This afternoon we went to the beach with my mother and father in-law. We ordered pizza, some salad and brought along some cold drinks. The weather was awesome, the kids played in the waves and I spent some time chatting with my awesome in- laws.
They have been married for 48 almost 49 years! They act as if they just met. They talk like they just met. They kiss like they just met. She serves him with absolute adoration. She serves him not just out of obligation but out of true love. He supports her with unconditional love. He leads them with wisdom and truth out of the purest form of adoration. When he speaks she listens to every word as if he is the only one around. She shares every ounce of her daily ongoings with him and listens whether it should interest him or not.... the represent what God has called each of us to be in marriage. She is the wife I strive to be, not the one society calls me to be. She is a wife and he is a husband that will surely sit at Heaven's gates and be complimented by Christ on a job well done.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
A trip to the Grocery store...
my best friend in California is living a very different life than me... she is married to shaun cassidy (do run run, the do run run), lives in Hidden Hills amongst the super stars and has a nanny 5 days a week to help her with her children... she is a great mom and a great friend. we are like the story country mouse/ city mouse...
on many occasions we are in the car when we are talking on the phone because it is the only real chance to talk when all kids are strapped in to a seat and can't possibly swallow a bottle of glue or eat a lego without you knowing... on many of these occasions, I have my kids and she doesn't (we don't have a nanny) so my kids are in tote. she loves to hear about "how" I do things... it cracks me up... I literally have to walk her through a simple task... then I realize, I guess it isn't so simple...so hear is my rendition of our trip to the grocery store today (and everyday that we go)
All kids in car, back inside to find someone's shoes that they left behind, back inside to get coupons and my list I left on the counter after having to pick up a sippy cup for Dash to take with us, back inside to change Scout's diaper that she pooped in during one of my trips previously back inside. Finally, we are off. Find a spot, park, all shoes back on that each person took off in the three minute ride to the store. Instructions again on what is appropriate and what is not. Grab all the canvas bags, Scout on hip, Pace and Dash each holding a pocket as we make our way through the parking lot. Sit Dash and Scout into the over sized, impossible to steer rocket shaped grocery cart. Wipe down all edges and steering wheel of cart from previous rider. Head to the cookie counter where the kids beg for the $.75 doughnuts instead of the free cookie. I give in. Move to bread, deli and produce section. Stop to pick up doughnut Scout informed me she dropped by letting out an ear piercing scream. Send Pace to get veggies and fruit while I wait in deli line. Watch the woman in front of me order four different items from the deli each only 1/4 pound and wonder why she cant just get a pound of one thing (can't she see the doughnuts are almost gone and I still have 12 aisles to cover). Look over the produce Pace has picked out, listen to how he weighed everything, how much everything cost, how nothing has a bruise and on and on, while the deli lady is staring at me to "Please Order". Move through the next few aisles with only about a dozen "no we don't need any of that" or "because their is too much sugar and junk in those snacks", while staying strategically right down the center so that hand one and two don't grab things from the shelf when I am not looking. Run over Pace's toe, console him amidst the spaghetti sauce while convincing Dash that spider- man macaroni does not make you turn into spider- man and keep Scout from tearing into the bunch of bananas at her finger tips. Convince Pace to keep walking on the toe he swears is bleeding out so that he can pick out our weekly dessert. Pick up some meats, swear at the amount they are charging for organics and realize we are still only able to afford ground beef and some chicken. Head down the dreaded cereal aisle where every box promises pots of gold at the end of every rainbow and some sort of super secret spy glasses that can make you ultra invisible all for just 5.00 per box. Lots of "no, no,no" and finally, a "yes" to something they will try two maybe three times and tire of mainly because they found the toy and the cereal was a bit boring. On to the next aisles quietly "thank goodness" Catch Scout as she stands up in the cart to insist she is "all done and down now", continue to pinch her little thigh with a stern "sit down" under my breath all while smiling and acting cool because I have it all together. Realize on aisle 10 I forgot a few items on aisle 2 and 4, make a mental note to call Trent to pick them up later, cant stand the thought of turning back. Run into a few people while turning the corners of each aisle. Pick up the eggs and try to find a place on the pyramid of junk we have collected and then wonder why they don't make these carts bigger? Grab diapers, jeez they are a rip off, 17.00 for something she is just going to poop in and then we will toss, to the pharmacy to pick up my prenatal. While trying to figure out why my vitamins have been recalled and what to do about it, Dash has found the spider- man band- aids and insist upon using these on every crevice of his body, scout is still screaming to get down, pace is limping on his soon to be amputated toe, I am contemplating chugging a bottle of wine from the display next to the pharmacy and the woman next to me chimes in with "you have your hands full, huh?"... speed straight to the check out, stare a people magazine, us weekly and shape and think of all the reasons I don't look like that and how much air brushing really went into that photo... gasp at the ever increasing grocery bill, head out the door with my coupons I forgot to use in hand, scoop scout up out of the cart so the poor bag boy doesn't have to hear her scream "let go, mommy push please" anymore, search my bottomless pit purse for the keys, load everyone in, exhale, smile at life and head home...
