Well, although there is nothing particularly unusual about today (although it is clear skies and warmer than anything we have had in a while!) I decided that this is the day that I will start working of some of my dreams. 
If you have read any of my previous blogs, you know that I am simply a mom.  Please understand that there is nothing simple about motherhood.  From the moment of conception you become responsible for every facet of another human being.  Everything you put in your body effects the baby.  Every bit of stress you encounter, stresses the baby.  Every smile you smile, every laugh you let loose impacts the baby!
It doesn’t end during pregnancy either!  Every minute of every day, because of the prenatal connection, moms tend to feel that constant link with their child or children.  Every decision you make is not just about you, it is about the us that is mother and child/children.  It is in short, the greatest experience you will ever have.  It is also the most challenging.  And you do not earn one thin dime for all the cooking, laundry, purchases, tears, love.  But you earn so much more!
I put a lot of my personal desires and dreams on hold while I tackled a life of motherhood.  I extended my leave of absence from what I wanted to do even further as a grandmother.  Don’t get me wrong; I am not complaining and I do not in any way regret my choices, and they are choices!  I would do it all again in the blink of an eye.
I fully embrace being a mother and a grandmother.  Being a mother has not stopped because my kids are adults and can now take themselves to the bathroom.  I still love them, worry about them, enjoy them and often offer unsolicited advice.  My life as a grandmother holds the same love.  In fact, sometimes it is overwhelming to think that one human heart can hold enough love for all of them.  But it can, and it does.
I have hit a spot in my life, where I have allowed myself a little bit of luxury to begin my other dreams.  My sister has been pushing me to get back to writing, which is something I truly love to do.  So here I am.  Beginning this new “project” and continuing to share what it is like to be a mother, a wife, a grandmother, a nurse, a member of the community and at least a hundred other roles that I have taken on in my life.  I am sorry to have stepped away from this for over a year (I think).  My hope is that my stories will give your encouragement, offer you unsolicited advice that fits your needs, and maybe even put a smile on your face.  You are never too old to take a new step!  Today a new journey starts!

How many times have you said "I told you so!"  Now compare that to how many times you have WANTED to say "I told you so!"  to your kids, or even your spouse/significant other.  It's like one in a million times when you WANT to say it you actually do!  Be honest, when you were a kid, how many times did your parents tell you not to do something and you did it your way anyway?  And how many times did that actually work out for you? I am willing to bet (based on some personal experience) that more often then not you regretted not listening.  No, wait!  I take that back!  A child would  never admit regretting not listening!  A child would simply cry, look pathetic in an attempt for sympathy or simply suffer in silence!

I was reminded of all this just yesterday.  My adorable, sweet, loving grandson "Stitch" got a drone for his birthday.  Personally, I don't see the point (and may I add that I am relieved that this is not one with a camera - phone cameras are bad enough!) but he was thrilled.  The Admiral helped him get started learning how to fly it.  Needless to say, within the first 15 minutes the drone was AWOL.  The next morning, while his dad was getting ready for work, (and against direct orders from dad) "Stitch" decided to take the drone outside to fly it.  You guessed it!  "I told you so!"

Now, I can always tell how the morning has been when the kids come through the door.  At least one is grumpy, (no outright angry) that morning requires him to get out of bed.  One is usually pretty quiet. One is always crying.  This time it was "Stitch".  The story I got went something like this:  "Dad told me I could play with my drone, but not to fly it in the house."  (Which, by the way, I saw them flying it in the house the night before - I guarantee something will get broken!) Anyway, Stitch continued: "So, I took it outside to fly it and it got run over by a car."  Now, first of all, their house is at least 1/4 of a mile away from the street and keep in mind this is not a drone with military long distance capability!  Of course, I sent the Litigator with him to look for it.  The Litigator must have used his cross examination skills on his nephew, because when they came back we were told that he never actually saw where the drone went and he never saw a car run over it.  Do you know how many acres need to be searched now? And that is assuming that the dog hasn't absconded with it. . .  ( she already steals all their shoes!) By the way, his dad actually told him not to play with the drone at all.  A perfect time to say "I told you so!" 

