Planes, Trains and Automobiles…A lesson in gratitude…

I have been checking airline prices for my cousin’s upcoming wedding in Arizona and pondering how my [then] 7-month old would behave on the flight. Then I ponder how my [then] 11-month old will behave on the flight to California for his auntie’s upcoming wedding. Then I think to myself how lucky we are to even be able to consider the possibility of hopping on a plane and taking a few mini-vacations per year.

Nothing big. I just need to remind myself not to take for granted how good we really have it.

On a heavier note, today I was driving and saw that a train was coming up to the very railroad crossing that I soon wished to cross. My first reaction was annoyance. Then, it hit me like a ton of bricks (not the train, but this thought): Are you in a hurry? No. Are you running late? No. Does this railroad crossing have cross-arms and flashing lights to alarm you that a train is coming? No. Would you have seen this train coming and been able to stop in time? Maybe not.

So, with this realization, I said a little prayer, “Thank you, God, for timing things so perfectly so that I happened to be driving down this particular road at exactly the right moment, and the train just happened to be approaching the crossing on this particular road, moving at this particular speed so that me and my precious cargo were given enough time to see the train…react… and stop…..Oh, and thank you for making it a short train, as my patience is short as well…”

I just needed to remind myself to be thankful that all of the things that could have gone wrong didn’t.

On another note, after numerous winters of getting snowed in our yard, getting my car stuck in snow banks, and being worried about my commute during the winter, I finally got an all-wheel drive vehicle.

…Okay, I’m being modest, it is the nicest vehicle I have ever had. It’s the newest vehicle I have ever had. And I am able to drive it because my husband works hard to be able to provide for our family.

First, I whined and whined about getting 4WD for years. I have gotten both my car and J’s pickup stuck in our driveway on the same day. (J and a friend got yet another pickup stuck that day, and he eventually had to fire up a tractor to pull out all of the abandoned vehicles.) You could say that 4WD is a necessity for us rural folk. Our new vehicle is not the largest, or most expensive, or nicest one on the market, but it is still wonderful to me. Every time I drive it, I remind myself to thank my husband and be grateful for what I have. Does a vehicle define who I am? No, it’s just a vehicle…but I sure look good in this one.

Stolen moments

I stole a moment after my son was born to be amazed at how perfect he is.

I stole a moment to catch my husband’s eye to say everything that couldn’t be put into words.

I stole a moment to tell our family of his arrival in the quickest way possible.

I stole a moment after the commotion to tell my mom all about it.

I stole a moment while I had help to catch up on some sleep.

I stole a moment between visitors to have some time to ourselves.

I stole a moment while he slept to return that phone call.

I stole a moment while he was quiet to grab a bite to eat.

I stole a moment to run errands while I had a sitter.

I stole a moment during naptime to fold laundry.

I stole a moment during my hair appointment to pump.

I stole a moment to cook supper with one hand while holding him in the other.

I stole a moment while getting him dressed to kiss his cheek.

I stole a moment while he cried to giggle at his cute bottom lip.

I stole a moment to watch him bond with his daddy.

I stole a moment during bath time to sing a made-up song.

I stole a moment before getting out of bed to hold him close.

I stole a moment to look at the picture message of him the babysitter just sent.

I stole a moment from staying out in order to get home to him.

I stole a moment to exercise since he loves his stroller rides.

I stole a moment to watch him smile and coo while the dishes waited in the sink.

I stole a moment while nursing to stare at him in wonder.

I stole a moment to look at how much he’s grown already.

But all too soon, I’ll steal moments on the commute to sing to him.

I’ll steal moments after work to make up for lost time.

I’ll steal moments while getting ready in the morning to give him enough kisses to last throughout the day.

I’ll steal a moment during my lunch break just to check in.

I’ll steal moments to make each new experience a lesson learned.

I’ll steal moments to appreciate rather than get annoyed.

I’ll steal moments to do things for myself even though I live for him.

I’ll steal moments for coffee after a sleepless night.

I’ll steal moments to make up for the things I might have missed.

