Wordless Wednesday

~snapshots from daily life~

300th Verbal Doodle

OK... I was planning on celebrating the 300-entry mark anyway and didn't realize it would fall on my birthday! I know 300 is a drop.in.the.bucket for some of you veteran bloggers out there...but it's a milestone for me. I wasn't sure when I started blogging that I would be able to hang in here that long but it's been fun. I've met so many interesting people and I look forward to my son having a record of his Mom's thoughts one day...thoughts that are difficult to convey to him at five years old.

And, selfishly, it's for me, too.

Days turn into weeks... turn into years and suddenly it's all a blur. I wanna remember.

So, here's to 300 posts and hopefully...many more thoughts, memories, observations to come!

ps--weight loss challenge friends... zero lost. zero gained. I'm OK with that. Now, post-birthday cake, it might be a whole 'nother story. :-)

Heavenly Thoughts

On the way out of the church parking lot today, I was looking up in the Bible the reference to the specific size of Heaven. As I was reading outloud from the book of Revelation, I was questioning unfamiliar measurements mentioned such as 12,000 stadia and 144 cubits. As always, my ever-attentive 5-year old piped in from the back seat:

"It's easy, Mom. Heaven is 20 stories of goodness."

Once again, my child's comprehension supercedes my own.

Adoption

I have blogged here for a year and a half...roughly the amount of time that we've been contemplating and pursuing the adoption of a second child. However, it never occured to me until this morning to get the "word out" here in case any of you hear of an adoption situation.

You know, we tried for so many years to have a baby and then God brought Daniel into our lives. I look back now and the timing seems perfect...but, it didn't make the wait any less painful while we were going through the process. I know there is a reason we have not been matched with a child...it's just frustrating not being able to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

We are currently signed on with an agency that ministers to birthmothers; therefore, their central focus is making sure the needs of the birthmother are met. The problem is, since we have signed on, the "pool" of birthmothers has dwindled and the ratio to waiting families makes the possibility of us adopting from them very unlikely. And, at this point, we don't have the money to adopt through an agency-- so, I come to you internet friends.

We are hoping to adopt a boy or girl 5 years old or younger but would be open to a girl up to 6 or 7. We are also open to a pair of siblings. Of course, a baby would also be a wonderful addition to our home...we just want to emphasize that we are open to older children since they are typically harder to place. As for open or closed adoption, I guess that would really depend on the situation.

It breaks my heart to hear my son ask, almost on a daily basis, "Mommy, when can I have a 'brudder' or sister?" Please think of us if you know of, or hear about, any situations that might present an opportunity for us to build our family.

Thank you, guys. You have been so supportive in other areas of my life...I thought I'd turn to you for this one, too. :-)

If you need to contact us, I may be reached via email here.

When Did It Happen?

I am the lyrics Queen. I pride myself on knowing every word. to every song. ever written. So, when did I become the old woman who watched the Today Show this morning in horror as a rock band was spewing out words I couldn't understand? To make matters worse, there were hundreds of people--of all ages mind you--singing a long like they actually knew what the kid was screaming, um, I mean singing.

"Who in the heck is that?!," I ask myself. FALL OUT BOY, one sign read. Is that a command or is it actually the name of the band? Now, for those of you much "cooler" than me, you might think it crazy that I was oblivious to this group... but here they were, on my morning news show, with throngs of fans doing the unified fist pump and I was lost. They were singing something over and over that everyone understood--except me. When did I lose my way? When did the winds of hipness and youth blow through town and leave me all alone... I must have been in the bathroom or somethin.

When it comes to music, I like a little bit of everything--pop, rock, country, rap, hip-hop, classical, folk--you name it. But, I think I know what happened.

I'm stuck.

I'm caught in that window of time between being young and "in the know" music-wise and having kids that are listening to the stuff. Something happens in the canyon of time when, to escape the sounds of Dora the Explorer and the theme song to the Backyardigans ("and we're your backyard friends .... the Back Yaaaaarrrrrrdigans..." ), I immerse myself in my favorite music courtesy of iTunes; thereby skipping all things new.

I'm sure there'll come a time when I am headbanging with my son to some current hit and he'll think me cool. But...for now, I think I'll go fist pump to some rockin' John Denver hit.

I am so hip.

Wordless THURSDAY...so far!

I'm bogged down with work right now but thought I'd post a couple of pics...mainly for Melissa who sweetly chastised me for not having a blog posted this morning. These two pics make me chuckle:

Daniels' T-Ball team... I chuckle because, of COURSE,
my child is the only one who didn't wear his cap for the pic.

My niece...because she looks SO much like my Mom in this pic and
because she is a GOOF ball. She definitely has her Aunt KK smitten.

Tuesday Karaoke: "Beverly Hillbillies Theme"

Ok, you know the tune ... c'mon and join in everybody:

"Now listen to a story 'bout a girl named Kate
She really was determined to put less food on her plate
Eatin smaller portions and layin' off desserts
Walkin every morning (yes and even when it hurts...)

A hilly neighborhood, it is...
Ups and downs
Big inclines

Well, the next thing you know, ol' Kate is on the scale
Squinchin up her eyes, afraid she might of failed
Little did she know that her dream indeed came true
She watched the needle move and it marked a loss of two!

Pounds that is...
7000 calories
A weight loss for sure

So, now you've heard the story of a Georgia girl's fight
Although she had some setbacks, she finally did it right
She's lookin' to the future with a little bit of hope
And thanks the friends around her whose words have helped her cope!

Cheerleaders they are...
Encouraging words...
Keeping her on track!"

Have a great week everyone. And for more Tales from the Scales, click here.

Loser Mommy Award

My 5 year old son is bored beyond tears today. I am plugging away at an event I'm planning and absolutely need most of the day to get some things accomplished. I laid out puzzles, I drew dots in separate boxes for him to count and write the number on, I gave him practice words to trace and, of course, he has a room and a basement with plenty o' toys at his disposal.

When all of those resources were exhausted in the first 20 minutes of the day, I gave in and let him watch a few cartoons. Surely he won't lose too many brain cells...it's just for one day, right?

He just came upstairs. Did he come to show me his number work? Did he want to recite to me the ABC's or possibly the continents or something? Oh no. He came to tell me (and I quote), "Mommy...did you know that you can save space in your closet by using the blow-up thingie that you can put your stuff in and then suck the air out and then you can put more stuff in your closet? And, know what else, Mom? It's moisture-free and bugs can't get in there or anything? You need one of those, don't ya Mom?"

My son is now a walking infomercial. I wonder if my Loser Mommy Award will be delivered personally or sent via mail?

All Sorts of Fireworks

I'm PETrified of lightning, ya'll. Friends usually razz me with their fingers all pinched together making a "kew kew! kew kew!" sound. It's bad. There's just something about the thought of a huge bolt of electricity striking me dead that, oh I don't know, SCARES ME TO DEATH. (no pun intended)

Let me insert a little factoid here:
"A single lightning bolt can be as hot as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit - hotter even than the surface of the sun. Lightning will usually strike the highest object in area. This includes trees, antennas, a boat on a lake, or a person standing in a field. "

So, with that in mind, you'll understand why Saturday evening was one of the most terrifying nights... of. my. life.

