I must confess, today was one of those days where I really had to grit my teeth and do my best to not say a word. You see, my oldest daughter (Alyssa) is about to turn 12 years old. Because she'd never really gotten the full experience of a sleepover AND because we're relatively new to the area, we opted to let her invite as many people as she wanted to her sleepover. Basically, the original plan was to bring over a pro makeup artist (friend of mine) and do a rock star party with DJ Hero, Band Hero, makeup and mini photo shoot. She invited somewhere between 15 and 20 people to come. We waited....waited....waited and no one showed up. We ended up finding out that there was a bit of a snafoo and that the likelihood was that no one was going to be able to come....disappointing but we'd make the best of it. Of course, there are no RSVPs and we vow to make the day special for her another way.
So in steps my boyfriend...saving the day. He volunteers for us to take Alyssa out to dinner wherever she wants and make it a special night for her. She gets all dressed up and waits all day for dinner to come around. We get ready and get in the car, on our way out the door.....and lo and behold, two of her friends from down the street start coming up the drive.....unannounced. We have NO preparation for this, of course, and we're left holding the bag, wondering what the heck we're supposed to do now. So once again, he saves the day.....
He not only runs out and buys pizzas, cake and the works but comes home and preps everything for me. He made the day special for her in the face of me stressing out...and has managed to wrangle the girls as well. In a night full of attitude (like all pre-teens have), silly giggling and about a million other pre-teen girl fiasco ingredients, THERE is bravery in stepping in to handle something like that! Now to make it through the rest of the night.....
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
God has a funny sense of humor...and not funny haha
In the midst of a million and one stressful things going on, today I was thrown a curveball. In fact, I was thrown a curveball that honestly made me think (very first thing), God has a funny sense of humor. I wish I could say that it's the haha kind of funny but the truth is that it's the ironic kind of funny. It reminds me, more than anything, that I honestly have no real control over the events that take place in my life...I only have control over my reaction to them. A famous line from "The Lion King" says, "I laugh in the face of danger...hahaha." Mine would probably sound more like, "I aim to smile in the face of diversity." I'm working towards laughing at it.
It also reminds me that if God/Life has a funny sense of humor, so should I. It's not that I'm not allowed to stress out over little moments but maybe, just maybe I can also remind myself to find the humor in the situation. In the million stressful things going on, there is no humor but today's curveball provided the irony just funny enough to be considered humor. I can't wait to see what the future brings now.
It also reminds me that if God/Life has a funny sense of humor, so should I. It's not that I'm not allowed to stress out over little moments but maybe, just maybe I can also remind myself to find the humor in the situation. In the million stressful things going on, there is no humor but today's curveball provided the irony just funny enough to be considered humor. I can't wait to see what the future brings now.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Cherishing the Little Moments
"Mama, I need your arm on me." I never let my kids sleep in the bed with me.....ever. With all that's been going on and knowing they're stressed, though, I decided to let my smallest one sleep in the bed with me. She's 6 1/2 years old and probaby one of the sweetest children I know, barnone. She charms every single person that she meets. But I digress....
So there she is, cuddled up in her princess blanket with her wanky (her special blanket...and yes, that's how we refer to it in this house) and my comforter over the top of her and she wakes me up out of a dead sleep to say, "Mama, I need your arm on me." Despite being exhausted and not feeling like waking up to even respond, I put my arm over her and she just mumbled, "Thank you mama" and was back to snoring. I couldn't help but smile because I know that someday she'll outgrow these moments and I'll wish I'd have cherished them more.
With everything that's going on, I am taking my life one moment at a time and trying to focus on cherishing the tiny things in life...the things that I know I'll remember. I have to keep it short today but I encourage her to do it.
So there she is, cuddled up in her princess blanket with her wanky (her special blanket...and yes, that's how we refer to it in this house) and my comforter over the top of her and she wakes me up out of a dead sleep to say, "Mama, I need your arm on me." Despite being exhausted and not feeling like waking up to even respond, I put my arm over her and she just mumbled, "Thank you mama" and was back to snoring. I couldn't help but smile because I know that someday she'll outgrow these moments and I'll wish I'd have cherished them more.
