Category: family

Eh…

Published on by Mae @ Rainydayinmay7 Comments
Usually, at this time of year i am knee deep in cookbooks and recipes, planning our Thanksgiving meal. For several years I hosted close to 30 (or over 30, one year) people in our small house. It was close knit and delicious. Last year we mixed things up a bit and decided to spend the week between Phoenix and New Mexico with family. I once again cooked, (smaller crowd) and we had a great time though the winter travel wasn’t at all ideal… 
This year, with the very real possibility of my sister and her family being up north, we’re entertaining the possibility of the four of us spending the day at one of our family’s favorite restaurants and then going to a movie. 
I kinda love it, actually… 
Since I got over my nearly three month affair with pneumonia, (Scandalous!) I’ve been trying out a lot of new recipes and just trying to cook and be creative more days in a week than not- so that part of Thanksgiving just isn’t interesting to me this year. 
What are your plans? Do you judge us for thinking or restauranting it? (nothing is certain, plans could change any moment.) 
post signature

Whack…

Published on by Mae @ Rainydayinmay3 Comments
These days I am forced to think about the small moments as the most important ones. I feel like, in every area of my life there is some sort of issue. There isn’t a relationship, aside from my marriage, that is going smoothly- and this makes me sad. I get frustrated and I just feel suffocation, like it’s all out of control and coming to an end… 
But then, the sunlight streams through the trees in that gleaming way which screams reassurance. Not reassurance in one thing, but just something reassuringly beautiful. 
And I’ll take it. 
I’ll hold it so close to my heart that my chest becomes it’s home- and I will return my palm to it every time the outside life makes me want to kick and scream and cry. 
I decided today that I’m going to do that, this week, hide myself in the little things. In the wonders and the minutes that surprise me sweetly. The big things are ugly today, and tomorrow too… Not forever, but for awhile, and if I think about that- I can’t handle it… 
So, right now, it is the little things. The candy covered ground, flecked with pinata fragments- that’s where you’ll find me. Which is ok, because if I stand up- I am likely to get hit upside the head with the swinging bat. 
Candy is way better… 
post signature

Little Angels… {A giveaway…}

Published on by Mae @ Rainydayinmay16 Comments
Some time ago I learned about this new educational Christian DVD series that is being geared towards preschoolers, called Little Angels. The premise of the show is that preschool twins Zoe and Alex have 8 little angels who live with them and guide them throughout their days as they learn and grow. It is very cute, and very smart. Honestly, I felt the dialogue of the preschool twins was a little large. As they spoke, the first time I watched, I was certain they must have been 6 or 7 instead of preschool aged. This was an element that I decided I really liked though, because it allowed children the opportunity to grow with the characters. 
I was given the chance to sample it and I decided, what better way to do that then with a varying age range of kids? My sweet little test audience consisted of a two year old, a five year old, a six year old, a seven year old and my twelve year old, a bit begrudgingly. 
  • The two year old LOVED it. Granted, she understood very little of what was going on within the developing story but I believe the simplicity of the animation attracted her. Every time one of the Little Angels would appear, she would clap and say Angel! 
  • The five, six and seven year-olds did not grow bored, as I feared they might. They were engaged in the story and laughed, which was good. We talked about it afterwards and they each were able to communicate moments and things the episode had talked about. 
  • My twelve year old was obviously beyond the video intellectually- HOWEVER, it held her attention, which surprised me. 

 Roma Downey (of Touched By An Angel fame) is the executive producer, and I loved watching the commentary about why she felt this product was important and the responsibilities we (as parents) have towards helping our children learn. {Even in something as simply as a DVD, I believe it’s important for the creators and parents to come from the same place- what is best for the child.} Also, this series is written by Phil Lollar, who is the co-creator of Adventures in Odessey, which is one of Genny’s absolute favorite things. Having been something special in my youth as well as my kids’, this was an added bonus. 
Over all, i LOVED it. In comparison to other Christian shows geared towards this age range- I found it fresh. The songs are catchy in a smart and non-annoying way. Just really a great series for your preschool to kindergartners! 
Releasing yesterday, the first two DVDs and CDs are now available to purchase, HOWEVER- Grace Hill Media very generously offered to host a Little Angels giveaway for my readers! To enter, simply leave a comment with either an email address and a link back so I can get in touch with you if you win. If you post about this giveaway on facebook, google + or twitter, leave an ADDITIONAL COMMENT FOR EACH, with the time stamp, for extra entries. 
This giveaway will run until 12:01 a.m. on  Monday November 7th, so be sure to enter… 
post signature

