One of my
favorite singer/songwriters is Britt Nicole. For several years, she
didn’t put any new albums out. She got married and had a baby. She was busy
being a new wife and mother. I was impressed that she didn’t cave to the
pressure to jump back into the spotlight and “keep her image” in front of the
fans. She seems to have her priorities on straight. I say, good for her.
I really enjoy
the freshness and vibrancy of her song lyrics. If you think about it, songs are
just another form of poetry. On her new album, in the opening song, reality
jumps from the very first lines: “Get it together. That’s what I say to me. I
put on the pressure, you could do better. Be who you’re supposed to be.”
How many of us
say these things to ourselves? If we’re honest, I bet most of us have at least
once. (If not every day). Who is it that we are supposed to be? Does our
culture determine who we are supposed to be as moms and women? Does our
self-help book, or mom’s group determine who we are supposed to be? Does our
husband or family? I say, you can’t put women in a box. No two women are
exactly alike. We all have different personalities, life experiences, memories
and scars. We can focus on who others think or say we should be – or we can
start a new journey down a path of our own choosing, to find the person we were
created to be. Each of us has a unique story to tell. Don’t sell out! Keep it
real, and don’t settle until you are comfortable in your own skin.
People can
speak truth into our lives, and help us see ourselves more clearly. In my life,
I can look at myself and not see myself. Do you know what I mean? But when I
look through God’s eyes – through my realationship with Him – I see myself as
He created me. And God can do that for you. He can look at each one of us and
see exactly who He created us to be: Loved. Beautiful.
Here is one of my favorite
songs from Britt Nicole’s long-awaited and much antipicated new album. (It was
worth the wait! Find it here).
Through Your Eyes
Get it together
That’s what I say to me
I put on the pressure
You could do better
Be who you’re supposed to be
But that’s when you came in
Right when I needed you
Said all of the things that I was believing
Not one of them were true
You lifted my head up
I was keeping my head down
I didn’t know love
But I do now
‘Cause you stood right there
And then you broke apart the lies
You told me I had something beautiful inside
You brought to life the part of me I thought had died
‘Cause you stood right there until I saw me
I saw me through your eyes (saw me)
I saw me through your eyes (saw me)
I saw me through your eyes
So this is living
This is free Not keeping score
Not anymore
Not since you rescued me
You lifted my head up
I was keeping my head down
I didn’t know love
But I do now
‘Cause you stood right there
And then you broke apart the lies
You told me I had something beautiful inside
You brought to life the part of me I thought had died
‘Cause you stood right there until I saw me
I saw me through your eyes (saw me)
I saw me through your eyes (saw me)
You love me even when I fall
apart
I can’t explain it
That’s just who you are
Don’t want perfection
You just want my heart
When it came time to plan my
son’s 5th birthday party, there was no question what the theme would be.
Dinosaurs. This was a no brainer, based on the sheer volume of dinosaur figures
all over the floor of his room, and how much he talked about and played with
them. (Dinotrux is
one of his favorite shows!)
Now I just
needed to figure out how to pull off a simple, fun party for my son. I’d just
like to put this out there for all you moms to consider… If you don’t have a
lot of time, energy or creativity to put on a party, don’t feel bad! Yes,
there are moms who love to spend hours/weeks planning and preparing an amazing
party, and baking the perfect cake from scratch, with a completely original
design. Great! I say, go for it if that’s something you love to do and it won’t
make you (or your family) crazy in the process. It seems like many
moms feel this huge pressure to perform an amazing feat and pull off the
PERFECT party. I say forget that. Just focus on simple, fun, and whatever
you can manage to make your kid happy. (And keep your sanity in the process).
First, I searched for fun party favor ideas online and found these labels on Etsy. They were too cute to pass up. I simply printed the labels from my home computer, and attached them to ziplock bags filled with chocolate malt balls and chocolate covered cranberries from the local grocery store bulk aisle. Easy and fun!
For a fun party game, I found
Dig It Up! Dinosaur Eggs activity. The set comes with twelve eggs,
chisels and instruction booklet, which includes pictures to identify the
dinosaurs once you’ve dug them out of their eggs. The kids got to keep their
dinosaurs, which makes another fun party favor.
For decorations, I tried to
keep it simple. I hung a dinosaur tablecloth as a backdrop behind my son’s
chair, and made a dinosaur scene as a centerpiece on the table. I used the
presents we had given him (several large plastic Animal Planet dinosaurs
from Toys R’Us) and a dinosaur toy box that
opens into a playmat. I filled bowls with snacks
and candy, and let the kids pretend they were eating with the dinosaurs.
