Trying Again...

OOPS! Guess who fell of the blogging bandwagon again! I'm going to actually try again to be consistent with my entries (...just don't hold your breath, though!) After I make some adjustments to lay out, I'll post again. You can catch up on my old blog here....then come back for the rest of the story!

Packing for tomorrow...

We are leaving to go to Baton Rouge in the morning. 8 a.m. sharp. There supposed to be a parade for the LSU football team on about the same route we are using to go see Barney--uggghhhh! [i]I love you, you love me, we're a happy family...[/i] Fun. Do you catch my excitement?I had to work today. It was a busy day. I had a patient not doing well. I hope she makes it through the night. She was really pitiful.I don't know what is up with the script on my blog. I emailed tBlog for some help, but I have yet to get a reply. Gee...thanks...and I upgraded to Pro User. That must mean no customer service. I don't know--I'm looking around at other blog services so we'll see. I just hate that I spent my money on tBlog and they don't want to or can't seem to help me!Girl Scout orders are over. I personally bought 68 boxes. Cookies anyone? Good thing they freeze well. Like I really need those cookies. Yeah...right.My sweet husband washed my car (truck--just what do you call an Expedition?) This is the second time he has washed one of my vehicles since we have been married. He must be going to miss me this weekend. What's on his mind? :oops: We went to eat at the fish resturant here in town with my parents. We had a good time. I stuffed myself, My dad paid for it--I invited them to go eat with us and he pays! 8) I haven't seen them since Christmas---we only live about 30 minutes apart. I am a terrible daughter! Guess I need to finish packing! I'll be gone for a couple of days.

Blog Vacation

It seems I have taken a "blog vacation"! My website and my blogs( there are several!) have been neglected. This blog only has 2004 Archives. There are more 2005 Archives, but they are located under "Old Blog" on my Links section to the left. There just hasn't been anytime then whenever there is time, I keep changing the site themes! Sometimes I just get obsessed over something for a while then it burns out. For instance, I recently rediscovered The FIRM videos and Fanny Lifter again. I bought a set a few years ago off of an infomercial. That was the first time I ever purchased from television. The videos lasted for a week...or I guess I lasted for a week---not even that long! Oh, and I guess my daughters rediscovered the videos. The tapes were happily collecting dust on my desk before my girls plucked them from their comfortable existence. I was happily collecting dust on the couch...errr...becoming a couch potato! Monday, September 12, 2005 changed everything. My three girls did about 4 workout videos(these tapes are 45-55 minutes long each) while I watched them sweat to the (oh that's Richard Simmons--we don't have his tapes!) I tried to tell the girls that you only have to do 1 tape per day, but they were so gung-ho! Anyway, the girls stayed the night with their grandmother on Monday night while I went to work. Tuesday, after I had my usual 4-5 hours snooze after working all night, I sat on the couch and began feeling guilty. What kind of example was I providing for my daughters? Do I really want to pass on the legacy of an overweight mom, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol? I lost my mother at an early age due to her death...did I want my girls to grow up without their mother? Certainly not! I can already see certain habits of mine radiating from them. Well, I lifted my fanny off of the couch and worked out. It was really exhilarating! Even though I was about to fall out due to being out of shape---it still felt great physically and emotionally.The FIRM website has video rotations to follow for different fitness levels. I exercised Tuesday, rested yesterday, and will exercise today. I pray that I stick with it this time!

Weekend Recap

Saturday went well...busy, but we were able to do everything! I came home and absolutely crashed. I was in bed by 11:00 p.m. and that is a RARE occurrence! I even remembered to forward my clocks an hour for Daylight Savings Time!
We made it to Sunday School on time. This is the second week that has happened so I guess I'm on a roll! I've really missed Sunday School. It was my Sunday to teach Children's Church. We are studying Psalm 23 and talking about God as a shephed and we are His sheep. The kids made little sheep bodies with cotton balls and we outlined their little hands on black paper, cut them out, and used the thumb to paste the sheep's head on, and the other four fingers were the sheep's legs. It was too cute. The kids had fun. After church, we went to lunch at Tony's mom's house. She cooked a big pot of red beans and rice, fresh baked cornbread, peach cobbler, coconut cream pie, and a chocolate cream pie(she knows I don't like coconut!) My diet was kind of "nonexistent" Sunday. I couldn't let all that good food go to waste! LOL Haleigh invited a friend over and all of the girls played pretty well. We headed back to church about 4:30 p.m.---Discpleship training starts at 5:00 p.m., evening worship at 6:00 p.m.
Tonight I am at work. I arrived in early at work---boy that blew everyone's minds! I'll be leaving early, too!
I approached Tony about homeschooling all of the girls. It seems like we are back on negative terms as far as all that goes. I guess I knew he'd never go for it, but it is going to cause problems between us in the long run. Homeschooling is what I've decided is best for my children, but I guess I just need to pray about it more. Maybe Tony will come around on the issue. I'm really having a problem with his demands and the outcome does not look pretty.
I've tried to start up my personal Bible study time again. This month, I am reading Beth Moore's book, Breaking Free. I certainly could break free from some obstacles in my life. It's talking about being captive as a Christian. I'm trying to memorize the scripture passages for it. It's been so long since I have had to memorize scripture, but I need to be continously learning it and using it as a Christian.

