happily random

What Did I Just Say?

As a parent, I am an ever spewing fountain of commands and wisdom to my children throughout the day. All too often though, I find myself saying things that I never thought there would be a need to think, let alone hear coming out of my mouth. Not just repeating things that my parents said to me like, "Stop it or I'll knock you into next week," but completely bizarre things. Things that if taken out of context make no sense whatsoever. Or things that shock me that I even need to say because the situation warrants it. Here are a few prime examples:

• "Quit driving on the walls."
• "Don't sit on your brother's head."
• "Don't put your lizard on the table."
• "Do not stab your brother with your wand."
• "No, you have to finish your Mac-n-Cheese before you can have anymore tuna patties."
• "Please don't paint your sister."
• "Stop repelling off the deck using the garden hose."
• "If you're going to hit each other with those lightsabers, do it outside."
• "Stop licking the dog."

What jewels of parental guidance have you leveled on your kids?

One Down, Three to Go

This is the first time I think I have ever said these words: I am not ready for school to start. Usually by the time August comes, I am ready shoving the kids out the door. This year I have relished the easy-going schedule of late mornings and days relaxing at the beach. Oh, I am looking forward to the house staying cleaner during the day and less bickering to save my sanity, but this year also marks the end of a season for our family: all my kids will be in school all day.

Beginning next week from 8:30-3:30 all four of my kids will be in school: Rebekah in 6th, Lucas in 4th, Tyler in 2nd and Samantha in Kindergarten. It's been 11 years coming and it's definitely what I would term 'bittersweet.' A part of me of course feels some freedom with seven kid-free hours a day in my future -- wow! Another part of me though knows that life is just going to start speeding up even more from here on out as schedules fill up.

One of my four is already on her way as Rebekah started middle school yesterday and is now what the older kids there call a "sixlet" at CdA Charter. That in itself is a wakeup call: my oldest is going to middle school. Of course my youngest starting all-day kindergarten has that same effect. The whole thing has me feeling excited, apprehesive, happy, sad... basically I'm completely out of sorts. Time keeps steadily marching on and while I look forward to what lies ahead with great anticipation, I feel a touch of sorrow saying goodbye to that season of our lives.

But then as I write this, my younger three are bickering in the other room. I want to hope that they're trying in their own special way to make me feel less sad about them heading back to school and more eager instead....

A Lesson From a Tiny Bird

We had a few moments of excitement this morning when my 5-year-old discovered a small bird sitting in the window in her bedroom. The girls had somehow popped out their window screen and the bird had flown in but now couldn't find its way out.

Of course this bird had no desire to be caught by me nor the kids not knowing our intentions weren't to harm it but to assist it in making it to freedom. I guess glass is somehow invisible to birds or its tiny brain could comprehend what glass is, because it repeatedly attempted to fly through the window -- unsuccessfully of course.

After about ten minutes of absolute mayhem, I finally succeeded in catching this bird. Of course the kids had to say hi to it before we let it go, but then I released it out the door where it flew out into the trees. I'm sure it'll never come anywhere near our house again after all that craziness.

The whole experience got me to thinking about how each and every one of us are like that little bird. We are trapped in life where we don't belong while God tries to gently catch us and set us free into the life he intended us to have. We keep crashing into the glass -- pitfalls unseen and uncomprehended by us -- too afraid to let God take hold of us or thinking that we somehow know better. If we just let God catch hold of us he has a life of greater fulfillment and freedom than the one we are trapped in.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26 (NIV)

Wow. All of that from a tiny little bird.

386 is the Loneliest Number

I have heard this from several people lately lately:

"I don't have many friends."

"I wish I had a friend to hang out with."

"I'm so lonely."

Wow. How does this happen in a world that includes Facebook, Twitter and text messaging? We all post thoughts, photos and activities to our wall, maybe make a comment or two, but it never really scratches the depth of true friendship that everyone needs.

I know that I have found myself feeling lonely this summer too. Many of my regular gang are funning with their families camping, vacationing, boating, etc., etc. and just don't have time to squeeze in another night out into their busy playtime. Or maybe I smell? I haven't ruled that out.

