Preparations have begun

So I am so excited to have a child that I can plan parties for, not that I couldn't plan parties before having a child. However, there is joy in knowing that I am able to plan and carry out something for the enjoyment of others, but also in creating my own piece of happiness. Talking to my cousin yesterday I think we would both have been really good owning our own businesses, doing planning, events and preparations. Too bad we live a zillion states away from one another. But I love the time of year when I can form ideas, organize and plan around an event! It is so much fun and I love doing it. It is a sense of being able to start from scratch, find ideas, make ideas, form plans to carry out the ideas and run with it! Hoping the end result will be well welcomed by all. For 11 years now I have hosted a Super Bowl party at my house! I love working with themes, I love cooking and baking and I love having people come share in what I have created! Although, I have never really enjoyed the clean up afterwards! But with the exciting parties, always comes clean up! Ah, it is worth it! I share with a friend of mine who that also goes into severe Party mode at least the week before the party getting all the things set and ready to go for that 1 day of a few hours of excitement! But I LOVE it. It doesn't matter how busy I am that week, how many work things, family things or responsibilities I have, I enjoy doing it and I am going to stop at nothing to have my fun with it! I can't say that there is anything that I don't like to do to get prepared for it. This year Paxton chose a Spiderman theme. I was super excited to "scout" Google and Pinterest to find great ideas to have at this year's party. I can't wait to share the pictures from the day! There is really something to be said in the happiness that is created when you are doing something you love. Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness. -- Frank Tyger

Be Kind when "Less than confident"

Do you ever feel less than confident? Does it seem like no matter what you have going on and no matter how hard you try, you are spinning your wheels and not feeling like you are really doing what you should, or is it that you don't feel like you are doing what you are expected? Do you ever feel underappreciated, or taken advantage of your good nature? I have learned that what you do and what others expect of you is in direct proportion sometimes of what you have done in the past. If you repeatedly do something for someone and go above and beyond their expectations their expectations change for you to perform at that higher level, you then feel the pressure to always have to live up to those expectations as in order to not disappoint. Sometimes when we get busy it is really hard to always perform at that higher level. We feel spread thin and we don't know how to prepare that person for less than what we have offered in the past. Do I think it is a bad thing, not at all, it is definitely a balancing thing. I have always been told that if you under promise and over deliver it is great, but repeatedly over delivering can pose a problem as well. Sometimes we start to doubt our self that we can keep up with our own demands and other's expectations. Do you ever feel like you are constantly being that good Christian or that good person who does over and over for someone but doesn't really get the favor in return? I am not talking about a favor as in favor for favor, I am just talking about the appreciation that comes along with what you do. I am not talking a favor returned, or even a "thank you". More just the friendship and involvement that comes along with being a good friend. An interested party in what is going on in your life. Sometimes being that person that we are, always giving and caring putting other people first because God says that is the right thing to do. But that there are sometimes those that don't view it that way. They just expect that you will be there always for them when things go "south". And in actuality you want them to be part of your life, even when things are good. You want to be able to do things together without there having to be a tragedy or occasion! This is really hard to explain without giving a real example. However, this blog is not about pointing any fingers or divulging any hardship of other people, it is about talking through my emotions, frustrations, good days and bad and hopefully in someway touching the lives of others. If I am always doing right, I shouldn't worry about other's expectations. I am reminded that It is not WHO is right but what is right that is important. - Thomas Huxley I am not in control of changing other people. Of having other people treat me how I would like to be treated, I can only control my thoughts, my actions and my attitude. I do not need to surrender to treat others poorly or be a bad friend just because someone treated me that way. I will not succumb to holding grudges, retaliating or changing the way that I treat a person due to their attitude, lack of support or actions. I do not have to be their best friend, I do not have to initiate contact or go out of my way to give 110% but I will be who I am naturally and without regret. When it is difficult to be kind, remember God said in 1 Thessalonians 5:15 NKJV- See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is GOOD both for yourselves and for all.