Lutheran Thrifty Mama

The newest addition to our family is furry

2012-02-14T19:30:00.005-06:00

Beckett

Before last week, I thought our little geekling due at the end of May would be the newest addition to our family.

I was wrong.

A while back, Jim mentioned a black kitten that had been dropped off at Zion St. John. It was friendly, he said, and really good with the students. He was tempted to bring it home, but since we already have two cats, a toddler and a baby on the way, we figured it was better to let kitty roam.

Beware the tender heart — it will lead you down the path to becoming a crazy cat lady.

Then last Tuesday, Jim sent me a text asking “Do you want another cat?” By then, we’d heard the predictions for heavy snowfall over the weekend and I couldn’t stand the thought of that sweet kitty freezing to death in a country ditch.

“Yes,” I texted back. I made an appointment with the vet for later that afternoon. Despite the rational side of my brain thinking “Three cats? Really? Who needs three cats?” I was excited to meet our new kitten.

Bad news comes via text message.

“I let the cat out to use the bathroom and it didn’t come back,” Jim texted a while later. “Not sure if it’s gone.”

Disappointed, I canceled the appointment with Reb and went home to pay attention to Winston and Rosie.

Early Thursday morning, Jim called me at home — the kitten was back and if we wanted it, I needed to come get it now.

Evangeline and I were immediately enchanted with the six-month-old kitten we named Beckett. After receiving a clean bill of health from Reb, we took him home to meet Winston and Rosie.

After the requisite amount of hissing and pouting, the older cats accepted Beckett ... or at least tolerate his presence.

My uncle once told me one child takes all your time and money — so you might as well have a few more to keep her company.

I’m discovering it’s not so very different with cats, either.

On the Lighter Side

Published Feb. 8, 2012

Objectivity shouldn’t come at expense of reader interaction

2012-02-01T12:30:00.004-06:00

Another of my newspaper columns and a disclaimer: If you're not affiliated with the newspaper industry or live in my corner of Northeast Nebraska, this probably won't be the most interesting ever. But if you are a consumer of local news in any form, it might be worth a read just to know what happens on the other side of the broadsheet.

I'm sure there are soulless, morality-free journalists out there.

I just don't know any of them.

Here at the Wisner News-Chronicle, we just sent off our entries for the Nebraska Press Association’s 2011 Better Newspaper Contest.

The contest challenges Nebraska newspapers of all sizes to enter their best work from the previous year. Organized newsrooms keep a running record of photos, features, layouts and special sections they feel are worthy to be entered. That is not the procedure here — which isn’t to say we’re not organized, for the record. We just have a different method.

Jeff, Jamie, Marilyn, Elaine and I spend a few weeks in January poring over the past 52 newspapers. I don’t quite know how to describe the feeling that comes from reviewing the body of a year’s work — it’s equal parts surprising and mortifying. It’s surprising because often I’ve forgotten what we’ve covered; it’s kind of like finding a extra $5 in a coat pocket. It’s mortifying because you see precisely what you should have done better ... and didn’t.
the bane of a newspaper’s existence: Every mistake or poorly designed page doesn’t go away. It’s printed in black and white and impossible to ignore.

But we’ve come a long way, design-wise. It was almost a year ago when we switched over to the redesign, which included new body copy, headline fonts and fresh take on our front page flag. It’s made life much easier from a page layout standpoint, and I hope it’s been a positive change for our readers, too.

So every year after our entries are on their way to Lincoln for judging, I resolve to make our upcoming newspapers the best I can.

At my first newspaper job, a colleague told me the reason contests exist is so reporters, photographers and designers can get affirmation from their peers. To receive praise from your readership is, in a sense, to relinquish the objectivity necessary for producing unbiased news.

I’ve revised my views on that sentiment since working at the News-Chronicle. Certainly we want to be objective, but I don’t think it needs to come at the expense of reader interaction.

I like hearing how people react to our newspaper — what they like, what they don’t, their suggestions for stories we could cover. It is, after all, the readers who are the reason we produce a newspaper each week. There is nothing more affirming than to hear people can’t wait to open their News-Chronicle each week — that they feel out of the loop if they don’t read it.

Newspaper contests give us a chance to reflect and review, to reevaluate and renew our vision for the coming year.
But we don’t write to win contest awards. We write, photograph and design for you, our readers.

Look! I was a winner, that one time!

On the Lighter Side

Published February 1, 2012

A motto for mothers

2012-01-31T12:15:00.000-06:00

Evangeline, 15 months

Last Sunday in church, I had a glimpse of what my daughter will look like when she's grown up. Newsflash: She is going to be completely gorgeous.

I know, I know — it's so typical for mothers to believe their children are the smartest, the cutest, the most talented. You know why? Because each child, to her mother, is. We always like to hear compliments about our children from other people, certainly, but deep down, we know it instinctively.

I didn't understand that kind of love before I became a mother. I knew my mom loved me, inexplicably sometimes, especially during my difficult high school days. But I didn't understand how strong it is, how deeply-rooted and insistent it is. How wonderful and bittersweet it is.

There is nothing more limitless than my daughter's potential right now. She could be anything, do anything, go anywhere — her future is wide-open and full of possibilities. It would be so easy to be intimidated by that and give into the fear that if I'm somehow lacking as a mother, her life will be destroyed. Instead, I'm humbled by incredible honor it is to shape a young person ... and fortified in the belief that, with the grace of God, I can help to make Evangeline's life be one of purpose and faith.

Even on the days when she's pushed me to my limit — and believe me, there's a lot of mischief behind that little grin — I'm always a bit sad to put her into bed at night. I'd be hard-pressed to pick out a favorite time with her, but snuggling right before bedtime has to be up there on the list. She is so active during the day, it's a treat to feel her little limbs relax and watch her long eyelashes droop onto her cheeks.

If I could prolong these sweet days when my girl is little, I would. Simultaneously, I wouldn't, because I am so excited to see what kind of a person she will grow up to be. It's times like this when it would be handy to have a TARDIS. Since I don't, I fall back on the saying that's become my motherhood motto:

Enjoy each day for the joys it brings. Don't wish the time away and don't regret what's already passed. Look forward to what lies ahead.

No excuse for not passing it on

2012-01-25T12:30:00.000-06:00

I will be completely honest: When Peggy Liermann asked me over a year ago to consider becoming a TeamMates mentor, I was hesitant. With a baby due in October, I didn’t see how fitting an hour every week for mentoring would work in my schedule. So I told her to ask me in a year, figuring that if she was anything like me, it would be forgotten in the bustle of daily life.

Fortunately, Peggy is not me. Sure enough, last August she approached me again and this time, I knew there was no excuse.

A background check, a couple of hours of training and an overview of the TeamMates mentoring program — founded in 1991 by Tom and Nancy Osborne to provide support and encouragement to school-aged youth — and I was ready to meet my mentee.

Here’s what I’ve discovered in my first semester of mentoring: It’s fun. It’s rewarding. It’s much less of a time commitment than I anticipated. The hour I spend with my student passes more quickly than any other hour in the week. We talk, write and she beats me at Yahtzee nearly every game.

January is National Mentoring Month and Jan. 26 has been designated as “Thank Your Mentor Day.”

