Randomness - Volume 3

Honestly, my first thought when I saw this picture...EEWWWWWW, think about all the germs! I also thought of my brother-in-law, LeGrande, because he refused to go to the pool that my sister worked at last year due to the germ problem and all the shady characters roaming about. What do you think of this LG? This is more like a Roman bathing pool than a swimming pool! Let's also take a moment to look at the surroundings - looks like a baseball stadium to me. What in the world? It's not a picture that makes me laugh, but rather makes me think...What?

And now for something completely different - muse over this little tidbit of info I found online today:

40,000 Americans are injured by toilets each year

I confess, I'm not the brightest individual on the planet, but I'm no dummy either. I do know that toilets are brainless, inanimate objects incapable of inflicting intentional harm on human beings. Those 40,000 Americans had to be interacting with the toilet in a way that caused an injury. Geesh, how do you explain that one in the ER? "Um, er, actually, I was just sitting there on the crapper and next thing I know it just jumped up and bit me, right in the buttocks!" Right.

I just used 8 words that begin with the letters "i-n"!

Good Assets and Answered Prayers

Saturday was a good day. We got up, got Adam off to work, ate breakfast, got ready and headed out the door to my sister's house. She and LeGrande were keeping Wesley basically all day while I went to a friend's baby shower in Durham. After having lunch with Sarah and LG, I decided I should better go to Target to get my gift. Nothing like last minute. At this point in my journey, I had not yet changed for the shower because I had a fashion plan in mind. I was already wearing my lovely salmon colored sweater I have previously purchased at Target and was going to pair it with some great pants I bought a couple of years ago at Ann Taylor Loft (said purchase was made prior to baby when I worked for money!) I know you're thinking how great it is that I can fit into pants I wore before having Wesley! Thanks! Anyway, these pants fit, but they are a little tight unless I have something like control top hose to harness the love handles and baby pooch I still have (but am trying to reduce). My plan was foolproof - I would go to Target, get the gift and get the secret weapon (that's not going to be so secret in a minute). My friend Emily recently posted about Spanx and Assets. Basically, for those who may not know, they are a glorified girdle that makes your lines looks smooth and cottage cheese free. Not to mention they do away with every single VPL (that's Visible Panty-Line). I bought my Assets, the gift, and a pack of gum for the road and headed back to the car. I was going to change in my car, but of course there was a hitch. The couple parked in front of me was loitering around their car wrapping a last minute present that they too had purchased. Not to worry - I just packed my pants, shoes, and Assets in my tote and went back into Target where I changed in the bathroom. I looked good, I felt good, and I proceeded to the shower.

Back on the road I glanced at my directions to the shower. I knew which exit to get off at, but the directions didn't say which direction to go at the top of the exit. Not being too familiar with the area, I called a friend who "knows" the area and she told me to take a right at the light off of the exit. Thinking I was pretty close to the shower and there would be gas stations nearby, I didn't worry that I only had 12 miles to empty. It was only when the road ended that I realized I had gone in the wrong direction. By this point I had 6 miles to empty. Unfortunately, 6 miles in a Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 doesn't actually mean 6 miles, its more like 1 mile to empty. I started to panic. Not a gas station in sight. While sitting at a red light I said a prayer - "Lord, I don't know where this shower is or where the nearest gas station is. Help me get to one or the other without running out of gas." The words had just escaped my lips when all of a sudden the display begins to read 6...10...13...and finally 15 miles to empty! I started to laugh. Hard. The light turned green and I was still laughing and thanking God for his goodness and his sense of humor at the situation. I passed through 2 red lights and came to a gas station. It was one of the most blessed sights my sore eyes had seen in a long time. I filled up and proceeded to the shower, arriving a fashionable 30 minutes behind schedule. No one really noticed that me and my Assets were late, and that's okay. I had a good time celebrating the impending arrival of my friend's precious baby boy who's going to have some fabulous stories of his own to tell one day.

