Honoring the Sabbath

We Went to church this morning and have spent the day lounging around, drinking coffee, talking, laughing, and basically enjoying Pat's last day of vacation. HONORING THE SABBATH. Tomorrow things return to business as usual: Pat back to work, Jake back to school, and me starting my first day of Fat Camp. Okay...not Fat Camp, let's call it FITNESS CAMP.

The first Monday of the New Year seems like a good day to start my Fitness Journey. They say it takes 20 days to break a habit although it takes 21 days to form a habit. I wonder why that is? Well, I just so happen to have 20 -21 days to spare- to test this "theory" out firsthand. Count me in. I'm up for the challenge. Perhaps I might even become "addicted" to exercising along the way.

Of course, with Jennifer's wedding coming up on May 1st, I must shamelessly admit, I do have ulterior motives to testing out this theory. Actually, I have exactly 40 reasons. I would be elated to tackle even 20 of these pesky reasons. So the Journey begins. Come along for the journey.

So today I started reading a new book: The Christmas sweater. Every year I try to read a good Christmas book...and of course, I'm a little behind. (The story of my life.) Anyways...I started this book and without a doubt, I think it's a fast read. I'm already hooked.

Of course, I did have to use my little pair of old lady "cheaters". Oh yes, I did say say old lady. I bought them at Michael's one day out of desperation. I realized I could barely read something on the back of a skein of yarn. So not only am I noticing that my arms aren't long enough due to the onset of presbyiopia, I am facing the hard cold facts of the natural progression of aging on one's body. It's not bad enough that grey hair, wrinkles, and the pull of gravity changes the way we look, now I have to get glasses to boot! In all of my 46 years, my eyesight has been something I've been able to boast about! I have never had my eyes tested because I had perfect vision...and now, here we are (both Pat and I) needing reading glasses. What's worse is that they detected a bit of a distance prescription needed too. So on Friday, I pick up my glasses. Ugh. I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with this. We'll see if I get motion sickness while wearing them.

Will dance for food

I've decided I want my dog's life. I want to lay around in the sunny spot or curl up on a pillow on the couch all day... I could chase a squirrel and dance for food a couple times a day for exercise, sit around looking adorable while people pick me up and cuddle me on their lap. Oh what a life...no worries about paying bills, going on a diet, or fighting with the cable company. I'm pretty sure dogs have no stress other than worrying if someone will come home in time so they can go outside to lift their leg...and on that note-

I got to sleep in late this morning...I woke up to the smell of coffee brewing, called my mom, did some dishes, and took care of some business for the hockey team. Before I knew it, we had to leave to go to the hockey game. (We lost 5-1) When we got home, I threw some steaks on the grill and got in my jammies. Hmmm. My life sounds a lot like my dog's life already.

Happy New Year!

" 2010 is the Year of Jen!"

I can't believe our dear sweet daughter Jennifer will be 25 years old on February 7th and married on May 1st. This is her year...an end to the long distance relationship which has been an exercise in patience. Her and Patrick have been dating since May 1, 2002 of their junior year of high school. After graduation, Patrick went to Notre Dame for 4 years, then got a job in Chicago...the whole time Jennifer was living here in Michigan, going to the local university, starting her photography business, visiting him in South Bend, then Chicago. She will be the first person to say it wasn't EASY...but I would venture to guess she has learned a valuable lesson in perserverence.

"Missing someone gets easier every day because even though you are one day further from the last time you saw them, you are one day closer to the next time you will." ~author unknown

So today, being day ONE of 2010, I figured I would start the new year off with a bit of organization. I cleaned out my silverware drawer, knife drawer, utensil drawer, and the lazy susan. (which was a total mess) There's just something about organizing that gives you a sense of accomplishment. I realize I'm starting with baby steps, but it's at least a START. Tomorrow I plan to tackle my pantry.