I’ve been blessed to have several excellent mentors in my life, people who took an interest in my passions and nurtured me in the pursuit of them. Without them, I don’t know that I’d be doing what I am today, and I am thankful for their positive influences.

There are two ways to honor your mentor: 1) Contact your mentor to express your appreciation and 2) Pass it on by becoming a mentor to a young person in your community.

I don’t meet with my mentors for an hour every week — in fact, it’s been years since I’ve seen most of them. But they’re never far from my thoughts, especially on the days when I serve as a mentor.

Mentoring isn’t about perfection or solving every problem. It’s about encouragement and support, building a relationship with youth to give them a sense of purpose and hope.

It’s about passing it on.

On the Lighter Side

Published January 25, 2012

A tale of two searches

2012-01-18T15:00:00.000-06:00

I started this blog five years ago as I sat in a cold and lonely hallway, waiting for EPS school board members to emerge from executive session about their search for a superintendent and tell me "No comment." It was not the best time of my life.

But it got better and now I'm covering another superintendent search, this time with much less hallway-sitting and futile phone-calling. Comparing the two districts may be comparing apples and oranges — virtually everything about them, from size to student demographic, is different — and yet I was struck by how much more efficiently and openly this search has been conducted.

Not everyone is passionate about education politics. I honestly can't say I am, either. But as a tax-paying citizen, I appreciate that our school board members are being accountable to the district's patrons by willingly sharing information with local media (i.e., me).

In a political climate where most elected officials are notorious for spin and secrecy, it's refreshing to encounter an example of precisely the opposite.

Transparency is a valuable quality in superintendent search

Wisner-Pilger’s superintendent search is not the first one I’ve ever covered.

When I moved to Enid, OK, five years ago, the city’s largest school district was preparing to start a search of their own. As the education beat reporter, it was my job to let our readers know how the process worked, who was involved and how close the school board was to finding a new superintendent.

During my first week on the job, as the newspaper’s editors explained what they wanted, it didn’t seem like an insurmountable task. Go to a few meetings, talk to some people, write it up — all that I could do.

However, I quickly discovered it wasn’t as simple as I’d hoped.

One problem was the fact that the search committee was extremely reluctant to speak with anyone outside their group. That most definitely included a newspaper reporter.

At least one night a week, I’d camp outside a closed-door meeting, waiting for hours to see if anyone would emerge with information to share with me. Sometimes all I needed was a simple “no comment,” but even that was hard-won.

Eventually, the committee began meeting at country clubs outside of town, changing their meeting locations and times. Each time, I’d be dispatched to wait, to pester, to glean whatever scraps of information I could.

One point the committee was especially close-lipped about were who potential superintendent candidates were. At one point, my editor told me to identify where vehicles in the parking lot came from; an impossible task, as Oklahoma license plates are alpha-numerical instead of labeled by county like they are in Nebraska.

I hated it so much. Instead of doing what I thought I’d be hired to do, I was venturing uncomfortably close to tabloid territory. I sympathized with the search committee members; I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to be peppered with questions about an issue I didn’t want to discuss.

Mostly, though, I felt sorry for the patrons of the district who were being kept in the dark, despite my best efforts to do otherwise.

Happily, Wisner-Pilger’s superintendent search is less fraught with secrecy. The search committee has been helpful and forthright, willing to answer questions and share information. As a reporter and as a district taxpayer, I know precisely how valuable that transparency is.

This isn’t my first superintendent search. But it’s the first one that’s not a nightmare to cover.

On the Lighter Side

Published January 18, 2012

Love is weird

2012-01-17T08:00:00.000-06:00

Lily and Kathryn, I'm probably going to use this quote at both of your weddings.

Just so you know ...

"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love."

Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss)

There is a lid for every pot. My lid's name is Jim. I'm awfully fond of him.

At the Potluck

2012-01-16T20:15:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the inaugural "At the Potluck" post at Lutheran Thrifty Mama!

I dearly love church potluck dinners (or as our church calls them, "pot-blessed" dinners). Each dish reflects the creativity and practicality of its maker. The men and women of Northeast Nebraska — because, contrary to popular belief, cooking is not limited to one gender — are busy and hard-working. We have enough time to make food that tastes good and is good for you, but we don't have time to traipse all over the grocery store looking for hard-to-find and harder-to-pronounce ingredients. Instead, the components of potluck dishes are accessible and familiar; much of the time, they're even produced a few miles from where they'll be consumed. (OK, so ours usually aren't, but it will be a different story this summer ...)

That's why potluck dishes are the inspiration for my kitchen style: They're practical, simple, wholesome. They might not always be pretty, but you can be sure they will taste like home.

Monday
Slow-cooked cheesy chicken and rice
Cooked carrots
Fruit cocktail salad

Tuesday
Pizza bagels
Lettuce salad
Leftover fruit salad

Wednesday
Creamy fiesta salsa chicken
Spanish rice
Apples/grapes

Thursday
Marinated pork chops
Crack potatoes
Cinnamon applesauce
Lettuce salad

Friday
Leftovers

Saturday
Lasagna
Lettuce salad
Garlic bread

Sunday
Chicken salad croissants
Green beans
Lemon pull-aparts (double batch - one for home, one for an arts reception in the afternoon)

At the potluck

2012-01-13T17:00:00.000-06:00

I have the best intentions when it comes to meal planning. When I really have my life together, I pull out my Taste of Home Quick Cooking cookbook, 2001 edition, (approximately 85% of what I cook comes from its cherry pie filling-stained pages) and write meals down on the blank calendars I have so dutifully printed out and stuck in the front of the book.

Source

And that's as far as it goes. Do I grocery shop for the ingredients, basic as they may be, needed for the quick and easy recipes? Do you think I would be writing this if the answer was yes?

The more realistic version of meal planning in my house happens in reverse. I reflect on the meals I made over the past week and figure out what worked and what ... didn't.

Here's how the main courses of last week played out:

Monday- Slow-cooked beef stroganoff

I put some frozen roast beef (pre-cooked), a bag of frozen green beans, a can of cream of mushroom soup, half a can of water and some sour cream in the slow cooker and let it cook on high for 5 hours. (I would have put in on low for 8 hours if I had got it ready before I left for work.) After it was done cooking, I served it over noodles with sour cream.

Reaction from the Food Critic (aka Jim): The meat was a little on the fatty side. Since the meat was gifted to us, I'm not too concerned about it.

Additional notes: It would also be good served over rice.

Tuesday- Pizza bagels

I cut three plain bagels in half and layered them with pizza sauce, cheese and pepperoni. I broiled them for five minutes.

Reaction from The Food Critic: Yum! Are there more?

Notes: This would also work well with English muffins.

Wednesday- Coachmen's!

Jim went to a basketball game with a friend, so I ordered in a taco salad from our

favorite local restaurant.

Thursday- Ham and cheese scrambled eggs and strawberry milkshakes

Pretty self-explanatory, although I like putting ketchup on my eggs. I wish I could say it's a pregnancy thing ... but it's not.

Reaction from The Food Critic: Non-committal, but since he went to Bible class with a full stomach, I'm counting it as a win.

Friday- ????

I really don't know what's going to be on the table tonight. We're going to auditions at the community theatre tonight for Willie Wonka: The Musical, so it's possible we'll enjoy a delicious sandwich from our newly-opened Subway.