I remember well, traveling with the kids in the car by myself.  (Traveling with six kids behind me in the car has given me total respect for school bus drivers!) I believe we were actually in Indiana on a four lane divided highway.  Beanie Babies were very popular at that time and during the course of our trip each child got to pick one out.  "Pook" chose a blue shark Beanie Baby.   With all those kids, the temperature in the car never pleased anyone.  It was my opportunity to do what I actually wanted to do and this time we were driving with the windows down.  Each time I looked in the mirror, I saw a blue shark floating outside the car.  After multiple warnings that he was going to drop it, you guessed it, he did!  Right on the highway.  Immediate sobbing ensued.  I know I threw out several "I told you so's" in addition to a few things I probably shouldn't put in print.  However, I am not totally without compassion.  We turned  back around to the location to see if we could get eyes on the shark.  It was in a good spot!  We slowed down . . . we stopped . . . and I made his older brother get out and grab it!

I guess my question is, why are we so surprised as adults that there are so many opportunities to say "I told you so" and yet we let them go by.  The problem is that when your child is sobbing over his mistake, it is hard not to fold.  Besides that, if we didn't listen as kids, what makes us think our little darlings will be dutifully obedient?  Do we really believe that we have miraculous parenting skills or that human nature in kids has suddenly changed?  My kids (especially "Pook") often ask what has happened to me.  The "I told you so" mom has softened into me.  As Nana, I get to love them, hug them, feed them, and send them home.  God really did design the world beautifully!
  

Well, so far I have managed to stick pretty close to my goal of posting a blog once a week.  But I feel it slipping away. . .   I started out thinking Monday is perfect!  We will start the week with works of humor and wisdom and call it Mom~Sense Monday.  And then Monday and all its chaos showed up. Maybe Monday isn't as good as it sounds.  So, how about Together Tuesdays?  Well, Tuesday is generally spent picking up the pieces from Monday.  Okay, Let's go with Whiskey Wednesdays, because who doesn't need a quick one to get you over the midweek hump?!  Thursday?  Well, that one is out simply because I couldn't think of something clever to call it.  And here we are, FINALLY FRIDAY.  It fits for now, but keep in mind that I am only two days away from missing my mark!

Anyway, back when my kids were much younger we had regular outtings otherwise known as a trip to the Pediatrician for physicals.  I would have loved to take all six at once (which I did), but they would only examine a maximum of four per trip.  Now I often wondered if that was because, like me, they would get them mixed up or  if they simply couldn't handle/take more that four at a time.  "Mommy" had just turned nine or ten I believe.  Her exam was finished and the Pediatrician looked me dead in the eye and said "Congratulations, you are about to become the stupidest person in the world."  I was shocked!  I immediately demanded an explanation!  Is this because he thought I was an idiot for having all these youngsters?!

His answer was quite simple.  "At this age, your child begins to believe that he/she knows everything and you know nothing.  You will always be wrong and there will be battles over everything you suggest.  And . . . with all of these children and their age range, you can expect to be stupid for at least 15 to 20 years."

How could this be?!?  These little darlings who have spent their formative years hanging on my every word, hug and direction!!?!! (Please note the sarcasm dripping here)  I had already sort of had a taste of this years ago.  At age 4 "Mommy" knew how to dress herself in her own style and would refuse to wear what I bought.  We struck a very mature deal when she was 4 however.  She could pick her own clothes, but I had veto power and there was a clause saying that she had to wear everything she picked out.

Well, needless to say the Pediatrician was dead right.  I left his office that day stupider than I had ever been.  I watched my intelligence spiral the drain for years.  And then, right on schedule I slowly got smarter and smarter!  By the time the Litigator hit 24 ( a mere two years ago) I became a near genius. 

And then . . . it happened.  My Legal Eagle started fighting my recommendations and thoughts.  Pook threatens nursing homes if I follow through on some of my thoughts.  Add to all this, my two oldest daughters are now stupid too.  Their ten year olds and seven year olds should be nominated for a Nobel Prize for their intelligence by comparison!  (again, please note that we are now POURING sarcasm).  These four little darlings even dare to challenge me!  How do they not see my wisdom?!  What a cruel turn of events - it's my turn to be smarter!!!!  The Littles (which is how I refer to our granddaughters who are two and younger) are smarter too!  And don't believe for a moment that they aren't challenging everything!  The General (at age 2) cannot seem to fathom that I am in charge and not her.

