Tuesday, March 5, 2013

I know, I know...I've been away...

I had not realized so much time has gone by since I have updated my blog, until I received a note in the mail with a Christmas card, asking why my blog had not been updated for those long distance friends and family.

*insert red face*

Nothing like calling me out. hee hee. It's hard with Facebook, where I tend to post more updates and pics there, and kinda just forgot the blog thing.
Sor-reeee!

I was also a little hard pressed to find much that was positive to post about. Life has seemed to take a big turn for us, and just getting by daily was a chore.

Hubby has been busy working with me in getting our garden ready for planting. We had to dig out about 4ft down worth of soil and haul it out. My poor little garden was getting stunted from the neighbors tree roots. He spent two days hacking away at huge tree roots, and digging away. I then loaded the space with steer manure, organic compost and organic vegetable soil. So far I have Spinach, Cauliflower and two different Tomato plants in the ground. I was so excited that we managed to save my artichoke plant. We dug it up and stuck in a pot while we did all this work, and then replanted it. It's still alive! This will be my third year growing it, so hoping next year to see some artichokes on it. This has got to be the slowest growing vegetable EVER. I have carrots and Red Onions to still plant, but we have a huge rain storm this week hitting, so I will wait until after. Then next weekend we will start in on our second garden area, tearing those roots out. That neighbor has a huge crab apple tree against the fence and the roots are everywhere. I'm planting Squash, Zucchini, Strawberries, Peppers and Green onions there. We also trimmed our Lime tree way back, so it should be a great producer this year.

Austin is back playing Rugby, and is on the Varsity team this year. And it never fails, he gets hurt. The 2nd day of practice, he broke his finger. And it was a pretty bad break. Urgent care rushed us to an Orthopedic Surgeon, and they wanted to do surgery. But they could not guarantee me success, only chances of more complications. So we opted out, and he was in a splint for 6 weeks. He will have a little crook in his finger forever, but it moves. Now he's back playing and is doing wonderful. Fridays Game, he made several key plays and ball handling. I was NOT happy to hear the doctor tell me his growth plates show he is still growing. Seriously? He's already 6'3 and a size 12 shoe. How much taller can he get? Hubby is only 6'2! Geez...and of course he loves to put his arm on my head, and look DOWN at me and ask hows the weather down there? SMH. Kids!

Emily finished up Bowling with a first place win for the team. She loved it and keeps talking about playing again this next season. In September, she started Competitive Cheerleading, and what a roller coaster it has been. Her first year ever, and she is LOVING it. They have had 2 competitions so far, and have taken 1st place both times. We have another Comp this weekend, and they have changed the routine a bit, so hoping they can pull off another win. She has also managed to obtain the 4.0 GPA Superintendent's Honor Roll for both trimesters this year. She is loving middle school, and comes home talking about new friends, what new things she learned in PE, and O.M.G. she has been to two school dances already and LOVES them. I hear back from the teacher chaperone's and everyone comments on her dancing and singing, and how she knows all the words. ha ha, if only they knew how addicted to music she is. I am so happy she has found her peace in this world and living and loving life right now.

I lost my job on Halloween, due to slow business, and have been unable to find anything. It's so tough to even get a call back from applications. But I have been busy with helping to take care of my mother who has been pretty sick, and carting kids back and forth to sports practices. I volunteered again to be the Rugby team mom and so every Friday I get to cook dinner for 50+ people. I know, I'm crazy! I spend all day Thursdays shopping for the food, and Fridays cooking, then I get to haul it all out to the football fields and set it up and serve. But let me tell you, those kids appreciate it so much, it makes it all worth it.

I will update more...i promise!

XOXO

Friday, September 21, 2012

Happy Friday Quote...

This last week, the lessons of life and death have never been more real. Never take Life for granted, or miss the opportunity to tell the ones you love the most, that you love them. You get one chance at this life. Use it wisely, and never look back with regrets.

With that said, I leave you with this:

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth.”
William W. Purkey


XOXO

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Thankful Thursday...

