Sunday, December 31, 2017

Happy New Year's Eve!

Wishing everyone a safe, warm and Happy New Year's Eve!!  Whether you are celebrating with a crowd, braving the bitter cold outside or snuggled up inside watching the ball drop I hope you feel content with another year ending and excited for the new year to come!

I wish you infinite blessings in the new year and may we all lift up our neighbors, give when we can and share our gifts with others so that we might be a light in the world for just one other person!  May God bless you and keep you always!

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Winding Down...

It's time to wind down another year...yep, another year has gone by!  It doesn't seem possible, but whether it was a good year or a bad year for you the good news is another new year is upon us.  Another year to start fresh, to make new resolutions, to hope for a better year or to continue recent success, but the good thing about a new year beginning is the hope we all start out the year with in our hearts.  Hope for bigger and better things to come, hope for the new beginning we've been looking for, hope for overcoming fears/addiction/bad relationships, hope for a better sense of self and self love for oneself, and simply just hope for a better tomorrow.

I always see the new year with hope colored glasses.  A new year brings endless possibilities.  A new year is another day, month, year to "get it right" this time...with whatever you've been working/wishing/hoping on.  A new year is a fresh slate.

But, looking back on the year that was always causes me to reflect on the good and the bad.  What I didn't accomplish or let pass by this past year.  What I overcame and did accomplish this past year.  What I didn't do, what I wish I had done, and what I hope I don't do again next year.  What good memories were made, what fun adventures were taken, and coming another step closer to understanding what makes me who I am and who I want to be.

So, however you spend the next few days of 2017...looking forward or back...may your eyes be clear, your heart be open and your mind be focused on what's important to you.  May blessings fill these final days of 2017 with reflection, hope and excitement!!

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!!  Enjoy this special time with your loved ones, stay safe and be merry!  Wishing you good tidings and joyful blessings this Christmas!

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Countdown to Christmas...

The countdown to Christmas Day is on!  There are only a few more days until the best day of the year is here!  Can you feel it?  Are you excited?  Or are you ready to get the holidays over with already?!  It can definitely be a frenetic time of year trying to get everything done, baked, cooked, wrapped and delivered.  So, take a deep breath and just get done what you can each day.  It will all be OK.

I got a nice surprise last night when I received my first book order from Australia!  So, thank you to those around the world that have found me either through this blog, my website or on Amazon!  And, thank you for following this blog on a regular basis.  I hope it's insightful, interesting and a little fun now and again.

Enjoy the next few days leading up to the big day and then just sit back and relax from all your hard work!  It will all be worth it after seeing the joyful and surprised faces from opening your thoughtful gifts, the comforted faces and bellies after all your delicious baking and cooking, and the big hugs you'll receive from grateful family and friends.

May blessings fill your days with a joyful Christmas spirit as we prepare for Jesus' birth!

Sunday, December 17, 2017

One Week Until...

There's only 1 more week until Christmas!  It's already here!  Are you ready?  Presents purchased?  Parties attended?  Cookies baked?  Picture with Santa done?  If not, good luck this week!  It'll be a busy one!

I've been thinking a lot about Christmas' past lately.  All the wonderful memories of going to my grandparents house in town with all my cousins, aunts and uncles.  Every year we would all gather, eat my grandma's (and aunt's) delicious foods, laugh and play, and open presents.  And every year along with a group of neighbors, we would go caroling around town...mainly to everyone's grandparents.  All the traditions of the season fill my heart and memories with warmth, love and gratefulness that I grew up in that environment and was able to experience the joy of the season!

Times change, we all grow up and I don't remember the last time our whole family got together for Christmas like the old days.  Obviously it gets harder since both grandparents have passed and everyone has their own families and traditions now.  But, those memories of growing up and celebrating with everyone will last forever.

I'm wishing you and your family many lasting memories and joyful blessings this final Christmas week.  Enjoy the time you spend with one another and may it be a safe and healthy holiday!!

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Sweet Tooth

Darn holidays and all the yummy, delicious, sweet treats!  There are just too many goodies out there this time of year to avoid.  Darn it!  Trying to be good and not indulge so much is really hard this time of year.  No wonder the average person gains 8 lbs during the holidays.  It's SO easily done!  From holiday parties, happy hours, to baking cookies and other baked goods to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and lets face it...just a regular day of stress can lead to indulging in all the "bad" stuff.  But, it's ohhh sooo good, too!

