A request for my teen friends about being cool...

So here's the deal, God blessed Craig and I with three of the funniest, most beautiful, and crazily different children.  No, this is not a bragging story, stick with me.  These really cool people come attached with some really cool friends (Start counting, cool is going to become a common word in this story, seriously stick with me).  

So for some reason these friends of my kids seem to really like Craig and me.  They ask his opinion and for help at the barn.  They hang out in my office (on second thought maybe they're just trying to skip class on that point).  Anyway, they vent to me their friend drama; they show me pictures of things that made them think of me (mostly coffee related).  I've prayed with these beautiful people, I've wiped tears, I've cried when they received scholarships and graduated from high school.  I have jumped up and down and yelled and made a fool of myself when they placed with their heifer or finaled with their solo.  And y'all, I can not tell you how my heart soars when one of them says "Love you Mama K, you’re the coolest!”  

Here's the deal y'all, I am the most un-cool person I know!  I worry when they do crazy dance stunts, I stress when they're in the rafters of the barn getting wood, I remind them to not text and drive, to wear sunscreen, not to drink, that nicotine is nasty and drugs are stupid.  I remind them to call their momma's and all the other seriously overprotective un-cool behavior mom's tend to dole out on a regular basis.  Yet still they insist, and I kind of love it.  So I’m going out on a limb here and am about to prove just how un-cool I truly am.  

Every decade has catch words or phrases that become popular and stick.  We all have our favorites!  In the 50's we had 'Cool' (are you keeping count?).  The 60’s was 'Groovy' (which means...say it with me...COOL!)  My personal favorite decade, the 80's, cool and groovy were replaced with 'Wicked' and 'Gnarly'.  The 90's was 'Phat' (y'all is this even a real word?).  But as we reflect back the words that replaced the outdated 'cool' they became a little odd.  So that brings us to the present.  In the early 2000's 'Sweet' was the new cool.  As in "Dude, that is one sweet ride!"  If someone said this to me I would take this as an ultimate compliment.  Sadly though just like all words, sweet became overused and some person out there decided to replace it with one of my least favorite phrases yet!  The word cool is supposed to be a compliment, however this new phrase...so NOT a compliment!  So here it is...'AF'.  Y'all, I can't even!  OK so here is where my teen friends are nodding their heads and my older friends (mom) are confused.  But if you don't know then please don't ask, don't Google, just slip peacefully past this current phrase whilst praying that the one that replaces it is gnarly.  Seriously that one was WAY better!

Y'all I know this is supposed to be the ultimate compliment, but (largest BUT ever here) it is so NOT!  Sweet girls, if some young man, boy, child texts you 'Quite frankly girl you are fine AF!'  Girls, run do not walk in the complete opposite direction!  This is NOT the person to bring home to momma and daddy and if I may borrow a phrase from my teen years, gag me with a spoon!  

My guys, if I ever hear y'all dissin' a young lady by using this particular statement, well Daddy-O, that is one big boo boo and Mama K will have no choice but to refer to you as a Dweeb for the remainder of your decades!

Y'all, girls are not fine AF, your truck is not fine AF, your boots are not fine AF and to be completely honest NOTHING is fine AF!

So there I go, proving my un-coolness and y'all I'm totally OK with that because quite frankly I'm ready for boys to go back to treating girls with respect and vice versa.  Y’all remember holding doors, holding hands, talking not snapping?  So what do y'all say, let’s come up with a new word for cool, huh?  

Go ahead, leave a comment for your suggestions...I KNOW they will all be totally rad!

Just say NO!!

What are we doing with our kids today?  Everything is select ball, competitive dance, private lessons, etc.  Whatever happened to just playing ball?  Just dancing?  Sometimes I just want to go back to June and the Beav, I know things weren't really perfect but they sure looked easier! 

