Tag: survival

Project gifted

This baby is incredibly blessed to somehow magically pee out of his diaper with such force that not only did it splat on the floor but soaked my shirt and somehow not his own!! He has also managed to upchuck inside my shirt so I think that is just the gift that keeps on giving.

I am pretty proud of my own personal talent… I can wiggle my ears… so there is that at least.

I love how we are all continually learning and growing but how we also have things about us that just are. One thing that ‘ just is ‘ about me is my love for young humans. Although I am tired, I am daily exerting my energies within my giftedness and passion and so I am at peace and filled with joy.

To go to bed at the end of the day exhausted from doing good and working wholeheartedly within my ‘just is’ is totally worth it. Now if I could just figure out how to take care of myself a little better within that I would be golden. (Says the woman with a week’s worth of dry shampoo in her hair)

Project Snap out of it!

What evil mastermind thought parents should have to deal with snaps on sleepers with little, wiggly humans in the middle of the night?

I personally think it may have been the same person who invented pantyhose and spanx.

Also, are teeth really that useful other than for keeping our faces from caving in and for chewing steak and stuff? The littlest one has popped out 3 in 5 days and this mamma is tiiiiiiired!!!!

Some things in life are necessary and we just have to power through the pain and discomfort. Other things, not so much.

It is our responsibility to figure out what’s what and try not to bulldozer our way through life. I think our sense of self, our families and others placed in our lives depends on it.

Project The Who

Did someone get excited for a second thinking I was going to talk about legendary band The Who’?

I thought it would be more fun to tell you that the toddler in our home has been super into eating and drinking like a dog. I guess that is because the ‘siblings’ he is around the most are the furry ones.

In the past couple of days he has added to his repertoire of fun tricks and now says “wash, wash, wash the face” as he licks his hands and rubs his face. Pretty sure this mannerism came from our cat. Did I mention we have a cat too?

If you are counting that means: 2 adult children (18&20), 2 baby boys (23 1/2 mos and 6 mos), 2 Saint Bernards and a cat.

So, acting like a dog or cat adds up.

If you do your own math, and evaluate your top peeps (or animals I guess..) would you be pleased to discover that your mannerisms and actions have taken on their actions and mannerisms?

I hope to err on the side of spending time with quality people who rub off in me in a good way. I would hate to discover that somehow I have unintentionally become someone less than who I am supposed to be.

P.s. I love Jesus & endeavour ultimately to be more like Him.

Project Out the window & up the nose

The English language… or any language for that matter has escaped me. I am in a sleep shortage. We have a 6 mo old visitor who had yet to sleep through the night. I no longer communicate with actual words but have reverted to gesticulations, head nods and sound effects. If you think you hear a parrot squawk… chances are it’s me…

Little mister is fast approaching 2 years old and his extensive vocabulary is astonishing. That said, he randomly strings together words in a sentence and looks intensely into your eyes willing you to understand. “Up the nose”, “out the window”, and “I make a poopy” are current favs.

I love his fervour and passion as he endeavours to use language to make his needs known.

We could all learn a thing or two from him about the importance of what we say and how we say it:

A) choose your words carefully

B) make eye contact

C) make sure you are understood. If not, repeat a&b

Project John Stamos

In Uncle Jesse’s words… “have mercy!” (Full House fans — you’re welcome.)

There comes a time when we have to wave the white flag and surrender. We have to surrender to the fact that we just can’t do it all.

We are currently dabbling at having some hired help for cleaning so that we can focus in on family and not get bogged down (and crabby) about other tasks that just shouldn’t matter in this season of our lives.

Case in point, I wouldn’t be able to write or shower quite frankly if not for this seeming indulgence.

As the mom of two bigs and two little littles, I know how quickly time passes and I don’t want to miss a thing.

HAVE MERCY!!

Project “Hey, by the way… we ate your lasagna.”

We all know what they say about good intentions….

We have moments of brilliance and generosity when we just want to do good and be helpful to others. We carefully plan, and sometimes even execute a charitable act. Other times, the good thought just festers in our brain and never sees the light of day.

Sometimes, I think we are just expecting too much of ourselves in that moment. Other times, we are just being plain selfish with our time and resources. And there are also moments when we don’t even have the capacity within us to care well for ourselves and our own families. Sometimes, we are the ones in need of the helping hand.

I don’t know that I really have a point in this blog post. I may just be alleviating a guilty conscience. Mom, Dad… we ate your lasagna… you know the one I made for you to be helpful? Yes, we ate it. Not only did we eat it… but I even burnt it a little so it was super gross. Now you know.

P.S. To all the fellow do – gooders and do gooder wanna be’s out there… go ye therefore and do good unto others… and yo’self!

goodintentions.jpg

Project psssst…

I didn’t even know the word ‘dry shampoo’ when a can of ‘psssst’ found its way into my bathroom cabinet. Perhaps it was a slight misstep in name as it conjures up images of muppets in trench coats asking if I want to buy the letter ‘b’. Nevertheless it is a brand name that is still in my mind over 20 years later.

I think we all make slight missteps in how we brand ourselves in this world where self-promotion through social media allows us to manipulate perception through posts and pics of our very best days.

I am not defined by my depression. It is not my brand. It is just part of my journey. I get to hone in on what really matters in my life because my body throws up cues and warning signals when I misstep. I think rather than an attitude of woe is me perhaps that is a reason to be thankful.

Project ‘the Code’

My husband has a gadget that he can hook up and instantaneously know the issue of our car.

Oh! If only! If only we could hook ourselves up and have a doodad throw the code of whatever ails us.

I feel like my body and mind do give me cues on when things are going awry. But, I have to be paying attention. It is very easy in the hustle and bustle of life to ignore the signs and push through.

When all else fails, I take the time to stop and self-diagnose. Usually, the problem is as simple as going back to the basics of my non-negotiable (which sometimes become negotiable–therein lies the problem) and taking the next right step back to me being me.

Today’s next step is to stop and pay attention. Depression ain’t no friend of mine.

Project Short Leash

I have been learning a lot lately about baby steps and short leashes (not short buses.)

Nothing is built in a day. Not a business. Not a habit. Certainly not a home (I don’t care what reality tv says on the matter!)

Right now, my life is fairly rhythmic. It is almost easy to manage a short leash…. almost…..except when life goes barrelling after…. a squirrel??

My habits get challenged daily. Because of this, I have built in some non-negotiables. I learned the idea of ‘decision fatigue’ lately (Crystal Thompson @flourishintoyou.com)

When something just ‘is’ then we don’t have to even worry our pretty little heads about the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ of the thing. I don’t have to ask myself whether or not I am going to wear a shirt today, or feed the baby, or flush the toilet (you’re welcome!) These are non-negotiable.

Season changes and life changes bring the risk of mood changes; but when we are equipped with non-negotiables then our bottom line won’t leave us in the bottom of a deep dark hole.

I am curious… what are some of your non-negotiables? I would love to hear your comments!negotiables.jpg