My title would suggest that my life is captivating, interesting and maybe even something that one could be influenced by.
I can say with all truthfulness, none of that is true. I am an ordinary mom, wife, and woman. But I am OK with being ordinary. This means that I do not often have things to share on this blog, but I feel like I just haven't found the right things to blog about.
I am excited to say that even though I am ordinary, I find that there are ways in which I am learning to be a little more than ordinary. This year I have been working on having peace and security. At first I thought that having security within our financial situation, our home life, and with our friendships and with family would bring about a sense of peace. I thought that having a "back up" plan would help be feel secure and at peace with where life takes us. You want to know something....I was only kind of right. I started to feel a sense of peace, but that feeling went away gradually and I was back to feeling insecure and unsettled.
What was missing? Jesus. I did not involve Jesus in my plans for peace and security. BIG mistake! How foolish of me to plan for peace and security without considering His plan for us and His promises!
I started to attend church, no matter how much I did not think I would like it. I started to take notes during Mass. Yeah yeah, I know what you are thinking. There is no written test to get into heaven. And I also know that I can look up online and get the readings from mass for any given Sunday. But there is something about putting pen to paper that activates my mind and makes tangible connections with what is being spoken about during Mass. By taking notes I can also jot down my own thoughts or personal connections to what is being read and spoken about in church. I find that by doing this I am actively listening for His whispers to guide me and show me what He wants me to know.
This has lead me to starting a Women's ministry at my church. I am so excited for what this ministry will bring to the woman I worship with, but barely know. I follow a couple of other Catholic woman who are authors and CatholicMom.com is having a give-away of THIS prize pack.
I would love to win the Mark Hart prize pack so that I can add another tool to my tool box for my Women's Ministry.
More to come on the Ministry.
Monday, May 26, 2014
Monday, August 5, 2013
Bedtime Blunders=Mommy Madness
I am not gonna lie, I struggle with putting my handsome prince to bed. It was so much easier when he was between the ages of newborn to three and now that he is three and counting I have way more trouble with getting him to bed.
Are your kids like my prince? Picture this: You are ready for adult time and/or quiet time. You are counting the minutes until you can legitimately put your kiddo(s) bed. Then you finally get them wrestled into their jammies, teeth all brushed and clean and all the kisses have been given. You have given them all the "cuddles" or "lovies" they should need and the covers have been pulled up. You walk downstairs or to whatever non-kid room you have and attempt to start your adult time. Little foot steps begin coming down the stairs and tracking you to where ever you have tried to take refuge. You put them back, and they keep getting out of bed.
Well I wanted to stop this pattern, but not deny my prince what he needs, whether it be a drink of water or an extra cuddle. I wanted him to feel like he was in charge while I was still getting what I so desperately need at the end of the night.
Thus the Get out of Bed Free Ticket system. "What is that?" you say...
It is a ticket that I created that allows the munchkin to get out of bed for free, without the struggle or frustration. Now I am sure that there are others out there who have done something similar, so I don't want anyone to think that I stole the idea. I did think of it one day while arguing with my little one about getting to bed.
First I decided how many times his getting out of bed is desirable each night. I thought about the reasons for his getting out of bed (aside from going to the bathroom) and what he was attempting to accomplish by doing so. I decided that 2 times, again not including bathroom uses, is more then enough for him to come and get me or get out of bed.
Second, I talked with him like a big kid. I explained that mommys and daddys need time to talk with one another and spend time with one another and that it was also important for him to get good sleep so that his body grows and has enough energy for all the playing that he likes to do. I explained that he was going to get tickets to come downstairs at nap time and bed time and he gets to choose when he uses them during both sleep times. He got to pick out their color and size. He knows that when he comes down after being tucked in that he had to bring one of his tickets. Once the tickets are gone he has to stay in bed, again unless he has to use the bathroom.
I have to say, that he has really embraced this idea and technique and bedtime has become much less stressful already.
Tonight, he come down a third time, but could not tell me why he needed to get out of bed. I reminded him that he used all of his tickets and that unless he needs to use the bathroom, he has to stay in bed. He responded to this very well.
You might be wondering what I will do if he comes down asking to use the bathroom multiple times. Well, I will walk him to the bathroom, not engaging in conversation. I will help him sit on the potty and use the bathroom. Even if he doesn't void, I will still put him on there so that he knows that I mean business.
Here's to hoping this continues to work. If you would like to use my ticket template...you are welcome to it. Here is form I created....Get out of Bed Free Ticket
Are your kids like my prince? Picture this: You are ready for adult time and/or quiet time. You are counting the minutes until you can legitimately put your kiddo(s) bed. Then you finally get them wrestled into their jammies, teeth all brushed and clean and all the kisses have been given. You have given them all the "cuddles" or "lovies" they should need and the covers have been pulled up. You walk downstairs or to whatever non-kid room you have and attempt to start your adult time. Little foot steps begin coming down the stairs and tracking you to where ever you have tried to take refuge. You put them back, and they keep getting out of bed.
