what did i come in here for?

You know it is getting bad when your kids can actually come up with the answer to that question before you do. It seems that I am constantly entering a room, only to stand there because I can't remember what I went in there to do! "What did I come in here for again?"

Not sure where my mind has gone, but I have had some pretty good evidence that it is going.

...like the day I went into the library. I picked out a movie for our Friday "pizza and a movie" tradition. I went to the counter and started to root around in my wallet. I went from the very front pocket to the back pocket and looked in all of the slots in between. Now what was I supposed to be looking for, again? Oh yeah...my library card. Back to the front again to start the process over. Would you believe that it took me THREE times of looking in every pocket to actually remember what I was supposed to be getting out. By the time I actually figured it out, I was giggling to hide my embarrassment. Thankfully the kind librarian assured me that she forgets things sometimes, too. She proceeded to get my videos checked out, and I told her that if I came in in a few minutes looking confused, to remind me that I was supposed to be getting in the car!

...or the time that hubby and I were in the middle of a conversation about something (important, I'm sure!), and he got a really funny look on his face. Apparently I had just missed most of the conversation, and made a comment similar to the very thing he had just said.

...just this morning at church, I asked my daughter to go find her coat so we could leave. She and my other daughter looked at me and said, "Mom...you have it in your hands."

It is a good thing I have a friend with a great memory. She supplies me with all kinds of information that I should remember. Dates and times that my kids need to be places, the kind of protein bar that I ate for a solid year, but could not for the life of me remember, things I did in high school (although she never knew me then.....ok, that is a little freaky!) She remembers things that I don't even know I've forgotten....a good friend indeed! If I remember, I'll tell her thank you the next time I see her.

So, to conclude....if you see me wandering around a room with a really bewildered look on my face.....help a sister out, and remind me what I went in there for!

Well, that was fun!

...so, I got a call this week from the local librarian. This is not usually good news, rather one that is reminding me that the next time I come into town, "please bring the CD that was supposed to be included in the CD case you returned today." This call however, was a happy call. The story goes something like this...the last time I was in the library, the nice video lady mentioned that I might be interested in purchasing a video card. "because it's like getting two rentals free," she said. And...my name would then be put in a drawing at the end of the month for a free card....which would result in 12 more free rentals. Well, I was sold at the two free rentals, and bought the card. So...this week, I got a call saying that my name was actually drawn to get the free card. Funny how getting your name randomly drawn out of a hat instantly makes you feel like a local celebrity. Even if I and the librarian are the only ones that know about it!

...today, I came home to check out one of my favorite craft supply sites. They do a warehouse walk on Fridays, and I really enjoy watching the video to see the new crafting stuff. That really is kind of weird, now that I think about it. Anyway, if you make a comment at the end, you get a chance at a prize package of things shown in the video. Guess what? My name was randomly drawn....and a fun prize package is coming my way! I can't believe it.....so fun!

....and to top it all off...11 years ago, almost to the hour....I got the greatest prize of all. Oh, what a fun day it was.....wearing that beautiful gown, marrying the best guy on the planet. I love him to pieces! What a blessed girl I am....

An Ungrateful Heart

Wow....can you enter into this again with no explanation of your absence? Because there really isn't one.

I just know that when I woke up this morning and started to have my quiet time, I was struck with the need to pour out my thoughts, and honestly....this is quicker than writing.

I started a book yesterday called One Thousand Gifts. I made it through a chapter and a half...and while I wanted to keep on reading, I felt like I had to stop. To really absorb what I had just taken in. One paragragh, made right at the beginning...keeps ringing in my ears. "Ultimately, in his essence, Satan is an ingrate. Satan's sin becomes the first sin of humanity: the sin of ingratitude. Adam and Eve are, simply, painfully, ungrateful for what God gave them." The author, Ann Voscamp, then goes on to share her story...a heartbreaking one at that.

