Well, today I would like to branch off my post from last night. Ya know, the one where I proclaimed how I am horrible at directions and that I shouldn’t be trusted in reverse. As crazy as the situation was, what bothered me most was the wasted dollar signs and wasted time. When Michael and I were talking about the situation, I was telling him how I wanted to learn to take these “$$$$” costing mistakes that happen, and simply learn from them and move on, rather than spend a lot of energy stressing and obsessing over something I can no longer change. He was surprised to hear that it was the money that I was getting hung up on. His words were, “Hmmmm. For me I see the money as something that we are just going to have to bite the bullet and pay, no use stressing ‘cause there is nothing I can do. However, I would be more embarrassed. Not that you embarrass me, I have been with you long enough now, I am used to you. But if I would have hit your sisters car it would have been hard for me to get over it, because I would be embarrassed.” After he finished his statement I was certainly glad to know that he is used to my shenanigans and he has been with me long enough that he has come to expect them therefore is not embarrassed by them. Now that is LOVE. Lol
But seriously, it was during this conversation that I realized I like to be efficient. I don’t like to “waste” time and I certainly don’t like to waste “money.” If I budget to by a new TV or go on a vacation, well, I sacrifice things like the movies, or eating out, or feeding the kids(just kidding) and I work hard to earn and save so I can afford that TV or vacation. But hitting someone’s car, that is just a waste. That is a lot of eating just thrown right out the window. Or take wasting time for instance, if I have to take the kids to the doctor and I forget to bring something to work on and get something accomplish than I am bummed that I had to sit somewhere for an hour-wasting time. It’s like, if I have 3 hours in town kid free I like to make sure I make the most of it and if I get lost and have to spend 15 minutes finding my way around what a waste.
Which brings me to the question of the night. What is a “waste” of time and what is a “waste” of money. Paying for a new bumper may seem like a waste of money, but in the grand scheme of things, I have a van, that I drive to do many fun things. I could just leave my van sit in the garage so I was sure not to back into anything but then I would miss out on a lot of life. So really I should be grateful for the opportunity to back into my sister’s car, I mean yeah, it’s not like I want to make a habit of it, oh wait, I think I have. Hopefully I will improve, but at least when I am 80 it will make for some stories at the family reunion. And wasting time, hahaha, what the heck is “wasting” time. If I love living, which I do, then how can my time be wasted? Like when I drive all the way into Lansing only to find out the Lab that was going to draw my blood today was closed. I can stress over it, or just enjoy the drive rockin’ out, singing at the top of my lungs to Christina Aguilera. Come to think of it, I am grateful for the opportunity to “waste” time! I can either spend my life obsessing over how to make my time efficient, and stressing when it’s not or I can have fun “wasting” the TIME I have, and loving every minute of it, which when you think of it, is not a “waste of time.
Ok well I will get off my “philosophical soap box. Have a great night and enjoy wasting time.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
And the lesson we can learn in all this is...
Well, I have to say I wish I did NOT have blog material to write. Before I get into the current event, for those of you who are not aware of my being “directionally challenged”, I must preface this with I can get lost with a Garmin. If you would like a story on this subject refer to the blog- I am so directionally challenged.
