This and That. . . Random. . .

I started looking for a good planner/calendar to keep up with the kids schedule, the hubbs schedule, and my own schedule.   I, of course went to Pinterest to see what everyone else was using.  I found this thing called the bullet journal.  I was intrigued by it because you kind of created your own as you went.  I started this one with a notebook I had laying around the house, nothing fancy.  There are videos on how to set this up, like I said you can structure this one to fit your lifestyle and needs.  I am a fly by the seat of my pants kinda girl anyway so this really fit me.  I have been using mine for almost a month now and I have really been able to stay on top of everyone's appointments.   It has a place to write in a daily log what has been going on and it also has a spot for journal entries.  I love keeping a journal and I have a prayer journal that I keep but this journal is more about day to day things random thoughts and feelings.  I also have a blog section where I write blog topics that I might want to write on.  I do come across things during the day and think hmmmm, I might want to write on that later.  I have added a page dedicated to the things I love.  This is where I write down things that I love, just random words or thoughts.  You know that my journal/planner would not be complete without a section dedicated to saving money and keeping track of spending and saving.   So I have a couple pages dedicated to financial stuff.   I have days 1-15 listed and out beside the day I write down what bills are due, an average amount for that bill, and if it is something that is an automatic draft I make a note of that too.  On the next page I have the days 16-31 and I write out the bills that are due on those days.  This is really helpful when budgeting your paycheck, if you get paid twice a month.  I believe in keeping things simple and there is no reason to re-invent the wheel.  I found this on Pinterest and have adapted it to fit me.  This bullet journal gives you a jumping off spot to get you started keeping a journal as well as a calendar.  I mentioned above about my page dedicated to the things I love, the picture below is on the opposite page of my "my loves" page.  This is a drawing that Big T did for a poster at school.  It is the Campbell camel, my Alma mater.

What are We Living For???

What are we living for?  I know that seems like a harsh question but it is an honest one.  Are you living to work, play, grow, or just be?  A friend of mine posted on Facebook yesterday about as parents are we living in the moment or are we just living to get to the next moment?   I guess what I am asking is are we living and enjoying while it is going on or are we pushing for the next season or thing to come our way?  This is definitely one to mull over a bit since one of my boys is finishing his sophomore year.   We had a little lull after football season this year and I must say it was nice not to feel like I had to rush out the door as often.   I am going to try and live in the moment more this year and not rush so much to get to the next thing.  My boys are growing fast enough as it is and goodness knows I do not want to rush them off too soon.   I will be trying to slow things down a bit, I want to enjoy my time with the boys before they go off to college.
Sprat got aggravated with me the other day because I rubbed his arm.  It sort of hurt my feelings because he jerked away from me like I had some sort of disease.  I am a touchy person, I touch people when I talk to them.  I also touch my kids, it is kind of how I say "I love you" when we are out in public and I do not want to embarrass them.  When he pulled away it really hurt me.  I did not say anything at the time because we were out in public but later that night I did tell him he had hurt my feelings.  He had no idea that is what I was doing.  I hope that now he knows he want be so ugly about his mama touching his arm.   I also run my fingers through their hair but he has gotten so tall I cannot reach his head without stretching.
My goal this year will be to enjoy my little moments with my boys and make great memories with them so that when they do have a family of their own they can tell their kids about their crazy fun mama that tried her best to make life fun.  

What Will I be When I Grow Up????

My classes are now in full gear and Sprat is taking finals for this session.  We are getting our knowledge on, for a good start to 2016.    After visiting with the family over Christmas and talking with my nieces about their future plans, I wonder what my kids will do when they grow up.  I even wonder what I will do when I grow up.   I knew my strengths when I was in high school, I was much better in science than any other class.  I knew when I went to school I would major in a science but I still did not know what I would do when I graduated.   I had hoped to go to Pharmacy school but that did not work out.  I am glad it did not because had I gone to Pharmacy school I would not have met my dear hubby.  We met on my first job out of college in a lab.  God does have a plan for us and nobody will ever convince me otherwise.   I would not change anything in my life at all.  I just wonder what God has in store for my boys.   Right now I do not see anything specific that they are gravitating to more than anything else.  With me it was pretty clear but with these boys, they are so complex and convoluted.   Big T talks about wanting to go to NC State all the time.   Sprat has never talked about a particular college except for the University of Miami.   He did say he would never go to Appalachian State because it was too cold.  He really is his fathers' son, they both hate cold weather.   Big T talks about going into the military too, that kinda scares me especially with this world the way it is.  He wants to fly a helicopter, I am not sure where this comes from but, he has a dream.  I cover these boys in prayer every day to find their passion.  If you do something you love, it never feels like work.

Holiday Recovery. . .

How many of you feel like you need a week or more to recover from all the Holiday hoopla?   I love Christmas and Thanksgiving but, it can really wear a person out.  I love decorating but it is a major chore to take everything down.  It makes me sad too. When we had an artificial tree I would leave it up till mid January.  I guess that is why we started getting real trees again.  My hubby hated when I would leave the tree up that long.  I saw on Facebook the other day a picture of a tree decorated and wrapped in cellophane and I thought that would be an awesome way to store an artificial tree if you had the room.  
We had a fabulous Christmas visiting with family.   Very thankful and blessed everyone is in good health.  My mom gave me the funniest calendar. (See the cover below).  I think this will be my mantra for the kids and myself  for 2016. Why be normal and boring, be unique and stir things up a bit.   I have always encouraged them not to follow the crowd.  I think I may have to stress this even more this year.   One quote from the calendar rings so true, "God doesn't want an orchestra of identical instruments all playing the same tune."   I tell my boys all the time that God made them unique and they should strive to keep and cultivate that uniqueness. 
I gave up on resolutions a long time  ago.  In my old age I decided to be the best me I can be and be better than I was the day before.  What is your goal for 2016?  I would love to hear from you.  
I say good bye to 2015 and any mistakes I made and hello to 2016, a fresh start.