Starting back up with the Scrapbooking Challenges

I cannot tell you the last time I entered any challenge. However, my goal this new year was to start again. It gets me to accomplish some scrapbooking with a little bit of competition involved. I seriously have no idea how the judges pick since all of the creativity is amazing from everyone who enters.

Most people are watching the Super Bowl right now but I am watching Ghost Hunters and listening to my daughter cough in her sleep. Everyone in my house has been sick and it seems like the recovery is taking so long that, before anyone recovers fully one of us has caught something else. It was nice to be out of the house today working at my store. We had great turn outs for both classes. Now I am relaxing on the couch wondering what tomorrow will bring. Will I be going to work or staying home again with a sick child? I missed work all of last week. Honestly, I want to go to work.

Hopefully those engaged in football, drinking beer and stuffing their faces with snacks are having fun. I much rather be right here where I am being amazed at Jason's findings on Ghost Hunters instead.

What I am thankful for today:
my store
scrapbooking challenges
my health
the health of my loved ones
my pets
laughter
warm blankets
my friends
quiet
time
love
sunshine
rainbows
cardinals
family
my children
sleep
coffee
water
my neighbors
Shelley
Jennifer G
Erika
my sister-in-law
hope
faith
forgiveness

The Feeling of Being Independent

Sitting on the couch for the third day has me extremely stir crazy. So I have decided in between cat naps, I will write out my wish list (wish list for life), blog some more, and do a lot of research on the web.

I realized that while I was married, there was a lot of responsibilities that I no longer had, besides cleaning, cooking and taking care of the kids. Ya I know so back in the 50's, right? Everything was together and Jeremy did everything online so I didn't have to deal with it. On my own I had to start over getting things in my name, getting things on my own and it was a very scary thought. Never thought I depended that much on someone to help take care of me and my life. It amazes me how one may take for granted the help of others. Believe me, I was always grateful but maybe not as grateful as I should have been.

In the last few weeks I have been researching life insurance, car insurance, health insurance and more. It has been draining but I am so happy that I am doing it on my own. This is the first time that I didn't need help gathering the stuff I needed for the taxes for my business. What a sense of accomplishment for me. I can do this myself and I will. It was nice to pay for my own car insurance after the endless forms I filled out to get quotes. And after years of having Jeremy pay for everything, it is nice to be able to do things for myself.

Many ask me how I keep my life together with all that I do. My response is, "I just don't think about it and just do it." I also make a point try to keep a regular schedule: Thursday nights is volunteer night at the shelter, I work every weekend at the store, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays are committed to the gym. During whatever free time I have I am working on the website for the store, cleaning my house, posting classes on facebook and meetup.com, doing laundry, running my kids around, cooking, playing with the kids, and so on. I make it work. Thankfully I have a great network of people who are willing to help me with the kids if I have to be at the gym.

Although I am busy, it makes me a better mom. I enjoy the time I get with my children even more than I did when I wasn't as busy. I feel good about myself because I am being productive, working for what I want and need to live, without being dependent on someone else. I feel very blessed to be able to have my hobby as my career and work in a gym which enables me to bring my kids, have a free membership and work with some amazing people. If you write out what you want and start doing the things you have to do to get there, things fall into place.

I may not be working my dream job but I am well on my way. Things will happen when they are meant to happen. But you have to get going to get anywhere. Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there. 

Pray to God that he leads you to where you need to be. Commit to him and all your plans will succeed.

What I am thankful for today:

being indepentent
my Chloe who has been nursing me since I got sick
quality time
money
friendship
my health
the health of my family and friends
true blessings
confidence
hope
faith
stength
awareness
simplicity
laughter
Rachel for making me laugh today
Diane for getting Makenna to school
Jennifer G, Erika and mom checking up on me today
my store
creativity
the gym
Dwayne for working out with me
my family
love
the sunshine
clean laundry
new books
The Center
Christine for being such a wonderful person
my pets
Cheryl for being so wonderful with Makenna
Shawn
all the wonderful people who are involved with my store
contentment
Jeremy for being such a good daddy
smiles
the power of prayer
church
my life

The Role of 'Nurse'

Today's motivation is 0. Taking care of two sick kids with another sick adult in the house is very exhausting. I seriously cannot count the number of loads of laundry I have done in the past 3 days. And, it isn't over yet. When you sign up to be a mother you forget about all the other 'jobs' you have, nurse being one of them. I love my children more than anything and would do anything for them. However, they have taught me that being a nurse full time is not for me. I have a huge respect for anyone that works in the health field.


So for all you moms (and dad's), may God grace you with His presence when you are holding your nose, trying to console your sick child as their head hangs over the trash can or toilet. May you find comfort in the clean laundry, knowing that the puke smell that seems to linger in your nose will eventually go away. Be thankful for flat ginger ale, dry toast and most of all Lysol. Be thankful that these sicknesses usually only last for 24 hours, per child. Remember that your child is so thankful they have you to take care of them and that the bond you are creating will last a lifetime.

What I am thankful for today:
my health
my kids on the road to recovery
Lysol
clean laundry
being a mommy
my children
my pets
hot showers
The Biggest Loser
patience
understanding
music
vitamins
coffee
creativity
my jobs
money
sleep
motivation
laughter
friends
family
the sunshine
love

Forgiveness & Letting Go

Today I am writing about forgiveness. Why? Because I think I finally figured out how and why this is so important. Life throws us curve balls, and some are so hard to bounce back from. The good news is that we will. Getting there is what we are all concerned about. How long will it take? What will I have to go through to get to where I want to be? I have asked myself these questions continuously. I've prayed numerous times for God to take the weight off my shoulders and surround me with His presence. Sometimes it just doesn't feel like it is enough. What I have come to understand is the weight was something I had to let go of. And, I do realize why I wasn't letting go.

When we are hurt, it takes a lot to get over the anger, frustration, and pain. It takes time to heal. We will not heal if we do not forgive. Holding on to anger and frustration doesn't hurt anyone but ourselves. The people involved in the situations that hurt us are still living their lives not affected by our feelings at all. Yet, we do not want to forgive. For me, forgiving someone who hurt me felt like giving them permission to hurt me again. Or like saying, "what you did was ok." However that is not how it is. Forgiving someone is letting go of the pain. Do I have to keep that person close to me? No.

God wants us to forgive and let go. He will help us if we ask. If we want to move on to a better life, we have to close the doors from the past in the right way. God has taken the people who hurt me out of my life without me having to have confrontation with them. They were put in my life for a reason though. There was a lesson to be learned. And more than ever, I am actually thankful for those people who hurt me. If it wasn't for them or the situation, I would not be the person I am now. I also know that if I would have not forgiven them, I would not have become who I want to be.

The weight has been lifted because I chose to let go. Again, we are only hurting ourselves by not forgiving. I feel free, finally.

If you feel stuck, maybe there is a person or situation you have not forgiven. Remember Jesus forgave Judas for betraying him even though it lead to Jesus being crucified. Although Jesus knew that this was his destiny, could any of you have forgiven Judas? We may not know our future, but everything happens for a reason. Forgiveness is the key to living with a free spirit. If God can forgive us from our sins, we can surely forgive those who sin against us.

"Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." James 1:2-3

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

What I am thankful for today:
A snow day with my children
Love
forgiveness and knowing the changes it can bring into our lives
The Center
furbabies, God creations to show us unconditional love
Hope
my friends
my store
my family
laughter
Shawn
the power of prayer
the sunshine
rainbows
signs from my loved ones
coffee
PartyLite
chocolate
my customers
my teachers
God
life