Remember to be Thankful

The Writers Workshop Assignment I chose to accept: Write a poem about the things you are thankful for.


I am thankful for all of these things and so many more. I am a blessed and grateful woman, today and everyday.

Remember to be Thankful

Thankful for the big

Thankful for the small

Thankful for the good

Thankful for the bad

Trials make you strong

Troubles don't last long

There is food to eat

A warm place to sleep

Family who loves you

Friends who accept you

Wonderful husband

Gorgeous, happy, and healthy son

The hope for tomorrow

Anticipation of blessings to come

Gratitude and hugs

Love and luck

Happiness and grief

Memories of those no longer with us

Traditions old and new

First Thanksgiving messy and fun

Parades and Football games 

Leftovers and afternoon naps

Gathering together

Remembering our blessings

Love to everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving! May your day be filled with family, fun and love. 

Things Eddie Says

Last week I was sick from Salmonella that I got from Alfalfa Sprouts - but that is another post for another time. While I was convalescing on the couch Eddie had a very important question:


Eddie: Mommy, how big is my brain?


Me: Come here and put your fists together - thats how big your brain is


Eddie grunts


Me: Whats wrong?


Eddie: Its just I want to have a big brain


Me: Ok


Eddie: Is it going to grow?


Me: Yes Eddie as you grow your brain will grow


Eddie: (with a sigh of relief) Oh good cause I don't want to have a small brain


Me: Ok why not


Eddie: Because I want to have a bigger brain than everyone else, I want to know more than everyone else


Me: It doesn't matter how big your brain is.


Eddie: Moooooooooom (with a frustrated tone) If you have a small brain you can't fit anything in it.


He is five, I don't know what prompted this conversation, I don't know why he was suddenly worried about his brain. But now I catch him putting his fists together and touching his head to see if it has grown. This is definitely my child. Poor guy!

The Man of My Dreams.....

Four years ago today I married the most amazing man. He is everything I never knew I always wanted. It seems silly to say that, because he is everything I ever could have asked for and more than I thought I deserved. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world.  I look back at the pictures from that day and I can feel the overwhelming joy. It truly is one of the happiest days of my life.

Our relationship hasn't been all roses, some of the thorns have been HUGE. We have been through so much in our 6 yrs together it seems like we have been together much longer, but in a good way. Its hard to see past him to what was before, it feels as though I began my life when he entered it. We have been through an unexpected pregnancy, premature labor, c-section, a sick baby who had to be hospitalized for urinary tract reflux. He has been by my side through post-partum depression, unexplained illness, crippling migraines, infertility and now Fibromyalgia. We held each other together while carrying for his ailing mother, and grieving her eventual passing. He held my hand and told me everything was going to be alright, when we faced a health scare with my own mom. We have backed each other up, helped each other's siblings, defended each other, encouraged each other, and brought each other back to Earth. Ok, that last part mostly applies to me. I admit I am "artistic" a poet. I am prone to wild flights of fancy. He grabs me by my ankles and sets me firmly on solid ground. It is something I never knew I needed. I do! He is a little shy, and a lot geeky/nerdy. But he has me to make him do crazy silly things. I remind him its ok to be silly, its ok to have fun and that sometimes you have the most fun when you make a complete fool out of yourself.

He is an amazing father. He truly enjoys being a dad.

He is my best friend, my partner, my counselor, my co-parent, my lover, my other half, my better half, the love of my life. He has taught me what love is, what it feels like to be loved, and the meaning of unconditional love. There is no one else I would want to share this journey called life with. There is no one else I would rather fight with, struggle with, parent with, and grow old with. So today on our 4th anniversary, I say here is to another 40 and beyond. I love you!

A Daughter's Worst Fear

As I write this my mom is in surgery. She is having a section of her colon removed where a cancerous polyp was located. They caught it very early and her Dr's believe that she will not need any further treatment. But I am faced with my worst fear as a daughter, the fear of losing my mom.

My parents are relatively young, I haven't considered their death or even addressed it anywhere in my mind. My parents are also both healthy. I have worried more about what would happen to them if they lost me than I have about losing them. I have never considered what my life would be like if they were not around. I have never considered what I would feel or how I would deal with losing my mom. Until now....

