Ah the pressure, however self-inflicted… Each year for the last few I’ve had a word for the year. It has been a kind of touch stone for that particular year. I can’t seem to find the right word for 2009. Maybe it’ll come to me further into the year. Possible choices that have come to mind thus far are clarity or strength.
Past words:
- 2006 Peace
- 2007 Balance
- 2008 Breathe
Suggestions?
It has been pointed out to me that in my previous post I didn’t thank God for my husband. Does that mean I take our relationship for granted? Hardly. Several years ago we hit a marital wall and one of the things I learned then was to be sure not to take our relationship for granted. It’s almost as if our marriage is in it’s own separate category. To add it to the list of things below would somehow diminish all that it really is.
These thoughts have been rambling through my head since I made that post. Jeremy had surgery a couple weeks ago and in the first few hours of that experience and into the coming days these thoughts came together. Thus, a convergence of thought.
- I am thankful for a vital husband who is extremely capable and talented
- It makes me smile that even through his pain (emotional or physical) he still tries to make me laugh and often succeeds
- During the first hours and days of his recovery I helped him get dressed, socks, shirts the whole bit. It occurred to me how grateful I was that this wasn’t our normal. That he will get better and he’ll be able to care personally for himself. I was happy to do it, don’t get me wrong, but I was glad that it was temporary and not a Christopher Reeve situation.
- At one time I would have said we are lucky. These days can’t say I really believe in luck so much (check back if we ever win the lottery). I know that we both work hard at our relationship and I know we are both committed to it.
- I am thrilled to be with someone that I would be attracted to and desire to be with even if I met him for the first time today.
- It’s interesting to note that we’ve known each other for 20 years and yet I learned just a few weeks ago that he likes Laffy Taffy. who knew?! I can’t help but wonder what else I’ll learn in the coming years.
I do thank God for my husband and our marriage. I don’t take it for granted. It is something so precious and so dear that it is difficult for me to put into black and white words on a page. It feels as though the words limit what it is.
So, there it is. Some people might say we are lucky to have been together for 20 years (married for 17), and I suppose in some ways we are, but the two of us know the hard work and committment it has taken and will continue to take. Here’s to 18 years in 2009!
Every night (that I’m home, which is most nights) I pray with Emily. She has a prayer she says, one that my mom taught her. The second part of the prayer starts with the “God-blesses” we “God Bless” everyone on our list, then we do the “Thank you Gods” as we have come to call them. It’s a different list each night, but there are several repeats. My point in teaching her to pray this way is to teach her to pray for others and also to be thankful. She’ll learn the asking part in due time, and frankly I don’t have that part down so I have left it out for now.
A few weeks ago in church we discussed various things about being thankful. One option was to list our thanks physically on a huge piece of craft paper taped to a table. We made a list very similar to the one we come up with each night. Ever since then I’ve been even more conscientious (really don’t know how to spell that word) about thinking what I’m thankful for. Here goes:
- a safe reliable car to drive
- warm clothes to wear
- a heated nice house to live in
- enough food
- a computer
- access to healthcare
- a healthy body and access to a fabulous gym
- amazing friends
- sound financial advice
- working appliances
- a cozy warm bed to sleep in
- running water and toilets that flush
- a happy healthy child
Life has been stressful and it will continue to be so. By continuing to be thankful I feel like I am being taken care of and that my glass is (at least) half full.
Thank you!
I voted for Barack Obama because:
- he has a timeline to get American soldiers out of Iraq
- his insurance plan won’t cost me any more money than my current plan
- he’s offering additional tax relief for the middle class
AND
- Sara Palin’s ignorance about the world, and possible new policies regarding guns and abortion scares the pee outa me
Read More »
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Pastor Fred posted this fun visual test and JD and I just spent the last hour taking all the tests. So, that’s what we’ve been up to today. It’s a hang out day, the little girl is still in her cozies. We have a date tonight, the glamming up will start soon.
As I was getting dressed today I noticed my clothing:
- Levi’s jeans
- t-shirt from Hard Rock Café (Maui, yes, I really went there)
- bra from Vera Wang
- undies from Gap Body
- and sweater from Abercrombie and Fitch
I’m not a label girl, really I’m not. I buy what I like and what fits and only pay what I want to pay. The jeans are the $20 variety from Target, the t-shirt was a tourist purchase almost 7 years ago, the bra was less than $20, the undies were on sale I’m sure of it, probably 3/$10 or some such thing. The sweater is of course the gem from our recent Goodwill outing. All could have been made in China, so possibly not so very American after all.
With a visit from out of town family scheduled for later this week I thought it a good idea to clean out the car today. We (E was a fabulous helper) sorted the trash from the treasures. Then the trash was sorted recyclable and true trash. We tossed stinky smoothie cups, languished over the beauty of a black straw and pulled the booster seat out. I held the booster upside down and a fine mist of crumbs and glitter hit the driveway. Then I delved into the little girl’s booster cup holder. There I found the following objects:
- a perfect shell no bigger than my thumbnail
- a nickel
- a straw wrapper
- three strands of short yarn
- several misc. stickers
- two sequins of different shape and color
The car is now clear, and the seat put back in, however I think the vacuuming will have to wait for tomorrow. Let’s hear it for sunny weather!
