I’ve been busy catch up on several Big Picture classes that started today (One Little Word, Move More/Eat Well, and Twelve- yikes it’s a lot for one day!)  Cody is, of course, at the deer lease- last day of deer season.  I used to say it’s the last day of hunting season- yes, I was naive.  NOW, oh no, hunting season is year round.  But it does mean it’s time to start thinking about the next big season. . . TURKEY.  Can’t wait, but I have to- even longer this year.

Yesterday, I posted about One Little Word and how my word, Home, last year had such a great impact on our life.  I knew it was something I wanted to do again and I started thinking about what my word would be for 2012 a few months ago.  I thought about a few and then one day, while listening to an Eminem song (of all things) it hit me- and the word, after re-listening to the song, wasn’t even in the song. . .

Shiney

That will be my word for this year.  I want to shine in 2012- I want to shine by His grace.  My thoughts quickly turned to “This Little Light of Mine.”

Have you heard this version?  Loving it!  Also purchased another Live version of this on Itunes and have been listening to it alot.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgUtOIPsgAU

(LOL- When I went to the video on my favorites, I listened to it while posting it here and then came the “dandy” fight  between the Sabres Cody McCormick and the Jets Tanner Glass from earlier this year.  How wrong is that!?!?)

I love music and have pretty diverse tastes.  But, it was fitting that the thoughts about what my One Little Word would be for the year came in snippets of songs.  The next song I thought about was Aaron Watson’s “Sonshine”.  I can’t find it online other than a sample for purchase but here are the lyrics.

Sonshine

 

When wilted and withered
And dyin’ of thirst
In need of forgiveness
When you’re at your worst
Let the rain fall upon you
Like sweet mornin’ dew
Wash away all your sorrows
And let the Son shine on you

CHORUS

Let the Son shine from heaven
Through the clouds in the sky
Come receive your salvation
From His sacrifice
And when you’re down and discouraged
And your heart’s torn in two
You turn your face to the Father
And let His Son shine on you

I’ve been there before
And I know your pain
Surrounded by darkness
All alone and ashamed
While you’re out on life’s highway
The wrong turn can leave you lost
So when you come to the crossroad
Take the road to the cross

CHORUS

And when you’re down and discouraged
And your heart’s torn in two
You turn your face to the Father
And let His Son shine on you

Turn your face to the Father
And let His Son shine on you

(Aaron Watson, Neal Lowry)

I really think those two songs tell the story of what I want this year- to let God’s love shine down on me and through me.  I want a stronger faith and I want to share the gifts God has given me with others.

As I’ve thought about my word and God’s Son and Faith, I’ve often thought back on that Aaron Watson song as the Benediction is read each week at church. As God would have it, today’s first lesson (Numbers 6: 22-27), the lesson for Jan 1, 2012, was the text from where we get our Benediction. I marveled out how cool that was this morning and still can’t believe that was our text today.

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26

 I’m once again taking One Little Word at Big Picture so that I can explore my Word for 2012 more.  You can certainly still sign up  and it’s not too late to choose a word for the year.  You can find out more here.

Yesterday I completed the title page for the year and today I worked with the January prompt.  I still need to take another picture of myself. . .  or get Cody to- but’s it’s deer season remember.

Here’s a look at my pages so far.

This page was printed out and placed in a nine pocket page protector.

 What do you want for 2012?  Will you be choosing a word?

Welcome 2012 with One Little Word: Shine is a post from: Ordinary Details - The Joy of Ordinary

Related posts:

1. One Little Word 2011: Home
2. One Little Word
3. One Little Word Update, Blog Hop, and Giveaway

In fact, so much of the focus was about Home- especially in the past 6 months that I haven’t even blogged much!) (How could it not?  We spent so much time thinking about it, putting plans into action, sold our house, and moved last month!)

We’ve taken a long hard look at what home means to us, what we need for a home, and what we want.  I think it had been on my mind for last few years but it became so much more prominent this year.   Not long after my appendix and I parted this year, I made a discovery that after some thought and discussion, has led to Cody and I to start on a new path.  And Home was the center of that start and that path.

“Our” home was on Alania Ave for almost 10 years. I realized that it’s almost the longest I’ve ever lived anywhere.  When we bought our Alania home, we were planning for a family. We thought we needed a three bedroom home and a yard.  Even then, I thought the 1600 or so square feet in our home was a little too big- but our home had great potential for raising a family.  I’ve always believed that love grows best in little houses.  I’ve never really understood the fascination for huge homes.   

