Task Master

GET UP!
GET IN THE SHOWER!
IS EVERYTHING ALRIGHT IN THERE?
HURRY UP, YOU'LL BE LATE FOR SCHOOL.
EAT IN THE CAR.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
SET THE TABLE.
CLEAR THE TABLE.
FINISH YOUR HOMEWORK!
GET READY FOR BED.
GET READY FOR BED!
GETTT READYYYY FOOOOR BEDDDD!
I love you, good night, sweet dreams. *Kiss*

I give Kiddo credit for putting up with me this week (and it's only Tuesday). It's time to tone it down and actually behave like someone I'd like to be around. If I can't stand me, who can? Turning it down a few volumes, taking a deep breath, and IS YOUR HOMEWORK DONE? (sorry, bad habit) 
   

Gratitude Journal Monday

Gratitude is hard when you're impatient.
Gratitude is hard when you're wanting more.
Gratitude is hard when your amidst the chaos of the day.
Gratitude is hard when things don't go your way.
Gratitude is hard...but necessary.

Join me in sharing some gratitude today. Here's where I started, click here.

451. I am thankful for a snowless yard.
452. I am thankful for the smell of Spring in the air.
453. I am thankful my shy daffodils have made an appearance this year.
454. I am thankful for resilience and perseverence.
455. I am thankful for who I am.

Tread lightly, friends, and have a good Monday.         

Goodbye Week. Hello Weekend. Lessons Learned: Take 91.

There was art...

Goodbye first lawn mowing of the year.
Goodbye gorgeous blooms of Forsythia all around town that are unaware of how grim the world was this past week.
Goodbye enjoying an Evening of Art and Music at the school - talented kids.
Goodbye house blessing.
Goodbye celebrating my birthday with family and friends and feeling very blessed.
 

There was music.

Hello fun birthday party for one of Kiddo's friends.
Hello baseball tryouts for summer league - keep your eye on the ball, Kiddo.
Hello enjoying The Bible mini-series on DVD - awesome birthday gift, Super Hubby!
Hello math-project focus - lots of numbers will be flying around Kiddo's head.
Hello enjoying some home cooking all weekend as my stomach recovers from eating out during my birthday celebrations all week.

Yes, I wanted a water bottle for my birthday!

My lesson learned this week is my unknowing appreciation for social media. I'm not a Facebook fan, I'll admit. I share with friends in person over a cup of coffee, not via fiber optics. I comment face-to-face, not by typing at a keyboard. And if I like something, I prefer telling you personally, not just clicking a thumbs-up icon. But, even I have been known to over judge a time or two. Take this week for instance: my birthday. When I created my Facebook account I purposefully left out my birth date. I wanted to make sure only my "true" friends would know the day. Well, one of my Facebook friends did remember all on her own and wished me a happy birthday by leaving me a comment. To my surprise, other Facebook friends got word and started sending me well wishes, too! I hate to admit it but, it was nice and I liked it. I guess I better go update my Profile to add birthday. Thank you, friends!
 

In My 40's

No milestone today. No, not today. I am officially "in" my 40's. I welcome it. Onward and upward. At least I'm nearer the base of the hill and not over it. I had high expectations a year ago. I wrote down my hopes and resolutions and now it's time to reflect on what a year has brought. I can see there are some things to work on, some things to add, some things to continue and somethings to ignore. Here's to another year!

Of the wishes I wrote down, the one that would have fallen to the wayside after about a week if I had anything to do with it was the "Fresh Flowers Every Week" promise. Super Hubby picked up my slack after that first week after my birthday and each and every week for one whole year I was greeted with fresh flowers (EVERY WEEK!). Honestly Super Hubby, you ARE the best! I'm pretty sure that's the only promise kept on those numbers and I had nothing to do with it. What's that say about me? I don't even want to think about it.

Date Nights were few, workouts were non-existent. I didn't take a photography class but I did get a new camera (thanks, again, Super Hubby). I've decided I'm really not that adventurous when it comes to dining and I've got the "frugal gene" that prevents me from paying those prices at Anthropologie, Chico's, Talbot's and Coldwater Creek. The "More Family Time" wish would have been counter intuitive had I attended a blog conference ( I chose the family). The Etsy Shop is still planned (one day), the book is in progress, along with eating better and drinking water.

My bouquet finale from Super Hubby!

Did I succeed at anything on my own? Well, yes, I think I did. Along with achieving more family time, I upgraded my makeup drawer to include eye liner and mascara. I visited with friends more, I smiled more, and, without a doubt, I always gave God all the glory because without Him, I would be nothing. We enjoyed unusual hiking trails (thanks, again, to Super Hubby's love of discovery).

