there is a cause very close to the heart of this family.
it recently became very clear to the mrs. & the professor that there was something 'going on' with the mouth. not just typical kid stuff, but internal issues that were beyond what the mrs. & the professor, as parents, were capable of guiding the mouth through on their own. so the mrs. & the professor met with doctors and got confirmation of the suspected cause.
adhd.
whew.
not the end of the world, even though at times it seems like it is.
there is light at the end of the adhd tunnel, many ways to get there, and no matter what happens our god is still good. thanks to adhd, the prayer life at the little white house has never been as strong as it is right now. eucharisteo! (google it)
so do this little family a favor and take a few minutes to learn more about adhd, this is national adhd awareness week, after all.
http://www.adhdawarenessweek.org/
thank you,
-the mrs.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
something beautiful
if you look past the dishes piled up in the sink, to the window overlooking the neighbor's used truck lot house, you might think that the mrs. tried (and failed) to be creative by imitating something she saw in a disgustingly-over-priced-obviously-faked-antique(but-you-still-want-everything-in-it-for-some-reason) catalogue. a small smooth stone with the word 'share' neatly printed in black sharpie sits on the window ledge.
although many of the mrs. creative endevors are indeed failures, this was not in the category of 'creative endevor'.
more correctly labled 'divine inspiration', the rock is a reminder that the things the mrs., the professor and their offspring have been blessed with are not to bless just this one family. but to potentially bless everyone the family happens to know.
the first two years in the little white house were lovely... but solitary. aside from family, the total number of times 'company' was invited over is an embarassing total of once. once in two years.
sure. sure.
there are a miriad ofreasons excuses for why no one was ever invited over. settling in. crazy work schedules. no dishwasher. kitchen remodel. be assured the list could go on. and on.
then came the rock. a simple assignment from a woman's retreat the mrs. attended. pick a rock. wait openly for your message. lable the rock. indeed a message was laid heavily on the mrs. heart. of how
she might not have alot, but what she has is amazing. on paper it is not much. the monetary value islaughable modest. but there is so much more to a life than its monetary value.
how do you price a smile?
a laugh?
what price do you put on a new friendship?
a seasoned one?
you don't. you can't. because honestly, there would never be enough money to afford these things, and even if there was, they are not things that are made with money. they are made with openness, honesty, time, love and so. much. more.
the share rock has -literally and figuratively- lived in the heart of this house for almost two years. it has witnessed this family open its hearts and home to 'company' hundreds of times -if not more- than the first two years, and rest assured, this is just the begining of something beautiful.
although many of the mrs. creative endevors are indeed failures, this was not in the category of 'creative endevor'.
more correctly labled 'divine inspiration', the rock is a reminder that the things the mrs., the professor and their offspring have been blessed with are not to bless just this one family. but to potentially bless everyone the family happens to know.
the first two years in the little white house were lovely... but solitary. aside from family, the total number of times 'company' was invited over is an embarassing total of once. once in two years.
sure. sure.
there are a miriad of
then came the rock. a simple assignment from a woman's retreat the mrs. attended. pick a rock. wait openly for your message. lable the rock. indeed a message was laid heavily on the mrs. heart. of how
she might not have alot, but what she has is amazing. on paper it is not much. the monetary value is
how do you price a smile?
a laugh?
what price do you put on a new friendship?
a seasoned one?
you don't. you can't. because honestly, there would never be enough money to afford these things, and even if there was, they are not things that are made with money. they are made with openness, honesty, time, love and so. much. more.
the share rock has -literally and figuratively- lived in the heart of this house for almost two years. it has witnessed this family open its hearts and home to 'company' hundreds of times -if not more- than the first two years, and rest assured, this is just the begining of something beautiful.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
the making of a mother
12 years ago today, a (very) handsome (not so) little bundle of joy made the mrs. a mother. born as blue as the bunk bed he now sleeps in and in a very far away country, they have literally and figuratively 'come a long way'.
12 years ago the mrs. knew she was blessed, but not exactly how much. watching the firstborn grow from that not so tiny newborn into a funny toddler, loving preschooler, obedient child and now intelligent and hard working preteen has amazed her and caught her off guard. she is blessed beyond measure. beyond her capability of understanding.
eventually the events signaling growth will become more signifigant. his voice will change. his skin will change. the firstborn will drive. graduate high school. the firstborn will become an adult. go to college. the firstborn will move away. miss family gatherings. the firstborn will fall in love...
the first born will live life just as he should.
and just as she should, the mrs. will always think of him as that (very) handsome (not so) little bundle of joy that made her a mother. a very proud mother. even if she is a little sad that he has to grow up...
12 years ago the mrs. knew she was blessed, but not exactly how much. watching the firstborn grow from that not so tiny newborn into a funny toddler, loving preschooler, obedient child and now intelligent and hard working preteen has amazed her and caught her off guard. she is blessed beyond measure. beyond her capability of understanding.
eventually the events signaling growth will become more signifigant. his voice will change. his skin will change. the firstborn will drive. graduate high school. the firstborn will become an adult. go to college. the firstborn will move away. miss family gatherings. the firstborn will fall in love...
the first born will live life just as he should.
and just as she should, the mrs. will always think of him as that (very) handsome (not so) little bundle of joy that made her a mother. a very proud mother. even if she is a little sad that he has to grow up...
