Life in a Nutshell
Been memed by Portia. The infamous seven-times-seven....
Seven things to do before I die:
1. watch my children (and grandchildren!) grow up, graduate, get married, etc.
2. have a successful vegetable garden
3. own a few acres (to go with #2)
4. see the northern lights
5. live by the sea
6. be completely debt free
7. travel through quaint European villages
Seven things I cannot do:
1. trill my 'Rs' or roll my tongue
2. give up coffee
3. wear skirts all the time
4. have an immaculately clean house
5. not sing to any BNL song when I hear one
6. overcome my fear of heights
7. understand Kant
Seven things that attract me to my other half:
1. amazingly gorgeous blue eyes
2. a heart that is brave and true
3. wacky humour
4. quaint Canadian heritage (and all the accents and idioms that go with it)
5. hating to play the corporate game, but doing it, (and succeeding!) for the sake of the family
6. sticking to his guns when I am wrong
7. being the rock while I'm the tidal wave
Seven things I say:
1. Please stop bugging...your sister/your brother/the cat
2. Please pick that up right now!
3. Hi punkum
4. That's hilarious
5. I've just about had it
6. You've got to be kidding
7. Yikes
Seven books I love:
1. Eclipse of the Sun, Michael O'Brien
2. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
3. The Little Prince, Antoine de San Exupery
4. A Modern Mephistopheles, Louisa May Alcott
5. Penses, Pascall
6. Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Tolkien
7. Story of a Soul, St Therese
Seven movies I love:
1. Lord of the Rings Trilogy
2. Bourne movies
3. Princess Bride
4. Sleepless in Seattle
5. Pride and Prejudice (A&E)
6. Return to me
7. Life is Beautiful
Seven people to meme? hmmmmm. How about 4?
1. Mrs. Bear
2. Studeo
3. Sapientiae Amator
4. and Wanda a faithful, daily reader!
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Saturday, February 25, 2006
There's nothing like a hot cup of tea...
Life in a Nutshell
...on a raw, cold, wet, day.....
...that has thus far consisted of...
...stomping in the puddles with DD#3 (she wouldn't stay inside a moment longer)
...doing the abhorrent weekly gorcery shopping at two different stores!
...and trying to keep up with the laundry....
Now, I'm answering e-mails, blogging, and eating a piece of toast (or four) with butter and "Johnson Farm jam".....and, of course, sipping my tea.
YUM.
...on a raw, cold, wet, day.....
...that has thus far consisted of...
...stomping in the puddles with DD#3 (she wouldn't stay inside a moment longer)
...doing the abhorrent weekly gorcery shopping at two different stores!
...and trying to keep up with the laundry....
Now, I'm answering e-mails, blogging, and eating a piece of toast (or four) with butter and "Johnson Farm jam".....and, of course, sipping my tea.
YUM.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Always in the back of my head....
Life in a Nutshell
...as I prepare our dinner which always consists of a meat, a starch and a veggie.....
What am I going to do if any of my sons gives me an ultra-crunchy daughter-in-law who disdains my cooking?
.....I know I have a long wait, since DS#1 is only 8 years old, but it's a concern I have.
:)
...as I prepare our dinner which always consists of a meat, a starch and a veggie.....
What am I going to do if any of my sons gives me an ultra-crunchy daughter-in-law who disdains my cooking?
.....I know I have a long wait, since DS#1 is only 8 years old, but it's a concern I have.
:)
Sicut Cervus
Life in a Nutshell
A new friend to check in on....and an awesome resource for all things medical!
"Sicut Cervus: Diary of a Medical Student" is an awesome blog by a TAC grad trying to navigate the waters of modern medicine in a godless time. I really appreciate the perspective, and the stories are amazing and heart-wrenching.
In other words, I highly recommend.
A new friend to check in on....and an awesome resource for all things medical!
"Sicut Cervus: Diary of a Medical Student" is an awesome blog by a TAC grad trying to navigate the waters of modern medicine in a godless time. I really appreciate the perspective, and the stories are amazing and heart-wrenching.
