Weekly Update - Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving went well!!

In fact, better than expected. My Aunt hosted it at a house they were renting. There is nothing like being with family! Especially when you are all getting along. :)

My favorite moments were: a toast, my Cousin Shelly made highlighting the wonderful events of this year: My mom's cousin's getting married and my sister getting engaged; my Uncle Phil flying in from Connecticut and Cousin David flying in from Chicago; my Grandma doing excellent; Baby Samantha (now two) being adorable.

Before our actual Thanksgiving Dinner, a friend hosted Thanksgiving at her apartment. It was wonderful! Home cooked and filled with love!

In other news: the Feral Kitty, who we are calling Bella is doing really well. She is eating up a storm, so we started "Tough Love." She can only eat in our presence now. When I leave, the food leaves. I expect she will stop eating for a day or more and then come out while I'm here. That will be quite a step forward. We came home from SM to find a bag filled with cat foods and $120 of cash for Veterinary bills. God is good.

On another note, it is rainy and cozy and pretty wonderful here. We have a radio station on for the kitty playing Christmas music, and boy we are in the mood.

I saw Kristen yesterday, another blessing. We went to the Melting Pot and I met her new car, Mathilda Thogbort (sp?)

I have more pictures, but don't want to post/upload them all now.

Happy Holidays!

I wish we had more....

Videos from when they were kittens. How adorable is this?

More Inspiration from My Mom

Occasionally I check out what my mom is posting on her "Facebook" of types, called Spark People. Seems like she is all about positive messages. Her last post was on staying happy during difficult and frustrating time, especially during the recession.














This picture is called "Running ahead of Oneself" it's by Orangeacid


A Seven Step Program for Staying Happy During Difficult and Frustrating Times

Staying happy when everything seems to be going wrong is hard. Getting depressed and down however, may not be healthy way of approaching the situation. The recession is causing many to despair. Remember: you are born into this world with nothing, and when you die you have nothing. Don’t get too uptight about losing the furniture, car, and shopping spree because of the recession. Those things don’t necessarily make you happy. Hold on to what is important: your family, genuine friends, and relationships. Be true to yourself and cherish that joy for living.
Here are some tips for keeping your head afloat and staying happy during difficult times:

Step 1: Be in the moment; Live Just for Today
Practice doing things, just for today. The challenges posed by the recession are largely about focusing on the here and now. It is difficult to predict what is going to happen in the coming months and years. Things could get better, or things could also get worse. The key is to be in the present, and not waste time in the past or worry about the future.
Let the past be the past. Stop harping about past mistakes. Don’t keep focusing on what has happened in the past. Stop telling yourself what you can’t do. Stop reminding yourself of your inabilities. Stop going back in your life to find all the times you have failed and projecting them to the future. Let the Past be the Past. It is over. There is nothing you can do about it. It doesn’t matter what you do now you cannot change the past. The past has got you to where you are today. It is time to move on.

Step 2: Stop being in denial. Accept the situation for what it is.
Being positive and being in denial are two different things altogether. Whenever positive thinking turns into denial, you are treading unhealthy waters. Having a slogan pasted on your refrigerator door saying “I refuse to participate in a recession” and “everything is great” are probably not the best solutions, as you have embraced a state of denial by performing such an action. Pretending that everything is okay is an unhealthy way of dealing with the recession and its impacts. Denial is like sweeping the dust and dirt under the rug, instead of picking it up with a dustpan and getting rid of it altogether.
Accept the state of things and then ask yourself “what can be done to address my predicament in a healthy way?” Start doing something about it, such as applying for new jobs, getting a part time weekend job, or starting a home-based business. Let it out and face the reality, rather than bottling it in denial, and pretending that everything is great.
Don’t deny your predicament. Whatever that has happened to you will mould you to emerge as a stronger and experienced person. Whether you choose to accept it or not, what has happened has already taken place. You might as well address it instead of ignore it.

