The Basement

So, this week my focus is going to be the basement.  I would assume everyone has a place in their home where they send things to be forgotten.  That place in my house is the basement.  When Andrew and I moved into this house in 1998, the basement was an empty room with a couple of chairs,a bookcase, the piano, the computer, and a tent Andrew got for his 3rd birthday.  There is a big room, a half-bath, and a laundry room.  It seemed HUGE!  Over the years, more and more stuff has been relegated to the basement - everything that you don't know what to do with.  Now the room has all the original stuff (except the computer), a couch, recliner, television, gaming system, large round table, a large armoire, and lots of other crap.  It has become more of a space for Andrew.  This week my goal is to get some of it organized.  I think I could work for a week and not make a dent.  Lots needs to be thrown away - why is that so hard?  What is it about stuff that grabs hold of us and doesn't let go?  I am all for keeping sentimental things - the more the merrier, but junk isn't sentimental!  It's junk!  What do you think friends?  What is your secret to a happy medium of possessions and junk?  I am anxious to hear your stories - maybe one of them will inspire me!

An idea I saw on Pinterest caught my attention recently.  There were two vases and colored marbles.  One vase was labeled "To Lose" the other was labeled "Lost".  The idea was that for every pound lost you move one marble to the "Lost" vase.  So today I went to the dollar store and bought 2 vases and two colors of marbles.  I have yet to figure out where to put the jars - they need to be somewhere I can see them when I think about snacking.  This, coupled with Weight Watchers online and walking, is my strategy for success.  I am starting with a very small goal - like 10 pounds - and will work from there.  The only think left would be to put pictures of me in a bathing suit all over the kitchen, but making everyone sick isn't the answer to the problem either.  I will let you know in subsequent blogs how it is going.  I might even try to do some challenges like my friend Missy B. did.  Something has to change if I am to stay on track this year.

Have a great week, until later, Julie

Perspective

Hello - a week has passed and while I am still looking back at last week with a smile, life has moved on.  Who knows what my next opportunity will be, but that isn't my first priority.  Spring Break is upon me and as I drop Andrew off in St. Louis tomorrow, I realize once again that I will be mostly alone for the next week. I don't mind being alone - at least no one disappoints you when you are alone - but it doesn't really fit into my new vision.  Certainly a trip isn't in the budget.........................will it ever be again?  So I am asking you, my friends, do you have any suggestions for me this week?  Shoot me a challenge.

I was doing so well with my diet while I was hopelessly terrified and nervous, but that seems to have worn off.  I am hoping that the nice weather next week will inspire me to get outside and walk.

On a happier note - I was contacted by the Girls Basketball coach this week to possibly work on a fundraiser for their summer team this spring.  We will look at it more closely after their season is over, but this is something that interests me.  I hope that Just Julie will be what they are looking for.

Have an awesome break if you are in Kirksville, even though it isn't truly spring.........and we never really had winter..............and there isn't really anything exciting to do!

Until Next Time - Julie

WOW!

My great friend Tracey sending me out the door!  She was so patient and kind.  I put my makeup on wrong, forgot hairspray, couldn't finish sentences.........I was a mess!

This, my friends, is what fear looks like!  I took a big step on Friday and went on a date.  Yes!  A real date........and it was very, very nice.  Only time will tell if there is a 2nd, but the simple act of preparing for and going on this date is a cornerstone.  The world didn't end, I didn't explode in fright, he wasn't an axe murderer, and I appeared to keep his attention and add to interesting conversation.  To say the least, I am proud of myself.  Those of you that know me well have been so supportive - and I am so grateful!

Fear is a funny thing!  I have plenty of self confidence to do a lot of really difficult things. I think nothing of walking into a room full of strangers and striking up a conversation.  I enjoy singing in front of 500 friends and strangers.  I have no trouble articulating my thoughts and ideas in an intelligent way.  This date, however, had me shaking in my boots and almost unable to get out of the car.  I have allowed emotional fears to insulate me from experiencing these feelings and that MUST STOP.  I must change the way I look at this part of my life.  I also must tackle the physical insulation I have allowed to accumulate.  My thought process was that if I was physically unattractive (weight-wise) then no one would be interested and thus hurt me.  Totally flawed, but it has kept me "safe" for quite a while.  I am still on target with my New Year's resolution - A New Vision.

Certainly, there is plenty of my resolution that has nothing to do with relationships and dating, but this was a HUGE week, and, Just for Julie!

Progress - Baby Steps!

Hello!  It is a beautiful President's Day weekend with sunshine and warm weather.  It has really not been winter in Missouri the past few months.  All the snow days built into the school calendar have turned into lovely 4 day weekends!  Another couple of weeks in school and we will be ready for Spring Break.

So, remember how I said I was trying for a new vision this year?  Well, progress has been made, fears have been overcome, and new adventures loom on the horizon.  No details, but know that I am working on creating a new segment of my life that is just for me!  Just Julie!

Basketball is winding down and I am glad.  It is such a long season, but Andrew loves, loves, loves it.  He will take several weeks off and spend his time getting ready for music contests. No solo this year, but lots to prepare for chamber choir and small groups.  His choir has been invited to sing in our state capital on Wednesday, but all the details haven't been ironed out.  I hope to be joining them as a chaperone.  High school was a fun time - so much to experience and learn!  Here is a picture of my basketball hero!

I have started Spring Cleaning and for one of the first times, I am really prepared to eliminate things in my life that serve no purpose.  I guess I will just start stashing stuff away and have a big garage sale this summer............oh how I hate garage sales!

