Do you love complaining? self victimization? feelings of discontent? Then this is for you! 3 Tips That Will Help Bring You Down.

We grabbed those nearby. Lucky ducks....we all know how much kids love stopping for pictures.
Here we have 16 of the 21 cousins...I call this...
Cousin Photo Take 10,000. ....because looking forward and smiling is a lot to ask.

...at least each of them is looking in at least one of the shots at some point.
Just go with the flow, right? There's always next time. Ha!

Just goooo with the flow. This is Jeff's answer to sanity in life.
He says it to me quite often. ...as if I'm not a flow-er. Ha! I flow.

I will admit, it is true...the more we "just go with it"..the happier and less stressed we are.
But....Who wants to be happy and less stressed??? C'mon..that's silly talk.

You see, the less flexible, forgiving and easy going we are, the more miserable we can be.
And let's be honest, there are some who actually enjoy misery.
That good old "victim role" and misery loves company....I think we've all been there at times.
{Well...not me of course, but other people.}

If you enjoy being miserable and find rest in being a victim in your own life...
...make sure you regularly follow these three tips


1. Don't go with the flow.
Let every little thing that goes wrong get under your skin.
Cancelled plans, changed plans, sudden sickness, obligations that come up last minute..
....let all of these things bother you to no end.
Not only things, but people....get angry at the people who are causing your flow to have ripples.
Spend time reflecting on what an easy going person you are and how you are always on task.
Let people know they are affecting your life negatively..or don't. You can always form a grudge.
Those are nice too. Either way, it will help you to feel aggravated and victimized.


2. Forget everything others do and have done for you.
Try to focus only on what YOU do for others, and not what others do for you.
For a special treat, dig back in the past......remember all you have given and given up.
Make a list! Even a mental one will help you to feel proud for all you've done.

Now that it's fall we keep seeing "Thankful" signs...November is right around the corner...
...the time of year when people start telling all they are grateful for.
Do NOT get caught in this trap! You will find happiness there. That is not what you are after.


3. Compare yourself to those who have more than you.
More money, more time, more things, more house, cleaner house,
nicer car, more vacation time, more windows in their kitchen {who get jealous over that?}
....you get the point.

Do not focus on what you have, rather focus on what you DO NOT have.
Dwell upon this as often as possible. Check social media regularly...Instagram. Facebook. Blogs.
Search out things you love, but can't have.
This will ensure feelings of discontent which will then lead to feelings of victimization.
Which will make you feel wonderfully miserable!

Hope this was helpful!
XxOo

Wrapping up the week....who blogs on Sunday mornings before church?

I guess me. and is this really wrapping up the week? or starting a new one one?

Oh well, sticking with wrapping.
It's been misty and drizzly and dreary...a perfect day to stay inside and watch old movies.
{or the Cub's game...because I live with sport fanatics}

We celebrated 9 birthdays yesterday. Our family is getting really big and if we did individual birthday parties none of us would ever have a free day again. So we combine. Haha.

It's great though. I love my big family.

Frankie turned 2 on Friday. I can't believe how fast that went by.
The three youngest kids all pitched in and bought him
a deluxe dump truck almost the same size as he is.
Not sure who was more excited...them to give it to him, or him to receive it!

He thought it was the greatest thing in the world. He even took it to bed with him.

Because I have boys that work at the orchard, we spend a lot of time driving back and forth....
...often {too often this week} we stop for doughnuts and coffee and cider. It can be dangerous.
Perfectly wonderful, but dangerous.

One of our family's favorite bands came out with a new album...
I LOVE the version of this song! Oh banjo you are fabulous to one's ears.

Happy Sunday to you.
XxOo

Around the water cooler....for a few minutes...with cousins....and also, it tastes better when you pour. It really does.

They are SO funny!
I stopped by my sister's house for a few minutes this afternoon with Frankie.
My nephew asked for a glass of water, so of course, every boy was now dehydrated.
Isn't that the way kids work...one has something and it appeals to the rest?

{We say kids...but we adults work that way too, right?
I see your cute new shoes and then all of a sudden I need new shoes.}

By the way...you can pour your own water at Auntie Dana's house...that is BIG fun.

Can the hat be pulled down any farther? ;)

XxOo

We live in an old, small town, in a medium sized old house with really old windows and a really old wood stove and a great big sugar maple out front.

