Journey2Learn

My To-Do List

Very High on my To-Do list is to write a new blog post. I have several ideas that I have jotted down...but they all need (deep) thinking....

So figured in the meantime...could make my to-do list a blog post...(I was just going to write so that if I lose my list I would have it here and realized I can't find my list)  Hang on a moment while I go search....found it on my husband's desk!

• pay bills (always fun)
• balance checkbook (equally as fun) 
• figure out what games I have on back-order at Thought Hammer 
• book the kennel for the dog (husband did it) 
• figure out why my iPhone won't sync apps properly and reload them 
• work on chapter one of my dissertation (that can wait, right?)
• write a new article for the homeschool channel on Blissfully Domestic (they are looking for more contributers--check it out) 
• figure out what ning groups I signed up for. (Spend all my time at Twittermoms and don't get around to many of the other ones.) 
• sign DH up for a SCUBA trip for when we go on vacation 
• sign DS up for winter camp at his summer camp 
• some budget work for my real job 
• figure out what digital scrapbook supplies I lost when my hard-drive crashed and actually try to make a page 
• design a banner for the football coach (been head coach for 25 years and last game is Friday). 
• figure out what other web address I own and hosts and what I want to do with them 
• create something with the fabric I bought 
• finish my scrabble tile project 
• figure out where to by silver to make that stamping kind of jewelry 
• cancel my subscription to the Biggest Loser before I get charged again 
• check out the blogs I like to read and leave comments 
• find some fun things to stumble. 
• figure out my flickr account  
• post new swaps at my homeschool yahoo swap group 
• figure out what cub scout pin thing to work on in our homeschool   
• write a new post or two for this blog 
• find a new twitter picture  
• get disciplined and restart my four-week challenge that I stopped doing after four-days 

Ok...that is a good start on my to-do list....GOAL: complete at least half by Sunday...

Dear Son...

Dear Kid Saturdays at Cutest Kid Ever

Was about to go to bed when @cutestkidever posted a tweet about this blog meme...Had to write it tonight!

Dear Son,

I cannot believe you turned 10 today!! I so remember those pregnant days and when you were brand new, and so many people giving the "he'll-grow-so-fast" advise...I think I got sick of hearing it. I should have listened. YOU DID. Moon Boy, you have grown so fast! And now are officially a 'double-digit-midget.'

I am so lucky God gave you to me. You have such a fun sense of humor. And I wish I was as creative as you. The designs you draw and the legos you create are just so COOL.

I also love your tenacity. You never give up. It is so cool to watch. I know God has amazing things planned for your future.

My Moon Boy, I love you so much...and just am hoping time will slow down for the next ten years!

~your Mom

Encouragers

Had to blog about this inspiring post by Shauna over at her blog Be Inspired.  She has this great post entitled Cheerleader For The Soul that talks about how we all need people in our lives that encourage us to be the best we can be and to try to stay away from discouraging kinds of people.

So NEEDED to read that post this morning. Trying to figure out what to post about today...and was another crying kind of day...and so know that anyone who is reading this does not want to read about my life dramas...Have this person (who has to be in my life) but is so emotionally draining...

I know I need to keep my life in PERSPECTIVE and to not let the draining force has more control than the encouraging people I am around...

So TODAY...am giving a shout-out to those people in my life who are my CHEERLEADERS!

1. DH (Dear Husband--if you are reading and not the other DH names we have been talking about--LOL).
2. My Children--It is great to be 'the best mom in the whole wide world!'
3. Alums--you remind me why I get up each day :-)
4. Friends--like the one I am meeting to commiserate with at Starbucks today--so nice to know I am not "in it alone"...

And last but definitely NOT least...
5. All of my bloggy friends (and especially 2TooManyHats)--Thanks for the Twitter and Comment-Love. I know you understand how much it is appreciated...and I just hope I do a half-way decent job being able to 'give-the-love' in return.

Bottom-line: Listen to the encouragers....and as for as the discouragers...sometimes they do have a bit of "constructive criticism" that is worth hearing but for the most part, ignore them!

