One Little Word

Every year my husband asks what my resolution is going to be. And every year I remind him that I don't really do a resolution, instead I choose a word that I hope will help guide me through the upcoming year. 
This year, my word is Shine. 
I hope to Shine in my friendships.  Remember to call, write letters, send cards, remember important things about my friends. Important things that are going on in THEIR lives, not just in mine.  Call when I think about it, not wait because they might be busy, not wait because I'm tired, not wait. 
I hope to Shine in my job.  Smile at my kids. Have time to listen to them.  Be on time for meetings, and be prepared.  Smile and be open to my fellow South Shore peeps.  Be helpful and organized.
I hope to Shine in my marriage.  Be helpful, and loving, and open to my husband.  Tell him what I am feeling, and how much he means to me.  I hope to remember that I can help him Shine.  I can help and support him and let him take the credit. It's OK. 
I hope to Shine as I re-learn photography.  I hope to explore and grow and be comfortable behind the lens again. 
I hope to Shine as a homemaker.  I hope to have a clean, organized house that is a haven for Brandon and I to come home to each night.  A house that smells good, looks good, and feels good. 
I hope to Shine as a cook.  I hope to have a nice meal for my husband at least 3 nights a week.  (That might not sound like much for some of you wives out there...but for us that really is sufficient).  Good, healthy, simple meals. 

I want to shine as a person, to smile and be uplifting and positive.  To be smart and witty and regal. 
This is my word for the year.  Let's see if I can shine enough to remember it each day. 

Bucket List of Things That I Want To Do And Accomplish In 2011

*  Celebrate Valentines Day. For reals this time.
* take at least one picture each day.
* start turning the TV off, and turning on our lives. (spend at least one evening a week without the TV).
* take a trip with my husband, somewhere in America besides Heppner, Pendleton, Pilot Rock, Eugene, or Albany.  Lovely places they are, but I think there is more for us to explore.
* reinstate the Friday Night Dates
* think about what made me happy each day
* write down what I am grateful each day.
-today I am grateful for the energy to get up early and get in my classroom.  Dancing in the kitchen to an old CD, and funny kindergarten quotes.  "I didn't know my sharing was today...I thought my day was the day after yesterday!"   :)
* blog at least once a week.
 
I am frustrated that blogger won't let me add a photo to this post! oh well....  

Christmas 2010

Brandon and I at our "engagement tree". It was about 12 degrees out, and we snowmobiled there, and then hiked to the tree in a LOT of snow. Too bad all of my mascara ended up under my eyes! oh well....it was a romantic gesture even if I did look like crap.

My mom and I at Christmas time. Brandon and I had a good visit with my parents, and my sister and her husband.

My parents and I were trying to have our picture taken and my husband said something so funny that my mom couldn't stop laughing, and then my dad and I started laughing....

Christmas 2010

I'm back!!! After a rather long hiatus, I have decided to come back to blogger world. Here are a few pictures from our time in Eastern Oregon for Christmas break.

 
Here is Brandon's frozen eyelashes and eyebrows from a trip out in the cold.






The views in Eastern Oregon can be spectacular.   

Reminder

I didn't post on Monday like I have been doing. Monday evening I felt a bit guilty. By Tuesday I was feeling like I wanted to post, but wasn't sure if had 'it' in me. By Tuesday night I knew why I hadn't done it yet. He wanted me to experience something first. He wanted me to see something first.
Last night Brandon and I had the most enjoyable evening. We went out on our back deck; me with my book and Brandon with his new work tool. We sat in silence and experienced one of the best evenings of the summer. The breeze was blowing through our tree and soothing us into a state of relaxation that was better than our vacation in March. The sun was warming and comforting, but not hot or burning.  It was the perfect temperature with the perfect breeze on a quiet evening with the perfect summer smells. Those smells of fields being harvested, irrigated or raked.  It was Heaven on Earth.
After Brandon went to bed I got back up and just stood on the back deck for another minute. It was perfect. I smelled those smells, soaked up the last of the sunset on the horizon and let my ears enjoy the silence.  I didn't want that moment to end. It was summer at its best.
141. The smells of last night.
142. Sitting on the deck with my husband last night.
143. Cooking a nice dinner for my husband last night.
144. Reading my book and enjoying it.
145. Dinner with friends from work Monday night.
146. Finishing our Mexico scrapbook Tuesday.
147. Coffee with Valerie this morning.
148. Celebrating with Kelly Friday.
149. Family time on Saturday.
150. Welcoming Brandon and Duke home on Sunday.

So thankful....

131. A nice visit with a friend at her new home.
132. A fantastic summer night with friends on our patio.
133. A lazy Sunday at home with my husband.
134. A great lunch date with a bestest friend.
135. Scrapping in my craft room - and feeling productive.
136. Ceiling fans.
137. Planting a new bush in our backyard...making it feel more and more like our own.
138. Finding new plants for the patio.
139. New puppies!
140. The laughter of kiddos at our home.

Fantastic summer days

121. Getting up and getting LOTS done around our house.
122. Friends stopping by to visit and help us.
123. Friends that knew us well enough to say--lets go to the river!
124. Friends that can just load up in our pickup and have fun with us.
125.  Using the treadmill again after a hiatus.
126. Picking up pictures from Costco.
127. Summer nights.
128. Good books.
129. Sweet tea.
130. The Internet.