Monday Musings

Hello Friends! I hope you are having a Marvelous Monday! ☺

 

I know that Monday is not everyone's favorite day of the week, and it is definitely not mine either, but I also do not hate it.  What I like about Monday is that it is a fresh start to a week. (Yes, I know the week officially starts on Sunday...just work with me here...)  I've decided to start a regular Monday post called "Monday Musings."  This weekly post will just be a random hodge-podge (not to be confused with Mod-Podge, which I am a fan of) of whatever I want it to be about on any given Monday.☺So sit back and enjoy my Monday Musings... (disclaimer-I was not feeling very well last night (Monday) so I didn't get this blog post finished...I know it's not Monday... oh well, maybe I should have re-named this Tuesday Tales...lol ☺)

 

So, to address the elephant in the room...yes, I have been gone from blogging for a few months.  I took a little break without really meaning to and then it just turned into a big break.  I may have very well lost every follower (ok, not everyone, I know your still here Mom ♥) but if you are still here, I'm grateful, and I love you.  The end.

 

So, the last few months have been very busy; my sweet Nana (you can read about her HERE, HERE & HERE ) has had a decline in her health and after her last stint in the hospital (after a mild heart attack and a nasty fall) it was necessary for her to no longer live alone.  I helped my Mom & Dad fix up their extra bedroom and Nana moved in with them.  It has been hard, and it has been very emotional, but I am still so thankful to have my grandma with us. My parents are amazing, generous people.  I have such an awesome, amazing family.  Blessed, I am.

 

Nana and her five great-granddaughters on Mother's Day 2013

Speaking of family...in April, we welcomed my new, sweet niece, Miss G, to our family.  (You can read about her sisters, Miss A, Miss K & Miss T HERE )  Yes, that makes four, FOUR, girls for my sister's family! I'm such a slacker over here with one...☺  Welcome to the world Miss G, I know God has a great plan for your life and I am so happy to be your Aunt!☺

(Isn't she a doll!☺)

 

I joined Weight Watchers in January, and I am happy to report I have lost about 30 lbs so far! I feel fantastic, and I am looking at reaching my goal weight (about another 30 lbs) by my birthday in November. It's do-able, and I am motivated!☺

 

Now for some real random weirdness...do you know they make gummy vitamins?? I recently found out I was Vitamin D deficient, and my doctor also got onto me about not taking a multi-vitamin, so I high-tailed it to the store to look at my vitamin options... Gummies...go figure. For the first time in my life I am having no problems taking my vitamins.  I really hope by the time I have to take as much medicine as poor Nana that every medicine is a gummy. ☺

 

So, I have been busy thrifting & creating and I can't wait to show you some of the things I have snagged & things I have created.  I will be back Thursday with my latest project...here's a hint...

 

Are you intrigued? Ha ha!☺

Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!☺

A Day In The Life

Helllloooo! So, my friend Holly (I love love love her!) and her awesome friend Amy are hosting a  "A Day In The Life" Link up party.  I have so enjoyed reading about every one's day and I decided to join in! I hope you all don't die of boredom...but here goes! :)

   I am in total awe of everyone who wakes up at five or six.....not this girl (you know unless I have to, then I can do it, just not on a regular basis!)   I roll out of bed (slowly, like after hitting the snooze about four times) sometime after seven.  I hit the bathroom first, I can't do anything until I brush my teeth. I'm weird like that. I put in my contacts, do my hair and makeup and get dressed.  Exciting I told ya!   I start my day by spending time with God. I read my devotion for the day and my bible and pray. This is the best way to start my day. :)  

  After I have my morning time with God I knock on my daughter's door and tell her to get up. I'm her back up human alarm clock.   Then I usually have some breakfast and unload the dishwasher.   Then I will yell at my daughter if she is not already up (Does anyone else have teenagers? Do you have to beg them to get up? Or just my kid?)   Once my daughter is out the door then my morning's are my time. Right now I am working an afternoon/evening shift. I will eventually get back to days, but right now I am actually really enjoying this shift.    On some morning's I walk  

  Today was not that day.   It varies how I spend my mornings, but usually I catch up on reading blogs and watching TV shows that I have missed.  I don't have a lot, but I never miss Parenthood, Army Wives (I just watched the last episode-I hope for the season, not forever!) Big Brother or The Voice.  I straighten the house and usually do a load or two of laundry.   Still with me? :) I really hope you haven't died of boredom, that would be sad! :(   After lunch I head in to town to work. I have a beautiful drive and I enjoy my commute.  I tried to take a picture so you could see, but evidently I can not take pictures and drive at the same time.  Trust me on this. :)   Some days (like today!) I come to town early and swing by my favorite thrift store before work.  

  Then I go to work.  I work in customer service, and I love it.  Really. I do! I usually eat dinner at work.  

    After work I usually do some crafting (often in front of the television...or the computer)  I take my shower at night and I get everything ready for the next day (clothes, lunches, dinner) and make sure my purse and work bag are ready to go. I straighten the kitchen and start the dishwasher.

