OVERwhelmed and UNDERcalmed (UPDATED)

It finally hit me today.  That dreaded OVERwhelmed feeling.  Yep, I knew it was coming and on it's way, but I thought it would wait a week or two. 

It was inevitable.

The month of May has always overwhelmed me simply due to the chaos and busyness of the end of the school year rush and the craziness that comes with that when you have kids.  But, this time it's different mainly because it's not only the end of the year, but also the beginning of a HUGE life change for my baby McKay...and his Mama. 

He leaves on a mission just 12 short days after graduating from high school and just 10 days after graduating from seminary. How is this done?  I am struggling with wrapping my head around it.  It seems more foreign than him serving in Russia. 

It's too much BIG stuff in too short of a time.  At least for me.  He seems to be doing fine with it, but he is a guy and they hide their feelings pretty darn well. 

And then if the emotional adjustment to all of that weren't enough, there is SO. MUCH. TO. DO. 

Getting a missionary ready is no easy task. I have done it twice so far but this time seems 10 times worse due his call to Russia and the fact that we have so little time.  Two months total once he opened his call.  Plus, I keep learning all kinds of things about his mission and instead of feeling more calm and at peace, I am getting more anxious and worried with each story I hear. 

But, since I am a seasoned veteran of being overwhelmed (hah), once I noticed it happening this time, I immediately went into auto pilot and started to do things that I have found in the past to help me calm down. 

First thing...

BREATHE

Breathing is such a simple thing that is often overlooked. I don't mean just regular breathing here. I mean DEEP breaths that fill your lungs and release the stress as you exhale.  It is amazing what a difference this makes.

The next thing I do is...

 PRAY 

Talking to God and turning my burden over to Him is the best way to feel at peace quickly.  It's another simple thing that gets overlooked because of the easiness of the way.  But it never fails to work.

And finally I ...

WRITE

Writing has always been great therapy for me.  It's the main reason I have a blog not to mention several million journals. Writing has been proven to release stress while in the process.  I believe as you get your stress out on paper, it finds a new place to dwell and leaves your body and mind. I write about my stress in my journal or I write a blog post (i.e. THIS one) and then I make lists of things that I need to do and that helps me see things as tangible and doable. 

So when I’m feeling overwhelmed and I’m not sure where to start I get to that list making! This allows me the chance to prioritize what’s most important rather than just starting with the first thing I see. Then I try and prioritize the list.  The goal is to do the most important thing first, or the thing I am dreading the most FIRST. 

Once I have accomplished the worst thing on my list for the day (i.e. that frog or two I really didn't want to eat so I kept putting it off even though I knew I would eventually have to eat it), then the rest seems so much easier.  It's always a relief to have that frog eaten and out of the way.  Croak....

If  I have 10 items (okay 100) on my list and there is that one that I am dreading because it’s more difficult or time consuming, I cannot feel at peace until it's done and out of the way.  Otherwise all I will think about is having to eat that frog and it weighs me down until it's done. It's amazing the energy boost I get when I get that dreaded frog out of the way.  I feel much less overwhelmed and accomplished.

The problem for me with this round of feeling overwhelmed is the fact that everything feels like a frog.  And none of those frogs are the cute little tree frogs that are easy to get down.  

Instead they all feel like those hideous huge hard to swallow bullfrogs.

 Well, this guy actually is kinda cute...must be the color. ☺

I guess frog eating is similar to elephant eating...just one bite at a time.  Not good though when you have lost your appetite for frogs!

Here's some more great pointers I found online (that will encourage rather than discourage) and hopefully prevent the overwhelm from turning into an amygdala hiijack:

I'm feeling better already...

I will repeat this ↓ mantra each day until all those frogs have been eaten!

Just do it Jodi, just do it!

Frogs have had this figured out for a long time.  That's why they are so happy...they eat what bugs them!  Bwahahahaha

 

I really don't get it but I liked the photo...I thought it was ribbiting. ☺

What are YOUR frogs right now?

UPDATE: After publishing this post, I realized that I left off two VERY important things that help me return to a calm and peaceful feeling that are maybe even more important than the three I wrote about it.  See what happens when you are overwhelmed?  You shouldn't write about it because you are so overwhelmed you lose half your brain!  These two things are probably what really makes things turn around for me.  How did I forget to add them?  Well, enough about how or why, here they are:

I get out and

SERVE

When I am so caught up in my own worries and stresses, the focus tends to just stay right there which seems to make all those things build and magnify and seem even greater and larger than they are.  But when I take the time to leave my worries and stresses for a time and serve someone else - especially when I feel like I don't have the time for my own To Do List let alone someone else's - I am able to accomplish mine so much faster and everything just seems to fall into place.  It's amazing how much easier it is to get done what I need to when I take that focus off myself and put it on someone else for a time. 

