tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-198109382024-03-07T01:04:59.900-05:003 TurkeysPlus one makes a happy family.Kevin Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775506449936716006noreply@blogger.comBlogger185125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-41537297599070123782021-01-07T23:21:00.002-05:002021-01-07T23:21:30.643-05:00Celebrating the Feast of the EpiphanyHere we are 7 days into the new year and I'm only a day late with our first celebration! January 6 was the Feast of the Epiphany. Better late than never, right? Right. <div><br /></div><div>Years ago when my kids were very young and I was trying to figure out how to build our little domestic church, I read a book called <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Year-Our-Children-Catholic-Celebrations/dp/1933184272/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=mary+reed+newland&qid=1610073749&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Year and Our Children- Planning the Family Activities for the Church Year by Mary Reed Newland</a>. Published in 1956, it was a gift to my mom when she was pregnant with me. It must have been a baby shower gift. This little book is a treasure trove of great ideas for bringing the Church and her many feast days to life!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXXlOouY25V5QbfLNjB1ymMXJN9gmuWDq7SvHtb5L8KtLozxZHHnQxAVkntk90sVazFJjTPORVTStkivu7V6WucIWyrCe7G5RkH42KEgrhluchnHK4f5K_myivkOWBp49XK0h/s4032/IMG_1011.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXXlOouY25V5QbfLNjB1ymMXJN9gmuWDq7SvHtb5L8KtLozxZHHnQxAVkntk90sVazFJjTPORVTStkivu7V6WucIWyrCe7G5RkH42KEgrhluchnHK4f5K_myivkOWBp49XK0h/w240-h320/IMG_1011.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An oldie but a goodie!<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTNaaP39A2rayEbeSuFg5pVUwvXRn21luF2WWTAsb6yZnh1Y7BnvZSgwjDSuy2Od31g7lhCaWkPAjTkpcB62QpPCDaTZygtOufmyLVa_43D31MQwoyivw0HfeBngiAQuy34eg/s4032/IMG_1012.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTNaaP39A2rayEbeSuFg5pVUwvXRn21luF2WWTAsb6yZnh1Y7BnvZSgwjDSuy2Od31g7lhCaWkPAjTkpcB62QpPCDaTZygtOufmyLVa_43D31MQwoyivw0HfeBngiAQuy34eg/w240-h320/IMG_1012.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well done, little Miss Julie. This was a perfect gift!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In this great book, I discovered many wonderful celebrations including the one we did today. Ever since the kids were little, we have tried to help them understand the feast day by putting on a little Epiphany play taken directly from the book. The Casting is simple: Kevin is King Herod, 3 of the kids are the Three Kings, Emma is Mary and I am the Scribe. The kids dress up in blankets for capes and crowns made of cereal boxes covered in foil and bedazzled to each King's taste. Appropriately attired, they travel through the house singing The First Nowell or We Three Kings, carrying gifts we held back from Christmas for the purpose. They approach King Herod and ask where they might find the newborn King of the Jews. Herod calls for the Scribe to bring him the scrolls and he reads Micah 5:2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="text Mic-5-2" id="en-NIV-22636" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Mic-5-2" style="position: relative;">though you are small among the clans<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-22636b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-22636b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="display: inline; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=micah%205&version=NIV#fen-NIV-22636b" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #517e90; min-width: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span> of Judah,</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="text Mic-5-2" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">out of you will come for me</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Mic-5-2" style="position: relative;">one who will be ruler over Israel,</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="text Mic-5-2" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">whose origins are from of old,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Mic-5-2" style="position: relative;">from ancient times.”</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Mic-5-2" style="position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Herod "innocently" asks the Kings to go, pay homage, and come back to tell him where the Babe is so he can do the same. Sly, Herod. Real sly. The kids sing their way to our Mary, pay homage to the Baby, go to sleep to be visited by an angel who thwarts Herod's evil plans to kill the Baby Jesus- HA!- and they depart to their homelands by another way. Finally they get to unwrap their gifts. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibmX4vyEzVoFl0JNZVD1oTmBmCM3zx23_YNZr1fOCxetoW1vgrc30ScOI9-J5nBrvXMlgn1L3WkkToKlqwon5Kx3CUVW56D0A4ie2uZEBJKpIY-ODjCxJxvxSeKbGt0_5AN4c/s2048/IMG_5383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibmX4vyEzVoFl0JNZVD1oTmBmCM3zx23_YNZr1fOCxetoW1vgrc30ScOI9-J5nBrvXMlgn1L3WkkToKlqwon5Kx3CUVW56D0A4ie2uZEBJKpIY-ODjCxJxvxSeKbGt0_5AN4c/s320/IMG_5383.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>2017</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even though it is fun I wasn't sure if this was a tradition the kids would want to continue into their teens. I asked them this year and they were adamant that the tradition continue. Of course they like getting an extra gift, but I think they enjoy the tradition that spans back to when they were very small. Holding onto a bit of their childhoods as they navigate these adolescent years? I'm here for it!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What's a celebration with out special food? Lame. That's what my kids would say. Well, they'd really say it was "sus". Traditionally, you could make a King Cake. I've done it before, but it wasn't a big hit around here, so this year I made a Tarte Tatin from The Joy of Cooking. I've never made it before, but I just looked up some photos of what it SHOULD have looked like: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhk2_Q2KuUwqJLGgB7VhZOpzeY44aRvwlmTGnjkJtaIYUZPRmQ7cHZY0aoLqpYVi9fV8ALH4Zl7JLl74mBP1s_KMsSaO0c4BMlcrt5g1SXg_lqQlw9RZZugx0qbqLzx12zBojs/s240/tartetatin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhk2_Q2KuUwqJLGgB7VhZOpzeY44aRvwlmTGnjkJtaIYUZPRmQ7cHZY0aoLqpYVi9fV8ALH4Zl7JLl74mBP1s_KMsSaO0c4BMlcrt5g1SXg_lqQlw9RZZugx0qbqLzx12zBojs/s0/tartetatin.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beautiful</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And what mine looked like:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BW2M3pTeS_xC-dhgC_aHdOcm99S1NT0HK3JKMltwTaLox2J-9ySoMwWCtdfuu9DnOLqKwQjO03G1u3HuFeLfaQ2SUsIWYHhkx8OEuVBAWdjdfzg71saDx6oT3NvuyicsJL16/s3128/IMG_1004.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3128" data-original-width="3024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BW2M3pTeS_xC-dhgC_aHdOcm99S1NT0HK3JKMltwTaLox2J-9ySoMwWCtdfuu9DnOLqKwQjO03G1u3HuFeLfaQ2SUsIWYHhkx8OEuVBAWdjdfzg71saDx6oT3NvuyicsJL16/w238-h213/IMG_1004.HEIC" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nailed it!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfd96MgsGEdwtg9cFMTQdr-VGayw64g599izn1y2veT2u0e9pHWC_4mHxpWieTJDpEYWNZUHc12LrMewrUL4Ibq63vbH8spooceidGcS5bbqJ_go9lGGU_ncLIr18CTwJOBQV/s4032/IMG_1006.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfd96MgsGEdwtg9cFMTQdr-VGayw64g599izn1y2veT2u0e9pHWC_4mHxpWieTJDpEYWNZUHc12LrMewrUL4Ibq63vbH8spooceidGcS5bbqJ_go9lGGU_ncLIr18CTwJOBQV/w222-h269/IMG_1006.HEIC" width="222" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice cream makes it all better.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But at least the dinner I made is a new family favorite (to my never-ending delight and surprise), <a href="https://damndelicious.net/2012/04/13/slow-cooker-chicken-tikka-masala/" target="_blank">Chicken Tikka Masala from Damn Delicious</a> No pictures. My future as a food blogger is questionable.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One last thing: Don't forget to chalk your doors! It's such an easy way to make your faith more visible to the world. I've been asked several times over the years what it means by people who come to the door. What an nice conversation starter! I could go on, but<a href="https://onepeterfive.com/the-chalking-of-the-doors-an-epiphany-tradition-explained/" target="_blank"> this blog</a> does such a lovely job, I won't elaborate here.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqMOvuyj0s8LYNQecAHJjhusvLjhpPaV-8Y_EulTMFRxRKADZw2uama8bvh0S2-dA5R_BAfB1OENRr9g5IyiEd-4SbHphGhWBjNDTBuxXH8PLBxPxY2PwhSFKPVFRxAAYpYfM/s2048/IMG_9418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqMOvuyj0s8LYNQecAHJjhusvLjhpPaV-8Y_EulTMFRxRKADZw2uama8bvh0S2-dA5R_BAfB1OENRr9g5IyiEd-4SbHphGhWBjNDTBuxXH8PLBxPxY2PwhSFKPVFRxAAYpYfM/w293-h240/IMG_9418.JPG" width="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20+C+M+B+21<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>May our home and our hearts be dedicated to Our Lord and blessings pour forth from the love within.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-66279955328574466022021-01-01T17:35:00.002-05:002021-01-01T19:11:38.554-05:00Celebrating in the New Year<p><br /> Well, here I am again. Brushing off the ol' blog because I have something to say. Mostly, I've been over on Instagram doing stories for my own amusement. I've been thinking about this blog over the last year. I used to write weekly when my kids were little, then for some reason I just stopped. I'm not quite sure why. Doesn't matter. </p><p>So what's so danged important that I am brushing the cobwebs off this crazy looking website? Nothing, really. I want to share my thoughts with you. Can't that be enough? Yes. Yes it can. </p><p>Since you're still reading, I know you agree. Now let's get down to business.</p><p>It's New Year's Day 2021 as I write this. As many are wont to do, these past several weeks I've been reflecting on my life and what I want to improve in the next 12 months. To that end, I have decided to choose a word of the year to focus my efforts. The word I've chosen is CELEBRATE!. Yep, with an exclamation point. If 2020 had a word of the year it was DISAPPOINTING. 2020 taught me to celebrate the every day as well as the big things. That is going to be my focus this year. