tina's snippets!

for your heart....

Nurturing your love

is like tending a small garden.

If you keep pulling up the plants

to see if the roots are growing

you will not harvest anything

Lao Tzu
Ancient Chinese Philosopher

Jim the Wonder Dog

So this post is about Jim the Wonder Dog and here's Quinten?

Of course!

Earlier this week we went on a LB adventure with some friends to Marshall MO. We were after the LB Jim  the Wonder Dog.

So who is Jim the Wonder Dog? Believe it or not, he was a real dog of amazing talents. You can read his story here.

These pictures of Quinten were taken on our way to see Jim in his memorial garden right in the middle of town. Quinten got a rescue pack a couple of weeks ago from Grandma Sondra. He takes it everywhere. It contains everything a young boy needs to save the world. A Thomas the Tank Engine, Woody, cars and snacks for when he needs an energy boost. I love the serious determination he has on his face in the large picture. He looks like his Daddy when he does that!

In Marshall, they have set up a cute little memorial garden in between some downtown buildings. There is a nice path complete with Jim's memorial statue, the history of Jim is displayed along the walk which leads to a gazebo and small waterfall with a foot bridge.

Unfortunately, Jim's LB was not there - lost to vandals. It is the hazard with this hobby. But, we had a great day with some new friends. The McMonkeys we know from McDonald's and Grace to You were new friends for us. Across the street from Jim's garden is a local ice cream shop - Cadwell's. We stopped in for lunch and ice cream.
This will tell you how 'worn' down I am as a parent.
When we get to the ice cream shop, what would you think we are eating?

ICE CREAM!

Totally logical conclusion in my mind. Quinten was determined to have ice cream and did not understand the importance of nutritional food...as I was trying to debate him on the merits of health - it hit me. This battle was lost when we decided to walk in the door - why am I doing this to the both of us.

And this is the result!

Happy kid and happy mom.

Orange sherbert is so yummy for lunch.

Although at this stage of the game, I looked across the table and realized the other little guy with us did not fight when his mommy said no and he didn't even complain that Q had his ice cream.

Again I was attacked with -
'what's wrong with me?' 'do I have the only kid like this in the world?'  'I am spoiling my child...'
Then as the day progressed and I watched the other little guy - he had the opposite personality of Quinten. He was a very mild child - I don't think he fussed about anything and Quinten was like a LOUD MEGA PHONE kid next to this one. Well, OK he is a pretty loud mega phone.

At the conclusion of all this, I think I am going to say....I am a lot closer to becoming the mom on Failure to Launch than I realize!

She might turn out OK...

Do you ever wonder if your kids are going to turn out OK? Will you have damaged them beyond a therapists' repair? Oh Lord, I hope my kids turn out well. I work and watch for each day they are under my care. Nothing crushes me more than moments when I totally blow it with them - a fit of rage or sarcastic comment that comes out...you know the usual.

Last night, I had a glimpse into my daughter turning out OK.

We were watching the last 15 minutes of Extreme Makeover - the big reveal and move that bus scene. And wow - the house was fabulous. Here is where this family came from:

I saw this and it broke my heart. A grandma and four kids lived here. Can I just say images like this truly humble me. I am anxious about my life and worried about what I don't have and the doctor bills that are coming out the wazooooo...sound familiar?

Then I see this and remember there is a lot more poverty in this country.

OK - back to the original story...

This little girl amazed me once again..

When they were walking through the home and screaming their heads off over the beautiful home...

The kids came to a room that was their homework area. A table was set with 4 laptops - one for each kid. The kids were ages 5-10.

Cole immediately pops up

'THAT'S NOT FAIR!'

Rebekah comes back with

'Yes it is.'

Cole says

'No it's not, all those kids are younger than me and they each have their own laptop. I don't even have a computer in my room.'

Rebekah says

'It's not about fair Cole. It's totally fair to those kids. Those kids had nothing and they deserve it.'

Cole is silent.

I am tearing up as Larry & I look at each other. That look that says 'yes, parenting has worked here - she gets it.'

We were able to watch the remainder of the show celebrating with that family. We don't know what their story is or how hard life was for them. It didn't matter - because like Rebekah said 'they had nothing, they deserve it.'

Fashion Disaster

My boy...

He is such a fashion disaster.
We seem to be in ultra distructive mode at our house these days. Last week I got him dressed and then fixed breakfast.

