You know, I should have known I couldn't keep up with this thirty days of thankfulness thing. I've tried it for the last 5 years and continuously fail. I thought this year it'd be easier if I just blogged it! SUUUUURE! Because blogging requires explanation and definition and makes everything so much easier.
Wrong.
But it's ok. Becuase here I am, November 9. Covering 6 days of thankfulness in one blog entry. The good news is, I can totally get away with it. Even if this entry takes me all day to write ;)
Day 4: I'm thankful for Backyard Produce. I'm totally stoked that every Tuesday we get a box of local organic produce. Always something new with SOMETHING or other we've never cooked before. Last night we ate asparagus. Last week it was diacon radishes. Some crazy thing that looked like a parsnip in disguise. We made something awesome out of it. It was tasty, and it was a new recipe, and it broadened my culinary horizon.
Day 5: I'm thankful for the mail carrier. Estella has been our mail carrier here in the neighborhood since we bought the house 8 years ago. When we came back to Goose Creek after 3 years in Washington, it was so great to see her smiling face again lol - and she was happy to see us too! It's the little relationships with the everyday people in our lives that give us just enough of a reminder that, though we live a bit of a mobile lifestyle, we can still make a difference and bring a smile on a regular basis...no internet required.
Day 6: I'm thankful for Candy Crush. No really, I am. Silly, but true.
Day 7: I'm thankful for my Pandora Jewelery. For the last few years, Don has bought me a charm or two for each major event. When things stress me out (when WORK stresses me out) sometimes I just have to clip on my bracelets and suddenly all is well once again. Our 10 year anny is coming, and there's a lighthouse now, you know. Hint hint....
Day 8: I'm thankful for my husband and his hysterically well placed timing to sing songs such as "James' Mom has got it goin on..." (To the tune of "Stacy's Mom"). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZLfasMPOU4
Day 9: I'm thankful for my boss. No really. She has so freaking much on her plate, yet she can understand and respect my requirement to put my family first. I'm a lucky lucky girl to work for Miss Phoenix. WAY LUCKY.
Holy smokes have I actually caught up with myself? Watching some football and dealing with my furbabies scratching at the glass tired of being outside in the "Cold" - they're so screwed once we get back to the Pac NW. But I'll take it.
We'll get through it together because truly, that's what families do. Thanks for reading and keeping up with us over the last 6 days <3 p="">
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Monday, November 4, 2013
30 days of Thankfulness - Day 3
Day three - today (ok, yesterday was *technically* day three, but I'm catching up here) I am thankful for my home.
We closed on our home in June 2005, and have owned it ever since. We did try to sell when we left South Carolina the first time, but the housing bubble had burst, Centex was still building new homes in the development, and it just didn't sell. So - we rented it out for 3 years while we were in Washington, and came back to it when we returned to South Carolina.
It has not always been wonderful being a homeowner. We don't have a landlord to call when something stops working. We can't just walk away when the lease is up. We have to worry about what we'll do next year when Don retires, if it will even sell or if we'll have to rent it out again.
But all of that aside, this house - this home - holds so many precious memories. Birthdays, projects, holidays. Firsts. Lasts. One (completely justified) frequent complaint from military families is not being able to stay anywhere long enough to really put down roots. Every three years or so you just up and move somewhere else. I am simply thankful for the nearly 6 total years we've been able to occupy this space, that we could make memories over time, under one roof, without having to think back and ask "wait - which house were we at for Paige's 7th birthday?".
It's just one of those little blessings, just another thing I'm thankful for.
We closed on our home in June 2005, and have owned it ever since. We did try to sell when we left South Carolina the first time, but the housing bubble had burst, Centex was still building new homes in the development, and it just didn't sell. So - we rented it out for 3 years while we were in Washington, and came back to it when we returned to South Carolina.
It has not always been wonderful being a homeowner. We don't have a landlord to call when something stops working. We can't just walk away when the lease is up. We have to worry about what we'll do next year when Don retires, if it will even sell or if we'll have to rent it out again.
