One Flaw In Women

One Flaw In Women

Author Unknown

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By the time the Lord made woman,

He was into his sixth day of working overtime.

An angel appeared and said,

"Why are you spending so much time on this one?"

And the Lord answered, "Have you seen my spec sheet on her?

She has to be completely washable, but not plastic,

have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable

and able to run on diet coke and leftovers,

have a lap that can hold four children at one time,

have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart

-and she will do everything

with only two hands."

The angel was astounded at the requirements.

"Only two hands!? No way!

And that's just on the standard model?

That's too much work for one day.

Wait until tomorrow to finish."

But I won't," the Lord protested.

"I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart.

She already heals herself when she is sick

AND can work 18 hour days."

The angel moved closer and touched the woman.

"But you have made her so soft, Lord."

"She is soft," the Lord agreed,

"but I have also made her tough.

You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."

"Will she be able to think?", asked the angel.

The Lord replied,

"Not only will she be able to think,

she will be able to reason and negotiate."

The angel then noticed something,

and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek.

"Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model.

I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."

"That's not a leak,"

the Lord corrected,

"that's a tear!"

"What's the tear for?" the angel asked.

The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy,

her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love,

her loneliness, her grief and her pride."

The angel was impressed.

"You are a genius, Lord.

You thought of everything!

Woman is truly amazing."

And she is!

Women have strengths that amaze men.

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but they hold happiness,

love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy

and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in.

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about

a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss

can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideals.

They give moral support to their family and friends.

Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

However, If There Is One Flaw In Women,

It Is That They Forget Their Worth.

 

 

Thank you to Finding Joy in the Journey.

Book Review: The Happiness Project

Happiness is a choice.

The End.

Cheap Thrills

 She just walked off the edge like it was no big deal. Would come up laughing every time.

This was the umpteenth time Emily had done this when I decided I wanted to capture her fearlessness.

I, however, am scared out of my gourd to raise this kid.

Random Pics

Beauty and the Beast. The question is: who is who?

Meet Enzo. Our newest addition. This is the night we got home. I think he settled in pretty quickly.

My boy. I do love this dog something fierce.

Addie cried and ran from him for the first 3 days. Pretty sure she's changed her mind about the guy.

He keeps track of the kids and herds them around most of the time. He also lays in the "crossroads" as we call it (at the bottom of the stairs and in the entry to the kitchen) so he can hear us no matter where we are. The kids literally have to walk or run over or around him to get to the play room. He just lays there like it's no big deal that the Barbie car just went whizzing by his head.

Playing pretend together.

Remember that post about how great Addie is doing? Well, this was NOT one of those days.

Emily, on the other hand, is a great eater! She's having rice soaked in vanilla Rice Milk here.

Does anyone instantly flash to the scene in the Goonies when they see this?

Still a little wobbly. I'm hoping that by the start of school, she'll have it mastered.

Opposites Attract?

Allen and I were discussing what our personal theme songs would be if we had them.

Allen: Love Machine by The Miracles

Traci: Don't Stand So Close To Me by The Police

We're just a match made in heaven.

She Bangs

Is that title too suggestive for a post about a toddler's hair?

Emmy's hair has reached that point. You know, where it's actually growing, but because it's growing it is a mess. And Miss Emily, being the dainty little thing she is, can be a little, um, horrible, beastly, obnoxious, challenging when it comes to letting me put her hair back.

I'd been resisting the social pressure to cut bangs. I don't really like bangs. I don't like how they look on most kids. After fighting the good fight, though, I relinquished and decided we best make the cut.

My visiting teacher happens to be a fashion-forward hair stylist at the most happening salon in town. She is a straight hair expert. As I'm not, I happily turned over the reins. We opted for a little fringe rather than the deep cut to avoid the painful growing out experience. I think she did it just right.

Excuse the trance-y look here. She was watching Yo Gabba Gabba. It has that effect on people. Adults included.

Class of 2024

Lexi has had her first graduation. She successfully completed her preschool career. We celebrated by attending a cute preschool graduation ceremony with family and pizza dinner with friends.

