Monday Motivation: Goals & Pipe Dreams

I was planning a different post today, yesterday I was planning this one but it didn't get written. That's kind of how I roll. I think I'm going to do something, I change my mind, then I change it again, then something else forces me to change it to something else and I end up arriving somewhere completely different than I expected. Good thing I'm flexible, but please don't ask me to touch my toes!

It's been awhile, did you miss me? I hope so because I've missed you and I've missed writing but I've  been so busy and then in recovery from being so busy that I've not had time to barely think about writing. I'm hoping this will get back to being a regular thing and maybe, just maybe because I'm not so good with schedules, I will have this whole theme thing going, Monday Motivation. Has a fun ring to it, don't you think? ♪Yes, I really do think.♫ Sorry, I've got this thing, where a phrase will remind me of a song, and then I start singing the phrase, then the entire song, then I find the song if I have it and play it at least five times. Drives my boys crazy, and now that I know it drives them crazy, naturally I do it even more, mwahahahaha! I know, I'm an evil mum, say no more. (Scrambling to figure out why I don't have Alanis Morissette in my iTunes list... grrrr)

I digress (hmmm, not me). Today's Monday Motivation is Goals & Pipe Dreams. I know, you're surprised aren't you? That title is very misleading. A few days ago I was reading this blog (which is not at all about goals but kinda fits and is very helpful, really) and it occurred to me that I'd always thought I had lots of goals, and while I know you're "supposed" to put them in writing and create "SMART" and "KISS" goals, I always figured, well they're in my head, I know what my goals are. I think about them enough. In fact, I think about them so much we're intimate friends. But what I've come to realise (and probably already knew but tried to ignore) is the ideas in my head, those are pipe dreams, and until I get those goals out in the open, in black in white and in my face so to speak, they will remain as pipe dreams. Pipe dreams are great, we need them, they keep us creative and give us hope but some of these things I really want to see come to fruition. So it's time to start not just thinking about my goals, but putting those little suckers down in writing.

I'm going to start small based on my priorities and creating the list using the Six Most Important Things idea (I'll blog about this later). So, yada yada, so on & so forth, here is what I want to accomplish this week:

1. Family: Play with my boys in some manner at least 90 minutes every day. Not electronic play or watching movies, but real play; lego, drawing, watching them do one of their plays, geocaching. And it doesn't have to be all at once but I do want to spend at least 90 minutes with them.
2. Health: Walk at least 4 miles outside & continue healthy eating plan. Break up the walking over the week of course and it doesn't have to be power walking or even brisk walking but something that at least gets my heart rate up a bit. Lots of healthy fluid (this does NOT have to be only water but should avoid soda pop and coffee), veggies, fruit, protein and some whole grains. If I indulge in a small treat, don't beat myself up but don't let it sidetrack.
3. Home: Plan and start 31 Bags in 31 days challenge (or something to that effect). Include the boys and find larger items to sell online.
4. Finance: Submit 2010 tax return, complete budget. (Actually got my tax return submitted yesterday *big grin* lol).
5. Business: Finalise post processing of photos & deliver. Including updating flicker, 500px, blogger & perhaps looking at business cards & website.
6. Goals: Find an accountability partner, or team. Would you like to join me?? We don't have to have the same goals, but provide encouragement and support. Come to the dark side, we have cookies ;-).

 Tag, you're it!

~ Shannon *Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ*

Source: backtoherroots.com via Shannon on Pinterest

Dear Santa Claus,

Dear Santa,

I don't like to ask for much. Every year my wish is the same, a happy and safe Christmas for my family and friends, peace on earth, the usual. But this year Santa I'm asking for something for myself, all I want for Christmas is to be pain free.

I would really like to make plans for the next day, and to actually wake up and be able to do them. I'd like to take my kids on activities or go out with my friends, things such as, geocaching, hiking, skiing, and even a movie, and that it won't take a day, or more, to recover. I'd like to actually use the word "promise" when planning something with my boys, knowing I can hold to my word. To sit and play with them on the floor without it being a nightmare of stiffness and pain to get back up after. To go on a simple shopping trip and still cook a meal afterwards rather than having to buy pre-made food for dinner that day because I know, without a doubt, I'll be far too fatigued to do more. I want to hug my boys without fear of the pain it will likely cause. To cuddle with my little ones on the couch while we watch a movie and not be afraid of their little elbows and knees, knowing if they bump me it'll feel like someone has stabbed me with a hot poker. I'd like to have the energy to live in a clean & orderly home again and to give the handmade gifts I love to do.

