You have got to be joking!!!

Has anyone ever said something to you and you just looked at them in total disbelief? Well, today it happened...I am going to put this one in the "God DOES have a sense of humor file!"

I was at work and somehow the ladies in the room with me got to talking about age...of course they are all younger than me! Anyway, they were talking about looking young and their skin. Hmm... not really comfortable conversation for someone leaning closer to forty than thirty, with very pale skin... no, I didn't really want to jump in this chat session.

Yet someone decided I needed to be a part of it anyway and I guess you could say "pushed" me into the latest gab fest with a topic that leaves me feeling a little washed up and washed out. The conversation went from tanning beds to facial creams to their "wrinkles." WRINKLES?!! Come on, my sister is older than all of them and even she is 6 and a half years younger than me! As I said, not a comfortable conversation for you know who!

I was starting to get a little discouraged, feeling dumpy, OLD and of course on the pale side, when one of the girls directed a question my way. "Michele, how do you get your skin to look so young?" Huh?!! I must have had a look of confusion plastered on my face because she then began to "clarify" what she meant. "What I mean is, how to you keep your face looking so young?" Did she really clarify anything? I mean I probably still had a look of "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!" written all over.

On the way home today from work I had time to dwell on what she said a little more. I had to laugh! ME?!!! Young looking skin?!! Well I guess if having adult acne, hundreds of freckles and moles and eyes that can't seem to keep eyeliner on, means I look young, then move over beauty products... maybe imperfections and tanless cheek bones are the new look of youth!

Yes, I like to think God was belly rolling in laughter today... but He still managed to send me a little "boost" when I needed it the most.

A past encounter...

Two weeks ago Kayla came home from school and said one of her friends, who also goes to our church, said she had a paper to write in her honors class. The subject? Bangladesh. Well unless you are family or a really, really close friend of mine, you probably have no idea what that would have to do with me. So, I am going to tell you of course! :)

You see, I once lived with my family in Bangladesh. In fact I was my daughter's age. My world travels have always fascinated Kayla, so when she heard about her friend's report, she volunteered me to help. At first I was a little nervous, for it was a long time ago that I was there. I was wondering if I would even be able to answer any of her questions.

The truth? There were a few things I didn't remember, but over all I was a "BIG " help. I managed to scrounge up my old doll collection, a few coins, pictures, pieces of jewelry for her to show and then I made a phone call to my parents and got her a few books and clothing items as well. The fun part was when I took the items to church tonight to give to her. I had ten 6Th grade girls huddled around me fascinated with all the little goodies I brought for the girl to use. Then the questions came from everywhere...random questions...off the wall questions! But I answered each one the best I could and I can honestly say Kayla was beaming at having the "cool" mom for the moment. (Who would have thought my experiences in Bangladesh would ever be considered "cool." I certainly didn't think so while living there!)

But here is the thing... as I started answering her questions and showing my pictures and telling her my little stories of Mathias the cook, going to an International school and my "Iya" (my babysitter/nanny) I had a little regret that I didn't see the BIG picture while living there. I didn't realize what a great adventure I was truly on...

I will not lie, those years in Bangladesh were not easy for me. I had blond hair and blue eyes and the Bengali's all wanted to "touch." I couldn't play in my yard without hundreds (and I do mean HUNDREDS!!!) of people hanging out their windows gawking at the young American girl. I wore a back brace at the time for scoliosis and it was extremely hot and uncomfortable at times. I spent most of my time in my room reading. I didn't have many friends because other girls my age were preparing for marriage, not hanging Tiger Beat posters of John Stamos on their wall (Oh, but I thought he was cute!!!) I didn't like the food very well, the smells of poverty were strong and for a 12 year old girl it could sometimes be a very lonely existence, BUT... and I do mean BUT...I wouldn't change that time in my life for anything!

There were many good memories too! First of all...I still wish I had a cook, a live-in babysitter (for my kids of course! :) ), a man to come do my laundry and clean my floors and someone to take care of my yard! Those were the days... What you think, Mom?

My missionary family. Lots of wonderful and fun memories there! You couldn't find a better friend than a fellow MK (Missionary Kid). Miss you guys!

My dog. I had the best little dog. Frisky. Loved him.

And of course the adventure of just living there. Whether it was the BUCKETS of rain that never let up during the Monsoon season, rose water we drank for communion at church (UGH!), the ferry rides across the river, mission meetings at a deluxe ocean front hotel (Hee! Hee!), rickshaw rides down crowded streets (AND I DO MEAN CROWDED!!!), the snake charmers in my front yard and sharing the area that would be a sidewalk if they actually had them with COWS! Yeah, those were the good old days...

But you know what, they were. I didn't need a textbook to learn about the world...it was my life! Everyday I saw the struggles that people less fortunate than myself face. I saw first hand the differences in religions and the animosity between some of those. I learned what an honor it is to live in a land we take for granted, because I have lived in places where there wasn't the freedoms, opportunities and riches that we take for granted as Americans. I think because of where I have been and what I have seen, it brought me compassion for the world, if nothing else. It made me realize at a young age that God created a beautiful world with many beautiful people, no matter their color or race. I had an education that you simply can not receive while living your whole life in the borders of the good 'ol USA. And for that, I am truly THANKFUL!

