The Wall - Video Blog

When we moved into our new house, we immediately had a half wall removed. Now I need help figuring out what to do with the space. I decided to try a video blog so I could show you the space without having to take and upload a bunch of pictures. Let me know what you think!

September & October Goals

September Goals Update

September was kind of a weird month, in my opinion. It was blazing hot for the most part, which I didn't love. The good news is that my allergies were under control and I was able to be outside without feeling like death. It was a busy month of getting back into routines, which was nice. I feel like I accomplished quite a bit, but there's still a lot to do, particularly where the house is concerned. But maybe there will always be updates to make. We shall see.

 I did not miss our old house at all, despite the fact that it entered my dreams a few times. I love it here! I got a new haircut that has made me feel sassy and adventurous so get ready for that. My friend and I started a YouTube channel called That's Puzzling, and I'm pretty sure I will make millions being a YouTube personality some day. Please fill me in on the puzzling issues in your life so I can talk about them on the internet like a regular friend would do. 

 Anyway, here's how I did with my goals this month. 

Start setting up my basement mom cave - I've got a couple of tables and puzzles going down there. I need to decorate a little and maybe get some chairs that can live down there. 

Clear boxes and junk from main floor - Check

Arrange new and old furniture - The main floor is looking better

Go to Spinach Festival together - The kids and I went with my parents. It was fun.

Have a movie or game night/Schedule and host some kind of get together - Had a puzzle night with friends a couple times and had my brother over for dinner and games

Attempt another date night - We had lunch and saw Mastermind. It was pretty dang dumb. 

Continue karate and volleyball - Check. We won a game, shockingly. 

Walk every week - Check. It was soooo hot early in the month but now that it's cooler I'm getting out there more. 

Go see Masterminds - Check. Like I said, dumb. Which is unfortunate because it had a great cast. 

Practice handwriting with Lydia more regularly - Check. 

Continue writing regularly, in whatever form inspires me - Check. 

Create a space for journaling and/or Bible study - I got some bar height chairs and made a space. Just need to better utilize it. I also have a decorating idea. 
Work back up to a full schedule of subjects - We're nearly there. 

Pick up the rest of our boxes from Mark and Kathy's garage and go through them - I picked up a van load. Most of it is in the garage or spread all over Lydia's room. Blarf. 
Return all the stuff I bought that I don't want (it's a real struggle) - I returned a lot of stuff. Got a couple of tension rods floating around...
Get a grip on the new budget - Still have yet to have a normal month of expenses and pay, so I'm waiting to see what that's going to look like. 

Read two books - So I made the call to buy the book Alexander Hamilton, an 800+ page biography of the guy. It's fascinating but it's not quick reading. So it's going to take me a while. Also working on a book a friend wrote. 

October Goals 

House

Have someone come out and look at our kitchen

Pick out a new sink

Pick up and unpack more boxes 

Personal

Finish at least two chapters of Alexander Hamilton

Get into a morning routine for writing and Bible reading

Family

Spend some time in Lawrence at the Pumpkin Patch

Wellness

Try out my Dad's gym

Consider getting a membership and starting a weight routine

Social

Get together with friends every week in some form

Have Book Club?

School

Finish the next writing unit

Get caught back up with planning

Creative

Finish a story

Publish at least two more episodes of That's Puzzling (the first episode is here if you haven't had the pleasure of watching it)

Understanding and Calmversations

It's the 15th anniversary of 9/11. I was a freshman in high school, in math class, when I got the news about what had happened. Later in seminar, we watched the footage. The rest of the day, the teachers tried to keep everything as close to normal as possible. I remember a friend calling me that night, saying that gas prices were up to $5 per gallon. I remember writing a poem about the events of the day, my teenage attempt to make sense of unspeakable acts. I wish I knew where it was.

Today in church, our pastor talked about politics. He shared an excerpt from an article where the person was saying how we Americans were very united after 9/11, but then slowly went back to our normal selves, divided over different issues.

