A little bit about me

Someone sent me this somewhere along the way and I thought it was a good one, so here is a little about me.  Don't take it too seriously though.

1. What is your current obsession? Trying to keep my house clean, it’s a never ending job! Between the dogs shedding, Jim being home more and having a 6 year old in the house, and working full time I can never seem to spend the time I need to get it clean to my standards.




2. What are you wearing today? White slacks and a Kelly green top with gold jewelry.



3. What’s for dinner? I have no idea!



4. What’s the last thing you bought? The last thing I bought was a new door for the outside entrance to our basement it has nine windows on it. Rather plain, but just what I wanted for that space. Terribly exciting, huh?


5. What are you listening to right now? The hum of the air conditioner.



6. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be? Anywhere my family and friends are is where I want to be and where I can call home.



7. What is one thing you want to change about yourself? I’d like to be more connected to people as I tend to isolate myself a bit even from those I love. It’s not intentional but more of a defense mechanism. I am so afraid of being hurt and rejected that I create a wall, a barrier to protect myself.



8. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? I’d go to Florida to have a cup of coffee with my mom and chat about nothing in particular. Ah, heaven!



9. Which language do you want to learn? I’d love to be able to learn the male language, then maybe conversations with my husband would make more sense!



10. What’s your favorite quote? I have many but one of my current favorites is: "A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child." The Knights of Pythagoras



11. Would you cook for me? Of course!



12. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you? The best way to avoid people who would purposefully hurt me is to simply avoid them.



13. What are you afraid of the most? Snakes & getting locked in a Port-a-Potty!



14. Who do you want to meet right now?



15. What is your favorite color? I love many colors especially like pinks and greens.



16. Give us 3 styling tips that work for you. Three styling tips? Okay, here’s what works for me: 1) Blow dry hair with a big round brush 2) Invest in quality clothing it pays in the long run 3) Always wear nude underwear with white!



17. What is your dream job? Personnel shopper. I love spending other people’s money!



18. What’s your favorite magazine? Hmm, I don’t think I really have a favorite. I like to look at craft magazines and home décor magazines, but no favorites. Oh, but I do love that cooking one with the southern lady with the white hair and the thick accent. The one that drips honey, can’t remember her name. Love it!



19. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on? A new pair of shoes.



20. What do you consider a fashion faux pas? I can’t stand seeing underwear, it is not meant to be seen that is why it is called underwear. Especially bras under tank tops, ladies didn’t your mother’s teach you anything! Get a strapless or a racer back, and by all that’s good in this world do not wear a black bra with a white top!!



21. Who, according to you, is the most over-rated writer? I don’t keep up to date on too many current authors but I hate it when popular authors who are aging and/or loosing their ‘steam’ pair up with another writer to sell books.



22. What brings a smile to your face instantly? Bella can bring a smile to my face anytime!



23. What is one word that you say a lot? Youknow. One word.



24. What kind of haircut do you prefer? Something easy and flattering.



25. What are you going to do after this? After I hit ‘Post’, I may have a bite of lunch.



26. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed? It’s not often that I feel low or depressed but when I do I find that a great big dose of sister therapy helps!



27. What makes you go wild? Me, wild? Why, I never! Ha!



28. What are your favorite movies? An American President, Sabrina, Dave



29. What inspires you? Lots of things inspire me, my family, my community, the world around me.



30. What do your friends call you most commonly? Karen



31. Would you prefer coffee or tea? Coffee



32. Which other blogs do you love visiting? Bring the Rain-Love Angie’s writing and her inspiring story of dealing with Plan B and their beautiful daughter Audrey Caroline.



33. What is your favorite dessert/sweet? Yes! How’s that for an answer.



34. How many tabs are turned on in your browser right now? Eight



35. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first

thing you thought? Ooh, I got a lot of work to do-makeup don’t fail me now!



36. What is your favorite season? Fall, love the crisp fall air, love the changing leaves, love the smells, love the sounds the clothes. Love fall!



