quick thoughts for the day

A short and sweet post.

Today is the big - we've been preparing for it since January - ballet recital for my daughters -- Hannah, Chloe and Grace.  It's a glorious day of celebration and artistry and joyfulness. I'd love your prayers for them -- that their day is a reflection of their hard work and dedication. And that it is fun -- lots of fun. :)

{Gracie prepping her hair -- love her concentration}

I'd also love your prayers for myself as I'm the photographer for the event.  I took photos last week for the dress rehearsal {and they turned out beautiful} -- and now today, I'll be taking them throughout the day -- backstage, on stage rehearsal and more. Pray for great functioning equipment, a good eye, great lighting, and that I, too, have fun. Lots of fun. :)

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And on a completely different note.

As you might remember I got to take part in this Blogher and Gatorade event {the one with the $100 giftcard giveaway}.  I've been looking {I know, I know, I know -- kind of silly} to see my promo in the Blogher sidebar ad.  It probably says, "see how Rachel, from finding joy, helps her athletes Become."  Anyways, I know it's out there -- I've gotten hits from various blogs that have the running sidebar.  I just haven't seen it myself.

Here's my silly question. If you come across the ad on another blog, would you screencap it and save it for me? hee hee hee....I feel like I'm about ten again wanting to see my artwork.  :)

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That's it for this Saturday morning!  I'm off to put Gracie's hair into the perfect ballet bun, check that the camera batteries are fully charged, pull out those energy bars, and get ready for a whirlwind day of activity!

~rachel

the don't frets

since I posted some of my rules a couple days ago today I thought it would be a great segue to post some of my don't fret thoughts.  You know, the things that I've had to learn to let go of, those items where you get to a point and realize it's not worth worrying about?

My don't frets:

:  don't fret if the milk spills

:  don't fret if your Christmas cards are late -- to all of you who know me -- expect it late. :)

:  don't fret if your 14 month old gets spaghetti all over his face (thanks Hannah for the pic)

:  don't fret about others opinion of your family size

:  don't fret when you see people counting your kids while you walk through Costco

:  don't fret that your family takes ALL the samples at each Costco sample station

:  don't fret if your house isn't perfectly clean when others come over

:  don't fret if you look silly with your kids

:  don't fret about followers, or numbers, or hits on your blog

:  don't fret about health -- learn what you need to learn -- but don't sit in worry.

:  don't fret about not having professional pictures taken every year

:  don't fret if your non-professional pics don't turn out perfectly

:  don't fret if your latte has too much foam -- just ask them to add milk -- but don't leave till you do

:  don't fret about your latte with too much foam especially if you didn't ask for it to be fixed

:  don't fret if your gloves don't match when it is -24 degrees outside

:  don't fret if your kids don't keep their lego sets together

:  don't fret when they dump all the legos out on the floor or their bed

:  don't fret when they receive duplicate lego sets

:  don't fret if your kids handmade cards have misspelled words

:  don't fret if your 3year olds pant and shirt don't match on the day they dressed themself

:  don't fret about the 11 loads of laundry that need to be folded.  (this one might be just speaking to me)

:  don't fret about snow storms -- have fun with this snow instead (this is also a rule)

:  don't fret if the Christmas presents aren't wrapped perfectly

:  don't fret if your cinnamon rolls burn -- the insides are still good

:  don't fret if your fam stays in their pajamas for most of Christmas

:  don't fret -- or at least try not to -- if your 5year old drinks most of your latte that you had fixed without the extra foam

:  don't fret -- here's why -- 

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, 
what you will eat or drink; or about your body, 
what you will wear.
 Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, 
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 
Are you not much more valuable than they?
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Matthew 6:25-27

some of my rules

:: write down what your children say

:: if you don't write it down, then at least facebook it

:: snow days must become family days

:: there is never too much hot chocolate - or coffee

:: date verses in your Bible that you underline

:: Christmas music must include the music from Charlie Brown's Christmas

:: when you have a toddler expect that the bottom of the tree will get rearranged

:: snow boots, gloves, hats, and scarfs have the uncanny ability to multiply exponentially

:: snow gloves also have the ability to lose their match in the multiplication process

:: never make cookies too early -- you'll have to make them again because you ate them all

:: always let your kids end the hug -- they last longer

:: get to know the names of your coffee baristas

:: sometimes you just need to be silly with your kids

:: take time to serve and help others

:: build snow forts with your kids

:: thank the Salvation Army bell ringers

:: become a bell ringer

:: always water your live Christmas tree but don't leave the watering container by the tree

:: write a note in the front of some books that you give your children

:: link up with  my cookie recipe exchange



:: it's okay to use Ball canning jars as your glasses

:: purchase your Christmas wrapping paper AFTER Christmas

:: let your kids use the empty wrapping paper tubes as swords

:: remember where you put the Christmas wrapping paper in January

:: make up stories for your children

:: save your calendars as journals of your life

:: do not grocery shop while hungry or when you are in a rush

:: remember to bring in the 24 pack of water bottles in the winter

:: if you don't -- don't drop them or they'll explode

:: tell your kids or your spouse that you love them

:: sometimes you need to count to ten. or twenty. or thirty

:: coffee helps

:: pray prayers of thanks 

:: try to rest and enjoy these days before Christmas

:: breathe

:: and rejoice.