I know this is a pretty tall order Santa, I really don't like to focus on myself, I love the gift of giving, but it's very hard to give the way I like when I feel like a piece of crap. So just this once I ask for something for myself, to have a "normal" life again. Thanks in advance!

~Shannon

Ps. You will probably need God's assistance with this one :-)

November 11th, 2010

It's been a couple years since I wrote a blog in Remembrance of our fallen and our troops over seas. I'm not sure what was up last year, well I am, but that's not for this post, but I feel like I dropped the ball so I'm back this year to continue to show my support for our men and women that have fought bravely to protect our freedom.

Military has never been a big thing in our family, but we know we owe our freedom to the men and women that protect it. However, my dad served in the Canadian Navy for a short time and both my grandfather's served in WWII. My maternal grandfather was even old enough to be overseas for WWI. Grandpa Hoberg in particular spent 3 years in Europe, away from his family during WWII. My mom was born just before he left and she had no memory of him, when he came home she thought he was a stranger and tried to kick him out of the house! Funny, and yet, sad too.

So today my tribute is not just for the troops, but for the families that have sons & daughters away from home, for those that have lost mother's and father's, for the spouses left alone to care for their children at home. Here's to you that hold the home fort while our brave men and women protect the freedoms of our country and try to help free oppression in other countries. God bless our troops and their families.

Who in your family do you remember or know that bravely kept/keeps the home fires burning for a loved one serving away from the comforts of home?

Mark Schultz, "Letter's From War"

The Flu Vaccine Debate….

I’m asserting my opinion on this debate, this is NOT a medical opinion, I am not a professional. Please do your own research, weigh the pros and cons for you and your family and talk to your physician. Also, if you have a different opinion, good for you, I will never push my beliefs on another. I merely share what I feel is best for my family. Do what is best for YOUR family! ps. this is long, have a cup of coffee near by if you dare to read LOL.

Regarding both the seasonal influenza vaccine and H1N1 influenza (swine flu) vaccine and based on my own research, myself and my younger children will NOT be getting either vaccine.

I have been favouring the “do NOT” side for some time but still teetered on the edge of the fence. The media hype regarding the spread of this flu and the government insistence that this is necessary was at war within me against all I believed in about the danger of ALL vaccines. Hearing the reports of reactions (from mild to severe and even death) related to the H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine, had me concerned and weighing the risks of vaccine over contracting either virus. In fact, fear mongering has the exact opposite reaction for me, I distrust those that would use fear to push their agendas and that in and of itself was pushing me on the no vaccine side of the fence. Based on experience and research this is how I came about my final decision. Although my decision is for both vaccines, I am focusing on H1N1 here as that is the hot topic right now and the vaccine they are pushing.

First of all, as I said, using fear tactics caused me to DISTRUST those pushing the vaccine, the opposite effect they intended obviously. This pushed me to do research on my own (a good thing) and look closer at the assertions, but not pushiness, of those against the vaccine.

Secondly, lack of sufficient testing of the swine flu vaccine. This vaccine was proven to cause a myriad of severe reactions in the past and yet is once again being pushed, with the “new & improved” brand. But they have no proof of the improvements and the adjuvants are just as dangerous as always. I already know I react to thimeresol, would you believe they used to put it in contact solution… c’mon everybody, let’s pour mercury in our eyes WTH??

Nearly there on my decision, I then discussed the H1N1 vaccine with my bff. Her husband is a doctor of chiropractic medicine, I trust chiropractors before MD’s. They are not getting the vaccine, reason: too little testing, too risky, too many adverse reactions. That solidified how I feel. However with the virus spreading quickly through our small school concerns continued to nag at me, hummmm what’s a mom to do?

