Tag Archives: lessons

Starting over on a Tuesday…

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That is so wrong!!  Everyone knows all new things start on Mondays.  Yet, we bring in 2013 on a Tuesday this year thus causing a conundrum of when to begin new habits, etc, etc, etc….Tuesday or the following Monday?  In all reality, it doesn’t really matter, does it?  Today is January 1, 2013, like it or not and the day will come and go whether we have “New Year’s Resolutions” or not; so….no time like the present, eh?

Last year, my plan for 2012 was:

  1. Eat healthier/exercise more….pretty much #1 on the list EVERY year and one year I will actually succeed.  “You never fail until you stop trying” Albert Einstein  And try, try again I will.  In reality, I did succeed at this, I’ve made MUCH healthier choices in my diet and have tried many new exercises, just haven’t succeeded in actually losing weight–however, I never said losing weight was my goal.  I shall mark this up to a success.
  2. Have more Quiet time.  My quiet time has evolved.  Hubby and I have been reading the Catechism with Flock Note and discussing it every few weeks.  I’ve been to Adoration more frequently and my spiritual reading has picked up with Choosing Joy by Dan Lord and Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.  Both books are great for one chapter at a time to mull over and ponder.  I shall mark this up in the success column as well.
  3. Finances.  Clueing in Hubby and getting on the same page.  Done.  While we haven’t climbed completely out of the hole yet, we’ve stopped (so far…) the continued addition to debt and have begun backing up the train with a good plan to head into 2013.  Aaaaaand a 3rd success.  Of course, we will continue this journey together and I’m sure Dave Ramsey will be involved at some point (I hear what he’s saying but I just don’t know if I’m ready to jump in just yet), or not, Hubby’s pretty good at $stuff, either way…2012 was a good start, 2013 will be solid…I feel it.

Mentally, I really thought 2012 was a big fat FAIL on the resolutions, however, looking back I see that I actually succeeded in what I set out to do.  Sweet.

Heading into 2013 I’ve been mulling over my Goals/Resolutions/Plan for a couple of days and have also come across a few great ideas I may incorporate into reaching my own success in 2013.

Jennifer Fulwiler gives an analytical view of reviewing one’s “areas for improvement” and how to problem solve those areas.  I honestly never gave it a thought as to WHY I might not be succeeding in certain areas.  Seems so logical, I’m a little embarrassed.  Only a little though.

Jon Acuff gives a man’s view (but truly EVERYone can use this method) of breaking the year into smaller bites and attacking each goal one at a time within those small bites.  Brilliant and so realistic…I CAN do anything for 52 days.

Ann Voskamp challenges us to look for the Joy in everything and TO WRITE. IT. DOWN.  Finding 1000 Joys in 2013.  Even a chance to win a camera at the end of the year.  More importantly, Ann tells us that in focusing our eyes and heart on Joy we are certain to reap the rewards of:

1. a relative absence of stress and depression. (Woods et al., 2008)

2. progress towards important personal goals (Emmons and McCullough, 2003)

3. higher levels of determination and energy (Emmons and McCullough, 2003)

4. closer relationships and desire to build stronger relationships (Algoe and Haidt, 2009)

5. Increased happiness…. by 25% — (Who wouldn’t want 25% more      happiness!) (McCullough et al., 2002)

After all that…what are YOUR resolutions?  Or do you just opt out and chalk it up to another day on the calendar?

As for me, my focuses for this year are:

  1. Losing weight.  Hubby has agreed to help me  and so with his help, our P90X library and various other weights and miscellanea I’m ready.  I mean, sheesh, the baby will be 10 this year for crying out loud!!
  2. Spiritually to be more Joy-focused and applying it to how I live my life, my marriage, my parenting and so on.
  3. Learn to use my REAL camera more efficiently and Photoshop Elements…which has been on my computer for 2 years and I still don’t have a CLUE what to do with it.  It’s time.  I love my iPhone but my real camera rocks.

Blessings and a Happy New Year to you and yours!

 

It’s the end of the world/week…whatev…

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Even though it’s Saturday, I figured I’d go ahead and jump in with Jen and her crew for the

— 1 —

Clearly the world didn’t end.  My son says they found another Mayan calendar dating to 3025.  I haven’t had time to research his claim, but clearly THAT explains it…or the whole Matthew 24:36  “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. “  Yes, apparently even the Mayans didn’t know…

— 2 —

I FINALLY watched Minor Revisions this week.  Episode 1 AND 2.  All in the same night.  The best part was that Hubby watched, also.  He NEVER watches TV.  Ever.  Thinks TV and Technology are the downfall of society.  Books are the best.  And yet….he watched.

— 3 —

Our youngest had yet ANOTHER round of strep this week.  Guess we’ll be paying a visit to the ENT this coming year.  Joy.

— 4 —

Our youngest son clearly jealous of his sickly sister, decided to pull a “complications from the flu 2 weeks ago” stint and develop an ear & sinus infection with diminished lung sounds the next day.  Translation:  not contagious, on antibiotics and an inhaler=much better.  Adding to the stress of finals week.

— 5 —

Mama’s spidey senses peaked on our son’s health the same night we were to go to our church’s reconciliation services.  Hubby took the rest of the gang whilst son and I trekked to the Pediatric After hours.  Translation:  He and I will make a visit to reconciliation this afternoon.

— 6 —

I am reaching my annual “officially OVER food” quota that generally accompanies December and the glut of goods brought into the office, luncheons and my desire to bake and share.  Perhaps Santa will bring me some willpower for Christmas.  Although Hubby did promise to “help me out” after Christmas…y ‘all pray for me and our marriage on that one, K?

