Spring is Here

Well, I've started using the park I have lived across the street from for the past 8 years by walking the 1.2 mile trail at least 2 times a visit. This is probably the 1st time I have actually looked forward to "walking". It has definately done me some mental good and I'm hoping it's helping shave some pounds/inches off.

Celia is 9 weeks away from graduation. I can't believe my 1st born child is almost grown and in college. It's definately been a process to select a college and I'm not 100% convinced she has made her final choice. Teenagers!

Brandon has ben the busiest of all of us. He still participates in morning football workouts, and depending on what's going on, he either goes to speed drills, chorus practice, or shotput practice. He is in quartet and they just won state. His grades have suffered, but I think that's another distraction. They are on the upswing. I guess he wants more college options than local schools.

Daniel is fine. Still looking for work. Things have got to pick up.

We are planning 2 trips to the beach - Spring Breal in Myrtle Beach, and Graduation celebration in Daytona beach. I can't wait to stand in front of the ocean, stand on awe of GOD's wonders and put my lofe in perspective. The ocean always reminds me that I am a small peice of a BIG puzzle.

Until next time....

What a week

So, we have a new president! This is probably the most in tune I've been with politics ever. I was so moved by Pres. Obama's inuagural speech that I could have cried. I am hopeful that he will unite us and lead us to a better America. While we've come along way, we still have so far to go.

An update on me "resolutions"
It seems nothing is really different, maybe my attitude (sometimes I backslide) and my weight (I've lost 13 lbs so far) and I am getting a little more exercise (Thanks Flora). Other than that, the job is fine, the kids are fine, Daniel is well..... Daniel. For those of you that know us, know what that comment means.

I am reaching out to meet with old friends and look forward to talking about old times, as well as new ones.

Until next time......


That's about it. Until next time........

The 1st Thursday of the New Year

Well, I'm back into my routine: laundry, dishes, and general clean up. I've put all of my daughter's clean clothes away, that's a job in itself! I NEVER had the wardrobe this girl has.

Daniel finally gave Bear a bath, but now he's crying at the back door until he dries off a little bit.

The tree is down and Christmas has been packed away until December. Maybe we'll get a real tree this year. Probably not, I'm too cheap.

I haven't really thought about any new year's resolutions. I always make em, but then talk myself right out of them by the 2nd week of Jan. So, instead of drawing a line in the sand this year, I want to keep building on some things I decided before 2008 came to a close:

1. Continue to try and eat healthier.
2. Find a hobby or 2
3. Really reconnect with old freinds that have reached out to me via Facebook
4. Go to my 20 year class reunion (if we have one)

There are a few more things like, make sure Celia starts college in the fall, help Brandon finish strong this year, and not let others affect me so much. I do think these are the most important things to focus on.

So friends (especially you FC) I'll be leaning on you, laughing with you and looking forward to the year ahead with you.

Happy New Year!

Does A New Year Mean a Good Year?

Well, I am sitting at home, alone again, and it doesn't seem to matter to anyone but me. The kids are busy doing their own thing, my marriage has been over for years, and I am left empty, lonely and spent.

I've been hanging on for so long, but my grip is slipping fast.

A new year is upon me, what will I do with it. Even though it's really just another day, we seem to use this as our opportunity to swipe the slate clean. Start over. Look ahead and not back.

I desperately want to move ahead, leave the old behind and start fresh. But does the turn of the calendar allow that? I'm gonna give it a try.

Reconnect

This morning I had a chance to reconnect with some family I haven't spoken with in a while. Funny, even though you grow up knowing these people, and they probably know more about you than you think, when you don't live close, or talk often, you loose touch. When you do take timeout to reconnect, it's almost like talking to someone you've just met. Chit chat you know, how are the kids, how is the job, it's been great talking to you, keep in touch, and then that's it. I love these guys, and know they love me, but when I got off the phone I thought about how much we just don't know each other. Maybe we never did. It's not a bad thing, as long as you have the right expectations of each other, which may mean you have none at all. What I do know is that when my family says "Love You" we really do mean it.

Oh yeah, The Falcons pulled out a win today and so did the Dolphins. So tomorrow when my Dad calls me at work, we'll both be smiling :)

Reflection

So, today is a day of reflection for me. This is the 18th anniversary of the passing of my mom, and the 16th anniversary of the passing of her mom. Yeah, I know, freaky huh. But both women had very different illnesses which caused them to pass on.

My mom Celia (yes, that my daughter's name), was a great mom. She was my best friend. Celia loved life, but somewhere along the way I think she settled. She had great loves and heartbreaks, kids that loved her very much (hers and others) and some close friends. She left behind a son, Alex, who didn't get the chance to know her like I did. She was 42 years young when she passed. Cancer knows no ages. There is a void in my life that no-one else can fill. Conversations that never took place, events never seen, and advice never given. Although I can't see her or touch her, I know she is with me. I miss her.

My grandma Reba (short for Rebecca) was the next best thing to my mom. She always made me laugh. She raised great kids (my mom, aunt and uncle), who in turn had awesome kids themselves (me, my brother, and my cousins). My grandma always made me feel loved, safe, and taken care of. She definately told it like it was, but never in a mean spirited way. She did her best to make others feel welcome (at least my husband anyway). I loved her very much and I miss her every day.

With 2009 fast approaching, today reminds me how life passes us by, how we take each day for granted, not knowing if it will be our last. So hug the ones closest to you (even if they are a new addition to your circle of family and friends), tell them how you feel about them, and enjoy life. It really is short.