Something New

What do you think?

Round 1 goes to Monday

Meh. Who needs Monday? There is always Tuesday! My old pal, Tues is always there for backup. I hope that you all have realized that I do these "Ra Ra Sis Boom Ba!" sorts of posts for myself. I am my fine parents first born. I like positive praise and encouragement. Words of Affirmation is my primary love language and as the years have passed and as I have grown up I have learned to love myself by being my own cheerleader. With any luck that doesn't sound too pitiful.

It's Monday afternoon. I have yet to have a showdown with the laundry and panic is setting in that I may not get to it. I need that dang monkey off my back, People! However, I am have four of my own little monkeys that double as my daughters. They are the president and co-chairs of the newest child foundation called YMPAOF which stands for "Your Mom's Pants Are On Fire". They find this hilarious and t-shirts will soon be available for purchase. Ironically, the hubster just called to say that he will be home 2-3 hrs late from work. HA HA HA! Hee hee hee. Hardy har har. "Laundry! LAUNDRY!!!"

Mommy Meets Monday

Here we are again, good Monday. Are you ready for a piece of me? TODAY, I am tackling the laundry. This week, I am going to focus on the laundry room. The lack of laundry follow thru has been the bane to my existence the last month. Today, I am going to fold until my the sun goes down if need be. I am visualizing myself like Rocky (in the 4th one) where he stands on the top of some Russian mountain range and yells "Drago!!! DRAGO!!" Here I stand on the top of my imaginary mountain and I am yelling, "Laundry! LAUNDRY!!!" My family room will be better for it if I can come out as victor.

I was pondering my housekeeping skills a few days ago and I realized that I have been flying by the seat of my pants since Paiser was born. Lately, there has been a trail of smoke behind me because I have been like a mother with the seat of her pants on fire...and not in a good way. I took the matter to the Lord. Isn't it amazing when you realize how much the small things in your life truly matter to Him? I was enlightened and instructed. I wrote down the things that flowed to my mind on my bedside notebook (in the dark no less) and this week I am going to work towards regaining better order and peace.

I am in being interrupted by whines of sisterly maimement so let me take this moment to remind myself that I should ponder over that specific remedy next week. Ok, now that my clever 3 yr old is happy with Barbies at my side, I will continue for a bit more.

I woke this morning and listened to this. It brings me peace and perspective. It slows me down. I am WAY too fast paced. I need to practice and learn the lesson on being more slow and steady. Lately, my brain has accelerated to seeing the end before I give the request to begin a task. I get inwardly (who are we kidding, it shows outwardly too) impatient from the get go by doing this. I am seeking to learn to work thru my day in less haste. When I make too much haste much of life's progress goes to waste.

As a mother and an appreciator of Monday, I am liken the endless possibilities that come with a new week to the opportunity to learn to become better. To emulate the feeling and functionality, I want in my home and relationships. It is a journey not a destination. There is much to do but I can only take it one step at a time--no matter how much multi-tasking I do.

I kind of liken it to running the last .10 of a mile. I love to sprint it out so I can get done faster. But, inevitably, I can't run that fast for as long as I'd like to finish OR even when I do, there is still more left to run to complete my course. I am constantly working towards change; towards an increasing in capacity and happiness. I have to embrace the path itself and the effort I put into moving forward. Forget the destination, it will come. I just have to work the journey.

There is more I want to ponder and emote but the time has come to step away from the keyboard for a time. Time to take what Monday is bringing head on. Welcome Monday. I am grateful to see you again.

P.S. My pantry looks AWESOME. It makes me smile everytime I open it. Even Maia commented on how beautiful it looks. EVEN the hubster did. If he noticed, you know it is a masterpiece specifically because guys don't care much about stuff like that.

Love of Monday

I have a love of Mondays. I know many people hate them but you might guess from my last post that I find it exhilarating. I feel like the best is yet to be. That all the good, growth promoting and nurturing is there for me to experience. I know that with all that good comes its opposite but I know in whom I trust. My Father in Heaven and Savior are the captains of my soul so I rely on them to navigate the rough waters and to shed glorious light on the smooth ones.

This Monday morning, my week begins no differently than it has in the past. I have high hopes of doing homeschool 4-5 days this week, I want to stay on top of the laundry, on top of my temper and impatience with my creamies and on top of my faith. I have beautiful bloglike images of how my week will look but every moment of my life looks nothing like the inspirational, calming, lovely and homey images I see on the incredible homemaking and mothering blogs I frequent.

I am not particularly skilled at any one thing. I can't knit, sew nor am I especially craftily creative. In my most awesome dreams, I would have crazy mad carpentry skills. However, I am rather decent cook, a budding gardener, my inner home decorator is developing (HGTV how I love thee) and I am kinda magical when it comes to budgeting (the Lord is really the maker of the magic, I am but a humble obeyer). To add to that, I have a learning spirit. I love to learn. On this week's docket? I am bursting with enthusiasm over this. I am taking a class on

BASIC BEEKEEPING!!

