Monday, March 17, 2014

Another Day, Another Lenten Affirmation

First off, is Lenten a word? I'm gonna go with it for now.

So, my thing I am giving up for Lent is thinking or saying bad things about myself. I'm as guilty as the next person about doing it, and it truly erodes not only myself, but my relationships. So, instead, I'm posting affirmations.

Today's affirmation: I'm a good student, who is bright enough and has the drive to succeed. I'm doing a better-than-decent job of juggling all the demands on my time. I hereby give myself permission to be proud!

Every Monday I have a phone call with my student mentor. She is my adviser/guide/etc, and helps me stay on track. Due to time zone differences, our call is at 2100 hours, which isn't long before bedtime for this fire wife. So, I'm going to bed on a high note. D, my mentor, told me just how proud she is of my progress, and how amazing I'm doing. Just the boost I needed ;-)

Sunday, March 16, 2014

I'm Late, I'm Late, I'm Late for a Very Important Date!

Bonus points to anyone who knows who said that :-D

So, I'm a smidgeon behind on my posts - today is catch up day!!

Friday's Lent Affirmation:

I try hard to do my best with the lot I'm given. Work has been pretty stressful lately, and instead of losing my temper with an unreasonable external customer, I calmly stated why things were the way I wrote them, and that I would not be changing them since this customer had no technical merit to their requests. I also spent quite the chunk of time explaining to my mom over and over why the doctor was adding meds for her, and what some test results meant. Not once did I lose my patience with her. Go me! I was in a bit of a mood, the morning had started with a seriously bad migraine, and then my firefighter was a grumpalumpagus when he got home. However, I successfully managed to keep most of this to myself, and turn my annoyance and frustration into productivity.

Saturday's Lent Affirmation:

So, this is all about being nicer to myself, right? Saturday night's outfit was a black and green tutu skirt, and a green fitted tee that said Lucky in Love. I looked pretty darn cute. I had on low heels, that have rhinestones across the toes, my fingernails and toenails were a pretty green, and my BFF did my hair and make up. I looked adorable! I felt amazingly confident and sexy, which of course fed the adorableness, which fed the confidence. This is a circle I could get used to!

Sunday's Lent-Break:

Since Sundays don't count as part of the 40 days of Lent, I'm using them to post about how I'm making my marriage better. Today I made a delicious breakfast of strawberry chocolate chip fluffy pancakes, and turkey bacon. Granted we at it closer to dinnertime than breakfast, but hey, I still made it! I typically make his plate and serve him. I enjoy doing little stuff for him. I get happiness from it, and I take pride in what I do for him. Yesterday I got the rare treat of him hopping in the shower with me. (When you are rarely home at the same time, showering together is seriously a rare treat!) I washed him, head to toe. Not because he demands or even asks me too, but because I enjoy it. I love  the intimacy, and sensual-ness, and the service of washing him. It's a big deal to me. 

I'm all-over a better person when our marriage is on track intimacy-wise. No, not just in the bedroom, but the little stuff, like snuggling, holding hands, sitting in his lap, stuff like that. I'm much happier, and it is much easier to repel negativity, when things are happy and balanced.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Thankful Thursday Meets Lent

I'm big on Thankful Thursdays. I think it is really important to remember to look for and find the silver linings in life. So my positive-about-me post for today is that I can nearly always find a silver lining. Remembering to balance the negative with positive is seriously important to everyone's mental health.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Lent Post for Today

Today's affirmation pertains to my motherhood capabilities. I'm typically very, very hard on myself. I never feel like I'm doing right enough by my son. I'm definitely mean to myself on the topic. Tonight we ran into friends we haven't seen in a while, at dinner. Afterwards we were standing outside chatting, and it casually came up that Minion has 2 dads and 2 moms. Then we were discussing unique family arrangements,etc. I'm proud that I'm raising a kid who GETS that everyone's family unit is different, and nobody's family unit is right or wrong. Last year there was a little girl in Minion's class with 2 moms, and no dads. He never once even thought to question it as anything besides a family. I'm proud that I'm teaching my son tolerance and to not just accept others being different, but to embrace it.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Lent #6

