This blog has been viewed 4003 times! Wow!
Wait.. been working on it for 3 or 4 years. But I only have 5 followers and I'm pretty sure 2 of them are internet robot machines sent to find out my email address so they can send me penile enlargement advertisements. That means between my 3 readers and myself, we've accumulated 4003 views. I'm pretty sure I can account for at least half of that. But it's nice to know someone else is reading what I write. Thanks, Mom! I'm sure my grandma, who was a writer of sorts, would be thrilled. And if not thrilled, because she was never, to my knowledge, "thrilled" with anything, mildly pleased that I was happy.
So yay for me and the mostly true tales of Willingham's World!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The Summer Wife has been busy busy. After camp, we had VBS/VBX week. Nonstop fun! And this week I have embraced the Chill Technique made famous by college students and lazy folk everywhere. And it feels good. Chill Technique is basically just doing nothing except what is low key. Food gets cooked, clothes get washed (kinda), and books get read (a lot). No one fusses or hollers. If you want to go do something, you do it. And no projects get worked on. That's for later. When the world stops spinning. The world is spinning mostly do to a clogged ear, soon to become infection if history is any indicator.
And in honor of my 4,000 page view, coming really soon, here is a pic of the boys and me at the VBS carnival.
And in honor of my 4,000 page view, coming really soon, here is a pic of the boys and me at the VBS carnival.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Back from youth camp. No major scars to speak of. On my person anyway. My house got scarred by the storm that ran through town. I am now managing an insurance claim. Adjustor comes on Thursday. And I'm tired. And I have an earache. I turn into whiny baby with a plugged up, achy ear. Cuz it HURTS! So I find myself managing pain and an insurance claim. And children. I manage the spit out of those boys. It sometimes sounds like this:"Mommy has an earache and is about to start pacing like a mental patient so the invisible man will stop stabbing an ice pick into my eardrum, so you'll need to ask your father to help you open the bowl of fruit."
But I know this too shall pass. The house will get fixed. Eventually. The truck will get tires. Sooner rather than later. The ear pain will cease. I have medications. And skies will be blue once again. Birds will sing. Children will laugh. The Sun will shine. So tonight, I am focusing on hiding from my current reality and will try again tomorrow.
PS. In case you think I am overly dramatic (and you could make a great case), this is a brief synopsis of the last few days.
Sat - return from week long youth camp culminating in 18 hr bus ride
Sun - celebrate Father's Day by picking up the kids and starting VBS/VBX week (one son goes morning, one goes evening)
Mon - get first good look at my house with half ripped up floors and tarped roof. Stay inside all day with sore throat and sinus headache. Run 2 loads of laundry
Tues - grocery shopping, pick up from VBS, afternoon nap during thunderstorm, mop up still leaking wall, dinner with friends, fast acting earache renders me worthless to humanity
But I know this too shall pass. The house will get fixed. Eventually. The truck will get tires. Sooner rather than later. The ear pain will cease. I have medications. And skies will be blue once again. Birds will sing. Children will laugh. The Sun will shine. So tonight, I am focusing on hiding from my current reality and will try again tomorrow.
PS. In case you think I am overly dramatic (and you could make a great case), this is a brief synopsis of the last few days.
Sat - return from week long youth camp culminating in 18 hr bus ride
Sun - celebrate Father's Day by picking up the kids and starting VBS/VBX week (one son goes morning, one goes evening)
Mon - get first good look at my house with half ripped up floors and tarped roof. Stay inside all day with sore throat and sinus headache. Run 2 loads of laundry
Tues - grocery shopping, pick up from VBS, afternoon nap during thunderstorm, mop up still leaking wall, dinner with friends, fast acting earache renders me worthless to humanity
Monday, June 4, 2012
Captain's Log
Summer 2012 - Day 1
In a curious and disturbing turn of events I awoke with a start at 0530 and smiled because I knew I could go back to sleep. At 05:45 I was silently cursing my internal alarm as I flipped and flopped attempting to regain sleeping status. At 0630, I was again awakened by the husband's alarm and happily fell back asleep. At 0740ish my husband wished me goodbye and happy first day of summer as he headed to The Job. I believe I detected a bit of envy in his tone, but the sleepies overtook me before I could determine the reality of that feeling. When I awoke again at 0900 it was time to face the world. I have already received one communication from The Workplace requesting that I come by to finish something that they had not had ready last week. I have a list of things to accomplish this day and hope that the list will get done so I can start reading a new book I have. I am off to conquer the list!
