day 84: "i am thankful for........THE LUCKIEST!"

i wanted to share this song with you this morning because it is dear to my heart. have an awesome weekend my peeps...

.....so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 83: "i am thankful for.......KITCHEN BOOGIES!"

last night in my kitchen, while creating a spaghetti pie for the first time, i hooked up my ipod nano (another first) to my under-the-counter radio....and tuned in a shuffle of jim croce.  there's nothing like a little bad bad leroy brown to get my hips movin and a grovin...!  i found myself using my saute spoon as a mic and boogied around the island, singing at the top of my lungs...while slidin and swingin my hips to the music!  it was SO much fun!  i use to do this all the time...with the boys in tow...i used to be a fun mom!

last night felt really, really good.  it's another 'baby step' to finding who i was and who i am suppose to be now....

oh and btw...here is a picture of my spaghetti pie....it was REALLY good!  my boys devoured it.  let me know if you want the recipe :)

since i have had a request for this recipe...here the link:  spaghetti meatball pie . it is REALLY good and easy to make!  let me know how you like it...

.....so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 82: "i am thankful for....BABY STEPS!"

i handed in my application...i did it.  i felt physically ill the whole way driving there and i even went to the wrong location at first...but was steered to the correct building (1/2mile down the road!) and i did it.  i'm glad...but a little sad too.  not sure why...

leaving you with a good song i was reminded of recently....i'm not gettin any younger folks.  so, yes, it's time to start taking care of myself....so the rest of the pieces will fall into place.  i have faith....i always have.

.........so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 81: "i am thankful for......OLD NEW FRIENDS!"

the other day, a fb friend of mine, posted something of great importance to her life.  she wrote that she and her husband were getting a divorce.  she continued to state that this decision had been in the making for years....and she is very over joyed to be finally announcing it to the world.  her raw honesty was so refreshing.  she is refreshing.  i met this person back in little rock, while we were stationed there.  we lost touch, and hooked up again via fb a couple of years ago.  so, i can call her my 'old new friend'.  a friend that i used to know, didn't talk for years, and now i do.   actually, today, was the first time i had heard her lovely southern voice in over 12 years.  she is the reason i have decided to do what i'm about to do.

i have been in a major rut for a while now.  really, ever since i moved to ohio.  we moved into another fixer upper....to say the least.  all i do everyday is sheet rock, or paint, or clean, or sand while doing all the mom and wife duties to boot...you get the point.  basically, i am in desperate need of a vacation from this place.  i can say that i truly despise this house.  i just can't seem to like it even a little....even the rooms that are done with remodeling.  i try and pray....i do, but to no avail.

anyways....thanks to my 'old new friend', i decided to change my life, one day at a time....by applying for a job. i found an add for elderly home care aides in the classifieds.  i wanna give back to the community and i'm a night owl. i wanna get myself out of the rut i am in.  i feel trapped and not able to breathe any more where i'm at in my life.  i have volunteered before at the rescue mission and loved it.  but, boy, it would surely be nice to be able to get paid for my services...haven't had that in over 13 years!

decision made.  i'm going to apply!  so, next step was to print out the application.  i look over it and felt the anxiety washing over me.  they want my past employment history, and references... what do i write?  i can't write down jobs i had back in the 90's....those places are probably not even there anymore.  do i write what i've been doing the last 13 years which is a very extensive list, since i am an air force wife, mom and diy'er....or do i leave it blank, and let the interview take care of it?  and the matter with references...people not related to me...people that have knowledge of my work ethic, experience and abilities... ok, sweating once again.  who do i write down? what do i do?

i WILL figure this out folks...and i WILL hand in that application TODAY...whether it's completed or not.  i will do this, not only for myself, but for my boys.  they need a mother who is happy, who is on the ball, who is focused.

i will keep you posted.... ;)  have a great day my friends...and remember, just because you are afraid, doesn't mean you have to hide.  i'm learning this....one step at a time.  thanks for the nudge my dear old new friend.



.....so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 80: "i am thankful for......A NEW LOOK!"

i was getting tired of the way my blog's design....

so here's to the new look!  hope you like it....and i hope i will too... ;)

.....so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 79: "i am thankful for........GODVINE!"

here is the link.... God vine 

and here is what God vine is.....

