Summer’s Little Pleasures

As you may have noticed, I have been un-inspired lately. When I sit down at my computer I don't feel like I have much to share with the world. As much as that surprises me (who knew this "talker" would ever run out of things to say), it also doesn't surprise me because many blogging books/writers talk about those dry times.

So...remember when I wrote this post about the blogging ideas book? This morning while I ate my bowl of cereal, I pulled out the notebook in which I had jotted blogging ideas while reading No One Cares What You Had for Lunch. Thank Goodness, 'cause now I get to share one of my ideas and you get to see my cute...

FEET!


Last night one of my girlfriends took me out for dinner and a pedicure...a belated birthday gift!

A couple of years ago she introduced me to pedicures and we now go a couple of times during the summer months and enjoy the pure luxury of being pampered. I would have never done this myself without her prompting, but now every once in a while I take my daughter or sister-in-law and share the experience with the girls in my family.

My first pedicure of the season is always a french pedicure - clear polish with white tips. It's just my favorite! I look at my toes a couple times a day and I just smile...they make me so happy. Crazy? Maybe. Joy? Absolutely!

Now, I'm sorry you're being subjected to my feet...try not to notice the psycho-blue veins, separated toes, or shaved toe parts (yes, I have hairy toes that I shave...I should try waxing, but that sounds painful), but I wanted to share the pedicure with you! If you were here in person, I would be subjecting you to the same...so be thankful! :)

If you live near me and ever need a pedi-partner (you know who you are!) just give me a call. I've got a great little place right next to a coffee shop...good planning, those stores!

If you want to see a crazy idea, click here. You up for that kind of pedicure? Can't imagine what that would cost!

Have a great weekend, everybody!

Balance in Life

Since we got back from our trip to IL I have been flying through my days. I've had club meetings, work trainings, house guests, schooling and A LOT of other things to do. Although some activities end for the summer, it still seems like I'm busier than ever. Does that happen to you?

I'm realizing that I will have to be purposeful about fitting in some of those leisurely summer activities...lingering over a BBQ, sitting around the pool, outdoor activities in the evenings, playing games, gardening, etc. I'm very task-oriented and usually have a longer to-do list than can ever be accomplished. I recall asking myself yesterday while scrubbing down a bathroom if I was trying to be "superwoman." Just trying to sort my priorities...a never-ending dilemma for me.

Any suggestions on how you enjoy those long summer evenings or how to be purposeful in setting aside the to-do list and take care of your relationships instead?

I recently wrote down my my "job description" and marvelled at how much I actually do accomplish. Here's a peek:

COO Responsibilities – Martens’ Household

Clothing:
Laundry (bedding)
Ironing
Mending
Selling
twice a year – exchanging

Food:
Planning (coupons)
Buying
Preparing
Storing

Bldg Maintenance:
Cleaning (day, mo, wk, qtr, yr)
Repairs
Plant care/Landscape

Shopping:
Toiletries/Household goods
Gifts/Cards
Clothing

Transportation:
Gas
Maintenance/Repair (Mark covers this!)
Clean

Correspondence:
Bdays/Ann/Holidays
Letters (pen pals)
Mail
Email/Electronic Comm.

Financial:
Bill Pay
Chore Pay
Record Keeping
Storage

School:
Planning/Preparation
Teaching
Grading
Classes
Library

Work/Groups:
MBC – Job & library
AHG – Registration & T. leader

Friends/Family:
Hospitality
Calls/Letters
Time spent with them

Children:
Physical – teeth/baths, Dr. appts
Spiritual – Bible Study, verses, bios
Emotional – love, communication
Intellectual – projects, activities

Personal:
Spiritual – Bible Study, prayer, verses
Physical – beauty, exercise, food, water, vitamins
Emotional – time alone, creative projects
Intellectual – reading & work

Is there any wonder I'm running through my days? :) I don't do most of it well. It seems like I make progress in one area and another one falls apart. I am learning that small time investments all around (instead of carving out 4 hours to accomplish a big task) is the best way to maintain some semblance of balance.

I also try to be "in the moment." For example, my girls had a birthday party to attend last weekend at a pool. I had so much to get done that day, but I left my phone and watch in the car and just enjoyed watching them swim and play with the other children. I enjoyed chatting with the other moms and was one of the last to leave. It was relaxing, refreshing and fun! Two and a half hours later I was ready to hit the to-do list again.

