Food For Thought

I RECENTLY CAME ACROSS THIS QUOTE, "It is true that in our busy lives we can't do everything. BUT we can choose which things we ABSOLUTELY will get done."

(emphasis mine)

IT IS COMMON IN THE NEW YEAR TO SET GOALS, RE-PRIORITIZE, CHANGE DIETS, ATTEMPT TO CEASE ALL BAD HABITS, AND BRAINSTORM NEW WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR DAILY LIVES. I HAVE NOT ALWAYS SET NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR MYSELF, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE NEW YEAR FOR WHAT IT PROVIDES - FRESH BEGINNINGS. I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE EVER APPRECIATED THE IDEA OF A CLEAN SLATE MORE THAN I DO NOW AS A MOTHER. I LOVE WAKING UP EACH MORNING KNOWING THAT I HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE "RIGHT" CHOICES FOR MY CHILDREN, HUSBAND, HOUSEHOLD AND MYSELF. UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT IS "RIGHT", "PRODUCTIVE", "HELPFUL", "STIMULATING," ETC. IS NOT ALWAYS MY FIRST RESPONSE IN LIFE. FIRST, MY EMOTIONS OFTEN GET IN THE WAY AND SECOND THERE ARE SO MANY (POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE) DISTRACTIONS IN LIFE (I love me some TV).

AS I REFLECTED ON THE ABOVE QUOTE, I FOUND IT NOT ONLY CONVICTING BUT FREEING. AS A MOTHER WHO IS PRIVILEGED TO STAY AT HOME WITH HER LITTLE ONES, I HAVE THE FREEDOM TO MAKE EACH DAY OUR OWN. THERE ARE DAYS WHEN EVERYTHING WILL RUN SMOOTHLY, THE KIDS AND I WILL HAVE ENERGY TO PLAY, CREATE, TAKE GOOD NAPS, EAT GOOD MEALS, AND GREET JEFF WITH BIG SMILES ON OUR FACES AT THE END OF (HIS) VERY LONG DAY. HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN THINGS DON'T GO AS PLANNED, WE ARE LOW ON ENERGY, SOMEONE IS SICK, OR THE EMOTIONS OF TWO TODDLERS AND A WEARY MOTHER ARE RUNNING WILD. I'M LEARNING NOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF EITHER SCENARIO. WHILE HAVING ALL OF THE ENERGY TO MAKE AND DECORATE HOME MADE INSTRUMENTS WAS A GREAT THING TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WEEK, IT WAS ALSO A TENDER MOMENT TO SIT (WEARILY WITH THE FLU) ON THE COUCH WITH MY SWEET ONES CUDDLING AND WATCHING A MOVIE. AS I SAT I THOUGHT, "IS IT BAD TO INVEST SO MUCH TIME IN THIS MOVIE RIGHT NOW? WHAT ELSE DO I HAVE THE ENERGY TO DO?" IN THE END, I FREELY ACCEPTED THE MOMENT FOR WHAT IT WAS. TIME SPENT WITH MY CHILDREN. AND, IT WAS PRECIOUS.

MY PRAYER IS THAT I CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON WAYS IN WHICH TO SPEND MY TIME WISELY.

"THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING, AND A SEASON FOR EVERY ACTIVITY UNDER HEAVEN."

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Parenting: It’s Never an Interruption

Parenting: It’s Never an Interruption

Teachable Moment

AS A TEACHER, I WAS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR "TEACHABLE" MOMENTS IN THE CLASSROOM. A MOMENT THAT WAS NOT PLANNED OR ORCHESTRATED, BUT ONE THAT PRESENTED ITSELF SPONTANEOUSLY AND PROVIDED THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO FACILITATE REAL UNDERSTANDING AND PROMOTE SELF-AWARENESS WITHIN THE LIVES OF MY STUDENTS. I LOVED THESE MOMENTS AS A TEACHER. I TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN (FIRST) REALIZING THE MOMENT AND (SECOND) SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY TO STOP WHAT I HAD PLANNED FOR THE SAKE OF LEARNING IN THE MOMENT. CARPE DIEM! AS A SELF-ADMITTED OVER PLANNER, THESE MOMENTS WERE NOT ALWAYS EASY FOR ME AS I LIKED THE SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT I FELT AS I MENTALLY CHECKED OFF THE LIST OF GOALS I HAD SET OUT FOR MY STUDENTS. HOWEVER, AS I MATURED AS A TEACHER I FOUND THESE TEACHABLE MOMENTS MORE GRATIFYING, CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REAL GROWTH.

