33 Things I'd Love to Do This Summer

I am stealing this post from my cousin, Funkydivagirl.

1. Get up earlier

2. Listen more intently. Less talking

3. Pray daily and not just for others and their problems

4. Go to church more and develop more intimate relationships with those that God has allowed in my path

5. Drive down the Blue Mountain Parkway

6. Learn how to preserve peaches or strawberries

7. Drink green smoothies daily

8. Stop at one of the islands along the coast of SC or GA

9. Snorkel for the first time

10. Rent a bike and ride on the beach

11. Go to a winery

12. Learn how to corn row my daughter’s hair

13. Go on a date with my husband at least 6 times alone this summer

14. Go to Dominican Republic for my 35^th birthday

15. Make popsicles like King of Pops

16. Focus on strength training

17. Take several water aerobics classes

18. Go to hooping

19. Sell our house

20. Move into our new house

21. Teach my daughter how to play go fish and old maid

22. Take a cooking class with my husband

23. Take a train or bus ride up to Boston

24. Find things to do in the city related to music and GO

25. Go to Summer Solstice Celebration at Kimmel Center

26. Take more pictures and learn more about my camera

27. Clean up my desk at work

28. Complain less and be more grateful

29. Take my vitamins daily

30.Slow down

31. Visit the co-op more

32. Eat more green leafy veggies

33. Go to the farmer’s market

BabyWheel, She Flips, She Turns

I promised myself that I was not going to be the kind of mom who has my child's day filled by the time she was 5. A kid has to have time to be a kid. No schedules, no running around, etc. There was one thing that I knew the girl would love to do....and that's FLIP AROUND! Or so I thought!

The local recreation center offered gymnastics or little kid tumbling for several weeks in Feb-April, so we jumped at the chance to do it.

BabyWheel decided that she liked to tumble--fair enough, but she refused to get on the trampoline. She said it was too scary. I think it was because there were too many kids on there at one time. If there is one thing about my child that I've learned over the past few years, it's that she does play well with others, but it has to be on her terms. She can't be forced into fun or coerced into clowning. It has to be her way or the highway.

Imagine the glee when I saw my little toddler walking into her first organized class. It was too cool. Too bad she had other plans. I do have pics to prove it, but that comes later. Back to the whole activity and kids thing...

The one thing I want to pass along to my daughter from a mother's perspective is a love for God and how much He loves her right back. I try to show that in the grace I show her when she cuts the fool and is just being, well...3. I show her how much Mommy loves Daddy by cooking for him after a long day of work Or surprising him with a fun birthday night away for the two of us. Activities are all well and good, and the memories from the fun we have will be lasting, but it is her character that counts, godly character that exudes God's hand in her life. A tumble or two here and there is fun, but what we do for Christ will last.

Here are some pics to prove no children were harmed in the typing of this message :)

--MommaWheel

The Consummate Homemaker

I wish I were. :)

During the blizzard(s) of 2010 here in Philly, I took a liking to cooking and baking. I had the time to actually not just be all Rachel Ray in the kitchen and grab the EVOO on the run, but really talk to Alayna about what I was cooking and laugh and joke around.

Since the snow came around Valentine's Day this year, and I had already planned on making gifts for work, I was excited to know that I could really take my time and also enlist the assistance of my culinary genius, daughter, BabyWheel.

We decided to make these.

Then we started by getting the dough ready:

Then we got the templates together for the cute little boxes. They said, "a little pie for the apple of my eye".

Then we filled the dough with apple pie.

Last, we pulled them out of the oven. YUMMY!

That Whole Cemetery Thing

Remember in the news when the group of gravediggers were digging up and reselling plots?

I wrote this on the day that it happened:

"I found that the Burr Oak cemetary scandal effects me a lot more than I'd like it to. My mother is buried there. A lot of feelings popped up when I heard the news about the terrible acts that the workers committed. I went on google earth to see the location, and sure enough, the are gaping holes, indicating that the digging process is underway, trying to identify the remains of the loved ones who have been disturbed. I went right back to 8 years old in my head, back when she died....I remembered her death, her funeral, the procession, every little detail...even the song in my head that I hummed to comfort myself, Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Funny, when her birthday comes, I remember her taking me to Disney and laughing and smiling with my dad. When someone potentially unearths her, I remember the drama of the circumstances surrounding her death, how my dad plummeted into a life of alcoholism, losing his young, beautiful bride to a heart attack before his very eyes. I remember my dad carrying my mom out of the house as she gasped for air and as dad threw me the car keys, hoping I would open the door. Everything in me wanted to open that car door, but my hands were trembling. Dad smiled and opened the door with one hand as he gently placed my mom in the front seat. In retrospect, the feces I smelled was my mother's last pass at life, but as we drove just a few blocks, we all pleaded for her to "come on". I remember the hazard lights on my dad's Oldsmobile as he whizzed through traffic to get to the hospital. I remember the chaos that ensued as we pulled up and how my 4 y/o sister and I were put in a private room so we couldn't see the paddles, the pleading of my father, the tears....I saw it all, even when they thought I didn't.

I shouldn't have to be forced to remember these events. Those memories were in the recesses of my mind, there with every other painful thing that has happened in my life. I have peace knowing that my mom is with God.

I pray for accountability for all parties involved. Since there are still forensic and digs going on, all familes are in a holding pattern, waiting for confirmation. I hope my mom is right where we left her 25 years ago. "

Thank God, she is where we left her. *Confirmed November, 09*

What a beautiful song

No Greater Love
You loved me when I was so unlovely
You sought me when I was lost
You showed me how much You really loved me
When You bought me at the highest cost

There's no greater love than this
There's no greater love than this
That a man would give his life for a friend
There's no higher sacrifice
Than a man would give his life
You have paid the highest price for me

You chose me when I was so unworthy
You cleansed me with Your own blood
You clothed me with righteousness and mercy
And You crowned me with Your steadfast love

http://www.imeem.com/pabslike/music/ENgUE-of/don-moen-no-greater-love/

BabyWheel's First Day of Preschool

We love BabyWheel's new school. Her teacher is very sweet and energetic and seems to be very knowledgeable. We pray that she learns a lot.

I cried like a baby...I mean it's not not she hasn't ben in daycare before, but she looked so tall and like a big girl, that my heart just melted.

Here are some shots ;)

Nothing Changes

A group of minority kids were turned away from a suburban pool that they PAID membership for...