Why Does He Do That?

I said to my mother today, "God must really want me to make this banner because I SOOOOOOO do not want to do it." Why does He do that?

The more pertinent question is, how do I always get myself into these projects that I then struggle to finish? Why am I such an overcommitter? Where is that little voice of reason that says, "hey MORON, when are you possibly going to have the time, patience and the funds to create a 6'x4' banner made out of only the best fabrics and the best effort?" YOU CAN'T EVEN SEW!

*deep breath*

Now that I've ranted, let me explain. Our church is doing a Christmas program. One of the ladies of the church has a vision to do a banner program and needed people to do banners. I had planned to do the banner over the summer while Munchkin was gone but King and I became all-encompassing far sooner than I imagined it would have. On top of that, I drew a blank every time I would sit down to seriously think about what I wanted to do. For months I had no inspiration. The church lady would ask, "what's your banner?" My dumb look must have alarmed her because she kept asking about it - EVERY TIME I SAW HER.

Of course, here I am, scrambing at the very last minute to get this thing done. I'm frazzled because I have a terrific inspiration (the burning bush "I AM" Exodus 3:14) but I CAN'T SEW. DUH. Wish me luck. If it looks like anything other than a cat put it together with masking tape and pipe cleaners, you can give all the credit to the Almighty.

*sigh*

Well, Of Course I Forgot!

Happy Daylight Savings Day! *grin* Did you forget too? I jerked awake this morning and almost had a heart attack when my clock blinked at me 8:00am. I jump out of bed in a near panic because I teach sunday school (as I mentioned last night) and it starts at 9am. YIKES!

Then I remembered - today is Daylight Savings Time. Oh yes, I knew that. It is 7am. Sighing a happy sigh of relief, what do I do? Crawl back into bed, of course! *giggle*

Then, of course, my mother calls at 7:05 to remind me that it's Daylight Savings Time.. *grin*

I guess I'm up. What time is it? 8am..

The Underside of the Dragon

Post Note: 10/28 11:06pm - I just ran over this draft I started on Thursday morning. It looks like I was about to reveal some of my insecurities, which I consider chinks in my armor but decided not to. I thought I would post it here anyway, even though it is incomplete. Maybe one day I'll finish what I started.


"I've always understood that Dragons were soft underneath - vunerable." - The Hobbit

Dragons are soft underneath. In fact, the strongest armor could not keep out that one fatal arrow shot that brought down the terrible dragon in the story of The Hobbit.

Why am I talking about dragons this morning, you ask? Well, in some ways I feel like a dragon.

clean sheets

I'm waiting on the dryer to finish so I can put my fresh, clean and oh-so-soft clean sheets back on my bed and go to sleep.

Worked the show tonight at work. It was fun. The crowd wasn't as big as I'd hoped, but I think we probably will come out alright because some of the seats we sold were to season ticket holders that didn't come.

Well, they missed a really fun show. Munchkin really enjoyed it and my mother went on and on afterward. The crowd that was there seemed to really have fun and I got a BIG kick out of seeing all the families - which was my primary marketing goal. Score one for target marketing! *grin*

We stopped at Starbucks on the way home - something we don't do very often anymore.

Church tomorrow, of course. I'm looking forward to seeing my sunday schoolers - they are so cute. They've really grown on me. At first, it wasn't really what I thought I was looking for - I wanted to teach an older class that could really interact with me but I was assigned to a class of not even 2-year olds. A couple of them are starting to develop more language, but it's still early. Only one of the little girls is anywhere near as talkative as Munchkin. Considering she's the only small child I've ever really been around, I had no idea she was as verbally advanced - even though people have been telling me that since she was six months old - when she started talking.

Anyway, the kiddos are growing on me. I look forward to pulling out their little smiles from their shy little faces and hearing them figure out the bible songs that we are teaching. A couple of them are beginning to learn the words and mouth along. We are planting seeds, that's all.

Well, I can hear Munchkin fussing in there about something. Even with a long nap this afternoon, I kept her out too late tonight and now she's having trouble settling down. I like taking her to things and she loves going but I feel like a total reprobate of a mother keeping a four year old out until 9:30. *sigh* I shouldn't be so hard on myself - I know I'm still learning too.

night, friends.

what is this weather?

It's cold

It's hot

It's cold

It's hot

YUCK.

Nightime Ritual

It was so much easier when we did the gummy princess vitamins. But NOOOOOOOOOO. Mommy wanted to do Flintstones, "they were so great when I was a kid." I don't even think I TOOK vitamins as a kid. I think that was my secret fantasy about what every other kid in America did before bed.


