baby love

Months before my daughter was born, I saw her on a sonogram. Holding her for the first time my heart melted. Seeing her face for the first time was amazing. So beautiful.  Her smooth caramel colored skin was silky smooth.  Her tiny body fit neatly in my arms.  Baby love…

Visiting last week in Omaha, I was struck how much she reminded me of her baby face. It was something… her hairstyle… She still has wonderful smooth skin.  She informs me… it is because she is eating clean… no processed food, no sugars, fresh fruit and vegetables.

 Every night before she was born, I prayed, God please give me the strength to be a good parent. I am blessed. God abundantly provided my every need.  I read books, sought advice, attended Le leche League meetings, and listened.  Check out le leche league here Milk

I was not the perfect parent… no one is…

Although my children are now adults, I still have baby love.

This week marks the le leche league's  20th year  of world  breastfeeding week ... 

Coming Out of the Closet

As with any type A personality, I continuously have a list of some type.  Well, this week, during my week off from work, I have had a household to do list.  Today, I was determined to conquer the linen closet.  Thus, the title, coming out of the closet, the linen closet that is!  I pondered as I reviewed the contents of this closet.  We have one king sized bed and two twin beds.  Then why, do we have over 20 sets of king sized sheet sets and at least 10 sets of twin size sheets.  Those sheets are accompanied by approximately 12 comforter sets and multiple blankets.  Is it because of Oprah?  You know, all those times, when she did shows telling me that I needed sheets that had at least 500 thread counts or more?  Or when I watched those shows that said I needed Egyptian cotton sheets?  Or, was it when they had the white sales at Macys?

All of this linen made me wonder, just how much linen is necessary for three beds?  But more importantly, what else is in the closets of my life, taking up space and for what reasons?  What was the significant event or moment in my life that caused me to put that item in my closet and even more importantly, what continues to allow me to let it remain there?  Do I even know what is in those closets?  Do I have a plan to remove those items and take inventory?  As I removed each piece of linen from the closet, I had to decide what to do with it, and where it would be stored if it remained.

I believe the linen closet is a little like my life right now.  I am removing things and taking inventory of what is there and why some things are the way they are.  Sometimes, I have been guilty of saying, "Well, that's just the way I am".  However, recently, I begun to take things out of the closet and understand why I am the way I am and understand what I truly want to remain in my personal closets and what has seen the end of its time and may be more useful to someone else.

The Cement Truck and Other Fun Things I Learned From My Grandmother

Well, today, as I drove my oldest daughter to performing arts camp, I saw it, the cement mixer truck.  I told my kids, "You better be good, because in that truck are all the bad children that have been picked up along the way.  The driver's name is Barnabas."  That was how my grandmother got all of us kids to be quiet in the car when she was driving us around town!  My kids were laughing hysterically.  What else did your grandmother tell you, my children asked.  I thought about it and as I thought about all of the costly activities that we afford our children, I thought about all of the inexpensive, low or no cost activities that my brother and sister and I did with my grandmother and mother.

I recall my first library book, Anne of Green Gables.  I went with my grandmother to the Plainfield public library and picked out this book, while my grandmother picked out her books.  Then, we took our books home and I sat under the tree and read that book over and over again.  Then, there were all of the local parades that we waited for each year.  There wasn't a Wii or an X-box, an IPOD  or 200 channels to choose from, just family to hang out with and friends to talk to.  I also remember riding my bike with my close friends and not worrying about being abducted by some crazed maniac!

Oh, the sporting activities, my brother and sister and I did the traditional things, cheerleading, football, gymnastics, and baseball.  My children, soccer, karate, gymnastics, cheerleading, swimming and dance.  Of course not all at the same time, but some of it was at the same time and some was at the same time as drama, piano, children's choir, girl scouts and percussion ensemble!  My question here, is do we now over schedule our children and why do we do this?  I understand my logic.  Part of my believe is that the world has become so much more complicated than the world I initially described.  Complicated and competitive.  I wonder, if our children, my children are to compete, how important is it for them to gain exposure to a great deal at a young age and begin perfecting that skill at an older age?

Ok, back to nostalgia!  The simpler life that I believe I enjoyed was one that, while uncomplicated by stuff, still, had its share of difficulties, as I am sure many of your lives did also.  But, as for the uncomplicated days spent with my grandmother, making tents during raining days, sitting in her small house, with no air condition on hot summer days, as she made fudge.  Picking mulberries from the mulberry tree and pretending to make wine for our pretend church communion.  Those were some good times!

I hope I am making some uncomplicated moments and memories for my children, in the midst of all of our over scheduled and hectic days!  Today for fun, we made a money tree at Steak and Shake!  While waiting at the drive thru, we took pennies and placed them carefully on the leaves of the bushes that lined the drive thru!  Now, that was fun!

