26 and Holding...

You Are 26 Years Old

You Are 26 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

I took this test and LOVED the results. I was not happy turning 27 last week. Here's the link to the quiz. Have fun and then come on back to share your results in the comments. That is, if you're brave enough. LOL!

Romancing the Screen

I watched the end of the movie "Someone Like You" this past weekend. It's a cute movie starring Ashley Judd, Greg Kinnear and Hugh Jackman (yum). There was this part in the movie that made me tear up. It was the sweetest moment.

In the movie, Jane's (Judd) sister has a miscarriage. She's in the hospital bed when Jane goes to visit her. She's crying and weeping, with red eyes and runny nose. Her husband comes into the room, sits on the bed and reaches out to lay his hand on her leg. Then he says,

"Look at my wife. Have you ever seen anyone more beautiful?"

I almost burst into tears. What a wonderful scene that shows true love. There she is, a complete mess, and her hubby only has eyes for her. Finds her beautiful when she's at her worst. *sigh*

Well, that got me to thinking about some other great scenes from movies. So here are some that I think are the most romantic:

Anne of Green Gables
- Anne and Gilbert are standing on the bridge at the end of the movie. He has just finished telling Anne that he can't promise her extravagant luxuries. Anne looks at him and says, " I just. Want. You."

The Princess Bride
- "As you wish." (Which really means, "I love you.")
- "Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while."

Bridget Jones Diary
- "I like you...very much...just the way you are." (Mark Darcy, played by the delicious Colin Firth)


So, what are some of your favorite lines or scenes from movies?

Dandelion Bouquets and Love Hearts

Is there anything more precious than the little fist that proudly offers a dandelion bouquet? You can't find them for sale in any flower shop and yet they mean more than a dozen long-stem red roses.

When I look out the window into my backyard, I'm annoyed by the sight of these growing yellow weeds. They're back already? Didn't we just kill those off yesterday? I'm incredulous at how quickly they seem to pop up, polluting my yard. My children, however, see these yellow "flowers" as a symbol of beauty and they lovingly spend precious time picking me handfuls to display. And each bouquet is as special as the last. They hold them up, pride in their eyes, as they tell me, "I picked you dandelions! I love you, mom!" So, I take those weeds, put them in a glass of water and put them on tables and counters.

They've recently began adding "cards" to their bouquets. These are heart-shaped leaves that they find on the ground outside. They call it a card and tell me it reads, "I love you," because it is shaped like a heart. A Love Heart.

Hmmmm.

Signs

You know that song that goes, "Signs, signs, everywhere are signs..." I can't remember the rest of it, but I was thinking how nice life would be if it came with warning signs. A few days ago my life sign would have read, "Enter Day At Own Risk." Or maybe something like, "For Best Results, Pull Covers Over Head" or "Caution: Stress Ahead." Yup, there's nothing like being stranded in a parking lot with a dead vehicle and four tired children, waiting for the tow truck. And then finding out that there's no courtesy vehicle and rental prices are through the roof. LOL!

And then there are signs of aging. My biggest one was a fascination with anti-aging creams. I used to see those commercials and think, what a bunch of blarney. Who would fall for such a cheap gimmick? Uh, me, I guess. I just went out and bought an arsenal of firming creams guaranteed to smooth out those dimpled areas...in three weeks or less. :-) Sucker.

So, if your life was a billboard, what would it say? Anyone brave enough to share? Has anyone else found themselves caught in the spell of impulse buying? What was your latest impulse? I impulse shop with books. There are 21 in my TBR pile, I have 6 on order and I've been eyeing a few at the local bookstore. Yeah, it's an addiction. LOL!

What Dame are You?

Your Score: Myrna Loy

You scored 14% grit, 23% wit, 33% flair, and 42% class!

You are class itself, the calm, confident "perfect woman." Men turn and look at you admiringly as you walk down the street, and even your rivals have a grudging respect for you. You always know the right thing to say, do and, of course, wear. You can take charge of a situation when things get out of hand, and you're a great help to your partner even if they don't immediately see or know it. You are one classy dame. Your screen partners include William Powell and Cary Grant, you little simmerpot, you.