Today's affirmation...I am very compassionate, especially towards those whom I care about. I left work early today, to be with a friend who had a very sick kitty. Kitty was 14, and I am very glad I met them at the vet, because the decision no pet mama wants to make had to be made. Never once did it cross my mind to just ignore the situation. Instead, I asked if she wanted/needed me there, and then asked for the address. We spent time together afterwards, eating and shopping. I'm happy I was able to be there for her. Sometimes I feel like a crummy friend because I have a ton of demands on my time, but today really made me realize that I'm a decent friend. <3

Monday, March 10, 2014

Lent #5

Today's affirmation is that I'm the type of person who understands that you don't have to agree with or love someones actions/choices, to love them as a person. I'm not going to stop loving the people in my life just because they do dumb crap, or refuse to listen to the advice they solicit. At the same time, that doesn't mean that I will keep toxic people in my life. If you refuse to help yourself, I'm strong enough to cut you looose. THAT is part of what makes me such a rockin' friend.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Sunday #1 During Lent

So apparently, Sunday doesn't count during the weeks of Lent. There is back story there, but simply put, it doesn't count. So today's post will be about the things I do to strengthen my marriage, which by default strengthens me as well.

I love my in-state in-laws. I go to family functions with them, without the FF. They aren't blood, but they are family. I'm comfortable there, they love my son and me, and getting along with the people important to my husband, is important.

I try to do stuff for my FF. This morning I made sure he had breakfast, even though he said he wasn't really hungry. (He ate every bite of it, too!) I do small stuff like making sure he has a uniform ready before his shifts, and I set his alarm. If I see that his shaver isn't plugged in, I plug it in, so it's ready for him.

Communication is a huge thing for us. In the last few years I've grown a lot, and he has too, and keeping open communication has definitely strengthened us. I tell him when I'm mad with him, I tell him when he hurts my feelings, and I try to always tell him when I appreciate something he has done. I strive to balance the negatives with positives as much as possible.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Day 4

Affirmation #4, for my quest to give up negative thoughts and feelings about myself, for Lent. I'm capable of being a mom who balances over protecting with under protecting. I believe in letting kids be kids, but I'm also involved in what is going on. I've fluctuated wildly between being a helicopter parent and being detached since becoming a mom almost 8 years ago. I've finally managed to achieve a balance I can manage and live with.

Friday, March 7, 2014

Lent Day 3

I'm thoughtful towards my husband. I know that sounds like a no-brainer, but I also know that in past relationships, I haven't always been thoughtful towards my partners. This morning I got the wood stove going, because I knew when he came home he would be downstairs working on a project, and he despises the cold. I try to do small things for him, like making sure he has a drink, offering to get him things he needs, etc. Of course it is certainly a two-way street, but these Lent postings are affirmations about myself, not him ;-)

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Lent Day 2

I'm not Catholic, but I decided to participate in Lent. I'm giving up being negative to and about myself. To help me, I'm going to post an affirmation daily.

Day 2: I've gotten really good at calming my mom down when she is angry or upset. This is important, especially as her liaison for all of her medical stuff. I work to try and calm her down, and to try and get her to see the silver linings, when she feels like her world is crap.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Quality Time (Kitchen Table)

Here's the KT post: http://wifebehindthefire.com/quality-time/

Simply put, I learned a long time ago to value quality over quantity. Give me an hour of intimate, quality, one on one time, over 8 hours of simply coexisting ANY DAY. When all you get is a quick kiss hi or bye sometimes, you gotta make it count! I've discovered that if I don't purposefully make sure to involve him in whatever I'm up to that day, it is really easy to just coexist. We are both use to the other one not being home much. It can be really hard to ignore the world and snuggle for a bit. But, IT IS SO WORTH IT! Without quality, the time isn't real valuable a lot of the time.

Lent: Day 1

In support of Lent/giving something up for 40 days to help my world be a better place, I've decided to give up being negative to/about myself. While isn't always an issue, I definitely still have my moments!

Day 1: I'm a good room mom for Minion's second grade class. The kids all know me, run to hug me, and truly appreciate my being there. They don't mind that I can't come in everyday, they are simply happy with what I can do, as opposed to dwelling on what I can't do. Second graders can be so wise <3