In other words, I highly recommend.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
"The Great Divorce"...
Life in a Nutshell
...is my all time most favorite book, by C.S. Lewis. The weather today reminds me of his description of the atmosphere in Hell...or is it Purgatory?
;)
"Evening was just closing in and it was raining. I had been wandering for hours in similar mean streets, always in the rain and always in evening twilight. Time seemed to have paused on that moment...(...) And just as the evening never advanced to night, so my walking had never brought me to the better parts of town."
It has been misting and cold for days now, with no sunshine poking through, so that it always appears to be dusk. The kids (and I, I admit) are going a bit stir-crazy, as we are too thin-skinned to brave the raw, wet cold and venture outside. I guess this is a kind of Purgatory. And I am constantly saying little prayers to myself during the day, that I can be an example of patience and charity.
Woooowheee. This temporal suffering for sins is not for the faint of heart. Especially when little ones are involved!
It sure is nice to know that there are all you other Moms out there who can relate. And for those of you in the frigid north....how in the world do you maintain your sanity? Even in the winter down here, I can send my kids out to the backyard at least a few times a week!
God bless y'all!
:)
...is my all time most favorite book, by C.S. Lewis. The weather today reminds me of his description of the atmosphere in Hell...or is it Purgatory?
;)
"Evening was just closing in and it was raining. I had been wandering for hours in similar mean streets, always in the rain and always in evening twilight. Time seemed to have paused on that moment...(...) And just as the evening never advanced to night, so my walking had never brought me to the better parts of town."
It has been misting and cold for days now, with no sunshine poking through, so that it always appears to be dusk. The kids (and I, I admit) are going a bit stir-crazy, as we are too thin-skinned to brave the raw, wet cold and venture outside. I guess this is a kind of Purgatory. And I am constantly saying little prayers to myself during the day, that I can be an example of patience and charity.
Woooowheee. This temporal suffering for sins is not for the faint of heart. Especially when little ones are involved!
It sure is nice to know that there are all you other Moms out there who can relate. And for those of you in the frigid north....how in the world do you maintain your sanity? Even in the winter down here, I can send my kids out to the backyard at least a few times a week!
God bless y'all!
:)
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
On successful schooling....
Life in a Nutshell
I found out today that there is a sure-fire way to speed through one's homeschool agenda.
All you have to do is promise that as soon as they are finished with all of their work, you will print out as many coloring pages of Spiderman and Snow White that their little hearts could possibly desire.
Suddenly- Math, Reading, Phonics and Religion are finished in the span of an hour and a half.
And Mama is free to attack her mountainous pile of laundry....
After she prints out a gazillion coloring pages, of course!
LOL
I found out today that there is a sure-fire way to speed through one's homeschool agenda.
All you have to do is promise that as soon as they are finished with all of their work, you will print out as many coloring pages of Spiderman and Snow White that their little hearts could possibly desire.
Suddenly- Math, Reading, Phonics and Religion are finished in the span of an hour and a half.
And Mama is free to attack her mountainous pile of laundry....
After she prints out a gazillion coloring pages, of course!
LOL
Monday, February 20, 2006
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Code Red
Life in a Nutshell
And so we invited our friends over for dinner tonight. It would be the first time our family has had the pleasure of hosting Elanor and her entire family.
I had given the children strict instructions on proper behavior when entertaining guests.....
no jumping on the guests
no bathroom talk
no silly comments
First infractions would result in immediate expulsion from the table!
I thought I had it all under control.
And things went smoothly. We had a lovely dinner, with much spirited chat and ooohing and ahhing over the little ones. With dessert on the table, and the tea poured, I popped DD#3 in the tub for her post-dinner soak, while I savored my tea and the company.
I sauntered back to the bathroom to check on things and discovered that DD#3 had made a rather unsavory deposit in and amongst her tub toys.
So much for brownies.
I rushed back to the table and informed DH that we had a "code red" in the bathroom. He groaned and our guests were naturally inquisitive. And so, like seasoned parents, eager to impart any knowledge we have managed to glean from our years of cleaning up many undesirable messes, we share....
