Quirky Fest: not your everyday end of year list.

http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/12/12/quirky

This is good.  Leave it to Jen (author of 7, of book club fame) to remind us all to stop taking ourselves so seriously and embrace the wacko within.

The timing is good.  On a recent outing with my girls, Hannah asked about New Year’s Resolutions.

This year, I decided to stop putting so much pressure on myself.  It was so bad, in fact, that I had not even made it to step 1.  I did not even think I was a perfectionist.  But I admit it now.  It’s a problem.  This is not to be confused with OCD.  If I was OCD, I would actually just clean the house myself instead of having the big ongoing fight with my kids about chores and then just give up and not invite people over because I won’t invite them into a messy house and I can’t handle the stress of cleaning it either.

But I digress.  This post is not about serious problems, just weird quirks.  We all have them.  Here’s my top 5.

1.  I am a safety nazi.  Don’t you dare leave the fireplace screen open for 60 seconds while you run out for wood!  Someone will fall in.

If I suspect a child, any child, is choking, I will have them upside down in full rescue mode before you can blink. 

Choking hazards.  I will hunt you down.  Thankfully baby boy wasn’t the mouthy type, so I’ve been able to relax.  As a preschool teacher, rest assured, there will not be staples on the floor, staplers left out, etc.  I once stapled my fingers together, so, yeah.

I am a total wreck in crowded, public places because I’m convinced my kids will a). Get lost forever, or b). Get kidnapped. I’m learning to control the anxiety, but I will not let them leave my sight.

And finally, swimming pools.  Before my kids could swim, I would not ever trust anyone (except their dad) to watch them. 

Ok, perhaps I have some control issues.

2.  I always wear shoes.  Always.  I’ve broken my pinky toes about 5 times.  I kick things.  Apparently I’m not careful about where I’m going.

3.  I’m obsessed with ear wax.  I use q tips everyday.  I have used oil and peroxide on a regular basis to keep my kids’ ears wax free. Note: now that they are teenagers, it doesn’t actually happen anymore. But I can dream. Proud parenting moment: after a session with the ear wax machine at the doctor’s office recently, my daughter told me she wanted one of those machines for her birthday.

4. I don’t know how to pose for pictures. I do this weird fake smile and always look terrible. I’m ok in candid shots, so I’m pretty sure I’m a decent looking person. Just don’t look at my passport or my driver’s license. Seriously, scary.

5. I love old lady card games. Cribbage and Bridge are my jam.

Now don’t let me have all the fun. Share away. The weirder, the better. Let’s toast 2014 as the year we embraced our true selves, quirks and all!

Post 100: Year in Review

Yay me! 100 is a pretty good number. My blog is not even a year old. Thank you all for your support. In honor of this monumental post, I will give you some highlights from this very good year.

JANUARY
I made a few New Year’s resolutions that shared the theme: Take Care of Me. I decided to take a big step toward improved health by visiting the chiropractor after a 5 year hiatus.
FEBRUARY
30 Days in the Cave was born! My world was rocked in a great way by eliminating all manner of yuckiness from my diet. I did a Whole 30 (strict paleo) cleanse.
MARCH
I began using Young Living Essential Oils in an effort to eliminate toxins from my environment and address health issues naturally.
APRIL
I hosted my first essential oils spa party after deciding to build a business by sharing these wonderful oils with others.
MAY
Tim graduated from seminary. We said many tearful goodbyes as we prepared to leave our home of three years and reenter the real world.
JUNE
We moved back to Texas, and Tim was ordained as a priest in The Episcopal Church.
JULY
My baby boy learned how to swim.
I began marketing my business, True Essential Oil Solutions, with an informational class at the local library.
AUGUST
My baby girl turned 19.
Everyone went back to school.
I started my music studio back up with several new students.
SEPTEMBER
My youngest girl turned 13, giving me the ultimate excuse and bragging right, “I have 4 teenaged daughters.”
Tim and I celebrated 20 years of marriage with a trip to NYC.
OCTOBER
Started subbing at two local schools and introduced several new friends to Young Living Essential Oils by sharing and teaching at spa parties.
NOVEMBER
Began a long term sub position and saw a surge of growth in my oils business. My team is up to 29 members, but who’s counting?
DECEMBER
See last post. It’s a blur. I now have a full time teaching job, a music studio, a business, and a partridge in a pear tree. I’m thankful for God’s provision and enjoy everything I’m doing. Less would be more, but we can’t have it all. ‘Tis the season.

Blessings you you and yours,

Holly

Merry Christmas

What a year!  I told my Facebook friends that after 20 years, there would not be a Christmas card this year.  Then I broke down yesterday, went to Walgreens, and ordered 100 cards for same day service.  Then I told them, “Never mind.  Just don’t expect a letter …”

For the record, this is not going to be your typical annual newsletter.  I’ve been quiet in the blogosphere lately because I started a new full time job at the beginning of the month.  Then life happened.  It has been a roller coaster to say the least.  Life always happens.  I don’t know why this comes as a surprise.  The phrase “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle” has recently been debunked.  And good riddance to that nonsense.  I tend to be a silver lining type of person.  I may even have some haters who wish their lives were as good as mine.  The people who know me best know about the low for each high and let me have my much needed cries.

But I’m not looking for sympathy either.  This is life.  I’ve been given a lot more than I could handle, but God has made me stronger, come along side me, helped me grow, and helped me appreciate all my blessings all the time.  May your Christmas time reflect this true joy that only comes from the hope we have in that little baby on that magical night.

Peace!