Step 3: Be flexible to accepting change
The recession is going to force many of us to explore unknown territories, which we have never treaded before. Change is going to happen every single day. How you deal with change determines your success, productivity, creativity, passion and stress. Focus your energies on the changes that really affect your success and happiness.
Be flexible to embracing change. Change is sometimes, a good thing. It can bring along with it, new opportunities. Remember though, for any kind of change to be lasting and of true value, it has to be consistent, and not just a one time action.
Remain optimistic. Tough times call for stamina and endurance. Here is one method for staying optimistic and hopeful when you are unemployed. Every day, accomplish five things: one thing for your job search, one thing for your community, one thing for your family, one thing to improve your place of dwelling and one thing for your own spirit.
Stay positive. One way to get started with positive thinking is to focus on what you do have (good health, a supportive family or something else that is working for you) and view the tough times you’re facing not as a threat, but as a challenge and an opportunity.
Staying positive can be difficult when nothing seems to be going right, but the alternative is to fall into the trap of negativity. Negative thinking increases stress, which increases the risk for getting sick, which may lead to unpaid days off work and costly doctor visits.

Step 4: Take a chance
If you can’t find a job in your own field, take this chance to do something you have always wanted to do. Whether you are short on money or not, cut back to what you need, do less of what you want.
Step 5: Unwind with cheap or free entertainment
Here are some steps for finding inexpensive and free entertainment. The key is to be able to find joy in life’s simple pleasures.
Stay local - Sometimes having fun does not necessarily mean leaving the boundaries of your town or country. For many of us, leaving the boundaries of our homes and driving far distances can cost money. Start enjoying the local places in your area. Visit a covered bridge, the museum, or the historical society, in your area. The Chamber of Commerce can provide interesting leads for you.
Watch movies at home - Instead of buying $10 a piece movie tickets or spending $5 at the video store, consider joining Netflix, where you can download free movies to your computer or get several movies delivered to your door for the cost of less than two movies tickets.
Use the library to save money - The local library rents DVDs and videos for free. Sure, you may not get the latest movie at the library, but remember, this is the time to re-think entertainment. You can watch some classics like High Noon and Sound of Music, and save money in the long run.
The library can be a fun place to hang out. I love libraries and I find librarians to be very special people. Libraries are where some of the greatest minds are nurtured. These are healthy places that will steer your life in a positive direction. If you have kids, bring them along and read some books. Some libraries even have a playground where kids can run about and have fun.
Sign up for programs. Many libraries offer free children's story times, free movies for adults and children, and host a variety of interesting speakers and informational programs. Some also offer free classes on grant writing, book publishing, and more. You already pay tax dollars to support your local library. Why not get your money's worth? Have a library day once a week and the whole family will be entertained without spending a fortune.

Step 6: Say it aloud
Whatever you are experiencing right now, say it aloud for yourself to hear. Here are some examples: “I am having a difficult time staying afloat; I am about to lose my job; the bank will foreclose on my apartment if I don’t make the payment on time; finding a job should be my main objective right now.” Saying it aloud can be a catharsis. It will also be a positive step forward about coming to terms with your situation and trying to do something about it.

Step 7: Associate with people who have a positive affirmation towards life
There is a saying in Hollywood acting: If you hang around nine winners, then you will be the tenth winner. If you hang around nine losers, then you will be the tenth loser.” Avoid pessimists and those who always see the glass half empty. It is easy to get depressed during a tough economy, when everything seems to be going wrong in your life. Hanging around in negative company, amongst people who have already given up, can be very contagious. It is like a weed growing in a well manicured garden. If you allow it, the weed will take over very quickly.
Distance yourself from negative associations, whether it is physically, mentally, or online. A negative influence is not something you can afford right now. You need to inject yourself with all the positive enthusiasm that you can get to keep your head above water and plug along.

Kitties & Music - Update of the Week

A lot has happened this week. A lot.

Oscar's surprise for me ended up being tickets to go see his University's performance of Evita. Oooh, what a wonderful evening we had. It just felt very romantic and adventurous and fun!! I loved it.

I already told you guys about my sick kiddos (who are both feeling better now), but I haven't updated you on a huge development - which has caused me some anxiety.

This development concerns the feral kitty who were feeding. ::deep breath:: It is now in our bathroom. In a cage. My heart beats quickly just writing this.

Our neighbors irresponsibly trapped the kitty thinking a neighbor would take it, without confirming with them first. (I can't even imagine). Being the kind and loving people we are, we ended up taking it in. This poor kitty is scared out of its mind. I have a lot of support online through certain agencies in how to socialize it. But... it is a big project.

The wonderful news is that OUR kitties have been wonderful. They haven't tried to get in the bathroom or anything. This makes it so much easier.

I don't know what we are doing with the kitty after we socialize it. We are taking this one step at a time. Tomorrow, it is going to the vet. Right now, it is just acclimating to its new environment.

