Soccer Mom Reflections

Adios, Blogger...

2005-04-05T21:11:00.000-05:00

...hola 1980something.weblogs.us

test

2005-04-05T20:32:00.000-05:00

Leaving blogger soon

2005-04-05T12:04:00.000-05:00

Check the hubby's site for an updated link to me sometime this week. I'm sorry I haven't been able to post, this blogger just won't cooperate. Don't give up on me! I will return.

Hubby is at http://theordinarydad.com

Dreams and Goals

2005-03-31T16:24:00.000-06:00

Our first meeting for our trip to Slovakia is on April 17th. Well, actually we are meeting this Sunday, but it's a leaders only meeting. Our whole team meets together on April 17th. One of the things we will do at this meeting is share our stories with each other. Meaning tell stuff about ourselves that reveals the "real" us. and bring objects or movie clips along to use as visuals. Last year when I did mine, I made scrapbooking pages of my life to share with everyone. I'm thinking of doing something different this year, but I don't know what. I was thinking maybe talking about my dreams and goals I have for my life. By the way, what would you say the difference between a dream and a goal is, I have an idea but when I started making a list, they seemed like the same thing. So here's my list so far:

Visit Ireland

Potty train my little Diva

Be debt free

Become more involved at church

Finish school

Become more involved in missions

Write a book

Have it published

Visit the East Coast

Take the kids to Disney World

Get a tattoo -maybe

Lose the "yeah, I've had 3 kids" stomach

There may be more at some point, but that's what I came up with for now. How about you? What's on your list of dreams and goals?

What's the deal with

2005-03-30T22:15:00.000-06:00

some random woman hitting on my husband while he's in Office Max?? Office Max, of all places? Does it not occur to her that perhaps his wife and sleeping kids are out in the car and he just ran in here to buy "pretty" paper for her? What, did she think he was buying it for himself? Could she not she see the wedding band on his finger? She actually used some excuse of thinking there was a sticker on his back just so she could touch him. I doubt she would have done that if I'd been standing there!!

2005-03-30T13:50:00.000-06:00

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Parenting 101 (a class I think I may have to take over)

2005-03-30T13:26:00.000-06:00

B5 was playing with some toys that connect magnetically and so he can build all kinds of things and he showed me his latest creation and said, "look, mom, it's just like the cross that Jesus died on." "yeah, it is, great job." B5:"he did really die on the cross, you know." me" "yeah, that's right" B5: "He wasn't just pretending, he really died." me: "Yes, that's right" I'm starting to feel real good about his Sunday School classes and what he's been taught and how it's been presented and then he says, "He died in our stomachs." Me: "what?" B5: "He did, he died in our stomachs." So now I'm wondering just exactly what was said in his class and how in the world did he get that out of it?!

I was trying to explain the golden rule to my son, B7, last night. I don't think he got it. I still think he thinks it says and means, "treat others the way they treat you." I said, "think of a soccer game and you run up to kick in a goal and it missed just by a tiny bit, would you want someone to say, 'oh, nice going, great try or ah, man, if you had actually gotten that in, we could have won!'?" His answer, "when we were playing today at recess I scored a goal and the goalie, Bobby said, "you missed, that doesn't count." I'm thinking we will still have to work on that one.

Little Diva had her 2 year check up this morning. The doctor asked me "how's she sleeping?" I hate that question. "Fine, as long as she's holding my finger" Dr:"that can be a hard habit to break" Yeah, I know that, why do you think she's still sleeping in my bed??

Easter Weekend

2005-03-28T23:10:00.000-06:00

Saturday afternoon found me at a Bridal Store looking at wedding dresses with my sister. She's so funny; she's been waiting FOREVER to get engaged and now that she is, she's too nervous to go into a bridal store because she thinks it will be embarressing or something. But the place was fabulous and we had lots of fun as she tried on EVERY dress in the place. (okay, not really, but seriously, how do you decide?) then it was my turn because she wanted to look at bridesmaid dresses. That was fun too, although I don't think a final decision was made in either case.

