On Saturday I took Eliz with me to the "That Something Special" Craft Show at Southport High School. We walked around, sat and had a drink and a snack, just spent time together. My mom and I have a had a booth there before, but this year things didn't work out. I've had an idea for a Christmas wreath, and wanted something that I've seen at a booth each year, which is the main reason we went. After I made my purchase, we found a really fun booth!
You almost can't see our hair/feathers-though they are very bright! When we got home, Bry-D seemed to think I was crazy for getting my face painted, and even more so when he heard me promise Eliz I wouldn't wash it off. For her, I went all out trying to preserve her face paint-I sprayed her face with hairspray. When she asked if I wanted her to spray my face, I declined. I only use hairspray on my hair in the most dire of circumstances, so face painting wasn't going to get me to use it. When I got up the next morning most of my face paint was off, but Eliz's looked pretty good, so she got to wear it to church. I did have to explain several times that she had to shower on Monday and wash it off. The hair things are supposed to stay in for 3-6 months; Eliz is messing with hers so much I don't think it will last that long. We'll see!
We met Bry-D at the Mall food court for lunch; I try to make this happen twice a month. Usually we have a routine-lunch, library, then either the Zoo or the Children's Museum. Eliz was scheduled to play at a friend's house this afternoon, so today we were just getting lunch and then going to the library. We never made it to the library.
Here's the highlight to go along with the video-
:00-I lost my purse in the downtown mall.
:09-I get my purse back(with everything still in it)
:40-I lock my keys in the car, in the mall parking garage. The tossing and tumbling goes along with some of the other things that happened; read below for the detailed retelling.
1:20-How I felt when I was getting into the car and Lex, overtired from the eventful day, was screaming and crying.
1:22-When I took my shoes off at home.
After we said goodbye to Bry-D we stopped at a kiosk that had some games and toys. We walked away, and I realised I didn't have my purse. Eliz said, "This is not good." I told her we just needed to pray. I was also noticing that there was a foul odor coming from Lex, who, unfortunately had told Bry-D he had to poop, but didn't go when Bryan took him. We went back to the kiosk, but my purse wasn't there. We retraced our steps back to the food court, no purse. To the bathroom, no purse. Back to the kiosk(I was now sure Lex had pooped in his underwear, though he didn't seem to mind)and asked the clerk. He called security, and was told someone had just turned in a purse in the food court. Back to the food court, at this point I tell Jesus to just bring it, I don't care anymore. The girl had already given it to a security officer on a Segway. She said I'd have to ask someone with a walkie-talkie to find out where my purse was. Did that, down to the lower level, into Security. Purse not here yet, on it's way. Into the bathroom, clean Lex up-Eliz keeps whining about having to be in there while it stinks. I have no sympathy-I'm the one using wet paper towels to wipe since there aren't any wipes in the bag. Lex probably used them all to clean his cars. By the time I was done, purse was waiting. Everything in purse, tell Jesus thanks, and the security guards. To the car! I put the car keys in my coat pocket while I go buckle the kids in. Eliz climbs in and says, "I have to pee!" My response? "Are you going to pee on yourself if we wait?" Yes, absolutely, this is a potty emergency! Without thinking, I say, "Really? we were just in a bathroom for 5 minutees!?!" I sigh, take off my coat, toss it into the car, check to be sure I have my purse, and shut the door. Ice cold water on my face realisation. Keys. were. in. coat!!!! Yeah, I just did that. Unfortunately, I give Eliz a look of death and tell her I've locked the keys in the car-and she takes my unspoken blame that this is somehow her fault. Inside to security office which no-one answers when I knock. Call Bryan. Walk all over the place. Eliz has said she's sorry, but it's only now, hours later and after she's in bed that I realise I never really spoke to her about how this wasn't her fault, I kissed her forehead, and then just sort of charged forward with a grim determination. So I'll have to pray she's not damaged soemhow from an afternoon of thinking she was to blame for her mother's moment of absentmindedness, and speak with her in the morning. I call my Dad. Take Eliz to the bathroom-apparently she could have held it. Find security guard and beg for help. She gives me the number for Pop-lock. Be there in 25 minutes, it'll be $45 flat fee. Okay, not so bad. Waiting for Pop-Lock, and the Salvation Army Bell Ringer goes by. We parked right next to where he was ringing his bell, so he's seen us going back and forth, back and forth. He got a brief update each time. We're also right by the mall car stroller things. Usually I'm a no climbing or playing with that kind of mom. Under these circumstances I let it all go.
I give the kids change to put in the Salvation Army bucket, and he's singing Christmas Carols, so the kids and I join in. He's got a baritone with him too, and he lets the kids push the keys while he used the mouthpiece.