Our friends asked us to go out on their boat with them. The sky was clear. Yeah, that lasted for about 10 minutes. Outta nowhere, a ginormous (yeah, really big) dark cloud settled over us and rain drops started to tickle our arms and legs. No worries. Love swimming in the rain. Woo hoo...swimming in the rain on a warm summer evening. Um, not so much. My friend, unaware of my abnormal aversion to a painful, lightning-related death, said "Ooh! Lightning!" My heart skipped a beat..or ten. Then another bolt appeared.

Now let's take stock of the situation, shall we? There's four adults, three kids sitting in a boat (lots of metal) out on an open lake in a lightning storm. What's wrong with this picture? Did I forget to mention that the waves are so big in the lake that the speed necessary to get us off the water quickly is requiring me to hold on to a METAL handle to keep from being tossed out of the boat. Yeah, color me the blonde with the big red target on her bathing suit screaming, "O.K. Lightning Boy! Come 'n get me!" I'm just sayin. My husband, compassionate soul that he is, is also pulling the "kew kew! kew kew!" stunt from the back of the boat. Gotta love that man.

We pull into their dock and, due to the lake being too low, we're four feet out into the water and have to wade in. The rain is pouring, the bolts are striking and the kids are fighting over who is going to let the ladder down for us to exit the Boat o' Death. Are you kidding me? A panic attack quickly approaching, I contemplate which small child I will have to toss overboard to get to that ladder.

I'll pause here. Ever wondered what you would do...how you would react...in a Titanic-like situation? The tragedy is in full swing and you have two choices...to be the coward who got in the life boat or Jack Dawson who stays behind so that the life of the one he loves can be saved? Yeah, well, I saw how I would react and ya'll, it ain't pretty.

O.K., forget the ladder, I jumped over the edge of the boat (after picturing my butt hanging off a METAL ladder that is rooted in WATER with the LIGHTNING striking around me) and grabbed my child to run uphill for cover. We made it and all were safe (yes, even the poor children who I contemplated tossing overboard. They were spared as well...no thanks to me)

But, the evening was not lost. The storm passed. We once again boarded the boat (no longer a deathtrap) and found the perfect swimming spot and enjoyed the rest of our outing swimming in the calm waters and laughing at our experience. And, to cap off a perfectly-perfect end to the evening, we were treated with a surprise fireworks display right above us courtesy of some houseboats docked nearby.

All sorts of fireworks occured last night. The first kind scared the everlovin' wits out of me and the last kind...well, they made me happy to be alive, floating on my back in a sea of darkness, laughing with friends and watching explosions of color fill the sky.

Rockin' in the U.S.A.

Boy howdy am I excited. A fellow blogger that I do not know but am SURE, based on what I've read, would be a close friend if we lived near each other... has bestowed upon me an honor. The Rockin' Girl Blogger Award. (see her comments here)

I gotta tell ya, this made my day. I write because I have to. If I don't, I'll shrivel up (hmmm, on second thought) and fade away. It's part of who I am. I'm not the funniest blogger out there. I'm not the most serious blogger out there. And, lawd knows I'm not the most informational/ educational blogger out there. But, I write about the little mundane things in my world. That makes me happy. And, to have someone say that my writing makes them happy, too? That knocks my socks off.

Thanks so much, GGW... now I get to select a few bloggers that knock my socks off. This is hard to do because there are at least 20 that I keep up with regularly.

Here goes:

• Queen of Dirty Laundry -- I loved her blog from the first time I read it. Sometimes I lurk. Sometimes I comment. But she's real. And, she's real funny. Her post about trying to explain baby making, etc. to her kids almost made me wet myself. You rock, woman.

• Overwhelmed with Joy -- she's a fellow adoptive parent whose blog has been one I've lurked on for some time now. It's pretty to look at but she always has something cool to share...whether it's ingredients, or tips, or just feelings about the adoption process. Check it out!

• My Quotidian Mysteries -- I simply love this blog. She's always good for a contest...or a touching post... her faith inspires me and she's just an all-around cool, rockin' bloggin' chick. I love her family mantra, too: "Trust God. Trust his process. Dispense and receive grace." There ya go.

• BooMama -- Doggone it. She's probably received about 50 of these things but I couldn't, in good conscience, list rockin' blogger chicks without listing the blog I do not miss, without fail, every day. She makes me hoot outloud. Love me some Boo Mama Blog. And hey, when you read hers for the first time and forget all about mine...just remember it's me that sent ya.

Congrats to these ladies...and keep up the great blogging else I'll have to really get down to business and attack my To-Do list. Who needs that kinda pressure?!

Tennis Balls and To-Do Lists

My 2 year old Golden Retriever Cassie loves tennis balls. I know that is a trait of retrievers, but this goes beyond anything I've ever seen. If she's awake, she has a tennis ball in her mouth. And, if she has a tennis ball in her mouth, she's gonna be giving me the old-fashioned staredown until I concede and play catch with her.

The funniest thing is when she has one in her mouth and I throw another one to her. She gets this perplexed, even panicked, look on her face and she drops the ball in her mouth and runs after the "new" one.

Don't we do that to some extent in our own lives? I know I do it with my time.

Like right now.

Daniel is at a friend's house for a playdate and I am bouncing around from chore to chore (or, truth be told, website to website) like a soldier on a weekend pass. Going from one thing to another without officially completing any task, I have "To-Do List ADD" of the worst kind today.

Does that ever happen to you? Please make me feel better. :-)

Billy’s Seafood

The swirling flock of gulls
Pause their flight

For a brief rest
On the dock

At Billy’s Seafood

Majestic shrimp boats
Bob up and down
On the salty waves
Fishermen donned
In crisp white waders
Unload their bounty

A day’s work is done

Inside the smell is unmistakable
Shrimp, oysters, crab
All await their fate
Gumbo or perhaps a nice Rockefeller

Outside oyster shells blanket the ground
A carpet of old homes no longer needed
A distant horn signals another arrival
The gulls beckon me to stay

Life appears simple in this world
Scoop them up, put them on ice
Make people happy
A nice existence indeed.

The Not-So Pretty Things

A friend of mine who I often consider "the male me" challenged me yesterday. We were chatting and he mentioned that he's noticed I only blog about "the pretty things." He was referring to the fact that our family missed a playdate with some friends (including him) due to my son's behavior on Sunday and that I mentioned it nowhere on my blog.

He's right. But, as I remarked to him, I don't enjoy writing about those episodes as much as I do the nice things that I want to remember for the long haul. Also, I give my readers credit for understanding that, although most of my entries about my son are touching or funny, certainly it is understood that raising a child is never without its trials.

But, the more I thought about it, it hit me that my Mom died a few years ago (before I became a parent) and I would give anything to know how I acted at my son's age and how she dealt with it. So, I hereby title this post the "Not-So-Pretty Things" post. In fact, it may become it's own category. Lawd knows I'd have enough to talk about.

Really the first not-so-pretty-thing I can remember came shortly after we brought our son home from Russia (we adopted him in May 2004). Does it count if it's sorta funny in RETROspect but not so much at the time? (which may be my friend's argument anyway--darn-it-all.)

