Bricks

My friend 'Dory' recently wrote a post about how much she misses her dad.  In the post she wrote about an analogy that was in the movie 'Rabbit Hole'. Please take a minute and read her post: Three Years Later

After reading that post, I got to thinking about what 'bricks' I carry around with me. I lost my dad in 1990 when I was just shy of 19.  He died of cancer related to Agent Orange from Vietnam.

He would probably laugh that I put this picture up here for all to see. I am not sure what year this was taken, but it was definitely before 1989 and it was Christmas time in our kitchen.  And yes, I believe his pajama's had the 'flap' in the back...lol  I know that this is Christmas because of all of the Tupperware containers on the counter behind him. My Mum always makes a TON of cookies for Christmas and still uses some of those same containers to this day for her cookies.

This picture kind of cracks me up and make me long for those simple times so many years ago.

This is a 'brick' I have carried around with me for many years. Some of the times I have reached in and it really hurt: my wedding and not being able to have a daddy/daughter dance, the birth of my children and watching them grow up, those are just a few times that it has hurt...but after 20+ years it has become sadly, normal.

Sometimes my Mum and I can talk about him and laugh at the things he did (see above photo) or said..."sufficiently safansafied" :)  (his way of saying he was full at dinner) And other times, like recently when going through old photo's we cry or turn them over so we don't cry.

A few years ago our family lost 4 family member within a year and a half. Some of those bricks are still a little heavy but are starting to lighten up. The hurt is still real and fresh at times but it also has become bearable with time.

Thanks 'Dory' for sharing that little part of a movie that has also helped put into words what is sometimes so hard to do.

Stacy

Sad but True

My Pastor shared this video this morning on his Facebook page.  I shared it as well, but wanted to share it again. 

Sadly there has been a time or two or probably more (ok, I admit, many more times) that I have felt this way.  And even if I am all in the moment and just worshipping God and all that He has done for me I am sure that there are others that are feeling this way.

Have you ever felt like this in church?

Are you a Christmas & Easter believer?

Are you a Sunday and done for the week person?

Do you give it to Him but decide you can work it out on your own better?

At one point or another in my life I have been these people. Some times a few of them at once. I am so thankful that I am now at a point in my life where I am drawing closer to Him. 

Believe me, I am not perfect.  And there are days that go by where I haven't opened my Bible or that I haven't just sat down and taken even 5 minutes to thank Him for anything.

Recently we have started a few new classes and lessons in church with the fall schedule and I am trying harder to give things to Him and to be thankful and prayerful every day.

I hope that you find this video funny, but that you also look at it and see where you need to work on your relationship with Him.  I sure have.

Stacy

Picnic

From the title you probably think this is going to be a post about the Labor Day weekend and what we did, but it isn't.

Picnic is actually the name of the first production this year at Tween's performing arts school. Tween started school on August 24, they had try-outs on August 30th. He got a call back for August 31st and September 1.  On Friday he found out that he got a part in the play.  It isn't a big part but considering he has only been there for a week and he already got a part, we are extremely proud of him.

Now the hard part starts.  He has to leave for school at 6:10 am to catch the bus at 6:30. School does not start until 8:45.  He has a 2 hour bus ride with the other stops.  If I drive down it only takes 50 minutes. School is out at 3:15 and he gets home at 5:15.  Now that he is in a performance he will stay after school for practice and  I will have to go get him when he is done.

The performance is in October for 2 weekends.  I'll be sure to post updates and pictures as the time nears.

Thank you all for your support and prays as he has had a great transition to the new school and absolutely LOVES it.

Stacy


ps - He is playing the part of 'Bomber' if you watch the movie or look up the play.

Teen Traveling

Well, Teen is on the road again. I can't believe how much he has traveled in the last 2 years.

He is currently in Michigan with the YSU band.

Here he is in his uniform. He is now an official YSU Marching Pride Penguin. The first football game is tonight at 7:30 against Michigan State. The band does not usually travel to the away games but since it is their first game for the season they invited the band along.

The game is being broadcast on Big Ten Network tonight. I imagine I will not get to see the band at all but it is still pretty exciting.

They left yesterday at 5:00 and stayed at a hotel near the MSU campus. They practiced earlier today and after the game tonight will head back home. They expect to get in around 4:30 am. Please pray for safe travels on their way back and for him driving back home at that hour.

Stacy

Wednesday Would You

I haven't done this in a while but I was pondering this last week and saved it for today!

Would you rather:

Get a half-hour massage

or

Get a mani-pedi?

This is a hard choice for me...I have only ever had one professional massage. As far as mani-pedi's I have had 2 pedicures and probably 6 manicures in my life. If I had the money I would have a spa day and do all three ;)

So if you had to choose, which would you pick?

Stacy

Dinner

Today on facebook an old high school friend posted this statement:

Toddler tough love...sending your 3 yr old to bed hungry bc she won't eat her dinner (chicken and cheese quesadilla mind you) then making her eat it for breakfast. I was that mom today.

I am having a hard time with this.

When we were kids I remember one sitter who made my sister sit at the table for hours because she would not finish her dinner.

I remember my dad not letting us get up until our plates were empty.

I also remember loving stuffed peppers, just not the pepper part...so I would put mounds of sour cream on my plate so that I could cover the taste of the pepper. And if my grandma was there visiting us, she would 'sneak' the pepper off of my plate so I didn't have to eat it.

