Dang It!

This is me at Popeye's chicken - -the crispy stuff is definitely the best!

Sigh.

New Car!

It must be new car season - look what's in my garage right now!

The Gift of Happiness

"It is a happy talent to know how to play." ~Oliver Wendall Holmes

Have you ever known someone who is naturally happy and just seems to know how to have fun? Masey is one of those people, I think. He has a genuinely sunny nature, his natural mood is happiness, his favorite color [at least lately] is yellow and he is very easy to please. As I watch him at home, he is most content just playing. Playing with Thomas and his trains, with Lightnin' McQueen and the Cars, with the kitchen toys [serving 'meals' to me after taking my order], building with blocks -- any of these things make that little boy happy.

He knows how to play! I watch him and I feel like I need some lessons. I get too tied up in scheduling, in making sure things get done, in keeping things tidy etc. I need to just play.

Look at that face! See? It's contagious! [aren't you smiling too? I am!]

Needs Vs. Wants

We had a quick dinner at Chick Fil A the other night and as we walked in the door, I saw a sign advertising their fresh peach shakes. Oh my, that sounded good!

And I didn't get one, trying to save my calories for something more important. Because clearly this is not a diet shake.

But since then, I have come to the conclusion that there probably isn't anything more important. I think I need one. [and I've had days to think about it - some might say obsess about it. Can we sing "Always on my Mind?"]

Maybe today. I'm hoping somebody will talk me out of it -- it will take a lot of booty shakin' to get rid of this one.

When Bats Fly

[I'm hearing that to the tune of the old Prince song 'When Doves Cry']!

We had a sleepover the other night with the kiddoes and I think we all had a great time. I had some frozen kids' meals here that became a great dinner, interspersed with some Chutes'n'Ladders, Hi Ho Cherrio, and Candyland action. Mason wins a lot, Maya wins a lot and Grandma? Hardly ever. And no one cheats. Grandma just loses. Which is fine.

After dinner and games, we did a little tomato picking in the back yard [those plants have gone crazy -- anyone need/want some fresh tomatoes? Let me know!] Bath time in the big tub was fun [except for Mason getting some soap in his eye - -but he was a champ about it.]. Then we headed downtown to go watch the Austin bats do their thing. Mark and I saw this a couple of years ago and it really is amazing. We were a little early, so we stopped in at a new park in the area of Auditorium Shores. We had a nice little walk, some time to dabble our toes in their splash pad area [you can see from the pics that Mason dabbled more than his toes], raced up and down their big hills, and then did some dancing on the stone walls. Fun times!

Then we headed over to the Congress Street Bridge, where we checked out the views both from above and below. We decided we liked the grassy area below and didn't have much of a wait before the million and a half bats that live under the bridge came out to find food in the cooler temps of the evening. It really was amazing -- they just kept coming and coming and coming. The picture doesn't even come close to the real thing. Eventually we decided to go find some ice cream [it was still in the 90's at 10 p.m.] so we closed the evening out with ice cream at Sonic "in the middle of the night!" [Miss Maya's words].

Home then, into jammies, stories and scriptures and prayers and bed. Such a sweet thing to listen to their prayers and the things they are thankful for.

Then breakfast [Lucky Charms, juice and fruit] and then playtime with the Lincoln Logs before time to head home to get ready for swimming lessons. They got lots of reminders not to be cranky 'cause Grandma and Grandpa would love to have many more sleepovers!

Thanks, Nanz, for sharing your kiddoes with us. We loved it.

My Life in a Single Picture

[until he woke himself up . . . snoring! I was already awake . . . listening.]

Winning our Battles

"Don't be discouraged at seemingly overwhelming odds in your desire to live and to help others live God's commandments. At times it may seem like David trying to fight Goliath. But remember, David did win." ~David B. Haight, Ensign, November 1977

What a great reminder! I just re-read the story of David and Goliath in the Old Testament and the lesson is clear: that despite the fact that Goliath was literally a giant [around 9'6" tall], and protected by massive armor and weapons, David, a humble shepherd boy was able to best him in battle. Why?

Because of his faith. He had no doubt but that the Lord would "deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." [1 Samuel 17:37]. He knew that he was fighting in the "name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel." [1 Samuel 17:46].

David knew who was in charge, and with the help of the Lord, David won that battle.

And we can do the same in our own lives, as we fight our own personal Goliaths. We can have all the help we need.

picture via flickr

My Exercise Philosophy

Weighing less is good, but eating more is better.

Success

"You can use most any measure when you're speaking of success,

You can measure it in fancy home, expensive car, or dress.
But the measure of your real success is the one you cannot spend:
It's the way your kids describe you when they're talking to a friend."
~Author unknown

Years ago, when my kids were still at home, I remember overhearing them talking with friends, hearing 'mom' and was amazed and happy to hear them talk about me in a positive way. When your children are teenagers, you never really know what they are thinking [especially about you, the parent, which sometimes = the enemy] and it made my day [probably my week, month and year!] to hear that they all thought I was OK.

Parents walk a fine line, and there are times when you know your children don't like you at all. But in the end, when they become adults and you can live your lives together as friends, it's a gift.

That's success.