I, for one, think life is too short to dread Mondays! I'm not saying go ahead and just quit your job today if you aren't happy!!! ....but you should not have to be miserable all day. For one -----> just choose to be happy! Happiness comes from our circumstances, but joy comes from the Lord! ...and joy is a gift that is offered to you and you and you and YOU! :)
Just in case you need a little extra to make your Monday awesome...here are my Top 5!
Sooo last night was Date Night.... We went to Wichita Falls which is almost two hours away, but not quite. It is crazy how far we have to drive for dinner & a movie. We ate at Olive Garden which is a restaurant that we had one of our first dates at, so I enjoy going there and then we went to see Divergent. A couple of months ago I read the book and then I convinced Jason to read it....so we were both fired up to see it.
Dinner was yummy as usual. While we were there we worked on Day 10 of our Marriage Challenge, which was soooooo good. Such a simple and refreshing challenge for couples. Then we went to see the movie which was really good until the last 10 minutes. I won't spoil it for you guys (because I hate spoilers), but it followed the book really closely until the simulation.
The trailer below is one that came on before Divergent. It is so good. As I was watching the trailer out loud I was saying... "Oh my goodness. Oh wow. So good. I have to read this book" ......to which Jason replied, "You are going to have to see that without me." {it's a super sad one} The best part is the lady sitting in front of us turned around and said, "I'll go with you." Love that.
Some people enjoy their coffee while they read their morning newspaper or flip through the news on their phones......but I enjoy my coffee while catching up on my favorite blogs on Bloglovin! ....and today as I was reading a new post by another one of my favorite bloggers (Casey Leigh) I learned about a fabulous idea....it's called Bloggers Closet!!!
You know how all of these bloggers have been using Instagram to clean out their closets and sell their cute clothes...well now there is a website just for that!! So don't delay...start shopping today! Fabulous Bargains for everyone!!! :)
Read the full blog here and don't forget to sign up for her Giveaway!!!
This morning was quite eventful at our house. I gathered up all of my things and headed to my car to begin the 30 mile journey to take the kids to school. Then I discovered that my car key was not in its usual spot. How is this possible I thought.... I almost always put my key in the same spot. I am not super organized I have just had this same kind of morning too many times and have (for the most part) learned my lesson. After 10 minutes of looking I stop and prayed... {God I have no idea why this is happening or what lesson I am supposed to learn from it, but I am in this moment to learn and I have faith I will find this key. I won't get upset or freak out. I know we are going to be late and life will go on}. Shortly after that I remembered that I did in fact put it in its usual spot (high five), but Olivia had grabbed it to get into the trunk....after some baby doll related item I am sure.
When looking for a lost item...I always try to channel Bill Cosby. Do you remember this episode? It is what I always think about while hunting down a beloved item.
I had Olivia retrace her steps and we finally found it in the back seat of my car with some of her baby doll stuff.
So this parenting thing... it is something. It turns out this morning the lesson wasn't for me, but for me to teach my daughter.
I finally got her to school, but before taking her in I had her crawl in the front seat with me so I could begin my talk (she was already late, right?)
I began by telling her that she made a mistake, but that it was ok because everyone makes mistakes. I told her that no one was perfect except for Jesus. Then I told her that there were two things about mistakes...
1) You have to learn from your mistakes.
I told her that most importantly she needed to remember this morning and if she found herself in a similar situation to remember to not do the same thing, to do better. I asked her what she could have done differently and her reply was that she could've put the key back up where she got it. Yes!!! Exactly!!!
2) You have to be accountable for your mistakes.
I told her that she had to be honest about her mistakes in life and be responsible for them. I told her that when mistakes happen she couldn't blame her brother or anyone else. I told her that she just had to admit them, try to do better and move on.
As I sat there talking to my 7 year old daughter I wondered if any of this was sinking in. I hope so because I really believe that if kids can just learn from their mistakes and take ownership of them it would save themselves and their parents a little bit of heartache later on.
I know that in parenting it is much easier to loosen the reigns later on than it is to tighten them up. So yes, I am a little strict on my kids and I do try to continuously teach them life lessons in everyday things. I want them to know how to handle situations before they find themselves in them and don't know what to do.
This week I also came across this blog post on parenting that I thought was wonderful. If you have time click on the link and read it. It made me feel a lot better about not always feeling like the "fun parent." Someone told me once that if your kids aren't mad at you at least once a week then you aren't doing your job.
Hang in there parents! I know that it's not always easy, but.... as long as we are consistent and we let our kids know that we love them... things will be just fine!
One of my most favorite of bloggers posted about a 10 Day Marriage Challenge.... I loved the idea and wanted to share it with you guys!
Jason and I are starting it tonight and I can't wait!!!!
Day 1- What are your Top 10 favorite characteristics about one another? Why? (wife writes 10 for her husband. And the husband will write 10 for his wife)
Day 2- What are your Top 10 favorite characteristics about yourself? Why? (Wife writes about herself. Husband writes about himself)
Day 3- Where are 10 places you have never been to but would love to go? Why? (again, these are individual lists. You each write your own)
Day 4- What are 10 of your biggest pet peeves? Why? (in general, not necessarily with one another)
Day 5- What are your 10 things you hope your kids learn from you? Why?
Day 6- If you won $100k tomorrow... what 10 things would you buy yourself? Why? (you cannot save it or spend it on anyone else. You MUST spend it all on yourself)
Day 7- What are 10 things that you would like to improve on personally? Why?
Day 8- If you could invite 10 people to dinner, alive or dead, who would they be? Why?
Day 9- What are 10 things that your spouse can do for you, or does for you, that you really value/appreciate?
Day 10- ***Do this one over a date-night dinner*** What 10 things do y'all want to accomplish in the next year? Do this list together and once you are done talking about it and putting the list together, put it in an envelope and store it. Then make a point to open it in a year!
I love being a part of a small town, particularly, Quanah. It is where we are now and it is where we intend on staying. I love these kids. I know I am the shiest (shyest, both are correct what??), most reserved coach's wife, but in my heart...... oh it is full of love and compassion for these kids. I enjoy being at sporting events....of all kinds.... golf, baseball, softball, football, track, basketball, hopefully in the near future tennis and cross country. I love our own kids, Olivia and Jonah....selfishly I want to have more just so that we will be able to see them "compete".....but I know that is not in our future and I am so happy that each year the "kids" that are under my husband's care are my "very own children" and I get to cheer them on as much as I can. That brings me so much fulfillment and happiness. I love to see kids succeed at this level.....and to see them continue on after high school is such an extraordinary bonus that is the icing on the cake. What I love most are those kids that come back and say, "hey look at what I'm doing!!!!" I am so proud of EACH of EVERY ONE of those kids.
*Update*
Today (3/6/14) my husband got to run into one of those kids that have graduated high school and are doing great things with their life.
This is Coach Sims with Eric Alaniz, QHS Class of 2013. He is now an Airman for the United States Air Force!
Jason's Girl {For Like Ever}. Mama to Three Little Treasures. A Hopeless Romantic. Pinterest Addict. Daydreamer with a Long To Do List. Lover of Coffee. Saved by Grace. Living Simply. Proverbs 31 Wannabe. Encourager of Hope.