Everyone wants their kid to be the best, to be the star.  It's human nature and quite frankly I believe that anyone who says otherwise is in complete denial.  Don't get me wrong, I'm right there with them.  I sink way to much money into competitive dance so that I can hopefully watch my daughter at the end of an 18 hour day receive a cheap trophy that will clutter her room.  In 20 years will she look back fondly on all those hours we spent together or will she only remember that five minutes before she went on the floor we were both in tears over something as stupid as the right shade of glitter. 

Why does everything have to be bigger and badder?  (You know bad as in the good bad.)  Bigger is not always better.  Why are children receiving iPads as Christmas gifts?  Do we believe that spending thousands of dollars on our children will make them love us more?  Is it guilt because we are so busy we don't actually spend time with our kids?  I watch parents have lunch with their kids at school and they are on the phone the whole time.  Is this the new quality time?  Again, I fully admit I am always plugged into my iPhone and am a textaholic.  So I guess I need to ask myself, "Self, is that costing you a relationship with your kids?  Your husband?  Your friends?"  The answer is most likely, yes.

Why are we as a society putting ourselves either in debt or jeopardy of going into debt for STUFF?  For private dance lessons, pitching lessons, voice lessons, the list just goes on.  Let's face reality people, 95% of our children will not grow up to be any sort of pro athlete or the next American Idol or So You Think You Can Dance winner. 

What if 10 of us banded together and just said No?  Twenty of us?  What if we all decided we want a simple life.  We want backyard BBQ's, pick up football games, marathon games of Monopoly.  Simple dance lessons instead of weekends taken over by hairspray, glitter and tears. 

I realize that in saying all this I am asking myself to stop obsessing over the latest Michael Kors bag (it's so BEAUtiful!) and the suede boots that match my Alma Matter's school colors (cause I really need them right?  But they are SO cute!).  But if we could all just step back for just a minute, maybe a season, what could we accomplish?  Could we hear the stories our grandparents would love to tell us of the good ole days but we are always too busy to sit down and listen?  Could we learn something new about our children, our spouse, ourselves?  The options are endless if we all just say NO!

Did you already say NO?  Post a comment and tell me how.

What are you THANKFUL for?

Thanksgiving shouldn't be the only day we give thanks but it seems that it is the one day that we all go around saying what we are thankful for.  Why don't we do that more often?  Why, instead of complaining, don't we walk around saying "I'm thankful for...".  I have a few friends that do seem to always be thankful and I'm thankful for them and their cheerful attitude...most of the time.  I admit that sometimes that cheerfulness just sends me over the edge...I kind of want to knock them over.  (Not really, but sort of.  You know who you are!) 

But today, today I want to shout from the rooftops what I'm thankful for! 

I am THANKFUL for a father that is here with us to enjoy another Thanksgiving!  In the midst of his multiple medical issues he is here for another day!
I am THANKFUL for a mother that knows only how to give and give and give!  The most selfless person I have ever met!
I am THANKFUL for a husband who loves me, flaws and all.  Who has stuck by me through the good, bad and ugly.  Who chose me (even though I'm pretty sure I made it impossible for him not to)!
I am THANKFUL for my Jolly Green Giant who has the biggest heart of any kid I have ever known and loves to stop me in the middle of whatever I'm doing and give me a hug.
I am THANKFUL for The Author and his precious tender heart hidden beneath his tough guy attitude.  (Secrets out dude)!
I am THANKFUL for The Princess who makes me smile just looking at her.  Who dances through life with so much joy!
I am THANKFUL for my friends (near and far) who are there to share a drink, a laugh, a shoulder, a prayer, a tear.
I am THANKFUL for the men and women who are fighting so that we can be FREE!
I am THANKFUL for husbands, wives and children who are missing their soldiers on this holiday so we can be FREE!
I am THANKFUL for an awesome God and that I BELIEVE!

I am THANKFUL!!!

Don't be shy, tell me why your THANKFUL!!!

Wandering Words Wednesday...

"Hey Mom, dogs are really lucky! Know why? After they fart they get to wave it away...with their tail!"
Dare you not to giggle!

