My Heart is Hungry

Let me preface this and say that homeschooling is often difficult and time consuming. Often I’ve felt I’m neglecting the littlest member of my family but I never realized how much she felt it too.

Late afternoon, after a long day of school where I rotated Baby Duck between writing her name, coloring, some PBS cartoons she came into the kitchen and climbed up to the bar where I was preparing dinner and said, “Mommy, my heart is hungry.” And it absolutely broke my heart. Those who home school know that it is often a balancing act getting everything done. There are only so many hours in each day.

I want the best for my girls and so I find that often I am so focused on the next thing on my “to do” list I forget that hugging, cuddling and playing are just as important in the world of a three year old. She’s only going to be little for such a short while, I need to remember that she needs that extra touch, kiss and cuddle. So it is my prayer that I keep her heart full and she’s never hungry.

Doesn’t this picture just make you want to grab her up and snuggle her?

Dressing Rooms

Let me begin by adamantly stating “I HATE TRYING ON NEW CLOTHING!” and thus I hate dressing rooms. Why are they so stinking small? Why is the lighting so unflattering? And I’m convinced that the mirrors are like those at a fun house and MUST add at least 20 pounds. Okay, so that is simply wishful thinking and in all honestly if I was fit and firm dressing rooms would probably be my friend.

Now when you add in the additional element of three daughters and a single dressing room things can get interesting. Yesterday the four of us found ourselves crammed inside a 3’ x 3’ dressing room, me trying on jeans in various double digit sizes and the peanut gallery; my own personal reality show in the making. Middle Duck keeps up a running commentary critiquing each pair of jeans and various portions of my ample anatomy. Baby Duck alternates between licking the mirror, and trying to escape via crawling into the adjoining dressing room, or simply opening the door. Eldest Duck is wisely keeping her comments and hands to herself but had the dressing room been larger I’m sure she would have simply started doing sit-ups. (In the past she has simply watched me try on clothing and broken into a spontaneous exercise routine.)

I ended up leaving without any jeans, vowing to start and stick to a diet and exercise program. Next time I think I’ll invest in a baby sitter.

Work Out Log

November
11/09/08 - Walked 3 miles
11/10/08 - Spin Class & Walk/Jogged 1.5 Miles
11/11/08 - Body Pump & Walked 2 Miles
11/19/08 - Walk/Jog 3 miles
11/20/08 - Walk/Jog 3 miles
11/27/08 - Walk in the hill country of TX for 1 hour

December

Lunch Date

One of my most favorite things to do is to have lunch with a girlfriend and just chat. As a home schooling Mom it doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, it always lifts my spirits and I come away smiling.

Today, I had the opportunity to have one of those lunches. It was my friend’s birthday and for me that was enough of an excuse to have lunch. (I know I’m supposed to work my part time job on Tuesdays, BUT it was her birthday!) Plus today the girls were at a home school program sponsored by a local church, so I could have a peaceful lunch without uttering, “Sit down and eat your food!” numerous times. Oh the bliss of grown up conversation. Ahhhhhh.

I love visiting with this particular friend because she stretches me intellectually. She’s one smart cookie and I appreciate the depth of her thoughts. Today we shared the daily adventures of raising children covering everything from sibling rivalry to unfortunate incidents. (Or SS’s as she calls them.) Then it got deep with a discussion about faith, healing, and forgiveness. So in addition to some good food for my body, I got some food for thought about selfish motives for forgiving someone.