Day 16: Dream Job . . .

Day 16:  What Job Did You Dream About When You Were Growing Up

I honestly don't remember what I dreamed about being when I grew up.  Sad, isn't it?  But if I were much younger and was just starting school, I know what I'd want to do NOW.  If I were just now starting school, I'd want to go into Forensics.  I LOVE all of the forensics shows whether their Fiction or Non Fiction.  New Detectives, Forensic Files, CSI, all of those.  I love watching how they go through all of the evidence to find the killer.  I think it would be cool to be in that field.  So if I was younger and just starting school, THAT'S what I'd want to do. 

Day 13: Parenting Moment You Regret . . .

Day 13:  Parenting Moment You Regret

I don't know that there's really ONE moment that I regret.  I'm not saying I'm a parent without fault, Lord knows I've made a TON of mistakes, but I don't really think I REGRET any of them.  They've all been learning experiences.  Have there been things I wish hadn't happened?  Or that I wouldn't have said or done?  Sure.  We all have those instances.  But there's not a handbook when it comes to being a parent.  It's all trial and error.  And because each child is different, you have to handle every situation differently.  So you can't even handle them the same with each child.  We ALL make mistakes.  But in my opinion, the only TRUE mistakes are the ones we don't learn from.  I WISH I was one of those parents that did everything right all the time and always knew WHAT to say and WHEN to say it.  But I'm not.  And I'm okay with that.  No one's perfect.  But I'll keep trying to be the best parent I can be.  Because my kids are AMAZING, and they deserve that.  And more.

Day 12: If you could stay one age forever, what age would it be and why?

Day 12:  If you could stay one age forever, what age would it be and why?

I honestly don't know.  I guess when I was a kid.  About 9 or 10.  Life seemed, and WAS, so much simpler then.  We spend so much time wanting to grow up, and then when we do, we wonder, "What the HELL was I thinking?!"  ;-)

Day 11: What Makes You Feel Beautiful . . .

Day 11:  What Makes You Feel Beautiful?

That's a good question.  I don't think there's ANYTHING that makes me feel beautiful.  :(

Day 10: What Made You Smile This Week?

Day 10:  What Made You Smile This Week?

The Kids Going Back To School!  ;-)

Day 9: Charitable Gifts . . . . .

Day 9:  If you could donate a large sum of money to any charity, which one would it be and why?

If I could donate to any charity, it would the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  I think that charity is a wonderful thing.  If you're not familiar with it, it's for children who are dying.  They grant last wishes for those children and their families.  They send them to Disney World, or Australia, or introduce them to famous people.  It's actually very bittersweet.  Yes, they are getting the thing they want most in the world.  But actually, it's more like the thing they want SECOND most in the world.  Because the thing they want more than ANYTHING in the world, is to be cured of their illness.  Unfortunately, they can't have that, so this will have to do.

Day 8: Memorable Gift

Day 8:  What Is The Most Memorable Gift You Have Ever Received?

 

That's easy.  If you've read any of my past posts, you know how important my Grandma has always been to me.  From the time I was very little, she always told me that her Hope Chest would be mine one day.  After she passed away, it came to me.  And my Father In Law refinished it for me.  It's a BEAUTIFUL piece.  And every time I look at it, I'm reminded of her, and how lucky I am to have had her for a Grandma.  It will ALWAYS be the best gift I've ever received, because it's been in my life, my WHOLE life.  And because it was originally hers.  And one day, I will pass it on to Sarah, and I will make sure she knows how important it is to our heritage. 

Day 7: Marriage . . .

Day 7:  Write A Post Inspired By This One Word:  Marriage

That's kind of a loaded word.  It means different things to different people.  And honestly, it means different things to ME at different times.  My husband and I have been married for over 17 years.  And depending on the day, marriage is WONDERFUL.  On other days, not so much!  ;-)  I remember before we got married, Ryan's Grandpa told me one thing.  He said, 'people will tell you that marriage is 50/50.  But that's not true.  It's actually 90/10.  Most days you will think that YOU'RE giving 90% and he's only giving 10%, and he'll think HE'S the one giving 90% and you're only giving 10%.'  It's probably the best piece of advice anyone has ever given me.  And it's SO true.  Most days I DO feel like I'm giving 90%, but I'm sure that he feels the same way. 

 

No one ever said marriage is easy.  And if someone DOES tell you that, then they're lying.  Another piece of advice I got, from my mom, is that you can't live with someone 24/7 and NOT have problems.  You're not the same people.  You don't have the same thoughts and feelings, so you're going to have some problems.  But making a marriage work means working THROUGH those problems.  It means knowing that some days are good days, and some days are bad days.  And hopefully, there's a lot more good days than there are bad days. 

Day 6: Dream Vacation

Day 6:  Where Would You Go On Your Perfect Dream Vacation?

That's easy.  I've wanted to go to Australia since I was about 8 years old.  Don't ask me why, because I really don't know.  I guess maybe we were learning about it in school and it just fascinated me.  So ever since then, it's the one place I've always wanted to go.  ALWAYS.  I would LOVE to go there.  If I ever win the Lottery, THAT'S where I'm going. 

