The Impossible Dream

Never, never, never give up.

-Winston Churchill

an ode to my hero

I’m interrupting today’s “Blog Everyday in May” link-up to share a story that is very dear to me. You see, today is an especially special day for my entire family, hence my decision to interrupt the link-up (which is supposed to be about things that make me uncomfortable but let’s face it, there really isn’t much that makes me uncomfortable and that’s not an exaggeration. I’m pretty comfortable about 98.7% of the time unless I’m wearing wool. I hate wool.). Anyway, as families all over the country are celebrating graduations big and small, it feels as though my family and I are celebrating not just a graduation, but a journey. Our story really begins in the 1950’s when a sweet little girl with crooked legs was introduced to the world. And thank goodness for that sweet little girl. Although this is when her story began, the journey I’m speaking of began a little later, after that sweet little girl had grown into a young woman. Fast forward to 1985 when she was set on a journey sparked by the birth of a sweet baby girl of her own (me!). I was born to parents who loved and adored me. At a time when they had very little and struggled to make ends meet, they never lacked in love for me and for my three beautiful siblings who later followed.

A lesson I learned early on in life is that we create our own happiness. My mother has always embedded this truth into our brains since before I can remember. And she has lived it to the absolute fullest. My father battled demons that were not his choice to battle in the first place. Having endured an abusive early life, my father loved as best he could however difficult it was for him at times. He was a good Daddy. I can honestly say that. But he will agree that he wasn’t, he couldn’t be at the time, a good husband. As hard as it was for me to accept as a young 8-year old girl, the best thing my Daddy ever did for my mother and my siblings and I was leave us. Leaving us was the single most monumental and important shift in my childhood and in my mother’s life. Facing life as a broken single mother, with 3 children under the age of 8 and a baby on the way, my sweet mother’s incredible journey began. Amidst utter heartbreak and tribulation, she had no choice but to create happiness, for herself and for her babies, during the most dire of circumstances.

At age 38, my mother made the decision to turn her bleak future into a bright one. She committed herself to her studies and set forth to finally earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Her struggles never ended there. In fact, at times the odds seemed heavily stacked against her. But she earned that degree and achieved her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. And then she went back for more. And she worked harder. And she dedicated herself again, eventually to earn a Master’s degree in education. And what do you think she did after that? Well, she went back for another one, of course.

The details of this story are so incredibly important yet I don’t have the ability or the tissues to tell it in it’s fullest. What I can tell you is that my mother’s journey is one to be so admired. She set forth wholeheartedly on this journey for not just herself, but for us too, her children. She’s proven to us that we really do create our own happiness. That although life is unfair and unkind at times, we are in control of our destiny, and oh how her destiny shines brightly today.

Someday I hope that she will share her story with the world because it is a story that is meant to be shared. A story of abandonment and forgiveness, trial and triumph, love and determination and most importantly, courage. Courage to fight the odds and courage to heal.

Today she and my sister, Lyndsey, will walk hand in hand to be honored for their academic achievements. My sweet mother, once a broken woman with hardly anything but her babies to hold onto will be named a Doctor of Philosophy, and if that itself isn’t a dream enough, she will share in her moment with my sweet sister who is creating a beautiful legacy of her own and who will be named a Master of Education. It is a moment my Mom, the greatest dreamer of them all, could not have imagined. A moment that my siblings and I will never ever forget because after all, she did this for us.

You’re my hero, Mama.

Managing conflict o.c.d.

Let it be known that I severely suffer from something called Conflict O.C.D. Don’t laugh. This is a real problem, my friends.

Conflict O.C.D. begins when one (me) is very particular about the order and way in which things, mostly organization, budgeting and household things, are completed. For example, what’s the point in vacuuming BEFORE you dust?! And if we’re talking about dusting, doesn’t everyone know that it must ALWAYS be done from the top of the bookshelf to the bottom?! And how in the world am I supposed to keep up with all my bills if I don’t even know when they’re due?! Oh the complexities of it all! The ‘conflict’ in Conflict O.C.D. occurs when that same very particular and obsessive person (me) just sincerely cannot keep up with her busy mind that wanders to and fro every .07 seconds resulting in a sad short-term memory that lasts roughly around 13 minutes or so.  Anyway, what were we talking about again?

Have no fear, I’ve come up with a solution! A solution that works, I tell you! Around most people, I call it my “Organization Binder”, but at home it’s known as my “Organization Bible”, because the truth is, until this bad boy came around, my soul was seriously lost.

Currently, my Organization Bible consists of four tabs (but there’s plenty of room to grow): Finances, Household, Menu Planning, and Get Fit!. I guess that goes for saying that these are the four areas of my life that need the most help (aside from the tragically needed mental help which I just think is a lost cause anyway).