  I usually read and wait for my daughter to come in, we converse for a bit, and I go to bed, usually around eleven.  Before I go to bed I write down my days blessings and what I am thankful for in my joy journal.

  Then I say my prayers, turn out the lights and call it a day!:)    Thanks to Holly & Amy for hosting this link party, it has been so fun to read about every one's days and meet new blog friends! :)  

Grab Joy

Oh life...
 most of the time it's wonderful, sometimes it's not, but I am always thankful for it!

I've had some changes in my life recently, and while it's not what I planned, it is what God planned. I believe that with my whole heart.
At the beginning of June I started a "Joy Journal."  It's not fancy (yet!), just a cute little polka-dot notebook I picked up. 

I believe that you can find joy in every day. Some days you really have to think and look hard for it, and other days joy is so plentiful and in so many moments that you are awed and overwhelmed by all the joy in your life.  My joy journal is a place to record all that joy, and to help me remember every day how truly blessed I am.

I thought I would show you some things that brought me joy today:

My Nana.

I spent the afternoon with her. (This picture is from a few months ago, it was over a 100 today-no long sleeves for us!) Nana is my last grandparent; she and I have always been close.  I am her oldest granddaughter. I am the mother of her oldest great-granddaughter (we seem to only have girls in our family!) I go to Nana's almost every Sunday after church.  I have for as long as I can remember. Nana and Papa were married for 60 years. Nana is a fighter, she has survived three heart attacks...I told you she was a fighter! :) I love to listen to Nana tell stories about being a child during the Depression, a young military wife, my Mom, and her walk with God.  I know how lucky I am to still have Nana, and spending time with her brings me joy.

These wild flowers/weeds (whatever) that have sprung up at the edge of my patio bring me joy, plain and simple.

Pizza brings me joy. 

Seriously...well at least this one did.  I really didn't want to cook.  It is too hot, I was too hot, and I was tired. My awesome parents brought this over.
Yep, pizza with the parents brought me some joy today.

I have no idea what the deal with this leaf is.  Maybe it's decaying, maybe a bug destroyed it, I don't know.  What I do know is that when I found it on the patio this evening, I was excited.  A leaf that looks like lace, how awesome is that?! Yes, I may be easily impressed, but regardless, this lacey leaf added a bit of joy to my day.

As I said before, there is joy in every day, you just have to find it...then grab it! :)

P.S.  Want to know one more thing that brings me joy?
This Little Light now has a Facebook page! Whoo-hoo! Head on over HERE to join me on Facebook!

Weekend Wonderfulness

Hello! I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! I know I am!

It all started Friday evening.  We had a dinner and trivia night to raise money for the Polar Plunge to support Missouri Special Olympics!  Yes, I am crazy and I will be plunging for the second time! It is such a wonderful cause and I am so happy to do it!  Trivia was a great turn out and was lots of fun! My team ( The Lucky Duckies) didn't win ( so I guess we weren't that lucky) ..but we didn't come in last so I am happy!  A part of me is hoping that this beautiful weather we are having (It was 60 today!)  will hold out until February 25...wishful thinking huh?

Introducing My Plunge Team the....

Fierce aren't we? 

On Saturday the wonderfulness continued. I slept in. I finished the book I was reading.  I talked to my sister on the phone for an hour and a half.  I got a mint chocolate chip milkshake...I had been craving one...I gave in!  I went to Hobby Lobby.   I went thrifting and I scored!



Guess how much? Give up?  Let me break it down....

Christopher & Banks Brown Cardigan-$ .75
Beautiful blue cardigan that I am going to refashion- $.75
Two square canvases-$.25 each
Two heart picks- $.25 each
Liz Claiborne Purse-$1.00

That's right-$3.50!  Who-hoo! 

These little heart picks are going to find their way into my Valentine Decor. It seems like I do a little more every year.  I blame the blog world! :)

I finished out the weekend with church and a family day today,  a great way to spend the day, with people you love!

A great weekend always pumps me up for the next week,  so what did you do this weekend?

Busy, Busy, Busy

December 3?  Already?  These last two or so weeks have flown by in a blur, a very busy, busy blur.  Contrary to popular belief I did not fall off a cliff.  :)

It went something like this:

 Wake up.  Go to work.  Go to work again (second job.)  Come home, take shower, go to bed.

Next day: Repeat. 

Then Repeat, Repeat, Repeat......

I did take two days in there to give thanks and spend time with my very awesome family. (And a crazy Black Friday shopping trip with my  Mom and Sis and lots and lots of laughs.)

Then...you guessed it...

Wake up.  Go to work.  Go to work again (second job.)  Come home, take shower, go to bed.

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat......

So today I have grand plans,  I slept late. I am going to do laundry (be jealous, very jealous)  and pretty much just relax.  My awesome 17 year old has helped keep the house clean while I worked these insane hours the last two weeks, she is pretty awesome !! Just thought I should mention that!

 So, right now I am going to grab a cup of Caramel Apple Cider and go catch up on all the blogs I love! 

Have a wonderful weekend!  :)