Community

After a long day of conferencing, eating, talking, laughing, and just being plain goofy, we lay on beds, sit in chairs and are just talking.

Photo by Allison Worthington

Decompressing from the day, talking about our plans, our families, our lives....connecting.

Then, I remember what I had read that morning.  I asked, "did you all read Steph's post today?  Ivy broke her arm".

Instantly the 5 other women in the room gasped and got on their computers.  It was a Saturday, so not many people are online, and not many comments had been left yet.  We sat around reading about sweet Ivy falling off a chair while sleeping and her broken arm.  We laughed at Steph's awesome fashion sense (leg warmer on the offending arm, LOVE IT!) and were so sad for our friend.

This is what it is about.  Community.  This caring for one another.  This love that we share for our sisters. 

This is largely what I spoke about on Saturday.  I spoke with two amazing women about emotional blogging and the negative and positive consequences that come with it.

I pointed out that the positive outweighs the negative time and time again for me.  It is this community, this amazing group of friends that I have made through the last 8 1/2 years, and the ones I will continue to make, that keep me going. 

These amazing women who inspire me, make me laugh, make me think, and tug at my heart strings.  These are amazing people who I am so honored to know, and call my friends. 

This community that I have found, one that I would not have found if not for the internet, these are my people and I am so grateful to have found them.

This is why I do what I do and why I am not going to stop.

How long?

It seems that it has been years since I have sat down to really write something here.  I have so much to say, but just can't say it.  The words aren't coming.  They are stuck in my throat, in my mind, in my heart.

My life is in upheaval right now.  My laundry room is being finished by my fabulous husband and brother-in-law, my kitchen is half painted and missing two cupboards, I have a gazillion tomatoes that need to be bottled and put up for the Winter, and and and...there is so much to do.

But, I am exhausted and sick and not feeling up to snuff.  It's like my depression has found a good friend in my pregnancy sickness and they are having a party.  Except it's a party that no one would want to come to, especially not me.

Jeremy has had 3 interviews this week and will have another next week.  I just wish I knew where we were going to be, what we were going to be doing, where the next chapter of our lives is going to be.

Seth is acting up at home and school.  I am sure it is related to our lives being in such chaos right now.

Amelia and Libby are whiny.  I am cranky.

I am leaving tomorrow though.  I am headed to North Carolina for Type A Mom Conference.  I am speaking about Emotional Blogging.  Kind of funny since I haven't really written anything in a while.  I guess all those emotions just don't want to show their faces right now.

That's okay, I am sure that there will be a space for them this weekend as I sit with my good friends, listen, laugh and I am sure cry.

Hopefully soon I will be able to give these emotions room to breathe and a place to live, other in my tight chest.  Until then....

Who

Who

got ahold of my camera

and took

these

pictures?

Can you guess???

Dancing in the Kitchen

*Only 1 day left to enter this AMAZING giveaway,don't miss out!!

I love to cook and bake.  It's the cleaning I don't love. I am lucky though to have lots of extra hands at my house right now, so if I cook a fabulous meal, I know they will clean it up.  Pretty great huh?

I have found that when I am preparing a meal and I have 3 children, I am literally dancing around them as I cook.

Last night I prepared 2 dishes from The Gluten Free Girl.  She has a new cookbook, Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef: A Love Story with 100 Tempting Recipes, and I got to preview a few of her recipes.  Let me just say this, they are amazing and there is no way you could tell they were gluten free.

Just look at that succulent goodness!!!  There was one more recipe that I chose not to make because my 1st trimester nausea just wouldn't let me deal with anchovies.

I made seared shrimp and chicken skewers with garlic almond sauce.  Oh my gosh.  Let me just say this wass AMAZING.  My brother-in-law, who had no idea that the Gluten Free Girl is married to a Chef, said, "This meal tastes like it belongs in a restaurant.  It is amazing!".

I doubled the recipe, so we have enough left to freeze and pull out to have with chicken or fish another time.  The recipe calls for Marcona Almonds, but since I am currently a little short of funds, and doubt I can find such a fancy item in my small little town, I went for regular baking almonds, and just roasted them with a little oil and salt.  They were fantastic and so was this sauce.