I tend to cook only at suppertime since breakfast is grab-and-go (yogurt, bananas, bagels, toast or cereal) and lunch is usually leftovers. My go-to kitchen appliance is the slow cooker. I've found that if you put in meat, vegetables or potatoes and cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup, let it do its thing for 6-8 hours and serve over rice or pasta, it turns out OK. Is it gourmet? Absolutely not. But I'm a Lutheran Swede and therefore anything starchy in white sauce resonates with me.

While this catch-as-catch-can method has worked for my family for well, basically always, I'm trying to get a bit more organized before Stormy joins us in May. (That's why I ordered a cute Home Management Notebook from Kayse at FindingHope.com - I can't wait to use it!) It's not that I'm lacking in recipes or even the skills to make meals: It's the execution of meal planning where I fail.

So I'm going to be more intentional about planning menus — every Sunday I'll post the menu I'm planning for the coming week, take-out and all. I'll be honest: My recipes aren't exceptional or original. But they work for me, a busy working mom and community volunteer, and if you like the type of food found at a church potluck, you're in the right place.

Check here on Sundays for "At the Potluck" at Lutheran Thrifty Mama!

Good enough for Benjamin Franklin, good enough for me

2012-01-12T13:00:00.000-06:00

http://dailyroutines.typepad.com/daily_routines/statesmen/

Is it me, or does this week seem really long ... and, as of this writing, it’s only Tuesday?

I suppose that’s the price you pay for consecutive three-day weekends. With Monday being our busiest day at the News-Chronicle, it was strange last week to be sipping decaffeinated coffee in my pajamas at 9 a.m. instead of laying out pages. Strange, but nice.

Now it’s back to reality, and even though this week seems interminable, I’m glad. Being Lutheran and a fourth-generation German-Swede, it should come as no surprise that I’m a creature of habit.

For the sanity of my family and co-workers, that’s a very good thing. If I’m not ready to head out the door by 7:30 a.m., weekday or weekend, there’s a good chance nothing productive is going to happen that day. There’s a mental fork in the road at that time of the morning. One road leads to a day full of getting down to business ... the other leads to a Netflix marathon.

There’s a reason why most parenting books recommend developing routines for children — there’s nothing better for creating a sense of stability and security than knowing what to expect.

Take a look at any schoolchild’s daily schedule and you’ll see it clearly illustrated. Every minute is designated to a specific lesson or activity. If you ask any teacher, you’ll find out the most trying days in the classroom are the ones that diverge from The Schedule. (The capitalization is intentional; it really is that important.)

I don’t think it’s any different for adults. There aren’t many certain things in life, but having a general idea of what’s coming at you each day helps prepare you for that uncertainty.

It doesn’t take a big leap, then, to figure out why January is a popular month to purchase new personal planners and calendars, digital or otherwise. It’s a new year, time for a new start.
Benjamin Franklin suggested the following “scheme of employment for the twenty-four hours of the natural day”:

5-7 a.m. Rise, wash and address Powerful Goodness (God)! Contrive day’s business, and take the resolution of the day; prosecute the present study, and breakfast.

8-11 a.m. Work.

12-1 p.m. Read, or look over my accounts, and dine.

2-5 p.m. Work.

5-9 p.m. Put things in their places. Supper. Music or diversion, or conversation. Examination of the day.

10 p.m.-4 a.m. Sleep

Two questions should be asked every day, according to Franklin. Morning: What good shall I do this day? Evening: What good have I done today?

If a set routine was good enough for one of America’s Founding Fathers, it’s certainly good enough for me. While I don’t know that I’ll get up by 5 a.m. willingly (after the baby is born, though, sleeping in until then will be a luxury), it’s a good template to adapt for my own life.

Each day deserves routine to ensure a balance between work and play.

Sources: The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and http: dailyroutines.typepad.com.

On the Lighter Side

Published January 11, 2012

Promises, not resolutions, for 2012

2012-01-04T08:00:00.000-06:00

There are no New Year’s resolutions on my horizon for 2012.

Seemingly positive on the surface — who doesn’t want to lose weight or eat their recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables? — resolutions are really negative.

Essentially, resolutions are an exercise in self-loathing: You’re identifying the things about yourself you dislike most. I don’t know about you, but some days that’s the only exercise I get.

Add to that the fact we already live in an extremely critical environment. Turn on any television news channel or read online commentary and you’ll quickly find out what’s wrong with everyone else.

It isn’t bad to recognize wrong-doing or to offer suggestions on how to correct a problem. Self-examination can be healthy and it’s necessary for personal growth. But it’s also okay to lighten up on yourself. That’s why I think promises, and not resolutions, are a better way to approach the new year.

So here’s the two-step process to make New Year’s promise: First, identify personal habits and qualities you like about yourself. Promise yourself you’ll keep on doing what you do well, and give yourself credit for it.
Second, promise to reward yourself. I love to read, so whether it’s for 10 minutes or an hour, that’s my daily treat. Have some fun and pick your own.

It’s a simple approach, but it’s one that I hope will lead to a 2012 full of promise.

On the Lighter Side

Published January 4, 2012

•••

I didn't include this in my weekly newspaper column — the governor's column had to get in somehow — plus, I thought it was a bit self-indulgent for that medium. But that's not a problem here, so without further ado, here are my promises for 2012:

• I promise to continue being a mother to Evangeline (and soon, Stormageddon!), and being amazed each day at what a blessing they are.

• I promise to be a good example for E and Stormy, modeling patience and compassion in my words and actions.

• I promise to devote time to being a wife and friend to the Captain, making him know he takes priority in my heart and life.

• I promise to keep taking care of my body and the precious life growing inside me, with moderate exercise and healthy eating habits.

• I promise to take time for myself, knowing that a wife, mother and employee who is serene makes a better environment for everyone around her.

• I promise to make time for my extended family, whether that means regular phone calls, cards or, even better, getting to see them in person.

• I promise to ground myself in God's Word daily, that all my doings and life, being ordered by Him, would be pleasing in His sight.

My rewards for 2012 won't be much different from what they were in 2011, though I expect they'll be even sweeter — and rarer — with two children in tow:

• Reading: I promise to read, every day possible, both for recreation and for education.

• Thrifting: I promise to be an intentional thrifter, purchasing what my family needs and a little bit of what they want.

• Writing: I promise to write something every day, even if it's as insignificant as a clever quotation.

I'd love to hear what some of your 2012 promises and rewards are!

A yearly tradition finds new life

2012-01-03T17:30:00.000-06:00

Growing up, my New Year’s tradition was to write a letter to my future self to be read in a year’s time. I still have them, bundled up in a box somewhere in the closet, but I don’t need to read them to remember what they say:

2000, 2001, 2002: “Maybe this is the year HE will notice you! You never know!” I wrote for three out of the four years of high school. And yes, I meant the same boy each year. And no, it never happened.

2003: “By this time next year, you’ll be halfway through your first year of college. I can’t believe you’ll be out of high school!”

2004: “This guy, Jim, seems pretty cool. I wonder where we’ll be in a year.”

2006: “Wow, next year you’ll be signing this letter as Mrs. Kirk. I can’t wait for July!”

2007: “Good bye, Concordia. Hello, Enid News & Eagle.”

2008: “Wisner’s a pretty nice place. I hope you stick around here for a while.”

