NFL Pick 'Em Week 8--It's a Draw

This week turned out to be a sports let-down on just about every level.  Thursday night's complete disaster in St. Louis was a real kick in the pants.  And then the sorry game 7 on Friday was literally like pouring lemon juice in the wound.  (By the way, don't ever do that.)  I'm thinking that SMU's loss to Tulsa was probably related to the sports induced hangover that my Dallas guys had after watching the Rangers on Friday.  As for the Cowboys, does anybody ever really know why the Cowboys play the way they do?  It was like team after team just took a beating this week.  But not me.

This week was a complete draw in my house.  For some reason, I felt compelled to pick the smart kid schools again this week.  SMU might have let me down, but Stanford and Notre Dame had my back.  And thank goodness, because my NFL picks weren't that great.  So far, when all the points are tallied out for the week, week 8 turned out to be a draw.  I finally won college and my hubby won his pro picks--for the first time in weeks, I might add.

The tie, the draw, or the impasse probably drives my husband nuts.  He really needs some points.  But since I'm sitting ahead with a pretty nice lead overall (me= 183 points; him=163 points), I don't mind wasting a week.  I'm just glad that I didn't end up being a complete loser.  Considering the events of this week, maybe a tie isn't so bad every once in awhile.

Keeping Up With These Joneses

The idea of having a nice family picture is great.  But actually getting the "family" to cooperate is a completely different story.   My parents traveled back to Indy this month and wanted to bring some current pics to show the family.  We wanted people to be able to stay up-to-date with our family. These pics tell a little bit about the current state of the Joneses...

For starters, can you see which one of these things is not like the other?

I know that my son is only 3 and I still get to the call the shots on what he's going to wear, but when your little man insists on wearing his baseball fan gear it's hard to argue with that. Of course, I probably should have banned the flip flops.

Then when we attempted another pose, "the other thing" didn't want to cooperate.  This is life with a toddler.

The entire photo shoot was a bust.  Thankfully, we still had a picture from the balloon festival earlier this fall.  This was the hot air balloon festival that didn't have any hot air balloons...

Here my family is laughing about the money that we just paid to sit on a hill full of people and take pictures.

Oh well.  We still don't have any pictures that are Christmas card worthy, but this is my family.  This is what life is like with little boys.  We like to have fun.  We love to play ball.  But we're not good with pictures.  These are my Joneses.

The Sweetest Name is Jesus

 No sweeter name than the Name of Jesus, no sweeter name have I ever known
No sweeter name than the Name of Jesus
No sweeter name than the Name of Jesus, no sweeter name have I ever known
No sweeter name than the Name of Jesus

You are the life to my heart and my soul
You are the light to the darkness around me
You are the hope to the hopeless and broken
You are the only truth and the way.

Every week, my guilty pleasure is to watch the Amazing Race on CBS.  I started watching the show 8 years ago when I was living with my parents, and I have watched it faithfully ever since.  Every season I try to pick a team to cheer for and get excited about.  Unfortunately, at the beginning of this season I hadn't made a connection with any of the teams.  Until this week...

"The Snowboarders" a.k.a Andy Finch and Tommy Czeschin are my new favorites.  This week in an interview, they started talking openly about their faith.  They said that they were Christians and that they both loved Jesus.  It was so exciting to get to hear successful 30 year old men talk about the fact that they love Jesus.  Instead of touting their personal accomplishments (both are US Olympic team/professional snowboarders) they are out on national television declaring that they believe in Jesus. 

When they started sharing their faith this week, I was in awe.  I heard the name of Jesus being praised.  It seemed so random coming out of the mouths of these men.  Outside of church, I honestly don't hear people praising the name of Jesus very often.  It's really sad.  Because there really is no sweeter name, no greater name, and no better name to be declaring and praising on a daily basis.

If you haven't heard the Kari Jobe song written above, please listen.  Let's praise the name of Jesus today.

Free Gift With Purchase

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."Romans 15:13

I really like free gifts with my purchases.  I know that this is something I got from my mother, because we pretty much never miss a Clinique bonus time.  Why wouldn't you wait and buy your ridiculously priced make-up when you could also get a free lipstick, eye liner, and blush?  I honestly can't remember the last time I had to buy something other than foundation from the Clinique counter.  I guess a good foundation has many benefits, right?

Make-up freebies may be nice, but they can't even compare to the free gifts that God has given me.  Because I'm a Christ follower, God has not only given me eternal life, but He given me the opportunity to have a fulfilled earthly existence.  God has given me joy, peace, and the confidence that has allowed me to hand Him the details of my life. 

I used to think that living the Christian life was a lot of hard work.  Taking the high and narrow road in life isn't easy.  I remember reading Pilgrim's Progress in school and thinking that anyone who chooses to follow Christ is signing up for a really hard journey.  But I completely missed the point.