But all of that aside, this house - this home - holds so many precious memories. Birthdays, projects, holidays. Firsts. Lasts. One (completely justified) frequent complaint from military families is not being able to stay anywhere long enough to really put down roots. Every three years or so you just up and move somewhere else. I am simply thankful for the nearly 6 total years we've been able to occupy this space, that we could make memories over time, under one roof, without having to think back and ask "wait - which house were we at for Paige's 7th birthday?".
It's just one of those little blessings, just another thing I'm thankful for.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
30 days of Thankfulness - Day 2
I know I'm running a little late here, I'll catch up - just bare with me. Might make two blog entries tomorrow - I can handle one day late, for now.
Today I am so very thankful for the pets in my life. Angel, Pepper, Molly, even Amy the guinea pig!
I've had Angel the longest. Christmas of 1998, I was two months away from getting out of the navy. I didn't have any leave left really, and so I was stuck staying in Washington for the holiday. My grandma, my Manny, chose to spend her holiday with me that year, selflessly sacrificing her time with the rest of her family and her loved ones, to make some memories with her oldest granddaughter. She and I went to Petco one afternoon in late December. We had no real mission in mind, just wanted to check it out. PAWS was there - an animal rescue group. Well, of COURSE, we brought home a cute little long haired tortoiseshell kitten that was just big enough to fit into the palm of our hand. I named her Angel - because she was my Christmas Angel. That was the same year Manny and I fed all my friends that couldn't go home for Christmas. It was a two day potluck at Becca's house...any lonely sailor that wanted to get some grub could show up with a dish (or not) and they would find food, friends and family for the holiday.
I miss Manny, and will never forget that Christmas. I know her spirit still comes around regularly, in little ways.
Pepper, he's a horse of a different color. I got Pepper for my birthday, in 2002. Don was deployed when everything hit the fan on 9.11.01. We were very much in love, I was working at Qwest in Seattle, he was on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), and deployed when the towers fell. I will not forget that day as long as I live. He made it home some time in the spring, and we realized how important we were to each other. Officially moved in together. When the fall came, we knew we wanted a dog. We went to the the Kitsap County Humane Society and the story is epic. I wrote a story about our finding Pepper Dog, and it almost made the cut for the "Chicken Soup for the Veteran's Soul" book. Almost. At any rate, he's still with us, 11 year later. He's 14 now. That whole story might find it's own description in a blog to come.
Molly, she's our baby. We got her from a family that couldn't possibly love her as much as we do. Clearly - duh - they all but gave her away. She has learned so much from us in the last year and a half, and we've learned just as much from her. She is smart, sweet, and greedy LOL. If we keep her out of the kitchen, all will be well. If she goes into the kitchen, look out, watch her like a hawk. She's sneaky... ;)
And Amy - the Guinea Pig in Paige's room LOL - she's awesome, she's fun, she loves to come out and eat clover, and she will devour any Timothy Hay you put in her path. She needs a friend...we're working on that (James' birthday is coming).
Today, November 3, 2013, I'm thankful for my furbabies. And they are thankful for me and mine. Even when we refuse to give them chicken bones ;) It's all about responsibility.
Today I am so very thankful for the pets in my life. Angel, Pepper, Molly, even Amy the guinea pig!
I've had Angel the longest. Christmas of 1998, I was two months away from getting out of the navy. I didn't have any leave left really, and so I was stuck staying in Washington for the holiday. My grandma, my Manny, chose to spend her holiday with me that year, selflessly sacrificing her time with the rest of her family and her loved ones, to make some memories with her oldest granddaughter. She and I went to Petco one afternoon in late December. We had no real mission in mind, just wanted to check it out. PAWS was there - an animal rescue group. Well, of COURSE, we brought home a cute little long haired tortoiseshell kitten that was just big enough to fit into the palm of our hand. I named her Angel - because she was my Christmas Angel. That was the same year Manny and I fed all my friends that couldn't go home for Christmas. It was a two day potluck at Becca's house...any lonely sailor that wanted to get some grub could show up with a dish (or not) and they would find food, friends and family for the holiday.
