Just In Case You Were Considering It

If you ever find yourself tempted to buy a box of 142 small pieces of shaped foam,

don't.

It may seem like a good idea at the time.

but do not be fooled by it's cuteness, 

it's attention to detail, 

it's penguins.

There WILL be hell to pay.

6 + my you-know-what.

It's Midnight...

I apologize for the lack of posts.

I'm going through a phase where one of two (or several) things is happening:

A) I sit down to post and then remember I left my coffee in the microwave and en route to the kitchen I get commandeered by a bossy two year old who demands that I hold her while she watches Yo Gabba Gabba Family for the 10th time that day.

B) I sit down to post and any inspiration I had flies out of my head because a bossy two year old is dancing around my chair chanting "Hold you!  Hold you!  HOLD YOU!!!!!!!" and I just can't put two words together when I'm being yelled at.

C)  I sit down to post and... I got nothin.

To say this is a trying season in my life is really selling it short.  And I'm not under any illusion that I've got it worse than the next guy (or mom).  I know I'm blessed.  Happy, healthy, etc. etc.

But is it ok to still feel overwhelmed?

Because I do.

I suppose the whole Christmas season wouldn't be complete without at least one mini meltdown.  Which is sad, considering I'm pretty certain that Mary had things a whole heck of a lot worse (hello, unmarried, pregnant teen).  My drama is so minimal.  And yet, it feels so great sometimes.

So I'm going to just throw myself one teeny weeny little pity party, and then I'm going to move on.  Ok?

OK.

I do love these girls.  I want to do right by them so badly my heart hurts sometimes.

Parenting Peril #1

That moment when you discover a long lost sippy cup and realize that what is inside might have once been something similar to orange juice, but you can't tell for sure because the odor emanating from the greenish sludge has you dropping it in the nearest trash can and running outdoors for fresh air, lest you see your breakfast again.

Sometimes The Heart Hurts

That's the tricky thing about hearts.  We could just lock them up, never to break, never to shatter, never to mourn.  But then we would never feel, never love, never live.

It's a dilemma.  A great risk we take every single day.

Sometimes, many times, it pays off.

But sometimes, the heart must endure the most unfathomable of pain, as a result of it's love.

This gorgeous, beautiful family is walking that road of sorrow this very day.  Today, they will say goodbye to their sweet 3 year old Marley, taken too soon by every parents' nightmare, brain cancer.  After a brave battle that began before she blew out two candles on her cake, Marley met Jesus on Tuesday.

As I write these words my stomach constricts and tears well up in my eyes.  For a mother, any mother, the pain is so palatable.  It does not matter if you've known them your whole life or only just looked upon Marley's face for the first time.  We all know what a risk it is to love.  We all know what is at stake.    As the quote says:

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." ~Elizabeth Stone

And yet, even in the face of such great risks, the reality that your heart may actually shatter into a million pieces, we still persist in love.  Because we know that locking the heart away, safe from pain, is not really living.  The beauty in loving is doing so in spite of the sorrow that may wait around the corner.

I know Nikki and Brent never dreamed that they would bury their child at the age of 3.  Please lift them up in your thoughts and prayers today.

Conversation Over Dinner

So last night the whole family trekked out to Schlotzsky's for dinner, and while on the way, Princess #2 got my attention:

Princess #2:  Mommy, today a girl in my class said that the Devil is God's son.

Uhhhh.....

Me:  That's a good conversation to bring up with your daddy.

(Way to pass the buck.  Good save mom)

Fastforward to our meal, after Hubs successfully navigated the whole devil/God's son issue (is he, isn't he?  Does anyone really know?  Does it really matter?), and I sighed in relief at not having to answer that questions myself, we naturally launched into a very nice spiritual conversation with our girls, asking them questions about what they learn in children's church, what's the big deal about Jesus and God, etc.

