tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23106882561963937202024-03-13T22:02:55.551-07:00Extraodinarily OrdinaryOne Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-80270230609568203672014-10-07T15:18:00.000-07:002014-10-07T15:18:10.087-07:00October is my Favorite SeasonOkay, I know October is not a season. But fall has arrived here in our little corner of the Midwest. The funny thing about fall here is that at the end of September, you can spend a day at the zoo in your shorts and tee shirt (C got to help out at the Cheetah show and show how Cheetah adaptations work)...<br />
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...and then hit the middle of the week where you catch lizards at the bus stop in long sleeves and shorts (or short sleeves and pants, as One Ordinary Dad exhibits)...<br />
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...and then by the first weekend in October you are bundled up in hats and vests and sweatshirts in front of a roaring bonfire. </div>
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Don't mind B- he was making friends with some chickens at this past weekend's bonfire/hayride/fall gathering. <br />
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The thing is, I lived with the seasons for my entire life. And I'm pretty sure I couldn't live without them. I love the way they force rhythms on our lives. I love the way that summer is busy and crazy and hot. I love how fall calms us down and prepares us to lie dormant for a while. I love winter and the way we seem to just rest more while the snow falls (don't get me wrong though...the winter blues do set in for a bit after the holidays, but that's what skiing and sledding and hot chocolate and the occasional escape to a warmer climate when we can afford it are for). And then spring comes, like it always does. We "wake up" from our hibernation and slowly start gearing up to run headfirst into summer.<br />
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The leaves are changing colors. The space heaters are on (we live in a small house, no need to turn on the heat just yet as temperature is still warm enough during the day). We have trips to pumpkin patches still to make. And the little one growing inside me still has just a smidge more baking to do. Sweaters and sweatshirts are replacing tees and tanks. The dark comes earlier. Costumes are being readied. Treats are being purchased. Parent-teacher conferences are taking place. Hot chocolate is replacing ice cream for dessert. Blankets are being pulled out on movie night. <br />
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And it's beautiful. Yes, October is my favorite season.<br />
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~One Ordinary Mom :-)<br />
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PS...Isn't my little cello player (in her fall sweats) adorable? She actually got moved up to the advanced class thanks to her experience playing violin last year and One Ordinary Dad's musical teachings (the man was a music major in college)...although I'm sure there is some natural talent involved too. Also, I'm not one to brag...advanced is just a fancy way of saying that she's going to move at an accelerated pace with some older kids since this is the first year cello has been offered in grades K-3. <br />
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<br />One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-56229229661378344572014-09-12T07:52:00.003-07:002014-09-12T07:53:56.377-07:00She Shares Truth: Hosea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today marks the end of an <a href="http://www.shereadstruth.com/" target="_blank">online Bible study</a> I’ve been
participating in covering the book of Hosea. So today, a lot of the
participants are sharing their truths- what they learned over the last 17 days
of study—and I thought I would join in on the fun.<br />
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If you’re unfamiliar with the story of Hosea, it’s this in a
nutshell: God asks Hosea to marry Gomer. Gomer is a prostitute. It’s hard. She’s
unfaithful. She runs away from Hosea. But God uses this as a metaphor for
Himself and Israel. The Israelites have run away from God. They deserve
punishment and wrath, just like Gomer deserves consequences, but God shows
mercy. He beckons Israel to return, and He loves them all the same. It goes
deeper and there’s a whole lot more. It’s worth a read. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyway, there were three big ideas that this study brought to
the surface for me. This is long. Please hang in there. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I 1. I am Israel. I run away from God a lot. What do
I mean by this? I mean that even though I know God shows up and provides and
works slow miracles in my life, there are times where I run from Him and seek
attention, approval, comfort, etc. in other things. I’m a recovering
approval-addict. I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t want to be
liked. And sometimes I did some things totally out of character for me to win
the approval of others. And sometimes it didn’t really matter. God approves of
me just as I am. Period. I don’t need to run from Him to get approval. His
approval should be enough. The other thing about running is that sometimes when
I’ve run away from God, I’ve made some mistakes. For example, early in my
career, as I strove to win approval from coworkers and friends, I did some
damage on a couple of credit cards. I thought I needed to wear certain things,
eat at certain restaurants, belong to a certain gym, go to certain happy hours,
see certain movies, etc. in order to be well-liked. But my budget didn’t allow
for it. Eventually, when I realized what a mess I was making, God was there for
me. He is always there in the return. The thing I never considered until now
though? God is with us as we live out the consequences of our actions. Running
towards material things and racking up debt in order to win approval had its
consequence- I needed to pay off the debt. Returning to God and saying I’m
sorry for not letting His approval be enough was a start. And while He is God
and could’ve easily put a bonus check or a winning lottery ticket in my hand to
pay off the debt instantly, He didn’t But He was with me as I cleaned up the
mess. As I canceled memberships, turned down invitations, made and stuck with a
strict budget—He was there through all of it, restoring me. So yes, I’ve run
from God before. Many times. But I’ve returned. And now I’ve learned that just
because I come back, I don’t get a free pass on consequences, but I do get God,
who gets in the mess with me while I clean it up. <o:p></o:p></div>
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2. Hard things. I <a href="http://oneordinaryfamily.blogspot.com/2014/09/hard-things.html" target="_blank">wrote about this a couple ofweeks</a> ago. God asks us to sometimes do hard, but right things. Lately I’ve been
feeling the pull to do the hard thing of loving people that are hard to love.
And I said I needed to start with my daughter, because she’s not me and
sometimes she is frustrating to love (I’ve never not loved her, just to be
clear—I’ve just not loved her as well I could have because I’ve been hard on
her and expected her to be exactly like me). Last weekend my husband went out
of town to visit his dad and took our son with him. It gave me the chance to
love my sweet C exactly how she needed to be loved. It was refreshing and
needed for both (though pretending to be My Little Pony unicorns at 7:30am is
HARD). God revealed so much about her amazing spirit and personality to me—things
I hadn’t really “seen” because of my expectations and frustrations with her.
She may have a strong personality, but the girl embodies the whole “dance like
no one is watching, sing like no one is listening” cliché. Here's a snapshot of our weekend:<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. Idols. There are things in my life I tend to
idolize and that’s not okay. Idols are anything that we put before God—things we
worship instead of Him. During this study God brought it to my attention that I
idolize rest. I’m not saying rest is a bad thing. It’s not (<a href="http://oneordinaryfamily.blogspot.com/2014/08/and-breathe.html" target="_blank">I wrote about how sometimes we need it badly here</a>). My idolizing rest was
a bad thing. I would obsess over making sure I was getting enough rest. If I
felt I didn’t get enough, I let it color my day (“I only got x hours of sleep
last night so today is going to stink.”). On days when I didn’t think my rest
had been sufficient, I found myself being more negative, living with a short
fuse, losing my patience more easily. I’m learning to trust God with the rest
He gives me and not obsess over it the way I have for so much of my adult life.
