Does Saying No Make The Yes More? I Think So....

My friend Surjit posted about something near and dear to all of us, but especially to mommies and wives. He spoke of the word no and I'll try to put his words into my own the best I can. He writes that no is an amazingly powerful word--maybe the most powerful one we will ever speak to another, aside from Scripture, that is (that's my opinion).

Why is no so powerful? Because then that YES will be worth so much more! We have so many opportunities in our lives to say no--no to trading carpool days, no to being on the PTA committee, no to the telephone that invades our homes in moments we doing things that benefit our families, no buying magazines from a neighbor child when we know we really shouldn't spend our money with abandon. But I am guilty of NOT saying no. I usually say yes.

I'm getting better at this. It is uncomfortable for me to say no. But if I did, then the opportunities that came along I truly would put my heart into would mean so much more. That yes would MEAN more! And I know exactly why I struggle with that. It isn't that I think I should load the grocery bag of my life full of junk food and shove it all aside to drop in one apple. I know better, so why?

It is because I know when I ask of my friends and they say no it stings. Not going to lie about it, it really does. I'm not thick skinned and I'm not as confident as I should be in my friendships to know that no isn't personal. So thus I am unable to say no when I should. I'd do a better job at the yes that came along if I truly wanted to say yes. Does that make sense?

It's my personal challenge to myself--I am going to say no. And it won't be personal, but I know my friends will feel that way. I will say no in a compassionate way but I will say no. It's not about me. It's about my family and the leftover nothings they get from me when I've thrown a whole lot of yeses into the bag. If you want a much more intelligent view on the word no, then find a second to visit Surjit. He also writes about an author who suggests starting with a yes sandwiched in between two nos--so that'd be two No's a yes, two No's. I can do this!

Right now, I'm honored to be on a committee (promotional committee--duh!)that will be doing AMAZING things with our church--now THOSE are some yeses I'm not a bit worried about. And there are some big things coming--I can't tell you now but when I can you'll get a chance to see about that church I talk so much about!

My Birthday Dreams Have Already Come True!

I made caramel apples yesterday from a recipe I scored off Bridget's site awhile back. They're good--I've eaten two myself! I thought they looked very fine on the dining room table this time--with the Halloween place mats. And as I'm editing the shots, I was going to crop it and eliminate the door off the main hall there--our master bedroom. But then I decided it's a good lead into a good house hunting lesson. Just immediately to the left of the dining room entry is the front door (you can't see it, but it's about three feet away). So...obviously the bedroom door isn't far from the front door. This is very handy, having the master bedroom on the main level--I like that. But what hasn't been especially handy is putting the door to the master room mere six or so feet from the front door. One might not think of this while house-hunting. Until you haven't made your bed or collected your unmentionables off the floor and guests stop in.

It might not be handy if you've just had a major operation--say, oh...an hysterectomy...and company calls without calling. And if that happens and if you are loaded with every prescription allowable for a solid week (me, I wouldn't know about that!), sprawled out in the middle of the bed atop seven pillows to keep your 100 stitches from bursting open, unable to get up and shut the door before your husband or kids invite company in, you are sunk. Smile and weakly wave hello while you check to make sure all your leftover parts are covered. They will look in. Every. single. time. Whether they're here to visit you or not.

Something to think on before you buy or build.

And because tomorrow is my official beginning of my fifth decade, I will go ahead and own it now. I am turning 40. And I think 40 is about my expiration date. I have lost my innards, I've had my varicose veins stripped. What d'ya think of those legs?--learn from me, don't do this in the summer. It's too danged sexy and attracts unwanted attention--at least that's what I think everyone was staring about when I was at the store--four weeks of this I was treated to!

I have a double bridge in my mouth, my jaw pops, so I'll need that fixed because my ears ring and ache. I must wear reading glasses to read small print up close, and now, just this week, I awoke to find I have developed carpal tunnel syndrome. And I type. For a living. That's about right--I was due another body part failure!

