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Friday, March 30, 2012

3/31/12 Sensational Saturday

Sensational Saturday-today is my 22nd wedding anniversary and that is sensational!

Twenty-two years ago today, I was a young, sweet 23 year old bride. Now I am a 45 year old married chick who is getting ready to dye some gray hair! I know that being happily married for a long time is a blessing and a gift from God. I laugh at my husband all the time and tell him that I was 19 when we met and that he has taken me from crayons to perfume and with these children, back to crayons again. I have a few friends who have been married as long or longer than I have and one thing we have in common is that we laugh at and with our spouses. We enjoy each other's company. We realize that a marriage is a unit and it is us against the world so we have to knuckle up and fight together.

I am a rider, my husband knows when push comes to shove, I have got him covered. He knows this because push has come to shove, and I have been there. Likewise, he has been there for me. Before we were married, there was a New Year's eve when he was taking me home from church on the subway and had to push me out of the way of knives and bullets. After we were married, I depended on him to get me through a few near death cesarean births. I am excited about the 22 years behind us and looking forward to the 122 ahead.

3/30/12 Fantastic Friday

Fantastic Friday-because today my husband turns 50 years old and he has been a wonderful gift!

As I write this post, I am thinking about the first birthday present Darren ever gave me. It was a book bag. We met in college and I was so broke, the book bag I was using was falling apart so he showed up at the college where we both worked as tutors and gave me a book bag! In the 25 years we have known each other since then, he has always supplied my needs. It has always been his mission to give me all I need and almost all I want. As we celebrate his birthday today, I am happy because it is another year we get to spend together. At the same time I am nervous, because I have never been able to give him all the wonderful gifts he has given me. As I struggle to find the right gift, I guess I will have to continue to give him, what I always give him, love, respect, reverence, devotion and loyalty. I hope I find the right gadget too.

So, today as we celebrate the 50th birthday of Darren Davis, I wish him 50 more years of happiness and joy and that all his dreams come true.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

3/29/12 Thrilling Thursday

Thrilling Thursday- our memories are around when those we love are not,so we should go about making thrilling memories.

This is a good season in the Davis household. Within the next few days, my husband celebrates his birthday and we both celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary. Over the course of our lives, we have experienced so many things, good and bad. We have innumerable memories to hold onto and to call to the front whenever we want, whenever we need. Memories are so precious, so soft and yet so strong. Whenever a couple breaks up I always wonder what will happen to the memories they created. One of the most precious gifts we have as humans is memories of days gone by. I treasure ours and look forward to creating more. In other words, I am thrilled to have the memories we have made together.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

3/28/12 Wonderful Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesday-because claiming responsibility when proper is a good thing to do, it is wonderful to show up like a grown up!

Recently, my children acted like, well like children. One of them told a lie and instead of confessing when caught, continued on the lie until the sheer ridiculousness of the whole thing became too much to bear. Another one misplaced a toy and blamed a sibling. In both cases, the children were wrong and refused to accept responsibility. It is hard to admit when one was wrong. My husband taught me a formula to fix things when one has made a mistake. It is really pretty simple:

1. admit you made a mistake
2. apologize for making the mistake
3. state the steps you will take to keep the mistake from happening again


I strive to follow this formula. Admittedly, I do not always succeed, but my new mission is to show up like a grown up and take responsibility where appropriate.

Monday, March 26, 2012

3/27/12 Terrific Tuesday

Terrific Tuesday-we have the power to make it Terrific Tuesday or Terrible Tuesday, we should treat ourselves special and choose terrific.

Last night at dinner, my husband and I were discussing personal space and cars. He was amazed at some women I used to be in a book club with who would not let a man borrow their cars, but would engage in all manner of sexual activity with those same men. He wondered why a woman would treat herself, her true inner self as a knick knack but treat her car as an invaluable one of a kind treasure. Today we see so many women engaged in casual sexual relationships who wonder why the men they are involved with treat them as expendable instead of as precious. This is not to say that there is something wrong with women who are promiscuous. Nor is it to say that men should be promiscuous. Instead I am saying, if a person wants to be promiscuous, one should realize that promiscuous is synonymous with common, regular and run of the mill. If one wants to be thought of as precious and special, one should conduct one self as if one is special and precious.

As I often paraphrase from an episode of my favorite television show, The Cosby Show "What I have may not be special to the world, but it is to me. What I have is not a knick knack."

3/26/12 Magnificent Monday

Magnificent Monday-name it, claim it, attain it and then retain it!