Have a great week!  Until later,  Julie

Blessings

Hello!  It is the end of January and I am wearing my Adidas capris!  Crazy!  I am glad for the good weather, but there is something about being indoors on cold days that I am missing this year.  I certainly don't miss the high heating bill, but I am craving those cold evenings at home where you get indoors as quickly as possible because it is too cold to go out.  Maybe I am just craving simpler times because when Andrew was small we would get in the house about 4:00 or so and have an entire evening ahead of us to do what we wanted.  Dinner, bath time, homework, television together, stories.  We don't do many of those things together anymore and sometimes it makes me sad. (Well, bath time doesn't make me sad)

So we are having Andrew's Aunt Melissa and her friend Andrea as house guests next weekend. They are visiting from Chicago and will come in on the train.  They are coming to see Andrew play basketball - and I hope they will see some good ball. Andrew and I are so blessed with family on both sides that care for us deeply.  Ron's sister has been a Godsend more than once during the past 10 years and I always worry that the relationship is too one-sided. Not that she ever MAKES me feel that way.  I don't feel I offer her anything.............and I would like that to change. She and Andrea live such different lives from Andrew and I.  Andrea is from Costa Rica and is the sweetest person you can ever meet, but she and Melissa are both city dwellers.  I would like to be able to show them that our life is full here in rural Missouri too, but in an entirely different way.  Basketball games are social events, so they will see we are blessed by good friends.  So here's the challenge, what should I do to help her see the beauty of this small community?  Life appears simpler here - although I don't believe it really is - and there is a fine line between simple and boring.  If you have any great ideas, let me know in the comments.

I have been slowly cleaning over the past few weeks.  Getting rid of stuff that accumulates that we don't need.  I even put away some of the "skinny" clothes I have been dreaming about wearing.  Not that I have given up, but the sheer fact that they are hanging in my closet DOES NOT mean I am going to fit into them.  I need to make small commitments to changing my habits.  I have slowly learned not to cook more than we need for portion control.  I always allow Andrew to have a larger portion and that forces me to eat less.  It helps, but it won't do anything unless I begin to exercise.  Small steps!  Anyway, back to cleaning, it will be nice to have gone through all cupboards, drawers, and closets, but how do we accumulate so much crap?  When I bring it into the house, I feel I can't live without it, but then I never use it!  I have parred down my cookware to 6 pieces.  I have had more, but don't need it.  It is ridiculous!  I am still stuck in the 80's when your measure of success was your stash of things.  I don't want that anymore.  Part of my new vision is realizing that I will not be judged by my possessions, but by the life I lead.  I have had lots of time to think over the past 2 years, and I really had some things wrong.  I had a dream, or vision, of what I thought I wanted my life to be and it was a big, beautiful house, nice furniture, a nice car, and all the things that went with it.  I think that was what I saw when I got married, and didn't realize that it would mean NOTHING without the relationship that was the foundation.  I learned that too late!

I don't want to see sappy or sad, but life teaches us lessons in strange ways.  Now I think more clearly and there isn't anyone to share it with!  I think that is called IRONY!

Until next time, Julie

A New Year - A New Vision

Hello!  OMG it is now 2012! If you had told me 35 years ago that I would be a single mom living in Kirksville, MO raising my only son in 2012, I would have called you crazy!  I had it all figured out in 1977...............or so I thought.  Life has landed many blows to my dreams, but I have muddled through them all and will continue to do so.  This year, my goal is to become even more self-sufficient.  I know, some of you are laughing.  I am already pretty independent, but there is more to life than sheer braun. (Which is pretty much what gets me through - along with my stubborness)  I want to be deliberate and wise in my choices.  I want to get back to basics and focus on what makes me happy, not what I think will make others happy.  I want to be less material and more spiritual - I know, I just bought Ugg slippers!  I had dinner with two of my closest friends over the weekend and I explained it to them like this:  It is almost like I have been living a "temporary" life for the past 12 years.  Now I realize this is my "real" life - and what have I got to show for it?  An awesome son, a great relationship with my family, friends that make me laugh, a job that is a challenge each and every day, and a comfortable home.  I am blessed, very blessed, but find myself wanting something............I'm not sure what.............but something more.  So my vision - find my real life.  Be intentional and deliberate.  Work toward 2013 with the hope of a new reality that makes me smile each and every time I think about it!  Have a great Sunday!  Julie

Fall Thoughts

Hello!  Yes, it has been a long time!  School, and all that goes with it, has started. The beginning of the year is always so hectic.  One quarter down, three to go.   I am trying a new philosophy this year.  I do what I can, when I can, and then leave the heartache at school.  This works, sort of, but makes me feel guilty.  It is just that I know there are so many kids who have problems I can't solve.  There is no reason for me to allow myself to get sick over it.  I am there for them and do what I can, but am trying NOT to bring it home.  Anyway, there are plenty of problems at home.  Ha!  Andrew is regularly testing me, but I know in a couple of years he won't be here and I will be lonely.

The weather has cooled and now I start thinking about Christmas.  I have started making new necklaces this weekend.  I missed it!  I really enjoy making the pendants and time just flies by when I am working on them.  We can't eat dinner at the table, but who cares?  Tonight is popcorn and peanuts for dinner anyway.  This is my favorite time in the sports year.  One can watch football during the day and baseball in the evening.  The St. Louis Cardinals are always fun to watch in October.  While my love of all things Cardinals isn't passionate, it certainly has been going on most of my 47 years.  There was a time when the Cardinals would win a World Series every time a girl was born into our family.  No baby this year, but a Series would be a nice diversion.

Watch for a blog this week with pictures of my new pendant designs!  Until next time - Julie