Sunday, October 30, 2011
Where oh where have we been?
So I'm returning from yet another blog hiatus (and a completely unintentional one). The girls are good and, like always, it will take me a few posts to get caught up on the pictures and stories that I've failed to get on the blog over the past few weeks. Working backwards makes the most sense to me, so here goes on what we did tonight!
I took the girls and a friend to Trick or Treat on sorority row at LSU. The weather was perfect, and I really enjoyed it being on Sunday this year instead of Wednesday. Rushing to get everyone ready after school and work can be a little overwhelming, so I appreciated it being on a weekend for the first time since we've been going. Caroline was Rapunzel, with a wig that was not kid friendly. Charlotte was a "purple fairy" with a pair of wings that was not kid friendly. And Camille was a ballerina with a wholly kid friendly ensemble.
The girls had a great time being out there, getting candy, playing games, and then of course eating some candy along the way. It always seems a little odd when I say it, but Halloween is the holiday that I have some of the fondest memories of from growing up. It was a holiday that meant spending time with a lot of my family, the weather was usually great, and it is a quintessential kid-holiday - walking the neighborhood with friends and family and getting candy. So, even though it's not Thanksgiving or Christmas, it makes me happy to make some of our own happy memories with my own girls for this holiday. And for good measure, we'll be back at it tomorrow night in our own neighborhood.
I took the girls and a friend to Trick or Treat on sorority row at LSU. The weather was perfect, and I really enjoyed it being on Sunday this year instead of Wednesday. Rushing to get everyone ready after school and work can be a little overwhelming, so I appreciated it being on a weekend for the first time since we've been going. Caroline was Rapunzel, with a wig that was not kid friendly. Charlotte was a "purple fairy" with a pair of wings that was not kid friendly. And Camille was a ballerina with a wholly kid friendly ensemble.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Lady in the Airport
I read this post this morning and my eyes welled up with tears as I remembered my own "not enough" moments. And the friends who speak truth when lies are shouting loudly (thank you girls). And the strangers who speak into doubt-filled moments.
Not so long ago, I had my own experience very similar to the one Ashley describes at the Mexican restaurant. As I wrote at the time, when Camille and I returned to Louisiana from Nashville a couple of months ago, the return flight was pretty rough for her. She was tired and the take off hurt her ears and she couldn't get comfortable. As a result, she spent the better part of an hour crying in that cramped filled-to-capacity plane. Though I wasn't overly stressed about it at the time (I had some very gracious and kind seat-mates), it did leave me feeling a little flustered trying to gather all of our things when it was time to get off the plane and head toward baggage claim. After I got her settled in her stroller, she was still mildly unhappy and I did my best to soothe her as we made our way to get our bags. Of course the bags took a sweet forever to get to baggage claim, so even after we made it down there I was walking her around in the stroller, offering her the pacifier, showing toys, walking some more, rocking her back and forth, doing just anything I could to keep her satisfied until we could get to the car where I knew she would fall asleep immediately.
In the midst of me coddling her, a woman came up to me and said, "You're a great mom." I was kind of embarrassed and very taken aback. She went on, "I watched y'all at the airport in Nashville and on the flight here, and I can tell that you are a great, loving, and patient mom to this little girl. I just wanted you to know that people notice that. I did."
Like Ashley said in her post, I fought back tears as I said, "Um. Thank you very much. I really appreciate that."
That unexpected kindness of a strangers was such a sweet and needed reminder that I need to speak encouragement to others as well. I needed that lady's compliment more than I realized and I can't be alone in that. There are people I pass by every day who are in need of a kind word and in His Grace, God opens our eyes to see how we can offer something --often something so seemingly small -- that can do something so big in another person.
Not so long ago, I had my own experience very similar to the one Ashley describes at the Mexican restaurant. As I wrote at the time, when Camille and I returned to Louisiana from Nashville a couple of months ago, the return flight was pretty rough for her. She was tired and the take off hurt her ears and she couldn't get comfortable. As a result, she spent the better part of an hour crying in that cramped filled-to-capacity plane. Though I wasn't overly stressed about it at the time (I had some very gracious and kind seat-mates), it did leave me feeling a little flustered trying to gather all of our things when it was time to get off the plane and head toward baggage claim. After I got her settled in her stroller, she was still mildly unhappy and I did my best to soothe her as we made our way to get our bags. Of course the bags took a sweet forever to get to baggage claim, so even after we made it down there I was walking her around in the stroller, offering her the pacifier, showing toys, walking some more, rocking her back and forth, doing just anything I could to keep her satisfied until we could get to the car where I knew she would fall asleep immediately.
