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Heaven

There’s a graveyard on the way to Burke and Maggie’s school, so we’ve talked about it a few times when we’ve gone by. I put it in terms of “That’s where people are buried when they die. The headstones help people find the person they want to visit because sometimes it’s nice to be able to go and talk – even if they can’t talk back.”

We’ve also talked about Heaven (MAN is that a hard concept!!) and what it might be like in Heaven and how we have relatives there and that’s where we’ll go when we die.

The other day as we were going by the graveyard, Maggie pipes up with her knowledge, “That’s the graveyard – it’s where people go when they die.”

After a few pondering moments, Burke asked, “Is THAT Heaven then?”

Conflicted

I could easily do a post about what makes my Monday today. It’s all over the news that Bin Laden was shot and killed last night. And a part of me really wants to do a happy dance about that. He’s been the most hated man in the US since 9/11.

However, I’m saddened. I can understand wanting to celebrate (see above); but the images on the news are frighteningly similar to those you see when there are gatherings overseas celebrating the fall of someone over here. The images we condone. The images that make the US people angry at those overseas.

What must they be thinking of us right now? I’m sure they’re seeing the same images – people in the streets celebrating that one of their leaders has been killed. How is it okay for the US to behave like this when it’s certainly not okay for others to do so? I seriously hope the US is prepared for the retaliation that will certainly be attempted.

So while I’m breathing a bit easier that he’s no longer a threat, I’m not going to be out celebrating in the streets.

I suppose Clarence Darrow sums it up quite nicely:
I’ve never wished a man dead, but I’ve read some obituaries with great pleasure.

Keeping Things Straight

Ya. I don’t. Keep things straight, that is. Especially when it comes to the kids’ stuff.

Whenever anyone asks me who Burke or Maggie has for a teacher, I have to stop and think – every time. You’d think I’d have it straight by now. Nope. (ANOTHER pro for keeping them in the same class! 😉 )

And when I try to think of the other kids I know in each of their classes…I really have to stop and think of which kid is in which class. For example, Maggie has dance class with two of the girls in her class … but since one of the girls from Maggie’s dance class LAST year is in Burke’s class this year, I get all confused (and make an ass out of myself when talking to the parents…)

And forget about it if I see a mom without her kid(s) – especially out of context. It’s taken me months to realize that the mom I say “hi!” to at Logan’s school is the same mom who has a daughter in Maggie’s Girl Scout troop. (I don’t feel TOO bad about that because it took her about the same amount of time LOL!)

And keeping schedules straight is killer. I rely on my Mom’s Calendar (only the best one EVER) and my Outlook reminders. Seriously. I’d forget to: go downstairs to meet the bus, or let Nanny Jessica go home, or head to Art Class … if it wasn’t for my Outlook reminders. Luckily, these reminders pop up on my computer and on my phone, so no matter where I am, I get a ping.

And I now totally understand why all of my sisters’ and brother’s names were mixed up with mine when we were young. (Funny story: since I have a sister named Sharon, I was called “ShitNancy” a lot…or at least, that’s what it sounds like when you start “Sharon” stop abruptly and immediately say “Nancy” …Well. That’s funny now…)

How do YOU keep things straight??

Marriage

There have been a few things going on around me that have made me stop and really think about marriage.

Let’s get one thing straight. I have a *KICK ASS* marriage. I just hope I don’t take it for granted – ever.

I do worry that we’ll get complacent…and the worry extends to “we’re together because it’s what we know and we just haven’t thought about anything else…” But I can honestly say that even though there’s routine in my marriage (get up, get the kids up, get everyone ready, work, dinner for the kids, TV time for the kids, bed for the kids, dinner for the adults, TV time, bed. Repeat.), it’s not boring or dull. I think that’s because Mike makes me laugh. And I think it’s because even doing the boring and dull things – when done together – makes them less boring (Costco runs come to mind).

