That time where the four walls of the house felt like a cage

If you asked me on December 23rd what I wanted more than anything, I would have told you a day with nothing on the calendar, spent on the sofa, resting. Having recovered from pneumonia over Thanksgiving, I should have taken better care of myself over the Christmas holidays but no, no, not me. I stayed up late sewing, wrapping, cooking, cleaning, hosting, exercising, parenting and celebrating. And on the night of our anniversary, Bert and I looked at each other and made a promise to celebrate some time in January, vowed that we still loved each other and went to bed hours later. (No one realizes at age 26 that getting married two days before Christmas will one day mean propping your eyelids open with toothpicks and plowing away at a holiday to do list instead of clinking champagne glasses together over dinner). What can I say--we were tired, overwhelmed and coming down sick.
     Now after 11 days (gasp--I didn't even realize it was that many until I just counted) of doing nothing but lying around inside the four walls of this house, I can honestly say I think my wish was granted. Not in the "Oh honey, I'll take the kid so you can rest sort of way" but in what has become our standard January illness week. In looking back over the last four years, I have always been sick the first week or so of January. This year, little Loulie Bug followed suit with double pneumonia and an ear infection. She added to the good times by refusing to take her medicine over the weekend resulting in lots of phone calls to medical savvy friends, mucho bribery, a facebook plea for advice and moments where I felt surely DSS would storm in the front door and ask why we were holding our child down to the table and shoving various types of syringes down her throat. To top off my stress, anxiety and pounding headache; the entire physician staff at Loulie's office was gone until this week and my doctor left town for 16 days!!! So urgent care on a Friday night it was. Do you remember the ER scene in Adventures in  Babysitting? (check out minute 5:11)
     But what is January if not a time for solace and quiet and rest? For reading good books, sleeping late and watching waaay to much TV. There were moments where I threw my pity party and moments where I was so thankful that we are usually very healthy and that this is not a norm for us. My heart truly goes out to families that spend more time at hospitals and ERs than they should, that have to watch their babies get poked and prodded all the time and spend hours waiting on physician offices to call them back. It's not fair and it made me thankful that we've made it this long without Loulie having sick visits (or throwing up). I also have mad sympathy for people with allergy/sinus/breathing problems. I've always had allergies but had no idea what people with real sinus issues were going through. Yowza! And lastly, I can't believe how kind people are--friends and parents of Loulie's classmates and family called and texted to check in on her. It was such a lesson to reach out to people instead of assuming you'd be a nuisance. It was really encouraging on long, cold, rainy days inside to get a sweet message from a friend. I will never pause again when thinking I should reach out to someone no matter how small the issue.  
So now that everyone is better we are looking forward to resuming life in the outside world (although everyone else we know is sick too), getting on those resolutions, getting back to church (we've missed so much being sick and online just isn't the same), getting back to school, and hopefully having a little date for restaurant week.

9:00 at urgent care Don't we look uber healthy?

Health, Wellness and Positive Outlook wishes to all!
     

Bringing back the 80s

Bert has been talking about growing himself a Magnum PI stache for TWO years (as a joke). I honestly thought it would never happen. But then came Duck Dynasty. And next thing I know, my husband looks like a woolly mountain man. And I could not kiss him without thinking of Kenny Rogers and Islands in the Stream would immediately play in my head. This went on for two months. His unruly facial hair was all he could talk about. 

So one would think when he finally decided to trim up, I would be excited about it...Not so much.


He planned this for the Polar Bear Plunge Party--a progression of identities. From a mulleted hillbilly to Magnum PI, Bert would disappear throughout the day. During the hillbilly portion of the day, my sister was kind enough to remind me that I had a child with this guy. 


By evening New Year's Day, he was back to his handsome self. And I can finally see that cute dimple again. 


So long Santa/ Kenny Rogers/ Willy Nelson/ Greg Allman! Husky, you sure do keep it entertaining!

5th Annual Plunge

We rang in the New Year same as we do every year, with a quiet eve preparing for the next day's festivities. This was our 5th or 6th (I lose track) year of attending the Sullivan's Island Polar Bear Plunge, but our 4th of hosting all our friends. In talking with some of the girls that day, we all mentioned that at some point during the day, we had a moment of prayerful thanksgiving for all these blessings. For health. For friends. For family. I am beginning my 7th year of marriage and my 7th year in Charleston. It hasn't felt like that long but when I think back to that first new years--a flooded house, no furniture, no clothes, a whole new life and no local friends. Sheesh--it was a rough one. And now, all the living that has taken place. Yes, I can only be full of thanks for this pack of people we chose to begin the new year with. 

A lot of our family and friends had a rough 2012. I think our nation as a whole had a rough 2012. Lost family members, natural disasters, debt, shootings, it was tough to keep your head up. I feel a little guilty saying this, but for us 2012 was pretty good. Status quo--no major news, no big changes but plenty of growth in a lot of ways. I'm going seal it off as a good year.

