What a crazy week! Busy. Tiring. Enjoyable moments. Shopping triumphs. Great gift ideas. Weary kids. School projects. Swimming... hockey... more hockey.. Guitar lessons... and so on. Then you add lack of sleep. My poor husband has this ridiculous cough... it seems to be an annual thing. It keeps him up all night. Hacking, phlegm, frustration, which in turn effects my sleep.
The weekend day ends with the school Christmas program... nice... yet exhausted kiddies. I need to desperately relax. I would love to dive into a book. But I finished my book I was reading... and so it takes me a little bit to get into a new one.
So here I am blogging ... sounds of snoring kiddies ...draining away the days fullness.
I can't wait to just sleep... praying that the meds Sanj got WILL WORK!!! That is how bad it is... he actually went to the doctor!
All in a week. My mom comes Monday so I look forward to just having some me time!
Just thankful that the week was good and that we survived it!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Rejuvenated
Today I spent a day with a friend. It was such a great day. I find my time with her inspiring. I find myself knowing that it is time to stop giving the past any more energy and celebrate NOW.
All I am promised is this moment. This is my goal... to release the past... appreciate what it has given me... which is so much of me NOW... and be grateful for life as I know it today.
My girlfriend is such an amazing mom. I am surrounded by moms that I respect and admire. I so often leave their company hoping and praying that I am enough for my children.
I know that despite the changes in many of my friendships... good and not so nice... I have people in my life that overflow my cup with love and goodness and nurture my soul.
God,
Thank you for the gift of friendship. I am so blessed. Help me to always be the kind of friend You would be proud of. Thank you for the people that feed my soul. I ask a special blessing on them...
Thank you for the power to change and seek whatever we put our minds to.
Thank you especially for girlfriends!
What a blessing they are!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Space..
Space... I have been thinking of space... personal space, space in a friendship, space in a relationship...
How much is good? How much is telling of issues that are really there? What makes for a comfortable space?
Do you have any idea what I am talking about? Today I was thinking of a friend, realizing I haven't talked to them in a while... an unusually long while (no it isn't you!!!)... and realizing that I don't miss that interaction. The thought of making that connection again felt tiresome.
Then there are friendships that have space just because of life at the moment. But you know you will reconnect in a week or a month and its always good.
Then there are the friendships that go by the wayside and I wonder what happened. Actually I usually know what happened. I will stop calling or initiating ... and bam... nothing happens. Then I really wonder... what was there really? That can be hurtful.
I need easy. I need real. I need the back and forth. Space ... it must be just comfortable space.
I was thinking of space that occurs when you really get to know someone... and it can be disappointing when there is that character flaw. You wonder how come you never saw it... and really how big is it? Can you accept it? How important is that person? That is really the deciding factor. Some traits can be overlooked... if love for the person is bigger than the flaw.
Some people... it is just easy. I love easy. Where have you been my whole life? I know that if I don't talk to you for a few weeks ... it is all good. We will hook up when we hook up.
Others I miss when I haven't spoken to them in the day.
As I am real with my time and feelings with each person in my life... I find it becoming easier to just take the space I need... and be OK with it.
Where is this all coming from? Today I saw someone I had not connected in a while. And I felt guilty. I know they are wondering where I have gone. Yet... i need space right now. I feel sucked dry when with them. Yet, feel that I needed to be there for them.
So now that I am really listening to me... I wonder where this will all go? Will I just continue to be there for them... and not worry about me and what I am not getting... Maybe it is OK to have these people in your life. Just as long as you control that number.
Just my thoughts and ramblings... maybe it is my guilt.
How much is good? How much is telling of issues that are really there? What makes for a comfortable space?
Do you have any idea what I am talking about? Today I was thinking of a friend, realizing I haven't talked to them in a while... an unusually long while (no it isn't you!!!)... and realizing that I don't miss that interaction. The thought of making that connection again felt tiresome.
Then there are friendships that have space just because of life at the moment. But you know you will reconnect in a week or a month and its always good.
Then there are the friendships that go by the wayside and I wonder what happened. Actually I usually know what happened. I will stop calling or initiating ... and bam... nothing happens. Then I really wonder... what was there really? That can be hurtful.
I need easy. I need real. I need the back and forth. Space ... it must be just comfortable space.
I was thinking of space that occurs when you really get to know someone... and it can be disappointing when there is that character flaw. You wonder how come you never saw it... and really how big is it? Can you accept it? How important is that person? That is really the deciding factor. Some traits can be overlooked... if love for the person is bigger than the flaw.
Some people... it is just easy. I love easy. Where have you been my whole life? I know that if I don't talk to you for a few weeks ... it is all good. We will hook up when we hook up.
Others I miss when I haven't spoken to them in the day.
As I am real with my time and feelings with each person in my life... I find it becoming easier to just take the space I need... and be OK with it.
Where is this all coming from? Today I saw someone I had not connected in a while. And I felt guilty. I know they are wondering where I have gone. Yet... i need space right now. I feel sucked dry when with them. Yet, feel that I needed to be there for them.
