miscellany monday on memorial day.

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one. he works hard for his money fish. 

i'm married to a fisherman.  not like the deadliest-catch kind, (thank goodness, i think i'd live in a perpetual state of stress if that were the case) the poor-man's fishing kind of fisherman.  grab your fishing pole, buy some shrimp (with the heads off, if the budget allows) and head to your nearest beach.  i won't mention the tackle box, fishing cart, shrimp knife, cooler --in case of a good catch, and twenty other things that i haven't a clue as to what they are, that my man always brings/needs.  his motto? a day at the beach without your fishing pole is not a day at the beach.  i always remind him of my low-maintenance beach going - all i need is a towel, a good book, and i'm set for hours.  however, i will say that i do like to fish and even bait my own hook.  and i didn't just do that while we were dating.  i'm the real deal.

two. a namesake.

since we're on the subject of beach going... let's talk for a moment about waxing.  ouch.  did it once and never again comes to mind.  while picking up some shave gel at target, i came across parissa.  it caught my eye since it was one letter off from my first name.  and considering my maiden name starts with a p i was almost convinced it was my claim to fame.  until i saw what it was... a home waxing kit.  it's good to know that i share almost the same letter arrangement with something that is sure to bring women a whole lot of horror.  

three. number one continued.

{commence fishing lesson} once at the beach, wade through the surf, get ankle deep and cast till your hearts content or until you catch something that's hopefully big enough to feed your family.  that is, as long as you have the guts to clean out the fish's guts.  confession: i often convince my husband not to bring home the fish.  not because it isn't delicious, because believe me, a fresh catch is the best way to eat fish, it's just stinky and bloody.  not for the faint of heart.  i'm faint.  often.

four. say cheese.

my kids love shredded cheese.  shredded cheese is messy... i find it in random spots along our baseboards hundreds of yards away from the kitchen... and i'll pretend that i don't tell the dog to eat it rather than picking it up myself.  but since the kids are cute, i indulge their uncanny desire for only shredded cheese.  string cheese?  euwww.  cubes of cheese? that's for mice.  slices of cheese?  that's for the deli.  get with the program, mom.

five. memorial day.

i'm thankful today...  we have the blessing of more than many freedoms.  and it doesn't come for free.  a price has been paid for it.  the price is being paid for it.  thank you military men and women for all of your sacrifice; may it never go unnoticed.  

 

enjoy your day,
carissa

in joy.

when i run, it's freeing.  i throw caution to the wind, hammer my feet into the pavement and tread on. 

i always wear my moon shoes.  Hunter insists that the nike symbol is a crescent moon; as i'm lacing up, i morph into an astronaut-like mom who instantly becomes the coolest person on the planet in his big blue eyes.

if only they really were gravity free.

and since they're absolutely not, i run with as little weight holding me down as possible. it's just me and my shuffle.  oh yeah and mace too.  cause you can never be too careful; it keeps my honey happy.

i'd never run with a hindrance; it'd be more to haul and unnecessary.  it would positively botch my time.    

so why in the whole wide world - universe actually (remember, i'm super-astronaut-mom) - do i walk with such burdens and baggage?  it slows me down, keeps my eyes off the prize, makes me really crabby and is absolutely wearing.  

as i cast my cares on the One who cares for me, throw off any and all obstacles, peace overwhelms my spirit and joy fills my soul.  it's kind of like life was made to be lived this way.  oh wait, it was.  

i want to live here everyday.  in joy.  just joy... the joy of the Lord, enjoying Him and His blessings.

miscellany monday

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one.

what do you do when you're running through your neighborhood and come across the same red truck on five occasions, each at different places?  

run faster than ever in an incognito fashion back to your house to tell your husband that a mad stalker killer man is following you.  

AND then, once inside, you realize the truck happens to be parked a few doors down from yours... with someone sitting inside waiting for the opportune time to commit some sort of crime.

this is a true story people.  

i thought i'd be chopped liver by the next morning.  my apocalypse would be a day late.

until my hubby walked by the truck, saw an elderly lady sitting there and asked if she needed some help.  her response: "no, honey.  i'm just waiting for my granddaughter to finish up at her friend's house so i'm killing time."  

phew.  close call.  

two.

fyi: kites always work best on windy days.