Laughter through tears, tears through laughter?

Longest, most draining, emotionally ravaged week ever.  Do you ever have those?  Where you're just emotionally drained?  When the tears come so easy and the smiles are forced?  When you look in the mirror and you try to smile and notice that your only smiling with your mouth and it looks strange?  When you know you put makeup on in the morning and for some unbeknownst reason your face has soaked it up?  How does that happen by the way? 

That's this week and when I opened my eyes at 5:15 this SATURDAY (what?) morning I realized it was Saturday and laid my emotionally drained head back down on the soft pillow and tried desperately to go back to sleep.  No luck.  I laid there with my mind going crazy and the tears starting to fall until I could no longer stand it and got up for my coffee.  When the sleepy eyed brood stumbled from their rooms I allowed one to eat their cereal on the den floor, (carpet and milk a big no no in my house!  And another to eat Rice Krispie treats for the morning nourishment (usually reserved for only me).  I listened to the hacking and coughing and sniffling from the other room and remembered with a bowed head that I forgot to give my children their medicine before bed.  Shameful mother I am...letting my emotionally wrecked week keep me from doing what I love most, taking care of my offspring.  Thinking that this day would be a downer and I would spend it in my jammies with my head hung and the to do list never crossed off, the Author came in and in one small moment changed my outlook!

Author:  *sniff sniff, cough cough* "You know what I'm thinking would be good tonight, mom?"
Me: *preoccupied* "What?"
Author:  *sniff sniff, cough cough* "Medicine!"
Me: *blank stare on my face*
Author:  "Because just now I coughed and looked down and I think I saw my lung on the floor!"

Just when I think I can't make it one more second they make me laugh!  So while my day may still consist of a never ending to-do list that will stay crossed off and the jammies will remain I will laugh maybe through tears but I will laugh!  I hope you laugh too!

Quality family time, dadgummit!

When I was growing up we rented a beach house every year, the same beach house.  It became 'ours', I loved it!  My dad was a workaholic banker who didn't know the meaning of 'banker's hours'.  So this was heaven to him, to take his girls and run away for a week.  As soon as we got there mom had to clean, forget that it had already been cleaned, she had to clean again!  And we had to unload the two car fulls of (excuse my language) CRAP that we toted up.  We would finally be ready to "vacation" just in time for dinner and no quickie dinner for this family it was full out dinner complete with dishes.  Finally, finally we were done and my sister and I would put on our suits and get ready to run out the door and down to the beach when dad would yell from the other room.  "Are we ready for a family walk on the beach?"    Don't get me wrong, we appreciated that our parents took us to the beach each year but neither of us wanted to walk on the beach with our parental units.  We wanted to walk on the beach looking cool scoping out cute boys.  But nooooo we had to wait for the dishes to be done and then we all had to walk out on the beach for some "Quality family time, dadgummit!"  Now I know that this phrase is not in the dictionary due to the fact that as far as I know my dad basically invented it but if it was I believe this is how it would be listed.

Quality Family Time, Dadgummit! - Time spent with one's family albeit under duress and huge embarrassment to the children.  Most often heard yelled by the parental units while on vacation (see Disney World) and Sunday afternoon walks.

The latter is what brought about today's post.  I, being the rebellious daughter I was, hated, hated  quality family time!  It was always, always  a big huge hot mess!  It started with good intentions but always ended up with frustrations, tears, embarrassments and guilt.  But, like all good parents we forget what we swore "we would NEVER do" and I frequently torture, guilt and bribe my children to spend quality family time with me.  Well today it was decided by someone (though the instigator chooses to remain silent and no it was not me!) that a family walk with dogs would be good fun on this beautiful Sunday afternoon.  So while the Jolly Green Giant and the Princess hopped on their bikes, my sweet husband took one of the puppies and the...hmmm...has he been named yet?  I don't think so.  Well henceforth the middle child shall be known as the Author.  The Author  took the other puppy (again I am well aware that these 70 lb. beasts are no longer puppies but that is what they were grouped as when they were brought home and shall be named that forever.)  I hooked up the last leash to my sweet  furry hysterectomy baby (story for another time) and off we went.

