Inspired by my friend's blog post, and a saying I just read from another friend that says "It is not happy people who are thankful, it is thankful people who are happy." These are 100 things that make me happy. Some are little and some are not so little, but they all bring joy to my life. In random order:
1. reading on the couch, with a warm blanket on a rainy day
2. happily sleeping kiddos
3. the sound of children playing happily
4. the smell of cinnamon from something baking in the oven
5. being in the same room with David, even if we are doing different things
6. cooking for friends
7. making gifts
8. my daughter saying I'm "the best friend ever!" or "the best mommy ever!"
9. my husband calling me beautiful even when I don't feel like I am
10. soft couches
11. firm mattresses
12. hot showers
13. deep bathtubs
14. sunny days at the beach
15. reading a book that I don't want to put down
16. a balanced budget
17. having an emergency fund
18. tea party with my 2 year old
19. feeling baby kicking
20. the sound of the rain
21. the sound of the ocean
22. ice water with lemon
23. herbal tea
24. learning new things
25. being around friends
26. the smell of barbecue
27. the smell of fresh sheets
28. the smell of lavender
29. japanese irises
30. my daughter's eyes
31. my husband's arms
32. the smell of the air after it rains
33. nutella
34. losing track of time while doing something artsy
35. being together with my husband and children
36. making meals for my family
37. colored pencils
38. office supplies
39. getting organized
40. my old paid-for van for what it represents (no debt)
41. texts from my husband
42. detailed emails from friends and family
43. repurposing things
44. whenever my daughter surprises me with her brilliance (daily)
45. thinking about what my second baby will be like
46. doing "projects" with kids
47. getting fresh fruit and vegetables at the u-pick farm
48. farmers markets
49. California flea markets
50. writing with a fat ballpoint pen
51. cutting out fabric with scissors
52. sewing on the sewing machine or by hand
53. watching David play with Blueberry
54. going for a drive with the family
55. the peace I feel when I REALLY give my worries to the Lord
56. decorating cakes for other people
57. experimenting with recipes
58. handmade cards, making and receiving them
59. thoughtful gifts, no matter how small
60. having the right tool for the job
61. the smell of sage and rosemary in a roast or roasted potatoes
62. the smell of basil
63. the smell of parsley
64. chinese take-out
65. gluten-free pizza
66. an encouraging word from a friend
67. my daughter's kind and thoughtful nature
68. my husband's ability to balance me
69. my husband's presence that makes me feel like everything will be OK
70. soft blankets
71. herbal scented lotions
72. coconut oil
73. being able to give my time to someone
74. trying out new recipes
75. live music
76. dancing even when nobody is around
77. walking barefoot in sand
78. the sound of wind through trees
79. planning parties
80. organizing digital photos
81. coloring pictures with kids
82. being in the shade on a warm summer day
83. the smell of campfire
84. coconut mochas
85. my mom's homemade tiramisu
86. getting a foot massage from my husband
87. sleeping in, or even just not being in a rush to get up and out the door
88. having brunch with friends
89. good extra-virgin olive oil
90. encouraging others
91. being silly with kids
92. seeing children experience things for the first time
93. animals
94. pretty much all of creation in the beautiful outdoors
95. having plans, but not necessarily sticking to them
96. watching people have a good time
97. watching my husband pursue his career and feeling good about the direction he is going
98. having a good relationship with my mom
99. friends that know I am there for them no matter what, even if we haven't spoken in a while
100. when someone says or does something that tells me that they really understand me and appreciate me the way I am (as an introvert)
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Beautiful Fall
We started off with the intent to find and ID different fall deciduous leaves. A simple task that led us to a beautiful nature hike around the community college campus trails on a wonderful fall afternoon. The sun came out after a morning rain. Everything was fresh and clean but not too wet.
Blueberry loved finding leaves and putting them in her paper sack.
Daddy and Blueberry had fun throwing leaves up in the air and watching them fall.
Daddy found a little salamander on the forest floor.
He gently picked it up so we could get a good look at it.
He was brown on top and bright orange on the bottom.
The little guy warmed up on our hands for a bit before we let him free on the ground.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Generosity and Bargains
When we made the decision to be parents and that I would stay home with the kids we knew that we would not always have the newest and best of THINGS but it is a price we are willing to pay for being able to raise our own children.
We were recently blessed with a generous gift of the double stroller I was saving up for. David's grandparents gave us the one we were looking at that our infant car seat fits into. This was a wonderful surprise. It is a sit and stand stroller which Blueberry is modeling in the picture.
