Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm up early waiting on the turkey to finish up cooking. We stayed up late last night, trying to get ahead on our Thanksgiving dinner.  My parents are coming for dinner.  Justin and his two girls will be here later this afternoon.  They are going to spend the night!!  For the first time ever!!  I hope they do okay.  Justin is spending the night, too, so maybe they will.  Chelsea has plans for Black Friday shopping, so we get the benefit of that!

I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the things I am thankful for.  Today I am thankful for my family, both immediate and extended.  I'm thankful for my dear friends and my co-workers.  I'm thankful for my home, my marriage, my vehicles, my job, and my health.  I'm thankful that my mom and dad are still around.  We've had a tough year in my family.  My niece lost her 2-year old son in a tragic accident that involved my sister.  It happened in October, so it is still fresh on our minds.  So, I pray that we all get through this and come out stronger.  It will be hard for my niece & my sister over the holidays.  I just pray that God will wrap his loving arms around them and comfort them.  I pray he will help the two of them to reconcile. 

And, right now, I'm thankful that there's food in the oven and a family to share it with. 

May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Life Update: November

Blogger, please forgive me.  It's been 3 months since my last post. Ah, well. It is what it is. I thought it was about time for an update, if only to be able to look back at this blog in the future to help me remember things that I may forget by then.  Who knows? Maybe I'll find it in me to begin regular blog posts again.  Life just seems to get in the way...which is good.

Kevin and I have started a new little side business.  We are making wooden monograms and letters. 

Who knew when I broke down and bought him that scroll saw that it would turn into this?  Things are going really well, and we have several orders in the works right now.  Of course, many people are buying them for Christmas gifts, so I suspect it will slow down after Christmas.  But I'm going to enjoy it for now.  It's good to give us a little extra moolah for Christmas, because things were looking a little bleak. 

I asked my boys what they wanted for Chrismas, and they couldn't give me an answer.  Well, Jordan did say he would like a phone.  And, don't be thinking he's referring to any newfangled phone that's on the market now to replace the one he has.  Because he doesn't even have one.  You see, we did away with the $300+ cell phone bill that we had.  Kevin and I got prepaid phones, and the boys don't have one.  They still use their old iPhone for wireless access, but no texting or phone calls.  I expected them to throw a fit, but it wasn't so bad.  Chase has a job, so I figured he could get his own cell phone plan if he wanted to.  Jordan ended up selling his iPhone for some extra cash, which he blew through pretty quickly.  So yeah, Jordan wants a cell phone for Christmas.  I am NOT getting into another 2-year contract, though.  So I'll see what we can come up with.  Maybe I can figure out something for Chase.  I'm sure he will mention something he would like to have.

Today my little granddaughters are coming to celebrate their birthdays!  Millie turned 3-years old last Saturday, and Maddie will be 1-year old in a few days.  Wow.  Time flies.  They are so sweet & precious, except when Millie jerks the pillow out from under Maddie's head when her mom & dad are changing her diaper on the hardwood floor!  It wasn't pretty.  Maddie cried & Millie got a spanking.  But you can't have Millie going around doing that kind of stuff to her sister.  I mean, we never did anything like that, now did we?!  :)  They came for trick-or-treating.  Millie was a little ghost, and Maddie was a little strawberry.

Millie would run from door to door & say, "trick-or-treat!"  It was so cute.  I'm glad we get a holiday all to ourselves, because Thanksgiving and Christmas can get pretty involved.  It's so hard to work around all the other family's get-togethers. 

Well, now it's time to go drink some morning coffee, and get ready for the day.  I hope everyone has a great weekend, a great Thanksgiving, and a wonderful, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! (I had to throw that all in there in case I don't get back here soon.)

Sunday, August 19, 2012

A New School Year: A New Beginning

So another school year starts tomorrow. Maybe I'm ready. I survived the past week of orientations and long work hours.  So to have school actually starting will probably be a good thing!  I know tomorrow morning will be C-R-A-Z-Y!!!  Might as well prepare myself.  I thrive under pressure, though...IF I can stay focused.  I seriously think I have developed Adult A.D.D.  Sometimes I just have to tell my self to   F-O-C-U-S!!  One thing at a time!!!  But I manage to get it all done. 

This school year is gonna be a little different for me.  It is the first year that I will not have kids in the public school system.  My baby boy, Jordan, graduated from high school back in May.  He will be beginning his first day of college tomorrow.  It's a little bittersweet.  I'm glad that he will be close by at the local community college.  I know several moms whose children have decided to attend college at a university away from home.  I know that they will be missing their children, terribly.  It's a big change.  Jordan will still be at home, along with my middle son, Chase.  Chase is still attending the community college.  He hasn't always taken a full load, so he didn't graduate at the 2-year mark last May.  He has this semester and one more before he is finished with his Associates' Degree in General Education.  He has been struggling to figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life.  I think he has settled on becoming a software developer.  He said he wants something where he can make lots of money.  (Don't we all?)  I don't blame him, but I have told him that being happy with what you do is also important.  Of course, he may still change his mind once he transfers to a university.  Jordan will be playing bass guitar in the jazz band.  He got a 2-year scholarship to do so.  It includes his tuition, but not his books.  He qualified for a Pell Grant which will pay for his books, and he will have some leftover.  He thinks he wants to get a business degree.  I wholeheartedly agree with that.  There is so much you can do with a business degree...accounting, management, finance, etc.  Of course, he is just starting out, so his plans are subject to change. 

Justin is getting prepared to start back to school soon.  Chelsea starts her student teaching next week, and then she will be in the job market for a teaching job.  She is majoring in English (secondary education).  Once she gets a job, Justin is going back to school to get some kind of degree in computers.  He has always been very smart.  He never studied in high school, so it will be something to get used to.  He can do it, though.

I just hope and pray for the best for my boys.  I know that they can do anything they put their minds to.  I just hope they will stay focused and make it through. 

So here we go on the next adventure in life.  Pray for the best for all of us!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Long Overdue Blog Post with Pics

I felt the need to update my badly neglected blog.  What better way than with a few pictures...

 Millie is a little cutie.  She is 2 1/2 years old.  She is a very smart little girl!



Maddie is 6 months old. She has the fattest cheeks I have ever seen! They are great for kissing on!  Not only is her cheeks fat, she is fat all over!  She is well above the chart for what a baby her age should be.  We credit breast feeding for that!



Jordan looked very handsome when he attended his senior prom. He decided to go by himself.  He was voted a class favorite again this year, too!


Kevin and I took a moment for a picture when we attended the band picnic at Guntersville's Civitan Park last week.



We made Chase go with us to the band picnic, too. I think he enjoyed it.  He is working at a local hardware store and is attending Snead State Community College.



This is Jordan at his last band picnic. 


 I snapped a quick picture as he was about to leave to go graduate.  He almost forgot his tassel and honor cord! 


 Here he is walking across & receiving his diploma. I'm so proud of him, but it is a little sad that my baby boy has graduated. :'(  Oh...and I need to mention that he has received a full scholarship to Snead State to play in the jazz band!!  I'm so proud of him!!


 Millie was entertaining herself during commencement ceremonies.



Kevin and I are proud parents of our latest AHS graduate.
CONGRATULATIONS, JORDAN!!  WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!!