A-Z Challenge....Letter U

 

U

Unicorns

When my daughters were younger, they loved unicorns.  Personally, I was fascinated by their colors.

The other day, I saw a few unicorns in a department store.  Memories flooded my mind, and I smiled.

I think unicorns appeal to a child’s curiosity and imagination.  For me, unicorns remind me of rainbows  with their vibrant colors.  Unicorns represent joy, goodness, happiness and peace.  But I think they also symbolize the hope for all the stardust covered dreams we long for in our lives.  

Unicorns bring a smile to my face.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. When did you last have cancelled plans? Were you happy about that or disappointed? 

A few years ago, I had planned a surprise birthday party for ';my aunt.  My aunt got really sick, so I scrounging around trying to make sure all new and cancelling the orders. It all worked out in the end because the party was scheduled after she had gotten better.  

I don't think I was disappointed and I know I wasn't happy!  I think I was more of trying to figure out what I was going to do.

2. On a scale of 1-10 how much of a planner are you? 

1= I go where the wind takes me  

10=I've got a power point on it, no matter what it is

I am about an 8.  If it is a short trip then a 2, but if I am taking a long trip, I really need to be prepared, and I plan a week ahead of time.

3. Do you have a menu plan for the week? If so tell us one or two things that are on it. If not, what's your plan for not having a plan lol? 

Definitely Not!!  It is baseball season and with the weather constantly changing, I have no menu plans at all!

4. The Hodgepodge lands on National Bucket List Day. Do you have a bucket list? Is it written down or just in your head? What is one thing on your bucket list? If you don't have a list, what is one thing you'd add to a list if you did? Yes I'm going to make you think about it. 

I have a bucket list in my head.  I have a couple of things on my list.  One...I want to travel to Italy and TWO...I want to go on a cruise.  My late hub was not a traveler at all.  The girls' trip gang have been talking about taking a cruise.  I really want to do these two things.  My problem...I don't have anyone to go with and I don't want to travel by myself.

5. Rain buckets, a drop in the bucket, couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, sweat buckets, cry buckets...which 'bucket' idiom applies to your life in some way currently? 

Sweat buckets!!  I have known since August that the Special Education Department was going to be audited this year. All records were looked out THOROUGHLY!!!  A couple of weeks ago, I was told the State Department would be at my school on Tuesday, April 23rd from 8:15 -11:00.  I have been sweating buckets.  On Tuesday, the other SPED Teacher hit a deer and was late more sweating buckets!!  As I was going to the restroom, I ran into one of the administrators and she said the lady from the state department was headed toward my classroom.  I didn't use the bathroom for the urge left me. I ran to my classroom to make sure all was in order.  I will say the lady was very nice and very professional.  What bothers me...is she kept writing and writing and not once did I hear any feedback.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

My grandsons are playing T-ball.  They are loving it!  It is so funny watching all the little ones play, all going after the same ball, running in the wrong direction, and even going in the wrong dugout.

This is the last year that all three boys will be on the same team (which I have enjoyed).

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!

A-Z Challenge...Letter T

 

T

Tomatoes

 

When I first started planting a garden, I had no idea what I was doing.  But I love it!

I bought my tomato plants home and carried them to the designated location I had planned on setting them out.  I dug holes, planted the tomato plants, and immediately watered the plants.

Everyday, I would check the tomato plants.  I watched as the flower portion of the plant began to bloom signaling the birth of my tomatoes.  It was terrific for me, and yeah, it looked like an everyday thing; it’s not.  My garden is my store; so not everyone has the opportunity to go to the store and watch their tomatoes grow. Not only is this a blessing, but it made me smile!

My summer has many storms..even hail storms.  My tomatoes make it through.  This made me reflect on my own life.  No one can stop you from growing or moving forward in life.  My tomato plants were a perfect example of growth in the storms.

Even through the hardest of storms, I can grow.  I might get rained on, but I can still grow.!

Tomatoes …MY Tomatoes Make Me Smile!

A-Z Challenge Letter S

 

S

Sunrise/Sunset

I have two for this one.

Sunrise

Let’s be clear, I DO NOT get up every morning to see the sunrise. A sunrise to me is the beginning of a new growth.  Seeing the sunrise gives me a new beginning and a new opportunity.  I am excited about the new day and thanking God for this new day and the possibilities it may hold and a chance for me to do better.  Even after the darkest nights, the sunrise tells me that light will always return and I SMILE.  

Sunset

Watching the sunset is a stress reliever for me. Watching the sunset helps me to slow down (I really try !!) and enjoy the moment.  Staring at the sunset helps me to tell my brain to quit fretting over the past. The sun is setting, the day is ending, and a sense of finalization is taken over.  I smile when the sun is setting.

 

R

Rainbows

I love rainbows, they are one of the first things I remember learning to draw as a child.

A rainbow makes me happy and gives me hope and comfort.  It is a symbol for a bright spot in difficult times and the promise of a new beginning.

When I see a rainbow, I immediately smile.  Maybe it is because of the cheerful colors in a rainbow’s curving arc. The colors are light, fresh, and happy. Since the colors  are so rare in a rainbow’s curving arc, I have a sense of delight in addition to bringing the promise of sunshine with the blue sky on the horizon.  Just seeing a rainbow boosts my mood. Or maybe it is because I am still hoping for that ‘pot of gold!”  

A-Z Challenge...Letter Q

 

Q

Q

Quietness

Quietness

It used to unsettle me when I had nothing to do and it was quiet.  

But now I enjoy the quietness.  I still have days when in my mind I thought I must be a little bit ‘wrong’ for enjoying the quietness. I thought the outside world was scolding me or shaming me if I was just quiet.

It took awhile for me to get that feeling of ‘wrong’ out of my head.  I began to slowly permit myself to just be me and be still and quiet. 

What I learned from being quiet was:

I had more aha moments.  My mind had time to discover ideas and stumble upon aha moments.

Being quiet is a skill.  I found calm in silence and became more comfortable in my own company.

Reduced my stress.  I began to reflect on why I was stressed and then began to distress. 

There are many noises in our world to grab our attention and convince us not to be just quiet. Each intrusion creates noise or a distraction infused into my mind that I should be doing something else. 

Sitting in complete quietness gives me time to reflect.  I feel more at peace and I smile. Quietness isn’t something to be ashamed about, but quietness gives me something to smile about. 

A-Z Challenge...Letter P

 

P

Playing with Grandsons

How can one not smile when around their grandchildren?  

My grandsons just make me feel better when I am around them.

Playing with your grandsons is a workout!!  

I love hearing their giggles and those arms around my neck telling me they love me!!  This makes my heart smile!!  

Over the past years, I have played so many make believe games…men wrestling, pretend jumping in water and swimming, dinosaurs coming, map games (where they draw a map and you have to do what each symbol is…they have to explain the symbol to me!), etc.  We play water guns, balloon toss, baseball, football, soccer, and basketball.  Not to mention the millions of books read and acting some books out!!

Playing with my grandsons reawakens the joy of when I played with my daughters…different play but same joy.