Small Success Thursday - A day late

I let my stress get the better of me over the weekend and had a meltdown over a frustrating but ultimately trivial issue. Sigh, that embarrasses me. But I also realized I was also experiencing a low blood sugar event at the same time. I need to watch that.

• I made it to the gym on Monday. But that is because I know I am going to be putting in a few hours of work over the weekend. As a contractor I am "limited" to 40 hours a week. Unfortunately I have not made it back. 
• Had lunch with the account manager of my current contract. She is looking for opportunities for me if my current one ends at the end of November. After talking, she is also going to pitch me as a flexible resource who can work fewer than 40 hours a week or scale up to 40 when the work is there. I like that. My budget depends on 60% or my current take home pay, so we can cut back a bit without much pain and that would take a weight off of my shoulder. So I am saying some prayers. 
• Made my husband a from scratch birthday cake for his birthday on Wednesday.  

Linking up with Catholic Mom

Small Success Thursday - Oct 23

Once again I am struggling to come up with my successes. I get up. get ready, drop my teenager off at school, go to work and either pick the teenager up or come home to babysit my Grandson while his parents attend class. Lather, rinse, repeat...

Add to this the fact that I work on a contract basis. My contract is currently expiring at the end of November. It seems to be touch and go as to if it will be renewed. This is always so much fun, NOT!

So I have:
1. Updated my resume
2. Made dinner every night this week even if it was not well-received
3. I dropped off a pair of shoes at the repair shop to have new heels put on them before iw ore them down too much.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Small Success Thursday - Oct 9

Another Thursday, Another post...

I am in a season of my life where I really need these weekly reminders. Personally I feel like I am spinning my wheels most of the time, not growing in any aspect of my life.

It is amazing how with the advent of blogs, twitter and online news, how focused I am on my faith life. I think about my faith and the love for it much more than I did 10 years ago when my faith life consisted of prayer before dinner, Mass on the weekends and conversations with my kids about their day at the Catholic school.  

Now I can participate in Novenas by signing up for regular emails from PrayMoreNovenas.com. (Not that I am good at saying the prayers each and every day, But God is hearing me. My intentions for the last year have been focused on asking for my parents to get moved back to my home town. That has finally happened. I prayed for a peaceful death for a wonderful lady who is a friend of the family. Her doctors are amazed that she is not in excruciating pain and she has a happy demeanor, granting her husband, kids and grandkids good memories of her final days. I have been praying for my son, DIL and Grandson that they build a strong family and take steps to support themselves. My son has been working a labor intensive job for almost a year. We would love him to take some classes or vocational training. He is back taking an English class towards a degree and he is starting to explore other options. He realized that he does not want to be like his poor partner at work who is 50, has been pulling cable all of his working life, is slow, aching and tired. Thank you Lord!

I have been mostly patient with the 15 yo when he blamed me for forgetting his lunch the other day. He said I rushed him. Hum, I have a declared time to leave the house. He was not ready. Not my fault. This morning we had to turn around because he forgot his school laptop. Although I admit I got quite load when he did not want to taek the bag of too small creates in for the sports equipment drive saying "It would be a pain to carry it to the other side of the school." After his actions had put me at least 15 minutes late and I had to call into a conference call from my car.

And I have cooked dinner and packed my lunch this week. For today I have split pea soup in my crockpot.

Joining up with Catholic Mom  

Small Success Thursday - The Day to Day Grind

More and more, I am having difficulty coming up with my small successes. But then I think that is when I really need to think about this. My vocation as a Wife and Mom have a tendency to be eclipsed by my working-for-pay job. In the beginning, I was called to work. I enjoyed it, I could not imagine being a stay at home Mom. it was not for me. I had earned my Master's degree and was ready to take in the IT world. It would be quite a few years before Hubby would decided he was ready to go back to school for his degree.

These days, my paycheck is putting out son through Catholic High school, school loans and extra wants and luxuries. The first two are worth every penny. My youngest son is only dependent upon me for grocery transportation, grocery shopping an financial support. I am longing to slow down, I still enjoy the paid work I do. And I have a good amount of flexibility. God had been good to me, in June he pointed me to a new job that enabled me to take my son to and from school (no bus service). And even though it is a contract position, I am keeping calm that everything will work out ok. If it is meant to be that I work less and be available to care for my Grandson so his parents can work and go to school, it will happen (My perfect scenario is a part-time position. Unfortunately they are not so common in IT).

