In our family...

In our family....we do second chances...we do grace...we do real...we do mistakes...we do I'm sorry (and I forgive you)...we do loud really well...we do hugs...we do family...we do love.















Sunday, February 15, 2009

Ordinary Moments

Each week, I like to reflect back on the past day's and think about the moments that made me laugh or smile, and thankful or grateful for the life I get to live. I do this, so that my focus is on these moments, instead of the shit sandwiches that get served up to me…so they don’t leave such a bad taste in my mouth. Sometimes, life is not pretty, but right smack in the middle of the unpretty, come some really great moments...moments that can get missed out on if I'm not paying attention.

Some of the highlights of my week…

The other day, little man stopped playing to come ask me why women wear bra’s. My answer led to him asking why boys don’t have breasts, which led him to ask to see my breasts. I think NOT. Ugh. Which led him to go ask his little sister to see hers which she gladly showed him. Ugh. Which led him to inform her that when she gets big, she is going to have breasts. Which led her to come tell me that she wants boobies now. Ugh. The next day, while driving in the car, he asked me why some people are horny. What the hell? Come to find out that he thinks horny is people that honk the horns of their cars. Right then, a truck honked his horn and both of the little people screamed “He’s horny!” God help me.

Where does he come up with these things? Seriously, if you were a fly on the wall, you would either be shocked or quite entertained by the conversations that take place around here. Believe me, when we have company, though it may be rare, they are always quite entertained by us. Although my oldest son, who‘s 26, calls visits to our home, good birth control.

When the little people and I get home from work and daycare(which is going rather well by the way), we start supper and then turn up the music and dance. It’s our way of transitioning back home and does a pretty good job(most of the time) of keeping the crabby’s(what I call cranky behavior) at bay. Most of the time, my husband is either not home from work yet or is, what I call a party pooper and refuses to join in. Well, one evening, this week, my husband, the party pooper actually joined in and acted like he was having a good time.

The joy on the little people’s faces as he danced with us around the house, was priceless…it was picture perfect. No, I didn’t get a photo because I was too caught up in dancing and having fun. Of course Franklin dances with us too and apparently I step on his feet a lot. And just so you know, Franklin, has adjusted quite well to living at our house, so he is here to stay.

One of the biggest highlights of the week, was having the girl I mentor, here for the weekend with us and we had a great time with her. She is such a blessing to us. She babysat the little people last night, so that we could go out to eat and to a movie. A much needed date night for my husband and I.

We went to the movie “New in Town” and the story was based on a small town(New Ulm) in Minnesota. Since we live in Minnesota, we thought it would be fun to see and it was fairly good and kind of funny…maybe we thought it was more funny because of some of the inside humor that some may not get unless they live here. I really don’t mind laughing at myself. They did capture somewhat, what life is like here in Minnesota, and while I do know that some people talk like that, I don’t think I do. On a side note, whenever I have traveled to other states, people have always guessed that I am from Minnesota…they say I have a Minnesota accent which I would have to disagree with because we don’t have accents here in Minnesota...well, at least I don't.

The highlight of my week came yesterday afternoon when I was delivered a bouquet of red, white and pink tulips with a card that said “I love you mom! From your baby boy.” These were from my youngest son, who is 19 and going to college in Florida. Totally unexpected and made my week. One of the greatest things, as a mom, has been getting to reap some of the benefits, of all the hard work I put into parenting.

It’s all these moments, most of them ordinary and nothing special to anyone but me, that keep me going every day…that make this journey so worth while. I am thankful that I recognize these moments and that they aren’t just passing me by. I am thankful for my ordinary life. I am thankful that when a shit sandwich shows up in my day, that I don't have to swallow it alone.

What keeps you going every day? Do you stop and think about the good that happened during your week? Do you see the ordinary, special moments in your life? I hope so!

26 comments:

Sandi said...

I love the things you write about. It is refreshing that someone else loves life little moments as much as I do.

I am so jealous about the flowers. That is the coolest thing ever. I melt when my son actually calls me. :)

Anonymous said...

That is it! I am packing up and moving to your house.
See you soon!

Busy Bee Suz said...

You made me laugh out loud several times...I just love your phrase "shit sandwich". I have had a few of those too, not really good for the digestive system are they?
I am glad to hear that things seem well in your home. I do love hearing the stories your little people like to conjure up. I also could not wait for boobies. Now, they are such a bother. :)
I don't like horny people either..they are very annoying.
I am thankful for the everyday occurrences....the regularity of family life. It is so wonderful.

Anonymous said...

I am not sure that I have ONE THING that keeps me going...it might be the fact that I haev a family to provide for, but it isn't something I think about each morning...I just know what I have to do and whatever I am doing, I make IT the most important thing at the time...