I miss Manny, and will never forget that Christmas. I know her spirit still comes around regularly, in little ways.
Pepper, he's a horse of a different color. I got Pepper for my birthday, in 2002. Don was deployed when everything hit the fan on 9.11.01. We were very much in love, I was working at Qwest in Seattle, he was on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), and deployed when the towers fell. I will not forget that day as long as I live. He made it home some time in the spring, and we realized how important we were to each other. Officially moved in together. When the fall came, we knew we wanted a dog. We went to the the Kitsap County Humane Society and the story is epic. I wrote a story about our finding Pepper Dog, and it almost made the cut for the "Chicken Soup for the Veteran's Soul" book. Almost. At any rate, he's still with us, 11 year later. He's 14 now. That whole story might find it's own description in a blog to come.
Molly, she's our baby. We got her from a family that couldn't possibly love her as much as we do. Clearly - duh - they all but gave her away. She has learned so much from us in the last year and a half, and we've learned just as much from her. She is smart, sweet, and greedy LOL. If we keep her out of the kitchen, all will be well. If she goes into the kitchen, look out, watch her like a hawk. She's sneaky... ;)
And Amy - the Guinea Pig in Paige's room LOL - she's awesome, she's fun, she loves to come out and eat clover, and she will devour any Timothy Hay you put in her path. She needs a friend...we're working on that (James' birthday is coming).
Today, November 3, 2013, I'm thankful for my furbabies. And they are thankful for me and mine. Even when we refuse to give them chicken bones ;) It's all about responsibility.
Friday, November 1, 2013
30 days of Thankfulness - Day 1
So there's this Facebook tradition - every November. They call it "The 30 Days of Thankfulness". Every day in November half of the people on Facebook post a status update about what they're thankful for. I didn't post my thankfulness post today - but it wasn't because I forgot, or because it slipped my mind. It was because I couldn't figure out exactly how to say what I felt, let alone put it into a simple status update that wasn't 18 miles long. That's when I got this bright idea to blog my 30 days instead. Not only is it a better platform to explain why I'm thankful for the things I'm thankful for, but also - writing is one of only a handful of things I do for my own self. Maybe I'm being selfish, but sometimes there's nothing wrong with that. Lucky for my loyal readers, some days will be shorter than others ;)
So here we are, Day 1.
Today, November 1, 2013, I am thankful for my marriage. Not only my marriage, but the man that chose to take me for his wife. That's pretty much how it happened, you know...after three years of dating, he didn't really bother to ask. He chose me. He took me, and I allowed myself to be taken (I still have to wonder who really took who here, but that's of no consequence).
Don had just spent 10 months out to sea (a six month deployment became ten), and it was his first weekend home in nearly a year. He told me that he wanted to get away from people, away from civilization, so we went camping at Oxbow (Washington State DNR). We packed up the truck, packed up the dog, the tent, the firewood, the cribbage board, a cooler full of beer, enough food for three days, and we simply drove up to the boonies that are Washington State DNR territory. Got to the site, pitched the tent, unloaded the truck (we had to hike into our site, it was gorgeous, right on the Hoh river) and lit the campfire. Sat there for a few hours in exceptionally comfortable silence as the darkness grew thicker around us, the crickets grew louder in our ears, and the fact that we were finally together once again genuinely and truly sank in. So there we were, sitting around the campfire, just watching it burn. Sgt. Pepper asleep next to Don's chair. That's back when it was just the three of us against the world. It had been a good 15 minutes of crackling, popping fire, no words were spoken (none were truly needed). Don broke the silence and asked what I was thinking about. I was just so happy to be back in his company, back in his arms. I sheepishly shrugged and simply smiled. He said "You thinking about marriage? Thinking about kids?". Mind you, we'd been together nearly three years and been through 2 solid deployments. There was nothing I wouldn't do for him, nor he for me. We both knew it. When he was deployed I had spent my weekends baking cookies for his division and creating care packages to keep him comfortably reminded of the love that waited for him back on the home front. He had been gone 10 months and now he wanted to know what I was thinking about? PSHAW! Riiiiiiight. I wasn't about to admit that our future had been on my mind. There was absolutely no question that we'd be together - I had just spent a lot of time considering what our future looked like exactly. He was divorced, with an AMAZING son from his first marriage, and the very last thing I wanted was to pressure him into another marriage that he might not be ready for. I didn't even care, I just knew that I loved him. And he loved me. And it was working. Marriage was out there, sure - but nothing I expected nor would even have CONSIDERED demanding. So "What are you thinking about?" he says. I sort of giggled under my breath at his question. I looked up at the sky, and saw the most brilliant starry night I'd seen since leaving home. Looking back, it seems odd that the stars would have shone so brightly - granted we were out in the middle of nowhere - but at the same time, this brilliant campfire was blazing steady and strong. After a few more moments of comfortable, warm, serene silence (we never HAVE been the kind that needed a lot of words) - he said "You know you're going to marry me." That's when I stopped staring at the brilliance that was the universe above, brought my eyes level to his, smiled, and started to cry. I nodded my head and gave a simple "Yes, I know." That was September 27, 2003. We were married just shy of three months later, on December 14th.
