Crockpot Posting

I am burning up with fever, huddled under 2 layers of pajamas, a towel, and a blanket. Throat is scorched. I have half a million sick days and can't take any--not this week.

The other day, I wrote several "Crockpot" posts--those that are ready when I need them and don't take up any precious evening time. NaBloPoMo will not lick me this time! But it sure is bugging me. Here's my first Crock Pot post:

The Best of the Best--A List In No Particular Order

1) Being in the pool all afternoon with friends and family, followed by board/card games on the deck, which is lit by fun Christmas string lights, smells of citronella, and sounds as though the frogs are right up there with us

2) The last day of school. Yearbook signing, tears of 5th graders, cleaning the classrooms and emptying the bins of personal belongings--each with a story to tell, gathering outside to wave goodbye to the buses one last time--then gathering inside again for a few tears of our own, followed by cheers and funny reflections of those kids we all love.

3) Long hot baths on cold rainy days--the kinds of days that chill the bones. Scented candles, a good book, & bubbles. Nearly all my books have wavy pages from being dropped into the tub. Andrea and I used to think we could only take these kinds of baths at Neeny's house. We are learning to practice them at home, finally. They restore.

4) Going home. It doesn't have to be the holidays, but anytime the family is all home together. Piano playing, politics debating, 4-wheeler riding, baby kissing, name-calling hullaballoo. Followed by a game of cards or Balderdash, then a vintage 80's romantic comedy that none of us would own up to loving--if we weren't home. I miss my family terribly this week.

5) Snuggling with Kaela and Ben on Saturday mornings. They are still so cuddly, and they whisper the sweetest things. I could breathe them in for hours when they're just out of the bathtub. Or pretty much any other time. Also included in the "mommy" category is the notes that Kaela writes me, and the pictures Ben draws for me. Sometimes the things closest to the heart are the hardest to describe. This is one of them.

6) Our Sunday School class. We keep losing people because of job transfers or various ministries, but we always add more amazing folks. We laugh a lot in Sunday School, and learn so much. And laugh a lot. I treasure this weekly hour more than they know. And now we have branched off into a new area--bookclub. Sigh. Books plus fabulous Christian community.....it's such a gift.

7) Time spent with my other favorite church peeps. You know who you are. Whether it's slumber parties, road trips, camping, game nights, goofing off in choir practice, or just late night talks, you make my heart smile. I'm grateful.

8) Going to the lake. We go out in the boat, fishing, try to paddleboat (yeah, not as easy as it looks), and just soak up the Vitamin D. Low-key days spent outdoors with my family are some of the best days of my life.

9) Love. That moment when you just know--this is it. You watch Tom Cruise jump up on that stupid couch, and it occurs to you that maybe he's not a total nut-job...because you get it. Don't make fun of me. I'm serious.

10) Kids. Babies. The elderly. And people in between who are just a little left of center--not ordinary. Interesting. Fun.

11) Any of these songs. All of them together equals the perfect 2 hours! "Crazy for you" by Madonna. "Collide" by Howie Day (this one stays on repeat on my CD player lately). "Seasons of Love" from Rent. "You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift--totally overplayed, but I still heart it. So does Kaela--she belts that sucker! "If It Kills Me" by Jason Mraz--Ben's personal favorite. "Then" by Brad Paisley. "Best I Ever Had" by Stanford's a cappella group, Mixed Company, that my brother sang in. And pretty much any Casting Crowns, Carrie Underwood, or Selah song. Hmmm...maybe I should amend this to be "my iPod." That would be more exhaustive.

12) Guys who play piano or guitar.

13) Starbucks espresso with cream and a Splenda

14) Laughing til you can't breathe--and not stopping then.

15) The perfectly timed sick day!!! (Sigh....)