One hand on her bump the other holding a ciggy

So, I went through the drive-thru to get an ice cream cone for the boys after our park play and had to pull over to wait. *go figure!* A nice looking young woman, I'm guessing her age to be about 21 or so, came outside and lit up a cigarette. When she sat down on the bench right in front of me, it was hard to ignore the fact that she was pregnant. Not like - wow, I'm a month along and don't know it yet and am doing things to endanger my unborn baby because I don't know anything yet. No -- a BIG, round, beautiful basketball of a belly just staring back at me.


It made me sick to my stomach, literally. I know that there are woman who do smoke during their pregnancies and birth healthy children with no concerns. I'm the product of one of those woman. I was a lucky one that didn't have smoke effect my breathing by being born predisposed to asthma or have allergies. Now, back in the 70's it wasn't really a concern and I think a lot of people were unaware of the effects of smoking or drinking during pregnancy could cause. But come on people. There are SO many warnings about someone smoking and ESPECIALLY during pregnancy.


I know I'm not supposed to judge. It's hard not too when you see someone having been blessed beyond measure with having a life grow inside of them....a heart, a brain, lungs, organs, tastebuds, eyelids, ears, etc. forming to become a new life and here this woman (and I'm sure, many others) who are choosing to play roulette with their choices. Well, it just really broke my heart. I didn't say anything and just smiled when she looked up at me. No matter the sin or the wrongdoing, love the person not the act. Though I have to admit, this was harder when it comes to someone (the mom) hurting someone else (the baby).

Reformed gypsy painting her teepee!

I'm doing it! I'm REALLY doing it. No, REALLY! I have lived in this house for 4.5 years and it's STARK white. I have wanted to add color but could never commit to what color. I mean, isn't it tough to take a 2x2 piece of cardboard with a color on it and imagine it all over the walls? OK, maybe not hard for someone with a degree in interior designs, or even someone with some skills in that area. Me? I change my mind with the wind - can't even begin to tell you how many times I've rearranged my furniture, etc.



A Freudian moment here. I think it goes back to my mom. Doesn't it always? In the first 18 years of my life, I lived in over 20 places. Apartments, homes, friends, etc. Not because we were a military family but because my mom was a single mother raising 2 girls on limited income and we rented. We were like gypsies in our small town, though not sure how many noticed or realized it. We never stayed in one place very long and I never got attached, maybe because we always stayed in the vicinity of our small town.



So, I think why I don't become attached to inanimate objects or homes is because of this. I also think it's why I change my mind all the time and have the ability to change without problem. Some people like my husband (or most people, maybe I'm really in the minority on this), who lived in the same house his whole life (and his parents still do after 50 years of marriage) and whose home looks the same with only minimal changes to it in that timeframe.



Ok, went off on a rabbit trail there......sorry! However, why I think I'm finally able to "commit" to color is that I am starting to feel like this is MY home. That I don't have to worry about moving next month or by the end of the year. I can put "roots" down here and color if I want. We own our home. We've been here over 4 years and this is the LONGEST I've lived in any ONE place my whole life!!!!! I praise God for my blessings!!!!



I went to Lowe's and looked through color swatches and picked a few. I think I just KNEW in my heart what I wanted because I brought them home and sure enough, they are perfect. I'm going to go get a small can to paint a poster board to get a feel for a bigger piece of it on the wall but I think it is what we're going with. Now is the hard part - when & doing it. Jim likes the colors, or at least, didn't balk at them. I think he's just thinking of the work to paint it (we have pretty tall ceilings and weird angles) but I can't wait!!!

You too can be a Pollyanna!

Woke to a cloudy, cold and wet day. And you know what? I am happy. Normally this kind of day had a way of giving me a sour attitude. However, I'm good. Why? Well, I'm learning that words shape my world. What I say DOES affect how my day will play out. I know it may sound trite or Pollyannish (you know that movie, right? The Glad game?) but seriously, Pollyanna was wise beyond her years.

So, if you say, "my kids are driving me crazy!" then you know what, they probably will as you are setting your mind on that path. If you say, "man, I feel grumpy," then you will be. Speaking of grumpy, not saying any of you reading this ARE *cough, cough* but when anyone in our house is acting grumpy we sing the grumpy song. Do you know it? It makes us smile. It's by Music for Aardvarks and is seen on Noggin. The lyrics:

If you wanna be a grump that's ok,
but could you be grumpy kind of further way?
It's not that I don't love you, `cause you know I do.
Sometimes I'm grumpy too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giTIlL_QAeM

So today? I challenge you to speak only positive words - especially in light of someone pulling in front of you on the road, the snotty bill collecter, your less than obedient children and to the spouse who has an attitude and is not attempting this and thus, being a stinker! :)~

Now, go have a great day!

No really, it's good!

Just had a delicious Lean Cuisine. Seriously, it was good. No really, I'm NOT just saying that. Sometimes for me, eating something easy like a microwave meal is just easier, especially after dealing with trying to figure out what to feed my 4 fickle boys.

"Mom, will you peel my grapes?" "I don't like PB&J" "I'm not hungry" "I want something else."

Not sure if it's boys or just toddler/preschoolers in general but man, they change with the wind. The power of the words is amazing even at this young age. If one doesn't like "it", then the other's don't like "it." Well, instead of becomming a short-order cook, I just try to pick something that will prayerfully appeal to all but if not, they can go hungry until the next meal. I know, I'm so mean. The meanest mom EVAH!!! :) Yeah right.

So anyway, back to moi. I joined weightwatcher's online almost 2 weeks ago and am finding lunch time is either a turkey sandwich or a lean cuisine-esque meal. It's just easier and when life is full of chaos, easier is a good thing. Even if it's NOT a big fat cheeseburger & fry. *lol*

Here I am....again....we'll see!

So, I saw a group of ladies who blog and have a site for bloggers. I really only "do" Facebook. But, I seem to say a lot.....so I started thinking that maybe I should blog and get my words out there that way instead. I had forgotten that I HAD signed up for a blog here and had a site already.....which is kind of nice, it saves me the hassle of signing up again.

Now that I'm back, I'll be posting about life in the fastlane of being a stay-at-home mom to 4 small boys and wife to a golf fanatic. I'll talk about all things - housework, friends, neverending battle of my bulge, my walk in faith and just the fun that is called my life!

I'm joining the cyber forces....

So, this is it. The cyberworld of diaries. Not so private I guess but hey, it feels like it. It's funny that I haven't had a blog since I used to work with publicly traded companies and their internet documents in my previous life (a/k/a B.K. - before kids) and even met my husband online. But, once we started our family, most of my time was then spent on those famous baby sites. First, the ones that track your pregnancy. Then the ones that give you all the milestones of your baby. And so on, and so on. Recently I've become quite active on a christian mom's forum which I spend all of my online time (o.k., except for when I'm on ebay!) but figure, I can put thoughts down here and I'm a MUCH faster typer than writing so thus, the beginning of a blogging relationship.