I am officially visionary! Go me!

I mentioned that  I was making a vision board. I have heard about doing it a few times and then it was in the book I read,  Navigating you Mind, by Kris Walton. So I went for it.

Here are a few pictures of my vision board. If you notice from before, I have changed the board. I decided I needed more space. I like these boards because I didn't have to use nails (Corey will be so happy), and because they gave me more space.

I have to admit.... I am in love with my vision board. The love and dreams I put into my magnets and my title and my few little visions make me happy. I probably stated this but my visions are lacking. But I am still figuring it out.

I have never done this, but I made these little marble magnets that you see at the craft stores. They were fun. We gave some to Nathan's teacher as a gift.

You might think this is bizarro but this little magnet is my therapy guy's handwriting for one of my appointments. I like it because it reminds me of the peace I have during our visits and that he believes in me. When you have turmoil in your life and you find the answers, and some peace, you will hang strange stuff on your vision board also. I promise.

Who is the world actually thinks  I can memorize the whole "The Living Christ"???? Not me! But I have a feeling I shouldn't be saying that. I am going to try. I can't even get the first line down! It is ridiculous!

(For those of you who don't know, "The Living Christ" is this.

My dad teases me because I love quotes and will hang boards with quotes on them as decoration. Everyone does that now, right? Thus the vinyl lettering craze... So on my vision board I have some quotes that I love. They REALLY seem to speak to me the most. And some vision board guru guy said it was okay to have quotes. So I do!

Several of these items on my vision board pertain to my weight, because that is one of my battles.

Kris also says to make a list called something like "100 fun things I will do before I die". So when I read that I got all crazily happy because I could make something similar to what I saw on Pinterest with a bucket and I  made a bucket list! Because.... I wanted to use the bucket! And  I put a few things on my bucket list like....

And then  I decided those were a little lamo so  I googled bucket list ideas. And then  I decided I have no desire to parachute, or bungee cord jump, or hike that mountain in Japan. Getting a harry cactus is about as exciting as it gets for me. So then I had to reevaluate the purpose of having a whole board dedicated to silly things like buying a frog.

So I went back to Kris' book and read the purpose of making a 100 fun things list. The purpose Kris says is this..

So buying a frog and watching North and South will be fun but I am not sure how it will make me feel accomplished. And since I don't care to do super adventurous things I decided to just do other things  I care about. So I haven't stuck them on the board yet  but I am thinking about doing things like....I want to read the Bible. So I am going to put each "book" on a paper and then when  I read it  I will stick it in my bucket (and feel empowered like Kris says). And  I want to paint my salt and pepper shelves and get my collection out. So I am going to make a label for that. I am still fine tuning how this bucket list will work best for me. But isn't my bucket list cute?

And  I think I will save my vision board for BIG things like learn piano or something.

What do you think? Any helpful ideas for my vision board or bucket list? (Which is secretly called "100 fun things I will do before I die" but if I called it that I couldn't use the bucket so that is why I am sticking with bucket list but I know it really means 100 fun things that will make me feel accomplished after I do them!)

Yeah, I need a new hand towel.  I know.

Did you know the recorder is a real instrument?

It is. I found this out from Rhett's music teacher. Her and her husband actually do duets at church on their recorders. Who knew?

Before Rhett's concert I would have scoffed at that but now I am a believer.

First off....Happy Memorial Day.

Thank you to those who served and serve. Today I got to go with my son and put up flags in yards around our neighborhood. It is a Scout fundraiser. I got a little sentimental as we were doing it and thought what an honor it was to put the flag on the stake and unroll it. It was breezy and the flags would just take off waving. I loved it. And I love that I got to do it with my son. Who is now inches taller than me. I love having sons. Blessings abound.

I was just unable to get to everything I need to do done and I didn't get anything made for the graves of Corey's dad and  his "step" dad Roger. I put "step" in quotations because I am not sure it counts when you are past thirty and they become your step dad. Nonetheless, we love them both.

Here are a few pictures of Rhett's recorder concert. LET ME TELL YOU....It was a joy to attend. He had been driving us all crazy practicing really hard. I started to think, "man, he is getting good!"

