"The god of materialism offers nothing permanent to the woman who succumbs to it. She does not view the past with satisfaction because she never got all she wanted. The present is unappreciated, because her whole focus is on the future" -Barbara Bush
Just ran across this quote this evening and had to share simply because it sums up much of what I've been dealing with lately. Don't let the title of this post fool you. I'm not saying that I am satisfied with my past and completely appreciating the present. BUT... I am slowing learning to not play that rewind button in my head that I'm all the time pushing because I simply cannot go back and change things; and I'm also learning not to focus on the future because I'm not guaranteed the future and God is doing too much in the present for me to worry about what is not guaranteed.
June 29, 2010
Making a Roaring Return
I’m back! I bet some of you thought you got rid of me…
I just returned from a much needed vacation where I was able to escape reality for a bit and soak in some sun and sand as well as everything that God is doing (and He didn’t stop while we were at the beach). I don’t want to bore you too much playing catch up since I haven’t been on here in a bit because there is just simply too much going on to give you every detail. I’ll post it in bits and pieces later.
For now, I want to try something different and post more pics than I usually do. I tend to ramble and if any of you are like me, you like people to get to the point and don’t like to read all the crap and rambling. Here are a few pics that my good friend, Liz, took of our family while we were at the beach. It has been quite some time since our family has had a really good pic taken of us all together so enjoy these- for it will probably be another decade before you get another one!
Ok- I'll quite rambling already. Here. Enjoy!
The best grandmother on the planet!!
The TWINS!
The Hubbard GIRLS!
Brothers
Hubbard Kids
3 Generations of Elizabeths!!
Sisters!
Cousins!
There you have it! Hopefully that was better than just a bunch of rambling. Later!
I just returned from a much needed vacation where I was able to escape reality for a bit and soak in some sun and sand as well as everything that God is doing (and He didn’t stop while we were at the beach). I don’t want to bore you too much playing catch up since I haven’t been on here in a bit because there is just simply too much going on to give you every detail. I’ll post it in bits and pieces later.
For now, I want to try something different and post more pics than I usually do. I tend to ramble and if any of you are like me, you like people to get to the point and don’t like to read all the crap and rambling. Here are a few pics that my good friend, Liz, took of our family while we were at the beach. It has been quite some time since our family has had a really good pic taken of us all together so enjoy these- for it will probably be another decade before you get another one!
Ok- I'll quite rambling already. Here. Enjoy!
The Whole Fam!
Again... Just another pose.
The best grandmother on the planet!!
The TWINS!Hubbard grandkids with Gango!
The Hubbard GIRLS!
Brothers
Hubbard Kids
3 Generations of Elizabeths!!
Sisters!
Cousins!
There you have it! Hopefully that was better than just a bunch of rambling. Later!June 4, 2010
Dream Job
I think that most people see me as this business-like, professional, ‘corporate world’ oriented girl. Well, quite the contrary is true. True… I can play the corporate game and I can play the office politics. And honestly, I think I do a pretty good job, but the truth of the matter is that I hate it with a capital H! I am what most would call a nurturer and my deepest desire is to make sure everyone is taken care of before I take care of myself. And I found out all too quickly that that is not how the corporate world works. Everyone (well, not literally everyone, but MOST everyone) is out for themselves and not the best of the company OR those around them.
I think it started when I was little. I was not the typical little girl and did not play with the Barbie and Ken dolls like most girls did. I was not into the fashion, perfect body, big house, sporty car, prince charming frenzy that everyone else was stuck on. Don’t get me wrong. I had a few Barbies, but I rarely played with them. BUT… I did have more baby dolls than you would probably even care to see! I have always been a realistic person and prefer to see the realistic side of things rather than the sugar coated side. While playing with my dolls I always dreamed of being a wife and mom- my dream job I guess I would say. Not the most glamorous or even rewarding (financially) but definitely my idea of the perfect lifestyle! And to top it off when I was 10 years old I got a baby sister and 3 years later I got a baby brother so I had REAL LIVE baby dolls to play with! How awesome would that be?!?! Jealous? I know- Probably not… The only downfall was that I was a free built in baby sitter for my parents. But on the flip side, I got some experience that most girls don’t get and should be a few steps ahead when I have my own kids!