Find out what kind of classic leading man you'd make by taking the The Classic Dames Test written by gidgetgoes on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test



There you have it. I was a little surprised to read that I had class. Me? Class? But the test don't lie! LOL! If you have time, pop over there by clicking on the link and take the test - it was quick and easy. Then come on back and leave your results in the comments section. Go ahead. Find out what classic Dame lurks in you!

P.S. This is the darn test I had so much problem posting yesterday. For some reason, today it works. I did something right - though I have no idea what!

Excuse for not Blogging #9

Html SUCKS!! I have had nothing but problems, problems, problems all afternoon! I've tried 8 times to post this quiz I had taken online, but NO CAN DO! I keep getting this error that says "Closing tag has no matching opening tag: (/table)" or something like that. Except the brackets (), are actually the pointy ones < . Uh, not a computer geek. Could you speak to me in English, please!?

So before this computer takes flight - courtesy of me - I'm giving up for today! Oh, but just to be sure I can post this... (/ThisIsTheEndOfMyPost...SoWorkDarnIt!!!/)

Snakes, Snails & Puppy Dog Tails

"Mothers of little boys work from son up till son down." - Unknown

Three boys. THREE! I love it! I was just bemoaning my lack of "adventure" when my three-and-a-half year old walked into my house....covered in dirt and mud...and shoeless. Let me explain.

This past weekend was a long weekend with a holiday Monday. Instead of the sunshine and blue skies we were hoping for we got rain, wind and cold. So yesterday, at the first sign of the sun peeking through the clouds, I dressed the boys up and sent them outside. After four days indoors they had excess energy that just needed to be burnt! I was enjoying the relative quiet of the house (the baby was still inside) when the slam of the patio door alerted me to someone in my kitchen. Imagine my surprise when I walked in to find my middle son covered in dirt, sand and....shoeless? Yup, shoeless. After four days of rain and only minimal sunshine that morning, the ground was still wet, the sandbox more of a mud-box. He was covered in wet sand from the waist down, with more lodged between fingers, in pockets and - naturally - in his hair. My eyes traveled downwards and ended on his shoeless feet. White socks that were, er, not white. Ugh!

Did I say I wanted adventure? I'm thinking some R & R is more to my liking! LOL!

The Past

Everyone has things from the past that they have overcome - fights they have fought, battles that were won. But it seems those victories are shaky. That when we least expect it those enemies will raise their swords and once more take up their plans to destroy what we have fought so valiantly to gain - and we step out on the familiar battle field confused and wondering why we're here again.

Depression. Fear. Addiction. Self-loathing. Guilt. Shame. These things and more are the enemies that creep up to sit on your shoulder, whispering their destructive lies in you ear. On one side sits Depression, its weight pulling you down. On the other is Guilt or Shame. Their oppressive presence strips you of your dignity and causes you to question your worth, your value. And you sink lower.

So how do you break free? How do you gain the ground that you once thought you had overcome? You pray. You believe that in Christ you are free. You hold on to the promise that nothing - not death, life or circumstances - can separate you from the love that is in Jesus. And here's my favorite part. We have proof of our self worth. We know our value, our price. That while we were yet sinners (and still are) He - Jesus Christ, son of God - died for us.

I've struggled this last week with hauntings from the past. Stuff that crept up on me and attacked with a vengeance. I guess I needed this reminder and I'm sorry if it comes across as preachy. But this is what I know and what I've had to hold on to. Is the battle won? Yes. Will I be at a place where I struggle and question again? Most likely. Am I any less of a person because of my shortcomings? No. I'm flawed. I'm imperfect. I'm a mess. I'm loved. I am who God created me to be. And He's still working on me, thank heavens. It's nice to know I'm a work in progress. That means there's hope for me yet!

Another One Bites the Dust!

Well, there you have it. Another year has gone and I am officially a year older than I was yesterday. I'm 27. And I tell ya, I'm not liking it. I know, I know. Some of you are thinking, 27? That's nothing!

