More Than I Thought!

I have completed many more items on my list than I expected. As I reread the list I came up with in January I realized that I have kept up on the list without thinking too hard about it. So the question is....is it holding me accountable?

Tonight I finished recording the last of my family birthdays all the way out to 1st cousin. At the beginning of January I will make enough cards for the entire year--100 should cover it! The first 6 months of the year several people should have received "thinking of you" cards. While I have slacked off in the last few months, I vow to get back on the wagon. Hopefully, at this time next year, I will get to finish highlighting those items red.

Two weeks ago Jace's t-shirt quilt was completed, and Tessa's is 1/3 of the way towards completion with the plan for it to be ready by Christmas. I promise to post pictures. Now, if I could get motivated to do their school work digital books. Maybe if Santa brings me that new digital camera I have been asking for...... ;)

5k you say???

The opportunity presented itself while at the 2010 Ladies Golf spring kick off dinner. Karol asked if anyone was interested in the 5k walk/run. I immediately jumped on it because I knew that it was on my list, and the other gals were a bit more reluctant. You see, Karol is a more dedicated runner than the rest of us.

The next weekend came and went along with the registration. The day before I realized that I had not registered, and that the team of 4 was rounded out with Jessica, another great runner. My enthusiasm for the 5k was waning as quickly as the race was coming. How can I get myself out of this....accidentally oversleep? Well, since it didn't start until 9:30, and I am usually up by 7:30 on the weekends, that wasn't going to work. Trey got called into work? Well, he didn't. Alright...I'm getting the message...I'm still in.

When I woke up the sun was shining, it was a comfortable 53 degrees. By the time we got to the registration it was clouding up, temperature was dropping, the wind was picking up, and the rain clouds were getting closer. Why couldn't I have overslept?? We warm up by walking a few laps on the inside track and then get lined up for the race. Really, why am I warming up? I don't have a clue what I am doing. Don't you just go out there and start runing....push through the pain...right!?! I mean the furthest I have run in the past 6 years is 1 mile and now I am attempted 3! What was I thinking!?!

The race begins and we are off. Karol and Jessica, as expected, take off with the pack while Val, Dana, and I remain just a little further back--who am I kidding--ALOT further back, but moving along at a nice pace. Uh-oh...that bowl of cereal I ate is causing a cramp. What was I thinking eating that much this morning? I was thinking that I needed some energy and it was an hour and half before the race.

There is an older gal jogging right in front of us at, what I think, is a slow pace. (If I think she is slow...how slow are we!?!) We finally get past her and the next thing I know we are at the 1 mile marker and they were offering us some cups of water. Well, sure...who am I turn down some nice hospitality (and an opportunity to walk and catch my breath). We are off running again, but the breathing is getting a bit harder. Ok, so it feels like my lungs are going to explode and that my body is severly lacking oxygen. I finally have to slow my pace to a brisk walk after the 2nd mile marker. I didn't get much resistance from Dana and Val with this suggestion. :)

We walked and chatted for about 3/4 of a mile, but I had two goals in mind--I did not want to walk into the finish line and I definitely did not want that slower gal at the beginning of the race to pass us! We picked it up for the last quarter mile of the race and finished strong at 35 minutes! WHAT!?! 35 minutes! AND we ran 2/3 of the 3 mile race. None of us had run much more than a mile before this in any recent past.

Karol and Jesscia finished up 12 minutes before us. Jess took 2nd place and Karol 4th--they were awesome! I have no idea where I placed, but I finished and I finished strong! High-fives all the way around, pats on the back, some stretching and then, I don't remember who it was, says....there is another 5K next Saturday! Uhhh.....Let me get back to you after tomorrow!

The best part of the day, though, was coffee, pastries (or a breakfast sandwich smothered in cheese) and good conversation. Oh yeah, and another item completed on my list of 101 things. Thanks gals--it was a ball!

Progress

The 101 items on my list inspire me to be a better person and acquire better habits. Progress is being made on several fronts. I am spending 2010 writing down birthdays so that I can send out the cards in 2011, and recently acquired one of those letter boxes that has a slot for each day of the month. I hope with my perpetual calendar, card making skills, and organizing box will accomplish this task next year!

In January Trey and I sat down to establish a budget. Each weekend I update it with our spending for the week. As far as I can tell we are remaining within our budget and that is a great feeling each week when I examine it. I also feel more apart of our finances. When we were first married I knew that Trey had to be the keeper of the checkbook. My balancing skills were not up to par and would result in numerous fights; consequently, I have not balanced a checkbook since July of 1999. Trey's strength is not in the budgeting area, so I am happy to bring that skill into our marriage and be more a part of our finances and planning.

