Wednesday, November 23, 2005

The sweetest sight

This morning, the sun slanted through our bedroom window and lit on my husband and my son, sleeping peacefully next to each other. They were snuggled up under our blue-striped flannel sheets, and they looked so warm and cozy and peaceful.

It was such a beautiful sight - Super-Hubby's dark hair and whiskers next to Tom's soft, blond, fuzzy head. It lit up my day.

Oh, I wish I'd had my camera.

My life, according to a dumb net quiz

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:
8.4
Mind:
7.1
Body:
8.9
Spirit:
7.6
Friends/Family:
7
Love:
9.1
Finance:
9.1
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

So according to this quiz, my life is pretty good. Which is absolutely true. My life is actually very good. At the end of the quiz, a box popped up commending me on my way above average love score. The box instructed me to share some advice on how I manage to be so lucky in love. I didn't fill it out, but if I had, this is what it would say:

I'd love to spout off some ridiculous platitude about karma, about how I deserve the love I have because I am such a good, loving, gentle person. But the truth is - I am just lucky. Impossibly lucky. And immeasurably blessed.

Last night, when I was too tired to hold Tommy for one more minute, Super-Hubby came to the rescue. Even though he had gotten less sleep than I had the night before, even though he had a long and stressful day at the office, he volunteered to stay up with our wide-eyed son until he finally went off to dreamland around midnight. Super-Hubby even let me get an extra 30 minutes or so of sleep. That is love.

He also scrubbed the bathrooms. Need I say more?

I am lucky. I grew up in a home where every day I was reminded that I was loved. My mother used to tuck little notes inside my lunch box telling me she was proud of me and that she loved me. My father made an effort every morning to have breakfast with me, to catch up on what was happening in my life, and to tell me he thought I was a good kid. I can't ever remember him reading the paper or a book while eating with me. When we breakfasted, that was our time together.

Love was given freely in our home, but once in a while it came with a price. Sometimes when my mom was feeling especially stressed she would remind me of how much she did for me because she loved me. It was a mild guilt trip, but an effective one.

I have read and read and read 1 Corinthians 13. But I had never seen it LIVED until I met my husband.

Sometimes, I am guilty of doing the same thing to Super-Hubby. I do many things for him out of love, but once in a while I feel a need to be recognized for them, to be told how wonderful and loving I really am. (This behavior is why I can't, in good conscience, attribute my luck in love to karma. Plus I've done some really mean things in my life.)

But Super-Hubby doesn't even comprehend that love could demand recognition. He just does things because he loves me - and he neither expects or desires repayment of any kind. He doesn't keep score (I put him to bed last night - now it's your turn), he doesn't demand anything. He just loves. It's an awesome example, and one I am always grateful for. I have learned a lot about love from him.

I hope Tommy learns from his father's example, too.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

The Good News

Ah, I love Super Hubby's new hours. I LOVE them. He is home for dinner, most nights. He goes to bed with me! Most nights. We don't breakfast together, but hey, I can't complain.

We actually did family activities this weekend. Well, if you consider a trip to Lowe;s and Wal-Mart a family activity. But hey.

So, things are good in our household. Super-Hubby is relatively happy with his new job, and I am over the moon.

Just thought you might like an update.

Monday, November 14, 2005

The Dark Knight sees the light of day

On Thursday, Super-Hubby will start a new job. A day job.
My nocturnal sleuth of a husband will actually be awake for breakfast, for the first time in nearly three years. Well, maybe.

To be honest, I'm not quite sure if I am excited about the change, or terrified. With any luck, the new job will give him more time to spend with Tommy, which would be a great thing.

I wonder what it will be like, to smile at him over cereal in the morning. To kiss him and wave him off to work. To have him home in the evenings!

I am wary that this may not be a good thing. He may be tired and grumpy all the time. What if he objects to my evening visits with my buddy Elise across the street? ER just isn't the same when you watch it alone.

What if he hates the new job? What if he misses the wee small hours of the morning when he could do whatever he wanted without anyone bothering him?

I guess we'll have to see.

Hello Rattle

Tom to his rattle, clutched in his left hand: "Whoa, what is this? Are you a rattle? How do you make that sound? Hmmm .... what do you taste like?? Aaahh, stop hitting me in the head!"

Tom's rattle: "Rattle. Rattle."

Tom (dropping his rattle): "What the heck? Where did you go? Oh, you're over there! Come back here! Why are you just laying there?? MOMMMMMM!!!"

Thursday, November 10, 2005

The list

Things I have been promising to do for at least 2 weeks, yet still have not done:

1. Cancelled reservations for Cole at the kennel.
2. Booked hotel for pre-and-post-flight.
3. Thoroughly cleaned the master bedroom.
4. Gotten rid of the cardboard and newspaper recycling.
5. Laundry.
6. The Christmas Card List.
7. The Christmas Card Letter.
8. The (ever adorable) Christmas Card photo.

Argh.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Once upon a time ...

There was a girl who was great at beginning things, but lacked the ability to follow through. She started a blog, with plans to post something each and every day, but soon found that she was unable to keep up with those plans. Life, as usual, seemed to get in the way.

Her half-finished dusting of the downstairs is evidence. She can barely finish a thought without getting distracted and (Darn it, I forgot to do my Bible study again this week. And the clothes need washing. And gotta get Tom's baptismal certificate. And cancel reservations at the kennel. Come to think of it, where's the dog? Crap.)

She started writing blog posts in her head - she has seven collected now, titled:

La-Z-Baby
Spring is in the air
The Dynamic Duo take a chauffeured road trip
For the love of ...
Who's afraid of a little spitup?
What happened to my cheesecake?
Nancy Drew and the mystery of the Christmas Card Caper

Maybe this week some of these blogs will see the light of the Internet. Who knows. I can wish.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Whatever happened to Thanksgiving?

Last night, the lead story on the local news was the fact that retailers have their Christmas wares out, as the holiday gift-lust has begun. The reporter also mentioned that a local station has begun playing Christmas music 24/7. WHY, WHY, WHY??

I had to laugh at the newscast, where the story about Christmas trees and lights for sale was broadcast ahead of two murders and a fire. Ah, the power of retail.

But really, I feel sorry for Thanksgiving. It is a lovely holiday - full of family, delicious food, relaxation. No gifts to hurry and buy, no stress. Just lovely pumpkin pie. But poor Thanksgiving always gets lost in the hustle and bustle of Christmas. Most of the country seems to treat it as just another obstacle to overcome before the end of the year. It's sad.

On that note, I am very thankful for everything I've been given in life - which is, well, everything. Literally.

Our home was purchased thanks to my husband's inheritance. It was furnished with my parents' furniture, because as full-time RVers, they had no use for a house full of antiques. My new kitchen was remodeled by my husband and my father, free of charge. Almost all of the baby supplies - from Tom's teeny, tiny socks to his crib - were gifts. We are so blessed.

Not to mention each morning that God gives me the gift of life and the chance to wake up and see what I can do with the day. Here's hoping it's something worthwhile.