Broken Toe Story – Imagine Your Baby Toe…..

Have you ever broken a bone?

I read today’s prompts and I was thinking,

Have I broken a bone….no, not really. My arm popped out of its socket a few times when I was younger but technically that’s not really breaking your bone…so hmmm

I started reading some answers and someone mentioned breaking their toe and then I was like,

Wait! I guess I have broke something! My toe!

So a few years ago we were camping out on the lake and we stay in our RV. It’s not like a super fancy RV but it’s decent. I was standing on the bed. Let me try to give you a visual.

Imagine a table, booth style. And this booth style table you can turn into a bed. Now, at the time we had a baby. So my husband made this little wall and turned this bed now essentially into a little crib. Can you see it?

So I’m standing on the bed (“the crib”) because I was getting something in the cabinet above. I stepped over the wall/board onto the floor, instead of a step more like a jump and when I did that my other foot, my baby toe to be exact, when it came down my baby toe caught the trash can (I kid you not) and my baby toe was literally poking out the side of my foot!!!!!

It hurt so bad and I looked at my foot and was like, “oh my gosh!!” My kids saw it and began all laughing uncontrollably! I cursed at the trash can and sat there for a bit but I was laughing too.

Long story short I tapped it to my other toes and after a few days my toe was back to its right position.

But look at your feet and picture your baby toe completely 90 degree angle with your 4th toe.

It was a funny sight.

Leader Or Follower? Get Uncomfortable And Be A LEADER

Are you a leader or a follower?

In my current season or phase of my life I do feel I am a leader.

I just don’t think the same anymore at all. I question, I ponder, I wonder, I don’t mind being uncomfortable.

People’s opinions about me are out the window. Not that I’m not curious of their perceptions but it’s like….I’m not loosing sleep over it.

Younger me was definitely a follower. Hardcore. I constantly wanted to fit in. I cringe just thinking about it. If they were doing it I wanted to do it, if they had it I wanted it. The truth is I desperately wanted to be seen in my teenager years. Rejection of any kind was painful. I became a people pleaser.

This I believe mainly roots to abandonment issues/being adopted. This void inside myself that I just couldn’t fill no matter what I did.

I am so grateful I have overcome that or at least that I’m aware of it. With all that I have learned through my own experiences I am teaching my children to be leaders. And they will be. I make sure that the biggest thing is that they feel loved. I don’t want my kids to ever question that.

I had a diary that I found a few years ago. In an entry I wrote, “all I want for my birthday is for my mom to tell me that she loves me.”

I was 11 years old. I read that and I was just like wow. Sometimes our younger selves literally reveal to us all that we want. And I just wanted to be loved.

My children are so smart for their age. I tell them often how intelligent they are and to not look at grown ups and think they have it all together. Grown ups are looking to them.

I tell them to ask lot of questions, to not accept everything they hear, to research, stay true to themselves, highly encouraging them to learn their bodies language and how to listen to their instincts and intuition. And like I mentioned earlier I remind them often how love surrounds them. And not just from me, but from nature and God.

This path was for me though, it brought me to my children. I don’t know who I am raising yet but I know they are meant for beautiful things and will do great things.

What’s Wrong With Being A Stay At Home Mom?

First of all, nothing is wrong with choosing to be a stay at home mom.

However I feel prompted to write this blog post to just get it off my chest.

I have been a stay at home mom now for almost 10 years. I have 4 kids. Ages 10, 9, 6, and 3 currently. Two biological and two adopted; that part to me truthfully is irrelevant but it helps others to connect more and have possibly a better perception.

As I was saying, I have chosen to do this. And I am so incredibly grateful to have a very supportive husband.

I have lost count with comments like –

I could never do that….”

So, what do you do all day?”

I work because staying at home is just not me”

I don’t know how you do it.”

Just watching your kids and taking care of your home and husband…..there is no way.”

It’s not just these phrases or words, but it’s how they say it.

They don’t understand that in a way those remarks are insulting. The stigma that stay at moms have is honesty mind boggling to me.

That we do not contribute because we are fully immersed in the role? I would argue that.

Now I KNOW that I do not have to explain, but I am saying these words to relieve myself from the years of these remarks.

I understand and deeply know how important my role as a mother is. This is not putting down working mothers. I am expressing that I deep down know that the children that I AM raising need a deeply present mother.

My husband also needs a deeply present wife, especially for the work that he is in.

