Author: reneemarie31

Gratitude

On By reneemarie31In Positive ThinkingLeave a comment

Practicing gratitude has many benefits, including improving our sleep, happiness, optimism, and connection to others. It decreases anxiety and stress. Practicing gratitude means taking the time to notice and reflect on the good things in life.

Just take a look at the name of this blog, and you will know that gratitude is something I try to cultivate in my life. In the past, I have kept a gratitude journal. I also use the A.C.T.S. format in my prayer life, which stands for Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, Supplication.

A couple months ago, I decided to try a different type of gratitude journal. An art journal! I don’t write in it on a schedule. But when I have a little extra time, I try to draw something that I’m grateful for. I’m going to fill it up with my sketches. I am no artist, but that’s part of why I wanted to do it – to challenge myself. Here are a couple of my better pictures.

This year at school, I have been implementing the Jesse Lewis Choose Love curriculum with my students. The Choose Love curriculum has a four part equation to choosing love: courage + gratitude + forgiveness + compassion in action = choosing love. I’m spending one quarter on each ingredient of the equation. So I have spent the past couple months discussing gratitude with all of my students in grades k-12. I culminated the unit by having each student draw something they are grateful for on a paper square. I then put them together to make a “gratitude quilt” to hang outside my office and remind all of us that we have a lot to be grateful for.

So take a little time today (and hopefully every day) to reflect on the things you are grateful for. This is especially important when things in life are challenging.

Hanson – Wintry Mix Tour

On By reneemarie31In MusicLeave a comment

Two nights ago, I got to see Hanson live at the Fillmore in New Orleans for their Wintry Mix tour. I have been a huge Hanson fan consistently since middle school. If you only know “Mmmbop,” you are missing out.

Hanson is a pop rock band, and they put out new albums regularly. I am lucky that they almost always come to New Orleans when they tour, and I have had the opportunity to see them live a few different times.

This was my first time at the Fillmore. They have always played at the House of Blues in the past. The Fillmore is located inside of Harrah’s casino, and it is really nice. It’s much bigger than House of Blues. It is quite spacious, with multiple rooms. The decor is NOLA themed and fun.

We arrived for a 6pm show and were told that Hanson didn’t come on until 9pm! There were two opening acts. Thankfully, they have space to sit and visit and order food and drinks. There were even some Hanson-themed drinks, but I’m too cheap for expensive cocktails.

All Hanson shows are awesome. They are great musicians with upbeat energy. This show was especially exciting, because they played a mix of their hits and Christmas songs! Hanson has put out two Christmas albums, and I love Christmas music!

If you are not familiar with Hanson’s music, do yourself a favor and give them a listen.

My great love, Taylor, who unfortunately married someone else.

My Christmas Tree

On By reneemarie31In Family Life1 Comment

Tonight, my daughter and I decorated our Christmas tree. We are not the kind of family with super posh and coordinated holiday decorations. But I loooove my Christmas tree.

My husband pulls the fake tree out of the closet. I turn on the Hanson Christmas albums. And we start decorating.

As I place each ornament on the tree, I smile and reflect on a special memory. You see, while my ornaments may not all match, each and every one is part of my story. I love to travel. On every trip I take, I carefully select an ornament to add to my collection. Each year, as I decorate the tree, I get to think about all of the places I have been.

These are the ornaments that I collected just this past year in 2019!

I have so many favorite ornaments that I cannot share them all. Here are a few.

  • Father Christmas from Germany
  • Girl Scout from Savannah
  • Handmade cat from Key West
  • Hawaiian Christmas from Maui

Of course, we also have lots of Disney ornaments, so I get something different each visit.

Not all of our Christmas ornaments are from travel. Many are special because they were handmade by my grandmother. She has given me many homemade ornaments over the years. These are just a couple.

She made these elephants for my baby shower.
These even have a special tag on the back to show that she made them.

Some ornaments don’t represent my travels, but rather my home!

St. Charles streetcar and a Mignon Faget oyster shell.

Other ornaments represent important life events. The church plaque pictured below is where my husband and I got married. The long thin Santa shell was bought on our honeymoon. The angel shell is from my daughter’s baptism.

And of course, like any good tree, there are the Christmas ornaments made by the hands of a small child at school or elsewhere.

My tree is eclectic. But I wouldn’t have it any other way!

My Only Child

On By reneemarie31In Family Life, MusicLeave a comment

Awhile back, my dad told me about the band The Highwomen, a girl country supergroup created in homage to the Highwaymen, a legendary country supergroup.  Yesterday, I was listening to the album, which I definitely recommend.  Each song is unique and great.

As I drove along in my car, however, I was emotionally unprepared for the song My Only Child.  To many people, it will just be another song on the album.  But it spoke directly to my heart and made me cry.

