2013 is here!

Ok, I have to say that 2013 has been great so far!  Mr. let me sleep in until 10:00.....really...... I slept until 10:00!!!!  I am an early riser but I guess this girl needed her sleep!

Then we went to a great community event the Polar Bear Plunge.  If you have never heard of it check it out!   Slick is thinking about jumping in next year!

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Taking-a-Polar-Bear-Plunge-for-a-Good-Cause-185374651.html

Scott Sullivan Scholarship Fund https://sites.google.com/site/sssf2009/home-1

Then some shopping and some lazy time and even some paper writing.

I have to say that I am excited about this new year and the new opportunities that will be possible.

 My friend from High School posted this on face book, "I see a lot of people saying this year was bad and yay! for the next year. Here's the deal, pickles. If I looked back at my years I would have to say every year since 2000 has been a f***taster. Here is my advice (listen up, I don't give advice often): go week to week. If you can look at your week and and see that you had even one good day... You are pretty damned lucky. I am happy because I strive to live in the moment. Don't look back and think your years have been bad. It is much easier to just hope for a good week. Then it is much easier to deal with a rough day or two."

Perspective:  This made me stop and think.  It gave me great perspective.   Every day that we have is a gift, even the f***aster days.   So enjoy them.  Find the good in each one....if you can't then go to bed and know that tomorrow is new.

So, Happy 2013!   If you would like to read her blog it is posted in my side view.  I look up to her in so many ways.   She has a plate that is full and she is honest about it all.  http://raisingcrazydiaries.blogspot.com/

 Our family pictures from NYE.....

On our way for a NYE surprise!

Surprise!

#1...my head cut out....

#2 My butt sticking out....

#3...who we all are.

I woke up and got on the scale...

So, today's post was going to be a fun looking back to 2012......then I woke up and got on the scale.

I honestly got on the scale 3 times.....all the same result.   I have gained 16 pounds this year.

That is the same weight as:





















This bowling ball.....it is a nice representation on how I have taken care of  my self this year.

I have not.   I have just let this heavy ball just roll over me.  I have stopped going to the gym, I have stopped noticing what I put in my mouth, I have a glass of wine more than I should, I don't drink water like I should, etc....

So, I was at my sons piano recital this weekend and my friends FIL has lost about 30 pounds.   I  said you look great, he said, yep eating right and moving does wonders!

That really is all it takes, eating right, and moving.

I have stopped doing both. 


So, I got on the scale today and it hit me in the gut that I am not taking care of myself.   That sucks more than the gaining of weight.....I need to take care of myself if I want to take care of others.

Perspective:   I know I can loose this.   I know it is only 16 pounds.   It is not the weight that bothers me so much as the fact that the numbers tell a story of me letting myself go to the side.   My wedding ring is tight.....like really tight.   That sucks.   But, it is what it is and in the perspective thing it is a small thing to stress about.  I just need to eat right and move.   Simple right?!?!?!?

*I have joined a boot camp at the Y.....that will help me get up and go and have accountability for it. :-)
*I am planning on cleaning out the pantry today so if you want some chips, or candy come on by!

What is your New Year’s Resolution?

I have a list of the typical….

1-Eat better/go to the gym

2-Focus on my kids

3-Focus on my husband

4- Make my prayer life more important each day.

But, why?   This is something that I want to do each year.   Each Day.   So, I am on a mission to come up with a better New Year’s Resolution.   One than is different than my typical daily mantra.   One year we focused on going to the doctor, and it gives me a peace of mind and it is now a part of our daily life.  

So, here it is.....

2013: as my eyes wake up let me grab my kindle for my devotion, then my gym shoes, and after I have taken care of myself, let me focus on those who matter most, and give my husband a kiss in the morning, and hug my kids when I see them.   I will also remember the forgotten.  This year I will find a charity/mission that I will give myself to be a part of.

Ok, done….so really it is not that much different than the list above, but I will put it up in my room and my office.  I have never really done this before. So, maybe that will help.  But, I like to focus on something new that you put into or take out of your life.   Charity is going to be my addition, and not just sending a check, but giving my time.   So, that is the plan.  :-)

I did take a picture of Slick’s when I was up at his school for winter parties….

 

I look a picture of it not to scrapbook it, but to remind him…..you should have seen the Mom’s and Dad’s snapping pictures!!! They said things like, I want to be nice to my sister and brother, I want to do better in school, etc

The Mom that made me giggle was, “Man, my kid wants to write a book, that gives me nothing at home…..”   

Perspective:  I kinda think that Resolutions are a bunch of hogwash....we don't write them because we want to we write them because of peer pressure.   So, I say do your best and remember who you are when you write one!  

Christmas and the Mess...

So, I now have bags of present trash in my living room.  

"Secret Santa" trash in my garage....

The trash is full in the kitchen.....

The new bikes are in our entry way b/c the trash is in the garage.



And our Bins out back are just waiting for the truck tomorrow. 

