Inspiring {10}

Approximately 40 days ago P-Daddy and I started a nightly routine of reading this...

We have been reading this after our evening prayer (before dinner) while enjoying our meal. Each day has two different versus from the book of Psalms and then a short story that talks about different things in marriage. Titles range from "Front Burner Marriage" to "Stronger Together," to "Always Marrying." Each day is only one page, so its an easy read (note, it isn't marked as a day by day thing...you and yours could read it all at once if you want...we are just using this as our daily devotional). So far, everything we have read has been very interesting and relevant. It really does have a lot of great perspective on marriage in a very light hearted way. I would highly recommend!

I have thought several times about blogging about this because I thought it could be enlightening to others...but I haven't gotten around to it until today! One of our favorites is below...I hope you enjoy!

"Invitation List"

He won't let you stumble, your Guardian God won't fall asleep

Psalm 121:3 The Message

All over the country black-and-white billboards popped up containing various messages from God. One message said "Loved the wedding. Invite me to the marriage."

When you invite God to your marriage, he comes. He comes to help you do more with your marriage than you can do with it by yourselves. By yourselves, you have only human abilities to call on. When you are partners with God in your marriage, there is a greater deposit from which you can withdraw assistance. Resources abound. Intermittent springs from which to drink are everywhere. God's presence keeps you company on a daily basis. God's purpose gives you meaningful work to do together. God's power sends you forth into a life as a courageous and confident couple. And God is in it all.

Invite God into your lives, and he will walk up and down the aisle of your marriage each and every day.

My help will come from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Pslam 121:2 GNT

The above is from the book "Inspiring Words From The PSALMS For Couples, Gods Gift of Endless Love, Joy and Encouragement," by Phillip H. Barnhart.

If you want to have one of these for you and your hubby, click here.

{11}

I entitle this post "11" for a number (ha! get it...11/number...I am so funny I know!) of reasons.

First-its {11} on the countdown on my 30 blogs in 30 Days Journey

Second-ELEVEN is my all time favorite number as I was born on November 11th and have always thought that was very cool


Third-(ironically) today is June 11th (Happy 22 month birthday Addy and Lilly)!

So without further a do you shall receive a Mamalouise type of blog today! A selfish blog so to speak. I really have nothing planned (as I normally don't) but think its time to ramble a bit about, well...I guess we shall see.

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately...which can be dangerous. I have been dealing with some part time insomnia which is nothing new in the last 2o or so months but still can be maddening. I have learned to deal with it a little bit and will now just lay in bed and think about whatever it is my brain apparently needs to work out before it lets me go back to sleep.

I think about how I never knew I would be this type of mom. The all "hands on, not working outside of the home, very depended on, doesn't make time for myself very much or very well," type. I was so into me, selfish old me (even while prego) that I never knew. And its been hard the whole quitting of being selfish/not having a job/somewhat losing and then regaining my identity thing. Geez, you people have even read about the hardness that it sometimes is.

However, along this whole 21 month journey I have ALWAYS felt I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I may not have always been comfortable there but always had a comfort of sorts because I was where I was for a reason (yet to be completely figured out).

I have gotten better about saying the word "no." Which is funny because I feel less selfish than I ever have in my life. But maybe saying no to things because I don't want to do them isn't being selfish at all...just smart! But "no" is a fabulous word and all should have it in their vocabulary. And while having it in their vocabulary should not feel bad for saying it. I used to do things all the time that I didn't want to do because I didn't want to hurt someone's feelings, or felt like I had to for one reason or another. Not so much anymore. If I don't want to do it, I don't and don't really care if someone is pissed about it. I used to be a HUGE people pleaser. Now I am just a people pleaser. :)

I sometimes wonder if JD should be our only child. Which was not who I thought I would be as a mom EVER. I originally wanted THREE...then got pregnant and thought there was no way I was going down that road TWO more times, so I said I could have TWO, and then JD came along and, like I said, some days I think we are complete just the way we are. I have friends moving onto baby number two...and the thought of that gives me hives. Itchy hives. That, I fear would make getting an actual babysitter to come to my house and watch my CHILDREN not CHILD a LOT harder...and its already hard. That means I would get even LESS time to myself, and right now I don't even know how that would be humanly possible.