Of course, the plans we made when buying our Alania house were the result of planning for dreams that turned into pipe dreams.  So, we were left with a house for the two of us that we planned for a much different life.  You know the saying about hindsight- we see clearer.  But, we simply didn’t bet on the life we would have just the two of us.  We’re getting used to that idea but our Alania house was one of the last relics of those bygone plans.  And, to be honest, not only was the house way too big for the two of us, but it’s a constant reminder of what wasn’t to be.  In fact, I could barely stand to be in the two spare bedrooms- too many fantasies about those rooms.

 ”Our” Alania home just didn’t feel like our own home.  It hadn’t for a long time.  I was going through some old pictures including gatherings with the student fellowship group at church we used to host.  I was reminded that there was a time that we felt we belonged in our home.  I haven’t felt that way in a long time but it was fun to see a reminder of when I did. 

I wrote about wanting to get things done around our house at the start of 2011- little did I know LOL!  I think the fact that our house didn’t feel like our home was part of the reason we just hadn’t gotten things done around the house.  And led to so many projects that we had to finish before we put our Alania home on the market.  that We hadn’t wanted to spend time working on a home which feels much less like a home than something dragging you down.  I think there was a great deal of avoidance.  Cody and I have talked about selling this house as if it would be someday- thinking that financially, we just could not afford to shed ourselves of this emotional burden.  So, this year, the procrastination stopped and we did so many things that needed to be done.  Sometimes we found our selves wondering why we waited but give ourselves a break- because we both know what this house has meant to us over time.  

As we looked at moving into an apartment where we wouldn’t be responsible for maintenance, I also spent a good time wondering if the reason we had let some things go at the Alania house was also that we just don’t want to have to maintain our home.

 How much stuff do we need?  How much do we have?  What really do we need?

These are some of things I’ve been wondering over time.  I knew I had too much in my kitchen.  I’ve been wanting to downsize my stuff for quite a while.  Honestly, I want to downsize my life and I’m sure I’ll be sharing more about that along this journey.

Moving into an apartment means that we have to downsize our stuff- or put it in storage which we’re unwilling to do.  There’s been a few hard choices- perhaps the hardest was for Cody as he decided to sell the Mustang (the only thing I was willing to put in storage).  We’ll have a storage unit for a few months and then we’ll put a storage building at the lease where Cody can keep the things he uses out there that we had at the house- like the push mower and weed eater.

 Honestly though, most of the choices haven’t been that hard.  Stuff is just stuff.  There are a few things I’ll keep- like ALL of our pictures and family documents- that perhaps I shouldn’t keep. (I actually hope to pare these down in the year or so to come- but for now I’m keeping them as I simply don’t have time to go through and extract genealogy clues, etc) But otherwise, I’ve really narrowed it down to the things I’ll use.

 It’s been a life changer- which I know is a term used all too often- but really it’s helped change or solidify many things for me.

See all this stuff?  It came from the kitchen and dining room alone.  And it’s not like my cooking or baking will be suffering- I’ve kept the things I need.  I still can’t believe I had this much stuff that I really can do without.  (Sure, there’s a few things in here that I replaced- like my crockpot).  

 The first thoughts that came to mind where just how blessed I am- if I’m getting rid of this much stuff and still going to be fine in the kitchen, I’m one blessed person to have accumulated this much.  

 Another thought- why do we do this to ourselves?  

 I had probably 30 plus cookie cutters.  I make rolled cookies rarely.  The simple choice- to both downsize my stuff and simplify my life- get rid of them all!  I’ll use my biscuit cutters for the rare times I make sugar cookies- which means I don’t have decisions to make about what to use, I can get more out of one roll of the dough, and they’ll cook more evenly without corners etc.  

 And 20 glass tumblers in each size- why do we think we need to conform to a certain standard- I rarely use these glasses- everyday, we pull out the plastic ones.  So, you’d think I’d use them for company- no, when the family comes over, we pull out the disposable solo cups.  (Don’t get me started on how many of those I’ve got- I’ve told mom she’s not invited back if next time we gather she brings more cups or how many times I sang the song Red Solo Cup while packing, moving, unpacking, and trying to find space for them.)  And you know what, I’d rather use the solo cups- no worries about glasses being broken and far less clean-up- both of which mean I can enjoy my company more.

Away from the kitchen, well, we just found all kinds of things.  I know I had lots of things I either “thought I needed” or bought but “never finished the project.”  

Want to see more stuff? More Downsizing?  Look at all this!

Of course, some of the stuff was just sheer downsizing stuff- beds and dressers for example.

