When did they get this old?!

Just got off the phone with the Ohio BMV, scheduling my son's driver's license exam!! When did he get that old? Further more, when did I get that old?  Time sure is flying by.  I wouldn't want to change it, except to maybe slow it down just a little bit.  Too soon we'll be finalizing all the collage stuff!  It's unbelievable.

I've said often to parents of little ones when they have asked with huge eyes of concern "does it get easier?!", that unfortunately "No, it just get's different!" I suppose that's not entirely true, some things get easier.  They can get dressed, and take care of their basic needs on their own. Most of the time they can finish their homework on their own. But instead of he or she stole my toy, it's does he or she like me, and then it's my girlfriend or boyfriend hasn't texted me back today, do you think there's a problem? Things that once took a hug to fix, now take hours of pondering together. Yet, that's kind of nice too.  Especially since for the most part they are still wanting to ponder those things with me!

The one thing no matter what age the kids have been at I've found is that being there for my kids is vital to their health.  Being there for their friends is vital for their relationships.  I always wanted to be the house where the kids want to hang out at. Yes, sometimes that means there are times when I'd love quiet and instead I get teenagers. All too soon the house will be empty and I can have all the quiet I want. For now, I'll take the noise, the video games, the movies and the drama! I'm blessed to be their mom and to be able to talk to them, and guide them, to train them in the way they should go. Hoping and praying that when they are old they won't depart from it as scripture says.  I'm glad their friends/girlfriend/boyfriend, talk to me too!  If I can continue to invest in all their lives and help them to be better people I'll willingly take the time to do just that!

So, having a driver before the end of the month is just the next step in this journey God has given me.   A journey I'm blessed beyond belief to have!

New Year...well at least it's still January!

Good morning world or at least those who may choose to wander onto this post.  I've missed writing, but life priorities don't always allow me the time I'd like to do that one extra thing.  Just the same, I may try to start fitting it in again.
So, what's been going on?! Well since my last post in April of 2015... a LOT!


1. Became the mother of 2 teenagers!!
2. Hired as the Music Teacher at Parma Heights Christian Academy
3. Celebrated our 19th anniversary!!
4. Started balancing working full time (yes, technically part time, but ask my fellow staff members I tend to forget it's suppose to be my day off and go in anyway!) being a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister, a friend...you get the picture!
5. Celebrated my 1 year anniversary with my nutritionist and down 110 lbs!!
6. Survived my first Christmas program with 154 students
7. Reached a new year with new goals
8. Restarted my focus on decluttering the house using http://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com, declutter calendars...actually did this some last year so I've already crossed off items through March! Also reading

 and referring to http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net

9. Started these amazing workouts with Maureen Hausler who is a personal trainer who runs her Mofit business, and is encouraging, engaging and pushes her students to keep moving forward without making them feel like they are under pressure to do more than they are capable of.
10. Decided to try and get reorganized with writing again!!


That's where I'm at. I've allowed myself a few minutes today to start to kick this back off. We'll see what happens.  This fall a friend commented on my Facebook wall that they were still looking for my organization/home management book to come out. (haven't even written one!), but that inspired me to relook at my life and what I can accomplish and what I should accomplish everyday. I guess if that interests you then tune in. Hopefully the routine I've begun to create will inspire you in some way!

Today's Agenda:
Wake up earlier than normal (only by a minute- but hey I was out of bed at 6am, instead of hitting snooze and calculating how much longer I could lay in bed and still get my kids lunches together and them out the door!)

Spend time in the Word. As our youth pastor, Dan Adams, just preached on we need to be Scripturating! I've discovered getting up, even a couple minutes earlier has allowed me extra time to be in the Word and not feel rushed! Currently reading through Exodus with my First5app, and Job with http://womenlivingwell.org, and then recently the message at church was focused on the book of Romans, so trying to read through that as well. Usually only get through a chapter in all three books if it's my day off. I also use the youversion app and am following their pray through the daily verse plan right now.

