Friday, June 26, 2009







Whew! Where has this week gone?

Oh, that's right . . . I've spent it primarily eating leftover birthday cake, and then immediately repenting of my gluttony with Jillian Michaels and the treadmill.



Thankfully, Jen hosts this carnival to help sluggish bloggers like me get back on track.




One

Speaking of Jillian Michaels, I think she may owe me some royalties. Or at least a thank-you note on some personalized stationery.

Several people have told me that when they heard I was doing the 30 Day Shred, they figured they might as well do it too.

Now, that means that they either deeply respect my opinion, or that they assume that if a wimp like me can do it, then so can they. I'm okay with that either way.

I even enticed Rob to try it, although he hardly broke a sweat because he is already disgustingly fit. Still, he did it.

Meanwhile, I need to be honest with myself and admit that it is time for me to move on to the next level. Even though the jumping jack/jump rope sequences still make me want to rip my legs off and beat myself over the head just to stop the burning in my quads.

Sounds fun, no?


Two

In a stunning move that has cost me the Christian Parent of the Year Award, I was overheard saying this to my son in the local art store:


Fiver, THAT'S IT. I'm not going to tell you again! I don't want to hear
you singing those Bible songs for the rest of the afternoon.


Nice, right?

In my defense, Francie and Fiver have been immersed in the vacation bible school soundtrack for the past week.

Fiver can be obsessive about certain words or phrases, and I am not exaggerating when I tell you that he can repeat the same phrase for HOURS at a time. This week, he chose one lyric from one song.

One lyric SEVEN HUNDRED times. I'm sure you can see where I'm coming from.

Still, I guess I could have worded my request in a different way, huh?


Three

Last night was the VBS show, and I always find myself teetering on the fine edge between embarrassment and amusement when I watch my kids perform.

Amusement because the kids were cute and really into it. Embarrassment because a) Fiver, with his tactile obsession, felt the need to stand and caress the baptismal font while he performed his song a half beat behind all the other children, and b) Francie, in her nervousness, kept picking off the dried pieces of paint on the chestal area of her VBS t-shirt.

Except it didn't look like she was picking at paint, it looked like she was . . . well, I'm sure you can catch my drift.

I spent the better part of the show trying to catch her eye and remind her, with not-too-subtle hand gestures, to KEEP HER BLESSED HANDS OFF THE FRONT OF HER SHIRT.

Does anyone else's kid do this kind of thing? (And if the answer is no, then don't tell me.)

Four

I know that it seems like everyone and their brother has blogged about this, but boy is it a shame that Jon and Kate Gosselin are getting divorced. My heart goes out to their children.

We see a lot of media coverage around here, probably a little more than the rest of the country, because the Gosselins only live about an hour away. In fact, they live in my childhood hometown, so they are local celebrities (if celebrity is the word you want to use).

I've seen few episodes here and there, and I'll admit that I'm not a fan of the way Kate spoke to Jon. But I'll also admit that I have been known to speak sharply to Rob when I'm bogged down with the care of small children.

If you are naturally inclined toward sarcasm, as I am, it's an easy pattern into which to slip. And it's wrong, because it slowly tears away, little by little, at the tenderest part of your spouse and your children.

It's human nature to speculate about what went wrong. It seems that a lot of people I talk to feel it's the show that made them seek divorce, and it's their own dumb fault for continuing the show.

Who knows if they would have gotten divorced if there was no show, and if I'm being honest, then yeah, I do think they should have put the brakes on the show in order to fix their family. I'm not doubting their love for their children, but it rings a little hollow when they profess that every thing they do is solely for the little ones while their marriage crashes and burns on national television.

I also know that I am so grateful that God doesn't give me exactly what I deserve from the decisions I've made in my life. Because that would be awful.

One last thought: I did read that TLC is putting the show on hiatus for six weeks, but shame on them for running a "Jon and Kate retrospective" next week. They just filed for divorce this week, and TLC has already wrapped a special devoted to "their ten years of marriage."
The whole thing is callous, and it makes me sad.

Five
What are you all reading this summer? Anything good?

The next book on my list already has seven holds on it at the library, so at this rate I won't get to read it for five months. I'm thinking I should move on to something else.

Any suggestions?


Six

This kid is going to drive me around the bend. You can see it in his eyes. I love it.




Seven

It's summertime, and I got nothin' except Popsicles on the brain. Have a great weekend, my friends!


For more Quick Takes, head over to Conversion Diary.




12 comments:

  1. 2. My 3 year old does this too! Why is that? And how can such a sweet song or phrase make me want to stuff zucchini in my ears?

    3. And that same girl has her first VBS program tonight. I'm sure I'll be embarrassed and proud as well. Especially if she grabs her crotch like she's been in the habit of doing lately. It's like she's a *gasp* boy. What do I do with that?

    5. Have you read The Time Traveler's Wife? It's one of my all time favorite books, and it's going to be a movie soon. Well, it IS a movie, that will be out soon. I can't wait to see it.