So Long 2012!

(2012? Still sounds so strange to me. Like shouldn't we still be in the nineties?!)

Making a home (Thanksgiving)

Homemaking. It's an actual title, a task, a balance that I have come to appreciate. That holidays and homes and meals and memories don't just come about. That my mother worked hard behind the scenes for decades pulling off the cozy, warm memories of my childhood. I've come to understand the balance it takes to cook and clean and organize and pack and travel gracefully while also pausing to kiss cheeks and toss footballs and bake cookies and watch Charlie Brown with patience, knowing that it will mean staying up later and losing some sleep so that it all comes together seamlessly. It's a mother's job. So yesterday we mixed grocery store errands with the children's museum, piles of laundry with a donut date and washing the dog with cookie baking. And at 6:00 the counter was covered in flour, Christmas music was playing and Loulie asked me to stop cooking to dance with her. I'm pretty sure this is why people have children. 

Today began with racing through downtown (Loulie's first with her own race number), trying to pack while Loulie keeps calling me in the room to watch the parade and heading to Augusta in just a few minutes. And I am overwhelmed with thankfulness; for this home, for this girl, for this family.

Here are a few pictures of our pre Thanksgiving with Bert's family in Highlands. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that you too feel overwhelmed today with thankfulness for the blessings of family, friends and the constant grace of our Heavenly Father.

Summer Reads (June/July/August)

I have had this post sitting in my feed waiting to be published for three months now. Can we say lazy?! I pretty much kept up with my new years resolution but have slowed down some this fall with my three books per month goal. This summer gave me some must reads. Behind the Beautiful Forevers will change your life or at least your outlook on your place in the world. And Jeannette Walls second book did not disappoint either!


Bringing Up Girls
by James Dobson
Finished in June

If you have a daughter, this is possibly the scariest book you will ever read. Dobson of "Focus On the Family" obviously writes from a Christian perspective but really everyone could benefit from his research and point of view. It took him twice as long to write as Bringing up Boys with hundreds more pages of research. He discusses everything from Disney's billion dollar princess industry to protecting our daughters on the internet to discussing promiscuity. I found it fascinating as well as applicable. Don't expect to finish overnight. This is one I highlighted and dog eared to death in hope to go back to my notes again and again.

The House I Loved
by Tatiana de Rosnay
Finished the first week of July

Historical fiction is my absolute favorite genre and I'm drawn to books having to do with French culture so this has been on my reading list for a few months. This was a simple and sweet story. I didn't know much about Napoleon's vision for a new Paris so I liked hearing about a time before the city was the romantic capital we think of today.  I think the reason I am drawn to historical fiction is because it often reveals how the same problems/situations/arguments/norms span across time. They may vary but an underlying similarity is always there. You could easily compare the main character's fear of moving forward, of change, of a new city, of new ideals to the same fears that we are facing in America today, especially during an election year. I related to the character's desire to hold on to the past, her desire to fight big government and her love for what she hoped was her staked out territory in a big and changing city. Not a must read, but definitely worth picking up if you enjoy any of the topics mentioned.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers
by Katherine Boo
Finished at the end of July

I could write about five posts on this book alone! I picked it up at the library because after reading so much fiction set in India or around the Indian culture (Jhumpa Lahiri is one of my favs), I thought it would be interesting to really delve into some non-fiction. It was a long one so I almost returned it after one chapter and reaching my due date. I can tell you that finishing it was well worth the eight dollars in late fees. Written by an American who married an Indian man, moved to India and fell in love with its culture; Boo submerges herself in the slum life of Mumbai's under city. She tells the tale of several real life characters while throwing at you questions of morality, human suffering, economic growth, and how EVERYONE is affected by the global market. It was enlightening, haunting, fascinating and something I still cannot quit thinking about. I think everyone should read this just to have the experience of living beyond their front door. Go out, read it and call me--I would love to do a book club on this one. I loved it!



Half Broke Horses
by Jeannette Walls
Listened to on cd mid August

If you read The Glass Castle, the this should be on top of your reading list. After being constantly stopped in the street, at book readings, and being emailed all the time about her less than normal mother; Walls set out to write a book explaining her mother's life. The more she and her mother talked however, it became clear that her mother's story could not be separated from her grandmother's. After some coaxing from her mother, Walls decided to write a book based on the life of her grandmother.

Where We Belong
by Emily Giffin
Finished the very first of August

I have loved Emily Giffin since she first introduced us to Darcy and Rachel in Something Borrowed (don't see the movie, get the book). She never disappoints and I have been excited about this book since April and just waiting for it to hit the shelf on July 31st.  Called the modern day Jane Austen, she truly writes how a woman wants to read. Though her stories are everyday concerns or issues women may deal with, she has such a fresh point of view and somehow always makes it a page turner. I finished the book in a day. Not thought provoking but a perfect summer read, one I might pick up again. I love it when a book creates a place you might want to go back to. And not to give anything away--it covers one of my favorite topics.