"the purpose of GodVine.com is to bring a positive light to the Internet and give we Christians a place to enjoy family-friendly inspirational videos, pray for each other, get Christian answers, and more. We are not associated with any specific church or denomination. We simply believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and that He wants us to enjoy our time here on earth in a caring, helpful, happy way." 

i watch videos on this site almost everyday.  i love it!  it gets me away from fox news, and we all know there is nothing inspirational or holy or good on that website or any other news organization site.  it's news...and lets face it, 99% of the news whether it's local, national or worldwide, is full of hate, violence and/or death.

so, needless to say....if you are in need of a little encouragement or happiness or just some downright goodness in your life....then stay away from the news sites for one day and only watch God vine videos.  it just might change your life!  what do you have to lose?  (if you have a face book account...then 'like' them.  you will see their latest videos in your news feed, so you don't even have to go to their site....)



......so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 78: "i am thankful for......BRIBERY!"

....because it works!  i have been using bribery with my boys since day 1.  when they were babies, i would say "if you lay still so mommy can put your diaper on, you can have one more hour of barney!"...and when they were toddlers, i would say "if you get in the car, mommy will give you a lollipop!"...and with now ages 9 and 12 i have to be a little more creative.

today, i came up with a new bribery technique.  i handed each of my boys 2 empty garbage bags.  i told them i was about to bake chocolate chip cookies (and they LOVE my cookies) and in order to eat any, they had to fill up their bags, 1 for garbage, 1 for goodwill.  i scooted them into their rooms, closed the door, and started baking.  one hour later, cookies were baked, bowls licked clean (by the dog) and still no sign of the boys!  they were working hard....yes!

finally, after a few more minutes, and the smell of chocolate luring them into the kitchen, they emerged with both bags in their hands, and clean rooms.  i was so happy not only because they listened and quickly got to work, but because they now have clean rooms and full bellies.  yes, we all had desert before dinner tonight....but, that is one of the things that make life fun, isn't it? :)

here are my two hard working boys with their hard earned bribe cookies!

my two very silly boys

.....so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 77: "i am thankful for.......INSTANT MESSAGING!"

......because it's a great way to keep in touch with my friends who live far away.  in fact, i am i.m.ing right now with a friend of mine from ny on facebook!  she uses her phone, and i type (i don't like texting :)).  works great!  ok...gotta get back to our discussion on hot tubs.... ;)  ttyl



....so, what are you especially thankful for today?! 

day 76: "i am thankful for.....A NEW YEAR!"

.....and with this 'new year' i will create 'no new regrets'.   i have to admit...i have a couple and they are just so annoying!  so....this coming year....2013.....things will be different.  i will change my actions, i will change my thoughts....in order to change my life!  can i get an Amen?! 

have a very happy new year my friends!!  may it be a year full of many blessings, good fortune, and pleasant surprises! 

 

......so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 75: "i am thankful for......9 YEARS!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!!!!

today, my youngest turns 9 yrs old!  i just can't believe my baby is almost to double digits! ry was born on langley afb in virginia.  he came into this world with a little sweet 'whimper'.  it was the sweetest sound i had ever heard! ryan is one of those kids that likes to please.  he just wants me to be happy :0)  he still asks me to lay with him and sing to him at bedtime and by golly.....i'm gonna hold onto that for as long as i can!

when he was a baby, i use to sing him this lullaby...it's from this book 'love you forever' .  i added to it to make it 'ours'.

♪♫i'll love you forever, i'll like you for always

    as long as i'm living, my baby you'll be...

    i'll love you forever, and always and ever..

    as long as i'm living...my ry guy you'll be♪♫

i still sing him this song (and he sings with me)....almost every night.  i love you my ry guy! and i am so proud of the little boy you are and the young man you are becoming!  stay sweet.....always.

and for some pics!!  here is my ry guy......throughout the years....on his birthdays!

1st birthday! (montana)

2nd birthday! (visiting grandparents in       texas)

3rd birthday! (montana)

4th birthday! (new york)

5th birthday (new york)

6th birthday (new york)

7th birthday (montana)

8th birthday (ohio)

and here he is today at chuck e cheese's.....9yrs old!!! (ohio!)







i hope you stay as sweet as you are today......for always.  i love you ry guy.  you are my baby, and always will be :)

love, mommy



....so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

  

day 74: "i am thankful for.......BELLY LAUGHS!"

last night, my hubby and i saw the stand up comedian jeff dunham.  he started off the show displaying some of his childhood photos from the seventies. hilarious!  he then introduced his dolls, one by one..... it was a great show, with a lot of laughs!  oh, and btw....please DO NOT BRING YOUR CHILDREN!!!  it's rated R!

