Scrapbook Saturday: I'm Stuck

I have over 1000 pictures on my phone from my trip to Wyoming. I'm tired and overwhelmed. I also brought back a box of old family pictures to scan, sort, and put into albums.

Usually, I am organized and clear about what I want to do, but right now, I feel tired, disorganized, and stuck.

What do you do when you are overwhelmed with photos and stuff?

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Friday Favorites: Cotton Candy

Cotton candy might just be the Devil's own candy. It is sticky and gross but little kids just can't get enough of it, especially my little sugar monster, Winter. My sister bought Winter some cotton candy at the rodeo, and she just went to town on it, so much that my sister couldn't stop giving her candy and then taking pictures of her.

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Throwback Thursday: Old Family Photos

I try to keep my photos dated, organized, and labeled. I also scrapbook a select percentage of the photos I take. In each scrapbook layout I make, I include dates, names, places, and context behind the pictures. You may wonder I spend so much time (and money) to do this. Well, its because of these photos that were kept my grandparents. I have very little context as to date, place, or even some of the people. I feel sad that important things to them are now lost because they didn't spend a little time labeling them. I won't throw them away, because that's a horrible thing to do. I just wish I knew more about these images.

So the moral of the story is record information about your photos!!!!

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Wondering Wednesday: Trying to Reframe Experiences and Emotions

I almost ruined the 4th of July parade in Cody for my family. It's true and I cringe with embarrassment and shame. I had a couple bad experience as we waited for the parade to start that really upset me. So much was riding on the parade for me emotionally, and it was hard to control my reactions to little events. Let me explain why.

In Cody, Wyoming, the Fourth of July festivities are a BIG deal. They have parades for three days and we aren't talking dinky little parades. We are talking huge parades with lots of floats, lots of horse entries, and bands. One of the biggest rodeos of the year is held over the same three days. All the shops in town are decorated really well. The entire atmosphere in this little town over the 4th of July is electric. Most people who grew up in Cody love this holiday and love to spend it in Cody. Tourists, former residents, and residents alike join in celebrating this special day.

In all my years living abroad, I never felt sad about missing Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's abroad. But every year that I missed Independence Day in my hometown, I cried. New York has very few celebrations around the holiday so I have suffered for years. In fact, it has been 6 six years since I have attended a real Cody, WY Independence Day Celebration. I wanted my kids to experience some of the same magic I felt as a kid. I wanted them to understand why I felt so strongly about the holiday. The morning of the parade as we staked out seats I was excited and anxious.

I was also kind of ready to snap and snap I did when things didn't go as anticipated or planned. It took a lot of effort to calm down and look at the situations clearly to see my fault and also to move forward. I didn't want to ruin the event for me or my kids. It's hard to admit when you are at fault. It's hard to calm down with anxiety, anger, and frustration flood your emotions.

I'm not even sure how I managed it that day. After we left the parade, I spent a lot of time thinking how I need to learn how to defuse my own emotions and reactions to situations so I don't ruin things for myself or for my family. The truth is, I don't really know how to do that. I hope to find some wisdom and clarity about this.

Have you experienced a moment where you ruined something for yourself because of your reaction? Have you learned to regulate your emotions and reactions to reframe an experience? Any thoughts on this?

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Travel Tuesday: Devil's Tower

Tucked in the mountains of northern Wyoming off the main roads is a towering formation called Devil's Tower. When I was a little girl I heard stories of the Native American Folklore surrounding this awe-inspiring formation.

A group of little girls were out playing and were chased by bears. They ran to a big rock, dropped to their knees, and prayed fervently for deliverance. In answer, the Great Spirit caused the rock to rise up to the sky. As it rose, the bears clawed at the rock, causing the deep grooves in the tower. When the girls reached the sky, they were turned into star formation Pleiades. Something about that story has captured my imagination for decades. Upon seeing Devil's Tower in June, I could imagine people gathered around a fire or sitting on a rock at night and looking at the stars and the tower.

On our final day of traveling from New York to Wyoming, we stopped at Devil's Tower. My sister met us there and we walked around the base. It's an easy walk. My older boys decided to run instead of walk and finished very quickly.

The views are pretty spectacular and there are great boulders off the trail for curious kids to climb and explore.

The views from the base out to the surrounding countryside are also pretty spectacular. The countryside is ranching country and it makes my inner cowgirl heart go pitter-patter.

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Mothering Monday: To My Six-Year Old Son

Dear J.C., Johnny-boy, Jon, Non... (all your nicknames)

You just finished first grade and it was such a big year for you. You fell head over heels in love with your first grade teacher whom you called Mama Critter. In her class of Little Critters (from the Mercery Mayer stories), you grew and changed so much. You enjoy school and try very hard at your school work. You are very social and have many little friends you care deeply about. At school you enjoy recess, gym, math, poetry, and singing. You love hot lunch and dislike sack lunches. Even though you work hard at school, you emphatically dislike doing homework and would often cry and whine during homework time.

You are a very gentle little boy and have a deeply loving and affectionate nature. Your teacher loved her daily hugs from you. Both your principal and assistant principal told me that you give them a hug on the way to the bus and they await that special end to their day.

Your favorite color is yellow and you LOVE my version of spaghetti carbonara. You have a special yellow blankie you still like to snuggle at night. You don't like sleeping in a room alone.

Sometimes you get mad at me and pout a little when I don't give you what you want. You don't really throw a fit, but you definitely sulk. 

You get along so well with other kids and are attune to their needs. You are accommodating without being a pushover.

I love your cute freckled face. We are both sad that your blonde hair has darkened to brown. You told me that you plan to dye it yellow when you grow up. For crazy hair day, we spray painted it yellow.

You are still scared to swim, but I think you will turn a corner this summer at your swim lessons.

I love you, sweetheart!

Love, Mom

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Spiritual Sunday: His Grace Series

My church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has a channel (and app) called the Mormon Channel. One of the series they have is called "His Grace"

One of the audio segments shares the story of two brothers, Iraqi War vets who suffered from PTSD and drug addiction. In their story, they share how they were able to find peace and strength through their suffering, through Jesus Christ.

Life After War

© 2007-2016 TIFFANY WACASER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED