Socha Sideline

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:46:00 +0000

This Monday opens the week where most are (hopefully) more aware of their gifts and openly give thanks for them.

watching toddler run...love the way the whole body is necessary

playing at playgrounds my help not needed as much

taking Ana shopping for new clothes and her wide eyed excitement

large sonic cherry limeades half price

football playoff victory

kids making it to 10 pm so I can watch the end of game

the Christian radio station that inspires me to worship every time I get in the car

the baby at Mass that held my gaze forever as if he was telling me a deep truth with his eyes

invite for Thanksgiving dinner in anothers home

no lines at the post office, drycleaner, bank

kids asking "is there anything I can help you with mom"

finding humor in crazy moments

soccer in November

to do lists

(41-54)

I continue my journey to 1000, but why don't you start? And if you do please send me a link and share your joy with us.

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:22:00 +0000

Today I had a Miley Cyrus moment...

You know Party in the U.S.A.?

Well if you don't you better...soon

With my ipod blaring, I danced my way through scrubbing my floors and bathrooms while the girls napped peacefully. I highly recommend Party in the U.S.A. and Lady Gaga if you have serious cleaning to do.

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:02:00 +0000

It seems like the gratitude blog posts are all I've had time for but what better thing to blog about than gratitude especially this month.

I've decided to join Ann and her Gratitude community on my own journey to 1000 gifts...won't you try?

32 confirmation that I am exactly where I want to be, doing exactly what I want to be doing.

33 the beach in November

34 a husband who can run circles around me and still have energy to spare.

35 a grateful boy

36 a helpful big girl

37 Princess lavishing love all over me

38 Toddler that lets me hold her like a baby.

39 peace deep deep deep within

40 Grace that floats in on beach breezes...(how does the beach do that to me?)

41 in-laws that love to love us

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:35:00 +0000

Ann's Gratitude community today is about Redemptive beauty....."give thanks for a thing, even the ugly, exasperating, painful... makes it a gift."

Is that just awesome? I need to remember this everyday.

Because don't you know, I have more than my fair share of "ugly" to give thanks for...

25 our sandy, crumby, dirty floors

26 clothes piles..... on the living room chair, the bedroom floor, the rocking chair, the hallway, the garage, the bed....

27 heads that need haircuts

28 insatiable appetites

29 dusty shelves

30 hidden dirty dishes

31 sweaty coach embraces

32 toys, balls, sidewalk chalk, bases and bikes scattering lawn and driveway

Him in all things....even here in our mess

-join me on my journey to 1,000 gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:16:00 +0000

Reminder

Sometimes I'll find a corner bent down in an old magazine of an article that taught me something that I wanted to remember. Or my eyes will fall on the spine of a book and the title reminds me of the story and the beauty of that truth I found inside. And those reminders redirect me in a way. Redirect my perception, shift what I see and how I act or react.

Sunday dinner all of us together eating and I speak up. I felt ragged. All the things we try to squeeze into those two days leaves me less than rested. I speak words to all those here. "We are a family. And sharing this space requires everyone and that it is a service to the family not to me." They listen. Heads nodding in agreement.

Tuesday comes and two girls have running fevers and noses and want to be held close to mama all day. When older kids roll in with late afternoon, I ask and instruct their help. It is met with fits and protest and I say go. Gathered around family table for dinner again I remind. What happened to the family unity? What happened to all that was agreed on two days ago? Coach enters conversation, asks, "why did you not help?" And blame turns form one to the other before we cut them off. I remind them again. Of our expectations and what being a family is. Sacrifices. Helping. Work. When we all do our part we all benefit not as individuals but as a family. Because what are we if we are all just living for ourselves? Living as a family is hard. Especially in this world we are in. Where we are fed a constant diet of self serving. But family is "others" serving.

Reminding. I need to be reminded to remind. Not to nag and shout and punish. Remind because we all need a reminder to reset, refresh reboot our thinking.

Today we all stayed in. I was cooking dinner listening to an older brother read stories to his two youngest sisters and I hear him say this is my favorite story.

And I think how can I remind myself of this years and years from now?

