2011 thus far

Why is it at the start of every new year we have these high expectations? January 1st is just another day on the calendar eh? Well I to fall in the trap of believing that January 1st is some miracle day.  This year I had simple resolutions as well; start a craft club, go to California,  keep on the path of natural eating, etc.. I'm not asking myself to drop 50lbs or anything crazy like that! Well we went back to MN and ND the week after Christmas and stayed in homes of cat owners.  I wheez, cough, sneeze, lets just say it's an icky mess but the stay is cheap.   Well since we've been back I've missed 2 days of work in 2011 which I believe I only missed one last year. Having to call into work is one of the most painful things for me to do but like Grant said sometimes you have to worry about yourself and just get better!  I think the kitties did havoc on my immune system and left me open to more icky things to come (this is my conclusion anyway).  Last week our faithful little ford focus decided to poop out on us.  We feel it may be more than we want to put into it but until we get it to the car service people we are back to one vehicle.  We got by with one vehicle for 6 years but now that we have had the glory of owning two it's a hard thing to get used to.. especially when I had to be to work at 4am last week. Our hours never match up and with retail are never the same day to day. My brother in law passed away last week which has caused some commotion in an already unstable family, then yesterday I find out my niece had her appendix removed.  REALLY TWENTY ELEVEN! So with all of that California is out of the picture because getting another car by the summer is now on the to do list and having to be open to both our schedules now craft club may have to wait as well. 
Now with all that being said and sounding quite beaten down I'm staying positive knowing God has his plan and I'm still feeling that wonderful feeling of blessings for no serious illness for Grant and I, being able to put food on the table and having shelter! I have the love of a wonderful man and two super cute puppies and although I have an annoying lingering cough I still have overall good health! 2011 is not going to get me down and I'm going to face it with immense positivity so watch out!
Hope everyone is having a GREAT new year!

New Years Resolution

As most of you reading this, I'm making a few resolutions for the new year. 

Give More
Spend Less
Go to California
Quit Retail
Continue on the road to Living a more organic healthy lifestyle
Start a craft group
Read more

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds: "What does love mean?"
The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think...
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"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
Rebecca - age 8
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"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."
Billy - age 4
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"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
Terri - age 4
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"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
Danny - age 7
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"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss."
Emily - age 8
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"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."
Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)
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"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."
Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)
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"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
Noelle - age 7
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"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
Tommy - age 6
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"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.
He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."
Cindy - age 8
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"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."
Elaine - age 5
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"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
Chris - age 7
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"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
Mary Ann - age 4
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"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." (Now THIS is love!)
Lauren - age 4
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"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image!)
Karen - age 7
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"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."
Mark - age 6
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"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."
Jessica - age 8
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And the final one...
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.
The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.
Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,
"Nothing, I just helped him cry."