Random Thoughts

Stayed up way too late to watch the stupid basketball game. Stupid game because Kitchens made the game winning shot with less than a second left on the clock and after further review, they were able to tell that the ball didn't leave his finger tips until after time ran out. He literally missed the shot by less than like a tenth of a second. It was a real heart breaker but the team showed a ton of good sportsmanship.

EG decided she wanted to get up at 4AM. We didn't go to bed until midnight. I am one tired mama.

I really wish my two year old would watch TV. A few words I never thought I would utter.

Excited because daddy got to watch Boop at T-ball practice today. He said he is definitely not afraid of the ball. And I know he can hit. He just needs a little work on the hustling from base to base and throwing.

Sissy is coming for dinner tonight instead of tomorrow night. We have date night tomorrow with another couple. Looking forward to that!

My goal today is to master the laundry. I am tired of everyone saying they have no clean pants or socks.

Took EG, just EG, for a walk this morning. Not sure that has ever happened before.

Now, what to fix one child for lunch . . .

We Are A Team

Last night around 7:10PM, after Boop's T-ball practice, we, or should I say EG, had a little accident. I was thinking about getting dinner and Boop was juggling his water bottle, which he dropped on the floor and proceeded to pick up. Right at that same time, EG was walking into the dinning room, trying to get out of her jacket.

She tripped over Boop's feet and fell face first into the kitchen floor. Both of her hands were caught up in the sleeves of her jacket. So, she had nothing to brace herself but her face. At first I didn't realize it. But, thought it strange that she was crying and wasn't bouncing back up, like her usual self. (She is one tough cookie.) As Little Mama was pulling her on to her lap, I noticed blood. All over her mouth and hands.

That is when my wonderful family got together and acted like a well oiled machine. One child got ice. Another got a towel. Another called daddy (because I was sure we, or should I say EG, needed stitches.) All the while doing whatever they could to make EG feel better. And get her to stop crying. All I had to do was comfort. Everything else was taken care of with a little direction from me.

She didn't need stitches and she didn't knock any of her teeth loose but she was a little uncomfortable. So, while I sat with her on the couch, she sucked ice cubes, next to her big brother and sister, who didn't want to leave her side, and Nature Girl fixed our hot dogs.

EG has a big lip today and she says it hurts. And, I do feel bad for her. But, it was kind of nice to see everyone work together in a pinch. It does a mother good . . .

Parables of Nature

Parables of Nature is one of the girls' school books. We have been reading one story about once a month for quite sometime. It is a unique book, in that, it is full of short stories about morals, but, using nature to tell the tales. The General Thaw and The Law of Wood are just two such titles of the stories within. It was written about 150 years ago by a wife of a minister, Mrs. Alfred Gatty.

Today, we finished one of the best stories, by far. The title was Kicking. It was about three wild horses who were caught. And the advice of the older, tame horses who occupied the same barn. The essence of the story is this, we all have masters of some sort or other. Someone whose laws/ orders must be obeyed. We can choose to kick every time we are asked to do something we don't want to do, thereby training ourselves to respond in a most selfish manner most of the time. Or, we can submit to the authority placed over us and learn to have a most happy and joyful life.

I think that is one of the most important lessons that I want to instill in my children. The importance of obedience. Even when they don't want to. Especially when they don't want to. It is important for obedience in a family, it is important for obedience in a job, it is important for obedience in school, it is important for obedience in society, most importantly is the obedience we give to God. I could go on and on, listing all the ways that obedience is a huge part of life. Every one's life.

I don't want my children to kick. I want them to humbly accept whatever challenge is placed in front of them. I believe disobedience is a habit just like any other. The more you practice it, the more it becomes your natural response, to just about anything.

In the story, one of the wild horses just refuses to be obedient to his master. At first, it was because he was being trained for riding. But, eventually, because he kept on kicking, when his sweet young owner, commanded him to do something he didn't feel like doing, he threw her off his back. The pretty, young little girl that did nothing but love him, give him food and pamper him was laying on the ground, at his feet. He had kicked, bucked authority for so long, it was just his natural habit, even though he would rather have had more control. "Those who indulge themselves in kicking at all, will sometimes kick when they would give worlds to forbear."

