Feeling Accomplished...

I love the feeling of having DONE something...of having less undone and more DONE.  I can procrastinate sometimes but when I finally get in gear and get things done, it feels SO good! I really don't know WHY I procrastinate...I know how good it feels to accomplish a task.  I also know how much I DISLIKE having things not done.  Now common sense would say that I would just learn to DO IT and enjoy it.  And while I have improved greatly in this area, there are still some things that for a reason unknown to me, I put off.

For instance, ever since we moved into our new apartment (January 1) the garbage disposal hasn't worked. It hummed the first time I turned it on and then after that....nothing! So, I've gone for almost six weeks without a garbage disposal.  Not really a big deal, since most of my married life I have been without a disposal (or a dishwasher for that matter).  But, it would seem logical that since I have one, I would take advantage of it and use it.  However, that would entail calling my landlord.  Then I figured he would have to come over...and then he would see that it was broken...then it would have to be replaced and he would have to come over again...and so on.  So, I never called.  I kept thinking I would, but didn't.  The same would go for the flickering light in our kitchen.

When we sent our check last week Jason decided to write a note and let the landlord know some of the problems we were having around the place.  So for the next few days I scurry around making sure the house is clean and the sink is empty.  I sure didn't want him to come over and see a sink full of dishes. On Saturday morning of all wonderful times he comes over.  I thought, "Great, there goes my Saturday.  He is going to be here all day fixing this thing."  So, he comes in, opens the cupboard, turns some thingamajig, pushes a button and says, "fixed."  LOL!  The fuse for the disposal is actually on the disposal itself.  I did think to look in the fuse box when it first went out but I saw nothing.  Never thought to look on the actually disposal.  So in about 20 seconds he fixed something that has been broken for six weeks.  My procrastination is silly sometimes! 

In addition to the disposal and our light (which is only working half the time I am afraid), I got a lot of other things accomplished too!  I did our taxes yesterday.  I have to admit I am quite proud of myself.  I always do our taxes but this year it was more complicated because of our foreign income for half the year and because of my business.  It took me a few hours (mostly trying to understand what it was I had to do) but it feels soooo good to have it done and ready to be mailed! 

We also got some good cleaning done.  With three little kids it is hard to get the whole house clean at the same time.  I will work on one room and the others will get messy in the meantime.  But I LOVE the look and feel of a house that is completely clean and vacuumed and dusted and tidy.  So Jason and I tag-teamed and got the place spic and span (well, almost...my craft closet still needs some major attention!)

We also played, and ate together, and rested, and read, and just enjoyed being a family.  Our kids will only be young for such a short time and we want to soak it all in.  Enjoy all the little quirks and stages.  It isn't always EASY, but if we take the proper perspective, it is all fun.

Take this episode for example -- Levi, as any good nine month old, likes to turn and wiggle while we try to get him dressed or change his diaper.  He lays still for all of 1.2 seconds and then he is trying to get away.  Yesterday I was trying to put his pants on and he was squirming away.  I would get one leg on and then when I moved to the other leg he would pull the first leg out.  This went on for literally 8 or 10 attempts.  I was getting so frustrated and it seemed that the more frustrated I got the more he squirmed.  I tried reasoning with him (why do I attempt such useless things?)  I kept telling him in my sternest voice, "Levi!  This will be OVER if you just lay still!"  He didn't seem to get it.  And when I finally got to the breaking point I just stopped, took a deep breath, looked at the situation for what it was, and burst out laughing.  It was actually really funny and pathetic! And when I started laughing, so did Levi, and he settled down and giggled and I quite calmly put on his pants and the day could go on.

See, I just need to embrace life.  I just need to embrace all that comes my way....the good days, the bad days, the every days.  I need to enjoy all of it.  After all, the highs feel so much better for having experiences the lows as well!  Putting Levi's pants on really isn't a "low" in life but the lesson was learned and I pray I can apply it to the bigger things in life. 

So, enjoy your day today.  Take all the inconveniences and frustrations and look at them in the perspective of a much bigger life.  Find the joy and the humor in the moments and realize how truly blessed you are.

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So, I scrapped a bit this weekend!  It wasn't much, but it felt good to just create.  Last week I emailed a friend and told her my creativity was gone!  I would try to scrap or to make a template and...nothing.  I didn't like anything I did.  I need to learn in those instances to just walk away and do something different rather than push it.  So, I took some time away from the computer and read, cooked, hung out with the family.  And then, when I tried to do a bit, it just came to me.  And I love that I created things that were authentically ME.  I really don't care about trends and fads and what the scrapping community seems to think is "great" srapbooking.  I am really starting to feel comfortable with my style and feel confident that I will look back on these pages in years to come and still love them. 

WINTER FUN: Love this one...love the look on Caleb's face and the bright and fun colors.  Papers and brads by Shabby Princess.  Snowflake brushes by Michelle Coleman.  Stitching by Ronna Penner.

VALENTINE: This one came together pretty fast.  I made a few templates this weekend and I wanted to try this one out.  I used Mindy Teresawa's beautiful new LOVEY DOVEY kit at Designer Digitals.   Tag is by Michelle Coleman.

Now this next one wasn't planned.  I got done, saved it, and then realized that just two days before I did one soooo similar!  It looks a bit funny now having two so similar but that is one of they reasons I am glad that I do not scrap chronologically.  In their albums (which are chronological) you would never notice the similarity.

EASTER TREAT:  This is Alaina on Easter last year (one day before Levi was born!)  I used Mindy Teresawa's GORGEOUS SPRING FEAST kit.  I also used glitter paint strokes by Meredith Fenwick from her Hallway Graffiti collection.  Pin and tag by Danielle at Catscrap. TK Doodle font.

This last one was just a quickie...

SWEET CHUBBY FACE:  That's Caleb!  Isn't he soooo cute!  Blue paper, flowers, staples, and journaling paper by Danielle at Catscrap. Kraft paper is my own.  Stitching by Lisa Whitney at Scrapartist. Hand stamped alpha by Michelle Coleman.

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Well, that's it for today!  Jason is taking the kids for the day and I am having a work day.  I have a bunch of stuff I want to do for the shop.  I have had a bunch of ideas floating around in my head for a while but no time to implement them.  Keep your eye out for some fun stuff in celebration of my six month anniversary!

Have a GREAT day!

Comments

[MandaKay]

Great reminder to embrace life! So easy for me to do on a day that I am at work and my kiddos are having a great day at Grammies! Love the new LO's - the one with Alaina and the stitching is so so cute!

P.S. - did you by any chance leave a message on my blog looking for my email addy? If so it is kahuiz@charter.net. If not just disregard this- LOL!

have a great day!

[Shabby Mommy Twin]

OMG Janet! Your pages just ROCK! I looooove that one of your lil guy in the snow! LOOVe how that matches his coat! CUUUUUTE GIRLEEE!

[HaleyW]

Thanks so much for your wonderfully inspiring story today! I, too, get wrapped up in getting these done and sometimes find myself missing the fun stuff with the girls.

LOVE these LOs -- fabulous!!! Have a great day!!!