Saturday, January 31, 2009

My Moment To Babble

I've been online this morning reading blogs. There are some of you that I miss very much. Tabba- someday I hope you return. You always radiated such a positive energy and I loved your Sunday Songs. You'll notice some of them on my playlist.

There is one friend I'll never give up on. (You know who you are.) I'll never understand why you wrote me off of your list of "friends". I hold you next to my heart and always will. I have to say, I'm so relieved when you give me a glimpse of your life now and pained at the same time (you know I watch your blog). There are people in your life (we've talked about them- I've watched it and lived it beside you) that will smile and tell you how happy they are for you, but then say nothing but negative things about you when you walk away. I hope you know that I am not one of those people and never have been. I love you. I will always love your children. I love that you have found happiness. I pray that you are living the life that you've longed for. I know that you have felt the feeling of "I want to share this with you so bad, but I can't! This is mine. This is ours! This is so special! If I let someone in, it may become tainted." I'm here when and if you are ever ready. I guess it's just been awhile since the feeling of "waiting" has left though and I'm glad for that. (You waited for "him" - I waited for "you" Not the same but so similar in so many ways.) We both moved on.

On a happier note!!!

My husband and I went to one of our favorite restaurants last night! The Red Ginger! It was fabulous! (One of our New Year's goals was to have 2 date nights per month. We have had SO much fun!)

OH! Have I mentioned that our little Punky has been asked to enroll in all Honors/ Advanced Placement courses for her Sophomore year and that our little Peanut did incredible at State cheerleading finals?!! That's right! Uh Huh! You go girls!!!

Like I said "My Moment To Babble"!

Have a great weekend!!!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Ametuers- Are We Sure?


Okay!

I (WE) are HUGE American Idol fans!

Last night we fell in love with Frankie Jordan and her sweet little family. (Not to mention that her husband is incredibly fine looking)

Regardless-

I am confused as to how she can be on American Idol, when she already has a recorded song - THAT she sang last night!

Go ahead! I know you don't believe it! I didn't either! Pull it up on your search engine. (I'll wait)There are other videos on You Tube as well. It's true. (Head hanging low)

How can this be? Tell me...

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Wildflowers Photography



Please take a moment to enjoy this beautiful photography!

I find her work so touching and amazing!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Financial Peace



We are doing it!

We are choosing to live like no one else NOW so we can live like no one else LATER!

We are on Baby Step 1 and it feels great!

I'll keep you updated on our progress and if you're not familiar with Dave Ramsey- HE IS AMAZING! Give it a look and BUY THE BOOK!

Happy Budgeting!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Revelations

A Kind Reminder For All Of Us Today:

When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go. Only 1 of 2 things will happen; either He'll catch you when you fall or He'll teach you how to fly! (The power of one sentence!) God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close.

Have a blessed day and remember to be a blessing...

Thursday, January 15, 2009

A Light-Hearted Poem

MICHIGAN POEM
Poet: Unknown (But Boy is This Cute)

It's winter in Michigan

And the gentle breezes blow

Seventy miles an hour

At twenty-five below.

Oh, how I love Michigan

When the snow's up to your butt

You take a breath of winter

And your nose gets frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful

So I guess I'll hang around

I could never leave Michigan

'Cause I'm frozen to the ground!

Monday, January 12, 2009

Lost Opportunity

The air has been taken from my sails.
My shoulders cannot seem to stay back.
My head hangs low.
Tears pool in my eyes.

It is difficult to answer the phone.
A smile will not form.

"Another will come along."
"We'll work at it harder."
"Have you considered going back?"

With what time?
With what money?
Will it matter?

Monday, January 05, 2009

Welcome 2009!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!


...and a great one it has been thus far!

We have a new "family" plan in place and lots of goals set!

We have signed up for Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University! We have already read his books and pretty much follow the plan, but we are looking to fine tune and know this is it!

We have gone to our first church and plan on "trying" others, until we find one that we all like. The one we attended Sunday was simply beautiful! (Have I mentioned that we live in a GREAT city?!?)

The list continues on from there and we are all very excited about 2009!