Get kids off to school

Make a list of what I need to get done for home and work. Have jury duty in 2 weeks so need to write sub plans!! UGH! While on that topic, yes I know it's my civic duty, but, I know people who would love to do it, so could we have them called instead?!?

Workout in my Mofit class! Can feel my legs and arms burning already

Meet with my daughter's counselor to review the plan for classes for the next few years

Get stuff done around the house

Get dinner, homework and those things started before heading off to church

Help with choir practice tonight as the assistant director can't be there.

A pretty full day all things considered.

This is a day the Lord has made! I can choose to rejoice and move forward or grumble and complain. It's entirely up to me, and at least today, I'm ready to choose joy!!

One Clear Moment

There are so many times in life when you find yourself questioning if you are doing the right thing, saying the right thing, and living the right way. As a parent I find those moments seem to come more and more often. I find myself saying things that I hated being told when I was a kid, mainly because they are things that need to be said. "stop fighting with your sister or brother, listen when I'm talking to you, be respectful to your teacher, coach, or any other adult we come in contact with..." I know, like many, I say at least once a day "Are you listening to me?" so often thinking that nothing I say is making any difference.

Lately, I've been praying for the right words to encourage and discipline my suddenly emotional, almost 10 year old. Wondering how I can raise him to be a man of integrity in a world that seems to think that is unneeded. Trying to show him how to control his emotions that seem to be on the edge of his sleeve whether he is standing in our kitchen or on a sheet of ice playing the game he has come to love. I've heard his hockey coach say a few times how hockey taught him so much about life, and I find myself wondering if my son is learning a message that will last beyond his hockey playing days.

Before every game and most practices we tend to have a conversation in the car that goes something like this..."remember to focus on what your coaches are saying, skate hard, and do your best. Back check, go to the net, and pass if you can, if you get knocked down get up quick and let the refs make the calls" This weekend I added a new one to the usual conversation. He got a necklace from us for Christmas that as a hockey skate, puck and stick on the front with the words, integrity, strength, and perseverance on the front and on the back says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". So before every game this weekend I pulled him aside and reminded him that Jesus was in the game with him, that he needed to play like He was watching. It's these life lessons of listen, play fair, and work together that I knew we've tried to drill home to him over the last 3 years that he's played hockey. This weekend, in a hotel room, at 10:30 pm, I realized even more clearly that hockey has been a way for us to teach our son even more about life.

As we laid in beds separated by darkness and the night stand we began to talk about the game that had just taken place earlier that evening. "How did you feel the game went?" I asked, expecting the normal "good, or fine" response. Instead I got to see for One Clear Moment that what we've tried to teach our son has gotten into his heart..

"Mom, I wish I could give someone else credit for my goals tonight"

"Why?"

With a quiver in his voice he said "Because I don't want them, I don't want to have any more points this season, I have too many and I don't want people to think I want all the goals"

"No one is really keeping track of who has how many goals. Daddy keeps track of yours because you've always liked numbers, not because he's going around saying to anyone how many goals you have."

"But he tells people when I get a goal."

"Yes, but he also celebrates if your team mate has the goal."

"I don't want it to be about me, it's about the team."

The lump forms in my throat and I find myself saying "Z people know that, they know that you are not the type of player who thinks 'I'm the only one who can score', they know that you are going to shoot if you can shoot, and pass if you can pass. They know that the other kids on your team are doing the same thing."

"I don't like when they say 'good job' all the time to me, or nice play, or talk about how I got a goal."

"Being humble Zach is wonderful. It's about realizing that the game is not all about you. It's also being willing to accept compliments and point out others successes. When you get a goal and someone starts to tell you about how great it was, what do you usually do? You usually start to tell them how if so and so didn't pass it to you, you wouldn't have been able to get the shot. Or if another player on your team didn't take the shot you couldn't have gotten the rebound. That's being humble and playing a team sport. "

"I just don't want people telling you how I'm doing something good all the time, other kids are too"

I had told him on the way back to the hotel how another parent had told me how they loved what he'd been doing in a game earlier in the weekend.

