MarytheKaytheBlog

Permission

 
 Do you ever give yourself "permission" to do something that, really, you should be doing anyway?

This summer I've given myself permission to let go a little.  To let go of some obligations, and (*try*) not to feel guilty.  I know I've written just recently how summer camp life can be busy and overwhelming.  Working at a summer camp is a complete life itself, a full-time job, physically and emotionally.  Trying to have a life--and a family--outside of that is where everything gets so crazy.

Because of that, I am learning to give myself permission to let go of some things in the summer.  I'm learning healthier boundaries for myself, and my family.

I'm learning that even though my girls may not get to have fond VBS memories, they will have fond summer camp memories instead.  And that's okay.

I'm giving myself permission to take a break from my C25K training, and resume after summer.  I'm continuing to exercise in the mornings when I can.  But, having the time to stay committed to a workout schedule felt overwhelming this summer.

I'm learning that it's okay only to write 3 days a week for this blog.  And if 3 days becomes burdensome, it's okay to scale back even more.  Blogging should stay fun, right?

I'm learning to let go of the guilt from not responding to every wonderful blog or Facebook Comment.  Every single one of your Comments are like little breaths of fresh air to my heart, and I promise I don't take any of them for granted.  (But, please know I DO apologize for not responding!! I sincerely WANT to...I'm just struggling to find the time this summer.  Please know I love you, and am sending very affectionate arm punches!)

I'm learning not to look too much at Facebook or those blogs that rave about their amazing summer vacations, or even pictures of fun summer activities.  My life may feel small at times, but it is MY life.  I need to stretch out fully within those boundaries, soak in every inch of it, and rejoice wholeheartedly within those borders.  If I am busy looking at other people's lives, I am certain to miss something beautiful right in my own zip code.

I am giving myself permission to enjoy my 20th wedding anniversary in whatever way my husband and I can pull off in the middle of summer camp.  I had some really fun plans for our 20th anniversary.  I had even planned to write about our love story here.  But, summer has taken over in its possessive way, and I haven't even begun to write that story.  I was having a little pity party the other day, about our inability to take a fabulous anniversary trip.  But, then I realized, MOST of the world aren't able to stop life and take expensive anniversary trips.  WHO AM I to feel slighted by that???  I have SO MUCH to be grateful for.  Why are those precious things never enough?  Well, I am giving myself permission for enough to be enough. My husband and I will celebrate our 20 years, regardless of location.  And if I want a white side-by-side refrigerator with crushed ice on the front to commemorate those years, then so be it.  (Subtle enough?? *giggle giggle*)

And here's a big one:  I am giving God permission to work on my heart this summer, and take it where He leads.  That's always scary for a control girl like myself.  But, guess what?  God is an infinitely better driver than I am.  Crazy that I ever crawl into the driver's seat in the first place, huh?

What about you?

What have you given yourself permission to do lately?

Photo credit: Flickr tibchris

Fun Way to Beat the Heat: The Camp Blob!!

I don't know about you, but this heat is staggering.  I can barely think straight when I'm outside.  (Note to self:  Try not to be outside!)

A little over a week ago, my parents hosted their annual summer Cousins Camp.  Okay, so they don't really call it that...but they should.  It's a cute name!  All 7 of their grandkids gathered for a several-day visit. 

There was a lot of giggling that week, playing of games, telling of stories, running, chasing, dressing up, eating and more eating (I learned that teenage boys tend to eat more than 3 meals a day!), swimming, jumping, screaming, yelling, tattling, smiling, hugging, and holding of hands...  It was a wonderful few days! 

The cousins all really love each other, and are never ready for these days to be over...

One especially HOT day, all the cousins piled into the car and drove out to our summer camp to swim.  I think their favorite part of the day was jumping on the Blob!

See for yourself!

Come on, Drew!  Let's get this party started!!!

 
 As you can see, The Blob is a gigantic air-filled "pillow"

 

 

Landon decided the high-dive was more his speed!

 

 

Part of the thrill of the Blob, is you never know how high you are going to fly into the air...