And last but definitely NOT least...

I focus on 

GRATITUDE

I am such an advocate of the principle of gratitude because it truly does work like magic.  If I am   feeling stressed, overwhelmed, depressed, lonely, or any other myriad of emotions, if I STOP and focus on what I am grateful for, it's almost as if I snapped my fingers and viola...those feelings dissipate almost instantly!  It never ceases to amaze me how powerful gratitude is and what it does to bring us peace and comfort.  It's crazy how quickly it can change a bad day and attitude into a sunshiny glorious and happy day.  I am sure one day scientists will explain how it works, but until that happens I am just going with it and continue to be grateful for gratitude!  It really is a life changer!  A magical life changer.  Gratitude is one of the most important principles of our lives that we really need to embrace and use.  It is the fountain of happiness.  It truly is. 

Not sure how I left those two out....but we will chalk it up to marathon tapering madness this time. ☺ 

Food 4 Thought Friday

GET YOUR APPETITE ON and PLAY ALONG! Just copy and paste the questions to your blog and PLEASE leave a comment that you played along so others can go and check out your answers. These are so much fun to go back and read later!

*SPECIAL REQUEST:  Please add the link of this post on your Food 4 Thought Friday post so others can find it .  And please be sure and check out the answers of those who left a comment and spread the love!  


Welcome to Beacon of Hope's:

Food 4 Thought Friday!

A little feast without the calories!!

Feel free to play along for some yummy fun! I will post a new one each Thursday night. JOIN IN!!!

Food 4 Thought Friday ~ This week's questions:
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Breakfast ~ What is your current guilty pleasure?

Lunch ~  What is the weirdest/worst thing you have eaten?

 
Dinner ~ What is something you wish you wouldn't have done?

 
Midnight Snack ~ Name some of your time saving tricks?
 
Recipe of the Week ~ (instead of your recipe for life what is it just for the week?)  

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MY ANSWERS

Breakfast ~ What is your current guilty pleasure? Lately I have been craving root beer floats for some reason.  I think it was when I went to visit Mona on Root beer Float Friday at her rehab and they gave me one too.  Since then I have been enjoying them at home!  And of course, chocolate...but I don't consider that to be a guilty pleasure - just a pleasure because I feel no guilt when I eat that!  hah

I like my root beer floats with more root beer than ice cream and I like it when the ice cream gets all crunchy!
 
Lunch ~ What is the weirdest/worst thing you have eaten? Fish!  I hate seafood!  Anything that swims does not get past my lips!  My father in law tricked me once into eating some breaded deep fried halibut by telling me it was chicken.  Of all the fish, it is the probably the only one I "would" eat if my life depended on it...and also tuna because I grew up eating that.  My parents used to trick me into eating venison as a child and so now I just can't eat anything wild or gamey.  My son Skyler actually got me to eat lamb on a pizza once and I was very proud of myself for doing that!  I am a very picky eater when it comes to meat.  I'll eat ANY veggies or anything sweet though!  Oh and I have eaten several bugs while running.

Dinner ~ What is something you wish you wouldn't have done? There are so many things!  I guess this one is hard because many of the things I've done that I wish I wouldn't have also taught me great lessons and so if I hadn't done them then I wouldn't have gained any wisdom.  But to name a few...walking and texting and walking right into a car.  Ouch!  Texting while driving and almost having a close call!  REALLY stupid! Trying to hurdle a few years ago on asphalt when the hurdle was turned backwards.  Eating way too much Cowboy Texas Caviar yesterday and paying for it today!   If I really gave this more thought I'm sure I could come up with some dooseys!

Midnight Snack ~ Name some of your time saving tricks? Gosh I made these questions hard this week!  I am a multi-tasker and so I have many.  I am ALL about saving time.  I actually used to give presentations on Time Management when my boys were younger.  I hate the thought of wasting time.  It goes against my nature.  I think I used to be better at managing time than I am now but here's a few of my tricks...

