ahem. getting started.

Well, first things first, the impending ICE APOCALYPSE of 2014 is looming for Tuesday evening/Wednesday night and evidently, that panic has already spread round enough to make me lose my mind (up in here, up in here). Sorry, I couldn't not go there.

SO. While this post will be a little haphazard, and definitely not as thought provoking as some of my recent link ups... here it is.

This is how out of the ordinary my day has gone - I think I may have lost myself.

First, I was up out of the bed, not voluntarily, but not grumpily either, by 6. I KNOW! I've got my third load of laundry washing, I took Bowen to school, got gas, and went to the store. I SCRUBBED A SHOWER. Yes, you read that correctly. I SCRUBBED A SHOWER.

And, I have done all of 3 minutes on this bad boy...

.. followed by eating 6 Chips Ahoy - because we're keeping it real here.

 

I am also going with that since I didn't buy this until mid-January that its not a New Year's Resolution to get fit - because I'll be destined to fail if I say that.

 

I'm also being totally realistic about my slacker tendencies. This has been in our house for 3 days, and between the three, I've put in about 10 minutes. I triumph that as "baby steps" and those are calories I wasn't burning last week - all 30 of them. SO. There's that. Nothing like starting small, reducing the odds of burnout.

 

My basic fitness goal is to get on this thing every day at least once, starting at around 5 minutes each go round - slacker y'all, I know.

 

My end goal: Not buying new clothes in sizes larger than what I already own.



Stepping Out, Well, Maybe Tiptoeing

I don't get really involved in public posting on political or highly sensitive matters. Its just not my thing. Doesn't mean I don't have opinions on it - but I have just seen so many with good opinions get into bad conversations or bad places and negativity result from them - that I usually just stay out of.

This week, if you are into News and Politics and all that kind of stuff, you'll know that its the annual Sanctity of Life - abortion - pro life v pro choice - hot spot week.

I combat the highly complicated discussions of rights with a simple question... or maybe a few simple questions.

Do you believe that God is a God of mistakes?

Do you believe that any baby is not known to him? Any event? Any life? Any consequence?

Do you believe that anything slips under his radar, behind his back or without his knowledge?

Do you believe that God ever looked down and said, "Wait, that baby, I didn't have a plan for their life. Go ahead, handle it yourself. My bad."

If we believe that God is fully in control... we must believe that is also true for every baby conceived. Regardless of circumstance. Regardless of the mother's personal belief, religion, non-religion. Whatever. Regardless of diagnosis, complication, projected life span. Regardless of any variety of justifications we can or they can or anyone can offer. Whatever it is.

Do you believe that God is a God of mistakes?



All that being said, if abortion has touched your life, or the life of one you know - the most important fact of any debate on morality or sin or not sin or whatever is this - God is a God of grace and mercy and love. He doesn't wish the stains of sin to separate anyone from His love and redemptive story for their life. He doesn't wish them to live in disgrace or be burdened with guilt. He doesn't want their choice to be the only thing they define their life with - regardless of how they feel afterwards.

God has proven over and over again, that regardless of our mistakes. He is a God of perfection.

Linked: How to Pray for Strong Willed Children

I found a lot of my same thoughts here, I particularly love the prayer at the end.

I want my girls to grow to be confident, compassionate leaders - not easily manipulated and willing to stand up for what's right. I see their determination to be themselves daily - I pray that I have the right words and actions to shape them into the women of God they were designed to be - while not breaking their spirit.

Read Kristen's post here: http://wearethatfamily.com/2014/01/how-to-pray-for-your-strong-willed-children/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wearethatfamily%2FGaiB+%28We+are+THAT+Family%29

Done: First Trip to the Movies

Today we took the girls to the movie theater for the first time. They definitely loved the big popcorn bucket and candy, and once the movie was over, they said they loved it too.

We went to see Frozen. We actually usually never show the girls movies we haven't seen - and they've never been really big into movies with any kind of "scary" in them - this includes Finding Nemo, that's right, they find scary stuff in Finding Nemo.

But, we were around some other families last week who said the movie was really cute - and that their kids liked it (both have children younger than Hayley, one younger than Bowen) so we decided that based on the commercials we'd seen which looked humorous, and their endorsement that the movie would be a good "first movie experience" for the girls.

Well, that would be a bust.

The girls did make it through the movie and their behavior was exceptionally good. I was pleasantly shocked at how well they did.