You know that saying, "Life begins at __." 30? 40? 50? 60? It sure ain't 27! I feel as if I'm entering the beginning of the end....end of my youth, that is. It's like I'm in a transition period, holding my breath and waiting for the next stage of my life to start. Don't get me wrong, I love my life...just not the "27" part of it. LOL!

A couple years ago a girlfriend and I were talking about aging and getting older. We both made the choice to age gracefully. We agreed that we would embrace life and all the changes it brought each year.

And I'm still planning to do that - live life to the fullest, seize the day, Carpe Diem - tomorrow!

Excuse for not Blogging #8

I took the boys swimming.

We had a blast!!

Mothers Are...

I realize Mother's Day is over, but being a mother never ends. As I've been dealing with sick children for the past three days, this has been on my heart and mind.

What are mothers? Mothers are...

- 2 a.m. feedings, walking the floor with crying babies, changing diapers - and clothes when diapers don't hold it all, potty-training;

- they are cool cloths on a fevered forehead, balancing medicine dosages just right, cuddling after being puked on knowing it's only a matter of time before it happens again;

- loads of laundry, 3-meals-a-day-plus-snacks, cleaning up toys and making beds, dishes, dishes, dishes;

- they are impromptu picnics on the family room floor, water fights and sprinklers, popsicles and hot chocolate, pictures colored and crafts made, homework done and lessons practiced;

- they kiss better owies, remove slivers, clean up cuts, rub away bruises and mend broken hearts;

- they have slime and snot on their shoulders, sticky hand prints on their backs, slobbery kisses on their cheeks;

- mothers are warm arms that hug, firm discipline when needed, shoulders to cry on, kisses that heal, hearts that love unconditionally.

That's a mother. It's not a glamorous job and it's often a thankless one, but it is a blessing unlike any other. There are days we want to escape and days we find ourselves rejoicing. It's highs and lows. It's giving and caring. It's sacrifice.

Anything you want to add?

"And When We Come Back...

...Andy will face his most difficult decision yet."

If you watch The Bachelor, you've heard these words before. Anyone else sick to death of them?? I was watching last night (yes, my hubby tells me each week what pure garbage it is, but I watch anyways) and every time I hear Chris Harrison say these words I want to throw something at the t.v. I mean, come on! Something a little more original and varied, please! Perhaps something like:

"And when we continue, Andy will face more difficult decisions as the number of women dwindle and emotions become more involved."

"After the break, Andy's struggle continues as he makes more decisions in his search for love."

"And when we come back, the decisions facing Andy continue to increase as tensions rise."

Now, for those of us who want them to tell it like it is:

"And when we come back, Andy will eliminate yet another bachelorette."

"When we continue, another woman will be leaving the show in tears and frustration, heart broken and questioning why she wasn't 'good enough.'"

Okay, those last two were said somewhat tongue-in-cheek. Seriously, Andy seems like a nice enough guy, I just can't stand the way they've been using the same phrasing for ten seasons. TEN! This is the tenth season for the Bachelor. Is it too much to ask that they use some creativity and come up with something a little more original? It's the same drivel show after show, season after season. Anyone else have any ideas?

Okay, I rant, but I watch. Faithfully every week. *sigh* And next week is the two-hour season finale, so I'll be blocking off a chunk of my night to curl up and watch the "dramatic" finish.

Quacks and Quirks

I had a good friend who recently told me I'm a bit of a "quack." I believe his exact words were, "There are some people who just have weird, obsessive personality quirks. Perhaps you should take some medication for that." I burst out laughing. But upon closer inspection, I have to agree. I think we all have certain "quirks" and peeves that make us...a little interesting. I know I do. And I've decided since "confession is good for the soul," to share a few of mine with you. So, here goes....

1. I can only watch t.v. and listen to the stereo if the volume is set to an even number (10, 12, 14 etc.). If it's on an odd number, it just feels all wrong. The only exception is I can listen to the stereo at 25. That's the factory default setting.

