thoughts on life on a Thursday morning

I am sure there are some of you out there who harbor dreams of writing.
I have a deep love of putting words to paper or screen for that matter.
For years I dreamt of what it would be like to get published.
Let me tell you the scenario of how I envisioned myself writing books.
In a small cottage by a lake, with sun dappled hills and inspiration flowing
down from the heavens. I think I was wearing white. I'm not sure.
Unbelievably, there were no children included in this scenario.
But the other day, I called my friend Rene who is a seasoned writer,
15 books under her belt and I asked her,
"What the heck?" And that is strong language for me.
I am on deadline.
I have been sitting in front of a computer for hour upon hour for days upon days.
I believe my bottom is shaped permanently like a chair.
The laundry is overflowing. (What's new?) The only body of water close by
is the bathtub which I put Addison in to keep him occupied.
He is a little bit on the pruny side as of late.
I haven't hung out with friends in weeks.
I'm answering e-mails and trying to remember candy for school parties
and I have realized there is nothing sun dappled or inspirational about it
and I am wearing sweats and a pony tail....there is nothing white in my wardrobe.
Which made me say, "What the heck?"
So I told this to Rene, "I'm forgetting things,I have scraps of paper everywhere,
my clothes don't match and I've been wearing a ponytail for two weeks....I look...?
"Like a harried writer?" she cut in. "Welcome to the life of a professional writer."
Well, now this was a bit disheartening I have to say.
Could it be that I have unrealistic expectations of the writing life? Never.
Just like I've never had unrealistic expectations about marriage or motherhood.
Scott and I always communicate perfectly and the children are always tidily dressed
and obedient. Always. Okay, never.
So then I was talking to my cousin, Gretchen, this morning,
who recently had her fourth boy and she said that her expectations of what having
four children looked like were clearly delusional.
Her life looks nothing like she thought it would.
She is mucking it out at this point. That doesn't mean it doesn't have it glorious moments but somehow they often get lost among the dirty dishes.
So I guess that is what I am saying. It is life. It is messy.
How could I expect it to be otherwise?
There are no neatly folded corners in living.
It's all scrap metal and duct tape as far as I can tell.
We're just piecing it together the best we can.
Maybe the point is that we are living this out together and it doesn't look or smell or feel like we expected it to but every once in a while a tiny person hugs our neck with chubby arms just because they feel like it and we see what love is.
Or maybe the point is that somehow by some miracle a scrap of beauty, a nice turn of phrase, a God inspired thought crosses the page in spite of all the mess and then it is worth it.
Of course, it is worth it.
Even when you have been wearing a pony tail for half a month and you have a chair shaped rear, it is worth it.
So keep the dreams alive, girls.
Life may not be pretty but it means something.

the book goes international

I don't know what makes me happier -
The thought of the book being over seas
or the thought of my friends making their husbands take
pictures of them holding the book in random places overseas.
Thank you, husbands, for taking pictures!
Here are the latest exotic locales the book has shown up at.
At Chez Paulette with Janice in Bordeaux France.

Near the River Garonne in Centreville, Bordeaux

Scandalizing Janice with something I wrote somewhere in France
(Did she not know I was prideful, selfish and covetous already?)

At the Taj Mahal with Kristi

In a tuk tuk with Kristi and her boys, Matias and Markus

The only thing better than the book going abroad is if I could be
going abroad....
If I could be at the Taj Mahal with Kristi
or chasing down a croissant with a cafe au lait at Chez Paulette with Janice.
It is obvious that I am living vicariously through my book.
In my vicarious life, I would like find myself on the white sand at Hapuna beach
in Kona, Hawaii.
A girl can dream can't she?

ps if you have any book tour pics, send them to tiredsupergirl@gmail.com.
You don't have to live in France or India. Really.

