I suppose it’s time for an update, eh? ;)

What a week it’s been! Job hunting, even had an interview, getting things set for Grandma’s next appointment, planning for Doug’s birthday, doing some work for Doug’s dad, cleaning up more after Grandma, etc etc has kept me fairly busy.

I have a couple of job leads, as I often do, and as I also often do, am praying that one of those leads results in a job offer. I wouldn’t mind either of the jobs and would have people I know and love at both places. Keep those prayers coming! 🙂

The next step for Grandma is the financial meeting which has been scheduled for this Thursday, got the call to make arrangements for it today. We will take a good look at her finances, see what her money can do, what help can be given to her, and how to make it all work out. My mom and one uncle will be here too, here’s hoping for some positive answers.

Doug’s birthday was yesterday and it was a successful one. I made him a home cooked meal, did all the cleaning up, we then took about a two mile walk, enjoyed some of the Oreo pie I made, played some Phase 10, and watched Robin Williams: Live On Broadway. It doesn’t sound too eventful, eh? But he’s not the let’s go party type, he prefers to keep things simple. At the end of the day, he was happy, so I was happy. 🙂

Soon, in just weeks, he will be moving into his house and my son and I will be joining him. This is a new journey, a path previewed, but there is still so much we’ve yet to see, to learn. We are excited about this though, feel that it’s the next step, and that we’re ready to take it. The house isn’t that big, but as Doug said, “It’s big enough for us.” We’ve been talking about where to shop for furniture, how we want things to be arranged, etc. It’s so exciting! I know that once the newness wears off that reality will set in. We’ll get annoyed with little habits and such, but we’re fully committed to making this work as we have everything else, with a lot of compromise, communication, remembering to respect one another, and of course…our love for God, and for one another. This is going to be a good thing for us as a family and I look forward to seeing where the road takes us from here.

I hope all is well in the land of WordPress. I pray that many exciting and wonderful things have been going on for each of you. No matter how long I might be away from time to time, I don’t ever forget about the friends I have made on here. Again, thank you for the support and friendships, much love to you all.

Keep writing, remember the joys in life while they’re there to be had, laughter makes life brighter, and love is essential to a happy life…the love from family, friends, your significant other, and you must love yourself. ❤

From the mother of a son who will one day date your daughter….

It’s a longstanding “joke”, though not a joke in some cases, about a man who cleans his shotgun(s) and makes any man who takes his daughter out nervous, who lets the young man know that he is to respect her, not harm her, and have her home in time…and if he doesn’t, he knows he’ll learn the meaning of fear.

I am a mother and I don’t have daughters, just one unbelievably handsome son. On one hand, being a woman, I see wanting to protect your girls from men who would take advantage of them, who would harm them in any way. I have dated some lousy men in my past. As a parent in general, we don’t want to see our children get hurt, to end up friends with the wrong sort, to end up dating/married to an abusive person….and by abuse, I don’t just mean physical abuse. Verbal abuse is both mentally and emotionally damaging, which can also result in negative physical effects as well. We just want our children to be happy, long story short.

Well fathers, I am here to tell you that I am a mother of a son who is first instructing him how to treat others. I want him to have respect for his fellow man, to know how to treat his elders, how to treat his bosses, and how to treat women…with respect, dignity, and class. I want to make it perfectly clear to him that it is not acceptable to hit, talk down to, or mistreat another, especially women. I am also teaching him though that it is not okay to be walked all over just because he’s a nice guy. Men, some of your daughters aren’t so saintly and you need to realize it’s not always the man at fault when a relationship is unhealthy, when things go sour. Sometimes the women beat the men, talk down to them, use them, lie to them, cheat on them. It is not okay to treat others like this, no matter the gender. My son will know that if he should harm a woman, regardless of his age, he will still answer to me. I taught him better and he will be put in his place. However, should a woman hurt my son, she will find she’ll be answering to me too. 😉

