Aren't kids grand? Depends on what age your kids are how you answer this. New parents - so in love with that baby - unless it has colic and cries 23 out of 24 hours a day 6 and a half days a week. Well, they still love that baby - but after day 3 they aren't thinking he's so grand. LOL After 3 months they just want help from anyone. If the mailman rings the doorbell they will pass that baby to him to hold for a while. Anything for a little break.
Age 2 years to 5 - still pretty adorable but then they start getting kind of smart alecky. And it gets worse when they start school and are around other kids. Lord, help the parent at this time have the strength to be a parent. One who disciplines and loves. It is so hard - but trust me - you will be glad you were that parent when the next phase comes along. The dreaded teenage years! Parents need medals for surviving these years - dating, driving, It's enough to make your blood pressure soar. If you don't have high blood pressure before your kids are teeneagers - you most likely will by the time they leave this era of their life behind.
Whew - now we can relax, right? Wrong - as a parent you still worry even though your kids are grown and on their own. You know you raised them right. You know they know right from wrong. However, you no longer have as much say in their decisions. Running with the wrong people? You can voice a concern but don't say to much or you may not hear from them for a while. Think they are doing something totally irresponsible and wrong? Well, again - express your concern but don't alienate them. Support them and be there for them is the best you can do.
Eventually we get back to aren't kids grand? Yes, eventually those kids that you raised, loved, cried over, prayed over, despaired over become parents themselves. Then you have GRAND kids. And trust me, there is nothing grander than grand kids. And oh the things those grand kids can get you to do!
My oldest grandson was (and probably still is) spoiled. The first grandchild -- loved to death - no one else to share attention with. Just about anything he wanted he got. For him I have been a swinging vine so he could play George of the Jungle. I have played street hockey in July in Phoenix when the temp was 111 degrees in the shade. I have played video games I do not understand. But I don't just do this stuff for him - I do similar thing for all the grandkids.
The two grandkids living here close to me love to play a game we call Jump on Grandma! The object of this game is for them to come running at me as fast and hard as they can then jump on me. Don't know what's so exciting about this but they love it. I have had to tell them though that once they are as tall as me (which may be soon) the game then becomes Grandma Jumps on You. Now keep in mind I have had one knee replacement and need a second one. These same kids jumping on me are right there to help me climb stairs and get up off the floor, etc.
I have played video games NeoPet (so we can connect with each other and talk I was told). Really, I thought that we were already talking to each other via emails and texts. Guess I was wrong - it's a whole 'nother communication outlet. I have played Runescape. The main object of this game was to be on there the same time as my grandson and his friend and I followed them around. In order to do this I had to befriend his friend (whom I hadn't met) on this game. I just kept hoping his parents didn't wonder what I was doing. This was a castle type game where you could fight people and dig up treasure etc. It was so hard that I couldn't even do the tutorial for this game. I had to have my grandson do it just so I could get on there with him. I tried playing it on my own some but stopped that when I found myself in a chapel killing people to save my own life. That was just wrong. After that anytime I got on by myself to try and get more experience, which I was told I needed, I just fought the goblins in the one place I knew.
I have played Wii games that I do not understand (the twins tend to rook me into this). They ask me to play and I say sure but I don't know what to do. They say, oh no problem it's easy. They then have me play first and I do horrible. They then get on and show me what I should have done but didn't do because I didn't know. But they are happy so who cares, right? I have played Black Ops - not very good at this one either.
I have played one-on-one basketball in the Phoenix heat with the twins and also with my teen-age grandson. A little two-on-two with 3 teenage boys lets you know how out of shape you really are. And I don't think after my knee replacement my doctor expected me to go skate boarding.
I have built forts in the living room and slept there with grandkids. I tell you what, maneuvering around chair legs when your legs don't bend well to get into the fort can be difficult. I have been a surf board in the pool for the grandkids to stand on so they could surf. I have been a test subject for my granddaughter (just call me Sparkle) to do a makeover. You know it's bad when you have a makeover and "Sparkle" says 'oops - that's a little to much'. I don't know why my family let me leave the house without telling me I had glitter all over my face. Not sure what the people at the Police Museum in Phoenix thought of that.
