Okay, so 40 feels. . . well just like 39. Which means I've been secretly living as a 40 something year old woman for a very long time! I have noticed that my body is starting to feel mid age though- without any major trauma to my body (unless you count carrying 7 children)- I am starting to feel aches and pains that weren't there before. I start most days as an 80 year old woman. This means bent over with back pains. I know, I know they make therapeutic mattresses for that, but I have children to feed at that cost.
It's okay though, my kids just think I'm bending down over them because I'm eager to see their sweet sleeping faces before they get out of bed - shh, don't let them know.
I didn't play football in school- hard to believe, isn't it. Yet, I have recently acquired a "football knee" injury. Since I know it didn't come from football, I'll blame it on all the P90X/Supreme 90 (which, by the way, I'm still plugging through. I haven't got on the scale lately~I really don't want to know that information; I'll hit it when it doesn't feel like a "fat day" ~ that would be for sure and certain on the 37th of any given month ; P ) I'm not going to complain about the knee too much - after witnessing a dear friend get stepped on her knee by a horse, I'm feeling spry and youthful.
I would sing the gray hair woes, but I've seriously joined the "cover it with color" about a year ago. I am so proud of myself for holding out as long as I did!! Although, did you know that the majority of women that color their hair do so for other purposes than covering gray?! I should have guessed that, but I've been too busy looking at my own gray to notice others'.
Wrinkles- aren't Shar Pei dogs cute? Here is the deal, and this is a good one, owners of shar peis have to physically lift each wrinkle and clean the skin folds. At least I'm NOT that bad. . . yet.
I have many saving graces- really I need to resolve to focus on these more often- but one of them is that The Clown is going through a phase where she sees old people as "So cute!" Therefore I'm only improving in here eyes. (Guess I know which one I'll call on to take care of me in the geriatric days!) She is my little Mother Teresa/St. Anthony and I count on her for A LOT, so she'll be up for the task.
That reminds me~memory. It's really is so fun sometimes to rediscover memories- even on a daily basis! My lack of memory is totally solved by the fact that I have 7 kids to remind me of everything.
Hearing- I've always had a bit of hearing loss. This too is source of amusement for my kids. No, they aren't trying to get away with more things, saying that they told me already, they just get a kick out of me repeating what I thought they said. Some of these are a real doosey! I am glad the Lord has blessed me with the ability to entertain my children- even if it is at my own expense! (It's okay, really, I take time to get a laugh on them any chance I can too!)
That reminds me~memory. It's really is so fun- wait a minute!
Okay so, on my 40th birthday, I'm going to share a underused secret. Never admit your age, always go about 5 years older than what you really are. Then, everyone will say, "Wow, you good for a 45 year old. I hope I look that good when I'm that old!!!"
Don't think of it as lying- remember if I told them my age according to how old I felt- I'd be 80 today!
I can find peace in the fact that I am younger than so many others. And if they are still doing well, then so am I! And I can rest assured that to the one that really counts- God- I'm still a baby!
Have a great day- hope you enjoy the beautiful gift of life that God gave you!
Surviving myself at 45,
Mary
P.S. Big birthday wishes to all those friends who happen to have been born on the same day as I was - you sure did pick a great day to be born!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Creatively Challenged
This is my fuming post - just a heads up to anyone reading, especially those of you readers that exude creativity from your very pores! Don't get me wrong- I love creative people; I just hate when I feel the pressure to try (and for some reason I nearly always think I can do just about every project) and cry (the usual response that comes from theses exploits) to be just like you. So the following is a list, although incomplete- because I'm sure there are more of you creative people just dying to tempt me into trying another project- of those that I hate to love.
My wonderful neighbor and friend. Here is a woman, no- make that WOMAN! Who sews, grows and bakes, all while wearing a smile! She is so encouraging too- which is why I'm sending my kids over constantly so she can rub off on them! Hey, if I can't be creative, I can at least see that my kids can be! Last month I sent the Jane Austen Wanna Be down to her house learn how to make home-made bread from SCRATCH! Okay- I'm talking like grind the wheat scratch. Who does this?? Now, the great thing about this is that I now have a daughter that can make homemade bread that is heavenly- but the downside is that she now knows how untalented her mom is in the baking area- oops! She is the mother of 3 great kids who share her friendly attitude and are a joy to have around- constantly sharing smiles, notes and little gifts (like beautiful flowers from their garden- which I'm completely dumbfounded at how she manages to bring forth from the same ground I can only sprout weeds from.)
My Mother- sorry mom! Isn't there some law that states that the creativity gene parents have gets passed on to the offspring? Wait a minute- if this were true, it could explain a lot of questions about myself and my family. Regardless, I did NOT get any talents that my mother has (or my sisters for that fact!) Not one. She can cook, sew, draw, paint, sing, play piano and guitar and she has a wonderful optimistic attitude too. (Guess where my kids are going this weekend!) Actually, the talent gene did get passed on. . . to my children (the girls at least-verdict is out on the boys and I don't believe my mother has a talent for smashing things and being wild). I am amazed at the extent my children have taken to music. No, they are not bound for Julliard, but they are not only musically inclined, but also confident enough to share their talent with others- as they do regularly at Mass.
And the cooking gene is alive and growing too. Some lucky men- or blessed convents- will get a top notch chef from my girls. I won't let the boys escape this one either- they'll have to face and master the kitchen before leaving the nest.
