Right before Christmas I got my present. My present to me, from me. It was an iPhone. My sister got one a while ago, Shelby got one for her birthday when her phone contract was up, and it was finally my turn. Let me start by saying that I have no idea how I’ve lived so long without one.
And blah, blah, blah, I can’t stop playing Words with Friends. It’s Scrabble with my family, and I love it. However, bloggers block is killing me, seriously. This phone is the coolest thing ever, but I don’t have the words.
I do have one story: the other day on the way to school there was a really bad accident and there’s only one way I know of to get there. So I got off the highway, put in the name of my school and voila, a new route and I arrived on time. Pre-iPhone I probably would have turned around in the face of that “adversity”. But now I have no excuses!
I’ve got to go though because I’ve got Scrabble to play!
Update: I was laying (lying?) in bed last night reading my free book on the Kindle app and realized the entire point I wanted to blog. I could have gone to my WordPress app and updated it, but I was too busy reading. I can’t afford a Kindle and didn’t even really think I wanted one because I don’t have a lot of time to read, there’s just something about holding a book and snuggling in a chair to read, and I don’t generally buy books, I go to the library; however, the app was free as a lot of apps are. What I didn’t know is that there are also free books to download. That was really exciting and I downloaded and read my first one called Vanish, which turned out to be a Christian book that I really liked.
I also really liked that I always had it with me because it was right there on my phone. I was getting my oil changed and just broke out my phone to read my book, I was getting two new tires…..you get the point. Then I went back to Amazon and sorted the best sellers priced low to high and started downloading free books that looked interesting. I’ve gone back and looked at a few of the books that I got for free and now you have to pay for them, so I guess it depends on when you get them. I look back over them periodically to see if there are new ones, but I’ve already got 5 more that I’ve downloaded. A lot of the ones that are free are the classics: Treasure Island, The Scarlet Letter, Little Women, Sherlock Holmes; but there are some fairly new ones that are free or discounted.
I know the commercial says, “there’s an app for that”, but there really is an app for everything. And for me, besides Words with Friends (there really should be a support group), Kindle is by far my favorite so far.
Yes, I have bloggers block. Not only bloggers block but I’m taking a short swim in Lake Depression. It’s actually closer to Depression Pond, and I’m more like just dipping my feet in, but I’ve been feeling kind of out of sorts.
January is usually hard for me. Maybe it’s the after-holiday lull. It’s always a little tight financially, and everyone’s just back to the grind of school, work, and the humdrum of everyday life. Not that I’m complaining. My life isn’t humdrum, but it certainly is a grind.
It’s also been so cold that I haven’t been working out as much. There’s a direct correlation between my mood and if I’ve exercised or not, but it’s still so hard to get motivated to do it.
I promise I’ll be in a better mood tomorrow when I blog about how much I love my new iPhone. Merry Christmas to me!!
Woo hoo! A whole new year! A new beginning! A fresh start! I’m jazzed! That’s a lot of exclamation points!!!!
So what’s your motto? What’s a motto wit’ you? My motto in ‘09 was “It’s all fine in ‘09″, and it was. If I had a motto starting this year, it would be “Thin in ‘10″, “Begin Again in ‘10″, or “Do it again in ‘10″. Maybe I’ll have it figured out by ‘11.
I got home from spending the last week of the year in Oklahoma with my mom and it was great. My girls have such a good time there and it’s very sad when it comes time to leave their grandma and grandpa. It’s always nice to be home though.
And in case you’re keeping up with my blogs (ha!) or read the last one, apparently we’ve suspended Road Trip Lip Synch because no one can come up with a song. We’re all still thinking about it though. Leave a comment if you can think of a fun one.
I got my Christmas tree taken down and fleeced out some ornaments that I didn’t remember having any special meaning. I also got a new tree in an after Christmas sale so I threw out the old one. I can’t wait to put the new one up next year. Kasey said it would be really cool to put it up and see what it looks like and take it right back down. I’m too tired for all that. We’ll have to wait until next year. Besides, it probably won’t fit back in the box.
Divorce sucks. It sucks during the holidays, it sucks every other weekend when the kids spend the night away, it sucks on Christmas Eve when you have to put out all the presents yourself, and on Christmas Day when they go spend it with their “other” family. Sucks, sucks, sucks. I had to go to something with the monkey this week and he told me the worst decision he ever made was leaving me. Yes, yes, it was. But we all move forward.
This year is going to be great. I’m more focused on school. I’m still focused on getting healthy. And I’m going to try and run/walk/crawl a half marathon. I’d also like to do the sprint-triathlon again and be even more prepared for the swim.
