Tag Archives: life

Monday Meme…

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BethAnne made me do it…..she’s coming down off a 7 day blogging high and threw this one my way.  So here’s how this one goes:

Rules
1.) The first rule is to post these rules.
2.) Post a photo of yourself then write 11 things about you/your life.
3.) Answer the questions for you set in the original post.
4.) Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5.) Go to their blog/twitter to tell them you have tagged them.

IMG_4977that’s me on the left….

and 11 things about me are as follows:

  1. I am a forty-something Mom to 4 lively redheads married to my high school sweetheart.
  2. For the last 9 years we’ve lived in my hometown after living away for 12 years.    It’s true, you never really can go home again, you start all over.
  3. We have a cat.  I am more of a dog person.  I don’t really like cats.  He picked us and I guess that’s the way it goes with cats.  He’s a total PIA, fluffy to the Nth degree and I love him.  Call me sucker.
  4. I’m in a constant weight struggle/body image.  Currently working on the healthier aspect pretty hard.  It’s coming along, but I far prefer instant gratification.
  5. I finished my Bachelor’s degree 2 years ago and STILL don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.  Fortunately, I enjoy my job (just not the politics that go along with it).
  6. I have a sister who lives in our former city with her husband and my two nephews.  We fought like regular siblings growing up and are now the best of friends.  She rocks!!  So does her family!!
  7. I am a friend KEEPER.  One of my biggest struggles in this town is that the friends I grew up with are on a totally different planet from me and making new friends has been a huge challenge to go beyond surface level.  It makes me truly miss and appreciate my friends in our old city.  And then I beg them to come visit.  It’s called throwing on the Catholic guilt trip.  Guilty.
  8. I love the beach.  Salt air, sea breeze and sand in my toes cure any and everything.
  9. One day I will go on a pilgrimage to Medjugorge.  Somehow.  Someway.  It will happen though.
  10. I am a judger.  I try not to be, but I am.  Everytime I do, God shows me the ginormous plank in my own eye and I have a huge slice of humble pie.  It’s getting old.  Sigh.  Daily struggles.

the questions for me to answer are as follows:

  • What is your favorite way to shop (online, in-store, yard sales, etc.)?  Online.  Or thrift stores.  
  • What was your favorite vacation?  Hubby and I took a trip to Arizona for my friend’s wedding (see pic, gal on the right) and we hiked, went sightseeing and visited other friends for A WEEK!!!  I have the best mom EVER!!!!
  • If you could go anywhere where would it be and why?  Medjugorge.  I just finished a book on the apparitions there and feel a strong pull to experience it for myself.
  • If you could have dinner with anyone (dead or alive) who would it be and why?  Princess Diana.  I have always found her fascinating, lovely, wounded and a genuine heart for the downtrodden despite her station in life.
  • What is your favorite app?  IHeartRadio.  We get crapola for reception at work and it helps the day go by, plus we love to torture each other with trying to win the annual Vegas trip to the IHeartRadio concert.  You can’t get through, people.  It’s completely rigged.  (it’s what I tell myself)
  • Do you prefer ebooks or real books?  Real books, but if I’m impatient to read a book, e-book is the BOMBOLA!
  • What is your preferred web browser?  Right now Google Chrome, but I find them all annoying.
  • What is your favorite Disney movie?  Brave
  • What is your favorite Theme Park?  Disney World
  • Do you send Thank you notes?  Yes, of course!!!  They might not be timely, but they do get sent!
  • What was the most unusual thing you’ve ever seen at a wedding? (or event if you haven’t been to many weddings)  A mirror in the women’s restroom that made EVERYONE look tall and thin…we really wanted to take it home!!  Aside from that…everyone gets cray cray at weddings after a certain hour, right?

My 11 questions for the next peeps to accept this challenge:

  1. Single or married?
  2. Kids, furbabies, how many and ages?
  3. What kind of car do you drive and what was your first car?
  4. Best live concert you went to?
  5. Favorite TV show growing up?
  6. Best road trip?
  7. Favorite way to unwind?
  8. If you could pick a reality show to be on, which would it be?
  9. Jillian or Bob?
  10. Coffee, tea or Mountain Dew?

I’m tagging, Grace, Micaela, Jen, Mary Kate and Angela!

 

Back to school. Halt! Not yet!!

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Back to school is coming quickly.  For the kids it means earlier bed times, earlier wake times, scheduled days, band practice, cheer practice, homework.

But….we have 3 more weeks.  In that time we’ll* finish school shopping, stay up late, sleep in, enjoy the lazy days, soak up the sun and fun of summer.  So go eat ice cream, play in the sprinkler, and take naps.  Summer is still on.

*we refers to the kids.  Madre and Padre have no summer and yet….it’s still lazy and awesome!

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Yes, that is a baby shark in my baby’s hands. *2 summers ago, I just moved all my photos onto external hard drive

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Sand castles never really get old….*also 2 years ago

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This view never gets old either!

Day 6. Martha. Mary.

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Adoration. Time to rest and recharge.

Adoration. Time to rest and recharge.

I’m Martha.  To the core.  Last Sunday’s reading reminded me to step back and work toward Mary’s take on life.  I get so caught up in what needs to be done:  the feeding, the cleaning, the laundry.  I don’t stop.  It’s time to stop.  Step back.  Take that deep breath.  Our pastor’s bulletin message on Sunday was so right on target with Martha and Mary and how busy our lives are.  That busy-ness leaves us all leaning toward living like Martha with no time to try Mary’s approach.  No wonder we are so tired.  We don’t stop.  We don’t seek.  We don’t rest.  Let’s rest.

