This week, I am attending a conference for CPE (continuing professional education) and at these conferences, you wear nametags, right?
Ok, well I was in a hurry last night after we got done with the conference and was still wearing my nametag when I picked up Hunter at school. We had the following conversation:
H: what's that Mommy?
Me: it's a nametag
H: what does that spell?
Me: it says Emily Reese
H: how come it doesn't say "mommy"?
Me: because my friends at work call me Emily Reese, not Mommy
H: oh, ok then, at home you need a nametag that spells "mommy"
Good advice, kid.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Indoor Farm Fun
This past weekend was cuh-razy. We had a fun fire-pit party with some friends on Friday night (weather cooperated and we had a great time) then Silver Dollar City for my company picnic on Saturday (not so much with the weather cooperating on that one...it was interesting to say the least) then preparations for the big PARTY on Sunday!
so...without further adieu
We planned a farm-themed party for Hunter. There were about 40 people here total, which you can't tell from these pictures, but it was AWESOME! We were going to do a hayride with the tractor, and all kinds of outdoor fun games. Since we were apparently experiencing monsoon season this weekend, we settled for an indoor barnyard. Not too far off of our norm around here...
My lovely and talented sister-in-law made these cake pops! Someday, that girl will have her own bakery and we will all have to pay her big bucks for things like this.
The cake-pop artist and her grateful customer.
One of my games was supposed to be a little "find the prizes in the ball pit." The kids thought the balls were awesome. So, we didn't really play the game, but they had fun anyway.
My cuties in their matching shirts!
Time to eat. Justin smoked some pork butts, it was a 3 day process. These kids didn't really care about that, so they ate hot dogs. Oh well, left more of that amazing smoked pork for the rest of us.
So excited about making a wish.
I think we hit this one outta the park!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Eat an Elephant
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
We have all heard this little quip before when we think about taking on a large task that seems insurmountable. It is something that I think about a LOT, and something I will probably be writing about quite a bit.
I often get overwhelmed on many levels.
On the personal level, trying to keep up with the daily demands of my life in my roles as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, friend, etc. Just trying to juggle the needs of all the people in my immediate circle can be overwhelming at times. Heck, just trying to get the freaking laundry done can be a bit daunting. So, I take on these tasks "one bite at a time."
Then there is the local level, our city and our nation have a lot of needs right now. The economy is still shaky, there are many in need. There are a lot of political issues that really get me concerned about the future of our country, and therefore what we are leaving for the next generation. Healthcare, for one...the growing number of people relying on the government for assistance is another. I am concerned that there are so many in our backyard who rely on the government to meet their basic needs because they are not able to make ends meet on their own (for whatever reason). Again, the best thing I can think to do about these issues is take them "one bite at a time." Sometimes this means all I can do is pray for the leaders of our city, state and nation. Sometimes I voice my opinion, sometimes the best thing to do is show compassion to someone in need. But, rather than being overwhelmed, it is certainly better to do something. This week at my church (schweitzerumc.org) we are doing a food drive for our pantry. Our pantry serves MANY families in the local area, providing groceries and other support. So, what do I need to do this week? Fill a bag with groceries and bring it back to church. Not too hard. But I tend to ask myself "Will this really make a difference?" I mean, like $25 worth of groceries...that isn't exactly going to end the hunger crisis in Springfield, MO, right? Maybe I am not called to END anything, just called to try to take a little bite out of the elephant.
Ok, so then there is the global level. This is actually why I was writing this blog tonight. What can we do about the children of the world living in unimaginable poverty? There is some ugly stuff going on in the world right now, genocide, death by disease, starvation, etc. This is such a big problem that I am often tempted to throw my hands up, overwhelmed, knowing that I can not really make a big difference no matter what I do. That is true, very true. I can't make much difference, and neither can you, if we are honest with ourselves. However, maybe I can make a little bitty difference. I would like to introduce Pwoje Espwa to you. Most of you are already well-aware of the work Father Marc and his team do down in that village in Les Cayes, Haiti...but if you have no idea what I am talking about, I am about to give you the quickest explanation EVER. Trust me, this is NOT the last you will hear of this if you keep reading my blog, I am just trying to make a little point. I have many other things to say about this subject and will be doing so...believe me.
