Beauty in Your Own Backyard

Recently, I spent some time admiring the beauty of the Delaware river and the mountains that serve as its background. In that half hour, I felt refreshed and inspired. The time I spent was so peaceful.
I saw puffy, white clouds floating in the same river as the ducks. Hungry fish swam to the surface, creating endless ripples, as if to greet me before swimming away. A family with two small children sat quietly in a raft, just floating along and taking in the scenery. A man played fetch with his black lab along the grassy shore, where they both collapsed together, showing their affection for eachother with a backscratch and a nuzzle.
All too often, we rush through life with one eye open, only seeing things we have to. We no longer pay attention to the simple things, that are also the most wonderful. Instead, we speed off to work, forgetting our turn signal, but remembering to blame oncoming traffic for our mistakes. We hurry to the post office, neglecting to hold the door for the lady behind us. We arrive home to our families and go our seperate ways, spending time alone rather than getting to know each other.
Walking along the river, I felt at ease. I was reminded of the simple things in life, and that there still is beauty left in this world. I was inspired to take my time and look around.
There is so much to see in life, and it's all right there in front of us; we just choose to look past it out of habit. Caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, we forget the joys of hearing a baby laugh. We turn our heads from the flap of butterfly wings, not even noticing their beauty. We walk into our very own backyard and no longer realize how amazing the world really is.
Of course we're busy with work, family, soccer games and communtiy events. But if we all took a half hour of our time to enjoy life's pleasures, the world would be an even better place to live.

Just a Bit About My Baby Shower!

My mom threw me a baby shower today and everything turned out so nice that I thought I'd share!
Mom handmade everything from the invitations--blue onesies that open & close--to the diaper cake centerpieces, along with the mini favors--candy-filled napkin diapers! She had a "clothes line" set up for all the guests to write a little something for us on onesy-shaped paper and hang up with mini clothes pins. Everything was so nice!
The games were so much fun, from baby bottles races to "winner takes 'All'." For the races, every table chose one person to be "it." By this time, my husband Kevin arrived, so of course, he was designated, as well. Each person recieved a baby bottle with equal amounts of juice; the first person to finish drinking was the winner. That game had everyone laughing!
In "Winner takes 'All'," everyone passed around a baby bottle bank and threw in their loose change. Then, everyone had a chance to guess how much money there was all together. After I counted the money, whoever was closest was crowned the winner, who would "take 'All'." Besides my mom, no one knew that "all" was the brand of the laundry detergent the winner would recieve, and that the change-filled bank was meant for the baby!
After more games and more laughs, I opened gifts and took pictures with my handmade, ribbon and bow, paper plate bonnet. We all had cake after our mac and cheese (my favorite!) and sloppy joe lunch; everything was so yummy!
Now, books, toys, clothes, diapers, and blue, blue, blue! fill the baby's room. Although it's a lot to sort through, I'm extremely excited to look at everything and get the room in order--Mom and I have a date on Tuesday night to do so!

I Thought Turning Into Your Mother Was Scary...

Everyone says that, as you get older, you realize that you turn into your parents. Because I've been 40 since I was four, I always knew that I was my mother from the very start. Sometimes that's scarier than others, but as I get older, there's no shock involved when I catch myself doing and saying as she does. What was scary, was going back to my high school and agreeing with my vice principal.
When I was a teenager, I thought, I'm not wrong, these people (authority figures) are just rude (no, that probably wasn't my choice of words) and don't like teenagers. But you realize later that you were wrong.
I returned to my high school the other day to meet with the principal and a senior girl for a story I was covering for work. While I waited for them in the office, students were being called in to meet with the vice principal, mostly for disciplinary purposes.
I thought of how highy I used to think of this man when I was in school, which wasn't much, especially from someone who never even got into trouble. But as he handed out punishments over and over, I saw how leanient he was. I wasn't surprised that I agreed with him that these kids should be punished, I was just shocked at how he was letting many of them slide; of course, they didn't see it that way.
It's just so strange when change occurs over time, but you don't realize it until something happens that makes you think about it. When did we all grow up? For me, it happened so quickly, that sometimes I don't remember doing it all--I just was.
Being in my high school again was nice. When I realized what was happening in the office that morning, I chuckled at myself, knowing that I used to be that girl who hated everything the vice principal said. I saw my former journalism teacher and talked to him just as easily as I always had, only it was about a movie that we both watched at the drive in over the weekend. I walked the halls and saw how different things were, and how some things were exactly the same. Or was that just me?

