Kudo's To My Husband! On Friday, at noon....I took to the road......and traveled ALONE to see a long lost Friend in Carrabelle. After 12.75 years......(now that Gina is almost 13) leaving the house...and leaving everyone behind was a little hard. Bob and I went to Vegas...and I realized that even though I think that they can't function without me.....they really can.

It is soooo funny how mom's have a tendancy to think that we are the rock of the home....well really we are......but funny how I learned that there were many things that didn't get done.....laundry, mopping the floors....dusting......bed making....etc but no one burned the house down......he hung new blinds for me while I was away.........fed my little puppies..........fed my children........was on sleep over permission patrol........watered my grass and flowers recently planted and even the pool was still in order upon my return.

I have given them the tools to accomplish the things needed to survive without me. They are truely stonger then I gave all three of them credit for. The only one who had a melt down is my third child, Cookie. Our youngest, LUCY, did better then I thought.....which only proves she is turning into being Bob's doggie....But cookie just moped and didn't eat!

As my girls get older......I can feel more comfortable to venture out beyond my little home in NPR and do stuff....and go more. The rewards of being a stay at home mom all these years and making the investment. Raising a family these days is truely an investment......investing your time into their lives, knowledge.......the know how to survive........and the love that I received from everyone when I came home. I was missed and that made me feel so good.

It is healthy every now and then for a mom to remove herself from her day in day out....laundry, dog watching, car looping, flower planting, pool cleaning...dusting, listending, cooking life! I just went to a little town with no demands....and sat for hours soaking up the friendship on the other side of the couch. It felt good.....to disappear for just a day or two. As I drove home....with a huge list of things that needed to be done before the awards show aired at 8pm.......I found myself grateful for the experience.

If you have the chance to have a girls day out....take it........it is truely refreshing and rewarding. Happy Blogging everyone.......Take Time for yourself......and Kudo's to my husband for letting me enjoy ME TIME! UNTIL!

SUPER MOMS! I SALUTE YOU ALL!

I received this following "Salute" to moms today from Coach K....and thought it to be appropriate to post. If I could write the things I do before bed...this would truely be it! When my children were little and I worked away from home, I did parallelle to this....so to all of you out there...that juggle life......you are rewarded at the end! Keep up the good work moms and know, how much you are appreciated!



Mum and Dad were watching TV when
Mum said, "I'm tired, and it's
getting late. I think I'll go to bed."
She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's
lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the
freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box
levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the
table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.
She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes
into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She
picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on
the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer....
She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom.
She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted
out some cash for the excursion and pulled a text book out from
hiding under the chair. She signed a birthday card for a friend,
addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the
grocery store. She put both near her bag.
Mum then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night
Solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth.
Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed."
"I'm on my way," she said. She put some water into the dog's dish
and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and
the patio light was on.. She looked in on each of the kids and
turned out their bedside lamps and radios, hung up a shirt, threw
some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation
with the one up still doing homework.
In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next
day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her
6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and
visualized the accomplishment of her goals.
About that time, Dad turned off the TV
and announced to no one in particular. "I'm going to bed." And he
did...without another thought.
Anything extraordinary here? Wonder why women live longer...?
'CAUSE THEY ARE MADE FOR THE LONG HAUL.........
(and they can't die sooner, they still have things to do!!!!)

Here's to you all today! Happy Blogging everyone.......See you another day!

Full Length Mirror!

My friend said something to me today......when I was complaining of finding a few extra lbs in my shorts this morning........and was "trying" to blame the dryer...however......I know that I need to refocus! She said, that is why I removed all the full length mirrors from my house....so I can't see myself full length. I pondered on this all day........raking leaves in my yard........picking up pine needles....planting new flowers for spring....this just kept going through my mind.......how does any one live their life without a mirror??? Expecially full length? I pondered on how many mirrors I have in my little cozy home....and the count is......are you ready????? This is aweful! 12!

