Character of Fortune

“Character is much easier kept than recovered.”

Here I am in Arkansas getting ready to register my Pop for college – I am so excited, so proud, so heartbroken all at the same time. Who knew so many emotions were possible in the same heartbeat?

I watched him with pride on Saturday as he walked across the stage and received his diploma, and I managed not to cry. We had a wonderful party for him with a video his father made that is beyond words amazing, this video brought him from an infant to now with well wishes from friends and family, managed not to cry. But, as I am sitting here in the hotel room while he is working out with his new football team – I think I may cry.

It is too real the fact that he is moving away, while I am sitting here. It is too soon that it is happening…seriously wasn’t he just that little baby that would peek at me through the bars of his cribs with his bright eyes in the middle of the night? Wasn’t he just that little boy running through the house with only his diaper on? Wasn’t he just this new big brother holding his little brother, Tart, and poking his cheek to make him giggle? So…where has the time gone?

It has flown. And, here I am.

What on earth does this have to do with my Fortune Cookie? (Which by the way I got at the local Chinese Buffett, along with my Hot and Sour!)

“Character is much easier kept than recovered.”

It is very valid advice to him and to any graduate as they head into this semi-grownup stage. Life right now is open to them in a way it may never be again. Fresh start on a new campus, new town, new teachers with no preconceived notions of them – Keep your character. Keep your integrity, keep the heart and soul of who you are and grow. This is your shot to really shine, to be on your own and show everyone your character.

How hard is it to recover character? Ask Michael Vick. Ask Congressman Weiner. Ask Arnold – will we look at any of them the same? Think about the friends and family that have through the years let you down…what does that say about their character? Can they recover it with you?

“Character is much easier kept than recovered.”

My Pop, My Tart (and my Frosting, who is a little young for this), you have amazing character – keep it!

The world is wide open, step into it!

Live, Laugh, Love ~

Vanilla Mama

PS – I don’t know if Arkansas has a lottery…guess I need to look into it! Your lucky numbers are 55, 5, 45, 28, 13, 4.

A to Z Challenge - V

A to Z Challenge – V

And, yes I am going to go for the OBVIOUS! VANILLA! I had considered going a different route, but after a long day, being so tired and I come home and light a vanilla candle to smooth the edges out – I gotta write about Vanilla.

I know it is in my about me section, but exactly what is it about Vanilla that I love so much. Did you know that the Vanilla bean comes from an orchid? An orchid that grows as a vine, and does not bloom until it is fully grown. It is not an easy orchid to grow and the bean, of course not really a bean – they are pollinated by hummingbirds, stingless bees and of course by hand.  It is a beautiful flower that has a purpose.

As I understand the flower smells nothing like Vanilla, but has its own incredible scent. If I did not have a black thumb, I would attempt to grow it. I did attempt growing coffee at some point, and that was as my kids put it, an EPIC FAIL!

I find the scent of Vanilla relaxing and familiar – as a flavor, it stands on its own and enhances other flavors. I would like to think that I am a little like that – I can stand on my own, but with others I am stronger and can help enhance.

I know I am not the only Vanilla Mama out there, based on email address availability and user names on different boards and account. Some places you will find me as Vanilla Mama, Vanilla Mommy or even Nilla Mama. At some point I am sure my grandkids will call me Nilla – hehe – you never know.

So, that is my V post – Vanilla. Do you have something that you feel a little crazy about? For some people it is baseball, football for me it is Vanilla. I have other obsessions, I think I am an obsessive person in general – but, at least this one is a good one. When you think of Vanilla, you may just remember me.

Live, Laugh, Love ~

Vanilla Mama

Pop, Tart and Frosting

Okay – Pop, Tart and Frosting….

Monkey, Bear, Gabbiano….

Cheeky Monkey, Little Bear, Tug Boat…

What on earth am I going on about – have I suddenly developed a condition?!

Nope, I give nicknames to my kiddos, little love names that are silly and full of embarrassment for my kiddos. Hehe –

The latest nicknames are Pop – 18 year old about to graduate, heart of gold, Tart – 14 year old who thinks he should be, wise beyond his years and stronger than he knows, inside and out, Frosting – 4 year old who is the…yes, I know…the frosting, the finale of the family!

Short post, but since I will be frequently referring to them in code. (We always strive to protect the innocent of Vanilla Mama’s ranting….of course the fact that some of you know me personally won’t help them any – evil laugh ensuing!)

Meaning behind the names…Pop, Tart and Frosting – just silly!! They laugh and get it, private inside joke…we call their friends the filling or the fruit! But, if you ever hear a crazy looking woman say, “Pop – Tart!” in a weird sing-song voice, it may be me!

The only other one love name I will explain is Gabbiano  - That is Italian for SEAGULL! For you parents out there….please flashback to “Finding Nemo”…..”Mine, Mine, Mine!” That is my little man (another nickname for him!) at the age of 2! Everything was, “Mine, Mine, Mine!”

I promise that soon I will have my next Fortune Cookie post, it is stewing in my Hot and Sour brain and I am liking it.

I have a huge commitment that I am making soon – perhaps one that not everyone will approve of or understand, but I have been thinking about it now for literally years. I am not sure if I will share pictures of it or not, but it is my Willow Tree. So, I will be talking about that soon and explaining that as well.

One of the wonderful blogs that I read put out a challenge tonight about why and how we write and do what we do…I was close to just going to bed tonight having commented on her blog (http://parentingbydummies.com/) – but decided that I wanted to address it here as well.

Why-3 kids, 2 jobs, 1 hubby and an overwhelming desire to put something out there on “pen and paper.” I have always been driven to write. I have a book, a ½ book – someday it will be written - , short stories, ideas for at least 2-3 more books, poems, posts….the words inside me want to come out and find a place. Whether it will just be something that my children groan about now, or remember when they place me in my grave, it will be written.

How – any spare moment, any extra time, any napkin or scrap of paper that is idle while my brain is not. Anytime that I can spend reading books, blogs, articles I try to do it. I am constantly inspired by the women and men I meet on here in blog world, who put their lives out there. I hid a little behind my moniker, Vanilla Mama, but I know that in all honesty, if you want to find out who I am you will. I really don’t have anything to hide. I am who I am…I am the person I am because of what I have been through and the people that I love form my heart and touch my soul. And – probably more than you will ever know.

Live, Laugh, Love ~

Vanilla Mama

BTW - the YUMMY looking picture comes from - http://ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com/diy-pop-tarts/2009/04/26/! Check it out!