An elderly Chinese woman had 2 pots that hung on either end of a pole that she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walk from the stream to her house, the cracked pot would arrive only half full.
For a full 2 years this went on, with the woman bringing home only 1 and 1/2 pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of it's accomplishments.
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of it's imperfections, and miserable that it could only do half of what it was intended to do.
After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted some flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.
For 2 years I have been able to pick these flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are there would not be this beauty to grace the house."
Each of us has our own unique flaw...
But it's the cracks and flaws that each of us have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.
You've just got to take each person for who they are and look for the good in them.
To all of my crack pot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Happy Birthday, Babe!
I looked back to see what I had posted about Bill last year on his birthday. Turns out, I didn't. Good enough, that takes the pressure off, right? Well maybe, except that I used that little trick where I labeled my posts and I've made 13 birthday posts, for other people. That seems a little wrong so now I'm searching for ideas. I told Bill, over the computer that I've been ignoring him on for the last hour, that I didn't know what to write. First he said, "Happy Birthday" is enough. Then he said, "or you could write 45 ways that I rock your world." I'm choosing the latter, but I'm not sure this is what he meant by it.
45 Ways that Bill ROCKS my world
- He leaves his socks wherever he takes them off
- His shoes are big and I trip over them ALL the time
- He kisses the dog, on the mouth
- Soda. Need I say more?
- Receipts scattered throughout the house
- He really likes William Shatner and the show Boston Legal
- Trash on the counter, 2 feet from the garbage
- Recycling in the trash can
- Trash in the recycling can
- Overflowing trash can
- Overflowing recycling can
- He likes beef, a lot!
- Cold ravioli, straight from the can. EEEWW!
- Cantaloupe. Yick.
- He named his pancake griddle "Betty" (that's kind of cute, but...)
- He thinks Betty lives propped up behind the stove top instead on in the drawer.
- He listens to country music more than anything else now.
- He's got me listening to country music more than anything else now.
- Pillows on the floor, EVERY night
- Clothes by the side of his bed, EVERY night
- He paces when he talks on the phone
- Rocky
- Rocky II
- Rocky III
- Rocky IV
- Rocky V
- Rocky Balboa
- Rambo
- Rambo II
- Rambo III
- (How many Rambo's were there?)
- Groundhog Day
- Pretty Woman
- He leaves the TV on when he goes to bed
- The TV is inevitably on a sportscast of some sort
- Popsicle sticks strategically placed, NOT in the garbage
- He steals the fan from the living room when he goes to bed
- He taught and encourages the girls to burp, fart and make bodily noises of all kinds
- "Zoe,zoe,zoe,zoe,zoe,zoe, ZOEOEOEOEOE-EEEY!"
- Football watching
- Yelling at football playing
- Basketball watching
- Yelling at basketball playing
- Baseball watching (on TV)
- Yelling at baseball playing...
So why would I list all these things that make me crazy about Bill, on his birthday?
"Because, after a month of cataloging all his faults, I realized that none of it matters... and he sure can kiss" (name the movie!)
And let's face it, none of these are really faults. They are just the little things in life that make Bill who he is: the man I love, cherish, and adore. Happy Birthday, Babe!
Monday, July 13, 2009
SERIOUSLY!!!
How many times must a pregnant person apply deoderant before she stops sweating? Isn't twice before noon enough if I haven't even gone outside?
Seriously.
And does Tasha really have keep putting my shoes up, in the hanging shoe rack in my closet? I keep looking for them in the bottom of my closet and they are not there. Then I search the house, get frustrated and look in the closet again. Then I realize.
Seriously.
Is the kitchen island really the dumping ground for all things in the house? Receipts, coins, printouts, old playdough, old and new batteries that get mixed up so I don't really know which is which, fuzzy produce that probably wasn't fuzzy to begin with but it is now because it got buried under all these other items, cars that don't belong to us, a keyring, a chongo, vitamins, EMPTY cereal boxes, 4 empty cups...
Seriously.
Seriously.
And does Tasha really have keep putting my shoes up, in the hanging shoe rack in my closet? I keep looking for them in the bottom of my closet and they are not there. Then I search the house, get frustrated and look in the closet again. Then I realize.