I have to admit I do have some issues with my mom although we have a good relationship. But no amount of issues would ever keep me from having her in my life.  I don't know what I would do or where I would go. I know how devastating it was for me when my grandma passed away. She helped to raise me, I was always with her and we were very close. I can't even imagine what losing my own mother would be like. I have not dealt with this situation, her needing this surgery. I just went on autopilot. I don't know that I am dealing with it now.

I think I am paralyzed by my fear. I think that I am afraid that if I face it, feel it, deal with it then it will be real. I am just not ready for that. Even as I sit here watching the monitor that tells me she is in the operating room, I am not dealing with it. I'm sitting here writing this and its like it is happening to someone else. It doesn't help that I am here alone. Not that more than one person needs to be here in the waiting room for the next 3 hours of her surgery. Not that even if someone else was here I would magically be ready to face this. I'm 30 yrs old, I am not prepared to face the mortality of my barely over 50 parents.

This isn't my first time dealing with this bastard they call cancer. I hate cancer, I hate the word, I even hate that it is my astrological sign. If I never spoke that word again it would still be too soon! I'm filled with anger over having to deal with this SOB again.

I dealt with the illness and eventual passing of my mother-in-law whom I adored. It was horrible. But it made me feel blessed to have my own parents. I felt blessed by their good health. Now I wonder what will I feel blessed about. This makes me feel angry and guilty. Angry because I know I have an abundance of blessings in my life. Guilty because my husband and his brothers have already lost their mom. Guilty because I feel angry at God. Guilty because I am angry. Angry because I feel guilty.

I'm in a bad place today. I can't find the beauty and the blessings right now. I have faith, and I guess that is something. Something more than not having faith. I know the blessings and beauty are there, even when I can't see or feel them. I just want to find that peace I feel, that I am so proud of.

I am going to end this now. Sorry for the rant, the little bit of a pity party.


Parting Prayer:
Lord help me to find peace. Protect my mother carry her safely through her surgery and heal her body. Help me find patience, strength and keep my faith. Forgive me for my angry thoughts, I know you deserve better. I also know you understand and you know my heart like no one else. I put my mom in your hands, I know that your will shall be done. Send your angels to protect her and your love to surround me. In Jesus name - AMEN

This Blog

So I have had this blog for about 5 years. As you can see from my archive I have not been very diligent about posting. I guess I have never figured out what I want this blog to be. I know I want to write. I have been writing for as long as I have known how and been making up stories longer than that. I like to write stories and poems. I like to write my opinions. I even like to report news, I was on my high school newspaper. So with all these things I like to do, I never figured out which way to take my blog.

This year I put on my to do list that I would blog once a week, journal and pursue my artistic delights. So why not do all of that here?! The problem is, I never feel like I can completely express EVERYTHING I am feeling. Especially when it comes to my life and the people in it. I love that so many of my friends and family read my blog, via Facebook. But that also handicaps me a little when I want to vent about one of them. So what do I do, express and hope that everyone read my disclaimer, or edit and preserve everyone's feelings except my own.So using my blog as a journal of sorts is out.

What about pursuing my artistic delights. Writing, well I have HUGE anxiety about sharing what I write. I have only read one of my poems in front of people, ever in my whole life. I feel exposed and raw when I share my poetry, its like standing in front of a crowd naked. But there is an amazing poetry community in my town, that I would love to be a part of, so I guess I must learn to share. Alright so I will be sharing.........................my.............poems. GULP!

Now lets talk photography, well that I can do and do easily. For some reason I don't feel so exposed when I share my pictures. I still feel anxiety about whether or not they are good enough, but I suspect that most people do. At least that is what I tell myself. Ok so I can share my pictures.

I am going to share my opinions, I am going to participate in writing prompts and inspiration provided by my fellow bloggers. I follow some amazing women and they provide me with great inspiration.

Now I just have to do it.

I'm a Toys R Us Kid!

I realized I was a grown up when I got pregnant with my son and no one told me I was too young. I was 25. When I was a kid I always said that I wanted to have my first child at 25 because I thought that was really old. But when I unexpectedly got pregnant I instantly thought "I'm too young for this". Then I realized I was the exact "really old" age I wanted to be when I was a kid.



Although having my son made me realize I really was an adult, it hasn't made me feel old. On the contrary I feel younger, I get to do all sorts of kid stuff again. I can finger paint, jump in puddles, go to story time, read "Where the Wild Things Are" over and over, and watch Disney Channel. Because of my son I now know the meaning of being a "Toys R Us Kid". I get to hang out in the toy aisle, see "children's movies", and go to to Chuck E. Cheese's without looking like a crazy person. I get to experience things through his eyes and remember how amazing the simple things are.