"The people who say good things about you, don't say them in front of others, they pulled me aside to tell me. Just as they pull other team mates parents aside to tell them good things too"

He got really quiet for a minute and then said he wanted to stop talking and get to sleep because he had a big game tomorrow.

I laid there in the dark thinking...that was one clear moment. One clear moment when I could see the foundation that has been laid in his life for being humble. A quality that shows the character he is developing and life lessons that he is already learning from hockey. Making the trip worth the drive.

Got to Try It!!!

Wow am I wiped out! Danced on the Wii this afternoon for 30 minutes to some great 80's hits. Okay, not necessarily my all time favorite hits, but just the same some fun tunes. All four of us could grab a remote and dance together which made it even more fun. Just Dance is a hit, I'm glad I bought it. I even would go so far as to say it can be added to my exercise rotation. I get so bored if I do the same thing everyday.
My goal this year is 15 or more minutes a day so, think Just Dance will fit in great! Can't wait to get back to Eye of the Tiger!!

Why is it??

Why is it that putting Christmas Decorations away is so depressing? Could it be beacause...when you put them up your so excited about the season, the Christmas music is playing everyone is helping out. Then comes the time when you decide it's January and time to put them away. No one is around, the music isn't playing and you realize that for a month you haven't dusted the dresser where the tree has been or around the nativity on top of the piano, so now on top of putting away the decorations you need to clean!

I've been working on it since 9:45 this morning. First had to dig the boxes out of the attic as I forgot to ask Phil to do that last night, then finish gathering it all up. This year I decided to weed some stuff out as I was putting it away, so now the one side of my laundry sink tub is filled with stuff to get rid of. (add that to the list) Finally, I got started. Finished my room, but realized I needed to rearrange a few things on the dresser and also that the room really needs dusted. Decided to let that go so I can get the rest of the decorations away. It is now 1:20, need to be ready to get dinner together in an hour, and head up to school for the Brownie meeting today. So the real question is, with one hour left can I take down 2 trees, get out of the grubby clothes, put dinner together and get up to school.

Why is it that sometimes being a Mom takes super hero strength??? If I had one super power I think I'd want it to be the ability to freeze time!

Time to Get Organized...AGAIN!

People who know me would say that I am one of the most organized people they know. I keep things neat in the house (or at least the parts of the house they can see), and I'm always jotting down a note or writing things in my calendar but...

If truth be told, I don't think I'm very organized. So, here I go again as it is 2010 and start to reclaim my spaces. Today's project the dreaded linen cabinet, and 1 of my daughters dresser drawers. More then one of her drawers and I'd have to be committed to a mental institution. Also, going to tackle the holiday decoration drawers in the attic. Off to a good start so far. Went through the towels this morning, and realized that nothing in our bathroom decor matches forest green anymore so bye bye towels. They will find a good home with the next group that calls me offering to pick up household items. This afternoon it's on to the sheets. Guess my almost 10 year old is probably past using the little truck sheets that are still in the cabinet. Will have to ask him about those after school.

The other goal when it comes to dealing with this mess is to clean up one before starting the next. I tend to start something and that reminds me I needed to do something else. This year it's one thing at a time, guess I better go move the towels to the dryer, oh I mean pick up this Christmas decoration and put it in the pile to go away, or check my email, wait the bathroom needs cleaned...oh yeah I was headed for the dryer. Don't laugh, it happens to you to I bet!

Starting off 2010

2010 has arrived and with it a desire to reclaim my life. Reclaim the organization of things, reclaim the clutter, reclaim healthier habits. Will that be easier this year? Will those resolutions that I've made in my mind at least be fulfilled by the end of the year?