One of the things I’ve been thinking about is how people get married. Mike and I got married in a church (read all about it), and our minister had us take a compatibility test to see if we needed counseling before tying the knot. Turns out the test pretty much declared we should already be married – but that’s not where I’m going with this. My wonder is, what about all of those people who didn’t take these test before getting married? Or what if they take the test and it says, “DON’T DO IT!!!” ?? Do people ignore the ‘warnings’ … or do they go on with major counseling? And what happens to these couples?

Seven years ago this month, I was ‘ordained’ JP for a day so I could marry two of my friends. I was flabbergasted that they asked, and honored to do it. However, the couple I married is no longer a couple. Now, I don’t blame myself for this at all…but I do have to wonder if they had used someone other than me, would they have been given that compatibility test? And what would it have said? *I* had thought they were a good match. And perhaps they were – at the time. I’m definitely happy that they realized it wasn’t working and did something about it. But it still makes me wonder.

Does This Mean I’m Getting Old?

There are a few things going on that make me wonder if I’m just getting old.

Like…my new found fondness for knitting.

And realizing that the creaking on the stairs isn’t JUST the stairs (my poor knee).

And really wanting to nap in the afternoons.

The thing that took me by surprise was receiving a package today. I signed up for a knit/crochet-of-the-month type club. The first package arrived today … along with brochures for mobility scooters, AARP, and Diabetes paraphernalia. WHAT?!

Maybe There IS Something…

Burke and Maggie attended Bible School last week…where they learned new songs and sang them the whole week (at home too). I recognized some of it, and they were so excited about it…so I bought the CD of songs. I surprised them by playing it on the drive up to Vermont…they sang along to all the songs – it was really cute!

On the way to watch the Vermont Lake Monsters (Baseball) last night, I popped in the CD in again so they could sing to Nana and Grandpa.

Grandpa was driving my car – thank God – because a car going the opposite direction lost control and was careening directly at us. Grandpa was able to swerve and miss the other car – without hitting anything or rolling the car. (I’m not sure I would have handled things as well…which is why I’m so glad he was driving!!) The near-miss with Bible School songs blaring on the radio gave us all a slight pause.

On the way home, (after listening to other things for a bit), I popped the CD back in …and we were presented with a breathtaking sunset.

(Note the rain off to the right)

I think we’ll be listening to this CD more often…

Summer Blogging

There’s something about blogging in the summer. It’s not as ‘easy’ as the rest of the year. The motivation to get a post up each day dwindles because of a few factors.

First – the weather. It’s so nice outside that it doesn’t feel right plugging away inside. Oh sure, I’m in front of the computer to work – but I’ve been taking a lot of vacation days lately too. 🙂

Second – the comments. Not that I blog for the comments, but it’s definitely nice to have verification that there’s at least a few people out there reading my efforts. The number of comments during the summer definitely dwindles.

Third – My own commenting. I know that my own blog reading goes down a bit during the summer. Or rather, it gets sporadic; I find a block of time and catch up on all of the blogs I’ve been ignoring for the past few days…but then I sometimes feel guilty and don’t comment – especially on a back post – because then they’ll know I haven’t read in a while! (I know – who cares WHEN I read, right? Get over yourself Nancy. 😉 )

Enjoy your summer. I’ll still be here 🙂

Advice

I tend to give a lot of advice. I’m sure some is unsolicited…but I’m pretty sure most of it is asked for.  And yes, some of that “asked for” advice is by someone on a listserv, so they aren’t asking me directly, but they’re still asking.

In High School, I was the one all my friends came to seeking advice about how to help their relationship with a significant other or something similar.

Friends still come to me for a “reality check” with things. They know that I’ll tell them what they need to hear rather than what they want to hear. They don’t always like it, but they keep coming back – so I must be doing something right.

And there’s the thing…I’ve occasionally reread some advice I’ve given and thought, “Dang. That was really good advice!” (*sheepish grin*) …but then I get to thinking, “Wait. Is there anyone out there who doesn’t think they give good advice?” Not everyone can give good advice, right? But does everyone think they do? I mean, sure … I’ve looked back on things and thought “What was I thinking??” But what if I’m one of those people who thinks “Damn, I’m good.” but my advice actually really stinks!?