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfEi6UPSitqNVCIW-iws1WtlFJzwUcbrSd7Dsq7O6dQFqutynS5xfzyDe_uox9zjdnu52DE8U1AxK219Sm3M_e4wrwHZGciFfBdOtUE9tTWXILBruNhZvP0GF7hqe8VSHf2vo/s1080/IMG_8171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfEi6UPSitqNVCIW-iws1WtlFJzwUcbrSd7Dsq7O6dQFqutynS5xfzyDe_uox9zjdnu52DE8U1AxK219Sm3M_e4wrwHZGciFfBdOtUE9tTWXILBruNhZvP0GF7hqe8VSHf2vo/s320/IMG_8171.JPG" /></a></div><p></p><p>So how will I CELEBRATE!? To begin with, I listed out every known event in each month of the year. I'll add on as I think of more things. I still need something for August. </p><p>January: New Year's Day, Feast of the Epiphany, Emma's Name Day</p><p>February: St. Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras</p><p>March: Renee's Name Day, Emma's birthday</p><p>April: Easter, Anne-Marie's birthday</p><p>May: Mother's Day, Kevin's birthday, Memorial Day</p><p>June: Kevin's Name Day, my birthday, our 23rd anniversary, Father's Day</p><p>July: Independence Day, Anne-Marie's Name Day</p><p>August:</p><p>September: Labor Day, My Name Day, Andy's birthday</p><p>October: Renee's birthday, Halloween</p><p>November: Thanksgiving, Andy's Name Day</p><p>December: ALL OF ADVENT and Christmas season</p><p>I'm combining this with my next goal: bake more often! The kids' jaws dropped when I told them this. I usually promise to cook more vegetables. To their never-ending delight, I usually fail at this goal. This year, I don't think they'll let me fail. They're invested!</p><p>Celebrating means more than just marking occasions, though. I know this plan will evolve as I go. If you've been following my stories over on Instagram, you know that September began the Year of Mary, which is my year of focusing on healing my poor self-esteem and body image. So guess what? I'm adding this into my word of the year! CELEBRATE! my body, what it can do, no matter how it looks, CELEBRATE! that God LOVES ME SO MUCH and begin to love myself, too. There's more to this word than immediately comes to mind and I hope to make is as meaningful as I possibly can!</p><p>What will happen if I spend a year celebrating the big and small, the tangible and the intangible? My hope is that it will bring more JOY into my heart, into my family's hearts and ultimately, into the world. I hope to use this blog to share my celebrations with you and invite you to join me in sharing your own celebrations of life!</p><p><br /></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-37107728403512662742016-09-01T11:38:00.000-04:002016-09-01T11:38:43.458-04:00One Year Later<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been a while since I wrote anything here in this space. Today is the one year anniversary of my father's death. All of August I was emotional, following my Timehop posts of our big trip across the country while we were on vacation in Missouri, all the while knowing that on our way home, we'd turn around in Hannibal, MO and drive to 15 hours to Texas. It was almost like watching a movie where you know the tragedy that's coming and you keep yelling at the characters "No! Don't do it!". But you're powerless to stop it. <br />
<br />
Yesterday I had to go to The James at OSU to pick up a charger that my mom forgot when they transferred her to rehab. The last time I saw my dad, I had gone all the way to the hotel and realized I forgot my charger and I was going home the next day. My sister drove me back and dropped me in front of the hospital to run up and get it. I ran in, knowing she was waiting with her two young children, grabbed my charger and gave my dad one last hug and kiss, and told him I'd see him in a couple weeks. 2 weeks later in rehab, he died in his sleep. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndvc5YymD8i-5QWXdGwoaklXPtzZTcrK3zhdD2eimYEGmSyEFp5slSKwShZNkT5ybkrfsmcVYw2y6WKU04sSbIcNqrXFMMOk8PsZVIy7wcno2JSqUmrOsrFMCUbMrHtxa-98k/s1600/Daddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndvc5YymD8i-5QWXdGwoaklXPtzZTcrK3zhdD2eimYEGmSyEFp5slSKwShZNkT5ybkrfsmcVYw2y6WKU04sSbIcNqrXFMMOk8PsZVIy7wcno2JSqUmrOsrFMCUbMrHtxa-98k/s320/Daddy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I talked to him the day before he died. He was grouchy and uncomfortable and impatient. He was waiting on his physical therapist. We were talking about how he'd feel better when he got stronger and my plans to come down at the end of the month. He wasn't in the mood to talk. So I let him go and said, "Work hard". Well, he'd worked hard his whole life. More than just at a job. His life was not an easy one and he suffered quite a bit. I think he was done working hard. I don't blame him. He told me and my sister, Janet, that he was ready to go. He told his friends he was ready to go. I guess God finally agreed that it was time and took him home. I like the image, though it makes me cry, that he closed his eyes to go to sleep and opened them to his mom and dad and brother and met the brother he lost to SIDS, one big happy reunion in heaven. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicddEGNSsa3XoDzi-FIozQCSqIZ0BfYtVwwiGzrp0eTOLLkRKy7B5Kersex3HsChL8M1RSSU8gKv7UloXg7U8n6ht5R5i2Ixdw9kbVZAKsa1mgX1kEYDs0DGjuPZqaueMQD_V8/s1600/IMG_0999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicddEGNSsa3XoDzi-FIozQCSqIZ0BfYtVwwiGzrp0eTOLLkRKy7B5Kersex3HsChL8M1RSSU8gKv7UloXg7U8n6ht5R5i2Ixdw9kbVZAKsa1mgX1kEYDs0DGjuPZqaueMQD_V8/s320/IMG_0999.JPG" width="240" /></a>When he died, I began praying for his soul. I asked God for a sign of roses that he was in heaven. In January, I was given a bouquet of roses out of the blue. You think when you ask for a sign of roses, that when someone gives you roses you would freak out immediately. But I just said thank you and went on about my day. It wasn't until hours later that I looked across the room at the roses I placed under the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, that I realized what this meant. Daddy is in heaven. I am so happy for him. It's such a joy to think he's there with Jesus. But why does it have to make me so sad, too? He's in Heaven, I'm on Earth. I feel robbed, but he's in glory. It's paradoxical that you can be so happy for someone you love and so grief-stricken at the same time. How are we able to carry deep sorrow in our hearts yet still move on an be happy and laugh? I'll never understand it. I'll just have to accept that there will always be tears and that grief is complicated.<br />
<br />
All of August I was wondering how I could honor the memory of Daddy. If I lived near my family, it'd be easy. We'd get together and have a good time reminiscing, laughing and crying. I wish we could do that. I realize now that the best way to honor his life is by living a full life of my own. Not only living a full life, but a holy life so that one day we might be reunited in heaven. Happy one year anniversary in heaven, Daddy. Please pray for us. </div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-86086939155761775772015-12-17T09:57:00.000-05:002015-12-17T10:03:22.232-05:00Just Getting It All Out<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm sitting here with my fingers on the keyboard trying to wrap my head around the last 3 months. September 1st, 2015, my dad died. There are nicer, gentler ways to say it, but I'm not in a nice gentle mood. He died. He's gone and all I have left are my memories which seem so faded. We knew he didn't have a lot longer with us, but we thought we had at least a year. What we got was 2 weeks. I know we were lucky. Those 2 weeks were a gift for us. How many people get a warning wake up call that shit's getting real? I'm so thankful for those 2 weeks, and particularly, those 3 days I spent in the hospital talking with my dad. We did a lot of important work in those 3 days. I thank God for those 3 days. <br />
<br />
He collapsed when the cancer literally broke his back and he lay there waiting for his friend to come walk his dog. Thank God for that dog. I don't know if I'm ever going to stop crying when I think of him waiting for several hours on the bathroom floor. He said he wasn't scared, but it doesn't matter. I have so much guilt that I wasn't there, that I didn't do more to improve our relationship faster, that I was a selfish little brat. We'd gone through some bad times, there were hurt feelings and broken relationships and things needed to be repaired, but I was reluctant to accept he had changed. The fact is, he did change . He grew. He was becoming the father I'd missed for 10 years. He had to go through some stuff himself and recover from his own pain and he did. I learned that. I forgave him. In the end, instead of being angry at him, I get to mourn him. That's infinitely better, though it doesn't really sound like it. <br />
<br />
I didn't know what to do when I got the news. I did strange things. I didn't think of calling my friend for help to pick up the kids. I acted like a complete weirdo at school pickup because I just didn't know what to do, how to tell people, how to not lose it in public with kids around, I didn't know what the hell I was doing. I was outside of my mind. It bothers me that I acted like that. It bothers me that my friends didn't know that I didn't know how to act and maybe think I was a freak. Did they know how devastated I was even though I was trying to keep it together? I don't know. It shouldn't bother me that I didn't know what to do or how to behave or how to tell people, but it does. Pain that new and raw is scary and I seriously didn't know what the hell I was doing.<br />
<br />
I've learned a lot in the past 3 months. Here's one of the most important things: Ask your friends who are grieving how they are. I know people don't like to ask because they are afraid of the tears. They don't want to upset their friend. But I'd rather be asked because then I know who cares about me. We aren't mind readers. If we don't tell people we care, show them with our actions, then it goes unknown and unfelt. Be brave enough to ask the question. Even if it leads to tears, it's better than the alternative.<br />
<br />