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:13:00 +0000

Grateful for Gifts Received

14-arguments that have resolutions

15-Son including sister

16-a cleaned out garage

17-spontaneous lullaby singing to sleepy girls (words coming out of a memory I didnt know I had)

18-waking up to a shining sun...extra time

19-the way the candle makes me feel like it is Fall

20-the offering

21-tears at Mass: the Spirit making contact

22-grace in holding it together

23-persistent friends

join Ann's gratitude community with me and start your own journey to 1000 gifts of gratitude.

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:31:00 +0000

Halloween we were invited once again to our friends the Murphy's for trick-or-treating and fun.
What a difference a year makes..Momo ran up to the door with all the other kids and held out her bag for treats and Ana was not shy either. We had such a nice time and we are so thankful for our friends.

Madi and Ana 4 years old
Momo lost her dropped hot dog to a dog. Tried to take another kids hotdog which ended in tears...and then finally got another one..all is right again in the world.

Fairy Princesses

At the close of last night, the last night of October I was looking up at that big harvest moon in the dark sky.

For some reason the works of Mercy came to mind. Maybe because I had thought about the hotdogs my friend Lisa handed out to some hungry trick-or-treaters. (Give food to the hungry) It lead me to think about how I as a mother am called on to live these works of Mercy every day in my home and life. To be honest, thinking of these works of mercy is actually an answer to prayer. Because lately I have been exhausted by my life. Exhausted by all that needs to be done and exhausted by the needs themselves. I think God wanted me to see with a different perspective why those needs are actually bigger than what they seem to be. Kind of like that big glowing moon in the dark sky.

Feed the hungry : planning, buying and preparing 3 meals a day and snacks.

Give drink to the thirsty : how many sippy cups do you fill a day?

Clothe the naked : this includes collecting, washing, drying, folding and putting away the naked people's clothes

Shelter the homeless : and try to keep that home clean and organized

Visit the sick : especially late at night..to clean up puke or sit in a steamy bathroom, keep vigil over a fever or just hold and rock and rock and rock.

Visit those in prison: prisons of misunderstandings and loneliness count too

Bury the dead : dead arguments, wrongs and mistreatment

Convert the sinner: me included

Instruct the ignorant: explaining over and over and over why why why

Counsel the doubtful: Trust me I do have a little more experience than you. Learn from my mistakes

Comfort the sorrowful: Hurts of the flesh and hurts of the spirit ....wounds that are so hard to heal...

Bear wrongs patiently: "No its really ok you worried me so sick about you"...."I'm sorry you don't like the dinner I prepared you...""Sure I wont embarrass you in front of your friends"

Forgive injuries: Pray for the living and the dead: always my life line I don't know what I would do without prayer.

See why I am exhausted? It seems like such a tall order as soon as my feet hit the floor every morning. But every act counts for something. Whether we feel like it does or not.

Every act an action of Mercy.

A good friend's facebook update this week:

"if life were easy heaven would be a tough act to follow"

Words that remind me to embrace this life and keep up the fight.

Then at Mass today, remembering all my family and friends that have passed yet still with me renewed my hope again that I am being prayed for even as I feel I am failing. I am being lifted up. A light in a dark sky.

God Bless you all and Happy All Souls Day...

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:48:00 +0000

Flip Flops

I know most of you are not in "flip flop" mode because your weather is all crisp and cool. But here in Florida it is always flip flop weather.

I have mentioned my friend Virginia here before, she is the talented creative woman from Brazil that brightens my Tuesday afternoons. Today, she brought some of her handiwork to show me and I liked them so much I asked her if I could tell everyone about them.

Of course she agreed.

Take a look.

These are all hand beaded by her and I think they are so cute. I have the blue ones.

She is selling them for $25.00

-if you want a pair of these one of a kind flip flops leave me a comment.

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:25:00 +0000

Our wonderful Weekend with Marvin the Monkey

Ana brought Marvin and a big smile home on Friday afternoon.

It was a perfect weekend for us to have Marvin stay with us because it was homecoming and we had a very busy weekend planned.

The first thing Ana did was take Marvin on a ride on her new Princess bike. He fit in the basket perfectly.

I think Marvin had a great time crusing with Ana. He really liked Ana's baby sister Monica (Momo).

