Happy Mother's Day...

Wow! It's definitely been a Mother's Day Celebration to remember! DS 3, LG and I went to Tampa last night to take my Mom out to celebrate. Here we are at Outback Steakhouse...one of my favorite places:


LG wanted us to take this picture outside....I thought it was sweet!

When I got back home, DS 4 surprised me with this cake he decorated just for me. He and DS 2 worked together to get up to the store where they were decorating them and have it done. I LOVE IT!

Since I forgot to take a picture of DS 4 WITH the cake...here we are at church this morning...


Here is LG giving me her sweet gift...a decorated pen and holder that I will treasure. It came with a beautiful card that she made. So very sweet!

And here's DSs 2 and 3 and I at church together this morning.



It took us a couple of tries to find a restaurant since a couple of our favs were closed...but we met DS 1 at Red Lobster and had a lovely meal together.

DS 3 and I finished the afternoon with a trip to Goodwill (where he picked up some "new" vinyl records and I searched for treasures) and then Target.

I'd say it rounded out pretty well! I love my guys and my gal so much! It's a treasure to be their Mom!

There's Often No Convincing them...

When you're a kid, you don't believe it. Even my adult children don't always understand it. There is nothing like the worry a Mother feels when her chicks are not in the nest...and she's not sure where they are!

DS 4 has hit the lovely middle school ages (for the record, these are not my favorite)...today he's out playing and I cannot find him. So here I sit. Worried sick. Blogging to pass the time while I wait. DSs 2 and 3 are out looking for him again. While they may necessarily understand what it does to me or why...they at least have reached the place where they know it's in the "Mother DNA".

It's always at these times I feel the urge to call my own Mother and ask her forgiveness for all the nights I came home a bit late and didn't call. I know she had her moments of panic.

I think it's how we're wired. And no amount of rewiring is going to change it.



{Edited to add: We found him. Actually, his brothers did. Still he doesn't get it. My only hope is that someday he will.}

Silly Bandz are...

Silly!

I remember seeing these on the office supply store shelves not long ago. I eyed them with my "teacher eye" thinkng I might think of something to do with them in the classroom. BUT I looked at them, thought they were overpriced, and continued my shopping journey.

Fast forward a few months and they started showing up on DS 3's wrist after school. It seems the high schoolers started wearing them and trading them at lunch each day. Now they've trickled into the elementary school and kids are wearing them by the armfulls!

Today as I bought a set for DS 4 and LG, I thought "I can't believe I'm doing this...giving in to the fad." While in the store, another Mother saw me and said, "You aren't by chance here for shape bracelets?" I told her we were and she said, "Let me guess, they're out TOO." I said, "No, they have them right there." And she sighed a huge sigh of relief as she told me that they'd been to multiple drug stores looking. I couldn't believe it!

But then I remembered all the fads I've seen come and go...jelly bracelets, beanie babies, and trading cards of all sorts.

Although I think they are silly, they will be fond memories for these kids someday when they recall trading them. Now if we could just find a different set or two to trade!

What Scrolling Does for Me...

When I scroll through my bloglist, I am touched in so many ways. There are stories upon stories upon stories that share the joy of life in so many places. I am touched to know there is such a community out there. And then I get sad because I just don't have (or is it "make") time to get out and read each person's blogposts like I want to.

Over the years blogging has brought me more joy than I can begin to explain to the "non-blogger". (Most people who blog get it.) And the fact that I've actually met some of you IRL is an even bigger blessing to me. With Summer fast approaching, I am hoping to get back out and really dig into blogs again. I want to get to know you better and actually let you know that I am more than a lurker.

Yep that's what scrolling does for me!

The chair will be empty

DH walked her, with 8yo head hung low, out to the room where I was working . He warned me, "You're not going to be happy with what she is about to tell you." Then, he tapped LG on the shoulder and said, "Go show her what you did." She walked slowly to where I was and revealed to me her toes. Then she said, "I colored my toes with permanent marker."


Now, I have to tell you I may not have bellowed all three of her names if I had not JUST taken her three days prior for a pedicure. I probably wouldn't have said, "WHAT were you thinking!?!" with quite the same fervor either. I definitely wouldn't have been as miffed if we hadn't JUST had the conversation about not coloring your fingernails and toes with marker four days prior to the offense.