Anyway, short rundown is: my mom felt a call on her heart to go to Haiti. At the time, she wasn't even 100% sure where Haiti was. Well, lots of stuff happened and she got connected to Father Marc in Hope Village, or Pwoje Espwa located in Les Cayes. This guy is an American Catholic priest who was in the US Military and happened upon Haiti and noticed the extreme poverty there, so he established basically an orphanage for boys, starting with 10ish boys in a home in town, and now he has established a fully functioning village housing both boys and girls in the 600 kids-range, which also educates in the 2,000's and feeds even more than that on a daily basis. It is INSANE. I am going there in December to see it for myself, but seeing as both my parents, my brother, sister-in-law, husband and many friends have been there...I would say I am already pretty sold out on the deal.
Now, I could write for hours on the mission of this place and how I think the design is the answer to the political and social issues that exist in Haiti...I could also tell you about the personal impact these children have had on the members of my family and therefore myself...I could talk about how it has changed our lives and our outlook on a LOT of different subjects. But since I am talking about the "one bite at a time" thing. I just want to tell you about something really cool that they are doing.
If you go to www.freethekids.org and click on the "Army of Angels" you can read about this venture in much more eloquent detail than I could explain. They have started a sponsorship program where you can walk alongside one of the amazing children at Espwa and for $30 a month, provide one aspect of their care. For $150 per month you can provide for all 5 aspects of their care and essentially "adopt" one of the kiddos. Well...when I got the info in the mail from them, I thought, "Heck yeah, I want to support a whole kid!" But the $150 seemed daunting to me, in addition to the support we already provide...so then I tabled the idea. That was a little dumb, right? So, anyway...my point is, our family is going to support the education of 1 child. That will cost only $30 per month. Are you interested in joining us? Check out the link, you can do it all online. And that is how you eat an elephant.
By the way...if this particular cause is not up your alley, that is totally fine...we can't eat this elephant by all taking the SAME bite, obviously. Find something that tugs at your heart, and start small. That is really the point I am trying to make. If you want to find out more about Espwa, I would encourage you to just poke around on their website www.freethekids.org and see the amazing things they are doing down there.
We have all heard this little quip before when we think about taking on a large task that seems insurmountable. It is something that I think about a LOT, and something I will probably be writing about quite a bit.
I often get overwhelmed on many levels.
On the personal level, trying to keep up with the daily demands of my life in my roles as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, friend, etc. Just trying to juggle the needs of all the people in my immediate circle can be overwhelming at times. Heck, just trying to get the freaking laundry done can be a bit daunting. So, I take on these tasks "one bite at a time."
Then there is the local level, our city and our nation have a lot of needs right now. The economy is still shaky, there are many in need. There are a lot of political issues that really get me concerned about the future of our country, and therefore what we are leaving for the next generation. Healthcare, for one...the growing number of people relying on the government for assistance is another. I am concerned that there are so many in our backyard who rely on the government to meet their basic needs because they are not able to make ends meet on their own (for whatever reason). Again, the best thing I can think to do about these issues is take them "one bite at a time." Sometimes this means all I can do is pray for the leaders of our city, state and nation. Sometimes I voice my opinion, sometimes the best thing to do is show compassion to someone in need. But, rather than being overwhelmed, it is certainly better to do something. This week at my church (schweitzerumc.org) we are doing a food drive for our pantry. Our pantry serves MANY families in the local area, providing groceries and other support. So, what do I need to do this week? Fill a bag with groceries and bring it back to church. Not too hard. But I tend to ask myself "Will this really make a difference?" I mean, like $25 worth of groceries...that isn't exactly going to end the hunger crisis in Springfield, MO, right? Maybe I am not called to END anything, just called to try to take a little bite out of the elephant.
