A Eulogy for a fish

OK - how do I write a eulogy for a fish? What can one say about a fish? She (maybe) was quiet. S/he didn't eat too much, but did have an annoying habit of spitting at the water just right so it would spill out of the tank if s/he was hungry. Dorothy never got sick and always stayed in her tank (unlike other fish we've had). She made the kids happy when she swam. She leaves behind 2 other friends - Pizza and Plokie.

Kidding aside, I feel bad for Abbey. She actually teared up over the fish. I was just wondering how we'd get her out of the tank considering her impressive size (almost 7 inches). But in the true spirit of a child raised in the country, she said a small prayer for Dorothy and put her in the woods to continue the cycle of life in the form of food for some other animal (probably our dog Lucy who was eyeing her with a hungry look in her eyes).

At least Abbey understands that life begins and ends and is OK with that. She's not lost a person she's especially close to yet, but she did come with me to my mom's funeral when she died a little over a year ago. While we were crying and saying our goodbyes, my sweet daughter was busy drawing a picture of Grandma with Jesus smiling at us. That says it all to me. She loves her pets, but understands they are just animals and the more important issue isn't where to bury the pet, but rather where we end up after life on earth ends for us. Do you know where you will end up? or do you prefer to think it just ends like it did for our fish?

FB - Innane or Helpful?

Ok - there's been a lot of Facebook backlash lately. Mainly because people of my generation (man I sound old) have "discovered" it thereby ruining the cool factor. Heck, I even have an article blasting it on my page. Yeah - the status updates can be tedious, but every once in a while, it proves it's worth. Like today.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, I didn't have kids, but was married and in college. Once of my absolute best friends worked where I did. We hung out a lot, and she understood me and my quirks. Heck - she enabled them! When I was with her, I was witty, quick, and funny. But somehow, over time, my life went another direction and we lost touch. Thanks to the glory that is Facebook, she found me and once again, I have a little more spark.

When I saw her friend request, I was as happy as the girl who wanted to be asked to the prom by the cool guy (and it not be a prank of some kind). I quickly said yes and now things feel right again. Will I see her soon? I don't know - I hope so. But for just a little while again, I feel witty and funny. Will she think I still am? Who knows, but judging by her postings, she still is and that's good enough for me!

exercise isn't for wimps

Ok - I'll admit it. I hate to exercise. I know I should and given the health history of my family, it would be a good thing. The thing is - I hate doing it. So I decided to try classes. Great in theory - go with people I know, suffer through the class, and feel a sense of accomplishment when I complete the class. Here's the problem - my precious, beautiful baby doesn't want me to. I know what you're thinking - yeah right. But it's true! Each time I've tried, she's melted down in the "childcare center" leaving me to have to calm her down in order to try again. I keep finding myself wondering if it's even worth it.

Of course I know that my baby isn't trying to sabotage me, but somedays it feels like it! As a "responsible" mom, I know that I need to set a good example for my children (That's why I don't eat the cookies when they can see me - I wait until they go to bed!). So for now, we'll just have to keep trying the class and if need be, switch where I exercise so I can be healthy and live long enough to see them have these struggles with their own children. At which point, I will smile knowingly and offer to babysit (and then give those grandbabies some cookies!).

sick kids!

Can I just say from the outset how sick I am of sick kids? At home and at work I am surrounded! I've seen quite a bit this fall and someone in my house has been sick for 6 weeks. Somehow, abbey managed to avoid it all - until yesterday. Now she's sick and I'm home with all 3 (Harry had early release). The whining and crying is almost more than I can stand and I haven't even started talking about them yet! Honestly, I hate it when the little ones are sick. You feel powerless and want to make it all better. What's funny to me is how they all act differently when ill. Abbey wants me like glue to her side, Harry wants to be in our vicinity, but left alone and Anna Kate wants to be help non-stop (more like her sister than I thought..). Alas, I keep telling myself that this too will pass. It has to right?

Patterns and What they mean

The other night Abbey and I were looking at a cup from Sonic trying to identify the pattern of the dots on the bottom. I told her that I knew there was one there, but it wasn't easily identifiable. Now I don't generally get all philosophical about a Sonic cup, but it got me thinking about life in general. We have patterns all around us - in nature, art, science. It's how we figure out things and make the world make sense.

The question is, what is the pattern of your life showing you? Is it one that works? If not, it's time to change the pattern. Let God help you change the patterns that don't work into ones that do.