What's Not to Love?

Mizz Baloney was sharing the bloggy love last week.  She passed a little my way and have to say it was just in the nick of time.  Last week bordered on the side of chaotic, and my hate list seemed to have grown in direct proportion to the busy-ness.  Just to purge a bit, I hate getting spread too thin, prolonged snow events, dead car batteries, Parkinson's dementia, and paper cuts at the end of your finger that won't heal ( I hear you, Mrs. E!).  There. Feels much better. 

So to properly accept this award, you need to name 10 things you love.

God. Yes, yes, the proper culturally Christian thing to say right?  There are times I doubt It, doubt Him, doubt His love for me, but we have had a sermon series on Hebrews and it has really opened my eyes - and heart -to the incredible love and the highly detailed and intricate plan God has for us to be His. He wins me over every time.

Family.  Another pat answer, but what would I do without them?  The Captain, Sweet Marissa, Princess Maren and yes, even Harold, make my world go round. The Captain is trying to be mad at me here.

Sisters.   No, I don't have a sister.  But my daughters do.  I love it when they get to giggling together or whisper little secrets to each other.  There are four years between the M's and sometimes it does get a bit ugly, but mostly it's a good thing.  And yes, I do have two pesky brothers and I love them too.

Baths.  LOVE THEM.  I try not too.  My pasty winter skin is drier than a popcorn fart, but I love my nightly bath. The hotter the better. Please. And thank you very much.

Belts.  Yup, after nearly 10 long years of not needing them, wanting them, and frankly cursing them.  I have lost enough weight to need, want, and love the belt that came with my new smallest sized pair of jeans.

My iPod.  I am not a big techno geek. Don't crave the latest cell phone, blue tooth technology, or a GPS.  In fact that could be another small thing I love.  I like maps and finding my way with one. Hmmm,that reminds me, did I ever tell you about the Captain and I's flight to Denver and how we landed in Dodge City, KS? A whole 'nother post entirely. But, I do love my iPod.  I love being able to make a new playlist and putting any darn type of music on it in any and no particular order.  And it's the best piece of workout equipment ever invented.

My Parents.  The longer I parent, the more I appreciate my parents.  How did they do it so well?   Seems like they had much more organization, grace and patience than I seem to muster up these days.  They are in a rough spot now.  Chronic disease +  Chronic caregiver = Continual prayer.  I do love them both very much.

This recipe.  Wow. Made this the other night, and I thought I messed up. Then I tasted it and woo hoo doggie, can't wait to make it again.   Num Yummy.

My job.  Not wearing the rose-colored glasses here, because I have my moments of frustration, but generally I love what I do in Cardiac Rehab.  I have met some of the neatest people there and have enjoyed getting to know them.

Painting. No, no, not the artistic type.  The paint the wall home reno type.  There is something oddly therepeutic for me in cutting in at the ceiling and around the door and window jambs and then coloring it all in with a big fat roller.

Alone time.  I don't know if I love it, but I find that I need it.  The Captain has figured this out, too.  He knows he needs my alone time too. I need a little space, a little down time to get my thoughts in order, to have a little talk with Jesus, to regroup.  I have always been a little on the independent side.  Must be the lack of a sister thing. 

So thanks, Baloney.  It's a good thing to remember the love.  After all, LOVE day is right around the corner.  Hear that, Honey?

Thanks? I think?

I received this dubious yet honorable blog award from my blog friend Baloney. Now, I have never met Baloney in my whole entire life. Not even once. It's the magic of the Internet, people. She had me at Turdbeast. (I am a nurse, I know about these things and they really do exist - lurking about in hospital toilets everywhere). But she really kept me hooked with her Story of Micheal. (Did you know that April is Autism Awareness Month?)


She received the award from her friend Yogi (aka Satan). Long story, me thinks. I really think Yogi is an innocent bystander in all of this. All because Oklahoma decided to change their tags. (Did you know that we don't have tags here in Iowa? We call them license plates. They have special stores in OK where you go to buy your "tags" called Tag Agencies. I could not figure that out when I first moved there. Here in Iowa, we only tag cattle and hogs.)

