then WHY do I insist it is a Chicken!?!?!?!
add this to my list of 2011 New Year's Resolutions
STOP trying to make things something they are not! I go through my life seeing the same patterns and expecting different results. That could be patterns in my personal life, work life, with my kids, my family, you name it... I'm always waiting for the change. The problem is, I'm always expecting something and my expectations are not always realistic.
I had a major eye opening experience tonight. I won't go into detail. I always say, "save your drama for your mama!" Long story short, I had a conversation that quickly turned into a confrontation and I just could not reason with the person. It went from calm to chaos in .6 seconds flat. Of course, I cried. I didn't understand, it wasn't at all how I had envisioned the conversation going. WHY do I expect conversations to be different with someone who cannot be rational?
This is just one example of how I try to make something different than it is. My husband always shakes his head at me; he's always saying "don't put so much faith in people. Be realistic in what you can expect from them and then decide if you can accept them for that." He's got a good point.
I cannot control others. Only I am in charge of my reactions and my feelings. I will not give others control over me. If it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck...damnit Alice Anne, its a DUCK!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Musical Adventures!
Marissa and I got GUITARS for Christmas from my brother, Mike and his wife, Jessica. We are over the moon excited about this! I've been interviewing instructors and we are hoping to start lessons this month in our home. The instructor will come to the house every week for a one hour lesson with us both.
I am really looking forward to doing this with Marissa. We both have such a passion for music and I think it will give us another thing that we can do together and really enjoy each other and our love for music.
Who knows...perhaps we'll be the next Judds! LOL!
I am really looking forward to doing this with Marissa. We both have such a passion for music and I think it will give us another thing that we can do together and really enjoy each other and our love for music.
Who knows...perhaps we'll be the next Judds! LOL!
Purging
Every new year, I find myself motivated to organize and rid my life of clutter and chaos. I went into a cleaning frenzy today in my office (shared office, really. I feel so sorry for my sister-in-law/director's assistant. LOL!) We only got about halfway through the cleaning. We organized the desk drawers, cleared the desktop and removed everything that didn't belong in our small 4ft by 10ft office. Yes, those measurements are correct, its a TINY TINY office!
Trash bags loaded with papers, odds and ends, broken office equipment and random things I believe I had some very important reason for holding onto throughout the year but have somehow now forgotten why, were carried away...never to be seen again. It wasn't pretty.
I soon realized I was working alone; buzzing wildly around; making verbal notes to myself and I looked up to see that I had small audience. "what?" I asked. One of the teachers replies, "you are crazy!" another responds, "oh, that's just how she gets when she cleans. You learn that AA gets really crazy and moves fast when she gets in these moods." We all laugh. Perhaps they are right. However, I don't hear any complaints when the room is clean and all is in perfect order :)
Tomorrow, maybe after we finish the office I'll come home and start on the family's closets. I'm feeling ambitious and ready to do some more purging. Unfortunately, that probably means I'll be ready to do some shopping in the near future!
Trash bags loaded with papers, odds and ends, broken office equipment and random things I believe I had some very important reason for holding onto throughout the year but have somehow now forgotten why, were carried away...never to be seen again. It wasn't pretty.