37. What is one wish that you really want to see come true? I want to see my children truly happy.



38. What breaks your heart? To see suffering without hope.



39. What's one thing you really want to do in life? Make a difference.

A Funny Little Story

Another Bella story to get you through your day.  Well they help me anyway!  Wish I had a picture to go along with this little bit, but you will just have to use your imanination.  Bella had been playing all day in a pair of purple shorts with a lavender floral top.  When I got home from work her hair was down and she had decided to add her pink cowgirl hat to the mix.  She was singing and dancing around for a while and then she started talking in her version of a southern drawl.  'This is how they talk in Texas, Ma'am' she said as she looked at me.  She went on to talk in her little drawl until G-Daddy announced that dinner plans were to run down to the Chinese restuarant for dinner.  Bella got all excited and ran upstairs saying she knew just what shoes she was going to wear.  Down she comes sporting her bright red cowgirl boots!  She was rocking the look, let me tell you.  Ha!  It was too cute.  (Something only a six year old can pull off.)  We get in the car and we are about half way there when she says 'Oh!  Do Texas people eat Chinese, Ma'am?'  To which we of course answered yes.  'Oh, good.  Then that's okay.  I can eat there.'  And I am fully convinced that had we said that Texans did not in fact eat Chinese food she would not have eaten it that night either!

The girl knows how to stay in character!

And the Bad Blogger Award Goes to...

Me!  Sorry, I know that I've been bad lately.  Haven't posted.  Been busy and can't blog on the run, haven't mastered the whole tweet thing yet and I don't think that I will ever go there!  Ha! 

So, what have I been up to you ask?  Well, since you asked so nicely I'll tell you. 

Friday I took the day off work.  Really.  I did.  I had my Blackberry with me and I did read and respond to some emails and I did have to make one or two phone calls but that was about it.  The rest of the day I was off.  Resting and relaxing?  Not really, but I had a good time.  I went to Chantilly, Virginia to the Great American Scrapbook Convention. 

This is what the convention floor looks like! It's wild. 

Friday I was a volunteer and worked as such in three different workshops: Creative and Interactive Stamping, Boxer Palooza and Princess Puppy Tin.  They were all good classes, but I really got a workout in the Boxer Palooza class as the instructer had 50 people in the class and it was mostly a lecture class where she talked about the different products offered by Boxer and I passed them out to all the class members!  They all got to take them home too!  What a great class for them. 

After I was done with my volunteer duties I went on the convention floor for a while and did a little shopping on my own before I headed home for the evening.  (I missed my friend Jeannie!  Last year we cropped from 5-11 together at the convention.  Hey Jeannie!) 

Saturday morning Tootie, Dawn and Kristie came down and we all went together and stayed for the day.  Just shopping and having fun.  The convention was not nearly as good as it has been in the past as there were not as many manufacturers and lots more resellers and dollar boths, but we had fun anyway.  We were pretty much done with our shopping by 2:30 so we checked into our  hotel and then I headed back to the convention as I was signed up to take a photography class.  In the past, the others would still be shopping and knowing my limitations I would need to sit by now so I take a class to break up the day.  This time though we were all done!  Anyway, I went to my class and they went to the pool. 

The class was sponsored by Tamron and it was on taking better pictures.  It was a good class and I'm glad that I went.  At the end of the class they had 3 door prizes for a Jill-e Messenger bag and I was one of the lucky winners!  This is the bag:

It's got lots of padded pockets inside for lenses and such.  I was happy.  Then they did the drawing for the grand prize for the convention and much to my delight - I won!  A Tamron AF70-200mm lens with a $629.00 value!!  And I was happy with the bag!  I got a certificate for it so I can mail it in to get the correct mount for my camera and you can bet I had that baby in the mail this morning.  Can't wait to get it in the mail and start playing with my new toy!  Thanks Tamron!