When I got home my hubby had not made dinner :) so he took us all out to Noodles!! and it was so yummy and I could have eaten more, but didn't.

Easter morning was very busy. We had to be at church by 8:15 and the kids ended up having their hair done in the car on the way there because of my lack of appropriate Easter Sunday clothing (see previous post) and so I had to try on everything in my closet. Hubby and I worked with the kids' department for the first service and since there was a low number of kids we knew they would be swamped for the next service. Unfortunetly, we had finished off the coffee and the second service volunteers would not get any, so my hubby, not even a coffee drinker, mind you, went off to make some more. (You'll have to ask him for the rest of that story and no matter what he says, there is more to that story!) Then we went up to the second service and it was incredible. Before going to the church we go to now, I had said I didn't want to go there because of its size. Well, Easter Sunday is amazing because of its size! All of us together celebrating the Resurrection of our Christ. It was incredible and I wept through most of it.

Came home, had lunch, tried to have a nap, that didn't really work out. Started getting Easter dinner together and then my sister and her new fiance came over and we had Easter dinner together and it was very tasty and lots of fun. They went home, the kids got ready for bed, hubby and I got in a spat and had to work that out, made up and then Spring Break was over and it was time to once again get clothes and lunchboxes ready for the next morning.

Yep, ups and downs, but isn't that what life is all about?

Annoyed

2005-03-25T19:55:00.000-06:00

Here's a couple of things that are annoying to me. (no, not the fighting of 3 kids off in the distance, although annoying, not really what I was thinking of right now)

1) not being able to find something worth buying to wear for Easter Sunday

and b) my lack of confidence when I go to leave a comment on someone's blog. I usually end up thinking, "what a stupid thing to say" and then repeatedly hitting the delete button.

Oh bother, I'm off to eat a big bowl of ice cream.

Tattoo?

2005-03-25T16:30:00.000-06:00

So the thing is, I'm thinking of getting a tattoo. Maybe. I don't know. Is there anything you think I should know before I decide? and if I decide to do it, what should I look for in a place? It kind of scares me, but my sister has one and she had a successful experience, so... Does it hurt? I sound like a wimp, I know. I did give birth 3 times, I suppose I should be able to handle getting a tattoo right? If you have one, how long have you had it, where is it, what is it and do you still love it? oh, and how did you decide what design to go with? Ok, that's it for now, thanks for any info you have for me!!

Maundy Thursday

2005-03-25T13:04:00.000-06:00

Last night I went to a Maundy Thursday service with a friend of mine at her church. I've never been to a church like hers before and while it was different, it was also the same. It was a beautiful service and I'm glad I went. I would like to share one thought that the pastor shared with us. It was the last supper Jesus was having with His disciples and while usually there would be a servant to wash their feet, this night there was not one. I guess it did not occur to any of the disciples that they could be the one to pick up the basin and the towel. But it occurred to Jesus. He washed each foot of His disciples. These were not clean feet. They were dirty and smelly and each one of them had two feet!! It's not only amazing to me that He was willing to wash their feet, but even more so is that He was willing to do it with full knowledge that within hours, one set of feet would be on their way to betray Him and the others would be running the other way, away from Him. And yet, with love and kindness, He bent down and washed their feet.

He knows how dirty we are too. He knows what we will be doing later today, tomorrow, in the years to come. But He loves us just the same and He was willing to "wash our feet" as well. He died on the cross, to wash us clean of our sin. The thing is, we don't have to be clean to come to Him. He is willing to come to us, even though we are dirty and even though the possibility exists that we will betray or run from Him. That is AMAZING LOVE!

Have a great day, and a Good Friday!!

Q & A for Just Me

2005-03-25T09:23:00.000-06:00

Just Me, here are your interview questions:

1. What was the last movie you saw at the theatre and did you enjoy it and why or why not?

2. What is one thing about you that you don't think many people know but you wish they did?

3. What do you want your legacy to be for your kids?

4. Where is your dream vacation?

5. What is your favorite thing to do if you ever have free time?

There you go, have fun. Thanks for the opportunity to "question" you!!