2. I don't like food being peeled directly into my sink. Not potatoes, onions, carrots. Peel it onto a paper towel and then roll it up and throw it into the garbage. Peeling it into the sink just causes more cleaning.

3. Toilet paper must be put on the roll with the end falling to the front. This just makes good sense to me. That way the starting end is always nicely draped and hanging over. None of this tucked behind nonsense.

4. My hubby informs me this is weird (personally, I think it's quite normal), but I like the bed to be perfectly neat before climbing in. It can stay a mess throughout the day, but I have to make it before going to bed. I don't like bunchy sheets.

5. When driving on the highway, the only right speed is 120 km/h. I know that's over the limit (110 km/h) and lots of people would chasten me on this bending (or breaking) of the law, but seriously, anything slower just makes me anxious and all knotted up inside.

And now, to tell one on my DH. He absolutely, cannot-even-for-a-second, stand it when someone chews with their mouth open or smacks their food. This includes my 5 and 3 year old. If he could get away with it, I think he'd start in on the baby, too. LOL! I've never seen him wound so tightly as at supper times. It's so bad, it's funny. He just looks at me and says, "are they like this during the day, or only when I'm home?" I just laugh and tell him I honestly don't notice.

So, fess up. What makes you "quack"?

To Moms!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

This weekend is the great celebration of mothers. As I'm writing this, my DH has taken my two older sons shopping. You got it - the BIG Mother's Day gift. LOL! I've been coaching my kids to tell their father that "mommy needs a nice gift." Surprisingly, before my kids could say anything, he told me he was taking them on his own! I'll give him points for that. Of course, I've been reminding him - gently - that this weekend was the day.

I don't usually get caught up in "special" days, but I'm going to enjoy it this year! Maybe I'm feeling extra needy or tired or something. All I know for sure is I'm looking forward to it. I like the idea of my boys picking out their own gifts for me. It shows their little hearts. That being said, I may end up with a superhero nightie, towel, cup, shirt or any other assortment of superhero things! LOL! But it's the love behind it that makes it special!

Have a great weekend, y'all!

What Goes Up...Doesn't Always Come Down!

My baby has finally learned to pull himself up into a standing position. This is a huge accomplishment for him. He's almost 15 months old and is a little behind his time. There's only one problem. He hasn't learned how to sit back down! So, now I'm spending most of days "rescuing" him from one predicament or another. It's become a vicious cycle. I've tried the whole leave-him-cry-and-he'll-figure-it-out technique, but it's not working. He just cries harder and acts like, "oh, help! Won't somebody who loves me please help?" It's pathetic.

And he took his first big fall the other day. He pulled the phone table over on himself. It's a light weight table and there's not much that sits on it, but it sure scared him. And it left him with a little bruise under one eye. Still, there was no blood so that's good. Emergency avoided.

Also, this getting up and unable to get down, has caused some problems at bedtimes. He's decided to sit up and fight the sleep. The only problem - he can't lay back down. So naturally, I'm in the room a few times a night to "rescue" him. It's startling to walk into a dark room expecting to tuck in a sleeping baby only to find these two, big blue eyes staring back at you. Made me jump out of my skin!

Well, he's at it again and I should go help him. Supermom to the rescue!

"Miles From You" - Marianne Arkins

It's 1948, and thirty-four year-old diner owner Millie Townsend is well on the shelf. Millie's fallen hard for regular customer, Paul Whittier, a veteran of World War II and a civil engineer. When she discovers he's accepted a new job out of state and it's their last evening together, how can this ultra-shy spinster find the nerve to show she's interested in more than just friendship?

"Miles From You" is Marianne Arkins' third release from The Wild Rose Press. Congratulations, Marianne! Her other stories, "Tickle Fights and Barbecues" and "Now That We've Found You" are also available for purchase.

I have read both of Marianne's other stories and enjoyed the light banter and gentle romance that seem to be her style. The stories and characters were enjoyable and left me with that "ahh, ain't that sweet" feeling. I'm looking forward to reading this newest release. I encourage you to stop by the Wild Rose and purchase one or all of her stories. You won't be disappointed.

