HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

At least I'm consistent on some things - see my earlier post: I don't do resolutions.

I may not do resolutions... my years typically have a theme, or a motto to them. Some of the themes have hit me right away in January... while other years it may take until May/June to realize what the theme is for that year. Any way, here's a few from the recent past...

"RENEW" - Lori's 2007 word of the year
Part of Speech: verb . Definition: start over; refurbish.
Synonyms: begin again, brace, breathe new life into, bring up to date, continue, exhilarate, extend, fix up, freshen, go over, mend, modernize, overhaul, prolong, reaffirm, reawaken, recommence, recondition, recreate, reestablish, refit, refresh, regenerate, rehabilitate, reinvigorate, rejuvenate, remodel, renovate, reopen, repair, repeat, replace, replenish, restate, restock, restore, resume, resuscitate, retread, revitalize, revive, spruce, stimulate, transform.

"PEACE" - Lori's 2008 word of the year
Part of Speech: noun. Definition: calm, serenity.
Synonyms: amity, calmness, composure, concord, congeniality, contentment, equanimity, harmony, hush, lull, peacefulness, placidity, quiet, quietude, relaxation, repose, reserve, rest, silence, stillness, sympathy, tranquility

"INSPIRE" - Lori's 2009 word of year
Part of Speech: verb
Definition: encourage, stimulate.
Synonyms: affect, animate, arouse, be responsible for, carry, cause, embolden, enliven, exalt, excite, exhilarate, fire up, galvanize, give impetus, give one an idea, give rise to, hearten, impress, infect, inflame, influence, inform, infuse, inspirit, instill, invigorate, motivate, occasion, produce, provoke, quicken, reassure, set up, spark, spur, start off, stir, strike, sway, touch, trigger, urge, work up.

My 2010 word of the year? I don't know yet... so far I'm pondering "grow", "discipline", "lighten", "listen", ... and a few more. Over the next few days I'll see if I can find a word or phrase (a mission statement, if you will) that could cover my theme for the year. We'll see what I come up with...

Do YOU make resolutions, set goals, write out a mission statement, find a theme... and start the year out with the intent of that being your focus? Do you struggle keeping up with that, like I do? Any tips on making that resolve last?

A new sabbath...

The past few days I've been thinking over this word: sabbath. And the thoughts take me back to writing about being an adrenaline junky, earlier. And I think back on how far I've come ... but recovering from that addiction has been a struggle, partly successful and yet something I'm still working on.

I have learned it was about more than just "saying no" and "slowing down" and "sitting still"... it was about dealing with WHY I couldn't say no, slow down or sit still.

Doubting this is scientific, I have a theory on addictions: my behavior became an addiction in that moment in time when I made the decision that THIS (addiction) is better than THAT (physical/emotional pain that I was running from, etc).

Let me take a step back... I do not pretend to know the scientific background on addictions... I just know what the issue was for me.

And for me... I became an adrenaline junky because I didn't want to deal with the traumatic happenings in my life. Why exactly were they traumatic? I'm not quite sure... everyone gets hurt... but why was this hurt so traumatic? I don't know... it just was. And I was blind-sided by it. I was not prepared to deal with it. I could not wrap my head around the blow to my life.

So, I found something else to take my attention away from the trauma. I stifled every last feeling and emotion... and I became strung out on "to do" lists, only 3 hours of sleep a night, espresso and not being able to see straight. My house fell apart: the house work wasn't getting done, the bills were hardly being paid (because I simply forgot to pay them), etc. I was "too busy working" to hang out with family, meet friends for coffee, etc. In effect, I used this excuse as a way to keep from getting involved and being hurt again.

Having admitted I had a problem was the first step... and now I think I'm on the upswing. I now get over 6 hours of sleep a night, I go on vacations with my family, I take days off of work to hang out with my husband, I meet friends for coffee/glass of wine, walk through farmer's markets, go on scrapbook retreats and connect regularly with some really great people. I have picked up the hobby of cooking... and love taking treats to friends at work, church, etc.

