20 Questions for 2014

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?

My chemo treatments ended
Does anything need to be said about that?  I think not.

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?

Marley's tooth surgery
I was a nervous wreck.  I don't know what it was about this one, but it's never easy to see your kids put to sleep.  Logan had his tooth surgery too.  It was one right after the other.  Not something I want to do again any time soon.

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?

Teaching kindergarten
I mainly took on this task, so it would lower my tuition for our co-op.  It has been such a pleasant surprise.  I love my group of kids, and they all work well together.  It's been nice teaching Marley, since I taught Rory and Logan when they were younger.  I could do without the prep work, but the excitement on my kids' faces is worth it every time.

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?

The kitchen remodel
It's still not finished.  I studied and researched and thought I was all ready to go.  It was tiring and not satisfying at all.  That's why I haven't posted before and after pictures.  It didn't turn out at all like I wanted or planned, but it is a lot better than it was.  I guess that's something!

5. Pick three words to describe this past year.

Growth, Discovery, Accomplished

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your year.

Procrastination, Entertainment, Growth

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their year.

Growth (are you seeing a trend?), Relief, Better

8. What were the best books you read this year?

I didn't read a full book!  

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?

God, myself

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December this past year?

Definitely my Paleo journey
I've figured out a lot about my body and what foods are good and bad for it.  I can't wait to get back on the wagon in a couple of days.  It's a wonderful feeling when your body craves veggies.  Who would've thought?!

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?

This would have to be my joy journey.  
I feel like I've calmed down a lot more too and don't scream as much.  It always comes back to being aware in the moment.  Taking a deep breath and a fresh dose of compassion has worked wonders so far.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?

My Carmelite journey
The readings in Carmel are getting more in depth, and I love them.  There's lots to meditate on and ponder as we get closer to making our second promises a year from now.  I am now two years into this journey, and I am doubting my place here less and less.  That's a good feeling.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?

Paleo
Just being intentional on my eating and exercising does so much.  

14. In what way(s) did you grow in relationships with others?

I think I let people in more this year.
I'm cautious about who I let in.  It's so easy to be hurt.  I've found myself being honest in the moment and taking whatever comes.  It has brought about beautiful moments and new friendships.  I can't cry about friendships I want and don't get anymore.  I don't have time.  Instead I'm choosing to invest in others that I wouldn't have normally given a chance. Being open and honest unlocks many doors.

15. What was the most enjoyable part of your work both professionally and at home?

Thirty-One is done.
This is enjoyable because it started becoming a thorn in my side.  Deciding to just be done with it and enjoy the memories has relieved so much stress.  I will have to get back to you about what was enjoyable about what I did at home.

16. What was the most challenging part of your work both professionally and at home?

Where do I begin?
I feel constantly challenged.  I'm a planner but not organized.  I have great ideas but no motivation.  I am great at STARTING things and projects....

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?

COMPLAINING
I moan, groan, bitch, complain about everything.  I feel like I'm always whining about something.  Hopefully I can get a grip on this in the new year.

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?

It's always my acts of kindness on my birthday.

19. What was the biggest thing you learned this past year?

Oh my goodness...I am right where God wants me to be.
I realized this after much fighting and arguing with priests, friends, and God Himself.  This whole year I kept trying to get "back on my path" only to realize I had never left it.  I was just complaining again because it's not the path I want, but who am I to question God?

20. Create a phrase or statement that best describes 2014 for you.

Get over yourself!

Happy 2015!

Weekend Workers!

Kevin says that I always say we didn't do much when we actually did, so today's blog is going to be a list of all we accomplished this weekend (in no necessary order).  Ready?  Go!

1. Painted our new bedroom
2. Set up the playroom which included
   a. cleaning the playroom
   b. cleaning off the table in the new bedroom to go in said playroom
   c. taking down shelving
   d. putting up shelving
   e. sorting books
   f. cleaning off a bookshelf
   g. installing wall mount and TV for playroom
3. LOTS OF LAUNDRY
4. sorted clothes
5. Mass
6. Trips to Walmart for supplies
7. Visiting friends
8. Visiting Nana and Papa (twice)
9. dishes
10. the gym

I'm sure there was more, but I can't think now.  I'm really tired and sore.  I painted by myself because I'm really anal and want it done MY WAY.  Kevin did everything else from laundry to feeding and corralling the kids.  Here's to some good sleep tonight.  

Happy, Kevin?

  

Merry Christmas - a day late!

We didn't have Kaelyn at Mass this year.  She had to work.  Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Year End Word Review - JOY

As we come to the end of another year, I'm beginning to search for my new word of the year.  This year's word was HOME.  I think I did well with it.  A lot of things happened, but I tried to keep up with keeping my home up...and the people in it.

I thought for sure I already had my new word of the year, JOY.  Since I've been looking for it for months and searching my life for it, I figured it would be the perfect fit.  Then something happened.

When I used to receive communion at Mass, I would say a couple prayers, and then see what everyone wore to Mass that day.  Isn't that what everyone does?  I would make my judgements on short skirts, mismatched clothes, how dressed "down" they were. I'm a bit ashamed to admit that, but it's the truth.  Through my Carmel classes, I've learned that those moments after communion are when Jesus and I are closest.