I am more than just a mom, although I love being a mother more than I ever knew I would. Once again, which is why I feel very good in the place I am at right now. But I am more than just a mom. And I don't want to lose that girl, that fun, somewhat free spirited, laugh at her own jokes, have a beer on the porch with you on a Monday night just because, feels really pretty in pajama pants and a tank top (with ratty, unbrushed hair), sings so loud in her car that people shake their head at her at stoplights...that girl. I like her. I like me.

People don't like it when you tell them you like yourself. A lot of people don't like themselves. I have always liked me and I never want to lose that. I haven't always liked all of me, like the body of me. Still struggle with that. So don't call me arrogant. I'm not. People have always seen me as confident though, and I like that. Speaking of that, I used to care a lot more about what others thought about me. That is a curse. Don't do it. Anyway...I don't care at all. And really, I have P-Daddy to thank for that. He has NEVER cared what others thought about him. I admire that. He thinks he's cool even if the rest of the world thinks whatever they want. I think you get a lot further in life this way.

I don't like this stage in my life right now when it comes to friendships. Its a weird time. Some married, some with child/children, some without, some never gonna have children and can't believe we do, some in serious relationships, some single and happy, some single and sad. Regardless I never knew this stage would be so highschooly weird. I watched "Bride Wars" the other night (during P-Daddy's weekend away) and got emotional over the fact that these two girls were so close. I mean despite the drama (ha!). There are many days that I feel very distant from many (sometimes all) of my friends. Part of it is because I feel like for the first time in our friendship I am being true to MYSELF and not just to them (insert the word "no" here...you know to what they think I should be doing for them, with them, etc), and sometimes I blame it on a plethora of things (kids, distance, the weather, you name it). Regardless, its a weird time and I don't like it. I don't care that we aren't all in the same place...wouldn't that be boring if we were? I think so.

I have friends that read this blog that are probably taking what I just said personally. Its nothing I haven't said to any of them though, so whether they like it or not, they know I feel this way. And I am only writing about it because today is a selfish blog day and I am letting myself write whatever I please. :) And that I don't think I/we are alone in this weird time of friendships. Sure...I could probably walk the neighborhood and find mommy friends that stay at home too and we may laugh a bit at the pool this summer...but I would MUCH rather just spend time with my real friends. I don't need all that fluff. I need my friends to be friends.

P-Daddy is my best friend. I also got emotional (translated, cried...or rather sobbed) during "Bride Wars" at how lucky I am (insert I am PMSing and anything somewhat emotional is fair game for tears to shed). So with the weirdness that is 20 somethings friendships it is nice to have a true best friend. I literally have never had a friend like him. Oh people don't think we are perfect...we fight, we disagree, we have our moments. But seriously, no one has ever loved and respected me like him and a girls just gonna tear up about the hugeness of that every once in a while.

I hope you are happy today, just exactly where you are. I hope if you aren't, that you do something about it. I hope you love and are loved. We only get one life, why not live it?

All Boy {12}

Our little, sweet, JD (turned rowdy, sweaty, superhero like, and by superhero I mean he has magical powers that get him from room to room to room, up and down the stairs, in and out of doorways faster than the speed of light...and he is freakishly strong) is ALL BOY and that is for sure! We had our bi-weekly playdate today that consists mostly of little girls and, well, to put it nicely my sweet sweet boy sticks out (just a tad). Instead of toys he goes straight for the baby monitor with the cord (especially the cord), then the house phone (taking it apart, throwing it across the room, NOT SHARING it with others), and then will move towards the most destructive toys in the room. Like for instance, a stroller. Seems harmless right? Until your child picks it up and whips it across the room at the wall! He also somehow ended up with a fat lip...I am thinking one of the girls got him but not enough apparently because he never cried about it! He is like a world champion boxer apparently...no blow is gonna get him down! HA!