Looking back, not much to rave about. Most of the things I accomplished, I accomplished because of Super Hubby. I like that, though. It's proof that I'm a better person because we're together. We make a terrific team: peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly, Peeps and jellybeans. But, I think my year as a 40-year old hit new highs not on the list; ones that, at the time I could not have even imagined. Who knew my business would be in full force this past year? Who knew Kiddo would have a remarkable 5th-grade year? Who knew my blog readership would more than double from a year ago? Who knew? So, this year, I'm not writing anything down, I'm just remaining open to what's instore and enjoying the ride, come what may. But do the weekly flowers have to stop, Super Hubby? 

What I Made Wednesday {Milemarker 40: An Update}

One day short of a year ago today, I posted this What I Made Wednesday in celebration of my 40th birthday. It's amazing how quickly a year flies by and tomorrow I'll be celebrating my 41st birthday. This little project caught the attention of so many viewers! Would you believe this project has been viewed over 5,000 times? WOW!

So, in preparation of some reflection on what I hoped the year would bring and where I've ended up (tomorrow's post), I thought I'd share with you the Milemarker Project. Just click here and you'll be directed to this crazy, ever-so-popular project! Who knew?

Join me tomorrow to see how I fared and help me welcome number 41!

Before. In an Instant. After.

I woke up yesterday morning with lots to do. The day was not intended to be typical, but at the very least, should have been uneventful. There are great blessings in slow-news days. Apparently, yesterday was not going to be one of them.

We were getting the house blessed by the priest, but before that, my Grandmother was doing the same. She asked that I be there and, with me, all you have to do is ask and you can count on me (it's a character flaw, I know). So, right after drop-off at school I booked it to my 90-year old Grandmother's house and prepped the water, the candle, and my Grandmother. The priest arrived, we chatted, then headed on over to my humble abode. The blessing was performed, the house was Holy-fied, and the priest left.

After doing a couple loads of laundry and paying bills, it was time to get some paper products at the ol' warehouse store. Typical day thrown in with a house blessing and all was pretty much normal. You move through the rhythm of the day, not skipping a beat, walking to the cadence in your head and without warning, a tempo change is about to happen.

After shopping, I get back into the car to drive to Kiddo's school, listening to News Radio, and I'm trying to piece words together: Boston Marathon, explosion, dead. Then in an instant the familiar beat of the day becomes a beat I don't recognize; a crazy time signature change or something? As I'm taking it all in, intensely concentrating on the faceless voice coming out of my car speaker, I slowly realize I am leaving the "before" and entering into "in an instant".

In an instant, the world I woke up in this morning is not the same world I wake up in tomorrow.

In an instant, a post-9/11 recovering nation is reminded of its vulnerabilities.

In an instant, the same street walked just weeks ago in front of the White House during our D.C. trip is blocked off for security and we enter into a too familiar era once again.

In an instant, I can already hear the dinner conversation later that day, Kiddo sitting across from me while Super Hubby and I try to help him make sense of something we do not understand ourselves.

In an instant, the fatalities bring forth families that will deal with even more confusion and bitter loss.

In an instant, the lives of the wounded are changed forever as they fight to recover from their twist of fate.

Whenever there is an "in an instant" moment, there's always a "before" and "after" the instant. I think about my day "before" and how "normal" it was running errands and doing chores; and I think about what effect this incident will have in the "after".

I pull in to the school car pool line, slightly late. I open the door, Kiddo gets in the car, innocently still living in the "before". The Director of the school stops me to talk about a display case, I think? Still numb from the news, I only comprehend half of what he is saying. I realize that neither the Director nor any of the teachers in carpool are aware as to what has happened only 15 minutes ago. The entire time the news broke, they were in car pool, escorting children to their parents. Their moment of awareness had yet to occur. They were living in the "before". I decided to shelve the town crier hat and have them live in the "before" just a little while longer. When they return to their classrooms to check e-mail, they will have had their "in an instant" moment and have to live in the "after" just like the rest of us.

Lord, give us the grace to still dance in the "after", even if it's to a new tune. Peace and comfort be with Boston and those affected by this tragic event.          

Gratitude Journal Monday

Good morning, beautiful LOVD readers. Thank you for joining me today for another Gratitude Journal Monday, where I share my heart and release some thanks into the Universe. Making these weekly declarations have truly helped me keep things real in my life. I know it sounds self-centered and ungrateful, but sometimes I get so bogged down into my own life's issues that the true blessings that surround me get blurred into the tapestry. I begin to take for granted the importance of each single little thread that makes the bigger picture. Each thread should be appreciated because it makes the piece of artwork whole and complete, just like your life. It's time for me to start recognizing some of those individual threads. Are you with me? Declare some gratitude today to begin your beautiful masterpiece.

    
446. I am grateful for  being blessed with such an awesome family; thanks for being so cool Super Hubby and Kiddo!
447. I am grateful the blessings of good health have found their way into our lives at the moment.
448. I am grateful we all worked together and kicked it into high gear to clean the house for the priest's home blessing today.
449. I am grateful for my parents' love and constantly giving hearts.
450. I am grateful for the stage in life I am currently enjoying and savoring for all its worth.

Need some help in getting started? Click here to see where I began.