A regular Partridge Family and talents

Well, hubby is musically inclined. No mistake that God gave him an ear for music. The children are picking up some of it too, at least the enthusiasm, if not the talent.

It's really too early to tell. NiNi received an acoustic guitar for Christmas and is gung ho about learning. ShaSha is learning piano from Dad and today the boy informed me he wants to learn the drums!

Then NiNi explained to me that we are going to have a family band. Dad will play the guitar, too. (His most recent purchase - an electric guitar). NiNi generously offered the baby(Gigi) the moroccas (probably spelled wrong). When I asked who would sing, I was told that was my job. I graciously informed my daughter that God did not bless her mommy with an iota of musical ability and if she wanted this band to really work, she should look elsewhere for vocal talent.

She became serious and asked, "What ARE you good at?" What my insightful daughter didn't realize is that I have been struggling with this for the past few weeks. Feelings of inadequacy and direction (or lack thereof) and opportunities to put my gifts to work aren't exactly abounding at this season in my life. This blunt question from my daughter made me think and put voice to the talents God gave me. We are so caught up in a need to be humble that we sometimes feel like we are boasting, so we hold back. How is holding back helping anyone? How can our gifts be utilized if left hidden and unknown to those around us?

I realize that at this time in my life, my first obligation is to my husband and children and that the day to day just naturally presses in and takes over, leaving what we perceive as little opportunity to utilize our gifts. I know that I am imparting to my children, but as every mom knows, it is hard to impart, and impart, and impart, and give, and give, and give and feel like there is little fruit, or wonder if you are planting correctly. I may make no sense at all and this is more of a ramble than I first intended.....

Back to the family band - I told my daughter that I was fairly good at organizing things, to which she replied that I could be the manager!!

An aside..... When NiNi asked what I was good at - ShaSha piped up and said "cooking"! That put a smile on my face. If anyone would have told hubby 15 years ago that someone would think I was a good cook, he would have fell down laughing --- we ate Manwich, mac & cheese, Hamburger Helper and Pizza for our first 2-3 years......

Offense?

Have you ever torn yourself up over whether or not you have offended someone?

I am doing it currently.

Someone who seems to have put distance between us.

My husband is going nuts at my speculation and thinks I am reading WAY too much into it. I'm not so sure.

But why don't I ask? For fear that if there wasn't any offense to begin with, that I will offend by asking about the imaginary offense?

Make any sense? No, I guess not.....but, I probably still won't ask.

Flexible as a steel rod

Yes, I am aware that steel rods are not flexible. Point made.

I am always telling myself and others that in order to be a mom of 4, you have got to be flexible.

And I'd like to think I am, I really would. But in truth, not so much.

I am a person who would like to plan her life daily for the next 30 years. "To do" lists are my friends. Schedules, calendars, all keep my life orderly. Maybe it is a need to "control" my environment. Actually, there is no maybe about it.

I'm not one much for surprises. This becomes all the more a realization when last minute events "pop up".

Don't give me 2 days notice for soccer practice (especially when it is a year to buy cleats!)
What are they going to do anyway, we've had so much rain/snow, everything is a swamp and it will be dark 20 minutes after they start!! Oops - off track again.

Exceptions to the surprise rule - coffee/playdates and of course, any good surprises from hubby - for example jewelry, flowers, chocolate.

Espionage

I think the boy has a future as a spy. I sent him to his room to take a nap today (more because I wanted one, than he needed one - I didn't get one, but that's off subject). Anyhoo, I went to check on him 15 minutes later and saw blankets shaped in the bed in a boy shape and thought he was buried underneath ( because he usually is). 10 minutes later I hear legos, unusual..... I open the door again and peek in, boy shape is still in bed. I open the door further and stick my head in. Boy shape may be in bed, but boy is in far corner of room huddled playing with legos.

I confront boy. "Did you make your blankets to look like you were in bed?"

With a sly smile "Yep".

Ugh!!! The little sneak.... But of course than I had to reprimand him for deception and then go into the other room and giggle at his inventiveness.....

If only it could be used for good instead of evil....

The century mark

My son asked me yesterday if I was going to be 100 on my next birthday. I chuckled and explained to him that not even his great-grandma is that old (she still has 18 years to go!). But I have to admit that I secretly thought "I just feel like I am sometimes."

Last Night Alone

Yipee! Last night was the final night of my solitude in my big king-sized bed. Hubby comes home from his business trip to Houston tonight.

I know I'll sleep much better tonight. I just don't sleep well when he's gone.

Of course, I also have to get back to cooking some semblence of meals besides frozen stuff and pasta......

Gigi's first tooth has finally made an appearance. Lots of milestones this week. First crawling and pulling up and now the tooth. She will be walking before we know it....

Microfiber towels

My opinion - Don't waste your money. I bought some on the claim that they are so absorbent. What I didn't know is that they never come clean. The "sticky" fibers hang onto lint and debris like no tomorrow. Give me my flour sack tea towels (even if they are stained with iced tea!)