Seriously.
Is the kitchen island really the dumping ground for all things in the house? Receipts, coins, printouts, old playdough, old and new batteries that get mixed up so I don't really know which is which, fuzzy produce that probably wasn't fuzzy to begin with but it is now because it got buried under all these other items, cars that don't belong to us, a keyring, a chongo, vitamins, EMPTY cereal boxes, 4 empty cups...
Seriously.
Is it my fault that a fire truck was parked outside the QT that I needed to gas at this afternoon? And was it coincidence that said firetruck was manned by 4 fine lookin' men, 2 in the navy blue short gear, and 2 in fireman pants with hanging suspenders and boots? Is anyone doubting my love for firemen?
Seriously.
Why can my kids get along when I'm gone to the chiropractor, but then fight like cats and dogs when either myself or Bill is home? Bill has a theory that we should leave them alone more often so they know they can get along together and will get used to it. Somehow this theory makes sense, but sounds wrong. Very wrong.
Seriously.
It's my husbands birthday tomorrow. Do I really have to write nice, gushy things about him? We all know how great he is, right? Blah, blah, blah, he's super. 'Nuf said.
Seriously.
Tasha's Testimony
Tasha likes to sleep in. It's cute. I will walk by her room a dozen times and see her crashed in the same position and then she'll be gone. I'll look in and she has hidden herself under the covers and we all know what that means: leave me alone, I'm in denial and I don't want to get out of bed. She's five, so it's cute. In 10 years, as a teenager, it will be not so cute.
When she did decide to get up this morning she wandered into the kitchen to tell me about her dream. "Oh boy," I thought, "what craziness is she going to try to unload on me that she thinks was a dream but was really her just laying in bed thinking?" I was pleasantly surprised. She told me she had a dream that she bore her testimony at church and that she wants to do it next Sunday. I asked her what she would say...
"I'd like to bear my testimony. I know that Jesus died on the cross for us so that he could take our sins very far away. I know that we can be a family with him. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
Now what was the influence of this? Was it the week in Vacation Bible School at my mom's house? Was it the number of children that bore their tesimonies in my mom's ward when we were up there? We'll never know. But do know this: if she gets up in August and I don't go with her, it's because she told me, "and I DON'T want your help."
When she did decide to get up this morning she wandered into the kitchen to tell me about her dream. "Oh boy," I thought, "what craziness is she going to try to unload on me that she thinks was a dream but was really her just laying in bed thinking?" I was pleasantly surprised. She told me she had a dream that she bore her testimony at church and that she wants to do it next Sunday. I asked her what she would say...
"I'd like to bear my testimony. I know that Jesus died on the cross for us so that he could take our sins very far away. I know that we can be a family with him. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
Now what was the influence of this? Was it the week in Vacation Bible School at my mom's house? Was it the number of children that bore their tesimonies in my mom's ward when we were up there? We'll never know. But do know this: if she gets up in August and I don't go with her, it's because she told me, "and I DON'T want your help."
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Catching up on blogs
In May I had computer issues.
In June I was teaching all day and recooping the other half of the day.
So far July was a bit busy with a couple of short trips.
I'm not making excuses here, but I have not been very good about reading blogs, so I'm playing catch up. If you aren't on my blogline then the chances are even slimmer that I've remembered you. My bad. There is some really great stuff out there and your lives are so fun to read about. Some of you have made some cute changes on your pages and some of you have posted A TON!
Scott, are you kidding me? 18 posts since I've read your blog? Geez, it's not election time, what's going on? I'll get to them next. You've been neglected and I'm sure there are some really good thoughts there. I will tell you now, however, that I'm skipping any economic posts.
Here's something that I did want to share with everyone: Matt posted this link to an article on laughter in marriage. It was AWESOME and sums up my every belief on why Bill and I are still happy, after 17 years. We know when to joke around and have our own little jokes and sayings. Ironically, one of them has to do with the hiccups, just like the author of this article. Is there something inherently funny about hiccups?! I think I might have to write my own post on the hysterics of marriage. Hey, if this guy can get away with it, I can too, right?