I’m praying He redeems the rest I do get. And you know what? He’s been faithful
so far. The night I only got about four hours of sleep? Normally that would
send me over the edge and into freak out mode, snapping at people and having “woe
is me” break down moments. But instead, I went to work the next day, kicked
butt with my lesson plan, was patient with my students and my own children, and
ended up being rewarded with some pretty solid sleep the next night (which is
nice at 32 weeks pregnant). Again, rest is needed and it’s not a bad thing. It
was my obsessing over it the way some might obsess over working out or eating
healthy (both good things) that was turning it into an idol. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you’re still reading, thanks! Go check out Hosea. And
remember, it’s never too late to return from your running, to do hard, but
right things, and to smash your idols. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Blessings, <o:p></o:p></div>
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One Ordinary Mom :-)<o:p></o:p></div>
One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-42773418111811854832014-09-01T16:31:00.000-07:002014-09-01T16:35:02.595-07:00Hard Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been engaged in an <a href="http://www.shereadstruth.com/" target="_blank">online women's Bible study</a> for the last several weeks. Right now we're about a third of the way through a study on Hosea. And <a href="http://shereadstruth.com/2014/08/29/knows-whats-coming/" target="_blank">this post</a> has really left me thinking about a lot. So much so that I decided to blog some of my thoughts just to get them out somewhere. <br />
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The general gist of the post is that God sometimes asks us to do hard things, but they're the right things. Just like He asked Hosea to take Gomer, a prostitute, as his wife. I recommend at least reading the post if not digging into Hosea for more about it. Anyway, it was the right thing for Hosea to do, even though it was a hard thing. And as the post puts it, "God never said the right thing would be the easy thing."<br />
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So it got me thinking about what hard, but right, thing or things God may be asking of me. I'm fortunate in that I'm not someone struggling with abuse or addiction or hard relationships or bitterness or any number of other hard things that some women out there are struggling with and that God may be asking them to deal with right now. The volunteering I do at church is not hard for me (I play with babies). My job is not hard for me (there are individual days that are hard as a teacher, but I don't wake up dreading work each day). God is not calling me to sell everything and move to a third world country. Or to take an unfaithful spouse. Or to adopt a child. Or any number of hard things He asks of people (knowing the end of the story is worth it). In fact, other than this pregnancy being hard on me physically (um....yeah, let's just say I never knew one could need physical therapy during pregnancy to help ease pain), my life is relatively easy right now. And maybe that's why I've been stewing over this one.<br />
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As I've read and re-read it and prayed about it, the theme of the post and of Hosea started to become more apparent and relevant in my situation though: LOVE. The more I've prayed about it, the more God has brought to mind people in my life that are hard to love. And He's put it on my heart that right now, maybe the hard, but right, thing I need to do right now is just keep loving them. Even when I don't necessarily want to make time to listen to them vent or complain (whether or not they willingly do the same for me). Even when I feel like they've insulted me (which brings up some forgiveness issues, but that's for another post). Even when I feel like they are making poor choices (I mean, who am I to judge). Because a little love can go a long way.<br />
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And with whom do I need to start? The person on the forefront of my mind is my daughter. And before you think "how could she not love her daughter?" you need to know this: I would take a bullet for her, push her out of the way of traffic, and sacrifice everything for her (and for her brother and her sister). I straight up love that girl like I never thought it was possible to love another human being. But sometimes....she is hard to love. She is strong-willed like me, but unlike me she is not a people-pleasing recovering-approval-addict. Which means that where I tried to be a leader at my school and wanted to be teacher's pet, she could actually care less whom she impresses. Which meant that as a kindergarten student last year, there were some notes home and phone calls about outbursts and impulse control and things that I took personally as a teacher myself. "Why can't she just pull it together like I did?" was the question on my mind on those days. In other words, "why can't she just be more like me?"<br />
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Because she's not me. She is exactly how God made her. And sometimes when her personality and my personality collide, she can be hard to love. She can be frustrating to love. But she is oh so worth loving. So I'm trying to throw out the window all of my preconceived notions of how I think she should be based on who I was and just love her for who she is right now. Mothering is a hard thing. Loving your kids can sometimes be a hard thing. But they are right things. God never promised the right things would be easy.<br />
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~One Ordinary Mom :-)<br />
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P.S. I promise I love my kids something fierce. But I really wanted an honest post. There are a lot of days when my kiddos are easy to love-- we had a lot of them this summer. And this school year has started off much better than last year for my sweet C. But this reminder to keep on loving her even when it's really hard to do it was much needed as we move forward. And as I work on loving her when it's hard, I hope it'll spill over to loving other people in my life when loving them is hard too. <br />
<br />One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-77697820979258636582014-08-23T08:50:00.001-07:002014-08-23T08:50:30.587-07:00And BreatheI'm seven days into the new school year. A new school year that brought lots of new changes. Chief among them is the change in time. For the last decade I've taught four, 60 minutes classes, and a half-hour intervention bell. Now, I teach five, 50 minute classes, and a 50 minute research bell. Our school day hours didn't change, so I basically have 50 minutes less each week to impart all there is to know about 8th grade Language Arts to my students...and I have 28 more students to teach. And that pesky research period to supervise and monitor. And 50 minutes less planning time each week than I previously had (you know, that time when I'm supposed to grade and plan and make copies so I don't have to stay after school to do it or come in on weekends).<br />
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I'm not complaining though. The schedule is exhausting. Being 29 weeks pregnant doesn't help. But seven days in (and with about 75% of their names learned...yes, it takes me awhile), and I know it will be okay. I just need to breathe.<br />
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We were busy at our house last week. Monday we had C's first grade orientation. Tuesday was small group. Wednesday was "take C school supply shopping day" (lucky girl doesn't start until Monday). Thursday I had my Open House and One Ordinary Dad took the kiddos to B's Open House at his preschool/daycare. Last night we had Suzuki orientation for C's school (she played violin last year, but she's going to give cello a try this year-- I'm super pumped; plus, we bought a violin, so she can still play it if she wants, but we're all about exposure to different instruments and trying new things).<br />
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My in-laws graciously invited the kiddos over for a sleepover last night. One Ordinary Dad and I got to enjoy some food truck goodness and a free jazz concert after the Suzuki orientation before we came home and collapsed. I slept hard. A good nine hours. <br />
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Today, One Ordinary Dad is giving more time to just breathe. He's picking up the kiddos from his parents' house and then taking them to the museum-- a favorite spot. I'm planning to read and rest and knit and enjoy these few hours alone.<br />
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Let's face it, sometimes we all need that time to recharge. I used to struggle and feel guilty about it. Days when One Ordinary Dad would take the kids somewhere would leave me feeling guilty that I wasn't out there with them. But the reality is that I'm a better mom when I ask for that time off every once in a while. When I tell my husband that if he could just give me some time alone to regroup, I promise to come back a better person. Sometimes this looks like him going off on adventures with our kids. Sometimes it looks like the three of them playing at home while I wander around Ikea or a bookstore. I've found this happens about every six weeks or so-- this need to recharge. I've stopped feeling guilty about needing that time, because I know it does wonders to restore my soul. I'm thankful that my husband gets this and gives me that time (don't worry, I give it to him when he needs it too).<br />
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I want to encourage any other mamas out there to not feel guilty about needing that breathing room. It's okay to ask your husband or in-laws or parents or the teenager across the street (well, you'll have to pay her) to have some fun with your kiddos while you bow out and rest. In fact, if you look in the Bible you'll remember that even God rested. Take a Sabbath. Take a breather. And don't feel guilty. You do a lot. <br />
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Thankfully this week is not full, not at all. Other than our normal small group, we will simply be getting back into the routine of school now that C will finally be back. And counting down the days until we are a family of five.<br />
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Blessings and REST to you,<br />
One Ordinary Mom<br />
<br />One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-86627758856727809552014-08-13T17:13:00.003-07:002014-08-13T17:13:53.103-07:00Light Up the Beginning of a New Decade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Tomorrow I start a new decade of teaching. It's year 11. Actually, tomorrow the students arrive; I've been at school all week. I can't say it's something I'm excited about or to which I've been looking forward. It's not really job dissatisfaction so much as it is my heart is really with my kids at home. B is already back at school too though and C starts in a little over a week. August always kind of feels this way, but this year is more intense. I kept kind of hoping some miracle would happen and I'd just be able to take a year off.<br />
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I'm not going to go into details, but there is a culture of negativity in my district right now. I have hope that it can and will change. God didn't perform a quick miracle over our circumstances so that I could just take the year off-- finish off these last 12 weeks of pregnancy and spend several months at home with our little one. And as I've been praying and reflecting, I've come to learn it's because He wants me at my job. To be a light. To be positive. To be His hands and feet.<br />
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And it's that reflection, that which my creator has put before me, that makes going to bed tonight knowing I need to get up before the sun tomorrow to welcome 150 new fresh faces into my room, easier. Daily, I will try hard to light up the dark places with my coworkers, with my students, with my students' parents. And my hope and my prayer is that little by little that light will spread, that a slow miracle will take place, and that culture of negativity will disappear. Maybe then, other Augusts won't feel so much like this August. They'll feel better.<br />
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Time to light up the start of a new decade.<br />
<br />
~One Ordinary Mom<br />
<br />One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-12215870799928654802014-08-06T18:08:00.001-07:002014-08-06T18:08:34.095-07:00When Plans Change: Unexpected SurprisesI am a planner. Type A all the way. I needed to know yesterday what the plans are for next weekend. I've been working on spontaneity a lot this summer, mostly in the form of just saying "yes" to whatever my kids ask to do (which usually isn't a huge stretch for me as it either involves the pool, the playground, the museum center, or the zoo).<br />