Then I stopped writing my yearly letters. I felt that after high school and college graduations, a wedding and a “real” job, there wasn’t much left to anticipate.

In a way, I wasn’t completely wrong. The early part of my twenties was packed full of life-changing events, most of them good. After so much activity, though, it was bound to slow down. What I didn’t anticipate was how much I would enjoy the “settling down” phase of my life.

I like going home every night to Jim and Evangeline, knowing we can look forward to an evening of family time. I enjoy completing the regular chores it takes to keep the household running smoothly, knowing that a sink full of dirty dishes means we’re eating well and a pile of dirty laundry means we’re all in the same place. I cherish Sundays at church, reciting the liturgy and singing hymns my great-grandparents also sang.

And with a young child in the house, there are still plenty of surprises to keep life interesting. I would never have guessed, writing my letters as a teenager, the joy a new tooth brings, or the simple pleasure of tucking in a sleepy baby for the night.

As I wrote our family newsletter, I had so much to say about Evangeline’s accomplishments over the past year. When I got to filling in relatives on what Jim and I had been up to, though, I was amazed that not much had changed for us in 2011.

Then I realized I can trade in my old tradition for a new one: Writing a letter for Evangeline to read in a year’s time, a letter detailing my hopes for her in 2012.

There’s a whole world of firsts waiting for my daughter, and I’m excited to be by her side as she experiences them.

PS: A confession - it's the third day of 2012 and I haven't written Evangeline's letter yet. As she is currently content playing with new baby doll (thanks Aunt Astra!), I don't think she'll mind too much.

On the Lighter Side

Published December 28, 2011

An improvised closet

2011-12-22T16:00:00.000-06:00

Jim and I live in a very old house. The original deed to the land dates from the 1880s (interestingly, verbage in the deed prohibits the sale of liquor on our property), and from the construction of the house, we assume it is from the same period.

While I love the history and charm of our nest, it is somewhat lacking in certain features. Closets, for example. Or, more accurately, closets in useful locations. We have a generous closet upstairs in our bedroom, as well as a decent-sized one for Evangeline. But with no hall closet for coats, gloves, hats, boots and the vacuum and other things we need daily, we're limited for space.

Then we got creative. There are two doors leading into Evangeline's room and one of them is quite short. If Jim wears boots, he has to duck to clear the door. We don't use it that much, so we converted it into a closet.

First, we took a $4 suspension rod and adjusted it to fit the width of the doorway.

Then I took a $6 wire shelf from Goodwill and stacked it with canvas bins ($6 each) to store gloves, mittens, hats and scarves.

And there you have it, an improvised hall closet in 5 minutes for under $30.

Thank you to our community’s secret Santas

2011-12-21T12:30:00.000-06:00

On Sunday, I had the rare privilege of listening to Pastor Mayes’s sermon during church.

I say rare, because a typical Sunday morning for me is not a peaceful time; instead, it’s a wrestling match. My daughter is skilled at many things, but sitting through church quietly is not one of them.

But last Sunday, I sang in choir and Jim got to corral our squirmy 14-month-old. What I took away most of all from the sermon was that as Christians, we’re called to meet our neighbors’ needs before our own wants.

It’s an area in which I often fail, especially at this time of year.

I enjoy picking out gifts for family and friends, imagining their faces as they tear open the wrapping paper and anticipating the joy they’ll receive from them. I’m also quite good at picking out odds and ends for myself during shopping excursions. If it’s on sale and I’ve been eyeing it for a while, it’s probably going to end up in my stocking.

What can I say? I’m my own Santa.

While I don’t believe this is completely reprehensible behavior, there is room for improvement.

Growing up, my parents instilled the importance of also giving to people we don’t know at Christmas time. We participated in Operation Christmas Child and similar programs. It’s a practice I want to model for Evangeline and her future little brother or sister. Although my children can’t comprehend it yet — Evangeline is too young and Little Kirk won’t be born until May — I continued the tradition this year on their behalf locally.

I’ve heard there are many secret Santas in our community, giving snow boots and grocery gift cards or helping to pay utility bills.

I understand their preference for anonymity, but sometimes I wish it was known who they are. It would be nice to thank them personally.

You know who you are, so consider this addressed to you: Thank you for helping to create a community of giving and of compassion, and for reminding me about putting my neighbors’ needs above my own wants.

Merry Christmas.

On the Lighter Side
Published December 21, 2011

Odds and Ends

2011-12-17T08:35:00.000-06:00

Here's a brief description of my writing process.

I usually sit down to write my weekly column on Tuesday morning ... three hours before the paper goes to press. This might seem odd, considering I have a whole week to work on it, but most of the time, I've been incubating an idea for at least a week — or longer.

I always hated the writing process I learned in school: Write a topic, rough draft, proofread, second draft, proofread, final copy. Each step was meant to be written out, labeled neatly with which part of the process it was.

For me, it was limiting and slow and I had so many ideas I couldn't wait for my partner to have the time to read my rough draft.

It's no different now. I'm constantly turning over phrases and concepts in my mind. While I'm doing dishes, I'm composing an opening paragraph. When I fold towels, I'm thinking about how to tie in that lead to my conclusion.

It's a process, all right, but it's my own.

It's the same with this blog. I have a few drafts saved, parts of which may someday see the light of day. But most of the time, post drafts live in my head, where I access them without a computer.

So before I forget them in the midst of celebrating Christ's birth with my nearest and dearest, here are a few pieces I've been meaning to share:

Jim and I both graduated from Concordia University, and at the risk of sounding like Andy from The Office, I don't talk about it too often. I love my alma mater. It's the place where my life began ... literally. It's where I made some of my best friends. It's where I discovered my calling in life as a journalist. It's where I learned what it meant to be a Lutheran. It's where I fell in love with the most honest, sincere and best man I've ever met.

So naturally, I'm hoping Evangeline will have the chance to enroll at Concordia in 18 years. I shudder to think what college tuition will be like then, but God will provide. (Case in point: Private College 529 Plan.)

In the meantime, I signed her up for Legacy Link, a program at Concordia for children or grandchildren of alumni. She'll receive age-appropriate CU gifts periodically, and will have on-campus opportunities as she gets older.

It's not exactly the type of Christmas present you can wrap and put under the tree, but it's a gift that will keep on giving over the years.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, bar none. I try to practice an attitude of gratitude daily, yet having a day set aside specifically for it helps me refocus on the abundant blessings in my life.

It's also a time to express thanks to people who put their lives in harm's way to defend our nation, both here and abroad. With many veterans and an active service member in both Jim's and my families, supporting the United States' Armed Forces is important to us.

So the day after Thanksgiving, we participated in the Holiday Mail for Heroes program. Red Cross sponsors the holiday card drive every year. Participants write holiday cards to "Dear Service Member," wishing them a safe holiday and a sincere thank you for their service. Cards are mailed to service members serving overseas and at home, to families of service members and to veterans.

A $3 box of Christmas cards from Target and a few pens were all we needed to express our gratitude and prayers for a safe return. Afterward, I bundled them up and mailed them. So simple. It's somewhat embarrassing, the small effort we put forth compared to what our correspondents sacrifice daily.