Learning the hard way myself, I have seen that love can be a difficult journey….finding it, nurturing it, and keeping it alive. I do feel though that if two people work together that it is a beautiful path to take, to embark on as two souls who are somehow separate, and also one. I want my son to have that one day, with a woman who loves him as much as he loves her. I want them to grow together, bring out the best in one another, work together because it’s going to get rough at times, who will not give in at the first sign of stress. I want him to find someone who makes him laugh, who can be silly with him, who will accept him as he is as he accepts her as she is, who will treat my son with the respect he deserves….knowing that he too is a gentleman and respectful to her. I know it’s possible, one day, though for now…he’s busy being a 10 year old boy. But rest assured fathers of your lovely daughters, he’s being raised well, with proper values. When he comes to your door, know she is in good hands, that he will bring her home happy and unharmed….or you won’t have to even threaten to shoot him, he has to come home to me and that might just be worse. 😉

Busy, busy, busy bee that I am….

I haven’t signed into WordPress to update in a few days. *gasp* I have no idea what’s been going on with all of you, but hope all is well!

It’s been hectic around here as of late. On Friday, someone from Dept. of Aging came by to meet with us, to evaluate my grandma. My mom and uncle agreed on a program that they feel is best for their mom. We roughly reviewed finances, her health, what’s been going on, etc. The next step is a home visit and during that time, we will need to provide more extensive information. I have been working on gathering that so we’re prepared when the worker arrives. After all that was done, my mom helped me with a spreadsheet and then it was time to pick up my son from school. We had a relaxing evening, well as relaxing as it can get with a hyper 10 year old. 😉

Saturday, I got up early and made breakfast. After cleaning up, it was time to go to Kid’s Fest at the bowling alley. It was pretty fun, though felt a bit rushed. Then we all headed to Doug’s grandma’s for her birthday party. Zach had fun with the kids, Doug got to catch up with family, and I got to get to know some of them better. We then rushed to Kohl’s to see if there was any good Brewers gear for my kiddo before then hightailing it to Miller Park to watch the Brewers/Cubs game. That was a nail biter, but a great game to watch. We were sitting around some really awesome people, made the experience that much more exciting. By this time, Doug and I were exhausted. Ha, but Zach was still going strong….but we still got him to get ready for bed not long after we got home. I met a friend of Doug’s from work that evening as well, he was celebrating his birthday. Their crew was pretty interesting, but we enjoyed ourselves. What a day, it was nice to finally lay down and get some sleep when all was said and done.

On Sunday, got up a little late, made an early lunch, spent some time with the kiddo, and then took him to his dad before heading to league. It was the last regular session of the season, so I had to make sure to collect double from every bowler. By the third game, we were all exhausted, even the other team. When I got home, I took a bath, popped some popcorn, put in a movie, and vegged. What a weekend, what a weekend! It was definitely time to call it a night.

Today, I got up early to do some work on acquiring some of the documents for Grandma’s home visit. I ran then to the bowling alley to count the money from the season so that I could then divide it to give out awards and then do the payout for the teams. That took nearly three hours. I know more of what to do if I ever do this again, learned a bit from this. 😉 Then I ran to meet Ethan from one of the staffing agencies, had to fill out the application, but also had to talk about a potential job. I’m finally home with a moment to sit, to relax. Shortly I am going to the store to get some things for Grandma, but for the moment, I am alright with not moving. I hope you all had a good weekend and that your week is getting off to a good start.

Can you believe it’s nearly May? My boyfriend’s birthday is in a week from today. I am working on planning a special dinner. I want to show the man that I love as much appreciation as I can, show him how much I adore him. Life is going to change so much for us and soon. He got a house and moves in sometime next month. His loan is being processed, an inspection has been done,  down payment has been made, etc. We both need to acquire boxes, it’s going to be such a busy time for us. Grandma will soon be in a home, I don’t know what will become of the house….if my uncle will have the funds to hold onto it or if it gets sold, my son and I move in with Doug, and I just hope it all goes as smoothly as possible. So much uncertainty lies ahead, but so does so much hope and excitement. While I am sad it’s come to this for my grandma, I am happy to know she will be getting the help she needs, from people who are trained to do this, who will be there whenever she needs someone. Things will be alright, for all of us, I know it will be.

