This time of year, people frequently ask the question, “Are you planning a vacation this summer?” Well, we aren’t planning to travel, but I’m on vacation already.
Vacation is defined as a respite or a time of respite from something. An intermission.
School is out. All of my volunteer responsibilities at my local Elementary are suspended for the next eighty-five days. My boys have completed their respective grade levels, and are intellectually more than ready for next year’s beginning. We’re officially on vacation.
I like that definition. I am hoping for this summer vacation to be all of those things. Respite. Rest. Relief. I loved my time spent working in and for the school, don’t get me wrong. And both of my boys are perfectly capable of succeeding educationally. They are geniuses, if you ask me. But the daily grind and the teachers’ mad dash, the race to the finish, had gotten to us all. I think we were all thankful that yesterday, the last day of the school year, finally passed. Now summer is here!
The children know that I have plans for them. They know that they’ll practice math and do lots of reading. They know that some of my plans include house cleaning and weed pulling and poop scooping. But they’re still excited. They’re excited because they also know that my plans are heavily laden with library lurking and movie watching and water splashing.
Maybe I don’t want this summer to be just an intermission. I don’t want to go back to an overly demanding lifestyle the next time school starts. Intermission implies a return to the programming already in progress. No, that’s not what I’m looking for.
I have decided that, starting this summer - right now – our family is going to make some changes. The boys will hear “yes” more than “no.” They are going to work harder than usual, and will in turn have opportunities to play harder than usual. They are set up for success, with our expectations literally in writing on the wall. Any moment can be a teachable one… the lesson doesn’t have to be inspired by strife.
Our family is going to do more lounging, share more laughs, and as a result, enjoy more love. And who wouldn’t want a little more love?
Happy Summer, everyone!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
I Have a Hard Time Trying New Foods
I’m super weird about trying new foods. Reason number four million sixty five? Last Monday night’s dinner experiment.
I do this thing called The Grocery Game* that gets us lots of cheap food. The low expense affords me the opportunity to try new products with little financial risk. I've found some great new crackers and cereals through The Game, so I confidently branched out in the frozen food aisle. I decided to try a new product for the first time last week, because it cost me about ten cents. What’s the harm, right? If it’s bad, I’ll only lose ten cents.
And some dignity.
The product was Gorton's frozen "lemon butter fish filets." They looked more like Spongebob Squarepants than fish filets. And they tasted more like an old shoe. An old shoe that has been dusted with lemon Pledge.
Dinner was so bad that after just one taste, I said to Andy, “You don’t have to eat this. I’m not going to.” We stood up from the table, threw it all away, and went out to a restaurant. It was a bit reminiscent of A Christmas Story, when their turkey dinner was destroyed and they went out for Chinese. Only we didn’t have any tableside entertainment.
Fa-ra-ra-ra-raaaa, ri-ra-ra-raa!
This post originated on MySpace about a year ago, but the incident is still brought up in our household frequently. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it! Can you relate?
*I highly recommend that you try the Grocery Game for yourself. If you do, please enter my email address in the referral section! fcboyds@yahoo.com Thanks!
I do this thing called The Grocery Game* that gets us lots of cheap food. The low expense affords me the opportunity to try new products with little financial risk. I've found some great new crackers and cereals through The Game, so I confidently branched out in the frozen food aisle. I decided to try a new product for the first time last week, because it cost me about ten cents. What’s the harm, right? If it’s bad, I’ll only lose ten cents.
And some dignity.
The product was Gorton's frozen "lemon butter fish filets." They looked more like Spongebob Squarepants than fish filets. And they tasted more like an old shoe. An old shoe that has been dusted with lemon Pledge.
Dinner was so bad that after just one taste, I said to Andy, “You don’t have to eat this. I’m not going to.” We stood up from the table, threw it all away, and went out to a restaurant. It was a bit reminiscent of A Christmas Story, when their turkey dinner was destroyed and they went out for Chinese. Only we didn’t have any tableside entertainment.
Fa-ra-ra-ra-raaaa, ri-ra-ra-raa!
This post originated on MySpace about a year ago, but the incident is still brought up in our household frequently. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it! Can you relate?
*I highly recommend that you try the Grocery Game for yourself. If you do, please enter my email address in the referral section! fcboyds@yahoo.com Thanks!
Monday, May 11, 2009
A Hug in a Dream
Saturday night I had a beautiful dream. It was one of those where everything seems so real that you wake up wondering if it WAS real.
In my dream, it was a sunny morning. Andy and I were walking into church. But it wasn’t the grand worship center of our Grapevine church campus, where we normally attend. It was the much more intimate high school auditorium where the Dallas campus of our church used to gather. Walking down the aisle, the rows were full of familiar smiling faces. I recognized them in the dream, but now I don’t remember who they were. I just remember the splendor of it… like walking through a garden in full bloom.
In the very front row, in the first seat to the left of the aisle, sat an old friend. We used to see each other nearly every day, but that was years ago. How did so much time pass without me noticing? He stood and turned to greet us with that famous smile, giving me a great warm hug. The dream was so real I could feel it. I haven’t seen him for so long. I miss him.
And then I woke up. The ethereal beauty of the dream melted away, and I knew.
He’s gone.
.
In my dream, it was a sunny morning. Andy and I were walking into church. But it wasn’t the grand worship center of our Grapevine church campus, where we normally attend. It was the much more intimate high school auditorium where the Dallas campus of our church used to gather. Walking down the aisle, the rows were full of familiar smiling faces. I recognized them in the dream, but now I don’t remember who they were. I just remember the splendor of it… like walking through a garden in full bloom.
In the very front row, in the first seat to the left of the aisle, sat an old friend. We used to see each other nearly every day, but that was years ago. How did so much time pass without me noticing? He stood and turned to greet us with that famous smile, giving me a great warm hug. The dream was so real I could feel it. I haven’t seen him for so long. I miss him.
And then I woke up. The ethereal beauty of the dream melted away, and I knew.
He’s gone.
.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Happy Birthday Jackson!
My baby is nine years old today. He is half-way through childhood... now THAT is strange to think about. When I was tucking him into bed tonight, I looked at the clock and realized that at that very moment nine years ago I was holding him for the first time. What a sweet memory!
So here are a few pictures of my guy, which I found great joy in sifting through, remembering him at different the different ages we've enjoyed so far.
2004 - My favorite load of laundry.
Summer 2005 - Bass Lake
August 11, 2005 - The first day of school.
Halloween 2006 - Trick or Treating with friends
2007 - J's Birthday
September 8, 2007 - Celebrating an even BETTER kind of birthday!
Christmas 2008 - J's new favorite thing... baseball gear.
April 2009 - RC gadgets are serious business.
Today - Happy Birthday, Baby!!
I'm SO proud of this little guy. I am thankful for these nine years that God has blessed us with, and I am looking forward to the next nine!
So here are a few pictures of my guy, which I found great joy in sifting through, remembering him at different the different ages we've enjoyed so far.
2004 - My favorite load of laundry.
Summer 2005 - Bass Lake
August 11, 2005 - The first day of school.
Halloween 2006 - Trick or Treating with friends
2007 - J's Birthday
September 8, 2007 - Celebrating an even BETTER kind of birthday!
Christmas 2008 - J's new favorite thing... baseball gear.
April 2009 - RC gadgets are serious business.
Today - Happy Birthday, Baby!!I'm SO proud of this little guy. I am thankful for these nine years that God has blessed us with, and I am looking forward to the next nine!
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