Everyone Needs Role Models Like This

Today is a special day. It's a day that not many people get to say they can celebrate.

Today my mom and dad are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary!

50 years since the day they said "I Do" to one another. 50 years of being united. 50 years.

In that 50 years, a lot has happened.

• They have loved.
• They have lost.
• They have moved.
• They have built a house.
• They have found their paradise.
• They have been happy.
• They have fought.
• They have struggled.
• They have prospered.
• They have raised children.
• They have become grandparents.
• They have endured sickness.
• They have celebrated health.
• They have worked.
• They have played. 
• They have traveled.
• They have lived.

But the one thing they have done that means the most is that they have been incredible role models. I remember the sacrifices my mom and dad made as I was growing up, but that's what good parents do. That's not the role model I'm talking about. What I mean is that they showed the importance of being in love. They were in love. They ARE in love.

I'm sure I've told this story a million times to as many people as would listen, but I love it and am telling it again. When I was in high school, I was with a friend of mine at my brothers' wrestling meet. We were across the arena from where my parents were sitting. My friend motioned toward my parents and said how obvious their love for one another was. They sat there holding hands while watching the meet. She said that's the kind of marriage she wanted when she grew up. I remember that day so well and the impact her comments had on me. I had never really taken the time to look or notice. She opened my eyes and now I see it every time I look at them or talk to them and each time I reflect on memories about them. It's the kind of marriage I decided I would have.

They are truly in love.

Happy 50th anniversary, Mom and Dad. Thank you for being such great role models! I love you both.

Things, Life,Whatnot

When I started blogging several years ago, I envisioned a place to share with family, friends and whomever felt like listening. I used it to be excited, to be sad, to complain, to celebrate...

But then I got busy. And *poof* I faltered. I stopped sharing the excitement and started living it offline. I became more reserved about things I complained about. I became more selective mainly because I couldn't find the time or didn't want to share too much of my personal life. Several part time projects here and there, my review blog, stuff for the kids... and life... in general... have all put a damper in things. Have I given up on writing? Heck no. Just busy.

My dad visited the other day and asked why I don't blog any more. His sincere question has been weighing on me since. Actually, it's been weighing on me for a long time but when he said something, it hit a nerve and now I'm up at night with thoughts racing through my head. Why CAN'T I find the time to do something that has always made me so happy?

As a stay-at-home-mom, I'm often asked where all my time goes. It stresses me out to be asked that. Why can't I get this or that done? Mainly because I burn through hours in the day with nothing to show for it. It appears that I sit at my desk for what seems like all day. But in reality, that isn't the case.

My day starts off by waking up and getting the kids ready for school. They still need me for things like what to wear - even though they seldom like what I select. While doing morning chores, I make breakfast for them as well as lunches then walk then to the bus stop. Some mornings, I eat breakfast in between kid-chaos and chores while other days it isn't until about 8:30 before I find the time. We hit the gym 2-3 times a week, return home and get cleaned up, make lunch, clean up the lunch mess and really start the day around 1:00. (On the non-gym days, we usually run errands, I volunteer at the school or work my PT job as an accountant.) So 1:00 is about the first time I can sit down at the computer to really focus on any particular task. But 4 times a week, I kill about an hour or so doing a freelance project creating a newsletter for a marketing company. All the while, I'm constantly (literally) interrupted to let the dog out or back in. When I finish my freelance stuff, I have a brief window to check emails, pay bills, surf or do something non-computer until 3:20 when I walk the dog to the bus stop to meet the girls as they return from school. Once home, I'm into kid-mode helping with homework, running them here or there and trying to be a good mom. My saving grace is that DH has been doing most of the cooking so I help some but mainly focus on post-dinner cleanup. Evenings bring about their own chaos with practices, baths and family time.

Here I sit, (now 5:40 in the morning) spending about an hour putting something in writing so I don't feel like quite a loser. I finally got up after tossing and turning since sometime around 3 when the dog needed out for the second time. Yes , I'm babbling but I think I need it.

Maybe I should just plan to get up at 5 every morning so I can start my day with evidence of something concrete that I actual accomplished for the day.

Not likely though... I value sleep too much.

A Lesson in Charitable Giving (from my 1st grader)

The 1st and 2nd graders at religious education class are in a battle to see who can bring in the most food in the upcoming month.  No, they aren't participating in a competitive eating contest... they're putting together donations for a backpack program for families in need.

Read more »

She Sounded like a Broken Record

My 8 year old daughter was working on her homework and jibber-jabbing something while she worked.  It was the same thing over and over.

I just about said "You sound like a broken record." until I realized that she wouldn't have the faintest idea what that meant.

For a split second, I thought "...Like a scratched CD" but quickly nixed that for being before her time also.

"...like an .mp3 stuck on repeat?"


Sigh.

I feel old.

Appetizer Recipe: Spicy Pizza Thins

Growing up, we celebrated the family Christmas with a meal of all appetizers. One of my favorites was a Pizza Thin recipe that my family had made for as long as I can remember. Now that I'm older, I still love it and enjoy it but have been inspired by #FranksRedHot to jazz it up a bit. (And I'm entering this in Frank's RedHot Recipe Contest!)

Spicy Pizza Thins
Ingredients:
1 Pkg Cocktail Rye
1 16 oz Pkg Sausage
1 Lb Processed Cheese Loaf
1 can Pizza Sauce
Franks Original Hot Sauce to Taste

Directions:
Brown sausage; drain well
Cut cheese into small pieces; melt
Add pizza sauce to melted cheese; stir until well dissolved
Combine cooked sausage with cheese mixture
Add 3-4 teaspoons Franks Original Hot Sauce (more for bite!); Thoroughly mix it in.

Spread onto slices of cocktail rye.

Broil until cheese is nicely browned. Enjoy!

If you're looking for a recipe with even MORE bite, eliminate the pizza sauce and double the Frank's Red Hot Sauce. It doesn't taste as much like pizza but it still tastes great!

Note: These can be prepared ahead of time and frozen on a cookie sheet. Allow to defrost slightly before broiling.

Who Wants an Exclusive Coupon?

As you know, I've been participating in the Lean Cuisine #31Days program for this past month. Creating new habits... better habits... healthier habits.

But...! How about a healthier wallet? I'm excited to say that as part of the campaign, I have a widget on SahmReviews.com to print a Lean Cuisine coupon. It's exclusive to the Lean11 who participated in the #31Days as well as the blogger who coordinated the campaign. You can only print this coupon from these 12 blogs.

Seriously. It's exclusive AND it is limited quantity!

Be sure to stop by SahmReviews.com and grab it before they are gone!