Trip to the Library

When I was little, I loved going to my small town library.  It was a big treat for me to go in there and check out books.  It was an even bigger treat whenever mom finally let me walk to the library by myself.  I can still see the small little area that was set aside for the kids.  There was a round table in the middle, a water fountain on the wall and all my favorite books:  Caddie Woodlawn, Little House on the Prairie, Encyclopedia Brown, The Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Sweet Valley High, and the list goes on and on.  To this day, I can still remember that certain smell the library had when you walked in to it.  It was even more exciting when it was time for me to venture to the other side and start checking out the adult fiction:  Stephen King, Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, Dean Koontz, Nora Roberts, and the list goes on and on again.  Of course, I still love going to the library and finding books to read that I have on my ever growing list...but I also enjoy taking the girls and watching how excited they are to get the next book in the series, or a new book no one has read yet.

Tonight Harry and I took the girls to our library and I get so happy watching them run to the children's wing and immediately start looking for their next adventure.  Megan loves Fancy Nancy, Charlie and Lola, and any kind of book that has a cute cover.  (Takes after her mother)  She is also reading the Magic Treehouse Series as well as The Fun Day Fairies.  It is so cute to see her so excited to find the next book in the series she wants.  Wendy loves the Bernstain Bears, animal stories, and she is also reading the Magic Treehouse Series.  She is my non-fiction reader.  She has at least one non-fiction book in her bag each time we go.  Her pick this week:  The Properties of Gases.  (She has already informed me, with a big smile, that it's not the gases from behind).  Ellie's library bag is full of Dora and Max and Ruby.  I think I have read every Dora book that library has to offer a zillion times.  They each have their own library card and, thanks to Aunt Jayme's Christmas presents, they each have their own bag with their names on it to carry all their amazing finds home.

But...the best part of the whole thing is looking in the review mirror and watching them already looking through or starting to read their new books before my van is even out of the parking lot.  When we were pregnant with the first child, I always asked Harry "what if they don't like to read?".  It was a huge fear of mine that they wouldn't like to read.  I should have known they would have gotten the reading gene from me.

I look forward to the day that we can read a book and pass it on to each other, have discussions over lunch about the latest Bestsellers, and get phone call or e-mails that say "you have got to read this book!".  Until  then I will cherish the bedtime stories, the cuddles on the couch listening to Jack and Annie travel to distant lands, and seeing what adventures are up next for Dora and Boots.

Perspective

Sometimes I just need a good slap in the face to realize how good I actually have it!

Yesterday, my Brownie/Junior Girl Scout troop had a work day for our upcoming Thinking Day in February.  Thinking Day is a day set aside to think/learn about other Girl Scout troops from around the world.  Our troop chose Uganda as their country to learn about.  In preparing for our work day, I realized how lucky I am to live where I do and to have what I have.

I gripe about the pile of clothes that I have to put in the washing machine, even though I can walk away and let the washing machine do the work while I play Words with Friends on the computer.  Not even giving a thought to the mom in Uganda who washes their clothes by hand with a small child attached to her back.  I complain because I have no time to make dinner when I can just run to the freezer, grab something, throw it in the oven and be done with it.  Not even giving a thought to the mom in Uganda who must build a fire first and then sit by her makeshift stove to make sure the fire doesn't get out of control and burn her house to the ground. Once a month I complain about the electric bill being so high.  Not even giving a thought to the home in Uganda that has to rely on dangerous kerosene lights to illuminate their house in the night time.  I complain because I have to turn on the water faucet, fill up the sink,  and wash dishes that can't go in the dishwasher.  Not even giving a thought to that mom in Uganda that has to walk miles to fill up her water jugs from dirty ponds and lakes to get their water to survive.

Funny thing:  I receive a booklet from Samaritan's Purse and each week there is a new country to pray for with a little blurb about the country.  Guess what last week's country was...Uganda.  After the church sermon today at Cornerstone Christian Church, I wonder if Uganda has been put in my path for a reason.  I may have to clean out my ears and open my heart to see if God is talking to me.

Finally Some Snow!

The last couple of days I have really accomplished nothing around the house.  I was too busy looking out the window and watching the snowflakes fall to the ground.  I have been waiting through three seasons to see some snowfall.  I love watching it snow! Was hoping for a little snowfall action today but all I've seen is the sun melting it all away.

It is so relaxing watching the snowflakes fall to the ground!  It is one of God's wonderful gifts that he gives to us each winter season.  That no two snowflakes are alike just baffles my mind!!!  I don't know why but everything just seems more peaceful when snow is falling, and the house seems more cozy when the flakes are flying around outside.  My most favorite time to watch it snow is at night.  There is just that certain look to the sky that only happens when it snows and how the white is just so bright in the night.

Although, I am still waiting for a heavier snow!  We still have to make a snowman, go sledding, make snow angels, make snow ice cream, and have a snowball fight.  Still hoping for a heavy snowfall so those wonderful childhood memories the girls have can be added to. 

My love/hate relationship with the supermarket

I love going to the grocery store!!  I hate going to the grocery store!!!  I love going to the grocery store!  I hate going to the grocery store!!  Those are my thoughts each time I leave the grocery store.  One time is great.  The next not so much.