Since then we've been through a lot. Both good and bad, amazing and heartbreaking, but we've been through it all together. Life, death, comedy, tragedy, love, and even a little bit of discontent. What marriage doesn't go through a little bit of discontent? The thing that gets me is... his love for me has never wavered. He has given me two beautiful children that are such an immense blessing, and he has shown me what true love really is. Honest, heartfelt, love. Love worth fighting for, love worth believing in, and love that is meant to be.
He is my TFA man, and I am his Lighthouse Girl. It was in our vows, and it still holds true 10 years after the fact.
Today, November 1, 2013...I am thankful for my marriage, and thankful for the man that chose to take me as his wife.
So here we are, Day 1.
Today, November 1, 2013, I am thankful for my marriage. Not only my marriage, but the man that chose to take me for his wife. That's pretty much how it happened, you know...after three years of dating, he didn't really bother to ask. He chose me. He took me, and I allowed myself to be taken (I still have to wonder who really took who here, but that's of no consequence).
Don had just spent 10 months out to sea (a six month deployment became ten), and it was his first weekend home in nearly a year. He told me that he wanted to get away from people, away from civilization, so we went camping at Oxbow (Washington State DNR). We packed up the truck, packed up the dog, the tent, the firewood, the cribbage board, a cooler full of beer, enough food for three days, and we simply drove up to the boonies that are Washington State DNR territory. Got to the site, pitched the tent, unloaded the truck (we had to hike into our site, it was gorgeous, right on the Hoh river) and lit the campfire. Sat there for a few hours in exceptionally comfortable silence as the darkness grew thicker around us, the crickets grew louder in our ears, and the fact that we were finally together once again genuinely and truly sank in. So there we were, sitting around the campfire, just watching it burn. Sgt. Pepper asleep next to Don's chair. That's back when it was just the three of us against the world. It had been a good 15 minutes of crackling, popping fire, no words were spoken (none were truly needed). Don broke the silence and asked what I was thinking about. I was just so happy to be back in his company, back in his arms. I sheepishly shrugged and simply smiled. He said "You thinking about marriage? Thinking about kids?". Mind you, we'd been together nearly three years and been through 2 solid deployments. There was nothing I wouldn't do for him, nor he for me. We both knew it. When he was deployed I had spent my weekends baking cookies for his division and creating care packages to keep him comfortably reminded of the love that waited for him back on the home front. He had been gone 10 months and now he wanted to know what I was thinking about? PSHAW! Riiiiiiight. I wasn't about to admit that our future had been on my mind. There was absolutely no question that we'd be together - I had just spent a lot of time considering what our future looked like exactly. He was divorced, with an AMAZING son from his first marriage, and the very last thing I wanted was to pressure him into another marriage that he might not be ready for. I didn't even care, I just knew that I loved him. And he loved me. And it was working. Marriage was out there, sure - but nothing I expected nor would even have CONSIDERED demanding. So "What are you thinking about?" he says. I sort of giggled under my breath at his question. I looked up at the sky, and saw the most brilliant starry night I'd seen since leaving home. Looking back, it seems odd that the stars would have shone so brightly - granted we were out in the middle of nowhere - but at the same time, this brilliant campfire was blazing steady and strong. After a few more moments of comfortable, warm, serene silence (we never HAVE been the kind that needed a lot of words) - he said "You know you're going to marry me." That's when I stopped staring at the brilliance that was the universe above, brought my eyes level to his, smiled, and started to cry. I nodded my head and gave a simple "Yes, I know." That was September 27, 2003. We were married just shy of three months later, on December 14th.
