Wordy Wednesday

It's Wednesday.  For many, it's one of the busier days of the week.  You realize all the work that must be done before Friday.  Maybe you have commitments in the evening that tie you up. Maybe you are just tired after a couple long days at work.

Regardless, Wordy Wednesday here at 'The Sunset Won't' is a quote, short passage or verse that I enjoy and want to share with you.  Today's quotes are from Debbie Macomber's book Mrs. Miracle.  The beginning of each chapter starts with a short proverb or saying and the following were some of my favorites:

“A lot of people want to serve God, but only in an advisory capacity.”

“The best way to get even is to forget.”

“Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.”

“God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.”

“Some folks wear their halos much too tight.”

“Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous: 

you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides.” –Margaret Thatcher

“Words are windows to the heart.”

“It isn’t difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill.  Just add a little dirt.”

“If you’re waiting for a sign from God, this is it.”

“It’s all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again.  Just be sure to flush when you’re finished.”

“If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can bet the water bill is higher.”

“God gave the angels wings and human chocolate.”

Which one is your favorite?

Aha Moment: Grief

I have to confess that on occasion I watch Oprah.  If you are a fellow viewer than you know that she often has amazing gems of knowledge to share.  And she frequently talks about Aha Moments.  Moments when someone says something and a switch is flipped.  A lesson is understood.

Recently I had a work meeting with the Pastor at my church.  She was going to brainstorm with me to plan our youth group meeting because I was supposed to have done it.  But I didn't.  Before we got started we chatted for a few minutes.  It had been awhile since we had just talked.  Then she asked it.  That question that we often ask, but for some reason we don't always want the real answer to.  Nor do we always want to give the real answer.  "How are you?  How are you doing?"

Instead of my standard: "I'm fine," or "things are pretty good."  I stopped and thought if I can't talk to this person about what's really going on, than who can I talk to?  So I told her the truth.  I've been feeling overwhelmed, depressed, sad, tired, withdrawn etc.  Not stuff anyone likes to feel.  We got to talking about it and I said that I think a major part of it is the fact that I honestly believed that I would have a full time teaching job for this school year.  My own classroom.  Something I have wanted since I was a little girl.

I knew there was a possibility it wouldn't happen.  But people told me to have faith because schools hire all the way up to when school starts.  So.  I.  Waited.  And nothing came.  Had I spent the last few weeks of summer gearing myself up for not getting a job it would have hit a little better than it did.  I thought that after over ninety (yes, you read that right) job applications from December through August something would hit.  But it didn't.  So, the pastor and I talked.

Then it came.  My AHA Moment.  She said, "tell me if I'm wrong but it sounds like you are grieving."  And I thought, 'well yes, yes I am.'  I was grieving the lost opportunity.  The 'temporary' loss of a dream.  The loss of a job I was hoping, praying, wishing, thinking I would have.  So that's when it hit me.  You don't just grieve losing people.  Losing a pet.  But grief can strike anytime.  It's a sorrow.

Now is it shallow to grieve this loss?  Maybe.  But then again maybe not.  Maybe it just shows how strongly I want to teach.  How excited I am to start my career.  How sure I was that this was the path for me.  Maybe it shows a certain strength?  A strength in the belief that I chose the right career.  A strength in my passion for teaching.

Now it's realizing that maybe this is how it's meant to be.  Looking around at what I have to be thankful for.  To find the lesson in the loss.  To pick myself up out of the hole I've been digging and fill that sucker back up.  Then maybe I'll plant some pretty flowers there instead and watch them blossom.

Have you ever had the experience of grieving something other than the loss of a life?  What did you do?

Happy Trails to You

As I continue on my journey to complete my 101 in 1001 I am continually amazed at how happy I am working on my list of 101 Things That Make Me Happy list.

Through our crazy schedules it's sometimes hard to find the things that make us happy because we assume they have to be big things. But the little things are just as important as the big ones. Remember to live life the best you can, love the most you can. Moments are precious, many things can wait, The Sunset Won't.