It's hard to say. At this point I feel good about moving forward. So far today, I've read my bible, exercised, drank more water, read a few chapters in a novel, worked on photos, spent time with my kids and cleaned out the upstairs medicine cabinet, my bathroom drawer and the fridge! Off to a good start I would say. Tomorrow is another day, another challenge to see what I can accomplish. The main resolution for this year is this...let nothing go to tomorrow that could be done today, but in doing that stop stressing about what needs to be done and take it one step at a time. Live life, enjoy life, and capture it one photo at a time of course! Stay a list maker and don't get distracted by the form of adult attention deficit disorder that Moms in general are so prone to get distracted by. Finish one job, find time to relax and move forward. Don't regret the past, learn from it and be better today because of it.

Happy 2010! Look out, it's another year, and another chance to make it real!

Working Out

Staying healthy is not easy. We've decided to try and start working out as a family to some extent. The kids are both involved in sports where gaining more muscle would be a good thing for their performance and endurance. Phil just recently completed a couch to 5K program and now is starting it with Zach, who has greatly enjoyed his time running with Daddy. For a year now Phil has also been doing a 100 push up workout. I've been trying off and on to get on course with the 200 sit ups program. SO...now we're all doing the push ups and sit ups and the boys are doing the running. I'm trying to walk everyday too, but with my schedule it isn't always easy to fit that it.

Today though I have managed a walk, and push ups 8, 10, 7, 7, and 20 and then sit ups (crunches) 15, 18, 10, 10 and 30! Now off to the rest of the day. (with my arms still burning!)

Back to the World of Blogging

Seems like with all the technology we have everything seems to just ad one more thing for us to do. Blogging has done that for me in the recent months. Once summer hit, all sense of schedule was out the door as I was trying to spend every moment I could soaking in time with the kids and the sun. Now it's fall and I find myself once more ready to set out on the adventure of blogging about life, Creative Memories, and of course hockey!

Life is good. Yes, we're busy and sometimes feel like the walls are shutting in as we're running this race that we call life, but overall it is good. Today for instance, I could choose to be upset that I didn't get a teaching job or choose to embrace what I have been given today, which is time to get some jobs that I keep pushing off to the back burner done. So, I'm choosing, the second one. Why go through life being upset! Besides, with the lack of a job today I was able to go for a walk, run the dishwasher, get cards made for my cousins new baby and thank yous done and still have time to meet a friend to work on a project at church, which will lead to Chipotle for lunch!! On top of that I'm going to be able to stop and get some new shoes and pick up some gifts that are needed for the weekend.

With working sometimes now during the days I'm finding taking the time I have to do what needs to get done is so important. Like preparing 4 dinners while making dinner Sunday evening. Now, I have at least 4 days I don't have to worry about what to do. It's all ready to go. Tonight, since I didn't have to teach today I plan on getting a couple more dinners ready at dinner. Life is good, it's what we make of it, and how we choose to live. I want to live it to the fullest!

Just Ducky!

Well if this isn't just Ducky. Out mowing the lawn tonight when I realize there is a Duck in our front yard. It was just sitting there.

I mowed somewhat close to it thinking...it will fly away! Of course, it just quacked at me, or whatever it is that ducks actually do as my third grader told me "Mom, they don't really say that!" (ok, so now I have a duck in my yard and feel betrayed by all the people that taught me that a duck says quack, quack!") Really, what do you do with a duck in the yard?

Phil tried the Sean Connery move from Indiana Jones III, "Ah, I suddenly remembered my Charlemagne "

It didn't work! So instead we, of course encouraged by our children, shooed the Duck to the backyard so it could swim in the pond we just put in. Mind you 2 days ago we put 10 goldfish in the pond. Not sure they'll be there tomorrow. Did I mention the duck kept running into things and we think it might be blind??

SO now we have Anaheim the Duck in the pond with the goldfish. Tomorrow we're calling the Nature Rescue people to come remove Anaheim. She really can't stay here...after all we're Detroit Fans! Do things like this happen to anyone else??

