All Grown Up (that's me I'm talking about)

I found myself thinking today about the momentous time in a person's life when they come to the realization that, "I'm a grown up!" My daughters tell me all the time...'when I'm a grown up, I'm going to...." Kids seem to ponder this thought frequently. When I first moved out at 18 and didn't have to tell anyone where I was; I had the inkling that I was a grown up. When I went shopping for my own food for the first time...the thought crossed my mind then too. I don't remember having the thought when I got married, had children, or had to file my taxes as Head of Household. I did, however, have the thought today.

My eight year old had his first baseball game of the season and I invited one of his best friends to stay the night so she could come help cheer him on. I told them I would take them out to ice cream afterward to celebrate. His hitting was amazing, his feilding needs improvement (but what 8 year old's doesn't) and his attitude was inspiring. So, when the game was over, I gathered up six dirty kids and headed to the magical place of 31 marvelous flavors...it was 8:30 pm.

I'm not sure if every Baskin Robbins is the same, but the one we went to had very few seats, little room to sit and enjoy an ice cream cone and a LOT of odd people. In fact, the last time I went there, it was also later in the evening and there were some other people who appeared to be woven of the same cloth as tonight's visitors. Anyway, ordering whatever flavor ice cream six kids wanted (and myself) in a crowded area really brought me back to the few times my mother braved a  trip to the mouth watering "Neighborhood Ice Cream Store". Only, this time....I was on the receiving end. The receiving end of, "Can you lift me up to see?" "I want the pink one, no, the rainbow one.....no.....I want the bubble gum one" (times six) "Can I sample this one, and this one, and this one"...."I have to pee!" "There's no bathroom" "But I have to PEE!!"

I began to realize....WE were more the sideshow than the emos, or the man with the shorts that looked more like a tattoo than an article of clothing..I mean...I think he was wearing shorts, just kidding, he was. Oddly, amidst the chaos, instead of feeling stressed, I found myself thinking, "I'm a grown up!" I'm letting all these kids get an ice cream cone of their choice and I get to chose one for myself!" I know what you're thinking...what a weirdo! Well, I think it all goes back to when I was a little girl. One day, when I was craving ice cream and couldn't have any, I must have said to myself, "When I grow up, I'm gonna get whatever kind of ice cream I want....and buy some for my kids too!"

I dedicate this post to my kids, who help me feel grown up, while at the same time, remind me of the joys of childhood. I love you guys.

 .

I'm Happy to Announce....

Gratitude is one of the sweet shortcuts to finding peace of mind and happiness inside. No matter what is going on outside of us, there's always something we could be grateful for.

- Barry Neil Kaufman

Today I am grateful that my children's health is improving, that my brother thinks I am smart enough to proof read his college writing assignments, that we didn't have any extracurricular activities that took us away from home after school/work today, and that Hunter has the greatest baseball coach in the world (at least in my opinion).

My happiness project has been well under way for over a month now. When I began, I promised to return in a month and report on how things are going. I think the thing that has had the greatest influence on this "project" is merely the fact that I choose to be happy. I find Mr. Kaufman's above quote to be right on. If we go looking for happiness, it can be very elusive, but if we choose it, it will be a very willing tenant of our souls.

Allow me to review my goals:

• Go to sleep earlier. Frankly, I havn't. I am still working on this goal, and I tell myself, "You are going to bed by 10 tonight." and then I look at the clock and its well after bedtime. So I have yet to see the fruits of this goal.
• Exercise better. Well...I've got a great routine, and when I do it I am very happy, but the truth is, the couch and a good book  the computer are very enticing. This goal needs work. I figure if I get goal #1 down, this one will be easier.
• Toss, restore, organize. I am proud to announce that although this one is forever on-going, this goal is in the bag. I have been a tossing and organizing fanatic! I feel like things have no hold on me, and at the same time, my personality is beginning to show through in my home.
• Tackle a nagging task. I have been successful in this goal as well. In fact, I love days, like yesterday, when I get so much of the yucky stuff taken care of that I begin to realize it's only yucky stuff when it's stuck on my mind. The actual doing of the tasks isn't bad at all and getting it done leaves me with a definite feeling of happy contentment.

It appears that I am 50% sucessful, but to me I am 100% sucessful because all of these goals are on track to becoming habits. There won't be a point where I can say, 'Okay, I've reached my goal, now I can stop'.

March has a whole new set of 'goals', or habits to acquire. I will post these as I fine tune what they will be, and how I want them to influence my life. February's goals were centered around gaining more energy. One of the best things I've done to gain more energy is cut out sugar.  Those white chocolate mochas I used to crave now make me cringe and I have discovered the God-given greatness of stevia.

Happy days to all,

Gina

P.S. How could I have forgotten to mention one of my biggest sources of happiness this week? Last night while Hunter was having his first baseball practice of the year, my other kids asked Coach Bill if they could play with the hula hoops that were part of his training equipment. He obliged and the four of them each grabbed a hoop and trotted off to the other side of the gym. At first, my attention was on Hunter and what he was doing, but the movements caught my eye and I began to  watch the kids attempting to swing the hoops around their hips..hula style. Samuel was doing pretty well, Isabelle decided to hold the hoop on end and jump through it, Cecelia held it in two hands and wiggled back and forth.....and Ben.....oh Ben! He had the hoop around his waste and he maneuvered it quite well, but the way he moved to make it twirl...well, picture the love child of C3PO and Twyla Tharp...on fast forward.

It was one of those moments where you laugh and other people laugh with you....and then you're still laughing when everyone else stops....and then tears are rolling down your face, and your body is shaking as you try to compose yourself because out of your periferal vision you can see unlaughing people catching sideways glances of you. Yes, that was my highlight so far....and it's only Tuesday. I find myself asking, "What else is in store?" and "Why didn't I have my camcorder?!!"