I love going to the grocery store because it's time to myself.  As a mother of three, going to the grocery store can be the most relaxing time I have all week.  Especially if it's empty, I have all the right coupons, and there are sales galore.  Sometimes I hang around in the fresh food section just so I can listen to light relaxing music coming from the ceiling.  I will stroll through each aisle whether I need to or not just because I can.  Sometimes I even go down the liquor aisle because I have no one that will touch the glass bottles.   (Yeah, that's the reason.)

I hate going to the grocery store because everything I want that is on sale is gone!!  They had great deals the other day.  10 for $10 and I even had coupons to make the items cheaper.  Did they have them on the shelves?  Nope.

I love going to the grocery store because it makes me happy and to know that I am blessed to have the means to provide for my family and very thankful for the job Harry does to make this happen.

I hate going to the grocery store because everything I need is NOT on sale!  What do you mean cheese is $3.49 a bag?  Hamburger $4.19/lb?!?

I love going to the grocery store because it also makes me happy to see my shelves full of food knowing that my kids will not go hungry.

I hate going to the grocery store because everything I bought last week is now on sale THIS week!!
Shredded cheese 2 for $4.00.  GRRRR!!

I love going to the grocery store because I love the excitement the girls have looking in the bags to see what I bought.  "Yay, Yogurt!"  "My favorite chips!"  "Macaroni and cheese!"  "She bought doughnuts!!!!"

I guess my love/hate relationship with the grocery store will continue until I have my own fields to grow fruit and veggies, my own cow to make the dairy products, my own chickens for eggs, my own butcher because there is no way I'm going to kill that cow or chicken for meat after I just petted it and talked mushy to it and thanked it for giving me the milk and eggs, and my own baker because I just can't make doughnuts like they do.

Feeling Yucky!

The last couple of days has found me either laying in bed or on the couch.  I came down with some sort of bug and it has wiped me out.  I haven't been sick like this in at least 3 years. 
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Yesterday my wonderful husband took the day off so he could take the girls to school and watch my nephew.  He even did the dishes!!  I took to sleeping upstairs most of the day.  When I wasn't sleeping, I was coughing my head off.  Today, I made it to the couch and spent the day there with my Ellie.  We watched Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, read a few books, and played with her new Leap Pad.

After the older girls got home from school, they went outside to enjoy this warm January weather and I couldn't stand not doing anything.  So I decided to get up and clean up the house and make dinner.  While I was doing stuff, I realized I must be crazy!  On a normal day, I find myself griping and complaining because I have to do the normal household chores when all I want to do is lay around on the couch.  Here I have the opportunity, even though it's through sickness, to lay around all day and I decide to get up and clean because I just can't sit around.  Well, whether I'm crazy or not has yet to be seen but the house does look nice and I am feeling a little better since I got up and moved around. 

Each day is special

Every Christmas Eve the girls are heartbroken when they have to tell Elfie (our elf on the shelf) goodbye.  There are tears, long faces, and just plain sadness.  Last year I realized that they weren't as sad about Elfie leaving as they were about getting up and rushing downstairs to see where he would be each day.  So, on December 31st, I told the girls that for the entire year of 2012, I will write down something special to celebrate each day.

Thanks to one of my dearest friends for starting this craft at one of our MOPS meetings.  She took a tin cookie sheet and painted the inside flat bottom of the pan with chalkboard paint.  Then I took some acrylic paint and wrote: Today is... I left a space and then had my three girls make flowers on it with their fingers.  It turned out really cute. 

Not only is it a pretty decoration hanging in my kitchen, but the girls are excited to go downstairs every morning to see what kind of day it is going to be.  Today, for example, was National Spaghetti Day.  I bet you can't guess what we had for dinner?

It makes me happy to see the girls having fun with just the little things in life. 

Happy 2012!!!

I can't believe that 2012 is here.  It used to seem so far away from 1972 and 1982 and 1992 and 2002.  I have been somewhat dreading this year for the past several years. It's not because I don't like a new year.  I think a new year is a wonderful time to restart various things in my life!  It's not because I don't like the number 2012.  My favorite number is 2 and there are two of them in this year!  It's because I don't like the number 40!  What am I talking about?  This is the year I turn 40!  I just can't even believe it.  I don't feel like I'm going to be 40.  I still feel like I'm 20 but with a bunch of aches and pains.

My birthday is in November, so I have plenty of time to get myself in order.  I am not going to turn 40 and be looking like a slob, unhealthy, angry all the time, and just miserable.  (By the way, that's pretty much how I am now, BUT I WILL NOT be like that when I'm 40).  So instead of doing New Year's resolutions this year, I am making myself a new me for my birthday!  I have 11 months and a few days to get some of this weight off, eat healthier, and exercise more.  I also plan to make myself some happiness by spending more time with my kids, going out with my husband, and just doing things that I like to do (scrapbooking, puzzles, writing letters to people, blogging).  I also want to get myself in check with God.  I have gotten away from reading the Bible, praying consistently, not just when someone has a need that arises,  and just spending time with Him. 

So here's to a New Year and a New Me!   Stay tuned to my blog as I will keep you updated on the progression to the big 40!