Wow - Another year has gone by!

So it's time to reflect and come up with my "word" for 2014. It seems last year I was hoping to achieve balance and I chose the word Cherish. Hmmm did I achieve balance ... maybe a bit - I think that's a continuing goal. This year's word will be ME!

I know it seems kind of self centered - but really I need to be! I need to take care of me; learn more about myself; and work on some things for myself - and in the end those things will help ME give more to others.  I need to stop making excuses and just take life by the reins!

2013 was a year to remember.

It was the year my sweet grand-daughter was born. Who knew a little person could change your world and make your heart grow 10x bigger.

It was the year I learned more about myself. How I could tackle obstacles on my own and by leaning on those who love me - I can overcome anything. Joy, heartbreak, you name it - I can take it!

As Marilyn Monroe said "I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.”

It was the year I learned that "People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime." That was a hard one for me to learn as I like to hold on to everyone in my life close to me ... but really - I can't. So thank you to those who were there for a reason or a season and have moved on - you've impacted my life greatly! And those that are there for a lifetime - hold on - it's going to be one helluva ride.

It was the year that I won Lucy's paint job ... she was beautiful before - now she's just breathtaking. I never knew that a piece of metal could make me so darn happy. Driving her is like giving breath to me. It taught me patience - that's for sure :) Thanks to all who helped me achieve this dream.

It was the year of kissing some frogs (no offence) to finding what looks like to be a prince. And learning that if you go out of your comfort zone and your "mold" that you'd be surprised what you can find. And that my friends... is a continuing saga for sure.

It was the year that I learned I had diabetes and reminded myself how important I am - and how important it is to take care of myself. That is one I will have to continue to remember for sure! I matter and I matter to others - so I must take care of me. So 2013 was a pretty good year. I lived, I learned, I loved ... and I look forward to 2014!!!

Ending one year - starting another!

So how was 2012 for you? I'm not sure I took full advantage of the time that was given to me ... still seems I'm finding my balance ... I've decided to take on a word for 2013 and it's going to be CHERISH Why cherish? It seems I have been banging heads lately with my kids ... and not always seeing the glass half full. I want to go back to the basics - spending time with my kids and doing what matters. Creating GOOD memories. I can't change the past but I can shape the future and improve on my temper, attitude and outlook!!!

Asking for help - not an easy thing to do...

I was raised by a strong woman who could do it all - or at least that's how it seemed to me. She had a clean house, dinner on the table and a great circle of friends. She worked full-time and raised me as a single parent 'til I was about 13. Why is it I'm barely keeping up?! I'm lucky if some days the kids get toast for supper and as for a clean house - I am falling behind. And it's not for lack of time (mostly) - it's for lack of .... I don't know what?! The tree sits half decorated because no one really seems to care to finish it ... house is in shambles because I don't know where to start ... just overwhelmed. Spent today frustrated and upset on the way to church ... trying to reason with a teenager why some things matter to me. Got to church and thought - why am I here. I am a mess and I just want to be back in bed. But as I know once I walk thru the doors I will feel better. Songs will speak to me and the message will be clear. I hope. Well today - what did I hear in the songs? "His love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me" - thank you for that!! I know it but sometimes I just need it sung by me to hear it ... if that makes any sense. Then I go to take Jessie to kid's worship and a church friend walks up to me and says -"I've been thinking about you and meaning to call you -can I bring dinner to you one day this week" - seriously?! WOW! The floodgates opened and she looked at my tears and said "my cooking isn't that bad" LOL! God never ceases to amaze me by bringing these super kind people into my life. Whether they love on me and my kids, or hug me or help me or knit for my mom ... whatever it is - it's there. But as Pastor said today - I need to ask for help as much as take invitations, etc. I am a creature of habit. I've asked for help before and been put off by others and then just stopped asking for fear of looking needy or like a nag. But when life is just so overwhelming - like in the month of December where I'd rather hide in my quilts and wake up in January ... I have to remember. It's not about me... it's about remembering why we celebrate this season. It's for my kids, and nieces and family and friends ... some of which are going thru a lot more than me and seem to be wearing their big girl panties ... and just smiling and carrying the spirit I seem to have lost and need to find. Whatever God has started with me he hasn't finished yet ... so I shouldn't be finished either and settle for what state I'm in now. I need to make things happen, tell people I'm lonely and ask for help... not wait for people to see it. If he hasn't given up - then I shouldn't either!!! xo

A year goes by

How is it possible that a year has gone by and I haven't blogged. For a person who is rarely quiet I find that so hard to fathom. What has happened in a year? My son started high school - that's HUGE! He's going to my high school which has some teachers that were mine still there and others that are siblings of friends and former classmates - unreal really! How's it going? Well if you ask the teenager he would say about three words to describe his day before submerging to his man cave to be "a teenager". I can't complain as he's not a bad kid - just not a sociable one either. But we all went thru this phase I'm sure. My daughter is in Gr. 5 now. She's still playing her keyboard and singing in the choir. Also still in Girl Guides which she loves so much. Reading on her e-reader daily and crafting up a storm. Me ... well it was an eventful summer for me and the vw. New tires, muffler, exhaust (wait is that the muffler?!), front seats, seatbelts, stereo - hmm I'm sure there's more. Drove Lucy often and camped in her once. A couple of vw shows too - always fun. I'm thinking next year's focus on Lucy is a bit more just me and Lucy - enjoying her more than I did this year for sure. Besides that not a whole lot has happened in life of Lisa ... must kick things up a notch I think!!! So there's a quick and fun update :)

Technology and Lisa

For those who know Lisa - they know she's a tech junkie... blackberries, ipod touches, e=readers, laptops...etc.

This past week ... both my laptop and my camera (which has been gone for weeks) have been out for repair. It's like having my arms cut off. My laptop wasn't bad because I can check mail and facebook from my ipod touch .... but no camera is awful. I always have my camera. I've been using Jessie's little camera but it's not the same.

No great pics for Great Wolf Lodge or Jessie's 9th Birthday ... no great pics of Jill's new puppy Buddy ... it's just torture.

Let's hope the camera's fixed soon - darn error 99

Gnomeo Gnomeo where for art thou gnomeo...

Jessie and I went to see this movie and it was so adorable. I've always had a thing for garden gnomes ... not only are they small and cute - they are whimsical and make you laugh. A whole cartoon based around them which contains tons of Elton John music is a win-win in my books :)

So of course after seeing the movie Jessie is gnome obsessed (fueled by me LOL!)... she wants to be a girl gnome for Halloween and we are going to try to find garden gnomes for our home and for Lucy the bus so when we camp we make our spot feel like home.

I'm also trying to find some miniatures so we can have our own mini gnome home for our own.

So if you see me get gnome obsessed with my links ... this is why. No fear - my love for quilts, monkeys, owls, buses, caravans, etc. is all still there!!! :)

Happy Family Day

So I've decided to make a tradition of a family pic on Family Day!!!

I digi-scrapped this with a very cool collab from Laughing Sun Designs and Farynar's Wings which you can buy at PolkaDotPlum.

My family dynamics have changed a bit but we are doing really well. I was blessed to have my kids with my today as it wasn't supposed to be...

But Mother Nature had plans of her own and I am thankful!

Today was a lazy day - some are still in PJ's. We have had illness running through the house so I think we all needed a down day. Yummy breakfast... later hot chocolate with chocolate dipped spoons from Reids (MMM) and shortly we will be having lasagne and garlic bread!!