Addie and Lexi pre-ceremony. They chose the poses themselves.

They had the graduation at a local winery. It was a quaint and very pretty location. We grabbed a most-of-the-family picture on the way in.

Lexi has loved, loved, loved her preschool experience. She started off in New Mexico and had a wonderful finish in California. She's learned so much that will help her as she goes on to kindergarten. They did science experiments, learned about social studies, math and of course, reading. They learned songs and did a lot of art. They also took field trips and had a concert in the park. I love that while we are driving in the car, she can read the names of the store signs and ask me what they sell.

Lexi has zero stage fright. She had the opening line and was all too happy to deliver.

Congratulations Lexi on your first educational accomplishment. I know we'll stand proud in 2024 as you leave high school and our nest to start your own life. In the mean time, don't grow up too fast, ok?

Just So Ya Know

 I've had a lot of people say, "I want to leave a comment, but I don't want to make a blog!"

You don't have to have a blog to comment. I wanted to keep the wierdos at bay so I set it up requiring commentors to at least have a log in ID. But, you don't have to create a blog to have that.

Just put in your email, a password, and speak yo' mind!

Leona May George

April 11, 1933 - May 27, 2011

 My grandma passed away in the early morning today. 

A mere 6 weeks ago, she was walking, eating, and talking. And while no one told her that Grandpa was gone, and her logical faculties had been robbed by her disease, her soul knew. She has been freed from her mortal prison. I'm sure they are dancing together now.

We'll miss you so very much Grandma.

Marine World

In April, Grandpa Bob chaperoned while my bestie, LuAnn, and I (with kiddos, of course) had a day at Marine World.

LuAnn and Dallas. Both are the ultimate thrill seekers.

Gavin waiting for mom and sissy to go on the ride.

The eager audience.

Told you they are crazy.

Waiting for the Orca show.

The small fry area had this water feature. Emmy loved it!

Totally drenched. Thank goodness LuAnn brought an extra shirt. Emmy wore a diaper and Gavin's t-shirt the rest of the day.

All that swimming tuckered her out!

Here's Dallas and Lexi. Dallas is clearly looking for some excitement. Not sure the hopping frogs did it for her.

This was priceless. Grandpa Bob stuffed in a frog that jolted it's riders up and down. Addie thought it was great. We got some good belly laughs out of the deal too.

School Pics 2011

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This is your brain:

This is your brain on motherhood:

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Sneak Peek

Photo and design credit: Linda Pepperman

Shoulder to Shoulder

When it comes to cooking, there are two ways to do it. There's the make-it-all-and-clean-it-when-you-get-to-it method. Remember the kitchen in The Little Mermaid?

It was in complete disarray. While there was probably lots of really good food cooking, the place was in shambles. He probably had servants to pick up after him so he didn't really mind the mess - he was too busy working on his masterpieces.

Then there's the clean-as-you-go method. This means as you finish using one product, you put it in the sink, dishwasher or wash it immediately. When you are done with a can, you throw it out on the spot. When part of the counter is cleared, you wipe it down. Even if you're going to need to use it again.

In my kitchen, I subscribe to this method. I try to, at the bare minimum, have all the prep dishes in the sink by the time dinner is ready to serve. I wash my prep bowl multiple times during my cooking rather than dirty another one. I make sure all of the garbage and empties are in the trash. Then, when I'm done with dinner, I only have to clear the table and the actual serving plates.

There seem to be two similar thoughts when it comes to making moral choices, too. Some people figure they ought to do whatever makes them happy, without much regard for the mess it makes along the way. They hold on to the thought that if they aren't hurting anyone, they must be doin' all right. Life is meant to be lived, so live it up! After all, you can fix it all at the end, right? I used to live this way. I didn't worry too much about the future. I did what seemed the most fun and shoved any consequences deep down inside. I enjoyed a lot of experiences. I also made some pretty bad choices, too.

The other half knows the peace of making the best choice the first time. We try to clean as we go. We repent for the big things, and even the little ones, so when we step up to the judgement seat, we don't have quite so much try and clean up at the end of our lives.

