a matter of conscience

On Tuesday this week I had ordered 4 of a product online that I had created for Christmas presents. The item (YES, I am being cryptic because intended recipients read this blog) arrived Friday. I was impressed with the quality of the workmanship, and how quickly it had arrived. When I had ordered said item, I was able to use a coupon for 50% off the total order. Can you tell it sounds like the perfect transaction?

Today, in my email, I had a coupon for buy 1 get 2 FREE. This sounded even better, so I thought I would chat with customer service to see if they would refund my account because it was within the same week. (Some stores will do that). While I am online with customer service, I decide to run the numbers from my purchase earlier in the week. I had actually saved MORE than what this new, incredible deal would save me. Oops, didn’t I feel like a heel! Then it gets better…..the customer service rep offered me a $25 refund on my credit card.

This is that moment of conscience.  And you learn a lot about yourself in that half-second.

I felt horrible I had wasted her time.  I declined the offer stating that I was very pleased with my order this week and how well it had turned out. I could have had $25 free that I didn’t deserve, but the bitterness of undeserved gain is not worth it.

treasures

It's Sunday evening and I'm sitting on the couch watching my children dance to Jackie Evancho's version of Nella Fantasia. They stretch out their arms, twirl round and round, then giggle as they get dizzy and fall to the ground or bump into each other. The sounds of happy children; there really isn't anything quite like it. Sometimes it is good to sit for a moment and appreciate what we have been given, to find the good in what we have been given, to enjoy what we have been given. It could all be gone in a moment. Life goes so fast and it is so very easy to get caught up in the mundane that the treasures pass us by.

To help me remember, I would like to share some recent treasures.

- My son has the funniest expressions. They make me smile. "Buzzert" - dessert. "Butterfly sword" - flyswatter. He gets close to Claire and whispers, "Hello, my beauty." He is driving his tractor on the floor and looks at Elauna and says, "Get out of the field." :-) Oh, it still makes me laugh. He runs up to me and says, "Let's play the game 'It's nice to meet you'" and sticks out his hand to practice meeting someone. He just giggles when I shake his hand.

- I wanted to go shopping with my mom and told Elauna that she wasn't going because I might look for a present for her upcoming birthday and it wouldn't be a surprise if she saw. She told me "three is enough {presents}, I don't need any more." She grabbed my hand and looked at me...she wanted to be with me more than getting a present.

- The toys take a long time to get cleaned up because it is as much a game to put them away as it was to  make the mess in the first place. The dozer, backhoe, and grain wagon get used to transport each toy....normally one at a time...to the proper location. Speed is seldom a factor, nor is my agitation.

- Miss Claire broke Elauna's bracelet and Elauna brought me the pieces. "Can you put my beedles back together?"

- Elauna tells me, "You're the best mommy ever!" {at least she thinks so and that is good enough for me, it is my own treasure}

- Those priceless video moments when I am taking pictures of my children and pan from one to the other....and when I get to Frederick his finger is up his nose. {I laughed later.} Boys do so many things that you dare not react to while they are doing them.

- My children name their toys after family and friends. They spend hours going to "Mimi and Papa's farm" (the toy barn), then driving to "church" (the couch), then to "camp"(under the desk), then off to one of their aunt's houses. The Duplo people have been named and stuffed into a toy car or tractor and round and round they go. Right now Frederick is asking, "How 'bout this be Eli?" and off he rides on the Duplo horse. Imaginations are a wonderful thing.

- My parent's horses are named Adam Raynyday, Lovey, Blackbird and Sunny.  {above mentioned Duplo horses have been named after them: "Rainyday", "Sunnyday" "Doveydovey", and "Blackbird" went unchanged}

- Miss Claire squeals with delight to play with her brother and sister. She gets the biggest smile when she sees people she knows. Oh, and if I'm barefoot she will sneak up and bite my toe. :-) {do you love a child? tell them. hug them if you can. they know}

Yes there are trials, and discipline required, but I don't want that to be the culmination of my memories....or their memories for that matter. I want my children to know I enjoy being with them. So if you stop by and the house is a mess, I am probably dancing with my children.

in the library

We love books at our house. We blame it on our parents because they wanted us to read for some reason. Truly though, when you find the joy in reading you can teach yourself to do anything, and your imagination can take you so many places. The mind is so fascinating. So if you haven't read a good book lately, pick one up and snuggle by the fireplace (and if you don't have a fireplace at home, head to your local Panera). As much as I love technology, there is still something about holding a book in your hands and flipping the pages that feels so down to earth.

Books everywhere....I love the hues of old books

the library

Claire with her book

Yes, he is reading Cinderella

I love history, especially local history, and I have a gem of a book in my library. My mother bought me this book, History of Miami County Ohio 1880 by W. H. Beers. I love reading it because is recalls the everyday life of men and women of another era, and they were the pioneers of the very county where I live. The stories are true accounts. Some of the stories are hilarious (Rival Lovers, Corn Husking, Temperance Talk...because corn husking was always done with whisky). Other stories make me appreciate the time in which I live (Capture of the Moffit Boys, Killing of Dilbone and his Wife, Scalping of Mrs. Martin). Why is history important? A better question: why is it important that history is not rewritten to suit our culture today? Because people who gave their lives for faith, family and country deserve to have the truth remembered. I'm a little passionate about this. I live in America, but American history is being rewritten to exclude the Christian foundation upon which our country was built. Twelve stones in the Jordan.....remember the truth!

Ma'am, please don't smile.