Tuesday's Terrific Tip

Our church meetings start at 8:00 am this year. It makes for crazy Sunday mornings trying to get everyone ready that early. (Which is kind of funny because everyone leaves for school by 8:00 if not earlier on the weekdays so why is it such a struggle on Sundays?) Anyway, I have discovered one thing that has made a difference for us. Pop Tarts for breakfast. Thanks to the friendly folks at Kellogg's, our Sunday mornings go a little bit more smoothly. Pop Tarts are only offered on Sundays, so everyone is happy to get them. Whoever wakes up first, gets dressed and comes down to breakfast the fastest gets first pick of the available flavors. I make sure that we eat healthier breakfasts during the rest of the week so that we can splurge on Sundays. Pop Tarts are portable, so the older ones can carry it with them if needed while getting ready. We may need to switch to something different in case Pop Tarts loose their appeal, but for now it's working.

Monday Memories

It's been two years. I wonder when I will stop marking this anniversary. Maybe I think about it still because it still hurts and is still limits what I can do. Maybe it will always be like that. We're still not sure. It was one of the hardest things that I've had to deal with. And, yes, one of the the greatest learning experiences of my life. That's for sure. I learned a lot about what I am capable of and yet how to lean on others at the same time. I probably would have chosen to learn those lessons some other way. But then again, maybe not. I've heard it said that if everyone put their trials on a large table and you were given the opportunity to pick one, you would probably pick your own to keep rather than someone else's. I really believe this to be true. It just follows the plan. I believe with all of my heart that there is a plan for each of our lives and even our trials and difficulties are part of that plan to teach us very personal lessons. "Just live the plan" has become something that I tell myself quite often.

Friday Favorites... even though it's Sunday

These are my favorite people in the whole world. And I managed to get them all to stand together (in the sun) to snap a picture. The taller, handsome guy in the back is such a good sport all of the time, but especially yesterday. It was his birthday and we spent it on the soccer field at PC's tournament. It turned out to be a fun day after all. And congrats to PC and his team, they took 3rd place in the State Open Cup finals.

Thougthful Thursday

Here is another quote from the book that I'm reading called Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray. I love this quote!!!!! After reading it on page 2 of the book, I knew that I was going to love this character. Call it "food for thought" on this thoughtful Thursday!

"Cakes have gotten a bad rap. People equate virtue with turning down dessert. There is always one person at the table who holds up her hand when I serve cake. No really, I couldn't, she says, and then gives her flat stomach a conspiratorial little pat. Everyone who is pressing a fork into that first tender layer looks at the person who declined the plate, and they all think, That person is better than I am. That person has discipline. But that person isn't a person with discipline, that is a person who has completely lost touch with joy. A slice of cake never made anybody fat. You don't eat the whole cake. You don't eat cake every day of your life. You take the cake when it is offered because the cake is delicious. You have a slice of cake and what is reminds you of is someplace that's safe, uncomplicated, without stress. A cake is a party, a birthday, a wedding. A cake is what's served on the happiest days of your life.
This is a story of how my life was saved by cake, so, of course, if sides are to be taken, I will always take the side of cake."

I couldn't agree more.

Wednesday-- What's Up?

I've been reading a really fun book this week. It's called Eat Cake. So far, it's about a woman whose life is falling apart around her and she copes by baking cakes. Sounds depressing but is actually quite entertaining. The author really seems to talk about life in such a real way. Here is a line that I read today:

"We went to our bedroom and..then we got into bed. Once it was dark, Sam (the husband) started in on a different kind of bedtime story, one that did little to wind the listener down for sleep."

Do you ever get into bed and have one of those conversations with your spouse that seem to go on into the night because there is stuff going on and you just need to take the time to get things figured out?

I can really identify with this quote because lately we've had one of those "bedtime stories" nearly every night. We have quite a few things going on. Stressful things, exciting things, complicated things, "we have to make a decision about this" things, potentially really sad things and potentially really happy things. Like everyone else, just some major life stuff going on. I can't elaborate on what those things are right now but I feel like I'm living in limbo while waiting on some of these things to get worked out. Thank goodness for blessings that come in unexpected ways. Thank goodness for prayers being answered in ways that we wanted and in ways that we didn't know that we wanted but were ultimately better for us.

I wish you well with whatever things keep you up at night.

Tuesday's Terrific Tip

Take the time to finish doing the dishes before you go to bed each night. This is hard when you are tired and ready to be done with the day. But it is so defeating to wake up to last night's dirty dishes. It's like starting the day already behind. It's a little hard to do but a clean kitchen is totally worth it in the morning!

Monday Memories-- PK vs. New Moon

I've done a fairly good job documenting the cute things that my little kids did. I took lots of pictures and wrote down those cute little phrases that they came up with. But now that the older ones are getting older, I find myself wanting to remember entire conversations that I have with them. Which is hard because I can't just say, "Hold on a second while I get a pen and paper so I can write down everything that you're saying so I can remember it later." That would surely end the conversation in about a millisecond! But my brain seems to be getting more and more forgetful right at the same time that I want to remember more of what they are saying. Really not fair! What I really need is a little recording device that is small enough to fit it my pocket so that I can secretly record our conversations. (If anyone out there has some extra time, will you please try to work on that little invention?)

Here is one conversation that I really wanted to remember. PK went to a party at a friend's house over the weekend. They watched "New Moon." He came home and gave me a report on the movie. I have not seen it yet, but have heard about premiere parties and DVD parties and a lot of girls going crazy over this movie. Well, here is my teenage son's review of the same movie:

"Mom, it was the dumbest thing I have ever seen. It was even more ridiculous than Twilight. I mean this girl was so moody and pathetic. All she does is get herself into trouble and expects everyone to rescue her. I was so sick of her, 'Help me, help me' (he says in the most pathetic girl's voice he can come up with.) I mean, come on, help yourself woman! And Jacob, come on, just keep your shirt on man. Why does he think we care about seeing him with his shirt off all the time? And Edward, what is your deal? He's just weird. So he asks her to marry him at the end of the movie and then the thing just ends. What a ridiculous way to end a movie, it doesn't even end. Do they think that people like that? Don't even waste your time, Mom. But I guess you would like it cause you're a girl. All the girls at the party were like, 'Oooo Edward, oooo Jacob. Edward is hotter, no Jacob is hotter.' Pathetic, Mom, it was pathetic."

I haven't decided whether I should take his word for it and skip it or "be a girl" like he said and see it. Maybe I'll see it just so I can view it through his eyes and get a good laugh!