The deadline for submissions was Dec. 9, so I presume the cards are well on their way. I hope our messages (you can read part of my grandmother's in the photo above) let their recipients know how grateful we are to them.

So, Thanksgiving was a month away and Christmas is quickly approaching. Jim and I are hosting it this year, with my mom, sisters and brother and some festive homemade pizzas. For once, I feel somewhat organized and prepared, with gifts (small but thoughtful) wrapped and ready for giving to family, friends and co-workers. The tree, with its cat-and-baby-deterrent system, is still standing and a few simple decorations have made it into the house.

I'm a little neurotic about my household surfaces. To me, visual clutter creates mental clutter. Therefore, my countertops and tables are almost always clear of stacks of paper and knick-knacks. (My closets and drawers, on the other hand, are another story ...)

These photos illustrate about how crafty and decorate-y I get for Christmas. A glass hostess bowl filled with colorful bulbs, the silver candelabra we received as a wedding gift from German relatives, a strange little glass snowman, origin unknown, and a homemade Nativity wall-hanging, given as a gift for our first Christmas together in 2007.

•••

Now I feel like I often do on Tuesday mornings after a writing frenzy: Relaxed, a little tired, mildly euphoric. That's not because I believe I've written the Best Thing Ever; it's a sense of satisfaction that comes from seeing a thought you've nurtured come to life.

Online lives aren’t perfect

2011-12-14T12:30:00.001-06:00

As usual, I’m behind the times with Internet trends. So when I mention the website Pinterest, I’m guessing it won’t be news to most of you who are inclined to spend time online.

It should come with a warning: Five Pinterest minutes are equivalent to 45 regular minutes — plan accordingly.

Essentially, it’s an online bulletin board where users “pin” interesting articles, crafts, recipes, home decorating ideas and organizing tips they find on other websites. Maybe it’s not geared solely toward women, but abundance of purse and shoes “pins” leads me to believe they’re the majority of users.

That’s perfectly fine with me. Bring on the cute baby pictures, the romantic wedding dresses, the cheesy hashbrown recipes — it’s like the world’s greatest women’s magazine. But free.

In my self-imposed restricted access to Pinterest (I know myself and I’ve got to set limits, otherwise Jim would never eat or have clean clothes), I’ve learned how to:

• Curl my hair with a sock;

• Tie a scarf in 24 different ways (did you know there was more than one method?);

• Store jewelry with silverware organizers;

• Create thoughtful and cute Christmas gifts;

• Make several varieties of easy Christmas cookies; and

• Economize on my grocery bill.

It’s not a social networking site in the model of Facebook or Twitter, but rather it’s a social catalog service. It demonstrates a shift in the use of the Internet from searching (like on Google or Amazon) to discovery, according to an article on techcrunch.com.

You can still enter search terms, like “easy Christmas cookie recipe,” but instead of getting results from the entire Internet, you get suggestions from other Pinterest users.

What that reminds me of is asking co-workers or family for recipes or household tips — something I regularly do — but on a much larger scale.

I have a feeling a lot of my sentences in the future will start with “I was on Pinterest and I found ...”

There’s definitely an abundance of information, both informative and entertaining, on Pinterest. But in addition to the time-sucking warning, I think maybe it should come with another one.

It’s this: You’re only seeing what they want you to see.

OK, that sounds a little “1984” but “they” refers to pinners, bloggers, website content writers ... frankly, people like me.

I’d rather put my best foot forward, whether it’s in person or online and so I tend to share the pretty moments of my life.

It’s the same on Pinterest. You’re not going to find pictures of burned Christmas cookies or messy houses because, well, we’re all rather familiar with it already.

The temptation is to believe that the creators of clever crafts and givers of generous gifts magically have it all figured out.

They don’t. Nobody does.

That’s what you have to keep in the back of your mind while scrolling through photos of beautifully decorated homes.

It probably took quite a bit of mess and chaos to get that way, and if it’s anything like my house, it won’t stay in its picture-perfect state for long.

On the Lighter Side

Published December 14, 2011

Not a mind reader, just a mom

2011-12-12T12:00:00.000-06:00

Our cat/baby deterrent system

This is my newspaper column from Dec. 7. Apparently Facebook doesn't allow copy and pasting into notes anymore (ask me how I feel about that), so I'm posting it here instead. Enjoy!

To decorate or not to decorate ... that was the question last week as I debated the wisdom of putting up a full-size Christmas tree in a house with an active 14-month-old and two feisty cats.

I got a lot of feedback on it — advice, tips and tricks for managing holiday cheer without too many broken bulbs or bent tree limbs. Eventually, we settled on a rather unorthodox solution, but after almost a week, the tree is still standing.

I’m going to call it a win.

Jim had a train set he received from his father as a child. We’ve moved the plywood track every place we’ve lived in the past five years, yet I’d forgotten completely about it.

But Jim hadn’t, and now it’s standing guard at the base of our tree. It’s a surprisingly good deterrent for the cats. The clacking of metal wheels along the rails, combined with the threat of a sensitive tail meeting an unfortunate accident has kept them sufficiently wary of climbing the tree ... at least as long the train is running and we’re watching them.

As far as Evangeline, she’s content just to look at the lights. Granted, there’s nothing on the bottom third of the tree to tempt her, either.

I have gotten some flack in the past for writing (at least in one person’s opinion) too much about my daughter.

Apparently, there’s an anonymous person out there who feels my column should conform more to what he or she wants to read.

It would have helped if that person had the courage to sign his or her name ... I’m not a mind reader.

But columns like last week’s remind me why I write about my journey as a mother — because it reminds people of their own experiences.

Whether or not you are a parent or grandparent, you probably have some children in your life and can relate.

And if you don’t, I’m sure there have been events in your life, maybe a new job, relationship or pet, a move, graduation or achievement, that draw close parallels to the upheaval and joy I associate with being a mother.

I’m sure my experiences with Evangeline will not be unique, if viewed in the entirety of parenthood over all time. But viewed through the lens of my own personal experience, each day is extraordinary.

On the Lighter Side

Published December 7, 2011

An announcement

2011-11-28T12:00:00.000-06:00

On a recent morning, I woke up 10 minutes before my alarm went off.
That, my friends, is a Very Good Sign.
It means, for the first time in quite a while, I'm rested.

You know the type of person who is always tired/overcommitted/crazy-busy ... and never lets you forget it?
I'm not going to be that person. A) Because it's slightly grating and B) I've got a very specific and wonderful reason for being tired: Geekling #2 will join our family in approximately 25 weeks.

It's definitely different the second time around. With E, I was relatively nausea-free and energized. This time ... not so much. It's nothing compared to what it could be, certainly, but I've definitely spent a few evenings in ~~quiet and dignified~~ misery.
On the plus side, I feel much more relaxed about the entire process. I have a general idea of what to expect and when, and while labor is not precisely a walk in the park, I know I can handle it.

Like a dutiful mother-to-be, I read every piece of material I was given while I was pregnant with E. Based on that, I planned to be in labor for at least 18 hours and at the hospital for a fair chunk of that time. So I figured an epidural would be welcome relief and included it in my birth plan.
Well.
From start to finish, I was in labor with E for 10 hours. We left our house around 2 a.m. and she was born shortly before 10 that morning. By the time I got the epidural at 9 a.m. (which took an hour to do, thank you very much), I was nearly ready to push. She was born less than an hour later.