Thursday, July 21, 2011
summer lovin'
the mrs. happens to love summer. a lot. summer brings out the best in the people who frequent the little white house and the people in the little white house alike.
summer means late nights and abandoned alarm clocks... just because we can. summer means getting down right nasty working in the yard & proudly earning our tan lines the old fashioned way. summer means family get togethers to celebrate milestones and backyard cookouts for no reason at all. summer means neglecting the housework so we can nurture our souls. summer means the water billdoubles quadruples - thanks to the daily use of the slip'n'slide - a definite bargain for the memories we've made.
summer. made more grand because it ends.
tan lines fade. routines restored. sand & mud tracked inside transitions from a symbol of carefree days to just another task on a 'to-do' list. swimsuits & short pants replaced by hats & scarves as summer heat gives way to winter's frigid inevitability. and while winter is not loved, it is deeply appreciated. providing a much needed remedy to a season so full, the mrs. feels as worn out as her favorite pair of flipflops. and she wouldn't have it any other way.
summer means late nights and abandoned alarm clocks... just because we can. summer means getting down right nasty working in the yard & proudly earning our tan lines the old fashioned way. summer means family get togethers to celebrate milestones and backyard cookouts for no reason at all. summer means neglecting the housework so we can nurture our souls. summer means the water bill
summer. made more grand because it ends.
tan lines fade. routines restored. sand & mud tracked inside transitions from a symbol of carefree days to just another task on a 'to-do' list. swimsuits & short pants replaced by hats & scarves as summer heat gives way to winter's frigid inevitability. and while winter is not loved, it is deeply appreciated. providing a much needed remedy to a season so full, the mrs. feels as worn out as her favorite pair of flipflops. and she wouldn't have it any other way.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
meet the neighbors
there are plenty of movies and tv shows that deal with this subject. often times over the top neighbors make for interesting subject matter. dennis the menace. seinfeld. friends. desperate housewives. cops.
the little white house only has one neighboring house. a very old grey house. unbeknownst (hopefully) to the residents of the very old grey house, it is a favorite past time of the mrs. and the professor to stand at the kitchen window (that provides a panoramic view of the going ons at the very old grey house) and discuss the neighbors.
it was recently decided that the very old grey house would be the kind of house a screen play writer would use as inspiration. not on a daily basis, mind you, but in the last three years there have been many 'are we really seeing this' moments.
driving circles around ones house.... leaving deep ruts in the yard. standing in the front yard with a shot gun... yelling. knocking down the old shed...with your pickup truck. keeping four, non working pick up trucks in the back yard... and two working ones in the driveway. parking a *beautifully* spray painted 1985 fleetwood camper in the back yard... so your adult child has a place to entertain his lady-friend. washing your car... at midnight, in the dark.
and every day we smile and wave, exchange comments like 'nice weather we're having today' and pray to god that they're not standing at their kitchen window wondering what we're going to do next.
the little white house only has one neighboring house. a very old grey house. unbeknownst (hopefully) to the residents of the very old grey house, it is a favorite past time of the mrs. and the professor to stand at the kitchen window (that provides a panoramic view of the going ons at the very old grey house) and discuss the neighbors.
it was recently decided that the very old grey house would be the kind of house a screen play writer would use as inspiration. not on a daily basis, mind you, but in the last three years there have been many 'are we really seeing this' moments.
driving circles around ones house.... leaving deep ruts in the yard. standing in the front yard with a shot gun... yelling. knocking down the old shed...with your pickup truck. keeping four, non working pick up trucks in the back yard... and two working ones in the driveway. parking a *beautifully* spray painted 1985 fleetwood camper in the back yard... so your adult child has a place to entertain his lady-friend. washing your car... at midnight, in the dark.
and every day we smile and wave, exchange comments like 'nice weather we're having today' and pray to god that they're not standing at their kitchen window wondering what we're going to do next.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
love at first sight
it happened when the mrs. saw a "for sale by owner" sign being tapped into the front yard of a little white house with a red front door. love. at. first. sight.
it didn't have 3+ bedrooms or a pretty kitchen and seperate laundry room, in fact it didn't have many things on the list of requirements the professor and the mrs. had given the realtor two months prior, but it was love.
it did have potential, and it did have an amazing location. it was in the right school zone and price range. it also came with a looong 'to-do' list. messy things like 'gut kitchen', 'refinish floors'. the professor and the mrs. knew it would be a work in progress for quite awhile, but they also knew it would be worth the wait.
and three years later, there is still a long 'to-do' list, though most of the original items have been happily scratched out. and wether or not the list is ever completed, life in the little white house has proved to be more wonderful than the professor and the mrs. could have ever imagined. it's not because of the little white house or the location or anything material, but rather the people living inside, living their own 'love at first sight' story.