I also belong to some Facebook resale groups. They are local groups, some are just for children's items, for people to sell gently used items for cash. We have been selling some stuff too but I found some gently used boys clothes for a great deal and I went through all of the neutral color clothes I saved from Blueberry and with those I am pretty set for boys clothes up through 9 months.
Some people have told me it is not as much fun to buy clothes for a boy, but I have to respectfully disagree. While dresses are fun and pretty, miniature polo onesies are adorable too.
People's generosity is also contagious. Though I have sold Blueberries old clothes pretty cheap, I am thinking I could probably go lower and hope that it blesses someone else.
We were recently blessed with a generous gift of the double stroller I was saving up for. David's grandparents gave us the one we were looking at that our infant car seat fits into. This was a wonderful surprise. It is a sit and stand stroller which Blueberry is modeling in the picture.
I also belong to some Facebook resale groups. They are local groups, some are just for children's items, for people to sell gently used items for cash. We have been selling some stuff too but I found some gently used boys clothes for a great deal and I went through all of the neutral color clothes I saved from Blueberry and with those I am pretty set for boys clothes up through 9 months.
Some people have told me it is not as much fun to buy clothes for a boy, but I have to respectfully disagree. While dresses are fun and pretty, miniature polo onesies are adorable too.
People's generosity is also contagious. Though I have sold Blueberries old clothes pretty cheap, I am thinking I could probably go lower and hope that it blesses someone else.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
6 Great Years and Counting!
We had a modest celebration for our 6th anniversary. We went out to brunch (with Blueberry) at a restaurant that has a Gluten-Free menu. We did some shopping. We paid cash for a used van.
We found a van that was half of what we were budgeting for a "new-to-us" vehicle so we have extra money to get some minor things fixed. We decided to sell our truck because I cannot fit two car-seats in it, not to mention that I can't drive it. I tried, I just couldn't get in tune with that piece of metal. David liked it but he is commuting to work with our car and began to see the wisdom in having two vehicles that we can all ride in. If one breaks down then we can make do with the other.
Our van turned out to be a good purchase. It has a few quirks and dings but the engine is good and the AC works. It might sound crazy but I LOVE my used and paid-for Grand Caravan! Quirks and all.
We have now paid off our last credit card so all we have in debt are student loans. They are in deferment until David's job is permanent. Any money I make right now is going into an emergency fund. Making decisions without debt and with a new perspective seemed like an appropriate way to begin our seventh year together. It is a statement that we have grown together in wisdom and are preparing for a solid future.
We found a van that was half of what we were budgeting for a "new-to-us" vehicle so we have extra money to get some minor things fixed. We decided to sell our truck because I cannot fit two car-seats in it, not to mention that I can't drive it. I tried, I just couldn't get in tune with that piece of metal. David liked it but he is commuting to work with our car and began to see the wisdom in having two vehicles that we can all ride in. If one breaks down then we can make do with the other.
Our van turned out to be a good purchase. It has a few quirks and dings but the engine is good and the AC works. It might sound crazy but I LOVE my used and paid-for Grand Caravan! Quirks and all.
We have now paid off our last credit card so all we have in debt are student loans. They are in deferment until David's job is permanent. Any money I make right now is going into an emergency fund. Making decisions without debt and with a new perspective seemed like an appropriate way to begin our seventh year together. It is a statement that we have grown together in wisdom and are preparing for a solid future.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Turn Around
We have a lot of news and it seems funny to cram it all in one post, but it isn't like I blog daily or anything.
First of all I want to share that the baby we are expecting is most likely a boy! They will confirm it at the next ultrasound. We are pretty sure based on an ultrasound they did on Thursday. Our little one was kicking and had his hands up by his face and we could see him suckling. He is a little squirmer like his sister. His heartbeat was 144bpm. We are now almost 17 weeks along. Apparently, Blueberry already guessed right and was not surprised at all when we confirmed that she was going to have a little brother.
At the same time that I was getting my ultrasound, David got a phone call with a job offer at Symantec (they make Norton antivirus software and provide other services as well) in Springfield, Oregon. It is a great opportunity and while his job is starting out as "temp" the position is being turned to permanent as soon as the paperwork goes through. The manager that did his second interview said she thought he would fit in there very well. We are very blessed that David's unemployment was only 5 weeks long.