However, this movie has some seriously intense moments - and both of them got scared multiple times... to the point of teary eyes for Bowen and a ducked head and covered ears for Hayley. Even Michael and I agreed afterwards that there is one particularly "scary" character that is really over the top for a movie geared at kids. But, probably just for young kids... or young kids who aren't exposed to a whole lot of "scary" like our girls.

The movie does end happily and have some funny moments throughout - but I'd say this movie is a little intense for kids under 7.

So, rounding it up.

First Movie Choice (all fault on parents): C
First Movie Experience for girls: B+

Next time, we're sticking to our rule about watching it first to decide if its right for our girls.

Linked: What to Do When Someone is Mean to Your Child

I'm linking up with a post I read today on dealing with "mean kids". The part I like most, isn't even how to deal with mean kids as a parent, but the speech she gives to empower her kids at the end.

And, I'm mostly posting this so when it comes time, and we already have had some of this speech, I can read this one, probably word for word!

Read it here: http://thescooponbalance.com/what-to-do-when-someone-is-mean-to-your-child/

Done: Atlanta Children's Museum

Ok, in the interest of trying to keep this blog up and running in 2014, I'm going to do a post every time we cross something off our 2014 Family Bucket List.

Today we had "adventure day" and make the drive to Atlanta to visit what I've always called, mostly because I didn't know it had a different name, the 'Atlanta Children's Museum' but its actually called "Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta."

The girls really enjoyed the Museum. In Hayley's words, "The museum is better than the auditorium" (we think she meant aquarium). The museum is completely interactive so kids can touch basically everything. Its split into different exhibits which let you either imagine or discover or some of both. There's painting on the walls, sand/clay tubs for molding, a stage for tapping or dancing, blocks, a ball machine, some money exhibits and several more sections. The girls couldn't tell us what they liked the most, other than that they got to touch everything.

 It was a great play day when its cold outside, or when you've got kids that are still too little to really like the walk through but don't touch type of places.

If you were considering this venue, here's the short story:

Ticket Price: 12.75+tax per person
Ease of Locating: Super easy. Take exit off interstate, drive 4 blocks, turn right, drive 2 blocks, turn left. Park. Walk less than a block.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Ideal Age: 3-6
Do Over: Nope, this is a one-hit wonder in my book.
Can You Combine With Another Visit: probably so, we considered doing the Coca-Cola museum or the Aquarium since they were right there, but the girls were fading fast once we rounded up to leave.
Special Parent Note: If you are a uber OCD parents about germs, toys going back in their place, and kids not being in each others faces, this is not the place for you... unless you take a deep breath and make a conscious choice to be low key for the day.
Recommend: Bring in your own food/drink (which is allowed) as the "vending area" is really only 4 vending machines. Bring in some hand sanitizer - there aren't handy dandy dispensers and you can't help but see germs everywhere!
Visit the official site here: http://www.childrensmuseumatlanta.org/

2014: Intentional

A word for 2014.

A few years back at a monthly Bible study, a guest leader talked to us about choosing a word for the new year. Or a thought. Or a concept. Something to theme your year around.

Not a goal.

Not a resolution.

A word, thought, phrase, purpose for the new year.

Something to center your year around.

I have other friends that do this. I think I've even read a few blogs on people's choices and what they plan for the next year.

As we finished out this year, we've spent the last few days at the lake house. Where its very quiet, with little interrupt, and very little technology. I mostly sat around and did puzzles because despite my inability to do math in my head, I love word games and number puzzles and have two of those giant compilation puzzle books that keep me sucked in while we are "on vacation." Michael teases me often that he's not sure why I really like it there since I'm content on the couch just looking at the lake over the edge of my puzzle book, instead of out in nature. It is what it is.

Anyway, at the end of that tangent, I've been thinking over this past year and trying to think about what to do different in the next one.

In a lot of ways, 2013 was a good year, maybe even great parts of it. But it also was a trying year for our family as we sorted out different aspects of who we are, what we do, where we are, what our goals are, how to get there, and how they all fit together... and all the hills and valleys of raising kids, being part of a bigger family, balancing family and life, life and church, church and family, and everything in between.

There are definitely some parts of 2013 that I'm hoping don't resurface in 2014... but I think that's probably the norm for everyone as they look forward.

So for this year, my word, my focus is : intentional.

I want to be more intentional.

More intentional with people. With my family. With my kids. More intentional about what I do each day. Intentional about decisions. Intentional about actions. Intentional.