Reflections

I've had so many thoughts running through my head, but haven't had a chance to sit down and flush them out.  I should really just get up in the middle of the night when I'm writing a blog entry in my head when I can't fall asleep. 
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
I've never really understood the need to have this as a federal holiday.  Growing up my school district never observed it.  To this day, they don't.  They just have a teacher in-service so kids don't have school. 

Another reason I've never understood it is because I've never known discrimination.  I was taught to love everyone, regardless of skin color.  We sang the song Jesus Loves the Little Children:

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow, black and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

This year I was at the dentist on MLK day.  Not really a big deal except my dentist and his staff are African American.  It made for an interesting reflection on the anniversary of the holiday.
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Grandma Goentzel
 January 24th is my Grandma Goentzel's birthday.  She was born in 1913.  She died four years ago.  It's sad to think my children, and even my husband never knew her.  Granted, she was never the "fun" grandma.  Always serious.  I guess my grandpa was the one who loosened her up and he was gone by the time I was five, so I have few memories of him or them together.

Grandma was always teaching us something and she loved the outdoors.  Her greatest fear was being sent to a nursing home and being forced to sit in front of a television all day long.  My funniest memory is her lesson on abstinence.  What possibly could bring up such a taboo topic?  Christmas.  I. Kid.  You.  Not.  Mary's virgin birth was the basis for a sex talk. She also used Christmas as a time to work on Bible memorization. 

The shepherds were watching their flocks by night. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today, in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you. You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger."  And suddenly there was a multitude of heavenly hosts saying, "Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will to men"...  But Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:9-15 & 19 KJV, Stacey paraphrase

I can't believe I can remember all those verses even now so many years later.  They always return to me at Christmas time, along with a chuckle about a Christmas sex talk!
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More deep thoughts later.  By the way, do you remember Deep Thoughts, by Jack Handy?  I guess that's a topic for another day.

Men

Men.  Today I'm thankful for mine.  They've been good to me this week.

Charles...

This week he's been sick and consequently he's had a short fuse.  But, I love that he insists on a hug and a kiss before I leave, even today when I was just running to drop Micah at Kids Day Inn.  He even insists on a hug and a kiss from Micah. 

I'll be honest, his hugs and kisses freak a few people out.  My 26 year-old male cousin humors Charles' request for affectionate goodbyes, but makes sure to offer his cheek rather than be smooched on the lips!



 Dad...

My dad isn't working anymore.  He's retired.  And, thankfully, at my beck-and-call.  Not really, but I do call and ask for favors and babysitting during the day when everyone else is at work. 

Today he came over to stay with Charles while I ran Micah to school.  He willingly obliged my request to stay a little longer so I could do a little grocery shopping.  I'd been stuck in the house since Sunday and needed to both get out and get a few necessities like diapers, pull-ups, and peanut butter! He stuck around until 1:30 when I had to go back to pick up Micah. 

Dad plays Wii with Charles even though I doubt he ever wins.  Mom's caught Dad playing Wii until the wee hours of the morning...maybe he's practicing so he can win at least one game! 

Micah...

This is my cuddly kid.  We're potty training and every time I help him get dressed he hugs my neck and says, "I love you, Mom!" 

Of course it's quickly followed by one or all of the following: "I love...Dad, Charles, Grandpa, Grandma, or Christy."  But, I'm always first on his list, unless it's Dad helping him get dressed!

This is also the kid who always cried (and sometimes still does) whenever I would leave the house.  It didn't matter where I was going or how long I'd be gone, it could be grocery shopping, working two hours each week at my job with Weight Watchers, or going to get the mail.  It's a bittersweet feeling for any mom.  On one hand it's hard to hear them cry, but on the other hand it's nice to know you're that important to someone.

It's been a pleasant surprise that he trots off into his class at Kids Day Inn without looking back.  And today I didn't even get a goodbye hug or kiss. 

Russell...
I still can't believe how blessed I am to have him as my husband.  I was 25 years old when we started dating and had never dated anyone.  He's my one and only. 