Anyways, my days start early with getting up and getting dressed. I aim to leave the house at 6:30 pending the readiness of the teenager, drop him off at school. work by 7:30. I usually work through lunch so I can leave at 4. M & W I need to pick up the teen form school, T & Th he has band, but my older son and his wife have class, so they drop off the baby at 4:30. I cook and serve dinner, we clean up, I spend time with Hubby and am in bed by 9:30 and start all over again. Unless there is a band boosters meeting, or a meeting of the school's parent technology committee that I help out on... You get the picture.

So I guess there is success at putting one foot in front of the other, taking care of my employer's needs and my family's needs. I'd love to squeeze some personal exercise in there, on a consistent basis,. I manage a walk every couple of days.. But it is not be be this season.

But hey, I have packed my lunch so far this week. Better fro my wallet and my waistline.    

Linking up with Catholic Mom

Small Success -Examining the to-do list

Why is it so hard to find my successes. These are supposed to be small things. So let's go to my to do list:

• Work on a Quilt - Nope
• color my hair - yes, last night - Can I get a woo-hoo?
• Cook Dinner - Monday was yes, Tuesday, leftovers, Last night - Hubby worked late. DS15 believe she got his Nephew's cold, so he wanted Chicken soup. Know what Chick soup looked like? A can of low sodium chick broth, water and concentrated stock, egg noodles cooked in the former and a couple of small cans of chicken thrown in. It is all gone.
• Prepare chicken and noodles for 24 band kids on Friday. I cooked 2 whole chickens (ironically while making the above soup). I cooked them from frozen, and even got them deboned. 
• Prepare 20 brownies for tailgating lunch at school. - Not yet, tonight. 
• Take my grandson to get real shoes since he is walking and it is getting colder out. - His cold was making him unhappy hen i kept him Tuesday. We will try again tonight. 

Not so bad when I take a good look. I needed this this week. 

Linking up with Catholic Mom. 

Small Success Thursday - Sept 18

Hello everyone,

I started a post last week, but enumerating successes was hard. So I am back.

• Stood in for Hubby presiding over the Band Boosters meeting while he was out of town. Just call me Edith Wilson. 
• I have been successful at not breaking down at my teenager's emotional pendulum swings this week. He was very grumpy when I was able to make it school to pick him up. I understand having to sit around and wait is frustrating. but my job pays his tuition. Although he did say that he thinks this Catholic school was a much better choice than  he local public school. It is just too bad the public school district decided to punish parents for levy failures by eliminating busing for high schoolers...
• Sunday I defrosted mt freezer. Hubby and DS were getting frustrated that there were not the usual heat a serve-type dished there, but I needed to get is emptied to the point where I could get everything in the freezer of the refrigerator. Coming up, a trip to Costco... 

Jump on over to Catholic Mom to share and celebrate the little successes we all forget about. 

It is Small Success Thursday...

Hi Folks, Here I am again, it is Thursday.

1. Last Friday was the first High School Football game of the season. We made it. The band is smaller (again) this year. So Sad. But the school is known for it's athletics. But here is a gratuitous picture of a couple of my favorite guys:

2. Last night was "meet the teacher" night. Hubby was fighting a cold, so I went by myself. I have to say my son is really enjoying the High School.

3. Biting my tongue about someone who gets so excited and posts videos of a certain almost 8-month-old (Pictured above)  walking and tags me. Sometimes I'd like to share family news with my Facebook friends and family my own way, not necessarily someone else' s video. Besides, He was doing that at my house earlier that same day. I just did not take video of it. LOL! 

So Check out Catholic Mom for more.

Small Success Thursday

We've had a mild summer until now. Everyone is back in school and the hot, humid, muggy air comes in.

Anyways,
1. Had a very grumpy teenager yesterday. School had a late start yesterday due to a teacher meeting, but My work did not have a late start. Intellectually he understood that and blamed his anger on "Murphy's law". This quick-tempered Momma managed to keep her cool and her voice down instead of yelling.

2. Same teenager was allegedly the last one to access the freezer in the garage for a frozen breakfast sandwich. I came home Tuesday to a big puddle of water on the garage floor and defrosted items int eh freezer. I simply sighed and gave Thanks that I did not do a big stock up on the Costco run as I threw out Waffles, Breakfast sandwiches, homemade broth, Flank steak, Chicken, pulled pork...

