Encouragement

I have started to really love Five-Minute Friday.  You're given a word and you just write in a stream-of-consciousness for five minutes.



Today's word:  Encouragement

Go.

Encouragement is a big word.  It doesn't, however, have to be a big action.

I find that encouragement (for me) is often found in the little things ... an hand squeeze... a text to say "hi"... a look... a hug.

For children, however, it's another creature... they spend their days in a classroom where they're not supposed to disagree with an instructor because that's rude.  They're taught that challenging authority is frowned upon and disrespectful.  They must, however, be given encouragement to stand up for their rights, beliefs and opinions even if it means that they are questioning the very authority from which they learn.

As a parent, you have to fill them to the brim with encouragement so that they have the internal framework with which to fight those fights  Encouragement lets them be comfortable in their own skin.  They know that as they expend their courage, their cups will be continually filled with the encouragement of you and others.

This is a great way team sports operate successfully -- through the encouragement of each other.  To be successful at individual sports, you have to have an inner drive like no other.  However, in a team environment, you can really dig deep with the encouragement of others.

It's powerful.

Stop.

You're Welcome

It's time again for Sunday Stealing.  Where they steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Today's meme is The Fast Dozen.

What is the last book that you passed on to someone else to read?  Dog Heaven.  I had a friend recommend this book to me when we lost our dog so I purchased it... then had a friend have to put their dog down and I gave it to her to share with her boys to help them grieve.

The one song you secretly or not so secretly want to sing at karaoke?
I'm not afraid to sing anything at karaoke within my vocal range, obviously.  I just don't make a habit of it anymore since the bar scene really isn't my thing.  

If you had to pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?
I wouldn't.  

What do you wish your administrator or boss would notice?
I am my own boss.  I wish I would notice that I'm important, too, and to make MYSELF a priority more often.

What is your biggest pet peeve?
There are far too many to list.  When you're OCD, things tend to get on your nerves a lot more easily than your average bear.  Not my biggest, but one that just came to mind was the fact that I received an e-mail on Friday from a business that contained not one, but TWO grammatical errors.  I really wish that people would take more care in their communications when they are representing a large business.  

What holds you back in pursuing your biggest dream?
Priorities.  My family is my priority.  My children are my priority.  My needs are taken care of.  My wants are being pursued slowly until I can dive in head first in an active pursuit.  Until then, I'm content.  I haven't taken my eye off of my biggest dream.  It's still there.  

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Why do you think you are a lovable person?
The better question is -- Why wouldn't I?  And even if I'm not, look at this cute pig!

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If every day had an extra hour in it, what would you do with it? 
Breathe.  It's very important to breathe.  If you don't, you'll be dead.  Unless there are smelly socks... then death may be a better option.

The last song you turned up in your car or house was?
Heard this on the satellite radio this morning.  

What is a secret talent you may have?
I'm Batman.

Your favorite thing to do outside when it's not too cold out in the winter?
Hike

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How do you respond if someone asks you an inappropriate or nosy question?
It depends on who they are.  I tend to be truthful to a fault.  Furthermore, I believe that people ask questions because they want to know.  What they choose to do with the information they receive is not really my problem.  Therefore, I am quite judicial with the amount of DETAILS I may provide.  If it's MY information to share, generally speaking, I'm happy to oblige.  I mean, I ask lots of nosy questions, but it's generally because a) I want to know and b) I care.  I wouldn't ask if I didn't care.  I don't really consider many things "inappropriate" because filter levels for "decency or political correctness" are particularly arbitrary.  If we all refrained from asking what we want to know because we may deem a question inappropriate, we would never move away from walking on egg shells around everyone.  We share because we care.  Right?

That being said, if someone asks something I don't want to answer, I will spew complete and utter nonsense or 100% sarcasm back at them.  

Then again, I spew that every day... so people probably don't know what they're getting with me 99% of the time anyway.

It's a gift.

You're welcome.

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That's My Kinda Night

Saturday 9: That's My Kind of Night

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.  I'm not familiar with Luke Bryan.

1) In this song, our hero offers to take his girl down to the river to catch a catfish dinner. What is your favorite seafood?  While I don't consider catfish true seafood, I do love me some fish.  As far as actual food from the "sea", I enjoy shrimp... crab, crab legs, lobster.... I'm not big on squid, oysters or clams.  I've never eaten anything really adventurous like shark or anything. Grilled scallops are DEEEEEEElicious!!!  

2) Luke Bryan went to Georgia State University, home of the Panthers. What was your school mascot?  Elementary school - Torchlighters (don't ask, I have no idea.... those who light the torches of others.)  Junior High - Lions.  High school - Vikings.  Post-high school, I'm a bit of a mutt because I have attended several schools.  However, the one and only I hold any allegiance to is Texas Tech.... but that's just loosely because I don't need a label with which to identify. They do sport two of my favorite colors, however.  :)  My husband played football there... and my dad attended there as well... so we're a little bit of a Red Raider family.

3) Have you ever tried acupuncture?  
Not only no, but HELL NO.  The thought of some freak sadist putting needles in my flesh... while I just willingly lay there doesn't give me cause for rejuvenation or relaxation.  It completely stresses me out just thinking about it! Being a human pincushion is not something on my bucket list.  I've heard it works wonders so perhaps if I were ever in need to be poked, I would consider it... I'm not, however, so I won't.

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4) Just last night, Crazy Sam threw away a jar of Miracle Whip because it expired in September 2013. Is your refrigerator neat and organized? Or is it a disaster area, like Sam's?
I try to keep it neat and tidy and I purge it routinely.  I'm rather OCD about the organization of my pantry and fridge.  However, it's allowed to fall into disarray from time to time when there are gobs of leftovers.  See my fridge below... 

