Hello Summer

I'm not going to lie.  Yesterday when we sat down for dinner I was prepared for more deep thoughts and life challenging questions.  Dinner time around here is never boring.  But they traded in their usual questions and suggested I grab a pen and paper instead. This scared me.  And rightfully so, they wanted me to write down their Summer Bucket List. And its a long one!



Most of the list are things that I knew would be there.  Like Swimming, because during the summer we are fish! There was also sleepovers, the beach, BBQ with friends, bike rides and movie nights.

But then they shock me with things like having a lemonade stand and donating the money to the Dane Rescue. They also asked to take gifts to our neighbors, Volunteer somewhere new, pen pals and take a road trip to Dallas.  They want to have Grandma and Grandpa over for dinner and they want to serve them like they are in a restaurant.  And they asked to visit the library every week!

This summer is kind of a big one.  The little one made it through Kinder and is on his first summer break.  Ant is going into his final year of Elementary School next year.  It will be their last year in the same school ever again. After that, life will be even crazier.  So I'm planning on making this a summer to remember.  Even if it close to kills me.  Which it probably will, it is going to be worth it all!

I added a few things to the list too.  I want to plant something together.  And go to pick something as well. There are a few fruit farms not to far from us.  Family photos make our summer list every year but never get done.  Oh its on this year!  Camping too!  I don't even care if its only in the back yard. And what is summer with out baseball.  The Missions games are always a blast!



There will be s'mores, water balloons, picnics and hiking.  Slip n Slides, otter pops, parks and kite flying.  So much to do!  Summer Break seems like a long time and I know there are going to be days I miss them being in school but I am determined to make it the best summer so far.  Nothing is going to stop us!  Except the ice cream truck.  We will stop for that!

What are your summer plans?  Is there anything we should add to the list?  There is always room for more fun, so let me hear it!

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Thankful Thursday

Years ago, Anthony said one day as we were playing in a blanket fort that we should make one outside. And the idea of camping popped into my head. I remember telling my dad about it and reminiscing on the few memories I have of us going. Back in New Mexico when I was probably 6 or 7. I still remember the smell of the river and the catfish cooking.  I wanted my boys to have those kinds of memories too. A few weeks later, he sent Anthony, not one, but two fishing poles.  I wonder if he knew Id be needing another one?

Two years ago I finally convinced David to buy me a tent.  At that point, I think he was only tired of me talking about it.  He is more of a "Cabin Camper." He likes the AC and the comfort of his own home.  Stars and Campfires, not so much. But he played along. A few weeks after the tent, he bought me a campfire grilled cheese maker. The boys had a sleepover that summer and we popped the tent up in the back. We have camped out a handful of times in the back now.

Well all these years later, he has finally agreed to take us. The plan was to go last weekend, but the rain scared us away. We did settle on a campground and even drove out there to check it out.  I won't lie, its out there and a little intimidating. The boys are excited, I am too, but I am pretty sure David will need a beverage or two to calm his city boy nerves. Honestly, I think he might actually be looking forward to it a little big too. I am just hoping we get out there soon.

Sometimes we have to put ourselves outside of our comfort zone. Sometimes we do things we don't really want to do because someone we love really wants to do it. Every family has that one crazy person with the crazy ideas right? Well in our family, I wear that badge. And proudly. I insist on doing things that no one wants to do, and I pray that by the time its over, everyone has enjoyed themselves.

So what am I thankful for exactly?  For a family who entertains my crazy ideas. For boys who can find an adventure in even the simplest of things and for a husband who loves me enough to smile and go along with it all. Even if it means sleeping in the middle of the woods in a place we have never been before. He might shake his head at a few of my crazier ideas, but he never says no.

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New Year. New Focus.

I'm not making resolutions this year!  Plain and simple.  I had a few last year and I actually did pretty well.  I lost 10lbs.  Gained back 5.  I was eating smart for the first 10 months, then all hell broke loose. Walking everyday was a fail, but I did run regularly a few times a week for the first half of the year.  But something always happens and I always stop.

So what am I going to do?  Stop making these huge resolutions?  Stop having goals? I think what I really need to do is stop being so hard on myself. 2013 got the best of me and I will be the first to say it.  I had just about lost all my hope.  I let way too many things pile up on my shoulders.  Problems that were not mine to worry about.  I let other peoples failures hurt me.  I worried over problems I could not fix.  And I tried to help people who didn't want to help themselves.  My biggest failure of the year was not giving myself any thought.  I came in last because I put myself there.

