Today I am grateful for:
*GPS navigation systems (I have a terrible sense of direction and would have been hopelessly lost on the way home from an out-of-town youth dance last night)
*The young women I work with at church are sweet, wonderful girls (who looked beautiful last night and demonstrated very good etiquette even though the food was gross)
*Sleep (more, please)
*Friends at church who willingly come spend hours helping giggly teenage girls get ready for a formal dance (we couldn't have done it without you!)
*Coca-Cola Classic (my "poison" of choice)
*Ibuprofen (why yes, I do have a headache right now)
*A husband who didn't kill me when I told him about the speeding ticket I got last night (of course, I told him at 1 a.m. so he might not have been fully conscious or coherent...)
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Gratitudes....
We all know gratitude is not something that should be reserved for one day each year (Thanksgiving). Or even one month each year (November). But somehow I seem to find myself more aware this time of year of my blessings and things I often take for granted.
Particularly in light of my recent bout of "baby blues" (still not over that but making progress, thanks for asking...and if you happen to come across a mother who wants to give us a baby, we certainly wouldn't say no!)...I know that one of the best ways, at least for me, to get over a case of "the blues" is to focus on others instead of myself and to remember all of the many things for which I am grateful.
So today, I am grateful for:
*A husband who kills spiders
*A daughter who enjoys cooking (more than I do)
*A daughter who likes to have "I love you more" contests with me (I always win -- it's pretty hard to one-up "I gave birth to you so I love you more!" LOL)
*Cars that run and are paid off (especially since we know we'll have to replace at least one of them in the next few months...ugh)
*Three wonderful sisters, a great brother, and two fabulous parents
*Three great brothers-in-law, three handsome and sweet nephews, two adorable and sweet nieces, and one adorable and sweet niece-to-be (we're hoping and praying)
*Incredible friends who put up with me
Particularly in light of my recent bout of "baby blues" (still not over that but making progress, thanks for asking...and if you happen to come across a mother who wants to give us a baby, we certainly wouldn't say no!)...I know that one of the best ways, at least for me, to get over a case of "the blues" is to focus on others instead of myself and to remember all of the many things for which I am grateful.
So today, I am grateful for:
*A husband who kills spiders
*A daughter who enjoys cooking (more than I do)
*A daughter who likes to have "I love you more" contests with me (I always win -- it's pretty hard to one-up "I gave birth to you so I love you more!" LOL)
*Cars that run and are paid off (especially since we know we'll have to replace at least one of them in the next few months...ugh)
*Three wonderful sisters, a great brother, and two fabulous parents
*Three great brothers-in-law, three handsome and sweet nephews, two adorable and sweet nieces, and one adorable and sweet niece-to-be (we're hoping and praying)
*Incredible friends who put up with me
Thursday, November 6, 2008
A Sports Family
After giving birth to two girls, I never expected to be a "sports mom." Sure, I married a man who, at the time, was a PE teacher and who now coaches two high school sports and who was voted "Mr. Athlete" at his high school and played college basketball...and I figured I could be a "coach's wife" (turns out I'm not a very good one)...but never thought I would be a "sports mom."
Guess what? I'm a sports mom. I can't call myself a "soccer mom" because one of the girls plays soccer and the other plays softball.
My girls did dance and gymnastics when they were younger, and just in the last year or two both have had to give up dance and gymnastics in favor of their chosen sports. Truth be told, I really miss the beautiful recital costumes and always looked forward to the recitals. I love so dance so much that I am taking classes as an adult.
So a dance mom? I could do that. I figured I would be doing that until both girls were a lot older.
Instead, I'm learning about stealing bases, base runners, change-ups, the "third strike rule" if the catcher doesn't catch the ball, off sides, goal kicks, corner kicks, and strikers/sweepers/keepers.
We spend a lot of time running to and from practice and games. We are just finishing B's soccer season next weekend, and A's travel softball season is just starting. DH is in the beginning of high school basketball season. We find ourselves splitting time between the girls' sporting events (I've got B's soccer this weekend, he has A's softball tournament).
And you know what?
I love it. I was never an athlete myself. Never will be. But my girls are. I love it.
Guess what? I'm a sports mom. I can't call myself a "soccer mom" because one of the girls plays soccer and the other plays softball.