We had a garage sale to get rid of most of our stuff.  This in and of itself sparked many thoughts.  Like the price we pay for things vs their real worth.  I had things there that were marked well over 90% off what I paid for them.  Most were probably at least ¼ of the price we paid for them.  Then there were the people who bought them. . . . either really thrifty people who knew that things don’t hold as much value or people with far less than Cody and I.  What we haven’t sold, we’re donating to the Women’s Shelter thrift shop- there’s still some really great stuff we didn’t sell.  We also found ourselves donating stuff after we moved to friends and the thrift shop- still paring down our things and I’ll keep paring down.  I’ve still got a few things I need to sort out at the apartment . . . but I’ll figure it out or we’ll part with more stuff.  It’s just stuff.

It’s been an interesting experience just getting the amount of stuff we own down.  It has been very much about rating just what role our stuff should play in our lives and what importance various items have for us.  

When I shared with mom our ideas, the first thing she asked was if I was selling our home because of our finances.  Which, we didn’t.  Although finances, I think, always play a role when you’re looking at selling and buying a home.   

It’s not so much our finances before we sold the house that played a role- we were doing alright financially.  And of course, we had to meet with a realtor to ensure we could sell the house for what we felt was “enough”. Enought- enough for our home that we can be 100% debt free- seriously 100%- so that all we owe are the bills for the month- no car note, no loans, no credit cards, nothing but rent and utilities.

We’ve never been debt free in the time that we’ve known each other until this month.  So, this will be a big change.  It will allow us to save more money and start, hopefully, down a path that leads to a debt free life (or only short-term debt).  Can you imagine?  It’s a totally different world financially and one we’re ready to work at.

 (Of course, the entire time I mention debt free, I have to cross my fingers that our vehicles will hold out long enough for us to save up for the next one. . . please no more $5000 repairs.)

And of course, we’ll be saving money while living in town- the internet, electric bills, and our fuel costs- it’ll all be cheaper.

In today’s times, it’s much harder to be debt-free.  And this part of our path will hopefully work out.  I think this plus maintaining a down-sized life are really the experiment parts of our new path.  I’m really curious just what a debt-free life will lead us to. . . 

So, selling the house, downsizing our stuff, and bettering our finances leads me to “Freedom”.  

Certainly, renting an apartment means freedom for yard work and freedom from worrying about appliances going out and other maintenance.  It means freedom for Cody to sit and watch TV instead of taking care of things around the house.  It means freedom for me to scrapbook more and clean less.

It means we’re free to try some new things without as many responsibilities.  It means too that we can take advantage of being just two.  It also means that we’re free to live whereever we want and to take some risks to change the rest of our lives as well.  (Someone I know will apply one more time trying to get into the academy and follow more closely in his father’s footsteps.)

We’re hoping to have opportunities to spend some of the money we’ll be saving will mean that we can go on more trips- investing in experiences rather than stuff.  We want to visit with our family more.  We want to visit different parts of the country.  And, of course, there’s conferences I’d like to attend and hunting trips Cody would like to take.  We won’t be able to do it all but we should be able to prioritize and do more of some of them.

So, in all of this, we’re finding a journey.  It’s a journey we can take with very few foreseeable consequences.  I often see it as a chance to go against the grain of this world- the one that says we should buy more things, defines luxury in terms of dollars, and sets the tone for less true peace.

 I don’t see us living in an apartment forever- but I could be wrong.  Renting a house is always and option too.  Who knows, we have a set of grandparents each that rented their entire lives- perhaps we’re just meant to follow in their footsteps- maybe they had something figured out that we haven’t seen just yet.  We know that we can save up and buy a house on our terms- not just because we think we need it at a particular time in our life.  So, we’ll see where we end up living and what we do.  We continue to talk about about buying a small acreage near a friend and moving an old house in or perhaps building a small place.  It was what we learned when we lived there before we moved to Alania Ave that has so greatly influenced us.  But, that’s years from now- at least for now.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past 10 years, it’s that you never really know where life is taking you- only God knows.   This is just part of our journey.  

It’s fun to look back at what I wrote and think about the year in terms of Home- not everything has been so sweeping in our lives.

I’m still working on settling in to our new home but I feel more settled now- even with some things still in boxes and no artwork on the walls- than I’ve felt in a long time.  I wanted to decorate more- I’ve loved the trips to Ikea I’ve made and seeing my decorating style starting to show up in my own home.  Our smaller place means it’s easier to maintain and really urges me to keep it even more tidy and even more minimal.  I also wrote about how at home I feel in the Kitchen and I think I’ve really explored that more this year- finding solace in the kitchen and so much joy.  For me, it’s where home field advantage seems to start but in our new place, I really feel like I do have home field advantage.  Speaking of home field or even home plate- we saw the Jack’s go all the way to the conference championship game- I saw almost all the home games from home plate.  (I only missed a few home games for a family visit and my appendix)  Mom and I kicked the season off with a “triple” header- the tale end of a tied game from the night before along with the planned double header.  I took my Uncle to his last ball game- with his grandson and great grandson.  And Cody and I finished the season in San Marcos in a last minute decision- one on a financial wing and prayer that I think also had a huge impact that helped us move forward to making changes at home.

