Sarah Strohmeyer

Ok, so even as a writer I do not have this long list of writer's that I am partial to. I have my favorite's (John Grisham, Jodi Picoult, Nicholas Sparks) and usually devour every book that they write as soon as it hits the shelf, and if I get word of another author I may try them.

There are several authors that, while I have read some of their books and like them, they are not ones that I consistently look for and seek out.

Well, a few days ago I got this........



OMG.......can you say LOVE her???? Sarah Strohmeyer is now one of my TOP favorites.

I ordered her book from Amazon. Someone had told me about her and I really was looking for someone new to read. So I bought this book. I waited a few days to pick it up and when I did, I could NOT put it down.

From the minute you start reading, all housework goes to pot, children are starving and animals are being neglected, husband complains and.....well, you get the picture.

She's so funny. She's like the best friend that you wish you had. One of those writers who you'd love to meet for coffee.

So anyway, after that one I rushed out today and got....








We are going to the beach in less than 2 weeks and I had intended to get every single book that she had written, sit on the beach and read. They only had the three Bubbles books. I reeeeeeally wanted the new book The Penny Pincher's Club. but they didn't have a copy. :(



They told me they had sold the last one a few days before and they could order it. (That's a good sign right? They can't keep her in stock) So I perused the shelves and bought the only three books they had of her. I didn't want to wait a few days to start reading. (Yes she's that good)!!

So anyway, I may order the new one from Amazon. And while I had PLANNED on taking these to the beach, I know I'll end up stealing a read tonight on one of them which means I'll have it finished by tomorrow and with that vicious cycle I will again have nothing to read for the beach. Unless.....of course Amazon will hurry up their deliveries and I get it by next Friday. (Oh pray....)

So anyway, I don't normally strongly recommend anyone cause everyone has their own tastes but seriously, if you are female....you will LOVE Sarah Strohmeyer. I did read the Cinderella Pact will be a lifetime movie in 2010. So now ladies...Lifetime movie....really??? Who doesn't like a good lifetime movie? Buy her books. Go now. Don't wait.

Why are you still reading?

Go now!!!! I hear they are flying off the shelves. :-)

C'MON Chipper Jones!!!!

Gooooooooo Chipper. You can do it!!!!

So proud!!!!

3 more!! Knock em out and break that record!!!!

Maggie's Day

I used to blog a lot more than I do not. Once I started writing it's become increasing more difficult to write in my spare time. I find this incredibly sad because I love writing blogs and I've had no time for my book. I like creative writing so much more than what I've been doing but this blog doesn't exactly pay me so....

Today was a Maggie day. It seems everyone in our family (kid wise) has their on thing. Allison had gymnastics and went to band (which she's quite good at both). Graham has skateboarding and plays baseball and Julianna is going to play basketball. That left Maggie with nothing. I wasn't worried quite yet cause she's only 7 but I felt like she truly needed to be involved in something since she is homeschooling.

She gets plenty of play time with other children since our street is packed with em and she loves Miranda and Cole and then she goes to children's church on Wednesdays so she has plenty of play time with other children she just needed an activity.

We tried dance. She went two lessons of ballet and HATED it. We went to Saul's on the square and she picked our her shoes and tights and leotard and got this cute little ballet bag. That's about as far as it went. The first day she clung to me and didn't want to do anything. Finally, I had to force her to finish up the month that we paid for. She said she wanted to cheer and then decided she didn't. There was just nothing that interested her.

Miranda told her about taking horseback lessons. She started as Western but is doing English this year. This peaked Maggie's interest. Maggie is my animal lover. She loves bugs and all kinds of critters. Kinda reminds me of how Ellie May Clampett from the Beverly hillbillies was. She loves em all. She'll cry when you squish a bug. She likes to save em.

So I start looking around. Miranda takes from a place ...I won't plug the name because from what I've heard it's not the best place to take your child if you want "real" lessons. They are cheap but your child works with a group. There is no one on one. They get a different horse each week etc....

I searched the internet and found Garland Farms. Then the more research I did, the more I liked. Ashley Marascalco...doctor Marascalco's daughter would be her teacher. So last week we went to visit. Maggie decided it was what she wanted to do. She was a little afraid ....ok a lot afraid, of the horses, so I wasn't sure how she would do.

Today we went back. Ashley taught Maggie how to tack the horse and let her walk her to the arena. Her horse is a beautiful Hanoverian. Her name is.........Maggie :-]

Maggie did excellent. Ashley taught her how to sit up straight and tall and taught her how to make the horse turn. It was awesome seeing her control that big horse all by herself.

She walked Maggie back to the barn and got her settled back in.

Maggie cried when we left. She didn't want to leave.

My Maggie has found her thing. I'm so happy for her :] My little equestrian.

Congrats to my baby boy

Graham made the travel team that he tried out for. They are currently number one in the state.

GREAT JOB Graham!!!!

The First Day of School

Today is the first day of school for my babies, minus Maggie. (She starts next Monday). I was OK at first, then excited for them, then sad and now.....as Maggie lays on the couch watching Dora and I am going to write a bit, while it looks like she may go back to sleep, I'm kinda melancholy.

I'm not sure what to feel. Part of me wants to cry. Part of me knows that this is just part of growing up. Part of me is very happy to see my babies grow everyday and get older, wiser, stronger and more independant. It's nice to see them successful. But they ARE my babies.

I read the other day, I was reading My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult and the attorney, who's name is Campbell, made a comment about his dog. He said, "Another great thing about dogs is that they sever ties with their mothers when they are little". At first I thought that was a funny thing then today, I remembered that and it made me sad.

