I’m Only Happy When It Rains (NOT!)

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Anna Ortiz Spencer

One can find so many pains when the rain is falling. –John Steinbeck.

Rain, rain go away…, oh, forget it. We’re past the point of cute nursery rhymes, the rain has gone on long enough, the puddles are turning into ponds and I’m going to come clean–I HATE the rain! I’ve always hated the rain.

For years, I feigned interest when people talked about rain. In Kansas, it seems that we never have enough rain and the topic comes up ALOT. People love to talk about the weather here…it’s a conversation staple. Don’t get me wrong…I am a big-time weather nerd, but the rain just doesn’t float my boat. At all. I can’t stand it when it’s gray and cloudy and I especially don’t like it when this type of weather goes on for days. This spring has been especially rainy and I’m so over it. In some ways it’s gone from annoying to spirit draining. I’m done.

I thought about writing a blog titled “5 things to do in the rain,” or maybe “5 things NOT to do on a rainy day, or “5 ways not to go INSANE when it won’t stop raining,” but…I just don’t care. This is what the rain does to me. It puts me in this pensive mood. It takes me to a place where time feels like it’s standing still…clocks no longer matter. The rain brings back memories (both good and bad.) It keeps me in this sleepy sort of daydream like mood. I feel like eating chocolate (and I’m not a huge chocolate kind of girl.) I have no energy. And the worst part is that I just don’t know what to do with myself. I should clean the house, I should catch up on work, I should start a project, I should bake something, I should read a book…but I can’t. As I write this I can imagine family and friends reaching for their phones…thinking that they should call and check on me. I’m fine. The truth is, I just hate the rain.

SpongeBob Uno…Jellyfish wild, anyone?

It’s funny to think that the rain could affect me so much. Especially since I LOVE thunderstorms! Crashes of lightening, booming thunder, and hail–oh, I’m a big fan. It’s exciting and BRIEF compared to our recent bout of never-ending showers. Several people have been complaining about how the rain is forcing them indoors and cancelling all their social plans. This makes me laugh because these are things that don’t bother me in the least. I’m not an outdoors person (too many bugs) and I’m perfectly happy keeping myself company (a self-proclaimed introvert.) Others have seized the opportunity to use these rainy days for family bonding and togetherness. This is all well and good, but there’s only so many games of Uno one can play in an afternoon (BTW that number is 37.)

Spencer family swamp. May 2015

Basically I am in survival mode trying to busy myself with anything that will distract me from staring out the window. This is where Facebook is an absolute godsend! I so enjoy all the posts about the rain…the worried, the productive, the thoughtful and especially the FUNNY takes on the weather! It’s rainy days like these where Pinterest is a lifesaver as I pin all the projects I will NEVER get to. Thank you, Instagram…#hashtag everything. Fellow blog writers…I appreciate all your genius insights into every subject under the sun (oh, yes, the glorious SUN!) Right now, you’re all keeping me sane AND awake! And finally, HGTV…where would I be without YOU? This sounds like an Academy Awards speech for keeping my head above water, but it’s so very true.

Right now all is quiet and it’s not even 9pm. The kids have retreated to their own corners of the house…binging on Minecraft and streaming TV shows. My husband is at the computer working. And the rain–well, it’s NOT stopping. When I pray tonight, I’ll be sure to thank God that I don’t live in the Pacific Northwest (as their rainy climate would absolutely kill me.) Along with this constant drip, I hear only one song playing over and over in my head…and it makes me smile.

Pour your misery down….

June Bugs in May (A Horror Story)

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Anna Ortiz Spencer

Insects are my secret fear. That’s what terrifies me more than anything – insects. —Michael O’Donoghue

This will probably only make sense to those who know me best: I HATE June bugs! I don’t remember when my phobia began, but I’m pretty sure that it’s hereditary since I have early childhood memories of my mom, my aunts, my cousins and my sister shrieking in terror when one would come around on a warm spring/summer night. By the time I was in junior high, the phobia was in full force…as my good friend, Joy, and I would part ways at the street light halfway between our houses. Under this light it would seem that June bugs gathered by the thousands…just looking for young girls with long hair to attack. Of course, we played it cool…walking to the street light, quickly saying our goodbyes and running like maniacs back to our houses screaming all the way! I think it’s their large bodies, hard shells, sticky limbs, drunken flight patterns and the sheer noisiness of the little beasts that send me into a tizzy. YUCK!

Turns out that up until now, my fear of June bugs was strictly theoretical. You see all that time I spent dodging them and screaming about them and running from them was merely child’s play. I had never actually had one land on me. I’ve never had to pull one from my hair. Mostly, when I saw one I ran the other direction and if I came across one on the ground well, I stepped on it and tried not to throw up (it’s that body crushing sound that makes me want to hurl.) This system was my response to these scary critters and while it may not sound like a great plan, it had always worked…that is up until last night….

