Dimples.

Is there anything as genuinely intoxicating as looking at a child with dimples smile?
I just cannot get over how adorable those dimples are! I was blessed with not one, but two, dimple-faced sweeties!

On the other hand, I'd gladly contribute my extra dimples. I was saving them, you know, hiding them somewhere I wouldn't forget them, for future cute kids' faces.
After two absolutely perfect starts out the gate, I decided to quit on making babies.
But I still have all these extra dimples leftover...
Any takers??

Kids.

My kids are a ticket to Crazy Town.
The boy child, specifically, has been making me feel like each word I speak bounces off him and into some other dimension. I know it's a phase, but when your sanity is so intricately attached... I feel like I am going crazy!

Me: Did I not just tell you that jumping on your bed was not an option?
Him: This is your bed.

At the restaurant today, I asked him for a kiss. He proceeded to bend me back and lay one on me that would make a kiss from Gone With the Wind look unromantic... I don't even want to think about what everyone else thought...

My daughter, on the other hand, cried for literally nearly an hour last night because her nightgown "wasn't beautiful." Who tells a 2-year old about what's beautiful?

Then there are those moments that come in perfect timing, when momma has just about lost her ever-lovin' mind, they come to you tenderly, petting you, and saying those words that have never sounded as beautiful, "Momma, I'm thirsty..."

And off you go, for another round of the best job you've ever had.

Somethin' you might not have known about me...

I've got goosebumps!
Oh it's bad. I cannot wait for the season to begin! The Dallas Cowboys have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I am hoping to organize some football parties this season, to watch the Cowboys, and get everybody together! But if you ladies think for a minute that I will be hanging out in the kitchen, you have another thing comin'...
I am crazy for some Cowboys!
Check your calendars. I'll be mysteriously leaving Sunday services early when they kickoff at noon...

Navel gazing.

Hi, This is me.
I have a crick in my neck.
The reason I have a crick in my neck is because I have been craning it so that I could gaze directly into my own belly button.
I have spent too much time worshipping my problems.
They are not unique. They are not even interesting.
So this is me, coming up for air.

I would love to tell you that tomorrow, I will be freed from the chains of selfishness, of self-interest to the exclusion of others.
Navel gazing.
But this ugly habit has attached itself to me and it's grip is strong. I have been so blinded to what has been going on elsewhere, the world outside my own 4 walls - to the point that I have become unavailable to the people I care about most. Even my own children.

I never wanted to become so self-involved. I think it's just the kind of thing that happens over time. You go to war with whatever you're warring with. You suit up. Engage yourself, and after a while you've forgotten what the fight is for... Your eyes have long since become glazed. You're just fighting, but why?

Something pretty cool has happened in my life, I started letting God fight my battles for me.
It's nice to think that because God said He'd fight the battle for me I have acquired some free-time.
So here's to the new me, the self-effacing one. The one who genuinely wants to know how she can help you. How she can resist the urge to focus her gaze inwardly, and be available to someone else for a change...

I love those girls!

I just got to spend some time with some 'older women.'
Well, they're not "women," they're little grils. Yes, I meant to type grils.
They are so sweet, and lovey, and helpful, and fun, and well-spoken, well-loved, well, just wonderful...
They are just a few years older than my kids. I really enjoy the age that my kids are right now.
It's pure sweetness. And it can feel so good to be needed.
But I just love the ages that those little ladies are too...
So much fun. My little friend, the fashionista, who had advice for those people who were dressing the mannekins at JCPenney...
And her little sister, who is, hands down THE BEST little mommy I have ever seen...
They were delightful, k, just delightful!!
I look forward to each and every opportunity to steal them from you!
What a HOOT!

What a day!

A lot happened today. Mostly good. Some not as good.

