Turning 45 and getting older

I turned 45 years old this year.  Getting older, has held some surprises for me.  Who would have ever believed that I would not be able to stay up as late at night (now when I have teenager daughters with curfews, the irony is not lost on me), that my friends would get together and discuss face creams, what is appropriate eye make for someone in their 40's (was shimmer/metallic eyeshadow too much for someone in the forty's or was only matte eyeshadow acceptable)  and our vitamins supplements (we used to discuss getting our kids to bed, & their vitamin supplements). We still discuss sex, marriage etc..but from the view point of women who have been married 15-20 years now.  We discuss our kids, who are now teens or young adults.  One girlfriend is going to be a grandma soon, and boy oh boy is that new territory for us to discuss.

I knew I always believed in marriage and keeping your vows, and I longed to grow old with my husband.  I did not expect as a young bride when I said "I do"  the deep joy, and contentment of being really known by another and knowing them.  Growing in like opinions, goals and world view, while retaining our own distinct personalities.  Learning another's love language and how to show love to another.    Enjoying the company of another without the need to talk but just enjoy being in the other presence (for a talker this is a big deal!)

I am also more accepting of me and who I am.  I have struggled over the years with my weight.  I lose weight, I gain weight it has been a very personal struggle one that I have just not seem to be able to put that battle behind me.  I have decided that I do want to keep trying to be healthy and to get in shape, however if I am never thin, and if I never win this battle to be what others would describe as "normal" weight.  As disappointing as that would be, well I would still be me.  ME is not the worse thing that could happen to me,  I have grown to like myself, I have grown to see my strengths, learned my weakness,  Been humbled as God has shown me rough areas in myself and have worked on smoothing out my rough edges.  I wish I could say I have out grown all sense of vanity, but I haven't.  However,  I think I have been able to put it into a healthy perspective and it is not the be all end all that it used to be.

I think I have grown to appreciate what's really real in life: real relationships, real friendships, real ups and real downs, joys and struggles, allowing myself to be known and really getting to know others is so more important than impressions.  Impressions are imitations of a person done to entertain.  I'm done entertaining others I would rather be known.  Because I have learned that there is beauty, comfort, joy, and contentment in being known and in knowing others.  So I continue to work on dropping my facade, allowing friends to have "messy house" privileges, seeing me w/out my full makeup and hair on, and being truthful about struggles that I have or that I am facing in life now.

What I'm listening to now

Have you heard the christian singer: Lauren Daigle?  If you are not familiar with her, you need to look her up on youtube, or iTunes.  She is an amazing new singer, with such a unique sound.  It's the perfect sound to listen to as you sip on your cup of coffee or tea and ponder what God is teaching you in your bible study.   Her voice is young, edgy, and just a delight to listen to.  Check her out!!  My favorite song she sings is "Come Alive" (dry bones).  (She currently does not have many songs to download on android phones, but she does have a selection on iTunes).

Planners, Organization

How do you stay organized?  Do you use the calendar on your smart phone?  Do you use a hard copy planner where you fill in each day's activities, or do you use Cozi family calendar that emails everyone each day their activities, or do you use a combination of all the above?

I know the Cozi family calendar which you can access online, or download the app has been very helpful in communicating between all of us in our family orthodontist appts, and games, etc... However, I also feel like I got more done on a day to day basis when I kept a hard copy planner with a "To do" list.  In fact, in this digital age that we live in since our appointments can be managed and communicated so accurately through digital ways I have found that I have stopped keeping a "to do" list.  Which to my horror, when I slowed down and started to evaluate myself over the last 6 months I realized that I had kept appointments,  but other than that I had not really accomplished much of anything. (example: a craft project, a new recipe, etc...)  So I am going to keep my digital help, but I am also going to go back to my old fashion write it down on paper, and check it off "to do" list.

What do you do?

Back to School

Back to school time has arrived. I have no babies in elementary school anymore.  Everyone is in middle school and high school. What a fun, awkward, crazy stage of life that is.  My oldest, Kaylee is going to take her driving license test this week, pray for me!   The other daughters are finding out what they are interested in.  The middle still loves sports: volleyball & basketball.  Paige has decided to give up track this year, even though she given a medal in that sport last year, she just does not enjoy the Oklahoma weather.  My youngest daughter Grace has decided to join the Student Council this year, and is enjoying the freedom that comes with Middle School (they get to enjoy wearing flip flops since they do not have recess anymore.)

  I worry a little bit about Grace's adjustment to middle school since her grade in Elementary School has been graded by the Common Core grade standards of 1-4.  This will be her first experience of actually receiving grades A-F. I hope she finds this scoring a challenge and not frustrating, as well as I look forward to seeing paperwork graded in a manner that I not only understand, but rewards good work.  (The common core grading system never gave a 4, even if your student scored 100%, and a 2 was anything from a mid "b" to a mid "d"- which is a vast difference in my book!)

