New...old goals and new goals.

Last year I wanted to "Do better" in many areas of life. And now that I look back, I did. It felt good to come around to this new year and realize that setting simple goals versus an all or nothing approach worked. In spite of some unavoidable obstacles, doing better worked.  Like I said last year, I could resolve to doing the usual; exercise, sleep more, eat healthy, save money...you know the game. All of which I find very important. And I have successfully done some of these things in the past, for a short time.  But life sometimes takes the "off-the-beaten-path route," feeling more like the obstacle course on "Wipeout." And when that happens, they are the first to go. So this year,  I will do better again! However, there are a few areas that I feel more strongly at improving.  Here are a few of them, two I do daily, regardless of time, money or anything else.  The other I love to do, in almost any mood or time frame.

I have decided to waste less food. Yes, waste less.  I am definitely not a wasteful person, but it does happen. And I have become increasingly annoyed at wasted food. Even one serving!  So, this year I have started working much harder at having less food waste.

Another goal is to try one new recipe a week, whether sweet or savory.  My family should be happy with either, considering my "Create-a-meals" are usually not joyfully welcomed! As for sweets, who wouldn't want dessert?  I know I am ALWAYS ready to eat a goodie!

My last real goal, to work on getting my scrapbooking done. BAM, there it is...actually typed and posted. Now I will have to be accountable!!! I hope to do a page or two a week, per girl...more if I am lucky. I am only a few pages away from completing 2008. Yes, 2008. I know, "That is not that bad..." However, if you know me, you know I LOVE taking pictures. I take 100's of pictures at a time. A single vacation can yield nearly 1,000 pictures.  A birthday party, somewhere near 100. Heck, Christmas of 2008 ended up being 4 - 12x12 pages per girl. So, with that in mind, I definitely have my work cut out for me!

So here's to doing better again this year, in all things!

Until next time...

Time goes on and on...

Today marks the two year anniversary of the passing of my father-in-law. And I have come to understand a few things more clearly and I have realized that life itself is very comforting.  There are small reassurances all around showing that all is ok, and that life is to be joyful, even in the absence of those we love. Sometimes you have to look for those reassurances, other times they are so obvious you can't miss them.

Vern's greatest joy in life were his grandchildren.  His pride in them was palpable. So, with that pride in mind and through his eyes and heart I have come to enjoy my children in a whole new light. I have come to enjoy each moment more (even those nasty parenting times) and realize that they are growing up so fast and taking it all in. Today is for enjoying and not to worry about tomorrow.  Sharing their joy and creating my own with them, each day, is amazing. That is not to say that I don't feel like screaming and yelling...duh, you all know me too well for that one...but realizing that there is far more joy to feel than stress or frustration!

There is no greater time of prayer and petition as when a loved one is ill and passing.  The time spent pleading for a miracle of healing, then the time spent praying for relief and peace for them consumes most days.  And with their passing, praying for our peace and comfort in the days, weeks & months to come. And, as time goes by the sting of their absence hurts less and less, I have found that at times that I have gone a day or even a few days without thinking of him.  At the realization of this, I feel sad and guilty for not thinking of him more often.  I know that it is perfectly normal, and it is ok for life to continue; and for the sadness of him being gone to be replaced with memories that make me smile on the spot, but the guilt does come through sometimes. However, keeping in mind that I prayed for this, peace & comfort, is easily forgotten. Then something so small, and insignificant as the prayer to find a missing memory card for a camera is answered... And wham! It hits...if God cares enough to help me find a missing memory card, why should I feel bad about feeling the peace I so desperately prayed for, for having days go by where life is ok, normal and joyful...it is what I prayed for after all! And doesn't God want me to feel joy rather than sadness...

Then there are the less personal signs. This morning for example...as I was driving up the hill home I glanced up to see the sun working so hard to burn through the thick, dull-gray layer of clouds. You know the look of it, like a light bulb through a lampshade.  And I thought, there is sun after clouds...the sun will always rise...and warmth and color will come after the cold and dreary gray.

With these thoughts in mind, I will try and focus more on the wonderful, bright memories of the past and less on the cloudy, absence of today. And what a better way to brighten a gray day than to think of the wonderful laughs, smiles and memories!  After all, without the clouds of today, their will be no sun tomorrow!