But, I said it, "First. Middle. Last. WHAT were you thinking!?!"


She stood there staring at me. Unable to answer. Remorseful. Tears began to well up in her eyes. Then I reminded her what I paid for the pedicure that she chose to color over. I told her I was disappointed. I told her that her pedicure days have ended for now and that we would have to get nail polish remover and remove all color from her toes.

Admittedly as we hunted down the nail polish remover and cotton balls, I grilled a little bit more. I asked, "While coloring TEN toes with marker...over the cute little decoration that the nail tech painted on there...it never occurred to you that Dad or I "might" be upset that you did this??" She answered quietly, "No." I could feel another rant coming on. "No!?!?!? You have GOT to be kidding me!" Followed by, "If I gave you $25 in cash, would you just color all over it with marker?" Another quiet "No" was her reply. I'm sure I asked at least 25 times, "WHY would you color your toes with markers?" And all 25 times she told me she didn't know.

I know it wasn't the end of the world. Heck she hasn't even really done much "wrong" since she moved in last October! Still, she had to know that when we draw a line (like no nail coloring with markers), we are serious. She also needed to know that we were disappointed and that her actions have a consequence.

After removing the marker AND the underlying nail polish, I told her she needed to go apologize to DH because he, after all, is the one who TOLD her last week not to do it. She did. They snuggled. It was tender. Then, she and I started the bedtime routine where we snuggle together and pray. The prayer we prayed was one of thanks and forgiveness. It was one that reminded her that even when we mess up...there is love.

I'll be honest. As I left her room I thought, "This IS something I know we'll tell in years to come when we are doing the "Remember when..." stories." And we'll ALL laugh together. Until then, I took a moment and laughed on my own.

Then I wondered just how lonely I'd be the next time I'm sitting in the pedicure chair without her by my side! And I realized there was more than one remorseful female in our house that evening.

Random Dozen

1. What was the last thing about which you procrastinated? Well, there is NO question that BLOGGING has to be at the top of my procrastination list.

2. How long does it take you to fall asleep, and do you sleep through the night? Most nights, about 20 - 30 minutes to fall asleep. As for sleeping through the night, it depends. Sometimes I sleep solid through the night. Most nights, though, I'm up at least once if not more. If DH is gone, I'm up every hour!

3. Which decade would you choose to exemplify your favorite fashion styles? I really don't know for sure. I like the full flowing skirts of the 50's. I also like the pedal pushers people wore then.

4. What is your personal best dish to feed a crowd? This is an interesting question. I make pretty good enchiladas and can make them for a lot of people. I also make a fiesta chicken in the crock pot that is pretty good and makes a lot.

5. Are you an impulse shopper? What was the last thing you bought on impulse?
Sometimes I am. See my previous post about shopping at the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale...here's a picture of what I picked up on impulse. I did "sift" and whittle, though!

6. What is one wish you have for your own funeral? That it is celebratory in nature.

7. If it's true that joy is in found in the simple things in life, what does your joy look like today? It's definitely in simple moments. Last night, all five of my kids and my husband were at home. We just sat and watched TV together and it was comfy. I love those moments.

8. What is your favorite type of bread? Anything fresh and hot!

9. What trait do you fear developing the most? (Laziness, greediness, grumpiness, etc.) I have to work on selfishness on a regular basis. I fear that it could grow if I don't keep it in check.

10. What trait would you like most to develop? Hmmm...I wish I were more corageous. I found a great list of traits at this site.

11. Which room in your house best reflects your personality? Why? Wow, probably my family room. It's laid back...like I'd LIKE to be...and filled with pillows and blankets to just relax. I dream of having a home where people can kick their shoes off and relax...so while it doesn't necessarily mean that I'M relaxed...it's what I strive for and wish for others who visit.

12. How do you maintain balance in your life regarding, work, family, church, other organizations and activities, and blogging? Can I just say my first instinct was to say two words: "I don't!" Things get out of balance for me. Seriously. I work hard to balance and some days I succeed...most days though I'm on a serious growth curve!

A Nudge...

There he sat, one leg folded across the other, computer balancing in his lap. He whispered, "Mom," as he turned the computer gently around to reveal the screen to me. And there, blazing across his screen, is my blog. He tapped it gently several times. No words needed. Message received. It is my DS 3's way of nudging his Mother back to the world of blogging.