What's In a Name?

I stalked a blog of someone I don't know and found this. I thought it was kind of fun so I took the idea and added my answers. Feel free to do the same and add it to your blog.

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME:
(first pet, current car)
Riley Jeep

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME:
(favorite ice cream, favorite cookie)
Mint Chocolate Chip Chocolate Chip (I'm fat, not threatening)

3. YOUR FLY “GUY/GIRL” NAME:
(first initial first name, first 3 letters last name)
C-Gil

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME:
(favorite color, favorite animal)
Green Sheep

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME:
(middle name, city where you were born)
Griffin Charlotte

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME:
(first 3 letters last name, first 2 letters first name)
Gilca ( don't know why this is in red, it wouldn't let me change the color)

7. SUPERHERO NAME:
(2nd favorite color, favorite drink and add "the”)
The Yellow Coke Zero

8. NASCAR NAME:
(first names of your grandfathers)
Jack Boyd

9. AUTHOR NAME:
(favorite perfume, favorite candy)
Inis Reeses

10. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME:
(mother’s and father’s middle names)
Rebecca Griffin

A Healthy Dose of Perspective

Over the past several months, God has really been revealing a certain major sin issue that I have been nurturing for many years...PRIDE. Thankfully, His revelation has been gentle, non-stop, but gentle.

As long as I can remember, I have always felt like I was "the good one". The only way I can explain it is that I felt exempt from certain negative things that other people experienced. For instance, in 2nd grade, we had these weekly reports on animals or other things that we had to turn in. When the kids in my class didn't complete them, there was a consequence. One day, I forgot my report. I was mortified that I had forgotten it and even more mortified that I was punished for forgetting. After all, I was a "good kid" and forgetting was certainly not as bad as just not doing the report. The truth is, the reason for not having my work didn't matter - I didn't have it, plain and simple, so I received a punishment.

Pride is ugly. The Bible says God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). In my weekly Bible Study and we are currently doing a study on hearing God speak by Priscilla Shirer (Tony Evans' daughter). One of the hindrances to hearing God's voice is pride and Priscilla has some significant thoughts on this sin condition.

She says: Pride causes us to think we can do more than we can and convinces us we deserve special treatment, recognition, or honor. Pride causes us to think less of others and too much of ourselves.

Priscilla, we've never met, yet you have me PEGGED!

She also says..."Pride is a distraction. It causes us to bypass important and pertinent issues because we are consumed with ourselves. Often Jesus wants to reveal important information to us, but our prideful hearts get in the way of our ability to hear the message. Humility, on the other hand, clears the pathway for us to hear God."

It has been very freeing to realize that I am NOT the "good one". In fact, nothing about Caroline is good at all. All the "good" things I do are still like filthy rags in God's sight. I have a problem and it's called sin. I can't save myself.

Thankfully, the story doesn't end there -

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:3-7

Mercy. Grace. Jesus Christ dying for a sinful, guilty, wretch like me. Because of Jesus I am saved, I have hope, I am acceptable and even pleasing to God. WOW! If me being good was good enough, I wouldn't need a savior - I wouldn't need Jesus. But I need Jesus. Its not about me.

So, am I "cured" of my pride? Yes and No. Yes because Jesus died on the cross two thousand years ago and forgave it. Period. When God looks at me He doesn't see my pride and all the other things I struggle with- He see Jesus. And No because in the real world, while I'm still in my "Eggar Suit " (from Men In Black=)), I'll always be imperfect.

God, keep me mindful of where I've been so I will always know that it's You taking me wherever I go.

Amen.

Randomness - Volume 2

I know its not Wednesday yet, but I just got so excited about posting a weekly random picture that I'm going to do it a day early. I got a good laugh looking through my file of pictures trying to decide which one to choose. So, without further adue (or however you spell it):

I love this pictures for several reasons:
1) Its just funny
2) I know and I know many of you know that you rocked this kind of hair in the early 90's. Don't even try to deny it.
3) The little girl's hair is bigger than her entire body.
4) The mom looks like Marg Helgenberger (Katherine Willows) from CSI.
5) They probably went through an entire bottle of Aqua Net just for this picture.