Here's the run-down:

GOOD
I got a guitar. I needed a guitar for work. Yes, I do play. Only a little.
I got to spend a little time with La, not planned time, but time (I'll get to the story in a moment)
I had lunch at Red Lobster. Also not planned, but it was yummy...
My dad and his friend helped me pick out the guitar (got a great deal) and my dad bought me a strap for it along with other various items. They also strung it and tuned it for me, and lowered the bridge. Whew! I was gonna have to do all THAT? Thanks fellas!

Not-so good:
I discovered a pretty sizeable dent in the hood of my van. No idea from whence it came...
I was trapped outside my house for ALMOST the whole day...
I did not shower before I left because I would only be gone 'for a little bit' - hmmm, that's ironic.
I went to a pawn shop this morning to look for aforementioned guitar and when I returned home around 11:30ish, the garage door would not open. It was jammed.
The other doors to the house were locked from the inside where you can only open them from the inside. NO Possible entry through anywhere but the garage...
I went to Red Lobster to hatch a plan.
Left with full tummies, but No plan. I went back to the house to try to break in with a credit card. Dumb. It was so very hot and I needed a potty.
I drove to La's house to crash her pad, *at naptime* I might add. We used her phone and her potty and played for a few minutes... I was stinky and greasy by now...
By the time I made it home, my husband had gotten away from work for a few minutes and like an expert, had broken in for me. Thanks!
The spring was snapped on the garage door.
I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to catch up on laundry and house work.
I played my guitar for too long and now my fingers hurt and typing is a chore.
It's off to bed for this tired lady!

That's the run-down.

Oh and one more thing, I skipped church because of a KILLA headache, that belongs under the 'Not-so good" category...

Ok so I hated the greyish blue...

Still looking for the perfect color combo for my bedroom.
Looks like some brown scheme will win... Shocker...

His dream.

J. had a dream last night.
He usually tells me he had a dream about choo-choo trains and candy canes, but last night he dreamed about marshmallows and mud food. Mmmmmm.....

Things I miss most about my sister...

Your blog about home sparked thoughts and emotions in me.
So many that, let's face it, a comment would have been ridiculous!

Home misses you too!
Family dinners still taste good, but have less flavor. Your empty chair is a constant reminder of the hole in my heart.
I know it has been the journey of your lifetime. A journey necessary for you to take. And your journey has worn well on you.
Your success and growth as a person are a testament to that. You are in the right place. doing the right things. and although it pains me to say it, for now, home is right where you are.
I do miss things. Man do I ever miss things...
I miss the girly little room we shared. With all the girly little porcelain 'pretties' and floral patterned everything. Pepto Bismol pink - I think I called it. I used to HATE that room.
I miss sleeping next to my sister. You were so cozy.
I miss stealing your eyeshadow when you weren't looking. You always had the best makeup.
I miss singing with you, it was like this perfectly wound thread. Nothing has ever come close to that...
I miss being your partner in crime, except for that time you ran over that kid's sack lunch, that was just pure evil.
I miss teasing you mercilessly - you were always such an easy target...
I miss being able to chuckle every time you gagged yourself with your toothbrush, you must have done that everyday for our whole lives!!
I miss having little things to talk about, like which earrings to wear - the kinds of things you can only do face to face... Or joking about "whatever should I wear today?" when we went to private school together and had to wear uniforms.
I miss you dropping by at the exact moment that I needed a friend.
I miss the fact that I could know the minute I should be expecting a phone call to let me know that you got home safely.
I miss the phone calls in a moment of great peril, when I could tell you came to me for help first. (I don't miss the moments of great peril, just the fact that I was your refuge)
I miss the frequent hair dyeing. The shop-talk. I miss having stir-fry with you.
I miss your presence, your faithful, happy presence.

I miss the tiny, daily events that you never notice until they're not there.
I miss you!
I love you!

color schemes.

yes, you're right - I have been changing my background a lot lately.
The crazy truth about it is - I am testing out color schemes for my master bedroom, on my blog.
Once I settle in on one, it will calm down - and then I will vanish for a week and my room will be done!
Just think of it as a sneak peek...
I just can't decide what I want to do with it yet.