It's the start of a new year. I have never been a fan of New Year's resolutions. My life philosophy has always been to not put off until later what I can start today. So year round I work at doing the things in my life I need to do in order to get where I want to go or accomplish what I want to get done. But, there is an energy that comes with a new year, and the feeling of a clean slate. My hubby is feeling renewed energy toward making positive changes, so we are riding that wave right now.

I had two weeks off of work due to some surgery that my boss had before Christmas. It was a long two weeks on the road with my hubby. We visited both sides of the family and spend 6 wonderful days with the kiddos. Well, they were mostly wonderful. We battled a few illnesses and by the end of the two weeks, we were all ready to return to our normal, albeit crazy, schedule.

During our time off we discussed how life had gotten away from us in December and how we gave up on our eating plan we had been doing for the better part of a year. We realized that despite not having a church home in Bridgeport, we need to find spiritual connections with others, each other, and our own personal walk with the Lord. We reconfirmed how vital it is to look after our spiritual, physical, and emotional selves on a regular basis.

I'm not foolish enough to think that changes are going to happen over night or that we can make a blanket statement that something will happen every day. Our lives right now could never allow for that. But we are going to work on capturing those moments when we can do something to improve our physical, spiritual, or emotional selves. Like last night discovering we didn't have any activities and went to work out. Or this morning, when I had ten minutes before work and I read over the Verse of the Week (Psalm 1:1&2) from My Bridge Radio here in the Panhandle. Something to meditate on thorughout the day. Looking for those little spans of time to do something positive and not beat myself up when it doesn't happen all day, every day.

Today the sun is shining. The space heater at my feet is working. And that's a good place to be right now.

Phase One: Day Two...and Blah feelings

Yesterday my man and I started Phase One of the South Beach Diet. This was his idea...and one I whole-heartedly agreed to follow. My family has been eating and talking all things South-Beach-Friendly for a couple years now. However, our particular lives in the Panhandle do not often allow us to follow the South Beach plan like we would like. In fact, we are both stress eaters, and well, our life right now is full of lots of stress and lots of hours on the road. Two ingredients that make it difficult to eat healthy or excercise. But this time, well this time it was his idea, so I feel more confident we will stick with it. I do not look forward to the end of the week when our bodies are coming down from the sugar and processed food high and crashing at say, 7pm at night. But if we can get past day 7, we will be feeling good.

This morning it is quiet. And for that I am thankful. I'm feeling blah. Not sure why. I had a relaxing and enjoyable night last night. Even tried my hand at home-made applesauce...not that I can eat it right now, but still, fun to try. But this morning I am just blah. I guess I'm processing through our weekend in Estes at a marriage conference, news I heard last night that upset me, and thinking through all that this week holds for me. The cold wind and clouds don't help. Apparently there is snow in the forcast this week. Blah. Not ready for snow. I have so been enjoying the warm weather we've been spoiled with this fall. But, that being said, it is the 2nd week of November. I guess some snow would not be out of the question.

Maybe I'll plug in my space heater, light a candle, turn on the tunes in the background, make my to-do-list, and start one by one going through my day.

The Cold Weather has Returned

I had been enjoying the warm weather we were having so much, I didn't realize we are at the end of October and it really should be colder. Last fall was so short lived as we had our first blizzard during the second weekend of October, and stayed cold and snowy until spring. Now we have had a much milder fall and I've forgotten what frozen fingers feel like. And I plugged in the space heater, my faithful companion in the drafty front part of our office.

Truly, the first few months of school have flown by for us. Between football and volleyball games of all ages, we have been busy most days of the week. Throw in our awesome visits with the kids and my husband's huge heart to help my dad get their place in shape, we have been on the road more than usual as well.

We have visitors to our quaint little Panhandle town. Titus' older brother and family drove all the way from the KC area to see our new home. We enjoyed football games, trek's to the top of Scottsbluff Monument, road trips, yummy crock pot meals, good wine, and great conversation.

Then we were immediately treated with a good friend from CO and four kiddos in tow. Like family to me, I was so excited to see them! Titus was gone playing ball with a buddy in Small-Town, KS. But we let the kiddos play while we enjoyed our traditional Movie and Margs night. Complete with a new recipe and a totally girly movie. Our time was short, but oh, so refreshing and charged my battery!

I did make an amazing discover this month, however. October is the the month to shop for summer clothes. Momma and I went shopping and between the two of us purchased over $250 worth of clothes for about $50 total. It was glorious! The same thing happened last February with fall clothes. I think clearance shopping is one of the most gratifying experiences. I love finding a good bargain. I don't know why. I think it is in my DNA. As a child I remember going shopping and never looking in the regular racks. We ALWAYS headed to the clearance first...actually, we still do. I'm always about a season behind on fashion. I'm okay with that.

Probably one of my favorite memories this month though was my husband's response to a Kohl's shopping trip. We had gone down to Cheyenne for an evening trip. After dinner with friends we went to Kohls because I had a 30% off coupon if we used my Kohl's charge. (pay it off every month when there is a balance.) Not only did we find a great pair of running shoes for him on a great sale, I also found a great pair of everyday work shoes that I needed. Both on sale. Both an additional 30% off. Both pairs were less than either pair originally. He was so excited. I think now he understands why momma and I both lament there being no Kohl's any closer to where we live in NE.

