While I am on vacation, I'm doing a little spring cleaning in winter! I've cleaned the windows that are in plain view (meaning, I didn't clean the ones that are at the back of the house in our bedroom). Now, I'm working on our master closet. It continually amazed me that despite buying less clothes each year (most of my clothes budget goes towards keeping Sister dressed and stylish), my closet still looks like we accumulate hundreds of clothes each year.
I started this little game with Bill when we first got married to get him involved with cleaning and organizing. We individually go through the closet and pull out clothes we don't want. The catch is whoever gets rid of the most pieces gets a monetary prize to buy another clothing item. Bill goes in first and doesn't tell me how many he's pulled out. I go in and purge all the clothes that I know longer wear. Why this game works is that there is a little competition and we aren't hanging on to those "well maybe I'll actually wear this 1980's blouse next year" clothes. Every piece of clothing can be the difference between winning and losing.
I am the champion 4 years running!!! And it looks like I'm going to win it again in 2009! I've already got my eye on what I'm going to purchase with the prize money!!!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Catch Up: Claire's Birthday
Whoo! I have some catching up to do. And what better time to do that than on my 2 week vacation. The first matter of catch up...Claire's 3rd Birthday!
After much thought, research and discussion...I opted for a monkey themed birthday. Claire's birthday is November 1st, and as much as I wanted to steer clear of Halloween for her birthday party, it was inevitable since Halloween was on Saturday and birthday was on Sunday and it was much easier for family to come on Saturday.
I decided on the monkey theme because Claire's favorite song and source of entertainment (at that time) was a jazzy, soulful rendition of "5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" (check out cd...Party Like a Preschooler).
So I went to researching on the web and found this cute idea with cupcakes. I have made cupcakes for Claire's birthday since her first birthday, so it worked right into my plan. And then we ordered a monkey costume for her for Halloween. It was a day for of monkeys!
Okay, catch up is short...Cato Clan just walked in the door and Claire is sweetly asking for my attention. Here are some pics from the birthday.
(The birthday girl!)
After much thought, research and discussion...I opted for a monkey themed birthday. Claire's birthday is November 1st, and as much as I wanted to steer clear of Halloween for her birthday party, it was inevitable since Halloween was on Saturday and birthday was on Sunday and it was much easier for family to come on Saturday.
I decided on the monkey theme because Claire's favorite song and source of entertainment (at that time) was a jazzy, soulful rendition of "5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" (check out cd...Party Like a Preschooler).
So I went to researching on the web and found this cute idea with cupcakes. I have made cupcakes for Claire's birthday since her first birthday, so it worked right into my plan. And then we ordered a monkey costume for her for Halloween. It was a day for of monkeys!
Okay, catch up is short...Cato Clan just walked in the door and Claire is sweetly asking for my attention. Here are some pics from the birthday.
(Blue and green buttercream cupcakes and chocolate cupcakes with Barrels of Monkeys sticking out of them)
(This was my favorite touch. Glass blocks...found on sale at Lowes and used for many decorating purposes the rest of the year...tied up with green, blue and brown ribbon with monkey art and a number 3 on the front.)
(Second favorite idea stolen from another blog. We used the barrels, from the Barrel of Monkeys, as a cupcake holder and tied it up with a brown ribbon. Also, Claire's invitations were sent in a barrel, bought in bulk on the web, to friends and family!)
(The birthday girl blowing out her candles. Notice the monkey hanging from the lighting fixture!!!)
(The birthday girl!)Monday, August 31, 2009
"Our Choices are Never Free from this Conflict"
God blessed me this weekend with some really sweet and really rich personal Bible study. I have never really been trained to study scripture on my own. Alot of my bible study has been hit and miss by thumbing through commentaries and reading what other people believe and have written.
Recently, I began a new Bible study from Priscilla Shirer, Can We Talk? Priscilla and LifeWay, the publisher, have marketed the Bible study as an "un-Bible study" which always made me think "hmmmm...what does that mean?" Well, after 3 weeks of it, I am figuring it out. Priscilla uses a bible study method called the 5 P's of Bible Study:
1. Position yourself to hear from God.
2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the major points.Look for the who, what, when, where, and why of the verse
3. Pull out the spiritual principles.What is God teaching? What is He revealing about Himself?
4. Pose the question.Form a personally directed question from each of the spiritual principles.
5. Plan obedience and pin down a date.
In this season of my life, my Bible study has been revolutionized by this method. God has revealed so many riches to me through this method. Thus, leading me to the title of this entry. I was studying a familiar passage of Galations 5. This is the passage that talks about the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the actions of the flesh. I think I have every translations of the Bible from NIV, NLT, HCSB, KJV, and so on. On this particular day, I was reading out on my backporch with my small Bible, NLT. Now, like I said, this passage was very familiar to me but the way the NLT phrased it, a new revelation jumped off the pages at me. And here is what my Bible read:
Galatians 5:17 (New Living Translation)
17 The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict.
My choices are NEVER free from this conflict (of the Holy Spirit and the flesh). Why did it jump out at me in a different way? I think because of the word choices. I make choices daily. Even if I am living in freedom and victory over an area in my life, I am still making deliberate choices CONSTANTLY to remain in victory and freedom. And even the opposite is true. Even if the flesh is having the victory, my next choice concerning that area can be one of the Spirit. I don't have to wait until tomorrow to get a do over. My next choice is my "do over."
As I pondered this thought, I thought about the battles that must be happening in the heavenlies over my decisions. It made me tired to even think about it. My own mind wears me out sometimes, let alone to know that the battle is raging in the unseen world over every single choice I make concerning each and every area of my life.
As my friend Michelle reminded me today, we are living sacrifices to God. We continually lay ourselves, our actions, our decisions and our choices on the alter. It's active and fluid. We can get up off that alter or we continually choose to lay there!
I hope this meant something to someone today. Maybe it was just something I needed! But it certainly made me look at my life differently and help me to realize that life is exciting and my choices have eternal consequences.
