Saturday, March 31, 2018

Slice of Life — March 31: A Good Day

Today was a good day!  It started early with a 6:15 trip to Walmart this morning to buy candy for Wesley’s Easter eggs. It then continued with frantically cleaning house in preparation for my parents’ arrival. I got done cleaning and getting ready just in time before my parents arrived. Wesley was so excited to see them! My parents bought him a book and a lot of clothes for Easter. He was most excited, however, about hunting Easter eggs. My mom and I hid them in our backyard. Wesley had so much fun running around and tossing the eggs in his basket. When we came inside, he had to eat a few pieces of candy before we left to eat lunch.

We ate lunch at Cantina Bravo and then came back home in time for Wesley’s nap. After a little coaxing, he fell asleep and the rest of us decided to take a nap, too. After our naps, my dad and I watched a little basketball while my mom and Wesley played in Wesley’s room. My parents then left to go back to Springfield, so Wesley and I headed to Target while Stephen went to work to get caught up on a few things. Wesley was really good at Target and we picked out a few things for his Easter basket. We then stopped at Wendy’s to pick up dinner. Wesley enjoyed his hamburger and then it was time to start getting ready for bed. We watched one of his favorite shows and snuggled on the couch before bedtime.

It was then time for me to get a few things done. I picked up our dinner mess, straightened up our family room, figured out my clothes for church in the morning, and started a load of laundry. I’m now relaxing on the couch, watching basketball, and feeling happy after a great day with my family.

Friday, March 30, 2018

Slice of Life — March 30: Visiting Mema

Tonight we went and visited my grandma, better known to her great grandkids as Mema. She’s 94 years old and has 28 great grandkids with number 29 on the way. As I watched her play with Wesley tonight, I couldn’t help but think of some of my favorite memories with my Grandma. Here are a few:

• The time she tried to order a dozen “big cookies” for my brother and me at Hardee’s, but finally settled on half a dozen (their cookies were huge, which she didn’t realize, and my brother and I could barely eat one)
• Playing in her backyard, having walnut fights and hiding in the drainage ditch with my cousins
• Marking our heights in the groove in the paneling in the hallway
• Superman capes made out of tea towels and clothespins
• Walking with her to the IGA grocery store and stopping at 7-11 for a Slurpee on the way home
• The smell of vinegar when she was making pickles
• Christmas morning when all of us opened all our gifts at Grandma and Grandpa’s house
• Singing an alphabet song passed down by my mom and her siblings that we knew drove Grandma crazy
• Going to Vacation Bible School at Grandma’s church
• Playing cards and dominoes at the dining room table
• Imitating my Grandpa by jokingly shaking the ice in our glasses to let Grandma know we needed more to drink

I love her so much and am so thankful for the wonderful example she and my grandpa set for our family. They truly have created a tremendous legacy and I am so blessed!

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Slice of Life — March 29: The Easter Bunny

Oh, the Easter Bunny.

Trips to visit him are a lot like trips to visit Santa. They usually go as follows:

•I stress out about what Wesley should wear and search for the perfect outfit (after all, those picture packages are expensive).
•Take Wesley to get a haircut in advance of his picture with the bunny or Santa (did I mention how expensive those pictures are?).
•Talk up the visit with Wesley so he is excited to go, hoping this will squelch any potential fear.
•Dress Wesley and then do our best not to wrinkle his outfit in the car seat straps and refrain from eating or drinking until after purchasing the aforementioned overpriced pictures.
•Arrive to meet the bunny or Santa and stand in line with the other parents who make this ritual part of their yearly holiday routine.
•Frantically straighten Wesley’s hair, pants, shirt, etc. that has somehow gotten disheveled.
•Deal with some sort of potential fear of the bunny or Santa that may result in bribery in order to get Wesley to actually take the picture that you spent hours preparing for.
•Stand by the camera lady and make faces, silly noises, and do all the crazy things parents do to get their kids to smile.
•Purchase said overpriced pictures and wonder why you make this such a big deal each year.
•Then remember you’re making a memory with your son, that you will cherish the overpriced picture forever, that the imperfections in his outfit and his lack of a smile actually give you something to reminisce about now and in the future, and feel thankful you took the time to share his childhood tradition with the ones you love.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Slice of Life — March 28: Coffee

I love coffee.

There’s something about the warmth, the smell, the taste, and the morning “pick me up” it provides. It’s part of my morning routine and my day doesn’t seem quite right until I’ve had my morning dose of coffee.

Now that I’m pregnant I’ve switched to decaf. It’s got the same warmth, smell, and taste without the dose of “pick me up.”  I try to convince myself that it helps wake me up in the morning, but I know that I am only fooling myself. Nonetheless, each morning I brew a cup or stop for coffee on the way to work if I want a special treat. It’s become part of my routine, and caffeine or not, it’s something I look forward to each morning.

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Slice of Life — March 27: Random Facts About Me

I’m struggling to come up with an interesting topic tonight, so for your reading pleasure, here are some more fun facts about me:

1. I played volleyball and basketball in high school. I loved both sports, but volleyball became my favorite. I loved it so much that I continued playing throughout college on an intramural team and played almost year round at the YMCA where I worked, playing on women’s, co-ed, and sand volleyball teams. I coached eighth grade volleyball for three years while I was teaching.

2.  My husband and I had four vehicles between the two of us when we got married. I had a two-seater sports car at the time and had purchased an older Dodge Durango SUV to drive in the winter when the weather was bad or when I needed to haul more than one other person around with me. My husband had a new truck and an old Ford Ranger he had had for years. It was the truck he drove when he was hauling brush, when the weather was bad, or when he wanted to keep miles off his new truck. We sold my Durango not long after we got married and sold his Ranger a few months later.

3. We also had two houses when we got married. We thought we had his house sold while we were vacationing on our honeymoon and even spent one morning while in Hawaii filling out paperwork for the realtor and faxing it back to Missouri at the cost of $1 a page. That deal and another fell through before we finally sold his house almost a year after we were married right after the Joplin tornado.

4. This fact is just kind of interesting (in my opinion) and I’m not sure what made my mom think of it years ago. My dad is exactly three years, one month, and one day older than my mom. I lack one month and one day from being exactly three years younger than my brother.

5. I lived at the Lake of the Ozarks for three years while I was in seventh, eighth, and ninth grades. It was a pretty fun place to live. Our house was on the lake, so we spent our summers fishing, boating, and riding our wave runner.

So there you have it — some random facts about me!

Monday, March 26, 2018

Slice of Life — March 26: First Day Back

It was a little shocking when my alarm went off at 5:10 this morning. I snoozed as long as I could, just like normal, and finally got up to head to work. I was feeling a little overwhelmed this morning. I had several meetings scheduled today and a long to-do list. I was worried about how everything would get done and was already feeling behind before my day started.

Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised at what I got done today. I was able to check a few things off my to-do list and actually got a jump start on a couple of things that I assumed would have to wait until later in the week. I didn’t get home until late, but it felt nice coming home feeling less overwhelmed by my still lengthy to-do list.

It’s still easy to get caught up in all I have to do and I often wonder how it will all get done. That’s when I have to remind myself to take things one day at a time and simply do the best job I can.

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Slice of Life — March 25: The Run is Over

One shot that went in and one that didn’t. That was the difference this afternoon as Duke lost to KU in the Elite Eight to end their run in the NCAA tournament. With 25 second left and the game tied after KU hit a three pointer, Duke had the ball. I felt pretty confident that they would surely score and win the game at the end of regulation in dramatic fashion. Instead, Duke’s shot rolled around the rim, almost falling in the basket twice, before finally falling out of the cylinder, sending the game into overtime.

For the first few minutes the game remained close, but KU soon developed a lead, Duke continued to miss shots, and was finally forced to foul KU in hopes they would miss their free throws down the stretch. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, and as the buzzer sounded, KU began to celebrate and I hung my head.

I’ve been a Duke fan for years. But as a long-time Mizzou fan, KU has always been the rival I have cheered against. To lose to KU made this afternoon’s loss even more difficult.

Now that Duke’s run is over, I can officially begin cheering for Loyola, the underdog from Chicago. Go Ramblers!

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Slice of Life — March 24: Spring Break Reflection

Spring break is quickly coming to a close. I must admit that it is going to be hard to return to the real world Monday morning. There’s been something fun about spending the whole week with Wesley. With another baby on the way, we really tried to spend a lot of time taking Wesley to do fun things with us. I’ll be very pregnant in June and the baby will arrive in July, so this week was the last substantial amount of time Stephen and I would have to spend with Wesley doing things together before the baby arrives. I love spending time with my family, so the fact that spring break is winding down is a little sad. In the meantime, however, I’m going to enjoy the last day of break I have left.

Slice of Life — March 23: The OC

Today we took Wesley to The OC, a community center in Ozark that includes an indoor pool with a great area for little kids. The area includes several fountains, a small slide, a large fort-like structure, and a big bucket that fills with water and then empties, dumping water on everyone in the pool beneath it. 

We discovered The OC last month when my nephew had his birthday party there. Wesley had a blast then and it was hard to get him out of the water. We told him then that we would bring him back. Earlier this week Wesley began talking about wanting to go to the “water park” as he calls it. He was super excited when we arrived, especially since we were the only people there. He loved playing in the fountains with my husband and would scream with delight when the water would spray him. Just like last time, he loved watching the big bucket fill with water and then empty with a crash. At the same time, he was still terrified of the water dumping on him, and he made sure he was far away from it when it emptied. 

It was fun to watch Wesley have such a good time. His smile and laughter is worth a million dollars!

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Slice of Life — March 22: Amazeum

We took Wesley to Amazeum in Rogers, Arkansas today. It’s kind of hard to explain Amazeum, except to say that it has several different areas where kids can play including areas set up like a grocery store, a manufacturing plant, and an old settler’s farm. Wesley had fun playing in those areas, but his absolute favorite was the water area. This part of Amazeum has sprinklers hanging from pipes, a long trough of water with different tubes, and containers where the water looks like a tornado as it flows through the opening. They also have plastic balls you can toss in the water.

Wesley was immediately intrigued by this area. It didn’t take long for him to run through the sprinklers and to dip his feet in the streams of water. He soon was soaked from head to toe, but that didn’t slow him down. Despite the fact that his clothes were soaked and he had to be cold, Wesley played and played in the water.

We finally had to lure him away with the enticement of going somewhere else to do something fun, but he still cried and begged to go back to the water. Thankful for a change of clothes in our vehicle, we got him changed and stopped for a snack. Before we even got out of town, Wesley was snoring. He had a fun and exhausting day!


Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Slice of Life — March 21: Travel Trailers

Today my husband, Wesley, and I spent several hours looking at travel trailers. We think we might like to own one someday and at one point thought about trying to buy one this spring break. After lots of looking, I think we’ve decided to wait until we know what we really want. There are so many options and so much to think about that it can truly become overwhelming! We want something that Wesley and his little sister can enjoy, but also know that it will be a few years before either of them will be able to truly use or appreciate some of the elements of the trailers we looked at. Then there’s the matter of finding a place to store it, possibly purchasing a membership to an RV park, and the cost of the initial purchase of the trailer itself. It was fun to look and think about enjoying our time camping someday, but I have to admit, it was also confusing and I was pretty tired when we were finished!

Slice of Life — March 20: Spring

Spring is one of my favorite seasons. Here are some reasons why:

1. Warmer weather. Winter isn’t my favorite time of year. I like snow in small doses, but I really dislike being cold. Spring brings warmer temperatures, which I am always ready for after a cold winter.

2. Green grass and blooming trees. The brown grass and bare trees of winter always look so sad to me. I love when the grass begins to turn green and when you see the first buds of the new leaves on trees. Each hear I try to pay close attention to see when exactly the trees begin to gain new leaves, but  each year they seem to appear overnight, arriving suddenly.

3. Longer days. I really don’t like daylight savings time and the loss of an hour of sleep, but I do like the fact that it stays light until later in the evening. That combined with warmer temperatures means more time to enjoy being outside

4. The return of sandals. By the time spring arrives, I am ready for some different footwear options. It’s time to get a pedicure and break out the sandals!

5. Summer is approaching. This time of year makes me anxious for summer. It’s like a little preview of what is to come with even warmer weather, more time outdoors, and all the fun that comes with summer.

6. Flowers. I love when flowers begin to bloom, adding another layer of color to the landscape. I also enjoy planting flowers to set in pots on my front porch. I don’t have the best green thumb, but I do enjoy how pretty they look.


Monday, March 19, 2018

Slice of Life — March 19: Birthday

Today was my 36th birthday. It’s hard to believe that I’m 36. In a lot of ways, I feel younger than that. Then I realize that I’m closer to 40 than I am to 30 and I begin to feel much older.

Today was a good day that was pretty low key. We took Wesley to the Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium this morning. It was pretty amazing! Wesley wasn’t so sure about it, though. I think he was tired and a little out of sorts, so we will have to try it again another time. Then this afternoon my mom and I went and purchased fabric for the nursery. My mom is going to make the crib bumpers and quilt. It was fun to pick out the fabric together and I am really excited to see my ideas start to come together. After a trip to Target, my mom, Wesley, and I met my husband and my dad for dinner.

It was a good day and one I enjoyed spending with my family. 36 is starting out well!

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Slice of Life — March 18: Fun with Family

This evening my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and nephews got together with my husband, Wesley, and me to celebrate my birthday. We went to eat at a restaurant called FD’s Grillhouse and then went to my parents’ house for cake and ice cream. It’s always fun when we get together, but the best part is watching my nephews and Wesley play together.

Hudson, my oldest nephew, is six and is very protective of Wesley. Tonight at dinner, Wesley went and sat in a chair with Hudson and finished eating Hudson’s fries after Hudson asked to share them with Wesley. Ashton and Preston are twins who are three years old. They are a little more rambunctious when it comes to playing with Wesley, so they had fun playing with the toys at my parents’ house. 

Most of all, it was good to all be together. We all have become so busy that it’s often difficult to find time to spend together. This time of year is one of my favorites, as we begin celebrating one another’s birthdays, six of which happen between now and the first part of June. It’s always good to spend time with one another and I am so thankful for my family. 

Slice of Life — March 17: More of My Favorites

I’m struggling with creativity and finding a topic this evening, so here are a few more of my favorites:

1. I love sleeping in and taking naps.  The sleeping in doesn’t happen anymore since having a baby who is now a toddler, but I still manage to make time for naps. That old adage, “sleep when the baby sleeps” still applies most weekends, as I love to take a nap when Wesley takes a nap.

2. I love shoes. I used to wear heels all the time, but that changed when I became pregnant. My feet just couldn’t take it. My feet grew while I was pregnant and they never went back to their pre-pregnancy size. As a result, I donated a bunch of shoes to Goodwill. I’ve been a little more reluctant since then to stock up on shoes for fear the same thing will happen this pregnancy and I’ll be making another trip to Goodwill.

3. I don’t like to cook (but wish I did). I can follow a recipe and I am fine at making your “staple” meals, but cooking is not my favorite thing. I think part of the reason is because I’m not a very good cook and I struggle to come up with new ideas.

4. I like to be on time. I hate running late whether it’s getting to work, going to church, arriving at an appointment, or even if I am just meeting friends.

5. I still like to drink chocolate milk, even if I am an adult. My great aunt got me started on chocolate milk as a kid and I still love to drink it. I rarely buy it to have at home because I like it so much and know it wouldn’t be good to drink it that much.

Friday, March 16, 2018

Slice of Life — March 16: Watching History

It truly is madness. 

There are very few moments in life when you get to witness history — one of those “Where were you when” moments. Tonight, I experienced one such moment, as I watched #16 seeded UMBC beat #1 seeded Virginia by 20 points in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. It’s the first time a 16 seed has ever beaten a one seed. In fact, Virginia was the overall number one seed in the entire tournament. 

This is why I love this tournament and this time of year. The UMBC Retrievers, a team I have never heard of, just became the Cinderella of this tournamnet and is now the underdog everyone is rooting for. I can’t wait to see what they do as the games continue. And for the record, I’m now cheering for the Retrievers. 

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Slice of Life — March 15: Spring Cleaning

It’s confession time.

