Have Courage

“The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.”
~ Robert G. Ingersoll

“True courage is like a kite; a contrary wind raises it higher.”
~ John Petit-Senn

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’”
~ Mary Anne Radmacher

What a __ Day

Well I could fill in that blank with a lot of adjectives to describe my day. Sucky comes to mind; Disappointing another.

We started with a good plan. We'd visit my grandfather's grave, and then visit with DH's brother for a bit. We get to London where my grandparents are buried and I can't find my grandfather. I'm really not sure which cemetary he's in. But we did find my DH's grandfathers. One was surprisingly empty of beer bottles nearby. We know Dh's uncle is near if there are beer bottles on that grave.

Then we find my great granny. Finally something gone right!
Dh also found his maternal grandfather. This is the one Wyatt is named after. They share the same middle name, Eldon.

Then we get to see Dh's brother and well I'd rather not rehash a bunch of negativity. This post is negative enough without it. Needless to say DH is bummed and so am I. Wish I'd just stayed home.

Here's some pics of the graves though. Didn't get a picture of DH's paternal grandfather. He didn't want a picture. Yeah, that grandfather was one hell of a guy....NOT.

My Grandmother. Edna Pence

DH's maternal grandparents.

Happy Veterans Day!

Happy Veterans Day!

Don't forget to hug a veteran today. I am sick and we haven't much gas money so I can't go to my grandfather's grave, but he served in WW2 and today he is on my mind. He's the only veteran I know. I want to give a big hug to all Veterans today!

Sorry I'm not Chatty

I think my head might explode soon.  Needless to say I don't feel very witty, or chatty, or creative. The flu has hit hard here. Everyone keeps passing it around. Poor baby man is sick, I'm sick, DH is sick. Everyone is sick sick sick. What's worse, nursing while sick sucks. I'm the type that just wants to sleep till I'm well, and I can't do that because Wyatt is so needy. I also haven't found a medicine that works and is safe to use while breastfeeding. 

I took Wyatt to the doctor today and basically the woman looked at him for a minute, said  yep he's sick and left. UGH. I hate doctors. I know they really can't give him anything at this point though. Wyatt does weigh 19lbs now. I figured he'd be over 20 but he's just under. He's getting so big!

Anyone want to do a guest blog or two? That would help me out. I wouldn't feel so bad for abandoning my lovely witchy reader's. If so send me an email and put "guest blogger" in the subject line so I don't miss it.

Positive and Negative thoughts plus School performances

"Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results."
- William Nelson

This quote couldn't be any more Pagan. If you know how magick works you know that it's the manipulation of energy. We all have our own energy called the aura. Our thoughts and actions are all energy in motion. When you have negative thoughts you bring negative energy to you and vice versa for positive energy.

Right now, my energy is one of irritation. My daughter has been practicing a recorder this year and she's had a lot of fun with it. She has a performance at school in December and she just now brought home the songs she needs to learn the words to. One of them is Silent Night. Now, I don't really mind her doing some Christmas songs, but Silent Night is not a fun secular song. It is obviously a Christian one celebrating the birth of Christ. I feel this isn't appropriate for the school to be doing it.

So my quandary is do I make a big deal about it and talk with the teacher and principle? Or do I just let it go? What would you do?

I have not "raised" my daughter in the Pagan path. I feel all children should be able to decide for themselves. Until the time she's ready to learn about all religions, she doesn't really participate or learn about my own. She knows some things just by watching and asking questions, other than that she has only chose to participate twice.

But she didn't choose to do this performance. It is a school requirement for her music class. I just wish schools would keep ALL religions out of their curriculum.

Opinions of You

“Someone’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality.”
- Les Brown

I probably should have combined this quote with the one I was talking about childhood teasing with. It's appropriate and honestly I don't feel good so I don't feel like coming up with any interesting story to share. How about you tell me a story related to someone's opinion of you.

P.S. I hate winter! All of us are sick. So sorry I'm not at my best.

Going Against the Grain

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."
- Mark Twain

This quote makes me think about my husband before we got together. I've always been teased in school and as a result I had a very low opinion of myself at one point. He noticed that I was constantly belittling my worth and commented on it one day. I'm paraphrasing what he said, but it was something like this.

"How can anyone else love you, if you don't love yourself? I am number one in my life, and you should feel the same. If you really wanted to change something about yourself, you'd do it not just talk about it. When you love yourself, you become easy to love by others."

It was then that I realized I needed to stop being so critical of myself. I was never going to be a super model. I may never be thin. And I realized over time that it's societies pressures to be beautiful that make me want to loose weight. Not for health reasons nor to be more beautiful. Because honestly, I'm beautiful no matter what size jeans I fit into.

My ambition in life has been to be who I am regardless of what other people think of me. The day I realized my worth is the day I took my future in my hands and shaped who I am without fear of societies rules. Has it stopped others from teasing? No. Someone will always comment that I'm a hippy tree hugger or that I'm a fat woman.

But as long as I remember that I am number one, no one can belittle me.

I promise not to keep quoting childhood cartoons, but please forgive me for adding one more.

Image source