Resolutions

So this is late in coming, but I did make some resolutions for this year.  I am not going to pretend I will be completely successful with these, as history has shown me that I never am.  However, I still like the idea of resolutions.  I think they allow me to reflect about the things I would like to do or change.  I don't think I need to do them only at the start of the year, but it always seems like a natural reset point.  This year, I have tried to keep it simple.  

Resolution #1: Communicate Better to Build Better Relationships

Somehow over time, and with the increase in technology, I have lost my love of communication.  I feel awkward having conversations with people I don't know.  Unsure of what to say since I don't have time to think of my responses for awhile like I do with technology.  I worry about what to say next, if I will sound stupid, and constantly worry that I am going to end up embarrassing myself.  I am jealous of my husband's ability to talk with anyone.  He genuinely enjoys it and is never worried or embarrassed about starting a conversation with a complete stranger. He teases me about being afraid to talk to people, but there is definitely some truth to that.  In society, we judge harshly and quickly, but I need to start realizing that more often than not, people are kind-hearted and aren't judging me like I think they are.

This fear wasn't always the case.  I used to love talking to people, on the phone and in person.  My parents will vouch for that as I was always going over my 15 minute phone time limit.  So, my plan this year is that I am going to answer my phone more (yes, I am one of those terrible people that won't answer when you call but will text you back awhile later).  I will reach out to those I have lost touch with.  I will try harder to have actual contact with those I do.  And I will work on building relationships with new people.  I will continue to challenge myself to start conversations with strangers.  I am also going to continue to be conscious of my cell phone use in the presence of others to avoid being this guy:

Resolution #2: Eat Real and Local Food

This is a tough one as I love junk food and I love a good deal (and we all know that processed food is cheap!).  What I don't love is how "food" is becoming less natural and more modified and chemical.  The more I read about food, the more disheartened I become.  Last year things began to change a little in our household and I would like to continue.  It will not be easy.  In fact, I think it is a lot of work.  It is hard to always make it to the farmers market, to read labels and decipher what is really in food, and to prep food yourself.  It is also expensive.

I am trying to switch slowly to see how it effects our budget.  For now, I buy as many organic fruits and veggies as I can afford and try to buy organic dairy.  I also try to buy locally produced food when possible. In exchange, I buy less junk in order to keep on budget.  It's a win win right now and hopefully it will continue.  Changing the meat we buy is next on my agenda.  I also remind myself that demand creates supply, so if I join the demand for better food, hopefully it will help create supply and bring down the cost for all.  

Resolution #3:  Be More Informed

This will be the hardest one for me. I feel that I have a lack of knowledge as to what happens in my own community.  I watch the news, but don't always pay attention to community/local elections or news.   To prevent this, I have decided to subscribe to our local newspaper.  My parents always knew what was going on in our town.  My dad was very vocal at town meetings.  I lack that.  And though it is unlikely I will become greatly more involved in the same manor as my parents, I still think I should make the effort to stay informed.

Hopefully I will have success with my resolutions this year since I have focused on just three important changes.  Do you have any resolutions this year?

TGE

This past weekend I spent four hilarious, responsibility-free days with 4 of my favorite girls.  It was our annual Great Escape and I look forward to it every year.  Before I fill you in on our awesome weekend, let me give you a little background on The Great Escape.    

History of The Great Escape
We started The Great Escape (TGE) in 2011 after I read a magazine article about a group of women who promised to get together once a year no matter where they were in their lives.  When I read the article, I just KNEW it was something my college girlfriends and I needed to do.  We had been friends for years, lived together, partied together, helped each other through break-ups, stood up in each others' weddings, basically been through the good and the bad together.  Our lives had already started to take us in different directions.  I was back in Milwaukee, Kelli was in Iowa, but it was more than just physical proximity.  We were getting married, having babies, changing jobs, etc.  We were moving down life's path and I didn't want us to get separated.  I sent an email explaining my plan and they all agreed.  

TGE 2011 - Lodi, WI

How It Works

Here's how it works:  each year, one person in the group is designated as "The Planner", that responsibility rotates until everyone has had a turn, and then it starts over.  The entire group settles on a per person budget and a long, four day weekend that works for everyone.  Then "The Planner" is left to decide and arrange the rest - where we go, where we stay, what we do, and what we eat- which has to be completely covered by the budget.  The "Non-planners" stay in the dark until a few days before the trip and the secret location is revealed.  We have the planner send the location, directions, menu, and a CD of songs by mail to each of us. Also, we usually have a theme that leads to a small gift (flip-flops, sunglasses, etc.) that we receive on the trip.  This then becomes a yearly get together.  It works for everyone, no matter what stage of life you are in.  Married, pregnant, single, going to school, working, etc, we could all make this get together a priority to give us time to reconnect and strengthen our friendship with one another. 

