Dating Someone Younger

Dating someone younger than you can be a lot of fun, but it also sets you up for a lifetime of teasing and jokes.  Some of them I bring on and think of myself even.  For example… when we had furnace trouble, they came out to fix it.  The furnace guy commented that it was getting older and we should think of replacing it.  I asked Tim if he responded that in our house we don’t get rid of things just because they are a little “older”.  There is also the time I asked Tim where he was back before I was married and dating in college.  And then I remembered that he was in high school still and a relationship with a college student probably would have been frowned upon.  

But my personal favorites (tongue in cheek) are the quips my kids and Tim delight in sharing with  me.  

1. Cougar is a popular theme.  Libby was even kind enough to bring back a stuffed one for me as a souvenir from her band trip last year.  A stuffed cougar for me, I’m so lucky.  
2. Or every time I talk about something from when I was younger and Tim says, “that’s before my time, I don’t remember that.”  
3. Any and all “old” references get giggles and glances at me.
4. Going over Tay’s spelling list and the work prehistoric comes up.  I bet you can guess where that went.
5. OR how about when I post how Tim didn’t even know who Princess Leia was.  Backfired a little when several people’s response was that he’s “too young” to know.  Which as we all know is SO not fair as everyone aged 8 to 80 knows who Princess Leia was unless they live under a rock.
6. Every "robbing the cradle" reference.

My friend that designs tshirts just made these for another couple. Guess I'm not the only lucky woman who snagged a younger man.  Go me!

Now some of you are thinking, how many years separate these two?  She must be a LOT older than him.  Three years people, three short years.  Which would be a lot if I was 18 and he was 15, but at 40 and 37, I think it is not nearly worthy of the teasing I have had to endure the past few months.  

I love this line from an article on dating someone younger, “A birth certificate has nothing to do with ensuring  happiness to a partner, what does matter is a foundation based on love, respect, honesty, and shared dreams.” So there kids and Tim.  So there.

No Arguing on Facebook

                                                       Dumbest Things on the Internet

I always make a New Year’s resolution to not get into arguments on Facebook (or other internet sources).  I’m sure if there had ever been an actual study done, I have to believe that your odds of changing someone’s mind or opinion by what you post on social media is like 1,238,589,298,893 to 1.  Thankfully I’m blessed to have so many wonderful, intelligent friends that seldom post anything besides jokes, pics of their kids and horses, recipes, stuff for sale and places they have been.  YAY!  

The election was hard. That’s an understatement, it was excruciating.  Many of you remember my plan.  Any time I felt the need to respond to someone’s post or incorrectly shared meme, I would instead redirect my thoughts by sharing a picture of one of our horses.  I shared a lot of pictures of horses the last few months.  And truth be told - I could still share some today.  But people don’t change their political views because someone argued with them on Facebook.  So I do best to avoid/stay out of political discussions and just keep hoping and praying for our country.

I also surf horse pages on Facebook, and most of the time I can be good. Sometimes I want every pretty horsie and it’s an uplifting experience to see so many fat and happy horses.   But sometimes the saddle/bridle is on backwards, or the girth is hanging down, a thin or lame horse horse is being ridden or someone says that a Tom Thumb is a great starter bit and I just can’t keep my fingers from moving.  Then I resemble this meme.

I could make a New Year’s resolution to stop getting into arguments, but I know I wouldn’t be able to stick to it.  When people share memes or information that is incorrect or if someone attacks my opposing views as being “stupid”, I know that is one resolution I will not be able to stop myself from breaking.  

So for now I’ll stick to my tried and true plan of a self imposed wait period before responding and hope that time will cure me of thinking that opinion needs to be heard.

Facebook Survey

So there is this copy and paste Facebook status going around.  It’s where you ask your boyfriend/husband these questions and see how well he knows you.  And then it made the rounds with the same questions but ask your kids.  Normally I hate copy/paste statuses, but this one intrigued me as I was super curious what they would have to say.  Tim and Sophie had to go cold turkey.  Libby kind of cheated because she had read Tim’s and Sophie’s responses before she gave her answers, but it was still fun.  Then Libby wanted to know who was “more right”.  (Of course she did - she’s my kid and uber competitive.)

