I believe in defining moments, those points in life where events and decisions - good and bad - bring a person to a crossroads. I believe that these are the times when true character is built...for better or worse.
It's cliché. Cheesy even. I know this, but I don't think it makes it any less true. Here's what I think about it:
Defining moments are divided into two categories: things that happen to you and choices you make.
Things that happen to you are things completely out of your control. Death, for instance. And these things don't have to all be bad things either...good things happen all of the time, too. Like a new sibling (I guarantee you that I had no control in the matter when my parents presented me with a brother and then a sister, but they were good things that happened, and they played a part in defining my character).
The second category is the choices we make. Choices, of course, are good and bad. There are the obvious bad ones: drugs and stealing and lying, etc. And there are the obvious good ones: college and marriage and family, etc.
But categorizing defining moments is just the beginning. After all, things happen to each and everyone of us every day. And we make choices every single day. Not all are deeply impactful. No, those moments are fewer and farther between.
And its not just about what happens or what choices were made or how impactful it was, it's about what we do with those things once they are sitting in our laps and staring us in the face. Do we let it beat us down or do we pick ourselves up? Do we learn from it or do we keep repeating the same things again and again? What kind of character do we display in these moments and how does it shape our future moments?
I believe in defining moments.
And lately, I've been thinking about defining moments a lot. My moments.
I'm in that place right now, at my very own crossroads once again. I've been sitting on the fence for too long, just waiting for someone else to take action, to force me to fall off on one side or the other. It's like I'd rather react than take on the responsibility of action. Action is scary. It requires making a change.
But I did it. I got off the fence. It wasn't graceful, and it's not going down in history as my shiniest moment. And now I'm standing at another crossroads created by another one of my defining moments.
I believe in defining moments.
And I believe in marriage and family.
I choose my marriage and my family.
Again.
For better or worse.
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
an unexpected party
My husband loves The Lord of the Rings. LOVES. I know for a fact he saw the second and third movies in the theater when they were first released (dunno about the first one...I didn't know him yet, but I'm guessing he did). He also own the directors cut extended edition of all three movies - that means over 12 hours of movie! He was beside himself excited when he heard that they were making the prequel, The Hobbit, into not only one movie, but three, movies as well. In preparation for the theater release of the very first Hobbit movie, he paid $17 to sit in a movie theater all. day. long. watching each extended edition of LOTR back to back! And then he turned around and went to the opening night of The Hobbit shortly after that. Since then he has watched the second and the third movies in the theater. Not to mention, I can't count how many times he's watched them on DVD. May I repeat: My husband LOVES everything about The Lord of the Rings.
I, however, do not. Like may even be too strong a word for my feelings about these movies. Example: I remember watching some MTV video award show in high school and the first LOTR movie was up for a bunch of awards like "Best Fight" or whatever, and I thought "Ugh...I don't want to even see that movie." Indifferent may be the nicest way to describe my feelings at that point.
And then I met Justin. And I watched the first movie on video with him, because, well, duh! I wanted to like what he liked cuz I was an infatuated girl like that! And I went to the theater and saw the second and third movies with him. And I bought him all of the extended edition DVDs and watched them with him. And I decided LOTR wasn't so bad, but that was about it. I even read the books at some point during my college years, but I wouldn't say I enjoyed them much - it was more like an exercise in endurance just so I could say I did it.
So...while my husband was super excited for the release of The Hobbit, I was like...meh. I sent him to the first movie in the theater alone, endured the second with him, and sent him on his way to the third while I stayed home and watched the kids...and I felt like I had dodged a bullet!
But then one Saturday we were a bit bored and talking about the third movie coming out on DVD and I made some comment about how it'd been so long I'd have to watch the first and second again just to remember what happened, and he had this great idea that we do it RIGHT! NOW! and I said "sure" and we did.
And I liked them. Like A LOT!
