Retirement Time

5 Days until Retirement

Life begins at retirement. ~Author Unknown

Retirement is such an awesome word. The word retirement means: Noun

The action or fact of leaving one's job and ceasing to work. The period of one's life after leaving one's job and ceasing to work. Sounds wonderful doesn’t it. Just sitting around eating bon-bons and sleeping in until Noon. Does sound pretty good at least for the 1st week. But that isn’t how I picture my retirement being. Retiring from my 8 – 5 gives me time to start my own home based business. Retirement means Blogging More I have no intention of sitting around relaxing and watching TV. I have way too much to do for that. My plan is to be up blogging and marketing my business. And the funny thing is – I am more excited about doing that than just about anything else lately. OK, I am also excited about my new grandbaby coming in August.  But the cool part is that not having a regular job gives me the chance to be there when Jay and Meredith have their little one. It gives me the chance to see all my grandkids when I can’t stand not seeing them one second longer. It also gives me the chance to visit my birth mom one more time before it’s too late. Blogging as I Travel During My Retirement

All I have to do is pack the laptop or Ipad and blog away while I am traveling. It gives Dennis and I the opportunity to go to Chicago in a few weeks for the Empower Network Convention. I don’t have to worry about having enough hours of vacation time or asking my boss permission.

In May we have 3 graduations, in one week, in 3 different states. Saturday step daughter, Lisa graduates from college in Arkansas, Monday step son Peter graduates from Vet school in Louisiana and the next Saturday granddaughter Sydney graduates from high school in New Mexico. We can be at them ALL!!!

Route 66 to the End!!

When that is finished – we are heading to California on Route 66. We have done 2 legs of Route 66 on long 4 day weekends in the past. Last May we traveled Chicago to Vinita, OK, and in September we went from Vinita to Tucumcari, New Mexico. We will finish from New Mexico to California.

You can bet, you will see lots of pictures on this blog from our travels. Traveling, writing (blogging) and taking pictures are the things I love to do. This so-called retirement will give me the opportunity to fulfill my dream.

Join Me in the Fun

If this is a life you would be interested in – all you have to do is Click the Link below, add your email address, watch the video and I will be back in touch with you. I would love for you to join me in my Retirement fun.

CLICK HERE

Have a wonderful day,

Charyl aka Mom8isme

A New Year Dawns

This is a new day.  A new beginning. And things will change.

Taylor Swift

It is a new day and a new year.  OK, I am a bit behind the times but then somethings just can't be helped.  Had spinal neck surgery 2 weeks ago and have had the stomach flu since the end of last year.  Who would have thought a person could crave jello and chicken noodle soup.  Well, I sure have.  And it is nice to be able to keep it down.  Progress.  I am on the road to recovery.

Well, I discovered a couple days ago that I have a serious character flaw.  I have over the years allowed my passion muscle to shrivel up into nothingness.  Not good.  Discovered that I was just pretty much existing day to day with no passion or excitement.  I realized I need to get my life out of neutral and into gear.  Actually if you want to read the longer version of this lack of passion odyssey you can click and see the whole post. Anyways, I need to have a life filled with beautiful colors not drab grey.

But the bottom line is that my desire for 2013 is to learn to be "on fire" and passionate for Jesus and for the new venture that Dennis and I have embarked on.  Over the years I have allowed too much bad juju to get in the way of my dreams and desires.  I have allowed myself to feel like I was stuck in a hole with no way out.  The the truth is that the golden ring has always been there for me to grab.  No one or thing has kept me down.  I have chosen to stay down and take the easy, default path.  No longer.  I am going to choose the golden ring and have a life that shines. 

Dennis and I have 15 beautiful impressionable grandchildren.  I want to have a life and be a person that they can learn from.  Looking back I see that our 12 kids pretty much saw a bleak nothingness life in us.  Why would they want to emulate that?  We have pretty much lost our chance to make an impact on them but if we change things and do things right from now on, we might, just might have the chance to  make a positive influence on the grandkids.  And they are so worth it.  I want my grandchildren to grow up being on fire for Jesus and for life in general.  I want them to have that passion that makes a person sparkle and succeed in whatever they attempt in life.

Life is short.  You only have one chance to leave a legacy.  I am a bit late getting out of the starting gate but as long as I have breath, I have an opportunity to make an impact.