All it takes is a tapping finger and those dark brown eyes looking at me in request. I'm glad for him. In our family, he is often the voice of reason. The methodical amidst the chaos. And in so many ways, this 15 yo can ground you when you think things are flying out of control.

There are no excuses for why my blogging is not more regular. I've been busy! But that is nothing new.

For the last week, I have been in my FAVORITE city of all....CHICAGO! It was our annual Reading Association Convention. I am blessed most years to be able to attend with some of my favorite colleagues. This year was no different. We work during the day...attending sessions...meeting authors...browing what's "new" in the world of Reading instruction. And, at night, we get to relax and enjoy each other's company.

While in Chicago, my FAVORITE flowers were in full bloom...TULIPS...

I am not going to lie and say this trip wasn't without disappointment, however. My FAVORITE store in Chicago was the Marshall Fields on State St. When we arrived there, I found out that it had been purchased by Macy's a few years back. At least they still sell Frango Mints there...which are decadent little mints that were sold in Marshall Fields. And for the most part, the inside still looks the same.
The other "change" that has taken place in my favorite city since my last trip is the movement of the American Girl Store. This is the first time I've been to the city when I actually HAVE an "American Girl" at home! Before I just admired it and had fun looking at all the dolls and accessories, but I was excited to be there thinking about LG. It used to be in an old brick building with a basement. I thought it had "character"...now it's in the Watertower Place Mall...which is a very cool mall...but not the same, in my opinion.

I have to say, though, once we visited, I could see just how much more space this new store has. You're not so cramped anymore walking through it. So, all in all, I'd say it was a good change.

Chicago is STILL one of my favorite places to visit. It's full of life, things to do, places to go, and people to see.

On our way home, we did another thing I've always wanted to do...we visited the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale. This is an annual event that takes place in Vera Bradley's hometown of Ft. Wayne Indiana. I could explain it, but the pictures do a better job...here ya go:

When you walk into the huge convention center, here is what you see:

There are literally HUNDREDS of tables with Vera laid out on them. People receive this huge pink garbage bag to hold their choices. Then...they sit on the floor and sort their choices...like I am modeling here:

I will tell you, I shopped more on the floor than I did walking around! As workers would go by with armloads of new product, you'd say, "Can I see that?" And they would leave it for you to decide if you wanted or not! I made several texts to colleagues, friends, and family to see what they all wanted...so rest assured I'm shopping for about 6 people here!

Anyway, once you make up your mind...you get in THIS line to pay:

Never fear, though, people are sorting and dumping all the way through THIS line too! You might just see the one bag or item that you searched the entire hall for...laying on the side of the payment line. There is ONE more chance to change your mind at the register where they have boxes ready for this purpose. Then they lay your items on the counter like this....

After you have heart failure, remind yourself just how MUCH you are saving and how many people you are helping out, you check out and return to your car... tired, but happy at the bargains you've found and the fun you've had with great friends! (Note: We shopped this sale for FOUR hours!)

Sooo..that kind of fills you in on my last week or so. It was busy...fun...and refreshing. I'm ready for the end of another school year and looking forward to an exciting summer.

Random Dozen

1. Ever had any run-ins with the "library police?" Oh I am SURE it happened in college although I don't really remember a specific time.

2. Do you have a special organizational plan and place for wrapping paper, gift bags, etc., or do you just purchase whatever you need as you give gifts? Yes and yes. I have a great organizer for it where I have everything I need to wrap gifts, but most of the time I'm too busy to go to my great organizer and I find myself picking up exactly what I need and wrapping "on the go".

3. Have you ever been in (first-hand witness) a natural disaster? Hurricane Charley devestated our church building in 2005. I have to say that I really wish I had taken pictures. It was the largest natural disaster I've ever seen and it was also the largest outpouring of kindness and love I've ever seen. Amazing!

4. What's your favorite Barry Manilow song? It's not one of his more popular, but I LOVE "I Made it Through the Rain". In fact,I think I just might upload it to my iPod now that it's back on my mind today!






