Writer's Workshop

The prompt for this week's writer's workshop at Mama Kat's is:

Tell about 10 things you are sick of.

Now, as a disclaimer I want to add that I'm not prone to complaining and purposely making long lists of things I don't like. I think dwelling on negativity doesn't do any good and only harbors resentment and fuels anger. So, with each thing I'm "sick of" I'm going to make myself come up with something I'm grateful for, too. Nothin' like a little balance, eh?

1. I'm sick of friends and relatives holding grudges and not being able to forgive, forget and act normal again.

I'm thankful for true friends, like my best and longest-lasting friend, Rachel, of 18 years. She has stood by my side through thick and thin, good times and bad. She has forgiven me of all the stupid things I've ever said or done or not done. Because that's what real friends do.

2. I'm sick of crying, head-banging, fit-throwing toddlers.

I'm so thankful for my sweet, adorable, snuggly, cuddly Teagy and the way she dances and performs for the family when we are gathered together in the evening.

3. I'm sick of reworking my monthly spending plan and shuffling my money from one envelope to another.

I'm so grateful my husband has a good, stable job which has been virtually uneffected in this bad economy (so far). I'm grateful it allows me to stay home and take care of our children and that we have the money we need.

4. I'm sick of looking in the mirror and thinking to myself, "Ugh. How did THAT happen?"

I'm thankful to have a body that functions and works properly. It has been home to and nourished six beautiful, precious spirits. Okay, seven counting mine.

5. I'm sick of doing dishes.

I'm so glad I have two daughters now old enough to do them!

6. I'm sick of sending my four-year-old son to the naughty corner.

I'm thankful I finally had a son. For a while there we didn't think we'd ever get one. be careful what you wish for I sure am glad my prayers were answered! And hey, at least I have lots of corners to choose from!

7. I'm sick of sibling rivalry in the house.

I'm thankful to have grown up in a family very similar to my own and to realize that they will grow out of it. Mostly.

8. I'm sick of unfinished house projects.

I'm thankful I have a home of my own that I can afford.

9. I'm sick of reminding my husband that romance is not overrated.

I'm grateful for a husband who respects me, never speaks ill of anyone, never judges, is always kind, supports our family, and stayed by me through six pregnancies. Now that is true love!

10. I'm sick of....well, nothing else. That about sums it up.

Pedicures

For Mother's Day Jimmy gave me the weekend off and Mom and I went to Albuquerque for some fun. While we were there she treated me to my very first pedicure. I have to admit I was very uptight the whole time. Horror stories of bleeding toes and dirty pedicure tools were swirling in my head as fast as the blue water sloshing around my feet.

Pedicure Lady: "You have good cuticles."

Me: "Really? Huh. Thanks."

PL: "You want French?"

Me: "French? Wha--?"

PL: "French. French! You want French?"

ME: No, I don't want French! I want English, please! Oh... French pedicure? "No. I picked out a color."

PL: "Where is it?"

I look all around. Huh. That's weird. I just had it. We all start looking around for the little bottle of nail polish. And then I look down and realize, to my horror, that it's sitting inside my purse next to my keys. Oh brother. I'm sure this looks bad. Is she going to think I'm a shoplifter?

Me: "Uh," {nervous giggle} "here it is. "

That's what I get for having dead brain cells.

Oh! And apparently I have dead skin as well, according to Pedicure Lady.

After my toesies were all nice and soft and pretty, I was sitting with them under the blacklight when Pedicure Lady approached me again. She cocks her head sideways several time while peering closely at my face.

PL: "You want eyebrows done?"

Me: "No thanks. I'm good."

PL: "Oh, you need eyebrows done. They need shape, honey."

Me: And you need manners! "No, I'm okay. Just my toes today."

PL: "How about facial? You need facial. You have dead skin all over!"

Me: [Irritated.] "Ma'am, I have five kids. I have a lot of dead everything!"

And that was the end of that.

Movie Star

I Believe...

I got this in an email from my cousin so I'm sure some of you will have read it but as soon as I saw it I knew I had to post it on my blog.

