Asinine

as·i·nine

   [as-uh-nahyn]  Show IPA

–adjective

1.

foolish, unintelligent, or silly; stupid: It is surprising thatsupposedly intelligent people can make such asininestatements.

2.

of or like an ass: asinine obstinacy; asinine features.

I've been faced lately with people who believe differently than me. Act differently than me. Openly disagree with me. It makes me uncomfortable and I think I know one (of many) reasons why. 
We were raised believing that what we believe is right...silly, why would we believe it if we didn't think it is right. Therefore we should tell everyone what we believe and that it is right. But what do we do when people don't think it's right? What do you do when people don't even seriously consider your right? Well, I was never taught that. I grew up in a small area where everyone had the same idea of right, whether or not they did it, or really believed it, everyone pretended to be on the same page. 
I moved. Other 'Christians' believed differently than me. How? Why? Isn't right, right? I had to learn then why I thought my right was right and theirs wasn't. But I had to listen to why they believed the way they did, that is only fair. A few times my right was wrong.  They.had.reasons. And good ones. And proof. Proof that I wasn't comfortable with because it didn't fit into the pretending. It was uncomfortable. 
I also learned that everyone else had a right, and to them they are right. It is selfish, it is asinine, to think that my right is more right than theirs. 
I'm uncomfortable still with certain lifestyles. Some people are uncomfortable with some of mine. Religion makes some cringe. Atheism makes others. End result, we're all cringing.
If we were all a little more understanding, open-minded, and less asinine in believing that because we think we're right the rest of the world should agree- I think people would be more accepting of our ideas. And if they weren't- we would understand. 
Don't be asinine. It makes your right look annoying. Even if our rights match- yours appears annoying. I can only imagine what it looks like to other people. Don't you want your way of life to be attractive to others? Isn't that the only way they'll give it a chance?
I'm sorry, I've been told I'm like my father in thinking this world lacks common sense. It just doesn't seem right to insist on being right. It doesn't seem smart. May I suggest another way. Try.to.relax.  It's not your job to judge decide what they believe.
Be a friend to sinners people different than you.

I'll Take My Christmas....

I wouldn't trade anyone.

People make me think.

I've heard many "I wish...." statements lately, and to those I think "I'll take my Christmas".

I've heard:
I wish I didn't gain so much weight every Christmas. This one is simple. I'll take too much food over none at all. I'll take my pounds over shivering & hungry.
I wish I had more money. I'll keep my somewhat small but thoughtful gifts. I'll stick to my little family who still doesn't know they don't have a Wii, or the coolest babies, or the newest styles. The one/s who get excited about new socks, fancy underwear, and the cheap, but mega-exciting gift Derrick's about to get. (although, really, who doesn't want more money...)
I wish the bar was open on Christmas. Though I enjoy a brew or two I feel somewhat 'old' in saying I don't have fun like I may have before. I enjoy the taste. I enjoy the company. And then I actually enjoying being the one to tuck my girls in and crawling into my bed. Call me old. Call me boring. Call me happy.
I wish I had a bigger house for these parties. I like mine. It's perfect for our family. Were it bigger we couldn't hear the men yell at the tv and the kids jumping on the beds at the same time. We couldn't pull a tiny folding table and chairs out for the kids to sit at in the middle of the kitchen. We couldn't all sit in the corner and crawl over each other to play tea party. It's not too small, it's perfect.
I wish we had a healthy Christmas. I'll take my sore throat, my sniffley nose, even a barf or two over a hospital bed, a passing loved one, a funeral over the holidays. I'll even take my 'wish my dad was here' over remembering the painful day on the holidays on top of missing him. A flu sounds appealing to the truly sick.
I wish my kids appreciated all the gifts we got them. I'll take my ornery lil stinkers who rip through the paper, throwing out the boxes that look like clothes, and tearing into the next toy shaped box. I'll take them over a quiet morning. I'll take them over a visit to Akron Children's to deliver gifts.
I'm not rich. I'm not poor. My life doesn't always fit just right....but this Christmas, I'll take my Christmas.

To anyone with family in the hospital, not enough food, no gifts for your children...this is in no disrespect to you and your families, but to remind those who aren't to be thankful, very thankful.

Fridays are....

eating peanut butter blossoms, digging little fingers down into the chocolate. watching nickjr. coloring pictures of puppies, turning the page every 30 seconds, & having tea parties with fruit loops.

