You are special..

Hey blog friends.

you are probably wondering where i disappeared to. I guess it's been a bit of an internet sabbatical. I've had a lot of things on my plate and needed to unplug to be able to process my "stuff" and to hear that "still small voice."

I wanted to share a little bit of what I have been treading through.. if you watch the video below.. its a reading of the book "You Are Special" by Max Lucado.

I promise it's worth the 8 minutes. And gives an beautiful picture of what I am having to learn, have been learning and will constantly need to remember.

I will update again soon.

hopefully.

rg

"I always feel like...somebody's watching me"

Remember that song.. with the catchy tune??

Well I was thinking about it yesterday when I got curious about my blog followers.

Supposedly there are quite a bit of people (that I don't even know about) that have partaken of my blog.. and well.. I would love to know who you are.

So here is your chance to introduce yourself. If you have stumbled onto this post or "always" read my blog, please leave me a comment on this post.

And if you have a blog of your own.. leave me a link for it. (you can even tell me if there is something you'd like for me to talk about or share).

Aaaand whilst you are here.. please enjoy the pure freakyness of the video for that beloved 80's song..

(i wonder if the director/creator of this video ever worked in hollywood again).

If I've told you ONCE..I've told you 1,000 times..

Listen up mommies.

Have those days, nay, years where you think, "seriously, how many times do we have to go over this??"

Well, take heart. Eventually it (apparently) sinks in.

With my boys I am constantly saying, "Open the door for girls (for mommy), and then let them go first." Our practical application is attempted every time I open the van door to let the kids in. Eva will be attempting to climb up (she's 2, so that can be a slow process) and the boys will trample her trying to bypass her. INSTEAD of waiting patiently. So generally, in my best ladylike voice I gently say (ehem.. read here YELL), "LADIES FIRST!"

I don't know how many times we go over this in a day.

We are already trying to master gentleness with the female species while playing, with, "boys, God made you strong to protect girls. NOT hurt them."

So today, while eating at CFA, the Sprite had gotten low. So Jorge (5) volunteered to go get the refill. You know, he's a half grown man now, right?

So off he goes, chest pushed out, head held high.

Then he returns. With Alex and Eva waiting at the playroom door ready for a giant gulp. As soon as Jorge opens the door Alex, being faster and stronger than Eva, gets the first spot in front of the cup. And with a very manly voice you hear Jorge bellow, very kindly, "No No, LADIES FIRST." And he walks over to Eva and lets her have the first gulp.

Melt.my.heart.

Well everyone. It seems my job is done.

haha. I wish. But I sure am proud of that there gentleman.

I know better.. and for that, I feel badly..

Ever have one of those times where you said something "helpful" with the full intent of it being perceived as loving, nurturing concern?

only it probably didn't come across that way?

Let me set the stage for you.

My precious family of six were at the park. I was watching Eva play with another little girl her age and noticed that the little girls' mom was sitting down next to a baby car seat. Assuming there was a "new" baby in it (I saw little bity toes peeking out from under a blanket) I asked "how old is your baby?"

The mother, very sheepishly said, "ehem.. 4 days old."

"Four days??!!" I asked. "Four days? Well, you don't know the rule do you?"

"What rule?" she asked. I'm sure very excited to hear my OPINION. (I know, right?? geez).

"Queen for a week. Princess for two weeks. A queen dictates from the bed. A princess, from the couch." I replied.

"Well I've just been in the bed for so long I had to get out," she said.

Okay friends.. I wish I could, at that point, or should have, gone on and on about how cute her baby was. That's what I (the RANDOM stranger) should've done. But my "momma bear/psycho doula" persona came out instead. She then said, "well, it's just that I had to have a c-section and I'm not allowed to do as much so i needed to get out. But I actually feel much better than I did after my daughter was born."

Okay here is where I stepped over the line completely. Poor momma, I said "C-section. You are out 4 days post-partum after major abdominal surgery?? well, you feel fine. . while medicated??"

GASP! did you just suck all the air out of the room? Or did your mouth just fly open? Mine did just typing it.

What I was trying to say was.. if you are on pain meds it can mask what is actually happening to your body. If you want to know how well you're healing.. stop taking them and see what happens. But here is the kicker.. she didn't ASK for my opinion.

I had become, in that moment, the annoying know-it-all that fails to understand "unasked for advice is the same as criticism."

So, dear sweet new momma that I unintentionally bulldozed at the park.. I should know your name, but i was more concerned with being your mommy/conscience that I didn't ask, please forgive me. If I could go back, I would just say how precious your baby was and wish you a speedy recovery...

not at the park.

(look, I'm a slow learner).

Look, It's not like Im a neat FREAK or anything...

Okay friends. I need to clarify.

You guys had some pretty funny comments on my last post. And then after I enjoyed that you guys thought I was a neat freak.. I decided to "come clean."

I enjoy having a "neat" house. But it is not like that all the time.

Here take a look:

this is my dresser in my room. It has been like that for.. hmmm.. three days? Okay.. four.

the clothes on the left are folded clothes for Isaac that should go in the bottom left drawer. But because the boy is growing so fast, I need to take the "too small" clothes out of that drawer and put the new ones in. But that involves organizing. Which I don't want to do right now. So for now, I go in and grab what he needs. Done.

The clothes on the right are mine. Folded. And yes, they need to be put away. ehem.. in the drawer that is open. And yes.. that is a baby scale and a bag of trash on there too.

I could take other pictures of the non-neatness of my house. but I'd rather not make me depressed so that you can feel better about yourself. LOL.

I jest.

My point is this: I am the LAST person that would ever "judge" another person for the appearance of their house. I know first hand, that unless I walk in that persons shoes.. I have no right. Besides, if i do that then I have to put that same standard on myself. And folks.. I'm legalistic enough (on myself) I don't need any more yoke to bear.

But I will say.. once I start cleaning.. watch out. Stay out of my way. Or invite me over to help you. ;-)