The life that Christ followers are called to live is an abnormal existence.  But it's not supposed to be hard.  Along with the gift of Salvation, Christ sent us His Spirit which fills us with joy and peace.  We could never obtain joy and peace on our own, so God made it His other free gift with purchase.  Not only do we get the free gift of Salvation when we die, but we get the free gift of His Holy Spirit  to help us live our earthly life.  Being "in Christ" has a lot more perks than people think.  As Romans says, when we trust God, He fills us with joy and peace so that we overflow with hope.   

As Christ followers, we probably will travel on a crazy journey like Pilgrim did in John Bunyan's story.  We might get cancer, experience natural disasters, be personally touched by war, or suffer persecution for our faith.  But if we're filled with the Holy Spirit, these experiences shouldn't be hard for us--they should be bearable and make us images of hope.  The odds are great that we're going to suffer from some kind of misery in our earthly life at some point in time.  So why wouldn't we want to face the hard times with God's joy and peace?

The next time you see a free gift with purchase, remember that God created the concept.  He purchased us, gave us the free gift of eternal life, and then gave us the goodie bag filled with all the necessary tools for life.  If we trust Him, God promises that His Spirit will fill us with joy and peace and make us overflow with hope.  Talk about an amazing foundation!

NFL Pick 'Em Week 7: The Forfeit

I was really nervous Sunday morning about my picks this week.  I have apparently lost all foresight when it comes to picking college football, and I lost 2 whole points on Saturday.  I took a chance on the "smart kid schools" this week and realized that the smart kids are apparently studying for midterms this time of year. They obviously couldn't play football this weekend.

But something really funny happened when we got home from church yesterday.  My husband realized that he had not made his NFL picks yet.  And the computer locked him out from picking 7 games!  That meant that all I had to do was pick winners for those games and those points belonged to ME.  Much to my husband's detriment, his forfeit for those seven games hurt him bad.  I ended up banking 6 points, once again saving myself from a bad Saturday. 

Some might argue that I earned 6 points that I shouldn't get to keep because we weren't on an even playing field.  But let's be clear here, if a team doesn't show up to play that's not the other team's fault.  We all play with the same rules and guidelines.  Just because one team stayed up really late because he went to the World Series doesn't mean that his opponent should feel bad for staying home with the kiddos.

Oh the wonderful world of sports.  It's amazing how ball games manage to enrich all of our lives.  My closet is very excited about how NFL football is going to enrich my selection of handbags as well.  I can't wait to see the Coach spring collection.  I'm loving their winter selection.

Shopping is an Interactive Sport

I'm not really sure if these pictures need much explanation.  Let's just say that if Mommy tries on a hat, everyone else wants to too. The key to a successful shopping trip is making sure that we have full group participation.  And no, I didn't take a picture of myself.  I'm not quite as cute as these dudes.

The Homemade Baseball Baby Shower

I threw my first baby shower this weekend.  Since I'm going to have a nephew, I wanted to throw a real boy-themed shower.  Nothing says baby boy better than baseball!  So we had my version of a baseball party.  My aunt handled the food and I handled the decorations.  And my mother-in-law graciously invited us to use her home.  Now I'm not claiming to be an "arts and crafts" kind of person, but I do think that the homemade elements added a nice touch.

For starters, I made the invitations.  I actually found some custom invitations online for a ridiculous price and decided that I could make them myself. 

 

 Next, I ventured into the world of baby wreaths.  I definitely wanted the wreath to be colorful and fun, so I made a ribbon wreath.  Yes ladies and gentlemen, I actually broke out my glue gun and paint brush for this project.

Since our family is very anti shower games, I decided to have the guests sign a page of my nephew's scrapbook.  (You've got to have some kind of guest participation at a shower!)  I was so excited to find the sports scrapbook that matched my theme.  Then I used the invitation to create a nice sign-in sheet.

Next, I decided that we needed some bunting.  But let's be real, what male likes bunting?  True men like pennants.  So MLB pennants did the trick.

Even though I wasn't in charge of food, I still wanted to contribute something.  So I found little popcorn boxes and filled them with popcorn.  Then I created little football treats.  I'm not an artist, but these were yummy.  I tried making baseballs and they were gross.  So footballs it was...

Even though this was technically a baseball themed party,  I found the cutest center piece.  It was a bank and was a little take-home gift for my sister-in-law.

 
Of course, no party is complete without party favors.  So I filled baby bottles with take-home candy.  I really wanted to fill them with sunflower seeds, but the guests were women!

The shower was super nice.  We had fun, and my nephew definitely scored with all the loot!  Can't wait to meet our family's newest slugger!  I even think that I'm ready to throw another shower.  Babies are so much fun.

There's No Whining in Baseball

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of other." Philippians 3:4

I have had a really bad attitude lately.  Like the woman in the picture, I've been tempted to take an unnecessary shopping spree and to treat myself to something nice.  I guess you could say I've had the post-season blues.  As a baseball wife, it has become clear to me that when our favorite teams make the playoffs, October is not my own. 

