Wash jeans that were stained with cow poop
Tell my girls to stop farting
Laugh when my girls fart
Buy the generic brand of anything
Feed a frog
Talk to a fish and tell him he's cute
Yell at other people's kids
Make macaroni and cheese as a meal for my girls
Grocery shop, fold laundry or wash dishes at 5am
Write a blog and open myself up for other people to comment on my personal feelings
Like middle school kids and want to hang out with them (once in a while--not every day)
Share my computer with a 7 year old
Get overwhelmed with 3rd grade math
Clean dog poop of friends' kids feet (notice how a lot of these have to do with pets???)
Own a charcoal grill and use it
Forget my camera for pretty much every major function
Tell my girls "Because I said so"
Live in my current house for as long as I have
Get tired of reading self-help books
Become a home-body
Enjoy going barefoot (seriously--I used to hate this)
Use my hubby's shaving cream
Bribe my kids with ice cream, candy or money (this probably explains why I can't afford to move and still live in my same house)
Love people as much as I do (even those with more baggage than me)
Forget how old I am
Be caffeine-free
Think an appliance or something for the house is an awesome birthday/anniversary gift
Look forward to making copies at my girls' school
I'm sure there are more, but these are the first things that came to mind. What about you?
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Random-ness and the Books on my Shelf
I often feel so random in my taste. I hate for everything to match--I never buy an outfit that the store puts together (now you understand the way I dress). When I make cards or invitations, I cannot make two exactly alike--even if I really like one--I have to change it up. Even in making my girls’ lunches, I have to change up their chips and snack every day.
Anyway, I was glancing at my bookshelf at work today and was struck by the randomness of the books I have on it. Here are some:
• The Strong Willed Child (hmmm--wonder why I need this one?)
• Grace Walk
• The Divine Conspiracy
• On Being A Servant of God (my favorite book of all time!)
• A Heart Like His
• Go Put Your Strengths to Work
• The Angels Were Silent (No—this is not a book about a day I actually stayed quiet)
• He Loves Me!
• Choosing to Cheat
• God's Front Door
• Strengthsfinder 2.0 (because putting my strengths to work wasn’t enough)
• Making Vision Stick
• Would You Rather? (I have several of these)
• Christian Coaching
• Think Orange (because, honestly, who wants to think fuschia?)
• Living By the Book
• Living Your Strengths
• God Came Near (BEST story of the birth of Christ ever)
• The Great Omission
• Find it Fast in the Bible
• 101 Great Games for Kids
• The Me I Want to Be (my most recently finished book)
• Sacred Marriage
• Belief Matters (written by my pastor)
• Unchristian
• Creating Community
• Bittersweet
• Next Generation Leader
• While Shepherds Watch Their Flock (which I'm reading now)
• The Power of a Praying Wife
Wish I could say I've read all of them, but I'm at about a 60%. As I look over the ones I have finished, I can usually remember the things that were going on in my life when I read it (sometimes I remember that more than the content of the book). Some are fond memories; others remind me of hard things God has brought me through. Some had a big impact, others, not so much—in fact, a few were just a beat-down.
They also remind me of the many facets of my life. God didn’t create me to be just one thing—He created me to be Angel Royal: woman, wife, mom, employee, friend, coach, cheerleader… He gave me the gift of encouraging others at the same time as the gift of discernment.
While I do believe God has a plan, I think he allows randomness to keep us from becoming matchy-matchy. I think He celebrates our eclectic-ness. I mean, who else would make every stinkin snowflake different? Or give us the thousands of different styles of jeans? Or the many different colors of sunsets?
The fact that He loves randomness makes me love Him more…
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
If I were President...by Caroline Grace Royal (age 7)
I would want to make all the expensive places like disneyland cheap to go to so every one could play am have fun. I would also want every one to have a home for the wintr so they can kep wrm.
(no spelling was changed in the typing of this document)
Friday, March 4, 2011
The Kleinfeld Experience--Royal Style
Tonight, the girls and I were watching one of my favorite shows: "Say Yes to the Dress." I'm still not sure why I like it--shopping for my own wedding dress was not the fairy tale experience I thought it would be (not to mention that some of those brides REALLY annoy me).