3. Finally got Ponchos ordered for the Band. I have been looking at them. We have insulated raincoats that are good for 30-50 degrees, but in Aug and Early Sept, they are took heavy. Of course, the Team has won that State championships the last 2 years and the Late November and December games have been very cold.  I just felt like I was making decisions in a vacuum, but finally did it.

Linking up with Catholic Mom 

Small Success Thursday - Back to school

My son started back to school this week. On crutches due to his torn ACL. He reluctantly allowed me to take a picture today, dressed in his Mass Day best.

I finally made an appointment to see my Primary Care Physician. Need refills on the meds. I need to get better about taking my prescribed meds. I get my morning does in 5 or so days a week, but usually for get my evening does. I need to work on that.

We have been eating at home. I have been very creative with what we have in the house. I did not make my beginning-of-the-month Costco run because I had cookies for the Wedding reception in my freezer. But we have been eating at home.

Hubby replaced our garage door opener yesterday. A Thunder-storm-induced power pop was the final blow. It only wanted to run in one direction. The lights on it stopped working in 2011 when we had a lightening strike that caused our chimney to explode and required roof repairs and replacement of a computer, tv and other items. I am just thankful we have never had a fire. I was surprised to learn that my township has an above average number of lightening strikes.

Linking up with Catholic Mom  

My Son's Wedding

Pictures from my Son's Wedding:

My new Daughter-in-law and son

The Baby boy is the son of the Bride and Groom. 

Parents of the Groom

 It was a very lovely Wedding.

Small Success Thursday - I've almost made it through!

So i wrote a post last week for SST but did not realize we were on a hiatus. So you can read it here if you'd like.

But the last few weeks have been jam-packed, most planned, but an unplanned event with far-reaching repercussions.

• With the rest of everything, Hubby has had to take out of town trips at least 3 of the last 4 weeks. One was to India the same week 3 planes went down needlessly. 
• My 14 YO spent all of July training with the high school soccer team. The first day of tryouts he hurt his knee, tearing his ACL. That resulted in surgery 2 days ago. So now he is in an immobilizing brace and on crutches and he took up residence on the recliner in the family room. Pleas offer up prayers that his Freshman orientation today and tomorrow are not too taxing for him. 
• My 19 YO son got Married last Sunday (Civil ceremony, getting it recognized by the Church is a task on the "someday" list - Baby steps). There was everything that went along with it, including the 7 month old Grandson spending 3 days and nights at our house. 
• My parents have been staying with us since July 31. Their help has been invaluable. They were the primary caretakers for the baby and they have helped greatly withe the 14YO. I gritted my teeth the 3 days that the 14YO as away at band camp and Hubby was out of town and I was all my Mom had to worry about. LOL! 
• Oh yes, an I worked a full time job. As a contractor I don't; have paid vacation, I took off a total of 8 hours this week.  

So we have one more wedding event Saturday. We are throwing a reception for extended family members. I have a close family (3 generations of cousins) that we were not able to invite to the wedding. Then next Week the 14 yo starts back to school. 

and my 19 YO is signed up for College English. He will have a class at the same time as his wife, so she can make sure he gets to class. The she will have a class afterwards and told the 19 YO he will be doing his homework then. We will have the baby at least one of those 2 nights a week. 

Linking up with Catholic Mom

Small Success Thursday Aug 7 Edition

This past week has been more crazy/busy than usual. My Son's Wedding is this weekend. My parents are in town for the festivities, Hubby's traveling, The 14 YO was trying out for the High school soccer team last Friday and tore his ACL. Then I shipped him off to Band camp with a bum kee. (Doctor approve, kid was ecstatic to go) So far I am holding it together, but there has been a benign event or two that has come close to reducing me to tears

I finished painting and decorating our old wagon as a means for my Grandson to ride up the aisle at his Parent's wedding,

Garter is in progress. Thanks to a product I found at JoAnn's I call garter on a role, I just have to sew the ends together and sew on a blue rhinestone button button.

I drove the  Band's extended van towing the 25 ft equipment trailer. I got lost and had an intimate encounter with a pole on a corner, taking out a tire, but the equipment got there, I called AAA to come out and change the tire, Hubby said the tires are in need of replacing anyways. Why was I driving, because Hubby was out of town and as of yet, no other Dad's have stepped up as willing to drive the thing.. This afternoon I get to go and bring it back. Say a prayer for me please.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Thursday Again? Small Successes..