I hate cleaning.

Everything about it annoys me from the endless time it seems to take to pick everything up to the number of cleaners and rags it takes to clean the multiple surfaces in my home. When I am done cleaning and finally sit down to enjoy the calmness and tidiness of my home, I almost immediately am sidetracked by the thought that the neatness and cleanliness won’t last. In a few days piles will need picked up, dust bunnies will begin to reappear, and footprints will begin to make their way across my once freshly mopped floor.

Did I mention that I hate cleaning?

Given this feeling, I surprised myself when I decided to go to school tonight to clean my office. The pile on the corner of my desk seemed to be growing exponentially and the clutter was simply driving me crazy. Reluctantly, I made myself go to school, shut my door, turned on some music, and started cleaning. I shredded, threw away, organized, and filed a mountain of papers. I cleared things out of my office that didn’t belong and packed a box full of coffee cups and odds and ends that actually belonged at home.

I hate cleaning, but I felt as though a certain weight had been lifted as I shut my office door and carried that box to my car, leaving behind a more organized and less cluttered space. Did I enjoy cleaning?  No. Would I have rather done almost anything else this evening?  Yes. But, one thing is certain — I can go to bed tonight knowing that I will walk in to a clean office in the morning.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Slice of Life — March 14: It’s Madness

Tomorrow the madness begins. March Madness that is.

It’s arguably one of my favorite times of the year. Sure, it usually signals the coming of spring break, but it also signals a time when underdogs become winners, contenders get pushed to the wire, and college basketball is at the height of its glory. It’s time for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Sure, I’ll be rooting for my favorite teams (Duke and Missouri) while also hoping s few underdogs make a run, knocking off some higher seeds and “busting” brackets along the way. I’ll also enjoy watching one of the greatest sporting events of the year, when it seems anything is possible, stars are made, and dreams come true. It’s a time when unexpected winners emerge, rivalries are rekindled, and teams experience their “One Shining Moment.”

So I’m going to sit back and enjoy the ride, cheer loudly, and root for the underdog. Let the madness begin!

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Slice of Life — March 13: A Childhood Favorite

Today was a crazy day and by the time it was over, I was exhausted. My husband had church tonight, so I decided to reward myself with take-out from my favorite Chinese restaurant, Bamboo Garden. I know a lot of people who wouldn’t say this is their favorite place for Chinese. For me, part of the appeal is the fact that I grew up eating at Bamboo Garden. I remember when it used to be a tiny restaurant that looked like a converted fast food place. It then was replaced with a new and much bigger restaurant that remains today. As a kid, it was one of the few nice restaurants in Carthage, the town where I grew up. I suppose having eaten there so much as a kid and teenager is how I developed my love and “taste” for this particular restaurant. So, sometimes, when I am craving Chinese, or when it’s been a bad day, I make the drive to Carthage for some take-out from my childhood favorite.

Sunday, March 11, 2018

Slice of Life -- March 11: Shopping for Baby Girl Things

As you probably know, this week we found out we are having a baby girl in July.  Since she will be the first girl in our family (I have a son and three nephews), none of us are used to shopping for a girl.  It was fun this weekend to pick out things for her nursery and I had to finally stop myself from buying outfits.  To top it off, my parents came to visit today, so we all went together to shop for the baby.  My mom and I had such a good time picking out clothes.

It's a little surreal still to think that we're having a girl.  I've been so used to buying things for boys and it's a totally different experience shopping for a girl.  I can't wait to dress her in all her cute outfits and I am already envisioning what her nursery will look like.  At the same time, it's been fun to pick out things for Wesley's "big boy" room.  We bought new furniture for him a few weeks ago and have been picking out things to decorate over the past few weeks.  He's pretty excited about his new room (and so am I) and it's helped him prepare for just one of the many changes that will come when his sister arrives in July. 

