This afternoon, in order to curb my desire to make and devour a 9x13 pan of chocolate brownies, I ate a morsel of chocolate goodness instead.
Dove's Promises.
They provide the perfect bite of chocolate to stave off those afternoon chocolate cravings. Which I am having. Daily. As I am trying to eat healthier as apart of my *ReDEFINE in 2009* plan.
Anyway, an added bonus in every tasty chocolatey treat (I mean, in the single one that I ate this afternoon) is that there is a written message--or "promise"--inside the foil wrapping. It adds to the fabulousness of the already-delicious splurge.
Really, who wouldn't love to find a secret message inside the wrapper of their chocolate indulgence?
My chocolate-wrapper message for today is: "Take a moment to appreciate others."
So, my Thankful Thursday thoughts fall on *others*.
Which others?
All of them.
I appreciate the post-lady who delivers our mail (and sometimes delivers to our door when there is a package larger than our metal box).
I appreciate the Mr. J Blue who helped me finish my application for a short-term medical insurance coverage plan--which insurance card arrived in the mail today (yay for insurance!).
I appreciate my sweet Mr. H who got the mail (and also cleaned the house, made a big pot of chili, and changed diapers this morning).
I appreciate whomever invented facebook so I could get in touch today with some long-lost friends.
I appreciate my dear friend JJ for helping me clean up after the 'lunch bunch' met at my house today.
I appreciate Baby J sleeping in this morning (well, of course he slept in--he woke up & was fed at 4:30am--not. normal.) so I could sleep in, too.
I appreciate Mr. S (our landlord) for providing this place with important appliances (washer, dryer, dishwasher) that are being used right now.
I appreciate my mother for mothering me so that I could have an excellent foundation for my own daily mothering adventures.
I appreciate so many more, these are just a few from my afternoon, who are the 'others' that you appreciate today?
Thursday
Wednesday
Lessons from my 7 month old
Do you ever feel defeated by your own dreams?
Do you ever think that your goals are too much to realistically reach for?
Do you ever convince yourself it's not worth the effort to try again?
Today Baby J is 7 months old.
I was sitting here, cruising my facebook account (and chatting briefly with one of my favorite cousins) and I saw over the top of my laptop as the following unfolded...
Step 1: Baby J sees what he wants & crawls toward the tall block-design shelves
Step 2: Baby J confidently pulls the entire toy basket off of the shelf
Step 3: The force of the pull plus the weight of the basket cause him to fall over, flip, and land on his belly (pacifier remains perfectly in place)
Step 4: Baby J looks confused, scared, his plan did not play out as he had imagined--he starts to wimper
Step 5: I peek my head to the side of my laptop and smile at him
Step 6: He looks up at me, and with new resolve, smiles back
Step 7: Baby J immediately starts to push himself back up, crawls to the mountain of toys and finds himself even happier than before
I watched as he picked through the pile of colorful trinkets. I praised him for his success and I admired his determination.
I marvelled at the lesson he just taught me: "don't give up", "keep trying", and "it's always worth the extra effort".
Are we born with the desire to try harder, work more efficiently, and keep going?
Is the concept of quit or give up even in our design? Is this something we have learned as we have grown older...?
Perhaps we have to learn again what it means to really want something, and what kind of determination it takes to get there. I suppose that is another reason parenthood is such a divinely instituted part of this life...so we can re-learn our priorities and be reminded how to reach our goals.
What have you learned from children in your life?
Do you ever think that your goals are too much to realistically reach for?
Do you ever convince yourself it's not worth the effort to try again?
Today Baby J is 7 months old.
I was sitting here, cruising my facebook account (and chatting briefly with one of my favorite cousins) and I saw over the top of my laptop as the following unfolded...