What will I do this year?  I am going to let go of all the nonsense and I am going to enjoy my life.  I am going to read more, sweat more, laugh more and try more.  Make lots of memories.  I am going to take more photos, and actually be in some of them.  I am going to say no to things that won't make me happy and yes to the things that will.  This is my year!

What better way to start it than with a few small goals.  Wait, didn't I just say I wasn't going to be making any goals?  What the heck, I will make lots of goals, but I'm starting out small.  The first thing I need to do is get organized and on a schedule.  Plan my days better.  Schedule my day, cleaning and cooking.  And stick to it.  This includes going to bed earlier and getting up on time.  I think doing this is going to help all my other goals fall into place.  Not really the smallest of goals, but some things never change.  I always push myself.  I can't help it.

I'm going to start a 2014 Bucket List Board on Pinterest and will update here when I actually do them.  You can follow along HERE.  I am going to go back to sharing monthly goals.  I am going to write more,  I really sucked at that this year.  Like I said, it wasn't my best year.  But I'm over that.  I'm ready for the new year and I'm ready for new adventures that are going to come with it.

I wish you all the best in the New Year.  I wish you good health and a happy life.  Remember we only get one, so live it.

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Friday Five: November Bucket List

There is no way I could top this.  I had already surprised my mom with my Nephew coming in for Thanksgiving.  Then, I took a break in the middle of cooking Thanksgiving dinner to grab a quick picture of everyone.  I'm so sneaky!  Because as soon as everyone was sitting, David came in with my oldest brother!  I'm not planning anything to big this year, just a few things to look forward to and plan with the boys.  Like I said, there will be no topping this...

Backyard camp out with s'mores!

We were planning on going camping this month, but I don't think we will get around to it.  So while uncle Lester is in town, I think we can squeeze in a backyard camp out complete with s'mores and hot chocolate in the crisp fall night. 

Go fishing.

My dad bought Anthony a very cool bamboo fishing pole that we have yet to try out.  Anthony had planned on fishing with his Grandpa, but I am hoping that fishing with me might be enough.  Now all I need to do is find a good place to go fishing here in San Antonio.

Explore a new park.

There are so many parks here and we haven't even been to half of them.  And with the weather finally cooling down, we will be able to enjoy a few hours with out overheating!  I have quite a few parks on my list but I have no clue where to start first.  I'm taking suggestions.  What is your favorite San Antonio Park?

Take family photos

This one I have been trying to do for years, but somehow it just never happens.  I have tons of photos of the boys.  A few of David and the boys.  And only a few phone selfies with the boys and myself.  I do have a few of the boys and I with the bluebonnets but I need to get some of all of us.  Who knows, maybe even the dogs!  

Volunteer

I have been talking about this long enough.  Some have said that being a dog foster is volunteering, but I would love to do more.  So I am going to sign up for orientation at the local animal shelter and I will be going in with a friend when I can.  Very excited about this.  

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After 3 years, I am done waiting!

Today marks my 3rd year listed for a liver transplant   I have been dreading this day, well maybe not dreading but I have been well aware of it creeping up on me. I didn't know quite how I would feel about it, but I am OK with it.

Still listed!

The last 3 years have brought so much joy and so much pain in my life.  I found strength in myself that I didn't know was there.  Life was turned upside down and shaken, but today we are all right where we need to be.  My boys are healthy, happy and thriving.  David and I have never been better.  I can look forward and see a future with me in it.  I found friends I didn't know I needed.  I was able to get over a lot of the pain and guilt that held me back all these years.  I have had more good days than bad.  I spent less time at the doctors and more time with my family.  There were lots of tears.  The hardest part was saying to say goodbye to my Dad last July.  But a promise to be strong and knowing that he was proud of me and had faith in me has been a constant reminder to me to keep my head up.  Even when I am at my worst, I can feel him helping me breath and wiping away my tears.

This morning when I jumped online the first thing I came across a video on Your Sassy Self and I realized that I have still been letting my illness hold me back.  Yes I have big hopes and dreams.  There are things I plan on doing, but there was always something keeping me from taking that first jump.  I think I am ready to go now.  This week I will be going over my lists and trying to figure out where the heck I am going to start.