 

unfortunately this day was not windy.

and he has the face to prove it.

no big deal.  it's nothing that a feeble attempt at tree climbing can't fix.

three.

Sage is almost one.  say whaaaaat??!  she say's all sorts of things.  of course, they are only things that the ears of a mommy could understand.  her mommy, that is.  but nonetheless, i know what she means and that's what counts.  she is still too chubby for her walking muscles to handle; for now she cruises next to her shopping cart.  Sage means wise - i always pray that she'll be wise not in the eyes of the world, but wise in the eyes of the Lord - anyways, Sage is an un-common name.  mostly.  until last week when we ran into a 3 year old little girl at our neighborhood pool with the name of Sage.  i mean, what are the odds?!  i must admit that my Sage is a bit cuter.  okay, a lot cuter. ; )

four.

who ever thought saggy crotch pants - reminiscent of hammer pants -would be so diva-ish?  i'm thinking only jlo with her most beautiful woman in the world looks could pull this off as she did.  this makes me glad i'm not a diva.  i wear make-up maybe twice/week and never even think about painting my nails.  for me, life is easier without frills... in my humble opinion.  : )

{via}

five.

a mountain view is in our future... it's still a few weeks away but i'm counting down.  some very gracious angel-like people are letting us use their mountain cabin for a few days.  i'm ready for a little r and r. i adore the star filled night time sky, the crispness and coolness that fills the air, the quiet, dirt ridden paths, the pine trees... it's all one big package of pure beauty.  half my life was lived near the beach.  the other half in the mountains.  i can't decide what i like better.  it's like trying to choose between heaven and heaven.  i'll settle with either.

growing my wings

i love it when you get together with someone and relate.  on a million levels.  someone who can say that they've felt the exact same way about this and that because they've dealt with this or that just like you have.  you know what i mean?  someone that seems to get you.

all of a sudden God has plopped a few of these relating gals in my lap.  some are new friends, some are old, but both varieties are equally heaven-sent.

last year was one big block of blur, having a newborn and a 16 month old meant i was at home most always, trying to keep up with diaper changes, feedings, pumping, trying to get by.  i was the captain of a ship that needed steering the whole time - i couldn't take my eyes off the water or the wheel.  there wasn't a whole lot of time for get-togethers and girl's nights.  that was okay... certain seasons of life call for different things... that was my time to cocoon.  and it was sweet being immersed in babies all day, every day.

i'm now growing my wings; my cocooning is over.  i'm still immersed in the baby and toddler, and it sure is sweet as honey.  but, the kids are becoming so much easier, the fog is lifting and i can do normal things again.

like getting together with friends, letting the kids play, and talking the day away.  it's always good to live life with others, though it does take work for me.  i'm that ugly "i" word... the one that could almost be synonymous with loner.  only introvert sounds a tad bit better.  i could go through weeks and be okay by myself.  i don't thrive off of people, so i can easily forget my need to be around them. we were made to be in relationship with others.  we were made to pray for each other, to treat others better than ourselves, to confess our sins and dreams, to live life.  and what a gift it is.

miscellany monday

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1. i didn't intend to post only once last week, but blogger had a mind of it's own.  when something is free, though, you can't complain!

2.  i want to get out of the house often.  in a car.  i want to go places.  when i had a car, though, i longed for days to stay home, and thus, find myself full of confusing conundrums.

3.  and since i mentioned conundrums, let me say that child-rearing is simultaneously beautiful and challenging every step of the way.

4. i live in a sea of self-condemnation.  over silly things - like unfolded laundry, a less than perfect kept house, pleasing the masses.  i'm not sure if it's something that comes with the motherhood territory or what.  i have to tell myself the Truth over and over ~ "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." -Romans 8:1 ESV. the new creation in me is chipping away at my flesh, quenching it, with the goal of expiration, despite the pain the whole process brings.

5. oh and speaking of the masses, it's impossible to be their friend.  unfortunately, no one can keep up with everyone.

