It has been a rough week in Whoville. My mother in law Carol, whom I love and adore greatly, was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer on Monday. This is a huge blow for our family. So, I haven't felt much like blogging this week. I didn't feel much like anything this week. My lovely husband, George headed up north to be with his family for the weekend. Unfortunately, it wasn't prudent to bring the three kids and myself too.
So, I went through the normal stages all in a week I'm thinking. All except denial. There's kinda no way to deny this is happening. I've been praying and my kids and family and friends and church and even the diocesan prayer chain have been praying for Carol. So there I was at Mass today. Mike, the band and myself. Yup, just me and Mike singing. Dear God is this what you want from me? Seriously? The songs were I Surrender, Prepare the Way, How Great is Our God, and Christ be our Light. So, I told God, okay, they're Your ears and if this is what you want okay. Thankfully, right as Mass was about to start, someone else showed up so it wasn't just me (thank you, God).
As I'm singing, I get through the first two songs okay. I get teary on Prepare the Way. But I did okay. Then, we got to How Great is our God. This is one of my favorite songs. So much so that it is my ringtone on my cell phone. Anywho, this is where the tears started. And, in the middle of the song and the tears it truly hits me. How great is our God? Even in the midst of my sorrow this week I can tell you without a doubt I was carried. I was carried by the Guffeys and the Kays, and the Overholts, and the Murtha's and even 1500 miles away, the Dudiks and of course, God. My family has lovingly been carried all week. How awesome is it that in the midst of all of this talk of death and cancer and chemo I can sing with my heart full of love for Him and His glorious coming while my heart is heavy at the impending passing of one whom I love so dear? How great is our God? He's pretty awesome if you ask me. May each of you be blessed this second week of Advent.
Love,
Me
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
The Christmas Spirit
So, it is the Christmas season. I knew this time was coming when in the end of SEPTEMBER a store was putting out Christmas decorations before Halloween! As I grow older, it takes me a little longer each year to get into the 'Christmas Spirit'. And, by Christmas spirit, I mean gearing up to shop for my lovely, but sometimes ungrateful children. My son, whose 13 started asking about a month an a half ago for a PSP. Now, in his room, my son has a computer (older model that he got for his bday this spring) on which he can watch dvds, a cd player, stereo system, ipod shuffle, and a gameboy. But, he really wants a PSP. One look at the $169 price tag and I felt quite confident in telling him "son, you were not PSP good this year". "WHAT?" he says in exasperation. So, I was going to start with exhibit a and go from there, but I figured in the end it would sound something like "exhibit DD" So, I just gave him the gist of the list and how we (my lovely husband and I) have to always tell him to do his chores. Never does he do them on his own. That is unless he wants something. He then asks if he could have our old printer that's in the garage b/c you just know a 13 year old boy with no Internet connection in his room has a lot to print out. And he reminds me "it's FREE!" So, I tell him I think he was free good this year, lol. Yea, messing with your kids has got to be one of the greatest perks of parenting.
So, now, add in the two girls the one I call my sanity is about to turn twelve, and the ten year old drama queen. I call her my sanity b/c most times when the other two are spinning out of control, she just stays in one spot. Kind of like a weeble. She wobbles, but doesn't fall down (one of the most awesome toys of my childhood!). And don't forget my husband. I never know what to get him and I always try to top myself every year. Of course, I think this year I've got wife stock saved up b/c I surprised him with a 40th bday party in September and his bday isn't until January! I even had his best friends fly in from all over the country. So, maybe this year I don't have to go over the top.
I must confess though, that I'm not the easiest person to shop for either. One year I got a paraffin wax spa thing. It's where you dip your hands into almost boiling wax and look like Edward Scissorhands before the knives, for about 5 minutes. Then, peel of the was and viola! Soft, silky hands. Of course, this only lasts for about 5 minutes b/c then your hands are back to dishes and clorox, and laundry. Then, my kids got me a foot bath massager. You soak your feet and can turn it on vibrate, heat, bubbles or all of the above. This is fun. But eventually (read 20 minutes later) the water cools down and after drying my feet off, I get to do a blancing act of carrying the footbath full of water across the room or outside to empty it. Inevitably, spilling 'a little' of the contents onto the floor or carpet. I truly do appreciate these gifts. My children are trying to give me the spa experience. However, I don't think they realize that a big part of the salon experience is going out to the actual nail salon, by myself, no kids and having someone with strong hands rub my feet with their big, rolling pin like hands and then delicately painting my toes with OPI's I'm not really a waitress red. I get to sit back in a massage chair that should be deemed illegal by the way it rubs, or at least should by me dinner first, and zone out and let my mind go blank. On purpose. Not the blank it likes to go on its own. Instead my home spa experience consist of me relaxing with my feet in lukewarm bubbling water while the kids run up and down the stairs like a heard of elephants b/c walking just takes too long, and the dog going ape b/c she can see a dog on our lawn through the window and the phone is ringing and there's now kids at the door. In the end who needs calgon? It only dries out my skin anyways.
