Post 427

It's time.

I started my "Real Mom" blog because of my sister's never-ending encouragement. Once I started, I became obsessed. I blogged multiple times in a week. My children started asking at every monumental event if it was going to "end up on the blog." The answer was always "yes."

Blogging became my life-blood. Helping me work through hard times and celebrate wonderful moments. I "met" some AMAZING people who I feel a natural kinship with. People who I will always consider as my friends, though I may never have met them. Some I already was acquainted with, but until sharing our blogs with each other, never could claim full friendship. For these people, I often wonder, "how could I have lived so close to you and not realize what an amazing person you are?" I am grateful for the deepening friendships that came through blogging.

I found myself laughing and crying as I posted and, more importantly, as I read my blogging buddies posts. I learned of peoples struggles and heartaches. I felt joy when they triumphed. Blogging was a very personal, healing source for me. My "Real Mom" blog became part of my identity as I included it in my email signature.

And then an interesting thing happened. My blog fulfilled its purpose. Very specifically, very obviously. As the Lord directed lives that had intertwined on my blog, I felt a sense of fulfillment. People who became dear friends were led here just because two women shared their blogs with their husbands. Heaven took care of the rest.

Since then, life has been a roller coster. I have had a bunch of hard days and a bunch of wonderful days. Through it I have tried to keep blogging consistently. Realizing the healing effect it had on me, I felt as though I needed to continue. But blogging became a chore, more of a burden. And even with my love of writing and the healing benefits from blogging, I just couldn't make myself keep it up.

So, I have finally accepted what I should have seen a while ago. It's time.

Time to sign off as "Real Mom, Real Life." Time to close this chapter in my book. I will always cherish what blogging did for me. But now, it is time to say good-bye.

Now, my friends, don't freak out. I am doing great. Actually, I am feeling better than I have in a long time. And, I plan on continuing to write, just in a different way. I have multiple books I am trying to pound out and I have decided to start blogging again, incognito. You might never know who's behind the blogs you read, but I invite you to try and find me.

To all my Real Mom friends, thank you! And see you in Cyberspace!

Some People

Somehow, the other day, the Gladiator and I were hanging out together watching Animal Planet. (I still don’t know how it happened that it was just the two of us) A show came on called Whale Watchers. It was kind of interesting, in a over dramatic way (seriously, don’t get me started Animal Planet and how they are turning EVERY show into a life or death drama)

Just following a commercial break, a warning came on the screen about the upcoming segment of the show. It might prove to be disturbing to some people so parental discretion was advised. That was about the time I decided to change the channel.

When the Gladiator protested, I told him it didn’t sound like it was going to be a good show; that it might be disturbing. He asked how I knew and I explained what the warning had said.

“It just says ‘some people’ will be, but I won’t be disturbed.” I explained again. And again. And again. This “discussion” went on for a few minutes. Me trying to convince him that it was a good idea; him trying to convince me that he wasn’t the kind of person that would be disturbed.

I finally struck with the winning blow, “Well, it says some people will be disturbed and WE are SOME PEOPLE.” Witty, I know.

Fast forward a couple weeks. I was doing some shopping at the mall with Ms. Princess and the Gladiator. We passed by the puppy store which is always good for a decent “Ahhhh” session. (honestly, I don’t know why I never learn not to go into these places)

It was 13.8 seconds before Ms. Princess and the Gladiator were BEGGING me for another puppy. “PLEEEEEEAAAASSSSE???!!!” they cried. I began to explain that we can not have another dog. (I should never try and argue with my children)  We already have two dogs – that is more than enough – so there is no reason to get another.

The Gladiator said, “But Mom, some people have a lot more than three dogs.” To which my clever response was, “Well, we are NOT some people.”

The Gladiator looked confused for a second, then responded, “Yes we are Mom, you even said so when we were watching “Whale Watchers.” You said we were SOME PEOPLE. That means we CAN get the puppy.”

Never try to outwit an eight year old...  And no, we didn’t bring the puppy home.

The Gladiator with Sprite and Ms. Princess with Zoey.

Happy Father's Day

I wanted to get a group shot of these kiddos for their awesome dad. Besides it being over 100 degrees and to bright of location, here is why we didn't:

I finally gave up. We'll try again. Another day. Another time.

A Finnish Proverb -- kind of

As a young adult I picked up a job at the local alteration shop. It was a perfect job while I was going to school.

The owner of the shop was Finnish and one of the neatest people I have ever met. She was quiet, except when she got mad. She held her tongue, except when she needed to speak. She was a romantic, except when talking about reality.

Aside from “seamstressing”, she taught me a very important lesson I will never forget. She repeated the phrase daily -- several times. It became such a part of me that I repeat it to my children as if was one of those “mom phrases” that my own mother said.

“Nothing is hard once you know how.” 

Because she spoke with a Finnish accent, or because she wanted to stress the point, she placed the emphasis of this statement on the KNOW rather than the HOW. And if you don’t say it the same way, then it just doesn’t mean as much.

I love this because of how obvious and simple of a phrase it is. Yet, how often do we insist we can’t do something for one reason or another? Really, once we know something, it is no longer hard.

It makes me less afraid to try something new because I know it is just a matter of figuring it out, or knowing how.

Now, if I only KNEW how to raise teenagers!!!

Brain Freeze and other deep thoughts

Ahhh, the summer. Nothing like a summer in the desert. Well, maybe a pool in the summer in the desert. But that’s another post for another day.

This is the time of year when places like Cold Stone Creamery, Sonic and Bahama Buck’s are full of desperate dehydrated desert dwellers.

Today, I was one of those desperate desert dwellers. Doesn’t matter that my A/C was cranked up in the car. Doesn’t matter that I was driving with my skirt pulled up to my thighs and the A/C vent aimed directly at a downward angle. Doesn’t matter that I was only outside for 27 seconds as I walked to my car from the music store.

I was hot.

So hot, my skin felt like it was crawling with thousands of centipedes with prickly, burning feet. (If you know the heat, you know what I mean.)

I pulled through Bahama Buck’s for a cool drink. (never mind that I actually got TWO because I couldn’t decide which one I wanted)

As I pulled away from my personal oasis in the sun, something hit me. A brain freeze. The most horrible, long-lasting brain freeze I have ever had. No amount of pushing on the roof of my mouth with my thumb lessened it’s intensity.

And so I began to question…

My body temp must have been rather high when I reached for the cold, iciness of my limeade. Perhaps my brain freeze was so bad because I was so hot. Let’s say it was a cool 65 degrees outside, would my brain freeze have been as severe?

This is something I will never know from experience. Because, you see, when it gets to be 65 degrees outside, my whole body is freezing and I reach for a hot cocoa.

So, what I would really like to know is, do you people who live in Wisconsin or Canada or Iceland get brainfreezes?