\

When I got home, Jim had taken Bella to the Crystal Grotto and so they were not home and I had time to catch up with  Michelle for a while.  When Bella and Jim got back Bella was so happy to see me!  She squeezed me so tight and kissed my cheek over and over-it was so nice to be missed.  Maybe I should go away a little more.  Ha!  Later, the girls went to a block party and Jim and I stayed home.  We didn't want to go out in that heat.  Instead, I took a nap.  LOL!  Later on I finally got Jim to hang my embellishment center in  my scrap area and I was able to get everything back up on it and off the floor.  Thank Goodness! 

That's about all for now.  Hopefully I can be back soon with an update. 

More than I could have imagined.

If you had asked me when I was 20 or even 30 what my life would be like now I don't think that I would have gotten it right.  I don't think that I would have ever guessed that I would be working full time, my husband would be retired, my younger child would have moved away from home, my older child would be living at home with her child.  No, I never would have guessed all that.  And all the rest.  Who can know how your life is going to turn out?  And if you knew, would you do it again?  Would you make changes along the way to alter the course of your life or the outcome?  Hard to say. 

But I can say this with some assurance, I like where I am.  I am happy.  Life doesn't always take us where we thought we were going to go, but somehow we get to where we are none the less.  My journey like so many others, has not always been an easy one.  It has been fraught with angst, tears, lonliness and despair but also filled with laughter, joy, happiness and so much love.  My blessings abound and I am so grateful. 

Sometimes its lifes simple things that can bring the most joy.  After Bella's birthday party Michelle came up to me and rested her head on my shoulder for a moment and I gave her a squeeze and she looked and me and said thank you.  With so much sincerity in her voice and in her eyes that I was moved.  Michelle and I talk about everything, share so much, she had thanked me over and over again.  I knew that she was grateful.  That was a small but significant gesture. 

Tim called last night to tell me that he had gone to the National's game on Monday evening.  He told me all about the game and their adventure.  How much they had enjoyed it and what fun they had.  We got cut off when he got on the subway and he called back to pick up where he left off when he got off his train.  He told me about where they had gone to dinner and what they had, what it cost.  All the little details of his life in the big city.  And he didn't ask to talk to his dad and before he hung up he said " I love you, Mom", like he always does.  I hung up and just held the phone to my chest and smiled,  Silently enjoying my alone time with my son. 

And then there's Bella.  I walked in the door last night and no one seemed to be around, so I called out 'hello' and the response I got back was ' GAGA! GAGA'S HOME!' Followed by her little footsteps running down the hallway and down the stairs and then her arms wrapped around my legs.  She looked up at me with thos big brown eyes and smiled that big toothless, dimpled grin and said softly 'Hi, Gaga.' and my heart melted.  As it always does.  What a welcome home.  There's nothing better.  She is such a sweet, loving child.  And she says the funniest things sometimes.  My friend Durinda is always telling me that I need to write them down and someday I will, for now I'll put some here. 

• She had a song stuck in her head and told Jim about it, his solution was to close her mouth & blow it out her nose or something, she proceeded to give him an anatomy lesson in why that wouldn't work.  As he relayed this to me in front of her she looked at me and said "After all Gaga, we know that the cranium would get in the way anyway!"
• Looking at a seascape w/Durinda, Durinda commented on how pretty it was and how it made  you feel like you were really at the beach.  Bella replied "Yes, that's because of the texture in the painting" Well, duh!
• When asked if she liked something that she was eating her response was not a simple yes, instead she said "My taste buds are dancing the meringue!"
• While we were at Chuck E Cheese watching the big rat sing, she realized that is was not in fact the rat singing, but a recording. “I’m not impressed” was what she had to say about that.
• Watching ball room dancers on TV she were mesmerized. When asked what she thought she responded with “They’re beautiful, just gorgeous”.
•  “Since Grand-Daddy doesn’t let us turn the heat up, we should just call it a Warm Tub.” Enough said.
  

Look at that face and be unhappy!  It's hard to do.  She keeps me young, she keeps me tired!  But I wouldn't have it any other way. 

My arms are full, my heart is fuller and my life is more than I ever coul have imagined!

