And the Winner is....

Grandma Goddess of the Garden!! This was her winning post for our COLLECTING KINDNESS CONTEST: "I paid a woman's library fines, so she could use her card for herself and her family. She's a nice woman and a good mother. She's having a hard time making ends meet and her teens "forgot" to return their borrowed items for quite some time. When she came into the library she was devastated at check out that her accumulated fines had blocked the use of her card. Her little boy wasn't very happy that he had to put his chosen books back. I reminded her that February was Food for Fines month and she could use canned goods in leiu of cash. I thought she was going to cry when she said even that would be hard on her right now. On payday I went in before my painting class and paid her fines. I told my coworker to call her and tell her she had been "gifted" and that her card was paid off and she was free to use it. I also made him promise not to say who did it. I enjoy doing things like that on a regular basis...it makes me happy!" Heather will be sending "GGG" her beautiful bauble...

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...I still have a wacko story to share...I had a house full of sickies this weekend, a major church project with my 4th & 5th graders and I was watching a friend's children for a couple days....today everyone is off school and my project with my girls culminates with me taking them to a Children's Home to deliver their wares...now, I am coming down with what everyone else has and I am supposed to be at a foster care meeting early this evening...

WHERE'S MY MAMA CAP???!!!!

One last chance to vote...

OK...I don't know about you all, but I have had a blast reading all the RANDOM ACTS listed in the comments section of my Collecting Kindness post. Head over there and peek at all the KINDNESS that transpired this week and vote for your favorite in the comments of THIS post. Heather from Rice-A-Roni-ville offered a gorgeous hand-soldered bauble for the WINNER of our contest- see her February 11th post. Here's how to vote: 1. Post the URL of the blogger you are voting for IN THIS POST'S COMMENTS. 2. Also, give a synopsis of their kind act. 3. Finally, write something about WHY you were moved to nominate them. Check the comments on the last few posts b/c some of them were listed under other posts. Can't wait to count 'em up! HURRY UP - you have until midnight Sunday night to vote. I had a weekend worth writing about...when it rains it pours-murphy's law kind of weekend...and I can't wait to share it with you - it could have been a sitcom episode of my very own show! THE SOONER YOU VOTE - THE SOONER I TELL! haha

Valentine's Video from Moi...

Just a quick video to say a special HELLO on Valentine's Day to all my BlogMoms!! ...my friends were right...my glasses ARE very crooked! HA HA My hands look incredibly HUGE in this video...I am not sure why...ewww...they are not REALLY that big! Honest!!

Thank you...

I am honored! Shellie at LITTLE BUT LOUD gave me a gift this week in the shape of a blog award! YEAH! THANK YOU, SHELLIE!

I would like to pass this award on to... Mimi, Dawn, Kendra and Heather. YOU ALL MAKE MY DAY!

Speaking of awards... the 2008 Bloggers Choice Awards are taking nominations. Our friend Dawn has been nominated for FOUR!!! Please go to her site, click on the awards and place your vote. You have to register to vote but it is free. She is pretty close to the top of almost all four awards - let's get her to FIRST!!! YEAH DAWN!!

Just in case you missed his smile...

I sure do!

Collecting Kindness...