Recently, I began a new Bible study from Priscilla Shirer, Can We Talk? Priscilla and LifeWay, the publisher, have marketed the Bible study as an "un-Bible study" which always made me think "hmmmm...what does that mean?" Well, after 3 weeks of it, I am figuring it out. Priscilla uses a bible study method called the 5 P's of Bible Study:
1. Position yourself to hear from God.
2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the major points.Look for the who, what, when, where, and why of the verse
3. Pull out the spiritual principles.What is God teaching? What is He revealing about Himself?
4. Pose the question.Form a personally directed question from each of the spiritual principles.
5. Plan obedience and pin down a date.
In this season of my life, my Bible study has been revolutionized by this method. God has revealed so many riches to me through this method. Thus, leading me to the title of this entry. I was studying a familiar passage of Galations 5. This is the passage that talks about the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the actions of the flesh. I think I have every translations of the Bible from NIV, NLT, HCSB, KJV, and so on. On this particular day, I was reading out on my backporch with my small Bible, NLT. Now, like I said, this passage was very familiar to me but the way the NLT phrased it, a new revelation jumped off the pages at me. And here is what my Bible read:
Galatians 5:17 (New Living Translation)
17 The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict.
My choices are NEVER free from this conflict (of the Holy Spirit and the flesh). Why did it jump out at me in a different way? I think because of the word choices. I make choices daily. Even if I am living in freedom and victory over an area in my life, I am still making deliberate choices CONSTANTLY to remain in victory and freedom. And even the opposite is true. Even if the flesh is having the victory, my next choice concerning that area can be one of the Spirit. I don't have to wait until tomorrow to get a do over. My next choice is my "do over."
As I pondered this thought, I thought about the battles that must be happening in the heavenlies over my decisions. It made me tired to even think about it. My own mind wears me out sometimes, let alone to know that the battle is raging in the unseen world over every single choice I make concerning each and every area of my life.
As my friend Michelle reminded me today, we are living sacrifices to God. We continually lay ourselves, our actions, our decisions and our choices on the alter. It's active and fluid. We can get up off that alter or we continually choose to lay there!
I hope this meant something to someone today. Maybe it was just something I needed! But it certainly made me look at my life differently and help me to realize that life is exciting and my choices have eternal consequences.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
A Photo Catch Up Entry
Here are some summer-time pics of The Cato House! We've had a great summer but all of us are ready for the cool reprieve of fall!
Down at the creek behind our house!
Cooling off in her pool!
Being a beach-bum is hard work!
Monday, August 17, 2009
A Thought I've Been Pondering
I'm in women's ministry. So it's my work and ministry to pay attention to what is going on with women. What do women like? What are women buying? What are women reading? What are women watching? So on and so on until you think you should have a degree in womanology!
At my office, the newest thing we are paying attention to is social networking. This is foreign to me, first, because I'm an introvert and I don't like to network. I like my small, tight-knit group of friends and families. I cannot be fully engaged in the lives of hundreds of my Facebook friends. I would rather live and be in the throws of life with a few. Second, I don't feel like my life is interesting enough to Twitter about or post status updates on Facebook or even be posting blogs. But those above me say it's not about what you write, it's about gaining a bigger network. Hmmmm!
Last week, my director sent an email out telling us to "watch these up-and-coming, Christian bloggers." So, Friday afternoon, when it was really slow in the office, I went through all of the blogs of these fine women, saved them to my favorites and even stopped by and visited some of the blogs. They were very interesting, very creative...I would even love to be friends with many, if not all, of these ladies.
However, one thing it did to me, that I wasn't expecting and had me pondering all weekend, was foster a sense of insecurity in me. These gals have it together! They write so well, they are so creative, they are great photographers, they have beautiful families, they are encouraging, they are bringing joy to so many, they are traveling, they are remodeling their homes on a shoestring budget and it looks like a dollhouse, they are writing books, they are presenting at conferences, they are weathering the storms of life one blog entry at a time.
Now, I can pick up a People magazine at the grocery store and see a "star" that seems to have it all together and know in the back of my head that their life is as airbrushed as their photo. But these blogging gals are real life, in the trenches, women! It just made me look at myself differently...even to the point of thinking I should take down my blog altogether because I didn't want to compare my random rants to these "professionals."
Hmmmm! So what is it? What caused the insecurity? I am a pretty secure gal typically. Was it just a fleeting feeling. Something that I'll laugh at when I read back over my post...tomorrow! Is God using this as a springboard to move me to the "next" in my life?
So, in closing today (and I think I'll be revisiting this topic again), I'm praying that God will make me secure in my "ordinary" life...the "ordinary" life that MANY would die to have and I am so blessed to be living.
At my office, the newest thing we are paying attention to is social networking. This is foreign to me, first, because I'm an introvert and I don't like to network. I like my small, tight-knit group of friends and families. I cannot be fully engaged in the lives of hundreds of my Facebook friends. I would rather live and be in the throws of life with a few. Second, I don't feel like my life is interesting enough to Twitter about or post status updates on Facebook or even be posting blogs. But those above me say it's not about what you write, it's about gaining a bigger network. Hmmmm!
Last week, my director sent an email out telling us to "watch these up-and-coming, Christian bloggers." So, Friday afternoon, when it was really slow in the office, I went through all of the blogs of these fine women, saved them to my favorites and even stopped by and visited some of the blogs. They were very interesting, very creative...I would even love to be friends with many, if not all, of these ladies.
However, one thing it did to me, that I wasn't expecting and had me pondering all weekend, was foster a sense of insecurity in me. These gals have it together! They write so well, they are so creative, they are great photographers, they have beautiful families, they are encouraging, they are bringing joy to so many, they are traveling, they are remodeling their homes on a shoestring budget and it looks like a dollhouse, they are writing books, they are presenting at conferences, they are weathering the storms of life one blog entry at a time.
Now, I can pick up a People magazine at the grocery store and see a "star" that seems to have it all together and know in the back of my head that their life is as airbrushed as their photo. But these blogging gals are real life, in the trenches, women! It just made me look at myself differently...even to the point of thinking I should take down my blog altogether because I didn't want to compare my random rants to these "professionals."
Hmmmm! So what is it? What caused the insecurity? I am a pretty secure gal typically. Was it just a fleeting feeling. Something that I'll laugh at when I read back over my post...tomorrow! Is God using this as a springboard to move me to the "next" in my life?
So, in closing today (and I think I'll be revisiting this topic again), I'm praying that God will make me secure in my "ordinary" life...the "ordinary" life that MANY would die to have and I am so blessed to be living.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
It's Been a Tough Season...Part 2
This past March and April, I began experiencing severe cramping in my stomach and pain in my lower back. I self-diagnosed myself with ulcers (for my stomachache) and chronic back pain left over from my T12 fracture. I suffered for an entire month.
I would pull myself together to get to work and put on a happy face, but the night time was my safety zone in the privacy of home and I found myself paralyzed to do anything productive and laying on the couch all night. I didn't like this life (who would) when I had a toddler running around saying, "Get up Mommy. Come play with me."
