Momma Said...

Day 8, Wednesday: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.

A long time ago, my mom gave me an important piece of advice. "Don't ever talk about your husband in a negative way to your family, you might be able to forgive him, but we might not be able to." This advice is sound, although in certain situations difficult. She told me this when I was married to my first husband, with whom I had lots of conflict. And I guess it was good in a way in that it kept her insulated from the things I was dealing with. But hard for me not having a support system. I assumed that's all that advice meant.

There is another way of looking at it, though. I would never talk to anyone about Jeff in a negative way. I love him, and luckily our disagreements are almost non-existent. I also try to be careful about "joking" about traits he might have that are less than perfect... we're all less than perfect aren't we? Because I love him, I would never want anyone to see him in a negative light. I want to build him up. I want everyone to think of him in a positive way and know that he is amazing. Who cares if I don't like the way he puts the toilet roll on the holder, etc... negative statements, even in jest are still demeaning and hurtful.

So that's my best advice - honor the people you love, especially your husband, and guard ALL your words about them to preserve them and build them up.

Hugs,

Lions and Tigers and Bears... Oh My!

Day 7, Tuesday: The thing(s) you're most afraid of

Fear doesn't seem to be as complicated when you're a child.

Sometimes I am very overcome with irrational fears, usually involving Jeff and the kids. I never knew fears like this before I had my little family. I don't like them to go anywhere without me in case something happens. If anything did happen, I would want us to be together. And if they do and I don't hear from them by the time I think they should be back, I start fearing the worst.

With the internet and the news, and the over reporting of horrific things happening in every corner of our country, I feel so inundated by all the heart-wrenching tragedies that seem to be constantly occurring. I fear losing them, and I fear them losing me. I cannot and do not want to imagine the horror of it. Sometimes it feels very overwhelming. And when it does, I just try to hug them more, and trust more that we will be safe. And together.

They say God never gives us more than we can bear, and I believe in God with all my heart. And I pray (plead) a lot that God never tests me in that way. Which I feel guilty about... is it wrong to hope that, or pray for that?

If so, then I know God forgives that in me. I just have to keep trusting as much as I can.

Soaps and Bon-Bons...

Day 6, Monday: If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question, 'what do you do'?

Well, as many of you may know, I quit working outside the home in January - notice the words "outside the home"... Now I'm wondering how everything around the house got done before! I would love to have time to sit around watching "my stories" (LOL - that was what my Gammaw called her soap operas), eating bon-bons. And just what the heck are bon-bons anyway? Never mind, I Googled it.

We get up every morning, kids go to pre-school and I head to the gym for an hour or so. Then I run home for a few minutes and then back to pick them up before lunch. The rest of the day is spent in either the kitchen or the laundry room - LOL! Well, at least that's how it f-e-e-l-s! We go to the park and the library, visit my mom on days she keeps my nephew, and pretty much have fun.

It's nice to be with the kids, I am SO lucky to be able to spend my days with them, hearing all their big ideas. I say that, because these days Alex starts most of his sentences with "Momma, I have an idea..." and they are usually pretty great! Today we made ice cream in those Magic Ice Cream cups, as seen on TV. After dinner and baths, I get to blog, craft and watch TV. If I don't get it all done, it usually has to wait until nap time or the next evening. And that's okay.

BTW - the above pic is from South 'n France makers of Bon Bons...  if I ever do decide to just sit around and eat bon bons, I think I'll try these first...

ONLY YOU...

Day 5, Sunday: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends. What makes them great? Why do you love them? If you don't have blogger friends, talk about a real-life friend or even a family member

I have lots of blogging friends that I love - I could never choose between them. But honestly, without this guy, and his constant love, encouragement and support, I wouldn't be who I am. 

Maybe I wouldn't even do the things that I love to do. He's my one true love & my partner in crime - LOL! Jeff probably eggs me on more than he should... indulges me more than he should. I never want for anything - if I tell him I need pop dots, he insists I buy more than I need. He is amazing with all the gadgets around the house, isn't afraid of cleaning, and is way better than I am with finances. He is also a terrific dad.... although he spoils the kids more than he should. He is a total "giver". I am so so lucky. And I love him more than anything!

We met about a month after I moved back to my hometown, I had been friends with his aunt and uncle for years, and he had just moved here, as well. So in a way, his aunt set us up. That was in August of 2002. We dated for 5 years before we got married... I'm so glad he was patient - LOL! Over the years he helped me with my scout troops and I helped him with college. He must love me if he was willing to sell Girl Scout cookies in front of Wal-Mart with me for 5 years in  a row! So here we are, married 5 years, 2 incredible kids and now he's let me become a SAHM. He is an awesome, amazing man!