5. What's the best costume you've ever worn? This is an odd question, but this one is my favorite:

This is my friend Debra and I on our morning TV news show. The character's name is "Reada, Reada, Pumpkin Reader" and she helped the boys and girls get to know good reading strategies. It's not a GREAT costume...just one I enjoyed.

6. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus? Definitely the thesaurus. It's faster.

7. What's your favorite breakfast food? Pancakes.

8. Have you ever purchased anything from an infomercial? Yep, knives and the magic bullet. My DS 2 used to have all the infomercials memorized. It was quite an obsession for him for a while. :-)

9. Have you ever crawled through a window? Wow, I don't know. I am sure I have I just don't remember when or why. I remember my Mom crawling through the window of our current house when it was being built. She went through and opened it up for us and ripped her pants on the way in! It was a good laugh and a happy memory!

10. Do you believe in love at first sight? Since I said to myself the day I met my DH, "I'm going to marry him." Yes.

11. How many pairs of jeans do you own? About four. I wear about two though!

12. If someone were going to bake a cake to honor/represent you, what would it be? (Think creatively, like Duff and Crew on "Ace of Cakes.") Since I have no schema for "Ace of Cakes" and am not sure what this question is asking...I have to say it'd be my Grandma's Chocolate Cake...which is moist and rich. It requires no icing. Am I supposed to somehow connect that to a representation of me? It's been too long since I've played random dozen or let my mind go to the creative side, so I'm going to have put this answer on hold.

Some days are diamonds...

I know I'm dating myself when I reference a John Denver song here...but the song that has rolled around my head today is "Some days are diamonds, some days are stone." It's not so much for the extended lyrics which are the musings of a jilted lover when he consider how life has been "without her"...but his answer is appropriate for many situations beyond lost love:

"Some days are diamonds some days are stones--Sometimes the hard times won't leave me alone--Sometimes a cold wind blows a chill in my bones--Some days are diamonds some days are stones."

This is the thing though...we can fixate on the stone OR we can look for the gems that are often found inside!

Whether it's a diamond day, or a stone day, may we all find the gems that surround us.

Clean up at the salon...

I visited the salon today. This guy has cut my hair four times now. I like him. He's an artist. He has vision and likes to play with the hair and "create it". Today, while in the chair, he told me this story:

A new lady came in to the salon today to have him do her hair. She met him and then asked point blank, "Are you a Christian?" He said he answered "yes I am." She replied, "Good because I only give my business to Christians." Then he told me, "I would have said yes no matter what because I wanted her business." But he said, "I am a Christian of course."

Our conversation continued about how bold this woman's question was. Personally, and please don't misunderstand me here, I think it was inappropriate. While she got the answer she was looking for...it is evident from a little time in his chair (and his response to me regarding her question) that he is not likely an evangelical. I am not sure the last time he set foot in a church. Yet I suspect that these are the characteristics she was looking for.

I have to say I think this woman has it all wrong. When I consider exactly what Jesus would do and who would cut HIS hair were he looking in our city today....I suspect church attendance would not be his criteria. Nope. He'd probably be looking for the most "broken" sin-filled hair dresser in the city. (NOT that mine is...but you get my point, right?) I don't think his first question would be "Don't you want to know ME?" I am SURE it would be "Let me get to know YOU. Where you are. With nothing but grace and love."

Let me also say that I think she probably did little to further the kingdom today either. Her question became salon fodder. If it made an impact, it is a negative "who-does-she-think-she-is" one. And that breaks my heart!

One thing is for sure: there was a lot more to sweep up besides hair in that salon today.

It's Therapeutic...

For me, when blogging slows down, it means everything else is ramped up. My job. My home-life. My thought-life. Church. Family. My daily schedule. Everything.

I also find, though, at these times are precisely when I SHOULD blog! It's not so that the rest of the blogging community can have a glimpse into the mind of Susan. Instead it's so Susan can have a glimpse! In so many ways it's therapeutic.

Even on those days when my posts say little or nothing and don't go very deep, therapy happens. Here's why:

Blogging is a sort of reference point. Our pastor just finished a series titled "Reference Points" at church. Essentially, the point was that we all need reference points in our lives to help us navigate. Like the lighthouse that gives the ship's captain a reference to avoid rocks or the map that helps us know when we will arrive at our destination, a reference point allows us to see beyond the current circumstances and events.