As for the obligatory resolutions that no one keeps. I’ve got nothing. Actually, I’d like to work out more, I’d like to be more disciplined, and I’d like to finish my bible in a year this year. I’m on the third year of trying and now I have the kids involved so I have to finish. Even Lindsey got a Kids Bible in a Year so we’re all accountable.
So what have you got? Any resolutions for you that you haven’t broken by the 2nd week of the year?
My motto of “It’s All Fine in ‘09″ worked out pretty well. *knock wood*
The really great thing about keeping a blog is that you have your whole year right there for you to reference.
In March, we took a road trip and continued our Road Trip Lip Synch tradition. Look for a new one next week to the Black Eyed Peas’ I’ve Got a Feeling. Try and control your enthusiasm. There were also some other interesting posts in March about my SHM, and my roots and wings. I use the word “interesting” very loosely.
In May, I did a 10k in an hour and 45 minutes and it didn’t take me three days to recover like it did the previous time I did it. Also, who could forget my cruise in May that I finally got to go on and was tired of talking about, as I’m sure you were tired of hearing about it?
How could you EVER forget when the monkey moved one street over? I wish I could.
In July, I told you what’s on my DVR and I’ve added to it a little. I now have both Elizabeth I and II and I’m hoping to have an Elizabeth marathon one weekend. I also painted my living room and kitchen while my girls were gone for the summer.
In August, I ran a sprint triathlon. Maybe not “RAN”, but I finished and didn’t drown. That was my fear, I was afraid I was going to drown. Here’s my recap about that time in the year. And I gave you an update that had several blogs in one.
In September, I told you a story that was very personal and probably more information than you ever cared to know about me.
I also recapped a lot of Grey’s Anatomy, but you can find those yourself.
Anyway, you can take a few days and go back through my 116 blogs from this year, or you can trust me that I’ve had a good year and start fresh with 2010, it’s your choice.
I’m leaving this year feeling better than I did in 2008. God continues to provide for us financially and we have a roof over our head, food on our table, and a cow in our deep freeze (thanks, Mom!). What more could we ask for?
As we start the next decade, I pray that everyone continues to stay healthy and that I have the discipline to finish school.
I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
This year we’ve gone pretty unscathed with holiday mishaps.
I did lose a $15 Starbucks gift card (that could have been yours!) and I lost a book of stamps somewhere between the post office and my house. How does that happen? Where do you think that stuff goes? I either have a black hole in my house caused by red matter from Star Trek, or a mouse that’s collecting things like they had in Cheaper by the Dozen 2. And yes, almost all my references are movie related.
Do you know how I long to be organized? Do you know how much I love using the word “long” as a verb? I like it a lot. Like in the movie…..just kidding, I don’t have a movie reference for that. So anyway, I would love to be organized. I would love to just shred every single thing after I read it. I would love for my rolltop desk to be cleaned off and everything filed in its appropriate place. I used to think I needed to be on one of those organizing shows, and then I watched one. I felt a little better about my office. Then I watched Hoarders and had a whole new appreciation for my clutter, or lack of clutter compared to that show.
My grandpa was a hoarder. My dad would have been a hoarder if my step-mom didn’t put a stop to it right quick. I’m far from being a hoarder, but I definitely could be more organized. Maybe that will be a resolution, but that’s for another blog.
All of that behind me, and Christmas cookies cooling, I will say Merry Christmas Eve to you!
Last year when I finished my Christmas shopping, it was a month early and I had no one to share it with. This year I finished my Christmas shopping only three days before and I went with Heather. I have a few things that I’m waiting for to arrive, but I don’t have to go to another store.
Every year I have a standing rule that I don’t go to the store on Christmas Eve. It’s just my own preference because I feel like there are enough people there on Christmas Eve, they don’t need me there. Mostly, I don’t have the patience for it. And besides that, I’m usually just trying to get to church on time, I don’t have time to be waiting in a line for something I should have already gotten.
So, I’m done with my shopping and that includes stocking stuffers. Also, including the groceries for the things I’m taking to Cindi’s on Christmas Eve. I can’t wait! I’m on it this year.
I was working with a list, but I’ll probably realize I’ve forgotten a million things. For now, however, I’m working on the assumption that I’m done. Now I just need to go sort and wrap.
We started going to church about four years ago. I was looking for a church for my family and my cousin Cindi was so nice to go church shopping with us. After the first church of “blue-hairs” (Cindi’s words, not mine), I went with her to the church by her house and loved it. It was a change for us, and Lindsey cried every week except the one week a month that Cindi worked in the kindergarten. I knew we’d turned a corner when she cried because we didn’t go.