So now that I am really listening to me... I wonder where this will all go? Will I just continue to be there for them... and not worry about me and what I am not getting... Maybe it is OK to have these people in your life. Just as long as you control that number.
Just my thoughts and ramblings... maybe it is my guilt.
Better to give than receive!
Jordan decided that he was going to use his birthday money to buy his brothers gifts. Despite the ridiculous amounts of bickering, the younger brothers look up to the older ones with a adoration that is just barely concealed.
So we went looking for toys and stuff for his brothers. Since I was paying for the stuff upfront and Jordan was going to pay me back at home... I told him to keep a tally in his head. I learned that he doesn't do this too well since he was well over his amount and seemingly oblivious!
We came home and wrapped up his gifts. He discovered that he had purchased one toy too many. Instead of wanting to return it, he says, "I'll donate it to the toy drive for children who don't have anything." Aw... a proud moment!
So we went looking for toys and stuff for his brothers. Since I was paying for the stuff upfront and Jordan was going to pay me back at home... I told him to keep a tally in his head. I learned that he doesn't do this too well since he was well over his amount and seemingly oblivious!
We came home and wrapped up his gifts. He discovered that he had purchased one toy too many. Instead of wanting to return it, he says, "I'll donate it to the toy drive for children who don't have anything." Aw... a proud moment!
Home Schooling
Sometimes I get so frustarted with the homeworkthat is issued. Jordan's class is doing a project on other countries... part of this assignment is to make some kind of food from that country. Having 3 children go thru this class, you think that ONE child would pick INDIA!!!
Jordan is doing the country JORDAN! He looks up the country's popular food dish and then calls me and says "Could you make this for Monday?" Mansaf. Never had it... never hear of it. Being that cooking isn't on my favorites of things to do... it is another "chore" that is on my list. Who is doing to school?
I realize that we are suppose to do this together... but I'd rather build a gingerbread house. (Something I have never done yet... but plan to do with the kids this year).
Here is the recipe:
Chicken Mansaf Recipe
Chicken Mansaf Notes
This recipe is the Jordanian national dish. This is an Americanized version:
Ingredients
1 whole chicken, cut into serving pieces
1 1/2 quarts plain yogurt
1 egg
1 cup almonds, freshly toasted
1/2 cup pine nuts, freshly toasted
to taste, parsley, finely chopped
to taste, salt
to taste, pepper
Chicken Mansaf Recipe
6 servings long grain white rice (like basmati)
Serves / Yields
4 - 6 servings
Preparation Instructions
Place chicken in large pot with enough salted water to barely cover it.
Cook over medium heat until almost done, about 3/4 hour.
In a separate pan, cook enough rice for 6 large servings.
In a large saucepan, stir yogurt until it is quite smooth. Add beaten egg and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly.
------
Add enough of the liquid from the cooked chicken to make a thin sauce, about the consistency of very heavy cream.
Heat until it almost comes to a boil and thickens slightly.
Add the cooked chicken pieces to the yogurt sauce and finish cooking the chicken in the sauce, at a low temperature.
On a large platter, mound the rice in the center.
Arrange the chicken pieces on the rice and pour most of the yogurt sauce over it, reserving the remaining sauce to be added, as desired, by the diners.
Garnish with the almonds, pine nuts and parsley around the edges of the mound of rice and chicken.
Serve warm accompanied by warmed pita bread.
( Mansaf is traditionally made using lamb.)
Guess what we are having for supper one night this week? Got to test it out... before serving it to a class!
Jordan is doing the country JORDAN! He looks up the country's popular food dish and then calls me and says "Could you make this for Monday?" Mansaf. Never had it... never hear of it. Being that cooking isn't on my favorites of things to do... it is another "chore" that is on my list. Who is doing to school?
I realize that we are suppose to do this together... but I'd rather build a gingerbread house. (Something I have never done yet... but plan to do with the kids this year).
Here is the recipe:
Chicken Mansaf Recipe
Chicken Mansaf Notes
This recipe is the Jordanian national dish. This is an Americanized version:
Ingredients
1 whole chicken, cut into serving pieces
1 1/2 quarts plain yogurt
1 egg
1 cup almonds, freshly toasted
1/2 cup pine nuts, freshly toasted
to taste, parsley, finely chopped
to taste, salt
to taste, pepper
Chicken Mansaf Recipe
6 servings long grain white rice (like basmati)
Serves / Yields
4 - 6 servings
Preparation Instructions
Place chicken in large pot with enough salted water to barely cover it.
Cook over medium heat until almost done, about 3/4 hour.
In a separate pan, cook enough rice for 6 large servings.
In a large saucepan, stir yogurt until it is quite smooth. Add beaten egg and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly.
------
Add enough of the liquid from the cooked chicken to make a thin sauce, about the consistency of very heavy cream.
Heat until it almost comes to a boil and thickens slightly.
Add the cooked chicken pieces to the yogurt sauce and finish cooking the chicken in the sauce, at a low temperature.
On a large platter, mound the rice in the center.
Arrange the chicken pieces on the rice and pour most of the yogurt sauce over it, reserving the remaining sauce to be added, as desired, by the diners.