Sometimes you have to make things happen yourself. Once in a while you wake up in the morning and instead of it being Magnificent Monday, it is just Monday. However,you really need it to be a Magnificent Monday. Some people think they are screwed on those days. Not me. I think those are the perfect days to use the name it, claim it, attain it and retain it system. By that I mean give a voice to what it is you want- name the thing you wish to do, to acquire, to be. Next say to yourself that whatever it is that you have named is yours, it belongs to you, you possess it now. Claiming things is powerful and is a step toward being what you want and changing the world around you. Once you have named what you want and claimed it, you are on the road to attaining that thing. So take the steps do the work, do what you need to do in order take possession of what you desire. The final step is retention. Once you have named, claimed and attained the object of your desires, you retain it, hold onto the thing and live the life, be the person you have taken all the steps to become.

So on this Magnificent Monday, that seemed like just a regular Monday when I woke up, I am naming, claiming, attaining and retaining wonderful Monday.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

3/24/12 Sensational Saturday

Sensational Saturday- I will have been married 22 years on March 31, 2012, life is good in the Davis hood.

My husband reminded me recently that we have known each other for more than four decades. We were together in the 80s, the 90s, the 00s and now in the 2010s. That is a long time. I mean my husband is the oldest thing I own! I love that we have put so much time in together. I don't always finish his sentences, but I can speak full paragraphs for him. People who want to know what he wants or what he thinks can ask me and rely with certainty and safety on my answers. I like that comfort and knowledge. I like that time has strengthened our bond and made our relationship real, strong and dependable.

I have spent so much of my life with my husband, it seems as if he was always there. I met him when I was 19 years old and now I am 45. We married when I was 23 years old. All my adult life has been with him. All of his good years have been with me. I am writing this post after a date night with my husband where we had delicious food, wondrous drinks and enjoyed each other's company. I wish for everyone I know a relationship like ours, one full of love, friendship, trust and happiness that is grounded in faith in God.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

03/23/12 Fantastic Friday

Fantastic Friday-because some lessons we can learn the easy way, we don't always have to ice skate uphill.

I am glad I have been blessed with wisdom that allows me to learn some lessons from the mistakes of others. My teenie bopper was arguing with her father the other night and instead of taking parental advice to solve a problem she decided she wants to solve the problem herself. It is interesting because she has been dealing with this particular problem for almost the whole school year. If she followed her father's advice the matter would have been resolved months ago. If she followed my current advice the matter will be resolved in a matter of days. She is young, so she doesn't understand yet that she can solve things herself using suggestions and ideas from other people. I am blessed because I can learn from the lives of others and use their solutions to solve my own problems.

God blesses us so incredibly. He gives us wisdom, knowledge and understanding. We should always strive to do our best in every situation. Sometimes doing our best means sing the advice, guidance or solutions of another. I hope my teenie bopper learns this lesson soon and realizes she doesn't always have to ice skate up hill.

3/22/12 Thrilling Thursday

Thrilling Thursday- because taking the next big step is thrilling, Philly Marathon here I come!

My high school track coach told us that every woman should run a marathon by the age of 45. I turned 45 on February 17 of this year so the time has come. I have already told my family and friends that I am running the Philly Marathon this year. In shape or not, ready to run or not, I am signing up and going! I have started several preparatory steps:
1. I know when and where the race will be held
2. I have started exercising and getting in shape
3. I joined the gym and am exercising there three days per week
4. I brought a pair of sneakers and am planning my morning runs


Make no mistake, running 26 miles in one day is a tremendous feat. It will definitely be hard work. However life is full of hard work. I am not looking forward to how my body will hurt and ache during preparation and after. I am not looking forward to the sacrifice of other activities this undertaking will cause. I am looking forward to being introduced as a "marathoner." So the bottom line is, I have some hard work ahead, which would be true even if I was not running a marathon, so I am looking at the big picture and thinking long range. I am going to feel thrilled and accomplished on November 20, 2012, a few days after the race!

3/21/12 Wonderful Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesday- because being a mama and hanging with the Davis girls is one of life's greatest joys today I celebrate the twins!

I always enjoy the reaction of people when they see my twins. I cannot count the number of times people have told me my twins look identical (which they don't). I cannot count the number of times people ask me which is the good one and which is the bad one (it depends on the situation). One thing remains constant, the only people who tell me they always wanted twins, have no idea of the work involved, they just think the idea is cute. Nursing twins for sixteen months, changing double diapers and dealing with the varying personalities and sleep schedules is not fun at all.

