Resolution Detour

I am not much of a goal-setter.  I do teach classes in which the objectives for the students are to get them to create short- and long-term goals. At work I am "supposed" to make annual goals that I submit to my boss.  I am also supposed to set future planning goals at the end of each school year for promotional purposes.  There is also big talk about outcome-based learning and the value of goal-setting.

Contrary to all this implementation of goal training, I still can't say I am a fan of goal-setting...

But I have to say that I am more into faith-based learning, in particular - it will happen, IF it happens, on faith. 

This year I stepped out "on faith" and made a New Year's resolution, of sorts, to not purchase anything for myself.  More of a targeted spending self-discipline than anything else.  No clothes, shoes, makeup, jewelry, or accessories.  I did have to eat and take care of my house and my husband, so of course, general purchases were permitted but I restricted the purchases for myself.  When I declared this idea around Christmas, my sister-in-law said to me, "But what if you need something?"  

Well, that was the idea... to not need anything.  I have so many things.  I wanted to:

• expand my ability to make use of what I did have
• to do without the extras 
• reinforce the difference between wants and needs
• enjoy some delayed gratification
• and most importantly, not come out of Target with something for myself each time!

And it has worked! I can go into Target without buying something, even a small something, for myself. I also was able to clean out and give away items in my closet because I noticed how many items I was simply not wearing... which was a lot more obvious when I wasn't cluttering it up with new purchases. Keith even did well with MY resolution and bought only two new dress shirts for his spring concerts. 

Alas, even the best laid plans have their detours.  After 140 days (nearly 5 whole months!) of self-restricted purchasing, we detoured to Fleet Feet Sports in order to buy new running shoes.  What an enjoyable experience we had there.  They analyze and truly "fit" you for shoes to make sure you have the perfect ones for your running style.  

Our purchases

They feel so indulgent! 

Oh, and since one detour usually leads to a downward shame spiral...

A $2.99 closeout at Marc's... the very next day!

... it may be time to faithfully dig deeper for a renewed sense of self-discipline.

Before & After: Patio

A side project, literally.

Before

Keith has the best ideas for projects!

The latest was inspired by needing a proper place to put the grill.  When we walk out our back door the stairs lead us beside the patio, not to the patio.  So we have to walk down the stairs, around the railing, up the step, and on to the patio ... usually with a plate full of grilled items.

The project was to replace the side mulched area with paver stones.

During

This took more of a small army as opposed to a lovely husband-and-wife team.  Keith's student teacher was recruited to go to Lowe's with him to load up the 27 paver stones needed ...and then unload them back at our house.  My brother also helped with the unloading of stones at our house.  Those things were heavy!  Glad to have strong guys to help with the heavy lifting.

Then the call was made to enlist Keith's parents to help with the project.  Boy, were they a God-send!  They drove three hours with their dog in tow and they brought all kinds of shovels, tools, brooms, levels, an ax, a tamper, and 5-gallon buckets.  Didn't know we would need all that!  They also brought an awesome work ethic so the project would actually get done in one fair-weathered weekend.  We are so thankful for them.

And it looks beautiful.  

After

Snapshot of Mothers

Why are mothers never in a photo?  Or better yet, why are they always behind the camera?

Maybe not every mother is exactly like this, but Keith and I have two very wonderful, beautiful mothers, but very few photos to show for it.  As we scoured our photos for "mom pics,"  we seemed to have very few to choose from.

Well, actually our lovely moms were in the photos... but flitting about in the background. You know the type:  trying to keep people happy, fed, loved, comfortable, socialized, included, etc.

Our grandmas can also be like this.  Moms and grandmas, so busy with so much love to give!

Here are some great moments fairly-recently captured with our moms and grandmas:

At the Hallas Palace:
Dad, Mom, Keith, Julie, and Sara

At graduation: Keith and Grandma Moorhead

In North Carolina: Mom and Julie

In Illinois for a DAR conference:
Grandma Christensen, Julie, and Aunt Karla

At Grandma & Grandpa's house: Julie, Buddy, Ross,
Grandpa Herman, Chip, Grandma Herman and Keith

From the Kitchen: Chicken Salad

I was having a friend over for lunch, so I decided to whip up a a quick, girl-y chicken salad.  So easy, so yummy.

Ingredients:

• Chicken, parboiled or grilled then diced
• Grapes, halved
• Walnuts, chopped
• Celery, diced
• Mayonaise 
• Salt and pepper
• Lemon juice

Mix all ingredients together, to taste. (I like it light on the mayo and heavy on the grapes). Served on a bed of greens or on toasted bread.  

On spinach with a side of pineapple

Tulip Journey

Oh, the joy of watching the things that are planted grow!!!

Last fall, I made my first attempt at planting bulbs.  I planted tulip bulbs and daffodil bulbs.  The daffodils were to bloom early spring (which they did) and the tulips were to bloom late spring.  I cannot tell you how exciting it was to see the "fruits" of my labor as the sprouts peeked through the ground.  What was planned and planted grew!
This was done to ensure the beauty of color would paint the canvas of our landscape from spring through fall.
Daffodils - early spring;
Tulips - late spring;
Daylilies - late May through early summer;
Black-eyed Susans - by August and late summer
Chrysanthemums- early fall and stay hardy until nearly Thanksgiving

BUT even with the promise of continued color, today we have just one tulip left... and it seems so sad. The lilies will be here soon but I really was hoping the tulips would hang on a little longer.

Here's a glance at our tulips' journey over the past month:

The excitement begins on St. Patrick's Day

Snow on March 26th

April 10th

Seeing the buds on April 16th

Daffodils and Tulips together on April 18th

After the rain on April 29th

Petals scatter the ground by May 3rd.