The Inaugural Post of Favorite Invention Fridays

Welcome to the first ever Favorite Invention Friday post. There can only be one first time at anything and I'm glad that you decided to join me for this one. Now, before we get to the primary purpose at hand, I do feel it necessary to take care of some business. I want to make it clear to all of you, that despite the rampant rumors, this is not the gig that led Sarah Palin to resign from being the governor of Alaska. Secondly, President Barack Obama will not be joining us today. He had discussed returning early from the G8 shindig in Europe to take over this responsibility. But, I told him that he has enough on his plate with banking, industry and healthcare. He could leave this one thing to me. If it doesn't go well, I'm sure I will hear from his appointed American Mommy Blogger Task Force ...a group comprised of single men who work in the aerospace industry and career women who have decided not to have children. Now on with FAVORITE INVENTION FRIDAY!!!!

The first post has to be dedicated to the item that inspired this whole concept...the FLOATIE BATHING SUIT!!! I love this item! It means that the kids get to go swimming way more because I don't have to get in with them to keep the three-year-old upright. I wouldn't say that it allows me to be a lazy mom...but it does allow me to stay dry, except in the event of an emergency or 85 degree water. It really is a win-win. The kids get to go swimming way more because they don't care what the water temp is -- to say that I was a bottleneck here would be an understatement. And, I get to read from a nearby perch, ready to leap in as needed...enjoying any number of books from my reading pile and catching a little vitamin D.

So please join me as I say "Thank you, floatie suit!! Thank you!!"

And I invite you to meet me here next Friday as I celebrate another wonderful item that brings quality to my life.

They Will Keep You Humble III

While making breakfast for the 3-year-old, I hear her say so sweetly "I love you". My back is to her, but I know that she is talking to me because no one is in the kitchen with us. So, I give the obvious response..."I love you too". "Awwww"...right? But then I hear the giggle.

"I wasn't talking to you."
"Well, who were you talking to?"
"The toaster."

Marching to the Beat of Her Own Drumming

The three-year-old has a toy laptop that does all kinds of activites...math...spelling...music. It was the music that caught my attention
yesterday.

Apparently, she can hit some combination of buttons and a song plays. As I was making dinner, I hear the tune of "Jimmy Cracked Corn" in the background. I suddenly realize that she is singing along with it, but she has lyrics of her own. It goes something like this...

Gimme that ball and I don't care;
Gimme that ball and I don't care;
Gimme that ball and I don't care;
Gimme that ball!

So...does anyone want to schedule a playdate?

What a teeny tiny HUGE World We Live in

If you are reading this at my actual blog site and not through a feed, look up there at the top of page but below all that toolbar stuff. See where it says "Next Blog"? When you are done bouncing around my ramblings, click on it and find out where it takes you. I am always amazed! In the blink of an eye, I am whisked away to any number of places in the world...shown through pictures and languages. I may land on a blog created by some happy parents who just want to keep distant relatives up-to-date on their biological roommates. I may land on an artist's page where photos or sketches can mesmerize. Maybe it's a blog about techie stuff or political stuff. Sometimes it is inappropriate and I speedily click "Next Blog" to whisk me away and sometimes it is an absolute joy that I linger over. Today, I landed on a blog documenting the money found on the streets of New York City by a single person(you can read about it here) The blogger promises to write until $100,000 is collected...currently at $25.98. So many people with so many passions. I am reminded of the concept that we can learn something from each person we encounter because everyone is an expert at something.

I wonder what I can teach anyone.

If you are bouncing around the "Blogger" world and land here...and learn something...you are welcome. But, if you don't benefit in any way...I'm sorry. Please click on "Next Blog".

Now, if you are reading this post through a feed, you have homework. Go to the original postand read from the beginning again.

Happy Travels! Let me know what interesting blog destination you find.

Coming Soon...Favorite Invention Fridays

As I was helping the kids get dried off and dressed after an afternoon of swimming, I was struck by how much I love the ....wait...I'm not going to tell you now and waste an idea for a future post. What I will share with you, though, is that at that very moment a new idea for this blog was born...Favorite Invention Fridays. So, on many (I can't promise every, or even most, yet) Fridays, I will share with you my favorite items that make life easier...make me wonder why I didn't think of that. Hope you find something new...or take advantage of the chance to celebrate one of the blessings of living in these current times.

Look for the first next Friday...assuming I will remember...and that the current beloved item will not have lost its shine for me.

What Are You Planning?

During the course of normal parenting, have you started to keep a list of the things you will do someday when you are visiting your then-adult children's homes?

I must admit that I have started to make plans. Here are some of them...

• Make sure to tell them that I don't like what they cooked.


• Leave my shoes everywhere.


• Change my clothes multiple times.


• Look in a totally different direction when they are talking to me.


• Tell them that I no longer like to eat _____, even though I have already eaten half of what was given to me.


• Carry dry, crumbling leaves into the house.


• Leave lights on when I leave a room.


• Leave toilet paper holders empty.


• Hide dishes until the dishwasher has been started.


• Hide clothes or linens until the washer is almost done.


• Suggest to their children, that they get the shopping cart that looks like a car and is near impossible to drive through the aisles.


• Eat from their plate and drink from their glass, bottle, water bottle...perhaps leaving a souvenier behind.


• Leave any kitchen messes or spills just where fate created them.


• Just after they sit down, I will sit really close to them and roll around on them, making sure to embed my elbow in the most uncomfortable places.


• Walk in on them in the bathroom and the shower.


• Make sure I bring my friends Nobody and Somebody with me, because they are the ones that create all the havoc.


• Start talking to them or singing whenever they pick up the phone.

Well, as I look back over this list, it is apparent that I have thought about this a bit. Now, you know I won't do this stuff...while it may be tempting on that first visit. I will, though, continue to threaten them with such behavior until they adjust their attitude about what I have cooked.

Honestly, as I consider all of these "challenges" to parenting, I am overwhelmed with the appreciation for the blessing of kids. They teach me so much and I know that any inconsistencies that show up in their actions are because their teacher has been inconsistent, ineffective or both. Genesis 33:5 reminds us that children are a gift from God and it is my job to train them up in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). I will continue to do so faithfully, and imperfectly, knowing that when they are old they will not depart from it (as Proverbs 22:6 continues and promises). Secretly, I will also pray that they at least behave proprerly at the homes of others...because I am vain, and that shows they can apply the lessons learned at home. I'll take any signs of progress, people.

My New Follower (of the blog...not my cult)

I have to introduce you to my new follower...my grandma. She is 85 years old, we all call her "Granny", shares a birthday with my second daughter (shown in the photo)and she enjoys Twinkies.

I had the privilege of visiting her in Jonesboro, AR this past weekend. I managed to squeeze in a little one-on-one girlfriend time with her one morning...laughing about my life as a wife and mom, sharing how she managed to raise six kids (only one of them a daughter, my mom). Talk eventually turned to this blog.

I booted up my cousin's computer sitting nearby and shared my posts regarding my birthday gifts. I then brought my sister's blog up on the screen. It was so fun to laugh with her! After reading a few posts, I asked her if she needed a break or really didn't want to know that much about either my sister or myself. She looked at me and said, "I can't know enough about you." Made me weepy...so thankful for technology. So, I promised that my sister and I would keep our respective sites updated (Did you get that, Falula?). This will allow us to visit with her a little more often.

Now, if I could just get her to start a blog...