Anyhoo, I was cleaning the kitchen and heard this loud "ka-thunk-ka-thunk-ka-thunk-KA-BOOM" and raced into the living room. It was then I discovered the tail end of a wooden rocking horse sticking out of the wall at the base of the staircase. Surveying the plaster pieces spilled out onto the floor, I looked up to find my two-year old son standing there, at the top of the stairs, eyes big as saucers and frozen at the sight of the destruction. He then turned to me and said (a new English phrase he picked up quickly)..."uh oh." He had pushed the horse down the stairs and, as relieved that I was he wasn't RIDING the horse at the time, he learned real quick the meaning of timeout.

The next was a few months later when he opened a bottle of red nail polish and emptied it in the middle of my champagne-colored living room carpet. I almost flipped my lid. But, I will tell ya that to get nail polish out of carpet, mix non-acetone nail polish remover with dry laundry detergent...make a paste and rub it in, the stain comes out. See! In sharing the yucky stuff I am able to impart my enlightening domestic tips as well. This may be a win-win afterall. (hee hee)

In the three years we've had him there have been many a time that I have prayed for patience (I know--it's the kiss of death) as well as relied on the advice and guidance of friends about how to deal with everything from tantrums to how he relates to other kids, etc. It's all one big learning process, you know?

Let's fast forward to Sunday, shall we? I am now raising a five year old that I'm pretty certain has a secret copy of my "hot button" manual and reads it in bed...at night...with a little flashlight. He also knows just enough back talk to get himself in a whole heapa trouble. On Sunday, he got mad because he didn't want to get some rest (that's code word for nap) after lunch. He was tired and I could tell he needed to chill out before our big play date that evening. He smarted off and yelled "fine!" as he went up the stairs and slammed the door. It went downhill from there. Keith went to have a discussion with him and, suffice it to say, calling your Dad a loser for getting on to you is not the best plan.

Because of his behavior (there was more smarting off that followed), Keith made the decision that we should stay home from the playdate. We both really wanted to go and see our friends but realized that parenthood involves sacrifices on many levels. So, we didn't go. And Daniel learned a valuable lesson that it's best to not use hurtful words just because he's angry.

Through it all I have learned that, although parenthood is most definitely a series of ups and downs, searching for answers, and trying different approaches to see what works, it is, bar none, the best job in the world.

(see, I can still end it sappy if I wanna) :-)

Tales From the Scales Karaoke: "I Will Survive"

O.K., everyone...it's Tuesday karaoke. Please summon up your best Gloria Gaynor and sing along with me. (Drop the disco ball and dim the lights, please.........) First I was afraid I was petrified Knew my weigh in was approaching Time not on my side But I spent so many nights Eating oh so very wrong I wasn't strong But I guess I'll carry on And so I'm back On this web space If this were done by video You'd see a sad look on my face I should have skipped that stupid snack Into my hand the cookies flew If I had known for just one second It would cause a gain of two! Oh but I I will survive As long as I have friends like you I know I'll stay alive I've got another week ahead I swear my sweet tooth won't be fed And I'll survive I will survive............Oh..........................

A Perfect Evening, Y'all

Harry, Harry, Harry.

Mercy...was tonight a ton of fun.

Last week, I won four tickets to the Harry Connick, Jr. concert at an ampitheatre here in Atlanta (or "Hot-lanta" as it's known this time of year.) Fearing it would live up to its nickname, we and our friends Jimmy and Melissa were dressed for warm weather and came prepared with a fan and plenty o' water. Turns out, we didn't need any of it. Lemme tell you, it was a perfect evening, ya'll.

Rain earlier in the day ushered in a cool evening that was breezy and overcast. Candles on the tables below flickered like fireflies in the night and the mood and relaxed and grateful. Grateful? Yes, grateful. I was grateful to enjoy the company of adults without hearing the words "snack," "transformers," or "light sabre" even once. Grateful to Harry Connick for donating the proceeds of such an entertaining show to help rebuild New Orleans--his hometown. And, most of all, grateful to spend an evening with my hubby just being myself...having fun, at ease and, yes, howling an occassional cat call at Harry down there on the stage. Hey, do you blame me?

It really was a perfect evening, indeed.

Orlando ~ June 2007

Sunshine, on my shoulders,
Makes me happy
Sunshine, in my eyes,
Can make me cry
Sunshine, on the water,
Looks so lovely
Sunshine, almost always

Makes me high...

Friday's Feast: June 22, 2007

O.K. sports fans...it's Friday and time for Friday's Feast. You can check out what other folks are serving up here. Bon appetite!

Appetizer: Name a funny habit you have.

I've revealed this in a previous post, but I absolutely must tap the side of a plane three times before boarding/taking off. No way around it. I gotta.

Soup: If you could instantly know how to play a musical instrument, which one would you pick?
It would have to be the accordian. And, I would form a killer Polka Band and hit every state fair possible. ;-) No, it'd be the guitar. Hands down.

Salad: How long is your hair? Short to medium (between ears and shoulder)

Main Course: When was the last time you forgave someone, and who was it?
My neighbor and friend, Kim, for making me walk this morning. When did I forgive her? At the top of the last hill.

Dessert: What is your favorite kitchen appliance?
My food chopper thingie. Great way to release pent up anger. Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! I feel better already.

A Quick Message...

...to the neighbor who is making me get up at 6:15 tomorrow morning to go walking.

I don't like you very much. I will afterwards. But now? Not so much.

The Five Year Old You

You are running in so many directions

Your interests unfolding

A new passion each day...

You are a baseball star, golf pro,
jigsaw puzzle-solver,
professional popsicle-eater,
bike-riding, karaoke-singing,
tree-swing swinging
delight to be around.

Your deep brown eyes implore me

Your toothless grin makes me smile

And your laughter warms my heart...

Your incessant questioning

Of the world around you

is both refreshing and frustrating

"How does that work?"

"Why does it work that way?"
"Can I try it, Mommy?"

A curiosity I wouldn't trade

For all the peaceful quiet in the world...

The five year old you

You've come so far

Yet you still have a lifetime

To find new passions

Dream new dreams

And I'll always be here

On the sidelines

Cheering you on.

I love you.

Works for Me Wednesday!

Yep, I'm an organizing junkie. The list maker. I make lists of my lists (ok, not really). But, I tried to come up with a tool for planning my meals that would inspire me to put pen to paper. So, I designed this weekly menu planner (I use it for dinner only). It provides a place for the menu and then a box to the side for notes. I use that box mostly for cookbook names, page numbers, substitutions, etc.

Now, if you really want to get your organizing "freak" on, keep these each week in a spiral bound notebook and you'll have weeks worth of menu ideas at your fingertips. Now that's what I'm talkin bout! :-)

(click to enlarge)

I had to convert it to a .jpeg to post here. If this doesn't print clearly, just drop me an email at ktbodiford@bellsouth.net and I'll email you the PDF version for a small donation of Hershey's Milk Chocolate sticks. Kidding. But I will be glad to send it to ya.

For more Works for Me Wednesday ideas, head on over to Shannon's blog.

Menu planning... works for me!

Scale Issues!!!

Got on this morning...seven pounds lost. woo hoo. or not. kept getting on to check it out and it was the same. until I noticed that the needle was returning to less than zero. so, I adjust the little dial to excatly "zero" and then it says I've gained a half a pound. And the next time it says lost a pound. who knows????

