Full of Laughter

Today was a happy day.

And during this happy day, at separate times, both of my children were laughing hard enough at my antics and tickles that they snorted.



They don't usually (or ever) snort.

Until today.

I just love it.



My heart exploded.



Again.

Spring

I'm a spring.

As in, I have a spring skin-tone.

Maybe I was told this sometime in my past. But if I was, I don't remember.

Anyway... this is one of the fun ways that we were pampered at the retreat last week... A lady who oozed gentleness and love sat me down in front of a window and draped various colored fabrics and cloths under my chin. She'd slowly draw them away one by one while intently studying my face and the effect that the colors had on my complexion until she declared her conclusion as to what 'season' my skin is.

I wasn't too familiar with this before. I knew that some colors were good on some skin and some were bad, inherently. That was the extent of my knowledge.

And I learned that some colors I wear a lot are awful on me. My eyes are baby blue, so I always assumed that a shirt that matched my eyes would bring out my eyes and therefore look good.

Right?

Wrong.

Turns out that I should wear yellow toned colors. Any color, really, as long as it has a yellow undertone instead of a blue undertone. For instance... milk chocolate on me? (the color, friends... not the food smeared on my cheek cause I ate a candy bar in haste) is a good on me, but dark chocolate (the color)?... awful. Apparently.

Do you know what the shock of my lifetime was? (I admit some sensationalism here)...

I CAN WEAR YELLOW!!!

I tried on yellow probably once in my adolesence, saw how it made my face look red and splotchy and gross and have spent every day since then making sure the color never got within 24 inches of my face. It's the one color I KNEW was awful on me.

But I was wrong.

But I can wear yellow. It just has to be the right color yellow. You know, a yellow with a yellow undertone.

Yeah. Not sure how to spot that exact color, but I do think I'll know a good one or a bad one when I try it on.

And so, yellow now gets another chance with me.

Just so you know, I realize you don't care about any of this. I'm mostly posting this here on the blog because I'm afraid that I'll forget. And I don't want to forget. I figure if I post it in cyber space, then at least if I forget what season my skin tone is, I might be able to possibly conjure up the memory "But wait, didn't I write that down somewhere so that I wouldn't forget?..." and then maaaaaybe I'll remember that I posted it here on my wee wittle blog. Then I'll look it up and be enlightened all over again.

So...

Wanna see springs colors?

Don't care?

Oh well.

I want them here so that I can remind myself after I forget.



This came from this site. Look up your own, if you want.

Now I really have no excuses for wearing the wrong color. Except what about the things that I already own that are the wrong color? Does skin-tone-ology require that I toss them out?

I hope not.

This transition needs time, people. Time. I want to be a better person, I really do. But it doesn't happen overnight...

Ha!

Quote of the Day

This, as usual, is more of a conversation of the day. And in this case, conversation of yesterday, after I got my boy out of bed and snuggled him for a few minutes in the morning cause I had missed him o-so-much...

H, talking to Mikey: I wike creature, monkey and Mommy, but not you.
M: Why don't you like me?
H: Cause you don't snuggle with me.
M: I did snuggle with you, didn't I?
H: Yes, but you're not soft like Mama is. You're hard.

Ha! He's right. I am rather squishy compared to his father. But he's too cute for me to be mad at him for calling me fat. After all, he said he "wikes" me.
;)

Speechless

I'm back.

And I'm speechless.

Well, almost.

Normally I would write multiple long-winded posts about my travels. I would make them alternately witty and meaningful. I would document each simple joy, each deep thought (if I had any) and each funny situation.

But this time I can't.

I just can't.

I honestly think that if I even tried to articulate the depth of love and affirmation and joy that I felt meeting with 79 other women (who were all complete strangers to me on Thursday) and my loving Father/King this weekend... that I would do it a complete injustice.

My heart is full. That's all I want to say.



*goosebumps*

Now, It's My Turn

I am going to a women's conference in Dubai for four days.

Glory Hallelujah!

But before I board that airplane...

I have prepared and frozen way more meals than Mike and the kids could possibly eat in four days.

I have posted heating directions for those meals on the side of the fridge.