So, living vicariously through Munchkin, I picked up the almighty Flintstone vitamins.

Every night since then, there has been a rigorous selection process - purple, red, orange or blue?



This is a hard question.


First, they must all be laid out flat, so she can examine each character. Then, she goes through a disertation of her recent choices, "last night, I had orange..." Finally, a choice. Usually, she puts the Chosen Flintstone in her mouth, screws up her little face and says, "yuck."


I think we'll go back to the gummy princesses. *rolling eyes*

Complete Abandonment of Maturity

This is what happens when you put three adults and a camera on a playscape at 9am on a crisp, Saturday morning.







We were so busy acting any age other than our true age that we momentarily forgot all of the problems that come with being "grown-up." It was terrific.


Munchkin and I went up to North Texas to visit my brother and sister-in-law. They usually come to us but we wanted a weekend "away" so we went up there this time.


We only went for the night but it was enough to relax and rejeuvenate. A mini-vacation. So. Nice.

And Now for Something TOTALLY adorable

Look at what I did at work today.

*giggle*

Munchkin is going to LOVE this.

Moving Furniture

I rearranged my bedroom tonight. Again. All I did was turn the bed. Just that little change gave the room a whole new feeling. I love rearranging furniture. It reminds me that there are lots of ways to look at a problem.

>

Today was a good day. I finished my work to do list, came home and rearranged furniture and then made 3-cheese tortellini and garlic bread for dinner (yum!) and am now listening to Munchkin sing her dissertation about whatever it is she's playing.

Actually, I just stopped to listen to the words she's singing and she's singing the words to "Beautiful One," a popular praise and worship song. To hear that little girl sing praise music all on her own just makes my day. Makes me feel that, for all the times that I know I fail her, maybe I'm not such a terrible mother after all.

*smile*

I am tired. But it's a good tired. I'm ready for Munchkin to go to bed so I can curl up in my newly rearranged bed and read until I go to sleep. *yawn*

Now THIS is workin'!

On Friday, the CAC sponsored a bus trip to the Kimbell Art Museum's special exhibit on Hatshepsut.

Being a TOTAL Egypt nut, I volunteered to go. It was amazing! I have been to the Kimbell but I had not taken the time to really appreciate the architecture of the building.

The exhibit itself was wonderful. I am always just blown away by the precision of the carvings and the preservation of these pieces that are thousands of years old. The fact that so many of them were discovered by accident is remarkable.

We ate lunch at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, just next door. I had never developed an appreciation for modern art until I met my ex. He really introduced me to the beauty of strong color and dramatic statements of modern art. Art that challenged the senses, rather than soothed. Now, I am a modern art fan - even though I fail to comprehend the point of some of it. (hey, even I can paint straight lines!)

The Modern Art Museum is also a stunning piece of architecture. There is this really cool sculpture out front, called "Vortex." You can walk inside and make the tiniest whisper and it bounces around because of the design. While we were there, a school group of teenagers went into the Vortex and they were singing and making noise, as they discovered the sculpture - it was a happy sound.

I came home tired but satisfied. Our Visual Arts Director (partially pictured in the photo above) and I really had a good time together and came up with lots of ideas that we want to try at the CAC. It was a terrific day.

Rainy Tuesday

I woke up at 6:00am to the sound of thunder. Actually, I was shaken awake as thunder shook my little house. So much for 20% chance for rain. *grin* Gotta love those little weathermen. I'd hate to have that job.

It's been raining all morning. Driving was fun this morning as I'm sure there was about an inch of water on the highway. I saw no less than three wrecks. Why do people drive like idiots in the rain? The first HARD rain we've had this "fall" and people think they can drive like normal.

Dropping Munchkin off at school was HILARIOUS. Well, it is now. Then it most certainly wasn't funny - to either of us. Munchkin was SO excited about using her Disney Princess umbrella. The umbrella was a very cute accessory but what she REALLY needed were some Disney Princess Waders! After about 90 seconds getting her back wet, she wanted me to pick her up and carry her. So, here I am with her umbrella, my umbrella AND a soaking wet Munchkin in my arms. We had to cross what felt like the River Jordan to get into the school so we were both soaked through. But, once she was inside, she looked at me and said, "that wasn't so bad!"

I think this weekend we are going shopping for a rain coat and boots - for BOTH of us!

Yes, Virginia, it's Monday

But it's not a bad thing. See what having a day off will do for a woman's outlook? I've updated the work blog - go see! (No, I can't help myself)

We had a good weekend. The weather was really pretty and the weatherman said this morning that we are down to the last few days of warm weather and *drum roll, anyone?* then the cool weather would be upon us for real! It's only supposed to be 65 on Friday! WHOO HOO!!!