April was a busy month of traveling for work and many times alone. On one particular trip to California, I remember just feeling horrible the entire time I was there. After turning my nose up to any suggestion of going to the doctor, I finally plopped myself down into the dr. office the morning after returning from California. After another CT scan, the radiologist ordered me to get to the ER..."you have an appendicitis."
"No, I do not" was my thoughts. An appendicitis does not last for a month. If I had an appendicitis, I wouldn't be able to pull myself together. But I took the drs orders and headed straight to the ER (after stopping at the bookstore to get me a good book to read through the upcoming ordeal).
Whe the surgeon came wheeling into the ER to check me out before surgery, he stopped dead in his tracks and said, "You do not have an appendicitis. You wouldn't be sitting up in bed smiling at me!"
Long story short, they called my gastrointerologist and after closer examination, it was inflammation, near the appendix, caused by the Crohn's Disease. I was admitted into the hospital for 3.5 days for observation, iv antibiotics and making sure that a perforation didn't and wouldn't occur.
After leaving the hospital on many medications, I still didn't feel well and the cramping in my stomach continued despite how little or how much I ate. After 2.5 more months of this pain and 2 unsuccessful drugs, I was admitted back into the hospital. This time, I was started on the heavy artillery of Crohn's medication...Remicade. I am currently still on an iv infusion of remicade every 4 weeks and eventually every 8 weeks and feeling much better.
My full life is returning and I'm not just going through the motions. I am feeling well.
I would pull myself together to get to work and put on a happy face, but the night time was my safety zone in the privacy of home and I found myself paralyzed to do anything productive and laying on the couch all night. I didn't like this life (who would) when I had a toddler running around saying, "Get up Mommy. Come play with me."
April was a busy month of traveling for work and many times alone. On one particular trip to California, I remember just feeling horrible the entire time I was there. After turning my nose up to any suggestion of going to the doctor, I finally plopped myself down into the dr. office the morning after returning from California. After another CT scan, the radiologist ordered me to get to the ER..."you have an appendicitis."
"No, I do not" was my thoughts. An appendicitis does not last for a month. If I had an appendicitis, I wouldn't be able to pull myself together. But I took the drs orders and headed straight to the ER (after stopping at the bookstore to get me a good book to read through the upcoming ordeal).
Whe the surgeon came wheeling into the ER to check me out before surgery, he stopped dead in his tracks and said, "You do not have an appendicitis. You wouldn't be sitting up in bed smiling at me!"
Long story short, they called my gastrointerologist and after closer examination, it was inflammation, near the appendix, caused by the Crohn's Disease. I was admitted into the hospital for 3.5 days for observation, iv antibiotics and making sure that a perforation didn't and wouldn't occur.
After leaving the hospital on many medications, I still didn't feel well and the cramping in my stomach continued despite how little or how much I ate. After 2.5 more months of this pain and 2 unsuccessful drugs, I was admitted back into the hospital. This time, I was started on the heavy artillery of Crohn's medication...Remicade. I am currently still on an iv infusion of remicade every 4 weeks and eventually every 8 weeks and feeling much better.
My full life is returning and I'm not just going through the motions. I am feeling well.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
It's Been a Tough Season...Part 1
Nope, not the summer. The summer has actually been a wonderful, mild summer than past drought-filled summers. I'm more talking about this season of life.
What do I have to complain about? I've asked myself this many times. I have a husband that adores me and has actually never (against the warnings of many) followed the adage, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." He's been very moldable these past 5 years and serves the socks off of me! I have an adorable 2 1/2 year old daughter who is easy; sleeping through the night before she was supposed to and was potty trained without any blood, sweat or tears. I have a beautiful home that my adoring husband built for us with his blood, sweat and tears. I have a job and ministry that I am continually humbled to have and wander how in the world God was able to orchestrate my every step to be in the right place at the right time. One mis-step and who knows where I would be. Both of my parents are healthy, I have a loving family and faithful and loyal friends. I have more than enough food on the table each and every night.
I'm not complaining about my life. I am so thankful for all the blessings God has given me. But it's been a tough, emotional season of life.
Tough Season Part 1 could officially be stated as beginning in December 2007. Being a multi-tasking mother, I was heading to the Plan B babysitter, running late to work (I'm sure), feeding Claire breakfast in the car and driving. I took my eyes off the road for one milli-second to look in the rearview mirror at her and my front right tire of our new Tahoe decided to leave the road. The road we were on didn't have those annoying "grates" that warn you to pull it back to the left. It didn't have a guardrail. It didn't even have much of a shoulder. Instead, it had a steep enbankment leading down to a field. In a flash, Claire and I in the Tahoe were bouncing across that field and several run-off ditches. The Tahoe came to a sudden stop after we crossed a deep run-off gully. To make a long story shorter, the ambulance ushered me and Claire to Vandy ER. Claire was totally unharmed. Mommy was diagnosed with a fracture to the T12 (a broken back).
While still reeling from a diagnosis of a broken back, a sweet nurse with poor bedside manners came in to release me from the ER. "Oh, by the way, the doctor said you need to see your PCP immediately. Your CAT scan shows signs of probably Crohn's Disease."
...Oh, by the way. "What" I screamed in my head. At that point, the fracture was a minor inconvenience. She just leisurely diagnosed me with a chronic disease. A disease that has always had a negative, hopeless connotation in my head.
Just lately, a doctor described me as stoic. And as I think back about that day in the ER, yes, I can agree that I am often stoic. Bill stood there waiting for my reaction, but no reaction came. We drove to Panera Bread to grab a bite to eat after an all-day adventure in the ER. Only after Bill went inside to get me a sandwich and my boss, Paige, showed up to hand off my work computer to me and I repeated the story of the Crohn's Disease to her did I cry.
Ironically, I was no longer exhibiting symptoms of the Crohn's (I had had some severe stomach cramping a couple of weeks earlier but never had it checked out). So when I went to visit the gastrointerologist after Vandy's recommendation, and after a lower GI and colonoscopy showed a non-specific injury to my small intestine, we decided to play the "wait and see" game.
Fast forward to this March after 14 months pain-free (now I know that it is considered "remission" from Crohn's). In March, the severe stomach cramping returned with no relief and that is when this current season really began.