And my friend is sooo interested! She follows DH into the bedroom as I hand off DD#3. And as I grab the comet and scrub brush, she and DH are relating horror stories of cats and kids and similar incidents.
"And a fun time was had by all!"
And so we invited our friends over for dinner tonight. It would be the first time our family has had the pleasure of hosting Elanor and her entire family.
I had given the children strict instructions on proper behavior when entertaining guests.....
no jumping on the guests
no bathroom talk
no silly comments
First infractions would result in immediate expulsion from the table!
I thought I had it all under control.
And things went smoothly. We had a lovely dinner, with much spirited chat and ooohing and ahhing over the little ones. With dessert on the table, and the tea poured, I popped DD#3 in the tub for her post-dinner soak, while I savored my tea and the company.
I sauntered back to the bathroom to check on things and discovered that DD#3 had made a rather unsavory deposit in and amongst her tub toys.
So much for brownies.
I rushed back to the table and informed DH that we had a "code red" in the bathroom. He groaned and our guests were naturally inquisitive. And so, like seasoned parents, eager to impart any knowledge we have managed to glean from our years of cleaning up many undesirable messes, we share....
And my friend is sooo interested! She follows DH into the bedroom as I hand off DD#3. And as I grab the comet and scrub brush, she and DH are relating horror stories of cats and kids and similar incidents.
"And a fun time was had by all!"
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Deception
Life in a Nutshell
Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that DD#1 has inherited an ability I had that used to drive my mother crazy.....
Yessir, I could conceal the remains of my peas and peanut-butter sandwiches with the best of 'em!
DD#1 told me with wide eyes yesterday that, yes indeedy, she had finished all of her chocolate chip pancake, not just the chocolate parts. And, after a quick scan of the garbage and areas surrounding her plate and chair, I ascertained that she was telling the truth...even though I remained a bit suspicious about the wide eyes.
Ahhh, but I underestimated her wily-ness.....
For later on in the day, I discovered the remains of her breakfast, hard as a rock, stuffed alongside the napkins in the napkin holder.
Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that DD#1 has inherited an ability I had that used to drive my mother crazy.....
Yessir, I could conceal the remains of my peas and peanut-butter sandwiches with the best of 'em!
DD#1 told me with wide eyes yesterday that, yes indeedy, she had finished all of her chocolate chip pancake, not just the chocolate parts. And, after a quick scan of the garbage and areas surrounding her plate and chair, I ascertained that she was telling the truth...even though I remained a bit suspicious about the wide eyes.
Ahhh, but I underestimated her wily-ness.....
For later on in the day, I discovered the remains of her breakfast, hard as a rock, stuffed alongside the napkins in the napkin holder.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
The glory of girls
Life in a Nutshell
I have two boys, ages 8 and 6. And I love them dearly. In fact, when my first daughter was born, and starting to exhibit all those girly tendencies of crying at the drop of a hat (or toy) and having emotional upheavals along with tantrum performances that would challenge the talent of Julia Roberts, my husband warned me:
"You are definitely a boy's Mama...but you'd better start being a girl's Mama too."
Argh. If there's one thing my NYer attitude lacks, it's sympathy for girly tantrums and over-emotional episodes. (except for my own, of course...)
But, you know, girls are truly amazing.
DD#1 has shown me much beauty in the way she looks at what I consider ordinary. She has an artistic soul, and could spend hours on end at the table creating many works of art. She also has an adventurous spirit, willing and able to play super heroes and star wars with the boys. She is a mother-hen, helping her younger sister to get dressed up, applying nail polish and organizing exquisite tea parties using water and banana muffins. She is a huge help to me, calling out "Mae-love!" when DD#3 absolutely needs me to pick her up immediately when I'm elbow-deep in raw meat.
And this morning....
I tripped over a huge pile of assorted clothes, toys and games that were thrown into the hallway outside the kids' room. I hollered at the girls to unlock the door, (so I could reprimand them for the mess in the hallway) when I was met with a sparkling clean room. All surfaces clear, all beds made, nothing stashed under the beds or tables...all toys put exactly in place. (...and the ones in the hallway? Well, they belonged in a different room!) And the sound of two giggly girls chattering with excitement about how hard they worked to clean their room....while firmly instructing the boys not to "mess it up again."