Since then we've been through a lot. Both good and bad, amazing and heartbreaking, but we've been through it all together. Life, death, comedy, tragedy, love, and even a little bit of discontent. What marriage doesn't go through a little bit of discontent? The thing that gets me is... his love for me has never wavered. He has given me two beautiful children that are such an immense blessing, and he has shown me what true love really is. Honest, heartfelt, love. Love worth fighting for, love worth believing in, and love that is meant to be.
He is my TFA man, and I am his Lighthouse Girl. It was in our vows, and it still holds true 10 years after the fact.
Today, November 1, 2013...I am thankful for my marriage, and thankful for the man that chose to take me as his wife.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Why my daughter blows my mind - reason number six hundred seventy four...
WOW What a fantastic evening around here. We did our whole work day thing. Mom finished up her shift, Dad came home from work. Long day all around.
It's a Monday. We're not big fans of Monday, for what it's worth. We did our thing though - we finished up a fantastic dinner from scratch. Worked together to make it happen. A relatively decent tuna and salmon noodle casserole. The cat is a little pissed, she was left out of the salmon aspect, we're so mean that we actually bought the Chicken of the Sea brand pink salmon pouches. Boneless and skinless dont'cha know. Regardless, made for one hell of a dinner casserole - the kids ate it up. They loved it.
After dinner, I found myself outside, doing a post dinner chillax kind of moment. Paige had finished up and came outside to chat. I was doing my own thing, sitting in my chair...and she says "Mom! Mom, it's a planet, check it out!". Sure enough, I got out of my chair and went into the yard where she was, just to see what on EARTH she was talking about. Well she was right. There was a planet up there, shining bright as the morning in the night sky. It was the only apparent star to be seen. Well it was a planet, der. Even she knew that. I did some homework, we think it might have been Jupiter. Regardless, it was the brightest and only star in the night sky right around 7pm. Well, me being the mom that I am, I commended her on her skills for finding the first star. I put my arm around her and (wish I'd had a photo) said "star light, star bright, first star I see tonight..." She said "MOM - it's not a star, it's a planet. I said "Come on sweets, give me something here...star light, star bright, first star I see tonight -I wish I may, I wish I might have the wish I wish tonight...". She giggled a little bit. I asked her exactly what her wish was...and I didn't expect her to tell me.
But she did.
She said "Mom...I wish that people in schools would stop bullying and making fun of other people."
**WOW**
*Wait, what?
Is this my kid, who just found her nerve to jump up on her Mom's mountain bike and ride it to the end of the block and back? Is this my kid who found herself just one year ago, summer before last, with a dislocated hip, chilling out in a wheelchair for half the summer and in a hipcast? Is this my kid who can't even stand to share the backyard swings with her brother?!!?!
Yes. Yes it is.
This is my kid. And good LORD I am so happy, and so blessed that she is such a fantastic part of my life. I am so blessed to call her my own, so amazed with each and every day that she wakes up and gives her life to God, shares her prayers for others.
My daughter. She blows me away. My daughter, she blows my mind. My daughter, she is my greatest gift...her and her brother. I can not imagine my life without them. They are so loving, so forgiving, so caring, so thoughtful, and though rarely a day goes by that they actually get along, we are family - and they know it.
