New Year's Resolutions

I have some.  I've been inspired reading the resolutions from other blogs.  Heidi Swap has a quote for the year, Ali Edwards picks a word for the year to inspire, and many others bravely and openly list their resolutions for the new year on their blog.  More than one seminar, self-help book, infomercial, and blog entry to improve myself has caught my eye and interest.  Believe me I need help, need to improve, and be a better person.  I worry some of these easy self help plans may be empty, even if you complete every step, do they lead to the right direction?  Discerning this is a very important step in picking the right resolution.  

I'm looking for the right path, even if it be rocky, I need to be on the right one.   I have to then start from the Source and remember where I'm headed in the first place.  God has not left me without seminars, self-help manuals, or bold messages.  It's just He didn't promise it would be flashy, easy, or help me to focus on myself more.   Take for instance the biggest of all self-help topics - diet.  There are so many things to try but do they really lead to health?  Last year my sister Lisa wrote this post about struggles with weight after being inspired by someone who connected overeating with the sin of gluttony.  After I read this it made more sense to me than any other thing I've come across on weight loss.  It led to the Truth.  

So, this year with my resolutions, I am trying to seek what is really true, what will honestly HELP me to overcome the multitude of ways I come up short.  At the end of 2009, I know I won't be reviewing this as a thin, unselfish, meal providing, giving, and positive person, but I may be reviewing this as a better person with confidence that I walked the right path and struggled the right way- that is my resolution .  This is the quote I chose for this new year to inspire me.  It is words of Pope John Paul II during a visit to Chili to beatify a saint I have come to admire, St. Teresa of the Andes:

Do not be afraid of the 

demands of the love of Christ.

On the contrary, be afraid

of being faint hearted,

of taking things lightly,

of seeking your comfort,

of being selfish:

of everything that seeks to 

silence the voice of Christ"

~John Paul II

April 2, 1987

St Teresa of the Andes

this is her message:  only in God can one find happiness; 

God alone is infinite joy.

Not Just a Pretty Face

I've liked Sarah Palin since they announced her as the Republican Vice Presidential nominee last Friday.  Pro-Life, Mother of Five, Feminine Strength, Christian values.  It seems John McCain hit my political subgroup and now I'm in.  

I keep thinking of the process she must have been going through learning she was pregnant at 44 while being a governor, and then hearing the news their son would have Down Syndrome, giving birth in April and then in late August receiving the nomination for Vice President.  I wonder if she ever had a quiet moment in the midst of those times and heard a small voice inside saying "do not fear, God has great things planned for you."

Wasn't her speech great last night?  She hit so many great points and I love how she fights - with dignity.  Okay, where's my bumper sticker and lawn sign?

Treadmill Kashi Update

Well I did it!  Sunday of Memorial Weekend marked my 30 days of daily treadmill and Kashi (with the approved exception of sit-ups while out of town)  I must admit the Kashi part had to be revised for obvious reasons.  Those of you who can do Kashi GoLean everyday without incident are fiber champions.  For me, my system can only bear the lighter Strawberry Fields.  DH stressed he would hold me to the treadmill and left me to monitor my own fiber concerns. :)

Back in April DH and I agreed if I exercised on the treadmill and ate Kashi for 30 days he would buy me a digital recorder.  My tennis shoes and treadmill never saw so much action.  I even got the signal "lube belts" one morning which for me was a sign of accomplishment.   

Results?  Frankly I thought there would be more.  I wasn't running or anything but thought going from nothing to consistent exercise I would've found myself looking in the mirror one morning saying, "dang I look good."  Just kidding, I would've settled for the "not bad" feeling.  Instead things were just fitting more comfortably.  Now after a week of not excercising and not eating Kashi I find myself feeling a little more self conscious and non-fibrous.  Therefore, I think it showed more results in my sense of accomplishment and well-being more than in my waistline (although it may have been centimeters instead of inches or millimeters instead of centimeters - it does increase your appetite you know).

Now for the research on what video camera to buy.  DH did say that if I wanted to buy a digital slr camera with video he would go for that (...since our current point-and-shoot camera was free and not so great.  Afterall, at first he did promise a new car!).  Not sure which one would have that ability.  Boy, the Canon Rebel XTi is pretty tempting but I don't know if it shoots video.  I need help.

conclusion:  I do best with short goals and a carrot dangling in front of me.  Now for the next goal and carrot...(I think he'll be more cautious this time)

Schoolhouse Rock

Do you remember this?  As a child, during our usual Saturday morning cartoons (being allowed to watch only up to a certain time), my brother, sister and I enjoyed the songs of Schoolhouse Rock.  When Cee was memorizing the Preamble this week I was surprised to discover I could sing all of it.  I found this clip on You Tube, and in just 5 minutes she knows most of it now too.  I also remember replaying in my mind "How a Bill Becomes a Law" during a Civics exam.  Then there's also "Conjunction Junction" that came in handy in English class.  Boy, those images really stuck.  Here's a treat for those 40 and over. (...and anyone in need of recalling the Preamble in a pinch.)

