Excitement abounds!

I'm so excited.  For years and years I have dreamed of writing a book.  It seems like it's been a lifetime in the making.  

Today I took the first steps in making this dream a reality.  I am writing a children's book.  I am in the process of drafting the story then have to find an illustrator to make it come to life to help.  Right now I have 3 themes in mind and I am sure there are many more stories that can come from it.  I love the characters and the lessons that are coming out.  

This doesn't exactly match my dream of writing the great American novel but it's what God has laid on my heart to do so I will be faithful to put to paper what he gives me.

I was so excited that I couldn't wait to share the direction God has pointed me to.  I am bouncing off the walls with joy.  Being right where I know God wants me to be doing what He wants me to do gives such a peace and contentment and joy.  

February 2012 goals update

Hi.

I took a break from blogging last week but I'm back now.  Last week was not a good pain management/energy week which meant my productivity was in the tank too.  It happens from time to time. 

So, looking back at my goals for the month...

The BIGGIE...Goal #2 (I'm still working on order for now we'll just focus on the tasks not the order of them...LOL!)
Cleaning out the "junk room" of my house.  So far we have made 1 run to donate to Salvation Army.  The things my son will do to borrow my car.  I can get from one end of the room to the other.  This weekend, I plan on bringing my sewing machine and a couple projects out of it to reduce the amount of material I have stockpiles in there.  I have 2 birthday gifts to make and a bat costume for my little man's school play.  In addition pinterest has inspired me to make a couple little things that will use up some of the random fabric.  Needless to say, I have a long way to go still but am making some headway.  It should be done by the end of the month. 

Goal #1, of opening my Etsy store is not moving forward as I had hoped.  I am determined I am going to get the pictures taken and posted this weekend.  Determined I say.  I would love to start selling what I have on hand so I have a good excuse to make more.  I really want to have a little money coming in for my "goals" fund.  My big, long term goals include paying cash for a newer car for my prince charming, paying cash for new furniture, paying cash for a nice family vacation.  Obviously those are some pretty big goals to place all the pressure on a little Etsy store, but Etsy success sure would help me get going in the right direction.

Goal # 3, encouraging others.  Well, I have been trying to reach out to those around me and encourage them towards their own goals.  My love and I have been sending each other sweet emails during the week when we are both at work.  It's nice to get that little "I'm thinking of you." while you're plugging away at the desk.  Next week I am going to put little notes in my little one's lunch box.  When I was doing this before he really liked it.  Maybe I can find a way to work the weekly spelling words or the sight words we'll be working on into the notes.  Hmm...now that has me thinking, but that will have to wait for a different blog post.  I have been trying to text and email and facebook (FB) chat with friends and family that I don't regularly talk to.  We keep up with each other on FB but rarely connect beyond that, whether it's time or distance.  If someone's my friend on FB it's because I like them so I want to connect with them. 

I hope you're all having a productive week and striving to reach your goals.  Share your links in comments so I can come over and show some love back.

What a day

Hi all.
I hope you are having day filled with immense blessing and joy! 

My day did not start that way.  Little #2 was grumbly and angry with me after I woke him up to get ready for school.  I left my lunch at home.  Random woman in school parking lot hit my parked car while pulling out and was grumbly with me about it.  All of this before my first cup of coffee.  Ugh!

But...there is a significant but...none of this random problematic stuff has negatively impacted me.  Was I hurt that my sweet little boy was so icky first thing? Yep, you bet.  Was I kicking myself that I left my lunch at home?  Well, ya!  It seems like I have food with me and I'm not hungry but when I don't have my food I am ravenous by 9:30am.  So not fair!  And the parking lot accident that made me not be able to walk my beloved boy to class?  Well she was angry and a bit hostile.  I honked and tried to get her to stop moving.  She didn't stop and rubbed her bumper down the side of my car.  Damage is barely visible.  It should rub out pretty easily.  The part that got me upset over the whole order was her attitude, not apologizing, demanding I write down all my info for her in addition to taking down all hers.  There is no need for it because the damage is less than either of our deductibles (we both have older cars).  But even that didn't put a long term damper on my day.  She was in a bad mood, we all have them.  Accidents happen.  That there wasn't any really damage was a huge blessing. 

Work has it's own special issues but they are no more or no less than usual. 

Today I am choosing to smile in spite of the stuff that comes at me.  The stuff doesn't define my day but my response to the stuff does.  We all have bad days and stinky attitudes but I am trying to be more aware of mine and change it.  I want my attitude to be a reflection of the joy I want in my life.  To have more joy you have to have more praise (less grumbling) and a thankful heart.

That being said, I am very thankful for today.  My sweet boy started heading into the school and comes running back to give me a big hug and kiss.  As I said the damage to the car was minimal.  My coffee, when I finally drank it was fabulous!  Thinking about my coffee I have to be thankful for my husbands sweet friends who gave us a Starbucks home espresso machine.  That thing has been such a blessing in our lives over the years.  I only wish Ken were still alive for us to thank him again for giving us such a special gift. And I am thankful for my job, with all it entails I really enjoy it.  I am thankful for my little space on the blogosphere and for each person that follows it and comments.  God is good to me.  He is kind and compassionate and I want to be more like him. 