All started out a little rocky in that the Author has a broken arm and puppy #1 was not behaving as well as she should have which made her hard to handle with two good hands forget having one in a cast.  So sweet husband takes both puppies and we are now walking along like a proper family.  Picture it will you?  A beautiful family (it's my dream we can be beautiful) walking/riding along on a sunny Sunday afternoon with their faithful furry friends in tow.  Let's sit on that butterfly moment for just a second shall we? 

Moving on...cut to "let's go (through the stretch of overgrowth that hasn't been properly maintained but always makes for a fun and interesting walk) tourist route home.  And that would be when "Quality Family Time, Dadgummit" started: 

• Issue #1: The Princess can't get her bike to move properly across the cracked sidewalk with tufts of grass sticking up. 
• Issue #2: The Jolly Green Giant  is behind the Princess and is annoyed by her slow pace for bike riding. 
• Issue #3:  The Author is once again losing control of Puppy #1 due to her excitement over the tall grass. 
• Issue #4:  The Queen (yup that's right I get a name too!) was not aware that the walk was going to take such a turn and is wearing cute sparkly flip flops that are not meant for traipsing through knee high grass with goodness knows what lurking just inchs from her feet. 
• Issue #5:  The furry hysterectomy baby was trying to hop through the grass like she does (I believe she's part bunny) and was having such a hard time she decided to just cop a squat. 

So we pass the huge patch of overgrowth and the Princess takes off at which time the Jolly Green Giant  aka Dudley Doo Right is yelling at her to slow down for us.  My frustrated husband tells him to just go catch up with her and for them to head home.  And just as we are settling in to a nice calm walk...we hear a thump and the Author is down, crumpled on the ground holding his knee, blood oozing from his bottom lip, broken arm protected by a huge cast and the culprit that brought upon such horror...sitting beside him panting, drooling, licking her pet and feeling rather pleased I would assume.  My defeated husband takes back control of both puppies, I wrap my arm around the author and we limp home. 

And that my faithful friends is how this family has "Quality Family Time, Dadgummit!" 
Now don't just sit there...go out and create your own memories!  Or better yet...I'd love to hear your very own "Quality Family Time, Dadgummit!" stories!  Don't be shy...you know you wanna share...post a comment!

Letting go...

Oh how I loved her!  She wasn't a sports car...she was a sedan...(but shhhh don't tell her that...she had no idea!)  She took corners on a dime, she had a turn radius like no ones business.  She had dark tinted windows that hid me when I hadn't done my makeup or was singing along with Nickelback.  She had a sunroof that slid all the way back to let that glorious light shine in on me warming me to my bones.  Her pedals were sleek and smooth.  She had a stereo system...*sob* forgive me. 

But she had (problems), my sweet husband calls it a gremlin in the electrical system.  I called it her uniqueness.  Always keeping me on my toes...would the speedometer work today or not?  Would the radio come on or would it make me drive in silence to work with my own thoughts but then mysteriously start working the minute I sank down into her soft leather seats after a long day.  ahhhhhhh
My girlfriend asked what her name was?  Name?  Name?  She was too cool for a name, she was like Prince just a sign (artist formerly known as).  Oh she was beautiful and she was mine! 

But the problems with her and the fact that the "beast", as we have come to refer to the oldest child who seems to be growing like the Jolly Green Giant, could hardly fit in the back seat anymore meant that my sweet husband started telling me that "it was time".  NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! 

