A Different View

It's that time of year again.  I've headed off to Milwaukee for the winter board meeting for the NNPDF.  For a different perspective, I took some photos from the plane window.  Here are my favorite 5:

1. I think these are the Finger Lakes in central New York.

2. Snow covered - somewhere between Albany and Detroit

3. Partially frozen lake while landing in Detroit for my layover.

4. Detroit.  The center of the picture had a cluster of tall buildings.

5. Detroit at night.

It was too dark to take pictures flying into Milwaukee.  I admit these aren't the best of pictures, but when I had this idea I was already in the air and it's tough to take pictures out the window!!!

Thumping Thursday Jan 30

No Thumping Thursday bloghop this week.  Katrina at Mom in the USA is the host. I know she is very pregnant so she probably got caught up in baby things.  Stop over and wish her well.

One word

Many bloggers are focusing on one word for their year this year.  I don't remember if it was last year or the year before, but I participated in the one word challenge by posting my word for the year on Facebook.  But I forgot about it and never followed up. So by posting it here, I am holding myself accountable.

My one word for 2014 is "Focused".

I want to enjoy what is going on in my life - from spending time with my husband or my daughter to focusing on one item at a time when I have multiple things going on at once.

*Focus on one thing at a time. Minimal multi-tasking.
*Focus on my family. Kids are only young once. Dan taught me that.
*Focus on what can be done in the amount of time I have.
*Focus on my plans and not letting other people disrupt my plans.

By focusing on what is important to me, I hope to reduce my stress and enjoy my life more.

To read more about choosing one word you can go here and here.

5 for Five - Jan 27

So what is 5 For Five? In the short form, it is 5 goals you want to achieve this week. Next week, I will report on my success (or failure). Jenn does a better job of explaining it here.

Here were the goals from last week:
1. Read 2 newspapers per day (a SMART goal from Say Goodbye to Survival Mode) I read 2 newspapers 3 days this week. Not as much as I wanted, but it's a start.
2. Write 3 blog entries this week (another SMART goal) I did that! 5 Things I love, Angels, and Snow Tubing
3. Use my 2 free evenings this week productively. One evening was spent cuddling with Shelby and the other was a bit productive. So, yes, both were productive.
4. Spend time enjoying Shelby. Done! How can I not?
5. Wash the next sized clothes for Shelby. I pulled them all out on Thursday night, hubby washed them all on Friday and I am still putting them away. But they are washed!

I'm calling last week a success!!!

So what are my goals for this week???
1. Finish putting Shelby's clothes away.
2. Read 2 newspapers a day. I'm cheating on this one. I read 2 this morning before I posted this...shh...
3. Post 3 blog entries this week. I love writing, it's just finding the time some days.
4. Create several Shutterfly photobooks. I have coupon codes for 2 or 3 books that expire on 1/31/14. So I better make and order them!
5. Get my NNPDF paperwork organized.

Ok, who is with me?  Let's keep each other on track to a better year!

Snow tubing

We went to Willard Mountain for an Elks snow tubing event. Faron and I have been skiing before, but never tubing.

It was a but chilly, but was warmer than it had been.  With fresh fallen snow the only issue was the snow blowing in your face.

Two Angels

Riley Smith (NPC)

11/14/1998 ~ 01/19/2014

Riley Smith (NPC ~ Age 15)

Our Dearest NNPDF Families and Friends,

It is with heavy hearts that we must inform the NPD Community that Riley Smith lost her battle with Niemann-Pick Disease, Type C, after a 9 day valiant & courageous battle. Riley earned her wings to join her brother, Braden (age 10), who lost his battle with NPC in 2006.

Riley's Aunt, Terri Gillespie Ford, asked us to share these words with the community:
"Riley didn't lose anything, she won this battle for a better existence in a world where children walk, talk, and eat - lots and lots of chocolate!! Riley gave her love each and every day and showed the world your body is nothing, your spirit is everything! And choosing to give it for others it what this world should be about. We will miss her terribly! She fought with everything, and passed into heaven peacefully being held in the loving arms of her parents, Trent & Julie Smith."

This comes as a blow to us all who were enchanted by her bright smile and lovely red hair. She will be remembered for her courage, her spirit and her enduring love of her family and friends. Please know that of the entire NPD community is with you in your grief. May the comfort and love of friends and family carry you on in the days, weeks and months ahead without Riley as a part of your lives.

*******************************

I have also personally learned of another angel: Kirsten Smith, 39 years and 11 months old who passed away on Thursday 16th January, 2014. Kirsten was from Australia. “Gone to meet her brother Matty in heaven”. A tribute to Kirsten is here

These two angels are from different families, even though the last names are the same.

Please take a moment of silence for these families.

Five Things I Love Right Now

I found a wonderful group of bloggers from my geographic area of the world: The Northeast Bloggers! Every Friday they do a Friday Five hop where blogs post list of five things - anything! So here goes my first Friday Five, things I love right now:

1. I love my husband's heated jacket. Having to go out in this bitter cold is never fun, and having to stand waiting for a bus for 15 minutes is even worse. I've tried the long johns and cordoray pants. I don't mind if my legs are cold, but if my body is, then I am cold. Hubby bought himself a DeWalt heated jacket for Christmas and graciously let me borrow it for this lovely weather we are having. (It is currently 2 degrees but feels like minus 12 degrees. Brrr....)

2. I love spending time with my baby. I just wish I could do more of it. Sigh.... But a working mom must do what a working mom does.

3. I love my Keurig. After going through a few coffee pots in a short period of time, we asked for a Keurig for Christmas. This is the best thing. Now there is no wasted coffee, we can have what flavor we want (even hot chocolate or tea) and there is no mess to clean up.

4. I love mass transportation. No more navigating traffic or accidents or stress of driving and the other drivers on the road. I can read a newspaper, catch up on Facebook, or write a blog post. With 30-45 minutes each way, it is a nice way to get into "work mode" and then out of "work mode" before I get home.

5. I love being involved with my non-profits. More and more I've been finding that I love spending time doing things that help the community. Whether it is connecting with other Niemann-Pick families (or other families with rare diseases) or helping at the Elks, I'm finding that I would rather do things that help others.


So there you have it. Five things I love on a Friday.