Where's my motivation?

I need to lose weight and get in shape, but I don't want to do what it takes to lose weight and get in shape. It's a real commitment, one I've made before and succeeded at... and yes, I gained the weight back. I could just kick myself for allowing THAT to happen. Anyway, I know I can do this, but I have to get in the right mind set and jump start this diet and exercise routine. It seems all of my girlfriends are experiencing great success in their personal weight loss programs. I just wish I felt the motivation to join them. How do I get there?

FLARP!

Our boys received FLARP! noise putty for Christmas. I'd never heard of this stuff before, but leave it to my younger brother, who's still a big kid at heart, to find this goo that resembles something like a combination of slime and silly putty. The REALLY important distinguishing factor is that this product simulates fart noises. Is that the ultimate boy gift or what? The boys have had countless hours of fun with this disgusting stuff. Check it out...

Love is in the air!

It's a week until Valentine's Day! I've purchased a gift and card to give my sweet husband, but I want it to remain a secret, and since he occasionally reads here, I can't tell you what it is. I hope he likes it! We're also planning on getting a sitter and going out to dinner and possibly a movie the weekend following Valentine's Day. It's difficult to manage a night out during the week, so we're waiting until the weekend, which works much better for us. That'll just make the holiday last a little longer.

I'm truly surprised by the number of couples who don't actually do anything out of the ordinary for one another on Valentine's Day. WHAT? Where's the love? Where's the romance? Please tell me I'm not the only hopeless romantic around!

I'm not referring to the purchasing of an expensive gift, although that's always a good choice. :) No, what I'm suggesting is showing that special someone, be it your husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, how much you love them in a way that will be meaningful to both of you. You don't have to break the bank to do that either. There are so many ways to say "I love you!"

I just couldn't imagine allowing Valentine's Day, a holiday all about love and caring, go by without letting my husband know what he means to me. I hope I never get too old, too settled, too comfortable or too "whatever" to forget to show and tell him that he's still the one for me.

So, tell me... What special something are you doing for your special someone in celebration of Valentine's Day? Inquiring minds wanna know!

Nostalgic 70's TV

I've managed to be at home a good portion of the day for the last couple of days and I've had the opportunity to surf TV channels. We get a station that airs reruns of "The Waltons" and "Little House on the Prairie," both of which I watched faithfully as a child. My grandparents watched these shows as well, thus when I happen to catch one of these rerun episodes, I start feeling nostalgic, remembering my grandparents, both of whom have long passed on.

Those were the days when TV was relatively clean and frequently wholesome, unlike today where we're bombarded with foul language and completely inappropriate viewing choices for children (and adults too in my opinion). It seems anything goes nowadays, which is really a shame.

I love those old shows! Sure, they were pretty sappy sometimes, but they portrayed strong family values and morals and a good life lesson at the heart of every episode.

I watched part of "Little House on the Prairie" yesterday. Do you remember the episode where Mary Ingalls lost her vision? I'd seen it years ago, so I knew the storyline. Nothing was a surprise to me, except the tears I found myself shedding over poor Mary's blindness. Pass the tissues, please! If you're ever in need of a good cry, just watch an episode of "Little House on the Prairie." Michael Landon's big ol' puppy dog eyes will make you break down every single time. Ahhhh... nostalgic 70's TV...

Humbled

Something really special occurred a couple of nights ago and I wanted to share it because it made such an impression on me. It had to do with a phone call we received from a friend, but before I tell you about the phone call, I have to back up and give you a little recent history.

My husband and I hosted a Sunday school gathering in our home a couple of Saturdays ago. We were providing chili and soup and the rest was potluck. We love chili and soup because it's just good ol' comfort food, my favorite kind!

I decided I wanted to give our friends a jar of soup mix to take home, a party favor of sorts. You've seen those decorative jars with layered ingredients inside, right? That's what I did... layered the ingredients and decorated the jars with a valentine theme. I attached the recipe and added a different Bible scripture to each jar. Each scripture contained the word "love."

A few friends weren't able to make the social, but I'd put together enough jars of soup mix for everyone, so we took them to class the next day and gave them to those who'd missed out.

As it turns out, one of our classmates lost his mother last week. He called us to say that he'd had a difficult time eating, either not having an appetite or simply not being able to keep food down. He'd been unloading some items from his vehicle and came across the jar of soup mix we'd given him. He decided to make the soup for himself. He was able to eat it and keep it down, something he hadn't been able to do for a week.