So let’s compare answers.  And to be fair to him- Tim didn’t get exactly the same questions.  But several were the same.  He also had a couple of extra questions - but we aren’t sharing those.  Mostly because he didn’t take them seriously, like my celebrity crush being Donald Trump.  

*What is something I say a lot?

Soph: Knock it off

Libs: All you have to do is love each other

Tim: Don’t give me that look

Me: Personally I don’t think I say any of those very often.  I’m sure I have great words of wisdom and quotable truths just spilling from me each and every moment of the day.  Words to live by.  

*What makes me happy?  

Soph: Tim Andring

Libs: Me

Tim: My family

Me: All so true.  I guess if we were going with “most” true, it would have to be Tim because family is the most important thing in my life.  Even my family members that aren’t related by blood, but have been my true friends and with me through thick and thin.

*What makes me sad?

Soph: When the dogs are sick or hurt

Libs: When I'm gone

Tim: Lame horses

Me: Again, all true.  Libby knows how much I am dreading when she goes away to college.  I don’t really see why she has to go AWAY to college when there is Winona State and RCTC just a half hour on either side of us. Then I don’t have to miss her and she can live with me forever.  Problem solved!  Both Tim and Sophie recognize that my pets are part of my extended family and it hurts me to see them hurting.  

*How tall am I?

Soph: 5’ 5 ½”

Libs: Same size as me

Tim: 5’ 6”

Me:  Well, first of all Libby - YOU WISH!  But I love how specific Sophie is, I guess I may have mentioned that ½ a time or too.  She even said “Don’t forget the half”.

*What's my favorite thing to do?

Soph: Ride horses

Libs: Ride my horses after I train them (nice try)

Tim: Ride horses

Me:  Well, there you have it Captain Obvious

*What is my favorite food?

Soph: Hu Hot

Libs: Anything sweet with lemon

Tim: Chicken crack/ Place to eat- Red Lobster

Me:  WRONG!  I love them all.  And Red Lobster the most of the 3 for sentimental reasons (Tim and my first date), but my favorite food is pizza.  My sister is laughing out loud at this one because I was the kid who never ate pizza.  Refused to eat pizza.  But now I love all kinds of pizza; breakfast, mac n cheese, hawaiian, meat lovers, BBQ chicken, chicken alfredo, bacon cheeseburger, deep dish, new york, calzone, etc…  Haven’t met a pizza I don’t like.  

*What is my favorite drink?

Soph: Water

Libs: Dt Mountain Dew

Me: Both are correct.  I love my Dt. Mountain Dew, but I don’t go anywhere without my water bottle.  If Dt Mountain Dew were good for you it would be my hands down favorite.  But I know I have to concentrate on making healthy choices.  So plain water it is.

*If I could go anywhere, where would it be?

Soph: Mexico

Libs: To a beach

Me:  I think I’m going to go with wrong for both of them.  While I would love to visit a foreign location, and I love the idea of warm, water doesn’t appeal to me.  (See previous blog on fears)  I hate wearing a swimsuit, I burn like a lobster after 15 minutes, and the ocean terrifies those of us who can’t swim and are afraid of all things creepy/crawly/swimmy.  I would LOVE to visit Greece, I have a fascination with the history and the mythology of the place.  Or Japan.  Or France/Germany/Britain - old castles especially.  Ireland sounds fascinating.  If I’m staying in the country, I’d like to spend forever in D.C. and tour the museums.  I’d like to visit New York and California - anywhere really.  

*Do you think you could live without me?

Soph: No

Libs: No for obvious reasons

Tim: No

Me:  Good - because I couldn’t live without them either.

*How do I annoy you?

Soph: When you share pictures of me from the past with your class.