Well I wanted to stop this pattern, but not deny my prince what he needs, whether it be a drink of water or an extra cuddle. I wanted him to feel like he was in charge while I was still getting what I so desperately need at the end of the night.
Thus the Get out of Bed Free Ticket system. "What is that?" you say...
It is a ticket that I created that allows the munchkin to get out of bed for free, without the struggle or frustration. Now I am sure that there are others out there who have done something similar, so I don't want anyone to think that I stole the idea. I did think of it one day while arguing with my little one about getting to bed.
First I decided how many times his getting out of bed is desirable each night. I thought about the reasons for his getting out of bed (aside from going to the bathroom) and what he was attempting to accomplish by doing so. I decided that 2 times, again not including bathroom uses, is more then enough for him to come and get me or get out of bed.
Second, I talked with him like a big kid. I explained that mommys and daddys need time to talk with one another and spend time with one another and that it was also important for him to get good sleep so that his body grows and has enough energy for all the playing that he likes to do. I explained that he was going to get tickets to come downstairs at nap time and bed time and he gets to choose when he uses them during both sleep times. He got to pick out their color and size. He knows that when he comes down after being tucked in that he had to bring one of his tickets. Once the tickets are gone he has to stay in bed, again unless he has to use the bathroom.
I have to say, that he has really embraced this idea and technique and bedtime has become much less stressful already.
Tonight, he come down a third time, but could not tell me why he needed to get out of bed. I reminded him that he used all of his tickets and that unless he needs to use the bathroom, he has to stay in bed. He responded to this very well.
You might be wondering what I will do if he comes down asking to use the bathroom multiple times. Well, I will walk him to the bathroom, not engaging in conversation. I will help him sit on the potty and use the bathroom. Even if he doesn't void, I will still put him on there so that he knows that I mean business.
Here's to hoping this continues to work. If you would like to use my ticket template...you are welcome to it. Here is form I created....Get out of Bed Free Ticket
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Sunday Struggles
Once again I find myself struggling with Sunday.
I am thinking of all the things I wanted to do over the weekend and all the things that I did not get done.
I am thinking about all the things the I have to get done at work this week. The pressure of getting my billing done, the pressure of getting reassessments entered and then...tie up ALL loose ends. Don't forget to answer the phone, be compassionate, file the paperwork and the list goes on.
Once again I feel the struggle between the need to work for income and the ingrained, deep in my heart need to be home and taking caring of all the household things that get neglected while I am at work.
I am sitting here, goofing around on the internet when I should be doing something "work" related or "home" related and I can't help but feel like it doesn't matter because at the end of the day, I am not going to get any of it done.
I took some time yesterday to enjoy the day. I spent the day in one of my favorite cities with a young lady getting ready to move to that city. The whole time I was down there I felt amazing. I felt so renewed. I felt like a young lady myself getting excited about starting my life as a college student. Now I cannot harness any of that excitement, energy and newness into what I need/must do to get things accomplished.
This makes me think that I am working to hard to accomplish the things that I am not really supposed to be working to accomplish.
But how I make a change? What change do I make? If I stop working, are we going to be financially stable? These are all questions that I am not sure how to answer or even if there is an answer.
For now, each day I feel a struggle. I feel myself being pulled. But I have to wonder when will my breaking point come and at what cost?
I am thinking of all the things I wanted to do over the weekend and all the things that I did not get done.
I am thinking about all the things the I have to get done at work this week. The pressure of getting my billing done, the pressure of getting reassessments entered and then...tie up ALL loose ends. Don't forget to answer the phone, be compassionate, file the paperwork and the list goes on.
Once again I feel the struggle between the need to work for income and the ingrained, deep in my heart need to be home and taking caring of all the household things that get neglected while I am at work.
I am sitting here, goofing around on the internet when I should be doing something "work" related or "home" related and I can't help but feel like it doesn't matter because at the end of the day, I am not going to get any of it done.
I took some time yesterday to enjoy the day. I spent the day in one of my favorite cities with a young lady getting ready to move to that city. The whole time I was down there I felt amazing. I felt so renewed. I felt like a young lady myself getting excited about starting my life as a college student. Now I cannot harness any of that excitement, energy and newness into what I need/must do to get things accomplished.
This makes me think that I am working to hard to accomplish the things that I am not really supposed to be working to accomplish.
But how I make a change? What change do I make? If I stop working, are we going to be financially stable? These are all questions that I am not sure how to answer or even if there is an answer.
For now, each day I feel a struggle. I feel myself being pulled. But I have to wonder when will my breaking point come and at what cost?
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Dream a little dream...
What do you dream of? Where do you dream of being?
Do you think your dreams are attainable?
For me, I dream of so many things I sometimes worry that I might have ADD or something.
I dream of travel, I dream of having a farm, I dream of going back to school. Sometimes I just dream to escape.