He's a great provider, and after eight years of marriage I've decided that is a reflection of his love for me and the boys.  Acts of service is his love language.  He goes to great lengths to budget and monitor our money, entering every item on every receipt. 

Another act of service is getting the boys ready for bed almost every night so I can have a break and get some things done around the house.  He bathes them, gets them in their jammies, reads books and Bible stories, and prays with them.  Maybe his motives aren't purely selfless because during that time I usually pack his lunch! 

This week Russ has been amazing.  Sunday I had a headache and he got the boys ready and took them to church so I could rest.  Tuesday I woke up with the stomach flu, so he stayed home and took care of the boys.  Wednesday he stayed home again since I wasn't quite up to par and Charles had gotten sick and the three of us were were up in the middle of the night.  Russ was also concerned about spreading our germs to his colleagues, how kind and considerate is that?!?! 

While he was home he stayed on top of the dishes and the never ending task of loading and unloading the dishwasher.  And, he took down the Christmas tree!  It was such a relief to have those things taken care of and no longer staring me in the face, reminding me of the length of my never ending to do list. 

So, to each four of the most special men in my life I say, "I love you, man!"

Ten on Ten: January 2011

Take a photo every hour for ten consecutive hours on the tenth of each month.  Document a day of your life and find beauty among the ordinary moments. 

My friend started doing this several months ago. I was inspired and did the same.  I was posting my photos on Facebook, but now I am posting them here.

My day was not typical, we spent the entire day at home.  Normally I like to get out of the house, but not with 4" of snow on the ground.  I had ambitions...to fold laundry, to take down the Christmas tree and Christmas decorations. 

What did I do?  My day began early.  The streetlight reflected on the snow and consequently, thanks to the bright light shining in their window, the boys were up before Russell left for work. 

I ate breakfast on the couch at 7am and watched My Three Sons and I Love Lucy with Charles and Micah.  Their Grandma Goentzel & Aunt Sharon will be thrilled to know they giggled at Lucy and Ethel.  I sat on my bed with the boys and watched Dinosaur Train on the laptop (rabbit ears = no PBS reception).  Micah forced me to sit and hold him so we passed the time by watching Marcus Welby.  I stayed in my PJ's until 11am. 

The laundry will still be there to fold tomorrow.

I say, Carpe Diem...seize the day. How many more days will there be like this?  Soon Micah won't want to sit on my lap, or will be too big to do so.  The laundry will always need to be washed or folded or ironed, there will always be bathrooms that need to be cleaned, and carpets begging to be vacuumed.  In my lazy day mode I didn't quite get one picture every hour.  There was a necessary brake during nap time and to recharge the camera's battery, but I did get ten photos spread throughout the day.

Cold mornings begin with my friend Earl...Earl Grey

Dinosaur Train

A focus of today was potty training.  A desperate attempt to get Micah into the bathroom was, "show Buzz & Woody how to use the potty."  This who attended his lesson. 

She knows how to relax on a cold day!

Love his smile and dimples!

Pull-Ups has a free app.  It's been a very helpful tool for me and reward for him.

4" of snow.  A little color in the white blanket covering everything.

I shoveled the driveway.

A big head or a small shirt?

Tradition

While I'm not a big fan of Fiddler on the Roof I do like the song "Tradition."  I'm not just a fan of the song, I really love traditions.  Family Traditions.  Growing up we had lots of traditions.  Now, with my own kids we haven't seem to created very many.  I want to establish those familiar routines that make life special...memorable...comfortable. 

Most of my traditions center around two things...holidays and food. 

• Valentine's Day: Breakfast with red juice, peanut butter Russell Stover's hearts, egg casserole, and cinnamon rolls. Mom believes it's a day to tell people you love them, not just a romantic holiday. It's also my Grandma's birthday so it was always a special day when my mom was growing up.
• Christmas Eve:  The church's candlelight service followed by our family's gift exchange.  Dad reads the Bible and prays, then we have snacks and open gifts.  Grandma Goentzel was always a part of the festivities.  
• Thanksgiving:  I have dubbed this the "five day festival of food."  We're good Mennonites and we love to eat.  Thanksgiving is spent with my dad's siblings and their families.  Four siblings and their spouses have produced 14 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren.  Needless to say, it's a BIG group.  It's not uncommon to feed 40 people a turkey dinner and at least a few other meals.  It's not a Goentzel Thanksgiving without a card game (bidding) that lasts into the wee hours of the night.  