All in all, a good month. We are looking forward to November. It will bring more visitng family, and my momma's birthday, and Thanksgiving, and a trip to see family in KC. Lots of exciting trips planned for sure.

Missing the Mountains

Today I sit looking at a picture of the Maroon Bells near Snowmass. It's on a calendar my family gave me for Christmas last year. They all know how much I miss my mountains living in the Panhandle. Yes, I did say my mountains. Living within a 30 minute drive from the Rockies for 31 years, I feel a special affection for the mountains and long to return to them as often as possible. Just a few weeks ago, on a trip to Denver, I began to shed a few tears as I drove west and the mountains came into view. I drove down a road I had been on every day for many years, but didn't realize what a majestic view of the mountains it provided. I wanted to pull over right there and take a picture to capture the moment. But I didn't. Instead I kept driving and soaking up the mountain goodness.

In just a few weeks Titus & I will be celebrating our one year anniversary. That is an amazing and crazy thought for me. The year has flown by so quickly it hardly seems possible. We will return to Estes Park, where the wedding I'd been planning in the out door chapel for 15 years took place. I will be back in the place where my heart longs to be. With memories and familiar surrounding that I will never forget. To be with the man I love in the mountains I miss...that will be priceless!

Add This To The List

Today you can add cell phone plans to my list of pet peeves.

My time is up with my current cell phone company. And my phone is starting to act up. It's time to get a new one. But we've come to rely on my "smart phone" to keep track of the master family calendar and all the other notes, lists, and memos we come up with while on the road.

No cell phone company will waive the data package any longer. So my choice? Either go back to an old-school flip phone and give up the ultra organized and convienent smart phone options or upgrade and bite the bullet and pay for the data package.

In looking around for other options, I've come to realize that while the different plan levels are smart for the company and their bottom line, it is not always great for the client. They make the option to go with a lower plan far less appealing by offering the price point they want not "that much higher" than the plan you really want, getting you to buy options you may not really need or want because, hey, it's not that much more - what a great deal!

Everyone does this, and today, it is frustrating me. The only good news is that there is a carrier up here, with national coverage, that can offer me all the bells and whistles for what I'm currently paying with out the whistles. So, there's the silver lining in this situation.

Sometimes as I walk down the sidewalk on my way to the bank and post office each day I wonder how did I get here? As I pass the same people, smile at the same faces, wait for the same cars in the same intersections every day I marvel at how I ended up in a small town of just 1600 people. I never dreamed I would be somewhat of a novelty that people hear about - "the new principal and his wife" - and relate to me when they call the office where I work. "Oh, so you're the newlyweds." Yes, that's us.

I had always figured I would live in the suburbs near a big enough city to get by "Big City" fix whenever I wanted. Or maybe, someday, I'd actually live downtown in an apaprtment. Never did the thought of living somewhere rural enter my mind.

That just goes to show that you better be ready for whatever God has in store when you pray dangerous prayers like "Wherever you need me, Lord, I'm willing to go." Or when you, as a couple, pray for God to open the doors to the right job and the right place when you know your time where you currently reside is coming to an end. He just might surprise you and take you miles away from anything familiar, and everyone you know, and plop you down in the middle of the Panhandle of Nebraska.

End of the Summer Already???

Yesterday it hit me that we are winding down our summer excitement. There's one more trip in store for Titus & the kids, but for me, it's over! What??? This can't be!

We have had amazing adventures this summer, to be sure. It all started with a great trip to see my sister and her family in WI. And then lots of camping and mini-adventures in between. But last week we took the 2nd big trip of our summer. Idaho, via Yellowstone. It was a 7-day packed adventure with over 50 hours in the car together, over 2000 miles logged, and lots of fun-filled adventures. We saw bear, elk, pelicans, antelope, Old Faithful, hot springs, AMAZING waterfalls, and more tourists that I wish to recount driving through Yellowstone over two days. But the highlight of the trip was hanging out with Sarah Joy (Titus' baby sister) and her famiy in Idaho.

The Pacific NorthWest is beautiful! I was taken aback by the tree covered mountains, golden hill, amazing weather, and breathtaking views. We went to Elk River Falls one day and spent a glorious 5 and a half hours swimming in the pool at the base of the falls, and using the water fall as a slide to push us into the pool. It was a day we all look back as one of our highlights for the summer.

But the food, oh, the food! Sarah Joy is an amazing cook and we had delicious meals every day. I have to get the recipes for some of her yummy meals. ]

Mostly, I've just been impressed with how much fun we had and how few meltdowns were present in our 50 hour car ride. Everyone did such a great job. We battled cabin fever in style and even found humor in the little things that usually annoy us. We are catching up on sleep and planning our trip for next year. After the success of this trip, we are considering a 24 hour (one-way) trip next summer. Can we do it? Yep, I think we can!