We Interrupt this blogging break for a brief announcement

...Man, when did we get old? Note to self: I need a haircut.On the eve of this NEW YEAR...
After many months of escaping the blogging world to allow myself to get caught up with my life...I decided to come back to my sad little neglected blog...where I dump my thoughts for nobody (or everybody) to read...where I feel like something I do doesn't get undone, dirty, or need washing...Where something in my day gets documented somewhere and I know my existence mattered if only for a brief blip in time to a handful of people.

The eve of a New Year is filled with promise: of hopes and dreams and aspirations. I feel excitement for what lies ahead; the unknown. I have faith that God will not give us more than we can handle, yet believe that He will give us exactly what we need.

With that being said... This is the pile of presents under our tree on Christmas morning. Talk about an obscene amount of gifts. Everybody was home...including Jordanne and Dustin (who live a mile away) Ryan and Josh (five miles away), Ryan's girlfriend Shelby even stayed overnight, and Jen and Jake (who still live at home). It was a wonderful Christmas morning spent with family, laughter, and tons of paper shredding being done by the dogs. We made a huge breakfast and lounged around most of the day watching movies and playing video games. Ah...how we love our laid back Christmas holiday.

I hate to use the word RESOLUTION...because it seems so short lived. Instead I will say that the promise of a New Year gives me hope that I can be a better person by the grace of God. I want to be more postitive, more uplifting, encouraging. I want to be kinder to others and kinder to myself. I want to exercise more, complain less. I want to see the good in others and hope others can see the good in me. I want to care more about people than things, to live simply instead of simply living. And on that note...it's time to clean up this mess.

There's no time like the present!

It'll be nice to start off the New Year with a clean house.

Happy New Year!

We'll be seeing a lot more of me around here this year. Ta- ta for now.

okay, okay, I know...

The new MR. AND MRS.! (courtesy of Badoux photography)

What a mighty fine looking brood of kids if I do say so myself! ( These pics are stolen off Jordy's blog...thanks, Jordy!)

Okay, so I've been a little preoccupied. Truth be known...I've been pretty much on a total summer blog withdrawl. I have actually even AVOIDED my own blog because I just knew I had gotten so far behind and felt as though I couldn't catch up. And then it hit me! This is MY BLOG and I can write the rules.

I could talk about how Jennifer moved back home to save money for her wedding. I could show pictures of Josh's prom. I could talk about how that prom date has turned into a new girlfriend... I could talk about how I planted my garden and post pictures of beautiful zucchini and summer squash, broccoli, beans, tomatoes, etc. I could mention Joshua's high school graduation, as well as his grad party. I could post about celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary and mention how after 25 years my husband still makes me laugh- the very quality in him that I fell in love with. I could discuss how I felt when Josh informed us one week before Jordanne's wedding that he was moving out...and moving in with his big brother. I could talk about wedding details and planning and post cute as hell pictures of the many talents of my girls. I could talk about how much fun the wedding reception was, about how absolutely PERFECT everything was, how I did.not.want.the.night.to end...because it was seriously THE MOST FUN I've had since my own wedding reception! I could tell you about how our entire family danced the night away, how Ryan singled out one of the Victoria's Secret girls *(she works there with my two girls) as his evening dance partner and is now dating her thanks to the matchmaking skills of his two sisters. I could tell you about the HUGE emotional crash after such a big event in your life, about a brief glimpse of an empty nest the weeks following the wedding. Not only did Josh move out, Jordanne did too, and Dustin, who had been here nearly every day for the past five years. Jen went to Chicago and Jacob was at football camp... and on and on and on.

But folks:

Things around here are a- changin'- fast...and now we have our oldest and youngest children living with us...for only 8 more months. The summer is coming to an end...the smell of "Football" is in the air as Joshua started football training camp at SVSU and Jacob started "two-a-days" in high school. I don't feel as "needed" in many ways, but that's okay. My kids are finding their wings to fly. So instead, Pat reaps the benefits of my need to dote on someone... and in the meantime we've got Wedding #2 (MAY 1!)to plan. It's a good thing to keep me focused and out of misplaced mommy depression.