I wondered as I digged in the dirt to plant my new azalias...if this was a condition of total vanity??? I have mirrors....IN EVERY ROOM of my home and some rooms have way more then one....and many are closet doors that are full length mirrors...........I pondered on this fact that she doesn't and I do....and realized one thing. I would rather see myself full length and know what the rest of the world sees.......then think they see something different than the truth. (she does have a full length mirror since she met me! ) LOL In her dining room!

I think that is sometimes how......we just get lost in life.....not viewing ourselfs in a full length! But when you meet or see an old friend at panara, do you not see them in full length???? I would rather know what they see...and expect it.....then to pretend.....that I didn't know what they saw. God sees us also in full length....and to boot, with Xray vision.....inside and out! He sees, not just what others see on the outside.....but the true heart!

So, for the extra added tightness in my jeans....that my new LG dryer was to blame.....BECAUSE i have full length mirrors....I knew all along......it was not the jeans.....it was something else entirely. This same friend, is the one, that a few years back introduced me to a daily scale of accountability! So, she really doesn't avoid the mirror......great idea though....but we all must be accountable to something! SO......I have begun a walking regimine again...now that the weather permits....and am really concentrating on my eating and intake! I will loose the extra that I am finding in my jeans....because, Auntie K reminded me of "self control" of last months challenge of building character! SHHHHEEEEEWWWWW glad I learned it........sooooooooooo moving forward to beach season.........if you are afraid of the full length mirror.....DOn't be! Really I mean....Don't be in DENIAL! Turn your bootie to that mirror...and say.......the Pain of change will make me better! That's what I said! Do what it takes....for you to always love......who and what you see in the mirror. A new country song says, Let my face......or my rear......be something the mirror loves to see! And you too! So, not sure who this is for....but I accounted for myself today........the one in the mirror...never lies! Happy blogging everyone.......happy excercising.....happy protein......happy cookies...if that is you! What ever makes you happy go for it! Spoke yesterday....life is short! But never be afraid of the one in the mirror....especially the "full length"!

Bravery in a time of hurt! A tribute!

I saw something tonight........that I needed to express and share. Bravery....beyond years.....in a time of hurt. Words so true....that I had to really ponder on them....and express my feelings....like only a blog can do.....so here it goes.

I sat tonight.......and witnessed two beautiful women in my life, my neices, say goodbye to a parent. Anyone who has lost a parent....knows that there is something too....the 50% of love that is divided between both parents....but....when you loose one.......it seems like for moments your heart can only see the loss of the one. You focus so much on the one that is missing.......and then....you get a glimps of the one that is left. To a child (even if your grown) you only see....MOM AND DAD! No matter if they are together with each other or not....you just see....that you have two parents....Mom and Dad!

Funerals or Memorials are something I avoid....but as I get older, I know how much it meant to me....when my mother died...and the folks I know where there for me. SOOOOO out of support, for my neices Chayil and Ruthy, I commend your bravery tonight. To sing, for your father.......a song.....he would have rejoiced over......smiled over......I give you kudos!

Chayil said something in her speach tonight....that when you loose someone special....you live it every day........LIFE IS SHORT! Yes it is......short....we thought in 1981 that our life would be forever.....but not the case. We must not ever take who we have in our lives for granted.

Chayil and Ruthy, you both are so special.......I was so moved with your bravery in your song to honor your dad. Chayil your blog on Father's day that you were able to tell your dad, when he was here, how much he meant to you. It is so hard, to loose a parent.......and bless the ones who have and still have one left, but doubly bless the ones in my life, who have lost both! I cling to my parent left! He is the most special man in my life.

My heart is heavy....and it will take time......I could say, time heals all....but I would be lying.......time soothes all things....but not really heals. When someone touches your life...and you love someone that much........you will remember them forever...and so it shall be. So, girls.......I love you....your courage....your bravery.......your love for your father.......God help us the day....that God desides to take my father home! I only can hope, that I will be as brave as both of you! Happy Blogging everyone. See you again......................UNTIL!