With everything that's going on, I am taking my life one moment at a time and trying to focus on cherishing the tiny things in life...the things that I know I'll remember. I have to keep it short today but I encourage her to do it.
Monday, January 21, 2013
How to Define What's Real
In an instant, my life has changed into something I didn't necessarily see it becoming. I am dealing with confusion, fear, sadness, and a million other emotions all at one time. I'm watching my kids deal with a million emotions at once and for the first time in her six and a half years, my youngest daughter won't sleep in her own bed because she wants to be with me 24/7. Trying to explain what happened would be an earful and something I don't want to re-live so suffice it to say, it's big and it's made me rethink everything around me.
In the midst of this, I've come across a few simple ways to tell if something is real, mostly involving people you love. I'm no psychologist but after all I've been through, I can honestly say that I've learned a few things. Here goes....
1. If something is real, its core being is the same no matter what. To put it simply, you don't start off with a frog and it turns into a kitten. This is not to say that things don't change in an evolutionary manner....tadpoles become frogs and caterpillars become butterflies. It's simply to say that the core being of what's there remains the same.
2. If something is real, it has a purpose. Sometimes its purpose is to teach you a lesson and sometimes its purpose is to provide you with a fill-in where a gap once was.
3. If something is real, it survives a curveball. It might be broken and need to be fixed but it survives any curveball thrown at it.
4. Though this one specifically applies to people, if something is real, it means that true feelings never change. A friend is always your friend even if they make you mad. Love is always love even if you get into a fight. Your family is always your family even if they make you mad.
5. If something is real, it only becomes more special to you with time. It becomes more a part of you as time goes on and you find that it's difficult to live without it.
I'm no expert but I intend to start using this much more often from now on. Here's to hoping that my next post is a happier one.
In the midst of this, I've come across a few simple ways to tell if something is real, mostly involving people you love. I'm no psychologist but after all I've been through, I can honestly say that I've learned a few things. Here goes....
1. If something is real, its core being is the same no matter what. To put it simply, you don't start off with a frog and it turns into a kitten. This is not to say that things don't change in an evolutionary manner....tadpoles become frogs and caterpillars become butterflies. It's simply to say that the core being of what's there remains the same.
2. If something is real, it has a purpose. Sometimes its purpose is to teach you a lesson and sometimes its purpose is to provide you with a fill-in where a gap once was.
3. If something is real, it survives a curveball. It might be broken and need to be fixed but it survives any curveball thrown at it.
4. Though this one specifically applies to people, if something is real, it means that true feelings never change. A friend is always your friend even if they make you mad. Love is always love even if you get into a fight. Your family is always your family even if they make you mad.
5. If something is real, it only becomes more special to you with time. It becomes more a part of you as time goes on and you find that it's difficult to live without it.
I'm no expert but I intend to start using this much more often from now on. Here's to hoping that my next post is a happier one.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Introducing......Me
I'm just starting back into the blogging world after a long, much-needed break over the past couple of years. Please allow me to introduce myself....
*My name is Heather. I'm a thirty something Virgo.
*I live in Colorado and I love it here. I grew up in Illinois, graduated in Georgia, lived in Michigan for a couple of years and then ended up in Colorado after I came out here for a visit and fell in love with this gorgeous state. Between the sunshine 3/4 of the time, some of the nicest people in the country, and gorgeous scenery, what's NOT to love about this place?
*I'm a divorced mom of four amazing kids: two boys and two girls. Currently I have an 11 year old, a 10 year old, an 8 year old and a 6 year old. Yes, if you're doing the math, I have four kids in just over five years....and yes, I'm still completely sane.
*I am a Christian....and I'm also an independent voter. I want to define Christian in the terms I use it as though: I have a relationship with God and believe wholeheartedly that Jesus was the son of God who died for mankind. I have had a lot of poor experiences with churches and with "Bible-beating" Christians who want to shove ideas down people's throats. I feel the same way about politics: I don't care whether it's Republican or Democrat as long as it represents what I believe in. I don't believe in shoving ideas down anyone's throats, though I'm all for a healthy, respectful debate. I am a firm believer in "to each his own" and educating yourself on all of the possibilities and ideas.