Friday’s Fotos and Kiddo Conversations

The things kids say can really crack you up. And sometimes, they come up with their own special word that actually fits perfectly.

Burke

Apparently Burke has a “sneak-ret” hiding place for things. I need to try to get him to say that on video…it’s so cute!

Maggie

When we were in Vermont, Maggie had a very deep conversation with Grandpa. I wasn’t there, but I hear that the gist of it is she asked about his mom and where she was (Heaven). Normally when we talk about Heaven with her (that’s where Mike’s mom is as well), she gets very teary and starts worrying about HER mom. While talking with Grandpa, she just wanted the facts: Do you miss her? Do you still talk with her? Stuff like that. At some point the conversation turned to “There are no cell phones in Heaven.” LOL!

Logan

I was talking with Logan about playing at the park. I knew he’d run into one of our neighbors and I was asking how that went. He was all excited and told me he was playing with Audrey going around and around. So I asked if he was chasing Audrey or if Audrey was chasing him. He started talking, stopped suddenly, and then said, “I sayin’ it wrong!” (I still don’t know who was doing the chasing LOL!)

Last night, Logan wanted to sleep in the rocking chair (the night before it was the floor…), so I said sure since that’s where Burke and Maggie spent the first few many months of sleeping when we switched to big kid beds for them. Mike and I were watching TV downstairs when we heard “THUMP!” and then nothing. Logan had “switched” to the floor from the rocking chair a few nights ago as well, so I wasn’t too worried. When I went in to check on him, this is what I found.

I can't believe he's still asleep!

How did he not wake up??

Crazy kid. 🙂

Certain Things That Stick With You (Is It Just Me?)

Have you ever noticed that the things that have happened in your past that are most memorable are usually ones that were the most embarrassing? Of course I remember lots of GOOD things too, but the embarrassing ones seem to pop up out of nowhere. At random times. Just to make me feel like cringing all over again.

Examples, you say? Oh sure – why not.

Crying at my own birthday party. And trying to crawl under a rocking chair. Why? Because I didn’t want to get those spankings. I believe I was in the 3rd grade. New to my school. Good times.

Two in one day! At some point when I was in elementary school (5th grade, maybe?), we had a chimney fire at our house. In my rush to get out, I had put on a zip-up sweatshirt but forgot to put a t-shirt under it. As one of the first ones to ‘develop’ in my class, having no t-shirt on was quite bothersome to me…luckily, I don’t think it was widely known to my classmates. That same day, one of our neighbors was talking with me about the fire while we were walking from the bus stop to the school … so I wasn’t really thinking about things. When we got to the road we needed to cross, I looked both ways and crossed. Which made the appointed 6th grade crossing guard upset that I didn’t wait for HER to tell us when to cross…which she then reported to the vice principal…who then had to come and “chat” with me about obeying the rules. (Cuz, you know, in the 5th grade, I don’t know how to cross the road by myself!! …and it’s not like I did it on purpose anyway…)

Almost learning a new word. In the 6th grade, I believe I told my teacher that he was taking us for granite. Yes. He laughed.

It’s just a name. Also in the 6th grade, I managed to piss off a (different) beloved teacher without really meaning to. I’d been calling her daughter, a good friend, “Little T” and then called her “Big T” … which she didn’t like at all. (Totally understandable looking back at it NOW…didn’t mean anything by it when I did it though.)

Smell? In Jr. High, I was sitting next to a guy who liked me (and I knew it), when he told me that I smelled good – like baby powder. I shrugged and said “oh, that’s my deodorant.” To which he said nothing. Thinking he hadn’t heard me, I said it again…and got a look that said, “duh, I heard you the first time.” Which embarrassed me more than if I’d just kept my mouth shut and let the embarrassment stay on him.

Boing! Also in Jr. High, I was at our local fair (Field Days) just hanging out…when a guy who liked me (and I knew it – different guy than from above) started to stare at me. So, I gave him the ‘stink-eye’ … and walked face-first into the line that held up the tent I was going by. Yes. He laughed.

Please tell me that I’m not the only one who relives these things. (Wait, please tell me that I AM the only one reliving my things though!)