Thursday, September 23, 2010

What do you get when you cross a polka dot with a monkey?

I know you have NEVER heard that before. Know how I know? Because I just made it up. Yep know you are wondering is she feeling inspired? Maybe she is trying to have a catchy title? Is she just plain nuts?
Although the latter resonates a little closer to home, they are all wrong answers.

I am going to tell you the misadventures in mothering today, ready?

Ok..

So it started like everyday, I woke up smiling. Worked out for like 2 hours. I took a shower and when I got ready, I looked gorgeous. (alright by know you figured this was the fictional part) then I stepped down stairs to make a breakfast fit for kings (yep still fictional) and I gently sang to the kids to wake up (scream? hollered? am I being spied upon?) and my wonderful son (who is almost 7 and to this day maintains the idea that he can play football inside the house without much damage..hmm...) stops and looks at me and grins....

Here comes the horror.

You know when people, specially little itty bitty people (namely your children) get that look on their face like there is something hilariously mischievous and they just can't keep it to themselves any longer? Well that was the looked he had on. Finally I could now stand it any longer so I said "Jeremy what is so funny?" he bursted  into laughter and said "mommy you look like someone crossed a monkey with polka dots!!"

WHAT?!

So he thought my polka dot pajama pants were hilarious, add to that I happened to be wearing a Curious George tee shirt and well there is your answer.

What do you get when you cross a polka dot with a monkey? A mommy who has learned that she better get non polka dot, non monkey PJ's on or get dressed like a "normal" mother (does one even exist?) or else the little trolls I call my children might find something eerily hilarious about what I am wearing.

Off to plot..there is cloth shopping lurking around the Christmas list...oh revenge is sweet....

Just kidding....well maybe.

;)

Monday, September 20, 2010

Avant Garde Parenting: Dollars and Sense: Teaching Kids about Money

Avant Garde Parenting: Dollars and Sense: Teaching Kids about Money: " source I grew up with a banker father, so I had a savings account before I could even walk. As an adult, I’m so gr..."


Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Oh Summer are you really gone?

Can't believe it. Summer just flew by this year!! Is it me or does it feel like every year goes by faster?

I mean c'mon summer is the time we get things done around here! Know what I mean? We de-cluttered, we finish projects (and yes we add projects even when we are not 100% done..I know, I know) we do fun stuff, we have more family time but sometimes it all seems to go by so quickly!

Next thing you know Fall is here. Along with more work (for hubby outside the home for me, well in the home of course) more things that should have gotten done but didn't. Homeschool, visits to far away family members we did not get to see.

It can seem overwhelming at times but to tell you the truth I love fall. The way the leaves change colors, the way the air gets crisper, the Holidays around the corner...hmmm I can already feel it!

The truth is we will always have a to do list that seems to grow a mile every year but something I am learning as I go is to enjoy each season in life as it comes. It feel much more "freeing" to do so do not worry about yesterday and fret about today.

Enjoy your season in life, whatever that may be. I will even with the clutter and craziness that may come with it sometimes.

Grab a glass of wine (or you can use grape juice and pretend, hey don't judge is easier to use what we have on hand hehe) and celebrate today!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Return from Grouchland...

Okay so I have been postponing writing this entry for close to a week now. Why because writing it means I will take down the veil that covers my soul and you might read about my short comings. I know, I know but bear with me.


Okay this past week Tracy (hubby) and I have been busy talking to our Parish Priest about renewing our wedding vows. Things were going great until all of a sudden I found myself getting irritated about the small stuff. I mean like totally acting like Oscar the Grouch (well maybe even worse, who knows).

The thing is, this is not the first time. I can think back a few years ago when I was younger (if you can picture dinosaurs still roaming the Earth you went back too far) and as I was busy planning the wedding, excited with the start of a new phase in my life, I remember cringing every time I heard things like, obedience and submissiveness. I wonder why do I have to be submissive? Why do I have to obey him? I am not a dog!

The months before our wedding I really struggled with these. You see my mom (trust me when I tell you I love her dearly) is beyond a feminist woman. She tried her best to instill in my sisters and me a sense of "me" and only me. We saw this through her failed marriages and relationships. We saw this through friendships she took for granted, through the place she gave my sisters and I in her life. Don't get me wrong I love her, after all she is my mother, but all this added a "sting" so to speak to my heart every time I heard I had to submit myself to yet another person's will. I did the only thing I knew to do, I prayed.

3 months of praying, of reading the Bible. and finally it hit me when I read

Ephesians 5:24 "as the Church submits to Christ so wives should submit to their husbands in ALL things."

I found out the meaning of submissiveness-to surrender oneself.

Now that doesn't sound too bad does it? I can picture giving up all my struggles, all my worries, all my anxiety and having peace.

When we submit to our husbands in all truth we are submitting to Christ! I am to submit in ALL things to him, because in doing so I am honoring the One who has given it all up for me. I stopped my pettiness and was ready to be the bride God called me to be , to the man called to be my husband.

I wish I could tell you it ended there and I have never struggled but I would be lying. I still struggle with that more then I wished to sometimes. It feels like the enemy of marriages whispers in my ears things like "He doesn't appreciate what you do" , "why can't he do it, you are already SO busy" and many more.

The thing is as a human (yes I checked I'm still one..well on most occasions) we will always have struggles but you can take comfort in knowing God doesn't give up on us.
When I kept having this feeling trying to creep up one me I ran to His arms.
I read the verses that speak to my heart. I pray and yes I asked my husband for his forgiveness when I act like a woman of the flesh. My love for him is deep and if I am to be the wife God created me to be I am to surrender myself and become one with my husband so that He can lead us to be witnesses of one of His greatest master pieces, love.


So take heart if you find yourself struggling sometimes, put down whatever you are doing and run to Him. Read His Word. Let your Spirit be renewed and know that I am praying for you too. Marriage takes work but as wives we must remember we are "pillars" of our homes. Don't listen to the lies being whispered into your ears, instead chose to surrender completely to the man who God chose for you and take comfort in knowing God will be holding your hand as you leave Grouch land.


Feel the peace in surrendering yourself today...