Tuesday, January 22, 2013

wondrous thirty-two

i did not expect anything from my 32nd birthday, which passed yesterday. it's such an unassuming year. 32. what has ever happened to anyone in the history of the world at 32 that is all that amazing? next year will be a big one- my Jesus-year. as one friend put it- Jesus saved all of mankind at the age of 33, what will you accomplish? shoes (or sandals?) that are impossible to fill, but maybe i will do something seriously momentous. we'll see.
but back to 32. it ain't special. but alas- my 32nd birthday felt really special!!!!
it all started with a package in the mail from my beloved sister and brother-in-law. i used to work in a boutique in toronto when i was in university. it was a TINY little store, but it made mucho moola. and in this itty bitty little store, i fell in love with Kate Spade. kate spade is a designer and she makes the simplest, yet most beautiful accessories i have laid my squinty little eyes on. namely purses. and i got one for my birthday! it's coral and it's the brightest thing i own and i love it and it's all mine.
what a great kick-off.
and then, since my birthday ended up falling on MLK day, chris had the day off so we got to hang out together ALL DAY! and since my kids were not in school that day- they hung out with us all day too! and it was wonderful! we started our day off at Liberty Market, where i got $10 off of our breakfast. then we went to the zoo to fit in a bit of exercise before lunch. but while we 'exercised' i drank a starbucks latte, and that proceeded to fill me up quite a bit. then we went to lunch at Joe's Farm Grill, where we met our friends Charles and Grace, and got another $10 off of our meal. we let the kids run around and i sat and watched them as i let food and drink fester in my body. though to be fair- i didn't order a meal. chris, mia, and i shared a chicken salad... and some onion rings... and fries. but i didn't get an actual meal for me! and then we went to FROST, a magical gelato place that we love. i got a free gelato there, that i let topher have, and then chris and i shared an affagato- a gelatto with espresso shots. superamazing. then we went home, hung out, i went to old navy and got a pair of jeans for $10, then our babysitter showed up, chris and i went mini-golfing- which we haven't done in at least 4 years, and then we went to Joe's BBQ at 8pm for dinner, where we got $10 off of our meal (that chris and i shared).
and then i threw up.
just kidding.
did you throw up after reading about my gluttonous birthday? yes, much food and caffeine was consumed. but it was consumed with LOVE :)
i love Jesus. i love my family. i love my friends. i love free food. in that order.
and so that's it. i had a great day. and oh yeah- chris let me sleep in, which was awesome. but those punk children of mine all slept in for chris too. i don't know how he does it...
i know my birthday posts always talk about my quest for free food. but this is the first time EVER that chris and i succeeded in going to all of Joe's restaurants for my free birthday meal. i guess i have already accomplished so much at 32, and i've only been 32 for like 48 hours.

and as promised, here is my verse of the day:
"Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred." prov 15:17

i am blessed to be surrounded by so much love! thanks to all who called, texted, facebooked, kakaoed, etc. your love means more to me than a free meal. but just a little bit ;)

WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

if you love free meals as much as i do, and if you live in the east valley, hop on over to your local Chandler Library and get a little card to fill out 4 books that your child has read, and then bring it over to Chipotle and get a free kids' meal!!!!!!!!!!!!! yeah for literacy and free food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

3:30 for 2013

my life is an uphill climb. every day. i don't know why. i'm not a single mother. i have all my limbs. my kids have tantrums every once in awhile- but they are awesome kids. my husband makes a good and honest (though... some might not see it as totally honest, being undercover and all...) living. we live in a house. we have two cars. we have it great. really really great.
but still. i struggle. daily.

what's my problem?

me.

don't worry folks. this is not a self-deprecating post. i don't hate myself- though there are things i really want to change about myself. that i NEED to change about myself. for instance:  i try to be organized. i'll put something very important somewhere very safe. but when i need that important thing- i can't remember the safe place where i hid it. argh. failure. i usually put three meals on the table every day. but i can't get my kids (at least the older two) to eat a real vegetable (as in not a french fry!) failure!!!!!!!!!!!!

another major shortcoming- i want things that i am not willing to work for. like i want a clean and organized house- but then i just spend my time looking at things on pinterest to help me get organized, instead of actually putting things away! or i want chris to bring home pay checks that have lots of overtime $$$ on them, but when he actually has to work overtime, i throw a little hissy fit about how he is not home. that's craziness. but that's me.

every year we get lots of 'fresh new starts'. one happened nine days ago. i made some resolutions. and already broke most of em. my birthday's coming up, so i will probably make some more resolutions. and break those too. we are going to move. AGAIN. in febraury. i hate moving but i secretly love it cause i think i will get rid of the crap we don't use and start fresh somewhere else (fear not friends! i am moving about a mile and a half from where i am presently blogging...) but alas, i am not diligent and things pile up and amass and then- blah. crap everywhere.

but. i am not here to wallow in my short comings. no! i want to change! and i will!

(cue some inspiring music from Les Mis!)

i want to be better than i am today. i want to be more authentic in every way possible.

the thing that spurred this thought on was while i was in the hospital with mia, i had no less than 20. TWENTY of my closest friends straight up harassing me on how they could possibly be praying for me or serving me in some way, shape, or form. i am blessed. so seriously blessed. but i don't always act like it. and that's not ok.

so i will try. try to be more appreciative. more thankful. more accepting. more authentic- in words, thought, actions. and i can't do that on my own. it sounds cheesy and predictable- but i need more JESUS!

i am part of a small group, and i even have the audacity to lead a group of high school girls with one of my besties, and i serve in the special needs ministry at my church. BUT who cares???? i don't read my Bible every day. i talk to Jesus everyday, but mostly cause i am begging Him for something- "please help me find this thing that i misplaced! please help me not to psycologically damage my children! please help me to win lots and lots of money even though i haven't bought a lottery ticket..."

so. Jesus and i. we're gonna do this. we're gonna make 2013 awesomer than 2012. and even with how much 2012 sucked in it's sucky moments (mia in the hospital!!!!!)- it was still pretty awesome! but 2013 is going to be even better folks. so hold on to your hats.

from here on out- every time i blog, i am going to add a bible verse. cause there's a verse for everything! and even though i primarily blog to preserve the memory of my crazy family life- i also blog cause i want to encourage you my dear reader. whether you are a mom of 1 or 50, or you happen to be my grandparents (thanks for reading grandma and grandpa!), or someone who likes reading random stories about people you don't know- i want to encourage you. cause we all need some encouragement

so here we go:

"He must increase, but I must decrease." john 3:30

it's my 'magic formula' to making 2013 a great year. a lot less of me and a lot more of Him.