I enjoy every single minute I spend with my GRAND kids and that is why I say "Aren't Kids
Grand? So if you are not at the age yet where you have the GRAND kids - just wait - your reward is coming.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
Sneaky Snake
Ok - anyone who knows me at all is wondering why I have titled this Sneaky Snake. I am petrified of snakes. I cannot even look at pictures of them without my heart racing and getting short of breath. You know how sometimes on news shows they will state a warning that the following story/pictures are graphic. I believe any news story pertaining to a snake of any kind should have to have a warning at the beginning. Something along the line of: Warning, if you have an aversion to snakes you may want to close your eyes. They are pictures of snakes in this news story.
My grandkids know how terrified of snakes I am. They tend to protect me (usually). When we go to the Dollar store and get to the toy aisle they will walk sideways in front of the toy snakes and tell me to look the other way. Get the picture, I DO NOT LIKE SNAKES.
We have a quick-set pool. You know the kind, spread it out, air up the ring on top and fill it with water. We are taking down our pool at this time. I do not get as excited about taking the pool down as I do putting it up. I start in April asking for assistance with the pool. I want it up and filled so I can laze and float whenever I have the chance. One time our pool had been stored behind the shed. I wanted it up, the weather was getting warm so I decided that perhaps Chris and I could do this our self. We might have been able to if we hadn't found a snake that had decided to take a rest in the pool. The following poem explains what happened next:
My grandkids know how terrified of snakes I am. They tend to protect me (usually). When we go to the Dollar store and get to the toy aisle they will walk sideways in front of the toy snakes and tell me to look the other way. Get the picture, I DO NOT LIKE SNAKES.
We have a quick-set pool. You know the kind, spread it out, air up the ring on top and fill it with water. We are taking down our pool at this time. I do not get as excited about taking the pool down as I do putting it up. I start in April asking for assistance with the pool. I want it up and filled so I can laze and float whenever I have the chance. One time our pool had been stored behind the shed. I wanted it up, the weather was getting warm so I decided that perhaps Chris and I could do this our self. We might have been able to if we hadn't found a snake that had decided to take a rest in the pool. The following poem explains what happened next:
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Snake in the Pool!!
The summer days were quickly fleeing
Relaxing in the pool was what I was needing.
I squared my shoulders and walked to the shed
Setting up the pool now was in my head.
I could come home from work and just hang out
Yep, the pool was needed there was no doubt.
I pulled it out to the middle of the yard
Wow - I can tell this will be hard!
The pool was heavy, I pulled and I tugged
And also kept slapping at some pesky bug.
Pulling, tugging and then straighten it out
When all of a sudden I gave ONE BIG SHOUT!
My heart began to race and I began to run
All of a sudden it was no longer fun.
Chris came to see what had caused me to yell
"A snake in the pool" was all I could tell.
A lump in my throat, my heart still racing
What terrible times I was now facing.
There was a snake in the pool it was true
Now just what was I supposed to do?
I was ready to give up - forget the pool
I'm not messing with a snake, I'm not a fool.
Maybe I can make a wide circle and reach the gate
Go around front and inside before it's too late.
Gary will be home eventually it is true
Eliminating a snake I will make him do.
"Don't worry, Mom" I heard Chris say
"I'll take care of the snake for you today."
I just want it dead and away from here
A snake is something that I do fear.
I'm hiding in the shed afraid to go out
But full of advice to give no doubt.
"Here's a broom that maybe you can use.
And aren't you wearing a pair of shoes.?
Step on it! Smash it! Oh good night!!!"
I saw the snake move, I shook with fright.
Chris is beating the snake with the broom
And visions of terror in my mind still loom.
Chris is stomping on the snake with his shoes
I hope it's a battle that he won't lose.
Again I interject a piece of good advice
"Sweep it on the grass and give it a slice.
Here's a little shovel, will it work for you?
Sweep it out step on it and chop it up too."
I wanted the snake gone from my sight right away.
"Sweep it onto the shovel and throw it away.
Not in the yard! Put it in the trash can.
And do it just as quick as you can."
Make sure it is gone I don't want it around
Or still in this shed is where I will be found.
My heart is starting to resume it's normal pace
And the color is coming back to my face.
I take some deep breaths and try to calm down
Close my eyes and try to look around.
I ask Chris to be sure and look around
Make sure there isn't any more snakes to be found.
I get myself under control and finally leave the shed
But I can still see the snake in my head.
