So… I was over at My Black Book (check my blog list) and she was talking about  Squam and given that I’ve only ever heard that word in New Hampshire and that their gratitude journals look yummy, I had to toddle over and check it out.  It is amazing what you discover out in the world that’s in your own back yard! 

See the previous blog re: tight finances at present, but I’m so putting a fall retreat here on my bucket list!!

On the road to Disney 2011

is here in abundance…  I have family.  I have friends.  I have relative good health (thank you God for modern medicine!).  I am employed at a job I like with a boss I like.  I am chipping away at the abundance of junk which fills my home.  All forward progress is good. 

Now if we could just get to the whole warm weather thing life would be very nearly perfect.  It’s too cold to go out and play and there’s not enough snow either.  Just snow mixed with dirt, sand and ice — not exactly the stuff snowmen are made of. 

Sat down and took a hard look at the budget and I’ve had to accept that I will not be traveling anywhere anytime soon and I may have to miss out on my usual New England Women’s Convention, the March New York birthday trip and the Creating Keepsakes Convention.  Sigh… On the other hand, if it means I can come out the other side not terrified by how we’re going to pay bills, its all good.

Meanwhile I have Ms. Alison at Brocante Home  (currently down for revisions) whipping me into shape with the Art of Homemaking.  I have plenty to keep me busy and reasonably fulfilled.

Also, I have a plethora of movies to introduce my future daughter-in-law to!  She’d rather be out and active, but is willing to sit and watch movies when it’s freezing outside.  I’m really glad to have another female around the place!   I’ll drag her along to see the Snow White movies with me.

 Speaking of females, I am living vicariously through the Muppet who is all about Disney these days.  Work at the Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village began this week after quite a bit of training and she is just loving it!  Her off time is spent in the parks for free.  What a perfect job for a young 20-something!  I was in the army stationed in Colorado at her age.  Also, beautiful and with a uniform, but the day to day bit was different. : )

I’ve managed to misplace The Hunger Games again so I’ll have to really get busy reading that to finish up before the end of the month.  So far, it’s just like the movie previews I’ve seen.  I love when the movie follows the book.  Don’t get me wrong I’m so not hung up on it being exact, but I hate it when the only thing the two have in common is the title.

G-Man sinking a free shot. Two points. Yeah!

Having said all that, we forgot to take two cars last Sunday so we all left for his game. 

I’m glad.  I love to watch him play.  He’s fast!

So I stumbled across this book this past year and opened it up after I got home to discover the first section is titled “Boost Vitality.”  That meant one thing to me – regular exercise — Somehow… after that I didn’t get around to reading it.  Knowing that I already owned the book though I of course rushed home and whipped it out right after church and to my joy one of the first things about boosting vitality had to do with getting enough sleep.  Oh, yeah.  I’m all over that plan!!  Then “Exercise Better” well we might normally come to a parting of the ways here except I really do know that I need to exercise and regularly and haven’t been. 

“Toss, restore and organize.”  Oh, yeah, I’m so into this of late.  Especially the tossing part.  I’m following Angela’s advice and trying to dump a bag a day.  Who knew I could have that much crap in my house?!

“Tackler a nagging task” This is one I learned oh so long ago, and yet don’t always follow through on — which is dumb because I know how good it feels to let go of that yuck feeling of not getting something done you know you should.

“Act more energetic”  I didn’t realize this would make a difference, but I’ve tried it the last day or so and wow, it actually works — at least for small bits of time.  I’ll take that thank you.

Also, I love her 12 personal commandments…  I’ll have to come up with some of my own.  At least those I don’t borrow from her.

“Twelve Personal Commandments”

• Be Gretchen.
• Let it go.
• Act the way I want to feel.
• Do it now.
• Be polite and be fair.
• Enjoy the process.
• Spend out.
• Identify the problem.
• Lighten up.
• Do what ought to be done.
• No calculation.
• There is only love.

I’ve signed up to get the moment of  happiness daily quotation and I’m really getting into her blog.  Loved this… “Ten things I can do every day — even when I can’t do anything else.”

Who can’t use a bit more happiness in their lives?  I’m up for this!!  Way to go Brandy!!

“EFY is a youth program whose objectives are to encourage, assist, and guide youth participants (ages 14–18) as they strive to “come unto Christ.” EFY creates a setting where youth have the opportunity to develop spiritually, physically, intellectually and socially. EFY programs are held throughout North America every summer and are attended by more than 50,000 youth. Sessions are primarily supervised by young adult counselors ages 20–25 who are positive role models for the youth. All sessions are directed by adult instructors.”

Activities:

• Scripture Study
• Devotionals and Firesides
• Family Home Evenings
• Dance
• Testimony Meeting
• Variety Show
• Much more …