Day 329 or It's Friday, I'm Fragmented and a Little Bit Green

The last week have been really listening to the things my kids have had to say -- some silly, some profound, and some just darn funny. So in honor of Friday Fragments, I thought that I would share some wisdom from the mouths of babes.

My daughter still speaks a great deal about her grandfather that passed last winter. She also speaks a lot about angels. This week she told me about how she was an angel before she was born. She told me that she was waiting to come to Earth. Now she hasn't been exposed to the Well of Souls so I have no idea where this came from but it was super sincere. She then started an even deeper discussion about how people can be "in her heart". I attempted to explain that when someone dies, they never leave us, that they will always be in our hearts. Well, she then wanted to know how they could get there because her heart was inside. She was concerned that there might not be enough room. It is so sweet how literal she is and reminds of the beauty of child-vision.

On the other side of this coin, my son on a completely different day, started a conversation about ghosts. But should you ever need to put into relief the difference between how a six-year old boy thinks from a three year-old girl thinks, here it is. We were in the car and as a good six-year old boy is known to do, he passed gas. I called him on it and he told me that a ghost did it. I answered that ghosts don't have gas. He then replied that they did not have "hineys". He furthered that ghosts also did not go to the bathroom because they did not have penises. So there you go. Important information to know, right?

My daughter has also begun telling me that she is too busy for me as she has work. (Personally, her "work" looks more like mess-making than I might prefer, but what are you going to do?) This one hurt a little because I actually went back to work this summer. And, when I make a mistake, she says, "You didn't know, Mommy. You didn't know". So you heard it first here, folks, I didn't know.

On a completely different note, I am still having issues with my iPhone after it is was "improved". Since the ill-fated update, the phone says that vibrate is set for sound or silent but it has not worked since the change. Any suggestions?I need my vibration, you know. I know that some of you are tech savvy, if you have ideas, please share.

This week, I was inspired by my new IRL friend, Erin, I re-visited my commitment to being green, I wrote more about it in my other blog Cold Comfort Living. I have failed a lot lately but I am ready to do better. I am proud, however, of what we are doing for Heifer International. The latest tally of $220 buys a goat, two flocks of chicks, and a tree! Yay! That's got be good and green!

Finally, here is my profund thought of the day. I am watching Veggie Tales with my daughter. The veggies are eating fruit. Is that akin to cannibalism? I don't know but it just doesn't seem quite right. Just sayin. :-)

So there we are. Check out Mrs. 4444 at Half Past Kissing Time and join in the Fragmented Fun!

Day 224 or It's Friday, It's Fragmented, and It's a Party

Hi guys. Settle in. This is a long one.

Mrs. 4444 hosts Friday Fragments over at her beautiful blog, Half Past Kissin' Time. It's a great opportunity to put voice to all those little things running around in your head that may not make a full post on their own.

First, my son and I had a date last night. We went to see "How to Train Your Dragon". It was a wonderful time just Mommy and Sonny-Bunny. (It was also a great film. You can check out my take over at my other site. Yes, I know shameless self-promotion.) At the end of the evening, during cuddle time, he grabbed my neck and whispered, "I just love you so much". Oh!!! Kill me now. So sweet!

Secondly, yesterday would have been my father-in-law's birthday. This weekend we are going to have a celebration of his life. This was my mother-in-law's wish and I so admire it. We had a very small graveside ceremony and no funeral. Instead, she wanted some time to pass and then use his birthday as a way to remember the whole of his life not the last few minutes when he passed. I can't even conceive of a day wherein I have to think of these things so I applaud her strength and the fortitude of her love.

We have all been watching the mine tragedy playing out in West Virginia. Along with my heartbreak for the families, I have really thought about coal-mining. We so often take so much for granted. I flick a switch and light comes on. Do I think about a man sweating his way through the dark, doing hard, dirty work? No. I sit here crying for them now but do I make judgments on these people -- culturally, politically, philosophically? Yes (she says ashamedly). These people give me convenience and safety and I have never appreciated that. I have never appreciated their contribution not just to society but to MY life. So I say thank you to them. Thank you for givng my world ease and thank you for doing a dangerous job that I would not do. And thank you for opening my eyes to the world I live in. I will try harder to appreciate everyone in this society. Everyone's contribution. Everyone.

