I'm Eeking Back....

Well, I am tired of opening my browser to have that previous ugly post staring back at me. It was a difficult year, and I'm hoping that I can put an end to it.

At the time, I had decided that some things had to go to ease the stress in my life. So, I took a break from blogging. I should have posted about my decision...for both of you who read my blog(wink). I decided to spend my free energy fostering local and online relationships, translating to less pressure and more rewards for me. Writing on the blog has always been too much of an ideal for me to live up to.

If you know me well, you know I don't do anything I'm not going to be good at. I read some wonderful, amazing, inspiring blogs. I have always worried about my consistency. Plus, I wanted to make sure I was sharing a variety of uplifting news. So, when we don't reach these benchmarks we sometimes set for ourselves, it can make us feel more failure. I didn't need that at the time, or now. So, I'm trying a fresh start with a new outlook in a new place--figuratively and literally.

We recently moved from one side of the US, actually from the furthest West in Hawaii, to the east coast, in South Carolina. It's been a BIG move, a huge ordeal, and the toughest move of all for our our family. We're finally in a home, still no belongings yet, but I need to get on task. Each week is getting a little better. In a few weeks when our home is in order, and I have a better routine, this will hopefully all be a distant memory.

But, today, I need to live the quote I have at the top, "Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life." All the good. All the bad. All the moments. And there are some really good ones in there. I should have chronicled them this past year, instead of rushing past them. This year will be different...better. It's up to me, right? Just be patient for me. And I'll try to be gentle on myself.

So, a little recap from my November 2011 post to now:
The holidays went off without too much of a hitch. Carols were sung, presents were gifted, merry was made. I did spend most of Christmas day with a migraine, but we got to skype with my whole family and speak to Dennis's on the phone.

The rest of the school year was a struggle for one and a breeze for another. That online K12 program certainly is easier on some personalities than others. For my oldest, Sabrina, she missed making friends and worked hard every day to stay caught up, cutting into any social life she may have wanted. For Hayden, he was in his element. He loved finishing his work mid-morning so he could have computer free time. He would minecraft with his friends in the afternoon and spend some days with his best friend doing school work, then playing. McKenna's school year went off well. She had a great relationship with her teacher, enjoyed school, and had some great friends.

We were able to take a trip to the Big Island of Hawaii during spring break, amazed at how much more untouched it was than Oahu. We had a fabulous week and saw another amazing part of this world. Maybe I'll do another recap post of that some time. My mom was able to come out a couple of weeks later, during the worst storm weekend we had our entire time on Oahu. It was such a disappointment to not be able to show her more of the beauty of Hawaii, but we were able to spend time together, and that's what really matters anyway.

My middle brother and his family came out at the end of May and spent 2 weeks in our home. They allowed us to be tourists and do all of the fun things Hawaii has to offer for one last time. The kids really enjoyed hanging out with their cousins since they don't get to often.

About April, we had started preparing to move off the island, knowing an assignment would come in May. The options of location weren't great, and we did get an initial assignment to Cannon AFB, NM. This base is so remote that after a process involving a medical board, the assignment was cancelled due to lack of facilities to support Sabrina's diabetic needs. Then began the waiting game...9 weeks to be exact, before we would get the new assignment.

The second week in August, we receive an assignment to Shaw AFB, SC, followed by a mad rush to get out of Hawaii before the end of the month. We started packing up on the 10th and cleared our house on the 20th. We flew out of Hawaii on the 21st and, 3 flights later, into South Carolina on the 22nd. The south definitely has a learning curve. But, we're adjusting. The kids all started school last week, and so far are holding their own. Now to see where this new adventure takes us!

The Holiday of Downward Spirals

I've been missing...but just here...not in life...life has been a flurry of activity since the summer-- with school starting...and family and friends visiting....and soccer season...and church activities...and Pinterest...and...now I'm full on in the throes of the holiday season.

I was answering an email to a good friend of mine, and with the state of my life right now, it didn't seem real to just rattle off all the comings and goings of the Terry family. So, I laid it out for her. That things are hectic...that I'm stressed...that I bring so much of it on myself. And I realized something. It was C.A.T.H.A.R.T.I.C.  Making the list of everything that is killing me right now helped to put it in perspective. And, I wanted to share. Because this friend had shared something with me that was real and personal and prompted my catharsis. I don't know if it will make me slow down at all. But, for today, I feel better. So, here goes. Maybe it can help you to re-evaluate your life and put things in perspective too.

"I'm chagrined that it took me so long to respond, but my happy, busy life is spiraling out of control right now because I have too much to do and not enough time to do it. I apologize ahead for being so real, but I miss you, and talking to you, and your email sounds like you are happy, but not truly content...I totally relate, to find the little joys in the everyday things of raising my family, but really missing connections with people and missing those I love.

So, here goes....I'm supposed to be finishing up thank you's for donations for the joint spouse conference we had....in October. Wrap up meeting is the 1st....I know I'm behind...as always.

Then, there is our Christmas social for Relief Society at church...on Dec 1st...I've got to get my ducks in a row for that. Yes...the same day as our meeting for JSC. Don't call me that day...I may explode.

Then there is cooking a fab Thanksgiving meal, that we don't have anyone to invite to, and my family won't truly appreciate, but I can't stop myself. Really. I can't.

My dining room table is covered with the joys of card making...I can't find time to sit down and finish, but it has to be cleaned up by tomorrow. Or we have no where to eat.

I have way too many cute things on my Pinterest that I want to try immediately, and no time to do it.

Also, I started a FB page this week, Lisa's Paper Art and Gifts, for my clipboards and cards, which I have some on hand, but will genuinely freak out if I have to make something specific on a time crunch. People have been telling me I should really sell them, and I know it's late in the season, but I hoped to get some business before Christmas.

On top of everything, it's that time of year when I think of Christine and the fact that at the last Thanksgiving we spent with her we had no idea she would be gone from us in 2 weeks.

So, thank you for keeping in touch, for understanding my life and being someone I'm truly thankful for, this time of year and always."

 

That's how I truly feel...today...stressed...and happy...and spinning...and grateful. All wrapped up in one bustling mom of a body. Each of those things give me something to be grateful for, whether it is food on our table, creativity, or people that have come into my life and made a difference.

I'm thankful for the things I am blessed with in my life; for the people I love, my resolve and my strength that allow me to take on so many wonderful things, and the faith that Heavenly Father watches over us, and is there for us in times of trial and times of gratitude. Now, go on...make your list of crazy things you are grateful for. It will help...if nothing else, it will let you take a breather before you make another pie.

How cool is this?

Ok, I'm already 40, but saw a fun post on Organizing Junkie's site that she had an ugly dress party to celebrate. That, in itself, seems so fun...too bad I've passed that milestone. But I fell in love with these decorations. Fell.In.Love.



You can find lovely instructions here. Instead of hanging them, she had them laid on the counters and such. It makes me want to have a party...or maybe just hang them around the house and pretend we'll have a party. Then have some Pink Lemonade cupcakes for dessert.

Sabrina's birthday is coming up next week. This isn't the year for a big party (she'll get one next year when she turns 16). But how fun would it be for her to wake up to her room decorated with pom poms and have cupcakes for breakfast? I'll let you know how it goes.