Mommy of Many®

I woke up early this morning to see Kateri off to a visit with friends in Germany. It was the end of our Christmastime visit which, of course, makes me reflect on all that happened and changed in this last year. 2011 was so full of uncertainty, faith, new paths, heartache and good. I found out where much of my own strength lies and what I’m capable of. I found out who the people in my life are who I know I can count on. And I stepped out of my box in so many ways. Now that I’m fairly settled into a new home and a new community, I can make 2012 a time to focus more clearly on issues that need more time from me. There are things I need to do for Max to help him be a more successful student. I can work harder to further my own work, in writing more frequently and possibly even dusting off the microphone and recording some new Mommy of Many podcast episodes. I can grow my Silpada Designs business and meet fabulous new people to bring some Sterling Style to. I look forward to attending Kateri’s college graduation in May and watching from the sidelines as she moves onto Grad School. The list goes on and on. The new year holds all the potential for success and happiness because I choose to see what can be and to believe that with faith, trust and the belief in each new day that I can help my children be successful and that I too, will be successful.

Here’s to all the Good Stuff ahead of us all!

Doing the Dance of the Children into the New Year~

New Year’s Eve. Time to think about all that’s transpired this year and all I’d like to see/do/change in the new year. It’s been a good year. It’s been a challenging year. It’s been a year full of life and all that brings. But I can’t help but feel that I could’ve gotten more out of it. I could’ve been Doing the Dance a little more efficiently.

Last year I told myself I’d do a better job of taking care of my health and make healthier choices. I’m not sure it was an actual “resolution”, but I knew it was something I needed to do and wanted to do and believe it or not, I did it! I spent a few weeks this summer learning how to better exercise and how to better fuel my body with the foods that it actually needs. Good Stuff!

This year, I’m tapping myself on the shoulder and asking that I stop procrastinating. That I look at the things before me, the hurdles they may require, put on my running shoes and face each thing with the determination and grace it takes to get over them. I’ve GOT to stop feeling so challenged by anything “new”! The most frustrating part is that every time I sit and stew and fret over something that challenges me, I waste a ton of time before I eventually tackle it. And every time I wonder why-the-heck I took so long to take care of it. Why I let it scare or challenge me.

So, my resolution is to stop procrastinating and stop letting mole hills look like mountains and just get on with it already!

~big breath~

Alright 2011, let’s do this!

Doing the Dance of the Children into the New Year~

On the last day of 2009 I got up and started the day as usual. I made the coffee, did the dishes, switched the laundry and took my shower. All the while I kept thinking about the year whose last moments I was living in. There were many changes that took place in our home and in our routine. The kids have all gotten bigger and grown in many ways-sports, schooling, attitude, etc.

Then I thought of all the people who have been a part of the year and who have stepped forward in so many ways that have touched and enhanced my life and the life of the kiddos. Wow! What a lucky M.O.M. I am! Anytime a specific need has arisen, someone comes into our lives to fill it.

So I put 2009 to rest with peaceful thoughts of the year.

Here’s 2010! There’s always so much pressure to have your resolution list ready and to wake up in the first moments of the new year ready to tackle them all. It always feels overwhelming. Yes, there are things I want to change and to do better in this new year. But I also want to keep doing a lot of things exactly the same. There are also things I want to get back to. Now that I’ve got a handle on working outside the house again, I want to find the time and energy to start recording the show again. I’m putting this as my #1 goal for the new year. So, more gym time can wait and so can all the other things we “normally” put on those resolution lists. I’m pushing for 2010 to be the start of “getting back to” the things I’ve loved doing.

Here’s to another year of watching our children grow and of learning the strategies that make each day as joyful and peaceful as possible!

Good morning 2010~

Here it is, the last day before we hit the grind again.  I’ve enjoyed the time off and have even had the opportunity to follow the wind a little.  The day after Christmas, I got in my little car and drove the few hours to my sister’s house.  I spent the night, visited with my nieces and nephew and then headed to Sacramento and the Sierra Nevada foothills.  I haven’t made that drive in years and I’ve never made it completely on my own before.  Talk about climbing out of my box!  It was an easy drive full of great music (Elvis and I had a moment) and lots of quiet thought.  I discovered that I enjoy driving in the wee hours of the morning before the sun comes up.  But given my normal wake-up routine, I suppose it’s no surprise.  I was able to spend a little alone time with my dad, who I hardly ever get to visit with and I even had one night where I got 11 hours of sleep.  After a few days, I answered the phone to a tearful call from Max and I knew it was time to go home.  The drive home was just as easy.  It felt good to get back.  Of course, I walked in to a mountain of laundry and a note on the fridge that said, “we need food and lots of it”.  I looked through the cupboards and freezer and concocted a meal.  Then it was back to the Dance.  