I know many of you check out my blog everyday to see what ridiculous dance I am doing in my kitchen, what craziness I endured at home with a way-too-busy 2-year old or how in the world I entertained 3 bored children on their last snow day, but this post is about OTHERS! February 11th - 17th is National Random Acts of Kindness Week - yes, it IS a national holiday. Ranks right up there next to Christmas and Easter for me...and this one is a WEEK long! You all saw what happened when we rallied our troops for the Avery Family in December. We watched a miracle happen as they were given the gift of spending a beautiful Christmas together, one they will never forget. The money that you all donated ($2200) was used to purchase a burial plot so that the Avery's could have Julian close to home. Their only other option before you all (complete strangers, mind you) was a plot donated by a family member that would have been over an hour away. Simple random acts of kindness, with nothing expected in return and you helped to make a miracle; a miracle the Avery family will never forget! A new Miss America stands before the country each year and makes a promise to "change the world" but we have seen, right here on My Semblance, that you don't have to be famous to change someone's life. One act. That's all it takes. Now, Manic Mommy has been running a contest for donating blood - I would consider that a R.A. of K, wouldn't you? Here's my challenge - and it is WORLDWIDE! I know I have the best readers there are - you proved it - so can I get a group high five and a committment to CHANGE THE WORLD - ONE RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS AT A TIME? How many do you think we can collect? Send a note to brighten someone's day, let someone in line ahead of you at the store, pay the toll for the person behind you, buy a cup of coffee for a co-worker, etc. It's not hard and it's not expensive. Leave your ACTS in the comments on this post and I will link to it in my posts during this week. Let's make history by inspiring others to do the same - spread the word - email everyone you know - move over Miss America! it's our turn to CHANGE THE WORLD! A mere 3 seconds after I hit "publish"...Heather at Rice-A-Roni-ville offered a piece of her GORGEOUS hand-soldered silver jewelry for the winner if we run a contest of BEST R.A. of K! Soooooo, a CONTEST IT IS!! February 17th we will close and hold a VOTE - he or she who is voted BEST RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS will win a custom piece by Heather of Faith Creations! Leave your comments and ACTS below...nothin' cooler than COLLECTING KINDNESS! Heather left the first ACT - read below!

Momma Constipation...

I am probably giving you too much information (TMI) here...but I would wager a bet that I am NOT the only one who has this problem...

(minor-TMI alert)

I get everyone onto the bus and coax my little man back inside with the promise of a lollipop so I can relieve the "urge" that is looming in my gut. Now, you must know that our other two had a strict rule to live by, "NO sugar until after lunch!" When the third came along - yeah, not so strict anymore - I just jump on whatever ploy works that day.

"Want some candy?" "Then, please get off the dining room table." "Want a donut?" "You'll need to stop playing in the potty and wash your hands, then!" He's onto me!

If I'd have had a bowl of sugar in my small powder room I would have given him a spoon just so I could have relieved myself in peace. But I wasn't thinking ahead I guess.

I briskly entered the throne room with a chubby little hand in mine, shut the door and took my seat as Queen of...(I'll spare you!) With that, I was apparently awarded a Jester and JEST he did!

He is a small 2 year old but he felt big as he lurched his body across the room, planted his hands on the lip of the pedestal sink, threw his feet to the pedestal and lifted. His little body became the shape of a "less-than" sign. He was eye to eye with me. He looked at me, giggled and jumped down.

Funny how nothing goes unnoticed when you are 32" tall. He headed right for the small stack of toilet paper in the corner. He and I began a sweet game of catch with one of the rolls. Fifteen years ago, I would never have imagined myself in the toilet-seat-shot-put Olympics. But, who does? I was just hoping to read something, anything in any one of the many untouched magazines in the bin by my feet.

Bored with catch he makes it his mission to build the Leaning Tower of TP. What a kick he gets out of himself when he makes it as tall as he is. I smile. How cute. But three seconds later I have become the center of a nuclear attack as there are toilet paper intercontinental bolistic missles bludgeoning me from all sides! What is it about stacks and piles that make toddlers evolve into SUPER DESTRUCTO MAN?! Another Mom-phenomenon that we will never figure out.

The dog pushes the door, that I thought was shut, open a bit ad tries to come in. I fling my body to the door and shut it. I have all the stimulation I need right now as my body has not relaxed enough to make this trip a DONE DEAL, yet.

And with that minor distraction, my son has decided to switch careers. SUPER DESTRUCTO MAN is now Kareem Abdul Juicebox as he makes a slam dunk with a roll of TP into the pedestal sink. Funny, I never saw that parallel...the powder room sink does look a bit like a basketball net. Huh.

After the huge bulk pack of toilet paper is dumped on the floor and he begins fishing in the trashcan and lunging for the toilet brush I decide...it is time to abort this mission.

We walk out together only to find that the dog has completely macerated the roll she must have grabbed when she tried to interrupt only minutes ago. It looks like she killed a poodle! Well, the "urge" has passed....there's always tomorrow.

Somehow I don't think working moms deal with this discomfort. I can't imagine their co-workers climbing under the stall and wrapping them in toilet paper or playing pat-a-cake! They have the PLEASURE OF POOPING IN PEACE!!

Speaking of videos...