NOW, WITH MY CLASSROOMS BEHIND ME I FACE SUCH TEACHABLE MOMENTS WITHIN MY HOME. AS A MOTHER, I AM LEARNING THROUGH MY CHILDREN EACH DAY. THEY ARE LIKE TWO LITTLE MIRRORS CAUSING ME TO REFLECT ON MY ACTIONS, MY INTENTIONS, MY MOTIVATION, AND MY ROLE. NOT ONLY AM I LEARNING ABOUT MOTHERHOOD, BUT MY SWEET ONES ARE CONTINUALLY INSPIRING AND CHALLENGING ME TO GROW IN MY WALK WITH THE LORD. I FIND IT AMAZING HOW HE USES HIS CREATION, BUT MORE INTIMATELY THE CREATION OF MY LITTLE ONES, TO PERSONALLY DRAW ME CLOSER TO HIM.

THIS MORNING I EXPERIENCED A TEACHABLE MOMENT THAT NOT ONLY CAUSED ME TO REFLECT ON MY ACTIONS AS A MOTHER, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY CAPTURED MY THOUGHTS UNTO THE LORD AND WHAT HE WAS TEACHING ME IN THAT MOMENT. IN AN EFFORT TO COOK HEALTHIER AND CREATIVE MEALS FOR MY CHILDREN I HAVE STARTED TO KEEP IDEAS, RECIPES, TOOLS AND TIPS IN A 3-RINGED BINDER (HELLO ORGANIZATION!) THIS MORNING I LOOKED FORWARD TO MAKING RICOTTA-BLUEBERRY PANCAKES FOR THE CHILDREN WITH A SPRINKLE OF "SNOW" (AKA POWDERED SUGAR). WITH MY BINDER OPEN TO THE RECIPE, I EXCITEDLY BEGAN MIXING ALL OF THE INGREDIENTS AND EVEN DECIDED TO DOUBLE THE BATCH AS I WAS SURE THEY WOULD BE A YUMMY SUCCESS. WITH KIDS IN BOOSTERS AND BIBS ON, I CHEERFULLY PRESENTED THE GOLDEN PANCAKES TO THE CHILDREN. AS I TIDIED UP MY MESS, AND ATTENDED TO THE CAKES ON THE GRIDDLE I PAUSED TO PEEK AT MY CHILDREN AND THEIR SATISFIED FACES. WHAT I FOUND WAS CHARLOTTE'S PANCAKE SWIMMING IN A LAKE OF SYRUP (OBVIOUSLY DID NOT REMOVE SAID SYRUP FROM THE TABLE IN MY HAZE OF MOMMY BREAKFAST BLISS), HER FACE SCRUNCHED ANNOUNCING SHE WAS NOW TOO STICKY TO EAT AND WANTED EGGS AND JOEY WITH BLUE-TIPPED FINGERS TOSSING HIS PANCAKE EVERYWHERE BUT IN HIS MOUTH. TO SAY MY BUBBLE WAS BURST IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. QUICKLY I THOUGHT, "HOW COULD THIS BE?" "HOW ANNOYING!" AND FINALLY, "HOW IS ONLY 8AM AND I'M ALREADY ON MY HANDS AND KNEES CLEANING THE FLOOR?"

AFTER A QUICK CLEAN-UP AND A LITTLE SCOLDING A NEW BREAKFAST MEAL PLAN WAS DEVISED, ONE THAT INCLUDED EGGS. I TOOK A BREATH, SETTLED MY HEART AND INSTANTLY A VERSE POPPED INTO MY HEAD. PROVERBS 16:9 "IN HIS HEART A MAN PLANS HIS COURSE, BUT THE LORD DETERMINES HIS STEPS." MY "PERFECT" PLAN FOR THE MORNING PROVED TO BE IMPERFECT AS MY PERFECT LITTLE ANGELS CREATED THEIR OWN. I DON'T WANT TO CREATE A HABIT OF CREATING SECOND (AND THIRD) MEALS FOR MY CHILDREN BASED ON THEIR INITIAL REACTIONS, BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW FROM SUCH SITUATIONS. EVEN A MOTHER'S BEST INTENTIONS WILL SOMETIMES RESULT IN A FAILED PLAN AND I AM LEARNING THAT IS OK.