*I love to read. I'm a big fan of non-fiction and go through spells of what types of subjects interest me the most. I am a huge fan of the Twilight series but haven't gotten into the newer fad of "Fifty Shades of Gray."
*I stick my foot in my mouth pretty frequently. I have a habit of being a bit tell-it-like-it-is and it usually bites me in the butt in the long run. I apologize where I believe it to be necessary but I'm also clear about the fact that sometimes the truth hurts.
*I have alot of tolerance for alot of things but once you've depressed my past-the-limit button, I can be a bit of a hothead. I seldom say things that I don't mean in anger but I will tell you exactly what and where you can shove it when you have pushed me to my limit. It's a RARE occurrence but those that have experienced it usually become my biggest critics. Of late, the biggest critics have been the ones that have been called out and have then lied to cover up their transgressions, therein bagging on me which brings me to my next point....
*I believe in karma. It might be unusual for a Christian to say that but I do. You can give it whatever name you wish: karma, reaping what you sow, godsmack, etc. To me, it's all the same....I believe that what you put out into the world ultimately affects what you get back.
*I'm very protective of my loved ones. I will tolerate alot of bad things said and done to me, but have much less tolerance when it comes to the people I love. I think I have a bit of a case of "Nobody kicks my dog but me" syndrome.
*I'm a freelance photographer and it's my passion. I have been doing it for longer than my kids have been alive and I work constantly to perfect my trade (which is a never-ending pursuit). I hope to someday go back to just doing freelance as my "career" but it is currently a side for me. I love creating beautiful memories for people and capturing those special moments that might otherwise be missed. I'm particularly fond of shooting people but I also adore shooting landscapes, architecture, and pretty much anything in between.
*I'm a sports fanatic, particularly when it comes to hockey, football, and baseball. I'm not a big fan of college sports but I am constantly reading up on my stats, watching ESPN, and watching the sports themselves. Finding out that hockey season wasn't a complete bust this year made 2013 start out right. My absolute favorite team on the planet is the Detroit Redwings though (because of my location) I will root for the Avalanche when they're not having their butts kicked by the Wings. Due to some recent issues, I have asserted a loyalty to the Broncos until the Bears iron out their business. I'm a White Sox fan but also a big fan of the Rockies (different leagues so two allegiances are okay :)
*I used to be a 10 mile a day jogger and hope to get back up to that but have had some issues due to recent health issues that have come up. My hope is to do at least one mini marathon this year and get back up to 10 miles a day once Spring hits. I'm a full time yoga nut though and believe in the healing power of stretching and relaxation.
*I'm not a big fan of the doctors or prescription medications but I'm also not an all-organic chicky. I try to do natural remedies wherever I can but I also believe that there is a time and place for prescription medications. I vaccinate my kids but I don't do any vaccinations that aren't required (though I know there are ways around the requirements).
*I'm a naturally curly-haired mama. The fact is that I don't see the purpose in straightening my hair most of the time because I've accepted that I'm always going to have crazy, unruly hair but I love it because it's mine...it's what makes me me!
*I am dating a great guy who I honestly believe God/Fate brought into my life to be my other half. We have our debates (particularly when it comes to sports) but there is not a better fit for me than my guy!
With all of those bullet points being made, that gives a pretty basic overview of who I am. I look forward to posting just some of the incredible, crazy moments in my daily life, my opinion on issues and anything else I can think of!
*My name is Heather. I'm a thirty something Virgo.
*I live in Colorado and I love it here. I grew up in Illinois, graduated in Georgia, lived in Michigan for a couple of years and then ended up in Colorado after I came out here for a visit and fell in love with this gorgeous state. Between the sunshine 3/4 of the time, some of the nicest people in the country, and gorgeous scenery, what's NOT to love about this place?
