accepting compliments

When people would pay me a compliment, I would always be quick to respond with either an excuse or an explanation.
For example:
You have nice hair.
No, I don't really.  It's frizzy and takes forever to get it this way.
Any compliment came with a blush, embarrassment and reason to show why I didn't deserve it.  Why I did this, I am not sure but after many years I finally learned that a compliment is to make you feel so good.
I used to work with a very wise woman.  She and I had a special bond, we were soul sisters.  One day she looked at me and said, "I'm going to say something to you but you can not respond.  You need to hear it and think about it."  Hesitantly I said ok.  She told me I was beautiful.  I said nothing.  I heard her words.  I felt her words.  I understood why she told me not to respond, because I really believed her.  From that moment on, I accepted compliments with my heart.  If someone was going to say something kind to me, it was because they believed it and I should too.  I love to hear compliments now and even more, I love to give them.  Everywhere I go.  If someone walks by me and smells really good, I will go back and tell that person instead of keeping it to myself.  I keep the compliments people give me and I give back 10 times more.  I think about that conversation between the wise woman and I very often.
When someone gives you a compliment, accept it, show gratitude for it, feel it in you body, deep in your bones.  Allow that compliment to feed your soul the way you deserve it.

source

how to have a lovely day

via

cookies make everything all better

It's been several months since my husband and I have been on a date...a real date...just the two of us...no kids...dinner in a restaurant...the kind where you put make-up on, get all dressed up and have adult conversations.  We talk about it all the time, we even make a point of saying we are going to go once a week, that way if we make it once a month we are still going out more than we are now.  We finally had a date set.  His parents were going to watch the kids and we were going to get the early bird specials. We made it all the way to the restaurant when Anthony got called into work.  I tried not too be too angry since I already pulled that card this week when he didn't come home from work.  Anthony was apologizing as my head was looking out the window to hide the tears streaming down my face.  I felt like an idiot for being so upset but it felt like I had been stood up.  I'm a mother and that means everyone's needs are met before mine which is fine, I signed up for that, but eventually it starts to wear me down. I know that it will be several more months before we take the time to go out together.  I wanted this night out with my husband so bad, I needed it.  I needed to flirt with him, to hold his hand, to let him know how much I love him.  I needed a conversation that wasn't interrupted every few minutes.  I can't be mad at him because he left us to do what he loves, his unselfishness is what makes him so attractive.

We quickly picked the kids up from nana and papa's house, rushed home and said goodbye.  I will be honest, I really just wanted to put my pajamas on, feel sorry for myself and cry in bed.  But I didn't.  I did the next best thing.  We made cookies.

We made my favorite cookie, the No-Bake's.  It is instant gratification with these since they just need a little time to chill in the fridge before you can indulge.  Ok, we indulged before they were even chilled.

Here's the quick and easy way to make them in the microwave!!!

1/2 cup butter or margerine

1/2 cup milk

2 cups sugar

1/4 cup cocoa

pinch of salt

1 tsp vanilla

4 cups uncooked oats

Heat butter and milk in a large microwave safe bowl.

Microwave for 1 minute or until butter is melted.

Stir sugar, cocoa and salt into mixture.  Cook 4-5 minutes until boiling.

Add peanut butter and vanilla, stir until mixed.

Stir in oats.

Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper lined cookie sheets.

Refrigerate until firm.

Makes 4 dozen cookies. (unless you eat the rest from the spoons)

Enjoy

turned that frown upside down

I looked at the clock and it read 7:58 a.m.  The french toast breakfast was cooking in the oven and the fresh strawberries had just been cut up and piled into the bowl.  We were now anxiously awaiting for daddy's arrival only for my phone to ring.  "I'm not coming home today hon."  Oh.... once again, complete devastation.  Normally it would have been ok except that I was really hoping to get some help today since my son stole 3 hours of my sleep last night.  Today is his last t-ball game, closing ceremonies and pizza party.  I can totally do this.   In the 2 minutes it took me to write this I turn around to find my kids are "cooking."  Pie dishes, mixing bowls, water and crackers sprinkled neatly around.  I can get through this day.

I can get through this day because this is what I signed up for.  I know there are mornings I will get that call saying he won't be coming home.  I consider it a good thing that it bums be out because it means we love having him around.  We miss him when he's gone.

The "baking"got a little out of hand and turned into this:

There are leftovers if anyone is interested...

Wyatt finished his season of t-ball with that smile on his face the whole time.  Best surprise of the day was that Anthony was working at the station next to the ball fields and he got to pop over to say hello.  He didn't miss the last game after all!

I used the hire a youth program to get my car washed and I highly recommend it!

When the youth finished their work they needed to cool off.  This is what you do when you don't have a pool...

The day was finished off with dinner at the airpark.  