When my daughter and her friends looked at me with eyes of "awe," I was thankful. I was thankful for those few moments of broadening their minds. Showing them that there is a world to be traveled out there, that there is more to life than cell phones and Ipods and television. I'm no public speaker (stage fright and panic attacks keep me from going there) but I did enjoy my 30 minutes of opening my Bangladesh treasure box and encountering my past.

Thanks for listening as I rambled on...

This is a picture of my dad, me , my sister and my mom back in the day. (1984?)

"AbAr dakhA habe!" (Till next time!)

Picture cuteness...

OK, if you read my blog then you may remember when I lost my cool over a school picture. Jordan forgot to tell me it was picture day, I didn't send any money, therefore I will not have a 4Th grade class picture for him this year. The good news is they took single portraits too. Pictures that they send home and you decide whether you want to buy them or not. I wasn't looking forward to getting them because I still didn't know how he looked that day...but guess what? They turned out pretty cute, for a school picture!




Isn't my baby cute. Those pictures are sold! Mom, you just have to tell me what size you want...

Be still my heart...

My son walked in to kiss me goodnight, last night. Before he walked away he had kind of a nervous stance...you know that body language your child has when they are afraid to tell you something for whatever reason? Expecting something to the nature of; "Mom, I broke..." or "Mom, about school..." or "Mom, I got in trouble when I..."

I almost had to giggle when he let out his important statement..."Mom, do you think I could get a hair cut before baseball officially starts?"

And then I had to try and control the giggles some more, when he felt he had to defend his suggestion... "Mom, you see my hair sticks out under my ball cap and it doesn't look too good and I get so hot under my helmet and well baseball players don't have long hair..."

I managed to smother my giggles long enough to tell him that I "would see."

After he left, I laughed out loud, enjoying my victory. It sometimes pays to pick your battles, which much to my mother-in-law's dismay I do daily with my son's hair. After all, there are much worse things he could be doing than desiring to look like Zach and Cody off the Disney channel. However, every year at ball time, I tend to give him the "mom speech," something to "think about."

The speech goes something like; "Jorboy, you know you would look better out on the field if you cut your hair and it wasn't all shaggy under your cap, and it would be cooler when you wear your helmet and well you don't see many baseball players with long hair..."

Hee! Hee! I haven't given the "mom speech" yet this year...guess I won't have to. He actually does listen to me every once in a while... Shh! Let's just let him continue to think HE TALKED ME INTO THIS haircut stuff. I will try to keep the "joy" from plastering itself on my face while we are at the salon!

Truth is I kind a like his shiny shag at times! But HE IS RIGHT...for baseball he needs a haircut!!! Well, if he insists! :)

I know you have been dying of curiosity...

Since my little mouth surgery, I know you, my friends and family, are dying to see how puffy my cheek really is...

Need I say anything more?




**On a side note: say a prayer for my nephews. They are very sick with high fevers. Thanks!**

This Mom asks WHY???

Let me start this post with a simple "I love my children." I still remember being pregnant with each one (kinda wish they could remember what I went through!) and picking out the perfect name (although does any kid grow up liking their own name?) and the joy that I felt when they finally decided to enter the world crying (Kayla was two weeks late, I was crying!!!).
In other words I count my children among my biggest blessings, so undeserved...well I'm actually humbled sometimes that the Lord saw me fit to raise these two...but that is another story...

Today, although I love my kids, totally wanted them, would give my life for them, etc... I'm tempted to put a sign on my lawn that says "Free Kids! Get one and then get another one free!" Do you ever have those days?

Here I am, recovering from having the tooth ordeal done, still enduring chipmunk cheeks, resting after attempting to do some cleaning today, when my kids come barreling in the door after school. Rather than hellos or how are you feeling I hear "Mom!!!" Not the good "I love you" mom, but rather I'm fixing to kill someone if you don't do something about it, mom.

The kids have been home for two hours and have argued, fought (yes, the kind where you get hurt!) tattled, fussed, bossed and now are laughing together watching Sponge Bob. Huh? How did they go from a "fight to the death" match, to "let's be best friends and watch TV together" in the space of 30 minutes? Did I miss something? Do they just do this for pleasure... "let's see how long it takes before Mom pulls her hair out and then stop!"

I have a friend who had had enough of her fussy boys one day, so she pulled over at the top of her dirt road and told them to get out and that they could walk the rest of the way home. She said if they needed to fuss, they could just do it without her! By the time they reached the house, they were best buds again, with stories to tell... they had somehow forgotten they had permission to fight on the way home!

I try to remember what went through my own head when I was younger, those days when I would hit my little sister one moment and then protect her in the next breathe. I guess that is childhood. Your sibling ends up being your frustration "punching bag" because you know they will still love you at the end of the day. Thanks Amb, for taking the emotional "hits" during our growing up years! I'm sure you endured many! (And gave your share back!)

I guess there are some things that are simply a part of growing up. After all, I would have to look at someone kind of funny, if they told me their kids never fought. That just isn't normal! The same look I give people, I guess, when they say I have good kids! I want to say; "Show up after school one day...you might change your mind! In fact I would probably have to pay you to take them!" But inside it does make me feel good that in "public" my kids show restraint.

I just have to be oh, so thankful that they save the show for me...

There are just some things this Mom will never understand...