5 Things I am Grateful for Today

Have you been over to the Gratitude Circle? Deanna is a Twitter friend I follow. She has very beautiful jewelry she has designed on her website. She also offers the opportunity to sign up (for free) for a "Practice of Gratitude" eCourse. Each day for five days, she offers tips on how to be grateful for the things in our lives. 

Challenge #1 is to (daily) write down five things you are grateful for...I am writing my list for today here:

1. My parents (even though I am still scared to show my mom my new tattoo). I have incredible parents with a great heart. Although we do not see eye to eye on everything, they certainly have challenged me to become the person I am today, the mom I am today. (and who can't be grateful for them when they are willing to take the grandkids on a five-day Canada trip?)

2. My job. It is so challenging. And some days, I think I just won't make it through another day. (Yesterday was one of 'those' days)...but the opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child is such a profound privilege. And the ability to do it in the very place I do, is an incredible honor.

3. My husband. (Yesterday was one of 'those' days with him, too--he left me home alone when I was feeling challenged caring for all these boys) BUT I am so proud of him and his commitment to the local fire department. And who cannot be grateful to the guy who is cooking French toast for a household 15 while I sit here and type this blog post?

4. Late starts. School for the boys is on a one hour delay today. OHH....how I adore late starts? Life (at least in my world) should never start before 6am!!

5. Relaxed schooling. I love watching my kids learn. I love how they learn in spite of me. My children are SO smart...there is nothing they cannot find on Google (LOL). I am just so blessed to be in a place where I can homeschool. 

My Tattoo

  I am getting used to my tattoo (am still scared to show my mother--LOL). It is on my arm, so, hidden only because it (all of the sudden) got cold and I am wearing sweatshirts most of the time.

It is (kind of) big...but I thought that at the time the stencil was placed. DH, who went with me, said that I should "go big, or go home" so left it at its size.

The colors are sentimental--(THANKS to my friends over at Twittermoms and those who left comments on my blog.) The purple--DH birthstone color; the blue(ish)--my birthstone; the pink--Moon Boy's birthstone; the white--Silly Girl's birthstone. The design--cross because of DH is a volunteer fireman; moon--because ever since my son was born I have asked him if he was my sun or my moon?; and the heart--because my daughter is an incredibly loving/caring person.

I prayed about placement...and last week in church, I knew it needed to be on my arm (even though it is scary because it is out there). I wanted it where I would see it all the time TO REMEMBER what in life is MOST important to me. TO REMEMBER to not take my family for granted. TO REMEMBER that each moment is so precious.

My bloggy friend over at 2TooManyHats posted this great blog about her daughter and American Girl Dolls...and it was like a confirmation to why I wanted THIS tattoo and wanted it where I would see it daily.  I just don't want to let the moments in life I could so easily take for granted pass by. Because those moments do so quickly.

It may seem SILLY to need such a visual reminder...but I know me...and my weaknesses...and where God needs to bring me to my knees...this is a gentle reminder...to not forget, because my family is in His hands...

Cool Bloggy Finds!

 

If you haven't been over to Moms Bloggers Club you need to go over and check out the new eZine (It's free) and has great articles about Moms and Blogging. I learned about Alltop and have added it to my sidebar. Kind of cool to have fun articles show up. I love to read and learn so great to get connected this way.

Still a "Newbie" blogger and learning all the cool tricks and things to add to my blog. Don't want it to be too crowded but like it to be interesting. Am currently using Bloglines for the Blog Roll feature. It works well on the iPhone, too, so I can read my favorite blogs on the run.

One more cool thing I found and joined today....Blog Comment Network It is a new 'ning' site. The premise, to give blog-love to fellow bloggers. Basically, after you join the network, you join a group that is composed of 9 other bloggers. You agree to visit their blogs at least once a week and leave comments on their posts. Each month, the groups will change so you can meet a lot of new blogger-friends and exchange blog love!

I've Been Tagged...

