We are approaching the time of year where we feel compelled to make resolutions. Some of us will make them and stick to them. Most of us will make them and fail miserably.
That got me thinking….
What if we just make a resolution but just make is simple?
This year I resolve to be better.
To be a better wife
To be a better mom
To be a better friend
To be better about going to church
To be a better employee
To be better in my food choices
To be better about shaving my legs
I don’t care what you need to be better at…just make it to be better
Seems to me this is a resolution that we all can make and stick to. Because everyone can be better.
Here’s to a better year!
Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
A Simple Post to Say Thank You
It takes a special person to serve in the military.
You work 24 hours a day.
Sleep is considered a luxury.
Family is considered an annoyance.
The food is terrible.
So, why would someone VOLUNTEER to serve?
For some, it is a way out of a bad home life. For others, it is a way to learn a trade or go to school. For some, it is their last shot at getting their act together.
Whatever the reasons are, the person sacrifices to be in the military.
Here we are knee deep in making holiday plans; planning menus, making travel arrangements and buying presents. But, unfortunately, these men and women won’t get to participate. They are too far away to stop by for gifts and dinner. Their kids won’t jump on their bed Christmas morning asking to get up to see if Santa came. The best that some of these people will receive t is a MRE (meals ready to eat) and bullets to load into their gun to fight the never ending war. Some will have to stand duty on the quarterdeck of their ship in the middle of an ocean so far from land that they can’t remember what it is like to walk on solid ground. Some won’t get to make phone calls home to hear about the festivities and to say I love You.
So, while this is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, it really isn’t for our men and women in the military.
Scott and I have taught Courtney that whenever she sees someone in uniform, she is to stop and thank them for serving our country. It doesn’t seem like such a wonderful thing to do, but you should see how these men and women respond to her. They stop and look her in the eye and smile at her like she is the only person that has ever thanked them. You can tell how much they appreciate it.
Do me a favor, and pray for our military men and women this Christmas Season.
And if you see one in uniform, just say a simple thank you!
You work 24 hours a day.
Sleep is considered a luxury.
Family is considered an annoyance.
The food is terrible.
So, why would someone VOLUNTEER to serve?
For some, it is a way out of a bad home life. For others, it is a way to learn a trade or go to school. For some, it is their last shot at getting their act together.
Whatever the reasons are, the person sacrifices to be in the military.
Here we are knee deep in making holiday plans; planning menus, making travel arrangements and buying presents. But, unfortunately, these men and women won’t get to participate. They are too far away to stop by for gifts and dinner. Their kids won’t jump on their bed Christmas morning asking to get up to see if Santa came. The best that some of these people will receive t is a MRE (meals ready to eat) and bullets to load into their gun to fight the never ending war. Some will have to stand duty on the quarterdeck of their ship in the middle of an ocean so far from land that they can’t remember what it is like to walk on solid ground. Some won’t get to make phone calls home to hear about the festivities and to say I love You.
So, while this is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, it really isn’t for our men and women in the military.
Scott and I have taught Courtney that whenever she sees someone in uniform, she is to stop and thank them for serving our country. It doesn’t seem like such a wonderful thing to do, but you should see how these men and women respond to her. They stop and look her in the eye and smile at her like she is the only person that has ever thanked them. You can tell how much they appreciate it.
Do me a favor, and pray for our military men and women this Christmas Season.
And if you see one in uniform, just say a simple thank you!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Baby, It's Cold Outside
Courtney is blessed to have great-grandparents on both sides of her family.
When she was born, and she met Scott’s grandparents for the first time, Grandpa would sing to her. They were songs I didn’t know and he wouldn’t sing all of the song, just little snippets. The songs would change depending on what time of year he would see her. But – he mostly saw her in the winter time when it was cold outside.
Oh, baby, you’ll freeze out there
It’s up to your knees out there
When she was a baby she would just look at him, but as she got older, she would smile and he would sing it again.
I had no idea what he was singing but LOVED that he sang to her and that she enjoyed it.