This "family" of ours, we stretch from the eastern seaboard back to the west coast. We have so much family, so much love back in Oregon and Washington. We love our Seahawks, we love our Ducks, we love our home. Our time will come, when suddenly we find ourselves surrounded once again by family and love. Our time will come - no question. But for now - I'm excessively happy to have a chance to teach my little family that sometimes, just the four of us...sometimes we are all we have - and sometimes - we matter most.
This daughter of mine has been through SO MUCH. It's as if she simply got through it, got over it, and moved on. She doesn't even seem to remember how challenged she was just one year ago. She's a Rhine. She's a Hunter. She's a Leichner. She's got the strength of her ancestry in her veins, and she continues to blow my mind each and every single day of her life.
I am so in love with my Sweet Pea - and she is SUCH a phenomenal gift from God. I just don't know what else to say. She owns my heart, squashes my fears, shows me everything I want to be...all in one little girl. There is nothing I wouldn't do to bring her happiness.
She is AMAZING. My Amazing, number one girl. Forever and always. Mama loves you, Sweet Pea <3 nbsp="" p="">
It's a Monday. We're not big fans of Monday, for what it's worth. We did our thing though - we finished up a fantastic dinner from scratch. Worked together to make it happen. A relatively decent tuna and salmon noodle casserole. The cat is a little pissed, she was left out of the salmon aspect, we're so mean that we actually bought the Chicken of the Sea brand pink salmon pouches. Boneless and skinless dont'cha know. Regardless, made for one hell of a dinner casserole - the kids ate it up. They loved it.
After dinner, I found myself outside, doing a post dinner chillax kind of moment. Paige had finished up and came outside to chat. I was doing my own thing, sitting in my chair...and she says "Mom! Mom, it's a planet, check it out!". Sure enough, I got out of my chair and went into the yard where she was, just to see what on EARTH she was talking about. Well she was right. There was a planet up there, shining bright as the morning in the night sky. It was the only apparent star to be seen. Well it was a planet, der. Even she knew that. I did some homework, we think it might have been Jupiter. Regardless, it was the brightest and only star in the night sky right around 7pm. Well, me being the mom that I am, I commended her on her skills for finding the first star. I put my arm around her and (wish I'd had a photo) said "star light, star bright, first star I see tonight..." She said "MOM - it's not a star, it's a planet. I said "Come on sweets, give me something here...star light, star bright, first star I see tonight -I wish I may, I wish I might have the wish I wish tonight...". She giggled a little bit. I asked her exactly what her wish was...and I didn't expect her to tell me.
But she did.
She said "Mom...I wish that people in schools would stop bullying and making fun of other people."
**WOW**
*Wait, what?
Is this my kid, who just found her nerve to jump up on her Mom's mountain bike and ride it to the end of the block and back? Is this my kid who found herself just one year ago, summer before last, with a dislocated hip, chilling out in a wheelchair for half the summer and in a hipcast? Is this my kid who can't even stand to share the backyard swings with her brother?!!?!
Yes. Yes it is.
This is my kid. And good LORD I am so happy, and so blessed that she is such a fantastic part of my life. I am so blessed to call her my own, so amazed with each and every day that she wakes up and gives her life to God, shares her prayers for others.
My daughter. She blows me away. My daughter, she blows my mind. My daughter, she is my greatest gift...her and her brother. I can not imagine my life without them. They are so loving, so forgiving, so caring, so thoughtful, and though rarely a day goes by that they actually get along, we are family - and they know it.
This "family" of ours, we stretch from the eastern seaboard back to the west coast. We have so much family, so much love back in Oregon and Washington. We love our Seahawks, we love our Ducks, we love our home. Our time will come, when suddenly we find ourselves surrounded once again by family and love. Our time will come - no question. But for now - I'm excessively happy to have a chance to teach my little family that sometimes, just the four of us...sometimes we are all we have - and sometimes - we matter most.
This daughter of mine has been through SO MUCH. It's as if she simply got through it, got over it, and moved on. She doesn't even seem to remember how challenged she was just one year ago. She's a Rhine. She's a Hunter. She's a Leichner. She's got the strength of her ancestry in her veins, and she continues to blow my mind each and every single day of her life.
