Be a Julie and Family Photos!

As I get ready to ring in the New Year I'm thinking about my goals for 2010. I've got quite a few biggies and look forward to sharing them here.



We watched "Julie and Julia" again last night. I just ADORE that show!! If you haven't seen it you MUST! It's uplifting and fun and gets me to thinking about my own life, my own dreams and where I dream of going in my lifetime. Both Julie and Julia are amazing women, who against the odds made something BIG out of themselves. One wanted to cook, the other to write. Instead of settling for the ordinary they went out on a limb, poured their heart and soul into their work and became EXTRAORDINARY! If you haven't watched it yet...I highly recommend it.

I have been promising some photos I've taken in the past few months. I finally got them uploaded...here a few!

Check out Em and Maddie on the soccer field in Columbia for the Show Me Games 3 v 3!!! And her awesome team!!




Jackson was in his first play in November. Check us out after the curtain call. His hair is a bit goofy due to the part he played!!



Our fabulous Thanksgiving table and my family.


We are ringing in the New Year with friends tonight. Playing games, eating fondue and just enjoying each others company. Can't beat that:)

And speaking of the New Year...here is what I'm most thankful for this year!! My amazing family. Aren't they cute Christmas Morning?!



Have a WONDERFUL evening tonight whatever your plans and see you in the New Year!!

My WORD

I had such a JUBILANT week!!!

–adjective
showing great joy, satisfaction, or triumph; rejoicing; exultant: the cheers of the jubilant victors; the jubilant climax of his symphony.

with Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and my son's 15th birthday, not to mention last minute shopping, family time and playing games...there is only one WORD that could describe last week and that's jubilant! I ADORE the Christmas Season and Christmas week is my favorite!! So jubilant it is!

I have lots of photos to share and will do so later in the week.

**Lots of fun stuff in store for 2010. Be on the lookout for that post as well as PHOTOS!!

Happy New Year!

Just wanted to say...

To all of my Bloggy friends

Merry Christmas!!!!!

I appreciate my readers and look forward to an amazing 2010 with the Words of Me Project.

2010 Word

The great poet Emily Dickinson said "I dwell in possibility."

I just love the thought of "dwelling in possibility". Don't you do that? Dream about what could be. What you would like it to be.

As I was thinking about my Word for 2010 my mind kept coming back to this quote and the word possibility-I love it!

–noun, plural -ties for 2.
1. the state or fact of being possible: the possibility of error.
2. something possible: He had exhausted every possibility but one.

So this year, the beginning of a NEW decade I've picked the word

POSSIBILITY

This is the year I write my book. This is the year I get back into running and train for the Denver Half Marathon. This is the year I serve others with sincerity and love. This is the year I find peace in being me.

This is the year of possibility.

Humbled

What a week I had!! While it was so festive and filled with peace, love and joy it was also a bit scary and Monday was downright PAINFUL! So here is what I've come up with for my Word of the Week...

HUMBLED
–adjective
1. not proud or arrogant; modest: to be humble although successful.
2. having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc.: In the presence of so many world-famous writers I felt very humble.

Without going into every little detail...last Monday morning I was rushed to the ER. It was like a scene right out of a horror flick for me...so very PaINfuL!!!!! ACK! I thought an alien was inside my body trying to claw it's way out. I know, a bit graphic but that's the best way to describe the pAIn.

After several shots of pain meds I was feeling pretty woozy without a care in the world. It was heaven for sure! Found out I had a cyst burst. WHAT! Anyway, without getting waaaay too personal I'm headed to KC to my gyno. There are some concerns from a previous surgery so now I have something else to worry me. GREAT.

I was so humbled by the experience as well as reminded how quick our lives can change. I need to be grateful for the now, relishing every moment with my family, living out my dreams and enjoying my life. I'm getting better at it but intend on kicking it up a notch in 2010! (yes, I've made my goals and will share soon)

Another humbling experience came about on Wednesday night. Our church's Young Men and Young Women's group went to a nursing home to sing carols and share a Christmas message. I decided to tag along...so happy I did. What joy I felt as I watched those resident's faces light up as we began to sing. (and, hey I'm not that good)

Being there reminded me how fast time passes. How I need to better care of my body and be happy that it has gotten me this far in life without too many bumps. I also realized how blessed I am to be this age...to have my kids still at home and to have my husband with me, in this life to share my days with.



Along with learning many lessons last week I also just had some good ole' fashion FUN!!! We watched "Christmas Vacation", "Jingle All the Way" and "The Grinch". We made cookies, went shopping, enjoyed church and spent time just hanging out at my Mom's house making sugar cookies and listening to Christmas music. It was just so much fun!!!

What about you? What kinds of experiences are humbling you right now? What joys are happening in your life right now? Please share with us!!!

Does this sound like a Word of the Week?

So when I came up with this idea of choosing one WORD a week for one year to describe my life I had no idea I'd ever use this one...

STUFFED
to fill or cram (oneself, one's stomach, etc.) with food.


Pretty strange-huh?

You see last week my DH's cousins were here for their annual duck hunting trip. It seems while their minds are on birds, guns and man-talk my attention turns toward food. Company is here...who wants to cook? I mean the boys are going out everyday, having fun and enjoying lunch at some truck stop/dive while I stay home, all toasty warm heating up left-overs in my microwave. Don't I deserve to go out and let loose a bit? I mean, who wants to COOK when we can go out.

So everyday the boys would come home, ducks in hand, smiles on faces and guns over their shoulders. "Look what we shot, Les." they'd say. "Oh, that's great...hey, ya' wanna go out?" I'd reply.

Every night we picked some place new, anywhere my taste buds took me.(They would let me pick since I was the one staying home all day). I enjoyed homemade soups, fresh bread, salads and shrimp. None of my "healthy" food for me-no way! Ugh. By the end of the week I was

StuFfEd!!!