Death sucks. It just SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKS!!! Here's something else from Captain Obvious that kinda hit my idiotic brain like a ton of bricks: Everyone I love is going to die. Of course I knew that. But when you feel the pain of loss, you don't just get to say, "Well, I had that experience." It's not a one and done kinda thing. Shocking, I know. But my dad died. And I still have 3 more parents to lose, I have my husband, I have a lot left to lose. A lot. And though I knew intellectually that we all die, when someone you love dies and you're left to grieve and pick up the pieces of your life, you realize that this is not what you thought it would be. It's so much worse. All of your important relationships come into sharp relief, especially with parents.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, Anne-Marie asked me what my dad's favorite color was. I don't know. And that upsets me. Maybe my sisters or brother know, but I can't just call him up and ask anymore. This kind of thing is going to keep happening, I know. The sorrow is going to keep catching me unaware like it did when she asked an innocent question, or when I'm in the middle of something fun. Some unknown trigger will remind me of my dad and I'll be swimming in sorrow again. We were at the Zac Brown Band concert the other day when out of nowhere, I just felt crushed by grief. I don't even really know what it was. I was feeling happy and having a good time, then some random memory popped into my head and there I was fighting back tears. It sucks.<br />
<br />
I know that I'm not the first one in the world to grieve. I'm not the only one in the world right now grieving. Sometimes I'll think of those who have lost their loved ones and their stories are more painful than mine and I'll feel I should just suck it up, that I don't have any business grieving. It's been 3 months, I should get over it. But that is bullshit . I don't know where that thought even comes from. That is makes me feel terrible tells me it's probably a trick of the devil. He says, "you don't deserve to mourn. You haven't earned it. Other people's losses are more important than your father." Well, I know not all grief is the same, but it's still grief and I still have to experience it and go through it. I <i>should</i> grieve and I <i>need to own</i> that I'm grieving and not believe the lie that I should just pick up and move on. To do that would be damaging to my heart and soul. One day, I'll find the new normal and I'll stop fighting it. I'll just come to acceptance, so they say. But truthfully, I'm afraid to find the new normal. I don't want to be sad, but I don't want to NOT be sad. What if I stop missing my dad? I don't want to carry on business as usual. I think that's why I've been resisting getting back into my fitness routine. It was one part of my life that I feel like, when I get back to it, I'll be over it. Hey, brain? Stop being crazy! I just need to get the courage to resume my real life again and just let time and God heal my sorrow. My friends who've been there for a long time tell me that this is true, so I believe them. But HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO TAKE???? The answer: it takes how long it takes. That's a crappy answer.<br />
<br />
Let me tell you what I'm grateful for. The hand of God. Looking back, it's clearly there. In August, we were visiting Kevin's parents and did a tour of Missouri. We went to Silver Dollar City, Branson to see a show, Mansfield to see Laura Ingalls Wilders homestead, Lambert's restaurant, the Royals game, FC Kansas City match. I told my dad all these things and he suggested visiting Hannibal, MO, home of Mark Twain. It was trip he took when he was 11 and he loved it. Oddly, that summer we learned of a new route to get to Missouri and it turns out, it goes right through Hannibal. So we were going to go on the way home. But on the way home, we were tired and we were going to skip it. In the middle of nowhere Missouri, my sister texted that my dad collapsed. We decided to go to Texas right then. The only place to get gas and turn around was Hannibal, MO. So we decided to go to the Mark Twain museum because Daddy wanted me to go. In the gift shop I found a book called Conversations with my Father, a question and answer book about his life. So I bought it. That's the book I spent 3 days filling out with him in the hospital. Sadly, we didn't finish. We had a car full of clean laundry, the perfect place to turn around and 3 days with my dad. 2 weeks to mend fences. I got a priest for my dad so he could have the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick and he got on the roster of Catholics in the hospital so Eucharistic ministers could bring him Holy Communion. His final 2 weeks on earth and he died in a state of grace. That brings me more comfort than you can imagine.<br />
<br />
Did I get it all out? I don't know, but I feel a little better now. Thanks for reading this whole long rambling mess. And so this isn't all about me, let me just tell you mend your fences while you can. Say your sorry. Forgive. Spend time with the ones you love and tell them you love them. <br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-19807522947869835312015-06-25T15:57:00.003-04:002015-06-25T15:57:56.075-04:00Conversations Overheard...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Renee is explaining to Anne-Marie what a vegetarian is. She says, "Vegetarians don't eat any animals". Anne-Marie is bewildered and says to Renee "I'll give you a choice: would you rather be lost in a forest and starve to death or would you rather be lost in a forest and eat fish?<br />
6-25-15</div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-42927344728822764882015-05-29T22:25:00.002-04:002015-05-29T22:34:24.965-04:00When Your Ballerina Hangs Up Her Slippers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today marks the beginning of the end of Emma's dance career. Though ballet has always been her first love, she had been planning to take a break to try something new in her freshman year of high school in 1 year. She was adamant that she would dance in her 8th grade year. But when I returned from the parent's meeting and explained the new requirements and the hours she'd need to put in to meet those requirements, her face, and I suspect her heart, dropped. She loves ballet. She's danced since she was 4. The transformation I've seen in her confidence and grace over these many years has been well worth the aggravation of driving her to classes and rehearsals for the past 9 years, though it didn't feel like it at the time. I remember watching her in children's ballet, yawning and watching all the other kids' feet, questioning why we enrolled her in something we weren't sure she enjoyed. I remember seeing her face the very first time she danced on stage at her first Spring Performance in Ballet 2. She was absolutely radiant. I remember her Nutcracker audition rejection letter, which was so kindly worded that she felt fine. I went in my room and cried for her because no one wants their child to be rejected. The next year, she was accepted and I called my friend Julie to come down and record me giving her the great news. Emma was thrilled. She was accepted 2 more times after that and it was wonderful every time. These days, she dances across the floor in the hallway gracefully. It's really a beautiful sight.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
There have been many tears shed in this house since the decision was made. There have been late night talks and early morning conversations trying to help her through this process. There has been anger on my part at her having to make this decision at all. I have shed tears for the pain she is experiencing. Just thinking about her walking away from something that has brought her so much joy breaks my heart. To say we are grieving the loss of this special part of her life is accurate. But there is no great loss without some small gain. Many dancers, even girls her age, are forced out by injury. Though it's not the way she'd imagined, she did get to make her own decision to retire. There is something to be said about knowing that your last classes, rehearsals and performances are the last. Her 8th grade year is going to be one she can enjoy to the fullest, exploring new interests and spending time with her friends before they scatter to different high schools. Every September through December of the last 3 years has been booked solid with classes and multiple rehearsals on the weekends. We've worn a rut in the road that leads to BalletMet. We've probably driven thousands of miles between here and there over these 9 years. This fall she'll fill her time with the unknown. What new talent, hobby or interest will she discover now that she isn't dancing what felt like every waking moment? What might our family be able to experience in these precious few years we have left with her at home now that our weekends won't be booked with rehearsals? Watching your children grow up and make hard decisions makes moms and dads grow up a little more, too.<br />
<br />
Tonight she begins the final series of performances of her career. Tomorrow night our family, her dad and I, her brother and sisters, her grandparents from out-of-state and her grandmother whose legs are troublesome, will be in attendance for her swan song. How much of her performance I'll be able to see through my tears, I don't know. Even thinking of her final curtain call is almost more than I can bear. All I know for certain is that Emma is becoming a disciplined and confident young lady, thanks in no small part to BalletMet. And I am grateful.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5B2wOMgMKPiyuNO3niWEpnwZuh3bn6NgaOFUFHsKT5uVo4zSQSGMxDBvcBIoStYdmaVzvW6bl31eCGxGpYl0jQ1StPL9AM7NU6RUB9A5jH0o2cMa2A0hUFQlAeMoiJyPjSxqE/s1600/ballet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5B2wOMgMKPiyuNO3niWEpnwZuh3bn6NgaOFUFHsKT5uVo4zSQSGMxDBvcBIoStYdmaVzvW6bl31eCGxGpYl0jQ1StPL9AM7NU6RUB9A5jH0o2cMa2A0hUFQlAeMoiJyPjSxqE/s400/ballet.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such little dancing beauties. Emma is probably 8-years-old in this picture.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-10122190126249581912015-04-02T08:51:00.001-04:002015-04-02T18:22:48.067-04:00The First Year with Molly: How a Non-Animal Lover Adjusted to Dog Ownership<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yL2ujSbYxJZrxdydeCIEAqtKaV-dACvRVJfcL7XMKlV4MdXca99NBfe6XBx9QWDCzJkT9t6IX0CtqqR8aJnuMk7o3eSmkmFnKipC__wTe0rRv-cMvWodHeMNP0AGbJnSA7wm/s1600/Molly+and+Anne-Marie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yL2ujSbYxJZrxdydeCIEAqtKaV-dACvRVJfcL7XMKlV4MdXca99NBfe6XBx9QWDCzJkT9t6IX0CtqqR8aJnuMk7o3eSmkmFnKipC__wTe0rRv-cMvWodHeMNP0AGbJnSA7wm/s1600/Molly+and+Anne-Marie.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a>It's been a year since we adopted our beautiful Golden Retriever, Molly. <a href="http://www.3turkeys.net/2014/03/the-next-big-adventure.html">If you recall,</a> I felt very strongly that Molly was meant for our family. I prayed about adopting a dog for at least a year. For months up till we got the call that she was available, I could think of nothing but what joy adding a dog to our family would bring my children and even me and Kevin. I really and truly believed that this dog was in God's will for our family. <br />
