It occurred to me that my blog might be approaching the one year mark, so I checked and found out that I actually missed it. The one year date was October 14th.
When I started blogging a year ago I was so nervous.
I was afraid that it was above my tech skills. I was right and wrong about that. I've learned so much more than I thought I would. There is so much more that I want to learn. Maybe I'll learn more next year.
I was nervous that I wouldn't have anything to write about. Some of you probably think that was a fear realized and that I really don't have anything to write about. You'll notice, however, that it hasn't kept me from writing anyway.
I was afraid that the blog would not be a secure and safe place for me to write about my family. Fortunately, that has not been the case so far. I did choose to not use my granddaughter's real name, opting to call her by a weather term that matches her personality. I plan to keep that up as more grandchildren come along. I'm looking forward to Tornado. Windy. Rain. Stormy. Cloud. Thunder. Mist...
I doubted that I would keep up with it. That has not been a problem. I generally have something to say every few days or so (at least I think I have something worth saying).
I had no idea how much I would enjoy this. I love to write. I am opinionated. I can (and will) talk to anyone about anything at anytime and the blog has fulfilled those needs. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed this personal blog so much that I started a political blog and a recipe blog as well. I don't keep up with them as often, but I hope to improve in those areas in the new year.
I think my blog will continue to evolve as I learn more about blogging and as my life, and what I have to say about it continues to change.
The best thing, hands down, about the blog is the people that I've come to know through it. Some are former co-workers. Some are strangers. Some are friends I've known for years. All are "blog friends". Thanks for reading. I enjoy your comments. And I'm now obsessed with reading all of your blogs...
10.22.2010
10.21.2010
Toddler Tunes - My New Favorite Channel
We have the Toddler Tunes Channel (928) on our TV. Can I just say that I love it?! More than Sunny does, and she likes it a lot too. Some of the songs are just hilarious. My personal faves right now are the "Camping Song", "Zach, Zach, Zachary with a Z", and anything by Sharon, Lois, and Bram.
We were watching Toddler Tunes on Monday and she started "dancing" on the ottoman. I tried to catch it on video...
We were watching Toddler Tunes on Monday and she started "dancing" on the ottoman. I tried to catch it on video...
10.20.2010
This Week at Grammy’s
This week I managed to take some photos to show what Sunny and I are up to these days.
We’ve discovered TV watching. She can handle about 15 minutes of “Sesame Street”, 15 minutes of “Clifford, the Big Red Dog”, and loves to clap and yell “down” to “The Price is Right”. But her all-time favorite is a Baby Einstein DVD Katie brought over entitled “Shapes”. She gets so excited when you put it in the DVD player. She bounces to the caterpillar at the beginning, hollers out the names of animals she recognizes, and says “see, see” every time there’s some excitement in the plot (hahaha).
sitting “on her bottom” on the couch
Duke, Rascal, Daisy waiting for a crumb to drop
enthralled with “Shapes” by Baby Einstein
We’ve discovered TV watching. She can handle about 15 minutes of “Sesame Street”, 15 minutes of “Clifford, the Big Red Dog”, and loves to clap and yell “down” to “The Price is Right”. But her all-time favorite is a Baby Einstein DVD Katie brought over entitled “Shapes”. She gets so excited when you put it in the DVD player. She bounces to the caterpillar at the beginning, hollers out the names of animals she recognizes, and says “see, see” every time there’s some excitement in the plot (hahaha).
sitting “on her bottom” on the couch
Duke, Rascal, Daisy waiting for a crumb to drop
enthralled with “Shapes” by Baby EinsteinTrying Something New
OK, I’m trying something new here. I’m writing this post in Microsoft Live Writer. My goal is to be able to use different fonts. Let’s see if this works…
10.18.2010
Let Go of Perfectionism
I was working on my personal system for a stress-free Christmas before I found FlyLady (Marla Cilley). Although I had my system pretty much in place, I did find a lot of encouragement and some new ideas from her. This weekend she sent out an email getting the "flybabies" ready to start her system of "Cruising Through the Holidays". This year "Cruise Through the Holidays" begins today, October 18. The scenario is for you to pretend you're leaving on a cruise December 1 and to have all of your holiday tasks completed by then. She has a great way of leading us to face our perfectionism and realize how it ruins our holidays year after year. I'm reprinting her email below and I will start putting her Holiday Cruise Missions on my Christmas Corner page everyday. Yes, they are repetitive. But that's because we rarely complete them the first time around. As always, if you have a tried and true method of handling the holidays stress-free, please leave me a comment. I'd love to share your wisdom...