The frustration started out a few weeks ago when I couldn't rsvp to a baby shower or attend a farm open house with a friend because I didn't know who, when or if the Ranger's were going to play that day.  I eventually convinced my husband to have a guy's night and to attend the ALDS without me.  A week later, I couldn't plan my husband's birthday party because we didn't know who, when, or where the Rangers were playing in the ALCS.  This week I actually went with him and some friends to the game.  That's the game that had 2 rain delays and lasted until midnight.  Yuck!  Now we're in the World Series.  My husband is psyched about going to the game on Saturday, and I'm going to stay home and "babysit."  Then Sunday, our church group is having a baseball watching party.  I can't seem to escape baseball fever. 

This is my proof of life shot from the ALCS. You just can't see me because I'm taking the picture from inside my poncho.

Don't get me wrong, I love a good ballgame as much as the next guy.  (Sorry girls, my baseball knowledge really is on the guy level.)  I just don't love living a life that revolves around a sport.  I don't love the fact that I can't plan ANYTHING during the month of October without considering what the Rangers are doing or might be doing.  (Only a guy could come up with such an unpredictable playoff schedule!)  I also have to have a special red, blue, and denim wardrobe that is ballgame appropriate for the month of October too.  (In Texas, the weather could be anywhere from 40-90 degrees this time of year.)  And this wardrobe doesn't include cute shoes.  I'm just tired of feeling like I'm drifting through October.  This month is not my own.

Then I realized why it's so important for me to be a nutty baseball fan every fall--because my husband loves it!  Baseball is my husband's interest.  And for the sake of my relationship with my husband, I have to embrace baseball too.  When we started dating, I learned as much as I could as fast as I could.  By the time I started law school, I could actually out-talk the guys when it came to baseball.  When we got married, my husband coached off-season high school baseball and I learned to keep the book.  I tried to be an involved coach's wife.  Then when we had boys of our own, I have been completely supportive in teaching and exposing our kiddos to baseball.  At this point, I can't back down now.

October belongs to my husband, as it should.  I get 11 months of the year to plan and coordinate our activities.  This month is all his.  I love you dear and I'm sorry about my whining this month.  Yes, I really do like baseball.  And you still owe me--I so called it that Ian and Elvis were going to win us last night's game!

Beautiful Rooms

"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures." Proverbs 24:3-4

I had a nice chat with a friend the other day.  She and I have both noticed that we seem to be missing out on this new "creative mommy" trend.  Apparently, it is in vogue again to have homemade decorations (a.k.a. arts & crafts) displayed throughout one's home.  We both cracked up laughing at the thought of hanging our own arts and crafts in our houses.  We both went to nursing school.  We might be able to deliver babies or put a cast on a broken bone, but neither of us feel we are remotely qualified to hang our own original pieces of art in our homes.

I am definitely in awe of "shabby chic" friends who can whip up their own center pieces and wall art. I just can't do it.  I need instructions.  Of course I can read a book or a website and copy someone else's creative ideas.  But I can't interpret my own feelings and emotions into amazing design concepts.  Nope.  I'm a catalog girl.  I find pretty things and I buy them. 

Thankfully, Proverbs reminds us that we don't have to be interior designers or budding artists to have attractive and charming homes.  We also don't have to have the best floor plan or an unlimited budget.  Instead, if we build our homes, our families, and our lives around wisdom, understanding and knowledge, we will automatically fill our lives with rare and beautiful treasures. 

It's such a relief to know that to be the "perfect housewife" I don't have to own a sewing machine or a hot glue gun.  I just need God's Word.  I need a dedicated prayer life.  And I need a commitment to learning and growing in my understanding of who God is. 

Hopefully if you ever come to visit me you won't be disappointed by my personal design style.  (Thank you Kirkland's and Pottery Barn for all your inspiration.)  Hopefully, you will be able to see the rare and beautiful treasures in my home that reflect what my husband and I seek to build--a home built on God's wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.

Banning the Cardinal

At bedtime last night, I overheard my husband and son having a very serious conversation.  My husband then called me into my son's room and said that we needed to have a family discussion.  Apparently we had a big problem.

When I walked into my son's room, my husband was holding up a rally monkey--a Cardinal's rally monkey.  THE rally monkey that my husband bought for my son when he was a little baby.  He bought it the same weekend he came home from a Moot Court Tournament in St. Louis with a full baby Pujols' uniform.  This rally monkey is one of the few rally monkeys to have survived our great flood.  Thus, my son sleeps with him every night.

My husband informed me that the monkey (a.k.a. Stan) would no longer be sleeping in our son's bed.  Daddy officially banned him to the closet until the end of the World Series.

