Laugh, cry, yell at the screen.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

And we're off....

Haven't blogged in many months. As many of you know the end of last year and the beginning of this year have been kind of rough for the Afflerbaugh/Youngblood/Dohoda households. I've been feeling very 'blah' lately and am having a hard time getting out of my funk. Starting December 20th we've had Grandma pass away, thus losing my job, Nick left for a Christmas vacation at his mom's in WA and decided to stay, Grandma's memorial and burial, mom and Maggie got attacked by two pit bulls, and I've been sick for two weeks. Between Nick being in Washington with him mom and Grandma passing away I am getting a little taste of what empty nesters must feel. I went from being on the go nearly 20 hours a day to having more time on my hands than I know what to do with. Never thought I'd be sad to have free time. I once gave a friend some advice when he was having a bout of depression. When he asked how do I feel better I responded: 'You don't wait to feel better to do things. You do things and then you feel better'......we'll see if my advice works.

That being said, among other things, I've decided to start blogging again. I need something to fill my time and empty my mind. Since it's Sunday I'll start up again with my Sunday Blessings, things that I am thankful for and blessings that I've received/witnessed.

Sunday Blessings:

Having the time to be a wife again.
Sharing special moments with my daughter lately; from going to the museum to simply listening to her laugh as she plays in the backyard.
Gianna reminding me not to be sad about Grandma because 'she can see her up in Heaven'.
Rain
The Olympics
My overall health
Good friends and wonderful family

Take time to appreciate the little things in life!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Fun with Pumpkins

Well, it's been about a month since I've posted anything. September is always a super busy time. But, fall has come and with it delicious comfort foods.

Tonight I made chicken soup. Browned some chicken breast the tore it into pieces, added carots, celery, onions. Green beans, bell peppers, tomatoes (all from the garden). Add garlic. Then more garlic. Add rosemary, oregano and basil (also from the garden). So yummy. It was really delicious. Perfect fall food.

Then I made my crustless pumpkin pies from scratch using one of the blue pumpkins that Joel grew in our garden. It was lots of fun. And, it turned out especially delicious.

So many people are on the organic food kick for the health benefits. I could care less about that. I like home grown food because it TASTES so much better. Really and truly, much better. Plus, it's fun to tend to the garden and bring the stuff in to cook. I love it.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Should be a book for adults, not just children...

I read The Giving Tree to G again tonight. Now, I've read this book no less than a hundred times but tonight I was really moved by the story. Perhaps it was because G was really understanding the concepts tonight.

I love the morals of this story:
1)You achieve happiness by doing things for others, by being selfless
2) Things don't make you happy, no matter how many of them you acquire
3) Happiness is simpler to maintain than we believe.

So many people now a days are on this quest, it seems, for the mythical grail of happiness. And they use the supposed lack of happiness as an excuse to unleash all kinds of damage in their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

Even noticed though, that happy people tend to be happy regardless of their circumstances? Now, I certainly don't mean that people are all butterflies and puppy dogs when they have cancer or their lose their jobs. Obviously, even the happiest people experience moments of sadness. But they are just that.....moments. Whereas unhappy people seem to be unhappy no matter what happens to them. I believe, as apparently Shel Silverstein did, that we can only be happy when the focus is off of ourselves. If I am spending all of my time thinking of myself and how the goings on of life affect me then I am quite simply a selfish, self serving person and those kinds of people can never be happy.

If you aren't happy with your life or yourself, stop thinking of yourself and your desires. Start letting someone pick your apples, or use your branches to build something for themselves. Or perhaps, just be the stoop that someone can sit on, to rest and be thankful.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

First picks of the patch.

Here are some pics of our first few pumpkins. It makes me so excited. I even put out all of our fall decorations today. I'm so ready. Also, snuck in a few pics of G.

Taking a brief rest.