it didn't have 3+ bedrooms or a pretty kitchen and seperate laundry room, in fact it didn't have many things on the list of requirements the professor and the mrs. had given the realtor two months prior, but it was love.
it did have potential, and it did have an amazing location. it was in the right school zone and price range. it also came with a looong 'to-do' list. messy things like 'gut kitchen', 'refinish floors'. the professor and the mrs. knew it would be a work in progress for quite awhile, but they also knew it would be worth the wait.
and three years later, there is still a long 'to-do' list, though most of the original items have been happily scratched out. and wether or not the list is ever completed, life in the little white house has proved to be more wonderful than the professor and the mrs. could have ever imagined. it's not because of the little white house or the location or anything material, but rather the people living inside, living their own 'love at first sight' story.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
957
it could be the number of pet peeves the professor has developed since getting married or the number of times the mouth has started a sentance in the last hour. it could be the number of times the dog has run away or the number of times the mrs. has wanted to kill the dog loaded the minivan with children and gone looking for the dog. it could be the number of paper footballs the firstborn has hidden in his top dresser drawer or it could be the number of times the darling has climbed onto something she shouldn't.
but it's not.
it is the exact size of the house. the little white house, with the red front door. this might be a problem in the future... but for now it works. it works because we make it work. and yes, that means that there is usually a long line waiting for the bathroom to open up, or that the children have to share one room, or that the mrs. and the professor sometimes pretend to use the bathroom just to be alone. but it also means that we are learning to be patient, and learning to share. and that is why 957 is a perfect number for this family's little white house.
but it's not.
it is the exact size of the house. the little white house, with the red front door. this might be a problem in the future... but for now it works. it works because we make it work. and yes, that means that there is usually a long line waiting for the bathroom to open up, or that the children have to share one room, or that the mrs. and the professor sometimes pretend to use the bathroom just to be alone. but it also means that we are learning to be patient, and learning to share. and that is why 957 is a perfect number for this family's little white house.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
introductions
the house
little and white. no, very little and not as white as it once was. lovely hardwood floors, in need of a bathroom overhaul and wrap around porch. often has dust bunnies and a sink full of dishes. overflowing with people and love.
the mrs.
recovering single mother, lover of instant coffee and mother of three. author of this story, disc golf widow, and first time gardener. loves to sew, hates to capitalize. hates laundry even more. big time dreamer, satisfied with life but not her weight.
the professor
lover of the mrs., hater of all cats, tolerates the dog. drinks instant coffee because thats what the mrs. buys, born and raised within three miles of the house. would play disc golf all day, everyday if he didn't have family obligations to fufill.
the firstborn
11. a handsome, male child. born older and more responsible than the professor and the mrs. combined. lover of football, player of baseball and not allowed to play soccer after the incident last summer. often forgets that he is not the king of the castle but never forgets how loved he is.
the mouth
4. another handsome, male child. has the ability to talk for hours without stopping to take a breath. vocabulary the size of texas, heart the size of earth, slowest runner you've ever seen. ever. eats like a bird and wears his emotions on his sleeve. a definate keeper.
the darling
18mo. lovely female child. blue eyes and light hair in a family of dark brown everything. toughter than nails, unestablished sleeping habits, shreek that would put mariah carey to shame. sweet, loveable, but is not to be left alone. her power of destruction will awe you. part mountain goat.
the dog
very quiet, laid back despite being part chihuahua. looks like a puppy, likes to lick the mrs.' feet and sleep all day. and night. likes to run away, hates invisible fence, tolerates the darling. would fit in a roasting pan.
thank you for visiting.
little and white. no, very little and not as white as it once was. lovely hardwood floors, in need of a bathroom overhaul and wrap around porch. often has dust bunnies and a sink full of dishes. overflowing with people and love.
the mrs.
recovering single mother, lover of instant coffee and mother of three. author of this story, disc golf widow, and first time gardener. loves to sew, hates to capitalize. hates laundry even more. big time dreamer, satisfied with life but not her weight.
the professor
lover of the mrs., hater of all cats, tolerates the dog. drinks instant coffee because thats what the mrs. buys, born and raised within three miles of the house. would play disc golf all day, everyday if he didn't have family obligations to fufill.
the firstborn
11. a handsome, male child. born older and more responsible than the professor and the mrs. combined. lover of football, player of baseball and not allowed to play soccer after the incident last summer. often forgets that he is not the king of the castle but never forgets how loved he is.
the mouth
4. another handsome, male child. has the ability to talk for hours without stopping to take a breath. vocabulary the size of texas, heart the size of earth, slowest runner you've ever seen. ever. eats like a bird and wears his emotions on his sleeve. a definate keeper.
the darling
18mo. lovely female child. blue eyes and light hair in a family of dark brown everything. toughter than nails, unestablished sleeping habits, shreek that would put mariah carey to shame. sweet, loveable, but is not to be left alone. her power of destruction will awe you. part mountain goat.
the dog
very quiet, laid back despite being part chihuahua. looks like a puppy, likes to lick the mrs.' feet and sleep all day. and night. likes to run away, hates invisible fence, tolerates the darling. would fit in a roasting pan.
thank you for visiting.
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