6. i want to redo my entire house with prettier/newer/brighter things.  yet, i am not to store up treasures on this earth.  (besides, we don't have the money for it!) conundruuuuuuums i tell you!

7. i long for greener pastures.  like the hills of california.  but i'm to be content in all places because my hope does not rest in my circumstances or in any thing... only in Christ alone!

8.  and since i mentioned my golden homestate of awesomeness, i must proclaim that produce there is better than anywhere.  it's cheaper too.

9.  weaning yourself after eleven months of heifer-hood is a painful, mastitis-like process.  it's amazing how quickly you forget that, though.  sage: you are worth it.

10.  my husband is a diligent man.  he's working his full-time job along with two side jobs while playing the part of husband/father/yard-keeper/lawn mowerer.  he's mine and hunter's hero.  can't you tell?

11.  flaxseed is not a worthy egg substitute for baking.  lest you be fooled by it's robust nutty non-egg-like flavor, you'll get goopey brownies and crispy-much-too-crunchy cookies.  it does shine brightly in smoothies, though.

12. the voice is the best waste of an hour of your time on tuesday nights. the voices are brilliant and the show is genius.  it could be is better than american idol.

13. my little sister is turning 11 and going on 27.  happy birthday mel.  i remember the day she was born.  time almost travels at the speed of light.

14.  training for a half-marathon with two tiny children is a task tougher than i thought.  the optimist in me was thinking, "hey, it's no biggie to leave the house and all your responsibilities for an hour or two every day."  the realist is now coming out, although there's no turning back!  

15.  southern sunsets are spectacular.

  i like writing in lists.  it gives my discombobulated mind a platform.  

miscellany monday

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1. my big boy still needs his mama's help getting dressed.  no matter how convincing he is.

  

2. chubby legged little girl's should always wear shorts.  only their chubby legs can pull off such dimple laden, roll ridden, squishy squashy cuteness.

3. and if all the shorts are dirty, a shabby skirt stuck in the bloomers will suffice.  as long as the tag is sticking out.

4.  thomas the train is a boy's best friend.  besides his mom of course.  and dad.  if thomas (aka in Hunter's language - tommy) is lost at any point in the day, mad chaos ensues.  

5. when snapping pictures of yourself with your main squeeze, it's more pleasant to click and smile without the backdrop of a parking lot.

6. legacy bracelets make the best gifts.  thanks to rachel's giveaway, i won this from amy at legacy.  it's stunning.  pictures don't even begin to do it justice.  it will be a treasure to pass on from generations.  grandma, it's on the way to you!  i know you'll cherish it.

forgive me for my arm hair.  it doesn't look that weird in real life... or maybe i've just convinced myself. right when you don't want your camera to be clear it's clear as crystal.  go figure.  

7. Hunter can draw a face... the most adorable hairless, two eyed, with one nose -which also plays the role of a mouth (so i'm told) - kind of face.  yeah, that kind.

8.  Hunter can also spell his name.  he says it aloud in the cutest pitchy voice you've ever heard.  okay, sorry, now i'm just doting.  forgive me.

sue me for false advertising but this picture has nothing to do with him spelling his name.

9.  i have a knack for getting a decent picture full of blur.  i blame it on the camera - it is mostly broken after all; i have a worthy excuse.  but when you capture an emotion, an expression, especially a vision of love, it ends up being one of your most favorite pictures on the planet.  it also helps that it's of two of my most favorite people ever.

10. hanging out with your friend (who everyone else is convinced is your twin) after not seeing each other in years is good for the soul.