And that matters to me. The presence matters to me. My inner self matters to me. Because I know if I am fully loving and caring for myself I am giving back so much more to my family.

I view where I am right now, in this season, as a calling. I am helping to establish a family foundation which by the way I did not have.

I am embodying how I want my children to live. That does mean to be a stay a home like myself. But that means to be present, to live out their dream, to love, to trust, to experience joy, to have inner peace, to understand that who they are impacts others.

May be hard to believe……but to some, like myself…….having a family to care and love for is a dream come true.

I’ll Tell You What Word I Despise And I Have Not Liked This Word Since I Was A Kid

If you could permanently ban a word from general usage, which one would it be? Why?

For a moment I really had to think about what word I don’t like and a few instantly came to mind – stupid, idiot, dumbass

do you notice the pattern? The words that make a person question their intellect.

I cannot stand when people call anyone those words. Those are such belittling words and words are so powerful.

But this is the word……

retard.

Ugh, I do not like even typing it.

When I was a kid I heard others use this word often. And when you’re a kid you ask what that word means and the typical response is, someone who is stupid.

And then later you find out that retard is a person with a disability. A special needs individual.

So people categorize special needs children and adults as “stupid”? It is so completely WRONG.

I just can’t stand it and I still can’t if I ever hear someone use that word in their vocabulary. I will instantly correct them. I will call them out instantly and say that’s completely inappropriate to use that word.

I would definitely ban that word.

I know that word can be used differently but for the sad part it’s used in a derogatory manner.

And here’s the even more SAD PART, there are parents out there who call their kids those types of demeaning words! It’s heartbreaking!

I would ban all those words actually that I listed prior. Because I wouldn’t want any children being called those words.

And if your parents ever called you (readers) any of those words shame on them. I hope they have grown and I hope that you have healed.

You are so intelligent and capable so many things.

Love and light friends! I got a little heated there lol.

I Read This Fortune Cookie About BOREDOM

What bores you?

A few years ago I read this in a fortune cookie and these words changed me.

If you are bored, you are not being curious enough.”

Don’t you just love that! This is exactly what I tell my kids too every time they say they are bored.

“Mom we’re bored….”

“Well……if you’re bored you’re not being what?”

“Curious enough.”

*walk away and find something to do.*

I don’t get bored anymore. I can find something in anything.

For me, everything can be an experience.

Just close your eyes once in a while and let your other senses highlight your world and reveal something entirely extraordinary.

To avoid boredom is to strengthen your imagination. You don’t have to bored, you need to stay curious and not be afraid to be a little weird and different.

I Love Being Around People Who Think Differently – The Ones That Can Keep A Convo Curious

Who are your favorite people to be around?

The deep thinkers. The curious ones. The ones who wonder and ponder. The questioners.

And how weird to be encouraged with this question today when just last night I was sharing with my husband that I felt like I didn’t have much friends who understood me.

I have friends. But don’t we all want and crave friendships where we are seen. And who are like minded like us? Who doesn’t just brush us off as being weird or different.

If we really want to be honest, I am you, and you are me. So…..we might as well just be honest and say how we really feel. Surface level conversations are painful. I want depth!

Or, what’s a bummer is you do establish friendships where you feel in alignment, only to discover that you really weren’t.

I am in a season where it’s difficult for me to be around people who don’t love themselves or who are not confident in who they are. OR, it’s difficult to be around people who just aren’t even trying to be 1% better everyday.

And more than that, people who don’t allow me to show them how to love themselves.

Some people just don’t want to listen and thats the most frustrating part.

I can help more than people give me credit for but I also understand everyone is on their own journey. So I wait in way……

I will say I am so incredibly grateful for my blog and the internet because I know that there are people out there who think or ponder in a similar way and who are striving to be and do better everyday.

It’s rejuvenating.

And I thank you readers and writers.

You all are my people.

You all, are who I LOVE to be around.

I’m Not The Biggest Fan Of Shoes – I Have A Challenge For You

Tell us about your favorite pair of shoes, and where they’ve taken you.

Currently my favorite pair of shoes are not typically categorized as shoes, they are actually my slippers.

They are these light beige, slip on, clog style slippers and they are so cozy. They are not brand name or anything really special. But it’s like, being wrapped in a blanket. My body is immediately safe when I wear them.

I prefer to be grounded in comfort.

I really don’t like shoe’s honestly. I wear them when I need to but I prefer my slippers, being barefoot, or probably wearing a pair of slip on sandals.