Here are the newest additions to My Happy List:

81. Getting back into the classroom. After summer vacation is through, as a teacher, I love fall. The excitement surrounding a new grade, new school and new friends that radiate from students along with their anxiety. As a teacher I enjoy going back to school, even if at the moment I am working as a substitute teacher not a full time teacher. Getting back into the classroom makes me happy.

82. Fall. There is a crisp bite to the air. The leaves begin to turn colors and fall to the ground. Walking along the street hearing leaves crackle and crunch underfoot. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bars, turkeys at Thanksgiving dinner, cranberry salad with nuts. Holidays, darker nights and brighter mornings, less bugs. Fall makes me happy.

83. Learning new things. Whether it’s from reading a newspaper or a book, watching a movie or documentary, listening to a lecture or having a conversation there are always things I didn’t know. I am not a walking encyclopedia (though students often assume their teachers are). But learning new things, interesting things, funny things, surprising things are always useful as a teacher. Learning new things makes me happy.

84. Finding what’s lost. Car keys, favorite sweater, cord for your camera… it stinks when you lose something and can’t find it. And doesn’t it always seem that as soon as you stop looking you find it? Those moments, when I find what I lost makes me happy.

85. Finding a new author or writer. Maybe it’s a new blog you have stumbled across. The author of a book recommended to you. The author of a book that you picked up randomly off a shelf. Once you read it you connect with the story, the writing style a character… whatever it is you decide you want more. Finding a new author or writer makes me happy.

86. Wednesday night dinners at church. When I left my church for awhile one thing I didn’t count on enjoying so much coming back were Wednesday night dinners. The church has a chef that comes in and makes (typically) delicious meals. You grab a plate and a drink and head into the social hall to find a seat at one of the many round tables. It’s a time of community, catching up with family friends over a great meal. Wednesday night dinners at church make me happy.

87. Brevity. It often makes me happy.

88. New words. Antidisestablishmentarianism. Plethora. Abibliophobia. Rube. Finding fun new words makes me happy.

89. Writing something legibly. I do not have the best handwriting. But sometimes when I am careful I can write a note, or make a poster with really good, legible handwriting I love my handwriting. Writing something clearly makes me happy.

90. Good deals. I have mentioned before that sales make me happy. But this is different. A great school lunch for $3. Ordering a drink and meal at a restaurant for under $12 and really liking your meal. A super cute purse for $40. Good deals make me happy.

What makes you happy? Is it the big things? Or the little things?

Making Progress!

I feel like making goals is an important part of life.  They keep us on track.  They keep us accountable.  They keep us motivated.  I am working on a list of 101 Things to Do in 1001 Days!  


It's exciting to begin crossing more things off my list and changing the in progress status of my goals.  The following are recently completed, recently started or items that I am currently working on:

9. Get to goal weight. 

10. Make a list of 101 things that make me happy. 90/101

30. Give up soda for 2 weeks.

36. Try 15 new beers.  7/15 

43. Get an iPod touch.

45. Own a little black dress.

46. Clean out/organize my teaching resources.

53. Organize job applications and materials.

54. Put 25% of my paychecks in my savings account.

56. Work on memorizing the US Presidents.

68. Read 50 new books per year.  47/50 in 2010

74. Watch 26 movies I've never seen starting with each letter of the alphabet.
          Australia
          Baby Mama
          Did You Hear About the Morgans?
          Four Christmases
          Killers
          My Life in Ruins
          Thoroughly Modern Millie
          Up!
          Valentines Day
          When in Rome

75. Find a new musical artist every month.
        *Radney Foster 02/2010
        *Jaron and the Long Road to Love 03/2010
        *The Band Perry 4/2010
        *Williams Riley 5/2010
        *Sunny Sweeney 6/2010
        *Randy Rogers Band 7/2010
        *Mike Posner 8/2010
        *David Guetta 9/2010

76. Go to a concert.

94. Change all passwords.

99. Shut down any unused memberships online.

Wordy Wednesday

It's Wednesday.  For many, it's one of the busier days of the week.  You realize all the work that must be done before Friday.  Maybe you have commitments in the evening that tie you up. Maybe you are just tired after a couple long days at work.