One of my fondest memories from this hair period is of the time my sister, our cousin Erin, and I went to Carowinds. We had to get our hair glammed out for the trip, even though we were going on all kinds of roller coasters and water rides. Erin took an especially long time to perfect her "mall bangs" and her efforts were not in vain. When we left Carowinds 8 hours later after going on just about every ride in the park, those bangs had not moved even an inch. What can I say, she had some good hairspray.

Remembering the Days

As I was looking for pictures to place under my blog name heading I came across this little gem...


Look at him...a 3 day old baby burrito. Wearing his tiny little gown that still managed to swallow him whole. All fresh and clean with the fuzzy red hair that we still adore. It brings tears to my eyes to think that 17+ months has come and gone so fast. I will treasure every moment. Except for the flash flood of spit-up that followed the taking of this picture. Yum.

The New Look

I got a wild hair today during Wesley's nap and decided to change templates. I know its pretty drastic. I'm still acclimating to it, but I think it will fit nicely with the program. I tried to figure out how to add cool pictures under the blog name heading, but all my pictures were too big. I also played around with the colors and fonts...didn't work out so well. I'm sticking with the generic template. It may be a little boring, but if I get tired of it, I can always change it again and keep you on your toes!

Kind Acts of Randomness

I love to laugh. I also like to watch tv, especially America's Funniest Videos. Its a rare show that can make me laugh out loud and laugh hard, but AFV can do it. Its pretty obvious that some people in the videos have "tried" to make a funny video just for the sake of getting on tv. That's pathetic. I like the genuinely (did I spell that right?) hilarious videos (mostly of kids) - like the toddler innocently walking in the backyard who gets jumped by the family cat springing over a bush, or the crazy kid who has drizzled chocolate syrup in a trail all through his house only to be found (already waiting in the bathtub) by his mom. Those were great.

I love random things - pictures, facts, church bulletin bloopers, etc. So, in the spirit of all things hilariously random, I have decided to post one random thing (picture, fact, church bulletin blooper, etc) every week, for your enjoyment. You may not find it funny, that's okay. You are free to comment and/or offer suggestions on what you would like to see on the next week's "Kind Acts of Randomness". But for now, enjoy the first week's installment: (Oh, and feel free to leave a caption of your own in the comments)

What I needed last week during my sinus infection.

Whinies and Roses

For the past several days I have struggled with a little bit of boredom, a lot of selfishness, and sheer exhaustion. I don't know if its just my body trying to bounce back from being sick, but I could sleep all day, literally! All I have wanted to do is not deal with Wesley. I kick myself for even thinking that I wouldn't want him around, but to be honest, some days the last thing I want to be is a mommy who has to constantly be on her toes. It doesn't help that he has been sooooo whiny either. I can't tell what is going on, if its the molars he's cutting or if he doesn't feel well, but its DRIVING ME CRAZY!!! Mom, if you read this, I am sooooooooo sorry for being a whiner! I know you are thinking - "What goes around comes around, so just deal with it!" I know you must have wanted to toss me out the window multiple times - at least all those times when you weren't smashing bread and butter in my face!

This morning, I was already bracing for a terrible day when Wesley started whining and it wasn't even 8am. I had told him that he wasn't allowed to whine until at least 4pm, but whatever. As I was washing the dishes while he was eating breakfast, I just lost it, and I continued to lose it for like the next hour and a half. I was frustrated about something Adam and I had talked about, frustrated with Wesley and the whinies, and frustrated at myself for feeling depressed. Wesley picked up on it and started crying and wanted to be held, so there we sat on the couch watching tv, crying. Eventually it came to an end and I noticed that my sweet little boy had fallen asleep! On a normal day I would NEVER have allowed this, but I reasoned that today was not normal and if I didn't have a shower or get dressed before 5pm, then it would be okay. Wesley slept about 45 minutes on me and I actually caught a few Z's myself. He woke up happy and that was that (He even took another 1 1/2 hr. nap later!). As you've seen by now this blog really has no point, I'm just venting somewhat about a crappy day. The day actually got a little better as it went on. When Adam came home it got even better because he surprised me with these...