Shortly after, Cindi gave me a CD of Christian music and it had I Can Only Imagine. I’m embarrassed to say I think it was my first time to hear it. I explained to the girls what it’s about, and we had a great conversation about what we would do when we found ourselves in front of Jesus. I’m sure I don’t have to explain to you why it’s such a great song.
One day we were on our way home from church and we were listening to I Can Only Imagine and I said I wanted that song played at my funeral. (I know I’m not original) So here’s the exchange that followed:
Me: I want this to be my funeral song. long pause……. Shelby: Can I sing it? um…… Me: Won’t you be too sad to sing at my funeral? short pause.. Shelby: No, I don’t think so. Kasey: Can I play the drums? Lindsey: Can I play piano? long pause…… Me: This is my funeral, not American Idol. And now you guys have a band?
Then my dad died, and guess who had a video montage to I Can Only Imagine? I don’t have to guess because I made it, and I heard that song probably a hundred times. At first I had to turn it down and just watch the pictures go, but I’ll never forget sitting in an empty church with my sister as they played the full montage on the big screen. It was a “dress rehearsal” because we’d heard a horror story about someone’s slide show that didn’t play the music. Afterwards people came up and said it was the best memorial service ever, which made me wonder what the other ones were like. I’m sure if Sherri and I wanted to move to Arizona we could have gone into the funeral video-making business right there on the spot in Goodyear. Thanks, but no thanks.
My dad lived in Colorado for over 20 years so on his birthday we had another memorial service for him in Colorado. My girls were in Michigan with my mom when he passed, but they were able to go to the second service. They each got up and said something, it was both the sweetest and most heart-wrenching thing I’ve ever experienced. Lindsey broke down halfway through and started crying. Afterwards Shelby said she wasn’t singing at my funeral anymore. Kasey said, “I’ll do it.”, and Lindsey said, “Can I still play the piano?”. I love those kids.
When we hear it on the radio, I’ve finally gotten to where I don’t start crying on the first three notes, but Shelby turns it every time and Lindsey goes to another room when they sing it at Sunday school. We have the same problem with Chris Tomlin’s Amazing Grace. Yeah, we had two musical montages because we’re ambitious like that. We actually had three because we had a montage of pictures he took for when people came into the church and afterwards during the lunch. Don’t be a hater.
Here are the videos. The name and dates have been removed to prevent the identity theft. Also, my advice for you when planning your funeral is to make your montage before you go. It’s so much easier on your family.
Have you ever just been driving along, feeling kind of down, and a song comes on the radio that really touches your heart? I’m very eclectic when it comes to music in that I like a lot of different kinds, which is the definition of eclectic. If you were to steal my iPod (I hope you don’t), you wouldn’t be able to tell my favorite music. You might be thrown by how much Toby Keith I have on there, but it’s an Oklahoma thing.
I was on my way to school one day and a new song came on KLOVE and it made me stop in my tracks. Not stop on the highway, but metaphorically stop in my tracks. It’s by Sanctus Real and it doesn’t even come out until like March, but there it was on the radio just for me (and the millions of other people who listen). Okay, so it may not have been just for me, but it was exactly what I needed to hear. Just read the last two lines: When I don’t measure up to much in this life, Oh, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ. This song is my anthem. This is the song that should play when I win my blogging award (Huh?). I really can’t build it up enough.
Here’s the video of them singing it live; and if you can’t watch it, the lyrics are listed underneath. Or you can click here to hear the audio. It may not be what you needed to hear today, but it’s sure what I need to hear every day. Seriously, you cannot NOT love this song, which is a double negative way of saying I hope you love it. And not for nothing, but the lead singer is pretty cute too.
Well the past is playing with my head
And failure knocks me down again
I’m reminded of the wrong
That I have said and done
And that devil just wont let me forget
In this life
I know what I’ve been
But here in your arms
I know what I am
I’m forgiven
I’m forgiven
And I don’t have to carry
The weight of who I’ve been
Cause I’m forgiven
My mistakes are running through my mind
And I’ll relive my days, in the middle of the night
And I struggle with my pain, wrestle with my pride
Sometimes I feel alone, and I cry
In this life
I know what I’ve been
But here in your arms
I know what I am
I’m forgiven
I’m forgiven
And I don’t have to carry
The weight of who I’ve been
Cause I’m forgiven
When I don’t fit in and I don’t feel like I belong anywhere
When I don’t measure up to much in this life
Oh, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ ‘Cause
I’m forgiven
I’m forgiven
And I don’t have to carry
The weight of who I’ve been
Cause I’m forgiven
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. With the kids jingle belling and everyone telling you be of good cheer…..wait, my kids don’t jingle bell. There’s absolutely no jingle belling at my house. What does that even mean?
