The way I see it...

Appreciation

Appreciate – verb, to recognize the value of something
Appreciation – noun, grateful recognition

I don't know if it was the holiday season, or the fact that Valentine's Day is right around the corner or because sometimes I get random stuff stuck in my brain that won't come out, but I've been thinking about those two words lately.

I've been thinking appreciation as it pertains to my life and all the parts of it – my family, my friends, my job and all the other stuff that goes in-between.

As I've said before, I am very, very lucky to have this job. It fits with my crazy family demands. Chris is the best at letting me just do what I need to do, when I need to do it, as long as that paper gets done every week. It's such a great thing to feel like what you do matters and I most definitely feel that way here at the paper.

At home, I've been thinking about little things I can do that my husband may appreciate. I know that I drive him nuts occasionally with things I do. For example, when I get done drying a load of laundry, I just leave it in the dryer until I absolutely have to take it out. Aaron will go to put his reffing stuff into the dryer and finds it full of clean, dry clothes. Bless his heart, he never says a word about it. I can always tell when he does laundry because I go to switch the laundry over and that dryer is always empty. I appreciate that.

I know Aaron appreciates that I let him sleep in on the weekends (most of the time) and I take care of all the Blake stuff – ordering meds, appointments, port supplies, I just keep track of it and get it done.

It's not about big stuff, is it? Appreciating people doesn't have to be some grandiose gesture either in recognition or act. Obviously, my examples prove that.

But what about those people that don't appreciate you? I say forget them. You keep doing your thing and being you and that's all that matters. I love this quote I found, “Your value doesn't decrease based on someone's inability to see your worth.” Let that sink in a minute. So much truth, right?

Is it hard when people don't recognize that you're doing something well? That you're going out of your way to be helpful? That you're going above and beyond? Of course it is. That doesn't change the fact that if in your heart of hearts, you know you're doing a good thing, that may just have to be enough.

My point is, be grateful and show your appreciation for the people in your life. Do things others will appreciate. I think it's safe to say that people who feel appreciated will always do more than what is expected, but that's just the way I see it.

Super great news!

Blake had an appointment on Monday in Iowa City and since Monday is my "paper day" Aaron took Blake down.

The first appointment was an ultrasound of Blake's kidney and bladder and a consult with urology.  Dr. Storm said everything looked stable from six months ago and to keep on keepin' on.  Aaron commented how great it was that he was able to pee on his own.  Dr. Storm apparently just shook his head and said, yet again, "But he's not supposed to be able to pee."

There are some things you just have to roll with.  Don't question it, just be glad.  Be thankful. 

Blake also had to have an iron infusion and meet with Dr. Jetton.  Dr. Jetton thought all looked well and she made just one med dosage adjustment.  She also said Blake didn't have to go back to see her (as long as all is well) for SIX MONTHS.  SIX MONTHS!!

When Aaron told me that I pretty much teared-up.  For a kid who could barely stay out of the hospital for 48 hours, SIX MONTHS just blows my mind. Happy heart for this mama!

Hunecke Family Christmas

Christmas has come and gone and I still haven't blogged about our Hunecke Christmas that was December 12th.  I hope to get the blog caught up over this week!  Things are a bit more laid back the next few days.

We take turns hosting every year and this year, it was our turn.  Which was nice (no travel!) and stressful (cleaning, planning, etc).  All went well though once everybody got to our place.  

Everybody arrived at around NOON on Saturday and the last of my family left at 10 AM on Sunday.  It was short and sweet, but a great time.  

Last year we were in Mankato and we had so much fun going to the Kiwanis Light display I was feeling a little bit of pressure to do something super fun for everybody.   My family is loud and crazy and a ton of fun.  We also may be a tad bit competitive.  Because of the reasons mentioned, I spent the week leading up to our Christmas trying to find Christmas-related games that we could play.  

We made it a battle of the sexes sort of thing and kept track of points.  I also made it kid friendly so they could jump in every few games between playing with cousins to participate as well.

 Chaos in the kitchen.

Here are the games we played:

1.  Snowball fight:  We used giant marshmallows and tried to throw them threw the center of a wreath.  Most ‘mallows through the wreath wins.  Sidenote:  I was terrible at this game.  Super terrible.  The men’s team destroyed us at this.

2. Penguin walk: The object is to keep a balloon in-between your legs (walking like a penguin) and you race wherever you decide.  This was harder than it sounded and the kids loved it.

 Things got a tad competitive...

3. Humdinger: Put a minute on the clock.  Put a bunch of different songs into a baggie.  Like the name implies, you hum the Christmas song and whoever guesses it goes to the front to do the next one.  The women’s team completely dominated this game!  It was one of our faves and I was sorry we ran out of songs.

4. Christmas Catchphrase: This was a variety of Christmas stuff like songs or things you during Christmas time and you had a bunch in a baggie and you had to describe them to your team without saying the words on the piece of paper.  A minute on the clock and whoever guessed it right went to the front to describe it.  Another good one.

