Happy First Day of Spring!   Happy 60th Birthday Mama!!

 

March 20th was mama's birthday and the first day of Spring!  I went by her office this morning and decorated her desk.  The usual big sign that no one can miss, confetti in places she'll be finding for years, streamers and yes even balloons!  It looked perfect!

I stayed there long enough to see her reaction and give her the birthday gift Lindsey and I had worked on!  We are going to New York!!  I am so excited, and so is mom! We went to dinner that night to meet up with her friend!!  She thinks it's just going to be the two of us!! Ha! I love surprises!! 

 

Check out the video! It was the best reaction!! 

 

Happy Birthday mama!  I KNOW you had a great day! Here's to many more years! XO

Welcome, Pope Francis I

Today the news came from the Vatican in Rome that a Pope was selected.  Pope Francis I. 

How exciting! 

How exciting?

I watched and listened to Brian Williams speak about the process, about the man.  I listened to all his correspondents speak about this man.  Interesting? Yes. Thrilling, exciting? I don't know.  The whole time I was trying to compare it to the way I felt about the election last year.  I was up all night.  All night! I was at the edge of my seat.  It was like a great film!  I was invested. 

I am Catholic.  I went to Catholic school for elementary, middle and high school.  Grew up going to mass on Sunday's.  As I got older, not as much.  I can't remember fighting with mom and dad over going or not. (although I remember Lindsey fighting)  I'm sure it happened, but I also think that life got in the way and it was easier not to get three kids ready to go to mass on Sunday morning.  Especially when they are at the age to fight back with you. 

So you would think that is the definition of invested, right?  Eighth grade is when you have confirmation.  This is basically baptism again.  The idea is we don't really have a choice when we are babies.  By this time we've learned about the faith and should be able to make the choice to continue in the faith or not.  Yeah right.  I had all sorts of questions.  Still do.  You don't say no, you get confirmed. 

The questions I had when I was in eighth grade are the same ones I have now.  And it comes down to this; Can I be a Catholic and disagree with some core beliefs of the faith? That's what I'm doing now.  I go to mass, I say my prayers and I whole heartily disagree with some of the Catholic beliefs.  I respect the men and women in this faith.  From the alter boys and girls to our new leader, Pope Francis I. 

So what I believe is that God knows me.  He knows how I feel and why.  And that's it. 

Today's coverage was not like a great film.  It was more like a peaceful feeling.  (much like how I feel during mass).  I guess if it was thrilling and exciting that would take away from the spiritual side of it. 

I'm happy that we have a new leader, he has a kind face and seems to be really connected to the people.    

A Grown-Up Wall

This is one of the spaces in my living room that from the beginning (4 years ago) I didn't know what to do with.  So I found a vintage Moulin Rouge Print, that I love and put it in a cheap poster frame and stuck it on the wall.  Love the print.  Hate the space. 






So I decided to try what I've seen ALL OVER pinterest, a photo collage!  Shouldn't be too expensive, right?  Wrong.  Photos $45. Frames, on sale at Hobby Lobby, a little over $100 (thanks mama!!) Whatha?? I was already committed when the numbers came in, I had to keep going.  So here is how it ended. 

This is the finished product and I'm in love with the space now!  It's all my family, friends and kiddos (although I did have to cut some people)!! It feels a little more grown up not having a poster on my wall! Just in time for company next weekend!

 

Laugh with your Children!

Laugh with your Children!  Don’t be afraid to look silly!

 

See how your child's humor changes as they develop!  Humor is a powerful interaction between you and your child.  An interaction of this nature helps your child develop lifelong skills! 

 

Babies….

Laugh when their special people do out-of-the ordinary things
Goofy dances
Sticking their tongues out
Silly noises
Silly mouth sounds
Funny faces

Toddlers….

Laugh at mix ups
Shoes on head
Bananas as phones
Little coat on a big person
Pointing to an eye when the grown-up says ‘nose’
Calling people the wrong name

Preschoolers…..

Laugh at nonsense, intentional mistakes and exaggerations

‘You’re a silly billy,’
‘Can I have a pandwhich,’
‘I want some mud juice,’
‘You have a square head,’
Picture of a giant mouse
Loud pretend cry

 School Age…..

Laugh at verbal humor
Knock-knock jokes
Word plays
Riddles

Unconditional Love?

Poems about love.  The unconditional kind.  Maybe the hardest of all to truly believe in.  Don't we all have some conditions?  Whether we make them known to one another or not.  Shouldn't we have some conditions?  Do we stop loving if those conditions are not met.  Or is it something else? Another emotion? Is love just suspended? Is there an answer, or is it up to us to decide on our own?
These authors have their own ideas.  I don't know if I know what mine are yet. 

