Rainbow Colored Freezer Pops in the Freezer

School is out and you know what that means.  It means I have to stock up on freezer pops for the kids and their friends.  I love that.   This will be the second summer we’ve spent in our new neighborhood and the boys are so looking forward to late night games of ghost in the graveyard, trampoline water fights, chalk drawings on the driveways and roasting marshmallows over the fire pit.  (Mental note:  Buy fire pit they’ve asked for 3,459 times.)   

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I think after such a busy school year, we’re all ready for some time off to relax and just take in some sun (with SPF 100 sunscreen on of course) and some dinners out on the deck.   Sometimes the “to do” list has to take a backseat and “want to’s” get to be in charge.   We all deserve some time to stop and enjoy the pleasures of summer.

So, while I’ll be writing throughout the summer, I will likely be a little more hit and miss and perhaps not quite as regular as I have been in my writing.  We’ll be taking some time out to watch the stars come into light of the night sky, attending baseball games, popping popcorn and calling dibs on the last orange freezer pop.  Please stop by when you have some time and I’ll keep you updated throughout the summer on life’s happenings, quirky stories, and some food for thought (corn on the cob and watermelon) as time allows.

Here’s to a summer filled with new experiences and love all around. 

So Proud

In a matter of hours, 26 ½ to be exact I will be the mother of a freshman in high school and a fifth grader.  Sigh.  Ok, two sighs.  I know it’s not all about me, but I don’t feel old enough to have kids this age.  How can it be?  I know time passes whether or not I want it to, but this year has just flown by.  My boys have changed so much.  They’ve matured, they’ve gotten cuter by the minute, (I can say that because I’m their mom AND it’s true) they’ve learned some life lessons, and think they’ve even become a little bit closer as brothers.  

I’m so proud of both of them and hope they know it.   I can hardly wait to see what’s in store for the two of them.  I know they will do great things in their lives and in the lives of those around them.   They are destined for great things.

Tonight is our oldest son’s 8th grade continuation ceremony. We will be sitting in the audience watching him receive his academic gold medal and hope he remembers this time as a special one.  I know we will.  Just one of life’s many passages.  We’re so proud of his accomplishments at this age.  He’s done so much in these few short years of middle school and he should be proud of himself as well.  Cheers to you my sweet 8th grade (soon to be freshman) boy.  Your mom loves you from here to the moon.

I’m Packing My Ruby Slippers

You know the scene in the movie where Dorothy is running back to the house with Toto in her arms?  The wind is blowing so hard that the screen door blows off the house, the horses are let loose to find shelter, tumbleweeds are hitting her feet as she makes her way back home and she can’t get into the cellar.  The tornado is in the background moving toward her as she runs back into her bedroom when the window shatters and hits her in the head.  Well, that’s how I’ve felt these last few days.   I’ve been dodging the to do list, trying to find my way through the grocery store quickly to make the pick up time at school, washing the sport uniforms late at night in preparation for the next day, signing permission forms, trying to pack for a weekend trip and the craziness goes on. 

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I really feel like a tornado is upon our schedule and the dates are all beginning to look the same.  Is today Tuesday?  I must have asked myself this three times already today! I laugh when someone asks me about a date two weeks from now and whether or not we’d be available.  We are on an hour-by-hour schedule at this house right now. I can’t think ahead three hours, let alone two weeks.  It makes me laugh.

I have lists on the back of index cards, on the back of receipts, on full sheets of notebook paper, because if I don’t write it down, it doesn’t happen. At this point, I’m just ready for the school year to end and for the schedule to lighten up a bit.  Not that it will, but a girl can dream can’t she?   

My husband and I are headed to our niece’s law school graduation this weekend and I am so looking forward to sitting on the plane with a book and a diet coke and just breathing for a few hours.  It will be a wonderful weekend and hopefully a time to start picking up the pieces from the windstorm of our schedules and recharge my very low battery.  I am looking forward to packing my ruby slippers and putting our schedule on hold to enjoy a slower pace for a few days. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for holding down the windy fort while we’re gone.   I can’t thank you enough!

