Ten on Tuesdayish

1. Whenever I see another Acadia on the road I give them a slight nod & grin.  And then I think, 'Yep, there goes another person equally as cool as me.'  I wonder what I'd be thinking if I was rockin' a minivan?

2. Key Lime Pie.  I offered to bring a pie to church for a gathering after tonight's service.  I'm certain no one else will show up with this tropical treat.  Although I won't really know for sure since I'll be home with my sick children.  Sigh.

3. It's now Abby's turn to be lounging in her PJs.  I'm thankful for Thanksgiving break so my babes can be home, rest, and get back to the business of being healthy!

4. I'm convinced Ohio is killing me.  Okay, maybe not literally killing me.  But I'm not myself here.... my face is swollen, my body is sore and lethargic.  I've spent a lot of time adjusting my sleep, my workout, my habits & my diet.  But the bottom line is I never feel worse than when I'm here.  Maybe it's time for a permanent something different?!

5. Fact: I love basil. If I was a food we would be married.  If we weren't then I would have a hard time not cheating on my other half.  I can't get enough of the leafy treat.  Confession: Sometimes I put grilled pizza on our menu just so I have an excuse to pair it with fresh mozzarella and gobble it up.

6. This month's Book Club featured a visit by our current author, Vanessa Gray Bartal.  I left that night so inspired and uplifted by this seemingly common mom who quite honestly is a lot like me.  If everyone who hits a personal wall in life could be as inspired and productive as Vanessa, our world would be a much better place.

7. Lauren brought home her Christmas tree yesterday.  Each year at the girls' school first graders bring home a giant green paper Christmas tree to decorate and bring back to school to festive up the halls.  While I'm not thrilled with the collection of glitter all over the little table & the floor, her tree is decorated to her standard of perfection.  For that reason alone, I LoVe It!

8. My heart swelled with pride when I walked into Lauren's classroom yesterday afternoon.  The room was filled with the smell of Thanksgiving and children dressed in Indian head dress & Pilgrim hats.  I know the PC police will slander me for that statement, but the truth of it is, those children were learning about their American history.  Frankly, schools are so caught up with teaching about acceptance and other cultures that an appreciation for our own is often lost.

9. If I could, I would add another hour--maybe two--to every day.  And I would make myself do all of the projects and crafty things I seem to have lost time for.

10. It pains me to see our nightly routine of story time slipping away.... often it is for a lack of time, which is a horrible excuse.  Priority number one: Bring back story time with full force!

Thank You Thursday

1. I am thankful for Halloween candy.  Those bite-size little bittys are just the right amount of chocolaty goodness.  Today's nod goes to Baby Ruth.  Yumm!

2. I'm thankful for sick days.  Sad as it is, yes, I am thankful for the rare days we take a break from life to stay home and recoup.  Not that I did any recouping on this day that Lauren was off school, but my house is polished top to bottom.  Love that conquest!

3. I'm thankful for Geoff.  You're my best friend, father to my children, and provider for our family.  Your hard work is paying off in big ways and it doesn't go unappreciated.  Thank you!

4. I'm thankful for wine.  Because after I get Abby off the bus and take my shower for the day (I know, ishy!) I'll be sitting down addressing my Christmas cards & sipping on a glass of my favorite Iowa wine.  With any luck, I'll also be thankful for the ease in my cramped shoulder.

5. Last but not least, I'm thankful for unexpected inspiration.  I look forward to the great things that are around the corner for our family and hope that those inspirations can rear their little heads when they're needed most.

Ten on Tuesday

1. In my book Candy Corn is not irrelevant until after Thanksgiving.

2. Tic Tacs.... I always eat them in pairs.

3. If the 80s had a flavor, it would be orange Tic Tacs.

4. Never underestimate the power of well manicured eyebrows!

5. Gray Hairs: Why do they always crop up on the part in your hair?  Maybe it's just me.  Either way, I go after them with a good pair of tweezers every time.

6. I'm pretty sure my BFF & I coined the best period code word when we were in school.  Shopping.  Boys automatically tune out when you start talking about that!

7. Tickle Attacks.... Lauren LOVES them! Here is her list of the reasons why:

• I love it when you tickle me.
• I love it that we can be together.
• When we kiss each other.
• I love my giggle.
• I love it when you smooch on me.

Yeap, that pretty much covers it.

8. Back to periods & my BFF.  I can still see her walking around the junior high when she was graced with her inaugural period.  She carried around a brown paper bag packed with provisions the entire day "just in case".  I was certain it was a dead giveaway, but she was adamant that people would believe it was her lunch.  BFF, I won't out your identity, you know who you are.  Thank you for the smile all these years later!

9. Why didn't anyone raise an eyebrow when TV show characters had such inappropriate names & nicknames in the 80s & 90s.... like Boner & Scrote.  Ahhhh, when being PC wasn't so PC.

10. For the life of me I cannot get Michael Jackson's PYT out of my head.  There could be worse songs, I know.  Don't suggest any; I'm perfectly happy with that MJ track. For now.

Election Blue

Disappointed.  Disgusted.  Distraught.  Defeated.  As we watched the polls close and the election results come in my mood turned blue with the map.  To say I woke up this morning in a funk would be an understatement.  It isn't because my team didn't win, it's because my faith in the convictions of my fellow Americans came into question last night.