I'm not sure what has changed about me in the last year or so, but....I really, really liked the movies this time around. So much so that I was - and am still - seriously irritated that I have to wait for the third movie to come out on DVD to see it! In fact, I liked The Hobbit so much, that I decided that maybe I needed to see all three LOTR again....that maybe I would find that I liked them now too!
So, believe it or not, the following is something that me - the not interested in the LOTR/Hobbit then girlfriend/now wife - suggested...
First came this idea: let's spend a weekend watching all three extended LOTR movies!
Then out of my mouth came: "Better yet! Let's do it all in one day! We can have snacks!"
Then we were out of school for like four days because of "snow" and "ice" and "cold." I was a bit bored, so I decided to put some thought into the food part of our movie marathon. I visited Pinterest (Yikes!) and discovered all kinds of themed meal times and recipes and menus. So, I made plans and lists and came up with this...
An Unexpected Party! An appropriate title given the party organizer (me)...and stolen straight from the chapter title in one of the books (The Hobbit I believe, but don't quote me...I'm not that big of a fan remember)!
First Breakfast kicked off around 8:00. We all gathered around the table to share French toast, "nice crispy bacon," and sausages.
Second Breakfast - biscuits with honey or jam and coffee - was perfectly coordinated with the start of The Fellowship of the Ring shortly after 9:00.
The first disk for Fellowship ended just in time for a quick break and the serving of our meal for Elvensies! We munched on Lembas bread and ten cup ranger cookies served up with hot apple cider!
The first movie ended, we flipped disks and started up The Two Towers while enjoying our Luncheon. Justin had picked up some amazing cheeses to go with our deli meats and crackers!
(Then we paused the movie, and Justin ran to Walmart to get me some medicine because it turns out my stomach doesn't like eating like a Hobbit. Minor set back, but we were quickly back on track!)
Disk #1 wrapped up and we served Afternoon Tea - English Breakfast Tea with blueberry muffins and cinnamon swirl bread - with the start of disk #2. At this point it was about 3:30 in the afternoon.
After The Two Towers ended, we took a longer break. Justin got the boys ready for bed while I set the table for dinner and dished up crockpot scalloped potatoes and ham. We all sat down together and ate as a family - something that doesn't normally happen twice in one day!
Then it was time to begin the last movie: The Return of the King. The first disk about two hours into the movie (the director's cut is just shy of four hours long), and we took a break for dessert...pie! And of course beer since hobbits like beer!
At this point, Logan had been curled up with me on the couch the entire day watching each minute of every movie...and begging for pie! Yet, when pie time came...he didn't want pie, he just wanted to get on with the movie!
We finished our movie marathon around 10:00. I was exhausted! And so was Logan who fell asleep with only an hour to go! I still can't believe he watched all day long with us! Gavin was in and out, watching at times, mostly playing, but even he had joined us there at the end and fell asleep in Justin's lap. We carried our kids to bed and called it a success!
How do I feel about LOTR now? I'm pretty sure I really, really like it. Justin asked me why the sudden change, and the truth is, I don't know. I know that I really, really enjoyed all the family time this adventure allowed me to have which would obviously have an effect on my feelings about the activity we did - in this case the LOTR movie marathon. I also know that I'm not the same person I was in my twenties. These past three or four years especially have changed me so much, changed how I see everything, and that has had a lot of carry over even in to what I find interesting and enjoyable and meaningful. It's interesting to see how a few years (and maybe a bit more maturity???) can change my perception of my world and alter how I feel about things...even little things like movies.
One thing is for sure...we are looking forward to our Hobbit movie marathon to be held as soon as that darn third movie comes out on DVD!
I, however, do not. Like may even be too strong a word for my feelings about these movies. Example: I remember watching some MTV video award show in high school and the first LOTR movie was up for a bunch of awards like "Best Fight" or whatever, and I thought "Ugh...I don't want to even see that movie." Indifferent may be the nicest way to describe my feelings at that point.