So, there ya' go...that's how I ended up with such an odd word for my week.
This week I'm back to eating my 6 small meals of proteins and carbs each day. I'm drinking lots of water and looking forward to becoming unstuffed.

Stay tuned...

My Word of the Week will be posted later today:)

I was thinking...

Today something just overcame me and I thought..."I am so ready for some NEW goals, a NEW direction in my life." The thought of a NEW YEAR always excites me and the thought of a NEW DECADE really puts a fire into me. Can you believe we'll be in 2010?! CRAZY, that's for sure.

My husband has been asked to do a talk in church the 2nd Sunday in January on goal setting. Being a business man he is extremely goal-oriented. I think, in part, that's where I got my goal setting craziness from.

Anyways, I've been thinking about what it is I want for my life this year. As my kids grow, I find myself with more and more free time. It's been a sad transition for me yet exciting, too. There are so many things I've been dreaming of!! I've been a writer for most of my life, writing a weekly column for 5 years as well has features for our local paper. While I LOVED both of those jobs writing a book has been an aspiration of mine most of my life. This is the year I'm gonna begin that project. I've had this idea for quite some time and am so ready to begin.

Along with my list of goals for 2010 I've been thinking of my Word. While we're doing a Word a Week here on my Blog, my friend Leanne reminded me I need a Word for my Year as well. Still trying to decide...

What about you? Are you thinking and wishing and pondering your goals for the new decade? I would love to hear what they are...leave me a list and as soon as I know all of mine I'll be sharing them here with you!

BAH HUMBUG!

So yesterday was just not my day. No it wasn't, not at ALL. Honestly, I was acting like a brat. I was. I was sick of being stuck in side. I was tired of eating our food storage, I wanted to go Christmas shopping but couldn't get out. I was being a brat.
Now there was other issues going on, too that made me a Scrooge but really I had the CHOICE to change my attitude and I didn't.

But TODAY...

TODAY will be different! Oh, my yes. ToDAy I will...

*smile
*be grateful
*laugh with my family
*catch up on laundry
*finish my Christmas cards
*mail out my friend Leanne's package
*listen to Christmas music
*work on my December Daily

And most of all I will remember how completely blessed I am.

Truly.

Snow Day!!!

Oh, joy of joys...it's a SNOW DAY here in Northwest Missouri!!

The alarm woke me up at 6:30 this morning and while I had a feeling we wouldn't have school I thought I'd better check...to make sure. Sure enough the radio said CLOSED. I let Jackson know then went back to my warm and cozy bed for an extra hour of sleep. Em and her Dad woke up at 3 this morning for a duck hunting adventure about an hour from here. I've been praying for their safe return all morning. I'm a bit of a worry wart.

Oh, the gift of SNOW DAY. It's one of those rare occasions when I feel like I can do anything. Spend the day writing, catching up on a good book or scrapping till my heart's content. Here's what's on today's agenda...

*Computer time
*Getting my printer up and running so I can write and print out our Christmas letter
*Making our annual Christmas baking list
*Watching my favorite soap-"All My Children"
*Catching up on laundry
*Playing a game with the kids
*Making something warm and cozy for dinner tonight
*Working on my December Daily Book

What about you? What kinds of things do you do when given the gift of a Snow Day??

My Word for 11/30-12/6

How in the heck are ya'?! Me? Doing just GREAT!! I'm a bit slow getting my WORD on-line today. Busy with Visiting Teaching and doing home stuff...all good.

So last week was another awesome week for me. As I've thought about the WORD that would fit just so here's what I've come up with...

FESTIVE

–adjective
1. pertaining to or suitable for a feast or festival: festive decorations; a festive meal.
2. joyous; merry: a festive mood.

From decorating the tree and our home to watching favorite Christmas movies and attending 2 parties...everywhere you turn it's Christmas. I absolutely LOVE everything about it, too!!

There's the CUTEST Blog I found one day several weeks ago that you MUST visit to get in the Holiday mood-"From Chaos Comes Happiness". Leanne has become a friend to me these past few weeks...she is just so UP. You'll love her, too!!

I'm out of here...as I'm not on during my usual morning time...my "chi" is all out of whack and my daughter is glaring at me...wanting to get on Facebook.

**Remember if you want to share your WORD with us...please leave a comment!!!

Holiday Season Thankfuls

The month of November was one of reflection for me. I learned new things about myself, renewed my goals and thought about what's really important.

This wonderful family of mine has been on my mind more than anything lately.


Each one of us is growing, changing and becoming. Jackson turns 15 this month. So many changes are happening now for him. He's beginning to find his place in this world and very, very soon he will begin driving (and YES I'm ready!). My Emma girl changes by the day it seems. We're only seeing glimpses of her sweet, little girl way as she is fast becoming a young lady. She pulls away a bit more each week, choosing her friends and dances over a night sitting at home snuggling with her Mom. (This is hard on dear old Mom). Dave has come to a crossroads with our business...should we stay or should we go? In the past 2 months we've opened 2 new business's but have yet to decide what to do with our BIG Pizza place. It's a good thing we believe in prayer. With prayer we know our Heavenly Father will help us decide. (Whew, what a relief). Then there is ME. I've been sifting through some past memories I don't care for in hopes of understanding why it is I do what I do (I have so many bad habits). I made a real breakthrough with that a couple of weeks ago and feel so RELIEVED!! (Yes, once again my Heavenly Father was there for me).

Here's a pic taken of Dave and I last July in Nauvoo. He went with the Relief Society and I to see the Nauvoo Temple. Such a GREAT trip!!


I am so BLESSED to have this man in my life!!!!

So many blessings to be thankful for this Christmas Season...how about you...

What are you THANKFUL for??