I love you Jeff Gordon!

your wife~y,

QUOTEable...

Day 4, Saturday: Favorite quote (from a person, from a book, etc) and why you love it

This was a really hard prompt for me, I thought about this all day... just "one" quote? There are so many I love... but here is the one I chose:

“To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.” 

― Dr. Seuss

The world has become such a busy place. Too busy it seems to notice people around us and the needs they might have, much less even smile at people around us. When I smile at a stranger sometimes I wonder if anyone has smiled at them that day, and will anyone after me? One thing I love about the small town I live in is just being able to smile or make small talk with people without fear of people looking at you like you're a freak, or not "hip" to be nice and down to earth.  As much as technology is supposed to "connect" us, I think in a way it drives us farther away from our own communities. There are so many lonely people out there! 

So smile! Smile at everyone you see - so what if they think you're a loon... to one person you may smile at, you may be the only connection to humanity they have in a whole day. 

I really DO love Lucy... except...

Day 3, Friday: Things that make you uncomfortable

I am very uncomfortable with embarrassment.

Okay, I know what you're thinking "yeah, who isn't?" Well, the twist is, I can handle personal embarrassment, while it is slightly uncomfortable, I have coping mechanisms that are my "go-to" remedies. However, when I am watching television, those coping skills are stripped away, leaving me powerless. And Lucille Ball is the Kryptonite to my Super[wo]man.

She is funny, and she was so very likable, but UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES can I manage to sit and watch her embarrass herself in the most outlandish ways. I could sooner scrape my fingernails on a chalkboard for a half hour. It's silly and sad, really... to be so overcome. But I am. Like your drunken infomercial, the candy conveyor belt fiasco, lighting yourself on fire... Poor Lucy, you're like watching a train wreck in slow motion.

I love you Lucy, but I just can't bear you!

Your biggest [wannabe] fan,

FOODIE : Another Name for Myself...

This post might not really be educational on a process, but it is educational about my passion for cooking. 

Day 2, Thursday: Educate us on something you know a lot about or are good at. Take any approach you'd like (serious and educational or funny and sarcastic)

      

I love love love to cook! Especially soups and stews. I have tons of recipes books, and watch Food Network like a dude watches sports. Coming from the south, you'd expect we eat a lot of grits and gravy, and deep fried everything here, but actually I don't cook southern food much at all! Jeff is Dutch-Indonesian, and a lot of what I cook is Asian influenced. Soba noodles, miso paste, fish sauce, bonito flakes - anything exotic, can always be found in my pantry. 

Luckily, we live in an area close to an army base, with a substantial population of Koreans, and therefore, Korean markets! If you know what you're looking for and don't mind digging around food packaging that may or may not contain English, you can find tons of wonderful things! I like to go and buy all kinds of items and then play in my kitchen! One thing I have found that I love is Bulgogi sauce.... a steak marinaded in this stuff is the BOMB... now I don't want to eat a steak any other way!

Well, I could drone on and on about food, but I won't. I'm hoping to start including more pics and recipes from my culinary adventures here. See that tab up there that says "Foodie"? I've been working on setting it up, so stay tuned!

      

Bye for now,

My Life So Far...

I saw this 'challenge' the other day to blog every day in May.... well, I already DO that, right? Of course it's always my crafty stuff, peppered occasionally with "real life" tidbits. But this month, every day, there'll be a whole post about ME, baby! Exciting stuff!

SO here goes... Day 1, Wednesday: The story of your life in 250 words or less (or one paragraph... no one will be counting your words... probably)

I was born Arielle Niccole, 40 years ago in Enterprise, Alabama, like my mom and her mom and grandmom and so on. My parents were young and scraped by, my dad worked hard and went to school, getting his Masters and moving us around the South a few times, but back to Enterprise by the time I was in third grade. I had a wonderful childhood, full of family and wonderful memories. In college I majored in graphic design and fine art photography. After graduation I married and moved to New Orleans for 2 years. He had un-diagnosed bi-polar disorder, and our 6 year marriage was tense and difficult, during which we moved to Northern California. After I left him, I moved back to my hometown, and was grateful to be back home. I hope to never leave it again. Within a month met Jeff at church, after praying earnestly that if I were to marry again I would meet my future husband there. He is my heart. And if it took all the bad to finally be with him, it was worth it. We have Maisie and Alex, ages 3 and 4 (with 19 months in between) who are brilliant and hardheaded and wonderful. I recently quit my job to be home with them, and everyday is now an adventure! I love to cook and make things, and play games and read books with the kids. I have also started going to the gym every morning and it’s becoming addictive! It’s a good life!

Well, that actually took about 255 words, but there you have it! Trust me, it's very condensed - LOL!

Hugs!