While sitting around a warm campfire, preparing s’mores on an especially beautiful night I met my fear head on (so to speak, ) but let me back up just a bit–I should probably set this up a little. My kiddos were having friends over and with all the comings and goings I left the outdoor lights on. I wanted parents and kids arriving at our house to have a little light…especially since the bulb in the lamp-post that lights the sidewalk had burned out. This meant the flood light that illuminates the patio and basketball goal was on…for HOURS! It was during this time that a swarm of June bugs made their way to our house. There were so many that my son and his friend took to trying to exterminate the problem by clubbing them with sticks (probably a boy thing) and stepping on them. This was all well and good (or so I thought) because 1. it gave them something to do while they were waiting for every one to arrive and 2. they were killing the June bugs! By the time we were ready to get started I foolishly believed that the June bugs were no longer and issue and that any remaining little beasts would simply move on to someone else’s yard once we turned out the lights. But, NO.

The only good June bug–a dead one!

Throughout the campfire we could HEAR the June bugs lurking. Much of the noise came from June bugs running into the garage wall where the light had once been. There was even a loud popping noise when the less brilliant bugs sizzled up in the fire–much to the amusement of the kids. And finally there was the crackling noise of the June bugs beneath MY feet as I moved about helping the kiddos make their s’mores. Each crunchy moment made me want to lose my dinner and I wasn’t even sure if I was going to be able to stomach eating a s’more myself. After about 20 minutes my thoughts drifted away from these horrible bugs and on to the silly ghosts stories that were being told. But wouldn’t you know it…just when I finally got past the situation enough to put together my own ooey gooey, delicious s’more I felt something. No it wasn’t in my hair or on my arm…no the sinister little beast was crawling up my pant leg–ON THE INSIDE!

So there I was with my marshmallow stick in one hand and my fixin’s in the other when I could feel something moving up my leg (darn those wide leg, boot cut jeans.) Okay, I thought, be calm…we have company. We don’t want to panic the children. I’ll just crush it up against my leg and then it will fall out, right? (As I type this I can’t believe those words crossed my mind!) So I quickly transferred everything to one hand and smacked my knee with the other. I heard and felt the crunch. I shook out my pant leg, but nothing fell out. Surely, I had killed the thing! I mean, I hit it pretty hard. I shook my pant leg even more, stepping out of my sandal and using the moonlight to search out the area. NOTHING. Alright, maybe it fell out and I just didn’t see it. Yeah, that sounds good. I’ll go with that. Thinking that the issue had resolved itself, I went back to the task at hand and set out to assemble my s’more. As soon as I bit into that little square of goodness that same feeling returned to my leg. This time I couldn’t help but react. I jumped, squirmed and announced, “There’s a bug in my pants!” You can imagine the giggles and fits of laughter. Great. So again I smacked my knee as hard as I could and this time I knew without a doubt that I had succeeded in killing that thing. You can’t deny BUG JUICE! (Excuse me now while I once again try NOT to throw up!)

What I realized last night is that somewhere along the way, I must have grown up. While I still wholeheartedly claim AND proclaim my June bug phobia–somehow I got through that moment. In the past a trauma like this would have completely ruined my night, but not this time. Instead, I shook out my pant leg (again) and what was left of the bug fell out (of course, I immediately stepped on it for good measure.) Then I moved past it. We finished up our s’mores and Steve and I enjoyed chatting by the fire until nothing was left but smoldering embers. It was so peaceful. Obviously, I didn’t want to discover another bug up my leg, but I wasn’t afraid to let my feet rest on the same slab of concrete where the incident occurred. Call me crazy, but this is BIG GIRL stuff! I felt so good and proud of myself (especially after that squishy spot dried on my pant leg.) Sometimes it truly is the little victories…”sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug”…and sometimes you just get over it and move on as dignified as possible…BUG JUICE and all!

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Proverbs 31:25

My Purse Keeps Getting Bigger (and Not for the Right Reasons)

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Anna Ortiz Spencer

As the purse is emptied, the heart is filled. –Victor Hugo

My briefcase-sized purse…easily weighs 8-10 pounds.

Remember the good ol’ days? Footloose and fancy free? Not a care in the world? I do…and what I remember most about them was that everything that I truly NEEDED fit into the palm of my hand. Gone are the days of tucking cherry-flavored Chapstick into my pocket and heading out the door. No more securing a dollar bill to the inside of my sock…you know, just in case. Forget about making room in your shoe to save that last piece of gum for later (seriously, forget about that–it’s a bad idea.) All of these good times ended at about age 16…the year where freedom (a.k.a. driving) meant that you had to carry proof that you were indeed legal behind the wheel! Thus one enters the era of THE PURSE….

