It's Been Busy

Life got busy!  Bad excuse right?  It's an excuse I think we use so often.

I was so busy I forgot your birthday.  Forgot to call you back.  Forgot to get you that paperwork.  Forgot our meeting.  Forgot.  Forgot.  Forgot.

It's been so busy I've forgotten to take the time and chat with my blogosphere friends.  To take the time for me to look back on the last few hours, days, weeks.

It's been busy.

But that's not an excuse.  Not an excuse for letting friendships slip, letting relationships lag, letting to-do lists grow longer, things accomplished grow smaller.  It's not an excuse.  So I am back.  And getting ready to gear up.

By Friday I will have two new posts.  That's right TWO.  Maybe even three by saturday.  That would be awesome.  The plan is to reflect on my 12 Changes progress for January, where I'm headed in February and I have a book review to write.  To create really.

I'm excited.

Yes, life got busy.  And it's only going to get busier for me.  But that's not an excuse.  So we're off...

Remember life is short.  So think about your dreams a little harder.  

Reach a little higher.  Laugh a little louder.  Love a little stronger.  

Because many things in life can wait... The Sunset Won't!

Guest Blogger: Melissa from Every Woman, Everywhere

Today's Guest Post comes from Melissa who I met through 20sb.  If your in your 20's and your a blogger it's a great place to connect with other bloggers worldwide.


Thank you Melissa for sharing a lesson that you've learned!


Learning Not to Judge Myself

I used to be so afraid. Afraid that other people were judging me. Afraid that they were looking at me and thinking less of me. Afraid that I wasn’t good enough for them.

And then one day I realized that while yes, I was being judged by some people some of the time, most of the time, I was just judging myself. I was doing it for other people without realizing it. 

Because I would look at another girl and think, “She’s prettier than me. I’m ugly.” I would listen to another person speak and think, “He’s smarter than me. I’m dumb.” I would hear what another wife does for her husband and think, “There’s no way I could do all that. I’m a bad wife.” The list goes on and on. 

And one day it hit me. I was judging myself. Those people didn’t say anything. I thought something. I was hurting myself. 

And that’s when I realized I needed to make a change. Because I have been wonderfully made by my Creator who loves me and thinks I’m beautiful and special enough to die for. I am His daughter. 

So day by day, step by step, I am learning not to judge myself. It’s difficult. I’m not perfect at it. But it started when I realized that I was judging myself. Because now if I start to think it, I can try and stop it in it’s tracks and reverse it. To tell myself where my real worth comes from. But I needed, most importantly, to realize it first, because otherwise I couldn’t start thinking positive things about myself. 


Melissa is a recent graduate who studied political science and writing.  She's currently a stay-at-home housewife, preparing for her first child due in May.  Melissa blogs at Every Woman, Everywhere a blog about women's issues.

Book Review: Tomorrow's Sun by Becky Melby

From the publisher:  Emily Foster won’t allow herself to move on until she earns enough money to make restitution for the accident that stole a young girl’s dreams. Flipping houses sounds like the fast track to her goal, but when her first project turns out to be a stop on the Underground Railroad, Emily finds herself drawn to, but at odds with, the contractor she hires. Jake Braden needs to focus on gaining guardianship of his late sister’s twins, but the story of lost love uncovered in Emily’s house sets the stage for what might become his own lost love.

My Thoughts:

As a history teacher, and a lover of history I enjoyed the historical aspect of the story.  I will admit that it took me quite awhile to get into the novel.  Mostly due to the historical snippets of the home's history interwoven with the contemporary story line.  They seemed very disconnected, and I was a little frustrated with that.  It took me putting the book down and coming back to it a few days later and really sticking it out for a few chapters, but then the glimpses of the past tied in to the story in a really cool way.

Jake's twin niece and nephew were a perfect balance to the rest of the story and I liked Jake's character.

I was a little put off by the strength and intensity of Emily's feelings in regards to the "restitution" she feels like she needs to pay.  To me, it sometimes just seemed like all she wanted to do was suffer.  And that got a little hard to read.  But I could see why that was needed in the story.

Would I recommend this story?

It's not one of my favorites, but I didn't hate it either.  It was okay.  If your stuck looking for a book this is definitely not a bad choice.  

I would give it 3/5 stars.

Screaming, Hitting and Tears... Oh My!

For the weekend I am a nanny full time.  Watching 4 girls under the age of 7 (including twin 2 1/2 year olds).  I could not believe the chaos that was dinner.  I cannot imagine if I had to do this every night by myself.  The only reason I got to eat is that Grandma showed up and entertained them for a few minutes while I scarfed down my spaghetti and veggies.

Last night I was ready for them to go to bed.  I was ready for bed.  But sleep eluded me.  This morning I got up extra early so I would be ready for the busy day ahead before the kids woke up.  Knowing that today would be chaotic.

Screaming, hitting and tears oh my!  There's bumping into each other and a case of STS (sudden tear syndrome).  Then they laugh and run around some more.  Then the dog gets ahold of a marker and it's all hands on deck to get it back from her.  Oh my.