So thanks Baloney! I accept! Because you never know about those Zombie Chickens (as opposed to the Funky ones.)


And the rules are..."The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all..."

I am passing this on to my SIL Kim because I am truly worried the zombie chickens have already come to spirit her away! I NEED some more posts from you, girl! Can't wait to see you FOR REAL this weekend though!

To my other SIL Kelly. Heh Doe Honey.... Some more posts please? I know you're out there. Can't wait to see you all too!

To my Hubby, The Captain. He had me at "Hey Baby, you wanna ride in my airplane?" Ahh, the romance never dies. You complete me....

To Dawn the Queen B at Keeper of the "B's", where B is for beautiful, blessed and best. (of friends)

And to the lovely Ms. Amy at pretty shiny. I pretty much wish you were still in the OC with us!

Blog Award? ME?

My first blog award...how exciting!

Annie sent this my way - thank you so much!

Here are the official rules:
1) Admit that ONE thing you feel awful about involving being a mom. Get it off your shoulders. Once you've written it down, you are NO LONGER allowed to feel bad. It's over with, it's in the past. Remember, you're a good mom!
2) To remind yourself that you ARE a good mom, list SEVEN things you love about your kids, you love doing with your kids, or that your kids love about you. These are the things to remind yourself of EVERY DAY that you rock!
3) Send this to FIVE other Moms of the Year that deserve forgiveness and a reminder that they, too, are the best moms they can be!!! Remember to send them a note to let them know you've selected them, and add a link to the person who nominated you!"

There are many things that pop into my head when I read #1. There was the time I forgot to pick up Marissa at school when they had an early out. I rushed into the school office to see her sitting there, head bowed and tears silently streaming down her face. I remember the time Maren (with her lifejacket on thank goodness) slipped off the back of my brother's boat into Lake Okoboji, she panicked and I froze, could not move. Thank goodness my sis-in-law Michelle had the clear head to jump in after her.

When I was doing my narrative for my VP3 class, one of what I have always felt was my worst mothering moments came to mind while I was writing it. I had just gone back to work after Marissa was born. I had about a half hour commute and my shift started at six-thirty - that would be AM. I would get up at 4:30, get showered, wake Marissa up at 5AM, breast feed, get dressed, pack her in the car, leave the house by 5:30, drop her off at daycare by 6AM, find a parking spot at work, hope for an open elevator and barely walk into the MICU at St. John's Medical Center in Tulsa, OK in time to get report for the coming 12 hour shift.

One evening my shift went long and I didn't get done with my shift until about 7:15PM. The daycare was right on the hospital campus, but the attendant was unhappy with me for being late. The Captain was gone on a trip. Sweet Marissa was always a bit fussy in the evenings and this night was worse than usual. I could not cope. She would not STOP crying. I laid her in the crib and I

shut

the

door.

I left her crying in the dark for who knows how long. I don't remember. It was not my actions that bothered me most, but the deep dark place my mind went in that moment. A place where mothers do shake their babies out of frustration and despair. A place where someone tells you you do not deserve to be a mom.

I do think that in my worst mothering moment, God gave me the grace to make it my best mothering moment. I didn't hurt my baby, and that night I made the decision to work only part-time and only in eight hour shifts for that season in my life.

So I release this bad mommy moment out into the endless ethernet. It is well with my soul. Actually Sweet Marissa had given me a nice little Mommy Award in church last Sunday. I'll take that one too!

1) I love it when the delicate Princess Maren laughs so hard she snorts.

2) I love their sweet kisses.

3) I love the way their hair smells after having a bath.

4) I love the fact that Marissa can still snuggle on my lap and still wants to do so.

5) I love it when they giggle together.

6) I love to watch them greet their daddy after a long trip.

7) I love it when they talk to Jesus in their own words.

Now I will send this on to:

Dawn at The B Keeper

Kelly at Beaty Blooming Blessings

Kim, you tag Rachel and I will talk three other friends into starting blogs so I can tag them. What fun!