MY PRAYER IS THAT IT IS NOT MY OWN PLAN OR AGENDA THAT I SEEK TO ACCOMPLISH EACH DAY BUT THE LORD'S. I DESIRE A HEART THAT IS OPEN TO HIS LEADING, IS QUICK TO RESPOND TO HIS CALLING, AND READY TO RECEIVE THE BLESSINGS THAT WILL INEVITABLY FLOW AS A RESULT OF MY OBEDIENCE TO HIM.

"GRACIOUS AND HOLY FATHER, GIVE ME WISDOM TO PERCEIVE YOU; INTELLIGENCE TO FATHOM YOU; PATIENCE TO WAIT FOR YOU; EYES TO BEHOLD YOU; A HEART TO MEDITATE UPON YOU; AND A LIFE TO PROCLAIM YOU, THROUGH THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD."

- BENEDICT

P.S. THE PANCAKES WERE JUST OK. PERHAPS, THERE WAS REASON TO TOSS THEM OR DROWN THEM IN SYRUP.

Ballet with Mimi

THIS PAST WEEK MIMI WAS ABLE TO ATTEND BALLET CLASS WITH CHARLOTTE. AS A LOVER OF DANCE AND A FORMER BALLET STUDENT, MIMI WAS THRILLED TO STEP IN AND ASSUME THE "PARENT" ROLE IN HER WEEKLY "PARENT AND ME" CLASS. IT WAS SUCH A SWEET SIGHT TO BEHOLD AS CHARLOTTE EAGERLY AND EXCITEDLY LED HER MIMI AROUND THE DANCE FLOOR. WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO HAVE A WONDERFUL MIMI TO SHARE THESE TENDER LIFE MOMENTS WITH.

THE BALLERINAS.

THE EPITOME OF POISE AND GRACE.

ENDING CLASS WITH A GROUP CIRCLE AND SONG OF THANKSGIVING.
I LOVE HOW THE CHILDREN FUMBLE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE LYRICS OF THE SONG, WHICH INCLUDE A LINE THANKING THE EARTH AND SUN. (CHUCKLE.)

AND, NO VISIT WITH MIMI WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT CHARLOTTE REQUESTING HER MIMI'S JEWELS AND HER MIMI SWEETLY OBLIGING. SHE IS ONE LUCKY LITTLE LADY.

Stir Crazy?

IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER I FIND THAT OUR CREATIVITY IS TAKEN TO NEW HEIGHTS AS WE ATTEMPT TO FILL THE LONG WINTER DAYS WITH FAMILY FUN. FAMILY FUN MIGHT BE DEFINED DIFFERENTLY BY EACH FAMILY MEMBER DEPENDING ON THE DAY OR HOW RESTED THEY ARE, BUT WE ALWAYS SEEM TO MEET SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE AND ENJOY OURSELVES. AS WE FIND OUR CHILDREN NATURALLY ENTERTAINING, IT SEEMS THAT EVEN ON THE LONGEST OR COLDEST OF DAYS SOMETHING SPECIAL IS HAPPENING IN OUR HOME!

OUR PARTY PLANNERS.

TAKING AN INTEREST IN MEDICINE?
LIVING OFF THE HIGH OF NEW YEARS, THIS LITTLE LADY CONTINUES TO FIND WAYS TO RECREATE THAT MAGICAL "MIDNIGHT" MOMENT.

PROJECTS, ALWAYS A PLEASANT WAY TO PASS THE TIME. CHARLOTTE HAS RECENTLY STARTING PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO PAINTING WITHIN THE LINES (UNPROMPTED). SHE TAKES HER TIME WHILE WORKING ON A PROJECT AND OFTEN LEANS IN CLOSE TO EXAMINE HER WORK.

