Words of Advice

Here are some words of advice to the mother whose son's life I saved at the pool today.

1) When taking your child to the pool, it would be helpful if you, yourself wore a bathing suit. Although you looked stylish standing next to the pool in your Capri's, fancy heels and halter top, it wasn't exactly pool appropriate attire.

2) When your son is not tall enough to stand in the pool by himself, don't let him go down the slide without you being IN THE POOL waiting to catch him. (See Advice #1)

3) Don't count on all the rest of the moms at the pool to be keeping our eyes out on your son. I didn't see him in distress until it was almost too late.

4) When you need my assistance to save your son because I, unlike you, am IN the pool with my son, don't just point to me and say sweetly in a calm voice that your son is having trouble and he keeps going under... my advice is to either A) JUMP INTO THE POOL to save his life B) YELL LIKE A MANIAC and get people's attention.

5) After the life guard and I both went through great lengths to save your son, a nice thank you would have been appropriate...I'm sure the fact that you didn't get near else was because you were afraid we would splash you therefore forcing you to send your outfit to the dry cleaners.

6) After all of the above had transpired, Please, Please, Please, do not allow your son to go BACK DOWN THE SLIDE -- it blew my mind that you allowed him to go again forcing the lifeguard to once again jump in and rescue him.

7) My last piece of advice -- GET A CLUE! better yet -- stay home

Keeping My Mind Busy

I have been on an emotional roller coaster this week. I wish I could chalk it up to PMS and not having access to chocolate, or being on a diet which is making me cranky, but the truth is much deeper and more personal. I'm painfully aware that this was the week my baby would have been born. Trust me, I have given myself the pep-talks that this was part of God's plan and that he knows better than I, but did I truly have to see and be around a ton of babies everywhere I went this week? In the restaurants, in the grocery stores, etc. Just was a little more than I could handle... and I'm usually a tough cookie. So, you'll have to pardon me if I take a few more days to pull myself back together.

My sister, niece and nephew are arriving tomorrow for a short visit. I am so excited and I've been getting our house ready. It's been a great distraction -- family is always a good cure for the blues.

Christmas in July

So last night Christopher and I started putting together his Christmas and birthday list since both occasions are one day apart. He is at that age where every commercial he sees or every Target or Toys R Us flyer has something that he "must have!". So, last night while showing me another Lego set that he "needs" for his collection, I hopped on Target.com and starting his wish list. I explained to him that we could build a nice list over the next few months and then I can email it to all his Aunts and Uncles and Grandfathers so everyone would know what he would really like. He loved this idea and so it began. Of course I also explained that to make room for all the 250+ piece lego sets he is requesting that we are going to have to go through his current toys and make a few donations between now and then. Just WHERE does one put all these Legos?? Any advice from you moms with boys that are into building this wonderful creation with extremely small pieces? His bookshelf is near capacity LOL.

One Extraordinary Sunday

Today Steve & I celebrate the 8th anniversary of our "reconnection". We first met as teenagers and became friends. Then we lost touch for 15 years. Then, 8 years ago today, he walked back into my life.. and hasn't left LOL That's a GOOD thing. Here's a little recap that I posted last year that always makes me smile..

I just rolled my eyes after I heard this message on my answering machine over eight years ago...

"Beth, this is your sister... where are you?? You must still be at church. Anyway, it's Sunday night and I just spent the last 40 minutes talking to your future husband.... AND YOU KNOW WHO IT IS!!! Call me as soon as you get this message..."

Ok... first of all, for those of you who know my sister, she is very excitable, so you can only imagine the squeals of delight that accommodated that message. Secondly, I had no idea who she was talking about or what she was talking about. I was a single girl, living in Lancaster and relatively happy with where I was at with my life. I had great friends, a good job, I was active in an awesome church and was learning how to cope with my mom's passing.

So, after replaying the message a second time, I called my sister back and she rapidly and excitedly told me that at church that day she had run into a guy she knew from college, Steve M. It had been years since they had seen each other and after a few minutes of chit chat he asked how I was doing. Ruth didn't even remember that he knew me (she had introduced us when we were teenagers, we formed a friendship but lost touch once I went away to college). So, she of course mentioned that I was still single (thanks for the plug, Ruth) and living in Pennsylvania. She threw in that I often came to NJ to visit and that we'd all have to get together sometime.