I think I'm simple.

While sitting at the computer tonight looking at many people, many opinions, many things....I found myself thinking that I'm a simple person.
I like snow in the winter. I like to be cold during Christmas season. check.
I like to be warm in the summer, to swim and little, and then I get bored. Time for the next season.... Ohio is good for me. check.
I like simple but elegant for things that should be, I get overwhelmed by the overwhelming. That seems fair.
I love time with family. I love time with friends. I love hosting, having people in my house. I love sitting on the couch when everyone goes home, after everything is cleaned, and putting my feet up. It's the best of both worlds, in one night.
I think the world of my kids, I like to talk about them....I'll tell you anything if you ask. However, I understand 'mom' stories, I have friends that we laugh and swap 'mom' stories, because that's what they are, and when we tell them we sound like those moms that used to, and still do, drive us nuts.
I like to get out, to get away from everyone. I like to get out, to be with everyone. It's a good place to be in life.
For Christmas, I asked for nothing. Not because there aren't things I want, but because there are so many it's hard to pick just one. I want things that make life more simple. Things to create with. Things that help me be Kristen. Things that aren't extravagant, some that are weird, and some that are probably not even a 'thing'.
Expensive things make me nervous. I'll probably break it. It's usually smarter than me. It's too complex.
I feel in the middle a lot- not here nor there. Sometimes I feel lost, sometimes I feel everywhere.
Thankfully, tonight, I'm in Ohio. Where there are lots of plans for snow and I could not.be.happier.

Sisters

Best friends. 

Fight over crayons.

Hug and kiss randomly.

Snatch toys and run.

Silly faces to make her laugh.

A swift kick, just for the heck of it.

So excited to see her wake up.

Just as excited to see her go to bed.

Will do or eat anything because her sister does.

Will happily yell 'bye' and leave her behind.

I remember growing up with a sister, the good, the bad, the ugly. The best friend to play dolls with. The one who was every where I was and could easily tattle. The hair pulling and screaming. The one who helped with hair & make-up for prom. I'm so excited for the girls to have an 'Anne'.

Dear Anonymous

Dear Anonymous. I hope you have the best Christmas ever, you deserve it. Thank you for that giddy-jumping around the house moment. We had a wonderful day and are planning on a wonderful Christmas. Whoever you are, this family loves you! Thanks a trillion & Merry Christmas! 

We chose this, for better or worse...

I'm talking about me being a stay at home mom. Lately I've been realizing a lot of the consequences, both good and bad, of this decision.

I get to see all the 'firsts' my girls do. Smiling, rolling, crawling, walking, talking...through everything...I get a front row seat.

I'm there when the girls are sick, to comfort them, to clean up barf. 
I'm home all day, no adults to talk to, no adults to care that I'm still in my pj's from the day before.

I'm there when there's extra long naps to do dishes and laundry, I'm never away from the dishes and laundry.

I'm there to play with the girls, I'm there to hear every whiny word muttered or screamed. 
I don't have a full time job outside of the house.

I don't have a pay check representing more than about 10 hours of work.

There are days when both girls actually do sleep at the same time and I can sit on the couch and blog, or watch Biggest Loser from the previous week since it's been busy.

There are lunches I don't buy because we're living on one paycheck.

There are toys for Christmas we only look at on store shelves because of that. 
I'm happy with less so I can be home.

We give up things, money, and low stress bill paying so I can stay home. 
I'm not bored. 
I don't take it for granted.

What's the point of this? I have it good, I know it. Money is tight, I know it. My life, our lives, are this way because this is what Derrick and I have chosen. There are people who think all I do is watch soaps and eat bonbons. There are people who ask me to do ridiculous things during the day. My only interpretation of this is 'she must not have anything to do', or 'she has more time than me and I might as well take advantage of that'.

Right....then you can have your full time paycheck and someone to 'insert ridiculous thing', while I sit with my 10 hour paycheck, my own 2 kids, my part time evening job, my extra money sewing jobs, my laundry, cooking, and cleaning, and now your ridiculous thing to be responsible for. I don't mind helping, I'll volunteer 90% of the time...but please don't ask me for favors that include hundreds of hours of my time and offer me a smile for it. Or appreciate the small things. That's all.

I'm not bitter, I'm just realizing that when life is easy and calm I can feel free to enjoy it because we chose this. 

P.S. Chances are good, but not 100%, that if you are reading this, it has nothing to do with you.