Count your blessings

a week in the life of...

Just when I think things are busy, they get busier :)  I love where I am right now in my life and can honestly say for the first time....................I AM NOT OVERWHELMED.  Sure, do things bug me that aren't done?  Yes.  Are there areas that desperately need my attention?  Yep.  I just can't describe to you the feeling of being aware of those things but not being overwhelmed by them.  I love today because it is Monday and because the sun is out!!  I have needed some sunshine.  My day is filling up because Gracie has a finger infection and I have to take her in.  Please pray she doesn't lose her fingernail.  She is already so self conscious about how her poor little hands look.  I  will let you know how it goes.  Just for fun, here is my weekly schedule......

Monday:                 9:00 a.m.                 phone interview with social security               

                                    10:00 a.m.              Therapy with general  therapist (Cole)

                                     1:30 p.m.                Gracie's doctor appointment

Tuesday:                   10:00 a.m.                  appointment for mommy         

                                      4- 6:00  p.m.              braille class

                                      7:20 - 8:50 p.m.       Sydney's jazz class (dance)

Wednesday:             4-5:00 p.m.          Munch bunch food group (Cole)     

                                      6:30-8 p.m.           Awana

Thursday:                  10-11:00               Vision therapy (Cole)

                                        3-4:00 p.m.        Therapy with Speech and Occupational (Cole)

Friday:                         10-11:00 p.m.      Music learning (Cole)

                                        2:30-4:00 p.m.    Behavioral therapy (Cole)

This can change depending upon a number of things.  But most of these appointments are every week.  I have a whole post about all his new therapies and my braille class.  I just need to make the time to get it done.  I want him to know how incredible he was through this whole process.  I can say that I know I have learned the most from him :)

i love it, i hate it, i love it, i hate it.....

One of my favorite times of day is early in the morning when the rest of my house is still fast asleep.  It is quiet and peaceful.  A little music and some one on one time with God.  He is so good.  I don't like how its dark when I have been getting up though, it makes it so much harder to get out of my warm, cozy bed! 

Here are a few to-do items on my list today:

bank run

laundry

organize my braille class information

speech therapy for Cole

clean out the suburban (yuck!)

vacuum

clean the bathrooms

order Colton's bedroom stuff (i am getting him the Cat in the Hat stuff from PB, its gonna be cute!)

upload some pictures and order

I think I could go on forever but I decided to focus on a smaller list daily than a to-do list that is a mile long for the week.  Too overwhelming!  I'm off to wake the kiddos up.  Hope you have a great day :)

a little swagbucks love

Have you heard of swagbucks?  I had but never checked them out until recently.  You earn swagbucks by doing different things.  The only way I use it is as a search engine.  Every time you search you have a chance at winning a buck.  I search on average ten or so things a day and always get at least a buck per day.  I know it can take awhile to earn bucks but once you get to fifty the item that caught my eye is a $5 Starbucks card.  I just search there before I go somewhere else.  I have thirty nine so far.  Not bad for under a month.  If you want to sign up here is a link.  I get bucks by you signing up so if you do, use the link :)  I figure if it gets me a free coffee why not?

http://swagbucks.com/?cmd=sb-register&rb=270471

Let me know if anyone else has had luck with it.  Just a little thing to try out.  It may fizzle out, who knows?! 

mommy to six.....

....for a few days and lovin it.  I love everything about lots of kids in the house (okay well almost everything ;)  My nieces are here, Ali and Adysen.  Their parents are in Vegas at a hair show for the salon and so I have them for a few days.  So far things are great.  I got up early to type and make breakfast before they all got up.  They had yogurt and granola along with strawberries.  FYI - Local gals, go get some strawberries from Costco, they were delicious!  Once we got out the door we took Ali to school early for WASL prep, then my kids to school and then back to take Adysen to school.  Tomorrow will be much less running around because they both go at the same time.  Today I have to pick them all up at different times and race back home.  I have a babysitter lined up so when I get home I'll drop them off and I will be headed to braille class.  I am learning so much and can't wait to post about it!  Well, just wanted to make sure and get a quick post in....I might be busy the next few days :)  I have enjoyed them being here, they have been great.  Hopefully more later.... 

a liTtle pOp of cOloR

Here is my table centerpiece.  I love it!  Thanks mom, you're the best!  Today I ordered some ledge shelves to put on the wall and all I have left is to find a rug for the dining room.  One room down, how many to go?  I am excited even if it takes me years :)

   

Looks great doesn't it?  My mom, she's the best....she knows just how to make her girl happy :)

liFe iS goOd

home today with some kiddos who aren't feeling well.

but all is well.  it's good to be home.

new habit of working out.  on my fourth week.  feels great!

new burden on my heart.  teenage girl pregnant with triplets.  God uses us in mysterious ways.

dusty was given an opportunity for a great job.  he will be gone seven days a week, twelve hour days.  i have such a strong man.  i love that God gave us such a great provider.

menu plan this week.  fresh, healthy food.  snacks even planned.  this is new for me.  if you know me at all, i am not much of a planner.  i am loving that my kids like it!

feeling completely peaceful.  even with Dusty unexpectedly gone all day, every day, Colton's therapies are going great.  not overwhelmed in the least.

braille class.  inspiring and exciting.  i am enjoying the class.  i wish Dusty could be learning with me.  i have met such remarkable individuals and their passion for the visually impaired is amazing.

american idol.  24.  need i say more?

tackling problem areas one by one.  new organization.  going well.  making me feel great.  WORKING!

XM radio.  wish i could have it.  loving worship music right now.  i would love to have more options than our one radio station.....

new table centerpiece.  coLor.  feels like home.

working on patience.  i can always use more. 

Hopeful

Have you ever had a desire that just won't go away?  I am not talking about winning the lottery, being given a brand new car or winning the HGTV dream home giveaway.  A desire burning in your heart that you feel is meant to be.  I was thinking about it the other day and wondering why God puts desires in our heart.  Does he place them there to teach us something?  Does he intend to fulfill them?  I felt silly not knowing the answer but it led me to look deeper.  My desire is something I hope for.  I looked up the word hope and was surprised what I found. 

Hope - desire with expectation of fulfillment

I thought I had hope it would happen but I didn't, because as much as I want it, I had never truly had the expectation of fulfillment.  It caused me to think about my faith and trust I put in God.  He is Almighty and He is Love.  I pray that this year as I draw myself closer to God and I put all my hopes in Him.  Feel free to share what God has taught you...

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.        Psalm 37:4,5

Right now.

Out of my window:  Snow, snow and more snow.  Some pretty cold lookin horses.

I am wearing:  Sweats and a long sleeve T.

I am hearing:  Quiet and I love it.  Dusty is taking the kids to school.

I am thinking:  I am going to just start posting and go back and do my Christmas post when I can.

I am thankful for:  Health.  We had a great holiday season.  Family.  Colton's new therapy.

I am creating:  Blog book.  I had to jump on that bandwagon :)  I am also creating design plans for rooms in my house!

I am going:  To start working so I can get it out of the way!

I am hoping:  For an answer from God.

I am reading:  New Bible study.  It feels great to be back in a good study.  I also have a few new parenting books.  I can't seem to put books down lately.

Around the house:  Little things here or there but needing organization.  Needing a new centerpiece on my dining room table for inspiration.

One of my favorite things:  Vanilla lattes from Starbucks.  I am cutting back, boy I wish my espresso maker wasn't acting up...

A few things planned for the rest of the week:  Several new therapies for Colton, enroll Sydney in dance, draw up a plan for the closets and playing catch up :)