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Slice of Life — March 10: Daylight Savings

Tonight is the night we “spring forward,” moving our clocks ahead one hour.  I love spring and certainly appreciate the longer days, but must we lose an hour of sleep in order for that to happen?  I’m not good at adjusting to the time change and neither is my son, another reason why messing with my sleep schedule is problematic. It may work to my advantage tomorrow as he will likely choose to sleep later, but it becomes difficult during the week when he won’t want to get up for school and my husband has to wake him in order to make it to daycare on time.  The bottom line is that I love sleep and anything that messes with it, especially causing me to lose an hour of it, is going to wind up on my list of things I dislike. I suppose I will be happy when it is still light outside in the evening, allowing us to enjoy the outdoors longer. Sure, that’s a good thing, but right now it’s hard to see the positive when my eyes are burning from being tired, the clock reads 11:33 p.m., and in my mind, it’s really 12:33 p.m.

Friday, March 9, 2018

Slice of Life — March 9: Tired Friday Night

It was a busy week! A couple of evening activities this week for both my husband and me meant busy evenings, too. As a kid, I remember Friday nights being the night I wanted to go do something with my family. It was a night to celebrate the start of the weekend. My parents were generous, and most Friday nights we went out to eat.

I still want to go out to eat on Friday nights, but I am much less anxious to go do something on the night of the end of the work week. By most Friday evenings I am absolutely exhausted. Tonight was no exception, as I fell asleep on the couch by 8:30, waking just in time to write this blog. Looking back, I realize my parents must have felt the same way on those Friday nights when I was a kid.

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Slice of Life — March 8: My Favorite Things

For today’s post, here are ten of my favorite things. Enjoy!

1. Favorite Vacation Spot: Cancun, Mexico would definitely get my vote. The beach is beautiful and you can’t beat the relaxation and pampering that comes with an all-inclusive resort.

2. Favorite TV Show: It would now be considered an “oldie,” but Friends is still my all time favorite television show. I’ve seen every episode multiple times, can quote lines from the show, and can typically relate most everyday life events to an episode of this iconic show.

3. Favorite Sports Team: It’s March which means college basketball is in full swing and March Madness will be arriving shortly. Duke is my favorite team to watch and cheer for this time of year.

4. Favorite Movie: I absolutely love The Holiday. It’s a movie my husband and I watched together when we were dating and it remains my favorite. I have to watch it every year around Christmas and watch it each time I run across it on TV.

5. Favorite Food: This is a tough one because I love so many different types of food. I will say, however, that it’s hard to pass up Mexican. Any meal that begins with chips and salsa, queso, and guacamole is pretty good in my book.

6. Favorite Auhor: This one is a tie. Nicholas Sparks and John Grisham are my favorites. Their books are incredibly different, but I love them both nonetheless.

7. Favorite Color: My favorite color is red. It’s a good thing I work in Webb City!

8. Favorite Hobby: I wouldn’t say I have a lot of hobbies, but playing golf would be my favorite. I don’t get to play much anymore, but I still love the game.

9. Favorite Place to Shop: If it’s clothes, Banana Republic is my favorite place to shop. I can always find clothes for work and some good casuals options as well.

10. Favorite Season: I love fall! I love the colors as the leaves change, the cool weather, wearing sweaters, visiting the pumpkin patch, and enjoying everything pumpkin spice!

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Slice of Life — March 7: Faith, FrIends, and Fun

Wednesday is my least favorite day of the week. I know most people would expect Monday to be at the top of the list of most hated day of the week. For me, however, Wednesday is a notoriously difficult day of the week. I’m not sure why, but it seems that Wednesday is the day things go wrong, stress levels are heightened, and exhaustion sets in. 

Today wasn’t too bad by Wednesday standards, but I still felt spent at the end of the day. To top it off, I had a meeting after school, homework for church to compete, and dinner to make in a short amount of time. I would by lying if I said the thought of skipping church didn’t enter my mind. Nonetheless, I went to church, unfinished homework and all. 

Boy, am I glad I did. 

While we didn’t get through too much of our lesson, we spent time together as friends laughing, telling stories, sharing one another’s burdens and blessings all while eating chocolate chip cookies. That hour and a half was so refreshing for me. It felt good to laugh, to forget my worries for a moment, and focus on my friends and my faith. 

Yes, I’m still tired. Yes, I’m still feeling behind. But I do have a smile on my face and that’s worth it to me. 