So this time, I'm forgoing an epidural and opting for other pain-relief methods. I'm not Super Woman and I know how much it hurts. But getting the epidural was almost worse than labor and I'd really rather not repeat the experience.(Disclaimer: My intention isn't to malign epidurals. I know they work for many women. This was just my experience and shouldn't take the place of your doctor or midwife's advice and your own instincts.)

Aside from evening nausea and getting tired much more easily, life continues as usual. E grows more talkative every day and for the first time, she's cuddly: Leaning toward us for kisses and hugs, wrapping her arms around my neck, resting her head on her daddy's shoulder. What precipitated this, I have no idea, but I'm enjoying it tremendously.
I'll admit I've spent a couple of wakeful nights, imagining what life will be like with two children under two. I think I will probably never sleep again, is my prediction.
But if I never knew my capacity for love until I became a mother, I expect I'll be twice as amazed with two children to love and nurture.

Keeping a balance with technological ‘extras’

2011-11-16T15:43:00.001-06:00

Does anyone else find it difficult to keep up with technology? I’ve got enough to keep me busy that checking out the latest iWhatever or social networking site isn’t at the top of my priorities. And while I know much of technology today is geared toward efficiency and streamlining daily life, sometimes keeping up with it just feels like a lot of extra work.

That’s why I treat it like I did extracurricular activities in high school.

I loved music, drama and speech, and to dedicate enough time to those pursuits, I didn’t go out for sports. (The fact that I have as much athletic ability as a sloth perhaps contributed to that decision.)

So for my online “extracurriculars,” I’ve chosen Facebook and Twitter, plus maintaining a blog. There are plenty of other sites I’d love to explore and I’d happily trade in my “dumbphone” for a smarter version, but there’s a balance to maintain — and it needs to come out in favor of my real life.

I’ve had an on-again, off-again relationship with Facebook since 2005. Six years ago, you had to have a .org or .edu e-mail address to sign up for the site, which was marketed solely to college students. Gradually it expanded to accommodate users after they graduated. Today, virtually anyone who wants can have an account.

After Evangeline was born, I realized it’s a great way to share her milestones with relatives who otherwise wouldn’t get to see them.

The Wisner News-Chronicle’s Facebook page is another way for those farther away to connect with their hometown. I upload our weekly photos — even the ones that don’t make it into the paper — and post news updates throughout the week. Currently, we have 756 “likes,” or people who subscribe to our page, but I’d like to see that number grow. You can check us out at www.facebook.com/wisner.news.chronicle.

I signed up for Twitter in August and I’ve been taking baby steps toward learning how it works. A friend of mine told me it takes about six months to really “get” Twitter and she’s absolutely right.

It’s worth it to learn, though, and here’s why:

We post excerpts of our lead news stories on our website, www.wpnews.com, under the Wisner News heading. I typically post a link to it on our Facebook page, but last week, I decided to try something new. I wrote a tweet highlighting one story, posted the link on Twitter, and waited. In less than three minutes, the story had over 25 hits. To put that in perspective, most of our stories get around 60 hits per week.

Keep in mind the Wisner News-Chronicle’s Twitter account is quite new and we only have about 15 followers. Even if that’s a modest result, I’m pleased with it, and I can’t wait to see what kind of response we’ll receive as we expand our use of Twitter.

If you want to join the conversation, our Twitter handle is @wisnernews.

Facebook, Twitter and the website are wonderful tools, but that’s exactly what they are — tools. The main event each week is tangible: Broadsheets containing stories and photos that chronicle what’s important to you. Your fingers may get a little inky after reading it, but that’s a small price to pay for being able to clip out an article about your child making the honor roll or a photo of the volleyball team’s excitement over winning subdistricts.

Try as you might, you just can’t put a website on your refrigerator.

Why grammar matters

2011-10-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

(Or, why improperly used apostrophes make me twitch)

I judge people by their grammar.

Run-on sentences, improperly placed apostrophes, the incorrect use of their, they're and there, lack of capitalization and punctuation — they all make a little part of me shrivel up and die each time I see them.

Unfortunately, proofreading is part of my job at the newspaper and therefore, I'm about 75 percent shriveled up and dead (inside) every time we're finished with an issue.

•••

I'm not going to blame schools or teachers for the alarming decline in grammar. I'm not even going to blame texting or instant messaging.

No, I think most people just don't care about the rules of grammar. After all, if someone can get his point across without straining to remember archaic elementary school lessons, why bother? What difference does it really make if I write "Its sunny outside today" or "It's sunny outside today" — either way, you know you should probably slather on some SPF.

•••

I am not a great conversationalist. I'm about 50 times better on paper than in person and about 100 times more comfortable with written communication than oral.

I would so much rather e-mail someone than talk on the phone.

So that's how I know proper grammar and correct spelling are extremely important. Whether you're trying to make a good first impression or communicate a point cogently, people are going to judge you by how you write.

It's not really any different than what happens when you communicate in person. What you're wearing, how you sound, how you gesture — all of these factors play into the impact your message has.

When you communicate via the written word, you don't have any of that. If you encounter someone like me — and I'm truly sorry for this — she will be more likely to dismiss what you have to say if it's disfigured by bad grammar, no matter how valid your points may be.

•••

If you know me personally, you'll know I'm really not a jerk. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, bad grammar notwithstanding. I do know that bad grammar doesn't mean the writer is an unintelligent person. (The Captain, for instance, is not a stickler and yet I love him and respect his agile mind.)

But I can't always control my initial reaction to bad grammar. It's part of who I am to appreciate a well-crafted sentence, and conversely, a badly-constructed one causes me intellectual pain.

•••

I realize writing this sort of thing exposes me to hyper-criticism and that's OK. If I walk the walk, I'll be vigilant about my own grammar and if I make a mistake, I'll appreciate the feedback.

In the end, my goal is to be the most effective communicator I can be. It's not everyone's goal, though, and I'm learning to accept that.

If you find this entire subject distasteful and think I'm kind of a snob for harping on it so much, let this simple rule be your takeaway: When in doubt, don't use an apostrophe.

Just (don't) do it.

For an amazing chart that's funny, informative and slightly irreverent, go here:

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/apostrophe

Mission: Dinner table

2011-10-19T09:30:00.000-05:00

Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.
I have fed my family too many meals quick on convenience and lacking in nutritional value.
I have eaten too many of said meals on my knees in front of a TV show.
I have allowed my kitchen table to serve as a catch-all for clutter instead of a place of conversation.
But I am truly sorry for my sins and sincerely repent of them.
(And here's how I plan to do better ...)
•••
I don't mind cooking. Really, I don't. That hasn't always been true, but lately, throwing a meal together hasn't seemed as challenging.
It's probably because Miss E is eating table food now. Before that, all I had to do was thaw a cube of pureed vegetables or fruit — believe it or not, I made most of her baby food — and feed it to her while the Captain's and my frozen pizza cooked in the oven.
But mushed-up lima beans and applesauce don't cut it for her anymore, especially with a few pearly whites peeking through. And I just can't justify feeding my baby the same junk I tend to eat ... which leads me to believe maybe I shouldn't be consuming it, either.
This normally would have been enough conviction for me to change my ways. On top of it, though, I spent last weekend cooking with my grandmother. Well, she cooked; I mostly watched.
She's not a measurement kind of cook — a splash, a tad, a pinch is more her method — and everything ends up plentiful and delicious. If we lived in a fairy tale, I'd be tempted to believe she has magic pots. But really, it's practice and understanding how flavors work together.
•••
So that's why on Monday night, instead of being sacked out on the couch, I was monitoring several bubbling pots on the stovetop. It wasn't anything fancy, just spaghetti and meat sauce with garlic bread and salad, but it was fresh, hot and homemade.
When I told the Captain we were going to eat at the table, he was understandably surprised. It had been an embarrassingly long time since we'd done that.
Supper didn't last overly long; both of us were tired from working all day and Miss E was extra grouchy from growing teeth. But it was a start toward a tradition I hope will continue for many years. Studies show children whose families sit down for a meal together tend to have healthier weights and lifestyle habits as they grow up.
The only downside to cooking at home I can sum up in one word: Dishes.

