Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Back to Reality
After spending an amazing week in the warm sunny (ok, it was downright hot) Florida weather, I'm now once again back to reality in Colorado. The kids and I did Christmas on the 29th and today is our 'down' day before celebrating my son's birthday tomorrow with family. Then it's a whirlwind of friends over the weekend until school starts again on the 5th. I can't believe how quickly it's gone already. I've been in my new house officially for a year now and I'm so thankful that I have fewer and fewer sad milestones to pass by. From now on, the memories of 'what I was doing at this time last year' will be happier ones. *deeply contented sigh*
Thursday, December 18, 2008
48 of 99
So, I don't have a lot to talk about right now. Life is good. I'm plugging along getting things finished up for the semester at school and looking forward to some relaxation over the holidays. Here's some thoughts to ponder. Read through the list and see how many you've done!
1. Started your own blog (um.. you're here aren't you?)
2. Slept under the stars (technically we all sleep under the stars.. but I've done it without anything between me and the stars before).
3. Played in a band MS band (clarinet and trumpet) High School Jazz Band (keyboards) and Chuch Worship Band (keyboards/vocals)
4. Visited Hawaii May 2007
5. Watched a meteor shower with my children on the roof.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo I used to sing in church all the time.
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning. I'm pretty sure I have
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch-hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill I have when my kids are sick. Someone has to stay home and make sure they're ok. :)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset both in the same day.
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied and wasn't satisfied anyway, because money isn't the key to satisfaction or happiness.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business I did all the paperwork and worked for my ex so I guess I 'started' it with him.
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma I donated for preemies when I lived in Co Spgs. I feel guilty if I don't since I'm a universal donor.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check ugh.. yeah. But not in over a year.
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
85. Read the entire Bible in a year.
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating fish count right?
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby Three of the most beautiful ones in the world!
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
If you want to play, leave me a comment so I know to come read yours. Cut and paste, bold the ones you've done. Additional anecdotal comments are optional.
1. Started your own blog (um.. you're here aren't you?)
2. Slept under the stars (technically we all sleep under the stars.. but I've done it without anything between me and the stars before).
3. Played in a band MS band (clarinet and trumpet) High School Jazz Band (keyboards) and Chuch Worship Band (keyboards/vocals)
4. Visited Hawaii May 2007
5. Watched a meteor shower with my children on the roof.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo I used to sing in church all the time.
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning. I'm pretty sure I have
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch-hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill I have when my kids are sick. Someone has to stay home and make sure they're ok. :)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset both in the same day.
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied and wasn't satisfied anyway, because money isn't the key to satisfaction or happiness.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business I did all the paperwork and worked for my ex so I guess I 'started' it with him.
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma I donated for preemies when I lived in Co Spgs. I feel guilty if I don't since I'm a universal donor.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check ugh.. yeah. But not in over a year.
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
85. Read the entire Bible in a year.
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating fish count right?
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby Three of the most beautiful ones in the world!
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
If you want to play, leave me a comment so I know to come read yours. Cut and paste, bold the ones you've done. Additional anecdotal comments are optional.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Avoidance
1. I'm avoiding grading accounting finals. But, the sooner they're done the sooner I can get on with Christmas break.
2. I'm trying to avoid being sick over Christmas break and went to the Dr. today. He gave me a sinus irrigation system. I'm also avoiding using that, but know I will have to bite the bullet soon.
3. Today I was faced with the choice of avoiding my ex-husband (who was at my school for a training session) or making him feel welcome. I said hi and chatted with him for a few minutes. I'm glad I did.
Moral of the story? Stop avoiding the things that seem unpleasant and just go do it already. You'll be proud of yourself once you do.
2. I'm trying to avoid being sick over Christmas break and went to the Dr. today. He gave me a sinus irrigation system. I'm also avoiding using that, but know I will have to bite the bullet soon.
3. Today I was faced with the choice of avoiding my ex-husband (who was at my school for a training session) or making him feel welcome. I said hi and chatted with him for a few minutes. I'm glad I did.
Moral of the story? Stop avoiding the things that seem unpleasant and just go do it already. You'll be proud of yourself once you do.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Traditions
So, this being the first year I've had my kids that I don't have to bow to the traditions of spouses, parents, etc.. I would like to try something new.. but I'm not sure what. Any suggestions? What are YOUR favorite Christmas traditions (or New Years Eve, because I'll actually have them New Years Eve, but not Christmas Eve or Christmas Day this year).
Also.. does the DAY really matter?? We won't celebrate "Christmas" this year together until Dec 29th. That's when I get them for my time during break. I won't have them the night before, so won't be able to do Christmas "Eve" type things with them (new pj's etc).. but I'd still like suggestions.. memories.. wishes?
Also.. does the DAY really matter?? We won't celebrate "Christmas" this year together until Dec 29th. That's when I get them for my time during break. I won't have them the night before, so won't be able to do Christmas "Eve" type things with them (new pj's etc).. but I'd still like suggestions.. memories.. wishes?
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
525,600 minutes
How do you measure a year?
Today, it has been one year since "M" (second husband) set forth the final ultimatum and the decision to divorce was made. As I sat at the Christmas concert last night for my youngest, and the 4-6 grade choir sang this song, I thought, wow.. what a year it's been. So much has happened. I looked around the auditorium and saw the faces of people who were strangers a year ago, who are now friends. As my older two children sat behind me with their Dad, I thanked God that not only have I been there for all their 'stuff' (I'll attend their band concert tonight) but that some measure of healing has happened between their dad, "S", (my first husband) and me.
As the song goes on to say, "measure in love... seasons of love". This past year has been a season of learning to love myself, getting to know myself again, and being content with who I am. This is a different kind of love than I've ever experienced, and if going through all that has happened in the past 9+ years is what needed to happen to bring me here, then I'm glad for all the years where there wasn't that love. It makes what I have now that much more amazing.
This year, the season of hope, peace, joy, grace and love is more real to me than it's ever been. As I look forward to spending time this Christmas with my children, my extended family, and with those I love, God's presence is very near. I hope that for everyone I know, they will find a measure of that hope, peace, joy, grace and love for themselves. It's been a good way to measure a year.
Today, it has been one year since "M" (second husband) set forth the final ultimatum and the decision to divorce was made. As I sat at the Christmas concert last night for my youngest, and the 4-6 grade choir sang this song, I thought, wow.. what a year it's been. So much has happened. I looked around the auditorium and saw the faces of people who were strangers a year ago, who are now friends. As my older two children sat behind me with their Dad, I thanked God that not only have I been there for all their 'stuff' (I'll attend their band concert tonight) but that some measure of healing has happened between their dad, "S", (my first husband) and me.
As the song goes on to say, "measure in love... seasons of love". This past year has been a season of learning to love myself, getting to know myself again, and being content with who I am. This is a different kind of love than I've ever experienced, and if going through all that has happened in the past 9+ years is what needed to happen to bring me here, then I'm glad for all the years where there wasn't that love. It makes what I have now that much more amazing.
This year, the season of hope, peace, joy, grace and love is more real to me than it's ever been. As I look forward to spending time this Christmas with my children, my extended family, and with those I love, God's presence is very near. I hope that for everyone I know, they will find a measure of that hope, peace, joy, grace and love for themselves. It's been a good way to measure a year.
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