Today was Allysa's 14th birthday.....amazing, 14! Where has the time gone...literally? It has been harder on me this year realizing that Allysa is going to be a freshman next year and Alizabeth a 6th grader than it has Allyson is going to be a freshman in college. Doesn't make sense, but it's true.
We had a lot of fun today. I took Allysa and Joey to Climb Time, and indoor rock climbing facility in Indianapolis. They have both done rock walls before and hiked in state and national parks, but this was their first true indoor climbing lesson and session. It was really fun to watch them listen to the instructor as he explained how they would not only climb themselves, but rely on each other as they climbed, and likewise how they would literally be holding their partners life as they climbed. As they were going through this, it occurred to me that this was a good life lesson in trust, faith and relying on others. If you are someone who has an issue with trust....or even an issue relying on others for support and help, I highly suggest climbing as a hobby, while you can certainly free climb on your own, you have to have a partner or a "belayer" that not only monitors you while you climb but brings you down safely from you climb when you've reached your summit. I got so much more than I bargained for out of this little adventure today.....not only did they have a great time, but they got an amazing lesson in faith and trust that they probably didn't even realize they were "learning" anything! lol
As I got more than I bargained for in this fun adventure today, I was glad I "saw" the lesson I hadn't planned on. What are you getting more than you bargain for in life right now....do you even realize it?
God gives us so much more than we bargain for everyday.....eternal life and the price of admission.....a personal relationship with him.
Get more than you bargain for today.....in areas you'd never imagine.
P
Monday, June 8, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
It's Birthday Season
Yep....Birthday season. You see, we have three daughters, and their birthdays are, in order of birth, and every 2 1/2 weeks starting May 22, running through July 2....and you follow mine 5 days later on July 7...and well, its definitely a "season" for us!
Allyson turned 18 this year and her birthday happened to be May 22, the day before graduation. Ally decided she wanted to celebrate her birthday in conjunction with her Graduation Open House thinking she would never again have two such large life events in one weekend! I think it went well although she was bummed that turning 18 was obviously overshadowed by graduation! Never fear though....true is the group of friends who all grab you at slightly after midnight....ID's in hand and take you to the gas station to do your first official duty as an 18 year old adult....they buy lottery tickets! I have to tell you, the girls were incredibly incensed when the nice girl behind the counter meerly asked....."are you 18"....and didnt ask for ID!!! And the icing on the "cupcakes"....daddy produced that infamous blue bag....yep....TIFFANY & Co....she was thrilled and shocked all at the same time, she didnt know 'ol dad had it in him!
Allysa turns 14 tomorrow. I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to stop saying......"yes.....she's only 13" You should know.....Allysa is a pageant girl and working hard to get into the modeling field so she constantly looks MUCH older than 13 and while 14's not much better.....its another year under her belt!!! She of course see's 14 as one year closer to her license, a job and freedom! She'll be a freshman in the fall and at only just now 14, she's one of the youngest in her class....most of her classmates are taking drivers ed this summer and some even start getting their licenses this year. One of these days she'll realize....what....another birthday? I dont' want to age anymore!!! Allysa's our easy kid to shop for.....she loves clothes, shoes, jewelry, you name it, she's gonna love it!
Lizzie turns 12 on July 2. She's our baby....however she's our mini-mom. I'm constantly having to say to Lizzie....."how bout you be the 11 yr old today and I'll be the mommy". Lizzies our brain....incredibly organized, her mind never shuts down....she's always thinking of other peoples schedules and who needs to be where when.....although humerous it can be slightly annoying some days....I have to remind her to be a child and enjoy it while she can most days, when all she wants to do is keep up with her big sisters. Lizzie will start Middle School in the fall and I just can't believe she's only 7 years from graduation. This year Lizzie wants a cell phone for her birthday....yep....a cell phone! Now...most of her friends already have them, but we've held off as long as possible for this one....she's asked for the past year probably and we laugh that she'd have probably gotten one for Christmas had she not asked for the Ipod instead!!! A cell phone....wow! I can't remember what I got for my birthday at 12....but I'm certain it wasn't nearly as cool as a cell phone!
We love birthdays in our family......they are a BIG deal and a family tradition I hope my girls carry on into their own families someday. I've always done big parties for my girls since they were little.....and the older they get....the harder it gets to be as creative or exciting as it was when all they wanted was a barbie cake and a skating party! I have something fun and definitely out of the ordinary for Allysa tomorrow, and Lizzie is already busy planning her big day....looking like a day at the bowling alley with a few of her closest friends will be in our future!