So, yes. The Christmas season is here. My house is decorated (I'm almost finished), and I have a good bit of the shopping done and Advent season has begun and it's time to prepare for the coming of Christ. The last part I am excited about. It's the beginning of a new church year, Christ is coming and all is well with the world!
May each of you have a blessed Advent season and find some peace in your day.
Love,
Me
So, now, add in the two girls the one I call my sanity is about to turn twelve, and the ten year old drama queen. I call her my sanity b/c most times when the other two are spinning out of control, she just stays in one spot. Kind of like a weeble. She wobbles, but doesn't fall down (one of the most awesome toys of my childhood!). And don't forget my husband. I never know what to get him and I always try to top myself every year. Of course, I think this year I've got wife stock saved up b/c I surprised him with a 40th bday party in September and his bday isn't until January! I even had his best friends fly in from all over the country. So, maybe this year I don't have to go over the top.
I must confess though, that I'm not the easiest person to shop for either. One year I got a paraffin wax spa thing. It's where you dip your hands into almost boiling wax and look like Edward Scissorhands before the knives, for about 5 minutes. Then, peel of the was and viola! Soft, silky hands. Of course, this only lasts for about 5 minutes b/c then your hands are back to dishes and clorox, and laundry. Then, my kids got me a foot bath massager. You soak your feet and can turn it on vibrate, heat, bubbles or all of the above. This is fun. But eventually (read 20 minutes later) the water cools down and after drying my feet off, I get to do a blancing act of carrying the footbath full of water across the room or outside to empty it. Inevitably, spilling 'a little' of the contents onto the floor or carpet. I truly do appreciate these gifts. My children are trying to give me the spa experience. However, I don't think they realize that a big part of the salon experience is going out to the actual nail salon, by myself, no kids and having someone with strong hands rub my feet with their big, rolling pin like hands and then delicately painting my toes with OPI's I'm not really a waitress red. I get to sit back in a massage chair that should be deemed illegal by the way it rubs, or at least should by me dinner first, and zone out and let my mind go blank. On purpose. Not the blank it likes to go on its own. Instead my home spa experience consist of me relaxing with my feet in lukewarm bubbling water while the kids run up and down the stairs like a heard of elephants b/c walking just takes too long, and the dog going ape b/c she can see a dog on our lawn through the window and the phone is ringing and there's now kids at the door. In the end who needs calgon? It only dries out my skin anyways.
So, yes. The Christmas season is here. My house is decorated (I'm almost finished), and I have a good bit of the shopping done and Advent season has begun and it's time to prepare for the coming of Christ. The last part I am excited about. It's the beginning of a new church year, Christ is coming and all is well with the world!
May each of you have a blessed Advent season and find some peace in your day.
Love,
Me
Friday, November 30, 2007
From Garth to Oprah
So, I'm not a huge fan of country music. I like it. Truth be told, there isn't much I don't like music wise. But like most people, I went through a country phase. Some never grow out of it. My best friend Carol, for example loves country music. My daughter Sarah, yes, the sick drama queen, loves country. And, by country I mean anything by Kenny Chesney b/c that's what her best friend Megan likes and the only country she's been exposed too. But, I digress...in my country phase, one of my favorite songs was Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks. I listened to it. A lot. Did you know that there's a third verse to the song? Yup, there is, however they rarely play it on the ra-i-a-dio. (that's tribute to Two of a Kind Working on a Full House by Garth)
Where was I? Oh, yea, like Garth, I've got friends in low places. However they aren't at the local honky tonk bar ridin' bulls and getting all liquored up. No, my closest friends are in the low valleys with me be it Shannon who does a Tom Thumb run for me since I couldn't leave a sick kid and I couldn't take her either, Julie who sends a loving email of 'call me with whatever you need', Patti with her awesome prayers, Kim O who calls to check in, Kim K. who let's me take complete advantage of her nursing skills, or Carol who lovingly listens to me cry, whine, and complain that I am sick and my child is sick and I feel generally like crap and in her loving, calm voice tells me that it's okay, everything is going to be alright.