So I’ll be grateful for my next couple of weeks that I get to spend at home with him every second, even though my life is now full of stolen moments. I love every minute. I’ve learned to multitask and do things with one hand. People said, “Your priorities will change,” and this post is proof of that. People said, “Night time will get better- he’ll sleep longer,” and they did get better...but probably because we learned we don’t need to get up every time he makes a peep. People say, “The housework can wait; don’t forget to take care of yourself, too,” and my house is testimony of that. People said, “Your marriage will change for the better,” and it has. I am experiencing everything that I’ve been anticipating and I couldn’t ask for more:)

photos from sherihartwigphotography.blogspot.com

Past Due

Yes, I'm still pregnant.  But not for long; the end is in sight!  This will be my last post as a "mother-of-none," as a "family-of-two," as a "single-with-no-dependents..."  I could go on and on, but I'm trying to believe that patience really is a virtue, which is extremely difficult when you watch your due date come and go with a baby still in your belly!   

We will keep you posted!

Nesting

A couple of weeks ago, I was a little nervous that I would never get the "nesting instinct" that some women experience late in their pregnancy that involves the urge to prepare their nest for the arrival of their new baby.  Then, one weekend- BAM!- it hit me: the energy I needed to do all the last minute preparations before this baby is born.  But what is left to do?  My hospital bags are packed and the house is clean. 

That's when I realized that I just had to polish the silver and steam the drapes immediately.  My baby can't come home to wrinkly curtains!!

Then I decided I needed a project to work on or I would drive myself insane impatiently awaiting the birth of this baby.

So I spray-painted these...

...and found these in the basement...

...and framed some cool wrapping paper...

Then, I decided I should finish decorating the nursery since I finally received the bedding...

...so I covered this...

...with a paper lantern...

(Remember those plain-old plaques from the"in-progress" nursery pictures before?  Well, above is the finished product that stemmed from the creativity of my friend Katie who made me these animal silhouettes.  Then I decoupaged them onto the plaques.  Check out more of Katie's artistic talent at her blog: http://brambleberrygrace.blogspot.com/)

...and I painted this...

...and covered over this...

...to match the nursery...

(J never really understood the significance of the "Three Chicks" sign anyway)

So, all that is left to do is wait for baby to arrive.  Wait for what seems like an eternity.  Today, a lady asked me, "When are you due?"  "Thursday," I replied.  Thursday, as in four days from now.  Anytime, baby, anytime!

Do As I Say, Not As I Do

Last week, I did something that I've been remorseful about ever since.  I bought a new range.  No, this isn't a case of Buyers Remorse, this is regret over where I bought it from.

The story begins a few months ago, when our old oven started acting up.  I would be in the middle of baking cookies, and all of a sudden, the oven door would lock and go on self-clean for 3 hours!  Then, the bottom element failed to heat correctly, so anything I baked was actually broiled, whether I meant to cook it that way or not.  I could honestly say it was the appliance, NOT the cook!

They say the average life of modern appliances is 10-15 years, and since this range had seen its twelfth birthday, we decided to buy new instead of hire a repairman.

So I shopped around at a few chain retailers and some local places.  One local shop owner found us a range and gave me a quote which included haul away of our old lemon and delivery of the new one.  That same day, I went to "The Big City" and found a range at a "Big Box Store" with more features for $100 less, which also included delivery and haul away. 

"Appliance haul-away" was very important to us, because here on the farm, we have to burn our garbage, recycle it in town, bury it, or put it in the woods with the rest of the old farm equipment, refrigerators, coffee cans, and iron headboards that have accumulating for over half a century.  When I first moved here, it took me forever to figure out why we needed so many wastebaskets: one for burnable garbage, one for recycling cans, one for recycling glass, and a slop bucket for the unburnable food.  It soon became my job to haul the garbage to the burn barrels in "The Swamp" and start it on fire.  Lucky for me, J has taken over this task during the cold winter while I'm not supposed to be doing any heavy lifting anyways.  ...Or maybe he thinks I still don't do it right! 

There was that one time when I went on a cleaning frenzy and hauled 9 computers, 4 VCR's, 2 light fixtures, a bedroom set, an electrocuting fan, a fire-starting microwave, and an old humidifier to "The Pit" (where we take things that cannot be burned in the burn barrels) to be buried.  A couple months later, he asked where that old humidifier went....oops.  I told him it was ugly, anyways.

