just for the sake of putting it all out there.
so grateful today...
for children who are becoming amazing human beings.
for teachers who take time to see what I see in our kids.
for family willing to drive hours for a kids birthday.
for my husband. he's a hottie.
for a job I get fulfillment from.
for great music and fun podcasts.
NOT grateful for the new reality show The Voice.
I just shaved my legs...goosebumps I'm getting from the show?
NOT HELPFUL.
Come on girls. You know what I'm talking about.
Peace out girl scout.
-McGee
My thoughts... Based on my own ordinary existance. And sometimes extraordinary experiences.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
words.
Words are powerful tools.
They can build people up, move societies to change, boost morale, enlist support, share love and support, tell stories and paint pictures, communicate compassion.
Words can also break hearts, accuse, tear people down, encourage hate, turn people against one another, spread gossip, bring pain and suffering.
I ran across a great quote although I can’t find who said it…
You are master of the words you don’t say. I’ve been taught and then have tried to instill in our kids-Is it kind, is it true, is it necessary? In other words, is it worth it to say it out loud. They who have mastered the art of this are masters over the words they choose not to share.
You’re a slave to the words you do say. Once it’s out there, you sure can’t take it back. Our best words are celebrated and our worst, well, we can apologize and retract but they hang out there in the universe like laundry you just can’t get dry.
I’ve been hurt by others’ words plenty and sadly, I know I’ve wielded mine as swords more often then I care to recall. With Facebook and Twitter it’s so easy to spit out words that we wouldn’t say face to face either in passing as a quip or with our own political stance or agenda. It’s become easier and more comfortable to insert our opinions as fact at any given chance.
And even though my opinion is generally right…
(just ask Mr. Man-I’m rarely wrong)
It’s maybe not necessary.
All this to say-here’s an amazing quote that I will now be memorizing, memorializing and possibly imbedding it into our kids' sweet heads…
“I appreciate people who are civil, whether they mean it or not. I think: Be civil. Do not cherish your opinion over my feelings. There's a vanity to candor that isn't really worth it. Be kind.”
Those are words to live by right there:
Do not cherish your opinion over my feelings...Be kind.
I'm not sure why that was such a novel concept to me but it is. Don't cherish my own opinion over the feelings of others. Wow. See-those are the kinds of words I want to be known for.
Thanks Mr. Greenberg-right on!
-McGee
They can build people up, move societies to change, boost morale, enlist support, share love and support, tell stories and paint pictures, communicate compassion.
Words can also break hearts, accuse, tear people down, encourage hate, turn people against one another, spread gossip, bring pain and suffering.
I ran across a great quote although I can’t find who said it…
“You are a master of the words you don’t say
and a slave to the ones you do.”
You are master of the words you don’t say. I’ve been taught and then have tried to instill in our kids-Is it kind, is it true, is it necessary? In other words, is it worth it to say it out loud. They who have mastered the art of this are masters over the words they choose not to share.
You’re a slave to the words you do say. Once it’s out there, you sure can’t take it back. Our best words are celebrated and our worst, well, we can apologize and retract but they hang out there in the universe like laundry you just can’t get dry.
I’ve been hurt by others’ words plenty and sadly, I know I’ve wielded mine as swords more often then I care to recall. With Facebook and Twitter it’s so easy to spit out words that we wouldn’t say face to face either in passing as a quip or with our own political stance or agenda. It’s become easier and more comfortable to insert our opinions as fact at any given chance.
And even though my opinion is generally right…
(just ask Mr. Man-I’m rarely wrong)
It’s maybe not necessary.
All this to say-here’s an amazing quote that I will now be memorizing, memorializing and possibly imbedding it into our kids' sweet heads…
“I appreciate people who are civil, whether they mean it or not. I think: Be civil. Do not cherish your opinion over my feelings. There's a vanity to candor that isn't really worth it. Be kind.”
-Richard Greenberg, playright
Those are words to live by right there:
Do not cherish your opinion over my feelings...Be kind.
I'm not sure why that was such a novel concept to me but it is. Don't cherish my own opinion over the feelings of others. Wow. See-those are the kinds of words I want to be known for.
Thanks Mr. Greenberg-right on!
-McGee
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Little Miss is officially a teenager!
When I started this blog I didn't want to be a "mommy bogger"
Now-don't throw anything at me.
There is nothing wrong with blogging about being a mom.
It's just not what I set out to do in THIS space.
But along the way I realized that I am the sum of my parts.
And a large part of who I am is a mommy!
So hold on to your shorts...it's birthday month in our house and I have some birthday blog bragging to do about our babies!
So today I realized...I now have TWO teenage daughters.
Litte Miss has crossed the road and is now officially 13.
Warrents a top ten list, dontcha think?
Now-don't throw anything at me.
There is nothing wrong with blogging about being a mom.
It's just not what I set out to do in THIS space.
But along the way I realized that I am the sum of my parts.
And a large part of who I am is a mommy!
So hold on to your shorts...it's birthday month in our house and I have some birthday blog bragging to do about our babies!
So today I realized...I now have TWO teenage daughters.
Litte Miss has crossed the road and is now officially 13.
Warrents a top ten list, dontcha think?