In February of this year, I got my dream job- caring for and nurturing for a baby boy. I nanny for a family now and love every minute of it! Yes. Even the days when laundry is piled up to the ceiling and I am lugging around a screaming baby on my hip! I know… you probably think I’m crazy. A lot of people told me this would help me decide if I really wanted kids or not and it has definitely reiterated the fact that I want a family. Right now, this is my family- my adopted family. I don’t really consider it work, but I love ‘working’ for my family. I consider the baby my own and melt when he reaches out his arms for me to pick him up. I love watching him grow and develop! He should be crawling any day now! Really- he is right there and wants to do it so badly! He’s just got to figure out how to coordinate his hands and knees at the same time. And did I mention that he cries when I leave the room? Precious he is! Just precious!
You may be thinking; well, she doesn’t really get a feel for what it’s really like. She gets to do the fun stuff and then go home. Nope. Not true. I’ll stay overnight (and get up five times with a crying baby), run errands (with kids and that is no walk in the park let me tell you), go to doctor appointments, etc, etc, etc. So, no- I don’t just get to do the fun stuff. I still get to deal with throw up (which by the way, I never thought I’d be able to deal with but when it’s ‘your’ kids you somehow manage through it), the occasional poop while in the bath tub, sending a diaper through the washing machine, and not to mention saving wildlife from the family cat. You got it! I even rescued a snake from the cat one day and not so much rescued a baby rabbit because I was a little late and it was already dead.
There you have it. Now you have heard about ‘my’ little family. I’ll try to keep you updated on a more regular basis especially now that I will also be caring for the 6 year old little girl since school is out- I’m sure that will present opportunity for more stories so stay tuned!
Here's a few pics for you so you can see just how cute the kids are. You have to admit... they ARE some of the cutest kids in the world!!
Autumn- 6 years
I think it started when I was little. I was not the typical little girl and did not play with the Barbie and Ken dolls like most girls did. I was not into the fashion, perfect body, big house, sporty car, prince charming frenzy that everyone else was stuck on. Don’t get me wrong. I had a few Barbies, but I rarely played with them. BUT… I did have more baby dolls than you would probably even care to see! I have always been a realistic person and prefer to see the realistic side of things rather than the sugar coated side. While playing with my dolls I always dreamed of being a wife and mom- my dream job I guess I would say. Not the most glamorous or even rewarding (financially) but definitely my idea of the perfect lifestyle! And to top it off when I was 10 years old I got a baby sister and 3 years later I got a baby brother so I had REAL LIVE baby dolls to play with! How awesome would that be?!?! Jealous? I know- Probably not… The only downfall was that I was a free built in baby sitter for my parents. But on the flip side, I got some experience that most girls don’t get and should be a few steps ahead when I have my own kids!
In February of this year, I got my dream job- caring for and nurturing for a baby boy. I nanny for a family now and love every minute of it! Yes. Even the days when laundry is piled up to the ceiling and I am lugging around a screaming baby on my hip! I know… you probably think I’m crazy. A lot of people told me this would help me decide if I really wanted kids or not and it has definitely reiterated the fact that I want a family. Right now, this is my family- my adopted family. I don’t really consider it work, but I love ‘working’ for my family. I consider the baby my own and melt when he reaches out his arms for me to pick him up. I love watching him grow and develop! He should be crawling any day now! Really- he is right there and wants to do it so badly! He’s just got to figure out how to coordinate his hands and knees at the same time. And did I mention that he cries when I leave the room? Precious he is! Just precious!
You may be thinking; well, she doesn’t really get a feel for what it’s really like. She gets to do the fun stuff and then go home. Nope. Not true. I’ll stay overnight (and get up five times with a crying baby), run errands (with kids and that is no walk in the park let me tell you), go to doctor appointments, etc, etc, etc. So, no- I don’t just get to do the fun stuff. I still get to deal with throw up (which by the way, I never thought I’d be able to deal with but when it’s ‘your’ kids you somehow manage through it), the occasional poop while in the bath tub, sending a diaper through the washing machine, and not to mention saving wildlife from the family cat. You got it! I even rescued a snake from the cat one day and not so much rescued a baby rabbit because I was a little late and it was already dead.