Diving right in

1. We snuck away for a long weekend to the other side of the state for hiking in Hocking Hills. A Co-worker of Hubby's rented his place to us for cheaper than one night at a local hotel. It was quiet and peaceful and us city folks had a relaxing time.

2. We spent the money and went ziplining. We had a great time. The heights made me nervous, but as long as I was hanging on to "something".

3. I am maintaining a positive attitude that Hubby will go out of town for several day, come home for a day and then fly out of the country for 7 days.

Linking up with Catholic Mom 

Thursday again - Small Successes - Independence Day edition

Hello,
Happy Thursday/Fake Friday,

It has been a busy few weeks. I started a new contract job. I feel so blessed. The old job was 25 Miles North of home and the department is in massive cost-cutting mode. I was not sure my contract was extended. It was a not-quite the last minute, but a new opportunity located 6 mile from home appeared. This is significant because in August when my 14YO starts high school, we will need to get him to and from school. This job is between home and school.

Also this week, the same 14YO is attending conditioning and pre-season workouts for soccer. The 6-9 puts a crimp in planning dinnertime.

So, my successes:
1) 6:20 AM right now and I have chicken baking. The 14YO may or may not eat it, but I can throw it in the freezer for lunches or quick dinner.  I am cooking at odd times so we can grab and go.

2) I am trying to quit milk or cream in my coffee. I struggle with my weight and pre-diabetes. Every little calorie counts. I am striving for health. Now I need to make exercise a priority.

3) Getting my footing at the new job.

Maggie

Linking up at Catholic Mom.

Happy Thursday,
It has been a good week with my new job, other than the fact that this post is from my phone.
* started this new job. So far I am enjoying it. I have made an effort to introduce myself to others in the office. Most of the people I will be working with are in other locations. I tested this morning and I am able to access corporate systems remotely, meaning I can run Friday's migration job from home.

* My eldest son is getting married in August. It will be a small wedding, so our guest list was limited. My son was disappointed he could not invite extended family members such as my cousins and their families, so we are throwing a party a week later. I got invitation out this week and have table decorations planned out. Now it is a matter of stopping by Hobby Lobby frequently to get a pkg of battery-operated tea lights with my 40% off coupon.

*We've cooked dinner at home every night this week. The streak will be broken tonight as Hubby has golf league and the 14yo has both a bass guitar lesson and the band practice tonight.

linking up with Catholic Momwww.Catholicmom.com

Small Success Thursday - Well, here I am edition

Hello folks,

My parents went home Monday after staying here for 10 day. They are great to have around, Mom will cook dinner for me. (I try to have it planned), but I feel bad about sitting around on my laptop in the evenings. And then, even though school is out, The High School band is practicing 2 nights a week, toos in a meeting for Freshman, Hubby is the booster org president, I volunteered to assist with fitting marching uniforms and seem to have taken over as secretary... Evening last week were busy.

At work I am transitioning my responsibilities as tomorrow will be my last day at this position. i will be moving to another contract position that is closer to home and requesting a prayer or two that it leads to a permanent position, or at least longer than 3 months...

So my successes are revolving around taking care of me. This Mom who works outside the home has a ahrd time with that.
1. Made an appointment to redeem the gift certificate Hubby gave me for Mother's day for a Massage. That is tomorrow night.

2. I went and had a pedicure last night. My toes nails were getting long and I tend to tear rather than cut. And when I cut, they are not straight.

3. I am recognizing when I am stress-eating. I may not be stopping it as much as I should, but I am recognizing it when I am in the middle of it.

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Small Success Thursday

Happy Thursday, I feel like it should be Friday already. I has been a busy week. I am looking forward to the long weekend in the US.

1. My work is currently on a contract basis. I work in IT and have been at the same company as a contractor since October 2012. All last year every three months my contract was renewed. In December, I was convinced I was not going to be renewed when 2 days before the end, I was notified that my manager was able to renew me, and for 6 months. Lately I have watched other contractors being terminated early as part of a massive cost-cutting effort. I am trying to put it all in God's hands. I am being contacted about other opportunities. So I do feel like I am being looked after. Fortunately Hubby's job is well-paying with benefits. My pay is used to pay DS14's high school tuition and extras.