So, until I can get a new set of scales, I will say that I have done OK. Last week, not so good in Orlando (Disney junk food) but this week has been better. And, the best part is my body is telling me I'm full much sooner and in a much louder way. If I eat too much junk, I feel really yucky, really fast.

So, there. I think I'll go with the one pound loss (not as good as seven, but I'll take it).

Anybody have a good scale to recommend??? Is digital trustworthy or should I stick with the old fashioned kind??

Thanks for your advice! To see how others are doing, click here. Have a great week, folks!

I've got Spirit yes I do...I've got Spirit...how bout you?

That USED to be my battle cry...my mantra as a walking, talking billboard for Spirit Airlines. Now? Not so much.

As my son and I headed to the Atlanta airport last Tuesday to take advantage of our $9 airfare--yep, $9 one way...here I go advertising for them again--excitement filled the car. I was going to inspect properties for a meeting in January and he was getting to spend time with my sister and her daughter while I worked.

Long story short: arrived at the ticket counter 42 minutes prior to my 10am departure where I was promptly and rudely notified that they had closed the flight 3 minutes prior. What? Airlines typically have 30 minute windows for closing. But Spirit? 45 minutes. I begged, I pleaded, I offered my first born (seeing as I've never been able to get pregnant I didn't think it too risky) but no dice. She simply said, "Nope. It's closed. There is nothing I can do. It's non-refundable. You could go tomorrow...but it would be $140...and the $77 you paid for today's flight cannot be applied to any future travel." What? What? Double what?

The concept of customer service completely thrown out the window, this woman smirked at me and said, "there is nothing I can do to help you. You should have been here at 9:15." I began to explain to her that Spirit Airlines had NEVER been on time in my experience with them and I KNEW that would be the case today--she simply kept shaking her head "no."

I could feel the steam beginning to shoot out of my ears. My son, confused by the exchange, began to ask, with tears welling up in his big brown eyes of course, "why can't we go to Florida, Mom? Can we not go see Aunt Jenny, Mom?" For Pete's sake. I marched off, luggage and child in tow, searching for other airlines to get there by my 1:00pm meeting time--or even that day at the very least. No luck.

As I turned to find a place to sit while I figured out what to do, I glanced up at the departure board which now read "Spirit Airlines Orlando departure...10:10 am" I knew it! DELAYED. I went back up to the counter, requested to see the manager to which the rude woman replied, "I AM the manager." Could my luck get any worse? I'm just sayin.

I quickly pointed out that the flight WAS indeed delayed which meant I would have been there within the window and she put her hand on the desk and, in a raised tone said, "Look...that flight could be delayed for FIVE HOURS and you still would not get on." I had no words. I think I simply mumbled something about not being surprised they were so cheap and I walked off.

Let me tell you how the rest of my day went. I decided to drive. 9 hours. To Orlando. With no movie player or snack to be found. I remedied the second problem by stopping in Target where I purchased a lap desk, markers, crayons, snacks, and play doh and then we hit the road. It was wonderful. We talked, we laughed, we sang, he played with play doh and colored pictures and then fell asleep two hours out for the remainder of the trip. No whining. No complaining. He was an angel and I will savor that undivided time with him for years to come.

We had a great time in Orlando and made it home safely Friday evening. I realize that low cost isn't always the best option and that some together time can be a healthy way to reconnect with a kid that you may already spend the majority of your day with. It certainly helped us make some memories.

Special thanks to the rudest woman on the planet. Because of her unwavering commitment to poor customer service, my son and I had a GREAT time together and I'm already looking forward to our next road trip!

The Butterfly

It had been months since I had visited. As my car wound it's way through the imposing iron gates and traveled slowly down the symmetrical, tree-lined streets, I felt a sense of peace as I neared the location of my mother's gravesite.

As I pulled off to the side, my heart sank as I discovered a mound of fireants and bugs... its grainy architecture slowly creeping its way up the front of her headstone. Remembering her words, "do not fuss over my grave...I am not there...I am in a better place..." I fought back tears at the sight of how unkempt her resting spot had become. Determined to fuss over it anyway, I raced to the grocery store and picked up a gallon-size bottle of ant-killer which I used up promptly upon my return.

As I sprayed and raked, sprayed and raked, pulled weeds and tossed them into a pile, a monarch butterfly fluttered by and landed squarely on my mother's name on the headstone. The irony of this visitor was not lost on me...my mother ADORED butterflies and this one, out of nowhere, had landed on her name. It seemed to watch me and cheer me on--wings flapping open and shut, open and shut--as I worked to straighten up the mess. I soon realized that my newfound supporter had not moved...even in the face of constant motion on my part. It sat there, perched upon the deeply etched letters in her name, keeping a watchful eye on my progress.

Many will claim coincidence...and I'm sure it was probably so. But to me, that butterfly was much more. It was a reminder of my Mom. It was a peaceful presence that strangely comforted me as I wept for my Mom's absence. But, most of all, it was a sign that life goes on...and that, whatever the circumstance, and when you least expect it, something magical can happen.

As I packed up my tools and turned to walk away, the butterfly slowly danced away into the morning. It had come. It had comforted me. It had flown away.

It will always be a magical encounter to me.

Off to Alabama...

We're headed out for a visit to Dad and Jackie's house in Selma, Alabama. We're returning tomorrow and I'll post then about Daniel's new front-toothless status as well as his first T-ball game today (he did GREAT!)

More tomorrow...
Katiebod

Evening

Another lazy hazy

summer day

stretches and yawns

and prepares to sleep

Her sun peeking out

as if to say,
"don't worry, come morning,

we'll be together again..."

Memes, Memes Everywhere

To be honest, I didn't know what a "meme" was in the land of bloggedyville. Now, I'm guessing it's something that tells about oneself ...hence the name "me...me". Anyhoo, I've been tagged twice this week. Once by Laura at My Quotidian Mysteries and also by Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry.

Here goes:

"My Personal Policies"
This one cracked me up because, the more you get to know me the more you'll understand, I'm not really a personal-policy-kinda gal. Sure I have things that are important to me so maybe I'll hit it from that angle. Things that are important to me:

Courtesy. In any shape or form. Consideration of others is one of the "rules" which I live by. If walking by someone and it's just the two of us...I'm gonna say hello. Why act like there is not another human being there? Saying hello, thank you, please...all of these are tied into being courteous....which leads me into something which could be mentioned here but deserves its own bullet...

"Ma'am/Sir". Yes, I'm one of those old-fashioned mamas who actually makes my son say "yes or no ma'am/sir" to grown ups. It is how I was raised and I feel pretty strongly about it. Now, if you don't do this with your kids I don't think there's anything wrong with it. It's simply how I was raised (you know us Southerners) and I want Daniel to grow accustomed to saying it...which he has for the most part.

Capitalizing words referring to God. This has stuck with me through the years and I guess you could say it's become a "policy" of sorts. When referring to God as "Him" or "He"...I always capitalize it. Always. I just feel it's important.

