I have been blessed

Blessed by Martina McBride was just on the radio and was a good reminder to me to be thankful for all I have been given.

In a week when things have been a bit tumultuous, I must remember that I have been blessed. I think the Lord for a husband who loves me, a healthy little boy who embodies his parents' personalities, wonderful friends, and an extended family that would do ANYTHING for me!

Here's to a positive outlook on the weekend.

I had to post the lyrics and remind myself that I really do have so much to be thankful for.

Blessed - Martina McBride
I get kissed by the sun Each morning
Put my feet on a hardwood floor
I get to hear my children laughing
Down the hall through the Bedroom door
Sometimes I sit on my Front porch swing
Just soaking up the day
I think to myself, I think to myself
This world is a beautiful place
Chorus: I have been blessed
And I feel like I've found my way
I thank God for all I've been given
At the end of every day
I have been blessed With so much more than I deserve
To be here with the ones That love me
To love them so much it hurts
I have been blessed

Across a crowded room
I know you know what I'm thinking
By the way I look at you
And when we're lying in the quiet
And no words have to be said
I think to myself, I think to myself
This love is a beautiful gift

Repeat Chorus

When I'm singing my kids to sleep
When I feel you holding me I know
Repeat Chorus

Exhaustion

After the past week's events, I have definitely reached a point of exhaustion. I rested for about 2 hours this afternoon, but never was able to sleep. I find my mind still realing with thoughts about my grandmother, how I want to move forward from here, and other life issues.

The services were beautiful and very emotional. My family actually filled an entire side of our small country church. 5 children, 5 spouses, 17 grandchildren, 11 grand-spouses, and 25 great-grandchildren will do that! What an incredible legacy she created!

Tomorrow is a new week and at one point I told myself that it was time to move on. However, I've since decided that is NOT what I want to do. I don't want to move on and get back to regular life. I want to cherish my grandmother, the impact she made on my life, the hobbies, interests and faith in God that she embodied. I plan to do this in a variety of ways, hopefully, for the rest of my life. I may even be convinced to buy JT that pasta maker attachment for his mixer, just to celebrate my grandmother for years to come!

So here's to a new week and a new celebration of life!

True love

Perhaps I've witnessed the most amazing aspect of love on this Valentine's Day. It is everlasting!! This afternoon I received the sad news that my grandmother passed away. A short time later I realized that this would have been my Grandma and Grandpa's 70th wedding anniversary. My grandfather passed about 6 years ago.

I am trying to be comforted by knowing that they are reunited in the most amazing place imaginable. It is my hope that he was there with the Lord to welcome her home.

I'm also trying to remember that it is God's love that has taken her to a wonderful place where she will live forever in his glory! Now that's true, unconditional love!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Stinky changes

As I wrote that title, I reflected on how my day began. I opened Jeremiah's bedroom to have him declare, "I pooped, AGAIN!" Luckily, I can handle those changes. However, when it comes to the general changes in life I can say, "I stink at changes".

This is nothing new! Normally, I'm very excited for the changes when they initially present themselves. I'm talking about the types of changes you can anticipate - like going off to college, changing jobs, having a baby - not deaths, loss of job, etc. It's after that initial excitement flows away and I reflect on all the ripples that the change will have in my little pond that I start to freak out! I don't consider myself that much of a creature of habit, but, apparently I am. Granted, most of these changes are managable and turn out to be in my and our family's best interest, but I can certainly create a great deal of worry for myself in the meantime.

What to wear

I think I need a personal shopper or a chance to be on What Not to Wear. I've found myself rummaging through so many clothes in my closet and either having a hard time "finding" anything or feeling like I'm wearing the same outfits to work that I've been wearing since I started my career (or before). I think it may be time for me to step up my wardrobe with a bit more maturity too.


I would really like to be adventurous enough and have enough clue about what I'm doing that I could pick pieces and patterns that could be used for multiple outfits. Instead, I feel like my options become buying whole outfits or buying solid colors. I usually succumb to buying solid colors and feeling safe that they can be comingled with things I already have.


Apparently those years of clothing projects and building clothes inventory sheets for 4-H were lost on me.


Would anyone like to help me shop?

Life is happening

While I was walking on my lunch hour on Tuesday, I was contemplating so many things on my mind and how they would make great blog fodder. Since then, life has just happened, and I can't even remember what they were so you get a boring update of what's been shaking here. It's been a pretty standard week of work, school, life with a 2 year old, and trying to remember to spend time engaging with my husband during the few hours a night we have to ourselves.

So now you know that I am trying to be good about getting in a little physical activity during my lunch hour. I walked on the track on Tuesday and then realized how much friendlier the campus rec facility has become now that the facility across campus is renovated and open again. I can actually get a machine on my lunch hour so I walked on the treadmill yesterday and had to stretch before I went to bed last night. I was really proud of myself for doing it, but disappointed in how far I had let myself go.

Work is getting out of my control and that DRIVES ME CRAZY and makes me a-not-so-pleasant person to live with. I strive on stress but I also melt underneath it! I've decided to commit myself to a top 5 list daily. I did this last fall when I had so much on my plate. Now, the situation is a bit different, with the need to figure out where to start and focus each day. In the fall, I was simply overwhelmed by the shear amount of things on my plate. I'm hoping I can feel accomplishment and control by checking off the 5 things rather than concentrating on the other 50-60 that I haven't touched that day.

We're looking forward to a quiet weekend here. We had a great gathering of friends for the Super Bowl last weekend. This weekend will likely focus on homework, housework and an attempt to relax as a family.

Thank you to all of those that have been saying prayers for many of the people in my life!