So as we drive that Sunday he points out cars that he thinks are appropriate while I sit in the front of his truck arms firmly folded across my chest, brows furrowed, I mean all you have to do is picture a 3 year old trying to be forced to eat brussel sprouts and there you have me!!!  I hated everything, it made me nauseous to think of sitting behind the wheel.  I'd done the "big car thing" no thank you!  Not going back!  But as we are at a stop light, I look over and see a beautiful black car shining in the sunlight, it has such sleek lines, oh it is wondrous looking!  As I point out this beauty I would be happy to own, my frustrating husband laughs and tells me that it's the same car I currently own yet in a different color.  "Well, at least I'm consistent!"  After a good laugh at my expense, he points out another car, a bigger car.  At which I make the tragic mistake of saying, "Well, that one doesn't make me want to throw up in my mouth."  Big mistake, huge!!  Before I can say another word we are off to the dealership (which thankfully was closed) to take a look at this thing. 

The one we look at isn't bad, it's actually very pretty, nicely loaded and doesn't seem that large.  So...a day off is planned and we head to the dealership (a different dealership because we found a better deal) two days later.  I climb behind the wheel and OMG it's HUGE!!!  And I feel old, and since I'm nearing 40, I don't need help feeling old.  My kids do that all too well!  My stubborn husband convinces me that this IS the best option right now and that if I'll do this now in a couple of years I can go back to a car car.  Well now, this poor salesman has no idea how to handle this situation.  A woman is about to get a new (used) car and she is sitting in the seat crying and praying that they wont make the deal.  I'm not sure but I think he canceled his engagement that night thinking women are CRAZY!!! 

But we do make the deal and we drive away leaving my baby back at the dealership where I pray that she will go to a good home (knowing full well she will really go to auction...thank you mean husband for putting that in my head!). 

Now, in defense of Bessie (yes I let my girlfriend name this one) she is a very smooth ride, she is luxurious, she has enough seating that none of my 3 children have to so much as touch each other while in the car.  She has a sunroof (though the placement doesn't allow the sun to really warm me to my bones), and she has a good sound system (though I feel a little foolish jammin' with no tint on the front windows).  But she seems to be a good car so far.  Though while driving in it I do feel less than young and sporty. 

Let me also admit this...I used to get looks in my fabulous car...I mean stares!  Seriously!!!  I must be one hot looking momma!!!  I loved it...when I didn't feel great about myself I'd hop in her smooth seats, let the sunroof open, turn up the radio and fly!  Man, I would feel AHHHMAZING!!!  Well I know now the sad sad truth...everyone was staring not at me but at her...but I don't blame them...I would too!

Good bye old friend...it was a good ride!!  You will not be forgotten...*sob*sob*sob*

"Lines, Vines, and Trying Times"

So for my daughter's birthday we decided to surprise her with tickets to...wait for it...The Jonas Brothers!  Yup, her first concert and she would be seeing none other than Nick Jonas!  Can't you just hear little girls screams all over the world?  Well, me being the pitiful mom that I am first of all didn't know they were even in town until the Monday before the concert .  But I've been to this venue before and when your on the lawn it's relaxing, feels like a picnic...ummm...not for a kids concert! 

Okay so first of all between Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers we had almost 45 minutes of downtime! (What?)  Yup!  First they showed commercials for the Disney channel...um I can watch those at home!  Then for the next 30 minutes it was an empty stage!  Seriously?  Seriously! 

So finally the Jo Bros come out on stage to a slew of screaming teenagers...one of which was about to stand on my head she was so close to me!  But here's the bummer part...the adults were all standing up so guess what (big tall adult people who shouldn't care anything at all about this boy band), yep the sweet little girls standing behind you CAN'T SEE!  My sweet girl and her friend were getting frustrated, not only could they not see the stage but they couldn't even see the screens.  So off my husband goes to get some popcorn because at least maybe they can sit down and listen to the music and have a snack.  Getting popcorn shouldn't be a huge deal but he had already stood in line for 45 minutes to get four water bottles (oh and no lids?  What?)  So he trudges up the hill to get popcorn for the princesses only to be told that THE WHOLE ENTIRE VENUE IS SOLD OUT OF POPCORN!  Yes I'm serious!  So he comes back and wanting to be the hero he decided he will take turns putting the girls on his shoulders so they can see.  Usually I would feel bad about such a thing but since 18 thousand other people were doing it in front of us...what the heck.  Just as my hero of a sweet husband raises his birthday girl princess up a teeny bopper directly behind my back starts screaming "Put your daughter down!"  Oh no you didn't!!!
I turn around, look directly up (because I'm a good adult and sitting) into her face and say "I don't think so!!"  She says nothing and I could tell even in the dark that she is blushing....not such a big cool girl now are we? 

