Last week I blogged about a friend who had just lost her mother. I'm saddened to hear that she lost her father today. I can't imagine how she must ache, how her entire family must hurt.
I believe in prayer and I have been praying for my friend every day. At the height of my own grief, immediately after my brother's death and my baby's death, there were days that I couldn't bring myself to pray. I wanted to, it's just that I couldn't bring myself to do it. I didn't feel angry with God, I just felt spiritually dull and dry (broken, really), but I know that I was being prayed for by friends and family members. I'm convinced that those prayers are what kept me going and what helped lift the heavy fog of depression that was beginning to descend.
Christians may grieve differently than some, the promise of eternal life with Him is a great comfort, but they do still grieve. Even Jesus wept for Lazarus. . .before He restored him. Her parents are gone from this earthly life, but they have been restored; reunited with Christ and with each other.
My loving Lord carried me through my darkest hours and I'm know that He's with her too.
Showing posts with label father. Show all posts
Showing posts with label father. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Monday, July 5, 2010
What a Great Weekend!
My family enjoyed a long weekend and I'm sad that it has come to an end. My husband has had a grueling work schedule for months upon months and I'm sure that he feels the same. He has been working six-day work weeks, plus three evenings each week, since last year. We miss him so much when he's gone and I've appreciated the opportunity to reconnect.
The Tater Tot and I loved spending the last few days with Big Daddy. We visited with friends, we visited with family, and we spent time alone - just the three of us. The weekend was full of barbecues and the grill was fired up each day. My son was able to go swimming (his favorite activity these days) and we bought him some new shoes. Elmo shoes, of course.
This was such a wonderful weekend. I'm sad that it has come to an end.
The Tater Tot and I loved spending the last few days with Big Daddy. We visited with friends, we visited with family, and we spent time alone - just the three of us. The weekend was full of barbecues and the grill was fired up each day. My son was able to go swimming (his favorite activity these days) and we bought him some new shoes. Elmo shoes, of course.
This was such a wonderful weekend. I'm sad that it has come to an end.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
A Father's Day Feast
It's been a long day, so I'm going to write about the culinary delights that I whipped up for my family on this Father's Day.
I began the day by brewing a pot of coffee. I've been enjoying mock-mocha lattes lately and today was no exception. I take 2/3 cup of black coffee, add a teaspoon or two of sugar free hot cocoa mix (today I had suisse mocha instant coffee though), and top off my cup with nonfat milk. It is so tasty and, though low in WW points, it tastes so decadent!
For breakfast, I served an Egg Pie. Egg Pie is kind of like a quiche without a crust. I made it with eggs, cottage cheese, broccoli florets, roasted red pepper, chopped mushrooms, shredded cheddar, shredded Parmesan, and breadcrumbs. It's colorful and filling. I particularly like that each serving includes one serving of veggies. It's low in WW points so it has become my breakfast/brunch staple. Big Daddy and the little Tater Tot gobbled it up so I'd say it was a hit!
I slacked off on lunch because, well, it's Sunday and I'm fond of dining out each Sunday after church. Tomorrow I'll probably blog about the topic that hit me while we were listening to the sermon this morning - I took notes so I hope I don't forget! Anyway, we dined at our favorite little Mexican hole-in-the-wall restaurant. It's cheap and delicious and the waitstaff loves us and our son. As is typical, I shared my fish tacos with the little one and he enjoyed nearly a full order of guacamole.
We had my parents over for supper and it was a FEAST!! We served up grilled top sirloin, sauteed mushrooms & onions (I season with salt, pepper, garlic, and a splash of soy sauce), baked potatoes (with butter, sour cream, chives, bacon, and cheese), green beans almondine, and a tossed green salad with my ranch dressing. I love to cook, but I am not a baker, so I served fresh cut watermelon for dessert. Everything tasted so awesome and I think that everyone was more than satisfied. My Dad said that he has never experienced a bad meal in my home and today was no exception. I guess you could say that the compliment puffed me up quite a bit!
I think that both my husband and my father were touched that my son picked out their Father's Day cards. I also let the boy "sign" the cards. My son also picked out my husband's gifts: a plaque and a pen that says "#1 Dad." My father is at the age where he doesn't really need any stuff, so I thought he might want to read the blog post that I made last night. I felt a little lame to hand him the computer printout, but I realize now that it was the very best gift I could have given him.
Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there. You guys work so hard to provide for your families and you deserve more than just one day each year. To everyone who reads this blog: I hope that the fathers in your life are as wonderful to you as my husband and father are to me. If they are, do let them know how much they are loved.
I began the day by brewing a pot of coffee. I've been enjoying mock-mocha lattes lately and today was no exception. I take 2/3 cup of black coffee, add a teaspoon or two of sugar free hot cocoa mix (today I had suisse mocha instant coffee though), and top off my cup with nonfat milk. It is so tasty and, though low in WW points, it tastes so decadent!
For breakfast, I served an Egg Pie. Egg Pie is kind of like a quiche without a crust. I made it with eggs, cottage cheese, broccoli florets, roasted red pepper, chopped mushrooms, shredded cheddar, shredded Parmesan, and breadcrumbs. It's colorful and filling. I particularly like that each serving includes one serving of veggies. It's low in WW points so it has become my breakfast/brunch staple. Big Daddy and the little Tater Tot gobbled it up so I'd say it was a hit!
I slacked off on lunch because, well, it's Sunday and I'm fond of dining out each Sunday after church. Tomorrow I'll probably blog about the topic that hit me while we were listening to the sermon this morning - I took notes so I hope I don't forget! Anyway, we dined at our favorite little Mexican hole-in-the-wall restaurant. It's cheap and delicious and the waitstaff loves us and our son. As is typical, I shared my fish tacos with the little one and he enjoyed nearly a full order of guacamole.
We had my parents over for supper and it was a FEAST!! We served up grilled top sirloin, sauteed mushrooms & onions (I season with salt, pepper, garlic, and a splash of soy sauce), baked potatoes (with butter, sour cream, chives, bacon, and cheese), green beans almondine, and a tossed green salad with my ranch dressing. I love to cook, but I am not a baker, so I served fresh cut watermelon for dessert. Everything tasted so awesome and I think that everyone was more than satisfied. My Dad said that he has never experienced a bad meal in my home and today was no exception. I guess you could say that the compliment puffed me up quite a bit!
I think that both my husband and my father were touched that my son picked out their Father's Day cards. I also let the boy "sign" the cards. My son also picked out my husband's gifts: a plaque and a pen that says "#1 Dad." My father is at the age where he doesn't really need any stuff, so I thought he might want to read the blog post that I made last night. I felt a little lame to hand him the computer printout, but I realize now that it was the very best gift I could have given him.
Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there. You guys work so hard to provide for your families and you deserve more than just one day each year. To everyone who reads this blog: I hope that the fathers in your life are as wonderful to you as my husband and father are to me. If they are, do let them know how much they are loved.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Happy Father's Day
Happy Father's Day wishes to my Dad and my husband!
I thought I'd share my thoughts on what Father's Day means to me. To begin, I'll give my definition of "dad." You see, I don't think just any man deserves that title. Sure, your biological father may have donated DNA to create you, but that doesn't mean that he's your Dad.
So who is Dad?
He's the one who will carry you from the car to the house when you've fallen asleep on the way home. He'll even generously do this long after you're big enough to wake up and walk in the house on your own. Heck, my Dad even did this when I was pretending to be asleep.
Dad is the one who works to give you good things. Dad doesn't shy away from putting in a hard day of work if it means providing for his family. He'll even work two jobs, though it means time away from his beloved family, to make sure you have everything you need.
Dad stays up until the wee hours of the morning on Christmas Eve to assemble that bicycle that you wanted oh so badly. And how does Dad get thanked for his effort? With yet another tie, another bottle of aftershave, or another coffee mug.
Dad loves his children so much that he cares to discipline them. You may not like your punishment, but he is just and fair. He is firm, but loving.
Dad will hug you while you cry over the loss of a beloved grandparent. He is distraught too, but he holds you and calms your sobs. Your Dad's embrace gives you comfort.
Dad defends his family. He will bravely investigate any strange noises in the night. He doesn't hesitate to potentially put himself in harms way to protect those he loves.
Who is this Dad of which I speak? Well, my own, of course.
If you have ever heard the song, "Color Him Father" by The Winstons, you have a pretty good idea of how I feel about my Dad. My mother wasn't widowed with seven children, but it still takes a big-hearted man to marry a woman with three children. He opened his heart and raised us as though we were his own. He wasn't our biological father, but he was our Dad.
My Dad has had quite a rough several months. I was sure that I said a final goodbye at one point and I still thank God that He saved him. Among other things, I pray for his health (physically, emotionally, mentally, & spiritually) every night and feel very blessed that he's still with us.