It is comforting to know that I am not in this boat alone this time.  I have company on this voyage.  My daughters are helping to row this boat!  Now, every time we get challenged and corrected by a child, we simply look at each other and say, "Why are you so stupid?!"  In spite of it all, I love my gang and am blessed every day to have more time with them.  May God grant you many years and blessings!

We all change over course of our years here on this planet, right?  I mean, are you the same person now that you were when you were ten?  If you are, we need to talk!  Call me ASAP!  How many times during your marriage have you thought: "This is not the person I married!"  Personally - a lot, and in all fairness I KNOW Doc thinks the same!  Some of the things I let the grandkids do and smile at, I would never have let my own kids do.  I smile every time they ride their tricycles through the house!

Which brings me to the Evolution of "Mommy".  I never realized that I MAY be a little OCD, until I watched my first child growing up.  As a little one, you know, toddler age, everything had to be in a specific place with a specific order.  Any variance of the order was simply unacceptable.  It continued as she went through childhood and into her teen years.  You know how parents complain about their teenagers being slobs?  Not my girl!  Her room was impeccable! Thankfully, we had the ability to provide her with her own bedroom and bathroom as a teen.  Otherwise, I am not sure if she would have been able to mentally and emotionally handle life.  Her sisters were not quite as particular!

GameBoys were a big thing when my kids were younger.  It is the only video gaming I allowed and only on an extremely limited basis.  The kids were smart enough to share games and get more options.  Except . . . if you wanted to borrow one of "Mommy's" games you had to sign and notorize an agreement and undergo equipment inspection.  She also had her own library complete with a card file.  You underwent a credit check to sign out a book because she needed to make sure you could replace it if necessary.  Of course, this led to hours of fun and torture for the boys!

Then, "Mommy" went to college.  I am really confused about what type of education happens there, but she underwent a horrible transformation!  Suddenly when she was home for holidays or the summers, this unrecognizable young "adult" (so to speak) wandered about my home leaving messes everywhere.  These messes didn't hold a candle to what I would find in her room!  Sandblasting in the bathroom after a long summer was an actual thought!  My little girl was gone!   (I have a theory about that too - but that's another story!)

Moving on through life, "Mommy" graduated from college and married and moved away.  She became a first grade teacher!  And it brought a glimmer of my little girl back to me!  Her classroom was and is impeccable.  The library system is back (minus the credit checks).  

She is now the mother of two daughters who are ABSOLUTE OPPOSITES of each other.  I guess they reflect both sides of their mother.  They started out sharing a room (which I might add, I tried to discourage!  I knew it wouldn't work!)  This spring the girls split up into their own rooms and each room reflects each girl.  My "Glowbug" is neat and orderly like her mother used to be.  The "Tornado", well her title should tell you everything you need to know!

And what about "Mommy"?  She now lives somewhere in between her two worlds.  I am so proud of both sides of her.  She is an amazing teacher who drills orderliness and structure into her students.  As a mother, well, I cannot say enough about her love for her girls.  In case you are wondering, she never went back to her OCD ways.  I suppose some people would consider that a psychological success.  I am just happy to think that she has discovered that spending time with her girls and her husband is much more important than a clean bathroom or kitchen!  (Well maybe she could lean a little toward OCD!)  Have a blessed week and make sure you take time to hug the kids and everyone you love.  God blessed you with them, be sure to love them and thank Him!

Missed a week while on vacation!  We are all entitled to time off right?!

I seriously labored over the title of this story.  I believe I have written before about our Honeymoon.  We almost got divorced after one week of marriage and traveling in a car together unsupervised.  Well, 38 years later and almost NEVER during those years, we decided to drive to Florida to visit Calvin, P3 and the babies.  In all honesty, it was more my choice because I REALLY hate to fly and besides, what could go wrong with us spending 13 hours in a car together?  Apparently I thought we had grown up in 38 years.  Well, maybe not!