***just a side note, I make fun of myself for shying away from answering hard questions, but I truly believe it is essential for parents to seize those natural opportunities to discuss this sort of thing with your kids.  Hopefully it occurs easily (like in our situation, with a honest question) and doesn't feel forced.  But please, don't leave these conversations for someone else.  Because your kids will have them (regardless of your spiritual stance) with someone.  It should be with you, their parents.  Ok, that's all.  Side note over.***

So the real high moment of our conversation was when Hubs was in the middle of an illustration trying to describe the massive sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross.  He used an example that went something like this:

Hubs (to Princess #2): So, suppose that you broke a lamp.  And we told you that you had to get a spanking as your punishment.  But before we could spank you, Princess #3 stepped in and said, "No, don't spank her.  I'll take her spanking in her place."

I was all caught up in what I thought was a very applicable illustration, when Princess #1 broke through my reverie with a very dry, sarcastic "Yeah, like that will ever happen."

Ah.  Sometimes timing is just everything.

My friends, I love moments with my family where I learn that not only are my kids listening and learning, but also that they are stinkin' funny.  Embrace those teaching moments, and don't forget to laugh and have fun.


***Completely unrelated, if you have kids, run yourself over to your nearest Starbucks and grab their free download card of the week.  It is for an interactive iBook version of The Monster At The End Of This Book.  One of my childhood favorites.  You don't want to miss it!

That Makes Me Crazy

This past week has been crazy.

CRA-ZY.

And it's not over yet.

I like to think I can handle a little craziness.

But let's face it.  I'm not 20 anymore.  Crazy sort of makes me crazy these days.

Which isn't pretty.  Trust me.

My class begins on Monday.

MONDAY people.  AHHHHHHH!!!!

I have been feverishly researching, outlining, previewing videos, marketing.... oh, and being a mom.  Of course.

Don't let the cuteness fool you.  This may or may not be contributing to my crazy.

My brain hurts.  Literally.  I've had a headache the last two days.  And now my voice is threatening to go on strike.  Awesome.

I've been so busy with craziness that I haven't really been able to stop and appreciate the realization of a dream for me.  I hope at some point I'll be able to stop and really marvel at all I've accomplished.  Right now I'm just tunnel visioned on getting stuff done.

I'd appreciate your thoughts.  Right now I'm keeping anxiety over teaching at bay, mostly because I've got so much to do to get ready.  But in just a few short hours it will be just me, my students and my advisor - GAME ON.  I'm praying my passion comes through and I'm able to communicate and educate and most importantly, empower these women who cross my path in the next few weeks.

If you don't hear from my, my projector broke, my jokes fell flat, my students stared at me with blank faces  and I'm hiding under a rock.

Until then, happy weekend!

They Say It's Your Birthday

My birthday, actually.

Well, technically yesterday.  But I'm of the belief that birthdays should be celebrated for as long as possible.  Since yesterday was my actual birthday and hubs and I are going out on my birthday date tomorrow evening, I consider today a celebratory day by default.

The older you get, the harder it is to celebrate birthdays I think.  Not because I don't want to get older (it's debatable), but more just because there's life to do.  It doesn't stop for birthdays.  I've still got kids to cart to school, homework papers to check, lessons to get to, bills to pay, etc. etc.  So it's really meaningful to me with hubs and the kids go out of their way to make my day special, despite all the life we have to do.

So while hubs worked yesterday, I treated myself and the two younger princesses to lunch at Panera Bread.  It was nice to just hang with my babies and eat my fave broccoli cheddar soup on the first real coolish day of the season.

Then following school and piano lessons, I came home to dinner waiting, gorgeous flowers on the table and presents wrapped.

There was also this ridiculously amazing (AH - MAZING) chocolate mousse cake from Whole Foods.  Which sadly, I realize I did not get a picture of.  You're going to have to just trust me.  It was good.

The evening ended with a light knock at the door.  Once I had hubs answer it (it WAS after 9.  I'm a bit of a chicken), we discovered that someone (or someones) thought it would be fun to fork our yard.  I'm pretty sure I haven't had this happen since I was in highschool.  The glow sticks were a nice touch.  The girls thought it was the best birthday present EVER.

I don't think it was half bad either.

I think 34's going to be a pretty good year.

Two and a Half

Hold her a little longer

Rock her a little more

Tell her another story

(you've only told her four)

Let her sleep on your shoulder

Rejoice in her happy smile

She is only two and a half

for such a little while!