<br />
Then it might surprise you, as it did me, that the first several weeks of dog ownership I cried daily. I could not stop feeling overwhelmed with the new added responsibility of dog ownership. I felt that I had made a huge mistake. I can only liken it to postpartum depression. I may know a little (a lot) about that. I was constantly exhausted. I couldn't eat. I was stressed, worried, fearful of the dog around the kids, felt certain that this dog was going to ruin everything I had worked hard to achieve and very confused. You can see why I might be confused, one day feeling absolutely certain and the next like I've made a huge mistake. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXOoSLcw-mj3I6wfUlnX3XiMJVMWyliWrzbGgPs-ONIfJ78mJR0PZwRUaxKMXkJ-kMmf7AXsyXYTYZ2togZlZV1ANnKlnyiWBAZdRnuO8X_E-7UsQ0-ofb1tth7Ct-NA51mRv/s1600/Molly+and+Andy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXOoSLcw-mj3I6wfUlnX3XiMJVMWyliWrzbGgPs-ONIfJ78mJR0PZwRUaxKMXkJ-kMmf7AXsyXYTYZ2togZlZV1ANnKlnyiWBAZdRnuO8X_E-7UsQ0-ofb1tth7Ct-NA51mRv/s1600/Molly+and+Andy.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>If you're feeling that way too about your new dog, let me tell you what I did to ease my frayed nerves. First, I talked about it with dog owners and people who I knew would not tell me "I told you so". I discovered that I was not the only person to ever feel overwhelmed with a new pet. I learned that even people who had always had dogs and always loved dogs felt that way when they brought home a new pet. I cannot tell you how comforting that was to me. I stopped feeling like a failure and started feeling like maybe I could figure this out.<br />
<br />
Secondly, I stopped thinking of the dog as a child. So many people talk about their dogs as their "fur babies" and that dogs are "forever toddlers" (by the way, who in their right mind wants THAT?) that I got myself all worked up about raising this strange child who licked goose poop on our walks. What do you even do with that? If you are a fur baby- dog toddler person, great. No condemnation from me at all. But it's not for me. I started thinking of her as what she is: a dog; a pet. Once I realized she is an animal and not a child I have to raise to adulthood and send to college, I was able to calm down a little bit more.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9bZH0-4qteUfEn-dEaPHIePIJ1qZwr0CmQANi8BLD8gVbNMc2k7Ix8cplwwXbml_eLnZGbyGD03rYk8IXFwwd__MYbna7Co6k-GgYWqfclchkPrvwrxlvywir163lN6PCUfH/s1600/Molly+and+Andrea+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9bZH0-4qteUfEn-dEaPHIePIJ1qZwr0CmQANi8BLD8gVbNMc2k7Ix8cplwwXbml_eLnZGbyGD03rYk8IXFwwd__MYbna7Co6k-GgYWqfclchkPrvwrxlvywir163lN6PCUfH/s1600/Molly+and+Andrea+2.jpg" height="300" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeojLBS-jCAZhGovIktuta-zS0QjZDUUKSu8ewuZoRZoqB5dVjNIXzlVRfCATF31Oxw1AChi_1afKZNFAqouDm25KeX4WwyG1yckfvW9jHzFP5BsO06BDQagsAbRcjkP0qxCF/s1600/Molly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeojLBS-jCAZhGovIktuta-zS0QjZDUUKSu8ewuZoRZoqB5dVjNIXzlVRfCATF31Oxw1AChi_1afKZNFAqouDm25KeX4WwyG1yckfvW9jHzFP5BsO06BDQagsAbRcjkP0qxCF/s1600/Molly.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>Thirdly, I hired a fan-frickin-tastic dog trainer. Andrea formerly trained service dogs, so...there you have it. What else is there to say? She was the absolute key to me not losing it and Molly staying as a member of our family. She came to our home and gave us private "How to own a dog" lessons. More than training Molly, she trained us. She advised me against dog food snobbery, which turned out to be very important for Molly as her system cannot handle the current "best diet for dogs": grain free. She told me things the vet didn't bother to mention. She took my calls at 7am. She completely understood how I could be so overwhelmed, even though she's trained dogs since she was a child. Andrea taught us how to teach Molly to be the dog we hoped to have. Molly doesn't know this, but she owes Andrea a huge debt of gratitude. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHB3VEalEQENclNE4SIuqViSd85n35w05UV4C7t4VCIhmK3bW6SUfVpj_sjsgWJTOq7FvikwWLsHHWTMBdhfAFWI_9qDVlqNsbqNkWJc6MhNt2SjP1uCeLwI9LheRIc32IpVn/s1600/Molly+and+Emma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHB3VEalEQENclNE4SIuqViSd85n35w05UV4C7t4VCIhmK3bW6SUfVpj_sjsgWJTOq7FvikwWLsHHWTMBdhfAFWI_9qDVlqNsbqNkWJc6MhNt2SjP1uCeLwI9LheRIc32IpVn/s1600/Molly+and+Emma.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>She now has a full name so I can yell at her properly. It's Molly Aggie Muster Smith because she was born on April 21, <a href="http://aggietraditions.tamu.edu/remember/muster.html" target="_blank">Aggie Muster</a>, one of the greatest traditions at Texas A&M. Molly has made some great progress over the last year. She has learned how to be a family dog and get along with rambunctious little people. She still eats socks, but I'm told dogs grow out of that. She has been known to bring us stuff she once would gobble down without a hesitation so we can tell her she's a good dog for not eating it. She tests her boundaries, but she always obeys when corrected. Just today, I accidentally let her out off her lead. She ran into the neighbors yard and looked at me like she was going to run, but she came back when I told her to come! She still digs holes and sits on the plants. I choose to look at it as an excuse not to garden anymore. The kids ran through the plants and broke stems with soccer ball already. I was only half-assing it anyway. I was afraid of all the extra dirt, but my home is actually cleaner, at least in the areas Molly is allowed, because the kids don't leave their junk all over the place for Molly to eat/chew. I hate dog hair, so the house gets vacuumed frequently. <br />
<br />
In just one year with us, she's taught the kids responsibility of caring for an animal. She's definitely part of our family. We all love her. Molly's place in our home is secure.<br />
<br />
. </div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-9383741641429761072014-12-10T12:07:00.000-05:002014-12-10T12:08:46.312-05:00A Mother's Prayer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Thank you, Lord, for my family, who creates work and filth, chaos just shy of disaster in their wake. And thanks for sending them to school and work all day. Even if it is an early release day. Amen. </span></div>
</div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-48367242698396452482014-11-10T08:37:00.003-05:002014-11-10T08:37:55.373-05:00Dusting Off and Recommitting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRBDoCXlxQomPOSWLqjG5POj3Vs1eASeTzNGVEQNGL7YvxDURKJ8x0UsUsKpTpGqEZ3-MN3kQ_w7g6K-AxtrfhbnoswVb3LW5k6zxO2k3nOv8CiYEDSIL4yba2bTg3ivA9UJo/s1600/bodybugg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRBDoCXlxQomPOSWLqjG5POj3Vs1eASeTzNGVEQNGL7YvxDURKJ8x0UsUsKpTpGqEZ3-MN3kQ_w7g6K-AxtrfhbnoswVb3LW5k6zxO2k3nOv8CiYEDSIL4yba2bTg3ivA9UJo/s1600/bodybugg.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
Dusting off the ol' <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EovR--qx-wI" target="_blank">BodyBugg</a> today. Somehow, over the course of the last 11 months, I got overconfident and also lazy. I blame it on losing focus and mojo. I've beaten myself up enough for letting it happen and now I'm wiping the slate clean. I'm recommitting to my fitness goals, not for a size or a number on a scale this time (though measurable goals are absolutely critical), but for my future. I've seen the writing on the wall and what it says is if I don't get my act together PRONTO, I will not be living the life I've envisioned. If I don't learn from the people around me who haven't made their health and fitness a priority, I will end up in those same elastic waistband pants and unable to do all the things I want to be able to do as soon as more of my time belongs to me. <br />
<br />
So, I crave accountability partners. If you want to be held accountable to your own goals, or if you just want to help me be accountable, please feel free to find me on <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/profile/notinvain" target="_blank">My Fitness Pal</a> and send me a friend request or like my page on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MarySmithFitnessandHealth" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. This is a tough time of year to start a new fitness goal, but I'm ready! I hope you'll follow along with me and maybe even join me!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-52812529452110951892014-09-30T08:42:00.000-04:002014-09-30T09:06:16.081-04:00Where Does the Time Go?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ten years ago this morning, I overheard the labor and delivery nurse say that I was scaring the other patients in the maternity ward as I struggled to deliver a 9 pound 9 ounce behemoth with natural childbirth who was in a hurry to be born after missing his due date by one day. He was was born and Kevin said, "It's a boy!" I was filled with joy! He had a 2-year-old sister at home waiting for him. We could not have been more thrilled to welcome Andy into the world.<br />
<br />
Andy is my precious only son, an excellent student, a natural athlete and a tenderhearted punk. He loves soccer above all sports, playing since he was in preschool. He is always kicking something around. If it rolls or slides, it's getting kicked. He loves to kick Molly's chew toys so much that Kevin sometimes hides them. On the pitch, he's an outstanding defender who plays the entire 50 minutes of every match except for water breaks. He's a tough competitor who forgets the outcome of the game the second the whistle blows to end it and is back to being a carefree kids as soon as the team meeting is over. This ability to transition quickly is one of our favorite characteristics of his. His favorite player is Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Argentina. His favorite teams are Columbus Crew and Everton F.C. (English Premier League).<br />