Well - here is what he thought of that plan..

It wasn't even 5 minutes after getting dressed he decided to have art therapy with his strawberry yogurt.

Then the last few days it has rained here in MO. In MO spring is full of mud. Guess where he has been...

YUP - see below:

the tag line reads:

This is a natural disaster.

What do you think - give the boy a mud/dirt hole all his own? Just turn him loose and get it out of his system?
When he does this I see something come over him that is slightly eerie... he zombies out with this look on his face..

'must dig must dig must dig'

I love my boy..but he's a boy!!!

ps..jannylynn made all the stuff you see on the layout.

This Mockumentary came from a group of local artists in Columbia. Warning - the humor will make you loose it! Remove the Lens Cap

Paper Heroes

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Irish Blessing

May you live a long life
Full of gladness and health,
With a pocket full of gold
As the least of your wealth.
May the dreams you hold dearest,
Be those which come true,
And may the kindness you spread,
always come back to you!

An Olde Irish Proverb

An Irish Blessing for the day seemed appropriate.
What made my heart jump during these words was the line..

With a pocket full of gold
As the least of your wealth...

I am sure many of you are like me, there's never enough money. And honestly, could there ever be enough?

I don't think so. Working at H&R this year has taught me there are a great deal of folks who live at or way under the poverty line. My income and yours would seem like a million dollars to some of these people. Really - you say? Yes.

I've also come to discover the true wealth in my home and people around me. Sounds like a duh - it should be that way. But, honestly, most days I would rather just do my thing and be selfish. Go after some big career move or push my children to excell in their areas of expertise..but I'm sick of that.

I have decided that my real wealth is the immeasurable moments of being 'magic mom' as my daughter tells me I am the only one who knows how to wake her up. Or getting the heavy hugs from Quinten. And being so safe as Larry is once again able to throw a leg over me at night. Mmmmm such wealth is good and very satisfying to my soul. Even with this wealth, there is never enough...and I am thinking that's the trap of wealth - not allowing your soul to be satisfied with what is available to you.

I hope I can stay satisfied longer today!

Feast with me....

Appetizer
Name two things that made you smile this week.

Quinten - this kiddo makes my heart just soar - he is so expressive in everything he does. He's loud, he's wild and while I love it..I hate it when..just like 10 minutes ago he comes over to me with his yogurt art rubbed all over the clean clothes I had just put on him.

Oh and one more thing that made me smile was the sunshine! I spent a half hour chopping and weeding my flower bed..it felt so good!

Soup
Fill in the blank: Don't you hate it when people commit themselves to a project and then don't follow through?

Salad
When you can't go to sleep, what is your personal remedy to help yourself drift into Lullabyland?

This is the only thing I know to do..think black...seriously. All I do is  lay there and think and vision the color black in my mind.

Main Course
What is something about which you've always wondered but have not yet found a good answer?

Most of you won't be suprised by my answer, some will...but what exactly is hell? I am very secure in my final destination - and I don't believe in a hellfire & brimstone like some out there...but if hell is being seperated from God ..then I can't help but think we're in it NOW! Then again, we just don't have clear enough information on what exactly hell is other than it's not a pleasant place.

Dessert
What is your favorite pasta dish?

hmmm we had fettucini carbonara last night for dinner..but I love stuff with shrimp and anything with an olive oil base with loads of garlic.

UGLY FOOD!!

OK I know I haven't been around here much..but IRL (in real life) has kept me swamped and I am not handling the stress of it so well these days...so I turned to my friend the internet for some relief...

Warning what you are about to see will hurt your appetite:

Yes.. that's right...it's from the ugly food site!

Why do you ask?

The site is all about making the world a better place one joke at a time. This guy scanned in all these old Betty Croker cards to show the delicacies of yesteryear.

Janny and I have sat here for 30 minutes laughing as we peruse the gallery.

The best part is the commentary provided with each image..here is the one for image on the left:

I did not want to entertain. I just wanted a quiet evening at home. Fine, I'll make something.

Here is the vision for this project:

I will post selected cards that feature ugly or amusing food. After looking through the cards, I find that it will be a challenge to avoid using references to vomit and feces. I am up to the challenge. I hope that this project will be as amusing as the sister Sears Catalog project.

Dry dry humor all around..good for 12 am! So..go laugh your pants off here.

Let me know how that works for you!