I tentatively approach the scene of my nightmare
After Chris gives assurance that no snake lingers there.
I work on the pool with some trepidation
Thinking that I am now in desperate need of relaxation.
I pull and I tug and the liner I straighten
Remembering the snake that I am hating.
I get out the hose and turn the water on
Only to discover there is something wrong.
It's doesn't take long for me to see
That Gary's help will be a necessity.
So into the house Chris and I do go
I'm still kind of shaky if you want to know.
The snake was a fright I will say
But Chris came through and saved the day.
We did get the pool filled eventually
So now you can come and relax with me.
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Sunday, October 7, 2012
Sunday Evening Winding Down
Sunday evening - finally. Sundays are busy for us - not in a bad way. We start our day early getting coffee ready for church. We typically do try to get a nap in on Sunday afternoon - if at all possible.
We team-teach children's Sunday school with another couple at our church. We have been doing this for 2-3 years and it has worked out really well. We are able to keep our sanity and just today another lovely lady from our church has volunteered to help us out - just when we all needed the help.
So today we had church, did our Sunday lunch with friends, short time at home (spent today with grandkids) - then back to church to get ready for evening discussion and Life Group. Then when we finally head home about 9:00 I ask Gary if he had uniforms for tomorrow for work. And the answer was no. So here we sit waiting for the load of laundry to finish washing so I can switch it to the dryer before heading off to bed. And here I am sitting here I am reviewing my day and winding down.
I've said all that to say this -- I love my church. I've said it before - they are my family. There is nothing better than church family. Now it is not uncommon when I am listening to my pastor on Sunday morning that he says a word or phrase that really catches my attention. I jot this down and then it turns into a poem. My pastor (and the Lord) have been the inspiration for several poems I have written. Now, I am not winding down this Sunday with a poem I gleaned from this mornings sermon. However, last Sunday I did get one.
Now most of the time I can just jot down the phrase and then put it in my file of "Works in Progress". I have several of these. The phrase floats around in my head and I ponder over it and work on it and eventually finish it. Sometimes, however, the words just really start rushing out and I have to write them down right then (and then I have to get to a computer as soon as possible so that I can read what I have written as my handwriting is extremely bad). This was the case last Sunday.
I had to send my pastor, Art, an apology because I was tuned in to his sermon -right there with him when he did it. He said a phrase that caught my attention. I jotted it down thinking I'd finish it later. Well, later was then and about 2/3 of the way through his 2nd point of the sermon - my mind took a turn of it's own and I had to write down the words that were flowing. So as I wind down this Sunday evening (and my washer finishes the load of uniforms) let me share with you the poem that I got from last Sunday's sermon. Hope you enjoy.
We team-teach children's Sunday school with another couple at our church. We have been doing this for 2-3 years and it has worked out really well. We are able to keep our sanity and just today another lovely lady from our church has volunteered to help us out - just when we all needed the help.
So today we had church, did our Sunday lunch with friends, short time at home (spent today with grandkids) - then back to church to get ready for evening discussion and Life Group. Then when we finally head home about 9:00 I ask Gary if he had uniforms for tomorrow for work. And the answer was no. So here we sit waiting for the load of laundry to finish washing so I can switch it to the dryer before heading off to bed. And here I am sitting here I am reviewing my day and winding down.
I've said all that to say this -- I love my church. I've said it before - they are my family. There is nothing better than church family. Now it is not uncommon when I am listening to my pastor on Sunday morning that he says a word or phrase that really catches my attention. I jot this down and then it turns into a poem. My pastor (and the Lord) have been the inspiration for several poems I have written. Now, I am not winding down this Sunday with a poem I gleaned from this mornings sermon. However, last Sunday I did get one.
Now most of the time I can just jot down the phrase and then put it in my file of "Works in Progress". I have several of these. The phrase floats around in my head and I ponder over it and work on it and eventually finish it. Sometimes, however, the words just really start rushing out and I have to write them down right then (and then I have to get to a computer as soon as possible so that I can read what I have written as my handwriting is extremely bad). This was the case last Sunday.
I had to send my pastor, Art, an apology because I was tuned in to his sermon -right there with him when he did it. He said a phrase that caught my attention. I jotted it down thinking I'd finish it later. Well, later was then and about 2/3 of the way through his 2nd point of the sermon - my mind took a turn of it's own and I had to write down the words that were flowing. So as I wind down this Sunday evening (and my washer finishes the load of uniforms) let me share with you the poem that I got from last Sunday's sermon. Hope you enjoy.