*Party table, complete with dinos chomping on candy. Cupcake cake, with custom decorations.
My son loved
his party, and so did his guests. And best of all… I felt like I had succeeded
in finding a good balance between pre-made purchased items, and my own
creativity and custom decor. I encourage you to try and find that balance for
yourself. It might save you a lot of stress. Just remember, everyone does
things differently and that’s the way it should be. Don’t try to be
“super-mom”. Just try to be the best YOU can be!
Do you have a family movie night? Some families have
one every week, some every month. Our family has one regularly, and the
success of that evening often depends on two things: 1) the movie we pick, and
2) how good the popcorn is.
Just kidding! (You don’t have to make popcorn for it to be a good
family night). However, a good movie pick is definitely important. Keeping in
mind that our family has two adults, an 11, 9 and 4 year old, it can be tricky
finding a movie we all like and (mom) thinks is appropriate for the youngest to
watch. Each of these movies has stood the test for us. We have watched them
multiple times and still enjoy them. I don’t know what your family dynamics are
like, but I’ll bet there’s something here for everyone to enjoy.
BEST MOVIE
PICKS
Here are my best picks for your next family movie night…
– SING (2017) This movie is hilarious and
sweet. And for those aspiring singers in your family, it’s a real inspiration.
–Zootopia (2016) Funny with a lot of heart,
we all loved it. Especially the “follow your dreams” message.
–Big Hero 6 (2015) Kids who are into technology
will love this movie. And the action is awesome! (Not to mention the
soundtrack).
–Home (2015) This movie is just plain cute. Who can
resist that goofy purple face? OH, and we love to sing along with the music,
too.
–Despicable Me (2010) (and sequels) It’s Steve
Carell. With an accent. Enough said.
–Dolphin Tale (2011) Heartwarming, based on a true
story. Perfect for animal lovers of all ages.
–Nim’s Island (2008) A charming movie about a girl
stranded alone on an island. Fun adventure for all ages. (Adults will
appreciate the acting by Jodi Foster. Hilarious!)
–Dreamer (2006) Dakota Fanning and Kurt Russell
star in this movie about a girl and her father – and a race horse who just
needs a second chance. If you have a horse lover in your family, this
one’s a safe bet.
–Lassie (2005) There have been many Lassie movie
made over the years. But in my humble opinion, this one is the best. The
acting, the script, the musical score, the cinematography- everything is
beautifully done. Bring a tissue. (Or maybe the whole box).
-The Incredibles (2003) Disney Pixar
presents a family movie for all ages that is part comic-book supper hero
movie, part family drama, part good-ol-fashioned fun. Check it out!
–The Black Stallion (1979) This one is a classic.
If you haven’t seen it, give it a try. Yes, it moves slowly compared to our
fast-paced media of today, but it will get under your skin. It’s the filming,
the music, and the boy and his horse. Simply beautiful.
-Old Yeller (1963) Walt Disney came
out with this classic a long time ago…but my kids still love the themes of
courage, sacrifice, and friendship.
As you can see, my family loves movies about animals. Maybe
you’re not into that sort of thing. That’s okay. I’d love to hear what some of
your family’s favorites are… Send me an email and I might feature your ideas in
another blog. Until then… enjoy your time with family, whatever you decide to
watch!
This morning I woke up late. Typical for me, on a Saturday
morning. The house was very quiet. This was not so typical. I went out to
investigate, only to find no one was around. Where were my kids and husband?
I went out into the garage, listened and heard voices in the backyard. I
opened the door to the backyard, and found everyone sitting in the hot tub
together! At 8:45am in the morning! By way of explanation they said, “It’s cold
out there, so we got in here!” The offer was made for me to squeeze in and join
them, but I declined to get in the hot tub and chose instead to take a hot
shower.
In our family, I sometimes feel like the “odd one out”.
Have you heard this expression before? I have, but I took the time to
look it up and here’s the official definition (according to Google):
“A person or thing differing
from all other members of a particular group or set in some way.”
Synonyms include: outsider, exception, oddity, nonconformist, maverick,
individualist, misfit, fish out of water, square peg in a round hole
Have you ever felt like the “odd one out”? Growing up, I
felt like that all the time. Now I realize part of the reason for that was
simply that I was a nonconformist and a (stubborn) individualist. In my family,
I was guaranteed to be the one to rock the boat, ask the (many) questions, and
in general try to argue my way out of (or into) anything. I was told I would
make a great lawyer someday. No joke!