Our town has a population of 200.
But they haven't changed the sign since Allison, Sophia or Frankie have been born..
...so make that 203. ;)

Our town has...
a school. a church. a fire station and 5 stop signs....that's it. Really.

We are surrounded by cornfields and trees.
Our windows are old. Our doors are old. Our driveway is waaaay too old!
It's pretty and quiet and a perfect place to raise kids.

We're about to start year #15 in this house of our's.
{....and we STILL haven't gotten around to remodeling
the 1960's upstairs bathroom...hello powder blue tile and ancient sink.}
...someday, someday.

When Jeff and I were married we decided the first house we bought we'd live in forever.
So here we are, in our forever house. Content.

Sometimes we dream....
Jeff and the kids look for property out in the country with a million acres.
I on the other hand, am on this Chicago real estate email list of houses only Bill Gates could afford.

To be honest though, the older I get, the more I appreciate
no traffic, pretty country views and shorter lines at the grocery store.
I MAY have even recently told Jeff I perhaps don't want to dream of living in the city anymore....
...he asked who I was and where did his wife go???

I actually surprised myself with that one! Ha.

I am excited for wood stove fires and crunchy leaves and all the bees going into hibernation!

Happy Tuesday to you.
XxOo

Golden Rule talk and J.O.Y. and bonfire marshmallows and cinnamon rolls and leaf-y yards.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  - Matthew 7:12

"Can you imagine if we all lived by 'The Golden Rule'?"
....Jeff asked me this yesterday while we were driving.

Let me tell you,  I have no problem quoting these 10 words to my children...
{especially when they are arguing!} ...but myself? Yikes! Do I do unto others...?

Oh, it's real easy to point out the things people "do wrong" to us,
but do we ever stop and think how we are treating others?

How often do we examine ourselves? If we're honest, probably not too often.

But really....can you imagine if we all followed this rule?
What if we gave thought to every word that came out of our mouths?
What if we really, truly gave the response we would like to have given to us?

What if we thought through each and every one of our actions and
REALLY treated people with the same respect we would like to be treated with?

Relationships would be easy and kindness would be the norm.

Melt my heart!...the cutest little wood stack-er I ever did see.

Melt my heart again...most handsome man I ever did see.


J.O.Y.
Jesus first. Others second. Yourself last.
Jeff has been saying this to our kids since they've been little, little.

Do this in your life and you will be an all around happier and more peaceful person.

When you are kind to others, you actually feel better yourself!
Be a person you would like to be around.

Happy Monday.
XxOo

To wrap up the week.While everyone else was drinking hot chocolate...

...we went out for ice cream? In October? When the air was brisk and chilly?
I only have these two until tomorrow night. After the library she said ice cream sounded good.
From the car seat a little voice said.... "Me a aye cweem peese?"

So in that crisp, cool, fall evening breeze...we ate "aye cweem".

Jeff has been gone since Monday for work..he comes home tomorrow evening!
I can't wait!!!!!!! I miss him when he's gone.

Early tomorrow morning I have a coffee/grocery shopping appointment with a ten year old girl.
We will be buying everything we need to make s'mores in our backyard tomorrow night.

The weather around here is going to be gorgeous for the next few days.
Very fall-ish. I need to get more pumpkins for my porch.

Here's one of my absolute favorite instagram feeds. I could look through her photos all day.
I've been following her for a while now...I want to live where she lives!

Frankie's little shoes in these pictures...they were Tyler's when he was two!
All of my boys have worn them. Paying for quality was worth it. Thanks Striderite.

...and that's a little wrap up on our week.
Happy Friday.
XxOo

Hockey sticks and rust colored flowers from mums....toddlers are the best.

Just when I thought we were past my fall mums being picked apart...
a{n almost} two year old comes along.

But...he picked it for me! Of course I'm not upset...it was the SWEETEST!
I love this little guy so much...we all do around here.

Don't buy into the "terrible two" cliche.
I know some days are hard...
{like when you're trying to make dinner "Mama hold me, mama hold me... the baby cries}

....and I know they get into everything!!!
{ash from the wood stove, every cabinet...and even their own diapers...Ewwww!!!!}

But...Toddlers are the best!

They love you unconditionally. Mom is their whole world.
(and dad!...don't want to leave dads out...but mom usually still supersedes at age two ;)
The cuteness is almost unbearable!!!

The things they say.
The hugs and kisses they give.
The little things they do.

I just love toddlers.

Happy Tuesday to you.
XxOo