Walking Through Life One Step at a Time

Walking Through Life One Step at a Time

Saturday, December 31, 2011

New Year...Shmew Year


New Years Eve is (surprisingly) the only holiday we don't really "do it up big for".  When I was younger, I spent most New Years Eves at church or grounded at home (what???).  When we got married, I spent most New Years Eves with the flu...oh wait...there was that one fondue disaster where we almost burnt down our new home.  Good Times.  These days, we spend New Years Eve in our pajamas trying to pry our eyes open to watch some airhead celebrity make the ball drop.  It's not that we aren't excited about a New Year...it's just that I don't want to get out and wait 3 hours to eat at a mediocre restaurant when I can be warm at home...in my pajamas (most important part). 

I worked at school all day today trying to get organized before the little sweeties come back on Wednesday, so I am looking forward to a chill night ahead of me.  I'm actually rather excited about it.  Are you ready?

First, I'm going to....


Tough Decision: Chai Latte?  Apple Cider?  Hot Chocolate?

Then I will....


Yep...that's the Mac-Daddy foot massager from Brookstone (AKA My new best friend)

Then I believe I will.....


Bust out my electric blanket (my other best friend) and the Kindle for a little Elin Hildebrand reading.

And finally...as the big ball drops...and all my hopes and dreams rise...I'm going to...




Break open these bad boys!  There is not already a rip in that bag.


I know you are all superbly jealous of my evening.  I'm usually a party animal, but I like to rest up on New Years Eve.  After all...2012 awaits and we have lots to prepare for!  Better rest up while I can!

Here's to 2012...may it only get better from here for me and all of you.  I don't know how I can get much better than this....but it's worth a try.




Keep Walking....

Friday, December 30, 2011

It All Started with a Head of Cabbage....

One year ago, I stole a head of cabbage from my local grocery store. 

To my defense, it wasn't a pre-meditated theft.   I was in the self check-out (mistake #1)...had scanned all my other items...and was trying to scan the blasted head of cabbage (mistake #2).  It wouldn't scan.  I couldn't find any vegetable code that would work.  There were no workers in place to help me.  What's a girl to do?  I made mistake #3.

  I paid for my other items, threw that darn head of cabbage in the bag, and walked (maybe ran) out of the store...and I may have been nervously sweating that I, a Christian school teacher at the time, would go to jail during Christmas break over a stinkin' head of New Years Day cabbage!  How would I explain that one to my 7th/8th grade students?  I mean...stealing a 14 ounce NY strip...I can see that...but a head of cabbage?  Pathetic.  (I'm kidding about the steak...kind of)

Well anyone who knows me well enough knows I have a conscience that is ridiculously weak (thank you, Lord) and I was agonizing in guilt all night long over that leafy vegetable.  I didn't even enjoy eating it.  So I got to thinking...I wonder if anyone would believe them if I told them I did this?  I have this "image" to uphold and people would probably DIE if they knew I stole something from the grocery store!  Then I thought...I wonder if anyone else has done that?  You know...made a mistake...made a bad choice in the heat of frustration...simply been HUMAN.  And that's where Honest Confessions 2011 was born.  I was going to do this.  I was going to end this misconception that Amanda Mallery is perfect...that she never makes mistakes or bad choices...that she has it all figured out.  I was finally going to be...HONEST (super huge exhale).

I'm sure I've lost some friends along the way...I'm sure I've disappointed a few perfect people here and there...lost my testimony with some...my reputation with others.  I'm sure there were heads shaking back and forth at some of the things I posted and words like "that's disappointing" uttered by those who thought they knew me well.  But my goal for 2011 was to be myself...to quit pretending...quit covering things up...quit LYING for goodness sake!  Because if God loves me through good and bad..through smart and stupid...then why can't other children of God?  We expect so much of HIM...and give so LITTLE to others.  We expect FULL forgiveness from HIM...and shake our heads in disappointment at others never thinking to throw an ounce of forgiveness their way.  I love people for who they are and who I know they can be...not the choices they make or don't make.

I hope you enjoy this new view of my life.  My parents used to call me "Mouth of the South".  I have opinions...I have thoughts...I have ideas...and I share them so much better in writing.  So many of you commented on my facebook posts throughout the year telling me how much you loved them, loved my honesty, and felt you knew me so much better.  To you....enjoy this blog.

 And to the disappointed head shakers....you may want to make this the last post you read.  I'm sure 2012 will bring MUCH more head shaking.

Keep Walking....