Thankful.....

Sometimes in this fast paced world it is so easy to let one small thing get you down. I am struggling right now trying to balance all the balls I am juggling between work and home so I decided to make a list of things I am thankful for to remind me how blessed and how much God really loves me.

I am thankful
· That I am saved….
· That I have wild and healthy kids
· For Baylee…who is not afraid to speak her mind and stand up for what she believes in
· For Hayden…who is analytical and often just wants his sisters to leave him alone
· For Maycee…who makes me laugh and keeps me from being lonely or sad
· That I have a supportive Mom and Dad
· That Kevin is still my friend and that he is a good daddy even though sometimes we don’t like each other

· That I still have Gran here to talk to and enjoy time with
· That I have Carlie who is like my daughter too and who loves my babies like they are hers and that I have her momma and daddy for family as well
· That I am able to work
· That I still have my 3 high school best friends to confide in and share the joys and sorrows of life…as well as being my prayer warriors
· That I have bosses who have taken me in like their own (which can be a burden as well)
· That I have a house for us to live in
· That I am able to feel the sun on my face which I hope to do if the rain ever stops
· That I am able to run and do cartwheels with my children even if I am sore the next day
· That I am able to pursue a passion in photography with Cathy

Looking at my list makes me feel better on this yucky cold dismal spring break day and I am fortunate to have these blessings that most people are not fortunate to have…..

Sometimes I want to blog and the words do not come and then sometimes the words just flow out of the fingers….such as today!

Addiction.....

Confession time....I have an addiction and it is Sundrop. A wonderful citrus soft drink made in the South that is not good for the body. For the last several years I have had many stomach problems with acid reflux and heartburn. If you take these two things and pair them with Sundrop and nerves, then you get a lethal combination that demands attention and the maximum dose of Prilosec allowed a day. The last time I had a Sundrop was Saturday, November 13, 2009, and the time before that was back in the early summer of 2009………until yesterday. I had a not so brilliant idea to drink one yesterday in a glass bottle with a yummy candy bar. It was a good idea going down, but I am paying the price today. It is probably going to be a Sprite and saltine cracker day due to the pain and stomach upset. Note to self….DO NOT DRINK A SUNDROP no matter how good I feel or how bad my mouth waters when I see one.

Wonder Woman

I was just sitting here at my desk thinking "I am soooo tired today" and I reflected on what I did yesterday - it is NO wonder I am tired because I was the following:

• MOM
• Counselor (to a friend)
• Receptionist
• Bill Collector (which I hate)
• Legal Assistant
• Friend
• Short Order Cook before and after church
• Referee to Hayden and Maycee over something stupid
• Wash woman for 3 loads of clothes - YUCK! and they are still not folded but that can wait since they are clean!
• Personal Trainer - this is a joke, but my boss is doing this program call Egoscue and he hates doing it and HATES when his wife rides his butt so I am assumed the role of Motivator and I sorta enjoy it since I get to ride his BUTT!!! I told him yesterday that I was not on his clock because he was on mine!
• Girlfriend - but I think that someone got the short end of the stick on this one yesterday!
• Last but not least.....Nursery worker at church!

I am sure every working mom has days like this, but I really needed to just put it down to remind me of why I am always so tired! I need an adult vacation in the worst way without menus that include a "children's toy"! Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!!!

2009 in prospective

My reflection of 2009 is LOSS, LOVE and APPRECIATION. My children learned quite a bit about cancer this year....they learned that when we are in public and someone has lost their hair it is often due to the medicine that they have taken to kill those nasty cancer cells and that they need to smile and not stare. They have learned the true LOSS of people we love...LOSS of people whose phone numbers were saved in my phone and talked to on a regular basis. My little ones lost a friend whom they loved dearly that brought root beer to church on Wednesday night suppers and sat at our table. We lost a friend that I took on her senior trip and who loved unconditionally. We lost a friend that we saw each school morning as our car took a very special little boy with a huge heart to school each day and who loved his mother with all of his heart and who we also loved. I am not going to name these individuals as it simply hurts too much to see the names in print as we are still hurting and miss them so. I have learned APPRECIATION from our losses as we all need to appreciate each day as God gives it to us and also who He decides to bless our paths with. LOVE on each other and never take anything for granted. I am not making a resolution this year because I am simply going to try to live my life with God directing my path.

Growing up.....

I know it is alot to ask of my kids, but why can't everyone at least smile and look at the camera for one shot.

Breakfast at the Sheltons

There are very few things that are tradition at my house.....but one thing that we hold dear to our heart is breakfast at the Sheltons on Christmas morning. Over the years the house has changed to different locations, the guest list has varied, the kids have increased and gotten older, but one thing remains the same......the menu and the cook except for this year. Tim had to work Christmas Eve and then go back out again on Christmas morning due to the weather, so Papa Reese and Michelle had to fry the bacon and cook the biscuits. I am so thankful to have all of them. Here is a picture of "our" kids and the cooks.

Christmas 2009

Waiting to turn around to see what Santa brought.......sorry Baylee for posting a "first thing in the morning" picture!

My house was really blessed this year at Christmas....everyone was well and able to enjoy spending time with each other. Mother, her best friend Mary Jane, the kids and I went to Disney on Fall Break and that was "our" Christmas, but Mom and Dad still had some gifts for everyone to open even though they were not supposed to.