Libs: When you embarrass me in public places

Tim: You don’t

Me:  In my defense, it is my sworn duty as a mother to embarrass my kids.  It’s part of our JOB.  And Tim, bless your heart you liar you!  Mwah (big kiss)

*What is my favorite TV show?

Soph: Once Upon a Time

Libs: Friends

Tim: Something with super heroes

Me:  Right, right and yep.  I don’t know if I have a favorite.  I could quote almost every line in Friends I have seen it start to finish so many times.  I guess that would be the closest to my favorite show ever.  But dang, that Once Upon a Time is so awesome.  

*What is my favorite music to listen to?

Soph: Pop

Libs: Disney

Me:  Wow.  Completely different answers and both pretty accurate.  There really isn’t a Disney station on the radio so my radio is usually tuned to KROC or Z93.  But I can sing almost any Disney song from heart so.. both are equally correct.

*What is my job?

Soph and Libs: Teacher

Me: I’m disappointed neither listed the obvious “Wonder Woman”.

*How old am I?

Soph: 39 (For the win)

Libs: 40 (For accuracy of course)

*What's my favorite color?

Soph: Blue

Libs: Sky Blue (Because she is a perfectionist and because she wants to be “more” right than her sister.

So to answer Libby's question, it's a tie.

My First Chiro Experience

My first chiropractic experience is underway.  I’ve struggled with back pain for as long as I can remember.  Upper and lower and neck pain.  And that muscle that connects your neck to your shoulder?  What’s that one called?  Because mine is always one giant burning knot.  And I get headaches.  Lots of them.  But it always seemed like a little mumbo jumbo voodoo magic to me.  One of those things where it was more of a placebo effect kind of thing.  Where people feel better because they believe it works.  And what if I don’t believe?  

The sad story is that it hurts so much and so much constantly that I have to do something.  Since spring my lower back/pelvis has gotten so bad that I can’t even sit on my right side to stretch without shooting pain.  Which, let me tell you, makes riding colts a challenge.  I know I’m not riding correctly as I’m compensating for the pain on my right side ALL the time.  No wonder both my colts struggle with the right lead, huh.  Even short car rides are torture and in the middle of the summer I keep the seat warmer on to act as a heating pad. I’ve had massages and they help for a short period of time.  But it isn’t even days before the muscles are completely knotted back up again. I try not complain, because it just “is” and there isn’t anything I can do about it.  But maybe there is.

Here’s the really ridiculous part.  I’m a firm believer in chiro for my horses.  Years ago, I watched Giggles step on a trailer kicking herself in the belly and step off the trailer sound after one visit to the chiro.  I observed the change in Chic when she stopped trying to bite my foot and actually moved off my leg after one chiro visit.  I’ve seen it work and I believe in it.  Why wouldn’t I try it with myself?  I don’t really have a good answer for that one other than fear.  Scared it will actually make it worse.  Because while it hurts, sometimes a lot, I know that it could be so much worse.

So after talking with Tim, I decided to make an appointment in St Charles with the chiropractor his family has used.  Because it was my first appointment, I had to answer a bunch of questions and do some nerve tests to see how my body was responding to pressure.  Well, the questions were fun.  Have you ever had an accident?  Me, hmmm… what qualifies as an accident?  ER visit?  Then just the one.  Oh wait, two.  No… make that 3.  Yeah 3.  Oh wait, an accident can be anything that causes moderate to severe pain.  Holy crap - put me down for 50+.  I fall a lot.  Off things, like countertops when I’m putting away decorations, and trailers when I’m unloading hay, culverts, oh and horses.  Sometimes a few times a year.  When the chiro asked if I have ever fallen and hurt my lower back I laughed.  Like a lot. And then said, “Did you mean this week?  Because no, this has been a good week.”   He asked how long the pain lasted after my accident.  Umm.. which one?  And is “still” an acceptable answer?

It’s hard to explain how klutzy I am.  And if I went to the doctor for every little ache and pain…  I grew up in a household where the attitude was, “if it isn’t broken, walk it off.”    He also asked how long I’ve rested after accidents.  Well - the doctor made me rest for 6 weeks after my collarbone surgery.  Otherwise, rest?  What’s rest?  There is no rest for the wicked.  And there were plenty of years when if I rested things just didn’t get done.  So yeah, resting isn’t always a possibility.

