the list is too private to share...but you get the idea...I've got a good Mann :)
Happy Valentine's Day!!
xoxo
Ahh yes...bring on the chocolates and flowers. Actually, my Valentine's Day will be spent taking care of a husband who has just gotten out of knee surgery :( Poor Mikey. The truth is, there is nothing I would rather be doing than taking care of the Mann I love; isn't that what Valentine's Day is all about?
In honor of him, here's a little list of why I love that Mann of mine (those with a gag reflex, stop reading here):
1. He still makes me mixed tapes (although they are on my iPhone, and aren't called mixed tapes anymore...I guess "playlist" is a better word?)
2. He comes home from a long day of working with crazy kids and plays with our crazy kids to give me a break (and most weekends will get up early with them so I don't have to <sigh>)
3. He loves his mama...you gotta love a man that's good to his mommy :)
4. He brings me chai tea for no reason...yum!
5. He reminds me to keep things light, and still manages to make me laugh really, really hard sometimes.
The rest of the list is too private to share...but you get the idea...I've got a good Mann :)
Happy Valentine's Day!!
xoxo
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Cute Stuff
Cody is at the age now that he comes up with the funniest things to say.
For instance, the other night we went to dinner with some friends of ours and their kids (which is quite a scene let me tell you, between us we have 5 kids under 5). As I was buckling Cody into his carseat and getting ready to head home, he turned to me and said, "Mommy, you have two babies in your belly (and proceeded to point to my chest), one, two." Mike heard him and saw him too, and we both started rolling. Where the heck did he get that? His new favorite word is "lasterday" instead of "yesterday". One of my other favorites is when he has a runny nose he says, "Oh, no! I've got sniffies!"
I'm sure there'll be more where these came from...and I can't wait.
Update 2/25: Mike recently had knee surgery and is on crutches for a while. Yesterday, Cody pointed to them and said, "Daddy, I want to try your "crunchers". Cuuuute :)
For instance, the other night we went to dinner with some friends of ours and their kids (which is quite a scene let me tell you, between us we have 5 kids under 5). As I was buckling Cody into his carseat and getting ready to head home, he turned to me and said, "Mommy, you have two babies in your belly (and proceeded to point to my chest), one, two." Mike heard him and saw him too, and we both started rolling. Where the heck did he get that? His new favorite word is "lasterday" instead of "yesterday". One of my other favorites is when he has a runny nose he says, "Oh, no! I've got sniffies!"
I'm sure there'll be more where these came from...and I can't wait.
Update 2/25: Mike recently had knee surgery and is on crutches for a while. Yesterday, Cody pointed to them and said, "Daddy, I want to try your "crunchers". Cuuuute :)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
When things get crappy...
Literally. My days and nights lately have been made up of picking up, wiping up, and cleaning up POOP.
The Nights: We just recently got our dog back from my parents. We like to say that she summers here in Georgia, and that she winters in Florida them. Well, she's back....with a vengeance. My son Tyler (who is almost two and is STILL not sleeping through the night) woke up the other night at about 1 in the morning screaming his head off. I was on my way downstairs to get him a bottle (yeah, he still takes a bottle at night...sue me). When I got to the bottom of the stairs I stepped on (and proceeded to skid across the wood floor in) my dog's poop. The only problem was that since I wasn't used to having her home, I didn't at first realize that I had stepped in dog poop. I thought maybe I had stepped on some remnant of Cody or Tyler's snack from earlier that day. Nope...it was dog poop. So I cleaned it off my foot, and cleaned it up off of our floor - all the while whispering profanities to myself (Lord, forgive me).
The Days: Tyler still wears diapers, and has regular #2's throughout his day. I've heard of kids who can go 3 or 4 days without pooping...I wish I had one. He is a machine; in one end and out the other. Cody, my beloved almost 4 year old, is STILL potty training. He pees on the potty like a big boy and wears his underwear throughout the day, however, the child WILL NOT poop on the potty. Lately he has been pooping in his underwear in the morning before we even know that he's awake. So, my mornings have consisted of waking up to clean up poop...and it is NOT a pleasant experience. It's a real juggling act trying not to "spill the poop" as Cody likes to say, while taking off his little underwear.
This stage (where they can't wipe their own butts, I mean) is rough, but from what I hear, I will miss this one day. So I choose to embrace the crap (not literally), and move on.