Not rewarding whining. OOooh, this one is a biggie for me. I guess it took us so long to have kids, I got a chance to witness a lot of parenting do's and don'ts through the years. Of course, there are times when there could possibly be an exception to this (dire circumstances require dire measures) BUT...if Daniel is told "no" about something and begins to cry/pitch a fit/temper tantrum because of being told "no" and so I give in to him to get him to stop whining...he has been taught the way to get what he wants. I witness this so much in public that it makes me cringe. It would be a definite "policy" of mine!

Tapping the plane three times. I cannot believe I am divulging this superstitious policy of mine publically. Growing up, Mom taught me to tap the side of the plane three times for good luck while boarding. I have NEVER not tapped the plane. In fact, this is ridiculous (I know, believe me), one time I got scooted into the plane and I couldn't tap the side. I pretended to go to the front restroom and I stuck my hand out the door before it was closed to get my tap in. Superstition run amuck. Yes, I know. You don't have to remind me I'm a freak.

And the next meme was...

My Five Favorite Restaurants -- in no particular order
(focusing on food during a weight loss challenge...thanks, Beth!)

1. Maggiano's (Atlanta) Italian restuarant with the BEST chicken florentine I have ever had. Swathed in bubbling, toasty cheese...oh my. Family style is the way to go so take friends!

2. Brookwood Grill (Roswell, GA) To die for croissants drizzled in honey butter and french onion soup so good you'll slap yo' mama.

3. J. Alexanders (Duluth, GA and Birmingham, AL)-- yummy. yummy. yummy. Cold orzo wild rice salad and an unbelieveable carrot cake that makes me like carrot cake. Trust me, I can't stand carrot cake.

4. The Varsity (Atlanta) my folks met here and I've grown up going here. BEST chili dogs, onion rings and frosted orange in the world. It's a tradition. My hubby says we have to go there when his cholesterol drops to "a dangerously low level." ;-)

5. Old Bay Steamer (Ft. Walton, FL and Point Clear, AL) Seafood...snow crab legs dipped in a delectable drawn butter and the BEST salad I've ever had.

Ok, that's enough. Can't talk about food anymore. It's lunch time and I'm starving!

F.I.N.A.L.L.Y

I'm back on track! Even after a vacation of not being so good. . .
I lost 2.5 pounds!!! Walking in the sand was a good way to burn off the junk we ate. I've been swimming every day and walked yesterday as well as this morning.

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

As opposed to my attitude a couple weeks ago, I really feel encouraged and optimistic about the rest of this challenge. We'll see!

Total weight loss............ 4.0 pounds since start of the May Day Weight Loss Challenge. (14 lbs. lost since February!!!)

Home Sweet Home

I'm back from our brief vacation to Florida-- a trip that I neglected to tell you about prior to (probably from the combination of my packing whirlwind and yucky stomach bug). Also, I'm simply not used to the fact that more than one or two folks stop by here every day. To those of you nice enough to care a little about what I have to say...I'm back!

I did get to feeling better last Wednesday after recuperating from a 24-hour period of what I was sure was my certain demise. I had caught the stomach bug from my sweet boy who made a scene at Johnny Rocket's by, um...upheaving...tossing his cookies...all OVER the place. I was dining with my sis-in-law and nephew at the time and, let's just say, it wasn't pretty. That poor child became a "puke uzi" as I carried him face forward to the restroom. Yes, in hindsight, it would have been more sacrificial and courteous to face him toward my person...but...in a selfish moment of non-thinking...I only added to the spectacle as I carried him the (thankfully) short distance to the bathroom. An hour later, we are putting on the new clothes my sis-in-law had to go purchase and are heading home. Less than 24 hours later, I am suffering the same fate. Ahh, a joy of mommyhood--shared illness. :-)

Anyway, I digress!

We went to Navarre Beach, Florida and the weather was wonderful as was our time with our friends Billy and Deborah and their two kiddos. The first day out on the beach, Deb and I got a little crispy so the next day was spent inside recuperating and playing Phase 10-- a surefire candidate for my "Katie's Little Addictions" list. We walked along the beach, searched for shells, ate great seafood and generally relaxed. All in all, it was great to get away!

I hope to have some pictures posted tomorrow...

Thanks for checking in and I'm glad to be back!

Weight Loss Update

Well, folks. I said yesterday morning that I had gained a half a pound. Since I made that post, I have actually lost FIVE pounds.

But, a stomach virus is not going to be high on my list of weight loss recommendations. Somewhere around 3am, I was pretty sure that was the end of me.

I'm here, but fragile.

How Much Do Contact Lenses Weigh?

I gained a half a pound.

And here is why I'm discouraged. I did so much better this week. I swam almost every day. Lap after lap. I drank water.... gulp. gulp. gulp. I ate grilled fish and went to the movies and ate a Special K bar instead of popcorn! I skipped Cinnabon and ate an apple at the mall. All week, I did so well.

Until yesterday. The weight I gained is probably ice cream cake sitting on my right hip. Pool party dessert that I brought because I couldn't think of anything else. Well, I certainly wasn't thinking of my lack of willpower when I made it! I ate some at the party and then I ate some when I brought it home.

BUT... surely that one lapse in will power wouldn't have caused me to gain weight? And, to the person whose blog I commented on that their gain must have been muscle weight? I apologize! :-) My husband told me that this morning and I wanted to bite his head off. It might very well be since I've been exercising...but that is certainly not going to motivate me to exercise on a hot summer day in Georgia.

OK, this week I will journal faithfully-- even though we are going on vacation and my diet will be tested beyond limits.

But I will keep going.

**by the way, if there is anyone else out there who has seriously considered how much contact lenses weigh... get in touch with me and I'll send you your "Welcome to the Freak Club" kit. I'm President and I would welcome the company. :-)

Reassurance

Yowwwwwwwwwww! I shivered frantically as the icy water splashed around me. Half of my body now immersed into our neighbborhood swimming pool, my son stood at the top of the steps--not quite as brave as, and probably much smarter than, me.

"Is it cold, Mommy?"

"Um, yes...brrrr...but, c'mon in...it'll warm up, I promise." Of course, I sounded confident but had still had not mustered the courage to dip below the water's frigid surface.

"OK," he stammered... lip quivering in anticipation..."1---2---3!" He lept into my arms and squealed in delight as the water splashed on his already tanned little body.

"Hold me, Mommy. Hold me tight!" I still love hearing him say those words. There are times when his fierce independence makes him seem much older than his five years. So, when he shows even a tad of vunerability and "clinginess" I secretly eat it up.

We waded through the water letting ourselves aclimate our bodies to the cold temperature. His chin rested squarely on my shoulder and his arms were wrapped tightly around my neck as we glided along.

Finally, I urged him to swim on his own with me close behind. "Ok, Mommy...but will you hold my hand for a little while?" he asked. "Of course I will. I won't leave you...I'll be right here," I reassured him.

"You'll always be here for me, won't you Mommy?"

You'd better believe it, my sweet boy.

I Walked On By...

There it was. Starbuck's and the sign advertising my newest temptation--the Iced Orange Mocha. I wanted one so badly that I could taste it on my lips. I could imagine its icy, smooth, orangey sweetness quenching the thirst I had built up during my whirlwind shopping excursion.

Then it hit me. I have to weigh in Tuesday morning. And the cookout with our church group is tomorrow night with a bounty of yummy food guaranteed. How bad do I want that drink?

