It's a Start!

Way back in December, I posted my New Years Resolution here. It's all about how I want to organize my home, life, etc... Believe or not, I'm still plugging away at obtaining some sense of organized bliss.  Here is my latest accomplishment (Thanks to my hubby).

A few years ago, I purchased a tool shed for the backyard. The goal was to relocate some of the clutter from my garage so it could become the garage majal of my dreams.

As you can clearly see, that dream has not been acheived!

The shed didn't look much better....

Even my dog is scared looking in there.

Thanks to my hubby's mad carpentry skills, we now have SHELVES!!

Thanks Honey.

Now for the finished product.....

Organized Bliss.....ahhhhh.

It does crack me up that we have FOUR gas cans. We live in the desert, our little patch of grass takes 15 minutes once a month to mow. Maybe this explains what's going on in the garage!







The Measure of Success

We measure success differently throughout our life. In high school, we might measure success by how many friends we have or how busy our social calendar is. Or by how many boys heads we can turn. At least that's what is was for me. Then it became about having a good job, getting promotions, buying my own home, driving a decent car, etc... Once you have children, of course the priorities changed again. Your measure of success lies completely in how good of a parent you are and how well you provide for your childs needs.

Mid life brings new meaning to the term successful. Seeing my children grown and making their own way in life brings me tremendous joy. For me it has been a time of great reflection. I no longer feel the need to work 50+ hours a week. I am thankful that I was able to support my family so well but having a lot of money is definitely not a priority of mine. It's not worth giving up time with my family. Money can never replace the time I spent caring for my mother before she passed away. It can not replace the time I spend with my family now, cooking meals or just enjoying their company. It could never replace the late night talks my children and I had after they came home from work or out with friends when they were teenagers. The older I become the more I treasure each of those little moments.

I live a Blessed life. I don't really have a job right now and money is tight at my house. But that's ok. You see, I have the priviledge of caring for my family and for others. I have the priviledge of helping. Helping strangers through volunteer work, helping my family by being available for them, helping my Church by serving. There is no greater joy for me than doing for others. Isn't that what Jesus taught us? Sure, I need to work. We have to pay our bills and buy food. But work no longer defines who I am as it once did. That, my friends is how I measure success now. By having my priorities in order. This is one of the great joys of being middle aged.



The only true constant is change

Is that an oxymoron? Or some type of really profound statement? Beats me, but I do say and think it quite often.

This popped into my head today as I wandered around the Walmart, completely lost and very much out of my element. Now, please don't think I'm bashing Walmart Shoppers. That is not the case at all, I just prefer speciality stores. You know craft stores for craft items. Grocery stores for food, clothing stores for....well, you get the idea. 

As I tried in vain to locate Milk Bones for my dog, it occurred to me this type of store has not really been around that long. When I was growing up, you could not have your tires replaced on your car while you shopped for groceries while picking up your fishing license along with bait and hey might as well grab some extra shotgun shells, some fabric and a new dress while you're at it. Talk about your one stop shopping!

And technology! How many conversations did we NOT have as teenagers tethered to a phone attached to the wall of the kitchen where every member of your household happened to be whenever the phone call was for YOU.

Many things I utilize in my daily life were not around when I was a child. Digital clocks, microwaves, home computers, FM radio for goodness sakes. The list goes on and on.

Why am I being so nostalgic? I'm not sure, but it might have something to do with my daughter being pregnant. What changes will occur in the lifetime of my grandchild. Will we revert to the old days of Mom and Pop stores with my grand baby telling their children about how when they were young you could get everything you needed in one store?

Who knows what the future holds. It's 2012 and we still aren't driving those hover crafts they promised...