2. I got myself out of bed M&W and did a quick workout on my rowing machine. A few weeks ago we moved out a couch that was simply a catch-all for the 14YO's stuff. I did not like going down there.  Now that it is a bit more organized, I am more willing to spend time down there.

3. Well.. I have been doing what is expected of me. Making dinner, going to work and focusing on what I am there for, looking after my family, did laundry over the weekend...

Linking up with Catholic Mom.

Small successes April 10

This week is a culminating week in our house. Hubby has been putting a lot of time and effort into studying for a certification test his company wants him to have. This is the second of 2 two test. The first test he passed in the Fall on his third sitting for it. This time we sprung for a preparation class.  This time around he also did a class. This was 5 weeks of having both Friday and Saturday ties up from 11 AM – 6:30 (with a 1.5 hour break 2:00-3:30).  I have been trying to hold down the fort at home. But this week, I have been feeling the stress of trying to help him as much as I can as well as stuff going on at the office. But so far I have done a pretty good job of keeping it together. I did snap Monday night that I had had a not-so-great day as we were lightly bickering about what “who does what” with dirty dishes in the kitchen.

I would really like to put out more of my Easter decorations, but I am trying to be mindful that it is still Lent.  But Spring is starting to make itself know outside and I am ready to bring it inside. But I am taking it slow…

I have managed to cook dinner for my family every night. I did not plan last night so I ended up with Breakfast for dinner.  Even though Hubby has been home, he has been heads down studying. He did call Tuesday to ask if I wanted him to do something with the chicken breasts thawing in the fridge. I was able to bring myself to say ‘Keep studying, I will make something when I get home.” Once home and cooking, the 14YO asked “what are you making”. I responded, “I don’t know, I am winging it”.  And no complaints were heard… 

Linking up with Catholic Mom 

Small Success Thursday - March Madness edition

My husband graduated from the University of Dayton in 2005. We were married with 2 kids, so I take credit for supporting him during that time. So I am proudly wearing one of his UD shirts in honor of their appearance in a Sweet 16 game tonight.

But this week has felt rather routine, even though it is a new routine. My 14YO's rec soccer league started practices. We got an email Sunday form the coach that practice would be Tuesday. Sunday was busy with his band concert, so Monday we went to buy new cleats, etc. We went to the Soccer store near us and brought home a pair of cleats that cost north of $160. One of those I did not realize until I was looking at the receipt since we also got a goalie jersey and gloves. Good grief, for Recreational soccer. So took my Lunch hour on Tuesday to the big-box sporting goods store near my office and found a reasonable-priced Men's sized  13 soccer cleats. My son declared them good and I returned the expensive ones.

I have been making my breakfast  this week and lunch 3 of the 4 day since lunch out was planned for Wednesday. Sometime sit is hard to do that. I am also trying ta eat an apple per day. I am not much of a fruit eater. Give me vegetables instead.

Actually made an appointment to have my hair cut on Saturday. I like to keep my hair short. But I hate making the stupid appointment. But it is done and scheduled for Saturday.

Why does this all seem so lame.. I guess I am getting up each day and going to work, the kitchen is stocked with food to keep us from starving, my son is getting to the places and activities he wants to. So I am accomplishing my mission as wife and Mom.

Linking up with Catholic Mom

Small Success Thursday

Back at it again this week. I am really hoping winter goes away soon. I was sad that I was unable to make a Mass for ashes, but my vocation of a Wife and Mom has me working full time, being at home to cook dinner and meetings the window salesman Hubby had made an appointment with.


1. I said "yes" to chaperoning a group of High School students (plus my 8th grader) to an overnight Jazz festival. Hubby has gone in the past with the older boy, but he is taking an online class for the next few weekends. I drove up and back with another Mom for company ans the "girl time", which sorely lacks in my life, was just what I needed.

2. I was able to elicit smiles form my 8 week old Grandson. How delightful!

3. Working from home today. I was on the fence since I made arrangements to WFH on Thursday's so I can get my 14YO to Jazz band practice at the High school. But no practice today. So I was going into the office. But the uber-healthy 14YO is miserable with a cold and decided to stay home. I find myself giggling because his behavior is so uncharacteristic. He just does not know what to do. I cheerfully filled his glass with water when I went down to get myself a glass of water.  

Joining up at Catholic Mom