I now know I am an adult, but I am a parent and that means I get to have a second childhood and experience the world all over again through my son.

"Just Another Manic Monday"

And this week I am participating in Writer's Workshop and the prompt I chose is: Could a routine become interesting through words?  Write about a person (perhaps you) caught up in a daily routine.  Establish a rhythm with the story’s words that impersonates the rhythm of the routine.




6 AM       is                  that              the              alarm                                                  hit.the.snooze                                   man that went by fast                                                          UGH       pull    myself        out                       of                      bed                            run to the bathroom, I can't see, where's my glasses, GET UP EDDIE, "Mommy can I watch a show" I say yes but I wanna say NO! Find the remote change the TV, you can only watch Disney.       Heres your clothes put on your shoes, getting in the shower. Do you hear what I'm telling you? Get in the shower the water is nice, I could stay in here the rest of my life.  Wash my hair, my face and limbs. Did I put conditioner in? Water off, towel on.  Find my clothes, brush out my hair.  Eddie are you dressed, of course not I could have guessed. The TV is going off if you don't put on your shoes and socks.  Blow dry my hair, I don't wanna go anywhere! Straighten hair, brush and comb, gotta put some makeup on.  Eddie come and brush your teeth, brush as long as the light is flashing. Rinse it off get your backpack, no I'm not recording that. Where's your jacket? Put it on. Where the heck did I leave my phone? Purse, phone, jacket, keys. Eddie get your backpack please. TV lights everything off out the door, make sure its locked, in the car and we're OFF!

What I Put Up With....

This week I am participating in Writers Workshop over at Mama Kat's.
The prompt I chose is: Write a poem to your love for Valentine’s Day.


Whenever people find out that my husband does not buy me flowers and doesn't give me gifts, I always get the same response, "How do you put up with that?!" Here is my answer:


I put up with a man that gets up and goes to work everyday without fail and without complaining.
I put up with a man who comes home to me every night, without fail.
I put up with a man that is not out running the streets with his friends instead of taking care of his family.
I put up with a man who does not consider taking care of his own child "babysitting" when I am not there, its just parenting.
I put up with a man who does whatever he can to make me comfortable and feel better when I am sick.
I put up with a man who got up in the middle of the night with me when our son was an infant.
I put up with a man who was by my side while I battled post-partum depression.
I put up with a man who without complaint was willing to do anything his mom asked.
I put up with a man who was willing to put his life on hold to care for his mom.
I put up with a man who has been by my side sharing in the sadness and anger of our trying to conceive journey.
I put up with a man who loves my sister like she was his own, and even though she drives him crazy, he would do anything he could to for her.
I put up with a man who calls me BEAUTIFUL.
I put up with a man who grew up in a family where holidays and birthdays weren't a big deal, but still honors my family traditions even though we make a big deal out of everything.
I put up with a man who tries to give me what ever I want, no matter what time of year.
I put up with a man who loves my big crazy family.
I put up with a man who will take me to see sappy romance movies.
I put up with a man who will eat at restaurants I want to go to even if he doesn't particularly care for it.
I put up with a man who takes care of our son.
I put up with a man who grounds me when I need it, but also lets me fly away when I need to.
I put up with a man who puts me and our son first in his life.
I put up with a man who tells me he would be lost with me and our son.
I put up with a man who I can trust, and never have to wonder about.
I put up with a man who does the dishes.
I put up with a man who motivates me, inspires me, and encourages me.
I put up with a man who knows what is important.
I put up with a man that makes me laugh, and with whom I can laugh.
I put up with a man who watches Real Housewives, General Hospital and any other show I want to watch.
I put up with a man who appreciates how hard it is to be a stay at home mom.
I put up with a man I would be proud to have my son turn out like.
I put up with a man who defends me to myself.
I put up with a man who worries when he feels I'm taking on too much.
I put up with a man who reminds me that it is ok to say "NO" sometimes.
I put up with a man who appreciates everything I do for him, and tells me so.
I put up with a man who when he looks at me in that special way, makes me weak in the knees, and my stomach full of butterflies.
I put up with a man who makes me feel special everyday.
Most importantly, I put up with a man who LOVES me unconditionally, without fail, and so well that I know everyday how lucky I am.