The teen years are brutal at our house, and I only have one of them so far. Can you imagine what my house is going to be like when I have three teenagers? You might want to stay away if the first one is any indication of what life is going to be like.
So we put up our tree two weeks ago, but hadn’t had time to decorate so we ended up doing it this weekend. I had a gift card to Starbucks so I told them if there was absolutely no fighting bickering then I’d get them Starbucks afterward. SUCCESS!! And on to Starbucks we went. I ordered an eggnog frappuccino, and it was seriously the best thing I’ve ever had there. It was a special order and let’s just say I’m glad they don’t have eggnog drinks all year or I’d be in trouble.
the girls actually getting along
Then Sunday came and it was time to get our Christmas shopping done. At least the part that has to be mailed this week. Shelby isn’t a fan of shopping. I’m actually not a fan of shopping. I didn’t get the workaholic gene like my sister did, and I didn’t get the shopaholic gene like my dad had. Shelby especially doesn’t like shopping if it’s not for her. Then the problem is that she’s unbearable when she’s unhappy. Annoyingly unbearable. What made me mad is that part of the shopping was for her gift exchange at school, you’d think she’d be in a better mood.
My problem in the past (read Friday night) is that I have really high expectations. I have great ideas for my family. For instance, Lindsey had a birthday party on Friday night at the Color me Mine in Southlands. So I came home and got Kasey and Shelby to take them to Paradise Cafe for hot chocolate and cookies. On they way there they started fighting. It involved someone interrupting someone and Shelby completely shut down and refused to speak. Then when we got there, she walked 6 feet behind us with her arms crossed. Also, things obviously weren’t going my way because Paradise closed early that night so there was no hot cocoa or cookie. This was no Norman Rockwell night for me.
So today for shopping, my expectations were incredibly low. I was prepared for a Shelby mood, and therefore, she didn’t completely ruin our day. I know my family days are numbered and that terrifies me. I want to keep them as long as I can because I know at some point, Shelby won’t just be snotty on family outings, she won’t want to go at all. And that makes me so sad that the time is coming for that.
I want to keep my family together, happy, and getting along for as long as possible. So sue me.
It’s December 10th. I know when you read this it will actually be December 11th, but 16 years ago on December 10th I got married. Why oh why did I ever do that? Oh, I remember it was to go on and have three great girls. I was only 22, so young, too young in my opinion. The day went by with no fanfare, which is right. The anniversary to “celebrate”, if you will, is April 8th when my divorce was final. There’s really no celebration on either front though, just another day.
My daughter started a food fight today. A food fight. A food fight? Um…yeah. Her teacher was handing out letters when I went to pick her up. Had she won some sort of award? But I could tell by the look on Kasey’s face that it was no award. We have to rush on Thursdays so I told her to tell me in the car. As I’m opening the letter, she asked if she could explain. The first sentence I saw on the letter was “Kasey started a food fight at lunch today”, and I gasped so loud I think all the oxygen was sucked out of the car. All I could think about was the food fights you see in movies where the food is just flying. I started looking for mashed potatoes in her hair.
My first reaction was to laugh, but I caught myself and I didn’t. Not that there was anything funny about her getting in trouble, but I just couldn’t help thinking how ridiculous it was that my daughter started a food fight. So she explained that she was being silly and threw a raisin that landed on the boys’ table, and they threw something back, and then the girls threw something else, etc. It went on a very short time and Kasey only threw the first thing, but she did in fact start it.
This was the first time she’s ever gotten in trouble like that where they had to notify me. She was destroyed. She was so upset, she was crying. However, not only did the letter say she’d started the food fight, they said she was disrespectful to a staff member and she didn’t go where they told her to so they said she was hiding to avoid punishment. Hiding? Really? Where’s she going to go? That’s what I thought, but what I said was how disappointed I was in her and that she had better not ever get in trouble like that again. She’s grounded, she had to write an apology letter to the principal, and she has to do extra homework every night. Plus she has to work in the cafeteria during her recess until Christmas break.
Some days my house is actually boring. Today was not one of those days. Nothing like a good old-fashioned food fight to keep things interesting. Anyone want to come over for dinner?