• I have containers in my laundry room so the laundry is presorted before I do it.  My boys know where to put what and so it makes it super easy.
• I put the boys clothes on hangers immediately out of the dryer so they can take them directly to their closets.  Each boy has a different color hanger.
• I created a baking center in my kitchen so everything that I need when I bake is in one place.
• When I bake/cook I keep my sink full of soapy water and wash the dishes as I go. 
• I shop for gifts all year.  This has saved me countless hours of shopping time.
• I try and handle all my incoming mail only once.  I toss the junk mail before I set it down and try and take care of the rest right then.
• I keep cleaning supplies in every bathroom.
• I buy 20 or more pounds of hamburger and cook it up with onion and then divide it into 1.5 lb increments and put it in Freezer Ziploc bags and freeze. I always have cooked hamburger on hand for quick meals.
• I use my crock pot a LOT!
• I taught my boys how to work....one of the greatest time saving tricks of all!

 Here are a few other posts of mine on Time Management here, here, and here.
 
Recipe of the Week ~ (instead of your recipe for life what is it just for the week?) When we are given trials that challenge us to our core, REMEMBER who to turn to.  Our Savior Jesus Christ has already experienced those trials as part of the atonement and He understands how we are feeling perfectly.  And because of that, He is the best one to turn to for help.  He also knows how to help us through them perfectly because He has "been there".  Sometimes we think we can handle it on our own and forget that there is no reason to take the burden on alone when help is so near and so easy to get.  He won't always take our burdens away, but He will make them easier to bear.

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Power Hour & Personal Planner

I was recently asked to share how I do my scheduling and how I keep my life on track by a friend.  I'm not really sure the why of this request, other than she says she has learned that to get the best information about the "how to's" of scheduling is by asking the busiest people how they manage their lives.  I guess that means she thinks I fall into the category of one of the busiest people and that I can manage my life.  She has a lot to learn. haha I am not really sure how I feel about any of that.  Yes, I am busy.  We ALL are busy. Life is busy!  But I don't like to wear being busy as some kind of badge of honor like I used to.  Being busy is just a given for anyone that breaths.  But somewhere along the line it seems it's become something to be sought after and many try to obtain that status.

I recently read an article that stated that our culture has come to value and admire "busyness" more so now than ever.   It said that we are all striving to be busier and busier because when we are busy we feel most productive, thus successful.  I feel like the focus should not be on "busyness" per say, but on the quality of what we are busy doing.   Anyone can stay busy playing games on their phone or watching re-runs all day, so it's not really being busy that is what we should be striving for, but making sure our busyness has value.  We can stay busy laying on the grass watching the clouds roll by.  What we have to determine is that whatever we choose to busy ourselves with, if it has value to our souls.  Some people would think laying around watching the clouds roll by is the biggest waste of time known to man, while others would count that as one of the most important things of their day.  Everyone's opinion of what we classify as using our time wisely is different.  And that is how it should be.  We should not judge others for what they think is valuable just because we do not.  Personally, I am just trying to keep my head above water most of the time.

But in recent years I have learned that I don't want to have my calendar so full on my "to-do" list that I never have five minutes to stop and smell the roses or to have time open for people when they need me.  If a friend calls me up and asks if I can go to lunch with her, I want to be able to say yes to the request.  I don't want to feel so pressured all the time that I don't enjoy my limited time that I have been granted here while on earth.  Time is our most valuable commodity and I have learned that in order to appreciate that gift we don't have to be using every single minute in a way that our society deems productive.  I find my most productive time is when I am still and can actually think and process those thoughts.  That is time well spent because I discover things that I otherwise would not have.

Ha! Excuse the language, but life is short and we need to plan some fun in our lives too!

Most of us have had the notion so ingrained into our minds that idle hands are the devil's workshop, so we don't dare stop and relax and just chill without an incredible amount of guilt seeping in.  Studies have been done that have shown our minds need down time in order to allow the creative flow to happen and to allow our imaginations freedom to roam. So, instead of being thought of as being lazy, sitting and being still should be considered one of the most productive times of our day.

 

Now, having said all that, I still have a full calendar, but I really try and be as flexible with it as I can.  I run nearly every day, but I don't hold myself to a certain time of day unless I am running with a friend because I want to be flexible with things that come up.

Some days are like that!

I have always been a list maker and I've always had some type of personal planner for as long as I can remember.  I find it very therapeutic to check something off of a "to-do" list.  I have been known to go back and write things on my list that weren't already there, just so I can get that satisfaction of checking them off once they are done.

Lately I have started to really utilize my smart phone's calendar.  It took me awhile to get in the habit of putting down my schedule on it, but now that I am in the habit of doing that, I have found that my life runs so much smoother.  However, I am still stuck between the hard copy and digital when it comes to my personal planner.  I've been told I need to look into Google Calendar and get myself familiar with that.