Step 1: Baby J sees what he wants & crawls toward the tall block-design shelves
Step 2: Baby J confidently pulls the entire toy basket off of the shelf
Step 3: The force of the pull plus the weight of the basket cause him to fall over, flip, and land on his belly (pacifier remains perfectly in place)
Step 4: Baby J looks confused, scared, his plan did not play out as he had imagined--he starts to wimper
Step 5: I peek my head to the side of my laptop and smile at him
Step 6: He looks up at me, and with new resolve, smiles back
Step 7: Baby J immediately starts to push himself back up, crawls to the mountain of toys and finds himself even happier than before
I watched as he picked through the pile of colorful trinkets. I praised him for his success and I admired his determination.
I marvelled at the lesson he just taught me: "don't give up", "keep trying", and "it's always worth the extra effort".
Are we born with the desire to try harder, work more efficiently, and keep going?
Is the concept of quit or give up even in our design? Is this something we have learned as we have grown older...?
Perhaps we have to learn again what it means to really want something, and what kind of determination it takes to get there. I suppose that is another reason parenthood is such a divinely instituted part of this life...so we can re-learn our priorities and be reminded how to reach our goals.
What have you learned from children in your life?
Monday
Resolutionisms
My theme for the New Year is
Redefine in 2009
And I'm proud to say, 11 days in, I've done some preliminary work on 2 of my goals for the new year...
GOAL 1.
Give something of myself to someone I don't know.
One way to reach goal: Donate to Locks of Love
What I've done so far: I researched the organization, reviewed the rules, and talked with my hair stylist about how to proceed (I have about 5 inches to go, so depending on how fast my hair grows...)
GOAL 2.
Get in better shape, make some lifestyle changes.
One way to reach goal: Run a 5K
What I've done so far: I found a 5K that will be on April 5th in my mother's hometown & recruited some running partners. I began my *training* today!
What are some of your resolutions for the New Year?
Saturday
Enjoying a blissful walk
You know those days where so many things remind you of a significant time in your life that you end up enjoying the memories all day long?
My blissful walk down memory lane began last night. I went to bed in a laughter-induced haze after listening to a tape I made as a missionary with one of my companions, Jackie. She & her so-perfect-for-her-husband made a stop here last night on their way to Miami for a 6 month internship.
Side note: The luxurious Kentucky location of the Harper Hotel will only be in business for 5 more months, folks. You better make your reservations now if you want to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
We were thrilled they were able to stop here on their cross-country trek (they began their journey earlier this week in Portland, Oregon)! We love having guests in our home, spending time with favorite friends, and showcasing the beautiful south! This is the 3rd time that Jackie has visited us in KY, but it was Brian's first visit to the south. I will probably post pics and more about our visit on our family blog later next week...
...back to Memory Lane...
As missionaries for our Church, Jackie and I lived together in Gaia and Porto (Portugal) and had some amazing, life-changing, and hilarious experiences together. Having her here *almost* felt like we were there again--in our little apartment--reviewing the day's events (getting rejected, stepping in rain puddles, receiving cat calls on the streets, finding a 'golden' family, avoiding the talho (butcher shop) on our way home).
It is always surreal to spend time with friends from my time as a missionary. We can laugh about the funniest stories and go back and forth from english to portuguese with ease. And, as always, talking about Portugal makes me miss it even more than I usually do.
After Jackie & Brian left, I received an email from a dear friend in Portugal with whom we visited when we vacationed there last Christmas. Reading his email reminded me of the many times he assured me "nao ha problema" (no problem/there is no problem) during our vacation last year (with delayed flights, altered scheduling, lost baggage, etc) and how at ease he made Mr. H feel during his first days in a foreign country.
This afternoon I was working on a handout for church and stumbled upon a document file on our computer that was labeled "Missionary Emails". I had forgotten about that file and opened it up to find each of the weekly emails I sent to my family during my 16 month stay in Portugal. I read the first two and laughed at my naive comments & curious wonderings. I felt a small piece of that original excitement as a shiny-new missionary.
This evening I logged into my facebook account, thinking in portuguese (and added that as my 'what are you doing now' phrase), and saw my dear friend Sarah online as well. She was my companion while I was studying at the MTC (Missionary Training Center--where you go to learn about how to be a missionary) and also lived with Jackie during her time there. We enjoyed an animated 'chat' sharing our updates and expressing saudades. It was surprising to see her online and especially fun to chat with her today, after just spending some quality time with our shared friend-from-the-mission, Jackie.