— 7 —

On that last note, I am lacing up the kicks for a quick walk since we aren’t covered with snow in our area!!  And then off to Publix for our supplies for our (8th?) annual “Happy Birthday, Jesus!” luncheon with my grandparents!  More food.  And quality time.  So that surely balances, no?  Blessings!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Precious life

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Photo via Sometimes Martha, always Mary...whose POST gave peace in my heart in the midst of yesterday's tragedy.

Photo via Sometimes Martha, always Mary...whose POST gave me a slice of peace in my heart in the midst of yesterday’s tragedy.

I don’t know if I’ll write more or if this is it.

Yesterday’s news was incomprehensible.  I can’t imagine nor do I WANT to imagine.  When my mind starts to go there….it just can’t.  Can’t.

We live in a culture of death.  The media will feed on this for weeks.  Each story will bring new knowledge and grief.  Only time will bring healing.

Political agenda on guns?  Some will turn this into it.  The reality is:  You can’t legislate morality.  Stole that from my Hubby…he’s brilliant, BTW.

As for me, I went to Adoration at lunch yesterday.  Cried, prayed and cried some more. A pattern I’m certain to repeat in the coming days.  Lord, have mercy.

I hugged my kids and my Hubby.  Hard.  Long.  Even my 13 and 15 year olds did not pull away.

We let our son go skate with his friends.  We let our daughter go to her birthday party.  You have to live.

We watched Elf.  Our son ate spaghetti and syrup for dinner (in preparation for Elf).  I joined in with this gal and this gal as they hosted a “Twitter party” during Elf.  I made peppermint milkshakes and let everyone finish the leftover luncheon “Cherry Cheesecake Dip” (Pinterest WIN!!)  Laughing felt great.  Therapy.

Screen shot 2012-12-15 at 7.20.44 AM

I texted with my mom and my sister.

I read the news sparingly.

Today.  I’m up.  I’ll walk.  I’ll pray. Hubby and I will decide how to proceed with broaching this topic with our kids.   We’ll make a more concentrated effort at living each day as a PRESENT.  We’ll live our lives with RESPECT to LIFE.  All life.  We will trust in God even when we don’t understand, even when we are furious, confused, scared and anxious.  Our children and our lives are not our own.  We belong to Him. Let us love one another.

Jesus, come quickly.  Until then,

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.

 

 

WIWS Vol. 5…or peeping at other peeps Church garb..

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Here is Sunday again.  We are well this week, Hallelujah!!  Heading into the SECOND week of Advent…WHAT?!?!?!?  Linking up to Fine Linen and Purple with Kendra and all the other pretties and taking some fashion notes 😉

Apparently a LS day....sweet and simple ring

Apparently a LS day….sweet and simple ring

Shoes for years...Naturalizer. I think. Cozy.

Shoes for years…Naturalizer. I think. Cozy.

skitched-36-2

skitched-38-6

Full view..thanks dear son..should have picked a spot other than their room..

Full view..thanks dear son..should have picked a spot other than their room..

That little montage is all kinds of out-of-order, but I’m beat and it will have to do.  Here’s the deets:

Necklace…a repeat, also featured HERE….earrings not posted but everyday silver hoops and if you REALLY, really, really want to see a picture, you can click HERE….the bracelet and ring are also Lia Sophia…what can I say?  I am a sucker for parties where I can earn lots of great jewelry!

The pants are Apt.9 @ Kohls’s, and featured on my volume 1 of this little meme HERE, however, the shirt, THE SHIRT, ladies is from my STELLAR day at the thrift store where my grand total of $1.50 netted me this Liz Claiborne shirt and a BCBG wrap dress.  The shirt was a BUCK!  I’ll save the dress pic for another day, but I DID wear it to the Nutcracker with my girls yesterday.

I’m also joining in with BethAnne for the #AdventPhotoADay picture contest, fun chronicling advent on Instagram and Twitter and blogs everywhere 😉

Peace out, peeps!!  Happy fashion show!!

Stick a fork in me…it’s Friday

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Joining up for the Friday regular linky loo @ Conversion Diary with Jennifer Fulwiler and people, who BTW, has a reality show premiering on December 13, you can click HERE to get all the deets!  Without further adieu…let me make the attempt here:

The view on our counter this week. Good times, people, good times!

The view on our counter this week. Good times, people, good times!

  1. Fell STRAIGHT asleep last night and woke up @ 12:30a.m. to two cats fighting.  OUR cat and some other cat (who I’m certain started it….)..anyway, jumped out of bed and took care of it, but then…the dang cat had POO on his butt.  I wasn’t messing with that so I left him outside to fend for himself and went back to bed.
  2. Tossing and turning with adrenaline pumping our 13yo son had a dream/something and was talking LOUDLY in his sleep.  Jumped up and dealt with that and then back to bed.  To toss and turn some mo’…I see lots o’ caffeine in my future today.  Lots.
  3. At least I exercised this week.  Not yesterday, but all week-long.  Gotta balance the Christmas baking…..or at least keep it at bay, you feel me??
  4. Our daughter’s bronchitis appears to be gone. Thank you $100 worth of Zpack and Brom cough meds.
  5. 3 Days of staying at home and down about 5 pounds, but our 13 yo son seems to have kicked his flu bug.
  6. On Day 3 of flu, he rallied long enough to make his 5:40p.m. appointment to audition for All-county band.  He’s really quite competitive
  7. He made All-County band.  French horn, 4th chair.  Pretty proud mama and papa, considering we have ZERO musical ability and the kiddo has only been playing a year.  Yep.  he’s the bomb.

  8. French horn...bring it!

    French horn…bring it!

Happy week y’all.  I’m off to find more coffee!!!  STAT!!