So far I have maintained my goal each month to send a "thinking of you" card to friends I am not able to keep in touch with regularly. I hope that they brighten my friends' days and helps us maintain contact. I love facebook, but there is nothing like a handmade and handwritten card that shows up amonst the bills and junk mail. I am also not good about sending out the annual Christmas cards, so this is another way to keep in touch.

Plans are underway for many other things....when are you going to create your list!?!

101 Things in 1001 Days

I have accepted the challenge. The list is nearly complete. I have already started to cross things off. As I look at the list I realized that 2012 is a long ways off, but it isn't THAT far off! Surly, I can complete all 101 things before then.

This blog was created originally as personal diary for me to remember special moments. While it was public, I never publicized it. In order to maintain my accountability for the 101 things, it is now public. In the journey of completing these items, in effect becoming a better person, I plan to maintain the blog to document all the little things that occur as a result.

Thanks to Latisha for challenging me to this. I challenge any of you who want to join in the journey. The first step is pretty difficult--coming up with those 101 things! Good luck!

Making the Impossible Happen

I truly admire those parents who can get their angel children to sleep at 8:00 at night. We begin our bedtime routine:

7:30 pm: baths, books, and pajamas.

7:50 pm: We rock, soothe, turn down lights, say prayers

8:00 pm: lay down and anything to clear their minds or calm their bodies.

8:02 pm: Just when all is quiet and they seem like they are asleep the meek, mild, and innocent "mommy" so quietly comes from the bedroom.

8: 05 pm: "Tuck me in with my blanket, please" is the polite request.
"Ok honey, no problem," we'll say.

8:09 pm: Then another meek and mild "daddy" from the other room.

8:13 pm: "I need socks please, my feet are cold," is the reasonable request.
"Alright honey, I can do that," one of us will say.

8:23 pm: "I'm thirsty, can I have a drink?" follows up shortly.
"Ok. I'll be right there," one of us responds.

8: 31 pm: "I'm scared, mommy," comes from the other room.
"There is nothing to be scared of honey. Now go to sleep," I'll respond.

8:35 pm: "I'm scared."
"Why are you scared?"
"I don't know, just lay down with me."

8:45 pm: I am finished laying down and going over every happy thought from his short life.

8: 47 pm: "I'm scared, mommy."
"AAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! I'll give you something real to be scared of if you don't get in your bed!" Ok, I have lost it!

8:48 pm: I realize, "they have gotten me!"

8:49 pm: I vow to not respond to anymore requests and escape their manipulative little game. I have completely fallen into the trap. No matter how many times I try to take care of every need before bedtime, I get drawn into their trap. I think they plot it out before they go to bed during bathtime. "I'll start with the drink, and then you go for the socks. I'll play the scared card, and then you ask for the blanket."

9:00 pm: The tanturm begins. By the time I realize that I have fallen into the trap it is too late! They have me, and there is no esaping without the consequences of not noticing all the signs. Each trip to the bedroom is becoming quicker with less patience, but the time between requests is also becoming quicker. That is what happens at the bedtime games, you start off patient, but end up a near-lunatic two hours later responding to all these requests. The children end up nearly hysterical because you finally figure out the trap that was planned and stop responding. The longer you stayed in the trap is proportional to the amount of time.

9: 25 pm: The tantrum continues, you try to wait it out with the patience of a saint all along cursing, "Why? How? How did I fall into this trap, AGAIN? TONIGHT!?!" They are so sneaky. Saying prayers for patience and wisdom from Mother Mary, begging for the strength to not walk in and strangle my screaming child who I so lovingly have done everything requested to make bedtime as comfortable as possible. All I wanted was one hour of peace and quiet before I tuck my own tired body into bed, but is that possible? Noooooooo.

9:45 pm "Mommy, I pooped," I hear from the bedroom. This is like the kid who cried wolf. Is this a ploy to just get me in the room, or is this for real? Do I fall into the wicked web that they keep spinning or chance being turned into to child protection services for severe diaper rash? Which is the greater risk? The screaming continues, "I pooped!" What do I do?

Cracking the door open I ask, "Did you really poop?"
"Yes," in a whiny whisper.
"You better have!" Then I commence the mother smell of the rear end to confirm. Yep! You pooped. Change the diaper. "Not another sound out of you."

"Ok." is the matter of fact response as if I should expect that.