Ok, so then there is the global level. This is actually why I was writing this blog tonight. What can we do about the children of the world living in unimaginable poverty? There is some ugly stuff going on in the world right now, genocide, death by disease, starvation, etc. This is such a big problem that I am often tempted to throw my hands up, overwhelmed, knowing that I can not really make a big difference no matter what I do. That is true, very true. I can't make much difference, and neither can you, if we are honest with ourselves. However, maybe I can make a little bitty difference. I would like to introduce Pwoje Espwa to you. Most of you are already well-aware of the work Father Marc and his team do down in that village in Les Cayes, Haiti...but if you have no idea what I am talking about, I am about to give you the quickest explanation EVER. Trust me, this is NOT the last you will hear of this if you keep reading my blog, I am just trying to make a little point. I have many other things to say about this subject and will be doing so...believe me.
Anyway, short rundown is: my mom felt a call on her heart to go to Haiti. At the time, she wasn't even 100% sure where Haiti was. Well, lots of stuff happened and she got connected to Father Marc in Hope Village, or Pwoje Espwa located in Les Cayes. This guy is an American Catholic priest who was in the US Military and happened upon Haiti and noticed the extreme poverty there, so he established basically an orphanage for boys, starting with 10ish boys in a home in town, and now he has established a fully functioning village housing both boys and girls in the 600 kids-range, which also educates in the 2,000's and feeds even more than that on a daily basis. It is INSANE. I am going there in December to see it for myself, but seeing as both my parents, my brother, sister-in-law, husband and many friends have been there...I would say I am already pretty sold out on the deal.
Now, I could write for hours on the mission of this place and how I think the design is the answer to the political and social issues that exist in Haiti...I could also tell you about the personal impact these children have had on the members of my family and therefore myself...I could talk about how it has changed our lives and our outlook on a LOT of different subjects. But since I am talking about the "one bite at a time" thing. I just want to tell you about something really cool that they are doing.
If you go to www.freethekids.org and click on the "Army of Angels" you can read about this venture in much more eloquent detail than I could explain. They have started a sponsorship program where you can walk alongside one of the amazing children at Espwa and for $30 a month, provide one aspect of their care. For $150 per month you can provide for all 5 aspects of their care and essentially "adopt" one of the kiddos. Well...when I got the info in the mail from them, I thought, "Heck yeah, I want to support a whole kid!" But the $150 seemed daunting to me, in addition to the support we already provide...so then I tabled the idea. That was a little dumb, right? So, anyway...my point is, our family is going to support the education of 1 child. That will cost only $30 per month. Are you interested in joining us? Check out the link, you can do it all online. And that is how you eat an elephant.
By the way...if this particular cause is not up your alley, that is totally fine...we can't eat this elephant by all taking the SAME bite, obviously. Find something that tugs at your heart, and start small. That is really the point I am trying to make. If you want to find out more about Espwa, I would encourage you to just poke around on their website www.freethekids.org and see the amazing things they are doing down there.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
3 Life-Changing Years
Tomorrow, my AMAZING oldest child, Hunter, turns THREE!!! To celebrate, I thought I would take a little walk down memory lane. Won't you join me?
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| 2 Days Old: The day we brought him home from the hospital. |
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| 6 Weeks Old: First Plane ride (to Florida to visit my family down there - why waste maternity leave without a vacation?) |
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| 3 Months Old: Uncle Zak = Joseph, Me = Mary, Hunter = Jesus. |
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| 6 Months Old: Baptism Day |
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| 1 Year Old: First Trip to the Cole Camp Fair. |
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| 1 Year, 4 Months Old: First "real" trip to the beach. Back to Florida. |
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| 1 Year, 7 Months Old: Easter pictures with our good friend (and possible future wife) Ainsley. |
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| 1 Year, 8 Months Old: Brand new baby brother! |
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| 2 Years Old: Birthday Party, first power tool. |
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| 2 Years, 2 Months Old: Baby Brother Baptism day |
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| 2 Years, 3 Months Old: Waiting for Santa Claus |
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| 2 Years, 4 Months Old: First vacation for our family of four. Back to Florida. |
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| 2 Years, 7 Months Old: First modeling gig, with the beautiful cousin Adison. |
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| 2 Years, 10 Months Old: Fun at Silver Dollar City. |
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| 3 Years (minus one day): Made his own cake, with a little help from Mom. |
Happy Birthday sweet boy.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Peace
Do you ever have those nights when you can't sleep because you can't stop thinking about something that is stressing you out? Then you wake up in the morning and realize it really isn't that big a deal? Well, that happened to me last night. I was stressing out about Hunter's birthday. I just got myself all worried because I don't have time to get ready for it. I couldn't figure out: When I was going to go get him his present? When would I make his cake? We are having his party here on Sunday, and I was all worried because my house is a mess. I had some other things running through my head non-birthday related, but they were all pretty silly (now in the light of day). Once I finally went to sleep, and woke up this morning, I realized that I could handle it with just a little bit of maneuvering...this is really not that challenging. I mean, our party on Sunday is just family and close friends...none of whom care if my house is a mess. The cake will not take very long (my sister in law is making cake pops and I am just responsible for some simple cupcakes for Sunday and a little cake just for our family of 4 on Thursday), and I got everything else taken care of this afternoon...I just had to leave work a couple hours early (which I will make up when the boys are in bed - I have a project that can easily be done from home). Bottom line - in the light of day, the things that seem to be SUCH a big deal in the middle of the night are actually not such a big deal after all.