What do I have to complain about? I've asked myself this many times. I have a husband that adores me and has actually never (against the warnings of many) followed the adage, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." He's been very moldable these past 5 years and serves the socks off of me! I have an adorable 2 1/2 year old daughter who is easy; sleeping through the night before she was supposed to and was potty trained without any blood, sweat or tears. I have a beautiful home that my adoring husband built for us with his blood, sweat and tears. I have a job and ministry that I am continually humbled to have and wander how in the world God was able to orchestrate my every step to be in the right place at the right time. One mis-step and who knows where I would be. Both of my parents are healthy, I have a loving family and faithful and loyal friends. I have more than enough food on the table each and every night.
I'm not complaining about my life. I am so thankful for all the blessings God has given me. But it's been a tough, emotional season of life.
Tough Season Part 1 could officially be stated as beginning in December 2007. Being a multi-tasking mother, I was heading to the Plan B babysitter, running late to work (I'm sure), feeding Claire breakfast in the car and driving. I took my eyes off the road for one milli-second to look in the rearview mirror at her and my front right tire of our new Tahoe decided to leave the road. The road we were on didn't have those annoying "grates" that warn you to pull it back to the left. It didn't have a guardrail. It didn't even have much of a shoulder. Instead, it had a steep enbankment leading down to a field. In a flash, Claire and I in the Tahoe were bouncing across that field and several run-off ditches. The Tahoe came to a sudden stop after we crossed a deep run-off gully. To make a long story shorter, the ambulance ushered me and Claire to Vandy ER. Claire was totally unharmed. Mommy was diagnosed with a fracture to the T12 (a broken back).
While still reeling from a diagnosis of a broken back, a sweet nurse with poor bedside manners came in to release me from the ER. "Oh, by the way, the doctor said you need to see your PCP immediately. Your CAT scan shows signs of probably Crohn's Disease."
...Oh, by the way. "What" I screamed in my head. At that point, the fracture was a minor inconvenience. She just leisurely diagnosed me with a chronic disease. A disease that has always had a negative, hopeless connotation in my head.
Just lately, a doctor described me as stoic. And as I think back about that day in the ER, yes, I can agree that I am often stoic. Bill stood there waiting for my reaction, but no reaction came. We drove to Panera Bread to grab a bite to eat after an all-day adventure in the ER. Only after Bill went inside to get me a sandwich and my boss, Paige, showed up to hand off my work computer to me and I repeated the story of the Crohn's Disease to her did I cry.
Ironically, I was no longer exhibiting symptoms of the Crohn's (I had had some severe stomach cramping a couple of weeks earlier but never had it checked out). So when I went to visit the gastrointerologist after Vandy's recommendation, and after a lower GI and colonoscopy showed a non-specific injury to my small intestine, we decided to play the "wait and see" game.
Fast forward to this March after 14 months pain-free (now I know that it is considered "remission" from Crohn's). In March, the severe stomach cramping returned with no relief and that is when this current season really began.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
You Make Me Laugh
Claire, you make me laugh. I think Grandma prays for you to make me laugh because that seems to be the only time I call her! Last night, we were coming home from Vacation Bible School. It was dark and rainy and we were pulling out of the parking lot across the street of the church.
"Oh no, Oh no, Oh no...the toy fell down," you pathetically moaned.
"Claire, what are you talking about?"
"Oh no, oh no, the toy fell down." You were so concerned.
"Oh no!"
I looked across the street towards the church where you were looking. The inflatable bouncy house and slide that were up for VBS had been shut off for the night and were laying flat on the ground.
"Claire, are you talking about the bouncy house?" I asked.
"Yes, the bouncy house fell down!" your little heart broken.
"Claire, they just took the air out of it for the night. It will be back up tomorrow!"
This morning as I was getting ready for work, you were laying all cozy in mommy and daddy's bed with the blankets pulled up to your chin watching cartoons.
"Mommy! You don't go to work today. You stay home with me and watch Scooby Dooby!" you commanded.
Now what mother could turn that down?
As I laughed, I layed down with you for just a second and explained that you had to go to school and I had to go to work.
"You need pillow. I share!" you continued to convince!
Oh, you are so hard to deny!
Your little vocabulary is developing every day. Your little mind amazes me. You are so smart. You see things that adults just let go by everyday. You are funny. You are caring. I love you so much!
"Oh no, Oh no, Oh no...the toy fell down," you pathetically moaned.
"Claire, what are you talking about?"
"Oh no, oh no, the toy fell down." You were so concerned.
"Oh no!"
I looked across the street towards the church where you were looking. The inflatable bouncy house and slide that were up for VBS had been shut off for the night and were laying flat on the ground.
"Claire, are you talking about the bouncy house?" I asked.
"Yes, the bouncy house fell down!" your little heart broken.
"Claire, they just took the air out of it for the night. It will be back up tomorrow!"
This morning as I was getting ready for work, you were laying all cozy in mommy and daddy's bed with the blankets pulled up to your chin watching cartoons.
"Mommy! You don't go to work today. You stay home with me and watch Scooby Dooby!" you commanded.
Now what mother could turn that down?
As I laughed, I layed down with you for just a second and explained that you had to go to school and I had to go to work.
"You need pillow. I share!" you continued to convince!
Oh, you are so hard to deny!
Your little vocabulary is developing every day. Your little mind amazes me. You are so smart. You see things that adults just let go by everyday. You are funny. You are caring. I love you so much!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
A Note to Claire
"Time-out" 3 times before we left the house this morning...not a good start to our day. Daddy and I are laying down the law until your new attitude leaves. You are so smart about everything else in life...we know you understand the difference between blessings and consequences, disrepect and respect and disobedience and obedience! I know these are big words, but you have had enough association with them according to your behavior...we know you know what we mean. If you are smart enough to march yourself to your time-out chair, you are smart enough to know the reason why.
We love you so much and feel so blessed to have the opportunity to mold your sweet little personality. The good part of this story is that these stints of bad behavior are short lived and few and far between. We understand you are in detox from Grand-ma's and Aunt Anga's, so we have given you some additional grace :).
Your goal today is to get a good report from Ms. Emily at school and prove you do, indeed, have listening ears.
I love you,
Mommy
We love you so much and feel so blessed to have the opportunity to mold your sweet little personality. The good part of this story is that these stints of bad behavior are short lived and few and far between. We understand you are in detox from Grand-ma's and Aunt Anga's, so we have given you some additional grace :).
Your goal today is to get a good report from Ms. Emily at school and prove you do, indeed, have listening ears.
I love you,
Mommy
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The Cato House is in Full Swing!
During the winter months, if you were a fly on the Cato House wall, you would have heard me lamenting to Bill that our life was not exciting enough. During those cooped up winter months, I was big on reading others' blogs and just thought, "Man, they live such exciting lives," and allowing Satan to use that to put me in a state of comparison.