Now my girls are almost five and they are so interesting and full of excitement, curiousness and excitement. Even now as I write this entry they are telling me what to write. Camille wants everyone to know she is the best leader in the world and she is a fashion model. Zahirah wants the world to know she lost her favorite stuffed animal Tyrone and if you find him send him to us. I am amazed at the incredible thing it is to be a mother and to mold young lives. It is such a tremendous responsibility and such a tremendous joy. My children are all wonderful, but today I celebrate the twins. Yayyyyy twin power.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

3/20/12 Terrific Tuesday

Terrific Tuesday-because anyone can eat an elephant one bite at a time.

Life is full of so many hard things. By this I mean things that must be done that are difficult, time consuming and necessary. Sometimes the to do list is overwhelming in appearance and scope. As a result, many people get scared, shell shocked, and paralyzed. I propose a different approach, eat the elephant. If we just concentrate on one piece of each task at a time, we can get anything done. This is not to say we ignore the big picture. we recognize that we are eating an elephant and that is a huge job. However, if we just concern ourselves with the one bite we are making, the one bite we are chewing and the one bite we are swallowing, each piece of the task is manageable.

So on this Terrific Tuesday, let us not concern ourselves about how hard it is to eat an elephant, instead, let's enjoy each bite and give each bite our best efforts. Pass the Grey Poupon please!

Monday, March 19, 2012

3/19/12 Magnificent Monday

Magnificent Monday-God gives me strength, power and blessings so I don't have to wait for Superman.

Last night I watched the movie "Waiting for Superman." For those who do not know, it is a movie about the educational system in America. The movie was so sad and so hopeless I spent a significant amount of time in tears. The movie followed several children whose family were trying to get them into charter schools. The saddest part was watching the faces of parents in the audience at the charter school lotteries when their children were not selected for admission into the charter school. It was as if all hope was lost, and the future was gone because without a good education, the future is a hard and dangerous place.

I am blessed. I live in a nice neighborhood with some of the best schools in the country. Children who go to school where my children go to school become world leaders, CEOs and all the wonderful things that are possible. My children are in advanced classes with teachers who care. The teachers at their schools are award winning teachers who constantly strive to improve themselves in their profession so they are able to better do their jobs. The kids in these schools are taught and given all the tools they need to make it in the world, they don't need to wait for Superman to come and save the world.

Education is key to so many things in life. My faith as a Christian is based on education. I was educated on the existence of God, the power of God, the grace of God. Before I got married, I took a pre-marital counseling class. In order to be a lawyer, I received education. In order to improve my parenting, I read books on parenting. Proper education is key to success in everything.

There are cures to the problems in education that many people face. However, the cures are not cheap, not easy and not quick. I doubt they will be put in place for a variety of reasons. So, between time and in the meantime, I am blessed that of all the worries and concerns I have for my children and their futures, education is not one of them.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

3/15/12 Thrilling Thursday

Thrilling Thursday-there is nothing better than the return of a loved one after time away from home, Daddy's home!!

Today my husband returns home from a business trip. I am thrilled, the children are thrilled, I think even the pets are thrilled. When you have been married for a long time, you grow accustomed to having someone around and you long for their company. When you have four children who are very smart and work together to drive you crazy, you miss the backup when it is away on trip. I am thrilled my husband is returning today.

Often father's in particular spend a lot of time working. Sometimes they work two or three jobs in order to care for the family while the mother who works several jobs has the main child rearing responsibility at home. Problems arise when the children and mothers do not realize or acknowledge that the father is still important, still part of the family even when he is away. I love modern technology and how we can use it to stay in touch. My children, down to the 4 year olds know how to use the cell phone and the computer video chat to get in touch with their father. So no matte where in the world he is, the children always get to talk to their father and stay close and maintain the loving relationship.

All my efforts to keep the family close and together are paying off. The children are close to their dad. The children believe that daddy loves them more than anything in the world and that he works hard to make life better for them. Daddy is the children's favorite parent, hands down, not even close. The funny thing is, that is one of my proudest accomplishments, I have made sure my family is close, the children love and respect their father and my husband feels loved, wanted and appreciated. Life is good in the Davis hood!

My

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

3/14/12 Wonderful Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesday-I give 100% and expect to receive 100 %, none of that 50/50 stuff for me!

On Facebook yesterday, I read a post from a guy who said he wants a woman to give 50/50 with him. There were a lot of posts back and forth agreeing with him. I stayed out of the conversation, but laughed to myself. Everyone who knows me, knows I have been happily married for 22 years. We both give our all, 100%, to this relationship. I am on duty 100% of the time and want a man who is on duty 100% of the time.