A Lot of Nothing Much

That's what I've been up to!  Not too much in particular, but a whole lot in general. 
The weekend seemed to fly by as per usual.  Saturday morning was a bit unusual as my narcolepsy really kicked in and I was having real trouble staying awake.  Michelle and I would be mid conversation and I'd nod off.  I'd wake up just a few minutes later not knowing that I'd been asleep and wonder why she had just stopped talking!  It is a very strange sensation.  I just couldn't right myself and wake up until about noon.  So unusual for me. 
Anyway, we then headed out to to some shopping.  We decided to make Jim a nice meal on Saturday night for dinner since he was working on Sunday and would be gone from 11-7, so we bought all the fixings that we would need.  I made a nice dinner and left the clean up to Michelle.
Sunday morning we went out to breakfast for Father's Day and when we got back Jim had to leave to go to work.  That left just me, Michelle and Bella  home for the day.  It was hot and miserable and the weather forcast was calling for more of the same with a terrible air quality, so we decided to stay indoors for the day.  With that in mind, we headed over to see Toy Story 3.  We had all been anxious to see it and Bella reminded us that it was 'in theatres now!', so it seemed like a perfect opportunity.   But I'll tell you, it just eats at me to pay $8.25 for a matinee!  I had a coupon for a free small popcorn so Michelle got a small drink, a regular drink and upgraded to popcorn to a  medium and it was $11.00.  Crazy.
Last night Bella had try outs for the Dance Company that she had been invited to try out for.  There were like 10 girls who tried out and they expect to have only 5 openings.  We have no idea though how she did as all the parents were kept in the hallway and not allowed to view the try outs.  They expect to have letters out telling the girls of their decision by the end of the week.  I'm not sure how I feel about it to tell you the truth.  I think that if she is in the company it will be a good experience for her, but on the other hand it is a lot of practice and pressure for a small child.  Bella wants to do it and has a good attitude about making it or not right now, I just hope that doesn't change if she doesn't make it, as it often does with kids.  Right now her main concern is that she might be taking a spot from another child who wants it more or who would be hurt by not making the team.  So we'll just have to see what happens.
In other news, I am down 2.6 more pounds this week!  That makes a total of 18.something (I can't remember what she said exactly).  I had lost 6 right before I started so I am almost at 25!  I want to get to 25 with Weight Watchers though because then I get a key chain.  Stupid I know, but I need all the encouragement I can get!  Ha! 
Stay tuned, hopefully I'll come back with pictures soon...

Too Much Activity...

and my back is killing me!  Has been killing me.  It is getting worse and I am not sure what to do about it.  I feel like I am at a point where I am grumpy and over tired and just plain miserable.  I know that you may be thinking 'go to the doctor you dolt', but it's not that simple.  When I go to the doctor's office with this type of complaint, I am given a cursory examination and then they chalk it up to the muscular dystrophy and say that there is really nothing that they can do about it.  So it seems like a waste of both my time and theirs.  Besides, I have to go through that whole getting on the scale thing too and really, I don't want to have to go through that if not absolutely necessary!  So what do I do?  I have been doing some stretching exercises that the doctor had given me when I went to Kennedy Kreiger back in February/March but they are not helping.  Maybe my only option at this point is to bite the bullet and go back to physical therapy, but oh how I hate that.  I am not sure why, but I really don't like going!  It is an hour out of my day that I don't have, it is hard work, I have to dress in sweat clothes (yuck!), never mind sweat, none of it is appealing; but I guess I may have to do it.  Just wish there was a magic panacea that I could take and the pain would just go away and my back would be fixed and I wouldn't have problems with it again.  The worst part of it all is, they don't know what it is, so they can't fix it-just treat it.  Story of my life!  Do I sound a little down?  Sorry.  Sometimes it all gets to me.  It can be so frustrating sometimes!  I don't want to be like this.
It is as though my body has betrayed me and I want to be the way I was.  But I can't go back.  And if I could, at what price? 
                                        Who would have to pay to alleviate my suffering?     Is the pain worth the cost?

         IN         MY          HEART          THE   ANSWER      LIES.... IT IS THERE...WAITING,

                                                  TO                                      BE            
                                                                                                                    REVEALED...