The Nights: We just recently got our dog back from my parents. We like to say that she summers here in Georgia, and that she winters in Florida them. Well, she's back....with a vengeance. My son Tyler (who is almost two and is STILL not sleeping through the night) woke up the other night at about 1 in the morning screaming his head off. I was on my way downstairs to get him a bottle (yeah, he still takes a bottle at night...sue me). When I got to the bottom of the stairs I stepped on (and proceeded to skid across the wood floor in) my dog's poop. The only problem was that since I wasn't used to having her home, I didn't at first realize that I had stepped in dog poop. I thought maybe I had stepped on some remnant of Cody or Tyler's snack from earlier that day. Nope...it was dog poop. So I cleaned it off my foot, and cleaned it up off of our floor - all the while whispering profanities to myself (Lord, forgive me).
The Days: Tyler still wears diapers, and has regular #2's throughout his day. I've heard of kids who can go 3 or 4 days without pooping...I wish I had one. He is a machine; in one end and out the other. Cody, my beloved almost 4 year old, is STILL potty training. He pees on the potty like a big boy and wears his underwear throughout the day, however, the child WILL NOT poop on the potty. Lately he has been pooping in his underwear in the morning before we even know that he's awake. So, my mornings have consisted of waking up to clean up poop...and it is NOT a pleasant experience. It's a real juggling act trying not to "spill the poop" as Cody likes to say, while taking off his little underwear.
This stage (where they can't wipe their own butts, I mean) is rough, but from what I hear, I will miss this one day. So I choose to embrace the crap (not literally), and move on.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Why I love Stephenie Meyer (author of Twilight)...
The Twilight Saga. Translation? The books Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn; all written by Stephenie Meyer. This woman has singlehandedly changed my life. Her books have made me fall in love with reading again...and inspired me to write as well.
I used to read all the time, before I had my kids...then I went into survival mode. I had only read ONE entire book in almost four years! And I think the only reason I was able to read that ONE book because I was on vacation! (That book, by the way, was Redeeming Love, a FANTASTIC book by Francine Rivers, that my dear friend is also trying to turn into a movie!) But I digress...
That's right, the very book/movie that has left teen girls swooning nationwide is now this (almost 30 year old) mother's obsession. Twilight is "my own personal brand of heroine" (shout out to all of you who know what I mean!). I can't stop. I've read all 4 books (and let me tell you, they aren't short!) twice, and I'm on my third round. I've seen the movie more times than I care to admit.
What's the draw? Edward! For the record, Bella is a fantastic character too, but Edward...ohhh Edward. He's the perfect man, er, vampire. He's the reason that there are women (my age and much, much older!) swooning just like the aformentioned teenaged girls.
Meyer has created a character who, in my opinion (and Bella's too) is more romantic than Romeo himself (and every other male lead I can think of in literature). If you can just get past the fact that he wants to kill her (which isn't hard to do, trust me!) then you would agree.
So to all my lady friends out there, and any curious male friends too (Attention husbands: READ THIS BOOK) - if you haven't already read Twilight, read it!
I used to read all the time, before I had my kids...then I went into survival mode. I had only read ONE entire book in almost four years! And I think the only reason I was able to read that ONE book because I was on vacation! (That book, by the way, was Redeeming Love, a FANTASTIC book by Francine Rivers, that my dear friend is also trying to turn into a movie!) But I digress...
That's right, the very book/movie that has left teen girls swooning nationwide is now this (almost 30 year old) mother's obsession. Twilight is "my own personal brand of heroine" (shout out to all of you who know what I mean!). I can't stop. I've read all 4 books (and let me tell you, they aren't short!) twice, and I'm on my third round. I've seen the movie more times than I care to admit.
What's the draw? Edward! For the record, Bella is a fantastic character too, but Edward...ohhh Edward. He's the perfect man, er, vampire. He's the reason that there are women (my age and much, much older!) swooning just like the aformentioned teenaged girls.
Meyer has created a character who, in my opinion (and Bella's too) is more romantic than Romeo himself (and every other male lead I can think of in literature). If you can just get past the fact that he wants to kill her (which isn't hard to do, trust me!) then you would agree.
So to all my lady friends out there, and any curious male friends too (Attention husbands: READ THIS BOOK) - if you haven't already read Twilight, read it!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A New President
I love Inauguration Day.
It marks one of those few times in history where we are not forced to stand together because of national tragedy, like 9/11 or Katrina. We gather for, and in the celebration of, freedom. I can't help but be excited. Regardless of whether the person I voted for is sworn in or not (and for the record, he wasn't!), it doesn't really matter to me when it's all said in done. At least I got my say...and you did too, whether you exercised your right or not.
How grateful I am to God that I live in THIS country.
It marks one of those few times in history where we are not forced to stand together because of national tragedy, like 9/11 or Katrina. We gather for, and in the celebration of, freedom. I can't help but be excited. Regardless of whether the person I voted for is sworn in or not (and for the record, he wasn't!), it doesn't really matter to me when it's all said in done. At least I got my say...and you did too, whether you exercised your right or not.
How grateful I am to God that I live in THIS country.
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