Consumed by thoughts, as usual. ;)

 

Thoughts at the moment:

If you don’t like yourself, how can you expect others to like you?

We are often our worst critics.

It is often easier to give advice than to take it.

Actions really do speak louder than words.

Don’t like something about your life, change it, don’t expect others to do it for you.

Dreams can come true, but that all depends on you because you need to work for what you want in life.

We’re not promised tomorrow, so why spend so much time worrying about it? (easier said than done, I know.)

The past is the past, leave it there. Learn your lessons from it and move on.

You’re the only one who give yourself peace.

Love is stronger than hate, it always wins in the end.

We’re growing, changing, learning, and evolving till the day we die, so I suppose it’s always going to be safe to say, “I’m not where I was, but nor am I where am meant to be.”

Mistakes are a part of life, don’t let fear of failure ever hold you back. 

Embrace each mistake and use it as your next chance to grow.

Be old enough to know better, be wise, but be young enough to find the joy in life.

Your life is ruined only if you let it be.

God will only bring you to it if He’s going to bring you through it.

The power of laughter knows no limitations.

A good cry can cleanse the soul.

Don’t let hurt make you skeptical.

A child or an animal will show you your true worth.

No amount of make-up, surgery, or bling will ever be able to hide an ugly soul.

You were born an original, don’t become a copy.

Let your life leave an echo of laughter and love for an eternity.

So many judge and forget they live in a house made of glass.

I will fight for what I love and love what I fight for.

Don’t mistake my kindness as weakness.

I’m tougher than you think, smarter too.

Cherish those you love while they’re here, because tomorrow isn’t promised to any of us.

A genuine smile can change someone’s day.

Sometimes it’s nice to hear that when you have to do something difficult, you’re doing the right thing.

Sometimes it’s nice to hear that someone is proud of you, so don’t hesitate to be someone who encourages another.

Life is too short to hold onto grudges.

Find a reason to smile every single day, no matter how tough it might be.

There may never be a right time to do or say something, so sometimes you just have to go for it because you might not get another chance.

Oh and hey, everyone reading this….I love you.

The Power Within You

The sun has set
But it’s not time for bed yet
The rain is still falling
And I hear the night calling

I think of the sun
Where it is now, are people having fun?
While many here prepare to go to bed
Elsewhere upon daylight’s beam do people tread

Across the globe, we’re all in different stages
Some sleep, some play, some earn their wages
Here it rains, in other places it snows
And yet in other places the sun glows

I like to contemplate what it’s like far away
Wondering what others do, what they say
Do they ever daydream about life over here?
If somehow offered a look, would they peer?

If I was offered the chance
I think I’d take a glance
So that I might know how others live
Oh if only that chance were possible to give

I snap out of my reverie
Beautiful and bright, it’s the stars I see
Singing a song of joy foretold
For those brave enough, those who are bold

Soon it will be time to dream
We will carry you through slumber’s stream
See your future bright
Once you lay your head down and turn out the light

After awhile, the night will fade and you will waken
But do not from your dreams be shaken
Know your path and make the dreams come true
After all the power to make them real lies within you.

Linkin Park cover – Rolling in the deep by Adele

I wasn’t sure what I’d think of this, but I find that I really like it. Thanks for sharing, Shaun! 🙂

Finding joy in tough times is important…

There are many reasons for us to be upset, discouraged, angry, and just downright unhappy. When we give into those feelings though and let them dominate, evil wins. Throughout life, bad things happen, but it is key to somehow find reasons to be happy. Finding joy in tough times is important.

The attack on Boston is one of many throughout the land I call home. It’s disheartening and hard to comprehend such acts of violence, of hate. We can’t lose hope though, can’t lose faith in humanity. There is so much hardship, crime, and troubling times across the globe, true. However, there is also a lot of people helping one another, many acts of kindness, healing, joy, hope, and love that can be found throughout as well. I truly believe that love is more powerful and in the end, it will win. I can’t let paranoia and insecurities win over and I can’t let hard times make me skeptical and wary to trust or to love.

