The Season To Give

Today my son's preschool teacher (and someone I am honored to call a friend) started a daily "challenge" for the month of December. Now, she uses that word "challenge" lightly because she doesn't want it to be something people feel they HAVE to do. She wants it to be a positive choice for everyone each and every day. She wants everyone to remember why we really celebrate this season and to think of others more than ourselves. Today she's inviting her friends to donate a piece of outerwear to someone in need.

She talked to the kids today during preschool about the fact that it's more important to give than receive. She told them to look around their house for old coats, mittens and hats that they could give to someone who doesn't have one.

Before we left preschool, she mentioned this lesson to me in case my son said something about it. Well, we weren't more than 3 blocks from her house when he asked me if we had any old mittens, coats or hats that we don't use anymore. He wants to give them to someone who needs them! So we gathered a few things and we have a bag ready for him to bring to preschool in the morning to put in the donation pile.

I was SO tickled. Not only that his wonderful teacher was teaching her preschool kids the importance of giving - but the fact that my son was listening and caught on!

What a beautiful day!

Ahh....so thankful

After just coming off Thanksgiving there is so much to be thankful for. My health, my family, my friends, the roof over my head, the food on the table and the clothes on my back.

As we enter into the cold months of December I think about those less fortunate than me. I don't know what has happened to them, but there are many people without jobs, homes and families. I hope that life will turn around for them in the future and they can be as blessed as I feel today.

I hope no matter what your situation today, that will you take the time to be thankful for the little things. Don't sweat the small stuff. Remember that on a daily basis. And remember, every day you are alive is a beautiful day! Make it last!

And let me add this quote I just read..."Until you learn to be grateful for the things you have, you will not receive the things you want." That pretty much sums it up!

Bad Things Happen for a Reason

I never thought it would happen to me. 18 months ago I lost my job. The department was reorganized and my position was eliminated. I could have stayed there, kept "a job" and done something I hate to do - sell. My boss tried to convince me to stay "it's rough out there, you'll never find a job. Stay, you might like it." Nope. I hate to sell. I hate trying to convince people to try something. And I loved my job. I loved the work I did everyday, why should I settle just to have a job. So I left. The scariest thing I had every done in my life.

My husband and I sat down and took a HARD look at the budget. After a few days we realized we could probably do this. Things would be tight, but once you take out the expense of daycare, gasoline for the car, wear and tear on the car, work clothes, nylons, work shoes, work jackets...the list goes on and on for the things we would be saving money on. So we decided I would stay home with the kids.

Now - I NEVER wanted to be a stay at home mom. I loved working. I loved having that something to myself (my job). I frankly did not like being a "play on the floor with toys" kind of mom. I know it sounds awful, but it's true. But once my oldest son started kindergarten, something changed in me. I cried more the day I dropped him off at kindergarten than the day I dropped him off at daycare when he was 12 weeks old. I hated missing the field trips, being a room parent, helping out in the classroom or library because I had to work. Now I get to do all of those things. And I am happy about it. After a few months of being home, but husband told me it was the happiest he had seen me in a long time...maybe this was all meant to be!

However, I also wanted to be sure I kept my foot in the door in regards to work. Maybe I could have the best of both worlds - be home with my boys AND work. I decided to start my own freelance company. I applied for hundreds of work at home jobs and landed quite a few! And 18 months later...I am starting to get some consistent work.

I am now busier than I ever was working full time and raising 2 healthy boys being a full time mom and part time freelancer. And I am loving every minute of it!

Everything happens for a reason...today, I am loving life and once again realizing it truly is a beautiful day!

Happy Birthday To Me!

So, today I turn 36. I can't believe it. I don't feel like I'm 36. But then I think hard about my life, I have been married 12 years to a wonderful man. We have two beautiful, high-strung boys, ages 7 1/2 and 3 1/2. We have a dog, and a wonderful house. But there are days that I sit back and shake my head - I'm married, with 2 kids and a mortgage (and a dog!) Some days I just can't believe it.

My life has been good - it's been filled with many joyful childhood memories and friends. I have been blessed to have known many of my grandparents - and even a great grandmother. My parents are all still alive and healthy to date (I say all, because I have four!), and my boys have the privilege to know all 6 of their grandparents and a great grandmother as well! I'm blessed today to have many close friends, and a close relationship with my sister.

I would not change anything about how my life has turned out - would I have made different choices along the way, perhaps...but then that may have affected how my life did turn out - and that would be disappointing. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, and whether good or bad there is a reason. When we will find out what that reason is? Maybe we never will or maybe in an after life..but there is a reason and there is a plan for each one of us.