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Slice of Life — March 6: Find My Skills

I’ve learned some of my greatest life lessons as a mom. The wisdom of a two year old has a way of putting life in perspective. Seeing the world through the eyes of a child and allowing yourself to find the profound in their words and actions is one of my greatest joys and blessings. Just this last week, Wesley made me think about things a little differently through his childlike wonder.

I was enjoying our monthly visit with Wesley’s Parents as Teachers instructor. This wonderful lady spends an hour with Wesley and me in our home each month, sharing an activity with Wesley, helping me better understand his developmental levels, and offering some parental guidance. During this particular visit, she brought a balloon and a paper plate that was attached to a paint stick, creating a racquet. She demonstrated for Wesley how to hit the balloon with the racquet, helping him develop his hand eye coordination and getting him to see how many times he could hit the balloon before it hit the floor. It took a bit for Wesley to get the hang of keeping the balloon in the air, but soon he was chasing the balloon all over his room, hitting the balloon over and over with a wide grin spread across his face.

As Wesley chased the balloon, his teacher complimented him, saying, “You’ll have to show your daddy your skills when he gets home.”  Immediately, Wesley dropped his racquet, allowed the balloon to hit the floor, and ran from his room. As he entered the kitchen I heard him shout, “I have to find my skills!” His teacher and I laughed out loud, realizing Wesley believed his “skills” were something that could be found like a toy or a shoe. He didn’t realize he already had his skills and didn’t have to search for them at all.

Later that night I began to think about what Wesley had said. I began to wonder how often I approach life believing I have to search for my skills. Do I live my life believing I possess skills or that I have to go looking for them, hoping I’ll find something I’m good at or something that validates my worth? The truth is, we all have been blessed with our own unique skills and abilities. We don’t have to go find them. We don’t have to question whether they exist. We just have to believe that we have the skills necessary and then, like Wesley, practice and refine them.

Some days it is easy to recognize my skills. Other days, when life gets difficult or when I begin to doubt, I question  whether I’m good enough, strong enough, smart enough, capable enough to do the job set before me. That’s when I need to be reminded that I don’t have to go look for my skills. They are already inside me, just waiting to be believed in and put to use.

Monday, March 5, 2018

Slice of Life — March 5: We’re Having A...

Pink or blue?

Glitter and bows or baseballs and trucks?

Baby brother or baby sister?

Another grandson or the first granddaughter?

Those were the questions of the day. Today was the day of the big gender reveal. It was a day I had been eagerly anticipating for months. I have to admit that I was a little nervous when the ultrasound tech called my name and led us back to our room. Today was also the day we would find out if our baby was healthy, and given that Wesley was born with a congenital birth defect, I was anxious to say the least. I must have had a sense of worry on my face, because the tech began her scan by checking to make sure there was no diaphragmatic hernia and reassured us everything looked good. She then asked if we wanted to know the gender. We said yes, to which she replied, “You’re my second girl today. It’s a girl!”

I smiled at Stephen as tears rolled down my checks.

I hadn’t really admitted that I wanted a girl. I was so focused on wanting a healthy baby that knowing the gender was icing on the cake. Now that I knew everything looked good with the baby, I breathed a sigh of relief and and shed a few tears of joy.


Sunday, March 4, 2018

Slice of Life — March 4: Gender Reveal

Tomorros is a big day. Tomorrow is the day we find out if we are having a baby boy or a baby girl. I’be been asked if I have a preference, and the honest answer is no. After having a child born with a serious health issue (who thankfully is our miracle baby), finding out the baby is healthy is my top priority. I’ve also been asked if I have a “feeling” about whether it’s a boy or a girl. For some reason, I feel like it might be a girl, but we’ll know for sure tomorrow morning. Wesley wants a baby sister and a girl would be the first granddaughter in our family (my parents have four grandsons). All I know tonight is that I am so excited and I can’t wait to find out. Stay tuned!