I know the answer, because it was put there long ago.  By a heart far larger than mine.  By someone who know so much more about sacrifice than I ever will.  Someone who gave up so much more than I can ever dream of.  Christ.  He died for me.  He gave His life for me.  So that I can be free from sin.  So that I can have everlasting life.  For you too, for all of us.  And all that He asks of us in return is that we accept Him as our Saviour.  He gives so much, yet asks so little in return. 

So, who am I?  To complain?  To ask for more?  

                            While I may complain at times, I won't ask for my this disease to be taken from me.  The price would be too much to bear.  Because though I may suffer at times,  though I may feel down, I know-are you listening because this is important?-I know that I am never, NEVER alone.
                                                                     Ahhhhhhhhhhh!

                                                Sweet Comfort.       Such Relief!

                              Two                    little                  words            that        mean      so           much ,            that                help                    me                   each         step          of        my                          journey.           NEVER             ALONE.

     He is with me.  And that is all I need.  That is the panacea that I need, the button I can push to make it bearable.  Think about it...

On another note, if you want to see some beautiful hand made jewelry like this:
               

Go to this blog: http://www.karaspartyideas.blogspot.com/

 where she is hosting a special giveaway!  Beautiful stuff!!

       

Weekend in Review

Warning: Picture Heavy!

More so than usual, this weekend was extremely busy.  Beginning with Friday night, we had Bella's dress rehearal for her dance recital.  I picked the girls up immediately after work and we didn't get back until 8 or 8:30.  I went because it was the only time that we could take pictures.  Timmy and his friends came home and spent the night at the house and got up in the morning before heading out on their camping trip to Dolly Sods in WV, so we were able to see them although it was very brief.

Our little ballerina.

This was their tap number and it was so cute!

Bella took a nap before the recital on Saturday and had to be woken up to go, she is not used to being up past 7:00.  Luckily the recital was at 3:00 and we were back  home by 5:30 so it wasn't too bad.  After dinner I actually was able to get the ironing done, clean the house a bit and then sit down and do some scrapbooking.  Before I knew it I looked at the clock and it was nearing 2:00 am, and I knew the morning was going to be coming soon and I'd better get what little sleep I could. 

Sunday brought the Princess Breakfast that we had gotten tickets to at the Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre.  This year was the royal wedding and Bella was really looking forward to it.  The food leaves quite a lot to be desired, but the show is cute and the kids just love it!

Our sweet princess.

With the Royal Family and the Wizard!

After that we went home and caught a well deserved nap.  Bella again had to be woken up for our next trip-the ball game.  We got there right before 5:00 pm when the gates opened.  The kids were allowed to play catch in the outfield and that is something that Bella thought would be great fun to experience.  Also, the first 500 kids received a Webkin Oriole, so she got one of those little guys.

The game started at 6 and at the end of the 9th inning the Keys tied the score and they went into extra innings!  It turned out only one extra inning was needed and the Keys won the game!  Next it was time for the diamond dig.  It turns out that Michelle was only one of ten chosen-from Facebook.  There were 50 people in all.  The diamond was hidden in a marked area within the infield and they were all given spoons to dig with, nothing more.  Michelle said that under the initial loose dirt it was hard packed clay.  She was a mess and unfortunately, did not find the diamond.  Hopefully, it will help to make the make an improvement on the life of the person who did find it.  She had fun doing it though.

Here they are getting ready to go out on the field.

After the dig there was a firework display.  Bella couldn't wait for it to start and kept asking when are the fireworks.  When they started though and she first heard the boom she lost it!  She began crying and wanted to go home right away!  She didn't want to see them from the car or the house, she said please take me  home and put me to bed, and when we got to the car she begged me to drive faster to get away from them.   Poor thing, she was a mess!  Oh well, now we know our plans for the 4th of July don't include fireworks!

So, it was a long, and exhausting weekend!  I could really use a few days to recover to be honest. 

Unfortunately, that is not the case and the alarm sounded very early this mornig.  Ugh!

Oh well, on to the next thing.