There you have it. Now you have heard about ‘my’ little family. I’ll try to keep you updated on a more regular basis especially now that I will also be caring for the 6 year old little girl since school is out- I’m sure that will present opportunity for more stories so stay tuned!
Here's a few pics for you so you can see just how cute the kids are. You have to admit... they ARE some of the cutest kids in the world!!
Wyatt- 6 months
Autumn- 6 yearsMay 26, 2010
"What happened to the corporate world?!?!"
Once again I am reminded that I have not shared about the family that I nanny for. I promise that will be my next entry, but for now… here’s some humor for you:
Several months ago I decided to step out of the corporate world. I weighed the pros and cons of such a decision: a more flexible schedule, a more relaxed atmosphere, more time to finish planning the (canceled) wedding and enjoy being a newlywed (not…), and so forth. However, I did not take into account that my beloved sister would be affected by this decision. Well, it just so happens that she brought this to my attention this afternoon.
As you can imagine, it is not uncommon for me and Peyton Anne to share clothes. And this afternoon is no exception… Peyton Anne was getting ready to go out with some friends and just like she has before, she asked me if she could wear one of my shirts (well… usually she won’t ask- I will go to get something and not be able to find it until I search her room, but that is beside the point). I asked her if she was talking about the one that I was currently wearing and she said yes. I proceeded to remind her that I had been working and sweating in it all day and asked her if she still wanted it. She wanted to know what exactly I had done so I did not hesitate to tell her that we did chores this morning which included sweeping the front porch, we played kick ball, we jumped on the trampoline, I rescued a baby rabbit from the cat (well, not rescued because it was dead), and held a sick baby. Did she still want to wear the shirt off my back? I’ll let you make an educated guess and figure that out yourself.
After our short conversation, she marched off and mumbled under her breath loud enough for me to hear, “What happened to the corporate world?!?!” Don’t lie. You know you’ve done it. Gotten home from a day at the office and taken your pants or shirt (or both for that matter) off and hung them back in the closet because they just were not dirty enough to constitute a wash in the washing machine just yet. I know when I was in the corporate world I could usually get a couple of wears out of a pair of pants or a shirt unless it was a day of craziness where I was running around all day and just would not be able to contaminate the clean clothes in my closet with the ones on my back. THEN and only then would they be thrown in the dirty laundry basket for a good wash’n!
Now that I am out of the “corporate world” and getting my hands physically dirty most days at my new job- 99% of the time I end up washing my clothes after every wear. Although this is something I did not consider before making the decision to leave the corporate world, I do not consider it a con- at least not in my world anyway. However, my sister has a different perspective because now she must plan ahead and plan to wear my clothes when she is sure they will be clean… Sorry Sis, but this is the price you pay for having an extended wardrobe! Love ya!
Several months ago I decided to step out of the corporate world. I weighed the pros and cons of such a decision: a more flexible schedule, a more relaxed atmosphere, more time to finish planning the (canceled) wedding and enjoy being a newlywed (not…), and so forth. However, I did not take into account that my beloved sister would be affected by this decision. Well, it just so happens that she brought this to my attention this afternoon.
As you can imagine, it is not uncommon for me and Peyton Anne to share clothes. And this afternoon is no exception… Peyton Anne was getting ready to go out with some friends and just like she has before, she asked me if she could wear one of my shirts (well… usually she won’t ask- I will go to get something and not be able to find it until I search her room, but that is beside the point). I asked her if she was talking about the one that I was currently wearing and she said yes. I proceeded to remind her that I had been working and sweating in it all day and asked her if she still wanted it. She wanted to know what exactly I had done so I did not hesitate to tell her that we did chores this morning which included sweeping the front porch, we played kick ball, we jumped on the trampoline, I rescued a baby rabbit from the cat (well, not rescued because it was dead), and held a sick baby. Did she still want to wear the shirt off my back? I’ll let you make an educated guess and figure that out yourself.