Lessons I'm Teaching that I Haven't Learned Myself

  Today one of the girls had a follow-up pulmonology appointment at our children's hospital.  To say she was dreading it would be putting it lightly.  The appointment itself is pretty easy but I think it was going to the children's hospital, performing the breathing tests over and over to get it just right, and the fear of the exam itself.  It started with worry, then fear, then a snotty attitude.

After the appointment she walked to the car mad because she was expecting it to be her last appt. there and the doctor asked to see her again in late Summer.  I explained that everyone has something.  I listed her sister's dental issues, another's asthma, friends recent outpatient surgery to remove a skin issue, her cousin's eye surgery, and all the poor sick kids in that hospital who are truly suffering.  

At the beginning I even listed some of my lovely pregnancy appts. up ahead but she responded, "but Mom I'm not forty yet!"  On the way home I talked about offering a little suffering we have for someone who is really suffering.  Our suffering can be a prayer, an offering to God on behalf of someone else.  This is when I stopped and realized (silently of course), "hey why am I not doing this!"  

There are so many couples dying to have children, women who have terrible pregnancies, and if God gives us another child who am I to complain about any inconvenience, discomfort, or unfounded worry.  I need to walk my talk and offer to God my miniscule difficulties for the many who truly suffer.

One Mean Craving - One Nice Husband

I planned to make meatloaf tonight...then I started to feel the usual afternoon queasy stage coming on.  Nothing can get me through a queasy stage like salt.  I started to think how good it would be to have miso soup, then went to dreaming about fried rice, then to an angel hair roll (all fully cooked above), then it was good-bye meatloaf.  DH being the supportive husband, agreed to go get some sushi.  The Girls however talked us into sitting at the teppan yaki table so they could see the food show.  

 

It turned out to be expensive and decadent for a week-night meal so we decided to enjoy ourselves like this would be the only indulgence during this trimester :)

Three happy Girls tonight enjoying the food show, thanks to Mom's craving and Dad's good nature.  Tomorrow meatloaf.  I better have some salt close by to get me through tomorrow afternoon's temptation.

What a Little Sleep Can Do

We had a good day at home.  We woke up to rain, but by mid-day it was only partly cloudy with blue skies peaking through.  The girls seemed a little better today too.  Last night I went to bed early with my laptop and some hot tea.  Ahh, it was nice.  All day long this tree caught my attention.  In the rain I thought it might be going through a little blossom confusion, but after the blue sky peaked through I knew the blossoms would thrive at least for the afternoon.  More rain on it's way though.
We accomplished a lot of school today, despite some small interruptions - under the table!  After school I did a little "scrapbooking" (cards) which I'll post when I get them done.  I tried this new recipe tonight from Robin Miller: chicken with brie on baby spinach salad.  We really liked it.  Click the link to get the recipe from FoodTv.  

After dinner we watched for the lunar eclipse.  The clouds cleared after the optimum time but still we all enjoyed being outside after dark.  Needless to say the attempt at pictures was useless with our camera, but here's the little dot.  

It was a good day!

Tackling Laundry

Remember I said Saturday was sunny so we attended to some of the chores on our outside list?  Well, today was cloudy in more ways than one, because it was laundry day.  There was a motherload to tackle.  Since I am a TMR (time management retardo), I found myself employing some coping mechanisms to help me through the day.

1.  A "little" break to check and reply to email is not a "little" break, so you need another "little" break to make up for it.

2.  A whole box of Hot Tamales can really give you a zing and make you fold laundry faster for a good five minutes.

3.  Milk Duds and Dove Milk Chocolate hearts can give you a good 15 minutes of fast folding time.  (handy around the time your sorting through all the mismatched socks)

4.  Finding last Summer's swimsuit at the bottom of the hamper doesn't make you realize you've neglected to fully do your laundry for 3 Seasons, it just makes you think it was thrown in clean.

5.  When your sorting through laundry upstairs and you marvel at how well your kids are behaving downstairs it just means they're sitting at your NEW computer with an open jar of peanut butter, licking their fingers!

6.  When your sorting through laundry while listening to an audio book about eating more vegetables and you feel inspired and determined you're going to finally change and then come downstairs to eat the Hot Tamales, Milk Duds, Dove chocolates and top it off with a can of green olives - you're not ready for change.  Maybe ready for an antacid, but not for change.

Well I better go add the jeans and dry the last of the colors, where are those Milk Duds?

p.s. I did not give up candy for Lent, although it may have been a good idea!

