Merry Christmas!

Clip art by Marcello Corti

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

December Ramblings - New Year Goals

from Simple Country Livin Facebook page

Wow, I cannot believe we're almost to the end of 2016 already! Time just seems to fly.  I've quit making New Year's resolutions and instead have decided on goals, I divide mine into personal, professional and now business. I like the term goals as I can work on them throughout the year, I don't need to be perfect with them immediately like a resolution. If I miss a week or even a month I can get back on track to meet the goal. Does anybody else have New Year's resolutions or goals? What are they? Do you stick to them?

Personal Goals:
* Do yoga at least 4 days a week (subscribed to Gaiam TV again to get back on track with this)
* Meditate daily
* Read inspirational/spiritual material daily
* Work with my Angel tarot/oracle card decks more
* Study crystals & crystal healing
* Study Reiki more / advanced techniques
* Work on a craft project at least once a week
* Schedule a regular date night again with Matt
* Schedule overnight or weekend trips with Matt - try for quarterly getaways

I'd been doing some of the above regularly but have gotten sidetracked with little man living with us and need to figure out how to get some me time in with him around. It's very similar to how new moms need to figure out how to fit baby time and me time together, just feels strange at my age. At this point I feel good if I get a shower in before he wakes up in the morning. Finding floor space for yoga without toys has been tough. I'm working on getting my sewing/craft room cleared a bit so I can use the floor space in there. Reading has been the hardest, it seems every time I've tried to read with him there he decides he wants on Grandma's lap.

Professional Goals:
* Learn more about ND law (I'm working for a law firm again)
* Learn to do probate cases
* Possibly take an Angel tarot reader class and get certified
* Take Animal Communication class and get certified

Business Goals:
* Double existing client base
* Possibly hire to expand business
* Pay myself back for all costs incurred in 2016 with the business
* Possibly start a second business with Reiki / crystal healing
* Quit working 3 jobs

So, these are my goals to start the year with. I may modify as life changes. Things may change if Jordon gets a different job and the little man isn't around as much. With the roller coaster my life has been lately I don't want to lock myself into any path but be able to switch tracks and adjust my goals as needed if I'm lead to without feeling like I failed.

December Ramblings

Our Little Man safe in Daddy's arms

I can't say much due to ongoing legal issues but my grandson is safe and staying with us now.  Talk about life changing! I hadn't imagined at 51 I'd be taking care of a baby again on a regular basis.  As Matt put it, he didn't think he'd be experiencing parenting for the first time at 50. To say dealing with protective services, lawyers and two sheriff's departments has been sometimes very frustrating and I have to give Matt a huge thank you for taking the lead on dealing with this as I was adjusting to a new job and job schedules.  My son being awarded custody was a huge early Christmas present for all of us. There's still more legal stuff to deal with and we'll do the best we can with that.  Now to figure out how to keep my house looking and feeling warm and inviting with a toddler running around.

Litttle Man loves his Pooh rocker

I'm starting to settle in at my new job as a legal secretary. It's been slow getting up to speed and I'm not there yet due to the fact the office is so busy and my boss hasn't had time to train me very much. Thankfully this week she was able to show me how to do a couple new things. The firm I work at now primary does real estate, estates/wills and such.  He no longer takes cases that require litigation for the most part.  He's done well in his career and can now decide what he wants to take and not take and when he wants to work or not work.

We had our first blizzard of the year this week and what a blizzard it was! The entire state shut down for the most part. They'd predicted 3 to 5 inches in our area and I think we ended up with around 14 inches. After the storm stopped the winds picked up and we experienced white out conditions and severe drifts to the point they shut down all interstate traffic.  Semi trucks were parked up at Walmart almost to the point it was difficult to find parking spots for employees or customers.  Those parked and travelers that took refuge at local hotels shopped and caught up on laundry.  After two days of the state being shut down they are finally reopening the freeways and the trucks are starting to move.

The best way to hang out during a blizzard

If you've never driven in prairie country it's hard to understand how deadly the winds can be this time of year.  When there are no buildings or trees to block them they just pick up speed and even semi trucks aren't safe from being blown off the roads.  Add slick road conditions and the danger increases more.  I was able to make it in both days to my job but the roads were an obstacle course of drifts to plow through, this is when I realize how awesome 4-wheel drive vehicles are. My son has a Taurus. He made it to work but couldn't get home in it so a coworker was kind enough to give him a ride home. His car just wasn't equal to 2+ foot snowdrifts.