Sometimes in my own family, with my husband and kids, I still feel
like the odd one out. I don’t like to get down-and-dirty with the
outdoors, (although I appreciate the beauty of it very much), I am NOT a
morning person, I don’t laugh easily at every joke or fart, I don’t usually
enjoy being teased, I like things neat and tidy, I enjoy being inside while
everyone else is robustly running/jumping/yelling/climbing outside… You
get the picture.
But it’s okay to be different.
And our differences mean I bring something else to the table. Something only I
can bring. For example… when necessary I am the car pool mom, the shopping
expert, the birthday party planner, the scheduler of all things social, the
baker of sweet treats, the interior decorator and organizer, the goofy mom singing
opera loudly with all the windows open, the one who offers the
best snuggles in the house, and all-around housekeeper extraordinary.
I’ll bet you can come up with your own list… One for all the ways you are
different and feel like the odd one out. And one for all the wonderful –
and maybe a little bit wacky- ways in which you shine. Don’t sell yourself
short. You are after all, an amazing woman. And don’t even try to tell me
different.
Thinking about watching a movie tonight?
Or looking for that next good book? Maybe you just need something new to
listen to? Here are my best picks for you:
MUSIC
Hollyn – Pop with a
unique sound. This girl can sing, and she’s as down-to-earth and real as they
come. As a singer/songwriter, she is an amazing new talent. (My kids love
her, too!) Check out her new album on iTunes here.
Four80East – Jazz with
a soulful, experimental sound. Super smooth and fun to listen to while
driving. Check out their albums (especially Positraction) here.
tobyMac – A melting
pot of pop, funk, soul, R&B, rock and a little reggae thrown in for good
measure. The lyrics are uplifting and the beat will keep you movin’ your feet.
Check out his many albums here.
Jackie Evancho –
Classical. Beautiful, angel voice! Find her albums here.
Josh Groban – Classical. Amazing talent! I love all
his albums.
Jesse Cook – Canadian
guitar player. Elements of new age, jazz, and easy listening. Check him
out here.
Kim Walker-Smith – Gospel. If you like uplifting
music with powerful vocals, you’ll enjoy Kim. She’s the real thing.
MOVIES
Edge of Tomorrow (Action/SciFi)
Interstellar (Drama/SciFi)
Master and Commander (Drama)
Seabiscuit (Drama, based on true story)
The Good Lie
(Drama, based on true story) (find it here)
Have you
ever wondered if there’s such a thing as a “perfect pet”? I suspect
the idea of the perfect pet is subjective, as people have very different needs
and wants when it come to pets. (And just about everything else). As for
myself, my perfect pet would be quiet, well-mannered, NO drool or stink,
friendly and fluffy, able to use a litter box (consistantly), and low
maintenance. How’s that for a list?
Over the
years, I’ve tried to find the perfect pet. But it seemed I was having a little
trouble finding the right fit…
First I
tried rabbits – two different ones at two different times. Unfortunately, they
had to be housed outside so I was never able to bond with them and they did not
bond with me. (I’ve since learned that tiny hutches are a thing of the past,
and not humane for those poor bunnies). The rabbits soon found homes elsewhere.
Then,
after much begging, pleading and cajoling, I succeeded in convincing my parents
that the perfect pet for me would be a hamster. That was a mistake. I didn’t
really know much about hamsters (although I thought I did), and the one I
picked seemed to be completely anti-people and nipped at me whenever I tried to
pick her up. She also developed the annoying habit of sticking her butt up and
peeing out the back of the cage. My mom was not happy with the little trails of
pee running down the glass fireplace doors. But what could I do? Hamsters
can’t be potty trained.
The last
straw was the night my mom woke up to the sound of her favorite slippers being
happily chewed on by a little escapee who had found her way into the bedroom. Mom
grabbed the hamster, only to have her finger promptly chomped down on. It drew
blood. But to my mom’s credit, she held on. Shortly after that, the
hamster was removed from our home, and that was the end of the hamster
experiment.
Next, I
begged for a kitten. I was not alone in this endeavor, and my poor dad finally
broke down under the pressure of three girls begging for kittens, and allowed
us to turn our backyard clubhouse into a “cat house”. (My dad was allergic to
cats, and there was no way a cat was going to set foot in our house). The
backyard setup turned out to be a nice compromise.