Pretty bad.

What's one little iced orange mocha gonna matter? Alot, I concluded.

So, I walked on by. A small victory...but a victory indeed.

Friday's Feast: May 25, 2007

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If you'd like to visit other feasts, click on the comments
section and follow their name link!)


Appetizer: Name a sound you like to hear.
Thunder! It means a storm is approaching...

Soup: What is your favorite kind of cheese?
It's a tie between cheddar and cream cheese. They are both equally yummy!

Salad: Do you sleep late on Saturday mornings? Why or why not?
Not usually. I wish I could, but my body clock seems to think it's still a week day.

Main Course: When was the last time you forgot something?
What was it, and how long did it take to remember it?
MMmmmm, my purse. It was still under the chair at the church where Daniel had his preschool graduation Tuesday night. My hubby didn't remember me bringing it in and, I knew I didn't take it to the restaurant. When we go thome, it was too late to go to the school/church so I waited until I took him the next morning. Thankfully, my keys were at the house and yes, it was there under my chair in the auditorium. (ok, Brady--feel free to chastise me profusely now. :-)

Dessert: I notice ____________ when _____________.
I notice that I feel more relaxed when summertime rolls around.

Fluffy things.

Puppies. Cottonballs. Dandelions blowing in the breeze.... Cotton candy on a stick... the tail of a rabbit sticking out of the front of my favorite children's book....

OK, I'm just trying to lighten the mood here....

I knew I shoulda just posted an American Idol recap! :-)

Whoa Nelly.

I do feel I need to clarify something lest there be any misunderstanding. The opinion I posted yesterday was written based on the interview that I heard as I was cleaning my house. I stopped to watch because it was about fertility and that is something I have struggled with.

The mother that I saw (and AGAIN--it was simply MY interpretation) spoke only about women's rights and not about any other reason for having those babies. If I go re-read any parts I missed on a transcript then I might feel differently; however, I was making a comment-- not so much about her age --as I was her motive. I ended by simply stating that I pray, for the sake of those kids, that her intentions were well-meaning.

I did not judge her appearance or health--because I myself am not in much of a position to do so. To me, she looked great and I applaud her for taking care of herself. Do I think that she consciously made a decision that will result in those twins going through the loss of a parent at an earlier-than-necessary age? Yes, I do. And yes, it hurts any time you lose a mother... but, the main point of my post was that this woman seemed to be, in her own words, "going through all this" to prove a point. If there are parts about siblings, etc. that I missed, I might have had a different opinion. I was not trying to play God by sharing my feelings on the subject--I'm only human (and very much so at that).

Trying to be a mother at 35, 40, 45 and even 50 is (to me) different than at 60 years old. If it weren't, then she wouldn't have made headlines.

On My Soapbox

OK, it's not often that I hop up on my soapbox (at least not on my blog). But a clip I just watched on the Today Show all but pushed me up here.

A woman who is making headlines for being a 60-year-old mother of twins was just interviewed. She was sitting in the hospital (looking "fabbbbbbulous" according to Meredith Viera) and it was apparent that she felt the need to defend her decision. But, instead of arguing that her strong desire to nurture or mother another child--or in this case, two children--led her to want to do this....she jumped up on her own soapbox ranting about women's rights. But, it was one comment that really got me: "I just want women to know they can do this, too. That's the reason I went through with this." Huh? So, was this pregnancy born out of love and a maternal desire to nurture or was it simply a campaign to get attention for a cause?

Yes, I have never been able to get pregnant...but that does not color my opinion here in the least. I just felt sorry for those babies...knowing their mother will be 70 years old before they hit middle school... high school graduation? She'll be nearing 80. She could live to 90 and they'd still only be 30 years old. I lost my Mom at 33 and I can tell you it hurts.

I guess it's really none of my business. I just pray she did it for the right reasons and those kiddos will grow up with a mother that is actively involved in their lives. 'Nuff said.

Works for Me Wednesday!

This one is pretty simple...but, that's the point of Works for Me Wednesdays, right? Giving return address labels as a gift. HUH? It's very easy and makes for a wonderful, personalized addition to any gift (or, it could even serve as a small gift itself).

Last year, I included 6 or 7 pages of customized labels for my friend Cindy as part of her Christmas gift. It really was an afterthought...but she LOVED them. On each page (usually there are 30 labels per sheet) I did their name and address with a different piece of clip art and a different font. It was fun getting to design new ones for different purposes. Some pages were just plain cute (a house with a more casual font) while others were seasonal (Christmas, snowflakes, etc...) And then, I actually used a small picture of she and her husband to do a page of labels as well.

They really were a hit and are a practical gift that shows how much thought you put into customizing labels for their taste/needs. (I even did some for myself, too!)

Works for me! Also, if you would like to check out other WFMW ideas, head on over to Shannon's place...

*note: if you would like a copy of the template I used to get started, I would be happy to send it by email... I have a generic one done so that I can customize it for other families. Just send an email to ktbodiford@bellsouth.net If you will, just put "Return Label Request" in the subject line.

I Oughta' Own Stock...

I have one five year old boy. How many bandages could we possibly need?

LOTS.

Check out Five Minutes for Mom if you'd like to win a year's supply of bandages. Summer is almost here. I'd better stock up. :-)

It's Miraculous...

(click icon above to visit
Tales from the Scales)

...that I did not gain 5 pounds this week. Ab.so.lute.ly miraculous. Whoda' thunk I'd have to sneak back-to-back funeral and weddings in during my weight loss challenge?

I'll set the scene: Mother-in-law's house. Thursday - Saturday. A platter of fresh, warm, chewy brownies sitting under a glass dome....mocking me. All but shouting "Katie! Katie! What's one, little brownie gonna hurt?" So, I had one little brownie. Then, a little while later...another. Then a couple more after dinner. Yep, you see where I'm going with this, don't you?

Oh, but it didn't stop with the brownies...some sort of apple thingie made by my sister-in-law that was a rectangular pan of dough-y goodness. (I had to try a little bit lest she get offended. Good try, huh?) Then there was the punch bowl fruity, cake concoction that contained every kind of fruit under the sun. Fruit? It's good for me. Must. eat. fruit. Nevermind the layer upon layer of moist, dense pound cake and cool whip tucked in between. Sigh....

Lunch was a buffet of dressing, casseroles...then, the wedding cake that afternoon. I should have to say no more.

Of course, I'm disappointed I didn't lose at least a pound. BUT--I did not gain, either. Now, many of you taking the challenge are probably celebrating will power from having abstained from this type of temptation. Well, I'm not there yet.

I did, however, walk this week. Once. But, hey, I got out there and did it. Oh, and I drank a good bit of water this week, too. Celebrate small victories in life, right?

Bottom line: 0 pounds lost.... o pounds gained! A miracle indeed.

Cousins

(above) Daniel, Anna and Walker ~ Rocky Hill, AL

(above) Daniel and "Baby Alden" ~ Dahlonega, GA

(above) Cousins Nathan, Noah and Jonathan of Knoxville, TN


Though our families may live many miles apart
You will never be too far away from my heart . . .