His choir teacher thought of a brilliant plan and let the kids earn "belts" for each of their songs. So since Rhett learned all of them (why did we struggle so much in piano again?) he was a "black belt"! The kids ate that system up! See the yarn (belts) hanging off the kids recorders?

The video I took was so hard to hear I didn't post it. But the kids played up to ten songs! AND THEY SOUNDED GOOD!!!!! I was really surprised. Another mom and I joked about it. I LOVED when they did Amazing Grace. It was a beautiful concert.


Rhett is the big one, in the white shirt, standing out a bit, in the back. I am sure he did that for his mama. So he'd be easy to spot. Sweetie pie.

The other day he came up to me... "Hey Mom! Want to wrestle?" "Ummmm, no."

I admit it. It's a strange hobby.

Justine and I  went to one of her beloved rabbit shows last week. We enjoy them. I still don't really know why. It is a long day of staring at rabbits and saying how cue they are. And watching judges analyze them with certain rules of what makes them good quality or not. And only Heaven knows who thought up those rules to begin with. It's strange. But I love having something that is just for Justine and I. And we really love talking about rabbits all day. For a long time we would joke about how weird rabbit people were. Then we finally admitted we were some of those people. Lol.

This judge, "Nate" is a darling.

Our Netherland Dwarf, "Logan", We love this little guy. One judge loved him and the other didn't. That is what is so crazy! It is all just that judge's opinion!

Our rabbit friends, Matt and Alicia. They were the ones who organized the show. They did a great job.

Alicia and an old timer, Lawerence.

Judging

Cute little Justine listening to the judge

At this show they did a little 4-H competition. This is the senior group. Justine and our club friend, Ashley. Justine was scared to tell the judge she had been doing rabbit 4-H for 8 years because she knew the questions would be hard!

She won. BECAUSE when the judge was judging the younger groups we paid very close attention and realized the judge was moving around the room a lot. He would say..."Show me your rabbits rear pose....and the kids would show it straight in front pf them where a judge would normally stand. But this judge was moving. So Justine and I discussed that. Showing the rabbit is about showing it to the judge. So even though she wasn't quite sure that was what he wanted she did it. So when our friend's rabbit would be facing out front, Justine would pose hers diagonal to where the judge had moved. She felt so risky but she won and the judge complemented her being the only person in the whole show to do that. It REALLY pays to watch the other kid's show because you learn things about the judge!

It was great fun. The two first placers.

( Justine, collection her prize)

And.....Justine also won first place on the rabbit breed ID. I was very proud because knowing the breed of the rabbits can be challenging because there are a lot! Plus...she had to also know their "class" and variety (color) which is not as simple as brown or gray. It is colors like blue, torte, broken black.... And she had to get all three right to get one point! The other kids, because they hadn't been in as long, did not have to do all of that to earn their one point. So I thought Justine did awesome.

Our rabbits didn't do so well. We lost four rabbits this winter. Justine's most favorite rabbit somehow broke it's back, the neighbor dog jumped the fence and scared a rabbit into breaking it's back, and then we lost three to rye neck. She was so frustrated! So we are working to get some good quality rabbits again!

Anyways! That's that.

First time ever having family pictures hung on the wall!

I FINALLY got my picture wall up.

I took a bunch of random frames and with much painful decision making, painted them all brown. I think the wall turned out great even if....

this happened to my spice cupboard that is sunken into the other side of the wall.

Nails...through the wall. Not a happy husband.

My camera stinks. So this glary thing is the best I could do... The random decor of each frame looks pretty good.

Also...I am going to put some sticky dots behind each picture to keep the pictures stuck to the wall so they are straight.

What do you think? Should I have hung them closer together? I am really not that great at decorating.

Khronicles of Kate???????????????????????????????????

Kate talks non stop. And by non stop I mean.... NON STOP. And she asks me a billion questions a day.

Do you like nice neighbors?
Do you like mean neighbors?
What's our neighbors name?
Is she nice or is she mean?
What is her mom's name?
What name is that?