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Slice of Life — March 3: Ahh, Sleep

This last week was long, busy, and exhausting. Add being pregnant and having a cold to the mix, and the week was downright difficult. I struggled through most of the week, feeling like my head was in a fog and with weary eyes from a lack of sleep due to a combination of not feeling well and a mind swimming with what seemed like a million obligations at work. By the time Friday night rolled around, I was spent and was ready to crawl into bed and leave the past week behind. After falling asleep around 11:00, I awoke at 1:30 to my son coughing, clearly dealing with his own congestion that he likely contracted from me. Knowing he likely wouldn’t fall back asleep on his own or laying flat in his bed, I sat in the recliner and he and I fell back asleep. My sleep wasn’t the most restful due to Wesley’s restlessness and at 4:00, feeling that he had finally settled into a deep sleep, I carefully carried him to his bed. I comforted myself with the hope that he would sleep later due to a later bed time and the fact he awoke during the night. At 6:30, however, I awoke to his cries, knowing a morning of sleeping in was not in the cards.

I suppose last night was a good reminder of what is to come with a new baby on the way. It’s time to get used to waking in the night and working through the week with a foggy mind from being tired. Until then, however, I’m going to enjoy the nights of uninterrupted sleep and when I don’t, I’ll be thankful for nap time.

Friday, March 2, 2018

Slice of Life — March 2: 10 Things You Might Not Know About Me

It’s been a crazy week, wrapped up with our annual middle school PTO fundraiser. Given my lack of creative energy this evening, here are ten things you might not know about me.

1. My friends like to tease me about the many movies I haven’t seen. Apparently I have missed out on a lot of “classic” movies throughout the years. A few of my friends have made it their mission to start crossing movies off the list of those I’ve never seen.

2. I can be a messy person. I tend to leave my clothes laying around, leave my shoes sitting around the house, and am not the best at picking up after myself.

3. I don’t always like trying new things. I tend to order the same things at restaurants and am most comfortable with familiar things.

4. I can whistle two different ways. I know this one sounds strange, but I learned to whistle one way as a kid and another way when I got older.

5. I like to decorate. I enjoy decorating my house and am currently in the process of decorating my son’s new bedroom. I love picking out new things and finding just the right pieces that go together.

6. I hate grocery shopping. The whole process annoys me — the shopping, the standing in line, the loading of the groceries in the car, and putting them away when you get home.

7. I love shrimp. It’s one of my favorite foods and I order it frequently when we go out to eat.

8. At the end of a bad day, I sometimes reward myself with ice cream. Mint chocolate chip is my go to option.

9. I am not a morning person. I opt to hit snooze multiple times when my alarm clock sounds and it usually takes me an hour or more to feel fully awake.

10. I can’t blow a bubble with bubble gum. I have tried unsuccessfully for years and have to use my own strange method to blow even the tiniest bubble.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Slice of Life — March 1: A Tribute to a Fellow Slicer

As the calendar turns from February to March, my thoughts shift to longer periods of daylight, warmer weather, and the approaching arrival of spring break. For the last five years, March 1st has also meant the beginning of a Slice of Life.

It’s admittedly been a challenge to write for 31 days in the past. Finding new ideas, carving out the time in a busy schedule, and dealing with adjustments such as a new baby have made “slicing” each day during the month of March a daunting task. It’s also been rewarding, fun, and empowering, especially as I share the journey with my students and colleagues.

This March, a familiar face is missing from our WCMS Slice of Life family. I can’t help but wonder, as the calendar page turns to March 1st, if Miss Collins began her fifth year of this challenge. Miss Collins was largely responsible for bringing a Slice of Life to our school. When she approached me about the idea, it seemed so easy. I was more concerned about setting up a blog than I was about writing for 31 straight days. Little did I know that I would struggle, feel like giving up, question why I was doing this, and then get inspired again throughout that first year five Marches ago. I still remember Miss Collins grinning as she asked me if I would ever let her share another idea as we shared with one another how difficult it was to write that first year. I also remember her asking me if I would join in again the next year, and the next, and the year after that. Each year I said yes, which brings me to a Slice of Life 2018.

So Miss Collins, this post is for you. Thank you for inspiring me, encouraging me, and opening my eyes and the eyes of so many others to the power of the written word. You would be proud to know that what you started with less than 100 students and a few teachers now includes almost 350 students and 21 staff members. And just so you know, I might just check your blog to see if you’ll be joining us.