"Girls! You are doing this wrong...we need to be more sneaky about it! The big people will try and stop us if we keep being obvious." -JD

It is times like these when, as a mom who also loves herself some playdates because it provides some adult interaction, gets frustrated. My girlfriends kept saying "don't worry about it," or "he's just being a boy,"...and I'm thinking in my head..."yes you are correct, but I just want to sit here, watch him play nicely and RELAX while I enjoy YOUR company for just an hour." JUST ONE HOUR." But no such luck today. :) Regardless...THANK YOU Jaimie for your lovely hospitality and wonderful lemon poppy seed bread!

"Umm...is someone gonna tell these two that this isn't okay? " -Claire

JD was for sure in rare form, and I am not sure why. Could it really be the weather? It is gloomy and muggy and has been threatening to storm all day...and I look into his eyes and see "that look." My mom used to say "you've got 'that look' in your eye...maybe you should go take a nap, or go play in your room." Normally "that look" consisted of me misbehaving and he sure did today! And I hear that school teachers just know when the weather is acting up, so will the kids...or at least that's what they talk about in my kickbox cardio class...so I am thinking hmmmm maybe they are onto something?

"I am going to sit here for 5 seconds so my mommy will quit telling me "no" and she will think that I have settled down...but this is just a trick I am really thinking of my next move is all" -JD

And I know I have an almost two year old and am not supposed to be figuring his attitude out because its changing all the time...but just yesterday he was all cuddles, took a 3 hour nap, played so nicely, rode in the car like a dream child (which is rare in itself)...and YESTERDAY, just YESTERDAY I was all "he's turned a corner and is communicating so much more and is just becoming this wonderful little man." HA!


I love my son more than I can express to any of you! More than that even. I love him for exactly the "all boy" that he is. Today was just one of those days...but still...another day in our paradise. :)

She's MY Mom, a daughter, a GranBeck, a Dear Friend, an Artist, Christian, a Blogger...AND... {13}

...ITS HER BIRTHDAY!!! Happy Birthday MOM! Don't worry, I won't tell the dear readers your age...but remember you are only as old as you FEEL...real age doesn't matter! Now go get yourself a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, stick some candles in it and make a wish!

Lets talk about mom for a minute. She is the youngest of 7 children and she is really the youngest. Her oldest sister was 20 years older than her and the closest sibling to her was 10 when she was born. Which makes life interesting as most of my cousins I call "aunt" and "uncle" because they are my moms age! Their kids are my age, and so on and so forth.

She has been a grocery store owner, a school teacher, a middle school women's basketball coach, a high school women's tennis coach, a volunteer for Christian Radio, a greeting card stock gal for stores, a summer softball coach, a girl scout leader, a business starter, a Jorgenson Electric logo and sign designer/painter, a bootie shaker, a DACC women's basketball player, a wind suit wearer (matching top and bottom of course), a conversion van driver (with curtains), a California dreamer...

...she is a high tech granny (but hasn't jumped on board with texting...yet), P-Daddy's favorite mom-in-law, a home designer, a babysitter, a many dog owner, Christian Women's Club President, Margarita and awful beer drinkin, choir singer, concert goer, motorcycle driving, mix tape/CD maker (still gettin em too and they rock...don't be jealous), a vacuum the entire house mother (including the trim and ceilings and whatever she can find to vacuum), a Halloween costume maker...

...she was a Junior Great Books instructor, WNBA fan, PTA momma, American Idol/Ellen/Bonnie Hunt/So You Think You Can Dance/The View (especially Whoopie) addict, the most amazing artist I know (and think she should seriously work on selling some of her stuff), a wife, Walmart shopper, a friend to everyone she meets (especially those seated next to her on airplanes)...

...she is the most tender hearted, kind person you will ever know, give you the shirt off her back and will listen to what you need so she can try to help, Contemporaires and RedCoats t-shirt maker, a sister who has seen her family through it all, cat owner, movie quoter (to be specific, What about Bob, City Slickers, Rush Hour, and Dumb and Dumber), the best Grandma a kid could ask for...she is MY MOM!

After all that, don't lie...you are jealous! I would be too! She is pretty amazing...I love you mom!!

Happy Birthday!!!!

If you want to give her some birthday love, click here! :)

All Business {14}

I am over here today sharing a few recent Save the Dates I created for Beyond Planning.