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This is my last full week of summer vacation. Naturally I had it all planned out. A neat little to-do list of experiences to check off. One more zoo trip. One more museum center trip. A trip to the playground where we can feed the ducks our stale leftover waffles from Saturday morning. A matinee of <i>Planes Fire and Rescue</i>. Checking out a new indoor playplace. A meetup with a college roommate and her kids. So much to cram into one more week at home with them.<br />
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So on Monday we set off to the zoo. A little over an hour into our trip (I had packed a lunch- I had PLANNED on staying for several hours), my normally rambunctious six-year-old sidled up next to me and told me she didn't feel like herself and wanted to go home. My heart started to race and I think I half expected her to puke on the spot. But she said her belly didn't hurt, she was just tired. Water and some Craisins didn't help. She still wanted to come home. So we did. And she dozed on and off on the couch for the rest of the day. And for much of Tuesday (there went the park with the ducks and the matinee). The final verdict reached early this morning was strep throat. Afternoon plans were cancelled and antibiotics prescribed. She's on the rebound now-- pretty much back to normal and ready to head out on an adventure tomorrow. She doesn't care that two days of my plans for her had to be cancelled or changed around. And there were some unexpected surprises in that.<br />
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The unexpected surprise of taking B to the river to throw rocks (a favorite activity of his) and having him all to myself while she slept. The unexpected surprise of having a quiet morning to make muffins and birthday cake for One Ordinary Dad and arrange his presents just so. <br />
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The unexpected surprise of a little more time to read while my sweet girl
rested and my boy quietly sat by her side on the couch and patted her
leg (those two really have an amazing bond). The unexpected surprise of a
long midday walk alone while both kids napped (it's kind of nice to have a husband who works from home). The unexpected surprise of a little extra time than I anticipated to go get my classroom ready. The unexpected snuggles. The unexpected quiet. It was actually, unexpectedly, good for my soul. <br />
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I learned today that these unexpected flowers that appeared recently in our backyard are called "surprise lilies." In nine years of living in this house I've never seen them before. What a beautiful surprise and the perfect end to what I was wrestling with in my heart.<br />
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Sometimes plans change unexpectedly. Things don't go the way we want. And it's easy to have a pity party (I was having one big time on Tuesday morning when it was clear that it wasn't just the weekend catching up with C). I didn't want to deal with a sick kid on my last week of summer break with just the two of them. I didn't want to deal with cancelling and changing my plans. But it turned out okay. And I know these were just superficial little end of summer fun plans, but if I can trust God for the unexpected surprises and blessings when the little plans change, then certainly I can have faith to hold onto him when big important plans change, when the unexpected surprises may take longer to appear, when it really matters.<br />
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~One Ordinary Mom :-)<br />
<br />One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-65333666475058624872014-07-28T07:58:00.001-07:002014-07-28T08:00:24.722-07:00Things Take Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A couple of weeks ago, our pastor at church spoke about "slow miracles." Yes, the miracles that happen in an instant and immediately are wonderful, but most take time.<br />
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In my last post I mentioned that I felt like this summer had been a sort of time of reinvention-- but if we're being honest, it's really been something going on within me over the last few years with the most intensity coming this summer. I don't know that I have the vocabulary to really describe it, but I'll give it a shot and try to keep it short.<br />
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Basically, I've kind of stopped caring. Not in an "I've given up" kind of way, but in the "I no longer care what other people think" kind of way. I am a recovering approval-addict. Starting around high school, I cared so much what others thought that I didn't really know who I was. I wanted my teachers and friends to think I was smart and witty and good at a lot of things. I wanted strangers to think my makeup and clothes and semi-athletic build meant I had it all together. I did everything every glossy magazine told me to do. It continued into college and into my early career. <br />
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But at some point in the last few years (I can't really pinpoint when things changed), I stopped seeking that approval so desperately. The growth I began experiencing in my faith started spilling over into my work and my friendships. I heard God whispering that His was truly the only approval that mattered.<br />
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And of course I've still struggled and still fought it. I've still been a sucker for a trendy outfit. I've still picked up books that everyone has raved about but that I really didn't like. I've still made sure I haven't left the house without makeup.<br />
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This summer though, I've done those things less and less. I haven't picked up a glossy magazine and couldn't tell you what the fall trends are-- not that they matter since the majority of my maternity clothes are seven years old and I really don't want to buy more with 15 weeks left to go. I've left the house without makeup more than I've left with makeup. I've pursued my own interests, read the things I want to read, and not put much effort into making sure people think I'm particularly smart or witty or that I have it all together (I really don't). It's been a slow transformation and reinvention of sorts. <br />
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Over the weekend, I went to the shores of Lake Erie with my family for a day. I walked along the beach and picked up some sea glass. There wasn't a lot to find given that a break wall stops a lot of "stuff" from coming to shore, but the sea glass gave me pause for a bit. Sea glass goes into the water as trash. It is litter. It is broken and ugly and rough around the edges. But the more time it spends in the water, the smoother it becomes. It turns into something beautiful and worth holding onto.<br />
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Slow miracles are like that. It takes time for God to smooth out our broken and ugly and rough edges and turn them into something beautiful. But the process is worth it.<br />
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I'm not finished yet. Not by a long shot. But I feel like a lot of those broken and ugly and rough edges have been undergoing a gradual smoothing process as I let go of the need for approval from others, as I grow in my relationship with my creator, and as One Ordinary Dad and I wait patiently for God to move on the vision we have for our family.<br />
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Fast miracles bring fast relief and freedom. But relief and freedom exist in the slow miracles too.<br />
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Blessings, <br />
One Ordinary Mom :-)<br />
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PS...If you'd like to listen to the slow miracles sermon, head here: <a href="http://www.crossroads.net/my/media/messages.php#207">http://www.crossroads.net/my/media/messages.php#207 </a><br />
Click on the "Wonders Oakley" message from 7/19. One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-16927299526465780612014-07-22T07:40:00.004-07:002014-07-22T07:43:47.450-07:00It's Been a Year?!?Is anybody out there?<br />
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It's been almost a year since my last post. And that's okay. We were busy with kindergarten, and One Ordinary Dad's new job (and then another new job, and then another new job-- we think this one will work for a long while and is a good fit for our family), B starting preschool somewhere, keeping house, having fun, and dreaming big.<br />
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Which brings us to today. I started blogging at a time when pretty much none of my family members had joined Facebook. Blogging was a way to show off pictures of my kiddos without sending annoying picture-heavy emails each day. They're all on Facebook now, and let's be real, I just lost steam.<br />
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But I'm back. We'll see how long I manage to stick around this time. Our 2014 resolution was inspired by Donald Miller's <i>A Million Miles in a Thousand Years</i>-- we're going to live a better story Okay, we kind of started this before 2014, but we're continuing to live it out (<a href="http://oneordinaryfamily.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-better-story.html" target="_blank">more here</a>). It doesn't mean we're spending oodles of money (though we did visit the mouse a few months ago).<br />
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It means saying yes to the things we want for our family-- for the story we're living and creating each moment. And it means saying no to things we know don't benefit our family or have a part in our story (yet-- not all things we say no to are bad). <br />
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And it's working. 2014 has been really really good to us. Our biggest yes of all?<br />
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Well, we decided to say yes to another baby. We've been waffling on this one for about a year. And then back in the winter it became clear to both One Ordinary Dad and I-- our family just wasn't complete. Miss E will complete our family when she arrives this fall.<br />
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So for now I'm getting ready to start my eleventh year teaching, Miss C will be in first grade, B is going back to preschool, One Ordinary Dad is working from home, and we're soaking up the summer sun (and dancing in the summer rains) as much as we can as we live our story. <br />
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This summer has also been a reinvention of sorts for me. Maybe that's why I logged back on and wrote this post. More on that later, but let's just say I'm finally, at the age of 32, figuring out who I am and who I want to be, and feel incredibly comfortable in my skin.<br />
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Blessings to you all, whoever is still reading,<br />
One Ordinary Mom<br />
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<br />One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-32439266037429541732013-08-07T07:43:00.002-07:002013-08-07T07:43:29.239-07:00Drastic MeasuresWe had a great routine before we headed out for vacation. The kids would wake up each morning and play, sometimes watching a little PBS Kids. By 10 am or so, we were usually out the door for a walk, a trip to the library, a visit one of several nearby playgrounds, the pool, the zoo, a playdate, etc. We'd either pack a lunch or be home in time for lunch. Naps came after lunch, with Miss C sometimes opting to take one as well. Once B was up, we stuck close to home, taking another walk or playing in the basement or outside until One Ordinary Dad got home from work. It was peaceful. It worked.<br />
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And then it broke. The first week after our beach vacation, we still kind of stuck to the routine. Gradually, though, C began to unravel. We noticed it in the little things at first-- talking back to us, telling us "no," grabbing toys from her brother and then lying about it. Actions that resulted in losing trips to the park and the pool and playdates. But those little things snowballed into bigger things, and after she ran ahead of One Ordinary Dad at the mall, despite his telling her to stay close, we decided it was time to do something drastic.<br />
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You see, we want to raise grateful, polite, loving kids. Most of the time, those are the adjectives I'd use to describe C and B. But not lately. And especially not C. And while some would tell me that her behavior is typical for a five-year-old and it's just her response to being out of her routine, it's behavior that is unacceptable in our family.<br />
