20 Difficult things to do

Things that are difficult that they never tell you (in no particular order):

1. saying goodbye
2. learning new habits
3. being the bigger person
4. keeping your mouth closed/or not commenting
5. walking away
6. changing the saying on the letterboard
7. knowing when the avocado is ready to eat
8. when/how to help or not help
9. self care
10. getting the perfect weather to fly a kite
11. what to do when things don't go your way
12. striking a match from a matchbook
13. learning what truly matters
14. knowing when to let go and when to hang on
15. how much to be involved
16. unclogging the kitchen sink
17. hanging up a picture when the hanger is in the middle of the picture
18. saying I'm sorry
19. loving with no return
20. not buying stuff at Target

When things don't turn out like you thought they would

Life has so many twists and turns.  You are going along just fine, you think your life is on this certain trajectory and then boom... something changes.

And then there's the times that you expect something to turn out a certain way...and it just flat out doesn't.

Expectations can cause some major anxiety and a lot of disappointment.

I live in Eeyore world.  I always see the rainy cloud, the glass half empty blah blah blah.

But I'm married to Tigger.  Thank the Lord.

He can see the positive in almost everything.  Even the bleakest of the bleak, he can pull something positive out.

I remember many many moons ago, he came home unusually early from work and said "I have good news and bad news."  Which would you like first?  Well, me-I want the bad news first.  He said "I lost my job!"  Ok, how you gonna pull some good news out of that one??  Then he said, the good news is we get to go home for Christmas!  He turned a sad situation, into a happy, family time.

Rarely does life go the way you expect it to.  I generally get disappointed at the people around me, including myself.

But it's all in the perspective.

Is my expectation the "right" way.  Maybe it is, but maybe there are other ways.

Sometimes I just gotta go all Elsa and Let it Go! Let it Go!

Do you have a Tigger in your life?  Everyone needs one, or needs to be one for someone else! 

Life's tough.  There's gonna be disappointments.  People won't always be or do the things you'd like.  

I can only change myself.  I can only work on me.

And that's a lot of work!

New Year's Goals

2020.
New year.  New decade.
Now's the time everyone starts making new goals and resolutions.
New beginnings, right?

I am a super goal oriented person.  I like accomplishing things.  I like getting things done.  So you'd think I would love new year's resolutions.  But I really don't. A year just seems like so long to keep something up!  I like smaller, more attainable goals.  Like daily goals.

I walk my 11,000 steps a day.  That's attainable.

I did a read through the Bible plan every year for years..and I'm going to start that back again.

I like small bites as goals.

A little bit every day can make a huge change in your future self.

You can't change others.  But you can change yourself.

I can't change other people's attitudes about me.  But I can change my attitude about myself.

I can't change other people's health habits.  But I can change my health habits.

I can't change how other people spend their time and energy.  But I can change mine.

We are given a short time on Earth.  

This is a new year.  New beginnings.

Looking back this past year

Well, 2019 is almost over.  I can't believe it's going to be 2020!  This past year has had it's good and bad, for sure.  Here's just a few of the happenings:

I lost my uncle and brother in law at the beginning of the year.

But on a happier note, we had 2 grandkids born this year!

We got to take a wonderful trip to Croatia and Slovenia!

I did an actual TRAPEZE swing!

I started doing trapeze yoga with my sister!

Larry and I celebrated 30 years of marital bliss! 

I finished my Invisalign!

We went to New Mexico to visit our son over Thanksgiving!

Lots of fun weekend trips to see our grandbabies, daughter and her family.

Celebrated 5 years at my job!

So many fun concerts, times with friends, games and good times!

Here's to new beginnings!  His Mercies are new every morning!  My word for this past year was relationships.  Although some became distant, others drew closer.

I don't have a word yet for this next year but I would like to continue to work on relationships, and keep my heart and mind serving the King of Kings.  

On to 2020!!

Are you having a holly jolly Christmas?

It's the most wonderful time of the year..right??  Well why is everyone in such a grumpy mood?  Especially parents to their kids?

We were out yesterday doing Christmas-y things.  Seeing the pretty trees and lights and enjoying the season.  I went into a restroom and a mom was yelling at her little girl, then I went out and a mom was yelling at her kids to "not smile that way in the picture".  Geez.

Momma, I know you are frustrated.  You feel like you have to do all the things for the holidays and make it "special" for everyone.  And you are at the end of your rope.  But please don't take it out on your kids.  They have feelings too.

What do you want them to remember at the holidays?  You getting all the things done but being a complete grumpy pants about it?

Enjoy the season!  So what if the cookies don't get made, or the gifts bought or wrapped.

Stop and sing a song, do the Charlie Brown dance, play a game.

Make some positive memories with your kids.

When you start to feel anxious or frustrated.  Stop, breathe, smile, pray.  Let it go.

Christmas will come and go and what will be left.  The paper will all get thrown away, the cookies all eaten. And what will be left?

The memories.

Make some good ones.  Treat others (your kids) the way you'd like to be treated.

Love them. Kids are people too.

After all it is the most wonderful time of the year.

The year was 1989!

The year was 1989!

The Berlin Wall came down,  the USSR got its freedom, Tiananmen Square protests were happening.

But the biggest news of all was Larry met Valerie. 💓💓💓

We dated and got engaged in a  whirlwind.  Our first date was in April, we got engaged in August, and married in November!

Our first date!

Thirty years ago!  THIRTY!!

What a huge milestone in today's world of broken relationships.

It hasn't always been easy.  We've had a lot of ups and downs. Mostly ups- thankfully.

We've moved 15 times, lived in everything from a small house behind a  house to a 3500 square foot 5 bedroom house, and we even lived in a hotel for a few months!

Lived in 4 states.

Can't even count how many cars, jobs we've had. Or houses we've bought and sold.

We raised 3 kids, and now have 3 grandkids!

We've been to almost every state in the US and lots of places around the world.

I can't imagine my life without you.  You've pushed me to be more than I ever thought I could be.  Challenged my comfort zones. Helped me grow in the Lord.  Shown me how to love the downtrodden.  Helped me come out of my introvert shell. Helped me to chill and see the positive side of things.

Marriage is a crazy adventure.  We've grown.  Even flipped personalities at times.  It's the learning to give and take.  When to give, when to take.

Thirty years ago, I was a young, naive girl who had to read the directions on the washing machine in order to know how to wash the clothes!  My how things have changed.

We've learned from each other so many things.  And now we are learning the art of the empty nest.  And the fun times of grandparenthood!

Who knows what the next 30 years will hold, or where we will be.

But I'm glad I'm with you on this crazy adventure.

Love ya.

Happy Birthday Larry!

Fifty five!

Sakes alive!!

How did you survive?

You’ve managed all kinds of breaks and stitches

Surgeries and other glitches

Yet here you are still going strong!

Always happy as the day is long

You’ve been here and there 

and everywhere

You’ve had adventures galore!

And I’m sure there will be more!

You’ve managed a lot in your 55 years

All very successfully with only a few tears

So here’s to many many more!

May we grow old together forevermore !

Have a wonderful Birthday My Larry!!