 

Or, how COOL you are going to fly through the air...

 

And every-once-in-a-while, if you jump just right, and the wind is blowing to the east, you can make someone FLY through the air!

(Before showing you this picture, I feel it is necessary to report to you that ALL rules were followed on the Blob this day.  I promise!!) 

 

 

 

Let's look at their faces up close...

 

Can you BELIEVE this mama actually SNAPPED the picture while her BABY was FLYING THROUGH THE AIR???

That is total blog commitment, I tell ya.

I'll tell you what else--Blobbing may be the MOST FUN way to cool off when it's hot like this!

Have YOU ever Blobbed? 

What's your favorite way to beat the heat?

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Transparent

 

All right, so here's the deal:  This has been a tough summer.  Now, I don't want to whine about it.  In fact, I want to do just the opposite.  But, in order to be transparent, I need to tell you that I am tired.  Physically and emotionally.  There has been very little time off, and that is catching up with me.

However.

Just tonight I was talking to one of my daughters about how there are 2 kinds of people in the world:  Victims and victors.  I don't even know where that comparison came from as it tumbled out of my mouth...except that I was trying to help her understand how being a victim is such a trap.  And that, no matter the circumstance, there are always 2 ways to look at a situation--as a victim, or as a victor.

As I sit here in my bed tonight, exhausted, yet tapping out this post before sleeping, I think, "I need to listen to my own advice."

In the midst of a summer chocked full of people needing things, and people needing me, I have a choice:

I can be a victim, or a victor. 

I can feel sorry for myself when I hear about people getting time off, or going on beautiful vacations, or even people enjoying the lazy days of summer...

Or I can change my focus, and find my purpose in all this busyness.

Goodness, I know I've written about this before.  More than once.  I guess I still haven't learned it yet.  God is still schooling me.  (Dangit.)

A dear summer camp friend recently said these words, that just resonated with me:

What am I becoming?

I am in the process of becoming something.  Boy, I want that something to be beautiful, and meaningful, and worthwhile.  But, I sure won't become that if I am busy feeling sorry for myself.  Or feeling like a victim.

(There sure are a lot of thoughts swirling around in this post.  Please forgive me if none of this makes sense.  I'm just trying to be transparent with you today.)

Here is my bottom line, honest-to-goodness truth about myself today.  I am NEVER going to be a victor unless I am plugged into the right source.  No matter how hard I try to change my perspective to be victorious, I don't believe it will be possible for long without God.

And maybe that's my whole problem this summer.  In the middle of a Christian summer camp, I am not spending much time with God. 

I'm sure all you veteran victors are just nodding your heads, saying, "Yep.  No wonder that girl is tired!"

That's where I am today.  But, it's not where I want to--or plan to--stay.

What about you? 

How are you doing this summer?

*Photo credit: Flickr Storebukkebruse

This is what happens when your husband is in Purchasing...

Just the other day I went to clean the guest bathroom, also known at our house as "Daddy's bathroom."  Why, yes.  Yes, we do segregate our bathrooms.  Mine, theirs, and his. 

Anyway, I pulled back the shower curtain, and THIS is what I found.

 

What is that, you ask???

Well, look closer...

There's a LABEL!

I don't even want to know HOW the dispenser is attached to the shower.  I'm pretty sure it is not with the lovely removable 3M adhesive...

Although I did do a double-take when I saw the commercial soap dispenser, I must admit...I wasn't completely shocked.  You see, my husband is in charge of Purchasing at our summer camp.  Plus, remember how as much as I'd like to be...I'm not fancy.

Makes me wonder what's next, though. 

 
Um, NO.  Pleasepleaseplease NO.

 

Not much better...

 
 

Since there are girls in our family...and Dave is always interested in commerce...

 

 Or perhaps this?

And, no.  I am NOT going any farther.  I am not going to post pictures of *those* machines.  You know the ones.  Those nasty machines at truck stops, that my precious darlings start to look at and ask, "Mommy..."  "STOP!! Stop looking at that!!!" 

