My Favorite Things

Oprah has a show she does yearly (and no I don't watch her) called "My Favorite Things" and usually the audience gets some of her "favorite" things FREE. Her favorites are usually expensive and not practical. And I guess if you are a bizzillionaire, then your favorite things are not the same as those of the "simple" folks. Lately I have been thinking about my favorite things and while these aren't ALL of them and don't include the obvious like family and friends, here are a few:

1) my Ugg boots (even though I have had them a year, they are still in great shape and I would wear them EVERY day INCLUDING summer. They are so warm and so soft and you don't have to wear socks with them and there is something in their design that keep your feet from sweating so no smell. I love them!!!

2) my IPod (it is VERY old and doesn't always work like it is supposed to but I couldn't run without it)

3) running (yeah it is a favorite thing. makes me feel good physically and emotionally and it hopefully will keep me healthy)

4) animals ( I am, after all, the CEO of the Shelton Family Memorial Clinic/Animal Hospital/Humane Society)

5) my snuggie (wish I had invented it........just a piece of fleece with arms, who would have thought?)

6) a good novel (and I have read several in the last three months)

7) feeding the birds (don't ask me why but I can sit on the porch and watch them at the feeder for hours)

8) hunting (and by this I mean sitting in the blind, drinking a sonic diet coke, eating snacks, reading my book, and watching nature all around me)

9) my Ov-Glove (as seen on TV! and to pronouce it make it rhyme) I got it for Christmas and you can wear it on either hand and it is the coolest pot holder type thing EVER!!! and it is cute

10) flannel!!! (nuff said)

SPRING FEVER WITH A WIND CHILL OF 22?

I am sitting here wearing leggings under my skirt, with my little electric heater blowing on my feet, and a sweater on and I have spring fever. Not a desire for warmer weather but that "I don't want to be at work" sort of fever. And not the "I don't like my job" thing either. You know that feeling that comes with spring? Where you just feel different. You want to be at home. You just want to be outside, or you want to work in the yard, or clean the garage or wash the windows or whatever you do to signal a new season. And spring seems to be the season we always RENEW ourselves. So for some weird reason I am having my spring renewal season right now today. And it is too cold to do any thing about it. I always saw the new year as just another year older and the passing of more time. Maybe because I am older I feel differently. I can't explain the feeling but I am anxious and excited for the new year and what it will bring. Perhaps it will bring an early spring?

RESOLVED!!

Resolutions. I am of the opinion that people don't really know what they are and what they mean. I think the reason they are hard to keep is because we make unrealistic ones to begin with. I think that resolutions are something that should be an ongoing process and not just something that we start every January 1. I believe that we "resolve" to do things throughout the year, we just don't make a big deal and call it a resolution. And we don't ever think about that goal or issue that we have accomplished and say to ourselves "RESOLVED!!". Camelot is one of my all-time favorite movies. One of the things I love best is that throughout the movie King Arthur is searching for ways to make life better. He is a thinker, a ponderer. And after much thought (and song) he comes up with a solution. He then restates the problem and gleefully shouts "resolved." As I look back on 2009, I realize that many things in my life were "resolved." Things I didn't realize until I began thinking and pondering it. And when I did realize it and began to click them off one by one as being resolved, I felt like Arthur...excited and pleased. So this year dear reader I would encourage you to think back every evening on the day completed and see what you "resolved" that day. And if you must make a list make them realistic. And instead of trying to make a YEAR'S worth, just start with today. As for me............today I plan on

1) updating my blog (resolved)

2) do my job to the best of my ability (partially resolved, 4 classes to go)

3) not curse (partially resolved see above)

4) be positive (again partial)

5) pray (will be resolved when I pillow my head tonight)

6) be thankful (resolved)

7) be healthy (resolved if I can get through lunch with my friends)

8) be a good wife (duh...........sooooooooo resolved)

9) be a good mother (see above)

Not bad to have nine resolutions almost complete and that is just for one day. Which brings me to my last resolution

10) take ONE day at a time (resolved)

It Doesn't Get Any Easier...Why Is That?

Today started out as any other normal Sunday. Church, Sunday School, out to eat. Came home and helped Katie pack and loaded her car. As I hugged her in her room I was overcome with emotion. Like seriously!!! Katie has been on the road back "home" to Lubbock for about an hour and I have FINALLY gotten myself together enough to talk about it. Her daddy of course is snoring happily away on the couch and has been since before she reached the city limit sign. What is it about men? (whole other blog) Anyway, she came late and left early because she has to work or wanted to or volunteered or whatever. She is going back to work and while I am proud of her work ethic and the fact that full time work right now fills her coffers and therefore mine as well, I hate that everyone else's child is still here and mine is on the road and going back to a rather large EMPTY dorm and equally empty dorm rooms as no one else has to or will be back until this coming weekend. I am so proud of her. Have I said that? I am. I really really am. AND we had such a good visit. But I think that is part of the problem. Her trips "home" are starting to become just that...........a visit. For her, "home" is Lubbock and while that was our intended goal and yeah we have done our job and should be proud and blah blah blah.....it still makes me sad. And every time she leaves here she takes another piece of herself with her. And yeah that is how it SHOULD BE..........I GET IT!!! So why does it sometime break my heart? I cried (a lot) this time because I couldn't and can't stand the thought of her being up there "all alone." She will be fine but I hated to see her go. She has been out from under my roof since August of 2008 and out of San Angelo since August of 2009 so what is my problem? I don't know and don't care. I just know that the next time I walk out of the room at Regency House after visiting with MY mom... I will wonder if she sometimes feel that bittersweet ache in her heart. That mixture of pride and loss all wrapped up in this incredible package of love and happiness? I have no way of knowing but I know this, next time I go "visit" my mom...I will stay longer and hold her a little tighter. And hopefully, for her, it will feel like home.