I mean, as mother's we care, we worry, we care for the sick, we help with homework and study for tests. We mend clothes and wash bookbags, fix lunches, pack snacks, organize class parties and scrape unidentifiable food out from under the bed. Then we won't mention the projects that we find out about the night before and pull an all nighter trying to make a volcano out of toothpicks and string or an electric engine out of rubber bands and coat hangers.

This is love. The unconditional love that only a mother can have for her child. The inseparable bond that begins when we first hear..."You are pregnant" until we draw our last breath.

My babies, my sweet babies. I hope you all have a great day today. I hope today brings you nothing but happiness and new friendships, success and great teachers, classes you love and the beginning of a great school year.

I love you my babies.....more than life itself!


Mom

I changed my mind

Ok...I know that I said I really am dreading the kids going back to school.

I lied.

Well it wasn't really a lie until this morning. So last night I decide it's time to start going to bed like it will be for school...or at least earlier than the night owl hours they have been keeping this summer. So by 9:30 all the sugarplums were nestled in bed.

Hubby fell asleep on the couch and I was alone.....

alooooooooooone..........like really alone.

Allison usually keeps me company but she was not here and I had finished up my writing for the day. OOooo today's articles were good ones: testicular cancer, pirate bedroom ideas, arthritis treatments, neopet siggy ideas and many other countless reasearch topics that took roughly 30 minutes.

Yes, I get paid for this people.

I digress.

So I'm sitting here and decide to watch Lost (yes I know I'm off topic but bare with me I'm on a roll). I watch a few episodes and then I get to one that BREAKS my heart. probably so far my favorite episode but nevertheless, I sit here worried about my favorite character. Yes....precious Sawyer. So in this eipsode, the "Others" (da da daaaaaaaa....creepy music) have decided to teach Sawyer a lesson and make it so he will behave. (This is Season 3 episode....can't remember, maybe 4 or 5) You know what they do to loveable Mr. Charismatic Sawyer??? They install a pacemaker in him that will cause his heart to explode if his pulse goes above 140. Kinda like a rev limiter for you heart. So if he gets worked up about anything ....

BOOM!!!

Only, not really. He sees Kate changing clothes and his pulse goes up and he dumps water over his head. He gets beat up and doesn't fight back (Kate tells him she loves him). Then he is drug up a mountain with the others and his pulse starts racing. Then the stupid dude Ben tells him that they really didn't install the pacemaker. :( They just wanted him to think they did so he would behave. They also showed him that he isn't still on "the" island but yet it's next door neighbor and there is no where to run. My poor Sawyer. I didn't watch another episode cause by now I had watched about 4 hours of lost and it was past 1AM.

OK....so back to the kids and school. This morning they got up during my peace and solitude time when I get most of my writing done because of course, they went to bed early so they get up early. I do think that as soon as their feet hit the floor they started fighting. UGGGH!!!! It's been this way ALL DAY LONG. One battle after another and quite frankly I'm stressed.

School starts in 11 days and while my little Maggie will be homeschooled she is SO easy to handle when she's alone. And I've already got a schedule planned.

I get up get everyone out the door and Maggie and I will do her school. She will be done around lunch so I will feed her and then write. I need to write about 5 hours a day to pay bills and have money left...about $1000 a week. I'll work a couple of hours, Julianna will come home, help her with homework.....ok so the details are boring. Bottom line, when they go to bed I'll spend a few more hours writing and do my classes and all should be good. Tuesdays I will not write, I will instead have a class that I must log on for from 5:30 to 8:30. I will probably take another day off but I'm not sure when. Probably on Sunday, maybe Monday.

I get sidetracked so easily. I started out telling you how horrible awful the kids were and I'm into schedules for Fall. It's 4:30 and I'm fixing barbque chicken for dinner. hubby will be home soon and I need to finish writing.

Payday tomorrow :-) Tax free weekend this weekend. Life is good!

Sadness

I miss my Alli........

Seriously.

Then today, I was waiting on her to call and she never called.

I go to call her cell and our phone isn't working.

I get my cell and the battery is dead.

So I plug up my battery and wait. Then the phone rings and it's someone for Julianna. What was up with that? Why was our phone not working. Tonight I notice that there had been a break in at a local pharmacy and the phone lines had been cut so we were without a phone during that time. :( :(

I never heard from Allison. So I'm assuming she tried to call when the phone was not working and I'm so sad. :(

I miss her!!

Tuesday

Even as an adult, the end of Summer is a sad time. Open house is next week for both Middle School and Elementary School, High School doesn't have open house. So basically the kiddos have this week left. Where did the Summer go? It's gone. It's supposed to rain all week so there won't be much time left for getting in the pool or riding bikes, playing at friends. :(

Maggie doesn't start until the 17th so she keep saying "Ha Ha...,you guys go back next week and I don't". Course she won't be singing when they get out a week earlier than she does.

And that's another thing. I'm getting scared of the whole home school idea. What if I can't do this? I mean, what if I don't get her caught up? :( Worries.

Allison is at band camp. I miss her. I miss her so much. I knew I would miss her but last night I was filled with this great sadness because she wasn't here. I couldn't get her off my mind. I won't see her for another 4 days :(

Oh and we saw Shawn Mullins last Saturday. YAY!!! I actually talked Brook into going. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Shawn! He's jsut as amazing as he was in College...no I take that back he's much MORE amazing.





So now we have tickets to see Shawn on August 19th. I'm so excited. Can't wait.

Will post more amazingness as I get it.

Tonight's dinner......Sausage biscuits and scrambled eggs :-)

So very happy

So very happy today. I could add a list of reasons why but I won't.