Yes, the holidays can be full of cheer and also stress which tends to lead to all the extra eating and I find myself in a bit of a sugar rut.  Ugh.  I'm usually pretty good about cutting out all the sugar and just sticking to lean meats, veggies and fruits, but the holidays are killing me!  My poor stomach, I'm sorry.  I've been pouring in more sugar than you're used to and once you're on the sugar train it's hard to get off it especially when it's the holidays.

So, in one sense I'm ready for the new year so that I can flush out all this sugar and get back to healthy and consistent eating.  But, I guess in the meantime I'm just going to enjoy the sweet treats that come my way!  It's only once a year, right?!

Wishing you blessings full of sweet treats and merriment this holiday season!!

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Great Gift to Give

If you're struggling with that last minute gift or a unique gift for someone special, remember you can purchase my book, Corn-fed with Rice on the Side, at www.kimfenneman.com.  It's a great look into the daily life of an adoptee to help give understanding, perspective and a few laughs, too!  

In the current turbulent social and political climate that we're all in right now (in the States), it's incumbent upon each one of us to see things through someone else's eyes.  We need to listen MORE to one another, understand one another from a different level and have more compassion for one another!!  We can all strive to make our communities, our states and this nation more united than ever before!  We NEED MORE LOVE in our hearts...and we need to SHARE IT with one another!

So, if you're looking for a gift that will enlighten you or others, check out my book!  And, in the meantime, lets spread more love this holiday season!!  Blessings to you and yours this season of giving!!

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Cold Front Coming...

As winter arrives, we all keep track of when "the cold front" is arriving.  It's that one "visible" line on the weather map that you can see move through your area and actually feel the difference as it moves through.  It's more predictable than the pop-up rain shower or the rain that the meteorologists miss in their forecasts.  Monday it was in the 80's here in Texas.  It felt way too hot to be December weather!  Yesterday the high was 52 and you could definitely feel the cold front come through!

Yes, a 30 degree temperature drop in less than 24 hours.  That's how it goes sometimes, doesn't it?!  Sometimes things are just moving along as usual and then the rug gets pulled out from under you.  Things can change dramatically in less than 24 hours any time and sometimes we're prepared for it because we have some kind of warning or forecast, but most times it comes completely unexpectedly.  That's life.  We've all been through it...more than once I imagine...and it will continue to be part of our lives as we all go along our own journeys.  It's how we react to those unexpected drops and how we pick ourselves back up that will define those moments.  

Can you look back on some of those moments in your life and appreciate the lesson(s) you learned?  Is it still painful to deal with?  Or have you put the pieces back together and moved on knowing you're a better person because of it?  Either way, life just keeps moving on!  You may have had the worst day ever, but then you wake up the next day and keep going.  Just keep going!  No matter what, just get back up and keep trying!  And some days, that's all you can do...trust me, I've had way too many of those days!

No matter what cold front is coming your way, bundle up, prepare as much as you can and then just get back up if you fall!  Blessings to you as the next cold-front arrives! 

Monday, December 4, 2017

Shop 'Til You Drop!

Do you like to shop 'til you drop?  Maybe it's not as relevant these days with online shopping so prevalent.  But, especially at this time of year with all of the gift giving you may still be shopping 'til you drop like my mom and I did yesterday (which is part of the reason I didn't post yesterday...exhausted!)  

Mom and I went to church yesterday morning, ate some lunch and then went shopping.  The book store first and then the yearly trip to the toy store, you know the one.  I usually dread it and my mom loves it, but this year the tables were turned.  I wasn't as crazy about it as I usually am, but my mom felt overwhelmed and confused with all the choices.  Plus, she tries to keep all the gifts for the grand kids equal in price, so that always throws her for a loop every now and again.  She was actually relieved to be done with the toy store this year.  See, I told you it's a beat down!  Wink.  Wink.

Then, off to the mall to help my sister buy gifts for her company.  That was fun!  It's always easy to spend some else's money!  The mall was packed, of course, so we were all definitely getting a little weary, tired, hungry and yes, our feet were feeling it all!  Foot massage, anyone?!  I was wiped out by the time I got home.  I just wanted to sit and sit and sit for the rest of the night...which is pretty much what I did...except that I still had to do my laundry.  Fun.

I hope you're enjoying the holiday shopping season or you're at least enjoying all the sales that are out there.  Make sure you've fueled up with good food to keep you going, are wearing comfortable shoes to keep you moving and remember where you parked so you can unload all the goodies!  Many blessings for fun-filled holiday season!!