In the midst of me coddling her, a woman came up to me and said, "You're a great mom." I was kind of embarrassed and very taken aback. She went on, "I watched y'all at the airport in Nashville and on the flight here, and I can tell that you are a great, loving, and patient mom to this little girl. I just wanted you to know that people notice that. I did."
Like Ashley said in her post, I fought back tears as I said, "Um. Thank you very much. I really appreciate that."
That unexpected kindness of a strangers was such a sweet and needed reminder that I need to speak encouragement to others as well. I needed that lady's compliment more than I realized and I can't be alone in that. There are people I pass by every day who are in need of a kind word and in His Grace, God opens our eyes to see how we can offer something --often something so seemingly small -- that can do something so big in another person.
Saturday, October 01, 2011
My Purple Fairy
Charlotte is obsessed with the color purple. In the past several months, rarely has a day gone by without her mentioning her love for all things purple. In fact, she's been planning her 3 year old birthday party for quite a while, it is going to be - surprise! - a Purple Party: purple cake, purple ice cream (?), purple food, purple balloons.
So, it came as no shock when she decided that she wanted to be a purple fairy for Halloween. Fairies and mermaids are just as special to Charlotte as the color purple; they are, as she says it, "my favorite girls." As we walked through Target this morning, we came across a costume that Caroline "had to have" to be Rapunzel and a pair of purple wings and a purple tu-tu to make up Charlotte's purple fairy costume. She was beside herself. And that made my day.
So, it came as no shock when she decided that she wanted to be a purple fairy for Halloween. Fairies and mermaids are just as special to Charlotte as the color purple; they are, as she says it, "my favorite girls." As we walked through Target this morning, we came across a costume that Caroline "had to have" to be Rapunzel and a pair of purple wings and a purple tu-tu to make up Charlotte's purple fairy costume. She was beside herself. And that made my day.
My Mom (according to Caroline) Take 2
Last December I asked Caroline to answer several questions about me. You can see the results of that interview here. I decided to ask her again, not quite a year later. I hate to state the obvious, but I asked the questions, Caroline gave the answers:
1. What is something mom always says to you?
I love you!
2. What makes mom happy?
When I’m sweet and kind and compassionate.
3. What makes mom sad?
When I do something bad.
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
You do funny jokes.
5. What was your mom like as a child?
You were sweet and compassionate and you treated others the way you wanted to be treated.
6. How old is your mom?
13, ummm, wait, no, I forget.
7. How tall is your mom?
40 lbs.
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Play with me.
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
You get sad.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
You would be a famous rock star.
11. What is your mom really good at?
Doctoring people.
12. What is your mom not very good at?
You are good at everything!
13. What does your mom do for her job?
Lawyer
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Corn
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
When you do your job and earn money.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Rapunzel
17. What do you and your mom do together?
We hang out together.
18, How are you and your mom the same?
We have the same skin.
19. How are you and your mom different?
Our eyes are different.
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Because you always kiss me and hug me.
21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
To my school!
1. What is something mom always says to you?
I love you!
2. What makes mom happy?
When I’m sweet and kind and compassionate.
3. What makes mom sad?
When I do something bad.
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
You do funny jokes.
5. What was your mom like as a child?
You were sweet and compassionate and you treated others the way you wanted to be treated.
6. How old is your mom?
13, ummm, wait, no, I forget.
7. How tall is your mom?
40 lbs.
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Play with me.
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
You get sad.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
You would be a famous rock star.
11. What is your mom really good at?
Doctoring people.
12. What is your mom not very good at?
You are good at everything!
13. What does your mom do for her job?
Lawyer
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Corn
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
When you do your job and earn money.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Rapunzel
17. What do you and your mom do together?
We hang out together.
18, How are you and your mom the same?
We have the same skin.
19. How are you and your mom different?
Our eyes are different.
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Because you always kiss me and hug me.
21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
To my school!
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