Then, about 6 years ago, we were all at Scott’s parents for Christmas and rented the movie Elf with Will Ferrell. Courtney was 8 years old. It got to the part of the movie where the song Baby, It’s Cold Outside was sung. I was sitting next to Grandpa, and I turned to him and said “HEY! That’s that song that you sing to Courtney.” He looked at me like I was a little nuts.
I went out and bought the sound track to that movie just to hear that song.
And every Christmas I get it out and listen to that song over and over.
It is now one of my favorites.
All because Grandpa sang a snippet of it to my daughter long ago.
There’s bound to be talk tomorrow
Think of my life long sorrow
At least there will be plenty implied
If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can’t stay
Get over that hold out
Ahh, but it’s cold outside.
When she was born, and she met Scott’s grandparents for the first time, Grandpa would sing to her. They were songs I didn’t know and he wouldn’t sing all of the song, just little snippets. The songs would change depending on what time of year he would see her. But – he mostly saw her in the winter time when it was cold outside.
Oh, baby, you’ll freeze out there
It’s up to your knees out there
When she was a baby she would just look at him, but as she got older, she would smile and he would sing it again.
I had no idea what he was singing but LOVED that he sang to her and that she enjoyed it.
Then, about 6 years ago, we were all at Scott’s parents for Christmas and rented the movie Elf with Will Ferrell. Courtney was 8 years old. It got to the part of the movie where the song Baby, It’s Cold Outside was sung. I was sitting next to Grandpa, and I turned to him and said “HEY! That’s that song that you sing to Courtney.” He looked at me like I was a little nuts.
I went out and bought the sound track to that movie just to hear that song.
And every Christmas I get it out and listen to that song over and over.
It is now one of my favorites.
All because Grandpa sang a snippet of it to my daughter long ago.
There’s bound to be talk tomorrow
Think of my life long sorrow
At least there will be plenty implied
If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can’t stay
Get over that hold out
Ahh, but it’s cold outside.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Jingle Bell Rock
This Thanksgiving weekend, during our whirlwind travels, we stopped to eat at a Cracker Barrel in Florida.
For those of you reading this that don’t know what this place is, it is a restaurant that serves southern cooking and they also have a store that sells everything from toys to candies to dinnerware and clothes. This place is ALWAYS busy. Always. You can get breakfast anytime you wish and the food isn’t too bad.
While we were waiting for our table to open up, I popped in to use the restroom. (Too much information, I know, but stick with me because it plays an important part in this here story.) As usual, there was a line to us one of the three whopping toilets they had. In front of me is a grandmother and her grandson. He insisted on using his own stall. No big deal. He is a big boy and can handle things just fine, thank you very much.
The store, even though it is only the day after Thanksgiving, is already pumping Christmas music throughout the place. Even the restroom.
Finally it is my turn.
*Note* I don’t know if I can do the rest of this story the justice it deserves, but I am sure gonna try.
As I am taking care of business, the song Jingle Bell Rock comes on over the speakers. This is a song, I have found, that you either love or hate. There really isn’t too much middle ground. I can take it once or twice during the holidays, but after that, I am done.
Apparently, this little boy LOVES this song, as he sat on his potty and sang the whole thing at the top of his lungs, all the while swinging his feet and hitting the toilet. He would take deep loud breaths between each verse and was just belting it out.
His grandma was on the other side of the stall asking him if he was almost done because his Papa was ready to go.
The child didn’t answer.
He just sat there and sang that song from beginning to end.
What a bright time
It's the right time
To rock the night away
As I am washing my hands, the grandmother is apologizing to the line of ladies waiting to do what it is you do when you are in a restroom.
And I just grinned to myself.
Sometimes, even the most mundane tasks, like going potty, would be a lot more fun if we would just sing while we were doing them!
For those of you reading this that don’t know what this place is, it is a restaurant that serves southern cooking and they also have a store that sells everything from toys to candies to dinnerware and clothes. This place is ALWAYS busy. Always. You can get breakfast anytime you wish and the food isn’t too bad.
While we were waiting for our table to open up, I popped in to use the restroom. (Too much information, I know, but stick with me because it plays an important part in this here story.) As usual, there was a line to us one of the three whopping toilets they had. In front of me is a grandmother and her grandson. He insisted on using his own stall. No big deal. He is a big boy and can handle things just fine, thank you very much.