Now after communion, I kneel and close my eyes until everyone else is done receiving.  During this time, I picture a small hill and myself climbing to the top.  When I get to the top, there's a garden overlooking the ocean.  As I turn to my right, Jesus is sitting there on a bench.  We greet each other and sit and talk.  Sometimes if we both like the music playing, we'll sing.  Sometimes we don't say anything and just sit with one another.  I also picture this when I pray at other times, not just after communion.

It was at Mass a week ago or may a couple, that we had a nice talk about joy.  Mind you I have been praying about this topic for months, but I never asked His opinion during one of our meetings.  I don't think I asked this time, but I brought up the topic.  Here is what Jesus said to me about joy.

"Nora, I find it so funny that you think joy is something that can be lost or found.  You always have joy.  It's when you lend it out to things of this world, that it feels lost to you.  You lend it to what you think is important at the time, something you're trying to control at that moment.  Sometimes you lend it to Satan when you listen to his lies about your lack of worth, your awful mothering and feeds your doubts and failures.  Focus on Me.  Stay with Me."

In true self-centered fashion, my response to Him was, "You couldn't tell me this two months ago?"  He chuckled.  He told me that I'm too hard on myself.  There was more, but some things are just between me and the Big Guy.  

I'm telling you all this in hopes that it'll help you in some way.  Peace and Joy to you this Christmas!  Now...still looking for my word for next year...

O Christmas Tree!

We decided to get our Christmas tree on a weekday this year because we didn't feel like battling the traffic on a weekend, and it was supposed to be an unseasonably warm day.  We set out, got our cart, saw, and headed out.  We went to the Douglas Firs because we like those.  Everything we saw was too big.  We finally found a little skinny guy, and everyone except Rory agreed on it.  She took off to show us one that she liked.  While I took off after her, Kevin and the others cut the tree down.  I didn't get a picture of it at all.  I'm not going to get into detail about everything that went down with Rory, but it was painful and did not make a nice family outing at all.

When she came to terms with getting a tree she didn't like, we let them play on the horse swings.  Kevin had Marley on one, and he reared her back and let go.  I'm not sure how to explain it, but when she went forward the horse's head came back and hit Marley in her face and knocked her glasses crooked.  It took her a moment to register, and she started crying...right after I had just gotten Rory done crying.  

We headed to shake the tree and pack it up.  Rory runs up saying that she at least wants to get the shaking on video.  Right as she said it, the tree was being shaken, and she didn't get it on video (imagine Rory's face here).  We loaded the tree, paid, and left.  Kevin let Rory tie some of the ropes for the tree on top of the car, so when we got in the car Kevin turns to me and says, "Let me know if you see a tree in the rearview mirror."  I'm surprised it didn't happen with how "well" the event had gone so far.  

When we arrived home, I asked Kevin to talk to the masons moving in next door because they were going to order us a window for the living room.  He came back with two guys, and they all had the window done in a half hour.  They got us a whole new top window instead of just a piece of glass.  It looks awesome, and now the neighbors can see our tree!  :P

By the way, none of these pictures turned out very good.

Tennessee Thanksgiving

I'm not sure why Logan thought that putting on his new hat meant he had to be dark and brooding, but that's what happened.

Can you see Kaelyn photo-bombing in the background?  Funny.  There was a restaurant named Rock Bottom on the strip.  That's where this video was taken.

Yep, that's Kaelyn hitting Rock Bottom.  HA!  We thought it was funny.  

It was great to see my brother-in-law and his family, but that is one trip I would not recommend unless you stay longer than a day.  One the way home (the Sunday after Thanksgiving...also known as...the second most busiest travel day of the year, we stopped for Mass because it was the first Sunday of Advent.  We were out of Mass at 10a.  With all the traffic and the late start, we rolled into our driveway at 1030p that night.  It.was.awful.  The kids were pretty good there and back.  There were a couple breakdowns, but they didn't do as bad as I thought.  It was a good prep for next year's trip, which is already in the planning phase.  One thing's for certain, we will NOT be getting fast food for every meal!  Now it's written somewhere, so I must follow through.  Happy holiday snuggles!

Wednesday with Words

What the aftermath of a painting final looks like.

Sad ice cream.  I told Kevin it was saying,"Stop eating me!"

This story will be a whole other blog once I get the pics off my camera.

Tune in Tokyo

Well, it's been awhile, eh?  No, I haven't been in Canada.  It's just been insanely busy.  There's so much to write, but I have pics.  Here's a short snippet of a couple things these past weeks.  As always, things should be slowing down (insert chuckle here), and I'm hoping that I can get back to regularly being here again.  My apologies for my absence.

I have a 20yo.

Marley fell off the kitchen chair the day before Thanksgiving.  The floor won.  She ended up breaking the root off her top right baby tooth.  Hopefully, they'll come out soon.

How my kids relax on Thanksgiving.

We spent the night at my parents' on Thanksgiving night.  My seester was homesick and requested pictures.  This is blurry, but I like it.

The next morning we woke up and drove to Nashville to visit my in-laws.  I have other pics, but this is a quick return rundown.  I will say that I do not recommend driving to Tennessee for a day and driving back.  

I cannot tell you how many times my father disapproved of what I was wearing.  Yesterday, we were twins in fashion.  

**DISCLAIMER - This blog post has nothing to do with the fact that my father-in-law mentioned that I hadn't blogged in a while at dinner tonight**