Christmas Vacation with the Fords: I have spent almost every Christmas of my life in sunny Los Angeles. There are only 2 exceptions. In 1990 after having Erika, I stayed in Santa Cruz to avoid traveling and in 1994 after having Jessika, I traveled all the way to Germany! Amazing what a difference it is between the first and second child! Other than those two years, Christmas Vacation always means being "home" (with my parents). Christmas and News Years Day were beautiful days, but during much of our vacation it rained. Highlights of our time in LA include: no luggage for 3 nights; a Christmas Morning "pageant" that featured my dad as a wiseguy with a towel on his head and Jessika as a wild sheep gone astray; Christmas Evening watching the sun set on the Pacific Ocean; a weekend camping on Ventura Beach; News Years Eve eating Numero Uno pizza and watching Disney videos; Shopping with my mom; making Jim eat his first "double-double" at In-n-Out (that's what a hamburger's all about); and finally taking a " red - eye " flight back to Madison with two babies. Both wanting to sleep on my lap the whole way!
Annoyance of the Week: (Formerly known as the illness of the week section, now made into a more broad section!) Bladder Control or should I write, the lack of it!! The time has come to start potty training. All the signs are present Jessika only needs practice. I am using positive and negative reinforcement techniques. When she goes potty in her chair or on the toilet with her new Warner Brothers cartoon character seat pad (from her Uncle Jim E. and Aunt Val), she can watch whatever video she chooses. But if she has an accident, the TV is turned off or to the news or some other kid-torturing show!
Words of the Week; "I am home!" It is characteristic to walk into our apartment after a long trip and sigh those words with relief ... Home! Where is it? In CA with my extended family? In WI with my possessions? It is funny because home is no longer a place for me. I have moved so many times that home has now become a feeling. When I walk into my parent's home, through the hall and into the kitchen, I get that feeling ... I am home again. It isn't the refrigerator giving me those vibes, it is the people. Home is where my heart is. Where ever Jim is, my children, my family, there I am home.
New Years Resolutions! Every year Jim and I get together shortly before the new year to talk about our goals, plans and hopes for the new year It is a time for us to get synchronized again. I find it special and love that he enjoys it as much as I do I have been making resolutions in very aspect of my life since High School. Obviously there is the weight goal! I also like to make spiritual goals and I even used to make friendship goals (whom to get to know or who to drop)! As I have gotten older and wiser my goals have become more general and less in number for myself. Now I can start making goals for my children instead (joke!).
This year God really gave me some weighty things in December to contemplate I find it so wonderful to find how God works through different circumstances to bring people to new places in their lives. I have always struggled with being an "at home" mom. It is so mundane. Yet somehow I find myself discovering peace and contentment in staying home. It is where I belong! You do not know the comfort I have recently found in this. Anyway, don't expect me to be keeping up on all the soaps (well maybe one). I have become even more committed to my home - based business (Creative Memories), art, and my writing. Of course there are my girls. How do you recommit your self to your children when they have everything you can offer? I have resolved to pray for them more, From my childhood, I have memories of my grandma praying over me as I slept. I want my girls to have those same memories as well as that same power protecting them.
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