:)
Ahhhh.....the glory of little girls.
I have two boys, ages 8 and 6. And I love them dearly. In fact, when my first daughter was born, and starting to exhibit all those girly tendencies of crying at the drop of a hat (or toy) and having emotional upheavals along with tantrum performances that would challenge the talent of Julia Roberts, my husband warned me:
"You are definitely a boy's Mama...but you'd better start being a girl's Mama too."
Argh. If there's one thing my NYer attitude lacks, it's sympathy for girly tantrums and over-emotional episodes. (except for my own, of course...)
But, you know, girls are truly amazing.
DD#1 has shown me much beauty in the way she looks at what I consider ordinary. She has an artistic soul, and could spend hours on end at the table creating many works of art. She also has an adventurous spirit, willing and able to play super heroes and star wars with the boys. She is a mother-hen, helping her younger sister to get dressed up, applying nail polish and organizing exquisite tea parties using water and banana muffins. She is a huge help to me, calling out "Mae-love!" when DD#3 absolutely needs me to pick her up immediately when I'm elbow-deep in raw meat.
And this morning....
I tripped over a huge pile of assorted clothes, toys and games that were thrown into the hallway outside the kids' room. I hollered at the girls to unlock the door, (so I could reprimand them for the mess in the hallway) when I was met with a sparkling clean room. All surfaces clear, all beds made, nothing stashed under the beds or tables...all toys put exactly in place. (...and the ones in the hallway? Well, they belonged in a different room!) And the sound of two giggly girls chattering with excitement about how hard they worked to clean their room....while firmly instructing the boys not to "mess it up again."
:)
Ahhhh.....the glory of little girls.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Diaper Brain
Life in a Nutshell
I'm sure we've all done it....
some dumb little thing where we're left shaking our heads, wondering where our brain has gone....
Well, this morning it came to my attention that I had inadvertently handed over our much-treasured hockey tickets to DH's only chance to see his home team here in Dallas, for the March game we'd been looking forward to.....
I meant to give over the January game tickets, as evidenced by the January parking pass I included with our beloved tickets.....
And so the January tickets I hold in my hand are for a game long gone....
And I will hand over the appropriate parking pass to those holding the appropriate tickets....
sigh
I'm sure we've all done it....
some dumb little thing where we're left shaking our heads, wondering where our brain has gone....
Well, this morning it came to my attention that I had inadvertently handed over our much-treasured hockey tickets to DH's only chance to see his home team here in Dallas, for the March game we'd been looking forward to.....
I meant to give over the January game tickets, as evidenced by the January parking pass I included with our beloved tickets.....
And so the January tickets I hold in my hand are for a game long gone....
And I will hand over the appropriate parking pass to those holding the appropriate tickets....
sigh
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Idealism
Life in a Nutshell
Had this thought-provoking discussion with a friend of mine about Providentialism...(i.e. Quiverful philosophy) today.
And then came across this awesome quote regarding idealism from Josef Pieper:
"Whoever wants to know and do good must direct his gaze toward the objective world of being, not toward his own 'sentiment' or toward arbitrarily established 'ideals' and 'models'. He must look away from his own deed and look upon reality."
Or, as DH so eloquently put it today:
"There's a fine line between heroism and stupidity."
Had this thought-provoking discussion with a friend of mine about Providentialism...(i.e. Quiverful philosophy) today.
And then came across this awesome quote regarding idealism from Josef Pieper:
"Whoever wants to know and do good must direct his gaze toward the objective world of being, not toward his own 'sentiment' or toward arbitrarily established 'ideals' and 'models'. He must look away from his own deed and look upon reality."
Or, as DH so eloquently put it today:
"There's a fine line between heroism and stupidity."
Monday, February 06, 2006
Saturday, February 04, 2006
50 states.....how many have you been to?
