Have I mentioned before how much I LOVE Loralee's Looney Tunes blog?
Seriously, the heartbreak and awesome honesety this woman spews is PHENOMENAL! And she does it all with a hilarious streak a mile wide. Below is a link to her post titled "A Fairy Tale" that is a tribute to her husband of eleven years on their anniversary.
Love it! Love it! Love it!
It's funny, sweet, and corny.
http://loraleeslooneytunes.com/2009/12/19/a-fairy-tale/
LOVE IT SOME MORE!
Showing posts with label lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lessons. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Sesame Street
This week celebrated Sesame Street's 40th birthday! Isn't that awesome?!?! I LOVE that show. The pure excitement and joy my children get when they watch it. . . I remember enjoying it as a child and now the next generation is still enjoying Sesame Street.
Even Google decided to recognize Sesame Street's grand achievement (reaching 40 years of continuous new shows) by including Big Bird's legs in the Google doodle and the very next day, the Google doodle included the ever lovable Cookie Monster.
As the consummate social liberal, I adore that Sesame Street was started in 1969 as a way to educate low-income children. There have been several controverserial moments over the past 40 years that have caused some headaches for PBS, but could they being a good job if they never rocked the boat?
Lyrics to the Sesame Street theme songSunny Days
Sweepin' the Clouds Away
On My Way to Where the Air is Sweet
Can You Tell Me How to Get,
How to Get to Sesame Street?
Come and Play
Everything's A-Okay
Friendly Neighbors There,
That's Where We Meet
Can You Tell Me How to Get,
How to Get to Sesame Street?
It's a Magic Carpet Ride
Every Door Will Open Wide to Happy People Like You
Happy People Like
What a Beautiful
Sunny Day
Sweepin' the Clouds Away
On My Way to Where the Air is Sweet
Can You Tell me How to Get,
How to Get to Sesame Street...?
How to Get to Sesame Street...?
How to Get to Sesame Street...?
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Life Lesson
E (my almost 9-year old daughter) to me: Mom! I have funny toes. Just look at that "piggly" toe...
Me: Your what?
E: My piggly toe. You know, the little one. It's so little and weird.
Me: Honey, do you mean your "pinkie" toe, like this? (I hold up my pinkie finger.)
E: Nooooo. It's my piggly toe.
Me: I think it's called your PINKIE toe.
E: No. It's not.
Me: Are you sure? I think I have always heard it referred to as a pinkie, or maybe a baby, toe.
E: No, Mom! I am right. What do you call this toe? (She is pointing at the toe next to her pinkie toe.)
Me: Ummm... I don't know. It's just a toe.
E: Mom, it's not called a "ring" toe, like on your hand (pointing to her ring finger) -- so, this little toe is my piggly toe -- not my pinkie toe. Toes have different names than fingers. Geez! Don't you know anything?
Me: Ummm... apparently not.
________
How can you argue with that kind of logic? Seriously?! It was flawed but quite ingenious, wouldn't you agree?
Me: Your what?
E: My piggly toe. You know, the little one. It's so little and weird.
Me: Honey, do you mean your "pinkie" toe, like this? (I hold up my pinkie finger.)
E: Nooooo. It's my piggly toe.
Me: I think it's called your PINKIE toe.
E: No. It's not.
Me: Are you sure? I think I have always heard it referred to as a pinkie, or maybe a baby, toe.
E: No, Mom! I am right. What do you call this toe? (She is pointing at the toe next to her pinkie toe.)
Me: Ummm... I don't know. It's just a toe.
E: Mom, it's not called a "ring" toe, like on your hand (pointing to her ring finger) -- so, this little toe is my piggly toe -- not my pinkie toe. Toes have different names than fingers. Geez! Don't you know anything?
Me: Ummm... apparently not.
________
How can you argue with that kind of logic? Seriously?! It was flawed but quite ingenious, wouldn't you agree?
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Trauma
Have you ever read something or watched a news clip and experienced that moment when the news made every single nerve ending in your entire body ache with wretched grief and utter despair?