You know Oprah says that "lot's of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down." So, the way I've got it figured, I'm richer than Garth and Oprah put together. I've got friends who aren't just with me through my highs, but who are walking right next to me in the lows, and truth be told, sometimes they're carryin' me. And, Oprah...fugedaboudit! My friends wouldn't only ride the bus when the limo broke, we'd have a grand old time on the ride!
Love,
G
Where was I? Oh, yea, like Garth, I've got friends in low places. However they aren't at the local honky tonk bar ridin' bulls and getting all liquored up. No, my closest friends are in the low valleys with me be it Shannon who does a Tom Thumb run for me since I couldn't leave a sick kid and I couldn't take her either, Julie who sends a loving email of 'call me with whatever you need', Patti with her awesome prayers, Kim O who calls to check in, Kim K. who let's me take complete advantage of her nursing skills, or Carol who lovingly listens to me cry, whine, and complain that I am sick and my child is sick and I feel generally like crap and in her loving, calm voice tells me that it's okay, everything is going to be alright.
You know Oprah says that "lot's of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down." So, the way I've got it figured, I'm richer than Garth and Oprah put together. I've got friends who aren't just with me through my highs, but who are walking right next to me in the lows, and truth be told, sometimes they're carryin' me. And, Oprah...fugedaboudit! My friends wouldn't only ride the bus when the limo broke, we'd have a grand old time on the ride!
Love,
G
Thursday, November 29, 2007
A wise man once said....
I apologize. Apparently, in my zeal for the genius savant, I have aged him prematurely. Said genius is not 5, but 3.5. When it was brought to my attention that I aged their son, my proper response was....'it's his genius that makes him seem wise beyond his years'. Yea, it's like that. I'm a wise one! Confusious (or Confucious, I've found it both ways) has nothing on me. Although, neither does confusion!
Love,
Me
Love,
Me
Little toes and fever chills
So, this morning I'm talking to Kim K. (Yes, I can proudly say I have more than one Kim in my life!) And, while being the amazing multi-tasking mom that she is (working from home, homeschooling, and currently pregnant with baby number 5) Her adorable 5 year old decides he wants to play office and type on her computer as she's trying to work. Of course being the amazing mom she is she calmly tells him to stop. I thought I liked this kid before, now I adore him. Why you ask? Well in a word, he's a genius. Since Kim told him not to type on the computer. He figured out another way. He began typing with his toes! A five year old savant! Why didn't my kids get this gene? So, in the middle of our conversation I hear 'don't type with your toes!' Of course I busted out laughing. How cool is that?!? Like I said the kids a genius! I told Kim, "Hey, be thankful your kid has ten toes to type with." I'm thinkin' it would be a lot tougher if he had less toes. Plus, it just has to be said again, the kid is genius.
My kids are amazing in their own way too. For instance, Sarah, the 1o year old resident drama queen wakes up at 2am this morning. She's got the fever chills and she's throwing up. Yes, this is how my day started. So, as I cover her in blanket upon blanket and put socks on her feet (yes, after I did the 7 layer blanket routine, is when she said her feet were cold. It came out through chattering teeth "mmmyyy ffffeet rrrrr cccoollddddd"). So, I'm trying to calm her down as this is the first time she's really had the fever chills let alone this bad. So, I ask her, what's your favorite prayer? She says "I don't have one." Now being die hard, the whole family actively involved, Catholics, I found this a little disheartening. "What do you mean you don't have a favorite prayer?" I ask her. Sarah replied..."I like them all.". I may not have a savant who can type with his toes, but you know what, at 2 am in the mist of chills, ginger ale and vomit, I am blessed.
My kids are amazing in their own way too. For instance, Sarah, the 1o year old resident drama queen wakes up at 2am this morning. She's got the fever chills and she's throwing up. Yes, this is how my day started. So, as I cover her in blanket upon blanket and put socks on her feet (yes, after I did the 7 layer blanket routine, is when she said her feet were cold. It came out through chattering teeth "mmmyyy ffffeet rrrrr cccoollddddd"). So, I'm trying to calm her down as this is the first time she's really had the fever chills let alone this bad. So, I ask her, what's your favorite prayer? She says "I don't have one." Now being die hard, the whole family actively involved, Catholics, I found this a little disheartening. "What do you mean you don't have a favorite prayer?" I ask her. Sarah replied..."I like them all.". I may not have a savant who can type with his toes, but you know what, at 2 am in the mist of chills, ginger ale and vomit, I am blessed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)