Blue Eyed Blog
Posts tagged Family
(No Longer) Homeless
Apr 4th
After 7 long months, I am (finally) no longer homeless. You want to have some fun? Try caring for 3 kids (even part time) without a real, permanent place to live. I can tell you from experience that it is not easy, but it can be done.
Last Friday I moved back in to my own house. It looks as if it has been robbed at this point, but I have enough furniture and household items to make a go of it. Hopefully I’ll be able to afford to re-stock the house and make it look like a home again soon.
I’m home. I’m happy. I’m single. I’m a father. Certainly not in that order. I’m also happy. For the first time in a very long time.
Christmas Morning
Dec 25th
Christmas morning has come. There were presents under the tree. There was candy in the stockings. There were peals of excited screams from the Tot as she discovered all the things Santa, her brothers, and her Daddy had brought her. (She will have another Christmas later in Florida with her Mommy and extended family.)
Those were my gifts. The smiles.
The squeals. The “It’s just what I’ve always wanted all my LIFE!!“
The anticipation of rooting around as deeply in her stocking as she could get looking for more “Chocolate Poins” (Coins) that Pickles her Big White Cat was responsible for bringing around.
And then the “Ok, we’ve had too much candy, and we’re tired of having our pictures taken” moment.
And now it’s the aftermath. The piles of wrapping paper. The torn ribbons strewn around the room. The crash from the sugar high.
But my gifts didn’t come wrapped in paper or with bows. In fact, I can count on (what’s left of) the fingers on one hand the number of gifts I unwrapped from paper this morning. My gifts were unwrapped with my eyes and my ears and my heart. And they are gifts that will never break or wear out or be discarded. I don’t need “things” for Christmas. I need family and friends and kindness and love and relationship with other people. So love with all your heart. Never let a minute go by without letting those that you love know that you love them. Don’t just say it. Live it. Live it with every breath you take so that there is never any doubt.
This Is What I care About
Sep 30th
This is what I care the most about. Making sure that these unhappy faces …
Look like this …
As often, and as much, as possible.
That, and teaching this one some better make-up skills.
Yes, it’s cute now, but as she gets older I hope she learns to be a little more subtle with the colors and the application. Though, from what I understand, subtlety in make-up seems to be ‘out’ right now. I’ve been seeing more TV lately, and I’m not impressed.
I’ll also look for more natural beauty like this …
whenever I can. But mostly it’s about the smiles. More smiles for the ones I love. More beauty in the world.
Life Friends and Priorities
May 11th
The Mayonnaise Jar
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle. When 24 hours in a day is not enough; remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and start to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous ‘yes.’
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.
‘Now,’ said the professor, as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things – Family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else The small stuff.
‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
‘So, pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dripping tap.
‘Take care of the golf balls first — The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.’
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. ‘I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.’
I know at least one friend that I owe a couple of cups of coffee to, and I intend to have them.
What about you?