Lex rang the bell for him and Eliz waved to people as they walked by. He was a really nice man, and had a great Bass singing voice. The Pop-Lock guy arrived and jimmied the car in less than a minute. And now, after all this time being a great little trooper, Lex starts melting down, "LIBRARY! WANNA GO LIBRARY! WANNA GO! LIBRARY!" I get into the driver seat and drive home. Really, that's how I responded-just. get. home. We have 30 minutes before we have to drop Eliz off, so the kids read books while I try to get a few things done before we leave. Drop Eliz off and then I break one of my rules and turn on a movie for Lex, then sit down and stare at nothing for awhile.
It wasn't how I had planned for my day to go. It wasn't a good day, but it wasn't terrible either. As I left the house to drop Eliz off, I thought, if anything else goes wrong, I'm going to lose it. Probably in a eyes leaking like Nigara Falls sort of way. Through the whole thing I was polite, and did my best to be kind and thankful, other than the incident with Eliz. But I'm looking back at it thinking, where was God in all of this? Or really, was my focus on God in all this? Because if it had been, would I have done anything different? Was there some lesson for me to learn that I didn't? Or was this just a rough day and I should leave it at that? Not sure, but I'm ready for some hot chocolate with extra marshmallows.
As long as it continues to get colder and colder, we'll be eating more and more muffins
We'll start eating oatmeal, and I'll eat grits. Eliz's favorite is Double Chocolate Chip, my favorite is Lemon Poppyseed. Nearly every time I open the box and start to add the 2-3 ingredients, I think, wouldn't it be great to make these from scratch? But, it seems like baking a pie-something other women do, that are more together, better planners, healthier eaters. And I think someday I will make our muffins from scratch, but not now. Right now I want something mostly healthy and served warm, and most importantly fast! There are other things I place a higher priority on, and so, I'm not going to burden myself with thinking I have to or I'm not taking good care of my family. But someday, and I hope my kids are still living at home when I do fix the muffins from scratch.
That's what he said. That's what I thought he would be doing. But then this happened.
That doesn't look like trim to me. That's a toilet. In my foyer. Yeah, sure, c'mon over, sit on the potty and take your shoes off. G'head, make yourself at home!
We've been together 13 years, almost 14. You'd think I would have known that this is what "taking out the trim" would be. The beginning of the bathroom remodel I thought we were starting next week. I'm not upset, mostly because there isn't much point in being upset. He can't put the toilet back in until he puts in flooring, so...yeah. When I was in high school my parents fixed up the bathroom. The toilet sat in front of the big picture window for weeks. Weeks, not days, or "a" week, WEEKS. I don't remember why, and I don't think that matters. What matters is that the toilet sat in front of the picture window for WEEKS. Did I mention that I was in high school? Yes, it's possible that I'm remembering it wrong, but that event has scarred me for life. A toilet in the picture window for WEEKS, people. WEEKS. And now I have one in my foyer.
Yes, that wonderful woman from A Holy Experience has helped me again...this time it includes the kids. She calls it a "Peace Retreat" I've been calling ours a Prayer Corner. This has been in my head for awhile, but the events of this morning made me drop everything to get this done. But before I explain that, I have to give some background.
Last summer Eliz accepted Jesus into her heart. It was a wonderful moment for Bry-D and I both. However, it took me until this summer to make a very important connection. Eliz now knows that she is sinning, and feels the conviction of the Holy Spirit. In the Bible Paul talks about how having the Holy Spirit makes us more aware of how we're breaking God's law, and this leads to conviction which is supposed to lead to repentance. What I wasn't thinking about was that she feels guilt in her Spirit, and it's up to me, to us, Bry-D and I both, to teach her how to reconcile herself to God first, then to those around her. She would do something she shouldn't, get reprimanded, and I would think it was over. But she would climb into her bed, up high and out of reach. Out of reach of Mama's hugs and voice, her brother's love, and everything else, and feel terrible. I kept thinking she was pouting, which annoyed me to no end, but then it came to me all at once while I was trying to get her to just simply look at me from her bed. In frustration I asked God 'how do I help this girl?' and there it was-I hadn't taught her to reconcile herself with God! Here, she had the knowledge that she had done wrong, but not the knowledge of how to make it right! I felt like the worst mother in the world! And so we began with training her to ask God for forgiveness and then others if it was needed. But sometimes she gets overwhelmed with having made the same mistake yet again-usually in her relationship with her brother-oftentimes she shouts while holding herself tight
"I'm always so mean!"
and I try to comfort her and remind her that Jesus is there to help her change, and it takes time, and look, Mama made a mistake this morning and _____(fill in with any number of things, I've probably done it), so it's okay if she makes mistakes too. But her heart gets to heavy to hear this, and I can't help. And this morning we had gone this round three times and my heart cried out to Him for help for this little girl yet again, and by His Grace, I remembered. I explained the idea to her, and she glowed with joy and excitement. His love for her pouring out, such compassion for His little girl. So off to Goodwill, then the christian bookstore, then home.