In June I was teaching all day and recooping the other half of the day.
So far July was a bit busy with a couple of short trips.
I'm not making excuses here, but I have not been very good about reading blogs, so I'm playing catch up. If you aren't on my blogline then the chances are even slimmer that I've remembered you. My bad. There is some really great stuff out there and your lives are so fun to read about. Some of you have made some cute changes on your pages and some of you have posted A TON!
Scott, are you kidding me? 18 posts since I've read your blog? Geez, it's not election time, what's going on? I'll get to them next. You've been neglected and I'm sure there are some really good thoughts there. I will tell you now, however, that I'm skipping any economic posts.
Here's something that I did want to share with everyone: Matt posted this link to an article on laughter in marriage. It was AWESOME and sums up my every belief on why Bill and I are still happy, after 17 years. We know when to joke around and have our own little jokes and sayings. Ironically, one of them has to do with the hiccups, just like the author of this article. Is there something inherently funny about hiccups?! I think I might have to write my own post on the hysterics of marriage. Hey, if this guy can get away with it, I can too, right?
Friday, July 10, 2009
And Today? What'd ya do?
I made the bed.
I unpacked.
I showered.
Now, I'm off on a 3 hour voyage to pick up my kids. I'll watch a rowdy Bible Camp presentation with a bunch of "Praise the Lord" music, and then another 3 hour voyage home. Hoo-rah!
I might add that when I tucked my suitcase away in the bigger suitcase I had to pull out the bag that Bill had packed for his trip. He got home MONDAY!!!
I unpacked.
I showered.
Now, I'm off on a 3 hour voyage to pick up my kids. I'll watch a rowdy Bible Camp presentation with a bunch of "Praise the Lord" music, and then another 3 hour voyage home. Hoo-rah!
I might add that when I tucked my suitcase away in the bigger suitcase I had to pull out the bag that Bill had packed for his trip. He got home MONDAY!!!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
"What'd ya do today?"
This is the question Bill asked as I sat down after I got home from the temple this evening. It sounds like an innocent question in writing, but his actual tone of voice was not so much inquisitive, but accusatory. What do I mean by this? Here's the rest of the conversation:
Me: I slept in, got dressed, went to the chiropractor. I checked and responded to some emails, checked in on Flo, then called Evelyn to report in. I finally got in the shower and made it to the temple around 5 or 6, now I'm home.
(short pause as I look at him and his stupid little smirk)
Me: Why?
Bill: Well, I was just wondering what you DID do.
Me: Uh, huh. What are you insinuating?
Bill: Well...
Me: I slept in, got dressed, went to the chiropractor. I checked and responded to some emails, checked in on Flo, then called Evelyn to report in. I finally got in the shower and made it to the temple around 5 or 6, now I'm home.
(short pause as I look at him and his stupid little smirk)
Me: Why?
Bill: Well, I was just wondering what you DID do.
Me: Uh, huh. What are you insinuating?
Bill: Well...
- You didn't do the laundry.
- You didn't unpack.
- You didn't make the bed.
- You didn't do the dishes.
- You didn't pick up the counter.
- You didn't touch the mail.
- You didn't vacuum the floors.
- You didn't make dinner.
Me: I wasn't even home for dinner!
It's important to note here that my kids are at my mom's house for the day and night. I just drove into town yesterday, have one day to myself, and have to drive up and back tomorrow to get them. Yes, I should have taken full advantage of this day without children and gotten a lot done, but I didn't. I relaxed. I turned on the radio. (Not the TV, the other thing that has Bill baffled.) I had a very loose timeline of places I had to be and I didn't stress out. I think my neck/back/trap muscle are all doing better because of all this. I took care of myself today.
But what else did I do?
I peed my pants laughing with Bill as he was saying all those things that I didn't do. It was freakin' hilarious and now I really do have to do the laundry. That's twice now, in one week, that I've had to get up and leave the room because he has me laughing so hard that I can't stop unless I'm out of his presence. I know, I know, we're a bunch of freaks over here, but we know how to have a good time. And, if laughter really IS the best medicine, Bill should be feeling better by morning and my aches will have disappeared as well. Here's hopin'!
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