This may end up being two posts cause I do have to do something today besides 1) read blogs I've missed for the last two weeks, 2) catch up on my blogs, 3) finish my resolutions.
11. 10 Deep Cleansing Breaths. I found it was best to do them in the afternoon when I finished crossing guard duty, but before I picked up my guy from the playground. It helped me to be ready to focus on him. Over the summer it has been hit and miss, but now that we're headed back to school, I am thinking a point in the day when I transition from employee to mom is the best time.
12. Send a card. I sent several as a matter of fact. It just makes people know that you are thinking of them. In this technology world, it is nice to get a quick response to a need via FB or email. But the receiving of a card means you really made an effort.
13. Clean out the Laundry Room. I always find things and clean stuff out I no longer need. It brings me such satisfaction.
14. Do the taxes. I am embarrassed to say these are still not done. The gov't is earning interest on my money. And it is what I am supposed to be doing right now. Instead, I am taking stock of my life. UGH.
15. Be Kind. I find that people are really surprised when you do one of two things: Smile at them and Hold Open the Door. Try it.
16. Work out regularly. The key for me for this was setting a goal. I ran my first 5K this summer. Sometime I'll have to tell that story, but not today. I am working out 2-4 times a week.
17. Ceiling Fans - well, I got Teen Boy to clean them. That counts, right?!
18. In addition to my daily fizz, I've been trying to remember to take my daily vitamin as well. Problem is when I take it in the morning it upsets my tummy. If I pledge to do this again, it is because I'm not taking calcium. Just so you know.
19. Perfect Daily Schedule - So what I discovered is for me there is no such thing. For me and working out, I have to be flexible. I cannot think... oh, didn't make it this morning so it isn't going to happen. I have to think... I'm going now cause I can! However, I have made a list of how I'd like my morning to start off when school starts tomorrow.
20. Love Letter to your Children - I'll own up. I just finished writing them this afternoon. They are very different from each other but I think my boys will like them. It worked out well because they are all starting new chapters in their lives right now.
21. Cleaning Chart - Done. Very satisfying to check stuff off for me.
22. Summer contracts. Here we are and as with last year, we did pretty good.
23. One Life Changing Eating Habit - earlier this year it was one plate. Most nights I still achieve that. This time it was drinking 1/2 my body weight in water. When I don't now, I feel like sh*t.
24. Clean it out - found clothes the LRHB never wore and has now outgrown. Donated some school supplies to our local school as we had 40 students, at just one of our schools, lose their homes in a fire. This is why it is important to clean out. More on that later.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Endings and Beginnings all mixed up
So on Friday I moved Teen Boy to college. I drove home tear free. Perhaps I cried all my tears out the week leading up to him leaving. Perhaps I am still numb and it will all come falling apart at some time yet to be determined. Perhaps there is truth in both of those statements as there is certainly in the former. He's off to be great, to do hard things, to show up and learn and try and be.
Prior to moving him to school on Friday, I started working full-time. I had to juggle being away from LRHB on our last days of summer. Boo. I had to cook wonderful last suppers for Teen Boy. Sigh. I had to get up and get going and manage being an employee. YIKES! And I did. I just showed up. As Glennon would say, "Things are not good, nor bad. Everything is a teacher. Be Curious." That's my new motto, mantra, prayer.
And on Thursday before the Friday, LRHB had his back-to-school social. Third grade. How can that be? Wasn't it just yesterday I was pregnant with him? Third grade is the big leagues. Testing starts here; starts for the school/state, starts for himself and where he's headed. More writing, his least favorite thing. More reading. Let's be honest, the boy would rather have a ball in his hand outside than a book in his hand inside. Third grade.
This time of year there are momma's celebrating... http://momastery.com/blog/2013/08/14/it-gets-better/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=it-gets-better. And I get that. I do. And I celebrate you and wish I could be you in this moment.
Not me so much. I am mourning the passage of time, the end of my favorite season, summer, and the aging of my children. Yes, I will be the first to say this is the job of a mother: Grow them UP and OUT. Motherhood isn't easy. Long nights with teethers and long nights with teens not home yet. But I am so glad the Lord chose me for this job, to love these boys, to grow these boys and send them forward to make their loving mark on the world.
Today I mourn. Tomorrow I will wake and be joyous as our new normal begins. Two grown young men, off at college, working their goals. One young man at home starting third grade with one momma working full-time outside the home for the first time in 19.5 years and one daddy treading carefully not to set the momma off. It is a glorious new beginning and will be celebrated as such. But for today, a little reading, a little blogging, a little snuggling and a little cleaning.
At this moment, I'd like to offer up thanks to Sweet LM. She knew I needed help getting organized and ready and planned a cooking day so I would have one less thing to worry over when I started working. Bless her.
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.Oh, I hope and pray that he steers himself down a path that satisfies his soul.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Prior to moving him to school on Friday, I started working full-time. I had to juggle being away from LRHB on our last days of summer. Boo. I had to cook wonderful last suppers for Teen Boy. Sigh. I had to get up and get going and manage being an employee. YIKES! And I did. I just showed up. As Glennon would say, "Things are not good, nor bad. Everything is a teacher. Be Curious." That's my new motto, mantra, prayer.
