One Sentence for Today...

He hugged me good-bye ...

(A one-sentence journal entry, but a paragraph to explain it.) Matthew has a field trip today to see UCLA and Oregon State play football. It's extremely rare for us all to have breakfast together, but this morning we did before time for him to leave. As he put his dishes in the sink, he turned and said, "nice talking to you at breakfast." ... "Yes, it was. We don't get to do that much." Then as he headed out the door, he said good-bye, then came back and gave me a hug. A big moment from my 13-year-old stepson.

I finally remembered my camera

The game wasn't close, but it was exciting anyway, because Aaron (#50) played every play except for the kickoffs. And having fresh batteries in the camera, I was anxious to get pictures of him playing. It's just a simple point and shoot digital, but I got some pretty good shots, and footage. Aaron (and all of us have enjoyed this particular video most of all). It was a proud moment - makes all those practices worth it. Redlands wins 27-6

Normal Day . . .with a bonus

Ode to a Normal Day: Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.

Being a creature of habit, I love normal days. Where routines and schedules are met without a lot of drama and minimal changes. Today is a normal day ... but a normal day with a bonus! That bonus has me smiling from ear to ear. It 's a post on facebook from my step-daughter, Sarah, who commented on my 'status' on Monday when I had so many 'mom errands' including taking Matthew to the doctor. The post read: 'best stepmom ever! :) You can see why I'm smiling. It's something to remember, to hang onto when the chaotic days happen, when there's too much drama, too many changes to the routine ... I can remember that the days of chaos have their place, too and in the meantime, even though I would still rather be scrapbooking ... I have an important job to do - stepmom to three teens ...

Welcome to my world!...

Well, in the more tales from the blender category... It was one of those mornings where I just woke up feeling overwhelmed. After 'cooking' dinner 3 times last night, (yes, 3 times) and doing dishes after each - the last time at 9:00 p.m. Is it any wonder I left the crock pot plugged in?

My heart's canvas ...

What a beautiful word picture that phrase is...my heart's canvas.

With so much going on and so many daily obligations I am finding less and less time to do the things that bring me joy. Things, that for many years I've taken for granted. Like my 'quiet time' in the mornings. Ever since 1980, I've started my day with quiet time - it's when I read my Bible, update my journal, sometimes flip through the pages of completed scrapbooks, pray, and sometimes - just stop and think...

But all of a sudden in the last 2 weeks, my morning quiet time routine has been interrupted. My oldest stepson decided to flip-flop his morning routine. Instead of showering first (while I was enjoying my quiet time), all of a sudden now he's having breakfast first. And just like that - instead of a quiet house while I'm sitting in my favorite spot on the couch - there's all this clanging and banging going on right around the corner in the kitchen. Not knowing exactly what else to do, I took my coffee, my Bible, and my journal upstairs to my bedroom. But there's no place to sit in the bedroom, except on the bed - and that's not a good spot for me. I've tried it for a week now and it's just not working. I've informed my husband that I need a comfy 'quiet time' chair in the bedroom - but unfortunately, I (we) can't afford that right now...

But my mind and heart are suffering right now from this 'interruption.'
Other activities which bring me joy, which I have taken for granted and have been interrupted recently is group exercise. Again, since the 1980's I've always attended some kind of group exercise class - that has been interrupted by the football season. Oh, I still walk ... but the lack of group exercise has got me feeling stressed out, and definitely less in shape. I'm determined to get back to it ... but it's very frustrating to me now.
I need to return to the routines and activities which bring me joy ...
This blog brings me pleasure and joy, too. It's another way, besides scrapbooking, to record my life's journey. And I'm amazed at some of the things I've written. Many feelings and moments which would have been forgotten, if not recorded here. This blog has become my heart's canvas ...

Hello, 57! . . .

Today is my birthday. Yes, number 57. I received so many birthday wishes on facebook, and many cards in the mail. Ron and I celebrated Sunday with dinner at Cheesecake Factory, and a trip to the jewelry store And today he bar-b-qued hamburgers (one of my all time favorite meals) in between football practices, and your normal work day Thursday. What a blessing it is to have so many friends and a family to celebrate with...

A Good Step-Mom...

Today ... I am a good stepmom. My 19-year-old stepdaughter and I were walking back from the bathroom at Matthew's football game, and she says, "I need to tell you something Matthew said." ... Ok... She continued, "We were talking the other day and he said that you're a really good stepmom. Aaron and I agreed. You are a really good stepmom. She went on to say that when their dad was single (and he tried to make homemade chicken soup one day), the three of them (Sarah, Aaron, and Matthew) started praying for someone to come into their lives... and then, there I was at the spa... I didn't know what to say, so I said "Thank you. I just really love you guys." It surprised me that they were talking about me I guess... All I did was love them, and listen to them, and I guess that was enough... I'm sure there may still be days ahead when it will be tough, but today, I am a good stepmom.