Garnish with the almonds, pine nuts and parsley around the edges of the mound of rice and chicken.
Serve warm accompanied by warmed pita bread.
( Mansaf is traditionally made using lamb.)
Guess what we are having for supper one night this week? Got to test it out... before serving it to a class!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Tis the Season...
One of my favorite pleasures in life is giving someone I love a gift. It may be something I bought or something I made.
I love seeing the look of surprise, then pleasure on their face.
I love a good gift! This is usually my goal for my family... a good gift that leaves then speechless! With the boys, it is getting harder. The older 3 are not so much into toys... and so I usually have to dig to discover a real want. Or sometimes it is just told to me.. flat out!
Tyler left a picture of the gift he is hoping to receive. Not likely... unless there really is a Santa! Josh sees everything... from the T.V. to pictures in the magazines to window shopping... and saying "Can I have that for Christmas?"
My favorite person to buy for (besides you) is Sanj! I love surprising him with a great gift. Each year it gets harder and harder, simply because if we really want something, we would just go get it, right?
The problem with Sanj is his response... he is like his mother... and does not show much emotion when receiving at gift. He will tear open a side of the package... and peak... looking for a clue... instead of just RIPPING OPEN the wrapping paper!
(WHO SAVES PAPER... PLEASE)! I have learned that his lack of emotion isn't really the reflective of his lack of appreciation for his gift.
This year' s gift is awesome. I can't wait to give it to him! Usual, tradition is that I give him his gift by the first week of December! I just can't wait!!! Oh I have given it to people to hold... but somehow I always end up giving it to him early!
This year... I am determined to wait... at least till Christmas Eve!
But we shall see.
I love seeing the look of surprise, then pleasure on their face.
I love a good gift! This is usually my goal for my family... a good gift that leaves then speechless! With the boys, it is getting harder. The older 3 are not so much into toys... and so I usually have to dig to discover a real want. Or sometimes it is just told to me.. flat out!
Tyler left a picture of the gift he is hoping to receive. Not likely... unless there really is a Santa! Josh sees everything... from the T.V. to pictures in the magazines to window shopping... and saying "Can I have that for Christmas?"
My favorite person to buy for (besides you) is Sanj! I love surprising him with a great gift. Each year it gets harder and harder, simply because if we really want something, we would just go get it, right?
The problem with Sanj is his response... he is like his mother... and does not show much emotion when receiving at gift. He will tear open a side of the package... and peak... looking for a clue... instead of just RIPPING OPEN the wrapping paper!
(WHO SAVES PAPER... PLEASE)! I have learned that his lack of emotion isn't really the reflective of his lack of appreciation for his gift.
This year' s gift is awesome. I can't wait to give it to him! Usual, tradition is that I give him his gift by the first week of December! I just can't wait!!! Oh I have given it to people to hold... but somehow I always end up giving it to him early!
This year... I am determined to wait... at least till Christmas Eve!
But we shall see.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
The Weekend...
It is 8:25 p.m. the majority of my boys are asleep... the oldest and youngest are trying to head to dream land. The weekend is over. We had no hockey this weekend! It was so strange... yet that "free time" was quickly filled with the assembly of the rink in the midst of snow and wind and cold weather... (what a dad!).
I was busy packing the gear needed for the remainder of the weekend. Sanj and I headed to Collingwood to a business Christmas party with friends that own a clinic there. The kids were staying at my inlaws... whom, I am sure, are relishing the quiet now.
Our time in Collingwood was nice. Drinks at a new clinic, dinner, then rock and bowl. Hum... did I mention I beat Sanj in 2/3 games??? Oh Yah! I am so NOT an athletic and I do realize that bowling is not a sport.... but... it sure did feel good!
Time away with my hubby was great, the only thing missing was not fitting a little shopping in. I love the stores there. Guess we will have to go again!
After breakfast, we headed out in blizzard like conditions, road closure and slow driving to be reunited with the munchkins.
A good weekend. Arriving at my in-laws, we were treated to a delicious meal made by my mother-in-law. I am so scared to step on that scale ...
So ended a good weekend. Lots of snow at home too... here starts a new week!
Good bye weekend.
I was busy packing the gear needed for the remainder of the weekend. Sanj and I headed to Collingwood to a business Christmas party with friends that own a clinic there. The kids were staying at my inlaws... whom, I am sure, are relishing the quiet now.
Our time in Collingwood was nice. Drinks at a new clinic, dinner, then rock and bowl. Hum... did I mention I beat Sanj in 2/3 games??? Oh Yah! I am so NOT an athletic and I do realize that bowling is not a sport.... but... it sure did feel good!
Time away with my hubby was great, the only thing missing was not fitting a little shopping in. I love the stores there. Guess we will have to go again!
After breakfast, we headed out in blizzard like conditions, road closure and slow driving to be reunited with the munchkins.
A good weekend. Arriving at my in-laws, we were treated to a delicious meal made by my mother-in-law. I am so scared to step on that scale ...
So ended a good weekend. Lots of snow at home too... here starts a new week!
Good bye weekend.
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