Uh huh. Your pulse is starting to quicken, isn't it? I squealed with delight when I found out about this class. I about bust my buttons when the handsome hubster said we should make a date of it and go together. I have always wanted to keep bees (and a few chickens). It speaks to my preparedness and self sufficient heart. I called my sister, Tempest, and my mom when I first found out about this class. When I gleefully gushed my thrilling news, unbeknowst to them, they both said the exact same thing, "You are weird." Can't a sister get some love and squeals of delight in return? Nope, just lovingly pegged as an oddball. Oh well, I embrace my oddball. It is me and despite my weaknesses and imperfections, overall, I am happy to be me.

Monday morning has about burned out, I don't have as much to show for it as I wanted but my hope in Monday burns bright. This morning, I made these and there is a batch of the premade mix waiting to be labeled on my counter. They were delightful. Paisley obligingly used her sign for 'yes' to secure a sufficient amount for her belly. It was a nice breakfast date between she and I--she, on my hip, a bite for her, a bite for me. Pour. A few quick bites between flipping and placing a warm flapjack onto a red plate. A kiss for her scrumptious cheeks. A sweet sniffy nose grin for me as her bedhead curls splayed out all over her head. I asked the big girls if they tasted different from our normal pancakes. Maia said yes and Olivia said not really but "these taste good and are thick and luscious". Luscious. Nice. I will be labeling them as Luscious Oatmeal Pancakes. I'll take that compliment and let it shine my perspective on this good Monday.

I have to report to you on my winning effort. I didn't win--dang it. I guess this was an installment of Rocky. We all knows what happens in Rocky II though. I wanted it so bad. But I had a 5.7% (second place) weight loss in 9 wks. My pants are too big and if I am being honest, my tooshie is hawt. I give it a pat of pride and encouragement every day or so. I did win the most hours of ever exercise competition. I was comforted in that. The legs feed the wolf and I have been fed. I am hungry for more. These legs have 8lbs to my super ideal weight--5 till my virtually ideal. I call my current weight--"that should shut them up".

I have bright and exciting plans for this week. I know you do too. Among my projects list are these:
1) Clean out and tidy the pantry. The caselot sale is next week and I have some transferring of food from the downstairs food storage shelves to the upstairs pantry so I can take accurate stock of what I need.
2) Learn more about cool weather crops so I can get ready to try out a cool weather garden this year.
3) Hang some stuff on the walls that I have been trying to do for a long time.
4) Make Apple Butter. (It is in the crockpot right now)
5) Use/bake with all the frozen bananas in the freezer. There are too many in there right now.
6) Bake some bread for the week.

That list always looks so exciting and promising on Monday, doesn't it? I don't usually complete my lists in my ideal time. Just know that. I am a real woman with real children. Flexibility in all things is the motto for our daily lives. I can't do it all so I do what I can and am training my family to help do the rest. *giggle* I am such a taskmaster.

Happy Monday!! AND Happy Birthday to my sister, Traci!

The Effort of a Winner

What is it about Mondays? It reminds me of the quote from Anne of Green Gables when she says (and I paraphrase) "Each day is like a fresh slate with no mistakes in it." To which Miss Stacey responds "No mistakes...yet." I get so optimistic at the outset of the week each Monday. Today is no different. My list and dinner menus are made. We actually had a good (BUT WILD) FHE last night. This week is the last week of a Biggest Loser Style Fitness Challenge I have been participating in. I have a big week ahead of me. I really want to win (and I believe I have a Rocky sort of fighting chance) but I am going to have to push it hard this week (I see lots of leg icing in my future), eat clean and go to bed early so my body can handle all the work. I don't even know if I should make room for a high calorie day. I hate that our girl scout cookies will be delivered this week. I have willpower but I have been looking forward to enjoying a few Tagalongs. I am 2 wks away from completing the Couch to 5k program I have been training for. It feels good. I can say that today since my thighs no longer hurt when I breathe.

Today is Monday. I want to create and prepare today for the rest of the week. Isn't that what we all want? Bread made, at home workout done, laundry under control, dinners planned, homeschool on pointe? I am working at it. I am determined to tackle this day and not let it tackle me. I am taking in deep breaths of positivity and ready to JUST DO IT. I feel a burning desire being turned up. I overheard my mom talking about me when I was a teenager. She said," Tisha has the eye of the tiger. If there is something in her power to achieve, she will do it." That has stuck with me. I am hoping that her words will come to fruition this week. The perspective I am keeping is that I want to do MY best. I want to let steel sharpen steel but when it comes down to it, I have to give the best that I have and then let the universe do with it what it will. I know I am starting to sound like this is more than it is at face value and maybe I am. This whole process has come at an extremely timely manner. I am drawing much strength and refuge from it.I feel peaceful and I feel ready to put forth the effort of a winner.

The Will To Win
(one the most classic motivational poems)

If you want a thing bad enough
To go out and fight for it,
Work day and night for it,
Give up your time and your peace and
your sleep for it

If only desire of it
Makes you quite mad enough
Never to tire of it,
Makes you hold all other things tawdry
and cheap for it

If life seems all empty and useless without it
And all that you scheme and you dream is about it,

If gladly you'll sweat for it,
Fret for it, Plan for it,
Lose all your terror of God or man for it,

If you'll simply go after that thing that you want.
With all your capacity,
Strength and sagacity,
Faith, hope and confidence, stern pertinacity,

If neither cold poverty, famished and gaunt,
Nor sickness nor pain
Of body or brain
Can turn you away from the thing that you want,

If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it,
You'll get it!

-- Berton Braley