Regardless, Wordy Wednesday here at 'The Sunset Won't' is a quote, short passage or verse that I enjoy and want to share with you.  Today's quote is from the remake of the classic TV show Hawaii 5-0.  I felt like the writing of the banter between these new partners was funny and quick-witted.  Enjoy:

Danny: Perfect.  I've been on hold so long I forgot who I was talking to.

Danny: Let's just not talk.

Steve: You mean right now, or ever again?

Danny: Just.  Both.

Steve: That's what I was trying to tell you.  Last year.  When this conversation first started.

Danny: Your apology is noted.  Acceptance is pending.

Danny (referring to Steve): Your brain must be a... miserable place.

TV On, Brain Off

I love the fall.  When I get home in the afternoons sometimes I just need to turn off my brain.  And TV is a wonderful solution to that need.  I have mentioned previously how I am over-organized about somethings.  I color code.  Organize.  Alphabetize.  Sort.

For example this is the chart I have so I can keep track of new shows I want to check out and old favorites I don't want to miss.  Some have already been cut out.  Some I DVR and skip through parts.  Some I watch every second of.  Some I delete immediately.

But this week is the big one.  Most of the shows premiere this week providing a good distraction in the evenings from the rush.

I love fall and more will come on that soon.  I have been busy, again, the last few days.  This always seems to be a busy time of year.

On another note as I work to get my lazy behind into substitute teaching mode and get the hang of my schedule in and out of school I will not be posting quite as often.  Wordy Wednesday will be here.  And I hope to post at least 2 other times a week.  I hope you will hang in there and check in.

As your schedule gets busier and changes, if you are a blogger I encourage you to take a moment and be thankful for the wonderful people who take time out of their crazy days to spend some time in your corner of the world.  I appreciate each one of my readers.  I may not know all of your names, but I know you are here.  And I thank you.

Wordy Wednesday

It's Wednesday.  For many, it's one of the busier days of the week.  You realize all the work that must be done before Friday.  Maybe you have commitments in the evening that tie you up. Maybe you are just tired after a couple long days at work.

Regardless, Wordy Wednesday here at 'The Sunset Won't' is a quote, short passage or verse that I enjoy and want to share with you.  Today's quote is from H. Jackson Brown an American author:

Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were give to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.

- H. Jackson Brown

These Are My Confessions

My friend B is student teaching and we were creating a "Top Ten List" for her to use the first day of school as a way to introduce her to her students.  We started laughing about things that would surprise them... like she tivo'ed the Camp Rock 2 premiere because of her love of song and dance.  This got the two of us on a whole new conversation track as we started to share different things about ourselves.  It felt like we were having a series of confessions which got me thinking about the Usher song...

So these are some of my confessions; good and bad, surprising and expected, deep and shallow:

I did not like Real Housewives of Orange County at all, but I have found that I really like the Real Housewives of DC, I tivo it if I am not going to be around.  When I'm babysitting, I don't mind if the kids want to watch the Disney channel because I think Wizards of Waverly Place is a cute show.

Growing up I loved boy bands; Backstreet Boys, N*SYNC, 98 Degrees, LFO... but my favorite of all was O-town.  I went to a Britney Spears concert just to see them, I left after she sang 2 songs.  On my iTunes I have at least 80 songs by boys bands I used to love.

I am a doubter.  I doubt myself.  My relationships with friends.  My faith.  I put on a tough, but shiny, shell to cover up these doubts.

Being organized makes me feel like I am in control.  There are so many things in this world that we cannot control, having one thing in my power makes me feel better.

I have gone through the fall tv lineups and figured out which shows I want to watch.  I have made a chart showing the day and times they are on.  In my head I have figured out which ones will be watched and which will be recorded.  Yes, I know, I watch way too much tv.