Let's just say that today is a very good day and leave it at that. :-)

Shawn Mullins

So yesterday was Shawn's concert in town. I wanted so bad to go. Had planned on it all week long. Was truly looking forward to it. Wanted to say hi to a long ago friend.

When I went to North Georgia College, what seems like many moons ago in the early 1990's, way before marriage and children and responsibility, I had a group of friends that were important to me. We hung out together, frequented a little sticky dive bar called Beauregard's and one of these friends was a musician. His name was Shawn. Very down to earth, good heart, sweet soul, kinda quiet and mysterious in that musician kinda way. He gave me his Cassette tape (not a CD but a Cassette) that he had produced himself. It was simply titled "Shawn Mullins".

It was then that I was introduced to his talented vocal stylings.

I remember blaring my stereo in the dorm with this music. Everyone knew him around campus. He was just an awesome guy and everyone liked that tape.

I remember walking across the campus, up the hill, usually drinking before we got there. Going into this little hole in the wall place. Tiny place, dirty, sticky floors, wobbly tables. There MAY have been 6 tables at most but I remember about 4.

It was always dark, always a couple of older locals, mostly us college kids. Shawn's friends.

He'd play on a stool in the corner. He was awesome.

The nights were always awesome.

My friend.

Gosh I haven't seen him in forever. Sadly, I had almost forgot about those times until about a week ago I saw he was going to be in town and something hit me. I missed those days. I missed his laugh. I missed his music. (He's so much better live than on CD).

We would go. I would say hi. See what he's up to. So excited.

Brook fell asleep. i tried to get him up yesterday. He had taken Graham to the skatepark, came home and I TOLD him not to go to sleep. He wouldn't get up.

Honestly. I don't think he wanted me to go. I TRULY think he felt threatened.

I started to go alone.

But didn't.

So now today, I'm so absorbed with opportunities lost. I should have went last night. I should have seen him. Life is too short and this is not happening again.

If it were HIM and something he wanted to do....there would have been no question.

From now on. I vow to live. No more opportunities lost.

I miss those days of Beau's. Not the drinking but the friendship. The fun. Why can't I have that now?

So anyway, today....I'm working, listening to Shawn on CD. Wishing for time to go back.

Won't happen, I know. But it will go forward and I'm not missing anything anymore. Even if I have to go it alone........

Thursday

Thursdays are good days. They are the days my pay drops. Amazing to me how I've changed my thinking. For example a few months ago, a $300 check at the time was great. This week I feel like I had a bad week and my check is $465. I didn't write much. i only wrote about 10 hours. I didn't do what I should have but review times were so bad because of 4th of July. This week I will buckle down and work my fanny off.

Went to Harry potter the other night with Alli. I was so tired but the movie was pretty good. There were some slow moments but now I don't have to read the book. I should watch the other movies to catch myself up. Now I can just skip the boring number 3 and read the last book. Of course, the book is always better than the movies for me cause I like using my own imagination to bring up images for the story line. I don't know. There are still so many books I want to read this Summer and Summer is almost gone :(

Was really disappointed with Maggie's Dr visit. I feel like he didn't really tell me anything. Don't know what to do now. :(

Cleaned out the pool yesterday and it's supposed to rain. Sigh.....and Maggie is sitting behind me saying over and over....Momma look...then two seconds later...."Look"...."look"....."look". She's doing dressup dolls on the computer and she wants me to see EACH AND EVERY CHANGE that she makes. Not so bad the first 3000 times but an hour later...I'm going insane.

Summer mornings

Yesterday I did something crazy. I know you will all think I'm nuts but I did it.

Yep! I went to Wal-mart. No that isn't the crazy part though it was pretty stupid considering it was a Sunday afternoon but no, that wasn't my crazy. Wanna know what I did? Well I'm gonna tell ya.

I bought school supplies. Can you even believe it's time? Wal-mart is having a huge sale and I thought it would be a good idea to go and get the sale stuff that was on my list. Crayons and glue for a quarter, rulers for ten cents, markers for a dollar. I left with over $30 worth of stuff and got maybe a third of Graham and Julianna's list.

Haven't started Allison's.

Even though Maggie will be home schooled I got a few things for her. She will need them and I do not want her to feel left out. I got her the thick markers, a pencil box, glue sticks etc. Oh my mom got this cute magnetic calendar dry erase board so that I can write her schedule for each month as I get it and we will know what is ahead of us.

The reading competition seems to have lapsed. Allison, of course, will win. I really need to MAKE Julianna read because she has a reading list, she did well at the beginning of the Summer and kinda fizzled. Today I'm gonna sit and let Maggie read to me. I want her to win that second place prize. She's close.

Speaking of little Loo. She had her well child exam and her Dr. referred us to a specialist for her possible LD. We have an appointment on Wednesday. He said he would ask us some questions and ask her some and get her to take a few little tests. Then we'll go back to her Dr. and together, the two of them, are supposed to figure out if she in fact has developmental delays or if it is a learning disability. I just want to get it straightened out for her. This is all new to me. Honestly I'm shocked that it's one my children. Now, I don't want that to sound bad. What I mean by that is you go through the "Why me?" stage. Well that is where I am. First I blamed everyone, past teachers particularly, then I blamed myself, a LOT. Now I'm over that. It is what it is and Maggie is just special.

We will get her through this. She can learn and she wants to learn, we just have to find out how she learns best.

Again it could simply be maturity issues. We will find out soon.

Allison begins band camp next week. Graham was going to baseball camp with Chipper this week but he gets immunizations on Tuesday, camp starts Wednesday...not such a good idea.

Gosh, is Summer over? Allison gets back from band camp on August 1st, she will have practice three days a week after that. School starts August 10th. Maggie starts August 17th. I start August 30th. Wow. Where did time go? :[

Time to work. Oh how I love to waste time but I have articles to write.

