Speaking my Love Language

After 15 years of marriage we have settled into the comfortable spot of knowing each other. Once Rod thought the best gift for me would be roses, or picking something out for me to wear, or giving me a choice of three sets of earrings... Not that those aren't great gifts it's just not what hits the spot. Now on my birthday he calls to take me to lunch and lets me pick out something not to his liking (Indian food), buys me the Starbucks mug I loved, makes sure I have Sephora scrip so I can replenish some out of budget skin care items AND the best of all.......drumroll......pays off my library fines - my debt to society.

What a man! In true fashion he walked in and told the librarian he would like to place a bail bond for his wife. I'm free....I'm free! I love seeing those zeros at the bottom. Nothing better than a clean slate. (of course it won't stay clean for long)

My Fleeting Kennedy Ideal

As I do most early mornings, I get up before everyone else and enjoy a cup of coffee.  Often I watch something tivo'd with Nutmeg on my lap.  I have Oprah on our record schedule but delete her shows 95% of the time after reading the subject info.  Just get frustrated with her, but occasionally there's a famous person on her show and on those shows (for the most part) Oprah keeps her 'new age' opinions to herself.  

I caught yesterday's re-running of Maria Shriver.  I've always loved the classic Kennedy ideal.  In my head they were a big family of hard-working, faithful Catholics who were pushing for the rights of the common man.  Okay, this was what I thought in 5th grade when I wrote a report on Jacqueline Kennedy (the cover of which my Mom completely changed after I went to bed - but that is another story for another day).   In my mind that 5th grade ideal has stuck a little...maybe even when it shouldn't have. 

So, Im a little interested in what Maria has to say.  She has a new book out, Just Who Will You Be?  They talk about how in October of '97 at a Woman's Conf. in CA she let it out that she was LOST.  Her role as First Lady of CA led her to become a person looking to fulfill what other's needed her to be.  She then realized this had been happening since she was a kid.  I started to cry thinking of how hard this must be for....for poor little rich girl, with a powerful husband, four beautiful healthy children, who's had a national career on television, parents who have loved her, a national platform on which to stand whenever she had something to say, great hair, great teeth (okay I'm going to stop there and I didn't cry).  

Is she watching too many Oprah's shows?  Too much of - you have the power to be anything you dream to be, just leave all your responsibilities behind and think only about yourself?  I may sit down and tally how many times I heard her say 'I' or 'me' in that conversation. (Okay, maybe that would be a waste of my time.)  Not once did I hear anything about her husband except to refer to how she had to give it all up for him when he became Governor.  ...two become one?...love and honor?...married in St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church?

What about your faith Maria?  What about what God created you for?  In all fairness, maybe she has examined that but there was no mention of it and she's going to lead many, many women to examine how unhappy they are in their role as wife and mother.  She will keep searching and feeling LOST but the publicity from the book and the pat on the back from Oprah followers will disguise it for awhile.

We do have to be who we are, who God made us to be.  If He has given us a good husband and the blessing of children, then it's a good chance He wants us to be the person He made us to be and love them.  That doesn't make us less of the person we were meant to be?  True yes, many are called to do more outside this primary role.  ...but this primary role doesn't get in the way, it enhances the person we are.  What I'm trying to get out is that Maria shouldn't consider herself LOST in the role as First Lady standing beside her husband.  The humility just may make her a better person, the one she was truly meant to be.  

My New Look

Over the past week or so I've been working with Danielle on a new blog design.  Here is the end result.  What do you think?  I love it!  

No, I can't pick just one design kit, I have to pick two.  Not just two but two very unrelated kits.  ...and I have to go for something different.  This sums up my particular nature very well.  Oh the line of people who have been subjected to this.  Maybe it started back when I'd cry every Sunday going to Church not having exactly what I wanted to wear ...or thinking of nothing else in Church but me sitting there in the perfect outfit.  Then there's my Mom trying to safety pin my waistline so I can get exactly the right feel.  My husband when we negotiated buying the car.  The salesman at one point told me "I don't think I want to sell a car to you."  Then my poor tired sisters when I went to find my wedding dress.

The thing is it's a very rewarding process in the end because I get exactly what I want.  Is it very kind to the people I'm working with?  No.  So I thank all of you who have been subjected to my relentless particular pickiness.  Danielle's the most recent in this long line.

Danielle, thank you for coming up with this beautiful design in a heap of different elements - you are amazing.  Thank you for  your patience and for not telling me you didn't want to design a blog for me (even if you felt like it).  

Take a peek at her beautiful designs at Blogs by Danielle.  She has a Summer special until the end of July.

My Favorite Walk

This is a place I love to come.  I don't go there very often but when I do I always feel at peace and sense God in the beauty I see.  This is a walk near my Dad's cabin where old cabins sit in the shade of tall pine trees.  It begins with a  narrow dirt road and splits in two.  Little brooks trickle in the middle of the two roads and along the outer sides of the cabins headed for the creek below.  Most Cabin Owners come up just for Summer vacations while a few can enjoy the Winter beauty with the help of snow mobiles.   Here are just a few of the cabins along my favorite walk:

When I return from my walk I head up the hill to the cabin my Dad built (picture below).  In that cabin time and memories stand still.  A place spent together playing games, questioning bizarre words used in Scrabble, eating, listening to some record-breaking snoring, laughing, and waiting in line for one bathroom.  As I would climb up the hill I would long for that cool drink of water waiting for me in the orange thermos on top of the counter in the yellow kitchen.  