Praying for your blessings and for thankful hearts for you.

Finding Joy in the trials

The past few days I haven't been feeling well in the afternoons so I have skipped my workouts and just gone home to lounge on the couch in pain.  This is much to Thing 2's dismay.  He loves gym time.  He gets to play with other kids, new kids.  He works on his social skills and is very happy there.  I love taking him and giving him that time while I work out my issues on the eliptical and treadmill. 

Yesterday, we went home and worked on his reading.  I pulled books from the secret stash and gave him two to read to me.  We cuddled up on the couch and he read.  One of the books he was having a hard time getting into.  It's no fun reading a book you're not into so I found ways to get him excited about it.  There were different animals doing different behaviors so he got to get up and model the different behaviors for me.  We had such a giggle-fest as he waddled and hopped and oinked around the living room. 

So while I didn't feel good and just wanted to lay around, I am so glad I spent the time working with my littlest love.  We both got good out of it.  Seeing him enjoy reading and using inflection and reading bigger words than he has been used to reading was an answer to this mama's prayers.  I love seeing God's answer to prayer.  God is so good at providing material to fill my "blessings book". 

My heart is overflowing with happiness for my eyes being opened to the opportunities God provides for relationship and fun and joy, even if it messes with my plans and schedule. 

Thing 2's reading update

I am very happy with Billy's reading this week.  He's done really well reading to me.  He gets frustrated and is learning to back up and regroup and try again.  I am so proud.  We've also worked on the spelling words for his group and the 2 groups above his.  He did a great job.  We have been reading each night and he's recognizing bigger words and getting better each time.
Last week one of his teachers told him he reads like a robot. He wasn't happy that the teacher said that.  This week he has improved on inflection and tone moderation.  The words he recognizes quickly and easily get the privilege of having tone and pitch.  It is so cute to hear.
Any ways, I just wanted to share that we're making some progress and I am happy at the difference I am seeing so far this week.
Hope you're having a great week!

Challenges

As a parent I am very protective over my children and would do anything for them.  I celebrate with them in their accomplishments and mourn with them in their struggles.

My little love (affectionately called Thing 2) has been struggling in reading at school.  He is showing improvement at home but at school he has been moved back in the reading group and spelling group at school.  This doesn't sit well with me since he's been in a special group that is supposed to help improve his reading.  We worked hard on it.

I should stop here and point out I LOVE his school.  I love his teacher.  I think the staff of the school is amazing.  And his class is filled with good kids.  Taking him out of the school and quitting my job to provide his education at home is not an option.

God provided us with another option this morning.  I pulled him out of his reading tutorial group this afternoon.  We had been putting so much time into the tutoring and it just wasn't working.  So now I am his reading tutor.  We have a program we are going to be working from.

I am going to be spending a lot of time on my knees because I have to learn to teach from the only one that can teach me.  God is going to have to show me how to help little love grow and blossom in the area he has been struggling with.  I can't do it in my own strength.  I need wisdom.

I am nervous and excited all at the same time.  Any of my homeschooling friends/followers that have advice please share.

February goals

My February goals are very simple and complex all at the same time.

Goal #1:  Open an Etsy store and sell some of my handmade jewelry.  I keep spending money hand over fist on this hobby.  It's time to see if I can make anything with it.  Right now I am at the stage where I have to thing of a cute and clever name and then take pictures of all my beautiful baubles and post them and figure out pricing.  Not a HUGE amount to do, but enough to be slightly daunting.

Goal #2:  Clean out (gut) my craft room.  Completely.  This may need the help of friend who have the patience of saints and are really good at organizing.  This room is completely unusable and looks like a scene out of hoarders.  I have craft stuff and books and a file cabinet and more books and games and puzzles and basically a ton of stuff I need to either commit to using within a set amount of time or discarding or donating.  Either way, somethings got to be done with all the stuff in there.

Those are the only goals I am setting for myself this month. Goal # 2 will take my time and energy (both physical and emotional) so I don't want to over commit myself and end up disappointed.  There are a ton of things I would like to put down here for goals but I am going to exercise self control.  If I get a lot of reading done, WONDERFUL.  If the laundry is kept up with and the dishes are always done, COOL.

Oh, you know there is 1 other goal to add to my list.

Goal #3:  Be an encourager.  Don't be idle in telling people when they do a good job.  Don't let people wonder if they are on the right track.  Sometimes people think "atta boys" are just empty (phony) praise.  Of course I'm not just talking about giving praise when the boys get their socks in the laundry without me nagging them to get them picked up, but that's great too.  I'm talking about the people in my life that are walking thru some big, scary stuff and need someone to remind them that it's okay because they're not alone.  My job is to come alongside them and support them.  Sometimes that can be emotional and prayer support.  Sometimes it might be taking a single mom's kids while she works.  Sometimes it might mean paying for someones tank of gas or groceries.  I want to be open and willing to hear the voice of God and respond.  Sometimes that is hard when you have a budget to follow but that's details for God to work out if He calls me to help someone financially.  He is my provider and He can use what He's handed to me to help others.

Now my goals are there for all the world to see.  Hold me accountable.  Ask me how I'm doing.  Challenge me.  Help me grow into all He wants me to be.