POLAR BEAR SWIM

THIS IS WHAT MY KIDS TALKED ME INTO DOING TODAY. OLIVIA STARTED THE WHOLE THOUGHT PROCESS AND WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE PLUNGE. I HAD TO DO SOME FINAGLING WITH THE REC. DIRECTOR TO GET LINCOLN APPROVED SINCE THEY CHANGED THE MINIMUM AGE TO 10. THANKFULLY, BOB CAME THROUGH FOR US BECAUSE WE HAD A BLAST! IT WAS FREEZING COLD BUT WE ALL THINK WE'LL DO IT AGAIN. WANT TO JOIN US NEXT YEAR?

I MISS NAPTIME

I must be getting old. I remember the days where I could mange things in little bits because soon it would be naptime and I could have a respite. I could sit down, put my feet up, even close my peepers for a few minutes. No more. There is no rest for the weary here, there is only cars being driven along the walls, graham cracker crumbs all over the floor, kids yelling about having to pee, and so forth.

And I am tired.

I post this picture as evidence that the child once understood the concept.

It's cold. And dreary.

I'm trying not to care that it seems like no one reads my blog. It's silly. I started up again for an outlet. A way to manage and organize my brains in the midst of the busy-ness but for some reason I've begun to crave approval. And. I'm. Just. Not. Getting. It. I just read something on facebook about a friend of mine who said she was loving facebook too much and needed to log off in order to practice some self-mastery. I guess that needs to be my plan too. Practice self-mastery to fight the feelings of inadequecy. I will remind myself that I have practically everything...a house full of healthy, beautiful children. A thoughtful and supportive husband. A strong body that carries me as far as I choose to go. A tub of homemade peanut butter frosting in the fridge...I could go on.

Hmmm. Actually, self mastery is going to have to wait--until after I eat the frosting!

Reflections from a overly-tired mind.

My kids are awesome. Hard, and crazy, and busy, and stubborn, but awesome. While Olivia was at the pool for swim team the rest of the kids followed me over to pound out a few miles on the treadmill. I asked them if they just wanted to stay home and watch a movie...but no, they wanted to come work out with me. After each set of exercises they would flex and ask me if their muscles were bigger. "Of course they are!" I said. Which makes me think about life and the fact that we should pause sometimes to flex our muscles to see if our efforts are working out for us. If they aren't, we should try something else. Right?

My church teaches us about service. We are taught that when we are in the service of our fellow man we are in the service of our God. I believe in service. At least, I thought I did. I considered myself thoughtful and made efforts to serve others. But as I've learned more recently about how easy it is to REALLY serve those
who TRULY can't help themselves. I think it's time for me to flex my muscles, guage my progress, and try something new. I have an idea for a project. It's going to take a while and I pray that it works out and that I don't lose steam.

In this economy craziness I think it will be easy for me to get stressed over money and everyday things to the point that I can't think about others. I don't want that. There are financial complications all over the country but even that thought is too small right now. And I want to think bigger. And be bigger.

I have a friend named Lisa. She races for a charity called Aids Orphans Rising. She is amazing and she works hard to help these kids that are left alone in this world to fend for themselves and for their families. 10 year olds taking care of siblings, going to school, and working a farm, and just trying to get fed each day.

Service. I have learned a different meaning of the word (other than just a plate of cookies.) And it's time. Is it time for you too? Whatever we do, let's do it with heart and flex all our muscles to find out how strong we really are.

LINCOLN

I LOVE TY!!!

So yes, I grabbed the camera before I cleaned it up. Maybe that gives him the impression that this was o.k. but in my defense, you can totally hear the annoyance in my voice, right?

UPDATE:

I'm sorry I cut your cell phone charger in half with wire cutters.
I'm sorry I sliced your sheets.
I'm sorry I keep rhyming with words that sound like swear words.
I'm sorry I scream like a girl.
I'm sorry for body-slamming you.

I feel like it's prudent to mention that at this point he has given up apologizing, instead, he has embraced his inner hyperactive self and is just going with the flow.

It's a good thing he's so cute.

SUGAR BUGS, BE GONE!