Wednesday Hodgepodge

I got up to run this morning, stepped outside, and it was raining. So, I find myself with an extra 45 minutes. Let's do a Wednesday Hodgepodge!

Do your actions match your words? Explain.

I try. Lord, I try. But I know I fail. Lord, I know I fail. But I pray, Lord do I pray. I have a real issue with inauthentic people. I want to be authentic! I want to be authentic in my successes and my failures. I try really hard not to tell my kids to do one thing while I do another. I wish I could say that I am successful at this at all times, but I know I'm not.

Sick as a dog, dog tired, it's a dog's life, every dog has it's day, can't teach an old dog new tricks ... now doggone it which saying could most recently be applied to your life?

None of these really apply to me right now, but I would say dog tired would fit most. I'm not exhausted exactly. In fact, I actually feel more energized. But I am meeting myself coming and going lately. I have started working part time which has actually been more full time with training. Then I get home and try to get dinner fixed, try to do a few things around the house, try to spend some time with my kids and grandson. Add in working out, church activities, sports practices, a few small trips, Brynne getting ready to start school, homeschool planning for Eli, visits with family, and an upcoming house renovation, and you have a mentally dog tired mama. Starting today, though, I go to strictly part time at work in the mornings and Brynne starts her school schedule tomorrow. So things will start to level out.

Your favorite book featuring a dog in the storyline? What makes it a favorite?

I guess it would be Because of Winn Dixie. Such a sweet story and it was an adorable movie. I love when a dog can change the life of someone.

What's something you hope to one day have the confidence to do?

I would really like to train and compete the Katy Trail Ride. It is an organized 244 mile bike trail ride on the old Katy Trail Railroad. I really, really want to do it to prove to myself that I can. Plus, I think it would be a cathartic experience. And I think I would like to have the confidence to participate by myself, not knowing anyone. I would love to push my body physically, to have all of that time to just think. With working now I don't know that it is something I will be able to fit in, but I really hope that someday I get the opportunity to try.

August 16th is National Tell a Joke Day. So tell us a joke.

A lady was in the grocery store filling a large cart with her 3 year old daughter who was not happy and was throwing fits left and right. An elderly man just happened to be in most of the same aisles as her. Throughout the whole shopping trip the mom stayed extremely calm. In the cereal aisle he heard her say, "It's okay, Sally, we won't be in here much longer and then we can go home." In the bread aisle her heard her repeat, "It's okay, Sally, we won't be in here much longer and then we can go home." He heard her repeating that to her daughter throughout the store. When her daughter would throw another tantrum she would just calmly walk on and say in a soothing voice, "It's okay, Sally, we won't be in here much longer and then we can go home." In the checkout line the man ended up standing right behind the lady and her unruly daughter. He admired her so much and just felt like he needed to say something to her. He said, "Ma'am, I have been following you through the store and have noticed how patient you have been with sweet Sally as she is clearly tired and hungry and unhappy. Most parents would have snapped at their children, yelled at them even, but not you. You just kept calmly telling her, "It's okay, Sally, we won't be in here much longer and then we can go home." The lady looked at him and almost laughed. She said, "Oh! Her name's not Sally, her name is Jane! Sally is my name!!"

Insert your own random thought here.

We are getting ready to start the renovations on our house! I met with our contractor a couple of nights ago to get our ideas mapped out. We are going to look at materials tomorrow night. I have the roofer all lined up to get us a (very expensive but imperative) new roof. And then it's GO time! It's going to be a loud, dusty, chaotic next few months. But I cannot wait to live in my house with all of the new space. Happy 100 years, house!