OK...so I had to use my YOUTUBE account to upload my award winning video over the weekend so I have been digging through nnd watching all my favorites. (BTW, the guy who sold YOUTUBE for $Billions$ went to my high school) I thought it would be fun to share some of my YOUTUBE favies with you...below are my all time favorites!! Coming in at #3 is one I like to call, HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY... My choice for #2 I call, READ MY FRIPPIN' LIPS... And in the #1 spot...POTTY MOUTH, she is saying "ask"...NOT the word she thinks she is saying... The GRAND PRIZE winner is...well, get your 'Depends'...you are gonna PEE!

Tagged yet again...

You all know I love getting tagged! Cyn just tagged me with a MEME I have never seen or done...so, yeah! Here are the rules: 1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages.) 2. Open the book to page 123. 3. Find the fifth sentence. 4. Post the next three sentences. 5. Link back to the person who tagged you. 6. Tag five people. Here I go... Frog and Toad...nope, not enough pages, or sentences for that matter. SkippyJonJones...see above. This might be harder than I thought. Oh, look, there, across the room, a grown-up book. Let me finish running this obstacle course (a.k.a. my living room) and grab it... "I don't pretend to know everything (or much of anything) to do with the book of Revelation, but I do know that all of us were created for so much more than this fallen earth has to offer. There is so much going on around us that we will undoubtedly never be aware, no matter how close we draw to the Savior's side. The whole creation is groaning (Romans 8:22) since the fall." excerpt from Chapter 6: Depseration Part #1 of fellow-blogger Amber Metz's mesmerizing book Breathtaking. For those of you following Confessions of a CF Husband, you would enjoy this book. Amber is a double lung transplant survivor. Tagging: Fried Okra Life With my Special Ks Pragmatic Compendium Mom2-2Good Boys I Love My Life

YEEHAA...

You still like me! You still like me! I am so excited.

Will post more later - just so excited about the onslaught of comments!

I am blushing!

She got me...

I really was never considering posting the video...I was gonna give you this instead... (pause my music at bottom of sidebar before hitting play on the video) FYI (another RANDOM piece of info) I FRIPPIN' LOVE LOVE LOVE OTTERS!!! OBSESSED WITH THEM!!! So, that's all you were gonna get...honest...until Mimi posted this comment... "I could be naughty and say, PLEASE, it would have made Julian laugh.... COMEON... If I can post a video of me dancing in my car and or my kitchen to some crazy go banana song, you CAN do this, I promise, it is very liberating!!! I love you Mimi Did it work???" That was some serious arm twisting!!! GEEZ!!! You all have Mimi to thank for this... Please...no gifts! Don't throw flowers and money! The bribe ideas were creative and sweet but totally not necessary! I will now retreat under the nearest rock...next to my husband and children! :)

You want the video?

I am going to start with a few excuses regarding why I would have trouble posting the video I described (that obviously got your attention) in my last post...see below. EXCUSE #1 I have no make-up on in the video. EXCUSE #2 It appears as though I am completely tone deaf - which I am NOT! EXCUSE #3 I actually SEE people (in the grocery store, at church, etc.) who read my blog. EXCUSE #4 My children would be scarred for life as their teachers read my blog. EXCUSE #5 My husband would just DIE! (he's seen the footage - it ain't purty...) EXCUSE #6 Not just moms read my blog. Boys read my blog, too. EXCUSE #7 You would then have endless access to my freakishly insane behavior. EXCUSE #8 You might not like me anymore. EXCUSE #9 I don't feel enough of you have begged. 8 comments?! Really. EXCUSE #10 I have received NO bribes.

By the seat of my pants...

