Last day of Winter

Well...Hello there beautiful, warm, last day of Winter. I'm so glad to see you. Wish you were sticking around longer. Word on the street is you're only here for today and snow is in the forecast. That snowy forecast happens to be for the 1st day of Spring. Ugh! That's not the way I want to embrace the next season! My pansy's are STILL sitting on my dryer. They want to be planted!

Well...I only have this morning to enjoy the sunshine and I'm taking complete advantage of it! Nothing wrong with sun-bathing at 8 am in March is there.

Enjoy the the shine of the sun today. And don't worry Spring really is just around the corner. Today's corner actually!

Sunshine on a cloudy day

It's not quite officially Spring yet, and it's an incedibly dreary day but I'm pushing the envelope anyway. I'm insisting on wearing short sleeves and flip-flops as much as possible. along with a scarf and parka Overnight my favorite colors have become baby pink, Easter Lily yellow, Robins egg blue, Spring green, Lilacs in bloom lavender...etc, etc.

And of course I'm ready to plant flowers. And lots of them. I don't have a true 'green thumb' but that doesn't stop me. Digging in the dirt just makes me happy. This year Devony and I have decided to start some flowers from seed. Devony is growing Sunflowers, Passion Flowers and Agastache (whatever that is?) I'm growing Snapdragons and Pink Petunias.

On the way out of the greenhouse I spotted some bright yellow Pansy's that I just had to have. Along with all the other colors. :)

Official or not, it's Spring in my world. And in my world it's Shine-ing...sunshine or not!

I have NO excuses

Dear Blog,

I'm so very sorry I've not been writing to you. I wish I had exciting news that would excuse my behavior. But I'm embarrassed to say, I don't. However, I promise I'm going to do better. From now on at least one post a week. I promise. You've been so patient and loyal to listen to my ramblings on about this, that, and the other. This is the least I can do. I feel confidant that I can handle that.

Sincerely,

Creator of Shine

Mood and Food

Yes, today my mood is as crazy as my snack choices. This is the first day in a looong time that I've had to myself. Soooooo, what to do-what to do? Scrapbook? Paint? Read? Clean? Cook? (no definitely not that one) Blog? Organize......something? "AAAAAH." I'm over-whelmed with this much time. Guess I work better under pressure. Even when it's just fun work!

And so far, today's fun work has consisted of taking pictures of my food.

Basically what I'm saying is that I'll probably waste my entire free day. Knowing me, I will probably 'start' a little of everything today. (uh-oh. that goal just flew right out the window) Then in a couple of days, when I don't have much time, I'll fly into 'over-time' work mode and finish everything. OK...OK, most of it.

Enjoy your day and always remember to Shine!

Goals

It's the 5th day of the 1st week of twenty ten and boy have I ever set some goals for myself. I've never been very goal-oriented. I was usually a, "Whatever will be, will be." type of girl. A little something I like to call, faith. However, the last year or two I have been setting a lot goals for myself. Just small things that I make up as I go. Such as, "I am not going to eat out one single time this week" accomplished. "Finish all the housework today, even if it means staying up til 2am" accomplished. "Don't start another project til this one is complete" accomplished. "Take store returns back promptly. Don't let them set around for 2-3 weeks or more" accomplished. (kind of) Please tell me other people do that too.

Willy-nilly goals...be gone!

2010 goals...big. Very, VERY big.

Of course I have the normal things like grow spiritually, emotionally and physically (also accomplished in '09). And the never-ending, improve on every other aspect of my life: motherhood, wife, daughter, friend, etc. I am so-a work in progress!

Being a mother and wife, so on and so forth is wonderful and makes me who I am...but...this years goals are a lot more personal. My children are FAR from being grown and gone (it's OK with Doug and I if they never want to leave. it's selfish...I know. but we love them so) but it's also OK for me to start thinking and planning for a future that will be very different from the one I've been accustomed to and have loved for the last decade and a half. This years list is full of goals pertaining to outside (me, myself and I) personal interests and hobbies, as well as possible future career moves.

On Dec. 31, 2010 I will post those crazy goals along with the outcome of...accomplished or not!! By the way, there are 10.

Shine!

The Locket

When I pulled into the driveway last Wed. evening, Doug was waiting for me at the door. I knew something was up. As I walked through the door, this is what Doug started telling me. "Angel, I was playing with the dogs earlier today and they got a little wild. Wiz was running through the house so fast that he ran into the Christmas tree. I barely caught it before it fell all the way down. I tried to put all the ornaments back on the way you had it, but I know how you are about the tree. You might want to come in here and take a look at it and see if it's OK." He's telling me this as we are walking through the house to the living room. And all the while I'm thinking, "Why is the house so dark?" and "If he had been 'fixing the tree' for me why are the tree lights not on?'

So I went over to the tree, turned the lights on, stood back, looked it over for a moment and said, "Doug it looks fine. You did a really good job. I can't even tell anything was ever messed up. It all seems...."

And then I saw it. Hanging on a branch and blending in so well with the other ornaments (that I almost missed it) was a gold locket. My hands flew to my mouth and I was just, well...speechless. I just couldn't believe it. Doug knew how much I've been wanting an antique locket, and there in front of me was the most perfect one I had ever seen.

Once I got over my initial shock, I picked it up and opened it. Inside he had even wrote me a little love note. it was on a post-it note which I thought, coming from Doug, was priceless Well, let me tell you, that 'post-it note' pushed me over the edge. I still couldn't speak. But I had no trouble bursting into tears. Honestly, I truly could not speak. All I could do was hug him and cry.

Doug being so thoughtful to find me something that I had really been wanting was sweet enough. But the way he 'presented it' meant more to me than the gift itself.

Maybe it has to do with age. Maybe it has to do to with the fact that we've been together for 18yrs. Maybe it has to do with the fact that we have a deeper love and respect for each other that only comes from time together. Maybe I don't really care-Doug has become 'quite the romantic fool'

I am a lucky girl.

Have a beautiful day. And remember to Shine. As bright as my locket!

Is It Wrong?...

..to eat most of my children's Halloween candy while their at school?

..to obsessively read random blogs?

..to stare out the window cause it is ANOTHER beautiful blue sky sunny day? (November is definitely starting out better than October)

..to already be wondering "What day am I going to put up my christmas tree?"

..to look at the laundry overflowing the hampers..then decide to look out the window at the beautiful blue sky sunny day instead??

..;)

..HA! I didn't think so either.

We are so blessed. Life is soooo good. Make today a wonderful day. And remember to shine!