Excerpts from our pastor’s bulletin message last week:

Rest is not just good for the soul. It is also good for the body. In our Christian tradition we
believe that the body is something of value. Genuine spirituality is concerned with the care of the
body as well as the soul. Rest is one way that we can accomplish this.
Medical science has demonstrated that the effects of rest are significant, indicating the great
role that rest can play in our physical and emotional well-being. Lack of rest and relaxation is
associated with inattentiveness, inability to concentrate, impulsivity, moodiness, learning difficulties
and health problems. On the other hand, rest, quiet time, and meditation have been shown to have
positive effects on the body. If you must have your blood pressure checked, take a couple deep
breaths first, think of a special place in the mountains or at the beach. Imagine yourself in the arms
of the Lord. These kinds of meditation may help you stay off blood pressure medication and
anti-stress pills.
St. Thomas Aquinas is known of the saint of moderation. He taught that all things in moderation can be good. A little wine, a little food, a bit of time of laughter, etc. are all needed in life. Only
when one or more of these things get out of balance is there sin. I hope that this summer provides
you an opportunity to enjoy time with family and friends, maybe an outing to the beach or a taking in
a ballgame. But, may it also be a time to reorder priorities so that the important things don’t get
forgotten.

7QTs, Blog Challenge version

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It’s Friday people and not ONLY is it my FAVORITE day of the week….seriously….favorite!!!  It’s also 7Quick Takes link up with JEN ANNNNNNNNND day 5 of the blog for 7 days challenge with JEN.  It’s been a good week of blogging, I mean hey, my daily views are up to at least 20 average everyday….don’t hate….it’s also forcing me to sit down and blog…short and sweet or not, the point is to blog!  Here’s my weekly wrapup:

  1. Leaving in a few minutes to get my workout on.  My rear end is still sore from Wednesday so hoping for limited lunges and squats.  **update:  watch what you wish for, we used the TRX and hit the WHOLE bod, especially arms.  My forearms are dead…typing will be a problem today.  OY.  
  2. Family rosary last night.  Perfect?  Nay.  Not even close.  Improvement?  Vast.  Continue?  But of course!!
  3. Hubs and our youngest boy are planning on kayaking this evening.  Hoping the afternoon thunderstorms cooperate and allow this quality time activity/male bonding time.
  4. Oldest boy and myself are heading on a little road trip to our old town tomorrow for a surprise birthday party for my dear friend’s 16-year-old son.  I’ve promised him driving time ON THE INTERSTATE, Starbucks, a trip to the Vans store for school shoes and Old Navy to finish up his school shopping for pants.  After all, he IS giving up 2 WHOLE  days of skateboarding…..
  5. I napped before dinner yesterday.  30 minutes.  Rest/nap.  GLORIOUS.  Can’t even tell you the difference it made in my evening.  Uninterrupted recharging after a day at work before starting evening activities  Highly recommend it!
  6. Started re-logging my food for the day.  <smh> the hardest thing about me eating healthy and exercising is the diet portion.  Not BEING on a diet…just PLANNING the meals and LOGGING the intake.  When I am consistent in these things, along with my exercise….success.  Why?  Is?  It?  So?  Hard?????  **on the upside, one of my friends from the gym has been my tracking accountability partner and is down 5 pounds….now my competitive juices are flowing!!
  7. Finished up my 5th Ginger Garrett book in 3 weeks and started Mere Christianity last night.  This should have been linked to Cari and Jessica for “What we are reading Wednesdays” but….better late than never?!

Have a great weekend.  I’m off to sweat!!  Now to shower and get the ball rolling for FRIDAY!!!  Happy Weekend and keep those blogs rolling!

Hobbies

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How do you find time for hobbies?  Do you thing there are certain seasons in life for  hobbies?  Perhaps I’m just trying to fit a square peg in a round hole at this time in my life; I’m genuinely curious, though.  I want to know how in the heck people squeeze extracurriculars in.  Or are hobbies and extras the things that just add the extra craziness to our lives leaving us less time for quiet and contemplation? I have a few hobbies of my own and it is a constant struggle for balance, for instance:

I love photography, blogging and with a renewed interest in sewing there’s a whole lot to juggle.  Especially when my day goes like this (generally.  during the week.)

  • 5 a.m. wake up
  • 6 a.m. workout
  • 7-8:15 shower, dress, make lunches, breakfast, wake girls and out the door by 8:15
  • 8:30-5:30 work
  • 1-2 p.m. lunch, which is usually errands, read or Adoration if I am super lucky
  • 5:30 pick up girls
  • 6-7:30 Get dinner ready, wind down, miscellaneous stuff (fastest time of the day)
  • 7:30-9:30 kids showered, clean up and bed
  • 9:30 pass out and Repeat the next day

My blogging time generally comes in my morning quiet time, 15 minutes or so before and after the gym and on weekends.

My photos and editing are also on the weekends.

Sewing.  Weekends or maybe in between that dinner prep and serve time.

These are the things I enjoy doing; I can lose myself in them for hours (given the opportunity) and they bring me peace and satisfaction.  They also take me away from my family and doing the things that are necessary to keep my family healthy and happy.  It’s a balance.  Currently my approach is fit it in where I can and try not to sweat it. The days are gone where I’m willing to sacrifice sleep and I hung up my “supercape” long ago.

What about you?  So when do YOU fit in time for hobbies?  There is a time for everything, right?

Ecclesiastes 3 3:15

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every [a]event under heaven—

A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
 A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils? 10 I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.

He has made everything [b]appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart,[c]yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; 13 moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is thegift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should [d]fear Him.15 That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.