“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.” - Edmund Burke

As I sit here thinking about facing this Monday I am ready. Ready to tackle my week. Ready to check things off my to do list. Ready to encourage. I'm ready. One of my roles this fall/winter/spring is as a sponsor for someone in a small (support) group. I've done this before and I take this role very seriously. I've been thinking about encouraging things I can do and I'm ready! So, if you feel so inclined, please feel free to pray for me and my friend as we set out on this journey together.

Have a great Monday. Are you ready?

“When one man, for whatever reason, has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself. ” - Jacques Cousteau

I try to pick Archer up from school most days. Yes, I know school is only a half-mile(ish) away. Yes, I know that he is 15 years old. Yes, I know I do not need to pick him up. But I like to. I do it because I want to. I want to see him in those few moments after being released from learning and friends. I want to hear about his day immediately (because otherwise it may not happen). I want to tell him if I bought his favorite iced tea or that I signed him up for driver's ed. I want him to know that those few moments, because sometimes all it is is a few moments alone, is important to me.

Yesterday he gave me this ^^^ paper. His health teacher gave them each one to wear and some to give out. He methodically looked through saying, "not this one" "nope" "maybe this one" until he got to the one he wanted me to have. Evidently I'm doing a great job. After losing my cool a few too many times these past few days I'm glad to know that he still thinks I'm doing a great job. When he gave it to me he told me it fit me best because it meant all the other things (positive statements) put together and that he thinks I do a great job at being a mom. That is all I want. Love my boy.

“The greatest gift you can give another is the purity of your attention. ”—Richard Moss

freedom friday.

What is freedom Friday? Well...of course there is a story. Let's start.
For the past several weeks I have been having some "issues." Not exactly sure what these "issues" are, I just know that I have them. I guess I have been a little grumpy (grumpasaurus rex Tami?)...hmmm...I have been unmotivated, just a little blah - off and on for weeks. 

After many talks with Troy (husband extraordinaire) we both came to the conclusion that I may have a slight (I said slight!) addiction to the internet (ssshhhhhh Cheryl!). 

Do you ever feel this way? Do you get sucked in and feel the huge gravitational force of your computer? 

Anyway I do. And lately I haven't been very good at the balance of real life and online life (ssshhhhhh Cheryl!) so I have declared Friday freedom Friday.

Which means I will not: check my email, twitter, check blogs (I will miss you and hope you have some great stuff for me to read on Saturday!), update my mySpace status, or...oh...I can barely write it...I will not go on facebook (I can't believe I just wrote that...I'm feeling sick) - I will not kidnap anyone, I will not move my cars on parking wars...please don't ticket me, I will not send any plants, I will not comment on statuses. I was thinking I could update my status from my phone...I wonder if that will defeat my purpose.

Because that is what this day is about. It is about my purpose. About me remembering balance. About finding my motivation (maybe it is under the laundry). Maybe I should change my status now...hmmm....

Troy thinks I need two or three days, however I think one day is plenty...it is going to be hard. I know it. Having the computer centrally located in the living room is usually fantastic - I am thinking Friday it will be difficult. Geez this makes me sound bad...like an addict (which I am). I probably will turn on my computer though because that is where all my music is, however that may be a little dangerous for me...We'll see.

What I will do: take Archer to school, exercise, drink coffee, pick Archer up. Those things I know for sure. I will also probably do a little of what I need to (laundry, dishes) and a little of what I want to (scrap, read).

and here is just a little fun. Everyone has been doing these yearbook photos so I thought I would play too. Enjoy. I actually liked these two! 

1966

1974 (the year I was born).

Have a fantastic Friday! Wish me luck!

Help!

Help! It's gone. My motivation, my desire to do anything beside sitting on my hiney in front of the t.v. or the computer. Gone. Really, really gone. I don't even have any clever words inside me waiting to jump out!

The day started innocently enough. I met some friends at Starbucks (oh the love of Starbucks), trip to the grocery store then the vet for some Horton food. A quick trip to Bellingham then lunch with Troy. As I pulled into our driveway an overwhelming feeling of TIRED came over me and it has all been downhill since.

I really want my motivation back. So, if you see some motivation wandering around without a person...give me a call...it is probably mine trying to escape.

Happy Saturday!


P.S. Mom - Monkey is still there by the bed. He was just hiding (he probably took my motivation with him). Monkey is never far away!