The Five Love Languages ~ Day 2

The Five Love Languages was recommended to me by my amazing friend Sarah. Today I finished it and I have to say I learned a lot. It talks about how we all feel love in different ways. Some feel love through Words of Affirmation, some through Quality Time. Others feel love through Receiving Gifts, others Acts of Service and some through Physical Touch. Gary Chapman calls these the love languages. I found out with my husband my biggest love language was quality time. What I desire most is to be able to have quality time together and quality time with the kids. His on the other hand, is acts of service. He works two jobs and works hard at everything he does to express love to his family. Now my job is to figure out ways to express more love to him on his love language and because he loves me he will now read the book and make more effort to do the same. I think marriage is a combination of love and work. We have our highs and lows but we know that at the end of each day there is no one we would rather be there with than each other. There are some days when there is more work but I can honestly say there is ALWAYS love. The love dare refers to this as agape, unconditional love. I have also been reading the Love Dare which is an amazing book. My dare for the day is to do something out of the ordinary for my spouse - something that proves that my love is based on choice and nothing else. To demonstrate love to them for the sheer joy of being their partner in marriage.

So for today I did two new things. I read the Five Love Languages, which I HIGHLY recommended to any married couple and I also cleaned the downstairs spotless for my husband who loves a tidy home. Let me tell you cleaning and scrubbing floors after the kids are in bed is not my first choice, but my hubby is.

Making a List ~ Day 1

Today I had a wonderful conversation with a dear friend. We talked about choices and how these choices that we make every day, affect who we are and where we are at. We shared that too often the things we are told, can affect us years later, and how we shouldn't base our choices on those statements. She had mentioned how she loved the Nike logo Just do it. So many times the choices we make, or even don't make, are based on fear and or insecurities. That sometimes you have to step out and Just do it.

She made a statement about being the heroine in your own life. Picture your life like a movie; what would you want the heroine to do? I thought about that all day today. Too often I think we can even act the villain, telling ourselves we aren't smart enough, thin enough, or even good enough. I love the idea of being the heroine. When I look at my life/movie I would like to see more comedy, more action and more adventure for our family. I would like to have more romance time for my hubby and myself, and I would like my life/movie to inspire others. This evening I sat and made a list, lets call it a plan for my movie. I listed over 100 things I would like for myself, the heroine, to do. Although I started this list, I know that sometimes what inspires a heroine to take that leap of faith is in the moment. We can't always plan the new things that come our way, but if we have an open heart, I feel the possibilities are endless.

My new thing for the day was making a list of dreams and adventures and staring as the lead role in my amazing wonderful life.

Starting Over

So here I am again, attempting the impossible. I had an interesting year to say the least. I feel like this year has been series of roller coaster rides, but I guess that is life... we have highs and lows but the important thing is to live each day to the fullest and to not take the little things in life for granted. Sooooo long story short...I am at it again. I read through my blog and thought, why did I stop? Life is always going to through you curve balls but sticking with it and deciding not to let it get you down is what will always keep your spirits high. So yes... I am starting over. I am going to try something new every day. Yes....every stinking day!!! I may just list the challenge and the verdict but everyday I will remind myself just how blessed I am because I am.... I am so very blessed.

Day 85 ~ Pitching Clinic

My new thing for the day was a pitching clinic with my oldest daughter. I had as much fun as the kids did.

I use to love to pitch. I would pitch for hours against a wall outside our house. It has been years since I have pitched a softball and I didn't realized how much I missed it until I had a chance to play again.

My daughter and I both had a great time and I plan on the next sunshine day I will take my hubby outside and have him catch some pitches, not just my daughters pitches but mine!

Day 84 ~ Dinner Party

Our new thing for the day was a Dinner Party. We had 2 couples over and their children and is was a blast.

I have to say I am so glad we have our new play room. The kids enjoyed playing upstairs with Lego's and things and then we were able to put a movie on later and they all crowed around to watch the show. All the adults were able to eat and visit and it was so nice enjoying the evening together. It made me wonder why we don't have these more often. We normally invite one couple, but was so glad we had more, and I loved sitting around laughing at the craziness of life.

Our new thing for the day was a smaller dinner party. Next attempt is a large BBQ this summer. I can't wait!!

Day 83 ~ Carmel Corn

My husband is the best popcorn maker in town. I don't mean the kind of popcorn you stick in the microwave, I mean the kind you put in a pan with oil cook, my friend comes over sometimes just for my hubby popcorn.

He really outdid himself this time, and we had something new. He made homemade Carmel corn. It was so good you couldn't stop eating it and my mouth waters thinking of it. Here is the recipe he followed but this is not for the weak stomach. I say this because it is impossible to eat less than a huge bowl full. It was DELICIOUS!!

Here is the link and the recipe:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/My-Amish-Friends-Caramel-Corn/Detail.aspx

My Amish Friend's Caramel Corn
7 quarts plain popped popcorn
2 cups dry roasted peanuts (optional) We skipped the peanuts
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup We used dark
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup margarine We used good old fashion butter!
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Place the popped popcorn into two shallow greased baking pans. You may use roasting pans, jelly roll pans, or disposable roasting pans. Add the peanuts to the popped corn if using. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, margarine and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring enough to blend. Once the mixture begins to boil, boil for 5 minutes while stirring constantly.
Remove from the heat, and stir in the baking soda and vanilla. The mixture will be light and foamy. Immediately pour over the popcorn in the pans, and stir to coat. Don't worry too much at this point about getting all of the corn coated.

Bake for 1 hour, removing the pans, and giving them each a good stir every 15 minutes. Line the counter top with waxed paper. Dump the corn out onto the waxed paper and separate the pieces. Allow to cool completely, then store in airtight containers or resealable bags.

Day 82 ~ Dessert First!

"Save room for cake!" How often have we all heard this? Our new thing for the day was having our cake to start off dinner.

It was a wonderful day. We spent a hour at the park and another two at a friends. She is one of the best cooks I know and she whipped us up some lemon cake while we sat and visited. It was 5:30and she asked the question, "Do you want me to wrap this up for you so you can have it after dinner or would you like to eat it now?" The mom in me thought we should save it for after dinner, but the fun me blurted out, "CAKE TIME!!!" My kids were so happy, and so was I. Who said cake should come last? I say bah hum bug to them.

Our new thing for the day was cake for dinner and it was AWESOME!