Growth Spurts

in , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Monday, January 09, 2012

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Laughter and family harmony was the key to my weekend and I hope, dear readers, you were able to enjoy some quality time with your loved ones as well. 
It was yesterday afternoon, while playing track-ball in the backward with my girls, that I finally, very quietly turned the page and mentally let go of my little girls.  I’d been putting this milestone off.  Doing my best Scarlet O’Hara “I’ll think about that tomorrow” …
but while watching my girls yesterday, a voice inside my head said “Linda, you are the Mom of an almost teen and a tween, embrace it”!
Babies they are not, little girls they are not…. young ladies with opinions and ideas and ever evolving bodies… oh, yeah! Ms. T turns 13 in March, and my baby, my Ms. M, turns 9 this month.
Sigh. Smile. Take mental snapshot. Welcome the next chapter with all its growth spurts.  
Growth spurts are all around me in this new-year.  I’m a Mom is my late 40’s now, raising two beautiful, well rounded daughters. I'm evolving right along with them. It's pretty amazing. There’s a subtle shift, a maturity that I would have never imagined 10 years ago!
My husband’s business is evolving and will take us down new and (we pray) prosperous roads.
My blog is evolving too. I’m in the process of updating my URL on all sorts of sites. I had 82 link backs to www.mywahmplan.blogspot.com. Now, according to Alexa.com, I have zero. I guess that’s a step backward, but changing my URL was well worth it! I’m hoping for a growth spurt here by spring.  
Because I listed my blog with Technorati first a year and a half ago, I’ve started there. They need me to claim my new URL so, here’s your code Technorati: QVD724TBSGYW.
Have you listed your blog with Technorati yet? How about Alexa? I receive visits from both, so I suggest you check them out.  They could help your blog have a growth spurt too!
Have a great week!


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Wordless Wednesday

in , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Ms. M's Zhu-Zhu pet was fun for her and our kitty!

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Tuesday and My Plan

in , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Happy New Year!

I had a wonderful time ringing in the New Year at home with my sweet husband and kids. We played Uno, snacked, laughed and before we knew it, midnight was here.   

How did you ring in the New Year? Did you make any resolutions? I used to make resolutions, but found I respond better and reach my goals more often when I make weekly & monthly action plans.

I’ve got big plans for My WAHM Plan, which is now officially a dot.com!
 I’ll keep the focus on home, sharing some of my DIY projects both inside and out.  I’ll share books and recipes, home office tips, the trials and triumphs of raising daughters and of course Reviews!

Here’s what I’m working on this week:

Home:
Finish boxing up holiday decorations. It’s a balmy 32 degrees here today, so the outside stuff can wait.
Clip coupons for the week and plan lunches for the girls returning to school on Thursday.
Change shower liners, wash shower curtains TODAY! (I have been putting this one off for a week).
Vacuum once all boxes are outta here.

Business:
His:
Finish closing out year on Quick books.
Order hubby’s business cards after getting final approval for re-designed cards.  
Look into Google business listing.
Organize files on desktop, print out any drawings and file with correct job.
Upload new pictures for website.

Business:
Mine:
De-clutter side bar.
Make a list of sites I love and review business affiliations & share with my readers.
Visit and comment on at least 5 new blogs.
Visit my blog buddies and comment.
Post at least once more this week.

Kids:
Read one more chapter of Harry Potter book and discuss with Ms. T.
Read one more chapter of Edison’s Gold and discuss with Ms. M.
Take girls to the Dollar store for calendars. (The ones’ they got for Christmas are too small).
Play Uno, Sorry, or Spider wick Chronicles this afternoon.
Make loomed Potholders with Ms. M & Ms. T.
Make sure their backpacks are truly cleaned out before they go back to school.
Get them to bed early tonight to ease them back on school schedule.

So, that's my plan for this week. What's on your agenda?





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Life's Pieces

in , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, December 30, 2011

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately as this year comes to a close and a new one nips at my heels. I do some of my best thinking when my hands are busy and my brain is free to wander and creep into corners I don’t visit in my busy times.
So as the stress of the Holidays was bearing down, I pulled out this jigsaw puzzle and got to work.



