New Ideas

I was talking to my daughter the other day.  I bought the Commit 30 planner and I have mapped out the year.  Not BIG things, just I have failed to plan for the past few years, therefore, I have accomplished none of my goals.

In fact, I didn't even know what my goals were until I was made to think about them.

I have some great ideas!

Who knew?!?

Take my word for it, they are not extraordinary, just great for me.

Back to my talk with my daughter.  I told her how I found my old blog again, you know, the one before this one. I had such a great time remembering things I had totally forgotten about!

Specially since my memory is like a sieve.

True story.

So here I am.  One of my goals is to blog at least once a week. Woof.  It seems like a lot.  But then I look and I used to blog ALL time!  Several times a week, even.  I should be able to do this.  So here I go.

Again.

Catch up.

We have 6 grand kids!  SIX!  I wouldn't trade the blessing for all the money, fame or fortune in the world!  The simplicity of loving them is the blessing.  Can I just say, they are so beautiful.  Honest.

My girls are in that crazy-in-between month.  You know.  The month when they are BOTH the same age!  Being 11 month apart does that. And they have so much fun with it.  I digress.  The younger one has so much fun with it.  The older one keeps looking at the calendar, not in resentment, just in paintently waiting for next month.


Speaking of the Irish twins:

Yes, the younger one, is WAY taller than the older one.

How much does she love that?  Let me count the ways.  

People!! Guess what?!?!?!  Monk & Psych is on Amazon Prime!!

Blast from the past!

I'm trying to watch as much as I can before school begins again.  In 3 days.  You know that Christmas song?  Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas? You know how it says, ' And mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again...'

HA!

I am rather enjoying my girls.  No school, no set schedules, no real rhyme or reason.  Just life.  I can't imagine want to get rid of my kids and singing about it.  duh.

Granted it would be WAY MORE FUN if it wasn't a mere 11 degrees outside.  At noon. 

Woe to me.

Come 3 more day, back to schooling.  That be will ok as well.  Beginning the Revolutionary Way Era.  Wo-Hoo!  That should be fun.  Maybe I can even talk the man into taking us to Boston for the weekend, doing there Patriot's Walk! And other historical areas.  We did that with our younger kids.  It was fantastic! 

I should put that in my Commit 30!

OK.

Time to go to Costco.

On a Saturday.

Before New Years.

Talk about planning to fail.

Hi. I am an addict.

I am an addict.

It's true.  Both John and I have have addictive tendencies.  In reality, I think everyone has them, just that some have them badly and some not so badly.  Some pick bad things to be addicted to, some understand and make good efforts guide themselves.

So, in order to fulfill my addictive tendencies, and not be useless to my faith, family, or society, I do things like listen to congressional hearings on youtube while doing chores or paper work.

And talk radio.

And I discovered podcasts!!!

OK.  I shouldn't pluralize it.  I listen to 2 and a half podcast.

SO FAR.

But my favorite one is Ben Shapiro.

I found this guy before the elections and couldn't help but be impressed.  I feel like I finally found a soul that gets it!

I missed listening to his stuff during vacation.  NOT because he isn't on my podcast app and ready to go, but more along this lines of, WHO HAD THE TIME?!?!?!  With all those grand babies to hold and hug and rock and sing to and stare at and kiss?!?!?  Seriously.  Ben who?

These babies...

I can get lost in looking a them.  For along time.  And they distract me in all the right ways.

And if it wasn't grand babies...hello?  Daughters?  Sky watching to do.  Talks to have.  Movies to watch.  Jokes to share. Life to experience.

Back to Ben.

Welcome to one of my addictions.  This guy is so smart AND has common sense.  A very unusual combination.  One can almost forgive that he graduated from UCLA.  Or at the very least, forget.  I was listening to the podcast during morning chores and shower today.

I have to share.

This is the youtube version.  I don't know how to share podcasts.

It got me thinking.  The first past of the podcast was about men and women.  And all I can say is THANK YOU.

SHEESH.  The level of ignorance and willful willing sheeple-ness.  ( I know.  That's not a real word. Work with me. I have things to do, places to go, people to see. No time to find the perfect word.)

I know liberals hate him.  I think he came up with the quote, 'facts don't care about your feeling'.  Truth.  Not that we need to be cold hearted, but lets get to the facts.

So...

As I told my youngest son, 'son, you have addictive tendencies, like most of America.  But being 1/2 Irish, they are pretty powerful.  Pick your addictions.  You can fight and overcome some. But you can't over come it all.  Be wise.  Be holy.  Be real.

Now, off to catch up on my podcasts!  Car rides are the best for listening!!!!

Thankfully, we are not robots.

My neighbor came over last night ( during the game ) and we got to talking again.  This seems to happen when people knock on our door.  They come in and problems get solved.  

Well, at least in our heads.

We talked football.  Children.  Winter. School.  Our houses and the maintenance they create. Adoption. Overcoming.

When she left, it felt like time well spent.  Even though I was watching the game from the corner of my eyes at the beginning.

My neighbor is not a believer.  She doesn't have to be.  Though GOD comes into every conversation because it is part of my life, it doesn't bother her, and I know she doesn't agree with everything I believe in.  And that's ok.

The issue of victim-hood came into the conversation last night.  Her child goes to catholic school, and all that it brings.  Don't get me wrong.  If we didn't homeschool, my kids would go to catholic school.  Even if we are not catholic.  Christian school wouldn't be an option.  I'm not impressed.  And public school? No.  Just no. 

Anyway, I was telling her how in group activities, kids usually prefer not to have Elena on their team.  Because she just can't.  But she can.  She is constantly being told, you're not going to win, but you will!  Maybe not first place, but there is something to be said about accomplishing personal goals!  No you don't have to capability to compete with a 'healthy' bodied peer, but that doesn't mean you can't do it.  Win your own battles.  

She was shocked that I didn't tell my daughter she could do anything she wants to.  She can't!! And it's ok!!  She can do a lot.  But she can never be her little sister, who seems to win every race she competes in.  Or her brother who has daredevil tendencies. 

It was a new concept for my friend.

My daughter is not a victim of bullying or put downs.  Nor because she doesn't get bullied or put down, she does;  but the best gift I can give my children besides seeking holiness, it not to be someone who has to be catered to.  Please excuse my ending with a preposition.

Oh the tears.  Oh the feeling of failure.  Oh the disappointment.

But.

But my child, moving on and being strong minded is the power that no one can take from you.

You can't change people.  You can't change attitudes.  You can't change opinions.  But you can control your reaction.  And victim-hood is not the answer.  What a joke. 

This is our child of hope.  ( the plaque behind her is my favorite quote.  Ever.  It applies to everyone.)

Her smile, her perseverance, her joy, her struggles, her smarts, her laughter...be still my heart.

What a gift!!

How can I  make her a victim?!?

Go against the tide, my child.  The world has nothing to offer.  

Stand on the 2 feet GOD gave you.

Use the courage and strength HE instilled in you.

And go serve your GOD everywhere HE places you.

And you will conquer the world!  Or at the very least, the corner HE gave you.