Tossed into the Abyss

I was trying to change the background on my blogger account last night and somehow I deleted my profile instead. Everything I had stated and believed in has been tossed into the abyss...never to return.

Oh I could try and re-write it...but somehow, I think I'd fall short. I guess I've lost my inspiration. I'm defeated. Blogger kicked my ass and now I can't get back up enough strength to land another punch. I have NO CLUE what I did...I tried on a bunch of new looks and instead my profile disappeared. And I'm still wearing the same outfit. How on earth did I spend all that time trying to fix something and end up back where I started?

Hmmm...
words to ponder.

Keep moving forward...

So I just realized it's about a month before Jennifer and Patrick's wedding! OMG...where did the time go? I woke up at 4 am this morning with all sorts of projects clouding my mind. There are programs to make, favors to assemble,escort cards to write,out of town baskets to assemble, bridesmaid gifts to make, etc. This last month before the wedding is crunch time and I'm starting to feel the crunch...

It's such an exciting and stressful time for a bride to be with an upcoming wedding...not to mention having to pack up all her belongings and moving them to Chicago. I'm going to be so sad to have her move away...she's gone this weekend and I already miss her. (Happy 25th Birthday, Patrick!)They closed on their condo on Monday and have been moving some of his belongings while she's there with a car. Oh to be young and in love with your entire life ahead of you! What an exciting time!

Things around our house have been changing. With my (little?) Jakey driving now, he's suddenly become so independant...off being all grown up, coaching a hockey team and leading his football team in workouts. Pretty soon it'll be just the 3 of us in this big house. It's a darn good thing Pat and I still like each other, cuz we sure have been alone a lot lately!

I just don't know where this time has gone? I had so many plans to get things done around here...but so many outside factors have sucked up my time and energy. It's been an emotionally draining year.

So many things I'd love to say to get off my mind...but for now God is getting an earful instead.

PEACE OUT.

Quote for the day

“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.”

~ Mother Teresa

The Great Myth

{for the record: these are REAL VITAMINS! Can you believe it?} No wonder people think we can be SUPERMOMS!

I found a post on a blog this morning {simplemom.net} and it really got me thinking. Go and read: The Great Myth. (click on link)

Wow. Everything I've always thought but couldn't put to words. How true this is. Over the years I've had friends who have commented on things I do...projects I've tackled, etc. They somehow have this illusion that I'm some kind of bundle of energy, accomplishing great things in a single day. Pshaw! Not true.(especially not lately!)


I love how Tsh says "for everything that you do, there are things that you are NOT DOING". That is so true. Look at my house when I've been busy crafting. Total war zone. I am that person who can get so totally immersed in a project that the sink is full of dishes and the laundry is overflowing in the hamper. I am prone to procrastination. I am so thankful that my husband recognizes this and doesn't expect TOTAL perfection. The truth is, our lives have been filled with a constant barrage of distractions. With five kids, I guess that comes with the territory.

I guess what I'm saying is we all do what we can do. I don't judge others at what they accomplish, why would I judge myself? There are times when I accomplish a lot, other times not so much, depending on what's going on in our lives. Sometimes after a long hockey season, planning a bridal shower, a wedding, graduation, home improvement project,(etc.) WE CRASH. It may even take a good month to recover. Usually another "event" happens and that takes us out of the "crash mode" and leads us into "project mode" again. It's a neverending cycle.


"We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are.

As you create a home, don’t get distracted with a lot of things that have no meaning for you or your family. Don’t dwell on your failures, but think about your successes. Have joy in your home. Have joy in your children. Have joy in your husband. Be grateful for the journey." ~Marjorie P. Hinckley


Wow. Words of wisdom spoken like a true mother of five.

Oh Boy...here we go again

So we just went through our 5th child taking a road test. Yeah, I know...he's 17!!! I know he's probably one of the last kids in his class getting his driver's license...(he has told me all of this) but hey- it's a parent's right to wait. I don't take driving lightly and I wanted to be sure he was ready. (and that I was ready.)


Well anyways...he took the test and passed with flying colors. As a matter of fact, the lady told him he was an excellent driver and he did exceptionally well. (YAY!!) So we went from the road test to the DMV and got his license.


And I gave him the keys to my Saturn Aura. And I let him drive by himself. To his friend's house. To his girlfriend's house. To school the next day. To his brother's house. To play hockey. Well you get the point. I let go. I gave up my car for my son to have some freedom. I let go just a little. And I'm sad. Sad that he is approaching the end of his junior year of high school. Sad that he is thinking about going away to college and not staying in town. Sad that he will soon be playing his last season of high school football. and hockey. How did this happen? How on earth did that little boy suddenly become a young man?


Sigh. I don't like this whole soon-to-be-empty-nest thing! Sometimes I wish they were all little kids again.