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Saturday, October 6, 2012
Saturdays
Saturday - the day we start looking forward to as soon as we get up on Monday. Well, I do anyway. A day that, if you are lucky, you don't have to go to work and you can sleep late. Oh yeah - as late as 7:00 am - perhaps even later if I'm lucky.
When you are a kid Saturday is cartoons. Have you watched them lately? Not the same cartoons I had as a kid. When you are an adult Saturdays usually mean something totally different. There's the house work to be done, the errands to be run, household repairs, yard work. Aren't you tired just thinking of all you need to do? Now you're wishing for Monday so you can get some rest at work.
How to have a perfect Saturday - gonna take some planning. Do your housework a little each night throughout the week or you can come home and get it done on Friday night. Ahhh - now you can relax, right? Wrong! You have laundry that needs to be done. And if your family is going to eat this week you better get to the grocery store.
My grandkids like to spend the night with us. If they spend the night on Friday nights we get up on Saturday morning and have one of two breakfasts. Sometimes I make pancakes for them. They love pancakes. I always make them one with the initial of their name then the rest are just regular. The other option for breakfast is The Donut Shop! We love this one. Grampa has a donut shop by his store that has special donuts all the time. So sometimes we get up - get dressed and head off to the donut store. We will buy donuts and get some from Grampa then go have breakfast with him at his store. This donut shop always has unique donuts for kids: smiley faces, pirates, Hello Kitty,Angry Birds, specific holiday themed ones. Now you know why we like it.
Sometimes on Saturdays I decide I'm not gonna do anything. I make myself a pot of coffee, grab the computer and Facebook becomes my friend. If I get tired of Facebook I grab my Kindle and read. Basically I will alternate between computer, Kindle and naps. No better way to spend the day is there? Then I feel guilty because I didn't do all those chores that need to be done. But you know what? They will still be there tomorrow and the next day and the next.
Today my Saturday was spent differently. I was fortunate enough to be able to spend it with a special group of ladies. We had a Ladies Brunch at church. No special reason for this. I just thought it would be fun to do. Had lots of good food, lots of good fellowship and a wonderful speaker. What a great way to spend this Saturday morning.
Now, I kinda had planned out in my head what I should do after the Brunch. There was laundry to be done, some house cleaning and errands to run. What did I do after the Brunch? Came home and did some laundry (not all of it but 3 loads). Got on Facebook for a while, texted my Arizona granddaughter, made dinner, then afterwards Gary and I went grocery shopping. Now, here I am sitting on the sofa with an ice pack on my heel and a bag of chips by my side. (Chips are my downfall - I love them).
It's been a good day for a Saturday.
When you are a kid Saturday is cartoons. Have you watched them lately? Not the same cartoons I had as a kid. When you are an adult Saturdays usually mean something totally different. There's the house work to be done, the errands to be run, household repairs, yard work. Aren't you tired just thinking of all you need to do? Now you're wishing for Monday so you can get some rest at work.
How to have a perfect Saturday - gonna take some planning. Do your housework a little each night throughout the week or you can come home and get it done on Friday night. Ahhh - now you can relax, right? Wrong! You have laundry that needs to be done. And if your family is going to eat this week you better get to the grocery store.
My grandkids like to spend the night with us. If they spend the night on Friday nights we get up on Saturday morning and have one of two breakfasts. Sometimes I make pancakes for them. They love pancakes. I always make them one with the initial of their name then the rest are just regular. The other option for breakfast is The Donut Shop! We love this one. Grampa has a donut shop by his store that has special donuts all the time. So sometimes we get up - get dressed and head off to the donut store. We will buy donuts and get some from Grampa then go have breakfast with him at his store. This donut shop always has unique donuts for kids: smiley faces, pirates, Hello Kitty,Angry Birds, specific holiday themed ones. Now you know why we like it.
Sometimes on Saturdays I decide I'm not gonna do anything. I make myself a pot of coffee, grab the computer and Facebook becomes my friend. If I get tired of Facebook I grab my Kindle and read. Basically I will alternate between computer, Kindle and naps. No better way to spend the day is there? Then I feel guilty because I didn't do all those chores that need to be done. But you know what? They will still be there tomorrow and the next day and the next.