7 random things on a thursday

1. I woke up at 7:40 this morning. My children are supposed to be out the door at 8:00. This was not so much random as terrifying. There was a flurry of clothes, waffles and maybe a little bit of voice raising. Just a little. They all made it out. Praise Jesus.
2. My sisters and I have started a new work out video together. Why are the work out people always so peppy? My sister Jenny says she has to lower herself into her chair at work using her arm strength due to shaky legs and my glutes and hamstrings have begun a conversation with me. They are saying things like, "Why do you hate us?" and "Let us atrophy like you did before!"
3. Madagascar 2 is out on dvd. We watched it this weekend with the Clements cousins. While the credits were rolling, my son, Will, dropped to the ground and began doing the centipede. I have never seen Scott this excited or proud. He also dropped to the floor and began to centipede with Will. I think Scott may have cried tears of joy.
4. If you want your blog to be listed in the league of tired supergirls on this blog's sidebar put your url in the comments and I will add you.
5. If you have the winter blues and chocolate can help you see your way out of those blues go to your grocery or to World Market and buy some Ghiradelli Hot Chocolate and whip yourself up a cup. It may not make the snow or rain go away but for a small price you will be transported to a land of cocoa loveliness.
6. Do you remember the story in John 12 when Jesus is visiting Mary, Martha and Lazarus, Mary breaks open precious perfume and pours it out on Jesus feet? In the same scene, Judas Iscariot, gets irritated and says that perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor because he is secretly stealing from the pot on the side? Is there any greater juxtaposition than Mary and Judas - one who is giving everything to Jesus and one who will sell Jesus out? And Jesus lets them both be who they are. Crazy. Check it out for yourself.
7. We are only one day away from Friday. Can I get an amen?

lori sabin's let it go giveaway winner

And the winner is.....
Here are your random numbers:

4
Timestamp: 2009-02-18 16:30:13 UTC

Hello, lucky number 4! Bree, you won!
E-mail me at tiredsupergirl@gmail.com with your address
and I will get it to Lori so she can get you the cd!
For those of you who didn't win and would like the cd
you can contact Lori at her blog girlymuse...
and you might want to stay and read a bit because she has
some good things to say.

beauty on the cheap

I haven't done a product showcase in while.
And really I just like putting pictures up on the blog so I thought would
do a little beauty segment....since that is obviously something I am an expert on...
or not really but I still thought it would be fun.
So I know that we are all trying to tighten our belts so to speak
in the way of cash flow.
But being a church planter our belts are already on the snug side
so I thought you might enjoy hearing some of the products
that I enjoy for around $10 and under.
And if I must be totally honest, I rarely spend more than $10
on anything, not even clothes,
because I was raised to go directly to the sale rack
do not pass go...do not look to the full price items on the side...
full price items are of the devil. Okay, maybe not of the devil but
they drain the pocket book more quickly.
So here go. Cheap Beauty 101.
Cleanser - Olay Age Defying daily renewal clenser $4.74
I'm pretty sure a cleanser is a cleanser but this one has little
exfoliating grains and makes me think that maybe I AM defying my age
so I'm going with it.

Moisturizer - Olay Active Hydrating Beauty fluid $7.99
It's not greasy. That's all I'm saying. I don't like greasy.

Lip Gloss - Vinyl Gloss in Snog $4

The name snog sounds gross. I'm not sure what it means. But I love the color.

Foundation - Loreal True Match $10.95

I don't like heavy foundation. My cousin, Alys, told me about this. I am sold.

Dry lips - Palmer's Cocoa Butter Swivel Stick $2.43
This is a little stick of moisturizing love. My mom keeps them around the house.
I even used it on my hands when they are dry and cracking in the winter. I love you little swivel stick.

Body Lotion - Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula With Vitamin E spf 15 Body Lotion $7.99

Not greasy. Smells a little like chocolate. There is nothing wrong about that.

Shampoo - Aussie Moist Shampoo $3.99

This is the closest I have come to finding a salon shampoo for a drugstore price.
My sister-in-law, Traci, got it for me and it even reminded me a little of the love
of my life shampoo, Frederic Fekkai. My hair felt really soft. Maybe even a little
hydrated. All for 3.99

Conditioner - Aussie Moist Conditioner $3.99

I like my shampoo and conditioner to match. I don't know why. That's just me.