The store, even though it is only the day after Thanksgiving, is already pumping Christmas music throughout the place. Even the restroom.
Finally it is my turn.
*Note* I don’t know if I can do the rest of this story the justice it deserves, but I am sure gonna try.
As I am taking care of business, the song Jingle Bell Rock comes on over the speakers. This is a song, I have found, that you either love or hate. There really isn’t too much middle ground. I can take it once or twice during the holidays, but after that, I am done.
Apparently, this little boy LOVES this song, as he sat on his potty and sang the whole thing at the top of his lungs, all the while swinging his feet and hitting the toilet. He would take deep loud breaths between each verse and was just belting it out.
His grandma was on the other side of the stall asking him if he was almost done because his Papa was ready to go.
The child didn’t answer.
He just sat there and sang that song from beginning to end.
What a bright time
It's the right time
To rock the night away
As I am washing my hands, the grandmother is apologizing to the line of ladies waiting to do what it is you do when you are in a restroom.
And I just grinned to myself.
Sometimes, even the most mundane tasks, like going potty, would be a lot more fun if we would just sing while we were doing them!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Home
Home
It means different things to different people.
I have had a home in California, Key West and am on my 3rd home on Georgia.
But my home is in California.
My parents bought this house when I was 2 years old and still live there. The back bedroom, where they keep their computer now, is my room.
When I get the chance to go home, which is not very often, I walk in and slip right into comfort.
Home
The sound the Furnas makes when the pilot lights and you know in a few seconds the heater is going to come on.
Home
How when water is run in my parents bathroom, you can hear the pipes “pop” in the living room.
Home
How when you are sleeping you are still aware that my dad is up because of the sound of the newspaper pages being turned because he reads the paper every single day first thing. You can count on that just like you can count on the sun coming up every day.
Home
How if you need change for something, look in my dad’s shoe that is on the hearth. I used to wonder when I was little if he ever accidentally left a coin in his shoe and then walked around on it all day.
Home
Where Christmas Eve’s were spent with family after the church service and then on Christmas morning presents were opened and we all went to my aunt’s house for brunch.
Last night we were having very bad winds and I was awakened early. As I lay in bed, I heard my own familiar things…
The clunk of the ice maker.
The wind chime on the front porch.
The stomp of my daughter’s feet upstairs as she gets up to get ready for school.
The patter of dog paws coming down the stairs as Oliver goes from Court’s bed to ours once she gets up.
And I realized, just this morning, that I have my own home, with my own sounds and memories.
And I know that it sounds stupid, but I laid there this morning and smiled to myself in the dark listening to the wind and my husband snore and was just happy to be home!
It means different things to different people.
I have had a home in California, Key West and am on my 3rd home on Georgia.
But my home is in California.
My parents bought this house when I was 2 years old and still live there. The back bedroom, where they keep their computer now, is my room.
When I get the chance to go home, which is not very often, I walk in and slip right into comfort.
Home
The sound the Furnas makes when the pilot lights and you know in a few seconds the heater is going to come on.
Home
How when water is run in my parents bathroom, you can hear the pipes “pop” in the living room.
Home
How when you are sleeping you are still aware that my dad is up because of the sound of the newspaper pages being turned because he reads the paper every single day first thing. You can count on that just like you can count on the sun coming up every day.
Home
How if you need change for something, look in my dad’s shoe that is on the hearth. I used to wonder when I was little if he ever accidentally left a coin in his shoe and then walked around on it all day.
Home
Where Christmas Eve’s were spent with family after the church service and then on Christmas morning presents were opened and we all went to my aunt’s house for brunch.
Last night we were having very bad winds and I was awakened early. As I lay in bed, I heard my own familiar things…
The clunk of the ice maker.
The wind chime on the front porch.
The stomp of my daughter’s feet upstairs as she gets up to get ready for school.
The patter of dog paws coming down the stairs as Oliver goes from Court’s bed to ours once she gets up.
And I realized, just this morning, that I have my own home, with my own sounds and memories.
And I know that it sounds stupid, but I laid there this morning and smiled to myself in the dark listening to the wind and my husband snore and was just happy to be home!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)