I saw a t-shirt online that said "It took me 40 years to look this good". At this rate, my friends, I can scarcely wait to see what 50 will bring--is it possible for eyelids to droop so low you can't drive anymore? This could happen, I'm watching the right one with intensity (photo below was my big bunco win, btw, and check the right eye)! I'll watch it until I can't see to watch it anymore.

And the beauty mark on my right cheek--oh so beautiful in my 20's and 30's. In my 40's, let's call it what it's growing to become--a wart. (Did I mention I had one removed about seven years ago that grew to be the size of a nickle....on my left....never mind, it's gone now, I'll spare you. Besides, a skirted bathing suit covered it nicely.) Before I go away, I was give the cutest cutest little award this week--TWICE, once by Surjit and once by Misty Dawn--and they're right on here--I'll drink that little blue drink anytime anywhere! Both of them. Be darned if I care why they're blue! Thanks both of you, it feels like a big giant hug when someone thinks I'm worthy of an award. Now if you'll excuse me while I sip on this--I'm off to see if I have anymore of those little pills leftover.......

I Can Justify Just About Anything--After All, I Am The Teacher!

Eileen thought she'd add to my credentials box, although I think she's got the wrong Stacey at JameeForever! This is what the award, An Apple For Teacher Award, is about:

"for those people who spend much time and energy teaching ushow to do things on blogs, encouraging us, enabling us, instructing us and enthusing us."

Now Eileen, I can see why you would receive this--you're always teaching me, mostly while you retell your workday. I'm not sure what I taught you, but lemme try to justify me keeping this award (because I am)!

These are things I could have taught you:

Basic airplane construction

Maybe it was my tutorial on how to avoid double-chinned photos:

Very possibly you learned what Pilot John taught me--despite what it reads, keep this t-shirt ON, do not take it off before flight! (or just that Pilot John is sky candy, idk, not sayin he is or he isn't): That even the quietest church ladies can learn to throw up the deuces right there in front of the church if you don't tell them they may or may not be flashing gang signs (gosh it seems I have a thing about contorting my lips when I take a photograph--I'll work on that!):

That I shouldn't go around asking if my BFF GiGi has tanner (or thinner) legs than I do...it'll be a yes--that's Gi on the left, duh!:

That it is PERFECTLY fine to pick the best picture of yourself with your friends, and that Cat shouldn't have been trying to pick up a potato chip with her toes!:

But in case said friend doesn't like you after that, go ahead and put up a better one of her:

And finally, I do believe I can accept this award if I think I might have taught you that even if you don a fun little cowboy hat and hold your breath, you will eventually be booted off Top Momma anyway!

I think I learn something from everyone I frequent, but I have to choose a few, so for this award I'm going to pass this onto:

GiGi --I didn't have to think about this one! She shows me how much easier it is to get through life laughing at myself most of the time. And when the situation calls for it, is a friend (BFF) and a daughter, a wife, a mother, a sister. She's so many things for so many people and reading this blog has made me a much better person--no getting around it.

USO Girl and Bubba's Sis for the same reasons--they're best friends, their daughters are best friends, and reading their blog shows me EVERY single time what amazing ways best friends, truly best friends, will do for our lives. Put someone else in front of your wants every single time and you will never be sorry--these girls illustrate that well.

Sharon--You know by now I adore Sharon and I covet her sewing skills. She constantly updates with projects she's been working on, tips, gadgets (the turner thing for spaghetti straps I have yet to get but need) and now she teaches her readers how to pose for the camera. Sharon, I still think going the FBANXPOR route with that blue skirt would have been the way to go. But you're the expert, but think about it.

Surjit--Threw a new one in there to throw ya! How do I describe this man--I don't know that I can fully do that. He's got a blog that really does teach--and it does so by forcing me to think. When he first met me on a blog link community, he picked up on my description 'my blog is all about me, me, me, me, me' and of course needed to see who this woman was who thought so highly of herself. Hopefully he knows by now that's not really me.