One thing I have learned about loneliness is the only one that can truly make a difference there is me. While it's my friends' time that I would like to utilize, if I don't ask, how will they know? So if I'm lonely and I would like a night out with my girlfriends, I start texting (does anyone actually make phone calls anymore?). I'm not one to wait by the phone for someone to call (text). Be bold! If the regular gang are busy, try the people that you don't know as well. You may just find your new best friend.

And for those of you who aren't lonely, keep your eye our for those people who might be. Is it really that big a deal to include a pal you don't know as well into a night out with your peeps? Or a playdate at the beach with the kiddos? You might just save someone's sanity, and what could be better than that?

Oh, and in case any of my friends read this, I have a real hankering for a girls weekend...

*In case you didn't clue into my title, 386 is my current number of Facebook friends.

Camping Time

We spent the past weekend out camping on the St. Joe River. Our favorite places to camp are not in group campgrounds, but in secluded campsites we find out on their own among the trees. No noise (other than what we bring with us that is), no chores, no clocks. Or at least no clocks for my husband and me.

"What time is it?" Tyler asked.

"No idea. Why?" I said.

"I'm hungry," he answered.

"Then eat something. Why does it matter what time it is?" I said.

"Because I wanted to know if it's time to eat," he explained.

"We're camping. No clocks. Just eat when you're hungry," I said.

I wish I could go camping every month all year round. There is great freedom in not living by the clock --eating when you're hungry, sleeping when you're tired and playing all the rest of the time. Oh, I know I couldn't live every day like that, but letting go of the schedules and routines every once in a while is quite liberating.

While I don't think camping in the dead of winter would be that enjoyable, I think I've discovered a way to inject a little freedom into the routine of our lives: drop a little bit of the unexpected into my day. I often feel chaffed by the routines of school, chores, errands and life by March -- or sooner -- each year and find myself longing for the escape of summer break. Routines can became ruts all too easily if I'm not careful. 

So the next time my son asks me what time it is, I will have to respond unexpectedly. Maybe this: It's time for me to tickle you!

Why FarmVille is better than Real Life

I have been playing FarmVille since it's launch 2 years ago. I will be the first to admit, it is a massive waste of time: you plant, grow and harvest virtual crops that you neither eat nor earn cash money for. Not only that, but my husband loathes the game, thinking that I'm playing in virtual reality all day instead of being productive in actual reality. What he forgets is that I'm not a very productive person to begin with so virtual reality has nothing to do with it.

So, what's my draw to the game? Here's my short list:

1. Rewards for a Job Well-Done. Once I plant, grow and harvest 3,000 onions -- or something like that -- I get a Mastery Reward. This usually includes virtual coins, experience points and a sign! Who doesn't want a sign to announce their greatness? In real life, if I wash, fold and put away eight loads of laundry in a day, I don't get a sign. I don't even usually get a 'thanks.' I just get to do it all over again in a few days. Yippee. I wish I had a sign for laundry.
2. Cheap and Easy andscaping. I do not have a green thumb (yes, I seen the irony). Pulling weeds in 90 degree heat just doesn't do it for me. My virtual farm has never had a weed. Not only that, but I can move plants at the click of my mouse. If only real life where that simple.
3. Odor-Free Farming. I have raised chickens, and boy do they stink! Frankly the upkeep was not worth the reward in my opinion. My hundreds of FarmVille chickens, cows, sheep, turkeys, horses, etc. are completely odorless. All I smell is the lovely fragrance of my scented candle next to  my laptop. My virtual animals are much quieter too thanks to that handy 'sound-off' switch. I wish my real rooster had had that when it was crowing at 4 a.m.
4. It's Free. My husband has hundreds of dollars in XBox360 games and playing FarmVille costs me absolutely nothing. Of course I could use real money to buy specialty items if I so desired, but it's not necessary for the fun. Hmmmm.....

Our Choices Make Us Who We Are: A Lesson From Rules of Civility

While the book Rules of Civility by Amor Towles was not a book that I thought I would enjoy at the onset, it didn't take long before I was emersed in the lives of the three main characters, Kate, Tinker and Eve, set in 1930s post-Great Depression New York City. Kate's life, like our own, was riddled with choices that ultimately shaped her into the person she would become. As an avid reader, the unpredictability of this book was very refreshing.

And before we know it, the deck has been played out and the decisions we have just made will shape our lives for decades to come.

Read the rest of my review at Blogher.com.