On My Fridge

A funny post by a favorite of mine (Call Her Blessed) about what's on our fridges!

I'm not posting pics of mine because I am in the middle of six things right now and only sat down long enough to read a few blogs and now link this to my blog. For the record, though...

On the front of my refrigerator-- Nothing down low. Up high is SpeedLimit's work schedule and my renewed teaching license that I haven't put away yet but don't want to lose.

On the side--receipts for our flex spending account

I echo Daiquiri on liking to be neat! I actually enjoy a clean house a lot. And I don't truly don't mind cleaning. Yet sometimes, for all the cleaning and picking up I do in a day, you can't tell it by the time I go to bed. I feel like I go in circles.

I get the counter tops clean and the dishwasher loaded just to find all my socks out of my sock drawer and scattered under my bed (thanks to little BearHug)! Then, I get the socks put away, and he has discovered the Pringles can, which he empties on the kitchen floor.

It sometimes is just plain funny to me how motherhood has changed my priorities and how I measure success.

And, truthfully, I'm okay with that.

Life is much sweeter now that I'm a wife and mom. It may be more chaotic and occasionally embarrassing (like when I somehow managed to lock BearHug in the car by himself--and the spare keys--last fall and had to call the police department to get a tow truck). Productivity might now be measured by loads of laundry finished, books read, baths taken, and veggies eaten instead of money made, miles run, and ISTEP+ scores.

But, still...when I'm playing Peekaboo in the check-out line behind two college girls who are discussing Angelina's twins, I have to smile to myself. My life is so much richer and more rewarding now than it was then. Things may not always be neat around here, but I wouldn't trade it for the world--scattered socks and all.

More on the book blog...

Adventures with My Library Card

My First Book Review!

I posted here today (my book review blog: Adventures with My Library Card). I'm really excited about this book!

Lipstick and A Great Friend

I once heard someone say that our hearts are created with man-shaped vacuums and God-shaped vacuums. Man cannot fill the void that only God can fill, but God also allows various men/women to fill certain places in our lives, too. God wants us to have friends and fellowship.

One of those places in my heart is filled by Kara. (And many of you readers, of course, fill places in my heart, too...I'm not trying to play favorites, here. But...this post is about Kara today.) She and I first "discovered" each other because our husbands work together. I heard about her a long time before I actually met her. In fact, I think she was pregnant with Avery when I first heard of her. From John's description (he was a security guard where I taught and where I met SpeedLimit), I pictured her as bubbly with bouncing Shirley Temple blonde curls. As it turns out, she actually has really beautiful almost-black curls. And she is as bubbly as Shirley Temple.

Shirley Temple American Child Star of the 1930sgraphic from allposters.com (free Blog this Image service)

Eventually, Kara and I met on a double date at Puccini's one night...and that meeting started a really dynamic friendship.

Kara has been a true friend to me during a lot of seasons in my life.

She has given me strong Bible-thumpin' when I needed to be reminded not to let fear enter my life or when a certain sin has been overtaking me.

She and I laughed (on our double date with our hubbies) at the War of the Worlds large alien creatures because they are so ridiculous--which is probably why our husbands now go to the movies without us and just with each other.

She has been my cheerleader (as I'm sure she has been to many of you, too) when I needed someone (besides God) to see the good in me.

She has been a hug when I've needed it...a voice on the phone during sad moments on bedrest...a confidante when I needed to confess something to another human besides SpeedLimit.

She has been a true believer in prayer when I needed someone to call on Jesus!

Kara had "praise parties" with me when I was on bedrest...and would come over after all her kids and hubby were in bed (like 10 p.m.) just to talk to me. We would sing (in our voices that truly only God and our children could love) our hearts out to God by ourselves in my living room.

She prayed over my belly time and time again (with many of you, too). She helped have faith for me when I felt that I couldn't muster any more.

Today, Kara took on a new role in my life...beauty consultant.

As many of you know, Kara has started a new job. I visited her today because I wanted to see her and tell her how proud I am of her.

I also had another reason for visiting her. I need new lipstick for my sister's wedding. Kara is, of course, the cosmetic consultant for Walgreens now. (The last time I bought lipstick was before my 4-H Fair Queen pageant in 1998. I have no idea where that lipstick is...and I've never bought any lipstick since. My favorite brand of lip wear is peppermint-flavored ChapStick.)

We had a great time for many, many reasons! I want to brag on Kara a bit. Because I know you all love her, too, I'm sure you can relate and be as excited as I was to see her truly shine!

1. Kara helped me pick out lip liner (I've never owned that before...), two shades of pink lipstick, two Revlon eye shadows, and nail polish. She expertly helped me pick out the brands that had current sales to help me get the best price possible for what I purchased. I ended up getting nicer quality make-up for less than my usual cheap stuff! I can't wait to wear it! She helped me mix conservative with bold. Watch out, world!

