It is only 8:45 AM and I am ready to move to Australia.

I was awakened at 4:30 AM by my oldest saying, “I’ll be gentle with your head, momma. I’ll be gentle with your head and you can put in the pass code.” She is referring to the fact that a few days ago she woke me up at 4:00 AM by dropping her father’s iPad on my face and saying, “Put in the pass code, Momma, Please.” ARGH. I don’t remember putting in the pass code today but I do remember saying, ” NO YOUTUBE, Little. You may watch Too Cute.” Terrible start to the day.

I must have fallen right back to sleep because I was jerked into consciousness again by the sounds of the other two SWINGING FROM Bubba’s LOFT BED and making a home video about it on the phone they stole from my room while I slept. Horrible way to wake up. Horrible response from me to them. Horrible start to the day.

Almost every word that came out of the mouths of my babes this morning were words of arguing and complaining. “She has my minion hat!” “Gimme my gloves. Those are MY gloves.” “Maybe you should look twice when you put our lunches in our lunch boxes because I repeatedly get KB’s orange instead of apple sauce.” (I’ll let you guess who that was.) No good things were said.

There were 3-4 inches of snow on the ground when we left for school. They don’t treat the roads up here IN COLORADO WHERE IT SNOWS FOR MONTHS AT A TIME so I was driving slow and defensively. I got to the major intersection up the road where I am to turn right to proceed to the land of learning and as I slowly merge right into the turn lane my back tires start to slide – I believe it was the perfect example of fish-tailing – toward a beautiful Lexus stopped at the light. I start praying/screaming “please don’t hit that car! Please don’t hit that car!” and I didn’t. I didn’t hit the car – my back bumper nudged his back bumper. We pulled into a parking lot and it turns out my NEIGHBOR was the owner of the LEXUS and we traded names, numbers, invitations for brunch (not) and went on our merry ways. He was VERY nice . . . VERY gracious . . . VERY nervous about how his wife would respond. It was a very bad way to start the day.

So now I sit in my house. I shoveled the driveway and as I finished the snow started pouring down again. I was supposed to go to BSF but it started 15 minutes ago and I still haven’t showered.

I looked on the weather channel and it says it should be in the mid 80’s in Brisbane with sunny skies. I think Alexander had the right idea. Anybody know a good travel agent?

We were pretty slow to jump on the princess bandwagon with our girls. Part of it was me working through my thoughts on others’ views of princess films and coming to a conviction of my own. Part of it was having Little first and her lack of interest in watching long films. Once KB got old enough to care I had gotten my thoughts together, Little had gotten interested as well, and we hit the ground running.

Sleeping Beauty was one of the last of the classics that I let the girls watch. KB has always gotten nervous easily (just like her uncle) and I remember Maleficent being the scariest of all the Disney witches. I remember hating the end of that movie and I just knew KB wouldn’t be able to handle it. Incidentally, when she did finally see it she did fine. She hid her face in my arm once and then, with great bravado, announced that it wasn’t that bad.

Maleficent was the only witch I remember ever being scared of and that is why, when the Disney movie Maleficent came out last year, I did not even consider seeing it. It never crossed my mind. What did cross my mind? Questions about why Disney would ever think to make a movie about one of the most horrifying of their witches and judgmental thoughts of Angelina Jolie for starring in a movie that glorified said witch. I remember scoffing when I heard Angelina Jolie quoted as saying she wanted to make a movie her kids could see and appreciate. (I’m real gracious that way.)

Six months after the movie came out the DVD was released and the film that had been forgotten by me became an issue in our home. Little girls in KB’s class were sharing that they had seen the movie and KB, not wanting to be left out, was coming home asking to watch it as well. It made it to KB’s Christmas list and Bubba even mentioned that he would watch it with KB when she got it.

Then I read an article praising the film for qualities I was slow to consider. THEN a friend asked for a suggestion for a film for an eleven-year-old’s sleep over and Facebook blew up with the recommendation to watch Maleficent. WHAT? I went to Redbox and designated that week’s movie night as an Adventure into Maleficent.

I cannot say enough about this film. I loved it. It is a GREAT story and the picture of redemption is explicit. I kept crying and the kids kept asking why and we had some wonderful conversations about life choices, resentment and bitterness, love and repentance, forgiveness and Joy. Man. It might be my favorite film of the year for 2014 . . . I mean Guardians of the Galaxy was fun but it didn’t spawn conversation and contemplation.

Have you seen the film? What did you think? I think maybe I should take some time and try to write a redemptive story for the magnificent, marvelous, mad Madam Mim!

I’m a list maker . . . there is no denying it. I was NOT ready for the New Year until I had the chance to sit down and make a list for each family member . . . list of verses to pray, list of goals for them, etc. Sometimes I feel it’s a sickness . . . but it makes me so happy!!

One of the books on my reading list for 2015 isThe tagline is what drew me in. . . “what our lists reveal about us”.  Yikes.

So, I kinda collect list ideas.. . .a list of potential lists, if you will. I have been looking for a place to keep them until I have a chance to use them . . . and I decided I keep all my random “stuff” in our blue hutch at home. . . why not on The Blue Hutch online too? You don’t have to feel pressure to read all these but someday you can stop back by and use one of these just to get your mind moving!!!

1. Best places for inspiration
2. Friends and family would describe me as. . .
3. TV shows I wish would come back
4. Favorite local businesses
5. Chores I actually enjoy
6. Books I would recommend
7. Things to collect
8. Favorite websites and blogs
9. Facts about me
10. I get excited about . . .
11. When I need a time out
12. Ways to unwind
13. Things I am letting go of
14. Reasons to quit ________________.
15. Pins to try
16. I know I’m getting older because
17. Favorite things about flying on an airplane
18. Ways to add “magic” to my life
19. How I feel today
20. Projects I’m in the middle of
21. My ideal day
22. Keep calm and ________________.
23. This week’s to do list
24. Things I like and don’t like about today
25. My favorite treats while traveling
26. Describe my childhood home
27. Things I do for myself
28. When I need to focus
29. If I ruled the world
30. On this very day last year
31. This past week’s playlist
32. The perfect spring day involves
33. Surprises this week
34. What my sis loves about me
35. What I love about my sis
36. How would I describe myself to a penpal.
37. Favorite tools to create with
38. Favorite fictional couples
39. Favorite childhood games and tasks
40. I can’t pass up
41. Things I would like to do by the end of the month
42. Who I consider family
43. Things that can wait until tomorrow
44. Things I always do for myself
45. Where I take out-of-town guests
46. People I want to be like when I grow up
47. If I had an extra hour in the day
48. My favorite things to eat this time of year
49. Every night before I go to bed
50. Date night ideas