Day 14: Ten Things That Make Me Happy

This is in no particular order, but here are 10 things that make me happy.

1. Spending time with God, reading his word, and praying. This is when I feel most peaceful and satisfied.
2. When Calla does her morning stretches and her coos and smiles. Just holding her and looking at her make me so full of love and happiness.
3. When Chip surprises me with a kiss and a "bear hug."
4. Laying in bed with my son, Chip, in the morning as he is waking up. He smells sleepy and he is warm. It is one of my favorite moments in my day.
5. When Keith and I sit together, alone, and talk. He is my best friend and sharing life with him makes me happy. I love our time together.
6. Christmas. Anything Christmas. Songs, presents, trees, food... Make me happy.
7. Running outside. Something about being outside. Looking at the sky. I love the feeling I get after too.
8. Nap time. When the house is quiet and I can curl up on the couch with a book. Pure joy.
9. My two favorite treats: Coffee and coffee dates at Starbucks or ice cream and ice cream dates at DQ.
10. Clean house- no dishes in the sink, vacuum lines in the carpet, tile sparkling, bathrooms cleaned. I just love for things to feel clean. Then I can relax.

Day 13: Public Apology

 To thine own self be true - William Shakespeare, Hamlet

I would like to apologize for not always being true to myself. Sometimes I do things to please others, and I end up over-committed, stressed, and an overall disappointment to myself and others. Or sometimes I fall into the pressures of focusing on things that aren't important because others around me are focusing on those things: vanity, materialism, mother-of-the-year, etc. One of the lessons I am learning currently is that peer pressure can go both ways. Standing up for what you believe may feel lonely, or you may lose friends, but there is always someone watching you that may be influenced by your actions. Peer pressure doesn't have to be negative, and it most certainly doesn't have to go with the crowd. I need to stay true to myself and let what is important to me guide my decisions not because I feel I have to, or someone will be mad at me if I don't. I am too old to play the popular game. I am sorry I haven't always been true to myself. I have fallen into the trap of doing things that I shouldn't for all the wrong reasons. It has left nothing but regret and wasted time. That is not how I want to live my life. So what I am going to do is try to be more conservative with my time. More honest with myself and others about how I feel, and press on. Don't fall into the pressures of others. Be true to yourself.

Day 12: What do you miss?

Robyn and I before Prom. Junior Year?

The prompt for day 12, yes I am behind, is what do you miss? Since it is summer, there is one thing that comes to mind. I miss Robyn Turnovsky (Seipel) and spending time with her at her pool. Robyn and I grew up together. Not in the same house, but as neighbors. She was my first friend. From birth, we grew up next door to one another. Although our fights were epic, we loved each other. To this day, I love Robyn. Some of that is met with regret for the time and distance between us, but she is one person I know would take me in at my worst, and I would do the same for her. She is someone I trust and love as a sister. Her family, was my family. Her fridge was my fridge. :) There were many times I ate over there. The best part of my childhood would be our summer days. We would spend all day by the pool. Robyn always the lobster the first few weeks, and me the one with too much sun oil. (Her dad did not like us to wear oil. Sorry Jim.) Our summer days were priceless. Robyn's friendship shaped me as a person. She was always honest and dependable. I would do anything to go back for one more day and sit with her by the pool... eat Sunchips, drink a soda, and lay on a raft. That is what I miss the most right now. Ah, to be young again.

Day 11: Sell Myself in 10 Words or less.

The audience is not clearly defined for this one. So this is hard. But here you go...

Loving, caregiver, with a strong will and sensitive heart. (9 words).

Day 10: Most Embarrassing Moment

I don't just have one moment that stands out; I have a moment from each point in my life. So here ya go. One from high school, college, and finally, momhood.

1. Most Embarrassing high school moment.
We we were at an away basketball game. My friends and I thought we were cute. We were going to cruise the concession stand for cute boys. Since we were the cool kids, we sat at the top of the bleachers. I, of course, wasn't paying attention to my steps as we walked down, and I tripped over God only knows and landed on a group of thugs. I am not being funny. Seriously, there was a group of rough guys who seriously wanted to fight me because I may or may not have scuffed up their FUBU jerseys. Let's just say, I didn't get any hottie's numbers.