You see, it is a love letter from a mother to her only child, a daughter.  I am a mother to an only child, my daughter.  

The day my daughter was born was traumatic and life-threatening.  It ended with a hysterectomy. While I will always be grateful that I survived, the loss of the ability to have more children came with a grief that took a few years to overcome.

For the first few years, I envied families with extremely large families, probably only because I didn’t have the option.  I spent time researching and reading books on surrogacy and adoption. I held onto every one of my daughter’s baby items, just in case.

Eventually, my husband and I decided that our family would be complete with just the three of us.  I slowly started to give the baby things away. While I was at peace with the decision, that doesn’t mean it did not come with a great deal of sadness.

The song starts by talking about how “I know you wish you had a brother” and “I know you wish you had a daughter.”  At some point, every only child asks about siblings. I have explained to my daughter and I’m pretty sure she understands that she will always be an only.  I know that sometimes she gets bored with just us parents, but I try to focus on the positives.

The rest of the song is a love song to a child.  That is the positive. She is the greatest love of both me and her dad.  

The song is raw and intimate.  If you also are the parent to an only child, perhaps not by choice, check out the song and have a good cry like me.

The Strengths Within

On By reneemarie31In Positive Thinking1 Comment

I want to write something about recognizing the strengths in those around us and in ourselves.  I work in a school that specializes in educating students with dyslexia and related learning differences.  A couple of days ago, while attending a college workshop for high school counselors, another counselor started asking me questions about what my students can do after they graduate.  During the course of the conversation, I had already acknowledged that many of my students struggle with standardized test scores. I know she did not mean her questions with ill intent, but I definitely got the feeling that she was curious how they could possibly go to college or be successful.  Many of my students are successful in a traditional college setting. But I also found myself explaining to her the strengths of the dyslexic mind, such as big picture thinking and spatial reasoning.

I spent the last two days in the cold, cold woods with my 12th graders on their senior retreat.  Spending time in this “untraditional classroom” makes it really clear just how many strengths my students have.  Many of my skills made me successful in traditional educational programs. I can read and write well and have a decent ability to memorize and reason.  I always did well on standardized tests (except when I took the ASVAB in senior year, which tested things like mechanical comprehension and assembling objects, in addition to the typical English and math).  Things like reading comprehension and expressing my thoughts on paper come pretty easily to me. Every day, I see my students struggle with these tasks.

But on retreat I get to see my students shine.  I get to see them take their strengths and work together as a team.  My students solve problems in unique ways. They see things in a way that I cannot see them.  They persevere and push through obstacles where I just give up. They use visual-spatial reasoning in a way that I never could.  It is awe-inspiring to watch them tackle a problem and solve it.

So as you observe the young (or old) people in your own life – your children, your students, anyone you come in contact with – remember that each and every one of us has gifts we bring to the world.  Each of us was created to contribute in some way. We all have strengths! It is easy to focus on the struggles, but it is important to recognize the successes. You may have people in your life who do not fit the mold of what society expects.  That’s okay. It’s actually pretty awesome! This is where we find the artists, inventors, leaders, and thinkers who will change the world.

Dear Evan Hansen

On By reneemarie31In Film/TV/TheaterLeave a comment

Yesterday, I saw the Broadway play Dear Evan Hansen here in New Orleans.  It was amazing, of course.  I had first listened to the soundtrack a couple years ago after the show won at the Tonys, but I had to read plot summaries to get a feel for the whole story between the songs.  Seeing the show performed really brought it all together.

It was funny.  It was inspiring.  It was sad. Walking out of the theater after the show, it was obvious that many tears had been shed among the audience.

The play is very relevant to the experience of today’s teen.  The power of the internet is a big part of the show. Our interconnectedness can be used for good and can also keep us apart.

It’s a story about depression, but even more, it’s a story about how each of us matters.  It’s a reminder that it does get better.

The show is amazing and powerful.  If you ever have the opportunity to see it, I highly recommend it.  The cast is small, but we really get to know each character. The set design and effects are really cool and evocative of how social media is so ever-present in our lives. Ultimately, it is about connection between people.

Live in the Moment

On By reneemarie31In Family Life, Positive ThinkingLeave a comment

I am a notorious planner. I love to make lists. Researching and planning for a vacation is my absolute favorite. I will sometimes spend more time researching books to add to my TBR (to be read) pile then actually reading. I can’t help it. I get great joy from planning and lists. But it is also important to remember ……

So sometimes I must remind myself – “put down that phone and enjoy the moment you are in.” Twirl in the sunshine. Dance in the kitchen. Snuggle in the morning. Notice something beautiful. Skip down a path.

My Book Nook

On By reneemarie31In Books, Family Life, Positive ThinkingLeave a comment

My house is usually messy and full of chaos. It raises my anxiety, but I also hate cleaning up. I recently decided to take one small corner of my home and turn it into my tidy, relaxation spot.

