Tag Archives: life

7 Christmas QTs

Linking up at Jen’s Blog today so that she has some reading material while she is under the weather. Moms really aren’t allowed to get sick, so I am always baffled when we do. Baffled.

Hoping Christmas was lovely for you and if not perfect, hopefully you found some moments to hold tight to….like I did. Ours was a great Christmas, however, for the first time in our family, I felt a shift. The shift of teens in the house and only 1 of 4 still blessedly smitten with Santa, the Elf and the whole shabang. It was subtle, but it was there. Compound “the shift” with having done our family dinner with the in-laws on Christmas Eve and grandparents and step-dad having come and gone after breakfast, mom and sis out of town, and zero plans for anything EXCEPT relaxing and enjoying the day……I was in a constant state of post-Advent Zombie-ness (if there is such a thing). Aimless. Lost. Shuffling. A month of bustling and scurrying to and fro to a sudden halt……what does one DO with that? I mean, WTH?!?!? Clearly a 2014 goal needs to be getting comfortable with relaxation and learning to embrace that idea. Anyhoo, it WAS lovely…Advent was wonderful and we are so very blessed to be together and loved and healthy and happy; there is nothing to complain about, because it’s ALL good.

Traditiona Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls for breakfast. So flippin' delish!

Traditional Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls for breakfast. So flippin’ delish!

Our tree. Pre-present carnage. Simply the best morning light, I’m not sure what I will do after our tree is down….it’s an essential part of my morning coffee and Daily Readings.

The Hubs on video, videoing me taking a picture of him.

This kid. 16 and questioning everything, BUT….he opted for Midnight Mass with his brother and I versus 11 a.m. Christmas Mass with Dad and the girls. MM wore us all out. He and the cat caught a few winks after presents. Smart kid.

Next year she will be in Middle school. THIS year she put Zebra cakes on her list for Santa and he came through. That will never happen again. 10 is an awesome age, is it not?

Headbanz. Christmas games and camaraderie. Love these moments.

When I don’t have anyone coming for dinner, I don’t focus. I misread the brisket times and well…..Christmas dinner was scrambled eggs and toast and PIE! Christmas dinner was served on the 26th and a total winner. Worth the wait. We’ll call it a win, even though it was a day late!

That wraps it up for today. As usual, I am going to be rushing to get out the door in time for work, so enjoy the day!! P.S. for those of you without cable, may I suggest Chromecast? The Hubs got it figured out yesterday and SO. COOL.

Blessings!!

#Affluenza: are you kidding me?

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It seems we’ve come to a whole new low in society, the final fruit of a generation of spoiled children and parents who (it would seem) have failed to set boundaries and actually parent their offspring.

If you aren’t familiar with the story of Ethan Couch in Texas and his attorney’s outrageously SUCCESSFUL plea of Affluenza as a defense in his drunk driving that left FOUR people dead, by all means click HERE or do your own Googling, there’s plenty of fodder. The gist of the story, as I see it, is that there are a group of young people (and for the minute, let’s leave affluence out of this) that steal beer, get drunk, drive and wind up killing 4 people and left 2 with serious injuries. This week the judge in the case sentenced Ethan to 10 years probation and a long-term treatment facility and NO JAIL TIME. Just chew on that a minute. It’s like grizzle, you simply cannot swallow that.

Parents, we have a DUTY to parent our children. Perhaps no one told us,or maybe we just weren’t listening/believing, but the sad fact is that parenting is the hardest flippin’ job EVERRRRRRRRRRRRR. From the time our sweet and precious bundle crosses the threshold of placenta to oxygen it is Game On. No joke. Sleepless nights and sleep-deprived parenting, potty training and 2-year-old defiance parenting, sibling rivalry and sharing parenting, school days and friendship parenting, tween angst and teen independence parenting, college life and young adult parenting and then…..then….then…..we can be friends. First we must parent. That, folks, is a marathon, so best fuel up!!!

Parenting means loving those kids and setting boundaries. Let’s clarify:

bound·a·ry

ˈbound(ə)rē/

noun

plural noun: boundaries

a line that marks the limits of an area; a dividing line.

Failure to set those boundaries leads to confusion when our kids are trying to figure it out for themselves. I’m not advocating helicopter parenting, however, I AM all for setting up expectations and explanations of WHY we set limits and the consequences and following through. The follow through is the hardest part and the most crucial, otherwise, where is the lesson learned? And lo, there are MANY, MANY lessons to be learned, and some a few times before the lesson is mastered.