What traditions does your family keep up with.....what have you started and carried on from past generations that you hope your kids will carry on to their own families some day? It's never to late to start a tradition.
Birthday celebrations are something I hope are part of my legacy to my children.....what's yours?
Allyson turned 18 this year and her birthday happened to be May 22, the day before graduation. Ally decided she wanted to celebrate her birthday in conjunction with her Graduation Open House thinking she would never again have two such large life events in one weekend! I think it went well although she was bummed that turning 18 was obviously overshadowed by graduation! Never fear though....true is the group of friends who all grab you at slightly after midnight....ID's in hand and take you to the gas station to do your first official duty as an 18 year old adult....they buy lottery tickets! I have to tell you, the girls were incredibly incensed when the nice girl behind the counter meerly asked....."are you 18"....and didnt ask for ID!!! And the icing on the "cupcakes"....daddy produced that infamous blue bag....yep....TIFFANY & Co....she was thrilled and shocked all at the same time, she didnt know 'ol dad had it in him!
Allysa turns 14 tomorrow. I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to stop saying......"yes.....she's only 13" You should know.....Allysa is a pageant girl and working hard to get into the modeling field so she constantly looks MUCH older than 13 and while 14's not much better.....its another year under her belt!!! She of course see's 14 as one year closer to her license, a job and freedom! She'll be a freshman in the fall and at only just now 14, she's one of the youngest in her class....most of her classmates are taking drivers ed this summer and some even start getting their licenses this year. One of these days she'll realize....what....another birthday? I dont' want to age anymore!!! Allysa's our easy kid to shop for.....she loves clothes, shoes, jewelry, you name it, she's gonna love it!
Lizzie turns 12 on July 2. She's our baby....however she's our mini-mom. I'm constantly having to say to Lizzie....."how bout you be the 11 yr old today and I'll be the mommy". Lizzies our brain....incredibly organized, her mind never shuts down....she's always thinking of other peoples schedules and who needs to be where when.....although humerous it can be slightly annoying some days....I have to remind her to be a child and enjoy it while she can most days, when all she wants to do is keep up with her big sisters. Lizzie will start Middle School in the fall and I just can't believe she's only 7 years from graduation. This year Lizzie wants a cell phone for her birthday....yep....a cell phone! Now...most of her friends already have them, but we've held off as long as possible for this one....she's asked for the past year probably and we laugh that she'd have probably gotten one for Christmas had she not asked for the Ipod instead!!! A cell phone....wow! I can't remember what I got for my birthday at 12....but I'm certain it wasn't nearly as cool as a cell phone!
We love birthdays in our family......they are a BIG deal and a family tradition I hope my girls carry on into their own families someday. I've always done big parties for my girls since they were little.....and the older they get....the harder it gets to be as creative or exciting as it was when all they wanted was a barbie cake and a skating party! I have something fun and definitely out of the ordinary for Allysa tomorrow, and Lizzie is already busy planning her big day....looking like a day at the bowling alley with a few of her closest friends will be in our future!
What traditions does your family keep up with.....what have you started and carried on from past generations that you hope your kids will carry on to their own families some day? It's never to late to start a tradition.
Birthday celebrations are something I hope are part of my legacy to my children.....what's yours?
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The convenience factor
I know its been forever since I blogged....and honestly today's blog is out of guilt as so many of my friends have commented on missing my blog, but I knew I needed to get back at it as writing is one of my favorite (and easiest) ways of self expression!
So honestly, here's what happened with the blog......my convenience to blog was taken away! Yep, that's right, taken away. And quite frankly, we are a society of convenience....think about it. We can pretty much get anything we want through a drive-up or ordering it online to be delivered! If I had my way, I'd order my groceries to be delivered as well and never have to fight the crowd! Most days, if I'm out and about and want something to drink.....I'm looking for the closest drive-thru. I even have a drive-up dry cleaner! My prescriptions come through a window, my banking comes down a little tube....if I even have to go to the bank because of course all of our banking is direct deposit or online! And my blogging.....well, my blogging was done from the comfort of my own couch, on my laptop, snug and content in my own little home. So what changed? I had to give back my laptop! YEP....give it back! Long story short, it was a company laptop and they finally decided to reimburse me rather than allow me to keep this luxury as I had been downsized! Now....along with giving back this luxury came the promise of a new one....however, here I am still 2 1/2 months later....laptopless....typing away at the inconvenience of the PC (yes.....we are PCs, not macs!)at the desk in the office! Three whole rooms away from the convenience and comfort of my couch!!! The craziness of it all....it seems almost barbaric quite frankly......I feel so antiquated....embarrassed really, having to type on a keyboard connected to a CPU while looking at a monitor and not using the sleekness and compact convenience provided for in my laptop.......appalling really!