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So we took away ALL of her toys. We had some empty Rubbermaid containers in the basement and she helped us pack up everything-- all of her Playmobil, Legos, dollhouse stuff, dress-ups, stuffed animals, EVERYTHING that she claimed as hers. We left out books, art supplies, puzzles, and games (and B's toys). <br />
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We had a discussion with her about choosing love and gratitude. We talked about how Mommy and Daddy always make sure she has good food to eat, and nice clothes to wear, and a warm house to live in, and that all of the toys and "stuff" she has are just bonus items because we love her. We talked about the importance of being her "brother's keeper" and putting him first (which is hard to to do for a five-year-old). Now that the only "toys" she can play with are B's, we talked about playing on his terms and going along with him. We talked about there being no such thing as saying "thank you" and "I love you" too much. We told C that as we "catch" her choosing love and gratitude, she will slowly start to earn her toys back. To be honest though, I'm thinking about selling some of them-- the ones she rarely plays with and just take up space.<br />
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It was hard at first, but we're starting to see a shift. B is 2.5 and so he's just starting to learn how to pretend play and follow a storyline with another kid. C is teaching him that as she plays with him. She's creating some different rules to some of her games so that B can play too and the game goes quickly and keeps his attention. I think this morning I've seen them playing together better and for a longer duration of time than I have in awhile. <br />
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It's not just about shifting C's attitude. It's about shifting attitudes for all of us. Over the last few weeks, we've cleaned out our basement and our closets. Kids hand-me down clothes have been sorted and distributed to friends and family (we keep the cycle going since we get so many from friends). Other clothes (like half of my wardrobe) were donated (our rule-- if you haven't worn it in the last year, it's gone). And One Ordinary Dad and I made a pact-- we're just going to save for the good stuff. Instead of buying a larger quantity of cheaper clothes and shoes (when we need them), we're going to save and invest in a smaller quantity that are better made and will last longer-- so they don't end up in the Goodwill pile, or worse, in the landfill, within a year or two. We're rethinking holidays and birthdays (not that we've been over-indulgent by any means, but when we buy toys, they need to be toys that will be played with and that will last-- like the kids' Legos and Playmobil-- instead of a ton of cheap stuff that inevitably breaks). Books, puzzles, and games that we can all enjoy will take a slightly higher priority too.<br />
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Living in a small house helps. We don't have a lot of storage room, which means we can't hold onto things. When toys are no longer played with, when books are no longer read or loaned out repeatedly and there's no more room on the shelf, when clothes are no longer worn, we find new homes for them instead of hanging onto them. We make room for the new stuff. I'm letting go of the sentimentality of some things ("oh, that was C's first Little People set" or "that was the dress I wore when I got hired" or "we can't possibly get rid of ALL 70 some pieces of artwork from C's preschool years"). There's a saying that says "take a picture, it'll last longer." I have plenty of pictures of my kids in the cute outfits that were my favorites, playing with toys that were "firsts," and One Ordinary Dad took the time recently to photograph ALL of Cate's preschool artwork so I can put it into a Shutterfly book (I kept one picture with her handprints that she made me for Mother's Day, the rest was recycled). <br />
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We're trying hard to be a family that recognizes that we are beyond blessed and we're trying hard to cultivate that recognition and gratitude in our kids. We truly have more than we need, and there's nothing wrong with that, as long as we don't feel entitled to more or find security in our "stuff." It's why we start out before-bed prayers each night listing the parts of our day and our lives for which we are most thankful.<br />
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And in other news, we spent a lovely weekend at a free Cincinnati Symphony and Cincinnati Pops concert in the park (the second half of the show, they had a digital light show projected on Music Hall), One Ordinary Dad celebrated a birthday, and B went to his first Reds game. <br />
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I'll let you know how our "drastic measures" and fight against excess works out and how effective it is in helping change C's attitude (really, all of our attitudes). It's part of living <a href="http://oneordinaryfamily.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-better-story.html" target="_blank">our better story</a>. <br />
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~One Ordinary Mom<br />
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<br />One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-46585344929166148612013-07-29T06:36:00.000-07:002013-07-29T06:36:15.913-07:00No More CribWe took the crib down a little over a week ago. We bought the kids matching beds and bedding. And aside from still being in diapers, using a pacifier when he sleeps, and needing a little help eating his Rice Krispies in the morning (because they make a BIG mess if he doesn't have help), B is turning into quite the little boy.<br />
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The whole "no more crib" thing has left me rather reflective over the last week. The transition was a smooth one. We started out lying down with B until he fell asleep. Gradually, we've backed off to the point where we only lie with him for a few minutes before leaving the room. He's stayed in bed all night, every night. Such a good boy!<br />
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But "no more crib" means no more babies in my house. Of course, I tell C and B all the time that they are my babies, but most mommas know what I mean when I say "no more babies." No more milky breath and tiny cries and little one piece rompers and rattles and whirs of the breast pump and glass jars of baby food. But it's also no more getting up four times a night and the constant sour milk smell on clothing from spit up and lugging a diaper bag every where and doing laundry all the time and checking the floor for the older kids' toys that might be choking hazards. <br />
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Are we done? I don't know. We're selling the crib and many of our other baby items. Some that are out on loan will probably be sold once our family and friends are finished with them. Things that can't be sold are being donated. We're keeping around our papasan seat, high chair, a smattering of baby toys, and pack n' play for family and friends to use when they come to visit. It's more a space issue than a finite decision. We lack the storage to keep all of this "just in case."<br />
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I had baby fever bad back in the winter and spring. We thought it was what we wanted. But then One Ordinary Dad went back to work and summer just got easy. I recognize that every parenting stage shares its own challenges, and we've had our share-- example: C and B play well together, but the age/maturity gap does rear its ugly head once or twice a day as they get frustrated with each other; it's a gap that will close with each passing year, thankfully). It's been nice to have two kids who sleep 10-12 hours uninterrupted at night. It's been nice to sit and leaf through a magazine while they play. It's been nice to spend time coloring with them both or putting together a puzzle or taking a walk where a stroller just isn't necessary.<br />
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The baby fever has dissipated in the last few weeks, and as I've been reflecting, the whole "be fruitful and multiply" idea has been a struggle. Of course the world would love more of our curly blonde haired, piercing blue eyed, tall, lean children. But as I've prayed and spent some time reading my Bible, I've also felt a sense of reassurance. Being fruitful and multiplying doesn't mean I have to have a half a dozen children to populate, what is, quite honestly, a heavily populated earth. Being fruitful and multiplying means I can teach my children to be Jesus to other people and to multiply His kingdom in others.<br />
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And I pass no judgement on those with 3, 4, 5, or more kids. I love our friends with big families. I was one of 3 kids. And if we end up with a third kid, it'll be okay.<br />
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But right now? Right now I'm pretty good with two. I've often heard moms describe their desire for more children as feeling like someone was missing from their families. I don't feel that way right now. Right now I feel like we are complete. But right now I also feel like our hearts are open, and so we're not quite at the stage where we feel like any sort of permanent solution is necessary. And that's a pretty good place to be with "no more crib" in our house.<br />
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~One Ordinary MomOne Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-64423055669233377502013-07-23T12:18:00.001-07:002013-07-23T12:18:29.400-07:00A Better Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Not too long ago, I read Donald Miller's book, <i>A Million Miles in a Thousand Years</i>. I knew the basic premise of the book and have had several friends read it and loved it. I knew I'd probably love it too, but I also knew that I'd probably find it a little convicting. And maybe that's why I put off reading it.<br />
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For those of you who haven't read it yet, the general idea is that as humans, we are created to live in a story. Our lives are stories-- with exciting parts that would look amazing on the big screen with a swelling soundtrack along with moments that are so mundane they'd never make the Hollywood cut.<br />
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Some people are living amazing stories, but most are just living mediocre ones. Spoiler alert: you can change your story. The ending isn't finalized (well, other than that whole we can't live forever, so yes, everyone's story eventually ends in death-- not to be morbid though).<br />
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We've been living a pretty good story lately. One Ordinary Dad and I spent some time in California sans kids.<br />
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Later, we headed to Myrtle Beach. <br />
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But there's more. There were times when I got a little ticked off reading the book because I thought, "well, sure, if I had written a New York Times Bestseller and had a ton of money in the bank and lots of time off, I could certainly make sure I was living a better story." But it's not necessarily about money or time (though those are nice things to have). It's about the little changes. It's about the legacy I want to leave. It's about setting the stage for the stories my kids will live once their father and I are gone.<br />
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And so while yearly vacations, monthly date nights, and other events that take a little more money or time will remain on our calendar and as parts of our story, there are small things happening too:<br />
<ul>
<li>we say "I love you" a lot more and raise our voices a lot less (hard to do with little ones, but worth the effort)</li>
<li>we turn off the TV (and Candy Crush-- I was addicted for a bit) and get lost in books and magazines</li>
<li>we play with Legos and we play lots of games and we put together lots of puzzles (One Ordinary Dad and I occasionally stay up late on a weekend with some wine and a 1000-piecer)</li>
<li>we have more impromptu dance parties</li>
<li>we say "yes" to going to the park or going for a walk/hike or going to get ice cream-- even when it's not quite what we want to do</li>
<li>we choose to be generous without judging-- whether it's a dollar to the pan handler at the highway exit or volunteering our time to help others or teaching our kids how to sort out toys they don't play with anymore so that they can give them away</li>
<li>we don't count things-- hours of sleep, calories, number of times we've read the same book over and over again, who did the dishes last, who cleaned the toilet last, who made all of the beds last, number of loads of laundry, pounds on a scale, etc. </li>