Then he moved on to the headaches.  He asked how often I have them.  When I replied every day he was like “every single day?”  My response, “well, there was one day last spring where I think I didn’t have one.”  He didn’t seem to think that was funny.  So I clarified that they aren’t ALL day.  Yes, I normally wake up with one.  But if I work out they go away pretty quickly and only sometimes come back.  Yes, sometimes they are so bad I have to close my eyes or do a little deep breathing, but most of the time they are just annoying.  Yes, sometimes they cause me to get sick to my stomach and (as he is pushing on something by my neck that causes me to sit up a little straighter) yes, I do get dizzy if I stand up too fast.  Huh.  Apparently that “means” something.  

So on to the nerve testing.  Ever want to feel like a giant wimp?  Have right side (or left side) weakness, apparently related to some nerve issue?  Like not being able to stop someone from turning your foot.  Or from gently pushing your arm down.  It was kind of infuriating.  I think of myself as strong.  I work out and stuff.  (I do really suck at the strength training - but this guy wasn’t Arnold.  I should have been able to resist even a little bit.)  So as we go along I’m becoming more and more of a believer.

Then he has me stand up so he can evaluate my posture.  He takes one glance and says something about my one shoulder is lower than the other, well duh - I obliterated my collarbone.  I’m titanium now - literally.  And my pelvis is all kittywampas (that word is not used nearly enough).  And I stick my neck out, apparently literally. Well, isn’t that just a fine how do you do.  Maybe you stand funny too there mister chiropractor.  I mean, sheesh.  I’m TRYING here.

So the last questions were about former xrays after accidents.  Being as most of them I was in the “walk it off” mentality - I have very few xrays.  So that was the first step.  Xrays and more xrays.  

Yesterday we went over the xrays.  He’s showing me my neck with some alarm and asked if there was a chance I landed on that when I had my fall off my horse.  Apparently “which time” was not the correct answer.  (Insert eye roll here)  I’m also a little lopsided with a dropped left shoulder and twisty in the lower back, and yes - those are the super correct chiropractic terms that I’m gonna use.  So off we went to try to fix it.

The adjustment was interesting.  Not gonna lie - I was worried about it more than a little. I had this irrational fear that there would be a popping noise and I would find myself partially paralyzed.  I’m happy to say that didn’t happen.  It wasn’t all fun and games and boy, I was sore after, but I survived and was fully functional.  Or at least as much as I was before.  He called to check on me later and I was able to report that I was no more sore than I had been beforehand.  I don’t expect immediate results and that’s a good thing because I am not much better today.  Still woke up with a headache.  Still feel sore in my neck/shoulder and I still have a pain in the butt (and I’m not talking about Tim).  But I go back for another check on Friday and he did warn me it make take a couple of visits.  Something about letting it go for a long time.  Who me?

Guilty for loving 2016

These days I'm feeling guilty.  Everyone is posting how they can't wait for 2016 to be over and it's been the year from hell, etc...  and I can understand.  My very best and closest friend had a year I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.  Other friends have struggled with cancer and disease, horrific losses, and a seemingly uphill battle against financial despair and crisis after crisis.  And I feel guilty for sitting over here thinking that 2016 has been the best year of my life.  There have been downs, struggles and everything hasn't been roses- but the struggles have also taught me that I'm stronger than I think, luckier than I ever knew and loved more than I thought possible. So... if you can't stand to hear how awesome it is.. stop listening.  Because I'm going out of 2016 feeling joyous and thankful. 

The year started with me finding my inner strength and freeing myself from a cheating and emotionally crushing relationship with a, for lack of appropriate words for a family blog, not very nice guy.  I could choose to say "poor me", but I'm going with 'lucky me' because I FINALY realized my worth and that I deserved better. And I got free.  And I found out who my true friends are and those who are always there for me no matter what.  

