Rules of rebellion

I already don’t like it.  I do not like the “rules” I set for my own blog.  I am a rebel of sorts when it comes to rules.  Specifically other peoples rules.  I do not even like schedules because in essence it contains the rule of time.  Now, I am discovering I do not like my own rules. 

I do not like that I told myself what to write and when to write it.

The other part of my struggle is that  I’m finding myself in a blogger identity crisis.  There are too many things in my jumbled mind about what I could blog about.  Lots and lots of things.  However, “they” say I am supposed to have a niche.  A niche.  A niche.  I need a niche.

So now, I am pondering “who is Flamingo Mama and why does she exist in the bloggity world? “

Actually, I have narrowed down my question of self existence to another question.  What is my blogging purpose? 

I’ve decided to share my brainstorming session out loud with you.

So why do I blog?

think think think

envision fingers drumming on laptop keys

1. I like to write.  I know I can do that in private and yes I do.  However, I enjoy communicating more than writing.  Really, I can only communicate with myself and God in private.  Plus, blogging forces me to tap out words that I have a strong affinity towards.

2. I love connecting.  It is very fun developing a friendship with someone over years of blogging.  It is also very cool getting to read the thoughts and happenings of  RL friends.  I wish every one of my friends would have a blog.  I seriously do. I will read!  I will! I will!

3. I like to encourage others.  I don’t know why I wrote this third.  In reality, this is THE first thing that pops up in my mind for why I blog.  That and ONLY that is the reason that I remain authentic on here.  I’m truly not sophisticated enough to be any other way.

3 things.  That is all I can brainstorm right now is 3 things. 

Looking at it on paper (or screen if you want to get all verbally technical) it seems pretty simple, so why is it so complicated in my mind? 

back to pondering  

Frugal Flamingo- Free Grand Slam Breakfast

With 4 kiddos, eating out can get to be quite expensive.  However, there are always ways to make eating out a possibility instead of a rarity.  Totally free would be one of those ways. 

So, this Flamingo is going to treat Lil’ Rocker and Sparkles to a Free Grand Slam breakfast at Denny’s tomorrow !  Stop by between 6am and 2pm and treat yourself!

 

Frugal Flamingo

The blessing of snow.

I love snow.  It is not that I love snow indiscriminately, but I love nothing better than being snowed in together.  This weekend we were blessed with an actual snow. I usually get all “domestic” when the 1st flake begins to fall.  This weekend was extra special because the Rockstar Nurse was able to enjoy the snow with us, which was a true rarity.

On Friday evening, we enjoyed chocolate chip cookies as the snow began.

We woke up to this!

Lots and lots of this!

We enjoyed fresh blueberry coffee cake as the snow continued to fall.

We then hit the white stuff.

  

We were thankful for small blessings like…

snowblowers

…warm hot chocolate

and delicious soup.

We enjoyed the evening with neighbors and homemade pizza.

On Sunday, we slept in late.  We ordered Thai and Chinese food to celebrate the upcoming last game of the season.

We watched movies and played games.

We hit the slopes again.

   

Of course, the snow ball battles got out of hand.

 

But the sledding was good.

And after 2 hours of outdoor fun, kick off was calling. 

So, with lots of yummies, we ended our weekend of absolute fun.

This weekend was such a blessing to me.  I truly needed this fun time with my kids. 

And don’t go assuming things.  There was still plenty of fighting and chaos.

The Ringleader laid like this for 30 minutes.  He was having an 8 year old issue.  (side note: 8 year olds have lots of issues.  Apparently 8, is the new 13).

Poor Sha Sha came up to me in all sincerity and asked if he was dead.  God bless her.

So, it wasn’t a perfect weekend. 

However, it was as perfect as you can get when kids are involved.

 

Fun Friday- Game Day

It’s that time of year.  Football season has only 2 more days until it is gone until mid’ August.

Yes, I know exactly when it starts.  We live and breathe football around here. 

Well, I don’t live and breathe football, BUT I support the living and the breathing of football.

The Rockstar Nurse loves football.  Pro or college, it doesn’t matter. In fact, he usually falls into a minor depression once the season is over. 

And who knew that football is on Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday?  Well if you didn’t, you do know now.

And just in case there is not a game on, there is Playstation 3 football, where one can be a pretend real coach! 

There is another little football fanatic in the making here.  Lil’ Rocker.  Yes, Lil’ Rocker is all rock still, but he LOVES football.  The living room carpet is his playing field.  He will tackle any intruders.  Football is used as leverage for naps.  He loves to stay “up late” and watch the game with dad.  And watch he does.

Sadly, our team is not in the big Bowl this year, but we will still watch the game.  (well, it’s not really MY team and I don’t “Really” watch, but I will blog and listen:)

We probably will encourage a few “real live” tackles along the way.

It’s a good thing Lil’ Rocker has basketball season to look forward to. 

 

 

This post is dedicated to Darlene who is the REAL DEAL Colts fan!!  GO COLTS!!!