There are many things I would change in my life if I had the chance, and some that I would want to have happen the exact same way even though they may not always have been the best thing.

I used to think I was a wine girl, but now I prefer beer or margaritas.

Sometimes I may seem like I am in control, but on the inside I am a whirl of emotions.

I LOVE blogging.  There is a great community feel to the blogging world and especially through 20sb.  I have "met" some amazing people from around the world and have built an interesting network of blogging friends.

I also love Hallmark Movies and many Lifetime movies.

I shed tears at tv shows, movies, songs.  But when things are deeply saddening or hurtful I laugh.

While I sit here and blog about remember the sunset, living life the best you can, and loving the most you can, that can sometimes be really hard for me.  But I'm trying.

If you were sharing confessions what would some of them be?  Would they surprise people?  Make people laugh?  Would they be deep confessions?  Shallow confessions?  Is there someone you can share them with?

Being Alive and Living

The following is a post that I wrote as a guest blogger for "The Ladies Room."  

There is a song that talks about trying to know the difference between being alive and living. This is a question that I think everyone at some point in his or her life asks, or at least should ask themselves.

Being alive means fulfilling our basic needs: food, shelter, clothing, oxygen and water. But there is SO much more to life. Saying that there is more to life however, doesn’t make life any easier.

I’m not saying there won’t be potholes along your path. A detour that takes you somewhere you’ve never been. Across a bridge that hasn’t been tested. Over a hill that seems too high. Through a forest when you can’t see the other side. There will be trials and tribulations. It’s when those moments happen that you have to push through. Sometimes the way is lonely; and sometimes you may need to find a copilot to help you along the way. A friend, a family member maybe even a stranger.

But then there are going to be highs too. A straight path with no deviations. A smooth road. A forest with a clear cut path. A bridge made of solid stone. It is at those moments when we most appreciate life. But that is not the only time to appreciate it. Because it is the rain that teaches us what we are made of. What we can accomplish. It reminds us that we are stronger than we think.

What does it mean to really live? Is it getting that prestigious job, or getting a job where you will enjoy every minute of it? Is it finding Mr. Right, or finding yourself? Is it having a big house full of fancy things, or living close to family and spending time with them? Is it about getting that to-do list done just to get it done, or is it about finishing that list so you have time to do what really matters to you?

When I started blogging in January of 2010 I struggled to come up with a title for my blog. I knew that it would contain stories of my life, of my journey to really LIVE my life. I knew that faith would also often be addressed. So when thinking of a title I was drawn to a quote from The Guardian, a book I have read several times. Let me set the scene: it’s between a US Marshal and a witness he is protecting as they are becoming good friends. She is busy working for a political figure from a remote location and he comes to her as she is working:

'There are more calls to finish.'

"Those will wait. The sunset won't"

"Slip away and come watch the sunset."

This was a wakeup call for me. How often do I get wrapped up in the emails that must be written, the to-do lists to finish, the calls to make, the rooms to clean… I realized that I often worry about getting things done, and getting them done as perfectly as possible. But that’s not what life is about.

It’s about loving as much as you can. It’s about living the best you can. It’s remembering that moments are precious. It’s remembering many things can wait, but The Sunset Won’t.

Guest Blogging

Today I was a guest blogger at "The Ladies Room."  The Ladies Room is a column style blog for women, by women (although my post is not gender specific) where the goal is to inspire, enlighten and elevate each other.

Check out my post called Being Alive and Living there today!

Wordy Wednesday

It's Wednesday.  For many, it's one of the busier days of the week.  You realize all the work that must be done before Friday.  Maybe you have commitments in the evening that tie you up. Maybe you are just tired after a couple long days at work.

Regardless, Wordy Wednesday here at 'The Sunset Won't' is a quote, short passage or verse that I enjoy and want to share with you.  Today's quote is from Carrie Underwood's song "So Small":

Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing,

Is just a grain of sand.

And what you you've been out there searching for forever,

Is in your hands.