Now, Clay, JJ and Kateri are on a trip.  The older kids haven’t seen their grandparents in quiet some time, so they are all enjoying a little family time.  

The other kids all start back to school tomorrow.  Tristan and Max are going back to the Catholic school and I’ve been busy getting them outfitted with their uniforms and school supplies.  Today it’s time for haircuts!  I’m really happy to think of the kids back together at that school.  We have had kids there for 8 years and it feels like going home.  Next year, Gabi and Lex will both be in preschool there and I may even be working there.  Talk about change!  But for now, I will just enjoy going back to a routine that I’m used to with people who know us well.  

Kateri and JJ head back to school at the end of this week.  We will see them again at Easter.  I know the time will go quickly.  However, that also means that the rest of the time that Clay has at home will pass quickly.  He will be deploying again in May.  It’s good that the kids will be able to see him again before he goes.  

I hope each of you had a nice time off, that your holidays were peaceful and that this new year is full of opportunities that are realized and taken!

To life~

Whoo Hoo!  Another year in front of us.  Another chance to do it right!  Another chance to take a new breath.  Yes, we rip off the pages of our calendars and count down, but really we should look at each new day with the same renewal and excitement as we do January 1st.  Each day we wake up  and get a new chance to love our kids, to make amends with those whom we are unsettled, with taking care of our bodies, with thanking God for the beauty around us.

I chose to start the new year with a day trip with my 4 oldest girls.  I’ve never just gathered up the girls and headed out.  We didn’t plan a spectacular trip, go very far or spend much money.  But, we all got in the car together, had to settle our musical differences and then headed to 2 of my favorite places, San Clemente and Dana Point.  When we first moved to Southern Cal, way back in ’92, Clay and I had 2 kiddos and we rented a small apartment in San Clemente.  I walked with Kateri and JJ to the beach daily.  We had a favorite cafe and the library was close.  Good times!  I worked in Dana Point and would go over to the harbor on my lunch breaks.  Kateri and JJ both learned to ride bikes there.  So, the girls and I took a trip down memory lane, had lunch and some laughs and enjoyed the rocky beach.  It was a really, really great way to start the new year!!!!!  

2009 is going to be a full year, with new experiences for the Lang Clan, but the first day was a good one!

Happy New Year!~

Hitting the road after a quick stop at Starbucks (required!)

lunch with the Dana Point Harbor in the background

Mariah, Kateri and M.O.M.

Even on a cold, windy day, this is one of our favorite beaches

So, here we are at the end of the Christmas Break. The tree has been taken down and dragged outside (one of my wall sconces being dragged along with it ). The pine needles have been vacuumed up. The Christmas decor boxes have been repacked. JJ has headed back to the cold, snowy depths of PA. And now I’m faced with packing lunches, waking kids while it’s still dark and dressing everyone, making sure there hair is brushed and checking their breath, all before 7:30 am. Ugh! I don’t want to! I liked this break. Usually the Christmas or Easter breaks are a little hectic because it’s just a couple of weeks. But this break was really enjoyable. I was sort of hoping that we could all just forget about going back to school and keep up the routine we were in. The thing about going back that’s hard for me is being on someone else’s schedule. It makes me a little frantic sometimes. 

They’re going back to Science Fair projects, sports and 6th grade camp, all good things. However, they require me to adhere to deadlines that the kids aren’t paying attention to.

Anyway, back we go, like it or not

!I hope you each had a very enjoyable break and are recharged and ready for the New Year!

Have a great day~

I can hardly believe that 2007 is coming to an end! It’s all gone so quickly! In this week’s show, I take a look at all that 2007 has brought and a quick look ahead to 2008. There’s been a lot of change in the Lang household over this last year. I can’t wait to see the changes that will occur in the New Year. We are facing a deployment, early in 2008. It’s certainly not our first, but will be a different experience for many reasons. I will spend 2008 trying to keep the kiddos happy and to stay organized, while being on my own for 7 months. Whew! Wish me luck! A little luck and a lot of prayer should see me through. Happy New Year to each of you! You can always email me at Jen@MommyofMany.com or leave a comment, here on the site. I love to hear from you! Thanks to each of you for helping make MommyofMany.com so much fun! Here’s to “Doing the Dance of the Children” into a New Year!