It’s really neat to see the influence that one little word has had on our lives.  As we move into 2012 I know that Home will remain very much on our minds. 

PS- Ali’s offering One Little Word again in 2012- I encourage you to pick a word for the year and perhaps even think about signing up for her class which totally works even if you’re not a scrapbooker.

2011 in One Little Word: Home is a post from: Ordinary Details - The Joy of Ordinary

Related posts:

1. One Little Word 2011: Home
2. One Little Word
3. Welcome 2012 with One Little Word: Shine

I don’t have real internet access these days (hoping that changes next week, she says crossing her fingers), so me and my cell may get behind in posting these.  And these probably won’t be the normal quality images- I’ll be sure to post those when we get internet and update my layouts gallery.  (You can see last year’s December Daily there or do a search here.) We also don’t have TV yet and I think that’s about to drive Cody crazy.

I also realize I haven’t shared the current chaos with you but this DD lets you in on some of it.

December Daily- December 1st is a post from: Ordinary Details - The Joy of Ordinary

Related posts:

1. December Daily: Dec 4-6 and Extra pages
2. December Daily: Final Pages
3. December Daily: December 1-3

The view outside my office window has recently changed. Sadly they cut down the really large tree that was so beautiful earlier this month after it was struck by lightening several months back. Tuesday morning around 7 AM, I saw a loose cow out in the field and had to share my experience with Cody via text. There wasn’t anyone around to share my view outside my window with.

Me: LOL! I looked out the window and thought the big tree’s trunk was a loose cow- what did you sneak into my coke this morning.

Cody: U starting to scare me.

Me: It was too big to be a deer and with the light/sun was the perfect cow color

Me: Maybe it’s mad cow diseas- think I need to go home sick.

Cody: It will be alright, have not had enough beef for dinner

Me: LOL (as I was almost literally ROFL)

I was telling a co-worker about this later and she did agree with me that it looks like a cow with its head down eating.

Mad Cow Disease? Not Enough Beef? is a post from: Ordinary Details - The Joy of Ordinary

Related posts:

1. Sickly Companionship
2. Feeling Raw Or Jpeg?
3. For Today

- I’m listening to the Field of Dreams soundtrack while some college “kids” play softball- the intramural fields are far from a field of dreams though.

- in other views, I can see the ag building where Cody and I spent so much time in school.

- I can also see the arboretum. I’m reminded of the summer it seemed I spent out there. If only work could be like that. The summer I took 19 hours, I spent my afternoons waiting fir Cody to get off studying out there. Fond memories.

- the other thing I see marks the time and stands the test of time. In the window I can see the reflection of legs- mine and Cody’s as we pedal away. It’s always nice just to gave him by my side- even when we’re doing our own thing. I love his companionship.

- Only 36 mote minutes of this torture, then we get to test that companionship at Wally-world.

Typing and riding are not easy to do at the same time so that’s all I’ll share now. What so u see at this very moment?

At this very moment is a post from: Ordinary Details - The Joy of Ordinary

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1. Quiet Companionship
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Some observations from January:

1) I knew this year would I’d be spending more nights waiting for Cody to come home.  But bright and early New Year’s Day, my One Little Word and the Future clicked.  I hadn’t thought about waiting for Cody to come home when/if he works nights.  He was out on a ride along when I woke up about an hour after he was to “get off”. . . and he wasn’t home.  My One Little Word took on a different meaning before 5 AM on 1/1/11.

2) As part of exploring my One Little Word and a prompt from Ali’s One Little Word Class/Community, I looked up the definition from home.  I hadn’t thought about baseball when I chose my word.  How could I have not thought about that!  or Home Field advantage.  I love the idea of having home field advantage- at home!  When I think of all that it means in sports, it’s brings confidence that things at home can be great this year.  (or more confidence that I can keep house, run a business, etc with the advantage of being at home!)  I’m also looking forward to SFA baseball starting this month- and sitting behind home plate.

3) Another definition that I loved- In One’s Element- as in at home within oneself.  I loved this definition.  I hope this year brings that sense to my life this year.

