Empty Nest: 1/8/12

Saturday, January 14, 2012

The Simple Woman's Day Book Entry...and One More Thing

This is a fun way to start the weekend! Just head over to Peggy's by clicking the button below and join in the fun!

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...the sun is shining brightly and the birds are eating at the feeders. They look all fluffed up from the cold and the wind.

I am thinking...that I am not a fan of being sick. What usually happens to me in October happened this week because of the waytowarmforJanuary temps.

I am thankful...for the cold weather!Though I doubt I'd be saying that if I lived in, say...Minnesota, for instance.

In the kitchen...there is a mess and I really need to get in there and clean it up. Probably not going to happen. How does it get so messy anyway when only two people and one little dog live here? Oh, wait. One of the people is a male. :)

I am wearing...my workout clothes and a hoodie. It's cold in here.

I am creating...cookbooks for each of the lovelies. I found these neat-o (yes, I just used the word 'neat-o') scrap/cookbooks at Michael's ONSALE just before Christmas and I got one for each of the lovelies. I gave them to the lovelies for Christmas but they had to give them back so I could put recipes in there for them. I am filling the books with all our family recipes and all the things I've learned so far about going gluten free. I am putting the recipes in as written originally and then, at the bottom, writing how to make them in a healthier, gluten free, sugar free, lower calorie way.And I'm being very specific. One of them isn't even sure how to boil a chicken.

I am going...NOWHERE. I mean it.

I am wondering...whether or not we'll get lucky enough to have that rare to the low-country snowfall this year.

I am reading...The Psychology of Everyday Things.

I am hoping...that we get that rare to the low-country snowfall this year.

I am looking forward to...that rare to the low-country snowfall this year. IF we get it.

I am learning...something every day. For example, today I learned that Netflix only gives decent choices on independent films sometimes. Today is not one of those times. AND 1/4 cup of dried cranberries has 96 freaking calories in it. WTH?!

Around the house...it's very quiet. And it's been that way since everyone left after the holidays.Until the husband gets home from work. Then you'd think there was a party going on. A noise party. :)

I am pondering...if pro is the opposite of con, is progress the opposite of congress?

A favorite quote for today..."The light made the snowballs look yellow. At least I hoped that was the cause."

One of my favorite things...about winter is the hope for all that snow that we are so rarely allowed the pleasure of enjoying here in the low-country.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Work on the cookbooks; find this year's patterns for the knitted gifts for Christmas and start those now so I don't get behind thinking I can do this, no problem; organize...

A peek into my day...

See Tucker in the lower right hand corner? I had to move that book so he could get in the chair. He's much happier now. Everything had to be moved to the dining table. My desk is just to small to handle it. Mainly because Tucker likes to sit on the left side of the desk and look out the window for squirrels. I think our lives may be ruled by a little ten pound pooch.

I am also going to link up with FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY, a new blog hop from Create With Joy.

Friendship Friday was designed to help bloggers meet new friends and comes with a question every week. This week's question is:

What do you love most about blogging? That is SO easy! It's all of YOU! I had no idea when I first started blogging that my life would be enriched with new friends! But it has and I will be eternally grateful for each and every one of you!

Just click on the button above and head over to join in Friendship Friday. The linky will be up all weekend!

Friday, January 13, 2012

Does Life Ever Get You Down?

Some of us may think that we have known the hardships, disappointments, sadness, etc. of life like no one else in the world ever has. And we may have. But, comparatively speaking, I am not so sure.

I mean, my brother has never thrown me out of the family. I've not been married multiple times having each attempt end badly. I've never been abused by anyone- physically, mentally, intellectually, verbally, etc. I've never wondered where my next meal will come from or had to 'farm out' my children until I could support them financially or provide for their safety.

I've just completed When Ties Break A Memoir About How to Thrive After Loss and I can honestly say that I have never come across someone in this life who has been through as many...life obstacles, deterrents to happiness...whatever you want to call them. as Margaret Norton has.