Supposed to storm some more today. I welcome the storms. C'mon rain.

Saturday

Ok, so I failed miserably on the challenge yesterday. I was supposed to "buy my spouse something thoughtful to show I was thinking of them." I didn't.

Why?

I didn't go anywhere yesterday. I was pretty much home bound. So i think I'm exempt, nevertheless I will have to do that challenge again.

Michael Jackson....

I know everyone is discussing his death and it's everywhere but I want to add my two cents. I too, was one of the people who believed he was guilty when he was tried for molesting that 11 year old boy. I think he was a very sick man. Then today, this morning, I was watching some of his old videos and had a change of heart. Well kinda.

I think Michael was still very childlike. The way he did things. He truly was eccentric. He had the neverland ranch which was an amusement park. He didn't want to get old. Who does?

At this point in time though, he has passed away. I still hear all these people bashing him and calling him a molester. He's gone people. He's can't defend himself. Can't we allow the man to rest in peace?

it's just wrong to talk about the dead that way.

They said he had a cardiologist with him at all times and that he was taking a LOT of medications for pain. Sound like another overdose or maybe the drugs brought on the attack. It's almost like he knew.

He went from being the King of Pop in the 80's to becoming eerily introverted. He changed and I'm wondering if maybe we didn't change him.

While I'm not really the authority to speculate, I think he probably died a sad man. Have you seen a lot of his pictures towards the end? He didn't seem very happy. Which, he had lost everything. Went bankrupt, they took his beloved home.

I think we should allow him to rest in peace. Stop the bashing. He WAS great at one time. Let's allow that legacy to survive and forget about his bad. Don't we all go through them? Is he not entitled? And aside from teh obvious, we really don't know what happened.

He did try to hide from the media and they sought him out.

Regardless of your personal feelings of his allegations, does all that really and truly matter now? He's gone. It's over. Let him go. And his children. They lost their dad. Is anyone wondering how they feel right now? Especially if they see all of this hate that is driected towards him. Think of how your own children would feel if you had just died and people were saying horrible things. It's awful.


Rest in peace Michael.

Day 2

OK, yesterdays challenge was easy peasy. My husband came home from work and was so tired and not feeling good he went to bed. I told him I hoped he felt better and pretty much left him alone. Then late last night I got sick. He left this morning before I got up. Today's challenge was to show an act of kindness and not say anything negative again. I've discovered that I do this on a normal basis. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do. I continued on...I washed his shoes, called the Dr for him, fixed his dinner. I don't really have anything negative to say. So now what? How can it be a challenge when I haven't changed anything? This is life. Maybe this book is for people in worse shape than us?

Nevertheless I'm on to day three.

The Love Dare

I decided to start the Love Dare Book today. I went yesterday and got it at Books A Million. Today is the first challenge. You are supposed to avoid saying anything negative to your spouse. For me, today will not be hard because he works all day. by the time he gets home I'm tired from the kids and as he takes over with them, I'm writing. After I finish up my work for the day I will watch an episode or two or Lost.

Also, by the time he gets home I've missed him being here so it's easy to remain positive. I'm sure the Dares will get harder. I expect them to. I plan on tracking my progress here. So if check back if you want to see our Love Dare Journey.

Rants and Raves and hot summer days and Alaska

Rants...

I hate mosquitos, my feet getting dirty, mean people who don't take the time to understand me, the state of the economy, puppet liberals, TV commercials, laundry, steak (gross) and feeling misunderstood and alone.

Raves....

I love my children most of all. They are great people. I love thunderstorms, the show Lost, writing, frozen fruit, long showers, a good book and honesty.

Hot Summer Days....

Welcome to the Sunny State of Georgia. It hit nearly 100 degrees today and it's only June. UGGH. I hate Summer. I love Fall and I love Spring. I love temperatures that hover around 60-70. I hate sitting and sweating when you are doing nothing at all.

Oh....I'm moving to Alaska.

Headaches

I've had a headache for the past two days now. I've taken everything. I know it's sinuses. Last night I went to bed thinking I'd wake up and it would be gone.

I was wrong.

So now I'm battling it again. I'll have to break down and take something for allergies. I just have no desire to sleep right now.

The headache has won.

Anyway, we drained the pool yesterday. I had seriously been considering this anyway but I guess me, by myself, made the solid decision. Because we waited forever last year and didn't cover it, didn't winterize it...it was literally a swamp when we finally did put the cover on. So this Summer when the cover came off....

there was the swamp again.

I should have taken a picture but believe me, you didn't want to see it. I'm surprised there wasn't something dead in the bottom. Or worse, something living.

So anyway, it took all day yesterday to drain it, scrub it. Then of course it's taken forever to fill it. Going on a full day now and it is still not full. Joy.
But we have the solar cover on and in spite of the sub zero hose temps, the kids want to get in today. It's supposed to be 90 so I seriously wish they would leave the cover on today and get in tomorrow. Give it a chance to get somewhat warm...uh....at least non-freezing. It will be a week before I get in I'm sure.

You know me, my bath water could scald meat. I like my showers steamy. The cold does nothing for me. Even in 90 degree temps.

Ok, so I know this isn't the most interesting post. Sorry, it's the migraine.

It's now 10 am. Maggie just got up. Allison is up. (I can tell from the loud music that is coming from her room). Graham is asleep on the couch. Julianna is still upstairs asleep and Brook is still in bed. I guess I will feed my little one and then write a bit.

Sundays......ahhhhhhhh relaxing.

