Time Out

Wedesday when I picked up Maddan I was told she was put in time out - twice. Although not a rare occurrence, as she is reaching that two year mark, today was a little different. It seems that one was well deserved as she pushed Baby Ellie. The second, however, was not an "official" time out. As it was told to me, the girls, Claire, Amber and Maddan were playing in the backyard. They have been told numerous times that they are not to play in the dirt. Claire does not really like this rule and apparently tests it every now and then. Today she did it again. When asked if she had been playing in the dirt she said no. Ms. Bon asked to see her hands and, not surprisingly, they were dirty. Off to time out she went. Next up was Amber. When she was asked, she admitted that she had been in the dirt, showed her hands and went to time out too. Although not initially involved, Maddan, seeing all of this happen, went over, placed her hands in the dirt and proceeded to walk over to Ms. Bon with her hands out! Obligingly, Ms. Bon sent her to time out as well. Still not too sure how I feel about the whole thing!!

Rain, rain...

When I was little my mom would talk about how good the rain was. How it washed everything clean and made the outside fresh. As a child I just saw everything getting wet. As a teenager I saw the rain as the destroyer of my perfectly coiffed, hard as a rock, bangs. And as a young adult the rain brought slick streets and slow days at Disneyland. Now the rain means all of those things (even though now the rain frizzes my perfectly straightened hair!). The rain is many things to many people. But now I realize - once again - that mom was right. Rain is the great cleanser. It washes away all of the dirt and muck. It makes things seem brighter and more clear. I can't help but feel like there are parts of my life that are made clean by the rain. And so now I see the rain as the blessing that it is, not only for the outside, but for me as well.

Choices

I've recently been reminded that life is all about choices. You make millions of them a day without even thinking twice. There are big ones and little ones, major ones and minor ones. But choices are what makes up life. I was raised with the saying, "Attitude is everything." I disagree. Everything is in what attitude you choose to have. A person has the ability to make that decision. Now, don't get me wrong, circumstances directly affect the choices a person makes. But ultimately, I CHOOSE my attitude, for better or for worse!

The joy of technology

At this moment I am sitting outside. On a bench. Under the shade of a tree. Feeling the breeze and sunshine. While I write this on my iPad, my iPhone sits next to me. Why is this so exciting? Because I am at work. Outside of my office. If anyone needs me they can reach me. Although they don't know where I am, they know how to find me. I can sit outside enjoying the day and still be productive. I have to admit that technology intimidates me. I don't pretend to know much about it, but I do know that it has it's advantages. Like earlier, when I was having a mid-morning slump, my iPhone alerts me to a message. It was the sweetest picture of Maddan painting out in the sunshine. Ms. Bon thought that I would enjoy the experience (and boy, was she right!) so she took a picture and shared it with me. Although there are numerous concerns regarding technology, for me, today, it has brought me nothing but joy!

And so it begins...again!