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

Genuine love is unconditional.
It cannot set boundaries or demands.
If it does, it's only superficial.
No matter what happens- love understands.

Every human being is imperfect,
Nobody can stand on a pedestal.
If love doesn't give you what you expect,
It is because YOU won't give love your all.

The purpose of love is in its giving,
Not in what you think you can gain from it.
It exists in mundane daily living,
Not in reaching some romantic summit.

Real love has as its basis compassion,
It transcends mere emotional passion.
-Kathleen Delicato

Untitled
 

This life is filled with wonder
With gifts from up above
All the beauty of this life
There’s none stronger than love.

Love is born within our hearts
A fact we can’t deny
Increasing with the passing time
More as each day goes by.

Was once a seed is now, a tree
It’s full and lush and rife
My love for you can’t be explained
I’ve had it all my life

Till my days end, you’ll always know
My feelings they are true
No matter where you find yourself
We both know I’ll love you.
-David Devito

 

Unconditional

Don't believe in your past
Don't be downcast
God has forgiven you
I have too
I always asked God to let me love and forgive like Him
So when the lights fade away and it grows dim
You're just teaching me
To love unconditionally
I won't bring it up, if you don't want me to
I won't shout it out, if it hurts you
You've trusted me to tell truth
Pain exposed, I wish to soothe
I don't believe in what you were
The thought didn't even occur
The love I have for who you are now
Takes away every thought of doubt

And that's how it will always end
Your past doesn't make you
He has made you new
I will always love you
No matter what you do

-Rachel Dittmer

There are Twinkles in her Wrinkles!

Last night my mom and I enjoyed a delicious dinner at Miyo's!  I had two glasses of wine, therefore got pretty chatty!  I always feel like she is surprised at how much I can drink and not be on the floor.  And all I had was two glasses!

Afterwards we went to see Les Miserables which I had seen already but mom had not. 
She said this will be the fourth movie version she has seen of this (not all musicals).

The movie, of course was amazing even the second time.  But even better than that was spending some time with her not talking about anyone else but ourselves.  I think we both need that a little more these days! 

She will be 60 years old this year.  In a few weeks as a matter of fact.  That is amazing to me.  She has looked the same for 32 years.  I always think about my mom and dad and wonder if the were aware when their parents "got old." And I would say that as if there was a day.  Like this day, they were old. 

Thank God it's slow! For all of us.  I see a little more grey, (but for goodness sake, it's in my hair too).  A little more forgetful, maybe a little slower. 

I realize I'm getting healthy now, so I want to push it on everyone else.  But I keep thinking about these kids we have in our family.  They are so young.  We have so much time with them!  Mom and dad both have always been good about eating habits.  Tweaking things here and there if need be.  I want them both to start exercising.  The statistics are astounding on how much it improves your life and extends your life.  I'm not ready for them to be old and slow, and not able to do.....I'm gonna need them to work on that.  For me.  Oh, and for the kids probably too! 

We touched on this last night.  But it can be a pretty heavy (no pun intended) conversation.

We need to do this more often.  Just us.  I think she'd like that!  I sure would!

**We didn't eat any of that candy! I just thought it was a pretty picture!

Steam Room

The steam room is an amazing place.  Who knew?  My trainer told me to try it after one of our intense workouts.  It's very intimidating! I guess most things are when you've never done it before.  Normal response, right?

I'd never seen anyone in there.  It's this door on the wall that looks like it goes no where.  Scary. 

One day I ventured in.  I walked in and it looked pretty steamy!  I wasn't sure about a lot of things.....

*do you wear clothes, or just a towel like on tv

*can I go in with my shoes on                                    
*is there a place to turn on more steam

After sitting there for a moment, I walked out again to find the place where you turn on the steam.  Ok, yeh, this is it.  This is what I was looking for!

I sat there turned my music off, my phone on silent and closed my eyes.  It was so quiet! So nice.  I tired not to think of any thing at all.  That's hard to do by the way! But you can get there! 

Deep breaths in and out.  In and out.  It was great!  Very cleansing, very relaxing!

There are some things I should warn you about should you choose to venture into your local steam room:  

*It can be very claustrophobic.  Walking in with all the steam, it's hard to see and can be scary!
*The inside of my nose had condensation.  It wasn't running, or dripping but condensation, like on a glass.  Odd.
*Depending on the amount of steam, it may be hard to breath.  I don't keep the steam going in mine.  I steam it up, turn it off and then walk in.             
*It's hot.  Duh, right? But remember that you are hot and worked up from a workout.  Keep that in mind! Luckily I've lived in the south all my life, so it just feels like a Tuesday in July!

I plan to make this part of my routine in my afternoon workouts.  It's nice to have a quiet place to clear your mind!  And these days, my mind must be cleared at least once a day, sometimes two!