Puppy is delaying her bedtime because she must have a snack. I am talking to Mr. Zookeeper on the phone and mention that I heard a mouse in the vent or cupboard. I glance over to find Puppy cautiously looking around. She lowers herself from the stool, tucks her hands tightly against her chest and ninja jumps out of the kitchen. I conclude that she is suddenly no longer starving and I finish my phone call.
I chuckle as I hear Puppy alerting her siblings of the invader.
My merry moment quickly gets transformed as all 4 children come rushing down the stairs. Puppy takes center as she points out the scene of the crime. Rhino interrupts her as he begins spouting out facts regarding a mouse's natural environment, a cat's diet and Dad's allergies. Monkey, who is not getting too close to anything unworthy of her princess presence is concerned if it is a girl mouse or a boy mouse and Tiger, armed with scissors in one hand and a spoon in the other drops to the floor vent and yells with deafening excitement, "where's da mouse?"
Who needs a cat? The wild animals probably scared the visitor to death! I'm quite the chair hopper myself when a mouse is present but this sixty second demonstration had me feeling sorry for the rodent!
Much to the dismay of my curious zoo creatures, the miniature intruder never showed its face. But we're all better off; I have no idea what Tiger was intending to do with that spoon...
2.15.2012
2.08.2012
Smile
We've all fallen into the trap of admiring a baby who is just grinning away. There may be something funny going on, they may be responding to our voice and according to some doctors it may just be gas; but regardless of the reason, very little time elapses before we start to feel the tingle in our cheekbones and we realize we too are smiling. Smiles are contagious!
Today I want to share a quote from one who has spent her life making others happy, Mother Teresa.
"We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do."
If you have ever been the recipient of a friendly smile whether from a loved one, acquaintance or complete stranger, you know how powerful such a simple gesture can be. If you have held that power and offered a smile, you have taken part in changing gray skies to blue. Let's face it, one smile from a cute guy and any tween starts texting about it, and for all we know that could just be gas too! Whatever the driving force, Smiles are powerful.
I had an experience in the grocery store a few years back that I will never forget. I am used to getting sized up and judged as I shop with my traveling circus so when I saw an elderly woman smiling at my children with complete joy; I froze and took a mental picture. I'm sure I hadn't showered in days, at least one of my children was more than likely wearing pajamas and we may have been involved in a Code Adam looking for a lost boy, I don't remember. Maybe she was reminiscing her shower-less days or silently gloating that the joke was on me. I didn't need a reason, I just remember the face of this kind woman who took the time to look up and share a simple gesture aimed directly at me.
A new power came over me. I felt a renewed confidence and threw my greasy hair back over my shoulder, I was ready to combat anything that day threw at me. She didn't say a word, she didn't offer a hand but she shall never know the good that a simple smile did for me that day.
So, smile to make the world happier, smile to break language barriers, smile because it feels good or smile because it makes people wonder what you're up to- just Smile!
Today I want to share a quote from one who has spent her life making others happy, Mother Teresa.
"We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do."
If you have ever been the recipient of a friendly smile whether from a loved one, acquaintance or complete stranger, you know how powerful such a simple gesture can be. If you have held that power and offered a smile, you have taken part in changing gray skies to blue. Let's face it, one smile from a cute guy and any tween starts texting about it, and for all we know that could just be gas too! Whatever the driving force, Smiles are powerful.
I had an experience in the grocery store a few years back that I will never forget. I am used to getting sized up and judged as I shop with my traveling circus so when I saw an elderly woman smiling at my children with complete joy; I froze and took a mental picture. I'm sure I hadn't showered in days, at least one of my children was more than likely wearing pajamas and we may have been involved in a Code Adam looking for a lost boy, I don't remember. Maybe she was reminiscing her shower-less days or silently gloating that the joke was on me. I didn't need a reason, I just remember the face of this kind woman who took the time to look up and share a simple gesture aimed directly at me.
A new power came over me. I felt a renewed confidence and threw my greasy hair back over my shoulder, I was ready to combat anything that day threw at me. She didn't say a word, she didn't offer a hand but she shall never know the good that a simple smile did for me that day.
So, smile to make the world happier, smile to break language barriers, smile because it feels good or smile because it makes people wonder what you're up to- just Smile!
2.01.2012
An angel in the food line
Tonight was the blue and gold banquet for cub scouts. I was flying solo with my animals and had everything under control, well, as under control as one can expect from my family.
