General 2009 Resolution Updates

I had originally intended to do this about once a month, but it looks like it may be more like once every few months :)

Anyway, as far as the resolutions go, I would say I am doing okay-not great, not terrible, just okay.

My first resolution was to lose 40 lbs this year & increase my activity. The weight has been coming off, but unfortunately the exercise hasn't really been increasing. So far this year, I have lost approximately 15 lbs (yay!), which means I am slightly over 1/3 of the way to my goal for the year. I have lost 35 lbs overall since last summer, which means I am approaching the 1/2 way mark of my "ultimate" goal (yay again!)
Exercise has been a bit more difficult-I was doing okay for awhile despite the cold weather, but the last month has been rough with the last few weeks filled with illnesses (strep throat, well for about a week, then terrible head cold) that have basically kind of knocked me on my rear. I am hopeful that with the warmer weather that is bound to hit one of these days & school coming to an end in a few weeks that I will be more motivated to get moving.

My second resolution was to read 40 books this year-I have finished 10 books & am currently working on the 11th book so this one is going fairly well & is definitely NOT a problem to complete :)

My third resolution was to take 1 picture a day every single day this year. I started out so well, but life got in the way & this one has fallen by the wayside for now. I have probably averaged a picture a day, but that is only because of lots of pictures taken on a few different days not a picture taken each day. Let's just say that this resolution may need to wait until next year or at the earliest this summer.

My fourth & last resolution was to do one nice thing a day for a different person each day. Have I done nice things everyday? Yes, I think so. Has it been because I have made a conscious effort to do it because of my resolution? No, not at all. I am definitely going to need to do a better job with this one from this point on, especially considering it is probably the easiest one to do everyday! :)

There you have it-the good, the bad & the just plain old ugly truths about my 2009 resolutions! Hopefully, the next update will bring loads of better news! ;)

"You Light Up My Life" Sunday 4/12/09

This person knew me before I was born.
This person loves me unconditionally.
This person understands the true meaning of love.
This person has set a great example for how I should live my life.
This person is always near.
This person has always shown me how to handle any pain I have experienced in my life.
This person makes me think about how I treat others.
This person is a great teacher.
This person is the basis for many of the things I believe.
He has shown me that life here on Earth is only the beginning not the end!

So, here's to you, Jesus~I love ya & am thankful for all that you have done & given us!

Happy Easter Everyone!

Easter Scrooge

This term was lovingly placed upon me by several people last year, but what can I say~Easter just doesn't really float my boat that much. Now don't get me wrong-I like the church/religious side of the holiday. I think the services/celebrations are beautiful & when I am attending on Holy Thursday/Good Friday/Easter Sunday, it always renews within me a deep faith & appreciation for life & what I believe, but...

And this is my biggest issue with Easter...

I just don't "get" the commercial side of Easter.

Oh, sure, I enjoy the candy & it was always great to wake up to a nice basket (or as my husband says "it's a plastic bucket, not a basket!") full of candy, but...

Easter bunnies that lay/bring eggs-who decided that was a great idea? I just don't see how anyone ever thought that those two things would go together-the idea of an Easter chicken must not have been as appealing.

Which leads to-why can't this Easter bunny just leave the eggs in one place like Santa Clause does with the presents? Why are we constantly having to hunt for our eggs? I totally admit to a deep dislike for egg hunting...maybe it's because I was never very good at it & always seemed to be the last one left looking...maybe I just don't get the point. Plus, it seems like everyone under the sun has an Easter egg hunt. I am okay with family egg hunts, but taking Luke & any future children to a gazillion 'community' egg hunts just isn't going to happen-sorry!

Dyeing eggs? Why? You go to all of that hard work & then what do you do with them-crack the pretty eggshell & throw it away.

So, am I an Easter scrooge? Religionwise-No Way! Commercialwise-you better believe it!
Will I try to push my attitude onto Luke? No-in fact, I think the Easter bunny will find Luke this year (technically, he didn't last year, but in our defense-Luke was only about 7 months old & didn't really care or know what was going on, however, he might if he ever reads this post someday! :) & Luke will get to "participate" in egg dyeing & I know that he will also be participating in a couple of egg hunts (but only at family gatherings) so no need to worry-this Easter Scrooge will do her best not to "scrooge up" everyone else's Easters! :)

What's Your Word?