A Change in Direction

I headed in the right direction today and it felt good, tiring, but good.  I mentioned in a past post about volunteering our garage to be a polling place for the upcoming California Primary this coming Tuesday.  To say I was overly optomistic and not thinking things entirely through would not be a mistatement.  Now I'm, excuse me, we're paying for it.  Although we took a two hour training class one Saturday, I wonder if DH and I are qualified to be the most knowledgeable "officers" in our precinct.  When I volunteered I envisioned some Retirees coming in to handle things and I'd be running back and forth replinishing donuts.  Instead, DH is Inspector, I'm Clerk, and we have two high school helpers.  I hope we're not on the news as the precinct holding up the election.

So, today, as a birthday gift for DH, I cleaned out the remainder of the garage, so he wouldn't have to spend all Saturday doing it.  I lifted, hauled, swept and exterminated.  Believe me there are no before pictures because I wouldn't want to shame my father.  While I was on a roll a crane (not a bird) showed up.  Apparently the person that bought our palm tree decided after 2 months that today was the day to remove it.   I was a little worried the break would make my muscles tense up and I'd quit, but after a short break I was back to business.  Being down to the last minute can do that to a person.  

Here's our tree before.  Nice size for our neighborhood but high maintenance and "pokey" for the kids.  We sold it (older palm trees are in demand) because we want a tree with some Fall color which I think adds a "homey" feel. 

Surprisingly, right around here I became a little sad.  Although annoying, it was strange seeing our tree hanging upside down and I might miss it, just a little.  

Off she went...I reassured Jae that she would go to another nice home with kids.  Maybe we'll see her in another yard some day.

Back to business.  After most of the day here was my result.  During the cleaning I had to homeschool a little different today.  The girls would bring out their books, get a little direction, return to argue with each other for awhile, show up 10 minutes later on the next Math problem and then return to argue some more.  It wasn't the best school day but I think this is a birthday gift DH will like.

Now, what to do about this come election day?

Dream

Lisa at This Crazy Little Life of Mine (my sister) wrote a thoughtful post about "Dreams" in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.  I was inspired to post my dreams.  It is to know, love, and serve God better.  This primarily means that I follow His will.  There are some things completely clear and some things to be revealed.  

It is clear that I am to love my Husband and offer my best self to him.  I thought about this and I know this means to love him at all times.  When it's a gift to love my husband and on the rare occasion when it can be hard to "love as a verb."  For example, when you're at Disneyland and you have to go to the bathroom so you leave him with your princess-loving daughter in the Cinderella line and then discover he took a picture of some drunk truck driver posing as your 4 yr. old.  Even during times like that.   Thank you Dear, your little girl will always treasure this picture.
Following God's will also means to give all I have to our children.  To bring them to Him so they'll end up with Him.  This is always a gift but some moments are more enjoyable than others.  Like when they're looking so cute, picture below (not above) a few years ago.  ...or tonight at dinner when your 5 yr. old tells you are the "best cooker in the whole world" as she eats her KFC.  
Oh, how I need help.  Today was a distracted day may I do better at pursuing my dreams tomorrow!  (hmmm, that sounds like something a Grasshopper would say)

Stinkin' Rats!

Okay, stinkin' Fancy Mice! Our friends had a little mishap of gender identification at the pet store. They of course discovered this after their two female mice had 12 babies. As always, we had the best of timing and visited them just as the babies were mature and ready for homes. My second daughter, the 8 year old, fell in love with them. "Oh they're so cute. I'll take care of them, you won't have to do a thing, I'll clean their cage so it doesn't stink, I won't even cry if Frank (our cat) eats them."

We were strong and mature parents explaining that we already had two pets and little Nutmeg (our chihuahua) would be sad that your attention would go to the mice. After two days of her persistant optimism about caretaking abilities we softened like cowards and thought that keeping mice would teach her some responsibility. So, little "Marshmellow" and "Popcorn" came home with us after the girls went shopping with their own money for supplies.

The fun lasted for a couple of ....hours until their smell traveled from upstairs to downstairs. Did I tell you we had to get two boys? Someone else was smart enough to get the clean, non-smelly girls. Instead they marked and marked their territory until cute little Marshmellow turned into a Mafia Boss and left poor Popcorn on the rooftop of his Mouse House alone, hungry and afraid. The sound and the ruckus of Marshmellow's "hits" were shockingly violent. When Popcorn left some blood drops on my daughter's hand things changed for our overly-optimistic caretaker. Stress set in.

She broke down...crying from the situation. I'm scared of them, they stink and I can't believe I begged for them and spent all my money. When I asked if she wanted us to take these mean boys back to get a cute little hamster, she said "no, I just want Nutmeg and Frank." Perhaps it was a lesson learned. Of course she learned it faster than we did. I think this family will stick with dogs that resemble rats as opposed to the rats that resemble mean rabid dogs.