Unfortunately (and fortunately) I am extremely susceptible to being deeply affected by the moods of those around me. This can include being unbearably sad and distressed at news of other peoples woes (even on behalf of people I don't know.) For this very reason, I do not watch the evening news, or television in general. It is full of awful stories that tear my heart up and I simply cannot bounce back from all of that horrendous news on a nightly basis.
I adore Loralee's Looney Tunes blog. She is the greatest. I love how emotionally raw and brave she is. She says things in an honest and unpretentious way and she doesn't apologize for it. I just read her blog post from September 2008 that shares some of the details of the death of her precious little baby boy, Matthew. Matthew died of SIDS in 2003.
*SIGH*
It is so gut wrenching that I was sobbing -- SOBBING!!!
I just ached with sadness and heartbreak for her. I, too, felt the shattering of her heart. The depth of her despair...
Around the time I was pregnant with E (my oldest child), or soon thereafter, someone very close to me got pregnant unexpectedly and after much agony decided to have an abortion. I remember pleading with my friend to keep the baby and allow me to adopt the baby if they didn't feel prepared to raise it. I don't even want to get into the whole Pro-Life/Pro-Choice debate. It's a highly charged issue with the God-loving Christian, yet strong, crazy Feminist in me. In any case, I pleaded with her to keep the baby and she choose not to. I tried to support her and her decision as best I could, but I grieved for the lost life of the unborn baby. I am still haunted by occasional dreams of meeting that little person and wondering about the "What if's" if that little baby would have grown up.
I am beyond blessed that God has given me four beautiful, healthy children to adore, cherish, honor, worship. My biggest fear EVER is losing one of my children. I love God with all my heart and soul. I also love the children will all of my heart and soul.
It scares me silly to say this, but I do not know if I could ever forgive God if He called one of my children home to heaven. I realize this is a huge thing and an awful thing to even contemplate, but it is something I have lain awake in the middle of the night and worried about.
With my history of severe depression, I do not know if I would make it through the quick sand of endless grief if I lost a child. Even now at this moment, the mere thought of the possibility... I shudder and weep some more.
Tonight, after I am through reading Loralee's tragic, unexplainable experience, I pray for the mercy of my Heavenly Father and beg Him to never EVER put me to that test. I honestly don't know that I could live through it.
More importantly, I pray for the hope and eternal compassion of God for those who belong to the lonely, unbearable club of parents who have lost children. I pray Abba comforts these poor, tortured souls.
Unfortunately (and fortunately) I am extremely susceptible to being deeply affected by the moods of those around me. This can include being unbearably sad and distressed at news of other peoples woes (even on behalf of people I don't know.) For this very reason, I do not watch the evening news, or television in general. It is full of awful stories that tear my heart up and I simply cannot bounce back from all of that horrendous news on a nightly basis.
I adore Loralee's Looney Tunes blog. She is the greatest. I love how emotionally raw and brave she is. She says things in an honest and unpretentious way and she doesn't apologize for it. I just read her blog post from September 2008 that shares some of the details of the death of her precious little baby boy, Matthew. Matthew died of SIDS in 2003.
*SIGH*
It is so gut wrenching that I was sobbing -- SOBBING!!!
I just ached with sadness and heartbreak for her. I, too, felt the shattering of her heart. The depth of her despair...
Around the time I was pregnant with E (my oldest child), or soon thereafter, someone very close to me got pregnant unexpectedly and after much agony decided to have an abortion. I remember pleading with my friend to keep the baby and allow me to adopt the baby if they didn't feel prepared to raise it. I don't even want to get into the whole Pro-Life/Pro-Choice debate. It's a highly charged issue with the God-loving Christian, yet strong, crazy Feminist in me. In any case, I pleaded with her to keep the baby and she choose not to. I tried to support her and her decision as best I could, but I grieved for the lost life of the unborn baby. I am still haunted by occasional dreams of meeting that little person and wondering about the "What if's" if that little baby would have grown up.
