My daughter is awesome.

I love my kids.  Doesn't every mom?

But at 11 years old, I really think my daughter is awesome stuff.  God sent me a wonderful person.

She is quickly growing into a wonderful young lady, even though I wish that would slow down a bit.  She is responsible, bright, caring and helpful.  She has maturity past a lot of young adults twice her age.

I've worked on this, but have no idea really how much of it is any of MY influence.  I think she has great insight into other people and an empathetic heart that wishes to help others.

She has great expectations for life and I know God has a great plan for her.  I am blessed to have her in my life and amazed that God trusts me with her care.

I challenge you parents with tween children to look at them as adults, not fully mature adults, but at those moments when their really true selves shine through and you see the amazing person that will be there in just a few years.  You'll have new respect for your child.  Respect that they deserve now.

Really behind...

So I've spent a good part of the morning catching up on blogs that I haven't read in a while.  Mostly family, but they are witty and smart and I enjoy them.  In fact, I think everyone should follow, although I do realize that I may be a bit biased.

This reminded me of something.  What was it?  Oh yes, "I" actually have a blog.
I am the author of a blog.
Is it interesting?
My mind is fishing around for info.
Hmmmm....
Oh right.  NO it is not interesting, because I never POST anything!

Of course I think of this on the day that I should be packing, not sitting on the computer, as we are about to leave for a week for Spring Break and I will not have internet access.

So I'll do what I always intend to do and that is have a journal for the week and then hopefully I will remember that I am the author of a blog when we return and I'll write something witty.

Wish me luck!

It's hard to blog....

Really, there's a lot going on at my house and I won't get into all of that, but I am finding that it's hard to tell everyone something new and, in my hopes, be witty about it.

I've thought about it.  I have discovered, learned, tweaked, or changed something everyday due to new experience, but was it noteworthy?    To me, maybe.  But really, turning the toilet paper roll over the other way so that when the cat bats at it, it doesn't end up all over the floor, is hardly something everyone wants to read about.

So you may only learn something new, from me anyway, once a week or so.  :)  But I am going to continue in my quest.  I will learn to be better at this, even if it takes a year!

We all KNOW this...... but

It still gets me every year.

I put all the Christmas stuff away and then there it is.  Something I am sure I would never miss, but I did and now I have to dig out boxes to put it away in the right place.

I intellectually know that this happens. I know it from experience, but every year, it's like a new thing.

"Wow.  Really I missed that?  How did that happen?"

Well THAT was not exciting....

One of my favorite seasonal tunes to sing is "The Christmas Song."  I think that's what it is called.  You know. "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Jack Frost nipping at your nose."

They had some at the store today and I thought, hmmmm chestnuts.  I always wondered about that.

So we roasted them in the oven according to directions.  Well we must have gotten old ones or I did it wrong or something, because they were as hard as rocks!  Couldn't even eat them to see if they were good!

Yes we cut the shell and shelled them before trying to eat them.  It just was all wrong.

Really ruined my romantic ideas of "Chestnuts Roasting."  

Anyway, I may try that again next year with fresher ones?  

Maybe

Martha Rocks!

You know, I consider myself kinda crafty.  I love to sew, scrapbook, make "stuff."  I even turned a room into a craft room this fall, so I would have space to go wild in.  I LOVE IT.

However, I am feeling dumb.  I don't know how many people really use those EXPENSIVE magazine holders.  The ones that are really just hefty cardboard, but look nice.  They are around $10 bucks a piece!

I have been wanting some for some crafting magazines for ages.  I have tried to think of anything that could work instead.  Most boxes were too big, too wide, not deep enough, etc.  So I broke down and bought 3 whites one at Wal-mart the other day.  They had them for $5.  I'm thinking that's a great deal although it is just cardboard.

So after I do that and I'm all happy about organizing my magazines, so I can find what I am looking for, I am on the Martha Stewart website and low and behold, THERE IT IS!

Home made magazine holders.

Can you guess what they are?

It is so simple.  You will slap your forehead like I did.

Cereal boxes!

They are perfect!  I covered one with a black and white damask print wrapping paper that coordinates with the decor in my craft room and wa-la!  2 magazine holders!

A little disappointed with myself for not seeing that one.   O'well.  Lesson learned.

:)  Happy New Year!  May we all learn a few things, big or small.

Rayna