Yellow roses are some of my favorite...how thoughtful of him! He also brought home a bottle of wine and gave me a sweet card! So, the day hasn't been complete waste. Maybe it will just keep getting better!

Ode to the Texas Garlic Toast

Oh Garlic Toast, Oh Garlic Toast,
We love your yummy goodness
Your buttery outside, your crunchy edges,
We cook you to perfection each and every time.
You are a perfect companion to Greek Chicken and sauteed green beans, but you also pair well with Lasagna and a salad.
You don't require any prep and you lay nice and flat on a cookie sheet.
You obviously like to please your consumers as you can be prepared in the conventional oven or in a toaster oven.
From Wal-Mart you come, fair in price, big in taste.
The only downside to you, Texas Toast, is that you contain too many ingredients I can't pronounce.
Thus, we only buy you on special occasions because you stick to our hips and you know our "hips don't lie".
If only you didn't contain Azodicarbonamide, Ethoxylated Mono-and Diglycerides, and Xanthan Gum to name a few.
Why Texas Garlic Toast? Why must you betray me nutritionally?
I will remember tonight Texas Toast and savor your buttery goodness forever (okay, maybe I'll eat you again at some point in the future).
We love you Texas Garlic Toast!

May Cause Drowsiness...

I haven't really written about being sick much in my latest posts because I figured no one would really care. After all, lots of people have been sick with nastier stuff than me. After a week and a day of being sick, yesterday I had had enough. Just in case you're curious, here's a list of my symptoms:

Wednesday 3/5-Sunday 3/9 - fever as high as 102.5, tickle in the throat, dry cough, no congestion, exhaustion

Monday 3/10- present - productive cough, lots of nose blowing, fuzzy-headed feeling, extreme soreness in neck and right side of face along upper jawbone

I actually managed to get a dr.'s appointment yesterday afternoon, so off I went to see our family doc. I already knew what I had, but I wanted to see if she concurred with my expert diagnosis, and she did! I have a RAGING sinus infection. I have no idea what I had the first few days, but it mutated to a sinus infection and I am in pain. My doctor was really great and prescribed me two different kinds of medicine and told me to buy saline solution to spray up my poor stopped up nose. I'm not really feeling any better yet (she said it could take a few days for the antibiotic to kick in), so for now, I'll just sleep when I can and hope that I don't catch anything else in the meantime. Thanks for your sympathy! Below you will see the daily meds I am taking that "may cause drowsiness".

I've (Finally) Been Tagged

As I've been reading other people's blogs over the past few weeks, I've seen that many of them have been tagged, meaning they have to share 7 weird facts about themselves. I had secretly been wanting to get tagged and now it has finally happened! Thanks Seestar! Since you mentioned the ice cream thing, I won't include that in my list, but I totally stir my ice cream (in the mug) until it is soft. LOVE IT!! Adam doesn't understand the mug thing either, but I think it makes it taste better. Here's my weirdness displayed:

1. I still have my baby blanket I got when I was a couple weeks old (Yep, that makes it 30 years old). It came from a neighbor who worked for Nationwide Insurance, so it had the big N and an eagle embroidered on it. The blanket was white, but now its actually a light shade of gray, and I used to hate for my mom to wash it because I loved the way it smelled. When we were little, my brother Daniel got mad at me and took some scissors to the blanket, making a quarter-sized hold in the fabric that has never been repaired. Boy, did he get in trouble.

