Grandparenting Is An Awesome Adventure

Weekend Fun

   My son-in-law turns forty this month and since he thinks that is very old he took his wife and met some good friends at the beach for the weekend. That meant Terry and I had the privilege of watching the grands.

   I was determined to make this a fun, adventurous weekend no matter how tired I felt . I started with the announcement that we would bring the mattresses and bedding downstairs and glamp in the livingroom. That started a land slide of books, stuffed animals and toys that came tumbling down the stairs, these were all necessary for a successful livingroom camp. 

This is what glamping in our house looks like.
Reading a good magazine before we settle in for the night is prime.

 This is the night I learned Livie is not so great at sleeping all night, I found that out around 2 a.m. and I ended up on the couch.

The next morning started out with a quick light saber duel in front of the Incinerator of Doom while watching a little Sponge Bob. It was 6:30 a.m.

A little workout with aunty Mel later that day, Connor was exercising his right to eat pepperoni.

That night we ate mac n cheese while they watched more sponge bob. This is usually forbidden when the mom and ancient dad are around.

After watching some quality nature TV (for you who were concerned about all the sponge bob) we practiced eating popcorn like a chameleon. 

Sunday we walked across the street to our awesome neighbor and bought plants for the garden. (They wouldn't actually touch them for fear of bugs)

Tomatoes and squash
we are ready to plant

We planted green beans and carrots, Livie put her beans in one at a time in a straight row,
Connor threw them in by the handfuls, this will be interesting.

At the end of the day we washed off the garden dirt in grandmas fun shower.
(Separately, That's important to know)

 

I braided her hair and she put it up like "princess leah"

   When the ancient man and his wife finally came home they were met with lots of hugs and the usual question, "where's my prize?" As the kids cleaned up all their mess at their mom's request you could here Livie say, "well the old mom's back."

   Terry and I were in bed by 8 pm that night.

Because laughter is truly the best medicine

The Left Handed Super Hero

I made my bed for the first time in three weeks and I felt like I could achieve anything.

   You see I had shoulder surgery on my right shoulder three weeks ago and I have been forced to use my left hand for everything.

   I went in to this journey with the attitude that it would be a piece of cake; I soon regretted the surgery as I was forced to enter the bizzaro world of the left handed.

   I had no idea how hard these left handers have it in our right handed society. Simple tasks like eating, writing and getting dressed all became messy challenges that made feeling like I was four years old. My morning routine was all messed up too, showering, toweling off and putting on under garments made me sweaty all over again. I can’t even begin to tell you how hard brushing my teeth became and trying to curl my hair has been a disaster; I have been reduced to curling it under like a Paige boy and I can’t help thinking I bear a striking resemblance to Little Lord Fauntleroy. Shaking someone’s left hand feels so awkward and people stare at you like you’re a freak.

   The commode is where this phenom’s super powers reach maximum ability and that is all I have to say on that subject. I have opted out of even trying to apply eye makeup because my eyes are irreplaceable.  Manipulating bra hooks are simply impossible. If you are a left handed woman my heart goes out to you, if you have mastered this feat go ahead and run for the Presidency because you can do anything. I have personally given up on this conquest and I only leave my house in dire emergencies.

   Sometimes I stare at my mere mortal right arm and wonder at the easy life I had when it was my friend. On an up note cooking and dishes have been forbidden entities because clearly only left handed marvels can do these single handedly.

   So if you are one of those left handed hero’s, my hat is off to you. Go out into the world with your head held high and shake opposite hands with confidence, eat out in a booth with boldness and click that seatbelt like a pro. Don’t worry that the majority of people are right handed, you are truly the gifted ones.

My right arm brace, it's like a slimmed down straight jacket. Like kryptonite it is my nemesis.

My beautiful made bed. Yes, I love pillows.

I decided to tuck my hair behind my ears, I didn't like looking like the ancient Monarchy.

Where do I fit In?

Dammit Angey

   Beads of sweat formed on my brow as I nervously chewed my finger nails. Waiting to hear my name being yelled through the house was torturous. “Larry, Kenny, Chucky, Davey, Ricky, dammit Angey, get in here!”

