Hold on and enjoy the ride

Sometimes I like to spend some time inside my own head... blogging helps me go there- to that quiet place in the far back corners of my mind...but lately life has gotten busy- sometimes crossing over into stressful busy. Even exciting events can cause stress and drain us of our JOY. I've been really trying to enJOY the exciting events without feeling too stressed out, but I must admit I'm starting to feel the effects and I don't like it.

This morning on the way home from the train station (45 min. drive) I listened to "A Purpose Driven Life". I've been trying to do it every day during the 40 days of lent, although I got a little behind and was catching up during my 45 minutes of "down time". All I can say is it spoke to my heart and I felt a sudden rush of calm over me.

People, relationships, and love are what matter most in life. So today I make a conscious effort to relax, hold on, and enJOY the ride. These are the best days of our lives. This time of planning bridal showers and weddings and graduations are exciting events that we need to have fun with.

After all, nothing else really matters because in the end, "...only 3 things remain: Faith, Hope, and Love, and the greatest of these is Love." 1Corinthians 13:13

UPDATE

On the Fridays during lent, I have decided to UNPLUG from the cyber world. I tell you, it's been really difficult to stay away from the computer for an entire day when catching up on email gets to be as important as getting your daily mail from the mailbox. I've realized how dependent I've become on the computer just to do something as simple as looking up a quick recipe or looking up a phone number to the local pizza joint. Needless to say, I'm finding myself busy doing other things and have gotten kind of slack in my daily blog posts.

This shower planning has consumed a large part of my days lately. We got the invites mailed out on Thursday night and first thing on Friday morning I got feedback. Everyone so far has loved them... We've gotten a few calls saying they couldn't make it since it is EASTER Saturday and some people will be on spring break. It definitely wasn't MY plan to have it that weekend, the following weekend would have been better...but I am not the only one planning this bridal shower so we worked around everyone's schedules.

We ended up sending out 130 invitations. (Yes, CRAZY!!!!) It seems we have differing opinions on who gets invited to bridal showers... so we were told to invite all the females on the groom's family's guest list. We only invited family and close friends from our list. Right now, we are planning on around 50-100 to show up. YIKES.

I think I need XANAX. I would love to say so much more...but I don't know who reads this and I wouldn't want to STEP ON ANYONE'S TOES. God forbid, I've apparently done that enough lately.

Ten days off?

Back photo on the bridal shower invite. I don't have pics of the invites so you will have to trust me on this for now.

Front photo on the shower invitation. Jordanne was a perfect "Audrey Hepburn" model. We had so much fun out at the studio that day. This is going to be so much fun!

I must say I gave up on my dreams of owning a Dyson for financial reasons...but I found out I can still get the job done as well with this little number. And HALF the price! Doesn't take much to make this girl happy!

Where on earth have I been? I can't believe it's been 11 days since I last posted.

Well this past week Pat was laid off. Working in the auto industry is pretty scary these days. He goes back to work today and as much as I've enjoyed having him around, it's time to go back. (we need the money!) I'm thankful for all the help he's given me around the house this week. We've accomplished quite a bit.

I got a new vacuum with our income tax refund. As much as I wanted a Dyson, I got a SHARK INFININTY which is half the price of a Dyson, and according to consumer reviews, it's comparable in the performance department. My Oreck was 10 years old and was basically blowing the dust back into the air. Let me just say, I was grossed out at how much dust and dirt was in my house. I can't even tell you how many times we had to empty the cannister. All I can say is YUCK. To think we were living with all that filth. I slept soundly that night knowing my world was rid of all that grossness.

The bridal shower plans are coming along pretty good. A few little bumps in the road, (which aren't even worth mentioning), but we got the invitations ordered and expect to have them addressed and mailed out by early this week. Jennifer and Jordanne worked on designing the invitations and Jen finalized them. Those two girls sure have some talent. Brains AND Beauty...and I'm not biased.

Game over

Our hockey team lost in the pre-regional game tonight. We have lost 3 years in a row to this team. I hate to lose, but it's even worse when you live with the coach. I just know how much he believed in his team, how much time he's put into them...sigh. I know in the big scheme of things, it's only a game, but for once it would be nice if we came out on top. It's been a long season and I can't say I'm sad that it's over. Time to move on.

I'm still feeling pretty crummy. I looked at my tonsils in the mirror tonight and I definitely have white spots on them. My neck is swollen and hurts to move. I feel like I have a fever and all I could think is: GET ME HOME to get into my jammies and curl up on the couch.

On the way home, I passed a cop car and automatically tapped my brakes. Yes, I was speeding and I knew I was busted! Dang. So of course he spun around and pulled me over. He said I was going 51 in a 30. NO WAY!!! (I still do not believe I was going that fast...maybe 45?)

When I reached into my purse, the cop said, "Ma'am, is that a can in your purse?"

I was like, "Ohmygosh, officer, it's a can of diet coke! I'm a mom with 5 kids, I have a fever and strep throat and I was on my way home from a hockey game...I just live a block away!"

Cop: "why does that give you right to speed?"

Me: "I wasn't saying I have a right to speed, I was just telling you that I'm NOT DRINKING! I'm sitting here listening to A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE, for goodness sakes!" (He looks over at the passenger seat and there's a book laying on the seat titled: MY MONESTARY IS A MINIVAN!)

He walks back to the cop car with license, registration, and proof of insurance. I'm sitting there just running this through my mind. In all my 45 years, I have never gotten a speeding ticket. My info button on my car says I drive an average of 25 miles per hour, for pete's sake! Twenty one miles over the limit is like a wreckless driving ticket! My insurance is going to go up! What am I going to do?