I'm a writer

So I can officially call myself a writer. My professor told me of a site to get published and paid for my work. He told me to expect a lot of rewrites on my articles with my editor when I'm just starting out. So far I've had 5 articles approved with no rewrites. I have 10 more flat fees that I will be paid for. I need to write 2 of them, the others are waiting on review. There are 8 revenue sharing articles that have to be written, I'm hoping to add 2 more because for every 10 I write and have approved it's a guaranteed set amount of money with of course increased revenues as the article is read.

I'm a writer. I'm writing and getting paid. So it feels great. 12 articles to write, 8 waiting approval, $75 in my hand for not even 2 hours of work. That's nearly $45 an hour and I can do what I LOVE. Feels so good to do what I want and get paid for it for a change. Once the number of articles I can write at a time increases, I'm hoping to have at least 10 a day approved. That would mean a solid income of $1000 a week while working less than 4 hours a day. Oh how this will solve our financial woes for good. Then top that with teaching this fall and we are set.

I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Everything in my past has led me to this point. I am so greatful. God is truly good!

Happy Sweet Sixteen

You're coming into your own. So smart and so beautiful. I truly thank God for you!

I love you sweet girl! I hope you have an amazing day.

Allison Nicole Smith
June 2, 1993

Live together Die alone

OK, I'm completely, absolutely, positively addicted to this show. I've wanted to watch this forever and recently I found the complete episodes on hulu.com. I watched the first one and now I'm into season 2. I love the characters and the whole plot. The suspense that lasts from episode to episode. I truly do not see how those that have been watching could survive waiting a whole week to find out what happens next. But alas...once I get caught up, this fall I too shall wait every week.



Who's my favorite? Definitely Sawyer.

He's hilarious. He's quirky and funny and sarcastic. I took a quiz on facebook and I'm sawyer. Hmmm...could be. I found a rather comical video on youtube that has a listing of him saying all the nicknames he's given people. Quite funny if you know Sawyer. I'll post it. Love it!

Summer is here!

My babies all are through with school. So sad and yet so exciting. Allison is in 11th grade now. She's such a smart girl. She also got a job at Kroger. She's so excited. her birthday is in a little over a week. 16....WOW. Where did my baby go? She's growing so fast.

Graham starting middle school. It took a lot to even be able to say that yesterday. I can't believe that either. Unimaginable. I remember crying when he started Pre K. Seems like yesterday.

Julianna, she only has 2 years left til she's in middle school. Why are they growing up on me?

Maggie Moo, she's having so many learning issues right now. We'll get it worked out though. She's still very bright. We just have to find another way. I've talked a lot with Mrs Fisher and she said she'd help all she could. She also said they would pray, she would get the small group to pray.

I remember when my daddy was so sick. We had so many people praying. I remember on my way home from work one day. I was praying in the car. Praying God would not take my daddy yet. I kept asking him to PLEASE give me more time. Please don't take my daddy from me. There were so many people praying and I remember that day well. That day, I could feel the prayers. I could feel other people praying for us. I've heard other people say this and until you've really felt it, it's hard to describe. That was one of my miracles that I've experienced.

It's easy to tell someone, "I'll pray for you." I wonder how often someone really does. I do know if I promise to do so then usually at that moment I will say a prayer. I don't want to forget. If I've promised to pray I will do it. I know how important that is.

A few days after I felt that huge amount of loving and caring from others my daddy's cancer went into remission. Not for long but God did listen to us, he did give us time to say goodbye. He did give me that extra time with him. I'm grateful for that time. It did prepare me. I was able to say things to him that I would not have otherwise been able to say. He was not supposed to come home from that hospital but he did. He came home and stayed for over a year. I did get to say goodbye.

Maybe watching our children grow, each year, they get older, we see their successes. We know the time will come when they leave home. We know they will eventually have their own lives to live. Success in school, moving to middle school, passing AP tests.....this is our preparation. This is the time we get before we must say goodbye. Oh how precious that time. I wish I had more.

We each have different chapters in our lives. Through theses chapters we are different people.

I was my daddy's daughter and while I still am, I'm not who I once was. I can't be that little girl anymore.

Now I'm a mom. I'm the caregiver. I help with homework, I'm a taxi driver, I sign slips and pack lunches, I pick out clothes and brush hair. I care for the sick and broken hearted. Soon this chapter will be over too. I will always be a mom but that role will change.

I wonder what my next chapter will be? Grandparent? I'm being prepared for that now. Time will prepare me for what I will be next. Each step of my life, one step closer to what I will become. And yet I know one thing


......I'll never be prepared for goodbye.

Mother's Day

I have spent the better part of this day wallowing in self pity and working hours that I did not want to work. Cleaning house with anomosity because I have felt, as always, very taken for granted of, very unappreciated. I even asked for help a few times only to get ignored.

After I got the house clean and sat down once again to work, I looked over and saw four of the most precious gifts for mothers day. I sat here and cried. I realized then that these four gifts were my whole entire world. I sit hit trembling as I write this because I realize that I sit here these long hours for the people behind these gifts. I have two of the most precious home made flower pots, one with a violet and the other with a handmade flower, a shadow of a little boy that is precious to me and (in my opnion) the most wonderful orchid that was grown. Perfect in every way. I love these gifts. They show me the love that I should be feeling right now. They show me the gratitude and affection.

These gifts ARE my thank you. These gifts are why I do what I do. I'm ever so thankful that I have chidren to work for. Children to clean after and children to love. I only wish right now I could spend more time watching movies and playing outside, playing Wii and reading books. But for now I work.

I know that this is temporary and someday very soon I won't have to sit here all day. I can play.

With this I wish myself happy mothers day. I love being a mom. It's who I am.