Currently, our 8th grader has had a semester of slacking to the max in his math class. Now, it IS an 11th grade math class and we don’t expect an “A”; we DO expect effort. The effort has been lacking to the tune of a D/F which has resulted in some pretty uncomfortable consequences. Those consequences have resulted in 1)renewed focus, 2)more attentive and interactive child, 3)renewed vigor on task, 4)completed assignments, 5)increased understanding, 6) D/F to a C and 7)mature and tremendous communication among us and our son. It’s a challenge and sadly, we’ve done this last year and apparently we have short-term memory in this house at times and need to repeat lessons, however, as seen with our 10th grader….they DO learn, apply and adjust with much fruit to be shown. Like I said earlier, it’s flippin’ hard; parenting is hard.

In the words of Nike, JUST DO IT. and then do it again. and again. and again.

Otherwise, we will have more BS “Affluenza” nonsense diagnoses to deal with rather than just calling a spade a spade. If you mess up, there are consequences and if you REALLY mess up….there are REAL consequences.

Ethan (like MANY before him) made a terrible and tragic choice that dealt consequences that he will deal with mentally for the rest of his life. Sadly, his consequences aren’t much different from the coddling that led to his poor choices. Mamas and Papas, come on, let us ALL buckle down and hold our kids accountable for the choices they make, because Lord knows the mess we are in for when we don’t.

Galations 6:7-9

⁷Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.⁸For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

When you’re up waaaaaaaay too early

Some things we will never understand

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On Friday, I received a phone call from our neighbor, they needed a sitter that evening to attend a prayer service. The service was for one of her young teachers who very suddenly and unexpectedly lost her husband that morning. Married only 5 months, and 12 weeks along with their first child, a recent graduate from the local chiropractic college, this couple had their whole life ahead of them. I did not know them. I do not need to know them to know that this is a tragedy of which there may never be any answers until we get to heaven. Maybe.

And so, with life completely upended we look to Trust in the Lord and have Faith in His plan knowing it is always far better than we could possibly imagine….even in the midst of a black, thick fog of grief.

By Thy resurrection from the dead, O Christ, death no longer hath dominion over those who die in holiness. So, we beseech Thee, give rest to Thy servants in Thy sanctuary and in Abraham’s bosom. Grant it to those, who from Adam until now have adored Thee with purity, to our fathers and brothers, to our kinsmen and friends, to all men who have lived by faith and passed on their road to Thee, by a thousand ways, and in all conditions, and make them worthy of the heavenly kingdom.

And if it’s on your heart, you can donate here:

http://www.gofundme.com/5fd75k

WIWS and other weekend craziness

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Full shot

I’ve not linked up with the fashionably forward ladies at FLAP in a while, but to be fair, I haven’t been blogging a ton lately. Life is fully back into school and activities mode and there are only so many hours in the day. You KNOW this, I know. That’s the truth and I’m just getting it in when I can.

Aaaaaaaand, our oldest girl and I went thrifting yesterday and I simply HAD to share my outfit. Thrift winning!

This is me showing you: my fave necklace, shirt detailing and MY HAIR. I actually did my hair. Looks the same right? Yep. That’s why I don’t really do my hair. It always looks the same to me. Whatever.

Outfit Details:

Pants…just love the pinstriping (?) is that what it is…khaki and brown. Can’t go wrong there. $1

Shirt….Love. This. Shirt. All of my colors and super sassy. $2

Shoes….Aerosoles, BROWN, slides and $2. yes, thank you.

Jewelry: not thrifted, but some pieces my beloved Lia Sophia collection. Call me sucker.

For other weekend news:

Friday night after work and kid pickup/dropoff/pickup/pickup, Hubby and I went to a 50th birthday dinner. The couple goes to our church and he wanted to do his signature BBQ ribs to celebrate. In. Had me at BBQ and me not cooking. We also met a few other folks from church there (although I only remember about 2 names…I do poorly in large groups) and our associate priest was there as well. It was a really nice time, great food, good conversation and just so nice to FINALLY be socializing with people from church OUTSIDE church. It only took 10 years. Whatever, that’s a whole other post simmering….

Saturday was thrifting and cleaning. Productive AND fun.

Today I helped our 6th grader do her Science Experiment for her Science project due next week. I was the photographer. At Mass our 8th grader was recognized for his accomplishment in making All State Orchestra for his French Horn. It’s been a big weekend.

Now swing by the FLAP girls and check out the rest of the ladies!

Happy Veteran’s Day and have a great week!