Apparently my son understands guy language.  He was completely cool with not sleeping with his buddy.  It's like he understood that a true Texas Ranger's fan could never be disloyal.  We might ruin their team mojo.  He might only be 3, but my son definitely thinks like a baseball player.  And my husband is a creating a superstitious baseball fan!

I suppose this means that I can't where my Ankiel Cardinal's shirt.  And I can't dress my boys in their Cardinals t-shirts either.  Hey, I grew up in the midwest.  We actually LIKE the Cardinals when they're not playing our hometown Rangers.  Can you blame us--who doesn't love Pujols?

Anyway, this world series has created changes in our household.  We're having our own kind of civil war.  Nothing Cardinals can be enjoyed, worn, or slept with until AFTER the Rangers win the series.  Who knows, when the Rangers win, maybe we'll even buy a Cardinal rally squirrel as a novelty reminder of the 2011 World Series.  Until then, Stan the monkey gets to enjoy the closet.

Oh the life of a baseball fan.

NFL Pick 'Em Week 6: Earn More Than You Spend

There's this wise financial strategy that I learned a long time ago: earn more than you spend.  That's right.  If you always make sure that you spend less than you make, you're never going to be in debt.  I also firmly believe that if you apply this strategy to fantasy football, you won't be a loser.  You've got to earn more points than you lose.

It is very unfortunate this week that I lost more points than I gained.  This doesn't make me a loser just yet, but I'm very quickly headed that direction.  College football picks killed me this week.  I honestly thought that I could apply my knowledge of college basketball to college football picks.  I was wrong.  Thankfully, my husband only beat me by 2 picks in college.  It seems I'll have to be a little more careful next week.

I was fortunate to make up for one of my lost points with my NFL picks.  I very smartly didn't pick the Colts to win this week and got rewarded for finally finding my brain with regards to this team.  Baltimore also did me a huge favor in winning too.  That said, I have a bone to pick with the Eagles.  Why do they always manage to lose when I pick them but feel the need to finally win when I don't pick them?!  They have become my NFL nemesis team.  Really Philly, get your act together!

So when all is said and done this week, I had a net loss.  I failed to follow good financial strategy.  And I'm really hoping that I don't keep slipping towards loserdom.  (Like my new word?)  Anyway, this week was a strategic disaster for me.  Every winning week to me is like putting aside a hundred dollars in the bank towards my designer companion.  This means that every loss is a reminder that a knock-off could be in my future.  Next week, I've got to put a little more money in the bank.

Parking Lot Blues

If you've ever gone shopping in a mall where mommies are pushing strollers, you know that mommies and their children can be annoying.  They unintentionally ram into you.  Their children scream.  They walk too slow.  And they are always frazzled.  But let me assure you that mommies with strollers are not nearly as awful as OLD PEOPLE at the grocery store.

Yes, I said it.  I know I sound like I'm spewing age discrimination.  But it's not discriminatory when you're stating a fact.  The fact is, many old people are miserable people to be around at the grocery store!

Now that you're gasping at my political incorrectness, let me explain.  It all started when I was 9 months pregnant (and very swollen) with my first child.  Let's just say I could barely walk through the store and experienced some blatant rudeness by some senior citizens.  The shocking behavior by old people has worsened since I've started shopping with my children.  But this weekend it was so bad that I almost had a throw-down with an old lady in the Albertson's parking lot.  (And you never want to have a throw-down with a toddler mommy--especially one who went to law school!)  Thank goodness my husband was there.

As we walked out of the store with our kids and our full shopping cart, I remember commenting about how empty the parking lot looked compared to when we arrived at the store.  We had parked towards the back of the parking lot so that we would be out of the way.  Apparently we were out of everyone's way except for one old lady.  As we started unloading children and food, this old lady decided to do the parking lot I'm-in-a-hurry-but-I'm-going-to-wait-on-you maneuver.  (You so know what I'm talking about.)  She parked her car right behind us and acted like she was waiting on the spot next to us.  Unfortunately for her, our cart was parked in that spot where my husband was unloading it.  Plus, my side door was wide open on that side because my oldest still wasn't buckled in.  And then I saw her.

The crazy lady had the audacity to start inching towards that spot.  She clearly would have hit both my cart and my car door.  But she just kept coming.  Despite my high heels, I dashed around to that side of the car, stood in the empty spot and directed her to the 3 empty spots by the front door of the store.  I was not about to have her pull into a spot next to my 3 year old who wasn't even buckled in yet!  Plus, I was sure she was going to take my door off.

That woman bypassed all of the empty spots, drove all the way around the parking lot, and pulled her car in so that it was facing ours.  When I headed off to the cart return, approached her and said "I'm really sorry about all that."  She then gave me a nasty look and said "oh I can tell."  And then she stomped off.  Oh the things I wanted to say at that point!!!  But some people aren't worth it.  I suppose miserable, impatient people like her need a break every once in a while. 

