Anyway, I was becoming somewhat despondent about the whole situation even though I know we’ll be free soon so I decided to let the world know how we’re doing. I’ll be updating our progress using the ticker so that you can cheer us on. Let the countdown begin!

I’m so excited for what this year will bring us. Jayden will start kindergarten in August. I’ll finish school in the fall. We’ll be free of consumer debt next December. Hip, hip, hooray! It’s been a long road, but so rewarding in that I know we’re doing things to put ourselves in a better position in the future.  We had a great Christmas. It was completely stress-free with no worries. I told Audi somehow it didn’t feel like normal Christmas. Maybe like planning a wedding, it’s just not the same without stress! And speaking of weddings, congrats go out to Cory and Breanna “ring”ing in the New Year, literally! We’re so happy for you two!

I received the following newsletter this eveing from Sara Ivanhoe. She is an amazing person and the reason I love yoga. I really resonated with her thoughts and reproduced them here.

“Each person fulfilling their creative potential is what the yogis call ’sva- dharma’ meaning ‘Self- duty’, we might call it our destiny.
It is when we each follow our svadharma that the world finds its equilibrium and we find equilibrium in the world.  Fulfilling our svadharma is never an easy task, but keep in mind no yogi is an island.  When we follow our own path, it becomes easier to receive the support we need from our friends and families because we are at ease.  And, in turn, when we know our actions are serving our own authentic truth, it is easier to support others in serving their truth.  So for the best resolutions, keep your svadarma in mind and look for support in small, do-able steps.”

Visit Sara at yoganation.com. As I follow my svadharma, I truly am at ease. Namaste.

But here’s the problem: I like presents. I like making my Christmas List. I like thinking of the things I’d like to have, but aren’t a necessity because if they were a necessity, I’d have them. I’m trying to get to the root of the problem, and I think it’s just greed. I want more than the necessities. It’s human nature. It’s for this reason that I have a hard time buying into a Christmas without presents. I remember how awesome it was when all I asked for was the Willow Tree Nativity Scene. Every member of my family bought me a piece, and when Christmas was over I had the full set. It was amazing. I loved it, and each time I opened a new present I was surprised that I had gotten another piece. I had gotten what I’d asked for that Christmas. Most years I don’t get what is on my list. As I write this I’m starting to think that’s a good thing because it allows things to come into my life that I never expected - like Dave Ramsey - and helps me make a change for the better.

I spend so much time thinking of the perfect gift for someone, and I think that time could be better spent with the person. I think that asking ourselves, “What would make the holidays extra special this year?” instead of “What do you want for Christmas?” will give the season more significance. This is what I’m going for this year, which is why we are planning a trip to Great Wolf Lodge for Christmas this year. It’s the gift of time and of fun and of family. So surprisingly, I’m saying, “Yes, you can cross me off your Christmas list - no gift required - just join us for the fun if you’re able - and if not, you can still cross me off your list or rather erase my name from it.”

I’m slowly shifting my perspective to be observant and generous throughout the year. I don’t need to wait for Christmas to give someone a gift I picked up in February because I thought they’d like it. I don’t need to wait for Christmas to give a coupon book to do a favor. I don’t need to wait for Christmas to offer a helping hand. It should be a constant state of mind. So here’s to a Christmas without presents and a year full of giving.

We (Audi and I) presented them with an option for Christmas. We could go to the Indoor Water Park (CoCo Key) again for Christmas, but they wouldn’t get any more presents from Mommy and Daddy. Jayden responded, “But I like presents.” Don’t we all? I then explained that he would still get presents from Santa and all his grandmas and grandpas, but his present from Mommy and Daddy would be getting to go to the water park. He was okay with that, and they are both very excited.

I think Audi and I have been doing a good job about not being nearsighted about our journey. It seems to me that I’m the one with the “wannas” more so than he, but we understand the price behind the want now. We see the destination, but also have a fair estimate about the road leading to it. It’s not instant, but it will be worth it. Like all things worth having in life, we’ll get them by being willing to pay price of time and hard work.

It’s also nice that we are enjoying our journey. When I was younger, it always seemed like I was waiting for my life to start: waiting for high school to start…waiting to get my license…waiting for high school to be over…. and when that time came my life will be great. But it’s always one thing after another. Once I’m married…once I have kids…once I have a job, then things will be awesome. Then I’ll be happy. After a while you realize that these things you’re waiting for are your life and who wants to go through life feeling like things are never finished?  If you don’t have any obstacles to overcome, you’re either really bored or dead. So bring on the miniature disasters cause I don’t sweat the small stuff.

Audi was outside today doing things his way as well. It might be cheating to use the rake to take the leaves off the tree, but he won’t have to go out again! Check it out.

Audi raking the tree

Audi raking the tree

Mama: “Josie, when is your birthday?”

Josie: “Uh, when Papaw give me present.”

So true, girl. So true.

Monday morning Jayden wanted to get into the snack cooler I had packed for our trip on Thursday.  I said no, and he was mad.  Five minutes later I jumped in the shower to get ready for class.  When I got out of the shower, my mom had just arrived (she takes care of the kids while I’m at class) and asked where Jayden was.  I said he was mad at me and that he was probably in his room.  I went to check on him, but he wasn’t there.  I asked Josie, “Where is Jayden?” She replied, “He went for a run.” Then mom chimed in, “The front door was open when we got here.” *!^@#%$.