This does not create holiday bliss for the Type A that I am.   I might go to the dump tomorrow....I also have thought about the "green" in Christmas and well, I just had to stop thinking about that and live in the guilt of helping to fill the landfills.  We did not have a "green" Christmas, we had boxes and wrapping paper, and trash.....

BTW- we have shrimp in my fridge that can not be eaten because they were sitting at room temperature for to long, but can't go in the trash because it is full....

So, what do I do?  

I reorganize all my kids toys while they are brain dead on new technology.

I re-arrange their room and my office space at home......notice the trash can is FULL under my desk....

 
I was still in my PJs all day and I did not go to the gym today (or any day in the past 2 weeks)....so I call it a win.

Perspective:   It was a WONDERFUL Christmas. It just make me giggle that with the joy also comes the trash.......... Oh, and Mr. thinks I am crazy running around taking pictures of trash.........

5 days.....

Ok, this Christmas was totally perfect.  Like I ordered it off amazon. 

Well, there were a few mix ups....I found duplicates of a gift, one in the closet, and one in the attic.  So, both boys got one.   AND  I realized I am becoming my mother.

Dan chipped his front tooth on Dec. 23rd.  So, he is kinda comical to look at. 

The boys did get us up at 5:30am for gifts.  Next year I will change the time to 8:00 so if they pull the Eastern Time thing it will be at least 7:00am.

I was so tired from all the holidays that I fell asleep last night at 7:00......and did not wake up today until 8:00.   So nice.

But, other than that it was so very good.

I got the opportunity to share a Christmas Message at the new church I will serve in January. I did not trip or mess up the message.  It was a great introduction to my new church.   The night went so good.

 I have to say that almost every time I looked at Dan I teared up on Christmas Eve to the point that it became so funny.   I was really fine until he read 'Twas the Night before Christmas.   

 

Then the boys went to bed and woke up to the Christmas magic....

Fruit Snacks

 

 

Never seen a kid look so happy for deodorant...

The boys won the best gift of the year

The gift of mind numbing technology....

Then we got a white Christmas.....like I played the cheesy Christmas music to go with it.  It was totally perfect!!!

Melted Snow Man

Snow Snake.

AND it is 5 days until 2013.......I know I have blogged about living the moment, but I have also said I am ready for 2013!!!   So, 5 days......until 2013!!!   Enjoy the snow day today. I have my coffee in one hand and a power ranger waiting for Mommy to finish her blog.   So, see you all later, I am off to fight the universe!

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Well, this is the end to our "Dan-miss" celebration and this is the end of my blog entries about it.

Let me say that Mr. is back to him self. He came home last year on Dec. 26th.

The time that he was home and recovering was really a blur.   He was home.  It was different, he was different, but he was home.  His pic line was removed in the hospital and he was on many different medications (which I happily color coded) and we went to the doctor every week for a while.

 The time that he was home was hard, and wonderful at the same time.   There were moments where I longed for the medical staff to be around us, for the daily reports of his blood work, for the reassurance that he was getting better.  I watched him sleep.  As time went on I was more comfortable to leave him at home with out me.   Then I was able to leave him with our kiddos.  

Time heals, and he has made a full recovery.  He went back to work around March of 2012. 

I still dealt/deal with the Why.  

Why did he get so sick?
Why did he make it? (sound horrible i know....)
Why do others not?

But, the WHY questions are not ever going to be answered.  That has to be ok.  

My Mr. is back, he drives me crazy, he does great things, and we are back to just being a typical family. 

Back in January-March I had a guilt trip anytime I was frustrated with him.  How could I get mad at the man that could not be with us?  But, you know what he is still my husband.  I will still get frustrated with him (and him at me).   I had to get over that.  Therapy helps.

I am having a hard time putting an ending to this story.   I think because the story is not over.   We are living our lives and the story keeps on going.

Perspective:   This story is full of love, full of support, full of faith.  I will never forget the moment when I knew we would be ok.  This was a moment so Holy that I can not put it into words.   It reminds me that we are never alone. This is what changed my perspective on life.  This is what makes me look for the good.   So, on this Christmas morning, the good is AWESOME it was back to our normal.  Merry Christmas!!!!

Merry Christmas Eve!!

from Myself, Mr, Slick and Mr. Determined!!!

I have the opportunity to share the Christmas message tonight.  Here is a part of the message....

When you are lost or lonely look to the manger, and you can find yourself in that picture.  It looks perfect....but look past that......

A new mom and dad.....in a new place.  They had to be overwhelmed.
Shepard's that traveled to see this new gift.  They had to be confused and comforted at the same time.
Kings that found an infant that was a King.  They must have been tried from the journey and given some peace at the sight of Jesus.
and the animals had to smell bad....

The tiny baby.  Innocent.   Helpless.  The King.  The gift.

As we spend this Christmas Eve TOGETHER.   I know that what matters most is the gift of hope and peace in this manger.   The gift of the love and people that surround me.  I am thankful and blessed.

Christmas Blessings to all of you!!