At first, having a purse made me feel all grown up. My purse contained nothing but the necessities, right? This is sorta funny because at the time I remember searching my room frantically for items to fill my purse. You know–a comb, lipstick, gum/candy/breath mints (sometimes ALL three), a pen. perfume (I know…I’m sorry,) a stylish journal (for all my important thoughts) and of course a wallet for money…plus that prized driver’s license (the reason I desperately needed a purse in the first place.) In the beginning the purse was pretty small…always messenger style so I could wear it across my body. This is important, because when you’re new to carrying around a purse you need one that you can’t lose…just saying. The purse and I became sympatico and a love/hate relationship was established.

By the time college came around I had to re-evaluate the whole purse thing. Life was changing–big time! I found that college life required a backpack and not necessarily a little messenger purse. The school that I attended was situated on top of a hill, so a lot of walking was a given. Fortunately, I found an item that I refer to as a wallet-keychain. This nifty little gadget became my best friend for four years. It tucked nicely into the backpack, held the bare essentials (license, student ID, money, and bank card) and was attached to my keys! Genius. I wished I had discovered it in high school. This would make everything better…or so I thought. But the purse would eventually have its revenge.

After graduation I ventured into a career path that required some “primping” to say the least (I am only slightly embarrassed to say that I wanted to be the next Connie Chung 🙂 ) Carrying a make-up bag, a brush and comb, etc. was just the norm for this girl with big dreams. Add onto that the things I needed for work: a pen (a back up pen,) a notebook, tapes (and back up tapes,) and HAIRSPRAY! Then there were the snacks (you wondered when I would get to this point?) You see, when your lunch hour varies (or doesn’t necessarily exist) you need more than gum to sustain yourself. Small packages of crackers, cookies and even instant coffee started entering the picture and filling my (now bigger) purse. My shoulder aches just thinking about those days.

I wish I could say that changing career paths meant less stuff and a smaller purse. It didn’t…and mostly because I moved to California. You’re probably wondering why that matters, but it does matter and maybe not for the reasons you might think. It wasn’t that I needed a big purse so that I could keep up with the Kardashians, but rather I needed a purse filled with survival supplies. While California is amazingly beautiful, it’s also a jungle! And jungle life meant that you had to be ready for your 11 mile commute to take as long as two hours. If you had to cross a bridge, someone else’s fender bender might have you looking at a 3 hour delay. Traffic is ridiculous there and so you had to pack ridiculous things in your purse. Water was just as big a deal then as it is now. Carrying around water bottles was not only in vogue, but it could save your life on a warm, Cali day if the traffic was particularly uncooperative (especially when you AC goes out!) Food in your purse was a must, but because this was the Golden State you felt obligated to have “healthy” food. Fruit, nuts, cheese and crackers were the standards–and “fresh” food meant carrying a cold-pak, too. I pity the person who got busted stuffing their face with Cheetos on the California freeway! (Really, you should know better!)

But never was the purse’s revenge as terrible as the day I become a mother. It’s like I could hear the purse saying, “You will never, EVER go back!” I tried making my purse into a diaper bag and when that didn’t work I asked the diaper bag to do double duty as a baby-things-carry-all and a purse. Either way you look at it, I was carrying around a bunch of nonsense. Okay, you’re thinking…”Well, your kids weren’t toddlers forever, right? Eventually you went back to carrying around a plain old purse.” Well, yes AND no. Now that I was a mom I discovered this unwritten rule where you are forced to carry things for your kiddos. This form of servanthood is sneaky, even to the most savvy mother. So many times I have told my children that if they brought it, they had to carry it…only to find my purse a little heavier and their book, toy, or gadget safety tucked inside while my child proceeded to run and do hand stands all over the place with their newfound freedom.

My migration to the extra-large purse didn’t end with just the kids’ stuff. My purse also doubles as a medicine cabinet. Bandages, Neosporin, allergy medicine, etc. all make their home here as well. I am the keeper of Kleenex, keys and bubble gum (of various flavors nonetheless.) My purse houses accessories for cleaning glasses, and extra contact lenses as well as a portable hair salon equipped with fashionable hair-ties for my daughter. Need to write something down? I have pencils, pens and SHARPIES (assorted colors) in my bag! Not to mention lotion, hand sanitizer, post-its and a small magnifying glass (BTW I’m aging and my eyes were the first things to go.) I have ear buds, sunglasses and occasionally pizza crumbs (don’t ask.) These are just the staples, I could go on (and on….)

