Endless Winter

Many people, myself included, are done with winter.

Done.

DONE.

D. O. N. E. Done.

And then the stupid Groundhog had to go and see his shadow, locking in another 6-weeks of this stuff.  

So, this past week I started to think of summer things.  I got new nose guards for my favorite sun glasses (I can't wear them without)... Toby bought sunscreen for spring break... and I changed my ringtone to Beachin'.

And then I stumbled on this video from last year... I thought we could all use a giggle about now.

And then I thought we could add a song to our Summer Playlist...

But if all else fails, just remember The Voice and Scandal are back in 2 weeks!!

And the irony of all ironies is the fact that I chose Endless Summer as our Show theme this year.  So we have that to look forward to as well :)

Maybe it was fate.

And maybe this endless winter will fade away and be a memory when we're sweating throughout the summer.  At this point, I'd be okay with that, but I'm also careful about what I wish for.  I'm not stupid.

I hope you all have some summer thoughts today!

Happy Saturday...

Leap

This word has been a recurring theme in my life lately.

Leap, and the net will appear.

It's something that is so easy to forget and so difficult to do.  Nobody wants to leap willingly, and more often than not, there is someone pushing you from behind.... all the while telling you to leap.  Playing it safe is undoubtedly the easy path to take, but I know for a fact that happiness can't be found that way.  Ironically, when we push ourselves past our comfort zones - whether it be a diet, a job, or in this case, trying to publish a book - we find that odd satisfaction that makes the discomfort worth it.

Do I want to spend every minute of free time trying to figure out how to write query letters to agents
who may or may not ever read a word of my book?  Not really, but I have to, because I have set this as my goal and right now that is everything to me.  I have become one of those narrow-minded people who only wants to talk, write, and think about what needs to be done.

I'm annoying to myself at this point.

But I have decided to leap and there's no turning back for me now.  I only wish I had more time-energy-money to do more, and I personally want to thank everyone who has been behind me, pushing encouraging me to leap.

I'm not even sure it'll be worth it in the end, but that's the whole point to leaping.  We're never really sure the net will appear.  It requires faith and courage, two things that can be considered the wings of leaping.  

“The true meaning of courage is to be afraid, and then, with your knees knocking and your heart racing, to step out anyway—even when that step makes sense to nobody but you. I know that’s not easy. But making a bold move is the only way to truly advance toward the grandest vision the universe has for you.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

That, my friends, is the Oprah definition of leaping.

Happy Thursday...

Flexible

flex·i·ble

adjective  1.  capable of bending easily without breaking.

synonyms: pliable, supple, bendable, pliant, plastic;

After the last three weeks, this is the word I have come up with that will be my focus for the year.

Flexible.

And yes, I mean to study, learn, and live out this word in both the figurative and literal sense of the definition.

For years I have had yoga in the back of my mind.  It is just one of those things, like running, that I never thought I could do.

I try.
I'm really bad.
I wake up really sore.
And I stop.

But I believe the whole theory behind yoga is to break down that resistant thought pattern so you can get to the other side.  The side that is less rigid, stiff, and uncompromising.

The side that allows more creative thinking.

The side that remembers that everything is going to be okay no matter what.

The side that bends with the ups and downs of life.

The ironic part is you have to let go of everything - all your patterns and stubborn ways - to get to that side, but when you do, it can be more comforting than a bowl of popcorn and binge watching Scandal all night.

Who am I kidding?  Nothing is more comforting than popcorn and Scandal.

But you know what I mean.  

Bottom line is this:  I need - crave - flexibility in my life.  I need to not feel like my body is going to fall apart at any given moment.  I need to remember that as a parent, it's not always black and white.  I need to bend with the flow of life and stop breaking with every strong wind (like a tree branch over an electric wire). 

Couldn't resist.

So there you have my goal for the year.  

I know it comes to you a little later than expected, but maybe I'll be teaching you flexibility as well this year :)

What is your word for the year?  Make it a good one....

Happy Friday!

Gratitude

Life is really sneaky sometimes.

I seem to recall wanting to learn gratitude in 2013.

Well, be careful what you wish for.

But I guess if I were going to wrap up a year about gratitude and wanted to really drive the point home, having to lose something as basic as power and returning it 9 painfully long days later would make anyone grateful.

Lesson learned.

And perhaps I need to make one final gratitude list for the year as well....

• I am overwhelmingly grateful for our friends who have prayed, listened, hugged, made food, took our kids in as their own, texted, posted, twittered, and loved us through it all.  I firmly believe that you will see how well you are loved when in crisis.  The crisis part sucks, but we know we are loved.  And Twitter makes us giggle.
• I have a whole new respect for Toby, who seems to be able to single-handedly take care of three houses without power.  #tobyrules
• Home appliances.  You never know how often you use each and every one of them on a daily basis till you can't.  
• Clean laundry.  I don't think this needs any explanation.  
• Home-cooked meals.  We have eaten out 99% of our meals this past 9 days.  Not good for the checking account, nor the waistline.  

