Just Say Yes!

Yesterday, my uncle by marriage, who is in his eighties, spent the day fishing with his grandon and great-grandsons.  He picked blackberries, and caught fish and had a blast.  My husband commented the this particular uncle has always known how to have a good time.  Uncle worked hard, had a definite ability to discipline, but a good time was expected whenever he was involved in activities.  And I realized that the wisdom of this uncle is that he says yes.

To often when asked to do something with my children I respond with, not now, maybe later, sometime soon.  And then sometime soon is never, or later ends up being weeks down the road.  I don't intend to put activities off that long.  I just allow life to get in the way.  I don't want to be that person.  That person will regret the missed opportunities to enjoy her children.  So today, I learned from that sweet uncle and I said yes.

I have wanted to do this activity with my children for years and have never said yes.  I did this when I was young, and it was a blast.  I squirted cheap shaving cream on the table and turned them loose!  Here are the results:

They had a blast.  I had a blast.  and it only took about 10 minutes to clean everyone and everything up!  I need to say yes more often.  It is good for my children and my heart.

There Is Wisdom in Sleep

Last night I was brooding over a situation involving my child and some of her friends.  It is a difficult situation, that handled wrong could cause hurt feelings or embarrassment.  I had determined last night that I was going to have to get involved and "do" something.  But then I slept, hard, for 10.5 hours.  And this morning I have decided that I should pray about the situation, and then stand back...with my MOUTH CLOSED....and watch God work.  My heart is more at peace with this decision, and ,for now, my anxiety and turmoil are gone.

I am reminded that sleep is not a luxury, but a necessity.  As such, it should be given priority over some things....computer time for one.  When we are tired, we are ruled more by emotion than reason.  That is dangerous.  Emotion should influence.  Never, ever should it rule.

So, anyone up for a nap? ;)

:)

I love my kids all the time.  I even like them a lot of the time.  Oh! but how I enjoy them when there is no school to do!!  Lots of chores, but no school.  It is a relief to have another year accomplished, and I am sure I will be ready for next year.  However, I am not even going to THINK about school for at least two weeks!

The Truth Hurts

Yesterday was a bad day...a needful day...but a bad day.  First, I had to go on a wild goose chase from the women's Dillard's store to the men's Dillard's store, back to the women's, back to the men's, back to the women's chasing down a book Daniel had left behind.  I did not mind the hunt, or even walking back and forth between the stores.  What I did mind was the sweat rolling down the sides of my body, my pounding heart, and my breathlessness.  UGG!!  There are old people who could lap me in that mall who would not be as out of breath as I was.  Revelation...I am not just out of shape, I am pathetically out of shape.

Next, we went to Kohl's where after helping the rest of my family find what they were looking for, they toured the store and let me do some shopping for myself.  I went to the dressing room to try on some clothes and was horrified.  One dress would have required a size I have never bought before...not even immediately after having my children.  Another dress would not lay down straight in back.  When I investigated I found that the protrusion came from my backside, not the dress. Revelation....I am not overweight, I am obese.  (I calculated my BMI when we go home and that is not an exaggeration.) I had to literally compose myself before I was able to leave that dressing room.

So I have decided an extreme situation calls for an extreme solution.  I have known I needed to loose weight all year, but I have made excuses instead.  Instead of loosing, I gained weight.  So I am posting pictures of myself on this blog, and I am telling you all that my weight right now is 185 lbs.

 
I plan to post updated pictures and weights once a month.  Hopefully, knowing this picture post is coming will give me the extra willpower to do the things I need to in order to be healthy.  Please pray for me in this regard.  I don't see how my life can be more than just surviving if my weight continues to hold me back.  And I want to do more than just survive.  I want to thrive.

On Husbands

Husbands are wonderful inventions!  I particularly like the model I have.  However, on occassion, they exhibit annoying tendencies.  When these tendencies pop-up, and I feel the need to vent or blow, I should do so appropriately.  Best choice...pray to the manufacturer for a right spirit, and then calmly discuss these matters with the darling one.  Good choice...pray to the manufacturer, and then call up a DISCREET friend and commiserate PRIVATELY with her.  Worst choice...a public bashing of this most wonderful of inventions.  Public complaints can cause permanent damage.

 Remember, when it comes to husbands, private criticism, and public praise.

Poor Nose!!!

This nose has had a rough weekend!

On Saturday, he jumped out of a moving stroller and face planted on the concrete.  Sunday, he slipped while sneaking food before prayer at lunch at church and hit his nose on the counter.  That fall was scary.  On the bright side, it is not slowing him down, but he does look pitiful.