I soon realized I was working alone; buzzing wildly around; making verbal notes to myself and I looked up to see that I had small audience. "what?" I asked. One of the teachers replies, "you are crazy!" another responds, "oh, that's just how she gets when she cleans. You learn that AA gets really crazy and moves fast when she gets in these moods." We all laugh. Perhaps they are right. However, I don't hear any complaints when the room is clean and all is in perfect order :)
Tomorrow, maybe after we finish the office I'll come home and start on the family's closets. I'm feeling ambitious and ready to do some more purging. Unfortunately, that probably means I'll be ready to do some shopping in the near future!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays from the Loftus Quartet! We thought we would attempt a holiday letter this year to let everyone know that we are healthy, happy, and optimistic that 2011 will be another great year for our little family. As we reflect on 2010, we realize time is moving at much too fast a momentum and life gets busier and busier with each passing moment. We hope this letter finds everyone in good health and joyful hearts. I’ll be brief in our family update and do my best to stick to the facts :o)
Martin J.Loftus once told me that boys should be born wearing helmets. Martin T. Loftus wasn’t sure what to make of that statement being that his father’s knowledge of this must have been based on his own childhood, but 2010 proved my father-in-law’s statement to be true. Christian is 100% boy and I find myself repeatedly stating, “Slow down, sit down, settle down, calm down, quiet down…” Apparently “down” is the common denominator in most phrases used towards our tenacious three-year-old. However, amongst all that wonderful energy, there lies a sweet and lovable little man. He adores his father and at least 104 times a day he claims that he will grow up to be a “fixer-helper” with his dad because HIS dad, and ONLY HIS dad, can fix anything in the whole world and they are the best buddies ever!
It is amazing how with your first child you cannot wait for their first words and phrases and then with your second child, you realize that as soon as they begin talking, silence as you know it will cease to exist. Christian’s speech has exploded this year and I cherish that adorable way he pronounces words with the “r” sound, but as you can imagine, we hardly get two words in while our children are awake.
Marissa is now in the 1st grade (unbelievable!) and her speech and pronunciation is starting to sound more like her brother’s…I guess we could blame her teeth for that, or rather, the lack there of; this has been a year of frequent visits from the tooth fairy. The lack of teeth has not slowed her down in regards to being a little chatterbox at school though! Regardless of her articulation, her reading and writing skills are sky-rocketing and she is excelling in all school subjects. This year, she has taken great interest in history. She’s always eager to learn more about Native Americans, Pilgrims, Colonial times and more recently, Maryland history. We took a couple trips this year to historical landmarks. We visited Uncle Greg and Aunt Diana in Colonial Williamsburg and then visited friends in Massachusetts to see Plymouth Rock and Plimoth Plantation.
Marissa’s obvious true love is music. This is apparent in her non-stop singing. She is in her third year of piano lessons and she is progressing beautifully. I like to say that Marissa wakes up with a “song in her heart”. The happier she is, the more she sings. She finds music in just about every moment of the day and it is both wonderful and challenging to hear the music coming from every cell in her body. We will be amazed if Marissa doesn’t grow to have some career in musical arts. We do our best to teach her appropriate moments to share her melodious delight, but we’re quickly realizing that we are characters in the musical production, “The Life and Song of Marissa Loftus”. We’ll be sure and notify you all when this hits Broadway.
Marty and I are working hard, as usual, and there isn’t much to report on the business front. We’re still in business and that’s a blessing in itself based on the previous years in this economy! Our businesses were not immune to the struggles 2009 and 2010 brought upon so many, but we buckled down and persevered and we truly hope 2011 brings brighter days for all! Marty has started another business venture and we’re optimistic that it will do well. He’s working with a partner and they started the business, LB HOMES, a design and build company. As you know, Marty loves new projects and I think this will be something he can really sink his teeth into!
Our main goal for 2010 was improving our health, both physically and mentally. We both lost a substantial amount of weight and in my efforts to keep up with my young husband; I pushed myself to extreme goals and competed in a Women’s Figure Competition, a division of Body Building. I did very well, considering it was my first time competing in this athletic event. I worked with an amazing personal trainer for over 6 months and got into the best shape of my life! I was so fascinated by the science and the process that I went on to achieve a certificate in personal training myself.
Marty was an immense support and trained and dieted alongside me. He researched everything from supplements to diet plans, bought kitchen equipment, developed workout routines, tolerated “carb cycling”, etc. It gave us something to work on together and we truly enjoyed the process. We were both competitive and supportive towards each other and I believe we discovered another element in our friendship through it all. I would say that both Marty and I are in top shape and feeling very good!