It is 10:15 and I think they are both asleep. All I can hear is the typing on the keyboard. My head hurts, my body is tired, and my patience is frazzled. So much for a quiet hour with myself or my husband. So much for reading a chapter of my book, walking on the treadmill, or enjoying an uninterrupted television show. And guess what, it will all probably happen again tomorrow night. When will I ever learn?

It is Better To Give Than To Receive

Holiday season is my favorite time of year. The brisk air energizes me. I love the music. The anticipation of getting together with family, and just the pure joy of the season. Yes, it has become a very commercialized time of year and many celebrate the Christmas holiday without knowing the true cause for the celebration; however, I reflected on this even more this year because I want my children to understand what Christmas is all about.

My five year old understands what wrapped gifts mean and knows when the time comes he will get to unwrap those with his name on them. Within the pretty paper will be something new and fun for him to play with, read, wear, eat, or look at with a new excitement and enthusiasm. Our children have way more than they should, but it is so much fun to watch their eyes light up and a giant smile develop when they receive something. This year I noticed something very interesting, my son was just as excited to watch me, my husband, and my daughter open our gifts. For some he helped pick out the gifts and wrap them. For others he was just as surprised when we unwrapped our gifts. This pleased me because he realized that this was about all of us and tunderstood he pleasure giving to others.

At preschool this year we received an Operation Christmas Gift box in which my son purchased a gift for a needy child. He chose to buy for a girl who was his own age. Man, we scrambled through Wal-Mart filling the box. He wanted to give her the world. Unfortunately, we don't have the funds to do that, but it was so pleasing to see the enthusiasm he had to buy for someone he didn't even know. Now, trying to explain poverty to a 5 year old is rather challenging. I had to explain that they didn't have enough money to purchase toys and unnecessary items, but we do have a little extra that we can give to others. At that time my sister calls to say that she will be home in a week and will be bringing him a gift. His response, "You don't need to buy me presents...my mom and dad have money, they can buy me presents."

We finished our shopping and then went home to prepare the gift. Jace wanted to include a personally drawn picture inside the gift.

We went to our local Living Nativity presentation about the birth of Jesus. I thought explaining poverty was difficult, but trying to explain the Living Nativity brought on a whole new berth of questions (sorry for the pun). Angels, stars, shepherds, wise men, a manger, and why is Jesus so special anyway? Can he see everyone? Can he see me now? How? What are angels? Are there angels in here now? Why can't I see them? How did she have the baby so quick? and the list goes on. Needless to say, we didn't get a great deal from the living nativity. He did carry the infant Jesus up at the midnight mass procession, and he did a wonderful job of placing baby Jesus in the manger. There were no more questions about his birth this year and I'm grateful.

On another note...I want to write this last Christmas story before I forget the quote. While playing around the fire pit during a Christmas get together at my mom and dad's house I stopped him from goofing around. I got down at his eye-level, and ever so seriously said to him, "What would happen if you fell in the fire pit?" Matter of factly he responds, "Stop, drop and roll."

Is it Really a Full Moon?

This week was a rough one at school, literally! Three moms and their daughters in a cat fight, six boys and three classroom altercations, and two teachers in a stand off...not to mention my daughter and I in a two hour head to head battle about a bath on Saturday morning.

I have never seen girl hate as I did this week. It was the textbook definition that left me absolutely speechless. I just wanted to knock them over their heads! They tore each other apart with words, emotions, texts, and the ever present pointy finger in the face. Why? A boy...why do we do that to ourselves and why isn't anyone mad at him? Fortunately, I got to leave the mediation early and I am not certain what was worked out, but I'm sure this ugly thing will rear its head again.

Now the three classroom physical altercations indicate that a boiling point emerged. In each event my role included telling them that any type of physical retaliation is intolerable, explained to them how to deal with it in the future, and each one had to write 15 nice things about the other. I think the latter was the worst part of the punishment!

Why we continue to tolerate incooperation with our colleagues boggles my mind. The vast majority of us try to work together, but the actions of a few make it so miserable for the rest. How is that fair? I haven't quite figured that out yet. I just hope that I can last longer than they can. I guess I do have the upper hand...my chances of getting another job are greatly improved over theirs. Why don't I do that then?

Finally, my daughter has decided that she hates baths...why, no one knows. For over two hours she sat on her potty refusing to take a bath. I cleaned her closet, vaccuumed the upstairs, sorted through toys, and ate lunch. Well, my patience was tested and she eventually took the bath. I wanted her to make the decision to get in herself, but I didn't put her in until I got a "yes" from her when I asked. I probably got much more accomplished as I worked through my frustration than I would have if she cooperated. I suppose that is the silver lining!