It just got me thinking about life. Some of the things that we get so worked up about in our daily lives, that really stress us out and may even cause heartache...will all seem like NOTHING in about a year from now. Even those things that really upset us, like economic uncertainty, parenting struggles and worries about family issues. Unless they are life-threatening, within a years time, those things will be a distant memory (if even that). Just something I wanted to put out there, and to try to keep in mind myself as I try to not stress about things that are not TRULY important. Make sense?
It just got me thinking about life. Some of the things that we get so worked up about in our daily lives, that really stress us out and may even cause heartache...will all seem like NOTHING in about a year from now. Even those things that really upset us, like economic uncertainty, parenting struggles and worries about family issues. Unless they are life-threatening, within a years time, those things will be a distant memory (if even that). Just something I wanted to put out there, and to try to keep in mind myself as I try to not stress about things that are not TRULY important. Make sense?
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6-7
In my mind, the operative word in that Bible verse is "thanksgiving." In other words, when we focus on what we are grateful for, suddenly we are filled with peace. Hopefully, you share the belief that I hold, that the peace actually flows directly from God's heart to my own. But if you dont believe that, you can at least agree that the principle holds true...that gratitude breeds gratitude, and when we focus on the good in our lives, suddenly we find ourselves much more contented and peaceful.
Wedding Extravaganza
This past weekend (on 9/10/11) I was blessed and honored to participate in the wedding of my dear friends, Brianna and John. It was just the most beautiful wedding, with the most beautiful bride (and bridesmaids ha!) So, below are some of the pictures of the months leading up to, and including the wedding. We had a bridal shower, bachelorette party, couples shower (which I missed because I was sick) and of course the rehearsal dinner and wedding. It was a full schedule of super-fun activities, and I couldn't be more thankful to have been a part of it. Unfortunately I don't have any good pics of the bride in her gown, but I have plenty in her party dress that she put on after the reception and before the after party.
The wedding was in Springfield, and was supposed to be outdoors, unfortunately it started POURING rain just about the time the wedding was supposed to start, so the (extremely calm) bride waited while the guests and flowers and everything were moved inside. The ceremony took place inside (I don't have pictures of that because I was obviously a little busy) and was absolutely PERFECT. Then we had a great time at the reception, and headed downtown to a bar/club/lounge place that had been reserved just for us. So we partied down, and danced the night away. It was a perfect weekend!
Congratulations to the happy couple. And now, the photos...
8/19/11 - we headed up to St. Louis for the bachelorette party. This was a weekend full of eating, dancing, shopping and relaxing!
9/9/11 - The wedding rehearsal: My mom performed the ceremony, which was beautiful, of course. Although the ceremony did not end up outside, the rehearsal was out there. Check out this happy couple :)
9/10/11 - The MAIN EVENT. This was the Carriage House on the property. The ceremony actually ended up being right here in front of the fireplace. They brought in all her BEAUTIFUL flowers, and just decked this out. It was dripping with Hydrangeas, pink roses and other flowers. It was perfect.
The wedding was in Springfield, and was supposed to be outdoors, unfortunately it started POURING rain just about the time the wedding was supposed to start, so the (extremely calm) bride waited while the guests and flowers and everything were moved inside. The ceremony took place inside (I don't have pictures of that because I was obviously a little busy) and was absolutely PERFECT. Then we had a great time at the reception, and headed downtown to a bar/club/lounge place that had been reserved just for us. So we partied down, and danced the night away. It was a perfect weekend!