Summer 2012 - Day 1
In a curious and disturbing turn of events I awoke with a start at 0530 and smiled because I knew I could go back to sleep. At 05:45 I was silently cursing my internal alarm as I flipped and flopped attempting to regain sleeping status. At 0630, I was again awakened by the husband's alarm and happily fell back asleep. At 0740ish my husband wished me goodbye and happy first day of summer as he headed to The Job. I believe I detected a bit of envy in his tone, but the sleepies overtook me before I could determine the reality of that feeling. When I awoke again at 0900 it was time to face the world. I have already received one communication from The Workplace requesting that I come by to finish something that they had not had ready last week. I have a list of things to accomplish this day and hope that the list will get done so I can start reading a new book I have. I am off to conquer the list!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Dreaming
Well, maybe it started that way, as a dream, but doesn’t everything? –James (James and the Giant Peach)
This quote really made me think about what I'm dreaming about. Lately, it's been weirdo dreams; gigantic waves, mewling kittens, and one with pickle chips. I don't normally remember any of my dreams, but the last few days, they have stuck with me. But those aren't the dreams I am talking about.
What am I dreaming of doing/being/seeing/creating/being involved in? As a non-dreamer, more of a do-er this is hard for me. My practical side almost always takes over and the dream is disassembled and rated before it can fully form. I think that's why I am attracted to dreamers, people who think new thoughts and don't let reality interfere. They have always provided my starting point.
But that's not happening right now. I am in a place in life where I want what I am doing to be about what I need to do, not what I need to do to help others achieve their dreams. It's one of the reasons I am going back to school this fall (assuming acceptance happens). But my dreams need to be more than getting a degree. They need to help me fulfill my life mission. That life vision, God given track that shapes me into His vessel for use in His great plan.
And health is huge in this. I have a dream to be healthy and active and sassy and fun and able to keep up with my kids. This is gonna require some lifestyle changes that no longer involve the couch and a bag of snack mix. It's going to require that I plan more and organize better and direct the household activities more efficiently. And it seems like more than I can handle. Most days it seems that way. But I think that God has planted a dream in my heart to be more for Him and do more for others. And I can only do this if I am healthy and have more stamina than a newborn. The thought of facing the mountains in Glorietta in 2 weeks has shaken me a bit. Last year I couldn't make it up the mountain and through tears, I vowed to do better next year. Well, it's next year and I am in no better shape than I was last year. But I'm still going to try and make it up the mountain. Both literally and figuratively.
And here are some thinking poses of people cuter than I am.
This quote really made me think about what I'm dreaming about. Lately, it's been weirdo dreams; gigantic waves, mewling kittens, and one with pickle chips. I don't normally remember any of my dreams, but the last few days, they have stuck with me. But those aren't the dreams I am talking about.
What am I dreaming of doing/being/seeing/creating/being involved in? As a non-dreamer, more of a do-er this is hard for me. My practical side almost always takes over and the dream is disassembled and rated before it can fully form. I think that's why I am attracted to dreamers, people who think new thoughts and don't let reality interfere. They have always provided my starting point.
But that's not happening right now. I am in a place in life where I want what I am doing to be about what I need to do, not what I need to do to help others achieve their dreams. It's one of the reasons I am going back to school this fall (assuming acceptance happens). But my dreams need to be more than getting a degree. They need to help me fulfill my life mission. That life vision, God given track that shapes me into His vessel for use in His great plan.
And health is huge in this. I have a dream to be healthy and active and sassy and fun and able to keep up with my kids. This is gonna require some lifestyle changes that no longer involve the couch and a bag of snack mix. It's going to require that I plan more and organize better and direct the household activities more efficiently. And it seems like more than I can handle. Most days it seems that way. But I think that God has planted a dream in my heart to be more for Him and do more for others. And I can only do this if I am healthy and have more stamina than a newborn. The thought of facing the mountains in Glorietta in 2 weeks has shaken me a bit. Last year I couldn't make it up the mountain and through tears, I vowed to do better next year. Well, it's next year and I am in no better shape than I was last year. But I'm still going to try and make it up the mountain. Both literally and figuratively.
And here are some thinking poses of people cuter than I am.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Summer Wife: Myth or Fact?