<br />
Over the last year, Andy has grown 2 inches! I suspect that he will pass me in height by the time he's 12. I'm 5'6". He wears a size 8 men's shoe. He orders off of the adult menu, but he's as skinny as a rail. Even the slim pants for his height are too big. He's like his dad who has worn the same size pants since he was a teenager. These high metabolism men are enough to make a woman crazy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLGnWEIQQxyLCScfu5ZCQosehgdVsRc3xxm6Wi0qUfNmKcuOxLIA2aLYF9r4UJWNiKqM8zKJc1qxAa4sg-KhX6KNKL5QNgcr9lWex7QP3zCHGUlbFI1zeEAquq5k9-8SsvJjY/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLGnWEIQQxyLCScfu5ZCQosehgdVsRc3xxm6Wi0qUfNmKcuOxLIA2aLYF9r4UJWNiKqM8zKJc1qxAa4sg-KhX6KNKL5QNgcr9lWex7QP3zCHGUlbFI1zeEAquq5k9-8SsvJjY/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm happy to share that over the last year Andy has overcome his dislike for showing affection to his mommy. It's very awesome that he's overcome that because it's really annoying to have a kid who won't let you hug and kiss him. He's gone through all the various phases of boyness, not liking to be hugged or kissed or cuddled beginning when he was SEVEN!!! (NOT COOL). I would go out of my way to make him sit with me at Mass because at church he would hold my hand, lean on my shoulder and stand in front of me so I could put my arms around him. As soon as Mass was over, that was over, too. Recently, he's remembered how to kiss me with his lips and NOT his teeth because he was giggling too much at the thought of kissing his mom. He also hugs and will let me hug him.<br />
<br />
Andy loves his sisters. They all get along so well. Very often, he plays so well with one of them that they earn the nicknames Frick and Frack. He takes the play to a whole different level when they get going.<br />
<br />
Andy loves his dog, Molly. He loves to kick her chewing toys and chase her. He loves video games, especially Minecraft and FIFA 14. He likes to ride his bike to and from soccer practice in the summer when the sun stays out. For his birthday dinner, he has requested macaroni and cheese and ice cream cake. He's an all-around good kid.<br />
<br />
Happy birthday, Andy. Daddy and I love you and we are so proud of you.</div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-64480247834793491082014-03-31T13:02:00.001-04:002014-03-31T13:02:56.506-04:00The Next Big Adventure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The time has finally come. It's a day I've been looking forward to and dreading at the same time. Andy started asking when he was 5 and I told him the answer would be yes when he turned 10. Truthfully, I was hoping he'd forget. I had a lot of great reasons to say no, after all. Babies take a lot of energy. Toddlers need a lot of patience and get into everything. Preschoolers are busybodies. School-aged children are involved in a lot of after school activities. The house is always messy. There isn't enough time. There isn't enough money. I'm tired. These are all still true. It's always gonna be something. Sometimes you just have to have faith.<br />
<br />
Last summer Kevin gave the go-ahead on the dog adoption application process, so I started with the research. I read books. I read blogs. I read research. I spoke with owners. I spoke with vet assistants. I spoke with groomers. I spoke with rescue workers. I prayed. Mostly, I prayed. And I didn't tell anyone who might think I was crazy. Believe me, I know that much already. <br />
<br />
Last summer, I narrowed my search to Newfoundlands, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Golden Retrievers. I presented the options to Kevin, and he chose what I knew (and hoped) he would: Golden Retriever. So, I put out an application at several Golden Retriever rescues around Ohio and one at Pilot Dogs, the service dog training center. Then...nothing happened. Months went by with no word and really not much further thought. It was a long cold winter and I was really glad not to be out with a dog in a polar vortex. As the calendar began to promise nicer weather and when Andy's travel basketball season ended, Kevin once again gave me the nod. I applied to adopt several dogs on Petfinder.com, all to no avail. Weeks and weeks went by and no dogs that fit our plan were available. I prayed a lot and asked God to either bring us the perfect dog or remove the desire to have a dog from my heart. I began to feel that maybe the answer to my prayer to find a dog was "Not now". Anne-Marie and Renee reminded me that maybe the answer was "I have something much better in mind". These kids really do listen in Mass.<br />
<br />
Friday morning I was lamenting our inability to find a dog to my mother-in-law. I told her how rescues like to know the history of a dog when they are placing it with a family with young children and that we might not have a dog until Anne-Marie was 8. I was starting to become ok with that possibility. Not even two hours later, Pilot Dogs calls and says, "We have a Golden Retriever available. Are you still interested?" We met her that afternoon, and I'd be lying if I said a I wasn't scared. I
felt like I did when I was in labor with each of my children (minus the
pain). I was elated and terrified at the same time. I couldn't stop
shaking and my hands were like ice. But then I met her. <br />
<br />
Here is how I know she is the answer to our prayer: She is from Pilot Dogs, which was my first hope for our dog. Her name is Molly. Kevin tried 3 times to name our daughters Molly. She was born on April 21st, also know as Aggie Muster, a very important date in the tradition of our beloved Texas A&M. Andy is turning 10 this year. And Molly is absolutely beautiful! She's the perfect specimen of a Golden Retriever, if you ask me. <br />
<br />
Today is the day we pick her up. My anxiety and fear of making this commitment has been melting away and being replaced with excitement and anticipation. We are ready! Let's do this. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5kU-_QPGpX9kbzQkgVndbqv0R1xOWhD8uHIfFBApVDFoJnTqVXbw1xTgGhJoiOtSNrLW5bOedpEsFImwZJQhQ4SdcoRr6CDhe-OnO1QyioSTaqW4YzbwhKzX-xn7tCbY-IF4/s1600/photo(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5kU-_QPGpX9kbzQkgVndbqv0R1xOWhD8uHIfFBApVDFoJnTqVXbw1xTgGhJoiOtSNrLW5bOedpEsFImwZJQhQ4SdcoRr6CDhe-OnO1QyioSTaqW4YzbwhKzX-xn7tCbY-IF4/s1600/photo(3).JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
</div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-60906950594076591102014-01-27T10:00:00.003-05:002014-01-27T10:00:46.834-05:00Generous Heart and Shiny Money<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This past week was Spirit Week at the kids school. Part of the event was raising money for <a href="http://www.freetosmile.org/">Free to Smile</a>, a nonprofit organization that raises money for surgeries for children born with cleft lip and cleft palate. Their goal was to raise $275 per classroom and today was the last day to donate at school. Andy came home on Friday and cleaned out his piggy bank of all the quarters he could find. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RZQfsnWU1Jv_L7-K05RqyZPEiq2cMl0QK6ajP-qN1TMci_2PQkA_L8apY-hVVKbYzX87gxnlHe8LNQLQfncXzee3rrt05j4XU0mhvN8Wbp7YFN_AMX-T3UymI5KF3En_fCrP/s1600/money.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RZQfsnWU1Jv_L7-K05RqyZPEiq2cMl0QK6ajP-qN1TMci_2PQkA_L8apY-hVVKbYzX87gxnlHe8LNQLQfncXzee3rrt05j4XU0mhvN8Wbp7YFN_AMX-T3UymI5KF3En_fCrP/s1600/money.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oddly shiny quarters.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Monday morning he came downstairs with his money and was preparing to pack it up into a ziploc bag when the shininess of the quarters caught my attention. Turns out...they were Canadian quarters. Oh! The look on his face was heartbreaking. Tears immediately started streaming from his eyes. He was devastated. I tried to help him, but he ran away to his room. When he came back he had all the American dimes and nickels he could find (not many) and wet eyes. Who could stand to watch the hurting tender heart of a generous boy? Not me. Not his Dad, either. Kevin offered to buy his Canadian quarters from him so he could make his planned donation. Andy was so relieved. He loves helping people and he's not afraid to give of his treasure to those in need. I love that boy. I am one proud mother.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-11326818911686036722013-12-05T08:45:00.003-05:002013-12-05T08:46:39.751-05:00Small Successes: First Week of Advent<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, it's been an eternity since I managed to find 5 minutes to think about what I've done right, let alone write it down. So THIS is my first success. But I won't cheat.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i>ONE </i></b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I managed to get a whole month's worth of cooking done by the 2nd day of the month!!! Shopped and cooked all in 2 days. Massive success, if you ask me. There are a few snack/breakfast items that wouldn't fit on the chalkboard, but here's what's for dinner this month: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVJo7TiRuDPe1UgvlFHxMGgTnYGg3Qv51ixrMsvwsKXbILbYcvSTyAI_asObkKLn29-u001yU7eL2uV1Ve3m_cnviJxVQys2EXDxk7QXQeAKzAzKSZmHhYtQuPkdA2fV7ub1g/s1600/menu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVJo7TiRuDPe1UgvlFHxMGgTnYGg3Qv51ixrMsvwsKXbILbYcvSTyAI_asObkKLn29-u001yU7eL2uV1Ve3m_cnviJxVQys2EXDxk7QXQeAKzAzKSZmHhYtQuPkdA2fV7ub1g/s320/menu.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't come up with this by myself, or at all. I have a pro membership to <a href="http://onceamonthmeals.com/">onceamonthmeals.com</a> Never heard of it? You are missing out on a serious resource for busy families! I upgraded to a pro membership because that allows me to swap out recipes and customize the menu. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>TWO</b></i> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The tree is up and I have new Advent candles for the wreath! Now, if only I could find the wreath...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>THREE</i></b> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm slowly, but surely clearing a path through the basement. It's not glamorous work, but it has to be done to make room for a ping pong table we got the kids for Christmas. Fortunately, we have a pop-a-shot basketball hoop downstairs, so I can have a little fun while I'm down there. Boy is Andy gonna be surprised when I smoke him at his own game! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do a little self-congratulating of your own over at <a href="http://catholicmom.com/2013/12/05/small-success-thursday-the-first-week-of-advent/">CatholicMom.com</a></div>