I am a single mom with several medical issues, the worst of which is fibromyalgia & CFS, I have no one to back me up if I’m sick, no matter what the cause. So now you may be thinking, well don’t you want the vaccine then??? No thanks, I had the seasonal flu vaccine a few years ago, I didn’t know why at the time, but I was sick, weak, fatigued and in pain for weeks after, most of the winter in fact, but oh goody, I didn’t get the flu! Two weeks ago I caught what I assume was the seasonal flu virus (not sure, but I don’t think it was swine flu). On the first day I was headachey, body aches, high fever, nauseated (without vomiting), muscle weakness and couldn’t walk to the bathroom without holding onto walls & counters. I was FULLY recovered in four days! No residual effects, no sudden return after getting better. My 8 yo also had seasonal flu (again not positive) about four weeks ago, same thing, FULLY recovered in less than four days. I think we’re doing pretty darn good at building up our immune system.

Today I learned that both vaccines can cause severe and lasting debilitating reactions to those with fibromyalgia, CFS or any of the chronic pain syndromes. Well, that explains my previous winter, apres vaccination. I’ll be darned if I can afford to be nearly bed ridden again for an entire winter. I have attached a video from youtube.com, a physician specialising in infectious disease AND an endocrinologist, Dr. Kent Holtorf is NOT getting his children immunized with H1N1 and indicates that it has been shown to be “devastating” to those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. So based on my research, we’ll take our chances with no vaccinations and continue to keep our immune system fortified with healthy eating and daily vitamins.

Best of luck to everyone in making your decision and prayers for staying healthy. God bless!

National Grandparents Day

Happy National Grandparents Day to all those wonderful people that make our life and our children's life so special... This one is for you Grandma :D

My paternal grandmother is Ella McCann, and she is my hero. Born in Banff, Scotland on the 31st of July, 1915, a middle child with no father (another blog another day), one of 10 children and as strong in character as she is tender of heart, her love for family knows no bounds. Grandma only has 5 grandchildren but we, each of us, love her and can only hope to emulate her. Giving in all ways, loving all and a never ending spirit of forgiveness are just a few of the ways to describe who my Grandmother is.

As tough as iron, Grandma made it through many hardships without ever giving up her amazingly positive outlook on life. Yet with that toughness, Grandma is also the gentlest woman I know. Family is everything to her and she would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it. Growing up going to Grandma's meant lots of hugs & kisses, hot scones off the griddle with butter and jam, her amazing Scottish shortbread and always time to play a game of chinese checkers. The candy bowls were always full of scotch mints or hard candies and her heart was, and still is, always full of love.

Grandma has survived all but one of her siblings, including their spouses, her husband and soulmate (she still celebrates their anniversary after nearly 30 years of his passing) and one child, my own daddy. Her heart broke with the loss of every single one of those family members and she thinks of each one of them all the time. Yet she continues to shine through each day with an unending sense of wonder at the abundance of joy in her life.

At 93 she is of sound mind in an unfortunately not very sound body anymore. However she did live in her own house alone until she was 91, quite an accomplishment and one she can be proud of. Overall a lovely woman that all who know love her.

And although I am often told I am like her in so many ways, I can only hope and strive to be 1/2 the person my Grandma is. Grandma... this day I dedicate to you, my hero! I love you.

60 Things & Forever & A Day

Ok, I know it's been forever & a day since anyone has heard from me here.... well, perhaps not quite, but it's been a damn long time. And to be honest it's really too late at night to start something new but I do want you to know I'm alive and kicking and going to try to get back into this thing again. One because I miss writing, and two because I miss giving everyone something to help them sleep ;). Muah!!! So to start the boring off with boring I have "borrowed" with permission from Because I Said So "60 Things You Possibly Didn't Know About Me".

60 Things You Possibly Didn't Know About Me

1. What is in the back seat of your car right now?
ice cream pail used for garbage, a couple of fries, blanket to protect seat (sort of) from messy kids, two booster seats, likely A's mitts as he always forgets them there, myriad of crumbs, lego pieces I'm sure, 1/2 frozen gatorade, a couple other things I'm sure but too late & windy to go out & check

2. When was the last time you threw up
Hmmmm, when kids & I had the stomach bug a few months ago

3. What's your favourite curse word?
Do I have to pick just one???

4. Name 3 people who made you smile today?
Caleb, Alexander, Kip, Dawn (Because I Said So Blogger), Trish. (ok, so that's more than 3... sue me.)