I am experiencing some fatigue but my work is going well. They are glad that I pick it all back up so quickly because they are short-staffed and are already having me fill in positions where I have been trained. Since we are so close to paying off our last credit card (which we settled over 2 years ago) we will be in a better financial position. I will work as long as I can during my pregnancy so we can put some money aside for the baby and a possible move. We got all neutral color equipment for Blueberry because we planned to have more and so all I really need is a double stroller. I found the perfect sit and stand stroller (the stroller back seat can be converted so a 3-5yo can sit or stand and hold onto a bar facing forward) that fits the car-seat we already have and I will put some money aside for that too. We are blessed that Blueberry's Nonna is available to watch her so we can clean up our finances. I would rather pay her than send Blueberry to daycare.
Things are turning around for us and our patience and faith is being rewarded.
First of all I want to share that the baby we are expecting is most likely a boy! They will confirm it at the next ultrasound. We are pretty sure based on an ultrasound they did on Thursday. Our little one was kicking and had his hands up by his face and we could see him suckling. He is a little squirmer like his sister. His heartbeat was 144bpm. We are now almost 17 weeks along. Apparently, Blueberry already guessed right and was not surprised at all when we confirmed that she was going to have a little brother.
It's a Boy!
[ photo removed to avoid copyright infringement ]
At the same time that I was getting my ultrasound, David got a phone call with a job offer at Symantec (they make Norton antivirus software and provide other services as well) in Springfield, Oregon. It is a great opportunity and while his job is starting out as "temp" the position is being turned to permanent as soon as the paperwork goes through. The manager that did his second interview said she thought he would fit in there very well. We are very blessed that David's unemployment was only 5 weeks long.
David has a new job!
[ photo removed to avoid copyright infringement ]
I am experiencing some fatigue but my work is going well. They are glad that I pick it all back up so quickly because they are short-staffed and are already having me fill in positions where I have been trained. Since we are so close to paying off our last credit card (which we settled over 2 years ago) we will be in a better financial position. I will work as long as I can during my pregnancy so we can put some money aside for the baby and a possible move. We got all neutral color equipment for Blueberry because we planned to have more and so all I really need is a double stroller. I found the perfect sit and stand stroller (the stroller back seat can be converted so a 3-5yo can sit or stand and hold onto a bar facing forward) that fits the car-seat we already have and I will put some money aside for that too. We are blessed that Blueberry's Nonna is available to watch her so we can clean up our finances. I would rather pay her than send Blueberry to daycare.
Things are turning around for us and our patience and faith is being rewarded.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Reversal of Roles
While David is temporarily trying his hand at being Mr. SAHD ("stay at home dad", for those of you who are acronymically challenged) , I am working again, part time in the lab at the hospital. We are both struggling with this reversal of roles, which I need to keep reminding myself is "only temporary".
I don't know how long I will be able to work as I am 14 weeks pregnant and already struggling with fatigue and rising blood pressure (I was put on bedrest for preeclampsia when pregnant with Blueberry). I don't really "have to work", but our main goal with my working is to pay off one last credit card which we settled two years ago and have almost paid off. We had used it to pay part of David's school before we knew better. We are almost done paying it off and it would greatly improve our cash flow and allow me to stay home with Baby #2.
David is receiving unemployment and has some good job leads. He has had a few interviews for a company in Springfield but no job offers yet. The strain of unemployment is wearing on him, but he tries to set it aside and enjoy his time with Blueberry. I am happy he gets some time to bond with her and gain more confidence in fatherhood before the arrival of our second child. Two years old is a really fun age and the summer is allowing them to do a lot of inexpensive things together.
We are trying to take the best of what we have right now. I can't say it is easy but we remind each other that we are together and here for each other. We acknowledge our struggle with this role reversal and we know that we are working towards something bigger. We are not alone in our struggles. We know there is a reason for all of this and that there will be something better at the end.
I don't know how long I will be able to work as I am 14 weeks pregnant and already struggling with fatigue and rising blood pressure (I was put on bedrest for preeclampsia when pregnant with Blueberry). I don't really "have to work", but our main goal with my working is to pay off one last credit card which we settled two years ago and have almost paid off. We had used it to pay part of David's school before we knew better. We are almost done paying it off and it would greatly improve our cash flow and allow me to stay home with Baby #2.
David is receiving unemployment and has some good job leads. He has had a few interviews for a company in Springfield but no job offers yet. The strain of unemployment is wearing on him, but he tries to set it aside and enjoy his time with Blueberry. I am happy he gets some time to bond with her and gain more confidence in fatherhood before the arrival of our second child. Two years old is a really fun age and the summer is allowing them to do a lot of inexpensive things together.