2. Most embarrassing college moment.
I was a lifeguard in the summer during college at Manhattan Public Pool. Mainly for the tan. While working one hot, July day, I was making my merry way to the stand when my MALE manager said, "Hey, Candice, your string is showing." Not quite sure what he meant, I looked down to see if the drawstring on my bathing suit bottoms had popped out. Nothing. I thought, "What is he talking about." He called for me again. I went over to him to see what the fuss was all about. He smiled and said, "Your tampon string." I. Was. Mortified. Here I was, walking around the pool with THAT hanging out. I wanted to die.

3. Most embarrassing mom moment.
This story is sweet. It takes place on Mother's Day. Keith took us all to the park for a picnic and some fishing. It was a beautiful day. As we were getting ready to leave the park, I went to the truck to feed Calla. As I finished up, I noticed Keith walking with Chip back towards the truck and Chip was crying. I felt bad for him, so I had to get out to see what was the matter. I put Calla in my other arm to open the door. Next to me was a man loading a bike on his bike rack. We said, "Hello." As I shut the door of the truck, I felt a cool breeze in a place that hasn't felt a cool breeze in a very long time. I looked down and what do you know, I didn't put my boob away. There I was, in the park, with my boob out. I hurried and covered myself but the damaged was down. I am sure bike-guy had one heck of a story for his friends when he got home. Oh brother sauce. 

There you have it. I hope you had a great laugh. :)

Day 9: Moment in My Day

My son is obsessed with my phone.  He loves to walk around and take pictures. I love it because I get to see the world through my two-year-old's eyes.

Photo of my Chip

We made a fort this morning, where I was hoping to occupy him for a while so I could get some work done on the computer. He watched a little of Monster's Inc. He then was distracted by his tractors and was soon up and playing. The fort again was occupied by his dad when he was home for lunch. The two of them snuggled and watched some news. Chip kept leaning over and giving his dad kisses. It was the sweetest thing. We have had a pretty busy day. I have had lots of work things going on, and Chip has done some serious playing. :) Next up, after naps we are walking the dog. Hopefully, it won't be too hot.

Day 8: Advice

I am late with this one. This was yesterday's topic, but better late than never. I had gotten into town later than expected from Keith's parent's house. I spent all day yesterday getting unpacked, paying bills, getting organized again for another week. No time for blogging...
I have a few simple pieces of advice that I have learned along the way. Here they are (some more serious than others):

1. Unpack early after vacation.
If you unpack soon after you get home, it makes the week better. I have found that I can get more done if I am not digging through the suitcases all week or tripping over them as I walking from the bed to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

2. Fold your laundry as soon as it comes out of the dryer.
Folding laundry as it comes out of the dryer and hanging the "hanger clothes" promptly makes putting laundry away easier. I have been employing this method recently and realized I have less wrinkles in my shirts, and I am more efficient at getting laundry done.

3. Think before you speak.
Sometimes I have said things and immediatiely regretted it. Have you ever said anything and wanted to stuff those words back in your mouth quickly? Yes, me too. I am learning to harness my tongue. This is not always easy, but necessary. Sometimes what we say can cause a lot of damage and mistrust. You can damage a relationship, if not forever, for a long time. So when angry or irritated, if you love and value the person, don't respond with words you will later regret. Your words can be forgiven but not easily forgotten.

4. Take it God.
When worried or facing a difficult challenge don't ever underestimate prayer. It is hard to think, for me personally, that prayer will be effective, but every time I have relied on God and prayed about whatever I struggled with, He has followed through. Matthew 21:22 "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

5. Make your own baby food.
It is fun, cheap, and healthy. My son eats ANYTHING. He always has, and I attribute that to my culinary skills. :) I loved making his food, and can't wait to make Calla's. We saved sooo much money too. It is unreal what baby food costs. All you need is an oven, food processor, and ice cube trays. No  special equipment needed. Your baby will thank you later. ;)

6. Walk a mile in someone's shoes. (Cliche I know)
We have all had different experiences in life. We have different families, lives, and struggles. Sometimes it is hard to understand what someone is going through, so instead of passing judgment or speaking harshly about them or to them, put yourself in their shoes. Not everyone has an easy life and some stages of life are easier than others. For me, I feel that having two small children is pretty difficult to manage. But it won't last forever, and it certainly isn't the worst it could be. Before you judge, put yourself in their shoes. And if you still don't get it, walk another mile. (That is from a song. Drew Holcomb. "Another Man's Shoes." Great song.)

