In the Dailies

I lost fifteen pounds between September and Thanksgiving. (I gained five over Christmas.) This has led to shopping (and subsequent squeezing into the new skinny clothes), one of my least favorite things to do (both the shopping and the squeezing).

I used to love shopping, but since moving to New Jersey, an unofficial mall paradise, I am less enamored with the sport. Yes, it is technically a sport here. Parking alone requires great perseverance and strategy. Once inside the mall, you’ve got to have lots of endurance and strength. If there are sales — good sales — you may find yourself involved in a full-contact fight for survival.

Back to the point. I think all sizes have changed since the last time I had to shop for jeans. First off, my favorite cut no longer exists. Secondly, I now have to shop in the petite section. I am 5’7″! That’s not exactly short. A pair of regular Gap jeans stretches from my bosom to my ankles. No joke. What is going on here?! Have I teleported to the land of giants? I don’t understand.

If anyone has tips on where to buy normal jeans for curvy chicks, preferably ones that won’t require deductions from our 401K, please share.

*****

In other news, one of my very best friends from college got married this weekend. I’m SO EXCITED for her!! Her dress was stunning and the cake was delicious, of course, but her smile was the best part of the whole day. So, a big congratulations to Claudia and Darryl! May God draw you closer to each other as you grow closer to Him. I love you and am so thrilled to witness what God will do in and through you in the years to come.

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I work recess at our school two days a week. When the temps or wind chill go below freezing (32 degrees — this happens often throughout January and February), we have recess inside, either the gym (to run) or the library (to watch a movie). Most recently I had a library crew. Since they had already finished the movie chosen by the principal, I grabbed another. That is when I learned fourth grade boys think they’re too cool for VeggieTales. After a few minutes of listening to them shout alternatives and argue over which flicks were good and which weren’t, I grabbed a DVD and popped it in. They continued yelling because the boys thought it was “too girly” and the girls still wanted VeggieTales. I let them know that a boy actually suggested it. Another boy then threatened to puke all over the table. Off went the lights. I made them sit in silence for a full five minutes. Then I started the real torture: The Secret Garden (1950 version). Those poor kids. I do feel for them. I mean, they were already spending recess inside and I aggravate their suffering by making them watch a movie almost as old as my mother. It wasn’t even the good part! The first twenty minutes (which is all we had time for) is full of moaning and all kinds of people dying of tuberculosis or something like that.

Good news: every child in that class is now praying for warmer weather so they won’t have to sit inside with me again.

I’m praying that too.

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A few random, but valuable lessons learned this week:

• We need a bigger water heater before the children start taking showers every morning.
• Allowing a four-year-old to type an email to Grandma will almost always mess up your laptop. Count on it.
• It is wise to stock up on winter clothing before winter actually arrives. Buy multiple sizes for your children, because they grow even when you tell them not to. (As a sidenote, I think all clothing companies must live in southern California. Why else would all the stores near me — still freezing temps, people! — be complete out of long pants and sweaters for five-year-olds? Why are they selling swimsuits in January?! The rivers and lakes are frozen, people. I want some new gloves and firmly believe I should be able to get them without special ordering online. Oh, well. Lesson learned.)
• It is better to pay the Kohl’s bill by mail or online, than to go into the store where cute things are often on sale and begging to be bought. (Like swimsuits that can’t be worn for at least six more months.)

… Sarah! Congratulations! Email me your address (via the contact link above) and I’ll get your book right to you.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment! It was fun reading your thoughts. Stay tuned for more giveaways. It’s Christmas and my birthday’s coming, so I may get a little crazy in the coming weeks.

The next three weeks are insane for me. Not that I’m complaining! I’m thrilled, actually. They include travels through five states and at least two countries with dozens of family members, old friends and people I’ve yet to meet. Oh, and the start of a new school year — Zach’s first! All this, I’m sure, will be followed by two solid weeks of laundry.

So I’m here and I’m not.

I have much I would like to share with you, but I’m also a realist and recognize that, while I have the greatest intentions of posting throughout this whirlwind of summer’s-end activity, I may not actually get to it.