That's all for now. I have to go do a little bit of patient care now!
Good night!~

Updates over the last couple of weeks...

The girls are all asleep in the den. We made the couch bed out and Haleigh and Holleigh are sleeping on the couch cushions together. I wish my camera was charged! I should be in bed, but I really am enjoying the quietness. I also, should be having my quiet time/prayer time now. For some reason, it is times like this when the entire house is quiet and it is late at night, that I feel closest to God. It's almost like He can hear me without listening to others...like He is sitting in my living room! Well technically He is, but you know what I mean! Now if I hear that "still small voice" I may just fall out of my chair!
I have been on a Medifast diet since the end of January, but I had lost a lot of weight when we all had the flu for 2 weeks. Altogether, I have lost 20 pounds since December. My goal is to lose 30 more or at least 25 more. It's been tough, but I am really trying this time. I don't like being overweight!

I have changed my site again. Same web addy, just changed back to my purple! It may change altogether if I go into some type of home business.
I'm about to venture into some direct selling businesses, but I haven't quite figured out which one yet. I'm still trying to narrow it down. Just wish I was talented enough to do ideas on my own!
It is time for me to take advantage of an early bedtime hour. Gee---bet it will feel wonderful to go to bed this early!
Here is our schedule for tomorrow:

8:00-10:00 Haleigh's softball practice
10:00-12:00 Holleigh's t-ball practice
After practice, grab a bite for lunch and away we go again...
2:00-4:00 Hannah's softball practice
2:00-4:00 Haleigh and Holleigh have a birthday party to attend
Home again, Home again, jiggity jig!
Tony should be home from the coast about 5:00 and there is no telling where we might go after that!

Working tonight~

I'm at work tonight, but I'm also looking for something that I can do on the side for extra cash, in the even I ever get to go part time or completely stay at home with my children. I'm looking into the Homeaker's Idea Company and I just LOVE all of the things that they have to buy! I would probably be a "broke" consultant! LOL Anyway, I'm going to discuss this with Tony later on tomorrow.
We have an appointment with the accountant tomorrow for our taxes. I'm so nervous!!!! Mainly because we haven't kept very good receipts, but we have purchased a trailer, computer, and All-In-One printer for our business. I hope things go well. We've never had to pay IN taxes. We have always held out more from our checks. We have just had a lot of changes with my work and all so we shall see!
I forgot that I need to update my tBlog to let everyone know I've switched over to my own server now. Then I'll have to transfer all of my archives over (if I can ever get that figured out!)
Well, guess I better find something to do that is productive here!

Good night!

Sunday laziness...

We've all been lazy today. First, we missed church---we really need to get back because we have missed out several Sundays. We do go on Wednesday nights, but still not the same! Lunch was eaten at Tony's mom's home. All in all, it was a nice afternoon. Then we came home---ughh! Messy house, loads of clothes, and whiny kids who didn't want to help! These things do not make for a nice, quiet evening at home. I need to start back on the Flylady stuff again. My moods go through spurts--mainly because I want to sleep all day due to working nights at the hospital! My body clock is ALL messed up! Oh well~guess I need to get back to cleaning! Tony had a phone call so I took a break as well. The longer I sit here, the less I want to get back to cleaning.

Finally hosting on my own site!

I've finally figured out how to post on my own site with the help of Blogger. There are still bugs I need to fix, but maybe it will all work! I will eventually have to transfer all of my posts from tBlog and then get rid of that blog. tBlog is SO unstable and then you can't get any type of support--and I paid for that blog! UGHHH!
I'll post later!

Changing things around....

