golden nuggets

It's been tough to write these blogs lately... The bitter cold of winter is the worst time of the year for me, and the economy is hurting not only my family, but nearly everyone I know.

But I'm trying my hardest to look at the positive...

1) Running out of groceries before payday has resorted to some creative meals. Every year, my uncle has given us deer and venison meat and lately, it's become more of a staple of our meals. In fact, frolicking in the freezer has given us some meals that might even be considered gourmet dishes!

2) Weekends in-house have gotten more laundry and dishes done. But also a few fun things are getting done too. I don't think I've done a manicure/pedicure treatment on a Saturday night since my high school slumber party days.

3) My family is spending time together... whether we like it or not! As much as I get tested and frustrated by my kids and their constant demands, I try to remind myself that 10 years from now they will want absolutely nothing to do with me. Then the desparate grabs for attention seem flattering, and I'm not so bothered.

4) There's more sunlight at the end of the day, taxes will be filed soon (c'mon... big refund!) our mortgage interest rate went down, and we've promised ourselves that this spring WE WILL have the big party bash we've wanted to host ever since we got our own place.

The times will get better. And in a few random glimpses on any given day, life really isn't so bad.