Challenges · Musings · Wonder Women

Reflecting on 2015

my13daychallenge

DSCN4389

Last New Year’s Day, I imagined myself on the brink of New Years 2016.  I had a beautiful vision for my future. I didn’t get everything I hoped for last year for but I’m not discouraged. I still had a good year with lots of stuff going on. Good stuff. Bad stuff. Funny stuff. Hard stuff. Amazing Stuff. Stuff I have no idea how to explain. Just Stuff. That’s life, you know. We all get stuff and how we react is what ultimately creates the life we see at the end of the year.

Here are some of the things I learned in 2015.

I learned about the joys of green arrows and celebrating every step you make for a goal.  Read the rest of the post. traffic-lights-444639_1920

I did my first 5K and came in last place.    Race

I earned an award.

Award 2

I learned how to make salad in a jar. DSCN4088

I also met and interviewed so many wonderful Wonder Woman. Woman like SJ who taught me to be a mermaid by being yourself.  Woman like Josephina , Tiffany, Carrie and so many more. These conversations enriched my life and helped me to reflect on the power and beauty of the ordinary woman.  After all, every woman’s success can be success if I let it.

Be Awesome in 2016!

Challenges · Memory Lane · Musings

The Christmas Candle

my13daychallenge

DSCN4419

Each night for the 13 days before Christmas, my siblings and I would sit at the dinner table. In the middle of the table sat a burning candle. Mom would read us a few scriptures to teach us about Christ.  Then we’d sing a Christmas song. One-year Mom told us that when the candle was all the way burned down to the bottom with nothing but a little wax left that she would make us a special cake. We were all very motivated by the idea of cake so the next night we each came to the kitchen table with our own candles. As Mom would read, we’d take our candle’s flame and gently encourage the Christmas candle to burn faster. This went on for a couple of nights as my poor mother tried to read us the words of Christ and we tried various means to make the candle burn faster.

The Christmas candle was taking forever to burn all the way down to the bottom so we decided to meet before mom’s readings and burn it on our time. We felt guilty about just burning the candle though so one of us read the Bible while the others started burning little holes into the Christmas candle. Mom came in and saw what we were doing. We thought we might be in trouble but instead she just laughed and said, “Wonderful! I’m raising a bunch of pyromaniacs who read their scriptures”. Then she went and got a lighter and joined us in our quest to burn that candle all the way to the bottom.  (By the way, lighters can burn candles faster than other candles can burn candles. We got to eat cake that night!)

(This cute little Nativity set was a present from my awesome sister Jenny.)

My latest challenge is connected with Advent.  The 30 days before Christmas I’m remembering Jesus by reading some scripture verses and doing 30 days of kind deeds. The hope is that this will make Christ the focus of my Christmas celebrations.  So far, it’s been a good experience.

And no, I’m not going to tell you what I did for my good deeds because it’s suppose to be anonymous.  I’m also a little selfish because I want all those blessings in heaven.  Don’t have any idea what I’m talking about? That’s okay.  I will fill you in with the Bible story. When Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount he said people who do good deeds get rewards in Heaven. There’s a catch though.  The angels don’t write it down on their heavenly Ipads if you blab all around town about it.  Oops. I just told the entire internet all about my good deeds challenge. Somewhere there is a little angel who is hitting the delete button.

This challenge really has made this Christmas special though. What are you doing to make Christmas a wonderful time for you?

Wonder Women

Wonder Woman: Meet SJ

my13daychallenge

Have you ever met a mermaid? I have. Meet SJ.

SJ and guitar

You might be wondering how I know SJ is a mermaid. Well, she meets all the characteristics of the mystical ocean creature.  Mermaids are natural beauties. They have kind, generous personalities with a flair for love, beauty, music and romance. They have passion for living life by their own design. Mermaids can live in the water or on the land. Home is based on who and what they love. Their love isn’t defined by geographic or cultural boundaries. SJ  loves greatly. She’s kind, thoughtful, intelligent and creates a joyful atmosphere wherever she goes. SJ is an artist as she crafts intricate hairstyles in her career as a cosmetologist. She sings and plays instruments. She’s also a romantic soul, because she and her boyfriend write telegrams to each other. (That’s got to be the coolest, retro thing I’ve heard of in a long time.)

Telegram

SJ is a Mermaid. She’s also a Wonder Woman because she is herself.

 

SJ the Mermaid

Be a Wonder Woman. Be yourself.

 

 

 

Challenge 14: Gratitude · Musings · Wonder Women

Everyone needs an Aunt

my13daychallenge

Everybody needs an Aunt Marla in their life!

I had a good day at work and then I got stuck in some very heavy traffic driving home. My good day turned bad really fast. I was grouchy, tired and frustrated as more and more cars piled onto the same road as me.

I found this in the mail when I finally got home.