I reconnected with friends and made time to do the things I loved and rebuilt the social life I had lost.

I had a great year of waitressing at the Village- only forgot people's ranch and ice free water a few times and made a few extra bucks.  All with a side of a ton of laughs and some pretty amazing pie, fries and pizza. 

I rode some amazing horses and checked off some bucket list items like; winning a class, qualifying for Champ Show and placing at SEMSCA year end and winning a chair! 

I got China started all by myself AND she far surpassed anything I expected out of her.

Tim bought me my very own Barbie dream horse complete with glowing white mane and tail.  Bonus- he's going to be an amazing western pleasure horse.  

My girls continue to amaze me and are getting so grown up and so mature.  My heart overflows with how proud I am of them.

I sent an amazing group of sixth grade students on to the high school and am so very proud of the tenacity and hard work with my new group! My job makes me smile every single day.  I may never be rich at the bank, but I will always be rich with memories, laughter and proud of my kiddos.

I moved to a beautiful new house in a beautiful city with amazing people.  

I have two fantastic new bonus kids whom I couldn't be more proud of and astounded by every day.

And last, but most important and the driving force behind most of this happiness, I met Tim.  Who I know I have most of my friends convinced he is either a unicorn or some other mythical creature or an alien as no man can be this perfect.  I finally have a man who not only supports me in my faith but actually pushes me to be a better Christian and stronger as a person.  He has taught me that I can face anything but I don't have to face things alone.  He helps me to be more patient, more understanding and kind.  He helps me to feel more proud of myself and like I deserve all the amazing things he has done for the girls and I.  And he gives me enough shit and teases me enough to keep it all fun.   

So no matter the crap that 2016 has tried to throw at me, no matter the struggles, I'm still pretty excited about how my year went and pretty pumped for 2017.  

Living with a clean freak

It isn't easy living with me.  I definitely get that.  I'm a bit of a neat freak.  And it shows no signs of getting better.  In fact, it may be getting worse.  I used to just hate clutter and stuff laying around. It's grown to a love for the smell of bleach, 409 and hating of all things dirty, dusty and sticky.

Probably a few things led to the "growth" or change.  I know that my mom had lost faith that it would ever happen.  I wasn't the cleanest kid.  Even as an adult, I had things I could work on.  But as time has gone on, I've learned that doing chores quickly (like laundry and dishes) rather than letting it sit around and accumulate actually helps bring order to my day and pass the time more quickly.  Of course living with a sociopath who screamed if you put a dish in the sink instead of the dishwasher was a motivator too.  It has gotten to where I have a hard time starting the day if the laundry isn't folded and the dishwasher emptied and put away.

Turns out that I'm not just crazy!  There are actually legitimate reasons for doing the crazy things I need to do to keep my world in order.  And it's more than discovering that if you do one load of folding at a time you don't have to spend an entire Saturday folding and putting away 7 loads of laundry at a time.

I mean some things are obvious and my own personal reasons:
1. There is nothing more embarrassing than friends stopping over and having to clear a spot at the table or hide dirty socks and underwear.

2. The obvious sickness factor; germs, dust, dirty plates and food sitting out.  I'm not a big fan of bugs.  Even the microscopic kind.  And an even less of a fan of those other critters draw in by food and messes.  The four legged kind.

3. I'm forgetful and lose enough shit without having my house and life be a mess.  I can't imagine if I didn't have a place for everything.  As it is, it's almost daily that I have the keys to some vehicle that someone else wants.  At least I know I can tell them it is in my pocket.  Just good luck figuring out which coat or sweatshirt I wore last.

4. We have a lot of stuff.  And a lot of people.  Organization is not just for peace of mind, it's a life saver.

5.  Did I mention how much it bothers me if someone stops by and the house is a mess?

6.  If you take care of things, they last longer.  Who knew?

7.  There is enough drama in this house with "she took my"... only to find out we had our things all along and just couldn't find them.  I can't imagine if we added mess, clutter and leaving your stuff wherever you want to,  to the mix.