I have washed, ironed (when necessary) and put away nearly every piece of clothing in the house.

I have changed the sheets on the beds.

I have pinched my pennies for a over a month so that I can by stuff on my trip.

I have loaded and charged my iPod. That way I can listen to music while riding in the taxi from the airport to the hotel at 6am and feel like I am in a music video.

I have taken delight in the fact that there are no diapers, no pacifiers, no teeny shoes or crinkly toys amongst my adult things.

I have mourned in the fact that there are no diapers, no pacifiers, no teeny shoes or crinkly toys amongst my adult things.

I have packed my own bag of traveling snacks to fend off my consistent feel-really-sick-when-traveling-in-the-middle-of-the-night syndrome.

I have prepared and frozen 62 tortillas. That way, if my home and family gets overtaken by a clan of Mexican-loving food gypsies... my husband will be able to feed them. (?!)

I have drowned my plants in water.

I have looked at my bags and wished I could pack less. I have sighed and then thrown in one more pair of earrings for good measure. Just in case.

I have thought that maybe I shouldn't go and I should just stay here in my homey home with my family that I love.

I have thought it'd be a crying shame to miss this opportunity.

I have researched the nearby malls and could tell you know how many kilometers the closest mall is from the hotel (2.1km) and I know what level the stores are on that I for sure want to hit: Accessorize-( Level 1, store F18), Mega Mart-(Ground floor), The Body Shop-(Level 1, F31.)

I have admitted to myself that the above statement gives you way too much insight into the way I plan and organize and is going to make you think I'm crazy.

I have vowed to actually purchase an item at the store Accessorize. I have browsed this store in many countries and airports around the world since I first discovered it in Brighton, England in the year 2001. I'd say it's high time I actually PURCHASED something. I have pinched my pennies, after all. And... whatever it is that I'm gonna buy, it's probably gonna have sequins. Just so you know.

I have perused the entire list of dining establishments (Food Court - Third Floor) available in the nearby mall and have highlighted a couple favorites that I might like to visit. This includes, but is not limited to Subway, Chilis, Cinnabon, Starbucks and Krispy Kreme. *unbuttoning jeans*

I have printed my flight itinerary and noted my weight allowances.

I have instructed my kids to be on their worst best behavior so that Mikey gets an idea of what it's like to be me has a great time with them. *smile*

I have contemplated what it's gonna feel like to check-in, wait at the airport, board a plane, take a flight and arrive in Dubai ALL BY MYSELF.

I have not been able to recall this 'traveling by self' feeling that I once knew so well.

I have been watching my diet very carefully this past week in anticipation of the glorious foods that I am soon to partake of.

I have just lied to you about that watching my weight thing. Will you forgive me?

I have told God that I have great expectation in my heart for a sweet meeting with Him during this time.

I have pinched, squeezed, nibbled, kissed and nuzzled my dear little family today.

I have told them how much I love them and will miss them.

And now, I have done it all.

Goodbye for now.

Not Interested

I'd say my baby girl wasn't interested in her lunch today.

Milk Yogurt

A year and a half ago when we traveled to the States my boy stopped drinking milk. We have always used powder milk here which tastes different enough from fresh milk that he wasn't happy with the fresh stuff. So he stopped drinking milk.

The doc said it's fine. She said that cheese, yogurt and other foods can get him enough calcium.

Okay then.

But to give him a little boost, when we returned a year ago I started mixing milk powder in with his daily plain yogurt. I thought it was a good way to get him some more nutrients.

And for a year he has eaten this. Every. Single. Day.



Plain yogurt



mixed with milk powder.



Harmless, right?



Every morning down it went. Sometimes it took some encouraging, but he ate it.

All of it.

And then, awhile ago, Mike tasted it.

Then Mike asked me if I ever tasted it.

Um, no, I hadn't.

Maybe I should.

So I did.

And then...

Gaaaaag me around the world and back.

The stuff tasted naaaaaasty.



I'm so sorry H... I didn't mean it.

Needless to say, we immediately ceased the adding of the milk powder to the yogurt.

I hope that someday my son can find it in his heart to forgive me.