Friday, September 30, 2011

Elephant in the Room



"Elephant in the room" is an English metaphorical idiom for an obvious truth that is being ignored or goes unaddressed. (Wikipedia)

I have been having a hard time lately. And if I am being honest, it is because I am divorced. And when it comes to church that is hard to ignore. Especially when it's so obvious to me at times, but maybe not as obvious to other people. I stand out. And I get that. But lately I have been having some trouble with that.

I only bring that up to share an absolutely hysterical conversation with my 5-year-old daughter that is related to the hard time I've been having.

I was on the phone with Amy, discussing some of my issues with the situation to her, and I made the exact comment of: "I seriously felt like the elephant in the room."

She and I talked for a few minutes (the kids were close by in the kitchen because I was getting dinner ready) and then it was time for her to pick Jackson up from daycare. So we hung up and Gracie said, "Why did you feel like an elephant, Mama?"

Silence. I thought for a second and said, "Gracie, what are you talking about?"

"Well," she says, "You told Miss Amy that you felt like an elephant in the room."

I nodded, still not getting exactly what she was asking me. And then I forgot that children at her age are very literal. When you say something, they think you mean it.

"You shouldn't feel like an elephant in the room," she says, "because you aren't fat and you don't have a trunk!"

I seriously couldn't breathe I was laughing so hard. Thank you to my sweet big girl for that much needed laugh in a tough situation.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

9.11.11



Ten years seems like a long time. And like everyone else who remembers that day, so much has changed for me in ten years. I saw the cover of People magazine the other day of children who were not even here when 9-11 happened. Their mother's were pregnant, and many of them lost their fathers in 9-11.

It is hard for me to forget where I was that day. Or the events of that day. Ten years and I still can't watch video of the airplane hitting the second tower. It makes my stomach turn.

We will never forget. We will remember. And we will be forever changed.