Goodnight Sun

From time to time I plan to post some of Strike's (11 yrs) pics taken w/ her new camera she got for Christmas. She's our little photographer. It's fun to see her get excited & make a beeline for her camera b/c she looked outside & the lighting was JUST RIGHT!! :) So - w/ this photopost - I'm initiating a new category of posts called "Kodak Moments" ....b/c "Canon (PowerShot SX10 IS) Moments" just doesn't have the same ring to it :)

The ABC's & 123's of ADHD

This is just my hypothosis...but - I think it's been tested more than enough to surpass theory status & declare it an (un?) natural law.

HDTV + MP3 + Wii + PS3 + IM + DVD + DSL + MTV + AIM + HBO + IPOD + X-BOX + PC + ETC. = ADHD

and ...

ABC (Reading/Writing) + 123 (Math) + ART (Creativity) = a C-U-R-E! (ie. imagination!)

If you add discipline (L-O-V-E!), the possibilities are endless!

Any thoughts re: my philosphy? -- Feel free to RSVP :)

From the inside out

Today is an icy, sleety, rainy, cold, slippery mix day (aka - yet another snow day!) - the kind w/ potential to make people look like Bambi on the icy pond scene when they step outside their door haphazardly. Hubby took my (AWD) car to work & I'm enjoying the storm the best way I know how - from the inside out :)

* declared it a no TV day & am interested to see how the kids spend it
* slept in & let the kids do the same
* dressed in the comfiest of comfy clothes - that don't qualify as PJ's :)
* listening to the freezing rain clicking on the window as I type

Planning to:

- bake something/anything(!) to cozy up the place
- enjoy breakfast for dinner - complete w/ hot chocolate! :)
- Read at least one chapter of a book
- perhaps a family movie or game night...ugh! Spokes just reminded me he's working tonight :( It wont be the same w/o him - but if it's Scrabble we play, all of us will have a much better chance at winning :)

This is the place! - if it's me you're lookin' for :)

You may think you're at the wrong blog...but, if it's me your looking for, you're not :) My fresh new bloglook is thanks to my son. I've never had a custom design before! I'm enjoying how well it "fits" the me I want/try to be....fresh, clean, simple, cheerful :)

Thank you, Spokes!!

My Project 365/New Year Resolution

I enjoyed celebrating Advent this year more than ever....b/c of how I did it differently! In fact, I enjoyed it so much I don't want to to stop! It was hands down more meaningful that candy calendars! So - I'm resolving to make it a way of life in '09 - by intending to practice at least one random act of kindness/be a blessing to at least one unsuspecting person every day. I love how it shifted my focus off of me & onto others...how people's smiles brightened my day (yep there's a selfish root in it all :) - how it helped me remember that it really is more blessed to give than to receive. Once again - I'm off to a late start .... but I'll enjoy to playing "catch-up" :) Hopefully eventually it will come more naturally & I'll become more of the person I want to be - w/o having to try so hard! :)

Ending ('08) w/ a fresh start ('09)...

The historic ice storm is history & after an extra long "Christmas Break" b/c of it (to the tune of about 3 1/2 weeks) - today we're back to the grind. Just a quick wrap up to end it all w/ a fresh start :)

- Celebrated New Year's eve w/ our house full of friends. Learned how to do punchneedle...fun - simple - my kinda craft! The kids hung out/played spoons. Enjoyed some live entertainment (one guy played the guitar) & we all packed into our living room & watched the first episode of John Adams (one of my all time favorite movies/series!) w/ plans to watch the others together down the road. Welcomed in the new year w/ sparkling cider/juice & noisemakers :)

New Year's Day - slept in - then lunch/meatball sandwiches & chocolate fondue (Yum!) w/ friends at their new/old (long story) house.

Yesterday/"First Sunday": Church - coffee/fellowship afterwards - rest & relaxation after a simple crockpot lunch - made gift boxes from old Christmas cards (was inspired here - it's not the first time she's inspired me :) - & a b-day one for my friend out of a notecard - that doubled as both the box AND the card in her case :) - Light sandwich dinner at church - puppet show - fun & worship.

Today.... hubby's back to work (miss him already!), Playmaker's back to school (miss her already too!) - Strike & I will be back to school shortly & I'm looking foward to it :) I like the fresh start afforded by the beginning of each new year - it just seems like a natural prompt to pause & re-evaluate...to stop doing some things (I quit my job) & start/restart doing others.

Happy New Year! / It's about time....

There never seems to be enough of it! You can try to buy some -- or carve some out -- or to find some -- or to save some...but all to no avail. It's valuable! Precious! Priceless - b/c no amount of money will ever purchase one split second - yet the only thing one can really do w/ time - is spend it. Ecclesiastes 3 (NIV) says There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: - yet too often I find myself saying "I don't have time!".....

This first day of 2009, I'm reminded of the value of time...& praying for wisdom in how to spend mine.

- and also reminded of this poem below:

Poem About Value

To realize the value of ten years :
Ask a newly divorced couple .
To realize the value of four years :
Ask a graduate .
To realize the value of one year :
Ask a student who has failed a final exam .
To realize the value of nine months :
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn .
To realize the value of one month :
Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby .
To realize the value of one week :
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper .
To realize the value of one hour :
Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet .
To realize the value of one minute :
Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane .
To realize the value of one second :
Ask a person who has survived an accident .
To realize the value of one millisecond :
Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics .
Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have .

Poem by anonymous author - excerpt from 'LifeManual' by Peter H. Thomas. www.lifemanual.com. Copyright 2005, 2006. All rights reserved.

Note: the site above is only the source where I found this poem I was reminded of...not a site I would endorse for any other reason tho' :)