Lastly-I know, this is a very short list-call it the highlights, just the special people that are constantly in my face with their wonderfulness, Charlotte (aka Waltzing Matilda). This one is that is some what unfair- I don't know her. But, you can click on her blog here: http://tiredtwang.blogspot.com/ (or copy and paste) and witness how beautifully creative she is and in my wildest dreams I couldn't even come close to her wonderfulness. That doesn't mean I didn't try though!
We have a tradition at our house that we decorate the kitchen for each person's birthday. Streamers, balloons, and usually a homemade poster indicating the birthday child's name and new age. Easy
cheesy, but fun. So, the Jane Austen Wanna Be surfs on Charlotte's blog and sees her birthday decorating links and suddenly the pressure is on! I didn't do to bad (see pics.) But I did exhaust at least 6 months worth of creativity! Fortunately this was a two for one- two birthdays on one day (the Jane Austen Wanna Be and the Clown share their birthday- July 7th) so I get double credit!
You know, I can always pawn the decorating job off to the older kids for the next birthday. Oh wait, I already do that : )
I can't go until I mention that the whole creativity gene has extended to my kids in the acting area too. Three times a year they put on a production with friends in what they call "Fun Size Cinema." They always do a great job with what little props and sometimes rehearsal time they have. This last play was a rendition of "Annie." And despite a well worn wig (Who said Annie HAS to have curls?) and performance temperatures running above 100 degrees- they did an awesome job! Oh, and of course it was a musical- with The Jane Austen Wanna Be playing the keyboard.
It is a hard knock life! But at least I can rest knowing that creativity doesn't get me into Heaven (Thank you God!) And hey, I can always look at my lack of creativity as a leg up for my kids- they'll always be able to brag that they can do something or two things- oh forget it tons of things that their mother can't do!
Working to survive myself,
Mary
My wonderful neighbor and friend. Here is a woman, no- make that WOMAN! Who sews, grows and bakes, all while wearing a smile! She is so encouraging too- which is why I'm sending my kids over constantly so she can rub off on them! Hey, if I can't be creative, I can at least see that my kids can be! Last month I sent the Jane Austen Wanna Be down to her house learn how to make home-made bread from SCRATCH! Okay- I'm talking like grind the wheat scratch. Who does this?? Now, the great thing about this is that I now have a daughter that can make homemade bread that is heavenly- but the downside is that she now knows how untalented her mom is in the baking area- oops! She is the mother of 3 great kids who share her friendly attitude and are a joy to have around- constantly sharing smiles, notes and little gifts (like beautiful flowers from their garden- which I'm completely dumbfounded at how she manages to bring forth from the same ground I can only sprout weeds from.)
My Mother- sorry mom! Isn't there some law that states that the creativity gene parents have gets passed on to the offspring? Wait a minute- if this were true, it could explain a lot of questions about myself and my family. Regardless, I did NOT get any talents that my mother has (or my sisters for that fact!) Not one. She can cook, sew, draw, paint, sing, play piano and guitar and she has a wonderful optimistic attitude too. (Guess where my kids are going this weekend!) Actually, the talent gene did get passed on. . . to my children (the girls at least-verdict is out on the boys and I don't believe my mother has a talent for smashing things and being wild). I am amazed at the extent my children have taken to music. No, they are not bound for Julliard, but they are not only musically inclined, but also confident enough to share their talent with others- as they do regularly at Mass.
And the cooking gene is alive and growing too. Some lucky men- or blessed convents- will get a top notch chef from my girls. I won't let the boys escape this one either- they'll have to face and master the kitchen before leaving the nest.
Lastly-I know, this is a very short list-call it the highlights, just the special people that are constantly in my face with their wonderfulness, Charlotte (aka Waltzing Matilda). This one is that is some what unfair- I don't know her. But, you can click on her blog here: http://tiredtwang.blogspot.com/ (or copy and paste) and witness how beautifully creative she is and in my wildest dreams I couldn't even come close to her wonderfulness. That doesn't mean I didn't try though!
We have a tradition at our house that we decorate the kitchen for each person's birthday. Streamers, balloons, and usually a homemade poster indicating the birthday child's name and new age. Easy
cheesy, but fun. So, the Jane Austen Wanna Be surfs on Charlotte's blog and sees her birthday decorating links and suddenly the pressure is on! I didn't do to bad (see pics.) But I did exhaust at least 6 months worth of creativity! Fortunately this was a two for one- two birthdays on one day (the Jane Austen Wanna Be and the Clown share their birthday- July 7th) so I get double credit!
You know, I can always pawn the decorating job off to the older kids for the next birthday. Oh wait, I already do that : )
I can't go until I mention that the whole creativity gene has extended to my kids in the acting area too. Three times a year they put on a production with friends in what they call "Fun Size Cinema." They always do a great job with what little props and sometimes rehearsal time they have. This last play was a rendition of "Annie." And despite a well worn wig (Who said Annie HAS to have curls?) and performance temperatures running above 100 degrees- they did an awesome job! Oh, and of course it was a musical- with The Jane Austen Wanna Be playing the keyboard.
It is a hard knock life! But at least I can rest knowing that creativity doesn't get me into Heaven (Thank you God!) And hey, I can always look at my lack of creativity as a leg up for my kids- they'll always be able to brag that they can do something or two things- oh forget it tons of things that their mother can't do!
Working to survive myself,
Mary
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)