Last friday night…

Published on by Mae @ Rainydayinmay6 Comments
Last Friday night was not as epic as Katie Perry would have one believe. 
Well, it was pretty epic, but certainly not in a good way. Several of you eagerly awaited details of Genny’s seventh grade romance and their adventure at the Halloween dance, and I appreciate it. The notes I received, over the weekend, following up on her excitement should have made me smile. Conversing with a friend (and my husband) on Friday, I pointed out how strangely similar Genny’s life was panning out to that in the plot of a John Hughes film. The nontraditional girl is pursued by the popular boy and suddenly all of her dreams come true. As of late, Gen’s stories depicted her with characteristics of boldness and confidence that aren’t usually synonymous with her behavior, or the Genny we know for that matter. While it seems like instances of mean girls and dreamy boys would do the opposite of making someone react more strongly- I had no choice to believe her tales… 
The truth is though, none of what she has said is true. 
School has been one giant illusion and though that is only the tip of the iceberg, in regards to our situation, that is as far as I’ll delve on this blog. There is no boy friend. There was no romance. 
Pretty much, it’s complicated… And let me clarify, by it, i do NOT mean their relationship. There is, nor was there ever, any relationship. This boy was not even in attendance- though she truly believes he was. She can tell you what he said to her, what his hand felt like in hers and what he wore- in GREAT detail. 
*sigh*
Last Friday night was not a great night, but it was a good one. Not great in that it was hard, and sad and composed of the stuff real life is. But good in the way in which real life is- raw and relevant and earthy. We love Genny and even the ugly, scary stuff is the stuff we need to know. We need it know it all so that we can love her through it… She certainly won’t blossom into a whole and healthy person if we bail on her too and God knows this RAD-venture has taught us a lot about people who bail. 
So, here’s to next Friday night- and the one after that… Epic fun… Laughter. And even when there isn’t, even when life gets in the way- may there ALWAYS be love… 
post signature

At least there’s that…

Published on by Mae @ Rainydayinmay6 Comments
As you have likely heard me whine about how sick I’ve been, since August, i thought about doing a numbers post today. You know, how many boxes of tissues I’ve gone through- how many dollars my medical visits/hospital trips add up to, etc… Funny? Possibly. 
But I just don’t feel funny this morning. 
First thing, this morning, on FB I was reminded that my friend’s mom is going in for a mastectomy this afternoon. Even though I went to bed knowing all of the same things that I woke up knowing, it occurred to me that life has been really heavy lately. 
No, not tissue consumption, dragging illness heavy- but much bigger. 
In the past few weeks alone I know of several people who unexpectedly died. 
I know of three (THREE) teenagers who were killed in car accidents.
Two friends suffered miscarriages. 
My friend’s little sister suffered a stroke due to AVM and has been downgraded (Praise God!) from critical condition to serious, though at first she wasn’t expected to make it at all. 
So many heavy things… 
Sure, maybe i was really miserable with my viral infection but really it pales significantly in comparison. 
i have been reminded, a lot lately, of the lack of guarantees in our days. Though I dream (and pray for) of growing old with my husband- there is no promise that I will. As countless people around me have lost, or are facing the real possibility of losing loved ones i feel slapped in the face by my own possibilities… 
While we suffered many miscarriages and my mom’s stroke (from a distance) we have been really fortunate to not go through anything like the loss of a child/spouse. 
i know this is kinda heavy, and I’m sorry. Especially since my last post was a whine about Gen’s behavior. I guess I just need to reiterate for myself, as well as anyone else who might need reminding, that the two things are always certain: 
the sun will always rise, (a fresh start/peace will come.) 
the sun will always set, ( the hard days will come to a close.) 
post signature