As I was contemplating that incident, I had to wonder how other people perceive me when I'm out in public.  I always try to smile and be sweet to the mom who's having a hard time with her kiddos at the store.  I try to help the old people who need something they can't reach.  And I try my hardest to be polite and pleasant at the check-out.  I learned these people skills from my grandmother--a woman who is ALWAYS pleasant in public.  Hopefully someday I can be like her.  I will be kind to children and loving towards their mommies!

Traveling With the Kiddos

Doesn't an exotic family vacation in to an island in the Pacific sound like a blast?  I love daydreaming about taking my kiddos back to Hawaii--one of my favorite places in the world.  But all it takes is a simple trip to the grocery store for me to have second thoughts about placing my little guys on an airplane for hours and then spending a week shuttling them around an island.  I very clearly remember taking my oldest to Hawaii when he was a year old.  It was an amazing trip, but there were plenty diaper blow-outs, a few screaming fits, and even an episode of projectile vomiting on the airplane.  Traveling with my precious little boy was not as easy as we anticipated. 

I read an article today that contained a flight attendant's recommendations for flying with children.  Her recommendations seem spot-on.  And since I love when mommy "specialists" share their insight and wisdom with the rest of the world, I wanted to share some of her recommendations.

Top Five Carry-on Essentials for an infant/baby 
 

1. Diapers and wipes: My rule of thumb is one for every hour of travel plus five. You need to plan for mechanicals and other delays. 

2. An adequate food supply: If you're breast feeding then you're all set. If not, bring enough formula with extra for delays. You are not restricted to the 3.4oz rule when you are traveling with a baby. Check with TSA.gov for more information. 

3. Extra clothes: Not just for baby! A shirt for mom and/or dad is advisable in case of spit ups. Also, a small blanket. 

4. Ziploc bags: Great for soiled clothes, soiled diapers and even leftover snacks. 

5. Ear plugs: Bring enough for your neighbors, as handouts like this will take some stress off potentially tense situations with a screaming or crying child. 

 

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2011/10/15/flight-attendants-top-recommended-carry-on-essentials-for-traveling-with/#ixzz1atzAzhf4

I'm definitely not arguing with any of these points. You can never be over-prepared for a family adventure.  And I know first-hand what happens when you don't follow points 1 and 3. 

 

I was the mommy who didn't have enough outfits and diapers on our flight across the Pacific.  Thanks (in part) to an unexpected hurricane delay, my son managed to soil all of his clothes by the time we landed in Honolulu.  He was literally wrapped in a blanket and diaper when we got off the plane.  Although my attempt at a baby toga was pretty lame, he did manage to survive until we retrieved his suitcase.  Thankfully, I remembered to pack lots of extra clothes on the way home--just not any for Daddy.  (Oops! He was the victim of the projectile vomiting.)

 

Anyway, as I'm contemplating planning a spring adventure for my young family, I'm looking for the best advice that mommies can offer.  So if you have any great advice, please share.  And if I find any more essential rules I will continue to include them in my posts. In the mean time, here are some essential rules that I've learned the hard way:

1) Check to see if all tourist attractions are baby friendly.  FYI--You can't carry any type of bag into the Pearl Harbor memorial/tour.  This rule applies to diaper bags too.

2) Take extra clothes with you even if you're just walking to breakfast.  Baby blowouts happen at the worst times.

3) Bring a sturdy stroller.  I bought a Graco umbrella stroller at Target for that trip and it took a beating.  

4) Sunscreen is essential.  Put it on the baby.  Put it on you.  Put it on the stroller wheels when they squeak.  It works on everything!

5) Be flexible in planning your schedule.  If the baby is screaming too loud for you to go visit your favorite historical site, get out a map and move on to the next tourist attraction. 

6) Bring a sippy cup and Teddy Grahams.  Hungry toddlers are NOT fun.

7) Include a family nap time in your daily schedule.  There's nothing like a siesta to make your baby a pleasant dinner companion!

8) Do take your child on vacation!  You can create amazing memories.

Patience is a Virtue

 

Have patience, have patience
Don't be in such a hurry
When you get impatient, you only start to worry
Remember, remember that God is patient, too
And think of all the times when others have to wait for you...

 

I had to sing this chorus to myself again today.  I learned this song in elementary school (from the Music Machine) and it amazes me how often it flashes through my brain--when I'm sitting in the Starbuck's drive-thru, when I'm standing in line at Walmart, and when I'm waiting on an e-mail from someone at work.  

Sometimes slow is good; inefficient is better; and overdue is best. When life isn't going at a galloping pace we can enjoy it more.  And when we're not flying through our lives, we can see the needs of others better.  Patience is a virtue that we must not forget.    

