Today I received so many emails out of the blue from people that couldn't possibly know each other. I would swear that someone paid people to send me letters of kindness. I even said to Jim, it is amazing where you get support from. I totally believe someone is looking out for me. I laid as low as I could this last week. Virtually became a couch fixture or a sleep zombie. I know I run myself down, I always have. I can't say no, but then on the other hand, I want ends to always meet. Especially in this industry, there are more people who will take take take then give, and it is all about balance. I have not learned this lesson. But I do have tremendous friends in this industry that are constantly helping me stay grounded. So to receive emails of kindness or best wishes today was like finding that $20 in your jacket pocket when you put it on for the first time that season. Or finding your favourite lipgloss after thinking it was gone forever. Does it happen to anyone else, getting that butterflies of excitement when you see in your inbox a famous person's name, and you can't believe they are emailing you. Yep, the little things really rock. So I am virtually {{{{{hugging}}}}} everyone. And shouting from the rooftops thank you for caring about me.
So because so many people made me feel wonderful today, I'd love to keep this pattern going by tossing out a few things that I love to share smiles.
- When you jump in your vehicle and your favourite song is playing...how AWESOME is that? and what if it happens twice in one day????? hello, today it happened for me.
- totally led me to singing in my best shower voice as I drove. yes I looked ridiculous, but I betcha everyone could tell my day was going well.
- Buying extended warranty. Is it a good decision? No idea, but I've now tapped into mine twice and saved enough that it has paid for itself. So yes, I was happy to get the bearing fixed today for free. SWEET.
- I already mentioned the money in the jacket pocket, and all my family & friends that totally KNOW me, know this about me. At the end of the season I always tuck any spare change in my jacket pocket. If I've had lot's extra, I've put in extra, if not, I still always put enough for a coffee. I know I do it. It's no surprise, but I still feel fabulous finding it every year. total warm and fuzzy.
- love notes. This house is full of the love. I get the best ones ever from Jim. Nothing sappy, just totally us. My absolute fave has been when he writes them on the mirror with my lipliner or stick. I refused to wash my mirror once for a month. I LOVED it.or how when you open my best plate cupboard there is one taped to the inside door for me to read. I always tuck in notes in the kids lunches and Jim's. The kids are so used to this little family trait that they make us notes and will leave them under our pillows as we sleep. They are soooo excited to ask us if we found anything in the am. I swear some ladies are gonna be lucky one day. My boys are being influenced by the best men I know!!!!! If you have never left a note, do it. You will feel fabulous all day.
- One thing I really learned when I took that Soul Restoration class is that we have to respect ourselves first for amazing things to happen. I wrote more positive notes to myself in that 2 month period that I didn't realize make a difference. When others walk all over you, you will walk on yourself too. Instead stand up and let your inner you know how fabulous you are. Not to say this is a vain exercise. Instead it is one that says hey, "I am in your corner today. You can do it. I believe in you". The course encourages us to make truth cards. I spent the weekend with Liz Hicks, a friend, co worker and boss for me, and I was soooo inspired by her. We had a little fun scrapping and she started making some truth cards that made me smile. The truth is always out there, it just gets muddled. So my May goal is to make a set of truth cards for my family. Something to inspire us around the house. I think this exercise will be a great one with the kids. They need the tools to survive highschool. A good foundation can begin at home or church or both.
- what about when you try that brand new recipe and ....it works. It tastes GREAT! my family has a love/hate for my recipe clipping. I have issues. I NEVER try a recipe unless it is accompanied by a photo. There is a personal exception to this rule. If it is given to me by a friend or family member. I believe completely in it's success. Always trust your friends. but because photos are still so strong for me, I will make my friends fabulous recipe and take a photo for my recipe album. Nor will I ever buy a recipe book that has no pics. I know it's in my head. but someone must understand this????no??? I do know my most favourite recipe album ever is one my cousin made when she was in gr.4 or 5 I think. It was a homeschool project to create a family recipe album. She asked us all to submit our fave tried and trues. It is PERFECT. We all bought one to cover the costs that it cost her to give us one. I would pay ten times its value just because the book makes me smile. AND especially since we have lost some of our wonderful loved ones, I smile everytime I make one of their faves. Gramma's mudpie puts me to our holiday gatherings EVERY time. I don't think we can have a get together without it.
- how about the kitchen staying clean for 2 whole days, maybe 3. PRICELESS. I would say the house, but that is a big wish, so I will relish in the little successes.
- Jimmy making breakfast Sat & Sun EVERY single weekend. This to me is my tropical vacation where I am spoiled. I detest mornings, I would love to skip them every day. But on the weekends, I get to sleep in.99.9% of the time. The kids love hanging with dad in the am. Sometimes I don't get to sleep cause I hear them playing MIchael Jackson wii singing as loud as all 4 of them can, but it makes me smile ear to ear. But when the breakfast is ready, the kids do the same thing everytime. IT is like clockwork, predictable, routine. So why break it? They sneak up to whisper in my ear, or in Pixie's case she just yells. no surprise, and then her & Riley run down as fast as they can to tell Jim they told me. They always like to report back. Good little soldiers. But Jager never runs away, he always lingers and whispers and says mom, "are you coming????" I pretend to be soooo sleepy so he'll tell me breakfast is ready again. I grab him and pretend to eat him and his hair, and say I didn't ask for whiskers today. HE laughs and giggles so true from his tummy. Mom, you can't eat me, dad made real food. There is NOTHING better than this moment. All I ask if it could happen forever. But one day it won't be cool to come up, so instead I savour every minute. To me this is life. And I know that on the weekends I wake up alone in my hotel room, away at work, a smile is sure to cover my face remembering knowing my kids are in real good hands.