But as for now, I still use both my personal planner hard copy and my smart phone calendar.  I like to have something visual in front of me that is a week at a glance.  That really helps me with my focus on the week. I know Google Calendar is a good tool, but it doesn't have all the little personal things that I want and need on my planner.  So for now I am still very happy with my hard copy and so that is what I am going to share today.  I know someday in the near future, my hard copy will become obsolete, but for now I have personalized it so much, that I can't bear to part with it just yet. And, it works for me.  After all that is what the whole idea is, right? 

Right!

One of my favorite quotes is:  "If you don't plan for it to happen, then plan on it not happening."  I am one of those that needs to plan something or at least write it down, or it just doesn't seem to get done.  Even when it is written down, most weeks I end up forwarding many things to the next week because I didn't accomplish everything I had hoped to during the week.  And that's okay.  I do what I can reasonably do without trying to beat myself up when things don't always get done.  I don't want to be a slave to my list of things to do.

My personal planner is just that.  Personal.  I made my own planner on the computer because I couldn't buy one that really fit all of my needs.  I have finally got it almost perfected to where it really fits what I personally prefer and need in a planner.  I have tweaked it many times over the years and just recently changed it again so I could include a spot on it called Power Hour.

I learned about Power Hour from an article I read recently that talked about how we all have tasks that we keep putting off for months, maybe even years because they aren't urgent and have no deadline (which is why they don't get done), but they weigh heavily on our minds and sap our energy.  Something that can be done at any time is often done at no time.  The article said to set aside one hour once a week to work on these tasks.  One hour?  That doesn't seem like much, which is exactly the reason why this works so well.  One hour doesn't seem overwhelming even though the task may.  Anyone can work on something for one hour and the best thing is most of those tasks really only take an hour and if they do take longer, I have found that once I have committed myself to it, I want to keep going until it's completed. It helps to have a master list that you can draw from.  Some of the things on my list are:

• Start blog book
• Re-do baking center
• Organize jewelry
• Organize bathroom cupboards
• Do boys memory boxes
• Put together memory book for friend
• Do "W" craft
• Put running gear in shoe pocket holder
• Order photo prints
• Clean closet and donate clothes to DI
• Write this blog post (I started this months ago and just never got around to finishing it because it wasn't urgent)

Power Hour isn't for tasks like planning a birthday party or things that will get done due to a deadline or for things that are reoccurring tasks like paying bills or answering emails.  It's purpose is to accomplish those one time tasks that become such a weight on our shoulders and minds.  It's very satisfying to be able to cross something off my list that had been getting continuously postponed and draining me. It feels so good. 

As I said, I have adapted my planner to fit my needs.  I found that if I had a place to check off things like reading my scriptures and saying my prayers, and flossing daily☺, then they were more likely to get done.  I am motivated by that simple little act of being able to put that check mark next to the task.  It is such a rewarding feeling!  I know, that seems weird, but trust me, it really is fun!  I also have a spot to remind me to do service, and another to put what my Weekly Focus is.  I have found that when I choose a focus for the week and see it written in my planner each day to be reminded of it, then that really helps make it come to pass.  I have a spot for what I need to buy when shopping (this is not a grocery list, but things other than groceries), a place for what I am preparing for dinner each day,  and a section for my house.  My house section won't make much sense unless you have read my blog post about my cleaning system here.  I didn't really elaborate about my system much, but there are some photos on the post of the cards I use to stay on task.  I was near 100% with that system for many years, but I have not kept it up as well as I want to lately.  Still, I wanted the system on my daily planner to remind me what I had scheduled.

Here is a photo of my daily planner week at a glance page.  ©

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Here is a photo of it copied in colorful paper and filled in:

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I decided I no longer wanted the Roles line and instead changed it to Power Hour on this one:©

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                                                       This is the one I currently use:

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I really am FINALLY happy with my system because it really does fit me personally.  I would challenge you to come up with specific things that you need on yours and adjust it accordingly.

One other thing that I have started to do is called The One Minute Rule.  Basically the rule is if I can do something in less than one minute, then I do it NOW.  I try to not allow myself to procrastinate if it can be done in less a minute.  I put away my shoes, hang up a coat, pick up clutter, toss junk mail, hang up my clothes, etc.  This has made a HUGE difference in my life.  All those little things that may seem like monumental tasks but really only take a minute or less, I just do them when I notice they need to be done. Not always, I'm human...but even if I do it only 50-75% of the time, it sure makes a huge difference.  It's amazing how many things only take a short amount of time but for some reason we just don't do them.  This little rule helps me stay on top of tasks that otherwise could get out of control.