<li>we do count blessings though-- every night we name them with the kids before bed </li>
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We've basically chosen to embrace our one wild and precious life. All stories have conflicts too, and we embrace those too (everyone loves a story where the good triumphs over the evil conflict). <br /><br />
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We want to live a good story. I know it sounds cheesy, but we want to honor God by getting the most out of the earthly time He's given us and by leaning into Him in both the good and the bad.<br />
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Changing directions in our story's "draft" if you will, has been a blessing for our little family. We're so thankful that God gives us the grace to change our story, to live a better one.<br />
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~One Ordinary Mom One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-24503290496273268042013-06-02T17:24:00.000-07:002013-06-02T17:24:22.922-07:00Epic Summer Sunday #1Today was amazing. And not just because C moved up to the kindergarten room at church (I may have teared up a little).<br />
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We really had no agenda once church was over, and the day was just so sunny, and I was just craving bacon...so we headed downtown to <a href="http://www.craveamerica.com/location_cincinnati.html" target="_blank">Crave</a>. We'd heard that they had a good brunch and we knew they had outdoor seating, so we figured we'd give it a try. Turns out that Sunday brunch is a tasty buffet with a lot to choose from and it includes a mimosa (for the grown-ups, obviously). Kids eat free-- bonus. We stuffed ourselves silly and then headed over to the Reds team shop.<br />
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C needed a new Reds shirt since she's outgrown her others and passed them on to her little brother. She chose a Votto shirt (a girl after my own heart...One Ordinary Dad got me an authentic Votto jersey for my birthday). B had fun playing with foam fingers.<br />
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Up next we headed to the park down at <a href="http://thebankscincy.com/" target="_blank">The Banks</a>. When going to downtown parks, we generally prefer Washington Park, but we were already parked and decided to play at The Banks instead. Before we got much playing in, we thought it might be fun to rent a Surrey Bike and ride along the river. The day was absolutely gorgeous. One Ordinary Dad and I sure got a workout, but we enjoyed the view. <br />
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After an hour, we returned the bike and then finally got around to playing in the fountain and swinging on their big "porch swings" that overlook the river. <br />
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We ended our afternoon with some Orange Leaf fro-yo (Crave gave us coupons for 2 free ounces each).<br />
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It was a day well spent and we are all spent. I have 2 days left of school with my students and then a half day teacher work day on Wednesday.<br />
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And because I haven't mentioned it here yet, One Ordinary Dad went back to work in the non-profit world a couple of weeks ago. He likes his job so far. The kids have a babysitter coming to the house in this transition time, but C will be in all-day kindergarten next year, so with only one kiddo needing childcare, we knew it was time. We knew we couldn't move forward, pursuing some dreams of ours without a second income. God has blessed us immensely and we're excited to be in this new phase. I've never had both kids on my own all summer (One Ordinary Dad's previous position was reduced in June 2011, when B was a baby, so we've had lots of family time the last two summers with both of us at home). This will surely be a fun adventure!<br />
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~One Ordinary Mom<br />
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*Note: I am cautiously titling this post with the "#1" in the hopes that there are more epic summer Sundays in our future-- not necessarily doing the same things, but just enjoying things around our city that are new to us. :-)One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-85316734169839491342013-05-10T19:32:00.002-07:002013-05-10T19:45:46.007-07:00To My Children, On Mother's DayHey Kids,<br />
I realize if left to your own devices I'd probably wind up opening an ill-fitting princess dress ("oh, it doesn't fit you, mommy, well that's okay, I'll wear it") and a Hot Wheels car. Or chocolate that you'd ask me to share (and of course I'd say yes).<br />
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And while I'm always going to appreciate anything you give me, I want you to know that it's not about the "things." In fact, as you grow older, it's the intangible stuff that will mean more. The "things" you can't really buy.<br />
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Like being a decent human being. That would be a great gift. Don't be lame at life. And don't be a bully either. Besides, bullying someone is just false power. Be humble. Be thankful. Be willing to turn the other cheek.<br />
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And reading. That would be another great gift. No, I don't want you to buy me books (well, okay, I do like books), but you doing the reading-- you reading every day-- that would be awesome. Life is short in the grand scheme of things. I'll never get around to reading everything there is to read. So I need you to pick up the slack and tell me about the things you read that I haven't read. Reading makes you a better person, so give me the gift of knowing you read every day.<br />
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Have faith too. Jesus thinks you're just as rad and special as I do, so trust in Him. Mommy would like nothing more than to see you grow in your faith. There will be times when you think He's distant, but I promise you He's not. I promise you He has great plans for you. Have faith.<br />
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Travel and take lots of pictures. I realize that's not something you can "give" me, but sending a postcard is something you can "give," so it counts. I birthed you into this great big world and it would be a tragedy if you didn't get to explore beyond our small, Midwestern corner of it. And I don't collect little silver spoons or thimbles, so seriously, just send a post card.<br />
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That's really it, kids. I know you can't read this and I know that none of this would make sense to you right now, at 5 and 2, even if you could read it. But it's what I want. For you to be good people who love Jesus and reading and who send their mama a postcard when they travel.<br />
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But until then, your Crayola pictures and handprints with poems and plastic bead necklaces are perfect. You are perfect. You are the reason I get to celebrate this holiday.<br />
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And I love you.<br />
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Love,<br />
Mom<br />
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P.S. I know you'll think it's creepy one day, but I don't think I will ever get tired of watching you sleep.<br />
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One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-4618005801916494392013-05-03T10:26:00.001-07:002013-05-03T10:26:45.427-07:00Sometimes...LifeSometimes life gets busy. And things go by the wayside...like this blog. My bad, but I make no apologies. We've been busy. <br />
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Busy getting ready for dance recitals. <br />
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Busy planting food. One Ordinary Dad built the raised bed. Our backyard isn't flat or sunny, so the ideal place for planting is actually at the top of our driveway. Last year we did small pots and planted fruits and veggies from seed. We had a small yield. Seeds are hard, y'all and I am not a green thumb. This year we decided to start with starter plants. We already have romaine lettuce ready to eat!<br />
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Busy tending flowers. C likes to help and watering the plants is now one of her daily responsibilities. <br />
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Busy hanging out at the zoo. <br />
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Busy pretending to be a turtle. <br />
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Busy crafting (One Ordinary Dad made this beauty for my birthday...it hangs on our bedroom wall now). It's made of wood from a potting shed in our backyard that was falling down and disrepair. <br />
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Busy celebrating 31. <br />
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Just. Plain. Busy. (Too busy to bother watermarking these, so don't steal them, okay). <br />
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Life is like that though. The school year is winding down, vacation plans are firming up (One Ordinary Dad are thinking of escaping for one day while we're in California for a wedding and hanging out with the Mouse at Disneyland), the temperature is staying warmer, our windows are open, lawnmowers are humming, the grill is fired up often, and well, life is happening. <br />
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And in the rare moments when we have peace and quiet and stillness, we're reading out on the porch with a glass of wine or watching movies, or relaxing with friends, or cheering on the Reds. Blogging just kind of ends up at the bottom of my list of things I want to do in the still and quiet moments. But it was time for an update to let you know that yes, my few dear readers, we are very much alive and well. Hopefully summer vacation will bring more opportunities to update. <br />
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~One Ordinary MomOne Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-79287374267225909142013-04-01T10:15:00.000-07:002013-04-01T10:15:11.040-07:00Spring BreakSpring break has come and gone, well at least for this mama. Sweet C has spring break this week.<br />
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If I had to compare this spring break to something tangible, I would say it was quite like a roller coaster. Spring break started off cold and with a dusting of snow (a low point for sure). The kids still got to play outside a little. And I got to mess around with my camera (I'm getting a lot more confident at shooting in full manual mode and not using the flash when I can avoid it). <br />
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My parents arrived into town on Tuesday (high point). On Wednesday, we spent the day at my Great Aunt's house, one of my favorite spaces in the world, in Kentucky (definitely a high point). Some other family that live close by stopped in and we had a mini-family reunion of sorts-- the big get together is at the beach this summer.<br />
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Wednesday also brought the news of the passing of my uncle (lowest point of break). He was a good man. Over 10 years ago he was diagnosed with cancer and not expected to live a year. He beat the odds and spent Easter in Heaven this year.<br />
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From there we hit a series of high points. On Thursday, I helped in C's classroom and reaffirmed that I could never teach young kids...but it was fun for 2.5 hours. Sweet C and B got to meet their new cousin that afternoon; she was born on 3/18. C is in love with her and keeps asking when she gets to have a baby sister. No, I am not expecting.<br />
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We also went to Jump and Jacks. C went to a birthday party there a week ago and hadn't stopped talking about it since. So we decided to head there Thursday night with my parents.<br />
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Friday, C had her Easter Chapel Service at preschool, followed by an egg hunt (I volunteered to help hide the eggs...no joke, there were like 1000 of them).<br />
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Then it was off to our local conservatory for some spring pictures. <br />
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The bunny came Saturday evening and left treats, books, crafts, and a few toys. B woke up with a low fever and stayed home from church. It disappeared after a few hours, so we headed to One Ordinary Dad's aunt and uncle's house for Easter dinner.<br />