Inspiration for the Big Boy Room

When my oldest child moved out of his crib into his big boy space, my husband and I had a blast creating his airplane room.  We painted a world map on one entire wall.  We installed a shelving unit shaped like the front of an airplane on another wall.  (An amazing find at an antique store.)  And we picked out very handsome furniture and an airplane quilt to top off the theme.  This wasn't some bought-it-at-Walmart decorated room.  It was really cool.  Until the house flooded.  

Now, my youngest son is getting to the age where we need to make some decisions about his sleeping arrangement.  Since his brother's furniture was ruined in our Great Flood, we've decided that it might be a good time to let him share a room with his brother.  As a result, we've been considering how best to create dual sleeping arrangements in a typically small child's bedroom.  Do you use bunk beds, parallel twin beds, or perpendicular beds in the corner?

We've been in and out of stores checking children's furniture and/or decor.  And of course, we've found inspiration for our future boys' room at Pottery Barn.  Not all the pieces of furniture or decorations in the pictures below are for sale, but these pictures are proof that it is possible to put 2 (or more) children in a room together while maintaining style and class.

Oh, if only I had a carpenter who could install some of these architectural features in my house!  And if only I had a maid to keep our rooms this clean!  These rooms are like Mommy Heaven.  Unfortunately, the dimensions on some of these beds are just completely unrealistic for a normal size room.  Still, that doesn't mean that Mommy can't be inspired. 

I'm sure that someday my boys won't care at all about how their bedroom was decorated when they were toddlers.  But Mommy will remember.  She'll think back to those sweet memories of little boys building trains on the floor and she'll smile about how cute they were in their fantastic big boy room. 

Stay tuned...Hopefully in a few months I'll be able to show how this inspiration was translated into our space.

The Phone Call

"Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him..." I Corinthians 7:17

I received an unexpected phone call yesterday.  It was from one of the Deans from my former law school who was calling to see if I was interested in a particular job offer that had come across her desk.  Despite the fact that the job was not something that I felt qualified for, somehow I made the list of potential candidates.  It was flattering to be considered.  So I thanked the Dean and then explained my current family/work situation.

As I described my current situation to the Dean, I wasn't sure how she would feel about me at that point.  Much to my surprise, she informed me that I had made a very wise decision to not pursue the big firm job right now.  She told me that my work situation was ideal.  And she told me that I had made the right decision as a mother to do what I'm doing.

I almost fell off the couch when I heard that.  Despite the career service lectures that I had heard for 4 years describing the ultimate law career in "big law," someone from career services was agreeing with my decision to not be a big firm lawyer!  Not only that, but the Dean, a mother herself, was actually telling me it was much more important to be a mom right now!  It was a nice confirmation for me to be reminded that I had made the right career choice.

Over the course of the last 6 months, I've come to realize that God wants me where He has me right now.  Despite knowing that I am where I'm supposed to be, I still have days where I wonder what in the world I'm doing.  I really do ask questions like "Why did I ever go to law school?" or "How am I ever going to feel good about doing housework?"  For the record, I don't enjoy housework.  Yet, I know that I'm supposed to be at home doing housework!  And when I start having these kinds of thoughts, I begin to feel sorry for myself and get frustrated. 

Every once in awhile, I need a gentle reminder that I need to accept the place in life that the Lord has assigned to me.  Yesterday's reminder came in a telephone call.  I'm so thankful that God is patient with me and doesn't slap me upside the head every time I start to have doubts or fears.  He is faithful.  He sends His confirmation messages in His own, gentle way. 

Just remember that the next time the phone rings and you don't recognize the number, it might be a telephone call that God wants you to pick up.  That phone call could be a gentle reminder of God's calling for your life.

NFL Pick 'Em Week 5: Playing Like a Girl

Week 5 went very well.  I narrowly lost in my college pick 'em this week but made up my lost point with very successful NFL picks.  I might even pick up another point if Chicago can pull out a win tonight too.  I wish I could say that there was an art to the whole fantasy football thing, but I'm pretty sure there's not.  That said, I've learned a few rules this year that have helped me venture into this male-dominated world of fantasy football.

These are the top 5 rules that I've learned to live by: 