Even so, with the best of our efforts, there's still gonna be a mess on the table and the stove. This is where our elder Brother Christ steps in to make such the difference. He's going to be there to help us clear up that last little bit we can't do on our own. There's gonna be someone to help us dry. We don't have to go it alone. We're never gonna be perfect enough to have all of the work done before the meal, but at least we've made a dent in the mess by the time we sit down to eat.

The atoning sacrifice he made for us allows us to practice the clean-as-you-go method of living. We don't have to feel soiled and dirtied by life. We don't have to feel mired down by the mess. We don't have to wake up the next day with a chore already on the list.

At any point along the way, we can lay our weaknesses before him and he will make us whole. Even if we've made a huge mess and just now finally see how deep we are, he is eagerly waiting for us to ask for his help. Sure, there are some rules for our protection and safety associated with this type of living. Just like with the dishes, you gotta practice some discipline. You have to prepare a little bit more. You have to have an empty trash, dish soap, and a scrub brush. You have to be willing to do the work up front. But, the peace of sitting down to the meal in a mess free kitchen is well worth the sacrifice. The peace of laying your head down at night knowing you've done all you can do and have trusted in Christ to help you make up the rest is well worth the simple rules that we're asked to follow.

How grateful am I to know I have a partner in this life who will always show up to dry? Who will tell me good job for the small efforts I make? Who won't ever complain about the dishes in the sink because he knows I've done all I can do? Who will praise the meal I've worked so hard to make and then willfully stand by my side at the end of a long night to make sure things are completely cleaned up and perfect?

I owe my life to this man.

And I can't wait for the day when we stand shoulder to shoulder at the sink.

Avoid fruit and nuts. You are what you eat. ~Jim Davis

Addie has struggled with a feeding aversion since month one of her life. Due to undiagnosed reflux and food allergies, she developed a bottle aversion which morphed into a full blown solid food aversion. We are still working though that aversion. However, we've made huge strides. Especially considering we are in the thick of the two year old year when most kids eat string cheese and gold fish crackers three meals a day for a year straight.

For those of you who stumble upon this post who are knee deep in this struggle {clearing throat: Lisa}, I say to you - have hope. It sucks to be in it. I've gone through it twice. I can swear with my whole heart that it gets much better as they leave behind the twos. I promise.

 Just a bit of advice for those of you who are desperate: even if they won't eat, give them a utensil and let them play with the food. Don't have any expectations. Put something new down every meal. Clean the mess with joy and praise them mildly if they do take the leap. Expect it to take months for one food to become a regular part of their diet. Oh, and lie. Addie loves cheeseburgers. So, I told her a grilled cheese sandwich was just like a cheese burger without the meat. She loves them now. I'm serious. It works.

To further prove my theory on improvement, here's a list of what Addie will now eat (after 2 1/2 years of therapy and ongoing efforts at home):

* Cheeseburgers
* Fries
* Sweet potato fries
* Frozen gogurts
* Any type of cold cereal
* Yogurt with granola
* Bagel with or without cream cheese
* Grilled cheese sandwiches
* Pancakes
* Sausage
* Waffles
* Peanut butter and honey sandwiches
* Peanut butter and jam sandwiches
* Granola bars
* Any type of cracker
* Fruit snacks
* Ice Cream
* Fruit leather/roll ups
* Banana bread
* Smoothies
* Pop Tarts
* Apple (this is a ebb and flow type deal - some days she will, some days she won't)
* Any type of chip
* Pudding
* Cookies
*Brownies

This list is not exhaustive. As you see, most of these foods are on the sweet side. That is typical of kids with feeding aversions. They also have texture issues, as does Addie. We're working on fresh fruits and meats. But, she has come so very far. I mean, we're finally at a point where we don't have to pack her food when we go somewhere.

Addie self regulates really well. She doesn't over eat. She doesn't over indulge in sweets either. When she does eat something savory, she'll chow that down just like she would a cookie.

We keep her doctor up to date on her progress and she's growing really well. So, we just keep putting one foot in front of the other and look toward her four and five year old years as goals for normalcy. For now, I look how far we've come and try to accept her for who she is right now.