As I said, I could mention it all...and post pictures...but maybe I'll do that another day. For now, I just have to figure out how to get the pictures off my camera without the assistance of one of my girls.

Trying to find the end of the rainbow

...I know it's out there, somewhere... you know, that pot'o'gold... or even that silver lining has to be out there lurking in the nearest rain cloud. I know it's there.

I am just growing so weary trying to find it.

Let me just say that I have tested the strength of my heart and I have passed the stress test. I am still standing and have graciously conceeded. I was run over by the Mack truck and got back up. I am Rocky. I can take a punch. I am woman, hear me roar. Or perhaps I am just a wimp who backs down from a self -professed "strong woman"?

What's up with all the metaphors, idioms, and/or similes, you ask? Please explain, you query? Oh, where to begin...

Hmm...let's just say that: it's her wedding and I'll cry if I want to. Better yet, let me briefly explain:

Mother of Bride asks bride what she wants her to wear to said wedding. Bridesmaids are wearing knee length dresses, bride wants mothers to follow suit and coordinate with complimentary colors for photographic eye appeal. (said bride happens to be a photography major.) Mother of Bride complies with bride's wishes and with etiquette rules. She then emails Mother of Groom a web link of her dress and specifies exact color of her dress. Mother of Groom then waits one month before said wedding to purchase her dress. She gets the EXACT same color dress as the Mother of Bride, only hers is a formal floor length gown with beading. Basically Mother of Bride appears to be underdressed and outdone. The rules of etiquette have just been broken and there's no turning back. Was this intentional?

Mother of Bride calls MOG and invites her out for coffee to discuss last minute wedding details... while on the phone, small talk ensues...discussions of wedding plans warms the icy chill in the air. A brief mention of dresses and then MOB inquires about what she already knows as truth: the color and length of MOG's dress. (oh how gingerly MOB tiptoed in her new silver blingy strappy sandals from Zappos.) MOB happens to be oh so very considerate to other's feelings and was raised by grandmother of the bride to abide by the GOLDEN RULE. (to treat others how you would want to be treated.) hmmm... MOG must not have gotten the memo.

In the end, MOG wins. MOB backs down. MOG doesn't care what MOB thinks, what the bride wants, what kind of statement she is making, what others will think, what's proper etiquette, etc. Nobody can tell her what to wear, what color to wear, what length to wear, or what NOT TO WEAR.

Gosh, where's STACY AND CLINTON when you need them?

Shame on me

I know, I know...I've been scolded by a few people (who actually read my blog)...I have been missing in action and inquiring minds WANT TO KNOW! Where have I been?

Truth be known, I've had Post-Traumatic-Fun-(but-Stressful)-Let down and I have been in recovery. I am now gearing up for the next round of Fun (but-stress). That would be Joshua's graduation/party. The graduation is on Sunday, June 7th, the party is Saturday, June 13th. We have been busy and frantically getting our yard/house/garage ready for the big event... I have come to the conclusion that if anyone wants to come to see if I have dusted my ceiling fans...then they really aren't my friend and have no business at my house.

I have been adding a new workout routine to my daily 3 mile walks. I am trying to pare down my curvy self...(to no avail) I know I feel better, but the fact remains: I would have been a fine model for a Renaissance painter.

Speaking of chub... I just flashed to a visual of a woman I saw wearing a very short red "skort" yesterday at a parade. Somebody needs to tell her that first of all...a woman over forty has NO BUSINESS wearing something like that out in public. Secondly, I mean, I know I have some cellulite...but this woman had CELLULITE! I am not making fun, but simply an observation: Honey, do us all a favor- Keep it under a pair of jeans or capris- thank-you-very-much! I didn't even know cellulite came on the top of the thigh too? Knees? calves? Yowza! And of course, the fact that she was so ghastly white didn't help matters. I will never look at cottage cheese the same. Okay, that was mean...but I'm just sayin'...

On that note, I need to get my butt in gear and hit the treadmill.