Simple things like temperature were no problem.  Today's vehicles provide individual controls, which I honestly do not understand because we are sitting in open air approximately two feet apart.  Music, not a problem either.  We like most of the same music with very few exceptions.  Food?  Well we just didn't bother to eat or drink the whole way there and back.  He is a little fussy about garbage in his vehicle.  In fact, I actually think he is the only person I have ever met with a tiny garbage can in the back seat.  And of course the vehicle had to be vacuumed while we were visiting.

We did grown up when it comes to directions, sort of...   My husband does not do well in new areas when it is dark.  And of course we don't slow down as we are almost on top of the street we need to turn on until the last second.  We also don't pay attention and drive right past the turn and/or exit.  In this instance I cannot criticize myself, although I am far from perfect.  Doc would not let me drive his truck even once!  I must have moved the seat or left a candy wrapper in the past!

We do differ greatly in driving style!  I now understand why all vehicles have handles surrounding the passenger.  You have to have SOMETHING to grip on these fast turns and occasional sudden stops.  I have also discovered that they do not relieve stress even when you pour all of your anxiety into the handles and center console.  They do however provide an excellent means for isometric exercise. As I gripped the center console and handles, clenched the muscles of my rear end and forcefully pressed my right leg into the floor I noticed that my muscles were getting a little sore.  Doing that for one to two hours as your husband drives around the city of Atlanta provides plenty of opportunity! I actually think my arms developed some tone.

Driving too close to the car in front of you, repeated lane changes, "flooring" it, braking suddenly can wear on your nerves.  Good news though!  Vehicles are made to be quite sturdy.  All handles and the console remain intact.  Truthfully, in his agitated state not even my request for life and not death impacted him.  I felt a little like Nathan Hale when he said "Give me liberty or give me death!"  NASCAR would have been in awe of this man's driving skill, at least from their standpoint.  

Multiple gasps later, hands and legs and backside sore from muscle contractions, blood pressure returned to a more normal state and with exhaustion set in, we did arrive home safely.  Prayer took on a new meaning for me.  I also read a LOT of religious material.  Thank you God!  My suggestion to all, before you take on such a trip practice meditation,  deep breathing and prayer.  Maybe one day we can get car companies to put a brake pedal on the passenger side.  Not a real one like the old driver's ed vehicles but a fake one so that you at least think you are accomplishing something.  God is good but I think I will wait a bit before we try this again.  Here's to another 38 years!

Oh stop it!  It's not what you think!  My girls got me watching "Outlander".  The series starts out with the lead female character, Claire touching some large stones on a hill in Scotland and being transported 200 years into the past and into a relationship with a charming and handsome Scottish Highlander!  

Be still my heart!  Aside from the enchanting grin and the way the Highlander, Jamie gives sideways looks at Claire and refers to her lovingly as Sassenach, well, lets just say I am smitten.  Now there are some who will tell you that this show is violent and sexually graphic and that is true, but I have noted that the scenes are well placed and meant to give you a flavor of 1700's Scottish life.  Based on the clothing alone, I am sure I was born in the wrong century.  There are probably plenty of women's libbers who would complain about the lowly status of women during that era.  By today's standards, I suppose they are right, but men were definitely men.  I don't know about you, but I am more than happy to be adored and protected by a large, muscular man with dashingly handsome good looks and a Scottish accent.  (I am sure I was also born in the wrong country, oh my for the Scottish accent).  This show takes the idea of Mel Gibson and Braveheart to new levels!  For those of you who want to fast forward through many of the scenes, go ahead or subscribe to the app that does it for you,   As for me, I will watch every second!!!!!  Well, maybe I will leave out a few scenes (but if you haven't seen it yet, I do not want to spoil anything for you!)

Our family (the females at any rate) are totally hooked!  A few of the husbands have watched it and one likes it for obvious reasons!  One is slightly jealous and feels that his wife is emotionally cheating on him. It probably doesn't help that for Christmas she was given a T-shirt that lists her relationship status as "mentally dating Jamie Fraser".  Do you think I need to apologize to my son for buying that?  Nah!

