When (Five Minute Friday)

WHEN

It’s been coming all winter. The kids ask nearly every day. “Mama. WHEN will we get baseball again?” They ask daily. I think about it more than that. And as I write this today, I can finally answer the question with the best answer. TODAY, my little darlings! TODAY pitchers and catchers report. And we can stop counting down to when is baseball?  And now we can start counting to opening day. (46 days).

For me, the when even started last week. Vanderbilt started their quest for a repeat National Championship. With a new (to me) mobile app  that allows me to listen to all the games online. For free. YIPPEE! Happy Jen.  Baseball is back and my world is a better place.

Today I sit inside while it is single digit temperatures (winter, you may finish now. Baseball is here and that means SPRING). And I follow all the news – the little stories (lizards in shoes and new moustaches) and the big stories (our starting rotation!) – and no longer have to ask when.  WHEN has arrived.

Linking with Kate and the Five Minute Friday Crowd. Come write with us!

Keep (Five Minute Friday)

I hope this even posts. Blogging on an iPad is a challenge. But need to get some words out. Because I love the word keep. The first thing I always think,of when I hear the word keep is my dad.

My maiden name is Kamin (pronounced like the Cayman Islands). Dad used to be an elected official. And after the first campaign he won, every election after that the slogan was "Keep Kamin". Pretty catchy, very simple. Great on yard signs. In fact a friend in high school used to call me "Keep" as a fun nickname.

A few years ago my mom & dad's house flooded in Hurricane Irene. We had to clean out everything. One of the treasures we found in the garage was a stack of old campaign signs. My kids were born long after dad's days in elected office were finished. My oldest saw the sign while we were cleaning and said "who's keep?" So we explained. She loved the alliteration. "Mom! The K and the K match! That was smart!"

And now whenever we go visit she remembers. "Mom. Remember when we had that big dumpster in Nana's driveway and we saw Grampy's fun sign? Maybe we could put one in our yard mom"

So, to whomever came up,with the slogan 35 years ago, thank you. Because we're very glad  that we get to Keep Kamin even though his public service has ended.


PS when get access I'll upload a picture of the kids and the sign

Linking with Kate at the Five Minute Friday.

Wait (Five Minute Friday)

I'm really late this week. And I clearly waited too long, as my computer at home crashed and now I am posting this on my lunch break from the library.

But wanted to get this out there before I am a whole week behind.
So, join the friends over at Kate's place. Give us your 5 minutes on wait. And leave a comment for someone else who was brave enough to write about waiting.  (and remember, typos are allowed - just write).


GO.
Wait is my One Word 365 this year. And I was hoping that it would not really be a stretch word. Even though I *knew* it would be. The word always is. I feel like all I do is wait these days. Waiting for the townhouse to sell (no I am not actually moving - HOORAY!). Waiting for paperwork for taxes. Waiting to replace things that need fixing - waiting for answers to tough questions. Waiting for plans to be approved and travel dates to fall into place.

And yet, in the waiting, I am learning a lot. Learning to sit. Read with the girls in the time I have rather than waiting for the end of the evening when they are in bed and I can relax. Waiting for baseball season to start (14 days until pitchers and catchers ... HOORAY) but in the gap, the girls and I have had a chance to talk about some stuff and try some new things.

Waiting to see where some relationships go - but for now, finding comfort in the way things are; enjoying the time we have. The visits are few and far between, but rather than "just waiting" until the next one, I have some time to think. To pray. To creaaatively work on things and ideas for the next time.

And in the quiet evnings, while the season hasn't started, I have made time to read. I love, love, love reading. And have been known on occasion (or many occasions) to stay up late and finish. But in the offseason while I wait for baseball to fill my evenings, I have been able to read quite a few books. And not stay up all night to do it. And... I discovered that I am no longer waiting for my oldest to be "old enough" to read some of what I am reading. She's there. (HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!).

So our new adventure is Mommy reading a book that I remember, or a new one that looks good - and then putting it on her bed for her to add to her reading pile. The first one is a big hit. She said to me this morning "Mom, I can't wait for our reading time tonight so I can do the next chapter. I'm HOOKED. What comes next?"

STOP.