   I come from a large family, five brothers to be precise. Sometimes being the only girl made it hard to know where I fit within this loud, rowdy, society of boys. Being so far down the sibling list only made things worse, when my mom called for a kid she usually went through the whole list before she found the one she wanted. So “dammit Angey” could have easily become my nickname.

   Feeling like a part of the family didn’t always come easy. As the only girl I didn't have a lot in common with the five boys. I was all Barbies, babies and easy bake oven; they were all cars, karate, and blowing things up. It seemed my mom was more accustomed to boys so she wasn't sure how to handle the drama and emotions that goes along with raising a girl. I knew they were my family but the camaraderie that goes along with the privilege was just not there.

   Have you ever been unsure if you “fit in” as a Christian? Maybe your first reaction towards someone was not out of love, or temptation got the best of you and now your reputation is in jeopardy.   Do you feel like your name is way down the list of importance? What is the pronoun you would put at the beginning of your name? Sometimes we can even feel like an outsider because we don’t have much in common with our brothers and sisters.

   Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.”

   Know this- God loves you exactly the way you are, “even when we were dead in transgressions.” He takes “great delight” in you. He even sings you your own special love song, how great is that?

   Just because you don’t always feel accepted doesn’t change the truth that no one in history could love and cherish you the way God does. He calls you lovely, mighty, beautiful, important, smart, healthy, blessed, desired, dear children and his own; the list could go on and on.

   When those accusatory lies sneak into your head, when negative emotions convince you that you are a big nobody, remind yourself that you are the sweetheart of God himself. You are the apple of his eye and there is nothing more important to him than you. You have a place and it fits you perfectly.

Top L-R Kenny, me, Larry
Davey,Rickey, Chucky

 L to R
Davey, me, Ricky

Here's Chucky

Kenny

Larry, me, Ricky

Free or not free, that is the question.

 Honesty may be the best policy but it's not always the easiest. 

   It all started with a trip to Costco. Terry and I decided to go grocery shopping and have dinner out. This is usually how our date nights go, most often it's a trip to Home Depot but this time we hit our favorite big box store.

   As we entered the store we were met by a very charming and energetic salesman pushing the latest in a bluetooth sound systems. Being a sucker for a good deal, I had Terry load the giant speaker in our basket and we were off to finish our shopping. I have to admit the whole time we shopped I really wanted to unload the behemoth and abandon it slyly in some unpopulated aisle, people do it all the time right? 

   Well we made to check out and then through the guards that frisk your receipt and make sure you are an honest shopper. When we finally arrived home Terry had me check the receipt to see if they gave us the discount on the player and to my surprise they sure did, in fact they didn't charge us at all. 

   At first I was elated, it seemed I just got a free fancy schmancy system compliments of Costco. Then it hit, I felt like a thief. Why oh why did he have me look at the stupid receipt?! 

I have to admit that it took me a couple of hours of justifying and arguing with my conscience before deciding it needed to be returned. It seemed like fate had briefly smiled on us but I just couldn't smile back. It sat, unopened, in the corner of my dining room and snickered at me everytime I walked by. I really started to hate the thing and this was only after a few hours.
   When I called Costco and explained what happened they couldn't believe I actually called them. Secretly I was hoping that they would say "oh Mrs. Lovenburg it was our mistake, we won't make you drive the thirty miles back to our store and return it. Enjoy your new sound system." Nope, thats not what happened, as a matter of fact when I returned it I found that they had charged me for two items I didn't actually buy and the lady walked me out to my car to sort through my groceries and make sure they really weren't there. I know, I know, it's policy but I did have to laugh and remind her that I just voluntarily returned something worth one hundred and fifty dollars out of the goodness of my heart. 

   I felt good driving home, no more guilt looming over my head. Two weeks later I got the deal of the century, I bought exactly what I wanted from a friend for fifteen bucks and the best thing of all is I can enjoy my music without guilt or justification.

   I know this probably sounds crazy to some but, I love freedom. Guilt can be like a vice that squeezes the joy out of everything you do.

Proverbs 16:8 says, "Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice."  

Proverbs 3:27 says, "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,when it is in your power to act."

It even comes with a remote.
The earplugs are for the sounds I don,t want to hear. (Ahem, Terry)