Finally, I have been thinking a lot about this blog. How I started typing at night and screamed in joy when I found a comment waiting for me the next morning. And this did not happen every morning. Now I regularly find multiple fabulous comments waiting for me. Some from places I have only dreamed of -- Greece, India, Alberta, CA -- and from all over this country. Most are fellow moms, but not all. There are even a couple of men out there. I have loved this. It has carried me many a day. But it has changed this blog. And changed me.

I started this blog to get to the heart of me. And having friends has helped carry me, yes. Oh yes. In fact, hell to the yes. I'm not sure that I would still be writing if you guys didn't keep coming. It doesn't just provide support. It makes me accountable. Which trust me is soooo IMPORTANT (Said in a sing-song voice!)

And it has been fun! I am normally shy but online I feel able to express myself and go visit others. I have made so many friends. And I am not using the term friends lightly. I have made FRIENDS. Get in an RV and drive thousands of miles to share a cup of coffee friends.

But sometimes I get so lost in the fun, that I'm not sure I am pushing myself which was the point of this blog. So I am trying to learn the balance of the party that is a blog and challenging myself as a writer and a person. Please bear with me as I struggle with this. Hold my feet to the fire. My countdown is quickly ticking away and I want to make the most of my remaining three months.

All that said, the Today show had an article about parenting blogs and how some people are nasty. WHAT??? I am so thankful that aside from a few offers for fake Viagra, I have had NOTHING but the sweetest, funniest, most supportive comments!!! Thank you. I love every comment (aside from the aforementioned SPAM) that I have received. Every single one has touched me. I don't know how I got so fortunate but my world is better because of you.

That's why I participate in the fun stuff. I love meeting other people out there. Sharing in their journeys. Having them share in mine. That's why I am participating in The Ultimate Blog Party 2010 hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom. Because we should celebrate all we do. I know that some people underestimate the power of blogging -- especially Mommy blogging -- but I know that it is a strong community filled with great people trying to reach beyond the walls of their home. So celebrate! Celebrate yourself. Celebrate bloggers. Celebrate blogging!

So whie I am re-committing to the heart of my blog, I still want to have some serious fun! The point of the party is to share your blog and share yourself. Later I will post sharing a little about me, my purpose for the blog, and where I want to go. But I am pretty sure that I have OVERWHELMED you guys with this post. So have a great Friday.

Thanks again to Mrs. 4444 for hosting Friday Fragments and 5 Minutes for Mom for the party!

Day 189 or Friday Fragments

This is my first week to participate in Friday Fragments. It is a wonderful opportunity to share those tidbits that aren't enough for a full post.

This week, my children provided me with lots of fodder. As they say, "kids say the darnedest things!"

My daughter is obsessed with what she calls my son's "peanut". We were working on learning body parts and when I tried to correct her, she insisted that it was a peanut. Not only that but she has begun standing in front of the toilet and states emphatically that she has a peanut and therefore can take care of her business standing like her brother. Boy, is that ammunition for later days!

Also, while we are in the bathroom, she nearly made me wet my pants. She has a very bad habit of stepping onto the ledge of the tub rather than over and I am always stressing that she can fall and get hurt doing that. It is so funny to hear your own words come back through the perspective of a three year old. As she steps out of the bath, she says "Careful! Careful! I can't step there or else I fall and my brain fall out!" (In case it needs to be said, I have never told her that her brain will fall out. )

Driving home from school, my son shared a little of his wisdom. Sitting in his booster chair, he says, "Mommy!" What baby? "Do you know teenagers are learning to be adults?" Whaaaaaat? (Pretty profound, huh? He doesn't even know any teenagers!) "Yeah, and when they learn how to be adults, they grow up. Then they get married." (I chose not to inform him how few people actually grow up before getting married, I figured he had enough years to learn that!)

Finally, a question for myself. "Casual dressy". Is that casual clothes made dressy or dressy clothes made casual? One of my best buddies had a party the other night and that was the directive. I am lost by this. I went with a fun skirt and a sweater but most of the women had on jeans with heels and great tops. What do you wear when it's casual dressy?

Mrs. 4444 hosts this over at Half Past Kissin Time (http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/) . Check it out -- a super lovely blog with one of the best titles I have ever heard.
Thanks, Mrs. 4444.