So as the trees are blowing in the force wind today, I sit back back and enjoy the beautiful Fall temperatures with a smile on my face, thankful that my life has turned out as well as it has. I am happy, healthy and those around me are happy and healthy. I can only hope it gets better for each and every one of us as we celebrate our next birthday and our birthdays for many years to come.

Smile - it's a beautiful day!

Funny How Things Change...

As I read my last post "the summer's gone great"; "I don't want summer to end"...about 3 weeks after I posted that blog I was ready for summer to end.

The pool got boring, the camps were over and we were all sick of each other! The boys were fighting like crazy; my oldest was getting mouthy and being a smart alec. If you ask me, the summer was about 2-3 weeks too long.

When I told my preschooler that his brother was starting school and it would be just he and I for two weeks until he started school again, he said "Woo Hoo!" LOL

Well, last week my oldest started second grade. And even though I was ready for him to go back to school, I cried when I got home. Not because I was sad to see him go back to school, but because I can't believe he's in second grade already. The time goes by so fast!! Tomorrow, my baby will start his second year of preschool....

Yet another reason to cherish this beautiful day! The days go by way too fast...enjoy it!

Ahh...Summer

Let's rewind about 8 weeks...I was paranoid about summer.

I have two boys - 7 and 3 - and they fight. A lot. I wasn't sure I'd be able to survive the summer. I wasn't sleeping. I was getting migraines several times a week (okay, that was another problem and has been resolved) but I was a mess. I never thought I would survive the summer. I wasn't looking forward to it at all.

I started researching camps, classes and memberships to all sorts of different places and things. I spent a lot of money on pool membership, Cub Scouts camp, Art Camp and Preschool Camp. More money that I would have wanted to spend, but it was worth it.

We've had a wonderful summer. We've spent 3 to 4 days a week a the pool. My oldest son loved his week-long Cub Scouts camp and Art Camp and learned quite a bit in the process. My youngest son is enjoying his Monday mornings at Preschool camp during this last month of summer.

The key is to KEEP THEM BUSY. They are hardly fighting at all. In fact, they have been so sweet and nice to each other in the past week I'm wondering if they've been replaced with different kids. Last night they even had a sleepover in one of their rooms!

I'm not happy that there are only 5 weeks left in the summer...it's gone way too fast and I've enjoyed it way too much. I never thought I would have enjoyed it so much or that we'd be having so much fun!

Ask me again next May - I'll probably be in the same situation as I was 8 weeks ago...but for now I'm enjoying the beautiful summer days that I have left!

Look Beyond the Anger

Last Saturday, the phone rang at 5:30 am and woke me up. The caller asked, " Is this the Smith* household where Mike* works for a local Kohl's store?" "No, I said," and hung up. Although we were the Smith household, and my husband's name is Mike, he doesn't work at a Kohl's store. I was so mad I was woken up that early for a wrong number. But as I rolled over in bed, I thought to myself I wonder if something happened to this Mike and they were trying to reach his family. I was no longer mad, but wondering if everything was okay. It reminded me to take a deep breath and not get angry for the little things.

These thoughts continued as I read an article in a Ladies Home Journal of a women who challenged herself to be polite to everyone, even if they were rude to her. As she waited in line at her local post office, she saw the post office employee snap at the customer in front of her. When it was her turn, she greeted the employee with a hello and asked how her day was. She noticed the pictures of her dog pinned up in her work area and asked her about them. The employee smiled and told her the rescue story of her dogs. She continued these acts of politeness throughout the day - when her mechanic told her that her car would be ready in an hour and it wasn't, instead of blowing up she told him how sorry she was that he was so busy and having a bad day. The mechanic hesitated and told her he'd have her car ready in just another 20 minutes, compared to a couple hours. She began to think the politeness was contagious and it made her day better!

Which then lead me to one of today's comics, "One Big Happy". Stuck in a huge traffic jam, the father was angry for being stuck in traffic after seeing two ambulances. His daughter in the back seat told her father not to be mad and remembered what her grandma told her to do when this happened. She prayed. "Dear God, please help the hurt people who need the ambulances. They might be somebody's mommy or daddy or little kid or best friend. And even if it's somebody no one loves, I know you love them and please let them know that I love them too. Amen." It certainly calmed her father down and he told her thank you.

Let's all remember to take a deep breathe and enjoy the beautiful day!

*names changed to protect identity.

Hope

“Hope is always available to us. When we feel defeated, we need only take a deep breath and say, 'Yes,' and hope will reappear.” -Monroe Forester

Today I have Hope. Hope that there will soon be a cure for cancer. This horrible disease, in so many forms that has affected more people in my life than I care to even say.

