Random thoughts for a random day...

The Seattle Sehawks won Superbowl 48 last night.

 For the first time in the history of our little family, we all sat down together to watch the big game. To hear Caleb cheering on a sports team was quite amusing as he's typically complaining about whatever sport happens to be on at the time. He actually gave me a high-five at one point! While we're all big Tennessee Vols fans and hated to see Peyton go down the way he did, this family was cheering on the Hawks loud and proud! 

Yesterday was also our beloved Grandmother Hicks' 90th birthday!!!

 I credit this sweet, wonderful woman for so many of the amazing "habits" my husband currently exudes...his love of cooking, considering others before himself, his kindness towards everyone and mostly, his patience. I have never met anyone who is as welcoming to everyone she comes in contact with as her, much less, ever heard her speak a harsh word. Chris' family is so small compared to my own, but the love everyone has makes it seem soo much bigger...and we owe it all to her.  I can only hope and pray that I'll have as much faith, courage, and love as her when I reach 90!

The weather this winter has been absolutely NUTS! It's been beyond freezing, yet NO SNOW!!!! We did wake up last week to find our lake was completely frozen over! This is no shallow pond in the back yard...this is a 300+acre lake with depths reaching 50 feet. We had geese flying in from all over to rest, lay, play (?) on our lake. I had to snap a couple pictures, as I wasn't sure we'd ever see this again.

 

 Last but not least. February is here. It's officially my birthday month. Yes, I celebrate all month. Yes, I expect my friends and family to do the same. Yes, I am spoiled. Even better than celebrating the entire month for myself, I'm celebrating this little boy. Every day I'm thankful for him. He brings us absolute joy. I don't know how we went as long without him. Best birthday present ever.

The stress of a new year...

Does anyone else feel like January is just a complete "run, run, run, go, go, go" month? Shouldn't we all be relaxing and enjoying some down time after the holidays? Instead, it's all about getting back into shape, being more organized, finishing this project or that one. Well, you know what? I'm over it. Stick a fork in me, I'm done. Between trying to get everyone back in the swing of things for school to getting my house put back together after the madness that is Oct-Dec, I'm just done. Let me say it again..D.O.N.E. 

Please don't get me wrong. I love all the hustle and bustle of the holidays and even enjoy a good organizing spree, but man oh man, this year...it's damn hard. Call me a whiner, blame it on the new baby (my favorite excuse ever), or just the dang crazy, cold weather...whatever it is, I'm kinda ready for it to move on and me to feel like I can breathe for a minute...or twelve.

Next month will be better. It has to be dammit. I refuse to accept anything less. It IS my birthday month after all...and of course, Baby Lawson's 1st birthday! So say a quick prayer, send some good thoughts, do a mambojambo ju-ju dance. Otherwise, Momma's gonna be having a "come to jesus" moment with the world. 

 

Christmas '13 Wrap Up

I'll be honest with you. I had a really, really hard time getting in the Christmas Spirit this year. Usually by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, I'm ready to put the tree up, decorate the entire house, and settle in nightly with some hot cocoa and Christmas movies.

 

 This year....not so much.

 I think it was a combination of things. Family drama...not as many siblings coming in as usual...a baby who thinks the decorations are new toys...Whatever it was, it had me in a funk. 

 

Sometime around the middle of the month however, I was able to get my act together. 

The tree wasn't as decorated as it usually is, but it was still gorgeous with the million lights I have to have on it. Little spots of red and green popped up around the house. Santa was seen. Cookies were baked. And presents were bought. 

 

My focus switched from everything that wasn't the same as years past, to all that was new. Embracing and loving the new. A new baby to celebrate a first Christmas all over again. New helpers to our cookie day. New traditions, new friends, new memories. 

All in all, I'd call Christmas 2013 a success. The older boys were spoiled as usual, Chris and I soaked up as much family time as we could while he was off work, and even Baby Lawson got into the swing of things (between crying and being over stimulated) by ripping open everyone's presents and shoving the paper into his mouth.

 

Welcome 2014

I don't know how long I'll keep it up this year...blogging that is.

But I promise to put forth more of an effort.

Along with:

• Not allowing FaceBook to consume my life {I've already deleted it from my phone}
• Creating a more organized day to day life {Monthly menu planning here I come...}
• Being a more present wife, mother, friend
• Building my Origami Owl business

I'm not going to call these resolutions...they're just things that need to happen.

Many of my friends have chosen words to focus on instead of pointless resolutions they'll forget about by the 2nd of February. 

My word is Release.

Release what I have no control over.

Release the "friendships" that only cause hurt.

Release the pain I've allowed to build in my heart over the last few years.

Release the anger and resentments.

Release and breathe.

Happy New Year!