What are your cheap favorites...not cheap quality...just cheap price wise.....
because none of us wants to get hives just because we are thrifty.
And don't forget to leave your comment for the Lori Sabin giveaway which ends
tonight at 9!

the my-friend-lori-said-to-let-it-go-so-i'm-going-to giveaway

So this is the thing.
I am exhausted. There is nothing funny about that.
If I could make it funny I would.
Okay, well, maybe my hair looks a little funny. It's been a pony tail week.
And apparently the stress is showing a bit on my face.
When the boys and I were trying to look at the veins in each others foreheads
last night at dinner, Will asked me,
"Are these lines called veins, Mom?"
To which Jack responded,
"No, Will, those are wrinkles. Big wrinkles."
Thank you, Jack, for your deep insights into my forehead lines.
I'm in the tail end of writing this book and let's just say that deadlines and me?
Not so much.
I am at a creative impasse. I am impressed with myself that I can even recall
what the word impasse means at this point.
So that is why I have been listening to this song over and over.
Let it Go by Lori Sabin, a tired supergirl in her own right who writes over at girlymuse.
She has a way with words and a way with songs.
This is one of those songs that just breaks it right down.
I have just put in on repeat throughout the day. I like to wear a song out.
I love when people share what God has put inside them with the rest of us.
It helps us in life to know that other people are right where we are.
And Lori has graciously offered her CD Let it Go as a giveaway
to us supergirls here at the blog.
So leave your name in the comments
and whatever it is that you would like to let go of at the moment.
I would like to let go of the deep wrinkles in the middle of my forehead so the children
will stop mocking me at dinner.
If you don't win the CD, you can contact Lori at her blog so that you can buy one.
This is one for the car, for the ipod, for cd player. It's that good.
Comments will close on Tuesday, February 17, at 9:00 pm.

Take a Listen!
Let It Go

10 highlights (or downturns) in the life of a tired supergirl

1. I am in the thick of writing an other Tired Supergirl book due for release in March 2010 . Thank you, Revell!
2. Writing another book requires some brain activity on my part along with some divine inspiration . Help me, Jesus!
3. Using some of my advance money, I found a rug 50% off at Target for Scott's office.
Yea, Target!
4. I was moving furniture around in his office and broke the window.
Very terrible!
5. Did I mention I was pushing the desk forward using the wall and apparently, the window as leverage and I broke the window with my rear?
Even more terrible!
6. Apparently, I have super powers to the rear that I was not aware of. Neither I or my backside was injured.
Praise the Lord!
7. It no longer mattered that I got the rug at Target for 50% off since now I would be paying for a new window and it's installation.
Very sad!
8. I had to tell Scott that I broke the window in his office....with my rear.
Even sadder!
9. Howard, from Cypress Glass, came out within the hour and fixed the window with even thicker glass so that no one else will break the window with their rear.
Yea, Howard!
10. I am putting my decorating schemes aside since they seem to end in disaster and getting back to writing the book.
Help me, Jesus!

TSG Blog Has Been Taken Hostage - With Permission...

Hey everybody,

This is Scott. Sue's TSD (Tired Super Dude) husband.

Sue is out writing right now.

I asked her if she'd allow me to get on here and post some things,
so MOST of what I'm about to post I have her permission to put up. :)

The first thing...

1. Join The Tired Supergirl's Lair
The Tired Supergirl website is currently being worked on by
our friend David Messner and will be up soon, but in the meantime
you can now join the "Tired Supergirl's Lair."

What is it?

Do any of you remember the "Hall Of Justice" that the
"Super Friends" had? Well, it's like that except it's for TSGs.

Ok. I exaggerated a little. There's no physical "lair" like this.
(That would be cool though.)

But here's what the TSG Lair really is...
It's like a mini-Facebook for TSGs.

You can create a profile, add photos, meet other TSGs, etc.
You can even create "groups" (like maybe a TSG book club
for other people in your area or just a "virtual" group")

If you wanted to, you can also put up physical events to
invite new TSG friends to.

Anyway, if that sounds fun, then you're welcome to join...

CLICK HERE to join the new TSG Lair!


The second thing I wanted to mention...

2. We Have Discounts On Buying Multiple Books
We've been hearing about people having their book clubs,
church staff, etc. reading "All I Need Is Jesus..." together.

We've also had people telling Sue that they bought multiple
copies of the book for different friends and family.

Since people are doing this already we wanted to give you
a way to get the books cheaper if you're buying multiple ones.

Here are the discounted prices:

Per Case (24 or more books) you can get them for
approx. 40% off per book ($8 a book) - PLUS shipping costs.

For 10 books you can get them for approx. 30% off
per book ($9 a book) - PLUS shipping costs.

If these rates would help you and you're interested, then email Sue at:
tiredsupergirl@gmail.com.

Put "discounted rate" in the subject line, and tell her
how many you're interested in ordering.