What a stress. But, honestly, it is an adventure and I will feel really good if in the end we help out this kitty.

I guess, that wasn't such a big update.

Cheers!! Francine

Rock-a-Bye-Baby

My kids are sick. Two of them. And it feels bad.

Neither of the parents wanted to cancel session, so I ended up driving out to one of their homes and I made the call to cancel. (Because she was sleepy, lethargic and burning up!) The other parent, waited until 15 minutes before the session started to call, just in case the fever subsided.

Other than the fact, that if your child has a fever they should NOT be doing therapy. I felt bad. I felt like I might have been the carrier and even if I wasn't, it feels really horrible to see your kids in that state. Seeing Darla so feeble really impacted me.

I just wanted to scoop them up (both of them, ages 4 and 18), sing them Rock-a-Bye Baby and lull them to sleep.

The title for my post was going to be "I'm Not Sick" until I found this picture on Flickr. The lyrics of Rock-a-bye Baby have disturbed me as an adult. The only way I could fix that image is to imagine the baby floating down on the wind. This picture, "Rock-a-bye baby in the..." by Natalie Lundberg Photography is something I would never ever do to my child. This precarious situation, however, seems to represent how I feel: On edge. Wanting to protect my kids and knowing I can't. Just waiting, waiting, waiting, to see if they are ok.

Blah, I can't even imagine if they were own babies.

Happy Friday! Oscar has a surprise for me tomorrow night. And I am excited.

Time Changes Everything

"Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use."
— Earl Nightingale


flickr: "Time" by rohtas

I've Stopped and Smelled the Flowers

Now, I need to keep on walking. :)



It is difficult to do.

Home, Sweet, Home

At one time, I thought Oscar and I would buy a house before having kids. My plan was marriage, house, dog, kids. That's not really the plan anymore. Dog still comes after house, but kids, I don't know.

When Oscar gets out of school, he will start working (for at least a year) before heading off to grad school. With that and hopefully increased eHow earnings, we should def. be able to afford a nicer apartment.

Although, I'm not sure if I want to be in a complex (we may go for a 2 br cottage), if I did, this one is available now, and I like it. And I could imagine us there. It is fun to imagine. I wonder where we will end up? :)







Lots of storage, washer dryer, kitty friendly, on a tree lined road. Oh man. I like. :) Its only a few hundred more. Almost within reach right now. But, we will wait, maybe next year, I'll be letting you know where we end up. Hopefully it is somewhere as beautiful as this apartment.

What happened to my husband???

He got a haircut!!!










And the decision... He's going to grow his hair out for the next FOUR months and then go for an even longer style. Aww, what an adventurous hunk I married. For better or worse, right? Just kidding. I think I like it!!

Boston in the Fall - Update of the Week

So much has happened this last week, I barely know where to start.

I explored Boston with a good friend, lost my voice, saw the Blue Man Group, jumped in a pile of leaves, ate at an authentic Italian restaurant, got sick, almost got better, discovered slack lines, read a book, flew on an airplane, slept for 13 hours straight and played a new board game named Settlers.

PS. Oscar survived a whole weekend without me!

Though None Go With Me

Oscar got me this book for $1 somewhere. He saw it, knew it was the author who wrote the Left Behind series and bought it for me. It is one of my most treasured gifts from him.

This book makes me laugh, it makes me cry. But, most of all it inspires me. It inspires me to live a life of obedience.

The second time I read through it, I started writing down inspirational quotes. I especially liked the quotes to the main character, Elizabeth from her father.

Here is a quote from this book of romance, suffering and an enduring relationship with our Father in Heaven.

p.20 "We don't have to please God because we can't...We try to live Godly lives to show our thanks to him for grace. Nothing we can do on our own can please God... we're saved by the grace of God. Living Godly is noble, but don't do it for any reason other than to thank God for the gift of grace. Otherwise, you're still trying to earn his favor."