5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
chatting in my chatroom & playing on crackbook

6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
working on this blog, waiting for someone special to phone

7. What will you be doing 3 hours from now?
Passed out asleep if I'm smart

8. Have you ever been to a strip club?
yup

9. What is the last thing you said aloud?
Sweet dreams, sleep well, good night....

10. What is the best ice cream flavor?
tiger

11. What was the last thing you had to drink?
amaretto cream (darn, how did that get in that coffee mug???)

12. What are you wearing right now?
pink fleece jammie pants & a pink tie die tank

13. What was the last thing you ate?
venison chili.... mmm mmm good

14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
nope

15. When was the last time you ran?
family day... in the snow after a lovely walk with Kip

16. What's the last sporting event you watched?
50th Daytona 500

18. Who is the last person you emailed?
Trish

19. Ever go camping?
yup yup!!!

20. Do you have a tan?
ROFLMFAO!!!

24. Do you drink your soda from a straw?
blah

25. What did your last IM say?
accidentally came across the cream amaretto when putting away the chili.... oops

26. Are you someone's best friend?
I hope so

27. What are you doing tomorrow?
Blah... dropping kids @ school then into town to pack more, do more laundry, hopefully sell a house (crossing fingers & toes & praying), maybe play a little guitar hero **giggle**,

28. Where is your mom right now?
She doesn't have a curfew so I'm not sure. At home?

29. Look to your left, what do you see?
a comfy bed calling my name

30. What color is your watch?
copper

31. What do you think of when you think of Australia ?
Pete & Christie

32. Would you consider plastic surgery?
nope

33. What is your birthstone?
amethyst

34. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit thedrive thru?
must I??? omg do I have to go to THAT place??? ugh... choke... gag... "cheeseburger happy meal please" ... drive thru, wouldn't want anyone I know to recognise me buying that crap

35.How many kids do you want?
None? Just kidding... the 4 I have are great thx

36. Do you have a dog?
I wish

37. Last person you talked to on the phone?
Kip :D

38. Have you met anyone famous?
sure

39. Any plans today?
Well, it's after midnight so is today tomorrow already or do I still consider it today? Or is today now yesterday? Because if it's tomorrow I answered that up there ^ but if it's still today then I think I'll sleep. But if it's now yesterday this question may be redundant....

40. How many states have you lived in?
none... is this survey biased? lol... I live in Canada! I have lived in one province & one territory

41. Ever go to college?
yup, two years

42. Where are you right now?
stay where yer at & I'll come where yer to

43. Biggest annoyance in your life right now?
that other house

44. Last song listened to?
"the field of blue children" - one

46. Are you allergic to anything?
housework

47. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
dawgs

48. Are you jealous of anyone?
nope

50. Is anyone jealous of you?
They should be... jk.... LOL! Not bloody likely!

51. What time is it?
not sure, I think I turned into a pumpkin an hour ago... so that would make it 1ish in the morning

52. Do any of your friends have children?
I think so but not sure if they belong to them or to an alien race.

53. Do you eat healthy?
see #'s 10, 11 & 13

54. What do you usually do during the day?
do? am I supposed to be doing something? oops!!!

55. Do you hate anyone right now?
definitely not

56. Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
No. I've taken to answering the phone, "Hey Good Lookin'!"

58. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
29, that will be my age officially for the next 30 birthdays... actually I'll be 40 and I'm proud of it :D

59. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
yes, but it was so long ago, they only had 5 flags

60. How did you get one of your scars?
belly button scar and it's sister slighty lower (get your mind out of the gutter, not that low), are from two separate laparoscopy surgeries I've had.

God's Blessings to you & yours!!!

Memory

Memory. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - mem·o·ry [mem-uh-ree]
–noun, plural -ries. 1.the mental capacity or faculty of retaining and reviving facts, events, impressions, etc., or of recalling or recognizing previous experiences. www.medterms.com 1. The ability to recover information about past events or knowledge. 2. The process of recovering information about past events or knowledge. 3. Cognitive reconstruction. The brain engages in a remarkable reshuffling process in an attempt to extract what is general and what is particular about each passing moment.

Memory is a funny thing. We have "a" memory and we have "memories". When we want or need to remember something we forget. For example, as I get older I spend alot more time thinking about the hereafter. Pretty much on a daily basis I'll head downstairs, or to my room, or to the kitchen to grab "something" and wonder "what the heck am I here after"???