Working With What You Have

The house is in a continual state of progress. Whose isn't really. Today I decided that it is time to work a little each day on different areas. I already have the Master To Do List. (I'm a list maker what can I say). Now the goal is to start working with what I have.

The list includes things like sort through areas, that simply need de cluttered, or things we are done with. Cross the one cabinet off the list today!!! Yeehaw! Got rid of 4 puzzles and some kind of McDonald's toy that I'm sure the kids don't even know they had. Found some new space, that currently I think we're going to leave EMPTY! Now there is a thought.

Second, broke out the white paint that has been sitting by the back door in the garage for 4 months. Put the 2nd and 3rd coat on the bathroom door, as well as the cabinet in the bathroom and the moldings. Now just need to touch up the main color, painted it originally in Oct! The bathroom still needs a few new towels as they go on sale and of course the cabinets need to be sorted in there as well. It's getting done though. Best thing, other then the towels that we still need, a new toilet seat cover and a new door knob there is no more cost to the update. Added some bobble heads to the top of the cabinet (it's an extension of our Red Wings hockey room) and it's done!

Now about the gray touch up paint....

It's been awhile, time to ramble.

Life just flies by and the things that have to get done do and the rest...well not so much.
Today I was hoping to be working as a sub in our school district, but did not get called. So...instead I'm going to catch up on the things on my desk and get some other things done around the house.


In the meantime, also getting set for this Thursday when the Wings open the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Blue Jackets. Can't wait to watch. The big question is whether to skip the PTA meeting so we can watch it in real time, or dvr it and watch it later...ugh decisions decisions.

Regardless...LET'S GO WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time to change the laundry. Working from home is so great. If it wasn't raining I think I might even decide to do some yard work. We'll see.

Redoing old albums

Yes, I hate to admit it I have old albums in my possession. Prior to 2000 all my albums were non Creative Memories, and while documented in a scrapbook type method were not at all photo safe. My goal for this year is to start doing something about those albums!
This past week I pulled a 7x7 chocolate love album off of my shelf that I have had sitting there for almost 2 years. It already had the paper in it, and was ready for pictures. I pulled apart our honeymoon album and a day later have an album that I know will keep our pictures safe for years to come. The honeymoon album is only 13 years old. Yet, it was already yellowing, and looking bad as it was in one of those stick the picture in on the page and cover it with the piece of plastic albums. We haven't looked at it in years, but now that it is in a photo safe album, we've put it out again and the kids have already looked through it several times.
I have other supplies on my shelf so next I think I will tackle the album covering our first year, and first house. The kids are going to love seeing those pictures again, and I'm going to love knowing that they are now photo safe!
Thank you Creative Memories

Did anyone else just blink?

It is February 25th. How did that happen? I'm trying to get ready for a big convention this weekend with Creative Memories. I usually look ahead and find out what I need to have done so that Monday won't be as hard. Suddenly I realized the end of the month finance stuff needs done, the calendars need updated and wow it's going to be March. Guess I better add birthday shopping for my brother in law on the list. Time just keeps speeding up as I get older, and life just keeps moving on. Happy March!

Just Do It

Sometimes I think Nike has it right. We make our list of things to do, and then we look at it. Sometimes we need to JUST DO IT. I think the part that is the most frustrating is some of the jobs never seem to go away. Laundry, dishes, laundry, dishes...bathrooms need cleaned...etc. Today I'm going to try and adapt a new mind frame about these things. Today I'm going to be thankful that we have clothes to wear, a washer and dryer right in the other room, clean water, beds to sleep in and food to eat. I'm going to remember to pray for my family as I do the jobs that simply need to get done. There is no sense in complaining about them, we all have them. I just need to do it!

What's Next?