Top 10 Best Things About Little Miss:
10. She is the bomb diggity in the kitchen!
9. Little Miss is a giggly fun person to be around.
8. She is a natural athlete!
7. Little Miss is sharp and smart. Really smart.
6. She will play with her younger siblings for hours on end.
5. Little Miss picks great friends-hard to do in middle school.
4. She has an incredibly beautiful smile and it's contageous!
3. Little Miss is spunky and walks to her own beat.
2. She has a tender and very loving heart.
And last but not least...
This year she brought home a letter from a friend who wanted her to know that she appreciates how Little Miss doesn't really care what other people think and can just be herself. Because of that, this friend is feeling less self conscious about herself and being around Little Miss makes it easier.
The number 1 thing I love about this daughter is her willingness to be herself and the space that allows the people around her to do the same. She is a beautiful, talented, funky fun teenager that I am blessed to have as a daughter.
Happy Birthday Little Miss-you rock girl!!!
-mommy mcgee
Friday, April 8, 2011
older.
Little Man gave me a good long stare down today,
Raised his eyebrows
Squinted his eyes
And proclaimed...
"You DO look a little bigger today, mom!"
Followed up with the sweetest birthday snuggle I could ask for.
It made me long for the days when how tall I am was the most important measure of growth, where age was just about getting to the next one and birthday's were all about cake and presents. Ok. Maybe they're still all about cake and presents, Facebook too, by the way.
(Tangent coming!)
Had a birthday on Facebook yet? I kid you not...makes you feel like a rockstar-people you haven't seen or heard from in years wishing you a happy birthday. It's pure awesome sauce. I may just change my birthday every couple months so I get a few days a year like this.
But I digress...
These days I am hyper aware that the most important measure of growth changes somewhere past 18 but before 30. The personal growth that occurs, however graceful or not, over the course of each year has been painful, slow coming, glorious, freeing, terrifying and exhillerating. It also reminds me how much more I need to grow!
If you asked me what life would look like now, a year ago, I'm not sure I would tell you I would be where I am. In fact, I know I wouldn't! MANY big changes, bumps in the road, growth and blessings have put me where I am today.
Someone said to me the other day that they were on one path but things changed and they were making peace with the fact they were now on another path. I can't help but wonder, when we think we're making some big, grand change or life has thrown us in what we feel is a different direction, if there isn't a grand design or choreography of life that really just takes our ONE path all over the place. Is it possible that we aren't constantly changing paths, that this is just PART of the path?
Am I waxing too poetic tonight?
Forgive me.
The wisdom of my whopping 35 years is overwhelming at times.
I can barely contain it.
Or my sarcasm.
So happy birthday to me.
Here's to another year full of opportunites to grow.
Hopefully each year a bit more graceful than the last!
-McGee
Raised his eyebrows
Squinted his eyes
And proclaimed...
"You DO look a little bigger today, mom!"
Followed up with the sweetest birthday snuggle I could ask for.
It made me long for the days when how tall I am was the most important measure of growth, where age was just about getting to the next one and birthday's were all about cake and presents. Ok. Maybe they're still all about cake and presents, Facebook too, by the way.
(Tangent coming!)
Had a birthday on Facebook yet? I kid you not...makes you feel like a rockstar-people you haven't seen or heard from in years wishing you a happy birthday. It's pure awesome sauce. I may just change my birthday every couple months so I get a few days a year like this.
But I digress...
These days I am hyper aware that the most important measure of growth changes somewhere past 18 but before 30. The personal growth that occurs, however graceful or not, over the course of each year has been painful, slow coming, glorious, freeing, terrifying and exhillerating. It also reminds me how much more I need to grow!
If you asked me what life would look like now, a year ago, I'm not sure I would tell you I would be where I am. In fact, I know I wouldn't! MANY big changes, bumps in the road, growth and blessings have put me where I am today.
Someone said to me the other day that they were on one path but things changed and they were making peace with the fact they were now on another path. I can't help but wonder, when we think we're making some big, grand change or life has thrown us in what we feel is a different direction, if there isn't a grand design or choreography of life that really just takes our ONE path all over the place. Is it possible that we aren't constantly changing paths, that this is just PART of the path?
Am I waxing too poetic tonight?
Forgive me.
The wisdom of my whopping 35 years is overwhelming at times.
I can barely contain it.
Or my sarcasm.
So happy birthday to me.
Here's to another year full of opportunites to grow.
Hopefully each year a bit more graceful than the last!
-McGee
Friday, April 1, 2011
food for thought.
free will or divine design?
at which point do my efforts trump divine choreography?
or will someone else's free will take precedence?
i'm currently in an argument.
and i'm fierce when i think i'm right...
but fighting with the divine?
i fear i'll never be right until i let go and let what is, be.
i'm here again...which part is mine and which part is yours?
(Remember this one...
http://justmcgee.blogspot.com/2010/11/which-part-is-mine.html)
but hey if i have to yield...can You at least let me in on the plan?
that would be great. k, thanks.
-mcgee
at which point do my efforts trump divine choreography?
or will someone else's free will take precedence?
i'm currently in an argument.
and i'm fierce when i think i'm right...
but fighting with the divine?
i fear i'll never be right until i let go and let what is, be.
i'm here again...which part is mine and which part is yours?
(Remember this one...
http://justmcgee.blogspot.com/2010/11/which-part-is-mine.html)
but hey if i have to yield...can You at least let me in on the plan?
that would be great. k, thanks.
-mcgee
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