Yesterday morning I was cleaning out the spare room & the spare room closet. All part of the ever continuing job of getting this house ready for market. Anyway, I digress, I came across a small, plastic, reddish brown, magnetic toy spider and put it "aside" as I knew it belonged to one of the small boys and they are rather fond of these spiders. Now that in itself seems innocuous doesn't it? However, yesterday evening Caleb came across the other small toy magnetic spider, the blue one, which of course is his. Do you think I can possibly remember where the heck I put the spider that I found? NOT! Poor Alexander, once again victim of his mom's serious case of CRS Syndrome. (If you don't know that one you'll have to email me, this is a G rated blog my dear ;) ).

The other side of memory is memories and sometimes we want to forget these and that's when we can't. Each day I get up and wish I could forget that I'm single again and how much it hurts and how much I miss my soulmate. Waking up alone, and realising he may never be around again to bring me a coffee in bed, which I think he enjoyed more than I. I open my closet to get ready for the day and oh, there's the shirt I wore when... can't wear that. I moved the living room furniture around, but I still remember cuddling on the love seats and I can't even sit comfortably on them. My boys asking after "Pop". Is Pop coming for Alexander's birthday? Is he coming for Christmas? Is he coming for my birthday? But it's more fun with him Mom. Even the kitchen is full of memories, the wok & grill are gifts from him and he loved to cook for all of us in that kitchen. One of my first memories of him is how he just walked right in and took over the kitchen, it was great. All wonderful memories, which one day will bring a smile, but right now only bring tears as I wonder if I will ever get to share those with my soulmate again. Memory and memories, crazy things.

God's blessings on you and yours.

Wide awake and Unproductive

Can someone please tell me why the heck I'm still up at 1:00 am AND not getting a dang thing done around here??? Seems it is the theme of the day today though. I got up at a semi-decent hour, then sat on my tush for several hours sucked into the vortex of cyberland. Gosh, that is so unusual for me, procrastinating AND spending too much time on the computer. Such a rare & unusual occurrence. Just a few slight distractions with crackbook... ahem, Facebook, chatting, reading Dawn's blogspot and then starting my own. What can I say? I know, not much.

Ok ok, so it's besides the point that the Realtor is booked to arrive tomorrow at 1:00 PM. For those of you that are not so hot at math, that's 12 FREAKIN' hours until my house is for sale. So tell me again... why am I sitting on my lily white butt blogging, playing in blogspot, messing with my blogspot profile, chatting in aim and generally doing nothing truly productive? Is it because I love to embarrass myself by trying to sell a messy house? Is it because I think people love the idea of my junk laying all over the place? Nope, it's because I am the QUEEN of procrastinators and it is far more fun to play on the computer and chat with my friends than it is to clean the house. Go figure :-\. Can't imagine anyone else feels that way.

So speaking of me sitting at the computer... Naturally, like any mom I am proud of Caleb's mostly self-taught ability to read and I get very excited when I see him picking out words and even entire sentences everywhere we go. Praising him all over the place at his success and willingness to attempt harder words. However, I'm sitting at the computer today... and as mentioned earlier, I may have done just a wee bit too much of that... and up comes my precocious 6yo.

Caleb: "Can I have a hug Mom?"
Mom: "Of course sweetie"
Caleb: staring over my shoulder and looking directly at my laptop screen, "Mom, why does that say 'What the heck was I thinking???'"

Oh yikes, the kid is reading my BLOG! Ok, not necessarily a terrible thing, but he's reading my BLOG! I know, so far it's just the title and yes, if I hadn't been spending so much time on the computer to begin with he may not have seen it at all. But holy kid can read Batman! No more standing over Mom's shoulder I can tell you that much for sure.

I can happily report that some productive activity was achieved today that even included some precious time with my two younger boys. What was formerly known as the "toy dungeon" aka the "toy pit from hell", can now be safely called the "toy room" and they actually have room to play. With very little effort, Caleb was willing to give up quite a few of his toys to the dreaded "garage sale" box. However, Alexander needed a little more coaxing to convince him that he did not need to keep the broken McDonald's toys, or the RC car... that had no RC, never did (the perils of thrift store shopping).

And on that happy note, it is now closer to 2:00 am than one and I really should get some shut eye so I can get up at a reasonable hour before my children decide that finger painting with yoghurt on the tv or my laptop would be a nice surprise for mom.

God's blessings.