Today marks six months since my boyfriend and I got together. I choose today to celebrate kindness and love. In six months time, his mother died, my grandma had a stroke and was also diagnosed with Dementia, he’s had issues at work, and I am still trying to find a steady job. So much turmoil has presented itself, but we have gotten through it because we love God, one another, and also have the support of family and friends. We have a solid relationship because of that love and also because of trust, loyalty, respect, compromise, and communication. The bond we share is strong and it’s helped us to get through so much. I say let’s celebrate love, kindness, and life because it makes it so much easier to deal with the bad that surrounds us.

So today, I say hug the loved ones around you, laugh, smile, enjoy nature, enjoy family, enjoy friends, enjoy life! Sing, dance, write, paint, sculpt, take a hike, go for a walk, go for a leisurely drive, have a picnic, build a blanket fort with your kids, watch a movie and cuddle, read a good book, cook a good meal, go see a play, watch a baseball game, play a board game….whatever it is you do today, make the most of it, and enjoy the time you’re given. Now is all we’re promised, so live in the moment. We don’t live in the past, it’s done and over with. We don’t live in tomorrow, we’re not promised it will come. But today, today we are here, so drink up each moment and make them count. God bless and much love to you all.

Never Lose Hope (for Boston)

What can I possibly say?
Nothing I could do will take the pain away
Such senseless violence was wrought today
How can we keep hate at bay?

In times like these, it’s easy to lose hope
How does one learn to cope
It’s so easy to cry, to get angry, to mope
To go down that dark slope

Why do so many live with such hate?
To mess around with another’s fate
The sky is darkened and it’s become late
Can hope and love make it out of the locked gate?

My prayers are with the many who have lost
Those left behind have paid a terrible cost
Regard for family and friends left behind was tossed
Leaving many bitter, hearts covered in frost

We must not let hate win
Instead we must let the healing begin
Show that goodness can triumph over sin
Find ways to let love enter in

A light still shines on
Lines of peace and hope will be drawn
Goodness awakens at dawn
Many refusing to be evil’s pawn

Now is the time to unite as one
For divided we will be undone
The battle between love and hate will one day be won
Through truth, peace, and love, is how it should be done.

Nine months and 100 posts later….

 

So this is my 100th post, eh?? My how time flies! I started this blog in July of 2012, almost to the day I am posting now. So much has happened since then. Thank you to those who have been with me on this journey. I can never say thank you enough for the support. Thank you for the award nominations, both the ones I have taken the time to participate in and the ones I haven’t. It’s time consuming and lately, I just haven’t had much time for it. I do want you all to know though that I am humbled by every single one of the nominations. Thank you for the kind words, the advice, the encouragement, the prayers, the laughter, the friendship, and the love. Thank you so much for letting me inspire you and for inspiring me! Just, well, thank you! I look forward to many more incredible posts to read and to make. Let’s journey together and enjoy the ride! I love you all so much! Again, thank you.

Listen To The Rain

It’s bleak and misty
Been raining on and off for days
Depression threatens to take hold
Craving the sun’s warmth
Longing to bask in its glow

April showers have certainly arrived
Falling to the earth
Renewing and awakening
So much had fallen asleep
Within Winter’s grasp

Each raindrop has a story to tell
Staring at the sky
Wondering what they might say
If I were to only ask them
And might they enlighten me so?

I’m here to make the grass grow
I hear a chorus of voices say
And yet others I hear tell me
We’re here for the flowers
Letting them know it’s time to blossom

Don’t be blue, the sun will be back out soon
It’s just that we’re long overdo
The world around you has hibernated long enough
And right now it’s our turn in helping it to wake up
Fret not, just watch the world around you grow

This is the season of rebirth
Hear the birds sing their songs to you
Watch the chipmunks scamper to and fro
See the world become green again
Perhaps you’ll find joy in that my friend