So without further ado, I give you the contents of the only solution to managing my Conflict O.C.D., my Organization Bible:

First up: FINANCES

Now before you take a look at my Monthly Budget Guidelines, I must point out that these are, as it states, GUIDELINES. Do I follow this budget? I try to. Am I perfect at it every month? Absolutely not. These are meant to give me an idea of how much I’d like to spend in certain areas of my life and where I can cut back. I try not to beat myself up every time I spend a little extra here or there or have to pull some money out of savings. It’s ooookay. But this little gem certainly serves it’s purpose and helps my cluttered brain stay financially on track (most of the time.)

Download my Budget Guidelines HERE.

My Annual Bill Schedule is a lifesaver. I’m all about lists. I LOVE me a good detailed list. But what I love more than a list is crossing items off of said list. My annual bill schedule is a nice interactive way for me to know what needs to be paid and when. And the best part of this “list” is getting to add my little checkmark in the allotted box every time each monthly bill is paid. Oh how that checkmark fills me with such joy! It’s the little things, right?!

Download a blank Annual Bill Schedule HERE.
Next up: HOUSEHOLD

Before you go off thinking I’m nuts, this cleaning schedule is pure gold. Rather than designating entire Saturday’s to cleaning the house, we are now able to devote a mere 15-20 minutes each day to tidying up our humble abode. I’ve split the schedule into daily, weekly and monthly tasks and I’ve also included the things that need to be done semi-annually (spring cleaning makes my heart sing!) as well as annually. Nowadays we’re stuck trying to figure out what in the heck we are to do with all this extra time on the weekends?! What a terrible “problem” to have, right?

Download my Cleaning Schedule HERE.

My household Inventory Checklist is just that – an inventory of the things that make life at home smooth sailing. Because who actually LIKES to run out of deodorant on their way out the door for work? Not me. This bad boy ensures that such tragedies just won’t happen.

Download a Household Inventory Checklist HERE.
MENU PLANNING

I get really excited over this one. Sean and I try very hard to eat healthy and whole and cook at home the majority of the time. We shop on the weekends and prepare much of our food for the upcoming week on Sundays. I like to always have a big salad in the fridge for those moments when you just can’t find aaaanything to eeeeat. You know the kind of moments I’m talking about. I’m always super proud of our grocery lists. We plan out each dinner meal for the week (because let’s be honest, I can only commit to cooking ONE meal per day) and by doing so, we are able to shop for only the things we need for said week. It’s brilliant and saves us time and money and who could possibly complain about that?!

Download a Grocery List and Dinner Menu HERE.
GET FIT!

Last, but quite frankly probably the most important is my Get Fit! tab. This is where I have to hold myself accountable for getting up off my butt and actually moving. This is also the area of my life that provides me with a very necessary small dose of true sanity.  And truth be told, this Get Fit! calendar has helped me so much! In the last eight weeks, I’ve probably crossed off more consistently completed days than ever before in my life. I’m still rockin’ love handles, but practice makes perfect right!?

Download my blank Get Fit! Goals HERE.

And there you have it, friends. My Organization Bible. Useful, am I right?! Please feel free to download each helpful document and change them to reflect your needs and household. And by all means, come back sometime and tell me how it’s working for you! Happy O.C.D.-ing!

250 Words

My life is a collection of unwise decisions turned into blessings, heartbreak turned into healing, and love in the most unconditional form. I am the firstborn of four strong-willed children who were destined to be cared for and loved by my sweet and very determined single mother. My role as a daughter and big sister has significantly shaped and molded me into the woman I am proud to be today. I am a lover, a fighter, a giver, a competitor, a soul searcher, a dreamer, a boss and a best friend. I am ruled by my heartfelt emotions (which to say the very least, isn’t always the best way to be ruled, but it sure is honest!) and I thrive in a sanctuary of peace and quiet, usually accompanied by a Sunday morning, a book and a hot mug of creamy coffee. I am an heir of rich heritage and cultures, spanning from the islands of the pacific up to the rolling hills of Ireland, and I am forever grateful for the influence of my ancestors in my appearance, my actions and especially in my heart. I dream of having a career that fills me with joy and purpose and utilizes my best talents while experiencing the magic of far off lands, creating a life of wonderful memories with the man I love, and one day passing on the most cherished parts of who we are to little ones that we will be honored to fiercely love and care for.

The Bayou

Oh this place. This wonderful place. I’m constantly on the hunt for the World’s Best Veggie Burger, and so far, nothing compares to The Bayou’s black bean gift from Heaven above. Sean and I love coming here. Me for the food, and him for the unbelievably large beer selection. Typical. They carry the largest beer selection in Utah, which is definitely worth a mention. The atmosphere is great, the service is friendly and did I mention the food? I’ll mention it again and again, because the food is uhhh-mazing. I recommend sticking to their specialty Cajun and Creole dishes, but no matter what you order, you certainly can’t go wrong.

You can check out The Bayou’s website right here.