My girls did dance and gymnastics when they were younger, and just in the last year or two both have had to give up dance and gymnastics in favor of their chosen sports. Truth be told, I really miss the beautiful recital costumes and always looked forward to the recitals. I love so dance so much that I am taking classes as an adult.
So a dance mom? I could do that. I figured I would be doing that until both girls were a lot older.
Instead, I'm learning about stealing bases, base runners, change-ups, the "third strike rule" if the catcher doesn't catch the ball, off sides, goal kicks, corner kicks, and strikers/sweepers/keepers.
We spend a lot of time running to and from practice and games. We are just finishing B's soccer season next weekend, and A's travel softball season is just starting. DH is in the beginning of high school basketball season. We find ourselves splitting time between the girls' sporting events (I've got B's soccer this weekend, he has A's softball tournament).
And you know what?
I love it. I was never an athlete myself. Never will be. But my girls are. I love it.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Moving On....
I'm moving on. (Cue the "Rascal Flatts" song...LOL).
OK. So I'm trying to move on.
OK. So I'm telling myself that it's time to move on.
OK. So I'm telling myself that it's time to think about moving on.
I am trying. I told my friend J last night that this whole "baby thing" seems to hit me particularly hard in October -- at least the last three Octobers. Strange. I don't know why that is.
I understand now why B sometimes gets so angry when something is forced on her and she is not given the opportunity to choose. Because I didn't get to choose this.
Obviously, I'm still having issues with "just have faith and trust Heavenly Father" and "you don't have to have control of EVERYTHING in your life".
But I'm trying. Really, I am.
So, moving on....A has started travel team softball and their first scrimmage game was supposed to be today but the other team cancelled so they had a practice. This will be her first season of travel ball and I hope she enjoys it. B's soccer season is winding down. Her team is still undefeated, with just one tied game. Not bad! She has bonded with the other girls on her team and her coaches and this has been a very positive experience for her. I had doubts about it at the beginning of the season, but now I see that this was the best possible thing for her, and has been something that she really needed.
I am grateful for my two amazing, lovely, wonderful, sweet, talented girls.
But that doesn't mean I can't be selfish and want more.
OK. So I'm trying to move on.
OK. So I'm telling myself that it's time to move on.
OK. So I'm telling myself that it's time to think about moving on.
I am trying. I told my friend J last night that this whole "baby thing" seems to hit me particularly hard in October -- at least the last three Octobers. Strange. I don't know why that is.
I understand now why B sometimes gets so angry when something is forced on her and she is not given the opportunity to choose. Because I didn't get to choose this.
Obviously, I'm still having issues with "just have faith and trust Heavenly Father" and "you don't have to have control of EVERYTHING in your life".
But I'm trying. Really, I am.
So, moving on....A has started travel team softball and their first scrimmage game was supposed to be today but the other team cancelled so they had a practice. This will be her first season of travel ball and I hope she enjoys it. B's soccer season is winding down. Her team is still undefeated, with just one tied game. Not bad! She has bonded with the other girls on her team and her coaches and this has been a very positive experience for her. I had doubts about it at the beginning of the season, but now I see that this was the best possible thing for her, and has been something that she really needed.
I am grateful for my two amazing, lovely, wonderful, sweet, talented girls.
But that doesn't mean I can't be selfish and want more.
Friday, October 24, 2008
You know how sometimes it rains all around you, but not on you?
Like a summer storm, when it is sunny outside but then starts to rain across the street but not where you're standing? It does that here where I live.
I feel like I'm stuck in the middle of something like that right now...except instead of it raining water, it's raining babies.
Life isn't fair.
A friend told me Sunday that she is pregnant again, with baby #5. Another acquaintance made a comment to me while I was out shopping tonight that makes it look like another acquaintance just got an adoptive placement (why else would she be wondering with baited breath and excitement to hear how their court date went, knowing this couple has waited so long?). A friend at church told me about someone her daughter knows -- someone left a baby on her doorstep and wants them to adopt the baby. Another lady at church is pregnant...all three of the advisors in YW have babies (which I admit is is nice because it gives me and another sister in YW with fertility issues some babies to snuggle and we do love that). A few other friends are also pregnant. There are gestating women all around me. It seems like they're coming out of the woodwork again. Lots of women having babies...Lots of women who aren't me.