Well, this evening Michael was taking Timmy to weigh-in for his wrestling tournament, and he offered to pick up one of Timmy’s wrestling buddies who was on the way and save some fellow parents a trip. So, before he left I told him how to get there. He questioned me, as if I had trouble with directions before, and I said to him, “I KNOW what I am talking about. I have been there. I am the taxi service around here ya know.” So with his fate in my hands he left. Meanwhile Jess and Jake stopped by for dinner so we could all hang out when Michael returned. About 15 minutes after Michael left, Jake found Michael’s phone on the couch. And about 30 minutes after that I received a call from a number I didn’t recognize only to hear Michael’s voice on the other end. He couldn’t find their house. At this time I am thinking, “seriously, it is not that hard, there are only about 5 houses on the whole street” This was odd to me because Michael is not one who gets lost, that is my role, so I just figured it was because it was dark out and he couldn’t see well. I told him I would call and have them flash their porch lights to signal him. About 20 minutes later our friends called me back saying there was still know sign of Michael. And all of a sudden I had this feeling that “Tucker” might not be the name of their road. “Oh no” I said “What is the name of your road?” I asked hoping to hear the word Tucker, knowing I wouldn’t. Sure enough I sent Michael to the wrong road and he was without his cell phone. Oh my gosh, my stomach just churned, how was I going to let Michael know he would NEVER find the right house on the road he was going up and down who knows how many times. And not to mention, I would never live this down. Our friend said he would go around the block and look for him and then just head in to weigh-ins before they closed, he thought Michael probably gave up and saw that he better get to Leslie also. Well, 10 minutes later I got a call from our friend’s wife. She informed me Michael was not on Tucker and she would let me know if her husband saw him in Leslie. Oh my gosh, I was feeling sooooo bad. I had sent my husband on a wild goose chase; sad thing is this wasn’t the first time. There had been many. One in particular I can remember was when Josh was 3 months old. He had a special $20 bottle that he had to use because he had trouble eating as a baby. I thought I left it at the Eaton Rapids football game, so freaking out about the 20-dollar bottle; I had Michael drive back into town to retrieve it. He had to jump the fence only to call me saying he couldn’t find it. “Are you sure you didn’t put it in the diaper bag.” He asked. “No, I AM sure.” I said as I went to double check, and THERE IT WAS! So today when I thought of my poor husband wandering a street I had sent him to, I just wanted to cry. I felt so helpless and guilty I just couldn’t sit there and wait, I looked at Jess and Jake and said I was going to look for him. I grabbed my keys and headed out the door. Thinking back, I wonder what I expected to accomplish. There was no way he stayed on that same road for another half an hour. But logic wasn’t winning in my head. I started my van, put it in reverse and backed up, until I heard that horrible sound of metal hitting metal. “oh no” I thought. ‘please tell me I did not just back into someone.” Ya see, backing into another vehicle is a sound I am unfortunately very familiar with. In the past ten years I have backed into my sister’s vehicle twice, my mom’s once and I also ran into someone’s mail box backing out of their driveway. So yeah, reverse is not my best direction. Michael says I need a bumper sticker that reads, “Do not park behind me, you WILL get hit.” Needless to say, I jumped out of my van and saw my sister’s beautiful red traverse behind me, which until now I had managed NOT to back into despite my reputation with her old car. And keep in mind; this was now the THIRD time I had backed into one of my sister’s vehicles. I didn’t even go to check the damages; I just started crying and went back in the house. I couldn’t even talk when I came back in the door. My family rushed to me asking over and over again “what’s wrong?” My sister said jokingly “What, did you hit my car?” Through my tears I just nodded my head. “Oh, I’m kidding” she said. My mom, picking up on the fact that I wasn’t kidding, she asked, “Did you hit her car?” Still sobbing I nodded again. “What, she is serious!” my sister said with laughter at the irony and yet panic in her voice. So I just sank into the floor crying. I sent my husband to a non-existent address, I crashed my sister’s car, and I still didn’t know where Michael was or when he would be home. I told everyone to go home, I just wanted to climb in my bed and shut down. Well, they stayed with me, of course, until Michael did return. He walked through the door and with tear stained cheeks I sheepishly looked at him. “Lucy” he said with his best “Ricky Ricardo” accent, “You have some splainin to do!” It was after this comment Jake(my brother-in-law), muttered under his breath. “he doesn’t know half the “splainin” she has to do.” So yeah, I “splained” everything to Michael. And fortunately the look he gave me was the one I see so often, and that is his loving accepting grin, with a headshake. That poor man I have put him through so much and yet he just couldn’t live without me. It was then that I informed him of the lesson we all could learn from today and that is “Don’t leave home without your cell phone.”
