It was to be..."The Summer of the Dress"

Yeah, I aim high when I set goals. And it soooo isn't turning out as I had hoped.

Early in Spring, the Spring that we didn't really have, I decided that I would wear dresses more this summer. No, not "Leave it to Beaver" mom dresses, more like fluttery & feminine, run on the beach dresses. Because well, I do a lot of that during my summer, don't you? Okay, I dream of doing that a lot during my summer. Really I need a dress that is suited for changing-poopy-two-year-old-taxi-driving-baseball-watching activities.

But I digress.

So I planned to wear dresses more. More than just to church. But there are a few downfalls to dress wearing, I have discovered.

Spills. They happen often here, and while I'd love to blame them on the ten messy hands that touch every surface of my life, the gigantic chocolate splatter down the front of my outfit was ALL me. I was, after all, the one enjoying the microwaved smore. Well, when wearing a 'two piece' outfit, not a problem---change out the top (or bottoms) and go on. A bit more annoying when it involves the entire ensemble.

I now totally understand the saying, "wrapped in mama's skirts". Because quite literally, many times a day (when I'm wearing a skirt/dress), Elli is wrapping herself between my legs and intertwining her body into my wardrobe. Something she has no interest in doing when I am in shorts. And this proves to be a tad bit embarrassing when it results in the showing of one's unmentionables.

I had hoped that wearing dresses would add a flair of sophistication to my otherwise domestic life. You know, kinda like drinking wine instead of beer. But I have discovered that cleaning a toilet or walking a dog in a dress doesn't make me any more glamorous to the bowl or dog.

I kind of rationalized that if I looked like the carefree woman on the beach, I might just gain some of her tranquility as well. Apparently the beach is the necessary part of her ensemble. Who knew?

rain, rain....GO AWAY!

It is difficult to keep these unseasonably cool temperatures and endless rains from crowding out my usually sunny-side-of-life attitude. Don't laugh, I am a closet optimist.

As I am confined for even longer to the walls of our home I am forced to face the giants that loom here. Giant piles of laundry. Giant dust bunnies. Giant blanket forts built out of boredom. Giant stacks of dishes. Giant bad attitudes.

Don't get me wrong. I love my home. And all that it represents. It is, after all, not only my primary residence, but also my full-time place of employment.

However, I have plenty of up-close-and-personal time with it in those L-O-N-G months of winter. My saving grace, my silver lining, my wish in the well, is for the lazy, hot days of sunshine that will replace the need to be confined within. And when they do not come---well, patience runs thin.

I know that it is not forever. I know that once again the sun will shine and spirits will quickly be soaring as high as our imaginations can take us. But for now, the whipping winds, and rain streaked windows leave a very somber feeling.

Maybe I will go crawl into that blanketed fort and laugh a bit with the ones who light up this home from the inside out.

Happy Father's Day!

WE LOVE YOU DADDY!

I LOVE YOU CHAD!

(Message from the kids!)

Dazed and confused in Mass

It was towards the end of Mass. I was listening intently to the final blessing and announcements. It was then that Kate tapped me on the leg and whispered: "Is Father going to tell us if we're going to Heaven?"

Confusion filled my eyes. "What?" I asked incredulously!

"Does Father tell us if we're going to Heaven?" innocently she asked again.

Fearing that we had majorly missed the mark in explaining the mysteries of our faith with this child, I answered emphatically, "Oh goodness no Kate! You believe in Jesus and live your life for Him...it is in that hope and His promises that you know you are going to heaven."

Confusion filled her eyes. "What?" she asked incredulously!

"I just wanted to know if we were having coffee, juice & rolls after church." in bewilderment she spoke.

"What did you say to me then!?" I asked, wondering HOW in the world I could possibly have misunderstood 'coffee, juice and rolls' with heaven.

"I asked you if Father would tell us if we were going to HAVE THEM!"

Another lesson as to why deep conversations are better saved for after Mass.

Animal House

Being the head zoo keeper, this is something that I ought to know without having to post signs. But apparently one of my children felt it necessary to make it clear that summer vacation is in full swing, and the animal house is open for business.

Let the FUN begin!

In perspective

From time to time I get caught up in the comparing of myself and my stuff to that which others have. It is something that I despise. It is useless, fruitless, and discouraging. It robs all thankfulness from the blessings which abound in my own life.

My brother has always said that if you are unhappy with your life and what you do/don't have, you are comparing yourself to the wrong people.

He's a wise one, that guy.

Even though I know that to be true AND whole-heartedly believe it AND 99% of the time LIVE that truth---it is part of my sinful nature to wish for and want that which I do not have. Like a dream vacation to Hawaii.

Recently, on our way to the camp ground for our first summer camping trip, I had the rare opportunity to visit one-on-one with one of my children. We covered all sorts of topics. We talked about her best friend, who just happened to be surprised by her parents with a dream vacation! Both of us, feeling nothing but joy for this family, couldn't help but ponder the 'what if's' that it brought to mind. My daughter remarked, "Awww, those lucky-ducks!" To which I responded, "Yeah, no kidding!" Thinking in my head, "My kids will NEVER know that kind of surprise." And all sorts of other dwell-on-what-we-can't-give-them thoughts.

My daughter, not knowing she was interrupting a first class pity party in my head, chimed in immediately with, "Well, camping is great too!" Not sarcastically, as I would have said it----but with true, sincere, and honest heart-felt feeling.

That was the end of the conversation. And though no words were spoken on the subject thereafter, tears slid down my cheeks and a prayer of thankfulness rose from my heart, as once again, I was taught a lesson by a babe.