After our short conversation, she marched off and mumbled under her breath loud enough for me to hear, “What happened to the corporate world?!?!” Don’t lie. You know you’ve done it. Gotten home from a day at the office and taken your pants or shirt (or both for that matter) off and hung them back in the closet because they just were not dirty enough to constitute a wash in the washing machine just yet. I know when I was in the corporate world I could usually get a couple of wears out of a pair of pants or a shirt unless it was a day of craziness where I was running around all day and just would not be able to contaminate the clean clothes in my closet with the ones on my back. THEN and only then would they be thrown in the dirty laundry basket for a good wash’n!
Now that I am out of the “corporate world” and getting my hands physically dirty most days at my new job- 99% of the time I end up washing my clothes after every wear. Although this is something I did not consider before making the decision to leave the corporate world, I do not consider it a con- at least not in my world anyway. However, my sister has a different perspective because now she must plan ahead and plan to wear my clothes when she is sure they will be clean… Sorry Sis, but this is the price you pay for having an extended wardrobe! Love ya!
May 21, 2010
Hide Your Heart
Here's a quote I found today that I love:
"Girls should hide their heart in God so that boys have to go there to find them!"
May 19, 2010
Demanding Dentists
Is it really that common for people to dread going to the dentist? Personally, I have never had that fear that some folks talk about. In fact, I am on the opposite end of the spectrum- I find it quite humorous. Here’s why: I have always asked myself, “Why do dentists ask you questions when they are working in your mouth and you can’t answer them?” It has always been frustrating to me but funny at the same time when the dentist is asking me a question and I obviously cannot answer him.
For the most part, my experience today at the orthodontist office was no different than I expected. I knew I was going to go in and have a procedure to glue my retainer back in place and I knew he would be asking me a million questions, as he usually does, that I could not answer (due to the fact that his hands are in my mouth working when he asks). But, where the experience was a little different today was when he started asking questions and I knew my answer was going to create more questions for him to ask that I would not be able to answer. Today… well, we’ll just say was just about too much for me to bear.
Picture this: I'm sitting in the chair with my mouth stuffed full of cotton so he can glue my retainer back in place. The conversation (and my nodding) goes like this: He asks me if life is treating me well so I nod a simple yes. Then he asks me if I'm getting married soon. I shake my head no and this is when the laughter begins to build up inside of me only because I know this is going to lead to more questions that I will not be able to answer. He responds with, "Hmmmm... I don't know why I thought you were getting married. Are you dating someone?" Again, I shake my head no as a chuckle begins to seep through. He says, "Well, were you dating someone?" I nod my head yes. And then he said, "What'd you do, kick him to the curb?" It was all I could do to keep from losing my composure and bust out in laughter (never mind this man is gluing my teeth and a mishap could result in him possibly gluing my mouth shut) but I nodded a simple yes and we both chuckled. Finally, all the debris was removed from my mouth and I quickly informed him that he had not lost his mind- Yes, I was engaged to be married and the wedding was called off, blah, blah, blah. Much like I have explained before. But hey, at least I can get some laughter out of it in this situation, right? The conversation continued, but I won't bore you with the details. But really- next time you are at the dentist take note if he is asking you questions that he is very much aware you can't answer because his hands are in your mouth.
Perhaps this is why I don’t fear going to the dentist like some people do… I’ve never had a traumatic experience. Although, I usually come out with a story to tell, much of the time they are usually pretty humorous. Gotta love our question demanding dentists when they have their hands in our mouth!!
For the most part, my experience today at the orthodontist office was no different than I expected. I knew I was going to go in and have a procedure to glue my retainer back in place and I knew he would be asking me a million questions, as he usually does, that I could not answer (due to the fact that his hands are in my mouth working when he asks). But, where the experience was a little different today was when he started asking questions and I knew my answer was going to create more questions for him to ask that I would not be able to answer. Today… well, we’ll just say was just about too much for me to bear.
