Today it is the little things.

Today...
I used my new vacuum. It is awesome.
My daughter went all day in underwear. She is awesome.
My children devoured our eclectic dinner of fried rice with mushrooms, onions, zucchini, red peppers, and turkey hot dogs (my son added balsamic vinegar). Awesome.
The little things in my life have made my day... Fantastic

Inspiration in interesting places

My last post was my favorite quote and it turns out that it is one of my husband's favorite quotes too. Which was a sweet surprise to me...

A couple weeks ago (by pure coincidence I think it might have been just after I posted the quote) the kids and I (with my husband too) went up to tour my husband's job site (my husband builds road... big roads... and is pretty awesome at it too.).

The job itself has made some amazing progress with the road and bridges but the most important progress (I think) is what has been happening in the offices, and hopefully with the team of employees.

The offices have been transformed from a dirty plain (and boring) construction site into a place of inspiration that encourages creativity, dedication and success. The walls are filled with uplifting quotes and pictures. Wise words are in the meeting room, by the door, etc. I was so excited to see them!! The more I walked around, the more inspired I became. It was great!

Then, I walked past the printer and what did I see on the wall?!.... MY QUOTE. my favorite. quote.  My husband had modified it to speak to his team more directly by changing the teacher focused language (I changed it too if you notice).

I almost started to cry. It meant so very much to me to see it hanging there...

It was a special moment for me. He DOES get me.

quotes that changed my life.

“I’ve come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom (my life). 

It’s my personal approach that creates the climate.

 It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. 

As a teacher, (person) I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous.

I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration.

I can humiliate or heal. 

In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated 

and a child humanized or dehumanized.” 

― Haim G. Ginott

Word of the Year

Last year, I ditched the idea of a New Year's resolution and instead I embraced the idea of a "Word of the Year".

My word for 2011 was... choice.

In 2011 I choose to:

• surround myself with positive people
• be supportive rather than critical
• yell (or not) at my children to hurry up (I try my best to not yell.) 
• provide chooses for my children in their daily lives
• scream (or not) at a certain pompous news anchor on TV (Can you guess who?) 
• seek to understand my husband's perceptive as to why he works the insane hours that he does and be proud that he takes such ownership in his job
• make my health a top priority and work out five-six days a week
• eat healthy food and make healthy meals (or some-days NOT and get a McDonald's burger and sweet tea)
• commit myself to a cause
• laugh more
• be confident with how I choose to parent and be comfortable with the fact that I make mistakes
• let the little things slide (e.g., the dishes and laundry always lose to reading and playing with my kids)
• blog... or not
• read inspirational words every day
• remember that a person's perceptive is critical to understanding and can change everything
• bloom where I am planted 
• be positive  
• be okay with the fact that I can not please everyone
• find opportunity in struggle
• be happy (sometimes I choose, and it is okay that I do, to be angry, disappointed or frustrated)
• remember it is MY choice and only I can give power to someone else or to negativity.

Through-out the year my choices have become wiser and easier to make. I have learned that the key to living a happy life is choosing one.

I have also humbled myself. Being happy isn't always easy, nor is being optimistic. Learning to live a life of optimism is a lifestyle commitment. I realize now, more than ever, that I will be fine tuning my choices for the rest of my days.

With all of this being said, 2011 is behind us. It's a new year that will be filled with new possibilities and opportunities.

So I have choosen a new word and I am sure that you can guess what my word might be...

Did you guess?





















Yeap. Gratitude.





I hope to be more grateful each day. This blog and my Facebook page are helping me...


What is your word?

52-57

52- Thankful for Christmas music.


‎53- Thankful for my son's first Christmas program. It was wonderful. Smiled and "happy cried" through the entire thing!


‎54- Thankful for Christmas cards!!! How I love this time of year.


55- Thankful for the amazing imagination of children. It is just. magical.


56- Thankful for a chocolate cake baked (from scratch), icing made, a kitchen covered in flour, and a little girl who is two short days away from being 2 years old! :)
‎
57- Thankful that my friend received a package I had mailed today. I sent it in October and we thought that it was lost for sure. Knowing that my daughter's infant clothes are not lost forever and that one sweet little girl will be wearing them absolutely makes my day! :)


JS

51

51- Thankful for the generous man who was working the salvation army station at the mall today. He saw that my nearly two year old was not cooperating (read: mom on a mission. walking slower than a slug. not wanting carried. screaming. pulling mom-ma's hair.) and gave her a sucker. After some negotiations she cooperated, making my trip successful and keeping me sane. Hallelujah!!   Thank you, salvation army bell ringer guy. Thank you.
JS

50

50- Thankful for snuggles. Holding my children is calming and humbling. Their snuggles absolutely make my day. JS