Applesauce and Pizza Birthday Surprise

Posted on December 18, 2018 by Mama

Well, I am officially celebrating the last of my 40s and if last week’s birthday surprise is any indication of what’s to come I am so hammering down on the birthday brakes right here folks. The day was certainly one I won’t forget with a spectacular 2:30 a.m. start as my eight-year-old son woke up running a fever. A thermometer, a cool rag and a dose of Advil signaled the end of my sleep and the start of my day.

birthday surprise Of course I had this whole fabulous day planned out, which was slated to start with brunch, end with dinner and contain some serious shopping in between. I was going to kick number 49’s tail and celebrate the day with friends, family and a little bit of myself. Sounds awesome, right? Wah-wah-wah. . .

For over a month, three girlfriends and I (my husband lovingly calls us the Fearsome Foursome) had been planning to have crepes and coffee together because one of girls who moved to Colorado earlier this year was going to be back in town. This was the day, my birthday, for us to catch up, enjoy some good food and have a few laughs without a single big boy or toddler in tow. Woo hoo (not that we don’t love our little boys very very much)!! My immediate disappointment at missing this glorious girl time was only overshadowed by my little guy’s illness, but thankfully my husband immediately stepped up and rearranged his own day in order to give me two hours with my friends. Yay for great husbands! So in the end, I did drink my coffee, eat my crepe and laugh with my friends; unfortunately, I also watched the clock and said some speedy good-byes but it was certainly better than nothing.

After nursing a sick kid for most of the day, I took him to the doctor and we left with a prescribed antibiotic and hopes that it would kick in quickly. Unfortunately, my child decided to redecorate the inside of my Jeep with the contents of his stomach before we ever made it home. Applesauce and pizza. . . need I say more? Thankfully my husband scored bonus points by offering to clean out my car when he got home because, as he so wisely stated, “Nobody should have to clean up puke on their birthday.” Agreed! So I let him.

By evening time, we were all exhausted and our dinner plans had of course been nixed; so we stayed home, I opened gifts from my boys and I blew out a candle atop a blueberry muffin (the closest thing to cake in the house). Nothing about the day went as planned and my poor little boy was still sick, but I strangely enjoyed it all the same. . . even if my Jeep still faintly smells of carpet cleaner and pizza.

Are You, or You, or You Headed to Church?

Posted on November 19, 2018November 20, 2018 by Mama

Sometimes on Sunday mornings as I drive or ride to church, I like to imagine who else on the road is making their way to worship. While sitting at a red light or waiting my turn at a stop sign, I try to peek into the cars around me to see if someone’s clothes or the look on their faces might give me a clue to their destinations. I realize ties and smiles are not accurate indicators of someone’s path to church, but it’s all I have to work with unless I spy a “Jesus is my copilot” bumper sticker (and even at that, one never knows).

My boys and I drove separately to church yesterday morning, so I was alone with my thoughts and my worship wondering as I silently stalked fellow drivers on the road (It sounds kind of creepy when I phrase it like). It’s not like I’m judging them for doing or don’ting, but I do speculate. So yesterday as I idled at a stoplight about a mile from my destination, I received a special Sunday morning treat as a pickup truck turned left past me and gave me a good look inside. Right there next to each other was an older couple that I like to imagine were making their way to church like they had done for most of their married lives. He was dressed in a navy blue suit and tie and she had her hair curled and securely fastened under a rain bonnet (just like my grandmother use to wear).

Now I have no idea if they were actually attending church or just on their way to a fancy breakfast buffet, but I chose the church and that made me smile. This elderly man and woman reminded me of so many dedicated couples I knew as a child, sat with in hard-back upholstered pews and spied every time the church doors were open. They were faithful, they were selfless, they were kind, and they are quickly leaving a well-dressed hole in the landscape of the American church.

But this post is not about a sharp-dressed man and his pin-curled bride, nor is it about what one should wear for worship. It is simply about my Sunday morning musings and my reluctance to give up on an important practice that has shaped my life. I’m not promoting one religion over another (although if you’re at a loss, I could help you with that *grin*) and I’m not suggesting you have to dress a certain way to walk through a church door. What I am saying is that if you haven’t given church going a go (or if you haven’t attended for a bit), you should visit a local place of worship. You might be surprised, you might be inspired and you might even meet some nice people, but all of this requires some intention (and a willingness to get on the road with this inquisitive fellow church goer).

photo credit: slack12 Connecticut College via photopin (license)

The Leaves Aren’t the Only Thing Changing Around Here

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Mama

Whew! What a whirlwind autumn it has been here at the Three-Acre Wood, as usual; but with the addition of another iron to my fire I’m further behind than usual. This seems to be a common (self-inflicted) problem for my falls. Does anyone else pile way too much on their plates this time of year???

Okay, so yes, the havoc in my home has been mostly on me this last month, but it’s all been for a good cause. . . I hope. After eight years as a stay-at-home mom I’m now in the midst of making a career change (as if my former lives as first a high school teacher and then a graphic designer weren’t enough). You see, I’m a little more than spoiled when it comes to spending time with my son. Yes, I’ve been a SAHM for eight straight years, but my only child is now in second grade. While it might be difficult to justify just who I’ve been mothering for the last few years, I’m still not ready to give up the precious days of winter, spring and summer breaks with my little man.

Although teaching would seem like a good choice for my circumstance, I apparently am too old or too dusty for that profession, because I came up cold in my renewed quest to be an educator. So what’s a girl who is looking for flexible hours, good pay and enjoyable work to do? Hmm. . . okay, we are going with the wholesome answer here — real estate!

Yup, I’m going to sell houses. This sounds like a great gig for a girl who likes people and loves open houses! Yes, I’m one of those neighborhood lookie lous who loves to see the inside of homes as they hit the market. No wonder this new profession has my husband quaking in his boots and buying stock in packing tape. No worries honey, I’m not planning to move us on to our next homestead anytime soon (unless, of course, that perfect farmhouse with a tree-lined drive lands in our laps). *wink* *wink*

So the first step in the real estate licensing process is a 48-hour, mind-bleeding course about everything from legal responsibilities to measuring square footage. See that photo at the top of this post; that is everything I had to cram into my brain during an online course that took most of a month to complete. That’s three plus inches of legal terms, equations and property listing tools. Ugh, it was tough, but it was also (mostly) interesting.

So after completing the course, I scheduled my licensing exam at a local testing center. After snickering about who really takes the four-hour allotted time to complete such a thing with a fellow test taker, I walked out three and a half hours later exhausted but victorious. Yay! With the hard part behind me (except knowing any actual logistic about selling a home), I’m on to the next hurdle in my real estate licensing journey.

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