Ever find yourself completing one thing only to wonder...what's next? Sometimes it seems like that is how life is lived. We get through with one thing and immediately need to know what's next? Right now I have several projects going. In my mind I'm trying to get all the details together and somehow I keep coming back to what I'll need to do when this next thing gets done. I guess the thing is sometimes it's fun to have nothing that's next. Just enjoy the day and not worry about where you have to go, or what you have to do. With that in mind...time to go clean the house and set up for tomorrows Creative Memories event and then get ready for World Friendship Day on Sunday. After that it's getting ready for Regional Convention...that's What's Next!

All Thrown Off

Have you ever noticed that when things stray from your normal routine everything gets completely thrown off? Friday and Monday the kids had off from school. We had a great time, went to the pool and the mall, played some wii games, and spent time together. Monday Phil also had off which made that day even nicer. Tuesday came and I was lost. Half of the day I thought it was Monday, aside from bible study, Daisy scouts, gymnastics, and hockey that is. Just the same it is now Wednesday and I'm still trying to get the grocery list together and get to the store, normally a Monday or Tuesday task. Get laundry caught up and balance the checkbook. Sometime this month I'd like to finish the taxes but with all the days off here and there it just doesn't seem to get done.
It's not really that I don't like having the extra people home. We've really enjoyed each others company and spent time together. I just wish I wasn't such a creature of habit as when things get out of wack it takes me a few days to recover. That and this weather is giving me a migraine! Oh, well... off to switch laundry and hopefully get back on track.

Did you know?

Did you know that 60* days are only to make you think more about spring and appreciate winter less?

Did you know that 90% of Americans don't sleep well because we are overdosed on caffeine during the day?

Did you know that taking time for yourself everyday only seems selfish if it's all day everyday and really makes you a better person to be around?

Did you know that Casting Crowns and Stephen Curtis Chapman are awesome?

Did you know that facebook can suck the time away from your day if you don't limit yourself?

Did you know that working with photos is actually a great stress reliever?

Did you know that the Wings are going to win the Cup again?

Did you know that this is a really lame excuse for a post but I've committed to trying to post 5 days a week and this is the best I can do?

Did you know that laundry and dishes always pile up, but we should be praising God that we have clothes to wear and have had food to eat?

Did you know that the to do list will never get done, so it's best to do the hardest jobs first?

Did you know that this is the last did you know?

Weather Change Mayhem

Every time the weather changes drastically I get to feeling wiped out. Not sure why, always attributed it to my blood not thickening or thinning as quick as the temps do around here. Now I'm noticing it's effecting my kids as well. Both have been fighting headaches as the temps have been rising and the weather is changing so much. I would rather it be 50 than 20 any day, but the fact that it will most likely dip back down makes me nuts. In the last 2 days Z has even visited the school nurse twice. Once for a stomach ache, related to sinus issues I'm sure and once for an itchy red eye...once again related to his allergies bothering him. I'm beginning to think I need to be a walking pharmacy of headache and eye relief. Or, maybe we should just move. Nah, guess I'll stop at the drugstore before I head up to school this afternoon, my heads throbbing as it is, I can only imagine that Katie's is as well.
At least the sun is shinning a wee little bit!

Facebook

Decided at the beginning of the year to see what the big deal about facebook was all about. Truth is I had mixed feelings going in. I know several people that absolutely love it, but also take a ton of time with it. Others who like reconnecting with people and have managed to limit their time on it.

I think that is truly the key. It is a cool thing to find out what people you haven't thought about in years are doing. It's fun to shoot a message to their wall, and maybe exchange a few stories. It's fun to see what others are doing when you read the updated status info. I can say it's been kind of neat to simply state " I'm working on Creative Memories albums" and know that now a whole group of people see I'm a consultant. It could be potentially good for business I would think. Yet, it can also be a HUGE time waster. It would be easy to sit on facebook for hours and play various games, search endlessly for lost friends, and join a million groups.

Just the same, if you can have self control and not spend time you need to be doing something else on it. I would say it's a good thing. It's a way to connect with people, share ideas, and network for work as well. I'm glad I'm on it. In fact, need to jump on it now to find out if things are still set with our babysitter tonight!