You ever notice how kids strongly dislike wearing shoes? They always want to be barefoot.

There’s something to that. What are your thoughts?

I remember I also read something awhile back that said many people haven’t actually touched the earth with their feet in years.

Why? Because they are always wearing shoes.

You put shoes on, go where you go, come home, take off shoes, repeat.

If it’s been awhile since your feet have actually touched earth I dare you to do that today.

Stand on the earth and feel it.

The Gift Of Awareness, The Gift Of Love

Share one of the best gifts you’ve ever received.

Well…..I think the opportunity to be here is a pretty huge gift.

It’s pretty wild when you really sit and ponder that.

We are here, all together. And why exactly? That’s still quite the mystery.

Regardless, we are here. I get this experience right now.

Have I been here before? I have no idea, maybe I have and don’t remember.

But being here now, in this moment. I recognize that to be alive IS a gift.

My awareness is the gift.

And it’s the most bizarre thing, sometimes I feel like I’m in a dream.

But I rather have this unsettling beautiful awareness than to be oblivious of this insane miracle, which is exactly what it all is.

It’s all so weird.

What Comes To Mind With Budgeting

Write about your approach to budgeting.

Intention.

Deciphering needs vs. wants.

Health is wealth.

  1. Intention

When I buy/purchase something there has to be intention behind it. I don’t just buy because it’s “a good deal” or “oh it’s on sale.” To me personally, that is the road to unnecessary items and clutter.

There needs to be a good why behind the purchase. And I ask how often will I/they use this item…what am I really getting back in return? Don’t buy just to buy. Let it be strong why.

2. Needs Vs. Wants

Most of the time, it’s just a want. You probably don’t need. How many times do we buy things and it ends up getting donated a few months later or years.

Here’s a tip though: don’t be afraid to ask your friends or family for something that you want. Just the other day I went onto my Facebook to ask if anyone had a paper shredder or blender they no longer wanted or needed because I want to learn how to make paper.

No one said they had a blender but guess what? Someone said they had a paper shredder they could give me. I have done this countless times. Don’t afraid or ashamed or embarrassed.

People have stuff, and truthfully they want to get rid of it. They will feel good giving it away to someone they know.

So don’t be afraid to ask around before you spend unnecessary money that really could go towards something else….like a trip somewhere!

3. Health Is Wealth

THIS. Invest in your health. Groceries can be expensive for example, but what I am getting in rerun is FAR greater.

But health is more than body, it’s mind and spirit.

This is the area where there is no budget to me because of the state of well being you get back.

That is priceless.

****parents****

I will say this, stop wasting your money on little party bags. Kids do not need them. The honest truth is most of the party favor bags end up in the trash or donated. Save your money. The party and the kids having a good time is ENOUGH, I promise you.

Things CAN Get Worse

You know something I never say, “it can’t get worse than this.”

Call me superstitious or what but I’ve watched enough movies and read enough books that prove the point that it can and possibly will be worse when you test the theory.

Last year towards the end of 2024 my mom had an incredibly rough year.

She lost both of her parents. It happened very fast. My Grandma was in her early 80s and my Grandpa was in his 90s. My grandma passed and then 80 days later my grandpa.

During that ordeal my mom broke her ankle and was healing and plus she had been dealing with all sorts of family drama from her side. It was a nightmare for her. That’s actually an understatement.

Anyways one day we were talking on the phone and she was expressing how she was ready for the new year and that it can only go up from here not get any worse.

I said, “mom don’t say that.”

And she was like, “what..”

and I said, “saying things can’t get worse. They always can. You’ve watched movies! You just don’t say that!”

And then she was like, “wow marie, I didn’t realize how superstitious you were.”

And I was like, “‘mom that’s just truth. Same with if you want to make God laugh you tell him your plans.”

Well guess what you guys…….

My moms foot is still healing by the way but she calls me yesterday and says,

Marie, I still want you to come up and visit….but umm….”

Me – “mom what is it?”

Her – “I slipped on some ice and broke my back ribs.”

*silence*

Me – “mom!! Are you serious!!! Mom!! This is what i told you! You said it can only go up from here and not get worse and you just broke your ribs!”

Her – “Marie don’t make me laugh, it hurts. I am never saying that again.”

lol oh my gosh. Thank goodness my mom has a great sense of humor and was in good spirits and we had a really good laugh about it.

But let this be a lesson folks!

Don’t test the unknown.