Next we were off to the Homecoming football game. Marvin met the King and Queen and they even agreed to take a picture with him!

Marvin had a great time hanging out he hula hooped....hung out with friends and was good luck at the game.

The Stallions won 61-7.

On Saturday morning after french toast we headed to the pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins.

We had so much fun at the Pumpkin Patch. Marvin was a great sport he let us take so many pictures of him.

After the pumpkin patch Marvin wanted to watch some college football with Ana's brother Cade. Who knew Marvin loved football so much!

Ana wanted to show Marvin around so she took him on a car ride around the house.

Later that night we took Marvin to a Haunted House at our Church and he had a great time playing games and winning treats. He even went in the Haunted House with Ana's sister Camryn. but Ana waited for him outside...she wasn't as brave.

Sunday Morning Marvin had pancakes with Ana then it was off to Church.
He took turns sitting with everyone.

Then we enjoyed Sunday Dinner with Marvin.

After baths we read books and got ready for bed.

We sure hope Marvin had a good time at our house. We sure will miss him. He fit in so well with our family. He is welcome to stay with us anytime he wants.

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:31:00 +0000

Prevent Swine Flu - Good Advice

I got this in an e-mail and it is some of the best advice I have heard.

I wish I would've gotten this to my sister...all four of her kids got H1N1. But thank goodness they are recovering well. Pass this on you can link to it and send in e-mails or post on your blogs. Also, I am a big believer in the Juice Plus me and the kids take. They are like eating 7-19 servings of fruits and vegetables a day which translates into antioxidants and nutrients our bodies desperatly need to have the ability to fight disease.

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the- face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap a mosquito).

3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablet s, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:17:00 +0000

I think it is common knowledge that I am obscessed with the TV show MadMen on AMC.
I mean I really, really, love that show.
Well this morning as I was making my coffee and listening to NPR as I usually do, the theme song came on and I froze. My heart beat sped up just a bit. Seriously the show gives me reactions like that. Anyway NPR was doing a story about how Brooks Brothers is selling a Mad Men Suit!! I immediatly googled it...WoW Over $900 price tag.

I am not kidding when I tell you I have been picturing Doug in that suit all day.

Lord help me. I want that suit for him. He needs that suit!!! Right?!!

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:28:00 +0000

Have you heard this band?? Barlow Girl's music gives me goosebumps when I hear it.
I think that makes them good.....

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:03:00 +0000

A few wonderful things I must share..

Pandora Radio...I set up stations like George Winston and David Nevue among so many others...
I turn the volume up on the computer and beautiful music plays on and on....

Very rarely are cleaning products actually as easy as the commercial makes them seem to be. But these windex window cleaners ARE the real deal!! So easy Camryn cleaned all our sliding glass doors and they gleamed and sparkled for about 24 hours then there were fingerprints all over them again.... Love it.

Playdough recipe and unlike the commercial stuff, if you put in a ziplock it does not harden which means it can be reused over and over....
1c.flour
1/2c.salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar (do not omit)
1c. water
1tbs. cooking oil
Any food coloring.
Mix ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until a ball forms, stirring constantly.
Knead in color on wax paper. Cool 5-10 minutes. Store in air tight container or ziplock bag.

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:32:00 +0000

Half the house is leaning toward feeling below the weather.
The weather is leaning toward a true fall day.
So I lean over cookbooks in the kitchen searching for what to make to warm home and belly's.
I find a small recipe book given as a goodbye gift when paths are forced to split and familiar friendships move into memory. A simple book bound together with a black polka dot ribbon a simple hand drawn picture of a bouquet of for-get-me-nots. Appropriate. Just like the giver. And I open it slow and the recipes remind me of her home that she has since left far behind. I think of her, her talents what she taught me about being a coach's wife.
I find the recipe for chicken soup. Easy. Delicious. And I served bowls of it all afternoon even for dinner and it pleased everyone.

Cathy Hofher's Chicken Soup

One store bought rotisserie chicken. Remove the skin, and pick all the chicken off the bones. Cube or sliver the meat and set aside. Just cover the carcass with water and simmer it covered for at least an hour with some celery leaves and a piece of onion. Strain the broth.