Today my Saturday was spent differently. I was fortunate enough to be able to spend it with a special group of ladies. We had a Ladies Brunch at church. No special reason for this. I just thought it would be fun to do. Had lots of good food, lots of good fellowship and a wonderful speaker. What a great way to spend this Saturday morning.
Now, I kinda had planned out in my head what I should do after the Brunch. There was laundry to be done, some house cleaning and errands to run. What did I do after the Brunch? Came home and did some laundry (not all of it but 3 loads). Got on Facebook for a while, texted my Arizona granddaughter, made dinner, then afterwards Gary and I went grocery shopping. Now, here I am sitting on the sofa with an ice pack on my heel and a bag of chips by my side. (Chips are my downfall - I love them).
It's been a good day for a Saturday.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Melting Pots
Melting pots - what comes to mind? This country which is a melting pot of nationalities? Fondue restaurants which provide a romantic fine dining experience? Candles - melt the wax for a fragrant home?
Oh any of these could be what you think of. Not my family. Oh no - they think of me! Melting pots - watched pots. Yes - they go hand-in-hand for me. I know that you know that old saying "a watched pot never boils". You sit (or stand by the stove probably) and wait and wait and wait and still that pot just never comes to a boil so you can make your tea or add your pasta.
I, however, am one person who literally has to stand by the stove and never leave it until the pot does come to a boil. Not a silly quirk I have. I don't time how long it takes. I do it for a matter of safety. This was brought to my mind last night as I did a kitchen safety talk to my granddaughters Girl Scout troop. One of the rules they needed to know was "never leave the kitchen with something on the stove."
Oh sure, we all learned this as a child but we are adults now. We have very busy lives and we multi-task. Let's get this on the stove then go get a load of laundry put in. Take a phone call. Not a problem. For most people. Not for me. Now I can talk on the phone while I am watching my pot come to a boil but I WILL NOT leave the room for any reason. Don't put a pot on the stove and walk away thinking I will be responsible. The only time I am responsible is if I am the one who put it on the stove in the first place.
I do actually burn pots and tea kettles because I forget I have put water on to boil for tea and leave the kitchen. Poor Gary, I have ruined some of his best pans. Good thing the last set I bought him had a heavy duty base. It may not look as nice as it used to but it does still work.
This is not a recent occurrence because I am getting older. I have had this problem for several years. I know that Gary and I have been married for 18 years this month and it has been a problem at least that long. I put a tea kettle on to boil some water because I wanted to make a pot of tea. (See Gabe - I do drink tea - not just coffee). I put the pot on and left the kitchen to do other stuff in the house. Not a problem because I had a whistling tea kettle.
Now a whistling tea kettle should alert you to the fact that the water is boiling. However, you have to actually be within hearing distance of the tea kettle to hear it whistle. And in my defense - if you leave the house to run to the store - you are not near enough to hear the tea kettle whistle so I dont' think you can really be held responsible. Yes, I admit - I came home and took groceries to the kitchen to find that my brand new whistling tea kettle was now a pool of melted liquid on my stove top.
Did I learn my lesson? No, I continued to boil pots dry and ruin them until I made up my mind that if I put a pot of water on the stove I was going to stand right there and wait for it to boil. Now, unfortunately for my family it took me until about 4 years ago to decide that I better STAND BY MY POT OF WATER. (A slight reference there to singer Tammy Wynnette and her song Stand By Your Man).
Now, I get a lot of reading time in because I will watch my pot until it boils. I don't have a chair to sit on - all I can do is stand and lean against the counter until the pot boils and I can turn it off. And that, my friends, is why my family thinks of me when they think of Melting Pots.
Oh any of these could be what you think of. Not my family. Oh no - they think of me! Melting pots - watched pots. Yes - they go hand-in-hand for me. I know that you know that old saying "a watched pot never boils". You sit (or stand by the stove probably) and wait and wait and wait and still that pot just never comes to a boil so you can make your tea or add your pasta.
I, however, am one person who literally has to stand by the stove and never leave it until the pot does come to a boil. Not a silly quirk I have. I don't time how long it takes. I do it for a matter of safety. This was brought to my mind last night as I did a kitchen safety talk to my granddaughters Girl Scout troop. One of the rules they needed to know was "never leave the kitchen with something on the stove."
