Welcome home

When we left Florida almost 2 years ago, I left behind a part of my family. There were a few reasons why. One it has been a gruelly few years with my oldest son and the stress he was putting on me was slowly killing me inside and I was fearful, it would eventuly put a split in my relationship with my husband. As we made our choice to move to Georgia, a big part was to start FRESH and leave behind some of the pain and heartache of past. So, in that choice, I had thought it would also be best for my middle son to go live with his dad. Even though Chance only caused us typical teenage heartache, he is a child that needs alot of pushing.... and needless to say I was tired....I soon realized that choice was not the best choice for Chance atleast.
It was time for me to step up and be a mom again to Chance... being that he has always been the easy going kid, he has always gotten the short end of my love. Believe me when I say it pains me to know that I did this to him. His heart is as big as him and as you can see, he is a big boy. My Big Boy....who I love with all my heart. It is because of that love, I asked Chance to come back and live with us so we can be a Family again and we can give him the love and guidance that he needs to become a productive adult.... I know this new road will change the way our life has been for the last year and a half. I also know that as much as I am scared about the changes, I am hopeful that we can help Chance become that MAN we all know he is capable of being... It is just helping him believe in himself.

Something is wrong......

So here we are two Florida native in the mist of our first snow fall. Now let me tell you, this is not Chicago snow fall but 1 inch of snow has brought our town to a stand still.... but more than that me. So a day before it is due to snow, my sister tells me you better get to the grocery store and I am thinking are you crazy it is just a litte snow, it will last a day. So, I don't go to the store. Well, day 2 and I need food and I cannot get out my driveway. Note for those who have never seen my driveway, it is long and steep so a little ice has caused a huge problem... I cannot get my car up to the top.... So after 2 days of being trapped indoors and the need to feed my family, I get the shovel out and start cleaning the snow and ice of the driveway so I can get back to civilation.... but here lies the question.... What is wrong with the pictures above.... Yes, that is my shoveling and my darling hubby enjoying an ice cold beer and the view.......

Okay, I must confess, he did eventually grab the shovel and help the damsel in distress complete the driveway.

Yippee... day three and I am free.. I can drive and so I head to the store to get some food and I also need to get to Bed Bath Beyond for some floor cleaner and this is where I must make my first confession... I spent money... but it was a bargain. A much needed... okay maybe it not really a need but a want... comforter, King Size completed set with sheets and the works, regular 200.00 for 41.00... I really could not pass it up... maybe I could of if I was stronger but.... to this point I swear, I have passed up many things and have been so pround of myself. So I start over.....
Oh on the other front, I lost 3 lbs... so there... I made some good choices...

A few of my creations...

So just as my sister got me started with my love of scrapbooking after many years of nagging..." Come on just do it, you just might like it". And I did. She has once again turned me on to the new wave of Digital Scrapbooking..... So Sis this is for you.. a few of my first creations..... Not as good as hers but before long.... Can't wait to share more....

NEW YEAR and NEW BEGINNINGS

The New Year awoke with the sun shining and the air so cool and fresh it made you feel ALIVE.....It was then that I knew it was a NEW YEAR with NEW BEGINNINGS

Hubby had the day of which is so rare that we decided to take the day to enjoy each other..... We headed to little mans favorite place to hike "Amicola Falls". Now let me tell you why he loves this place so much.... It is not for it beauty, it is because he loves to watch his mom pass out on about step 650 of 700 steps it take to get to the top. Nice Guy huh.... Well, I got him this time, I let him and daddy climb alone.... I took a hike on a more peaceful trail.



During this time, I thought about the New Year and what I wanted it to bring...

I want to be CONTENT with the things I have...

I want to be BRAVE enough to be me and reach out to people and not be afraid of being rejected.

I want to be BETTER wife, mom, sister, daughter and friend.

I want to be FOCUSED so that I can reach my goal of saving and my life goal of being a healthier being.

I want PEACE from my inner thoughts.

The first day of 2010 brought me HOPE that these things are possible... I just know that it will take work...

Happy New Year.... to all.

Gloomy End......

Today is one of those days.....

You know the kind you don't want to get out of bed....

The one when you want to pull the covers over your head..

Oh I get those days here and there... a little less that I once did.

But today..... the last day of 2009, it came and got me....

Okay, so maybe it is part the weather... As I sit here and type, I look out my window
and it looks like a scene from the Shining....


I had a lot of time on my hands today and that is not always a good thing for me because it causes me to be depressed and the weather being what it is.... well let's just say it is magnifying the problem. Maybe this is a fitting way to end 2009. Out with the DOOM and GLOOM and in with a Fresh Beginnning....

Hubby will be heading home and so it is time for me to put on my happy face....

May your New Years Eve be joyful..... Mine may not be but I am Hopeful for a Joyful 2010.

2010... a New Year and a New Resolution.

I got to thinking the other day about what I wanted to change the most in 2010. As many will, it would be to lose weight and get back into shape. Now, I must admit that is high on my list but I decided that will not be my 2010 resolution because in all honesty, that needs to be my life resolution. God knows I am not happy when I am overweight but It is a battle I believe I will fight till the very end. It is harded here in Georgia to get that battle started in the Winter because not only is it Cold and rainy most days, it also gets dark early and being out in the wilderness, there are not street lights. Needless to say, I am afrad of what other creatures will be joining me in the dark. SO.... what will it be... what will be harder for me then to lose weight......

My 2010 resolution is to SAVE... SAVE... SAVE... and that means I must learn to find pleasure in myself, my family, my hobbies and in the silence that usually finds me running to the store to just fulfill the loneliness. You see, I am a compulisive shopper.. there I said it. Now even though I love to shop, I also love a bargain and that is how I shop but even a good deal, is not always the best thing. I guess losing a loved one this Holiday season, I saw that life is not about what you have, it is about how you live your life... cause when you go, those things stay here and that is not what people remember about you.. it is who you were, how you loved and how you lived. So as this year begins, I will tell my tales of how I "Saved" ($) and I am sure of my failures. So lets see how well I can do....and I look forward to watching others resolutions my fellow bloggers may have.... Happy and Healthy and hopefully Richer 2010.

Christmas Morning

Christmas 2009

Let me start by telling you that our Holiday season started with great saddness.
My Darling husband lost his dad on December 13, 2009 and we lost a beloved Opa and Father In law. Dad had been sick for sometime but as we always called him "Felix the Cat" because he defeated death time and time again. Not knowing how long he would be with us, we headed to Florida for Thanksgiving and I am so glad we did because it turned out to be the last holiday we would all have together. We noticed the huge change from the last time we saw dad and even though, he was already fading, we were able to spend some quality time with him. Most of all, he got to spend sometime with his favorite little man.. Casey. My only regret was that try as I may, I was unable to get a picture of the whole family one last time with dad.

Though our heart is heavy for the loss of our beloved Dad / Opa, we knew that we still needed to make Christmas Majical for Casey. Christmas Eve, we spend the day together just enjoying some much needed family time. We took in a movie "The Squeakle" and then enjoyed a nice meal at the "OG" for those who dont know the OG, it is better known as the Olive Garden, our little man named it the OG. Then it was off to viewing the beautiful Christmas Lights before we put Casey down before Santa made his way to our house.

Christmas Morning came early.... Little Man woke up twice before the sun. So we told him to go back to bed until the sun came up..... oh I must say the sun barely peaked out


and he came running in the room... " I got 11 presents, hurry come see.
So there was no more excuses for us.. we got out of bed. I must say the smile on his
face as he opened his presents was so what we all needed after the last few weeks. Even though he did not get everyting on his list, he said "This is the Best X Mas ever".