</div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-90676237532015498942013-10-02T07:13:00.001-04:002013-10-02T07:13:14.140-04:00Novena to the Immaculate Heart of Mary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Starting on October 4th, I am joining more than 63,000 Catholics to pray the</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><a href="http://www.praymorenovenas.com/novena-immaculate-heart-mary" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Novena to the Immaculate Heart of Mary">Novena to the Immaculate Heart of Mary</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">for a special event coming up!</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pope Francis is planning a Marian Day celebration at the Vatican and at this event he plans to consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary!</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This event is on October 13th and PrayMoreNovenas.com is organizing a novena as a way for us to join in unity with the Holy Father and prepare for this event.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You can sign up for handy email reminders to get the the novena prayers here:</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.praymorenovenas.com/novena-immaculate-heart-mary" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;">http://www.praymorenovenas.com/novena-immaculate-heart-mary</span></a></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After you sign up, maybe you can help spread the word as well. God’s Mercy is abundant and overflowing, let’s share it!</span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Find the Original Here: <a href="http://www.praymorenovenas.com/blog/novena-popes-consecration-world-mary#ixzz2gYuDuRck" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.praymorenovenas.com/blog/novena-popes-consecration-world-mary#ixzz2gYuDuRck</a></span></div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-27309841895972370432013-09-19T21:22:00.001-04:002013-09-19T21:22:14.324-04:00True Romance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What is true romance? Roses? Chocolates? Declarations of love in sonnet form? None of these!<br />
<br />
Giving up your annual college buddies reunion weekend so your wife can have her own weekend away? Getting up at 4 am to drive your wife to the airport because you know she gets anxious before flying and you don't want her waiting for the shuttle in long term parking alone at 5am? This is true romance. This is true love. </div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-70104694758986476752013-08-15T08:15:00.000-04:002013-08-15T08:15:56.139-04:00Ultimate Reset: The Results<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Before I reveal my final results, I will tell you about the final Phase of the Ultimate Reset. This final week is extremely challenging. My entire diet consisted of nothing but fruit, vegetables and water. There were optional snacks that included grain, but I chose not to eat them opting instead for more fruit. The first week, I didn't really need the snack. I felt full enough to make it from lunch to dinner, but in the final week the snack was absolutely needed. In addition to this, I took an hour nap every day. I am a stay-at-home-mom, so that is something I am able to do. If I were working, I'd have taken a brisk walk to get my blood pumping again. I felt that my energy was waning in the final days of the Reset, maybe because I was just "over it" or maybe because as filling as the meals were, they didn't last long and I wasn't eating any complex carbohydrates. If I was working, I probably would have eaten the grains so that I had more energy.<br />
<br />
Ok. Enough of that!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ARE YOU READYYYYYYYY?</b></span></div>
<br />
Here are my final results:<br />
<br />
<u><b>Weight Loss</b></u>: 9.3lbs<br />
<br />
<u><b>Inches Lost</b></u><br />
<br />
Bust: 2in<br />
Waist: 2.5in<br />
Hips: 1in<br />
Body Fat: down 3% <br />
<br />
If I'd had time, I would've liked to see the doctor for a physical before and after the Ultimate Reset so I could compare the results of blood work. However, I am really satisfied with these results! I was on a downward spiral in my weight management. I was under tremendous amounts of stress this winter and spring which made my body very resistant to weight loss. Add that to stress eating and you've got yourself a recipe for a muffin top of epic proportions. I'm thrilled because I actually lost all the weight I gained, plus a little bit more. I am seeing a number on the scale I haven't seen since before my oldest child was born! A quick calculation reminded me that I am only 7 pounds away from my high goal weight. With all that I have learned about healthy and clean eating on this 3 week journey, I have no doubt that I can reach this goal and even move beyond it to my ultimate goal. I haven't felt so confident that I could achieve a goal in a very long time. This is very exciting!<br />
<br />
So after all that, I am ready to ease back into normal, healthy eating that can sustain a workout. Beachbody Ultimate Reset guidebook recommends adding foods that we removed over the course of the 3 weeks slowly. The plan is to observe how my body reacts to certain foods and decide if they should remain in my diet or not. First is grains, then beans, dairy and then meat. Basically, you treat your body as though you are a toddler being introduced to new foods and observing for any adverse reactions. Today I added in chickpeas. So far, so good!<br />
<br />
My next plan is to begin Shaun T's <a href="http://www.teambeachbody.com/showcase/-/bcp/2479953029001/67062?referringRepId=67062" target="_blank">Focus T25</a> program. It's 5-days-a-week, 25-minutes-a-day (except for Friday that is 50 minutes). I'm looking forward to this program with a bit of fear and trepidation, but I think that's good. Gotta keep moving forward!<br />
<br />
If you're interested in doing the Ultimate Reset, find out more here: Check out this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5uiaWEpkZE&feature=share&list=PLBF0E32BCFC717811" target="_blank">video </a><br />
Ready to commit? Find more info and order<a href="http://www.myultimatereset.com/notinvain" target="_blank"> here</a>.<br />
Please be sure to contact me so that I can help you through this process. </div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-27239833230907118122013-08-09T15:45:00.000-04:002013-08-09T15:45:08.464-04:00Ultimate Reset Day 15-17<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, all my adoring fans, we're in the final week of the Ultimate Reset. Lemme give you a clue: it ain't easy! Week One, I thought, "Hey, this ought to be easier than I thought! The food's pretty good, and even when it isn't, it fills me up." Sigh. This week, rather these 3 days, have been so challenging. I haven't loved the food, and it doesn't last long. In the first two weeks, I didn't really need a snack, but this week, I will cut someone if I don't eat a snack. 4 more days people. FOUR MORE DAYS.<br />
<br />
On the upside, Kevin told me I feel skinny when he hugs me. Oh, yeah! I am fitting my clothes better and better. I'll be weighing in and taking measurements next Wednesday to see what my final results are, so we'll know the truth.<br />
<br />
The other great thing that's happening is I'm getting rid of all the extra stuff we have! It's been a job that needed to be done for a long time. So now I have boxes upon boxes of kids toys, baby gear, and whatever else I can get my hands on ready for either a garage sale next Friday (if the weather holds out) or donation the following week.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5BPunIGNRZlVz47PCQMNy71l2US4igbmTz_084YQtX2hB1C9rR9IqjznYs5dXLBs0M1gVEsVzaoXzXUwOATaFznVfPzLOrOhrYNGGNqlb4a3HoCnHuyLXIi87oetZWmIPQnR/s1600/grinning_happy_dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5BPunIGNRZlVz47PCQMNy71l2US4igbmTz_084YQtX2hB1C9rR9IqjznYs5dXLBs0M1gVEsVzaoXzXUwOATaFznVfPzLOrOhrYNGGNqlb4a3HoCnHuyLXIi87oetZWmIPQnR/s320/grinning_happy_dog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How I feel.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One other thing, I'm feeling happy. Like REALLY HAPPY. I don't know how to explain it, I just feel.. joyful. I could cry for joy for no real reason. I can't explain it. The guidebook talks about ridding yourself of old emotions and old stuff. It's a full body/mind cleanse I guess because I feel so good! Who knew so much good could come from detoxifying your body? <br />
<br />
Want more info? Check out this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5uiaWEpkZE&feature=share&list=PLBF0E32BCFC717811" target="_blank">video </a><br />
Interested in doing it? Find more info<a href="http://www.myultimatereset.com/notinvain" target="_blank"> here</a>. </div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-64419656304694773102013-08-09T15:05:00.002-04:002013-08-09T15:16:19.840-04:00A Pump of Light into My Shriveled Black Heart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">This has been floating around Facebook these last couple of days. I want to remember it. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">"I
watch the faces of single people in their twenties after I bring up
that I ‘have children.’ I imagine them taking a small step backward as
if to avoid contagion, with a look of ‘Sorry to hear that’ on their
face. Like I naively volunteered to contract leprosy, forever
quarantining myself from the world of having fun by having children.
Well, why not? I guess the reasons against having more chi<span class="text_exposed_show">ldren
always seem uninspiring and superficial. What exactly am I missing out
on? Money? A few more hours of sleep? A more peaceful meal? More hair?