So why am I telling you all this? Because I want it to stop. REALLY. I am over the purse thing. I want to be the kind of person who just goes with the flow (sans the “luggage.”) The kind of person who doesn’t need a million accessories just to go to the grocery store or to watch my kiddos play ball. I want to go back to the days when everything I NEEDED fit into the palm of my hand. I am craving simplicity and I think the reason all of this has to come to a head is because physically AND spiritually the purse is weighing me down. Stop. I know that’s a pretty big leap, but hear me out. I finally understand the reason I carry around the equivalent of a briefcase everywhere I go, 365 days a year. It’s because of fear and control. Every time a situation has come up in the last 20+ years and I DIDN’T have the tools I needed to handle it, another “something” was added to the purse. This is a pretty big revelation for me. While feigning having it all together, what was really going on was a lack of trust. I didn’t trust myself, I didn’t trust life and in someway I was also saying that I didn’t trust God (at least not completely.)

My new wristlet…smaller than a paperback book!

After so many years, it’s going to be hard to change this pattern…to fight the urge to cover all the bases, at all times–EVERY time. The desire to be superwoman, superwife, supermom, etc. is so very strong. Listen, I know this isn’t the biggest problem on the planet, but I feel convicted to make a change. I want to trust more…to put myself out there. In some suburban-housewife-kind-of-way…this is my next faith test. So here’s where I am–I purchased a wristlet (which just may be the grown-up version of the wallet-keychain that I loved so much in college.) Full disclosure–right now the wristlet resides in my purse (along side a million other items,) but I am making a plan to downsize to this little dandy. Just the NECESSITIES! Those of you who know me, know that this is a tall order! I think I’m up to the challenge. Don’t worry, I’m not going cold turkey…I will still have a large bag (NOT a purse) for sporting events, kid-related activities and church projects. So what if I don’t have a bandage for every boo-boo or a just the right flavor of gum for my kiddos? I have a funny feeling (and a whole lot of FAITH) that we will survive…and it just might save my shoulders, too!

Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. Luke 22:35

hymningandhaing (The Title Explained)

Posted on February 22, 2015 by Anna Ortiz Spencer

First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak. Epictetus, Greek Philosopher

Not that anyone has ever asked, but I thought that maybe I should explain (just in case the thought ever crossed your mind)…why hymningandhaing? If it sounds familiar and looks horribly misspelled, then you’re right on both accounts. The title is my take on the familiar idiom “hem and haw.”

When I began writing this blog in 2011, I planned to share bits and pieces of my faith along with my everyday life and I wanted a title that would reflect that theme (go with me on this one, the road is a little twisted here….) To hem and haw means to dither, refuse to give a definitive answer and to keep one’s options open (according to The Word Detective at least.) So while the more familiar version of hemming and hawing connotes a level of indecisiveness, uncertainty and fence-sitting, my interpretation is a little more personal. The “hymning” part is a playful way of suggesting that while I’m a pastor’s wife, I am also the least literate hymn person in the congregation! I didn’t grow up in church so for the most part the hymnal is full of dozens of songs I’ve never, EVER heard of. Not exactly what you’d expect from the so-called “first lady of the church,” (a title that makes me giggle every time!) While this might seem like a sad state of affairs, the “haing” part of the title (pronounced ha-ing…like ha, ha, ha) suggests that I try to take all this in stride and accept the fact that no matter what role I find myself in (wife, mother, sister, friend, etc.) I always try to find the lighter side of things and not take myself too seriously. Afterall, NONE of this was my plan. I am just grateful that God’s plans are so much bigger than anything I could have imagined for myself! And that’s where the original hemming and hawing meets my variation. I don’t know where all this is going or how it will all play out. For the most part, I try to stay open to the possibilities, be thoughtful in all situations and just wait and see…realizing that I don’t have all the answers (if any at all.)

So that’s it. It’s definitely not an earth shattering revelation. Just a little insight. Although I will admit that it makes me belly laugh every time someone mispronounces the blog title! My favorite to date is when someone asked me why I call it hymning-and-HAYing…is it because I live on a farm? (No, I don’t.) 🙂

Small Town Night Owl

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Anna Ortiz Spencer

I stay up late every night and realize it’s a bad idea every morning. —unknown

As I near 40, I’m almost ashamed to admit it. Almost. But here’s my confession: When it comes to sleep I am my own worst enemy. I think I might have jinxed myself as a kid when I muttered that both food and sleep were overrated. While I still hold these tenets to be true, I have come to discover that sleep is pretty vital (I’m sure food is, too…I just don’t want to admit it or PREPARE it.)