What I will tell you at this point is that I am absolutely certain that I need to take a trip to Scotland!  I will have to travel with at least one of the girls though.  I don't think my husband will bail me out of jail for hugging large stones in Scotland.  My girls however, they will understand my purpose and probably join me !   And if we make it to the 1700's and find a Jamie, well then.....

Have a great week.  Keep your dreams going.  You never know when you may hug the right stone!

With the wild and wooly winter weather we have had in the past months, my thoughts have gone to old familiar places.  Let's start with one of the new catch phrases that has come out of Covid.  This actually applies to all women (and I am sure some men - not trying to be sexist, God Forbid!)  The Speaker of the House made headlines for it.  Okay ladies, you know what I mean . . . "Essential Services".

I would certainly like to know who designates what is essential and what is not.   Obviously food and medical care are essential.  Electricity and other utilities are essential.  Police and Fire Departments and personnel are essential.  These are no brainers.  Eating out?  Definitely essential to those who own restaurants and are trying to hold onto their businesses.   

Who on God's green earth decided that seeing your hairstylist is NOT an essential service?!!?  No woman would ever designate a hair appointment as nonessential.  Definitely not a women who has crazy stripes going down the center of her head and/or gray hairs springing up everywhere to haunt her!  

It all takes me back - both the snow storms and the whole "essential services" debacle - to about 27 years ago.  We had plenty of warnings about severe snowstorms heading our way.  But, let's be honest.  How many times have you listened to a weather report, hunkered down for the big storm, got the kids excited about a probable snow day only to have the whole thing fizzle out.  Politicians and weathermen (and women) are the only professions I can think of off the top of my head, where you can perform your job incredibly and outrageously poorly (not sure that is grammatically correct, but you get my drift) and get paid to do it!  And sometimes a lot of money for a long time!j

Well 27 years ago, we got those warnings.  My husband (silly man) suggested that I stay home.  Is he crazy?  I had a hair appointment scheduled!  My usual routine for hair appointments is that I go along for significant periods of time and suddenly wake up one morning with unruly, uncolored and impossible hair!  I don't know when it snuck up on me, or if there are evil elves that play games with my head in the middle of the night, but there you have it.  I had an appointment and I could not and would not miss it!

So, I set off to the salon which was 45 minutes away with at least two kids in tow.  I got there, got my hair done and noticed some snow as I left the salon.  Okay, maybe it was a little more than some snow, but I could handle it.  Doc had made me take his truck with four wheel drive "just in case".  The snow got heavier as I got closer to home, but no big deal, until . . .  I was only a mile from home and had to come to a complete stop.  The snow had drifted across the road in front of me and it was as high as the truck.  I was not going to admit my error or defeat, so I turned around and headed to the road south of our house.  It was like I was in a different world.  Not a snowflake on the road!  And then I turned up our road and to our driveway.  I was staring at snowdrifts that were no less than six feet tall.  I actually had difficulty locating the driveway. 

So, I called Doc and told him there was no way to get 1/4 of a mile up the drive.  From his vantage point in the warm cozy house it looked fine and I was exaggerating.  I was given instructions to put the truck in four wheel drive, back up a little and gun the engine!  OKAY, even though I disagreed, I did as I was told.   Two days later, when the farmers pulled the truck out of the middle of the farm field that I buried it in, I finally stopped saying "I told you I couldn't make it!"  Doc has never stopped reminding me of that day every time we get a storm.  

You know, if I had to do it again, I would.  I am thankful that God is there to help me out of some of the messes I get into.  I just wish he would help politicians and weathermen(women) do a better job so I could trust them a little more.  Enjoy the season, God gives us snow, rain, warmth and cold all in due season.  No matter what the weather, remember to stay humble.  Have a beautiful week.

Sometimes my life can remind me of a bad horror movie.  You know what I mean.  The hero spends the entire movie running from the zombies or the crazed murderer.  Just when you think the hero has made it to safety . . . disaster strikes and the murderer is back!