Sunday

I wan going to come on today and write about Chipper Jones and his awesome performance over the past few days, back from injury, his birthday on Friday. I mean, 2 homers yesterday, that's awesome. I wish I had watched the game instead of cleaning and working. But, that's life and today is another day. More work....more cleaning.

Anyway, I was going to mention Chipper and his awesomeness and I realized that Chipper's awesomeness can be seen by all but sometimes I'm the only one who truly recognizes the awesomeness of my babies.

Yesterday Allison had a competition in Chatanooga. I truly feel bad that I missed it. Especially knowing now that they received superior ratings. That's proof positive that they performed beautifully, as always. She's getting excellent grades and doing well in school. Something to be proud of. Then there is Graham, he went 3 for 3 at his game, something else I missed. he's now batting .790. Woo Hoo! Julianna, she didn't do anything yesterday per se that was amazing other than just being herself but she's currently got straight A's. Good job Julianna. Maggie Loo, I'm getting excited about homeschooling her. I think it's going to be a successful year for her next year. (Maybe not for me but for her). They are all such good children. I've been completely bessed. They all have their moments but lets face it...compared to others that I've seen, you have to admit they are excellent kids. I just hope I'm nto completely wrong and behind my back they are staging a coup and are planning on blowing up the house.

Today also marks Brook and I's first reunion date. April 26, 1996. 13 years ago today. WOW. We've known each other for 24 years now. Gosh I'm getting old.

School is almost out, Summer is almost here and one awesome, awesome thing...
I got a job for 3 weeks with a company called Pearson. I will be scoring standardized tests but the pay is AMAZING. I'll work as much as I can (if they'll let me) from Mon-Sat and then on Sunday I'll ChaCha a bit (maybe), probably to keep it active. The pay is like 3 times what I normally make so I'm thrilled. Training starts this week, two days, which I get paid for, then the next week the job starts. I can work when I want between the hours of 7am to 11PM. But again, if they'll let me work tons of hours I'm gonna work all I can. It will get up caught up, I can hopefully get Allison's car fixed and also put a little cash back.

So for a change this morning I woke up happy. I can't believe it since I did work til 4am last night. But I'm happy that I was able to work last night, I'm happy I have amazing children and I'm just happy.

Life is good!

Jason Castro

Ok...so I learned today that Jason Castro got signed with Atlantic Records. I'm so excited because if you check out youtube he's already written some pretty amazing songs, my favorites so far are "A Song ABout Stars" <-------you can find it in the music player) and Sweet Medicine. He's just so cool.

I can not wait to get his first album. Goes to show you don't have to win AI to go on to greatness. With that said......Good luck Miss Megan, I'll be looking for an album from you soon too :-)

I miss my daddy!!!!

Oh I'll twine with my mingles and raven black hair
With the roses so red and the lilies so fair
And the mirtles so bright with the emerald dew
The pale and the leader and eyes look like blue

I will dance I will sing and my laugh shall be gay
I will charm every heart in each crown I will sway
When I woke from my dreaming my idols were clay
All portion of love had all blown away

Oh he taught me to love him and promised to love
And to cherish me over all others above
How my heart is now wondering no misery can tell
He's left me no warning no words of farewell
Oh he taught me to love him and call me his flower

That was blooming to cheer him through life's dreary hour
How i long to see him and regret the dark hour
He's gone and neglected his pale wildwood flower

I didn't post about it because quite frankly the more I dwelled on it the worse I felt. I know it's something that I must meet head on but I didn't feel like meeting it at all. Didn't want to think about it. Didn't want it to cross my mind and this morning, something reminded me. Something forced me to deal with the pain. I sit here in tears now but they aren't sad tears. Today, they are good tears.


Last Saturday was 14 years. 14 years that God took my sweet daddy from me. My comforter, the one man that I felt I could always count on being there. One morning I woke and he had disappeared. He was no longer there for my own protection. He was no longer there to talk to, to give advice. He was no longer there to give me strength and to just BE. The walks through the woods, helping in the garden. Oh how he could grow things. Cancer took him from me. That ugly disease. He took my strong daddy and made him a weak man.


Today I woke and realized I should be happy. Not happy that he is gone but happy that I have all of those fantastic memories of him. He had such a great sense of humor and was such an honorable man. I was truly blessed to know him. Not just as my daddy but as a man. Family oriented and he loved me. Loved me quite possibly more than anyine ever has or ever will. I felt that unconditional, unceasing love.


We shared so much together. I am truly my father's daughter. I take with me pieces of him daily. My staunch Republican ideals and values that he instilled in me long ago. The love for anything that grows (though I'm sure I'll never grow anything like he did). Love for my quiet time. Love for music. Love for the State of Georgia and her red dirt and hilly roads. The smell of rain and the sound of a good storm. The love for the Atlanta Braves and the frustration at their failures. Gosh he loved Chipper. Thought he was amazing.....the next Hank Aaron.....the next Roger Marris. He was right.....as always.


I have to admit, when Brook came home from 10th inning after talking to Al and telling me that Chipper may be considering another team, I was so upset. Almost in tears. NO, NO, NO. He could NOT do that. Chipper will NOT leave Atlanta. He belongs to ME. He belongs to my dad. He's is OUR legacy. He is the last link we have. He can't leave me.


In all fairness here. OK yeah, I've met Chipper but he doesn't know me. I have no claim on him. He wouldn't know me if I walked up to him now. But still....my daddy loved him. That makes me love him. That makes him mine. I prayed, I cried.