But then there's the cute moments.  One of the twins throws her hands on her hips, points at her sister taking a drawing off the wall and says "heazer, look!"  Little kids can never get the "th" sound in my name.  But throw in a z and it was pretty close.  And pretty cute.  Ten minutes earlier it was "heazer, tummy hungry."

I had to laugh.  And escape into the blogosphere, if only for a moment.  Because this is what it's about.

The laughing, giggling, funny moments in the chaos.  Amidst the tears, screams, and hitting.

It's like that in life to, isn't it.  You could miss the laughter for the tears.  The giggling for the screams.  The fun and beauty for the violence in life.

And now, if you'll excuse me... there are loud noises floating into the kitchen over the sounds of Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas singing Camp Rock songs... and in come two ladies who bonked heads.

Happy Saturday!

Let's Get Reading

I've started my new job as a reading teacher.  More to come later.

But I have a few questions for you...

What is your favorite book?  That book you can read over and over again.

Mine is called Bamboo and Lace and is by Christian fiction author Lori Wick.

What book are you currently reading?

I'm currently reading a YA book called All-American Girl.

What book is next in line to be read?

I think I may read "Don't Look Back" next by Lynette Eason.

Do you read more than one book at a time?

I do.  Partly because of my job.  I usually have a YA novel, a novel for me, an informational sort of book and a bible study/my bible all being read at once.  That changes if I'm really busy or taking a class.  Then I read fewer books at once.

Remember, life is short.  So make mistakes.  

Learn lessons.  Live life the best you can, live it to the fullest. 

 Because many things in life can wait... but The Sunset Won't.

12 Changes in 12 Months

New Year's.  Whenever I think of New Years I imagine the resolutions that will be made and broken.  The hopes of making a new me in one year seems ludicrous.  I always start with the absolute best of intentions. But somewhere along the line I break down.  I give in.  To the spending.  To the negativity.  To the nap.  To the doubt.  To the chocolate cake.

But not this year.  Because I've got a blogosphere support group this year.  I've got a group of people I've never met before, but who want to see me succeed.  And there's a bunch of people who I want to see succeed.  Which is what makes this so fantastic.

It's hard to make a list of changes all at once just because it's the first of the year.  So instead in 2012, there is a group of people who are making 12 small changes.  One a month.  All year.  Because 12 small changes can make one big change.

Let's Begin:
January: Workout at LEAST once a week.  Complete physical therapy exercises four times per week.

This may seem like a ridiculously simple change to many people.  But I can be lazy.  And I hate working out.  I hate working out because I'm out of shape and I feel stupid.  (See the Catch-22 there?)  But my family invested in a treadmill, I made a playlist on my iPod and I started.  Today was my first work out in the new year (yes we are 7 days in, but I did it).  And I'm really proud of myself.  I'm exhausted and sweaty as I sit here writing this post because I just walked/ran for 23 minutes, 1.4 miles.  That's amazing for me.  Unheard of really.  And then?  When I was done.  I did my physical therapy exercises which I'd all but given up on.

But this is not okay.  I complain that I don't like my weight, my health, the way I look but I do nothing about it.  I'm in pain from my hips and I don't follow through with the exercises designed to help them.  Stupid.  Yes, I was being stupid.

But with the encouragement from a group of changers, a goal, a determination and a vision of a newer, better, healthier, happier me.  I'm going to try.

(It all began with a tweet, to get the story check out Stephany's post here.  A tweet, a blog post, and then a call.  A call to action.  A call of encouragement.)  (Interested in taking part?  I'd love to follow your progress, so please let me know if you are!)

Follow the progress of all the participants, read updates and posts, and learn more at 12 Changes in 12 Months.

Remember, life is short.  So make mistakes.  

Learn lessons.  Live life the best you can, live it to the fullest. 

 Because many things in life can wait... but The Sunset Won't.

Dear 2012

Dear 2012,
We've been together only four days, but already I feel as though we are off to a much better start than I was with 2011.  I'm glad he's gone.  And I'm glad your here.

Many people say that a new year brings a new start.  That the slate is wiped clean (a slate?  who uses those anymore?)  But I digress.  I don't think that's entirely true.  Because I know that you and 2011 were close.  That he probably shared some things with you.  So you have some knowledge of my life.  And that's okay.

But I really would like a chance to, maybe not write the slate completely clean, but write over some of it.  Because it wasn't all bad.

My hopes for the two of us are that I can learn.  Learn to be honest.  Open.  Trusting.  And maybe a little daring.  That I can remember.  Remember those I've lost with love.  Remember where I've been with fondness.  Remember my hopes and dreams.  That I can try.  Try to be a little more carefree.  A little more spontaneous.  A little more me.  And a little less what I think people want me to be.

So here's to you 2012!  May we be better friends than enemies.  May we have more hugs than punches.  And may the road to December 31st not be too bumpy.

Love,