5. Candy cane relay: This game was hilarious!  Everybody got in a line and had a candy cane in their mouth.  The object was to pass one candy cane to the end of your line and back again using the candy cane like a hook and no hands allowed.  

6. Family Feud - Christmas style: I found this one on-line (like I did the others) and they had ten questions and we did it like the real game.  Face-offs between significant others, trying to get the steal. trying to avoid three strikes, deciding if you were going to pass or play.  This was definitely a hit!  I highly recommend it.

 I have no words for these outlaws.  Married into the family and they're kind of the three musketeers.  We love 'em.

 

Games.  Laughter.  Presents.  Way too much food. Memories.  Quality time.  More food.  More laughter.  These are my people and I wouldn't trade them.  

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family!

The way I see it...

PEACE

On Monday one of my Facebook friends posted a video of Bing Crosby and David Bowie singing their famous duet, “Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth.”  I immediately listened to it because I love the message behind the song.

It’s interesting that the song was recorded in 1977 and it still rings true today.  I don’t think that I can be the only one that hates turning on the news these days.  It seems like every week there is another senseless tragedy where more innocent people are losing their lives.

Jenna and Brody are getting to the age where they are obsessed with watching the news.  They get that from Aaron.  The night of the San Bernadino shootings, Aaron wouldn’t change the channel and I wanted to watch the lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.  Happy stuff, you guys, that’s where my mind was.

Anyway, having a nine and seven year old watching the news is hard.  As a parent, you want to shield them as much as you can, but living in a bubble is just not reality.  I am proud of them that they like to be informed and want to know what’s going on in the world.

I  hate when they look at me and say, “Mom, why would somebody do that?  Why would they shoot all those people?”  Parenting is hard, especially when you don’t know the answers.

Take a moment to read and think about the lyrics from the song:

Peace on Earth, can it be?

Years from now, perhaps we'll see

See the day of glory

See the day when men of good will

Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth

Can it be?

Every child must be made aware

Every child must be made to care

Care enough for his fellow man

To give all the love that he can

I pray my wish will come true

For my child and your child too

Those words are timeless.  The world definitely needs more peace right now.  More caring for others.  More turning off the news and holding the ones you love tightly and focusing on them, but that’s just the way I see it.

The way I see it...

Being more intentional

The holiday season is upon us and it’s always such a crazy time of year with everything.  I always feel like before you know it, Christmas is here and gone and we’re sitting in January wondering where December went.

 

I have yet to buy a single gift.  I have yet to finish my Christmas decorating around the house.  I have family coming December 12th for Christmas (we have work schedule conflicts) and I have yet to come up with a plan for food, sleeping arrangements, etc.

 

I don’t want to stress out about these things!  I say that every year and I try my best, but I always get caught up in the season and it’s gone and I’m stressed before you know it.  

 

This year, I would like to make a plan and set a goal.  I want to be more intentional with my time this month. I want to not just wish for the weekend.  I want to watch, “Home Alone,” on a Thursday night because that sounds like a fun thing to do.  I want to bake a batch of Christmas cookies when the kids get home from school because they would enjoy it.  I don’t wan’t to wait for and wish for the weekend all month.  That’s what makes the time go by so incredibly fast.  

 

I’m going to make an honest effort for my family to not let the calendar control me this month.  I want to make every day special - for them and for me, but that’s just the way I see it   

Our turkey day craft

Maybe we should alternately title this, "Jamie's attempt at being a crafty mom!" 

Here's what happened:  We got about seven inches of snow on Friday afternoon/overnight into Saturday morning.  Jenna and Brody's basketball games got cancelled and Jenna  begged me to do a "project."  I thought we could make something for the Thanksgiving table at Grandpa and Grandma Burdorfs.  I quickly consulted pinterest trying to come up with an idea (what did we do before pinterest?!).

I liked these cute little turkey name place cards.  We improvised a bit on how to do them and what supplies we used, but I think they turned out pretty well.

First off, Jenna painted some wine corks brown.  "Conveniently" I had a bunch stashed in a drawer. ;)   

 

 Then,  Brody and I shaped the pipe cleaners, while Jenna cut out the beaks and whatever that red thing on a turkey is called.  I did the hot-gluing of the eyes, beak and feathers. 

Next, I found some wooden grilling skewers stashed away in my pantry, so I cut those in half and stuck it into the top and then just hot-glued the construction paper onto the top of the skewer.  Wa-la!

 It was a little time-consuming, but we think the finished product is pretty cute and will look great on the Thanksgiving table!

 

Here's what you need:

1. Wine Corks

2. Brown Paint

3. Googly eyes

4. Pipe Cleaners

5. Foam sheets (for beak)

6. Wooden Skewers

7. Construction paper

 

On a side note, I have to ask for some prayers and happy thoughts for Blake.  His tacro and creatinine were just slightly higher than normal, so we have to redo labs Monday morning.  Please pray for a smooth draw since last Wednesday was a nightmare and pray for those numbers to where they have been.  Thanks friends!