Even now it sounds so silly. That's when I realized. Chipper is just Chipper. He won't play forever. 4 more years at most. The Braves are just the Braves (they tore down Atlanta Fulton county stadium). But my daddy......he will always be my daddy. No matter who retires, no matter who wins the pennant. I always have those sweet memories. I will have honey buns in the Summer time and playing cards at night. We never missed an opening day. That will stay with me until I see him again.


He's there, waiting on the other side. Braves hat on his head, fussing about that man in office and debating stats on who's the greatest ball player, with St Peter.


God knew how important it was to me though, he heard my prayers and Chipper is Atlanta's for the rest of his career. While I'm extremely happy. It doesn't change the fact that my daddy is gone. He won't go to the games with me. We won't heckle the umpires and make fun of the other team. I'll do that alone.


Yes, I am my father's daughter in every sense of the word.......and today.......tomatoes are just tomatoes.

Ok so I'm a journalist

I sat here this morning pondering this thought. I'm going to get my Master's in Journalism.

I've never thought myself a writer. I've written many, many papers and articles and just plain thoughts. I never thought I could write. Or should I even go one step furthur and say that I always wanted to write but didn't really know HOW or WHAT to write about.

Life takes us in such weird directions. I started out back in school to be an attorney and along my journey somewhere I knew that wasn't the perfect fit for me. I can't see myself confined to an office, a courtroom, other peoples problems, day in and day out.

I can see myself writing about things that crop up. I can flash foward to my children out of school and me moving to a nice secluded beachy area and spending my days on a lounge chair..........writing.

Everything seems to inspire me. Watching my smallest come into her own and watching my oldest turn into a strong beautiful young woman. Seeing my son become a man and watching my Julianna become more passionate about life everyday.

Dogs lying at my feet while I type this and even the little mouse that found it's way through the hole in our Florida room door. He thought he could set up housekeeping in our home, safe from the rain but he was greeted by a curious cat and 2 welcoming Boxer's. He packed up and decided to leave. He had a brief stay. (Of that I'm thankful). But even the wee mousy is an inspiring thought. Even he had a planned path and changed directions.

Point......I'm getting to it......which I never seem to do. Maybe the rambling is what makes me a writer. So many thoughts fill my head at any given time. It would literally take several people to get it all down.

Again.....point.......after going back to school, getting my Bachelor's, my MBA and now my MA in Journalism, I'm happier now about my path than I ever have. I'm certain I'm on the right trail.

I've written and had published two Sports articles thus far and I'm on my way. One day, maybe one day I'll actually make money from my analogies. Maybe one day I'll ge tto write for someone other than myself. For now, I'll be content in that. For now I'll be happy that God did lead me this way for a reason. He has brought me here and he will show me what to do next. I'm ready.

I need that next door opened. I'm waiting...............

March 29, 2009

March 29 is the 88th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 277 days remaining until the end of the year. We often take our days for granted and historic days go unremembered. Today is a pretty cool day. Today is Coke's birthday.

On March 29, 1886, Dr. John Pemberton brewed the first batch of Coca-Cola in his backyard in Atlanta, Georgia. He named the concoction cocawine and it was intended for use as a cough syrup. It was a wine. This occured during the time of prohibition in Atlanta so he changed the name and began marketing it as Coca-Cola. The first sales were at Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 8, 1886. Coke was initially sold as a patent medicine for five cents a glass at soda fountains, which were popular in the United States at the time due to the belief that carbonated water was good for the health. Kinda strange with all the warnings of coke now. How did anyone survive?

By the time of its 50th anniversary, Coke had reached legendary status in the USA. Coca-Cola was sold in bottles for the first time on March 12, 1894. Canned cokes began appearing in 1955.

And sonething that I did not know, Coke concentrate, or Coke syrup, was and is still sold separately at pharmacies in small quantities, as an over-the-counter remedy for nausea or mildly upset stomach. So you cna go to the pharmacy and ask for coke? HA! I don't know why that is funny to me. I even worked at a pharmacy for years and didn't know this.

The exact formula of Coca-Cola is a famous trade secret. There are rumors as to where the coke formula is. Some say it lies with one man and should he die, coke would be gone forever. No need to worry though, no wide spead panic is needed. The original copy of the formula is held in SunTrust Bank's main vault in Atlanta. So the secret is safe.....literally. No matter what happens, we'll still have our cola.

So just how successful is our addicting bubbly drink? Last year alone Coke boasted $969 million dollars in sales. WOW. While other companies are failing, coke continues to reign supreme.

Happy birthday bubbles :-)

Exciting day today

Today has been such an amazing day. First I got my official acceptance to UMT. Wonderful thing to see in the mail. After I opened my letter I then went and created my new email. So I'm truly official. I have the official UMT email address. I'm in the Master's program at UMT working towards my degree in journalism. :-) Back with my MBA, I'm hoping my future looks bright.

Then to make things even spiffier (Spiffy is Allison's word but I'm borrowing it here). Tonight I got an email from Player's Press. I sent in an aritcle on Chipper Jones and now they want to publish me. I start writing for them and can hopefully work my way up the ranks. The great thing is that one of the conditions of my degree at UMT is I have to have a published work by my graduation. Well, my Chipper article is being published. So that is already a given. Such an awesome feeling to have someone tell you they are publishing your work.

Now I just have to come up with more ideas and mroe articles. I'm hoping we can get to the braves games and the Gwinnett Braves games and I can get more articles written. I can interview Al and maybe Jasha....Even call Carp. This is exciting. I can not wait. I'm nervous but I can't wait to get started.

Mr. McSparkly

Yesterday I got a phone call. It was blockbuster telling me that I cna pick up my copy of Twilight at midnight. coolness.

