The year in review and my intention for 2011

Let’s see the 2010 year in review. Where to start?

I rang in the New Year at Shelly’s with Christine, lil M, Lisa and Jeanette. Set my intention to manage my money and lower my debt in preparation for next year’s intention of making way for a child.

Worked out and was healthy until the end of January. Struggled with caring for my health through February and looked forward to my upcoming birthday.

February brought the annual Dornburgh pilgrimage for shopping fun and my mom to my house too.

March first I began my garden clean up with removing all the old plant remains. Saw robins, heard red wings, the days grew longer, the sun stronger; felt hope in the renewal of the Earth. My birthday came along in March and I turned the big 4-0. I was surrounded by friends who treated me like a queen, all I was missing was the crown. Stopped drinking and stayed healthy for 6 weeks.

Gardened with joy, did some running, wasted a lot of time daydreaming!

With summer came my trip to Texas to see Charlene, Tracy, aunt Char too. I loved every moment of seeing their world first hand and learned that even cows like affection!

Summer brought freedom from work, more gardening, more time wasting, and lots of time with CK and lil M. Went to NYC in August and got to eat Ethiopian food for the first time!

School returned and time ran away from me! Spent way too much time shopping and getting little things for Christmas presents. Shop early and often I say!

I got pretty good with my money, refied the mortgage and dropped it to 15 years. Paid off debt, saved money, planned.

However, I ate like a pig, gained weight, and ended the year at a huge 73 kg. Learned that if I could be good with money, I could be good with food. Learned to take it easier on myself.

Spent the days around Christmas with my Mom. Shared my greatest intention with her. I might be 40. I might be single. But I don’t imagine myself never having a child. I want to have a child, but in the non traditional sense. What I mean is that I don’t plan on birthing one, I want to adopt. I want to adopt domestically a child 3-5 years old. I know there is a soul out there that is waiting. I want this to be as God wills it, should it be a boy or girl, should it be fore a short while or a longer time. I have something to give as does this little person. So here we are at the end of the 2010 journey. Here I am laying my intention for 2011:

I will pursue the adoption of a child.

As God wills it, so shall it be. Amen!

Gifts from the Soul

What do you buy someone who has everything? You do something personal for them, something from the heart that has meaning. Now, I’m not trying to say I have everything, but well, really, I do. Other than the fact that I seriously could use $400,000 to set things straight financially, I live a comfortable life. So what did my mom get me for Christmas? She got clever. For Christmas she had an older piece of furniture sanded and refinished. This piece of furniture was a magazine rack that had its origins in NJ. It was a wedding gift to my grandmother Pat in 1937. It was given to her by her aunt Marty who was the wife of my grandmother’s uncle, John Cunningham. The rack lived at my grandfather’s house until his death in 1986 when it moved to my parents’ house. Oddly at that time, we lived in the trailer still and I have no memory of where this poor rack rested until it was moved to the house in 1987. In the house it lived in the living room (TV room) and held a collection of VHS tapes! What a lonely and disrespected life! Mom was inspired to give me something that would not only surprise me, but have love and a family story behind it.

So a few months ago she found someone who specialized in refurnishing and had her restored to her former glory. She’s a delight who fits right in with my 1931 house! At the moment she is wearing several of my favorite books and my collection of Supernatural DVD’s. I think that I shall use her to display either themes or favorites (or both)!

Christmas time this year was really special. I went to Mom’s at the 24th and stayed until the 27th. We watched movies and Supernatural, and mostly we talked a lot, about a lot of things. Some things, even were from the depths of my soul. We both cried over the movie: Spitfire Grill. After, Mom said she wanted to roll in the snow the pain was so great. That was Christmas day. But mostly the day was peaceful, and I even felt my father was near. I kept seeing black flashes or shadows. At one point when I looked at the loveseat I saw my father lying there. I did share this with mom and neither of us was freaked out by it. Strangely, this did not happen again after that one day. Now I don’t think my father is a ghost because that means his soul is not at rest or can’t let go. I do think perhaps at times people who have passed are allowed to get a little closer to our realm so that we can kind of sense them nearby. Anyway you think of it, we did have a lovely time and we stayed peppy and not melancholic.

Now I am looking forward to New Year’s, which oddly is my favorite holiday! I love the idea of rebirth. And isn’t that the gift from the soul? Just as the newly varnished magazine rack reminds me of relatives from the past who gave from their hearts; even a little piece of furniture can be reborn with love.

101 Ways to Cope with Stress

I found this old clipping among my papers as I was cleaning. I've no idea where it came from, but it pre-dates the internet for sure! Remember when we would mail each other clipppings and such? Yeh, from back then. Heck, just looking over old tax forms is funny. The print looks so outdated (and mine only date back to 1992)! I'm sure the current print we use will look old in 10-20 years too!

I scanned the clipping and made it a jpeg. It should enlarge when clicked on!

I haven't written a quality post in some time!

Tell you what I'm up to: time wasting! Ut oh! Smack me now! I'm suppose to have my "bill box" sorted and shreded by now. It's on the "to-do" list for Wednesday. For me, the "to-do" list is the only way to stay focused and organized, and when I do most or all of it I can go to bed peaceful and relaxed knowing I have accomplished my tasks! Pretty OCD! LOL! But it works for me. Vacation breaks move way too fast and next thing you know it is time to return to reality and work.

What's still on the list? the gym, the clothing on my bed, paperwork for BLT at school, a blog post about gifts from the soul, some photos to scan, and the movie "Inception" to watch. I'm also reading Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly. There's other stuff to do also, but that's the bulk of today's adventure.

So with that in mind, I'll get the iTunes going and get back to work. But first, let me leave you with a fantastically simple, yet yummy dish I made up yesterday:

Sweet Potatoes and Black Beans

2 sweet potatoes
1 can black beans
onions and peppers
little olive oil
white pepper and coriander
curry paste if you want to give it kick

Peel, then bake or boil the sweet potatoes. Cut them into small pieces. Meanwhile fry up onions and peppers and then when they are cooked enough add a can of undrained black beans. Once the sweet potato is soft; then add it to the mixture. Cook everything together and season for about 10 minutes. Then, eat it and enjoy!!!

Vegetarian Breakfast Strata

Vegetarian Breakfast Strata

- 1 ½ cups sliced portabella mushrooms
- 1 ½ cups chopped asparagus
- 4 Morningstar Farms Veggie sausage patties
- ½ cup chopped onions
- ½ cup chopped green peppers
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- ½ cup skim milk
- 5 eggs
- 4 slices day old bread, cubed
- 4 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded (one cup)
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, sauté the mushrooms, asparagus,
crumbled sausage, onions, peppers, and the garlic in the
vegetable oil until the vegetables are tender.
Drain if needed and pat dry; set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the milk and eggs
until well blended. Stir in the bread, cheese,
pepper, and vegetable mixture.

3. Pour into a greased 11in. x 7 in. baking dish.
Bake, uncovered at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until
a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Serves 8.

I am enjoying the Christmas Cards!

For some reason the cards this year are making me feel all warm and fuzzy. Thank you to everyone! Aunt Char's was the best:

Trust God-Live Simply-Love Much-Laugh Often

Keep the season simple and remember that it's all about love and family, never ever about stuff. Because you can't take it with you! And remember the greatest gift is your health, and the love of those around you!

I am looking forward to time off, and I am looking forward to the new year. PEACE!