My two cents

2011-10-17T15:23:00.000-05:00

I don’t mean to be insensitive.

I know each person has his or her own level of comfort and standards.Everyone’s measure of what is a livable income is different.

But lately, the discussion of personal income among localgovernment employees has been a hot topic issue in my small town, which is byno means immune from the economic difficulties plaguing the nation.

•••

I certainly sympathize with the emotions associated withcuts in salary, hours and benefits. Two years ago, I was cut from beingfull-time to three-quarters time, a change that resulted in a significantlyreduced salary. This fall, our health insurance was changed to ahigh-deductible plan, which increases our likelihood of hefty medical bills. Changeslike these are a blow to your self-worth and it’s hard not to take thempersonally.

What I can’t sympathize with is the attitude of entitlementthat seems to permeate the discussion. Quite frankly, you can’t live outsideyour means for years, only to complain when your salary is adjusted to betterreflect the ability of the community that pays it.

I speak from a position of strength here as the wife of achurch worker: When you work for a large group of people (a congregation or acommunity), you don’t do it for the money. You can make better money elsewhere,I can promise you. But you do it for the joy of serving — you simply must — orelse you’ll buckle under the weight of dissatisfaction.

•••

I’m pretty conservative with my finances.

Here are my guidelines:

If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it.

Pay your bills on time and in full.

Cushion your savings account for emergencies.

Set aside a tithe for your church.

Shop second-hand when possible.

Be grateful for what you have … there are many others whomake do with much, much less.

•••

Above all, I believe in being a good steward of what God hasgiven me and that’s why I *try*not to complain.

Do I get paid what I’m worth? No. Does the Captain get paidwhat he’s worth? No. But then, there’s more to a job than a paycheck.

Blow out a candle, make a wish ...

2011-10-10T11:57:00.000-05:00

Today is my daughter’s first birthday. Since she couldn’twrite a wish list, I helped her out:

• Teeth. Yes, she’s 12 months old and no, she doesn’t haveany yet. People tell me the longer they take to come in, the healthier herteeth will be. In that case, I shouldn’t have to spend a dime on orthodontiafor this girl.

• Stability. There’s nothing more comforting to a child (oradult) than knowing the basics will hold true each day. I want her to that herparents will always be there for her, that she will always be warm, full andsafe, that she will always be loved.

• Independence. I write this with hesitation because I’m notsure I’m ready for it. But I know mydaughter and she is nothing if not independent. Most of the time, she prefersto do things on her own — eat, drink, undress — all of which leads me tobelieve (hope) she’ll be easy to potty-train.

• Self-confidence. I tell my daughter every day that she isbeautiful and special and beloved. I want her to know those things soinstinctively that she never has to seek unhealthy attention to affirm herself.

• Contentment. I want her to be happy with what she has,whether it’s tangible (clothes, toys, books) or intangible (a relationship, careeror salary). I’ve struggled with this my whole life and it’s a battle I’d likeher not to have to fight. Like Paul, I want her to be content in everycircumstance.

• Faith. I want my daughter to grow up to know Jesus Christas her Lord and Savior. Faith is the bedrock of my life, the compass by which Inavigate daily life. I want her to be a woman after God’s heart. No matter whatnegative things society says about people of faith, I want her to know thatliving a life pleasing to God is a worthy pursuit.

Happy birthday, my sweet, funny, delightful girl!

A Mini dilemma

2011-10-03T14:00:00.000-05:00

If I told you that the Captain and I never had any difficultfinancial decisions, I absolutely would be lying.

Don’t misunderstand: We live well within our means, own ourhome free and clear and live in a fairly affordable place. And though neitherof our salaries are what you would call generous, we make do with what we haveand stick a little into savings each month.

I know we’re blessed to have relative financial security,especially since we’re both under 30.

But to that point … three years ago, we purchased a MiniCooper because it suited our needs at that stage of life. It is extremelyfuel-efficient and what it lacks in seating capacity, it makes up for withstyle. (Frankly, when we bought it, we figured kids were at least five years inthe future.)

Now, though, our needs are vastly different. Instead oftossing a duffel bag in the boot for a weekend, we now have to fit in a carseat, stroller, toys, board books, diapers, wipes, bottles and blankets — and,oh yes, the BABY! Because of the space the car seat takes up, the passenger(usually me) has to sit completely upright … not very much fun on car rideslonger than 20 minutes.

Someday, I know we’ll have another little passenger to joinus on adventures and I just can’t see it happening in the vehicle we have now. Ourother car, a 1998 Chevy Malibu, has more room and runs well enough … for now. I’dlike to say we could make it with one vehicle, but our work and civicresponsibilities, plus the geography of where we live — everything’s spread out— makes that plan highly unlikely.

What I’m thinking is to sell the Mini, pay off that loan onit, then purchase a larger, used vehicle that’s a little more family- and budget-friendly. TheCaptain wants to avoid having any loans at all, and while I agree with him inprinciple, I just don’t think it’s going to happen.

Here’s my blatant plea for advice: Does this sound like afeasible plan? If you’ve been in a similar situation, what did you do? If you’reolder and wiser, what would you suggest to us?

(My back, achy and strained from sitting ever-so-properlyfor hours on end, thanks you!)

4:30 a.m. moments

2011-09-27T14:00:00.000-05:00

As I changed E's diaper this morning, she looked up at me with this sweet little intelligent grin and asked (I'm serious) "What is it?" Even her eyes had a question in them.

When, when, did this happen? When did my baby grow up and start talking (OK, I know she's not actually talking but is instead imitating sounds)? She started walking in August and now there's no stopping her — her two little feet can take her wherever she wants to go.

I love watching her grow up every day, I really do. There's nothing better than to see her "get" something — learning that if you drop something, it falls (physics), if you pound on the piano, it makes a sound (music), if you concentrate on the squiggly marks in a book, they mean something (reading).

E has never been much of a cuddler, even from the very first days. There's usually too much to see and do for her to settle down for long — except when she's tired. Then, Mom makes a perfectly acceptable alternative to her crib.

This morning at 4:30 a.m. I woke up to her cries. The funny thing is, I was already kind of restless and half-awake ... maybe I sensed she needed comfort. I walked into her room and picked up her thrashing body and cuddled her close to my chest. I settled us both on the couch and she wrapped her fingers around my hand. We dozed that way for awhile until she fell back asleep. I placed her back in her crib, smoothed back her soft hair and padded back to my bed.

