so this is your life

You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.” – Joseph Campbell

Isn't that so true?

 Life is full of happy, successful, confident times as well as those challenging, overwhelming, full of self doubt times.
So this IS your life, how do you cope?

I've been wondering lately, just about why I stress over things that I really have no control.

Do you ever wonder why you say "yes" when you should have said "no?"

• Like saying "would you like me to bring snack?" when the little voices in your head are screaming WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!  When are you going to DO THAT?? Hello woman?! but instead you smile and say "Great. We'd love to."

Do you ever find yourself rationalizing your "hardships" or "stresses?" 

• Like trying to convince yourself it could be worse, we could be......... Or my kid could have...... or I could have............ or....... at least we're......... 

All in an attempt to maintain or maybe just create some false perspective. 

The crazy thing is no matter what you fill in those blanks there is someone in THAT very situation doing the same thing only filling in the blank with something different! 

So Why do we do that then? It is what is....your life. Keep going. That's it. It really is that simple.

Bad is never good until worse happens. ~Danish Proverb

 

Just makes me think you will cope with whatever life throws your way because that is what we do (and that's a good thing!)
 

Do you bargain with yourself to make it through?

• Okay just get through this and we can...... or I will......

Do you recognize your coping strategies? 

What are they?

"If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it's not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That's why it's your path."  ~Joseph Campbell

When in doubt, wear red.

When in doubt, wear red. ~Bill Blass

I have no voice.

Okay well I have a "voice" just not an auditory one!

That sore throat I thought I was fending off last week has reared it's ugly head this week and stolen my voice. This is frustrating for me since my job and life at home require me to speak. Ugh. Hoping it returns by tomorrow!
{still stupidly optimistic}

I made my very first pie.

I am not sure who was more excited the kids or me {but I am leaning towards me}

It was something I needed to "conquer" and I am not sure why.

Last winter I swore I would finally master gravy and after some lessons from my mom I can make roast gravy {yay}

Fun Fact: My most favorite food in the whole wide world is mashed potatoes and gravy, so it was vital I figure that out {clump free of course}

So the desire has moved to pie and I am not a huge pie lover but whatever the inner voice wants it gets.

So we made pie {crust and all}

and it turned out pretty darn good!

Okay so the whole weekend wasn't about me!

Sunday we stayed in our pj's until about 1pm maybe 2!

We have not done that forever and it was great!

I think we all needed that

We broke out dad's shaving cream and practice tested Cohen's letter sounds.

We haven't ever done the shaving creme.

 I don't know why.

I loved it at school when I was little and it's so easy!

We have definitely been missing out around here!

Even though it was fun

Cohen would still much rather be here....

 I am so dang excited about the pie baking thing I may just have to try a different one this weekend.

Any suggestions or ideas? Pie bakers out there?

Other random things:

I almost bought red shoes today.

I still might....

That thought still shocks me.

Very outside the box of the brown and black shoes that litter my closet!

I do not have a great fashion sense and have no idea what in the world I would wear them with but I am so drawn to them.
 It was like they were calling to me from their little ledge...
"Jen you need me in your life."
 I just can't shake the voices. We'll see!

so tonight I dream of pies....talking......and........RED shoes.

{Not just the little voices in my head but my literal voice that has gone missing!}

Yes truly the spice of life really!

and now I am totally craving mashed potatoes and gravy!

the pots don't shine

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. ~Elwyn Brooks White



Back to fall for a moment.

Somewhere in this "race" I am trying to call my life

I lost control and in doing so lost my focus. 

If I don't make Living and Loving this life my priority

then who is going to?
 It is so easy to succumb to the "busyness"

I am adding a very important item to our fall list: 

Candy corn and peanuts!

Hello fall!
How ever did I forget about the simple pleasure??

hmmmm I smell apple pie baking.....a glimpse to the weekend ahead!

If the shelves are dusty and the pots don't shine,



it's because I have better things to do with my time.

~Author Unknown

Amen author unknown. Amen.
This is me convincing myself to not spend all weekend mopping and doing laundry! *and not to just not do it...but to be okay with it! Now that's the mental challenge!



Tell me!
Have you embraced fall yet? 
Did you get your "candy corn & Peanuts?"

sink or jump

So I have been wallowing in the doom and gloom for far too long!  I can wait for the world to change or I can jump off this sinking ship with both feet and declare that I will not go down without a fight!

I do believe it is time to climb out of the "whiny" pit! {thanks for bearing with me}

Cohen had a soccer game and totally rocked it out! He dominated! He had the first 2 goals of the game in oh about 3 minutes! Complete with a dive kick move that he thinks is sooo cool! Solidified with the "Is that your kid? He's really good." comment ..{so what if it is only 5 year olds soccer... I was desperate for an ego boost this week! You take what you can get right!?}
we're jumpin people watch out!

Tonight we decided we had better take advantage of this fall night as I just recalled that I have a fall list that I have been too "busy" to get started on! Silly me, who is too busy for a fall list!?! I had to go back and read it here..just to remember what was on it! I do believe i had better get refocused as fall is a short season!

That being said...

 We rocked it tonight

Fall is here people

....and the Calahan's are feelin' it!

Are you feelin' it yet?

Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.  ~Grandma Moses

are you making yours?