A Service Announcement

2005-03-24T11:44:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to share with you an extremely important truth I learned last night. It's how to deal with those annoying red lights that make you stop ALL the time when you are on your way somewhere important. (and aren't we always?).
Here's the answer: A BIG bowl of Cold Stone Ice Cream in the flavor of your choice. (Mine is strawberry ice cream with blackberries and fudge mixed in). It works, try it. Instead of groaning when the light turns red, you will be cheering because it allows you one more opportunity to shovel in the oh-so-yummy ice cream!

Like I said, Try it, you'll see I'm right. and let me know what you're favorite flavor is!

My Baby

2005-03-22T16:20:00.000-06:00

Dear Princess,
Two years ago today, right about now, everyone was crowded around my hospital bed, oohing and ahing over you and how beautiful you were and daddy had to have you pried out of his hands if any one else wanted to hold you because he immediately fell in love with you and knew the job of protecting you had started.
We would watch you sleep and I remember wondering what the years would hold with you, and what your little voice would sound like and how my heart would feel when you first called me "mom".
I was going through a pretty tough time in my life when we found out you were on the way. I wanted you to be a girl so badly. I love your brothers, never fear. But something inside of me just really wanted a little girl. I honestly thought I might not get one because maybe God would punish me for my lack of faith in Him during those tough times. When we found out the chances were real good that you were a girl, I tried not to get my hopes up. I felt like I did not deserve you and I think I held my breath the rest of the pregnancy.
And then, you came into the world and into our hearts and I cried. I suddenly felt like God really must love me a lot if He was willing to give me this beautiful, healthy and amazing baby. I am so thankful for you, Sweetie. You truly are God's gift to us.
Now, it's 2 years later and you have filled our home with all things pink and our hearts with joy that spills over. I hear your voice and I love the sound of it, even when you are stomping your foot and telling me "no!" But the most amazing of all is the sound of your voice when you touch my face and you say "I yuv you, Mama!" My heart melts and bursts and fills up with love all at the same time. Honey, I love you, too!
I don't know what the future holds for you. I do know that God has special plans for you. You have the determination to do whatever you want and the sweetness of spirit to get people to do it with you. I consider it an awesome privilege to be able to watch you grow and learn.
Oh, and by the way, when the time comes for you to leave our house, I'm pretty sure you will have to pry your daddy's fingers off once again!!
Happy Birthday, baby, I love you.
Mom

How Blogging has improved my life

2005-03-22T08:00:00.000-06:00

You know, one thing that I love about blogging, is that it makes all the not so fun parts of your daily life almost worth it because then you know you have something great to blog about!

Take the other day for instance. We were out as a family and B7 had to go to the bathroom. His dad went in with him and when they came out, Hubby was holding the jacket kind of funny. "what happened?" I wanted to know. "He missed and peed on his coat." You have got to be kidding me. The kid is nearly 8, how does this happen? So, we went out to the car and the jacket got tossed into the back of the SUV. We went home for a bit, picked up the dog and was off to run a few more errands. Now the dog and the coat are in the back together and all of a sudden we hear the sounds of the dog vomitting back there. You've got to be kidding me!! I look at my husband and I roll my eyes and he says his standard line, "Toss a quarter." meaning, whoever wins gets to blog the story.

So, I had to come home, throw the coat in the wash, hubby had to clean up the throw up out of the car and I was not nearly as stressed out about it because I knew it gave me great blogging material.

Yep, blogging has definetely improved my life.

Nina, this is for you

2005-03-21T12:49:00.000-06:00

Okay, Nina, here are your interview questions. Sorry it took so long, my weekend, Friday included was non-stop so I had no computer time. Here you go:

1. What was the best and worst advice on parenting you ever received?

2. What is your favorite childhood memory?

3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where and why?

4. What would me the one most important value or idea would you want to be sure your kids learned from you?

5. What is your all-time favorite meal and do you cook it yourself or go out somewhere for it?

Have fun. Looking forward to your answers.

My Interview Questions

2005-03-17T17:04:00.000-06:00

These are my interview questions from Sandra over at Everyday Grace.