Also, for this week Marianne is running a contest over at her blog. There's a prize basket that includes some chocolate! Be sure to check it out. And if you leave a comment, just remember to let her know I sent you. LOL!

I've Been Randomized!

Last week I volunteered to be “randomized” by Marianne. These are the random questions she came up with for me to answer.


1. If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose and why?

I would have to say Sleeping Beauty. She’s beautiful, never ages and gets to sleep peacefully and undisturbed for years before finally being awakened by the kiss of a handsome prince. That must have been some kiss! With three boys…well, I could use some sleep right about now. LOL! And I like the anti-aging thing she has going on.


2. Share one thing you love and one thing that drives you batty about your spouse/significant other.

Wow, only one, huh? I mean, that I love. LOL! Well, I would say I love the way my husband pitches in around the house. He does pretty much anything – laundry, dishes, vacuuming, bathrooms. You name it, he’s done it. Except cook, that is. As for something that drives me batty…okay, here’s one. My hubby works in the oilfield and because of the boots that he wears, he finds that his socks tend to fall down and get bunched up in the toes. To prevent this, he has taken to wrapping black electrical tape around the ankles of his socks (while they’re on his feet) to hold them up. When he takes the socks off, he never removes the tape. So, when I’m doing laundry, I’m forever having to pick the end of the tape and peel it off the socks. Drives me CRAZY!


3. If you could go back to high school and repeat one particular day, which day would you choose? Would you change anything about the day? Why or why not?

Hmm, this is a hard one for me. I was boring in high school and can’t, quite honestly, remember much that happened. I’m having way more fun now.


4. Death penalty – are you for or against? Why? Convince me to agree with you.

My first thought was, “definitely for it.” I would love to see the world rid of the murderers and rapists, the psychopaths that kill without conscience and the sickos that prey on women and children. But as I got thinking, I began to question. Who am I to judge? Nobody. Do I really believe that taking a life, even a psychopath’s, will make the world a better place? Maybe. But there will always be evil and what if, by removing that one person, we take away the chance for them to find salvation through Christ? Could I live with that? I think not. So my answer is I’m against the death penalty.

However, that being said, I believe that we need much tougher laws and penalties. I believe that people who commit heinous crimes should not be allowed back out into society. We have become so concerned with the “rights” of the prisoner (or felon) that we have devised ways to “get them off the hook” on technicalities. Convicting evidence that isn’t gathered “properly” is not admissible in court. That’s just wrong. If that evidence proves beyond a shadow of a doubt the guilt of the person, it shouldn’t matter the manner in which it was obtained.

Anyways, I’m going off on a tangent. Sorry.


5. What’s the earliest memory you can recall? How old were you?

My earliest memory is walking from the apartment where we lived to the bottom of the hill to get a Big Gulp. My mom would take us three kids every day. The apartment sat at the top of this hill and there was a corner store at the bottom. My older brother and I would walk while my mom carried my younger brother in the snuggly. I was probably around three at the time.


Thanks, Marianne. It’s been a blast!

Hallelujah! Let There Be Rejoicing!

MY HUBBY IS HOME!! This calls for celebration! And you know what? He's taking a couple days off work. So, um, you may not be hearing from me for the next 2 or 3 days. I'm going to enjoy him being at home for awhile. I was feeling all giddy this afternoon when he came home. I couldn't wipe the stupid grin off my face. Gracious! You'd think we were dating again, I was all a flutter. LOL!

And you know another great thing? I have my laptop back! Yipee! I'm sitting on the couch, writing this post while my baby chomps away on a newspaper flyer. I've told him "no" countless times, but by the sounds of his contented munching, you'd think ink and recycled paper was the finest cuisine. Oh, well. I'm sure it's the least of things he's sure to consume in his young years. So, I'm choosing to ignore him as he eats his after-supper snack.

However, there is a certain smell wafting my way. One I find I cannot ignore. Ah, babies...in one end and out the other. So, I'm off to be a mom and do mommy things. Have a great week.