A Chicken Soup for the Soul Story...

Years ago, I was given a Chicken Soup book, and in it there was a story about a single mother and her children. The child asked a Santa for a gift, and while the gift didn't arrive that Christmas, it did the following. By way of a new Dad/Husband for the family, and the joy and love that comes along with pure happiness... Eight years ago next week, my own Chicken Soup story began. I had moved to Idaho on a whim...literally, along with the help of my sister and her husband, and had moved to a rather small town. I was certain that I would at that point, never marry. But other plans were in the works, I just didn't know it then. At a church Christmas party, there was a hired Santa, much like the story, and my young daughter asked the Santa for something that I would be told about later, that happened to be the reason for the coming events. You see, my daughter asked the Santa "for someone to come into our lives, so we didn't have to be alone anymore..." It still makes me tear up as I think about it now. You see, the Santa was use to hearing about the latest toy, and the like, but that request touched him enough to share with friends of mine. A few days later, I got a phone call, with that friend saying, "I gave this guy your number and I hope you don't mind, and oh, by the way, his name is Jim..." I was floored, I could believe it. I was also told that he was very shy and might not even call, but if he did I should give him a chance. About two days later, I got my answer. He called, and I actually said yes, when he asked me to go out on a date, a true blind date at that because all I got was his first name, and all he got was my name and phone number. Plus, we really hit it off, and suffice it to say, he talked the whole time during our date, he was not shy with me! Fast forward to today, we were married just shy of eight months after our first date, and we added to more children, both daughters to our ready made family, and couldn't be happier! There is something to be said for a Christmas Party Santa! Happy Holidays to All!

The Day After Thanksgiving...

Okay, now what? I know what is expected, Thanksgiving is over, and the Christmas holiday begins, if it hasn't already in some cases, what am I suppose to do? I know, the typical answers would be, decorate for Christmas, put up the tree and arrange the village pieces and stockings, put lights up outside, start or finish shopping for Christmas gifts, go on a diet, after all of the food that was consumed on Thanksgiving Day...but whatelse? I am just feeling a little bit of a letdown, you know, the drop off point after preparing for a day like Thanksgiving and all the buildup to the big meal, and the visits with family and all the stress, both good and bad that go with it. Things wil pick up again shortly in preparation for the Christmas holiday, so I was just wondering what to do in the meantime?

Six Credits.....

Okay, okay, I know....6 credits in college will not be much this Fall, yeah right...I am not single and 21 with no responsibilities anymore either. Six credits is insane! Just ask the family....all four of them, Jim, Sarah, Robyn & Anna. Not to mention ME! I am sticking with Psych classes, so that when I am excepted into a Masters Program next year (fingers crossed) I will not be totally rusty!

The Sunshine is Beautiful!

Yesterday the girls and I went for a walk (Mommy needed this), they got their hair trimmed (necessary), we took a detour to the bank, (necessary), got home and spent over an hour in their swings (for fun), and Mommy took pictures...of what you ask? My flowers, all of them! The roses, the gigiantic lavendar bush, the yucca flowers that has bloomed (never seen that before), the lone remaining bleeding heart on the large bush, and even the tomato plants, and the tomatoes that are beginning to come on in place of the large blooms that were there before, etc. I am so pleased! We had a great day together!

A walking we will go!

We walked again this morning, a few people that see us at the HS track are amazed that I can get the little girls up and out the door that early...little do they know, my schedule is mostly based on them and a little luck that Jim does leave about the same time we do in the morning, and so he helps me get them into the vehicle...I am so lucky!

I promise to do better!

I have made a promise to do better, not just at our blog, but also at being more patient, at continuing to walk in the mornings, at being a more friendly person, and at being a more understanding wife...

Upcoming Birthday!

I will be 38 y/o in a few days aand I am a bit uncertain. Do I like getting older, sometimes NO!, but I do know that with the older you get the more knowlegable you can become, learning from mistakes, and the good things that happen take time and the older that I get, the more I seem to figure it out. I have a long way to go still but am trying to enjoy the ride along the way!