Today

I miss my mom today.

I actually miss my mom a lot of days, but just now - while in my office - for some reason it hit me that by living so far away from home for the past thirteen years, I've missed a lot of important time with my mom. I've missed important time with my entire family, actually. I don't get to attend school concerts, birthday lunches, soccer games, births, baptisms, and the like unless I make a special trip. And I never, never thought I would say this (as in, never....), but I am sort of tired of traveling right now. It's exhausting. Maybe I'm just getting old...

What was life like, years ago, when families lived their entire lives near each other? Or worse, when families would travel west (for example) and have unreliable U.S. post as the only method of communication? We are so lucky to have telephone, e-mail, regular mail, skype...you name it, there is an instant method of communication so that we can stay in touch with loved ones far and near (Morgan and I often skype, and she lives about fifteen minutes from home).

Maybe I'll plan a trip home.

I'm Thirty-Eight

I am thirty-eight years old, yet at times I still feel seventeen. Not just sometimes- a LOT of the time. At least, when it comes to certain situations. Maybe we don't really change that much as adults.

Or, do you suppose that life has ways to make us grow and learn, which is what makes us feel older? Ugh, I do not know...

Life Moves Fast...

Life moves fast. If you don't stop and look around every once in a while, you may miss it. Or something like that (says Ferris Bueller).



I've had a very interesting, if somewhat confusing, weekend. In my last post, I noted that I was a "go from the gut" kind of girl, but that lately I've learned that using my head may be the way forward. Turns out, though, I don't do such a good job of relying on my intellect in making decisions. My intuition is far more important to my decision-making process.



So, for now, I'll keep being who I am: I'll go with my gut. Which means that I will continue to take Ferris Bueller's advice, and stop to look around at life every once in a while for fear I may miss it.

Life Decisions

Here I am, 38 years old, and I am still stymied by certain decisions. I have grown so used to "going from the gut" without a lot of rational thought, that I can't seem to reconcile rational thought vs. instinct. How to balance the two? Do I just return to my former trusting-of-the-gut, or do I rely on my head?

Stay tuned.

Christmas Eve in Okemos

The girls and I are spending Christmas at home this year. We love our family of course, but we decided to relax and skip the travel this go-round. Instead, we spent today together, hanging out, and this evening we went to a movie (hence the pic in our handy dandy 3D glasses!) It was a great day and I am so glad that we are our own little family in Okemos.

Holidays 2009

I am sitting in the nest with Ash and Izzy. For those who don't know, the nest is our sofa. The Christmas tree lights are shining, holiday treats are baking (SIX dozen cookies and cupcakes- for the first time, I've used the double oven!) Holiday music is playing that I've had since BYU days when the girls were tiny. I remember decorating the tree to this music when the entire family was asleep some early morning at BYU. It was so satisfying to have the girls wake up and see the tree with tiny red ribbons tied on almost every branch. Those were the days of Santa, before reality set in. I can't wait for tomorrow- baking day with the girls and their friends.

Cold

I was very cold last night. So cold, in fact, that I was pretty sure that my furnace must not be working properly...but I was too cold to walk downstairs to check.

This morning, on the way to work, I fiddled with my car heater at least five times, getting a wee bit panicky- wondering if my car heater was broken, too.

Finally, upon arrival at the office, I turned on my space heater. All the way. I was still freezing.

Only then did it dawn on me that it is not my devices that are broken- I live in a very cold place!!!