Pen Pal letters!

Many of you know I love writing letters! I have several steady pen pals and many that write as time lets them..(kinda like me!). This past year I tried out a new system with my pen pals and it didn't work out at all for me. So this year I have gone back to the system that was fool proof. I took a composition notebook and since I am starting it out new I put the pen pals address that I am sending to on one page..so I will have it handy. I take a page and put the date on it for received and sent letters. One page may have a week's worth of mail on it. I use the back of the sent/received page and list any swap bot swaps I am in and the address for my partners. When I get a letter in I put it in notebook and log it right then. I do not take out the letter till I have wrote the person back. So simple but yet works for me. Last year I just didn't feel like writing and I put the blame on not being organized as well as having a bit of depression going on. One of my goals this year is to write my pen pals in a timely manner. I also am trying to catch up with pen pal letters that I haven't responded to yet. I sent out eight letters today! Two of which was short letters but the others I put time and effort into writing them. Sometimes I do believe it would be faster to do a form letter to catch everyone up but I can't seem to bring myself to do that quite yet. I have several ladies who write extremely long letters. I love them because its as if I am visiting with a dear friend. But then when it comes to me writing them back I feel like I am not as interesting as them. Do any of you agree with me on this? Surely I am not the only one feeling inadequate. If you ever get behind how do you try to get caught up? I love getting pen pal letters! I don't care what they write the letter on as long as I can read it. I have a couple of pals I have a hard time reading their writing but have always figured it out sooner or later. What are you waiting on go get a sheet of paper and write a random letter today!

Swap Bot Journal

So I am working on a Swap Bot.com journal swap. It is a 4 month long journal swap. I have really enjoyed doing it but it has been time consuming for me! I got behind about 20 entry's so I need to get caught up on them. The bad news is I have to send it to my partner January 13th. Which means that this weekend I will be working hard on my journal. For these entry's I do believe I will write over topics such as my saddest day ever, my best friend, favorite actor and why, as well as some list of random stuff. I also am big on using recipes! She is getting a random journal from me. Am hoping that we have similar taste in how we do our journaling. I am sure she will enjoy what I have done for her. I would like to do another journal swap soon. I love swap bot as it has kept me busy. Plus side is getting happy mail a lot! I have taken a long break from Swap Bot but am ready to get back into the swing of it. I use to do a lot of international swaps but think I will cut back on doing them,. The postage is extremely high for overseas mail. I have gotten so many pen pals thru swap bot as well. This year I am trying to get back on track with my pen pals. I have been very neglectful this past year. I have no excuses I got behind and never got caught up. Today I sent off 8 pen pal letters and 2 postcrossing postcards. Didn't put a dent in my mail pile but hey it's a good start!

Chasing Light in the Winter Blues

                               

Winter has a way of wrapping me in a heavy gray blanket. The cold makes me want to hibernate, hide from the world, and keep to myself. I notice how quickly the color seems to fade from life this time of year, leaving everything feeling a little dull and heavy.

But I also know staying stuck in that cycle isn’t good for me. This season, I’m choosing to be more intentional—finding small ways to keep my mind and hands busy. Journaling helps me spill out the thoughts I’ve been holding in, and even the simplest crafts brighten up my days. Creating something—no matter how small—feels like adding color back into the gray.

I may not be able to change the weather, but I can change how I move through it. My goal is to look for light, joy, and moments of positivity even in the coldest days. Because winter doesn’t have to mean being frozen inside—it can be a season of growth

                    

                                                                                           

Blake Jessica and Logan

This is my oldest son Blake and his girlfriend Jessica and her son Logan. Am so proud of my so because he loves and treats that cute little boy as his own. I do believe that Blake is totally serious about Jessica. Which means that I will finally be a grandma!! Which will totally rock for me and Logan! Yes he has many "real" grandma's and pa's but hope he will have room for another "Nana" in his life. So I may be putting the cart before the horse on this situation but hey I can daydream can't I? I am grateful for the man Blake has became thru the years!

Happy New Year!

What a great start to the New Year! I have made several goals for myself! One is to become a better blogger if only for myself. I have so much to say but yet feel like I censor myself. I know I can rattle on and on about nothing and yet I make my post so short and simple. I know I have gotten old because New Year's Eve I stayed home and watched T.V. I had bought a bottle of wine but didn't even open it. Was asleep by 10:00 pm. I didn't even go get my favorite take out or anything. Mr. C. was at work and I think that with him not being home it made me a little sad. the last couple of years I would get Chinese take out along with a few cocktails and enjoy myself. Why is it all the major holidays Mr. C. has to be working? You'd think I would be use to that by now...but am still complaining about it. Several goals are in my head this year. I do think I will work on each one as I see fit. Yes I want to eat healthy and lose weight..am thinking that is most of us? Right?? I want to blog better. Which means I should look at blogs that inspire me and see how their technique is different from mine. I AM saving up for two vacations this year. Vancouver Washington to visit my cousin Melissa! then our huge family vacation to South Padre Island Texas. Am sure we will have more than 23 of us going this year! I would like to order us all a special T-shirt. I think that would be cool. Another goal is to keep my darn messy car washed and cleaned. My middle son Aaron does a great job at detailing. He owes me big time and this is how he works the money off. Well if I don't ask him he sure don't volunteer his time..lol So I am thinking every month he will be cleaning my car for me. He just got a new set of tires on his truck so this should be a small sacrifice to make for the cost of the tires. Is that so wrong of me? He is 18 and still in school with no job... He can donate a hour to his momma at least I should hope so! Goals are great but somewhat over rated. I figure if I work on a goal as I see fit at some point it has to be a positive for me! Did you make any goals set in concrete? How do you plan on keeping them? I don't seem to do well at long term goals. With this being a new year I plan on giving it another whirl! Lots of luck out there to everyone on making new goals and following thru with them!!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas every one! We aren't celebrating in our normal way today. Our electric has been off and on for several days. Yesterday it was off almost the entire day so I didn't get any cooking done. Our Christmas dinner consisted of Roast and veggies and good homemade gravy with a homemade chocolate cake. This is the first homemade chocolate cake with homemade buttercream frosting I have ever made! It was totally simple and so very good! The kids wiped it out in two days! My baby boy Trevor went to Minnesota over the Christmas break. I must say that I think that kinda put a damper on how I felt. Although I was glad he got to go and see a different part of the United States. I for one do not see me going to Minnesota in my future. Trevor had never snowboarded before and he really enjoyed trying that activity out. Trevor is one who is a natural at any sports he try's. That boy amazes me! Our Christmas was nice and quiet. I hope everyone had a blessed day!

Ice Storm

Oh my goodness we got the icy sleet! Made our electric go out off and on for 3 days! Tonight we endured the cold at home. If its still out tomorrow we will go get a hotel room that has heat and electric. I do not do well in cold I tell you! Am so glad that I have all my Christmas stuff bought and wrapped or I would be in so much trouble!! Am glad Mr. C. is home and we can get around on the icy and slick roads in his 4 wheel drive truck as my car is useless in this type of weather conditions!