1. All it takes is one lucky week.  That's right folks, in one miraculous week I managed to not only steal the lead, but to OWN the lead in our competition.  But I'm not planning my locker room celebration just yet.  A lot can happen in a little time.  So if you're losing, don't give up.  Time is your friend.
2.  It's ok to make your picks based on team mascots and colors.  Guys often accuse girls of picking teams based on their mascots and colors (or cute quarterbacks.)  And you know what?  I think it's ok to use whatever method you want to pick teams.  You still have a 50/50 chance that you're right.  And in my opinion, those aren't bad odds.
3.  A team that loses one week will sometimes play harder the next week.  Elite athletes don't like to feel like losers any more than the rest of us.  So if they lose one week, they're likely to play better the following week.  Especially if the loss was embarrassing.  (We've seen this phenomenon with Tony Romo.)  So just because a team is on a losing streak doesn't mean you should discount them completely. 
4.  Home field advantage is a true phenomenon.  Teams really do play better at home.  I don't know if it's because of the fans, the referees, or because they're able to sleep in their own beds, but players seem to have a different sort of energy when they play on their own field.  I'm of the opinion that teams are not likely to lose every home game of the year.  So when in doubt, or if you really can't decide who might win, pick the home team. (But stay away from the Colts this season.)
5.  There is no such thing as an expert.  Yahoo and ESPN both have their sports "experts" whose opinions they share in order to help you make your picks.  They pick their games every week and are supposed to have a superior level of football knowledge.  But I've learned that the experts' accuracy is about as poor as Texas meteorologists.  They might know a lot about football, but no one can predict what's actually going to happen on the field.  So unless the expert is also psychic, don't rely solely on their opinion when making your picks.     

Anyone (or man) who thinks that fantasy football requires hours of analysis and strategy is just wasting everybody's time.  I typically spend 15 minutes making my college and NFL picks every Wednesday afternoon.  And then they're done for the week.  By Saturday I usually have to get out my laptop to see who I picked on Wednesday and to start cheering for those teams.  Somehow, this low-stress, matter-of-fact approach has worked quite well.  So the next time you hear a man discussing/rehashing/bemoaning/complaining about/questioning his picks.  Tell him to get a life and play like a girl. 

9 Innings of Hot Dogs, Fireworks, and Squirrels

My oldest son is starting to act like his father.  He's getting really excited about baseball.  He stays glued to the TV when baseball games are on because he wants to see the fireworks that get shot off after homeruns.  In his opinion, baseball is all about the fireworks.

Last weekend, his daddy and grandpas took him to watch the Texas Rangers take on the Tampa Bay Rays in game 2 of the 2011 American League Division series.  This was his first play-off game, and it just made sense that this should be a guy's night.  For days, he was so excited to go with the guys to the game so that he could get a hot dog and see fireworks.

As you can probably tell from the pictures, baseball games don't have quite the same meaning for 3 year olds as they do for their daddies.  My little guy really loved playing with the binoculars.  And then he got really excited about waving his Rangers towel.  At some point, he convinced Daddy to buy him the Ranger hat, a hot dog, a red baseball bat, a foam finger for his little brother, and whatever else he wanted to eat.  This was like a party for the little man.

Last night, my little guy was running around holding his hands up and making strange faces.  When I asked him what he was doing, he told me that he was being a squirrel at a baseball game.  If you haven't seen the footage of the squirrel at the Phillies' game, watch this:

I was thoroughly impressed that my little guy knew about the squirrel.  It obviously made an impression on him when he saw the squirrel on TV. 

Oh to see the world through the eyes of a 3 year old. Everything could be so much funnier.  And baseball games might be so much more exciting.  Who knew that 9 innings could be so much fun?!

Ride 'Em Ranger

My little Texan.  He's riding the horse that Grandpa made the boys, and he's also wearing his Texas Rangers jersey.  Can't really get more Texan than that.  (We'll, I did hear his older brother say the word fixin' the other day.)

This little guy could blissfully ride his horsey for hours.  Oh to be this happy all the time!

Looking Away From the Magic Mirror

"Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways." Psalm 119:37

I read an article this morning about a lawsuit taking place in Missouri. See Suburban Journal.  A plastic surgeon's patients are suing her for the fact that she had before-and-after topless photos of these women on her website with their names by their pictures.  Although I'm not sure how well the plaintiffs are going to be able to prove damages, I sure do think that in this case, the doctor was wrong.  Not only did the doctor violate HIPAA regulations by advertising her patient's names, but she also completely violated their privacy.  Now the entire world knows about the reconstruction that they've had.  And the world can see it.

There is definitely a time and place for plastic surgery.  Some medical conditions require intervention and reconstruction and I'm totally ok with that.  On the other hand, plastic surgery is, in many ways, a pursuit of vanity.  It's about trying to portray yourself as something idealistic and something you're not.  As a nurse, I had the opportunity to provide post-operative care for many plastic surgery patients.  And I found that many women just wanted the surgery to feel good about themselves. They were discontent, and they were seeking the ideal female image as portrayed in Hollywood. 

Why is it that we, as women, see pictures and think that we have to look like the images portrayed?  Why do we yearn to look like the celebrities that we watch on TV?  Maybe it's because we indulge ourselves by looking at the images in the first place.  Our eyes reveal a false beauty, and we're convinced that we need to pursue it.  We forget to turn our eyes where they should go--God's Word.  And we start pursuing the little rabbit trails of vanity instead.  For some people it's the pursuit of bodily perfection, for some it's materialism, and for others it's a lifestyle. 

