It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

After a change of Thanksgiving plans, we now await our tree stand. Hopefully in two days we'll be trimming this place UP! Merry Christmas!

Hello darlin'. It's nice to see ya. It's been a long time...

Well, it is officially the first day of Fall and I haven't posted since Spring. No good reason. I MUST post twelve cents for today, given how frustrating it has been...

Today's Twelve Cents

1. I am 99.9% certain that the SC driver's manual mentions NOTHING about the use of a turning signal. Hundreds of people just can NOT be that obtuse.

2. However, SC does offer more drivers who are sensitive to pedestrians. In DC, I saw at least 10 people get hit or "tapped" by vehicles in my four odd years there. Seriously. And you could hear the drivers screaming at the pedestrians to "WALK FASTER!"

3. Why must one learn words such as "stupid" and "meanie" at the ripe old age of three? While I know they didn't pick these terms up at home, I can only guess that they were offered up by the same kid who taught Jack to spit. And you thought the flu was contagious...

4. Is so grateful to her mother for keeping books, barbies, etc. from her childhood. I just wish she hadn't shipped them to my first apartment en masse so I'd still be going through them at the age of 33.

5. Thinks car manufacturers should just stop printing the MPG of their vehicles until gas shops stop diluting their product with Ethanol. In 10 years, a Honda will get about 12 MPG on the freakin' HIGHWAY!

6. Some days I can only find six cents to spare...

Today's 5 Cents:

SC must have the highest health insurance rates. EVERYBODY smokes here.

It's preferable to turn your blinker on before you turn. It's in that book you didn't read when your uncle gave you your license...

I am very interested to know WHO showed my daughter how to smack her forehead when she gets frustrated... where do 4 year olds GET this stuff?

Does anyone know how to get rid of this tire around my middle? I now have 20 pounds attached to my middle that thinks it belongs there. I still call it "post pregnancy" pounds. Jack is now three.

Would the pollen pulease float away!

Lovely Days

and here they come... gliding in and anxiously anticipated! Spring does wonderful things for me. I'm sure I'm not alone. For some reason I am more prone to spread my wings this time of year. I hope I can teach my children the swell of joy this one motion offers. My beloved is now back with us for good. And good it will be, knowing we now have man to man coverage in this house! Bubber is really blossoming, although her frustrations with life are more internal. Buckets is, as usual, the baby in the room. He wants to be a "big boy" but he also doesn't want to let go just yet... They both are truly my greatest accomplishment and I actually had very little to do with their creation. I'm in a monologue mood, so I'm done. ;-D

Today's 12 cents:

Why are municipalities putting out sand instead of salt? What did I miss? Do they realize SAND does not MELT?

#2 is worth six gummy bears.

Zula Patrol IS educational. Just squint.

I can not believe it's taken me this long to read through the entire text of the Bible, with the exception of the Apocrypha. It really is a divinely inspired work.

I never knew my daughter had such good aim. That is, until I became the target of her snowballs. WHERE has she been practicing?

I'm in search of a mama's holy grail... so, where is the WHINE stopper?

My son's new past time is rhyming. It's really funny to hear what a three year old thinks rhymes... yes, dear. Poo-poo DOES rhyme with doo-doo... see what I mean?

I don't care what anyone says. This cell phone is frying my brain. When I walk into a room, I NEVER remember why I'm there. Even the bathroom. It's gettin' spooky!

My handsome husband just smells good. I'm convinced he has some physiological scent emitter that keeps him smelling like a man. A clean man. Seriously. Especially when he's sleeping.

Along the grooming vein, I wonder how long one can go without brushing one's teeth before being banned from society. I'm tempted to accept my own challenge. Toothpaste DOES ruin a good cup of coffee.

I want to simplify, but it's too complicated.

Please, promise yourself you'll watch the sun rise AND set at least once this year. The self-reflection that accompanies each is truly unparalleled.

mortal musings

As I get older, I find I can just close my eyes and experience a place in my past. Like the smells of the restaurant where I bar tended or the sound of heels clicking on the US Capitol marble floors. I am going back in time so often now, I wonder what that has to do with my future? I have too much life in front of me to be spending quiet moments in my past. I do find that the beautiful moments seem even more blissful than I remember them in actuality - the very breath in the little bodies of my children gives me indescribable joy - and the darkest instances seem a little lighter than they felt.

I have been in love with Jesus Christ since I was about 8 years old. I have been a fickle child, often turning an issue over to God only to snatch it back. I have knowingly taken the low road and have purposefully dodged the high road. I am a disappointment. I am a sinner. I am also a child of my Father. I am loved and cared for.

Our relationship has been ABSOLUTELY one sided, yet he still waits for me each night as I am getting into bed. We sit together and He speaks to my heart in a way that I do not understand, yet eagerly anticipate. I am so grateful for His mercy. No matter how underwhelming my life has been, I am given a new day to mark in His favor. I can not believe it has taken me 33 years to feel this truth. Of course, it took Jesus 33 years to complete His journey on this earth. Maybe mine is just beginning.

Bless my children. Bless my husband. Bless my family. Bless my friends. Bless my enemies. May God forgive me continually for this last group. I am charged with seeking their forgiveness until His breath leaves my body. May you all know if I were to depart the earth this second, I am ready. Alas, I am very human. I want as much time with my husband and precious babies as God will allow. But do not fret for me.

Now, I must get back to this business of life...

Today's 12 cents:

Aiming for Cheerios is for the birds. Bribes are the way to go! (If you don't understand, you're not there yet...)

Rollers are a girl's best friend. Curling irons are TORTURE.

Toss ALL Barbie accessories. The ER is too expensive.

PLEASE don't stop at the yellow light. PULEASE. Some of us are late enough!

Get a pet; preferably BEFORE you procreate.

Take Fish oil supplements. Take 'em. TAKE THEM.

When you think someone is going to disappoint you, wait. Keep waiting. They WILL do something to inspire you. Just wait.

You don't need NEW anything (ok, underwear is the exception). Take it off somebody's hands.

Count the cost of oil and maintenance into your car buying purchase. Don't be THAT guy with the noisy stinkin' vehicle.

The phrase is "BY accident" not ON accident. Get it straight.

Oh, and it's not comPARable. Try COMParable. Really. Consult Webster.

DO NOT ask "where are you at?". Seriously, you could save a gazillion pounds of spittle if you'd eliminate the preposition. If you're unfamiliar with prepositions, then continue on as before. I can only do so much.

My purpose

My purpose in beginning this blog is to put on paper the myriad of ways I am inspired in this life but am too distracted by this life to make note of them. Yep, this is my attempt to dodge the chaos and leave something tangible for my family to tap when they need it. All who know me KNOW I am loquacious. This way, I can give you all a break! ;-D