K is already getting itchy to start putting Christmas stuff out and, suprisingly enough, I'm resisting with all my might. I have tried to explain to her that six weeks is a LONG time to live in a Christmas shop. Seriously, that's what my little house looks like come the day after Thanksgiving. And that's just MY stuff. Now, we have a total shopaholic (yes, K, I'm talking about YOU) in the house and I predict a total decorating marathon if her Christmas collection is anything like her Stampin' Up or Tupperware collections. Where do you put TWO christmas trees in a 1400 square foot house?? *giggle*

Can you imagine if we started NOW?? Lord, that would be almost THREE months of stockings, holly berries, nativity scenes, garland and snowmen (not that we have ANY idea how to build snowmen here, in Texas). UGH. Even I, a Christmas die-hard have a limit to my holiday spirit.

One Word?

Ok, I'm bringing this over here from Sarah's place.

Here’s what I want you to do. Describe me in ONE WORD… just one word!

Reply in comments section.

Then you can email it to your friends or post on your blog to see what your friends say about you. I tag, of course, everyone on my links list...and anyone else who reads this and wants to participate.

Thanks, Sarah. This could be interesting! *grin*

Saturday Morning Cartoons

You know, a friend of mine and I were talking the other day about how we remember the ritual that was Saturday morning during our childhood. Get up far earlier than we should, wake up parents to help with breakfast (at least until we were old enough to make it ourselves) and then jockey for the best cartoon watching position. There we would remain until at least 11am, when the home improvement shows or the college football pre-game shows would start.

I went through Google this morning, looking for some of those old cartoons and I have had more fun remembering! Can you remember?

Munchkin turned four in September and I still haven't seen evidence of this - until this morning.

Munchkin has discovered Fraggle Rock. Now, to say to you that the idea was ALL hers would be untrue - fridaynightmommy might have something to do with the purchase of the ENTIRE four-disk collection of the Second season of Fraggle Rock. SWEET! (I really like the Doozers the best.)

This morning, Munchkin woke up at 7:15, proclaimed that she'd not had an accident, went into the kitchen and waitin to wait for me to drag myself out of bed to fix her oatmeal (Nana put butter in it and now it's ALL she wants to eat!) and postitioned herself in the rocker and declared she was "all ready for Fraggle ROck."

*laugh*

The torch has been passed.

Here is a little meme for Saturday morning:

1. Did you have a Saturday Morning ritual?
(see above)

2. What cartoons did you like to watch?
Well, my little brother and I were of like minds and pretty much shared television time. I liked what he liked (or found something else to do) and he liked what I liked (or found something else to do). Saying that, Bubba's cartoons were He-Man, Thundercats, Transformers, GI Joe and Superfriends. Mine were Jem, Smurfs, Snorks, The Jetsons, Looney Toons, She-Ra, Captain Caveman and Richie Rich.

3. Have you, now that you are an adult, ever searched for DVD versions of your favorite cartoons?

Oh yeah. See comments about Fraggle Rock. *grin*

Random Thought

*if I ran away to the circus, who would feed the cats?*

Lame Lame Lame

Lately, I can't hold a single thought in my head for longer than 10 seconds which, unfortunately, is how long it takes to LOG IN to Blogger. So, any witty and clever thoughts are all being used for work stuff and there is nothing left over for my sad little blog.

Hmm... Sarah has given me a cute idea but it's only Tuesday.

Have I mentioned that Munchkin wants to be a ballerina? Egads, is she already big enough for extracurricular activities? *grin* No, this isn't her, but it could be! She told me the other day that, when she grows up, she wants to be a mommy-teacher-ballerina-princess. I told her I thought that if anybody could do it she'd be the one.

I think we'll wait one more year until ballet. Sarah, what do you think? I wish we lived closer, I'd LOVE for her to take ballet from you.

Oh, one more thing - I'm trying to figure out how to create a new blog template - from scratch!! It's a little more complicated than I've attempted before so it may be a while. But, I just got my hands on some lovely Adobe Studio programs that might help me out. Wish me luck! Here's a little preview - it's one of the headers I'm playing with for my "new look." What do you think?

I know it's not as dark and dramatic as my current template and, while I truly love my current look, I'm always looking to spruce things up - it's the marketing person in me - I can't help it!!

Anyway, y'all have a good day. And, to my friends up north, PLEASE send a cold front our direction - I am sick to DEATH of this heat! I want crisp days and chilly evenings so I can get out my stock pot and make yummy cold weather food, like stew and chili!