1/4 c. carrots, diced 1 tbs. flour
1/4 c. onion, diced 2 c.canned chicken broth
1/4 c. celery, diced handful of rice or egg noodles
2 tbs. butter

In a large saucepan, soften the carrots, onion, celery in the butter. Stir in flour to make a roux, then stir in the broth from the chicken. Add 2 cups canned broth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the chicken meat. Add a handful of rice or egg noodles and bring to a boil until done.

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:10:00 +0000

Gratitude for Gifts Received

Counting 1000 blessings.....seems like a long journey

But I am taking it anyway.....

Join me...

& the gratitude community over at Ann's

1 Saturday's retreat the quiet slow down I desperately needed in order remember how to listen for God's voice.

2 Daddy taking charge while I "retreated"

3 Napping kids on a Sunday afternoon.

4 Cool Crisp weather

5 victorious football games

6 being "family" busy

7 last nights dream

8 Momo's language

9 Braids

10 Active healthy kids

11 Active healthy husband

12 Active healthy me

13 all needs met... all desires known

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:30:00 +0000

Good Reads!

Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown has been a favorite book in our home for a looong time. There is something about the stark illustrations of that rabbit getting ready for bed and looking for the tiny mouse page by page combined with the lyrical words that never fail to lull and settle my kids at any age. Often still the bigger ones will find their way over to where we are reading and cozy in with us just to hear it again.

So last week at the library I stumbled across a whole collection written by Margaret Wise Brown. And I checked all of them out. I am listing them here because we enjoyed and savored each one sometimes re-reading them 2 and 3 three times in a row.

Next time you are at the library do look for them and enjoy!

The Important Book
The Big Red Barn
The Little Scarecrow Boy
The Little Island
The Moon Shines Down
Two Little Trains

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:04:00 +0000

Excuse the shameless plug but google sends no less than 5 visitors/day to my little sideline looking for coach that I thought I would create a page where they can easily find what they are looking for. Because we all know they are not looking for what I have to say. That is also why I have been calling him "coach" because when I use D*** that just sends the google spiders all over this site and puts my sorry little sideline at the top of searches for you-know-who. Sooo again pardon the plug. But if you are family you should subscribe to his site you will get all the latest info on what you-know-who- is up to. wink.

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:58:00 +0000

Doug Socha's Quarterback Training in South Florida

D1 Quarterback Academy

Where serious quarterbacks come to train.

If you are serious about becoming the best quarterback you can be.

D1QuarterbackAcademy

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:42:00 +0000

Hi!

The heat continues to scorch and sweat mingles in kid hair and it leaves me wondering about this perpetual summer...imagine if you could get caught in one season forever. Which would you choose? I believe I would choose summer. I love the way skin feels warmed up. I love the color it brings to cheeks and the vitamin rich sun. I love the foods eaten in that season and I love loose easy clothes, sleeping with windows wide open. Yes it is a good season to be caught in.
I wish I could make this season in our family perpetual too. I love the ages we have here..even me and coach.
We are busy...Cade's football season just ended last game was on Tuesday. Football games take on a whole new perspective when one of the players is your own. Doug even got to watch a few games...and I had to coach the coach to remember it is his son and he is only 11.
Camryn ...some glimpses of her feminine side are beginning to emerge in terms of her tastes and preferences. It is lovely to witness ..she is very deliberate and I really admire that about her.
Ana...she has become smitten with cheerleaders. Can you blame her? She lives on a sideline and does not share the passion for the game her other siblings have. What is left but the glamour of the poms and the ribboned ponytailed girls? She is even in a cheerleading class at the Y on Saturdays.
Momo...is 2 and she is testing our limits in everyway. But her apologies..oh they couldn't be any sweeter. She still eats like a horse. And she talks all day about everything. Her voice is sweet and salty like Camryn's and she still insists on being a baby.

Coach works too much, stays up too late, and drinks way too much diet pepsi but these are the worst of his vices so you can see why I love him so much.

