Spring

Spring.  Warm weather, new life, damp air and sunshine.  New, begin again, or just.... Begin. 
Snow is melting and the sun is out, the icicles are dripping and the crocus are pushing out.  So many things we want to do, why don't we just start, instead of waiting.
Spring...jump off, dive in, live life.....Be Brave.

Words, phrases, life.

This blog is awesome and uplifting for me.

all i did was listen

She has beautiful drawings, with meaningful insights.

Goodness Gracious

Oh my....people are just human....need to remember that. And remember that they can be inappropriate, rash, rude and just plain mean sometimes. 

What a way to end the week.  I had  a 'run in' with the local tax collector's office, wherein I discovered that knowledge of how to run a business, business practices or even common sense are not required to work for the government.  I suppose I always suspected, but do have high regard for some of the people that work there. 
But you would think that I, as a taxpayer, would at least be able to finish a sentence before I was interrupted while trying to explain something, or that the secretary to whom I handed the letter, would at least Read It, before she told me I was wrong. 
Oh my.  Well, I did gain some serious knowledge on who Not To Vote For..... Ever... In Any upcoming election. :)
Ah, democracy at work.

Sigh.....

My friend PF tells me that I am not responsible for other people's actions.  And I know that, I really do.  We are each responsible for ourselves.  Only. We can encourage, we can help, we can pray, we can love...but still, people will be who they are.  PF helps me see that I need to surround myself with people that do not cause me great distress, that do not pull the chains of guilt that bind my heart.
I can still love those people of course, and I can listen to them, but I need not take their problems into myself, and try to solve them.
I do not need, nor can I, make their issues greater than my own....because then I let myself become unimportant.  And God says I am important, and only I can have the perfect solution for my troubles.  My solutions won't fit them, and not only because they aren't me, but because, If a person doesn't have to put in any thought, any heart, any energy into finding and designing a solution, they won't implement it because it is 'too hard'. 
If they did the work themselves, and didn't have it handed to them, then maybe they could see that the solution to the problem is worth the effort. 
It's kind of like giving a 16 year old a new Mustang.....they want it so bad, it makes them so happy, but they won't value it, or take care of it, or even realize it's worth. 
Until they have to pay for it themselves.
Just sayin. :)

Driving

OK. We did it, practiced the driving in the snow.
He liked it of course, not a lot of sliding though...antilock brakes. ....who knew? :)

But something got done, and hopefully he'll post it for school

Tomorrow, have appointments, and things I really need to do....
To start, to get done.
I'll work on it.

Practice

I need to write. Everyday.
And I don't.
Because....well, I just procrastinate.
But how do we get better at something without Doing It? How does the natural inclination or ability get better? Improve? Become great?
Practice.
I don't like to practice.  Sometimes it's boring. Sadly, it is necessary though.  And I know that, I just need to Live it. :)

My kids don't like to practice things either...my sad legacy I suppose.
Therefore, school and they do not get along.
But perhaps, I need to encourage it more, and try to make it fun. 
They like to 'practice' driving.....lets see if we can wed the two.
I'll let you know more tomorrow.
At least, that is my intent.

Chicago

Amazing, we are actually in Chicago. Big buildings, and in frigid temperatures, slush and wind...oh the wind.
We came on the train, which was actually more quiet and peaceful than I thought it would be. Lulls you to sleep and the snow covering the trees and ground was so pretty. What a bonus, and I didn't have to drive in it.

Chicago, for a country girl, such an adventure in navigation.
But, we walked last night to get some Chicago Pizza.
Very good, but very filling.

Today we braved the single digits and the freezing wind to catch the bus and go to the Adler Planetarium and then to the Field Museum.  I really want a whole day at Shedds Aquarium, and The Museum of Science...so, we held off on that.  We got bus passes, so maybe we'll get some use out of them and take the bus to get dinner, and to the German Christmas market and maybe to Whole Foods or I can't remember the other one they mentioned....at least not Walgreen's.  It is amazing to me how much people depend on Walgreen's. 
Not for me.
Target, Meijers...Walmart.
Jake wants to shop and Aaron needs a coat. I saw a Sears, and I know there is a shopping district.  Maybe later, or tomorrow....on the bus.

ta ta for now.