The first time I shopped was on Mockingbird in a little bitty studio that was so stinking crowded! It was hot and I felt claustrophobic. The next time, I went with my mother-in-law and was really not in the mood to go, but did anyway. The shop was bigger, and I narrowed it down to buying a white dress and not ivory, but it, too, was a beat-down.
They say 3rd time's a charm and it truly was in my case. I was having dinner with Brian and his family and Audra, my now-sister-in-law, wanted to go. So we talked her hubby into putting their baby to bed on his own and we ran to David's Bridal. I was hesitant, but she started pulling dresses and insisting I try on veils, too. I had a saleslady who made it fun, as well. I can't remember who found my dress, but I DO remember waiting to try it on last because I just KNEW it was the one. Crazy, huh?
Anyway, as we were watching the show tonight, the girls started asking me questions about my dress. Caroline has asked to see it before, but I've put her off and showed her the wedding album instead. As we were talking tonight, I started to wonder why I hadn't ever gotten it out for them. (I have a confession--I was a cheap bride and didn't pay to have my dress cleaned after the wedding, so it's just been hanging in a bag in the back of my closet.)
So, I paused the show, told them to wait a minute and ran back to my room to grab the dress and give them their own Kleinfeld experience--Royal style. As soon as they saw the white bag, they both started jumping up and down. So, I laid it over the chair and opened it up.
It was not a fancy-schmancy one, but touching it again made me remember how perfect it was for me. The top had beading, but the skirt was organza and tulle with a beaded border at the bottom. It has a few small rips in the top layer close to where the bustle buttons are, but it still looked beautiful. As I unbustled it, dried rose petals fell out--which reminded me how glad I was that I insisted we have rose petals thrown at us instead of birdseed on our wedding day (I'll have to write another post about the adventures of finding rose petals for a wedding that was happening the day before Mother's Day).
Back to the dress. Hope liked it, but told me that it would have been prettier with no sleeves. Caroline asked if she could wear it for her wedding because it was her style. I think they were shocked when I asked them if they wanted to try it on. Why not? It's not like it's pressed or clean. Even though Caroline asked to wear it, I think both girls will want a dress of their own when/if they get married. As frivolous as it is to keep it, I just can't give it away, so why not let them pretend to be princess brides?
So they put it on and had to hold the top with one hand and the veil with the other so it didn't fall off of them. They took turns holding the train and pretending to be princesses. They even let me take their pictures (although I had to promise not to put them on facebook--I know, I know, this is kinda the same, but they didn't say I couldn't blog about it).
I've always found it a fine balance between the excitement of a wedding and making it all about that ONE day. Maybe that's why I've hesitated to bring out the dress before now. Who knows why I decided to let them play in it tonight, but it was definitely one of those moments that I hope they remember when they are sitting in therapy years from now. "Mom may have been crazy half the time, but remember that one time when she let us put on her wedding dress and prance around the living room?"
Definitely a good ending to the week (especially after the tooth fairy incident).
The first time I shopped was on Mockingbird in a little bitty studio that was so stinking crowded! It was hot and I felt claustrophobic. The next time, I went with my mother-in-law and was really not in the mood to go, but did anyway. The shop was bigger, and I narrowed it down to buying a white dress and not ivory, but it, too, was a beat-down.
They say 3rd time's a charm and it truly was in my case. I was having dinner with Brian and his family and Audra, my now-sister-in-law, wanted to go. So we talked her hubby into putting their baby to bed on his own and we ran to David's Bridal. I was hesitant, but she started pulling dresses and insisting I try on veils, too. I had a saleslady who made it fun, as well. I can't remember who found my dress, but I DO remember waiting to try it on last because I just KNEW it was the one. Crazy, huh?
Anyway, as we were watching the show tonight, the girls started asking me questions about my dress. Caroline has asked to see it before, but I've put her off and showed her the wedding album instead. As we were talking tonight, I started to wonder why I hadn't ever gotten it out for them. (I have a confession--I was a cheap bride and didn't pay to have my dress cleaned after the wedding, so it's just been hanging in a bag in the back of my closet.)