Evidently the soup helped calm our friend's stomach and made him feel better. He told us he felt there was something other than sustenance in that soup mix. He said he knew it had come from Christian friends and he thought it was somehow a spiritual gift in his time of need. Wow! Praise God for putting His healing, comforting hands on this man! How humbled I felt hearing how that soup mix had meant so much to a friend. One never knows the impact of a simple gesture of friendship. Makes me want to put together a whole bunch more jars and hand them out to everyone I see!

Why I do what I do...

I'm a stay-at-home mom. While I love being available for my family, there are times when I doubt I'm doing anything of great importance with my life. I don't think doing the laundry or the cooking or the cleaning or the grocery shopping or the errand-running or the volunteering are going to win me any big awards. It's all necessary stuff that has to be done, but let's face it... it's not rocket science!

I could have a career that earns me a substantial paycheck and perhaps a little respect to go along with it. Hmmmm... I'm envisioning going to work every day in a nice suit, perhaps carrying a briefcase, going to meetings... Important stuff!

But if I had that career, and wasn't as available for my family, my son wouldn't likely have come home yesterday, excited about the upcoming classroom Valentine's Day party, and ask me if I could possibly make some heart-shaped sugar cookies to bring when I come to help out at the party next week. Okay, I'm seeing the importance in my "job" once again and I'm reminded why I do what I do.

The things I go through just to be violated!

I know we women have to take care of ourselves and be our own health advocates. We need to have regular check-ups... pap smears and mammograms, etc. I'm a responsible adult and I take these things quite seriously, however, there are those times when you just don't want to go to the appointment.

Last night I had a mammogram. All things pointed to me either missing or simply cancelling last night's appointment. The clinic usually calls to remind people of their appointments. I never received a reminder phone call and I'd even forgotten to add the "event" to my computer calendar. I did, however, remember to write it in my date book, so there it was... plain to see... I had a mammogram scheduled for Thursday, January 31st. I couldn't ignore it like I wanted.

My husband is out of town and that meant I had to take my kids with me. I don't really need company when getting my breasts smashed. Seriously... it's not a group kind of activity. Thankfully the boys didn't ask questions about what I was doing. I told them I was there for a check-up, which wasn't a lie. I just omitted the details of said check-up.

Last night my oldest son had to study for a math test, so we were in a time crunch to get homework done and dinner prepared and eaten before leaving for my appointment. Another excuse not to leave my house for any reason! Amazingly enough, the homework went smoothly and so did dinner, therefore I had plenty of time to get ready for my mammogram.

We left home with ample time to get to the clinic, but didn't get a half mile down the road when we came upon an accident with police and an ambulance on the scene. The road was blocked and we had to detour. I wasn't real familiar with the route we had to take and was concerned about where we'd end up and if I'd be able to make it to the clinic on time. Good Lord, why didn't I just cancel the appointment?

We were approaching the clinic with only a few minutes to spare, when I just passed by the entrance as if I were lost. I can't tell you how many times I've turned in to this entrance. I suppose I could blame my mistake on the fact that it was dark and I was preoccupied. Whatever! I was wasting valuable, precious time! I had to turn around and go back.

Then I couldn't decide where I should park. The well woman clinic is toward the far end of the building and upstairs, so I figured I should park on that side of the building. I ended up parking in a location reserved for emergency room patients, but I didn't care. There was plenty of parking and I chanced it, setting what I'm sure was a fine example for my children.

The boys and I practically ran to the building. I didn't want to be turned away after going through so much to get to this appointment. We went upstairs to the well woman clinic and then it dawned on me that they only do paps here. I'd already been there and done that a couple of weeks ago. The mammograms are performed in radiology. DUH! Wake up, McFly! So we hurried back to the elevator and went back downstairs to find radiology.

No one was at the desk in radiology. I made some noise so someone would realize there was life in the lobby and after several minutes, someone finally rounded the corner. After filling out some paperwork, I was in a room waiting for the tech to start the mammogram.

The tech was very pleasant and all was going well until she put my breast into the "vice" and smashed it. I think I saw stars! In fact, I know I did! I've had two other mammograms in my life and neither of them came close to hurting as much as this one. Yowza! This woman, who had seemed so nice, had just transformed into the devil himself right before my very eyes. They tell you to hold your breath when they squeeze your breast for the x-ray. Yeah, no problem because I CAN'T BREATHE! I jumped through hoops for this? The things I go through just to be violated!