When Life Gives you Snow...

I saw a friend on Facebook recently post, "when life gives you snow, go sledding!" I was temporarily inclined to disagree, considering my newly found distaste for snow (due to it's wreeking havoc on my life...), but instead found the corners turned up in a smile. Darn my sense of humor.... Life is never a neatly wrapped package, as I nievly expected it to be. My life, every single day of it, has been a giant mass of poorly wrapped, taped, and glued package (imagine here that a three year old is proudly handing it too you. It may even include maccaroni!). So instead of being upset with that giant mass, take a step back and take time to find out what's inside. Much easier said than done, but it can and must be done. You only have so many minutes in your day -why waste them, eh?

In order to not be wasteful, we must find a solution! We are given situations that challenge us (no brainer!). Whether in our home lives, work lives, professional lives, and even in the life of our own minds, we can not always change the situation. So what then? What comes next? In order to successfully navigate yourself out of this unhappily unfortunate situation, you must -absolutely must- change the way you think about it.

Go sledding, make lemonade, or blog but be proactive in helping yourself be happy! So what -it snowed. Oh.... My.... I suspect you won't melt so enjoy the choice you make!



"The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself." ~Benjamin Franklin

Whose time and frame of mind?

There are days when I seem to be able to fly. Like I've temporarily been given wings. I've got a great husband, home, relationship with my family, etc. Life is beautiful. Then.... Then there are days like today. Like the wind has intentionally been taking out of my wings, if I ever really had any. My life: roller coaster.

Every day I can't help but think that I'm wasting MY time. MY days are wasted sitting at a desk, doing a job that isn't my passion (don't get me wrong -I'm VERY thankful to be able to support my husband through school. VERY THANKFUL. I am also thankful that I like the people that I work with!). But -it is truly a struggle for me. I take my time getting ready hoping that maybe there will be a freak snow storm (even though it's bright, sunny, and VERY cold) and I won't have to go and can, instead, spend the day planning my Kindermusik lessons, cleaning, and cooking. HAHA!

Very rarely do I think that I'm maybe learning a lesson that God needs me to learn. Humility and patience come to mind.... Wonder why.... Instead, I focus only on MY time and MY frame of mind. If I am upset, the world seems to be ending when in totally truth, I'm experiencing a life lesson (darn those!). When I feel the most frustrated (like I do right this very minute...steam is rolling out of my ears and nose...and fingernails, and eyebrows....) everything seems to be about me instead of about the journey. Instead of thinking about where I am, why I am there, and what I need to be doing, I think about what I cannot be doing. It's completely retroactive, but I cannot seem to NOT do it. The most disappointing part of the whole situation, is that we (as a species) seem to take our hardest emotions (fear, shame, anger, sadness, the list continues) out on our most favorite people. My favorite person is Michael and Lord only knows that God's already saving him a special spot in Heaven! :)

I can no longer deny that it is not MY time. It is not MY frame of mind to deny. I was given a purpose and a mission, and a beautiful life. I am not wasting MY time...I'm wasting my Creator's. Somewhat cheesy but -when you are given another day with the person you love, sure. I'll make a cheesy statement. Why be selfish and ungrateful. I have been given _______ (fill in the blank with the innumerable things...).


Briana to self: "SHUT UP, get over it, and move on."


pāx.
"La vita è bella"

Blah, blah, blah-di-blah blah!

I haven't posted in a while -I've been "offline" mentally and  literally.  Sorry about that!  I know that I don't talk to you guys every day, so it's nice to know what's going on every now and then, huh?  I have also decided that I like my blog.  I can complain to it, and it never seems to mind.  Do they make a chip that one can install into their husbands?  I'm not saying that I would do that ... okay, maybe I was thinking about it just a little.  

For me...here's the laundry list:
I've been conducting the brass band here in Bloomington.  I'll be posting on "empowerment" sometime soon.  I've had it brewing....

I've also been singing my brains out.  I LOVE it.  Good music (Mozart, Bach...), but some of the people just aren't my style....

I've been teaching Kindermusik and LOVING EVERY MINUTE of it.  It is constanty my weekly and daily peace.  I now officially have THREE families!!!  Yippee!!!  They are all very fabulous and wonderful parents.  This weekend, I'll be a vendor at the Bloomington Area Birth Services first annual Baby Fair!!  I'll be in good hands -Mum's flying in Friday to help me through it (yayyyy!).  I'll make sure to post pictures later.

But -the show stopper is this:  I've submitted an application to IUPUI (Indiana University Purdue Iniveristy Indianapolis) to obtain my Music Therapy equivelency and Master's degree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm WAY excited, and very hopeful that it will work out.  I'm speaking with the program director tomorrow on the telephone to gather last minute information, etc.  I'll make sure to keep you posted on that one too.  Prayers for success = gerat appreciation. 

All of these things....  Life things, Briana things, work things....blah blah blah, are draining and bringing me down.  I'm really tring not to be homesick and to keep my head high and pointed in the right direction.  We'll see how far I get today, but so far I'm doing alright.

I'd be great if it would only snow....

Mountain mama...take me home, country roads.

  Artful Dodger, Harrisonburg!


Until next time....