I'm So Real

Today was one of those days where the laundry multiplied before my eyes and every task I accomplished seemed to be undone by my two youngest children.

I have been trying to pack/clean/prepare for this drive "down south" to visit Mom and Pop, and frankly, I'm pooped. I'm actually looking forward to just sitting in the van tomorrow, even if everyone gets frazzled.

Daniel decided to be extra "touchy" today, too, and by that I mean he pulled, smacked, tugged, kissed, and just generally wore me to the bone. If you have a child like this, you know exactly what I mean. GIVE ME SOME PERSONAL SPACE BEFORE I LOSE MY FREAKIN' MIND! That sounds harsh, but man, it's just how ya feel.

It made me think of this quote I love from "The Velveteen Rabbit"

When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.

It doesn't happen all at once. You Become. It takes a long time.

Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby.

Over the River and Thru the Woods

I am preparing for an adventure. Yes, it's all in the attitude when you prepare for a 15 hour drive with 3 children.

I went to the Dollar Store this weekend and stocked up on all kinds of groovy things to surprise them with throughout the trip. I just don't want to be a slave to a portable DVD player and other electronic devices...

Any advice from you seasoned road warriors is welcome...

In other news, singing in the Christmas program last weekend was like food for the soul. I love the fact that the program was centered on the person of Christ -- not just his birth, but his death and resurrection. I loved hearing the church sing back at us, and stand spontaneously in worship. Beautiful.

ffff-frozen

Yup, that's what you get for living in Minnesota. Frozen lakes, frozen windshield wiper fluid, and the convenient freezing of your automatic windows when you are in a drive-thru.

But then you've got the Christmas lights and holiday fluff everywhere to keep you happy. Tonight our church choir sang our program in the mall, right next to dear old Santa. I try to stay away from the mall as much as possible in December, and tonight I remembered why. It's so much sensory overload, you need a nap by the 3rd store.

This is my favorite time of year to get the mail. Well, honestly, everyday I look forward to the mail. A new magazine? A surprise fat envelope from Mom? A small package??? The possibilities are endless. But in December, you might just get a couple sweet cards with pictures of friends on them you haven't seen in years. It's wonderful. I don't care if it is a pain in the butt, send the card! Send the picture, even if Junior's eyes are crossed!

I'm pretty dawg-gone happy with our card this year and just got the happy email that it's on it's way to my door. (I did 'em online again this year. Love that.)

Thanks for reading. I'm going to go eat refined sugar now.