I've always been a free spirit...a hippy...somewhat funky... I am not a fan of meat, I recycle, I cut up my 6-pack-plastic-holder-thingies so they don't strangle sea turtles, I adopt a turkey on Thanksgiving and I find it hard to be completely serious for too long. Last night, my daughter and I had one of my top five favorite mother-daughter moments and it was evident to me that she, too, is from the same mold. My husband took the boys out for a while and my daughter was doing some research on the computer in the living room. I was cleaning up the kitchen from dinner and it was just entirely too quiet! I looked over and saw her intently fact-gathering so I grabbed my iPod and cranked my tunes! I scrubbed dried spaghetti out of a collander to SWITCH by Will Smith, I wiped counters to SWEET ESCAPE by Gwen Stefani, and I lost all control to THE QUESTION by Familiar 48...one of my ALL TIME favorite songs. Have you ever heard someone sing with headphones on? Scary. You become completely tone deaf when you cannot hear yourself singing. There is a reason rock stars have their voice fed into their skull through headphones during a concert. Here's the thing -I couldn't have paid for therapy that felt this good- it was so freeing to just let loose and sing at the top of my lungs and not be concerned with who heard me or what I sounded like. I sang until I was out of breath and had to skip parts of the song. I danced and spun around until I tripped - didn't matter - no one was watching. I sang into everything I picked up to put away as I danced around the kitchen. Scissors. Spatulas. Remote controls. It was like my own private rock concert. I was a star. I looked up a few times to see my daughter glancing up, smiling and shaking her head as she researched Wisconsin. She didn't seem annoyed or bothered so I continued with my therapy. I must have replayed that song (the Familiar 48 one) 25 times. Ample time for my little student to grab the camera and start taking videos. She's a sneaky one. We laughed until we almost wet ourselves later as we watched Mommy making a fool of herself on the big screen. American Idol, you have not seen anything yet. Simon, Paula and Randy would have a field day with this one. I can actually sing. I used to sing the National Anthem at school functions, I had duets in school concerts, I was ranked in our county for county and district chorus...but last night, none of that mattered. I was a HUGE GOOF, I let off a lot of steam and my only girl and I had a blast at my expense and I didn't care. Our faces hurt from laughing so hard! Isn't that what being a Mom is all about? Letting go. Being real. Embracing fun. ******************************************************************** Pay a visit to Confessions of a CF Husband and say a prayer.

The strongest woman I know...

Mimi and Will

from Mimi...

"So, after living all this, HOW can we survive and stay sane as grieving parents?

How can we make thru an hour, never mind a day without feeling the excruciating pain of not having our baby to hold?

Because you can’t just set everything aside, or try to forget and go on with your life. I don’t mean forget about your child, I mean about the pain, the endless longing for a kiss . Everything, I mean EVERYTHING around you reminds you of his absence.

Well, how about this, how about, instead of seeing his absence in everything, YOU decide to see his presence. What if everything around you brings back his presence? What if instead of crying when you see a stuffed animal, his favorite show on TV, his blanket, the smell of his lotion, his world, what if you smiled instead?

What if instead of trying to put away his things all in one safe place, so you don’t always have to see them and be sad, you just hang pictures of his sweet face everywhere, let his little brother wear his clothes, play with his toys, ride his bike, and for his big brothers make sure you turn on the TV and show movies of them all playing together.

I believe it will make a difference in our grieving process and in order to keep his memory alive. Keep him close to your heart and close to your eyes… And yes, there are and will be times where it gets to be too much, the pain too deep and the emptiness too great.

I know my bathroom floor won't ever be lonely. I know my boys will have melt downs and me with them, it is hard to comfort them when you are broken yourself, but it helps for them to see you crying, too. I know one of my hands will feel empty and stay in my pocket for many more years. I know that William won’t ever truly remember Julian (up to us to give him memories).

And I also know that thru those time, I won't ever be alone. I know that He will always be there to pick me up from my floor, I know He will always wrap His arms around my boys when they are sad, I know that He will give me strength to comfort the boys, I know that He will take my hand when I miss my lil’ man, and I know He will guide us to make sure Julian is never forgotten…

The promise of God’s presence thru good and bad times is what keeps me going… I couldn’t even imagine going thru such horror as a non believer. God has been, is and will always be my rock and my strength thru the struggles and the fun times…And I am so blessed for that….

And remember, never forget to kiss your children goodnight, even if they are asleep, they know…. Mimi"

Mimi,Ken and the Boys 111 Aviator Dr.

Fort Worth,Tx 76179

Scribbles in my sketchbook...

Newest picture book excerpt...