- a real favourite moment of mine right now is seeing our oldest boy who is seven realizing he CAN do it. Reading is becoming sooooo his passion right now. It doesn't matter which language, he is a figuring machine. Cereal boxes, the globe, parts of the car, toys, warning labels. He can't believe it is coming to him. This is truly a gift of childhood. Self discovery. Today he sat when we were playing with our globe and showed the younger kids where China was, what part of Japan was impacted. They always have to point out Ireland and get a laugh. The most amazing thing too is what the kids will remember. Jager has about 8-10 misc. random places he always wants to show where they are. Hard ones too, and he never gets them wrong. Madagascar, Hawaii, Australia, Chad. Ireland can find Greenland always. It's her favourite. no idea why, we think it is because it is purple in colour on our globe. Riley was reading indonesia today and his knowledge of things was so crazy to me. Are they really learning this many things in school nowadays???? I am impressed. I think if you don't own a globe, RUN get one for your kids. We have the leap frog one, and it is worth EVERY single penny. I would have 3 if I could afford it and have all the kids working on their own one. (sometimes the concept of sharing is a little muffled by their excitement) :0
- this is totally a little love that will probably shock 100% of you. I love the dvr. I have only just got it and let me say, that is the only way to watch tv. (how can you tell I was a couch potatoe this week while I was sick?) I may be behind in the times, but I am glad the boys have figured out how to record icarly. I LOVE that kid show, it is adorable. I have realized though, that if I do watch an insane amount of tv, I get NOTHING done. like I mean NOTHING. so once I feel I am totally well and ready to conquer the world again, I am gonna back off the tv watching. but I will pvr or dvr whatever it is called my faves.
- my last little smile of the day. Ireland singing. She messes up songs just like me, but her rendition of twinkle twinkle is the BEST. Not only does she believe it must be yelled to be heard, she repeats whichever chorus or words that she loves the best. Her screaming it is almost as bad as nails on a chalkboard or cats whining. you beg in your head for her to stop. BUT. then. you look at her face while she sings and you realize that she is so proud to sing it for you. You can't help but be proud of her and don't want her to stop. I compare it to that moment in "My Best Friend's Wedding" where Cameron Diaz attempts to karaoke. That is my daughter right now. making me smile daily.
- okay one more. I realize that I talk about my kids lot's. sorry, can't help it, nor do I want to stop. They are just my world. But every single day I get dressed (cause there are days when I don't :0, you know you all are the same. aren't you?) I walk by our measuring door frame of our walk in closet. Seeing the kids height constantly get higher and higher is a smile. life really does revolve around miracles. I know we were blessed with 3, and one little angel. Kids rock! Even when they stress you out to the max. those are just life lessons for you in patience. They will reward us ten times.
Anyone want a lesson I've been learning for the last 3 weeks? Just because something seems like a good deal and will save you hundreds of dollars. It might not end up being worth the hassle. We switched to Shaw from sasktel after much much debate. In the end, the little voice in my head that said we should consciously save more money won. Well in this case, I wish something had knocked that voice to timbuktu. 32 phone calls later, 3 weeks I think we actually have a service that could be potentially fine. Did we save as much money as they swore up and down we would by switching. ABSOLUTELY NOT! the customer service is the sh#$s. literally. We even went days without a phone even working at all. Not sure if we even have our phone service extras yet, so no point leaving a message, can't get it anyways. but since I had to MOVE my entire scrap wall upstairs to convert, the likelihood of going back to Sasktel is nil. but a better scenario of only paying half my bill this month is far more realistic. I think Shaw will see my point on this level. we'll see.
Last but not least, American Idol is actually really doing it for me this year. I've never tuned in ever for more than one show. But I'm not a good judge, I just barely watch tv. But this year, the voices and performances are not too shabby. Totally loving Casey. He is eccentric and weird. Paul I would kill for him to bring his guitar to one of our house parties and just jamm. I like his coffee house demeanor. He seems like he could go from genre to genre without stopping and just perform. neat. The flower suit tells me he has got to be an interesting cat with stories he isn't afraid to share. The cowboy dude, cool voice. I'd buy whatever your selling, but I love me a good country song.I don't think he will win this show though. He seems only able to do one thing. Not bad, just saying. The girls for me I am not sure what I think. I think they are all great. Like really great. But I'm with Randy, enough ballads. Let's see stage performance, I want the show.I want drama. I loved Haley's performance last night. yeppers. GREAT. Naima, is wild and always interesting to watch. Consistency? not sure if it is there. Tia is totally just pure beautiful, but want more... That little girl is cute, but I actually get up to do mindless things when she sings. like empty the dishwasher. Not sure why she doesn't hold my attention. Maybe it is the song choices. who knows. But I will tune into this again.
well now, I had a lot to say didn't I? I hope today is really awesome for everyone. I wish I could send you all personal emails sharing kindness. But I can't. So instead please read this from the bottom of my heart.
I think YOU are worth it, each and every day. I think that one small gesture begins a landslide of kindness and I hope that your day makes you smile and want to spread love. Now have a fabulous day guys!!!
Leica