Do you like Bo?
Do you hate Bo?
Can I marry Bowen?
Do you like Bowen?
Can I marry Maxie? (Goofy's son....as in.... an animated figure)

Can I marry Martin and Kris? (from Kratt's Creatures on PBS)

What's her name? (about any lady at the grocery store)
Is she your friend?
Is she your cousin?
Is she your friend?
Do you like her?

Any possible question that possibly has no meaning or maybe has some meaning she is asking me.

But this day took the absolute cake!!!!!! (I don't even know what that expression means.)

We were dropping off kids at school.

A lady walks in front of our car.

Her- "Who's that?"
Me- "A lady."
Her- "What's her name?"
Me- "Mary"
Her- "Does she have a lamb?"........

BAHAAAHAAA! Cracked me up!

She loves for me to sing her this book. That is how she knows about "Mary had a Little Lamb".

Does it get cuter than that?

Sweet little annoying sweetie pie. Bye!

40 may be the new 30....tell that to my new wrinkle!

The first 3o seconds of this video clip is exactly what goes through my mind when I think about turning 40 today! I am T.R.A.U.M.A.T.I.Z.E.D.

I am not a visionary woman. :(

Remember how I told you that I heard about "self talk" three times before it sunk in? Well, now I have heard about "vision boards" three times! So...because I am a rule follower...and the book I love

(Kristopher Walton)

by my talented advice giver........okay FINE!!!! He is a therapist! I have been seeing a therapist! I know you all saw through my other post anyway when I vaguely referenced how I knew him....And you know what? I am not ashamed to be seeing a therapist. I think everyone should be so lucky to get a whole hour a week to just talk about YOU! It's fun. And has been helpful. And if you can't have the privilege of seeing him you should read his book. And get happy. Or stay happy.

Anyway, because I am a ruler follower and his book said to make a vision board....I did.

After I heard about it three times.

My friend Aine has one. She brought it to my house and I loved it. She had cool things on it like get a wedding band. Or publish her book. Or become friends with someone she admires.

My other friend who lost 100 pounds also has one. She has inspiring quotes and pictures of fitness and life goals.

So here is mine. I hung it in my bathroom right above where I brush my teeth and wash my hands 50 times a day (darn ocd). Then I will be able to stare at it a lot.

I had so much fun......

(Yeah...I hate those maroon counters, also...)

making magnets for it....

"Protect your soul" don't you love it?

"trust the journey"...Hello!!!! Love!

"Love Deeply" and "Listen"?

I so scored in the magnet department!

"Choose for yourself"...that will be Kristopher's favorite one for me...

"Be brave"....Maybe my most needed one....

"Be true", "Give back"... I did good.

Love them all!

I made these little clips just by sticking some magnets on the back of them.....

So after I made my board (which was the funnest, because of course it has to be cool) it  has sat there for a week...

I am learning...I think I might not have that much vision. I don't really know what my next life stage is. I don't know what  my vision is. That is my next goal. To figure it out.

I have had a few ideas...you all know them already...

Raise money for orphans...

lose weight.....

Get a parrot....

I don't know....write something?

And of course be the best mom and wife I can be.

But I have been scared to actually put something on my board! Weird!

I'll let you know what I come up with.

And the next fun thing I am supposed to do that came from Kristopher's book....make a BUCKET list of FUN things! And then as you do those fun things you get joy in doing the fun thing and satisfaction in crossing it off your list. And pinterest has the funnest bucket list board I am going to make. If I am doing it...I am doing it cute! Can't wait.

The first thing on my bucket list? It's stupid and crazy. But that is part of the fun of a bucket list, right?

Remember those old phones we grew up with? My dad has one that is mine. In order to get them to work, for some reason you have to pay money for some kit. I am going to do that. Yep. That is on my bucket list. I want that old phone to work. Reminds me of growing up. I love the buttons.

Second bucket list item? Buy a cactus that my mom and I use to call the hairy old man cactus.

See? Doesn't that sound like so fun? And to have a cool chart to go with it? Wahoo!!!!!

I want you all to make a bucket list with me....Won't you?