Congratulations to the happy couple. And now, the photos...
7/17/11 - Bridal shower (held at my parents' home). It was a kitchen shower, thus the apron and kitchen appliances. This was a great girly celebration! My hair looks a bit rough in this picture. Ah well, what can you do?
8/19/11 - we headed up to St. Louis for the bachelorette party. This was a weekend full of eating, dancing, shopping and relaxing!
9/9/11 - The wedding rehearsal: My mom performed the ceremony, which was beautiful, of course. Although the ceremony did not end up outside, the rehearsal was out there. Check out this happy couple :)
9/10/11 - The MAIN EVENT. This was the Carriage House on the property. The ceremony actually ended up being right here in front of the fireplace. They brought in all her BEAUTIFUL flowers, and just decked this out. It was dripping with Hydrangeas, pink roses and other flowers. It was perfect.
Carriage House, before the rain began.
The happy couple. Look at him looking at her. AWWWW...
This was at the after party, in the cigar lounge. And, of course, we had to take a picture with Winston Churchill. No night is complete without him. (WHAT?)
The bride and her amazing maid of honor.
And...for your viewing pleasure, we did a little "soul train" thing, and this is me breaking it down. Justin is super impressed.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Labor Day Adventures
So, here are some pictures from our weekend. I really want to keep up a blog, but by the end of the day I have trouble putting thoughts together. So, a PHOTO MONTAGE...
Labor Day at the Reese's...ALWAYS an adventure.
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| Friday Night: Benny started off the weekend by hitting me in the eye with a hammer. This pic doesn't do the black-eye justice. It is a LEGIT SHINER. |
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| Saturday Morning: I took the boys with me to the mall while Justin mowed the lawn. First we went to the Farmer's market, where we bought vegetables and some chocolate chip cookies. Later, at home, I offered Justin one of the cookies and he said "no, thanks" to which Hunter piped in "It's OK Daddy, they are good for you, we got them at the Farmer's Market." No idea where he got that. Anyway...this photo is the boys in the play area at the mall after I wrangled them in Dillards while trying to get a bra to go with my bridesmaid dress for next weekend. I am not sure why they are the ones who get the reward for that experience, but I guess that is life. |
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| After Hunter's nap, Uncle Ray took him to the Train Buseum. They are very good buddies, and had a great time. Here they are watching the model train, which would have kept Hunter's interest for ever, had he gotten the chance. |
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| Meanwhile, back at the ranch...Benny enjoys his first after-nap snack in his booster seat. No more high chairs in this house! |
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| Then he went for a little swing. He is so funny. The higher and faster you push him, the more relaxed he gets. This is his "sleepy" pose. Love that boy. |
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| I took the boys to the lake on Sunday afternoon so we could spend Monday there while Justin worked the fields at the farm. Benny just couldn't wait for the bacon to be ready on Monday morning. This was his pose for a VERY long time. He really likes to eat. |
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| Monday morning, it was a lot cooler than I expected. I guess I forgot what cool weather felt like. I had only packed shorts for the boys. So...I got into the dressers there at the lake and found some long socks that I put on each of them. They worked pretty well to keep those legs warm, and Hunter enjoyed the added bonus of sliding across the kitchen floor. |
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| Fun on the porch. |
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| After a nice boat-ride and a freezing cold swim at the dock (Mother of the Year Award right here) we put on dry clothes, and ate lunch while watching Andy Griffith. |
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| When we got home from the Lake, the boys had to RACE to the bath. Note that they both still have their sandals on. That is because they had been playing outside like this for about 20 minutes before coming in for their bath. I am aware that I am raising Hillbillies, so it is not necessary to tell me. |
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Tanzania
That was pretty shallow. I realize that last nonsensical post was totally shallow, and completely pointless. Whatever.