TGE 2012 - New Lisbon, WI

TGE 2013

This year we rented a house in Galena, IL.  With-in 15 minutes of arriving, I was laughing so hard that tears were forming in the corner of my eyes.  I instantly remembered why we had all become friends in the first place and why we make time to do this each year.  The rest of the weekend was filled with laughter, food, wine, and relaxation.  After arriving on Thursday, we claimed bedrooms and then took our annual photo. Dinner was prepared, wine was opened, and the talking, dancing, and laughing was non-stop.

Friday was filled with some time by the pool and then shopping in downtown Galena.  There were so many cute shops, but we loved Poopsies and The Galena Canning Company.  We were pretty tired out after a long day of sun, so we had a low key evening watching Pitch Perfect (which surprisingly Sara and I had still not seen...acacuse me!) 

Saturday was more time by the pool and then some rowdy game playing.  I think that may be my favorite part of our girls weekends because it usually leads to some very funny stories.  On Sunday we packed up and headed home, which was, as always, bittersweet.  These girls are defiantly like family to me and it is always hard to leave when the weekend is over.  I am glad that we put aside this time for each other since it is usually the only time that ALL of us are together throughout the year.  If you don't do something like this with your girlfriends, I recommend you start!

TGE 2013 - Galena, IL

  

Oh What A Year!

I maybe should have started with this post instead of my previous one.  I don't want you to get the wrong idea and think that our finances are blinding us from all the good that happened this past year.   So here are some of the GREAT things that happened in 2011. 

In May I turned the big 3-0- and celebrated with family and friends. My sweet husband threw a surprise party and it was wonderful.  I was even blessed with out of town visitors, which made it even more memorable. 

This summer, our first real attempt at gardening was a huge success, though I probably owe some of that to my mom.  We live in an apartment which makes gardening a bit of a challenge.  My mom agreed to let us build a raised bed at her house if we paid for the materials.  We built our garden, added some seaweed mulch (again, a big thanks to mom), and watched our garden thrive.  I even learned to make freezer salsa and tomato sauce.

In July I took my 6th trip to the Appalachian region to lead a group of high school students in mission work.  As always, I was reminded of just how lucky I am and how much God has blessed me.  It is an enlightening and faith building experience for me, even after 6 years.  

August was a busy month. An opportunity arose for me to take a teaching job at a Catholic school, which has always been my dream.  The hitch was that it was not a full-time position.  I felt I couldn't pass it up and have been so happy with my decision.  Also that month, some of my best friends and I participated in our first annual Great Escape.  It was so wonderful to spend an entire weekend just hanging out, eating, and drinking.  It was like being back in college and I can't wait for the next one!! 

October brought our 1 year wedding anniversary.  I thank God everyday for blessing me with A.  I am so lucky to have found such a caring and generous person to spend my life with.  Our plan was to go out for a nice dinner, but the Brewers were in the playoff's.  We scratched dinner plans and curled up to watch the game, complete with baked potatoes, peanuts, and beer.  I wouldn't have changed a thing (except maybe a Brewers win).  We had an event filled first year and I look forward to creating more memories.

In November, A's mom was told that there was no longer evidence of disease.  She fought hard and won her battle with lung cancer.  We pray for continued good health.

December was filled with all of the wonderful activities of the season.  We enjoyed a lot of time with family and friends and ate more then we probably should.  It was a wonderful ending to the year. 

Even with the trials we encountered in 2011, we had many blessings as well.  I look forward to what 2012 has in store for us. 

The Imperfect Friendship

Friends play a pivotal role in our lives.  Some of us have many and some of us have one or two key players.  I find that I am somewhere in the middle.  I have friends who play different roles, but all are very important.

Recently I have been reflecting on the growing pains that come with any friendship.  Like any relationship, friendship is never perfect.  There are periods were things are wonderful and you can not imagine your life without them.  And then there are times when there is distance, or periods of absence, where the friendship is left to grow in the wild, untended.  And then we go back to it, pull up the weeds, trim away the undergrowth, and it is new again.

Many of those absences have been caused either by physical distance, or by the fact that we struggle with what happens in our own lives.  At times, it is hard to except the things that have happened to us.  There have been times of struggle, times of bad choices, times of things said that shouldn't have been.  We accept these mistakes in our friends.  I personally struggle with accepting them in myself.  I focus on when I embarrassed myself, or when I wasn't able to be by their side, or even when I haven't called in awhile.  I think, who would want to be friends with someone who acts like that.

It is just recently that I have been able to accept that my friends love me for who I am.  That even though I am far from a perfect friend, they will be there, and that is the joy of friendship.  Accepting the imperfectness of each other and facing life, knowing you have those who support you no matter what mistakes you may make.

Friends are what make the rough roads passable and the blessings even joyous.