Day 7: Something I Fear

Today’s prompt for the blog was something I fear most. I thought about all the things I fear, and I kept going back to a novel I just finished this summer. I recently read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. It depicts Kabul, Afghanistan culture before and after the Taliban have taken over the government. Without giving too much of the plot away, in case this is a book you will read someday, the Taliban has taken over Kabul. Upon taking control, they want to “clean” up the city by killing the lower class citizens. The Hazaras. They murder them for no reason. Take them out of their houses and shoot them in the head. A genocide of sorts. After they murder these families, children are left orphaned, if they are left alive. These orphans are left to live on the streets or in rat-infested orphanages where some are sold as sex slaves to the Taliban men. The widows are not allowed to work under Sharia law, so they are left to beg to feed their children. People are stoned to death at sporting events as a pregame show. Houses are taken from people, women are whipped in public for speaking too loudly, men are flogged for cheering at a soccer game, soccer players are told they can’t wear shorts because it is not proper so they must wear pants. The people are not allowed to eat meat. Only the Taliban can have meat. People don’t even flinch at seeing a dead person hanging from a beam in the public square.  

Having to live in a nation that no longer recognizes the individual and controls every aspect of my life. This is my worst fear.

This novel haunts me. I cannot believe there is this kind of evil in our world, but I know it exists. I am humbled after reading this novel. Whatever hardships I have suffered up until now are nothing compared to the hell these people and kids go through everyday. I didn’t grow up in an orphanage without my family;I was educated, and I had freedom to have a career a family, a home. These are things that are unheard of to the refugees in Afghanistan. The book says, “Perspective [is] a luxury when your head [is] constantly buzzing with a swarm of demons.” These orphaned kids no longer have a childhood. They are raped and beaten and starved. I thank God I was born in America. My heart breaks for these people. 

More about the author or novel click link below:

Click Here 

www.marshall.edu

 

Day 6: What I do

What do I do? This question is pretty hard right now considering I was a teacher in a "brick-and-mortar school" for seven years and just recently left that job to stay at home with my kids and teach for an on-line high school. So what do I do, without giving you a job title? Well, I get little ones up and fed and sometimes we make it out of our pjs. Then, I plan lessons that are interesting. Teach them to students, who I can't see, through an online program called Blackboard. It is definitely a different way to teach. I like it. I have students from all over Kansas. Some are doing on-line school because they are sick. For example, I have a student who is battling Leukemia. I have other students who are musicians, rodeo queens, international tennis players, and normal kids that just weren't getting their needs met in their local high school. I grade online and return assignments online. It is a "Techy" job, and I like it that way. Youtube is my friend.  Recently, I used a really cool video to introduce Shakespeare's King Lear. 
When I am not teaching or grading or prepping for school, I am doing chores to keep my house up and running. For instance, I have recently taken up ironing. This was something I NEVER did. Now I do. I feel pretty housewifey these days. I do laundry each day, so I am no longer trying to cram it in on the weekends. I feel much less rushed and life just seems simpler these days. I am thankful that I am still teaching, while being able to take care of the little ones and my husband. I am much happier, and I think my family is too.

Chip's excited about it. This is my job :)

Day 5: Shout out to a Blogger Friend

This one was really hard, that is why I am writing it now. It is called procrastination; my go-to mode when faced with difficult challenges. But alas, I can no longer put it off. I have decided the person I would like to send my love to is Lindsey Hill. She is not a fellow blogger (yet) but she is the one who got me started blogging. Lindsey is my sister-in-law. But before we were sisters through marriage, we were friends. To this day, she is the one person I can tell anything too. No judgment. Honest criticism. A hug when needed. She once sent me a magnet that reads, "The stormy stuff in life isn't as scary when we ride it out together." (That is probably not the exact words, but pretty close.) We have relied on each other during some pretty difficult times in our lives. I don't know what I would do without her. She is my frister (Combo of friend and sister).
We met when Keith and I first started dating in the fall of 2002, then became "pen pals" so-to-speak through email. We got to know each other pretty well writing back and forth. After we started having children, we have always dreamed of ways we could stay at home with our kids and meet up for coffee and lunch and pedicures. Sad thing is, she lives in St. Louis and I, in Topeka. We were of course dreaming to think that lunch dates and pampering were possible with little ones and the distance between us, but it was always fun to talk about. One of her ideas to stay at home was to write. She suggested to me that we start a blog. Lindsey was all like, "How cool would that be?" And I was all like, "What is a blog?" Once I realized blogging was cool, I decided to join the blogging world in 2011. HeartSoulTummy was born. We have yet to start our blog, but she was THE one to get me started with this type of writing. So, Thanks Lindsey. Love ya, Fris.