The sofa and bookshelf were already here in my bedroom. In a messy home, however, extra furniture easily becomes a place for clutter. A couple of weeks ago, I declared, this is my book nook. This is my spot for relaxation. No more clothes or toys thrown upon this sofa!

In the past, those curtains stayed closed. Now, I am opening up to let in the natural light. This spot is also great, because it is has the separate lighting (the chandelier) from the rest of the room. Since my daughter sleeps in my bedroom, I can still use my book nook spot after she is asleep without turning on the overhead light.

I purchased a few little extras to make my spot extra special.

I bought an extra cozy blanket from Pottery Barn Teen. It is super soft and perfect both for me and for my dogs to snuggle under. I also ordered these Pride and Prejudice themed pillows from TheOldCuriousityShopp on Etsy. They are comfy and bring me joy!

On the wall, I hung this letter box from Underwood Letterpress. It came in my Fall Causebox. I plan to change it up with quotes from my favorite books. This one is from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. I love the whole series!

I already had this table from Hobby Lobby, but moved it next to my book nook. I’ve never been a big candle person. I don’t buy them myself, but I have several that I’ve gotten as gifts. I don’t have the strongest sense of smell. I usually only light them right before people come over to my house to mask any not so great smells that may be lingering. Many people find candles soothing, so I’m trying to be one of those people. This La Lueur candle, which also came in my Fall Causebox, does smell better than many of the unnatural and synthetic candles that I have had in the past.

I even ordered a new mug that would brighten my mood to use for hot tea in my book nook. This cup of happy mug comes from Natural Life, and says “do more of what makes you happy” inside the rim.

I also try to be one of those people who drinks a comforting cup of tea. Tea is healthy and makes me feel fancy.

My little book nook brings me joy. It is not always quiet, with dogs and a child in the house. But I am making an effort to spend time there doing things to take care of me, like relaxing and reading a book. My dogs usually join me. It’s also a comfy place for my daughter to sit next to me and draw or read books together. My sink may be currently full of dirty dishes and toys are currently strewn around the house. But my book nook is cozy and calm.

Planting Seeds

On By reneemarie31In Positive ThinkingLeave a comment

A year or so ago, I printed out the following quote and hung it above my desk at work.

This is a necessary reminder for me. You see, I have the tendency to allow small successes or failures to dictate my mood for the day. I am a school counselor. My days are unpredictable, and of course, some are better than others.

Some days I get that compliment from a parent or I see a change in that student, and I think to myself, “wow, I am doing a good job!”

But then the opposite is also true. Students don’t listen to me, a parent gets angry, and my mood goes south. My self-talk starts to look like, “maybe i should find a different career. I’m no good at this.”

I have to consciously remind myself to look at the big picture. Especially when it comes to children, we may not always see the influence we have. Today it may seem that little Johnny just doesn’t get the truths I’m trying to teach such as the importance of treating others with respect or that we as individuals control how we react to a situation. But the reality is that I am planting seeds. Eventually the cumulative effect of all the things his teachers, parents, and others have taught him will start to bloom.

And so, I keep that reminder above my desk. So that in the moments of frustration, I can remember – I am planting seeds!

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

On By reneemarie31In Disney, Film/TV/TheaterLeave a comment

Tonight, the Maleficent sequel came out and my family was there to see it. The first Maleficent film was the first movie I went to see in theaters after my daughter was born. If you have not seen it, it is amazing! It is probably my favorite live action Disney film.

It is a villain back story that shows good vs. evil is not always black and white. In that way, it is like the Broadway musical, Wicked, which is also excellent if you have not seen it. I am actually surprised that Disney has not put out more villain back story movies, as they seem to be cranking out live action films so regularly.

When I first saw the previews for the sequel, I was a bit put off as the previews all focused on Maleficent as evil. It annoyed me, because that was in direct contrast to the first film’s premise. One can tell in the preview that Michelle Pfeiffer’s character would probably end up being the actual bad guy (which is true), but it only showed Maleficent getting angry.

Of course, the preview does not tell the whole story. This was a film about war vs peace. Acceptance over intolerance. The film is stunningly beautiful. The visuals are enchanting.

The movie may be a bit dark for many young children, although my daughter loves both of them. Angelina Jolie is perfect as Maleficent.

We love Maleficent in my family. My daughter just recently did a Maleficent themed photo shoot. I can’t wait to see all of the pictures. She was gorgeous and is a great model. I also ordered a headpiece so that I can be Maleficent for Halloween this year. My daughter is going as Mal from the Descendants, so my husband and I will be her parents (Maleficent and Hades).

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is a beautiful fantasy film with a great message. I love it!