It's amazing how not having my laptop has affected my life....and probably for the better my husband would say! It seems so inconvenient to sit down at the desk most days that I have almost kicked my Facebook addiction!!! I KNOW.....crazy huh? I don't' waste my day away looking for treasured "wins" on eBay and I've gotten so terrible at checking my email people are actually calling me on the TELEPHONE to make sure I know whats going on in the outside world!!! STOP THE MADNESS!!!
So there you have it........it has been "inconvenient" for me to blog! It seems so crazy as I type this to admit this really is THE reason I haven't blogged for so long. I LOVE to blog.....writing is a release for me, very enjoyable and I can literally get lost in my writing....but I gave all that pleasure up just because society tells me I should not have to get off of my couch, out of my car or have human contact for anything these days! Sad....very very sad. So today is my new leaf! I am blogging again.....from the inconvenience of the office chair three rooms away from my fabulous suede couch and TV hanging from the wall.....(because it was inconveniently in the way on the sofa table it's prior self sat on!)
What enjoyment have you denied yourself lately because society says you shouldn't have to do anything that's not "convenient" for you? Get off the couch and bust out.....today's the day!
I'm off to grocery shop......in a real store!
P
So honestly, here's what happened with the blog......my convenience to blog was taken away! Yep, that's right, taken away. And quite frankly, we are a society of convenience....think about it. We can pretty much get anything we want through a drive-up or ordering it online to be delivered! If I had my way, I'd order my groceries to be delivered as well and never have to fight the crowd! Most days, if I'm out and about and want something to drink.....I'm looking for the closest drive-thru. I even have a drive-up dry cleaner! My prescriptions come through a window, my banking comes down a little tube....if I even have to go to the bank because of course all of our banking is direct deposit or online! And my blogging.....well, my blogging was done from the comfort of my own couch, on my laptop, snug and content in my own little home. So what changed? I had to give back my laptop! YEP....give it back! Long story short, it was a company laptop and they finally decided to reimburse me rather than allow me to keep this luxury as I had been downsized! Now....along with giving back this luxury came the promise of a new one....however, here I am still 2 1/2 months later....laptopless....typing away at the inconvenience of the PC (yes.....we are PCs, not macs!)at the desk in the office! Three whole rooms away from the convenience and comfort of my couch!!! The craziness of it all....it seems almost barbaric quite frankly......I feel so antiquated....embarrassed really, having to type on a keyboard connected to a CPU while looking at a monitor and not using the sleekness and compact convenience provided for in my laptop.......appalling really!
It's amazing how not having my laptop has affected my life....and probably for the better my husband would say! It seems so inconvenient to sit down at the desk most days that I have almost kicked my Facebook addiction!!! I KNOW.....crazy huh? I don't' waste my day away looking for treasured "wins" on eBay and I've gotten so terrible at checking my email people are actually calling me on the TELEPHONE to make sure I know whats going on in the outside world!!! STOP THE MADNESS!!!
So there you have it........it has been "inconvenient" for me to blog! It seems so crazy as I type this to admit this really is THE reason I haven't blogged for so long. I LOVE to blog.....writing is a release for me, very enjoyable and I can literally get lost in my writing....but I gave all that pleasure up just because society tells me I should not have to get off of my couch, out of my car or have human contact for anything these days! Sad....very very sad. So today is my new leaf! I am blogging again.....from the inconvenience of the office chair three rooms away from my fabulous suede couch and TV hanging from the wall.....(because it was inconveniently in the way on the sofa table it's prior self sat on!)
What enjoyment have you denied yourself lately because society says you shouldn't have to do anything that's not "convenient" for you? Get off the couch and bust out.....today's the day!
I'm off to grocery shop......in a real store!
P
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