2014

All posts tagged 2014

My 2014 To-Do List!

Published January 2, 2014 by Angela

I am not one to do resolutions, only for the fact that it seems to be much more pressure to accomplish something than you would normally feel if, say, you decided to go on a diet starting the 3rd Wednesday of February. And I also figure I gave up more than enough things in 2013, and I lost about 30 lbs (not entirely intentional) so I am going to share my To-Do List. I am an avid list maker; I have them in my desk at work, in my purse, in my car, on my dresser, on my bookshelf, stuffed inside books I was reading at the time, I think you get my point. With that being said, it is my intention that this To-Do list is one I will actually follow, and work towards.

 

1)      Go to church a LOT more than I did this past year (This tends to be difficult on Sunday mornings because a. I work 3rd shift, it’s a whole sleep/awake thing we aren’t going to get into here, and b. my 12 year old needs to go to confirmation classes from 9:30-10:30am, and trying to get her to church by 8:15 am for the actual service is next to impossible impossible.

2)      Tithe a LOT more at church than I did this past year. Granted, attending more should lead to tithing more, but I truly want to get it to the level it needs to be at. Give until it hurts, right?

3)      Stop swearing. Yes, I swear. A lot. Not as much as I used to, but enough that I cannot justify my faith and attendance at church while continuing to cuss like a sailor in my home.

4)      Stop yelling. Ugghh; this is a big one for me. I have gotten much better, but my 2 youngest tend to communicate by yelling (yes, they learned it from me) so I tend to continue to communicate in that manner with them. Meaning, if they are yelling and screaming at each other, I yell “Knock it off!” So not necessary.

5)      Make and take some “me” time. I do not get time away from my girls, pretty much ever. I also have college classes beginning in 7 days for my Master’s Degree (which could really hinder any chance of free-time what-so-ever!). So I think this year it is going to be more important than ever that I make sure I have time to myself to recoup, and relax, and keep my sanity right where I need it; with me.

6)      Patience. I just gotta get some. This in turn will likely help tremendously with #’s 3 & 4.

7)      Exercise. Exercise. I do NOT like to exercise. Never have, likely never will. My intention is to actually begin running as soon as the temperature gets above 10 degrees in Michigan.

8)      Read the Bible. The WHOLE Bible. Even the hard parts that I never understand and skip over. I have started a reading program with the YouVersion Bible App. I should complete this task in 6 months.

9)      Improve my photography skills. I have an amazing camera system and lenses, but never seem to take the time to experiment with it. I spent 4 years in high school taking photos for our yearbooks so I am familiar with the technical speak of photographers, I just need to test the limits of my camera.

10)    Allow myself to be happy! I have felt incredible for the last 5 months, and I just really need to enjoy and bask in that.

What are your big goals?

Back To Reality – Well, By About 50% So Far!

Published January 2, 2014 by Angela

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What a wonderful, relaxing Christmas break I have had. Normally I do not look forward to time off from work (it does nothing more than mess with my sleep schedule and turn me into “not-so-nice-Mommy-anymore!”)

And being the 1st of January, and technically the 2nd for me being a shift worker, I get to go back to work tonight. I am feeling pretty good about this, and not dreading it like most people do.

 

Why is this only back to reality by 50%? Because I am still 2 children short until this upcoming weekend, and it has been like this since the day after Christmas. I have to be completely honest here, my 2 children that are with their father are the same 2 children who have been fighting with each other, and everyone else, non-stop for the past month. My 15 year old didn’t want to go, so while she has been home and not hanging out with her friends, we have had some bonding time, and complete peace and quiet in our house.

Don’t get me wrong, I do miss my girls. But I am liking the peace and quiet right now more than I am missing them. Yes, I know that makes me a bad Mom and I should be crying over the fact that my girls have been gone for a week now. What you need to understand to put this in perspective, or at least in my point of view, is that I never have peace and quiet here. My children never leave to go with their Dad. The last time before now that he has seen them? April. Spring break when I physically dropped them off and picked them back up. Or he wouldn’t have seen them at that time either.

No, I’m not bashing my ex. It is what it is and honestly, I am glad that I do not have to communicate with him on a regular basis, it makes life a lot easier for me and my girls (they agree on this point, hence, one of them not even wanting to go).

So I think I have 3 or 4 more days of this quiet, argument-free environment before they come back home. And I will hug them, and kiss them, and tell them how much I love them and missed them (Yes, I really do miss them!). And then I am going to try to put into place something; anything that will help everyone get along better without the bickering over completely mute issues.

I am looking forward to making this 2014 year a wonderful one for me and my family, even without resolutions being made.

Have you made any resolutions?

Praticing Patience

Published December 27, 2013 by Angela

I think UPS has just given up 😦 The 3-day delivery on my Nook HD+ will be here in 7 days. Not angry, UPS and FedEx employees have jobs I would not ever want to do. Very sorry they are taking so much heat; I have to think that all of the customers out there being nasty have never made a mistake in their lives, EVER.
Personally, my girls could have used some time on Christmas morning with gifts missing from under the tree to focus on the real reason for the season; A gift that could never be wrapped!

With 2 of my girls gone for the next several days, and they also happen to be my two fighters 🙂 I literally feel lost as to what to do with myself. I am not used to this much quiet, so my own home is feeling quite alien to me. I am also still off work for several days yet, so this is my time to get things caught up so I can start 2014 on the right foot. And I am super-excited for what this coming year will have in store for me and mine 🙂

Do you have resolutions in mind that you are going to put in place?