It’s not that I don’t need sleep. Trust me, I NEED it! It’s just that my clock is “off.” I could try blaming age, but my real trouble with sleep began way before that. It seems that at bedtime…I’m just not tired. As a child I remember sharing a room with my little sister and after lights out, we would simply stay up and talk…or sing. (We had these singing contests where we tried to win the other person over to our song. Popular catchy songs work well, but if I remember right, annoying brain worm songs like “Mary Had a Little Lamb” worked much better!) I also loved to tell stories and like an old woman I could spin a yarn that would go on for days. My poor sister! On more than one occasion I’d tell a story that would go on so long that she would fall asleep before it ended 🙂 It was slightly embarrassing…. Only slightly.

In junior high and especially high school, I continued my night owl ways. It wasn’t that I wasn’t tired. I really, really was! But afterschool activities, a social life and school work kept me up ’til the wee hours of the morning. (Before you jump to any conclusions let it be known that I stayed up way later for school work than for anything else! I know–I’m a NERD 🙂 ) For some reason, I always felt like I had more energy at night. 11pm seems to be peak time for me. To be fair, I have to admit that I am not a morning person. Not at all. Maybe that’s part of why I’m a night owl.

During my college years, being a night owl just went with the territory. We were all night owls…burning the candle at both ends. It wasn’t that big of a deal–nothing ever is at that age. Wake up early, stay up late…some nights sleep was more of a good idea than a reality. I can remember going to a Poe concert the night before a final, closing down the club, going out to breakfast, drinking my weight in coffee, studying for an hour and arriving on campus just in time to take a 7am final–and acing it. (Good genetics, I can thank my Mom for my test taking abilities!) This was the way life rolled and I loved it! Yes, sleep was overrated indeed. We are so invincible in our 20s….

One might think that motherhood would change everything. No. Now I had an excuse to be awake at all hours of the night. Pregnancy, middle of the night feedings, a colicky baby, illness of one kind or another, bad dreams, etc. All this and so much more just pushed my night owl tendencies to the next level because a sleeping child meant that I could have a moment to do what I wanted to do. You know, like watch a sitcom from beginning to end (forget movies…that’s asking for too much time,) have a snack and not have to share, catch up on correspondence, READ, and have a continuous thought (crazy, right?) Let me be clear, my late night tendencies have never had anything to do with insomnia (which sounds horrible!) It really is LIGHTS OUT once my head hits the pillow. It’s just that I can find a million and one things to do before going to sleep. Did I mention that I drink ALOT of coffee?

I’ve given my night owl tendencies a lot of thought lately. For the past few weeks I’ve noticed several news articles and studies that cite the need for better sleep habits…specifically MORE sleep and an earlier bedtime. At first I sort of brushed it off, but I’m starting to think that maybe I should take these things more seriously. These same studies say that a lack of sleep leads to poor memory, an inability to focus, impaired immunity, sluggish metabolism and WRINKLES. (Look, I claim not to be vain, but I don’t know a woman on the planet who’s “okay” with wrinkles!) So, what’s a girl to do? Change seems practically impossible. And let me just state for the record, this wouldn’t even be an issue if I could find a school district where classes didn’t start until 10am (that’s what I call a reasonable morning hour.)

My best friend recently told me that she has successfully made “the transition,” moving from night owl (she was my social counterpart in my early years) to morning person. I know–it just doesn’t seem possible! No longer does she fritter away the late night hours or need to set several alarm clocks to wake up in the morning. Instead she’s up with the sun and happy about it. So what’s her secret? She tells me that through prayer and discipline she has made a change for the better. Wouldn’t you just know it? Jesus is the answer (again!) I have to tell you that I’m not optimistic. It’s not that I don’t have faith…it’s more that I don’t know if I’m ready. Because you see EVERY part of me LIKES staying up late. It’s my chance to breathe, to sit without interruption, to find peace, READ and have a continuous thought all my own! (Notice a theme here?) I like being the only person awake in the quiet of our little home. Maybe it’s an introvert thing, but nighttime is MY TIME!

Okay, so someday (soon) I plan to grow up and get serious about sleep and taking care of myself. And when I do, I know (without a doubt) that Jesus will see me through. That and the threat of WRINKLES….

Night, night.

Ohhh, Christmas Tree!

Posted on January 4, 2015 by Anna Ortiz Spencer

The perfect Christmas tree? All Christmas trees are perfect!—Charles Barnard

THE Christmas tree: Symbol of that oh so special holiday, proudly displayed each and every year in a place of prominence, carefully adorned with treasured and sentimental ornaments. A recognized hallmark of the Christmas season and the BANE of my Decembers. As our family always opts for the “real” variety (instead of the plastic trees of my childhood,) it seems that somewhere along the way a war has been waged between the Spencer family and THE tree. A battle that never fails to entertain and frustrate at the same time. This year proved no different.

So may I present to you our annual Christmas tree adventure–in song form! Oh yes, this year’s tree had us fooled…we REALLY thought this was THE perfect tree 🙂 Each family member convinced that we could avoid the typical end of the year evergreen hijinks. Fools we were, this tree had our number from Day 1.