These are nothing compared to what I get from these five monsters who
rule my life. I believe each of my five children has made me a better
man. So I figure I only need another thirty-four kids to be a pretty
decent guy. Each one of them has been a pump of light into my shriveled
black heart. I would trade money, sleep, or hair for a smile from one of
my children in a heartbeat. Well, it depends on how much hair.” <a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=5642244660&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/JimGaffigan?directed_target_id=0">Jim Gaffigan</a></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEL2kXyNg4hRevOAp4GbQr9-xrSNLwAueSODXaTOZSaqb9KbJCcfnVaMPcxmEq6NoEX3lCS-P1fQR8LjUuc0m6Kvk-U66swgxW8iyICkZTdra-KSrlvQb11nCbSHI1MgWcd8T/s1600/jim+gaffigan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEL2kXyNg4hRevOAp4GbQr9-xrSNLwAueSODXaTOZSaqb9KbJCcfnVaMPcxmEq6NoEX3lCS-P1fQR8LjUuc0m6Kvk-U66swgxW8iyICkZTdra-KSrlvQb11nCbSHI1MgWcd8T/s400/jim+gaffigan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-4724925947071936042013-08-05T14:06:00.001-04:002013-08-05T14:06:39.553-04:00Ultimate Reset Days 7-13<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In case you're wondering, I hate beets! I didn't know it until last night in the last bite of my dinner, but I hate beets. I don't know what it is about them, they aren't really that offensive, but something disagrees with my taste buds. I could have substituted them for a different dinner in Phase 2, but I am trying to be precise, so I ate them. Beets are on the menu 2 more times before the end, but I will sub them for something more palatable. I know a bunch of people who like beets, so don't knock them until you try them. I've tried them, so I will knock them.<br />
<br />
I haven't updated my journey recently because how many times can I say "Things are going well. I feel good. I'm sleeping well. I don't have any wild cravings." It's all still true!!! I'm having a great time on this cleanse. Beets have been my biggest complaint, which isn't anything to complain about. <br />
<br />
Here's a great piece of news: yesterday I tried on a dress that was unfit for public wear 2 weeks ago. Well, it fit so well when I tried it on that I wore it to Mass. I felt amazing! If I looked half as good as I felt, then I looked fantastic! (I'll try not to break my arm patting myself on the back.)<br />
<br />
I have 2 more dresses that I'm using as a goal. One that fits, but has the most unforgiving fabric ever made. I seriously don't know how it made it out of the dressing room, it's that clingy in all the wrong places. The other is a beautiful sheath dress in a size too small. I doubt I'll be able to wear it in public just from the reset, but I'm much closer that I was 2 weeks ago. It's fuchsia with a black and white houndstooth collar and a skinny black belt. It screams for black and white spectators! But I digress.<br />
<br />
Well, there you have it. Tomorrow is the last day of Phase 2. I begin the final Phase on Wednesday. Stay tuned!<br />
<br />
Want more info? Check out this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5uiaWEpkZE&feature=share&list=PLBF0E32BCFC717811" target="_blank">video </a><br />
Interested in doing it? Find more info<a href="http://www.myultimatereset.com/notinvain" target="_blank"> here</a>. <br />
<br /></div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-73165737544122603882013-07-29T11:45:00.000-04:002013-07-29T11:47:07.990-04:00Ultimate Reset Day 4, 5 and 6<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This was the first weekend of the reset and I really didn't think I was going to make it on Sunday. We had overnight visitors on Saturday night who didn't arrive until 2:30 in the morning. We had to get up early for Mass the next morning, so I really thought I was going to cave to coffee. Ooh. You didn't know there's no coffee allowed during the reset? Yep, that's right. No coffee. Fortunately, I was able to catch a solid nap in the afternoon or I don't know what I would have done. Dinner Sunday night included miso soup, which I HATE. I'm told that I should've bought the yellow miso instead of brown. I had leftovers from a dinner earlier in the week, so I switched it out.<br />
<br />
Sunday was also our family's traditional "Ice Cream Sunday" in which we partake of homemade ice cream. I really love ice cream and have serious doubts about my ability to resist, so I made all the ice cream that we'll need 3 weeks ago. I asked my husband to serve the ice cream so I wouldn't be tempted to cheat. However, I still had to be present while my family raved about how good chocolate marshmallow ice cream is. Surprisingly, I didn't suffer too much. I didn't feel any cravings or desires to have a taste. If you know me, you are stunned. Ice cream is my kryptonite. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqw3B0_vVB7l5mQQq4A39s56XkEVM9AMW_dqHt5mG_PbrY-XJpyjqXdH1LjIMHAyqjWGnt6F3POUo8DE44GWVYy3La9zHWDA-y6zt5zsUgRVR0X9Kpta5AudNW_CpPGbC_F691/s1600/Kryptonite-thanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqw3B0_vVB7l5mQQq4A39s56XkEVM9AMW_dqHt5mG_PbrY-XJpyjqXdH1LjIMHAyqjWGnt6F3POUo8DE44GWVYy3La9zHWDA-y6zt5zsUgRVR0X9Kpta5AudNW_CpPGbC_F691/s320/Kryptonite-thanks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Last night I slept really well and did not have any crazy dream for the first time in a week. I fell asleep easily and woke up earlier than expected, but feeling well rested.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
***TMI ALERT*** </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Skip to the next paragraph if you are afraid.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I haven't had any odd syptoms, no emotional reactions, no aches or pains to get excited about, but what I have noticed is more complete and slightly more frequent bowel movements over the last few days. Nothing like you might expect with a cleanse, no running to the bathroom or anything unpleasant. I think it's just a release of toxins from my body. I'm happy about it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
****YOU ARE SAFE NOW****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tomorrow is my last day of week 1: Reclaim. I begin week 2: Release on Wednesday. I'll be eliminating all animal products during this week and eat a more vegetable, fruit, whole grain based diet. All-in-all, this has been a successful week. I am looking forward to what's next.</div>
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-45956923041605655282013-07-26T16:24:00.002-04:002013-07-26T16:25:58.378-04:00Ultimate Reset Day 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm telling you, if I wasn't taking supplements and eating on a schedule, I'd never know I was on a reset. Aside from feeling a little spacey, I feel fine. I'm not super tired, I don't have anything more than very minor aches or pains nothing much seems to be happening. I'm sure there is plenty going on internally, but I don't feel it. Frankly, it makes me nervous, like I'm doing it wrong. I know I'm not, though. I've followed the supplement and food schedule exactly. Not to jinx myself, but maybe I'm just not as big a mess as I thought I was. Watch. I'll be hit with a migraine or leg cramps or something and I'll take it all back. But so far, so good.<br />
<br />
I finished out yesterday with a delicious dinner of southwestern veggie taco. I was supposed to have kale with it, but I cannot make kale edible for the life of me. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Oh, well. What are ya gonna do? I slept well last night. I had dreams that started probably around 6:30, I woke up at 7 and felt good. <br />
<br />
Today was the first day I took my reset on the road. I went to a friend's house to take the kids swimming, so I had to pack my lunch and supplements. I knew I was going last night, so I cooked the lentils for the lentil-lime salad so I could throw it all together this morning. Everyone else had hot dogs, chips and Rice Krispie treats. I do not like Rice Krispie treats, (unAmerican, I know) so I wasn't even tempted. What I continue to notice about myself is how often I would have just eaten a chip or licked a spoon if it were just a regular day. The Ultimate Reset is shining a big ol' spotlight on my bad habits. It's like Jim Rohn says, <br />
<div style="padding-left: 10px; padding-top: 6px;">
<h1>
“Failure...a few small errors in judgment repeated every day. Success...a few simple disciplines practiced every day.”</h1>
<h2>
- <a href="http://www.thequotefactory.com/all-quotes-by/jim-rohn">Jim Rohn</a> </h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Whatever physical changes are happening in my body, I'm very grateful for the changes that are happening in my behavior. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Want more info? Check out this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5uiaWEpkZE&feature=share&list=PLBF0E32BCFC717811" target="_blank">video </a><br />
Interested in doing it? Find more info<a href="http://www.myultimatereset.com/notinvain" target="_blank"> here</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-55930414686618509922013-07-25T15:12:00.000-04:002013-07-25T15:17:53.590-04:00Ultimate Reset Day 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
Yesterday was a pretty decent day. I felt a little foggy-minded and became really cold in the afternoon despite the 74 degrees. I put on a hoodie and socks and I was good. I slept really well, except for some anxiety dreams that woke me up this morning, but I was already very rested. Today I've been in the mood to clean and get rid of stuff. I've heard
that can be a side effect of cleansing your body, you also want to
cleanse your life. If that's the case, then I'm thrilled! <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJDz5_F5vr_svYxszqk39gO-ySJiabnvJ7lJULjYy00hbJwmuU12OIyb6udY-Y31jEQf-GP3PMP02TdrWVxlYQzHT_wCp-ifZfuq4F63pbr19YrIc2MEZJ1wYf0Y1PWC33yox/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJDz5_F5vr_svYxszqk39gO-ySJiabnvJ7lJULjYy00hbJwmuU12OIyb6udY-Y31jEQf-GP3PMP02TdrWVxlYQzHT_wCp-ifZfuq4F63pbr19YrIc2MEZJ1wYf0Y1PWC33yox/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What do you mean I have to drink 3 of these?!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This morning I took my measurements. I told my partners in this challenge that I have the perfect hour glass figure. Unfortunately, it was a dark hour. But the darkest hour is just before the dawn!<br />
<br />
Taking my measurements was probably the hardest part of the entire reset. I was afraid to do it. I've gained 8 pounds since Christmas and I had convinced myself that my behavior didn't matter. "Sure, have this cookie! It won't change anything." I believed my own lies, like a fool. These kind of shifts in attitude creep up on me. I stopped believing in my dreams. I stopped believing that they could be more than dreams, they could be reality if I was willing to work. They became unattainable. It surprises me to some extent because I already achieved one unattainable dream: to fit into my pre-children clothes. I never thought I'd be able to wear that size again, but I worked hard, I never gave in and I achieved it.<br />
<br />
Well, NO MORE! I have caught myself just in the nick of time. I will achieve my dream of feeling confident in a bathing suit. It's not about the bathing suit, it's about the body I will have that will allow me to feel confident in whatever I wear, not self-conscious at all. I have an image in my mind and I'm going to find an image on paper that represents my goal and it is going up on my dream board. I don't currently have a dream board, but I am a visual person and I need constant reminders, so a dream board I will make.<br />
<br />
I hope you will keep me in your prayers for these 21 days. I am not sure what I will be experiencing. Detoxing your body can have some uncomfortable physical symptoms and even emotional symptoms. That's ok. I'm all in. But I will still welcome your prayers for a successful journey to better health.<br />
<br />
Want more info? Check out this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5uiaWEpkZE&feature=share&list=PLBF0E32BCFC717811" target="_blank">video </a><br />
Interested in doing it? Find more info<a href="http://www.myultimatereset.com/notinvain" target="_blank"> here</a>. <br />
</div>
Kevin Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775506449936716006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-25112562307369713002013-07-24T15:27:00.000-04:002013-07-24T15:27:58.643-04:00Ultimate Reset- Day 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVu8H1o0qqqjcAhZ9x21mX8sakhYnAS15BSVN1queW8AEVKPzp0o9twhvPhQRtgeDUigvCrCOKStwlmKOSMv6-yJlJKm0P9OMskLadxUablZqLnStstTV8DV0lAiOmTqy7VfqW/s1600/ultimatereset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVu8H1o0qqqjcAhZ9x21mX8sakhYnAS15BSVN1queW8AEVKPzp0o9twhvPhQRtgeDUigvCrCOKStwlmKOSMv6-yJlJKm0P9OMskLadxUablZqLnStstTV8DV0lAiOmTqy7VfqW/s320/ultimatereset.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Today is my first day of Beachbody's Ultimate Reset. I've waited over a year since it was released to begin this program. Beachbody suggests finding a three week period of time where you are not traveling or under a lot of extra stress to begin this program. Summer is always less stressful for me because my kids are out of school and, more importantly, out of sports and other activities. We do what we want. Yeah! Because the Ultimate Reset is in the process of alkalizing the body to bring it closer to what it should be naturally, you are not supposed to engage in strenuous exercise. Building up lactic acid in the muscles would defeat the purpose. I was teaching fitness classes for the last year, so that made it impossible for me because I was independent and had no one available to substitute for me.<br />
<br />
This is Week 1: Reclaim. The supplements I've taken so far are
called Optimize and Mineralize. Mineralize is meant to stablize healthy
pH, improve digestion, hydration and prevent muscle soreness. Optimize
is all about the enzymes that make our body work. Almost every bodily function in every system depends on enzymes doing their jobs. We've all
been compromised by poor diet, stress, illness and injury and age.