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Last night we hit a low after our streak of good days. Just as I was turning off the light to go to bed, C got out of bed and puked all over the hallway. She continued to get sick every fifteen to thirty minutes or so for the next five hours, before her body finally called it quits. B woke up with the return of his mystery fever (though we think it's molars) and wanted to be held or needed Tylenol in the midst of all of this, so One Ordinary Dad camped out in the bathroom with C until it was safe to move her to the couch, while I took on B and administered Tylenol and snuggles when needed. No one slept much, so I stayed home from work today. C seems to be on the upswing and is keeping crackers and water down with no issues. B's fever is gone, but he's drooling a ton. One Ordinary Dad and I have Clorox-ed the house, washed and changed sheets, drank copious amounts of coffee, put out new toothbrushes, and are looking forward to watching the Reds Opening Day game later this afternoon.<br />
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Tomorrow I head back to school. 45 more school days left until summer vacation (definitely a high). One Ordinary Dad has a third interview with a company (yes, he's planning to head back to work if the right job offer comes his way since C will be in kindergarten all day next year) on Wednesday (another high). And it's April...which means yours truly has a birthday right around the corner.<br />
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So go away stomach bug, hopefully and prayerfully C is the only victim. And go Redlegs!<br />
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~One Ordinary Mom :-)One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-73474855787017578192013-03-08T16:54:00.001-08:002013-03-08T16:54:31.243-08:00Whew!Has it really been almost a month since our last update?<br />
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Apparently it has been a month. We're alive and well and <a href="http://oneordinaryfamily.blogspot.com/2013/01/kids-vs-pets.html" target="_blank">still missing our pets a little</a>, but C is doing much better and the mercury is rising and we're in the home stretch of the school year. Baseball season will be starting soon (my personal favorite) and we have tickets to see The Lumineers in May (we really enjoy their music and attending concerts with One Ordinary Dad is one of my favorite things to do). <br />
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Since our last update:<br />
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We celebrated Valentine's Day. B loved going to C's celebration at school and C loved sharing her love for her friends. One Ordinary Dad documented it all since Valentine's Day fell on a Thursday and I was up and at work during all of their "love"ly shenanigans. <br />
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We went to the northeast corner of the state over President's Day weekend. One Ordinary Dad and I spent a night away in the city, enjoying the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, <a href="http://www.zocalocleveland.com/" target="_blank">dinner out,</a> and <a href="http://www.britewinter.com/" target="_blank">a music festival</a> (yes, in the middle of winter and yes, some of the venues were outdoors and yes, it was awesome)! <a href="http://honeybucketmusic.com/" target="_blank">Honeybucket</a> was our favorite act of the night. It was also wonderful to sleep for 10 uninterrupted hours while the snow fell outside!<br />
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I knitted an infinity scarf-- not bad for my first attempt.<br />
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We got to enjoy Fun Fest at C's preschool (a late winter indoor carnival that is their major fundraiser for the year). <br />
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We had a snow day! Finally. The last time I had a full day off of school was when I was pregnant with B. The snow hit us this past Wednesday and today it's pretty much melted. We might even hit 60 by Sunday!<br />
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And we finally got confirmation that C is in at the Creative and Performing Arts magnet school! We couldn't be more thrilled as we know it is the perfect place for our sweet C, who loves to dance, draw, sing, and perform. And so it means that the last few days have also been spent filling out oodles of kindergarten paperwork.<br />
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Spring is in the air. Easter decorations are out around the house. And we're headed out to hike tomorrow. <br />
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With love and blessings to all of you patient readers out there, </div>
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~One Ordinary Mom </div>
One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-42124878798889029052013-02-10T07:23:00.000-08:002013-02-10T07:23:09.415-08:00Party DayI. Am. Tired.<br />
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Yesterday was full of fun for my sweet C's fifth birthday. I hit the ground running Friday when I got home from school, making 24 cupcakes for her friend party and an Angry Birds cake for her family party.<br />
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Then came yesterday. We got up early and headed to <a href="http://www.runjumpnplay.com/?gclid=CMv5wbOErLUCFY9AMgod1z0ABg" target="_blank">Run, Jump, and Play</a> for C's birthday party with friends. There about 15 kids there, mostly from preschool. They had a blast on all of the inflatables. <br />
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I have to say, I was pretty proud of C for her patience and thankfulness when opening presents. She took the time to admire each gift and thank each kid, without any prompting from us. <br />
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Run, Jump, and Play was awesome! The staff set everything we brought up in her party room, kept the kids moving from room to room, kept a list of all of her gifts so we can write thank-you's this week, and cleaned everything up. So worth the money we spent.<br />
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Last night was C's family party. We had about 20 people crammed into our small house to celebrate our sweet girl. We made a ton of pasta, a huge salad, several loaves of garlic bread, and capped it off with cake and ice cream. The Angry Birds toppers on her cake are part of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Angry-Birds-Space-Game/dp/B007FRHZ4A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360509753&sr=8-1&keywords=angry+birds+space+game" target="_blank">this game</a>, which I'm sure we'll be playing a lot of in the coming weeks. <br />
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And now the celebrating is over. Today's plans include cleaning up, hanging up all of her new clothes, re-organizing her art supplies (she got a ton of art stuff from both friends and family and can't wait to get around to the business of creating), and relaxing.<br />
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Tomorrow is her 5 year well-check. I'm anxious to see how much she's grown in a year.<br />
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Happy Birthday, Sweet C! Until next year...<br />
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~One Ordinary Mom :-)<br />
One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-30715498075983686872013-02-05T14:53:00.000-08:002013-02-05T14:58:28.586-08:00High FiveThere's a saying that goes, "days and weeks are long, but months and years are short." Whoever said it wasn't kidding. I feel like we've gone from this...<br />
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...to this in about 5 seconds. Not 5 years.<br />
My sweet C turned 5 today. <br />
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I took a half day off work to spend the morning with my girl. I always said I would take some part of my work day off on their birthdays to spend time with my kids on their special days. B's birthday falls so close to Christmas that it's usually while I'm on break. C's 4th birthday was on a Sunday and her 3rd while I was on maternity leave with B, so I haven't taken a day off for her birthday since she turned 2.<br />
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Her gifts included the traditional new outfit (so you look awesome on your day), a Mario and Luigi shirt (she loves Mario; I'm not even sure why), a puzzle, some story cards, a Leappad, and the Brave game for her Leappad. <br />
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We sent her on a treasure hunt around the house for her clues. C has quite a few sight words and is great at sounding things out. She needed some help with the clues, but recognized enough words in each clue that she knew where she needed to go to find her next present. <br />
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She calls her Leappad her "iPad." And other than when she was at school and when she took a nap (One Ordinary Dad has gotten her back on a napping schedule-- she takes a 20-30 minute power nap almost daily-- he is a saint), she has done nothing but play Leappad. <br />
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Her restaurant of choice for dinner was McDonald's. She loves the indoor playland at the one near our house. I bought some cupcakes for after dinner and we'll probably do her puzzle before bed and use her story cards to create a bedtime story. She wants to wear her Mario shirt to school tomorrow.<br />
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Saturday will be filled with parties. One with her friends in the morning at a local giant inflatable playland and one in the evening at our house with family. I make the kids' cakes for their birthdays and C has requested an Angry Birds cake. I ended up buying the tabletop Angry Birds game and plan to use the pieces from that to put on her cake. The game was only $1.50 more than the Angry Birds cake decorating set, and I know she'll play the game in the future.<br />
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It's going to be a busy week, but I'm glad I got to steal a few quiet moments with C this morning before school and I plan to steal a few more tonight.<br />
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Happy Birthday, Sweet C. I can't believe you are a whole-hand-full-of-fingers old today!<br />
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Love,<br />
One Ordinary Mom :-)<br />
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PS: Sweet C could use your prayers for peace. We thought she was doing okay with <a href="http://oneordinaryfamily.blogspot.com/2013/01/kids-vs-pets.html" target="_blank">the transition to a pet-free home</a>. She hasn't brought it up much at home or really acted like she missed them. However, she acted out at school quite a bit last week and exploded yesterday when she didn't want to share, yelling that "everyone is taking things from her like her pets." Her teacher assured us this is normal processing for her age and circumstance, but it still breaks my heart. At school she has also been drawing our pets a lot and talking about them. We checked a helpful book out from the library (which a guidance counselor at my school suggested) and are working through it. I'm really hoping that the birthday celebrations and gifts are a nice distraction for now and that God will continue to heal her broken heart and give her peace about it. On the bright side, we have noticed a pretty significant decrease in her snoring (which was part of it, apparently). She used to saw logs and you could hear her from the hallway. Now, it's barely audible unless you're close to her. One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-85341238202975608962013-01-26T06:01:00.001-08:002013-01-26T06:04:33.625-08:00Kids Vs. PetsTuesday, early evening, C starts coughing, but it isn't too bad.<br />
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Wednesday morning, upon waking, C is wheezing and can't catch her breath even when sitting still and just talking.<br />
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The diagnosis from the doctor is Pneumonia. The second time she has been diagnosed with it in 8 weeks. The same thing happened last time: a simple cough into Pneumonia within 24 hours. C is also referred to an allergist/asthma specialist. We think it's "just" asthma since it since it's mostly just wheezing and asthma is known for complicating even the simplest of colds.<br />
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But in the back of my mind I wonder, "what if?" What if it's the pets?<br />
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We've had Sierra since early 2004, before we were married. <br />
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Zoey joined our family in 2006. <br />
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C and B have adored our pets. Sierra and Zoey have snuggled up with all of us when we've been sick, have stood guard faithfully next to baby carriers, occasionally help with after dinner clean-up (Sierra is known for finishing uneaten meat and Zoey "hoovers" the floor), and have provided C and B with entertainment and a sense of responsibility (C and B fight to feed them when the bowls are empty, and to give them treats).<br />