Happy New Year! (I'm loving all of your blogs!)

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Something To Ponder

Loneliness
by Rebecca Drollinger


It is cold today
Indeed the rain is falling and I am alone.
Thoughts of life and love,
meaningless to anyone but myself.
I am alone.
They watch me, their eyes not knowing,
knowing nothing of what they see.
I am but another creature, alone.
They scurry on the surface, unaware,
unaware of the life below
when you are alone.

Loneliness, not a burden nor a sorrow,
but a time of solace, of deepness
never to be shared, never to be understood.
They can never reach the place where I am
And I know I will never reach the place where they are.
I know I don't want to reach that place.
True happiness is here, unmisted.
Unmisted by smiles or laughter,
unmisted by the joys of company.

To find true happiness,
to know if one is truly happy,
he must be happy alone.


"He must be happy alone"
Really?

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Sunday Morning

Good Morning/ Afternoon all!

I have had some time this morning to not only work on my playlist but also my blog this morning. I have to say that I'm pretty happy with the results.

Lance and the girls are all out of town for a short while and although this left me with a sense of complete loneliness this morning, I am proud to admit that, YES, I have taken some time to do the things that I enjoy and generally find to be a waste of time.

You will find my playlist now located in the right hand column. This is for you to enjoy. All you have to do is press the play arrow in the center of the blue box. I have set it up on shuffle, so each time you will have a new song to begin with. The little "pop-out" box will allow you to continue playing the music as you work around the house or even continue doing whatever you need to online. Just press "pop-out" and you're all set!

There is a variety of music styles posted, so maybe this is an opportunity to try something new, or listen to something old!

I'd really like you're input here. If there is something that you'd like me to add- just let me know!

Have a great one Folks and thank you for visiting!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Christmas Excitement

We're almost there!!!



That song just makes me HAPPY!!!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Calming Realization

There comes a point in your life when you realize:
Who matters,
Who never did,
Who won't anymore...
And who always will..
So, don't worry about people from your past,
there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future..

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

My Favorite



The first of two big days, My Friend.

I love you.

God- Please give us strength!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Sorrow



I will miss you every day that I remain.
I love you...

Friday, December 05, 2008

Santa Baby

Because sometimes we all just wish we could be a little greedy, sexy, and in that little red Santa suit turning our man on...

Monday, December 01, 2008

A Prayer For You

To all of my female blogger friends:

Dear God:

The lady reading this is beautiful, classy and strong,
and I love her. Help her live her life to the fullest. Please promote
her and cause her to excel above her expectations. Help her shine in the darkest
places where it is impossible to love. Protect her at all times. Lift
her up when she needs you the most, and let her know when she walks with you, She
will always be safe.

Have a great day!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Baby Steps

Alright all!

I can't post a picture of this, because it's a stocking stuffer, BUT...

I bought 2 items today. They would have been $2.48 each, but it was buy one get one free! Plus, I had a $1.00 off coupon!

I walked out paying $1.43!!!!

Yahoo!!!!

Monday, November 24, 2008

The Invisible Mom

This was sent to me today.
It came just as I needed it most.

The Invisible Mother......

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'
Obviously, not.

No one can see that I'm on the phone, or cooking, or vacuuming the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The Invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Music Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Can you pick me up at 5:30?'

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . Tracy had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic when Tracy turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe .
I wasn't exactly sure why she' d given it to me until I read her inscription:
'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, 4 life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:
1. No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.
2. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
3. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
4. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte . I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile about. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life.
It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be o n.
The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my daughter to tell the friend she's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want her to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to her friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot see if we're doing it right.
And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Hope this encourages you when the going gets tough as it sometimes does. We never know what our finished products will turn out to be because of our perseverance.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Interesting

What Happy People Don't Do

By RONI CARYN RABIN
Read in the NY Times

Happy people spend a lot of time socializing, going to church and reading newspapers - but they don't spend a lot of time watching television, a new study finds.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Coupons!!!

I have found a new coupon site that is amazing!!!

Give it a look!

http://www.ppgazette.com

Wow! What a savings!