Today I am thinking about two dear friends who are having double mastectomies this week. Both women are strong, positive thinkers and I am confident they will get through this. My heart goes out to their children, their families and all their friends who are praying and hoping...

I am also thinking of my grandfather who lost his battle to cancer 8 years ago next week. And his wife, my grandmother, who was diagnosed a few years ago with the same strain of cancer her husband died from.

What will it take to find a cure? Why does this horrible disease exist? So many unanswered questions. And it's hard to see the beauty today, but as I quote my friend Sarah, who is undergoing her surgery as I type, "I am able to see the good that has already come out of this and will be forthcoming.​" Now, that's beautiful.

And I am hoping that these three strong women in my life have many more beautiful days ahead of them.

Is It Easy as This? I think so....

So my dear friend Kate posted this Facebook status today....this pretty much sums it up doesn't it?

Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the one's who don't.
Believe everything happens for a reason.
If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it.
Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.

Now, I truly believe things happen for a reason - good or bad. We may not know why the bad things happen, but someday we will. Plenty of bad things have happened in my life - to the ones I love - and even though it's horrible at the time, it helps put everything in perspective. Who cares if the glass bowl breaks - did anyone get hurt, are your loved ones happy and healthy? Those are the things that matter - not the materialistic things.

I wake up everyday thanking God that I did wake up. I live my life happily and try to appreciate every waking moment. You never know when it's going to end.

Remember every day can be a beautiful day. You just have to believe it!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

As I created my "to-do" list this morning I could not believe how busy I am. I can almost say I'm busier than I was when I was working full time.

When my oldest son started kindergarten in August, 2008 - my type A personality and organized ways weren't enough. I was forgetting things and could not stay organized or on top of things. Anyone who is type A knows this is very, very, very unsettling.

Fast forward 6 months and I find out my job has been eliminated. I have become a statistic. After weeks of crying and wondering why me, I thought "Wow. Everything happens for a reason. Let's go with this and see what happens."

After wanting to work after college, and doing so for over 13 years, I never thought I would want to stay home (I did) and I never thought I would enjoy it (I do!).

I began networking right away for some freelancing work and got a few small jobs. After enjoying the summer with my boys, I looked into starting my own official consulting company (http://www.flynncreativegroup.com/).

Then came the PTA.

Yep, you heard me right. I joined the PTA. Casually at first. Then I helped plan the Halloween party. Now I am planning the Carnival. This week I just volunteered to take over the monthly newsletter beginning in March and for next year! Wow. Could I get any busier? Of course I can!

In October, my son joined Cub Scouts. There are so many first grade boys who keep joining that we have to split into another group. Yep, you guessed it - I am co-leading that new group! Just when I thought I was too busy to do anything else. But you know what, it's for my son. I want him to enjoy it and get the most he can out of it and if I need to lead the group to help him do that then that's what I need to do!

If we turned back time and went back 2 years and you told me this is how my life was going to be in January 2010 I would have told you that you were CRAZY. No way would I have ever guessed this is what I would be doing - and ENJOYING every minute of it! And I know if you asked any of my friends (or family for that matter) they would have never pegged me to be the stay at home mom kind. But I think I am proving everyone wrong! And that makes it a beautiful day :)

Bring on 2010!

How can this day not be beautiful? The start of a new year, new opportunities, new motivations and new resolutions perhaps?

The start of this new year also brings many things to look forward to. I hope to strengthen my writing business. But most importantly, I will see my baby turn 3 in February and my first baby turn 7 in April. How can it be? Last night sharing and remembering their deliveries with friends (you know how women share their delivery stories? That's what we were doing over drinks!) made me realize what precious miracles I have in my life. Now, they may drive me crazy at times...but all part of being a mom!

Back to my business...I hope 2010 brings me new clients, new contacts and new business!! I hope this money brought in from my business helps us have fun this year, redecorate the house and do those extra things everybody hopes they can do! But regardless, I am thankful that I have a wonderful husband who makes it possible for me to stay home with my boys and dabble in my passion for writing - while making a little money while I do so!

2010 will also bring me friendships. I have met some wonderful ladies over the past several months. These friendships have brought strength, laughter, recommendations and job opportunities for many of us. We've been through a lot already and everyone has been there ever step of the way. What a wonderful bunch of ladies!

And of course I cherish, all the friendships I have had for years. You know who you are! Even though we may not see all that often, we are always there for each other when we need to be and talk often thanks to that wonderful FaceBook invention!! Love ya all!

How can today not be beautiful!! So many thinks to be thankful for in 2009 and so many to look forward to in 2010! Bring it on....