Journey Walking Wednesday

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Usually, I have endless ideas and thoughts for blogging.  Many of them even “deep”. But now that I have declared that I will be sharing my “deep” thoughts, I am suddenly blank!  At a loss for words.  That in itself is a whole blog post.

So, during this temporary literary blank, I will share with you more about what Wednesdays will look like.

I knew that “Deep Wednesday” would never fly except in the land of cheese.  Tonggu Mommy so lovingly reminded me of Jack Handy and his “Deep Thoughts”.  That forced my creative brain into immediate action.

So, I have decided that Journey Walking Wednesday is more appropriate.  Really, Wednesday’s are not to be my own deep ponderings.  Instead, I want it to focus on what I am learning in my  journey with God. 

A journey is the act of traveling from one place to another.  (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/journey)

We’ve all heard the ol’ cliche that “life is a journey.”  All of us are always in motion, that much is true.  However, life is not automatically a journey.  A journey takes intention.  It is easy to stay put with thoughts and attitudes.  Recognizing when we need to move, even though we may not always know where we are going, is how we create a story with our own spiritual journey.

So, each week I will share with you part of my journey’s story.  It may not be as intense as you may think, but it is my story.

And if you don’t like it, don’t blame me.  I’m not the one who is writing it.

A public commitment

One of my New Year’s “dreams” (yes, I’m still talking about them in February and will be for months) is to write more.  Actually it is more than a “dream”, however I’m not going to get deep and spiritual today.  Maybe someday I will.  However, I’m not feeling led to do that now.  (Plus I have 3 toilets to clean.)

So, I have decided to be brave and bold and declare a public commitment to blogging.  My fingers shake as I type this.  Folks, I do not do well with commitment.   Actually that is not true.  I don’t do well with making the commitment. Thus, the dreams vs. resolutions.  Once I have committed, I am fiercely loyal.  Not that I don’t question my commitments or complain about my commitments. 

So, I get extremely nervous with proclaiming what I am going to do with my blog.  The accountability of it all makes me queasy:)

So, here it is.  My plan is to have focused days on my blog each week. 

Mondays will be stuff related to Home Management (including frugalities, parenting, organization, cooking, ect.)

Wednesday will be going deep.  This will be the day that I write about something of substance.  Most likely this will be my favorite day.  However, I’m going to exercise self-control and creativity in keeping my posts short and readable.

Fridays will be fun day.  I truly have no idea what exactly Fridays will look like.  It may be a funny story or picture.  It may focus more on stuff my kids are doing.  I hesitate on even posting those sort of nuances on here.  Why?  Well, because I really don’t think you all think my kids are as cute as I do:)   However, there is some humor in their antics that all can enjoy:)

What about Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday?  I am dealing with anxiety in my 3 day commitment.  Let’s just start with that ok? 

Ok.  Everyone take a deep breath.

Really that was for me. 

So see you on “Deep Wednesday”. 

Ok…I need to work on that.  That title is just not going to work:)

The Rescue Motivation

There are fine lines in life.  The fine line between being laid back and being a slacker.  The line between being a hard worker and a workaholic.  Or the line between being a risk taker and being plain old dumb:)

I believe that same scant line can be drawn in adoption.  The line between being compassionate and being a “rescuer”.

I feel very compelled to share this line in lieu of our discussion of Haiti and adoption in general.  When someone chooses to adopt, especially a somewhat older child, hopefully there is a strong sense of compassion within them.  That compassion is what propels you forward in walking a different path and sacrificing what you need to give.

However, it can be a messy situation when one is running full speed into adoption to “rescue” a child.  

I can envision some of you squinting in concentration trying to figure out where I am going to go with this concept.  Hang in there.  My concept will be worth pondering.

First, “rescuing” always has a subconscious element of expecting gratitude in return.

Second, adopting out of “pity” makes livin’ the “thing” all that more harder. It stings when a child is not grateful (and no, they probably won’t be:).  Resentment can grow when your sacrifice is completely squelched.  It will make bonding and attachment all that more difficult.

My readers that are still squinting in confusion, need to hang on just a few more lines.

“But Flamingo!  You just told us to look around the world at all the children waiting for us!  What is the “dealio”?”

The “dealio” is this.  We do need to have hearts of compassion.  Our hearts should break when our eyes are opened to these children.  In fact, I believe as a Christian we are commanded to care for the orphan (note: I did NOT say I think all Christians should adopt!  I do not think that at all, so the frantic comment forming in your mind can be deleted :)

However,  I believe that one should be motivated to adopt by one thing only.  You want to parent another child.  Bottom line is that you are willing to give yourself unconditionally to another life, biological or not.  Parenting is forever.  Parenting is not just being there for a helpless 2 year old.  There is no feeling of scooping up a child from the slums of Calcutta when you are living your normal post-adoptive life. 

I guess what my tired brain is trying to communicate is that these kiddos want parents, not saviors. 

So if you are overwhelmed, pray about it.  God will not lead you to adopt out of pity.  However, he will lead you there because he implanted in you the desire to parent another child…and there are many children that need one.

I truly hope that no one is still squinting:)