I Am Woody said...

I like to think that I don't have an accent either - even though I was born and raised in Tennessee. And then I will hear myself talking on video. What a hillbilly I sound like?!?

Letters From Home said...

ha ha ha ha... I love reading this.. ha ha "HORNY" made me laugh out loud. Man i love my little man! BTW my little mister says hi to all of you.. :) and we both love you!

Jason, as himself said...

Thank God for these ordinary moments! They keep us going when the going gets tough.

Smart Mouth Broad said...

What a great way to reflect on the week while so many of us are looking back and groaning. Let this be my new attitude to look back and smile.

rachaelgking said...

I definitely try to be grateful and notice the everyday occurrences... but blogs like yours help me remember to take time out for it :-)

Anonymous said...

I LOVE the line about the shit sandwich and plan on stealing it. I'd certainly choke if I had to swallow all the shit sandwiches I get to eat.....alone. Thank God for our support people. :)

Anonymous said...

I need to stop and think about the good things that happen to me during the week. I seem to be harping on the bad lately!!

Stop by my blog, I left you a little Q & A.

Anonymous said...

heheh I'm glad your husband joined in with the dancing. When I was wee my gran looked after us, as my mum worked long hours at a hardware store about 40 mins drive away. I remember the days when she came home early so and she would play "piggy in the middle" with us. Those were the best evenings ever. I'm thankful I have some great memories like these, and for the great people I have in my life who make bad days good just by being there!

Debbie said...

Oh my word! The whole breast and horny conversation has me howling with laughter. That is a great story.

Laufa said...

LOL, horny!!! They highway to my son, is the fast road, he doesn't think there is a speed limit,so he always tells me to go faster.

Kathryn Magendie said...

OMG! LAUGHING! horny *LAUGHING!!! Oh, geez, but I do remember when my son asked me what a (bj) was -- I was stunned! I was EEEEK! _ apparently, he'd been at a friends house and watched Good Morning Vietnam and they said that joke around those words and everyone laughed at the joke and I get the fall out *laugh*

Kathryn Magendie said...

(and thanks for stopping by eazy cheezy's place *smile*)

Anonymous said...

Lovely visits from my blogging friends, and visits to their sites are what keep me going. This site especially...it is always full of insightful thoughts and full on fresh as spring honesty, and i thank you for that.

Have a lovely week!

Stepping said...

The comments about the breasts and horny people made me choke with laughter. Since you read my posts you know that we have had some of these same conversations at my house lately. You just gotta smile and delve a little deeper into the conversation before you answer to avoid giving too much unnecessary information. Kids are so sweet but they can give you lots of grey hair! Love your little people and glad that day care is going well.

Unknown said...

Your son is so sweet! And I love how your husband with you guys.

And how I would LOVE to hear some of the things your little man says. I love little kids so much because of the things they come up with. And I can understand why they call it horney!!!!!

Fragrant Liar said...

When I get fed a shit sandwich, (which isn't all that often these days, but it happens), I try to put it in perspective of the entire line of my life. That shit sandwich winds up being a shit crumb that sooner or later will likely be forgotten for its negligible space in my life line. Thank gawd!!!

I love the dancing to reconnect with home thing. We do that here too. So much fun.

Unknown said...

oh my goodness I LOVE reading these moments. I could almost experience them with you! The horny thing had me laughing out loud! My gosh! I remember very curious three year old that I babysat at 16 who ALWAYS wanted to touch my boobs. He was just SO fascinated by it. Every time I picked him up, his hand just wanted to rest on it. I kept telling him not to, but in a nice/non weird/non freudian way. I don't think you can be sexually interested in breast at three, can you?

I love that your son sent you flowers!! Love it!

I tried not to have any expectations of the people I am currently seeing, and it's a good thing as I didn't get anything, but also I didn't give anything. Dating is hard line to walk.


Love you!

Angel said...

ahhhhhhh....I LOVE the things kids say!!! I'm always horny, according to Little Man!!!

Anonymous said...

Life, I have come to see, is made up of moments. It is not momentous event to momentous event, it is lived in those connections that only a still soul to a still soul can create.

Enjoy the laughter, the unexpected flowers, the date night, and all the dancing that comes your way--or that you create.

Unknown said...

This was such a beautiful post. It made me stop and think about my ordinary days and how special they really are. I LOVE that your son sent flowers. That is so beautiful! You are such a great Mom and Grandmother. I am thankful to have met you!

Unknown said...

PS Horny people? SO funny! I laughed out loud!

Crazy Charm said...

Ha. I love the things that your kids say. It reminds me of my partner-classroom in kindergarten.