That's it. Thanks.

speaking loudly

Lori, from girlymuse, posted about her favorite writing books awhile ago.
And I am a fan of books. And books on writing? That is some definite fun.
And books on writing by Madeleine L'engle? I didn't even know there was one.
So I ordered A Circle of Quiet. I thought it might aid me mentally.
And I love the musical way that Madeleine L'engle writes. It inspires me.
And also the title drew me right in. How lovely is "A Circle of Quiet"?
I don't really refer to anything in my life as a circle of quiet.
I may come up against a triangle of despair or a hectagon of chaos but
you can bet that a circle of quiet is rare.
I also got a book called Rest: Living in Sabbath Simplicity.
Because I would like some sabbath simplicity.
But I sat down to read it the other night and feel asleep.
Maybe it is already working it's magic.
So last night I got in bed at 8:15 because I am that tired
and began A Circle of Quiet. And while it is a book about writing and
syntax and technique, it is more a book about life and thinking and mothering
and how to live and work and breathe and all those things that we do.
Madeleine doesn't play.
In one part she quotes Emerson,
"What you are speaks so loudly over your head that I cannot hear what you say."
And goes on to say,
So I know, with a sense of responsibility that hits me with a cold fist in the pit of my stomach, that what I am is going to make more difference to my own children and those I talk to and teach than anything I tell them.
It is a good thought to start the day with. Not the fist in the stomach part.
But the part about who we are as mothers.
That being a mother is more about the showing than the telling.
It is more about being than saying.
More than saying "I love you".
It a strong sweeping up in the arms and covering with kisses.
It is a tending of scraped knees and rubbing of little shoulders.
It is a bent ear and shared book on the couch.
It is shared cookie and snuggle before nap.
Or a helping hand with some difficult spelling words.
So with that thought while there may be no circle of quiet in my house today,
I'm intending to speak loudly with who I am.

it is ground hog's day after all

If you ever watched ground hog's day with Bill Murray,
you know that he gets stuck in some freakish time warp where
he keeps living the same day over and over again.
That would tend to grate on one's nerves I would think.
Doing the same things every...single...day.
Even as I am typing this I have a sense that my life is not that different.
That getting ready for school each morning is a bit like a perpetual ground hog's day.
Monday morning....
1. Wake up. Put on my robe.
2. Make peanut butter toast.
3. Put on the coffee. (Oh, sweet heavens, thank you for the coffee.)
4. Wake the children with soft tender good mornings.
5. Check to see if lunches are made. Put them by the door.
6. Wake the children with a cheery hello and flip the light on.
7. See why there are no clean socks when you have been doing laundry for 4 consecutive days...apparently, the sock fairy has stolen them and left gray balls of lint in their place.
8. Yell at the children and give them a shake, "Get up already! Do you want to be late?" Apparently, they do.
9. Clutch at the coffee cup like it is a sweet nectar of heavenly light.
Because it is.
10. Apologize to the children,"I'm sorry mommy is so angry in the morning but I was only angry the last time I called you. The other two times I was all sunshine and roses....why are you not up yet?"
11. Dress the toddler. Pick up the toddler from his early morning I-disapprove-of-your-underwear-choice-for-me tantrum and carry him to the table for breakfast.
12. Call half dressed children to the table.
13. Tell them, "This is not a diner. I am not a short order cook. There are no eggs available or pancakes or frozen waffles for that matter. Why do you think we are having peanut butter toast?"
14. Resume search for socks. Mismatched pairs will do.
15. Re-dress toddler. He is wearing his peanut butter toast.
16. Refill coffee cup.
17. Inspect children. They are all alive. Decide to let the crazy hair and
mismatched socks go for the sake of ones sanity.
18. Begin the toothbrush chant. "Brush your teeth! Brush your teeth!"
19. Make sure children have backpacks, homework and lunches in hand.
20. Breath check at the door. Unload children of their backpacks, homework and lunches. Resume toothbrush chant with more vigor.
"BRUSH YOUR TEETH! BRUSH YOUR TEETH!"
21. Re-load children with backpacks, homework and lunches.
22. Load into van. Pass off the torch to husband who will take the children to school- bless his heart.
23. Collapse on couch amidst a pile of mismatched socks.
Monday morning routine?
Complete.
Tuesday morning?
Repeat.