Thursday, November 29, 2012

Thankful Days #7 thru 10

I started out great guns about being thankful everyday, but as usual, I lost my groove! I must admit that since our election, I have been a bit down about some of the results and have not felt like being transparent and sharing my thoughts. But today, I am trying to get back on a positive note, so if you will bear with me, I want to "catch-up" before the month is over and share some things that even when our future is uncertain and our spirits are down, we can be glad about! Day #7 - I am thankful for my Youth Group. I was asked earlier this year to lead a Youth Group at my church. Of course, I can't say no! The children I am working with are so good and thoughtful and fun. It makes my Wednesday evenings a joy when I get to spend time with them. Day #8 - I have already mentioned my Girl Scout sisters, but I want to specifically mention how thankful I am for my own troop of girls. They have great ideas and make me laugh every week. It really does keep me young! Day #9 - I am thankful that my Mom and Dad live so close to me. "The Old Fart" had stroke and a heart attack a day apart almost two years ago and everyday I am grateful that he is still here with us. He may not be able to do everything he used to, but his humor is still intact and we all need to get used to his new "normal". Day #10 - I am thankful for my Mom. "Endora" has had her own health issues and becoming a caregiver for your spouse is not easy. Most days she gets through it with a smile. I am glad she is close by to help with my family and I am glad we are nearby to give her a break when she needs one. More thankfulness to come!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Thankful Days #6

Day 6 As most people would agree, today I am thankful to be an American, to live in a country where my opinion matters and can be expressed freely, not only about how I live, how I worship, but about how my government is run. Today my husband, my parents and I all went to our local precinct to vote. We waited longer than I ever remember doing in the past, but it was not bad at all. Everyone was polite, patient and respectful - regardless of who they were voting for. As I type this, I am watching the election results, and while I hope and pray that the people and amendments I voted for are declared winners, I know that no matter the outcome I will be true to myself and my beliefs and will deal with the results as best I can. What are you thankful for today?

Monday, November 5, 2012

Thankful Days #5

Day 5 Today I am thankful for my hubby Jeff. We have been married for 12 years, together for almost 15. Jeff puts up with my idiosyncrasies, my bad habits and my own personal brand of craziness. And the best part, he still likes me - most days! I believe in marriage. It isn't always easy, and there have been times that I really didn't like my husband, and I am sure he can say the same about me. But for us, divorce isn't an option. Not talking is not an option. Some people in this day and age might think that we are naive or old-fashioned, but that's okay. I have been accused of worse. What are you thankful for today?

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Thankful Days 3 & 4

I have been off the computer for the last few days, so I missed posting for day 3 & 4. Day 3 I am thankful for friends who help enable my stockpiling / canning / cooking from scratch habit. I was out running errands on Saturday when I got a call from a friend who was another friend's house. They wanted to know if I wanted some big pumpkins that were left over from Halloween that were not carved. They figured I could use them to make my own puree - which I gladly accepted. I even got them delivered to me! So my to-do list tomorrow includes getting those cut up , baked and pureed so that I can still have pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread in July! Day 4 Both my boys had upset tummies last night and in the process created some messes and a few extra loads of laundry. So today I am thankful for a working washer, dryer and solar clothes dryer at my disposal so that I can be sure that my boys have clean bedding to sleep on tonight. What are you thankful for today?

Friday, November 2, 2012

Thankful Days - Day 2

Today I am thankful for my Girl Scout sisters - both young and old! The girls keep me young (IMHO) and my fellow "grown-up" girls keep me sane. I have been an active Girl Scout for 12 years - 5 as a girl and now 7 as a leader. I learn something new from my girls every time we get together and I hope they learn something from me as well - even if they don't know they are learning at the time. :)

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Thankful Days - Day 1

Day 1 Today I am thankful for the simple act of being able to flip a switch and turn on an electric light. So many people are surviving without this simple luxury right now. It isn't the end of world, and I know we could survive without it (we have before) but it is so helpful to have the means to operate our electric servants everyday and to light our home when it is dark and gloomy outside. What are you thankful for today?

Thankful Days

I am taking up the challenge to be thankful the entire month of November. Want to join me?

The Princess, The Mad Scientist and The Tank

My children.

Some days I look at the three of them and think, "Therapy is going to be really expensive." I second guess and question myself everyday.

My lovely daughter is going through the beginning stages of puberty and has her poor Daddy bewildered. Having been the youngest of four children, and one of three boys, his sister was in college before he realized there was a difference between boys and girls!
She has a sharp mind and she wants so badly to be involved with "grown up" topics, but she is still a little girl clinging onto her innocence. I want her to keep clinging for as long as possible. She isn't ready to give up her baby dolls and princess fantasies some days and that is okay with this Momma. In some ways she is so mature and others, so naive that she is having a hard time finding her way through life right now. My oldest son has been diagnosed with a learning disability. It is hard, as his Mom, to not have major guilt over this. I was, and still am, his earliest teacher and maybe I screwed up somewhere along the line. The school is hesitant to label him, but from my research and what I know of my Mad Scientist, I think he is dyslexic. It is frustrating as someone who reads for pleasure to know that my son may never pick up a book just for the fun of it. He is so smart and comes up with some amazing theories and topics about science and history. We need a way to bring is skills up to par with his knowledge. My youngest is my Ferdinand the Bull. At just 8 years old, he is already 54 inches tall and weighs around 95 pounds. His is a solid brick of a boy - rough and tumble and plays hard. BUT he is also super sensitive and when he is redirected, he loses it. It is hard at times to remember that he is only 8 and because of his size, I catch myself expecting more of him. He is a sweetheart and loves to help in the kitchen. HE has all the ladies at church wrapped around his little finger! There is never a quiet or a dull moment in our house.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Big Plans

There is nothing like a new year to motivate you to set new goals. Its almost as exciting as the first day of school!

Money
The hubby and I sat down this morning and worked out our budget going forward. We have a goal to pay down some debt and to set aside more into savings. We are using a combination of Dave Ramsey and Mary Hunt with a little of our own plans thrown in for good measure. The good thing about our plan is that we have agreed to sit down once-a-week to review our plan. This is huge for us as our schedules are so insane!

House Projects
We also sat down and made a list of all the little projects that need to get done. We went room by room and made notes about what we wanted to do from painting to patching holes. There isn't a crazy amount of stuff, but we'll hit it a little at a time.

Children's Routines and Chores
My children have had a bit of a free ride since school started. We had so many changes that we focused more on surviving the day to day chaos. That in turn, just created more chaos. Starting today, we are getting back on track. After all, I am training my children to become adults, not to be children for the rest of their lives! Its time they start doing more.

Menu Planning
This is another area that I have let slip in recent months. Our food budget and my sanity do so much better when there is a plan. I am even thinking of joining the pantry challenge at Good Cheap Eats.

Weight Loss
That is another area where I need to commit some changes. I weighed myself this morning and I am heavier than this time last year. Hubby and I are going to start watching our portions, I am going to try and give up soda (my vice!) and work out regularly. On of my goals is to walk/run 400 miles this year. That is just a slightly more than a mile a day! Definitely doable.

So what are you working on for the new year?