And we found out this week that the little boy we were hoping to adopt earlier this summer was adopted by another family two weeks ago. Yes, I know that I hadn't said much, if anything, about the possibility of us adopting here on my blog. I didn't want to say anything until things were looking more firm one way or the other. For various reasons, we were unable to proceed with the process beyond a certain point. And the caseworker made it very clear to us that she didn't plan to recommend that the boy be moved out of the state where he is currently living. Well, he has been adopted. And not by us. So I guess it's pretty definite right now that we won't be adopting him.
I thought I had come to terms with this...again. There are times when I'm fine with it and other times when I definitely am not fine with it. I'm in one of those "definitely not fine with it" modes right now. It hurts, physically. Really -- it does.
I'm sad.
I feel like I'm stuck in the middle of something like that right now...except instead of it raining water, it's raining babies.
Life isn't fair.
A friend told me Sunday that she is pregnant again, with baby #5. Another acquaintance made a comment to me while I was out shopping tonight that makes it look like another acquaintance just got an adoptive placement (why else would she be wondering with baited breath and excitement to hear how their court date went, knowing this couple has waited so long?). A friend at church told me about someone her daughter knows -- someone left a baby on her doorstep and wants them to adopt the baby. Another lady at church is pregnant...all three of the advisors in YW have babies (which I admit is is nice because it gives me and another sister in YW with fertility issues some babies to snuggle and we do love that). A few other friends are also pregnant. There are gestating women all around me. It seems like they're coming out of the woodwork again. Lots of women having babies...Lots of women who aren't me.
And we found out this week that the little boy we were hoping to adopt earlier this summer was adopted by another family two weeks ago. Yes, I know that I hadn't said much, if anything, about the possibility of us adopting here on my blog. I didn't want to say anything until things were looking more firm one way or the other. For various reasons, we were unable to proceed with the process beyond a certain point. And the caseworker made it very clear to us that she didn't plan to recommend that the boy be moved out of the state where he is currently living. Well, he has been adopted. And not by us. So I guess it's pretty definite right now that we won't be adopting him.
I thought I had come to terms with this...again. There are times when I'm fine with it and other times when I definitely am not fine with it. I'm in one of those "definitely not fine with it" modes right now. It hurts, physically. Really -- it does.
I'm sad.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Love Is....
*Getting up with the dog at 5:30 a.m. on weekends so I can sleep
*Killing spiders on demand, no matter what time of day or night it is
*Coming to my house to dispose of a dead mouse the dog brought in from outside (GROSS!)
*Letting my girls watch a movie with at their house while I go home and do laundry, dishes, put away groceries, and relax after an incredibly busy day
*Not being totally embarassed by my presence
*Wanting to be tucked in at night
*Killing spiders on demand, no matter what time of day or night it is
*Coming to my house to dispose of a dead mouse the dog brought in from outside (GROSS!)
*Letting my girls watch a movie with at their house while I go home and do laundry, dishes, put away groceries, and relax after an incredibly busy day
*Not being totally embarassed by my presence
*Wanting to be tucked in at night
Bread Recipe
A few people have asked for the bread recipe A is using. It's SO easy, and really good!
1 tbsp. yeast
1/2 tbsp salt
2 cups warm water
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup honey or brown sugar
approx 5-6 cups flour (can use white, wheat, or both)
Mix first five ingredients in a lg. bowl or stand mixer. Add flour one cup at a time until a soft dough forms. Stir the dough for a minute or two. Let rise for about 45 min. to 1 hour(may need longer for all wheat bread). Separate into two loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 38 minutes.
We've been making it with honey and white flour. Yum!! In fact, A had some friends over on Monday and she made this and they ate both loaves before they ate any of the cookies, chips, etc. So it passes the teenager taste test. LOL
1 tbsp. yeast
1/2 tbsp salt
2 cups warm water
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup honey or brown sugar
approx 5-6 cups flour (can use white, wheat, or both)
Mix first five ingredients in a lg. bowl or stand mixer. Add flour one cup at a time until a soft dough forms. Stir the dough for a minute or two. Let rise for about 45 min. to 1 hour(may need longer for all wheat bread). Separate into two loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 38 minutes.
We've been making it with honey and white flour. Yum!! In fact, A had some friends over on Monday and she made this and they ate both loaves before they ate any of the cookies, chips, etc. So it passes the teenager taste test. LOL
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