Marty and I just returned from our annual trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We had a wonderful 5 days as a couple and enjoyed the weather, the food, the peace…but definitely missed the kids and home. We’re back just in time for the freezing temperatures, snow and holiday bustle. We will be spending Christmas here in Annapolis and then heading to Bethany Beach for the New Year. We hope that everyone’s holiday season is filled with love, laughter, family and friends and may 2011 bring prosperity and many blessings for all!
Martin J.Loftus once told me that boys should be born wearing helmets. Martin T. Loftus wasn’t sure what to make of that statement being that his father’s knowledge of this must have been based on his own childhood, but 2010 proved my father-in-law’s statement to be true. Christian is 100% boy and I find myself repeatedly stating, “Slow down, sit down, settle down, calm down, quiet down…” Apparently “down” is the common denominator in most phrases used towards our tenacious three-year-old. However, amongst all that wonderful energy, there lies a sweet and lovable little man. He adores his father and at least 104 times a day he claims that he will grow up to be a “fixer-helper” with his dad because HIS dad, and ONLY HIS dad, can fix anything in the whole world and they are the best buddies ever!
It is amazing how with your first child you cannot wait for their first words and phrases and then with your second child, you realize that as soon as they begin talking, silence as you know it will cease to exist. Christian’s speech has exploded this year and I cherish that adorable way he pronounces words with the “r” sound, but as you can imagine, we hardly get two words in while our children are awake.
Marissa is now in the 1st grade (unbelievable!) and her speech and pronunciation is starting to sound more like her brother’s…I guess we could blame her teeth for that, or rather, the lack there of; this has been a year of frequent visits from the tooth fairy. The lack of teeth has not slowed her down in regards to being a little chatterbox at school though! Regardless of her articulation, her reading and writing skills are sky-rocketing and she is excelling in all school subjects. This year, she has taken great interest in history. She’s always eager to learn more about Native Americans, Pilgrims, Colonial times and more recently, Maryland history. We took a couple trips this year to historical landmarks. We visited Uncle Greg and Aunt Diana in Colonial Williamsburg and then visited friends in Massachusetts to see Plymouth Rock and Plimoth Plantation.
Marissa’s obvious true love is music. This is apparent in her non-stop singing. She is in her third year of piano lessons and she is progressing beautifully. I like to say that Marissa wakes up with a “song in her heart”. The happier she is, the more she sings. She finds music in just about every moment of the day and it is both wonderful and challenging to hear the music coming from every cell in her body. We will be amazed if Marissa doesn’t grow to have some career in musical arts. We do our best to teach her appropriate moments to share her melodious delight, but we’re quickly realizing that we are characters in the musical production, “The Life and Song of Marissa Loftus”. We’ll be sure and notify you all when this hits Broadway.
Marty and I are working hard, as usual, and there isn’t much to report on the business front. We’re still in business and that’s a blessing in itself based on the previous years in this economy! Our businesses were not immune to the struggles 2009 and 2010 brought upon so many, but we buckled down and persevered and we truly hope 2011 brings brighter days for all! Marty has started another business venture and we’re optimistic that it will do well. He’s working with a partner and they started the business, LB HOMES, a design and build company. As you know, Marty loves new projects and I think this will be something he can really sink his teeth into!
Our main goal for 2010 was improving our health, both physically and mentally. We both lost a substantial amount of weight and in my efforts to keep up with my young husband; I pushed myself to extreme goals and competed in a Women’s Figure Competition, a division of Body Building. I did very well, considering it was my first time competing in this athletic event. I worked with an amazing personal trainer for over 6 months and got into the best shape of my life! I was so fascinated by the science and the process that I went on to achieve a certificate in personal training myself.
Marty was an immense support and trained and dieted alongside me. He researched everything from supplements to diet plans, bought kitchen equipment, developed workout routines, tolerated “carb cycling”, etc. It gave us something to work on together and we truly enjoyed the process. We were both competitive and supportive towards each other and I believe we discovered another element in our friendship through it all. I would say that both Marty and I are in top shape and feeling very good!