So, I paused the show, told them to wait a minute and ran back to my room to grab the dress and give them their own Kleinfeld experience--Royal style. As soon as they saw the white bag, they both started jumping up and down. So, I laid it over the chair and opened it up.
It was not a fancy-schmancy one, but touching it again made me remember how perfect it was for me. The top had beading, but the skirt was organza and tulle with a beaded border at the bottom. It has a few small rips in the top layer close to where the bustle buttons are, but it still looked beautiful. As I unbustled it, dried rose petals fell out--which reminded me how glad I was that I insisted we have rose petals thrown at us instead of birdseed on our wedding day (I'll have to write another post about the adventures of finding rose petals for a wedding that was happening the day before Mother's Day).
Back to the dress. Hope liked it, but told me that it would have been prettier with no sleeves. Caroline asked if she could wear it for her wedding because it was her style. I think they were shocked when I asked them if they wanted to try it on. Why not? It's not like it's pressed or clean. Even though Caroline asked to wear it, I think both girls will want a dress of their own when/if they get married. As frivolous as it is to keep it, I just can't give it away, so why not let them pretend to be princess brides?
So they put it on and had to hold the top with one hand and the veil with the other so it didn't fall off of them. They took turns holding the train and pretending to be princesses. They even let me take their pictures (although I had to promise not to put them on facebook--I know, I know, this is kinda the same, but they didn't say I couldn't blog about it).
I've always found it a fine balance between the excitement of a wedding and making it all about that ONE day. Maybe that's why I've hesitated to bring out the dress before now. Who knows why I decided to let them play in it tonight, but it was definitely one of those moments that I hope they remember when they are sitting in therapy years from now. "Mom may have been crazy half the time, but remember that one time when she let us put on her wedding dress and prance around the living room?"
Definitely a good ending to the week (especially after the tooth fairy incident).
And the Worst Mom of the Year Award Goes to...
This morning, I reached the pinnacle of mom failure. I always wondered what it would feel like to be the worst mom ever—I knew I was in the running, but I was holding out hope that someone else would beat me. I think, today, I finally earned the title.
What finally put me into the winner’s, I mean loser’s circle? The tooth fairy forgot to show up at our house last night. Yep, you heard me right—NO SHOW!
I can give all kinds of excuses, but truth is, until Hope asked me to turn her light on this morning so she could see under her pillow better, I just plain forgot about it. It’s not like losing it was uneventful—it came out while we were out to dinner and we left a trail of bloody napkins to prove it (ok—I’m exaggerating. I did make Hope throw them away so that our sweet friend who works there didn’t have to deal with them).
Anyway, I knew this day would eventually come. Part of me wanted to just tell her the truth this morning, but I thought about all the reasons I want her to believe as long as possible (I talked a little about it in my post on Santa at the Royal House last December).
What is amusing is the different reactions the girls had. Hope’s was, “HEY! That’s no fair!” When Caroline (who is 2 years younger) and I were discussing it later, her response was, “Maybe she’s sick. Or her wings got wet and she couldn’t fly. I’ll bet she comes tonight.”
So the dilemma is whether the tooth fairy will come while she is at school or just wait until tonight. I’m sure she will leave a note explaining why she didn’t make it last night (I can’t wait to hear her excuse--she has no snow or rain or tornadoes to blame it on, so I’m curious). I’m also assuming she’s gonna add a late fee to the usual dollar she leaves.
I told Hope there must have been a lot of kids who lost their teeth last night and she probably just didn’t have time to make it here. But that excuse stinks—does it mean other kids are more important than my child? Or is it a good lesson for her to learn that she is not the center of the world? Geesh, when you’re a parent, sometimes there’s just not a good response.
Especially when you’re the worst mom of the year…
What finally put me into the winner’s, I mean loser’s circle? The tooth fairy forgot to show up at our house last night. Yep, you heard me right—NO SHOW!
I can give all kinds of excuses, but truth is, until Hope asked me to turn her light on this morning so she could see under her pillow better, I just plain forgot about it. It’s not like losing it was uneventful—it came out while we were out to dinner and we left a trail of bloody napkins to prove it (ok—I’m exaggerating. I did make Hope throw them away so that our sweet friend who works there didn’t have to deal with them).