There is a legend around town about the elusive beast known as Summer Wife. I think I hear her sometimes, from far away, pacing the floor, gnawing her fingernails, and generally acting anxious. I think she wants to come out of hiding and meet the world, but is being held prisoner by a force beyond her control. When she has been seen previously, the rumor is she smiles a lot, cooks healthy and delicious meals, has great skin with no circles under her eyes, is available for fun anytime, and laughs a lot. I hope to see her sometime soon. I hope I can learn her secrets. Summer Wife sounds like someone I would like to be around.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Some Mom Days are Better Than Others
As I saw the ground rising to meet me, I knew that it was going to leave a mark. I just hoped that my glasses wouldn't break!
6 hours earlier...
Getting ready for a field trip as a Mom is so different than preparing as a teacher. Moms get to waltz in sometime before you leave with a large cup of coffee and makeup well done. Moms get to help kids unpeel nametags with a crazy sticky adhesive without getting frustrated that they don't already know how to do this. Moms get to observe the teacher interactions passively with no dog in the fight. Moms get to go along for the ride without concerns about lunch, timing, late buses, poorly scheduled events. But most importantly, Moms on field trip day get to be a hero in the eyes of their kids and hear that sweet voice say, "Mom, will you sit with me on the bus because I just want to be by you?"
2 hours earlier...
Taking your child out to lunch is a luxury. Getting one on one time with that special someone is a rare treat to be savored, even if they want to eat someplace that is not diet friendly.
15 minutes before...
While riding bikes to the park in 90 degrees with 95% humidity is not really my idea of a good time, it is the most favored thing of my little guy. It is a sacrifice I willingly make to make this field trip day with Mom special and happy.
As I saw the ground rising to meet me, I knew that it was going to leave a mark. I just hoped that my glasses wouldn't break! It did and they didn't. Falling off my bike so ungracefully in front of my boy was a great lesson. That lesson was: only face plant off your bike in the neighbor's yard when everyone else is still at work. And who knew that riding too slowly close to the drain was so dangerous?? Crazy SuperMoon must be the culprit because I know gravity isn't suppose to work like that.
So I assume the soreness I feel tonight is somehow related to something that happened today, but for the life of me I can't figure out what!
6 hours earlier...
Getting ready for a field trip as a Mom is so different than preparing as a teacher. Moms get to waltz in sometime before you leave with a large cup of coffee and makeup well done. Moms get to help kids unpeel nametags with a crazy sticky adhesive without getting frustrated that they don't already know how to do this. Moms get to observe the teacher interactions passively with no dog in the fight. Moms get to go along for the ride without concerns about lunch, timing, late buses, poorly scheduled events. But most importantly, Moms on field trip day get to be a hero in the eyes of their kids and hear that sweet voice say, "Mom, will you sit with me on the bus because I just want to be by you?"
2 hours earlier...
Taking your child out to lunch is a luxury. Getting one on one time with that special someone is a rare treat to be savored, even if they want to eat someplace that is not diet friendly.
15 minutes before...
While riding bikes to the park in 90 degrees with 95% humidity is not really my idea of a good time, it is the most favored thing of my little guy. It is a sacrifice I willingly make to make this field trip day with Mom special and happy.
As I saw the ground rising to meet me, I knew that it was going to leave a mark. I just hoped that my glasses wouldn't break! It did and they didn't. Falling off my bike so ungracefully in front of my boy was a great lesson. That lesson was: only face plant off your bike in the neighbor's yard when everyone else is still at work. And who knew that riding too slowly close to the drain was so dangerous?? Crazy SuperMoon must be the culprit because I know gravity isn't suppose to work like that.
So I assume the soreness I feel tonight is somehow related to something that happened today, but for the life of me I can't figure out what!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Can't Keep Him Down!
You know that the Young One has been sick for a week. I've whined about it enough, all of FB knows! Well, he is better, no longer contagious and back at school today for the first time in a week. I got the following message from one of the 2nd grade teachers today:
I was trying to get Josh to slow down a little on the playground this afternoon cuz I knew he had been sick. When I asked if he wanted to take a break and go get some water since he had just recovered, he said "No thanks, I don't really know how I got sick, but it wasn't from playing outside!!" He was so sweet and sincere and it took everything I had to keep a straight face. Gotta love little boys!!!
I love his perspective on the world!
I was trying to get Josh to slow down a little on the playground this afternoon cuz I knew he had been sick. When I asked if he wanted to take a break and go get some water since he had just recovered, he said "No thanks, I don't really know how I got sick, but it wasn't from playing outside!!" He was so sweet and sincere and it took everything I had to keep a straight face. Gotta love little boys!!!
I love his perspective on the world!