So back to my original story.  I bought the range with more features that was $100 cheaper...from the Big Box Store.  Regret set in.  I broke one of the rules of sales.  Something that I hope my own customers don't do. 

I work for a locally-owned business that has been a part of the community for years.  We have a beautiful showroom that is ever-changing with innovative products and trends.  We employ knowledgable and experienced salespeople and installers.  I, myself, have a degree in Interior Design, and I personally go out to my clients' homes in order to make the best recommendations for the products that they select.  I give them service that I know cannot be matched by any Big Box.  I do my best to insure that my clients believe that my time and experience are worth something and that they get the best value for their money.  Then, I hope that my clients feel the same way, and don't make their purchases elsewhere just because they can save a buck.

And then I went against my beliefs and purchased from the chain store anyway "just to save a buck."  A buck that sits in my pocket now, but if I had bought from the local place, I would have piece of mind that I was doing business locally with a  shop owner with an excellent reputation.  His customers trust his judgement, and if something goes wrong, he personally comes out to fix it or replace it.  I should have given him the business, but I ended up doing something that I hope my clients don't do to me.  At first, I was going to keep this on the down-low, but I've decided to learn from my "mistake" and let this serve as my "punishment."

For the record, when the Big Box Store delivered the new range, they tracked a trail of mud from the door, to the kitchen, and into my bathroom.   

On the other hand, I am happy with the range.  I decided to stray away from the bisque color, which the salesmen told me was getting "phased out," and went with the enamel that looks like stainless steel.  I was concerned about what it would look like in close proximity to the true stainless steel dishwasher that you can see in this pic, but I was juiced that it wouldn't show waterspots and fingerprints.

The oven is working great.  The other day I was baking a roast, when J came home and said he had to run to a hockey game.  We took the roast out and cooked a quick frozen pizza for dinner instead.  I decided to finish baking the roast to have for supper the next night.  The next morning, I realized that I left the fully-cooked roast in the oven....overnight.  I told J what I did, and he said, "[sigh] It was a beautiful roast."  Yes, a beautiful roast indeed....and the dogs enjoyed it very much.

As requested...

So you wanted to see what I look like pregnant? 

Here I am today, feeling great at 33 weeks.  Thirty-three out of forty.  That's 8 full months + 1 week.  Three weeks from what is considered "full-term."  Six weeks from my due date.  The final stretch.  Me....having a baby.  Yikes!  It's scary and exciting all at once...which is probably why I woke up in the middle of the night dreaming about what size onesies to buy, wondering whether it is a boy or a girl, how big it will be, making a mental list of what is left to do, how long of a maternity leave to take, what labor will feel like, when to start washing baby things in Dreft, and literally getting kicked in the ribs and the bladder at the same time. 

We can't wait!

My uninteresting life

When did emailing replace writing letters, texting replace calling, and facebook replace socializing?  When did wearing sweatshirts to a hole-in-the-wall bar become more fun than getting gussied up to go to a dance club?  When did conversations turn from grades and gossip to recipes and kids?  When was the last time I walked to class instead of walked to exercise?  When did going out to dinner become more fun than just going out?  When did getting up early on a Saturday morning start to feel better than staying out late?  When did counting the months I'd been with my boyfriend turn into the years I've been with my husband?  When did getting my ring cleaned become one of the best free treats?  When did trips to the mall turn into trips to the hardware store?  When did thousand-dollar purchases replace hundred-dollar purchases?  When did my parents become so cool and so knowledgable?  When did my siblings become my friends?  When did my job turn into my career?  When did church turn into somewhere I want to be instead of somewhere I have to be?  When did my high heels get replaced with flats?  When did I start holding the steering wheel with both hands instead of one?  Could it be that I am officially a grown-up?  Sometime, in the last few years, a transformation took place... and now I have grown-up expenses and grown-up responsibilities and grown-up priorities and grown-up joys and a grown-up life.  And I wanted it all.  It just came naturally...