But, she's the important one...

How did we get this strange shot, you might ask? And, why didn't I automatically delete it? Well I took the kids roller skating last night. It was a Project Care event for deployed families to get together and get out. The older two were on blades...McKenna and I took the good ol' 4 wheels. They had a small turnout...probably a total of about 50 people, but there was a ton of pizza and the whole place to ourselves...plus it was free. Can't beat that.

It was going great...McKenna was doing really well, even skating by herself (1st time on skates), Hayden was having a blast (really, where does he get the energy?), and Sabrina was playing it cool (in true teenage fashion). I was pretty cool, too, if I do say so, myself. I was racing Hayden, skating backward, having a pretty good time. I knew my feet would cry out later, but I didn't care...I was awesome mom!

I wanted to take pictures to remember this cool, hip evening with my kids...and send some to their dad. So, I'm snapping away and hand the camera off to Hayden, so he can capture me, the hip mom, with McKenna. After several shots, he shows me the pictures he took. I, still the ever supportive mom, said to him, "hey, you keep cutting off my head, can you aim a little higher?" His answer back to me made me pause and reflect long beyond the evening. "But, she's the important one."

Now, isn't the mom supposed to be the most important one in her child's life? Especially one as cool and hip as me? Then, I thought, well, at least he reaaaaally loves his sister. That's good, right? Then, moving on...I realized we really do reinforce this idea, and is it a healthy obsession that we all have with McKenna? But, honestly, she's so darn cute! And, really, really good.

My friends always comment on how "abnormally well-behaved" she is. She's so gentle and calm, I can leave her in the waiting room right outside where I'm getting my eyebrows waxed and know she won't move. And when she flashes you that smile, you can't help but feel more than a little taken. Don't get me wrong, she has her moments, her mischevious side. And even gets a little grumpy when she's over tired. But, in general, she's such a delight...that it's hard not to focus on her.

So, I don't blame him...She's a unifying force in our family. I only hope that even though we all really enjoy her right now, the older ones know they are important too. Maybe that's where I need to focus for a little bit. And, hopefully I'll be a little more important, too.

Word of the day: Keep busy...right, two words...

Ok, so Dennis left last week. Actually last, last week. I meant to post on here with some pictures, but didn't get the pictures uploaded until yesterday. Story of my life...seems like I'm always playing catch up.

But, here I am, better late than never...or so I hope you agree. Anyway, since he left, I had been completely immersed in my scrapbooking project for my friend Christine. I even created a blog for it. (ok, so I hear you laughing...I now have 2 blogs...) You can view it at http://christineskeepsakes.blogspot.com/ . We had the big crop this last weekend, and I have been touched and amazed at the response! My friend, Leslie, told me it was going to get big...and she was right. We had over 23 women on Saturday, 4 more came and picked up pictures, and about 15 more have emailed just in the last week with offers of donations and layout creation. At this rate we'll wrap it up in no time! I already have 7 scrapbooks almost full to the brim to present to her family, and only about 3/4 of the pictures done.

After the crop, I was able to breathe a little, but what did that do? Give me time to think. About my own projects and my own scrapbooking and my own oversupplied craft room...which led to why can't I scrap in my own room? I decided it was because of the clutter. So, Sunday evening I started...to move it out. Anything I won't use to work on these unfinished projects before we leave here is going to go. At the very least it will be boxed up to the basement. I've already taken all the Stampin' Up! stuff I won't need here and put in a tote to take back to the states.

I still haven't finished in my room, I have piles all around to sort through. But some areas of it are already improved. And, I have attacked other areas of the house the last couple of days...spring cleaning a bit early? Maybe it's from Dennis leaving. Maybe I just need a change. Maybe I'm trying to focus on something else, instead of the quiet house at night. Or being the only one left to run the kids everywhere, and scour the bathrooms, and change the tire (which will get done eventually, Dennis). Some would say I'm busy enough already. But, that's what has always worked for me...keeping busy. Gives me very little down time to really be lonely or sad.

I'm trying something different, though. I'm taking some down time. Hence trying to make my craft room workable. I am spending a day at home, then running around the next. Then spending time at home, then running around. It helps that McKenna has swim lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays, kinda pigeoned me into this schedule. But, so far it's working. I feel like I'm accomplishing...and I'm motivated. Moreso than I have been for a long time. I just may finish some scrapbooks for my own family this year. With Christine, I've had an awakening that you never know how much time you really have. So, if something isn't working in my life, it's gonna go...part of the new me. I'm kind of enjoying this journey...

A New Year...New Me...New Life

Ok...so it's not so dramatic as that, right? But, it is the New Year (2009! Wow!) and the lesson in church yesterday just happened to be on goals...go figure. And, last week a girl at work asked me what my resolutions were. I hadn't really thought about it, but the first thing that came to mind was "CLEAN OUT" and she asked "like housecleaning?" I told her it was more than that...I think I need a good cleansing. My house, my schedule, my mind...my soul.

--Cleanse extra junk...when we move this summer, I want to be downsized. Do I really need it? I thought so at one time. I'll be relying heavily on my experts in simplicity, Melanie and Diedre to help me with this one.
--Cleaning my schedule. Christine used to comment that I was ALWAYS gone...but now that I'm not working, I can consolidate trips away from home more...meaning more time at home to schedule things done, like scrapbooking, or excercise or playing with McKenna, my cutest best friend.
--Cleaning my mind...what does that really mean? I want to be free of regrets and guilt and be happier with what I have and what I do. Time is short...shouldn't I enjoy it more?
--And, cleaning my soul...all those Sunday School answers seem so overwhelming all tackled at once. But last year I had a goal with tithing that I accomplished...so this year, maybe something else, like with scriptures, to help me get a more eternal perspective.

To add to that, I'm going to get out of ruts. Try new things...like this blog. Open myself to new people. Since it's not "Me and Christine" anymore...I will end up just "Me" if I'm not careful.

I'm so excited to start the new year. I have to shake off the last month and show my kids that we can overcome. We can cherish memories, and we can cherish each other...that's my end product for 2009. Wish me luck!