the joys of childhood…and spring

My future cyclist

Do you remember being young and riding your bicycle in the spring? There’s just something magical about being able to get outside and play. Then, when you have your own children, it seems that magic is rekindled.

I remember my cousin telling me about how much fun having kids would be when she found out that I was pregnant. She told me how simple things like ice cream turn into amazing events. I have to agree.

Our son is now 15 months old and he’s just something else to watch. We really enjoy having him as our entertainment. He’s so much better than any TV show!

I ordered him a balance bike earlier this week. It got here and his legs are about 3″ too short. So, today his grandpa bought him a tricycle. He can actually ride it, but he hasn’t really figured out the pedals yet. I don’t think it will take long, because it seems he advances so quickly all the time. Either way, I had to share the picture of him riding his tricycle with his new helmet in only his diaper and camo crocs. Oh, how I love this little “cotton top”.

lots of opportunity

Over the past three days, I have had three people confide in me and cry on my shoulder. Most people do find it easy to tell me things, but these three ladies in particular have been in deep emotional pain. The strange part is that I was telling my mom about the first two, when along came the third very shortly thereafter.

My thought is this: just take a minute and listen if someone needs your ear. In all three circumstances, I’ve told the women that I don’t really know what to say, and they’ve told me simply by listening that I’ve helped them. So, it makes a difference.

There are so many folks in this world hurting and looking for a listening ear or shoulder to cry on. Or just for someone to hug them and tell them they are loved. If you’re like me, you’re blessed to have a super fantastic life and a little extra energy to dish out to those who are in need. If you are the one needing the shoulder, I hope you find your listening ear.

One other thing I wanted to point out, too. If you run across someone who is hurting, take a minute and pray for them. Even if it’s a short prayer for their comfort or healing, stop what you’re doing and sincerely utter a word to God. If we can’t say or do anything to help, He can.

$50, $60, $70

I’ve been thinking a lot about money this week…probably because I don’t have much of it. Now, I’m not complaining. I think life is much simpler when you have enough, but not too much money. Plus, the good Lord provides every need I have, along with most of my wants (I’m old enough now to know the difference).

I’ve beaten myself up a bit about a poor money choice on my part earlier this week. Granted, it was only $50 and not $500, but it’s still bugged me. I guess I was trying to pretend to be something I’m not. My friend and I went to this swanky resort for Sunday brunch last week. It had been forever since we’d caught up, and we were both curious about this resort, so we decided to go. Well, the brunch was $29, the peach bellini was $12, and with tax & tip, I spent $50 for brunch for me. Alone. Yikes!

The food was good and the service was, too. But, I could have gotten the same meal for $25 at a nice restaurant. We got to take a tour of this resort where the cheapest rooms are more than $300 per night. Yep, they were night, but nothing like I expected. I told the guy giving us the tour that I could see paying those rates if we had a view of the ocean, but when you’re viewing a golf course and mountains… no, thanks.

So, I’ve told you about the $50. The $60 is approximately what my husband and I spent at Ruby Tuesday last week. The meal was good, but come on – $60?

I got almost a week’s worth of groceries for $70 earlier this week. Which really puts me to shame for spending that other money on eating out. I guess I think about “the starving children” all over the world. And, about how these expensive dining experiences are setting us back from our goal of home ownership. I’m all about having fun, but we’re going to have to reign it in a bit.

Anyway, frugal people all over the world, here’s to you! I hope to be in your club in the near future.

sweet caroline (and other thoughts)

Last night, my husband and I were singing “Sweet Caroline”, but we couldn’t remember the words, so we had to look it up on  YouTube. Needless to say, our son thought it was funny that we were howling at the top of our lungs at the dinner table. I honestly don’t remember even knowing about that song until watching “Fever Pitch” several years ago. If I did know of the song, I didn’t know it had anything to do with baseball. Anyway, I’ve heard it twice on the radio today (including this very minute while I type). Tis baseball season!

A little bit ago, I helped lifeguard at the pool while a bunch of middle school kids came in to swim. Gosh, I remember being in that awkward age! It’s terrifying for me to imagine my son (now a whopping 1 year old), as a 13 year old kid. It almost made me cry thinking of the challenges he will face. I know the majority of kids make it through, but kids these days are different…I just can’t help but think most of them are mean, self-absorbed, and materialistic (heck, I spot cleaned the locker room after they left and that told me a lot).

What it all boils down to, is that I want to teach my son to be a GOOD kid. One that considers other’s feelings and doesn’t care if his shoes are name brand or not. That’s going to be a hard job, but surely I can do it. Right???