Later tonight as I was nursing Baby J, I looked up to see a running slide show from our trip to Portugal on our desktop computer. I smiled as I recognized dear friends in the full-screen photos. I walked further down memory lane, recognizing streets and landmarks of the portuguese experience. For a nano-second I could hear the rush of the waves along the eastern shore and see the umbrella-dotted streets on a rainy afternoon in Oporto.
*SIGH*
Can you feel it?
This is what it means to 'walk down Memory Lane'--all day long--my heart is full and my feet are tired.
The last part of today's blissful journey is remembering that TODAY marks 5 years since I flew home to TN, the final leg on my journey home from my missionary service in Portugal. FIVE YEARS. I cannot believe it has been that long...
In so many ways, it feels like just yesterday I was there...
My blissful walk down memory lane began last night. I went to bed in a laughter-induced haze after listening to a tape I made as a missionary with one of my companions, Jackie. She & her so-perfect-for-her-husband made a stop here last night on their way to Miami for a 6 month internship.
Side note: The luxurious Kentucky location of the Harper Hotel will only be in business for 5 more months, folks. You better make your reservations now if you want to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
We were thrilled they were able to stop here on their cross-country trek (they began their journey earlier this week in Portland, Oregon)! We love having guests in our home, spending time with favorite friends, and showcasing the beautiful south! This is the 3rd time that Jackie has visited us in KY, but it was Brian's first visit to the south. I will probably post pics and more about our visit on our family blog later next week...
...back to Memory Lane...
As missionaries for our Church, Jackie and I lived together in Gaia and Porto (Portugal) and had some amazing, life-changing, and hilarious experiences together. Having her here *almost* felt like we were there again--in our little apartment--reviewing the day's events (getting rejected, stepping in rain puddles, receiving cat calls on the streets, finding a 'golden' family, avoiding the talho (butcher shop) on our way home).
It is always surreal to spend time with friends from my time as a missionary. We can laugh about the funniest stories and go back and forth from english to portuguese with ease. And, as always, talking about Portugal makes me miss it even more than I usually do.
After Jackie & Brian left, I received an email from a dear friend in Portugal with whom we visited when we vacationed there last Christmas. Reading his email reminded me of the many times he assured me "nao ha problema" (no problem/there is no problem) during our vacation last year (with delayed flights, altered scheduling, lost baggage, etc) and how at ease he made Mr. H feel during his first days in a foreign country.
This afternoon I was working on a handout for church and stumbled upon a document file on our computer that was labeled "Missionary Emails". I had forgotten about that file and opened it up to find each of the weekly emails I sent to my family during my 16 month stay in Portugal. I read the first two and laughed at my naive comments & curious wonderings. I felt a small piece of that original excitement as a shiny-new missionary.
This evening I logged into my facebook account, thinking in portuguese (and added that as my 'what are you doing now' phrase), and saw my dear friend Sarah online as well. She was my companion while I was studying at the MTC (Missionary Training Center--where you go to learn about how to be a missionary) and also lived with Jackie during her time there. We enjoyed an animated 'chat' sharing our updates and expressing saudades. It was surprising to see her online and especially fun to chat with her today, after just spending some quality time with our shared friend-from-the-mission, Jackie.
Later tonight as I was nursing Baby J, I looked up to see a running slide show from our trip to Portugal on our desktop computer. I smiled as I recognized dear friends in the full-screen photos. I walked further down memory lane, recognizing streets and landmarks of the portuguese experience. For a nano-second I could hear the rush of the waves along the eastern shore and see the umbrella-dotted streets on a rainy afternoon in Oporto.
*SIGH*
Can you feel it?
This is what it means to 'walk down Memory Lane'--all day long--my heart is full and my feet are tired.
The last part of today's blissful journey is remembering that TODAY marks 5 years since I flew home to TN, the final leg on my journey home from my missionary service in Portugal. FIVE YEARS. I cannot believe it has been that long...