Ok so maybe this turned out not be a poem, but I can put up with that.

Wednesday Weigh In

Welcome to the first Wednesday Weigh In!

This week's topic is introductions. Please introduce yourself, tell us what your weight loss plan is, your weight loss goal, and why you are embarking on this journey. Also if you would like you can list your starting weight, but you do not have to.

2010 Fat to Fit Club

The way it works is this; we would all blog every Wednesday about how much weight you have lost that week, what is working for you, what isn't working, tips & tricks, great recipes and other weightloss topics. I will create a blog with the week's prompt and a Mr Linky (provided I can figure out how to work it) Once you have written your blog come back paste the link to your post in the linky read the blogs of others on their weightloss journey and show them some comment love. My hope is that we can all be accountable to each other as well as ourselves. But also that we can support and encourage each other. I want this to be a safe place where we can be honest about our individual journey, and get support when we stumble or get off track.

The Guidelines:

1. ABSOLUTELY NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS WILL BE TOLERATED!

2. NO ONE has to reveal their starting or ending weight unless the WANT to

3. Honesty is the key to success so be as honest as you can

4. Remember that stumbling does not mean you have failed, just pick up where you left off and get back on track.

5. Most importantly this is to be a JUDGMENT FREE ZONE, each person is allowed to embark on their weightloss journey in what ever manner works best for them, there is no right or wrong.

6. NO ADVERTISING

Reflection and 2010 To Do List

As 2009 came to a close, and we started a new decade, I decided to reflect on all the changes that have occurred in the last ten years.

Ten years ago I was ready for the year to be over and put what was one of the worst years of my life behind me. My grandmother had passed away just 4 months before and I just wanted a new start. I spent the Y2K New Year's with the boy I thought was "The One". I thought for sure that because I started the year and decade with him, that I would finish it with him. Within in a year we were broken up, something we had done many times, but this time he had crossed my line in the sand. As a 21 yr old girl I was sure my world was upside down and I had no idea what to do and where to go. I spent the next 3 years figuring out who I was, what I wanted and where I wanted to go in life. It was some of the best times of my life. I embraced being single. Then I got a new job and in the second week of training this guy walked into the training room and I knew he was the one for me. I know it sounds cheesy, but it is true. I saw him and leaned over to my friend and said "If I ever get the chance to date that guy, I am going to marry him!" Two and half years, and a beautiful baby boy later, I did. He showed me what love is. He fills my heart in a way I never thought it could be. He is my best friend, my partner and everything I never knew I always wanted. The beginning of the decade feels much farther away than ten years should, it seems like another lifetime. I began this new decade the way I plan to begin each decade with the most amazing husband I never could have asked for, and our son. Now hopefully someday we will be blessed with another child to share our New Year's with, but even if we aren't I will be perfectly content to begin each new year, and decade the way I began this one.

Now on to the second half of my post my "To Do List". I call it that because I am not fond of the whole resolution thing, I think it is a recipe for failure. I would much rather make a list of things I want to do this year, this way just like my daily to do list, if I don't finish I don't feel bad. I can simply add it to the next To Do List. So here goes:

2010 To Do List

1. Watch all 3 Lord of the Rings movies with my hubby - he has been asking me to do this for the entire 6 years we have been together.

2. Lose weight, get in shape, be healthy

3. Organize each room in the house

4. Let go and get rid of stuff I haven't seen or used that is just taking up the limited space I have

5. Scrapbook

6. Go on dates with my husband

7. Spend one on one time with my son doing something he wants to do, no matter what it is

8. Send my hubby and son out to do stuff BY THEMSELVES, and enjoy the quiet of my house

9. Blog at least once a week

10. Journal

11. Meditate/Pray/Relax daily

12. Spend time teaching my son things he won't learn in school

13. Go to Church

14. Be wiser with our money

15. Continue school

16. Be more patient

17. Spend more time with my Nana and my hubby's Grandma

18. Spend time pursuing my artistic delights

19. Take time to hang out with friends

20. Have a dinner party

I think 20 things on my To Do List is a good start. I plan to work as diligently on this list as I do my daily list. I guess 21 would be, doing a Daily To Do List, daily.

I hope everyone has a fabulous year filled with joy, laughter, family, friends and lots of blessings.

Happy New Year!

(this post is a little late because I was sick, a part of my new year I hope not to repeat every year ;) )