I’m here, but I may not be here.

I may be here.

Or here.

Or here.

Have a great day, wherever you are.

I spent at least twenty minutes this morning writing a post for you. The phone rang. I answered it. Came back and worked a little longer. When I clicked my mouse, everything disappeared. Yup. I spent another ten minutes trying to find it. It’s gone. And you’ll have to wait until another day to read it, because my real life is waiting.

Next week is VBS and I still have some prep work to do on that. Furthermore, I think I see the sun and I know I just heard the dryer buzz. I’m off. Have a happy Friday, all! I’ll blog ya later.

I had a WONDERFUL weekend, which is why you didn’t find me here. I’ll have a new post up by tomorrow, though.

In the meantime, don’t forget to sign up for the great book giveaway Kathi Macias is hosting in honor of her blog tour. It’s simple. You only need to leave a comment — any comment! — on my post from last week about Kathi’s newest book. Click here to see that post and leave your comment.

Hey, all! I’ve been thinking about this for a while and have noticed a few other bloggers wondering the same things, so today I’m inviting you to sound off. PLEASE comment or email me with your thoughts on this! I want to know what you think.

• What do you want to see on this blog?
• Which types of posts are your favorite? (devotional/spiritual, parenting, book reviews, random thoughts, helpful tips, recipes?)
• Which don’t interest you at all?

I’ve maintained this blog for over two years. At its genesis every post was like a devotional. Little by little I started including more of my life: my random thoughts, book reviews, quotes from my kids and silly life encounters void of specific spiritual application. At times it feels a little too mish-mashy.

Since you’re the ones reading it, maybe you can give me a little direction. Do you like the mental goulash I offer? Or do you want more cohesion on the site? If you like a little more consistency of content and, perhaps, a more defined purpose, let me know which direction you think I should take. Talk to me!

I can already tell this week has a theme. I’ve already written Mama Loves for tomorrow and this week we’ll have the March edition of Ellie-isms and Zach Attacks, so I might as well regale you with some of my wonderful lines. Here’s the week’s theme verse, hopefully an aid in preventing Open Mouth Insert Foot Disease.

Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD;
       keep watch over the door of my lips.
- Psalm 141:3 (NIV)

I have struggled wtih OMIF Disease most of my life. I remember when it began. I was around ten years old, I think. My brother and I were at my step-grandparents’ home for Christmas, along with our dad and the whole step-family. I always liked my step-grandad. He was cool. They had a pool table in the basement. A paneled basement. That’s what I remember. The next thing I remember Grandad asking me what I was thinking. He said he could always tell when I was thinking, that I thought about everything before I said it. For some reason, this concerned me. I didn’t want to seem timid or insecure. I wanted to speak freely and confidently whatever was on my mind. That’s when it began. I stopped thinking before speaking and have ever since been plagued by two wide feet stuck in my gaping mouth. It only gets worse when I’m excited or nervous. Those emotions collide at writers’ conferences. Here are some of my favorite faux pas, all accomplished while attempting to present myself as a professional writer.

While “networking,” I introduced myself then asked someone and what he wrote. He told me about his suspense/thriller novels. I reacted in kind about my nonfiction work (unpublished) then told him I’d see him around and wished him best of luck at the conference. I later realized he was part of the faculty and a very successful author. Like, gobs of books I have (obviously) never read.

I sat at a table with a faculty member and blurted out: “Hi! I’m Tanya and someone told me I need to talk to you about something, but I can’t remember what or why. How you doin’? Can I write for you?” Yup. Lasting first impression.

My dream agent invited me to a one-on-one lunch to discuss my career plans. Spaghetti sauce splattered on his shirt. He asked if I would mind if he took it off. He wore layers. I said, “Only if I can take mine off too.” I was not wearing layers. A DISASTEROUS attempt at humor!! After a very long silence I admitted how completely inappropriate that was and how very nervous I was and “Can we just forget I said that?”

I definitely need a guard over my mouth.