I had a diary once. My mom and I read through it (though I don’t think it was her first time :)  not too long ago and about died laughing at a) the huge gaps between days and b) the references to “I hate my mother but I love Mrs. Baker” — My 6th grade math teacher. What was that about? I hate math. But I remember Mrs. Baker. She was awesome. I remember being embarrased to give her the note from my father after he helped (heh) me with my homework. The notes went something like this “Dear Mrs Baker, the answers in the back of the book to problem #’s 1, 2, 3 (examples) are wrong.” And then would follow a few lines of how that problems should have been constructed.

I think I was the teachers pet though. Go figure.

Anyhow, that’s enough for today, Diary.

I am tired of feeling 12.

TTFN!

April

I went to the bookstore today. I love books. I love reading. Bookstores have a love/hate relationship with my “self”. More like the Mother Roller coaster ride of all times. They make me happy and excited at all the possibilities to devote my time too. And they make me hate my self at the same time, thinking “I will NEVER get to all these books! This book tells me I should be doing this and that with my 3 yr old by now and I haven’t even done the “this”. Headache forming. Self worth shrinking. Then I see a book on time management and I think “oh, I could do that suggestion.” And hope struggles to climb the ladder out of despair. The deep abyss I have let myself wind down in to.

I have to laugh at myself. A good, hearty laugh. And then a smirk. It’s funny how you can get so excited, energized even, over the things that you “want to do” and then in the next minute, the pieces of the flesh colored balloon head fall to the ground over the things you “should do.”

Then I got an idea. “Why don’t I pick a book and blog on it?” You know. Buy XYZ book and read it and follow it and blog on it…oh yeah. Wasn’t that a movie called “Julie/Julia” or something like that? I swear I had the idea first.

“Celebrate the little things.

Celebrate progress.

Celebrate each day. Find things to celebrate.”

A wedding is the obvious celebration of two people being joined together. Sadly, statistics say that, what…50% of married couples (?) don’t continue to celebrate staying married?

I don’t want to be a statistic.

I have reason to celebrate. I think my husband is awesome. He’s such a gift from God. He’s funny. Intelligent. Witty. And oh-so-sexy!

So I am taking my own advice and celebrating.

(I.A.G.)

It’s All Good.

Completely

–adjective

1. having all parts or elements; lacking nothing; whole; entire; full: a complete set of Mark Twain’s writings.

2. finished; ended; concluded: a complete orbit.

3. having all the required or customary characteristics, skills, or the like; consummate; perfect in kind or quality: a complete scholar.

4. thorough; entire; total; undivided, uncompromised, or unmodified: a complete victory; a complete mess.

(taken from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/completely)

My thoughts: Be entirely humble. Total. Undivided in humbleness. Don’t compromise being humble. Consumed humble. Lack nothing to be humble. Have all parts of humble.

* Designate a shelf in your fridge for leftovers. Keep them in a clear container so they are easy to view. (my own little add on: perhaps label the date with a dry erase marker.)

* Designate one night a week for leftovers (goes with the nugget above)

* Keep a menu plan on the fridge so that your family does not snack on the items you’ve set aside for those meals

* Keep a list of snacks  for your family to see, so they know what to snack on (goes with above)

* Don’t overbuy perishable foods

* Have items in pantry on hand for “convenience” meals. Easy meals include: pasta, chili, soups, homemade pizza, soft tacos, chicken pot pie

Kindly,

April

Your Road Map For Success  - John Maxwell  (reading this now)

Eat the Cookie, Buy the Shoes - Joyce Meyer (reading this now)

Total Money Makeover - Dave Ramsey

(more to come)

I’ve been watching Joyce Meyer’s Relentless series on podcast. She was talking about how often times we lose the amazement of what God is doing in our lives and I believe this will lead to some dry areas of our lives. She mentions paying attention to the “winks” God gives. You know, when something happens in your life when you know it was just from God. Giving you a little wink saying “I see you. I love you.”  Ex: The other day I lost something very important and was getting mad at myself. Very upset. Well, a little while later, my daughter came up to my husband holding the very thing I had lost. Relief! (wink).  Or when you are looking up at the sky and you see a shooting star. (wink). Or when you happen to go by your favorite product at the grocery store and it’s on sale and there is a coupon! ha (wink). I hope to go on an on…just not in this post.

 But putting away laundry that has been sitting on the couch, hidden in the ‘office’ of our house….that’s just laziness. Oh well. Better late than never! ugh.