Picture this: I'm sitting in the chair with my mouth stuffed full of cotton so he can glue my retainer back in place. The conversation (and my nodding) goes like this: He asks me if life is treating me well so I nod a simple yes. Then he asks me if I'm getting married soon. I shake my head no and this is when the laughter begins to build up inside of me only because I know this is going to lead to more questions that I will not be able to answer. He responds with, "Hmmmm... I don't know why I thought you were getting married. Are you dating someone?" Again, I shake my head no as a chuckle begins to seep through. He says, "Well, were you dating someone?" I nod my head yes. And then he said, "What'd you do, kick him to the curb?" It was all I could do to keep from losing my composure and bust out in laughter (never mind this man is gluing my teeth and a mishap could result in him possibly gluing my mouth shut) but I nodded a simple yes and we both chuckled. Finally, all the debris was removed from my mouth and I quickly informed him that he had not lost his mind- Yes, I was engaged to be married and the wedding was called off, blah, blah, blah. Much like I have explained before. But hey, at least I can get some laughter out of it in this situation, right? The conversation continued, but I won't bore you with the details. But really- next time you are at the dentist take note if he is asking you questions that he is very much aware you can't answer because his hands are in your mouth.
Perhaps this is why I don’t fear going to the dentist like some people do… I’ve never had a traumatic experience. Although, I usually come out with a story to tell, much of the time they are usually pretty humorous. Gotta love our question demanding dentists when they have their hands in our mouth!!
May 12, 2010
Beautiful Mess
I heard Amy Grant’s “Better Than a Hallelujah” on the radio yesterday morning.
God loves a lullaby
In a mother’s tears in the dead of night
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes
God loves the drunkard’s cry
The soldier’s plea not to let him die
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes
We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
The woman holding on for life
The dying man giving up the fight
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what’s been done
The silence when the words won’t come
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are
The hones cry of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
Better than a church bell ringing
Better than a choir singing out, singing out
We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are
The honest cry of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
The words of this song hit hard with me. I’m finally coming out of my ‘this is all a bad dream’ phase and understanding that God is really teaching something to me at this stage in life. I know it is a great thing to praise Him in the good times, but I think what this song is saying is that what He really wants is for me to come to Him as my true self. He knows that we have needs and He desires for us to bring those needs and surrender them at His feet in all of the crazy mess that we are. I think Amy Grant sums it up pretty well: “I’ve loved this song since I first heard it. The honesty and vulnerability of the lyric reminds me that to pray means to come as I am, imperfections and all, because ultimately, God seeks communion with us, the real us… and that’s freeing.” I’m thinking that He finds it more beautiful than praise when I truly and honestly pour out my deepest desires simply because it gives me a chance to be completely intimate and vulnerable with Him. The words in black and white simply don’t do this song justice. Take a listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nMvvoXa9Yk
God loves a lullaby
In a mother’s tears in the dead of night
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes
God loves the drunkard’s cry
The soldier’s plea not to let him die
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes
We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
The woman holding on for life
The dying man giving up the fight
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what’s been done
The silence when the words won’t come
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are
The hones cry of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
Better than a church bell ringing
Better than a choir singing out, singing out
We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are
The honest cry of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
The words of this song hit hard with me. I’m finally coming out of my ‘this is all a bad dream’ phase and understanding that God is really teaching something to me at this stage in life. I know it is a great thing to praise Him in the good times, but I think what this song is saying is that what He really wants is for me to come to Him as my true self. He knows that we have needs and He desires for us to bring those needs and surrender them at His feet in all of the crazy mess that we are. I think Amy Grant sums it up pretty well: “I’ve loved this song since I first heard it. The honesty and vulnerability of the lyric reminds me that to pray means to come as I am, imperfections and all, because ultimately, God seeks communion with us, the real us… and that’s freeing.” I’m thinking that He finds it more beautiful than praise when I truly and honestly pour out my deepest desires simply because it gives me a chance to be completely intimate and vulnerable with Him. The words in black and white simply don’t do this song justice. Take a listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nMvvoXa9Yk
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