Well, this evening Michael was taking Timmy to weigh-in for his wrestling tournament, and he offered to pick up one of Timmy’s wrestling buddies who was on the way and save some fellow parents a trip. So, before he left I told him how to get there. He questioned me, as if I had trouble with directions before, and I said to him, “I KNOW what I am talking about. I have been there. I am the taxi service around here ya know.” So with his fate in my hands he left. Meanwhile Jess and Jake stopped by for dinner so we could all hang out when Michael returned. About 15 minutes after Michael left, Jake found Michael’s phone on the couch. And about 30 minutes after that I received a call from a number I didn’t recognize only to hear Michael’s voice on the other end. He couldn’t find their house. At this time I am thinking, “seriously, it is not that hard, there are only about 5 houses on the whole street” This was odd to me because Michael is not one who gets lost, that is my role, so I just figured it was because it was dark out and he couldn’t see well. I told him I would call and have them flash their porch lights to signal him. About 20 minutes later our friends called me back saying there was still know sign of Michael. And all of a sudden I had this feeling that “Tucker” might not be the name of their road. “Oh no” I said “What is the name of your road?” I asked hoping to hear the word Tucker, knowing I wouldn’t. Sure enough I sent Michael to the wrong road and he was without his cell phone. Oh my gosh, my stomach just churned, how was I going to let Michael know he would NEVER find the right house on the road he was going up and down who knows how many times. And not to mention, I would never live this down. Our friend said he would go around the block and look for him and then just head in to weigh-ins before they closed, he thought Michael probably gave up and saw that he better get to Leslie also. Well, 10 minutes later I got a call from our friend’s wife. She informed me Michael was not on Tucker and she would let me know if her husband saw him in Leslie. Oh my gosh, I was feeling sooooo bad. I had sent my husband on a wild goose chase; sad thing is this wasn’t the first time. There had been many. One in particular I can remember was when Josh was 3 months old. He had a special $20 bottle that he had to use because he had trouble eating as a baby. I thought I left it at the Eaton Rapids football game, so freaking out about the 20-dollar bottle; I had Michael drive back into town to retrieve it. He had to jump the fence only to call me saying he couldn’t find it. “Are you sure you didn’t put it in the diaper bag.” He asked. “No, I AM sure.” I said as I went to double check, and THERE IT WAS! So today when I thought of my poor husband wandering a street I had sent him to, I just wanted to cry. I felt so helpless and guilty I just couldn’t sit there and wait, I looked at Jess and Jake and said I was going to look for him. I grabbed my keys and headed out the door. Thinking back, I wonder what I expected to accomplish. There was no way he stayed on that same road for another half an hour. But logic wasn’t winning in my head. I started my van, put it in reverse and backed up, until I heard that horrible sound of metal hitting metal. “oh no” I thought. ‘please tell me I did not just back into someone.” Ya see, backing into another vehicle is a sound I am unfortunately very familiar with. In the past ten years I have backed into my sister’s vehicle twice, my mom’s once and I also ran into someone’s mail box backing out of their driveway. So yeah, reverse is not my best direction. Michael says I need a bumper sticker that reads, “Do not park behind me, you WILL get hit.” Needless to say, I jumped out of my van and saw my sister’s beautiful red traverse behind me, which until now I had managed NOT to back into despite my reputation with her old car. And keep in mind; this was now the THIRD time I had backed into one of my sister’s vehicles. I didn’t even go to check the damages; I just started crying and went back in the house. I couldn’t even talk when I came back in the door. My family rushed to me asking over and over again “what’s wrong?” My sister said jokingly “What, did you hit my car?” Through my tears I just nodded my head. “Oh, I’m kidding” she said. My mom, picking up on the fact that I wasn’t kidding, she asked, “Did you hit her car?” Still sobbing I nodded again. “What, she is serious!” my sister said with laughter at the irony and yet panic in her voice. So I just sank into the floor crying. I sent my husband to a non-existent address, I crashed my sister’s car, and I still didn’t know where Michael was or when he would be home. I told everyone to go home, I just wanted to climb in my bed and shut down. Well, they stayed with me, of course, until Michael did return. He walked through the door and with tear stained cheeks I sheepishly looked at him. “Lucy” he said with his best “Ricky Ricardo” accent, “You have some splainin to do!” It was after this comment Jake(my brother-in-law), muttered under his breath. “he doesn’t know half the “splainin” she has to do.” So yeah, I “splained” everything to Michael. And fortunately the look he gave me was the one I see so often, and that is his loving accepting grin, with a headshake. That poor man I have put him through so much and yet he just couldn’t live without me. It was then that I informed him of the lesson we all could learn from today and that is “Don’t leave home without your cell phone.”
Monday, January 23, 2012
How was your day Bo?
Every night at dinner I ask the kids how their day was, this was Bo's response...
I colored a picure and then I colored another picture and Patend sits wiv me cause she loves me and thats why she sits wiv me, and then I played with trains and then it it was time to clean and I was playing the computer while they were cleaning and Dustin saw me and he told, so then I cleaned wiv dem and then we had lunch and at I was sitting wiv da girls and I burped and Brooke laughed.". And then he giggled and said. "Yeah, I burped and they laughed" and then I played and then I had another snack and then I came home.
Gotta love that kid!
