Mindy's Non-Adventures

   A few weeks ago, Mr. Inc and I started the Real Marriage small group at our church. Each week we have homework, and this week's homework was to go on a date and have fun, remember the things we used to do on dates before kids and even marriage. Now the hubs and I are about the happiest we've been in our almost 12 years of marriage, and that's a very good thing because I made the biggest date faux-pas ever tonight.    We started off by going to dinner at Texas Road House. We picked Texas for two reasons: 1. We went on our first real date there, and 2. I had a coupon for a free appetizer. =)  I will NEVER forget our first date at Texas Road House. I wish I could say it's unforgettable because it was so romantic and perfect. Unfortunately, our date was unforgettable because it was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. Things started off so well. He picked me up at my dorm, and we went to church. By the way, church wasn't because we were super spiritu...

     I'm just putting this out there. Again. I am an introvert. This fact doesn't change when I go to church. No matter how many times you tell me to go talk to a stranger and ask them a contrived question, I'm not going to want to do it. I will do it if I have to, and I'll answer if someone asks me a question, but it's just not how I'm made. And that's okay. Not everyone has to be all "YAY! LET'S TALK TO EVERYONE AND BE LOUD AND CLAP AND YELL!!!" to demonstrate our devotion to God. I can stand quietly and still while having a deeply moving moment with God, and you'll probably never know it.  It doesn't make my experience less important, less real, or less spiritual. It makes my experience quieter and more private.        I only say this because churches seem to be made more for the extroverts now. The people that get energized by meeting lots of new people and expressing their emotions for everyone to see.  We've visited so many c...

    Chaos can hit at any moment. You think you have things under control, and then BAM!!!!! It's over. All of your precious planning is destroyed. Yesterday, I was cruising along, doing laundry, teaching some math like a Jedi Master (they didn't just teach light saber tactics, you know). I had dinner in the crockpot. What could go wrong? I'll tell you what could go wrong. BBE started getting into everything. My lack of sleep from the previous night would NOT be denied, and the clock wouldn't stop when I asked it to.  My attempt at a 30 minute nap was sabotaged by Miss Firecracker and BBE's continual ups and downs on the couch. They both just had to lay down with mommy. In the exact same spot. At the same time. It was sweet, really. And annoying. I finally gave up and did a few other things. Only, I didn't do the ONE thing I had to do which was start the rice for dinner.  My family does not understand a meal without carbs of some kind, so this is a major faux pa...

    Dear people in the restaurant, please stop looking at me while acting like you're not looking at me. I KNOW my 2 year old is crying. Believe me. He's sitting right. next. to. me. Those sideways looks that say " MY child never did that " are not helping. In fact, as you look at me, I'm looking back at you and calling you a liar in my head.   I know, I know. That's not nice of me to think.  Anyway, while I'm at it...     You parents or future parents that tell me that children only freak out in restaurants or scream during car rides because the kids aren't exposed to travel? Well, I'll put our travel miles next to yours any day. We have traveled the heck out of these kids. My 2 1/2 year has been to Disney. Twice. We make the 3 hour trek to visit family nearly every month. The kid just doesn't like long car rides. Our daughter hated car rides too. She would cry non-stop. It was torture on both sides. We continued to travel, and she continue...