Cute Card

It’s a Christmas card from my Aunt Marla. The card turned my day back to a happy, good day. It’s also really cute and glittery. I now have glitter all over my hands, sweater and face. I guess I touch my face more than I realized.  I look like a fairy princess ready to sprinkle pixie glitter all over to fly away. The card really did change my entire mood. It’s the power of a simple gift. It’s the power of remembering people. Thank you, Aunt Marla. You’re awesome. I love you.

By the way, I love all my aunts. They’re all strong, incredible woman who have influenced my life for good.

Have you thanked your Aunt Marla today?

DSCN4129

(This photo was taken earlier this year at Good Friday services. Marla is the beautiful woman in the middle of the group.)

Challenge 14: Gratitude

Gratitute Challenge Days 25-30

my13daychallenge

DSCN4208

My annual gratitude challenge is over. It’s kind of weird not to wake up and immediately go to my journal to write down a thankful thought.  Here’s my list for days 24-days 30. Day 30 is my favorite. Toilet paper really is a miracle and I love it!

Day 24: Green arrows at busy intersections

Day 25: Oops. I forgot to be grateful today. I did get a lot of cooking done though.

Day 26: I’m grateful for my family, my friends, my faith, warm socks, hot chocolate and those yummy Biscotti that go with the hot chocolate, the Bible, everything I said on gratitude days 1-25, my super cool cousins who I love to hang out with, a comfortable bed with pillows and blankets and a bunch of other blessings. I’ve had so many opportunities and blessings in my life. It sometimes seems unfair that I have so much and others have so little. I’m feeling grateful today.

Gratitude Day 27: Thanksgiving leftovers= no cooking for several days. I love it! I’m also grateful for paper plates.

Day 28: Kleenex. My nose is so grateful for soft Kleenex especially when the allergies are acting up.

Day 29: I’m grateful l grew up in a home where it was okay for my siblings and me to ask questions. I didn’t realize what a gift this was until l got older and met people who were punished as a kid for asking why. Thank you Mom and Dad. You are good parents and amazing people. Sure love ‘ya.

Gratitude Day 30: Toilet paper. Life is much better with it.

Challenge 14: Gratitude · Musings

The Joy of Green Arrows

my13daychallenge

traffic-lights-444639_1920

Some teens dream about the day when they can get their driver’s license.  I wasn’t one of them. Driving terrified me.  I got my driver’s permit like all my friends at 15 and then I let it expire.  In fact, I let my driver’s permit expire three times.

My parents, bless their hearts, kept trying to teach me to drive. Mom and Dad would take me to safe, calm streets and parking lots for me to practice. They kept bringing me back to practice even though I would always tell them that they were signing their death certificate by being in a car with me. I even took one of those driver’s education classes at school. That actually made my anxiety worse as the teacher told me all the ways I could get killed while driving.

What does this have to do with my gratitude challenge?  I was at a busy intersection on day 22 of this  challenge. The radio was on. I was waiting for the green arrow that allows me to turn left.   I’ve always liked green arrows. They are so helpful at busy intersections.  I turned and then I drove down the street and got on the freeway.  I went to my appointment and then I drove home. When I got home, I started thinking about the green arrow, the freeway  and the way I had just nonchalantly driven to and from my destination. I got a little teary eyed thinking about it.  I was a driver. Me.  A driver.  Driving does not scare me anymore. It hasn’t for several years.

This may not be a big deal to you but it is a big deal to me. I was in college before I finally got my driver’s license. I went for years with only taking surface streets and then I’d drive five under the speed limit. (Yes, I’m probably the person you honked at who was driving too slow.) There was one time when I actually said no to a really good job offer because it would have involved a daily freeway trip. I was over 25 years old before I had enough courage to brave the freeways.  And at that point, I had to have the Accountant or a kind friend in the car with me while I was driving on the freeway.  I was in my 30’s before I could drive on the freeways by myself.

I can drive on the freeways by myself now. I no longer make decisions in my life based on avoiding freeways. I can drive the speed limit and depending on the traffic flow, I can even go above that speed limit to keep up with the other cars. Am I a speed demon who loves the open road? No. I probably will never drive for fun but I can do it now and I’m grateful for that skill.

Day 22: I’m grateful for green arrows and the ability to drive. Driving did not come easy for me but I did learn how to do it. It’s a miracle in some ways. I can drive.

For any one out there who is struggling to learn something, keep trying.

Challenge 14: Gratitude

Gratitude Challenge: Days 17-23

my13daychallenge

The Gratitude Challenge is in full swing. Here are days 11-23.

Day 23: I’m grateful for the Earth and especially for pretty sunsets.

100_2638

Day 22: I’m grateful for green left turn arrows at busy intersections.

Day 21: I’m grateful for public libraries. I love the library!

Day 20: I’m grateful the Accountant knows how to fix things. It has sure come in handy over the years when stuff breaks around the house.

Day 19: I’m grateful for email and Facebook. It’s a fun way to waste my time and keep in touch with people.