This entry inspired by LCB and her posts about what she finds in her sons pockets.
Since the beginning of the year this is what I’ve been reading.
When You Eat at the Refrigerator, Pull up a Chair by Geneen Roth : I found this author in Good Housekeeping magazine. She is a regular columnist for them now. My plan is to read more of her books as they become available at the library. Many of her insights were eye-opening, light bulb type moments for me. I found myself wondering how she knew exactly what I was thinking.
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson: This book came up at Amazon under one of those “if you liked this, you may like this”. It was very entertaining both about his travels and adventures and also very insightful as to the way people in the areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan live. I feel like a more informed person having read the book.
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert: The author was on Oprah and I realized while watching the show that apparently I was one of the only people left on the planet who hadn’t read this book. Since then I’ve discovered that I’m not. I gave the book to several of my friends for Christmas and I currently have my copy out on loan. Ms. Gilbert has a very entertaining style of writing. It’s cliche to say “I laughed, I cried”, but really, I did!
She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb: My mother-in-law left this book here after her last visit. She said that it was very good and that I would enjoy it. She was right! It took me a probably a third of the way into it to really get into it, but it’s an enjoyable story. I didn’t find it as funny as one of the critics from People magazine (quoted on the back cover) but I also would recommend it to others.
Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich: Pure brain candy!!! One of my dear sweet friends is to blame for getting me hooked on this series last year. I’m eagerly anticipating #14 in the series, however this “between the numbers” book was released first. The between the numbers books are glorified short stories in my opinion. Good none-the-less, but almost not worth publishing into a real book. It was enough to tie me over until the next “real” release. One of these days I truly hope Ms. Evanovich is given an offer she can’t refuse to bring these fantastic characters to screen, big or little, it would be a treat for us all.
Next in the pile:
- The Pilot’s Wife
- a few of Sheldon Siegel’s books
- whatever I can get by Geneen Roth from the library
One of the things I do while watching the Oscars is to write down the titles of films that look good, interesting or that win several awards. This way I can add them to our Netflix queue and JD can ask me (as he always does) "How did you find this (OBSURE/BORING) movie?!"
Here they are, in no particular order:
- Juno
- Atonement
- Michael Clayton
- The Savages
- Charlie Wilson’s War
- Enchanted (to screen to see if E would be allowed to watch it)
- Away From Her
- American Gangster
- August Rush
- No Country For Old Men
- There Will Be Blood
- 3:10 to Yuma
- Once
- The Diving Bell and Butterfly
- No End in Sight
- Operation Homecoming
- Sicko
- Taxi to the Dark Side
- War Dance
- Lars and the Real Girl
- The Valley of Ella
- Freeheld
And just so you know, we have over 200 DVDs in our Netflix queue. Too much media, so little time.
Last night was Hollywood’s big night. That was the plan anyway. As it turned out it was a very foreign affair. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, in fact it kept the speeches short! If my memory serves me correctly the Cohen brothers were the only Americans receive statues in any of the major categories.
To give you a bit of history the Oscars are to me what the Super Bowl is to most others. In the years before TiVo and when it aired on a weeknight I was known to tape it and swear those around me to secrecy until I had viewed the tapes. One year I had to put it off for a week because it was one of those crazy weeks where I just didn’t have the three plus hours to sit and watch it all. We returned from Mexico one year on the very night that the Oscars were airing. I hadn’t seen our daughter in a week, my mother and grandmother were visiting and all I was concerned about was that someone had remembered to TiVo the Oscars!
This year was probably the year that I knew the least about any of the nominees. Usually I at least fill out the "my picks" form available online just to see how my guesses line up with the actual awards. In past years I’ve seen at least one or two of the nominated films and have read all about the nominations. This year? Zilch, nada. Quite frankly Juno is the only nominated movie that even piqued my interest. I agreed with Jon Stewart , "If you look at these films it appears as though Hollywood needs a hug."
So, my observations of the evening:
- What’s up with actors/actresses (Katherine Heigl) stating that they aren’t good at this?! You read lines for a living. Is presenting really that difficult? I don’t understand.
- It was great to see Owen Wilson doing what one does as a young, healthy actor in Hollywood.
- Tilda Swinton who won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her part in Michael Clayton wins the award for "most surprised". She could not have hidden it if she tried.
- Worst hair goes to Marketa Irglova (the sweetest recipient who won for Best Song) and Cameron Diaz. I’m sorry girls, but if you are going to the Oscars you spend some money and have your hair done! If CD paid someone then they need to be fired. A ponytail with long bangs does not a red carpet hairdo make.
I’m no CoJo, Regis or Joan Rivers, I’m just a girl who loves the Oscars.
Posted by: Jenn | 01-03-2009 | 12:01 PM
