Flashback Friday--Kristin

Guess who I get to see this weekend.

Habits

We try to break them.  We try to make them. We try to break bad ones, can have a hard time keeping new ones, but can't stop most of them.

It’s bully sport and it’s open fight;

It will keep you busy both day and night;

For the toughest kind of a game you’ll find

Is to make your body obey your mind.

And you never will know what is meant by grit

Unless there’s something you’ve tried to quit."--On Quitting by Edgar Albert Guest

Confession:  I have never wanted a regular, boring life.  I haven't ever wanted just to settle into a routine and just be happy doing the same thing day in and day out.  Frankly, I'm not wired for that.

There are still some days when I am still amazed at how much I piddle and blow time for no apparent reason.  Old habits die hard.

But after a semester of straddling three part time jobs and having unstructured days only guided by a to-do list, I have had a lot of insight into how I function.  And I have become a little jealous of people who have routines.  I realized how much harder I was working just doing things at a different time of day.  I realized that I was working more than I had to in order to just complete mundane tasks.  I realized how much habits could be a good thing.  They could free up my mind by allowing the monotonous chores to fly on autopilot so I could channel my time, emotions, and energy into things that matter, such as work, new ideas, and friends.  Once I FINALLY figured out a routine, regular bedtimes, and how to work the system, my life became so much easier.  My stress level went down in the mornings and my anxiety got better.  I knew whether I was coming or going.  The are still some days when I am still amazed at how much I piddle and blow time for no apparent reason.  Old habits die hard.  Frankly, giving into mononanty was one of the best things I did.

Flashback Friday

The Flashback Fridays were worth the wait.  Here's a two-fer.

My aunt and dad's birthdays were last week.  Here are their celebrations way back when.

My brother in law asked what my aunt's real hair color was.  The mystery may have been solved.

March 1981

Cyberless relationships

I have totally laxed on blogging.  For various reasons...life has been busy, I have been getting ready to move, and it seems that my goal of having real relationships instead of online ones has been accomplished (1270).  Thank you, Facebook hiatus.

I love this kid.

My feet have slowly been healing (1271), as evidenced by a recent run on a snowy Chicago Saturday.  Because, you know, I wouldn't want to be too deprived of the winter.

The coffee club (1272).

1273.  Celebrating another birthday with my dad.

1274.  My cousins coming down from Taylor to celebrate.

1275.  Getting two free meals (and dessert) from Johnny Carino's.

1276.  Talking about my cousins' upcoming spring break trip.

1277.  My dad's chocolate hiatus for Lent=carrot cake.  A delicious alternative.

1278.  The look on my mom's face when my sister peeped around the corner as a surprise for my dad's birthday weekend=priceless.

1279.  Subway at the hospital=my sister's exit lunch from town.  Another thirty minutes to enjoy her.

1280.  St. Pat's day=shamrock shakes and another reason to wear my green pants.  (Like I need a holiday to wear those.  Pretty sure in every picture for three months straight I was wearing those.)

1281.  A clearanced brand new leather love seat.

1282.  The love seat fitting in the van.  My dad sitting on the wrapped love seat, doing his work on the way back from Indy.

1283.  Having just enough work to keep me busy.

1284.  Having a new dentist who is excited I brush my teeth regularly.

1285.   Getting lots of compliments on my teeth at the new dentist, including long tooth root, healthy gums, and little plaque.  I told them I was coming back more often for compliments.

1286.  Getting free moving boxes.

1287.  Choosing Irish names for a clover.

1288.  Planning my own trip to Ireland.

1289.  Three day weekends.

The winter thaw

Spring has been peeking out few every once in a while (1258).  It was nice to enjoy a few runs outside and bike rides (1259).  My sister came home for a birthday weekend for my dad (1260).  The surprise on my parent's face was priceless (1261).

I had planned for a nice run at the state park, but I ended up getting my shifter stuck.  It all worked out (1262).  I am so glad for friends who are willing to come rescue me without asking (1263).  I had a swift father who quickly saved the day (1265).  I had to resolve to run at a local park, which ended up costing less money and time. (1266) 

A few more long runs that add up to some mileage in the right direction (1267).  I may not be out of the woods yet, but plantar flaciitus will be taking a hiatus soon.

One of the best parts of my weekend is long runs with my peeps, followed by coffee and stories that are exchanged (1268).  I am fully convinced that IQ levels are lowered when large amounts of testerone get around large weights and female viewers.  Translation:  large muscle mass does not make mall cops cooler.

I know spring is coming (1269), but I am ready to wear out my winter clothes.  

Flashback Friday--youth group

First Church Youth Group--Turkey Olympics 2011

These kids were tons of fun.

The small things

There are so, so many little things that add up to wonderful moments in life.  These little pauses, reprieves, they are funny, cute, and downright good.


1248.  The way my dad laughs at commercials he has seen 20 times.
1249.  My aunt's gullibility.
1250.  The way my aunt gets really excited about recipes she thinks she just discovered.
1252.  Brightly colored tea.

1253.  My grandpa had not sold his house and could move home (1254).
1255.  Having lots of family to help make the move smooth.
1256.  Being able to set up his house in a way that would be a little easier for mobility.
1257.  My aunt and uncle got their visas straightened out.  (They only had a single entry visa that wouldn't allow for them to retrieve this possessions from another country when flying to South Africa.)
1258.  Having the ability to renew my passport easily.  I don't foresee an upcoming trip to Europe being as drama filled as the post office worker's.  Apparently, traveling with her sister ended up rekindling things with her sister's ex-husband.  I think my sister and I are good for a few reasons.

Moving. Again.

We moved my grandpa out of Assisted Living today.   It went quickly and easily, and we had no snow.  We are very grateful.

My grandpa moved into Assisted Living with my grandma following a round of falls.  She was officially diagnosed with Alzeheimers in September 2012 and has had a series of brain injuries that have caused her cognitive decline to plummet.  The entire process has been difficult and sad, but I have a strong, loving family who have been an integral part of this process.

My grandpa said that the hardest thing to do was to make the phone call at 2am for the nursing staff to officially place my grandma in the Alzheimer's unit full time.  He knew once she went in, she would not ever come out.  However, we love her.  There are these sweet moments when she loves and recognizes us.  She lets me kiss her on the cheek and my aunt sings to her.  It seems to calm her down.  There was this moment last weekend where we dyed my grandma's hair.  As she started to get ansy, we began singing Bible songs.  Little kid songs she taught for years and years about how everyone in the world is loved by God.  She stopped and tried to sing along.  Somewhere, deep inside her, she knew the song.

We moved my grandparents out of their house without the anticipation of ever returning.  It was a shock to everyone, no matter how much you know it will come.  With my grandma living in her own room in assisted living, my grandpa moved back home.  It was sort of a familiar, sweet reunion.  Being there, for whatever time we have left is good.

Here are the name plaques of every grandchild in the family.  My grandpa handcrafted a beautiful wooden bassinet before the oldest was born.  This has been passed through the family.