Here I am.

[faithmom]

Me? I have compassion for people when they're hurting most of the time and I like to stay with something until I have the answers - whether it's a relationship, or a problem at work, a financial problem - I like trying to solve problems with the best possible answer.

Yes, I would have to say, I see these qualities in you even on CF.

Hugs, sister!

 

[catofhope]

Is there anything that you collect?
Now or in the past, even childhood.

 

[Heart of a Seeker]

What comment or conversation has had a great impact on you?

 

[faithmom]

Is there anything that you collect?
Now or in the past, even childhood.

I used to collect a depressin glass pattern, I sold it all when I was in need of money, right after college, and jobs were hard to find (God bless the late 80's, early 90s.).

Currently I have a small collection of heavy ceramic bowls (big, bread bowl style ones) both contemporary and antique that I display above my kitchen cabinettes. I still use the big heavy antique bread bowl to make bread, when you have to stir, and the dough is tightening, it stays put. I've never found a good cojntemporary bowl that is the equivalent of it.

 

[faithmom]

What comment or conversation has had a great impact on you?

The conversation(s) I had with my last college adviser.

She taught me you can love science and God.
She taught me there is no shame in being a lady AND being smart. (And note...she considered herself to be a feminist on many levels.)
She taught me that life is to be lived, not just analyzed.
She taught me that, ironically, other women were more likely than men to be a barrier to me in carreer and personal goals (I didn't believe it then, at 22, but I KNOW it now).
She taught me that compassion is more important than competition, and that sometimes it's good to NOT be the winner....that it is more important to be able to face yourself in the mirror the next day.
She taught me that when you fail at something, you need to get up, make new goals, and get going again. She also taught me that this holds true, even when things are very unfair, and you just can't do anything about them.
She taught me that men are men, and women are women, and the sooner the world understood that, the sooner we could get back to living with each other respectfully in this world. (This was almost a decade before the Venus and Mars books, she was so ahead of her time).

Sorry, I couldn't leave it at one conversation. She was and is a profound woman.

 

[JuliaBond]

What's the best thing and the worst thing about being a mom?

 

[Heart of a Seeker]

What book are you reading right now? Do you ever read books that you've read before?

 

[faithmom]

What's the best thing and the worst thing about being a mom?

The best thing: The love you give them is eventually expressed when they show love to others. It takes years, and it is a slow build, but it goes from being an action and immitation to true expressions of compassion and love.

Much like our father in Heaven loves us first, so we can love others.

The worste thing: Perhaps coming to the realization that you cannot do this "parenthood" thing without failing in some ways. That is is absolutely impossilble to be a perfect parent.....just being a good one is hard some days. The other thing that is hard is the fatigue. I have never been so tired.

Based on the worste things? Would I change it? Not be a mother? Have less kids? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

 

[faithmom]

What book are you reading right now? Do you ever read books that you've read before?

2 books:

Book II in the series "The Emmigrants" It's called, "Under a Good Land". It's a series written by Vilhelm Moberg in 1952 about the plight of Swedish immigrants in the 1800's.

The 2nd book I am mini-book clubbing with a friend of mine (we take it at our own pace, and we have read 3 other books by this same author)...."Oh My Stars", by Lorna Landvik, a Minnesota author. This one is about about a poor young woman raised in Kentucky, and through a tragic accident and series of odd calamities, ends up in the Mid-west. I love that the intro is in the main character's voice, as an old woman, offering to buy you a cup of coffee, while she tells you her story. (Yeah, she had me at cup of coffee.)

Hugs !

 

[Heart of a Seeker]

What gives you the most comfort when you're sick?

(since I am, I thought I'd just ask...)

 

[icbeckyc]

As i am sitting here trying to stay awake while daughter is working on science project, I am wonderin what do you call bed time.

 

[Heart of a Seeker]

What do you look the most forward to about spring?

 

[catofhope]

What are your pet peeves?
Which one(s) are the worse?

 

[faithmom]

What gives you the most comfort when you're sick?

(since I am, I thought I'd just ask...)

Sorry, been gone! Didn't know you were sick!

For me it is heat. Hot neck wrap, hot baths, lots of blankets, hot liquids.

And sleep. If only I could get the rest I need when I am sick, but that isn't an option for a mom at this time in my life.

For my insides, I am notorious for wanting to watch sit-coms when I am sick. I don't know if it is the laughter that makes me feel better, or if they just distract me, but I like to watch them then. If I need sleep, I like to watch old re-runs (MASH, Cheers, Cosby), because I know most of the plot (and even some of the lines), and I don't care if I missed anything while I snoozed.

Hugs! Hope you are feeling better!

 

[faithmom]

As i am sitting here trying to stay awake while daughter is working on science project, I am wonderin what do you call bed time.

Between 10 and 10:30, I like to watch the first part of the news (if I didn't catch it while making supper), then go to bed to read for a couple of chapters. Usually TRYING to fall asleep around 10:30 (I say TRYING because my hubby snores loudly).

 

[faithmom]

What do you look the most forward to about spring?

Getting my garden started.

 

[faithmom]

What are your pet peeves?
Which one(s) are the worse?

Peeve 1
When someone asks a question, but doesn't listen to the answer...or just listens to the first part, and assumes they know the rest.

Peeve 2
People who think less of someone else for how they look, dress, speak, etc. And that goes both ways, I resent those who mistreat others for being either too wealthy or too poor, too uneducated or too intellectual, too shabby or too beautiful, too shy or too bold, too ethnic or too non-ethnic, etc. Prejudism happens on all sides.

Peeve 3
Parents who think the phrase "it takes a villiage" means that they should drop thier kids off at the villiage square for everyone else to parent while they go shopping down the street. They tell themselves, "I found a good organization for my kids, that makes me a good parent!" Mean while their kids just about spin in circles, trying to get attention from everyone, when what they really want is for thier own parents to return to the villiage square and reallly SEE them. (I am sure there are a number of teachers who are with me on this one).

Peeve 4
People talking about damaged self esteem. Self esteem is something raised or deflated by others on the outside. If a person expects the world to make them (or their child) feel fulfilled, they will get a whole lot more ups than downs. The rest of the world is just not out there waiting to lift everyone else up all the time.

Self respect, on the other hand, is something you personally build within yourself, when you work hard to better yourself and the world around you. The more you do this, the harder it is for others to take it away.

Peeve 5
Spouses who complain about a messy home while they leave their sox lying around.....even on the counter and the kitchen table. And the daughter who takes after that spouse is proof that children learn from their parents.

Peeve 6
Someone who insists that you make the choice or decision, just so they can complain about it.

Peeve 7


Nah....that's enough for a they day.

Which bothers me the worste? #2.

 

[icbeckyc]

So have you or will you be doing any spring cleaning?

 

[faithmom]

So have you or will you be doing any spring cleaning?

Yep. Especially the yard to get it ready for the summer and gardening.

 

[faithmom]

What do you look the most forward to about spring?

HOPPY SPRINGTIME! TODAY!