I am beyond blessed that God has given me four beautiful, healthy children to adore, cherish, honor, worship. My biggest fear EVER is losing one of my children. I love God with all my heart and soul. I also love the children will all of my heart and soul.
It scares me silly to say this, but I do not know if I could ever forgive God if He called one of my children home to heaven. I realize this is a huge thing and an awful thing to even contemplate, but it is something I have lain awake in the middle of the night and worried about.
With my history of severe depression, I do not know if I would make it through the quick sand of endless grief if I lost a child. Even now at this moment, the mere thought of the possibility... I shudder and weep some more.
Tonight, after I am through reading Loralee's tragic, unexplainable experience, I pray for the mercy of my Heavenly Father and beg Him to never EVER put me to that test. I honestly don't know that I could live through it.
More importantly, I pray for the hope and eternal compassion of God for those who belong to the lonely, unbearable club of parents who have lost children. I pray Abba comforts these poor, tortured souls.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Cruical Life Lessons
These past couple of years have often left me feeling emotionally hazed and haggard. There aren’t too many people who know everything that occurred. And that is okay. It's not necessary to know all the details. Let's suffice to say, I have often felt like a mobile home tossed around by a tornado.
Over the past year, I’ve questioned my sanity, my self worth, my everything. I’ve felt sensible one minute then as if I’ve been pushed into a pool of hot, sharp anguish the next. I’ve felt hopeful for a fleeting second, only to feel like a quivering ball of anxiety and despair the next. I no longer feel like the same woman I used to be. I’ve learned a lot this past year.
I’ve never considered myself a strong person. At least not emotionally.
But when I look back at the past couple of years, I see I’ve still made deadlines, cooked, cleaned the house, did lots of laundry, paid bills, grocery shopped, attended family gatherings, remembered birthdays, as well as tinkered with house and landscape projects. I’ve taken my children to museums, zoos, and parks, as well as met with teachers, volunteered in her classroom, attended soccer and t-ball games, hosted a play dates, lead a girl scout troop, wrote a a weekly newsletter for her elementary school, created the entire yearbook, helped with homework and reached out to my friends in need. I was still able to take on a few new volunteer projects, work on a few other creative endeavors, as well as organize several rooms in our home and even try to organize bits of my life.
In short, the world didn’t stop for me. I had to keep up. People were counting on me. And I delivered. (And yes, millions do it everyday. And no, I don’t expect a medal.) I was still able to make goals for myself and achieve them.
I’ve learned some crucial life lessons this year. I’ve learned to trust my instincts. I learned I’m smarter than what I give myself credit for. I learned that sometimes you have to let go. Sometimes, you have hold on. Sometimes, you have to ask for help. Sometimes you have to give help. Sometimes you have to let go of beliefs you’ve held onto for years. Sometimes you have to create new ones. Sometimes you want to give someone a solid kick in the butt. But sometimes its YOU who needs it. But always. You always need to be true to yourself.
There’s anxiety in change. But there’s also opportunity and hope. And if you keep your mind, heart and eyes open? Who knows what will happen.
Over the past year, I’ve questioned my sanity, my self worth, my everything. I’ve felt sensible one minute then as if I’ve been pushed into a pool of hot, sharp anguish the next. I’ve felt hopeful for a fleeting second, only to feel like a quivering ball of anxiety and despair the next. I no longer feel like the same woman I used to be. I’ve learned a lot this past year.
I’ve never considered myself a strong person. At least not emotionally.
But when I look back at the past couple of years, I see I’ve still made deadlines, cooked, cleaned the house, did lots of laundry, paid bills, grocery shopped, attended family gatherings, remembered birthdays, as well as tinkered with house and landscape projects. I’ve taken my children to museums, zoos, and parks, as well as met with teachers, volunteered in her classroom, attended soccer and t-ball games, hosted a play dates, lead a girl scout troop, wrote a a weekly newsletter for her elementary school, created the entire yearbook, helped with homework and reached out to my friends in need. I was still able to take on a few new volunteer projects, work on a few other creative endeavors, as well as organize several rooms in our home and even try to organize bits of my life.