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  2. 1. I'm really hoping to see some gorgeous after-shred photos of you in a few weeks. With the effort you're putting into it you deserve the reward.

    2. Imagine going through the grocery store with your 2 yo singing Lamb of God at the top of her lungs over and over and over ad nauseum. Yeah, if you are going to Hell at least we'll be there together.

    5. Tell me what you're reading and I'll tell you what I'm reading. Forget it, I'll just tell you now... The Pajama Girls of Lambert Square by Rosina Lippi was a nice, pleasant escape book. I think you'd like it.

    6. Trouble never looked so cute!

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  3. 1)Exercise and I do not mingle. I start to feel sleepy just reading about other people's programs.

    2)My two youngest boys will repeat the same line of a song a million times, too...but only on long, long drives in the van.

    3)I wouldn't make it through a VBS show. All my kids sing off-key, and my 4 year old always has his privates in one hand or a finger in his nose. And I just don't find that cute.

    4)Having only seen one episode of J&K+8 from a hotel room, I would have predicted way back then that they were in trouble. When God isn't at the center of a marriage, it is very hard to work through all the inevitable rough spots.

    5)I am really enjoying The Splendor of Sorrow. Although I am really in the mood for a Michael O'Brien novel right now, if only I could keep my eyes open past 8 pm!

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  4. What a great post! Your little guy is sooooo cute! Too funny about the same lyrics being repeated -- I love music and singing, but SOMEtimes, it's just too much. Or maybe it's my hormones... either way, I tell them to quit (5 times). I'm reading Heaven's Song by Christopher West. Talks about Theology of the Body. We have a book club/dinner party tomorrow night for chapters 2 & 3. It's heady but worth it. Finally, good for you for doing the shred. My fingers can't get the plastic wrap off. Bummer. Oh, yes, I can be sarcastic now and again :-)

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  5. Been wanting to try the Shred...haven't quite got there. Maybe someday, or maybe I'll live vicariously through you.

    My kids just stand up there and hardly sing, look terrified and make me wonder where they were when these songs were practiced. but the way I have it figured, everyone is so busy watching there own kid, they don't even notice yours...I choose to believe that, anyway.

    I love to read but right at the moment the names of anything escape me...go figure. I'll be back if I have an inspiration.

    my little girl LOVED J&K, although I have not allowed her to watch it this season. I never liked the way she talked to him, but I am heartbroken over the divorce...I have been praying like crazy that they would stop the show, reconcile and God would just be super glorified through it all! I guess that isn't going to happen. I just feel so sorry for those poor chldren.

    Anyway, have a super weekend--I'll be chasing my little 18 month old around!

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  6. At least Sallie was not standing on the pew last night! :)

    At least it was a more relaxed atmosphere in church last night.

    Your kids are always SO good in church.

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  7. Those VBS songs seriously stick in your head. I'll be humming in the shower and think: what is that from? oh yes, hearing 40+ kids sing it EVERY day this week :) I can only imagine the parent side of it. what was your theme?

    Meantime, though, can I say that I LOVE those sing-along moments? We actually have ours coming up this Sunday after Mass... they sing for the whole church... and it's totally awesome. eye-wanderers, trying-not-to-cry-ers, belting-it-out-ers... I love 'em all.

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  8. My kids were begging to listen to the VBS CD as we pulled away from the church on the last day. I politely declined. After listening to it repeatedly to learn the songs, I needed a break. Now they have a CD player in their room and can listen to it as much as they want.

    I'm reading the Virgin Queen's Daughter by Ella March Chase. It is just another historical fiction about the Tudor court. This one is about a young woman who may be Elizabeth's daughter from a liaison with Thoas Seymour. It is enjoyable. What are you wanting to read that is so popular?

    I haven't Shredded in over a week, but I've been to the gym every day instead. I've heard Level 3 is terrifying, which is where I'm headed soon. Yikes.

    Bun is so cute.

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  9. Anonymous9:52 PM

    In a quick response to your book question- I am trying to resist the urge to read this summer until I am done editing Tom's dissertation, but I did manage to squeeze in the new Jodi Picoult, Handle with Care and I highly recommend it!!!!!!
    Mirabella MOM

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  10. I'm sure when you asked the question you didn't think about the librarian who would surely answer! "Still Alice" by Lisa Genova, "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen, "Toss of a Lemon" by Padma Viswanathan (exceptional read!), "Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer, "Dakota" by Kathleen Norris, "Fugitive Pieces" by Anne Michaels, "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert, "The Shack" by William P. Young, "Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls...oh, I could go on and on!

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  11. molly d11:28 AM

    Go for Level 2, Aimee!! I got bored with Level 1 as well and the challenge of Level 2 was what I needed to stay interested. You go, girl!

    Oh, and let me put in a word for The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks. Nicholas Sparks also wrote The Notebook which is the ALL TIME greatest movie. (I'm sure you've seen it - if not, go directly to the Netflix queue and treat yourself to a good movie this weekend!) I've found all of Sparks' books to be a good and clean weekend read. Enjoy!

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  12. If the Shred works for me, I will owe it to you. :)

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