So last night me and Allison went to Blockbuster at midnight. We were about the 5th in line because we thought there would be more people. We got there around 11:15. Noone was there. Good for us cause the line was probably 20-30 people and they said they would only stay open for 15 minutes after 12.

We brought Mr McSparkly home and watched him together. Graham, Julianna and Maggie wanted to watch btu Maggie went to bed at 8:30 (I knew she couldn't make it) Julianna was asleep on the counch by the time we got home and Graham fell asleep in the middle of the movie. I was pushing it by the end. (La Push baby) Allison said she was too.

This morning Julianna wanted to watch it so I watched it with her.

Mr McSparkly is in our home. :-)

Thursday

So, I started my new blog today. It's sad when you start a blog and have a negative energy. It really was bringing me down and I felt self conscious in posting anything newsworthy for fear of who would read it. So, I created a new email and a new blog. Today I shall start anew. If you follow my blog then this is the new address and it's posted on my facebook account.

Tonight is baseball practice again and tomorrow is Maggie's field trip. I had intended to go, told her I would go. They are only allowing 2 parents from each class go due to the lack of room in the theater. They are watching a play tomorrow and evidently the auditorium will be packed. I was tempted to go anyway because I'm a student at that college and had actually received an invitation but I don't want to step on toes and make anyone mad so, I'm not going. I talked to Maggie about it and she says she understands but deep down I can see it in her eyes that she really wants me to go.

Speaking of baseball this is a baseball filled weekend. Graham has 2 games. One on Saturday and one on Sunday. He invited one of his friends that he played with in the past to come and join them part time and he went Tuesday night and said he loved it. His parents aren't going to let him play though. I keep hearing the same thing said....because Brook quit the team.

See, Graham was going to play Fall Ball with the Rec department with his school and before the season started he got an offer from a travel team in Gwinnett to come play. Brook was coaching the rec team. Graham had been saying he wanted to just quit. He was hating rec ball. You couldn't get him to go to practice. It was horrible. When he got invited to play travel ball he was so excited. He wanted this more than anything. And while we normally would never let our children quit anything we allowed Graham to move to the travel team. He would play more games, be with boys with more experience plus be playing with boys his own age. We made a big decision. it wasn't an easy decision but after many days of considering it and talking about it we knew that it was the best thing. So Brook talked to the team, told them he was following Graham, turned the team over to another coach. Everyone said they were OK with but from there on out, it was different. I knew people got upset and really don't blame them. but I had to think about MY child and what was best for him. I think I'm still getting those same bad vibes from parents on that Rec team. Anyway, I was told today that the boys dad didn't want him to play on Brook's team after he left the boys in rec ball the way he did. I had parents say we left the team with nothing by pulling Graham. I completely disagree, there were plenty of players that could step up and besides, just as in the past, Graham could not carry the team alone.

At first I was upset about it but now, it didn't take long to get over it though because I do know that I made the right choice. In the end, with Graham at Chipper Jones and the fact that his attitude about baseball has changed. We are where we need to be. He was invited to join try out for the Clermont A's and said he did not want to do it. He likes being in Duluth. Likes his team. Loves his pitching coach.

So from here on out, I'm going to stop feeling bad about a good decision. From here on out, I will accept the fact that some people are mad about Graham leaving the team. It hasn't hurt us or changed us. We know we did the right thing. So it's time to move on.

A True Brave

It is June of 1990; enter a skinny, 18 year old from Pierson, Florida. 6 foot 3, 180 pounds, a kid who was named Florida player of the year. Little did anyone know, that kid would become the signature of the Atlanta Braves team. Bobby Cox made the decision that year and chose Chipper Jones as the overall 1st round draft pick for the Atlanta Braves.

Chipper began his lifelong career with the Gulf Coast Braves where he played 44 games in 1990. In 1991 he played for the Macon Braves as Shortstop leading the league with 71 double plays. He would later go on to play for the Durham Bulls and the Greenville Braves before making his debut in the Majors on September 11, 1993. That first game he went 2 for 3. Bobby had nothing but good things to say.

By 1996, Chipper Jones was playing 3rd base and becoming a shining spot on Atlanta’s 40 man roster after having a phenomenal 1995 season and winning his first World Series Ring. Since 1995 he’s been a part of 12 National Championship titles, Rookie of the year in 1995, 6 time All Star, National League MVP in 1999, 2 time silver slugger, 8 consecutive 100+ RBI seasons, 14 consecutive 20+ HR seasons, several player’s choice awards, the batting title in 2008 and a Legacy award in 2009. Chipper is behind only Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray on the all-time career home run list for a switch hitter. He is considered one of the game's best all-around hitters, and one of the best switch hitters in the history of the game.

What’s next for Chipper? Hall of Fame? Many have their opinions on that but ask any brave fan. No one is a better candidate. No one.

Chipper has always thrived off being the youngest one on the team. He gained strength from older players, learning from them, having role models. Spring training 2009 brought a new era for Chipper. He found himself being the oldest one in the Clubhouse. With that realization Chipper knows that his time is drawing near. Young players coming in to the game are now drawing off him.

Negotiations are now being made to keep that tomahawk on his chest. Chipper says himself that he probably won’t play past 41. That will give him a good solid 20 years in the game. He said he grew up in Atlanta and hopes to retire a Brave. So with sadness Atlanta comes to the realization that “Crazy Train” will be played for another 4 years or so, another representation of the good times gone by. He’s the last player left of the 1995 World Series Braves.

Chipper Jones has proven to be a leader in the clubhouse and a model to Braves fans everywhere. He’s Mr. Atlanta, the hero of little boys everywhere. Just as baseball and Apple pie are American signatures, Chipper Jones is an icon of the Braves. We want to keep him here, our true Brave.