The story resonated with me in such a huge way. As I neared the end of the story, I had tears in my eyes as I read the end to my girls. It was such a perfect story on what I want my children to know about life. "Happy the colts who learn submission without a lifetime of personal struggle." I could not have thought of anything else so profound to get my point across about obedience. I think I am going to copy the above sentence, on a huge piece of paper, and leave it laying around the house . . .

LOL

Today I glanced through the newspaper. And the title of an article, that caught my eye, read something like "LOL, or not to LOL".

Anyway, it caught my attention so I started to peruse it. It was a whole article, near as I could tell, discussing the uses of LOL and how it has been overused! I am not much of a texter (if that is even a word). I keep a limited plan because my sister use to text me quite a bit. I have a friend who texts me. And my brother has a time or two. So, I keep a limited plan.

So, all that to say, maybe I don't appreciate the gravity of the article. I know, at least I think I know, I have never used the abbreviation LOL. Because, honestly, I have never laughed out loud while texting some one. I have had humorous thoughts while texting. And I might have SIS (smiled inside). But, have honestly, never laughed out loud. And, I have just felt to LOL would be deceptive. Because I wasn't LOL.

Oddly enough, the article addressed that very issue. That people actually felt guilt over using that abbreviation. (And here I thought I was the only one.) Regardless, I don't foresee me ever using LOL. Unless I actually LOL . . .

Over Worked and Under Paid

OK, so that is being a little dramatic. I get "paid" pretty well for what I do. And being "overworked" comes with the territory. We have had a lot going on family wise. Camping, company, things, etc. Just lots of stuff that has needed my attention. Phone calls, cards, letters, organizing, visiting with friends, planning, advice giving, adding a couple new responsibilities, etc., etc., etc. Not to mention just the daily stuff which needs to be done to survive. Laundry, grocery shopping, carting kids to activities, cooking, etc. Oh yeah, and cleaning.

Lots and lots of time consuming, little stuff. Stuff that can only be done at certain times of the day. One reason being, I have a very active two-year old. That needs lots and lots of attention and supervision. It is all good, productive stuff hat needs doing. Just never ending, as of late.

So, all that to say, my blog has been at the very end of that long, never ending list of stuff. Plans for posts I have in the future: Boop and t-ball, our science fair project, camping again in less than two weeks and, probably, little, funny anecdotes about potty training and the terrible twos.

But, for now, gonna run. Cell phone is ringing, emails need to be sent, naps need to be taken, ballet stuff needs to be found, kitchen needs to be cleaned, laundry folded. (Thankful that daddy has dinner covered for tonight.) Hopefully I will have something worth while to right in the next day or two. And, some time to write it . . .

Flip Flop World

Now that it is a little nicer weather, at least for now, one of the benefits is flip flops. For the whole family. I love it because it shaves about 13 minutes off the time it takes me to get out the door. I LOVE that. I might actually be on time. Maybe even early . . .

In Another World

When I brush my teeth or blow dry my hair, I am in another world. For some strange reason, my brain starts thinking about ALL the things that I am unable to think about during the day. I literally can finish brushing my teeth or drying my hair and wonder how it got done. Granted I have been doing both for a really LONG time. And, it doesn't take a lot of brain power to do both. But, for some strange reason, I am in another world.

I think part of the reason is, is that I do both when the kids are usually asleep. I have no expectation of being interrupted. Hubby is usually asleep or not home, so I am virtually "alone." I feel responsibility free. My brain knows it and can relax and just wander. I think of fun things, important things, things that need to be done, things I have done (which probably shouldn't have), etc., etc., etc.

The bad side of the whole thing, is that when someone does come in the bathroom during either of those times, I FREAK OUT. I mean literally. It is SO unexpected that sometimes I scream or yell. I am never more startled then when someone interrupts those two things. After I get over my initial shock. And I mean SHOCK, I laugh to myself. And I try to laugh with the person who scared the you know what out of me.

For as many times as I have told myself to be prepared for the possibility, I am still so surprised. Can't explain it, don't understand it, it just happens. . .