What I learned this year- 2011

My happiness is important.

I can control my happiness through my thoughts.

Popcorn  may help the immune system. (shocking!)  ANTIOXIDANTS IN POPCORN

Not all doctors are created equal.

I enjoy the challenge of taking a good photo.

Life is very peaceful without my brother in it.

I'm turning out to be a lot like my mom.  And that's not so bad.

Estranged relationships are even better after they are repaired, better than they originally were.

My parents really did love me when I was a teenager. (and they still do! lol)

To trust my instincts when I feel manipulated.

My boys will never understand me because they are now MEN. (Sob. My heart justbrokealittle)

Good things DO happen to good people.

Not everything has to be bought with a coupon. (gasp!)

Just because a family member is a taker does not mean I'm obligated to give. 

Boundaries work!!!!!

Letting go is the hardest thing EVER!

LISTENING + ACTION = LOVE

I AM a strong person. I can survive without credit cards and dinners out every week.  (It's funny how I never even thought twice about this until hearing so many people complain about having to do without these things THANK YOU WHINERS, you are good for something! heh heh)

 I love the library.  Oh wait. I already knew that.  But, this year just confirmed my love. :-)

Some people tell lies because they have a low self esteem and need to feel better about themselves. Which has nothing to do with me.

I have some work to do this coming year.  People to forgive... and people to ask forgiveness from.


 Hey, I guess 2011 Hasn't been too bad. Looks like I've done a lot of much needed healing. :-)

Thanks Alot!

I'm joining a fellow blogger with a post of the ABC's of thankfulness. Here goes...
A.  Angels- the only way I can get any morsel of peace. Just knowing there are angels that can watch over the ones I love when I am not able to.
B.  Birthdays

C.  Carrots make the most moist and flavorful cake. No matter what someone may say about vegetables not belonging in cake. :)

D.  Dreams make me eager to get out of bed. 
E.  Exploring the nearby river We love to explore!

 
F.  Father who I am now speaking to.

G. Graduation

 

H.  Hearing- I love music.  Not to mention that the ability to hear makes life so much easier. I know this first hand from watching my brother struggle. 
I. Ideas for free- internet is a wonderful thing
J.  Junking at the Goodwill- So many treasures there!
K. Knowledge

L. Laughter

M.  My Mom who goes long distances to see me. 

N.  Newspaper - Where would we be without all those great coupons?!
O.  Open mind
P.   Pranks

Q.  Quiet moments
R. Really hard workers

S. Salt with iodine- It helps low thyroid. So thankful to be getting some of my energy back!
T. Traditional Punch

U.  Understanding husband (with grease on his nose... he was teaching Austin how to change brake pads on my sister's truck)

V.  Valuable friends on facebook
W. Work from home- Happy to be able to start a business at home making buttons, mirrors and magnets. It's a wonderful thing and a work in progress.
X.  XOXOX  Life wouldn't be the same without them.
Y.  Young men in my life Gatlin and Austin
Z.  Zippers to keep my pants up. Don't laugh. You know you're thankful too! 





     

I Want To Know

I want to know when will it ever feel like my kids are not kids anymore.  When will I stop feeling the need to be sure they have balanced meals, safe vehicles to drive, or enough money?

I have been thinking about something that happened at a friends mom's home last year.  We were standing outside in the mom's driveway and she came out and told my friend that he needed to be sure everyone was out of the driveway because they were leaving and needed to back out.  My friend is my age.  Old enough to know that when a car starts moving in your direction that he needs to move.  And I am sure I am old enough to know that too.  Yet, his mom felt the need to give her motherly advice like we were all five years old or something.  He muttered something under his breath and moved onto the grass and made a sarcastic comment to us that we needed to move too. It was humorous.  But, I am sure, somewhat humiliating for him. I thought the same way he did.  That his mother was being quite ridiculous.  She might has well brought him a juice box too.


Today, I am feeling like his mom.  It seems like letting go will never come.  Do I have to fully let go? If I do, will I stop being a mom?  I have been a mom my entire adult life.  How can I stop being a mom?

 But, do I really want to be that kind of mom?  Can I help myself from being that kind of mom? And if I am not that kind of mom anymore, am I really being me?   Or maybe I am just being ridiculous.  Oh brother.  Someone pass me a juice box please.

Relentless

Holy Cow! It's been almost a year since I blogged!

So, what have I been up to? Well, I chewed out a sales rep who called my house at 8:40 in the morning. I was still in bed.  It was not pretty.  I told her not to call my house again.  Do you know that lady called right back? So, I answered and gave her another piece of my mind and hung up on her again.  ANDDDD do you know that lady called back again??? And again, and again, and again.... She continued to call as I picked up and hung up on her.  Some people just aren't that smart. I'm just sayin'.  

In A Pickle

A sandwich just isn't a sandwich without a pickle. I have been out of pickles for a week. It leaves my sandwich so blah.  I went to the pickle aisle of the grocery store and stared at the price of my beloved jar of Vlassic Stackers pickles. $2.50  for a little jar.  I couldn't bring myself to pick it up.  I know I can get it for less than $1.50 with coupons at Publix, once they go on sale. ugh... what to do?  I mean, geez, it's only a dollar difference!  C'mon, what's a dollar?

I will tell you what a dollar is:

A dollar is 40% of the total cost! If you were going to buy a large item, such as a t.v. Would you pay $500 for one, or would you wait for it to go on sale for $300?  It's only $200, after all.

A wise man once told me, "It's not what you earn, it's what you save."  Those little dollars add up quick. If I spend a dollar on pickles, I spend another on something else. And it continues on.  I can wait for those pickles to go on sale.  I must, I must! But, for now, I will get some Mt. Olive pickles at Publix that are buy one get one free, which makes them about $1.40 a jar. They will do for now....while I'm in a pickle...until Vlassic goes on sale. :)

Go ahead and laugh. Say I'm crazy. I don't care. :-p

Out with the BAD, and in with the GOOD

"Where the heart is willing, it will find a thousand ways. Where it is unwilling, it will find a thousand excuses."

~ Arlen Price 

"The best way to predict the future is to create it." ~Unknown

Today and every day from now on, I am throwing out the excuses.  The past two years have been full of nothing but excuses.  So, it's out with the bad, and in with the good.  It's time to be with people who will find a thousand ways to be there for me, like I have been for them. It's time to stop making people a priority, who only make me an option.  LET THE HEALING BEGIN! 

MINE'S THE BEST!

Go ahead and argue with me all you want... but, I got the best Mother's Day card. Better  than anyone else's.  For the past 2 years I have cried on friendly shoulders, and cried in my own silence...that my little babies are growing up and changing into grown men.  It feels like losing someone.  No more pinky fingers to hold while crossing the street and no more home made Mother's Day cards.

Except, this year I received the BEST card EVERRRR.... I keep opening it and re-reading it all day. :-)  It is so special to me, even though it's not home made. And that is because it makes me so proud... proud that I did SOMETHING right.  Proud that, even though I can't go back and right all the wrongs, and fix all the mistakes...or even go back into time and make them little again... I'm proud that my boys are growing into loving men.

(double click on the card to read the fine print)  Gosh...I hope they don't mind I'm sharing it. But, I just gotta. 

THEY ARE THE BEST!

Happy Mother's day to all you mom's out there! It's a hard job, but very rewarding. :)