During this political season, it is easy to judge others. I am guilty of reading Facebook posts or seeing what my friends like or discuss and judging beliefs that don't align with mine. I attempt to keep my political beliefs to myself, unless I am with friends who I know agree with my views. I don't want to fight with anyone or be judged or have to explain myself. Sometimes I feel like we will never see eye to eye. Sometimes I worry that people won't like me if they know the truth about what I believe. 

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of talking politics with a friend who believes differently than I do. It was eye-opening. We not only explained our beliefs, but we explained the life circumstances that led us to feel the way that we do. I gained SO much insight and perspective from this simple conversation. I learned so much about my friend and about how someone could feel so differently than me on some things, but still be a person that I really enjoy and relate to. 

I wish we were able to have more conversations like these. Calmversations. Discussions where we seek to understand each other. 

Today, on this day of remembering how we as a nation have been unified through tragedy, I implore you. Take the time to talk to someone whose beliefs are different from yours. Learn about the life experiences that led them to believe the way they do. Share the experiences you had that led you to your beliefs. Seek to understand rather than judge. Remember to love. Have a calmversation. 

I invite your questions about my beliefs and experiences. I am open to calmversations involving politics and other taboo topics, for the sake of growth and understanding. 

Let us love one another. Let us be unified. 

August and September Goals

SEPTEMBER IS HERE!!!!

I don't usually enjoy September, but I am excited about it. I'm excited because that my shows are coming back!  I missed them very much. School is back, activities are returning, the weather is cooling off. I like fall. Not winter though, winter can suck it. 

Plus, September means that we're on the other side of the move and that is great. All went pretty darn well. I'm exhausted and I don't know if it's just the last couple of months catching up with me or what. I've started my iron again and life is settling down so hopefully I'll be back to normal soon. Allergy season is upon me but I've kept it under control so far. Hoping that continues!

I did well in August, it was a crazy busy productive month of change and chaos, but I stayed on top of most things. Here's how I did with my goals:

PACK - Got it done! We have too much stuff. 

CLOSE - Probably the easiest of the bunch. Show up, sign things, get keys. 

MOVE! - Check. We paid movers and it was expensive but worth it, honestly. 

Get an estimate for patio repairs - Got one. Looking for a couple other bids. We may wait til next spring to tackle this. 

Get an estimate for kitchen updates - We're going in another direction with the kitchen and I'm excited about it.

Furnish at least one living space - Yep, figured out where the living room will be. New furniture arrives this week!

Finish reading Lean In - Finished it, along with several other books: reread Night by Elie Wiesel, which was...wow. Also picked up It Gets Worse by Shane Dawson while waiting for an oil change at Walmart. It was hysterical. I'll be reading his other book whenever the library gets it to me. 

Schedule a date with Tim - We ended up having three dates somehow. It was fun! We should make it a habit. We saw a movie, went out to eat, packed up our house without the input of children, and just enjoyed uninterrupted conversation and TV time.  

Scope out some places to walk near my new home - I went on a long walk last night. There are lots of shady flat places to walk, which is awesome. 
Volleyball and karate on Mondays - Having fun with this! Wish they were on different days ;)

Schedule a karaoke night with friends - It's on the calendar, looking forward to it!

Finish a short story - I really nailed this one, finished five stories of varying length and quality. My latest was the best, which means perhaps I am learning as I go! 

Determine a space for school in our new house - Setting up a room upstairs, although I'm sure we'll spill over into the rest of the house too. We have a lovely, huge room to hide all the school stuff and books in, which is great. 

Get the first month of Legacy planned and gather supplies - Got the plans made, just need to gather the supplies and see how it plays out with the different age groups.  Still brain storming how we're going to keep plants alive for study :)

Blog at least twice - I technically had three posts in August, but one was the monthly goals post and the other was posted before I set the goal of blogging...so yeah...kinda lame. I have been in creative writing mode rather than my usual. 
Try out a couple of different routines to see what works best - I don't really know what I meant by this, but I think school goes best when we start with science or social studies then split up for reading and whatever else. We'll slowly be adding all our other subjects back in and getting used to have other activities to go to again as well.  

Try to incorporate journaling regularly, if not daily - I did not do a good job of journaling this month. I hope to create a space for this and Bible study that will get me into the routine. I'm looking at the bar in the kitchen.