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A simple compliment and my heart smiles
Have you ever thought about how far a compliment can take someone? A couple of weeks ago my parents were visiting when one of them made the simple but genuine statement, “Leanne, your house is always so clean.”, and the other was quick to agree. Now let’s take a step back. From my perspective, my house is not clean. There are four boys (five including hubs). Weekends and evenings involve soccer, homework, Legos, Hot Wheels, running, jumping, playing. Although all of us are involved in one shape or form in keeping the house tidy (to the extent it can be) I am the cleaner. and cleaning is just not my thing. I love a clean…
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Self Esteem vs Self Respect
Last weekend was cold. Cold and rainy. The kind of weather that makes you want to curl up in front of a fire with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book. Instead I was at a soccer tournament for my ten-year old. Three games over Saturday and Sunday 90 minutes from home. Three games of pure determination on our boys’ parts. Three games of ‘Go, Avon, Go!’ … Three losses. Continue Reading about how to turn the loss into a win, Self Esteem vs Self Respect But that doesn’t necessarily make this mom sad: * The relationships that those boys are making out there on the field, the friendships…
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Pride in the Uniform
“Being in public when he is in uniform and feeling like the proudest person on the planet” How true these words do ring! For me the public-uniform doesn’t happen often as usually hubs changes right away when he gets home and doesn’t make too many side-trips between duty and home. But if I get the pleasure of going with him to drill-weekends or military-events I swell with pride. (It’s a good look on me, really.) Getting ready to head out this past weekendI do remember one particular autumn day. *E* had an afternoon soccer game and Hubs was on his way home from a weekend away. He had a choice. He could go home…
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A Newborn Niece and Spring Mud Puddles
Today a niece was born, not just any niece but my niece. Sure she is a sister, daughter, granddaughter, cousin. But to me she is a niece and I am her aunt. She does however live far enough away that I can’t just “pop over” to meet her. Far enough away that it’s a road-trip to hold her tiny little fingers, marvel at her tiny little toes and most importantly kiss her chubby little cheeks (and tell her all about the troubles her dad caused during my childhood). As a mother of all boys (and oh how I love them and I don’t regret the hand I have been dealt…
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Bullying and our Military Children
I am a mom. Mom of a senior in high school, a 3rd grader, a 1st grader, and a toddler. My 3rd grader is a bit on the small side. He’s never been on the ‘charts’ and we have even been to a specialist just to be sure all is well. All is well, medically, and his stature has been chalked up to genetics and that is a-ok with me. However, already at 9 years old I have witnessed a few instances of the ‘bigger kids’ picking on the smaller (same age but some twice his size). One instance of apparent bullying was a fellow soccer player, church friend and school mate pushed my…
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A Recipe for Summer: Sun Tea
Sun Tea! My favorite drink. It is sunny skies, warm weather and the sounds of summer wrapped up and packaged in a glass jar. A few years ago I perfected my family’s favorite version of sun-tea and I thought I’d share it with you. 6 tea-bags. (I use Lipton Tea, found in an economy box of 100.)2 quarts of cold water1 two-quart glass jar. Nothing expensive required! Using your glass jar combine the ingredients and let it sit in a nice sunny-warm spot for two or three hours. My deck table is ideal. The longer you let it sit, the stronger your tea will be. So you can play with the time to see…
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Postpartum Depression
Postpartum Depression … I’ve lived it, breathed it, been held tightly in its grasp wondering when I’ll be allowed to come up for air. Eight years ago was a very dark period of my life. I did suffer from depression after my first son, Baby *E*. I spoke to my OB/GYN at my 6 week check-up and was put on an antidepressant. I am thankful for the medication but in many ways I wish there was more to it then that. I wish there was some sort of six-week required psychological counseling, not just a “be sure to see a counselor if it gets worse” from my doctor. The medication…
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Emotions Run Amuck
Wow, my middle-child started kindergarten this week. Oh dear, sweet *C*. He went from the ‘baby’ of the family to the middle-child this month after his baby-brother, *L*, was born… and now he is a big kindergartner, getting on the bus and out of my view for 8 hours each day. My emotions have run amuck! *C* lives in a dream world. I’m not sure if it is the age or the personality but the phrase “Stay on Task” echoes through our house when there are things to be done. It is easy to find him in another part of the house, doing something unrelated to what needs to be…
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Distractions
Distractions are a good thing. Distractions kept me sane during hub’s deployment in Iraq. My boys had swim lessons, soccer camp; we had time with family and friends during deployment. All things that kept my mind from focusing on the one person I was missing the most, my soldier! We were busy, we were distracted, life was only as good as we made it. Distracting ourselves at the local park’s Butterfly HabitatDistractions are keeping me sane during these last few days of pregnancy. I had contractions ALL weekend but they weren’t getting any stronger or any closer. If I sat down all I noticed was the contractions. All I could…
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Thankful Thursday: Mutual Friends
Last night was ‘Small Group’. Our church has called it many things over the years, K-Group, Home-Group, etc etc… I am partial to Small Group. A small group of friends that didn’t start out as friends, but as strangers that have grown to care about one another and a desire to be with each other. I’ve written about this wonderful group of people before. (Small Group: The Joys of Entertaining) We are all ages. Hubs and I the youngest; the oldest … I’d venture in their 50s. I’m pregnant with baby #3. Some of them are empty-nesters wondering when they will be grandparents. A few of them grew up in the…