I took this quiz a while back & have been saving my answer for a slow blogging day :) So, here it is, what's my word...

"Peace"

You see life as precious, and you wish everyone was safe, happy, and taken care of.
Social justice, human rights, and peace for all nations are all important to you.
While you can't stop war, you try to be as calm and compassionate as possible in your everyday life.
You promote harmony and cooperation. You're always willing to meet someone a little more than halfway.

I think it describes me fairly well, now what's your word? Leave me a comment if you take it :)

"You Light Up My Life" Sunday 4/5/09 edition

This person is a super friend!
This person can always make me laugh!
It is a bit scary just HOW much we think alike.
She can always find time for a "venting" session whenever I need one & knows that I always do the same for her.
I am glad that she is tall like me-it's good to have someone else to "stick out" above the crowd with when we go dancing with friends. :)
I may be the "instigator" in our little group of friends, but she is definitely the one who is always willing to take on my ideas!
I love how open & honest she is with people, even when it may be difficult to do.
She definitely gives me more courage just by being around her.
She is a great mom, sister, daughter, friend, teacher, etc.
She is a person who I know I can always count on & that says a lot all by itself!

So to my friend, Sheryl, here's to you~I love ya!

I Swear!

And many times I don't even realize I'm doing it! It is a very good thing that I work with little kids all day long who can catch me at my worst moments...

(Reading a book to Kindergartners)

Me: "That's a funny word, what do you think it means?"

Blank stares followed & then all of a sudden a little girl raises her hand...

Little girl: "I think maybe silly..."

Me: "Yes, that's right, it means silly or funny"

(interrupting) Little boy: "OOHHH! You cussed!"

Me: "Excuse me? I did not."

Little boy: "Yes you did-I heard it! You cussed!"

Me: "All I said was that it meant silly or funny. I did not say any cuss words." (And of course the whole time I am trying to avoid asking him what he thought I said because I didn't need a whole carpet full of kindergartners repeating whatever it was that he thought I said...)

Little boy: "No, you said it before that."

Me: (really confused now) What? Ok well moving on, back to the story...

I proceed to reread the part that I had just read to them before I stopped to ask the question, when all of a sudden I see the offensive word...it was the word I had asked them to tell me the meaning of...RIDICULOUS (if you say it real slow, you can hear the "cuss word" in the middle!)

So much for me trying to set a good example :) & so much for hoping that maybe little kids can remain naive for a little longer in this day & age!

Books, Books, Books!

I've been reading like a crazy lady this month & can now add #'s 8, 9, & 10 to my list for the year!
All 3 were fantastic books & here are some of my thoughts on each.

Book # 8: Legacy of Silence by Belva Plain

I am always a sucker for a "family saga" book where the reader follows a family through several generations. I enjoyed following Caroline & her daughters Eve & Jane (who were born almost 20 years apart) through their lives along with Caroline's sister, Lore. The ending left me feeling a little sad for "what could have been" for all of them, but it was also the ending that tied all of the events & their effects in the whole story together. Thanks to my MIL for recommending it!

Book # 9: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Oh, Harry Potter, I have been going on for the last 4 books about not "getting" what all of the fuss has been about, but you have finally sucked me in & I can honestly say that I get in now. Maybe it is because Harry isn't such a naive character anymore. Maybe it is because this book felt a little deeper in order to grab hold of an adult's interest. I do have to admit that I wasn't too sure about the "darker" Harry & didn't completely enjoy all of the angst he was feeling, but it did make for a story that I found very hard to put down! Book #6~here I come (as soon as I can get this one returned to my sister :)

Book # 10: A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks

I liked this story even though I did have the hit-and-run driver pegged within the first few chapters (I tend to like having more of a challenge). I also found this book very hard to put down & really enjoyed the characters. I also have to say that I have read a few of Nicholas Sparks's books & I just KNEW that somebody was going to have to die, but I wasn't sure who & I really didn't want it to be any of these characters whom I had really enjoyed. Thankfully, this time around~no one died on me, except of course the main character's, Miles, first wife which is the event that sets this whole story in motion, but that has all already happened once you've started reading the story.

All in all, I'd say 3 big thumbs up for these books!