8.  I'm not sure if I've said this yet, but I sure wouldn't want to have to hold the door shut on my friends and family when they stop by because I'm embarrassed about the condition of the house.

One of the kids commented the other day how weird it is that I like to clean house.  I think she has the wrong impression of me.  I don't love to clean house, I love a clean house.  Big difference.  Unfortunately you don't get one without the other.   I don't wake up in the morning and go, "I can't wait to dust!"  But when the house is freshly dusted and smelling of lemon pledge, that's what I love.

Reasons to Make Your Bed

More Reasons and Bed Making Tips

Why to keep the house clean?

Website that proves I'm not crazy

New Year's Resolutions

It’s almost that time of year.  Hard to believe it has rolled around so fast again.  Wow.  I’m awesome at setting resolutions.  Not always so good at following through with them.  And I don’t even set ones I know I could never do like “eat less junk food/sweets” or “give up soda”.  Two years ago, apparently I was wise enough NOT to set resolutions in 2016, I had three resolutions: update the blog more, train for another half, and read for myself more.  Hmmm.. the blog fell off the face of the planet for a while, I haven’t run a half in a while but I do try to read every single day.  But it’s not really “for myself” as I read, almost exclusively, teen fiction to share with my students.  But I do enjoy those books so I’m not complaining.  

One thing I do want to do in our household this year is an idea I got from Pinterest.  You take an empty jar and put notepaper and a pencil next to it.  Every time something good happens, even a little something, you put it on a piece of paper and put it in the jar.  And then next New Year’s Eve we can pull out our happy moments and reflect on all the good in the year.  I’m super excited about this idea and can’t wait to start it.  

What resolutions can I make that I may be able to carry through on… hmm….  I resolve to worry less.  Yeah, that’s not going to work. I worry about how much I worry.  Something more realistic.  Like maybe, I resolve to get up each morning. I can do that.  Okay.   Serious now… I think I have to turn to my ever popular Pinterest for ideas on New Year’s resolutions.

Okay #1 - Learn something cool in my spare time.  I could do this.  What is something cool that I can learn to do?  Ideas?  Suggestions?

#2 - Create a gratitude journal.  Well, I tried that once.  I was about as good at keeping up with that as I was blogging.  But I do keep a journal and I do try to find positive things to write about as much as possible so I’m checking this one off as done.

#3 - Go to sleep at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning.  Sorry..wait..can’t breathe..laughing so hard… yeah, that one is not going to happen.  

#4 - Stretch of a morning?  What does that even mean?  Do they mean stretch every morning?  Yeah - being a realist I’m going to say that one probably won’t happen either.  I could set a goal to stretch out after working out in the mornings but that would require me to not hit snooze so that I would have time to stretch after working out.  

#5 - Break a bad habit.  But I don’t have any… at least not any I am willing to break.

#6 - Set aside 30 minutes to write.  Oh goodness.  Well, I already write a lot.  Like a lot.  So yeah.  Done.  

#7 - Put away $50 or 10% of your paycheck every WEEK.  Oh dear.  That would be an excellent resolution, not realistic for us, but excellent.

#8 - Stop buying coffee every day.  Check.  Done.  (Gross)

#9 - Stop drinking caffeine and fizzy drinks.  Hold the phone.  Slow down.  Wait a damn minute.  Cut back, maybe.  But “stop”.  Let’s not get crazy here.

#10 - Go Vegan/Vegetarian.  This thing is getting ridiculous.  I’ll give up meat when animals go extinct.

#11 - Literally stop drinking alcohol.  I’m about done with this crazy list.  How did we go from resolutions to flat out nonsense?