A short
time later, we brought our kittens home from the animal shelter and proceeded
to lock them in the “cat house” for a few weeks until they had grown bigger,
and gotten used to us. Anyone who has had outdoor-only cats knows that it’s
just not the same as having an indoor lap kitty. I was hoping for a companion,
and instead got a very shy, fluffy ball of fur. I named her Bambi and loved her
dearly. She was precious. She just wasn’t around very much… Too busy hunting up
mice in the field behind out house, and exploring the neighbor’s food dishes, I
suppose. She wasn’t quite the perfect pet.
Years
later I got married and, since I’d left my aging Bambi cat at my parent’s,
after a while we agreed we should get a cat of our own… so we did. Only to
discover that my husband had allergies to cats, too. So that pet had to find a
new home, and I settled down to wait for my next opportunity…
It came a
few years after my oldest two were born. I decided one day that we should adopt
a rabbit. This time through Craigslist, and it had to be outdoor – on the
covered patio – because we were renting at the time and the owners didn’t want
us to have pets. (They didn’t know me very well, did they?) We finally got
permission and I found one through Craigslist. This bunny was friendly enough
and never nipped, but was not eager to be touched or held at all. Oh well. It
was short-lived as I got pregnant again and realized there was no way I was
able to care for this rabbit, and three busy little kids, too. We found the
perfect home for “Tommy Rabbit” with a little girl who was entering 4H. Bye-bye
bunny!
After
that, I tried two rats, several goldfish, a betta, and my husband decided a
bearded dragon lizard was just the thing for our son to take care of. Didn’t
work. My husband ended up having to take care of it. (My eldest son is not an
animal person). So eventually the little lizard found a much better home.
After we
bought a new house, I decided it was time to try something different. I
strategically planned and schemed, and finally found the “perfect pet”. Guinea
pigs! I found two male guinea pigs from a shelter online and arranged to
“adopt them”. Two months into it, I realized I had made a BIG mistake. Yes, the
guinea pigs were sweet and friendly, and yes, they were quiet (except when they
heard the refrigerator vegetable drawer open), and yes, they were soft.
HOWEVER. They pooped everywhere! I tried every trick and suggestion I
could find online, but to no avail. These boys just continued to do their
business anywhere they pleased. (Including on me). It was a lot of work
cleaning out their cage, even though I used fleece and washed it every week. My
husband began to complain about the smell, and in the end, I decided that
guinea pigs are NOT the perfect pet for me. I did not want more babies to clean
up after – at least not ones I couldn’t potty train. I made a quick title
change, declared myself their “foster mom”, and found a local family who
already had several guinea pigs and other critters, to adopt them. Happy
ending.
There was
just one little problem. I still had all these supplies, cages, etc. that were
now sitting unused in my living room. What to do? Should I sell them off?
Nope. You see, I still had this tiny hope that I could (somehow) find the
perfect pet. Crazy, huh? You bet.
I got up
the courage to (beg) my husband to give me one more chance… And allow me to get
two baby bunnies! Being the amazing man that he is, he agreed. I got them
from a local breeder, at just 12 weeks old. Still little and precious and SO
FLUFFY!! On day two, they both used their litter boxes to pee. ONLY their litter
boxes. And it has been that way ever since. They do leave little droppings in
their cage, and I sweep them up every few days, but it’s SO much easier than
the other pets I’ve had. Quiet, well-manned, don’t drool or stink, I can pick
them up, they are super friendly and jump right in my lap! Overall low
maintenance and yes, they are able to be potty trained. At least to pee in the
right place. That’s huge for me. A deal breaker.
But wait.
I tried rabbits before. So, what’s the difference? It might be a simple
matter of time and experience. I honestly don’t know. Could be a little like
shopping for a new sofa. You get what you pay for. I do find it ironic that I
began with rabbits, and ended up with them, too.
At the
end of the day, I hope no one is offended by my stories of giving up on so many
pets, but honestly, I’ve had a wonderful time trying to find the “perfect pet”
over the years. And if you never try something – how will you know if it works?
Better to try and fail, then to never try at all.
So, in answer to the question… No, I don’t believe there is such a thing as a “perfect pet”. But I do believe there is such a thing as “the right pet for me”. If you’re an animal lover, I hope you’ve found just the right pet for you. And if that happens to be a guinea pig, just be sure to order a lifetime supply of preemie diapers!
–Sara
Sara’s Holland Lop bunnies: Clara (black), and Chloe (white and orange)