2. Kara and I had a deal that she would help "real" customers if they came into Walgreens (and would leave me but come back when she was done). Let me tell you...Kara is perfect for helping people. She helped woman after woman find nail polish, eyeshadow, moisturizer. Kara fearlessly approached women that looked completely independent and aloof. (I personally would have been afraid to ask if they needed anything.) With her bubbly nature and happy attitude, they accepted her help. Person after person opened up to her, talked with her, laughed with her. I was watching a one-woman public relations specialist. Walgreens has a gem on their hands! She is made to help people! It is awesome to watch.

3. A few other Walgreens employees came up to me when Kara was helping "real" customers to see if I needed anything. Every time, I explained that Kara had helped me find what I needed. They would always say something like, "She is such a great helper, isn't she?" And it's only her second week!

4. Angela stopped by, too, to wish Kara well. Angela's little ones played with BearHug for a bit...which was great! BearHug loves the attention of other kids. It made my heart just swell to see Angela for two reasons. 1. I love her. 2. Isn't it so cool to see how our friends truly support each other? It is just beautiful to see real fellowship in action!

Anyway, we all know that Kara is (in the words of Kirsten's father) the "Rocky Balboa of Evangelism," and she is also just a shining example of God's love towards others. When she writes that she wants God's love to ooze from her, she really does. Isn't that so cool?

Rocky V

graphic from allposters.com (Blog This Image free service)

A Walking BearHug

Oh, yes! He's walking! Praise the Lord!

(And, yes, this is Post#3 of the day!)

Our Favorite Game

SpeedLimit and I love this game. It is like Trivial Pursuit in some ways, but Bible-based. We play it several times a week. SpeedLimit almost always wins.

Tonight, he let me win, which makes me irritated. I want to win on my own merits. I can always tell when he is letting me win, too. He doesn't look me in the eye and gets this funny "too blank" look on his face, as though he is trying so hard not to smile that he has to keep his face emotion-less. Arg.

Anyway, we bought it at a local Christian book store, but you can find it online, too. It was one of my anniversary gifts from him on our first anniversary (when I was on strict bedrest).

Husbands and Wives

I know the sound of the Fedex truck and the school bus when they enter our neighborhood. I even know the sound of the mailman. I can announce the trash truck's arrival minutes before it pulls in front of our driveway. I am a stay-at-home mom.

We live in a neighborhood with many elderly people. They, too, know these sounds. In fact, I use to think it was cute how there is a great migration of elderly people to their mailboxes just minutes before the noon news. Then, I realized I know this because I, too, am part of that migration.

Just last week my ninety-year-old neighbor and I were talking about how the mailman had been late two days in a row.

This morning, I was enjoying a few peaceful moments in the shower before SpeedLimit or BearHug were awake.

Then, I hear it. The trash truck.

It's Tuesday. I realize that I forgot to put the trash out. I hate missing trash day. We pay for it, after all! Still, I have my limits to what I'll do to put the trash out each week. I know I cannot run out in soapy hair and a towel.

So, I yell. And yell. And scream for SpeedLimit.

He comes running--bleary-eyed and half-awake--into the bathroom.

"What's wrong?" he yells, probably expecting a massive shaving accident, a large spider, or a terrible fall in the shower.

"The trash!" I yell, expecting him to sharpen his ears to the rumbling truck coming down the road. "You have thirty seconds! Run!"

"What's wrong with the trash?" SpeedLimit asks.

"I forgot to put it out! Go! Hurry!"

Then, I hear a grumbling muffled voice, "You woke me up about that? I put it out last night."

Then, he gives me this look. You know the look. The look that passes from husband to wife sometimes. It's part annoyance mixed with confusion. It's that look that says, "What planet are you from? I thought we were both human." It's the same look that he gives when we are all tucked warmly into bed...and I ask him to check the locks on the doors.

I had to smile to myself. I love being married to SpeedLimit.

Check it out!

Adventures with My Library Card has been updated. No reviews yet--but an updated wishlist and bookstore run!

Wow!

Wow! You guys are encouraging! You are terrific!

Where have I been? (For you, Lindsay!)

I've started and stopped many posts over the past week. I think I have something great to write...and then the subject just dissolves by the end of the post, and my enthusiasm for it is gone.

I want everything I write to matter and my thoughts to be worth the time it took to write them. I am increasingly becoming more concerned that my thoughts and words be productive and worthwhile.

The older I get, the more I realize that there are many things that I don't know...and many things that I don't fully understand. I have less of an urge to spout out my opinions or be the center of attention...and that's what I do on this blog...speak opinions and (by nature of blogs) am the center of attention.

So, if you notice that I am not writing a lot or that I take an occasional hiatus, it isn't that I'm suffering some huge life crisis or that I am down in the dumps. I think we all just go through seasons in life...and in this season, I find myself more immersed in reading and learning than teaching or speaking.

I often just don't have anything important to say.