Honestly, my first reaction to this was not very positive. "Ruth, I haven't seen this guy in like 15 years. I'm not the same girl.. I'm no teenager and certainly I don't look like I did back in those days." But she was determined. My sister enjoys being a matchmaker and was successful in pairing up several of her friends. Up until this point, the matches she made for me were anything but successful. One guy tried to sell me Amway products during the entire course of dinner. Thankfully, this was a double date with my sister and brother-in-law at whom I repeatedly rolled my eyes throughout that disaster of a dinner/date. Next up was a blind date with a guy that had a personality of a wooden door -- didn't crack a smile all night. It was painful. I definitely needed someone who can laugh.

Who would have known that eventually Steve & I did reconnect (much to my sister's glee!) I shared with you all last year on my blog about how God brought Steve and I back together through bizarre circumstances (I was living in NJ because of a stroke my father had suffered). Today marks seven years since that "reconnection" and we treat it like an anniversary. I'm so excited and, honestly, marrying a man who loves God, me and our son, was so worth the wait. We often joke about why we never dated as teenagers... how awesome it would have been to not have lost touch for those 15 years... but then we realize that God had a purpose in those 15 years. He used that time to make us ready to be the man and woman of God we needed to be in this marriage. God's timing is perfect.. always

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. "James 1:17

It's One of "Those" Days..

Today is officially an "off" day. My head just isn't quite on right or something. I had TWO baskets of laundry in my basement. One that I HAD JUST TAKEN OUT of the dryer.. AKA "clean clothes" and, the other, the much larger heap of dirty clothes. So, being so easily distracted by so many thoughts that typically roll around my head in any given day, I just put THE CLEAN CLOTHES BACK IN the washing machine. I honestly must have just put 7 or 8 shirts in... didn't feel that they were still warm.. didn't phase me at all until shirt number 8.

Sounds like I should call it a day. And how was yours?

Land of Make Believe

Even though this is our third summer here in Western New Jersey, yesterday was our first visit to the Land of Make Believe, a wonderful little amusement and water park located about 20 minutes from our front door.

We've known about it for years, but one thing or another always got in the way of us going there. But, with Steve having a day off yesterday and the weather calling for a scorcher, it seemed like the perfect time to check it out.

We had SO much fun. If you have kids under the age of 12, I think they would love it. For those who have never been, it's like Dutch Wonderland (except not as big). The park is really geared for toddlers (I'd say kids under 12... we didn't see too many teenagers there). The water park alone was worth the trip. Chris had a ton of fun on the pirate ship which had many slides and dozens of places to use water guns and other gadgets. They had another pirate fort, a huge wading pool which was great for babies and toddlers and at least 4 or 5 water slides (That's where the tweens and teenagers were). Something for everyone.

We did the amusement park as well - It was the first time we could truly just sit back and watch Chris go on the rides. We didn't have to strap him in or ride with him. He's tall enough to do most rides for himself. Made me proud and sad all at the same time.

I guess you could say that the only thing I was wishing for at the Land of Make Believe was that I could "make believe" time would stand still and that our little boy would always be six and having the time of his life!

If you've never been, check out their website

Change

Felt like the blog needed a little sprucing up so I changed the background and added a new quote to the top. I received this list of "Old Farmer's Advice" not so long ago. See if any of these may inspire you, apply to you or just make you smile:

* Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
* It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
* You cannot unsay a cruel word.
* Every path has a few puddles.
* Don't judge folks by their relatives.
* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
* Live a good, honorable life... then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time around.
* Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.

And then my new mantra... "Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God."

We are Back!

Just walked in the door less than an hour ago from our awesome vacation in Florida. Was a l-o-n-g day of traveling and was so happy to just walk in the door... then I was ECSTATIC when I remembered that I had spent the day before we left for our vacation cleaning the house from top to bottom. Nothing like coming home to a warm, inviting place and not a reminder of the usual chaos that ensues from day-to-day. Maybe I'll light a candle and take a bath... one last fleeting moment of relaxation before reality crashes on my head.

Vacation By the Numbers

5 -- Number of Days we have been on vacation
5 -- Number of Days it has RAINED while on vacation
4 -- Number of trips to get ice cream
4 -- Number of times we were almost hit by someone TEXTING while driving in Florida
3 -- Number of wrong turns we took to get to the beach
3 -- Number of people who fell off jetskiis in 2 separate incidents
2 -- Number of times the Coast Guard Police pulled my brother-in-law over for violations while jetskiing
2 -- Number of family members who cried during Toy Story 3
1-- Number of times a bird POOPED on my LEG while at the beach
1 -- Number of times another bird DROPPED A BONE on the beach umbrella I was sitting under!
Countless - number of memories we are making each and every day.