So we sit for two more songs and I watch my daughter who was so very excited for her for concert want nothing more than to just go home.  My heart is breaking, just rip it out of my chest breaking! 
So we load up our stuff with promises of a Sonic midnight ice cream trip.  Well they made it out of the parking lot before they were sound asleep.  So much for the fabulous "night to remember". 

So "Hey You", next time you take "Your Biggest Fan" to a kids concert, "Keep It Real" and sit down so that all the kids behind you can see.  Because really, at this type of show, it's not about us, it's about the "Kids Of The Future".  "That's Just How We Roll"!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...almost...

Have you missed me?  No?  So sad, I've missed you.  But school has started, which means that the chaos has begun.  My house is never fully cleaned (like it was during the summer, ha!).  No one has the clothes clean that they want when they want, and I'm exhausted and shut down by 9:00 p.m.  But I can feel fall coming closer and closer and it is the most wonderful time of the year! 
Not this most wonderful time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwcYbo7pjto  However, this is a ridiculously funny video and before I went back to work (for a school) I'm sure I felt this way too! 
No, the most wonderful time of the year is when the days are short and the nights are cool.  I love driving home from the kids activities and seeing lights burning behind the open shades of houses.  I like to imagine a very June Cleaver image behind those lamp lit windows.  Don't get me wrong I love the lazy days of summer.  But the warmth of fall, it's just too much!
I'll try to be better at keeping up, I know you care!  And you know you care too, it's okay, you don't have to admit it, it'll be our secret.  ;0)

Here we go again...

I started back to work this week.  Don't get me wrong, I don't mind working, some days I even like it.  What don't I like about working?  My house seems to fall apart.  The laundry is always behind, I usually leave in the morning with dishes in the sink and there are "to do" piles EVERYWHERE!  There just aren't enough hours in the day to do everything that needs to be done (or that I want to do).  And the kids will start back to school soon, so we will add on homework and after school activities.  Geez I sound whiny huh? 

Oh well, if your a "stay at home" or "work from home" mom enjoy the few precious hours that will be coming your way soon!  And if your a "work outside of home" mom like me...enjoy that your kids will soon be stuck inside a building like you, instead of off doing fun things with their grandma!  *insert evil laugh here* 

Wandering Words Wednesday...(oh the things they say)

Princess:  "Momma, I'm gonna be really wealthy when I'm a teenager!"
Me:  "When your a teenager?"
Princess:  "Yup!  You can be REALLY wealthy when your a teenager!"
Me:  "And how do you do that?"
Princess:  "You get a music agent, I've seen it on TV."
Me:  "So your gonna sing?"  (Please note...we have no musical talent whatsoever in this family...dancing yes...singing...not so much!)
Princess:  "Hello!  One hit wonder!"
Me:  "Do you know what a 'One hit wonder' is?"
Princess:  "Yes! (read: 'duh!') It's when you sing one song, make a ton of money and live off of it forever!"

Alrighty then, I've got my retirement plan, what's yours?

Time flies...

I was digging through old pictures the other day looking for something and came across this, it was taken forever ago, I was probably pregnant with the Princess.  I would give almost anything to go back to that time, sit down beside those sweet little people and to find out what they were talking about before they were so rudely interrupted by their mother wanting to preserve that moment.  Did I take enough time to listen to their sweet little voices and to watch them play or to play with them?  I hope so, though as I listen to their deepening voices now it makes me think I certainly did not take nearly the time I should have.  In those moments you think it will last forever but it won't and before you know it those chubby little arms and faces will be replaced with muscled arms, facial hair and braces.  Don't get me wrong, they are just as beautiful now as they were then, but if these years passed that quickly, imagine how the next ten will go.  I'd rather not...

                                            YOU WALK AWAY

It feels like yesterday when you were in the warm confines of my body. I felt your hiccups, kicks, punches and somersaults. You climbed your way into the world and entered the warm embrace of my arms. I touch you, cuddle and kiss you. I nurse you and then they take you away, off to the nursery to be checked out. It is the first time in 9 months to be away from you. I feel empty as I watch them walk away.

You decide four months later that you want to hold a bottle, not be restricted in my arms while I nurse you. I watch your father carry you and your bottle off to bed as y’all walk away.

Your too attached to me they say. Is there such a thing? I put you in preschool, they have to peel your arms off of my body when I drop you off and you run to me when I pick you up, at first. But you like your teacher and you have new friends and as we enter the classroom I watch you run away.

Kindergarten, your eyes plead to be a baby again and climb up in my arms, but your pride makes you be strong. Tentatively you step into the large school. You see a friend and start to chat. I watch you walk away.

The truck is washed; you look so handsome in your tux. You growl when I take your picture and beg off my kiss. As you leave, to pick up your prom date, I watch you drive away.

You got a football scholarship; you are so excited, good dorm, great friends and lots of parties and girls, in your future. You don’t want your mom to help you move in. You struggle under the weight of the boxes as I watch you stagger away.

“She looks beautiful, wait until you see her” I say. “I hope you will be happy and all your dreams come true. Don’t make me wait too long for grand babies” I say. The pastor pronounces you husband and wife. Through eyes overflowing with tears, I watch you walk down the aisle to your new life and the woman in it, giving her the hugs and kisses that used to be mine. You both run through the shower of birdseed to the truck and at the end you stop and turn around. I watch you walk towards me. “I love you mom” you say, “I’ll call you when we get back”. My heart is full as I watch you walk away.

© Kimberly www.coffeeandfaith.blogspot.com 2010

Just a little break...

I ran away for a couple of days...loaded up a bag, jumped in the car with three of my girlfriends and off we went.  Sounds carefree right?  Wrong...don't misunderstand me...it was a FABULOUS time full of laughter and silliness.  But we were also calling our families checking in reminding about what needed  to be done or how something needed to be handled or even handling things that quite frankly could have been handled by the spouses and children left at home. 

But that has me thinking?  What would have happened had we not made the countless phone calls and texts back home?  Would everyone have made it to their activities, would they have remembered to take the checks that needed to be paid or to make the phone calls and that needed to be made? 

My sweet husband hunts and fishes and travels for work and when he calls in he is calling in to say hey, that's it.  When I call in it's to say hey but usually it's a reminder also of who needs to go where and when.  Of course he had it all handled, he remembered every little detail (it might have been the detailed list I left on the table for him) or he might have remembered on his own?  ;0) 

I have no doubt that while I'm gone my children are well taken care of but I have a hard time relinquishing the control that I have when I'm home.  Is it because we don't think they can do it as well as us?  That it wont be done the way we WANT it to be done?  Hmmm...sounds like I need to test a theory?  Road trip anyone? 

Just kidding babe!

About that turtle...

Late yesterday evening we drove home after a fun filled day at the beach with three sleepy, sandy, windswept kids in the back seat and as we rounded the corner I pointed out that they (a particular family that NEVER mows their yard) had mowed.  Nobody said anything until my sweet husband said in a low murmur, "Guess it's a good thing we moved the turtle huh?"  The yard that had FINALLY been mowed was the same yard that we had first moved the turtle to for protection.  Luck or divine intervention?  I prefer to think that God looks out for even the smallest, most trivial things in our lives.  Like saving a turtle...