productive mode...

normally, in the summer, i'm less productive. this summer, i seem to have a different mindset. no idea what's up with this, but i'm definitely in high gear. remember how i wrote about getting my boxed photos in albums? well, 5 albums and 2000 photos later, i'm finally done! i gave tons of extra copies of photos to family and friends this week too. oh and the alarming and possibly disturbing thing is:  the 2000 photos are from just the past 2-3 years. scary, right? and to think that i've probably done a over a hundred scrapbook pages of the same time period. it's a good thing that i love what i'm doing!

soon, i want to focus on the house again. i've talked and talked about wanting to get the guest room done-so hopefully that will happen soon. plus i need to do something with window treatments...and i'm dying to have new countertops and appliances for the kitchen. things that i thought would be done after 3 years here. it always takes longer than i think it will. i think because a person tends to make great progress when first moving into a different house, you assume that rate of progress will continue....but generally we wear out after the first year, and then progress slows way down. but i'm determined not to let it stop completely.

i've pretty much given up on my flowers. they look awful. they just weren't enough of a priority this summer. i love them, but work won my time and effort this year. i do have the most magnificient basil plant you've ever seen! tom has done much more with the flower beds and yard this year, than i have. i'm thankful that he has made efforts.

in my meandering thoughts lately, (mostly while editing), here's a silly list...

12 things i don't plan to do as i age:

1. wear sensible shoes. okay, so i'm not talking about not wearing cute, comfy shoes-cuz you know i love my diesels! i'm talking about getting dressed up to go out, and wearing those low-heeled, black boring things....that make you think of an old-fashioned schoool marm or nurse. you know what i'm talking about.

2. stop laughing. i hope i never take life so seriously, that i stop laughing.

3. stop taking care of myself. my grandma schneider continued to walk and do stretching exercises in her 90s. and she had the BEST legs until her dying day! we would be chatting away, as we got food ready at family gatherings, and she would talk about how great she felt and she'd say, "i can still do this!" and she would put her heel up on the kitchen counter and do a stretch. i loved that about her! she was just soooo physically active her whole life. she loved to be outside and doing. she's the one who taught me how to fish.

4. stop reading and learning. i don't think you can ever be well read enough or knowledgeable enough to stop.

5. lose my passion. for life and all the people and things i love!

6. caring about what i surround myself with. i like beautiful things and positive influences. so this includes the people i choose to invest time with as well as my surroundings.

7. become bitter. cuz i think this is a choice.

8. stop serving others and giving. i don't want to become a victim as i age. my mom, so easily could have done this after her accident. although she's physically limited, as well as limited with her speech, she is such a servant....always willing to help others and not worry about herself. i remember when we moved from one house at the lake to another, she stayed back at the old house and cleaned. there is NO glory in that...but she's not about the glory. the interesting thing is, i remember her doing this, more than anything else, anyone else did to help.

9. failing to recognizing God's grace every day. and realizing that no matter how i strive, if i just surrender to Him and His will daily, everything will work out.

10. stop being thankful.

Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy -- because we will always want to have something else or something more. david steindl-rast

11. stop trying to live in peace with others. without compromising myself.

12. i hope not to stop attempting to live humbly, yet confidently. okay, so my aspirations may be a little grand, but because i have/had such strong women role models in my life, and a God who wants me to live to the fullest, i think it's possible.

because i can't post without a photo, here's one of g that MELTS me-

i could not love this adorable face any more than i do! and he is just the funniest, wittiest little dude.

i also want to say thanks for voting! i went from 17th to 4th in just 2 days! so please don't stop! here's the link again: a-list photographer please don't stop! and thank you so much!

another thing: i found the perfect military family for the shoot i want to do! both mom and dad are in service. they are absolutely perfect for what i have in mind. can't wait to do this! thanks for the emails and suggestions. you all are the best!

i hope you have a great day and God bless!

Comments

[Lynn]

I LOVE your list.... i am with you on all of them! Gorgeous photo too! I only wish I could get organized with my pics and everything else for that matter....lol Have a great night!

Lynn