Apply New Year's Resolution Here 

The New Year is knocking on the door.  I've had piece meal reflections in the past couple of weeks, mostly during episodes of frustration where I vow to never let [fill in the blank] happen again!  This is what I've come up with.

I don't spend enough time with my family.  I don't spend enough time with my friends.  I don't spend enough time developing my business.  I don't spend enough time enhancing my ministry.  I don't spend enough time with God.  I don't spend enough time writing letters, keeping my financial records in order, practicing creativity, phoning friends, caring for my health, helping my kids with their homework, cleaning my home... 

When you're Time Poor it seems you become a victim of time, or lack of.  Just as if you were without money, you are enslaved to your need, making decisions about how you spend the little you have in reaction to crises.  My daytimer, which I live by, is full of past-due dates, mini fires, and needs-musts. 

Although, necessity means I've come up with resourceful ways to combine my obligations (i.e. phoning a friend while I clean the house), it seems that, with the mass number of things demanding my attention, my time is spread too thin to do any of them well.   Everything suffers.  In some cases, this makes it worse than not doing them at all - at least then there is an opportunity for someone else to step in. 

I suppose this is the point of evaluation.  What things can only be done me?  Only I can be a mother to my children, only I can build my relationship with God, etc.  If I feel that I'm still conflicted with the things only I can do, I need to prioritize based on what I do not want to fail.  Often these are the things which do not show up on the daytimer and are relationship-driven.  God, family and friends always rise to the top.  And yet these are the very things that suffer most by my inattention.

My New Year's Resolution is to give time, instead of spend it.

To be continued... but when?

I can't bring myself to do it.  I can't bring myself to shut down the blog.  I have no more readers.  I have no more time.  But I can't write the last post and officially close the door on this chapter of life. 

Just a few posts ago I was talking about my renewed desire to write and yet other, more pressing matters keep me away from the blog, as they should. 

But I can't say my final goodbye.  I like my username way too much.

I know he loves me because he says it to me all the time

I'm sure it won't be long till my daughters learn to express themselves the same as the rest of us... via Hallmark.  For now, they just say it like it is.  For Father's Day, I took the opportunity to find out what they thought of their Dad.  No rhyming sentiment here.

Sophia says...

What is something your dad always says to you?  Feed Pixie [the fish]!

What makes your dad happy?  When I make my bed.

What was your dad like as a child?  I have no idea, but probably silly.

How tall is your dad?  As tall as his dresser.

What does your dad do when you're not there?  Nothing.

What could your dad become famous for?  Playing the guitar.

What is your dad not good at?  Playing Polly Pockets.

What does your dad eat?  Huh! I never asked him that before.

If your dad was TV character, which one would he be?  Spock.

How are you and your dad the same?  We're both skinny.

How do you know your dad loves you?  He says it to me all the time.

Mallory's turn...

What is something your dad always says to you?  Flush and wash!

What makes your dad happy?  I don't know when he's happy.

What makes your dad sad?  When he goes away from us.

What was your dad like as a child?  He never really talks about his childhood, but I'm guessing sneaky.

How tall is your dad?  5'2" ... or maybe 6'2"?

What could your dad become famous for?  His Lego designs.

What is your dad not good at?  Dancing.

What does your dad like to eat?  Leftovers.

If your dad was a TV character, which one would he be?  Bugs Bunny, because he's smart and sarcastic.

How are you and your dad the same?  We both like Star Wars.

How do you know your dad loves you?  He says it to us every night when he kisses us goodnight.

Happy Father's Day Dads! 

Also, there's photography

This is my neice, Gwyneth, and nephew, Wesley, on the left and my daughter, Sophia, on the right.  To take this picture, I interrupted their game of make believe.  Something or other about a princess, a knight, and a super-model.

Laugh Out Loud

So I have this renewed and intense desire to write, but my life is craziness.  So what, yours is too, I know.

A couple weekends ago, I was at an artisan show in Toronto selling my wares.  I stayed overnight at a hotel and took full advantage of their complimentary breakfast.  As I was sitting there, eating my third bowl of Fruit Loops, I overheard a conversation between two elderly ladies who had just discovered text messaging. 

One woman says to the other, "Did you know that 'LOL' means 'Laugh Out Loud?'"

The second woman replies, "Oh yes, but when I make a joke on the phone, I prefer to say 'ha ha.'"

Their discussion continued, which was incredible in itself that LOL got such airtime.  While I finished my two rubber fried egg sandwiches, muffin, and fruit salad, I was actually a little sad that I couldn't follow those two around and record more of their conversation. That was when I realized I had my writer's hat on, and that was when I realized how much I miss writing.  

Not for the writing itself, as in the document/piece you produce, but for the way you look at the world. When you write, you become an observer of character and quirks and interesting things that happen around you.  Because they do ALL THE TIME.

When you don't write, the world tends to slip by unnoticed.