Day 18: Kung Fu Punctuation. I’m excited and grateful to try it with my students. Every punctuation mark has its own little karate move. We will correct the sentence on paper and then stand up and act out the marks. I think the kids will get a kick out of it.

Day 17: Clouds. I’m grateful for beautiful, interesting clouds to look at on my drive home from work.

Day 16: I’m grateful for blankets.

Day 15: I’m grateful for my siblings and parents.

Day 14: Shoes. I’m grateful for them.

Day 13: Grateful for a working a car

Day 12: I’m grateful for my job. It’s good to work.

Day 11: I’m grateful for all the veterans and their families today.

What are you grateful for today?

 

Challenge 14: Gratitude · Wonder Women

Wonder Women: Meet Teresa

my13daychallenge1 Comment

Teresa

Have you ever met someone who is really rich?  I have. Her name is Teresa.

I met Teresa when I was a little kid. She happens to be my aunt. I know what you are thinking. “Amee, that’s great that your aunt is well off. Why aren’t you trying to get her to give you some of her lovely money to fix up your old car? ”

Guess What?  Teresa has a beat up car too. Teresa’s wealth is found in her positive and thankful heart. Like many people, Teresa has struggled with health challenges, unemployment and the disappointments that come in life. Unlike most folks, Teresa has found a way to look on the bright side while still dealing with the reality of the present moment. Let me tell you a story that proves my point about Teresa’s gift for gratitude.  Once upon a time Aunt Teresa and her kids decided to take a road trip to visit my family.  During the 14 hour drive to see us, the air conditioner in Teresa’s car broke, two of her kids got sick and she received some news that her husband’s company was going to lay him off.  I overheard Teresa on the phone talking with my uncle about how they were going to pay the bills. After Teresa got off the phone, I asked her what was going on. She told me about the crazy events that had occurred on their drive to see us. After the explanation, I was expecting to hear Teresa lament her life or at least say she was really mad. I’d want to throw something if all those things happened to me in one day. She didn’t do that though. Teresa told me she was still one of the richest people in the world because she got to see all of us.

It was a simple conversation with a 15-year-old niece. I don’t know if Teresa even remembers it after all these years. It left an impression on me though. Teresa is a really rich person. She’s grateful.

In addition to raising some awesome kids, (I’m biased. Hi cousins.) Teresa teaches preschool and sings in a church choir. She and her husband Rick feel strongly that being grateful and positive have made their life easier. They just started their own blog all about living a grateful and positive life.

Teresa is a Wonder Woman!

Challenge 14: Gratitude

Gratitude Challenge

my13daychallenge

Wow. It’s now November.  Somehow. I don’t know where the last month went. Maybe it went on a cruise. I’d like to think that while I was working away at my job the month of October was drinking a virgin Piña Colada on a cruise deck.

Every November,  I have a tradition of having 30 days of gratitude.  I wake up and think of one thing that I’m grateful for. Here’s my list so far.

Day 1: Left over Halloween candy.

Day 2: Running water.  It’s very nice to just turn on the faucet instead of walking two miles to a well.

Day 3: Teeth.  They sure come in handy for eating that left over candy.

Day 4: Music

Day 5: Indoor plumbing. No commentary needed.

Day 7:  Oops. Life happened and I forgot to  be grateful. Actually, I was grouchy most of the day but I will leave that part out. I want everyone on Internet land to think I’m always happy and put together. Lol.

Day 8: Music and the power it has to take feelings in my head and heart and give them a voice.  (Yes, I know I said music on Day 4. I’m doubly grateful for music.)

Day 9: Bug spray and shoes because both can get rid of critters l don’t like.

And on day 10, I’m grateful for the public  library.  I love the library! I don’t like paying my library fines, but that’s a post for another day. Maybe I could devote an entire month to complaining. It would give me the chance to write a blog post on how the library charges me just because I keep their book a few more days.

Books

What are you grateful for today?

 

 

 

Musings

Getting Older

my13daychallenge

It’s official. I’m old.

In my little head, I’m still an 8-year old kid wishing to be all grown up.

In my head, I’m 18 years old and starting college.

In my head, I’m a twenty-something living in my first apartment.

In my head, I just got married. In my head, I’m still very young and that getting older stuff is for people who are old. Not for me.

I had a rude awakening today. Guess What? I’m part of that getting older group.

First, a student told me that I looked really good for being an old lady. (Thank you, dear child.) Next, I got an e-mail message that my 20 year high school reunion is next year. Wait! How did 20 years go by so fast? I remember my mother going to her 20-year-old high school reunion. I just graduated from high school. Oh. That was 19 years ago. I guess I can go to my 20 year high school reunion next year. Finally, I looked in the mirror and saw a white hair.

It must be true. We all get older.  To celebrate, I decided to post the picture my brother made for me. This is what I look like when I’m 96. The picture made me laugh. I look great for 96!

Old Old Girl

Cheers to getting older

And cheers to still being young.

Young Me

Forever. At least, in my head.