There's always a birthday kiss for Debbie from Uncle Bob...toothless of course!

Just a few of us with a newly added Thanksgiving activity, bowling!

The word for the weekend is COUSINS!

Something I remember we did when my Grandpa and Grandma Wall came from Oregon to visit us in Kansas was playing Skip-Bo. My Mom just bought the game and we've been playing it with Charles.  I hope he remembers playing it with his Grandpa & Grandma.

We do have some traditions.  We eat pizza with Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt Christy on Friday nights.  We also have Sunday dinner (lunch for those of you that think I'm talking about supper) at Grandma & Grandpa's house after church, it's a standing invitation.  Aunt Christy joins us as do my cousins Travis & Jenna.  The menu is whatever the meat was on sale at Dillon's during the week!  Usually roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, and cantaloupe are on the menu.  There's almost always dessert too!

I want to establish some with our little family.  I've tried going out for donuts on birthdays, Sunday night Wii game night.  I need to ask Russell about some of his family's traditions.  And, what about you?  What are your traditions? 

New Year's Resolutions

I can't believe it's already 2011.  Do you make resolutions?  I don't.  It seems pointless...I don't think I know anyone that on December 31st actually completed the resolution they committed to the previous January. 

But, I do like the idea of new beginnings.  A clean slate.  A reason to start fresh.  I have a few things I'd like to start anew:

• Healthier lifestyle:  Eat less, move more.  Eat  more fruit, it's now FREE on Weight Watcher's new Points Plus program.  Eat more veggies...I need to be a good example to my boys and veggies are good for me (too bad they don't taste good).  Exercise, the only way I'll ever get to my goal.  This is a toughie because I hate sweating and have NO athletic ability. 
• Scripture memorization:  This has been a focus of our church, West Evangelical Free, for the last year.  Beth Moore has challenged women to memorize two verses per month.  What's more important than hiding God's word in our hearts and minds?
• Bible Study:  Not just scripture memory, but daily devotions and time in the Word.  It's hard to find a quiet moment when you have small children.  When they're quiet they're sleeping, and when they're sleeping I want to be sleeping too.  It's an excuse but also reality.  I'm trying to make it a priority and seeking a quiet time and place for devotions.  One more thing on this topic...doing my lessons every day so I'm not up until the wee hours on Tuesday nights before Wednesday morning Bible Study.
• Coupons: Have I mentioned a love a bargain?  And, I can save our family money.  But, you can't do it when your coupon box is a disaster.  I need to set aside time once each week to cut, sort, and organize my coupons and hit the Target web site to print their in-store coupons.   You can get some amazing deals when you pair their coupons with manufacturer's coupons!  Sometimes all you have to pay is sales tax.  
• Mary Kay:  I don't think I've mentioned that I'm a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant.  I joined the company in September and now after the busyness of the holidays I need to get serious about getting my business up and running.  A little extra income would be nice, but seeing women looking great and feeling good about themselves is even better.  Anyone want a facial?!?!

Do I have specific goals in mind?  For a few things, yes.  For others, no.  I'm just trying to shift my focus to what's really important.  With that in mind, here's one of my memory verses for January (I'm committing to two per month) , it's the church's January verse:

 Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.  Romans 12:1 NIV 

I'm memorizing it in the NIV so I can say it with the congregation on Sunday mornings, but I really like how the Message puts it:

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you:  Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering.  Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.  Romans 12:1 

Memorization is not easy.  But, I've found a tool that helps.  It's called "Word on the Rings" and it'll be the method I use this year.  Not only does it help with memorization but it also keeps those words top of mind throughout the day.