on many occasions we are in the car when we are talking on the phone because it is the only real chance to talk when all kids are strapped in to a seat and can't possibly swallow a bottle of glue or eat a lego without you knowing... on many of these occasions, I have my kids and she doesn't (we don't have a nanny) so my kids are in tote. she loves to hear about "how" I do things... it cracks me up... I literally have to walk her through a simple task... then I realize, I guess it isn't so simple...so hear is my rendition of our trip to the grocery store today (and everyday that we go)
All kids in car, back inside to find someone's shoes that they left behind, back inside to get coupons and my list I left on the counter after having to pick up a sippy cup for Dash to take with us, back inside to change Scout's diaper that she pooped in during one of my trips previously back inside. Finally, we are off. Find a spot, park, all shoes back on that each person took off in the three minute ride to the store. Instructions again on what is appropriate and what is not. Grab all the canvas bags, Scout on hip, Pace and Dash each holding a pocket as we make our way through the parking lot. Sit Dash and Scout into the over sized, impossible to steer rocket shaped grocery cart. Wipe down all edges and steering wheel of cart from previous rider. Head to the cookie counter where the kids beg for the $.75 doughnuts instead of the free cookie. I give in. Move to bread, deli and produce section. Stop to pick up doughnut Scout informed me she dropped by letting out an ear piercing scream. Send Pace to get veggies and fruit while I wait in deli line. Watch the woman in front of me order four different items from the deli each only 1/4 pound and wonder why she cant just get a pound of one thing (can't she see the doughnuts are almost gone and I still have 12 aisles to cover). Look over the produce Pace has picked out, listen to how he weighed everything, how much everything cost, how nothing has a bruise and on and on, while the deli lady is staring at me to "Please Order". Move through the next few aisles with only about a dozen "no we don't need any of that" or "because their is too much sugar and junk in those snacks", while staying strategically right down the center so that hand one and two don't grab things from the shelf when I am not looking. Run over Pace's toe, console him amidst the spaghetti sauce while convincing Dash that spider- man macaroni does not make you turn into spider- man and keep Scout from tearing into the bunch of bananas at her finger tips. Convince Pace to keep walking on the toe he swears is bleeding out so that he can pick out our weekly dessert. Pick up some meats, swear at the amount they are charging for organics and realize we are still only able to afford ground beef and some chicken. Head down the dreaded cereal aisle where every box promises pots of gold at the end of every rainbow and some sort of super secret spy glasses that can make you ultra invisible all for just 5.00 per box. Lots of "no, no,no" and finally, a "yes" to something they will try two maybe three times and tire of mainly because they found the toy and the cereal was a bit boring. On to the next aisles quietly "thank goodness" Catch Scout as she stands up in the cart to insist she is "all done and down now", continue to pinch her little thigh with a stern "sit down" under my breath all while smiling and acting cool because I have it all together. Realize on aisle 10 I forgot a few items on aisle 2 and 4, make a mental note to call Trent to pick them up later, cant stand the thought of turning back. Run into a few people while turning the corners of each aisle. Pick up the eggs and try to find a place on the pyramid of junk we have collected and then wonder why they don't make these carts bigger? Grab diapers, jeez they are a rip off, 17.00 for something she is just going to poop in and then we will toss, to the pharmacy to pick up my prenatal. While trying to figure out why my vitamins have been recalled and what to do about it, Dash has found the spider- man band- aids and insist upon using these on every crevice of his body, scout is still screaming to get down, pace is limping on his soon to be amputated toe, I am contemplating chugging a bottle of wine from the display next to the pharmacy and the woman next to me chimes in with "you have your hands full, huh?"... speed straight to the check out, stare a people magazine, us weekly and shape and think of all the reasons I don't look like that and how much air brushing really went into that photo... gasp at the ever increasing grocery bill, head out the door with my coupons I forgot to use in hand, scoop scout up out of the cart so the poor bag boy doesn't have to hear her scream "let go, mommy push please" anymore, search my bottomless pit purse for the keys, load everyone in, exhale, smile at life and head home...