I know there are more that I will think of later, but I will simply leave you with this picture, which I believe is the epitome of gratitude.  It was taken by a friend of mine and I stole it off her Facebook page.  I don't think she'll mind.  Her family (including her parents next door) were out of power for the same amount of time as us, and today she was able to capture so many moments that reflect only love and gratitude... not the anger and frustration of the past nine days.  It literally overwhelmed me to tears to look through the picture and see the joy.

So, while I will never want to go through anything like this ever again, it's nice to know that we are surrounded by love and were never alone.  

Bless you all who have gotten us through this week.  We truly couldn't have done it with out you...

Finally, merry and bright...

Where did Christmas go?

Well, it's been a week.

And by a week, I mean a week we'll always remember.... not fondly.

But, being who I am, I'm going to try and at least finish my 12 Days, with twelve things I'm grateful for this week.  It's going to be a stretch, but hopefully keep things light for me.

1. Generators.  (even though it sounds like someone is mowing their lawn in my bedroom.)
2. Heat.  (No-Power Fun Fact #1:  The worst reminder that your house is 44 degrees is the toilet seat.)
3. Laptops.  (Without our laptop I wouldn't have been able to snuggle with the boys Christmas Eve to watch Home Alone.  Without power we wouldn't have done it.)
4. Family and Friends.  (Both to share the misery or offerings of love.  It's been duly noted :))
5. Twitter.  (The conversations between Toby, Andy, Regina, and Andy G were simply priceless.)
6. Slippers for cold floors.
7. Blankets.  Lots and lots of blankets.  Although we figured out that Evan's down blanket has a hole.  Feathers everywhere.
8. Gas fireplaces.  We wouldn't have survived without it.
9. Sleepovers on the dining room floor.
10. Candles.  Yes, I had three setting aside as gifts for Christmas... oh well.
11. Speedway coffee.  Who knew it was so good and only 99 cents?
12. The human spirit.  This whole week has been a giant reminder of how blessed we really are.  You never know what you really have till it's taken away.  Got it, God.  And I am grateful.

I hope you all had a week that reminded you of what gratitude really is about.  Some people in life will never get it, and I simply will never understand that, but let them be a reminder of what you don't want in your life.

Happy Friday!

The Ninth Day of Christmas.

Whew... I think with this post I've caught up!  This Holiday Season is kicking my butt this year, and I was under-prepared to begin with!  Today was the first day I've been able to really relax and try to enjoy some down time.

Praise the Lord.

That's enough of a gift for me.

...So, back to our regularly scheduled program.

On the Ninth Day of Christmas,

My true friend gave to me,

9 Pins of Interest,

8 Quotes of Katherine,

7 Moments in Time,

6 Word Wednesday,

5 Gooooold Ruuuuules,

4 Christmas Videos,

These 3 Things,

2 Fun Trips,

and

An Attitude of Gratitude.

9 Pins of Interest (see what I just did there? :))

True story.

Someone needs to remind me of this daily.

Vail, CO = Bucket List.  

Literally.

This is just funny.  And true.

Best.  Soup.  Ever.

Inspired 

2014 Goals

Sigh... my hero.

There you have it... I'm caught up and feeling good.  I may just have to reward myself with an episode of Scandal!

Have a great night...

The Eighth Day of Christmas

On the Eighth Day of Christmas

My true friend gave to me,

8 Quotes of Katherine

7 Moments in Time,

6 Word Wednesday,

5 Gooooold Ruuuuules,

4 Christmas Videos,

These 3 Things,

2 FUN Trips,

and

An Attitude of Gratitude.

We all know my author-crush on Katherine Center, and today I'll take it to a new level.  Someday I just want to sit and have a cup of coffee with her... or a bottle of wine.  Both would be great.  So, when I thought of doing a day of quotes, I went to her page first.  After I couldn't narrow down which one I wanted, I decided to make the entire day about her.

So here we go....

And so my hope for you, good boy, as you grow taller every day, is that you will learn to take good care of yourself, and you will learn to take good care of others - and, someday, you'll see how those two things are exactly the same.

My goal is to try and be as happy as I can - going through every day just as it is.


We are at our finest when we take care of each other.

The way that I love you makes me a better person.

You are writing the story of your only life every single minute of every day.

The truth is, being a woman is a gift.
Tenderness is a gift.
Intimacy is a gift.
And nurturing the good in this world is nothing short of a privilege. 


And there you have it.  Of course if you need more, here is my favorite video of all times....

Have an amazing day.