 I had this analogy forming about how my life was like this puzzle and how each piece is necessary. I was going to run with that (and I think it would have been a fitting end of the year post); but then I watched the news last night and learned of a tragedy here in our little world and my whole mood and tone has changed.
You see, a little 10 year old girl died yesterday in a freak car accident. She attended my daughter’s elementary school. Her younger sister is in my daughter’s class. While we don’t know this family personally, it has ripped at my heart all day. I am finding it difficult to type this, just thinking about the steps all involved are having to take instead of blissfully ringing in the new year. 
I can’t forget to mention that the man driving the other car; the one that slammed into the girls died too.
 What must his family feel right now? Not only did they lose him, but they must reconcile that he accidently took a child’s life when his ended.
Sometimes life’s pieces are tragic and sad and unimaginable. I for one know I would lose a part of my soul if something like this were to happen to my family.
I’m sure each and every one of us wouldn’t have to look too far to find a family hurting and in need.  Maybe we should look around more. Reach out more. Care about our fellow man more.
I will do whatever I can to help these neighbors in need and then I will do my absolute best to remember how lucky I’ve got it and how you never know what tomorrow might bring. I will do my best to live like I’m supposed to be anyway, leading with kindness, friendliness and faith and stop taking my life for granted.  
Life’s pieces are sometimes thinly veiled wake up calls.
I sincerely hope you and yours have a Happy and Safe New Year! Please do me a favor.  Make sure every single person you care about knows you do. Please don’t assume they know. Tell them today.
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Winter and Happiness

in , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Our Pond Winter 2010
　
　　
　
Tomorrow is the official 1st day of Winter and I couldn't be happier! Not because I love snowy, blustery days. Not because tomorrow is the shortest day of the year and I can start counting the days until spring arrives. Not solely because of the joy and happiness the Holidays bring.

No, finding my  happy with this season most all of us dread, required some thinking.
Just reading the definition of winter puts me squarely on team anti-winter. Look at those Synonyms and you'll see what I mean.　


win·ter/ˈwintər/  



Noun:
The coldest season of the year, in the northern hemisphere from December to February and in the southern hemisphere from June to August.
Adjective:
(of fruit and vegetables) Ripening late in the growing season and suitable for storage over the winter.
Verb:(esp. of a bird) Spend the winter in a particular place: "birds wintering in the south".

Synonyms:		noun

adjective
verb. hibernate. wintry - hibernal - winterly - brumal . cold

　

While slathering on extra strength hand lotion last night to ease my drying hands ( that only get worse each day of this season), I decided to make a list of all the reasons I have to be happy and thankful this winter. If you are on team anti-winter, maybe a list is in your future too!
　

My List:


　
1. The girls are on Winter break from 12/21/11 until 1/5/12. Just having them home all day makes me smile! I enjoy their company immensely.

2. Getting end of year business tasks done feels good! Don't dread the shred is my motto as I clean out my filing cabinet and start a new storing and organizing method.

3. Dry skin gives me a good excuse to try new lotions! Maybe I'll write a review or two.

4. Christmas at home. Just the four of us. The girls in their new jammies all day. Traditions. Love. Harmony. Peace. Jesus. Food. Smiles. Laughs. Santa.

5. New Year. New Beginning. New Ideas. New directions. Wiping the slate clean is a good thing on so many fronts.

6. My youngest daughters birthday.

7. New cabinet jobs for my hubby. He's at his happiest when he's making sawdust.

8. New friendships. I've been invited to join some local groups and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to broaden my circle.

9. Free time. I have more of it in this season. I get crafty, I read more novels, I log on much less, I daydream about spring and how to design my flower beds, I laugh and sing and play with my kids more. I stay up late and watch sci-fi movies or talk and laugh with my hubby more. I connect more.

10. I have a really good feeling about 2012. Deep in my bones optimisim. The last few years have been hard and stressful for so many of us. Most of us truth be told, but I am a firm believer in the power of a Positive Attitude.

I am happy Winter is here because it forces me to slow down, think, be more present and in the moment.
Sure the weather outside may be frightful, but I'll welcome spring well rested and refreshed.
　
Happy Winter, Merry Christmas and Happy, Happy Holidays one and all!
I am so very thankful for all of you who read, comment and visit my blog.

Please let me know what you are thankful and happy for this season!
　
　
 
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