I colored a picure and then I colored another picture and Patend sits wiv me cause she loves me and thats why she sits wiv me, and then I played with trains and then it it was time to clean and I was playing the computer while they were cleaning and Dustin saw me and he told, so then I cleaned wiv dem and then we had lunch and at I was sitting wiv da girls and I burped and Brooke laughed.". And then he giggled and said. "Yeah, I burped and they laughed" and then I played and then I had another snack and then I came home.
Gotta love that kid!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
From time to time I like read people favorite "quotes" on Facebook. Well, I came across this vote on Connie Sweet, of Connections Graphics in Potterville. I loved it so much I decided to post it....
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Marianne Williamson
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Marianne Williamson
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
This is not going to help my reputation....
Well, as we all know one of the worst fears a parent has is a child getting lost. But what about the fear of accidentally leaving a child somewhere. Yeah, sounds crazy I know, but there are so many times I am looking in my review mirror making sure I have everyone. Now I always know I have Bo, that kid is so loud all the time, I don’t have to check my mirror for him. But as for the others they get quiet sometimes and it makes me feel like I left one. It seems a mother would know if she left a child behind. Well, as if I didn’t already have a reputation at the elementary school, what happened today certainly didn’t help me any. I pulled up to the school as I always do and saw my 3 kids sitting on a bench together just waiting for me. It was quite cute actually. No body was trying to strangle the other, no body was standing at a distance trying to act as if they weren’t related to one another. Cute as can be it just melted my heart. So I pull up and saw them jump up off the bench. Kate hopped in the front seat and I could hear the others piling in the back. “Buckle up” I said as I started across the parking lot. Kate was talking to me, and Bo and Ayden(oh yeah, I had an extra too)were wrapped up in there own conversation about a topic only the two of them could understand. As I neared the stop light by the Dairy Kreme my phone rang.
“Hello.” I said
“Hi mom” said a very familiar voice on the phone.
It sounded just like Josh, but there was know way it could be Josh because he was in the backseat of my van. At least he better be because if he wasn’t that would mean I left him at………..…..
”HUH, DID I LEAVE YOU AT SCHOOL?!” I said suddenly.
“Yup” he responded.
“Oh my gosh Josh, this is not going to help my reputation.” I said looking for some sympathy.
“Nope, it isn’t.” Josh responded with a giggle.
“Ok, I am on my way.”
Oh, yes, another day in a life of a mom, well this mom anyway. I’m sure the secretary just had to shake her head. It was just this past fall I was in her office having her call the Middle school ‘cause I couldn’t find Josh, only to get the report that he was at Reaching Higher(an after school program I signed him up for once a week), where he was supposed to be.
I gotta say though, this time I wasn’t the only crazy one. I’ll have you know, Josh was sitting on the same bench as the rest of them with his nose in a book. Yes, intelligent he may be, but when that kid reads, I swear he literally enters the book. We could have a hurricane or a tornado and I don’t think he would notice. And now I am sure he wouldn’t notice his brother and sister get up off the bench next to him, get in the van, and his mom drive off and leave him there.
“Hello.” I said
“Hi mom” said a very familiar voice on the phone.
It sounded just like Josh, but there was know way it could be Josh because he was in the backseat of my van. At least he better be because if he wasn’t that would mean I left him at………..…..
”HUH, DID I LEAVE YOU AT SCHOOL?!” I said suddenly.
“Yup” he responded.
“Oh my gosh Josh, this is not going to help my reputation.” I said looking for some sympathy.
“Nope, it isn’t.” Josh responded with a giggle.
“Ok, I am on my way.”
Oh, yes, another day in a life of a mom, well this mom anyway. I’m sure the secretary just had to shake her head. It was just this past fall I was in her office having her call the Middle school ‘cause I couldn’t find Josh, only to get the report that he was at Reaching Higher(an after school program I signed him up for once a week), where he was supposed to be.
I gotta say though, this time I wasn’t the only crazy one. I’ll have you know, Josh was sitting on the same bench as the rest of them with his nose in a book. Yes, intelligent he may be, but when that kid reads, I swear he literally enters the book. We could have a hurricane or a tornado and I don’t think he would notice. And now I am sure he wouldn’t notice his brother and sister get up off the bench next to him, get in the van, and his mom drive off and leave him there.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
New Year's Resolutions?????