This year my husband and my father will be receiving cards that my son picked out for them.
I thought I'd share my thoughts on what Father's Day means to me. To begin, I'll give my definition of "dad." You see, I don't think just any man deserves that title. Sure, your biological father may have donated DNA to create you, but that doesn't mean that he's your Dad.
So who is Dad?
He's the one who will carry you from the car to the house when you've fallen asleep on the way home. He'll even generously do this long after you're big enough to wake up and walk in the house on your own. Heck, my Dad even did this when I was pretending to be asleep.
Dad is the one who works to give you good things. Dad doesn't shy away from putting in a hard day of work if it means providing for his family. He'll even work two jobs, though it means time away from his beloved family, to make sure you have everything you need.
Dad stays up until the wee hours of the morning on Christmas Eve to assemble that bicycle that you wanted oh so badly. And how does Dad get thanked for his effort? With yet another tie, another bottle of aftershave, or another coffee mug.
Dad loves his children so much that he cares to discipline them. You may not like your punishment, but he is just and fair. He is firm, but loving.
Dad will hug you while you cry over the loss of a beloved grandparent. He is distraught too, but he holds you and calms your sobs. Your Dad's embrace gives you comfort.
Dad defends his family. He will bravely investigate any strange noises in the night. He doesn't hesitate to potentially put himself in harms way to protect those he loves.
Who is this Dad of which I speak? Well, my own, of course.
If you have ever heard the song, "Color Him Father" by The Winstons, you have a pretty good idea of how I feel about my Dad. My mother wasn't widowed with seven children, but it still takes a big-hearted man to marry a woman with three children. He opened his heart and raised us as though we were his own. He wasn't our biological father, but he was our Dad.
My Dad has had quite a rough several months. I was sure that I said a final goodbye at one point and I still thank God that He saved him. Among other things, I pray for his health (physically, emotionally, mentally, & spiritually) every night and feel very blessed that he's still with us.
* * *
This year my husband and my father will be receiving cards that my son picked out for them.
Friday, April 30, 2010
The Toughest Job You'll Ever Love
I'm not talking about the Peace Corps, though I just stole their slogan for the title of this post. I'm talking about parenthood in general, motherhood specifically.
Parenthood is an incredible responsibility. I held a responsible position prior to having my son, but it was nothing compared to parenthood. Nearly every single decision you make, from the food you prepare to the toys you purchase, can have a positive or negative impact on your child. If you're selfish and can't handle self-sacrifice, do society a favor and don't become a parent yet. There's no shame in delaying parenthood until you are mature enough to handle the responsibility. Why do you think I waited until I was in my 30s to start a family?
Parenthood comes with much joy and aggravation. The joys are obvious: your baby's eyes lighting up when you walk in the room, your baby's smiles, your little one saying "dada" or "mama," your toddler planting an unsolicited kiss on your cheek, your sweet child saying that they "luf you too." I'd imagine the joys continue to grow as the child does. The aggravations may not be as obvious to a non-parent. Yes, I know that parents shouldn't think parenting is aggravating, but sometimes it really is. My son isn't quite two, so veteran parents are probably thinking that I haven't seen anything yet. What can I say? I start some days with one last nerve and my son has the uncanny ability to continue getting on it. On those days, it's up to me to get glad in the same shoes I just got mad in and turn my frown upside down.
As a stay-at-home-mother (SAHM), I have a completely different parenting experience than my husband. I can express my exhaustion and frustration, but he can't fully understand it unless he's been in the trenches. As someone who has worked for a salary and someone who "does nothing" all day, I can easily say that it is far more difficult to stay home and care for a child.