Photo Contest

I'm entering a photo contest sponsored by An Island Life. We're submitting photos taken by us at our favorite vacation spot. Voting begins tomorrow! Now, there are many other bloggers with a much bigger readership contending for the vote so I really have no hopes of winning. But it's still fun to participate! Here's my pic:

"Paradise Found" ~ St. George Island, Florida
October 2005


Paradise for me
Is anywhere I can survey
The wonder of God's creation

Camera in hand
I sat in a beach chair
One breezy October afternoon

As I looked out over the water
I shook my head in awe
A perfect end...to a perfect day.

Voting will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday here. Take a look and, if you get a chance, vote! Thanks so much!

W-O-W

I just read this (on Beth Moore's blog) and it felt like God smacked me up side the head (in a loving way, of course!) Click HERE to read it. Wow.

Works for Me Wednesday!

OK, this this is my first venture into the realm of "Works for Me Wednesday!" Basically, this idea forum is hosted by the wonderful Shannon of Rocks in My Dryer. Everyone shares something simple that "works for them" in their life...the topics are endless!

Here's mine (it's pretty basic):

Whenever I'm cleaning/straightening the house, I get very frustrated trying to pick-up things that don't belong in a certain room and get them to their right place. We happen to have a lot of stairs in our house, too which makes multiple trips up and down precarious.To save time (and the little precious energy I have), I go into each room and compile everything that belongs somewhere else. I place it in a basket that has two handles on it that I call the "Stuff Bus." Each room I enter, I drop off the things that go in there and pick up what doesn't. It has become a pretty efficient way of transporting objects through the house and, if I get sidetracked, I have a basket of things to distribute at a later time (instead of still having them strown about the house).

"Next stop...Master Bedroom!" Hey, it may sound silly, but it sure works for me on Wednesdays-- and every other day!

Katie Needs...

OK, so this has been going around the blog world, so I thought I'd give it a try... (of course, I'm never one to cave to peer pressure or anything!)

So, all you do is type your first name followed by the word "needs" into Google and see what you come back with. For example, I typed in "Katie needs" and this...um...is apparently what I need:

• Katie needs to use the litter pan more on her own (hey--I'm trying...a girl has to work up to these things)
• Katie needs to rest, recover from having her baby (hmm?)
• Katie needs a family that is familiar with big dogs
• Katie needs a running partner (hey-- this Katie needs a WALKING partner first!)
• Katie needs to be isolated (you have no idea...)
• Katie needs help with set-up/representing ASA at 3pm. (not sure what it is...but I'll be there)
• Katie needs to be Katie again (I couldn't agree more)
• Katie needs an escape plan (yup. Italy and a massage therapist named Marcello)
• Katie needs a blood transfusion (I thought it was just a cold...)
• Katie needs to use her disposable income wisely (OK, someone has been paying attention)
• Katie needs a blog (finally! one I can check off the list...)

OK, your turn...give it a try.

The Tale from My Scale

Well, I knew it would happen. Tuesday would roll around again. And, with this being the first weigh-in for our May Day Weight Loss Challenge, I dreaded it. BECAUSE, my dear friends, I did a bad thing. I jumped on the scales frequently this week. Slap my hand, please. Thank you. And, what frustrates me is at one point duirng the week, I had lost 6 pounds. SIX. As I am sitting here today, I watched that darn scale bounce up and down like someone was jumping on it. Sigh................

The bottom line is, as of this morning, I'm two pounds lighter than I was last Tuesday...but I've lost four pounds since April 30-- which was before the challenge so I can't really count it but I secretly do. :-) But, I shall only calculate from day 1 of the challenge, so here's my week's recap:

• Did not get out and purposefully exercise (other than yardwork)


• Started drinking water YESTERDAY (not good enough)


• Got on the scales too much


• Didn't plan out my meals
  
  Goal for this week:


• Walk EVERY day!


• Drink (5) of my big cups of water every day


• STAY OFF THE SCALE (putting it up in my closet!)


• Stock fridge with healthy snacks

So, that's it, ya'll. Not too bad...but coulda' done better. Thanks for caring enough to get to the end of this post. Maybe I'll have some more exciting progress next week!

Motherhood

Although I know she meant well, a friend of mine in church was telling our group of fourth grade girls (as they worked on a homemade Mother's day gift) that "Ms. Katie doesn't have a mother. Her Mom died a few years ago."

You know, the comment really didn't sink in until a little while later. Doesn't have a mother? I guess she's right. But, not really.

I do have a mother. Of course she's in heaven right now pain-free and having the time of her life...or, well, her eternal life. Anyway, you know what I mean. Then there's my stepmother. Different than my Mom in so many ways, but possessing her own special qualities...great cook, friend to many, horse-lover, sharp business skills... And, I can't forget about my mother-in-law. Again, vastly different than my own mother but her life experience has made her into a unique and wonderful person. Having lost her own mother as a teenager, she struggled to help raise her brothers and sisters--acting as a surrogate mother to them. She is a humble and simple woman who's greatest accomplishment to me was raising the fine young man that I eventually married. His faith and strength are something that I thank her for in my heart every day. One last woman whom I consider to be a role model in my life is my own sister. Yes, I'm the "older" sister to her...but she is the closest thing to my Mom on this earth. Her mannerisms, emotions, humor...they so closely resemble Mom that, even four years after her death, I have yet to feel like I am completely without that woman in my life.

I am also blessed with a number of friends who serve to fill the gap in my "motherless" world. There are friends that keep me on the straight and narrow, who challenge my decisions, who listen, empathize and laugh with me. Both local and long distance, these women provide companionship and confidence, comfort and compassion...

Happy Mother's Day to all the "mothers" in my life.

Alive

If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in a field has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand... rejoice, for your soul is alive.

~Eleonora Duse

Almondy goodness

Well, temptation had to happen sooner or later.

Three days into my weight loss challenge and I have to contend with almond creme cake. I opened the pantry...completely forgetting the almond cake that I had bought for company a few nights before sat on the shelf beckoning me...taunting me with it's luscious layers of almondy goodness.

Temporarily relieved thinking it would probably be stale, I soon discovered (by holding it ever so closely to my nose) that it had only gotten more moist. The flavor wafting out nearly drove me insane and the aroma of nutty, sugar glazed sweetness nearly got the best of me as I quickly strolled (more like sprinted) to the garbage can.

Open lid. Dump cake in. Close lid.

Whew. Crisis averted.

7 Weird Things About Me

OK, so I was tagged to list seven things that are weird about me. Only seven? Good grief, I could fill a month's worth of blogs...wait, not a bad idea. Anyway, here you go:

1] I can't be pinned down. That's right, any dreams of a wrestling career are wasted on me. When I was a young tot, I pulled a heavy deacon's bench over onto myself and severed my face from one side of my mouth to the other just above my lipline. My Mom rushed me to the hospital where they had no time to sedate me before stitching me up. So....they had to strap me to this "papoose" board to do it. To this day, I FREAK if you try to hold me down.

2] I have an irrational fear of lightning. and balloons. OK, the lightning is pretty normal but I do notice that most people don't react the same way I do in open spaces if a bolt of lightning pops. I'm talkin' some serious freaking on my part. I'll be walking through a parking lot and, if lightning occurs, I startle like a wild horse and break out into a full-on run. Marathon-speed, folks. It's got to be a pretty funny sight. Now, the balloon thing is because I am just plain afraid of anything that booms, pops, explodes. Makes me shutter just thinkin about it.