I'm sure that if our pursuits of vanity were portrayed for all to see on the world wide web, we'd also want to sue somebody for emotional distress.  Because when all is said and done, our pursuits are pretty embarrassing and meaningless.  They're proof that we're not perfect.

It's not easy to look away from the "magic mirrors" in this world.  I have to work really hard to remind myself to turn off the TV, to stop shopping for clothes online, to stop reading magazines, and to stop worrying about making my clothes fit perfectly.  My life would be so much more meaningful and happy if I would turn my eyes upward and focus on more meaningful pursuits. 

Barnes' Notes on the Bible says it so eloquently as it explains Psalm 119:37 "A man should be thankful in this world that he has eyelids; and as he can close his eyes, so he should often do it."  And women should be thankful that we have eyelids too; so we can close them and forget about the  images of "perfection" that we see.

To the poor women in Missouri whose vanity has been exposed--I hope it was worth it.

A Little Photo of Fall

Doesn't this picture make you feel like picking apples?  Grandpa and his granddaughters are picking fruit in a rural part of Massachusetts together.  They're making some special memories.  When I look at this photo, I just want to make them a cup of cider and a pie!  Too cute.

Country Magazine is having their annual photo contest, and someone I know is a finalist.  My former high school principal (and my first boss) is in the running for the grand prize vacation.  Please go vote for his photo at http://country-magazine.com/Contest-FM11.asp?RefURL=&KeyCode=&tdate=&PMCode=&OrgURL=; his picture is #4.  This man is one of the nicest guys I have ever met, and his photo with his granddaughters is precious.  Please go vote.

NFL Week 4: Feeling the Mojo

I should probably feel guilty for the way I treated my husband last week.  Not only did I smack talk him on my blog page as a result of my wonderful fantasy football score, but I also did it using a quote from his favorite movie.  Shame on me.  This week, I'll take a kinder, more gentle approach.

I love you dear, and I hope you're saving your pennies because my lead is only getting larger.  

Week 4 of our fantasy picks was actually much harder than I expected.  I lost a ton of games.  Fortunately, these were games that my husband lost as well.  The key to doing well at this game is to pick wins that your opponent didn't pick.  And this week, he made the grave mistake in college football not to pick SMU.  I've been telling him for years that TCU football is hugely OVERRATED.  And now that the Southern Methodist ponies are enjoying their iron skillet, they have proved my point.   Plus, I really needed them to win.  I'm an alumna and I felt obligated to pick them.  (Yes, alumna is the proper word since I'm female.)  Somewhere the Mustang vibe was working, because they gained me a solid point in our race to the designer prize.

As far as the NFL picks are concerned, I think my fairy godmother sprinkled her magic dust on New York for me.  It turned out extremely well for me that the Giants won and the Jets lost.  Plus I have talked Buffalo up so much over the last few weeks, that I actually convinced my husband to pick them this week.  That didn't turn out too well.   I think they're one of those teams that manages to win a few times and is suddenly overrated.  It just never turns out well for these teams in the long run.

So the moral of the story this week is that to have good picks, you have to beware of teams that are overrated.  This means that you have to go against public opinion and just go with your gut.  Or maybe you just have to have some good mojo.  But let's be honest here, when you're winning, does it really matter?

The Military Gene

My family is very pro-military.  On my side of the family, I have relatives who served in the Army and the Navy.  And my husband has family members who served in the Air Force and even attended the Academy.  I just assumed that it was the knowledge that we have direct family connections to different branches of the military and the knowledge that our Grandparents served in major historical conflicts that has ignited the interest in military history in my house.  But now I'm starting to think that the military attitude is genetic.  You know, it's just in your blood.

I have this new theory, because last night I found my 1 year old son playing with toy soldiers.  My mom had brought the boys a bag of plastic soldiers the day before and my oldest son was really excited to play with his "warriors."  But last night, my youngest was sitting on the floor by himself and talking to the army men.  When I walked into the kitchen, he had men lined up on different sides of the tile floor. The green soldiers were on one side, and the brown were on the other.  Then I looked at what he was doing.  He was holding a green soldier and he was making it fight the brown soldier with hand-to-hand combat.  Then suddenly, a bunch of brown soldiers got knocked over.  He had created a war.

How does this happen?  How does a 1 year old child understand what to do with toy soldiers?  He probably watched his brother play with them at some point, but this little guy knew exactly what he was doing.  Sound effects and everything.  This is not something that he was taught.  It's like he had this innate instinct how to create a war!

Needless to say, Daddy was thrilled.  His little boy likes to play soldier.  Daddy can't wait until his boys are bigger so we can recreate the Battle of Gettysburg in our living room with civil war toy soldiers and cannons.  I can already imagine the field trips that we'll take to the actual battlefields someday too.  Daddy now has a war buddy.

I tried to take a picture of the little battle in my kitchen last night, but once the little guy saw the camera, he started following me around saying "cheese."  Oh well.  I'm sure there will be many more battles to come.