Cardiogirl: 19% body fat 100% fun

I had never heard that song before so I just listened to it on YouTube and I gotta be honest, that was way too much cheese for me. You Americans just love the quattro formaggi!

Do you know Miss Sarajevo by U2 and Pavarotti? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh_AQUYvRvg) It’s basically the same story – a father watching his daughter growing up – told in a much more subtle way that appeals to my British cheese threshold! (Lyrics here: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/u/u2/miss+sarajevo_20141586.html)

Oh, and the answer to the question involves Clive Owen and shouldn’t be spelled out here, if you know what I mean ;)

Oh Guilty, we all have to have our cheese now and again. I actually had to Google quattro formaggi. Thanks for the links, I have never heard that song and I have to agree that it is very, very subtle. If I hadn’t seen the lyrics and had it spelled out for me, I really wouldn’t have figured out the meaning. Silly American. Usually, unless it’s blatant, I don’t pay close attention to the lyrics.

So I guess you’re a fan of Mr. Owen.

Wow. I got choked up just reading that. It was a really beautiful image. I guess I better start practicing my dancing since I am the one that will be doing all the dances at the boys’ weddings!

What would I dream tonight? Honestly, I would wish for no dream. I have been so anxious about my work situation and the stress of opening a new office that I am tossing and turning with bizarre work related dreams. I want my mind to be still and quiet.

What do I want for my children? You worded it so beautifully, that is exactly what I want for them.

Have a good weekend!

Hi Michelle, gosh you’re so kind. It’s funny you mention the dancing, because in my head, I see myself standing to the side with Allison and Emily helping me, emotionally, through the tears.

Regarding the anxiety dreams: I know exactly what you mean and hope those go away very soon.

I’m sitting here crying, what a beautiful post!

Thank you Kari. It’s strange, I just pick a random question early in the morning on Fridays (around 5:00 am) and I’m always surprised what comes out. Even I don’t know what to expect.

p.s. Cheesy as it sounds, I choked up as well.

Ok, as a daddy’s girl you just got me. (Add in my engagement, shake, stir, pour.) And I have to work today!

As for the question of today…

A good friend of mine gave birth to her daughter (11 weeks early) in June. “WonderGirl,” as I call her, came home last Friday. We are going up to see them tomorrow. If I could script a dream tonight, it would be a dream of WonderGirl getting bigger and stronger every day, so I can play “aunt” to her all her life.

That’s a great dream to have Rebecca. I hope it comes true and then some!

I can’t take that song. It’s a good one, but I’m way too much of a softie for that.

I do take time for my daughter and try to appreciate each moment.

My wish for my daughter is for her to be able to keep as much of her happy outlook and innocence as long as she can.

The world is what we make of it, after all.

Me too. It’s hard to listen to it, even though I really like it. And I, too, am hoping that innocence will remain longer than I know it will.

CG, you cannot do that to be this early in the morning!! You about had me weeping on the floor — though it doesn’t take much to make a pregger cry. I love that you try your best to hang onto the little things in your memory, so that when your kids ask you, “Mom, tell me when we did this!” you can recall it. So often I ask my parents, and they draw a blank. What was I like as a kid — they don’t know. Do you remember the time we did this — nope. They spent my childhood working and worrying about their own lives. We kids were sort of an add-on to that. So with Grace, I try very hard to do what you’re doing with your girls. We play a lot more, we hug a lot more, we cuddle a lot more. I try to remember the funny things she says or the silly and goofy things we do together. I want her to have the best childhood memories she can.

Your entry is even more poignant as I just got back from my cousin’s wedding, and my uncle really started tearing up as he danced with his daughter at the reception. I’ve never seen my uncle cry, so that was a very emotional moment.

I don’t know if I would script a dream, though. I like not knowing what the heck is going to pop into my head while I’m sleeping. I just got up, but I don’t really remember what I was dreaming — except that I was in some sort of antique store wandering around with some friends that don’t even live around here.

Isn’t it hard to slow down each day for just a moment or two instead of worrying about tomorrow or next year? I find it very difficult and that is why I try to be mindful of those times when we are having fun just for the sake of fun.