I cannot think of anything in my life where 50% output is acceptable. If I got 50% on a test in school, I flunked the test. If I feed my children 50% of the time they will be hungry and unsatisfied. Fifty percent is half the job. I have four children, if I am a good mother to only 50% of them, DHS will be at my house taking away 100% of my children. My wedding vows called me to love, honor, and forsake all others, it did not say, do your 50/50 best. I am on duty 100% of the time and want a man who is on duty 100% of the time.

If my husband brought home 50% of his paycheck and I brought home 50% of my paycheck our standard of living would decrease, not increase. If my husband was faithful 50% of the time and I loved him 50% of the time, we would not be a strong, happy successful unit. If I am a parent to our children 50% of the time and my husband is a parent to our children 50% of the time our children will be lost. I am on duty 100% of the time and want a man who is on duty 100% of the time.

It is cute when young people say they want to give 50/50 in a relationship. I admire their effort at trying to have an equal partner and seeking to be equally yoked to another. Real maturity comes when people realize that each party must give 100% for a relationship to be real, sustainable and successful. I am on duty 100% of the time and want a man who is on duty 100% of the time.

3/13/12 Terrific Tuesday

Terrific Tuesday-I am using the power of my mind to make the day terrific, because I could use a terrific day!

As usual, my to do list is long. I have a sick child, which means soon I will have four sick children. I am coming down with a cold. The issues go on and on and on. However as I teach my twins to say, "so what chicken butt!!" I am going to have a good day, a terrific day because I could use one. Today I do not have time for sadness, misery and despair. I have lots of time for happiness, goodness and terrific thoughts. Guess what, terrific loves company, so join me and use the power of your mind to make today terrific for yourself!

Friday, March 9, 2012

3/9/12 Fantastic Friday

Fantastic Friday- because the end of the week gives us the opportunity for a big finish and to thank God for His blessings.

This has been an amazing week for me. I have had so many amazing things, miraculous things happen I am overwhelmed with joy. Everyone knows the story of the parting of the Red Sea and the story of the multitude being fed with a few fish and some loaves of bread. Those things happened a long time ago. Have you heard about the miracle of the boy who started behaving better in school? What about he story of the teenager who started seeing her teachers to get help with Honor's Chemistry (after her parents threatened her with . . . )? Or how about the story of the twin girls who started cleaning their room and kept their shoes from getting lost for one whole week? What about the miracle of the husband of twenty-two years who called his wife on the telephone and made her swoon like a teenager in love? I am telling you, there are miracles everyday. There are real miracles, incredible things that are happening in our lives everyday. All we have to do is look, see and appreciate. Aaahhhh, fantastic Friday, thank God for wonderful,miraculous things around us.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

3/8/12 Thrilling Thursday

Thrilling Thursday-life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We are guaranteed those items, so why not be thrilled about going for them.

With all that is going on with the Republican primaries and the debates it is easy to think there is something wrong with America and our political system. However, I still believe this is the best place on earth to live. As a nation, as a people, we have it in writing that we are guaranteed life - the simple ability to live is protected and respected by the government in power. We have liberty-freedom. The ability to do as we please is guaranteed us. And finally, the right to pursue happiness- the right to do what we want in order to be happy in this life is guaranteed us. How awesome a thing is that? There are so many people in so many places that who only want to be able to pursue happiness and to dream a big dream, but because of their circumstances, they are unable. We are blessed to be guaranteed life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Today is Thrilling Thursday so it is a time to celebrate life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Today is the time to enjoy life, use the freedom we have for good and follow or lead what needs to be followed or lead to pursue happiness. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are wonderful gifts. I am thrilled to have them and thrilled to be able to use them.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

3/7/12 Wonderful Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesday-a beautiful day outside should make us be wonderful on the inside and present our beauty to the outside.

Today is supposed to be a beautiful day day in Bryn Mawr, Pa. It is the beginning of March and the temperature is supposed to be about sixty degrees and it is going to be sunny. By most definitions, this qualifies as a beautiful day. This is a day that made me put on a cute skirt, brush my hair up and I am even throwing on some lipstick. So, since my outside is gorgeous, I am going to make sure the inner me matches. Today I am looking for the good in others. I will give out compliments rather than complaints and I am doing all I can to make sure those I am around enjoy the beauty of the day by not detracting from it with a crappy, ugly attitude. Wonderful Wednesday will get some help from me and I hope it will be wonderful for others as well!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

3/6/12 Terrific Tuesday

Terrific Tuesday- when life gives you lemons, make some lemon chicken, lemon cake and lemon air fresher with the leftovers.