And when you figure out love is all that matters after all,

It sure makes everything else seem so small.

Who Do You Think You Are?

In May I shared my 11 Personal Commandments, things that I want to remember and live by. My very first commandment was to Be Heather. But what does that mean? Who am I? Who do I think I am?

Over the past year I have been working on a family tree. Seeing how far back the roots of my family extend, where they turn, where they run deep, where they are closer to the surface. I have rejoined my local church and am looking into my faith, my beliefs and my values. But each of things on their own mean little. It's when they are sewn together with the stitches of time, the brush strokes of life that they become something more.

So when I say to Be Heather, what do I think that means?

Heather is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities. Her family will tell you they are German, Czech, Swedish, Irish, English, Scottish and Dutch. But her roots flow through Austria, Switzerland, France, Germany, Moravia, Bohemia, Sweden, Holland, England, Russia, Ireland and Scotland.

Heather is a daughter, a sister, a friend, a cousin.

Heather believes in the christian faith. There is a god who created this earth and every person in it. She believes in second chances, traditional values, and the beauty of the simple things.

Heather is a teacher. A youth group leader. A mentor.

Heather is a planner. An organizer. A thinker.

Heather is also self-concious, a second-guesser, slow to trust, quick to help, a people pleaser.

Heather is an ear when no one seems to be listening. A helping hand when you have fallen down. She is a shoulder to cry on. A word to fill the void. A rock in the rapids. A guardian.

Heather is all these things. Yet she is so much more.

Who do you think you are?

Treasure the Moments

I have had a great few days recently!


Last week my mom and I spent a day together running errands, shopping and having lunch.  No quarreling, at all.  Which for us can be a big deal.  


I went to a shop called Lillian's and got a fabulous new handbag.


I got to see Carrie Underwood in concert with my Aunt and cousins.


I spent a day at the MN State fair with my family.  (On another trip I even tried the Deep Fried Candy Bar.)


I bought a new book series from an author that I like that takes place during the Chicago fire.  (Mixing history and books, yes please!)


I got a new phone, so I hopefully won't miss calls for substitute teacher jobs.


I went to Ann Taylor to replace a pair of denim trousers that I wear when I sub and went down TWO sizes.  Two, since last fall!


The weather has been phenomenal the last few days here in Minnesota.  Cool, breezy, sunny... fantastic!


I got to meet my cousins new baby at the hospital.  (I have to admit I hogged the 'holding baby' time)


The high school youth group retreat I helped lead/plan went really well.


I was asked to be a personal mentor to an 8th grade confirmation student.


Little things?  Yes.  Some of them trivial?  Absolutely.  But its the little moments, those little beads of time that when strung together create a beautiful strand.  A beautiful life.  So often I rush around and forget that its these EXACT moments that I am living my life for.  

Have you had any amazing moments in your life lately?  Moments you wish you could bottle up? 

Wordy Wednesday

It's Wednesday.  For many, it's one of the busier days of the week.  You realize all the work that must be done before Friday.  Maybe you have commitments in the evening that tie you up. Maybe you are just tired after a couple long days at work.

Regardless, Wordy Wednesday here at 'The Sunset Won't' is a quote, short passage or verse that I enjoy and want to share with you.  Today's quotes are all about education and teaching since the school year is fast approaching!  So here is this week's Wordy Wednesday installment:

When everything seems to go wrong you may think its over... but it's not. 

Life is a river, always moving.  Just because you have a lot of bad stuff happening doesn't mean you're doomed to a life of bad stuff.  The current keeps flowing.  Life is not a stagnant pond.  Fresh water is just upstream, on its way.

            But remember...

When everything seems to go right you may think you are more special than any person who has walked the earth... but you're not.

Good stuff is good.  Enjoy it.  Drink it.  But keep your head on your shoulders... don't become obnoxious.  You share the same river as everyone else, and you will likely one day need the strength of those who know more than you do about surviving the                                                            mud. - Author Unknown

(Photo By: PhotosEcosse / photosecosse.)