As the weather has gotten warmer and warmer this spring and summer, our family has not lacked for excitement, thus, the reason for my blogging hiatus (in addition to me trying to be tech saavy and twitter and update my facebook profile...I've had little time to blog.
So, the spring started off with lots of travel. Within 4 weeks, I traveled to Katy, TX; New Orleans, LA, Pittsburgh, PA; Elizabethtown, KY and Stockton, CA. It was this last trip to Stockton that sent me over the edge. I was tired of traveling and everything at home was quickly moving out of control, but the one thing that continued to plague me was this unusual, non-consistent pain in my stomach. I had enough of it when I returned from Stockton's luncheon. Went to the dr to get the ball rolling. Within 4 hours, I had a CT scan and was admitted to the ER and spent the next 3 days hooked up to IV antibiotics at the hospital.
We left the hospital with a diagnosis that was treatable but nevertheless undesirable. Two weeks later, I had to go back to the dr to get a follow up CT scan. Piece of cake (except for drinking that Barium "Smoothie"), right? Wrong! This was my third CT scan in less than 2 years, and for some reason, this time, I had a horrible allergic reaction to the contrast die. I really thought I was dying that day. After 2 hours of being pumped with Benadryl and steroids, I was released.
I am finished with the drama, right? Wrong! Last weekend, the Cato House met the other Cato house (in Birmingham) and the Jones house (here in Nashville) at a lake in northern Alabama. To make a long and horrible story short, the temperature was over 100 degrees, Claire didn't have shoes on and stepped on the hot pavement and subsequently a piece of metal on the dock and burnt the bottoms of her feet. Blisters, screaming...just the most heart-wrenching thing for a mother to watch. It was horrible.
And guess what? As soon as that episode happened, I had to travel back to California.
If it were up to me, the drama would be over. We have vacation with my family next week in Destin...drama-free zone has been requested!
That's what we have been up to...how about you?
As the weather has gotten warmer and warmer this spring and summer, our family has not lacked for excitement, thus, the reason for my blogging hiatus (in addition to me trying to be tech saavy and twitter and update my facebook profile...I've had little time to blog.
So, the spring started off with lots of travel. Within 4 weeks, I traveled to Katy, TX; New Orleans, LA, Pittsburgh, PA; Elizabethtown, KY and Stockton, CA. It was this last trip to Stockton that sent me over the edge. I was tired of traveling and everything at home was quickly moving out of control, but the one thing that continued to plague me was this unusual, non-consistent pain in my stomach. I had enough of it when I returned from Stockton's luncheon. Went to the dr to get the ball rolling. Within 4 hours, I had a CT scan and was admitted to the ER and spent the next 3 days hooked up to IV antibiotics at the hospital.
We left the hospital with a diagnosis that was treatable but nevertheless undesirable. Two weeks later, I had to go back to the dr to get a follow up CT scan. Piece of cake (except for drinking that Barium "Smoothie"), right? Wrong! This was my third CT scan in less than 2 years, and for some reason, this time, I had a horrible allergic reaction to the contrast die. I really thought I was dying that day. After 2 hours of being pumped with Benadryl and steroids, I was released.
I am finished with the drama, right? Wrong! Last weekend, the Cato House met the other Cato house (in Birmingham) and the Jones house (here in Nashville) at a lake in northern Alabama. To make a long and horrible story short, the temperature was over 100 degrees, Claire didn't have shoes on and stepped on the hot pavement and subsequently a piece of metal on the dock and burnt the bottoms of her feet. Blisters, screaming...just the most heart-wrenching thing for a mother to watch. It was horrible.
And guess what? As soon as that episode happened, I had to travel back to California.
If it were up to me, the drama would be over. We have vacation with my family next week in Destin...drama-free zone has been requested!
That's what we have been up to...how about you?
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Coversations with a Toddler - Part 2...About God
If you live in my "neck of the woods", you know we have been having lots of thunderstorms (I'm sure many other areas of the US are as well).
Add on top of the storms that Claire is really sensitive to sound (the fire alarm going off because of her momma's cooking and her reaction is an entirely different entry some day!).
Several weeks ago, she heard thunder and yelled, "It scare you." I told her that was God outside. Each morning after that when we would leave for school/work, she would make this big announcement outside to Him, "Hi God."
If her sweet greeting each morning was not enough...last weekend we were driving home to Mayfield during a horrible thunderstorm. She kept seeing lightning and hearing thunder and wanted us to "hold you". I told her those flashes of light were God taking pictures of her and that every now and then He would laugh (the thunder) at a picture He took of her. As the broken record of a 2 year old should go, we talked and re-talked about God for quite a while.
Today, we were driving to school/work. It was an absolutely beautiful morning. We happened upon a traffic jam, so we were noticing the streams, the trees, the grass, the sun, the clouds. And Claire would say, "God made trees...God made grass...God made sun." And then all of a sudden, she screams, "Yaaaay God" and starts clapping.
Oh, my heart just melted. Out of the mouth of babes!
What do you need to "Yaaaay God" for today? It would not have surprised me if we had immediately heard a clap of thunder at God laughing at Claire this morning! I think he was pleased.
Add on top of the storms that Claire is really sensitive to sound (the fire alarm going off because of her momma's cooking and her reaction is an entirely different entry some day!).
Several weeks ago, she heard thunder and yelled, "It scare you." I told her that was God outside. Each morning after that when we would leave for school/work, she would make this big announcement outside to Him, "Hi God."
If her sweet greeting each morning was not enough...last weekend we were driving home to Mayfield during a horrible thunderstorm. She kept seeing lightning and hearing thunder and wanted us to "hold you". I told her those flashes of light were God taking pictures of her and that every now and then He would laugh (the thunder) at a picture He took of her. As the broken record of a 2 year old should go, we talked and re-talked about God for quite a while.
Today, we were driving to school/work. It was an absolutely beautiful morning. We happened upon a traffic jam, so we were noticing the streams, the trees, the grass, the sun, the clouds. And Claire would say, "God made trees...God made grass...God made sun." And then all of a sudden, she screams, "Yaaaay God" and starts clapping.
Oh, my heart just melted. Out of the mouth of babes!
What do you need to "Yaaaay God" for today? It would not have surprised me if we had immediately heard a clap of thunder at God laughing at Claire this morning! I think he was pleased.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Conversations with a Toddler
I will be the first to admit that I haven't been as good to keep the blog up-to-date as I would like or avid bloggers would suggest. We are living an exciting life with a toddler right now, but sometimes I just don't think anyone would find our day-to-day activities that interesting.