Oh sure, we all learned this as a child but we are adults now. We have very busy lives and we multi-task. Let's get this on the stove then go get a load of laundry put in. Take a phone call. Not a problem. For most people. Not for me. Now I can talk on the phone while I am watching my pot come to a boil but I WILL NOT leave the room for any reason. Don't put a pot on the stove and walk away thinking I will be responsible. The only time I am responsible is if I am the one who put it on the stove in the first place.
I do actually burn pots and tea kettles because I forget I have put water on to boil for tea and leave the kitchen. Poor Gary, I have ruined some of his best pans. Good thing the last set I bought him had a heavy duty base. It may not look as nice as it used to but it does still work.
This is not a recent occurrence because I am getting older. I have had this problem for several years. I know that Gary and I have been married for 18 years this month and it has been a problem at least that long. I put a tea kettle on to boil some water because I wanted to make a pot of tea. (See Gabe - I do drink tea - not just coffee). I put the pot on and left the kitchen to do other stuff in the house. Not a problem because I had a whistling tea kettle.
Now a whistling tea kettle should alert you to the fact that the water is boiling. However, you have to actually be within hearing distance of the tea kettle to hear it whistle. And in my defense - if you leave the house to run to the store - you are not near enough to hear the tea kettle whistle so I dont' think you can really be held responsible. Yes, I admit - I came home and took groceries to the kitchen to find that my brand new whistling tea kettle was now a pool of melted liquid on my stove top.
Did I learn my lesson? No, I continued to boil pots dry and ruin them until I made up my mind that if I put a pot of water on the stove I was going to stand right there and wait for it to boil. Now, unfortunately for my family it took me until about 4 years ago to decide that I better STAND BY MY POT OF WATER. (A slight reference there to singer Tammy Wynnette and her song Stand By Your Man).
Now, I get a lot of reading time in because I will watch my pot until it boils. I don't have a chair to sit on - all I can do is stand and lean against the counter until the pot boils and I can turn it off. And that, my friends, is why my family thinks of me when they think of Melting Pots.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
What's For Dinner?
Well, here it is almost lunch time as I start to write this. Tomorrow is food day at work and my mind is thinking about tomorrow's lunch, tonight's dinner, lunch today, the cheese and crackers I just finished. Food is an important part of our life.
If you know my family at all you know that my husband Gary loves to cook. He is always planning meals and making plans. While we are eating one meal we are talking about what we are going to have for our next meal. If something at church involves food - you can bet that we are going to be a part of that!
Now I know that we aren't the only ones who talk about (fantasize about - drool about - dream about) food. We have had conversations with people about places we have traveled to and invariably, the majority of the talk is about what restaurant we ate at there. Some of the best Chinese food we ever ate was at Jimmy's in Albuquerque. Hmmm... some of the hottest Mexican food was also in Albuquerque but I can't remember the name of the place. Bless my father-in-law. I ordered the chili thinking it would be ok. WHOA-- let me tell you that Mexican chili is HOT!!!! And I don't eat hot food. Red ate my chili and let me eat his food.
I am kinda particular about the food I eat. My husband says I am picky and I guess maybe I am. I don't (or won't) eat foods that don't sound right or if they look funny or if they are leftover. Well, there a couple of leftover dishes I will eat but not very many. Gary says I have Food Police in my head.
That led me to write the following poem I want to share with you. Perhaps you can relate to this.
If you know my family at all you know that my husband Gary loves to cook. He is always planning meals and making plans. While we are eating one meal we are talking about what we are going to have for our next meal. If something at church involves food - you can bet that we are going to be a part of that!
Now I know that we aren't the only ones who talk about (fantasize about - drool about - dream about) food. We have had conversations with people about places we have traveled to and invariably, the majority of the talk is about what restaurant we ate at there. Some of the best Chinese food we ever ate was at Jimmy's in Albuquerque. Hmmm... some of the hottest Mexican food was also in Albuquerque but I can't remember the name of the place. Bless my father-in-law. I ordered the chili thinking it would be ok. WHOA-- let me tell you that Mexican chili is HOT!!!! And I don't eat hot food. Red ate my chili and let me eat his food.