Oklahoma state has repelled the common core standards, however since most schools had already purchased the curriculum and had trained the teachers on this method.  I am unsure how the schools in our state will proceed. Will they teach it, but call it something else? Will they use a combination of curriculum? Will teachers start to give spelling test again in the elementary school? Will handwriting every bet taught again,besides print?  It will be interesting to watch and see.  Has your state kept the common core, and if so do you like it as a parent or educator?  I am fascinated and always interested in hearing and learning about others experience with the different education models and curriculum available.  

Working with people

I am completing a year of  returning to the work force after being a stay at home mom for almost 16 years.  Wow!  I was shocked at all the things I encountered, and the things that challenged me:

1.  Figuring out how to get around in the morning, getting dressed and makeup on, and arriving somewhere on time for myself.  Whew!  What a change!  I was used to just getting my girls ready and out the door, throwing on a top, a baseball hat, grabbing my sunglasses and putting on some lip gloss so that I had the "appearance" of being ready for the day, as I dropped my kids off at school.

2.  Obviously, my husband stepped up and we made adjustments to what fell under "my responsibilities" and what was on "his responsibility" list.  A Big change for both of us!

3.  Since I had been a stay at home mom for 16 years, listening to "Dora the Explorer" and Nick Jr, along with the Disney Channel, as well as attending church.  I was surprised and shocked at how many people out in the world use curse words sprinkled through out their conversation and don't even bat an eye at using them. Some of the word left my ears blushing! However, just like I was quick to notice the language my co-workers used, I was surprised at how quickly they realized that I did not use those words and would stop themselves from using it around me as they got to know me. (I think we forget that we are a witness for God, without preaching to others, but by just being around others.)

4. I have to admit my age is probably showing now, but I am surprised at how many people in their 20's are living together, without a commitment of marriage.

5.  The world can be a negative place. I have learned the power of the words we speak to others and the what we think on in our mind, and self talk.

I have become more aware of what the world is like, and the value system that my teens encounter on a daily basis.  As a stay at home mom, I had been insulated in a little bubble, I was just to busy raising babies to realize it.

That is some of what I have learned and a little how my life has changed in this last year.

Change

Change, it sounds like such a simple word.  Change sounds like fun, it sounds simple.  We went to the  store a month ago and bought some new tile to change our flooring in our dining room and kitchen.  Whew!  It has not been easy!

We had to cut the carpet out and the pad out of the dining room, roll it up and dispose of it.  (sounds much simpler than the muscle required to do that).  We then had to purchase a 10 pound sledge hammer that my husband would swing and break up the tile that we had in the kitchen.  A lot of work!  Then we would sweep up the broken pieces of tile and throw them away.  After that, we had to get a blade and scrape the glue off the floor (that had adhered the tile to the floor).  Whew!  It has taken about 3 weekends to do all this.  Of course, we are now in our 40's and we are trying to do this project and keep up with our life and schedules.  Kind of crazy.  Nothing about change is ever simple.

The simplest of change might end up involving things that you had never counted on it even effecting.  However, change can be a great thing.  It can move you forward, it can make things different, it can stretch you, it can give you the best stories to tell later on, make you laugh at the things that happen and solidify you as a couple and family.  Change it's not simple but it can be an unexpected gift.

Hope your life is full of changes.  I hope that you have a story to tell.  Without changes a story would be a pretty boring tale.

July Favorites!

Things that I am loving in July!

1.  Essie nail polish for my toesies in the color: Watermelon

2.  Happy Hour at Sonic, and their new slush: Lemon Berry (yum!)

3.  Fruit infused water in my fridge.

4.  I just read the book "War Brides" by Helen Bryan

5.  my favorite Instagram users this month:
      of course, Shereadstruth, Honey Holden, kristen Schumucker
(If you are looking for someone new to follow on IG check them out)

6.  listening to Ellie Holcomb, loving the songs: "The broken beautiful" and "As sure as the sun"

Hope that y'all have had a wonderful July! I can't wait to see what August brings!

My Favorite Podcast

What do you listen to?  I often listen to music, however Sometimes I just get tired of listening to music, it seems that all I hear is the same set of songs.  Other times, I feel that I need to be encouraged, or challenged by the word of God.  One of my favorite things to do is to listen to podcast.  If you have an apple product you can download podcast for free, through their podcast app, or if you have an android phone  you can download the app "podcast republic" and then download podcast through that app.

My favorite podcast are:

1.  Lifechurchtv (this is my church, however if I miss a service on the weekend I can listen to it sometime through out the week at my convince)

2.  Elevation Church, with pastor Steven Furtick (out of North Carolina)

3.  The City Church with Judah Smith (out of Seattle, WA)

I enjoy all three of the pastors listed above.  Podcast make it easy, and free to listen to other christian preachers teach about God's word.  Check them out, if you have not done so already!