UPDATE: I am posting an excerpt from the story, because I think the quote is confusing by itself (especially since I cut out certain parts!!) We need context! Enjoy. And then we can talk about it more. p.18-20

"Her life became frustrating. It wasn't that she didn't have a mother - she was used to that. She had a wonderful father, and she wanted to grow up to be a woman of God. But she didn't get it. Why was it so hard? Why couldn't she live only for God and not for herself? Why couldn't she be what she knew God wanted her to be?
"Daddy," ten-year-old Elisabeth said tearfully one night, "I don't think I'm a Christian."
Still in his three-piece suit, as usual, he settled his huge frame on the edge of her bed. "You're the best Christian I know," he said.
"Then you don't know me."
"Have you done something dastardly, Elisabeth?"
"I don't know what dastardly means, but I sin all the time."
Her father hesitated. "So do I," he said finally.
"You do?"
He nodded. "Sometimes I perform my tasks for the applause of men"
"The applause of men?"
"I do it for attention, to be admired and respected."
"What's wrong with that?"
"I should be doing it as unto the Lord. The Bible says we are to humble ourselves in his sight and HE will lift us up."
"But you're not selfish, are you, Daddy?"
"I usually hide it, but I'm often frustrated by patients who come to me with minor ailments at the end f the day and make me late getting to you."
"That doesn't sound like sinning," she said.
"Tell me what YOU mean by sinning," he said.
"I can be awful," Elisabeth said. "I lose my temper, talk bad about people, want my own way. I'm jealous of anyone who does better than I do in school. Sometimes I actually hate Aunt Agatha. Why do I keep doing that?
He shifted his weight and the bed creaked. "We keep sinning because we're sinners, honey."
"But Jesus died for my sins. Why am I still a sinner?"
Her father gently stroked her hair. "You remind me so much of your mother," he said. "She was light-haired with skin as fair as porcelain."
"Aren't our dishes made of that?"
He nodded. "Imagine your mother's face as delicate and beautiful as the teacup your aunt uses.
Elisabeth sighed. "I want to be a Christian like Mommy."
Her father embraced her. Her cheek lay against the wool of his vest and his watch chain tickled her neck. "Just like you, your mother worried and worried about her faith until it all came to her one night in our little church.
"What came to her?"
"She heard the truth, that's all." her father said. "She'd heard it all her life, but she didn't catch it until then."
"I want to hear the truth," Elisabeth said.
"Such wisdom from a wee one," he said pulling back to look at her. "Tell me what it means to be a Christian."
"To believe in Jesus," she said. "And to live for him," she added quickly.
"Is that so?" he asked. "The Bible says we are known by the fruit we bear. You try to live for Jesus, Elisabeth. I know you do."
Elisabeth scowled. "Doesn't God want me to?"
"Sure, but why?"
"Daddy, I"m asking YOU."
Dr. LeRoy stood and stretched, and Elisabeth did the same. His yawn was contagious too, but she fought sleep. If her own mother had the same problem she did, and SHE had found the answer, Elisabeth would not rest until she found it too.
Her father sat again. "Listen carefully, Elizabeth. Your mother finally realized what grace was all about. It means we don't have to please God, because we can't."
Elisabeth was confused. "You mean we're not supposed to try to-"
He cupped her face in his hands. "We try to live Godly lives to show our thanks to him for grace. Nothing we can do on our own can please God. You know the verses."
"'For by grace are ye saved through faith,'" she said, "'and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.'"
"We're saved by the grace of God, Elisabeth. Living godly is noble. But don't do it for any reason other than to thank God for the gift of grace. Otherwise, you're still trying to earn his favor"

And yes, I hope God is pleased with us for living an obedient life. I think I liked the quote because it made me realize that I can NOT do it on my own and sometimes I feel like I am trying to earn my way into heaven or scared that I'm not good enough. But, the Bible teaches that we aren't good enough, HE is good enough for all of us. And the scenario taught from Father to Daughter helped me realize it even more clearly. Also, I like the idea of trying to be obedient as thanks not to earn my way in.

I don't know if the quote really made sense on its own, especially since I left out the part talking about Grace.

Too Cute to Ignore

I spent the weekend with an old friend.

This picture would bring her much joy!!!

Blessed Vacations

I love vacations. Oscar and I do the best we can to get out there and try new things and have adventures together.

But, truly the best times we have together are just hanging out at home snuggling.

My sister got engaged!! Can you believe it?

I'm getting together some marriage books to send to her. (Pretty much the same ones I sent to you Cheski.) I think the fact that two people love each other enough that they decide they want to spend the rest of their lives with one another is pretty exciting.

I heard someone on the radio say yesterday that another word for a marriage license is a "work permit." I definitely agree. I think I need to re-read some of those books myself.

Marriage is definitely the biggest lifelong adventure I've EVER set out on. And it is rigorous.


PS. This photo makes me want to get married again. :)

Weddings are so fun.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Hmmm. Have some kids!! This one looks pretty cute. :)