Penny's First Post

"We Brits are obsessed with the weather. The rest of the world knows that. It’s easily the most popular topic of conversation. You might assume that given what a special year this is for us on this side of the pond, we’d be discussing the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and the Olympics, but no, as usual, it’s the weather.

In Britain, we get a lot of weather. OK, maybe it’s not BIG weather like yours. We have the occasional mini tornado, which might lift a few roof tiles or uproot the odd tree. But they’re certainly not five miles wide and totally devastating, like some of yours. And as for hurricanes, well, we know nothing of them. So why the obsession? Well, though we live in a temperate climate, most years, no two days in Britain are the same, so the weather certainly keeps us on our toes, so to speak.

Months which in theory should be expected to be spring-like, quite often are not. And winters are not always wintery.Take March, for instance. We had a fortnight (fourteen nights, or two weeks) of temperatures in the 80s. And the last two weeks in May were the same. As a result, a hosepipe ban was introduced in many parts of the country, to conserve precious water supplies.

 But in case we got too used to basking and relaxing in the sun, Mother Nature had a joke at our expense and brought us back down to earth with a bang. The start of June saw black, threatening clouds and cool temperatures. For three solid months we’ve had nothing but lowering skies and interminable rain. People’s moods have been affected profoundly by the lack of sunshine and day after day of driving rain. Yes, we know we are lucky to have adequate water, unlike millions in the Third World, but you can have too much of a good thing.

 The Jet Stream, which most folk had never heard of six months ago, was to blame; we were informed by the meteorologists. Now, I warrant, not a single citizen above the age of five isn’t familiar with its vagaries. To anyone working in the tourist industry, booking a holiday in Britain or living (as I do) on low-lying ground, the Jet Stream became public enemy Number One.

People living in the picturesque Yorkshire town of Hebden Bridge was flooded three times in two weeks, and scores of garden parties, summer fetes and festivals were cancelled due to flooding or acres of mud, making access impossible. So far, three-quarters of the way through July,-2012 has been a miserable summer, or more accurately, a non-existent one. But joy of joy, we are assured that that pesky Jet Stream is moving north, and we can expect more seasonal weather next week.

As I write this, it is pouring down."

Penny

Hello.  Today I will write my first blog.  So today, I will introduce myself.  My name is Cassie.  I am a small town girl with big city tastes!  I grew up in Plainfield, Indiana.  My grandparents were the first African American family to settle in Plainfield.  It was a very interesting up bringing.  We were the only African-American family in Plainfield during my childhood.  I often tell the story of when I first knew that I was "black".  Yes, I did not realize that I was a little black girl until I was in the second grade and we were playing a game in our Brownie Troupe and we all had to take turns hiding outside of the door and the girls had to guess who was hiding.  When it was my turn to hide, I heard the girls say, "Don't tell the big thing about her, you, know, she's black!"  Imagine my shock!  I could not wait to get home and ask my parents why they had not told me!  So many interesting stories about Plainfield, not all so amusing.  I have a brother and a sister both of whom still live in Indiana.  My mother also still lives in Indiana.  I moved to South Carolina soon after graduating from Indiana University and worked for Westinghouse, Savannah River Site.  The locals there, fondly call it the "Bomb Plant".  The plant is located in Aiken South Carolina and I fondly call that my home.  I love South Carolina.  It is so peaceful and the people are wonderful.  I met my husband, Keith Slaughter in Savannah at the Gullah festival, right there by the ocean.  In 2001, I got an offer to come and work for the greatest automobile company in the world, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, in Georgetown, Ky, so, we loaded up the dogs and we moved to horse country.  Oh, I forgot to tell you, we got married in 2000, in Aiken, South Carolina.  We have two beautiful daughters, Kelaina and Keiana, ages 9 and 10, who keep us quite active, with cheerleading, acting, singing, soccer, and a host of other activities.  Oh, and there is Fluffy puff, our Jack Russell Terrier.  My hobbies include, work, I love developing new processes, shopping, oh I love to shop, especially, handbags!  I will be writing about many things in my blog.  I hope I catch your interest!  Send me an e-mail at casultant@aol.com.  Welcome Friends.

Welcome Friends

On the steps to their front door we see a beautiful greeting, "Welcome Friends". After a long day on the road, the Clearys gave us a warm welcome.  Traveling for nearly twelve hours, our visit was a perfect way to end our day.
Once again, we were treated to a delicious meal and wonderful conversation.
True friendships are not limited by geography, age, language... any barrier. We celebrate the joyous events in our lives. We comfort one another in our sorrows. I am grateful.