I now allow myself to cry... I allow myself to be happy, sad, hurt, confused, ecstatic... simply put, I allow myself to have emotions... without feeling guilty or ashamed.

And I'm loving life... and I'm up for a second sabbatical at work and very much looking forward to taking some time off to rest, relax, read, sleep more than 6 hours a night... I'm ever so blessed to have the opportunity to refresh like this...

I wonder when I'll finally get around to doing the house cleaning ...

I met some new friends this week...

oh wait, i think i just posted the wrong pics... let's try that again...



Shirley called me a few weeks ago to see if we could do some family pics when her son and daughter-in-law came in from Colorado (for Christmas)... well, of course we can, if the weather holds out!

And wow... the day was lovely!









Thank you, Oney family! I enjoyed myself... and I enjoyed the opportunity! MERRY CHRISTMAS to your family... hope it is a great time together!

my quiet Christmas morning...

This morning I woke to a start... WHAT TIME IS IT?!

It was 4:36 am... and I was now wide awake.

WHY?!

I tried rolling over and going back to sleep - but after a few minutes of staring at the wall, well it was time to get up.

So, I've been catching up on various blogs, watching the "yule log" channel on tv (yes, the one that shows the fireplace, with the video set to Christmas music)... but I've got the tv on MUTE. Instead, I'm listening to Pandora's "Swingin' Christmas" station. GOTTA LOVE IT!

And I picked up around the house. Lee and I have plans to be here all day... and I didn't want to putter around in a dirty home. So I cleaned off the dining room table, did the dishes, lit quite a few candles and finished wrapping the last presents.

I love mornings like this... they rock my world!

I've taken some new pics of my house this morning too! There is a generous pile of gifts under our "Christmas ficus"... and our walls are adorned with cards from our friends and family. Some of the cards are photos (we SOOO look forward to seeing how big your kids got over the past 12 months), some are cards with letters in them and some are handmade. We love them all equally! Let it be known - we are an equal opportunity card-loving family!







It's kinda like being here with us... welcome to our living room... it's Christmas at the Tisdales...

Deck the halls...

It's that time of year... I pulled down the dusty boxes and unpacked some goods. Not a lot of goods... 'cuz we don't have a lot of room. In fact, we don't even make room for a Christmas tree. But we do have a ficus in the corner... so we put the tree skirt under it and bling it up a bit... and voila! Christmas has arrived... plus I do a few more things in the living room and the kitchen...

wanna see?!













We like our little house (Christmas tree or not)... and I have boxes full of Christmas decorations I haven't been able to use yet because we simply don't have the room. But soon... hopefully soon, I can set up the 22 Nativity sets around the house (I do not lie)...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year... from our little house to yours...

i love the smells and sights of Christmas time...

As I type this, my house smells like Febreze's "Cranberries & Frost". And I'm looking at a large pile of pine cones that were spray painted and glittered-to-the-hilt for our Women's Christmas Event at church (it was held last night). Lucky me - I got to bring home some of the pine cones and will now be using them in my decorations at home! But, I'll write more about that later...

Do you want to see what last night looked like? Enjoy...

















Along with some great friends we enjoyed some good food, beautiful singing, lots of fun memories and laughter... and some touched hearts. Women desire to be connected... to see a heart in someone else that they can relate to... and once that connection takes place a friendship buds. And in friendship all sorts of great things take place... and we saw some of it last night! What a great night with my friends ...

Just a sneak peek...

Last night some of the gals from church decorated the room for our women's Christmas event (happening tonight) at Mission Hills Church ... here's a sneak peek!




And it's just as pretty outside ...



We truly are the most blessed people on the planet... we get to be creative, meet great friends, learn from each other, grow with each other and be there for each other. Talk about a fulfilled world we live in... we are blessed beyond belief.