Merry Christmas 2015

Merry Christmas to one and all.   Thank you for being a part of my life and for visiting my blog.  Each and every one of you means so much to me.  Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season.

And of course Snoopy wishes you a Merry Christmas as well.  I'm taking off from blogging until after New Years Day.   Have a safe and blessed holiday season!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I'm taking a little blogging break until after the New Year.  I want to wish all of you a blessed Christmas and a happy and safe New Year.  Hug the ones you love and enjoy the season.

Geocaching New Years Day 2013

For the past few years it's been our tradition to go out and grab a few geocaches on New Year's Day.  When we left at 9:00 am it was sunny but cold - a nice 12 degrees plus a blustery wind.  We just bundled up in multiple layers and off we went!

Mom started out the New Year right by immediately finding the first cache.  Can you spot it here?

The next cache was a DNF and a comedy of errors.  I forgot my hat and gloves in the car when we parked and walked about a block to the cache site.  We looked and looked and couldn't locate the cache.  After about 10 minutes I felt like my ears were going to fall off, so I ran back to the car, slid into the front seat and pulled on my hat and gloves.  Got out and ran back to the cache site.  Looked some more and still couldn't find the cache.  We all headed back to the car and I realized that I dropped my GPS someplace.  Dad and I headed back to the cache site, looking for my GPS along the way.  We didn't see it anywhere and headed back to the car, where we ran into Louie, holding up my GPS.  It turned out that it had fallen out of my pocket and landed in the car when I went back for my hat and gloves.  I was happy to find my GPS, but we had to add that cache to our DNF list.

The next cache was my favorite of the day - any guesses?

It was a log sheet hidden behind this letter panel.  Pretty clever, huh?

The next cache was better suited for those not vertically challenged, like Papa.  Do you see it?

My dad, at 79 years old, is still game for climbing the occasional tree....

No climbing required for the next cache, an easy one on a guard rail...

I liked the next one too.  It's a tribute cache for a 1000 cache milestone for an area cacher....

Along the way we ran into another cacher at a cache location.  It's always fun to meet up with others and say hi.

We found a wide variety of caches and ended up with 13 finds and 1 DNF for the day.

Are you noticing the complete lack of snow in the Chicago area???  Come on already, it's January after all - where the heck is the snow??

Happy New Year 2013

Last December 31st I did a post called New Beginnings and how I chose listen as my New Years Word.  Very prophetic as I've ended up doing of lot of inner listening and soul searching this year.  It's been a really tough year financially, as I'm sure it is for many people in this day and age.  It's been hard emotionally because we lost 2 of Louie's brothers last month.  I really feel like nothing we planned on is working out as we planned.  Doors keep slamming shut and I've finding very few windows open.  It's frustrating and I'm tired.

But we had some highlights too - Chablis graduated from college with honors and I'm really proud of her for that.  Tony's blog is thriving and he's doing good in school.   I've been reviewing more books and outdoor equipment on my blog and I really enjoy doing that.  I learned to crochet and surprised myself because I like it so much.  I made some new friends through blogging who have come to mean a great deal to me - people I would never had met if it wasn't for blogging and for that I am so thankful.  

And to borrow from last's years post - "But then I stop to think and I hold fast to the thought that "Life is all about the journey and not the destination."  And I remember that I have what God wants me to have, I am exactly where He wants me to be and I am exactly who I am supposed to be.    Maybe part of my problem is that I'm not realizing that I already do the most important things I can be doing - Have faith in God and raise good kids.  We are blessed - My husband and I run a business, I married the love of my life and I have a great family.  We are all healthy.  Why am I always looking for more?"  So here I stand one year later and so much is different and yet so much is the same.    I keep reminding myself that God's plan is best and to "Let go and let God."  And so, that's this years word, or words rather - "Trust God."

I'd like to wish all my blogger friends a very blessed and Happy New Year.  Thank you for your comments, friendship and support.  Hug the ones you love because in the end, that's really all that matters.

 

New Beginnings

I was recently reading an interesting  blog post by Michelle over at "Emerald Cove," all about new beginnings and dealing with internal struggles, trusting yourself and finding your path.  It was interesting to me because she said out loud so many of the things that I think and feel about myself.

Then I was over at "Be Yourself.... everyone else is taken" and Beth did a post on finding your New Years word.  I have to admit that I've never heard of finding a word for the New Year.  Apparently this word thing has been around for awhile and I must live in a cave since I've never heard of it.  In fact, after I mentioned that to her, Beth sent me a little note and told me my new name is "cave woman."  That cracked me up!  But go ahead, Google "Pick a word 2012" to read more about it.  Kinda cool concept.

Ever since I was in high school I have been saying "What do I want to do with my life?"  And here I am 30 something years later and I still don't know.  I always feel like what I'm meant to be doing is just beyond my grasp....  and my sight.  I'm not artistic enough to paint or make jewelry or do crafts.  I despise math.  I hate to sit at a desk.  Unfortunately, I can't spend my entire day geocaching or sitting on a beach and playing with shells.  Even tho I give it a good try.......

And so I feel like I'm in constant motion, looking around the bend for just the right thing to hold my interest, light my fire, maybe earn me some extra money.  Something inspiring.  I never feel good enough, or smart enough or creative enough.  Everything is always such a struggle.  Someone else always gets the breaks, or has the luck, or comes out on top.

But then I stop to think and I hold fast to the thought that "Life is all about the journey and not the destination."  And I remember that I have what God wants me to have, I am exactly where He wants me to be and I am exactly who I am supposed to be.    Maybe part of my problem is that I'm not realizing that I already do the most important things I can be doing - Have faith in God and raise good kids.  We are blessed - My husband and I run a business, I married the love of my life and I have a great family.  We are all healthy.  Why am I always looking for more?

There's nothing wrong with wanting more.  Or better.  Or even different.  There's nothing wrong with trying to tweak things a bit.  But for 2012 I'm going to spend more time looking inward at what I already have, instead of outward at what I haven't got.  My word for 2012 is going to be listen.

The New Year always brings with it an element of hope and the promise of a new beginning. Wishing all of you a Happy New Year. What do you really want for the New Year?

So from my family to you and yours - Happy New Year!