first...... 'achmed' ("when dunham introduced this boggle-eyed skeleton, he set the world on fire... actually, he set himself on fire, then he accidentally blew himself up, and within no time he became the world’s only beloved dead terrorist")

then.....(my favorite ;))  'bubba j' ("a good ol’ boy, NASCAR loving, beer guzzling white trash product from the famous ‘tornado alley’ of the south, bubba j is currently between jobs, and if all goes well, he’ll stay that way") 

and more..... 'peanut' ("he’s high on life… or maybe it’s starbucks. self-described as a ‘comic genius’, peanut is at the very least an endearing and loveable screwball. he’s whacky and unrelenting, whimsical and manic, frenzied and fast, and he prides himself on stealing every show")

with 'peanut'...... 'jose jalapeno' ("josé jalapeño on a stick came to the united states by stick. josé knew that hope lay just beyond the u.s.-mexico border and so he began to hop north. that's right... he was hopping for hope. josé snuck into the u.s. only to find out his parents were born in los angeles but gave birth to him while vacationing in mexico. he was totally legal. josé is a calming force among the suitcase gang... maybe because he's always tired. josé jalapeño on a stick... is a talking jalapeño... ON A STEEK!"

and some more.....  'little jeff' ("after watching him perform for many years, peanut decided he could be a better ventriloquist than jeff dunham. peanut wanted his first ventriloquist dummy to look really ugly so he fashioned it after the goofiest looking guy he knew: jeff dunham. and so was born ‘little ugly jeff.’ little jeff is one obnoxious little jerk… thanks to peanut. in fact, little jeff is the opposite of the real jeff… small, mean and funny. by the way, peanut also wrote this bio. Nnnnnyeowww!"

last but never least, we were introduced to the infamous 'walter'.....

'walter'  ("the old curmudgeon who says whatever we’re afraid to say because he just doesn’t care anymore. whether it’s a top ranking corporate executive, a statesman or a hollywood celebrity, walter has told them all to “shut the hell up!”, and they all keep coming back for more.")

here is a video jeff filmed while on stage last night....can you see us??  we were sitting in the 17th row back, on the floor, in the middle.. ;)

......so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 73: "i am thankful for......12 YEARS!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAMUEL!!!!

my oldest son sam turns 12 today....and yes, he is one of the lucky people in this world that get to share their birthday with Jesus!  10 years before he was born, Christmas day 1990, my 43 yr old mom died...so, Christmas was always sad for me,  but since the birth of sam, that has all changed.  i focus on a birth rather than a death.  thank you mom for giving me the perfect gift from heaven.  

sam was born in arkansas while we were stationed at littlerock afb.  sam has seen a lot of the country in the last 12 years.  he is a very resilient, strong, smart and courteous boy.  i am very proud of the young man he is becoming, and look forward to the upcoming years, watching him grow into a man.

here are some birthday pics over the years, leading up to his 12th birthday, today!!:

   



1st birthday!!!!
(new york)

2nd birthday!!!!
(virginia)

3rd birthday!!!!
(virginia- here he is with his favorite person...aunt didi (my sis)

4th birthday!!!!
(montana)

5th birthday!!!!
(montana)

6th birthday!!!!
(montana)

7th birthday!!!!
(new york)

8th birthday!!!!
(lived in new york, but traveled to texas for birthday/Christmas that year)

9th birthday!!!!
(new york)

10th birthday!!!!
(his daddy was in the middle east on sam's birthday.  my husband surprised sam at school 2 weeks after his birthday...to help him hand out his birthday cupcakes!  this was the first time he had seen his daddy in 6 months!  it was a very special day.

11th birthday!!!!
(ohio)








and today......birthday # 12!!!  here is a picture of sam at his birthday party a couple of days ago.

i'm so glad he has made some really great friends here in ohio.  that is always the hardest part about moving away....meeting new people, and making friends.  but, sam is so friendly, and easy to get a long with, he always seems to come away a winner!

happy birthday sam!!!  i love you more......and always will.  
love, mom



........so, what are you especially thankful for today?! 

day 72: "i am thankful for......HOT CHOCOLATE!"

we finally have some winter weather around here, so yesterday the boys were hard at play 'trying' to sled, making snow angels, and 'trying' to make a snowman (we only have an inch!).  today, sam had to be away for basketball, so ryan and i ventured out in the cold for a bit.  when we came in, i decided to look up a this homemade hot chocolate recipe . here are two cups ry and i are about to gulp down, topped with mini marshmallows...(i didn't have whip cream!)



i have such fond memories of playing outside in the snow as a kid in upstate ny with my sister and cousins...sledding, tobogganing,  snowmobiling, snow angels, snowmen, snow forts, snowball fights and skiing.  my grandmother momma used to make homemade hot choco for us, so this is just one of the traditions i'd like to pass down to my kiddos....