I am counting the days until our adoption is final! So excited! I have always told our little man "his story" - how much he understands at two, I am not sure. But I always wanted to write a picture book that would make adoption magical in a child's eyes. It is magical to me as the mom, but I want him to always know what a miracle his placement in our home was and continues to be...here is an excerpt from the work-in-progress... YOU ARE MY FAVORITE COLOR! *************************************** What is in her belly, Momma? A baby, my sweet. How did it get in there? God took little pieces of Heaven and tossed them into the air. They fluttered and fell to the earth and nestled themselves into the bellies of many different women. Sounds scary, Momma. Not scary, my love. A miracle. A sweet, sweet miracle. Was I in your belly, Momma? You, my dear, grew in your first momma’s belly. But how did I find you, Momma? What a wonderful story. It was God. God helped you to find me. How, Momma? God chose for us to be a family. Your forever family.

How does he choose, Momma? He matched the color of your heart to mine. A perfect match.

B-O-R-I-N-G....

So, I have decided that I have got to be the most BORING person in the world. Here is my day at a glance...get the toothpicks, use them to hold up your eyelids and continue reading...humor me. 6:00am - for some reason I am awake...the only person awake in the house...this NEVER happens. get up, shower, heat up left-over coffee and sit down at my computer. work on an adoption picture book manuscript for a while. 7:00am - baby is up. snuggle. start making lunches. 8:20am - kids on bus. play in rain with golf ball - baby's idea, not mine. 9:30am - head to Target. buy a potty seat, a booster seat, laundry detergent, liquid plumber, baby slippers and chocolate covered Altoids. 11:00am - head home. 11:45am - eat lunch. 1:00pm - my mom pops in for a visit. 1:30pm - baby down for nap. 1:30-3:00pm - laundry and editing of picture book. answer some emails. 4:00pm - speech therapist comes for baby's therapy. kids come home from school. 5:30pm - eat dinner. roasted turkey breast, peas and butternut squash. 7:30pm - baby to bed. 8:00pm - American Idol. fold laundry. 9:00pm - big kids to bed. 9:20pm - web, email, blog, editing, other writing. eat some ice cream. 11:30pm - chat with Dawn and Steph while I teach myself about site feeds...what?! 12:18am - still here. craving more ice cream. I struggle each day with feeling not-so-productive. Now I know why! Sheesh.

Tagged...

You all know how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE being tagged for fun things!! And Julie over at I love my Life left me a heads up that she had just tagged me!! YEAH! So, read on...and be sure to see who I tagged at the bottom of the MEME! (Can ANYONE tell me WHY it is called that??!) It's THE 5 RANDOMS!! THE MISSION: Share five random/weird things about myself. Share five places that I "want to see or want to see again." Tag five random people and link to them...and let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. Alrighty...here goes.... (and those of you who have read my "randoms" (example 1) (example 2) (example 3)before...this is getting harder and harder to do without repeating! Does that make ME random??) Five random things about me: 1. I quit the field hockey team after the first practice because the coach scared me. 2. I am very double jointed 3. I once told my little sister that her favorite toy was in the bottom of the sleeping bag and when she went in to get it, I rolled it up and sat on the end so she couldn't get out. To this day she is freakishly claustrophobic...you don't think I had anything to do with that, do you? 4. I live a mile from the house I grew up in a development that used to be the dairy farm of twins I would ride to Penn State with to see my boyfriend. I ended up marrying that boyfriend's roommate and bought my headpiece for our wedding in the Bridal shop that was owned by the mom of those twins (the Bridal shop was in her house). I now live on that property with the roommate (aka: hubby). 5. I am afraid of the dark. Five places I want to see or want to see again: 1. Switzerland - have been there - would love to go back. 2. Bar Harbor, ME - where we honeymooned 3. Disney - AGAIN! 4. The Oprah Show - never have been, would PEE if I went! 5. ANY island! - have only been to beaches on the east coast Five random people I have to tag: 1. Dawn - because she ROCKS! 2. Steph - because she ROCKS! 3. Heather - because she ROCKS! 4. Tracy - because she ROCKS! 5. Kendra - because she ROCKS!

Fly High...

A celebration...

Because laughter is the best medicine...

Hello blog family. It has been a rough week. For all of us. Most of all Mimi and her family.

It has been hard for me to "think funny" during this week and I know most of you feel the same way. I was chatting with Dawn about my feelings on this...do I keep writing funny, do I take a hiatus, how do I start back in the swing of things while our dear friend Mimi mourns?