I will give you a sneak preview to entice you to come and visit!

A Tradition Unlike Any Other {15}

P-Daddy has a tradition with his really close college friends. Golf. :) No really it is golf but WAY more than that...its a weekend every year where they all meet up in Ohio and go to The Memorial PGA golf tournament, play some golf, eat too much, drink too much and have a great time! Their annual golf game against each other is over the top competitive that includes a plaque which hangs in our den of the running winners from each year AND green jackets that are passed along to the winners (like The Masters...which if you aren't a golf fanatic you won't know what I am talking about, but just know that its a big deal, especially to golf nerds like my hubby and his friends, and yes I totally mean that in the most loving way as I do love that he is a golf nerd). :)

Three of the 4 guys who attend this tradition (unlike any other)

From Left: Zuercher, Liss (who doesn't attend), Walker, P-Daddy (we are missing Shilts)...I wish guys were better about taking pictures because I don't have any from their any of the years they have done this extravaganza together!

It helps that the host of the weekend's mother is the mayor of the town in which the tournament is played though. These boys are treated very well...go to the CBS dinner where they hang out (look at) Jim Nanz, eat lunch at the course in a VIP tent and so on and so forth. This is P-Daddy's idea of a great time so we are always excited for him to go for this tradition.

On a side note, I love tradition. Wish my girls had one or rather had kept one. But women are so bad about this I have discovered (I am including myself in this). Its our maternal crap I guess. And I only call it crap on a day like today, where I have spent the last 56 hours (whos counting) alone (mostly) with my son (whom I love dearly) but girlfriend is TIRED and is ready for a spa weekend somewhere soon. Very soon. :) Because I am a spa nerd.

Back to P-Daddy. He came home all cute and tan and well fed and well dranked and happy. To say that JD and I missed him sooooooooo much would be an understatement. We love ourselves some P-Daddy! Last night around bed time I REALLY noticed that JD was extra cuddly, extra sad, extra extra everything really. Daddy was gone and I think he really started to wonder what was going on. I, of course loved the snuggle part, because THAT is a rarity around these parts, but it made me sad too.

I was all "awww...daddy is golfing with his friends and he loves you and misses you and will be home tomorrow." And JD was all "dadda, dadda, dadda" and then he ran to the gate where he greets daddy every day...and then when he realized dadda wasn't coming through the door, he ran back to me and snuggled. So cute! When Daddy DID come back today he was soooo excited!! There was no cold shoulder, just hugs around these parts!

So I want to send a thank you to Walker, Zuercher, and Shilts for providing P-Daddy the outlet to be able to have such a weekend with such great friends!! :) We don't tell you enough what great friends you are!

The Little Garden That Could {16}

John Cougar's "hold onto 16 as long as you can..." keeps running through my brain over and over again today. I keep thinking about something fun I could share that would be worthy of an entire blog...but no such luck. The only thing remotely interesting is the fact that I didn't turn 16 until the middle of my junior year of high school (which sucked) but that once I actually got that beautiful Illinois drivers license I had the sincere pleasure of driving my moms sweet TEAL Lebaron Convertible round town. I was cool, don't be jealous.

Onto the officially #16 (on the countdown) post. I decided to add a green thumb, be a tree hugger, "go green", be organic...the whole nine yards this summer. You know, me and my three plant garden-HA! Anyway I just did it...read the back of each seed packet, did exactly like they said and have been patiently awaiting SOMETHING. I planted green beans, zuccini squash and green peppers as those are some household favorites!!

Itty bitty stuff on the upper left: Green Peppers, Upper Right: Zuccini Squash, Long beautiful green plant: Green beans

So I have something, but as of now it doesn't resemble anything the family can eat. Its almost the middle of June so heres to hoping that in the next few weeks I will reep what I sow. HA!

If anyone has any suggestions I would be more than happy to take them! I looked up what green bean plants should look like today (I also wanted to make sure that I had them planted correctly, and I do thank you very much!) and so far it seems I am doing okay other than maybe it is time to take out some of them?! Thats just based on what I read...I may give it another week before I do something crazy like that though!