We are trying to take the best of what we have right now. I can't say it is easy but we remind each other that we are together and here for each other. We acknowledge our struggle with this role reversal and we know that we are working towards something bigger. We are not alone in our struggles. We know there is a reason for all of this and that there will be something better at the end.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Surrender
I am in the middle of planning for next year's preschool curriculum for Blueberry. She is doing pre-writing tracing right now so I will be starting her on letters in the fall. She is already learning the sounds some letters make so next spring she might be ready for three letter sight words. I am planning ahead because we will be pretty busy in the coming year. January we are expecting an addition to our family and I know we will have to take a break around that time so we will need to be flexible too. I am determined to keep her challenged even with everything that is going on.
As we were settling into the idea that we will be having another child soon, we found out David is losing his job at the end of this month. It is not time to panic, and somehow I am not. I would expect myself to be really stressed out right now but I have this general feeling that everything will be OK and that this is a step to something better. I feel like there must be something wrong with me because I am not panicking, maybe I'm delusional or in denial. David's uncle says I am a great wife (supportive and all) and that it must be my faith. My good friends also say I must have a really strong faith. I guess I don't really think it is my faith but my surrender. I haven't really had a problem with faith, but surrender is HARD!
I have surrendered a lot in the last couple of years during the ups and downs of my husband's post-graduation job-search. I have learned to say "Let Your will be done, Lord!" We have surrendered our expectations, humbling ourselves that things do not work out in our timing. We have surrendered our budget to the Lord as we have been led to a Total Money Makeover. We have surrendered a lot of our material things either to someone else who gave us some minimal cash for it or just donated stuff. We surrendered time around the holidays last year for David to work a seasonal job to try to get ahead with some of our debts. We will eventually be surrendering our home back to the bank because we cannot afford it and we cannot sell it since it is worth about half of what we owe on it. Surrendering is getting easier and maybe that is what we are supposed to learn.
Before David and I got married we decided that I would stay home when we had children. Being a SAHM is the hardest and best job I ever loved and we still feel like that is what is right for our family but as his job is coming to an end, as I was helping him search for jobs online, I found a part time position in my old line of work (phlebotomy) that was closing soon. I applied for it and figured we could talk about it and I could still turn it down if we decided against it. I still don't know what to do. I have an interview on Tuesday and I am leaving things in God's hands. I have been praying so much for what His will might be. I know what mine is, but I feel like I am being led in this direction and I have never been one to turn down an opportunity if I felt like it was the right thing.
As it turns out my mom is available right now to watch Blueberry a few days a week. I am still praying for guidance and David is supportive either way. I am relying on faith that I will know the right decision when it is the time to make it.
As we were settling into the idea that we will be having another child soon, we found out David is losing his job at the end of this month. It is not time to panic, and somehow I am not. I would expect myself to be really stressed out right now but I have this general feeling that everything will be OK and that this is a step to something better. I feel like there must be something wrong with me because I am not panicking, maybe I'm delusional or in denial. David's uncle says I am a great wife (supportive and all) and that it must be my faith. My good friends also say I must have a really strong faith. I guess I don't really think it is my faith but my surrender. I haven't really had a problem with faith, but surrender is HARD!
I have surrendered a lot in the last couple of years during the ups and downs of my husband's post-graduation job-search. I have learned to say "Let Your will be done, Lord!" We have surrendered our expectations, humbling ourselves that things do not work out in our timing. We have surrendered our budget to the Lord as we have been led to a Total Money Makeover. We have surrendered a lot of our material things either to someone else who gave us some minimal cash for it or just donated stuff. We surrendered time around the holidays last year for David to work a seasonal job to try to get ahead with some of our debts. We will eventually be surrendering our home back to the bank because we cannot afford it and we cannot sell it since it is worth about half of what we owe on it. Surrendering is getting easier and maybe that is what we are supposed to learn.
Before David and I got married we decided that I would stay home when we had children. Being a SAHM is the hardest and best job I ever loved and we still feel like that is what is right for our family but as his job is coming to an end, as I was helping him search for jobs online, I found a part time position in my old line of work (phlebotomy) that was closing soon. I applied for it and figured we could talk about it and I could still turn it down if we decided against it. I still don't know what to do. I have an interview on Tuesday and I am leaving things in God's hands. I have been praying so much for what His will might be. I know what mine is, but I feel like I am being led in this direction and I have never been one to turn down an opportunity if I felt like it was the right thing.
As it turns out my mom is available right now to watch Blueberry a few days a week. I am still praying for guidance and David is supportive either way. I am relying on faith that I will know the right decision when it is the time to make it.
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