Anyway, I knew this day would eventually come. Part of me wanted to just tell her the truth this morning, but I thought about all the reasons I want her to believe as long as possible (I talked a little about it in my post on Santa at the Royal House last December).
What is amusing is the different reactions the girls had. Hope’s was, “HEY! That’s no fair!” When Caroline (who is 2 years younger) and I were discussing it later, her response was, “Maybe she’s sick. Or her wings got wet and she couldn’t fly. I’ll bet she comes tonight.”
So the dilemma is whether the tooth fairy will come while she is at school or just wait until tonight. I’m sure she will leave a note explaining why she didn’t make it last night (I can’t wait to hear her excuse--she has no snow or rain or tornadoes to blame it on, so I’m curious). I’m also assuming she’s gonna add a late fee to the usual dollar she leaves.
I told Hope there must have been a lot of kids who lost their teeth last night and she probably just didn’t have time to make it here. But that excuse stinks—does it mean other kids are more important than my child? Or is it a good lesson for her to learn that she is not the center of the world? Geesh, when you’re a parent, sometimes there’s just not a good response.
Especially when you’re the worst mom of the year…
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Control Issues of the Remote Kind
We have a control issue at the Royal House...a remote control issue. I don’t think this is an uncommon problem—most families have a battle of wills over who controls the family TV.
So, what’s unique about our control issue? It's that Hope—the 9 year old--is the one who carries it around the house with her. In fact, she told me this afternoon that it was a good thing that she holds onto it so tightly; it shows us that she can protect something.
I think we need to go back to the drawing board with the lessons we are teaching at Casa Royal. Either that, or we watch way too much TV...
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Faith
I bought a sign last year that hangs in my office above the board that has the names of all of the leaders I am responsible for. It reads "Faith is not believing God can, it's knowing He will."
I love that reminder. As I look at the names and see the individuals He has brought to us, I see lots of life. Many have children, some have gone through divorce, some are still in school, others are retired. There are so many stories on that board, that I catch myself staring at it for long periods of time--just thinking about the faces that go with the names and praying for them. Can you tell that I L-O-V-E my board???
Back to the subject at hand, I love my sign almost as much as my board. It's such a great wake-up call to me when I take the time to read it and not just let it fade into the background of my wall. I get caught up in all the things I need to be doing for these people and to staff the blank spots on the board. I can sit for hours and dream up lots of ideas and think of the should've/could've/would've stuff. And I do that way too often.
But every now and then, that sign catches my eye and I TRUlY acknowledge what it says and REALLY believe it to be true. Faith is not knowing God can, it's believing He will.
There are many areas that my faith is not strong, but for today, at this very moment, I'm choosing to believe my sign.
"O God, God of Israel, there is no God like you in the skies above or on the earth below who unswervingly keeps covenant with His servants and relentlessly loves them as they sincerely live in obedience to Your way. You kept your word to David my father, Your personal word. You did exactly what You promised--every detail. The proof is before us today!
1 Kings 8:23 (the Messae) empahsis mine
I love that reminder. As I look at the names and see the individuals He has brought to us, I see lots of life. Many have children, some have gone through divorce, some are still in school, others are retired. There are so many stories on that board, that I catch myself staring at it for long periods of time--just thinking about the faces that go with the names and praying for them. Can you tell that I L-O-V-E my board???
Back to the subject at hand, I love my sign almost as much as my board. It's such a great wake-up call to me when I take the time to read it and not just let it fade into the background of my wall. I get caught up in all the things I need to be doing for these people and to staff the blank spots on the board. I can sit for hours and dream up lots of ideas and think of the should've/could've/would've stuff. And I do that way too often.
But every now and then, that sign catches my eye and I TRUlY acknowledge what it says and REALLY believe it to be true. Faith is not knowing God can, it's believing He will.
There are many areas that my faith is not strong, but for today, at this very moment, I'm choosing to believe my sign.
"O God, God of Israel, there is no God like you in the skies above or on the earth below who unswervingly keeps covenant with His servants and relentlessly loves them as they sincerely live in obedience to Your way. You kept your word to David my father, Your personal word. You did exactly what You promised--every detail. The proof is before us today!
1 Kings 8:23 (the Messae) empahsis mine
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