In short, the world didn’t stop for me. I had to keep up. People were counting on me. And I delivered. (And yes, millions do it everyday. And no, I don’t expect a medal.) I was still able to make goals for myself and achieve them.
I’ve learned some crucial life lessons this year. I’ve learned to trust my instincts. I learned I’m smarter than what I give myself credit for. I learned that sometimes you have to let go. Sometimes, you have hold on. Sometimes, you have to ask for help. Sometimes you have to give help. Sometimes you have to let go of beliefs you’ve held onto for years. Sometimes you have to create new ones. Sometimes you want to give someone a solid kick in the butt. But sometimes its YOU who needs it. But always. You always need to be true to yourself.
There’s anxiety in change. But there’s also opportunity and hope. And if you keep your mind, heart and eyes open? Who knows what will happen.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
X Marks the Spot. Except When It Doesn't
A friend told me this precious story and I couldn't resist sharing.
One morning her sweet son captured a little spider in his hands and stored it in a bucket that he covered up with rain boots to keep the spider from escaping.
“I have a PET!” he exclaimed in delight.
But, alas, his new pet is a wily little thing, and it escaped.
Never one to give up easily, said son pulled out his construction paper and markers. Mom saw him on the kitchen floor with his head bent over the paper earnestly drawing.
“Whatcha doing, Son?” She asked.
“Making a MAP,” he said.
Several minutes later, the map is complete. Son holds it out in front of him as he follows the dotted line. Past daddy… into the dining room…
“HEY!” he shouted from the living room, “But my spider isn’t HERE!”
I am thoroughly confused. “Huh?” Mom looked at Husband, “Do you know what’s going on?”
He nods. “Son made a map to find his lost spider. And then he followed it. Only it didn’t lead to the spider.”
Son stomped to the table and slapped his map down. “Mommy IT DIDN’T WORK!” he shouted. “HMMPH! That makes me ANGRY!”
So my poor friend had to try and explain to said Son that maps don’t always lead you to where you want to go. Especially when where you want to go is to the location of your escaped pet spider.
One morning her sweet son captured a little spider in his hands and stored it in a bucket that he covered up with rain boots to keep the spider from escaping.
“I have a PET!” he exclaimed in delight.
But, alas, his new pet is a wily little thing, and it escaped.
Never one to give up easily, said son pulled out his construction paper and markers. Mom saw him on the kitchen floor with his head bent over the paper earnestly drawing.
“Whatcha doing, Son?” She asked.
“Making a MAP,” he said.
Several minutes later, the map is complete. Son holds it out in front of him as he follows the dotted line. Past daddy… into the dining room…
“HEY!” he shouted from the living room, “But my spider isn’t HERE!”
I am thoroughly confused. “Huh?” Mom looked at Husband, “Do you know what’s going on?”
He nods. “Son made a map to find his lost spider. And then he followed it. Only it didn’t lead to the spider.”
Son stomped to the table and slapped his map down. “Mommy IT DIDN’T WORK!” he shouted. “HMMPH! That makes me ANGRY!”
So my poor friend had to try and explain to said Son that maps don’t always lead you to where you want to go. Especially when where you want to go is to the location of your escaped pet spider.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Doing the Most Good
E and I volunteered through the Salvation Army to work a booth at the Burnsville Mall for The Caring Tree organization. We were responsible for helping collect donated school supplies and clothes for children. 
I was really proud of how well behaved E was and I think it's ALWAYS a good lesson for her to donate her time through volunteer opportunies so she realizes how fortunate we truly are.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Diapers
A random thing I have learned from being a parent: You can wash a clean diaper (Luvs are my brand of choice) in the washing machine, and 50% of the time, it will not explode! It shows you just how truly absorbent a diaper can be! We should be leaving these things on much longer, ladies!
How do I know this? Well, I have now washed a clean diaper 2 times and only once did it explode -- leaving millions of tiny crystal particles all over EVERYTHING. (What the hell are in those things anyway? They look like that silica packet that comes with shoes that you are not supposed to eat.) I noticed the wash was a little noisy, but thought nothing of it until it was done and there sitting at the top of the load was a clean, full, 5 pound diaper. Now, now... stop laughing! No, I did not weigh it but it was AT LEAST 3 pounds!