*I'm a divorced mom of four amazing kids: two boys and two girls. Currently I have an 11 year old, a 10 year old, an 8 year old and a 6 year old. Yes, if you're doing the math, I have four kids in just over five years....and yes, I'm still completely sane.
*I am a Christian....and I'm also an independent voter. I want to define Christian in the terms I use it as though: I have a relationship with God and believe wholeheartedly that Jesus was the son of God who died for mankind. I have had a lot of poor experiences with churches and with "Bible-beating" Christians who want to shove ideas down people's throats. I feel the same way about politics: I don't care whether it's Republican or Democrat as long as it represents what I believe in. I don't believe in shoving ideas down anyone's throats, though I'm all for a healthy, respectful debate. I am a firm believer in "to each his own" and educating yourself on all of the possibilities and ideas.
*I love to read. I'm a big fan of non-fiction and go through spells of what types of subjects interest me the most. I am a huge fan of the Twilight series but haven't gotten into the newer fad of "Fifty Shades of Gray."
*I stick my foot in my mouth pretty frequently. I have a habit of being a bit tell-it-like-it-is and it usually bites me in the butt in the long run. I apologize where I believe it to be necessary but I'm also clear about the fact that sometimes the truth hurts.
*I have alot of tolerance for alot of things but once you've depressed my past-the-limit button, I can be a bit of a hothead. I seldom say things that I don't mean in anger but I will tell you exactly what and where you can shove it when you have pushed me to my limit. It's a RARE occurrence but those that have experienced it usually become my biggest critics. Of late, the biggest critics have been the ones that have been called out and have then lied to cover up their transgressions, therein bagging on me which brings me to my next point....
*I believe in karma. It might be unusual for a Christian to say that but I do. You can give it whatever name you wish: karma, reaping what you sow, godsmack, etc. To me, it's all the same....I believe that what you put out into the world ultimately affects what you get back.
*I'm very protective of my loved ones. I will tolerate alot of bad things said and done to me, but have much less tolerance when it comes to the people I love. I think I have a bit of a case of "Nobody kicks my dog but me" syndrome.
*I'm a freelance photographer and it's my passion. I have been doing it for longer than my kids have been alive and I work constantly to perfect my trade (which is a never-ending pursuit). I hope to someday go back to just doing freelance as my "career" but it is currently a side for me. I love creating beautiful memories for people and capturing those special moments that might otherwise be missed. I'm particularly fond of shooting people but I also adore shooting landscapes, architecture, and pretty much anything in between.
*I'm a sports fanatic, particularly when it comes to hockey, football, and baseball. I'm not a big fan of college sports but I am constantly reading up on my stats, watching ESPN, and watching the sports themselves. Finding out that hockey season wasn't a complete bust this year made 2013 start out right. My absolute favorite team on the planet is the Detroit Redwings though (because of my location) I will root for the Avalanche when they're not having their butts kicked by the Wings. Due to some recent issues, I have asserted a loyalty to the Broncos until the Bears iron out their business. I'm a White Sox fan but also a big fan of the Rockies (different leagues so two allegiances are okay :)
*I used to be a 10 mile a day jogger and hope to get back up to that but have had some issues due to recent health issues that have come up. My hope is to do at least one mini marathon this year and get back up to 10 miles a day once Spring hits. I'm a full time yoga nut though and believe in the healing power of stretching and relaxation.
*I'm not a big fan of the doctors or prescription medications but I'm also not an all-organic chicky. I try to do natural remedies wherever I can but I also believe that there is a time and place for prescription medications. I vaccinate my kids but I don't do any vaccinations that aren't required (though I know there are ways around the requirements).
*I'm a naturally curly-haired mama. The fact is that I don't see the purpose in straightening my hair most of the time because I've accepted that I'm always going to have crazy, unruly hair but I love it because it's mine...it's what makes me me!
*I am dating a great guy who I honestly believe God/Fate brought into my life to be my other half. We have our debates (particularly when it comes to sports) but there is not a better fit for me than my guy!
With all of those bullet points being made, that gives a pretty basic overview of who I am. I look forward to posting just some of the incredible, crazy moments in my daily life, my opinion on issues and anything else I can think of!
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