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And now?<br />
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Now they have to find new homes.<br />
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And I am heartbroken. So is One Ordinary Dad. So is C. B doesn't get it yet, but I know he's going to go looking for one of his furry buddies sometime in the next few weeks and be upset when he can't find them.<br />
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Yes, there is asthma, and there are seasonal allergies, but C's pet dander reaction was off the charts. <br />
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The doctor measured C's oxygen in take. It was low. Almost scary low. And while she is recovering from Pneumonia, the doctor said it still shouldn't be that low. In other words, my girl has been struggling to breathe in her own house. Because she hasn't had a visible reaction and because her "struggle" to breathe isn't really visible under normal health conditions (it's not like she's walking around the house panting), we've never known.<br />
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We asked what it would take to keep the pets. In short:<br />
<ol>
<li>C would have to have a regular allergy shot-- best case it would be once a month, worst case it would be 2 or 3 times a week, the doctor said he would start her at once a week and see how she responded. </li>
<li>Both pets would need to be bathed TWICE a week. </li>
<li>All carpets (we have hardwood and lots of rugs) would need to be cleaned once a week. </li>
<li>All slipcovers, comforters, decorative pillows and throws would need to be washed once a week. </li>
<li>Our HVAC needs a special HEPA filter and that filter would need to be changed once a month. </li>
<li>We'd have to spray our furniture and floors once a week with tannic acid (an anti-allergen that kills pet dander and costs $20-$30/bottle with one bottle being enough for 1, possibly 2, applications. </li>
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And none of that is guaranteed to work. We could try it all for a month and have C's levels retested to see if it's effective, but if it's not, we'd still be where we are right now.<br />
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This weekend, Zoey is going to live with family. My grandmother and uncle have always watched Zoey when we've been out of town and have grown to love her. They live close by and C and B can stop by and hang out with her whenever they want (C can still be around animals, she just can't live with animals). We're still trying to find a home for a cat and fear she may be harder to place.<br />
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Once both pets are gone, we have a lot of cleaning ahead of us. We still need the HEPA filter (but don't have to change it as often as we would if we were trying to keep our pets). And we need to do one application of tannic acid to kill the lingering dander. We will need to clean carpets and wash slipcovers, comforters, decorative pillows/throws, and vacuum every nook and cranny. And we'll need to clean out all of our air ducts.<br />
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And then all should be well. C should be breathing easier. We'll go to get her levels checked again. She'll go in once a year to have things checked. If she doesn't react as strongly to pet dander in the future, we might be able to explore having another cat or dog in the future. <br />
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But in the meantime, in the now, my heart is broken. I am devastated. We all are. But C is a human. She doesn't want weekly shots (we asked and were willing to try). C grew inside of me for almost 42 weeks and is a physical piece of me that Zoey and Sierra are not.<br />
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I know there are those out there who think we should go for it, who think we should fight to keep our pets. But the thing is, One Ordinary Dad has walked this road before. He had the same diagnosis when he was C's age and he knows what it's like to wheeze and have trouble breathing. He doesn't want that for C and neither do I. Clearly One Ordinary Dad's issues lessened over time and we can only hope and pray that the same will happen for C.<br />
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~One Ordinary Mom<br />
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PS...C's fifth birthday is coming up. We may have felt slightly guilty that we have to give up our beloved pets and gone a little overboard on her present, getting her <a href="http://www.amazon.com/LeapFrog-32610-LeapPad2-Explorer-Green/dp/B0089RPUHO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359208980&sr=8-1&keywords=leappad+2" target="_blank">one of these</a>. It's a little out of our birthday budget, but she asked for a camera and video camera (this does both) and does enjoy our iPads, so this has the best of all three worlds and will hopefully last her into second or third grade, at which point we may be looking at a more sophisticated device and e-reader (yikes). One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-36322594555502073132013-01-21T13:32:00.001-08:002013-01-21T13:32:13.072-08:00These DaysI've been under the weather for every single day of this new year. It's mostly been a bothersome cold. Right after the new year and right before I started back to school I was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection and told to take over-the-counter meds to manage symptoms until they went away. They didn't. I went back to the doctor today and am now in possession of some pretty powerful cough medicine and a z-pack (antibiotics) with the promise that I should be 100% by the end of the week. We'll see.<br />
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In the meantime, we've been alternating days of rest (puzzles and movies and books and putting our jammies on early) with days of being out and about (the zoo and a baby shower and a game night with friends).<br />
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I received my "Master Teacher" designation last Thursday. It's a designation from the state that basically required that I a.)already have at least 7 years of teaching and a Master's degree and that I b.)secure recommendation signatures from my building principal and one other person plus write a 12 page paper explaining how I meet all the criteria of being a Master Teacher and include evidence (in all, a 40 page reflective paper on my teaching practice). We went out to celebrate by getting ice cream (pictured above).<br />
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2013 is off to a slow start for sure, but we're looking forward to so many things. My sister-in-law will be welcoming a precious baby girl into the world at the beginning of April. My husband's best friend is getting married in Los Angeles in June, and we're looking forward to a few days away. My family reunion (mom's side) is in Myrtle Beach in July, and it will be Bs first time at the beach. The neighborhood pool four blocks away is getting renovated and redone. C will start kindergarten in August (but right now we're busy planning her birthday party at Run, Jump, and Play).<br />
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Our next few days are supposed to be cold-- like windchill advisory cold. I imagine we will be spending many more evenings in our jammies early rather than out and about. Stay warm, friends.<br />
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~One Ordinary Mom :-)<br />
<br />One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-47759555262874775902013-01-01T05:00:00.000-08:002013-01-01T05:00:01.097-08:00So Long, 2012Hello, 2013.<br />
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Highlights of 2012:<br />
<ul>
<li>Traveled to DC and Disney World. </li>
<li>B learned to walk. C learned to read. </li>
<li>One Ordinary Mom and One Ordinary Dad turned 30. </li>
<li>C learned to swim and ride a bike (still, with training wheels, but we'll take it).</li>
<li>B went from a few words to full sentences. </li>
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We will not miss the GI troubles that plagued me at the beginning of 2012 (the ones that turned out to be an egg sensitivity) or jury duty. We won't miss some of the car troubles we've had-- maybe 2013 will bring a new one.<br />
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2012 brought us great music-- we saw Joshua Radin, Over the Rhine, and Mumford and Sons in concert.<br />
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It also brought us great books-- so many, I had to break it down into categories (I did a lot reading this year apparently):<br />
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<li>Favorite fiction books read this year-- a tie between <i>The Art of Fielding</i> and <i>Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close</i></li>
<li>Favorite non-fiction-- <i>The President's Club </i>(fascinating no matter what side of the aisle you're on). </li>
<li>Funniest-- <i>Let's Pretend this Never Happened </i>(I peed myself just a little bit reading this one).</li>
<li>Best YA-- another tie between <i>The Invention of Hugo Cabret </i>and <i>The Mysterious Benedict Society</i>. </li>
<li>Best for fueling the soul-- <i>Jesus Calling</i> (though <i>Reflections for Ragamuffins</i> was a close second). </li>
</ul>
If you have the YouVersion Bible App, I highly recommend the Soul Detox reading plan. I did this for a month over the summer and it helped me clear out a lot of toxic mind junk.<br />
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2012 brought One Ordinary Dad and I time to see a few movies in the theater. <i>Argo</i> and <i>Les Miserables</i> were two of our favorites this year. <br />
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Last year my resolutions were:<br />
<ol>
<li> To branch out in my knitting (which I did when I made <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/tube-sock-legwarmers/" target="_blank">these awesome legwarmers</a>).</li>
<li>To learn how to use my camera more (which I kind of did-- I'm a little more comfortable in RAW and learned a few more editing tricks).</li>
<li>To unplug a little more (despite gaining an iPad as a wonderful 30th birthday present from my husband, it is something I've been a lot more aware of lately and I don't think I spent nearly as much time in front of a screen this year as I have in years past). </li>
<li>To grow and cultivate my faith. This will be an ongoing process, every year. But this year, we took a risk on opening our home and small group to a few new families (worth it), I went through YouVersion's Soul Detox, and experienced God in a new way through <i>Jesus Calling</i>. </li>
</ol>
So what's up for 2013? As far as resolutions, I'm keeping them simple:<br />
<ol>
<li>Make time to curate my stimuli-- in other words, setting aside intentional time to fill my mind with things that challenge me, inspire me, and cause me to see the wold in new ways (whether through reading, creating something with knitting, listening to some vinyl-- yes, my husband has made a convert out of me, running, photography, anything that stimulates my mind).</li>
<li>Put my faith into action. One Ordinary Dad lives by the philosophy, "Preach the gospel, and when necessary, use words." I want more of that in my life. I want to reflect the awesome-ness of my creator in not just my words, but in my actions too. </li>
</ol>
Yes, that's really it as far as resolutions go.<br />
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And as for our family in our little corner of the world? 2013 will bring about some great things. For starters, C will start kindergarten (hopefully at an awesome magnet school in our district). One Ordinary Dad is going to continue in his role as stay-at-home parent by day/craft brew routing logistics guy by night/Excel data analyzer whenever a job comes his way. B will hopefully get potty-trained. And as for me, I'm hoping that I have news of the Master Teacher designation (something I applied for in December) soon and in the fall, I'll enter year 10 of teaching.<br />
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God has blessed us with health and happiness in 2012. I pray He blesses us, and you, with the same and more in 2013.<br />
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~One Ordinary Mom :-)One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-68943310507720097902012-12-31T11:51:00.001-08:002012-12-31T11:51:17.100-08:00Christmas RecapWe are up to our ears in Thomas the Train, Playmobil, puzzles, and books. To say that we were blessed this Christmas would be an understatement.<br />