Marty and I just returned from our annual trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We had a wonderful 5 days as a couple and enjoyed the weather, the food, the peace…but definitely missed the kids and home. We’re back just in time for the freezing temperatures, snow and holiday bustle. We will be spending Christmas here in Annapolis and then heading to Bethany Beach for the New Year. We hope that everyone’s holiday season is filled with love, laughter, family and friends and may 2011 bring prosperity and many blessings for all!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Loving Life
I think that my greatest achievement has been becoming a mother. My kids are an absolute joy and even in the trying moments, I see that they are beautiful people who love life.My daugther is just about the happiest person I've ever known. She sings, dances, talks (a little too much at school) and rarely has a bad day. She's so thoughtful and is great at problem solving because she looks for a solution that makes everyone happy. I've always been a little strict with her, but that's because I want to instill strong values and a good work ethic; looking at who she is at 6 years old, I feel confident that she will grow to be an amazing woman!
I was thinking the other day about who Marissa really is and what makes her so happy and I realized that the answer is really so simple. Marissa LOVES life. She finds joy and beauty in just about everything around her. She's optimistic; she's a dreamer, but she always creates her own happiness. What a great lesson for us all to learn! She doesn't rely on others to fulfill her life, she strives to bring happiness to others and she is confident that the world is full of magic and love.
You know, I believe she's right! How could anyone argue that when they see the kindness of a stranger, the love and friendship of siblings, the devotion of parents to their children and the perseverance of humanity in a crazy world. Obviously, with beauty and love comes ugliness and hate, but I'll take Marissa's stance, "love your life and take each moment with a smile!"
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Before 30
My birthday came and went and man was it lovely! My husband made sure that I had a relaxing weekend and I really enjoyed myself!
As I reflected back on my 29 years, I realize that I am truly a blessed individual and I have so much to be thankful for. I can't believe how my life has turned out and I know that I too often take my life for granted.
Not that I think 30 is old, but since it is noted as a "milestone" in life, I will go ahead and create a list of things that I would like to accomplish this year.
1. Run a half marathon
2. Participate in the warrior dash
3. have a real start to my first book
4. travel wine country
5. take latin dance lessons
I'm sure that the list will grow. I've got 364 days to go, so I better get crackin'!
As I reflected back on my 29 years, I realize that I am truly a blessed individual and I have so much to be thankful for. I can't believe how my life has turned out and I know that I too often take my life for granted.
Not that I think 30 is old, but since it is noted as a "milestone" in life, I will go ahead and create a list of things that I would like to accomplish this year.
1. Run a half marathon
2. Participate in the warrior dash
3. have a real start to my first book
4. travel wine country
5. take latin dance lessons
I'm sure that the list will grow. I've got 364 days to go, so I better get crackin'!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Turning 29
My birthday is in less than a week. I'm entering my last year of my twenties and I can't tell you how much I've looked forward to my thirties! However, now that I'm approaching 30, I'm starting to feel like time is moving too fast. My twenties were hard. I had a lot of growing pains, but I had a lot of joy too! I met my husband, got married, had two beautiful children, started a business... I have so much to be thankful for!
I can't help but wonder what my thirties will bring... What will I accomplish and what things do I have around the corner? I'm going to create a list of things that I would like to do before turning the big 3-0 and I'm also going to compile a list of things that I would like to do in my thirties! I'm excited, I think that my life is moving in a fabulous direction and I look forward to what this next decade will bring!
I can't help but wonder what my thirties will bring... What will I accomplish and what things do I have around the corner? I'm going to create a list of things that I would like to do before turning the big 3-0 and I'm also going to compile a list of things that I would like to do in my thirties! I'm excited, I think that my life is moving in a fabulous direction and I look forward to what this next decade will bring!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)