However, one of the reasons I began this blog is to have an archive of stories for Claire to read back on when she is older. So, this is my disclaimer. You are now entering a blog that may not be as exciting, but it is our memories.
Claire and I drive into Nashville every day. Her pre-school is halfway between home and downtown. We have some very interesting conversations on our way into town. Thus, the ride to town in the mornings (not the afternoons because she has a meltdown every single day) have become my favorite one-on-one times with her.
Yesterday's conversation proved to me that she is always paying attention. For months, anytime we would see a backhoe, dozier or any heavy equipment, she would announce, "That's my daddy's!" Wanting to keep her daddy huge in her eyes, I would affirm that "Yes, that is daddy's" even though we are a long way from having a heavy equipment fleet. This past Friday, I was out of town on an event and she went into the office with Bill to drop off his timecard. While in there, she saw all the guys and talked to "Mr Barry", Bill's boss.
So, yesterday on the way to school, she looked across a field where a new subdivision is being built and said, "That's not daddy's!" And, once again, I affirmed her observation proud that she had finally caught on that daddy did not have that much equipment. And not missing a beat, she said, "That's Burry's!"
Oh, how smart our little babes are!!!!
However, one of the reasons I began this blog is to have an archive of stories for Claire to read back on when she is older. So, this is my disclaimer. You are now entering a blog that may not be as exciting, but it is our memories.
Claire and I drive into Nashville every day. Her pre-school is halfway between home and downtown. We have some very interesting conversations on our way into town. Thus, the ride to town in the mornings (not the afternoons because she has a meltdown every single day) have become my favorite one-on-one times with her.
Yesterday's conversation proved to me that she is always paying attention. For months, anytime we would see a backhoe, dozier or any heavy equipment, she would announce, "That's my daddy's!" Wanting to keep her daddy huge in her eyes, I would affirm that "Yes, that is daddy's" even though we are a long way from having a heavy equipment fleet. This past Friday, I was out of town on an event and she went into the office with Bill to drop off his timecard. While in there, she saw all the guys and talked to "Mr Barry", Bill's boss.
So, yesterday on the way to school, she looked across a field where a new subdivision is being built and said, "That's not daddy's!" And, once again, I affirmed her observation proud that she had finally caught on that daddy did not have that much equipment. And not missing a beat, she said, "That's Burry's!"
Oh, how smart our little babes are!!!!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Progress
***WARNING: This is a potty training update. If you think potty talk is crude, skip reading this entry!***
My potty training approach was much like my "nursing" approach...why read books, why get advise...this is a natural process, it will just happen naturally. I should have learned the lesson from my failure in nursing, you can always use help, support and advise!
The story begins in October. We were still at the old house, just shy of moving into the new house. I always heard that big, major changes cause potty-training set-backs, so I was not going to attempt to begin potty training until we moved. However, at that time, Claire was staying with Becca and Becca was potty training Jonah (3) and Claire and Sophie took an interest. So I bought her a potty with no intention of working on potty training. But the child is smart I tell you! After giving her a bath, I would wipe out the tub and for several weeks, I would turn around and she would be sitting on the potty and actually going potty! That's as far as we got in October and November.
Fast forward to December. Mom (me) was on vacation for a couple of weeks around vacation and I thought this was an ideal time to train her. I still had not picked up the first book or asked for the first piece of advise, but I had been around moms and toddlers enough that I had a few tricks in my back pocket. Like the one where you give them as much juice as possible throughout the day, set the clock to go to the potty every 10 minutes and they are trained in one day...that one didn't work for us. All it did was make her revolt from wanting to sit on the potty at all.
Back to square one.
We took a little break. I wasn't passionate about potty-training and neither was she!
Fast forward...February. I walked in to pick her up from school one day and her teacher, Anna Claire, asked me if I had even considered starting to potty training because, as Anna Claire said, "she WILL be 3 in November." My gracious, I thought. The child just turned 2. Aren't we rushing the pressure and she has 8 more months until she is 3.
But since Anna Claire was new and I wanted to atleast show her that I was somewhat interested in her opinion, we went to Sears and bought panties and began our potty journey again.
Since I am running out of time and your attention, we are doing really well on potty-training as of today. Claire has not had a pee-pee accident in some time and is actually telling us when she needs to go and not us reminding her when to go. #2 is a different story, but we have made alot of progress the last few days. We are on 2 days in a row of going in the potty!!!
Our only remaining obstacle is public restrooms. Bill, inadvertantly, reacted to a dirty bathroom in Wal-green's a few weeks ago and said it was "nasty" and now she won't go in public restrooms. I don't blame her, but carrying her potty around in the back of the Tahoe is getting a little old!!!!
My potty training approach was much like my "nursing" approach...why read books, why get advise...this is a natural process, it will just happen naturally. I should have learned the lesson from my failure in nursing, you can always use help, support and advise!
The story begins in October. We were still at the old house, just shy of moving into the new house. I always heard that big, major changes cause potty-training set-backs, so I was not going to attempt to begin potty training until we moved. However, at that time, Claire was staying with Becca and Becca was potty training Jonah (3) and Claire and Sophie took an interest. So I bought her a potty with no intention of working on potty training. But the child is smart I tell you! After giving her a bath, I would wipe out the tub and for several weeks, I would turn around and she would be sitting on the potty and actually going potty! That's as far as we got in October and November.
Fast forward to December. Mom (me) was on vacation for a couple of weeks around vacation and I thought this was an ideal time to train her. I still had not picked up the first book or asked for the first piece of advise, but I had been around moms and toddlers enough that I had a few tricks in my back pocket. Like the one where you give them as much juice as possible throughout the day, set the clock to go to the potty every 10 minutes and they are trained in one day...that one didn't work for us. All it did was make her revolt from wanting to sit on the potty at all.
Back to square one.
We took a little break. I wasn't passionate about potty-training and neither was she!
Fast forward...February. I walked in to pick her up from school one day and her teacher, Anna Claire, asked me if I had even considered starting to potty training because, as Anna Claire said, "she WILL be 3 in November." My gracious, I thought. The child just turned 2. Aren't we rushing the pressure and she has 8 more months until she is 3.
But since Anna Claire was new and I wanted to atleast show her that I was somewhat interested in her opinion, we went to Sears and bought panties and began our potty journey again.