4) Cody and I’ve been getting more stuff done around the house- I’ve got frames nearly painted for the bedroom.  We’ve done some re-arranging in the bedroom as well.  I’ve cooked more at home.  And we’ve got a few small projects we hope to get done in the next few days.  (We’re also bringing a new washer into our home. . .)

5) I’ve really spent a great deal of time concentrating on Reflective Scrapbooking and am excited to have scrapbook products available online now and soon some free videos about how to scrapbook digitally.  Loving the idea of working from home and my husband’s support as he helps out around our home while I’m working. 

6) I’ve loved seeing pictures of my childhood home.  As part of another class I’m taking, mom sent pictures my way.  I’ve loved looking at all the old pictures- though I’m dreading trying to deal with that lovely orange shag carpet in my scrapbook pages.  It’s been fun to see those pictures- including the things in the background of those pictures- the little bits of the stuff of life. 

So now, it’s February.  Wonder what surprises my One Little Word will bring home this month!  I know that I want to work on exercising here at home and building some better routines at home.  And I can’t wait to see what prompt Ali brings us today in our One Little Word.  (It’s certainly not to late to choose a word for 2011.  If you do, I highly recommend joining us in Ali’s class.  The community is awesome!)

Speaking of Ali’s class, I’m participating in a blog hop!  We’ll be sharing our January Prompts today.  And, I’ll be giving away here on this blog the Sinton Paper Collection that I created and used on my January prompt and title page. 

One Little Word Title Page

A New Picture taken in front of our home.

Page Protector Page

I created a template (available free here) for use with the page protectors for this class.  I really wanted to do something digi that wasn’t just one flat page.  This is the file before I printed it here at home and cut out the cards.

Since Ali urged us to handwrite- I decided I’d strike a balance and fill out part of the cards with my own writing.  I also took advantage of the size to try some sewing on my page. . . that was pretty fun. 

The Giveaway

I’m giving away these papers, the Sinton Paper Collection, to three lucky winners. 

To enter the drawing, leave a comment telling me what your One Little Word is or what it could be in 2011.  I generate a Randomly drawn winner from those comments left by 8 AM PST time 2/2/11 and announce the winner later on Wednesday.  (Comments can be left by clicking the number of comments just below the title of this post.)

The Blog Hop

I want to say thanks to Becky for directing folks over to my blog and encourage you to visit Marlene’s blog next.  All of our posts are due up by 8 AM Pacific Time. 

Here’s a full list of everyone participating:

1. Margie http://www.xnomads.typepad.com
2. Jill Conyers http://www.jillconyers.typepad.com/life_as_i_see_it/
3.  Monica http://www.scraplifters.blogspot.com
4. Lynn W http://www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com
5. Miranda http://www,mirandasscrapsite.blogspot.com
6. Mandy http://www.captureandcreate.wordpress.com
7. Kathy http://www.katswonderings.blogspot.com
8. Lisa http://www.makeyourownescape.blogspot.com
9. Donna http://www.donnabryantdurand.blogspot.com
10. Abbey http://www.athomewiththerichardsfamily.blogspot.com/
11. Sam http://www.learncreatedo.wordpress.com/
12. April http://www.capturethememories.blogspot.com
13. Nicky http://www.seejanebake.blogspot.com
14. Rebekah http://www.istampscrapcraft.blogspot.com/
15. Relly http://www.rel.ly
16. Nancy http://www.goshery.blogspot.com
17.  Cynthia http://www.paperpapereverywhere.blogspot.com/
18. Kathryn http://www.katlodesigns.com
19. Nikki http://www.inkyart.com.au
20. Heather http://www.scrappyhare.blogspot.com
21.  Gayle www.lifeonlilypadlane.blogspot.com
22. Kristina http://www.ciqis.blogspot.com
23. Debra http://www.blakleyhomeplace.blogspot.com
24. Becky http://www.beckyandjames.com
25. Amy http://ordinarydetails.com You are Here!
26. Marlene http://www.moore-fun-in-the-sun.blogspot.com/
27. Maureen http://www.cookingmylife.blogspot.com
28. Cheri http://www.cheriandrews.blogspot.com
29. Monica Scrapmom http://www.questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com
30. Jan http://www.mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com
31. Junelle http://www.yesandamenblog.blogspot.com
32. Margaret http://www.gutsymom.blogspot.com
33. Sharyn   http://www.analteredlife.com
34.  Tere http://www.terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com/

One Little Word Update, Blog Hop, and Giveaway is a post from: Ordinary Details - The Joy of Ordinary

Related posts:

1. One Little Word 2011: Home
2. One Little Word
3. Welcome 2012 with One Little Word: Shine

Each year, Ali Edwards and a bunch of other folks choose a word for the year.  It’s kind of a resolution, a goal, and something to focus on in the coming year.  I usually think about doing it but for the past few years I’ve had a hard time settling in on a word- thinking hard about what that word might be even into January- and never really settling on just one word for the year.  This year, as I’ve had my word for 2011 since November. 