Heather at Sanctified Woman tagged me to do this post...(and I thought the 6 things no one knows about me was hard)...

1. I was homeschooled for one year. I was in the 6th grade, my sister in the 4th grade. We "RV-schooled" and toured America for a year.

2. I grew up in Maine. My husband grew up in California....but we met and married in Illinois where we were grad students.  A true "meeting in the middle."

3. OK (your probably know this one but) I have this crazy obsession with Twittermoms and welcoming everyone. If I spent a quarter of the time cleaning my house as I do welcoming people....the house might actually be half decent. (well, except two (three counting the puppy) tornadoes live here and it will never be clean.

4. When I grow up....I want to be a web/graphic designer....but currently have almost completed a PhD in Human Development.

5. Speaking of that...just did the PhD for 'fun'. Where I work had tuition reimbursement and this cool program came to campus...and I was craving adult company...so I signed up. It has been an intense journey.

6. And now I am ABD (All But Dissertation)...in the ironies of life, our primary professor died unexpectedly...and her death has had major (political) impact on the ability to complete the degree.  Trying to do so with (almost) no support. May be impossible but haven't given up totally yet. My topic--resiliency--isn't that appropriate?

7. My favorite singer is Third Day but my favorite band to see in concert is Toby Mac--He has been performing since I was in college and still has incredible amounts of energy!

Here are the blogs I am tagging:

2TooManyHats

Tonya's Two Cents

My Souther Hippie Married Mom of Four Life

Keeping It Real

dee-ah-nah

White Hot Magik

Get Real Mom

4-Week Challenge

I am embarking on the 16-week journey found in Never Say Diet by Chantel Hobbs. It is broken down in three stages. The first 4-weeks has two components.

1. Cardio exercise for 30-minutes, five consecutive days per week.
2. Eat something for breakfast. (which I rarely eat)

That's it. The goal of this phase is to learn discipline. To get out there for the 30-minutes even on days you don't feel like it. If you miss one of the consecutive days, the count is re-set and the weeks are re-set. Any cardio activity counts--recumbent bike, treadmill, run/jogging, walking, etc.

This is my headband I bought at the Philly Distance Run. It was empowering. I want to get in shape because I want my kids to know being healthy is important. I want to get in shape because time for me is important. I know I can be disciplined. I know it won't be easy. I know I have to let go and let God. Through Him all things are possible, even then things my brain says are impossible.

Crying

So glad it is a quiet Saturday morning. The kids are at a friends house. Husband is running an errand. And me sitting here typing and crying.

Crying out of:

• having my feelings hurt
• feeling ineffective

• feeling devalued

But I think most of all, frustration, because I know it is me that controls me. AND I hate when I let someone else's opinion control me. Especially when I KNOW I work hard, and do my best everyday, and am loyal, and have sacrificed so much of me, of my family, materially, emotionally, psychologically.

And I know our family is where God wants us to be. and I know we are so blessed. It is just those jabs that take a toll, whether they are meant to or not.

So please remember today, as you do your mom-thing or boss-thing or any leadership kind of thing...Take time to say:

• "Job Well Done!"
• "It was amazing when you...."
• " I see you work hard."
• or just simply "Thank You."

It is those simple words that create value, and pride, and the desire to put in effort--even when things are not going the best. And even if it has to come with words of 'feedback.' Make sure to recognize the good the parts, too. It is just so IMPORTANT.

Tattoo Thoughts.

Here is the drawing...looking for feedback.

1. General Thoughts?

2. Do the wings look like wings? Would you change them? There are not exactly what I was thinking...but can't recreate my original thought.

3. Where would you put it? Currently have tat on inside of my left ankle and left shoulder blade.

4. Coloring: Current plan is for moon to be "pink" son's birthstone; small heart to be 'white" daughter's birthstone---BUT the rest? should it all just be black outline? Should I have the cross colored in??

Thinking about totally dropping the wings and the surrounding heart....and just doing the center part...
What do you think? The appointment is Tuesday....