Disney World!

I finally got my baby back - from Disney World! She had a great time and had a lot of stories to tell about the trip.

Her favorite of the Disney parks is Epcot Center with its World Showcase and "Spaceship Earth" (her favorite ride that tells about the advancement of mankind - it's in the dome).

While there, Maddie met some new friends...

And tried some new styles...

I'm so glad she's back. And speaking of back...

Disney World from a Rear Perspective

My dad was the designated photographer during the vacation. He managed to capture a lot of Maddie's back-side during the trip.



It just goes to show that this little lady is always on the go - and the grandparents were never far behind!

Yelp! for Mike

Mike's getting props from the folks at Yelp.com! Yeah, Mike! I don't know how long he'll be featured under "Fresh Lists", so go out and catch up on some wonderful reviews of the Dubuque dining experience (he's also reviewed KC, the Cities & Madison to name a few). Just click on the little monkey.

Idealism... Not Good?

“What screws us up the most is that you get this picture in your head of the way things are supposed to be and you end up closing yourself off to some of the wonder and serendipity of the actual experience."

I am totally that way. I have these idealistic thoughts and my refusal of the abstract, of things that fall outside my plan, my adversity to the no-so-obvious... well, they do close doors.

Think outside the box, LeAnn. Just do it!

Cookies & Canadians

I received a fortune cookie that reads, "You have at your command the wisdom of ages."

OK.

I'm wearing jeans and a white tee shirt today. I was a bit chilly and decided to put on my denim jacket. Joe laughed and told me I was wearing my "Canadian tuxedo." 'Sup wit dat?

Trust

I have a couple items regarding trust tonight. And let me tell you (whoever you are), I don't like discussing trust, because I like to believe that I'm a very trusting person... but my past contains memories that haunt my present. And suddenly my mom's words come back to haunt me as well, "It's not you I don't trust - it's the rest of the world."

As a mother, I strive to raise my daughter in a way that she will learn how to react appropriately when situations arise. I have to raise her in a way that she can take all she's learned and apply that knowledge to her adult life. If, rather than let her face the consequences of disobedience, I shelter her to protect her from "all the other people out there", she may never fully integrate into a society where those other people - like it or not - exist.

It's the boundary of where I let her go, what I let her do, and with whom that comes to question today.

Maddie was invited to play with a friend this evening. This friend lives in a home where I used to play as a little kid (I played with the girl's aunt). The problem is that the same people own the house, and I fear the same lack of supervision that I experienced as a child. This was the house where, at the age of 6, I saw my first Playboy magazine. It's an image that's never gone away - even after 22 years. Nobody knew the magazines were in the house except my friend and her older brother, and she showed me what she'd discovered - that's what kids do.

In an effort to keep Maddie from being exposed to nudie magazines and a bunch of other inappropriate stuff, I've made the following rule: You can't go into anyone's house unless you ask my permission first. I think it's a great rule, but it will only keep her out of that particular house for a little while. What if she becomes close with the little girl down the street? How long can I keep her out of that house? Where do I draw the line at micromanaging my kid's life versus raising her to be responsible?

_______________

Another trust situation I stumbled upon today is that of infidelity... it's something that rubs me so incredibly raw that I literally feel like exploding whether the subject pertains to me or anyone else. It's something that is absolutely intolerable. In fact, it's the one Biblical situation that actually allows for divorce (I'm not sure whether abuse is mentioned... though it's definitely a justifiable cause for divorce).

Mike - thank God (I'm so incredibly blessed) - has put up with the baggage I've carried from my relationship with Maddie's dad. Maddie's dad was a man who cheated on me and I lost the ability to trust him regardless of any promises he made to stay faithful. Even after we split, and he endlessly tried to win my heart back, he slept with another woman... which spun my trust of him (and all men) further out of control.

Now, a wonderful friend of mine is also struggling with the possibility that her husband has been, or is being, unfaithful. And the thing that really irks me is, the "other woman" knows he's married, yet she insists on infiltrating his marriage bond. All of this in the wake of a promise he made to his wife only days ago: "I promise to respect you. I promise not to hurt you..." Why would a man do this to his wife? And why would this woman desire to come between a man and his wife?

My brother has a great approach to the male-female relationship: he treats the bond with awe and care. He is an incredibly intelligent, handsome and funny guy - all the things most gals desire. He has refused intimate physical contact (hand-holding is a big deal) with any girlfriend in respect of her future husband. That way, there's no baggage... no trust issues... I know a lot of people probably find this approach unrealistic, but I think it might just work.

Had I never slept with Maddie's dad - had he not been unfaithful - I would not have trust issues.

Should we choose to respect the institution of marriage, the sacred bond a man and woman have made - or plan to make - in the presence of God (or an Elvis impersonator), we may be able to stave off the frustration that a lack of trust brings to the table. This means not straying from a marriage in search of affection; and also not deliberately trying to break the bond of marriage. Don't be so freakin' selfish! If you've already found "the one", be glad - and do your best to make it work. If you're in a relationship, DO NOT open yourself to temptation by bringing your relationship issues to the table with a member of the opposite sex. DO NOT put yourself in a situation where you may be tempted by another because they are available to you physically or emotionally. Just don't do it. If you haven't found "the one", paws off honey! He or she ain't yours - I don't care how much you think you're in love! I don't care how much better you think you are for that person than their own spouse. Respect! RESPECT! RESPECT!!!

Resolutions

I resolve to be a better person.

I'm embarking on a soul quest to rid myself of assumptions and doubt so I can approach new situations with a fresh attitude rather than skepticism.

I'm asking forgiveness of those I've wronged - because truth will hold me accountable to reason.

I'm cute and lovely on the outside - I'd like the inside to match!