Blaker's Top Ten

Where does the time go?

This was taken 10 years ago when Blake was one and Evan was five.  How can it possibly be that I have an 11 and 15 year old now?  It is shocking what ten years will do!

So in honor of Blake's Birthday, I'd like to do a Top Ten for one of the coolest kids I know.

1. He literally has one of the biggest hearts I know.  This kid is thoughtful, kind, and generous.  It's not lost on me that he is the most like my mom with his personality.
2. His laughter can be identified in a room of kids.  
3. He loves life.  Literally, he'll wake up excited, every. single. day.
4. He is loaded with charm and good looks, and he isn't afraid to use them.
5. He loves to write just as much as I do.
6. Any of his problems can be solved with a slurpee from Speedway.
7. He is tough and fearless.  Not always a great combination for a mom to watch over, but it does make the sports more interesting :)
8. His medical record includes 1 concussion, 5 staples, and 20 stitches in his face.  I know he will brag about this someday.
9. His eyes have more expression than his words do sometime. 
10. Kids love him.  Parents love him.  And pets love him.  He is more confident than an 11 year old should be.  I literally can't wait to see what the next year will bring for him!

If any one thing can remind you that life is short, it's baby pictures.  There is nothing like going back in time and remembering how simple life was then. I know we didn't know it then, but that's the lesson we must learn.  

I will repeat it for those of you who need reminding.

Life is short.

It will pass you by in a snap if you don't start noticing what is going on now.

Do what you love, and love what you do.  

Week 8

So, this is it.  The last week of figuring out what's most important to you.  The one thing I have learned along the way is that there really is no shortcut.  No magic pill or potion that will make you happy and all your dreams come true.  Hell, if there were we would've stopped reading this a long time ago.  Happiness and 'The Good Life', if you haven't figured out, are already in your reach.  It's like Glinda said to Dorthy, "It was inside you the whole time."

Week 8 is about that magical word, Love.  And I don't mean the marriage love, or I love those shoes... it's about loving yourself, your life, and your choices.

There isn't anything in our lives that can't be fixed by loving it.  We're just so used to complaining about things (work, weight, money, kids), that we never thought to try and accept it into our lives.

When you're feeling like it can't get any worse, find something, anything, to love.  All of us can have bad days.  What do we focus on when that happens?  Well, we can only obsess about how everything is wrong.  This happens on facebook all the time.  You'll see someone ranting about how horrible things are over an over again.  It's as if their brains are only wired to see the bad in everything around them, and then make it their status.

We get it... your life sucks.

But it doesn't have to be that way.

Starting today, be a light that only shines on the good stuff.  For instance, it is Monday morning on the first day of summer and Summer is usually not my thing.  But this year I am bound and determined to make it better.  Life is way to short to dislike a season, right?  I mean, that's a lotta time.  So already this morning, I have started a list in my head of the things I do love about this time of year:

• Reading on the deck
• Not being at work at 8 am.
• Writing in my pj's at 7 am.
• Weekends off (well, most of them)
• Kids helping around the house.
• Days at the beach.
• Walks outside.

No, it's not long, but it is a start, and at least it proves I don't hate everything about Summer.  Look around you today and figure out where your love is going.  Is it wasted on things that don't matter to you, or are you using it wisely?

Do what you love and love what you do.  I think it really is that simple.  

Have a lovely week my friends!