Don't Knock It 'Til You Try It: Sweet & Salty

Pregnant or not, many people love sweet and salty foods at the same time. Like fries and a soda, or ice cream and a soft pretzel. Some things are even better as one though, no matter how crazy they may sound. Here are just a few of my favorites, in no particular order.
Milkshake dipped French fries. If you haven't tried this yet, you're missing out. My dad first introduced me to this combo at Wendy's when I was about 7 years old. Since then, I always order French fries when I order a shake; it's just not the same without them!
Potato chip cookies. Strange? That's what I thought. A coworker brought these in to work a few months ago when I couldn't even think about eating because I had flushed my appetite down the drain. So naturally, the thought of smashing potato chips and throwing them into cookie batter did not appeal to me. But once I tasted the combination of sweet chocolate chips and crunchy, saltiness, my appetite began to return (I appreciate them even more now that I no longer have morning sickness).
Chocolate chunk bacon cookies. I recently heard about these cookies from a lady I know who owns a local BBQ restaurant. I was immediately skeptical, and then I remembered that I love foods like this--sweet and salty all at once! Because she's the awesome person that she is, she made sure to save me one and I finally got to try it the other day. Mmmm. Although it was doublue chocolate, it wasn't too sweet, and there was just the right amount of bacon to add the perfect touch of saltiness. You must try them!
Peanut butter and jelly with cheese and bacon on toast. This has got to be one of my favorites. I refused to try this sandwich for months when I first started working at the restaurant where it's served, but I am so glad that I gave in. The bacon compliments the peanut butter, and the cheese is the perfect mate for the grape jelly. Throw it all together on toast and you'll swear you'll never "knock it 'til you try it" again!
What are your favorite, "crazy" food combos? What do you think of these?

I Pledge to "Have a Heart"

After the tragic suicide of a local, 15 year old boy this past February, a fellow peer decided that there needed to be something done to raise awareness of social issues, and to let others know that help is available.
I had the pleasure of meeting Stephanie, the initiator of the Have a Heart Campaign, today. Although she would never admit it, Stephanie is an awesome human being, who has spent so much time making her classmates, peers, high school staff, and community members aware of very serious social issues.
What started as a pledge to lend a hand to those in need and seek help for one's self if necessary, has grown to an educational program based on spreading awareness and helping others. Because of what Stephanie started, almost 400 students have signed the Have a Heart Campaign pledge. In addition, the entire student body at her high school is now more aware of social issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, harassment, and cyber bullying, among other things. These issues are being discussed through posters, pamphlets, and videos made by Stephanie and approximately 17 clubs at the high school.
I was so amazed at how far this campaign has come, but then Stephanie told me more. Not only does the high school plan to continue the Have a Heart Campaign every year, but other high schools are now interested, as well. If just one person can be helped through the awareness that this campaign is spreading, then it's worth it. But if it catches on and spreads to high schools--and perhaps other institutions--all over the country, how awesome would that be?
After I interviewed Stephanie, she asked me if I would like to sign the pledge.
"Of course," I said, and I signed my name inside the paper heart, promising to always remember to have one.
For more information on the Have a Heart Campaign, leave a comment with your e-mail address and I will forward further information.

A Little Something to Think About

"I feel like God has taken my family away from me."
That's what someone said after being told that he would spend the rest of his life in prison. To this day, he has yet to take responsibility for his own actions. Instead, he blames God.
Why is it so easy for some people to blame God for their misfortunes and their own mistakes, but so hard for them to be thankful for what He has given them? Why is it that people can not admit that they were wrong and ask for forgiveness?When in a crisis, is it not easier to turn to God and seek help than it is to blame him for a situation's outcome?
Our parents raise us and teach us things that will help us to lead good lives. When they send us off on our own, they hope that we will take their advice with us and become productive, happy adults. But we all make mistakes. So is it my mom's fault if I spend too much money on going out to eat? Is it my dad's fault if my engine seizes up because I was too lazy to check my oil? If I steal someone's car because I need a way to get home, is it my parents' fault because they would not give me a ride?
God sends us into this world with the power to make our own choices. When an opportunity arises to do good, we should thank Him. Instead, we take it for granted, only to blame Him for our mistakes and condemn Him for not giving enough.

My Unborn Son Makes Everything Okay

Today was my "first" Mother's Day and it turned out to be a pretty emotional experience. Everything was great, of course. My husband gave me a card and wrote a little something inside; my mom made me a bracelet with five little charms, representing the baby; I recieved a gift at church; I placed roses on the graves of my grandmother and mother-in-law; I had breakfast with my parents and grandparents; my husband and I went out to dinner with my parents. Overall, I had a very nice, eventful day. But also a day of realizations...
In church this morning, a couple sat in front of me with an infant, no more than two months old. As the pastor spoke of the bond a mother shares with her child after having carried him in her womb for nine months, this tiny baby stared at me. I couldn't help but smile as her lips turned up into a smile of her own, her pudgy little cheeks creating tiny hills under her bright blue eyes. And the whole while, I kept my hands on my belly, feeling my own child stretch his tiny arms and legs out as far as he could... Amazing.
In less than two months, I am going to be holding this little boy in my arms. He'll no longer be my little "bean"--as I call him now--growing in my belly. He'll be here, in my arms, staring back at me as he clings to me instinctively. And I will cling to him, not wanting to let him go, as I will be so used to the fact that he has been safe inside my belly all this time.
From the moment I found out I was pregnant, my life changed. Everything I did concerned the life that was forming inside me. And every time he moves, every time I hear his heartbeat, every time I see his little fist curled up against his cheek... nothing else matters. These things simply confirm that it's all about him. But when this baby boy takes his first breath... nothing will compare to that moment. And boy, am I scared.
Although my life has already changed, I can only imagine what it's going to be like two months from now. And today, the "first" of my Mother's Days, really caused me to feel a bit overwhelmed. I'm nervous. I'm scared. But I'm so excited.
All I have to do is feel him move, or picture the way he looked during my last ultrasound, or imagine which features he'll inherit from me and which he'll inherit from his daddy... And everything is okay.