She picked the corner, I picked the books. I put a few for grown-ups, because I'm sure there will be stormy days when I need to sit and find peace and quiet to pray and ask for help. I'd like to make a few things to add the this space, but for now, it meets the needs we have just as it is. I chose the books I thought would be best for us, but I think each family will want/need something different. There's a notebook, pen and some crayons, some books for children, a travel size Bible and some books for adults. I'm trying to find an appropriate Children's Bible to put in there. We have a few, but I can't find the one I want, I think it's in the attic. Eliz asked what would we do about Lex, and I told her we would train him that when someone is sitting in that chair, he is to leave them alone. I have high hopes for this, she sat down in it as soon as we had it put together. When she got up, she smiled from the inside out and said, "I feel so much better since I talked to God." It's funny, but sometimes I forget that too.
Since the night Bry-D brought home Rocksmith, Eliz has wanted to play. And even though the electric guitar we have is way big & heavy for her, she makes it work.
You really do learn to play the guitar, though I think she would do better with a 3/4 electric. She'd only want it if it were rainbow or pink.
I once asked Bry-D to teach me to play the guitar. He wasn't sure how to do it, because for him, music comes naturally. It's a part of who he is, somewhat because he learned so early. Just as sewing is something I can just do, he can play most any instrument, and don't let him tell you differently. And so, Eliz is learning. I don't expect her to play for other people, or to be in a band, but she comes from a few generations of musicians, so she's expected to learn. I do look forward to watching her jam with her father.
Since the box they came in has already been turned into a robot!
I barely had my foot in my new L.L. Bean "Wildcat" boots to try them on, and Eliz had the scissors out, cutting armholes and a face opening.
I have a couple of great videos involving this box, the kids, Bry-D and LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" But Bry-D will be glad that I have yet to correctly upload a video. Ahh, someday. Someday.
When she first called me to the back door, the leaves spelled "I luv ♥" I think she meant "I luv You", but I didn't want to rain on her parade. I went to get the camera and the wind blew the "I" away. I got all warm and gushy and wanted to snuggle her close, she however, didn't want to waste nice weather.
The difference between this day and the other day is that it's colder and even after clearing the yard the other day, it's full of leaves. This time of year is my favorite-it's this time of year that reminds me of my childhood the most. The smell of leaves, the sound of them crunching and crackling under your feet. The feel of them tickling you as you lay in them; more than any other season, Autumn makes me miss being a child.
Lex eventually gave up riding his bike through the leaves, and so I took it to be an opportunity to practice a little child labor.
I tried to remember the games we played as kids, so I could teach Eliz & the neighbor boy, also known as Conan. I remember playing different versions of tag, hide and seek, using the leaves to pretend to be zombies or vampires. Something I hope my kids had from my childhood-neighborhood friends. 4 or 5 other kids around her age to play with. There are great places to play where we live, but not many kids to play with. You need other kids to build forts with, have wars with, climb trees and explore the world with. Bry-D and I plan to move to a place that's kind of out there, with enough land for my huge garden, and his 4 wheelers & dirt bikes. The only downside I foresee is the lack of playmates for the kids. How to live out in the middle of nowhere and still be able to have spontaneous play dates?
For some reason, painting on paper wasn't doing it for them today.
They had to paint themselves...or maybe Eliz is considering auditioning for the BlueMan Group?
I guess Xander wanted to go Tribal...or he just felt like highlighting his hair.
He mixed his colors until they made brown.
I think she told me what the white globs were, but I don't remember now. It reminds me of Ronald McDonald, but she doesn't know who that is, which makes me feel old.
I taught art for several weeks for our Homeschool group this semester. One day a mother told me I did a good job. I was a little confused, and asked what she meant. She said I did a good job of letting them be themselves and do their own thing. Which I got from my mother. As a young teen (13-15) when I shaved part of my head and dyed the rest of it crazy colors, she let me. When I used permanent marker to write/draw on myself(14-17), she didn't seem fazed-as long as it wasn't inappropriate. I wrote poetry(my own and other people's) on my bedroom walls(13-18), and she suggested I draw a frame around them. She was strict about some things-curfew, dating, how I allowed people to treat me, but when it came to self-expression and creativity, anything worked, because she always said, "There are no mistakes in art."