In spite of all of our efforts, we were late, as usual. I couldn't carry the auction cake and the cupcakes plus the children so I went with plan D. Rhino sat holding the cake (which was made up like a giant s'more) and Tiger refused to put on his socks, shoes or pants so he took off running, in the freezing night while exclaiming that is was cold. Yeah, ya think? Plan E.
I grabbed the cupcakes and two girls, locked rhino in the car with the smore's cake on his lap and ran to catch up with Tiger. A nice missionary opened the doors to the church and let the kids in while I brought up the rear. After agreeing with the kind man that yes, my son was indeed half naked (he had pj's pants on but the elastic was shot so he had a bum playing peek-a-boo) I rushed in to find that the pledge is being said and Tiger has no care for his patriotic duty. I drop off the cupcakes and girls while securing a watcher for Tiger so I can run back out to the van and get my Rhino.
All is well.
I tackle Tiger to the floor and get him dressed while Rhino runs to the front of the food line. I take the other three kids and venture to the back of the line. We wait, we do our waiting some more and Tiger sees the chips. He attempts to pounce the table but I am quick and am able to stop him, with the help of my lower lip which he kicked. To avoid further savannah games, I hold Tiger tightly until we pass the danger zone. Puppy can smell the food, not adults or kids, just food. Yes, that is exactly how she said it. Monkey is plugging her ears and hoping not to be hurdled over.
We approach the front of the line and before I can even think about Plan Q (you can see how quickly we adjust around here), an angel swooped in and offered her services. I have to admit, I got a little choked up and had to refrain from dropping a tear on my BBQ sandwich. She carried the plates for the girls while I tended to Tiger and myself. Though she had a family of her own, she followed mine all the way to our table and once we were seated, she poured us all drinks.
Not all angels wear white and have wings. But, when you are in the presence of one, heaven feels very close. She made sure we were all situated and then disappeared as quickly as she came.
She will probably never read this or know the magnitude of her service but I don't want to ever forget that God sends us help when we need it. There are good people in this world and we have many reasons to be joyful!
In all truthfulness, I am a tough cookie and probably could have handled the situation but this time, because of a kind, observant woman; I didn't have to...
In spite of all of our efforts, we were late, as usual. I couldn't carry the auction cake and the cupcakes plus the children so I went with plan D. Rhino sat holding the cake (which was made up like a giant s'more) and Tiger refused to put on his socks, shoes or pants so he took off running, in the freezing night while exclaiming that is was cold. Yeah, ya think? Plan E.
I grabbed the cupcakes and two girls, locked rhino in the car with the smore's cake on his lap and ran to catch up with Tiger. A nice missionary opened the doors to the church and let the kids in while I brought up the rear. After agreeing with the kind man that yes, my son was indeed half naked (he had pj's pants on but the elastic was shot so he had a bum playing peek-a-boo) I rushed in to find that the pledge is being said and Tiger has no care for his patriotic duty. I drop off the cupcakes and girls while securing a watcher for Tiger so I can run back out to the van and get my Rhino.
All is well.
I tackle Tiger to the floor and get him dressed while Rhino runs to the front of the food line. I take the other three kids and venture to the back of the line. We wait, we do our waiting some more and Tiger sees the chips. He attempts to pounce the table but I am quick and am able to stop him, with the help of my lower lip which he kicked. To avoid further savannah games, I hold Tiger tightly until we pass the danger zone. Puppy can smell the food, not adults or kids, just food. Yes, that is exactly how she said it. Monkey is plugging her ears and hoping not to be hurdled over.
We approach the front of the line and before I can even think about Plan Q (you can see how quickly we adjust around here), an angel swooped in and offered her services. I have to admit, I got a little choked up and had to refrain from dropping a tear on my BBQ sandwich. She carried the plates for the girls while I tended to Tiger and myself. Though she had a family of her own, she followed mine all the way to our table and once we were seated, she poured us all drinks.
Not all angels wear white and have wings. But, when you are in the presence of one, heaven feels very close. She made sure we were all situated and then disappeared as quickly as she came.
She will probably never read this or know the magnitude of her service but I don't want to ever forget that God sends us help when we need it. There are good people in this world and we have many reasons to be joyful!
In all truthfulness, I am a tough cookie and probably could have handled the situation but this time, because of a kind, observant woman; I didn't have to...
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