2. Did I mention I named the blanket when I was 2? Yep, I named it...Boobie. Don't ask.

3. I can't stand to touch loose hair. When I was younger and I would have to clean the bathtub, part of the chore was opening the drain and pulling the hairball out. I can't even think about it without vomiting in my mouth...UGH.

4. My dream job(s) would be a) singing on the worship team for Beth Moore or Charlie Hall (Passion) b) starring as Eponine in Les Miserables or c) a 911 dispatcher

5. I LOVE Ketchup, but I don't put it on weird things. I just like to use it in abundance with foods like Hamburgers, Hot dogs, fries, and onion rings. I did eat Fritos with ketchup once years ago and found it surprisingly tasty! Adam thinks my love for ketchup borders on an obsession.

6. I am a closet fan (until now anyway) of Celebrity Gossip. I love to read People magazine, watch Entertainment Tonight, or Inside Edition and keep up with the latest Hollywood happenings.

7. I love to throw things away (unlike my dad!). On a good day, I'll sort through things before throwing them out, but on a bad day, hmmmm, not so much. The walk-in closet in Wesley's room frequently benefits from these cleanings. Adam is exactly the opposite, in that he keeps EVERYTHING, which sometimes gets on my nerves. However, together we create the perfect balance of toss and keep!

Well, there you have it, 7 little known things about Caro. Tag, you're it Jenn L., Heather B., and Laura T.

Sweep Me Away...Please!

Since Wesley has been eating table foods for a good while now, I have had to sweep the kitchen floor at least once a day. I know some of you are probably thinking, "What? Just once a day? I sweep at least three times a day, Slacker!" Okay, so I'm no Kate Gosselin from Jon and Kate Plus 8 (although I'm told we look alike), but I try my darndest to keep my house slightly presentable. What I have noticed is that my efforts to clean are certainly not overlooked by my dear, sweet son. It seems that everytime I sweep the dirt oh so neatly into a pile, he is there to walk, crawl, or push his "Cahs" directly through it! NEVER FAILS! It doesn't matter how far out of the way I may think I have swept the pile, Wesley WILL find it! I know some of you are probably thinking, "Why don't you just shut him out of the kitchen?" Yes, I have tried that and it does work, but I just like making things more difficult for everyone involved. Today as I swept the kitchen, I kept a count of how many times he crossed paths with the pile - FOUR TIMES!!!!! AAAHHHHHHH! At some point, I'm just going to sweep him into the pile and put him in the trash, something I'm sure my mother NEVER felt like doing to her dear, sweet children. To be honest, I did threaten to put him in the trash today as I wasn't feeling great and the whining was about to drive me to drink. You'll be happy to know now, however that Wesley did not go out with the trash today and is peacefully sleeping in his crib. There's always tomorrow.

Bathtime Chuckles

One of Wesley's favorite things to do is to take a bath. In fact, "bap" (bath) was his first word. Bathtime is so sacred around the Gilmore household that we can't even utter the word until the moment we are ready to strip and dunk the child into the tub. Otherwise, he throws himself into a tizzy and cries until he enters the water. Wesley is in his own world in the bathtub. Adam and I serve no purpose during bathtime other than to prevent accidental drowning. On this particular evening, Wesley discovered that some of his same old boring bath toys could actually do new and exciting things. The toys in the video are little squirt animals, but Wesley never realized he could squeeze them until now. I had the privilege of seeing my child discover something new out of something ordinary and enjoy a good hearty laugh while doing so.

Mo Mo Fared Head

Here's a good chuckle!

Recently I was with a friend and we started talking about my blog. She said,

"You're going to think I'm so crazy, but for the longest time, I couldn't figure out your blog address - Mo Mo Fared Head. It wasn't until my coworker pointed out to me that it was 'Mom of a Redhead' that I got it! I thought maybe it was some inside joke that you made to be your blog address. How funny is that?"