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We spent Christmas Eve with One Ordinary Dad's family. His parents and sister and brother-in-law also joined us Christmas morning, a long with my grandmother and uncle. C and B were spoiled. B got some more Thomas-- I think we have the entire Island of Sodor in our living room. C got more Playmobil. While One Ordinary Dad set up C's Playmobil beach house (her big Santa present) on Christmas Eve, I finished this: </div>
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My girl has been asking me to knit her a blanket for awhile. So one year and thousands of stitches later, she got one. And she won't go to bed without it. It melts my heart. There were also lots of books and puzzles for the kids as well. One Ordinary Dad spoiled me rotten and gave me a real pair of Uggs. I've been wearing the knock-offs for several years and have gone through several pairs. I didn't think the price difference would make that big of a deal (the only time I pay a lot for shoes are for running shoes), but it does. I love them. He also spoiled me with a new watch (the one he got me 8 years ago finally bit the dust) and a sweater I'd been eying at the mall. Thanks to some bargain shopping, One Ordinary Dad now feeds his coffee addiction with a Keurig and thanks to a rebate and some Kohls' cash is also sporting new jeans and sunglasses, which help him pull off the rock star look to go with his electric guitar (a friend's husband was selling his and gave me a great deal-- good things can be had on a tight budget).<br />
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A few days after Christmas, we headed four hours northeast to spend time with my family. More Thomas and Playmobil were unwrapped. We played in the snow. C loves the snow, just like me. I think next year we'll have to get her some skiing lessons. We went sledding. A lot. And I am still sore in places that I didn't know existed. My ski plans were thwarted though. Despite the several inches they've had, only 2 runs were open at the ski resort near my parents. The $40 lift ticket price wasn't worth it for 2 measly hills. We'll try again on our next visit. <br />
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B wasn't as crazy about the snow. Maybe next year. <br />
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We're back home and excited to ring in 2013. C and B are spending a few hours tonight with one of C's old babysitters who babysits kiddos on New Year's Eve to make a little extra money. One Ordinary Dad and I are heading out on a date, but will be picking up the kiddos before the ball drops (and hopefully they'll be fast asleep by then).<br />
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Merry Belated Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!<br />
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~One Ordinary Mom :-)<br />
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<br />One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-68773624911217649862012-12-24T07:59:00.001-08:002012-12-24T07:59:09.894-08:00Wishing You and Yours<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red;">A Very Merry Christmas and a Bright and Blessed New Year!</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Love, One Ordinary Family</b></span></div>
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One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-56771422944729556962012-12-23T17:44:00.002-08:002012-12-23T17:44:59.075-08:00He Still Hates "Happy Birthday"Sweet B celebrated his second birthday today. Yes, two years ago, after 21 hours of labor that resulted in a c-section, my sweet little man made his appearance. Because he was a c-section and had a little bit of jaundice to boot, we spent Christmas in the hospital, finally getting discharged on the 26th. Thankfully, C was little enough that she has no recollection of Santa coming while in the afternoon that day we arrived back while she was outside playing. All of her presents and family members were a nice distraction. On the bright side, we had the hospital to ourselves, which meant an extra bed for One Ordinary Dad when he stayed the night and the nurses giving us extra attention.<br />
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Today we started off with presents and a doughnut breakfast. Balloons and this year's birthday book were also on display. <br />
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I took C to a <a href="http://www.kingarthurstoys.com/about" target="_blank">local toy store</a> last week to pick out a present. She picked out <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-4096-Car-Carrier/dp/B0037UT3E4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356312497&sr=8-1&keywords=melissa+and+doug+car+carrier" target="_blank">this</a>. B got 2 large <a href="http://www.automoblox.com/" target="_blank">Automoblox</a> and an outfit from Mommy and Daddy. <br />
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After breakfast, it was off to the Museum Center for the annual holiday train display. Grandma and Poppy (One Ordinary Dad's parents), Uncle Josh, Aunt Kristin, and cousin Emmy also joined us. My train-loving little man was so happy to see the trains. <br />
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We came home to eat pizza, open presents, and have cake and ice cream. Despite our practices all week, B cried again when we sang "Happy Birthday" but was perfectly happy before and after the song. <br />
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He's definitely got the present opening thing down. <br />
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Aunt Kristin, Uncle Josh, and Emmy got B a sweet Imaginext helicopter (which he calls "Harold," like from Thomas, even though it looks nothing like Harold). Grandma and Poppy added to his Take-n-Play Thomas collection with the pirate cove set and Great Grandma (Grandma's mom) got the train service station. When you combine this with the small set we had from when C was in her train phase and the tunnel and bridge set B got last weekend, we have a whole lot of Thomas. And that's not even the wooden railway stuff we have downstairs (which he also got more of last weekend and has also been played with a lot this week). <br />
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I'm pretty sure that after Santa comes and we open presents Christmas morning, we'll probably have enough Take-n-Play and wooden railway Thomas to loop around the house!<br />
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Happy Birthday, Sweet B! At two years old, you are amazing! You love cars, trains, and anything that goes. You also love any activity that involves throwing a ball. You speak in full sentences now and definitely speak your mind as well, telling us what you want, what you don't like, and even attempting to mimic C's knock-knock jokes. You play hard and sleep harder, often 12 hours a night, plus a long afternoon nap still. Your energy seems unlimited. You are enthusiastic about everything. The zoo remains one of your favorite places to go-- and a ride on the train is always in order. At the park, you head straight for the slides. If you aren't sliding, you're giving Mommy and Daddy heart attacks climbing up as high as you can go. You smile often, you give us great big belly laughs, and you nothing escapes your notice. We love you so much!<br />
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~One Ordinary Mom :-)One Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2310688256196393720.post-75817260682567813882012-12-22T06:58:00.001-08:002012-12-22T06:58:29.999-08:00I Feel It In My Fingers......I feel it in my toes. Christmas is all around me. C'mon and let it snow.<br />
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Sorry, had to get a <i>Love Actually</i> reference in there.<br />
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Our December has been busy, as promised. My sister graduated college. <br />
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While we were up in the northeast corner of the state, we went ahead and celebrated B's birthday (his actual birthday is tomorrow-- yikes, how is he two already?). B loved his Thomas cake.<br />
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He did not love us singing "Happy Birthday" to him. As soon as we started singing, he started crying. <br />
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All was well again once he started opening presents. C got a train table for her second birthday because she loved Thomas at that age. I think B has a little more love for trains though, and our collection is growing. He got lots of trains for his birthday. And cars. That boy loves anything with wheels. And balls-- he can already distinguish between a football and a baseball. <br />
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Hopefully he won't cry too hard when we sing "Happy Birthday" and celebrate again tomorrow with our family here in town.<br />
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In C's world, she performed in her school's Christmas chapel service. Her class all dressed as shepherds and sang "Go Tell It on the Mountain." <br />
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At the end, all of the students sang "Mary Had a Baby." It's a tradition at the school. It's kind of weird to think that next year we won't have a kid attending preschool there. B will go the following year though. We've loved sending C to this school! It's been the perfect environment for her to grow and thrive. <br />
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We enjoyed some flurries here, but our white Christmas won't come until we head up to my parents' house to celebrate with them. We're spending today in our jammies and sweats, wrapping birthday presents, making a birthday cake, and watching Christmas movies. It's cold out there even with no snow on the ground. And drivers on the road are just plain crazy right now.<br />
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C is eagerly awaiting Santa's arrival. The big guy does visit our house, brings one gift (that he leaves unwrapped and put together to avoid morning frustration), and that's it. I was actually reflecting on the whole Santa thing the other day, really questioning if we're doing the right thing by allowing our kids to believe in something that isn't real. But at the end of the day, I came to understand and realize that my kids are only going to be little once.<br />
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Santa isn't at the center of our Christmas celebration. C can tell you the Christmas story (and act it out if you really want her to do so) and definitely "gets" that Christmas is all about Jesus' birth. B can recognize Baby Jesus in our nativity set, but other than that, he's still too little to understand much beyond presents and bright lights and decorations. The Bible talks a lot about having childlike faith. I see in C's eyes this year that faith that Santa will come. She is in awe and wonder about the fact that a big guy in a red suit will come down our chimney and leave her a gift; she knows gifts symbolize that Jesus was God's gift to humanity. And that awe and wonder and childlike faith in Santa is how God wants me to feel about His Son's birth. I am in awe. I am filled with wonder. God used an ordinary woman. His rescue plan for humanity started with a baby's cry in a dirty stable.<br />
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The reality is, the Christmas story isn't something that C (or B) is old enough to grasp with that same awe and wonder I feel. In fact, they really aren't old enough to question it. God wants to save humanity with a baby? Why not? Sure. God can do anything, and yes, C believes that with her whole heart (our Kids' Club team at church is amazing in how they relate the Bible to our little ones). The awe and wonder of a baby born to save us will come with time, but for now, I figure I only have a few short years to enjoy the awe and wonder that come with a big man in a red suit. The way I see my children, especially C since B is still a little leery of Santa, anticipate his arrival perfectly mirrors how God wants me to understand the Christmas story.<br />
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And if Santa isn't your thing, that's fine. One Ordinary Dad grew up in a household where he was told from the get-go that Santa didn't exist. He isn't any worse for it. I grew up in household where he did. And no, I didn't feel like my parents had lied to me when I found out the truth. In fact, I had fun building into the anticipation with my younger brother and sister. But please, if you're choosing not to make him a part of your yearly Christmas traditions, don't ruin it for my children. I want to cherish these few years and I want the reminder that I should be amazed and humbled by the most precious gift of all-- a reminder to have that childlike faith that an ordinary baby came to do an extraordinary thing.<br />
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Merry Christmas everyone!<br />
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~One Ordinary MomOne Ordinary Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08686901942414018905noreply@blogger.com0