I Believe... That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe... That we don't have to change friends. If we understand that friends change.

I Believe... That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe... That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I Believe... That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe... That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I Believe... That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe... That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe... That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe... That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe... That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe... That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe... That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others. Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe... That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe... That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe... Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I Believe... That your life can be changed in a matter of seconds by people who don't even know you.

I Believe that the happiest people in life don't have everything but they make the most out of what they've been given.

Catch the Joy

I was skimming through a book I really like called "Toss the Guilt and Catch the Joy" by Merrilee Boyack. Love it. In it she touches on the fact the many women, especially after they become mothers, stop having fun.

Last week Jimmy took Romy to work him and I had the entire day to do something enjoyable for myself. After the boys left I sat on the couch for a minute wondering what I should do with this rare freetime.

Go get my nails done? Mmmmm, not really into that kind of thing.

Shopping? Hmmm....no money in my shopping spree envelope.

Read? Not really in the mood, surprisingly.

Honestly, I sat there deliberating for awhile and could not think of a thing I wanted to do for fun. Instead my mind flashed to the laundry I should be doing, my eyes flicked up to the dusty fans above my head I should clean. I looked at my scriptures sitting on the shelf and thought I should probably spend my entire just reading them to make up for all the days I had been slacking. Oh and what about visiting teaching? Maybe I should try and tackle that today. I could plan out menus, organize my food storage, clean out the van....

How sad is that? I could rattle off a list a mile long of things I could or should do, but I couldn't think of a single thing I actually wanted to do.

Sometimes I wonder if we mothers put so much of ourselves into our families that we forget to leave a little bit for us. Do we start to forget about the things we used to enjoy? Do we put aside all of our interests in the wake of running our kids to sports practices and events, managing our homes and serving in the community? Do we start to lose ourselves amidst the flurry of our busy lives? Or do our interests and desires simply seem to evolve over the years?

Boyack suggests we women make a "Play Plan." In essence, a list of things we would like to do to help us "find more joy." So, I've been thinking about my list and what I would put on it. Here's what I've come up with so far:

1. Write a children's book
2. Learn to play the guitar
3. Start an apron collection
4. Square foot gardening
5. Join or start a book club again

It's a short list and I'm sure I'll add to it. As you think of making one for yourself, consider this advice from the book "Toss the Guilt and Catch the Joy" by Merrilee Boyack:

"First write down what you like to do or what you would like to do....

"Second, start small, but do start...Start this week. Pick some small part you can do now and do it! Trust that over time your talent--and your joy--will grow...

"Third, own your joy. I promise you that you will probably encounter resistence...It seems like people--especially women--don't like it when you rock the boat. If you're going around with a giddy smile on your face, they're going to be jealous. If you're talking about some wonderful thing you're doing, they may not want to hear it. That's okay. Own your joy anyway...

"And finally, cut yourself some slack! This Personal Play Plan is not another 'Perfection To-Do List' to flog yourself with. This is a suggestion for a way that might help you catch the joy in your life" (pp 20-21).

Okay, you've seen my list...what would be some things on the top of yours?

FMM: 5 Favorite Childhood Toys

So it's Friend Makin' Monday again (oh how I love prompted posts!). Today it's hosted by ae filkins so follow the link to her blog and join in the fun! Today the prompt is to post about your five favorite childhood toys. I can remember Barbie, Cabbage Patch Kids and more Barbies so I'm trying to stretch my imagination memory and come up with something more creative!

Pogo Balls! Those were the happenin' thing!

Remember Simon? How fun was that game?!

And who could forget Raggedy Ann and Andy? Those are classics!

Baby Skates

Later on...the chinese jump rope!

So what are some of YOUR favorite childhood toys?

Thanks to Tanielle for the sweet award! One of the best things I love about blogging is meeting new people and learning and being uplifted by them. I pass this award on to all of the bloggers who show up on my sidebar (how's that for taking the lazy way out!) So if you're on my sidebar just grab the button and put it on your blog because if you're listed on my sidebar it's because I think you're just SUPER!