I know learning time management skills are one of the most important things we can master while we are taking space up on this earth.  We have all been given limited time and no one knows when their time will be up.  If we can figure out how to best use the time we have been given, then we will be able to say we lived our lives to the fullest and did our best with the time we were given.

Off to my to-do list!  (yea I get to check writing this post off now!)  Squeal!
Happy planning!!!☺

*Monday Memos*

*Monday Memos*

dear girl's night out,  oh, how I've been looking forward to you!  I was so excited to just get out and spend some fun down time with some of the best women I know.  I feel so blessed to live in a place and in a church ward where I have so many wonderful friends and women I look up to.  We had two full cars and headed to the movies.  I didn't eat dinner so I could enjoy (and pig out on) movie popcorn!  I love that stuff when it's all smothered in hot butter!  Mmmm!  We watched the movie Winter's Tale.  It was loaded with a lot of big names.  It was a little bit strange in some parts, but overall, it was a pretty good movie.  Peggy's "oh dears!" and Leslie stressing out how she thought it was just a light romantic comedy, made up for what the movie lacked. lol 

dear long runs (plural), I got in two of you this week but only because I didn't do one of you last Saturday.   I don't recommend doing that again.  Tuesday's run was 13.50 miles and Saturday's was 10.30.  Total miles for the week 38.40.  When you are out running that long and far, it's amazing what you find to entertain you.  Or what you start to do when there is less oxygen getting to the brain.  Like talking to animals.  Whenever I run past my friend Mr. Llama, I always ask him, "Is your Mama a Llama?  Is your Dada an Alpaca?"  He doesn't usually respond, but just gives me a blank stare.  But, hey, it keeps my mind off my miles and pain for a bit. So no judging! ;)

These goats crack me up.  They are always escaping from the farm where they are supposed to be!  Saturday they were out in the field across the street from their home.  When they saw me, they came running over to the barbed wire fence like I had some kind of treat for them.  I do often feed them the tall grass outside their pen and so I guess they could have thought I had some more for them.  Not sure how they got in that fence or how they got back out, but they gave me a much needed laugh about mile 10. 

This place always has the best thoughts.  As I ran past it on Tuesday, I had to take a photo of it because it is exactly how I feel half the time.  

dear empty vodka bottles, thank you for giving me something to try and spot on my runs (besides coins and heart shaped rocks, and cars that aren't watching the road) so that I can tease Colleen and take photos of you and text them to her asking her if she has been having a little too much fun again.  We have a long running tease going on about the empty bottles since her story of going into the liquor store to buy vodka so she could make homemade vanilla.  Then empty bottles started appearing on my Halloween decorations outside my house...namely in Frankenstein's or my porch witches hands.  Over the years, it became a tradition.  Now she has moved and so Halloween won't be the same.  But I will keep taking photos of the bottles and sending them to her.   I got this photo from her this week of her holding up this shirt.  Very funny....  and so I sent her the photos of the empty vodka bottles. 

dear ricardos, how I have been CRAVING you!  I finally got to get some of your yummy food in my belly on date night.  It was so good even if we had to stand around waiting for a table.  I really like your green sauce on the enchiladas.  Mmm......

dear mckay, you are the most amazing kid on the planet.  This is what I find when I go in your room.  Open scriptures.  You have been studying them for one hour a day.  The other day you spent three hours reading them to catch up.  THREE. HOURS.  I don't think I have ever read my scriptures for three hours straight.  I am so amazed at your example and dedication.  You are going to make the best missionary!  You set such a great example for all of us.  Thank you for being the great kid that you are. 

dear one minute rule, I am so happy I discovered you.  You are exactly what I needed to learn right now.  Even though I used to teach classes on time management and organization, I've never heard of you until I was reading online on a website the other day.   I have been slacking and needed a good swift kick in the motivation department lately and you are it.  I am now better at getting all those little things done, that make me feel like I have a million things to do.  The rule is if you can do it in less than one minute, then do it right now.  Sort the mail, return an email, hang up a coat, fold the laundry, put the umbrella away, load the dishwasher, wipe out the microwave,  etc.  For some reason it is mentally motivating because you know it's a job that will be done in a flash and so it doesn't seem so overwhelming. It's definitely not some new profound idea or rocket science, but sometimes I just need something to mentally strike a nerve and a new challenge.

