Farewell 2010

Oh 2010, where have you taken me? I suppose it has not all been bad.  I did finally get my associate’s degree after much procrastination!! Yippee!! I went through the ceremony and while I said it was for my kids it did feel really good to dress up and put on the cap n gown and do the whole show.  So Thank You Hill College for that opportunity!  We spent several days in Louisiana re-connecting with family and that was incredible!! We have also been able to use Facebook to connect with distant cousins that we normally would not get the chance to get to know.  I have a place to display my beautiful kids and all of their silliness. When faced with adversity we have managed to make it through.  We had the opportunity to walk away from this little cracker-box house that we call home, but decided instead to make it HOME.  I hope you can understand the difference.  A house is a place to lay your head, shelter that is necessary.  A HOME is a refuge from the storm, a safe place that is yours. It is where you know you can be you and not worry about judgment.

And I guess that is the most I can say about TWENTY TEN, because the rest of it kinda stunk.  But for TWENTY ELEVEN, well it holds all of the hope and possibility that comes with every new year, and I will continue to tell my story, and be grateful for my HOME!!

Farewell 2010, you were not the best year, but you were not the worst!!! You certainly won’t be missed.  Bring on 2011!!!  Sincerely, J*

 

 

images found through google

What I am reading 12/30/10

I am currently reading a wonderful book that was part of my most awesome Christmas gift at the family “Chinese Gift Exchange”  the title is God Always Has a Plan B.    It is part of my current plan to read more and write more.  I have also been perusing various blogs that are of interest to me.  Many of these blogs are about cooking for a large family, organizing for small spaces, or spiritual things, but they have all helped lead me to other resources and get my creative juices flowing.  That is a huge step for me because I will take all of the help I can get to help me keep my new year’s resolutions!

So for those that need help getting organized I suggest you check out  The Simple Mom blog. She has tips for frugal living, organizing, and much much more!

I also found an appropriately titled blog to let me know I am not the only one “Stumbling Impatiently Along” !

The internet has opened so many avenues for “at your fingertips” knowledge and while I am grateful for the convenience I hope it does not signal the demise of the printed word.  I long to “publish” something more than a simple blog, something tangible, something I can autograph! : )

That is all for now, as I continue on my way through the scores of  blogs out there and find even more helpful ideas, some new and some familiar with a twist!

Holidays

From December 18th:

 

Christmas has kinda snuck up on us here in the Roeber home.  We have been reading about the coming of our Lord and Savior, discovering why there is a holiday season to begin with and now it is only a week until Christmas is upon us.  We have not rushed out to buy presents, but I suppose we will need to go shopping at some point.  Mostly this year the kids want practical things, which is great because its easy to buy practical instead of the “gotta have” items that lots of kids ask for and then leave their parents to scramble to find it.  I love that so many times my kids are practical with their choices, knowing that it makes more sense to ask for things they will actually use instead of something that the “new” will wear off of and then it will be set to collect dust or worse.  And by practical I don’t just mean clothes or shoes, but things like an MP3 player so they can listen to their tunes, or a Wii for the whole family, movies to add to our collection, not too bad overall.  I actually look forward to the last minute shopping, call me crazy, but it makes for some very interesting people watching.  I don’t do the “Black Friday” sales because I believe they are just asinine and I do not like mob scenes.   I have experienced one “Black Friday” and vowed then and there it was not worth the hassle and the crowds to arrange a babysitter for the kids so we could save a few bucks, and actually when you break it down, that is all it is.  We don’t really shop for the big ticket items at Christmas, it isn’t the time for new computers or a new tv or blu ray player, those items are usually spring or summer buys and I find that we pay about the same, without the hassle of the mob.

Other than Christmas slowly sneaking up on us, my dear husband has finished his first semester of college with A’s and B’s!! Kudos to you honey! My youngest son has begun confidently walking about the house.  So now I will be chasing him a bit now.  We will be taking family pictures this week-end and then I will be on cloud nine as I sort through the shots and edit them and ready them to be printed for our loved ones.

I think I might post some of them as I get through, but for now I am going to head to bed and hope that sleep finds me, and if not I will catch up on my reading.

Happy Holidays!!!

Hello world!

I have begun a blog in an attempt to be able to hone my writing skills and be able to get input from readers and keep myself sharp. Good writer s write something every day even if it is nonsense so I am told.  If you can get something from it, great.  Most of it will be anecdotal, but some of it will be my more serious writing once I can resurrect our other computer and get it uploaded to this blog.  Either way please feel free to comment or critique as I prepare to learn whether or not I have something people will read.