Great post...

A very good friend of mine posted a post on her blog a few days ago that I thought was very very good. It had to do with what really made a "super-mom". She talked about not juggling off-hour emails or having power lunches or corporate meetings anymore. She didn't have to hassle with rush hour traffic or deadlines. She used to have to do these things. I know because I used to work with her years ago at the same large international company in Kansas City.

But now, her days are filled with dressing 3 little girls under the age of 6, preparing breakfasts, lunches & dinners for her husband and children, running the kids to soccer practices and doctor's appointments, paying bills, home schooling, grocery shopping and dozens of other duties.

She doesn't have to juggle the job AND the home life. But the home life keeps her busy enough for both. In this day and age, I think we tend to forget how tough of a job being a stay-at-home mom is. You may not bring in the paycheck or make big important corporate decisions, but the stay-at-home moms are juggling so much while trying to mold their children into descent adults. And that involves making a lot of important decisions.

Hats off to all the stay-at-home moms. You ARE Super Moms in my eyes whether you get paid for it or not.

Courage, confidence or indifference...

This morning, I had an appointment in Columbia and also made a quick trip to Walmart while I was out. While I was in Wally World, I noticed people looking my way and giving me the "once over". It got me thinking.... "I am dressed pretty goofy looking." It had been a rushed morning. It's also going to be a rushed and busy day and I just wanted to put on some comfy clothes and not worry about it. And, yes, I looked like quite the sight. I had on an old blue and red Marion shirt that had moth holes in it, my tie-died colored sweat pants that I had cut off right below the knees because they were getting so thread-bare. I was wearing a light blue sweatshirt and a baseball cap. AND I had no make-up on.

Now, what I was thinking about was how different my attitude is now. Years ago when I was younger I would have NEVER gone out of the house not wearing make-up. And I would have been dressed in coordinating colors and outfits. I would have never thought of letting anyone see me like that unless it was (maybe) my family.

So, as I smiled to myself, I asked myself, is it courage that I'm letting myself be seen in public like this? Going out with my head up and hoping no one says anything to me or laughs at me. Or is it confidence because I'm older now and comfortable with myself and the person I am inside? Knowing that clothes don't make the person or necessarily say what kind of person they are. Or is it just indifference because I've gotten to the point in my life where I don't care what strangers think or what judgements they might make since they don't know the real Linda Runnebaum? Or, MAYBE, it's a combination of all three...??

Whatever it is, I know that I AM happy getting to the point in my life where I am confident in my innerself and the person I have turned out to be... Even if I do dress in tie-die thread-bare sweatpants and raggy t-shirts...ha!

If we could only bring her home....

I had such a touching conversation with my boys last night. I don't even remember how it got started but I mentioned to the boys that I wanted them to write another letter to our sponsored little girl in El Salvador, Katerin. Our conversation developed into discussing what Katerin and her family eats and what the money we send actually buys for them. We talked about how people in some third world countries live. We discussed how some people don't have houses or some only have tin or blankets for walls and most only have dirt floors. Michael has such a positive and caring attitude. He was like, "That's ok. At least, it's only dirt. Dirt's OK."

After they got done with dinner both boys went into their room and started looking for things to send to Katerin. They wanted to send food. They were so concerned with what she was eating and if she had any toys. They were so interested in sharing with her and sending her something.

Well, this morning on the way to school, both boys said that we could let Katerin move to our house and live. It was so sweet. I said, "What about the rest of her family?" They said, "They can live with us, too. We have room. They can live downstairs and in the spare bedroom.....". I was so touched. I am so proud of my boys and what caring individuals they are. They may be ornery at times but they have such caring little hearts.

Gasoline and a rope

Well, anytime you camp or spend time with my husband you can expect some excitement and adventure. Right before we were getting ready to pack up to leave Tony and Rebecca's this weekend, Greg and Tony decided to take down a limb on one of their trees. They had discussed it earlier in the weekend. The tree had died and Tony wanted to cut the whole thing down. So, Greg being the lineman that he is and (not bothered with heights, hanging out on limbs, etc....ha) said he would help him take off a limb to make cutting down the tree a little easier for Tony at a later date. Or course, the limb was not easily accessible and Greg had to rope the ladder to the tree (AND himself) and stand on the very top of the ladder and then try and use a chainsaw to get the limb down. He did it! And I knew he would but we were all holding our breath and saying prayers until he did. That's my hubby. Never a dull moment.... Oh, and what you don't see is Tony down at the bottom of the ladder holding on to it and getting pelted with sawdust. What an adventure.

Camping trip

This weekend we went to Peculiar, MO, to camp with some very special friends. Rebecca, Tony and their 3 little girls let us set up our camper at their house. We had all planned to meet down in Warsaw but schedules and finding someone to dog-sit her dogs just didn't work out so we just decided to come out and camp at their house. It was SO much fun and SO relaxing. Greg and I commented on our way home how tired we were but not wiped out. We were relaxed and didn't want the weekend to end. Thank you Tony and Rebecca for letting us come out and spend such a wonderful weekend with you. The boys had so much fun. Our boys and their little girls get along so well and enjoyed riding their bikes, playing in their tents and on the playset and making smores. We had a blast!!!