Playing nice in the sandbox!

Ok. So I have been listening to all of the news reporters and tv commentators discussing how amazing it will be tonight to have the "blue" sitting with the "red" during the Presidents speech.  The more I hear about it the more I started thinking how utterly crazy it is.  This is something that we ourselves learned way back in elementary school. "Now Susie, I know that you don't really like or agree with Tommy.  However, you can sit by him during the assembly or at lunch and be respectful to him."  Seriously! It makes me crazy that we DEMAND more of our children, than we do the adults who make up our government body! And the scary thing is, the children do a better job than the adults!  We tell our children that they don't have to like nor agree with everybody, they just have to be respectful.  We also tell them that if they don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.  Then why on earth should we accept less from those who WE elect to office?  Why can't adults behave half as kind and respectful as children?  The saying, "Are you smarter than a fifth grader?" should be echoed with "Are you as kind and respectful as a first grader?"   No, we all don't and won't agree, that is fine; but we can be respectful in our disagreement! I don't care what "color" you are when it comes to politics, you can be respectful of those who are different, just as they can be respectful of you!  I think it is high time that we, along with the elected officials do better!  Just as we tell our children, you can do better! 

Ok, my rant is over. It's just that after spending the day at school dealing with kids, telling them that they can do better, be nicer, be respectful... I felt the need to vent!

2011...

Ok. So I have been thinking a lot about the new year. It is always exciting to set new goals for changing aspects of our lives.  And for the most part, easy to start.  However, when we suffer a set back of some kind or another and fall short of our goals, it can be very stressful.  Which can often lead to set backs in other areas we are trying to change as well.  I found myself thinking and praying the other night and the idea of "Do Better," came to me. Simple. We can all "do better" in nearly all areas of our lives.  Whether finance, eating habits, exercise habits, prayer & meditation, organization, relationships, volunteering....the list goes on and on.  I am hoping that by simply trying to do better in these areas rather than meeting an "all or nothing" mark,  I will stay focused on the big picture and have a more positive and productive outcome.  By taking "chewable bites" rather than a whole plate full. The idea of saying:

Positive:  "I exercised more this whole year, doing it here and there, than I have in years past!"

VS

Negative: "I only made it 3 months exercising 4 days a week. Then I dropped off to only 2 days a week. And when things were really crazy I didn't even get to it."

     ~OR~

 Positive:  "I reduced our overall debt this year! We owe less than we did at this time last year!"

 VS

Negative:  "I was going to be debt free by the end of the year, but didn't get one bill paid off and then had to repair___"

     ~OR~

Positive:  "I cut out so much junk food this year. Instead of nearly every evening at home, I only had it once or twice a week."

VS

Negative:  "I was going to cut out all junk food, but I didn't make it. We went out on a date and I had to have the cheesecake...then we were at a birthday party and there was homemade ice cream I had to try. And there were a few times I had a treat in the evening."

So here's to a year of doing better! I can't wait!

Thanksgiving vs. Christmas

Is Thanksgiving being sidelined for Christmas?  As the marketing of Christmas continues to grow and grow, is Thanksgiving being reduced to a mere blip on the holiday radar?  As soon as Halloween is over, Christmas hits the stores. I realize that most people are very irritated by this change.  I too find it very upsetting, how much marketing is thrown at us. That if we don't buy this and that, our loved ones will never know how much they mean to us. However, I must admit, Christmas is my favorite time of year.  I can't wait to decorate every square inch of my house, bake and create wonderful holiday sentiments, blast the wonderful music and sing like I have a voice!  I secretly started listening to bits and pieces of Christmas music over a week ago!  Then I realized something.  It started changing my outlook.  You see, in celebrating Christmas, the birth of our Savior, I was given a gift that no other can compare.  A gift, that I am so thankful for, words will never be enough.  Which then made me pause and really think of all the things that I am truly thankful for.  So, as I prepare Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, I'm sure I will find myself drifting off into my Christmas planning mode. Fear not, I am not merely going through the motions of Thanksgiving, because it is in the way of Christmas.  For without Christmas, my list of things to be thankful for, would be considerably smaller!

Brace yourself!