Quote of the day

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain."

The latest...

Well, we've spent the past two day putting together the wedding invitations. All 200 of them. They are beautiful. From Jennifer's hand calligraphy to the embossed addresses on the back...to the beautifully coordinated ribbon and the monogram stickers we made to seal the envelopements. The design and colors are just spectacular. My girls are amazing. Yes. I said it.

And another thing that is is amazing is my new toy: The XYRON. Okay all you scrapbookers out there are like, "yeah...you just discovered it?" Well you have to take into consideration that I started scrapbooking over 15 years ago way before it was such a craze. I never had all these amazing tools to use. I cut and designed my own papers and pages...used "Mrs. Grossman's stickers" and Creative Memories die cuts... And I'm not gonna lie...they were good- but now with the invention of the Cricut- which cuts paper with expert precision... well, my scrapbook designs pale in comparison. By the way...JoAnn's had the Cricut on sale last week and I got hooked up with an awesome deal...it was over half off! SCORE! Now I just have to find the time to learn how to use it. WOO HOO!

I was just telling someone that I have Jacob's entire life (in undeveloped film) in a brown paper bag in my photo drawer. Yeah...Pretty sure I need to get those developed before they stop using actual film and developing film becomes obsolete. I guess now is the time to cultivate a lost hobby. AFTER THE WEDDING, of course.

I've been busy the past few days dogsitting Jordanne and Dustin's pup, Jack. This dog has some serious separation anxiety, I swear I cannot go to the bathroom without him following me. I've slept on the couch the past two nights because he was wanting to be right by my side. This morning I crawled into my bed at 6 am (after Pat left for work) and both dogs jumped up on the bed. Old man Duke was interested in snoozing and Jack wanted to play. He ran out to grab a toy, and proceeded to flip it high on the bed, shake it like a psycho, pawed at it until I thought he was going to shred my comforter...so I grabbed the toy and threw it. Wrong decision. He thought we were playing fetch. Me and Duke were getting annoyed with this bundle of energy...we just wanted to get a few more hours of sleep. Needless to say, Jack finally succumbed to slumber and when I woke up...it looked as though it snowed in my bedroom. Some time while we were sleeping he tore up the stuffed animal and left snowballs of stuffing all over the floor. Sigh. Oh Jack...you're so darned cute I couldn't even get mad. Even though I am sleep deprived.

Disappointment

Our playoff game ended in double overtime against our cross town rivals. We were robbed. A goal was scored but the refs weren't in position and called off the goal. Everyone saw it, including the goalie from the other team. He admitted it was in and unfortunately, there was no way to contest it. This isn't the NHL...there are no instant replays to "go upstairs" and review the official's call. It was a major disappointment for all the boys who left everything on the ice. We lost with class but it will take a long time to get over it.

Playoffs start tonight

{Photo courtesy of my awesome photographer Jordanne}

What a great action shot of Jacob taking a shot!

Playoffs start tonight and the boys are coming out flying. It's hard to believe the season is almost over. If we win tonight, we play Wednesday night, and the regional final is on Saturday night.

One.game.at.a.time.

Okay so I know this is random...but I got up this morning at 5:30 am to pack Pat's lunch and went back to bed. Like my usual morning routine, I turn on Turner Classic Movies and watch some old movie...sometimes I fall asleep, sometimes I watch the entire movie. Most of the time I tune into a movie that has already started so I have no idea what movie I'm watching.

The movie this morning was a James Mason movie where his wife was hit by a car and he goes to pick up his daughter from a Summer camp. (Camp Climax?) Anyways...the movie was so weird. I am quite certain his {supposed} daughter was involved with the dad. It was creepy! (whether she was the stepdaughter or whatever...it was just WRONG!) I just kept thinking, "I should go out and find out what movie this is" (on our other tv we have an info button that tells you what movie you're watching.) I kept wondering, "...what did I miss? They wouldn't have made a movie like this! I must have missed key plot points!"

ANYWAYS...I fell asleep and have no idea how the movie ended or what it was called...and it has bothered me all morning. I'm disturbed. So I am on a search for James Mason movies to figure out which movie I wasted my early morning hours watching only to fall asleep before it ended. Grr. I hate when I do that.

Oh and by the way? The next movie on TCM was Madame Bovary...and I'm like, "hey, that guy was the dude in the last movie!" Hit INFO button and voila! JAMES MASON! Just in case you thought I was an old movie buff with some kind of knowledge on actors from the 40s-50's...let me just set the record straight. I am NOT.

...so I'm going to spend a minute digging around on google, then I'm off to get the taxes done. Then I have to do FAFSA before midnight tonight. Such an exciting life I lead.

P.S.

"Lolita" was the movie and ahem...yes, it was as weird as I thought. Stanley Kubrick film. 'nuff said.