If you know me, you know I am not a shallow person. If you know me WELL (yikes) you know what my weaknesses are, and that I have many (let's not list them here, thanks) but being shallow is not one of them. I think that is why it is funny when I pretend to obsess about the use of a room in my way-too-big house. This is a First World "problem" and frankly not even a problem at all. I know that, you know that, that is why it is funny to be silly about it. I had some heavier stuff weighing on my mind at the time and needed some comic relief, that is all. Also, I find my jokes uproariously funny, and I needed a laugh.
So, this is hopefully a little less shallow subject matter.
I think we, as Americans, generally have it better than our neighbors in less-developed parts of the world. That point is hard to argue with. We have access to clean water, and even if you are the poorest of the poor, you CAN get healthcare to save your life. Let's put aside the discussion of healthcare in this country, that is a separate issue, but whatever you think of that, this is a FACT: if you show up at any ER in the country, they are obligated to treat you and stabilize you regardless of ability to pay. This is better than under-developed nations who have literally NO healthcare where people die of illnesses that are easily curable.
That being said, there is a song that I find very comforting and which really speaks to me. It is called Tanzania by Alli Rogers. I'll copy/paste the lyrics below so you can read them (edit-copy/paste hates me on my iPad, just gonna put the link below) but I want to talk about two parts of the message of this song. The song explains the beginning of the day for a mother in Tanzania, living in a dirt-floor shack, sending her son to school without shoes, and the thoughts in her head. Then it switches the scene to an average mother in middle-class America, sending her daughter off to school to contend with "mean girls." Both of these women have similar thoughts: Someday I will wake in a world where the challenges of my life will be a distant memory.
I have a point (this time)...
It's hard to be a mother (or father) and it's hard to be a woman (or man) EVERYWHERE. Sometimes, I think, we get too caught up in comparisons. I often don't give myself the freedom to experience the pains in my life because I have the thought running through my head "other people have it so much worse than me." While this might be true: my struggles are not comparable to anyone else's, and if it WERE a contest I would probably lose (as would you, seeing as you are reading a blog on a computer in a comfortable home). However, I have experienced some pretty darn tough stuff, I have suffered unimaginable loss and had days that I thought would never end. Just like the woman in Tanzania. We have that in common. It is not productive, or reasonable to compare. What is productive and reasonable is to show compassion to all people, in Tanzania, Chattanooga, or in your own skin, recognizing that we are all in this together and we all are ultimately seeking the same thing: a day when whatever suffering we are living or witnessing will END forever. That, my friends, is the promise of heaven, which is what I cling to when times get a bit - shall we say - "hairy"
In the darkest times of my life, I do two things: meditate on scripture (usually Psalm 23) and listen to songs like this that give me hope in a future that is better than today. And, my friends, the future IS better than today. You can bet on it.
http://www.lyricsmania.com/tanzania_lyrics_alli_rogers.html
If you know me, you know I am not a shallow person. If you know me WELL (yikes) you know what my weaknesses are, and that I have many (let's not list them here, thanks) but being shallow is not one of them. I think that is why it is funny when I pretend to obsess about the use of a room in my way-too-big house. This is a First World "problem" and frankly not even a problem at all. I know that, you know that, that is why it is funny to be silly about it. I had some heavier stuff weighing on my mind at the time and needed some comic relief, that is all. Also, I find my jokes uproariously funny, and I needed a laugh.
So, this is hopefully a little less shallow subject matter.
I think we, as Americans, generally have it better than our neighbors in less-developed parts of the world. That point is hard to argue with. We have access to clean water, and even if you are the poorest of the poor, you CAN get healthcare to save your life. Let's put aside the discussion of healthcare in this country, that is a separate issue, but whatever you think of that, this is a FACT: if you show up at any ER in the country, they are obligated to treat you and stabilize you regardless of ability to pay. This is better than under-developed nations who have literally NO healthcare where people die of illnesses that are easily curable.
That being said, there is a song that I find very comforting and which really speaks to me. It is called Tanzania by Alli Rogers. I'll copy/paste the lyrics below so you can read them (edit-copy/paste hates me on my iPad, just gonna put the link below) but I want to talk about two parts of the message of this song. The song explains the beginning of the day for a mother in Tanzania, living in a dirt-floor shack, sending her son to school without shoes, and the thoughts in her head. Then it switches the scene to an average mother in middle-class America, sending her daughter off to school to contend with "mean girls." Both of these women have similar thoughts: Someday I will wake in a world where the challenges of my life will be a distant memory.