Worse yet, one movie isn't enough.  The same zombie or murderer never goes away.  He comes back over and over and over again in one sequel followed by another.  I used to wonder what movie directors were thinking.  This isn't life!  But wait . . . it is.  And I have proof!

His name is Yahooty.  He has been around for generations.  He lived in our house when I was a kid.  He lived in our house when my gang was little.   And he has come back with a vengeance in the homes of my children.  (To be quite honest, they sort of deserve to have him.)

You know Yahooty.  Grape juice gets spilled on your carpet, to hide the stain, a match is lighted and the stain is blackened by the match.  (I know there is logic in that action in their devious little minds, but I haven't been able to figure it out.)  When you ask who did this, miraculously they all look at you with wide-eyed innocence.  It wasn't me.  It wasn't me either.  Well, then; exactly how did this happen.  The answer is simple.  Yahooty did it.

As parents, we are under the delusion that our beautiful innocent babies will gladly admit their guilt and accountability.  The one time I asked who put the cat in the toolbox, I actually expected that it was Yahooty.  It is one of the rare times "Calvin" actually admitted his guilt.  He couldn't explain why, other than "I just wanted to see if he would fit."

There are a litany of questions like this that any parent could ask.  Who spilled nailpolish all over my couch?  Not me, says the small child whose hands and face are covered in nailpolish.  Who got into the treats in the pantry?  Not me, says your beautiful child who looks like she is enjoying a facial masque made out of chocolate.  And now, my adorable grandchildren are being haunted by Yahooty.  In "Mini Me's"s family, he is known as the Potato People (but that is another story).  

"Mommy" got the full experience recently.  Their family has two rabbits.  (After what we went through with "Mommy" and her line of rabbits, I cannot believe she has let the girls have them!  And again, that's another story.)  Unfortunately, they have a boy rabbit and a girl rabbit.  The idea is that they are in separate cages and the hope is that never the twain shall meet.  It is so sweet that my daughter is that innocent and naive at the ripe age of 37.  It is not unusual, apparently for one rabbit to get out.  Also apparently, this rabbit is a mastermind at picking locks and should be part of a gang of robbers.  I guess there have been several times that "Mommy" has gone downstairs to the rabbit winter home to find one cage open.  This last time however, he was in with the girl rabbit and he even managed to lock himself in!  Sweet girl that she is, "Mommy" decided to ask who put him in the cage with the girl bunny.  Do I really need to tell you who did it?

Well, raising children is always a challenge.  It is rewarding, but still a challenge without Yahooty.  With Yahooty, just make sure you make time to pray for guidance from God every single day!  May you have a blessed, Yahooty-free week!

Everyone who knows me, knows that I am not crazy about a lot of "modern" things.  There are things that technology can do that makes our lives easier, but...  It leaves us open for things like identity theft, telemarketing, pfishing(?).  Computer games keep us from interacting on a real level.  Texting...don't even get me started.  You cannot see the face of the person texting, you can hear inflections in their voice.  It has cost us some of our humanity.

All that being said, Covid has now forced us to be more remote.  I used to go to the grocery store frequently.  Now I am able to order my food on line, drive to the store at a designated time, sit in the parking lot in my car and have my groceries brought to me.  All this with little or no human contact.  Of course it took me quite a while to learn to do this.  My first experience took one hour on my cell phone only to have my whole order disqualified.  I didn't give up though, I tried it on my laptop with success.  Apparently even my phone objects to being used in this way.

Anyway, I have thought about this a lot.  Years ago, when all my children were small, I used to take all six of them to the grocery store.  ALONE!  There was no such thing as a quick trip.  Loading them into the car was an experience in and of itself.  On arrival, we commandeered two grocery carts.  I would push one and pull the other with the help of the two oldest.  Two would sit in the seats and two in the carts.  (Keep in mind these children ranged from infant to 12.)  Off we went!  It was somewhat of an Olympic event catching items that they tried to sneakily toss into the cart.  Keeping my cool while they cajoled me into buying snacks and treats was a lesson in psychology.  