THE tree on January 4, 2015. A little scraggly, still standing!

Still standing! We made it through December and into 2015. Sure, it’s a sight to be seen and my son is already begging me to “please, take it DOWN.” No, son, not yet. I promised my daughter I would try to have it down by the time her birthday rolls around (mid-January.) In the meantime, I will sip coffee and watch our once majestic tree transform into a scraggly shrub, daily picking up the ornaments (aided in their fall by the dog no less,) placing lights back onto the branches and taking bets on just how crooked it will get before it tips over (again)…and then, maybe then, I will take it down. I’m in no hurry. The whole ordeal has practically become its own Christmas tradition…a tradition I secretly wouldn’t trade for anything in the world! Ohhh, Christmas tree 🙂

Don’t measure the height of your Christmas tree. Measure the abundance of the love present in your heart! Have a blessed Christmas!–author unknown

Another Blog-iversary :)

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Anna Ortiz Spencer

Dear Readers,
I would like to say THANK YOU to those who have been following my blog, hymningandhaing.com. As I enter my fourth year of blog writing, I am proud of the 65 posts I have penned thus far and the positive feedback that I have received—it continues to fuel my desire to write more! I am grateful for the fun comments, insights and encouraging words that you have offered throughout my blogging endeavor and I look forward to 2015 and the writing opportunities it will bring!

Happy blog-iversary, hymningandhaing.com!!!

Back to School Essentials (7 Must Haves You Won’t Find on Any School Supply List)

Posted on August 15, 2014 by Anna Ortiz Spencer

Casey First Day of School 2009

It’s that time of year! And the back to school vibe is so pervasive you can practically smell it…(and it ain’t rosy!) Alarm clocks set, buses running, backpacks on and lunches packed, this is show time! So whether you’re Best Dressed or Total Mess, Ready Freddie or Nervous Nelly, the school bell’s ringing and there’s no stopping it. Like most dutiful moms, I’ve done the shopping and the supply gathering, made sure the kiddos have been the recipients of stylish haircuts and good shoes, and we’ve definitely run the gauntlet when it comes to Back to School Night. Still, there’s a few things that I wish I could bundle up and tuck into the backpacks of my children (and every child for that matter.) You won’t find them on the shelf at any discount store, but they might just make all the difference. So load up on these seven BIG back to school necessities….

1. To Thine Own Self Be True. Let’s motivate our children to walk into the classroom with a sense of self. Remind your children WHO they are and WHAT they stand for. Let’s be authentic and real with one another, forget the game playing. The mean girls garbage, the bullying and the backbiting. A good majority of us are capable (even at a young age) of understanding what is acceptable and what isn’t. Parents be an example.

2. Be Kind, Rewind. Remember this saying from the days of video rentals and VCR’s? Might I suggest that we urge our children to adopt this little mantra as a way of extending grace to one another and ourselves? One of my favorite exercises in kindness invites us to think BEFORE we speak. We can effectively offer kindness by pausing to check ourselves, especially when dealing with a difficult person. PAUSE…and ask, “How does this sound out loud? Am I treating others the way I want to be treated?” I often remind my kiddos to be kind to themselves, too. Sometimes we’re our own worst critic. Kindness is a wonderful gift.

Sean First Day of School 2005

3. Mind Your Zzzz’s and Eat Your Peas. Do your children a favor and help them develop healthy eating and sleeping habits. Numerous studies show that students learn better and have a more positive school experience when they get enough sleep and eat regular, nutritious meals. I’m just as guilty as the next Mom. McDonald’s is soooo easy and convenient and one more episode of their favorite show won’t hurt…or will it? Remember, grown-ups, we ARE in charge!

4. Game Plan. Having a strategy for homework, school projects and extra-curricular activities is vital to maintaining a sane household. We’ve all had that child come home and have a breakdown because they’ve procrastinated on a project, didn’t pay attention to a lesson in class, or flat out fell behind. Let’s encourage our children to be proactive, make a schedule and take pride in all that they do.

5. Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously. This applies to kiddos AND parents. There’s nothing like laughter to diffuse a tense situation. Finding the joy and the fun in life is critical to a person’s overall well-being. Make time to laugh, giggle and create good times (and good memories) with one another. Remember, it’s not all rocket science.

6. Your Loved Ones Have Your Back. There’s nothing quite so overwhelming and utterly terrifying as feeling alone and like no one understands. Create an atmosphere in your home and in your relationships where each person knows their value and worth. Most parents (guardians and caregivers) would go to any length to protect the children they love. I want my children to succeed and you want your children to succeed, too. Fostering a safe and loving environment can be the catalyst that moves a child in a positive direction.