Let go of your perfectionism!
If I can talk you into letting go of your perfectionism then you can cruise through the holidays without all the stress that being a perfectionist puts on you!
I know you are looking for that perfect picture post card feeling, but let's face it! That only happens in paintings or in the movies. I want you to allow yourself the freedom to celebrate the holiday without this undue stress.
Let's look at how your perfectionism ruins your holidays!!!
1. You procrastinate till the last minute to do anything because you just don't seem to have enough time to do it right or you don't think you do! Then it really isn't done to suit you are anyone else because it is just thrown together willie nilly! I DON'T HAVE TIME! This phrase is whiny!
2. Shopping is put off till the last minute because we have not planned our purchases and then we hit the malls looking for anything and spending what ever to get something to give. You settle because of that phrase again. I DON'T HAVE TIME!! Yes you do if you started a few weeks ago!
3. Do you see a pattern here; waiting till the last minute? Do you know the meaning of the word Deadline? It is the point at which you have no more time. In other words; you practically kill yourself doing it, when a little each day would have helped you process things without the stress. NOW YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TIME! But watch you put on your super woman costume and kill yourself along with the rest of the family trying to save face! This is what makes the holidays miserable!
4. Because you have waited till the last minute again to purchase items; you are faced with a marathon wrapping session. No one likes to do this and it is hard on your back. Be kind to you and do a little at a time as you come in the door. If you hear yourself say, "I DON'T HAVE TIME RIGHT NOW! Then just do one little package!
5. Now let's look at decorating your home. You hear your children begging to do things and then these words come out of your mouth!! I DON'T HAVE TIME RIGHT NOW!!! They are usually said in an unkind tone because you are mad at yourself over this procrastination pressure. Do you want to know why you don't think you have time? It is because of your perfectionism! You don't think you have time to do it right! Decorating your home does not have to be done all at once. Break it down into smaller pieces; take babysteps to decorate your home and enjoy establishing new traditions.
When you hear those nasty words come out of your mouth: I DON'T HAVE TIME!!! I want you to set your timer for 15 minutes and do something! You do have time! We all have the same amount of time in a day and it is how we choose to use it that makes the difference. When your perfectionism clouds your thinking you forget to do just a little to make things better.
Holidays celebrated incorrectly still blesses your family! Let go of your perfectionism and the whiny excuse of I DON'T HAVE TIME and enjoy this year.
Are you ready to Cruise through the Holidays?
FlyLady
Let go of your perfectionism!
If I can talk you into letting go of your perfectionism then you can cruise through the holidays without all the stress that being a perfectionist puts on you!
I know you are looking for that perfect picture post card feeling, but let's face it! That only happens in paintings or in the movies. I want you to allow yourself the freedom to celebrate the holiday without this undue stress.
Let's look at how your perfectionism ruins your holidays!!!
1. You procrastinate till the last minute to do anything because you just don't seem to have enough time to do it right or you don't think you do! Then it really isn't done to suit you are anyone else because it is just thrown together willie nilly! I DON'T HAVE TIME! This phrase is whiny!
2. Shopping is put off till the last minute because we have not planned our purchases and then we hit the malls looking for anything and spending what ever to get something to give. You settle because of that phrase again. I DON'T HAVE TIME!! Yes you do if you started a few weeks ago!
3. Do you see a pattern here; waiting till the last minute? Do you know the meaning of the word Deadline? It is the point at which you have no more time. In other words; you practically kill yourself doing it, when a little each day would have helped you process things without the stress. NOW YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TIME! But watch you put on your super woman costume and kill yourself along with the rest of the family trying to save face! This is what makes the holidays miserable!
4. Because you have waited till the last minute again to purchase items; you are faced with a marathon wrapping session. No one likes to do this and it is hard on your back. Be kind to you and do a little at a time as you come in the door. If you hear yourself say, "I DON'T HAVE TIME RIGHT NOW! Then just do one little package!
5. Now let's look at decorating your home. You hear your children begging to do things and then these words come out of your mouth!! I DON'T HAVE TIME RIGHT NOW!!! They are usually said in an unkind tone because you are mad at yourself over this procrastination pressure. Do you want to know why you don't think you have time? It is because of your perfectionism! You don't think you have time to do it right! Decorating your home does not have to be done all at once. Break it down into smaller pieces; take babysteps to decorate your home and enjoy establishing new traditions.