"But, what is..."  "STOP.  It's not anything you need to know about.  Quick--look at the floor!!  Are you done?  Hurry, hurry.  Come on!  Let's go!  Well, pull up your pants, then!"

 

So...maybe I need to be okay with the commercial soap dispenser in the guest bathroom.  It could be a lot worse...

Can anyone relate with me? 

I have a friend in the auction business.  I bet she can relate in similar ways...  "But, honey!  It was a good deal..."

Dr. Pepper Ice Cream...Better Known as Dr. Pepper Passion!

 I am about to change the lives of 3 kinds of people:

1.  People who love Dr. Pepper (or ANY soda, for that matter!)

2.  People who love ice cream

3.  People who love FAST, EASY, and DELICIOUS recipes!

 But, let me warn you before I go any further...You will need to add about 30 minutes to your daily workout.  Because you are going to LOVE this recipe.  And because the recipe is SO EASY, you will want to make it every single day.

Consider yourself warned.

This weekend, my good friend Jennifer made some of her famous Dr. Pepper Passion for us.  As I was asking her about this EASY recipe, I wanted to give credit to her mom.  However, it seems this must be a Texas thing--both she and her husband grew up watching their grandparents and parents make Dr. Pepper Passion, Big Red Passion, Coke Passion...You get the picture.  

But, what IS Dr. Pepper Passion?  It is a homemade ice cream, using only 3 ingredients.  It tastes a little bit like a Dr. Pepper float--only richer, and better!  And the Dr. Pepper part is fully interchangeable with YOUR FAVORITE SODA.  Think of the possibilities...Grape Crush Passion, Cherry Coke Passion, Root Beer Passion...Oh, honey, get me a fan! 

Those 3 ingredients:  Dr. Pepper (or your favorite soda), sweetened condensed milk, and evaporated milk.  Think how EASY this recipe would be to make at a picnic or party!  Not to mention how impressed your friends will be. 

Here's what you do!  First, you pour the Dr. Pepper into the ice cream freezer canister.  MAKE SURE your pour the soda FIRST.  Otherwise, you will have a fizzy mess!  (This recipe is for a 2-quart freezer)

 Say hello to Jennifer's arm and foot!

Next, pour in the sweetened condensed milk, and evaporated milk.  (I won't tell if you need to eat a spoonful of sweetened condensed milk.)

And...that's it!  Of course, you'll need to put the cannister into the ice cream freezer,  add ice and rock salt, and you know--turn on the freezer. 

The most difficult part of this whole process...is waiting for it to freeze. 

 
I apologize for not having any pictures of the finished product.   We were too busy watching fireworks, and you know...gobbling up the Passion.

Oh, and yes--you are completely welcome to stoop to my junior high level and use the name completely inappropriately...

"Jennifer, let's go make some Passion!" 

"Hey, Dave--thanks for the Passion!"

"Man, that's the best Passion I've ever had!"

So, tell me:  Have you ever heard of this wonderful concoction? 

What would be your favorite kind of Passion?  *wink*

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Happy Birthday, America!

We've been celebrating America's birthday for about a week now.  One of our all-time favorite traditions in Branson is Honor America, sponsored by College of the Ozarks.

 I would show you pictures of all the fun we had last weekend at Honor America...but I am wrestling my computer right now.  Since I live and work in THE BOONIES and have to use my cell phone to provide internet for my personal laptop, my poor laptop and cell phone are being stubborn about uploading pictures.  Sorry.  (I am currently breathing deeply, and reciting these words:  "Working at a summer camp really is worth it...Working at a summer camp really is worth it..."  Inconveniences like this really make me wonder sometimes.)

So, in lieu of pictures, I give you Honor America, 2010.  Because, really--the traditions are the exact same every year.  And, in my book--that's a GOOD thing!!!

Go on, now.  Click on last year's post.  You'll also get a BONUS and find my EASY BREEZY recipe for homemade vanilla ice cream!  I'm probably churning my very own batch right now as you're reading this.

What about you?  What are you doing to celebrate America's birthday?