A friend recently wrote that when life gave her lemons she used to pelt them at people and now she uses the lemons for other purposes. I have adopted that policy. My to do list is long, my responsibilities are steep and life is full of all kinds of stuff that is not pleasant. I am going to take all these lemons and use my best efforts on all I have to do, and in doing so I am going to turn my lemons into terrific things. The to do list is no longer a horrible thing. I now see it as many opportunities to do terrific jobs on a variety of tasks. My responsibilities are no longer burdens I must carry, instead, they are opportunities to do terrific for those to whom I owe a duty. All those chores and jobs I don't want to do are no longer a pain in the rear, instead they are an opportunity to showcase my skills and my ability to make the sub-par terrific. So terrific Tuesday is a day to celebrate lemons and the things they allow us to create!

Monday, March 5, 2012

3/5/12 Magnificent Monday

Magnificent Monday-good people love good company so I am looking to be surrounded by some magnificent people.

Today, magnificent Monday will be a day I spend thinking about the magnificent people I know. I can find magnificence in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich made by my son. I see magnificence in my teenie bopper who keeps getting awards and who offered to make dinner because I seemed tired. I recognize the magnificence in my twins sticking together and not letter their big siblings push them around. I recognize the magnificence in my husband working, bringing home all his money, being faithful and being an awesome father and husband. In other words, I see the magnificence in my family and I encourage you to look for the magnificence in those around you. If you don't see magnificence in those around you, move around until you find it, then build a home!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

3/3/12 Sensational Saturday

Sensational Saturday-because there is something nice about hanging out with your parents at their home for a little while.

We all grow up and move away from home and start families of our own in homes of our own. Then, the day comes when we go back to visit our parents with our children. For me, today is the day. I am packing up the Davis children and going to visit my mom overnight. My husband is away on a business trip so he will miss the festivities. It is always fun going back to visit your parents as an adult. You are under their roof once again and so once again you are subject to their rules and regulations. At the same time, if you are going back with children of your own you are in a sandwich. People with the authority to boss you around are at one end, and people you boss around are at the other. It is an interesting combination of events. If your parents are typical parents, your children will be spoiled rotten, indulged in every way possible and have the time of their lives. Then, you take them back home to the real world.

Children live for those get-a-ways. I think they secretly enjoy getting our parents to spoil them with sweets, late nights and freedom from normal responsibility. What our children do not understand is that as parents, we like for them to have silly, carefree purely fun times. As parents, we know how important such times are an important part of childhood development. We love to see our children smile. Grandparents are good because they allow us to provide these times without compromising our strict, by the rules parental exteriors. But we all know, there is nothing like seeing your kids smile with joy at a little treat or piece of silly fun. So today is sensational Saturday and I am looking forward to my children enjoying their grandparents and some silly fun.

Friday, March 2, 2012

3/2/12 Fantastic Friday

Fantastic Friday-because hanging with the Davis kids is fantastic, I love my family.

Children help make life fantastic if we look at them with the right attitude. This morning I woke up to the twins climbing all over me in bed. I was up late last night talking with the teenager about who knows what. Earlier in the afternoon I sat at the cold playground with the kids so my son could play with his friends and have fun. Let me just say I HATE the cold, teenage drama is not my thing and I do not like twenty little toes digging into my back, stomach and face in the morning. But, I love my kids. It is amazing how much we willingly, happily and voluntarily sacrifice and change our lives in order to make our children smile. My teenie bopper loved us sitting together, working, watching television and talking about her life. My twins think the best thing in the world is to climb all over me (well second best, they like daddy better). My son likes the playground and giving me all the inner details about how the X Box Kinect games are superior to the WII games, but how he still wants us to buy him the new PSP so he can do whatever it is that thing does. Children are exciting, ambitious little energy drainers, but they are fantastic. Today what makes Friday fantastic is that I love my family and look forward to what the day will bring.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

3/1/12 Thrilling Thursday

Thrilling Thursday-because I can't think of a reason not to be thrilled to be up, alive and well and therefore I should be extra thrilled!

Normally I have a cute reason to be thrilled on Thursdays. Today I don't have one. So, things get down to the basics. I am alive and well. My husband is alive well and faithful. My children are alive, well, happy and trying to drive me crazy. These normal things, these little things, these precious things are really reasons to be thrilled. I have a friend who is going through a divorce, another friend whose little boy keeps getting sick and another friend with a shaky marriage. All these women would love to have my simple, boring, no excitement, just living with stuff lives. I am thrilled today that there is no drama, no big climatic moment on the horizon. I am living life and doing the normal things wives, mothers and self employed business consultants do: laundry, dishes, homework, internet research and once everyone is asleep and not calling my name, writing my book. You know, living the thrilling life.

So today, on thrilling Thursday I am thrilled to be up, alive and me. After all I am Janeane Davis, wife, mother, consultant and I love me!