And me? I met a neat lady Virginia. She comes once a week to iron and releasing that burden has been a wise choice for this family. She is fun, talented and creative. And last week she talked to me about hope and how she lost hers once and how she got it back. Whenever I am blessed by someones brave soultalk I listen all the way to my core. Because we are all stories but just so afraid to share them.

Have a wonderful week ...

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:28:00 +0000

I thought this was an appropriate excuse for why my posts seems to be more far rather than few between.
I miss blogging I really do. Just last night I was laying in bed it was just before midnight and I was thinking cool I might actually get a good nights sleep tonite. When my mind started wandering through all the funny, extraordinary, mundane, and ridiculous that happens to me daily. And I thought of you and how you would really appreciate hearing all those great stories. And I was just about to get up to type them out when I heard..."Mmmmaaaammmaa, Mmmmaaammmaa" and I knew Monica wanted to come to our bed. So instead of going to the computer I got up, scooped her up and brought her to our bed. And she immediately scooted all the way over to her daddy and they both cuddled into eachother leaving me all alone on my side. Isn't that rich?
After that I was just not in the mood to type anything I pulled the covers over and turned my booney to the both of them.

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:10:00 +0000

Some ways we bring fall to Florida....

Cut out shapes of leaves and decorate them...

read about the changing leaf colors and about how they fall.

put up fall leaf clings on our sliding glass doors

Why do I mourn fall? I think it is because all the changing and falling reminds me of how life is. It is a season that God uses to remind me that this process we all have to live is good and can be quite beautiful. The leaves once buds in spring now burnt colors and soon will fall to the ground and wither away under piles of snow.

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:46:00 +0000

Ana,

Today you are four.

When you tell me about things, your eyes light up with so much enchantment with life I pray life always enchants you.

When someone compliments you, you are coy and shyly hide your smile. I pray you are always so humble.

When I lie you down you always beg for one more hug and kiss. I pray you are always so full of affection for those you love.

You are always eager to rub your dad's feet, help me cook or clean up toys. May you always have a servant heart.

You are so patient and kind to Momo. I pray she can always look up to you for advice and assistance.

You are a little lady and may you always carry yourself as such. You truly are a Princess my love for your heavenly father is the King of Kings and as your entrusted earthly parents we will never stop cherishing you and loving you for exactly the gift you are to us at every age.

XXOOO Mommy and Daddy

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:13:00 +0000

Gratitude for gifts received

-friday night football all of us under the lights

-a night of fellowship with other moms

-cozying up with coach watching saturday night football

-big sister helping baby swim

-boy saying "I just want to be home all day"

-finishing the second cup of coffee

-words of affection that catch me off guard after almost 15 years

-words of wisdom about living life to its fullest from two cancer survivors

-answers to prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:54:00 +0000

Today is Friday. Another whole week and it feels half lived because of the tempo of our days.
I shrug guilt away of what I've left undone and undone and undone. There is always so much.

But what has been done to me I am blessed and filled with the sweetest peace.

Every day noontime, I pause for prayer.. I have been for three weeks now. The pausing was for Ana, to read quiet to her so that she could rest and maybe if we are lucky ...sleep. So I read from my book of common prayers. The Angelus the midday prayer. And finally after three weeks the words pierced my soul. Enough to open a place for grace to flow right in. Sometimes it is like that with love. We want it so much but we hold it out. By not making time for it. Or distracting ourselves from it. Or letting someone convince us we don't need it. Oh but when the time is spent, when mind and soul carry it close and shut out everything that distracts, and when we open ourselves up by saying "I need this, I really need this" it makes that opening where grace can flow in. And oh the grace!

"Let it be done to me according to Thy word".

Trust and Acceptance.

This is where I am. Let it all be done to me. Not what I want. Not what I think I need. Let it be done according to Thy word.
Such peace has come to me through those words. Worries are there but not on my back as they were. Somehow I am less and He is more.

"And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us. "

Peace is a Person. He is the giver of all good gifts.

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:56:00 +0000

Gratitude for Gifts Received

-sweaty curls

-a pew filled with kids ours and a few collected from others

-the older kids discovery and love for ironing

-his graying hair

-big girl playing soccer with heart

-night time storys read in bed

-evening hugs before bed

-56 years of life for mom

-sisters who call me to check in

-Sunday dinner