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does syrup have sugar in it?

I have waited all year to write this Miscellany Monday post.  Seriously.  I knew I could only write it during December. It's still random, but inspired by one of my favorite movies. So bear with me.  Please.

So with that introduction I present to you my-

Buddy the Elf Quotes ~ Miscellany Monday

1) Sounds like somebody needs to sing a Christmas Carol.  Ahhh--Christmas carols. I'm a stickler for the classics. Give me some Bing Crosby or Silent Night and I'm content. I am just not a huge fan of chipmunks singing or new remastered renditions. Or really, really, really cheesy versions of carols played in elevators, gas stations or Old Navy.

2) I just like to smile, smiling's my favorite. If there's a joke going on, or a secret to tell, or a no-smiling contest -- I lose. I cannot stop grinning. Maybe I'm just a gal who looks at life as good, or the glass is half-full, but seriously, do not ever bet on me to win any contest that involves no smiling. And, if I ever come to talk to you about some news and I'm grinning -- you know it's good. :)

hee hee hee

okay this isn't a smile pic -- but doesn't it make you smile?

that's my eli two summers ago

(and yes, I was pregnant with Samuel -- he was born  8 weeks later)

3) The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. Thinking back to number one -- and songs -- our family sings. All the time. We've got songs for each of the kids, silly ones, sweet ones, and more. We'll just randomly break into song. Sigh....

4) I'm a cotton-headed ninny-muggins. Well, I'm not really. Well, sometimes I am like that, yet I've never used those words to describe myself. Does this count?  Thinking back to the when I put the lights up I do cotton-headed ninny-muggin type things.  Like when I thought it was funny to throw all the lights up in my tree and call it done. :)

am I done?

5) You did it! Congratulations! World's best cup of coffee! Now, all you faithful readers will know that I love coffee. So it's probably not coming as ANY surprise that I would love this quote? I'm not terribly particular about coffee, but I can tell you that a good solid mug with fresh brewed coffee and great company makes any morning!

just had to put my coffee pic up again. :)

6) Buddy the Elf! What's your favorite color? Did you know that there's a day modeled after this quote? I'm a fan of Buddy the Elf on Facebook. No, really, I am. Anyways, I found out about this day where you answer the phone stating that quote. Did I do it? Nope. I forgot.

7) Then YES! We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup. Oh, my Christmas cookies. Christmas bark. Christmas treats. They are my fave. However, I haven't made any cookies yet. Which is probably good since I would eat them all and have to remake them right before Christmas. Ha ha ha. My favorite cookie? A homemade gingerbread with royal icing. My grandmother made these. The dough has to sit in the freezer for 2weeks until you roll it out. They are divine. How about you? Favorite cookie?

these are the cookies

8) You're young, you're so young...You know my papa, he didn't make master tinker till he was 490. Had to end with it....I have no comments....I just love the quote!  However, I'm sure I could find something deep and pertinent in this quote. :)

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Thanks for enduring with me today and my silly need to use Buddy the Elf quotes to write my miscellany. Sometimes I get these ideas in my head (ask my kids) and have to run with them.....

Thanks for all the comments on my previous post and for checking out 5Minutes For Faith!

Link up to join the miscellany randomness!

a different view of the lights

We now interrupt my regular blogging to bring you a different look at me.

A silly one, perhaps?

It was one of those pics that Hannah snapped while I was putting lights up outside.

(Interested in those lights?  Read this post about why I put lights up -- memory strands)

So she asked me to strike a funny pose.  And this was the best I could do.

Oh well, it proves that I'm normal.  Right?

Or at least a mom.

Sigh.

(I can never figure out what compels me to put these pics up)

So here you go. Enjoy.

and yes, my garage is rather full of stuff.

Organized stuff.

Link up to Hannah's Lovely Photo Wednesday and share a pic of you.  Let me know you did -- and I'll be off to check it out.

i'm melting

It is so hot.

It is so humid.

It is hot and humid.

And I'm melting.

Now, I know I don't live down south where they truly deal with heat, but as a Minnesotan, I can truly tell you we are hardy individuals.  Why?

We melt & freeze within six months of each other.

For example - this was my temp gauge in the truck in January.

yes, that is a negative sign in front of the 19

And now my temp gauge just this month.

and no, the 95 does not reflect any humidity level

Notice the difference? (Since it's summer I'll do the math.)  The number? 114 degrees.  Coupled with wind chills and high humidity and blizzards and tornadoes I must admit that I understand ways to deal with extremes in weather. I understand and can empathize with moms who are doing the dreaded seasonal clothes switch.  I get having bins in the garage that store boots and hats next to bins storing the slip-n-slide and water guns.

Solutions for my current melting dilemma?  Looking at the below pics.  And remembering that in six months I'll be craving high temps and high humidity and all things iced besides the roads.

snowstorm 1 out of 10

frost

the road to ballet

ha ha ha -- cold & coffee

Now, off to refill the pool -- again.  Off to get an iced coffee.  Off to mow, to garden and to enjoy these warm temps. Because, truly, those pictures above will be me in just six short months. And honestly?  Knowing Minnesota it could be much less time. :)