I am so in love with my Sweet Pea - and she is SUCH a phenomenal gift from God. I just don't know what else to say. She owns my heart, squashes my fears, shows me everything I want to be...all in one little girl. There is nothing I wouldn't do to bring her happiness.
She is AMAZING. My Amazing, number one girl. Forever and always. Mama loves you, Sweet Pea <3 nbsp="" p="">
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Football night in America
I just don't know what it is about that ball. That football. Football is America's sport.
It's almost funny. Our government might just shut down in a few days. Today, for just a few hours, I forgot about all that. I was (am) stressed about the possibility of missing a mortgage payment. The hubs and I, we take great pride in our credit score. Eight years now we've been paying the mortgage - more that what is due and continually on time. Congress is confused, so it would seem - but we're not. We know what matters.
Russell Wilson matters. Every play we're Russellin.
Today I thank God for football and the Seattle Seahawks. They gave us a reprieve from the daily concerns, the constant fear and worry over what the future may hold. Watching the Seattle Seahawks today we forgot...for a minute, about the fears of the future.
I don't know what it is about football. Honestly does it really matter? I found myself - literally - jumping up and down, yelling and clapping my hands in the middle of my living room today. It was fantastic. I was...for a moment...nothing more than a fan.
We all need to just stop our lives every now and then, and become simply a fan. It was so funny, Paige's friend heard us yelling our heads off and came to the sliding glass door only to laugh at us. He's probably 10 years old. He giggled, made a pump fake action and said through the glass..."Football?". I said "FOOTBALL! GO SEAHAWKS!". He laughed and said "I play tackle!". Good for you kid. You go play tackle. 3rd grade? 4th maybe? No matter. He has a love...it's called football. He plays tackle, and he'll tell you so.
I think football is the only thing we have here in America...the only thing that we can count on. The only constant. Yeah yeah there's baseball (how about Mariano Rivera...what a freaking winner!) but football - football is America's sport. I'm grateful for the chance that I am given, once a week, to just SHUT UP. Shut up the computer, shut down the phone, shut off the smartphone and become absorbed in the game. For 15 minutes, times four...I'm enraptured. I'm crazy. I'm a fool, freak, Seahawk fan...and it feels AMAZING.
I love my Hawks.
I love to let go.
I'm a lucky lucky girl. I'll take what I can get. Sorry Schaub...you did your best. You just can't beat the 12th man.
Every play we're Russellin...
MUAH!!
#GOHAWKS
It's almost funny. Our government might just shut down in a few days. Today, for just a few hours, I forgot about all that. I was (am) stressed about the possibility of missing a mortgage payment. The hubs and I, we take great pride in our credit score. Eight years now we've been paying the mortgage - more that what is due and continually on time. Congress is confused, so it would seem - but we're not. We know what matters.
Russell Wilson matters. Every play we're Russellin.
Today I thank God for football and the Seattle Seahawks. They gave us a reprieve from the daily concerns, the constant fear and worry over what the future may hold. Watching the Seattle Seahawks today we forgot...for a minute, about the fears of the future.
I don't know what it is about football. Honestly does it really matter? I found myself - literally - jumping up and down, yelling and clapping my hands in the middle of my living room today. It was fantastic. I was...for a moment...nothing more than a fan.
We all need to just stop our lives every now and then, and become simply a fan. It was so funny, Paige's friend heard us yelling our heads off and came to the sliding glass door only to laugh at us. He's probably 10 years old. He giggled, made a pump fake action and said through the glass..."Football?". I said "FOOTBALL! GO SEAHAWKS!". He laughed and said "I play tackle!". Good for you kid. You go play tackle. 3rd grade? 4th maybe? No matter. He has a love...it's called football. He plays tackle, and he'll tell you so.
