Handbook for 2010

HANDBOOK 2010



Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:

40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about.

Stevie's Graduation

On Saturday, December 19, my brother-in-law Steve graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor's Degree in Education.  Shawn and I got up early that morning and drove down to WKU to watch him graduate and join in the celebration with him, along with his wife, Christa, his friends, Wendie and Pedro, and his parents, Eric and Susie.  I believe there was 1,100+ graduating and while it was long, it was enjoyable.  After the graduation, we went to Longhorn Steakhouse for some yummy food and fellowship.  Then it was time for the drive home and some relaxing on the couch.

Bath Time

This was my first time seeing Gavin get a bath in a big boy tub and he LOVED playing in the water and I loved watching him be silly and having fun.  Hershey and Reese were both jealous of his bathtub fun and, if I would of been in the mood and felt like giving them a bath, I would of put them in the tub with him. 

I'm getting skinny...

Well, I wouldn't really say skinny, but I did lose some weight.  Yesterday afternoon I went to my doctor for a follow-up visit on my diet pill and to get a prescription for a refill.  Most people don't ever want to get near a scale, but I was excited to get on it today.  I LOST 12 POUNDS!   Yeah me!!!  While I am excited with that weight loss, I was a little bit disappointed because I felt like I had lost more.  I've really been able to tell in my clothes the most.  Plus I've had more energy, which is a good thing.  I really wasn't watching what I was eating, otherwise I know it would of been more.  This time around though, I'm going to concentrate on eating better.  I didn't overeat, I just didn't choose the healthiest foods...of course I don't like many foods that are healthy for you, which is probably why I have a weight problem to start with.

The Making of Mimi's Christmas Present

Last Saturday, Beth and I took Gavin to Mitchell's Art Academy & Clay Studio in Newburgh to make a special Christmas present for my mom (Mimi).  She loves cookie jars and has collected alot of them, but when she moved from the house, she had to pack them all up.  Now that she's in her apartment, there isn't alot of room for them, so she doesn't have any out.  I thought of the idea of having Gavin make her one, that way she would have one out and it would be a special one.  I knew I wanted a white cookie jar with Gavin's handprints all over it in different colors and for the front to say Mimi's Cookies.  Well it all worked, except for the different colors of handprints.  It was messy and Gavin wanted to play in the paint!  We ended up with 3 handprints (or should I say 3 half handprints) all in green.  And my handwriting isn't the greatest without lines and on a rounded jar, so the writing isn't very good either.  Beth ended up painting some flowers on the lid as well.  I'm sure once it's all fired and ready for use, it will look better.  Regardless of what it looks like, I KNOW my mom will LOVE it, especially since it's from Gavin. 

Boonville Christmas Parade 2009

Sunday afternoon was the Boonville Christmas Parade. We've never been before and only went this year because Shawn's work, WOW, had a float in the parade. We went because of that was going to ride on the wagon or walk beside it. We ended up riding in the back of the bucket truck and boy am I ever glad. That parade is huge, with more than 117 entries and the route was long. Someone even told me that this year it was a longer route than normal. Shawn wore his Santa hat and I was bundled up tight for the frigid temperatures that day. We enjoyed riding on the float, passing out candy to the kids of all ages and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. Spongebob was the theme of the float and they had an employee dressed in the Spongebob outfit. He was the hit of the parade. Everyone wanted to run out and meet him and have their picture taken with him. We'll defintely be going to the parade again next year - whether we are in a float, or just spectaters on the ground.

Rockport Christmas Parade 2009

Saturday, December 5 was the Rockport Christmas Parade.   They have been having this parade as long as I can remember.  We went to it all the time when we were kids and growning up.  As a young adult, I stopped going to it - not because I didn't want to go, but because I guess I had more important things going on.  A few years ago, I started going again and have gone every year since.  It's always fun to see the different floats and see if you know anyone.  It's fun to watch the kids scurry around getting the candy.  And it's fun hanging out in the cold with family and friends having a good time.  This year Shawn took off work to go cause it was my birthday and I wanted us to go together.  We went to Mom's and then walked to the parade with Mom, Beth, Tommy, and Gavin.  It was also Gavin's first Christmas parade.  He enjoyed watching it, however he's still too little to gather candy or even eat the candy.  Next year will be exciting for him as he'll be almost 2 so he can run after the candy.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Another year older!  I can't believe I'm already 34.  Seems just like the other day I was turning 16, then 21, then 30, and now 34.  Next year when I'm 35, I'll be halfway to 70.  Good Lord, I don't even want to think about that!!  This year was probably one of the best birthdays I've had in a LONG time!!  Shawn sent me flowers to work Friday and then that night I went birthday shopping for a new purse and we went to dinner at Outback.  Shawn took off work on Saturday and we went to the Rockport Christmas Parade and spent the day with mom, Beth, Tommy, and Gavin.  After the parade, we all came back home and mom made me homemade chicken and dumplings for my birthday dinner.  We also had mashed potatoes, stuffing, and green beans.  I got a birthday cake from Hacienda, however it wasn't as good as I remembered it and now I wished I would of gotten a cake from Piece of Cake.  After dinner we did cake and presents.  Mom got me a package of socks, which I was excited about.  LOL!!  I've been needing to get some new short, white socks and just haven't done it.  I think she was tired of hearing me complain about the pair I had on at Thanksgiving that kept sliding down in my shoes.  Then Beth and Tommy got me a snowglobe that you can put a picture in, and Gavin got me an award for being the WORLD'S BEST AUNT!  It's too cute and I have it hanging up at work.  The Robinson's stopped by for a little bit and brought me my birthday presents.  I got this really fun picture from Kirlands that has 2 hands a heart and says.... and then a keychain fob with my name embroidered on it.  Zoe also made me a cute card.  She's my bestest little buddy :)

Turkey Day 2009

Thanksgiving has come and gone.  It's probably one of my favorite holidays of the year.  It's a time of good food and spending time with family that I don't normally see or talk to throughout the year.  We always had Thanksgiving at Granny's little old, blue house in Hatfield.  After she died, my momma started hosting the meal.  But this year, since momma lost the house, Shawn and I decided to have Thanksgiving at our house.  Because we have a small kitchen and living room, we had to set up some tables and chairs in the garage, but people didn't mind.  It gave us lots of room that way.  This year Shawn's parent's joined us for Thanksgiving, along with all of my mom's brothers and sisters and their families, minus one brother and his family.  They haven't been around in quite some time.  We had LOTS of food!  Uncle Dave deep-fried 3 turkeys (2 male and 1 female as you'll see in picture below...LOL!) and Uncle Bill and Aunt Joyce made a ham and some BBQ deer (ewww!).  Mom made the dressing and then helped me cook the rest of the food - mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, and rolls.  Aunt Dobie made her yummy coleslaw that I always request at family gatherings.  Then mom, Aunt Dobie, and Aunt Joyce made all kinds of desserts - pecan pie, pumpkin pie, chocolate pie, peach pie, and Texas sheetcake.  The only thing missing was Uncle Popeye's watergate salad and I heard about that!  Uncle Popeye has ALWAYS brought it to Thanksgiving.  I told him he didn't have to make it if he didn't want to cause there was so much other stuff.  Like I said....did I ever hear about it.  Next year, I will insist that he bring it!  Uncle Dave brought his four-wheeler for everyone to ride, but it was really cold this year, so it didn't get much riding.  It's now sitting in our garage for Shawn to ride, however he hasn't had the time to ride it yet.  I didn't take many pictures this year - mainly of Gavin.  It was his first Thanksgiving and he enjoyed some of the yummy food.