Clamoring

I saw these burros clamoring for attention.

And then I realized why I don't get much done.

Kelly Corrigan, in her memoir The Middle Place, has this to say about her desire to have four children:

"The way I see it, if you have four kids, you don't really have to do anything else, ever.  Three kids is a handful, but one that many people manage to hold.  If you're a mother of four, you definitely don't have to have a career or volunteer for the school fund-raiser or even bring an appetizer to the dinner party.  In fact, people give you a lot of credit for wearing both earrings and knowing how to spell chaos and antidepressant.  Four kids gives you a pass for every forgotten birthday, overlooked appointment, and missing form.  Plus, you can be late for everything the rest of your life and never return phone calls.  Who's gonna blame you?  It's like having a nonthreatening cancer, forever."

Others may not overlook my slackery* ways simply becuase I have four children.  

But maybe I should forgive myself some of my
undone projects and
unread books and
lack of career and
forgotten appointments...
And also enjoy the voices and needs and love of my four children.

*"slackery" I stole from SIL Jen.  She has a way with words.

Signs

Sometimes it's okay to ignore the warning signs.

Because sometimes they are wrong.

Behind the sign was this:

Here is a sign I obeyed.

I didn't want to disturb this:

Have you ever been to the Gulf beaches in Florida?

I'm pretty sure that if God chose his own beach, this would be it.

Do you see my white towel on the railing?

The sand really is that white.

The water really is turquoise.

(even if my photography skills couldn't capture the color!)

We were at Tyndall Air Force Base beach (near Panama City, FL).

We had it almost entirely to ourselves.

There was no oil in sight.

A sigh of relief.

I didn't travel any further West.

I was afraid of what I might see.

In my mind, God's Own Beach just can't be disturbed.

Summer

One great summer.

And then it's gone.

 School starts next week.
I feel a little cheated.
But until then I will relish the last few moments of summer.
And I will float in the pool.
And I will get immersed in a sewing project.
And I will get lost in a romance novel--
reading in the bathtub.
And I will drowse until noon--or at least 8 AM.
And I will cry at a wedding.
And I will laugh with my sister.
And I will watch a movie with my children.
And I will enjoy a perfectly ripe, fresh-picked berry.

What will you do with your last days of summer?

Comfortable

This little beauty was making friends with Sophia.
I watched as the butterfly fluttered around her.
Curious.
A quick visit.
Then returning.
And finally settling in for a nice comfortable stay.

(I find Sophia intriguing as well)

It's sometimes like that with making friends.
Noticing someone interesting.
Like a girl crush.
Fluttering around her.
Coming back again.
And then settling in for a nice comfortable stay.

Don't you just love a comfortable stay?


(and tell Olivia this can't really be a moth since it didn't fly into my face in the dark...)

Date Night

When I was hoping for the "on call" Doug to not get called.

I was dreaming we would slip away for a date night.

An escape to a movie being especially appealing.

With possibly a barrel of popcorn.

And a vat of Diet Coke.

But sometimes other things become date night.

I am grateful for the ability to enjoy my guy even when date night does not go as planned...

Coloring in the lines

My blogosphere friend, Jill, left a message for me after reading the post "Fading Away." 

I will share my reply, just in case any of my other blog friends have this little problem:

"Okay, I tried the CG lipstain upon your recommendation! It looked like I let a 3-year old put marker on my lips. Is there a secret to applying it?? :)"
                                                     --Jill

My reply:
Oh dear, Jill!  I've made you stain your lips!
Well, I usually put it on kind of lightly and then blot with my finger.
I don't like a really strong lip, and this has been working for me.
Sorry I didn't give specifics before.
I hope you'll try again.
In the meantime, don't even think of Bozo the Clown.
Unless you're thinking how much prettier you are...
Cindy

Anyone else have lip stain suggestions?
A lighter color perhaps?
Darn that Sonia Kashuk for discontinuing hers!

Belly Laugh

Somewhere between the boy and the man,
lurks the belly laugh.

I hope he will always belly laugh in the tides.

And catch critters.

And get buried in the sand.

And be Eddie.

Maturity be damned.

We all need more belly laughs.

Emotional

I don't know if everyone feels this way.

Does it have something to do with my years as a military wife?
 I will really cry when we sing the patriotic songs today.

Happy Birthday us.

Uncharacteristically Bright

In opposition to my previous post about fading away,

I like my pedicure to be very neutral--beige or pinkish.

 (Revlon Fuchsia Fever #901)

Imagine Olivia's surprise and delight.
I chose her pink polish to color my toes.