Summer

Hi there! Do you remember me? Probably not since I NEVER blog anymore. Just too darn busy anymore. Just thought I'd share some cute pics of my baby girl having a little fun in the sun. Hope your summer is as delightful as ours has been!

Ahhhh.......summer vacation

Ahhh, summer. For the most part, there are no schedules, no routines, no plan.....it's mostly just fly by the seat of our pants. I love that my kids don't want to be in any activities over the summer months. Kids like a chance to breathe & relax too. After 9 months of hectic schedules and running everywhere, it's nice to be able to just chill. It's the perfect time to watch your stress levels fall.

We ended up at a garage sale today. It was one of those odd days where I actually had cash in my purse and Eden saw a sign and begged to go (like always), so we went. I'm not a huge garage sale person. Not that I'm above it or anything like that. I loves me a good bargain. It just makes me a little uncomfortable rummaging through other people's stuff while they watch you. I don't even like being approached by sales people when I go shopping asking me if I need help finding stuff. I always say, "No thank you" very kindly but in my head I'm screaming, "NO! GET AWAY FROM ME!". So anyway, we left with a lot of "name brand" clothing for dirt cheap. Some good finds.

We had to laugh though because there was a lady there who was complaining about the price of the paperback books they were selling. She said that selling them for $1 a piece was way too high priced and most people wouldn't sell them for over 50 cents. And she went on and on about it. Took a 5 or 10 minute break. Then started up again about the outrageousness of trying to sell a paperback book for $1, as if she hadn't just gave the very same speech 5 minutes ago. Funny.

On a crazy whim, we went to Taco Johns for lunch. I had two hard shell tacos and a small sized order of potato oles. I decided to look at the calorie content on my phone as I waited for my kids to finish eating. First, I saw the tacos. Compared to everything else on the list, if you are going to get anything, get the hard shell tacos. Pretty much the lowest calorie item. Yay for me! And I wasn't even trying. Then I looked at the oles - 400 calories....in a small!!! Holy crap! There went all the good I did ordering the low calorie tacos! And right then and there I vowed to not eat anymore of that kind of stuff until it was time to celebrate losing the 10 pounds I've gained. Sounds vaguely familiar to the vow I said Tuesday night, after my anniversary pasta dinner gorge-and-barf-o-rama.

Did you know that a chicken fajita at Taco Johns is like 850 calories?! I would have guessed that if anything, that would be one of the better choices. Yikes! Not so! Eating out is just plain terrible for you. And don't get me started on the sodium content of restaurant food! You are so much better off preparing your meals at home.

I've been doing slightly better this week. Things are...ok. Better than terrible, so I'll take it. I still feel as though I'm just going through the motions from day to day. Simply trying to get by. I'm hoping that the sun will start to shine in this perpetually gloomy part of the country because that always helps things seem a little less hopeless. But I have a feeling this is going to be one painfully short summer. If I had the chance to move south (or anywhere warm for that matter), I wouldn't hesitate. Not even a little.

My Odd Duck

My kids are always telling me I smell good. Of course they say that about their grandmas too. In fact, sometimes Eden will come home from school and the first thing she says when she walks through the door is, "I smell grandma!" and indeed grandma had been over that day. And one time she was talking to Gram on the phone and said, "I can even smell you through the phone". It's kind of cute.

But now Eden has gotten into huffing me. She is ALWAYS by me.....sniffing. It's almost embarrassing anymore! We were bowling a few nights ago and she wouldn't stop sniffing me so I finally had to raise my voice and tell her to knock it off! Then she got all pouty about it. I felt bad, but come on, really? In public now?

So this morning, she was laying on the floor beside me at my computer (where Lizzy usually lays) and after about 10 minutes she finally said, "Mom, can I just have ONE sniff??" Oh dear Lord!

So I let her have one.

This kid is an odd duck. She's super freakishly smart. In the highest math group in her class. I don't think she's missed a single spelling word on a spelling test in the last 2 years. She rarely ever needs help with homework and when she does, it's a math problem that even I don't know how to do. Which is sort of embarrassing to say but everyone who knows me knows that math and I don't get along. Except for trig. For some strange reason, I aced my college trigonometry class. Who knew! That was back in a time when I was going to be an architect. HA! Can you imagine?!

Anyway, continuing on with my odd duck, she doesn't like elevators, she's got an above average level of OCD, and she thinks our dog's paws smell like "fresh Chinese rice". But she's my odd duck, and I love her.

Flashback Tuesday

It doesn't quite have that ring to it like Flashback Friday, does it?

So I was reading some of my blog posts from long ago and thinking since I rarely post anymore, it might be fun to relive some fun moments from a few years ago. So here you go!

http://thearffadventure.blogspot.com/2008/10/emmas-haircut.html

A poem

This poem was forwarded to me by my sister-in-law and I thought it was so beautiful, I had to share it.

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
>
> when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
>
> their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air
>
> they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there
>
> They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say
>
> they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
>
> "where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse
>
> "this is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."
>
> When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
>
> but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
>
> He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same
>
> then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
>
> and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
>
> those children all flew into the arms of their King
>
> and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
>
> one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
>
> And as if He could read all the questions she had
>
> He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
>
> then He looked down on earth, the world far below
>
> He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
>
> then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
>
> "Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
>
> "may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
>
> "I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
>
> Then He and the children stood up without a sound
>
> "come now my children, let me show you around."
>
> Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
>
> all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
>
> And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
>
> "in the midst of this darkness, I am still The Light."
>
> ~Author unknown

It reminds me to trust that even though they were so tragically taken from this earth, the beauty and love they see and feel right now is beyond our comprehension.

And on another note, we are in the midst of a great controversy right now. The gun debate; some want stricter laws while others believe that isn't the solution. I don't own a gun. I never will. It's just too scary to think about, having a gun in my house. But I don't believe that banning guns is the answer. Criminals do not obey laws. They will obtain guns either way. People who want to do harm will always find a way.

We need to stop the arguing over who's right or wrong. We need to come together. I know we all feel that something has to be done. Just what that something is, is the big question. But one thing we can ALL do, is to stop focusing on all the evil that is in this world, and do our part to show the kind and loving side of human nature. Go out of your way this holiday season {and always} to show kindness to family and strangers alike. Ever see that commercial where someone witnesses a random act of kindness and it sets a chain reaction of good deeds into effect? THAT'S what we need to do! Inspire the world to do good! Show evil that good WILL prevail. We won't cower in fear or wave the white flag. We will stand up and fight for good. Show extra compassion. Give extra tight hugs. Light up this world with a love that can be seen from the heavens. Let's show those little angels we can do better.

Psalm 27:13-14 "I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"

address

I found the address to send condolences to the families of the Sandy Hook tragedy. I wish I could do something more for them, but the more love and prayers they receive, the tighter they will feel God's arms wrapped around them. Here it is:

PO Box 3700
Newtown, CT 06470

heaviness

 

This is Emma. She is 6 years old.

She is the same age as the majority of the children

tragically killed last Friday in CT.

 

Look at her face. That sweet innocence only a child

can possess. She is love. Pure love.

 

As I look at the faces of the sweet children that were taken from their parents

far too soon, I can't help but picture my own child's face. That could have been her!

That could have been her classmates!

 

My heart is so heavy with sadness. I find myself constantly shaking my head in disbelief

and can't fight back the tears. Those families. Those poor devastated families.

Christmas is supposed to be a time of rejoicing. They will only feel loss.

Sorrow. The emptiness of a loved one....forever gone.

 

A child.

 

How will they cope? The hole in their hearts must be unbearable.

Please, God....please comfort them. Please tell their parents

that they are with you. That they didn't suffer. That angels were there with them,

holding them close. That they are in paradise where there is no more

evil. Tell them somehow. Help them. Please, God. Help them understand

that even though they held those precious children only a short time,

they will be reunited some day. Help them get through this life

on earth without them. Please, God.

 

Help the rest of us deal with the fear. Help us heal our own hearts and trust that

you have a plan for everyone. And one day, this heartbreak will end.

Help those suffering from mental illness get the attention and care they need.

Help everyone suffering with the sadness that surrounds us today and always.