I also think that many of the obesity problems with my generation stem from this. I still feel as if I have to finish everything on my plate. Even if I am so full I can't eat another bite, I continue to eat until my food is gone.

I have never been one to make my child finish their plate. Now I do make them at least try a bite of something, but if they are full, I let them get up from the table. However, if they don't finish their plate, they do not get a snack in 20 minutes.

There are a few meals that hubby and I like that one of more of the kids don't care for and they have tried it on several occasions. So I have always given my kids the option of peanut butter and jelly or cereal if they don't like what is being served. I know some parents that go to the complete opposite extreme and cook a special meal for each person.

So I am curious, what is the rule in your house? Do they have to finish their plate? Do you have an optional meal if they do not like what is being served? Do you make special meals for each child?

Stacy

Little S

My Little S LOVES LOVES LOVES his John Deere and Tonka tractors and diggers. And every year for the last 5 years he has gotten one from his Grandparents Olivo for his fake birthday.

This is one example of what he does with them...thinking it borders on toy abuse...lol



But they are well love and well used.

Stacy

Bathroom Part 2

Recently we were without our air conditioning in our apartment for a week and a half. It just also happened to be the hottest week so far in our area. We stuck it out during the week but my parents offered for us to come stay with them for a few days to get a break from the heat.

So we left Thursday night (since I am off on Friday's) and stayed through Sunday evening. I was not going to go home to the heat sooner than I had to.

Friday morning I got up and moving around and went into the bathroom. The roll was almost empty so I got under the cabinet and replaced it.

Later in the afternoon I went into the bathroom again and the roll was once again empty except for 2 squares. I was at first a little confused and then I was a little angry to think that my boys went through a whole roll of toilet paper in just a few hours....what were they doing with it? Eating it? Decorating?

Anyhow, I open the cabinet and reach for another roll and there isn't one there. Now I know that there was at least one more roll under there when I changed it earlier in the day. Where did it go? My boys were going to be in serious trouble if they went through 2 rolls!

So I turn around and the tissue box is also missing from the bathroom. Great! Now what? My parents have a large house and no one is going to hear me yell for paper. So there I sit listening for someone to come down the hallway...thinking I might have to drip dry.

Pretty soon my sidekick that never leaves my side comes wondering down the hall looking for me and I holler to Little S to tell grandma that there isn't any tissue in the bathroom.

When she came back and told me to use the cardboard, I thought ha ha...very funny.

I then learned that my dad had this planned all day. The first time I went in and it was almost empty, he had forgotten to remove the extra rolls from under the sink.

They all got a kick out of making fun of me. But sadly my dad had just left to go to the store and missed the whole thing play out.

I'm glad that I could make the family laugh :)

Stacy

Facing My Fears

Anyone that know me at all knows that I absolutely do not like nor do I use public restrooms. I have been known to go 10-12 hours without using a restroom during the day if I am not home or somewhere I am comfortable.

That being said make this next story even more hilarious.

Tween and I were recently on an expedition of sorts and we left about 12:15 am and arrived at our destination at 1 am. We got settled in and by 10 am we were seated.

With all of the planning we did for this event, I never thought about having to use a public restroom. Honestly the thought never crossed my mind.

However by 2 pm I knew that I was going to have to break down and be brave and use the public restroom. Tween assured me that they were pretty clean. Of course he was using the men's and I was going to have to use the women's.

I put it off a little longer but by 3 pm I had to give in. So off I went, by myself, leaving behind my purse and such with Tween at our seats.

It didn't start out so bad. First off there weren't any entrance exit doors as there were corridors. That made me feel a little better as I didn't have to touch a gross door handle :)

So I look around a little and pick my, umm, stall...lol

I went in and use the facilities. As I reach for the toilet paper, guess what...there wasn't ANY!!! Ugh! What was I going to do? Seinfeld's "Can You Spare A Square Episode" running through my head.

I look to the right and there isn't anyone in that stall. I look to the left and noticed that who/what ever was in there had been standing backwards the entire time so I was not about to ask for a square.

What to do?? Well since I left my purse back at the seats, my only other option was to rip the cardboard liner apart and use it. To say it was uncomfortable and lacking absorb-ability would be an understatement. But I had no other choice.

So I go out to the sink and notice a girl just standing there with wet hands and as I wet mine and reach for the soap, she tells me that they are empty. We tried 3 different dispensers and although one was clearly full, the handle was broken :( She was just as disgusted as I was!

Thankfully again there weren't any exit doors so I quickly walked back to my seat without touching anything and had Tween get the hand sanitizer out for me.

At the time this wasn't funny, but seriously only I would have this experience. Since I never use public facilities I never thought to check for tissue paper upon entering the stall, I didn't even consider taking my purse in or my own soap.

Next time, if there ever has to be one, I will be more prepared!

Stacy

Funny Moment

I have a story to tell that tomorrow. But for today a funny!

Yesterday Tween got some disappointing news and several of my friends were also waiting for the answer. So I text them and let them know the answer he got. Although I got several texts back here are two texts I got in a row from two different friends.

First Dory sent this text: Awww poop

Then Shannon sent me this: Oh man. Stink :(

My Tween was so upset at the time and when I read him the two back to back texts he even had to laugh.

Thanks for making a tough situation a little easier if only for a minute.

Stacy