1. You went on a mission trip to Slovakia last year. What about that time had the greatest significance to you and why?
Wow, there was so much about this trip that was amazing. My whole life I’ve wanted to be a missionary, from the time I was a very young child. I planned my life pretty much thinking that is what I would be doing. I went to Bible School so I would have a strong background and a degree and I figured the day after graduation I would be on a plane to some mission field. It didn’t happen that way and now I am in the middle of my life with a husband, 3 kids, a dog, a mortgage, car payment and credit card debt and though I carry the desire around in my heart, my head tells me time is running out. But then God brought along this opportunity for me to go the mission field and be a part of something bigger than my own life and to be used by Him. This was incredible to me. I fell in love with the country and the people and I am so blessed with a husband who allowed me to do this without him (it’s his dream too) and is willing to make it possible for me to go again this year. I feel like God did not forget about me and does still have a plan for me and knows the desires of my heart.

2. You have blogged about your love of books. What is your favorite book and why?
It’s true. I love books. I wish I had kept track over the years of all the books I have read. When I was in elementary school, I started a new school in the 3rd grade and by the 5th grade I had read every book in the library and they ended up having to bring me books from the jr high so I would have something to read. It’s hard to say what my favorite book would be. One of them would be a book by Francine Rivers called Redeeming Love. It’s the story of Hosea and it really helps you to understand the depth of love God has for His people. T. Davis Bunn wrote a book called The Great Divide and it’s about people willing to sacrifice their lives if necessary for the passion they feel. And then there’s The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. I have never in my life read a romance about old people and how they have aged and how their love for each other is timeless, even in sickness.

3. I loved the wedding video Steve made. What do you and Steve do to keep your marriage strong after 10 years?
Marriage did not come easy for me or for Steve. Our first couple of years were very hard but I think just knowing that we were together for life made us work things out. We’ve both grown up a lot over the past 10 years so that has helped. And we pray for each other and about our marriage, a lot! And we talk, all the time, about everything. He works 2nd shift so he is home with me during the day and we do everything together and we talk and talk and then when he comes home from work we talk some more. We spend our weekends together as a family and we talk some more. And we laugh, A LOT! We both have a strange sense of humor and we tease each other and find things funny and joke with the kids and anyone else that happens to be around us! I was in a pretty bad relationship before I met Steve and I had been verbally abused. This affected me in a huge way because I never wanted to say anything I didn’t mean or when I was mad or that might hurt his feelings. But it also kept me from communicating with him very well. I have finally learned over the years that if I do end up speaking my mind and saying something that he doesn’t want to hear or that may hurt his feelings in the moment, he’s a grown man and can take it. And we forgive each other and move on. (not to mention that he budgets for my weekly visit to Cold Stone!!)

4. Why do you blog?
Last summer when I was in Slovakia my husband started a blog and kept a running account of his days while I was gone. I’d never heard of such a thing before but it sure was great to come home and read about what went on at home while I was gone. Then, of course, I started reading other blogs. At first, it seemed like I found all the ones that, although they invited comments, must not have meant it because they didn’t like mine. So, I felt like I was not welcome to leave my opinion there. That meant I needed a forum to post my opinion somewhere. So I started my own blog. I have always kept a journal, so this was very fun for me. And I love that other people can read it and interact with what you’ve written. It’s like Dear Diary had become real people with whom I have made some real friendships. And I’ve always loved to write.

5, In the rare moments you have to get away by yourself and do whatever you want, what is the first thing on your list to do?
You mean time for myself, not just the once in a lifetime opportunity to go the grocery store without kids? Well, after a stop off at Cold Stone for the usual, I would hit a scrapbooking store. I love to see what's new and look at all the paper and stickers and accessories. I tell myself I scrapbook, but mostly I make cards and pages that become gifts. But I have lots of the stuff and one day, I will. I could lose track of a lot of time in a store like that, even if I don't ever buy anything because it gives me so many great ideas and allows me to think of all the people that I could make a card for or a scrapbook page for and it's very inspirational.