On another note, I really have prayed for those affected by the Boston marathon bombing. Of course, we are all appalled by the actions of whomever did this. My husband and I laid in bed last night talking about the situation, and he was actually more deeply disturbed than I was. He’s in law enforcement and he really sees the way the world is becoming. I think it also upset him more because he has a heart for sporting events. We talked a bit about a seminar he went to a year or so ago about “Sheepdogs”. If you have a minute, check out the link – there’s LOTS of good information about crime and keeping your family safe.

book reviews: “The Middlesteins” and “The Shadowy Horses”

I just finished “The Shadowy Horses” by Susanna Kearsley last night and I really liked it. The Scottish language was very interesting and the book had a good story line. It kept me up past my bedtime and it was well worth the read. I did feel the end came to be a little too quickly, but it wasn’t a deal breaker.

Last week, I completed “The Middlesteins” by Jami Attenberg. It was a pretty quick read and the story was somewhat familiar to my life in some ways, though not as extreme. It’s not a very happy read, so don’t be prepared to come away feeling good, but it didn’t make me cry, either.

Hopefully, I can find a book that knocks my socks off again soon. “The Night Circus” got me spoiled…it’s like watching a terrific movie like Shutter Island and then not having anything good come along until Cloud Atlas.

 

maiden voyage

I finally got to get back on my bike yesterday! A couple of biking pals and I got a beautiful, rolling, 16-mile ride in yesterday afternoon. It was fantastic and I think we all  needed the time outside.

My one friend called this her “maiden voyage”…she lost her husband back in November and this was the first time she’d been on her bike as a widow (in her words). She seemed like her jolly old self at times during the ride yesterday, so I’m glad we got her out there.

The other guy was someone I’d never met, but had heard about. He moved to the area from the big old city and now he’s a farmer of sorts. Neat to talk to and ride with.

Before I rode, I got to spend the day with my husband and son, outside in the gorgeous weather. We might have had snow last Thursday, but this week is making up for it with temps in the 70s and maybe 80! Woo hoo! Welcome spring!

thank you, Lord

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts wiht praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Psalm 100: 4-5

I just got out of bed after laying there for 30 minutes trying to sleep. God was laying it on my heart to write this blog post.

The past couple of days have been chaotic and strange. Not bad, just very different. Lots of cooky happenings. Today, it snowed 2 inches…it’s April 4. Spring started a week or two ago. Anyway, I made the drive home safely, after seeing more than a half dozen cars in the ditch. I ended up having to walk the dirt road home because my car wouldn’t make it all the way.

During my walk, though, I started thanking God for so many different things in my life. Here are some that came to mind and that I’ve thought of as the evening has progressed…

Thank you, Lord for…

letting me be healthy enough to trek the half mile to the house in the snow

letting me enjoy the walk even though it was cold

giving me beautiful scenery and fresh air to breathe

letting me forget my coat in the car the other day

reminding me that my scarf was in my car, too

giving me wisdom to teach the noon aerobics class, even though I didn’t know I had to do it until 5 minutes before it started (this was surely Divine intervention)

making sure I never go hungry or cold

always providing for my family’s every need

giving me the ability to recognize that all my blessings come from You

offering me a relationship with You when I was young that has led to a relatively easy life because I have faith that You are taking care of me

My feet…walking me up the dirt road to my house.

The beautiful, snowy countryside during my walk.

My son in his snow suit.

The snowman we built this evening.

Stop and take a minute to thank God for everything he’s blessed you with.

easter cake

I forgot to post pictures of my Easter cake I made! It was time consuming, but it turned out rather well. The first picture was the inspiration from Williams Sonoma and the other pictures are the cake I made. 🙂

The inspiration…

The top

The side…my first batch of icing (bottom purple) was too runny, but I fixed the other colors.

The cake colors matched the icing colors.

I feel very domestic lately.

best book i’ve read in a while

Apparently, the book I just read is very good and most people knew it before I did. I just happened upon it at the library last week and it had a neat cover and good inner flap write up, so I picked it up. I’m so glad I did.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I believe this was Erin’s first published novel and if that is the case, I cannot WAIT to read her other books. This woman writes incredibly well and I could picture the circus and other scenes so clearly in my head. I don’t know what else to tell you about it except READ IT!

In a way, I wish someone would make it into a movie, but I don’t know if it would be done justice. I read “Water for Elephants”, but could never watch the movie because of the scenes that talked about harming the animals. But, this book has nothing in it that I would mind watching on the big screen.

While reading this book, it made me stop and consider how we have imaginations…where does the imagination come from? Does everyone have one? I know some folks have better ones than others, but is it something we’re born with? Something we’re taught? My imagination was running wild while reading this book.