Day 5

Gratitude
Extended bonus family
flexible schedule
community theater

After picking up Serena from Hannibal, we stayed in Quincy because I did not want to make the drive back home late at night.  The kids got to swim in the pool before we checked out and then we made our way to Nauvoo, IL.  For those of you who do not know, this is where my stepmom is from.  This is also where we held my dad's memorial service.  And while he is not buried there, it is hard to explain but I feel closer to dad in Nauvoo than Chicago.  I think partly because this is where his brick is in the veteran's memorial park, partly because this is where he wanted to live his last years and partly because he loved Nauvoo.  He said it reminded him of Clinton County.

That being said, we love going to see Ronnie and Sandy.  We are always welcomed there so we decided we were already in Quincy we would drive up and see them.  Bonus that it is Ronnie's birthday tomorrow so that was nice to see him and we brought him some coffee from Starbucks to enjoy every morning.  They were happy to see us.  We had lunch, went out to the field to see the Jamie set up to feed the calves and then back to the house and visited the horses.  It was nice to see them.  I need to get up there more to see them.

Day 4

Gratitude
new friendships
GPS (when they work)
patient kid - Xander did pretty well sitting in the car for 3 hours and then a concert for 2 hours

Today was the end of Serena's week at Summer Worship University.  She had a blast and I got to see what she worked on the week she was there.  It was neat to see it all come together.  She played several songs on her clarinet with the band and sang some songs with the choir.  The music and message was very uplifting  and happy.  I walked out of there feeling happy (and tired).  If you have the chance send your kids to SWU.  It's July 9 through 13 next year.  Serena cannot wait to go back.

Day 3

Gratitude
my parents
supportive husband
my kids


Positivity
So Xander is an only child this week.  Neither one of our kids are by any means neglected but it has been nice to have this one on one time with him.  His personality is enough to make you smile most days.  He only gets the only child feeling once in a blue moon.  I kind of feel bad because Serena does not really get that ever anymore because Xander never goes anywhere yet .  the only way she gets it is if we do a girls shopping trip.  We may need more of those soon.  But in the meantime I enjoy my Xander time even if it's been divided with homework too

Day 2

Gratitude

Friendships that last

online courses 

technology to keep in touch with people

Positivity

Getting to go to dinner with a friend that I consider to be not only a friend but a mentor.  I seem to call her on her my most important decisions.  Leaving my job, taking a new job, starting school.  She has had a pretty positive impact on my life and I am grateful to be her friend.

Day 1

I watched a pretty interesting webcast about changing our outlook on life and trying to make an effort to add positivity to our lives in order to make us happier people instead of having the thought that we will be happy once we achieve something.  Because once we achieve that, then we want to achieve something else, and once we achieve that we will wait for something else before being happy and so on....

The webcast I watched had some suggestions for happiness and he said to try them for 21 days.  I am going to make an honest effort.

3 things I am grateful for:
* the ability to send my daughter to a camp she is enjoying
* a job that I look forward to going to every single day
* the opportunity to go back to school

The next step is to write a short blog about 1 thing that brought positivity or happiness in my life in the last 24 hours.

Serena is away at camp.  This is her second time going away to camp and the first time at this camp.  It was a new camp.  Exploring her faith more as well as getting some band/instrument time in.  She is getting to spend 5 days with a new friend that she has become closer to but does not see as often, which is probably a blessing.  This is teaching her you do not need to see a friend every day to be friends.  You do not have to do everything together to be friends.  It is exposing her to new people, a new faith and new possibilities.  I have gotten to talk to her twice in the last 24 hours and she is happy.  She loves the food (-yes that was a highlight for her), she is enjoying time with her friend/roommate and even met new friends in band (this is big for her as she would normally shy away if with people she does not know.  I loved hearing how happy she was when i talked to her.  She is truly enjoying herself and loving every minute of it.  She sent this picture to me because it made her giggle.  I had gotten her and Alyssa some washi tape for bible journaling to use in their journals that Tanya had bought them (plus she got a journal from her women's faith class at camp).  She was journaling tonight about her day and decided to use the Amen tape for the first time.  She sent this to me with "well that just happened."  The beginning of the tape was cut off and she did not notice it until she put it on the page but today's page says "Men Amen Amen Amen Amen."  She goes you would think they would watch where they cut off the tape.  Back to the real topic, she is having fun and seems to be enjoying all aspects of the camp:  the friendships, ministry, worship, band.  I cannot wait to get her on Friday and hear all about it.