These trips were never accomplished in less than one and a half to two hours.  Now, for anyone who has been around small children, you know that they have a limit to how long they can "behave" in public.  That limit arrives at about one hour and 15 minutes.  First comes questions, like "how much longer"?  Then comes comments like "this is boring", "I'm tired", I'm hungry", "I have to go to the bathroom", "Can I have this?", "Why can't I have that?" This is quickly followed by squabbling.  "She touched me!"  "He's looking at me!"  "Stop pushing me!"  "Can I ride?"

If you don't get out of the store soon, temper tantrums start.  These can range from screaming or crying to flat out laying down on the ground and refusing to move.  You haven't lived until you have experienced a full out temper tantrum in the cereal aisle.  "Mommy" has personally experienced this as a parent herself.  Now, with six children you have no choice but to endure the event as well as the looks from people with no children or those who have forgotten.  If you have one or two or someone helping you, the solution is simple.  You football carry the offender out of the store!

Well, I guess my conclusion is this.  I survived and so did my kids.  Maybe we all learned from it.  But, where on earth was the ability to order groceries and pick them up without ever leaving the car when I needed it!?!  Be a little patient and kind when you see a parent in the store with children.  Try to remember the "good old days".  Smile and say a little prayer for the parent and children.  God bless you and have a great week!

Happy New Year!  And I do mean this today.  Here's the thing, for me at least, a new year being celebrated on January 1 is simply unreasonable to me!  First, we are ONE WEEK past Christmas!  I don't know about you, but all of my Christmas decorations are still up at that time.  Maybe I am crazy, (and I certainly will not attempt to refute that!), but I think we all need a month in between Christmas and the new year to get our bearings!  For sure I need two to three weeks to clean my house and put decorations away!  And did I mention the need to sleep a bit?!  Following the chaos of Christmas I need a break!  And I am absolutely positive that I am NOT the only one.  Now I fully admit that we have a little more than the usual chaos in our house, but COME ON!

And, how about those resolutions.  I don't know about you, but I am still in a fantasy or stupor from the holidays.  Call it what you will, but I believe my altered state of mind causes me to make irrational resolutions and promises.  Ones that include "I will never swear again" or "I will begin my new diet tomorrow" or "I will keep my kitchen clean."  (That last one is a real pipedream for me!)

So, I propose that we take the month of January and use it as a recovery period, plain and simple.  We slowly drag ourselves into reality.  We put away the glimmer and shine and blinking colorful lights that have mesmerized us and placed us in a trance during that month.  We slowly regain our composure and reenter the mainstream of life.  We think about the resolutions we can reasonably make. 

So Happy New Year!  It is February 1 and I am starting my new year today.  Of course, I will still make some of the same idiotic resolutions.  I am planning to watch my diet and continue exercising, but I am going to start by keeping a notebook that will include weight and measurements (God help me!)  Truth be told, I am significantly heavier than the day I got married!  But, here we go!  The legal eagle in our family is getting married in June, the last of the children.  Although the first one got married fifteen years ago, which incidentally makes me fifteen years older, I still think I could make some effort to look "hot".  Age does not necessarily mean unattractiveness, right?

I do want to watch my mouth also.  I know, and God knows, I am not perfect so I will slip up.  That being said, I plan to try to throw in Lord Have Mercy! or God Forgive Me! or Lord Help Me! rather than an expletive during my more explosive moments.

My most important resolution is to continue to reach out to people that I have been lost to over the years.  It doesn't matter why I have been lost, it mostly matters to reconnect!  Time to forgive and move on.  As I learned in a sermon at church, carrying the hate, anger, jealousy, and general negativity around daily is quite a burden.  The idea was planted that it isn't too tough to carry around a pound of sugar, but add a pound every day and it eventually becomes overwhelming!

So, Happy New Year!  Start today.  Lighten your load physically, mentally and emotionally.  Take baby steps in meeting your resolutions.  If you fall down, get back up.  You can start a new year every month if you need to until you get it right!  Oh, Lord Have Mercy!  Kids are arguing, my house is a mess, and I need to at least clean one area of my kitchen!  Have a blessed week.  God is there for you every day, just seek Him!