When I read old posts, it reminds me of those times when I thought things were hopeless and I found hope. Or the times when I needed to count the blessings that flowed. The times when I missed opportunities to reach out. And the times when reaching out was so important. It reminds me that I am not alone. And that I can make it when I think I can't. It reminds me to be a knot-tier when I'm at the end of the rope. And to encourage others when they are at the end of theirs.

So, today as I blog I say, "Let the therapy begin!"

I know, I know...

My blog posts have become SO infrequent that it is a miracle if anyone is actually still reading! Life is just happening...FAST...right now. I can't say I haven't had TIME to blog, but by the time I think "Hmmm...I should blog." I am exhausted and don't have the stamina to get it done. Sooo...I promised pics from Spring Break Part II--which seems like an eternity ago. I've decided to go ahead and get them up here for this reason...

I was searching some blog archives not long ago where I promised to give an update or a part two or a follow-up post to something I wrote. I never did. And now I have no idea what the update was! So I decided to try and avoid that in the future cause it drove me crazy for a bit!

Spring Break Part II:

Wednesday of Spring Break, LG, DS 4, his friend B, and I headed out to the beach. I have to say that I "like" the beach, but I don't "love" the beach. And it was CHILLY for FL on this day, so it really wasn't high priority for me. Still I thought "I'll take my book out there and read and relax." After all I needed it!

LG and I set up on the beach. Where I figured out rather quickly that I FORGOT MY BOOK!

Sooo....I sat. And sat. And sat. And occasionally helped LG try and find shark's teeth in the water. And then I'd relax some more. For nine hours! It was wonderful doing absolutely nothing! While LG and I enjoyed playing and relaxing on the beach, DS 4 and his friend fished on the pier.
On Thursday, LG and I went to a local park and walked around. This park is gorgeous and filled with amazing foliage. But the highlight for her was "finally" getting to walk through a revolving door! She said, "I've seen one of those on the movie Elf, but I've never been in one!" Sooo...I told her to go through a few more times and I'd take her picture!


Then, it was on to another first for her...pedicures! The salon we chose even had "little girl" chairs. So fun!

The end of the week brought Easter preparations. We had a great block party at church on Saturday before Easter. Then, we celebrated Easter with the family and had a blast! I will try and post more pictures of those two events later on. For now, I'm confident that I've at least provided part two of the Spring Break week. :-) Hope all's well in the blogging world. I'll post again when I can.

Spring Break Reflections

We have officially finished Spring Break. For me it was like the players sliding around the bases during a great run at a baseball game. It had it's moments of pure joy and moments of weariness. But all in all it was a GREAT time!

Instead of picking one destination and going there to spend a few days, we decided to take several day trips. Or maybe I decided to take several day trips and they just humored me.

This adventure started with me taking LG to the fair on the first Saturday--She had a BALL! She rode everything...and I DO mean EVERYTHING! The faster the ride went, the better!
On Monday, DS 3 and LG and I headed out to our local science museum for a little hands-on fun! We followed that up with a trip to the Ringling Museum of Art where they have the work of Norman Rockwell on display. It was a beautiful day and a fun time! My favorite picture from the science museum is this one:


From there we went to the art museum where LG and I took time to pose near the Banyan trees:

And DS 3 took time to make fun of appreciate the art.


Then it was on to bowling where DS 4 showed us how it's done:



I don't think LG "got it"...


On Tuesday, we went to the Florida Air Museum, a Children's Museum, and to feed the swans in Lakeland. DS 3 says this photo, taken at the air museum, looks like a band photo...what do you think?

I thought this was a good "teachable moment"--although I'm not sure DS 4 really "got it":



We went to the Children's Museum for some more fun followed by a visit to Lake Morton in Lakeland. This is only a stone's throw from where DH and I went to college. We used to go out to this lake to feed the ducks/swans back then. It was fun to see the kids enjoy it as much as we used to!

We rounded out this day trip with a visit to a "Roaring 20's Pizza Parlor" near us. This was a throw back to a place we used to visit when I was a kid called "J Burns Pizza". When we walked in, they noticed it was filled with a lot of senior citizens. But, I enjoyed the trip down memory lane and the kids had a great time listening to the giant pipe organ and eating pizza.

This is how we finished Tuesday. I'll give an update on the second half of our break tomorrow.