 

Now, on a more REALISTIC level, the other 2 dream vacations for me are Disney WITH the kids, and Vegas WITHOUT them.  I LOVE both places.  I would go to Vegas every year if I had the money.  Same with Disney.  Unfortunately, we DON'T have that kind of money, so I'll have to settle for every few years.  :(

Day 5: How I Get My Kids To Try New Foods

Day 5:  How Do You Get Your Kids To Try New Foods?

 

That's easy, I don't really give them a choice.  I'm one of those mean old moms that just MAKES them at least TRY new stuff.  And I don't cook for 5 different people.  I cook for the family.  If I fix dinner and you don't like it, then YOU can fix a peanut butter sandwich or Ramen noodles.  Now keep in mind, I don't cook things that I KNOW they don't or won't like.  If I try new things, it's always something that I know they'll like.  So if they DON'T, mainly because they're just being incorrigible, then they can fix something for themselves.  It's as simple as that.

Day 4: I Wish I Could Sing

Day 4:  What Is The One Thing You Wish You Knew How To Do?

That's easy.  For as long as I can remember, I ALWAYS wished I could sing.  I mean REALLY sing.  I LOVE music.  I always have.  And I can sing at the top of my lungs in the shower or in the car, but trust me, you don't want to HEAR me sing!  But if I could have any "super power" in the world, that would be it.  I am SO envious of people that can sing anything and everything they want to.  What an AMAZING talent that is.  I couldn't carry a tune if you gave me a bucket to put it in.  :-(

Day 3: Advice As A Child . . . . .

Day 3: 

1. What is the one piece of advice your parents gave you that still sticks with you today?

I remember when I was younger.  I came home from school one day and I was pretty upset because some kids were making fun of me.  (Go Figure).  I remember my mom saying to me, "It really bothers me that they said those things to you, but it would bother me more if YOU were saying mean things to THEM."  As young as I was, that's always stuck with me.  And it's something I've tried passing along to MY kids.  Unfortunately, kids, AND adults, like to tease other people.  I think it makes them feel better.  But I try to teach my kids that it's not okay.  Because it's NOT.  And as much as it bothers me when my kids come home from school or the neighborhood upset because of something someone said or did to them, it definitely WOULD bother me more if THEY were the ones saying it.  So I hope it's something they will always remember, and pass along to THEIR children one day. 

Day 2: Reading Lists . . .

Day 2:  What's On Your Reading List For 2014?

 

I LOVE to read, but I didn't make much time for it last year.  And I DEFINITELY miss it.  It calms me down.  Makes me feel better.  But just like the writing, I don't make time for it.  So I've already decided I'm going to do more reading this year.  I actually asked for Amazon Gift Cards so I can download books to my Kindle, (iPad), without feeling guilty about it.  I now have $70 in Amazon Credits!  :)  I mostly like murder mysteries and thrillers, so that's most of what I plan on reading.  But I'll throw a few others in there as well.  These are the ones I've downloaded so far, or PLAN on downloading. 

Divergent Series
Books 19 and 20 of the Stephanie Plum series (already read the first 18).
Last 2 books of the Alex Cross series (already read others)
Last 2 books of Women's Murder Mystery Club (see above)
Ender's Game
Cornbread Mafia
Bluegrass Conspiracy

Happy New Year . . . .

Looking back, I see that I didn't write much last year.  And that's a shame.  Mainly, because I love to write and it almost always makes me feel better when I do.  So I'm going to start the year following these prompts, and see how well I do.  I found the first month of ideas HERE. 

Day 1:  What are your 2014 goals? Blogging, relationships, financial, fitness or any other goals you have.

Good one for the first day of the year!  :)

My 2014 Goals:

Blogging:  Write more.  More frequently.  More honestly.  More open.  Less guarded.  Less scared of what others will think about WHAT I write.  Less self-conscious.

Relationships:  Focus more on my family.  Be there.  In the present.  Stop worrying about the future.  There IS no future without the present.

Financial:  Make more in Real Estate than I did last year.  Substitute teach more.  MY salary needs to pay for our Disney World trip.  It HAS to.  Because we ARE going to go this year, and we need ME to make the money to do it.

Fitness:  My brother has lost about 100 pounds.  100 pounds.  I am SO proud of him.  I need to do the same.  But I'm starting with little goals.  To drink more water.  Less diet Coke.  Be more active.  No, I don't plan on running any marathons, I can barely make it around my block.  But I want to start walking more, even if just a little bit.  So that walking up the stairs doesn't wear me out.  So that walking up the hill from the boat dock during the summer doesn't make me feel like I'm going to die.  So walking around the block doesn't seem like such a taunting a task.

Me:  I have ADD.  I think I've pretty much had it my whole life, but it's getting worse the older I get.  I am working on ways to compensate for it.  I need to work harder on it.  I need to finish the things I start.  I need to make time for the things that are important, like writing, and prospecting for real estate.  I need to work on being more organized.

Wow!  That's A LOT of goals.  I might not make them all, but if I don't try, it'll NEVER happen.