Maybe as women and mothers we're always trying to improve our caring and our productivity. I know it will never be perfect and I'm sure that my house will be cleaner when my kids are gone, but for right now I don't want to miss out on life and making memories.

Sunday Scriptures

Psalm 138 (emphasis mine)

A Psalm of David.

1 I will praise You with my whole heart;
Before the gods I will sing praises to You.

2 I will worship toward Your holy temple,
And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.

3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul.

4 All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD,
When they hear the words of Your mouth.

5 Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,
For great is the glory of the LORD.

6 Though the LORD is on high,
Yet He regards the lowly;
But the proud He knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.

8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

One More Time

Yep, our poor mini-van has been in another accident! Ashley was taking a deposit to the bank last night when a middle-aged Spanish speaking man hit her driver's side front panel, breaking off the left mirror and making it so the driver's side door won't open. She was fine, thank goodness, but shaken up, as you can imagine. I'm glad it was close to home and Mark was able to run to the scene within minutes.

After getting the car back home I took the boys (in the Volvo) to Potomac, Maryland so they could hike 20 miles overnight into Rosslyn (just outside DC). Overnight...20 miles...CRAZY!! Of course, they are in bed now. I'm sure for the rest of the day. They are going to be hurting, too. Rhett doesn't like Gatorade so he decided to take two AMP's (energy drinks - mostly sugar & caffeine) with him instead. Every four or five miles they would meet up with a car that was carrying their stuff and eat some food/drink beverages. Rhett neglected the amount of water he should have drank and instead had the AMP's within a couple of hours of each other. He described the effects as vibrating his eyes. He didn't stop talking the whole night. Don't you already feel sorry for the other scouts? He was juiced! (I've always wanted to say that - hope it doesn't have a bad connotation?!)

Today my little girls have a friend's birthday party to attend at an area pool. So, yes, I've been wondering if I have to actually have a swimsuit on in case of possible drowning. I'm thinking if they decide to drown, then they'll have to be rescued by a mother fully clothed. I'm just not quite ready to be that exposed; it's so much easier when it's a bunch of strangers at the pool.

Off to conquer the day! Have a good weekend, everyone!

A Whirlwind Trip

Update: found the camera!

our family with Grandma

my semi-friend's gift

I missed you all, but I also have to admit I loved getting away from being "plugged in" too. I loved it so much, I'm thinking about taking one day a week and not checking email, Facebook, phone messages, text messages, etc. Maybe I'll break out the board games and not put on the tv too! How radical! Ha!

We had a good trip back to the Midwest. The 4 days of driving were long, but filled with laughter, singing and good conversation. Grandma's house was filled with family from FL, VA and CA and my uncle even had two friends from Australia join in all the festivities. It was a whirlwind trip, but one of the best we've ever experienced there.

Grandma turned 80 on Sunday, a feat that none of her siblings have made it to yet. She has already lost several brothers and a sister and never thought she'd see her 80th birthday so it was a joyous time of celebration with her. I'm hoping we can make the trip next year for her 81st! That would be awesome!

I stumbled across a cemetery that was reminiscent of the one my grandfather was buried in when I was 13 years old. My mother said I had remembered it correctly so I called the cemetery office and got a map to find my grandparent's grave sites. On Saturday my kids and I drove out and found not only my grandparent's graves, but also some cousins and 2 sets of great uncles and aunts. I'm so thankful I got to share this with my kids.

On Saturday night we spent the evening with extended family on my father's side where several cousins in the group were between the ages of 26-16. We had so much fun laughing that night! Thank goodness, for Facebook - now we can all keep in touch a little better, hopefully! My kid's met their great-uncle and aunt for the first time and got to put faces to all those birthday and Christmas cards they receive. We also learned about Great-Aunt Ruth's dark side and her disdain for sparrows. If those poor little birds could only read the bluebird signage on the birdhouse they would increase their lifespans tenfold.

We did arrive safely in IL and back home on the return trip, but we did have one little incident. A semi-truck decided he didn't want me to merge in front of him and he rearranged my wheel-well over the back passenger tire. It's not pretty, but it was still driveable. IL law said I was at fault -you must be able to pass safely into another lane of traffic, but since the two cars in front of me where merging into their spots I wonder if my "semi-friend" wasn't trying to be intimidating. Either way...a lesson learned.