Other dreams I have are of being a better person. Being a morning person; a more dedicated person; a thinner, healthier person; a smarter and more creative person. I dream of being a stay at home mom, having a couple more kids, being financially stable and the list could go on and on.
Bottom line, I never share my dreams with anyone. I don't because I mainly feel that they wont ever be attainable.
I don't know how to do it, but it might be a good idea to identify the barriers to reaching those dreams so that you can start knocking them down.
If you feel inclined, share a dream you have and a barrier to reaching that dream. Then, this is the hard part, what are you going to do to know that barrier down. I would be more than happy to focus on knocking down all of your barriers, that would keep my distracted from mine.
Until next time...
Do you think your dreams are attainable?
For me, I dream of so many things I sometimes worry that I might have ADD or something.
I dream of travel, I dream of having a farm, I dream of going back to school. Sometimes I just dream to escape.
Other dreams I have are of being a better person. Being a morning person; a more dedicated person; a thinner, healthier person; a smarter and more creative person. I dream of being a stay at home mom, having a couple more kids, being financially stable and the list could go on and on.
Bottom line, I never share my dreams with anyone. I don't because I mainly feel that they wont ever be attainable.
I don't know how to do it, but it might be a good idea to identify the barriers to reaching those dreams so that you can start knocking them down.
If you feel inclined, share a dream you have and a barrier to reaching that dream. Then, this is the hard part, what are you going to do to know that barrier down. I would be more than happy to focus on knocking down all of your barriers, that would keep my distracted from mine.
Until next time...
Friday, May 10, 2013
Something clever about absence and fondness
I have been absent for a while. A long while.
I stopped blogging for a time as I felt like I was "failing at it".
What does that even mean? Well, I will tell you!
Firstly, I didn't want my blog to be some place that I just dump my feelings and air my dirty laundry. I go to people's blogs and read them and follow them and I find them clever and inspiring and purposeful to me, not just the writer. So I wanted my blog to be just like that...and that one and that one and oh yeah, that one {imagine me pointing a each of the blogs I love}.
Every time I tried to sit down and write, I ended up with either some cheap knock-off of a another blog I love. I don't want to do that...I don't want to be the cheap imitation of a blog I love. I want my blog to be purposeful and inspiring.
Secondly, back to the purposeful and inspiring...I have so much on my mind that I feel I could share and help people to get through things or serve a purpose.
Thirdly, I am all over the place all the time. I do so many different things, I have so many interests that I don't really specialize in any one thing. So I fear that I am left with an imitation blog that is all over the place crazy....
Maybe I am ok with that! I have some things to share and could use some blog-o-sphere advice on things.
See you again soon!
I stopped blogging for a time as I felt like I was "failing at it".
What does that even mean? Well, I will tell you!
Firstly, I didn't want my blog to be some place that I just dump my feelings and air my dirty laundry. I go to people's blogs and read them and follow them and I find them clever and inspiring and purposeful to me, not just the writer. So I wanted my blog to be just like that...and that one and that one and oh yeah, that one {imagine me pointing a each of the blogs I love}.
Every time I tried to sit down and write, I ended up with either some cheap knock-off of a another blog I love. I don't want to do that...I don't want to be the cheap imitation of a blog I love. I want my blog to be purposeful and inspiring.
Secondly, back to the purposeful and inspiring...I have so much on my mind that I feel I could share and help people to get through things or serve a purpose.
Thirdly, I am all over the place all the time. I do so many different things, I have so many interests that I don't really specialize in any one thing. So I fear that I am left with an imitation blog that is all over the place crazy....
Maybe I am ok with that! I have some things to share and could use some blog-o-sphere advice on things.
See you again soon!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Weight Med: Week One Menu
As promised I have created a cleaned up version (without all my scribbles) of the menu I used for week one of the weight med program.
I want for you all to be able to view and print for your own use if you so desire, so I am trying this Box.com program. Lets hope it worked!
Click HERE for the menu download!
I want for you all to be able to view and print for your own use if you so desire, so I am trying this Box.com program. Lets hope it worked!
Click HERE for the menu download!
Weight Med: Friday Update
Happy Friday! Today I am down one pound. That makes my total weight 217.8. When I started on Sunday I was 220.8...so I was up a little yesterday and back down a bit today.
Where am I going wrong? Well, I succumb to break room temptations of pumpkin bars and cheese.
I hope to do better at not being tempted by those foods next week.
There is one other thing slowing my progress: I am not exercising enough. I have been so tired and sluggish that I have not had the energy to do anything remotely close to exercise.
I will have to do something about this.
Yet to come: menus for the first and second week.
TTFN
Amy
Where am I going wrong? Well, I succumb to break room temptations of pumpkin bars and cheese.
I hope to do better at not being tempted by those foods next week.
There is one other thing slowing my progress: I am not exercising enough. I have been so tired and sluggish that I have not had the energy to do anything remotely close to exercise.
I will have to do something about this.
Yet to come: menus for the first and second week.
TTFN
Amy
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