Gratefulness and re-capping the year

It's amazing that all of a sudden on November 1st people start telling you what they are grateful for. Are they only grateful in November. I realize it's because of Thanksgiving. We are entering into the busy holiday season and we need to remind ourselves what is great about our life. It's like sending Christmas cards/ letters out in December. Why do we do this in November/ December? Is this why the holiday season is so busy or do we have more time to do things these two months because the weather is yucky outside?  Whatever the reason, we consume ourselves with telling everyone else what we are grateful for in November and remind everyone what we did this year in December. I'd like to know what you are grateful for in May or August, not just November. I guess I don't do it so why should I expect others to do it. I have a hard enough time coming up with a list on my own (which I'm attempting to come up with 1000 gifts/ grateful items) in the next year. I was doing really well for a few days but I haven't gotten out my journal for about a week. Why? Life? Death? Not feeling grateful for daily grind things like laundry sitting on my bed. Although I should! Most people in the world don't have loads of laundry on their bed. We tend to forget about the big world outside our own world.
So if you express your gratitude only in November, that is fine. Please remember to express it year round so the rest of us, know you are grateful for the dishes, laundry and messy floors year round...


This is dedicated to Paula Auth. The one I know reads these ramblings of "just a mom"

New path

When I go out with all my children (all FOUR of them) I get comments made to me, "wow, you must be busy", "are they all yours", "you must be Catholic or Mormon".
To answer these questions, yes I'm busy (what mom isn't), yes they are all mine (seriously who would take someone else's kids to the grocery store) and yes I'm Catholic (but I know Catholics with 2 kids and non-Catholics with 4 or 5 kids).

Even though I'm busy with my four beautiful children I have decided, through prayer, that I am starting my own business. I needed an outlet for just me that had nothing to do with being a mom or wife. One of my blessings/ curses is that I love to organize. I love having everything in it's place (not that my stuff gets in it's place all the time). So what better for me to sell than cute organization totes, bags and purses. Thirty One Gifts is a company that I not only love the products but I love and honor the company. They are a company who believes in a life that I enjoy promoting. Encouraging women to have something of their own all the while being home with family. Putting myself out there was not the easiest thing to do. I am naturally shy (I know people, I don't seem it but I am). I HATE talking in front of people so why, you ask, would I put myself in front of people to sell them products that you could get at Target or Wal-Mart for cheaper? 1) I believe in the products 2) I want to feel better about talking in front of others 3) I believe in the products (oh wait, I said that already). 4) I love the mission of Thirty One!
Please keep me in your prayers! I am going to need them!!

A year ago.....

 Every January, people look back at the previous year and evaluate their year. Was it a good year? Was it a bad year? What changed? A year ago, I thought 2012 was going to be a continuation of the 2011. I was still a stay at home mom, married to an engineer with the Corps of Engineers and mom to three kids, two of which were in school. Only one more at home.. ahh.

In mid January my sister called and convinced me go on a quick girls trip to California. We were able to get decent tickets (she had a credit that had to be used) and we were able to stay with Phil's brother and use his car so saved money right there. We had a wonderful time. So relaxing, so many giggles.... Neither of us had been so relaxed in a long time. God knew I needed that vacation because he was about to throw me a curve ball. When I got home I found out I was pregnant.

So.... a year ago I didn't think I would have any more kids... I was surprised and a tad shaken. Am I going to be able to handle 4 kids. Are they going to survive? Am I going to survive? Well  a year later and 2012 was a continuation of 2011, just with another beautiful boy in our family. He came on October 13th (yes he will have a Friday the 13th birthday but he won't get the significance). The planner in me, planned the perfect birth and it happened just the way I wanted (with the exception that I tried to get induced on the 11th so he would have 10-11-12 as a birthdate, but that's ok). The birth was perfect. I was relaxed and couldn't feel a thing (which is what I wanted after 3 births with no pain meds)

Now another year is beginning. What will this year bring? I am looking forward to watching my family grow (up that is, not multiply). I'm trying new things to make my life the way I want it to be, with friends, family and myself.

My goals for 2013 (not resolutions)

• Catch up on scrapbooking (I'm on 2011 right now. ugg)
• Have friends over for a meal at least once a month
• Have more girls nights out
• Get in shape (don't care about the number on the scale, just want to feel good)
• Make new memories with my kids (like taking them to California)

So here is to the goals of 2013!!! Happy New Year!!