Lindsey and I after the Color Run. 2012.

Lindsey and her two beautiful boys.

Love this one. She is such a natural beauty. Pictured here with her youngest baby boy.

Day 4: My Favorite Quote

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My favorite quote is from Jesus. He tells us in Matthew 6

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]? 

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Image from svcov.org

I struggle a lot with worry. I worry about everything; I even make up things to worry about that aren’t even going to happen. This summer, I have really tried to get into God’s word each day, and I can’t tell you how much peace it has brought to me. Rather than worrying about things, I am learning to pray, to trust God, and to do the best that I can do on my part. God wants us to need Him. When we let God take over, great things happen. I can assure you!

Why is worry pointless? Just as the verse says, "can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" No. My pastor, Mark Doss, says that "worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair doing a whole lot of work to get no where." No one is guaranteed tomorrow and when we spend all day worrying about tomorrow, we are missing out on today. 

You have heard the saying, God only gives you what you can handle. That is true. He gives you enough time and enough to do for the day. You are the manager of your time. You control what you chose to think about. So knowing that God has provided you with the tools necessary to tackle whatever comes each given day, you are creating undue stress and ultimately defeat if you invite tomorrow’s troubles into today. We aren’t meant to deal with tomorrow until tomorrow. We are equipped for today alone. 

Now, I am not saying don’t plan… but I am saying don’t worry about everything. Sometimes trusting God with your tomorrows is the best way to free yourself from stress. Things just work out better that way. It is your job to deal with today’s troubles and decisions. “Tomorrow will worry about itself.” We only have one life, don’t miss out on today worrying about your tomorrow.

Carpe Diem… seize the day!

Day 3- Things That Make Me Uncomfortable

1.     Calling people I don’t know- I have had to call parents to schedule orientation times for iQ Academy. This is so awkward. I am not confident. I fumble. I am downright uncomfortable talking to people I have never talked to before.

2.     Grown men on playgrounds- My child was playing on the playground the other day, and there was a man just hanging out in the tower at the top of the play equipment. Just chillin’. "No old man. Get down." This is making me uncomfortable.

3.     Holding Wall Squats- I freakin’ hate these but love them at the same time. I get so uncomfortable; I want to punch someone in the face each time I am done.

4.     Walking down the feminine product aisle- First it screams.. “I am bleeding you know where.”  Sick. Not only that, but there are other products there. KY Jelly, Condoms, Pregnancy tests. It is just awkward. I don’t like it one bit. But, it is what it is.

5.     Wearing socks to bed- I have to have bare feet in bed. I get so uncomfortable if my feet can’t be free while I sleep. It drives me crazy.

6.     Having a dirty house- I can not be at peace until my kitchen is cleaned, my house is picked up, and my bathrooms are clean. I will not be able to relax until these things are done. I am just too uncomfortable. Or maybe I am too crazy...

There you have it… things that make me uncomfortable.

Day 2: Something I am Good At

Cleaning your bathroom, in 15 steps

When I saw that today's topic was something I was good at two things came to mind: cooking and cleaning. Talk about 1950s housewife. I kind of felt bad about myself for a minute, then I remembered that it is that time in my life. If you asked me this same question when I was 16, I would probably say waltz jumps (figure skating move) or booty dancing. But not today folks, it is all about cleaning and cooking great meals in this house.
Ever since I can remember, cleaning was a Saturday routine. My grandmother kept a clean house, and still does.  I don't just mean clean, like it looks nice, I mean clean like the walls are scrubbed, cabinets washed, faucets polished, and floors scrubbed by hand. Guess who got the cleaning bug gene? This girl. Although, I am not on "crazy" level like Meme. I just don't have the time. So, today, I am going to tell you how to efficiently clean your bathrooms so that it doesn't take lots of time, but you get everything SUPER clean.