How did a clean diaper end up in the wash you ask? I choose to blame my mischievous children. Our laundry baskets are all over the house. One basket in particular seems to be very tempting to the children... the basket that sits in front of the washing machine in the kitchen seems to call to the children in a language I do not understand. I often find mystery surprises in the basket -- sometimes before the wash, and other, not-so-fortunate times after the wash.
How do I know this? Well, I have now washed a clean diaper 2 times and only once did it explode -- leaving millions of tiny crystal particles all over EVERYTHING. (What the hell are in those things anyway? They look like that silica packet that comes with shoes that you are not supposed to eat.) I noticed the wash was a little noisy, but thought nothing of it until it was done and there sitting at the top of the load was a clean, full, 5 pound diaper. Now, now... stop laughing! No, I did not weigh it but it was AT LEAST 3 pounds!
How did a clean diaper end up in the wash you ask? I choose to blame my mischievous children. Our laundry baskets are all over the house. One basket in particular seems to be very tempting to the children... the basket that sits in front of the washing machine in the kitchen seems to call to the children in a language I do not understand. I often find mystery surprises in the basket -- sometimes before the wash, and other, not-so-fortunate times after the wash.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Learn the Hard Way
This is your chance to share with the internet, all of your "lessons-learned-the-hard-way".
Here is my random assortment of things that just don't work for me:
Waxing. Technically speaking, this did work for me. I mean in the sense that the hair in question was indeed removed. However, it was not removed before I screamed in pain and nearly threw the waxing-girl across the room. My eyebrows are a bit scary, but I don't know how often I can make myself do that...
Yelling at my child that she should stop yelling so much. Ahem.
Thinking anything is safe in my mini-van parked directly in front of my home under a very bright street lamp. Anything... stolen items over the years include digital camera (Husband's fault!), purse, quarters in the center console, a NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK tape, half drank can of Diet Pepsi, etc. In case I haven't mentioned it before -- Don't park in front of my house over night. JUST DON'T DO IT!
Magic Erasers. I know some people swear by these, but I don't like how they get all slimy and soapy right in your hand. Give me a washcloth and cleaner any day.
Going to the big box store without a well thought out shopping list. I still do this sometimes and unfortunately it never works out well. I always end up with entirely too many Little Debbies in my cart and not enough cans of green beans or diapers or toilet paper or... you get the idea.
Garage sales. I have never found that garage sales make as much money as the work they seem to be to put together. I'd usually rather just donate the items to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. And a charity gets some benefit as well.
So, what doesn't work for you? What have you learned thru hard life experience?
Here is my random assortment of things that just don't work for me:
Waxing. Technically speaking, this did work for me. I mean in the sense that the hair in question was indeed removed. However, it was not removed before I screamed in pain and nearly threw the waxing-girl across the room. My eyebrows are a bit scary, but I don't know how often I can make myself do that...
Yelling at my child that she should stop yelling so much. Ahem.
Thinking anything is safe in my mini-van parked directly in front of my home under a very bright street lamp. Anything... stolen items over the years include digital camera (Husband's fault!), purse, quarters in the center console, a NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK tape, half drank can of Diet Pepsi, etc. In case I haven't mentioned it before -- Don't park in front of my house over night. JUST DON'T DO IT!
Magic Erasers. I know some people swear by these, but I don't like how they get all slimy and soapy right in your hand. Give me a washcloth and cleaner any day.
Going to the big box store without a well thought out shopping list. I still do this sometimes and unfortunately it never works out well. I always end up with entirely too many Little Debbies in my cart and not enough cans of green beans or diapers or toilet paper or... you get the idea.
Garage sales. I have never found that garage sales make as much money as the work they seem to be to put together. I'd usually rather just donate the items to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. And a charity gets some benefit as well.
So, what doesn't work for you? What have you learned thru hard life experience?
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