Full Hands
At least three times a day I hear "wow, you have your hands full", then the ever so polite person looks at my protruding stomach and goes "wow! another one? your brave"... so how does one take this?
Usually, I smile say something quick like "yeah, someone just left these poor kids on the road and I picked them up for the day" or if I am overly happy I just respond with a "yep, my hands are full of blessings"... but inside I am utterly pissed! This non-suspecting bystander just sent my world into a tail spin with their quick, unthoughtful comment. I mean when I read between the lines, it makes me think...."do my hands look really full, I mean too full for me to handle? are my kids giving the impression that I can't handle anymore? is someone considered brave for actually venturing out past the 1.9 children per household statistic? am I acting irresponsible in this person's eyes?" and the thoughts keep coming... while the oh so innocent passer by, goes on with their merry day, they have left a mother who tries her best to raise up a gift only God can give so that one day their will be a voice of truth still heard in the wake of our descending society....
and then one of the kids says something like "mom, can you be my mom even when I grow up and be a big person"
I come swirling back to reality and start to pity that person for missing out on the joy of parenting many kids because of the fear society has impressed upon them and the culture that had manifested into the typical "child hating" cliche "kids are so expensive", "I cant imagine having to deal with more than two", "I wouldn't have time for anything"...its sad but all of a sudden these precious babes that look at you with absolute unconditional love have become all about costing too much, taking too much of our precious time and being a burden...
Being a mom is not a walk in the park all the time, but I wouldn't trade smelling these roses for anything... I love having my hands full and hope others are brave enough to try it!
Usually, I smile say something quick like "yeah, someone just left these poor kids on the road and I picked them up for the day" or if I am overly happy I just respond with a "yep, my hands are full of blessings"... but inside I am utterly pissed! This non-suspecting bystander just sent my world into a tail spin with their quick, unthoughtful comment. I mean when I read between the lines, it makes me think...."do my hands look really full, I mean too full for me to handle? are my kids giving the impression that I can't handle anymore? is someone considered brave for actually venturing out past the 1.9 children per household statistic? am I acting irresponsible in this person's eyes?" and the thoughts keep coming... while the oh so innocent passer by, goes on with their merry day, they have left a mother who tries her best to raise up a gift only God can give so that one day their will be a voice of truth still heard in the wake of our descending society....
and then one of the kids says something like "mom, can you be my mom even when I grow up and be a big person"
I come swirling back to reality and start to pity that person for missing out on the joy of parenting many kids because of the fear society has impressed upon them and the culture that had manifested into the typical "child hating" cliche "kids are so expensive", "I cant imagine having to deal with more than two", "I wouldn't have time for anything"...its sad but all of a sudden these precious babes that look at you with absolute unconditional love have become all about costing too much, taking too much of our precious time and being a burden...
Being a mom is not a walk in the park all the time, but I wouldn't trade smelling these roses for anything... I love having my hands full and hope others are brave enough to try it!
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