 My Word for 2011. . . Home

(Portrayed on my beautiful necklace that I ordered from Pumpkin Pie Designs/As We Dance.  It’s a custom order similar to her Keep Calm and Carry On necklace- all I had to do was ask  through a conversation.  I promise it’s gorgeous but we really haven’t had enough sunlight to get a beautiful picture of it yet.  Perhaps this will be the year I get rid of these privacy screens on that leave the house darker than it should be.)

Home.  It seems to be the perfect word for 2011 and sums up so much of what I want to focus on and look forward to in 2011. 

I want to focus on being present at home.  I want to enjoy my time at home and not just zone out here at home.  To relax at home.  To enjoy the time that Cody’s home.

 This is the year to settle in to our home- wherever that may be.  We’ve been in this home for 10 years in August but I don’t think Cody and I really feel settled in it.  We waited for this home to have a different purpose most of the time we’ve been here- and then the possibility of moving entered into our thoughts last year.  So, we’ve never taken the time to really settle in here.  By the end of this year, I want to feel totally settled in our home- whether it’s in this home or our next home. 

Settling is so much about making our house, our home.  That means focusing some time, attention, and monies on decorating and organzing our house to be our home.  I’ve already got a few projects in mind.  Some that I’ll be moving forward with soon and some that will wait until later in the year.

I’m also starting a home-based business.  So, this year will be about growing that business from here at home.  You’ve seen the preview of Reflective Scrapbooking but I’m still working on a few things behind the scenes and then I have lots of things I want to add.  I’ll be getting ready to devote much of my time to this online venture.

I also want to work on getting back to making this house run smoother, to be more organized, and to be better at cleaning this house.  In short, I’d like to be a better homemaker in 2011.  I know that our plans will need me to be more active in this roll than I have been in recent years- I need to take time to enjoy this part of my life more. . . One of the things I thought about during the Christmas Season when I remembered just how much I enjoy being in the Kitchen.

I also dream of returning to my hometown of Kansas City some time this year but I don’t know if that will be possible. . . but the thought is there we’ll just have to see where 2011 leads us.

Home.

(Want to read more about One Little Word, Check out Ali’s Blog here. If nothing else, check out all the words that have been posted and will be posted in the coming days- they are so inspiring.   And, I’m super excited that in this year when I’m so ready to focus on my One Little Word, Ali will be doing a 12-month class/community for One Little Word at Big Picture Classes.)

One Little Word 2011: Home is a post from: Ordinary Details - The Joy of Ordinary

Related posts:

1. 2011 in One Little Word: Home
2. One Little Word Update, Blog Hop, and Giveaway
3. One Little Word

December 17

Journaling reads; Waiting, that was the name of the name of the game today. First, it was waiting for Cody to get done with his ride along so I could hear all about it- especially after he told me they went on a disturbance call. but, then, the wait was even longer for Lisa to get here so we could visit. Of course, by the time she made it, we were both ready for bed. But, we talked a while first.

 December 18 

Today was a great day. Cody was off hunting at the deer lease and left Lisa and I to ourselves. Lisa and I watched old videos of Jack when he was younger- we even posted one on his facebook- oh how Jack’s face in it made us laugh. then, we got down to business. . . creating a website for Lisa’s work. While web work isn’t exactly fun, it was fun being able to help Lisa out with all the things I’ve learned. We had a few challenges but they are just opportunties to learn. . . and a few tricks I’m even going to try on my website. But, in all the time we got to spend working on the site, we also got time to talk and catch up. We simply just got to spend the day together.

 December 19 

Journaling Reads: We had dad’s birthday lunch a day early. Conversations included their new cell phones, working out, the football game Cody was watching, and Cody’s ride-a-longs.

December 20

Journaling Reads: After Cody left for Lisa’s, I baked cookies, put on music, and decorated our tree. It was the first time we’ve put the King Ranch ornaments Coralyn has gotten us since 1996 on the main tree.

December 21

Journaling: Today seemed to be about preperation. Cody’s present arrived and I wrapped it before he had the chance to see it. I made several batters for cookies to bake Wednesday, and Cody helped me clean house before Coralyn came up.