You will need:
Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner
Toilet Cleaner
Windex
A Dobie sponge (or another abrasive sponge)
Two dry towels
Two wet towels
Broom
(The reason for two is because you don't want to touch anything that has touched the toilet to other areas of the bathroom. Yuck.)

Directions:
1. Go into bathroom. :)
2. Line toilet bowl with cleaner, shut lid.
3. Sweep floor. 
4. Spray Windex on mirror. Wipe with dry towel.
5. Spray Scrubbing Bubbles (SB) on counter. Wipe with wet cloth. Make sure to get faucet.
6. Polish faucet with dry cloth.
7. Wipe cabinets down with wet cloth, then go over with dry cloth.
8. Wipe all surfaces of towel rack and TP holder down the same way as the other, no SB needed.
9. Spray SB on all surface area of toilet. Epecially the handle and the underside of the seat. Let soak.
10. Move on to the shower. Spray SB all over. This is where the Dobie comes into play. Scrub, scrub, scrub. Especailly scrub the bottom of the tub. Feet can be dirty things and bacteria can settle in the little grooves of the fiberglass. Rinse shower with a few cup-fulls of water.
11. Polish faucet and shower head with dry towel 'til sparkling.
12. Next, wash the toilet wash the outside first with the other wet cloth.
13. Wipe the inside with sponge. Dry with other dry towel. (The sponge can no longer be used. Needs to be disinfected before the next cleaning day.)
14. Now, it is time for your floors. You can simply use water, or hot water mixed with a few splashes of bleach. Use the first wet towel, the one you used to wipe the counter, not the toilet, to scrub the floors. Make sure to do EXTRA scrubbing around toilet. Get those germies.
15. Then, use the first dry towel to dry the floors. This will ensure that they won't dry streaky.

Voila! Beautiful bathroom.

Take a hot shower and enjoy the cleanliness.
And remember when bathrooms are clean, all is right in the world. Or is it just me that feels this way?

Day 1: My Life in 250 Words

 Since committing to the "Blog Everyday in July" challenge with some friends, I have been dreading today. The topic is "Story of MY Life" in 250 words. I hate talking about my life story. At my age and stage in life, I don't like telling my life story because I find it uncomfortable to share details about childhood. So this is a very basic overview of my life...I hope the other entries for July will be more interesting than this, but this is a start. 

 

I was born, Candice Kay Axtell, on July 17,  1984 to Barbie Buchanan and Robbie Axtell. A year later, my parents married. 4 years later, my parents divorced.

Fast forward....
I was raised by my grandma Meme because sometimes life isn't perfect and parents aren't always great parents.

I attended Kansas State University to become a teacher. I had always wanted to be a teacher... I wanted to change lives. I wanted to be Michelle Pfeiffer in "Dangerous Minds." ("As I walk in the Valley of the Shadow of death, I take a look at my life and realize there's nothing left..." you know the song.)

I met my husband freshman year. I saw Keith Hill at the rec center and believed him to be the cutest guy EVER, gave him the lamest pick up line, and told him to meet up with me that night at an All U party. He stood me up only because the party was rumored to have been busted... likely story, Keith. But, we met again at a football game and were inseparable from then on. We married in 2006 after I graduated. God knew what he was doing... We were meant to be. :)

After we were married, we moved to Salina where I taught high school English for 5 years. We had our first child there, Charles Kent (Chip). After 5 years in Salina, we moved to Topeka, Kansas for a job change with my husband's work. Since living here, we have added to our family, Calla Lane was born 4 months ago. She has been a blessing, but a lot of work. :)

This is life thus far... can't wait to see what the future holds!! It is all in God's hands. So far, so good.

To sum it up in a list of life's greatest moments... 
my grandmother stepping in to raise me, my salvation at 18, my marriage to my best friend, and of course, the birth of my two children. 

Keith and I in 2005

Our first hike up Mt. Holy Cross where Keith proposed.

Our stay in Vail to celebrate our engagement.

Mr. and Mrs. Keith Hill

Our little bundle, Chip

Chip, 3 days old.

Chip when we moved to Topeka

Such a sweetie face. Chip.

My lovely grandma, Meme.

Calla, day 1 of life.

Chip and Calla meet for the first time.

Our baby girl... what a blessing.