Talkin' About Thursdays

One of my favorite bloggers, Genny at My Cup 2 Yours is starting a new carnival each Thursday.  Basically, she posts a topic - next week it is my least most favorite subject - LAUNDRY!   Then we (other bloggers) write our own post and link to hers.  We can go around and read about how much others hate love laundry and manage to get theirs done before their family rebels in such an organized manner.   If you don't have a blog - that's just fine.  You can leave your ideas and stories in the comments for us all to read. 

She will also be talking about favorite fall recipes this month AND favorite fall get-togethers!  I am so excited!  Go ahead and hop on over and read all about it.

Ballet Feet - Wordless Wednesday

It is parent observation week at B's dance school.  Just some pics from her classes. 

I survived watching my sister in 4 dance classes!  AHHHHH!

Just a Couple Things - What I Learned This Week

1.  We tend to judge our homes (and our bodies, and our hair and our kids and our husbands and on and on...) more harshly than anyone else ever does.    I often criticize my home as not being big enough, clean enough or organized enough.    And it is all of those things - perfectly sized, clean ENOUGH and even organized.  Some of you may not believe that I can keep an organized home but you know what?  It is!   I need to stop looking at all I don't do and focus on the things I do right!

2.  I am not disorganized.  I am just a HUGE procrastinator.  When you procrastinate things, those things end up happening at the same time and not in an orderly fashion.  It appears I am disorganized when really I've just waited too long to do too many things.  

3.  I should never ever ever make any major decisions the week before, well, that time of the month.
I told a friend last week that I think I must need some medicine because I have been crying so much lately and I should really take a good hard look at changing some things in my life.   My "monthly visitor" came just 3 days later.   Um, yeah - feeling much better, thank you.

4.  I have good kids.   They are kids that make messes and throw tantrums occasionally, but when both sets of grandparents spend time alone with them while Hubby and I run off to Oklahoma and  then tell you how much of a joy it was to be with them - that is a good feeling.  Not that grandparents are partial or anything.  ;)

5.  I should spend way more time with my friends.  They make me laugh.  They listen to me.  They give good advice.  They love me.    Last week, when I was feeling blue, some good friends called out of the blue - they spoke truth into my life and they were like little angels lifting my spirits.

For More lessons learned hop on over to Musings of a Housewife.

Magnificent Indeed!

Okay, so I know that this is not the best photograph (taken with my friend's cellphone) but it is a picture of us at the U2 concert from Saturday night.  Which was the BEST concert I have ever been to!  Best.Ever.  It was a bucket list item.  Go to U2 concert - Check!

I've grown up with U2.  They were the backdrop to my entire teen years, my 20's and then into my 30's as I belted out Beautiful Day with my kids in the car.   Even now as I head into a new decade, I can often be found rocking out in my mini-van to their latest album, No Line on the Horizon.   I don't think that I can pick a favorite song from the last 20+ years because I love so many.  But when they played New Year's Day, I felt about 15 all over again.

One of my best friends from high school and her hubby came into town for the concert.   The last concert I attended with her was in 1986 - .38 Special and Bon Jovi.    We are a little bit older and maybe somewhat wiser but we still know how to have a good time!!!   I can't even describe how refreshing it was to have a childhood friend here with me  - like medicine for the soul.  She helped me remember the fun that lives inside this body somewhere!  

My favorite parts of the concert were when Bono would just start singing something random - like when he saw the full moon above (it was an amazing night!) and started singing Stand By Me or when he sang Amazing Grace and the crowd joined in.  Right there, he paid tribute to the sacred.  That is why, all great music aside, that I love them - they use the gifts they have to make an impact in this world.  They shed light where there is darkness and Bono gives all the glory to God.   Not many rockstars doing that these days.

By the way, have you signed up with ONE?    It's free and easy to do. 

What is ONE? 

ONE is a campaign and advocacy organization with more than 2 million members committed to the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Co-founded by Bono and other campaigners, ONE is nonpartisan and works closely with African policy makers and activists.

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Okay, I leave you with some links to some U2 music.   What is your favorite U2 song, by the way?

This is my latest favorite song -  Magnificent.

Or check out this duet of One with Mary J. Blige - awesome!

Have a Beautiful Day, everyone!