I hope you had a good end of May! Please, share if you had something fun & wonderful happen to you while I was gone! Talk to you soon... (I'll update with pictures when I find the camera.)

Check-In

Just a quick check-in before I crawl into bed for a very few hours of sleep. My mom, the kids and I are off to IL for Great-Grandma's 80th birthday. So, you won't hear from me for awhile...just wanted you to know. Maybe I'll have some good stories when I get back. Have a great week!

Picnik!

I've found a new toy...picnik! It's a photo editing site that kept me up until the wee hours of the morning. It's user-friendly and so much fun! Here are three pics that I've created so far...you might recognize a couple of them.

Remember the stone church post? Doesn't this pic beg to have a twilight zone-esque saying on it? Any ideas?

Ashley took this one at the butterfly exhibit at the Smithsonian. Doesn't have much editing, but I liked the picture. I might fiddle with it a little more later.

Just gotta say...I love this one!

(you can see the original below)

Go on... go play...

One Funny Lady!

Today's post at 2nd Cup of Coffee is too good to miss...she cracks me up! I love The Office kitchen messies (we can all relate) and her slogans in which she inserts her church's name...oh, my...just hysterical! It's just screamin for a church skit!

BTW, she mentions re: American Idol, a congrats to Kris. I would like to say (gloat/brag) that in a house full of Adam-ites, I have been the one faithfully voting for Kris several weeks now. They thought "I" would lose...Sweet Victory!

Even though I've posted twice today, please don't miss my encouragement below.

A Little Encouragement

I was writing a friend a note of encouragement today and thought, "We all could use this!" Hopefully, if she reads my blog she won't mind that I've shared my thoughts with you, as well.

As I've studied Esther these past 9 weeks I am amazed at the peace that God has given me. The unseen God in Esther had a pagan King and a Jewish princess in His providential care all along. God, who formed us, loves and cherishes us and works to make it ALL turn out for good for His followers, will never leave us or forsake us. Deuteronomy 31:8 says "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Psalm 138:8 says, "The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of your Hands." God Almighty perfects that which concerns me - not just perfects me, but everything I care about. You can trust Him!

Our Father loves each of our family members with an unspeakable love; there are no words for it. We're privileged as mothers to get a glimpse of that love - our hearts can burst or break over our children in a way words can not describe, but God loves each of us far beyond what we can ever imagine.

Ashley plays this little game with the girls. They will be sitting looking at each other and Ashley will start saying, "Wait for it...wait for it...wait for it," until the sister breaks out into a big wide smile and giggles. That reminds me of Psalm 130:5-8:

v. 5 - I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.
v. 6 - My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning,
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. (2x's-twice as much as the shepherds on a night watch wait for the morning's sun to rise - such anticipation and longing.)
v. 7 - O, Israel, hope in the Lord. For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is abundant redemption.
v. 8 - And He shall redeem Israel from all His iniquities.He keeps His promises.) (emphasis mine)

The Lord knows all that concerns you because it concerns Him too. Grab hold of faith and wait for the abundant redemption of God. That is what I'm praying for each of us today. God CAN do it - just wait for it and He will turn your "mourning into dancing." (Ps. 30:11)

Too Busy!

I have been very busy these past two weeks. It seems like I'm just running from one end-of-the-school-year event to another. We have one more daughter in the house with a boyfriend who has spent a few days with us off and on. Plus, she has "car needs" so I have been running just a little bit more - dropping her off at work and picking her up so that I still have a car to drive. I also interviewed for a part-time job. Did I mention we threw in a birthday party for Tara and had 21 people in the house? Now we are facing two trips out-of-state within the period of a week and a half (two states in two different directions.) Yes, I am very busy.

I have been thinking about you, though, dear blog readers. I have so much I want to share, but just haven't had the quiet to sit down and put my thoughts to "blog." The Lord has been revealing so many truths that I'm giddy about what He is going to show me each day. I've been hired for that new job and start on Sunday evening (more on that later.) I've read some thought-provoking parts of books and I just want to share some of the events we've been a part of lately. So...I post this teaser. Now I've put the pressure on myself to fill you in sometime in the near future. Please, come back for a follow-up! I'll try to not be too schizophrenic with the myriad of things I want to share with you. (Just thinking, "How can I go from Scripture to Star Trek is such a short period of blogging") That's life, though, isn't it!

See you soon!