Cop: "Ma'am, did you see that police car that just went by?"

Me: "No, I didn't."

Cop: "Well, it was the chief of police and if he would have stopped, I was going to have to give you a ticket. I'm gonna let you go tonight."

Me: "Thanks, officer." (huge sigh of relief)

Yep, I'm getting my jammies on and curling up on the couch.
Is this week over yet?

Meltdown moment

So today I bubbled over. I hadn't realized that things were bugging me as much as they were...I guess I was successful living in denial for a while...darn it anyways, I couldn't find my rose colored glasses in time. (I'm still searching, by the way.)

I know I'm getting sick and that always magnifies things larger than life. I have a sore throat, swollen glands, body aches, exhaustion, and an all over general feeling of malaise. (whatever that is.) I just had a meltdown to Pat on the phone during his lunch hour. I hate when I do that. I'm not usually a sniveling, whiny, crybaby but I guess I was today... and that great guy I married told me it was okay. Okay that I got it all off my chest and as I'm apologizing for dumping on him while he's at work, he's still telling me it's okay to let it out. As if he doesn't have enough on his plate. He told me to go sit in a sunny window and pray.

So a million little things all joined together and suddenly added up to a big heap of garbage on my chest. I could not stop the tears. One little thing after another came to mind, and I spilled and I cried, and I purged. I wished I could say I felt better, but right now, I still feel pretty crummy having this pity party for one.

Perhaps I need a nap...like Rip Van Winkle.

Trying to clear the clutter... and just keepin' it real

Dishes are never-ending in our house.

This is a common site outside of Jordanne's room. When she cleans her room, all the unwanteds get pushed out into the hallway. I wish I could say inside the room was tidy, but she's a girl in transition. (moving stuff into her soon-to-be-home when she gets married.)

Our spare bedroom which is actually even messier now since I've been trying to purge stuff...it's the room that I plan to use as my sewing room one day. I did hear rumors that Jen is moving back home in the fall, so maybe Jordy's room will be my sewing room. *notice that the window trim is still not finished since the installation of windows 3 years ago. It is the last one to finish and since there is no urgency and hockey season is still in full swing...well, it's low on the priority list.

This is the condition of my bedroom right now. It needs to be dusted and vacuumed with piles of clothes to be put away.

A typical teenage boy's room. In the "west wing" I just close my eyes and shut the doors. Perhaps not the best way to deal with things, but it keeps my sanity. Check out the jar of pretzels! Oh, and FYI, that is NOT a noose hanging from the ceiling...it's a lazy boy's way of turning off the light. Heaven forbid he'd have to walk an extra foot over to the wall switch!

This is what's waiting for me right now. A good day spent doing laundry is always cathartic. Notice the washer is up on a wood block because there is something leaking underneath and with Pat's bicep surgery (and coaching hockey) he hasn't had a chance to order the part. There is a broiler pan under the washing machine which is catching the leaks. NIIICE!

...Just keepin' it real!

Not only am I trying to purge the clutter in my head, I'm trying to clear the clutter in my house. For some reason by the end of hockey season I feel like a frazzled, unorganized mess. During lent, I am working on freeing my mind from clutter. Instead of dwelling on the gloom and doom in the world, instead of worrying about Pat's job situation or being fearful and full of worries, I am dwelling on Philippians 4:8 and refreshing my mind:

>>Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.<<

So while I am attempting to change my mind and heart, I figured I would put the wheels in motion and take some action in my home. My heart, mind, and dwelling place can all be symbolic of the freedom from clutter I am trying to rid myself of during lent.

Uh...except I don't know where to start. Everywhere I look there are piles of stuff, dishes to do, laundry to do, paperwork to be sorted, purged, and filed, dust and dirt to be swept and washed, toilets to be scrubbed...well, you get the picture. It's the end of hockey season and my house has taken its toll. *(Mom, if you're reading this, PLEASE HELP!!!!! I could use your mighty fine organizational skills about now. Don't worry, It's not as bad as Aunt Darlene's house...YET.)

So today I'm going to crank on some music and start with one room, picking up the stuff everyone has laying around... I'm going to forget the fact that I'm overwhelmed and frazzled... I'm going to put a load of clothes in the wash, start the dishwasher, sort some mail.

...BABYSTEPS.

...and I will dwell on good things. Cheerfully... Once I find my rose colored glasses in this mess.

Gettin' Punchy

Oh I couldn't resist that corny title for this blog post.

Yesterday Jennifer and I went out "thrifting" in search of props for the bride-to-be's shower. We are trying to capture the feel of the movie, "Breakfast at Tiffany's". We went to Goodwill and to the Thrift Store and neither place had that perfect black lampshade hat, little black dress, or black gloves that we wanted for the photo shoot. (needed for the invitations) So far we have the pearls and the cigarette holder. These invitations have to be ordered by next week so we can get them out soon.

Anyways...as we were thrifting, I stumbled upon a box down low in the home goods section. This was a box of assorted punch bowl cups...the box was marked 10 cents each. OH HEAVENLY DAY!!!! I spent under $7 for the box. (69 cups to be exact) Unfortunately, I had to spend a good part of this morning pulling off stickers and washing them but what FUN!!!!! They will be a perfect touch to the BRUNCH. Can you just see a lovely "Tiffany Blue" lemonade served in these?

Now I can't wait to go to the other thrift store. This was my first experience at thrifting and I hit the jackpot on the first try!!! I was just thinking how long it would have taken me to search for that many cups...

I spent time with Diane last night discussing our menu plan...Now I'm really getting excited for this shower.