Reenie's Ramblings

As we were saving up for and trying to budget our food money for our trip to Disneyland, we were given MANY opinions and amounts people say are necessary. There is one very simple way to keep your meals affordable. 1. Don't order drinks.  Everyone drinks water, (which we all desperately needed anyway, its HOT down there) Do you know the LEAST amount that will be added to your bill if everyone ordered a soda or tea? $12... that's the MINIMUM that will be added to your bill. When in Disneyland, this amount can be quite a bit higher. Add in alcoholic beverages and you could double your dinner bill. We averaged $40 per meal.  We were full (most of the time couldn't even eat all we ordered) and the food was GOOD. This might be a no brainer for most people, but for some, they don't have a clue how much you pay for drinks. Some other ways to keep it lower in cost: 2. Avoid the "famous" places. Rainforest Café has a great atmosphere but the food...

This week is always tough for me. This is the week my Dad died. Its hard to believe its been 5 years this Wednesday. Exactly 5 years ago today, hospice told us Dad had approximately 3 days left to live.  I remember that was when I lost it.  People had stopped by to visit Dad and I cried, and cried, and cried.  I never allowed myself to cry in front of people but there was no control of my emotions to be found in this moment.  It turns out, hospice was exactly right, he died 3 days later, at home, peacefully surrounded by his family.  The thing with losing someone you love in this way, you always think there is going to be a tomorrow.  When Dad first came home and started hospice, we were told he had about 6 months.... so I thought that's how long I would have my Dad.  He died in 3. No matter how much time you have to "get ready" for someone to leave you, you're never ready for them to be gone. The loss is great, but the pain does les...

I so desperately wish I could make life fair for my children. I want their little hearts to never be broken! I want their innocence intact..... like, forever! I have the tendency to try and even everything out for my kiddos. Just for example:  When I am shopping and I find something for my daughter... I will stress and search up and down to try and find something for my son before I go home.  vice versa as well. I want them to know they are equally loved by me and never is one favorited over the other! Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how we as parents, have a huge responsibility to make sure we are teaching our children, guiding them, giving them the tools to succeed in life.  One of the hard realities of life is: life's not fair. So where is the balance?  There is this big debate about whether children should be required to share. I understand both sides of the argument.  I've come to a place where I am middle of the road on that one....

When looking at lives around you, its so easy to see what others have that we do not.  It's easy to see those who have it better or easier than we do. Truth is: 1) We don't know the whole picture and they might not have it as "easy" or as good as it looks. 2)  For every person you can find you has more than you, there are just as many if not more who have much less than you. The lesson here is this: Be thankful for what you have and stop looking at what others have to measure your happiness or contentment. I have found that when I focus on what I have, I am content and thankful. It's when I start looking at others, that I become critical of what I have. Contentment is about perspective. When we focus on what we can be thankful for, we can't help but feel contentment and peace.