 December 22

Journaling Reads: 234 Cookies plus a few. Today, Cody and I made five different kinds of cookies for the troopers at his office. Sad thing is, they’ll only get a dozen and a half each. We had less than 10 extra cookies. I don’t know how I’d have done it without Cody’s help.

 December 23 

Journaling Reads: Our traditional Christmas eve eve dinner wasn’t quite traditional. We used the mixture from Cody’s oopsy instead of mexican meat. Cody had put picante instead of spaghetti sauce with hamburger meat the night before. It still tasted good.

December Daily: Dec 17-23 is a post from: Ordinary Details - The Joy of Ordinary

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I thought about putting up a big “Under Construction” sign in the house. (Don’t ask me where the thought came from- I had weird dreams with some strange imagination in them all night too! Let’s just say they were really “creative” dreams). I’d forgotten the idea until a few hours later, I was thinking about some artwork that I thought would be neat for the back bedroom. . . then there came that thought again- what if we move. (The prospect really has helped me save money! There’s a lot of things I’ve put off buying.) I was reminded that life seems to be under construction right now and realized that I like that better than stuck in a holding pattern as we were for so many years.

It was then that I stopped to ruminate on the concept of “Life Under Construction”. Perhaps it’s just 2010 coming to an end and looking ahead to 2011, but I can really see our life under construction right now. We’re trying to adapt some healthier habits. I’m trying to start a new venture. Cody’s got a new adventure in mind. I suppose in many ways each of us is under construction. We are continually growing and changing. We can make plans and we change things in our lives. And just like any construction project, there are many things beyond our control- things we can’t plan for or things that are awaiting input or action by someone else.

I’m curious: in what ways do you feel your life is under construction right now?

Life Under Construction is a post from: Ordinary Details - The Joy of Ordinary

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Here are my next three December Daily Pages:

December 4

 December 5

 December 6th:

Then I created these pages to go in between every few pages.  They have some of my favorite Advent/Christmas hymns. . .I’ll probably create some more. 

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel

Savior of the Nations, Come

God Loves Me Dearly

December Daily: Dec 4-6 and Extra pages is a post from: Ordinary Details - The Joy of Ordinary

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So this person is for the next person who finds their self at a point when being childless just sucks and searches for something when they’re not sure what they want to find.

What brought me to that point yesterday? The dang drum in my head that is life without kids that never seems to stop beating. There isn’t a day that’s gone by when I haven’t thought about kids or the lack there of. Sometimes it’s a “positive” thought- that we won’t have to deal with a screaming kid in the middle of Wal-mart (even though we’d trade places with the parent anytime). Other times, I wonder about the kids we were so close to adopting- how they’re doing or how I feel they were taken from me. Sometimes, it’s just re-hashing old history. Or perhaps it’s the incessant, how can parents do the things they do to their kids. Other times, it’s wondering about where I go from here- the fact that I’ve not idea what the future looks like without kids.

Too many days it’s not just one thought but many thoughts. Somedays, it’s just a thought or two. Other days, it seems to be in sterio coming at you from all sides. No matter how much you try to tune it out, it beats louder and louder. You can’t turn it off; you can’t even seem to turn it down. Yesterday, when I did my little google search, was one of those times. . . when the drum beat was just too loud. Those are the moments when being childless seems to take hold of you, stir up all sorts of emotions, and wreck an otherwise good day. That’s when the word “sucks” just seems to be the best way to describe the state of being childless. Despite all the other words in my vocabulary, “sucks” is the one word that is apropros. And it sucks when “sucks” is the one word you can find that describes the moment.

All I can do is ask God for peace. I know he’ll get me out of those moments. And I hope that one day he has in store for me a day when I don’t even think about whether or not we have children.

Being Childless Sucks is a post from: Ordinary Details - The Joy of Ordinary

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It seemed to sum up what I want Christmas to be like this year.   In the last few Christmas’s, I’ve really focused on Christ- Decor for Christmas.  I’ve focused on cutting out the secular world from my Christmas.  I’ve decorated with things like Poinsettias, Stars, and Nativities.  Even my Santa cookie plate and Santa stocking have stayed in the decorations box.    And, without kids, I haven’t had to wrestle with what to do with Santa at Christmas.

I will continue this new tradition this year.  When I think about my holidays this year- From Thanksgiving to Christmas- the things I want are the same.  To focus on my faith and family with simplicity, joy, and gratitude. 

We’ll be going to my parents for Thanksgiving and I’ll be spending time with my husband out at the deer lease for much of the holiday season.  Advent starts just after Thankgiving and I’m looking forward to the waiting and preperation for Christmas.  I plan on completing several advent devotionals this year.  And then it’ll be Christmas.  I really want the focus of my Christmas to be celebrating the Nativity of Jesus with my family- and good food of course.

