Cana Dream Team

I may be a closet procrastinator. If I am not in the mood to do something I can find a million reasons why I can’t...or didn’t… Especially in my personal life.  When someone asks why haven’t you done _______? Or what’s the hold up? Or what’s the deal? Boy, I am full of excuses… Are you?    Work, for me, is different most of the time..  I don’t have the luxury of dragging my feet much.  At work, everything is on a time schedule. If I miss the schedule, things are worse for me, so I march on at work, but at home?….or in my personal life?….I can be slow as a snail... I have noticed that when something did not work out as well as I wanted the first time, I tend to sweep it aside.  Exercise - I did not see instant results - that can wait. I am just going to have more clothes to fold tomorrow - those can wait.  It will rain in a day or two - the plants will be fine - opps they died…. For example, I was working on this exact blog...a...

First let me disclose that I have to watch a lot of cartoons.  My two girls, both under 6, control the TV for the most part. I have watched several movies and shows a few dozen times.  Moana is one that I could watch or listen to in the background a few dozen more times. I am inspired by this movie! I am inspired by this movie for several different reasons.  First item up, the little girl is “chosen” by THE OCEAN because she helped a baby sea turtle enter the water safely.  But what she did was help the defenseless. Because she helped for no reason other than to be kind, she was chosen to help save the world!   From that day, Moana feels a tug she cannot explain.  Every path she takes leads her back to the place she longs to be but cannot go.  She wants to leave the island... Moana eventually must follow her path even though others told her no.  She had the courage to go against the crowd and do what was right....

To me, parenting wins are when I know 100% my husband and I are doing the right thing because our child made a good decision.  Report cards come out and grades have improved equals a win! Parenting wins are when you see your child helping someone else for no reason than just to help.   Your kid hits a home run after days and days of practice. When your kid speaks up for the weak. Parenting wins happen when your child overcomes a fear because of your guidance and help!       Your version of a parenting win may be different than mine.  I think whenever you can see your parenting pay off in a positive way, that is a win!    Don’t go nuts and claim your child's achievement as your own, but remind yourself that you helped.  We as parents have thankless jobs -- we can at least thank ourselves quietly from time to time! Rusty and I have high fived more than once and fist bumped to celebrate our parenting wins! ...

I am thankful for a difficult time in my life.   I had to learn a humbling lesson. The lesson began one morning with me wanting a baby!  All of the sudden I wanted more than anything to have a baby. My ‘clock’ had started ticking…. My husband wanted a baby too.  We were silly with excitement. We should be pregnant in a few months and BAM! insta-family! But then I had fertility trouble…..  At least with my first pregnancy. I never thought about it being difficult to have a child. Never! I knew so many people that just had babies.  Many not even planned! Some pregnancies not wanted, like even dreaded!!  I just could not wrap my mind around that I, ME!, may have a difficult time becoming a mother!  What?!? That is insane! Do you know how many times I feared a pregnancy because I wasn’t ready?  A bunch! I spent money on birth control for years… NOW that was wasted funds! I was so angry! Angry is probably an underst...

My husband has encouraged me to remind us all about the reason for the season.  Thankfulness! We need to be thankful!   I want us all to remember what Thanksgiving is all about. We do this by reflecting on the things we are thankful for having in our lives.  Good and bad! The month of November and its Fall season is being washed away by Christmas.  Even at my house! But as I put up my Christmas tree early this year, I am going to be thankful as I do so.  I am going to be thankful for the good and the bad things in my life. Today I am going to be thankful I have a mother and a mother in law that both help me more than I could ever repay.  One is my daycare and the other is my third arm when I need it! I am thankful to you both! They forgive me when I am late.  They both look at me with understanding eyes - that say I know you are doing all you can do, it’s ok!! They spoil my babies and love them so so fully!   I ...

I struggle with people giving me compliments - they make me feel funny!  I am not sure why, but when someone says something nice about me, I have an instinctive reaction to be dismissive about whatever they commented about.  I say things like “this old thing”, or “it’s not a big deal”, or I will fidget and feel weird. I have noticed others doing this also.. Why do we do this?   In the last week, a friend of mine had this same conversation.  She also has a “compliments complex.” I have decided that it is just easier to believe the bad about ourselves.  Even about our clothes! Instead of the one nice thing that person said about us, we choose to think that person doesn’t know what they are talking about, even though they just saw you with their own eyes and said you looked nice.  We have decided this person wants something from us.. Which may be true, but they could still think you look nice!!! The compliment is a good thing, but we treat it like it’...

I don’t have an extensive background in church.  I don’t have a lot of experience even being a follower of Christ if we are being honest!  I don’t know much scripture. I don’t even know all the children’s bible stories.. I have, however,found that people don't really know how to pray.  Some worry about it too much.. Some think they need to use all these huge words, as my Mom would say a “$4 word”!   I pray small!  Meaning I talk to Jesus like he is sitting next to me.  I talk to Jesus like we are “homies”! I yell at Jesus from time to time!  Not one of my finer moments, but hey I’m human and miserably flawed! I also, more frequently, refer to him as Lord.  Basically what I am saying is whatever is natural - DO THAT! Don’t overthink! Things that I have prayed for, in case you need suggestions.   I have to pray for kindness on a regular basis!  That's awful right!?!?!? But it is so easy for me to hold a grudge about ...

I wanted to be different.  I wanted to feel different.  I wanted to be happy. I wanted to be content.  I was tired of not being enough. I was tired of never having enough time, money, sleep, and patience.  Just tired.... There is a song called “Different” by Micah Tyler.  The lyrics of this song have been burned into my soul.   I want to be different I want to be changed Til’ all of me is gone And all that remains Is a fire that is so bright The whole world can see That there's something different in me..... I wanted to be different.  A post from a women's bible study group said to pick one word.  Pick a word to describe what you want to be this time next year. My word was Different.  Different kept coming up..... Everything should be fine because on the outside it was, but on the inside I was a big ol mess.  I didn't want to be mad. I didn't want to snap all the time. I didn't want to work all the time...