So, what sets her apart from any other stories out there? Margaret conquers fears. She clear those insurmountable obstacles. She keeps trying even after experiencing defeat, time after time after time. After time.

I'm pretty sure I would have given up long, long ago. Not to mention held some grudges. But not Margaret.

Want to know how she was able to forgive? How she picked herself back up and started over again every single time? Want to know how she kept plugging along even though every hand she was dealt seemed to be a bad one? Want to know what she has learned through all her trials?

Then you're in luck! Because she's giving away a copy of her book to one of YOU! All you have to do is tell me in the comment section that you'd love to win a copy and you will be entered!

Meanwhile, please enjoy this guest post from Margaret on change.

Change. Good, Bad or Indifferent?

“You must like change” is a comment I often hear. My family and friends believe that I do change well because I do it frequently. It’s a skill that I’ve been perfecting my whole life. My father moved seven times before I graduated from high school, forcing me to deal with change as a young child.

When my first husband walked out on me, leaving me with two young children, I was forced to make many difficult changes. Life as I knew it ended and I was angry for a very long time. Why should I have to change because he no longer wanted what I had to offer?

For the past 17 years I’ve worked in the mortgage industry, laid off numerous times. The first time it happened, I was forced to make unwanted lifestyle changes. But each layoff got easier and I came to view those times as new adventures.

What have I learned from all the changes I’ve experienced? If we instigate change does that make it easier? Is change good, bad or indifferent? As I approach my sixtieth birthday, these are my beliefs about change. Most of these I write about in my memoir, When Ties Break.

Change is a vital part of life. Nothing ever stays the same. Dale Carnegie said “When you’re green you’re growing, when you’re ripe you’re rotten.” I discovered a long time ago that I preferred ripe to rotten and I was the one who could control that.
Change is hard. We get comfortable with our lifestyles. We form patterns, routines, and know what to expect. Even when we’re unhappy, we often choose to stay that way because we fear the unknown. We often go to great links to avoid change.
Attitude is everything. When making a change it is much easier if we focus on the positive. If we fight the inevitable this makes it harder. On the other hand, if we embrace change with a positive attitude it seems to be easier. Some people believe that nothing is good or bad but rather it’s our attitude that creates the circumstances.
Prospective is important. When faced with difficult changes it helps to remember that this too shall pass. Nothing lasts forever. The Bible says there is a time and season for everything. It helps when dealing with unwanted change to remember that this leads to something else. The something else can actually be better than what you have now.
Most of the things that we fear never happen. Change involves the unknown which is the breeding ground for all kinds of fears. “What if” we ask ourselves over and over? Fear of failure prevents many individuals from pursuing change, when in reality most of the things we dread never come to be.
Don’t let anyone else define your goals and dreams or your success and failure. We worry too much about what others think about us. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t value their opinions but we need to learn to trust our intuition. So many times we allow others to talk us out of something because of their fears or insecurities.
What’s your motivation to change? Sometimes we change for all the wrong reasons – to get back at someone, to prove something, etc. This is never a good idea and we end up suffering. Sometimes we put off making a change because of how it might affect someone else. Rather than making spur of the moment – fly by the seat of your pants decisions – its best if you analyze the change before implementing it. Determine what your real motivation is.
Change can be good. It forces us to grow and expand. Different experiences make us more interesting, while increasing our knowledge and making us more rounded individuals. Sometimes we have to experience the bad before we get to the good.
Develop your sense of humor. Change is stressful and we need outlets to relieve the stress. Don’t take yourself seriously and learn to laugh at yourself. My second husband was better than my first, my third husband was better than my second, and my fourth husband needs to be rich.
It’s okay to ask for help. Some change, like a difficult divorce, is too much to handle alone. Sometimes it’s necessary to consult a professional counselor, rely on the help of a good friend or engage the services of a Personal Life Coach. I just happen to know someone who I can recommend.