3] Dirty Dish Stacking Game. I can have a sink load of dirty dishes but, to me, it's OK as long as they are stacked neatly with the utensils all standing up in a glass. I'm all about compartmentalization, you know. As long as it's organized, I can cope with pretty much anything. To my dear hubby, though...not so much. Dirty dishes are still dirty dishes. Talk about taking all the fun out of it!

4] I'm a Tupperware-a-holic. Really just containers, in general. I use the term "Tupperware" like folks use "coke" for any carbonated beverage. I once (what is this? therapy?) even numbered my tupperware pieces to match the numbers on the lids so I could always pair them up. Fortunately, I did seek counseling and have worked through that unfortunate incident.

5] Doodling. I can't NOT doodle. It's what keeps me sane. Most frequently doodled objects: pens, flowerpots, coke bottles and lamps. I've got this cylindrical issue we'll discuss later.

6]"Sing me a song, you're the piano man..." I know almost every word to every song ever written. Well, maybe that's a SLIGHT exaggeration. But, once I was riding in a car and my friends kept turning the station just to test me and I didn't even notice. I just kept on singing...and knew every word to all the songs that kept coming on. Fortunately, I have passed this trait on to my child so I'm not the only music freak in the family.

7] I love cleaning other people's houses. Just not my own.

On Your Mark...Get Set...

Today is the official start of the Weight Loss Challenge sponsored by a fellow blogger at Tales From the Scales.net! I got a little excited and posted my goals early...they can be found here.

My hubby is doing this with me along with a couple of friends and my sis-in-law. Anyone else wanting to jump in can find more info by clicking on the icon below. Here we go!!!!

(click here to learn more)

Run Fern, Run!

I should never be allowed near plants.

I love them. I love having a house filled with living, growing plants and flowers.

But I kill 'em.

There should be a law--or, maybe they could have a green thumb license where you have to submit pictures of you watering your plants. Or, maybe do like we have to do with adoption...fill out a 25-page profile with tons of pictures with you and plants you've kept alive.

As for me, I buy 'em, I have the best of intentions...but they die.

I'm a horticultural Hindenburg.

Gotcha Day

Today is the 3-year anniversary of the day we adopted our son. And, as is custom, our Gotcha Day would not be complete without our pilgrimage to Chuck E. Cheese. We had a great time...

It was quite funny, though. All day today has been "Daniel Day" and he has taken full advantage. Quite the little salesman, we would be in a store and everything he picked up would be necessary for our Gotcha Day celebration. "Mommy, Daddy...." I would hear his little voice say. "These gummy worms would be great for GOTCHA DAY." We'd just grin and tell him to put them back. Next it was a certain kind of "Gotcha Day" cereal... or popsicles... we finally did give in on the cupcakes...two blue and one pink (for our familial gender breakdown, of course)

We try really hard to balance the marking of this important day without making a HUGE deal that it makes him "special" or "different" from many of his friends. It is simply our way of letting him know that the day he officially came into our family is VERY important to us.

Boy, is it ever. It's a day that changed our lives forever.

It's the day when a young male Russian judge sat high atop his post and grilled us on everything from our childcare plans to our affinity for college football. Translated conversations bounced around the room like a lost pinball as Keith and I stood at full attention-- afraid to move a muscle lest we appear to have something to hide. After approximately 30 minutes, we were asked to step outside and await the judge's verdict. It was grueling.

Here was a child that had been abandoned at 4 months of age and we were willing to give him a good home--yet we had to defend ourselves as if we had been caught committing a crime. In retrospect, I feel like they were simply making sure we were all that we said we were on paper...but, nonetheless, it was a pretty scary encounter. We waited in the dimly lit hallway for what seemed like an eternity stairing at the tall, weathered wooden doors... wondering what they were discussing that could prevent us from becoming this child's parents.

Finally, the doors were opened and we were brought back in the courtroom. After quite a few back-and-forth exchanges in Russian between the judge and our facilitator, the gavel went down and Daniel became our son forever.

Although it had happened in my heart many years before, that was the moment I officially became a Mom. Daniel's Mom. The best job in the world.

(click image to enlarge)

(click image to enlarge)

Friday's Feast: May 4, 2007

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Appetizer ~ Name something you would not want to own?
I don't think that I would like to own a bowling alley. Dealing with all those smelly shoes and the incessant sound of pins being knocked down. Nope, not a dream of mine.

Soup ~ Describe your hair...(texture,color,length...)?
Medium-to-short blonde hair...straight. layered. never been colored but would love to try something exotic. :-)

Salad ~ Finish this sentence: "I'll never forget ____________."
The sound of my son's cry as they brought him down the hall in the orphanage...I had watched his video so many times that I instantly recognized it. I think my heart lept out of my chest.

Main Course ~ Which famous person would you like to be for one day and why?
President of the United States...but only for one day. One of the days when I'd fly into town on Air Force One...they'd shut down all the roads within a 400-mile radius with one of those rolling roadblocks...I'd do a ribbon cutting at a kid's library, meet the latest American Idol cast-off, find out if there really are UFO parts that the government is hiding in the White House basement, call Kentucky Fried chicken to find out what exactly ARE the 11 herbs and spices...then I'd have a big state dinner with Tina Turner entertaining. Good thing I haven't thought this through.

Dessert ~ Write one sentence that includes one thing that is true about you and one thing that is not: I have an irrational fear of balloons and my first job out of college was as a delivery driver for a florist shop.

"Bicycle, Bicycle..."

Such were the lyrics by Queen that my son sang as he reached a pretty big milestone this evening...riding a bike without training wheels.

Decked out in his Cars (Lightning McQueen) bicycle helmet, Daniel jumped on his bike just as daylight began to fade away...dying to give it one last try before nightfall. His little legs wobbled to and fro--desperately trying to stabilize himself as he roared down the incline in the middle of our driveway.

"Bicycle! Bicycle!, I want to ride my bicycle..." he sang at the top of his lungs as he tried over and over to get the peddles spinning while keeping himself upright. The last drops of sunlight were illuminating the road as it happened. Our son, asking only for a "little push power, Mommy" took off toward his father...shirt tail flapping in the wind and his tiny legs peddling as fast as they could. Wobbly--yes. Irratic--yes. But, upright and all by himself. He did it.

My boy. My little man whose marks on the primitive growth chart on our utility room wall get higher and higher with each passing month. The boy who, a few years ago had never heard a drop of English...or had never seen a bicycle... this boy is writing his name and singing all the words to the Grease 2 soundtrack and, yes, just managed to ride a 2-wheeled bicycle around the full perimeter of our cul-de-sac.

Where does it go? Time, that is. It's only been three years since we've had him but now he's about to start kindergarten and...before we know it...one day we'll look beside us to find a grown young man standing there. His slightly darker hair and trademark brown eyes will be the only recognizable features of the scared young child we first saw that day... and, instead of a shiny red bicycle, it will be a car that he drives away in... hair blowing in the breeze... hand waving out the window, "Goodbye..."

OK. I have made myself cry.

Going to bed now.

It was a good day.