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What...does't EVERYONE have a rabbit in their fridge?  I kid.  I kid.  

5) Which is more important to you -- saving time or saving money?
I believe time IS money so saving time IS saving money.  I have a busy schedule so something that saves me time makes me more efficient.  Time=money.  Therefore they are BOTH important.  Some things, however, are worth paying for.  (Housekeepers, for instance.)

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6) Sam's next door neighbor is named Jim. He's retired, smokes a pipe and drives a red Corolla. Tell us about one of your neighbors.
I have a retired neighbor, Ross, who is a recent divorcee though (she's still very present at his house).  He has a dog he rescued that he walks a couple of times a day and drives a Porche.  That's about all I know.

7) What's the most recent magazine you flipped through?
Memory Makers Magazine.  I have a scrapbook shelf full of these that I use for inspiration from time to time when my mojo is blocked.  So sad that they're no longer in production.  

8) Could your vehicle use a trip to the car wash right now?
My vehicle can ALWAYS use a trip to the car wash.  Today is absolutely NO different.  It could use a twice-over with a vacuum as well.  Someone needs to quit giving Benji snacks because he inevitably drops them (on purpose) and the floor of my car looks like the crumb catcher in a toaster!

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9) Did you hit the snooze button this morning?  
I don't have a snooze button.  I'm weird like that.  When my alarm (or Benji) goes off/gets up, I'm up.  Period.  One and done.  I can't stand the constant hitting of the snooze button. It makes me want to punch baby seals.

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See

Join me here for Five Minute Friday. Topic or word given. Write for five minutes. Easy peasy!

Today's word: See

856pm - GO

Life is a series of complete contradictions.  What we see is not what 99% of people see.

I drive into my driveway and I see the sand all over the place.  I see the break in the grout line that I need to get fixed.  I see the light fixtures outside that I would like to have painted.

I pull into the garage.  A three-car garage with just one vehicle.  There is room for two.  One side is full of crap.  I see the crap.  The things that never find their homes once they've been removed for play.  I see the water stains on the floor from a leaky extra fridge...

I walk in the house and I see the hole in the wall from Benji continually breaking the door stops... which, of course, will lead to a door slam and a doorknob sized hold in the sheetrock.

I see the doghair in the floor.

I see the piles of plates, dishes, pots an everything left all over the counter because it seems I'm the only one that DOES see this and chooses to do anything about it.

I see the dirty floor.  I see the weathered and worn hardwoods in need of refinishing...

I see an entire house full of imperfections..

but if I FOCUS on those, it will drive me nuts.  I choose to SEE my beautiful home.  I see my children have eaten cucumbers rather than chips... I see that my dogs are happy and warm and cared for.... I see that we have some minor details that need attention... but I'll see what I can do about that at a later time -- when it actually matters.

901pm - STOP

Thursday 13

13 Projects I have going on at the very moment...

1. Project Life.  It's a documentary of the every day life... requiring a photo a day, and a weekly layout.
2. Purge.  I'm doing a purge of everything in my entire home drawer by drawer, room by room, closet by closet.  It feels fantastic to let GO of everything.
3. PMS - No, not premenstrual syndrome.  It's something else I hope to unveil sometime this summer.  It's a personal labor of love.
4. Pack meeting.  I'm running the Cub Scout Pack meeting next Tuesday.
5. Disney trip.  I'm planning our fall trip to Disney World.
6. One Little Word.  My word for the year is FOCUS.  I'm also documenting the journey of the word.
7. Children's book club.  I run a monthly children's book club for a mom's group that I'm a part of.
8. Birthday party -- Benji turns 3 in March.  You have to book early.  It's already in the works.
9. Household projects -- many of them.... cabinets, floors, painting, framing, etc.  This starts soon.
10. Paleo-ifying my diet.  Gluten is evil for my Crohn's and I have to learn to purge it from my diet.  Easier said than done.
11. Online classes -- I'm taking four.  Honing skills.
12. Photos printed -- my little man called me out on the fact that he doesnt' have photos up all over the house.  I've got frames hung... just need to print now.  Baby steps.
13. Will.  I'm redoing my will.  Anyone wants three kids if I kick the bucket, you let me know.  One is addicted to his iPhone, one addicted to XBOX and the other addicted to marshmallows (but he destroys all your shit so don't think it's the lesser of the evils).

:)

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Humbled

I had a strange thing happen today.  A very strange thing.  A dear friend from MOPS brought me (and my family) dinner.  Let me re-emphasize that last phrase.  A dear friend from MOPS brought ME dinner.  ME?  

When she called to make sure I was home, I was certain she had the wrong person.

I wasn't ill.

I hadn't just had a baby and needed meal assistance.

I didn't have any extraneous pulls on my schedule (other than normal).  

I hadn't had surgery.

We hadn't had a death in the family.

I had no reason for someone to go out of their way for me... but someone did.  Mary did.

She just thought about me... and wanted to do something for me.  And DID!

She made me a homemade meal... and drove 30 minutes to bring it to me... visited just a bit... and left.  

Just like that.

Who does that?

Who does that... for me?  

No one.

No one... until now.

I am typically the first to ask about meals for the ill, new moms and for the families of moms that may have had surgery or a rough time.  Sometimes I ask and sometimes, I just take.  It's usually me on the other end so it was quite humbling to be the recipient of someone's love, grace, time, talents...

That one small, simple, kind, heart-felt gesture filled me with so much... I feel like my heart could burst.  Someone did something for me that I'm fully capable of doing myself just because... just because they wanted to do something nice... just for me.

I'm not sure if I can even convey the level of "full" my heart-o-meter is experiencing.  But it was so full, it made my eyes tear up... 

I hope if you get the urge to do something for someone... don't ask... just DO.  Like Mary.