And then I met Justin. And I watched the first movie on video with him, because, well, duh! I wanted to like what he liked cuz I was an infatuated girl like that! And I went to the theater and saw the second and third movies with him. And I bought him all of the extended edition DVDs and watched them with him. And I decided LOTR wasn't so bad, but that was about it. I even read the books at some point during my college years, but I wouldn't say I enjoyed them much - it was more like an exercise in endurance just so I could say I did it.
So...while my husband was super excited for the release of The Hobbit, I was like...meh. I sent him to the first movie in the theater alone, endured the second with him, and sent him on his way to the third while I stayed home and watched the kids...and I felt like I had dodged a bullet!
But then one Saturday we were a bit bored and talking about the third movie coming out on DVD and I made some comment about how it'd been so long I'd have to watch the first and second again just to remember what happened, and he had this great idea that we do it RIGHT! NOW! and I said "sure" and we did.
And I liked them. Like A LOT!
I'm not sure what has changed about me in the last year or so, but....I really, really liked the movies this time around. So much so that I was - and am still - seriously irritated that I have to wait for the third movie to come out on DVD to see it! In fact, I liked The Hobbit so much, that I decided that maybe I needed to see all three LOTR again....that maybe I would find that I liked them now too!
So, believe it or not, the following is something that me - the not interested in the LOTR/Hobbit then girlfriend/now wife - suggested...
First came this idea: let's spend a weekend watching all three extended LOTR movies!
Then out of my mouth came: "Better yet! Let's do it all in one day! We can have snacks!"
Then we were out of school for like four days because of "snow" and "ice" and "cold." I was a bit bored, so I decided to put some thought into the food part of our movie marathon. I visited Pinterest (Yikes!) and discovered all kinds of themed meal times and recipes and menus. So, I made plans and lists and came up with this...
An Unexpected Party! An appropriate title given the party organizer (me)...and stolen straight from the chapter title in one of the books (The Hobbit I believe, but don't quote me...I'm not that big of a fan remember)!
First Breakfast kicked off around 8:00. We all gathered around the table to share French toast, "nice crispy bacon," and sausages.
Second Breakfast - biscuits with honey or jam and coffee - was perfectly coordinated with the start of The Fellowship of the Ring shortly after 9:00.
 |
| Gavin thought it'd be funny if I took a picture of him picking his nose....he's such a booger! |
The first disk for Fellowship ended just in time for a quick break and the serving of our meal for Elvensies! We munched on Lembas bread and ten cup ranger cookies served up with hot apple cider!
 |
| Gavin didn't stick around to watch very long, but Logan lasted the entire first movie and was ready to start up the second! |
(Then we paused the movie, and Justin ran to Walmart to get me some medicine because it turns out my stomach doesn't like eating like a Hobbit. Minor set back, but we were quickly back on track!)
 |
| Logan refused to do anything but eat and make funny faces for the camera! |
Disk #1 wrapped up and we served Afternoon Tea - English Breakfast Tea with blueberry muffins and cinnamon swirl bread - with the start of disk #2. At this point it was about 3:30 in the afternoon.
 |
| At this point, Logan had watched the first two movies with us, and Gavin was back in the game...probably because there was food again! |
 |
| My boys are so well trained...even though the food was served on the coffee table, they took their plates to the dinner table since they're not typically allowed to eat in the living room! |
After The Two Towers ended, we took a longer break. Justin got the boys ready for bed while I set the table for dinner and dished up crockpot scalloped potatoes and ham. We all sat down together and ate as a family - something that doesn't normally happen twice in one day!
Then it was time to begin the last movie: The Return of the King. The first disk about two hours into the movie (the director's cut is just shy of four hours long), and we took a break for dessert...pie! And of course beer since hobbits like beer!
 |
| Of course we drink our beer in wine glasses...we're classy like that! |
At this point, Logan had been curled up with me on the couch the entire day watching each minute of every movie...and begging for pie! Yet, when pie time came...he didn't want pie, he just wanted to get on with the movie!
 |
| My trooper - settled in and ready to finish this marathon! |
We finished our movie marathon around 10:00. I was exhausted! And so was Logan who fell asleep with only an hour to go! I still can't believe he watched all day long with us! Gavin was in and out, watching at times, mostly playing, but even he had joined us there at the end and fell asleep in Justin's lap. We carried our kids to bed and called it a success!