7. You Gotta Have Faith. We’ve all heard the term separation of church and state, as well as the countless other arguments about keeping religion out of school. Fine, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave your personal faith in the school parking lot. Let’s remind our kids that God is present and active in our daily lives, not just at home or at church, but all the time. It’s okay to carry your Christian values into the school building. Christ’s example of grace, mercy and love will be a welcome addition to any education environment. Looking out for one’s neighbor, a spirit of forgiveness, and a desire to treat each other justly and with respect will make any school year one to remember. I tell my children it’s perfectly acceptable to say a silent prayer before a tough test, for a classmate going through a trying time and especially for our teachers and administrators. In our home, we pray for our schools, our classmates and teachers before bed each night…why would we stop between the hours of 8am and 3pm during the week? I want my kiddos to know that there is a 24/7 God who knows each of us, loves us dearly and has a wonderful plan and purpose for our lives.

So as we snap and post those first day of school photos, let’s be intentional about making this THE school year where we put first things first and load up on all the essentials for our best school experience yet (kiddos and parents alike!) 🙂

Intelligence plus character…that is the goal of true education. –Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Summer’s Last Hurrah! (My Top 10–This Just Got Real)

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Anna Ortiz Spencer

Vacation Flashback: S’mores with Aunt Tricia

Every summer has a story. –Unknown

Summer never looks so good as it does on the last day of school! Like a brand new penny, summertime is all shiny, a token of possibilities just waiting to be spent 🙂 Back in May, we anxiously awaited days of unscheduled fun and endless adventure (not to mention the joy of “forgetting” to set the alarm clock!) In so many ways I was more excited about summer than my kids…the monotony of pick up/drop off and the constant scheduling/rescheduling of team practices, medical appointments, school projects, etc…. And while it’s not my favorite season of the year, summer was sure sounding pretty good! In theory, I was willing to overlook the scorching temperatures, bugs and the chaos that is the spontaneity of summer. I planned (funny, huh?) on enjoying it all and loosening the reins of my control freak lifestyle. Feel free to laugh at me….

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Oh yeah…THE SNOW CONE!

Now that the end of July has rolled around (and the school supplies have debuted at the local stores,) I realize that this summer has been anything but the relaxing, carefree season I imagined. Don’t get me wrong. I’m NOT complaining. I spent the better part of the summer watching my children grow and learn on the baseball/softball diamond. We’ve squeezed in sleepovers, sports camps, swim lessons, and Vacation Bible School. My “Camp MOM” program has netted the children a few prizes while propelling (okay, FORCING) them to look at Scripture in a new and exciting (?) way. We’ve easily eaten our weight in Dairy Queen ice cream and discovered the addiction that is THE SNOW CONE! We’ve managed to eke out a little pool time (NEVER enough for my kids.) And we made our way to Grandma and Grandpa’s for a little family visit. All very good things! Still, I feel a little incomplete. The busyness of summer has me feeling like we missed out on the lazy, less hurried parts of the season. Frankly, we’re running out of days and there’s still more on my list.

So here and now, I’m putting out for all to see MY Summer Wish List…because summer break is all about the parents, right? Forget about the kids (not really!) Here goes nothing:

1. Catch fireflies in a pickle jar. Might as well be specific 🙂 Don’t worry, catch and RELEASE!

2. Stargazing. My opportunity to impress my kiddos with my vast knowledge of constellations. Yeah, right.

3. Drive in movie. This is a tough one because I don’t really like sitting through movies…it’s a huge time investment. Equally problematic is that I’m REALLY picky about the movies that I watch. Cross your fingers.

4. Road trip. Okay, if you know us…then you’re already aware that we’ve been on the road for baseball tournaments this summer. Those don’t count. I want to go see nature…(I can’t believe I uttered those words!) I’m thinking State Park adventure 🙂

5. S’mores. Enough said. Throw in a couple of campfire songs and we just might call this one EPIC!

6. Eat outside. I don’t know why, but I love to picnic. It goes against my ant phobia, but it’s really true. I enjoy dining outdoors.

7. Professional baseball game. This is already in the works! Hooray 🙂

8. Read three GOOD books. I’m sort of a nonfiction junky…and those are typically long reads. Managing to get through three would be heavenly. I’m still on book one.

9. Visit Lawrence, Kansas. Stroll down memory lane while reminding my kids that they can choose any college they want (as long as I approve of it.)

10. Go to the zoo. Because it’s fun and I like Orangutans (a lot.)

Okay, people. There it is. And since time stops for no one, I needed to get started on this list YESTERDAY. Because while summer technically goes through September, my kiddos start school in mid-August.

Summertime is always the best of what might be. -Charles Bowden

UPDATE 8/2014: Completed 9 out of the 10. Not bad 🙂

They Just Might Revoke My Mom Card for This….