Ok, so I was waiting, as we moms always do, for my daughter to get out of an ortho appt. Well, this was an appt. like no other, the braces are coming off!!!  After our visit two days ago, to get her retainer impressions and ordered, I started to really think about what today would mean. This past summer I started becoming painfully aware of how fast my kids are growing up.  And how there is not a thing in this world I can do to slow it down.  It is like being on a roller coaster with no brakes...hang on, hold tight and scream!

Back to the whole braces thing.  You see, only 2 1/2 short years ago, a gangling, crooked toothed little girl walked out of the waiting area and into a dental chair to get her braces on.  And when she came back out, she was still a crooked toothed kid, happily sporting a myriad of colored bands on her braces, eager to show her friends.  She was also somewhat apprehensive, a normal response when facing peers for the first time.  And today, after what does NOT feel like 2 1/2 years, a more poised, adolescent walked out into the same waiting area towards me.  After swallowing hard, and closing my awestruck mouth, I was painfully aware that time is flying faster than I had realized.  This was one more milestone passed on "our" journey as she grows up.  Thankfully, as only she can, she snapped me back to the "now."  As I stood there, I told her that I couldn't believe how she looked, and my face showed it. Then I told her that I was tearing up...and out it came, something to the effect of  "Mom, you are such a dork," complete with an eye roll!  So, there it is! Reality...She is still the little girl who thinks I am a dork, and won't miss a chance to tell me either!

I have decided to TRY and embrace these milestone rather than dread them.  They are unavoidable and I can either make myself crazy by seeing them in a horrible negative light or I can embrace them, and help usher her into them...just as long as I am not too big of a dork!!!

Moving mountains!

Being an energetic, go anywhere, do anything...Jill-of-all trades kinda woman, I can easily spend the day plowing through piles of work, chores and projects. Rather enjoying myself as I feed my, self-diagnosed, mild case of OCD. However, I am always shocked at the post-illness recovery. How even the smallest of tasks, can make it feel like you have moved a mountain! 

So, after spending 2 full days in the recliner; suffering from one of many possible "bugs" brought home by my children, I find myself needing to dig my way out of a mountain of housework, laundry and other chores! Something that used to make me crazy...or crazier?

I woke up this morning feeling much better than yesterday and the day before, yippie! So, I started planning my day, item by item, chore by chore. However, as most of you know, your energy level is not normal and your reserve tank has already been drained when you run a fever for a few days.  

I managed to get up, make the bed, pick up countless shoes strewn around the house, and start a load of laundry only to find my way to the couch in need of a rest. 

Next on my docket...shower! Something I definitely needed after the past 24 hours! Feeling like jello after a nice, loooonggg, hot shower I again managed to find my way to the couch once again to rest. 

After pulling out 3 different things from the freezer, only to find them way beyond their life span, I settled for a pork roast and veggies. Throwing them in the Crock-Pot, I now have dinner done! Time to sit and think of my next thing (really time to rest).

Next, Halloween decor. I did manage to do some type of decorating, not my usual festive style but it will do this year! We will make a family outing soon to get some pumpkins, which will complete the porch decor. Hmmm, what next? I had better sit down and think about it! 

Oh, I really need to sweep, gag...my floor!!! But first, a request from the sick child home from school today;  "Can we watch, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs?"  PERFECT! Time to sit together and....yes, rest! Argh, the floor! Look at the floor...it is still dirty. Well, duh! Did the magic floor fairy come and sweep it during the movie? I don't think so!!! Which means, time to get up and sweep!!!

On a normal day, this would be a good start to the day! But today... I think I am done! You getting the theme here? Moving mountains could have been on my list of things to do today, since I feel as if that is what I am doing after each task. However, after many years of  stressing about "undone" chores...I found great delight in watching a movie with my daughter rather than sweeping up dust bunnies and hair balls and comfort in knowing that if I sat and waited 30 mins. before switching loads, the outcome would be the same...dry clothes! Perhaps the biggest mountain I moved, was the one I moved a while ago, the one in the way of actually being able to let things go, even if only for a short time! It definitely makes things easier and less stressful! I have learned that there are times when things can slow down, go undone and worked on  later. Something I learned the hard way! For this, I am thankful! After all, all the things I have to do, will still be there tomorrow. And tomorrow, I will feel even better, more energetic and my daughter will be back at school then too; not here, TODAY, with me...wanting to watch a movie together!