It's hard to believe that I haven't posted in a month! I've tried to post a couple of times, typed a long entry, only to have tblog delete it when ever I tried to use emoticons in the BETA posting engine! Needless to say, I was NOT pleased! From now on, I will only use regular text or add my own html and not try to use anything from tblog...until I figure out how to post my blog on my on website!Homeschooling has been going well...public school..so-so. I can't wait to bring Haleigh home!I'm at work right now feeling so stuffed! We had the work Christmas party this afternoon and everyone made some wonderful food. I ate too much. 8o~Tony and I went Christmas shopping for the girls Thursday night and we pretty much finished. There were absolutely NO Dora the Explorer Magic Hair Fairytale dolls in Hattiesburg so I went to Ebay. I only paid $30 over the regular price! CRAZY!!!!! Well, my baby wanted it and my goodness...she is going to get it! Now I am trying to find a Hair Beader for Hannah. That must be the other hot holiday item this year! I have all of Haleigh's!(applause)We are still not finished with remodelling the attic into living space for the girls. I am so ready to be done with it and get those children in their own rooms and in their own beds! Maybe soon...Points to Ponder...I've considered changing the whole look of my website....can't decide. Any suggestions? I've even thought about changing the name!
Oh well...who knows when I will post next~
Merry Christmas just in case!
12.17.04 (4:41 pm)
It's hard to believe that I haven't posted in a month! I've tried to post a couple of times, typed a long entry, only to have tblog delete it when ever I tried to use emoticons in the BETA posting engine! Needless to say, I was NOT pleased! From now on, I will only use regular text or add my own html and not try to use anything from tblog...until I figure out how to post my blog on my on website!Homeschooling has been going well...public school..so-so. I can't wait to bring Haleigh home!I'm at work right now feeling so stuffed! We had the work Christmas party this afternoon and everyone made some wonderful food. I ate too much. 8o~Tony and I went Christmas shopping for the girls Thursday night and we pretty much finished. There were absolutely NO Dora the Explorer Magic Hair Fairytale dolls in Hattiesburg so I went to Ebay. I only paid $30 over the regular price! CRAZY!!!!! Well, my baby wanted it and my goodness...she is going to get it! Now I am trying to find a Hair Beader for Hannah. That must be the other hot holiday item this year! I have all of Haleigh's!(applause)We are still not finished with remodelling the attic into living space for the girls. I am so ready to be done with it and get those children in their own rooms and in their own beds! Maybe soon...Points to Ponder...I've considered changing the whole look of my website....can't decide. Any suggestions? I've even thought about changing the name!
Oh well...who knows when I will post next~
Merry Christmas just in case!

Loss Of A Parent...

 

My loss happened 31 years ago when I was 3, yet the pain is still unbearable when I think about it. I guess because it was so traumatic I have never begun to heal. I don't remember my mother, but I do remember when she died, not from what people told me. One day I described everything to my dad who couldn't believe that I knew the things I did. I guess trauma either sticks with you or you completely block it out. Well, I did not block it out! My mom was 25 years old, with three kids. My 2 brothers were 7 and 6 years old, I was three. My dad worked off shore and was off shore at the time it happened. My mom had been in the garden that day and complained of a headache to her best friend.( I was told that part) Anyway, I remember that afternoon when she laid down on the couch and we thought she was taking a nap. My brothers were old enough to fix cereal, so they fixed us that for supper, when we couldn't wake mama up. At bedtime, we still couldn't wake her up, so my brothers made a pallet on the floor, and I slept on the couch with my mom. The next morning, our neighbor lady (she used to check on my mama when daddy was gone, I guess because mama was so young and with 3 kids--whatever the reason, I am glad she did.) The next theing I remember is the ambulance and my mama was gone. I can describe the couch, where it was located and different other things in the room. My mother died due to blood clots on the brain. Daddy said I used to run around the house crying for and looking for mama and I couldn't understand why she wouldn't come. He did not let us go to the funeral or funeral home, so maybe I've never had closure. I always feel as if I am missing something, even though I know what it is. I hate that I never got to know my mother. That's the worst thing. If she would have died when I was older,(which that would be hard also) I would have at least had some beautiful memories of her rather than the ones of her on the couch. I've never had therapy, but think even to this day, I might need it. I've never gone for it, because you "just don't do that" in our family! My daddy remarried a year later to a woman he met at church. She is a wonderful christian woman and I call her mama...but I still feel empty at times. I did not mention that my mom had 3 sisters, as well as my grandmother, with whom we lost contact after my mom's death.  Two of her sisters, I last saw in 1980.  I did a Google search on my mother's maiden name and found a newspaper article and an obituary on twol of her sisters.  One died in 1995, the other in 2003, and my grandmother died in February of  this year.  The last time I saw my grandmother was in 1986.  There was tension between my mom's family and my father, and my mom's family---from New Orleans were involved in a pretty rough lifestyle.(too long of story to tell here!) so mama's family never made any effort to contact us.  We always have made the efforts to try to find them...and of course I find out about their deaths over the internet.  Anyway, I still have one of her sisters still living. My father said that she and my mom were the best in character of all the sisters.  The last time I saw her was in 1988.  I've always wanted to know about my mom while she was growing up and have never had that chance until now.  On the newspaper article on an aunt that was murdered, her killer is being sentenced this month.  I emailed the staff writer of the article and explained that I was looking for my family.  I told him that in a sense, it was like being adopted and not knowing your family and how I felt I've needed closure to that part of my life. I asked for any information he might have...would he share it with me.  He emailed me back and told me that my aunt would love to hear from me and gave me her phone number!  (She never had any children and is now divorced...my brothers and I,  another niece and nephew, who she hardly knows, are all she has left) He faxed her my long email that I sent him.  She said she went around work that entire day telling everyone, "My niece is looking for me!"  She also said she cried several times during the day, too.  So...we have made plans to get together to try to create a family bond that was never allowed to grow...she is so lonely.  I hate that everything happened this late in life, but now, I can kind of get to know about my mom and her family.  "Happiness"  can't begin to describe what I am feeling!  Pray that we learn to accept each other with love and forgiveness and develop a special family tie.