Obsessions and Preoccupations

paper, ribbons of every color, white picket fences, facebook, Crystal Light peach iced tea, coconut creamer, my nails, rain, homes lit up at night, my digital daughter, my family, cleanliness, my to do list that never seems to end, order, the covers on the bed being straight, my new camera, God, my son entering high school, sharp pencils, candles, my inability to grow plants, control, solitaire for my iphone, soul searching, Greek style yogurt, Pink Berry green tea with kiwi, the weather, time, being on time, wasting time, time passing me by, hot baths, fresh breath, fresh air, mood lighting, the happiness of my children.

I'm No Fool; I'm Their Mom

It was about 8:45PM and my oldest was finishing up his writing project for school (which by the way, was assigned over two weeks ago and was essentially rewriting the entire thing at the 11th hour. I’ll save this subject for another day.) when he told me his eyes were still itching. He had had baseball practice in what seemed like a dust-bowl-dirt-hitting-you-in-the-face-wind-storm the day before, creating the perfect recipe for itchy eyes and sneezing.  Allergies aren’t his friend.  Of course we were out of the eye drops that work, so I grabbed my purse and made the four minute trip to Walgreen’s to purchase some relief and returned eight minutes later as the allergy hero (and no, I don’t have a cape, but that’s not a bad idea).  He finished up the assignment and headed to bed, ipod in one hand, eye drops in the other.   

My youngest son likes loves gummy worms of all shapes and sizes; however, he doesn’t care for the Black Forest brand of gummy bears and worms.  (No offense to Black Forest company workers, but he just doesn’t like them.)  If they are the only kind I have in the house, he’ll eat them, he’s not that picky, but he has a preference and I go out of my way on occasion to ensure he has the kind he likes. He’s flexible enough to know that sometimes we don’t get what we want, and there have been many a baseball game where he’s eaten the entire bag of Black Forest gummy worms with no complaints.  But if he asks, “Mommy, did you get gummy worms? The Trolli kind?” and I can reply, “I most certainly did.” To me, that fist pump, “yes” is all worth it to me. 

Some people would say it’s spoiling.  Others would say I’m damaging them for life by filling their every little whim.  Let me just say, that I say NO plenty in our house and if you ask them, I’m the first to say NO.  Daddy always says YES (again, another subject for another day).  If they ask to run through the drive-thru after soccer practice, I don’t always comply.  Some days it works and some days it doesn’t and they understand that.

So, when I have the time on a given day to make a special run to Walgreen’s or stop by the other grocery store for the Trolli gummy worms, does that make me a bad mother?  I don’t think so.  I enjoy providing for my children and want them to know that they can count on me for anything.  Anything.  Everything.  I will always be here for them whether it be they need an opinion on what to get their friend for a birthday gift, a hug in the morning, advice on how to resolve a friendship issue or if they need dill pickle sunflower seeds.  I want them to know through my actions and words that I am here for them.  Now, does that make me their personal maid?  NO.  Remember, NO comes easy for me.  They have to pick up their towels and dirty laundry and do their dishes. They take the trash and clean their rooms and take out the recycling. I’m no fool; I’m their mom. 

p.s.  This is my 205th post.  I know!  I can hardly believe it.  I hope you keep reading and following along on my writing journey.  I do so love to hear from you and read all your comments.

The Water of Your Life

rain kissed grass

sweaty boys and stinky feet

bleach in the washing machine

chicken soup simmering on the stove

the lilac bushes in the backyard

the red nail polish you love so much

oatmeal cookies in the oven

fish caught at the lake

pomegranate soap in the shower

aspen trees blooming

a new bag of cheetos

caramel apple suckers

can you smell the water of your life?

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I Dreamed of Being a Mother

I knew from when I turned sixteen that I wanted to be a mother.  I dreamed of rocking them and reading to them.   I dreamed of splashing with them in the pool. I dreamed of their kisses and smiles and arms around my neck.

I never dreamed my heart could feel so full though.  I never dreamed I would have such pride for their warm hearts and beautiful spirits, so much pride that there are days I can feel it tingle in my toes.  I never dreamed they would teach me about life and how to live.

For the last fourteen years, I have been honored to be mother to two of the most beautiful children in the world.  I’m not talking about their gorgeous eyes and smiles, but their handsome hearts that fill every room they enter.

God blessed me with these two young gentlemen and for that I am forever grateful.   My life would never be what it is today without them.  I love you both more than you will ever know.   It’s because of you that I get to be included in Mother’s Day. 