So, Happy 3 years on the transplant waiting list to me.  For the past 3 years I have been doing just that.  Waiting.  Its time to start living.  Really living.  I thought I was, but its clear to me now that I have been holding back so much.  Time to jump!

Do you have a bucket list?  What are some things you want to do before your time here is over? Have you crossed anything off yet?

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My goals for 2011

Wait…Its March already? Damn. That happened fast. I was just thinking I really need to get a move on this years to do list. A few of them are a work in progress and some I just need to stop procrastinating. And some of them, you can help me with. Yes…you:)  Anyone care to help?!?


Ok so heres my list

1. Make a blanket for The Linus Project
2. Raise $500+ for Donate Life again
3. Get my drivers licence
4. Take the boys fishing
5. Fire a gun
6. Read 10 books
7. Spend the night in a 5 start hotel
8. Write more letters to my loved ones
9. Be a vegetarian for a week
10. Find our own place
11. Donate to Locks of Love
12. Lose 20 lbs
13. Go camping
14. Get 5 people to be registered donors
15. Volunteer

My blanket is planned, Since I don’t have a sewing machine, yet, I am going to make a no sew fleece blanket. They look really easy to make, but I have heard they are time consuming. And I still have to find fleece that I like. But like I said, its planned!

We are in the process of bidding on a house. We found out on Monday that another offer was put on the house, so today is the big day. Our highest offer is in, so we are waiting and praying that it goes through. If not, I'm sure there is another one out there. But we really want this one!

Spring is coming! And Anthony is looking forward to fishing. We already found a fishing spot. He has 2 poles. Thanks Grandpa Jim! I wonder if he will share nicely with Alex? When I told David camping was on my list, he was less than thrilled. So we compromised. There are places near the river where you can rent cabins. So we will either do that, or just pop a tent by the lake and spend the whole day there and come home to sleep in our comfy beds. But now I'm hoping that we will have our own backyard soon and we can just camp out there!! Or David can get us a room at a 5 star hotel and knock out 3 of my goals in one day!

Being a vegetarian for a week will also have to wait for our own place. There is far to much bacon and tacos around here to do that now! And with that comes the losing weight thing too! I know, its an excuse, but that’s my story and I'm sticking to it!

I did find a gun range, but I'm chicken to look into it any further. And Ive decided to just get my permit over with soon, so that after my transplant when I am allowed to drive again, I will actually be legally allowed to! Oh and my hair is slowly growing. I'm dreading having long hair in the hot Texas summer, but it will be so worth it! I have to check and see how much Locks of Loves needs.

So that leaves my 5K fundraiser, reading 10 books, encouraging 5 people to register as organ donors and volunteering. So that’s what I need help with. I’m pretty sure I know where I want to volunteer, but it might have to wait till summer time so I can bring my little sister along! And if you aren’t already an organ donor, please sign up here at Donate Life America  and let me know you did. It only takes a few minuets and will save lives!  After you sign up, some back here, let me know and Ill send you something!!  Ill start raising money for teh Donate life 5K as soon as I can and all that’s left is to find some good books to read! Easy Peasy. Its going to be a great year!

Much Love!

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My bucket list

I have a few things that I have written down and hid away as things I want to do before I die.  But I was thinking, maybe I should set my sights a little lower.  Who knows if I will ever be able to snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef or get to Australia at all.  This year I really want to live. The truth is tomorrow isn't promised to us, so we have to make today count.  And with my health issues, this rings even more true.  So I'm going to make a bucket list for 2011.  Here's my list of 15 things I want to do this year.  Yes I know, some are simple things.  And some are silly.  But its my list and this is what I came up with. 

1. Make a blanket for The Linus Project
2. Raise $500+ for Donate Life again
3. Get my drivers licence
4. Take the boys fishing
5. Fire a gun
6. Read 10 books
7. Spend the night in a 5 start hotel
8. Write more letters to my loved ones
9. Be a vegetarian for a week
10. Find our own place
11. Donate to Locks of Love
12. Lose 20 lbs
13. Go camping
14. Get 5 people to be registered donors
15. Volunteer

So there is my random list.  What do you think?  To easy?  I'm excited!  What are some things you would like to accomplish this year?

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