How do I feel about LOTR now? I'm pretty sure I really, really like it. Justin asked me why the sudden change, and the truth is, I don't know. I know that I really, really enjoyed all the family time this adventure allowed me to have which would obviously have an effect on my feelings about the activity we did - in this case the LOTR movie marathon. I also know that I'm not the same person I was in my twenties. These past three or four years especially have changed me so much, changed how I see everything, and that has had a lot of carry over even in to what I find interesting and enjoyable and meaningful. It's interesting to see how a few years (and maybe a bit more maturity???) can change my perception of my world and alter how I feel about things...even little things like movies.
One thing is for sure...we are looking forward to our Hobbit movie marathon to be held as soon as that darn third movie comes out on DVD!
 |
| Hey! My name is Lucius and nobody paid any attention to me today, so I'm just going to sleep on this pile of coats. |
Monday, July 1, 2013
starting july by remembering june
534. Popsicles on the back patio
535. Sunshine at Six Flags in St. Louis
536. Squeezing into kid rides with my boys
537. Logan grinning, excited to ride a few all by himself
538. Ice cream served up in freshly baked waffle cones
539. Car ride home, boys sleeping soundly in the backseat exhausted from a fun day
540. Scrapbooking date with a good friend
541. Fasting Attempting a fast in support of Justin
542. Low fog draped across early morning ground
543. Filling a water gun over and over and over for Gavin to shoot
544. Chasing the boys through the backyard...squirt gun in hand!
545. A Papa, Dad, and Logan fishing trip on Father's Day
546. Justin...a great father to our boys
547. A happy union between Sonic and homework
548. A trick dog show at the library with Logan
549. Boys meet power wheel...and SHARE!
550. Justin taking a day off from work to spend with me
551. Pecan waffles smothered in butter and sweet syrup...YUM!
552. A seven mile hike in two hours and fifty-nine minutes!
553. Watching father and sons play in the backyard sunshine
554. Four generations on a Sunday afternoon fishing trip
557. Monday matinee Pixar movie (Monster's University) with my boys
558. Logan's quick recovery from a stomach virus
559. Hugs all around on my birthday!
560. Turning 30!
564. Swimming at the "big pool" with Logan and Gavin
565. A surprise birthday party for me at Whimsy!
566. Chocolate caramel cheesecake and birthday wishes blown out on a candle
567. Unexpected gifts!
568. My Logan lost and then found! (Bet he will stay in the car when told to from now on!)
569. An Iron Man birthday cake made special from the Heaven Scent Bakery
570. A big bunch of birthday balloons for the birthday boy
571. Logan...six years old!
572. Excitement and hugs for new books and a load of fishing tackle!
573. A family party to celebrate a special boy
574. Brats and hot dogs grilled up and eaten around the patio table
575. Bashing a pinata full of treats...and beating the sudden storm that blew in and out quickly
576. Six candles on the cake, lit and blown out by Logan
577. Desnse choclate cake frosted sweet!
578. Legos and more legos for the excited birthday boy
579. A famiy game of catch the football in the backyard
580. A new purse for me - a belated birthday gift!
581. Curled up together for The Avengers
582. Finishing our storybook Bible!
583. Discovering Logan's first loose tooth!
584. Sparklers to finish up the perfect birthday party
585. Eight tiny kittens piled together
586. Gentle touches against soft fur
587. Tiny paws outstretched
588. Tiny mouths forming tiny yawns
589. Gavin "driving" the riding lawn mower
590. "De ja vu" watching Gavin "mow" with the seeder...just like Logan once upon a time!
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