The Ongoing Crisis of Abundance

I would like to start sharing things I've read that have made me laugh, cry, are inspiring, make me think, challenge me, or are worth remembering.


The first one I'm going to share is The Ongoing Crisis of Abundance from Talk Birth: Celebrating Women, Transforming Birth. I have found since Louis was born fourteen months ago that my need for control and my ability to do EVERYTHING have created a never ending conflict in my life. More than once this last semester, I've felt overwhelmed to the point of breakdown and  but when I sit back to figure out why, it's for ridiculous reasons. It's because my new bought over a year ago house still isn't fully decorated, because I don't have time to do crafts with my new born over a year ago son, because I don't have the time to bake great food, make great gifts and take great pictures, because my Google Reader is full and I just don't have the time to empty it. This is RIDICULOUS! Every day I do great things. I do what I can. I do not need to do everything. I continue to repeat this to myself as I ban Pinterest from my life, I do not need to do everything!

Working, working, working

Without the task of writing every day about the things for which I'm thankful, I haven't been writing much. (Knocking on wood) things seem to have stopped being one giant cluster after another, and so now I'm back to the every day grind of task completion. Next week is final's week at school and so I was hoping to get caught up with all things school-oriented before I left campus on Friday. Not quite, but I am much closer than I have been some semesters. Next week I'll grade final exams and submit grades, while hopefully starting on notes and planning for next semester.


At home, I'm trying to instill as much holiday cheer into our lives before it's all over for 2011. 

Decorated the house. 

Gone to visit Santa at Heritage Farm in Hudson. 

Attended the UNI Men's Glee Club Christmas concert. 

Celebrated St. Nicholas Day (complete with oranges in our shoes). 

Attended an ugly sweater party. 

Celebrated Freking Christmas with with Jo and Dylan. 

Started work on the Biennial Freking Family Christmas Program.

Listened to enough Christmas music that Nevin has threatened (under his breath) to move out.

Sipped on coffees with egg nog.

Baked.

Drank hot chocolate.

Hung out with Kevin, Scott, Hermey, Buddy, Bob, Phil (WHY ARE THESE ALL MEN?).

Also hung out with Judy, Betty, Clarice, Susan, Sybil.

Started, emphasis on STARTed,  gift buying. Although, my list is nearly complete.

I love this time of year. It's the time to search out the best in people and every situation. It's the time to give of oneself. It's a magical time of wishes and hopes and dreams. I hope Nevin and I can create special traditions and instill the real feelings of the season into Louis'childhood.


Now if I could only will it to snow...

Stationery card

Holiday Preview!

Be careful what you wish for...

I have been craving a day to myself. A day for whatever I want in the exact moment I want it. No worries about anyone else's needs, just a selfish day for me. I imagined reading and crafting and blogging and shopping. Maybe some cooking or closest organizing if I got really ambitious.

INSTEAD I woke up a little before six this morning and just didn't feel right. By the time I sat up in bed, I felt terrible. The next 13 hours I spent alone not worrying about any one else's needs. Nevin and Lou had a day just the two of them while I laid alone in bed wishing for a regular busy day full of errands and dishes. Whether it was food poisoning or the flu, I am hoping to not have to deal with the likes of it ever again. Being sick is the greatest reminder of how good I really have it every day I'm not wishing for someone to put me out of my misery. After having some toast (thank you, Nevin) and half a bottle of Gatorade (again, thank you hubby) tonight, I feel I am finally on the mend. My dehydrated joints are still screaming in agony but the thought of food no longer makes me want to go on a hunger strike.

Why oh why, could this have not been a day spent with my nook and a bottomless coffee cup? Apparently, in the future I must be clearer with the genie.

Days of Thanksgiving: Twenty Four

24. I am thankful for
books +
blankets +
movies +
hot chocolate +
our (fake) fireplace +
a couple totes of holiday cheer =
TODAY!!

Days of Thanksgiving: Twenty-Three

23. I am thankful for a clean house. I hate cleaning. I am not one of those people who enjoys the act of cleaning, tidying, scrubbing, dusting, or vacuuming. All I need to do to motivate myself to those tasks however is to think of the feeling I'll have lounging on my couch knowing my toilets are scrubbed, the counters are wiped and the floors are crumb free (for the time being).


I grew up in a busy house that was overrun with kids and pets. It's not that my family wouldn't have loved a clean house, it's that it just wasn't a priority. I should rephrase that, it wasn't a priority for the majority in the house, my mom would have killed for a clean house but she couldn't win the battle against seven (often lazy) kids, an instrument collecting husband and furry pets galore.


Now that I have my own house, I force myself to make cleaning a priority. I still hate the act of cleaning, but the result of having a clean house cannot be matched. It is the start to all things great.


Now if only I could tackle the virtue of organized closets and drawers...

Days of Thanksgiving: Twenty-Two

22. I am thankful for crafts. I don't have the time to do them as much as I would like, but the anticipation of a good craft is exciting. This pre-Christmas season I'm going to work on an advent calendar for next year.

It will be time consuming and require some patience, but here's hoping!