A busy and fun-filled weekend

We had another show this past weekend. The MO Steam Engine Show was in town and we took our rock display out and worked it for 4 days. It was very tiring but we made a little money and the kids had a ball. Here are some pics. Hope you enjoy.

Our new toy

We have a new toy for the pond. Our neighbor, Count Brent, gave us one of his paddleboats that he didn't use anymore. (He and his wife, Pat, are wonderful people and great neighbors, by the way.)

The boys are having a blast! Here's some pics of fun with dad. They love the water!

Soccer

Soccer season has started up again. The boys had their first games this past weekend. Vince's team won their game but Michael's team lost. They're having fun. It's about to wear mom & dad out but kids are having fun. ha!

Great feeling

Patriotism is definitely not dead. At least in small town America it isn't. I have to post this.....

I was working out at the Mo. Steam Engine Show on Thursday and Friday during the day since Greg couldn't get off work (he'd a much better salesman than I am...has the gift for gab - those of you that know him know what I'm talking about...hmmm).

Anyway, each day around 2:00pm they had a tractor parade but before they got started they sang the National Anthem and recited the Pledge of Alligance. I couldn't believe what I saw. Each day, and even on Saturday when I was there , as soon as the National Anthem started people just stopped dead in their tracks, took off their hats and crossed their hands over their hearts. It was amazing!! It got so quiet because people would stop their talking. I was so moved. That's the way it should be everywhere!! We should respect our country and flag. We live in a wonderful country and I wish more younger people would have the same respect and love for it as those of our countrymen who fought in the World Wars. They seem to still love this country so much. I have great respect for our elders. They are a great tribute to what this country is and what it took to get it this way.

Bedtime conversations

Occasionally, I lay down with the boys at bedtime. Sometimes, I just lay there and rest before they drift off to sleep. Other times, we have little quiet conversations. This was last night's with Vince:

Vince: "Mommy, probably the best thing I like about you is the way you dress. You look pretty."

Mommy: " Well, thank you, Vincent. That is very nice."

Vince: "The second thing is you're nice and you have pretty eyes."

Mommy: "Oh, thank you, sweetie."

Vince: "But the most important thing is that I Love You. That's the most important thing."

Mommy: "I love you, too, honey."

Blackie (the second...)

I can't believe I forgot to post pictures of our new calf. He's so cute. He was born about 2 weeks ago and everyone is doing fine. The kids named him Blackie. Of course, we've already got a cat with the same name. It seems like Blackie and Sweetpea are very popular names with my boys...haha!
Isn't he adorable.

The brides-to-be

I spent this past weekend in Kansas with my extended family. I had a couple of wedding showers to go to for a niece and a soon-to-be-niece. Afterwards, some of the aunts and cousins took them out on a traditional night on the town. We had a blast!!!

Spiderman and Batman ride again

Here are pictures of my little spiderman and batman. They have both learned to ride their bikes and they are doing SO well. They love it! It's the first thing they want to do before they go to school in the mornings and the last thing they want to do before they go to bed at night. I'm so proud of my little super heros.

To get old but not feel it...

Getting old is not fun. Especially when you've always been pretty active. And I can't imagine any normal "ache & pain" more uncomfortable than back pain. And I have it. Unfortunately, I've inherited my dad's bad joints and muscles. And the recovery time isn't as fast as it used to be when I was younger. I tend not to be a very good patient either. I don't like to be down and not able to do what I usually do and the first sign of feeling better, I'm up and going full speed. Which, sometimes, isn't the best medicine. But the worse part about these injuries is I can't spend the quality time with my sons when I'm hurt. And that bothers me most of all. Since we had our sons later in life it's going to be harder for us to stay physically fit so we can keep up with our boys and their activities.

Anyway, I guess this blog is sort of a commitment to myself and to those of you who read this. They say that you're much more committed and apt to accomplish a goal if you write it down or tell someone. Well, I'm telling all of you now.

This is my commitment:

To focus (on a regular and consistent basis) at stretching and exercising in order to get my body in better shape so that the next time I make a slight movement to the left or right or lift something that may only weight 10 lbs, I won't throw my back out or sprain something.

I've always worked out and I think I'm overall in pretty good shape. But I haven't been working on those certain muscles and parts of my body that need extra attention these days. I hate to admit it but I am getting older. I'm proud to say that I'm in pretty good shape but I want to be in better shape by the time I'm 50 and I don't want to throw my hands up and give up being active just because I'm getting older and it's harder to get moving than it used to be.

So, there it is.... my commitment to you and to myself. By the time I'm 50 (next June) I will be in better physical (and mental, might I add) shape than I am now.