Dreamers embrace routines

One of us is way more excited about this walk than the other.

It has taken some getting used to.

We waited forever for Kenna to come home.  And we worked our butts off to make it happen.

We struggled to make the home ready for her, safe for her.  We struggled to learn how to care for her, since this little one came home with hardware and pumps and monitors...oh my.

It wasn't easy.

Ah, but we know that anything worth having is worth working for.  Anything worth doing is worth doing well.  We don't do anything halfway.

So we threw ourselves into being Kenna's parents.  And it worked.  Kenna is thriving.  We are thoroughly exhausted.  Finally we have managed to get organized.  We have managed to establish a routine.

Parents live and die by routines.

In having a routine, I am able to accomplish more.  I am writing more for Yahoo!.  I am writing maintaining Suddenly *Not So *Single Journey five days a week again.  I'm even dabbling over here, rekindling my dreams.

Most importantly...I have started exercising again.

Technically, I started two weeks ago.  I worked out twice that week.  I hurt so bad, I took the weekend off and most of the following week.  I managed to exercise again twice that week.  But on Monday, I vowed to start the week right.  I wanted Kenna to get some fresh air.  So, I am walking with my little girl.  She mostly sleeps in the stroller.  And I'm good with that.

I have even managed to get more work done around the house.  We are organizing and remodeling...for a change.  And it is starting to feel comfortable to me.  I needed that...on account of I spend so much time at home.  

Before I know it, life will be a comfortable new normal.  I'll be back in my writing groove.   I'll be feeling fabulous about our year.  I hate feeling like I am wasting time.  Time...is precious.  And time with family and friends...even more precious.

Hope you have time for family and friends and that your routines let you grow.

Dreamers believe...

Make your life full of sunshine and rainbows.

There was a post I read on Facebook yesterday:

Having a sad afternoon. Overwhelmed by both the mass media and by individuals and groups very nearby. Feeling like those who are greedy and selfish really do out number those who are giving and compassionate.

The post made me sad.  

I don't believe that for one moment.  How could I?

For the most part, I am blessed to be surrounded by good people.  The reason for this is that I have no room in my life for bad people.  They drain the happy and the positive energy.  They create a black cloud and take up space in my head that I need for other things.

I believe that the mass media is too quick to report all the bad stuff going on in the world and sensationalize it.  I think this is why so often the bad seems overwhelming.  So, I have all but stopped watching the news.  Too much negativity.

There is good all around us, everywhere, every day.  We just need to dig deep and search.  And the funny thing is that once we start practicing that, it is easier to do.  It takes less effort to find the good.

Yesterday, I was sad and overwhelmed.  I took my moment to grieve, to let it all go, and then I worked to find my happy.  It didn't take much.  Kenna is doing so well.  I credit all the love and attention she receives in our care.  We have patiently and diligently worked to make our home comfortable and esthetically pleasing.  I am blessed with a loving and supportive husband who is great at talking through everything with me.  We share common goals and dreams.  We make beautiful plans.

Yes, there are bad people in this world.  Yes, bad things happen.  It's all how I choose to react to it that makes the impact on my life.  It's all about who I choose to share my life with.  It's okay to be selective.  It's okay to let people go.  It's important to make the changes that will help me get where I want to be and have a life I'm proud of, a life that makes me happy, a life where I can share happiness with those I love.

Feel like there are too many bad people in the world?  Make sure you eliminate the bad people from your world and you'll feel much better. 

When dreams are placed on hiatus...

Meet our little dreamer. Kenna is a very big adventure.

I started this blog about a year and a half ago as Sam and I were researching our options.  We knew that we wanted a different life, a better life, a life less ordinary.  Winter is always a rough time in the construction business and we have months of down time.  Yes, MONTHS.

Now you might think this is wonderful.  Oh, but we are purpose driven creatures.  And when Sam suddenly has no purpose, things get tense.  He frets.  He frowns.  He is no joy to be around.  And still, I love him through it.

We were looking at living those down months...elsewhere.  We toyed with the idea of owning a sailboat, traveling the Caribbean, making a living online.  Then we soon discovered that we weren't meant to sail.

While there is something truly beautiful about sailboats...and we loved ours...a 27ft Lancer...there is more to it than that.  They are a lot of work.  Sailing is no small task.  It's not all pretty sails and sunshine.  Nope, there is docking...which after crashing over Memorial Day we realized we clearly sucked at.  There is a lot of maintenance.  And so many things can go wrong no matter how well you prepare.  This we discovered over Fourth of July when despite leaving at the perfect time for the tidal charts, despite having an experienced sailor with us, and despite having plenty of gas, we were dead in the water when a u-bold broke that held the front stay and our entire mast, jib, and main, came down.

It seemed like we were destined for adventures on land, or by cruise ship.  And cruise ships aren't cheap.

We started a new adventure: marriage.  We just celebrated our first anniversary on Monday.  And with that new adventure, we decided to get to work on the biggest adventure of all: raising a child together.  Kenna was easy to make, but ridiculously hard to come by.  She was born 16 weeks too soon after weeks of bed rest and tons of complications. 

I wouldn't change a moment of it.  How could I?  Because of all we've been through together, that baby and I have a special bond.  We have a deep understanding.

And because of all the special care she still needs and receives, from therapists coming to the house, to the many appointments with her pediatrician and a host of specialists, our adventures are limited.  Why, my typical adventure is now grocery shopping or running errands.  Exciting stuff.

That is why I currently live vicariously through others.  I explore their adventures.  I gather ideas and fine tune our plans.  It is enough.  For now.

This revised dream...involves an RV.  Yes, we will be land lovers and visit the water.  It's safer that way.  One day, we will be ready for our adventures to begin again.  We will find new purpose for the off months.

But first, I need to fund it.