My sister-in-law, who is also in the throes of early pregnancy sickness with me, has requested that I make another batch of these chocolate peanut butter brownies before she goes back home.  They are absolutely divine.

I am so excited about this cookbook.  Good food that I can make and eat and not get sick!!! YAY!  These are recipes that I will enjoy dancing around my children to make.

Watching

I love to sit and watch her.  

Her imagination goes wild.  

She is always inventing, dreaming, playing, creating. 

I love watching her work, sing, play.

She makes my heart sing, and reminds me that I am doing something right with her.

I just love this girl.

*Please remember to go enter to win in my AWESOME giveaway!!!!

Giveaway Time!

I am doing one of my favorite giveaways EVER today.  Come check it out!!!

9/11

*I know this is a few days late, but I needed extra time to get this post just right.  I hope you can forgive my tardiness.


The view from the ferry taking us to Liberty Island was breathtaking.  The city, right there before us.  The sights, sounds and smells that surrounded us were truly New York.  Standing on the ferry, I heard hundreds of different languages.  I heard laughter that is universally the same and I saw families, couples and individuals taking in the same thing I was...our symbol of Freedom, the Statue of Liberty.

Jeremy and I walked around Liberty Island and found a spot to sit down.  I sat there and looked at the city.  At that moment, I had a very sobering thought.  I imagined what it was like for people on the ferry, or on Liberty Island, that morning 9 years ago.  To sit there and watch in horror as this magnificent city changed forever.

This was my first trip to New York City, so I didn't know the city before.  I didn't go to ground zero, but I didn't have to feel the spirit of those thousands of people who died on September 11.  I didn't have to, because I felt it in the people all around me.

Every time I heard a siren, which was VERY often, I wondered how long it took for the people of that city to not have their blood run cold at that sound.  Every time I saw the new skyline, I wondered how long it took for people to get over the big gap in their view.

After our trip to Liberty and Ellis Islands, we took the ferry back to the city.  When we arrived in Battery Park, I was met by this.

World Trade Center Sphere image from Google Images

The World Trade Center Sphere.  Looking at the twisted metal, the eternal flame, and feeling the sense of reverence at this spot gave me peace. 

While we as a nation have moved on, we have not and will not ever forget.  This is something that is changed us forever.  I know I remember where I was when I heard the news, I know you know where you were.  I am just so grateful I was able to be in that magnificent city, to experience the resilience of the people, and know that although thousands of lives were lost, even more were changed, we can move forward as a people and be better.

Operation Birthday

When Jeremy lost his job, I knew that my grand plans for Libby's birthday (a new doll, a barbie and some dress up shoes) just wasn't going to happen.  So, I took it upon myself to be oh so thrifty and do her birthday for FREE.  That's right friends, her gifts cost me NOTHING this year and I loved it.

Here's how it works.  First, look around your house and find things that no one plays with anymore.  Talk to your older children and see if they want to give said items to their darling baby sister.

Example:

"Seth, can I take your chair and put new fabric on it to give to Libby for her birthday?"

"Sure Mom, I don't really sit in it anymore".

That is really big.  He agreed and told me why he agreed.  I let him help me pick out the fabric from my sewing room and I got to work.

Seth's beloved little chair he got for his 1st birthday. 

Taking out 15,000 staples

Putting in another 15,000 staples

A brand new chair for Miss Libby.

Once the kids realized what I was doing, they were really excited to find more things to give to Libby.  Seth has this doll, Max.  He got Max when he was 15 months old.  I got him this doll to help him get ready for us to have a baby in our house.  He and Max quickly became inseparable.  He took Max with us everywhere we went.  Max has always been the favorite baby of anyone who comes to our house, including Amelia and Libby.

Seth nursing Max, July 2006 (he was 2)

Seth decided that he wanted to give Max to Libby for her birthday.  When I told my Mom this, she said "Wow! That is big!".  So we washed Max up, hung him on the line to dry, and put him in a sweet little bag for Miss Liberty. 