Optimize restores us to, well, optimal levels of enzymes in our bodies.
<br />
<br />
So, anyway, here I am in my first day. I can already tell this is going to be challenging. Not because of what the Reset instructs me to do, but because my bad habits are already becoming more apparent. One of the biggest purposes of the Ultimate Reset is to awaken me to the habits that I need to change and to instill in me the habit of conscientious eating. Being aware of what I put in my body at all times is not something I've taken very seriously for the last several months, possibly even the last year!<br />
<br />
Halfway through my first day, I've noticed that I feel really relaxed
and mellow. This surprises me because I really didn't expect anything to
happen the first day. So far, the food has been pretty good. I'm excited about what my results might be. Most people report weight loss, clarity and boosted energy, among other things. Those are the things I'm most hoping to see.<br />
<br />
I'm going to try to give a day-by-day report, so be sure to follow along!<br />
<br />
Want more info? Check out this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5uiaWEpkZE&feature=share&list=PLBF0E32BCFC717811" target="_blank">video </a><br />
Interested in doing it? Find more info<a href="http://www.myultimatereset.com/notinvain" target="_blank"> here</a>. <br />
</div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-73237867616267847002013-07-11T15:51:00.000-04:002013-07-11T15:51:04.108-04:00The Trap<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, it's almost the middle of July and according to retailers, it's time for me to start thinking about sending the kids back to school. Rudeness. I'm all for being ready, but advertising school supplies in July is as ridiculous as setting up Christmas displays in September. Worse, actually, because I like Christmas. <br />
<br />
We live in a world that is always saying "What's next?" Normally that doesn't bother me because it's just life. I have 4 kids. I've been living a "what's next?" kind of life probably since my second child was born. There is always so much to do and never enough time to get it done. If you are sitting in front of the computer blogging...ahem, then you are not folding laundry or doing any of the things that are constantly in need of doing. But sometimes you just have to do what you want to do instead. Sometimes you have to take a moment to do something that is seemingly unimportant or unnecessary or even time-wasting. We adults, especially parents, especially mothers, don't ever take enough time to do things we enjoy. At least, I don't.<br />
<br />
What's worse than not taking time to do things that you enjoy is getting lost in the mayhem of family life and not doing the things you know you ought to do. Like praying. Like spending time quietly with God. I don't know about you, but I know that when this happens, I've gotten caught in the trap (AGAIN) of thinking "If I don't have a solid 15-30 minutes of alone time, it's doesn't count". If you are a mother, you know that your children have a 6th sense to know when you are on the phone or sneaking to the bathroom. They can be completely engaged in activities outside, your home is peaceful for a minute and as soon as you sit down, "MOM!" is shouted as the back door slams hard enough to rattle your teeth. It's uncanny!<br />
<br />
The truth of the matter is, our whole day can be offered as a prayer. I don't need complete silence to pray. I don't need 15 minutes. Some of the most effective and heartfelt prayers I've uttered (possibly yelled) in my day are simple one-liners like "Lord, have mercy" or "Jesus, I trust in You." I am so grateful that even in the constant noise that fills my home, that Jesus can hear me and is always listening, waiting for me and my hastily said prayers. I pray that you and I remember this the next time we are in danger of falling into the trap of lies. <br />
<br /></div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19810938.post-42888434502724933042013-06-21T17:17:00.000-04:002013-06-21T17:17:41.235-04:00Grateful<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlXovhhyphenhyphen_8-bcg7phYhPvVrpNu7w3vaIizub2fH0Mh9_uZYSmoMT_9Q20nd2uhlTOlI0xZhyphenhyphen1V16-JUMXGG0oXl5Nf-GT-AobJiVBiNf8nfrzvI0YLoZHEEbUIF1MC_4YttL1/s1600/lineup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlXovhhyphenhyphen_8-bcg7phYhPvVrpNu7w3vaIizub2fH0Mh9_uZYSmoMT_9Q20nd2uhlTOlI0xZhyphenhyphen1V16-JUMXGG0oXl5Nf-GT-AobJiVBiNf8nfrzvI0YLoZHEEbUIF1MC_4YttL1/s400/lineup.JPG" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenna, Hannah, Ava, Emma, Makala, Olivia and Anne-Marie performing "Carry On".</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The kids have been planning a carnival and talent show for the neighborhood kids for a week. Today is the big day. They have carnival games including a candy slide (candy taped to the slide and you have to grab a piece on your way down), a ring toss, a ping pong toss, a dunk tank, a rock wall, a ticket booth and a prize station. They rehearsed a talent show all week, including harmonizing medleys to Top 40 pop songs. All of this happened without any adult involvement!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOMOD4z8riE6KA8B4xoac84wRHFLr-KCPmG23e0hxFasaDzoZluCbw1bPA2ngPzxW4G5qn80FBO22KihjALMjWIvrQWMeBZXIaTfXbFWQAgBVn8Hpl_o6Y76P53jL7rFCbw-S/s1600/christian+and+andy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOMOD4z8riE6KA8B4xoac84wRHFLr-KCPmG23e0hxFasaDzoZluCbw1bPA2ngPzxW4G5qn80FBO22KihjALMjWIvrQWMeBZXIaTfXbFWQAgBVn8Hpl_o6Y76P53jL7rFCbw-S/s320/christian+and+andy.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy and Christian performing Thrift Shop.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I watched and listened all week and was doubtful this would go as they envisioned. Shame on me! The kids pulled it off! The carnival went off without a hitch, each kid playing the games honestly, taking turns, even cooperating with the rules of how to win prizes. They were doing so well, I decided to contribute last year's leftover popsicles and 2 giant batches of popcorn to the cause. I was invited to join the audience of the talent show. These are talented kids! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDSuuSOW5rpWbod_K0rBjgkBa19gYU7F9MzDGteFZogWJYt3TMHekLxY0gUbDAL0aiXbHEpMU9pspmJnhJEDKTkGPF-NUl6lBhLmvEUYB6yxZEpm01ROJPNhbHG0p9uf5tC3G/s1600/Renee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDSuuSOW5rpWbod_K0rBjgkBa19gYU7F9MzDGteFZogWJYt3TMHekLxY0gUbDAL0aiXbHEpMU9pspmJnhJEDKTkGPF-NUl6lBhLmvEUYB6yxZEpm01ROJPNhbHG0p9uf5tC3G/s400/Renee.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Makala, Olivia and Renee perfoming "Down by the Bay".</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Today, I am grateful. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom. I'm grateful that God has blessed our decision to be a single income family and brought opportunities to us for home-based businesses. I am filled with joy that I can be home to be part of these wonderful events. Most days aren't filled with amazing kid productions of carnivals and talent shows. It's easy to get so involved in keeping the house, planning the meals and all the other things that go with running a household that you miss these things. Today, I'm grateful that God's grace allowed me to be present and aware of how blessed I am.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimE2Om85rRt1sZZ24_E7GjpbfXdagi3hgfEF21QWJcXorl6nSe6P1n_ooKZlCSUXWF1l3t6cA5NjRaN25QK0AO-rPemqGu3uY2QeZJFQDXjz3mUxXFLXhg2FLClJ2NzKYTUSPr/s1600/Ava,+Emma,+Jenna.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimE2Om85rRt1sZZ24_E7GjpbfXdagi3hgfEF21QWJcXorl6nSe6P1n_ooKZlCSUXWF1l3t6cA5NjRaN25QK0AO-rPemqGu3uY2QeZJFQDXjz3mUxXFLXhg2FLClJ2NzKYTUSPr/s400/Ava,+Emma,+Jenna.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ava, Emma and Jenna performing "Our Song", complete with well executed choreography.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirl-XSOwD-Nx2rUKT7b6l8Yb34XqYJqQ5pBsgedj__yvQQnganAY_cCsOiqcNbF4u5-t5L1xbffhUE1MIpVxyTNhXCFqacINNvDtsfEBdhyLHiST9PodxYnMCstKWPjtoKT5fT/s1600/Renee,+Olivia,+Makala.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirl-XSOwD-Nx2rUKT7b6l8Yb34XqYJqQ5pBsgedj__yvQQnganAY_cCsOiqcNbF4u5-t5L1xbffhUE1MIpVxyTNhXCFqacINNvDtsfEBdhyLHiST9PodxYnMCstKWPjtoKT5fT/s400/Renee,+Olivia,+Makala.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Renee, Anne-Marie and Makala dancing to an original song by Anne-Marie.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182372677196302433noreply@blogger.com0