The Mermaid Chair
by Sue Monk Kidd
Finished last week of August

I thought this book was more recent than early millenium and for some reason the the tone seemed older than that. I listened to this on book cd while painting the upstairs for two days so I wasn't able to completely delve into it. Good book, good plot, not a life changer. I would suggest as a beach read but not in a Dorothy Benton Frank kind of way--much better than that. 

All good things..(a list)

1. The election is over. I am moving on. If I see one more post on politics, I think my brain will implode. You do not normally find me saying things like this, but I think it is time for some surface conversation and some good wine. Kind of thankful that some good, thoughtless movies are coming out next week. Thank you Judd Apatow and the overrated cast from Twilight.

2. So I have been sporting a barking cough for a month now. The upside is that my abs feel tight (read feel not are). The downside is that it has taken three rounds of antibiotics and two doctor visits to figure out that I have pneumonia.  My window sill looks like that of an 88 year old woman with the amount of meds I am on. Praying for a speedy recovery and that this last antibiotic kills it all off cause we all know mama can't be sick.

3. I have given up soft drinks!!! This is a major accomplishment here people. When you leave your house, child in tow, just to get a Coke Zero; there is a problem. I got kind of convicted about this addiction when Loulie kept asking for sips of my grown up drink. I would tell her it was so bad for her to which she one day responded "Why you drinking it?" Hmm--exactly! So I gave up all the chemical ridden, splenda infused, carbonated crack beverages and am now chemical free in the beverage department. Coffee you ask?--I will NEVER give up coffee! Loulie Bug--I did this for you and yet it is me benefitting in the long run too.
*Side note--I still majorly jones for just a hit the same time everyday.

4. After debating for five years, we have finally installed windows in our 60 year old house. I say we loosely; meaning Bert has installed them and I have patiently put up with all the tools, dust, and mess that comes with a home improvement project. I'm pretty impressed with his skills. Lowe's quoted us $15,000 to install the windows so Bert watched some online videos, read a few directions and did it himself. I had no idea windows could change my life so much! I can actually open them on a beautiful day, for now there is not a water stain or mark of dust on them and our power bill has already gone down 150%. Not to mention the look of our house has improved immensely!

5. I have about 1,000,000 books I want to share. I haven't even posted on my summer reads yet but I have finished some MUST READS lately that I am dying to have someone to discuss them with. I kept up with my NY resolution to read three books a month through August and now I'm lagging a bit. I did get in the mail the most beautiful coffee table book the other day. I found it in a store in Mt Pleasant for $60, went home and found it on Amazon for $2.75!!! I love it and look through it at night during commercials. 

6. While I have been writing this, Loulie has put her baby to bed and is now saying prayers with her. Melt my heart! Crazy how they can make you want to pull your hair out one minute and then make you want to have 10 the next. Since right before this, she was meowing at me from the time out chair after throwing her breakfast at the dog. Like I said, it all spins on a dime.

That's all for now--back with Halloween, mountain, and festival pictures. Writing all this down somehow aligns me--I need this outlet.

When in doubt, use the words of those wiser than yourself

Tonight half the country will go to bed disappointed and discouraged. Regardless of whether you lean to the right or to the left, I think this election has left people on both sides discouraged over the general behavior of friends, co-workers, family, and the number one offender--Facebook friends. (Doesn't anyone have a filter anymore?!) I haven't posted anything political so far. Do we all agree that social media needs to be as shallow as possible for the next few weeks--let's stick to pictures of kids and narcissistic vacation photos shall we? Your dog in a Halloween costume--that's what I want to see when I'm surfing through my newsfeed in the DMV line. ;)
But after seeing so many opinions and spending the last several months researching candidates and topics, I opened my book before bed and landed on this...

Dear Lord, you have sent me into your world to preach your word. So often the problems of the world seem complex and intricate that your word strikes me as embarrassingly simple. Many times I feel tongue tied in the company of people who are dealing with the world's social and economic problems.
But you, O Lord, said, "Be clever as serpents and innocent as doves."Let me retain innocence and simplicity in the midst of this complex world. I realize that I have to be informed, that I have to study the many aspects of the problems facing the world, and that I have to try to understand as well as possible the dynamics of our contemporary society. But what really counts is that all this information, knowledge, and insight allow me to speak more clearly and unambiguously your truthful word. Do not allow evil powers to seduce me with the complexities of the world's problems, but give me the strength to think clearly, speak freely, and act boldly in your service. Give me the courage to show the dove in a world so full of serpents."---Henri Nouwen

Thank you Mr. Nouwen. You took my thoughts and ordered them much more eloquently. The perfect prayer whispered at the perfect moment. I thought others might need to hear it too. A reminder that we serve a Sovereign, Just and Almighty God. To put all ill thoughts and negativity aside. To wake up tomorrow and act boldly in is service.