#12 - Meet new people.  I’ve met so many new people this year.  Most of them related to Tim.  The others are all DE families.  Speaking of which.  I’m so not used to big schools.  Sophie was out for volleyball.  She had a dozen or so team members.  I learned ALL of their names, even some of their parents.  And then basketball season started.  Do you know how many are out for basketball out of the dozen or so girls?  Not a one.  I am struggling to learn new girls.  And there are girls with the same name but they aren’t the same!  Like an Emily for volleyball and a new Emily for basketball.  Wait, make that TWO new Emily’s for basketball.  It’s all so confusing.  And Sophie will ask to go to someone’s house and I won’t have a clue who she is talking about.  It’s like a foreign language.  Thank goodness that I have Tim as my interpreter or Sophie would never go anywhere. So yeah, I’m gonna go with “check” on that one.

#13 - Start a little Etsy homemade shop.  Totally giggling here.  What could I make?  Besides jokes that no one laughs at?  I like to color in adult coloring books.  Anyone want to buy a used up coloring sheet?  Gonna have to skip this one too.

#14 - Watch less TV.  Supposedly the average American watches over 5 hours of TV a day.  Seriously people?  How the hell is that possible?  Last night I asked Tim if the Voice was on.  We had watched a couple of shows when they were choosing their teams “the other day”.  He informed me the season was over. Yeah.  How does that happen?  Or more accurately, how does one have time to watch 5 hours of TV a day.  I might get 45 minutes of Netflix in on the treadmill/elliptical.  That’s my TV time.  So… check.

#15 - Clean the clutter in your house.  Umm.. weekly trips to donate at Goodwill and a person who is a complete neat freak.  I’m going to go with check and mate on that one.  

#16 - Stop being late to everything.  Who’s late?  Me?  Not on your life.  Unless my kids make me.  Is there a resolution for not screaming at your kids for making you late?  That one I can get behind.

#17 - Face a fear.  Hell to the no.  I faced a fear in 2015.  I faced my fear of guns by learning to shoot one and got my permit to carry.  What’s left?  Snakes, bats, spiders, mice, heights and water.  Yep.  Those aren’t made to be faced or beaten.  I’m okay with those.  I can live with those.

#18 - Up your relationship game.  I’m not exactly sure what this one means.  Hey - I met a guy, got engaged and moved in with him in 2016.  I think my relationship game is strong.  But I could always work on letting him know how much I appreciate him and love him, so this one is something I can do.  

#19 - Drink 2 - 3 litres of water a day.  This is where I admit I struggle with the damn metric system.  But being as I’ve had kidney stones in the past my daily goal for water intake is a gallon a day.  I think I can say check on this one?  

#20 - Save up for Christmas before Christmas time.  I like this goal.  It ranks right up there with buy presents early.  Except I always lose the damn gifts in a great hiding spot and well, saving $200 a month from resolution #7? Let’s not get greedy.

#21 - Do an experience once a month.  I don’t even know what this means.  What’s an experience?  Taking the kids to a movie can be a damn experience.  Trying to get 4 teenagers out the door anywhere is a freaking experience.  Teaching sixth grade is not only an experience but a challenge.  I experience a lot of stuff daily.  Does that count?  

#22 - Do one of those 30 day challenges.  Is there one about eating a new kind of chocolate every day?  Or taste testing wine?  Oh I know!   A sleeping in challenge.  I like this idea!

#23 - Watch the sugar movie and go totally sugar free.  First my Dt. Mountain Dew, then meat, next you tried alcohol and now SUGAR.  Stop the insanity!  

#24 - Stop ordering takeout.  Yep.  Officially done with this list of suggestions.  

Well - Pinterest has failed to motivate me with good ideas for New Year’s resolutions.  So here are my vague but hopeful goals for 2016:

I hope to be able to find the positive in even the worst moments.  I want to build my strength in looking for the good in others and forgiving those who don’t ask or feel they need to be forgiven.  I want to continue to grow in my faith and pray daily.  I want to stop judging others and encourage my kids not to judge and jump to conclusions, but to look for all possible solutions and remind ourselves that we only have to love our fellow human beings.  I hope to continue on a journey to be healthy and physically stronger.  I hope to love others as they deserve to be loved and spread that love and joy in all I do.  I want to build patience, spend more time doing the things I love with the people I love and try to trust in God’s plan more.