So this morning as I dressed for work I put on my Christmas socks, wore a smile on my face, and I dove into the kids at school today head first.  They don't have a clue what happened on the TV last night.  All that really matters to them is that their basic needs are met and that laughter makes them feel good.  So we ate, pottied & played.  And we laughed.  A lot.  And we sang & danced, and for a precious few consecutive minutes this morning my focus was on the Now.

My Now is all I can really control.  I can raise my children how my husband and I see fit, and if we're going to build a better America, we're going to start in our home.

I believe in Honesty.
Showing Respect.
Hard Work.
Not Expecting Handouts.
Love.
Giving From Your Heart.
Being Educated.
Being Well-Rounded.
Healing.
Forgiveness.
Loyalty.
Compassion.
Integrity.
Drive.
Ambition.
Two-Parent Families.
Commitment.
Morality.
God.
Karma.
Determination.

I believe in fostering all of these things in our children and making our world a better place.

And I will take a deep breath, do a lot of praying, and live in the now.  Starting right.... Now!

Letting Go

They love you unconditionally.
They keep your secrets.
They clean the food off your floors.
They smile with their hearts.
They forgive you your faults.
They are loyal.
They are faithful.
They warn you of danger.
They protect you at no cost.

They ask for little in return.... food, water & love.  Everything else is just icing on the cake.

Seven months after we got married, we started our family & opened our hearts to a dog.  She's logged hundreds of thousands of miles in our backseat.  Lived with us in five different states.  Chased more animals than we could ever count.  And we've chased after her more times than we care to count.  She was the only one to greet us when we brought both of our babies home from the hospital.  The only dog we've shared as a family.

They teach you about love.
They teach you about letting go.

Today we had to put our beloved dog, our loyal friend to sleep.  It was the hardest decision we've ever had to make.  After all she's done for us, this we did for her.  Huddled together on the floor, we held her as she finally found peace and took in her last breath.  We shed many tears, more than we can count.

What they say must be true, all dogs really do go to Heaven.  I know this because she's already sent us signs.  We see them Lizzie.  And we see life in a unique way because of you.  If you know Lizzie, you know the tales.

So enjoy chasing squirrels, rabbits & cats.  Enjoy your naps in the sun.  And know that we'll go on enjoying our lives, too.  Until we meet up with you in Heaven, it's like we tell the girls.... you're always in our hearts.

RIP Lizzie Girl.

Ten on Tuesday

1. I can't help it.  Whenever I see U.S. Representative Allen West I can't see him as a congressman or a leutenant colonal, I see a character on the Peanuts.  Speaking of which, it's that time of year again.... The Charlie Brown Specials!

2. Family Handyman Dot Com.... You had me at the adorable Dollar-Savvy Shed.

3. Obama's America 2016.... How do all American's not know about this film?  Without a doubt the most important movie you'll ever see at the theater.  An eye-opener to say the least.

4. Could life be any better?  Okay, yes.  But at the end of the day, I've got it all.  I'll keep my apple cart just the way it is.

5. Tonight on the menu: french toast with Panera bread, bacon & orange juice.  According to Lauren, "It was the best breakfast supper EVER!"

6. In clumps.  That's how Abby's hair has been coming out of her head.  She will have no hair left in her head by Christmas if she keeps this up.  Sigh.  Her eczema has stepped it up all of the sudden.  I'm nervous.  I think it's time to seek a second opinion.

7. One of the best wines I've tasted came from Wide River Winery.... Can't wait to get back to Iowa for Girls' Weekend with the family and get my hands on a few more bottles of that tasty drink.

8. The very best chocolate cake I've ever laid my lips on.  Yeah, I made it last week.  The Most Amazing Chocolate Buttermilk Cake Ever.  There it is.  Be warned.  Once you've make it for people, it won't be the last.

9. To my sister-in-law.... Tonight I sat down at the computer with a glass of wine.  Now I'm on my second.  That much wine tastes much better on the deck in Wenatchee.  Ahhhh, the days.

10. I like it much better when people walk into my life than out of it.  Lots of footsteps walked back in my door today. {smile}

Ten on Tuesday

1. It absolutely drives me crazy when toothpaste gets on the cap.  I hate to be so fanatical about something so absolutely insignificant, but I truly despise it.

2. I'm fond of the girls learning from others.  Sometimes I believe the impact others make with a single action is ten times as powerful as any single action I can make.  On the other hand, it's hard to see them learning the What-Not-to-Dos from people they look up to.  They're too little to see the faults in their role models.

3. Good morning hugs & kisses from my girls NEVER get old.

4. Reevaluating.... it's not as fun as it sounds.

5. After a weekend with good friends in Michigan Geoff has fallen in love with releasing lanterns.  I've become fond of Moonshine.  I think we're evolving backwards.

6. My new favorite author just might be John Green.  I was a big fan of The Fault in Our Stars.  The story, the writing, the way it touches the reader.  Fantastic!

7. If I wanted to wake up to 180% humidity (okay, I'm exaggerating a little) in September I would still be living in Florida.  This weather is zapping every ounce of energy I have.  Yuck!

8. Thank you to the girls' teachers.  I was beginning to lose faith in teachers' diligence on correcting children's homework.  Thank you for proving me right that doing your school work right does matter.

9. Tired.  Hot.  And sooooo tired.  Please cool off soon.  I'm too young to feel this damn old.

10. One of my favorite things: Lauren creeping into the kitchen in the morning while I'm making lunches and just wanting to hang out.  Love that kid!