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom, who gives her heart and soul to her family, and to all the mother’s I know. Enjoy this day.

M&M's and Popcorn

My husband and I went to Bermuda when I was pregnant with our first son.  It was one of those vacations that you have to pinch yourself to be reminded that you’re actually there, surrounded by the blue of the ocean.  There were colors of blue and green that I truly had never seen before, so deep and rich. We actually bought a hand-blown vase and Christmas ornament to remind us of the uniqueness of the colors. 

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That trip was a splurge for us and for seven days and nights we sailed the ocean blue stopping in Bermuda to sightsee and read on the beach.  I would love to go back and see all the white roofs and pink houses again. We had such an amazing time together. It’s not really the place that matters however, I would just love to have a few days of husband and wife time.  It could be in a tent in the backyard for all I care.   (Ok, so maybe inside would be better as I’m not much of the camping type, but you get the idea.)

I think it’s important for husbands and wives to carve out time for each other and not be distracted with life, work, kids, bills, schedules, schedules (did I say schedules, twice?). We need time to recharge our batteries and enjoy each other’s company, go for a walk, watch an old movie or eat M&M’s and popcorn for dinner.   We all get busy with life, it happens, come rain or shine.  There will always be one more meeting to go to or one more thing to wash.  That will not go away. I promise you, it won’t. 

I think I may need to make a plan for us, be it camping in the backyard (not) or fixing a nice romantic dinner complete with candles and music, just a little something to look forward to together.  It doesn’t have to be a trip to Bermuda or London to be special. The thought really does count. And, the menu should be easy; M&M’s and popcorn by candlelight.  Simple AND delicious.

Husband of Silk

He sat next to me at the dinner and I smiled at him, a little hesitant to chat. When he introduced himself to me, I laughed at his name. Yes, I laughed and told him he was making it up, but he wasn’t.  He was the life of the table and talked to everyone and encouraged us to share something about ourselves. We talked throughout the dinner and when it was time to go he smiled at me and said he’d see me around campus.  I didn’t know if we would or not, but we did.  It seemed that no matter where I was, he would walk by or be near.  Was this coincidence or fate? I know.  Eighteen months later, he would become my husband of silk. The fanciest silk you can find.

patina

A kitchen table painted white, with its edges faded through and the old brown wood peeking  from underneath trying to catch the sunlight…

A terra cotta pot stained with moss and leftover rain filled with yellow pansies and one tiny violet…

A widow’s heart filled with memories of lemonade on the lake, holding hands on the train and winks during the sermon…

A man’s hands bearing scars from the day’s work of feeding the cows, cleaning the barn and holding his wife close to his heart…

A book filled with sketches and photos and scribbles from children who once were small and ate with their fingers…

A love so grand it fills every space in our being and grows stronger with every breath and experience life unveils…

Patina…

From Where I Sit

I have signed up for an on-line writing course this month from the author of The Word Cellar.  Throughout the month I will be sharing with you some of my writing that is prompted from the course. I'm looking forward to this creative challenge for myself and hope to write something new and different from what I normally share. Feel free to visit her site or read her blog.  The course is called Alchemy Daily.

Alchemy Daily - Day One

The view changes if I move.   From where I sit right now, the rooftops of the houses are covered with frost from the cold from hours past.  The mountains in the distance are also dusted with a layer of new snow and the clouds are showing their finest fluffiness and marching along at a very calm pace.  Perhaps they have nowhere in particular to be today and want to enjoy the journey rather than hurry along and move to places unknown.

The view changes if I move.  If I sit on the floor, the blue that surrounds the majestic white fluffiness is the only thing my eyes can see.  If I stretch out my arm I could almost touch its creamy blueness. 

I find that if you change your position, the view of life too can change.  If I sit in a chair of regret or sadness, the view is foggy, grey, cold, prickly. I need a blanket to keep me warm and to wrap me tightly in my bitterness.  It isn’t comfortable.  The view is not one of hope or grace.  It’s angry and dark and tastes like burnt toast.

But, if I sit in a chair of love and gratefulness, the view is clear, blue, warm, fuzzy.  I can sit in the sunbeams of happiness and feel it warm my heart.  It’s so comfortable.  The view is not worrisome or fearful.  It’s joyous and bright and tastes like honey from the hive.

What do you see from where you sit?