THESE DAYS OUR TIME WITH DADDY IS SOMEWHAT AT A PREMIUM. OUR SWEET ONES ARE QUICK TO STEAL ANY MOMENT WITH HIM POSSIBLE. AS HE PROVIDES FOR US, THEY ARE QUICK TO WATCH OVER AND CARE FOR HIM.

POOR FELLA.

WE WILL DO ANYTHING FOR A CHUCKLE. OBVIOUSLY, WE WERE STRETCHING OUR CREATIVE JUICES ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY.

AH YES. ONE OF CHARLOTTE'S INFAMOUS PARTIES. NO DAY WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT ONE.

Passing the Time (until Christmas 2011)

OUR SWEET LADY HAS HAD TROUBLE WITH THE IDEA THAT IT IS NO LONGER CHRISTMAS TIME. SHE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WHY CONTINUED REQUESTS FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS ARE NOT MET WITH AS MUCH ENTHUSIASM AS BEFORE, WHY THE TREE HAD TO COME DOWN, OR WHY THERE ARE STILL CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON SOME HOUSES BUT NOT OTHERS. TOP THAT WITH THE IDEA THAT SHE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AN ENTIRE YEAR TO THROW CONFETTI AROUND THE HOUSE WHILE SHOUTING, "HAPPY NEW YEAR" AND YOU CAN IMAGINE HER TWO-YEAR-OLD SORROW.

TO CHEER HER SPIRITS WE HAVE TRANSITIONED INTO FULL ON BIRTHDAY PARTY PLANNING AND CELEBRATORY DINNER DISCUSSIONS. SHE LOVES HEARING ABOUT EACH FAMILY MEMBER'S UPCOMING BIRTHDAY, AND QUICKLY INSERTS "AND, MY BIRTHDAY IS NEXT!" TO THE CONVERSATION. THE GAL PRACTICALLY PLANNED HER OWN PARTY LAST WEEK. (I MUST WRITE HER SUGGESTIONS DOWN.) THAT IS THE SWEET THING ABOUT HAVING A TWO (ALMOST) THREE-YEAR-OLD, SADNESS IS TEMPORARY. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING BIGGER AND BRIGHTER AHEAD.

THANK YOU, SWEET GIRL, FOR ALWAYS KEEPING OUR DAYS FILLED WITH EXCITEMENT AND WONDER.

On Wisconsin

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW JEFF IS A VERY ENTHUSIASTIC AND LOYAL BADGER FAN. WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR WI WAS BOUND FOR THE ROSE BOWL DOC PUT INTO MOTION A TRIP TAKING THE LARSON FAMILY TO PASADENA. WITH MY FOLKS HEARTILY AGREEING TO WATCH OUR SWEET ONES, TICKETS WERE PURCHASED AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY!

A DAY OF SIGHT SEEING IN SANTA MONICA, CA

WHAT A VIEW!


OUR TRAVEL COMPANIONS, BOB AND DAWNIE.
(YES, WE WORE RED THE ENTIRE WEEKEND.)

MIMI TREATS US TO A CAROUSEL RIDE.

SANTA MONICA PIER

JUST ANOTHER BADGER COUPLE.

PARADE OF ROSES

OBVIOUSLY EXCITED

A FAVORITE FLOAT BRINGS BACK CHILDHOOD MEMORIES.

OUR FIRST BUCKY SIGHTING!

OUR EYES ON THE PRIZE.

A SEA OF RED COULD NOT OVERCOME A PUDDLE OF PURPLE.

MY BADGER FAN.

ALL SMILES BEFORE OUR HEARTBREAKING LOSS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT VICTORIOUS IN PASADENA. WE ARE BRUISED BUT NOT BEATEN

WE WILL CONTINUE TO WEAR OUR RED PROUDLY!

On Wisconsin, On Wisconsin, plunge right through that line.

Run the ball clear down the field, a touchdown sure this time.

On Wisconsin, On Wisconsin, fight on for her fame.

Fight, fellows, fight, fight, fight, we'll win this game.

On Wisconsin, On Wisconsin, stand up Badgers sing.

"Forward" is our driving spirit, loyal voices ring.

On Wisconsin, On Wisconsin, raise her glowing flame.

Stand, fellows, let us now salute her name.