Have a wonderful day,

Charyl

Christmas Stress

Christmas Season = Stress

Tis the season to be jolly. At least that is what the song says. But for most people this is the season to be a bit stressed. I know for me it is. It seems Christmas is totally stress-filled.

Don’t get me wrong I love Christmas. I love everything about Christmas. I love the decorations, the lights, the trees, the songs and the movies. I can’t get enough. I have my house totally decorated. We have our Christmas village out. Evening is so pretty with the village and tree blazing with color. It is beautiful. We even went to the local park the other night and drove through and looked at the lights. Last year we even drove over 3 hours to look at a world famous park with decorations and were excited that we actually got to see it, there was a long line just to get in. We would probably go back this year except I am having surgery next week and we just can’t fit it in.

BUT – with all that said, the part I don’t like about Christmas is the stress of presents. It happens every year. Christmas has just gotten very commercial over the years. It tends to be extremely materialistic. As a mom and grandma I stress about making sure everybody has an equal amount of presents and I have spent an equal amount on the presents. DRIVES me crazy! I guess it wouldn’t be so bad if I only had a couple kids but we have 12 kids and 15 grandkids, thrown in son and daughter in laws and a hubby. I don’t ever want anyone to feel slighted. I want everyone to feel they got their fair share. It is HARD!! It really takes a lot of the joy out of the season. And then there is the part about trying to figure out what they “really” want. Crazy making. Do they tell me what they want – not so much. Mom/Grandma should know – right? NOT. I have finally given up on being a mind reader. Not one of the things I am gifted with. Wish I was, it would help. And don’t get me started on the giving of money and gift cards. I, too, have given in and done that way to many times. How personal is that – it just isn’t.

Life used to be so much more simple. When the kids were little it was a lot easier. I knew what they wanted or I just got them what I wanted them to have. It didn’t seem to be as focused on the presents. OK, I do remember being stressed to make sure they all had the same equal amount of presents, and I always bought them way too much. But overall it was just easier.

I just wish we could all go back to a simpler time. A time when the reason for the season was truly Jesus. A time when we all focused on the real meaning of Christmas. We took the time to read the Christmas Story and actually talk about it. A time when we visited with friends. Made cookies by the dozen and delivered them when we went visiting. A time when we took the time to send actual Christmas cards in the mail instead of sending emails and text messages. A time when we could relax and enjoy the season. I really wish we could slow down as a society. I wish we could go back to our roots before it is too late and our kids and grandkids are too warped by the busy hectic world and can’t get back to the things that are really important. The basic things of life.

So when you get so sucked up into the whirlwind of the Christmas Stress. When you find yourself feeling frantic and hectic. Take a moment, sit down, have a glass of eggnog and relax. Listen to some Christmas songs of old. Maybe watch a sappy Christmas movie or 2. How about White Christmas? That one always does the trick. Focus on the fact that if it weren’t for Jesus being born in a manger, we wouldn’t be having the season to begin with.

So, my wish for you is to take the time to unwind and enjoy the Christmas season before it is too late and it’s another one down the drain.

And if you are interested in finding a way to pay off all that Christmas debt when it starts rolling in. Check out DS Domination. It just might be your ticket to getting rid of at least that aspect of the stress of the season.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas,
Charyl

Thanksgiving/Christmas

The family had an awesome time over Thanksgiving.  Some of the kids were here.  Not all.  We really wished that more could have come.  It was awesome having the 6 of the 15 grandkids here.  They are all growing so fast.  It seemed like the time was over before we even got a chance to visit. 

One of the cool things we did this year is we celebrated Christmas over Thanksgiving.  We did our gift exchange.  It was awesome from my stand point.  Most of my Christmas shopping was finished at that point and most people were just starting.  And as it has turned out - I am going to be needing surgery next week so having the bulk of Christmas done will be a blessing since I will be out of the loop.  The kids all seemed to enjoy it, too.  I think it helps stretch the gifts out for the kids.  This way it isn't as overwhelming on Christmas when they normally have gift over load.  From what I was hearing they suggest we do it again.  The only difference I think I will make next time is I will NOT make turkey and all the fixings.  Since we had our celebration on Friday everyone was pretty much turkeyed out.  Next time I will make pancit and lumpia.  At our house if Mom makes pancit and lumpia the family will show up.  It is one tricky way to make sure they show up again. :-)

Here are a few of the pixs from our time together.

Be sure to check out the new adventure Dennis and I are involved with.

DS Domination

Have a wonderful day,

Charyl