I am kinda particular about the food I eat. My husband says I am picky and I guess maybe I am. I don't (or won't) eat foods that don't sound right or if they look funny or if they are leftover. Well, there a couple of leftover dishes I will eat but not very many. Gary says I have Food Police in my head.
That led me to write the following poem I want to share with you. Perhaps you can relate to this.
FOOD POLICE
There’s food police inside my head
That is what I have heard said.
Things look wrong and this I know
Those food police have told me so.
Some things are not meant to be eaten
Those thoughts I have are not fleeting.
They hang around and linger near
Those food police I do hear.
Don’t touch that - it looks wrong
It echoes in my head like a song.
But something’s wrong how can it be
The foods they police are good for me.
Where are those police when cake I see
Or that candy bar is calling me?
Those mashed potatoes piled high
Those food police just turn their eye.
Extra helpings – please help yourself
Get a larger plate off the shelf.
Like the chicken but want it fried
Grilled or baked - just set aside.
I’ve been told broccoli is good for me
Don’t think they meant covered with cheese.
By: Kathie Marrs
2011
Oh - and in case you are wondering -- we are having Baked Potato Soup at work tomorrow.
Oh - and in case you are wondering -- we are having Baked Potato Soup at work tomorrow.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Family Dynamics
Family Dynamics -- what's the first thing that comes into your head? I bet you're
thinking things like where does the oldest child fit in, middle child syndrome, youngest child spoiled, etc. Older sibling dictator, younger sibling annoying, All kinds of dynamics.
I'm talking about how our family is made up. And our family dynamics are indeed interesting. I am older than my husband. This is just the way it is...we don't discuss age differences in our household because we know that they don't make a difference. (Now we do think it makes a difference when you are under the age of 21 but we won't be discussing that issue today). I am 13 years older than my husband. This has caused several comments when people find out - perhaps those stories can be another blog for another day.
When we got married I had 3 older girls - teenagers - ages, 16, 14 and 12. Plus another girl who was 16 and lived with us for 3 years. My poor husband. What he went through for me (again this might become another post).
So we got married - my husband was 24 and I was 37. We became grandparents in less than a year of our marriage. My husband was a very young grampa! Well, here we are 18 years later and we have added to our family. We now have 6 birth grandchildren and 3 step-grandchildren and we also added two more children of our own!
Getting the idea of family dynamics yet? Our oldest daughter has 4 children - 17 year old son, 13 year old daughter and twin 8 year old boys. Middle of the oldest girls has no children at this time but does have a dog. Youngest of the 3 oldest girls has 3 step-children ages 23, 20 and 15 (I think I have those ages right), an 8 year old son and a 7 year old daughter. The younger two children are not married and have no children.
One day one of the grandsons was talking about adoption with me. This was in relation to a family at church who are foster parents and had adopted a child. I explained that sometimes birth mothers just aren't able to take care of children and other parents take over. I explained that Grampa and I did the same thing and adopted our youngest daughter (age 24) and son (age 20). My grandson, bless his heart, looked at me and said "What! Chris is adopted!!!??? When did this happen?"
Now you might think this is the end but no. A month or so later this same grandson is having a discussion with his mother about Dad's. She has remarried and so her children have a father and a step-dad. After some discussion he said "You mean Grampa is your step-dad?" After affirming that yes this was so, he was asked who did you think he was? His response? - I thought he was just a friend who hung around a lot. (Same grandson also made the remark that Grandma must know a lot about dating).
Wait -- we aren't done yet. Shortly after that discussion we had daughter and her family over for dinner. The discussion of holidays came up and we were discussing Christmas plans. We live in Tulsa. My in-laws live in North Missouri. We were trying to make plans for going up for Christmas. Grandkids were excited as they like to visit Grammy and Poppy on the farm. We talked about when Aunt Jeri and Uncle Vernon would be there. Grandson says - who's Aunt Jeri and Uncle Vernon. We explain that Aunt Jeri is Grampa's sister. His response? You guessed it! "What??!! You have a sister?"
We asked him who he thought Uncle Vernon was. He didn't remember Uncle Vernon until we reminded him that Uncle Vernon liked to play with them. He played play-doh and helped with playing cars. He then says "oh yeah, I remember him." I asked well who did you think he was? His response, "I thought he was just a friend who came and hung out."