(To my dismay, the book actually appears to be a Christian Romance novel and I’m not sure that it even touches on my thoughts as I read that title.)

Lone Star Christmas is a post from: Ordinary Details - The Joy of Ordinary

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She wanted to paint our bedroom yellow and trim it in blues and greens
But I wouldn’t let her, it wouldn’t of hurt nothing

I knew what color I wanted for the kitchen and the dining room (or so I thought at the time).  I had picked out a yellow for the kitchen similar to oen we’d painted my parent’s sunroom.  I picked out a matching blue for the living room.  I knew I’d paint the ceilings a couple of shades lighter. 

But there was this brochure at Lowe’s that contained this one color.  D61-1 Morning Fog.  I thought I liked it but I really wasn’t sure.  It wasn’t a color I’d have chosen.  It was totally different than any direction I would have chosen.  It kept calling to me.  And, as I would think of painting our bedroom in the color , it was that line of Kenny Chesney’s song that I’d hear, “It wouldn’t hurt nothing”. 

In the end, I went for it and have never been more happy that I tried something different.  I love the color.  It takes on a different hue in different lights.  It’s bright yet calming.  I’ve since repainted my kitchen D61-1, Morning Fog, and re-painted my living room a matching color (smoke screen) from that same brochure.

I’ve always said that when, if ever, we get our next house, which we’d plan on building, the entire house would be D61-1, Morning Fog.  And recently, I’ve come to realize that I have no idea why I have to wait on some pipe dream to have the walls in my home be D61-1, Morning Fog.  “It wouldn’t hurt nothing.”

When we got the trailer at the deer lease and I looked at all the old paneling, how dark it was inside, and the different surfaces, I knew immediately, I’d be painting the interior D61-1, Morning Fog.  Cody knew, “It wouldn’t hurt nothing.”

Next, D61-1 will be making further appearances in my home.  I should have enough paint leftover from the trailer to paint both of our bathrooms in Morning Fog.  After I finish that painting and recover from the fun that is painting, I’ll be starting on the living room and the hallway. 

I love D61-1, Morning Fog.  It hasn’t hurt nothing.

It Wouldn’t Hurt Nothing is a post from: Ordinary Details - The Joy of Ordinary

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October is Gone!  Praise the Lord!  November is Here!  I love that each year, each month, each week, each day, each hour, we’re given a fresh starting point.

October wasn’t the best month around here.  It had it’s share of the blues, wacky times, and busy times.  There was no routine and no schedule.  Everything seemed to suffer- we we’re exhausted, we ate miserably, the house became a mess. . . and this blog really suffered too.

Each year, November brings a new rhythm to our household.  Hunting season comes into full swing.  Gone are the days of preperation and the overnights at the deer lease begin.  With a new place to stay at the deer lease, I plan on being out there more often.  I know I want to enjoy my time out there.  

And I knew with everything that October was and everything I want November to be, I need to get organized.  We bought the month’s groceries last week.  I wanted to get a head start.  I wanted to do some freezer cooking.  So, after shopping for the month’s groceries, this was the scene on my dining room table- before I started cooking each of the recipes you see on the table.  Our freezers are full.

Now, I can settle into the rhythm that November brings- the new rythymn that this year will bring.

November is Here! Routines and Schedules Please is a post from: Ordinary Details - The Joy of Ordinary

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Outside my window… It’s getting dark.  It’s been cloudy and dreary.  (But so much cooler than Corpus was- so no complaints here.)

I am thinking… I’m so glad I decided to take Karen Russell’s class.

I am thankful for… a job that gives me flexibility.  Took the afternoon off to pay bills and pick up around here.  I’m really behind after being sick, then out of town. . . and I’ll have a short weekend as I have to travel for work Sunday.

I am wearing… A tank top and pare of knit shorts.  (Quite a get-up)

I am remembering… how tired I am.

I am going… to bed in an hour and a half.

I am reading…my photography lessons- or really listening to them and reading along.  And catching up on blogs so I can manage my Google Reader

I am hoping… the Twins win!

On my mind… how I need to plan meals and want to do a better job in the cooking/ kitchen organizaiton department this month.

Noticing that… I just got the hiccups again.

Pondering these words… We have a bunch of ballplayers. . . Twins Manager

From the kitchen… Chicken Parmigiana

Around the house… Laundry is going, kitchen is clean.  Still need to clean around here.

One of my favorite things~ when Cody gets really interested in something.  Tonight it’s a new hunting catalog.

For Today is a post from: Ordinary Details - The Joy of Ordinary

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