In so many ways, it feels like just yesterday I was there...
Thursday
Thankful Thursday: Jan 8th
Today I am thankful for all things warm & cozy.
It's cold outside --though the sunshine is deceivingly bright--and I have decided to stay inside my warm home all day long. It has been wonderful.
I am thankful for the cuddle time with Baby J and the snuggle time with Mr. H. I am thankful for a day like today when we can relax and pretend like we have no cares in the world (classes haven't started & his work schedule allows him to have most of today off)...prepare for weekend guests and enjoy our last week before the new (and very last of all) semester.
A few of the warm & cozy favorites that I am thinking of with thanks:
-flannel pajamas
-long-sleeve cotton shirts
-footed baby pajamas
-just-out-of-the-dryer sheets
-long scarves
-thick socks
-hot showers
-hot chocolate
-just-out-of-the-dryer anything
-a naked baby (even better: a giggling, naked baby)
-fluffy pillows
-fleece blankets
-hot pink slippers
-just-out-of-the-oven treats
-a mug of lemon tea
-freshly baked bread
-mulled cider candles burning
What are some of your favorite warm & cozies?
Wednesday
Early in the morning
A conversation that just might cause a panic attack:
A girl with care-free confidence: "Oh, I haven't been taking the placebo pills--just taking that week off."
Nurse: "...there are no placebo pills in this prescription."
**blank stare**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
*Negative test results give relief to once-confident girl and the experience teaches her to review information before making such foolish decisions*
A girl with care-free confidence: "Oh, I haven't been taking the placebo pills--just taking that week off."
Nurse: "...there are no placebo pills in this prescription."
**blank stare**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
*Negative test results give relief to once-confident girl and the experience teaches her to review information before making such foolish decisions*
Thursday
Thankful Thursday: Jan 1st
Today is January 1st.
A new start, a new beginning, a new plan, a new theme, a new YOU, a new US, and a new ME.
My theme for this year is: RE-DEFINE in 2009
(hyphen added for emphasis)
When I told Mr. H that this was my vision for the new year, he jokingly asked "so was it Procrastinate in 2008?"
HA.
And, well...maybe so.
*sigh*
I will be making a nice organized list for my re-defining plan, and perhaps I will post it later.
For now, in the spirit of Thankful Thursday I just want to share how thankful I am for an amazing year--even with some procrastination (one of my many flaws)--it was A BRIGHT, BEAUTIFUL year to add to my collection.
This year's experiences taught me about true love (babies do this to you), preparation and unexpected surprises (natural birth plan turns to C-section), reaching for the stars (Mr. H's graduation & beginning grad school), and making dreams come true (becoming a stay-at-home-Mama).
Even with life's challenges and every-day mistakes, what an incredibly blessed year for me as an individual and for US as a family. I have learned, stretched, dreamt, chosen, loved, and been amazed at God's love and tender mercy.
Today I am thankful for a full year of experiences & moments--definitely a year to remember.
A new start, a new beginning, a new plan, a new theme, a new YOU, a new US, and a new ME.
My theme for this year is: RE-DEFINE in 2009
(hyphen added for emphasis)
When I told Mr. H that this was my vision for the new year, he jokingly asked "so was it Procrastinate in 2008?"
HA.
And, well...maybe so.
*sigh*
I will be making a nice organized list for my re-defining plan, and perhaps I will post it later.
For now, in the spirit of Thankful Thursday I just want to share how thankful I am for an amazing year--even with some procrastination (one of my many flaws)--it was A BRIGHT, BEAUTIFUL year to add to my collection.
This year's experiences taught me about true love (babies do this to you), preparation and unexpected surprises (natural birth plan turns to C-section), reaching for the stars (Mr. H's graduation & beginning grad school), and making dreams come true (becoming a stay-at-home-Mama).
Even with life's challenges and every-day mistakes, what an incredibly blessed year for me as an individual and for US as a family. I have learned, stretched, dreamt, chosen, loved, and been amazed at God's love and tender mercy.
Today I am thankful for a full year of experiences & moments--definitely a year to remember.
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