Wow - we have lots of friends hanging out with us. I'm thinking it's kind of neat that my grandson thinks we just let people hang out with us for no reason and he never questions why.
Dynamics aren't over yet. I mentioned at the beginning that my husband is younger than I am. Well, daughter #3 is married to a man who is 13 years older than her. We really think the world of our son-in-law and my husband is very quick to let everyone know that he is younger than his son-in-law (by 2 months).
Yes, I think we have family dynamics in our family. But we wouldn't have it any other way. We love each and every member of our family. We treasure the time we spend with them. And we know that our family is unique but in reality isn't every family? The dynamics of your family might not be quite as diverse as ours but family dynamics make life interesting.
thinking things like where does the oldest child fit in, middle child syndrome, youngest child spoiled, etc. Older sibling dictator, younger sibling annoying, All kinds of dynamics.
I'm talking about how our family is made up. And our family dynamics are indeed interesting. I am older than my husband. This is just the way it is...we don't discuss age differences in our household because we know that they don't make a difference. (Now we do think it makes a difference when you are under the age of 21 but we won't be discussing that issue today). I am 13 years older than my husband. This has caused several comments when people find out - perhaps those stories can be another blog for another day.
When we got married I had 3 older girls - teenagers - ages, 16, 14 and 12. Plus another girl who was 16 and lived with us for 3 years. My poor husband. What he went through for me (again this might become another post).
So we got married - my husband was 24 and I was 37. We became grandparents in less than a year of our marriage. My husband was a very young grampa! Well, here we are 18 years later and we have added to our family. We now have 6 birth grandchildren and 3 step-grandchildren and we also added two more children of our own!
Getting the idea of family dynamics yet? Our oldest daughter has 4 children - 17 year old son, 13 year old daughter and twin 8 year old boys. Middle of the oldest girls has no children at this time but does have a dog. Youngest of the 3 oldest girls has 3 step-children ages 23, 20 and 15 (I think I have those ages right), an 8 year old son and a 7 year old daughter. The younger two children are not married and have no children.
One day one of the grandsons was talking about adoption with me. This was in relation to a family at church who are foster parents and had adopted a child. I explained that sometimes birth mothers just aren't able to take care of children and other parents take over. I explained that Grampa and I did the same thing and adopted our youngest daughter (age 24) and son (age 20). My grandson, bless his heart, looked at me and said "What! Chris is adopted!!!??? When did this happen?"
Now you might think this is the end but no. A month or so later this same grandson is having a discussion with his mother about Dad's. She has remarried and so her children have a father and a step-dad. After some discussion he said "You mean Grampa is your step-dad?" After affirming that yes this was so, he was asked who did you think he was? His response? - I thought he was just a friend who hung around a lot. (Same grandson also made the remark that Grandma must know a lot about dating).
Wait -- we aren't done yet. Shortly after that discussion we had daughter and her family over for dinner. The discussion of holidays came up and we were discussing Christmas plans. We live in Tulsa. My in-laws live in North Missouri. We were trying to make plans for going up for Christmas. Grandkids were excited as they like to visit Grammy and Poppy on the farm. We talked about when Aunt Jeri and Uncle Vernon would be there. Grandson says - who's Aunt Jeri and Uncle Vernon. We explain that Aunt Jeri is Grampa's sister. His response? You guessed it! "What??!! You have a sister?"
We asked him who he thought Uncle Vernon was. He didn't remember Uncle Vernon until we reminded him that Uncle Vernon liked to play with them. He played play-doh and helped with playing cars. He then says "oh yeah, I remember him." I asked well who did you think he was? His response, "I thought he was just a friend who came and hung out."
Wow - we have lots of friends hanging out with us. I'm thinking it's kind of neat that my grandson thinks we just let people hang out with us for no reason and he never questions why.
Dynamics aren't over yet. I mentioned at the beginning that my husband is younger than I am. Well, daughter #3 is married to a man who is 13 years older than her. We really think the world of our son-in-law and my husband is very quick to let everyone know that he is younger than his son-in-law (by 2 months).
Yes, I think we have family dynamics in our family. But we wouldn't have it any other way. We love each and every member of our family. We treasure the time we spend with them. And we know that our family is unique but in reality isn't every family? The dynamics of your family might not be quite as diverse as ours but family dynamics make life interesting.
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