Dawn told me (she always has the right thing to say) that awhile back Mimi told her to 'keep the humor coming' so SHE would have a place to escape to when things got to be too much to bear. So, in keeping with that request...

I am back (still sad) but BACK!

Here's what's been going on in my nest.

So, a funny thing happened yesterday...SOMEONE wrote about ME in our LOCAL PAPER! My old editor is now a contributing columnist and he gave me a huge pat on the back. Thanks, Brian! Although I have been writing for quite sometime now, I have NEVER been the subject of an article! I think I actually blushed! Now, to give you the full picture, our town has about 3,000 people in it...although the paper says, "We deliver hometown news to more than 50,000 readers." But, anyway, it was cool! The line for autographs starts to the left of my big, swollen head!

I have also been following the miracles on the Confessions of a CF Husband blog. Amazing story! Another amazing family in need of prayer. Because of this blog I came across a beautiful woman, Amber Nicole Metz, who wrote a book called Breathtaking, she is so amazing...her faith is so strong. I have not yet started her book, but will fill you in as I read her story.

I have won my FIRST blogging award for which I am thrilled, thrilled, thrilled!!! A very special Mommy over at Life with My Special Ks gave it to me! You can peek at it in my side bar. I am passing it on to Dawn because if it wasn't for her, our plight for Julian would not have been so successful...so Dawn, here ya go! Copy/Paste and Pass it on.

I have also been considering doing a video-feed blog every now and then...like Ross Mathews, my funny man from NBC! Although I have done a couple takes and for some reason, I have severe "malformation of the face" when I talk on video. I certainly hope that is NOT what I look like when I talk for real....friends who have seen me in person, please respond to this! Do I look like one side of my face is paralyzed when I talk? Does the left side of my bottom lip try to switch places with the right when I say vowels? What the heck is the deal? I have seen ROSS do a 'Talky Blog' from his bed...on a sick day and he looks GREAT! Oh, creative ones...what will my Talky Blog be called - I can't copy Ross's name. OH - HAPPY BLOGGER-VERSARY TO ME!!!! Jan 22nd was my ONE YEAR! You are all BIG chickens! I put out there about a week ago that I thought it would be fun to do a Spring Cleaning Advice Swap with all of you - my thousands of readers. I thought we could post pictures of your home's trouble spots and then have the creative/organized freaks readers give us some OCD helpful hints to remedy our problems. You know what I got in my inbox? More than one of these... "(sigh) You are not going to believe this, but I just finished organizing my whole house right before I sat down to read your blog today. Seriously, my spices are alphabetized, my toilet paper has been fluffed, windows washed, closets cleaned, nothing is under anyone's beds, the dog has been groomed and I weaned my husband from his addiction the the remote. ALL in the last five minutes before I sat down tha the computer. Would have LOVED to have been a part of this, though!" Ya know what I say? COC (translation: CROCK OF CRAP!) You are all just big chickens! And I say that with a smile...although if I am on camera it would be a strange-looking one! So, I think you are all caught up...so I leave you with a photo of what my week was like and my mantra for you to steal, if you like...

Imgoingtomyhappyplace...Imgoingtomyhappyplace...

Oh, sheesh, I almost forgot!! Today I sent off (with a prayer and a kiss) a completely REVAMPED Macy-Sue manuscript to Marshall Cavendish Children's Books in NYC. I was at the SCBWI conference in September and all the editors there were from publishing houses who do NOT accept unsolicited manuscripts. As an attendee you can send in an unagented manuscript for up to 4 months after the conference and they will consider it.

Here's a snippet:

“Oh dear, this just won’t do,” Macy-Sue looked around her room at the peeling purple wallpaper. “Mommy’s tea party should be fancy, not falling apart.” She picked at the tattered, curling edges. R-r-r-r-ip. She ripped the paper from the walls, strip by strip. She ripped, twirled and giggled as the purple ribbons trailed behind her and tickled her ankles. Her dance sent her foot right through the picture window of her dollhouse and she landed with a THUD.

Mrs. La Rue was distracted by the noise and scolded from her office chair, “Macy-Sue La Rue, find something else to do!”

So she did.