Journey Beyond Survival

I've been having nightmares. I dream that I'm mixing up icing under the counter-as in days of yore-and I'm slathering it across sugar cookies that I made just for me. Nothing else, just the intense rush of biting into that flaky crisp cookie and the sensation of the creamy icing on my tongue. I wouldn't be having a problem with it if it were just as I were waking up. That kind of a dream I can dismiss easily since my brain has gone a long time without crazy pills. Just kidding. But it is the easiest time for me to push aside that world and firmly plant my feet in this. What's been getting me caught in the rain is this: Chickadee has been taking two naps a day. Yes, it is the 4:30 AM coming back to haunt her. So, I lay down with her. I am so tired from her wake up call that I have been falling asleep for ten minutes or so. In that small amount of time, I'm having that CRACK dream. I swear I could be sweating when I jerk awake. Even then, I probably wou...

I'm tired of me whining! I'm tired of "woe". Not today. FUNK OVER! In the spirit of Bootstraps and good ole Pollyanna, I'm introducing the Survival Family Homework Game. Every time we whine or complain too much, we have to list 10 good things about our life. Here goes: Chickadee has bounced back to most of her old abilities! Beansprout adores his bicycle bell. ---as if kids on bikes aren't already annoying-just add bells Miss THANG doesn't complain about practicing ballet this week We have a new-to us-wheelchair adaptable minivan Said minivan has a DVD player! Said minivan has a sunroof AND heated seats ---Ooooohohoho. Really, it was for Chickadee that we got the van I am the proud new owner of an automatic door/backhatch key fob! ---for avoiding splatting-food and otherwise-in the parking lot It's not too bad to be interrupted by visitors in the middle of exercise. It's even okay when pit stains are involved. Birthday cake and ice cream can...

Anybody ever drink from a sprinkler? Or seen a dog do it? That is what it is like to feed my little Chickadee. It's pretty funny. People sitting in front of us at church or even just hazarding to get in line in front of us at the library or grocery store have learned that lesson. Don't cut in line! HA! I realized the other day that my glasses aren't getting spittle on them from some weird reversal of gravity regarding my flossing. Or from my hubbend's flossing. It's from her blowing constant Raspberries in my general direction. Because she loves me. Some people know exactly what I'm talking about. Others are horrified. Then they are even more shocked when I joke about it. It's funny! It's that or be offended. By their inability to understand. By their obvious disdain for my parenting-seriously, babysit for an hour-or our general unkemptness. I could really go on and on, and I've only been in it for a year. I prefer to laugh. I like to t...

Someone said once that, "meaningful morning prayer is an important element in the spiritual creation of each day." What that means to me is that thinking, praying, or meditating in the beginning of our day is going to help us have a better day. What I plan on happening and think about happening helps create what I want out of a day. I know that I have a better day if I am awake before my kids are. It gives me an advantage. There is nothing worse that waking up to restless natives circling my bed. If I'm up, I'm more prepared. Also, If I'm already up there is no chance of sabotage with wet things. Wet little bodies, washcloths, jammies: all have been flung in my face. If I think about my plan for the day I'm good. If I pray about my day, I'm usually golden. Not that bad things don't happen if I pray. Look at my life! It's just I'm better able to handle whatever happens. Meditation really helps as well, it is relaxing. I don't s...

After reading a few happy blogs lately, it's really been on my mind. I was impressed at the shift in my thinking as I lay in bed. My new 'happy thoughts' were a lot more pleasant to wander through than my usual list of tasks and schedules. I posted a list of happy thoughts on one blog, but there are more. I am so happy I'm consumed with new productive things to do. I'm so busy and distracted that new habits seem easier. I am happy about the energy I have now. I'm happy that I haven't resorted to pure undiluted hatred of myself this time before I am taking care of myself. I'm also happy that I can look in the mirror and tell myself that I'm okay, and I'm doing dang good! Best of all-for the first time in my life-when I really looked at myself and saw how much I really do have to lose, I saw it as an obstacle. The weight is holding my body back from running a 10 minute mile, even for just one mile. I see it as something to remove lovin...