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Anna Ortiz Spencer

Okay, Mom-friends…here goes. Truth is…I haven’t seen the movie Frozen and I don’t plan to see it anytime in the near future. So, when you talk about how adorable it is and how it’s a must see, when you tell me that you rushed to buy the DVD the day it came out and your family knows the movie line by line, and when you share that it’s your go-to drive time music (even if the kids aren’t in the car with you)–I will smile, but I just CANNOT relate. Sorry 😦

I’m not anti-Disney, too busy, or boycotting any number of supposed agendas, etc…it honestly just doesn’t look that interesting to me. I know–GASP! My children (a boy and a girl) have both seen the movie, we own the CD (a birthday present to my daughter from a friend), and I think I’m pretty familiar with the basic story line. My kiddos (and their friends) sing the songs around the house and in the van (they do seem to be very catchy tunes.) Once I even played the music during a snowman themed church event to the delight of dozens of girls AND boys–it’s obviously a big crowd pleaser! I have read countless articles and blog posts about the wonderful and not so wonderful (depends upon the viewpoint of writer) themes in the film. Plus, I’ve heard numerous raving reviews from young and old alike about the movie. Still…nothing. My husband even wants to see Frozen to find out what all the hubbub is about. To which I have to say, “Watch it with the kids.” It’s just not my cup of tea.

I should admit that I’m not a huge fan of children’s movies or animated flicks of any kind. But as a Mom, I’ve had to watch several more than my fair share (we’ve all been there!) Many times, to my surprise, I find that I actually end up enjoying the movie. There are even a few…like The Incredibles and Megamind…that I would watch repeatedly. Most recently we’ve seen The Muppet Movie and Sherman and Mr. Peabody. Both two thumbs up! So, I really can’t explain my reluctance to sit down and watch Frozen. No biggie, right? Move on. But just when I thought that most of the hype surrounding this movie had sort of died down (like maybe I was in the clear of being “outed” as the only Mom on the planet who had not seen it), a funny thing happened to me at Wal-Mart….

While in the party section, a desperate woman wandered into the aisle, frantically looking from side to side and up and down. She left her children near the end cap display (two in the cart and an older child to monitor the group.) I couldn’t help but feel like I was in the way somehow–clearly she was on a mission. It was about this time that one of her kiddos said, “Mom! That looks like Frozen blue!” and pointed to some “icy, blue-toned” colored plates and napkins. The woman quickly snatched them up. She moved closer to me and said, “Where can someone find snowflakes in the middle of summer?” Not sure if she was speaking to me or just to herself (or both)…we started to make small talk. She was trying to put together a Frozen themed birthday party and wasn’t having much luck. Apparently this shopping adventure was taking a little more time than she had planned and while Frozen toys were readily available, she was scrambling to find the right table accessories and decorating supplies. All I could offer were a few measly sympathetic head nods along with a suggestion that maybe she could arrange rhinestone stickers in the shape of a snowflake if she couldn’t find what she was looking for…and then…the record scratch. You know that moment where time stands still…it usually happens when you can’t believe what someone has just said or done…immediately followed by everyone staring at you. No, the record scratch moment wasn’t in response to my rhinestone snowflake suggestion (?) –it was a reaction to what I said after that, “I’m sorry if I’m not much help. I haven’t seen the movie.”

The look of disbelief on her face took me by surprise…suddenly I was stammering to say that I’d heard nothing but good things about the movie and that my kids really liked it…especially my daughter! In a last-ditch effort I threw out there that she should try a larger Wal-Mart or maybe Party City…I wished her luck and couldn’t get out of the aisle fast enough! I scrambled past her cartload of kids–who were also wearing shocked expressions and staring at me. Yikes…what just happened? Heart beating frantically, I realized that I felt guilty for not having seen the movie! Obviously, this was a big Mom fail on my part to say the least.

As I share this, it all seems pretty silly. Angst over a movie, I mean. But I guess that I while I don’t really plan to see it, I do understand the huge impact that it’s had on this generation and their parents and families. I can see it now…Frozen will be its own category on Jeopardy someday. It will probably show up as movie trivia during the previews at the theatres for years to come. Down the road we’ll have a whole army of baby girls named for the movie characters. Suddenly, Annas and Elsas (and maybe even Olafs for the boys) will fill up classroom name lists and sports team rosters! We’re not just talking about national impact, either. Frozen is a major hit and a force to be reckoned with worldwide. I hear that there are plans for a Broadway musical and maybe even a sequel. The merchandise is everywhere and there’s probably much more on the way. And I will have missed out on all of this!

Oh well. Let it Go….

hymningandhaing

balancing faith, family & a few dozen other things on the yellow brick road

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