Actually in many ways I feel relieved that it's over and look forward to the new year. Each year I set a theme to the year. Last year was one of travel and I had a few chances to get away. This year is one of saving so I have spent time learning how to budget and ready myself to save for buying a house. Wooohooo what an exciting way to end Christmas and begin a new year. Try it sometime, a theme can be fun.

I have to say that I buy everything on credit but always pay the bill at the end of the month. This way I make money by spending money.I went through my account spending and itemized where  and how much I was spending, decided what was allowable weekly for each area and stick with those numbers.Till Debt Do Us Part is a really good tv show to teach how to budget our money. Credit cards aren't bad,in fact you can make money spending it, it's our inability to control our wild spending habits that gets us all in trouble.

Cut out with any excuses and get on with what it is you need to confess. Be honest .

 I have two boys in school as well, the eldest is supposed to graduate this year but has made enough poor decisions that he will have to wait until next year. The other is in grade ten and is barely putting any effort into his work. I have to say that the school system in this day and age is in many ways failing you kids.So many holidays and breaks that it has to be difficult to hold all the information that your expected to. Everyone is rewarded because a select few really put their time and effort into what they do but the system feels the other students will suffer if everyone isn't rewarded teaching our kids that they are over deserving.Off early on Fridays, I'm not really sure what the heck thats about as it doesn't happen once your finished school and enough loop holes in the daily system that if your wise enough, skipping goes unnoticed. Nobody fails even though they're not understanding what they are doing and some bad teachers that put the great ones to shame. All I can say to you is what I constantly tell my kids. Life is what you put into it. If your going to do something , do it right the first time rather than just getting it over with. You get nowhere in life without these years of education unless you feel alright about scrubbing dishes or pumping gas the rest of your life. Yes the system is failing profusely, but without your time and effort, it's worthless. Be present in whatever your doing. Looking too far ahead in life only creates anxiety and trips you up.What do you like to do? One of my sons is artistic and loves video games so we are steering him in the direction of creating games, the other is musically inclined so we are steering him in that direction. Don't fear your future, stay present and put what your worth into today.

Hey, I even open the battery compartment and spin the batteries...lol. Lazy...no, my kids have taken all the good batteries for the game controllers.

I have to add here that we tend to watch the news and read the papers and if you notice they tend to look for the bad things and capitalize on them. Even most television shows capitalize on violence as it oddly gets our attention. There are many things happening daily that could and are considered miracles but it's just not put out there like the negative stuff. I support your anger in this situation and have no right to tell you how you should feel but, your anger will eat you up. We are not puppets of God that He pulls the strings for His entertainment. We have free will and choices to make daily. In the name and love for your brother, I can see your anger towards violence. Maybe become an advocate for the men and women that are being threatend by their ex's.Find a way to heal through helping those in the same type of situation. I am so sorry for your loss. 

When you excercise do you work hard enough to break a sweat? Do you have snacks later in the evening? Do you have a lot of salt?

Take photographs and if you can set the date to be displayed on the photos as well as keep a daily journal with details and dates.

I hope all is going well with your mom. I know all too well the feeling not knowing if you will lose your parent. She may be a lot stronger than you think. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.

I'm not far from fishgirl so the sad prognosis is rain, rain, rain and a slight chance of flurries.Oh what I would do to experience some heat right now!