11. my sister-in-law has a beautiful cd coming out soon all about adoption.  here's a listening peek:

12. the converse outlet is the coolest place to buy shoes.

and that's all folks.  i think i have successfully sabotaged any further posts since i used up every ounce of interesting floating in my basin of a brain.

sidenote: thank you for the leaky water pipe well-wishes... it was fixed and we didn't have to pay hardly anything.  what a blessing. 

the cover-up.

we have a leaky pipe... a five year old water leak that was supposed to have been fixed by our builder shortly after we moved in.  yeah, it's that kind of leak; an annoying one.  we thought it was fixed when they said it was (shame on us for being trusting).  unbeknownst to us, water has been dripping and dripping every day for over five years increasing our bill, seeping into our yard, the neighbors yard, destroying grass and concrete.  just recently it's become worse and brought to the forefront of our attention.  after an unlovely discovery we realized they "fixed" it years ago by pouring a load of sand over the pipes to absorb the water.  makes sense right?  i mean, instead of replacing the pipe with the hole in it, just pour sand on it and cover it up... that's logical.  hmm. 

i got to thinking... we do this in our own lives all the time.  we pour sand on our leaks, we cover-up our issues just to get by... 

we fix our insecurities with a new haircut or outfit.  

satisfy our longings with the latest and greatest whatever.  

fill our discontent with more want.  

instead of talking through things, we turn on a tv show.  

fill our emptiness with calories.  

drown our sorrow in a cheesy chick-flick just to forget about it for awhile. 

replace the guilt of our sins with good deeds.

we satisfy our heaven-sent desires and wavering emotions with the wrong things... i bet God is thinking we're a lot like the builder... pouring sand on our leaky pipes, rather than getting to the heart of the matter and replacing the pipe... we think we're pretty good at the cover-up; rather than turning to our Creator, finding the root of our issues; finding grace; finding healing; the fulfillment of our every desire.


"...but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14 ESV

i opted for a picture of pretty branches instead of a leaky pipe.  ; )

misc mon meets may

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1. the end of an era.

my baby girl will soon be 11 months and is weaned to formula and i'm no longer making milk. : ( for the first time in over three straight years i'm not growing a baby or making milk.  no more mixed up hormones... it will be a much needed break.  anyways, i just up and dried up so i figured i better get her on formula quick before she starved.  all of a sudden she's completely against baby food... she's way too good for it.  whatever big brother is eating is what she wants.  which makes my life so easy. - i make one thing and they share it.  seriously, everyone who told me that having kids so close in age would get way easier after the first year, they were right on.  and since i'm not pumping any longer it added two hole hours to my day.  i got a time raise.  this is fantastic.

2. not-so-natural.

since we're talking milk, can i just shout from the rooftops that even though nursing is so "natural" it really is not-so-natural for everyone?!  i say that lovingly and with experience, because i know so many women (myself majorly included) struggle with nursing.  we live in a fallen world and not everything works like it's supposed to; nursing just doesn't work for some. sometimes you can't make enough milk, sometimes the milk doesn't come, etc, etc.  and if this hasn't been your experience it's probably hard to understand.  i just can't stress enough how we woman can not be in the business of judging other mom's and their choices of using formula over breast milk.  you have to do what's best for your family.

3. =

my man + me + the beach + fishing poles + sunshine.

and thank you grandma (my mom) for playing with our kids so we could go to the beach and play in the sand, without bringing the entire house with us.

4. back at it.

i told you a while ago that i could no longer run farther than two miles before my knee would start to give out and feel like everything inside was shattering.  i put two and two together and went on a run minus the kiddos in the jogging stroller... which made my trek 85 pounds lighter.  and bingo.  those 85 pounds were doing my knee in.  i can run as far as i want without any knee problems as long as i leave the kids at home.  so now my goal is to do the Charleston half marathon next January.  i'm thrilled.  i grew up running cross-country so it feels like i have a little piece of myself back. having a goal to work towards is encouraging in more ways than one.  especially for this couped up mom.  : )

5. tasteful.

the kids love these and so do i.  i highly recommend this sweet potato goodness.  even if they're full price.  and that's saying a lot for this coupon lover.

6. quotable.

i'm reading John Piper's Spectacular Sins for the second time.  it was that good and worth reading twice over.  can't wait to share what all i'm learning.  this quote has been in my mind ever since ~

ps.  thanks so much for liking miscellany monday.  i can't believe it's been going on for well over a year. it's sort of like putting yourself out there and then when others grab on to the idea, it makes you feel like you actually had a decent idea.  : )  i can't always visit your posts (remember, i have a 26 month old and a 10 month old... and a computer to use only in the evenings when my honey is home with his laptop) but i try to hop around.