When you hear those nasty words come out of your mouth: I DON'T HAVE TIME!!! I want you to set your timer for 15 minutes and do something! You do have time! We all have the same amount of time in a day and it is how we choose to use it that makes the difference. When your perfectionism clouds your thinking you forget to do just a little to make things better.
Holidays celebrated incorrectly still blesses your family! Let go of your perfectionism and the whiny excuse of I DON'T HAVE TIME and enjoy this year.
Are you ready to Cruise through the Holidays?
FlyLady
10.14.2010
Thursday Thoughts
Shopping - I have done tons of Christmas shopping this past week without even trying to! I have 10 people in my immediate family to shop for and I am done with three of them. I am almost done with three more, and I have four people that I haven't started yet. I just love it when it comes together effortlessly.
Good News - for Teresa over at the Grammy Girlfriend blog. Jack was able to be moved to a rehab facility back home in Shreveport. Keep them in your prayers. Teresa has bronchitis which has limited her time with Jack, but the rest of the family is visiting him often. I never realized before what a long, slow recovery period stroke patients (and their families) endure. Click here for her blog.
Election - the election excitement is really heating up. I am watching at least a dozen races with extreme interest. I can't wait for Nov. 2nd. I got my mail-in ballot last week and I plan to fill it out and mail it early next week. The 2000's have had some really exciting elections, some of the best that I can remember since I started voting. On Nov. 3rd I will begin to get excited for the 2012 Presidential Election. I need to find a countdown clock to put on my political blog for that one...
Weather - I'm not even going to waste my breath or your time by whining again about how hot it is here. I'm going to concentrate on the positive; which is that by next Tuesday they're calling for temps in the low 80s with a chance of (gasp) rain! I'll believe it when I see it. Actually, I'll believe it when I feel it.
Vacation - Dan's vacation from Sam's Club comes to an end on Sunday. He heads back to work on Monday and both of us are bummed. Well, I mean we're grateful that he has the Sam's Club job, we just wish we could see an end in sight. August & September were both terrific months for appraisals, and October has started off with a bang. We're praying that the rest of the year holds steady. He plans to re-evaluate things at the end of January and make a decision about going part-time.
Thanksgiving - on a final note, I want to remind you that six weeks from today is Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for this year. Fortunately, I'm not waiting til Thanksgiving to start counting my blessings.
Good News - for Teresa over at the Grammy Girlfriend blog. Jack was able to be moved to a rehab facility back home in Shreveport. Keep them in your prayers. Teresa has bronchitis which has limited her time with Jack, but the rest of the family is visiting him often. I never realized before what a long, slow recovery period stroke patients (and their families) endure. Click here for her blog.
Election - the election excitement is really heating up. I am watching at least a dozen races with extreme interest. I can't wait for Nov. 2nd. I got my mail-in ballot last week and I plan to fill it out and mail it early next week. The 2000's have had some really exciting elections, some of the best that I can remember since I started voting. On Nov. 3rd I will begin to get excited for the 2012 Presidential Election. I need to find a countdown clock to put on my political blog for that one...
Weather - I'm not even going to waste my breath or your time by whining again about how hot it is here. I'm going to concentrate on the positive; which is that by next Tuesday they're calling for temps in the low 80s with a chance of (gasp) rain! I'll believe it when I see it. Actually, I'll believe it when I feel it.
Vacation - Dan's vacation from Sam's Club comes to an end on Sunday. He heads back to work on Monday and both of us are bummed. Well, I mean we're grateful that he has the Sam's Club job, we just wish we could see an end in sight. August & September were both terrific months for appraisals, and October has started off with a bang. We're praying that the rest of the year holds steady. He plans to re-evaluate things at the end of January and make a decision about going part-time.
Thanksgiving - on a final note, I want to remind you that six weeks from today is Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for this year. Fortunately, I'm not waiting til Thanksgiving to start counting my blessings.
10.13.2010
Witnessing a Miracle
What a privilege we have to be witnessing a miracle on our television screens. The rescue of the miners in Chile is awesome. Tears roll down my cheeks with each safe return from the bottom of the mine to their families waiting above. I can't imagine what it was like down in that mine. A constant 90 degree heat, near darkness, the press of 33 bodies in a confined space, the never-ending anxiety. Sounds like a good definition of hell to me. I am in awe at the physical, mental, and emotional strength of the miners. I'm in awe of the skill of those who have been working for weeks on the problem of how to get them out. I'm in awe of the God that knew this situation would occur, knew each person that would be involved, and knew the outcome would be successful. I'm in awe that the world can have a front seat view to a miraculous answer to prayer. Our God is an awesome God.
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