I have to agree, sometimes it is fun to see where a dream will take you. And who shows up.

Wow – when you get it right, you get it right! Beautiful!

Thank you Susan, I appreciate that.

That was so beautiful. So beautiful.

Thank you, Monique. Your kind words mean so much.

Oh CG – that was a beautiful post (why can’t I come up with something other than “beautiful” since it is what everyone is saying? – because beautiful must be the best word)! Tuggin’ at my heart strings a little (since I did long for a little girl). I doubt I’d write a script about my sons’ weddings (by then, the separation from their mother will be complete and I’ll enter that horrible zone of trying to navigate around the new important woman in my son’s life).

I suppose if I were to script my own dream, it would be something about feeling completely at home in my own skin and feeling the unconditional love of another. I’m always amazed when someone from my distant past shows up in one of my dreams in a super-supportive role. Obviously, they are no longer supportive, yet whatever they provided me long ago lingers in my subconscious. Dreams can be so perplexing.

Thanks Wendy (just got your letter yesterday and mailed one back today!) I do wonder what it will be like when my girls have a mother-in-law, will I feel threatened, will we get along, will we never see each other? Time will tell.

That’s a dream I would like to have tonight — feeling completely at home in my own skin and feeling the unconditional love of another. Amen to that.

Whenever I hear that song, “Cinderella,” I always think of my niece Amelia, since she considers herself a princess and they play that song often at her leukemia events and celebrations. If you visit my blog today, you can click on a link to watch news footage of Amelia and her family. She just embodies that song for me.

I’ll definitely stop by. I’m on my way!

Wow, I think someone is trying to get a message to me today about the time spent with my kids. Between this post and an article my friend sent me, God is giving me a swift kick in the butt (I was going to say slap in the face but kick in the butt sounded less painful).

I don’t know what I would dream about, maybe being financially able to make it without feeling like I have to rely on parents or in-laws? Maybe dream about spending time with the kids where EVERYONE is happy. Is that too much to dream for? I don’t remember my dreams, unless they are disturbing ones, but I sure wished I remembered happy dreams.

Hmm, you think a slap on the face would hurt more than a kick in the rear? My vote is for the rear, but I imagine steel-toed boots. It’s hard when you’re in the middle of it chaos. Sometimes I think it *is* too much to wish for — all of the kids happy part of the time. But in five minute increments it seems to work for us.

Did you know that Steven Curtis Chapman’s youngest daughter was killed in a car accident in late May? She was so excited that her big brother was coming home… she ran out into the driveway and her brother hit her as he was driving. :(

I did know that, what a tragic story.

Unbelievable post! I used to listen to Steven Curtis Chapman aeons ago when my girls were little..haven’t heard him in a long time..can’t say he was one of my favorites, but we did listen to a lot of his stuff…this post touched my heart so.

You wrote: “This is my dream, my wish, for all three of my daughters: to live a life full of joy and challenges, confidence and happiness solidified by the security of a stable childhood.”

My little granddaughter is visiting, she has a childhood NOT solidified with that security you spoke of – even tho I have tried and tried (court system, etc..for which i could tell stories that would make your hair curl) -but I am continually holding her in the Light and am blessed by mama’s like you, who know what treasures you have! thank you for this!!

It is my dream, wish, and prayer for you that your dreams, wishes and prayers for your girls all come true!! Blessings!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Karen. Sometimes good still comes from the situation your granddaughter is in. I have to admit my own childhood was less than stellar and while it has been difficult I am attempting to change the path I came from. To forge a new path for my kids. I am definitely more aware of how I parent them than I would be otherwise, I think.

Lovely post. I was moved to tears thinking of my own daughter, whom I have not been able to see in many days. She lives with her mother and she has made it very very difficult for me to hold on to a normal relationship with my daughter. Unfortunately, Zia, my daughter is only 5 years. I wondered if I would be able to dance at her wedding or even be one of the guests. If I am not there, would she miss me. Will she ever come looking for me?

I am so happy for you, for wanting to hold on to memories which can’t be repeated.

I only dream for being able to have a normal and happy relationship with my daughter. Under the circumstances in which I live, that sometimes seems like a dream.
Thank you very much for that lovely post.

