Making Memories – December 2019
This summer someone said to me, “You only have 18 summers with your kids.” They were talking about going on vacation and creating experiences and memories with our children before they go off on their own. Thinking about it like that, “18 summers”, put things in perspective for me. I have 18 Decembers with my kiddos (actually, I only have 11 left) to make memories and traditions. December is the perfect month to make special memories with or without kids. Here are some of the things we do to make this month leading up to Christmas special: Go to a Christmas Tree Farm to pick a tree – this is…
Making Fun Christmas Garland
I kept seeing garland made with colored felt/wool balls. Sure I could buy a strand but that would take most of the fun away so I bought a bunch of colored wool balls. The kids LOVED them and I see us getting more for other holidays in the near future.
Accomplish Your Goals & Start Living Your Dream!
“Accomplish your goals and make your dreams come true!” Yes, I have found the secret! Well, sort of. I have found 89% of the secret. This is starting to sound like one of those really frustrating posts that promise to tell you something, then they keep dancing around the thing, so you read to the end only to find out they never tell you the thing and most often want you to pay them to tell you. This is NOT one of those posts (I hate those)! You want to know the secret to reaching your goals and dreams? Stop thinking about them and GO AFTER THEM! I am a…
I Am Home.
Maybe you are a stay-at-home home who doesn’t bring home a pay check… Maybe you have a spouse who doesn’t appreciate you… Maybe you work to support your family but feel guilt and wonder if financial is the type of support your family needs… I am or have been all of these and I have been hard on myself. Recently I was told that what I do in my house has little to no value. Anyone could cook, clean, do laundry and drive the kids around, and they are right. Anyone can do the mindless, mundane tasks of taking care of a house, it does not require special skills. Some…
Be Kind… Look Up!
Have you noticed when you go out in public that it’s lonely? Now honestly, I am an introvert so there is a part of me that doesn’t mind everyone staying to themselves. But when it gets to the point of indifference and inconsiderate I think there’s a problem. Here’s what I mean. I took my kids to get ice cream. As we were deciding on what flavors to get, the girl at the window gives an elderly man his rootbeer float along with the extra rootbeer in the can. I watched this man take careful baby steps to his car and thought, “how is he going to open the door…
Great Expectations…
Looking back, I was naive. I thought that I was in control of my life and I could make it be whatever I wanted. It took me until I was 30 to realize that there is very little that I can control and no matter how bad you want something you cannot force it to happen. If you were to ask me when I was younger how I thought my life would turn out I would give you two very different, yet clear paths that I KNEW my life would take. HA! It sounds silly now to say that at the time I “knew” how my life would turn out.…
Are You Financially Trapped?
Hi Ladies. As women, especially moms, we are always trying to do what is best for our families, often at the cost of what is best for us. This is true in most aspects of our lives, including financially. One reason women who find themselves in a bad relationship don’t leave or seek help is because they are financially dependent on their significant other. I wanted to share a few thoughts on this topic that may help if you find yourself in this situation. In a healthy relationship, couples work together financially to pay bills, plan retirement and build a life together. When the relationship is unhealthy, one person tends…
Finding Hope
There are days when my situation beats me down and I lose all sight of hope. I cry throughout the night with my heart aching. I don’t want to get out of bed when morning comes because I don’t want to face my truth. I have to remind myself to take deep breaths so I can hold the tears back or so I don’t have a panic attack. I have to go into “auto-pilot” mode to function at all. The hardest part about all of this is that I am aware of what is going on. I am painfully aware of my situation, how I am feeling and the effect…
My Fear of Peanut Butter & Jelly
Peanut butter and Jelly. Seems like a silly thing to be afraid of, right? No, neither I nor my kids have peanut allergies, thankfully. And I make my kids pb&j at least once a week but I don’t dare eat one myself. I know this sounds ridiculous but I can explain. When I was in high school, I was full of insecurities (like all teenagers). I noticed that my best friend was becoming more popular, she was thin and outgoing. I also noticed that the boy I was dating like to flirt with girls who were thinner than me. So my 17-year-old brain decided that if I were thinner I…
Like A Peony
Have you ever seen a peony? They have big, beautiful blooms that I adore! The blooms are so big and heavy that their stem cannot hold them upright. If they are not supported with a stake the flower will lay down and be weighted to the ground. I am like a peony. Let me explain. I love deeply. This is who I am. I have tried to protect myself by keeping people at a distance or pretending I don’t care but nothing works. The truth is that this is who I am. If I care about you, I do so wholeheartedly. I will give you the shirt off my back,…