Amelia wanted to get in on the action too, so she found a little airplane that she just knew Libby would love and chose the wrapping paper for us to wrap it in.  She was so excited watching Libby open it this morning.

Lib's last gift was a piano.  This was a piano that Amelia got for her 1st birthday.  The keys had come off and the top needed a new dowel and to be glued on.  It has been sitting in Jeremy's closet for 6 months, at least.  Jeremy got it out, cleaned it up, fixed it and gave it to Libby.

Libby is in Heaven.  Sitting in her new chair, with her piano and doll and airplane in her bag (under her arm)

She was thrilled.  And it didn't cost us a dime.  More importantly, my children learned what it really means to give, and they loved it.

I encourage you to try to do a free birthday for one of your kids.  I am so glad I did and so is she.

Liberty

Dear Sweet Libby,

When you wake up this morning, you will have been 2 for just a few short hours.  Two years ago you came barreling into this world and have made my life so happy.

How is it that someone who loves to snuggle, give kisses and hugs, and cuddle your babies and dolls, be SO full of sass and attitude?  You know what you want and when you want it.  You know how to throw a tantrum, but also know how pull Mama's heartstrings.

You love the sling and ask to be worn anytime we go to the store.  You still love your "Milties" and nurse every morning and if you're lucky once during the day.

You insist there is a baby in your tummy and that you are a big girl.  Don't you know you're still my baby?

Your hair is so long, I love to play with it and you love to let me.  You have the cutest little smile you do every time you see a camera and you are just certain that on your birthday you will be "free"!  When you're sad, you will come to me with big crocodile tears and say, "I so SAD" and when you get hurt you look at me and say, "I hurt real bad Mama".  Melts my heart every time.

 

You are my sweet baby girl and I love you so much.

Happy Birthday baby.

Love,

Mama

Tender Mercies

"I need to freeze my gym membership.  My husband lost his job and I just can't afford it right now"

"Ok, it will cost $20 to freeze and then when you unfreeze it you will be at whatever the current rate is".

"oh. ok. i guess i'll just cancel it then. i don't have $20 right now. and if i can't keep my same rate, then it's not worth it to freeze".

"Ok, let me go get the Manager"

"You want to cancel? Why, you've been doing so good!"

"I know, my husband lost his job and I can't afford an extra $20 right now and if I am going to lose my great rate then I may as well just cancel my membership"

"Sometimes we make exeptions.  Let me talk to the gym Owner and call you later, ok?"

"Ok. Thanks".

Later.....

"Hello?"

"Hi Kim, it's ______ from the Gym"

"Oh, hi."

"I spoke with the owner and we decided to go ahead and freeze your  membership, but we want you to still come in.  It is really important you don't stop exercising, so come in and you won't be charged anything."

"Seriously??  Oh my gosh, thank you so much."

"No problem.  See you soon."
******************************************************

It's not a job for Jeremy, it is not even money in our pockets, but it is big - to me.  It is the ability to continue working on myself.  It is Tender Mercies of the Lord.  He knows our struggles and helps provide a way when we really need it.  And I am oh so grateful.

******************************************************
Piper shared this video and it really touched me.  The little girl reminds me so much of my Amelia and the words to the song...just beautiful.  Oh how I love Mindy Gledhill.  As soon as I have extra cash, I am buying this CD.  I bet you will want to also.

What Do You Do?

What do you do in your first full week of unemployment?

Why tear apart the kitchen of course!

Jeremy spends the day going between researching companies he might want to work for and helping me tear apart the kitchen. 

We are doing what we've always wanted to do, painting the cabinets, painting the walls, putting in a new countertop, sink, stove and microwave hood.  

All so we can sell this house we love so much.

I just pray that it sells quickly and easily to a family that will love it as much as we do.

Nothing

I've got nothing.  So much to say, but nothing I can.  So many thoughts in my brain, feelings in my heart, but nothing I can share here.

There is so much, but really, there is nothing.