I loved today.  It wasn't what I had originally planned yet it was perfect.  I was happy, we were happy.

croup

It's 4:00 am and I hear the sound of the roosters in the far distance telling me the sun will soon rise.  I hear the sound of the paper boy driving around and I notice he fixed his muffler on his car.  I hear the sound of my son bark like a seal and struggle to get a breath.  Once again he has croup.  It is so chronic that I can't even count how many times he has had it this year.  His little nest is made next to my bed as I lay awake listening, wishing there was something I could do.  An hour later and no break I heated up my shower and stuck him in.  My bathroom is large and won't steam so he has to sit in the shower to get the relief which is when he smiles and says he got to stay up all night long.  I smile with him but I really want to cry.  I just want to sleep for a solid 10 hours.  Fine, I will take 8 hours.  I want his little air pipes to grow so he doesn't have to continue to deal with getting croup every time he catches a cold.  He is 5 and this is been on going since he was a baby.  I have purchased more humidifiers that I would like to admit with none giving any type of relief other than being a great white noise maker.

20 minutes later and he is feeling great.  It's 5:00 a.m and the idea of sleep is long gone.  Time to get the day started while hoping his sister stays asleep.

Happy Sunday everyone!  Learn from this little guy and keep a smile on your face no matter how crappy you feel.

celebrations

We spent this past week celebrating.  We celebrated lives that were lost, 

we celebrated birthdays and we celebrated mothers.  

We celebrated life.

We spent the week camping at the beach where the sun only made an appearance about an hour a day. It was cold but that didn't stop us from playing.  To be honest, it took me a day and a half of being grumpy to realize we weren't leaving the beach to find warmer weather.  I had to adapt and seeing how happy the kids were kept me warm.

Wyatt has been loving surfing.  He woke up with a smile every morning ready to get back out in the water.  It's all he wanted to do all week.

The last day we were there the sun came out.  It was beautiful and it was also my birthday.  I went out in the water when Anthony told me I would regret not surfing.  I probably wouldn't have but I did it anyway.  Anthony towed me out on the board and pushed me when the wave came so all I had to do was stand up and ride the wave in.  I rode 3 waves and enjoyed every minute of it. {I didn't even get my hair wet}

That night after unpacking, laundry and cleaning, we went out to dinner for my birthday.  We ordered the dessert to go and came home to enjoy a slice of cheesecake.  {It was my 34th}

Mother's day started off with breakfast in bed {delicious} church, a BBQ with the in-laws and then dinner with my mom, grandma, sister and her family.

4 generations

My twin sister and I

We had a wonderful week together as a family.  After last week we know how precious life is.  It is short, and it is meant to be spent in joy, surrounded by love.  We did just that this week.

in an instant

Last week I was walking to the mailbox when I ran into my neighbor.  I asked how she was doing and she said not good.  I was walking towards her when she told me her mother had just died.

A few days later I received a phone call from my husband that one of his co-workers had been involved in a fatal motorcycle accident.  We went to the hospital where she had been put on life support so her family could come say their goodbyes.  It was a feeling a surreal.  None of it seemed like it was happening.

This morning I received a phone call from one of my very close friends.  She called to tell me that her husband had died last night.  I made her repeat it because I didn't think I possibly heard her correctly.  She repeated it and I again asked, WHAT?  He left behind 2 young and beautiful children.

When you hear of someones passing, emotions take over.  Often times when emotions take over, words quickly escape.  I didn't know what to say to each person.  I don't think anyone has the right words to say, ever.  We feel with our hearts and our emotions but thinking cognitively doesn't come as easy.  All I could muster out with each of these were, "I'm sorry"  It doesn't seem like enough.  Words will never be enough and that is why we have our emotions.  Our emotions will tell us what we can do.  We can cry, grieve, feel and physically be there for the survivors.  We can let these survivors know that they are not alone.  We can do whatever task is too daunting for them to handle on their own.  We can provide love and comfort just by being there.  We can pray for their strength.  The right words may not always be necessary.  Love is.

...when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
~James 1:2-3

One week and 3 deaths has really put life in perspective.  It is short, it really is.
Love with all your heart.  Let the little things go.

Things can change in an instance.  No one is ever ready for that time and there is no way to prepare for it.  You feel lost, you feel anger, hurt, sad, confused.  There is going to be a lot of I wish I would have's, or I wish I said I love you or Thank You more.  Say it now.  It's never too early or too late to tell someone how you feel.

I love you all!

wedding celebration

We spent last weekend in Coronado for my sister-in-laws wedding. The entire trip was spectacular.  This was the first time the kids have stayed in a hotel.  Deprived, I know.  They had SO much fun that they cried when we left.

We arrived early so we could play a little and relax.

The hammock might have been the highlight of the whole trip for these two. 

The grooms parents put on a beautiful rehearsal dinner.  Check out the view of the city from our table.

Alexis became a princess and loved every single minute of it.  My eyes became misty as she was getting all dolled up.

Michelle (Anthony's sister) with G.G

Alexis with her great grandma

Most beautiful flower girl I've ever seen

Alexis and I before the ceremony

Alexis was a pro.  It was her 3rd time being a flower girl and Wyatt's first.  For months he thought he was a ring BEAR.  He wanted to know if he wore a bear suit.  Then he couldn't remember the animal so he told people he was going to be a ring tiger. I had to explain the meaning of bearer many times before he finally realized what he was going to be doing.  He took his job very seriously.

They did a great job!

They did a great job too!

We learned that Wyatt has inherited some serious dance moves from somewhere in the family.  He was a rockstar all night and showed everyone up in a dance off.

A beautiful celebration uniting the marriage of two wonderful people.  We couldn't be happier to welcome James, my new brother-in-law into the family.