And on Thursday before the Friday, LRHB had his back-to-school social. Third grade. How can that be? Wasn't it just yesterday I was pregnant with him? Third grade is the big leagues. Testing starts here; starts for the school/state, starts for himself and where he's headed. More writing, his least favorite thing. More reading. Let's be honest, the boy would rather have a ball in his hand outside than a book in his hand inside. Third grade.
This time of year there are momma's celebrating... http://momastery.com/blog/2013/08/14/it-gets-better/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=it-gets-better. And I get that. I do. And I celebrate you and wish I could be you in this moment.
Not me so much. I am mourning the passage of time, the end of my favorite season, summer, and the aging of my children. Yes, I will be the first to say this is the job of a mother: Grow them UP and OUT. Motherhood isn't easy. Long nights with teethers and long nights with teens not home yet. But I am so glad the Lord chose me for this job, to love these boys, to grow these boys and send them forward to make their loving mark on the world.
Today I mourn. Tomorrow I will wake and be joyous as our new normal begins. Two grown young men, off at college, working their goals. One young man at home starting third grade with one momma working full-time outside the home for the first time in 19.5 years and one daddy treading carefully not to set the momma off. It is a glorious new beginning and will be celebrated as such. But for today, a little reading, a little blogging, a little snuggling and a little cleaning.
At this moment, I'd like to offer up thanks to Sweet LM. She knew I needed help getting organized and ready and planned a cooking day so I would have one less thing to worry over when I started working. Bless her.
6 Weeks, 13 Books & 2 Novellas
Not as many books the second half of the summer. Perhaps because I have already gone back to work. Or perhaps it was a busy vacation. I certainly wasn't sick (thankfully), which gave me extra time to read during the first half of the summer. And with the exception of one of the novellas, they were all rereads. Oh that took me back. I was that kid that reread books every summer. The Cherry Ames series and the Bobsey Twins and Little Women were favorites to which I would return year after year. So I returned to Cedar Cove, a series from Debbie Macomber, and reread each of the stories. I visited with characters that are now coming to life on the Hallmark Channel. I love the books so much that I want the show to be JUST LIKE THE BOOKS. Not really happening, but the show, Cedar Cove, is an enjoyable summer treat.
The lone novella that isn't by Macomber is by Susan Mallery. You may recall that I read her Fools Gold series earlier this year and her newest novella and three books were released this summer. They are up next on my reading list.
Perhaps I will return to the land of reality and choose some books that aren't daytime dramas in print. However, my doc says if an escape from reality is helping me, then go with it!
I LOVE LA!
Oh, I do I do I do!
LRHB and I are "leaving on a jet plane" tomorrow for "I love LA". (Can you tell I was at Karaoke night last night?)
This is step one in our "It will be alright when another brother leaves for college" campaign. He will have his grandparents all to himself (with me) and they have planned non-stop fun for him. We're going to prove that his life will have more fun when not traipsing around to brothers' activities!
FAST FORWARD THREE WEEKS
We had a wonderful trip to Los Angeles. Disney's California Grand Adventure was a grand adventure. The Color of Light show was absolutely phenomenal! We used the advice of mom's all-thing-Disney-expert neighbors and rode favorite rides easily and multiple times. Lunches with Mom & Dad's friends made up plans on more than one day and were super fun! Legoland and the Legoland Water Park was another day's fun outing. That mini-land is SO AMAZING! And who doesn't love a lazy river! Spent the night with my high school BFF and her lovely family. Fabulous frisbee playing, delicious dinner, fun outing to the San Diego Zoo, yummy ice cream, fantastic breakfast and way not enough time. Throw in trips to the pool, reading, watching Little League championships, and the beach and we had such a great time. Sigh. Reality, I'm back.
LRHB and I are "leaving on a jet plane" tomorrow for "I love LA". (Can you tell I was at Karaoke night last night?)
This is step one in our "It will be alright when another brother leaves for college" campaign. He will have his grandparents all to himself (with me) and they have planned non-stop fun for him. We're going to prove that his life will have more fun when not traipsing around to brothers' activities!
FAST FORWARD THREE WEEKS
We had a wonderful trip to Los Angeles. Disney's California Grand Adventure was a grand adventure. The Color of Light show was absolutely phenomenal! We used the advice of mom's all-thing-Disney-expert neighbors and rode favorite rides easily and multiple times. Lunches with Mom & Dad's friends made up plans on more than one day and were super fun! Legoland and the Legoland Water Park was another day's fun outing. That mini-land is SO AMAZING! And who doesn't love a lazy river! Spent the night with my high school BFF and her lovely family. Fabulous frisbee playing, delicious dinner, fun outing to the San Diego Zoo, yummy ice cream, fantastic breakfast and way not enough time. Throw in trips to the pool, reading, watching Little League championships, and the beach and we had such a great time. Sigh. Reality, I'm back.
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