Since I am running out of time and your attention, we are doing really well on potty-training as of today. Claire has not had a pee-pee accident in some time and is actually telling us when she needs to go and not us reminding her when to go. #2 is a different story, but we have made alot of progress the last few days. We are on 2 days in a row of going in the potty!!!
Our only remaining obstacle is public restrooms. Bill, inadvertantly, reacted to a dirty bathroom in Wal-green's a few weeks ago and said it was "nasty" and now she won't go in public restrooms. I don't blame her, but carrying her potty around in the back of the Tahoe is getting a little old!!!!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Goin' Fishin' Part 2
And, Goin' Fishin' Part 2...a few details behind the afternoon.
Simply put, we, all 3, had a fun time. Claire could barely contain herself as we were getting ready. As daddy did some chores at the church, Claire and I practiced fishing in her Valentine's life-jacket and her Barbie (she actually calls her Bella) fishing pole. We took some photos...
And, then we were off. We only had a couple of hours to be on the water, but you would have thought we were going to there all day the way I packed snacks, changes of clothes...
And here's Bill's two happy girls...
And the funniest part, we packed her potty with us on the boat. (By the way, she is doing a mighty fine job with potty training lately). She is relieving herself in the picture below, if you look carefully, you'll see the potty.
Simply put, we, all 3, had a fun time. Claire could barely contain herself as we were getting ready. As daddy did some chores at the church, Claire and I practiced fishing in her Valentine's life-jacket and her Barbie (she actually calls her Bella) fishing pole. We took some photos...
And, then we were off. We only had a couple of hours to be on the water, but you would have thought we were going to there all day the way I packed snacks, changes of clothes...
And here's Bill's two happy girls...
And the funniest part, we packed her potty with us on the boat. (By the way, she is doing a mighty fine job with potty training lately). She is relieving herself in the picture below, if you look carefully, you'll see the potty.
Goin' Fishin' Part 1
Just a small amount of self-sacrifice can lead to so much happiness in a home! If I would only be so smart to offer larger doses in my life.
This past winter, Uncle Don loaned the TN/AL Cato/Jones family his fishing boat as Bill's nephew Craig began to take a bigger interest in fishing. The boat arrived in need of some shelter and as the family with the new 2-car garage, we became the proud home of the boat!
Bill has been itching to get on the water since the day the boat arrived. Craig, Owen and Bill had been out a couple of times, but as the weather started getting warmer, Bill's conversations revolved more and more around fishing.
Like a child awaiting Christmas, he asked me earlier this week if I thought, just by chance, Claire and I would be interested in going fishing with him on Saturday. "Why sure!" was my response. I love the water and it was supposed to be a beautiful d.....wait, a beautiful day? A beautiful day for sowing grass in our new yard? A beautiful day for cleaning the house with windows open? "Bill, there are many days this summer to go fishing, but only a few optimal days to sow grass," I responded.
And, in his ever-so humble and sacrificing way, he responded, "Okay." "Okay" without a grimace, without a fight. An "okay" with a smile like only Bill Cato can give that said in his mind, "well, atleast I'll be on some type of equipment grading the yard."
And then the Lord began to speak to his wife. Throughout the day on Friday, I received, not 1, but 2 words from the Lord that I needed to go fishing with my husband. So I called Bill and said, "We're going fishing!" And, again, in a way only Bill Cato could make a 220 lb., construction worker, Carhart-wearing, equipment operating man do, he turned back into the child before Christmas and said, "oh, the Lord has been good to me!!!"
So, yesterday afternoon, after a few chores, we loaded up the truck with boat in tow and headed to the water!
As we pulled away from the house, he looked over to me and said, "This is one of my biggest dreams come true. I don't think anyone could upset me with anything right now. I got a wife, a baby girl and a fishing boat with me today!!!"
And the Lord returned the favor and was "good to me" yesterday by seeing a husband walking around on cloud nine! And today, guess where he is...he's out on his second favorite piece of equipment grading my yard!!!
Friday, February 20, 2009
WARNING: Disposable Diapers Not to Be Washed
I made a huge mess last night. A mess that, now that I've done it once, I can't believe hasn't happened sooner and I still don't know how it happened. I will, naturally, blame it on Bill!
After spending most of the evening with Carrie, catching up on life, I came home at 9:30 and immediately started in on the household chores that I had neglected since Sunday (due to my growing addiction to 2009 TV programming...it started innocently with LOST on Wednesdays, then I got addicted to The Biggest Loser on Tuesday and just 2 weeks ago, I added The Bachelor on Monday).
The Catos are heading to Kentucky this weekend and since I've promised to bring Jim-n-Nick's BBQ for supper, we need to hit the road by 5:00 pm. Easy task...nope! Because I have to get home from work with a 2 year old and get the vehicle packed before Bill gets home because I don't like how he packs luggage!!! So, in order to meet my self-imposed deadline, it was a requirement that the bags be packed and sitting at the door on Friday morning. But before packing, (return to paragraph 2) I had to catch up on neglected laundry, housework, etc. So, at 9:30, I dove into the laundry. We keep the laundry sorted pretty well with all my different hampers, so I didn't even go through the clothes. No time for stain checks, I dumped the hamper with all of Claire's clothes in the washer with one motion, slammed the lid down and off to the next chore.
10:30 pm...laundry check...I head into the laundry room to switch Claire's clothes to the dryer and throw the next load in. As I was unloading her clothes, these granules kept falling out. As most of you know, I have dealt with allergies my entire life, so it's not uncommon to find a washed kleenex in the laundry. That was where my mind first went. Nope, not tissue. Then, horrified, I thought, "Oh no, one of my push up bras has exploded and this is what that gel is made of"...but no bra in Claire's laundry.
As I kept investigating, in the very bottom of the washer, there lay the culprit. A completely water logged disposable diaper exploded!
I may be the only one that has ever washed a disposable diaper and had it explode, but in case I'm not alone, you can picture it. Thousands of granules all over Claire's clothes, in the washer, on the floor...EVERYWHERE! And those things are stubborn. I got the vacuum out and they don't like to move. Oh it was a mess.
It was 11:30 before I got it cleaned up and I went to tell my sleeping husband about my fiasco. As you can imagine, he didn't really care!!! Which further caused me to blame him for the diaper being in the laundry in the first place!
After spending most of the evening with Carrie, catching up on life, I came home at 9:30 and immediately started in on the household chores that I had neglected since Sunday (due to my growing addiction to 2009 TV programming...it started innocently with LOST on Wednesdays, then I got addicted to The Biggest Loser on Tuesday and just 2 weeks ago, I added The Bachelor on Monday).
