A New Chapter

Hey.....Can you HEAR that?

...Listen... 

It's QUIET.

Absolutely no one is home except for me.  This has not been the case for over 16 1/2 years!  Since becoming a mom, I have always had a child(ren) home with me.

And now, somehow the years went by, my babies grew up,  and my youngest "Baby" goes to preschool 3X a week for 2 1/2 hours.

Admittedly, I have dreamed of this day; when I could be free to run errands and go to appointments without a child in tow or having to find someone else to watch them for me.  I always said IT WOULD BE SO NICE....

....And now the day is here...and it is weird!

I won't deny that it IS nice, but it is definitely weird - I think I feel a little bit lost. 

I find myself wondering what I should do.

NOT because I don't have anything to do -- believe me, I DO!

It's just that, up until now, someone ELSE (my babies) have always controlled and dictated WHAT I would do.

Make a snack
Change a diaper
Fill up their sippy cup
Reach something that is too high
Watch them attempt a somersault
Put on a band-aid
Make lunch
Clean off their messy face
Change their clothes
Put them down for a nap
Call or walk them to a friend's house
Put on a band-aid
Wipe their bum
Find their shoes
Get gum out of their hair
Pull the finger out that got stuck in the drawer
Put on a band-aid
Get a fruit snack for them
Wash their hands
Set up the Play-dough
Put the Play-dough away
Open the door
Put on a band-aid

....And NOW....I CHOOSE WHAT I will do.

I was even at Wal-mart recently in the checkout line with a v-e-r-y SLLOOOOW checker, but I was okay with it - I didn't have a tantrum-throwing child with me, after all.   The gal behind me DID and she had to be at another engagement in 20 minutes, so she was stressing, checking her watch, and scoping out alternative checkout lines that might possibly be shorter/faster (there weren't any) the whole time.  I was actually in a position to offer her to go in front of me in line because I am free and I wasn't in a rush!

It's a very NEW concept for me.

So many choices, so little time!  2 1/2 hrs. in not very long!  Especially when I work during her preschool time twice a week. 

But, just so you know, don't be at all surprised to see me hanging out alone in the Hallmark section of the store just reading (not buying) all the cards just for funsies -- just because I CAN!  :)

Dare to Stand Alone

I have been serving in the Young Women organization in our church for just over a year now.

This week, I especially had them on my mind, and a prayer for them running through my heart.

Because of that, I was reading this month's issue of The New Era, a magazine geared for the youth, ages 12-18, published by the LDS church, for some inspiration and comfort. One article referenced THIS clip and I thought it was great.  It hit me as SO pertinent for them - and for me -- and for all of us.

I love this message from our living Prophet.....

"In reality, we are never alone, when we stand with our Father in Heaven."

My Own Kind of Victoria's Secret

Considering the fact that my husband
 is a lifelong Denver Broncos fan, 
THIS could pass as my "Sexy Lingerie" 
these days, couldn't it?!!? 

In honor of our recent anniversary, I snatched up this Old Navy find for under $15.

To which, my son asked in his disgusted voice, "MOM, do you even know who they're playing this week?"

That's NOT the point. 

It's very exciting, don't ya think?  ;)

Freak of Natures -- that's what we are!

Recently, while in San Diego attending a work-related conference, Matt & I were at a dinner party with a group of his business associates - many of whom we were meeting for the first time in person.

In the course of the getting-to-know-you conversation, the topic of kids came up.  We were asked if we have kids.

Yes.

How many?

Five.

FIVE??!!!??

Quoting one person exactly [as she dropped her fork and half-choked on her food],  "HOLY CRAP!!!"

Keep in mind, the people in attendance are not of our faith, nor are they from UTAH (Indiana was the furthest west that any of them reigned from), so the concept of 5 children was really UNHEARD OF to them.  We're talkin' Foreign territory.  This especially made sense when we found out about all of them, too; their number of children were 2 and 2 and 2 and 2 and 3.

(Meanwhile, I'm silently thinking about those who have even larger families than mine - like my aunt who has 12 children - how would they react to that?)

I did tell them that Matt came from a family of 7 kids, and my family has 6, so we're not even measuring up by comparison.....but then I had to stop talking about it because I felt some of them were at risk for a heart attack!  :)

When they recovered from the shock, one guy thought he was being all FUNNY by making the joke, "You must NOT have cable TV!"

To which Matt replied, "We don't."  (seriously)

Oh, can you imagine the raucous that caused?  Our table erupted in ROARING LAUGHTER.  Bah hahaha hahaha.  Intermixed with that noise were people's "smart" comments, "No Wonder!"  or "You should try cable!"  or "Atta Boy!"  or "I was right!"  It was one of those things when all the rest of the people at the restaurant STOP what they're doing/talking about and look over at "that table."  (The guy who made the original joke was REALLY proud of himself!)

Now they can't decide which thing to be MORE astonished about:  5 Children or NO Cable TV.

{Of course, I'm sure the unlimited wine served with their meals, influenced this EXAGGERATED reaction in them.}

Right?

Because it's not even a big deal to live without cable.

RIGHT?

RIGHT?!?

HELLO?

Is this thing on?  tap....tap... [on the microphone]

hello