I've heard some people claim that a woman is happiest if she's raising her children at home. I don't particularly agree with that sentiment because staying home to raise children just isn't for everyone. Financial obligations aside (and plenty of mothers work to keep a roof overhead & food in the cupboard), some women need more adult stimulation than they can get at playdates and Mommy & Me classes, some women are concerned about their future prospects and aren't willing to have a lengthy employment gap on their resume, some women just don't want to have their lives revolve around diaper changes, feedings, diaper changes, feedings, playtime, diaper changes, & naps. Women have the option of choosing whatever works best for them and in this post-feminist world, no one can question her decision. Heh, that actually just reminded me of Steve Martin's line from the movie Parenthood: "Women have choices, men have responsibilities." Sucks to be you, Men! haha
I can't say what's best for someone else's family, but I know what's best for my family. That said, caring for my child all day by myself is strange at times. The rest of the world tends to fade away when I'm focused on my little one. Things that had been important are no longer even on my radar - I'm sometimes surprised to notice that I haven't plucked my eyebrows in months. A 25-pound individual can make or break my day and the entire day goes down the toilet if my son wakes up on the wrong side of the crib. Singing The Alphabet Song 102 times each day is mind-numbing. My back, shoulders, & arms ache from playing "1, 2, 3, WHEE!" so often. I periodically have vague feelings of guilt because I'm sure that I'm not doing an awesome-enough job and raising the best kid ever.
Life is short and it is always uncertain. Though sometimes minutes begin to feel like hours and hours feel like days, I adore staying home with my son. My days with my son are precious and this time will never come again. Cleaning, cooking, laundry. . .it can all wait until my little boy is snoozing. I cherish my time with my little boy and I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to stay home with him.
Thank you, my love, for working so hard for our family. The house is a mess today because I decided to shirk cleaning and write this post while the tater tot is napping! xoxo
Parenthood is an incredible responsibility. I held a responsible position prior to having my son, but it was nothing compared to parenthood. Nearly every single decision you make, from the food you prepare to the toys you purchase, can have a positive or negative impact on your child. If you're selfish and can't handle self-sacrifice, do society a favor and don't become a parent yet. There's no shame in delaying parenthood until you are mature enough to handle the responsibility. Why do you think I waited until I was in my 30s to start a family?
Parenthood comes with much joy and aggravation. The joys are obvious: your baby's eyes lighting up when you walk in the room, your baby's smiles, your little one saying "dada" or "mama," your toddler planting an unsolicited kiss on your cheek, your sweet child saying that they "luf you too." I'd imagine the joys continue to grow as the child does. The aggravations may not be as obvious to a non-parent. Yes, I know that parents shouldn't think parenting is aggravating, but sometimes it really is. My son isn't quite two, so veteran parents are probably thinking that I haven't seen anything yet. What can I say? I start some days with one last nerve and my son has the uncanny ability to continue getting on it. On those days, it's up to me to get glad in the same shoes I just got mad in and turn my frown upside down.
As a stay-at-home-mother (SAHM), I have a completely different parenting experience than my husband. I can express my exhaustion and frustration, but he can't fully understand it unless he's been in the trenches. As someone who has worked for a salary and someone who "does nothing" all day, I can easily say that it is far more difficult to stay home and care for a child.
I've heard some people claim that a woman is happiest if she's raising her children at home. I don't particularly agree with that sentiment because staying home to raise children just isn't for everyone. Financial obligations aside (and plenty of mothers work to keep a roof overhead & food in the cupboard), some women need more adult stimulation than they can get at playdates and Mommy & Me classes, some women are concerned about their future prospects and aren't willing to have a lengthy employment gap on their resume, some women just don't want to have their lives revolve around diaper changes, feedings, diaper changes, feedings, playtime, diaper changes, & naps. Women have the option of choosing whatever works best for them and in this post-feminist world, no one can question her decision. Heh, that actually just reminded me of Steve Martin's line from the movie Parenthood: "Women have choices, men have responsibilities." Sucks to be you, Men! haha
I can't say what's best for someone else's family, but I know what's best for my family. That said, caring for my child all day by myself is strange at times. The rest of the world tends to fade away when I'm focused on my little one. Things that had been important are no longer even on my radar - I'm sometimes surprised to notice that I haven't plucked my eyebrows in months. A 25-pound individual can make or break my day and the entire day goes down the toilet if my son wakes up on the wrong side of the crib. Singing The Alphabet Song 102 times each day is mind-numbing. My back, shoulders, & arms ache from playing "1, 2, 3, WHEE!" so often. I periodically have vague feelings of guilt because I'm sure that I'm not doing an awesome-enough job and raising the best kid ever.
Life is short and it is always uncertain. Though sometimes minutes begin to feel like hours and hours feel like days, I adore staying home with my son. My days with my son are precious and this time will never come again. Cleaning, cooking, laundry. . .it can all wait until my little boy is snoozing. I cherish my time with my little boy and I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to stay home with him.
Thank you, my love, for working so hard for our family. The house is a mess today because I decided to shirk cleaning and write this post while the tater tot is napping! xoxo
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