I think football is the only thing we have here in America...the only thing that we can count on. The only constant. Yeah yeah there's baseball (how about Mariano Rivera...what a freaking winner!) but football - football is America's sport. I'm grateful for the chance that I am given, once a week, to just SHUT UP. Shut up the computer, shut down the phone, shut off the smartphone and become absorbed in the game. For 15 minutes, times four...I'm enraptured. I'm crazy. I'm a fool, freak, Seahawk fan...and it feels AMAZING.
I love my Hawks.
I love to let go.
I'm a lucky lucky girl. I'll take what I can get. Sorry Schaub...you did your best. You just can't beat the 12th man.
Every play we're Russellin...
MUAH!!
#GOHAWKS
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Becca...and the dirty dawg.
Sooooo, my five year old is in week three of Kindergarten, Thursday is library day. James loves library day. Last week was his first week - he brought home a non-fiction book all about Uranus. I read it to him before bed last Thursday. I don't know what it is about that planet - but it's just an awkward read. Maybe if I could just figure out the proper pronunciation it would have been easier to get through. But I still glided through it with grace. Or not. At least not in my own head. Whatever. He was blind to anything remotely awkward, because he loves his mother and truly I can do no wrong.
It really feels good to have someone in whose eyes you can do no wrong.
It really feels good to have someone in whose eyes you can do no wrong.
It's a most phenomenal feeling.
Well TODAY was library day. I didn't get a chance to check out what book he brought home because immediately after school was a dental appointment for Paige that truly turned into a genuine crisis for her of epically terrifying proportions. She has a tooth that has been bothering her. It has a cavity, and they wanted to pull it. What a freaking ridiculously awful experience. Through no fault of the dentist, it was just Paige, genuinely scared and working herself up beyond the point of no return. Let's just say...laughing gas didn't make her laugh, and she didn't wind up having the tooth pulled after all. They sent me home with Tylenol w/ codeine for her. REALLY? CODEINE? I mean, I appreciate that none of us want to see her in pain. And they clarified it was only for bedtime. But tonight at an hour before bed I said "Hey Paige how's your tooth?" she said "Fine - at least it's not numb anymore!". So yeah - no codeine for you, kiddo. I'll hang onto it, it's possible the tooth will get worse before it falls out on it's own (it's a baby tooth luckily) but might be nice to have the high velocity pain killer in my back pocket.
SOOOOOOO - came home from the dental appointment and it was 4:45. James had 2 days of homework to complete, Paige had to finish today's. Tomorrow is Friday so really there was no more room to wiggle in regards to the homework situation. It is now DUE.
I frantically set to work to get all the workings of taco Thursday in order. It wasn't until just before dinner, as I was putting James' completed homework into his homework folder, that I reached into his backpack and had a fantastic flashback to my younger years.
It was truly FANTASTIC.
He had checked out "No Roses for Harry".
I squealed LOL - it was technically Don's turn to read to James tonight but I absolutely vetoed that whole situation.
When I was a kid, this was one of my favorite books of ALL TIME. I love Harry the dirty dog - and James actually owns the original "Harry the Dirty Dog" book. Thanks to me, the mom who can do no wrong.
I had a hell of a day. Dealt with housecleaning, a work messup that I had to fix, was a bit blindsided with a right hook to the heart by a family member...and then the dentist thing with my poor girl Paige.
Tonight, I needed Harry. I needed my Zilla man and my Harry the Dirty Dog.
Laying there reading this book to James tonight before bed, I was happy. I was relaxed, I was with my number one boy, and I was transformed back to the time when all that mattered was Harry and that ugly sweater from Grandma. It helped me remember how important perspective really is.
Sometimes, we feel like we just can't pull off whatever the right next move
is.
Sometimes, we feel like we've made too many wrong last moves to ever set
Sometimes, we feel like we've made too many wrong last moves to ever set
the future on a proper course.
A moment of peace with an innocent child that loves us...puts a questionable day back on track. It did for me, anyways. I am me, I pretend for noone. I hide nothing. I am who I am. Love it or leave it. Luckily those that matter most to me love it. It just took a bedtime story to remember what matters most.
Thank you Lord, for the family I've been blessed with. Every last one of them. They have so much to teach, and I still have so much to learn.
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