The Catos are heading to Kentucky this weekend and since I've promised to bring Jim-n-Nick's BBQ for supper, we need to hit the road by 5:00 pm. Easy task...nope! Because I have to get home from work with a 2 year old and get the vehicle packed before Bill gets home because I don't like how he packs luggage!!! So, in order to meet my self-imposed deadline, it was a requirement that the bags be packed and sitting at the door on Friday morning. But before packing, (return to paragraph 2) I had to catch up on neglected laundry, housework, etc. So, at 9:30, I dove into the laundry. We keep the laundry sorted pretty well with all my different hampers, so I didn't even go through the clothes. No time for stain checks, I dumped the hamper with all of Claire's clothes in the washer with one motion, slammed the lid down and off to the next chore.
10:30 pm...laundry check...I head into the laundry room to switch Claire's clothes to the dryer and throw the next load in. As I was unloading her clothes, these granules kept falling out. As most of you know, I have dealt with allergies my entire life, so it's not uncommon to find a washed kleenex in the laundry. That was where my mind first went. Nope, not tissue. Then, horrified, I thought, "Oh no, one of my push up bras has exploded and this is what that gel is made of"...but no bra in Claire's laundry.
As I kept investigating, in the very bottom of the washer, there lay the culprit. A completely water logged disposable diaper exploded!
I may be the only one that has ever washed a disposable diaper and had it explode, but in case I'm not alone, you can picture it. Thousands of granules all over Claire's clothes, in the washer, on the floor...EVERYWHERE! And those things are stubborn. I got the vacuum out and they don't like to move. Oh it was a mess.
It was 11:30 before I got it cleaned up and I went to tell my sleeping husband about my fiasco. As you can imagine, he didn't really care!!! Which further caused me to blame him for the diaper being in the laundry in the first place!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Fwimming at the YMCA
No, I did not mispell it. That's what Claire calls "swimming". I'm not ready to take her to a speech pathologist quite yet. It's just too cute to hear her pronunciations and her mis-pronunciations. Here are some of her other common mispronunciations and their equivalent translations!!!!
Moddy = When she wants "Daddy" but starts out calling for "Mommy" and switches mid-stream
Dammy = No, she's not cursing, this is when she wants "Mommy" but started out with "Daddy"
Fwimming - Swimming
Faffle = Waffle (it took Bill forever to figure this one out and she was in a full-fledged tantrum of annoyance with him by the time he deciphered it)
Melmo = Yes, of course, it's Elmo
Molient = Only Aveda users would appreciate this one, this is her pronunciation of our hair gel, Phomolient
Choco-Milk = Chocolate Milk
I'll come back and add some more as I think of them. Check back occasionally for a good laugh!
Moddy = When she wants "Daddy" but starts out calling for "Mommy" and switches mid-stream
Dammy = No, she's not cursing, this is when she wants "Mommy" but started out with "Daddy"
Fwimming - Swimming
Faffle = Waffle (it took Bill forever to figure this one out and she was in a full-fledged tantrum of annoyance with him by the time he deciphered it)
Melmo = Yes, of course, it's Elmo
Molient = Only Aveda users would appreciate this one, this is her pronunciation of our hair gel, Phomolient
Choco-Milk = Chocolate Milk
I'll come back and add some more as I think of them. Check back occasionally for a good laugh!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
...loves to travel...
Sound like a classified ad? Sound like the hobby list of some individuals? Traveling is a large part of my job. "Loves to travel" would have described me when I was single. Being a person that didn't fly until I was 18 years old, I took every opportunity to travel the US, to see states and areas I had never seen. When working a weekend event, I would stay over until Sunday (and sometimes take a red-eye home Monday morning) in order to travel longer.
Then I met Bill. And although I still loved to travel, I was not as prone to stay over on weekend events. But I was still up for going to both my events and with my team-mates on their events.
Then we had Claire! I stopped traveling with others and tried my hardest to be back in Nashville as soon as I possibly could after an event. I got a little more ancy when a return flight was delayed, and heaven forbid...CANCELLED! This laid-back traveler would become plum UPTIGHT!
So, these days, I only travel about 12-13 times a year which averages to one trip a month (it doesn't end up being that neatly planned though). At a recent airport, one of the security lines was labeled specifically for "Experienced Travelers". These are those individuals that can get shoes, belt, coat off - computer out of computer bag - their ziploc bag of toiletries out of their bag in 5 seconds flat. No tolerance for waiting on those that may stumble through the foreign process.
I once would have considered myself one of these individuals, but I'm losing my edge as an experienced traveler.
In just 7 short hours of traveling today, I have:
1. Forgot to pre-check in for my Southwest flight which caused me to have a horrible seat
2. Misplaced my event cell phone
3. Forgot my personal cell phone charger - my only source of communication for 3 days
4. Forgot my ipod charger - my only source of entertainment for 3 days
5. Left my personal cell phone in the rental car that has been valet parked
6. Stumped my toe on the hotel bed and pretty sure it's broken (with 3 more days of being on my feet ahead of me).
Oh, how I pray that my travel saavy returns...SOON!
4.
Then I met Bill. And although I still loved to travel, I was not as prone to stay over on weekend events. But I was still up for going to both my events and with my team-mates on their events.
Then we had Claire! I stopped traveling with others and tried my hardest to be back in Nashville as soon as I possibly could after an event. I got a little more ancy when a return flight was delayed, and heaven forbid...CANCELLED! This laid-back traveler would become plum UPTIGHT!
So, these days, I only travel about 12-13 times a year which averages to one trip a month (it doesn't end up being that neatly planned though). At a recent airport, one of the security lines was labeled specifically for "Experienced Travelers". These are those individuals that can get shoes, belt, coat off - computer out of computer bag - their ziploc bag of toiletries out of their bag in 5 seconds flat. No tolerance for waiting on those that may stumble through the foreign process.
I once would have considered myself one of these individuals, but I'm losing my edge as an experienced traveler.
In just 7 short hours of traveling today, I have:
1. Forgot to pre-check in for my Southwest flight which caused me to have a horrible seat
2. Misplaced my event cell phone
3. Forgot my personal cell phone charger - my only source of communication for 3 days
4. Forgot my ipod charger - my only source of entertainment for 3 days
5. Left my personal cell phone in the rental car that has been valet parked
6. Stumped my toe on the hotel bed and pretty sure it's broken (with 3 more days of being on my feet ahead of me).
Oh, how I pray that my travel saavy returns...SOON!
4.
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