I walked out to the sidewalk and looked both ways.  There was no sign of him.  I started out towards the left because that’s the direction Audi and I go when we run.  Halfway down I spotted a utility truck checking meters.  I asked her if she had seen a little boy running.  She said she had and he had gone the other direction so I turned around and started to jog.  He couldn’t have gotten far in five minutes, right?  Wrong.  I got another three blocks down before the utility truck slowed down with him in the car.  The woman had drove down to where she had seen him and got him to come back.  Honestly, that was the scariest thing about the whole situation.  While the woman was very nice and extremely helpful, I was worried (once I had calmed down) that he had gotten into the truck.  We had a conversation about what happened.  It’s so sweet because he, and I quote,  ”just wanted to exercise and circulate his body.”  (Thanks, School House Rock.) He wanted to go for a run like Mommy and Daddy do.  He even had his running outfit on complete with matching headband (to catch the sweat).  He now knows that (a) he has to tell an adult where he is going, (b) if he is alone, he can run on our block only - go to the corner, turn around, repeat, and (c) you never get into a vehicle with strangers. If the person says mommy is coming, stay there until mommy comes.

It was quite an ordeal.  Thankful everything was fine.  After I got back from class that evening, we took a walk so he could show me where he ran that morning.  He did turn left first like we do and ran down our street until he got to the main road and then crossed over to the other side of our street to run back down towards our house.  He passed our house and ran all the way down to Jared’s before he didn’t recognize any of the houses so he stopped and turned around to come back home.  ”It was a long run, Mama.”  No kidding.  He crossed a total of six intersections (thankfully, we don’t get much traffic) and ran over 3/4 of a mile.  Plus, I learned my lesson as well.  ALWAYS set the door alarm before taking a shower.

Summer A Term is almost over.  I took a final today, and have two final projects left to turn in.  We head for our Cincinnati Zoo/Coco Key Resort/Newport Aquarium trip tomorrow morning so I’ll finish up when I get back.  I’m sure we’ll have plenty of photos to upload as well!

Audi and I ran our first 5K on Thursday, June 25th at 8:30pm in Tawawa Park.  I had no expectations going into the race except that I was going to run the whole thing.  During one of my practice runs, I had completed a 5K within my time limit for the day in 39 minutes so I knew I could run it.  I had a good time.  (Who has a good time running a 5K, honestly?  It’s so bizarre.)  Audi and I didn’t run together - he runs way faster than I do - so he came back to meet me at like the 3 mile mark.  Jayden came with him, and we ran in together for a time of 35:36.  Not impressive, but I was smiling!

We said good bye to the kids who stayed with Tod and Pam during our trip, and I cried the way home.  We’ve never been anywhere for any duration of time over a few hours without the kids.  We went to bed and got up at 3am to make it to the airport in time for our 6am flight to Denver.  The flight went well, and Cory picked us up and drove back to Colorado Springs.  Later that day we hiked up Mt. Culter, a hike for people who don’t hike, which was more like an inclined nature walk.  It was cool.  That night we went out to dinner for my birthday, which was a bust, but we got to met Breanna, Cory’s girlfriend, who is very cool and personable.  :)  We had a good time talking and gettting to know each other when the boys weren’t around.

The next day we hiked Mt. Rosa after an hour of driving half way up the mountain and deciphering incorrect directions to the trail head.  We started at 10,000 ft. and hiked to 11,500 ft.  I’m not sure how long it took us, but I didn’t slow the gang down too much.  It was quite an accomplishment for me, and I know Audi was psyched about it also.  He got some great pictures up there, and we signed the register before we came back down, which took us significantly less time.  Imagine that?  We were almost to the cars when it started sprinkling, then raining, then hailing.  It was cool, but only because we had just climbed a mountain and were on the way home.  That night we ordered pizza (delicious) and bought a chocolate cake, which was sooo good to celebrate my birthday since the restaurant the day before didn’t pan out.  We played euchre and hung out and had a great time.

Sunday we got up early and drove south to go white water rafting.  It was amazing.  I had such a good time and didn’t fall out of the boat.  Yeah!  We’d definitely  do it again sometime.  Afterwards, we went to Chile’s for lunch - a first for us - and chowed down.  Good food.  I was exhausted by the time we got back to Cory’s so we ate some more chocolate cake and popped in a movie to relax.  That night I had a major meltdown I’ll attribute to stress (I hadn’t done any homework during the trip) and anxiety (I missed the kids).  It was completely embarrassing, but what can you do?  I went to bed and felt much better after sleeping in.

The next morning Audi and Cory went on a hike, and I (once I forced myself out of bed) went about the apartment cleaning and tidying and packing.  It was nice to have the apartment to myself and do some chores that made me feel at home.  I’m such a crab (astrologically, speaking - a homebody).  We packed up the car, got some ice cream and went to the movies (Star Trek - legendary!) before our flight left that night.

It’s good to be home and back in the swing of things.  I’ve got two more weeks of class for A term and then we’re off to the Cincinnati Zoo, Newport Aquarium, and CoCo Key Water Resort for the weekend to unwind with the kids.  Then, it’s back to the grindstone for B term and 15 credit hours.  Wish me luck!

View from Mt Rosa