I’m sorry to hear about such strife with your own daughter, Sanjay. I think every daughter has a longing for her father no matter how long she lives. It’s hard wired into people, I think, to seek their parents regardless of the situation.

Thank you for your kind words, Sanjay.

Loved this blog. I had a vision of your babies dressed in their baptism gowns, then in their First Communion white dresses and finally in their wedding gowns. What a beautiful montage that would make in one frame.

My dream would be to see my mother and my sister in law who have passed away and be able to talk to them about where they are now and what is in store for me……

That would make a nice montage, all of those pictures. As I’m sure you know, those are some of the sacraments in the Catholic Church. While I continue to struggle with that aspect of my life, I do find some comfort in the rituals.

I like that idea of your dream, re-connecting with those who are gone for now.

Aww *sniff* you’ve put tears in my eyes! That was so beautiful, I just had to comment and say that. I’ll be back to answer the actual question later, after I’ve given it some thought =) **HUGS!!**

Thanks Chris! It’s sort of a hard one to answer, don’t you think? I know it means dreaming in the sense of overnight, but I suppose it’s all up for interpretation.

OK, I think of a wish and dream as different things. I WISH/HOPE/DESPERATELY WANT my boys to be happy, safe and healthy. And I serious pray they don’t have the kind of mental health issues I do.

But my dream tonight? It would have to be something fun, like dancing around with my friends and eating a massive chocolate cake with cheesecake filling.

You’re right, pantrypuff. And I like the idea of chocolate cake with cheesecake filling. Have you ever had those dreams of eating cake? I have, especially when I am dieting. I have actually woken up with my hand in the air as I use my imaginary fork to take another piece of cake. And, yeah. I was chewing at the time.

That really was so lovely and I teared up as well (though I have to admit I’m kinda with GS on the fromage factor on that song). Your hopes and wishes for your girls are truly touching.

If I could script a dream…

I would talk to and hug my dad again. He died 5½ years ago and it’s been 3 years now since I had a dream where he visited me. Him. Not my memory of him or him being a character like all the other characters in my very vivid sleeping dream life.

I know he’s somewhere else, somewhere he needs to be, a part of something more profound now, and that’s good. But it would be nice to have another dream where he and I are alone and he is saying hello. I’d like to hear his voice.

:)

Wow, melissa. That’s very encouraging; I really hope, when my brother goes, we can still communicate in that way. It’s nice to hear that you’ve had that kind of dream. I hope it happens again for you.

I hope you can communicate like that with him too, dear CG. It didn’t happen for my mom and sister (and in one dream, I even asked him why and he said they weren’t as open to it in the dream state or something). It’s a mystery, but I am grateful for it, and would never doubt its reality. :)

That’s so interesting melissa. I believe that — that you have to be open to it. I really hope I can experience that. I’ve told him (he’s in hospice and the time is near) that I expect him to visit me in dreams. I hope that’s possible.

OK CG, you are not the only one who is neurotic…this post has been bugging me ALL WEEK. Do you know why? Because you never answered the damn question!
I love your fantasy for your daughters, I think it is hopeful and sweet and loving (also such a loving view of your husband as a father)…it’s written wonderfully.
But. You. Don’t. Answer. The. Question. Of. The. Day.

What would you dream about tonight while sleeping if you could choose?

For me, I’d be a super hero and save the world. I’d have the power to stop time, super strength, and could fly. Then I’d have a long love making session with my husband where I’d be in my 19 year-old firm body.

I know I’m weird, but this has been bugging me all week that you never answered the question. It’s the old middle child whining, it’s not fair! She didn’t do it right and still got credit (ie, approval) for it!

Please feel free to tell me to shut the f@#k up.

I guess I was being obtuse. I would dream of Katie’s wedding day and watching her dance to that particular song with Mr. C.

Kidding, I jest! I just had to say that, since you told me to :)

Anytime you want, tell me that. I just feel comfortable enough with you to let my crazy out.

But don’t ever take me personally, please. Unless I say something really awesome.

Hey I guess this is a “safe place” for both of us to unleash the crazy. Cool!