Wow....Way Too Long!!

Well I guess that I have just been way too carried away with my regular every day stuff and haven't paid attention to my blog in over a year. It's been a difficult year so far for my family and I already but we are pushing through and staying focused on all the wonderful blessings that we have. Rick's mom passed away three days before my birthday in February and it was pretty unexpected. She was at our house regularly because she only lived around the corner from us and so there has been a big hole in our family. We all take comfort though in knowing that she is with Heavenly Father and dad and that she is no longer in pain.

Mom's passing has also opened some opportunities (in the way of finances) for us that we would not have otherwise had and so we are trying to explore our options and make well-informed decisions that will be beneficial for us in the long term. Brett is planning to graduate next year instead of the following year so we are all excited about that.

This year I am making more time for myself to explore the things that I like to do. For so many years I've just put my own interests aside and just taken care of and helped everyone else, this year is a year of change for my own personal development.

New Year, New Goals

So now that we're already 14 days into the new year I thought it was time to tell about some of my goals of the new year. It's time to clean out the clutter; out with the old, in with the new.

This year I've made it a goal of mine to be more grateful for all that I have. This year I also want to do more to help others and not just think about myself and what I might want. I have set some new financial goals for myself and my family and I know that I will be accomplishing great things. A coworker and I have decided to walk at the mall on our lunches at least three times a week. I'm not doing it necessarily because of trying to lose weight (although I'd be more than happy to lose a few pounds along the way) but more because I want to be more active.

These are just a few of the goals that I have set for myself.

Pat myself on the back

The picture at the top of my blog is one that I took of the sun setting one evening in August this year. I really like this picture and was so thankful that I had the camera with me on my way back home that night. I have considered making some postcards of it or poems with that as a background. I'll have to look into doing those a little more because I definitely think that it's a great picture to share with others!

Looking for some help

Well I've spent some time today trying to surf around and look at some other blogs. It seems that I have a lot to learn as you can clearly tell by the look of my blog site that I only know the basics of how to post written stuff (and maybe add an occaisional picture). I really don't know much about doing this stuff so I would love for anyone to give me suggestions on what I could do to add something to my blog so that it doesn't look so basic. I do not have any idea how to format or change where things are located on my blog nor do I have any idea of how to win stuff on other people's blogs.

Is there anyone out there that can offer some suggestions?

Tired but busy so hopefully I won't fall asleep

Well, I think I was up a little too late last night because I am exhausted today. I was just talking to Rick on the phone and trying not to fall asleep. Last night I talked with Lynn for a while about the family picture that I took for her on Sunday at the party. She decided that she wanted to have Christmas cards made like we did so we talked back and forth about what style she wanted and what she wanted them to say and then I ordered them online on my snapfish account. Sherwood is going to pick them up on his way home from work tomorrow and they are going to bring us a card on Saturday. She must've told me 4 or 5 times how much she really appreciated me doing them for her. I told her that I was happy to do it and glad that I could help out. She is having a really rough time right now and so I think that getting the family picture done and made into holiday cards really helped to uplift her spirits some even if it doesn't take the problems away.

Tonight Cassie has a chorus concert at school (she has to be there at 6:30) and Brett has to be at the church at 6:45 for basketball practice. Rick is going to take Brett to Canandaigua and I am going to take Cassie to school (I'll have the little ones with me) and he is going to meet us at the school so that we can all watch Cassie's concert. Then I am going to have to drive back out to Canandaigua to get Brett and I have an appointment with the bishop at 8:15pm. I really don't want to drive the truck so I'm not exactly sure which kid will be going with me to Canandaigua as Rick will only be able to fit 2 in the truck. Hopefully I can get him to take the two little ones so that I can meet with the bishop without them in the office with us interupting and such. Cassie should be able to sit quietly outside without causing too much problems (hopefully).

I need to put together a Christmas shopping list for Friday so that I have some kind of a plan in place. We don't really have a lot of money to work with but I am ok with that as at least I know that we are almost caught up on the bills (knock on wood). I am looking forward to a very exciting Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Well, I was just advised by my husband that it is starting to snow outside. I have recently been really "in to" taking photos, both of people and of the outdoors. I'm excited to be able to get some snow pictures, although I do hear that it can be tricky to get it to not look blue. I also have other mixed emotions about the snow as I do not like the cold or driving in it. I was able to take some family pictures of my cousin Lynn and her growing family as well as my Aunt Kittie, her husband Dave and their kids and grandkids at the Christmas Party on Sunday. I really enjoyed doing the pictures for them as finances are tight for them all right now and this was an inexpensive way of helping them to keep memories of those that they are close to without having to spend lots of money to do it. I am planning to do some more research on photo-taking and possibly even take a photography class if I can do it without a lot of expense myself. I am using some photos that I have taken and some music that I have recorded in my Christmas presents that I am giving this year. If anyone has any special requests, let me know.

Beginning of a New and Exciting Week!

Well, it certainly was a busy weekend. We did some errands on Saturday, took some family pictures and tried to clean up the house some (TRIED ANYWAYS). Yesterday we had church in the morning and the Rugg Family Christmas Party in the afternoon. Got some great family pictures of some of my relatives. Colton ended up running into his little sister and gashing his forehead open. So mom and dad took them to the hospital and 6 stitches later, they sent him home.