Little Slice of Bliss

edit:   one week later.... still clean!   YES!

I cleaned my desk today...  I won't share my before picture out of pure embarrassment, but here is my nicely organized and clean desk.

A clean desk = a little slice of bliss.  =)

In Honor of Love

Love is on people's minds this time of year, so in honor of this most complex emotion, I give you...
(drum roll please)


Love Quotes

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

- Mother Teresa

" Love is patient and kind, Love is not jealous, conceited, proud or boastful, it is not arrogant, selfish, irritable or rude. Love does not keep a record of wrongs. Love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth, Love never gives up, and its faith, hope and patience never fail. Love is eternal.''

- 1-corinthians 13: 4

"If you would be loved, love and be lovable."

- Benjamin Franklin

"To love a person is to learn the song that is in their heart, and to sing it to them when they have forgotten."

- Anonymous

"At last you kissed me, I could die in waves again, and one good lick of quicksand took..."


- Heather McHugh 

"The decision to kiss for the first time is the most crucial in any love story.   It changes the relationship of two people much more strongly than even the final surrender; because this kiss already has within it that surrender."

- Emil Ludwig

"Dance like no one's watching,

love like you'll never be hurt,

sing like no one's listening,

live like it's heaven on earth"

- William Purky

Kindness in words creates confidence, Kindness in thinking creates profoundness, Kindness in giving creates love.

- Lao Tse

 

There is a time for risky love. There is a time for extravagant gestures. There is a time to pour out your affections on one you love. And when the time comes --seize it, don't miss it. 

-Max Lucado

 

 

 

 

To Cheer Myself Up...

... made a couple little somethings...  you can read about them here

In a Funk

That is pretty much all there is to it.  

If These Trees Could Talk

I'm in a funk.  

Been kind of down.  

Not sure what is going on.  

Winter blues maybe.  

Financial stress maybe. 

Whatever it is... I wish it go away and leave me the heck alone.

If You Were to Lend an Ear...

...at our house, you might hear:
(also known as, things overheard at our house over the last few weeks)

In response to Dad making a hot dog and ramen noodle dinner, Vicki announced, "now THATS dinner!"

Dad: "How long can you fart for, Samm?"

Samm: " About 5 minutes!"  
(in Samm's defense, this was in reference to a video game!)

Upon bringing home her "Amazing Me" poster from school to fill out, Vicki offered the dot-to-dot on it to me as it is an elephant, my favorite animal.  I told her that she is one of the most kind hearted, generous and thoughtful little girls I have ever known.  In response, she said, "That makes my heart beat loud."    =)

Resolute

Happy New Year!

Happy 2011!

Happy back-to-school! 

Happy now-I-have-to-shed-this-christmas-weight-on-top-of-what-i-was-already-trying-to-lose.

Yes, it's that time of year again.  You take a deep breath and realize that you have re-organize your storage to fit in your Christmas loot, step up your exercise to make up for all the treats and not exercising over the holiday season, and do some fancy accounting to pay for it all. 

We tried to keep the gifts giving simple this year.  Well, more like, we had no choice.  Going back to being a one income family means less money for gift buying, party going and well, pretty much everything.   But, we had a most marvelous time just being with family and enjoying the simple things.

There still seemed to be plenty of loot under the tree.  Granted we also had gifts for 10 people under there.

My favorite part is the stockings... all hung in a row... 

And of course, the faces of my loved ones as they opened gifts and .... well I don't have a lot of those pictures, as I was quite busy helping Vicki play Santa and drinking as much coffee as humanly possible.  I barely that night.  Call it the anticipation of seeing the kids open their presents... the excitement of seeing if Santa had truly arrived, or the joy of contemplating the gift of Christ some 2000 years ago.

Whatever it was, I was a walking zombie.  But a very content and Christmas-joy-filled mom. 

 

Darin's parents were with us over Christmas.  What a blessing they are!  How many people do you know who truly love and enjoy their in-laws?  I do.

Christmas wrapped up a year of change and growth for our family.  We are thankful for all we have, and all the memories we have created together.

Looking into the year lying ahead of us now, we know it will bring more change and growth.  As I search for a part-time job, as Samm heads to 16 and **gulp** driving, as the big kids continue to work out their plans for school, jobs and how to make it as emerging adults in this tough economy, and the regular every day stuff of life. 

I don't make New Year Resolutions.  I don't believe in them.  Can't say I have ever seen anyone keep one.  Instead, I will share the areas in my life where I am putting some focus and have been and will continue to try to grow in.

1. To take better care of my body and my health.  I don't want to take for granted my good health.  I want to actively contribute to and sustain it.
2. To be less judgmental, but instead be ready with a kind word, thought, deed and prayer for any and all who need it.
3. Make sure my husband and children know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are loved and adored by me.  I will give of my heart and my time to them.
4. More time with God, in His Word and in His Presence.
5. To make a little time each day to spend on my talents and passions.  

May the year ahead bring each you blessings of peace and joy.  May your home be warm, and your cupboards full.  May your family grow closer and experience contentment in each other.  May your heart be filled to capacity.  May your cup runneth over.