Happy Anniversary!

 Well, I suppose it is my anniversary.  It was this week, a year ago, that I was laid up in bed with a broken foot and trying to start a new hobby- writing a blog.  In celebration of my anniversary I'd like to reflect on the things that I have learned in this past year about life and myself.

1. I can follow a recipe.  But if all else fails, butter makes just about everything taste better.

2.  The love my family has for each other is strong and endless- no matter what.

3. I am a great teacher and I love what I do.

 4. I have absolutely nothing figured out, but I can learn from anyone.

5. In 2001, this wasn't exactly where I planned my life to be in 10 years.  This is even better.

To me, #5 really says it all.  Yeah, I have also learned some tough lessons this year.  Growing up is full of tough lessons, but regardless of the lesson- I have learned that I am truly, most definitely, without a doubt, so very happy.

All Love

This mother's day my mom gave me a card.  Very strange, I thought, considering that I have not had the privilege of producing her any grandchildren to date.  But when I read the card and what she wrote, I realized that I do come as close as I can to being a mother 5 days a week- even if it is to someone else's child.  When I stop to think about all those emotions that I have day in and day out with these children, I do see that I tend to regard them as my own.  They bring me laughter, tears, and sometimes disappointment.  But tonight, my boys made me proud.

At their orchestra concert, I watched with a smile the size of Texas plastered on my face as they stroked their instruments perfectly to create music- really beautiful music (in a somewhat off-key sort of way).  Like a crazy mama, I clapped the loudest and the longest.  I even yelled out a "Bravo" at the end when I gave a standing ovation.  They were naturals!  After they finished, they all ran up to give me a hug.  Then I hugged their parents who introduced me to every auntie, cousin, granny, sister, and friend that had come to be as proud of my boys as I was.  It was a great feeling- another emotion- and it made me think of mom's card.  With all of the emotions these kids bring on me, I know the only reason any of it matters is because of love.  And I really do love my children- all of them- just like any crazy mama would.

Worth It

Ahhh.  It finally rained today.  There was a time when I didn't look forward to rain so much- like when it rained out my soccer games or kept me cooped up inside too long.  But now, rain is welcomed. Rain is even celebrated.  Rain reminds you what is underneath all of the muck and that if you hold out through the storm...it'll be worth it.

Her Dainty, Old, Snotty Rags

Inside of this guy...

...there is this girl.  And inside of her...

...there are these.

And these are old. 

 Soooo old. 

And I love them.

 You see, I love old things.  I love my oldest silk pillow cases.  I love our old dog, Bailey.  I love my oldest t-shirts.  I love old jewelry.  I love old black and white movies.  I love older men.  (The Husband is almost 30...well, almost.)  But I really do love these old "rags."  I take them out from time to time and carefully go through and inspect their every square centimeter.

I look at their dainty details and sweet stitches.

  I laugh at the lacy-ruffly ones.

  The floral one always seems to catch me off guard.  And so does this one, but for a whole different reason.  This one melts my heart.

 They don't hold my memories, but looking at them brings me such a comfort.  I will always wonder "When she was wiping her mouth or blowing her nose, did she ever think that one day some crazy relative was going to be fingering through them, admiring them and smelling them?"  I doubt it, but I don't care either.  I love her dainty, old, snotty rags. 

Prooverty

As a teacher I continue to be completely caught off guard by the comments my precious darlings say sometimes.  Today was one of those times.  At recess my girls crowd around me and talk like I am not even there.  Most of the time I'm only half listening because I am also having to watch out for the violence and trash-talking brewing in two-hand touch football.  They can be so competitive.  But anyway, today in my half listening, the girls got my attention when I heard Mikkia say, "Yeah, she got them polka dots on her face.  She got 'em all over her face."  When the other girls asked her what polka dots were she simply said, "You know.  You get them when you are in prooverty."  By the looks on the girls faces, Mikkia realized they had no idea what she was talking about so she began to explain.  I watched as the looks on their faces turned to fear as she went into detail about growing beards and their voice changing.  My girls all quickly decided that they wanted nothing to do with "prooverty."  And after hearing what all Mikkia had to say, I don't blame them.  I don't think I want anything to do with it either.

Anyway...

The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.

Give the world the best you have anyway.

Bloom

I'm still here.  I've been hiding because of the cold and gray weather.  But I peaked out today just to see the sun and show it that I am still here.