dear orange chocolate ovation sticks, I just ate my last one of you today and I am already having withdrawals.  I am not sure where to buy more of you since you were really only at Seagull Book for the holidays.  I may have to wait for an entire year now to taste you again.  Waaaa!!

dear mr. cat, could I love you more?  Look at that face.  Look at that pose. You are the King.  You just bring me so much joy and I am so grateful I have you even if you don't like to cuddle like I wish you did.  I love the look on your face when you hear the printer and are ready to attack. (bottom photo)  I just love everything about you, with the exception of changing your litter box.  But even that isn't too bad since you will ONLY do your real stinky jobs outside.  Good boy! 

dear box elder bugs, oh. my. gosh!  ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!  I have been very tolerant of you through all the years you have invaded my house inside and out, but this year (and in February no less!), I am at my limit! I have always said that if I had to have a bug or crawly thing inside my house, I guess you were the one I would choose because of all the things I could have - i.e. cockroaches, scorpions, termites etc. - you are the least "buggy" to me.  So in years past, I have just sucked you up with the vacuum and cleaned up your remains (red spots in my window sills) that you leave behind, but this year you have wore out your welcome (and btw, you were NEVER welcome), and I have had enough of you.  If you stayed outside, fine, but no, you think you have to come inside and have a party!  I have never seen so many of you partying inside my house before.  And in February.  What is going on with you?  I don't see a lot of your friends outside, just inside!  Dave thinks you started your long winter party possibly in our attic and now have come out for some air.  Ugh!  That thought does make me cringe!  But seeing you (and so many of you) inside my house on a daily basis is really starting to get to me.  I have to leave my vacuum out because I have to go to battle several times a day to keep you under control.  That lasts for a bit and then suddenly, there are more of you.  The joke around here has always been... when you kill one, watch out because then five more come to attend the funeral.  I guess I could call an exterminator, but in the past we have always used our own formula to get rid of you.  I am hoping you are just doing this because the temperature outside has been so pleasant and you are working your way outside.  That was until I saw a huge pile of you outside at the base of one of my doors.  That gave me a little hope that maybe you are coming in from outside instead of being inside and trying to get out.  Either way, something has to be done with you.  I can't take a shower, be on the computer, or even go to the bathroom without your company.  But it's the last straw when I am sitting in my comfy chair reading or watching TV and you think you have been invited to join me.  I flip you off (literally) and you just return as if it were a game.  Well, okay then...GAME ON!  And...I WILL win! 

No Box Elder bugs were harmed in the taking of this photo.  In fact, I didn't even take this photo.  I got it off the internet because when I see one of these guys in my house, the last thing I want to do is tell it to say cheese while I take it's picture. 

dear mckay's dance date, I think you are awesome for planning to surprise McKay at 6:00 in the morning to go out to breakfast as part of your day date for the Sweathearts Dance (yes it is spelled correctly).  Great idea!  Even if "I" had to get up at 5:45 a.m. to let you in.  But that was good too, because it got me out early on my long run!   Your group of cute little cheerleaders made it a fun date for him and all those other boys.  I really wish I could have seen the rock climbing though.  He really had fun. 

Cute "sweat" shirts for the Sweathearts Dance.  And check out McKay's red Hawaiian socks that Sadie also picked out. Tyson would have LOVED those!

dear kevin costner, you just get better with age.  I really enjoyed your movie 3 Days to Kill, (wow two movies in one week!) even though it was a bit too violent and that one bar scene could have been left out (why do those dang directors think they need to add those kind of things when it adds absolutely nothing to the movie?!).  I mean after all, if you are in the film, what more is needed?  haha  Well, other than the popcorn of course!  Yep, more popcorn for me...

dear bryce's back, enough of you!  Please get better so he doesn't have to suffer for the rest of his life with back problems.  I know he is kind of an extreme snowboarder, but he is too young to have issues with you.  Go pick on somebody that has already lived a good long life!  And no, I'm not talking about me!  Stay far away from me as well.  Just let him heal so he can enjoy life again.  You've had him down all week torturing him and it's time for you to leave!

dear sochi olympics, I have enjoyed watching you very much!  Especially the ice dancing.  Well, all of the ice skating was awesome. I loved watching the snowboarders too and also Noelle Pikus-Pace win silver on the skeleton. What a great example she is to young women everywhere.  I am sad to see you end, but maybe now I will actually get more sleep!

Happy Monday to you! Make it great!