Life in a Nutshell
So, here are the states I've been to (in bold)...either actually lived in, or stayed overnight in, or just plain driven through. It may seem weird to post this, but it was actually neat to remember when and why and where I've been.
Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa /Kansas/Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi/ Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee/ Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C /
Quite a trip down memory lane.....
My trek X-country with "Senorabela" after junior year at TAC; the yearly treks to BC from CA with then not-DH during college breaks; another trek, this time back to NY from TX with DH...me being pregnant with DS#1; our "almost move" to Florida; our trips to "The Farm" and Kansas to a friend's wedding; a visit out east to D.C.
....and so on.
It would be neat to actually have been to every single state....any of y'all have?
So, here are the states I've been to (in bold)...either actually lived in, or stayed overnight in, or just plain driven through. It may seem weird to post this, but it was actually neat to remember when and why and where I've been.
Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa /Kansas/Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi/ Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee/ Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C /
Quite a trip down memory lane.....
My trek X-country with "Senorabela" after junior year at TAC; the yearly treks to BC from CA with then not-DH during college breaks; another trek, this time back to NY from TX with DH...me being pregnant with DS#1; our "almost move" to Florida; our trips to "The Farm" and Kansas to a friend's wedding; a visit out east to D.C.
....and so on.
It would be neat to actually have been to every single state....any of y'all have?
Interesting....
Life in a Nutshell
discussion over here about the use and reaction of/to inappropriate comments regarding one's family size.
It's something we all have to deal with, to some extent. And the topics range from your family size to vaccinations! It's amazing how impolite people can be. I guess it's because we ourselves are "publicly declaring" our own views about family life by having a family. I don't know about you, but I have no desire to hear their views about not having a family!
And so, what should our response be? Go visit that interesting discussion....should be good!
discussion over here about the use and reaction of/to inappropriate comments regarding one's family size.
It's something we all have to deal with, to some extent. And the topics range from your family size to vaccinations! It's amazing how impolite people can be. I guess it's because we ourselves are "publicly declaring" our own views about family life by having a family. I don't know about you, but I have no desire to hear their views about not having a family!
And so, what should our response be? Go visit that interesting discussion....should be good!
Friday, February 03, 2006
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Another NBC foible
Life in a Nutshell
Take a moment to write an e-mail to NBC about this upcoming episode of Will and Grace:
Normally I don't get involved, but today I am sick and tired of hearing about TV stations trying to make big bucks by blaspheming Christianity....
Here's what it's all about:
The American Family Association (AFA) states that:
"[O]n the April 13 edition of NBC's Will and Grace, Britney Spears will appear as a Christian conservative sidekick to Sean Hayes' character, Jack, who hosts his own talk show. Jack's fictional network, Out TV, is bought by a Christian TV network, leading to Spears contributing a cooking segment called 'Cruci-fixin's.' To further denigrate Christianity, NBC chose to air it the night before Good Friday."
Kinda gets my dander up.....
Take a moment to write an e-mail to NBC about this upcoming episode of Will and Grace:
Normally I don't get involved, but today I am sick and tired of hearing about TV stations trying to make big bucks by blaspheming Christianity....
Here's what it's all about:
The American Family Association (AFA) states that:
"[O]n the April 13 edition of NBC's Will and Grace, Britney Spears will appear as a Christian conservative sidekick to Sean Hayes' character, Jack, who hosts his own talk show. Jack's fictional network, Out TV, is bought by a Christian TV network, leading to Spears contributing a cooking segment called 'Cruci-fixin's.' To further denigrate Christianity, NBC chose to air it the night before Good Friday."
Kinda gets my dander up.....
Cloistered Mamas
Life in a Nutshell
Here is a fantastic article comparing the bells that call cloistered nuns to prayer, to the wails of little ones calling Mamas to minister to them. Mrs. Peterson gives a whole new meaning to those midnight "bells". :)
Very beautiful.
Here is a fantastic article comparing the bells that call cloistered nuns to prayer, to the wails of little ones calling Mamas to minister to them. Mrs. Peterson gives a whole new meaning to those midnight "bells". :)
Very beautiful.
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