-Author Unknown

(adapted for my girl)

Not My Words, But So My Heart

Very, very rarely, I stumble across a blog post that is So Good I want to cry.

The link below will take you to such a post.

It is very long, but the last two paragraphs are worth the whole read.

It made me want to stand up and yell, "Yes!  Yes!  Yes!"

And I'm not even considering adoption.

But I'm a child of God, and I live in this community of Life that He created, perfectly.  And the call to be in community with one another is so strong in me, after reading this post I can't help but feel moved to action.

So go read this post, then come back and tell me what you think.  I can't wait to hear!

Jen Hatmaker: After The Airport

The author, Jen, with her husband and daughter Remy, coming down the airport escalator after picking Remy up from Ethiopia

So Long Crib

Do you know what this is a picture of?

This, my friends, this mess of hair and pillow pet, is a picture of my baby (my baby!), sleeping in her Big Girl Bed (aka, mattress on the floor in big sisters' room).

I almost woke her up with the dumb flash while trying to get this picture.

That's how dedicated I am to documenting my life for you people.

I almost don't dare to tell you how easy this transition has been.

{Easy}


Granted, it's only night 2.  And last night she willingly fell asleep after falling victim to a fever virus that's going through our house.

But still.

Tonight, she laid down without a complaint, right next to Princess #3 (who still crawls in bed with me in the middle of the night, ahem).  No wiggling.  No fussing.  No getting out of bed to play with rogue toys that weren't put away.

Is it possible that we might actually have a child that enjoys staying in bed?

Dare I hope?

Check back with me in a few nights and I'll let you know.

My friends, I feel like in some ways I should be a bit more nostalgic about this momentous occasion.  After NINE years, our crib will no longer be in use.  That's pretty amazing.  Just another reminder that my childbearing days are over.  No longer in the season have HAVING babies, I'm in the season of GROWING UP babies.  But that's another post for another time.  Until then, enjoy this little video I shot of Princess #4 on her last night in the crib.

So Long Crib from planet pink on Vimeo.

Your First

It's moments etched in my mind. 

Your first cry.

 Your first step.

Your first night in a big girl bed.

Your first bike ride.

Your first ballet class.

Your first day at school.

Your first lost tooth.

Your first sleepover.

Your first piano recital.

 Your glimpse of the world through nine year old eyes.

Happy Birthday my love.

Um...

So tonight I was perusing Facebook harmlessly (I know, NOT Pinterest!  Aren't you shocked?), just minding my own business, when I ran across a post from a college friend of mine that stopped me in my tracks.

Did you know it's been 15 years since I first set foot on my college campus as a Freshman, ready to take on the world?

(No, of course you didn't.  The point is, I didn't either)

FIFTEEN YEARS.

Gulp.

That makes me, like, old.

So, uh, when did this happen exactly?  And furthermore, are the next 15 years going to go by as quickly?

Because in another 15 years I will have an almost TWENTY-FOUR year old (omg!), a 21 year old, a 19 year old and probably only my baby at home with me, a mere 17 years old (sniff).

I seriously need to stop time.

Like, for reals.

(I keep thinking that if I talk like I did when I was in high school, then maybe somehow how I'm not as old.  Is it working?)

Friends, anyone been slapped in the face with reality lately?  I'm realizing my days of needing wrinkle cream are not that far off.  Maybe they've even already arrived and I'm late to the party.  Yikes!  By the way, I totally wanted to find a picture of myself in college, but they're all up in the attic (this was pre digital people.  Yes, I know.  That old.), and it's like, a thousand degrees up there.  Plus we don't have a scanner.  So there ya go.


OH!  I did just get a cute new haircut (chopped off TEN inches!!) and color.  

Maybe saying "like" all the time won't sound completely ridiculous now?  I'm bringing it back people!

(wow, this was (like) the longest PS/footnote thingy EVER)

Can I Get A Woot Woot!?

What's this I see?

Backpacks?  New clothes?  Freshly sharpened pencils?

Ah yes.  You know this song.

Sing it with me now:

It's the most wonderful time of the year!