Today I am Thankful for:

-my DH who truly is my best friend and knows the difference between when I need a hug and when I need space.
-My son's big heart.
-my doggie, Toby, with his big brown eyes, and his never ending love.
-my daughter's ability to never look back and always willing to try new things.
-for extended family who is there in person or spirit in an emergency.
-my mother, who has and will always be the strength behind this family, the glue that holds us all together, and for always being willing to listen, whenever.
-my dad's big heart, his pride and love for this country, his good spirit to help anyone, anytime, and his love for his family.
-for siblings that know when it's time to be there. Supporting each other, pulling together in times of need, and knowing when to give each other space.
-for a sister who never lets me feel alone or forgotten.
-for friends, far and close, who let me know every time they think of me and send love.
-that my children know that family is much more important then any object in this world.

What are you thankful for?

XOXO

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Internal Thoughts...

These last few weeks I have been doing a bit of internal thoughts on where I am in my life, where I want to be, what I have been through so far, what more there is to go through. What lesson's I have learned in life so far, and what lesson's I still have to teach.

I am no where today where 20 years ago I thought I'd be, and yet I am all that I can be today. I have been through so much, and learned so much, but the most humbling has been that I still have so much left to learn.

Life, is in itself, a lesson that never ceases. I try to teach my children that. But they are still children, and only think about today, not what tomorrow may bring. Adults, always worry about what tomorrow may bring. The innocence's of childhood, protects them from the worries, but at what point is it a disadvantage for them to not be prepared for tomorrow?

For example, my son's middle school's belief is to let all students take "retakes" on their tests if they want to improve their grades. Yet, trying to teach my son, that in "real life" there is no retakes. You have to get it done right the first time. It was a hard lesson in high school, where that schools belief is to do it right the first time, and no retakes.

Brings me full circle now that he has his first job, and teaching him job etiquette, and being proud of the effort and work he puts forth. To not wait to be to told, if you see it needs to be done, just do it. The effort will always be rewarded.

Having a daughter, I struggle with teaching her life lessons differently then you do a boy. Right now teaching her to be true to herself, and to be honest and loyal to friends. Trust is a big deal, and an honor to have. Treat it gently, and never take it for granted. It's ok to make new friends, but don't stomp on the friends you have now to make them. And remember, the friends we have today, may stay with us for life. They help mold you into the person you will become. But that can go either negatively or positively.

My heart breaks for my nephew. He left for college recently, and is going through some tough personal struggles with high school friends. His heart is breaking, and feeling alone, yet he needs to go through these times to build the character that will define him as a man and the person he will be. And now knowing what it feels like, he will surely not treat others the way he has been treated. He wears his heart on his sleeve. Much as I do. It will cause him much pain throughout his years. But it will also bring him much joy and knowing real love.

One of the hardest lessons as a parent, has been that I can't kiss the boo-boos and make the pain go away. I want so much to prevent the pain I know they will go through, but know in my heart, unless they go through it, they will not have learned the lesson I did by going through it myself. It has made me who I am.

That heart on the sleeve? Has brought me many tears, lost a few friends, some heart break, left a job, hurt feelings, and pride wounded. But it has also brought me inner strength, more happiness then I ever imagined, love without an end. It has taught me to keep a wall around it, but to know when to open the door and let people in. It has taught me that trust is the most important feature in a person. That heart, has rewarded me in more ways then I can imagine.

I will continue to trust, love and be hurt. Because no matter how old i get, there will always be a lesson for me to learn. I will never stop giving the benefit of doubt and trusting people. I just learn to be a bit choosier about who those people are I let into my life.

And if you are one of those people...I am blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for being a part of it.

XOXO

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Thankful Thursday...

I am Thankful this week for:

- my wonderful husband who just gets me
- my daughter's excitement about her new school
- my son's maturity with his first job this summer
- family that accepts you as you are
- parents that never give up
- my Starbucks light vanilla frappe on Monday mornings
- a job i love and have fun at
- neighbors that look out for each other and care about my kids
- friends that don't need to talk every day to know they are there for each other, whenever, wherever
- 18yr old nephews who aren't too old to come spend the night, days before they move away for college, so we can have one last night of bonding and time with him.
- Lifetime movie channel and Hallmark movies
- my puppy dog who is always happy to see me when I walk in the door
- Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream
- my plants and garden i love to tend too

What are you Thankful for?

XOXO