I woke up this morning....with a full agenda. My plans. Then I got a call from the school...that "in the best interest of your child, school will be delayed two hours" kind of call. I immediately began complaining. What do you mean school is delayed...I have plans today! In the middle of my whining, God brought the writings of Ann Voscamp to my mind...except He took the liberty of changing the names to expose the guilty. "Ellen...you are simply, painfully ungrateful for what God gave you." Ouch. He could have stopped there. "Your issues with food, your issues with insecurity, your issues with comparing yourself to others....an ungrateful heart."

So...right now, I will choose to be grateful...

...for the noises of my children, because it means they are full of life
...for the interruptions in my plans, because they really weren't that important in the big scheme of life
...for the reminder that I am not in control, because I really don't want to be
...for the chance to sit and sip my coffee, because that wasn't in "my plans"
...for an extra chance to encourage my son that he CAN do ISTEP today, because I would have missed it.
...that I am forgiven, because I really need it.
...that I could hear God speaking to me today, however painful, because it means He is working.

Dear Little Man,
Today, at the dentist's office, you walked in to your appointment all by yourself. No hiding behind me, no tears, no anxiety....at all. To any other adult in the office this afternoon, it was no big deal. To me...it was huge. Incredibly huge.

My prayer for you has been and will continue to be that you are a boy who is strong and courageous, who is not terrified because you know that your God is with you wherever you go.
You can't begin to imagine my joy at seeing that prayer being answered. You are growing by leaps and bounds this year....and it does this mom's heart proud.

May you continue to try new things, make new friends, and be all that God has made you to be. I love you to pieces, Little Man.

Mom

Want to play?

I really stink at this blogging thing. I thought I would keep up with it, and I actually have thoughts about fun posts running through my head...but I just can't seem to get them to come out through my fingertips. Strange.

So, for today, I bring you a little game. Because I thought it would be fun...and it just might be what causes me to get back into this whole blogging thing. We'll see....

My good friend over at The Back Door has been blogging about her recent move. I decided to have a little fun with her move, and made up a game of "I Spy" for my enjoyment...and maybe yours, too :) Click on over to her post from Feb. 17 and "spy" with me....

• I spy a box of freezer pops, Maxwell House coffee, a half-eaten bag of Skittles, a blooming cactus, a Valentine rose, a man looking at a cabinet like he isn't sure what to do with it (I wonder if the back door told him that being "in" the kitchen "stalling" wasn't the same as "installing" the kitchen?)
• I also spy an Aldi's bag, a very cute Vera bag, a George Foreman grill, and Grandma's china, and a man with a hinge on his cheek.
  
• Noticeably missing is a really cool column, which good friend has assured me will be making a comeback.

Did you find them all?

Spring....I long for you....

I am ready for spring...hence the new background.

The weather this week has been melting the snow rapidly, which is good for people like me, who hate to see dirty snow. I know some people like the dirty snow....really, they are out there. Right, Back Door? The sun has even shown its lovely face this week, which does wonders to my motivation.

Speaking of motivation, I cleaned out my hobby room yesterday. It was a long time coming....and it felt so good to actually be able to see the table underneath all of those piles of stuff. I am only three years (2007-2009) behind in my scrapbooking....my goal is to get caught up by the end of the year. I am confident that I can do it!

I am beginning a new type of scrapbooking project for 2010. It is called Project Life...and the idea is to take a picture every day, and journal about the picture you take....and by the end of the year, you have a chronicle of the year. It should simplify things quite a bit...and it will cause me to creatively take pictures of everyday things. I am really looking forward to it.

What are your goals for the new year?

I love being part of this family. Even when it is challenging.

Even though my fourteen year old son is taller than me...and my 12 year old has bigger feet than me...they still need me. I needed to remind myself of that just now.

Not only do they need me...but I really do need them, too. They keep my humble...and on my knees. They remind me daily that I need a Saviour to help me with this thing called parenting....and that keeps me dependent on Him. I need their laughter and their hugs...and I need them to encourage me with their love notes and acts of service.

This new season of parenting teens will be challenging for me. But...it will also be good for me. I need to be stretched...even when it hurts...because on the other side, it will make me a better mom.