I have a point (this time)...
It's hard to be a mother (or father) and it's hard to be a woman (or man) EVERYWHERE. Sometimes, I think, we get too caught up in comparisons. I often don't give myself the freedom to experience the pains in my life because I have the thought running through my head "other people have it so much worse than me." While this might be true: my struggles are not comparable to anyone else's, and if it WERE a contest I would probably lose (as would you, seeing as you are reading a blog on a computer in a comfortable home). However, I have experienced some pretty darn tough stuff, I have suffered unimaginable loss and had days that I thought would never end. Just like the woman in Tanzania. We have that in common. It is not productive, or reasonable to compare. What is productive and reasonable is to show compassion to all people, in Tanzania, Chattanooga, or in your own skin, recognizing that we are all in this together and we all are ultimately seeking the same thing: a day when whatever suffering we are living or witnessing will END forever. That, my friends, is the promise of heaven, which is what I cling to when times get a bit - shall we say - "hairy"
In the darkest times of my life, I do two things: meditate on scripture (usually Psalm 23) and listen to songs like this that give me hope in a future that is better than today. And, my friends, the future IS better than today. You can bet on it.
http://www.lyricsmania.com/tanzania_lyrics_alli_rogers.html
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Space
So, today I am going to talk to you about space. I have been thinking, and its time to finally bite the bullet and go back to school. I have decided I would like to be an astronaut. I would enjoy nothing more than to board a spaceship and fly to the moon. Gather me some moon dust.
What? What's that you say? You need perfect vision to be an astronaut? You need to be ultra-super-smart? It's kinda a one-in-a-million shot?
Wait...What? They CANCELLED THE SPACE PROGRAM!?!?
Doggonit...I guess my dreams are shattered.
What am I talking about? Well I am actually wanting to talk about space, like as in the efficient use of space in my home. I just thought I might get your attention with the space shuttle/astronaut/going back to school (what kind of schooling would you need to be an astronaut anyway? a degree in aeronautical engineering? will accounting work?)...Oh, I digressed again.
I spent the morning corralling my little ones on a crazy outing with the sole intent of getting a bra to go with the dress I am wearing in my dear friend's wedding next weekend, so I am feeling a little bit goofy.
Maybe I need a nap.
Oh, what was I talking about? Oh yeah, space.
OK, here is the deal. We live in a home that is definitely too large for us. We do NOT need this much space. I really love this home, though and have been thinking of ways we can use the space better for our family. It got me to thinking, why the heck do we have a room fully devoted to being an "office" but do not really have a true "play room?" To make matters even weirder, the office is downstairs, so I have put a little desk upstairs in my dining room so that I can do my desk-related stuff within earshot of the boys sleeping rooms. And, I am not much of a basement person, I would rather be up here.
I am thinking about converting the office into a play room, and putting this really big table we have sitting in a storage room (it was an old dining room table one of Justin's grandpas found in a barn or something) that has one bench seat with it. So, if I get rid of our huge desk that we don't use, put the table up against the wall with the bench, I can make a place for the boys to do art, and when they are older - homework. Also, we can put their toys in that room, and I can send them downstairs to play. Obviously they are a little young now, but I could get a little nanny-cam so I could watch them.
Anyway, I think I am going to do it. And I will chronicle the amazing transformation here on my blog. You must know, however, that things like this take me about 30x longer than they take the average person because I over-think the whole thing AND I don't have that much time to devote to it, what between updating my facebook status with pictures of my black eye (did you see that? Benny Boo hit me in the face with a toy hammer just mere days after I gushed about him here on the blog and how much joy he brings my life - I have since sold him to the circus), chasing around my kids, and studying for my degree in aeronautical engineering.
Also, I would like to challenge you to look around your home and see if you are really using the space efficiently. I mean, do you have both a breakfast nook and a dining room but almost NEVER use the dining room, but feel like you have a better use for that room? Do your kids have separate rooms, but no play room, and maybe it would make more sense to bunk them in together so that their toys can move OUT of the living room? Do you have no idea what I am talking about?
OK, that was like 5 minutes of your life you are never getting back.
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