So, by now, everyone knows how this works. If you want me to interview you, leave me a comment and then I will send you questions which you can answer on your blog. and then you can ask for any interested parties to be interviewed by you!

Help!!

2005-03-17T10:10:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow night I am having a very distinguished guest for dinner. He is from Slovakia, he's on the board of the church that our church is associated with and he's on the board of the school that we went over there to help out and he is the man of the house that I had the privelege of staying in for a few days while I was in Slovakia. His family is so special. I love his wife and I'm so sad that she could not come with him. Anyway, it is a big honor for me to return the favor, so to speak, and have him here for dinner? But I don't know what to serve. What would you make? Please help me out here. Thanks. or as they say in Slovak, Da Quiem!

The day has arrived

2005-03-16T16:14:00.000-06:00

My sister is 7 years younger than me, but we have become best friends. She's an amazing auntie to my kids and with all her heart wants to be married and have kids of her own. She's been dating this guy for about 4 years and we were beginning to wonder if they would ever get engaged. Well, they did, on Sunday and she is flying high now!! This is so thrilling for her, she has been waiting and waiting for this. Friday was my hubby and my anniversary, as most of you know, and she said, "how could you guys be married for 10 years and I'm not yet at all!!" But the wait is over and the plans are in the works! I love planning weddings and she doesn't so she is allowing me to help (read, take over). I'm not sure how her fiance feels about this, but, oh well, I'm the big sister!! j/k!!

and my little girl gets to be the flower girl and she is going to look so cute in a little flower girl dress!! I can't wait.

mixed messages

2005-03-15T18:28:00.000-06:00

Announcements heard at church this weekend:

1. Palm Sunday evening we will be showing the movie, The Passion of the Christ. Bring your family and friends and even if you've seen it before, consider making it a tradition as we watch together the heart wrenching story of the Christ.

2. Please consider signing up for our new class we are offering, called Non-Violent Communication. In our day and age it is so easy to solve problems with violence that it is necessary to learn how to communicate without it.

an every day mom's must have

2005-03-14T16:06:00.000-06:00

I know, I know, there are lots of things in our lives that make them oh so easy. Things like pay at the pump, dishwashers, caller id, disposable diapers, premeasured lunch snacks, and the list goes on. but I find myself needing just a couple more. I could really use a Chinese restaurant that has a drive thru and also a corner gas station that has a drive thru. On these very bitter cold days, when it takes so much work to get 3 kids bundled up and into the car and into seatbelts and have them all happy with the seating arrangement, it's just too much work to park, undo the seatbelts, get them out of the car, herd them into the store, order, pay, listen to the whining and the fighting and go back into the car, buckle them in, drive home, get everyone out of the seatbelts, out of the car, back into the house. So, I don't do it. But if I had the choice, on my way home from picking up my son from school, I would definetely swing by Fried Rice To-Go and order from the pick up window. or the corner gas station for a cup of coffee and a Snickers bar to go. Sounds good doesn't it? How lazy am I?

my hubby

2005-03-12T12:27:00.000-06:00

check out my hubby's site, ordinarydad.livejournal.com to see a few clips of our wedding.

10 years

2005-03-11T16:33:00.000-06:00

Today is Hubby and my 10 year anniversary. In some ways it seems like it could not possibly be 10 years yet, and in other ways it seems like I've been married to him my whole life. You know, when you say your vows at your wedding, you mean them with all your heart, even though you have no idea what they mean. I remember promising to stay true to him through all the troubles that darken our door, at which point my dad added, (he married us), and they will come. Those are easy words to say, especially in the format of "repeat after me". On that day, at that moment, I did not know what troubles may come our way, I just knew I wanted to spend my life with this man and go through the good times and the bad times with him. After 10 years, we've had our share of darkened doors and living out those promises are much harder than saying them. But my desire to spend every day with him, no matter what, has never changed. He's not perfect, (neither am I) but he's perfect for me. He listens to me, he laughs with me, he treats me like a Princess, he stops and buys me chocolate for no reason on his way home from work. He makes the best coffee, even though he doesn't drink it himself, he's an amazing father, full of love, fun and discipline. He takes great care of us, supplying us with all we need, especially Cold Stone ice cream, at least once a week. He's aware of my moods and is respectful of them. He encourages me to become more, do more (for me) and achieve all I want. He believes in me and he likes to be with me. And, as if that were not enough, last June he took his vacation time and stayed home with the kids for 17 days so I could go on a missions trip with our church. It was a great experience for me, but a little rough on him and at the time, he told me not to plan to be gone away that long again. But, as the trip was starting to be planned again for this year he said, "go ahead, I know this is really something you want to do and feel called to do. I support you in this."