........so, what are you especially thankful for today?!




 

day 71: "i am thankful for.....ANSWERED PRAYERS!"

thank you, thank you, thank you God for the good news!  a dear friend of mine called me yesterday concerned and worried about something going on in her life.  but, all is good.  she got a test back....and it's negative!  gotta love it if sometimes God answers our prayers with a "no"!  thank you Lord, for all your goodness, and compassion.....You are the best!!

 ....so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 70: "i am thankful for......FACEBOOK!"

facebook, as i'm sure you are all aware, is a social networking website launched in 2004.  you join this site to meet new people, or rediscover the old.  i joined in february 2009.  since then, i have been able to reconnect with many people from my past, as far back as elementary school.  we are able to 'post' pictures of our families, write to each other, and share really anything you want!  last summer, i decided to get off of facebook because i thought it was taking up too much of my time and also i was becoming too self absorbed....i was posting too much about my own problems, and not focusing on what really mattered.

a few weeks ago, i received a phone call from a friend of mine giving me some very disturbing news about a mutual friend of ours.  this is when i decided to log back onto my fb acct, in order to get connected again, to my friends.  i needed to get status updates, especially on this particular friend.  she is actually the person, back in 2009, that told me about fb.  she is a very sweet, loving God fearing person. a friend that helped lead me to Christ, back in 2006.  she is such a blessing in my life....and now it is time for me to bless her.

i asked her if i could post her latest post to my blog.  needless to say, she was pleased that i wanted to "share God's goodness with whomever you want to".  thanks girlfriend....i love you, and i pray for all of you every single day.

here is her latest post:

This message is going to be s long one, Spent most of the day at the Cancer Center today. D's maybe gained a pound, now 170 lbs. on his 6'3" frame! Blood count and platelets have made a slight increase and PSA count slightly down, though his numbers are still over the top and around the world. We were just really thankful for some advance real focused prayers on our telling the radiation oncologist doctor that we were not ready to consider radiation as we wanted to see how the hormone therapy drug would work, and what we did not mention was also the Gerson cancer healing diet D is on nor the doTERRA Life Long Vitality Supplements, and The Frankincense essential oils I massage him with as we didn't think he'd be too interested in that, though the nurse practioner was very interested. Good to have one advocate in our camp who gives some validity to what we are doing. We are so thankful for our Blendtec that arrived last week that was a gift of love from friends who went together to provide it for us, it's been such a blessing. We are hoping to shortly order the Norwalk Juicer that we are in real need of for D to make the most progress as this one provides what is necessary for cancer patient's high needs. While I am on a roll here of thankfulness, and I don't have the room to put it all here right now, but I will tell you about one of the first amazing blessings; before D left the hospital I was asked by someone what the one thing was that could be done for us and to name anything. I told them that I had a hard time thinking of D coming home from the hospital with the pain of cancer in his bones to our unsuitable mattress that for quite some time he couldn't sleep on more than 3 or 4 hours a night... The short of the story, God provided us with an awesome new locally built mattress, with a wool time covered by organic cotton. One we had been dreaming of having before we adopted the last pair of kids, then following that the construction economy tanked, so no new mattress. Since D has come home from the hospital he sleeps every night on his back for a full night sleep! He is sleeping better than he ever has before, I will add that I am too with all of my back issues I have had. What huge blessings God has given us to encourage us in a time like this! Every day there is something that encourages us. The Christmas cards have also made us feel so very loved knowing how many are praying for us and have blessed us with financial gifts, I m glad I can communicate with so many of you this way as there has not been a Christmas card I've written, not even a gift purchased up to this point. The focus has been a bit different, though things will come together how they should, but there are going to be a lot of blessings to recount and much to remember this Christmas. Thank you to all of you for always encouraging us! PS: I felt good today! Hoping the next will be good too ;-)

although her husband is fighting cancer, she still prevails to be thankful to God and her friends...she has blessed me in more ways than i can count...now, i want to bless her, her family and other families on fb that are going through hard times....and through facebook and God's willingness, i will try to be a better friend...to stop thinking of myself. 


 
.......so, what are you especially thankful for today?!