So every year like everyone else I usually try to think of a couple New Year’s resolutions. Nothing to dramatic, just something to keep me focused on growing and moving forward in my life. Well this year I came up with…
Eating Healthy
Exercising Regularly
Keeping up on the house cleaning
Not yelling at the kids anymore
Not getting snippy with my husband
Well, I got snippy with my husband about the 55 football games he has been watching over the past 3 days, I yelled at my kids this morning. As I am writing, my kitchen looks like dinner blew up in it and there is a pile of unmatched socks at the foot of my bed that I have been adding to all of Christmas break, but who knows if I wait long enough it will probably disappear because that is where everyone is going to get there socks for the day, seeing that there are none left in there drawers. And as far as exercising goes, well other than the walk up the stairs I take before I lie down to take a nap, not much. And eating healthy, hmmmmm, let me put it to you this way…Last night I made myself sick, literally stomach gurgling sick because I ate a half a bag of those candy cane Hershey kisses I got in the half off bin at Meijer. So yeah, as I look over my list of resolutions I think to myself……. nahhhhhh , there is always next year right? lol
Eating Healthy
Exercising Regularly
Keeping up on the house cleaning
Not yelling at the kids anymore
Not getting snippy with my husband
Well, I got snippy with my husband about the 55 football games he has been watching over the past 3 days, I yelled at my kids this morning. As I am writing, my kitchen looks like dinner blew up in it and there is a pile of unmatched socks at the foot of my bed that I have been adding to all of Christmas break, but who knows if I wait long enough it will probably disappear because that is where everyone is going to get there socks for the day, seeing that there are none left in there drawers. And as far as exercising goes, well other than the walk up the stairs I take before I lie down to take a nap, not much. And eating healthy, hmmmmm, let me put it to you this way…Last night I made myself sick, literally stomach gurgling sick because I ate a half a bag of those candy cane Hershey kisses I got in the half off bin at Meijer. So yeah, as I look over my list of resolutions I think to myself……. nahhhhhh , there is always next year right? lol
Monday, January 2, 2012
What to eat when the Christmas parties are over
This poem was inspired by a conversation I had with one of my friends after Christmas Day. All the parties were done and the cupboards are bare, but no one wants to go to the store….
When Christmas Day is done
And every present a winner
The next day, with wrapping paper still on the floor
You open the fridge and decide what is for dinner
You have spent the day in your jammies and slippers
You don’t care that your house is not tidy and neat
As evening draws near the question remains
“What are we to eat?”
All the food is gone
Except some left over ham from the day before
Perhaps you could eat that
Since you REALLY don’t want to go to the store
Oh potatoe soup!
Your hubby said that will be great
Oh wait, you have no potatoes
I think they are a requirement for this dish to make
Not to worry
Another an idea crossed your mind
How about you create a NEW dish
You have never made, “Ham Pot Pie”
This would be great
And it will only take half and hour
Too bad you made 8 pies for Christmas
And now you have no flour
Oh well, how about breakfast for dinner
The family votes and all agreed
This is sure to shake things up
We will have omelets with ham and cheese
You went to the fridge thinking…
“Oh the kids think this is the best”
Only to feel defeated
When you found the fridge was egg less
Oh my gosh
Creating a meal should not be so hard
Now they are all looking at you
Wondering if they will starve
Finally with all the kids standing there
Asking “Mom what should we eat?”
You grabbed a loaf of bread and threw it on the table
Along with the Christmas ham and some cheese, and said “bon appetit”
When Christmas Day is done
And every present a winner
The next day, with wrapping paper still on the floor
You open the fridge and decide what is for dinner
You have spent the day in your jammies and slippers
You don’t care that your house is not tidy and neat
As evening draws near the question remains
“What are we to eat?”
All the food is gone
Except some left over ham from the day before
Perhaps you could eat that
Since you REALLY don’t want to go to the store
Oh potatoe soup!
Your hubby said that will be great
Oh wait, you have no potatoes
I think they are a requirement for this dish to make
Not to worry
Another an idea crossed your mind
How about you create a NEW dish
You have never made, “Ham Pot Pie”
This would be great
And it will only take half and hour
Too bad you made 8 pies for Christmas
And now you have no flour
Oh well, how about breakfast for dinner
The family votes and all agreed
This is sure to shake things up
We will have omelets with ham and cheese
You went to the fridge thinking…
“Oh the kids think this is the best”
Only to feel defeated
When you found the fridge was egg less
Oh my gosh
Creating a meal should not be so hard
Now they are all looking at you
Wondering if they will starve
Finally with all the kids standing there
Asking “Mom what should we eat?”
You grabbed a loaf of bread and threw it on the table
Along with the Christmas ham and some cheese, and said “bon appetit”
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