 

This is our little spot in the big world God gave us to enjoy and find rest.  I hope we can enjoy His gift more often.

Little Fans of Dancing with the Stars

Our girls, especially the two oldest, are huge fans of Dancing with the Stars.  Oh the excitement, the victory, the falls, it all gets to them.  Here are their top 5 favorite things about the show: (Sure to be tweaked a little once they read this because they believe they are the authority on the show!)

Stacy Kiebler, without a doubt the favorite.  There were actual tears when she was voted out unexpectantly.  Cheryl Burke is know the least favorite of all time and still gets boo-ed at every performance!

Mario Lopez the hero.  The night he lost was another bad night for this household.  It took days to get over this one.

Ashly Del Grosso:  Where are you Ashly?  They miss you, please show up soon and bring your little baby on the show.

Jae's favorite input is to mention "Big Lips."  She came up with this herself and once she got the first laugh she loves to bring her up.

And...last but not least.  What would a night of Dancing with the Stars be without wondering what head gear will be worn by this lady in the band.  They literally wait for this portion, pause, and chuckle at her head jewels.  Sometimes the dress that goes along with it is pretty lively too.


Despite a couple risque dances (we fast forward through) and some skimpy outfits we like this show because it provides a lot of fun family interaction.  We used to get our own performances by "Stacy" "Ashly" and "Big Lips" at commercials but for some reason we have yet to see one this season.

**update**  They've informed me I got it wrong.  Kaye's favorites (in order) - Mario, Stacy, Sabrina.  Cee's favorites (in order) - Ashly, Stacy (a close second), Sabrina, Mario.  Jae's favorite's (in order) - Stacy, Mario, Monique, Ashly, "Big Lips."

p.s.  I notice our little baby on the upper right is getting a little more rounded and a little less like a grasshopper.  I think it changed today at 8 wks.  

Wordless Wednesday

"Nutty"

The perfect companion for three little girls.

(see the other pictures at Wordless Wednesday) 

A Few of My Favorite Things

A few of my favorite new things...MacBook, my Valentine coffee mug with coffee in it, my leopard reading glasses (gag gift from my Sister on my 40th, which I use), Becky Higgin's card ideas and an afternoon free to play around on the art table.  These birthday thank-you's are long overdue.  I'm a bit under the weather today, so what better day to make a card and send your sweet germs along with a belated thank you.  Don't worry though, I still have to address and mail them, by that time any germs will have long died.   Here are two of my favorites:

Of course I like the one that is green and simple.

This one had the most detail but I like it too - especially on the white.  Tomorrow is the Academy Awards, I couldn't have picked a better weekend to be sick.

Jon & Kate Plus 8

Have you seen it?  We all love this show about a family with 2, six year olds and 6, two year olds (their ages in the first season).  It's hard to believe that two pregnancies led to eight children.  As they describe in the opening, they had fertility problems, gave birth to twins and decided to have another baby and got six.  

What's fun to watch is their system.  Although there is much stress and bickering mostly from Kate to Jon, their house runs smoothly (for the most part).  It's almost as if Kate is so determined to make their lives normal she goes crazy accomplishing it.  ...and accomplish she does.  Things like spending only $150 a week in groceries, driving the whole family from Pennsylvania to Florida to visit Disneyworld, and throwing a carnival on their front lawn for the sextuplets 3rd birthday party.  

The first time I watched I thought Kate was mean to Jon, but once you watch a couple of episodes you realize circumstances make her that way and she's the first to admit that she's a control freak and germ phob.  Also, you see the love she has for each child and her beaten-down husband.

What other family with eight children under seven could have a film crew in their house 24/7 but one led by a Germ-a-phobic Control Freak?  It will make your life seem easy.  It comes on Monday nights at 9:00 on TLC.  You can see their personal website here.

Kate's 8 Tips for a Smooth Household

1.  Organize - keep a list of to dos and cross off things as you go

2.  Shop on a Budget - look for sales, take advantage of coupons and promotions

3.  Prepare for Outings - plan ahead, bring supplies

4.  Count Your Blessings - being thankful during everyday life gives you a boost

5.  Promote Safety - talk to children about safety, teach them to come to you

6.  Provide Order - a schedule will help everyone in the family

7.  Reward Your Children - this will help, they want your approval

8.  Make Housework a Family Affair - provides family unity, and sense of belonging

We Love Wii

This Works because it provides fun family time.  Unlike watching a movie, we can interact with each other and get up off the couch!

Our gift to all three girls this Christmas was a Wii.  It was challenging finding one during Christmas but with determination DH located a store expecting a night shipment.  He got in line at 4:30 am to get this.  It has proved well worth the effort.  In case you don't know, Wii is a wireless interactive game made by Nintendo.  You control the player through your movements, not just your thumbs.  
One of the fun things is creating your own player in Mii.  We each have our own as well as some of our guests' favorites.
After dinner we hold family tournaments.  Everyone gives their all!  You actually feel some physical effects too!  I had tennis shoulder the week after Christmas.
We have a little fun, a little exercise, some hand eye coordination, little friendly competition (usually), and some nice family time.  

The problem for my family is they just can't beat me ;)  Go see some great ideas at Shannon's Works for me Wednesday.