Those are the moments that make everything else — the diapers, the teething, the snot — worthwhile. Those are the moments where I'm reminded I will always be a mother, no matter how how grown up my baby becomes.

I might have a problem ...

2011-09-22T17:00:00.000-05:00

I love to read. There's nothing better than a cozy autumn morning, snuggled up in a blanket, hot cup of coffee beside me, knowing I have a few minutes before my daughter and husband wake up to read a couple of chapters.

But ... books are expensive and I don't have all that much time to read, which makes checking out books from the library difficult.

Fortunately, I've found an excellent solution: Thrifting books. At Goodwill or other second-hand stores, you can usually pick up a paperback for $1 and a hardcover book for $2.

For instance, this bounty of the written word cost $23:

Yes. For the retail price of one hard-cover novel, I got 17 books. (FYI: This wasn't all from the same place. But I have noticed that at nearly every store I've visited, there has been at least one copy of "The Nanny Diaries." Weird.)

The only problem now: Where to put them all.

Only the beginning

2011-09-19T21:00:00.000-05:00

Now that my 26^th year of life has started, I’mtempted to sit back and take pride in the things I’ve accomplished in my years.

But I won’t.

How can I take credit for things that were gifts? God hasgiven me talents, blessings and wonderful people to guide me — it’s thanks tothese things and to His grace that I am who I am today.

As I celebrate another birthday, I’m thankful for the yearsI have lived. I’m learning from past mistakes and I’m thankful for theperspective they bring. I’m not a perfect person and I never will be. But moreand more each year, I’m learning to regard each person as a treasured child ofGod.

It changes everything.

•••

My daughter will celebrate her first birthday in a littleunder a month. Each day, she’s reminding me that up to now, parenting has beeneasy. Now that she’s mobile, she has the ability to act outside my wishes. Thehard part is just beginning …

And as she grows up, it will be the Captain’s and myresponsibility to shape her into a responsible, independent and thoughtfulperson.

No small order, that.

•••

We never really finish growing up. We learn more aboutourselves every year. For instance, I never thought I’d love being a mother. Iwas so very wrong.

So that’s why, on the 26^th anniversary of mybirth, I’m not resting on my laurels.

This is only the beginning.

There was a little girl, who had a little curl ...

2011-09-18T18:50:00.000-05:00

Last week, I shampooed my hair for the last time and it's because of this book:

I've had a love-hate (mostly hate) relationship with my curly hair ever since my mom had to chase me through the house, comb and "No-More-Tears" detangling spray in hand. Like a lot of other curly girls, all I wanted was straight, manageable, shiny hair. Instead, I had a literal mop of tight curls that defied taming:

Curls everywhere!

I had my share of awful haircuts over the years:

The Mullet

The Bubble

The Triangle

The Barely-There

My mom tried her best to make me see what a gift my curls were. Unfortunately, I didn't listen and dismissed her preference for "fluffy" hair as a mere maternal whim. I bought a flat iron in high school and learned how to blow out my hair.

From high school ...

... to college — straight hair seemed worth the effort.

I picked up "Curly Girls" at a garage sale this May but didn't read it until I had scheduled a haircut last week. (I'm really bad about this. Last year I had my hair cut once — once! — and I wondered why it was so unmanageable. Duh.) The author, a salon owner in New York, tells curly girls to work with their hair, not against it.

(This is pretty much what my mom told me 15 years ago.)

According to the book, I have what are called "Botticelli curls" — not as tight as corkscrew curls but more defined than wavy hair. For all types of curly hair, Lauren Massey suggests water and conditioner only, no shampoo, and air-drying your curls after shaping them while they're wet.

I've kept up this regimen for a few days now and I've never been so consistently pleased with how my hair looks. My curls are defined and sturdy, yet still flexible and frizz-resistant.

Caring for my curls this way doesn't seem to save more time, but it doesn't take longer than what I used to do. (Before, I was washing my hair about twice a week.) But it's worth it to treat my curls the way they deserve — finally allowing them the freedom to be in their natural shape.

Curls the way they're meant to be — I knew it on the first day of kindergarten and I know it again now.

"Chaucer, Rabeleis, BALZAC!"

2011-09-13T17:00:00.000-05:00

“Our greatestfears lie in anticipation.” - Honorede Balzac

I feel poised at the brink of … something. What thatsomething is, I don’t know, but I can’t shake the feeling that everything isabout to change.

I’ve written much about change — how I don’t like it, howI’m learning to accept it, how it’s simply part of life — and yet in the faceof the unknown, all my brave and pithy words seem hollow.

Despite the roots I’ve been carefully nurturing for the pastfour years, I know everything is transitory. It’s the nature of ministry; it’sthe nature of the life the Captain and I lead.

And unfortunately, uncertainty is part and parcel of thislife, too. Every year we wait with bated breath and hands clasped in prayer tosee if we’ll be able to continue where we are. It’s hard to acknowledge thatyour future, seemingly so stable, can be changed in the course of a meeting.

But what I’m learning from all this is to trust God morecompletely. I believe He has a plan for us; He has provided for us in the pastand I know He will continue to do so in the future.

For those of you who know our situation, I don’t mean to beintentionally vague. It’s not intended to be a veiled announcement of any sort.It’s just, well, sometimes there’s a lot that goes on behind a smile.

(PS — Kudos to you if you know which Broadway musical I'm referencing in the title.)

Infinity for less, part 2

2011-09-10T10:00:00.000-05:00

Remember a few weeks ago when I posted about making infinity scarves?

Over Labor Day weekend, my mom, sister and I got busy and made a few —

and they turned out great!

Here's the pattern we *loosely* followed:

http://www.simplicity.com/t-how-to-sew-infinity-scarf.aspx

(We made our scarves narrower than the pattern suggests; we thought it was more flattering.)

Each scarf took about a half yard of fabric, and since I purchased it on a 50% off sale, each one ended up being around $2.00. Quite an improvement over $20!

This scarf didn't quite make it to infinity so I made it extra-long instead. It looks good ... as long as you don't look too closely at the seams!

I cut and pinned the fabric, then sewed the long seam. Mom did the enclosures since she actually can sew. We completed 10 scarves in about 4 hours.

Bigwheels 2 Butterflies

2011-09-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

I recently did some freelance copywriting for a friend and decided to use some of the money to enhance my daughter's fall and winter wardrobe. She had an abundance of 0-9 month clothes, but as she grows, her selections get more limited.

So a friend and I made the trip to Bigwheels 2 Butterflies, a second-hand children's clothing store in the metro area. It was completely worth the drive. Everything pictured, plus two toys I couldn't pry away from her for the photo, was $50.

In total, I purchased:
• Two pairs of pants
• A Thanksgiving outfit
• A birthday shirt
• Four hairbows
• A pair of snow boots
• Two pairs of shoes
• A "suit"
• A dress for church
• A Christmas dress (last year I had an awful time finding one for her, so I'm thrilled to be ahead of the game!)
• A music cube and
• A turtle rolling toy

http://www.bigwheels2butterflys.com/

What a 99 cent fall wardrobe looks like ...

2011-09-08T15:00:00.000-05:00

Express cardigan - 99 cents

Eddie Bauer top - 99 cents