I love you, honey, and I am looking forward to spending another 10 years with you, and then 10 more and then 10 more and then another 10 and another and another......

10 years minus one day

2005-03-09T19:16:00.000-06:00

Ten years ago, tomorrow, I was finishing the final touches of prep for my wedding and getting the church decorated, fighting with my best friend, answering a ton of questions regarding roses, cake, rehearsal dinner, seeking confirmation from my groom that one of his groomsmen would be on his best behavior, feeling nervous and excited and going through rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

A lot has happened in 10 years. If you had asked me then what I wanted in 10 years, I would have said, "Live in a house, have 3 kids, a dog, an SUV, working in our local church" Guess what, I have all that. But it sure doesn't play in the real day to day stuff like you think it will in your mind. Yes, I have 3 kids and they are beautiful and amazing and a lot of work. The dog eats butter, paper and all give the chance. (yes, I have forgotten to put the butter away, I know I should learn, but I'm slow) I live in a house and I truly thought I would be a much better housekeeper than I am. I thought I would be good at it and keep the house sparkling and clutter free. Reality is, not even close. The SUV is fabuous, it's the Saturn Vue, in burnt orange, but it gets messy too, and needs gas and stuff breaks.

Anyway, what I'm saying is that I did not think in terms of specific details. My life is what I thought it would be while at the same time, not what I thought. So this leads me to wonder what the next 10 years will look like and where I think I will be. I will have an 18 (!) year old, a 15 year old and a 12 year old and while I think, in my mind what that will look like, I have the feeling that the reality is, I have no idea.

I'm 10 years older and in another 10 years I will be another 10 years older (impressive huh?) But there are days when I still feel like that 25 year old with so much to learn and so many insecurities, looking forward to the future but at the same time very nervous, not knowing what to expect. Is that what I will still feel like when I'm 45?

Faithfulness

2005-03-08T15:27:00.000-06:00

There's a song on the radio that says "there's something about a sunrise that reminds me of Your faithfulness" God is so faithful to us in so many ways but a very tangible one is the sunrise. It is there every morning. As I was thinking about this I realized that I am, also, pretty faithful in the morning. I get up, make sure my kids get breakfast, if it's a school day, make B7 a lunch, get him ready to get out the door, change a diaper, make myself a cup of coffee. Every morning. There's one big difference though. I'm pretty sure God isn't thinking to himself "are you kidding me? again with the sunrise? didn't I just do that yesterday, and the day before and every morning for the past thousands of years!!" I get tired of getting up in the morning to change a diaper and fix breakfast and make sure my kids are actually eating their breakfast, not just giggling and spilling milk everywhere, and make sure the underwear actually gets changed and this all has to be rehashed for them each day and sometimes I think to myself "are you kidding me with this breakfast thing again, didn't you just eat dinner last night? Don't you remember how you didn't even bother to finish your breakfast yesterday! Do you remember me saying to you yesterday, that yes, underwear has to be changed EVERY DAY and so obviously that means today too."
So when I see the sunrise I remember just how faithful God is to us and the love He has for us and the fact that He is willing to craft an incredible sight for us each and every day, whether we bother to notice it or not. And that's what I need to work on. Not just being reliable, but doing it with the attitude that says, I love you and I'm doing this for you, whether you realize it or not. (because, really, what 5 and 7 year old are going to realize that breakfast every morning and clean clothes do not just happen by coincidence?)